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i2sunric · 1 year ago

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MON AMOUR (p.sh)

pairing: husband!sunghoon x reader (f)

summary: after a tiring day spent following your twin children and doing the chores, what could be better than letting your husband take care of you?

warnings: fluff & smut. unprotected sex (don’t be silly, wrap your willy), they have a daughter and a son, creampie, p in v, dirty talk, meandom!hoon, breeding kink, mentions of pregnancy, making out, kissing, cuddling. lmk if more. NOT PROOFREAD.

wc: 3.1k

published: 20th May 2024

taglist: (permanent) @stolasisyourparent @jaeyunsbimbo @heelvsted @jwnghyuns @seunghancore @bangtancultsposts (one shot) @slut4hee @love13tter @deobitifull @xiaoderrrr @cha0thicpisces @minjaexvz @crimnalseung @skylaly @ensaz008

a/n: based on this ask from anon. hope you don’t mind i changed it a little bit <3 i just love imagining how enha would call their kids (like, in heeseung’s fic, jia 😭😭)

“I want the pink toothbrush!” Your daughter shouted with her high pitched voice, pointing at the toothbrush of the respective colour.

“Alright.” You smiled and handed it to her, “Here you go, Haneul.”

“And you?” You looked at Haneul’s twin brother, smiling ever so sweetly “I want green.” Yohan answered, his chubby finger pointing at the toothbrush.

You removed it from the wrapping and handed it to him “Now, brush your teeth, I want them all clean, alright?”

Both of them nodded and you started filling in the laundry, programming it to function for that night. Spring coming with its perfect weather for the twins to play outside, it also meant your laundry had to work overtime with the amount of mud they get on their clothes.

Turning around, you noticed them arguing over the toothpaste. You shook your head and took it out of Haneul’s hand before she could make a mess and put a little bit on it on both of their toothbrushes.

Patrolling so that they wouldn’t argue over something silly again, you helped them in their pyjamas and tugged their covers.

With one kiss on each of their foreheads, you whispered “Good night.” And exited their room, hoping none of them woke up for the whole night.

You rested your back against the door, rubbing your temples with a soft sigh. You loved the twins, you had never wished for something as wonderful as them— But it was draining to follow them the whole day and also do all the chores.

You tried your best not to let it show, Sunghoon surely had it worse, waking up at dawn and coming back later than sunset. It must be so exhausting you didn’t have the heart to complain about your own tiredness.

You walked to the bedroom, opening the door just to widen your eyes when you saw Sunghoon’s figure, removing his blazer meaning he had just come home.

You smiled “Hey.” You said, closing the door behind your back.

He raises his eyebrows at the sight of you. “Hey pretty,” Sunghoon murmured, his eyes trailing along the length of your body.

He threw his jacket on the edge of the chair sitting over by his desk, his eyes not leaving you for a moment.

“You’re back.” You stated, fighting the urge not to add a ‘finally’ and walked towards him, taking the jacket to fold it better.

He watched as your fingers nimbly folded the jacket, a soft smile appearing on his tired face.

Sunghoon felt the stress of the day slowly disappear from him when he looked at you. He reached out and took the jacket from your hand, setting it down before pulling you close to him.

“I couldn't stay away from you three any longer.” He mumbled, pressing a soft kiss upon your lips.

You wrapped your arms around his neck, tilting your head “They kept asking about you.”

A small laugh escaped his lips and he tightened his arms around your waist in return, “Did they really?” It was rhetorical since he already knew the answer.

He hadn’t been home early enough to see them for days due to his work and he couldn’t help but feel guilty at the fact. Sunghoon knew that he needed to spend more time at home, with you and his little daughter and son.

You hummed, resting your head on his chest with a small sigh. You had missed the way your bodies mended together, just so perfect for each other.

His warm embrace always made your day better, no batter what hardship you had encountered— He just knew what made you happy.

Noticing that you weren’t saying much as usual, where you would tell him all the things that happened through the day, Sunghoon gently cupped the back of your head, his fingers brushing your hair out of your face.

“You ok, love?” He asked softly, tilting your head up so he could look at you, his eyes scanning your face to search for any sign of discomfort.

“I’m sorry,” You shook your head “I’m just tired.” You gave him a small smile, not wanting to worry him much.

