always with you | jeon wonwoo
➝ Wonwoo x fem!Reader (ft: Jisoo, Karina (Yoo Jimin), Jeonghan, Soonyoung, etc.)
➝ word count: 10k (lol) // non-idol!au // childhood friends to ?? // idiots to ???? // angst if u squint
➝ not inspired by this song but i was listening to "your love" by Jisoo and it fits <////3
➝ warning: food, responsible alcohol consumption lol, theyre pining idiots, kisses mwah. i want THIS. this is me projecting. not proofread.
a/n: hi. this has been sitting in my draft for months and i willed myself to finish this before the loml enlists. to my muse, jeon wonwoo, i'll always be here for u <3 i didnt expect this to reach 10k. i do Not Know what this is. pls bare w me and my self indulgence. enjoy <3
your love feels like the rain, feels like a song i used to know. (your love - jisoo)
It’s weird, what you have with Jeon Wonwoo.
It feels like you’ve always known him–with him being your neighbor and all. But it’s not until university that you actually get to know the guy as a friend, which is funny because Wonwoo attended a prestigious university in Seoul and you ended up living abroad in Japan.
Looking back, Wonwoo has always been in your life even when you’re nothing but neighbors and school mates. You’d even go home together from time to time, sharing polite conversations that didn’t really have substance nor anything too personal. So how did you even get closer to him after you were apart rather than when you were physically close to each other?
It went like: Wonwoo went to Japan for his first solo trip and your mom made him bring you stuff and she made you bring him around because ‘it’s the least you could do after troubling him’.
You didn’t mind, of course. As much as you were not very close with Wonwoo, you still considered him… something (ha!) and he’s not the worst to be around. Plus, you might or might not feel a little embarrassed because your mom made him bring so much stuff for you. You imagined a third of his luggage was full because of yours. Bringing him around and treating him food really was the least you could do.
“You’re more… bright.” You remember Wonwoo told you that first night.
“Oh?”
“Mhm. It’s nice to see.”
You’ve never really been quiet, if you’re to be completely honest. But you suppose you’d never been around each other enough, nor your circle of friends clash, for him to know this at that point.
Plus, you had to admit living by yourself in another country did change you.
That was the first time you ever sat down to talk with him, which led to more and more meals, and you joining him whenever you could until Wonwoo left back to Korea.
“Text me once you've landed?” You had said, almost hesitant. Now that his trip ended, you wondered if what you shared with him was nothing but a fleeting closeness generated out of proximity. But when Wonwoo smiled and proceeded to send you pictures that he took during the trip not ten minutes after you left the airport, your heart settled in content, recognizing the sign of a new friend you would get to keep around.
It’s not until a few months later you got to see him again when you went back home for Christmas. You hadn’t been able to ask if he’d go down to Changwon or stay in Seoul for the holiday, and you got your answer when you saw him in your family house the moment you arrived.
It was weird, the way your heart picked up a little when he looked up and grinned at your arrival. You didn’t want to think much of it though, so you simply waved and asked what he’s doing in your living room. Naturally, it’s your mom who answered, fussing about your rude question, how thin you had gotten (it’s her favorite phrase, one that doesn’t hold much meaning because she says this to anyone she hasn’t seen in a long time–even when you’re pretty sure you’ve gained weight), and added that Wonwoo was in your house because his parents were on a trip and would return in a few days, so your mom took the rein and decided to feed the poor guy whenever she could.
“Let me help you with that.” He didn’t wait for your answer, simply took your luggage and urged you to move upstairs to your room. “What did you even have here?”
“Lots and lots of snacks.” You grinned sheepishly. You let him put your luggage into your room, letting the door open as you told him to sit because you had something for him. “I didn’t know you’d be around so I was just going to leave this to Auntie, but now that you’re here…”
“Oh?” He looked intrigued at your words. In the way of things, of course you didn’t end up being best friends after spending a week with each other. It’s not that easy. That, together with the fact that Wonwoo is not the texting type while you’re definitely one, resulted in you texting each other on random intervals.
He would reply to your instagram story or you, his, and you’d end up talking about something else at some point, until he took forever to reply and you ended up not replying because you simply forgot to.
Still, you would smile to yourself when you see his name popping up in your phone, and you end up with a friendship you didn’t have before despite having known each other for almost fifteen years at that point in time.
“Yeah! Look at this!” It’s a cat shaped keyring that you showed him, colored in deep purple and a pair of glasses perched on its small nose. It looked annoyed. “I saw this and thought of you.”
Wonwoo wasn’t sure how to feel about that.
But the fact that you thought of him and bought something for him just because stirred something within him that he didn’t know how to feel either. You babbled about some snacks you bought for him too because he seemed to enjoy them, along with new ones that you thought he would like.
“I also got something for your brother, should I just… leave it to you?”
He paused at that, once again unsure how to handle the way his mind blanked at your words. Had you always been this attentive to his family? Had anyone ever done this for him? If you noticed the way he took a moment to answer this simple question, you didn’t say anything about it.
“Yeah, sure.”
Your trip back home for the holiday lasted for a total of ten days. In the natural order of things, you spent about eight days in Wonwoo’s presence because your other friends didn’t return to Changwon, and Wonwoo’s…well, he didn’t have a lot of friends to begin with, and his close friend went on a family trip to Europe. The two days you didn’t spend with him was because: (1) you caught a bad case of flu and refused to see anyone; and, (2) You’re returning to Japan at ungodly hours in the morning (re: it’s at 10, but you needed to wake up at 4 in the morning because you had to take the train to Busan to get to the airport and you’re anxious like that) so you obviously couldn’t see him on your last day.
As you waited by yourself in the airport, you stared at Wonwoo’s text telling you to have a safe flight.
It’s not a crush, what you had for him. But you tried to imagine if you would mind dating him and the answer was: no, you would not. Wonwoo’s a good person, he shared the same humor code as you, you seemed to be able to communicate well, and he already knew your family. And, well, if you’re being completely honest, he really was your type in the visual department. (Those glasses. Fuck.)
