“why do some fanfic writers write non-con fics when it’s for the sake of smut and romanticized?”
some victims and survivors use dark fiction to cope and heal from their trauma, because in their fics, they are in control of what happens. they can turn the table and turn what happens into something that’s not traumatizing. and they can do that because they don’t owe you anything.
it’s a kink to some people, even though they were never victims. people can enjoy it and find it hot because at the end of the day it’s just a fantasy. it’s not real. they don’t owe you anything.
it’s cathartic and/or therapeutic to some to see their favorite fictional characters suffer. that’s why whump is such a popular trope; people love putting their fictional little guys through hell. non-con is a part of whump. and these people don’t owe you anything.
fanfic writers can write whatever they want, however they want. they don’t owe you anything.
I also suggest that you look up cnc kink and why so many couples are into it.
99% of fanfiction is absolute dogshit bathwater and that’s beautiful, I love that, I love that the barrier for entry is nonexistent, I love that anyone can do it, I love all the badly written porn, I love that it’s just creation for creation’s sake, I love it. Except when it’s something I’m into. When it’s something I’m into, then I’m gonna need everyone to step it up.
Jungwon addressing the fan chants and speaking on behalf of the members is something none of you guys should be hating on 😭 He’s setting boundaries and if you as a fan cannot continue to support enhypen, you shouldn’t be calling yourself an engene. I understand it all matters on perspective but he’s setting a very clear boundary and you guys should respect that.
Need to get something off my chest. I didn't want to talk about Heeseung right now. But with so many conflicting opinions, I'm wondering if Heeseung DID want this?
If he did want a solo instantly—that is fine. But the timing of this happened so illogically, that I can't HELP but think about it. This is just a rant. So.
So, here is my version of the timeline:
It's 2025. Hee released dial tragedy, and it sounded really good. And that was around... summer(?). Heeseung thinks he is definitely ready for a solo album, but he needs to get Bad Desire, the concerts, and Knife over and done with.
Hee suggests his ideas to the team once they hit November. At this point, filming En O clock. He is ready to go. He thinks he can do it within a group, and this would be a point in his life that really boosts his artistry.
The label decides that he should wait—discussions start in December of what he should do—this may include renewals, schedules, and anything to do with his solo.
He gets told that this isn't possible with their schedule. Even then, Hee wants to try and negotiate this, and he properly fights to make an album of his own while being in the group. He gets called greedy and "putting his ambitions above the group," and Hee falls into doubt. He doesn't know what to do.
Cue conflict in his head, the day dreaming, and the zoning out. At this point, it's ending December. En O clocks are filmed, but Heeseung is deeply conflicted.
January, he gets given more options of what he can do. He is told there is NO room for his artistry even though other artists are allowed time to do this. Manipulated more. Therefore, the desire to leave rises and emotions run high.
They have their comeback and are filming BTS of the comeback stages where he is visibly seen being distant on camera. My guess is that he told Jungwon/other members, and they decided that they couldn't get involved too much. But that Heeseung's idea of a solo is good. They support him. They know he talented af.
Then, cue all the interviews and shows where he says they "are planning/working on their tour," and he smiles when he accidentally "spoiled" it. They even have their comeback live where he is seen happy, less distant. So, at this point, Heeseung may feel positive with the members' support.
February arrives. He does his life, and everyone acts normal. Jungwon comes live a few more times. So does Jay. And all the members. They know discussions are happening, but nothing is negative as of yet.
Then comes the news of the fancalls, the Melbourne concert festival, and they film a video where all 7 of them are also discussing that they are excited to go! Fan calls are promoted as 7 members when fans purchase the tickets for each event, expecting Heeseung.
Heeseung is getting more irritated with being kept on hold with his album. He keeps asking. And then, March arrives. He damn well knows he needs to do something about it. Then, they deliver a dumb ultimatum on a random weekend in March that pushes him into a corner. He is now conflicted again, manipulated to be thought of as greedy, and is thinking about his future. He tells the members. They are a little bit pissed, and there could have been confrontations.
Could be the reason why all members were "sick" on that one event last week. Things went down.
Another fancall, but he says, "we're planning on coming to Europe" — indicates that they were planning for a tour.
9th March, he goes to Shanghai for the fancall. Riki isn't there because of politics. And he knows he has to make a decision.
9th-10th March overnight, something must have pushed Heeseung to do this OR the label pushed him to do this to either: cover up a scandal he did; cover up a scandal in HYBE (bc yes, Bang PD also had some criminal sentence given to him); they are hard launching Heeseung for no reason without his group; Heeseung genuinely was pushed to the brink for some reason. And does so in the middle of promotions. This is where the big gap is that we don't know among many others (and has caused fans to spiral).
Now, I want to reiterate—if Heeseung wants to leave the group, that is fine. But the lack of closure of why he left now rather than later, what pushed him to drop Enhypen, and why Belift couldn't make space for his creative freedom is now what fans demand. It doesn't make sense as to why this happened.
That is what I demand. I need the whole truth. From him. Not from AI generated letters, but from his own mouth, from the members as well. But, considering how much he was talking about touring, being with the others for their 10th anniversary, and doing activities in 2026 AS A GROUP, his words don't match this action, and has left us MORE confused.
So, for this to suddenly happen overnight means something must have happened to push this decision. I know it wasn't planned:
They planned their Melbourne trip. (Heeseung is not going to be there and cancelled his flight).
En o clock was filmed, edited, scheduled, and released for 3 weeks now. (It has now been postponed until April, even though they left it as a 2 part episode where part 1 clearly has Heeseung edited in).
They had fan calls scheduled (postponed and/or cancelled until later this month).
They have so many more activities they talked about (tours, solos, being together).
So no. It wasn't planned because otherwise, this wouldn't be as disorganised as Belift is trying to hide it as. It is the messiest departure I have ever seen with no explanation, no transparency, no truth as to what made Heeseung supposedly "choose" to commit himself elsewhere after all this in such a last-minute decision.
Onto my other point—if Heeseung genuinely chose this with all his mind, why are the members having to act as if Heeseung doesn't exist? Isn't this something he chose to do? Why wouldn't the members want to say something in SUPPORT of Heeseung going solo, knowing that the media has BLOWN UP in backlash against this decision. If this was Heeseung's whole decision, then the members, Heeseung, should reassure the fans themselves. Not the label—the members themselves. They have to act as if he was never there, which isn't a good look for anyone.
Next. It was so rushed. Usually, with departures, the member leaving usually has one last goodbye in person. Not dramatic but visible. But for Heeseung, it was a letter, no appearance, and now, we don't know where he is, if this is really in his best interests.
Next, onto his letter and statements. The belift statement said he has a distinct and different music style.
Okay? So? Lots of groups do their concept as a group and solos, and you know what? This brings in more attention and money to the group as a whole. People have speculated that Belift pressured him to do so in order to get double the amount of money—but that also is weird. If this was about money, they could still get that same amount of money even if he was IN a group. The thing that really upholds that is their timing and creative freedom. They didn't give that to Heeseung, made him feel guilty and trapped, and now, this.
Second—this is still about Heeseung's statement regarding how he doesn't want to be greedy—again, lots of groups do this and it is NOT seen as greedy. Unless you don't have eyes, solos have gotten great attention. E.g:
These artists, in one way or another, have brought attention and money in for themselves and their groups, all while keeping their creative freedom.
So, for Heeseung, it comes down to his team manipulating him into thinking otherwise. Heeseung also mentioned doing it in the company's suggestion, further reinforcing the idea of how the management team were not supporting him, pressuring him into choosing one or the other—
Which makes no damn sense. Even if he did choose their "suggestion", it still implies he was given an ultimatum and no choice. He was forced into a corner. Which is a problem that fans have.
Someone on tiktok also mentioned that it could be a contractual issue and it physically does not allow Heeseung to make solo music.
But that doesn't link to why he did this so ABRUPTLY. He could've left after Melbourne, after fan calls, and in a more softer way too. This was a smack in the face.
This clearly wasn't planned. It's messy. It's vague. And it has kept the fandom in the dark. Causing this explosive mania in the media. If Belift want us to truly support Heeseung, they would address our questions. Heck, get Heeseung and the members to reiterate that they should support this because it IS HIS decision.
"What if the dude wanted to go solo?"
Hm well, this again doesn't explain his abrupt exit with all the schedules. Usually, artists are happy about a decision being made. Why should he hide? Yes, maybe he is drained, but it doesn't explain why he can't make another post or why the members can not come in support of him. I will support Hee no matter what, but with the timing and schedules, it seems odd and strange. Also doesn't explain why they would do so in the middle of the week. Not to mention how much he's been emphasising tours only a few weeks ago. We need an explanation.
"You guys are being dramatic."
Well, yeah, sorry to be dramatic, but what the company has done is also dramatic. The energy is just being matched since it came out of nowhere.
"Petitions and protests aren't gonna do anything. What if he doesn't come back anyway."
You're right. It could do nothing. But it could also force an explanation out to fans about WHY Heeseung left so abruptly knowing they had schedules lined up. What was his reason? I need to see the truth bc i genuinely hate being left in this ambiguity of what is going on rn. Most of the people saying this genuinely are not part of the fandom and don't understand the sudden mania. These Petitions actually show the label how POORLY this was handled because of the confusing timing and how his actions have confused everyone. In fact, these Petitions could show how they need to be transparent in order to calm the masses down and clarify.
"He's probably sick of the mistreatment."
Yeah, sure. But then, it doesn't explain why he would stay under the same label when the burdens would just increase. With the members, he could face the burdens together. Going solo under the same label wouldn't do as much justice, I fear. It would be the same amount. Less people. Idk.
"I thought you guys hated Belift and wanted him to be creatively free. Why are you guys not letting him???"
