Summary: y/n secretly loves her friend James and uses a mysterious object called the One Wish Willow to make him fall for her. At first it seems like her dream came true, but James love soon turns obsessive and terrifying, twisting their relationship into a nightmare.
Note: There will be a part two. Seonghyeon throughout the fic will go by his nickname Sean. Also edited the photo of James to be bruised it is not real. And this was inspired by the trailer obsession.
Every person on this planet is greedy in one way or another. Everyone wants something. Maybe it’s something small, like a new puppy or the latest gaming console. Maybe it’s money, attention, success something they think will finally make them happy. Some people get what they want, and others spend their whole lives chasing it.
And you? You already have most things people your age would ask for. There’s always enough money when you want something. Your brother lets you borrow his console whenever you ask. You even had a dog when you were younger, back before life started feeling so complicated.
But none of those things matter anymore.
What you want now is Zhao Yufan. Or James, as he likes to be called.
You’ve spent so much time together that being around him feels natural now. The two of you hanging out without the rest of the group, sitting at the park long after the sun starts to set, your feet dragging against the gravel beneath the swings while you talk about everything and nothing at the same time. Sharing takeout containers between the two of you because neither of you ever orders enough. Riding in James’s car with the windows rolled down while music blasts through the speakers, the night air warm against your skin as streetlights blur past.
The point is you know him. Really know him. The way he laughs when something genuinely catches him off guard. The way he drums his fingers against the steering wheel to songs he pretends not to like. The little pauses in his voice when he’s thinking too hard about something.
And he knows you too. At least, he thinks he does. Because there’s one thing James doesn’t know.
One thing you’ve hidden behind every casual conversation, every lingering glance, every moment that felt just a little too important to only mean friendship.
Hopelessly, painfully, completely in love with him. And no matter how hard you try to ignore it, every part of you aches for him to be yours.
It was Monday morning, October nineteenth exactly one week before Halloween. It was the kind of autumn morning where the air was cold enough to sting your cheeks for a second when you stepped outside, but not cold enough to stop people from rolling their windows down to let music spill into the streets. The sky was still painted in soft shades of gray and pale orange, the sun barely awake as students dragged themselves toward another long day of classes.
Your car smelled faintly like vanilla air freshener, coffee, and the fries Junie swore she “wasn’t hungry enough to finish” thirty minutes ago. Music played low through the speakers, occasionally interrupted by somebody talking over it louder than necessary. The drive to campus was never quiet with your friends around.
In the passenger seat sat Hani, scrolling through her phone while fixing her lip gloss in the mirror every few minutes. At twenty one and already a junior in college, she somehow always looked effortlessly put together. Her nails were always done, her outfits always matched, and she treated every hallway like it was her personal runway. She was the girly girl of the group without shame—obsessed with skincare, shopping, and gossip—but she could also tear someone apart with one judgmental look alone.
Behind her sat Nara, twenty two years old and a senior in college. Complete opposite of Hani. Nara practically lived in oversized hoodies, sneakers, and cargo pants, usually with headphones hanging around her neck like an accessory. She was the tomboy of the group, the kind of person who could stay awake for twenty hours straight just to finish a video game tournament. Her dream was becoming a professional gamer someday, and honestly, with how terrifyingly good she was at every game she touched, none of you doubted she could actually do it.
Then there was Juniper though if you called her that to her face, there was a very real chance she’d hit you. June, or Junie only. Twenty years old and somehow already causing chaos before eight in the morning. She sat in the middle seat sprawled out like she owned the entire back row, talking over everyone, laughing at her own jokes, and saying things most people would never dare say out loud. She didn’t care if people stared. Didn’t care if teachers got annoyed. Junie lived exactly how she wanted, unapologetically loud and brutally honest. She was the type to make an entire room laugh without even trying.
Next to her sat Ronnie, quietly adjusting his glasses while arguing with Nara about some random science fact nobody else understood. At only seventeen, Ronnie was somehow already a sophomore in college after skipping multiple grades. He was the genius of the group. The kind of smart that made professors nervous. Every subject came naturally to him, which was annoying considering he barely studied. But outside of academics, Ronnie was a complete nerd in the most lovable way possible. Mention Star Wars once, and he’d talk for three straight hours without needing encouragement.
Hands resting on the steering wheel, eyes flicking between the road and your chaotic group of friends while their voices blended together around you. At twenty years old, only five months younger than Junie, and the second youngest of the group and a freshman in college yourself. Unlike most of them, your life wasn’t built around dorm parties or campus clubs. Half your week was spent standing behind the register at the town grocery store, scanning items for impatient customers.
You were quieter than the others. The type of person who naturally drifted toward the back of the classroom instead of the front. Observant. The one who noticed things people didn’t realize they were showing. You were shy around new people, awkward sometimes, never really knowing what to say at first.
But around your friends you laughed so hard your stomach hurt. You talked louder. Smiled easier. Became someone warmer, freer, less trapped inside your own head. And mornings like this crammed in a car full of people who somehow became your favorite part of life. Made college feel a little less exhausting.