If you were to think about why you wouldn't date him, it would be because he's a little tad too quiet. You imagined the both of you would suck at communicating your feelings because you're also stupid when it comes to that.
Would that be a dealbreaker?
[1 New Message(s) from Jeon Wonwoo]
You blinked at the notification.
Wait.
Fuck.
Were you actually, seriously thinking about dating Jeon Wonwoo?
Your phone pinged again with a new notification, Wonwoo's name beaming at you.
You remember biting your lip so hard to stop yourself from smiling you almost bled.
It's been roughly two years since that fateful night you found yourself hanging out with Wonwoo.
No.
He is not currently your boyfriend.
He’s also currently not your best friend.
You're still living in Japan after your graduation about a year ago, and Wonwoo is in Singapore for a three-month long training workshop that his company provides for.
The two of you exist in a bizarre plane of exclusivity that isn't romantic but not not romantic either.
You know Wonwoo doesn't text people in general. But he regularly texts you to the point where his parents would ask you to tell him to reply to their messages, or would just text you so you'd forward the message to him.
You don’t talk to him on a daily basis, but you’re pretty sure you’re still one of the very handful people Wonwoo talks to the most. Which is something because sometimes you'd go a month or two not talking to each other.
Additionally, you don’t think he has any other female close friends other than you, which annoys you a little because you’ve been wanting to find out if the way he talks to you and treats you is the same way he would to another friend or if it’s something… more.
Jimin says he’s definitely into you. She might not know the guy personally, but she’s heard enough and she insists that there’s no way that someone like Wonwoo (or what you paint of him) would even text you this often and spend that much time with you if he’s not interested.
Jisoo does not agree. She says if he's really interested in pursuing something with you, then he would’ve made it clear that he did. He wouldn't drag you through this grey area that is your exclusivity, and she's been giving you shit because is this exclusivity even a two way street or have you been dodging dates because of him only to find out Wonwoo hasn't been considering you the same way?
“He likes her stories when she uploads selfies!” Jimin argues on his behalf–why, you’d never know.
“Duh. So what? He still doesn’t ask her out on dates.” Jisoo rolls her eyes, not easily bought after all this time.
“Perhaps the fact that she lives abroad doesn't make that easy?”
“I live abroad.” Jisoo stares at Jimin in challenge. “My boyfriend lives in Seoul and we're still doing fine. What's his reason?”
Sometimes Jeonghan would be present during this neverending topic and would occasionally join the discussion just to fuel the fire, or would otherwise play with his phone because he’s not all that invested like the two girls are.
“I would never like someone’s selfies on stories if I’m not interested.” He gives them a piece of his mind as a guy, like it actually matters, but Jimin’s smile in triumph does not last long. “But Jisoo’s right. He’d make it obvious if he wanted you. Liking your stories doesn't mean shit.”
“He visits here regularly enough, though!!” Jimin still tries to make a case. “Really, it's about time we meet him. Why are you not letting us meet him?”
You sigh as you rub your temple. You don’t even know how this discussion starts again. Probably because you’ve simply said ‘Singapore seems nice’ and that turns into ‘why are you suddenly talking about Singapore?’ which snowballs to ‘Wonwoo’s texting you again?’.
Which brings you here.
“I’m… not even that into him.” You shake your head at them. “I told you guys once that I wouldn’t mind dating him. Not that I’m in love with him.”
Jimin waves her hand dismissively. “It’s all the same for you.”
“Can’t disagree with her there.” Jisoo crunches her nose in distaste. “You’re not interested in anyone. The fact that he’s the only guy you ever talk about constantly for the last two years is… something. He’s handsome, I’ll give you that. Seems nice, too. Plus, your family and his family approves of the two of you. I just don’t like how he’s stringing you along.”
“He’s not–”
“He is.” Jeonghan cuts you off. “He might not be doing it on purpose, but he is stringing you along. Why are you not going out on dates when you’ve been complaining that you’re lonely?”
“Because it’s awkward?” You try to reason. The face they give you would be funny if it isn’t directed to you. “No one asks me on dates? Hello?”
That’s not a lie; you’re not exactly one that gets rained on date invitations. But that’s not the complete truth either, because you know your friends are more than happy to set you up on dates (and, if you’re to be completely honest, Jeonghan has a friend that’s been asking about you and he actually approves of the guy, so…) but you’ve been telling them no because you just… don’t feel like going.
It doesn’t feel right.
Apparently, Jeonghan isn't in the mood to entertain you and decides to cut through the case. “Yeah, but it’s not awkward to meet Wonwoo everyday and hang out privately when you can, right?”
You pout at him, to which he simply flicks your forehead in return. Jeonghan has never really been the type to join your ‘girl talks’ when it happens around him, preferring his peace, and if Yoon Jeonghan himself has decided to actually sit down and talk to you seriously then you know you’re screwed because there’s no way out of it.
“I’m not buying that. Perhaps you’re not in love with him now. But you’re holding out because of him and that means you have enough feelings for the guy, or you’re expecting something to happen between the two of you.”
“Do you think he's also holding out because you live abroad?”
At this point, you don’t even know what you feel for Jeon Wonwoo.
Have you really been holding out because of him?
It’s not like the two of you are actually exclusive; you both just happen to be friendlier than friends are supposed to be but not exactly lovers. You wouldn’t call it situationship either, because you don't flirt nor send mixed signals to each other.
Sure, you'd sleep over in his place when you go to Seoul and he'd insist on picking you up when it gets too late because you don't notice the time. And, yeah, sure, Wonwoo visits Tokyo at least once every three months and he'd also sleep in your place because why would he spend money on accommodation when your sofa is so comfortably available?
Does it matter that you would never let anyone sleep in your place, not even your own sibling, and that Wonwoo hates anyone touching his bed but lets you sleep there because ‘you're the guest and of course I want you comfortable'?
