Pairing: Co-worker Seokjin X Female Character | OC named Hyunjae
Story: Co-workers -> Friends -> Lovers
Word Count: 4.8k
Warnings: slight angst, all safe for now
Good morning—it's the day of Starlight’s newest artist press conference. You woke up early, despite the lingering hangover from last night.
Your face was puffy from the hangover and a little bit of crying before you went to bed, so you added a few extra steps to your beauty routine to make sure you wouldn’t look like a overcooked bread fresh out of the oven. You wanted to look your best today, especially after last night’s revelations—Seokjin declaring he’d never like you and that you weren’t his type. A crushed heart won’t tear you down. It only makes your fire burn hotter. If you can’t make Seokjin like you, surely there are other guys out there you could charm, right? It’s not like you didn’t have your fair share of admirers back in college. You know how this works. You just chose not to focus on that aspect of life while adjusting to the city. But being rejected before even confessing—it unlocked something inside you. You’re done being the goody good.
So, you searched for your best dress, applied your best daytime makeup, and slipped into your favorite pumps. This Starlight project—even if you’re just helping—could open doors and build connections. There’s no certainty, but there’s potential. So off you go, ready to seize the day.
You arrived 30 minutes before your shift started, so you headed to the pantry to prep some coffee and grab a sandwich from the vending machine. On your way, you noticed the twins in a conference room and greeted them. They told you they’d call you around noon for the final briefing before the afternoon press conference.
And guess who was already in the pantry?
“Good morning, sunbaenim,” you said, bowing quickly and standing upright without making eye contact with Seokjin. You walked straight to the coffee machine and didn’t say another word.
Seokjin was surprised—you looked stunning in your red pencil skirt, white top, and black heels. You didn’t look like someone who drank heavily the night before. You looked fresh. Fierce. He cleared his throat and said, “Good morning, Angel. No hangover?”
That stupid nickname again. Why does he keep using it when he’s made it clear there’s no flirting possible between you two? He’s already built those high walls.
“No, sunbaenim. All good. I was sober even before I left you guys,” you replied coldly.
Then silence.
You were determined not to say another word unless it was work-related. Your coffee finished brewing in seconds, and you walked straight back to your workstation without even glancing at Seokjin.
He felt the shift in the air—the awkwardness, the chill—and stayed quiet, just sitting there, staring at you, lost in thoughts only he knew.
“Good afternoon, Starlight babies! Our press conference starts at 3 PM, and we’ll head to the venue right after this meeting. We just want to do a final check on the important stuff, you know? Let’s start with catering and security, courtesy of our beautiful Hyunjae here. Isn’t she stunning today? Did you shower with gold and butterflies this morning, dear? You look gorgeous!” Shunmi couldn’t hide her admiration for your unfamiliar aura today.
“Shut up, Shun,” you said with a smile, then added, “Well, maybe I just wanted to be extra today since we’re meeting Starlight peeps. Maybe I’ll catch someone’s attention and score a date for tonight’s after-party. Can’t a woman dream?” You grinned at Shinmei and Shunmi.
Seokjin, hearing your comment, chimed in, “Well, if you want a date tonight, you could ask one of the guys from marketing, you know?” He glanced at you briefly before turning to Shinmei. “Do you have a date tonight, Shin? How about you, Shunnie?”
Before either twin could respond, you blurted out, “Oh, sunbaenim, I never thought of asking anyone from our company since they might not find me date-worthy. I’m fine going alone if I’m not charming enough to catch someone’s eye at the press con.” You gave him a quick grin, then turned cold again.
“Shinmei already asked her roommate, Seojoon, to be her plus one for the afterparty. I’ve got a date too. Well, if you don’t have a plus one yet, Seokjin, you could go with Hyunjae. If it’s okay with her… is it okay, Hyunnie?” Shunmi, sensing the tension between you two, tried to smooth things over—or maybe stir the pot. You weren’t sure.
“Oh, I’m okay, Shun. I’m sure our good sir here will easily find a date. And why would he take me? Right, sunbaenim?” You looked Seokjin straight in the eyes.
“Well… yeah. I don’t know. Maybe I’ll just skip the afterparty or go solo. It’s not a big deal anyway,” Seokjin replied, trying to dismiss the conversation.
“Okay, enough with the plus-one talk. Let’s get into the press con details. Hit it, Shinmei,” Shunmi redirected the topic and kicked off the meeting.
No words were exchanged between you and Seokjin during that agonizing hour. After the meeting, you returned to your desk and focused on your own projects. You wouldn’t be needed by the twins until around 3 PM, so you buried yourself in work. You noticed Seokjin wasn’t at his desk—probably with Minji and the interns. Better that way. His presence only annoyed you now. You just wanted the day to end so you could go home and eat ice cream until your heart healed.
Time flew. At 2:30 PM, you left the office to head to the press con venue. The twins had left earlier, and you were just about to hail a cab when someone called your name.
“Hyunjae! Come on!”
You turned and saw Seokjin in his Palisade. Again. No, not again.
“I’m taking a cab to the press con. I’m fine,” you yelled back.
Seokjin pulled up in front of you and rolled down the window. “But I’m heading there too—we can go together. Come on, we’ll be late.” He opened the passenger door.
Without a word, you got into the car and stared straight ahead, refusing to look at him.
“Angel, safety first. Seatbelt, please,” Seokjin said softly, his voice tinged with concern.
You grabbed the belt and locked it yourself. You didn’t wait for him to help. You couldn’t stand another second of being close to him. He annoyed the hell out of you—pretending to be sweet when you knew he was just being casual. Or maybe he really was casual. Maybe it was you all along who thought you were someone special to him.
“Okay, good girl. Now let’s drive.” You saw a smirk on his lips as he started the car, eyes fixed ahead. You wished the venue wasn’t 15 minutes away—so you wouldn’t have to suffer longer.
You arrived at the venue, and Seokjin parked in the basement. Once settled, he got out first and ran around to your side of the vehicle. Was he going to open the door for you? No way. You wouldn’t let him. You hopped out before he reached you.
He looked a bit stunned—you’d beat him to it. He was about to open the door, but here you were… a strong, independent woman.
“Okay, let’s get it, Hyunjae,” Seokjin said, standing in front of you and extending his arm to gesture you lead the way.
Instead, you bowed and said, “Thanks for the ride, sunbaenim. Maybe you can go inside now—I’d like to go to the ladies’ room first. Again, thank you for driving us here.” You bowed again.
Without looking at him, you walked quickly—anywhere, just away from Seokjin. He didn’t even get a chance to respond. He simply turned and entered the press conference venue without you.
The press conference had started. You could hear the clicking of cameras and the chatter of media personnel filling the room. You scanned the crowd, looking for the twins, but couldn’t spot them anywhere.
A few minutes later, you were approached by the Catering Manager—Namjoon. You politely introduced yourself and learned that he was the same age as you, and surprisingly, the owner and manager of Chimmy’s. You’d only been coordinating with his assistant, Minho, during the event preparations, so this was your first time meeting Namjoon in person. He shared that Chimmy’s had been working with your company for quite some time, and he was thrilled that Starlight had chosen their catering services—it would be a great boost for their marketing.
“So, thanks, Hyunjae-ssi, for contacting us for this event,” Namjoon said, smiling widely, his deep dimples showing on both cheeks. You thought he looked adorable with those dimples. You were momentarily distracted.
“Oh, you’re always welcome! Chimmy’s will always be first on our list for events like this, and clearly, we’re never wrong to recommend you to our clients,” you replied, smiling back, unable to stop staring at his dimples and the way his eyes smiled with him.
“Have you eaten? I can ask one of the servers to get a plate for you. We’ve set up a station backstage for staff to rest and eat.”
“Oh no, I’m good. I think I’ll wait for Shin and Shunnie before I try those delicious-looking pastas over there…” You gestured toward the long table lined with chafing dishes filled with different kinds of pasta and sauces.
“Hey, I insist. The interviews might take a while, and the artist will be performing two or three songs afterward. You’ll be starving by then,” Namjoon said gently, and you could tell he wouldn’t take no for an answer.
“Alright, Mr. Kim. But only if you join me—I’d rather not eat alone.”
“Sure, Ms. Choi. Please follow me.” Namjoon led the way backstage, and you were strutting behind him when you suddenly felt a hand grasp your left arm.
You stopped and turned around—and there he was. Seokjin.
“Angel, where are you going?” His brows were raised, and he looked confused.
“Oh, Namjoon invited me to eat backstage. Namjoon of Chimmy’s,” you explained, trying to spot Namjoon in the crowd. He had just been in front of you moments ago before Seokjin appeared.
“Namjoon who? You’re accepting invites from strangers now?” Seokjin scowled.
“Sunbaenim, Kim Namjoon—the owner of Chimmy’s. I was with him earlier. He invited me to eat backstage with their staff while we wait for the press con to finish.” You looked around again, trying to find Namjoon in the sea of people, but he was nowhere in sight. You noticed Seokjin’s hand was still on your arm, so you gently shook it off.
“Okay then, I’ll come with you. Maybe we can eat together?” Seokjin looked slightly flushed after you shook off his hand, but his demeanor remained confident. You had no idea where he got that confidence—it was maddening.
“Well, we need to find Namjoon-ssi first. You’re technically gate-crashing,” you replied with a scowl.
“Am I not allowed to eat when our company is paying him? Well, not directly, but through us. And I’ll be up until dawn tonight with the afterparty, so I really need a proper meal.” Seokjin grinned, knowing you couldn’t argue with that.
“Come on then. He might already be waiting backstage.” You led the way, and Seokjin followed. You found Namjoon arranging a table.
“Hey, Hyunjae-ssi! Over here!” Namjoon called out.
“I thought I lost you there,” you said with a smile. “By the way, this is Seokjin—he’s my teammate. We’re working together on this project with Starlight. Can he join us?”
“Oh, of course! Please take a seat.” Namjoon pointed to the chair across the table. He pulled out the chair beside him for you, but just as he was about to sit next to you, Seokjin grabbed it and sat down instead. Namjoon looked confused but chose to sit across from you. He was glaring at Seokjin, and Seokjin was glaring back. What's going on with these two?
Breaking the awkward tension, Seokjin turned to you and asked, “So, what’s on the menu today?”
Namjoon, now smiling at you, replied, “We’ve got salmon steak, shrimp aglio olio, and good old Korean spicy chicken. For dessert, there’s mango mousse and red velvet cupcakes.”
Your eyes lit up at the mention of red velvet cupcakes.
“I super loooove red velvet cupcakes!! That’s perfect, Namjoon. Thank you!”
“Oh please, it’s nothing. Enjoy your meal.” Namjoon looked pleased to see your excitement. “I’ll leave you two here—I need to monitor the service out front. I’ll be back shortly. If you need anything, just call one of the waiters. They’ll know what to do.” You nodded, and Namjoon made his way out.
As you began eating, you noticed Seokjin only munching on the spicy chicken.
“Sunbae, why aren’t you eating the pasta or steak?” You sliced into the salmon and took a spoonful of pasta.
Seokjin, mouth full, swallowed and replied, “I’m allergic to seafood. So, I can’t eat fish or shrimp. I’m good with the chicken and desserts.” He smiled at you, chewing another mouthful of spicy chicken.
“I can ask Namjoon to bring something else—maybe beef or pork?” You looked at him, worried he wouldn’t get full.
“No, I’m good. I’ll stuff myself with desserts later. This old man’s a sucker for sweets anyway.” He smiled warmly, and your heart fluttered. He looked adorable with his cheeks full, still trying to talk.
A few minutes later, the desserts arrived. The red velvet cupcakes looked divine. You loved anything red velvet—cakes, cupcakes, ice cream, cookies. They looked good and tasted even better.
You grabbed three cupcakes and placed two on Seokjin’s plate. He looked at you, confused by the gesture.
“Eat up, Sunbae. Red velvets are the best in the world.”
Seokjin smiled and replied, “Yes, they are. Anything sweet, really.” He took a bite. “Mmm, this is good.” He savored the cupcake, watching you delicately munch on yours. Then a question popped into his mind. “Why do you love red velvet so much?”
You looked at him and answered, “My mom used to make red velvet cakes when I was little. We owned a bakery in Busan before we moved to Gongjin after my father passed away. She taught me how to make red velvet cakes and cookies. We tried to open a bakery in Gongjin, but she got sick and passed away. So, I moved to Ansan and lived with my aunt until I graduated college. Now, here I am in Seoul.” You smiled as you shared the story, reminiscing about your childhood and missing your parents.
Seokjin’s eyes softened. He felt something warm hearing you are opening up about something so personal. “I’m sorry to hear about your parents. That must’ve been tough. I’ve lived with mine my whole life, but it’s never been easy. You’re strong and amazing, you know that?” His voice was gentle, his gaze tender. You felt yourself melting under his soft looks.
“I-I-I’m okay. Yeah, seriously, I’m fine. I miss them sometimes, but I know they’re in a better place now.” You smiled back.
“You should bake a red velvet cake sometime. Maybe for my birthday?” Seokjin smiled cheekily.
“Oh, of course! I can make you one. When’s your birthday?” you asked, watching him devour his third cupcake and second mousse.
“December 4th. So, you’ve got a few months to practice and prepare.”
“I don’t need to practice—I’m a master. Just wait and see… and taste.” You giggled and smiled at him.
“I’m looking forward to that, then.” Somehow, being with Seokjin wasn't bad at all.
The press conference was a success. The crowd died down a few minutes after the event ended. Your team remained at the venue to monitor the clean-up crew, while the twins were busy with the Starlight staff, discussing important matters regarding the concluded conference and the upcoming after-party.
“I guess we’re not needed here anymore,” you said, standing beside Seokjin, who was seated on one of the empty chairs at the buffet table, munching on jellies from the dessert platter. Seokjin simply nodded and continued chewing.
“Sunbae, can we go home first and just return for the afterparty? I think we need to dress up for the occasion.”
Seokjin responded mid-chew, “Well, I think you can. The party starts at 7, so if you leave by 5 and fly to your place in 10 to 20 minutes, you’ll be at Euphoria just in time.” He winked while chewing, but that sarcastic smirk on his face wasn’t exactly charming to you.
“Oh well, I guess I’ll just change at the office then. Good thing I brought my dress.”
“We have a shower room on the 7th floor, beside the executive lounge. You can use the one of the small rooms there to change. Just ask the custodian to unlock it for you.”
“I’ve never been to that lounge before. Are we really allowed to use it?” you asked, raising a brow at Seokjin.
“Well, yeah, I think so. I’ve never been stopped from using it during overnight events near the office. I used to sleep on the lounge's couch. I’d just ask permission from Minji or Shinhye, and they’d inform the custodians so I wouldn’t get locked in.” He was still chewing his precious gummy bears, tossing them in the air while trying to make eye contact with you.
“I’ll text Shinhye-nim now so she can inform the custodians. How about you? Will you be going home too, or are you staying?”
“I’ll head to Euphoria after this. I’ll just change my outfit there.”
“Or maybe I can stay at Euphoria too? So, I don’t need to bother Shin Hye-nim?”
“Well, I guess you can. But don’t expect it to be more comfortable than the exec lounge. You know—it’s a bar.” Seokjin shrugged and tossed his last jelly gummy bear into the air, catching it with his mouth.
“Alright, I’ll see you at Euphoria in a bit. I’ll just grab my things from the office.”
You hurried out of the building without looking back at Seokjin. In his mind, he was heading to the office too—so why not go together?
He approached the twins, said goodbye to the staff, and rushed to the parking lot. He left the venue quickly, hoping to catch you at the bus stop (he knew you wouldn’t take a cab if there was a bus available). Unfortunately, you were nowhere to be seen.
“You’re fast… and dumb. We could’ve just ridden together,” Seokjin muttered as he drove back to the office.
Back at the office, you didn’t see Shinhye or Eunri. You were about to text Shin Hye when you saw a message from Eunri:
Eun Ri: Hello Hyunjae-ssi. Shinhye and I are heading to a dinner meeting with some clients. It’s a 3-hour drive, and if it gets late, we’ll spend the night at a nearby hotel. Call me if you need anything urgent. We’re on paid time off tomorrow per Mr. Kwon since we’re swamped with these back-to-back events, so no need to come in to work tomorrow! Enjoy your night with the girls and Seokjin :) Don’t get too drunk!! Xoxo
You: Unnie!! I need help. Can I use the shower room on the 7th floor? Sunbae said we can—can we really?
Eunri: Oh yes, you can. We have a spare key in our department drawer. Ask Seokjin for the key. Just make sure to lock it after. Enjoy your night!!
You: Thanks, Unnie!!! Take care too! Send my regards to Shinhye-nim :) Send pics of the restaurant and the food!
Eunri: Send pics from the party. You must have one selca with Seokjin, ok? ;)
You: No can do :D :P Love you!
You were about to dial Seokjin’s number when you saw him approaching your workstation.
“Sunbae, I thought you were at Euphoria already?”
“Figured I could use a shower before the party. Will you still be using the lounge?”
“Ahhh… actually, I was just about to call you to ask where the key to the supplies drawer is. Eunri-nim mentioned that you have it.”
“Yeah. Wait here…” Seokjin opened his desk drawer and pulled out a key. “In the department supplies drawer, the key to the lounge is in a red pouch.”
You took the key and walked over to the drawer, retrieving the red pouch. When you turned back, Seokjin was relaxed, scrolling through his phone while sitting on one of your computer chairs.
“Here’s the key, sunbae. You can go ahead and use the shower first.”
He replied without looking up, still scrolling, “No, you go ahead. I’ll wait here. Once you’re done, I’ll follow.”
A little hesitant, but you nodded. “Alrighty, be back in 20.” You headed toward the elevator, and just as the doors were about to close, Seokjin rushed in.
“Ugh. I think I’d wait in the lounge instead. Can’t risk seeing ghosts around here, you know?”
You were surprised—and amused. Seokjin… afraid of ghosts? You tried to hide your smile, but he caught your smirk in the elevator mirrors.
“Yah! It’s true! There are ghosts here!” Seokjin was flustered, his ears turning red with embarrassment.
“I’m not afraid of ghosts,” you said with a shrug, giggling. He raised a brow at you.
“Well, good for you. But I’m not staying there alone.”
“No worries, sunbae. I won’t leave you.” You smiled, and he gave a small smile back.
“You better not. I shouldn’t have given you the key if you were going to ditch me.”
The elevator reached the 7th floor, five stories down from yours.
“You go ahead and use the shower first. I’ll just wait here in the lounge,” Seokjin said, settling onto the sofa and turning on the TV.
You nodded and entered the room marked For Authorized Personnel Use Only. Inside was a shower with a bath, a sink, and a toilet. You opened one of the drawers and found a hair dryer, steam iron, and a few bars of soap and shampoo bottles.
You locked the door, undressed, and turned on the shower. The warm water was soothing, washing away the stress of the long day. And the night was just beginning. Thankfully, tomorrow was a day off, a long weekend for everyone.
After a few minutes under the water, you rinsed off and dried your hair. You pulled out your dress and gave it quick steam.
It was a black velvet mini dress, which you planned to accessorize with a sequined black corset. You’d pair it with fishnet stockings—very visible thanks to the high slit that ran up to your upper thighs.
The dress and stockings were on, but you realized the corset would be a struggle to tie on your own.
With the girls gone, your only option was Seokjin. And he needed to shower too, so there was no time to waste. Screw the shyness—you needed help with this stupid corset.
You opened the door slightly and called out, “Sunbae… I… I need some help. If you may?”
Seokjin, eyes still on the TV, responded, “Oh yeah? What is it, Hyun Jae?”
You stepped out of the shower room, and Seokjin was speechless at the sight in front of him.
You were in your dress and stockings, your hair pulled into a high ponytail, no makeup yet.
“I need help with this corset. Can you, you know, tie it up? It’s super easy—you just crisscross the ties, tighten them, and then make a final knot to fasten it.” You tried to demonstrate, but Seokjin was still sitting, just staring.
“Umm… it’s okay, sunbae, if you don’t want to…”
Snapping out of his trance, Seokjin stood up. “No, it’s okay. I can do that.”
He walked over, and you turned around, holding the corset in place at the top of your chest. Seokjin’s hands trembled slightly—not that you could see—as he began threading the ties.
Once the thin ropes were in place, you asked, “Uhm, can you tighten it more, sunbae?”
He gave a faint “Okay,” and pulled the ties tighter. You held your breath, making sure the corset fit snugly. “Is this tight enough? I’m going to fasten it into a knot now.”
You nodded, and he did just that. When you felt his hands leave your back, you stepped forward and turned around.
“You look good, Hyun Jae. So much for a gothic party, huh?” Seokjin said, eyeing your form from head to toe with a light smile on his lips.
“Thank you, sunbae, for the help. Well, you can use the shower now.” You were getting a little shy with those compliments from him. You quickly ducked back into the shower room to grab your things so he can't see your flushed face. Seokjin nodded and picked up his bag and went in.
While you were fixing your makeup in the lounge, you heard Seokjin blasting music from inside the shower. You chuckled—he really was a scaredy-cat, even in the shower.
A few minutes later, you had your high-cut leather boots on and were finishing your makeup in front of the TV, struggling with your tiny mirror. Then the shower door opened.
And there he was—a dashing, fine man in black leather pants, a black long-sleeve top, and a harness belt that emphasized his broad shoulders and slim waist. You blinked, stunned for a moment. “Wow… you clean up nice, Mr. Kim.”
Seokjin smirked. "I always clean up nice. Still remember that you called me gorgeous yesterday." He raised his brows and smiled cockily.
You laughed, almost like you could laugh your heart out. "You know... I think I was really drunk yesterday." You were holding your stomach as you laughed and tried to talk in between. "You sure have a plethora of confidence, sunbaenim."
Seokjin just waved his hand and shook his head in dismissal. "Well, I love myself. That's my secret for being this handsome." Then he posed cutely with his hands and winked.
This made you laugh more. But then he said something that made you stop laughing... and maybe a little breathless. "I don't mind if you think I'm gorgeous... you are stunning too..."
You stared at him for a good four seconds, then smiled.
"You know, that's enough flattery... we're gonna be late, sunbaenim."
Seokjin grabbed his bag and turned to you. "Well, I'm all set. Ready to go?"
You nodded, grabbing your purse. He walked over and picked up his coat, then noticed that you didn’t have anything to cover yourself, just the bare gothic chic costume you had on.
"You don't have a coat, Hyun Jae?"
"Ugh... yeah. Forgot to bring one. I have my cardigan in my workstation. I can grab it quickly..." You were approaching the lounge door when Seokjin held you by your shoulders and offered his own coat, holding it out for you. “No need. Here, let me.”
You slipped your arms into the sleeves, and he adjusted the collar gently.
“Thanks,” you said, smiling. He smiled back and winked at you. You gave a light chuckle at his gesture, and you walked together through the lounge door.
As you approached the elevator, standing side by side, you couldn't help but ask Seokjin...
"Sunbaenim, where's your date?"
He just smiled, not looking at you, and answered...
"Well, I think I've ruined the chance to ask her. So, no date tonight."
He raised his hand in defeat, then asked you back...
"How 'bout you? Got your plus one?"
You hesitantly answered...
"Well, I’m not sure if he'll be there... since I didn't get a reply and was seen zoned."
You both laughed at that. Then the elevator door opened, and you both stepped inside.
Once inside the elevator, he glanced at your tiny mirror and eyeliner pencil. “Need help?”
You raised a brow. “You do eyeliner now?”
“I’m an acting major, if you haven't known. Before landing a lead role, I was the designated makeup guy for three semesters.” he smiled fondly to the memory of his acting days.
You handed him the pencil, amused. “Alright, show me your skills.”
You closed your eyes as he leaned in with steady hands tracing a clean line across your lid. His hands do not tremble at all, yet the close proximity of his face to yours... when you've opened your eyes... you stared at his beautiful round orbs carefully scanning your eyes... you believe something inside you is not steady at all.
"Still got it." Seokjin's done with the eyeliner and gives you a proud smile.
You checked with your mirror and nodded in agreement.
"You are a man of many talents, Mr. Kim."
You both burst out laughing.
The air between you was charged, but comfortable.
As the elevator descended, Seokjin dramatically sighed. “If we don’t win best dressed tonight, I’m suing.”
You smirked. Is there a contest for being the best dressed? You don't remember but you like a little competition with Mr. Kim whenever his smug handsome face is overly confident. Then you answered, “You’re just mad I out accessorized you.”
“Impossible. I have this...harness belt?", he is caressing the black leather around his small waist while trying to remember what it is called and for what reason it is worn.
“Which I’m pretty sure you borrowed from a vampire.”
He gasped. “Nope. I am the vampire.”
You giggled. “Please don't bite me, good sir.”
He gave a mock bow. “If you promise to enjoy the party we've worked hard for... I'll spare you.” You chuckled and gave him a light pat on the shoulder. Then the elevator doors opened to the lobby, and the night awaited.
Alrighty! Part 2 is up.
I am having a hard time to finish chapter 3 because of so many things to do during my waking hours. I hope that after I watch MOA con on Sunday, I will be able to finish Part 3's draft. Please send me some love so I can be fired up to continue this story. or even a harsh comment, I really don't mind. hehe. love you lots my friends! Happy midweek! ~~~♥♥♥
"And I'd be smart to walk away
But you're quicksand..."
- Treacherous, Taylor Swift, 2012
Pairing: Co-worker Seokjin X Female Character | OC named Hyunjae
Story: Co-workers -> Friends -> Lovers
Word Count: 7.3k
Warnings: Nothing really. Seokjin's dad jokes?
You were never the shy type of girl, and that was one of your strongest traits. Back in college, you always participated in extracurricular programs and activities to showcase your talent, meet new people, and enjoy yourself. Being in a crowd and making people happy made you happy.
When you landed a job at an Events & Advertising Firm, it was a perfect match for your personality and goals.
You moved out of your hometown and settled in an apartment complex 40 minutes away from your office. It was a bit of a hassle since you had to wake up early to catch the bus, but being new to earning your own money, you had to be frugal. Renting an apartment near your office would cost three times more than your current rent—definitely a no-go for now. Despite the struggles, you knew they were temporary and that better days were ahead.
Your first day at work went smoothly. Your coworkers seemed nice to a rookie like you, and you quickly made friends—of course, you’ve always been a social butterfly! Everyone’s warmth helped you adjust to your new environment. As an Events Associate, you worked closely with senior colleagues who wanted to give you exposure to the business and client management. You often tagged along, especially during local events in the city.
One colleague, Eunri, a Senior Events Associate four years ahead of you, became especially fond of you. She said you reminded her of herself when she was new to the company. She admired your passion and eagerness to learn. A party animal herself, she never missed a chance to hit the bar after work—and she always dragged you along. Being with Eunri made your life easier; she had a wide network of acquaintances and friends, which helped you build your own.
After just a few months, you were promoted to Events Associate II. That meant handling more events, not just locally but also out-of-town and high-profile ones. Eunri, your friend and mentor, was thrilled. You also moved to the same floor and workspace as the Senior Associates, which made you feel more comfortable and safe since you could be with Eunri more often.
With the promotion came new team members. There was Shinhye, a Senior Associate with four years of tenure, who handled local government programs and advertisements. Then there were Shunmi and Shinmei—nicknamed “the twins” even though they weren’t related—who were a year ahead of you and managed record label and broadcast company events. And finally, there was Seokjin, the only man on your team, with three years of experience as an Events Associate II.
Seokjin was ethereal. Unbelievably handsome. Even when you were just a junior associate, you’d heard stories about him but only saw him on rare occasions. Girls in the office always gawked at him during general meetings or company lunches. But you never spoke to him. In your mind, he was out of your league—so you admired him from afar. Now that you were on the same team, you kept things professional. You only spoke when he initiated, only sat beside him during meetings or team lunches. As social as you were, Seokjin somehow made you shy.
“Hyunjae, let’s head to Conference Room 3. The meeting starts in five minutes, and you don’t want the twins upset for starting late—they’ve got a party to attend later,” Eunri called out from your workstation.
“Yeah, sure, unnie. Just two more minutes—I need to save this,” you replied, focused on your computer, finalizing a proposal draft for an upcoming bar opening.
You didn’t notice Seokjin standing behind your chair.
“Hyunjae-ssi, you’ll be late if you don’t get your ass off that screen now,” he whispered in your right ear.
Startled, you turned to see his handsome face—so close. His plump lips were just centimeters away. You gulped and exhaled hard. Good thing Seokjin didn’t have telepathy, or you’d be doomed.
“Yeah, sunbae. I’m done. Heading to the conference room now,” you said quickly, grabbing your journal and pen. Seokjin fixed your chair after you stood and followed behind you.
In the conference room, the twins began their presentation.
“Okay guys, we called this meeting because we need help with an upcoming event for the record label Starlight. They’re launching a new female artist in a few weeks and want our company’s support, even with the short prep time,” Shunmi explained.
“We need at least two of you to help us. Starlight requested us because we’ve handled their press conferences well in the past, even with tight timelines. This is our first artist launch with them, so we need your support to execute it properly. The higher-ups have approved pulling two of you for the project,” she added.
Shin Mei took over the slides. “We know you’re all willing, but we don’t want to impose. So we’re giving you a chance to volunteer. If no one does…” she paused as Shun Mi placed a small box in front of you, “…we’ll draw lots and let fate decide.”
You, Eunri, and Shinhye giggled. The twins were professionals, but they always added a fun twist to work. You stopped giggling when your eyes met Seokjin’s—his face serious despite the playful setup. You quickly broke eye contact and spoke.
“I don’t think my project will push through until mid-next month, so I volunteer as tribute!” you said, grinning and raising your hand.
“Wow, great Hyunjae! Thanks—we appreciate you tons!” Shinmei exclaimed, hugging you tightly.
Shunmi shook the box, mixing the papers inside, anticipating the draw.
“Alright, one down. The rest of you—decide if someone will volunteer or be voluntold.”
After a few seconds of silence, Seokjin raised his hand. “I’ll do it. No need to bother our seniors—they’re working on a big project. I can help you guys and Hyunjae.”
Your heart dropped again—he said your name for the second time today. You weren’t sure if this project would help you get over your little crush on Seokjin… or make it worse.
"Alrighty! So nice of you, Seokjin! Thank you so much!" Shunmi exclaimed, clearly thrilled. "Shinmei, can you print out the proposal and hand it over to Hyunjae and Seokjin’s desks before EOD? We’ll schedule a meeting tomorrow morning to get started. Meeting adjourned, team! Thank you for your time!"
Shunmi beamed with excitement as she sat next to Shinmei, who was already preparing the drafts for printing.
You exited the conference room and immediately approached Eunri. She knew your secret about Seokjin. During all those nights at the bar, drinking and partying, he was always your favorite topic to discuss. Eunri was fond of your little crush and even believed Seokjin might be interested in you too.
She once mentioned that during a coffee break in the pantry, Seokjin asked where you lived. He said he’d noticed you standing at the bus stop during rush hour after work. Eunri told him you lived a bit far from the office because rent was cheaper there, and since it’s your first job out of college, you wanted to save more—so you chose to rent a place 40 minutes away.