God. The way these people pmo. First of all. He isn't even leaving Belift. He's allegedly going to be a soloist under the same group. Second of all, we are saying all this because HE ISN'T CREATIVELY FREE. Let me explain. He can't be creatively free in a group, and they couldn't be bothered to give support to him, but if he's alone, Belift will let him be creative? It isn't US not letting him be creatively free. Its Belift who is limiting him for no reason, saying that being in a group and doing solo projects is "greedy/putting his ambitions over the group" when in reality, this wouldn't be true. Letting him? Bro, we want him to be creatively free, but it shouldn't require him to leave the group; in this case, we are saying that Belift SHOULD make time for him within the group. To do so outside the group feels like it's isolating him. And if this is what Heeseung truly wanted—to leave for creativity, I still think it says a lot about how the label is restricting the other members, too. Additionally, can they not let Heeseung come on and say this to calm everyone down? Let him be visible. Let him be here for the fans who are panicking. Maybe he doesn't want to, but I think this whole incident is not helping Heeseung if he did decide to do this. So, maybe let him calm the masses? I'm confused as to why he can not stay in a group and be creatively free. That is a question I would like answered, but it wasn't in his sudden departure. Another reason why fans are going crazy.
"You guys are being parasocial. He's not dead."
Lol, what. A lot of things in many people's life gives them a safe corner (lol me), but just bc I'm upset, doesn't mean I'm parasocial. I know this is a man I have never interacted with. Idk what goes on behind the camera, but again, when fans are kept in the dark, they tend to speculate.
Adding to that note, since fans are speculating and such, why haven't the members ADDRESSED IT. I will accept whatever path Heeseung chooses, but this supposed decision has made the members act like he doesn't exist, as if they need to erase him and have left fans confused.
Simple solution. Address the confusion, the questions as I have addressed above (about the timing, cancellations, and the members), and shut the mania down. This silence from the company and members isn't helping anyone at all, especially Heeseung. If they want us to be satisfied with thst decision, let Heeseung speak fr. Let the members voice their support. Right now, it seems stiff and uncertain.
Another note I would like to add is:
DO NOT go onto other groups/producers/makeup artists or whatever and ask them to do something about it. Seriously. I think yall pissed off the producer when he has nothing to do with the company. We are targeting BELIFT and Enhypen. Don't go under TXTs account and spam Heeseung in such a silly way. Also, don't wish this on other groups (except ADP, Tarzan, Super Junior😹😹✌🏼. They deserve to go fr). DO NOT take information from twitter from random people because this is easily spread as misinformation and we don't need crazy theories right now. We need logic. Please be mindful of how you read and comprehend things before blowing it up!!
And another thing: for the other fandoms being so petty. "Well, they said bad things about Jin at the MAMA awards".
Holy shit. If we're gonna talk abt toxic fandoms, let's start with ARMYs because I'm BOTH of these. The utter irony to be petty about being asked to help with the petition is met with such aggression that it genuinely boils my blood. They're not obligated to help, of course, but you don't need to hold that over another fandoms' head when you know damn well it wasn't all of them, and say "I don't care. Why would I help you when yall said xyz? " Genuinely immature asf and chronically online asf.
As I've said. The point of all this isn't to necessarily bring him back for good. It is being done because fans are aware of the strange timing of it being in the middle of the week, that he has said things conflicting with this event, and that it clearly wasn't planned. The point of these Petitions or protests is to demand Belift to let the members be heard and seen together and see their reasoning. And for our questions to be answered. For Heeseung to, at least, be seen one more time. Not to disappear on a whim. This sudden event has left us all confused on why. We just need that answered.
And update: the members posted on weverse one by one. Probably to calm the fans. But I'm lwk still restless and need answers. It's day damn 4 without Heeseung. I'm going crazy.
Anyway, this is just a pinch of my thoughts. And you don't need to take it to heart. It is just my speculations. So yeah. I miss him :( I wish we could hear from him.
idc if someone calls me parasocial but it makes me so fucking anxious to even think about what happened and what’s happening esp when we don’t know anything, how did it come to this? how did the members react? was it actually in talks or it happened overnight? i have no words and things aren’t adding up
if this was purely heeseung’s decision then i respect it, i wish the absolute best for him and ill always support him like i have since the day one of iland, but if this is belift’s doing and he was given an ultimatum then istg i hope that whole fucking building burns down i js want my seven to be safe and happy
i hope this helps and somehow works out, here’s a petition you can sign: link
and even if it was heeseung’s decision (which i fully respect), the timing is still so off (belift count your days)! days before their big music festival? a year before contract renewal? IN THE MIDDLE OF MUSIC PROMOTIONS??? i don’t want to sound like a conspiracist but something is so off
idc if someone calls me parasocial but it makes me so fucking anxious to even think about what happened and what’s happening esp when we don’t know anything, how did it come to this? how did the members react? was it actually in talks or it happened overnight? i have no words and things aren’t adding up
if this was purely heeseung’s decision then i respect it, i wish the absolute best for him and ill always support him like i have since the day one of iland, but if this is belift’s doing and he was given an ultimatum then istg i hope that whole fucking building burns down i js want my seven to be safe and happy
i hope this helps and somehow works out, here’s a petition you can sign: link
Company's statement: "Heeseung has his own distinct musical vision"
Heeseung's statement: "made a decision to follow the direction the company suggested" "didn't want to put my own greed before Enhypen"
SHIT IS NOT ADDING UP? I just genuinely don't understand why he couldn't debut solo while still being in the group like we've seen in many other groups? (i.e. TXT, BTS)
And the COMPANY SUGGESTED he leave? It's like they didn't want Heeseung's solo persona to clash with the group's concept? At the end of the day, this is self sabotaging because groups with members leaving don't always reach the same level of success they once were (or in the case of Enhypen, on the track to become), likewise the same for the member who leaves and go solo. Idols sell memories. Fans cling to those memories. And now those memories are tainted. It's not like the company doesn't know this. Why would they suggest something so self-destructive?
Ignore me. I'm just ranting and trying to make sense of this news in my head before I go insane. Enhypen will always be seven in my heart, even if they're otherwise on surface. I genuinely wish all the success for Heeseung and I'll be supporting him all the same! I hope this is the same for anyone reading this post.
where, on your 18th birthday, you receive a blessing that lets you see the future, only to find yourself married to jungwon, the college heartthrob you’ve barely spoken to, with a child calling you mom.
P A I R I N G ✦︎ fboy jungwon x reader
G E N R E ✦︎ university / college au, soulmate au, fantasy, fluff, slight angst, love triangle, pining, slow burn
P L A Y L I S T ▶ 18 - one direction, stuck with u - ariana grande & justin bieber, you belong with me - ts, lavender haze - ts, wish that i could - umi, meddle about - chase atlantic, red - ts
This is a work of fiction. It does not represent real people, events, or systems. Any similarities are purely coincidental, and all elements are created for fantasy purposes only. No part of this work may be copied, reproduced, or distributed in any form without permission from the author.
yang jungwon, a paramedic you can’t stand at work, but can’t stay away from after hours. between sharp words and stolen moments, something deeper brews. your relationship is full with tension, secrets, and the kind of love that hides in plain sight. but not everything is as it seems in the emergency room.
P A I R I N G ✦︎ paramedic jungwon x doctor reader
G E N R E ✦︎ enemies at work, lovers at home. secret dating, suggestive, submissive jungwon, fluff, countryside romance, strangers to lovers, slight angst, teasing
P L A Y L I S T ▶ they don't know about us - 1D, love 119 - riize, i can see you - ts, daylight - ts, you are in love - ts, pink skies - lany, every summertime - niki, orange flower - enhypen, busy woman - sc, mean it - lauv & lany.
This is a work of fiction. It does not represent real people, events, or systems. Any similarities are purely coincidental. No part of this work may be copied, reproduced, or distributed in any form without permission from the author.
pairing: fboy!jungwon x reader
summary: where on your 18th birthday, you receive a blessing that lets you see the future, only to find yourself married to jungwon, the college heartthrob you’ve barely spoken to, with a child calling you mom.
genre: university / college au, soulmate au, fantasy, fluff, slight angst, love triangle, pining, slow burn
word count: 4.8k
playlist: 18 - one direction, stuck with u - ariana grande & justin bieber, you belong with me - ts, lavender haze - ts, wish that i could - umi, meddle about - chase atlantic
A/N: forgive me if this part's a bit short. i promise to make it up to you in the next ones, hehe
masterlist.
This is a work of fiction. It does not represent real people, events, or systems. Any similarities are purely coincidental, and all elements are created for fantasy purposes only.
The drama club’s room smelled faintly of old velvet curtains and cheap perfume.
Jungwon was half-distracted, mind somewhere else entirely, when the girl he barely remembered the name of tugged at his collar, lips finding the side of his neck. Her fingers slipped under the hem of his shirt, nails scraping lightly across his skin.
He let her.
Only because he wanted to get this over with.
The only reason he even agreed to meet her again today was to retrieve his wallet. The one he stupidly left at her dorm last night. He didn’t even plan on staying longer than necessary. Hell, he didn’t even plan on seeing her again. Jungwon didn’t do repeats.
But when she leaned in too close, smirking against his ear and said, "At least let me give you an advanced birthday treat, babe," he froze.
He should have walked away right then.
Instead, when she kept pushing, fingers pulling at his belt loops, mouth chasing his, he kissed her. Hard. Too hard.
Just to shut her up.
A mistake.
A fucking mistake.
Because that’s when the door creaked open.
And everything inside him seized up.
Through the tangled mess of limbs and desperation, his eyes locked onto a figure standing stiff at the door.
You.
Wide-eyed. Frozen. Like you’d just witnessed a car crash you couldn’t look away from.
Fuck.
He pulled back like he’d been electrocuted, his breath catching sharp in his throat.