He nodded, understanding that you were going through a lot as well, “Don’t apologise,” Sunghoon mumbled, before pressing a gentle kiss on your forehead.

“I think we could both benefit from being in bed right now,” He teased lightly, a smirk appearing on his lips “You worked so hard, even ironed all my blazers.”

“Yeah but you take a shower first.” You pointed a threatening finger in his chest “I just changed the sheets.”

Sunghoon chuckled lowly, “Then come join me,” He winked, gently squeezing your hip as he stepped back towards the bathroom, not letting you take a moment to respond that he was dragging you with him.

“Hoon…” You murmured, looking back anxiously, despite the bathroom being private, they still might hear you “We need to be quiet.”

Sunghoon looked over at you with a cocky smile, unbuttoning his shirt slowly “You know I’ll try my hardest.”

You narrowed your eyes “You never do.”

He smirked back at you as he dropped his shirt to the floor, “You love it though,” He quipped teasingly, watching you as you stood there, watching him unabashedly.

You crossed your arms “The twins might hear us, I’m not sure they’re asleep yet.”

“I’m sure they are.” He commented, stepping closer to you and pulling you flush to him once again.

“Besides, it’s you who needs to keep quiet, baby.” He mumbled softly as he leaned down to press a trail of kisses along the side of your neck.

You let out a contented sigh, tilting your head back to give him more access.

His hands slipped under the shirt you were wearing, his fingers gliding over the bare skin of your stomach.

Sunghoon pushed you against the counter, his teeth nibbling your collarbone, leaving small, red marks.

His hands squeezing your hips gently to keep you in place.

He was desperate to have you close again after being so busy for days and his body was missing you.

You let your hands wander all over his bare chest, feeling his shaped muscles. The feeling of your hands all over him made him eager and desperate to touch you as well.

He quickly grabbed the hem of your shirt, bringing it over your head before tossing it to the side.

Sunghoon let out a small groan when he noticed you weren’t wearing any bra. His hands found your breasts right away, groping them.

You attached your lips to him and as the kiss deepened, his hands started trailing down to your hips once again, his fingers digging into the flesh.

Sunghoon pulled you even closer, moaning lowly into the kiss as he grinded against you, his desire for friction evident against your body.

You let out a shaky breath and trailed your hand down to palm his clothed bulge.

His breath hitched and his forehead rested against yours, looking into your eyes as you palmed him.

His lust-filled gaze locked with your own and his hand moved to grab yours, gently pulling it away.

Sunghoon had a smirk on his lips as he brought your hand to his mouth, pressing a gentle kiss on the inside of your wrist. “Not yet, love.”

You looked at him puzzled “Why not?”

“I want to take my time with you tonight,” Sunghoon spoke gently, his eyes burning into yours.

One of his hands lifted to move strands of your hair and place it behind your ear. “Just because I haven't been home much doesn’t mean I’ve lost any of my skills. Just relax.” He reassured you, wiggling his thick brows.

“Yeah?” You chuckled “How about you show me?”

Sunghoon’s lips stretched up into a mischievous smirk, pulling the elastic from your hair and letting your hair fall down your shoulders.

He pushed his knee up between your legs, his smirk widening at the small gasp he managed to pry from your lips ”That's exactly what I plan on doing,” He replied.

His knee rubbed up against your heat, applying light pressure every now and then just to tease you. He could feel how hot and desperate you were becoming.

When you felt something sharp on your shoulder, you gasped “Sunghoon… No marks.”

He grinned against your skin, “But you love it when I mark you,” He purred into your ear.

You lightly hit his shoulder “Still, it’s difficult to hide them.”

Sunghoonleaned closer so his lips hovered over yours, the two of you sharing the same breath and exhales.

”I don't want you to hide them, love,” His eyes burning with desire as he looked down at your body. “I want you to wear my marks with pride.”

You nagged “How will I explain to the twins where these marks come from?”

A low chuckle left his lips as he let his head drop down to your shoulder, his nose rubbing against your skin.

“They’re too young to know,” He mumbled against your neck, “And these are for my eyes only anyways.”

You rolled your eyes at his shameless he was “You’re incredible.”

