Que Será, Será : A Seventeen Anthology [Masterlist]
Welcome to Que será, será! This anthology attempts to let you foresee how life unfolded for the school boys, teenage dirtbags, and working stiffs. Take the stage and enjoy how fate orchestrated the future for thirteen men.
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Seungcheol
opening shortly...
Jeonghan
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Joshua
opening shortly...
Jun
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Soonyoung
opening shortly...
Wonwoo
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Woozi
opening shortly...
Minghao
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Mingyu
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Seokmin
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Seungkwan
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Vernon
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Dino
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Hi! So first of all, I've been planning to post this since last year. Originally, I was about to write something for/about Joshua BUT this anthology popped on my mind after posting one of my works.
Secondly, I wasn't really confident about my works, my writing style and especially how the anthology would go. I felt like everything I do is mediocre and would never satisfy anyone who would see it. However, after giving it much thought, I remembered the reason why I was writing. I began to post my works not for the possibilty of gaining numbers of readers but for myself. I wanted to express every thought and emotions I pu into my works. So if ever you're seeing this, that only means I had the courage to share it with you guys (aka. I gave myself some love haha)
Thirdly, I get busy a lot during school days. I'm afraid I won't be able to update as much as I want to and for that cause, I might also lose momentum and comepletely forget abouut the story line.
Lastly, i still don't know how to use this site well. I'm still learning about writing and posting in this platform and I've been reading a lot of literary pieces in hopes of improving so that I can tell stories without seeming like I'm trying hard to narrate or tell something.
If you've come this far, thank you so much! I really appreciate it. Even though I wrote earlier that the main reason i'm writing is for myself, I still hope you'll look forward to this as much as I am. :)
× minors/ageless/empty blogs dni. you will be blocked. ×
× main masterlist ×
pairing: jeon wonwoo x gn!reader (afab for smut)
genre: romance, comedy, drama
warnings: best man!wonwoo, wedding planner!reader, jeongcheol are the fiancés, wonwoo is cheol's best man, past one night stand, (sort-of)strangers-to-lovers, awkward situations, romantic/sexual tension, smut/eventual smut, explicit language, more tba..
projected word count: 5k-10k, but could be more
teaser word count: 806
drop me an ask/comment if you'd like to be added to a taglist!
× from cakes ruined at the last minute to entourage arguments at boutiques, being a wedding planner has been such an experience that you're quite literally prepared for anything at this point.. apart from finding out the best man for your new clients' wedding is the guy you had a one-night stand with six weeks ago. you weren't prepared for that. ×
A sweltering day at the height of summer. No cloud to be seen in the sky, it's the middle of the day, and the bag you're carrying may as well have clumps of lead in it.
For the first meeting with new clients, it's always pertinent to you to bring everything you feel is absolutely necessary. Magazines, portfolios, your laptop for research and the star of it all: your planner.
Old thing, it was. You've had it with you since you first started this career and somehow you hadn't filled it to its brim. With each new planning session you wept a shadow of a tear at the thought of needing to replace it, but today is not that day.
When you arrive at the house, you first take note of its exterior, then pull out your phone and whip straight to your emails just to make sure you have got the right address..
One check, brilliant. No need to amble around aimlessly.
Popping your phone back in your pocket, you readjust the stone on your shoulder before trudging up to the front door. A loud huff leaves your lips as you press the doorbell, then shift gears to a polite smile, ready to tackle the first of many meetings.
Within seconds the door opens. A man with blonde hair beams at the sight of you. "Ah! You must be the wedding planner!"
Your teeth gleam to challenge the sun as you extend your right hand, "That would be me! N, it's nice to meet you."
"Hi, N." He takes your hand and shakes it. "I'm Seungcheol." Seungcheol lets go then yells into the house, "Jeonghan! It's N, the wedding planner!"
"Oh! Give me one second," calls another man's voice. Immediately you register the names to make sure you don't forget them.
Seungcheol looks back at you. "Come in!" His smile grows and he steps to the side. You give him an appreciative nod and take one step into the house.
The scent of cooking wafts straight into your airspace and you catch a tiny glimpse of a man scurrying around in the kitchen. Seungcheol moves to stand beside you and says, "Oh! By the way, my best man is here."
This catches you by surprise, though it's not entirely uncommon. You have had clients in the past have their friends and relatives sit with them during meetings.
"Oh?"
"Yeah, he's in the living ro- Oh, there he is."
Seungcheol gestures vaguely past your shoulder and you pivot.
In the doorway to the living room, a man with dark, tousled hair, wearing a simple, casual outfit with a pair of glasses, stands with his shoulder pressed against the frame. At that moment, Jeonghan calls for Seungcheol, and Seungcheol is gone in a flash.
The second you lock eyes, something feels off.
The best man stares at you for an incomprehensible amount of time, to the point you cock a brow and defensively say, "Can I help you?" It's not exactly the best foot forward to make enemies right out the gate, but this man's eyes are a little too fixed on your person for your liking..
When the words leave your lips, he becomes a ghost. He averts his gaze and looks directly at the floor, stuffing his hands in his pockets and gnawing at his lip. "S- Sorry." There's something else he wants to say but just won't.
For some reason, it's bothering you.
But not just that.. he's bothering you.
Not really because he stared at you - though that was rather uncomfortable - no, there's something else.
You look askance and delicately place your bag on the floor. This is now starting to eat away at you and you don't understand where this has come from.
Taking a chance to look at him again, you start trying to place what exactly it is that is so.. bizarre about this meeting.
It's almost as if you've met before.
Before you can fit the puzzle together, the fiancés leave the kitchen; Jeonghan greets you, elated to finally get started with the planning. He notices the man in the doorway and makes a gentle, playful quip about it.
"Oh, I see you've met the best man," he giggles.
"N- Not exactly.." you fumble to say, which in and of itself is incredibly ridiculous.
The best man steps forward and makes himself known. You give him his full attention, and trip at the sight of his outstretched hand.
"Hi. I'm Wonwoo."
His tone is polite, neutral and almost suave. A hint of a smile clips through the corners of his mouth and it's then that it finally clicks.
Two tequila shots. Dancing. A bed. His voice.
When you take his hand, lightning strikes on his face.
"Hi. I'm N."
Familiarity, with a fresh side of what the absolute fuck.
I know this is too random but please let our boys win 🥺 If you have the time, please click the link so you can vote for SEVENTEEN. Let's do this, carat!
you only wake up when wonwoo’s about to go, almost like you can sense him leaving. it only takes a sleepy whine to stop him, and he bends over your curled up figure with a soft smile.
“where are you going?” you demand childishly, opening your eyes.
wonwoo laughs quietly, cupping your cheek for a moment, brushing it with his warm hands. “we’re out of eggs. and milk. i won’t take long, okay?”
“no, wait for me, i’ll come with you!”
which is how you ended up behind wonwoo in the early hours of the morning, as he looks for the groceries and you trail sleepily along with him, holding his hand and stifling your yawn.
wonwoo casts a sideways glance at you, shaking his head fondly. “i told you to go back to sleep, baby.”
“i’m needy,” you admit shamelessly, squeezing his hand when he laughs a little — and then your eyes are brightening, and you’re tugging him towards the end of the aisle. “babe! let’s get pancake mix for breakfast!”
wonwoo sends a glance to the eggs inside the cart already, but you catch it and beam at him. “eggs for tomorrow. they’ll keep. pleaaase.”
wonwoo shakes his head finally, lips lifting in amusement. “of course, baby. get whatever you want.”
“when you say whatever i want…” you start, bright-eyed and mischievous.
your boyfriend only presses a kiss to your temple. “i mean it. go on. whatever you want.”
an / requested by an anon but i accidentally deleted the ask 😭 sorry anon!! anyway this is AWFUL but i’ve been rewriting this since like 6:30 in the morning and i give up atp
“It’s simple. Don’t start something you know you can’t finish and don’t make promises you can’t keep. Be consistent, mean what you say, and let your actions speak for you. All else will fall into place.”
The Viscount's sister with an enormous dowry, beauty and unmistakable talent- you began the London season as the most desired woman in any room. But Jeon Wonwoo (a man who would rather hide in the library than dance at a ball) is beyond your comprehension. Curiosity might have killed the cat, but it embroiled you into a scandal with a man you could never love.
Genre: Wonwoo x Female!reader. Regency!AU (It's sort of Bridgerton-esque in the sense that I give zero attention to historical accuracy and prioritize aesthetics lmao) You are Joshua's sibling so your maiden name is Hong but the reader has no other physical characteristics.
Word Count: 6.7k+
Part 1 Part 2 (Part 3)
Series Masterlist [Reading Candle and Manners, the earlier installments in this series first is strongly recommended as main character dynamics are introduced there.]
Wonwoo carefully helped you down from the carriage. He offered you his arm and you leaned closer to him than you would normally have done- taking the opportunity to catch a whiff of his soothing scent.
It was the evening of the children's performance and a number of villagers had gathered in the gardens behind the orphanage. Sister Lynn waited by the entrance, ready to greet you and Wonwoo as soon as you descended your carriage.