“Y/N?” he blurted, voice rough and broken.
You didn’t say anything.
Didn’t move.
Just turned too fast and disappeared down the hallway, footsteps fading like a nightmare.
The girl beside him clicked her tongue, smoothing down her skirt, unfazed. She leaned against the desk casually, fixing her lipstick in the reflection of a trophy case.
“She’s pretty," she said, voice light, teasing. "Is that her?"
Jungwon stared at her, still breathing hard. “What?”
She tilted her head, smiling like she knew something he didn’t. “The girl who rejected you during freshmen year. Jake told me.”
His fists clenched at his sides. He stared at her, a million unsaid things clawing up his throat.
“I wasn’t rejected,” Jungwon snapped, sharper than he meant to. “And Jake doesn’t have the right to say shit. He’s in the same fucking position.”
The girl only chuckled, slipping her phone back into her bag like she hadn’t just dropped a nuclear bomb and walked away.
Jungwon stood there for a long moment, the stale, suffocating air pressing down on him.
He had come here for a wallet.
He had stayed because he was stupid.
He kissed a girl he didn’t even like because he thought it didn’t matter.
But it mattered.
Because for the first time in a long time, something actually fucking mattered.
And he might have just ruined it before it even had the chance to start.
It started small.
The kind of thing you wouldn’t even notice unless you were paying attention.
There was a vending machine tucked beside the science hall. Old, humming, half-forgotten. Students barely used it unless they were desperate between classes. But Jungwon did. And he always bought the same thing: the yellow-pack gummy bears.
Soft, sweet, just the right chew.
Something about them tasted like how he imagined being a kid felt simple and untouched.
Except, lately, they were always gone.
He’d walk up between lectures, coins ready, tap the scratched glass — and nothing.
Every other snack untouched.
Every other candy still neatly stacked.
Just the yellow gummies, empty.
It pissed him off a little.
He even once smacked the side of the machine in frustration, earning a few weird glances from passing students. He ignored them, he had bigger problems.
One day, he was earlier than usual. The hallways were half-empty, the vending machine still blinking lazily in the corner. And there you were.
Crouched low, head tilted, tapping the glass thoughtfully like you were deep in negotiation with the machine. In your hand? Two packs of the yellow gummies.
And in your bag? He caught the flash of even more, at least three, four crammed into the front pocket like a guilty secret.
You turned, mid-stuffing the last pack into your bag. Eyes meeting. Both of you frozen.
He recognized you vaguely. Freshman orientation, Jake's friend, the girl who laughed at his jokes but never stuck around for long.
And now? Now you were the damn vending machine thief.
You blinked, the barest flicker of surprise crossing your face before you straightened up calmly, like you weren’t doing anything remotely suspicious. You were.
Jungwon crossed his arms, smirking before he could stop himself.
"Leave some for the rest of us, maybe?"
You shrugged, not even guilty. "Survival of the fittest."
He huffed out a laugh. "You're hoarding them."
"They're the best ones," you said simply, like it was obvious. "Supply and demand."
He shook his head, smiling despite himself. You were something else.
"I’ve been trying to buy those for a week," he said, mock offended.
"You should be faster," you replied, voice light, teasing, as you zipped your bag shut and slung it over your shoulder.
Before he could think of anything clever to say, you tossed one of the packs toward him. He caught it, stunned.
"Here," you said.
A peace offering.
Or maybe just a dare to keep up.
Then you walked away, steps light, disappearing down the hallway before he could ask your name.
He stood there for a second, the vending machine humming behind him, the yellow pack crinkling in his hand.
Slowly, he smiled.
He didn’t know much about you yet. Only that you liked the same gummy bears. And that you didn’t apologize for it.
But that tiny, stupid moment? It stuck. Burrowed somewhere he couldn't dig out later, no matter how many months passed.
And later, when people joked about how he must’ve had dozens of girls chasing after him, he just thought about you, walking away without a second glance, leaving him standing there like some idiot holding candy.
After that day at the vending machine, Jungwon started noticing you everywhere. At first, he told himself it was coincidence. The campus wasn’t that big. Maybe your paths just happened to cross. Maybe you just happened to sit two rows ahead of him in economics. Maybe you just happened to linger outside the drama clubroom, laughing too brightly with Sunoo.
But deep down, he knew the truth.
He was looking for you now.
Tuning out the rest of the world, unconsciously drawn to the sound of your laugh, the flash of your bag stuffed with books and candy, the easy way you moved through life like you weren’t trying to impress anyone.
And you never noticed him.
Not really.
You barely even glanced his way.
He almost gave up then, almost let himself believe it was just a vending machine moment, a glitch in the universe that wasn’t meant to last.
Until rumors started.
Jake was courting you.
Jake, the golden boy with the easy smiles and a trail of admirers.
Jake, who was somehow close to you already.
Jake, who could make anyone fall for him if he really wanted to.
Jungwon told himself it didn’t matter. He lied.
It hurt.
More than it should have.
A stupid, sour sting every time he saw Jake walking next to you, tossing you candies or making you laugh in that easy, infuriating way of his.
So Jungwon, idiot that he was, joined the drama club. “I need the extracurricular points," he told everyone. Nobody believed him.
Mostly, he stuck to backstage work, fixing broken chairs, painting sets, running errands Sunoo barked at him with terrifying efficiency.
You were always around, helping, organizing, laughing. Sometimes you sat cross-legged on the stage sorting costume jewelry into plastic bins. Sometimes you passed him a bottle of water without looking. He said thank you quietly every time and you never noticed.
But he stayed anyway.
Because being near you, even if you didn’t see him, felt better than nothing at all.
Then one afternoon, everything shifted again.
He was fixing a crooked light rig when Sunoo’s voice rang out through the dusty club office.
"Y/N turned Jake down yesterday." Loud. Blunt. No room for misunderstanding.
The room went quiet. Someone gasped. Someone else whistled low.
Jungwon tightened his grip on the wrench. Heart slamming. Mind racing.
You turned Jake down?
"Yeah," another club member chimed in, dramatic as ever. "She said she's not ready for dating. Wants to focus on her studies first, plus she was thinking of running for the student council next year."
Sunoo laughed. "Classic Y/N. Always has her priorities straight."
Jungwon barely heard the rest.
All he could think was—
Maybe.
Maybe there was a chance.
Maybe he wasn’t as invisible as he thought.
He spent the whole night drafting letters he’d never send. Debating if he should say anything at all.
In the end, he didn’t write a love confession. He didn’t pour his heart out. He just kept it simple.
A bag of yellow gummy bears. And a note taped on it.
"I know this might not be the right time to give you something like this.
But I just wanted you to know, you're interesting in every possible way.
You're the kind of person someone could admire quietly for a long time, even if the tides never turn in their favor.
I hope you keep smiling the way you do when you win arguments.
I hope you keep picking the yellow gummy bears, even if you have to fight for the last one.
No pressure.
No expectations.
Just... you deserve to know."
He left it in your locker early the next morning. Heart hammering. Hands shaking.
He thought maybe you’d know. Maybe the gummy bears would tip you off. Maybe you’d remember the stupid vending machine moment that never really left his mind.
Instead—
At lunch, he saw you. Marching across the courtyard. The bag of gummy bears clutched in your hand. Heading straight for Jake.
From where Jungwon sat on the stone steps by the library, he saw it unfold like a bad dream:
You smiling politely.
Talking softly.
Handing Jake the gummy bears back like they were some kind of apology.
And Jake—Jake just blinked, clearly confused, before awkwardly nodding and taking the bag.
You looked relieved.
Jake looked baffled.
Jungwon felt like something inside him cracked quietly open.
You thought Jake sent the gift.
You thought Jake wrote the letter.
And you turned it down.
Kindly. Gently.
And you never even knew it was him.
Later, Jake found him by the vending machines, tossing the crumpled bag onto Jungwon's lap.
"You’re a dumbass," Jake said, not unkindly.
"You should've put your name on it."
Then he left, leaving Jungwon alone with a silent, half-empty machine and a gummy bear pack that tasted a lot more bitter than sweet now.
Jungwon never said anything about it.
He just swallowed the rejection he was never even given the chance to earn.
And maybe that’s why now, standing years later in a messy drama room, when that girl tilted her head and said with a teasing smile—
"The girl who rejected you during freshmen year. Jake told me."
Because truth was… you never even knew it was him.
You never even saw him.
Not then.
Not yet.
The door slammed shut behind him.
Jungwon didn’t stop walking.
Down the hallway, past the bulletin boards, past the same scratched lockers he could’ve walked through blindfolded.
His fists curled tighter with every step.
Breath shallow. Mind buzzing.
He pushed outside, the night air slapping cold against his face. But the sick feeling in his gut didn’t go away.
He barely made it two steps across the courtyard when—
"Jungwon!"
He turned, shoulders stiff.
It was Sunoo, jogging up, frowning. "Dude, what happened? Why is Y/N storming out like she’s about to sue the entire drama club?"
Jungwon opened his mouth.
Closed it.
Rubbed a hand down his face.
"I messed up," he muttered finally, voice hoarse. "I didn’t mean for her to see... that."
Sunoo stared at him, mouth twitching like he wanted to ask a dozen questions but knew better.
Jungwon dug into the pocket of his hoodie and pulled out the bright yellow pack, the gummy bears he'd bought earlier, before everything went to shit. Before he'd ruined it.
And then it hit him.
Today was your birthday.
You were supposed to have a good day.
You were supposed to laugh and smile and maybe — maybe — open your locker to find a stupid, cheesy pack of candy from someone who actually thought about you.
Instead, you found him like that.
Instead, he made you leave like your heart was breaking in real time.
A fresh wave of guilt slammed into him, sharp enough to make his stomach turn.
He shoved the pack into Sunoo’s hands, almost too rough.