The second you pulled into the crowded campus parking lot, the energy in the car shifted completely. Students moved across the sidewalks in groups, coffee cups in hand, backpacks slung lazily over shoulders while the cold October air carried overlapping conversations across the lot. Somewhere nearby, somebody was blasting music from their car loud enough to shake windows.
You parked near the edge of the courtyard, the engine going quiet as everyone immediately started gathering their things.
A chorus of car doors slammed one after another.
Juniper was the first one out, dramatically throwing her backpack over one shoulder like she was preparing for battle instead of class. She stretched her arms toward the sky before sighing heavily.
“Well,” she announced to absolutely nobody, “this is the part where I kill myself.”
Before she could take two steps, Nara shoved a hand against the middle of her back, pushing her forward. “Keep walking, drama queen.”
Junie stumbled a little before glaring over her shoulder. “One day I’m reporting you for abuse.”
You locked the car and followed behind them, adjusting the strap of your bag higher onto your shoulder. Beside you, Hani was already fixing her hair using her phone camera while Ronnie quietly complained about an upcoming test nobody else remembered existed.
The campus courtyard was packed this early in the morning. Students crowded around benches and tables, some rushing to class while others lingered around talking. Fallen orange leaves skittered across the pavement every time the wind picked up, and Halloween decorations hung from some of the nearby buildings.
You were barely paying attention until Nara suddenly grabbed your arm hard enough to make you stumble slightly.
“Oop,” she said slowly, a grin immediately spreading across her face. “Speak of the devil.”
Your stomach dropped before you even followed her gaze. Across the courtyard, near the fountain in the center of campus, stood James.
And unfortunately for your sanity, he looked good.
He stood with his usual group of friends, hands shoved casually into the pockets of his jacket while laughing at something one of them had said. Even from this far away, you could recognize all four of them immediately. Martin leaning against the fountain edge looking half asleep, Sean talking with his hands like always, Juhoon scrolling through his phone while pretending not to listen, and Keonho standing beside James with his arms crossed.
You’d met them enough times through hangouts and mutual friends that being around them wasn’t awkward anymore. Still, your chest tightened every single time your eyes landed on James for too long.
As if he somehow felt you staring, James glanced up mid conversation.
Your eyes met from across the courtyard. And just like that, the noise around you seemed quieter.
James’s expression softened almost immediately in recognition before a small smile tugged at the corner of his lips. Nothing huge. Nothing dramatic. Just warm and easy and so painfully natural. He lifted his chin slightly in a small nod toward you.
Your heart betrayed you instantly. You smiled back before you could stop yourself, giving a quick nod in return.
The second it happened, your friends lost their minds silently beside you.
Hani slapped a hand over her mouth dramatically while Junie grabbed Nara’s arm shaking violently like she was witnessing live television. Ronnie physically turned away to hide his grin.
“Oh my god,” Junie whispered loudly.
“You are disgusting,” Nara added with a grin.
You immediately shoved both of them away. “Shut up.”
“Did you see the smile?” Hani hissed.
“There was eye contact,” Ronnie muttered like he was analyzing scientific evidence.
“Guys,” you warned, trying and failing to stop your own embarrassed smile.
Meanwhile, across the courtyard, Sean noticed the interaction instantly and elbowed James in the side hard enough to make him stumble slightly.
You didn’t hear what was said, but judging by the way James rolled his eyes afterward, his friends were clearly no better than yours.
Unfortunately for you, your building entrance sat directly past James and his friends. Meaning there was absolutely no avoiding them.
The closer your group got, the more aware you became of your heartbeat. Junie and Nara were suddenly walking suspiciously slower beside you, clearly waiting to see what happened.
Sean noticed your group first, immediately smirking as he elbowed James hard enough to make him stumble slightly again. James muttered something at him with an eye roll before looking back toward you.
Then your groups met near the walkway leading into the building.
“Morning,” James said casually.
Just one word, and somehow your brain short circuited. “Hi,” you answered maybe a second too late.
God. Why did your voice suddenly sound so awkward?
Meanwhile your friends stood behind you pretending not to listen while very obviously listening.
James smiled slightly, adjusting the strap of his bag over his shoulder. “You guys heading to class?”
Nara snorted quietly behind you.
“No,” Junie answered before you could speak. “We actually just wander around campus aimlessly until nighttime.”
“Shut up,” you mumbled without looking at her.
James laughed softly at that, and the sound alone nearly killed you.
Then he looked back at you specifically.
“Uh, actually,” he started, “me and the guys were thinking about hanging out after school later. Maybe getting food or something.” He paused for a second. “You guys should come.”
Your stomach flipped violently. Because he was looking directly at you while saying it. And instead of answering like a normal person, your brain completely stopped functioning.
James waited patiently, eyes still on yours, probably expecting literally any response at all.
Behind you, Hani looked seconds away from exploding. Then suddenly an elbow jammed hard into your side.