"Mr. and Mrs. Jeon," she greeted you breathlessly. "I am so grateful to you for coming tonight. The children are incredibly excited to be performing for you. I have already reserved seats in the garden. This way, please…"
You followed Sister Lynn. The garden had been set up with a makeshift stage and rows of chairs. As you walked past, many of the villagers stopped to curtsey and greet you politely. Their smiles were more genuine than before and you noticed more warmth coming from some of them than you had felt during your infrequent strolls in the market.
"The villagers seem more friendly than they used to," you murmured to Wonwoo. He angled his head slightly downwards to listen to you. "It must be because you are with me. They respect you."
Wonwoo shook his head. "I cannot take credit for that. This is your own doing. They have heard of your contributions for the orphanage."
You hesitated. "Surely not…"
"My family has been donating money to the orphanage for years but you are the first noblewoman to spend time with the children. The skills you are teaching the girls- music and French- these are skills the nobility usually hoards to themselves. By teaching them to these children, you have made a statement."
You looked up at Wonwoo in surprise.
"It was not my intention to make any statements. I only felt it was unfair that the children did not have the opportunity to learn these skills elsewhere."
"That these children deserve the same opportunities as noble-born children- that is a statement in itself."
You did not know how to answer so you stayed silent. Teaching the children had been a welcome distraction and not an act of rebellion against the societal class structure. You were not sure that you would have volunteered your time for something like this had you still been in London.
But you were not in London. Mrs. Jeon was not a fashionable London debutante. She was the wife of a nobleman in the countryside.
Perhaps it did not really matter what you would have done in your past life.
Sister Lynn had reserved a pair of seats in the front row that were draped in a red cloth to make them stand out. It was evident that you and your husband were the most important guests of the evening, and had been given the prime seats.
Fred came running up to you as soon as you sat down.
"Mrs. Jeon!" he greeted you shyly. He was holding something behind his back and he held it out to you. "I made this for you."
It was a small rose made of red paper. You could not help it- the innocent gesturebrought a smile to your face.
"Thank you, Fred! It is beautiful!" you told the young boy. He smiled and his ears turned pink before he ran back to join the other children waiting by the stage. Wonwoo looked down at the flower and then back up at you- the surprise on his face was unmistakable.
You raised an eyebrow at him. "You need not look so surprised, Wonwoo. As you should know, I have admirers everywhere."
Wonwoo shook his head.
"Your receiving a flower from a child does not surprise me. I was surprised because I have not seen you smile like that… since we were in London."
"Perhaps I have not had much reason to smile since we were in London. You should try giving me a rose sometime. I will be happy to grant you a smile in return," you teased.
Wonwoo looked at you for a long moment and said nothing in response. You wondered if you had overstepped; your husband had not been particularly receptive to flirtation even before he was married. You cleared your throat and turned away but were surprised when Wonwoo suddenly leaned in to murmur in your ear.
"I… would have given you more than one," he said in his calm, deep voice. "Roses must be given in threes."
You felt your heartbeat quicken.
"Empty words considering I have one rose from Fred and none from you, Mr. Jeon," you retorted lightly.
Wonwoo simply shook his head and turned his attention back to the stage as Sister Lynn called for all the guests to settle down; but you could see that the corner of Wonwoo's lips were curved up in the hint of a smile.
"Take your seats, please!" Sister Lynn called out to all the villagers who settled down in the rows of chairs behind you. "The performances are about to begin!"
You settled down to watch. Each of the children had prepared something different and although you had been spending plenty of time with them of late, their talents still surprised you. Fred and some of the other boys performed an amusing little play that they had written themselves. Amelia sang a beautiful French song that you had taught her. Little Jia could not sing- but she recited some poetry in French and her accent was flawless. All the children were treated to generous applause and praise by the audience.
Marie was the last to perform. You were surprised when four of the villagers came in carrying the heavy pianoforte from the orphanage and placed it by the side of the stage.
Sister Lynn called for the attention of the audience.
"Marie will play a waltz that she has been practising on the piano," Sister Lynn announced with a smile. "Our generous benefactress Mrs. Jeon informs us that this is the same waltz which was played last season at the ball hosted by the Duchess of Graham in London- so we are in for a very rare treat indeed."
Wonwoo turned to you with furrowed eyebrows.
"The ball hosted by the Duchess of Graham? Was that not the ball where we-"
"Hush," you said quickly. "Let us dance."
"Dance?" Wonwoo asked you in mild disbelief. "Here? At a children's performance?"
The opening notes of the waltz began. Marie's playing was excellent; you had taught her well. You stood and held your hand out to Wonwoo. Some of the other villagers had also risen from their seats and were beginning to dance- although, having never properly learnt the waltz, they were doing a clumsy imitation of the steps.
"It is the same Viennese waltz that is often played at balls in London. I am sure you recognise it- despite your aversion to social events," you quipped.
Wonwoo took your hand and followed you a short distance away from the chairs. You stepped closer to him- one hand clasped in his, the other placed on his shoulder. You had not worn gloves this evening as formal gloves had seemed excessive in the presence of the villagers.
Wonwoo's bare hand clasped yours. His fingers were warm as he placed his other hand on your back and the simple, but intimate gesture made your heart skip a beat.
"For a man that almost never danced at balls, you are a surprisingly good dancer," you told him with a smile as he slowly guided you into the waltz.
Wonwoo raised an eyebrow at you. "I was trained, like any other gentleman. My mother had me and my sister take formal dance lessons before we entered society."
"Yes; but skills such as dancing often grow rusty from lack of use," you teased him.
"You seem to be grossly underestimating the amount of dancing I did in London. It may not have been enough to suit my mother or the young ladies of the ton, but it was still plenty. I am surprised that you and I have never danced before."
You laughed at the hypocrisy. "How can you possibly be surprised that we have never danced before when you have never asked me to dance?" you demanded.
Wonwoo bit his lip. "You would not have accepted me."
"Nonsense. You were the one who was miserly about granting dances. I never turned one down. I even danced with Mr. Park multiple times- although he constantly trod on my toes and ruined a very pretty pair of shoes I had."
"Then I am out of excuses," Wonwoo confessed.
"You could have told me that you were too nervous to dance with me because of my superior dancing skills," you offered with a playful smile. "That would have been an acceptable excuse."
Wonwoo chuckled. "No. That would have been a bare-faced lie."
You allowed Wonwoo to lead you gently and expertly through the waltz. Many of the villagers had paused their own dancing to watch you- but Wonwoo seemed entirely unconcerned about the audience that you had gathered. He never faltered in his step.
For a brief moment it felt magical. The dark thoughts and worries and loneliness that had incessantly bogged down every waking hour of your life for the past few months disappeared and were replaced with a sort of childish giddiness.
Wonwoo's bare fingers entwined with yours; and his dark but gentle eyes looked down at you steadily without once avoiding your gaze. He lightly bit his soft lips in an attempt to concentrate on the waltz and for a quick moment you could see what you had never seen before. You caught a glimpse through the windows of the fortress he had built around his heart and saw the shadow of a vulnerable, hesitant, caring man trapped on the inside.
"Wonwoo…"
The waltz came to an end. There was a loud applause for Marie and also for you and your husband- many of the villagers had admired your skilful dancing.
"Thank you for the dance," you told your husband lightly as you took a step back from him. He nodded and released you quickly. He was flustered as he only now realised that you had been observed by most of the villagers.
"We should have more music!" one of the villagers suggested. "So that we might dance more!"
Marie, still sitting at the piano, blushed with embarrassment.
"I only learned how to play the one waltz," she admitted shyly. She looked up and her eyes met yours across the garden. "But Mrs. Jeon can play so many more! Mrs. Jeon, would you play us a song that everyone can dance to?"
You hesitated and looked around at the expectant faces. "I-I couldn't. This performance was for the children, it is not my place-"
Wonwoo interrupted you. "I think you should play."
You gave him a sharp look. "What?"
"Play them a song," he replied simply.
You glanced around at the watching villagers and then leaned closer to Wonwoo, lowering your voice "At the children's performance? I hope you are not going to accuse me of being vain if one of them cries because I played better than them?"
"I think Marie may cry if you do not play."
You were surprised when Wonwoo gently took your hand and led you towards the instrument. Marie beamed and vacated the seat for you- you sat in front of the piano and took a deep breath.
"Well- how about a lively one?" you suggested.
You sat down and allowed your fingers to dance over the instrument in a lively waltz- something that the villagers would find entertaining despite not knowing the exact dance steps. Many of them began to dance again. Marie sat down on the stool beside you to watch you play with great interest.
Wonwoo moved a short distance away and leaned against the garden fence to watch you play in silence. You had to focus on the keys so you could not afford to look at him very much- but Marie's eyes were constantly flickering towards your husband.
"Mr. Jeon seems to admire your playing greatly," Marie whispered to you innocently. "Is that how he fell in love with you? Did you perform for him in London and he fell in love?"
You wanted to laugh.
"That is not what happened," you told her. "Where did you get that idea?"
Marie looked flustered. "I read in a book that gentlemen are often impressed by ladies who have excellent musical skills."