You didn’t overthink it at the time. After all, he said he only noticed because he often passed by the bus stop while driving home. But still, the thought lingered in the back of your mind. Could he really be interested in you too?
"Unnie, I’m nervous. I’ve never worked with Seokjin before. Do you have any tips?"
Eunri laughed and replied, "You don’t need to be nervous. Just be yourself. Seokjin is funny and easy to get along with. He might seem timid and reserved at work, but he actually has a hilarious and friendly personality. You’ll see what I mean once you start working on the project. Just be yourself—no need to be intimidated by Seokjin."
She patted your back and headed to her workstation. You, on the other hand, felt extremely uncomfortable—but what could you do? You had to be professional, and that’s exactly what you intended to be.
And Eunri was right—Seokjin was a very funny man. You couldn’t help but laugh out loud whenever he dropped those dad jokes during your meetings with the twins.
“Why couldn’t the bicycle stand up on its own?” Seokjin began the meeting with a string of jokes to perk up your third day working on the Starlight project.
“Shinmei, you should know this… you love bicycles,” Shunmi blurted out, giggling while munching on her sandwich.
“Shun, I love bicycles—but not Seokjin’s lame jokes!” Shinmei laughed as Seokjin turned to you, waiting for your answer to his joke. You could barely concentrate with him looking at you like that.
“Hey, Hyunjae… do you know why bicycles can’t stand up on their own?” Seokjin asked, still staring at you.
“Because it’s too tired? Two tired… you know?” You weren’t sure if you got the joke right, but it was the first thing that came to mind after being startled by Seokjin calling you out.
“Wow, wow, wow! Hyun Jae here is something! You’re right—it’s because it’s ‘two tired’! You know, two tires for bikes?” Seokjin smiled widely, looking at the three of you, trying to convince you it was funny.
The twins didn’t buy it, but you giggled at Seokjin’s effort. He looked a bit disappointed—his joke was, well, lame, especially since you guessed it right away.
“Damn, I need to up my game. My audience is getting harder to amuse as the days go by,” he said, shrugging his broad shoulders in mock defeat.
The day went on smoothly. The plans were coming together well—you’d already booked the caterers for the press conference, which was your assignment. Seokjin was in charge of the after-party at a bar near the Starlight office for their staff. The twins were busy managing the overall program. Everything seemed to be going well, and you couldn’t wish for more than to see this project succeed.
There were days when you had to work overtime, and going home late was a hassle. You often missed the last bus trip to your apartment and had to take a cab just to get home quickly. The Starlight project was challenging but fulfilling. You were working with your best colleagues—and your crush.
Isn’t life being kind to you?
It was two days before the Starlight Artist launch, and everyone was busy. You didn’t see Seokjin in the office that day—he was out on official business, meeting with suppliers and coordinating with the bar in preparation for the after-party. You had already wrapped up the press conference catering and security details, so you were free to work on your own projects. You were looking forward to going home early, having worked late nights these past few weeks.
Finally, 5 p.m. struck, and you were off. You said your goodbyes to Eunri, Shinhye, and the twins, then headed out. You hadn’t seen Seokjin return to the office after the morning meeting for Starlight, so you assumed he was still on-site handling after-party preparations. As you stepped outside, heavy rain began to pour, and you found yourself stuck at the bus stop. Traffic was heavy, and you figured the buses would be delayed—and likely full by the time they reached your stop. So much for leaving work early, right? You stood there, watching the rain, waiting for it to ease, when a black Hyundai Palisade pulled up in front of you.
“Hyunjae, hop on! Buses won’t arrive for the next 30 minutes. Traffic’s a mess along 7th Avenue... I just passed through it. Come on!”
It was Seokjin. He was asking you to ride with him. In his car. On this rainy afternoon. You didn’t have time to think—you just opened the door and hopped in.
“Angel, put on your seatbelt, please. Safety first.”
What? Did he just call you Angel? WTF. You never knew a nickname could make your flesh and bones shiver. You stared at him, stunned, and he looked just as confused by your expression.
“Hey, Jae, you need to put on your seatbelt… alright… just let me—” Seokjin unbuckled his own seatbelt, leaned closer, grabbed yours, and fastened it around you. With that small distance between you, you caught a whiff of his cologne—or was it perfume? You couldn’t think straight. You were basically mute in Seokjin’s presence. He was practically hugging you as he tightened the belt, then returned to his seat and buckled up.
“Okay, we’re good to go. Where do you live, Hyunjae? It must be on my way—I can drop you off.”
Hearing your name on his lips snapped you out of your trance. You responded in a soft, trembling voice, “Oh, I live at Le Ciel, just south of Haru.”
Seokjin nodded. “Oh. My place is a few kilometers before Haru—maybe 20 minutes from where I picked you up. But let’s—” He was about to say something when you interrupted.
“Oh no, that’s too far from where I’m heading. You can just drop me off at the bus stop before you turn onto 27th Avenue. There are buses there to Haru, so you really don’t need to drive so far just for me. I can take the bus from there.”
Seokjin stared at you for a few seconds. “No, really, I can drop you off at Le Ciel. There’s a bridge behind that neighborhood—it’s a shortcut back. You’ll have a hard time taking the bus in this rain. It’ll be crowded, and besides… I could spend this time with you.”
Those last few words made your heart flutter. Did Seokjin really mean it? Spending time with you?
“We can start updating each other about the progress of the Starlight project. I wasn’t able to stay long at the office because something came up at Euphoria—the bar where the after-party will be held—so I had to resolve it before heading home.”
Oh. So it’s just work-related. You could handle that.
“Yeah, sure. Well, I’m done talking with Chimmy’s, and we had the final taste test of the food to be served. The twins handled the meeting with the security agency for the press con on Wednesday, so I think my part is all set. How about you? Was the problem at Euphoria resolved?”
“Well, yeah. Actually… only 70% of it. One of their suppliers had an issue with the beers for Wednesday night. We ordered 120 cases of the beer specifically requested by the Starlight execs, but they thought we only needed 20. So now they’re scrambling to find other suppliers for the remaining 100 cases. I was like, are their staff that heavy drinkers? Why 120 cases? Are they taking the rest home?”
You laughed at Seokjin’s sarcastic remark and his animated expression. You’d never seen him like this before—it was amusing.
“I asked the bar if they’d ever hosted a party like this—120 cases of beer for a staff of 50? And not everyone will even show up. I wonder if they’ll take the leftovers home or restock their office pantry.”
“I’d love the latter. Haha, if that’s possible. Imagine sipping a bottle while Miss Min Ji’s nagging the interns.”
You and Seokjin laughed—a light, happy laugh. You’d never laughed with him like this before. It felt like you were finally becoming friends, sharing sarcastic and slightly mean remarks about work life.
The conversation continued. Seokjin asked about your college days, and you told him about the club parties you organized—even though you weren’t a member. You freelanced during college, making cutouts and backdrops for parties and meetings. You majored in Marketing and minored in Arts. He told you he was actually an Acting major and never expected to end up in Events Management. He just enjoyed the work and the chance to meet different people, even with the strict and ridiculously boring office schedule. He also mentioned that the car he was driving was a gift from his father, the CEO of a distillery company. You wondered why he didn’t pursue the same path, but he simply said his parents were supportive of whatever he chose to do.
So there it was—the 40-minute ride home turned out to be a great moment for the two of you. After a few more minutes, you arrived at the front gate of Le Ciel.
“Sunbae-nim, thank you for the ride. Please drive safely.”
“Hey, no worries, Angel. Anytime, okay? Don’t stay at those bus stops for more than half an hour at night. It’s too dangerous, alright? See you tomorrow.” Seokjin waved goodbye as you opened your umbrella and walked to your unit.
Your heart was full. And maybe, just maybe, being called Angel was the best nickname you’d ever had.
It’s the day before the big event. You’re thankful to Seokjin for driving you home last night—you were able to get to bed early and rest well. You woke up before your alarm to prepare breakfast. Since you had plenty of time this morning, you decided to make a simple breakfast for Seokjin as a thank-you for the ride. You packed egg rolls and kimchi rice with pork cutlets. You’re not exactly a great cook, but you know how to prepare a decent meal.
Once everything was ready, you left home and waited at the bus stop. The rain from last night had cleared the skies. The air felt fresh. The sunlight and the cool breeze complemented each other perfectly. You silently prayed that today would be a good day. The bus arrived, and you set off for work.
You arrived at the office 15 minutes before 9 a.m. You were a little confused—none of your teammates were at their workstations. You looked around and noticed that the twins’ and your senior associates’ bags were on their desks, so maybe they had just stepped out for coffee. You couldn’t help but glance at Seokjin’s desk too. No sign of his big backpack or his emerald tumbler. He’s usually early. Since you started working with him, you’ve never known him to be late.
You approached his desk, placed the breakfast box you’d prepared, and left a note:
“Thanks for the ride yesterday. Got to sleep early so I had time to prep this. Hope you enjoy it, sunbaenim. – HJ”
After leaving the meal box, you headed to Conference Room 6 for an early meeting with your interns, who would be helping with your upcoming project next month. As you left your workspace, Seokjin still hadn’t arrived.
It was almost lunchtime when your meeting ended. You had to thoroughly debrief the interns—most of them were new and needed extra guidance. You remember what it felt like to be a newbie, so you made sure they felt supported. After the meeting, you returned to your desk and saw the breakfast box back on it.
“HJ, thanks for the meal. I was late this morning, so your breakfast was a lifesaver! – SJ”
Your heart raced. He ate the breakfast you made. Your chest felt like it might burst from a bliss you couldn’t quite explain. You were just happy that Seokjin appreciated your effort. You looked around for him, but he still wasn’t at his desk. Maybe he was in a meeting—or on-site again. You were excited to see him, but your workload wouldn’t allow it. Not yet.
A few hours later, while finishing your proposal draft and some request letters, you received a call from an unknown number.
“Hello, Hyunjae here. Who is this, please?” “Hey, Hyunjae, it’s Seokjin. Are you at the office right now?”
It was Seokjin. You didn’t have his number saved—you usually talked through the office messenger app, and you never had the courage to ask for his number. It was a surprise that he had yours. Maybe he got it from Eunri, Shinhye, or the twins.
“Hello, sunbaenim. Yes, I am. Do you need anything?” “Yeah, I wanted to ask a favor, if that’s okay?” “Sure, anything. What’s the favor?” “Okay, so I’m here at Euphoria right now, and we’re sorting out a problem with the suppliers. I forgot to bring our acknowledgment receipts—they’re in my desk drawer, just under a blue metal box. Can you get them and bring them here to Euphoria? You can take a cab—it’ll be faster. Can you do it?”
With enthusiasm, you replied,
“Of course, sunbaenim. I’ll just save the files I’m working on and head straight there. I’ll text you once I’m on my way.”
“Great, Angel. Thank you so much! I’ll wait for you here. Bye!”
“Sure, see you in a bit. Bye!”
You quickly saved your files and closed your laptop. You got up, retrieved the receipts from Seokjin’s desk, and approached Shinhye. You told her about Seokjin’s call and asked for permission to leave the office. She understood and gave you the go-ahead, even handing you some petty cash for the cab ride to and from the bar.
When you arrived at Euphoria, Seokjin was already at the door, waiting. He waved and jogged a few steps to meet you.
“There you are, Angel. Thank you so much—and sorry if I’m being a bother. I know you’re busy too.”
“No worries, sunbaenim. Here are the receipts.”
You handed him the envelope and turned to get back in the cab, but he gently held your arm.
“Hey, aren’t you staying? You just got here.” Seokjin looked confused as you moved to leave so quickly.
“Oh, I thought you just needed the receipts, so I was heading out… or is there anything else you need me to do here?”
“Ah, yes. If you can stay, would you mind accompanying me while we check the bar’s decorations for tomorrow’s event? We’ll just look around. We can head back to the office together.”
Without hesitation, you told the cab driver you wouldn’t be taking the ride back. Seokjin walked beside you as you entered Euphoria.
The bar was elegant, with a gothic flair. It had dark interiors and silver furniture. The high chairs were designed like skeletons—silver, not the typical grayish-white color of real bones. The curtains reached all the way to the ceiling, and the chandeliers were truly extravagant. You’d been to your fair share of bars, especially during party nights with the girls on your team. You often went out drinking with Eunri and the twins, but Euphoria was on another level.
“Wow, this place is surreal. It’s like a dark castle owned by a vampire count,” you whispered to Seokjin as you sat at one of the VIP tables, decorated with glass goblets wrapped in silver vine-like designs.
“Well, as we were briefed, the female artist debuting at Starlight is a rock singer, so maybe this is the aesthetic they’re going for. It was hard to find a bar that could pull off a modern gothic vibe, so I’m glad we found Euphoria.”
“It suits the theme well. How about the liquor issue? Was it resolved?”
“Ah, yes! That’s why I needed the receipts. Speaking of which, can I leave you here for a moment? I’ll just talk to the bar manager.”
“Sure, I’ll look around.”
“Okay, just wait for me here. We’ll head back to the office after this.” Seokjin winked at you.
Wait—did he just wink? Your brain short-circuited. That wink and smile from your sunbaenim were too much. You considered running back to the office alone. Could you survive another minute with him without your heart exploding?
A few minutes later, Seokjin returned with four bottles of beer. You were clueless as to why he was carrying them, but he smiled joyfully as he approached the VIP table.
“Okay, the bar manager gave us free bottles to taste test. I told him I was curious why the label insisted on this particular beer—even though it’s expensive and imported. So he said we could try a few bottles since they have extra cases. If you know what I mean.” And there it was again—Seokjin’s mischievous smile.
“But sunbaenim, we’re not allowed to drink during office hours. Technically, we’re still clocked in, and this might get us into trouble.” You frowned, showing your confusion and hesitation.
Seokjin laughed. “Don’t worry. I already asked the twins if it’s okay to taste the beers and finger foods for tomorrow. They know we’re doing a taste test. We’re safe. I told you—safety first.” He winked again, smiling from ear to ear.
“Okay, I trust you, sunbaenim. I can’t afford to lose my job, you know?”
“Of course, Angel. I’ve got your back. Now, we need to finish these bottles before we return to work—security won’t let us restock the pantry with these!”
That made you burst out laughing. Seokjin was referencing your conversation from yesterday about the beers. Your heart skipped a beat. You were drinking with Seokjin—just like normal colleagues and friends.
After a bottle and a half of Pale Pilsen (the beer you were taste-testing), you felt a bit dizzy. It was your first time trying this beer, and it had a strong kick.
“My alcohol tolerance is usually pretty high, but this beer is different. Maybe three more of these and I’ll be in dreamland.” You smiled at Seokjin, watching him gulp down his beer. His Adam’s apple moved slowly as he swallowed, and it made you even dizzier—dizzy from his ethereal handsomeness that you sometimes wished you could ignore, just so you wouldn’t feel awkward around him. But damn, this man was a stunning view.
You hadn’t noticed that Seokjin was staring right back at you while you were lost in thought, admiring his perfect face.
“Hey, Angel, are you drunk already? Why are you looking at me like that?” Seokjin raised an eyebrow.
You snapped out of your trance and responded in a low, almost whispering voice, “Oh no, I’m not drunk. I just thought you look like someone out of a comic book… a manga, actually. You look like… I don’t know, sunbaenim… you just look gorgeous.”
Seokjin laughed, tapping the table. Did he hear you? You called him gorgeous. He was totally surprised and found your words hilarious.
“Hyun Jae, you should not finish that bottle. You’re clearly drunk. Hahahaha. Me? Gorgeous?” He kept laughing.
You were caught off guard. You realized you hadn’t muttered the words quietly enough—he heard you fawning over him. In defense, you replied with more confidence:
“Well, I’m not lying. Have you seen yourself? You’re really handsome, sunbaenim. I’m just stating facts.” With that, you lifted the half-full bottle of beer and gulped it down in one shot.
Seokjin saw what you did and followed suit. He finished his beer and looked straight at you.
“Well, I am handsome. I know that. But I’m more than that, you know? I’m more than my looks.” His face turned slightly red, but his tone was serious.
You noticed the shift in his mood and gently said, “Oh, of course, sunbaenim. You’re more than that. You’re talented, skilled, and very dedicated. You’re also… kind.” You spoke softly and looked at him after those last words.
“Well, yeah. You’re right. I mean, I know I have those qualities. It’s just… sometimes people judge you based on your looks. They think you have it all just because you look good. But actually, it’s the opposite sometimes. I don’t know…” Seokjin’s mood dipped, and he stared off into the distance.
You tried to lighten the mood with a joke. “Hey, sunbaenim, did you know that 10 + 10 and 11 + 11 are the same?”
Seokjin looked back at you, confused, trying to figure out the punchline. He stayed quiet for a few seconds.
“Sunbaenim, you’re getting rusty. 10 + 10 is twenty… 11 + 11 is twenty too!”
Seokjin burst out laughing. Yes! Your plan to make him smile worked.
“You really shouldn’t spend more time with me. Your jokes are getting lamer by the day.” He laughed so hard he held his chest, gasping for air.
“Well, I only learn from the best—like you, sunbae.” You smiled back. “You know, we’re done here. We can head back to the office before I spill my entire joke database, which you might use against me someday.”
Seokjin stood up, still laughing, and held out his hand to help you up. You gladly took it, stood, and the two of you headed back to the office.
The trip back to the office was more fun. Seokjin kept telling his dad jokes, while you sat there seriously trying to figure out each one until he got tired and revealed the punchline himself. He also told you why he was late that morning—he had to take his dog, Jjangu, to his parents’ house. He figured the team would be busy with the upcoming event, so he left early to drop Jjangu off, but didn’t expect the traffic back to the city to be so heavy.
“So thanks for the breakfast. I totally forgot to eat because I was in a hurry.” “You’re welcome. It’s my way of saying thanks too—since you bothered to drive me home last night, even with the heavy rain.”
You stared at Seokjin with admiration and appreciation. You couldn’t quite understand what was behind that smile from your sunbae, but just as he was about to speak—
“Hyunjae, actually…”
—the cab halted, signaling that you’d arrived at your destination.
“We’re here, sunbae. You can head straight upstairs—I just need to grab a cup of tea for Shinhye. She asked me to buy her one when I got back. See you!”
You got out of the cab first and ran to the nearest café to get Shinhye’s green tea. Seokjin was left inside the cab, his words left unsaid.
When you returned to the office, you went straight to Shinhye’s desk and handed her the tea. You stayed for a few minutes, chatting about how amazing the setup at Euphoria was. After the small talk, you headed to the conference room for a final meeting with your Starlight team. When you entered, the twins were already there with Seokjin, scanning pages in a binder—details for tomorrow’s press conference. As soon as the twins noticed you, they settled in and started the meeting.
“Okay, tomorrow’s the day. Thank you, Seokjin and Hyunjae, for helping us. We’ve reviewed the catering and security parts of the conference, and we want to commend you, Hyun Jae, for being so thorough. Thanks… really… a ton. Planning the press con was a toll in itself, and you taking over the food and security services helped us a lot,” Shinmei said, smiling genuinely at you. She turned to Shunmi.
“And to our sunbaenim, Seokjinnie… thank you soooo much for taking care of the after-party! I had the worst headache after reviewing six proposals for the theme, and you made it come true. You’re a miracle worker! We’re just glad you never auditioned to be one of our commercial models—otherwise, we wouldn’t have a trustworthy associate here.”
Shun Mi beamed with appreciation toward Seokjin, who smiled fondly back at the twins.
“Thanks again, sunbaenim and Hyunjae. Please take a rest now—we can take over from here. Just keep your lines open in case we have questions, but we think we’ve got it covered. And don’t forget to attend the after-party tomorrow night, okay? We don’t want Seokjinnie’s efforts to go to waste. Make sure you wear your sluttiest gothic dress tomorrow night, Hyunjae, okay?!” Shunmi practically screamed in excitement.
“Seokjin, sunbae, make sure you go to the party too. Mr. Jeon specifically requested the man who made his dream of a gothic party for his artist Josh Cullen’s debut come true. So don’t be absent—or I’m telling Eunri and Shinhye!”
“Yes, ladies. I’ll definitely be there. We’ve tasted the beers that Mr. Jeon requested, and trust me—you’ll need to take some B vitamins before the party if you want to keep up with the kick of that beer. I’m dead serious,” Seokjin said, suddenly very serious with his reminders to the twins—and to you.
“Was it that strong, Hyunjae? I mean, our tolerance is like that of a 20-year-old college dude. Was it really that intense?” Shinmei approached your seat, staring at you with curiosity.
“Well, yeah. I drank just two bottles and ended up telling dad jokes afterward,” you giggled, your eyes searching for Seokjin’s face. He was laughing quietly on the other side of the table.
“Wow, I really need to prepare for the after-party then,” Shunmi replied, staring at the ceiling, clearly imagining how she’d survive getting wasted on a Thursday night.
After a few seconds of silence, Shunmi announced:
“Okay, okay. We’re done here. Again, thank you for your help—and don’t forget the dress code for the after-party. We want to see your best ‘I’m not dead, I just dress like I am’ looks—in sluttier versions, please. Thank you, ladies and gentleman. Meeting’s adjourned.”
After that tiring Wednesday, Eunri and the twins invited you to grab a quick drink just a block away. You figured you’d earned a great night out with your colleagues—tomorrow was the Starlight event, and so far, everything was smooth sailing. You clocked out immediately and left the office with the rest of the girls. You didn’t see Seokjin on your way out, but his things were still on his desk, so maybe he was still around—perhaps in a meeting or chatting with colleagues on the upper floors. You wished you could’ve said goodbye, but you couldn’t be that clingy. You needed to be less obvious about your stupid crush, or he might notice.
After a few drinks and a couple of hours, you and the girls were having fun dancing and drinking at Refuse—a bar just a block from the office, where your team usually hangs out (minus Seokjin, of course). You’d been working with your current team for a few months now, but Seokjin never joined your night-outs. After a few songs and sore feet from dancing in heels, you invited the girls to rest and just have a few more shots at your table.
Shinmei was babbling about a guy from Starlight who kept texting her nonstop, always insisting on taking her out. She couldn’t entertain him yet because your contract with Starlight stated that no one could engage in relationships with their staff while the project was ongoing. Shunmi told her to just be honest, but Shin was too shy to decline the invite—even though she found him interesting.
“But dodging his invites is like declining him indirectly too, you know?” you said to Shinmei, who was now scrolling through her phone to show you the messages.
“Yeah, just be straight and honest. Tell him work’s interfering and ask him to wait a few days. The contract ends in a week—if he really likes you, he’ll wait,” Eunri replied, sipping her nth glass of margarita.
“Sorry, Shin-ah, I didn’t notice that clause in the contract before we signed. I never thought you’d find a love interest mid-project! But I salute your dedication. I’ll make sure to finish all pending transactions with Starlight after tomorrow night so you can date freely. I got your back, girl!” said Shinhye, being both your boss and your friend.
You really admired your seniors—it’s rare to find colleagues who treat you like family, genuinely.
“Shunmi, we need to make this project successful. My love life is at stake! Hahaha!” Shin said, still typing on her phone. She must’ve been texting the guy from the record label.
“How about you, Hyunjae? How are things with Seokjin? Any progress?” Eunri asked, smiling mischievously.
You nearly choked on your drink at her teasing.
“Hey, unnie… keep it down. The girls might hear you,” you replied, a bit annoyed and nervous.
“They already know. As if they haven’t noticed you staring at Seokjin during meetings or when we’re at our workstations. You even left a breakfast box on his desk the other day. He asked Shunie where you were that morning. So yeah, I think you two are pretty obvious,” Eunri said matter-of-factly.
“No, we’re not obvious. Because there’s nothing to be obvious about, unnie.”
“Oh, cut the crap, Hyunnie, my dear. Have you tried asking Seokjin out? Inviting him to lunch or grabbing coffee?”
“Of course not, unnie. Why would I do that? You know I’m awkward around sunbae. And I don’t think it’s proper for a girl to ask a guy out.”
“And why is that?” Eunri raised her brows and eyed you like she was about to bite. “It’s 2025, dear. You still living in some 1980s mindset? Girls can be just as forward as guys now. Haven’t I told you how I got my fiance, Yoongi? I asked him out to an amusement park. And look at us—we’ve been together for five years and we’re planning to get married this year! You’re not making your move, and you might lose Seokjin. He’s popular in the office—even the managers have a big, fat crush on him. You’ve got an edge in this competition, girl. You better work on it now.”
Eunri was now done with her margarita and starting on her first bottle of beer.
“That’s the struggle, unnie. I’m out of his league. I barely have anything to be proud of. Seokjin will never notice me—and honestly, it’s okay. I’m just happy we’re working together. I enjoy his company, and I’m inspired by how he lives his life. So I’m good with that.”
Your voice softened, losing confidence—even under the influence of alcohol.
“It’s up to you, dear. I’m drunk-swearing this, but I won’t meddle in your love life anymore… after tonight… so sorry…” Eunri grinned at you, and you were confused.
“What are you talking about, unnie?”
You had no idea what she meant. But there was something sinister behind her smile, and you couldn’t quite figure it out.
Then, after a few seconds, someone whispered in your ear—
“Hey Angel, what are you drinking?”
It was Seokjin!!
Unbeknownst to you, Eunri had texted Seokjin, inviting him to join you all at Refuse for a few drinks.
“Sunbae, you’re here,” you said, surprised to see Seokjin. You weren’t prepared to be drunk in front of him.
“Well, Eunri told me you’d be here, and since I already had two bottles earlier… I figured I might as well continue fulfilling my alcohol satisfaction here.” Seokjin winked at you, and your drunk heart couldn’t get any drunker than this.
“Glad you managed to escape Minji. What was she asking you to do so urgently right before clocking out?” Eunri asked.
“Intern stuff. She asked me to help with the intern program since her associate resigned. I designed the program two years ago, so she wanted me to review and make changes. Most dreadful three hours of my Wednesday, I must say. The interns wouldn’t say a word to me—they just, you know… stared. It was annoying.” Seokjin shrugged, now sipping a glass of whiskey on the rocks, seated right in front of you. You couldn’t look him in the eye, so you kept staring at the bottle of beer in your hand.
“Haha! The spell of Kim Seokjin. Even the interns can’t escape it, huh?” Shunmi teased, grinning at you. You just smiled and stayed quiet, even though her look was clearly provoking you to respond.
“Hey, Shun, don’t say that. They might think I’m some kind of pervert preying on interns. I don’t even enjoy working on that program, and you already know I’m not thrilled about working with Minji,” Seokjin said with a half-smile, watching Shunmi lean drunkenly on Shinmei’s shoulder.
“Sunbae, we all know your charm works everywhere. We used to have a crush on you too, right Shinmei? Haha. But we’re already fed up with your lame dad jokes every time we see you… your charm doesn’t work on us anymore.” Shunmi laughed so hard she started punching Shinmei’s arm.
“Hey, stop it, Shun! You’re hurting me! Hahaha! But it’s true, sunbae—we’ve moved on from our crush on you. But guess what? You’ve got a new victim.” Shin Mei threw a heavy stare at you, and your eyes widened in embarrassment. You shook your head hard, looking at Seokjin and Eunri.
“No, no—what are you trying to say, Shin-ah? I don’t know anything about that!”
“What? That you have a crush on sunbaenim? Why isn’t it true? Ahhh no… I don’t lie. I can see it in your eyes. Told you I had a crush on sunbae before—I was just like that! Hahahaha.” Shinmei was drunk and rambling. But was it really nonsense?
“Hyun Jae, hey, don’t deny it. We saw you when you came back from Euphoria earlier today—you were smiling like an idiot,” Shun Mi said, now slumped over the table.
“Seokjin-ah, is it okay if Hyunjae likes you?” Eunji turned to Seokjin. You couldn’t look at any of your teammates. This was beyond embarrassing.
Seokjin smiled and said, “Hey, you guys… stop teasing Hyunjae. If she likes me, does it matter? It’s just that, to be honest, I don’t like-like her, you know? Not to offend you, Hyunjae, alright? But I can’t crush you back. You’re just not my type.”
Your heart shattered. Hearing it from Seokjin himself—you hadn’t even confessed, and yet you were already rejected. The small pebbles of hope you’d been collecting these past few days sank into the mud of embarrassment and hurt. But you were drunk, and a drunk Hyunjae wasn’t going down without a fight. You needed a comeback for this douchebag.
You stood up, looked Seokjin straight in his two charming eyes, and replied with conviction in your drunken voice:
“Well, thank you, sunbaenim. And no worries… even if I like you, I would never let you know. You’re out of my league anyway, and I’m not the kind of girl who pushes herself onto someone who doesn’t like-like her. Good night, everyone. I’m heading off—the last bus home passes in 15 minutes. See you tomorrow, and good luck with the Starlight launch, twins. Sunbaenim.”
You bowed to all of them and walked out of the bar without looking back.
Once you got on the bus, you couldn’t help it—tears began streaming down your face. In your head, you kept thinking: He didn’t need to be that straightforward… and not in front of your team mates. He could’ve told you privately. But then again, you never planned on letting him in. So maybe he didn’t owe you anything. Still, if only you’d been more careful. If only you’d been more subtle. Maybe it would’ve been better to fight off those feelings and stay professional. Your heart wouldn’t be breaking now if you’d just been a little more guarded.
You fell asleep crying, but just before closing your eyes, you told yourself:
“I can be rejected, but I won’t be easily forgotten. That’s for sure.”
And with that, you drifted off to dreamland—heartbroken by Kim Seokjin.
Finally! I've posted this Seokjin fic that has been seating in my one note for the past 4 years! Yes! 4 years haha I am not a pro-writer and English is my 2nd language so definitely you will find errors here. Please bear with me? Love you guys and enjoy the ride! Will publish part 2 this weekend! ❤️❤️❤️
Part 2 is done! Finishing some edits and re-read just to make sure I have less errors. Please pray that I will have the strength to finish Part 3 this week too. >.<
but I’m still so bad at it" - A Little Bit Yours, JP Saxe, 2020
Pairing: Single Dad|Min Yoongi X Female Character | OC named Hyun Jae
Story: Exes -> Friends -> Lovers
Word Count: 2.1k
Warnings: Cheating, curse words, mentions of sex, alcohol consumption, children w/ severe illness
Summary: In your early 20s you thought you found the love of your life only to be cheated on by your long time boyfriend with your own aunt. Heartbroken, you left everything and never looked back. Now you're almost 40, on a vacation at your chosen paradise...you found yourself being dragged into the past that you can't escape because as much as you wanted, you know you have never moved on...
Dear Reader: English is my second language so please excuse me if you find any grammatical error. This is also my very first fic and tumblr post. I would greatly appreciate your comments. I hope you'll enjoy reading as much as I enjoyed writing this down.
BTS (behind the story): this fic was inspired by a dream. In my dream, Yoongi & I were in a long time relationship but he cheated on me with my own blood relative. When i woke up, I was crying. I felt it was so real. Maybe because I was recently in a bad break up too w/ the father of my child where we were together for 7 years. so yeah, maybe it's my subconscious mind making up scenarios to let me feel those repressed emotions I tried to hide for months now...so I can eventually heal. The title was inspired by JP Saxe's song "A Little Bit Yours"
15 years later.