You flinched back to reality, glaring at Nara while she widened her eyes aggressively like answer him before he thinks you died.
“Oh—uh, yeah,” you said quickly, heat rushing into your face. “Yeah, maybe. That sounds fun.”
A small grin appeared on James’s face, softer this time, almost amused. “Cool,” he said. “I’ll text you later then.”
You nodded maybe too fast. “Okay.”
The conversation ended naturally after that, both groups starting to move again toward the building entrance, but the second James walked past you, Junie grabbed both of your shoulders violently.
“You are INSANE,” she whisper yelled.
“I literally watched her soul leave her body,” Ronnie added.
“You stared at him for, like, five whole seconds,” Hani groaned dramatically.
You covered your face with one hand immediately. “Please shut up.”
Students flooded out of buildings in loud groups, some already heading home while others lingered around talking.
You stood outside near the front steps with your friends, your bag hanging off one shoulder while Junie complained for the hundredth time that her professor “clearly had personal beef with her.”
“I’m serious,” Juniper said dramatically, pacing in front of the group. “He moved me to the front of the class without a reason. None.”
“You were talking,” Nara pointed out.
Beside you, Hani scrolled through clothes on her phone while Ronnie sat on the low concrete ledge nearby, quietly listening while occasionally adjusting his glasses.
You checked your phone for probably the tenth time in five minutes, pretending you weren’t waiting for someone specific.
Unfortunately, your friends noticed everything.
Nara smirked immediately. “Girl, if you check your phone one more time, it’s gonna explode.”
“I’m not checking for anything,” you defended quickly.
Before you could argue back, Junie suddenly looked toward the building entrance behind you. “Oh, your man has perfect timing.”
Your stomach dropped instantly. You turned before you could stop yourself.
James was walking down the front steps alone, one hand holding the strap of his bag while the other shoved loosely into the pocket of his hoodie. His hair looked slightly messy like he’d been running his hands through it all day, and even from a distance he somehow carried himself in that annoyingly effortless way that made your chest tighten every time.
You hated how quickly you noticed him now.
James spotted your group almost immediately and changed direction toward you guys, a small smile appearing the closer he got.
“Hey,” he greeted casually once he reached everyone.
“Heyyy,” Hani answered in a voice way too excited to sound normal.
You elbowed her instantly.
James laughed quietly under his breath before looking back at the group. “So, what’s everyone doing after this?"
“Trying to survive adulthood,” Junie answered dramatically.
James shook his head with a grin. “I meant tonight.”
“Oh,” Nara said. “Nothing yet.”
“We were trying to figure out where to hang out,” Hani added.
James nodded slightly. “You guys could come to my place if you want. We can just chill for a while.”
Before anyone else could answer, Ronnie suddenly leaned forward from where he sat with the smallest smirk pulling at his mouth.
“Or,” he said slowly, “we could go to y/n's house.”
Every single head immediately turned toward you.
Your eyes widened. “Ronnie.”
“What?” he asked innocently. “Your brother has a PlayStation.”
Junie gasped dramatically. “Wait, he does."
“And he’s gone tonight,” Ronnie continued, clearly enjoying your suffering now. “Didn’t you say he was hanging out with his girlfriend?”
You stared at him in betrayal while the others immediately started agreeing.
“Oh my god, yes,” Nara said. “Your house is better.”
“Hers has snacks,” Hani added importantly.
“You guys are literally inviting yourselves over right now,” you pointed out.
“And?” Junie asked without shame.
You opened your mouth to argue before James laughed softly beside you.
The sound alone completely ruined your ability to think properly.
“I’m down for that,” he said easily. Then his eyes landed on you specifically. “If that’s okay with you.”
There it was again.That stupid nervous feeling in your chest every time he looked at you for more than two seconds.
“Uh… yeah,” you answered after a moment. “That’s fine.”
Junie immediately celebrated like you’d just announced free concert tickets.
“Perfect,” James said with a grin. “I just gotta go pick up the others first.”
“The others?” Hani asked.
“Martin, Sean, Juhoon, and Keonho,” James explained. “They’re still in high school, remember?”
“They were only here this morning because our classes start earlier than their school does,” James added. “I usually drop them off before coming here.”
“That’s kinda cute actually,” Hani said.
James looked horrified. “Don’t call it cute.”
“It’s very unc coded,” Nara added immediately.
Junie grinned. “Aww, look at him taking his children to school.”
“They’re literally like two years younger than me.”
James rolled his eyes, laughing despite himself before looking back at you. “It won’t take long though. Their school’s not far.”
You nodded, trying not to focus too hard on the fact that he kept looking at you when he spoke.
“Cool. We’ll meet you there then. see you guys later,” he said casually. James finally stepped backwards, adjusting the strap of his bag over his shoulder.
And just like that, your stomach twisted all over again.
“Drive safe, soccer mom,” Juniper called after him immediately.
James snorted, pointing at her as he walked backwards a little. "At least I can drive"
"The mailboxes were in my way!"