Nope.
Definitely not.
“It's really not that hard.” Soonyoung, one of the very few people in your circle that's not emotionally constipated and knows both you and Wonwoo, tells you before. “Imagine him doing all those things to someone else. Would you be pissed?”
You do not like the answer to that. But Soonyoung does not care and he doesn't wait for your answer. He happily steals your french fries and slurps on your cola as he forces you into admitting your feelings in the most straightforward way possible.
“If the answer is yes, then you're into him. If no, then you're fucking lying and I don't believe you.”
You jump at the notification on your phone, eyebrows rising beyond your bangs when you see who's calling.
Incoming call from Jeon Wonwoo
Wonwoo does not call. And when he does, he always texts you first and asks if you're available. He hates phone calls with his wholebeing, something that you religiously share, which means something's up and your heartbeat spikes at whatever that might've happened. for him to call you out of nowhere.
“Hello?” His answer doesn’t come immediately, so you try once again and it’s then that Wonwoo finally greets you back. “Is everything okay?’
”I… yeah.” He clears his throat. “Sorry for calling out of nowhere.”
You frown at his strange tone. You expect him to be a little frantic-surely something big happened for him to call you like this, right? But he doesn't really sound like he’s in any urgency to tell you what’s up; so you take the bait and ask him again.
”You sure?”
Wonwoo sighs, and you sit up in concern because it’s not often that he’s this open with his struggle.
”Just… one of those days. Thought I’d call you.” He offers you honestly.
“Wanna talk about it?”
Wonwoo takes a moment and clears his throat, and you know immediately that his answer is no.
“When are you returning to Seoul, again?” You decide to steer the conversation elsewhere.
“In about a month. Why?”
“I might fly back.” You hum as you answer him. You try to extinguish the way your heart accelerates as his voice gets a little excited, try your best to ignore that excitement like you don't notice at all. “Thought I'd wait for you.”
You also try your best to sound nonchalant as you say that, but you're not sure if it's working. Either way, Wonwoo doesn't say anything about it.
“Oh? What's the occasion this time around?”
“Some business trip. I might not have to crash your place.”
He doesn't ask why you'd need to wait for him if you're not going stay over anyway. “And you can… arrange it as you want?”
“Somewhat.” You don't explain further. “I might need to drive down to Changwon too.”
“I'll see if I can come with you, then.” He answers readily. Your heart accelerates a bit more at the way he doesn't even wait a second to offer.
The two of you share a comfortable silence for a bit, but Wonwoo can always tell when you have a lot in your mind, so he shoots right away.
“Anything on your mind?”
“Just…” You bite your lip in thinking, wonder if it's too early to let him know about it. Then decide it's not time just yet. “Nothing big. I'll let you know once things are clearer?”
“Okay.”
Your heart melts a little at his answer. It's why you like talking to Wonwoo despite his sometimes too realistic answer: he never pushes. He once tells you he trusts you'll tell him when you need to; that he doesn't need to coerce it out of you.
Truthfully, you wish he would do it sometimes. But you also appreciate his trust in you and the way he listens to your words.
“I met Jisoo and the others today.” You mention just for the sake of distracting him. When Wonwoo is honest but he doesn't want to talk about it, you know what he needs is distraction. So it's really your cue to talk about anything that passes into your mind.
“Oh yeah? How's she?”
Wonwoo does not know your friends personally. But just like you talk about him to your friends, you talk about them to him. He's pretty attentive too, always remembers what you say about them even in passing.
You wonder if he's this attentive to other people, too.
“Good. We went to this new izakaya near her place and their highball is to die for. You have to try the next time you're here.”
“You do like your highballs, don't you?” You can imagine the grin on his face even though you can't see him.
“You know I do.”
It's almost 2AM when you hang up, with Wonwoo falling asleep on the other side of the line. You spend about a minute staring at your walls, fifteen minutes pondering on the phone call you just had, and then another sixty trying to gather your feelings.
Fuck.
You really are in too deep with Jeon Wonwoo.
Wonwoo picks you up at the airport. He silently takes your luggage and guides you to his car parked not too far from the arrival building.
There's no fanfare of confusing hugs nor hand holdings that's a little too tight. Wonwoo has never been big when it comes to physical touch to begin with; yet another point that's in contrast with you because you latch on anyone you're comfortable enough with within a meter radius.
Wonwoo lets you rest your head on his shoulder though. And he'd sometimes take your hands when you're walking and the street is a little tad too busy, only letting go once it gets less crowded. The first time it happened, you almost threw your heart up.
“Where to, Miss?” He mocks being your chauffeur, to which you glare at and let him know the name of your hotel. “Oooh. Fancy.”
“Shut up and drive.”
Naturally, Wonwoo does as you say. It's your playlist playing in the background as a comfortable silence blankets the two of you. You haven't seen Wonwoo in six months, but it doesn't feel like that because you've been talking to each other a lot these days compared to before.
You're not sure what changed in that department, but Wonwoo has been rather active with his texts which confused you a little at first. You're not complaining though, even if it means Jisoo and the others are giving you shit for being on your phone more so than usual.
Still, it's a rather nice change instead of the other way around.
It's so easy being with Wonwoo.
Everything seems to just work itself when you're with him. You don't really have to think much, even now after you realize and accept that you really do feel something more for him. You don't feel awkward when you see him, contrary to what you expected.
During check in, you give the desk Wonwoo's car number when they ask if you need parking. You don't know why you assume he would have his car parked in your hotel at some point, but you try to convince yourself that it's simply a “just in case” scenario.
You don't know why it's so natural for you to do that, either.
“We're meeting Soonyoung for dinner, right?” You ask as you wait for the elevator to come up to your room. Wonwoo leans on the wall, your small luggage still tight on his hand.
“Yeah. He's bringing you to his favorite place.”
“Have you been?”