Sunghoon’s other hand moved to hold your chin gently so you’d look at him, his dark eyes boring into yours.

His leg moved up again, pressing harder and rubbing up against the sensitive spot he knew you’d moan at.

“Hoon…” You murmured, unable to grind your hips on his thigh with the way he was holding you.

“Do you know how much I missed this?” He breathed out, his fingers gently caressing your cheek before pulling your face closer to his, his mouth hovering just over yours.

“As much as I did.” You replied and made your lips crash back together, your tongues dancing the ballad of love.

“Please..” You pleaded, feeling your body burn in desire “Sunghoon, please.”

“Please what, pretty?” Sunghoon asked mockingly, knowing exactly what it was that you wanted, but not giving it to you just yet.

“Stop teasing.” You said desperately “Stop teasing you say?” He grinned, “And just give you what you want?” He murmured before pressing a gentle kiss on the shell of your ear.

“Not tonight, baby. Tonight I want you to take what you’re given and you’ll be grateful for everything I do to you.”

Your body shuddered at his words, just the thought of finally being able to be his all over again made slick pool your panties. You nodded obediently, his husky tone just fuelling your desire.

“Good girl,” Sunghoon mumbled softly, his hand reaching out to gently pull you forward.

“C'mon, you deserve to unwind after dealing with our babies all by yourself,” He reassured with a warm smile, leading you towards the bedroom.

You walked beside him and laid down on the bed, all bare except for the shorts you were still wearing. You looked up at him with utter lust, your nipples hardening at the sight of his huge bulge poking through his working pants.

Sunghoon noticed it and massaged your breasts, licking his bottom lip.

Your breath was heavy, your eyes piercing through his body and your pussy aching for his cock.

“I need you.” You whispered “Yeah? Need me that bad?” You nodded, rubbing your thighs together.

Such a sight made his cock twitch in his pants, the fabric becoming more and more tight “Can’t wait anymore, mh?” He said and reached for your pants.

“Lift your hips for me.” He said and you complied, helping him remove them.

Sunghoon held his body above you, his hands on either side of your head to prevent himself from crushing you.

His tongue quickly slipped into your mouth once again as he relished in the taste he’d missed so badly.

“I’m going to fuck you,” He kissed your lips, unzipping his pants “I’m going to fuck you so good, put another baby in you.”

He groaned at the memory of your swollen belly, carrying not one but two of his children. The idea of having a third one went straight to his cock.

“Knock me up.” You said, blissful euphoria clouding your senses.

Sunghoon pulled down his boxers and pants, his cock sprung free, angry and pulsating.

Your hand went down to pump it, wanting to provide him some kind of relief.

He let out a moan, bucking his hips to fuck your fist “Do you want me to prep you?” He asked.

“No, just fuck me.” You said, impatiently, “Make me yours.”

You didn’t need to say more, Sunghoon pulled your hand away to align himself to your entrance after slipping your panties to the side and then pushed his thick tip inside of you.

“So wet already.” You moaned out at the stretch, so sweet and painful at the same time until he pushed all of him inside of you, his tip kissing your cervix.

“You feel so good, baby,” He mumbled quietly, his body desperate for more of the feeling of you wrapped around him.

Sunghoon’s hands gripped your hips as he slowly began to roll his own against your body, setting a slow rhythm for both of you.

You rolled your eyes back, mouth agape as you felt him pull out just to push himself right back into you.

“S-shit baby.” He groaned as he picked up pace “Squeezing my cock so tight.”

You grasped his forearms, his muscles under your palms “Fuck— Yes.” You moaned, a little too loudly.

“Shh,” He shushed by crashing his lips on your, swallowing your moans “You don’t want Haneul and Yohan to hear you, do you?”

You shook your head, looking at him through half-lidded eyes.

Your own hand went down to rub small circles on your clit, bringing yourself even more pleasure.

Sunghoon craved you, your body, your mind, your whole being. He wrapped his hand around your throat and pushed himself deeper, hitting spots you didn’t even know existed.

“My wife.” He grunted “My gorgeous wife.”

You hummed, hips bucking up to meet his thrusts “I missed you so much.” You breathed out.

Sunghoon nodded in understanding, claiming your lips once again “I missed you too, baby.”