It was a windy day, and having a day off at the beach while watching the sunset felt like the perfect reward. After a draining week at work, a solo beach trip was exactly what you needed. You’re 39 now—still single, still vibrant, still beautiful. You never let age make you feel old. You’ve taken care of yourself since your teenage years, always investing in your self-image, because deep down you know: a healthy mind, body, and heart is a treasure you’ll never regret nurturing.
Your friends always ask, Why on earth are you still single? And your answer is always the same: "I love myself; I don’t need anybody else." It’s half-truth, half-lie. Yes, you love yourself—because you’ve had to. You’ve lived alone since you were 25. No one else was going to take care of you, so you did. They think you’re a weirdo for it, but you know this is the best life you could live.
You left your hometown 15 years ago, after a heartbreak that carved itself into your soul. You left South Korea and never looked back. You believed that living alone, far from family, would help you heal and feel alive again. It was a tough decade and a half—but in all its glory, you made it.
You’re now one of the top Sales Executives at a renowned advertising and marketing firm in France. You own a villa in Nice, where you’re staying now, and a penthouse in La Gaude, along with a few luxury cars. No regrets. Leaving Seoul was the best decision you ever made.
Sometimes, though, the loneliness creeps in. So you meet a few men—at bars, on dating apps. Nothing serious. You know love isn’t your priority. Or maybe it’s that you can’t afford to fall in love. Not again. You’re done with the whole love thing, because you know how easily it can destroy you. You made a pact with your 24-year-old self: no man will ever hurt you again the way Yoongi did.
After an hour of staring at the purple-pink clouds blanketing the sunset over the sea, the beach begins to darken. The beachfront has only a few lights on, just enough for people to see the path. You’re now on your ninth glass of margarita, a little tipsy, when you spot a familiar figure walking along the shore.
You squint, trying to make sense of what you’re seeing. The man is a few feet away, but you recognize the build, the height, the silhouette. He sits down in front of your beach bed, gazing into the horizon. You shake your head, thinking the alcohol must be playing tricks on you.
"It’s impossible," you whisper to yourself.
Still sipping your margarita, you decide to head inside. You lie down on the couch, eyes heavy, thoughts swirling. The image of the man at the beach lingers. As you drift toward sleep, you mutter to yourself again and again…
"It’s impossible."
The next morning, you went for an early walk along the beach to soak in the sun. You were still thinking about what you saw the night before—the silhouette at the beachfront. You knew you were tipsy from all those margaritas (the best in Nice, no doubt), but you couldn’t shake the feeling. Was it real? Or just a delusion born of alcohol and longing?
Still lost in thought, eyes drifting toward the sea, you accidentally tripped over a sandcastle. A little girl shrieked behind you, watching her creation crumble beneath your distracted steps. She burst into tears, and you rushed toward her, apologetic and flustered.
“Sorry, baby. I didn’t mean to ruin your castle. I was just absentmindedly walking and didn’t see it. I’m terribly sorry. Please don’t cry… I—I—I’ll help you build another one.”
The girl paused when she heard the words “build another one.” Her tears slowed, and she stared at you for a moment. Then, a smile began to bloom in her eyes.
“My name is Hyun Jae. I’m so sorry I destroyed your castle, but we can always make a new one. I’ll help.” Your warm smile and gentle tone softened her completely.
“Can we build two more castles, please?” she asked. “We need to be fast because Dad will call me before lunch, so I need to finish before he calls for me.”
You nodded enthusiastically. “Sure, baby girl. We’ll make the prettiest sandcastles in all of Nice.”
She grinned, and the two of you got to work.
It was refreshing—this moment with a child. You hadn’t interacted with one in years. Work kept you busy, and you rarely visited friends with families. But this was different. This felt like something you needed. Time with someone so innocent, so joyful. Like every ruined sandcastle could be rebuilt—and rebuilt better.
Around 11:30 a.m., you heard a voice calling from the distance:
“Hyun Gi-ah! Come here now. It’s lunchtime. I made suyuk and kimchi fried rice. C’mon, let’s eat!”
You squinted toward the voice, but your sunglasses blurred the details. You turned to the girl. “Are you Hyun Gi?” She nodded and stood up quickly.
“Are you Korean? Did I hear right—you’re getting suyuk for lunch?” She nodded again, smiling, then ran toward the man. Halfway there, she stopped, turned around, and waved goodbye to you. That small gesture made your heart swell.
You felt a strange happiness—meeting another Korean here, on your vacation. But it also made your heart ache. It reminded you of home. Of your parents. Of Min Jae. And of course… Yoongi.
You brushed the thought away and returned to your villa for lunch.
You waited for Hyun Gi to return and continue building sandcastles, but the afternoon brought rain. You figured she wouldn’t be allowed outside. So you sat on the terrace, watching the raindrops fall, sipping your tea.
Then you saw him.
The man from last night. Walking along the beachfront, soaked from the rain. Your heart began to race. You tried to convince yourself it wasn’t him. It couldn’t be.
But as you stepped forward, closer to the beach, you caught his side profile.
It was Yoongi.
A hundred questions flooded your mind. Why is he here? Why, after fifteen years, is he in France—right in front of you?
You were only a few steps behind him when you stopped. Your instincts kicked in. Defense mode. You couldn’t approach him—not like this. You weren’t the one who cheated. You wouldn’t be the one to act like you missed him.
Even though God knows… you missed him every single day.
But no. You wouldn’t let your walls down. You didn’t know why he was here, or who he was with. You couldn’t risk being discovered. You sacrificed fifteen years of your life to escape the people who broke you.
So you turned back. You ran to your villa. Tears filled your eyes. And your heart… broke again.
Your mind wouldn’t rest. The rain was relentless, pouring hard for nearly three hours now. This wasn’t just a passing thunderstorm—it felt like the sky itself was grieving. You’d already finished your sixth can of beer, but sleep refused to come. You just wanted to shut off your thoughts. Why on earth would Yoongi be here in France? Thousands of miles from Seoul. Does he know you’re here? Is he still with your stupid, slutty Aunt Rose—the woman he cheated on you with?
The memory clawed its way back, even after more than a decade.
It was the scandal of your century. Aunt Rose—nearly twice your age, in her late thirties when you were with Yoongi—had an affair with your fiancé. Your own aunt. The woman you thought was genuinely happy for you. The betrayal etched itself into your heart so deeply that you swore never to fall in love again. Since 2006, you hadn’t stepped into another relationship. You were too afraid. Too scarred.
And now, here in France—the place you chose to preserve your peace—was being stained by a new memory of Yoongi.
You finished another case of beer, numbing yourself until sleep finally took over.
You woke up hours later with a pounding hangover. You stumbled to your medicine cabinet, only to find it empty. No headache pills. You called the main lobby to ask if they had any. The officer explained that due to last night’s storm, most staff hadn’t made it in, and no one could assist you immediately.
You understood. You offered to come down and get the medicine yourself, which the officer appreciated. You were one of their VIP clients, but you never acted like it. You treated the staff like friends, not employees—and they adored you for it.
After a shower, you headed to the main villa to grab the medicine and have brunch.
On your walk, you thought of Hyun Gi. It had been a day since you’d seen the little girl. You imagined her disappointment—the castles you built together surely washed away by the waves.
At the lobby, a few staff members were present. Most recognized you immediately.
“Hello, Miss Jae! We thought you’d already left!”
You smiled. “Oh, don’t you want me to stay a few more days? I’m avoiding my boss—he keeps trying to get into my pants during those so-called ‘meetings.’ I just want peace. Please let me stay a little longer?”
They laughed with you, swapping stories about recent guests. You ate brunch, took your medicine, and chatted more. Then one comment caught your attention.
“There’s a Korean guy staying here—very handsome. Around your age, Miss. I think he’s married because he’s with a child.”
Another staff member chimed in, “I don’t think he’s married. No ring. Maybe the child’s his niece. He speaks fluent English and knows a little French. Said he studied it because he wanted to settle here. Maybe he’s divorced… or a widower.”
Divorced. Or a widower. So Yoongi might’ve broken up with Aunt Rose. Married someone else. Lost her. Or divorced her. You went quiet.
You remembered telling Yoongi you wanted to study French. That you dreamed of retiring in France—living by the beach until your last breath. Grandchildren visiting every holiday, playing in the sun and sea. Did he remember that?
And the child. Was it him who called out to the girl on the beach? Was she his daughter? With Aunt Rose? Or someone else?
“Miss Jae? More coffee?”
You snapped out of your thoughts. “Oh no, I’m fine. All stuffed. You guys always give me meals that destroy my diet.” You chuckled, and they laughed with you.
“You always look good, Miss Jae—even without the diet. I wish I were as gorgeous as you.”
You blushed. “Oh, stop that! Haha. I’ll still tip you even without the compliments.”
They smiled, and you finished your breakfast before heading back to your villa.
As night fell, the thought of Yoongi lingered. You were too shy to ask the staff directly about him. So you kept quiet and followed your usual Sunday routine—a chill beach party at 6 p.m.
You dressed up, slipped into your best sundress, and headed to the beachfront. A few people were already dancing and drinking, even though it was just twenty past six. You went to the bar, ordered your first margarita, and sat beneath a pole wrapped in fairy lights.
You wondered if Yoongi would be there. You hoped he would be there. But if he was… how would you talk to him? Are you ready to talk to him?
The questions swirled as you returned to the bar for your second margarita.
And then—your nightmare came to life.
You sat at the bar, nursing your drink, when a voice behind you sliced through the hum of the beach party. Low. Mesmerizing. Familiar. The voice that once narrated your dreams. Your knees weakened. You didn’t need to turn around. You knew it was Yoongi.
"One whiskey, on the rocks please."
Whiskey. He still loved whiskey. You could feel his presence behind you—close enough to touch, yet oblivious to who you were. You didn’t speak. You didn’t move. You just hoped he’d walk away before the past caught up with you.
But fate had other plans.
“Second Margarita special for Miss Hyun Jae!” bartender’s voice rang out from behind the bar, cheerful and loud.
Hyun Jae. Hyun Jae. What the hell, why shout it loudly?
You wanted to vanish. You knew your name would spark recognition. It wasn’t common around Nice to hear a Korean name—especially not yours.
You reached for your glass, forcing a smile toward the bartender, mouthing a silent “thank you.” You turned to walk away, heart pounding, when you heard it.
A whisper. Soft. Tentative. Your name.
“Hyun Jae… is it… really you?”
You froze. Statue-still. You should’ve kept walking. Should’ve pretended not to hear. But that voice—the one that once made you dizzy with love—held you in place.
“Hyun Jae, it’s Yoongi. Is it really you?”
You turned slowly, breath caught in your throat. And finally, you spoke.
Pairing: Co-worker Seokjin X Female Character | OC named Hyunjae
Story: Co-workers -> Friends -> Lovers
Word Count: 7.3k
Warnings: Nothing really. Seokjin's dad jokes?
You were never the shy type of girl, and that was one of your strongest traits. Back in college, you always participated in extracurricular programs and activities to showcase your talent, meet new people, and enjoy yourself. Being in a crowd and making people happy made you happy.
When you landed a job at an Events & Advertising Firm, it was a perfect match for your personality and goals.
You moved out of your hometown and settled in an apartment complex 40 minutes away from your office. It was a bit of a hassle since you had to wake up early to catch the bus, but being new to earning your own money, you had to be frugal. Renting an apartment near your office would cost three times more than your current rent—definitely a no-go for now. Despite the struggles, you knew they were temporary and that better days were ahead.
Your first day at work went smoothly. Your coworkers seemed nice to a rookie like you, and you quickly made friends—of course, you’ve always been a social butterfly! Everyone’s warmth helped you adjust to your new environment. As an Events Associate, you worked closely with senior colleagues who wanted to give you exposure to the business and client management. You often tagged along, especially during local events in the city.
One colleague, Eunri, a Senior Events Associate four years ahead of you, became especially fond of you. She said you reminded her of herself when she was new to the company. She admired your passion and eagerness to learn. A party animal herself, she never missed a chance to hit the bar after work—and she always dragged you along. Being with Eunri made your life easier; she had a wide network of acquaintances and friends, which helped you build your own.
After just a few months, you were promoted to Events Associate II. That meant handling more events, not just locally but also out-of-town and high-profile ones. Eunri, your friend and mentor, was thrilled. You also moved to the same floor and workspace as the Senior Associates, which made you feel more comfortable and safe since you could be with Eunri more often.
With the promotion came new team members. There was Shinhye, a Senior Associate with four years of tenure, who handled local government programs and advertisements. Then there were Shunmi and Shinmei—nicknamed “the twins” even though they weren’t related—who were a year ahead of you and managed record label and broadcast company events. And finally, there was Seokjin, the only man on your team, with three years of experience as an Events Associate II.
Seokjin was ethereal. Unbelievably handsome. Even when you were just a junior associate, you’d heard stories about him but only saw him on rare occasions. Girls in the office always gawked at him during general meetings or company lunches. But you never spoke to him. In your mind, he was out of your league—so you admired him from afar. Now that you were on the same team, you kept things professional. You only spoke when he initiated, only sat beside him during meetings or team lunches. As social as you were, Seokjin somehow made you shy.
“Hyunjae, let’s head to Conference Room 3. The meeting starts in five minutes, and you don’t want the twins upset for starting late—they’ve got a party to attend later,” Eunri called out from your workstation.
“Yeah, sure, unnie. Just two more minutes—I need to save this,” you replied, focused on your computer, finalizing a proposal draft for an upcoming bar opening.
You didn’t notice Seokjin standing behind your chair.
“Hyunjae-ssi, you’ll be late if you don’t get your ass off that screen now,” he whispered in your right ear.
Startled, you turned to see his handsome face—so close. His plump lips were just centimeters away. You gulped and exhaled hard. Good thing Seokjin didn’t have telepathy, or you’d be doomed.
“Yeah, sunbae. I’m done. Heading to the conference room now,” you said quickly, grabbing your journal and pen. Seokjin fixed your chair after you stood and followed behind you.
In the conference room, the twins began their presentation.
“Okay guys, we called this meeting because we need help with an upcoming event for the record label Starlight. They’re launching a new female artist in a few weeks and want our company’s support, even with the short prep time,” Shunmi explained.
“We need at least two of you to help us. Starlight requested us because we’ve handled their press conferences well in the past, even with tight timelines. This is our first artist launch with them, so we need your support to execute it properly. The higher-ups have approved pulling two of you for the project,” she added.
Shin Mei took over the slides. “We know you’re all willing, but we don’t want to impose. So we’re giving you a chance to volunteer. If no one does…” she paused as Shun Mi placed a small box in front of you, “…we’ll draw lots and let fate decide.”
You, Eunri, and Shinhye giggled. The twins were professionals, but they always added a fun twist to work. You stopped giggling when your eyes met Seokjin’s—his face serious despite the playful setup. You quickly broke eye contact and spoke.
“I don’t think my project will push through until mid-next month, so I volunteer as tribute!” you said, grinning and raising your hand.
“Wow, great Hyunjae! Thanks—we appreciate you tons!” Shinmei exclaimed, hugging you tightly.
Shunmi shook the box, mixing the papers inside, anticipating the draw.
“Alright, one down. The rest of you—decide if someone will volunteer or be voluntold.”
After a few seconds of silence, Seokjin raised his hand. “I’ll do it. No need to bother our seniors—they’re working on a big project. I can help you guys and Hyunjae.”
Your heart dropped again—he said your name for the second time today. You weren’t sure if this project would help you get over your little crush on Seokjin… or make it worse.
"Alrighty! So nice of you, Seokjin! Thank you so much!" Shunmi exclaimed, clearly thrilled. "Shinmei, can you print out the proposal and hand it over to Hyunjae and Seokjin’s desks before EOD? We’ll schedule a meeting tomorrow morning to get started. Meeting adjourned, team! Thank you for your time!"
Shunmi beamed with excitement as she sat next to Shinmei, who was already preparing the drafts for printing.
You exited the conference room and immediately approached Eunri. She knew your secret about Seokjin. During all those nights at the bar, drinking and partying, he was always your favorite topic to discuss. Eunri was fond of your little crush and even believed Seokjin might be interested in you too.
She once mentioned that during a coffee break in the pantry, Seokjin asked where you lived. He said he’d noticed you standing at the bus stop during rush hour after work. Eunri told him you lived a bit far from the office because rent was cheaper there, and since it’s your first job out of college, you wanted to save more—so you chose to rent a place 40 minutes away.
You didn’t overthink it at the time. After all, he said he only noticed because he often passed by the bus stop while driving home. But still, the thought lingered in the back of your mind. Could he really be interested in you too?
"Unnie, I’m nervous. I’ve never worked with Seokjin before. Do you have any tips?"
Eunri laughed and replied, "You don’t need to be nervous. Just be yourself. Seokjin is funny and easy to get along with. He might seem timid and reserved at work, but he actually has a hilarious and friendly personality. You’ll see what I mean once you start working on the project. Just be yourself—no need to be intimidated by Seokjin."
She patted your back and headed to her workstation. You, on the other hand, felt extremely uncomfortable—but what could you do? You had to be professional, and that’s exactly what you intended to be.
And Eunri was right—Seokjin was a very funny man. You couldn’t help but laugh out loud whenever he dropped those dad jokes during your meetings with the twins.
“Why couldn’t the bicycle stand up on its own?” Seokjin began the meeting with a string of jokes to perk up your third day working on the Starlight project.
“Shinmei, you should know this… you love bicycles,” Shunmi blurted out, giggling while munching on her sandwich.
“Shun, I love bicycles—but not Seokjin’s lame jokes!” Shinmei laughed as Seokjin turned to you, waiting for your answer to his joke. You could barely concentrate with him looking at you like that.
“Hey, Hyunjae… do you know why bicycles can’t stand up on their own?” Seokjin asked, still staring at you.
“Because it’s too tired? Two tired… you know?” You weren’t sure if you got the joke right, but it was the first thing that came to mind after being startled by Seokjin calling you out.
“Wow, wow, wow! Hyun Jae here is something! You’re right—it’s because it’s ‘two tired’! You know, two tires for bikes?” Seokjin smiled widely, looking at the three of you, trying to convince you it was funny.
The twins didn’t buy it, but you giggled at Seokjin’s effort. He looked a bit disappointed—his joke was, well, lame, especially since you guessed it right away.
“Damn, I need to up my game. My audience is getting harder to amuse as the days go by,” he said, shrugging his broad shoulders in mock defeat.
The day went on smoothly. The plans were coming together well—you’d already booked the caterers for the press conference, which was your assignment. Seokjin was in charge of the after-party at a bar near the Starlight office for their staff. The twins were busy managing the overall program. Everything seemed to be going well, and you couldn’t wish for more than to see this project succeed.
There were days when you had to work overtime, and going home late was a hassle. You often missed the last bus trip to your apartment and had to take a cab just to get home quickly. The Starlight project was challenging but fulfilling. You were working with your best colleagues—and your crush.
Isn’t life being kind to you?
It was two days before the Starlight Artist launch, and everyone was busy. You didn’t see Seokjin in the office that day—he was out on official business, meeting with suppliers and coordinating with the bar in preparation for the after-party. You had already wrapped up the press conference catering and security details, so you were free to work on your own projects. You were looking forward to going home early, having worked late nights these past few weeks.
Finally, 5 p.m. struck, and you were off. You said your goodbyes to Eunri, Shinhye, and the twins, then headed out. You hadn’t seen Seokjin return to the office after the morning meeting for Starlight, so you assumed he was still on-site handling after-party preparations. As you stepped outside, heavy rain began to pour, and you found yourself stuck at the bus stop. Traffic was heavy, and you figured the buses would be delayed—and likely full by the time they reached your stop. So much for leaving work early, right? You stood there, watching the rain, waiting for it to ease, when a black Hyundai Palisade pulled up in front of you.
“Hyunjae, hop on! Buses won’t arrive for the next 30 minutes. Traffic’s a mess along 7th Avenue... I just passed through it. Come on!”
It was Seokjin. He was asking you to ride with him. In his car. On this rainy afternoon. You didn’t have time to think—you just opened the door and hopped in.
“Angel, put on your seatbelt, please. Safety first.”
What? Did he just call you Angel? WTF. You never knew a nickname could make your flesh and bones shiver. You stared at him, stunned, and he looked just as confused by your expression.
“Hey, Jae, you need to put on your seatbelt… alright… just let me—” Seokjin unbuckled his own seatbelt, leaned closer, grabbed yours, and fastened it around you. With that small distance between you, you caught a whiff of his cologne—or was it perfume? You couldn’t think straight. You were basically mute in Seokjin’s presence. He was practically hugging you as he tightened the belt, then returned to his seat and buckled up.
“Okay, we’re good to go. Where do you live, Hyunjae? It must be on my way—I can drop you off.”
Hearing your name on his lips snapped you out of your trance. You responded in a soft, trembling voice, “Oh, I live at Le Ciel, just south of Haru.”
Seokjin nodded. “Oh. My place is a few kilometers before Haru—maybe 20 minutes from where I picked you up. But let’s—” He was about to say something when you interrupted.
“Oh no, that’s too far from where I’m heading. You can just drop me off at the bus stop before you turn onto 27th Avenue. There are buses there to Haru, so you really don’t need to drive so far just for me. I can take the bus from there.”
Seokjin stared at you for a few seconds. “No, really, I can drop you off at Le Ciel. There’s a bridge behind that neighborhood—it’s a shortcut back. You’ll have a hard time taking the bus in this rain. It’ll be crowded, and besides… I could spend this time with you.”
Those last few words made your heart flutter. Did Seokjin really mean it? Spending time with you?
“We can start updating each other about the progress of the Starlight project. I wasn’t able to stay long at the office because something came up at Euphoria—the bar where the after-party will be held—so I had to resolve it before heading home.”
Oh. So it’s just work-related. You could handle that.
“Yeah, sure. Well, I’m done talking with Chimmy’s, and we had the final taste test of the food to be served. The twins handled the meeting with the security agency for the press con on Wednesday, so I think my part is all set. How about you? Was the problem at Euphoria resolved?”
“Well, yeah. Actually… only 70% of it. One of their suppliers had an issue with the beers for Wednesday night. We ordered 120 cases of the beer specifically requested by the Starlight execs, but they thought we only needed 20. So now they’re scrambling to find other suppliers for the remaining 100 cases. I was like, are their staff that heavy drinkers? Why 120 cases? Are they taking the rest home?”
You laughed at Seokjin’s sarcastic remark and his animated expression. You’d never seen him like this before—it was amusing.
“I asked the bar if they’d ever hosted a party like this—120 cases of beer for a staff of 50? And not everyone will even show up. I wonder if they’ll take the leftovers home or restock their office pantry.”
“I’d love the latter. Haha, if that’s possible. Imagine sipping a bottle while Miss Min Ji’s nagging the interns.”
You and Seokjin laughed—a light, happy laugh. You’d never laughed with him like this before. It felt like you were finally becoming friends, sharing sarcastic and slightly mean remarks about work life.
The conversation continued. Seokjin asked about your college days, and you told him about the club parties you organized—even though you weren’t a member. You freelanced during college, making cutouts and backdrops for parties and meetings. You majored in Marketing and minored in Arts. He told you he was actually an Acting major and never expected to end up in Events Management. He just enjoyed the work and the chance to meet different people, even with the strict and ridiculously boring office schedule. He also mentioned that the car he was driving was a gift from his father, the CEO of a distillery company. You wondered why he didn’t pursue the same path, but he simply said his parents were supportive of whatever he chose to do.
So there it was—the 40-minute ride home turned out to be a great moment for the two of you. After a few more minutes, you arrived at the front gate of Le Ciel.
“Sunbae-nim, thank you for the ride. Please drive safely.”
“Hey, no worries, Angel. Anytime, okay? Don’t stay at those bus stops for more than half an hour at night. It’s too dangerous, alright? See you tomorrow.” Seokjin waved goodbye as you opened your umbrella and walked to your unit.
Your heart was full. And maybe, just maybe, being called Angel was the best nickname you’d ever had.
It’s the day before the big event. You’re thankful to Seokjin for driving you home last night—you were able to get to bed early and rest well. You woke up before your alarm to prepare breakfast. Since you had plenty of time this morning, you decided to make a simple breakfast for Seokjin as a thank-you for the ride. You packed egg rolls and kimchi rice with pork cutlets. You’re not exactly a great cook, but you know how to prepare a decent meal.
Once everything was ready, you left home and waited at the bus stop. The rain from last night had cleared the skies. The air felt fresh. The sunlight and the cool breeze complemented each other perfectly. You silently prayed that today would be a good day. The bus arrived, and you set off for work.
You arrived at the office 15 minutes before 9 a.m. You were a little confused—none of your teammates were at their workstations. You looked around and noticed that the twins’ and your senior associates’ bags were on their desks, so maybe they had just stepped out for coffee. You couldn’t help but glance at Seokjin’s desk too. No sign of his big backpack or his emerald tumbler. He’s usually early. Since you started working with him, you’ve never known him to be late.
You approached his desk, placed the breakfast box you’d prepared, and left a note:
“Thanks for the ride yesterday. Got to sleep early so I had time to prep this. Hope you enjoy it, sunbaenim. – HJ”
After leaving the meal box, you headed to Conference Room 6 for an early meeting with your interns, who would be helping with your upcoming project next month. As you left your workspace, Seokjin still hadn’t arrived.
It was almost lunchtime when your meeting ended. You had to thoroughly debrief the interns—most of them were new and needed extra guidance. You remember what it felt like to be a newbie, so you made sure they felt supported. After the meeting, you returned to your desk and saw the breakfast box back on it.
“HJ, thanks for the meal. I was late this morning, so your breakfast was a lifesaver! – SJ”
Your heart raced. He ate the breakfast you made. Your chest felt like it might burst from a bliss you couldn’t quite explain. You were just happy that Seokjin appreciated your effort. You looked around for him, but he still wasn’t at his desk. Maybe he was in a meeting—or on-site again. You were excited to see him, but your workload wouldn’t allow it. Not yet.
A few hours later, while finishing your proposal draft and some request letters, you received a call from an unknown number.
“Hello, Hyunjae here. Who is this, please?” “Hey, Hyunjae, it’s Seokjin. Are you at the office right now?”
It was Seokjin. You didn’t have his number saved—you usually talked through the office messenger app, and you never had the courage to ask for his number. It was a surprise that he had yours. Maybe he got it from Eunri, Shinhye, or the twins.
“Hello, sunbaenim. Yes, I am. Do you need anything?” “Yeah, I wanted to ask a favor, if that’s okay?” “Sure, anything. What’s the favor?” “Okay, so I’m here at Euphoria right now, and we’re sorting out a problem with the suppliers. I forgot to bring our acknowledgment receipts—they’re in my desk drawer, just under a blue metal box. Can you get them and bring them here to Euphoria? You can take a cab—it’ll be faster. Can you do it?”
With enthusiasm, you replied,
“Of course, sunbaenim. I’ll just save the files I’m working on and head straight there. I’ll text you once I’m on my way.”
“Great, Angel. Thank you so much! I’ll wait for you here. Bye!”
“Sure, see you in a bit. Bye!”
You quickly saved your files and closed your laptop. You got up, retrieved the receipts from Seokjin’s desk, and approached Shinhye. You told her about Seokjin’s call and asked for permission to leave the office. She understood and gave you the go-ahead, even handing you some petty cash for the cab ride to and from the bar.
When you arrived at Euphoria, Seokjin was already at the door, waiting. He waved and jogged a few steps to meet you.
“There you are, Angel. Thank you so much—and sorry if I’m being a bother. I know you’re busy too.”
“No worries, sunbaenim. Here are the receipts.”
You handed him the envelope and turned to get back in the cab, but he gently held your arm.
“Hey, aren’t you staying? You just got here.” Seokjin looked confused as you moved to leave so quickly.
“Oh, I thought you just needed the receipts, so I was heading out… or is there anything else you need me to do here?”
“Ah, yes. If you can stay, would you mind accompanying me while we check the bar’s decorations for tomorrow’s event? We’ll just look around. We can head back to the office together.”
Without hesitation, you told the cab driver you wouldn’t be taking the ride back. Seokjin walked beside you as you entered Euphoria.
The bar was elegant, with a gothic flair. It had dark interiors and silver furniture. The high chairs were designed like skeletons—silver, not the typical grayish-white color of real bones. The curtains reached all the way to the ceiling, and the chandeliers were truly extravagant. You’d been to your fair share of bars, especially during party nights with the girls on your team. You often went out drinking with Eunri and the twins, but Euphoria was on another level.
“Wow, this place is surreal. It’s like a dark castle owned by a vampire count,” you whispered to Seokjin as you sat at one of the VIP tables, decorated with glass goblets wrapped in silver vine-like designs.
“Well, as we were briefed, the female artist debuting at Starlight is a rock singer, so maybe this is the aesthetic they’re going for. It was hard to find a bar that could pull off a modern gothic vibe, so I’m glad we found Euphoria.”
“It suits the theme well. How about the liquor issue? Was it resolved?”
“Ah, yes! That’s why I needed the receipts. Speaking of which, can I leave you here for a moment? I’ll just talk to the bar manager.”
“Sure, I’ll look around.”
“Okay, just wait for me here. We’ll head back to the office after this.” Seokjin winked at you.
Wait—did he just wink? Your brain short-circuited. That wink and smile from your sunbaenim were too much. You considered running back to the office alone. Could you survive another minute with him without your heart exploding?
A few minutes later, Seokjin returned with four bottles of beer. You were clueless as to why he was carrying them, but he smiled joyfully as he approached the VIP table.
“Okay, the bar manager gave us free bottles to taste test. I told him I was curious why the label insisted on this particular beer—even though it’s expensive and imported. So he said we could try a few bottles since they have extra cases. If you know what I mean.” And there it was again—Seokjin’s mischievous smile.
“But sunbaenim, we’re not allowed to drink during office hours. Technically, we’re still clocked in, and this might get us into trouble.” You frowned, showing your confusion and hesitation.
Seokjin laughed. “Don’t worry. I already asked the twins if it’s okay to taste the beers and finger foods for tomorrow. They know we’re doing a taste test. We’re safe. I told you—safety first.” He winked again, smiling from ear to ear.
“Okay, I trust you, sunbaenim. I can’t afford to lose my job, you know?”
“Of course, Angel. I’ve got your back. Now, we need to finish these bottles before we return to work—security won’t let us restock the pantry with these!”
That made you burst out laughing. Seokjin was referencing your conversation from yesterday about the beers. Your heart skipped a beat. You were drinking with Seokjin—just like normal colleagues and friends.
After a bottle and a half of Pale Pilsen (the beer you were taste-testing), you felt a bit dizzy. It was your first time trying this beer, and it had a strong kick.
“My alcohol tolerance is usually pretty high, but this beer is different. Maybe three more of these and I’ll be in dreamland.” You smiled at Seokjin, watching him gulp down his beer. His Adam’s apple moved slowly as he swallowed, and it made you even dizzier—dizzy from his ethereal handsomeness that you sometimes wished you could ignore, just so you wouldn’t feel awkward around him. But damn, this man was a stunning view.