"Or maybe your just not a good driver ." With one last laugh, he turned and headed toward his car.
And unfortunately for you, your eyes followed him automatically. You watched him disappear between rows of cars before finally forcing yourself to look away.
Huge mistake because the second you turned back around, your entire friend group was staring at you.
“Oh my god,” Hani groaned dramatically. “You need to talk more around him.”
“I do talk,” you defended immediately.
“No,” Nara corrected. “You answer in, like, two word sentences and then stare at the ground.”
Ronnie nodded seriously from beside her. “Objectively true.”
You rolled your eyes. “You guys are annoying.”
“We’re annoying?” Junie repeated loudly. “Girl, he asks you a simple question and suddenly you forget how to function.”
“It absolutely is,” Hani said. “You guys literally hang out alone all the time. Why are you still acting shy?”
You hesitated slightly before shrugging. “Because it’s different.”
The group quieted for a second.
You adjusted your bag awkwardly on your shoulder before answering. “I don’t know… when it’s just me and him, it’s easier.”
Your friends waited for you to continue.
“He’s easy to talk to when we’re alone,” you admitted quietly. “Like when we’re driving around or sitting somewhere by ourselves, it doesn’t feel awkward. But when there’s other people around, I start overthinking everything I say.”
Nara snorted softly. “So basically you get nervous.”
You groaned. “I hate you.”
“Awww,” Hani cooed immediately.
“She’s got it bad,” Junie whispered loudly to Ronnie.
“Very bad,” Ronnie agreed.
You shoved both of them away while they laughed.
The thing was, you knew your friends liked teasing you about James because it was easy. Easy to notice the way you looked at him too long sometimes. Easy to notice how quickly your mood shifted whenever he texted or invited you somewhere.
But none of that meant anything on his side.
James was just… friendly.
That was who he was. Easygoing. Nice. Comfortable to be around. He treated you the same way he treated everyone else in the group.
You were the only one making things complicated in your own head.
“He literally just sees me as a friend,” you muttered, mostly to yourself.
Hani immediately frowned. “You don’t know that.”
“Yes I do,” you said quickly. "He’s just being nice."
Nara exchanged a look with Junie but thankfully didn’t push it further this time.
Instead Junie slung an arm dramatically around your shoulders. “Well until he falls madly in love with you—.”
“He is not gonna ‘fall madly in love’ with me.”
“You never know,” Ronnie offered.
You shook your head immediately. “No, trust me. I know.”
And honestly, you did. Because having a crush on James felt less like something hopeful and more like willingly torturing yourself over someone you could never fully have.
Still, that didn’t stop your stomach from twisting every time he smiled at you. Or stop you from already thinking about the fact that in less than an hour, he’d be sitting in your living room.
After dropping everyone off at their respective houses, your car finally felt quiet for the first time all day. No Junie yelling dramatic nonsense from the backseat. No Hani arguing over music. No Ronnie randomly explaining some useless fact nobody asked for. Just the soft hum of the engine and the faint music playing from the radio.
You drove home a little faster than usual, fingers tapping nervously against the steering wheel the closer you got. Because now that everyone was actually coming over, all you could think about was how your house looked.
And the fact that James was going to be there.
The second you parked in the driveway, you were already pulling your keys out before the engine fully shut off. You hurried inside, immediately greeted by the quiet stillness of the house.
Your brother was out with his girlfriend like Ronnie said he would be, and your mom was still at work for another few hours. Before leaving campus, you’d texted her letting her know some friends were coming over. She’d replied almost instantly.
'As long as everything is clean after they leave, I don’t care.'
Which meant now you were speed cleaning like your life depended on it.
You rushed around the living room first, grabbing random blankets off the couch and folding them quickly before shoving old cups and wrappers into the trash. The TV stand got wiped down next, along with the coffee table covered in your brother’s junk. You straightened pillows probably three separate times even though nobody would care.
You cleaned the counters, shoved dishes into the dishwasher, wiped away crumbs, and organized snacks into bowls like this was some kind of actual party instead of a casual hangout. Chips. Candy. Drinks lined neatly in the fridge.
Then the hallway bathroom.
You cleaned the sink, checked the mirror for water spots, changed the hand towel, and lit a seasonal candle that smelled faintly like apple and pumpkin before immediately blowing it back out because what if that looked weird?
By the time you finished, you were slightly out of breath and sweating from rushing around the house.
So you took a quick shower.
Warm water rushed over your skin while your thoughts ran in circles the entire time. What if things got awkward? What if everyone got bored? What if James didn’t even really wanna come and was just being polite?
You changed afterward into black baggy sweats and an old fitted Spiderman top that showed the slightest bit of skin whenever you moved a certain way. Comfortable enough to look casual, but still something you stared at in the mirror too long deciding on.
Your hair still slightly damp, you finally collapsed backward onto your bed with a long sigh.
The room was quiet except for the faint sound of cars passing outside your window.