"True," you admitted. "But that was not the case with Mr. Jeon."
"Then how did he fall in love with you?"
You bit your lip as you tried to focus on the tune you were playing. You could not blame Marie for her innocent question; it was impossible for her to understand the circumstances behind your marriage that made it difficult for you to answer. For all she knew, you and Mr. Jeon were a perfectly happy married couple.
"You shall have to ask him that," you said simply.
Marie gasped. "I could never! Mr. Jeon looks so terribly serious all the time- although Sister Lynn says he is a very kind person and that we must be very grateful to him."
"But he could smile more," you agreed.
"Yes, I suppose he could. He is frowning at us even now," Marie giggled.
The waltz came to an end; your face was warm with pleasure and you could not stop the smile from spreading across your face when the villagers applauded your performance generously. You stood and thanked them as Wonwoo approached you.
"It is growing late," he told you quietly as he offered you his arm. "Perhaps we should take our leave."
Marie suddenly stood from the stool as well. Her face was flushed as she looked up at your husband.
"Mr. Jeon," she began boldly. "What is it that made you fall in love with Mrs. Jeon?"
Wonwoo looked taken aback by the young girl's sudden question. His eyes widened and he turned to you in confusion. You shook your head lightly- don't ruin her innocence, play along, you tried to tell him with your eyes.
Wonwoo paused for a moment and then looked back down at the little girl.
His response was quiet.
"I fell in love with her because she shines so brightly."
The sunlight streaming through your curtains was not as bright as usual. You were accustomed to sleeping in rather late; it was not as though you were needed anywhere in the mornings, and Mrs. Betsy was more than happy to keep breakfast for you even if you did not come downstairs in time.
But for once, you awoke unusually early and went downstairs hoping- almost expecting- to see your husband.
"Good morning, Mrs. Jeon!" the housekeeper greeted you in surprise when she saw you appear in the breakfast parlour. "You are awake earlier than usual. I will bring out your breakfast momentarily."
You nodded and sat down. "Thank you, Mrs. Betsy. Has… has Mr. Jeon eaten?"
Mrs. Betsy blinked at you in surprise. It was rare for you to ask about your husband; the two of you almost never ate breakfast together.
"I am afraid Mr. Jeon left early this morning for the neighbouring town to take care of some matters of the estate," she informed you simply. "He should return tomorrow."
You nodded. "Oh. I see."
"Were you expecting him?"
"No, no particularly," you said dismissively. You felt suddenly embarrassed that your housekeeper had noticed your disappointment. You thought that after the lovely evening you had spent with your husband at the orphanage, he might actually have breakfast with you. You cleared your throat. "Has the post arrived?"
"Yes, of course."
You busied yourself reading a letter from Ella that contained some gossip about the ton- but your eyes stared blankly at her words without taking them in. Your mind was still replaying moments from the previous night.
The feeling of Wonwoo's fingers entwined with yours, the small smile on his handsome face when you teased him, the way you had been lost in his dark eyes as he guided you through the waltz…
You had danced with possibly hundreds of men before but had never quite felt the same way.
Was it because he was your husband? Was it because, for the first time since your marriage, you had allowed yourself to look at Jeon Wonwoo, really look at the man clearly instead of through lenses clouded by your own self-pity and misery, and see him for who he truly was? That small glimpse of Wonwoo behind his fortress walls was not enough.
You wanted more.
You suddenly craved more of him.
You felt restless for the next two days as you paced the house and waited for Wonwoo's return. You had never bothered to do so before- your husband often spent the night away when he was off on business matters, and you had never once cared to worry about his return.
It was the third day after his absence that you finally heard the sound of the carriage rolling up to the Jeon manor. Snowball perked up his ears and ran to the front entrance of the manor faster than you. The carriage had stopped in front of the main entrance and a man descended- but it was not your husband.
"Joshua?" you asked in shock.
The Viscount and Viscountess Hong descended the carriage. Snowball immediately leapt at your brother, and your sister-in-law came to throw her arms around you.
"Oh; my dear, it is such a relief to see you!" she cried as she embraced you warmly. You embraced her in return- it had been months since you had seen your family and you could not help the tears that pricked your eyes.
"I have missed you so much," you admitted as you hugged her back. Joshua finally managed to hand Snowball off to a servant and came over to give you a warm hug as well. Your brother gripped your shoulders and frowned down at you.
"You look terrible," he told you bluntly.
His wife swatted him. "Joshua!" she cried. "How can you say that to her?"
You did not mind at all; you were far too happy to see them and you called for Mrs. Betsy and the servants to carry their belongings inside and prepare rooms for them. Joshua watched you flitter about with a frown on his face, as you ushered them into the parlour and called for tea and refreshments.
"What brings you here?" you asked Joshua eagerly as your brother and sister-in-law sat down in the parlour. "You did not even write that you were coming- or did I miss your letter? Perhaps I have not been keeping up with my correspondence…"
"We will not be staying long," Joshua replied simply. "We have only come to take you with us."
You blinked at him. "Take me with you? Where?"
"Home, sister."
You stared at him in confusion. "Home? But what…" your eyes widened, suddenly fearing the worst. "Is something wrong with Mother?"
"Mother is healthy and well. Luckily, she does not know what you have been going through," Joshua replied simply. His jaw was clenched; your brother suddenly seemed very unlike himself. "Instead of asking the servants to prepare rooms for us, I think it would be best if you asked them to pack your belongings."
"I don't… I don't understand…"
The Viscountess sat beside you and took your trembling hand in hers. Her voice was gentle. "My dear, I know you have been trying to hide it in your letters but we are aware of how miserable you have been. Mr. Jeon has been corresponding with your brother. We are very worried for your health."
You stiffened. "My health is fine-"
"Mr. Jeon tells us that you have been quite depressed. That you sit in the drawing room for days on end without moving, that you never speak and you never smile. He wrote to us to say that he thought it was best if you went back home."
You felt like you had been slapped.
"Wonwoo wrote to you to take me home?"
Joshua nodded. "Yes. He wrote to me on Sunday and we left immediately upon receiving the letter. I know that you probably did not want to scare us, sister… but you should have said something in your letters. We would never have expected you to stay here if we knew you were so miserable even after all this time."
You could barely hear what your brother was saying. Your head suddenly spun; had Wonwoo done this? He had called your brother to come take you away without a word? Now, after you had finally reached out to him and were beginning to see a glimpse of hope in your future with him?
You felt…
Betrayed.
You stood suddenly. "No, this does not make sense. Surely Wonwoo would not have done this now. Not after the other evening, I…"
"Sister-"
"Mrs. Betsy!" you yelled for the housekeeper, your voice trembling. The older woman came running into the room, wide-eyed. "Where exactly is my husband?"
"I-I believe he is at the inn in the neighbouring town, madam-"
"Send a manservant on horseback to him at once and tell him that I demand him to return home this very instant," you ordered shakily. When the housekeeper stared at you without moving, you clenched your fists. "Was I not clear, Mrs. Betsy? I require this to be done right now!"
"Of course, madam."
You took a deep breath and tried to calm yourself. Surely there was some misunderstanding. It would be resolved. Wonwoo had simply expressed his concerns about your behaviour and your overprotective brother had jumped to his own conclusions…
"You should both go to your rooms to refresh yourselves and dress for supper," you told your brother and sister-in-law. "I… need a few moments."
"Of course."
You felt light-headed for the rest of the evening. Your thoughts were bogged down by a dense fog in your mind as you waited for Wonwoo to arrive. Your stomach clenched, and although you finally sat down to supper with the Viscount and Viscountess, the delicious food only made you feel nauseous.
You had just begun to eat when Mrs. Betsy came into the dining room hurriedly.
"Mr. Jeon has arrived," she announced.
You leapt to your feet as Wonwoo entered the dining room. His eyes were red and his dark hair tousled and windswept; he appeared to have ridden here directly on horseback. He avoided looking at you.
"Viscount Hong, Viscountess Hong," Wonwoo greeted them with a stiff nod. His voice was slightly hoarse.
Your sister-in-law smiled at him.
"Thank you for having us at your home, Mr. Jeon," she said before turning to your brother expectantly. The Viscount said nothing. He did not even stand to greet Wonwoo. His wife nudged him sharply.
"Joshua!" she mumbled.
Your brother looked up at Wonwoo with an expression you had almost never seen on the Viscount's famously kind and gentle countenance- carefully controlled anger.
"I have nothing to say to Mr. Jeon," Joshua replied.
Wonwoo's eyes widened but he was silent. He simply nodded and turned his head away, almost as though accepting defeat. You stood from the table abruptly.
"That does not matter, since I have plenty to say to him," you interrupted the tense silence before striding to the dining room entrance. "Let us speak in your study, Wonwoo."
You did not look back as you took determined, trembling steps towards Wonwoo's study. You could hear your husband following you. You stood silently, one hand on the back of a chair to balance yourself as you waited for Wonwoo to enter the room and close the door behind him.
"Did you write to my brother to tell him to take me home?" you demanded.