"Give this to her," Jungwon said, jaw tight. "Tomorrow. Please."
Sunoo blinked down at it. "Uh. Okay? What is this, a bribe?"
Jungwon gave a humorless huff of air.
"Just... tell her I’m sorry. Tell her it’s from me."
Sunoo tucked the candy into his tote bag, still looking like he wanted to say more.
"I have to check our biochem lab results tomorrow," Jungwon added, half an excuse, half the truth. "I won’t see her before lunch."
Sunoo nodded slowly.
"You sure you don’t wanna just give it to her yourself?"
Jungwon shrugged helplessly.
"I don’t think she wants to see me right now."
A beat of silence.
The wind picked up, rattling the bare branches overhead.
Sunoo sighed, clapping him lightly on the shoulder. "Alright. I’ll make sure she gets it."
He started to turn away, then paused, glancing back with a small, lopsided smile.
"Oh—and, uh, advance happy birthday, Jungwon."
Jungwon managed the barest curve of a smile.
"Thanks."
And then he turned, hoodie pulled up against the cold, and disappeared into the night.
The morning Jungwon turned eighteen, the world stayed silent—for a moment.
The sun rose like it always did, pale and slow against the cracked skyline.
His apartment was still the same too: neat, spare, clean to the point of looking unlived-in. A couch, a low coffee table, a desk piled with textbooks he didn’t really touch anymore.
Nothing screamed special day.
Nothing at all.
He sat up on the edge of the bed, elbows on his knees, staring at the muted light seeping through his curtains.
In families like his, birthdays — eighteenth birthdays — were monumental.
Because here, you only got your blessing once.
It came exactly on your eighteenth birthday, and it never changed after that.
It was supposed to be a celebration. A doorway into the life you were meant to live. But in Jungwon’s family, it wasn’t magic. It wasn’t wonder.
It was a contract.
A cousin who awakened the ability to manipulate probability was immediately signed into risk management for the family's overseas holdings flown out within two weeks. An older sister who could predict crucial decisions before they happened became the sharpest negotiator in corporate mergers. An aunt who could sway opinions through subtle energy became a political lobbyist, shuffled from one continent to another, her life signed away to strategies and campaign wars.
The blessings were always bent, reshaped, weaponized.
Once your blessing appeared, you were sealed into it. Expected to serve it. Or get discarded quietly, like those who didn't "align" well enough.
Jungwon learned early not to hope. Hope made you vulnerable. Hope got you chained.
His phone buzzed on the bedside table.
🎉 Happy 18th Birthday, Jungwon 🎉
It's time to check your Blessing 💫
He stared at the screen but didn’t move.
Because once you checked it, there was no going back. Once the world saw what you were it would decide who you were.
The phone buzzed again.
A text from his mother.
[Mom]
Happy Birthday, my love. Remember, make today count. Everyone’s watching and waiting. We love you.
And then bleeding in like a crack through the wall he heard it.
He can’t afford to screw this up. We’ve invested too much already. If it’s not useful, we’ll need to reassess him for overseas placements.
Jungwon stiffened.
It wasn’t a message.
It wasn’t in the text.
It was her thoughts.
He wasn’t reading her words, he was hearing the parts she didn’t say.
He sat there, frozen, as realization sank in.
With a slow, almost reluctant movement, Jungwon finally tapped the blinking notification on his phone.
The screen flashed once, then displayed in clean, gold lettering:
Blessing Activated: The ability to hear the thoughts of those you are conversing with.
And if he could hear it through this simple text conversation...
What would happen when he spoke to people in real life?
A sour, heavy feeling settled into his chest.
This blessing wasn't something he could turn on and off.
It wasn’t something he asked for.
And it sure as hell wasn’t going to make his life easier.
He pushed himself to stand, grabbing his jacket in a stiff, mechanical motion. Then powered off his phone.
When he left the apartment, the air outside was cold against his skin.
As he made his way down the street, he avoided conversation like it was poison. He ignored the greetings of the security guard in his building. He nodded mutely to the woman who sold coffee on the corner without saying a word.
Because he knew what it meant now. Because he knew the moment he exchanged words, he would hear the real thing hiding underneath. Not their smiles. Not their words. The truth they kept locked away.
And Jungwon had spent his whole life surrounded by that kind of duplicity. Family members who said "I'm proud of you" but thought "You better not ruin our name." Cousins who laughed over family dinners but secretly wished for each other's failures. An uncle who clapped him on the back and said "You’re lucky" while thinking "It should have been my son instead."
He grew up seeing it already. The way blessings, were twisted into weapons, into currency, into burdens too heavy to carry.
And now?
Now he would never be able to unhear any of it, would he?
By the time he reached the university, his head was already aching.
He remembered, vaguely, how Sunoo had clapped him on the shoulder yesterday, laughing, "Advance happy birthday, Jungwon!" before running off to one of his club meetings.
How easy it had been to smile back then.
He wished he could freeze himself in that moment before the world tilted sideways.
Now, everything felt heavier.
He was grateful for the excuse to be alone today. Hidden away in the lab under the pretense of gathering data for his project. The thick walls, the stale scent of old paper and chemicals, the silent machines, it was a kind of peace he didn’t realize he needed so badly.
Here, there were no conversations.
No words exchanged.
No truths bleeding through.
Just silence.
Finally.
Jungwon leaned back in his chair, staring up at the cracked ceiling tiles.
Was this what blessings were supposed to feel like? Or was this just another leash, dressed up like a gift?
He closed his eyes and exhaled quietly.
Happy birthday.
What a joke.
Jungwon stayed frozen by the wall, watching you cross the quad like you were some mirage that might dissolve if he blinked too hard. The lab data crinkled faintly in his fingers, forgotten. His brain, usually so sharp, so careful, now felt like someone had jammed it into slow motion.
Because you were here.
Because you had actually replied.
And he had heard it—your thoughts, clear as day, slicing through the usual static of the world.
Sorry I just saw this. Where are you now?
He’d read the text with a stone face. And underneath it, he heard it—the rush of your guilt, the tiny pang of something warmer, something unbearably human.
Not calculation. Not politics. Not some angle to manipulate him, like everyone else he grew up around.
You.
Just you.
The moment your gaze locked with his across the quad, something in his chest tightened painfully. He stuffed his phone into his pocket, stood straighter, forced himself to smirk internally even though his throat felt dry.
"Hey. President," he called, casual, careful.
Because he remembered the look in your eyes that day outside the drama room—how you flinched when he tried to apologize, how you wouldn’t even look at him.
The last time he said your name out loud, you flinched like he was something rotten.
So now it was just "President." A shield between you and him.
You approached, steady, distant. Your voice clipped when you asked about the lab data. Jungwon handed it over, his fingers brushing yours—and he felt it, again, like a ripple of static under his skin.
Your thoughts cracked into him like sunlight through a stained glass window.
"His hand’s warm."
"Focus, Y/N. You’re being ridiculous."
"Just get through this. Don’t let him see you melt like some idiot."
Jungwon almost dropped the papers.
He bit the inside of his cheek instead, forcing himself to stay calm, to stay cool. Because if he lost it now—if he said anything wrong—you might shut him out completely.
You thanked him in that same clipped voice, turned to leave.
And then he heard it.
"God, why does he have to look at me like that? I hate feeling like this"
"Ugh, why he out of all people? Everything was fine until what I saw last night.”
“Just forget it, Y/N. Forget that stupid future your blessing showed you. It doesn’t mean anything.”
“He’s not going to be your husband. No way. Watch me prove fate wrong.”
Jungwon's world tilted.
Husband? Your husband?
His instincts scrambled for something, anything, to tether him back to earth, to slow the pounding in his chest. The words just slipped out, raw and unsteady, the first thing his brain could grab onto.
“…You saw the file?”
You paused. Nodded. Muttered, “It’s good.”
Then you walked away.
Jungwon stood there, rooted to the spot, heart hammering against his ribs so loud he thought someone might hear it.
Because for the first time since he woke up this morning, with the whole damn world feeling like it was pried open, every thought bleeding through the noise, didn’t feel suffocating.
That night, Jungwon’s dorm was too quiet, but his mind is completely the opposite.
Jungwon sat hunched on the edge of his bed, hoodie sleeves half-pulled over his knuckles, phone glowing dim in his hand. He’d read your message probably a hundred times.
"Sorry I just saw this. Where are you now?"
So casual. So harmless. But the memory of your voice, your clipped tone from earlier, the way your eyes didn’t quite meet his. All of it kept repeating in his head like a glitch in a dream he couldn’t wake up from.
And worse than the silence was the part he couldn’t shake.
Husband.
The word had lodged somewhere in his chest and refused to leave.
He didn’t even realize he was grinning like an idiot until his reflection caught in the dark window. Quickly, he sobered, scolding himself but it was useless. That voice—your voice—echoed in his head with too much heat.
She saw a future where I was her husband.
She thought about me. Dreamed about me.
She didn’t just push me away for no reason.
His thumb hovered over your contact.
He wasn’t supposed to use his blessing like this. He knew it. It was too intimate. Too invasive. But tonight, he needed to understand. Because your voice inside his head didn’t sound like hate. It sounded like fear. And want.
He opened the chat.
[9:47 PM]
hey.
it’s jungwon.
He hit send, then hesitated.
Don’t text her this late, idiot. You’ll just look desperate.
But what if she thinks you don’t care?
He sent another.
thanks for checking the file.
Still nothing.
He tapped his leg nervously, eyes locked on the screen. His thoughts were a mess with half apologies and half what-ifs.
are you still mad about yesterday.
it’s fine if you are. just wanted to say i wasn’t trying to... make you uncomfortable or anything.
didn’t know you’d walk in.
The reply came fast. Faster than he expected.
[Y/N]
Don’t flatter yourself. You didn’t make me uncomfortable.
I’ve seen worse.