You reached for your phone, checking the time.
They’d probably be here around six.
You dropped your phone beside you and stared blankly up at the ceiling.
And unfortunately, the second things got quiet, your thoughts got louder.
Your chest tightened slightly as your mind drifted somewhere ugly. Somewhere familiar.
You were twenty years old.
And you’d never dated anyone. Never kissed anyone. Never had anybody look at you like they actually wanted you.
Was it because you were ugly? Too awkward? Too quiet? Maybe just fundamentally unlovable somehow.
Every guy you’d ever liked barely noticed you existed. And the few times somebody maybe could’ve liked you back, you were too scared to say anything anyway.
You wanted love so badly lately it almost embarrassed you.
Someone to hold your hand first. Someone to text you goodnight because they wanted to. Someone who looked at you and thought you were enough.
Your throat tightened painfully.
And James made it worse without even trying.
Because he was nice to you. Comfortable. Easy to be around. He remembered things you said. Asked about your day. Waited for you after class sometimes.
But that didn’t mean anything that was just who he was.
The only reason the two of you were even friends now was because one day he’d asked you for notes in class. That was it. Something small and forgettable. Then he started talking to you outside class too. Then around his friends. And now his entire group greeted you when they saw you, asking how you were like you’d always belonged there.
Meanwhile you were sitting here stupidly in love with someone who probably never once thought of you that way.
A tear slipped down your cheek before you even realized you were crying. You sat up slowly, wiping your face with your hand before looking down at the floor.
Why weren’t you enough for somebody?
You leaned back slightly on your arms, your hand brushing against something underneath your pillow. Your brows furrowed. “What the hell?” you muttered quietly to yourself.
You pulled the object out carefully.
It was a small makeshift looking box, red and white with a strange vintage design printed across it. It looked old fashioned but somehow completely untouched at the same time, like something bought from an antique store yesterday.
And you knew for a fact you’d never seen it before.
Slowly, you turned it over in your hands. On the front, written in faded script letters, were the words... One Wish Willow.
Your eyebrows pulled together in confusion.
“What kind of name…” you whispered.
You flipped it over. On the back, smaller words were printed beneath a tiny illustration of a spark.
“Spark the middle and split in half.”
You read the sentence quietly under your breath, still staring at the strange little object in confusion.
Where did this even come from?
Before you could think any harder about it, the loud sound of the doorbell echoed throughout the house.
Your eyes flicked toward the bedroom door before quickly shoving the mysterious box into your pocket without another thought.
Then, taking one steadying breath, you got up and made your way downstairs to answer the door.
The loud ringing of the doorbell echoed through the house just as you reached the bottom of the stairs.
Your stomach twisted instantly.
You quickly wiped under your eyes one last time just in case there were traces of tears left behind before making your way to the front door. Taking a small breath to steady yourself, you opened it.
“Heeeyyy!” Hani was the first person you saw, leaning dramatically against the doorframe like she was posing for a magazine cover instead of standing on your porch. Her glossy pink lips stretched into a grin while she swung her very pink car keys around her finger.
Behind her stood the rest of your friends bundled in hoodies and jackets against the cool October air.
“Hi,” you laughed softly despite yourself.
Everyone greeted you at once while stepping toward the doorway.
“Wow,” you said dryly, looking past Hani toward the curb. “I see you finally decided to drive your car.”
Parked proudly in front of your house sat Hani’s pink Volkswagen Beetle convertible.
The thing looked ridiculously out of place on your quiet street, shiny under the dim glow of the streetlights.
Hani immediately gasped dramatically, clutching her chest. “That’s my baby,” she defended while stepping inside. “She only comes out for short visits.”
From behind her, Ronnie adjusted his glasses before speaking in the most matter of fact tone possible.
“Or,” he corrected, “the car you own was discontinued because of its lack of practicality, but you still drive it because it’s” he lifted his fingers into air quotes. “just so cute.”
Hani whipped around immediately. “You don’t even have a license.”
Ronnie shrugged without a single ounce of shame. “I’m seventeen and already in college.”
“That literally has nothing to do with driving.”
“It means statistically I’m smarter than you.”
“Okay, okay,” Juniper interrupted loudly while brushing past both of them into the house. “Enough. Nobody cares this much about your stupid car.”
Hani gasped again, offended all over. “Wow.”
Junie mocked the gasp instantly, dramatically placing a hand over her own chest.
You rolled your eyes while closing the front door behind everyone, warmth immediately settling back over the house now that it was filled with noise again.
The group naturally migrated toward the kitchen where the snacks and drinks sat spread across the counter. Nara immediately grabbed a bag of chips before you could even offer them.
“See?” Nara said around a mouthful. “This is why her house is superior.”
“Animals,” you muttered affectionately.
Junie suddenly spun toward you with a grin that immediately made you nervous. “Alright,” she announced, pointing at you dramatically. “Let’s focus on getting our girl Y/N here the man of her dreams.”