Wonwoo was silent. His body was facing you but his eyes were unfocused, looking at the polished wooden floor near your feet instead of into your eyes. His jaw was clenched tightly.
"Wonwoo?" you demanded again, when multiple seconds had passed and he still had not answered.
"...Yes," he replied. "Yes, I did."
Your legs felt weak and your grip on the back of the chair tightened- you were now using it as a crutch to stay standing upright.
"Why?" you asked quietly.
Wonwoo took a deep breath. He would still not look at you. His entire body was stiff and he seemed perfectly satisfied to continue staring at the floor without answering you.
"Wonwoo!" you demanded again.
"I don't know what to say."
You felt a burst of anger explode inside of you at the sight of his lips pressed firmly together.
"Well, you will have to say something! You cannot just stand there in silence and allow me to come up with my own explanations for this… this drastic step that you seemed to think was necessary to take without consulting me! How exactly is this supposed to work? We are married. Do you want me gone for a month? A year?"
Wonwoo said nothing.
"Speak to me!" you yelled. The frustration was building rapidly inside of your chest but you could see that the more you demanded it, the more Wonwoo seemed to be shutting himself off from you. His head hung low and he still would not look at you. His eyes were closed.
"Wonwoo," you said slowly, your voice trembling with anger. "If you do not explain yourself then I have no choice but to assume the worst. I will have to assume that living with me and even speaking to me is so wholly repulsive to you that you cannot stand to do it for a moment longer."
Wonwoo was silent.
You felt your heart sink. It felt as though Jeon Wonwoo had reached inside of your chest and used his cold silence to rip out every remaining shred of hope and dignity you had left.
You felt your throat close up. You were foolish. Foolish to think anything could come of this, foolish to still have entertained any hope in the possibility of happiness after months and months of this slow torture.
"Very well," you whispered. "I will pack my things immediately."
You felt yourself walk out of the study as though you were in a dream. Everything was blurred; the walls seemed to dance in your vision as you ran up the stairs and ordered Rosie and two other maids to bring a trunk and pack all your belongings. Your own voice felt disembodied… almost like it belonged to someone else.
The maids were shocked, but the expression on your face prevented them from asking questions. They hurried to obey your orders. You stood stiffly in your room and watched in a daze as the maids pulled dresses out of your wardrobe and began to fold them into the trunks.
The door to your bedroom opened without a knock.
"Leave us," you heard Wonwoo mumble quietly to the maids. They stood and quickly left the room as Wonwoo entered and closed the door behind him.
"Finally thought of something to say?" you asked him coldly.
Wonwoo walked to your bed and sat down on the edge of it. His broad shoulders were hunched and he bent his head forwards as he ran his fingers through his tousled hair.
"I need a moment," he whispered, almost inaudibly.
You waited. Every moment of silence was agony. It could have been second, minutes… time seemed to lose meaning but finally Wonwoo lifted his head to look up at you. His eyes were red and his voice cracked when he spoke.
"I don't know how to do it," he choked out. "I don't know how to make you happy."
"What?"
"I didn't think it would be this difficult. I thought it would pass- that I could learn in time, but I just don't know. It kills me inside knowing that you are going through so much pain. I can't watch it any longer. I can't watch you become a shell of the person you used to be. You used to light up any room you were in like the blazing sun. I can't watch as that light inside of you dies, slowly, with each passing day that you are here."
"Wonwoo…"
He took a shaky breath. "I've failed. But I can't continue to let my failures as a husband destroy you. You deserve a chance at happiness."
You stared at him. Wonwoo's fists were clenched as he gripped the wooden frame of your bed. His knuckles were white.
"So, your solution," you said slowly. "Your solution was to go behind my back and write to my brother to come and take me away-"
"Your family will know how to fix-"
"Shut up," you hissed. Wonwoo looked up at you in shock. "I don't want to hear your excuses. I have told you this before and I will say it again, Mr. Jeon. I am a grown woman who is capable of making her own choices and decisions. I will not be treated like a child- not by the Viscount and certainly not by my husband!"
Wonwoo swallowed and said nothing.
"And the audacity- the audacity you have to claim that you have failed at something that you never once tried to do!" you snapped. "Tell me, Mr. Jeon. Tell me what valiant attempts you made to make me happy or even be a good husband to me."
"I-I tried to give you your space, your freedom…"
You laughed. "Space? Freedom? You abandoned me here. You built an impenetrable iron wall the size of a godforsaken fortress between us and you left me here to rot!"
"Every conversation we have had somehow turns to an argument. You never wanted this marriage, you never wanted to marry me, and I did not want to force myself upon you unwillingly!" Wonwoo retorted, his eyes flaming.
"Then you should have said so! You should have spoken to me instead of running away because a marriage cannot sustain itself on silence, Wonwoo! No relationship can sustain itself on silence! You had to speak to me and tell me how you were feeling!"
Wonwoo stood and went to the large window in your bedroom. He turned his back to you as his hand grabbed the windowsill.
"I'm sorry," he whispered.
Your anger slowly deflated. "No, I… you are not alone in fault. I share the blame. I was too wrapped up in feeling sorry for myself and mourning the life I lost. I watched you build distance between us and I did nothing to stop it. I never gave this marriage a chance. Neither of us gave this marriage a proper chance. For heaven's sake, that connecting door has been locked since our wedding night."
Wonwoo's eyes briefly flickered towards the connecting door that led to his bedroom and nodded.
"Maybe so," he admitted quietly. "Maybe we never really tried hard enough."
You stepped closer to him.
"But I thought things were changing," you confessed weakly. "I thought maybe we were finally beginning to understand each other. After that night at the orphanage, when we danced together and you were speaking to me and smiling at me, I finally, finally felt…"
Wonwoo turned to look at you.
"What?" he asked gently.
"I finally felt like you were my husband," you finished. "But clearly I was mistaken, since whatever happened that evening prompted you to write to my brother to take me away."
Wonwoo bit his lip.
"I saw how happy you were that night," he admitted. "I know that we never spent much time together or got along in London but… whatever disagreements we may have had, you were always someone that shined so brightly wherever you went. I saw that light die out when you married me. I was beginning to think it was gone forever. But I saw a glimmer of it when we danced and when you played the piano. I thought it was better if you went back to your family before that light died out completely."
You stepped closer to him. Wonwoo's dark eyes searched for yours and you could see the way his lower lip trembled.
"I was happy that night," you told him gently. "But it was not because I missed dancing or music. It was because I finally felt some hope for my future. I caught a glimpse of you-of the real you that you hide behind your silence- and I thought that if only I could see more of that man, I might someday come to love him."
Wonwoo's jaw tightened. "Do you mean that?"
"More than anything."
He turned away from the window and closed the distance between you both with one large stride- and then he kissed you.
You had not expected it. It was not something that you had ever even dared to imagine, kissing Wonwoo. But his warm hands slid into the strands of your hair and he pulled you flush against him as his lips closed softly and passionately over yours.
You took a few moments to react. You had never been kissed before, but your body was a few steps ahead of your mind and it melted naturally and comfortably against Wonwoo's. Your hands grasped at his broad shoulders and you pulled yourself closer to him. Your lips parted for him eagerly, inhaling his familiar scent, and enjoying the rush of adrenaline that was pumping through every inch of your body.
Wonwoo pulled back breathlessly after a few moments- he pressed his forehead to yours and you felt his warm breath against your face.
"Perhaps-" he whispered breathlessly. "Perhaps I should not have…"
"No," you insisted as you brought your hand up to rest on the side of Wonwoo’s neck and brushed his cheek with your thumb. "No, Wonwoo, we should have done this long, long ago."
He nodded. You felt his shoulders relax and his dark eyes flickered down to yours. There was a hesitation mixed with a deep longing behind them.
"Do you still want me to return with my brother?" you whispered.
He swallowed. "I don't… I don't know."
"What does that mean?"
"I want you to be happy," Wonwoo said firmly. "If you stay here, and you are still lonely and miserable…"
"I don't know where or how I will be happy," you told him gently. "But if things here change… if we open up to each other more, if we can spend more time together and discuss our feelings and set aside all the guilt and resentment and anger…"
Wonwoo took a deep breath.
"I don't know if I can make you happy," he admitted to you hesitantly. "I don't know if I can make you love me."
"It's not a question of making me do anything, Wonwoo. You need to stop considering my happiness as some burden that you have to bear in silence, and simply be here, with me. That is all I ask."
"I can do that."
"And I will stop pitying myself and mourning the life I left behind," you told him. "And I will try-genuinely try- to rebuild a new life with you."
"Do you think we can do this?"
"We owe it to each other to try."
"All right," Wonwoo said gently. He brought his hand up to caress your cheek and you saw the warmth, the hope in his own expression. You saw the vulnerability in his eyes when he spoke. "Then let us try again. Together. Stay with me, please."
"I will."
—-----------------------------------------------
Viscount Hong was not pleased when you informed him that you would not be going back with him the next morning. He watched in stony silence as his wife arranged for all their belongings to be reloaded onto their carriage.
"Joshua," you tried to soothe his anger.
He ignored you. He was looking at your husband.