Sunghoon squeezed your nipples, making you moan “I’ll take tomorrow off, fuck the company, just want be with my family.” He snapped, his hips moving more harshly against yours.

You didn’t have the mind to reply to his rumbling, his pace along with the feeling of him was enough to make the knot in your stomach tighten.

You clenched around him, making him curse under his breath “How come you’re still so tight?” He scoffed mockingly “Pushed out two babies and you feel tighter than before— Shit!” Sunghoon bit down his bottom lip to muffle his moans.

You wrapped your arms around his neck, bringing him more down to you “Hoon, I’m gonna cum.” You warned.

“I know, pretty,” Sunghoon panted heavily between moans, his pace even faster as he chased his own end. “Cum for me, yeah?” He mumbled, “Wanna feel you come undone for me.”

You tried to hold it back, wanting the moment and the pleasure your husband brought you to last forever— But it had been a while since you two shared an intimate moment and your body wasn’t used to it as much anymore.

With one particular deep thrust, you came with a muffled moan, your body squirming and back arched.

Watching your orgasm sent him over the edge and he came soon after, “Fuck, Fuck.” Groaning heavily as he felt your walls clenching around him.

He emptied his load inside you, coating your insides with his cum “Take my cum, angel.” Sunghoon twitched inside you “Take it all, good girl.”

As you both tried to come down from your high, he laid on top of you, not caring that he was probably crashing your body. You didn’t care as well when all you wanted was for him to stay close.

One of your hands went to brush his bangs out of his sweaty forehead and you pressed a small kiss on his thick brow.

Sunghoon chuckled, the aftercare sessions always full of giggle and unspoken affection..

“Will you seriously take tomorrow off?” You asked quietly after a while, unsure whether he was being serious or if he was just too in the moment.

He chuckled, caressing your cheek with his thumb “I’m the CEO, I decide what I want.” He said proudly.

You smiled widely, a warm sensation spreading inside your chest “Really?”

“Really.” He promised, brushing his thumb against your bottom lip “We’ll make a big surprise to the twins and after we take them to kindergarten….” He bucked his hips, his cock still inside your warm pussy, none of you wanting to disconnect your bodies.

He leaned down to whisper inside your ear “I’m going to have you all for myself, fuck you full of my cum until you can’t no more.”

You kissed him, biting his bottom lip harshly “I’m down.” Sunghoon moaned, pulling you into another make out session, your bodies moving at a slow rhythm.

After cleaning up, you laid down side by side, his big body engulfing yours, warm arms protectively around your waist.

You missed all of it, the smell of his cologne, the warm feeling of the sheets around both your bodies, his soothing presence.

Sunghoon traced small patterns on your back “Stop drawing dicks.” You nagged, chuckling.

He smiled and pressed a featherlight kiss on your head “I’m so lucky to have you.” He took your hand in his, both your rings tingling “And I never tell you enough how grateful I am for our babies.”

You snuggled closer to his chest “I’m so lucky to have you too— I wouldn’t have made it alone.”

“I love you so much.” Sunghoon whispered, his eyes slowly closing, exhaustion overtaking him “I love you more.” You murmured back.

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dionysian-mystery · 3 months ago

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Unknown / Fyodor Dostoevsky / Quote by Clarice Lispector, Image from @feral-t33th / The Wrath and The Dawn by Renee Ahdieh / Play on Words by Jia Sung / Speeches for Doctor Frankenstein by Margaret Attwood / I love you like a rotten dog by Maddie637 / It Hurts and I'm lonely by Nichole Rae Klein / I get so jealous of euthanized dogs by June Gehringer / Text: Unknown, Image: Source / Post by @tullipsink

#dark academia #grief #love

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qlfilmingupdates · 3 months ago

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QL Release Schedule (May 2025)

Full-Length Series:

🇹🇭 Pit Babe Season 2: May 2 🇹🇭 The Next Prince: May 3 🇹🇭 Jet Lag: May 7* 🇹🇭 Eye Contact: May 14 🇹🇭 My Sweetheart Jom: May 16 🇹🇭 Loy Kaew First Love: May 16 🇹🇭 Knock Out: May 16 🇹🇭 Be Mine.. Be Yours: May 17 🇹🇭 Season of Love in Shimane: May 18 🇹🇭 🇹🇼 I Promise I Will Come Back: May 19 🇹🇭 The Ex Morning: May 22 🇹🇭 Denied Love: May 29 🇹🇭 B-Friend: May 31