Your entire body immediately tensed. “Junie—”
She ignored you completely, patting your back while you wanted nothing more than for the floor to open and swallow you whole.
“So,” she continued excitedly, “what does he already know about you?”
Suddenly everyone was looking at you.
You blinked awkwardly. “Um…”
You fidgeted with your finger while you thought. “Well…” you started quietly, “he knows I’m into older music. Like eighties rock mostly.”
“He knows I don’t really have a favorite fast food place,” you continued slowly, “but he knows I love McDonald’s fries, so whenever we go somewhere he always stops there first before going somewhere else.”
Your friends exchanged a look immediately.
You missed it entirely. “He knows I like sketching,” you added. “Even though I’m not really good at it.”
“Yes you are,” Ronnie corrected automatically.
You ignored him. “And he knows where to find me at school if I’m not in class.” A tiny smile appeared on your face without realizing it. “Usually the library or under that willow tree by the football field.”
You paused briefly, still thinking. “He knows—”
“Okay, okay, WE GET IT,” Junie cut in dramatically, throwing her hands up. “Love that for you.”
Your face warmed instantly. “What?” you defended. “You asked.”
“And now I’m asking what you know about him,” she shot back immediately.
You sighed softly, leaning back against the kitchen counter while thinking. “Okay… well…”
You looked down at your hands while speaking. “He likes wearing black and white a lot. Those are some of his favorite colors.” You paused. “Pink too, actually.”
Hani looked delighted by that information for some reason.
“He has a really random music taste,” you continued. “Like… British pop. Specifically Blur.”
Nara snorted. “That is incredibly specific.”
“One time he told me he sleeps with his eyes open,” you said, laughing quietly at the memory. “He thought I’d think it was weird, but I told him I do the same thing.”
A small smile lingered on your face for a second too long before you continued. “He also really likes lollipops.”
“Lollipops?” Junie repeated.
You nodded. “His favorite flavor’s mango.”
You were only met with silence.
You finally looked up from your hands only to freeze slightly. Your friends were staring at you. Not teasing this time. Slightly shocked actually.
Because those weren’t big obvious details about James. Those were tiny things. Random things. The kind of details people only remembered when they paid attention to someone constantly.
“What?” you asked cautiously.
Hani blinked slowly. “Girl…”
“You remember way too much about that man,” Nara said.
“You remembered his favorite lollipop flavor,” Ronnie pointed out.
Your mouth opened immediately to defend yourself but before you could say anything else, the doorbell rang loudly through the house again.
Everyone went silent for half a second.
Then Junie’s eyes widened dramatically. “Oh my god,” she whisper screamed. “Your boyfriend’s here.”
“He is NOT my boyfriend.”
The second time the doorbell rang, complete chaos broke loose.
Hani practically shoved herself off the kitchen counter while Juniper yelled, “MOVE BITCH.”
Meanwhile Ronnie calmly grabbed a soda from the fridge like none of this concerned him whatsoever.
“You guys are insane,” he muttered while walking toward the couch.
“Shut up!” Hani called back immediately.
Ronnie only shook his head, already settling onto the couch with the expression of someone witnessing a social experiment in real time.
By the time you reached the front hallway, the three girls were already crowded around the door like excited children. You ended up stuck slightly behind them, barely able to see over Junie’s shoulder.
Nara made it there first, immediately yanking the door open.
Cold evening air rushed inside along with the sound of distant cars passing down the street.
“Oh hey boys,” Nara greeted dramatically, leaning against the doorway. “Glad you could come.”
Outside stood the rest of James’s group.
Martin entered first, giving Nara a quick nod before spotting you standing behind everyone else. His face lit up instantly.
“There she is,” he said casually.
You laughed softly as he walked over and dabbed you up like always before heading farther into the house.
Right behind him came Juhoon, quieter as usual but smiling the second he saw you.
He returned the same quick greeting gesture Martin gave you before following him toward the kitchen where the snacks had already become the center of attention.
Then came Keonho and Sean together like always.
When you first met them months ago, you genuinely thought they looked weirdly alike. Same height. Similar dark hair. Similar style. Enough that you used to mix them up constantly in your head.
Now, though? They looked nothing alike to you anymore.
Keonho moved louder, talked louder, smiled wider. Sean was calmer, quieter, but still could be chaotic. It was weird how easily your brain separated people once they stopped being strangers.
“There’s the host,” Sean grinned dramatically the second he saw you.
Both him and Keonho went in for quick hugs at the same time before immediately wandering toward the kitchen the second they spotted food. Martin and Juhoon were already there tearing into the snacks like they hadn’t eaten in weeks.
Which left one person still standing outside.
And unfortunately for your sanity, the second your eyes landed on him, everything suddenly felt slower.
You noticed stupid things first.
The way his hands sat tucked into the pockets of his jacket while he walked up the driveway. The soft crunch of leaves underneath his shoes. The faint cool air following him inside when he stepped through the doorway.
Your heart started beating harder instantly.