You hadn’t noticed that Seokjin was staring right back at you while you were lost in thought, admiring his perfect face.
“Hey, Angel, are you drunk already? Why are you looking at me like that?” Seokjin raised an eyebrow.
You snapped out of your trance and responded in a low, almost whispering voice, “Oh no, I’m not drunk. I just thought you look like someone out of a comic book… a manga, actually. You look like… I don’t know, sunbaenim… you just look gorgeous.”
Seokjin laughed, tapping the table. Did he hear you? You called him gorgeous. He was totally surprised and found your words hilarious.
“Hyun Jae, you should not finish that bottle. You’re clearly drunk. Hahahaha. Me? Gorgeous?” He kept laughing.
You were caught off guard. You realized you hadn’t muttered the words quietly enough—he heard you fawning over him. In defense, you replied with more confidence:
“Well, I’m not lying. Have you seen yourself? You’re really handsome, sunbaenim. I’m just stating facts.” With that, you lifted the half-full bottle of beer and gulped it down in one shot.
Seokjin saw what you did and followed suit. He finished his beer and looked straight at you.
“Well, I am handsome. I know that. But I’m more than that, you know? I’m more than my looks.” His face turned slightly red, but his tone was serious.
You noticed the shift in his mood and gently said, “Oh, of course, sunbaenim. You’re more than that. You’re talented, skilled, and very dedicated. You’re also… kind.” You spoke softly and looked at him after those last words.
“Well, yeah. You’re right. I mean, I know I have those qualities. It’s just… sometimes people judge you based on your looks. They think you have it all just because you look good. But actually, it’s the opposite sometimes. I don’t know…” Seokjin’s mood dipped, and he stared off into the distance.
You tried to lighten the mood with a joke. “Hey, sunbaenim, did you know that 10 + 10 and 11 + 11 are the same?”
Seokjin looked back at you, confused, trying to figure out the punchline. He stayed quiet for a few seconds.
“Sunbaenim, you’re getting rusty. 10 + 10 is twenty… 11 + 11 is twenty too!”
Seokjin burst out laughing. Yes! Your plan to make him smile worked.
“You really shouldn’t spend more time with me. Your jokes are getting lamer by the day.” He laughed so hard he held his chest, gasping for air.
“Well, I only learn from the best—like you, sunbae.” You smiled back. “You know, we’re done here. We can head back to the office before I spill my entire joke database, which you might use against me someday.”
Seokjin stood up, still laughing, and held out his hand to help you up. You gladly took it, stood, and the two of you headed back to the office.
The trip back to the office was more fun. Seokjin kept telling his dad jokes, while you sat there seriously trying to figure out each one until he got tired and revealed the punchline himself. He also told you why he was late that morning—he had to take his dog, Jjangu, to his parents’ house. He figured the team would be busy with the upcoming event, so he left early to drop Jjangu off, but didn’t expect the traffic back to the city to be so heavy.
“So thanks for the breakfast. I totally forgot to eat because I was in a hurry.” “You’re welcome. It’s my way of saying thanks too—since you bothered to drive me home last night, even with the heavy rain.”
You stared at Seokjin with admiration and appreciation. You couldn’t quite understand what was behind that smile from your sunbae, but just as he was about to speak—
“Hyunjae, actually…”
—the cab halted, signaling that you’d arrived at your destination.
“We’re here, sunbae. You can head straight upstairs—I just need to grab a cup of tea for Shinhye. She asked me to buy her one when I got back. See you!”
You got out of the cab first and ran to the nearest café to get Shinhye’s green tea. Seokjin was left inside the cab, his words left unsaid.
When you returned to the office, you went straight to Shinhye’s desk and handed her the tea. You stayed for a few minutes, chatting about how amazing the setup at Euphoria was. After the small talk, you headed to the conference room for a final meeting with your Starlight team. When you entered, the twins were already there with Seokjin, scanning pages in a binder—details for tomorrow’s press conference. As soon as the twins noticed you, they settled in and started the meeting.
“Okay, tomorrow’s the day. Thank you, Seokjin and Hyunjae, for helping us. We’ve reviewed the catering and security parts of the conference, and we want to commend you, Hyun Jae, for being so thorough. Thanks… really… a ton. Planning the press con was a toll in itself, and you taking over the food and security services helped us a lot,” Shinmei said, smiling genuinely at you. She turned to Shunmi.
“And to our sunbaenim, Seokjinnie… thank you soooo much for taking care of the after-party! I had the worst headache after reviewing six proposals for the theme, and you made it come true. You’re a miracle worker! We’re just glad you never auditioned to be one of our commercial models—otherwise, we wouldn’t have a trustworthy associate here.”
Shun Mi beamed with appreciation toward Seokjin, who smiled fondly back at the twins.
“Thanks again, sunbaenim and Hyunjae. Please take a rest now—we can take over from here. Just keep your lines open in case we have questions, but we think we’ve got it covered. And don’t forget to attend the after-party tomorrow night, okay? We don’t want Seokjinnie’s efforts to go to waste. Make sure you wear your sluttiest gothic dress tomorrow night, Hyunjae, okay?!” Shunmi practically screamed in excitement.
“Seokjin, sunbae, make sure you go to the party too. Mr. Jeon specifically requested the man who made his dream of a gothic party for his artist Josh Cullen’s debut come true. So don’t be absent—or I’m telling Eunri and Shinhye!”
“Yes, ladies. I’ll definitely be there. We’ve tasted the beers that Mr. Jeon requested, and trust me—you’ll need to take some B vitamins before the party if you want to keep up with the kick of that beer. I’m dead serious,” Seokjin said, suddenly very serious with his reminders to the twins—and to you.
“Was it that strong, Hyunjae? I mean, our tolerance is like that of a 20-year-old college dude. Was it really that intense?” Shinmei approached your seat, staring at you with curiosity.
“Well, yeah. I drank just two bottles and ended up telling dad jokes afterward,” you giggled, your eyes searching for Seokjin’s face. He was laughing quietly on the other side of the table.
“Wow, I really need to prepare for the after-party then,” Shunmi replied, staring at the ceiling, clearly imagining how she’d survive getting wasted on a Thursday night.
After a few seconds of silence, Shunmi announced:
“Okay, okay. We’re done here. Again, thank you for your help—and don’t forget the dress code for the after-party. We want to see your best ‘I’m not dead, I just dress like I am’ looks—in sluttier versions, please. Thank you, ladies and gentleman. Meeting’s adjourned.”
After that tiring Wednesday, Eunri and the twins invited you to grab a quick drink just a block away. You figured you’d earned a great night out with your colleagues—tomorrow was the Starlight event, and so far, everything was smooth sailing. You clocked out immediately and left the office with the rest of the girls. You didn’t see Seokjin on your way out, but his things were still on his desk, so maybe he was still around—perhaps in a meeting or chatting with colleagues on the upper floors. You wished you could’ve said goodbye, but you couldn’t be that clingy. You needed to be less obvious about your stupid crush, or he might notice.
After a few drinks and a couple of hours, you and the girls were having fun dancing and drinking at Refuse—a bar just a block from the office, where your team usually hangs out (minus Seokjin, of course). You’d been working with your current team for a few months now, but Seokjin never joined your night-outs. After a few songs and sore feet from dancing in heels, you invited the girls to rest and just have a few more shots at your table.
Shinmei was babbling about a guy from Starlight who kept texting her nonstop, always insisting on taking her out. She couldn’t entertain him yet because your contract with Starlight stated that no one could engage in relationships with their staff while the project was ongoing. Shunmi told her to just be honest, but Shin was too shy to decline the invite—even though she found him interesting.
“But dodging his invites is like declining him indirectly too, you know?” you said to Shinmei, who was now scrolling through her phone to show you the messages.
“Yeah, just be straight and honest. Tell him work’s interfering and ask him to wait a few days. The contract ends in a week—if he really likes you, he’ll wait,” Eunri replied, sipping her nth glass of margarita.
“Sorry, Shin-ah, I didn’t notice that clause in the contract before we signed. I never thought you’d find a love interest mid-project! But I salute your dedication. I’ll make sure to finish all pending transactions with Starlight after tomorrow night so you can date freely. I got your back, girl!” said Shinhye, being both your boss and your friend.
You really admired your seniors—it’s rare to find colleagues who treat you like family, genuinely.
“Shunmi, we need to make this project successful. My love life is at stake! Hahaha!” Shin said, still typing on her phone. She must’ve been texting the guy from the record label.
“How about you, Hyunjae? How are things with Seokjin? Any progress?” Eunri asked, smiling mischievously.
You nearly choked on your drink at her teasing.
“Hey, unnie… keep it down. The girls might hear you,” you replied, a bit annoyed and nervous.
“They already know. As if they haven’t noticed you staring at Seokjin during meetings or when we’re at our workstations. You even left a breakfast box on his desk the other day. He asked Shunie where you were that morning. So yeah, I think you two are pretty obvious,” Eunri said matter-of-factly.
“No, we’re not obvious. Because there’s nothing to be obvious about, unnie.”
“Oh, cut the crap, Hyunnie, my dear. Have you tried asking Seokjin out? Inviting him to lunch or grabbing coffee?”
“Of course not, unnie. Why would I do that? You know I’m awkward around sunbae. And I don’t think it’s proper for a girl to ask a guy out.”
“And why is that?” Eunri raised her brows and eyed you like she was about to bite. “It’s 2025, dear. You still living in some 1980s mindset? Girls can be just as forward as guys now. Haven’t I told you how I got my fiance, Yoongi? I asked him out to an amusement park. And look at us—we’ve been together for five years and we’re planning to get married this year! You’re not making your move, and you might lose Seokjin. He’s popular in the office—even the managers have a big, fat crush on him. You’ve got an edge in this competition, girl. You better work on it now.”
Eunri was now done with her margarita and starting on her first bottle of beer.
“That’s the struggle, unnie. I’m out of his league. I barely have anything to be proud of. Seokjin will never notice me—and honestly, it’s okay. I’m just happy we’re working together. I enjoy his company, and I’m inspired by how he lives his life. So I’m good with that.”
Your voice softened, losing confidence—even under the influence of alcohol.
“It’s up to you, dear. I’m drunk-swearing this, but I won’t meddle in your love life anymore… after tonight… so sorry…” Eunri grinned at you, and you were confused.
“What are you talking about, unnie?”
You had no idea what she meant. But there was something sinister behind her smile, and you couldn’t quite figure it out.
Then, after a few seconds, someone whispered in your ear—
“Hey Angel, what are you drinking?”
It was Seokjin!!
Unbeknownst to you, Eunri had texted Seokjin, inviting him to join you all at Refuse for a few drinks.
“Sunbae, you’re here,” you said, surprised to see Seokjin. You weren’t prepared to be drunk in front of him.
“Well, Eunri told me you’d be here, and since I already had two bottles earlier… I figured I might as well continue fulfilling my alcohol satisfaction here.” Seokjin winked at you, and your drunk heart couldn’t get any drunker than this.
“Glad you managed to escape Minji. What was she asking you to do so urgently right before clocking out?” Eunri asked.
“Intern stuff. She asked me to help with the intern program since her associate resigned. I designed the program two years ago, so she wanted me to review and make changes. Most dreadful three hours of my Wednesday, I must say. The interns wouldn’t say a word to me—they just, you know… stared. It was annoying.” Seokjin shrugged, now sipping a glass of whiskey on the rocks, seated right in front of you. You couldn’t look him in the eye, so you kept staring at the bottle of beer in your hand.
“Haha! The spell of Kim Seokjin. Even the interns can’t escape it, huh?” Shunmi teased, grinning at you. You just smiled and stayed quiet, even though her look was clearly provoking you to respond.
“Hey, Shun, don’t say that. They might think I’m some kind of pervert preying on interns. I don’t even enjoy working on that program, and you already know I’m not thrilled about working with Minji,” Seokjin said with a half-smile, watching Shunmi lean drunkenly on Shinmei’s shoulder.
“Sunbae, we all know your charm works everywhere. We used to have a crush on you too, right Shinmei? Haha. But we’re already fed up with your lame dad jokes every time we see you… your charm doesn’t work on us anymore.” Shunmi laughed so hard she started punching Shinmei’s arm.
“Hey, stop it, Shun! You’re hurting me! Hahaha! But it’s true, sunbae—we’ve moved on from our crush on you. But guess what? You’ve got a new victim.” Shin Mei threw a heavy stare at you, and your eyes widened in embarrassment. You shook your head hard, looking at Seokjin and Eunri.
“No, no—what are you trying to say, Shin-ah? I don’t know anything about that!”
“What? That you have a crush on sunbaenim? Why isn’t it true? Ahhh no… I don’t lie. I can see it in your eyes. Told you I had a crush on sunbae before—I was just like that! Hahahaha.” Shinmei was drunk and rambling. But was it really nonsense?
“Hyun Jae, hey, don’t deny it. We saw you when you came back from Euphoria earlier today—you were smiling like an idiot,” Shun Mi said, now slumped over the table.
“Seokjin-ah, is it okay if Hyunjae likes you?” Eunji turned to Seokjin. You couldn’t look at any of your teammates. This was beyond embarrassing.
Seokjin smiled and said, “Hey, you guys… stop teasing Hyunjae. If she likes me, does it matter? It’s just that, to be honest, I don’t like-like her, you know? Not to offend you, Hyunjae, alright? But I can’t crush you back. You’re just not my type.”
Your heart shattered. Hearing it from Seokjin himself—you hadn’t even confessed, and yet you were already rejected. The small pebbles of hope you’d been collecting these past few days sank into the mud of embarrassment and hurt. But you were drunk, and a drunk Hyunjae wasn’t going down without a fight. You needed a comeback for this douchebag.
You stood up, looked Seokjin straight in his two charming eyes, and replied with conviction in your drunken voice:
“Well, thank you, sunbaenim. And no worries… even if I like you, I would never let you know. You’re out of my league anyway, and I’m not the kind of girl who pushes herself onto someone who doesn’t like-like her. Good night, everyone. I’m heading off—the last bus home passes in 15 minutes. See you tomorrow, and good luck with the Starlight launch, twins. Sunbaenim.”
You bowed to all of them and walked out of the bar without looking back.
Once you got on the bus, you couldn’t help it—tears began streaming down your face. In your head, you kept thinking: He didn’t need to be that straightforward… and not in front of your team mates. He could’ve told you privately. But then again, you never planned on letting him in. So maybe he didn’t owe you anything. Still, if only you’d been more careful. If only you’d been more subtle. Maybe it would’ve been better to fight off those feelings and stay professional. Your heart wouldn’t be breaking now if you’d just been a little more guarded.
You fell asleep crying, but just before closing your eyes, you told yourself:
“I can be rejected, but I won’t be easily forgotten. That’s for sure.”
And with that, you drifted off to dreamland—heartbroken by Kim Seokjin.
Finally! I've posted this Seokjin fic that has been seating in my one note for the past 4 years! Yes! 4 years haha I am not a pro-writer and English is my 2nd language so definitely you will find errors here. Please bear with me? Love you guys and enjoy the ride! Will publish part 2 this weekend! ❤️❤️❤️
He told her she wasn’t his type. It was a lie. Because the truth was—she terrified him.
He’d been smitten before he even knew her name. Saw her at the bus stop, headphones in, eyes distant. She never looked at him. But he couldn’t stop looking.
Later, she laughed at his dad jokes. Called him gorgeous like it meant nothing. Like she didn’t know it was the only compliment that ever stuck.
Then came the party. One drink too many. One kiss he couldn’t take back.
In the morning, he said he didn’t remember.
But she did. Every second. Every breath. Every part of him she wasn’t supposed to want.
Because this slope is treacherous. And he likes it more than he should.
Coming Soon. September 2025.
alright kids! I am on a 3day vacation which I do not plan on going anywhere else but just have my knees rest since it's been aching because of an inflammation for 3days now.
I am posting Chapter 1 and 2 in the next 2 days because I can. Haha.
Happy BTS comeback, ARMY! This has been on my drafts since 2022 and now it can see the light at the end of the tunnel.
He told her she wasn’t his type. It was a lie. Because the truth was—she terrified him.
He’d been smitten before he even knew her name. Saw her at the bus stop, headphones in, eyes distant. She never looked at him. But he couldn’t stop looking.
Later, she laughed at his dad jokes. Called him gorgeous like it meant nothing. Like she didn’t know it was the only compliment that ever stuck.
Then came the party. One drink too many. One kiss he couldn’t take back.
In the morning, he said he didn’t remember.
But she did. Every second. Every breath. Every part of him she wasn’t supposed to want.
Because this slope is treacherous. And he likes it more than he should.
Coming Soon. October, 2025
Damn, I still owe Tumblr this story + A Little Bit Yours. September was not a very happy month for me last year, as my dear father ascended to the heavens and became a star. 🥹 This story was in draft and just needed polishing but I didn't have the heart to continue because it was breaking during that time.
I will be on medical leave next week and the 2 week rest should be enough to finish this WIP + ALBY. I also drafted a few notes about my recent dreams, which I will surely get inspiration for my future writings.
I am slowly returning to my old hobbies and habits. Grief will not let me live life smoothly but I need to endure and move forward. Seeing Bangtan's upcoming comeback and my new love for their dongsaengs (Tomorrow X Together) gives me the will to live life again. It won't be easy but I will be willing to try.
I am holding on to writing and music, as my first love, to help me during this trying times. So please bear with me as I navigate through my toughest transition in life... a life without a father and a lover (RIP Eugene, it'll be 3yrs since you were gone this coming March).
Alright, I'll be back reading stories from my favorite writers here. See you around and see you soon!
DREAM RECALL ⸝⸝ He pulls away from you with a perplexed expression. Then he laughs, it’s short, cruel, he shakes his head. “Don’t be funny”, he mutters as he runs a hand through his dark hair. “You know I have a girlfriend, nerd.” He spits the words out like the venomous bite of a snake. His gaze drops to your unbuttoned blazer, briefly passing the harsh bruises on your chest. — “Don’t think you’re anything else besides a quick fuck.” ⸝⸝
wc ➘ 26k
pairings popular/bully!yeonjun x nerd!reader(fem) college au !
warnings heavy bullying, violence, exploitation, cheating, drinking, yeonjun is an asshole for 80% of this, redemption arc, some angsty scenes, hurt-comfort sort of? this fic contains 3/4 descriptive smut scenes which include — oral (both f & m), penetrative sex, vaginal fingering, a handjob, lots of degrading (reader receiving) but also a splash of praise, some tit groping, implied marking, very soft sex at the end (yeonjun cries a little), reader is inexperienced = virginity loss, + yeonjun teaching her how to give a blowjob as always lmk if I missed any!
#serene adds ✎ my god this fic has taken literal years off my life. But I could not have been happier with the outcome of it !! It's a long one, but I've tried to keep it interesting throughout it all for a lighter read. I'm not one to beg for feedback, but I will actually get down on my knees this time around. Please please comment/reblog or even send asks with your thoughts on it, I need it to be perceived in any way possible !! hehe please enjoy because I have slaved to get this done (if anyone notices the Skins reference in one scene, lets kiss)
(I was also slightly delirious when I read this through ahem...) anyway, ready, set go !
This story is part of a trilogy, find the masterpost here to make sure you're reading in correct order!
You don’t exactly know how it started. The cheating, the lying, the sleepless nights, the crying, the heartbreak, Choi Yeonjun. One day he was just…there. You had never met anyone like Yeonjun before yet you knew hundreds of people like him. He was everything, he was the cause of your pain, your tears, your self loathe. — But mostly importantly, Yeonjun was your first love. You would always remember him as that. You suppose it might have started on your first day at that college, back when you were only known as the junior transfer.
He was a senior. Perhaps it was a bit cliché, you don’t know, you didn’t think so. But you remember it clearly, the first time you saw him. — The air was hot, suffocatingly so, despite it being early October. Your palms were sweaty, and you squeezed them together as your hands remained neatly clasped in front of you. The eyes of the other students weighed a ton and you felt your knees buckle under the pressure.
Your professor clears his throat as he steps up beside you, gazing out across the classroom. “We have a new student today”, he announces what was already painfully obvious and you felt your cheeks redden further. Apart from a few sniggers here and there, silence follows. “Why don’t you introduce yourself?” His direct question made you flinch as you quickly glanced up from the floor, your gaze flitting between your professor and the large ocean of heads turned in your direction.
Your introduction was meek, the words getting caught in your throat as you stammered out your name. You could almost hear the smirks plastered on their faces as they drank in your fidgety frame. You jump when you feel your teacher's hand on your shoulder, “your new classmate is a year younger than you guys, but due to her impressive work ethic she has finished the majority of her classes already. She will therefore be joining us for the time being.” — His words of praise felt more like a set up for humiliation and you watched as students leaned over to whisper in each other’s ears, grinning at the words being passed around. You could hear the rumors already.
“Why don’t you take the seat over there?” Your new professor points to an empty desk by the very back and you breathe out a small sigh of relief, glad to be shielded from the peering eyes of your new classmates. But just as you’re about to step down and make your way toward the safe haven, you lock eyes with him. — Part of his face was shielded by his dark hair but you could clearly make out his brown eyes, staring right back at your own. He’s quick to catch on to your stare and you watch as his lips stretch into a menacing smirk.
Forcing yourself to look away, you grab onto your bag as you quietly make your way past the many rows of desks. An outstretched foot makes you stumble forward and you barely manage to catch yourself. “Careful”, one of the girls turns in her seat as she eyes you with a not so friendly smile, “wouldn’t want you to fall.” You give her a small nod as you hurriedly continue toward your own desk.
Thankful to have stepped away from the spotlight, you lean back as you let out a small breath. But it wasn’t enough. As class went on you continued to catch the multiple glances thrown your way, the small chuckles, the papers being passed around. It all felt too familiar, and your heart slowly sank. — You pushed the feeling away, focusing on what you did best, studying. Class was a nice distraction, but after an hour and a half it came to an end. And as soon as your professor had shut the door behind him, chaos erupted.
The scraping of chairs against the stone floor filled the classroom as students turned to get a glimpse of you. It didn’t take long for a small half circle to form around you, and you swallowed the lump in your throat.
“How did you do it?”
The first one to speak up was a lanky guy, he leans closer as he studies your uncertain face. Before you could even process the meaning of his question, a girl interrupted him, the same one who had tried to trip you over at the beginning of class. “I bet she slept with them, I mean, she must have.” — Her statement is followed by laughter as people nod in agreement. “But how did you get them in bed?” Another girl asks as she looks you up and down with distaste, “surely it wasn’t whilst looking like that?” More laughter.
Your face might as well have been on fire as you glanced down toward your notes. “What if she drugged them?” Another guy chimes in as he points an accusing finger toward you. Hurriedly you shake your head as your lips part in a reply, a reply that immediately gets stuck in your throat as you’re interrupted.
“You guys are being too harsh.” Another voice speaks up, everyone falls silent and soon the crowd parts as the guy you had made eye contact with earlier steps through. He’s followed by two of his friends and the small group stops by your desk. “It’s obvious you guys”, he exclaims as he leans down to come eyelevel with you. When this close, his sharp eyes somehow felt like daggers, boring into your soul as his lips curled into a smirk.
“She’s a nerd.” He draws out each syllable like it was his last, his lips stretching wider as he sees your face fall. Small gasps and hums of agreement fill the silent room, as if everyone just instantly agreed with whatever he said. “Don’t think of her as anything else”, he drawls, straightening his back once more as he stares you down.
You soon found out that his name was Choi Yeonjun.
⸝⸝
Your first day had only proven to be a small trial of the school year ahead. Word had quickly spread of the transfer student who took classes with the seniors, and wherever you went, you had eyes on you. — You tried your best to keep to yourself, to focus on your studies. That was how you had made it through your previous schools. But it seemed futile here, because no matter how low of a profile you kept, they always found a reason to pick and pull at you.
“What the fuck do you think you’re doing nerd?” She yells as she shoves you against the red lockers and you groan in pain. You couldn’t remember her name, but you knew that she was a senior too, she sat two rows ahead of you and to the left. — Confused, you look up only to be met with a harsh slap to your face. “Don’t play stupid, I know that’s the last thing you are.” She sneers and your lips part in objection, though no words come out.
The girl signals for her friends to block either side of you, shutting off any escape routes as she rolls up her sleeves. “You think you can just go through my shit like that? That I wouldn’t know?” Her statement baffles you and your eyes widen, “what?” Another slap to your cheek, “right, come on now. Give it back.”
You frown, “give what back?” Her friends on either side of you grip onto your arms and you wince as they twist your limbs. She scoffs, “my lipstick you idiot, I know it was you. Who else would take it? Besides, I’ve seen the way you eye it whenever I put it on.” — While her words were partly true, you did think that her lipstick was really pretty and often found your gaze lingering whenever she picked it up from her bag, you would never stoop to such a level as stealing.
“I didn't steal your lipstick”, you croak out and she lets out a huff of disbelief. She goes off on yet another rant but you’re suddenly distracted as your eyes land on the small group of students walking by.
After your first day, Yeonjun hadn’t addressed you once. He never picked on you, never engaged in gossip about you, he barely even acknowledged your existence. But you knew that he was behind most of what happened to you, because everyone listened to Choi Yeonjun. If he didn’t like what was going on, he would put an end to it, but he never did.
You often saw him in the halls, he was always followed by his two friends. On your second day you had learned that the three of them were practically inseparable. — To his left was a tall guy, his frame could easily tower over just about anyone, yet he trailed behind his friends quietly with his head hung low. If it wasn’t for the scowl on his face whenever someone dared to glance in his direction, you would have assumed that he was just any other student. His name was Choi Soobin, that much you knew.
To his right, was perhaps Soobin’s opposite. He was shorter than his friends, not by much, but it made him stick out. His hair fell in uneven sections across his face and he often brushed it away with his pinky whilst he spoke. Unlike Soobin, Choi Beomgyu talked almost all the time, with the occasional input from Yeonjun. Though few of his words were kindhearted. He often picked on you, his comments were snarky and mean, you only ever caught a break when Yeonjun got fed up.
Then there was Choi Yeonjun, walking in the middle, he gazed ahead as Beomgyu blabbered nonsense into his ear, Soobin following slightly behind them. The Choi’s, that was what people called them. Something to do with their names all being Choi, you thought it was kind of corny. Yet you couldn’t deny the way your eyes lingered on Yeonjun, just a little longer than the rest.
It wasn’t like you thought that he was handsome or anything, but he was nice to look at…you supposed. And even though you knew better than to pay him any mind, it was hard to tear your gaze away from him. Only when he passed you, did you feel your heart stutter. For the first time since your first day here, he looked at you, if only for a brief moment. His gaze flickered over your practically torn limbs and a small smirk etched its way to his lips. — You felt your knees go weak under his eyes and swallowed hard.
Though his attention soon returned to the girl draped under his arm, the same girl that had tried to trip you over on your first day. You had found out that she was his girlfriend, her name was Mimi. She twirled a strand of her hair as she whispered something in his ear and Yeonjun chuckled. — Their small party continued past you as if nothing was wrong before disappearing down the hallway, leaving you to face the fate before you.
⸝⸝
You convinced yourself that it wasn’t a crush, that you simply found him appealing. The topic of crushes stopped being a thing after middle school, right? You, a twenty year old, have a crush? The thought was ridiculous. But no matter what lies you forced into your brain, your heart still beat a little faster whenever he was present, your eyes drifted in his direction and there was nothing you could do to stop them. — So what if you did have a small crush on Choi Yeonjun? It wasn’t going to harm anyone, it wasn’t like you were going to act on it. He had a girlfriend. Whenever you reminded yourself of said fact, a pang of guilt shot through your chest. You know you shouldn’t feel guilty, but it was hard not to. Most of all you felt guilty toward yourself — guilty for letting yourself sink to such a level.
As October went by, you did your best to stay out of the firing line of your classmates, you kept your head down and did your work. And when there was no work left to do, you spent your time looking at Yeonjun. He really was pretty to look at. — You noted the way he would lean back in his chair, stretching his arms above his head before yawning, his eyes momentarily fluttering closed. Usually, he wasted his classes on his phone, or chatting with Beomgyu, it was unusual for him to be doing any of his coursework. Perhaps he didn’t need to, or he simply didn’t care to.
Occasionally, you would catch your name slipping past Beomgyu’s lips, your gaze immediately snapping down to your book as your heart practically beat out of your chest. But no matter how many times he mentioned you, pointed at you, sneered at you, Yeonjun never even as much as turned his head in your direction, simply shrugging along to whatever his friend was saying.
The only time Yeonjun looked at you was when everyone else did. That one time someone poured milk over you in the cafeteria, or when you got a basketball in your face during gym. Only when the whole school pointed and laughed, only then did he spare you a fragment of his attention. And maybe you did like it, maybe you did want him to look at you.
It was kind of pathetic.
What was perhaps even more pathetic was that one offer you hadn’t been able to pass up. It wasn’t like you could say no to your professor either, right? — “I think there are a few students who would benefit from studying together with you.” You blink up at him as you watch your teacher lean back in his chair. This was why he had called you? To be frank you don’t know what you had expected when he asked you to stay behind after class, but this was far from it.
“Studying with me?” You repeat as you point a confused finger toward yourself. Sure you worked hard, but that was because you had your mind set on doing so. You doubted that your classmates would want to spend even a second wasted in your presence.
Your professor sighs as he pinches the bridge of his nose. “You are a clever girl”, he nods toward your latest test result on his desk and your gaze follows his movement as you swallow. “Not to mention the fact that you are a whole year ahead of your peers.” He then adds with a small smile and you silently thank him, even though you were certain that he could smell the hesitation radiating off of you. “Look, it is not something you have to decide on today”, he begins as he gathers the papers on his desk, “but students like Mr. Choi could definitely use a hand in their studies.”
Your ears perked up at the brief mention of his name, and it was almost embarrassing how quickly your head jerked in the direction of your teacher. Though you did not dare get too ahead of yourself. Shifting on the spot, you softly clear your throat, “Choi…Choi Yeonjun?” Your professor stops to look at you, “why, yes, but you do not have to decide today take the weekend to-”
“I’ll do it.”
⸝⸝
You’ll do it? What a joke.
Your whole weekend was spent pacing back and forth across your room. Teeth gnawing away at your fingernails, your mind wrecked with different scenarios of how that following Monday would play out. What were you honestly thinking, saying yes like that? — With an exasperated groan, you flop down on your bed. Staring at the ceiling, you envision Yeonjun, a furious Yeonjun, or maybe a jeering one, you didn’t know which approach he would take. But surely he wouldn’t be happy once the news reached him, unless they already had?
Briefly you considered calling in sick that Monday. You had never called in sick before, at least you couldn’t remember doing so; recalling the multiple times you had ignored the fever in your body as you marched on to class. Not to mention that time you had the flu and still sat through your three hour long exam. — Were you really considering calling in sick over a mere guy. But it wasn’t just a guy, it was Choi Yeonjun.
Regardless of the situation, you still went to school on Monday. But as soon as you stepped inside the classroom, you could tell that something was different. It was like the air had shifted. And as you made your way to the back of the room, carefully taking your seat, not a single one of your classmates bothered to pick on you. Instead they all occupied themselves with whatever they had in front of them. It was odd to say the least.