“More times than I would've liked.” He grins. “It's pretty good. But Soonyoung always brings people there and I had the unfortunate luck to always be there when he introduces the place to someone.”
“Oh?” You tilt your head in confusion, the elevator dings just in time. Wonwoo steps out first and you follow into step beside him. “I didn't know you have a lot of mutual friends with him?”
Wonwoo doesn't go out a lot. He doesn't really like eating with people he doesn't know, so it surprises you a little that he's often there with Soonyoung when the guy is…introducing the place to someone else…?
A few seconds pass, and you wonder why Wonwoo seems to be contemplating his words. Does this mean…?
“Not that many, to be honest.” You notice he winces a little. The card beeps and you open your door, when Wonwoo goes past you as you hold the door open for him, you hold your breath at his proximity and the subtle scent of his perfume.
“But…?”
“Three times he brought me there to meet our mutual friends who don't live in Seoul, two other times just because, and…”
You settle on the edge of your bed as you look at him expectedly, your heart already beating loudly against your chest. You don't know why, but you feel like you already know the rest of the story and you don't like it.
Wonwoo sits right next to you on the bed, his thigh touches yours and his scent invades your being once again. He doesn't take your hand, but the way he's looking into your eyes and his knuckle hits the back of your hands tell you enough that he's nervous. Perhaps a tad bit guilty.
“One time he forced me to go on a double date because he really liked the girl and she wouldn't say yes unless he's bringing a friend for hers.” He explains. If he notices the way your breath stops for a bit, he doesn't say anything. “I told him I don't want to go, that I'm not interested. But he called in a favour I owe him a long time ago and… yeah.”
“Oh.”
It's the first time you ever share an awkward silence with the man beside you. You're not sure what to say despite already expecting the story to end this way–because what right do you have to be upset? Is there anything you could say that would make the situation not awkward?
Jisoo's question suddenly pops into your mind, something about exclusivity that's ambiguous and if Wonwoo's doing the same to you.
He mentions he doesn't want to go but…
“I imagine it was awkward?” You manage to say at last.
“Yeah. I barely talked and I told Soonyoung I'm never doing that ever again.”
“Did he end up with that girl?”
“For a few months.” He huffs, still annoyed now that he thinks about it. “All that effort and he only dated her for a few months.”
You let out a chuckle at this, notice the way Wonwoo relaxes a little at the sound of your small laugh.
“Do you do that a lot?” You ask in what you hope to be subtle. While the topic comes up, might as well ask him about it. “Go on dates?”
His answer is an immediate “no”; like he has something to prove to you.
“I don't go out with girls in general.” He says, this time looking elsewhere even though your eyes stay on his face. “I don't have a lot of female friends. The few that I actually consider friends… Well, we're not close enough to hang out privately.”
“Oh?” Your voice chokes a little, your feelings overtaking your head as you say your next words. “But you don't mind hanging out with me?”
“Mhm.” He hums, presses his lips together before he continues. “You're… you.”
He doesn't explain further and you're too afraid to ask. So you steer the topic by saying you're going to wash up a bit before you head for lunch, to which Wonwoo simply smiles and nods at. He moves to the small chair by the window and tells you to take your time.
“I don't mind waiting.” He says.
You wonder why you feel like his words mean more than they really do.
Fifteen minutes later, you find yourself in a restaurant nearby, seated next to Wonwoo because all the separate tables are full and only the bar ones are available.
The two of you don't address the unnecessary way you sit close next to each other. At some point, you're pretty sure Wonwoo rests his arm on the back of your chair, but you don't say anything just in case he'll pull it back.
You don't know how you feel about that realization.
Also, you don't realize how much you look like a couple until a waiter comes up to you both with a dessert you don't remember ordering.
“It's on the house.” He explains with a smile. “We're giving free desserts to couples during this month.”
The both of you spend exactly six seconds (you counted) staring at each other before you clear your throat and tell him to dig into the dessert before you eat it all.
“You can have it all.” He chuckles, knowing well enough how much you love desserts. “I'll buy you some more.”
Wonwoo's arm never leaves your chair until it's time for you to go, his finger brushes your shoulder every time you move.
You don't know how you feel about that either.
When it comes to meddling friends, you have exactly two (2) people in your circle: Kwon Soonyoung and Yoo Jimin.
You're glad the two doesn't know each other because you can already imagine the headache coming your way from their imaginary conspiracy. Handling one of them once at a time is enough headache for you already.
Tonight, somehow they find a way to give you a giant headache at the same time even when they do not know of each other.
1 New Message(s) from Yoo Jimin🩷 on 🖤🩷🩵 & han🙂
Yoo Jimin🩷 : r u out on a date ????????
And then,
Kim Jisoo🩵 : ffs not this again🥱
Kim Jisoo🩵 : it is NOT a date unless he explicitly says it!!!!!!!!!!
Yoo Jimin🩷 : shut up lemme ship them in peace
Yoon Jeonghan💀 : lmaooooo 1000% agree w jisoo
Yoon Jeonghan💀 : put ur dream to rest, dude
Yoo Jimin🩷 : of all time for u to appear on the gc????????
Yoon Jeonghan💀 : i have rights to appear whenever i want???
🖤 : 🙂🙂🙂🙂
🖤 : im muting this group. byeeeee lol.
Kim Jisoo🩵 : this birhc???????
“Stop playing with your phone!!!” Soonyoung whines. He's been doing that since the three of you sit down, actually. “Now tell me. Any new guy.”
You don't know why he's so insistent on this topic. He knows about you and Wonwoo–or at least the lack of whatever you two have going on–so you're not sure why he keeps on asking about this except to piss you off.
“I told you there's no guy.” You cross your arms in annoyance. “Where are you getting ideas about this?”
The look in his eyes scares you a little. There are times when you do not want to cross Kwon Soonyoung and this is one of them.
“What about that guy in your group? Jeonghan, was it?” He presses on. “Isn't he handsome?”