James glanced around the entryway for a second before pulling his jacket off casually, hanging it neatly on the coat rack beside the door.
Nara greeted him first. “Took you long enough.”
“Traffic,” he answered easily.
Then he looked over at you. And just like always, your stomach twisted painfully in the most embarrassing way possible.
James walked farther inside slowly, eyes briefly wandering around your house. Not in a judgmental way. More curious than anything.
“Nice place,” he said casually. Then one eyebrow lifted slightly while a teasing smile pulled at his mouth. “How come you never invited me over before?”
Your face warmed immediately.
Because if only he knew how many times you’d thought about inviting him over before immediately talking yourself out of it.
You crossed your arms slightly, trying to play it off. “Because my mom or my brother is usually home,” you admitted. “And they’d start asking questions.
James nodded instantly in understanding. “Ah,” he laughed softly. “Yeah, that’s fair.”
The small smile on his face stayed as he looked around again. “Well,” he said, “your house looks lovely.”
Something about hearing him compliment your home made your chest ache a little. “Thanks,” you answered quietly.
For a second neither of you moved.
Then voices erupted loudly from the kitchen.
“YO WHO ATE ALL THE TAKIS?” Sean yelled.
“It was literally you!” Hani shouted back.
James snorted under his breath before finally looking away from you. “Sounds like they’re already destroying the place.”
You laughed softly. “Yeah. Pretty much.”
He smiled one last time before heading toward the kitchen where the others were already arguing over snacks.
And you stayed standing there for a second longer than necessary, trying very hard to ignore the way your heart still hadn’t calmed down.
By the time everyone finally started leaving, it was a little after midnight.
The house looked more lived in now. Empty soda cans scattered across the coffee table, chip bags crumpled on the counter, blankets half falling off the couch from everyone fighting over space during the movies. The air still smelled faintly like popcorn, pizza, and the sugary mix of candy everyone had destroyed throughout the night.
Most of the night had been spent crowded around your brother’s PlayStation in the living room, everyone yelling over each other while switching between games. Keonho and Junie were by far the loudest players in existence, both screaming like their lives depended on every match while Sean sat beside them looking mildly exhausted. Nara had beaten everyone at almost every game and shoving it in their faces.
“I WON YOU LOST I WON YOU LOST” Nara had said jumping all over the couch after winning again. “Raw talent baby.”
“You’re a loser,” Sean replied immediately.
At some point the games turned into movies.
The system for choosing them ended up being everyone writing movie titles down on scraps of paper before tossing them into a bowl. The first two picked would be what the group watched.
The first movie ended up being The Hangover. Martin’s choice. Which honestly explained a lot about Martin as a person.
The entire living room had dissolved into chaos during it. Keonho laughed loud enough to nearly choke multiple times, Junie almost fell off the couch at one point, and even James had laughed harder than you’d seen him laugh in a while.
Then came the second movie. Your choice.
And somehow not a single one of them had seen it before. Which genuinely offended you a little.
“You people have no culture,” you’d muttered while setting the movie up.
“It came out before I was born,” Nara defended.
“You've literally seen Back to the Future that’s not an excuse.”
Still, watching everyone slowly get invested in the movie ended up being weirdly satisfying.
Especially because halfway through, the entire room suddenly realized something horrifying.
Ronnie looked exactly like Chris.
“You guys see it too, right?” Hani whispered at one point.
“Oh my god,” Martin breathed.
Ronnie looked genuinely unsettled afterward. “Stop staring at me.”
“It’s the eyes,” Sean said immediately.
“No, it’s literally his whole face.”
By the end of the movie, even Ronnie looked mildly disturbed by the comparison.
After everything finished, everyone actually helped clean up without you even asking.
The girls cleaned the living room while the boys handled the kitchen, though Sean mostly just stole leftover chips while pretending to help. Music played quietly from someone’s phone while everyone moved around talking over each other, the atmosphere warm and easy in the way only late nights with friends could feel.
Eventually, though, people started getting tired. One by one jackets were pulled back on, shoes were found, and goodbyes started echoing through the house.
Outside, the October air had gotten colder, your breath faintly visible under the porch light as everyone piled toward the driveway.
Hani practically dragged Ronnie toward her pink Beetle while Junie yelled something about stopping for fries before they disappeared down the street with Nara.
That left you standing on the porch with James and the others.
You wrapped your arms around yourself slightly against the cold while watching them pile into James’s car parked along the curb.
For a second everything seemed normal. Then the engine sputtered and died.
James frowned slightly behind the wheel before trying again.
Another failed turn of the engine echoed through the quiet street. He sighed softly under his breath.
Your brows furrowed immediately as you walked closer down the driveway. “Is everything okay?” you asked.
James leaned back against the seat with mild frustration written across his face before shaking his head. “No. I don’t know what’s wrong with it.” He glanced toward the dashboard. “It was literally working fine this morning.”
The boys started throwing out useless suggestions immediately.
“Hit it,” Sean suggested.
“That’s not how cars work,” Martin voices.