In regular fashion, the classroom door swings open during the very last minute as Beomgyu saunters inside. Behind him follows Soobin and Yeonjun, both in the midst of a hushed conversation. You find your gaze instinctively lingering by Yeonjun’s tall frame, fingers twirling your pen mindlessly in your hand. It isn’t until you glance up and find his eyes already boring holes into your own, that you’re suddenly ripped from your trance.
Yeonjun was looking at you. He was actually looking at you, no, he was glaring at you. The realization was enough to send your heart into a frenzy as you swallowed a gulp. His gaze is unwavering as he approaches his desk, still conversing with his friend, but his eyes remain entirely on you. — Sweat builds on your forehead and you grip your pencil tightly. No matter how hard you tried, you couldn’t find yourself to break his gaze. You knew that you were giving him exactly what he wanted by letting his eyes practically tear you apart, so why couldn’t you pull away?
It isn’t until the classroom door opens yet again that he puts out the fire he had momentarily created between the two of you, his eyes shifting toward board as your professor clears his throat, ready to begin today’s lecture. As his monotone voice fills the room, you breathe out a sigh of relief, glad to be out of his sight.
He had to have known by now, the nasty looks he shot you throughout the day were more than telling. For someone who never even paid you as much as a second thought, it was most unusual for Yeonjun’s full attention to be directed toward you. Even during lunch, you could feel his eyes on you as he sat by his usual table. With Mimi on his lap and Beomgyu talking in his ear, his gaze still remained on your slumped figure as you focused on your plate of food.
⸝⸝
Your professor had helped set up today’s session, but after that you would have to schedule them on your own. You were supposed to meet by the library, at 5:15pm that Monday. — You were there by 4:55. It took you about five minutes to pick a suitable table, not too close to the door, not in a corner somewhere, but also not in the center of the room, perhaps you were overthinking it. Deep breath in, deep breath out. Desperately you tried to calm your nerves as your trembling hands brought out your notebook and pencil case.
By 5:15 you were ready, actually you had been ready for the past ten minutes. The small library had been vacant even when you arrived, you didn’t know if you felt relieved at the fact or not. — By 5:25 you started to think that he might not show up. Out of all possible scenarios fabricated in your way too creative brain, the one of him not even bothering to come hadn’t crossed your mind at all. What would you do then? Accept defeat? Tell your professor? Talk to him in class? Neither option seemed too appealing.
It’s 5:32 when the doors creak open. Hesitantly, you lift your gaze as you watch Yeonjun’s eyes wander across the room, finally landing on you. His face morphed into a scowl and you felt your stomach drop. You notice that he hasn’t brought any study materials along with him and you bite the inside of your cheek. The short breath he lets go of echoes out into the silent library and then he marches toward you. — You don’t have time to think before he’s by your table, the palm of his hand slamming against the wood with such force that your pencils rattle, and you flinch.
“Do you think this is some kind of sick joke?” He sounds agitated, his hot breath searing through his gritted teeth as his nostrils flared. Your once tense jaw falls open as your brows draw together in a confused frown. — “I mean, I knew you had a thing for me. But don’t you think this is going too far?” He sounds almost hysterical as a grin spreads across his lips.
You felt color rushing to your cheeks at his words. Did he know? Could he tell by your small glances? But you thought you were being subtle. Yeonjun seems to be reading your mind as he runs a lazy hand through his hair, “oh come on now nerd, for someone so clever you really are quite oblivious.”
“Did you honestly think I wouldn’t notice the way you eye-fucked me every single opportunity you got?” He sneers, tilting his head to the side as he watches you with a cruel look of distaste. Your lips part but no words come out. So you shake your head, you didn’t know who you were trying to convince, him or yourself. “It wasn’t like that…”
He scoffs, “no?” Suddenly his face is only inches from yours, and you had to force your gaze not to stray down to his lips as he spoke. “Then what is it?” He murmurs, so close that you could almost taste his words on your tongue. You swallow, hard. What was it? You didn’t know, you didn’t want to answer, he couldn’t make you answer, could he?
His grin widens as a low chuckle rumbles in his chest. “No way”, he shakes his head as one of his hands grip the backrest of your chair, easily twisting you to face him fully. His previously cocky expression was replaced with a look of sympathy, his voice now laced with pity.
“Don’t tell me you’ve got a little crush, nerd.” He spits the words out and you’re quick to shake your head, denying his blunt accusations. “I don’t”, you stammer, leaning back as far as your chair would allow you to. — “You’re telling me you’re doing this out of goodwill?” He asks as he tilts his head to the side. He hardly seems moved by your denial, but when you quietly nod his smug face turns into a snarl. “Do you think I’m stupid?”
“What? No, no, no that’s not what I-” You stop yourself before getting another word out, it felt like no matter what you said, you only worsened the already sour situation. Yeonjun exhales, his warm breath slamming against your already hot face. He leans back, taking a seat on the edge of the table as his hands dig into the pockets of his uniform. Confused, you watch him as he silently gets comfortable.
“What do you want then?” He finally asks and you blink up at him. “My number? Is that it?” He wonders as he fishes up his phone, unlocking it as he pulls up his contacts. You shake your head and he frowns, “then what?” — Your lips part and you motion toward the books in front of you, “just…”
“Don’t tell me you want me to fuck you, because that would be pathetic, even for you nerd.”
His statement catches you so off guard that you almost hit your leg on the chair opposite your own. “What?” You whisper, unsure of the fact that you had even heard him correct. You knew that there was no such universe in which someone like Choi Yeonjun would ever view you in that way, so it felt almost bizarre to hear those words leave his lips so casually.
He sighs as he gets up from the table, leaning down to become eye level with you once more. “I mean, I get that you’re desperate, believe me”, he lets his gaze drop to your chest for a brief second. “Looking like that, I’m sure it’s hard to get by”, he hums, and in that moment, you wished for the ground to swallow you whole.
It had been a foolish idea to even consider doing this, even more to say yes. If you had only turned your professor’s offer down, none of this would have happened. Because in all honesty, if this was how Yeonjun looked at you, with such menace and fabricated pity, you think you preferred it when he paid your existence no mind.
“But you’re lucky”, he murmurs before leaning even closer, his breath mingling with your own. Lucky? What a joke, you thought. — You flinch when you feel the light caress of his fingers on your shoulder as they slowly entangle themselves in your hair. “I’m feeling particularly nice today”, he smirks and your eyes involuntarily dart down to his perfectly plump and pink lips. “Besides”, he drawls, his hand moving to cup your cheek.
“I’ve never fucked a nerd before.”
You barely get the chance to second guess his words when Yeonjun presses his lips against yours. Immediately you freeze as your shoulders jerk up and your back curls against the chair. The hand on your cheek moves to your chin as he grabs ahold of your face, forcing his tongue inside your mouth and you let out a small shriek. — He hums against you, his eyes fluttering closed, lips moving on top of your unresponsive ones.
A moment later he pulls back. “You kiss like a virgin”, he states as he wipes his mouth with the back of his hand. As soon as the words left his lips, he grins, “but I bet you are.” — Still too stunned to even speak after his sudden course of action, you merely shake your head as you glance between him and the floor. You weren’t a complete virgin, you did have a boyfriend back in high school. Not that the two of you ever went further than kissing though, and even then, his kisses were nothing like Yeonjun’s.
Hesitantly you meet his gaze, swallowing down the nerves bubbling in your throat. “Come on now nerd”, he murmurs as his hands grip onto the armrests of your chair, large arms entrapping you against the old wood. “You’ve done it now haven’t you?” — “You got me here all to yourself, why don’t you use it to your advantage hm?” His eyes gleamed with mischief and you knew better than to trust his persuasive ways. Still you found it hard to do anything besides gawk at him, in utter disbelief of what was currently happening.
Biting your lip, you let your eyes flit down to his parted lips, focusing a little too long on the sheer layer of saliva that coated them. Yeonjun is quick to pick up on the subtle shift in your focus and he chuckles. You clearly see the way he moves closer, but it still doesn’t register that he’s kissing you again until his tongue molds against your own. Despite your initial shock, you try your best to kiss him back this time. You knew that you were probably horrible, but even then, he didn’t say anything.
Your breath catches in your throat when his hand envelops one of your breasts, groping it softly. “Don’t tell me you’ve never had your tits touched?” He drawls, easily noting your uncertain approach. Your silence is almost deafening and the way you squirm when he pinches one of your nipples tells him everything he needs to know. With a small frown he pulls back, just enough for you to see his face. He looks conflicted, tongue prodding against the inside of his cheek as he runs a hand through his hair. “Fuck, you really are a virgin aren’t you?” He sounds almost…serious and you find yourself slowly nodding as you grip the hem of your skirt tightly.
Yeonjun sighs and you hear him mutter something under his breath. His gaze snaps back to you and you can see the shift in his eyes once he settles on a decision. “Alright”, he states before quickly dropping to his knees. Baffled you follow his direct movement, shrieking as his hands on your knees part your legs. “We’ll start slow”, he hums as his fingers dance across the exposed skin of your thighs, your weak arms easily giving up when he pushes your skirt up.
“No need to be nervous”, he reassures you as his fingers hook around the hem of your panties, “I’ve done this plenty of times.” With that, he tugs your underwear down, past your knees, letting them pool around your ankles before his attention shifts to your exposed core. Your legs close in an attempt to shield yourself from his invasive stare but Yeonjun only gruffs out a short breath as he breaks your knees apart once more. — When he doesn’t say anything you grow worried, clearing your throat awkwardly as you shift on the chair. You had never done anything like this before so you had no idea if his silence was a good or a bad thing.
You don’t have to ponder for long as his fingers suddenly graze your folds. The touch was unexpected and you jolted forward as you tried to suppress the surprised noise threatening to escape. The smirk stretching across his lips only grows as Yeonjun basks in the way you react to his simple touch, you were far easier than any of the girls he’d been with. — “Ever had anyone touch you like this?” He asks, his voice a low murmur as his attention remains on his fingers sliding against your cunt, gathering the slick that formed as he smeared it all over you.
Meekly you shake your head, breathing out a small “no.” He seems satisfied with your answer, his ego inflating by the minute as he watches you writher under his small touches. Everything still felt so surreal, there was no way that this was actually happening, was it? You’re reminded of all the times you had watched him from afar, sneaking shy glances at him during class, before and after school, in the cafeteria, where he sat with his friends and…and his girlfriend. The reminder is enough to pull you from whatever euphoric state that transpired within your body as you jerked away from his touch.
Yeonjun’s eyes snap to you with a hint of curiosity and you bite the inside of your cheek, drawing in a small breath before daring to speak. “M-Mimi… w-what about her?” — He groans, a frustrated groan, and you wonder if you overstepped. “Nerd, someone like you, doesn’t count as cheating, got it?” He holds your gaze, speaking clearly, as if giving instructions to a toddler. He grins, a menacing grin, “besides, shouldn’t you be happy? I’m giving you what your perverted little mind has craved since you first stepped foot here.” Sheepishly you nod, heat rushing to your cheeks at the blunt statements he made.
Choi Yeonjun was bold, his words were harsh, and a lot of times they hurt. For some reason that made you like him even more.
“Now stop asking obvious questions”, he grunts as his hands trail along your thighs, pulling you forward on the chair, ignoring the way you squeal when he nuzzles his face between your legs. — It felt far from what it looked like in the movies, or even in porn. Yeonjun's hot breath against your core, his tongue dragging across your folds, it made the hairs on the back of your neck stand and you gasped as he flicked your clit.
It was almost impossible to control the way your thighs twitched, squishing either side of his head as you fought to remain composed. A small whine left your lips as he latched on to your sensitive flesh, licking and sucking on it as if it was the only thing he was capable of doing. You barely register the way one of his hands grab onto your trembling ones, guiding them to his hair as he hums against your cunt. “Don’t be so awkward”, he mutters, his tongue dwelling deep inside of you, eliciting a moan from you as your fingers immediately twist in his dark locks.
Never in a million years had you thought that the study session that you had been far too eager to agree to would turn into something like this. And that Choi Yeonjun of all people would be the first one to see such a part of you. — You didn’t know if it was such a good thing. But it was impossible to form a single coherent thought with him between your legs, mouth falling open in surprise as his nose bumps up against your clit. He doesn’t seem to mind when you push yourself further onto his face, practically grinding your hips on his mouth as small noises of pleasure ripped from deep within your throat. You were thankful that the library had been vacant for hours.
“Y-Yeonjun!” His name falls from your lips without registering in your brain beforehand and you almost slap a hand over your mouth as realization washes over you. Yeonjun on the other hand, only chuckles, the sound sending vibrations against your sensitive cunt and you whimper as he withdraws his tongue from within you. — A somewhat familiar sensation bubbled in the depths of your stomach. It wasn’t like you hadn’t had an orgasm before, but the occurrence was rare, you didn’t exactly spend much time with yourself like that.
His name is pulled from your chest once more and his grip on your thighs tighten. “You got something to say, nerd?” He wonders without leaning away from you, hot mouth working against your throbbing core as he draws moans and whines from you. “C-close..” you mumble, feeling your cheeks redden at the small statement, and you were suddenly glad that he was unable to see your flustered face.
“Cum on my face then, bet you’ve never done that before.”
The comment was mean, possibly even degrading, but it still made you clench incoherently around nothing as you released against his waiting lips. To your surprise, he doesn’t immediately pull away, his face remaining between your legs as he laps up the aftermath of your orgasm, drinking in the taste of you with a small satisfied groan. — And when he does finally tear himself from your sore cunt, you can barely look him in the eyes, ashamed at what had just transpired between the two of you. Yeonjun doesn’t seem affected in the slightest, his thumb wiping away the sticky fluids on his chin before popping them in his mouth. The sight should not have made you throb but it did and you bit your lip.
Without warning, he suddenly gets up as he dusts off his pants. “W-where are you going?” You’re unable to stop yourself from asking. He shoots you a glance that says ‘well isn’t it obvious?’ He sighs, frustrated by your blunt obliviousness, “our session is over, isn’t it?”
You blink at him, still recovering from your climax as you pull your panties back on. “But the study-” — “You’ve got what you wanted, haven’t you?” He states as he stares down at you, much like he had on your first day, and your words suddenly fall short as you meet his gaze. Shaking his head, a small chuckle escaped his lips, “I’ll see you tomorrow, nerd.”
The last thing you hear are the library doors slamming shut before the room is enveloped in a deafening silence once more.
⸝⸝
Everything had returned to normal the following Tuesday. You could barely wrap your head around it. The snarky comments were back, the pestering stares, whatever had roamed the air yesterday seemed to have completely vanished and you were left dumbfounded. — There was only one exceptionally different thing. Choi Yeonjun.
Part of you had hoped that he wouldn’t come to class, but that was a foolish thought. You hear him before you see him, or rather, you hear Beomgyu’s obnoxiously loud voice echoing off the hallways as The Choi’s approach. The classroom falls into a hushed murmur as the door swings open and the three of them enter. — You had told yourself that you would avoid him at all costs. That meant not speaking to him, not looking at him, not even glancing in the same direction as him.
You found it to be very hard. But the shame over what had happened not even 24 hours prior kept your gaze trained to the pages of your notebook. Not even as he pulled out his chair, making an agonizingly scraping noise that cut through the otherwise quiet room, did your eyes stray from the words in front of you, rereading them over and over as you tried to get your brain to register them. — You lasted approximately two minutes.
One small peek his way confirmed your every fear. Leaning back in his chair, Yeonjun paid you no mind as he scrolled through his phone, one of his hands rubbing the back of his neck as he did. He acted…just like he usually did, as if nothing had happened between the two of you. For a moment you had worried that he would tell everyone, that was a shame you wouldn’t be able to bear. But perhaps he was trying to spare his own reputation, you could only hope he would keep quiet. Did he regret it? Probably. Why wouldn’t he?
What was perhaps even worse than his indifferent mannerism toward you was when Mimi greeted him with a kiss. Flinging her arms around his neck, she pulls him close as she practically shoves her tongue down his throat. Beomgyu makes a vile comment before turning to Soobin but besides that, no one else paid them much mind. Except you. The guilt was eating you alive, and you weren’t even the one who had cheated. What would happen if she found out, would she break up with him? Surely she would find a way to put the entire blame on you. You did not dare think of how miserably you would be treated if she found out. It couldn’t happen. You would have to talk to Yeonjun about it, one way or another.
But how?
You tried approaching him at lunch, but you only managed one step in his direction before you chickened out. Then you tried again before English, this time you made it halfway before Soobin swooped in right in front of you, his tall frame covering Yeonjun completely from view and you sighed. Your last shot was after gym. As everyone ventured toward the locker rooms you trailed behind, Yeonjun had, too, stayed to talk with your professor but just as you were about to approach, a tap on your shoulder freezes you in place.
“The hell are you staring at, nerd?” Beomgyu’s voice is filled with distaste as he eyes your sweaty figure, his nose turning up in disgust. Stunned, you fumble for words as your eyes dart between him and Yeonjun, just a few paces away. “N-nothing I was just…” — “Just leaving, right?” He cocks an eyebrow at you and you quickly nod. “Y-Yeah”, you squeak out before rushing off. Why did his friends never stray from his side? It made things so difficult.
You were always the last one to leave the changing rooms. Hiding away in the bathroom, you waited for the other girls to finish before you dared to venture out and get changed yourself. It had become somewhat of a routine, not that it was particularly comfortable, but as it was your last lesson of the day, you weren't in any rush. — Whilst you get dressed, your mind concludes with a ton of ideas to approach Yeonjun. It would have to be when there was no one else around, before or after school seemed like your best bet. The only remaining problem was his friends, who seemed to be glued to his side.
Grabbing your bag, you walk over to the exit as you think of a way to get him alone. But as the door to the locker room closes behind you, it seems your problems have solved themselves for you.
“What took you so long?”
Yeonjun’s sharp voice startles you and you almost drop the bag in your hands as your head snaps in his direction. Leaning against the wall, his own gym bag swung over his shoulder, Yeonjun studies you with an indifferent expression plastered across his face. Your mouth falls open as you peer down the empty hallway, completely at loss for words. “Y-you waited for me?” You splutter as your attention shifts back to him.
He purses his lips as he clicks his tongue against the roof of his mouth, “yes, but I’m starting to regret it.” — “Do you always take this long?” His voice is laced with annoyance and you swallow as you shake your head. “I- I mean I…I didn’t know you were waiting I..”
“Whatever, it doesn’t matter.” He waves your meek explanation off as he shifts against the wall. Still confused on why he was even here in the first place, you bite your tongue as you wait for him to speak first. But out of everything he could’ve said to you, you had not expected the next words that were to come out of his mouth.
“When’s our next study session?”
What? He wanted to have another study session? You had been prepared to confront him about yesterday, to tell him, no beg him, to keep quiet. Yet he was asking for another session? You were sure he could read the bewilderment on your face as his lips drew into a grin. “N-next session?” You gawk out as your mouth repeatedly opens and closes. He rolls his eyes before huffing out a short breath of air, “yes our next session, we never settled on a date.” — Well you didn’t think he wanted to, you had planned on telling your professor that the whole ordeal had been unsuccessful but here he was, asking for a redo?
Was it a good idea to say yes? Considering how last time had played out, the answer was probably not. — “I- I’m free whenever.” But you obviously were very bad at listening to your gut instincts. However the smile that spread across his face made it all worth it, you felt your heart speeding up at the endearing sight. “Perfect”, he chimes, “then we’ll do tomorrow 5:30.” You nod but before you can get another word out he adds, “third floor, room 291.”
Would you guys not be studying in the library? Despite your slight uneasiness, you nod, “alright.” — “Make sure no one sees you on the way there, and don’t be late.” He warns before turning on his heel and walking off. You were left stunned as you leaned against the wall, still gripping your bag tightly in your hands as you tried to process what had just happened.
⸝⸝
Wednesday rolls around, the day progresses just like any other would. But something feels different, you feel different. It’s a different kind of excitement, bubbling in the pits of your stomach. You had barely gotten any sleep last night, which was a warning sign on its own because you always made sure to get 8 hours. But you don’t feel tired, not in the slightest. And as the last bell of the day rings, you hurry to the bathroom.
You never fussed over your appearance, far too busy with having a book stuck under your nose. But today felt different, sure the two of you were just studying, it didn’t mean that you couldn’t make an effort if you wanted to look nice, right?
The sound of bathroom stalls slamming behind you shifts your attention to a group of girls passing by. They all stop as they watch you apply a clear gloss to your lips, their noses scrunching up in disgust. “What’s gotten into that freak?” One of them mutters as she makes a move toward you, only to be stopped by one of her friends. “Don’t, you might get contaminated”, she sneers and the small group burst out into a fit of giggles. — Holding back a small sigh, you ignore them as you wait for them to leave before daring to do the same.
Your shoes echo off the now almost empty hallways, it was late enough to where few students lingered behind. Still unfamiliar with the building, you made your way to the third floor. You took no classes here and you had to rely on the numbered doors in order to find 291. It takes a while but soon you’re standing in front of it.
Your hands tremble as you hurriedly glance down the hallway, making sure no one saw you. When your gaze returns to the door you realize that it was a lot smaller than the others, its red paint standing out amongst the otherwise beige ones. That was odd. Yet you push any concerns aside as you reach out to twist the handle.
Upon stepping inside you quickly realize that this was not a classroom. The room was small, crowded shelves pushed up against all walls, displaying a large range of items, from old books to tools such as screwdrivers and wrenches. Your eyes scan across the multitude of contents as your mind tries to piece together the scene before you.
“You’re awfully punctual”, Yeonjun drawls as he emerges from a shadowed corner. You jump as you turn to him with a confused frown, “what’s this?” — He grins, his hands digging deep into his pockets as he leans against one of the shelves, “this is where our study sessions will be taking place from now on”, he explains as he motions for you to have a look around. From now on? But there was hardly room to study here, was there?
Quickly noting your perplexed expression, Yeonjun’s grin widens. “Well come on now, nerd. You didn’t actually think I was planning on sitting down and doing algebra with you?” Your frown deepens, lips parting as your eyes dart between him and the cramped space. “But what…then why are we here?” You ask as you readjust the rather heavy bag on your shoulder. — He chuckles, shaking his head as he takes a step forward, that single step is enough to get him right in front of you, his chest dangerously close to yours. His hand slides up your arm, reaching your shoulder as he hooks two fingers under the strap holding your bag. “Use that clever little brain of yours for something other than your studies, and maybe you will start to see the bigger picture.”
Your bag hits the floor with a thud as Yeonjun’s hand returns to your shoulder, fingers twiddling the collar of your blouse as he waits for the wheels in your head to finally turn. And when they do, you glance up at him, your eyes wide with realization. “Yeonjun I… I don’t know…” Your eyes flit toward the door, mind altering between your options, stay or go, stay or go, stay or–
“Tell me now.”
His voice is calm and his posture remains stoic as he peers down at you. “I’m not about to waste my time on a loser like you if you’re not even into it.” He sneers as his hand lets go of your collar, pushing you back, only slightly, but enough for you to hit the shelf behind you. Was he seriously asking for your opinion right now, for your consent? Choi Yeonjun was willing to spend time on you, with you. The news were hard to melt and you found yourself awkwardly gazing up at him as your mind fumbled for an answer.
“What’s it going to be, nerd?” He tsk’s before leaning forward, one of his hands resting on the shelf next to your face as he cages you against it. Briefly you considered turning back, walking away, to return to your otherwise dull life as you watched him from afar. You remembered Mimi, his girlfriend, the guilt and shame, suddenly it came crashing down all over again. But you also remembered his words: “someone like you, doesn’t count as cheating”. Had he really meant that? If not, why else would he be here right now?
In the end, you nod. “O-Okay”, your voice comes out as a small peep and you curse yourself for not controlling it better. The smug smirk that immediately crawled onto his face should have been a waving warning flag, yet you ignore it, too caught up in the way his eyes darted to your lips, eyeing the clear coat of gloss you’d previously applied. His thumb swipes across the sticky substance. “I was about to tell you not to disappoint me”, he murmurs before pulling your lip down, “but I can already tell that you won’t.”
Your heart swelled at the small praise, and you leaned into his touch. You hear him scoff at your blunt advances, his lips twitching as he eyes your eager figure. “You virgins really are gullible.” — He presses his mouth against yours, making you gasp in surprise as your pupils blow wide. In what you guessed to be an attempt at loosening you up, his hands roam up and down your sides, settling on your waist as he pushes himself closer, grinding his hips against yours.
You had no clue of what to focus on, his tongue in your mouth, his hands on your waist, or the way his thigh pushed between your legs, rubbing against your panties in a way that had you practically squealing. — You knew that he was enjoying the reactions he pulled from you, ever so sensitive to his smallest of touches. It’s not long before his hand is on your thigh, gradually moving along your skin before reaching the hem of your underwear. He pushes the fabric to the side, fingers sliding across your already pathetically wet folds before finding your clit, as if they had done this a hundred times.
The moans you emit are all swallowed by his hungry lips on yours as he lets you grind yourself onto his hand. None of the previous hesitation you had felt during your session in the library was present in your mind, all you could think about was how good he felt, how you didn't want him to stop, and how you wanted more, a lot more.
“More.”
You can feel him smirk against you, your desperate whine ringing out into the hot air. — “Yeah?” He muses before pulling back, his lips are coated in your clear gloss, the sight was strangely enticing and you find yourself nibbling on your own lip as you sheepishly nod. He chuckles, pressing his lips against yours whilst he hikes your leg around his waist, the small adjustment bringing you even closer to him, and as you feel the hard bulge through his pants, reality slowly sets in.
But you can’t stop now, you don’t want to. The sound of him undoing his zipper becomes a muffled noise somewhere in the background as your arms wrap around his neck, clinging to him in every way possible. — He breaks the kiss, confused, your eyes flutter open as you try and peer at him in the dim light of the storage room. You briefly catch him tearing a small package open with his teeth and for a moment you’re left completely dumbfounded before realizing that it must’ve been a condom.
People wore condoms for one of two reasons, either they were avoiding knocking someone up, or they were afraid of catching diseases. But what disease could you possibly be carrying? So that would mean… You don’t have time to ponder on the matter further as you feel the tip of his cock against your folds. Immediately your eyes shoot open as your hands grip onto his shoulders. Suddenly everything seemed very real, perhaps a little too real.
“Tell me if it hurts”, he murmurs, his forehead leaning against your own and you meekly nod. Was it supposed to hurt? You draw in a sharp breath as you feel him slowly push inside, the stretch of his fingers had been nothing compared to this and you felt completely unprepared. His movements come to an abrupt halt as he leans back to gauge your reaction with a wary expression. Quickly nodding, you loosen your grip on his shoulders, breathing out a small “‘m fine.”
“Yeah?” He wonders and you nod once more. Only when he’s fully inside, do you dare let out the breath you had been holding in; feeling your body relax against his. “You feelin’ okay?” His genuine question catches you off guard and you give a small nod of assurance. “Y-Yeah I am..” — He smirks, then he captures your lips in a small kiss, the gesture distracts you from the moment he begins to move, gently rocking his hips into you and you gasp against his mouth.
“Fuck”, he grunts. With one hand around your waist and the other maintaining a steady grip on the shelf behind you, he slowly thrusts inside of you. “Are all virgins this tight?” He murmurs, the question was rhetorical and he doesn’t give you the chance to answer, “or is it just you nerd?” — “I bet it is.” He sounds menacing but his ragged breathing makes it hard for you to tell if he’d really meant it or not.
The items on the shelf rattle as his pace grows quicker, harsher, drawing moans and whimpers from you with every move his hips, cock stretching you wide as you claw against his shoulders. He leans back, enough to where he can watch the way your lips part, your now smudged gloss spread across your cheeks and chin as you whine. His gaze drops to your chest, fingers quickly beginning to work on the buttons that concealed you from him. Flicking them open one by one, Yeonjun’s hand quickly tears your blouse apart, eyes darting to your plump breasts as they bounced in rhythm with his movement.
“You’ve got some nice tits for a nerd”, he muses, his hand groping your chest as his thumb flicks along your covered nipple. Feeling your cheeks redden, you only moan as he draws deeper inside of you, the tip of his cock brushing against parts of you that made you squirm. — Yeonjun made you think of yourself, see yourself, in ways you never had before, and it was exciting.
“Has anyone ever told you that, hm?” He sneers, his hand pushing your breasts together as he watches the flesh squish against one another, groaning at the sight. Unable to form a single coherent thought, much less a full sentence, you merely shake your head. “Well you do. You got some of the nicest tits I’ve ever seen.” He grunts, hips snapping against you. The compliment makes you throb around him, your orgasm approaching at a rapid pace and your fairly short nails dig into his shoulders.
“P-Please”, you wail and Yeonjun rolls his eyes, letting out a gruff sigh. “Thought you would last longer than this, nerd.” — “But don’t worry”, he murmurs, leaning in close as his lips trail the shell of your ear, “it comes with practice.” He moves down your neck, prepping your skin in soft kisses before he pulls it between his teeth.
You whimper when his thumb rubs at your clit, legs trembling around his waist as your hands move to his hair, fingers threading through his dark locks before securely latching on. It doesn’t take much for your high to hit, your cunt clenching down around his cock as it pulls him in further. — Yeonjun curses under his breath as his hips jerk forward before stuttering. In the pure ecstasy of the moment, you roughly pull his face from your neck as you crash your lips against his. You knew that it was messy, sloppy and uncalculated, but you didn’t care as long as you got to feel him this close to you.
You hear him sigh, you can’t tell if he’s content or not. But a moment later he breaks the kiss, gazing at you with a clouded expression as a small grin tugs at his mouth. He bites his lip, eyes dropping to your chest one final time before he pulls out, making you wince at the sudden feel of emptiness. — “Not too bad for a first timer”, he comments as he rids himself off the condom. You open your mouth to say something but he beats you to it.
“Same time Friday, got it?”
⸝⸝
Your study sessions with Yeonjun became a regular thing, and every instance was just like the former. They would take place after school, in room 291, shielded away from prying eyes as he had his way with you. You were there, at his every beck and call, never once showing up late nor canceling. — It was both thrilling and excruciating. You knew that whatever transpired between the two of you was nothing personal and only temporary. Yet you couldn’t help but long for something more; you longed for Yeonjun to like you back.
It was probably a selfish thought, a selfish fantasy. But the images of Mimi flashing before your eyes, which had previously filled you with both dread and guilt, were suddenly replaced with a feeling of superiority. Because even if she didn’t know it, her boyfriend fucked someone else on the side, her boyfriend was cheating on her, with you. And it felt good. Often you had to hold yourself back from letting said fact slip past your lips. The scenarios would sometimes look something like this…
“Watch where you’re going, nerd.” Mimi spits after purposefully crashing into you in an almost empty hallway that provided more than enough room for two parties to pass. Her friends turn to you with a scowl as they fold their arms across their chests. Your eyes dart between them and their vengeful leader before flitting down the long corridor, down to where The Choi’s were hanging out.