“I don't see him as anything else but an annoyance personified.” You huff. “You know I haven't gone on dates since forever, why are you doing this?”
“Oh? Is that you asking me to introduce you to someone?”
Beside you, Wonwoo stiffens a little.
“No! Are you drunk??” You know Soonyoung's baiting you, and despite this knowledge, his insistence is really starting to bait your annoyance.
“There's just no way you've gone on zero dates after you broke up with that asshole in uni.” This is news to Wonwoo. He knows you were in a relationship before (you weren't close at that point, but Soonyoung made sure to update him (re: whine to him) about you having a boyfriend that he didn't approve of. But he didn't know he was, well, an asshole. “It's been five years since you broke up with him!”
“Yes, thanks for highlighting how single I actually am.” You deadpan, throwing back a shot of soju. It’s not often that you drink soju, but on days like today when you haven't seen your close friends (Wonwoo and Soonyoung) in so long and Soonyoung is being persistently annoying, you need the help of alcohol to relax.
Soonyoung has the audacity to laugh, and then he follows your shot with his own before changing his target to the man beside you who's been silent the entire time.
“No worries. Wonwoo has been single for long, too.” He grins unapologetically. “I don't remember him going on dates at all. Except you haven't been telling me?!”
Wonwoo grunts softly, sipping on his soju instead. “Why would I tell you about my dates.”
Then, as if he realizes it's not the right thing to say, he adds, “But no. I haven't gone on dates in so long, either. Not everyone is like you, man.”
“I'll take that as a compliment.” He mocks a victory bow and then takes a piece of the free snack the restaurant offers on your table. He has had it refilled for three times already. “You're too busy. You don't even reply to my texts.”
At this, you reply instead of Wonwoo.
“Well, that's probably because it's you. He replies to my text just fine.” You stick your tongue out at him childishly, causing Wonwoo to chuckle next to you.
Your head is starting to get a little heavy from the alcohol, so you lean on Wonwoo as you mumble about being a little sleepy.
“You want to go back?” He whispers like a secret, not minding Soonyoung pouting about being left out.
“Nah, I'm still fine.” You grin lazily despite the way your heart is beating too fast due to his proximity. You can even feel his breath against your cheek. “You'll know when I'm gone.”
The way he looks at you sternly makes you laugh, and you just know he'll scold you about drinking responsibly so you squeeze his arm and propose a toast between the three of you.
He reluctantly takes another sip of his drink while you and Soonyoung take another shot.
The night goes on like that, with Soonyoung trying to pick a fight with both of you and losing miserably three times out of five. Wonwoo's pretty sure the two of you have finished almost three bottles of soju while he barely drinks his third glass.
When the two of you begin to giggle uncontrollably and you start hugging his arm for support, Wonwoo knows it's time to end the night. So he pays for the bill and calls a taxi for Soonyoung and for you two. He didn't take his car, knowing well enough that the night would force him to drink alcohol.
He's not complaining, though. It's been long since he has consumed any alcohol, and spending the night with the two of you is always fun despite the way Soonyoung insists on being a pain in the ass.
Wonwoo has his arm around your waist as he takes you up to your hotel room. You're not too drunk that you can't stand up, but you're drunk enough that you cling to Wonwoo the whole time.
He's in denial and blames the way his face turns hot and his reddening ear on the alcohol and not your body pressed close to his, your lips grazing his neck everytime you move.
When he reaches your hotel room, he wonders how to go about this. Should he leave after you get to bed? Will you be okay in the morning? He can probably sleep sitting on the small sofa in the corner of your room if he wants. But is that appropriate?
Even in your drunken stupor, you hold all the answers for him.
“Stay with me.” You say like you know what he's thinking about. Your head is still heavy on his shoulder but he doesn't mind.
He slowly sits you down on the edge of your bed and kneels to take off your shoes despite your insistence that you can do it yourself.
“Can you wash up?”
“No.”
He chuckles at how adorable you are, then hopes your drunken mind wouldn't remember the way his palm caresses your cheek because he couldn't help it.
“You'll regret it in the morning though?”
“I just want to sleep.” You make your point and throw your body back to the bed. Wonwoo laughs once again, then checks your bathroom to see that you have indeed unpacked your toiletries.
“I can help you remove your makeup.” He offers softly, knowing how much you hate washing up after drinking but you hate it even more when you wake up and realize you didn't. “Then I'll trust you to wash your face and brush your teeth?”
Your whine doesn't really mean anything, so Wonwoo does as he says and gently wipes your face with the makeup remover wipes you manage to fish from your pouch.
It’s the first time he ever does this, but he has listened to you complain enough about this over the years. His other hand is holding your face, and no matter how dense Wonwoo could be, he's not stupid enough not to know that he would never do this for anyone ever.
That this scene can be picked straight out of a romance movie and he wouldn't be surprised.
The way you trust him in your room in your drunken state, you asking him to stay, and him helping you clean up aren't something you do with just anyone.
He's also not stupid enough not to notice the warm feeling in his chest and the tingling all over his body. As much as he wants to deny what he feels for you all these time, this one moment is not something he could ever deny.
Dare he says he enjoys it and wishes he could do this with you often moving forward—taking care of you whenever he could.
He’s not going to lie and say he never considers being bolder with you; shows his interest and makes his feelings more obvious, but he doesn’t know if he could handle the aftermath. Do you return his feelings? Wonwoo can’t tell.
He knows enough that you haven’t been dating even before Soonyoung brings it up today. That you treat him as something more than friend because he’s seen how different you act with Soonyoung and (what you mention of) Jeonghan.
But is it just you having a different dynamic with him?
Is it the years you have between the two of you even though you weren’t close before?
”Here, have some water.” He breaks his own thoughts and hands you a glass, hopes that it’ll make you feel better.
”Thank you.” You wince a little, followed by a small yawn. “I’ll just wash up real quick., okay?”
You don’t know Wonwoo will think about this domesticity for months to come.