Shorter Series:

🇨🇳 The Agreement of Cherry Blossom Rainy Season: May 1 🇨🇳 Infidelity, It's a Disease: May 1 🇹🇭 Sassy Season: May 2 🇰🇷 Kiss the Hater: May 3 🇰🇷 Begin Love: May 5 🇹🇭 Yaoi Academy: May 5 🇹🇭 Mission to the Moon: May 6 🇰🇷 Sweetheart Service: May 8 🇹🇭 Splash Room: May 8 🇹🇭 Teach Me Softly: May 12 🇯🇵 If Love Falls in This Life Too: May 13 🇨🇳 Yin Hun Ba Chong: Zhi Nan Bei Po Jia Ming Wang: May 15 🇹🇭 My Little Miss: May 16 🇰🇷 Don't Confess Next to a Corpse: May 18 🇹🇭 As You Wish Love: Love Reset: May 18 🇹🇭 As You Wish Love: Begin Again: May 19 🇯🇵 Unubore BL: May 19 🇰🇷 My Boss My High School Enemy: May 21 🇹🇭 Taste of Her Season 2: May 21 🇹🇭 Stay with You: Only You in My Heart: May 22 🇨🇳 Moon and Dust: May 23 🌐 Loving You from the Football Sidelines: May 23 🇨🇳 🇸🇬 The Sparkle in Your Eye: May 25 🇰🇷 First Office: May 26 🌐 My Rookie Secret Agent Lover: May 26 🇰🇷 It's You!: May 27 🇻🇳 My Sweet Brother in Law: May 27 🇨🇳 Trapped in Osaka: May 29 🇹🇭 Love the Star: May 30 🇻🇳 The Way of Love: May 31

Films:

🇫🇷 🇮🇹 🇧🇪 Enzo: May 14 (some of these may be limited releases) 🇫🇷 Tethered Wings: May 14 🇺🇸 Things Like This: May 16 🇬🇧 🇮🇪 Pillion: May 18 🇬🇧 🇺🇸 🇸🇪 The History of Sound: May 21 🇵🇭 Kiss/Kiss: May 27 (R) 🇵🇭 Pihit: May 30 (R)

Short Films:

🇹🇭 My Dangerous: May 6 🇵🇭 Waiting Until the Dawn: May 6 🇯🇵 BL Mangaka and Editor: May 17 🇵🇭 Bawat Daan: May 17

Special Episodes:

🇰🇷 Business as Usual Special: May 15 🇹🇭 The Glowing of Love: May 25

*genre-wise, JL is more focused on comedy than romance, but I'm adding it here because the series has at least one queer main character

Index

#ql filming updates #monthly release schedule #gl #ql

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moonstarsunflower · 23 days ago

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Part Ten

pairing : lee chan (dino) x oc or lee seokmin (dk) x oc? 🤔

genre : fluff, angst, kinda slow burn, non-idol!au, breakup!au, unchronological storytelling!au, coming of age!au, a very confusing school timeline!au?, exes to lovers!au OR childhood friends to lovers!au? 👀

notes : child prodigy!oc, childhood friend!chan, high school friend!vernon, college friend!seungkwan, ex-boyfriend!seokmin, older brother!joshua, mentions of cutie!minghao, middle photos not mine, credits to rightful owners, mostly pinterest-based!

warnings : implied drinking, manipulation, time distortion, lying, insecurities, stalking, obsession; some jealousy here & there; physical altercation resulting in a nosebleed and fainting; also we're not just nonlinear, we're also going ✨mixed✨ chapters bc why not?; basically it's a mix of the cute and the not-so-cute; long word count again; the ultimate 4th wall break and mirroring of a chapter that's been already told 👊

word count : 7.4k

Chapter 3... and 4 "The Disappearing Hour™"

The events depicted in this story may appear inconsistent, shifting, and difficult to piece together.

Time does not move in a straight line here. Perception is unreliable.

Proceed with caution.