But your thoughts betrayed you, spilling into him like sparks on skin.
Liar. I felt like my lungs collapsed when I saw him.
Because seeing him with someone else felt like a punch in the gut. Because it confirmed he’d never be mine. Even if the blessing said otherwise.
Jungwon’s heart thudded, warm and dizzy. You wanted him. Maybe not openly, maybe not consciously, but it was there. Real and raw.
His ears burned. He grinned against his knuckles.
He typed again.
you sure? you looked like you saw a ghost.
Because I did, okay? You were the ghost of that stupid dream. That version of you who held my hand and whispered all those sweet things.
And then I saw you tangled up with someone else like a slap of reality. God, maybe it wasn’t a vision at all. Maybe it was just a stupid delusion and I was the idiot who let it mean something.
His smile faded, just a bit. He wanted to explain. He wanted to reach into your thoughts and pull that version of him out, hand him to you like a promise.
Instead, you answered.
[Y/N]
I was just surprised. That’s all.
Another lie. Another flicker of your truth curled under it:
You make me nervous.
You make me mad.
But worse, you make me want to hope.
And I don’t know what to do with that.
A soft laugh bubbled from Jungwon’s throat. It felt... new. Not like the practiced chuckles he gave to classmates or the stiff polite ones he reserved for teachers. This one felt like sunshine cracking open in his chest.
sunoo said you looked pissed.
[Y/N]
Well, maybe tell Sunoo to mind his business.
That little traitor.
But... he’s not wrong.
I was pissed. Still am. But also, ugh. Why do I want him to keep texting me? NO, every text from him makes my head boil.
His chest ached in the sweetest, most unbearable way.
He barely realized what he was typing next.
you don’t like me much, do you.
The silence stretched just long enough to make him nervous. But your thoughts answered before your fingers did.
I don’t know how to not like you. I don’t know how I feel about you. That’s the problem.
You make me mad. But you also make my hands shake.
He sucked in a breath.
You were trying so hard to protect yourself. And yet, your walls had tiny cracks and through them, he could feel your heartbeat echoing like his.
[Y/N]
I don’t really know you.
A beat passed.
Then another.
Jungwon stared at those six words for a long time. And when he finally replied, it came from somewhere deeper.
This time, he didn’t hesitate.
then maybe let me fix that.
The words were barely on the screen before your thoughts fluttered again.
What does that even mean?
Is this how he talks to the other girls? That easy, casual charm?
God, I hate this. I hate how I want it to be different with me.
Is it stupid… that a part of me wants to say yes?
Jungwon pressed the phone to his chest, eyes closing for a second.
For once, the world was quiet.
Except for the soft, dangerous hope blooming between your mind and his.
And god… he hoped you could feel it too.
That night, Jungwon thought maybe his blessing wasn’t so bad after all. Not loud. Not suffocating. Just... quiet enough to feel like something sacred.
He fell asleep on his birthday without telling anyone what he’d received. No big announcement, no family expectation, no performance. Just him, alone with the memory of your thoughts that are honest and vulnerable echoing softly in his chest.
It might’ve been his favorite birthday yet.
Because for the first time in a long time, he dreamed not of pressure, pleasure, or perfection, but of you.
And when morning came, groggy and golden through his window, the first thing that surfaced in his mind wasn’t the dread of responsibility.
It was you.
Now, hours later, that same girl—the one who’d occupied his mind all night, maybe even all these years—was clinging to the back of his shirt, arms wrapped around his waist as his motorbike hummed down the empty road.
And Jungwon smiled, wind in his hair, heart louder than the engine.
masterlist.
sorry for another cliffhanger hehe, notes and comments are very much appreciated :D
──── YOU'RE HERE, THAT'S ENOUGH .
↳ one shot // also part of the no doubt series !
✎ᝰ .ᐟ aka jake's late, you order for your own drink for once, and now he owes you his life.
── sim jaeyun x f!reader ౨ৎ wc. 866 ⌗ pure fluff, jake is so self-panic-inducing, mentions of breaking up, mentions of jake abt to jump out a window . he's just a simp at the end of the day .
↳ IMPORTANT NOTE .ᐟ ── this is part of my no doubt series ─ a sequel series of short drabbles that take place after the events of my fic no doubt, and show jake & reader's relationship throughout their first year together (& how jake wins her trust & love back hehe) ── THIS CAN BE READ AS A ONE-SHOT, however, there will be some easter eggs if you've read no doubt before!
↳ addie's ✉ .ᐟ ── hehe another cutesy one. im excited for the next one everyone pls buckle up...i almost kinda feel bad for jake here this poor guy just lives life on the verge of panic every day. am i evil for this? sorry jakey <3
Jake is sprinting.
Not fast-walking. Not lightly jogging.
Jake is in full-on, Olympic-level, life-or-death sprint through the streets.
His bag is slapping his side. His hoodie is slipping off his shoulder. His lungs are screaming. And he’s probably sweating more now than he did during the entire extra hour of dance practice that made him late in the first place.
And still—he’s pretty sure he’s still not moving fast enough.
His phone is glued to his palm, screen still open to the frantic texts to you:
jake (6:32PM): baby im so so so sorry practice is running over i swear im leaving soon PLEASE dont hate me
jake (6:41PM): im literally dying to be there pls give me 10 minutes max i promise
jake (6:47PM): oh my god im running now im literally sprinting my lungs are collapsing hold on
jake (6:50PM): please still be there please please please
Jake nearly crashes into the café door.
He bursts in, chest heaving, heart racing, vision tunneling. His eyes dart around the café, already mentally preparing the most desperate apology of his life—
And then he sees you.
There you are. Sitting by the window like something out of a postcard. Sipping your iced peach latte. Typing away on your laptop like nothing’s wrong.
Jake’s lungs fully give out.
He practically trips over his own two feet, words spilling out before he’s even fully made it to you.
“I am—so sorry,” he gasps, hands bracing himself against the table, his bag fully falling to his side now, his entire image disheveled. “I—I—oh my god—I messed up, I know—”
You blink up, startled.
“Jake—”
“I swear I left as soon as I could, I was literally ready to bolt over, but then we had to go over the choreo one more time and—” he cuts himself off to breathe, huffing in frustration, running a hand through his sweat-damp hair. “I swear I was ready to jump out the window to get here faster and I know I should’ve managed my time better and I shou—”
“Sim Jaeyun.”
Jake’s mouth snaps shut.
You tilt your head, your eyes soft as you look up at your boyfriend.
“Sit.”
He does. Immediately. Like an obedient golden retriever.
“Breathe.”
“Trying.”
You gently push an untouched iced Americano towards him, “I ordered for you.”
Jake looks down at the drink. Then back at you.
“Wait, you ordered? Like you spoke to the cashi—wait. You’re not mad?”
“Nope.”
“Not even…like, a little mad?”
“You sound like you want me to be.”
Jake lets out a sound that’s equal parts relief and self-deprecating, “Well, definitely not, but I’m late. To our date.”
You casually take a sip of your latte, your gaze still soft on him, “Jake. You told me what was happening, you ran here like an insane person, and now you’re looking at me with those eyes you do that makes you look like a kicked puppy. Why would I be upset?”
Jake blinks.
You’re not mad. You’re here.
Still here.
Still you.
Looking at him with nothing but patience and understanding.
And Jake feels something deep and warm settle into his bones.
Jake just stares at you for a full solid second until finally—
“Oh my god,” he collapses onto the table, face-planting into his arms. “You’re actually an angel. I don’t deserve you.”
You break out into a fit of giggles, “Okay, that’s a little dramatic.”
“No, like—” he lifts his head just enough to look at you with big, defeated eyes. “I thought I ruined it.”
“You didn’t.”
“I thought you were gonna break up with me.”
“I wasn’t.”
“I thought I’d walk in here and you’d be gone and I’d have to get on my knees at your front door and beg for my life back.”
“…Did you eat lunch today?”
Jake ignores that.
“I just—” He grabs your hand across the table. His voice drops into something low, something sincere. “I don’t want you to think I’m not trying. Or that you’re not a priority.”
Your face softens, “I know I am. And you are trying, Jake. Like, so hard. I see it. You don’t have to prove yourself to me every second of the day.”
Jake swallows.
“I appreciate you, Jakey—” you squeeze his hand, “—a lot. And I’m just happy you’re here.”
Jake lets out a breathless laugh, feeling suddenly light again. He lifts your hand and presses a kiss to your knuckles—once, twice, like he needs to (he does).
“Okay,” he breathes, lips still brushing your skin. “Okay. But just so you know—I am still making it up to you.”
You raise a brow, smiling, “Oh?”
“Yup,” Jake grins, flipping your hand over to press another kiss to your palm. “Whatever you want. I feel bad you had to order our drinks by yourself, I know you hate that.”
You laugh, rolling your eyes, “That’s true. I hate talking to cashiers.”
“Don’t worry, baby.” Another kiss. “I’ll make sure you never have to talk to one ever again for the rest of your life.”
“You’re actually ridiculous, Sim Jaeyun,” you smile, cheeks warm.
summary — after your last relationship, you swore you'd never fall for anyone again. that is, until you met a certain yang jungwon.
pairing — friend!jungwon x reader
genre — angst and fluff, university!au, slight crack, slow-burn
wc — 5.1k (NOT PROOFREAD!!!)
warnings — tbh nothing i think
a/n — based on a true story 👍🏽 just finished uni! so here is a present for u all. also i feel like there are a few slightly niche references in this too so apologies if they confuse u but i promise they have nothing to do with the overall plot. i tried a slightly different approach to writing with this one but i hope u enjoyyyy
your last break up broke you. after it ended, you had rebuilt your walls brick by brick, vowing to never let anyone in again. the world shattering experience of your ex leaving you for the person they said “was just a friend” was too much for you to bear again. ever since then, you steered clear of anyone you found even remotely cute, in fear that you would get hurt again. that was until a certain dimpled boy came along.
it’s the third week of your senior year of university and you were walking to class, half asleep due to your heavy lack of rest (average uni student activities). just as you check your phone for the time, a firm body bumps into you, knocking you to the ground.