Making the mistake of letting your gaze linger, garners her attention as Mimi snaps her fingers in front of your face. “What the fuck are you looking at nerd?” She barks as her eyes follow yours. She scoffs, her lips curling into a smirk, “do you think my boyfriend looks good or something?” Her question rips your attention back as you feverishly shake your head. — Mimi only laughs, her friends quickly joining in as she tucks a strand of hair behind her ear.
“It’s okay, I don’t blame you, really.” She tries to appear nice, perhaps even pitiful, but the malicious intent behind her words linger. You shake your head once more, “no I wasn’t I..” She holds up a finger to silence you, “come on now, it’s obvious. Everyone knows you have a thing for him.” She practically giggles as she covers her painted lips with a hand. Your cheeks feel as if they were on fire, your gaze dropping to your shoes as you bite the inside of your cheek.
“But don’t worry”, she leans closer, her breath, which reeked of the strawberry bubblegum she always chewed, fans across your face. “You’re not exactly his type.”
The statement almost made you scoff. Not his type? Was that what it was? You briefly considered telling her, telling her what her boyfriend was doing behind her back, and with the school nerd at that. The one girl she thought she didn’t have to worry about. It was almost a bit comedic. But you held your tongue. No matter how bad you wanted to crush whatever illusion she had going on, you couldn’t. Besides, Yeonjun would probably just deny it, and who would believe you?
Speaking of Choi Yeonjun. — He had become almost insufferable outside of your sessions. From barely looking at you in class to bringing attention to you at almost every possible second, Yeonjun was now the sole epitome of the bullying you endured. Whether it was the nasty and mean comments he shared with Beomgyu, his words echoing out through the classroom as he brought the whole class to laughter. Or the multiple times in which he’d trip you over in the hallways, undoubtedly peeking up your skirt as he did, but of course, no one noticed that, and if they did, they didn’t fault him.
Choi Yeonjun did nothing wrong. He never did. So when he invites you to a party, your very first one, you don't know what to say.
“Think about it”, he huffs as he zips his pants back up. The air in the small storage unit felt hot and stuffy, your clothes sticking to your sweaty body as you pulled your panties on. “I don’t know..” you quietly murmur, glancing down toward the dark floor as you twist your hands behind your back. — Yeonjun sighs, running a hand through his hair before he tries again. “Why not? Don’t tell me you’re scared.”
You shake your head. “I’m not. But…I don’t know anyone, I don’t… I can’t just show up there.” You argue before swallowing the lump in your throat. It had been an outright baffling proposal on his side. What would people think if you just turned up? — “Tell them I invited you, they’ll let you in.” You blink up at him, was he being for real right now?
“Y-You?” He nods, as if it was a given. “Make sure to wear something half decent at least.” He says, giving your shoulder a pat before he pushes past you and out of the small room, leaving you in the dark once more.
⸝⸝
Something half decent? What was something, half decent? You didn’t know, and it took you about an hour to pick out a dress you thought would be suitable. It wasn’t particularly short, stopping at your knees, the dark purple complimented your skin nice, you thought. But it felt uncomfortable to walk in, and with one hand wrapped around the fabric, you pull it down as you near the driveway of a large villa.
Your eyes flit across the scenery, it was dark out, but the house remained lit despite the late hour. Music was playing, loud enough to where the beat echoed out across the empty street. Swallowing a gulp, you run a hand through your styled hair one final time before daring to step inside.
Immediately you’re greeted by a large number of perplexed eyes, everyone slowly turning to you as you venture further into the villa, reaching the filled kitchen space. “What’s she doing here?” “Did someone invite her?” “I can’t believe she would actually show up.” — You cringe at their remarks, trying your best to ignore them as your eyes scan for Yeonjun. What if he wasn’t here? What if this had all been a ploy to draw you out and humiliate you further. You shouldn’t have come here, you really should–
“What the fuck are you doing here?”
Mimi’s harsh voice snaps you from your small trance as she immediately corners you. Freezing on the spot, your hands curl into fists as you turn to her. Desperate for a way to defend yourself, to explain the situation, or to just escape all together, your mind spirals with excuses. Your lips part but you can’t seem to get a single syllable out. “Come on nerd, I asked you a question.” She huffs, growing impatient as she takes a step forward, her chest almost touching yours.
“I’m…I..” Could you really tell her that her boyfriend invited you? Would she believe you? No, of course not, no one would. You bite the inside of your cheek, eyes flitting across the crowded kitchen. — “Did you come here to make a scene or something? I mean come on, you’re not even a senior.” Her comment makes everyone hum in agreement as they nod, some even sharing a couple of laughs.
She was right, and even if she wasn’t, it wouldn’t matter. You stood no chance against anyone in this room. Tears prickle in the corner of your eyes and for the first time since you came here, you actually felt like crying. Taking in a small breath, you slowly exhale again. “Well I…”
“I invited her.”
Your heart practically froze over as Yeonjun’s voice cut through the tense air. Quiet murmurs carry out through the room as everyone redirects their attention. Somewhere in front of you, you can hear Mimi scoff as she takes a small step back. “What?” She questions and you finally dare to lift your gaze, your eyes immediately locking with Yeonjun’s as he leans against the kitchen island, seemingly unbothered by the small uproar taking place.
Mimi on the other hand seemed to be fuming as she glanced between her boyfriend and you. “What do you mean you invited her?” She seethes, her voice laced with hatred and spite. Yeonjun shrugs as he digs his hands into his pockets, an indifferent look on his face. “Come on now, loosen up a little. It’s our responsibility as her seniors to take good care of her, don’t you agree?” He lets his gaze wander across the multiple eyes directed at him, everyone seeming to break under his stare as they quietly nod.
He cocks an eyebrow in the direction of his girlfriend, “then there’s no problem, hm?” Mimi’s mouth had fallen open as she watched him win everyone over within a matter of seconds. Though quickly regaining her composure as she nods, muttering out a quiet, “whatever”, before she pushes past you with such force that you almost lose your balance.
Yeonjun sighs as he moves off the countertop, placing a hand on Beomgyu’s shoulder, “get her something to drink won’t you?” His friend frowns, “why me?” But Yeonjun doesn’t pay him any further mind as he, too, takes his leave, most likely in search of his raging girlfriend.
As soon as he leaves, the previous tension seems to lift as everyone returns to whatever conversation they had been preoccupied with earlier. You breathe out a small sigh as you wrap your arms around you, leaning against the kitchen island as you keep your gaze down. — A drink is shoved in front of you, it’s reddish hue making you frown as you gingerly take it from Beomgyu’s outstretched hand. “T-Thanks”, you mumble as you grip the plastic cup tightly.
You’re surprised when he doesn’t leave, instead he groans as he takes place beside you, resting his hands on the countertop behind him. “Y’know I really don’t understand why he invited you of all people.” He begins and you can feel his eyes roam your body with distaste. Swallowing, you quietly nod as you sip on the drink, it wasn’t at all as bitter as you had expected it to be, rather it tasted kind of sweet.
“I…I don’t know either”, you shyly mumble, keeping the cup to your lips as you occupy yourself with gazing down at the liquid swirling around. Beomgyu scoffs as he shakes his head, “Of course you don’t. No one knows what’s going on in that thick skull of his.” — His words came out…almost insulting, and you wondered why he chose to speak in such a way about his friend.
“You’ve got some guts though, I’ll give you that.” He states, running a hand through his messy hair as his eyes fixate on something in front of him. Surprised at the sudden almost compliment-like statement, you glance up at him in sheer bewilderment. “Not many people in your shoes would’ve come here”, he adds as he gives you a quick one-over. “No offense y’know, but you kinda look…” His nose scrunches up in what you could only guess to be disgust and you bite the inside of your cheek as your gaze drops to your dress.
“O-Oh yeah…I guess.”
Beomgyu chuckles, “My, are you gullible.” You internally wince at his words, a small grimace flickering across your face as you take another sip of your drink. You can feel his eyes on you as Beomgyu studies you closely, a little too close. “Y’know, maybe I do understand why he invited you”, he sniggers, pushing himself off the kitchen island, he leaves without saying another word.
Left confused and yet again, alone, you chew on the plastic of your cup as you wonder how long you would have to stay before it would become appropriate to leave.
⸝⸝
You think an hour had passed, it felt like three. Back pressed against the wall of the open-spaced living room, your eyes roam the makeshift dance floor as you watch the way your classmates enjoy their evening together. Your presence had soon become old news and after your first encounter, Mimi had left you alone, and so did everyone else. You were thankful, you supposed. But you still didn’t know why Yeonjun had invited you, much less why you had even decided to show up. Because right now, he was nowhere to be seen.
You think that you might be able to just sneak out, leave, go home and forget that this evening ever took place. This wasn’t for you, that much you could tell. You would face the embarrassment come Monday, but today, now, all you wanted to do was evaporate.
Standing up a bit straighter, you tug your dress down once more, preparing to leave. It’s only then he makes an appearance. It’s quick, so much so that if it weren’t for the subtle tap to your forearm, you would’ve probably missed him as he passed you by. Your eyes follow Yeonjun’s retreating frame as he aims for the staircase, leading to the second floor. Before climbing the first step, he throws a quick glance over his shoulder, eyes finding yours as he flashes you a small smirk.
You gulp as you watch him disappear again. Nervously chewing on your bottom lip, your gaze flits across the room, no one was looking at you. Still you wait another five minutes before aiming for the stairs as well. Each step forward made your legs feel like jelly and you steadied yourself against the railing.
The second floor consists of a long hallway, with doors either side of it, reaching down to at least four of them. Your heartbeat picks up at the thought of having to push all of them open as you carefully peeked inside. But your attention is drawn to the third one on the right, slightly ajar as a yellow light seeps through its cracks. Hesitantly you venture forward, coming to a halt in front of it as you debate your next move. Did you knock? Call out for him? Was he even there? Maybe you were seeing things. There was only one way to find out was there?
Mustering up whatever courage you have left, you gently push the door open. The room is… a bedroom. A small onesize bed, pushed up against the window alongside the empty bedside table, tells you that it’s most likely a guest room. Your eyes flit to the armchair in the corner, widening as they land on Yeonjun’s figure, sprawled out against the cushion, a hand down his pants as he lazily strokes himself. He watches you with a faint smirk, his head leaning back against the backrest, eyes half lidded as they peer over at you.
What was going on? You glance back and out into the hallway, afraid that someone, anyone, might walk by. What if Mimi came looking for him? But you were almost certain he’d meant for you to follow him. Quickly you shut the door behind you, locking it for good measure. Yeonjun watches your hurried movements with an amused expression, the hand on his cock unwavering.
“W-What’s all this?” You quietly wonder, willing your eyes to look anywhere but him, anywhere but the hand down his trousers. He doesn’t say anything, lifting his free hand, his index finger beckons you over and you hesitantly comply. Stopping by the chair, you awkwardly clasp your hands together in front of you as you wait for him to break the stale silence.
“You look nice tonight.” He finally says, his voice seemingly indifferent as he shamelessly lets his gaze roam your body, stopping at the slight cleavage your dress provided. In the dim light casted by only a small lamp on the drawer next to him, you were unsure if he could make out the blush coating your cheeks or not. “Thank you..”
He hums, readjusting himself on the soft cushions as his legs spread further apart. It takes everything in you not to let your gaze drop. For a moment everything is quiet, and you wonder why he had even bothered to get you up here in the first place. But then he sighs, the small exhale easily garnering your attention as you shift on the spot.
“Have you ever blown someone before?”
He asks the question as if it were any other and you feel the color on your cheeks intensifying. He can’t just ask someone something like that…But then again, there was little Choi Yeonjun couldn’t do. Part of you doesn’t understand why he even bothered to ask, wasn’t it obvious? Another part of you suspects that he wants to hear you admit it, wants to see you get flustered as you shake your head, squeaking out a meek “no, never.”
That’s exactly what you do. — He smirks, a wide smirk, exposing his sharp teeth as his free hand grabs onto one of your own. You let him pull you to your knees, the soft carpet beneath your bare skin felt nice but it was hard to focus on anything but the bulge in front of your face, the movement of his hand visible through the material of his pants.
“I’ll teach you”, he mumbles, letting go of your hand as he pushes your hair back, gaze wandering across the light makeup you had applied, lingering by the cherry red lipstick on your lips. You slowly nod, hands gripping onto the hem of your dress with such force that you’re surprised it doesn’t tear.
Without further warning he leans back, swiftly pulling his cock free from his jeans as he continues to stroke it, now only inches from your face. Sure you and Yeonjun had hooked up before, in the darkness of the small storage unit, in places where you never paid his dick much attention apart from when it was inside of you. This was the first time you actually saw it, you think, and this close too.
Your jaw goes slack as your eyes trail across the large veins climbing up his shaft, coated in a sheer layer of arousal, seeping through his fingers as they wrapped around the length of it. Gulping, you eye the tip, a bright red hue as droplets of precum spilled from the slit. You would be lying if you said that the sight didn’t make your thighs clench together. — Obviously enjoying your stunned response, Yeonjun groans as he gives himself a particularly harsh tug, making your eyes widen further as they flicker from his cock to his face and back again.
“Come here”, he directs you to scoot forward and you do, offering your hand for him to take as he guides it to wrap around his shaft. He felt hard and heavy in your palm, and you bite your lip as you try to gauge his reaction. Letting his hand drop to his sides, Yeonjun sinks back against the cushion as he peers down at you. “Start slow, don’t use too much pressure but don’t be afraid to touch me. I’ll tell you when you can speed up.” He instructs as he lets his head fall back, getting comfortable as he pays you little mind.
Your attention returns to his cock in your hand, doing as he said, you slowly let your palm glide up and down, fingers quickly becoming coated in the shiny layer of his arousal. You can’t tell if he likes it or not, he gives little reaction as he stares up at the ceiling. You want to ask him, you want him to reassure you, but it feels stupid to ask, and you hate feeling stupid.
His hand joins in on top of your own, guiding your fingers to his tip, which you had purposefully avoided as you didn’t know how to approach it. “Flick your wrist like this”, he murmurs, letting your palm glide over the head before returning to stroke him. He only shows you once before his hand moves back to his side. But you can tell that he’s watching you now, eyes tailing your every movement as you repeat what he had just showed you, rolling your hand over his tip, drawing a small huff of air from him.
“Use your thumb”, he breathes, and your gaze flickers to his face in slight confusion before catching on. The next time you twist your wrist over his head, you press the surface of your thumb against the slit. He shudders under you, a small groan passing his lips and your heart speeds up at the small confirmation you just received. It managed to boost your confidence enough to where you gripped him more firmly, experimentally squeezing his cock, just like he had done moments prior, relishing in the way his breath hitched.
“You can go -f-fuck- faster.” He grunts, his hands sliding against the armrests of the chair, fingers digging into the plush cushion. Quickly nodding, you’re happy to oblige, repeating your previous movements but with an increased pace as your eyes dart between his leaking dick and his slightly contorted face.
When he first twitches in your hand, you’re taken back. Surprised by the sudden movement yet you felt yourself throb as you tugged at him even harsher, wanting to pull that very same reaction from him once more. — He’s stopped guiding you, biting down on the inside of his cheek as he tries to muffle whatever noises threaten to escape. You don’t mind, in fact it only spurred you on further as you flicked your wrist over his flushed tip once more.
His hips buck up against your hand as he lets out a strangled noise. His hand quickly finds its way to your hair, brushing it back as he breathes out through his nose. “Fuck, slow down”, he mutters, tugging at your hair as he forces your face up to meet his, “I’ll cum before you’ve even blown me at this rate.” The statement made your chest swell with pride, still, your hand slows down as you settle back into a more languid pace.
He takes a moment to open his eyes, drawing in a few ragged breaths before he does. The hand in your hair moves to your face, cupping your cheeks as he pulls you closer, the tip of his cock merely inches from your lips and you swallow. “Relax”, he says, fingers pulling your mouth open and you let him. “Breathe through your nose, and don’t use your teeth.” — You slowly nod, your hands bracing themselves on his thighs as he taps his cock against your parted lips, smearing his arousal all over your cherry lipstick.
He pushes inside slowly, you wince at the stretch, your mouth widening as much as it allows. The first thing you note is the salty taste, it isn’t particularly strong and you’re relieved. But no matter how hard you tried to relax your jaw, when his cock hit the back of your throat you instinctively pulled back with a small gag. — Yeonjun tsk’s above you, the hand on your cheeks gripping you firmer as he pulls you back onto his dick. “Thought I told you to relax, no?” He murmurs, letting out a breathy moan as you let him slide himself back into your hot mouth.
Your eyes screw shut as you focus on evening out your breathing, taking steady breaths in and out through your nose as you allow your tense frame to relax under him. “Think of it as the same as what you did with your hand.” His fingers relax against your cheek, thumb grazing your skin as he feels the way his cock slides in and out of your pliant lips. — It feels weird at first, uncomfortable too, but after a while you slowly get used to the feeling of him in your mouth.
Hesitantly wrapping your lips around him, you press your tongue flat against him as you carefully bob your head up and down. He groans somewhere above you and your eyes flutter open as you peer up at him through your mascara coated lashes. Yeonjun always looked good, but there was something about him like this, from this view. A sheer layer of sweat that made his dark hair stick to his forehead, his parted lips and furrowed brows, you clenched at the sight, taking him deeper and with much more urgency.
Something about tonight felt…special, perhaps even more intimate than all your past encounters. Maybe it had to do with the change of scenery. The dimly lit bedroom, the plush armchair, the fine carpet, you can’t place it, but something is different. And for the first time, you can only think about Yeonjun, not his girlfriend, his friends or even your classmates. It was only him.
Remembering how you had pressed your thumb against his slit earlier, you pull back to refocus your attention to only his tip, your hand joining in to stroke the rest of him. You press your tongue flat against his head before swirling it to the best of your abilities, watching intently as Yeonjun’s brows drew further together, a breathy moan ripping from deep within his chest.
“F-Fucking hell”, he groans, his head falling back against the cushion. “Fuck ‘m gonna-” His hips jerk forward, the tip of his cock hitting the back of your throat and you pull back with a small wince, unprepared for when his hot cum spurted into your mouth. Not really knowing which approach to take, you continue to suck him off, cum dribbling down your chin as you fought to swallow the rest without losing your breath once more. Yeonjun slumps back against the armchair, his hand releasing its hold on your cheeks as he lets it fall to his side.
Carefully pulling off of him, you sit back as you begin wiping your chin with the back of your hand. You steal a glance at him, his chest heaving as he catches his breath. Yeonjun runs a hand through his hair, shaking his head as a small grin etches its way to his lips. — “Was…was it okay?” Your words are barely above a whisper, and he cocks an eyebrow at you, his grin widening.
“Sure it was, nerd.”
You blink up at him, “really?” — He chuckles, tucking himself back into his pants with a small grimace. “Would I have asked you to do it if I had doubts?” He retorts and you bite your lip, no perhaps not you supposed. “You’ll get even better with a bit of practice”, he reassures you, giving your head a light pat before getting up.
He’s reached the door before he turns back to you, “wait another fifteen minutes or so before leaving, yeah?” Without waiting to hear your answer, he unlocks the door and steps out, slamming it shut behind him.
⸝⸝
You spent another thirty minutes aimlessly wandering around the large villa, astonished by how someone could afford a place this big. You still had no clue whose house this even was, and no one seemed to care for the sake either. — Halfway down a long corridor, filled with what you could only assume to be modern art, you suddenly freeze in your tracks as the voices of someone else joins your quiet footsteps.
After spending a rough minute trying to locate the source of the sound, you finally realize that it’s coming from behind one of the larger pillars a few paces ahead. Debating your choices for a solid ten seconds, you opt to try and eavesdrop, if only for a moment. And as you quietly creep forward, their conversation suddenly becomes a lot more clear. — Shuffling to squeeze yourself behind another pillar, you lean against the cool marble as you try and pick up on what’s being said.
You knew the voices belonged to two of the girls from your class, but you were unable to pair them with any faces. — “Did he really?” One of them asks, her voice is slightly high-pitched, almost a bit squeaky. Her friend’s voice is fairly deeper as she replies, “Yes! And it was a week before her birthday too!” A small gasp. “You don’t mean… But with whom?” The first girl asks.
There’s a brief pause, and you, too, find yourself holding your breath as you await the second girl's answer. “With Hera..” You frown, unable to recognize the name but the other girl seemed more than aware as she let out a small shriek, earning a sharp “hush!” from her friend. — “But that’s…” the first girl begins only to be interrupted by her friend, “her best friend.”
Their conversation made little sense in your ears, and with a small sigh you turned to walk the other way when suddenly, a familiar name surfaced. — “But it was kind of obvious was it not”, the girl with the deeper voice begins, “Yeonjun has cheated on Mimi with practically all of her friends. She’s bound to find out some day, it’s only a matter of time.”
You felt your face fall as your heart plummeted through your stomach. Had you heard them right? You hoped you hadn’t but the first girl quickly butts in as she confirms what you dreaded. “I told her from the start that Yeonjun was promiscuous, but she didn’t listen of course”, the girl huffs as her friend hums in agreement. “Better her than me”, she adds.
You had heard enough. That was it, you were going home. Turning on your heel, you quietly dart down the long corridor. — You knew that you didn't have a reason to be upset, hell he had even cheated on his girlfriend with you. It still didn’t stop the tears that pricked in your eyes as you pushed past the crowd in the kitchen. A small part of you had thought, perhaps even hoped that maybe, maybe what he saw in you was different from what he saw in Mimi. God you’re so stupid. You quietly mutter, reaching the open living room just in time to see who you had hoped you wouldn’t.
Near the front door, leaning against the wall, was Yeonjun, arms wrapped around his girlfriend’s frame as she pressed sloppy kisses to his neck. Your mind flashes with the images of what had taken place between the two of you not even an hour ago. Yet here he was, shamelessly buttering his so-called girlfriend up as if he hadn’t had you on his cock moments prior. And to think that you had allowed yourself to become part of his crowd, it was disgusting.
You finally saw Choi Yeonjun for what he really was. A fucking asshole. And with that clarification in mind, you forcefully push past the pair as you march out of the front door, leaving the still lively party behind as you begin your journey home.
⸝⸝
Monday came all too fast. The aftermath of the party is still fresh in your mind as you rummage through your locker. You had spent the whole weekend reanalyzing your every interaction with Yeonjun; from the day you first met to the thirty minutes spent in the guest bedroom just two days ago. You questioned his true intentions, more than twice. But no matter how many hours you tossed and turned in bed, you got no closer to solving the mystery that was Choi Yeonjun.
Slamming the red steel door shut, you almost drop the books in your arm as you come face to face with the person you least wanted to see. — Yeonjun leans against the locker next to yours as he studies your face intently. Quickly you turn around to see if anyone was watching the two of you before shifting your attention back to him. “What are you doing?” You whisper as you watch him with a wary expression.
He only shrugs, a small grin playing on his lips. “See me after class”, he nods in the direction of the stairs, leading to the third floor and you internally sigh. Still, you should talk to him, you really should, so you nod. “Okay.” — His grin widens as Yeonjun pushes himself off the locker, continuing down the hallway without another word.
You find yourself counting down the hours, lesson after lesson, your eyes remain glued to the clock on the wall. In fact, you’re so focused on the afternoon ahead that the insults thrown your way merely passes over your head. — Then finally, after what feels like an eternity, you find yourself walking up the steps and past the doors as you neared room 291.
He was already there, waiting for you. And as soon as the red door closes behind you, he’s got you pressed up against it, hungry lips on yours within a matter of seconds as his hands roam your body. It was easy to get caught up in his world, his kisses and his touches, you have to remind yourself of why you came here. His name falls from your lips, but it’s not the usual desperate whine, it’s serious, you know that he can tell, humming against your lips yet his hands don’t stray away from wandering beneath your shirt.
"Yeonjun, wait."
He stills, if only for a moment, leaning back slightly as his lips brush against yours. Taking in a deep breath, you prepare yourself for the conversation to come. You had rehearsed it many times in your head, but as you glance up at him in the dim light of the storage unit, you find it hard to even look him in the eyes. “I…I’ve been thinking”, you slowly begin, watching the faint smirk that surfaces on his face. “Don’t you always, nerd.” He mutters, his hands resuming their journey up your chest, flicking the buttons to your shirt open as his mouth leaves hot kisses against your neck.
You try to ignore the burning sensation sparking through your body, forcing yourself to go through with what you wanted to say. “Yes but, I’ve been thinking about…about us.” — Your words make his hands around your breasts stutter and he goes quiet against you. Biting your lip, you hold your breath as you wait for him to say something, but he doesn’t, only humming against your skin as he continues to litter you in red marks.
“What makes you think there is an ‘us’?”
His question makes your composure fall as you let out a shaky exhale. “There isn't?" You hesitantly ask, already anticipating the answer you were bound to receive. — He pulls away from you with a perplexed expression. Then he laughs, it’s short, cruel, he shakes his head. “Don’t be funny”, he mutters as he runs a hand through his dark hair. “You know that I have a girlfriend, nerd.” He spits the words out like the venomous bite of a snake. His gaze drops to your unbuttoned blazer, briefly passing the harsh bruises he’d previously left on your chest.
“Don’t think you’re anything else besides a quick fuck.”
Oh. There it was. He finally said it, he finally confirmed what you had been dreading all along. You weren’t stupid, you knew that whatever the two of you had was nothing romantic. But hearing those words come out of his mouth, it hurt more than you ever thought it would’ve. Still, it was just what you needed. With your palms pressed against his chest, you push him back, as far away from you as the small room allowed.
“I don’t think I want to be that.”
Your voice is trembling as you speak and you have to force your gaze not to drop down to your shoes. Letting your hands fall back against your sides, you draw in a small breath, holding it as you watch Yeonjun’s face form into a confused frown. “What the fuck is that supposed to mean?” He huffs, sounding almost angry as his hands clenched into fists before relaxing again.
You bite the inside of your cheek, giving a meek shrug of your shoulders. “I don’t want to be just a… a quick fuck.” You murmur, unable to maintain his intense gaze, you let your eyes drop to the floor. He scoffs, leaning back against the shelves with such force that the items behind him rattled. “Do you honestly believe that anyone else is even going to consider fucking you, nerd?” He was pissed, that much you could tell.
Shaking your head, you blink away the tears that had managed to form in your eyes. “I don’t care, I just…”, you exhale, praying that your voice wouldn’t break as you continued, “I just don’t think this is for me.” — Yeonjun laughs, the same laugh that echoed off the classroom walls as he made fun of you. You realize then just how fucked up your situation had become. How could you have allowed yourself to stoop to such a level?
“I gave you so much, and you… you don’t think that it’s for you?” He jeers, taking a step forward as he comes face to face with you once more. But now none of the previous lust and desire remained, only fury. All you can do is continuously shake your head, not daring to meet his gaze. “No. It’s not.” You state as you tear your eyes from the floor, it takes everything in you to not have your resolve crumbling as you peer up at him.
“So let’s stop.”
You motion toward the small unit you were currently standing in. “Whatever this is, was, let’s end it now.” You swallow, hard, the sound ringing in your ears. Yeonjun runs a hand through his hair once more, tongue prodding against the inside of his cheek as his eyes flit between you and the door. “You want to end things? Fine.” His voice lacks all the anger it previously held, now sounding almost monotone.
“But don’t come crying when you realize just how much you’re about to lose.” He drawls, eyes boring into yours one final time before he pushes past you, knocking you back against the wall as he rips the door open. Darkness envelops you as soon as it's slammed shut behind him, and you finally let out the sob you had been holding in.
⸝⸝
You didn’t go to school that following Tuesday, nor Wednesday. It was the first time you had missed a whole day since your junior year in highschool. Was it pathetic? Probably. Curled up on your bed, you spent the two days in front of your laptop, binging whatever show seemed appealing as you sniffled into a tissue. — You wanted to go back in time, back to when you only knew Yeonjun as the obnoxious leader of bullies from your class, back to when things were simple.
You wondered what he might’ve said about you in your absence. What kind of lies he might’ve conducted, surely he wouldn’t just sit still. You dreaded returning, but you knew that it was inevitable, and as Thursday rolled around, you pulled yourself from bed.
The classroom was empty when you arrived, there was another thirty minutes left but you had chosen to get there earlier to save yourself perhaps at least a few stares as you walked toward your desk. You had missed a lot, you were sure, two days was a long time to be away from school and you worried that you would have a lot of reading to do when you came back home. Though you supposed the distraction of studying would be nice.
It’s about ten minutes left until class when the first few students emerged from the doors, swinging their bags down on their desks as they chatted loudly with one another. “Watch it nerd!” A girl sneers as she gives the leg of your chair a harsh kick, you grip onto the edge of your table as you hang your head low. But beside that, nothing happens, and you frown. You were sure it was going to be worse than this, but it wasn’t. For the first time ever you felt relieved that your classmates were treating you indifferent. Well, all except one.
Yeonjun doesn’t show up to first period. And just as you think he’s about to be absent for the second one as well, the door is pushed open as he walks inside. Yeonjun seldom did what he was supposed to in class, but he always brought his bag, not today though. You tried to not let your eyes linger, inevitably failing as you watched him pull out his chair and sit down, his hands remaining in his pockets as he leaned back to gaze across the board with a lazy expression. In regular fashion, Beomgyu goes off about a random topic next to him as Soobin twirls a pen between his fingers, seemingly bored out of his mind.
Class begins, and ends, and nothing happens. Not even as much as a glare in your direction. It was just like before, before the two of you were ever intimate, Yeonjun acted as if you didn’t exist, and you watched him. But this time, you didn’t feel a sense of longing, honestly, you didn’t know what you felt. Relief, a sense of mourning, regret? You didn’t like the way your stomach felt when you looked at him, so you stopped.
⸝⸝
Weeks went by, the bullying never stopped, why would it? You kept quiet, your gaze downcast as you moved through the hallways. It worked, because you rarely saw him anymore. You didn’t know if he was avoiding you or not, you didn’t care. It felt nice to not care. The only thing tugging away at you now… was the loneliness. It wasn’t like Yeonjun acted friendly with you, especially not during school hours, but he had made you feel less alone. In the most fucked up way possible, he was the only one you had ever had some kind of relationship with since your first day here. And a small part of you missed it.
But even the loneliness would one day stop.
You blink up as a plate is placed opposite yours in the crowded cafeteria. Confused, your eyes darted between the boy before of you and the plenty of empty tables. He doesn’t seem to care as he slides down on the chair in front of yours. “You’re the junior girl who takes classes with the seniors right?” He asks as he tilts his head to the side, studying you with wide and curious eyes. — Still wary of the intentions behind his move to sit with you, you slowly nod, “I am.”
He smiles, it was perhaps one of the first genuine smiles you had received since you started here. Shuffling a bit closer, he offers his hand for you to shake, which you hesitantly do. “I’m Hueningkai, but you can just call me Kai.” He says as you let go of his hand once more. — “I’m a junior too, but I’m stuck with everyone else our age”, he explains with a coy smile.
You nod, taking a small sip of your water. His eyes shift to the book placed next to your tray. “Lord Of The Rings?” He asks and you hum as you turn it around for him to see. “I love those books!” He exclaims as he brings it to his face, studying the back intently. “I’m re-reading them..” You quietly mumble as your gaze flickers between him and the glass in your hand. Kai sets the book down as he turns to you, “you mean you’ve read all this more than once? Sick!”