You thought for a second before speaking carefully. “That’s weird…”
James glanced back toward you through the open window.
“What if,” you started slowly, “I just drive you guys home?”
“You could leave the car here tonight and call somebody tomorrow to pick it up or look at it.”
James stared ahead for a second, clearly thinking it over before finally nodding. “Yeah,” he agreed, undoing his seatbelt. “Okay. That works.”
He climbed out of the car while the others followed behind him.
“I’ll go grab my keys,” you said quickly. You hurried back into the house before anyone could notice how weirdly fast your heart was beating again.
The drive ended up longer than expected. Mostly because everyone refused to shut up.
Keonho spent half the ride arguing with Sean about God knows what. Martin nearly fell asleep in the backseat. Juhoon somehow managed to look tired and judgmental simultaneously.
Eventually, though, one by one the car emptied. Until it was just you and James. The quiet afterward felt strange.
Streetlights blurred softly across the windshield while you drove through mostly empty roads toward his neighborhood. The radio played quietly in the background, low enough that neither of you really paid attention to it.
Then finally, your car rolled to a stop in front of his house. For a moment neither of you moved.
James turned slightly in his seat to look at you. “Thanks,” he said softly. “For driving all of us home.”
You looked back at him, offering a small smile. “No problem.” You shrugged lightly. “What are friends for, right?”
He laughed quietly at that and nodded once. “Fair point.” Then he reached for the door handle.
Your chest tightened immediately. Because if you didn’t say something now, you probably never would. “Hey, James?”
He paused halfway out of the car before turning back toward you. “Yeah?”
Your heart started pounding so hard it hurt.
This was it. You could ask him. Right now.
You swallowed hard. “I—um—are you…” The words got stuck. Fear hit instantly. Fast and familiar and awful.
What if he looked uncomfortable? What if things got weird after this? What if he rejected you and suddenly everything between you changed forever?
You shook your head quickly. “Uh, never mind,” you mumbled. “Have a goodnight.”
James looked at you for a second longer before nodding slowly. “Goodnight, Y/N." Then he stepped out of the car, closing the door softly behind him.
You watched him walk toward his front porch, keys jangling quietly in his hand.
And only once he disappeared inside did you finally look away, dropping your forehead briefly against the steering wheel with a frustrated groan.
You were so close to finally asking him out. But of course fear won again.
You sighed heavily before leaning back in your seat. Then suddenly you remembered the strange object still sitting in your pocket.
Your hand reached inside your sweats, pulling the small red and white box back out. “One Wish Willow,” you muttered quietly, staring at it again beneath the dim glow of the dashboard lights.
The whole thing was ridiculous.
There was no way some weird mystery box randomly found under your pillow was magical.
Still. You stared at it for another second before sighing. “Why the fuck not.”
You reached toward the center compartment, pulling out a lighter Junie had left behind weeks ago. Her backup lighter, apparently.
With a flick a small flame appeared. You held it carefully beneath the center of the strange little object.
“I wish…” you whispered, feeling stupid immediately. But you said it anyway. “I wish Zhao Yufan loved me more than anyone else in the entire world.”
The words hung in the silence of the car. Then, feeling ridiculous, you snapped the object cleanly in half. Nothing happened. No glow. No magic. No dramatic sound effect.Just silence.
You stared at the broken pieces for a second before laughing quietly at yourself. “Yeah. Okay.”
You tossed both the lighter and the broken object back into the compartment before shutting it closed.
Of course it didn’t work. What were you even expecting?
You started the car again And nearly jumped out of your skin when a knock suddenly hit the passenger window.
Your heart lurched violently.
James stood outside the car.
You hurriedly rolled the window down slightly, confused. “Did you forget something?” you asked.
But the second he looked at you, something felt off. Not scary. Just different.
His expression looked softer somehow. More focused. Like the second he came back outside, you were the only thing he noticed.
Then he smiled. “Yeah,” he said quietly. “Kinda.”
Your stomach tightened nervously.
James leaned slightly closer to the window. “I was wondering if maybe you wanted to go on a date tomorrow?”
Your entire brain stopped functioning. “What?”
He laughed softly. “Tomorrow,” he repeated. “Do you wanna go out with me?”
Your heart physically stuttered in your chest. “T-Tomorrow?”
“Uh…” Your thoughts spiraled instantly.
This couldn’t be real. There was no way.
“Yeah,” you answered quickly before he could change his mind. “Yeah, sure.”
James smiled immediately. “Cool,” he said. “I’ll text you later with everything then.”
You nodded numbly. “Okay.”
Then he stepped back from the window and started walking toward his house again. But this time he didn’t immediately go inside. Instead he stopped near the front door, waiting there while your car remained parked in front of the curb. Waiting for you to leave safely first.
You slowly rolled the window back up, your hands gripping the steering wheel tightly now. Then you pulled away from the curb. And the entire drive home only one thought repeated over and over in your head.
Did that thing actually grant your wish?