“oh my god, i’m so sorry! i didn’t see you there,” his voice, as sweet as honey, calls out to you. you only notice his appearance once he reaches his hand out to help you up. his golden locks were flowing in the wind while big worried eyes stared down at you. with the way he was glowing, you could only assume that he was tapped by King Midas himself. your heart speeds up just by looking at him--god, is it even possible to look this adorable when worried? a couple of seconds pass and you realize that since you got lost in your little marvelling session, you had forgotten to answer him. immediately, you get right up and brush yourself off. “i’m fine, thanks.” you brush past him, hoping you don’t come across him and his gorgeous face again.
what you don’t realize is that the cute stranger himself has plans of his own.
you finally get to your class, proud of yourself for successfully dodging that bullet of a boy. just as you’re settling into your seat, a wave of vanilla and musk fills your senses. when you turn to face the direction of the scent, you’re met with a familiar face.
“hey. you ran away from me pretty quick back there.”
this cannot be happening right now.
there he is, the mysterious stranger that brought you to your knees (literally and figuratively). the shock mixed with the rapid increase of your heart rate has you staring at him with your jaw slack. your silly reaction induces a small, boyish giggle to fall past the stranger’s lips. “what, cat got your tongue?” he asks with a slight lilt in his voice.
“what, no-- what? no! wait, how did you get here? were you always in this class? who are you?” as the jumble of words keep tumbling out of you, his teasing grin grows wider and wider, causing his dimples to peak through.
“okay, let me stop you right there so you don’t embarrass yourself.” he chuckles. “to answer your questions, i got here by walking, which you would have seen if you didn’t run away so fast. yes, i have always been in this class, but i usually sit at the back. and my name is jungwon. i’m a senior, but i’m taking this class as an elective.”
forcing yourself to stop gawking at him, you foster up the courage to respond.
“oh.”
alright, maybe you were being a bit overzealous. you try to think of something else to say, but jungwon beats you to it.
“oh? is that all i get in return?” he asks with a mocking pout. there’s no malice behind his words; at this point he’s just teasing you for the fun of it. however, his reply helps you realize that there’s no reason for you to be acting like a shy little schoolgirl right now. jungwon is literally just a boy. you roll your eyes at him before responding, causing him to raise an eyebrow as his teasing grin returns.
“if you let me finish, i would’ve asked you why you decided to sit up front today, instead of sitting at the back, like you usually do,” you bite back at him.
“i saw you sitting here at the front, and after knocking you over, i thought it would only make sense for me to sit next to you and make sure you were alright.”
“well, i’m fine. you can go back now,” you say without looking at him.
after a beat passes, he responds. “no. i want to sit here. you intrigue me.” with how quick it happened, you almost missed the way his gaze fled to your lips for a split second. key word: almost.
you’re about to tell him to just go to the back when your professor starts their lecture, cutting you off. jungwon smiles cheekily at you as he opens his laptop, getting ready to take notes. it’s okay, this is only a one time thing, you tell yourself. tomorrow, he won’t even remember this interaction, and you’ll be back to sitting by yourself. all alone. which is how it should be. right?
on the other hand, jungwon is having the time of his life. he’s seen you in class before, and with a face like yours, he knew you would cause him trouble. lucky for him, he loves a little bit of chaos. accidentally bumping into you gave him the perfect opportunity to get closer to you.
after class, jungwon goes up to your professor to ask them a question about the upcoming midterm, which you take as an opportunity to leave without having to talk to him again. as you’re rushing out, you hear him call out a loud wait!, which you effectively ignore.
jungwon hastily packs up his things to go after you, but to his dismay, you’re already lost in the sea of post-class students. he doesn’t mind though. tomorrow is a new day.
---
the next day, you sit in the front row of the class, prepared to listen, take notes, then leave without having to speak to anyone, just as usual. but, your plans are once again fumbled by a certain blond haired boy.
when you hear the seat next to you being taken, you don’t even need to look. the scent of vanilla and mischief gives him away instantly.
“hi, pretty.”
still not looking at him, you answer back coldly while getting your laptop ready, “what are you doing? what happened to sitting at the back?”
jungwon fakes hurt at your comments, clutching his chest like he was freshly wounded. “i told you, you intrigue me. so, i want to sit with you. also, you still haven’t told me your name.”
refusing to let this conversation go on for longer than it needs to, you give him your name.
jungwon smiles at you. “y/n. hm. suits you.” the fondness in his eyes catches you off guard, so you avert your eyes as subtly as possible, pretending to focus on your professor preparing to start the lecture. what you don’t see is jungwon still looking at you with a small smile on his face.
the lecture starts and ends just like any other class. you gather your belongings, ready to leave when jungwon stops you.
“wait, y/n! don’t go yet,” he says hurriedly before you take your first step out the door. “yeah, jungwon, what’s up?” you reply apathetically.
“come with me.”
you blink at him, completely thrown off. “huh?”
“the midterm is next week, come study with me.” his tone is casual, as if you guys were best friends and this was normal. usually, you wouldn’t be opposed to a study session with a friend. that being said, you’ve had a weird feeling in your gut ever since you met jungwon yesterday. it’s the same feeling you had when you first met your ex. and if there’s one thing you’re sure of, it’s that you would do anything not to let that situation occur again.
“i don’t know…”
“pleeeeease. i need to study and i know i’ll be more motivated to study if i have you there with me! we can study together and help each other with the modules, pleasepleasepleaseplease” he’s practically begging at this point. those brown expressive orbs of his are so dangerous, but you won’t let them faze you…after this one time.
“fine, let’s go.” jungwon’s face lights up. deep dimples form on his cherubic cheeks, causing a strong bright blush to form on yours.
oh yeah, this was a mistake.
---
the two of you reach the campus café and start the study session. everything was going normally, until jungwon needed help with a specific module.
“it doesn’t make any sense! if DNA polymerase can only add nucleotides in one direction, how does it replicate both strands?” you let a smile slip at his endearing confusion, before moving closer to explain the concept to him. while pointing at the textbook diagrams, your fingers brush against his. your hand twitches before you move it away from jungwon’s own warm hand. as you finish clarifying everything, you glance at him to ensure he’s following. as you were so immersed in the topic, you didn’t realize how close you two had gotten. when you turn to him, your faces are only mere centimeters away. your eyes widen as you move back immediately and clear your throat. “uh, does that make more sense now?” you ask, averting your eyes. jungwon chuckles at your awkwardness. he leans back in his chair, tapping his pen. “that sounds… complicated. i don’t think i get it, you’re gonna have to explain it again.” he smirks at you.
you roll your eyes at him. “shut up, i know you understand now.”
“no, i don’t. i really need you to explain it to me again. just one more time, i swear.” good thing he didn’t swear on anyone important because jungwon is lying through his teeth and he knows it. he understood the material ten minutes ago. he just likes the way your voice sounds when you’re focused, the way you get all serious and smart. it makes his heart beat a little faster. not that you need to know that.
“alright, once more, and then i’m going back to my module.”
“sounds good, pretty.”
you feigned indifference at his words and explained the concept one more time, just as jungwon asked you to. after you finish simplifying it for him, you look at him and are shocked to see that he’s already looking at you. again, you pretend you don’t notice. “do you get it now? if you say no, i know you’re lying.” you tell him sharply. his eyes are still fixed on yours, his gaze feeling like a weight on your shoulders, making you fidget.
“yeah. i get it now,” he says, voice softening. “thanks for explaining.”
you nod, eyes flitting everywhere but on him. you clear your throat. “yeah, no problem.” the air around the two of you had you feeling claustrophobic with how thick the tension was. it doesn’t lessen even as you move back to the other side of the table. continuing with your module, you reflect on the past couple minutes. what the hell was that? you decide not to address it, as that’s the safest option. if you start thinking too deeply about this, you’ll fall down a rabbit hole that you cannot deal with right now.
jungwon doesn’t think anything of it--he’s actually enjoying the underlying current between you two. however, as much as he’s interested, jungwon was raised a gentleman. you’re not reciprocating the flirting, and he’s alright with that. he decides that although he won’t actively pursue you, there’s no harm in a little friendly banter flirting every now and then.
for the rest of the session, you two sit in silence and study, with jungwon occasionally lightening the mood with a joke or complaint about the course content.
---
eventually, these study sessions become a regular thing. months go by, and you’re now nearing the end of the year. by now, you and jungwon are attached at the hip. yes, you were originally terrified to get intertwined with him due to his sweet, boyish charm, but it’s fine now. you two are friends…that’s all. duh.
it’s friday afternoon and the two of you are currently laying on the floor of jungwon’s room. what started as a study session quickly turned into you and jungwon leaning against his bed and watching stupid little tiktoks on his phone. after hours of doom scrolling, you both get up to do the “seeing if we dance the same while blindfolded” trend. you both sit on his bed to rewatch the tiktok you just filmed and while the whole thing had you guys uncontrollably laughing, you absolutely lost it when jungwon started slut-dropping to stereo love.
“what the fuck, jungwon, in what world did you think i would do all that to stereo love?” your eyes are spilling tears as you cry laughing at his weird antics.
whoever said laughter is contagious was onto something because as you laugh harder and harder while rewatching the video, jungwon starts unconsciously mimicking your amusement. he can’t take his eyes off you right now. sure, to anyone else, you’re just laughing at something stupid. to jungwon, there’s a bright, vibrant aura radiating off of you. say he has skin damage the way your rays are seeping into him. seeing you like this, jungwon knows he would do anything for you to be this happy all the time. but, he knows he can’t let you know that. he knows you don’t see him that way, and that’s alright. he’s alright. no, it doesn’t eat away at him at all. and he definitely doesn’t think about it every night before bed. in all honestly, he’s more than delighted to keep his feelings to himself, as long as it means he gets to keep you near him.