Expectedly, you wake up to a headache.
Unexpectedly, you also wake up to a glass of water, an aspirin, and Wonwoo moving around in your hotel room.
”Wonwoo?’ Your raspy voice startles him a little, and you would’ve laughed if not for the headache steadily hammering against your skull.
“You’re awake?” He says softly and moves to your side and helps you drink your water. “Bad hangover?”
Your grimace answers enough, and even though he laughs a little at your misery, you can tell that he’s a little worried. It’s not often that you get drunk in front of him.
”I don’t feel like throwing up, though.” You say after swallowing the aspirin then turn to him in horror. “Or did I already throw up last night?’
Wonwoo considers pulling your leg for a bit, but decides against it when he sees how horrified you look at the prospect of it.
”Nope, you didn’t.” He assures you. “Should we go out and eat once you’re feeling good enough? There’s a good gukbap place nearby that’ll help with your hangover.”
Fifteen minutes later, the two of you are seated in a corner in a busy restaurant, once again sitting side by side. It’s only ten in the morning, but, apparently, this place is famous for their hangover remedy and people often get breakfast because their gukbap is to die for.
You’re not even dressed properly, still in your pajamas with a hoodie thrown over your top. You really can’t be bothered in your and Wonwoo doesn’t seem like he minds either.
Leaning your head on Wonwoo’s shoulder yet again, you can’t help but feel like you’re taking advantage of the situation a little too much; that you’re milking the situation to your liking.
But you decide you don’t want to think much about it, that there’s nothing wrong with enjoying this moment as long as Wonwoo doesn’t say shit about it either. You feel his arm resting on the back of your chair; something the he does a lot, now that you think about it. Has he always done that before? Or is this a recent thing? You honestly can’t recall.
“Here’s your order.” The auntie manning the restaurant interrupts your thoughts, serving the godly scented gukbap in front of you and another for Wonwoo. “Here’s a jeon on the house because you two look pretty together. Enjoy.”
You blink at the recurring comment, then turn to Wonwoo with confusion.
“Do people always offer free stuff for couples?” You frown, remembering the free dessert from yesterday. “What is this unfairness?’
Wonwoo laughs, tension leaving his body at your comments. He was concerned you were uncomfortable with the assumptions, but you seem to simply be annoyed at what it entails.
“You’re working at the Seoul office for the next four days, right?’
”Yepp. Important meetings and all that.” You say through your food. “I’ll let you know after.”
”Is it the one you told me about on the phone?”
”Yes.” You nod. “And then we leave for Changwon on… Thursday night?”
Wonwoo nods, and then cut some jeon for you to have on your small plate.
“I already took the day off for Friday. You really don’t mind that we take the car? We can still book tickets for the train.”
”It’s been so long since I went on a road trip. Unless you don't feel like driving…?”
The sound of his chuckles brings tingles to your body, but you try to ignore it and hold your gaze on him.
“I don't mind. I'm just worried you might be tired. It's almost a five hour drive, you know.”
You seem deep in thought, but the smile you send his way throws him off as you reassure him once again that you're fine. Though it's your next words that make his brain go a little awry for the rest of the day.
“It's also five hours with you. That's why I don't mind at all.”
Thursday evening comes and Wonwoo picks you up at the hotel.
Soonyoung wants to come with, but his dog is sick and he has to take Latte to the vet.
“Thanks for yesterday, by the way.” You scrunch your nose as you remember the night before. “Can't believe everyone brought their partner and didn't tell me.”
You had promised to see some of your old friends from school last night. Naturally, you expected it to be just the four of you.
Naturally, there were three other guys on the everyone and you pulled an SOS to Wonwoo so you would't look pathetic, being the only girl on the table with no one.
It had upset you a little, if you're being honest. It's been about three years since the four of you had hangout together, so you had been expecting to see them only.
Wonwoo seemed to immediately got your mood as he arrived, sitting right beside you (the only empty seat, of course, though there's nowhere else you'd rather he be) in midst of conversation.
It was fortunate that the restaurant isn't that far from his company, because he arrived about twenty minutes after you texted him: ten minutes to wrap up his work (he was already done for the day and had stayed around because a coworker seemed to be in a talking mood), and another ten to walk to the restaurant.
He knew these friends, of course, having gone to the same school as you. But he didn't expect all of them to be in Seoul. Though, then again, it's not all that surprising that people would want to move to the capital city once they get older.
In the same sense, they also didn't expect you and Wonwoo to be close enough for him to attend this dinner for you.
“Oh, yeah. We only got closer a few years ago when he went to Japan for a trip.” You explain in what you hope to be a straightforward way that doesn't need further explanation.
Your friend seems to buy this, and you're a little surprised that they don't bother about the nature of your relationship. Dinner was pleasant, you and Wonwoo found comfort in each other between familiar strangers (and actual strangers) and you had fun regardless the mishap at the beginning.
It wasn't until when you're parting ways that someone finally commented on it, and you couldn't even say anything because Hyeri sounded so sure and she didn't give you any way to rebutt.
“Didn't expect you two to end up together, but I should've known something would happen between the two of you. It was nice seeing you!!” She had said cheerfully before turning away and went on her way with her boyfriend.
After everybody left, you two looked at each other and blinked simultaneously, and then shared a laugh before Wonwoo insisted on taking you back to your hotel even though it's the farther away from his place.
None of you addressed the misunderstanding thrown your way.
“It was a good dinner though, right?” Wonwoo asks, as if the assumption Hyeri made and your nonexistent repulsion towards it didn't keep him up at night.
“Yeah, it was nice to see them after so long.” You settle on your seat after you finish pairing up your phone's audio to his car. “Anything you want to listen to?”
Wonwoo shakes his head and tells you to play whatever you want. About an hour later, his dad calls you and you accept the phone without turning off the bluetooth speaker.
“Hi, Uncle!!” You greet him happily. “You're calling me because Wonwoo isn't answering, aren't you?”