That was how you met Kai. You don’t know why he approached you, you didn’t care to ask. All you knew was that you had finally found a friend. And though the two of you still took separate classes, you always stayed behind to study together, ate lunch just the two of you, and walked each other to class. It felt nice to have someone to talk to, even though you didn’t tell him about you and Yeonjun, he still listened to you as you explained all of the bullying.
You were amongst the last to return to class after lunch one lousy Tuesday. Kai and you had spent the entire break discussing quantum physics, and you had only realized the time once you went to search something up on your phone, making you rush to class. Not thinking much of the rare occurrence, you make your way over to your desk by the very back of the room, only freezing when one of your classmates addresses you.
“What’s got you coming in so late, nerd?” He sneers as he leans back in his chair to see you better. With the intention of not replying, you take your seat as you begin rummaging through your stuffed bag. But when another girl butts in, you feel yourself go stiff. “Don’t you know?” She drawls, easily garnering the first guy’s attention as well as everyone around her. Even the Choi’s seemed to be listening as Beomgyu put down his phone. You held your breath, anticipating the worst yet it somehow ended up being so far from anything you could’ve ever imagined.
“Nerd’s got a boyfriend.” She exclaims, watching triumphantly as everyone began whispering amongst each other, hushed murmurs carrying around the room. You felt your face burn as you glanced toward Yeonjun’s table. — He was still scrolling absentmindedly on his phone, but the way his jaw clenched, accompanied with the small frown of his brows, made your stomach sink just slightly.
“That’s such bullshit!” Mimi exclaims as she throws you a harsh glare. But the girl who’d announced the news merely shakes her head. “I’ve seen them myself!” She retorts as she folds her arms across her chest. “That junior boy, y’know the blonde one.” — “I’ve seen them too!” Someone else chirps in and the girl is quick to nod.
“They always eat lunch together too”, the girl turns to you with a wide smirk, “isn’t that right nerd?” — Your fingers curled around the pencil in your hand, gripping it with such force that it might break. You don’t look at her, gaze dropping to your table as you merely shook your head, earning a scoff from the girl as she turned back to the rest of the class.
“Shit, are you serious?” Beomgyu wonders as he leans forward in his chair. But before the girl has a chance to reply, Yeonjun cuts her off. “Don’t be stupid”, he mutters as he pulls Beomgyu back by the collar of his shirt. — “What the fuck man, it’s just a question”, he whines as he rubs his now sore neck. Yeonjun huffs as his gaze remains glued to his phone screen, “of course she isn’t serious. Stop believing her bullshit.”
Beomgyu falls silent at his words and so does everyone else. The next few minutes are awkward as everyone scrambles to occupy themselves with whatever they could find, desperately wishing for your professor to walk through the doors.
⸝⸝
The sound of the old library doors being pushed open shifts your focus from the book in your lap as you glance up just in time to see Kai approaching your desk. He smiles, waving his hand enthusiastically and you find yourself reciprocating the small move. — “Sorry I’m late”, he apologizes as he takes the seat next to yours, pulling a few books from his bag. “It’s fine, really”, you assure him as you place your own book down.
It had become routine for the two of you to meet up and study together, well, you often just talked the hours away, but neither of you seemed to mind the lack of work getting done. “Which chapter are you on?” He wonders, and you slide the book over for the two of you to share, “fifteen.” He nods as he scoots closer, your shoulders practically touching as you take turns reading and scribbling down notes.
Usually you didn’t mind the close proximity, but when thinking back of what had transpired after lunch earlier that day, you felt different. Ever since your break up with Yeonjun, if break up was even what you could call it, you had little desire to enter into a new relationship. But the more you mulled over your classmate’s words, the more sense it all seemed to make. — Eating lunch together, walking each other to class, even now, you both sat so close that you could hear the pattern of his breathing.
Kai was cute. He was the type of cute that made you look back twice when you passed him on the street, the type of cute that made you want to revisit the small café because of the waiter that had served you, the type of cute that you wanted to bring home to your parents. — Not only was he cute, he was nice too, you felt happy, comforted, in his presence. Unlike Yeonjun, Kai only made you feel giddy inside as you longed to see him. He never made you second guess his intentions or yourself.
But there was still something missing, something that you couldn’t quite place. Something that Yeonjun had made you feel by just stepping into the same room as you. You hated yourself for comparing your new friend to someone like him, but it felt almost impossible not to. You didn’t care about Choi Yeonjun anymore, so why did he continue to haunt the subconscious parts of your mind?
As if on cue, Kai turns around in his seat, his nose almost grazing your own due to how close you sat. “Hey are you following along?” He wonders, seemingly concerned as a small frown tugs at his brows. Blinking, you shake your head, “sorry no..” — You swallow, willing yourself to be honest with him, you need to be.
“Can I…can I tell you something?” You hesitantly ask, gnawing on your bottom lip as you twirl your pencil anxiously between your fingers. He nods, a small smile painting his lips, “of course!” — Awkwardly clearing your throat, you think of a way to begin the whole thing. “W-Well basically…Everyone in my class they-”
Your words get stuck in your throat, not because you were afraid of uttering them, not because Kai made you in any way feel uneasy. But because the oak doors to the library opened once more, the sound almost deafening to your ears, eyes becoming glued to Yeonjun’s frame as he enters. It doesn’t take him long to spot you, his already spiteful expression seemingly worsening as his gaze locks with yours.
He grasps a book tightly in one hand, walking over to the front desk as he practically slams it on the table, making everyone inside the room jump as their heads turn in his direction. Yeonjun however, pays them little mind, his eyes never straying from yours as the old librarian goes to check out his book. — Even Kai’s attention had shifted toward your classmate, watching as Yeonjun leaned against the desk with a scowl on his face.
“Isn’t he in your class?” He wonders as the frown on his face deepens. You nod, “ignore him”, you mumble as you shift uncomfortably under his intense gaze. “But he’s looking at you..” Kai states and you shake your head again, “please let’s just ignore him.” — Finally, Kai tears his gaze from him as he gives you a small nod, “of course. So what’d you want to tell me?”
Oh right. “Well I… It’s a bit weird, promise you won’t be freaked out.” You begin as you bite your lip, feeling an evident blush rise on your cheeks. Kai nods as he takes your hand, the small action somehow making the whole thing even worse but you couldn’t find it in you to push him off. From the corner of your eye, you can make out Yeonjun’s figure as he watches the two of you, his mere presence made the hairs on the back of your neck stand.
“My classmates they…they sort of think we’re…well they think we’re dating..” You quietly mumble, the last part becoming nothing more but a faint whisper. You can easily read his surprise as Kai’s eyes widen, his gaze flitting down to his hand on top of yours as he swallows. “Oh.” Is all he says. — “I hope it doesn’t make things weird between us”, you quickly add, your voice near pleading as you search his gaze.
Biting the inside of his cheek, Kai slowly nods as he keeps his eyes on your hands. “No I suppose it doesn’t… I mean, it’s not like it’s true..” He says, offering you a small smile as his gaze returns to your face. You nod, “y-yeah, exactly..” — Daring to steal a glance in the direction of Yeonjun, you barely manage to catch his retreating figure as he exits the library, oak doors slamming shut behind him.
Kai follows your gaze, his hand on top of yours moving back to rest on his lap as his eyes flicker between the spot where Yeonjun just vanished and your almost longing expression. He sighs.
⸝⸝
It’s nearing 6pm when you finally part ways outside the library. And after waving Kai off, you turn to walk up the flight of stairs leading to your locker. The hallways are vacant, your low heel shoes clacking against its floors as you readjust your heavy bag on your shoulder. — Your footsteps come to an abrupt halt about halfway down the long corridor, your eyes spotting a tall figure, leaning against the red lockers by the end of the hall. You swallow, easily recognizing his lean frame. It’s too late to turn back, you know that he’s heard you already.
“Have you been waiting here all along?” You wonder, stopping a few paces from him, maintaining a good distance as you shift your weight over to one leg. Yeonjun’s head, previously leaning against the red steel behind him, lazily turns in your direction as he studies you with a tired expression. “No.” — You knew it was a lie.
“Then why are you here?” For once, it’s your gaze boring into his, and not the other way around. Yeonjun remains silent, his hands digging deep into the pockets of his pants, his eyes roaming your body just like they had so many times before. He doesn’t say anything. You wait for him to speak, you wait for two whole minutes. Nothing.
With a small huff, you give up as you approach your locker. Now only inches from him, you type your code in as the red door clicks open. Pulling your books from your bag, he watches you as you place them neatly inside the small space. You bite your tongue, refraining from saying the many things on your mind. It would only complicate the situation further. — It’s not until you close the locker again, turning around as you get ready to leave, that he finally breaks the silence.
“Is it true?”
You freeze, slowly turning back to face him with a small frown. Still leaning against the lockers, he tilts his head to the side, his expression holds no amusement, not even anger, just…emptiness. You had never seen him like that before. — “What?” The surprise is evident in your voice, and you watch as he pushes himself off the lockers, moving to face you completely. “You and him, is it true?” He repeats his question and your breath gets stuck in your throat at the mention of Kai.
You didn’t want him to become the next affection of Yeonjun’s harsh bullying. More than anything, you wanted to maintain the only friendship you had, you could not have your past mistakes getting in the way of it. — “Does it matter?” Your stance remains guarded as you fold your arms across your chest. He cocks an eyebrow in your direction, his lip twitching, “of course not.”
Confused, you frown, you had forgotten how near impossible he was to read. “Well then there you have your answer.” You firmly state. He shakes his head, and you could’ve sworn you caught the small grin on his face before it vanished again. “So then it is true..” — “Yes.” The small word of confirmation slips from your lips without you even realizing it. But it was too late to take it back now. Yeonjun frowns, he seems almost surprised at your immediate response.
“It’s true that we hang out everyday. It’s true that he makes me smile, and laugh. It’s true that he cares for me and I for him. All of it is true, is that what you wanted to hear?” You’re almost out of breath by the end of your small rant. — Yeonjun’s jaw clenches, hands curling into fists inside his pockets as he draws in a sharp breath through his nose.
“So does it really matter if it’s true or not when he treats me in a way that makes me feel loved and appreciated?” You’re unable to hinder yourself from letting out all the emotions that you had kept pent up during the past weeks. And by the end, your voice sounds as if it’s about to break at any moment. — But he doesn’t say anything. His expression remained as indifferent as possible, watching the way your chest heaved as you caught your breath again.
His silence felt heavier than a thousand words. Part of you wants to swallow your statement again, another part is relieved to finally have gotten it out. You quickly realized that you probably wouldn’t get another response from him, and thus you made your second move to leave. Except this time, he acts faster.
Fingers wrapping around your wrist, Yeonjun prevents you from taking another step away from him. His grip is tight, but not enough to hurt, you can feel the slight tremble to his hand and your gaze dart between his hold on you to his now determined expression.
“I could too.”
His voice is low, yet the sentence echoes off the empty hallway walls. Your heart thumps loudly in your chest, blood rushing beneath your skin as your wide eyes meet his. — “I could make you feel like that too.” His voice is clearer now, steadier, and he takes a step forward. You find yourself shaking your head, making him frown. “Why, don’t you believe me?”
The question made you scoff. “Of course I don’t.” You exclaim as you withdraw your arm from his grip, he lets you, briefly glancing down to his now empty hand before letting it fall to his side. “You’ve said it yourself. I’m nothing besides a quick fuck, right?” — He bites the inside of his cheek, your words undoubtedly true.
Maybe three weeks ago, his small statement would’ve been able to sway you, to make your heart beat a little faster. Now it only felt like he was rubbing salt onto your barely healed wounds. Just as you had gotten over him, just as you had finally made a real friend, he had to go and ruin it all again by saying exactly what you both dreaded and longed to hear from him. And you hated him for it. You hated Choi Yeonjun.
Tears stung in your eyes, threatening to spill down your cheeks. You couldn’t let him see you cry. — He grabs onto you a second time as you turn to leave, pulling you flush against his chest with such haste that you barely have time to register what’s happening before his lips are on yours. “Don’t go”, he breathes into your mouth, kissing you with such urgency that you thought he might just be on the verge of dying.
Your hands are on his chest within seconds as you pry him off. “Stop. Just stop.” Your pleading voice cuts like knives through the air and he pulls back with a stunned expression. Shaking your head, you tear yourself from him as you take a step back. “I don’t know what’s gotten into you. But it better stop.” He opens his mouth to say something but you beat him to it. “Don’t let me get my hopes up only to crush them again.”
Refusing to hear him out any longer, you quickly turn on your heel as you hurriedly walk down the hallway, leaving him behind as he runs a hand through his dark hair.
⸝⸝
The next day, Yeonjun doesn’t show up to school. You’re just as confused as everyone else, your eyes darting toward the door every other second, thinking that it might be him, but it never is. — “Is he sick?” Someone asks but Beomgyu only shakes his head, leaning back in his chair with a small huff, “beats me.” Ah, so he didn’t know either. Gnawing on your bottom lip, you’re suddenly filled with worry, was it because of what happened yesterday? Was he actually hurt by it? No, surely not, it was Choi Yeonjun after all.
It’s not until the doors bursts open once more, revealing a disheveled Mimi, that realization slowly starts to set in. Her usually put together face is in ruins as makeup has been smeared across her cheeks. Heads turn in her direction as one of her friends guides her over to her desk. — “What happened?” A guy asks only to be hushed by her friend, quietly mouthing out the words: “he broke up with her.”
Everyone seems to fall silent after that, allowing Mimi’s quiet sobs to fill the room as you wait for class to start. — He broke up with her… You blink, glancing down to the empty page in your notebook as you swallow. Did that also have anything to do with what happened yesterday? Once again you’re left feeling guilty, Yeonjun always seemed to make you feel that way.
When your professor finally arrives, the lecture moves slowly, agonizingly so. And for once, you didn’t find any joy in your studies. Sure it might also have something to do with the persistent feeling of being watched. — Turning your head ever so slightly to the right, you find Soobin’s eyes locked on your unnerved frame. Not even when he knows that you’ve caught him does he turn away.
He continues to watch you throughout the day. Wherever you went, he seemed to be there too. Eyes boring into you at all times, an indifferent expression on his face. He knew something, that much you were sure of.
⸝⸝
Finally, as your last lesson comes to an end, you manage to slip past Soobin’s prying gaze as you hurried down the stairs to meet Kai. The two of you had begun accompanying each other on the way home as you both took the bus from the same station. — You find him waiting by the entrance, a large smile plastered across his face and as soon as your eyes fell on him, all worries were washed away.
“How was class?” He asks as you walk down the courtyard. You shrug, swinging your bag in front of you cheerily, “nothing out of the ordinary.” — “No mean comments, no nothing?” He wonders and you bite the inside of your cheek, “no…actually not.” After the news of Mimi’s breakup, everyone had fallen into this sort of trance where no one seemed to want to bring attention to themselves. Thus you had been left alone all day, which felt both nice and incredibly weird.
Kai hums, the two of you were walking so close that your arms brushed together, but you didn’t mind. Once you reach the large gates leading out onto the streets however, you freeze. Stopping a pace in front of you, Kai turns to you with a small frown, “something wrong?” — You shake your head, “no…I just.. think I left a book behind, you go ahead.”
He opens his mouth, as if to object but you quickly interrupt him, “it’s fine! I wouldn’t want you to miss your bus”, you reassure him as you offer a small smile. “Then what about you?” He wonders but you just wave it off in a disregarding manner, “I’ll take the next one, don’t worry about me.” He doesn’t seem entirely convinced but the small hug you give him makes him nod. “Alright, text me when you get home”, he says and you quickly agree as you send him off.
You watch him disappear down the pavement with a small sigh. Not until he’s completely out of sight do you turn to cross the street. You walk with long and determined strides, not stopping until you reach the large tree by the sidewalk. — Yeonjun isn’t wearing his usual school uniform, instead he’s dressed in a dark pair of jeans, a black jacket wrapped around his torso to prevent the chilly December air from getting to him. He leans against the naked tree trunk, his gaze flickering from the concrete beneath him and over to you as you approach.
Feet planting in front of his, you cross your arms as you peer up at him with an expectant look on your face. He doesn’t say anything, tongue prodding against the inside of his cheek. Unable to bear the silence, you break it. “You didn’t come to school today.” You don’t know why you stated the obvious, perhaps you wanted him to explain himself, but he doesn’t, only nodding silently.
Frustrated, you run a hand through your hair. He wanted to talk to you, right? That’s why he was waiting across the street from your college, openly risking being spotted by your classmates. So why wasn’t he saying anything? — Huffing out a short breath, you part your lips to say something, but he’s quicker than you.
“I broke up with her”, he calmly states. His posture remains relaxed as he speaks but his eyes search yours with something akin to desperation. — “I know.” You mumble, biting the inside of your lip before continuing, “she was crying all day, did you know that?” He scoffs, “so?” His nonchalant approach made you frown, “so? Don’t you care?” Your question is met by the mere shake of his head as he shrugs, “no, do you?”
“I do.”
He hadn’t expected your answer, you could tell by the way his face dropped, if only for a moment. “Why? It’s not exactly like she’s a good person.” He jeers, shoving his hands deeper into the denim pockets of his jeans. “And you are?” Even though your voice remains steady, there’s a linger of hurt between your quiet words. — He goes silent in front of you as his gaze flits between yours and the entrance behind him.
“Why are you even here, Yeonjun?” Your tone is near accusing and he looks almost guilty as his attention shifts back to you. He swallows, rubbing a hand along his neck, as if stalling for time. You bite your tongue, waiting patiently for him to speak. — “Why do you like him?”, he finally asks. It hardly took a genius to guess who he was referring to.
You sigh, observing the way the naked branches of the tree moved against the mild breeze. “I told you, didn’t I?” You drawl, readjusting the bag swung over your shoulder. The corner of his mouth twitches as Yeonjun shakes his head, “that’s not what I wanted to hear.” — “And you think you’re in a position to make demands like that?” You snort, watching as he pushes himself off the tree before taking a step in your direction.
Leaning back to glance up at him, you try your best to hold your ground as he tilts his head to the side, cocking a questioning eyebrow at you. “Then tell me what I need to do.” — Your mouth falls open as you gawk at him, what was he implying? Taking a step back only ends up with him taking yet another forward, his hands coming up from his pockets to rest on your shoulders.
“Tell me how to be like him.”
Slowly you realize just what he was asking of you. Immediately shaking your head, you take yet another step back. “It doesn’t work like that.” You quietly murmur, averting your gaze to avoid looking him in the eyes. He frowns, a confused frown, “sure it does”, he says, sounding almost hopeful as he grips your shoulders tighter. “Just tell me what I need to do and I’ll do it.”
Did he honestly think that everything could be undone just like that? The pain, the tears, the bullying, that he could take it all back just because he wanted to? Just because he had a change of heart? The thought was almost as ridiculous as his proposal. — This was Choi Yeonjun, he wasn’t about to change his ways just because of you, you should know that. Whatever this was, this moment of confusion, it wouldn’t last, and you had to pull out before you got hurt, again.
“I don’t know what you want from me…” You bite back the harsh insults waiting on your tongue, shaking your head once more. “I don’t know what it is, and I don’t care. Please just stop confusing me”, you almost beg as you try to pry his hands off of you. — Yeonjun looks perplexed as he lets you push him off. “Confusing you? I don’t–”
“Do you think I’m stupid?” You retort, your voice growing in intensity as you failed to hold back the anger and resentment you held for him. “I let you screw me over, I let you use me, humiliate me, I put up with all of it, because…” You exhale, taking a step forward as you point an accusing finger to his chest. “Because at one point I thought that I liked you, but I don’t. I know exactly what you are and I know that you won’t change.”
He frowns, his fingers wrapping around your wrist on his chest. “You don’t know the first thing about m-” — “I do.” You cut him off, aware of the way his jaw clenches as his grip on your wrist tightens. “I know that you cheat, you lie, you use people as you please, and worst of all, you don’t even feel guilty about it.”
You tear yourself from his grasp, stumbling backward as you cradle your sore wrist. “I know far from everything about you”, you state, watching him bite the inside of his cheek as he fights off the remark he so desperately wished to fire. — “But I know that I hate you. And that’s enough reason for me to stay as far away from you as possible.”
“So please, leave me the fuck alone.”
As soon as you turn around to dart down the street, the tears spill from your eyes as you sob into your open palm. More than anything, you regret ever becoming infatuated with him.
⸝⸝
Yeonjun didn’t come to school the following day either, nor the day after that. People stopped asking about him, only becoming disregarded by both Beomgyu and Soobin as the two kept to themselves. Yet the taller’s persistent stares remained as Soobin watched your every move, like a hawk stalking its prey. Even now, as you sat by your usual table, listening to Kai as he rambled on about a random topic, did you feel his gaze on you.
“D-Did you hear me?”
Kai’s hesitant voice snaps you from your trance as your eyes shift to his fidgety frame. Nervously twisting the hem of his uniform, he gives you a sheepish smile. You blink, “I…s–sorry what did you say?” You wonder, feeling a bit embarrassed by your lack of engagement as he spoke. But Kai only shakes his head, the tips of his ears turning pink as he clears his throat. “I was wondering if… if you would maybe want to study this weekend a-at my place?”
You could tell that it had taken almost all his courage to ask the simple question. But somehow you find yourself comparing it to how easy such demands had fallen from Yeonjun’s lips as he shamelessly took whatever he wanted. Internally you curse yourself for letting your mind so comfortably shift to the subject of Yeonjun when you had tried so hard to forget about him.
“Sure I would love to!” You smile, heart swelling at the endearing sight before you as Kai’s face practically explodes in an ocean of red. “R-Really?” He asks and you nod, “of course!” — You’re about to ask him what time would be suitable when suddenly a large shadow is casted over your table. Squinting up your eyes lock with none other than Choi Soobin as he peers down at you with a vacant expression.
“I need to talk to you.” He states in a monotone voice, jutting his chin toward the large entryway of the cafeteria. Your gaze flits between him and Kai as your friend shifts uncomfortably in his seat. “O-Okay”, you quietly mumble, giving Kai an apologetic look as you get up to trail after Soobin’s tall frame.
He walks fast, and you almost have to jog in order to keep up. Pushing past the crowded hallways, Soobin doesn’t seem to mind the multiple glances shot his way. The two of you walk for a good five minutes without stopping, and just as you’re about to ask where you’re going, he comes to an abrupt halt, making you almost facepalm against his back.
With the light kick of his foot, the door to a vacant classroom swings open and he steps inside, seemingly waiting for you to do the same. — Once the door is shut behind you, he turns to lean against the wall, folding his arms across his chest. Nervously, you tug at the collar of your blazer as you glance around the dark room.
You don’t think you had been alone with Soobin, ever. Nor did you think that you had ever heard him utter more than two words out loud. And he had never directed a single one to you. So to say that your current situation was surprising, would be a grave understatement. — You think a whole minute must have passed when he finally speaks. But the words coming out of his mouth made you wish for everything to be silent again.
“What’s your deal with Yeonjun?”
His voice is low, barely above a murmur, and deep too. Not at all like his snarky friends whose laughs would echo off the hallways. You swallow, hard, the sound is audible in the otherwise quiet room. Unlike Beomgyu, Soobin never once picked on you, nor did he join in when the others were laughing, at best or worst, he would give a small grin. — If it were Beomgyu you would at least expect him to be mad in a situation like this, but Soobin remains eerily calm as he watches you from a distance, just like he had these past three days.
“I don’t think that’s any of your business”, you stand your ground, despite the fact that it felt as if the floor was literally shaking beneath you. He chuckles, it’s breathy, almost inaudible. “You don’t need to act so prideful, he’s told me everything about you.” — It feels as if all air has been knocked out of your lungs. So he did know something.
“Everything?” You exhale, your breath near trembling. He gives a curt nod, “everything, except for why he isn’t here today”, he mutters, seemingly displeased with the fact. — A small frown etches its way to your face, lips parting in confusion. “I know you’ve got something to do with it.” He states, tilting his head back as he gazes up toward the ceiling. “But he won’t tell me what.”
Biting the inside of your cheek, you glance down to the floor, the uneven wood planks suddenly seeming very intriguing. “I couldn’t possibly know why he–” — “Don’t bullshit me.” He snaps, his eyes flickering back to you within milliseconds. Your breath gets caught in your throat as you flinch, taking a small step back before your thighs hit the table behind you. Soobin ignores your skittish reactions as he continues. “I don’t know what he’s getting at, going for someone like you.” He says it with such distaste that it makes your skin crawl.
Before you know it, he takes a step forward, then another one, and another one, until he’s got you caged against the desk. He doesn't say anything, one of his hands reaching into his pocket as he rummages through it. Pulling up a folded piece of paper, he shoves it into your open palm. “He asked me to give you this.” — He brushes his hand against his jeans as he takes a step back.
“Fix whatever you caused.” Is all he says before turning on his heel to leave again. Upon yanking the door open, he’s met with Kai’s alarmed frame as he jumps to the side. Sparing him a mere side glance, Soobin shoves past him as he takes off down the hallway. — You shove the small paper in the pocket of your blazer as you walk over to your friend with a sheepish smile. “Hey how long have you been standing-”
“You and Yeonjun?” He asks, almost baffled as he eyes you, full of distrust. The smile immediately vanishes from your face and your throat suddenly goes dry. “W-What?” You ask, still not registering his question fully, hoping that maybe you had heard him wrong. Kai shakes his head, his jaw momentarily clenching. “Just how much exactly did you hear?” You quietly whisper.
He gives you a small shrug, “enough.” — He sighs, looking almost defeated as he runs a hand through his blond hair. “I thought you…I mean the two of you, I never thought…” Frowning, he gives up with a small huff and you bite your lip, reaching out a hesitant hand to place on his shoulder, but he only jerks away from your touch.
“Why didn’t you tell me?” He sounds hurt, you can tell he is. The guilt was slowly seeping back into your veins, Yeonjun always made you feel guilty, but this time…this time it was your own doing. “I’m sorry.” The apology is genuine, you hope he can tell. Because you really are sorry, sorry for not being honest with your only friend.
Kai looks at you, his eyes hold so much pain that you wondered just how deep your lie had stung. “Do you like him?” He asks, his voice sounds strained, as if he was holding back tears. The question catches you off guard and you blink. Did you like him? No, of course not. You hated him. You hated Choi Yeonjun.
“No, nevermind, don’t answer.” He shakes his head, “I don’t care.” — You fumble for words, wanting to say anything that would comfort him. It felt almost impossible. “I- I’m sorry I should’ve told you I–” — “Yeah you should’ve.” He bites back, his unusually harsh tone making you wince. “You should’ve told me a long time ago. Before I..” He cuts himself off, biting his cheek as his gaze drops to the floor.
“Before what?” You quietly wonder, noting the way his shoulders slumped as he exhaled a shaky breath. “Before I liked you.” His voice is merely above a whisper, his attention strained to the floor as he refused to look you in the eyes. Your mouth falls open, it wasn’t like you were completely unaware. Kai’s lingering touches and stares didn’t go unnoticed but you had never imagined that his feelings ran this deep.
“You like me?”
He scoffs, dragging his feet leisurely in front of him. “I thought that was obvious.” He pauses, his gaze briefly meeting yours before fleeting down again, but it was just enough for you to catch the shiny layer of tears coating his lashes. You swallow, it felt almost as if you were about to throw up, the guilt slowly eating away at you.
All you could do was stare at him with a stunned expression, not knowing what you could possibly say to mend the situation. Kai draws in a sharp breath before he wipes his face with the back of his hand. “It’s alright”, he mumbles, “it’s not your fault.” — Your heart might as well just have been ripped out and stepped on at this point. Why was he being so kind to you, when you so obviously didn’t deserve it.
“We’re friends still…aren’t we?” He wonders, looking up from the floor with bloodshot eyes. “T-This doesn’t change anything, right?” — You wanted to tell him that this changed everything, that things might never be the same again. But you couldn’t, you couldn’t hurt him like that. So you shake your head, wrapping your arms around him as you hug him tight. “Of course not, Kai.”
You wondered if things had turned out differently between the two of you, had you never gotten involved with Yeonjun.
⸝⸝
It’s early, earlier than you’d like to admit as you leave your apartment that Sunday morning. The sun has yet to rise and the city is still asleep, but you haven't been able to shut your eyes and relax for the past three days. No, you had waited, dreaded, for this day to come. — The bus is almost empty, save for another young woman, but she looks far more comfortable than you as she rests her head against the window.
The air is cold as you step off, and you hug your coat tighter around your body. You walk for about ten minutes before a large building comes into view. Pulling the small note from your pocket, you glance between the address scribbled down and the number on the building in front of you, they perfectly align. — The note, the one Soobin had so hastily shoved in your hand three days ago, the note you had reread at least a hundred times throughout the weekend. An address, a day, but not a time. — Perhaps you were a bit early, but as you trudged up the stairs, you no longer cared. You had waited for three whole days, you’d had enough.
You take the stairs instead of the elevator. To get some exercise in, you tell yourself. But there was no mistaking the fact that you wanted to prolong the moment for as long as possible, despite your urgency to get here. — Finally, you reach the fifth floor, out of breath, you lean against the wall as you take a moment to gather yourself.
The first time you read the note you had considered not showing up at all. It was a cowardly move to send his friend in his place. But at the same time, your mind longed for answers, answers that you would hopefully get today. — You bring the paper to your face, rereading it one final time. The address, the day, and the small sentence, at the very bottom.
“Let’s talk, please.”
Fine, if he wanted to talk, then you would talk. Your fingers curl into a fist, lightly tapping the dark wood. Had it been anyone else, you would’ve been mindful of the still early hour. But right now your mind was set on one thing alone. — Your heart beats obnoxiously loud in your chest, the wait seemingly eternal.
Then the door creaks open. And as soon as your eyes fall on him, you can tell that he’s had trouble sleeping too. The bags under his eyes were a most unusual look, his hair too, laid messily sprawled on top of his head. He’s still dressed, almost as if he hadn’t gone to bed at all. — “Hi”, his voice is low, raspy, like he hadn’t spoken in days. You give him a small nod of acknowledgement and he steps aside as he lets you in.
Yeonjun’s apartment is clean, minimalistically furnished. It wasn’t like you had ever tried to imagine what his home would look like, but this somehow felt just like him. Your gaze trails across the few paintings on the walls, you can tell that he hadn’t picked them himself, most likely they came with the flat. The white couch, situated by the large windows, catches your eye.
Upon walking over and taking a seat, you find that Yeonjun does the same, maintaining a respectable distance as he glances down towards his hands. For a moment, everything is quiet. Part of you wished to stay like this forever. But that was of course impossible. — He clears his throat, shifting awkwardly on the sofa. “Do you want something to drink?” You bite your lip before nodding, “water’s fine.”
He gets up, walking over to the joint kitchen as he turns on the faucet. You can hear him grabbing glasses, filling them to the brim before returning to place one in front of you on the marbled coffee table. Quietly thanking him, you take the glass, bringing it to your lips as you take a sip. You wait for him to speak first, he was after all, the one who had reached out.