“what do you mean? the trend is “seeing if we dance the same” not “trying to match each other’s freak!”” jungwon responds to you, matching your mirth.
his reply has you laughing even harder (if possible), with both of you collapsing onto his bed. jungwon’s eyes are still on you, and the laughter dies down and fades into something else, something warmer. scarier. you’re facing each other, eyes locked on one another with soft smiles gracing your features. the room gets quiet--the only things filling your senses are the ticking of the clock and the faint scent of vanilla coming off of him.
time stops. as you’re lost in each other’s gaze, you both instinctively lean in. it’s so slow, almost as if you’re not even moving. like if you move too fast, it’ll ruin whatever is happening right now. just as your lips are about to touch, the clanging of your phone falling off the bed snaps you out of your haze.
your eyes widen and you frantically sit up. frozen in your spot, you say nothing while attempting to get your thoughts together. what was that? you guys are just friends, how could either of you let that go so far? that was so wrong but the strangest and most terrifying part of it all was that it felt so right. so safe. and if you know one thing for sure, it’s that safe is the most dangerous thing of all. this new, confusing atmosphere takes you back to your past relationship. everything’s all happy and fun at the beginning, but as soon as things go further, it all falls apart. with jungwon, you can’t let that happen. you can’t allow yourself to get hurt again. but, that won’t happen, right? because you’re just friends. yeah, that sounds about right.
jungwon, still laying on the bed, stares at the back of your head for a bit before sitting up next to you. he felt it too--the simmering tension, the ache, the want. did he misread that? probably. again, he knows your feelings about him, or lack thereof. he mentally slaps himself for even letting that happen. unable to decipher what’s going on in your head and also not wanting to know, he sits quietly with you for a second before breaking the silence.
“wanna go get ice cream?”
“yeah.”
weaved into that short interaction is the unsaid vow to never speak of this again.
a vow that you both took very seriously, especially considering that if it wasn’t seared into the front of your brain, you would’ve forgotten it even happened.
a few days pass, and still, neither of you bring up the elephant in the room. it’s almost like a cruel, mentally taxing game--the first person to crack loses.
just like any day before the incident that shall not be named, the both of you stroll into class together and take your seats in the front row. you’re both engaged in your daily extremely stupid pre-class debate (today’s topic: is water wet? yes or no + provide a thesis statement), when your TA walks by to hand out some worksheets. “make sure this is finished by next class, alright? you two make an adorable couple, by the way.” jungwon smiles at this, but for you, it’s not a compliment. in fact, your blood runs cold the second your TA’s words hit your ears. jungwon’s playful shaking of your arm wakes you from your trance.
“y/n, did you hear that? we make a cute couple, oooooh,” jungwon says, still wiggling your arm around. feeling conflicted and terrified, you snatch your arm away and bolt out of the room. jungwon sits there for a second, completely dumbfounded.
you throw yourself into the first empty room you find and press your hands onto the cool surface of one of the tables. your heart is beating in your ears and everything feels so, so overwhelming. being called “a couple” freaks you out to no end. a couple??? no, that’s not what this is. we’re friends. just friends. right? your mind is everywhere right now, the drawers in your brain are overflowing with thoughts and emotions, and you just can’t keep up. god, y/n, get it together. it’s just a stupid little comment. minutes pass, and after you finally calm yourself down, you go back to your class, where your lecture has already started.
“hey, everything okay, pretty? that was really sudden,” jungwon whispers to you as you take your seat, concern laced all throughout his tone.
you don’t even look at him as you respond with, “yeah, all good.”
“you sure? you can tell me if something’s up.” his eyes are almost glued to the side of your face.
“nothing’s wrong. just, uh, girl problems.”
slightly taken aback, jungwon replies. “oh, okay. you promise?”
why is he still asking? “yeah, just y’know. periods, cramps. tampons. menstrual cups. all that good stuff. pads.” you stumble out more feminine hygiene products in hopes that he stops asking, and to your satisfaction, it works.
what you don’t realize is that jungwon is no idiot. he knows you’re lying. obviously. his heart drops knowing that you feel as if you can’t tell him what’s going on. but, he can’t even blame you, because he knows he’s the problem. every since your almost-kiss, he’s been beating himself up about the fact that he let that happen. because now, the distance between you feels impossible to cross. and he can’t help but think that maybe he deserves that.
after a seemingly endless class finally ends, jungwon asks if you two are still on for your study session that day. as much as you want to go to it, you know you can’t. much to your dismay, you can’t deny anymore that whatever is between you and jungwon is more than friendship. and that terrifies you.
“uh, i think i’m gonna pass. just because, y’know. cramps.”
“oh, okay. yeah, no problem, y/n. i hope you feel better soon.” he says with a soft smile. if you didn’t know him any better, you wouldn’t give that response a second thought. but, you know him, and you know there’s an underlying inference hidden between his words. you just can’t tell what it is. and honestly, you’re not sure if you want to know. you give him a polite smile before heading home.
ever since that day, you’ve found a new excuse for everytime jungwon asked you if you were down for a study session. it was clear through his texts that it was starting to bother him, but he never explicitly said anything. you even stopped showing up to classes to avoid him. you know it’s wrong because he hasn’t necessarily done anything wrong, but you can’t help but be selfish here.
by using these tactics to avoid him, you’ve successfully had two jungwonless weeks. unfortunately for you, you forgot that you and jungwon have each other’s class schedules. meaning that he could find you at any other class whenever he wanted. he wouldn’t do that though… he’s not that insane, you think to yourself.
but oh, he is.
you’re the last one in the classroom after your lecture ends, as you were still gathering your things. your back is facing the entrance while you pack your last item. just as you’re about to leave, you hear it. the slow, soft footsteps walking towards you. that could be anybody, right? that’s what you told yourself until it started surrounding you--the gentle waves of vanilla and musk. the scent that always adorned jungwon’s skin and clothes whenever you were graced with his presence. however, right now his presence didn’t feel graceful at all. this time, it felt suffocating. you had to leave immediately.
you turn around and try to walk out as quickly as you can without even doing so much as looking him, but he’s quicker. he grabs your arm before you can leave the room. just as you’re about to protest, jungwon breaks the silence.
“don’t.” he means it to be stern, but it only comes out sweetly. he can’t help it--he can never be anything less than kind to you, even when you’re not mirroring that sentiment.
“let me go,” you spit out.
“no. not until you tell me what’s going on right now. don’t you think i deserve that much, y/n?” he sounds off. sad. defeated, almost. you know you’re the reason for it, but you know you have to put yourself first. you swore not to let anyone in again. and that’s a promise you have to keep.
“why did you come here, jungwon?” you continue to avoid looking at him as you still haven’t built up the courage to.
“oh, c’mon. you’ve been ignoring me for two weeks now. i could’ve found you way earlier but wanted to give you the space you needed,” his shoulders slump as he continues, “but this, y/n, is just too much. just tell me what’s up, that’s all i’m asking, pretty.”
your heart breaks at the sound of your pet name, so heavy with sorrow it barely sounds like him. at last, you look up at him only to see a shell of the boy you once knew. his cheekbones are the slightest bit more defined and purple skies have made their way under his lash line. his eyes bore into yours, silently pleading for you to just talk to him.
you break away from his intense gaze to give him the answers he so clearly needs. “this is the problem, jungwon. you can’t just… say that to me.”
his grip on you loosens slightly. “say what?”
frustration begins creeping into your tone as you yank your arm free.. “you can’t just be all sweet to me, and call me pretty whenever you want as if it doesn’t--” you stop yourself before you say too much. “you just can’t do that, jungwon. we’re friends. that’s all.”
“no, wait, finish your sentence. as if it doesn’t what? what could be so bad about me being nice to you? tell me.” he says, voice raised a bit. he can see them--the cracks in your carefully built exterior are starting to show. with you standing in front of him, spewing all this bullshit, it’s clear as day: you like him too. so, why can’t you just admit it?
“friends aren’t supposed to act the way we do.” you say with forced indifference.
“well, maybe i don’t just want to be friends. don’t you get it?” jungwon closes the gap between you, gently holding your shoulders. “god, y/n, i’ve been in love with you since the moment i met you. i didn’t want to tell you to avoid ruining our friendship, but at some point, we have to be honest with ourselves. what we have was never just a friendship. and i know you know it too.”
this is officially too much for you. you pull away from him once more. “okay, jungwon, i really can’t do this right now,” your voice trembles as you spiral through a roller coaster of emotions. you have to get out of there. just as you’re about to leave the room, jungwon says something that stops you dead in your tracks.
“why can’t you just let yourself be happy?”
his voice is barely above a whisper, but it still manages to knock the wind out of you.
you turn right back around. “what?” you are enraged. fuming. “do you really think it’s that easy? you think i want to be the way that i am? sorry to break it to you, but i can’t fucking help it, jungwon. you think everything is so simple, so happy and colourful, but you will never understand what it’s like to be trapped in your own mind.” jungwon can see the white, hot steam blowing out of your ears. he should be scared, yes, but right now, he’s relieved. relieved that you’re talking to him. relieved that you’re still here. relieved that you’re not hiding from him behind a wall of apathy anymore.