The robotic voice from her laptop screen sends a shiver down Jia's spine. She adjusts her posture, leaning closer.

You've been warned.

The eerie background music swells, the screen flickering with subtitles—warnings of the unsettling nature of the story.

The title card fades in, bold against the dark backdrop: The Disappearing Hour.

Blurring reality and fiction.

Twisting past and present.

A slow descent into something irreversible.

Jia blinks at the words on the screen, a vague sense of unease creeping in—but then, a knock at the door makes her jolt.

Her laptop nearly slips from her lap as she stares toward the entrance of her dorm.

It's past eight, and she isn't expecting anyone. The uneasy feeling lingers, the weight of the documentary pressing down on her chest.

Slowly, she rises, hesitating for a second before unlocking the door.

Seokmin stands outside, still in his soccer jersey, hair damp with sweat. He beams the moment he sees her.

"Hey, Jia."

Jia exhales, the tension in her shoulders dissolving.

"What are you doing here?"

"I was just passing by after practice," he says, rubbing the back of his neck. "And, um... I wanted to ask if you wanted to eat outside?"

The eerie music still plays from her laptop, but the moment shifts, lighthearted now, the previous fear all but forgotten.

Jia eyes him, amused.

"You came all the way here just to ask me that?"

"Well... yeah." Seokmin laughs, sheepish.

"And what if I already ate?"

Jia smirks, slipping into the same easy rhythm they used to have—just friends, nothing more.

"Then I guess I should've asked first," he admits, rubbing his neck. "But... I just wanted to see you anyway."

Jia tilts her head, the smile still on her lips—but her heart skips, just a little.

Her eyes narrow, playful but curious, as she leans against the doorframe, arms crossing.

"So, what's the real reason?"

Seokmin sighs dramatically. "Okay, you got me. I wanted to ask if you had fun the other day."

Her brows knit together for half a second before realization dawns.

Their date. Their first one.

The one where he made her laugh so much her stomach hurt, where he took her home even though it was out of his way—the one that only made her feelings for him even harder to ignore.

Seokmin is watching her expectantly, and Jia fights back a smile.

"It was alright, I guess."

His jaw drops. "Just alright? Wow, I'm hurt. Here I was thinking I gave you the best time of your life—"

"Okay, okay, it was fun," she admits, laughing. "I had fun."

Seokmin grins, triumphant. "Then... would you wanna go on another one?"

Her laughter falters, caught off guard by his sincerity.

There's no pressure in his voice, just quiet hope. His ears are turning pink, but he's looking right at her, waiting.

Jia's heart stirs.

"Maybe."

"Maybe?" He huffs, but his smile remains. "I'll take it."

And just like that, the world is warm again.

The unease from earlier is long gone, replaced by the feeling of something light, something steady.

She doesn't know why, but something about this moment makes her want to stay in it just a little longer.

☂️

Seokmin has never been the type to overthink.

He likes to keep things simple—if he wants to do something, he does it. If he has a question, he asks. And right now, there's only one thing on his mind: Jia.

His friends suggest it—if he really wants to do this right, he should ask the people closest to her.

Hyerin, Seungkwan, Vernon, and Chan.

The ones who have been by her side no matter what. The ones who know her better than anyone else.

Seungkwan is nowhere to be found, probably busy. Hyerin isn't around either. But Vernon and Chan? They're right there, walking together, within reach.

And so, without a second thought, Seokmin moves.

"Hey, wait—" he steps into their path without hesitation, catching Vernon by the sleeve.

Vernon startles. "What the—"

Seokmin barely gives him a chance to react. "You two are close with Jia, right?"

Vernon blinks. "Uh. Yeah?"

Seokmin, uncharacteristically serious, exhales. "Good. I just wanna make sure I'm doing things right."

Vernon raises a brow, eyes glancing toward Chan for a second. "Okay...?"

Chan folds his arms. "Doing what right?"

Seokmin runs a hand through his hair, choosing his words carefully. "You guys know her best. If anyone knows what she likes, what she doesn't, it's you two. I figured... it wouldn't hurt to ask."

Chan scoffs, unimpressed. "And you think we're just gonna hand you a cheat sheet?"

Seokmin doesn't miss the edge in his voice. His expression doesn't change, but there's a beat of quiet assessment before he answers.