"You made me a promise," Joshua said coldly, frowning at Wonwoo. "The night when the scandal broke out, when you offered to marry my sister… you promised me that you would do everything in your power to keep her safe and happy. I trusted you and vouched for you; as a friend and a fellow gentleman."
Wonwoo took a deep breath. "I'm sorry. I made mistakes, I-"
"Wonwoo, stop," you insisted firmly. "You don't need to explain anything to my brother, what happened between us is about our marriage-"
Joshua frowned. "Then how do I trust him again?"
"There is no need for you to trust Wonwoo. You can trust me. I am telling you that I want to stay here, Joshua- it is that simple."
The Viscountess called out to her husband-"My dear, the carriage is waiting!" and Joshua finally embraced you in a brotherly hug.
"If something happens, you will write to me," he told you firmly.
"I will."
"Goodbye, sister."
You waved goodbye to the Viscount and Viscountess as they boarded their carriage and it rattled away from the estate. Wonwoo seemed tense- you turned to him with a smile and placed a hand on his shoulder.
"Well," you said with a small smile. "Perhaps I should congratulate you on being the only person in this world who has managed to make an enemy out of Viscount Hong."
Wonwoo laughed dryly.
"Very humorous, Mrs. Jeon. I am glad that it pleases you for your brother to hate me," he replied.
You smiled. "He will forgive you."
"I hope so. I am almost grateful that we are not in a position to return to society in London just yet- I know that is where he keeps his duelling pistols."
You giggled. You began to walk back to the manor and you were surprised when Wonwoo suddenly reached out and took your hand in his, lacing your fingers together. There was a small smile on his handsome face.
"How bold," you quipped lightly. "Do you usually go about touching women in this intimate manner?"
"Only when that woman is my wife and I am in my own home," Wonwoo replied.
"Is this an indication that I should unlock the connecting door between our bedrooms?" you teased him lightly.
His ears turned red. "If it pleases you."
"But would it please you?"
Wonwoo pressed his lips together tightly but his grip on your hand did not loosen. "Or perhaps," he suggested with a small smile. "We could go on a honeymoon instead. Have you ever seen Rome?"
You stared at him in disbelief. "Are you serious?"
"Very much so."
"We have been married for many months now. What will people think if we suddenly abandon the estate and take off for Rome like a pair of newlyweds?" you demanded.
Wonwoo chuckled. "People already think many things about us. I sincerely doubt that a trip to Rome will be the breaking point for our reputation in society."
"I will need new dresses if we are to go to Rome," you said thoughtfully. "The seamstresses in the village are competent but they hardly know the latest fashions."
Wonwoo raised an eyebrow.
"I am sure that can be arranged," he replied.
"And new shoes and the latest jewellery. There is no silk to be found in this part of the countryside; we shall have to have it brought in from London. Perhaps a little extra fabric would be best- I've been meaning to have the curtains and upholstery in the drawing room replaced- they are quite dreary. The dining room could do with some refurbishment as well. And Wonwoo…"
He hummed. "Yes?"
You smiled at him. "I have been thinking that a new grand pianoforte would be an excellent addition to the library."
Wonwoo blinked. For a moment his dark eyes were unreadable and you were worried that you had gone too far- but he suddenly used your entwined hands to pull you into him and his other arm wrapped around your waist.
His head came down to place a soft kiss against the side of your neck and he whispered hoarsely in your ear.
"Mrs. Jeon."
"Hmmm," you mumbled.
"Unless you wish to return with your Viscount brother, perhaps it would be best not to spend the entire Jeon family fortune in one day?"
You bit your lip as you nodded. "Y-yes, of course."
"Good," Wonwoo replied as he released you gently. Your face had turned warm and he smiled at how flustered the simple intimate contact had made you. "Let us have breakfast."
I may have grown attached to this piece... too attached that I don't want to stop reading. I loved every bit of the installment 😭 Thank you for writing this!!
➝ nonidol!au // friends with benefits to ?? // fluff // ...slice of life? // angst if u squint
➝ word count: 3.5k~
➝warning: no smut scenes but there are mentions of sex and implications of it so minor dni!! mentions of alcohol, food, curses. very self indulgent bc i write this for my birthday hehe. this wonwoo made an appearance <3
➝A/N: hi. so this wasn't exactly... planned. i was just randomly sitting down with my google doc open and suddenly i finished writing... this in one day. gotta say that, when you do write for yourself, it is much easier to write and it's been quite some time since i'm actually happy with what i put out. but also just to put it out there, this fic is actually finished somewhere before february ended but i decided to post it for my birthday because i did start writing it with the thoughts 'i miss wonwoo' and 'i kinda wanna post smth on my bday' so. enjoy. i'm happy to say i'm content with how this one turns to be. here's to turning 25 lol
[✾✾✾]
You hear the door open, signalling Wonwoo’s arrival, and when you feel his presence nearby, you don’t even look up from your phone when you say, “No.”
Wonwoo smiles in amusement, irking an eyebrow as he settles next to you. “I haven’t said anything though?”
“You’re gonna ask me out again.” You roll your eyes, already used to his antics. You don’t even pretend to care about his mock heartache anymore when he clutches his chest.
You’re not sure what Jeon Wonwoo has in his mind, but he’s been asking you out on dates everytime he sees you since last month. Problem is, you see him a lot. A little hard not to with the friends with benefits situation that has been going on between you and him for the last six months.
Even right now, you’re in his place. You’ve been here since almost half an hour ago, entertaining yourself as you wait for Wonwoo to get home because he’s out when you called, and when he said you’re allowed to use the access he’s given you some time ago, you decided to barge into his place like it’s your own.
You’re practically here more often than in your own dorm, anyway.
It almost feels like a second home to you.
But you don’t want to think too much about it. Not about the fact that you have access to Wonwoo’s place. Not about the fact that you’re basically exclusive. Not about the fact that you talk to him practically everyday.
Nope.
“You don’t even pretend to consider it anymore.” He sighs, and you hate that you can’t tell if he’s joking or not. You’ve been telling him to cut it out, but it surely doesn’t look like he has any plans of listening to you. “Here, I got this for you.”
Now that catches your attention, and you actually jump a little on the sofa before you take the small package, take Wonwoo’s face in your arms, and kiss him square in the lips as a thank you.
“You won’t go on a date with me but will kiss me over some cookies. Nice,” he grumbles, though the grin blooming into his face when you pull away betrays him.
Clutching the cookie into your chest like it’s the most precious thing in the world, you regard him with stars in your eyes. “Where did you even find this? I’ve been looking for this forever and I couldn’t find it! I don’t even know the name of the shop that sells this?”
“I’m just capable like that.” He shrugs like it’s nothing, telling you he was out with a friend and the packaging looked familiar so he got it just in case. You’ve been telling him about that craving of yours, a chocolate rum cookie that some random classmate offered some time ago–one that is so good but you don’t know the brand, only remember the flavour and the packaging.
And you can’t even ask that classmate again because she was an exchange student that you’ve only spoken for a total of two times in your life, and she has returned to her country.
You don't even know her name.
“You have to tell me where you got this.” The packaging just has to be so empty; a very simple but elegant design that doesn’t state the shop’s name whatsoever.
“Mmm. Perhaps if you say yes I’ll bring you there.”
“No.”
“Hard pass then.” He chuckles and messes your hair. “Eat. I’ll buy you some more if you’re a good girl.”
The innuendo is not purposeful on his part, and it’s two seconds later that he realizes what he’s just said and he cringes so hard that you laugh, because as much as it’s physical between the two of you, Wonwoo absolutely abhors that particular… moniker. It’s always been an on-going joke between you two, and you laugh some more when his frown deepens, launching yourself into his lap and peppering kisses on his jaw.
“You want me to be one?”
“Shut up.” He grunts, though his arms wrap around your waist anyway and he bends his neck to give you more access.
“I can be if you want to, you know?” You whisper against his ear, not missing the way his hold tightens around you. You’re suddenly very aware of the fact that the only thing separating you and him is the clothes you’re wearing.
“Shut up.” He repeats and kisses you some more. When it gets almost hard to breath, he doesn’t forget to get the cookie out of your grasp and carefully places it on the coffee table before hauling you up and carrying you into his room, your squeal and laughter echoes throughout his empty apartment.
You don’t get to eat your chocolate rum cookie until later that evening, already showered and dressed in Wonwoo’s oversized hoodie as you cuddle into his chest with a movie playing in front of you.
[✾✾✾]
You don’t know what’s taking Wonwoo so long, but he’s already fifteen minutes late without any text messages so you decide you’ll just get some drink first and let loose. He’s probably going to be pissed because he’s never liked it when you go to a bar by yourself (something about men looking at what’s his, whatever that means) but whatever, it’s his fault for being late and you’re currently not relaxed enough to wait for him by yourself in a place full of people.
The whiskey burns your throat in a pleasant way, though now that you think about it, you shouldn’t have drunk everything in one go when you still have moments to spare as you wait for Wonwoo. But, then again, you can always just order more.