“y/n--”
“no. you don’t get it. i’m fucked up, jungwon.” your eyes start to glisten with unshed tears. “i don’t get to just choose happiness. some days i can barely breathe, but you?” your voice falters. “you make it feel easy. and that scares the hell out of me.”
jungwon takes a step closer, his eyes searching yours. “but i want to help. you don’t have to go through this alone--”
“no, but i do!” you cut him off, voice sharp and shaking. “because the second i let someone in, they leave. and who am i left with? myself! i can’t keep letting myself fall apart just to be the one who has to pick up the pieces again. i won’t.” every word falls out faster than the last. “you say you love me, but love doesn’t fix people. it’s just another way to get hurt.”
jungwon stays silent, absorbing every syllable like a punch to the gut.
“so, yeah, maybe you’re right, and i don’t let myself be happy.” you finally say, your voice quieter now, bitter around the edges. “maybe i’m the problem. maybe i ruin everything before it even starts. at least that way, i’m the one in control.”
“but, y/n, it doesn’t have to be like that. yes, you’ve had some tough experiences, but you’re not broken. everything you’ve gone through, everything you’ve shared with me, it’s all part of what makes you you.” jungwon moves closer and delicately takes your face into his warm hands. “i know it’s hard to see it this way but your past experiences are not predictive of your future ones. you can’t live your life trying not to get hurt, y/n, you deserve to be happy. that’s all i want for you, whether it’s with me or without me. even if i’m not on the field with you, i’ll be on the sidelines, cheering you on. always.” he says while tucking some stray hairs behind your ear. the way he looks at you is so soft, his eyes overflowing with love and care.
“i don’t want to do it without you, jungwon. i always want you right next to me, but i’m scared.”
“i understand, pretty. and i know it’s scary, but you’re just gonna have to trust me, okay?” he says while wiping some fresh tears from your cheeks, which are now coloured with raw emotion. huh, you didn’t even realize you were crying. “i’ve never let you down before, have i?” you sniffle and shake your head no, the faintest smile adorning your face. “exactly. and that will never change.”
your eyes are trained on his face as you process his words. your expression is a mixture of fear, relief, sadness, and hope. jungwon doesn’t say anything either. he silently continues wiping your tears, his thumbs ever so slightly grazing your cheeks as he gives you time to digest everything.
“okay.” you muster out a whisper as loud as you can manage, but as quiet as a mouse.
“okay?” he asks, needing a confirmation about whether you mean what he thinks you mean.
“yeah. okay. i love you, jungwon. and i want to be with you. i trust you.”
jungwon’s entire face lights up at your statement, his elation causing him to pull you into his strong embrace. maybe a bit too strong.
“jungwon, i can’t breathe,” you giggle out.
he lets go as soon as he hears your words. “oh my god, i’m so sorry! i just can’t believe this is happening right now.” his ears turn red with embarrassment, and you giggle at his endearingness. the sound of your laughter, no matter how slight, makes his heart soar. he loves you so much. it’s the kind of love that makes his heart ache, in the best way. once again, his hands come up to cup your cheeks, as he gazes at you. he might as well have had hearts bouncing out of his pupils. “can i kiss you?”
“yeah.” your smile mirrors his as he tilts your chin up, pressing a short, tender kiss to your lips. when he pulls away, it’s like the whole world goes quiet. just the two of you beaming at each other, like nothing else matters. and truly, in this moment, it doesn’t. as long as you have each other, nothing else matters.
for the first time in a long time, you believe that love doesn’t have to mean pain. no guilt, no fear, you can finally just be happy, and it’s what you deserve.
a/n: to all readers, no matter who u are, u always, always, deserve happiness! please do not ever think otherwise and make sure u always do what makes u happy :-) i love u all and i hope u love urself just as much
↳ IMPORTANT NOTE .ᐟ ── this is part of my no doubt series ─ a sequel series of short drabbles that take place after the events of my fic no doubt, and show jake & reader's relationship throughout their first year together (& how jake wins her trust & love back hehe) ── THIS CAN BE READ AS A ONE-SHOT, however, there will be some easter eggs if you've read no doubt before!
↳ addie's ✉ .ᐟ ── this one is cute bc if you've read no doubt it's a little iykyk moment...warning: this is so sweet all your teeth might rot after this. and i will not be responsible for your dentist appointment sorry not sorry ^_^ mwah. also this is dedicated to lilly my luv since she loved the flower scene in no doubt <3 @puma-riki
There’s a knock at your door.
Three quick taps. A pause.
Then one more for good measure.
You blink.
You glance at the clock.
It’s late—well, not late late, but late enough where you already retired yourself to a night of takeout and movies, fully committed to not speaking to another human being until tomorrow. Late enough for you to question if you’re about to get murdered, or worse, get a surprise visit from your landlord.
And yet. You peel yourself off the couch, shuffle to the door, accepting whatever fate the universe is about to present you, swing open the door and—
Jake.
Jake, standing there, slightly out of breath like he ran here, with his hair all over the place, and your eyes flicker down to his hands and—
Oh god.
His hands are full.
With flowers.
An entire bouquet, actually.
A chaotic mess of colors, all wrapped in crinkled plastic, looking like the sort of thing a rushed florist would shove at a panicked man five minutes before the store closes.
“Hi,” Jake breathes, a little too eager, a little too quickly.
You just stare at him.
Then at the flowers. Then back at him.
“…It’s not my birthday is it?”
Jake blinks.
“What? No, of course not.”
Then, a pause. He shifts. His eyes widen.
“Wait. Is it actually your birthday? Because—”
“No, Jake,” you smile, letting out a small giggle. “It’s not my birthday.”
“Oh,” he exhales. “Okay, good.”
He thrusts the flowers towards you, “These are for you.”
You try your best to fight the growing smile on your face as you look from the bouquet back to him, “And these are for me…because…”
Jake short-circuits—his hands just hanging there, holding out the bouquet awkwardly. He opens his mouth. Closes it. Tries again.
“…Because?”
“Because…?”
“Because…I like you?” He almost sounds unsure, like he’s only just now realizing how absurdly pathetic he might just be.
He rubs the back of his neck, “And I just—I don’t know, I saw them and thought of you and then I thought, well, she likes flowers, right? and I like her, so she should have flowers and then next thing I knew I was at the checkout counter.”
You stare at him.
Jake stares back, looking like he’s about two seconds away from either passing out or bolting.
You can’t believe he’s real.
Because this is Jake—Jake, who is effortlessly charming in literally every other setting except when it comes to you.
Jake—who fumbles through flower shops and stumbles over his own words, who’s so incredibly earnest over you.
Your heart squeezes in your chest.
Slowly, you reach out and take the flowers from his hands, and you swear you can physically see the way his shoulders drop in relief.
“You do know I’ve told you before to stop getting me flowers, right?”
Jake stiffens, looking completely clueless. “What? No, you haven’t.”
“I literally have,” you smirk, your fingers plucking one of the petals as your eyes flick over to him. “You’re allergic, remember?”
His face falls.
“Oh.”
He blinks.
“Wait—no. No, I remember now. You have said that. Multiple times.”
Your lips twitch, “Yep.”
“And yet,” he gestures vaguely at the bouquet in your hands, his eyes still trained on you.
“And yet,” you nod, amused.
Jake lets out a dramatic sigh, as if he’s just now realizing his own idiocy, “I think I black out every time I buy you flowers. Like, my brain just stops working.”
You snort, leaning against the doorframe, “Yeah, I’m starting to get that.”
Looking a little hesitant, a little hopeful, Jake takes a small step closer, his voice dropping just enough to make your heart skip.
“So…do you like them?”
Your eyes glance back down.
It’s chaotic. A mess of colors and clashing textures. But at the same time—it’s kind of perfect.
Just like him.
And you soften.
“Yeah, Jake—” you look back up at him, the warmth in your voice washing over him. “I love them.”
And Jake absolutely beams. He thinks he’s won in life. Like you’ve just handed him the world instead of a simple yes, I love them.
You smile to yourself, watching him have his little victory moment in the way he lets out a very obvious breath of relief before wiping his palms on his jeans.
And suddenly, you don’t want him to leave.
“Hey,” you say, pushing off the doorway, taking a step closer. “I was gonna order takeout and watch a movie.”
Jake’s eyes widen.
You tilt your head, lips curling into a soft smile, “Wanna join?”
And this—this is when Jake completely malfunctions.
His mouth opens, then closes, then opens again.
He’s a fish.
A completely smitten, malfunctioning fish.
“Oh.” A pause. “Oh thank god— I mean, yes. Yes. I would love to stay. Because I definitely did not already bring my comfy movie night clothes hoping you’d say that.”
You pause.
Then—your gaze drops to the tote bag hanging off his shoulder.
Jake follows your eyes.
Then, as if he just realized his own self-betrayal, he immediately slaps a hand over the bag as if that will somehow hide it.
You raise an eyebrow, fighting back a laugh, “Jake.”
“…Yes?”
“Did you actually bring a change of clothes?”
A beat of silence.
“No.”
You stare at him. He blinks.
“…Yes.”
And then—you burst out laughing. You double over, practically losing your mind.
“Stop,” Jake groans, covering his face with both hands. “This is humiliating.”
“No—”you grin, “this is so cute.”
Jake peeks at you between his fingers, fully pouting, “Do you want me to stay or not?”
You step even closer and gently pry his hands away, smile still tugging at your lips, “Of course I do, Jakey.”
And before he can say anything else—before his brain can spiral any further in agony—you’re leaning up, and—you press a kiss to his lips.
It’s soft. Gentle. Light. And it absolutely ruins him.
Jake freezes, his breath catching as your lips linger just long enough to melt his remaining one (1) brain cell away.
Because although it’s simple—barely a brush—it feels like a promise.
Like warmth.
Like coming home.
You pull back slightly, barely whispering against his lips, “Now get in before I change my mind.
You back up, swinging the door open wider.
And Jake?
Jake grins like an idiot, practically sprinting inside.
And as you close the door behind you, watching him kick off his shoes and immediately settling in like he’s always belonged here, you feel it—warm, sure, and terrifyingly true:
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