"I mean... it'd be nice?"

Vernon exchanges a glance with Chan before answering, casual as ever. "Well, for starters, we have this rule. No one goes to her dorm without prior notice."

"Prior notice?" Seokmin tilts his head. "Like a text or something?"

"Yeah. You're lucky if she even picks up your call." Vernon shrugs.

Seokmin nods slowly, processing. "Huh. I just did that the other night."

Chan's shoulders tense, arms still crossed. "You what?"

"I... went straight to her dorm." Seokmin presses his lips together, considering. "I mean... she didn't seem to mind."

Silence.

Vernon and Chan stare at him, unreadable. Then—

"How?" Chan asks, slow, deliberate.

Seokmin hesitates. "What?"

Vernon blinks, like he just processed something huge.

"Wait. She let you?" His tone isn't accusing, just genuinely baffled. "That's, like, her golden rule."

Seokmin, now picking up on something deeper, exhales. "I don't know. I didn't think about it? We just ate dinner... walked in the park... talked for a while..."

His words trail off. He can feel Chan's stare, sharp and assessing.

Vernon nods slowly, exhaling like something just clicked. His gaze flickers to Chan, then back to Seokmin.

"Hmm... okay... that's—interesting."

Seokmin blinks. "Why though? What's the big deal?"

"Don't do that again." Chan's voice is sharp, cutting through the space between them. "Not without permission."

Seokmin raises an eyebrow. "Permission?"

Vernon tilts his head. "It's just how things are with her." He leans back slightly, choosing his words. "For one—Joshua. If he hears about random guys showing up at her dorm unannounced, that's not ending well for anyone."

A pause.

"And two," Vernon continues, "she doesn't let just anyone in. Even we don't get a free pass. It's her rule."

Seokmin glances at him. "Huh."

A beat of silence.

Then, he grins. "Okay, noted. I'll ask nicely next time."

Chan's jaw tightens.

Seokmin catches it—just for a second, the flicker of something in Chan's expression.

Something restrained, calculated.

He doesn't say anything about it. He just exhales, nods once more, and steps away.

Vernon waits until Seokmin is out of earshot before glancing at Chan with a smirk.

Chan exhales sharply, rolling his eyes. "Don't even think about it."

Vernon raises his hands in mock surrender, still amused. "Didn't say a word."

But the knowing look in his eyes says enough.

☂️

"So, Ji-Ji," Hyerin hums, voice dripping with a teasing lilt as she nudges Jia's side. "Heard you had a second date with Seokmin. How was it?"

She says it in a singsong way, all bright-eyed curiosity, leaning in with the weight of someone who already knows the answer but wants to hear Jia admit it.

Jia exhales through her nose, pretends to be deeply focused on stirring her Golden Peach Bloom fruit tea. The ice clinks against the plastic cup, a delicate little chime against the murmur of the café.

"Wasn't a date," she says simply.

Hyerin scoffs. "Right. Just a guy driving across half the city to see you every morning. Totally platonic."

"Right?" Seungkwan cuts in, grinning as he props his elbow onto the table. "Sounds like something I'd do for Joonhyuk."

Jia gives him a look. "You hate driving."

"And that's exactly my point," Seungkwan says, raising a finger. "The only person I'd suffer that much for is my childhood best friend, Joonhyuk. So unless Seokmin and Joonhyuk go way back, I'd say you're lying through your teeth, Hong Jia."

Jia rolls her eyes, but her ears burn. "If I say you're annoying, will you drop it?"

"Nope," Hyerin beams. "You're glowing, Ji-Ji. Glowing. I've never seen you like this."

She's not glowing. She's—

She doesn't know what she is.

She's just—thinking about how Seokmin does this every morning.

How he drives across the city just to pick her up, how he stays with her through late-night study sessions, how he's just there, day in and day out.

How, at some point, his presence stopped feeling like something she had to acknowledge and just became a given.

And then there's the job.

Everyone knows Seokmin works part-time—it's common knowledge. He balances school, soccer, and that, all at once. Or at least, he did.

Because he quit.

Not school, not soccer—the one thing that made him money.

Because he had enough savings, because he figured he could start again once they graduated, because—

Because he wanted to be with her more.