The laugh that greets you is both amused and unapologetic. But you're simply glad you're close enough with Wonwoo's family for this to happen.
“What’s up, Dad?”
“Just making sure you two are driving safely.” He answers. “I heard it's going to rain pretty heavily later, so you better stop and wait it out if that's the case.”
“Thank you for the heads up, Uncle! I'll make sure to remind Wonwoo later.
He reminds you two to take a break somewhere and to have sufficient meals that's not only composed of an ungodly amount of snacks. You share a guilty grin with each other, the pack of jelly on your hands suddenly feels a little heavy.
You stop by one rest area to have some light meal (re: hotdog and tteokpokki) before going straight to Changwon. It's a karaoke session you're having in his car, in which you're the only one who mostly sings because Wonwoo doesn't really like to.
“You have a nice voice, why don't you sing more?” You press some time during the ride.
“Eh. Just don't really feel like doing it.”
“Hm. I like your voice, though.”
His hair covers the way the tip of his ears turn red at your confession.
You're a little hyper today, he notices. Perhaps you really are that excited over the prospect of going on a road trip even though it's dark outside and you can't really see anything on the highways.
“You sure you didn't have any alcohol in your system?” He teases you, to which you simply hit his shoulder and continue on your little concert.
You're not the best singer, but you're not tone deaf and you carry your tune well enough, while Wonwoo's just happy to see you so cheerful.
You seem super relaxed too, and he wonders if your important meeting went well and if that's the reason why you seem like the weight is off your shoulders.
Not long after, the rain starts. And, surely enough, it gets harder and harder to the point where Wonwoo has to slow down just to make sure the car is going safe and sound. Fortunately, you two find a rest area soon enough and you decide to rest for a bit as you wait out the rain.
It doesn’t look like it’s going to stop anytime soon, though. So you ask if it’s okay for you to drink a can of beer that he can’t share because he’s driving. Wonwoo lets you, of course, you seem like you want to properly enjoy this ambiance and he doesn’t have any reason not to let you relax more.
Forty minutes pass just like that; with you facing each other in his car, soft music playing in the background as the rain steadily falls against the window. You talk about anything and everything, your can of beer turns into three, and even though it’s not enough to make you drunk, it’s definitely enough to make your lips a little looser as the topic shifts to relationships.
”Wonwoo?’” You ask timidly, though you know you can’t stop yourself now. The question has been bugging you since the moment you heard him say it. “Can I ask you something?”
”Of course.” He answers, a little confused.
”Why… me?”
For a second, you can see his startled face, but he schools it real quick that you wouldn’t have caught it if you aren’t already staring at him.
”What?”
”You told me before that you don’t like hanging around with your female friends.” You recall your conversation a few days ago. “But not me. Why?”
You let Wonwoo take his moment to gather his words, but as seconds pass by and the ringing of your heart is echoing against your ears, you start to think if it’s a bad idea to ask him this when you two have nowhere to escape.
“Nev—”
“Because you’re you.” He repeats his answers from that day. But this time, he moves forward with his explanation, the gentle look in his eyes makes your heartbeat stutter. “I don’t have any reason that I can offer. But you’re you and I like being with you.”
“Wha—?”
”I just like that it’s you.” He says with finality. Like it answers what you asked instead of blooming more questions.
This time, it’s Wonwoo that lets you take a moment to digest his words. It’s his turn to wonder if it’s not the time to be honest about his feelings. But if not now, he feels like he would take an even longer time to gather his courage yet again and spending time with you the past few days have made him sure about his feelings—that he can no longer deny them and he owes you that much if that’s what you’re asking no matter what the outcome would be.
He thinks back of the people that mistake you for being together; the way you don’t seem to mind and simply smile abashedly at them. The way you clung into him in your drunken stupor, how smitten he is that he actually stayed when you asked him to even though you probably don’t remember saying anything about it. The way your eyes twinkle with every single constellation he could think of.
And most importantly, how much he feels complete in your presence. How content his heart is and how there’s nothing more he could wish for than to have you close.
He’d be downright stupid if he continues to deny his feelings for you at this point.
”Why now?” You ask quietly, and he can only be a little relieved that you don’t sound repulsive at his confession.
He’s not sure how to answer your question though. But if there’s one thing he knows, being honest is always the answer.
“I was afraid.” He pauses, pressing his lips together as he looks up at your eyes. “That I’m not good enough for you. That I can’t give you what you need with the distance between us and all.”
“What changed?”
”I realized something.”
”And what is that?”
“That I’d rather try giving you what you need than not be able to try at all.” His voice is firm as he says this, and even though your question has been rather sudden, it feels like he’s always had the answer deep inside. “That I’ve always had you by my side without I even realize and I don’t want to take it for granted.”
”Do you remember Byul?” You ask out of nowhere, making a roller coaster out of his feelings.
”Your old dog?”
”Yep.” You smile sadly at the memory of her. Byul died when you were in junior high school. You cried for days and weren’t yourself for weeks. It was the first time you ever faced loss; the first time you ever felt like something important was taken from your life. “I was looking through my old pictures and found a bunch of her pictures. Do you know you have a picture with her?”
Wonwoo does not. You smile at his surprised face and show him the exact picture you were talking about. Wonwoo must have been ten at most, still wearing his uniform with Byu sleeping soundly on his lap. He’s also asleep in the picture, his fingers buried in her fur craved forever in that very picture.
”There was this time when she was a little depressed. She just kept on looking at the door even though everyone was home.” Wonwoo doesn’t see where this conversation is going, but he silently encourages you to continue and makes sure you know he’s listening. “We tried bringing her to the doctor, but it didn’t help. It’s only when you stopped by that we realized she was looking for you. You went on a vacation with your family for the whole summer, and when you came back she finally returned to her usual self and I remember feeling a little betrayed when she jumped happily for the first time the moment you came through the door.”