You’ve never been to this bar before, but after hearing how good the vibe is from a friend, you decided to go to check it out. Clubs have never really been your style–people are way too drunk and the music is too loud.
Your friend is absolutely correct when she said you would fit right with this particular bar; there are just enough people for it to be crowded but not really crowded that you get dizzy. Plus, the music is up to your taste and you find yourself nodding to whatever’s playing in the background as you scan through the sea of people while you lean on the wooden bar.
You were just about to order again when someone joins you by the bar, a tall, handsome man that doesn’t look sleazy at first glance. And he’s offering to buy you a drink. You subtly try to check him out; this guy is definitely taller and bigger than Wonwoo, though he doesn’t look harmful and he doesn’t look like he’s hunting for prey. His smile when he offers to pay for your drink looks… honest, if anything. The guy doesn’t even look flirty. Perhaps he thinks you’re interesting and are in need of some company.
The side of your lips lift in an amused smile, Wonwoo will be pissed as fuck if he finds out, but do you care? No you don’t. You’re not going to turn down free drinks from a handsome stranger that doesn’t look dangerous.
“So how come you’re by yourself?” He bends to your height, not too close that it makes you uncomfortable, and just enough for you to hear him over the music. “I’m Mingyu, by the way.”
Hmm. Handsome and with manners.
“Why do you want to know?” You answer with a teasing smile, sipping on your cocktail. Mingyu laughs when you say you’re not telling him his name, if only because he hasn’t earned it yet, and you’re pleasantly surprised when he says it’s understandable and he’s glad you know how to play your cards. “What about you, why are you by yourself?”
“Eh. I just feel like drinking tonight and you seem to be someone who doesn’t mind talking to strangers.”
“Ouch. Is that how I look like? Easy?” You pretend to be offended, and it’s almost cute how Mingyu laughs yet again and rephrases his words. If this was you six months ago, you’d definitely flirt with him and eat up everything that comes out of his mouth, perhaps you’d even end up going back with him. The guy is handsome and you can actually hold conversations with him, which is already a very big difference compared to a lot of guys that have tried talking you up in places like this.
But alas. Your eyes twinkle as you catch the figure of the man who’s the exact reason why you’re not flirting with Mingyu making his way towards you, why you don’t feel the excitement that used to rush through your blood at times like this, and why ‘handsome’ is the only thing you think of Mingyu even though he seems much more than that.
You don’t care enough to think about Mingyu in different aspects.
The way Wonwoo immediately grabs your waist is almost funny, and you have to actually bite your lip and clutch the cocktail glass between your fingers to stop yourself from grinning. “I’ve been looking for you.”
“Your boyfriend?” Mingyu asks goodnaturedly–almost concerned, even–making sure he’s not some random guy who’s grabbing you without consent.
“Yes.” Wonwoo almost growls, and you have to plant your palm on his chest to calm him down, telling him Mingyu is harmless even though your ears are heating up from his word. You’d need to get back to that boyfriend thing later.
Mingyu sends you a look, and you’re absolutely, thoroughly would’ve swooned if you’re… uh… single (you are) and you’re not seeing… anyone (huh?). But you send him a smile, an actual smile this time, and you nod before you tell him it’s nice meeting him.
Wonwoo refuses to look at the interaction, but you can tell that he’s more relaxed than he was seconds ago and his grip on your waist is now replaced with his thumb caressing you through the material of your dress.
Would it hurt to push his button one more time?
“Hey.” You call to Mingyu once again when he’s about to leave, making both guys turn to you in confusion–Wonwoo more so in betrayal–and when you tell him you’d love to see him again someday and finally tell him your name with a wink, Mingyu gets exactly what you’re playing at. Another laugh bubbles out of his throat and he returns the gesture with a ‘have fun!’ before making his way out of your sight.
“What the fuck was that?”
It’s not often that Wonwoo curses, and you know you’ve pushed just enough of his buttons for him to react this way. If anything, though, adoration fills your chest and you have to physically hold yourself back from squeezing his cheeks.
“What? You were late and he accompanied me. Nice guy, right?” You try to play innocent, placing your glass on the bar and turning in his arm to face him. He looks especially nice today, with his hair styled a little and a denim jacket that you haven’t seen him worn before. You can feel your heartbeat picking up the longer you stare at him, and you don’t register what’s coming out of his mouth because you’re lost in your head.
Your eyes fall to his lips, and it’s when he clicks his tongue that you finally look back at him, eyes meeting his in mock innocence.
“You’re not listening to me, are you?”
You shake your head to confirm his suspicion. The guy can't even get mad at you even if he wants to.
“So.” Wonwoo raises his eyebrow in question, urging you to continue. “Boyfriend, huh?”
Wonwoo opens his mouth to say something, but you don’t give him room to talk more because you already dive into his lips, your palms on his shoulders and his arms wrap around you once again–probably muscle memory at this point. There’s no rush in this kiss though, you really just feel like kissing him and you do exactly that. Wonwoo doesn’t seem to mind either, because his lips chase yours when you’re about to pull away.
“Won I–”
“Hmm?”
“I need to–”
“Mmm.”
“Need to–”
“To what?” He finally pulls away, annoyed that you keep on trying to pull away. Even in the dim lighting of the bar, you can tell that he’s a little flushed too and there’s something about it that makes your heartbeat speed up once again. Were you two just… kissing in a public space for no reason at all?
“Need to breathe, baby.” You finish your sentence, suddenly shy now that you’re looking at each other. You dive into his neck before he catches your embarrassment though, and he simply chuckles before he takes a sip of your drink, whatever annoyance in his chest from looking at you and Mingyu, whoever that guy is, disappears just like that.
God, it’s not funny how whipped he is for you.
“What are you doing tomorrow?”
“Nothing.”
“Let’s go on a date.”
“Not a chance.” You beam, though you reject him with a kiss on his cheek and you tell him to finish your drink because you don’t feel like being here anymore. You won’t let him ponder too long on your rejection though, your fingers caressing his neck and your lips finding his ear. “Actually, let’s go back to your place. I don’t have anything to do tomorrow.”
Wonwoo shudders a little at that, still not used to the way you’d get vocal about what you want when you’re tipsy. That’s your code of saying you want to have rough sex all night–or however he would have you, really.
So Wonwoo finishes your drink in one go and grabs your hand to pull you out of the bar, missing the way you exchange grins with Mingyu as you accidentally catch his eyes before you exit the place.
[✾✾✾]
“You know you’ll spend less money if you just tell me where to buy these cookies?” You pout, still trying to get it out of him.
He doesn’t relent though, simply shrugs and places your hot chocolate on the table. “I don’t mind buying you things.”
“But whyyyy.” You whine, crossing your legs to face him on the sofa.
“I told you I’d bring you there if you go on a date with me.”
You stare at him, mind wandering to how easy it is for him to say this over and over again. You still don’t know why he’s suddenly so adamant about that, and while you actually do feel butterflies in your whole body everytime he does it, sometimes you wonder if he’s just messing with you.
Does he really mean it?
But if he does, wouldn’t he eventually be done with you because you keep on rejecting him?
But if you say yes and he’s actually just joking–what does that make you?
What if you try it out and it… messes things up?
You’re happy with whatever you have with him now, and you trust each other enough to know you are exclusive. Is there really any need to put a label between you two?
“Hey, you okay?” He asks, snapping you out of your daze.
“Huh. Yeah, sorry. You were saying?”
You see the way Wonwoo presses his lips together and you can tell the gears are turning in his head. But he beats you to it before you can ask, and your heart breaks a little at how soft he sounds.
“Am I making you uncomfortable?”
“What? No!” You sit straight, taken aback from the sudden turn of the conversation. “What makes you say that?”
Wonwoo sighs and repeats his words. But he faces you this time and, for the first time since he asked you the question he’s been asking you the past few months, it’s obvious how unsure he is, as if he’s suddenly questioning himself on what he’s been doing.
“Am I making you uncomfortable by asking you out on a date?”
“Oh… Wonwoo…” You take his hand, your desire to comfort him bigger than anything. You don’t like seeing him like this, and as much as your own thoughts have been haunting you, you suppose you do need to talk about it one way or another. “No, you’re not. But… Can I ask you something?”
He doesn’t answer, but you take the way he squeezes your hand as a ‘yes’.
“Why?”
He doesn’t seem to get your question, his eyebrows furrowing in confusion. “What do you mean why?”
“Why do you suddenly want to date me?”
It’s almost comical the way he blinks slowly, then repeatedly, like he doesn’t get why you’d ask that. He thinks carefully before he says his next words though, and he mentally winces at what he’s about to say but there’s really no other way to say it.
“We’ve been… sleeping together for, like, six months.” He starts, and his face contorts like the words personally offend him. But the more you listen to him talk about all the things you’ve been doing the past few months, how you’re basically a couple without the title, the more you feel both warm and afraid about however this talk is going to end.
You don’t realize you’ve been holding his hand tighter, but he doesn’t say anything and you realize how protective you actually feel of Wonwoo because it doesn’t sit well with you that he seems to consider himself so small.
“It’s not… sudden. I’ve just finally gathered enough courage to ask you.”