Yeonjun looked very different like this. In the comforts of his own home he resembled little of the person you had grown accustomed to in school. You wondered if he often brought people over, judging by how awkward he was acting, you supposed not. — He draws in a sharp breath, his gaze remaining downcast as he speaks.
“You got my note..” He mumbles as you set your glass down. “I did”, you state, leaning back against the soft cushion as you turn your head in his direction. “Why didn’t you give it to me yourself?” You frown, feeling rather hurt by his choice of using his friend, his friend who definitely didn’t seem to like you. Yeonjun is silent, he’s silent for a good while, fingers intertwined with one another as he bites the inside of his cheek.
“I was scared.” He quietly admits and your eyes widen at the confession. “Y-You were?” You can’t shield the surprise in your voice, Choi Yeonjun, scared? He scoffs, and for a moment, his usual self emerges as his face turns into a small scowl, but the way his eyes flicker as he speaks gives him away. “Of course I fucking was, I still am.”
“Why?”
He doesn’t answer straight away, as if considering his next words with great care. Running a hand through his disheveled hair, he lets out a small almost inaudible exhale. “Because I’m scared that I’ve fucked things up so bad this time… That there’s no going back.” — You uncomfortably shift on the couch as you distract yourself by taking another sip of your water. Yeonjun’s body is taut as his jaw clenches, refusing to even glance in your direction he keeps his gaze steadily fixed on the window in front of him as the darkness outside slowly shifts into a deep blue.
“I want…” He slowly begins, his sentence falling short as he takes another couple of breaths. “I want to apologize.” You blink, your eyes shifting from the water in your glass and over to him, you don’t think you had ever heard him speak with such sincerity. — And for the first time since your arrival, he looks at you. He swallows, adam's apple bobbing as he does.
“I’m sorry.”
When you don’t say anything he hastily continues. “I know that it doesn’t fix shit, but I…I still need to say it. And if I could I would go back and undo all the pain I caused you, I really would. I don’t expect you to forgive me, quite frankly I don’t even expect you to ever talk to me again, I suppose that’s fair. But if I don’t tell you how sorry I am now, I’m afraid that I never will.” He takes a deep breath, holding it for a few seconds before letting it go again, his shoulders slumping, almost like a deflating balloon.
“So, I’m sorry…for everything.”
He holds his tongue after that, gaze dropping down to his fingers once more. You don’t know how to feel, much less what to say. It was all so surreal. Hearing those words come out of his mouth felt almost like a fever dream and you wondered if you had perhaps managed to fall asleep after all and that this was just a fragment of your imagination, the universe pulling a sick prank on you.
But then you turn to look at him. He’s nothing like the Yeonjun who had hurt you for so many weeks. Right now he looks small as he sits on the couch, biting the inside of his lip as he nervously rolls his thumbs together. In the end you realize that no matter how you feel, there’s only one thing you can say to him.
“I forgive you.”
He freezes, teeth letting go of his lip as he slowly lifts his head to peer over at you. An almost puzzled look paints his otherwise tired face, “you do?” He sounds almost disbelieving as he studies you with a wary expression. — You slowly nod, watching as his eyes widen with recognition, he swallows. Then everything becomes silent once more. This time it’s a different kind of silence, it’s not comfortable but the air somehow feels lighter, if only a little.
You find yourself staring out the large windows. The sky had turned a deep orange now, shades of pink seeping through the cracks formed by the clouds. The darkness slowly makes way for the light as a new day rises before you. — You want to say something, now feels like a good moment to get things off your chest. But you can’t seem to find the words, your throat feels thick and it becomes hard to swallow.
“Please like me instead.”
At first you thought that you had imagined it. The faint whisper of his lips. But when he shuffles next to you on the couch, turning to face you fully, there’s no doubt about it. You tear your gaze from the warm sky as you glance over at him. In the morning light, Yeonjun looked like he was glowing. Despite the dark circles under his eyes, his dry lips, or even his unkempt hair; he looked truly beautiful.
“What?”
Your voice is soft, a low murmur, unsure and hesitant. He scoots closer, your knees touching as he places his hands on the cushion either side of him. “Like me instead. Instead of him.” Instead of Kai. He searches your gaze desperately as he bites his lip, leaning closer. — You don’t say anything, if you do, his statement would become real. You’re scared, you think.
But he doesn’t give up. “I know that you hate me, but please, I can’t stand it when-”
“I don’t hate you, Yeonjun.”
His mouth shuts, and he blinks at you, confused, brows knitting together. “What?” — “But you said..” You shake your head, turning away as you feel tears prick in the corner of your eyes. You hated how easily he made you cry, even when he didn’t intend to. “I lied.” You confess, shame and guilt overflowing your senses. “Why?”
“Because I was scared.”
As the words left your lips, you think that the two of you might not be so different after all. Maybe, just maybe. — Yeonjun doesn’t say anything, his attention dropping to your knees, barely grazing one another. His hand on the sofa twitches, as if he held himself back from reaching out, from touching you.
“I was scared of liking you.” Your quiet whisper felt like a weight being lifted off your shoulders. A small murmur was all it had taken, so why had it seemed so hard? — His gaze shifts back to your face, his eyes wide as his lips part in surprise. “You were right all along”, you give him a half hearted smile, watching as his frown deepened. “I’ve always liked you”, you swallow, “even when I didn't want to.”
A pang of guilt takes over his expression for a moment as he internally cringes at your words, more so his own actions. “I thought it would go away if I told myself that I hated you.” You shake your head, glossy eyes dropping to your hands, the first tears threatening to escape at any moment. “It never did.” Your vision slowly becomes blurred as you blink away the salty droplets that fell down your cheeks.
You can barely see it, but you can feel it, the warm caress of his hand on your cheek. It feels nice, comforting, you don’t push him off, you don’t want to. He wipes your tears, the very same that he had caused. The faint whisper of yet another apology lingering on his lips. — Then he hesitates, you never saw Yeonjun hesitating, he always took what he wanted, did as he pleased. But you can tell that he’s uncertain of his next move. His eyes flickering between your teary eyes and parted lips.
In the end he decides to be brave. Slowly initiating what had been on both of your minds for weeks now. But when his lips meet yours, it feels different, this kiss is nothing like your previous ones. It holds no guilt, no shame, no secrets, it doesn’t feel forced nor desperate. It feels like an apology, remorseful of the past, and like a promise, a vow to the future. You can tell that he expects you to pull back, to tell him off, just like you had days prior.
Instead you cling to him, part of you thinks that this might be just what you need, another part says it’s stupid and reckless. But in the end, you want to be brave too. Even if that meant being stupid and reckless. — The stupid and reckless part of you lets him push you back against the soft cushion, lets him kiss you deeper, lets his hands trail across your body.
“I’m sorry.” He chants it like a prayer, littering your body in the light caress of his lips. You know he means it, every kiss, every touch, every apology. — His hair feels soft between your fingers, you twist the strands lightly, feeling him sigh against your skin. Yeonjun was usually one to talk in moments like these, but today there are no sarcastic remarks on his tongue. He’s quiet, attentively listening to the hitch of your breath, the small moan passing your lips, he doesn’t want to miss a single thing.
He tugs your tights off, his hands immediately soothing the goosebumps erupting on your naked skin. You think he looks pretty like this, basked in the first rays of sunshine, half lidded eyes rapidly moving as he trails them across every inch of your body. — His lips return to yours, fingers sliding between your legs just like they had so many times before, but this time it’s different, everything is.
He touches you slowly, he pays attention, he wants to know exactly how he makes you feel. Treating you as if you were made out of glass, worshiping you as if you were made out of gold. You become hyper aware of the way his body moves against yours, the soft pattern of his fingers sending sparks through your stomach.
You had been intimate with Yeonjun more times than you could remember. Yet as he lines himself up alongside you, it suddenly feels like the first. It feels new, nervous, perhaps even a little scary. But that was okay, you knew that he was scared too. — He goes slow, savoring the moment as his face rests in the crook of your neck. “I’m sorry.” He can’t stop saying it, it’s never enough, it never makes up for the damage he’s created, he knows it. But you forgive him, you would continue to forgive him for eternity if he apologized for as long.
He groans against you, his voice is near trembling. Your hands are on his back, feeling the smooth surface of his skin, then they’re tangled in his hair, pulling him to look at you. For the first time it feels as if you’re seeing him clearly. Behind the lying, the cheating, the bullying, it was just him. Just Yeonjun.
As soon as the first tear rolls down his cheek, you kiss him. Tasting the saltiness on your lips, he sobs into your mouth. His chest heaves against yours, his once slow and deliberate thrusts becoming jagged and uneven as he fights to stay composed. You want to say something, but you don’t know what. Instead you pull him closer, so close that you can’t feel anything but his body against yours.
You stay like that, melted against one another. Hours pass, neither of you seem to mind. His breath is warm against your chest, your fingers are soft in his hair. The silence is light, comforting, reassuring. Your mind is filled with him, he’s all you can think about, all you want to think about. You know he feels the same, it’s comforting to know. It’s also scary, you’re not sure if you’re ready. But even then, you’ll at least be scared together, just the two of you.
It’s nice to not be alone.
⸝⸝
Monday morning also feels different. Maybe because you’re walking down the hallway side by side, you and Yeonjun. People stare, he tells you to ignore them, you try, and it works. You glance over at him, he looks happy, his step is light, his arm securely wrapped around your waist. You find yourself smiling, biting the inside of your cheek as you gaze ahead.
It’s not until you reach the all too familiar door, leading into your classroom, that you halt. Confused, Yeonjun stops a pace in front of you. “Is something wrong?” He asks as he studies your nervous posture, your eyes flickering between the now almost empty hallway and the door in front of you. The corridors were one thing, but the classroom held so many memories. Memories that wouldn’t just vanish over a day.
He notices your hesitation, a small smile tugging at his lips as he shakes his head. He reaches out, his warm hand enveloping yours as he grips it firmly. You glance between your interlocked fingers, and the small grin splayed across his face. — “I’ve got you, nerd.”
The small reassurance makes you smile, and you nod, letting him tug you closer as Yeonjun pushes the classroom door open.
He told her she wasn’t his type. It was a lie. Because the truth was—she terrified him.
He’d been smitten before he even knew her name. Saw her at the bus stop, headphones in, eyes distant. She never looked at him. But he couldn’t stop looking.
Later, she laughed at his dad jokes. Called him gorgeous like it meant nothing. Like she didn’t know it was the only compliment that ever stuck.
Then came the party. One drink too many. One kiss he couldn’t take back.
In the morning, he said he didn’t remember.
But she did. Every second. Every breath. Every part of him she wasn’t supposed to want.
Because this slope is treacherous. And he likes it more than he should.
Coming Soon. September 2025.
Wow it has been 3yrs since my last update with A Little Bit Yours... I am working on the next chapters. I have been hyper fixating with Yoongi right now...because I miss him soooo much!!
I really have high respect to our Yoongi stans...how are you doing it?!!
Anyways, I am working on a Seokjin fic as well. Just polishing ALBY, then I can post the first chapters for this Seokjin fic. Am I still considered as a newbie here? haha. Please be kind, but feel free to comment/send a PM for any suggestions or reaction. I want to learn here so your feedback will be greatly appreciated.
and Yoongi... just wanted to say to you (i know you won't read this but)... thank you for our promise of 2025. I fought many demons during the time you were away but every time I wanted to give up life... I held on to our promise that we'll see each other in 2025. So here I am. I've made it, Yoongi. I am still here. Thank you my love.
It's my 3 year anniversary on Tumblr 🥳
It might have been late but....happy 3 years!!
and if you are still with me, please wait. After 3 years... A Little Bit Yours is finally done!!!! Will be posting chapters every 2 weeks.
Are you excited? COZ I AMMMMMM
I was MIA for the past few months as I am dealing with a major life event. My inspiration for A Little Bit Yours passed away. He was my partner for 7 years, my friend since 3rd year of Highschool, the father of my only child. I stepped away from Tumblr, forgot to do things that I love because of the heartbreak. I needed to feel the sadness so I won't be drowned by it. Reading and writing was my first love, so was he. It might take a while before I regain my strength and heal my heart...so please wait for me.
Aish. Sorry for the long wait. I have been dealing with a lot of adulting these past few months. Chapter 3 of ALBY will be posted soon *fingers crossed*. And a new series fic will be up too and it's a KSJ one!!! Because I miss him so much :( For the meantime, please give A Little Bit Yours some love, ok? OK! Borahae!
#bts fan fiction #bts fluff #bangtan #bts fic #min yoongi fic #seokjin x reader #seokjin fic #new post #drafting #wip stuff #writerslife #coming soon
but I’m still so bad at it" - A Little Bit Yours, JP Saxe, 2020
Pairing: Single Dad|Min Yoongi X Female Character | OC named Hyun Jae
Story: Exes -> Friends -> Lovers
Word Count: 2.1k
Warnings: Cheating, curse words, mentions of sex, alcohol consumption, children w/ severe illness
Summary: In your early 20s you thought you found the love of your life only to be cheated on by your long time boyfriend with your own aunt. Heartbroken, you left everything and never looked back. Now you're almost 40, on a vacation at your chosen paradise...you found yourself being dragged into the past that you can't escape because as much as you wanted, you know you have never moved on...
Dear Reader: English is my second language so please excuse me if you find any grammatical error. This is also my very first fic and tumblr post. I would greatly appreciate your comments. I hope you'll enjoy reading as much as I enjoyed writing this down.
BTS (behind the story): this fic was inspired by a dream. In my dream, Yoongi & I were in a long time relationship but he cheated on me with my own blood relative. When i woke up, I was crying. I felt it was so real. Maybe because I was recently in a bad break up too w/ the father of my child where we were together for 7 years. so yeah, maybe it's my subconscious mind making up scenarios to let me feel those repressed emotions I tried to hide for months now...so I can eventually heal. The title was inspired by JP Saxe's song "A Little Bit Yours"
15 years later.
It was a windy day, and having a day off at the beach while watching the sunset felt like the perfect reward. After a draining week at work, a solo beach trip was exactly what you needed. You’re 39 now—still single, still vibrant, still beautiful. You never let age make you feel old. You’ve taken care of yourself since your teenage years, always investing in your self-image, because deep down you know: a healthy mind, body, and heart is a treasure you’ll never regret nurturing.
Your friends always ask, Why on earth are you still single? And your answer is always the same: "I love myself; I don’t need anybody else." It’s half-truth, half-lie. Yes, you love yourself—because you’ve had to. You’ve lived alone since you were 25. No one else was going to take care of you, so you did. They think you’re a weirdo for it, but you know this is the best life you could live.
You left your hometown 15 years ago, after a heartbreak that carved itself into your soul. You left South Korea and never looked back. You believed that living alone, far from family, would help you heal and feel alive again. It was a tough decade and a half—but in all its glory, you made it.
You’re now one of the top Sales Executives at a renowned advertising and marketing firm in France. You own a villa in Nice, where you’re staying now, and a penthouse in La Gaude, along with a few luxury cars. No regrets. Leaving Seoul was the best decision you ever made.
Sometimes, though, the loneliness creeps in. So you meet a few men—at bars, on dating apps. Nothing serious. You know love isn’t your priority. Or maybe it’s that you can’t afford to fall in love. Not again. You’re done with the whole love thing, because you know how easily it can destroy you. You made a pact with your 24-year-old self: no man will ever hurt you again the way Yoongi did.
After an hour of staring at the purple-pink clouds blanketing the sunset over the sea, the beach begins to darken. The beachfront has only a few lights on, just enough for people to see the path. You’re now on your ninth glass of margarita, a little tipsy, when you spot a familiar figure walking along the shore.
You squint, trying to make sense of what you’re seeing. The man is a few feet away, but you recognize the build, the height, the silhouette. He sits down in front of your beach bed, gazing into the horizon. You shake your head, thinking the alcohol must be playing tricks on you.
"It’s impossible," you whisper to yourself.
Still sipping your margarita, you decide to head inside. You lie down on the couch, eyes heavy, thoughts swirling. The image of the man at the beach lingers. As you drift toward sleep, you mutter to yourself again and again…
"It’s impossible."
The next morning, you went for an early walk along the beach to soak in the sun. You were still thinking about what you saw the night before—the silhouette at the beachfront. You knew you were tipsy from all those margaritas (the best in Nice, no doubt), but you couldn’t shake the feeling. Was it real? Or just a delusion born of alcohol and longing?
Still lost in thought, eyes drifting toward the sea, you accidentally tripped over a sandcastle. A little girl shrieked behind you, watching her creation crumble beneath your distracted steps. She burst into tears, and you rushed toward her, apologetic and flustered.
“Sorry, baby. I didn’t mean to ruin your castle. I was just absentmindedly walking and didn’t see it. I’m terribly sorry. Please don’t cry… I—I—I’ll help you build another one.”
The girl paused when she heard the words “build another one.” Her tears slowed, and she stared at you for a moment. Then, a smile began to bloom in her eyes.
“My name is Hyun Jae. I’m so sorry I destroyed your castle, but we can always make a new one. I’ll help.” Your warm smile and gentle tone softened her completely.
“Can we build two more castles, please?” she asked. “We need to be fast because Dad will call me before lunch, so I need to finish before he calls for me.”
You nodded enthusiastically. “Sure, baby girl. We’ll make the prettiest sandcastles in all of Nice.”
She grinned, and the two of you got to work.
It was refreshing—this moment with a child. You hadn’t interacted with one in years. Work kept you busy, and you rarely visited friends with families. But this was different. This felt like something you needed. Time with someone so innocent, so joyful. Like every ruined sandcastle could be rebuilt—and rebuilt better.
Around 11:30 a.m., you heard a voice calling from the distance:
“Hyun Gi-ah! Come here now. It’s lunchtime. I made suyuk and kimchi fried rice. C’mon, let’s eat!”
You squinted toward the voice, but your sunglasses blurred the details. You turned to the girl. “Are you Hyun Gi?” She nodded and stood up quickly.
“Are you Korean? Did I hear right—you’re getting suyuk for lunch?” She nodded again, smiling, then ran toward the man. Halfway there, she stopped, turned around, and waved goodbye to you. That small gesture made your heart swell.
You felt a strange happiness—meeting another Korean here, on your vacation. But it also made your heart ache. It reminded you of home. Of your parents. Of Min Jae. And of course… Yoongi.
You brushed the thought away and returned to your villa for lunch.
You waited for Hyun Gi to return and continue building sandcastles, but the afternoon brought rain. You figured she wouldn’t be allowed outside. So you sat on the terrace, watching the raindrops fall, sipping your tea.
Then you saw him.
The man from last night. Walking along the beachfront, soaked from the rain. Your heart began to race. You tried to convince yourself it wasn’t him. It couldn’t be.
But as you stepped forward, closer to the beach, you caught his side profile.
It was Yoongi.
A hundred questions flooded your mind. Why is he here? Why, after fifteen years, is he in France—right in front of you?
You were only a few steps behind him when you stopped. Your instincts kicked in. Defense mode. You couldn’t approach him—not like this. You weren’t the one who cheated. You wouldn’t be the one to act like you missed him.
Even though God knows… you missed him every single day.
But no. You wouldn’t let your walls down. You didn’t know why he was here, or who he was with. You couldn’t risk being discovered. You sacrificed fifteen years of your life to escape the people who broke you.
So you turned back. You ran to your villa. Tears filled your eyes. And your heart… broke again.
Your mind wouldn’t rest. The rain was relentless, pouring hard for nearly three hours now. This wasn’t just a passing thunderstorm—it felt like the sky itself was grieving. You’d already finished your sixth can of beer, but sleep refused to come. You just wanted to shut off your thoughts. Why on earth would Yoongi be here in France? Thousands of miles from Seoul. Does he know you’re here? Is he still with your stupid, slutty Aunt Rose—the woman he cheated on you with?
The memory clawed its way back, even after more than a decade.
It was the scandal of your century. Aunt Rose—nearly twice your age, in her late thirties when you were with Yoongi—had an affair with your fiancé. Your own aunt. The woman you thought was genuinely happy for you. The betrayal etched itself into your heart so deeply that you swore never to fall in love again. Since 2006, you hadn’t stepped into another relationship. You were too afraid. Too scarred.
And now, here in France—the place you chose to preserve your peace—was being stained by a new memory of Yoongi.
You finished another case of beer, numbing yourself until sleep finally took over.
You woke up hours later with a pounding hangover. You stumbled to your medicine cabinet, only to find it empty. No headache pills. You called the main lobby to ask if they had any. The officer explained that due to last night’s storm, most staff hadn’t made it in, and no one could assist you immediately.
You understood. You offered to come down and get the medicine yourself, which the officer appreciated. You were one of their VIP clients, but you never acted like it. You treated the staff like friends, not employees—and they adored you for it.
After a shower, you headed to the main villa to grab the medicine and have brunch.
On your walk, you thought of Hyun Gi. It had been a day since you’d seen the little girl. You imagined her disappointment—the castles you built together surely washed away by the waves.
At the lobby, a few staff members were present. Most recognized you immediately.
“Hello, Miss Jae! We thought you’d already left!”
You smiled. “Oh, don’t you want me to stay a few more days? I’m avoiding my boss—he keeps trying to get into my pants during those so-called ‘meetings.’ I just want peace. Please let me stay a little longer?”
They laughed with you, swapping stories about recent guests. You ate brunch, took your medicine, and chatted more. Then one comment caught your attention.
“There’s a Korean guy staying here—very handsome. Around your age, Miss. I think he’s married because he’s with a child.”
Another staff member chimed in, “I don’t think he’s married. No ring. Maybe the child’s his niece. He speaks fluent English and knows a little French. Said he studied it because he wanted to settle here. Maybe he’s divorced… or a widower.”
Divorced. Or a widower. So Yoongi might’ve broken up with Aunt Rose. Married someone else. Lost her. Or divorced her. You went quiet.
You remembered telling Yoongi you wanted to study French. That you dreamed of retiring in France—living by the beach until your last breath. Grandchildren visiting every holiday, playing in the sun and sea. Did he remember that?
And the child. Was it him who called out to the girl on the beach? Was she his daughter? With Aunt Rose? Or someone else?
“Miss Jae? More coffee?”
You snapped out of your thoughts. “Oh no, I’m fine. All stuffed. You guys always give me meals that destroy my diet.” You chuckled, and they laughed with you.
“You always look good, Miss Jae—even without the diet. I wish I were as gorgeous as you.”
You blushed. “Oh, stop that! Haha. I’ll still tip you even without the compliments.”
They smiled, and you finished your breakfast before heading back to your villa.
As night fell, the thought of Yoongi lingered. You were too shy to ask the staff directly about him. So you kept quiet and followed your usual Sunday routine—a chill beach party at 6 p.m.
You dressed up, slipped into your best sundress, and headed to the beachfront. A few people were already dancing and drinking, even though it was just twenty past six. You went to the bar, ordered your first margarita, and sat beneath a pole wrapped in fairy lights.
You wondered if Yoongi would be there. You hoped he would be there. But if he was… how would you talk to him? Are you ready to talk to him?
The questions swirled as you returned to the bar for your second margarita.
And then—your nightmare came to life.
You sat at the bar, nursing your drink, when a voice behind you sliced through the hum of the beach party. Low. Mesmerizing. Familiar. The voice that once narrated your dreams. Your knees weakened. You didn’t need to turn around. You knew it was Yoongi.
"One whiskey, on the rocks please."
Whiskey. He still loved whiskey. You could feel his presence behind you—close enough to touch, yet oblivious to who you were. You didn’t speak. You didn’t move. You just hoped he’d walk away before the past caught up with you.
But fate had other plans.
“Second Margarita special for Miss Hyun Jae!” bartender’s voice rang out from behind the bar, cheerful and loud.
Hyun Jae. Hyun Jae. What the hell, why shout it loudly?
You wanted to vanish. You knew your name would spark recognition. It wasn’t common around Nice to hear a Korean name—especially not yours.
You reached for your glass, forcing a smile toward the bartender, mouthing a silent “thank you.” You turned to walk away, heart pounding, when you heard it.
A whisper. Soft. Tentative. Your name.
“Hyun Jae… is it… really you?”
You froze. Statue-still. You should’ve kept walking. Should’ve pretended not to hear. But that voice—the one that once made you dizzy with love—held you in place.
“Hyun Jae, it’s Yoongi. Is it really you?”
You turned slowly, breath caught in your throat. And finally, you spoke.
but I’m still so bad at it" - A Little Bit Yours, JP Saxe, 2020
Pairing: Single Dad|Min Yoongi X Female Character | OC named Hyun Jae
Story: Exes -> Friends -> Lovers
Word Count: 1.3k
Warnings: Cheating, curse words, mentions of sex, alcohol consumption, children w/ severe illness, toxic family
Summary: In your early 20s you thought you found the love of your life only to be cheated on by your long time boyfriend with your own aunt. Heartbroken, you left everything and never looked back. Now you're almost 40, on a vacation at your chosen paradise...you found yourself being dragged into the past that you can't escape because as much as you wanted, you know you have never moved on...
Dear Reader: English is my second language so please excuse me if you find any grammatical error. This is also my very first fic and tumblr post. I would greatly appreciate your comments. I hope you'll enjoy reading as much as I enjoyed writing this down.
BTS (behind the story): this fic was inspired by a dream. In my dream, Yoongi & I were in a long time relationship but he cheated on me with my own blood relative. When i woke up, I was crying. I felt it was so real. Maybe because I was recently in a bad break up too w/ the father of my child where we were together for 7 years. so yeah, maybe it's my subconscious mind making up scenarios to let me feel those repressed emotions I tried to hide for months now...so I can eventually heal. The title was inspired by JP Saxe's song "A Little Bit Yours"
You were devastated. No—destroyed. You couldn’t even begin to comprehend his answers, if he had any. Was it anger? Or pride? Or maybe… sadness. Sadness that was eating you alive.
“Tell me, Yoongi… are you in love with Aunt Rose?” You stood in front of Yoongi, your boyfriend since senior year of high school. Tears streamed down your face, but you still looked into his eyes. He tried to avoid yours, but you held his chin up and repeated your question. “Are you in love with her?” Still unable to meet your gaze, he responded—
“I don’t know...”
It broke you. It shattered every piece of your soul.
“Then why are we doing this? Why are we still together when you love someone else?” You screamed into his face, your voice full of sadness and rage. You couldn’t figure out where it all went wrong. Your heart kept breaking, like shattered glass being stepped on a hundred times over.
“We’ve been together for seven fucking years, Yoongi. Seven years! I gave you everything… I did everything for you… with you. Why now? Why her? Why?” You collapsed to your knees, sobbing uncontrollably.
“You said you wanted to be with me forever… that we had our future all figured out. We just needed more time to save up and be ready to start our own family. You said you had everything planned. So what is this ring for now?” You stood up, raised your left hand, showing him the engagement ring still on your finger. Full of fury, you ripped it off and threw it at him.
“Was it all for show? So you could sneak around with my own aunt?! My motherfucking aunt who’s a decade older than us? What does she have that I don’t? Tell me, Yoongi. Tell me…” You collapsed again, crying your heart out. Still, he didn’t move. He stood there, petrified, eyes brimming with tears. His face was blank, but he couldn’t even look at you. After a few seconds of silence—just your sobs filling the room—Yoongi finally spoke.
“I… I love you. I always have. I can’t understand myself either. It just happened. I knew, one day, that I liked Rose… but I never thought it would go this far. I tried to avoid her. But it was hard, with all the family gatherings. That one time you asked me to drive her home after that Christmas dinner… she was drunk, I was a little tipsy. I know it was wrong. I let my emotions get the best of me. But Hyun Jae… I never meant to break your heart. I know I can’t keep doing this. I’m cheating on you—and I’m cheating myself. I can’t let you suffer any longer. I had to tell you and end things. You don’t deserve this. I don’t deserve you. I screwed up. I’m the one to blame.”
You didn’t have the energy to stand or even lift your head to see his face. You were wrecked—so broken you felt like dying. Was it your fault they got close? Or was it Yoongi’s, for letting lust take over and forgetting everything you had?
“You’re breaking up with me to be with her? I get it. I get it now.” You stood shakily, as if carrying a bag full of stones—stones that had been hurled at you, leaving you bruised and bleeding. If only you could die in that moment. It would’ve been easier. You didn’t look at Yoongi. You just walked slowly toward the door, leaving him with your final words:
“I hope you’ll find happiness with her. I can’t promise I’ll be happy for you, but I hope you’ll think of me—and all the times we shared… the love we had… the life we had… when you’re not happy anymore.”
You walked out. And with a broken, burdened heart… You never looked back.
15 years later.
It was a windy day, and having a day off at the beach while watching the sunset felt like the perfect reward. After a draining week at work, a solo beach trip was exactly what you needed. You’re 39 now—still single, still vibrant, still beautiful. You never let age make you feel old. You’ve taken care of yourself since your teenage years, always investing in your self-image, because deep down you know: a healthy mind, body, and heart is a treasure you’ll never regret nurturing.
Your friends always ask, Why on earth are you still single? And your answer is always the same: "I love myself; I don’t need anybody else." It’s half-truth, half-lie. Yes, you love yourself—because you’ve had to. You’ve lived alone since you were 25. No one else was going to take care of you, so you did. They think you’re a weirdo for it, but you know this is the best life you could live.
You left your hometown 15 years ago, after a heartbreak that carved itself into your soul. You left South Korea and never looked back. You believed that living alone, far from family, would help you heal and feel alive again. It was a tough decade and a half—but in all its glory, you made it.
You’re now one of the top Sales Executives at a renowned advertising and marketing firm in France. You own a villa in Nice, where you’re staying now, and a penthouse in La Gaude, along with a few luxury cars. No regrets. Leaving Seoul was the best decision you ever made.
Sometimes, though, the loneliness creeps in. So you meet a few men—at bars, on dating apps. Nothing serious. You know love isn’t your priority. Or maybe it’s that you can’t afford to fall in love. Not again. You’re done with the whole love thing, because you know how easily it can destroy you. You made a pact with your 24-year-old self: no man will ever hurt you again the way Yoongi did.
After an hour of staring at the purple-pink clouds blanketing the sunset over the sea, the beach begins to darken. The beachfront has only a few lights on, just enough for people to see the path. You’re now on your ninth glass of margarita, a little tipsy, when you spot a familiar figure walking along the shore.
You squint, trying to make sense of what you’re seeing. The man is a few feet away, but you recognize the build, the height, the silhouette. He sits down in front of your beach bed, gazing into the horizon. You shake your head, thinking the alcohol must be playing tricks on you.
"It’s impossible," you whisper to yourself.
Still sipping your margarita, you decide to head inside. You lie down on the couch, eyes heavy, thoughts swirling. The image of the man at the beach lingers. As you drift toward sleep, you mutter to yourself again and again…
"It’s impossible."
Chapter 2 to be posted on 8/19/22. Inbox open for messages.
Feel free to comment. Minors are discouraged to engage. Thank you!
**Update: 9/28/22 - Sorry for the delay of Ch2. There were some major life events and I needed to focus on it first. Will definitely post the next chapter in the coming weeks. Thank you!
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