”I never knew…” He says quietly, suddenly memories of your dog popping into his head. He remembers being quite upset when he heard the news of Byul dying. She was his family’s dog too by extension, and it only made him sad now that he realized he only has one picture with her. “I did play with her a lot, didn’t I?”
”You did. You were around enough that my dog missed you when you’re not there.” You chuckle to yourself. “Do you remember taking me home everyday for a whole month after she died?’
You laugh at his surprised face. You did expect him to not remember this part, but you did—because it meant a lot to you that Wonwoo took the effort to care for you in his own way when you’re not even really friends.
”We used to go home together from time to time. But you waited for me in front of our school gate everyday for a whole month, only stopping once you realized I was feeling better. You’d give me ice cream and candies too.” Wonwoo notices the way your eyes water a little the more you talk about that time, but when he tries to ask you why you’re suddenly talking about this, you barrel through another topic. “There was also a time in high school when you helped me hide from my parents because I fought big time with my sister. That was the first time I ever had a screaming row with her, you know? I don’t even know why we were fighting. But I remember crying so much that you didn’t know what to do.”
This one Wonwoo remembers. He can still picture you crying in his room, his panicked eyes not sure what to do except to lie when your mom texted him to ask if he’d seen you. He had lamely offered you a box of tissues and stayed by your side without doing much.
”I appreciated it, you know? That you were there with me, not asking questions and not trying to comfort me.” You clear your throat and finally return his gaze. He can’t tell what you’re going to say next and his head is a little dizzy from the change of topic. Is this your way of turning him down? By talking about something else and pretending that nothing happened? “My point is… I tried thinking about a time when I don’t have you around and… I can’t.
We weren’t the bestest of friends and you weren’t my number one person, but you’re always there. When my dad asked you to teach me how to ride the bike instead of my older siblings, you did it without saying anything. When I failed calculus and my mom made you tutor me, you didn’t get frustrated even once when I took long to get it. When I broke up with my first boyfriend and I cried so much I didn’t realize it was already dark, it was you who found me in that park and brought me home. When I got the scholarship to Japan, you sent me off all the way to the airport even though my closest friends didn’t.”
Wonwoo seems a little flustered at your words, and you hold back the urge to tease him and finally, finally let your heart take the rein.
”You’ve always been there for me even before all of this. You’re the one person that I just know will continue to be in my life no matter what.” When your palm meets his cheek, Wonwoo melts a little at your gentle touch, your smile crumbling his being with little effort. “Can I trust you to do that?”
”Is that even a question?” He answers quietly, wonders if you can hear the loud beating of his heart in this proximity. “I used to have a small crush on you, you know?”
”What?”
”Yeah, during high school. I’ve always thought you were pretty, anyway. But you got a boyfriend and I realized it was nothing but a fleeting crush.” He grins at the way you’re continuously blinking at his revelation. “Never knew I’d end up liking you again years later, though. But you just have to live abroad and I’m not sure how it’ll work out even if you return my feelings. I’m a bad texter and even worse when it comes to calling. I can fix those habits, sure, but… I don’t think I can fix it in a short span of time, and I want to give you everything you deserve. So I never really try anything even though I abstained from going on dates and—”
”Wonwoo?”
”Yeah?”
”You talk too much.” You say before you close your lips over his, the way his arm immediately finds your waist and his other hand holds the back of your neck make your body comes alive; like a missing puzzle that you didn’t know was missing clicks into place and makes everything make sense. He pulls you closer, and even though it’s uncomfortable, you let him.
Time works in a funny way when you’re with him, so even if you’re sure it’s only seconds that you spent kissing him, it surely feels like hours and more.
”I have to tell you something.” You whisper when you pull away, his warm breath hitting your face.
”Hm?”
”I’m moving to Seoul.” You announce in one go. “That’s what the important meeting is about. I asked if they had a vacant spot for a transfer to the main branch and they’re letting me transfer to Seoul.”
”For good?” He asks like he doesn’t believe it. Like it’s too good to be true.
Perhaps it is.
”For good.” You grin, your arms circle his neck despite the uncomfortable position you two are in. Your smile gets wider as Wonwoo kisses you again, and you laugh when you put one of your hands on his chest, his heart beating so quickly you’re worried it might jump out of his body. “Jisoo’s going to kill me when she finds out I’m moving in three months and I let you kiss me like this.”
”Oh?” He asks teasingly, one of his brows in question. “You let me kiss you?’
”I don’t know what you’re talking about.” You feign innocence. “Is there anyone here that can say otherwise?”
”Me?”
”Duh. You think Jisoo will believe you?” You roll your eyes jokingly. “They’ve been wanting to meet you, by the way. Jisoo and Jeonghan will grill you so bad.”
”You talk about your friends to me?”
”How can I not when you’re confusing me?”
”Was that how it felt?” He asks softly. “Like I was confusing you?”
You contemplate your next words, but then decide that there’s nothing to hide from what your friends said about him.
”They say you’re stringing me along. Because you’re obviously interested but not try to officially ask me out on a date.”
”You want to go on a date tomorrow?” He asks seriously, which turns your heart into mush because this man can’t get more precious than he already is. “I can think of a few places for us to go to.”
This isn’t where you expect the conversation to go, but you happily agree and ask him to surprise you. That you will contemplate on being his girlfriend if he does well.
”Oh? Aren’t you already my girlfriend the moment you kissed me?” He grins teasingly, a giddy filling bubbles up in his chest at the mention of you being his girlfriend.
”I’m not that easy.” You huff. “I’ll let you know tomorrow if you pass the test.”
Wonwoo laughs and pulls you into another kiss, his heart ballooning in size at the sound of your squeal followed by your giggle, your fingers gripping his shoulders.
He’ll go through a thousand tests if it’s for you, no question asked.
a/n: i lov him so much.
©wonwoonlight – all rights reserved. I don’t allow any reposting, translation, and any other kind of redistribution of this fic. Please tell me if you’re aware of anyone doing this without my permission.