“I’m afraid.” You throw it out there the moment you open your mouth, not sure how to tell him except to just go straight to the point.
“Of what?”
“Falling in love.” You cast your eyes down to where your hand and his are joined. “Of being attached to you.”
For a moment, the air around you seems to tense ten-fold that you’re sure you can cut through it with a knife. But when Wonwoo doesn’t say anything, you brace yourself for more honesty and continue.
“I’m… already attached to you more than I thought I could be with anyone. And it scares me sometimes. What if you leave me? I think I’d be able to cope better if you decide to end things with our current… relationship than an actual one. It scares me.”
You feel his hand letting go of yours, and you panic that he’s finally had enough, but he cups your face in his palms to calm you down, and as much as you’re anxious, you can feel yourself calming under his gaze.
“If you want me to be honest, I think I already like you more than whatever you probably feel for me.” He smiles so softly you almost cry. And when you’re about to refute his words, he gently places his finger on your lips to keep you silent. “And no, that’s not something I want to debate with you. I’m fine with liking you more. I want to like you more than you like me. Will you let me do that?”
You open your mouth to say something–anything, but nothing comes out except for your tears so you simply nod and fall into his embrace. Your tears dry up almost immediately after that, but you sniffle a little as his words echo in your mind. Wonwoo probably doesn’t know what he’s talking about, because you’ve liked him for as long as you can remember. Probably not long after you started your deal with him.
He doesn’t know how you melt every time he takes care of you. How you’d try to stay awake longer after he falls asleep after another night of passionate sex, his arm over your body and your back against his chest, just so you can pretend it’s real between you two. How you’d remind yourself that it’s not real when you wake up in his place even though you’d still drag yourself out to make breakfast for him, willing your heart to calm down when he wakes up moments later, hugging you from behind even though you tell him to move away.
You probably already love him more than he can imagine.
“What are you doing tomorrow?” You ask once you’ve calmed down, getting out of his embrace to look into his eyes.
“Nothing. Why?” He tilts his head, a little confused at the sudden change of topic.
“Let’s go on a date?” You ask shyly, though your eyes immediately cast downwards again once you realized you can’t handle looking him in the eye as you ask him this. But that’s why you missed the way his face blooms into a grin, missed the way his eyes suddenly twinkle brighter than every single star in the universe combined. “I think you promised to tell me where you buy those cookies if I go on a date with you.”
He laughs at that and throws his arms around you, so tight that it hurts a little. But you don’t say anything, happy that you’re here in his arms and a little giddy now that everything’s out of your chest.
Wonwoo pulls away and cups your face once again, then searches for something in your face before he closes his eyes and gives you the softest kiss you’ve ever experienced in your life. A promise. One that says he’s not going to leave and he’s going to try his best to remove every single doubt you have in your mind.
this has been on my queue since.. 6 days ago apparently. but anyway! if any of you is seeing this, this absolute self indulgence of a oneshot will drop in March 5, 00:00 KST <3 pls look forward to it heh
⟡ some nights
⟡ hong joshua // 761 words
⟡ no sensitive contents
⟡ hello! i'm back with another installment of my short fic series—some nights. this has been in my drafts since holiday season but i haven't had the time to polish it up. also, after writing here for 2 years (time flew by so quickly!), i finally launched by ko-fi account (yay!). there's nothing there yet but i'll probably tell you guys if i ever post something there :) anyways, i hope you enjoy this fic.
⟡ other stories
that night when you and joshua miss home
The sound of the train doors opening woke you up.
Sleepily, you looked around and saw that you were near your station. You immediately sat up straight and checked your phone for the time. It was already nearing midnight.
After having a really busy day and hopping in a train immediately after work to travel for five hours from Busan to Seoul, it was no wonder you fell asleep. It didn't help that every passenger on the subway was so quiet you could only hear the therapeutic sound of the wagons moving over the rails. It wasn't surprising though, especially since it was the last train of the day. Everyone was probably as tired as you.
You unlocked your phone and messaged your boyfriend Joshua.
'Are you already asleep? :)'
Your job as an event planner assistant usually requires you to go in and out of the office to meet with clients. Traveling from place to place is nothing new to you. However, you were assigned to a big event in Busan, which is approximately 3-5 hours away from Seoul. Given that the client and the suppliers were mostly in Busan, the event team were to temporarily stay there.
It is your first big event since you started working. At the same time, it is also the first time you'll be in a sort of long distance relationship with Joshua. You're not sure if you were to be happy or sad about it.
At first, you were handling it quite well. The late night video calls after your busy days were enough to keep you from missing him. However, a month into that set-up, there were some nights you missed him so badly you cry after your late night calls.
And tonight was one of those nights.
As soon as you handed in your deliverable for the day, you immediately took a train back to Seoul. He would probably scold you for traveling after a tiring day but you really wanted to see him.
You wanted to be home.
The train finally reached your stop but Joshua hasn’t replied yet. He was probably asleep. Should you go home to your apartment tonight and just go to him early tomorrow? But the image of his confused sleepy face if you come knocking at his door this time of the night was pretty tempting.
You were walking out of the exit, contemplating whether to surprise him tonight or not when a figure stepped in front of you. You were about to move aside to give the stranger some room to walk to when the familiar whiff of perfume hit your nose. Immediately, you looked up and gasped.
“Hi?” Joshua grinned, probably enjoying your surprised expression.
Your tired mind was having a hard time catching up on what’s happening. You were supposed to surprise him in his apartment. He was supposed to be asleep. You were supposed to knock on his door and jump into his embrace as soon as he opened the door.
He wasn’t supposed to be standing in front of you, still in his office clothes at midnight, smiling down at you.
“Shua?” was the only word you said, still frozen in surprise.
“I was about to surprise you too,” he explained, still chuckling at your reaction. “But when I asked your workmates about where you’re staying and what time you’ll be out, they told me you’re headed here. So I just waited for you...”
You stared at him, still couldn’t believe that he’s in front of you. But when your gaze traveled from his face down to his hand which was holding a small bouquet of flowers, reality finally dawned on you. Your tears welled up. Your hands flew to cover your face that’s starting to get flooded by tears.
“You even have flowers,” you cried.
Joshua laughed as he pulled you into a tight embrace. He kissed the top of your head and gently rubbed your back. “I missed you so much,” he whispered.
You cried more as he enveloped you with warmth—both your tired body and your weary heart. Being in his arms felt like finally lying down on a soft bed after a long day. His gentle pats on your back felt like the encouragement you badly needed to go on. His little kisses on the top of your head felt like your favorite dream that you would always remember.
And when he pulled away, cradling your tear-stricken face in his hands, you couldn’t help but say, “I’m home...”
Joshua smiled, wiping your tears away. “I am, too.”
summary — “if there is a nice person, please introduce him to me. sometimes like water, sometimes like fire. someone who can love me sincerely. i hope he is someone who is mature and faithful…” (introduce me a good person, joy)
pairing — doctor!wonwoo x doctor!reader of svt hospital
genre/trope — fluff, angst, friends to lovers
warning(s) — medical terminology is not 100% accurate, please don’t pay attention to timestamps unless stated lol, cheating/infidelity (wonu isn’t the cheater), cursing, emotionally constipated wonwoo + y/n, more to be added…
updates — saturdays at 2pm (pst)
taglist — open.
please refer to and/or fill out my taglist google form on my masterpost that’s pinned on my blog
author’s note — i hope you all enjoy!! please don’t forget to like, reblog, and let me know your opinions on this (,:
The bots have apparently realized they were too obvious and now don't add a description or title to their blogs at all so reminder to any new users to have Something there or you'll end up blocked and reported by mistake
Hi !!! If you don't mind, i would like to request Fluff 27 + Angst 4 with SVT Wonwoo pleaseeee??? Thank you!!
Hi, ofc, thanks for requesting!
Wonwoo (Seventeen) | "Don't go. Not yet." & Empty side of the bed
fluff | 0.6k
You really should’ve put on the slippers. The floor is so cold you involuntarily hop every few steps to avoid your feet touching the icy surface just for a second longer.
You hoped you’d get used to it and forget about it as you moved around the kitchen preparing your breakfast. Well, no such luck. It’s still cold, but at least once you’re done and set your plate on the table, you can sit down and tuck your legs under your body. It’s an awkward position to sit in but it beats losing your feet to frostbite.
You eat in silence for a bit, scrolling on your phone, when you hear a few choice words mumbled from the direction of your bedroom. You chuckle to yourself, quickly attempting to make yourself look more put together.
It doesn’t take much longer for something to land right beside your chair and two arms enveloping you from behind.
“Good morning,” you greet, getting a mumbled answer as Wonwoo presses his face into the crook of your neck. You melt into him, gratefully letting him surround you in his warmth.
“Why’d you get up so early?” he complains. It’s rare to hear him whine but you guess it is a ridiculous hour for him to be up.
“I told you I need to do some shopping today,” you remind him, “I thought I’d just get it over with and let you sleep in.”
“Don’t go,” he frowns, “Not yet.” His hug gets just a little tighter. You almost feel bad for even suggesting leaving. However, with how cute he’s being you can’t resist the temptation to tease him.
“Why? Would you miss me?” you smile, humming happily when he mumbles a ‘yes’ before kissing the top of your head.
“The bed is too cold and empty without you,” he whispers right into your ear, and you swear he smirks when he feels the shiver that runs down your spine. He’s always been good at making you bend to his will. “I don’t like it. It’s like you’ve left.”
It really borders on blackmailing. You’ll allow it though - if only because the sentiment is very much shared. You could of course argue that you need to bear it every time he’s on tour but you knew what to expect and accepted it.
“Carry me? The floors are so cold,” you pout. It’s not like you’re serious, yet before you can at least try to make your case stronger, you notice your pair of comfy slippers right next to your chair. You chuckle, slipping them on and squeezing Wonwoo in a hug when you stand up. “You’re perfect.”
“Efficient and lazy,” he counters, “I knew you’d try to get me to carry you.”
“I wouldn’t,” you correct him, “Wouldn’t want my perfect boyfriend straining himself so early in the morning.” He hums in response, his arm lingering around your waist as he guides you back to the bedroom. You turn back to look at your abandoned half-empty mug and dirty plate but any thoughts of doing the dishes fly out of our mind when he squeezes your hip. Yeah, those definitely can wait - unlike your boyfriend.
You chuckle at the sight of the bed - the blankets neatly stretched across his half while yours is quite messy. As soon as you get on the bed, though, and curl up to him, you understand. It’s pleasantly warm on his side, like he hasn’t left at all.
“Sleep in with me,” he murmurs into your hair, “I promise I’ll take you shopping later. Just stay for a bit longer with me.”
Hi! Similar to my previous works, this is not yet proofread and was written poorly (I know). I was planning to post this on SK's birthday but I got distracted. Anyway, I hope you'll like this and please let me know how I can improve my writings. Thank you! :)
Ps. I was listening to this song and got inspired to write this fic hehe. You might want to give it a listen ^^
Pps. Belated happy birthday to our bootamin! Let's give them more love this year <3
Seungkwan is adamant. He knows what he wants and will dilligently work to earn his goals. He's never hasty with decisions and often check on the pros and cons repeatedly before acting on it. True to his friends' words, he is indeed one resolute man.
But even the strongest have weaknesses. Batman has a kryptonite— and so is he, who's now unsure whether he did the right thing for his heart's sake, for his sake.
For a moment he wished that there is a time machine to undo his hasty decisions brought by the emotions he tries so hard to keep in. But no such thing could erase his messages and a promise of song he would lovingly sing, wishing you'd hold onto the words like how you got him wrapped around your fingers.
"You're out of it again, Seungkwan. Are you drunk?" the sound of your voice brought him back to reality, following your chuckles as you tell him how long he was staring blankly at you.
"Shut up. I wasn't even able to drink with the members tonight" he retorted as he passed you a can of beer. "I pity them, though. I'm having one right now"
"I don't think one can of beer can get you drunk. If that was your plan for inviting me tonight, you failed Boo Seungkwan" you rolled your eyes at him and munched on the snacks you bought on the way to the hill.
"I wasn't planning on getting drunk. I told you we'll be stargazing" with dismissive hand gesture, the apple of his eyes replied, "It's the first time you weren't thinking thoroughly. There are no stars. Can't you see?" For the nth time, you rolled your eyes at him and quickly changed your position. He gave you a glance as you sat beside him and rested your head on his shoulders, continuing to munch on your snacks.
For a second, he looked at the sky and saw nothing but dark clouds. But was it really the first time he didn't think through things? There are more times than that, if he would remember corre tly. Like how he skipped practice to make sure you'll get home safe or how he bailed on his trip, planned months before, with Seokmin the last minute so he can accompany you to your family dinner — but he will never tell you that. At least, not now.
He huffed. "I guess we'll be SKYgazing then." He took a sip of his own beer and let his eyes wander around. The surroundings felt like home and kind of gave him light albeit dark. This is how he pictured his future, long ago. Peace. Silence. With you.
It doesn't matter if you'll end up with someone else. He promised himself that he'd be the best friend you can always count on. He'd stay with you through thick and thin, be the best uncle your future children could ever ask for, and give you all the support you need even if he's just on the sidelines.
But, as long as no dude has the guts to take you away from him, he'd wait for a miracle— for you to magically see him from a different light and realize how your best friend is smitten and is actually head over heels in love with you. If only... if only you could see.
To fulfill his promise earlier, he started singing lines from their song imperfect love, knowing how much you loved it because it gives you feelings you can't explain.
Seungkwan didn't realize that you linked your arms with his the entire time, not until your grip tightened as the song came to an end. He wouldn't dare look at you for he knows he might kiss you right then and there because of how giddy he feels inside. "used to this.."
"What did you say?" you let go of his arms only to turn and face him. "I said, I can get used to this." You started. "You know... it's just me and you, us. Amidst the chaotic world we live in, I can only ever find peace if I'm with you. I don't mind living my life if every single day would be spent with you, Seungkwan."
The man was loss for words. His brain went haywired. Was he dreaming? Was that a confession of sort? He wished somebody would pinch him.
"I... wow. I don't know what to say" he wished he just kept his mouth closed after seeing a look of disappointment crossed over your face. If he felt bad after saying those words, he now feels worse after you gave a weak smile in return followed by you, telling him to ignore what happened. "Just forget I said a single thing" you added.
"Wait. What? No, no!" He panicked, not knowing what to do with his hands but ended up reaching over to grab yours. "Was that a confession? Do you like me more than a best friend should?" He questioned.
You gave him a confused look but anwered his questions nonetheless. "Well, yes... and yes" before you could utter another word, you were enveloped in a tight, warm hug. Him whispering how much he prayed to be in the same exact moment you are now and eventually confessing the feelings he tried to surpress.
He checked the time, 11:58, without letting you go, he muttered "I'm too shy to see your face while I tell you this... but since it is still my birthday, would you do the honor to fulfill one of my wishes, and be mine?"
On the same spot at midnight, his wish came true, sealed with a tighter hug and a sweet kiss not in haste.
when you practice kindness and i mean seriously, consciously choose it over and over again, it shows. that kind of selfless love etches itself into your laugh lines, steeps like a teabag until your words are inherently graceful. sometimes we spit out that choice through gritted teeth, but late at night when time stands still, the universe kisses your eyelids and promises you twice the love in return.
— summary: wonwoo has had kingdoms, romances, endless studies, recognition and yet, with as much knowledge he has learned from life and books, he can’t figure out what it is that grows in his chest whenever he looks at soonyoung’s fiancé.
the marriage is arranged, close to happening but not disclosed, and he knows the best and worst parts of her. she doesn’t like reading books, can’t speak in public and…how had the queen thought that it would be a great idea for a news reporter and a prince to get married?
maybe, if that ring didn’t rest on her finger, things would be easier. for now, wonwoo will have to pretend life is easier with a new friend.
— title: saturn without rings
— pairing: jeon wonwoo x reader
— genre: modern royal!au ; prince!au ; news reporter!au ; lawyer!au ; arranged marriage!au ; strangers to friends to lovers!au
— type: fluff ; humor ; drama ; angst if you squint but not really
— note: this is a kofi request! if you want to support me over there, you’re more than welcome
— word count: 22,233 words
The phrase ‘word of mouth’ belonged to Soonyoung. In fact, had his name not been in anyone’s tongue, slipping and sliding in the dulcet gossip of the week, he would have not been himself. It must have been embroidered in his actions; tempted by youth and foolishness. None of his actions are any different from what could be expected out of someone with such wealth, but each headline was followed by a gasp and a shrug.
A gasp for the nation’s Prince.
A shrug for the same reason. Men are forgiven far more easily for their reckless adventures when in their twenties than women will ever be.
This video in front of her is like a diamond necklace. Not everyone has it, but it will be put on display for people to gawk at but never buy—in this case, never do anything extraordinary to exclude the Prince of his royal duties—. People crave for it like they do for eggs in the morning.
The Prince waltzes around the dimly lit streets with a bottle of expensive imported tequila in his hand, hanging onto a street light and pretending it is a pole. The expanse of his cheeks blurs in a pink shade, puffed-out by the alcohol. Just when he is about to continue singing—quite well, as a matter of fact—onto the lid of his bottle, he falls face first on the concrete. Instead of sulking or blushing madly, he chuckles.
This, for real, made me want to find someone who I can fall in love with 😭 I feel like,, all the years of lacking romance has finally been filled hahaha. Thank you for writing this masterpiece! Was tired from doing my plates and decided to stop by tumblr for awhile and then I happen to see this, and now I feel rested. Thank you so much for this!! Hope you're well wherever you are <3
note: if you’re reading this and the format is weird, please forgive me. i wrote this on my phone because my laptop broke a week ago and i don’t have the money to get it fixed yet. all of my drafts are in there and i’m so :–( about it. i’ll fix this when i get access to a computer. love u. have some angst
he doesn’t know how to express himself through talking so he writes you a bunch of letters