The thought unsettles her, just a little. But not in the way she expects.

She exhales through her nose, stabbing the ice in her drink with her straw.

"If you have this much time to bother me," she mutters, "shouldn't you be working on your term paper?"

Seungkwan groans, slumping dramatically onto the table. "Why would you bring that up? I was having fun."

Hyerin giggles, but before she can respond, a familiar voice cuts through the café noise.

"Yo, what's up?"

Jia glances up, just in time to see Chan making his way toward them. He's drenched in sweat, a gym bag slung over his shoulder, and the moment their eyes meet, he grins.

Jia raises a brow. "Did you just crawl out of a swimming pool?"

"Nope. Soccer," he replies, dropping into the seat next to Seungkwan. "I made the team."

There's a brief pause. Then Seungkwan lets out a squawk.

"I'm sorry—what?! Since when do you play soccer?"

"I don't," Chan laughs. "Well, not officially. But I figured, why not? Needed something to keep me moving, and it seemed fun."

Jia tilts her head. "Isn't the season already starting?"

"Yeah, but they had an opening. Some guy dropped out, and I guess I fit what they were looking for."

Hyerin gasps, leaning forward with interest. "Wait, are you actually good?"

Chan puffs out his chest dramatically. "I'll have you know, I am insanely good."

"No, you're not," Jia deadpans.

Seungkwan nods. "She's right. I've seen you trip over your own feet."

"Okay, rude." Chan sputters.

But Hyerin smirks, tossing a look at Jia before casually saying, "I know why you joined, Chan. Trying to impress a certain someone who loves soccer boys?"

Jia tilts her head, completely missing the implication.

Chan shakes his head profusely, a nervous chuckle coming out. "What? No! I just... needed the exercise. You know, gotta stay fit. Cardio and stuff."

Seungkwan squints at him. "Okay, but seriously—what made you suddenly go for soccer? I feel like there's more to this."

Chan exhales, running a hand through his damp hair. "I just told you—wanted to keep moving, needed something to do." He shrugs. "And, I don't know..."

He trails off, glancing over his shoulder without thinking—toward the glass windows of the café.

Searching.

He stops himself, shaking his head as he turns back to the group.

Seungkwan raises a brow. "What?"

Chan blinks, like he wasn't just mid-thought a second ago. "Hm?"

Seungkwan frowns. "What were you looking at over there?"

Hyerin follows his gaze but finds nothing.

Chan scratches his jaw, like he's not even sure why he's bringing this up now.

"Nothing. Just a weird feeling. Like someone's been watching me." He pauses, thoughtful. "I don't know when it started. Just... been feeling it for a while."

Then he laughs it off, shaking his head. "Maybe I'm just paranoid."

Jia stills, but before she can dwell on it, Seungkwan lets out a horrified gasp.

"Oh my gosh. That happens to me too."

Everyone turns to him.

He places a hand over his chest, looking genuinely distressed. "Every time I feel that eerie, spine-chilling sensation—it's my mother."

Hyerin blinks. "Your... what?"

"My mom," Seungkwan repeats, shuddering. "Somehow, some way, she just knows when I've done something I shouldn't. I swear, it's like she has me microchipped or something."

Chan stares at him. "That's not the same thing, Seungkwan."

"No, but think about it!" Seungkwan insists, leaning forward. "What if your mom just has a sixth sense? What if—"

"My mom lives hours away," Chan deadpans.

"Mine doesn't," Seungkwan mutters darkly. "And yet, last week, the exact moment I skipped breakfast, she texted me, 'Did you eat?' Like, how?!"

The table bursts into laughter, and the eerie tension from earlier melts away.

The afternoon passes by in easy conversation and lighthearted teasing, filling the café with warmth.

The summer menu adds to the mood—tall glasses of fruit coolers and fizzy lemonades sweating on the table, their vibrant colors catching the light as they chat and sip between bites.

Outside, the sun dips lower, casting a golden glow through the café windows.

An hour later, they step out, laughter still lingering between them. The cool air greets them as they pause by the entrance, stretching out the last moments of their afternoon.

"Hi, Jia!"

Jia turns just as Kanon approaches, making her way toward the entrance. She slows for a moment, smiling brightly at her.

"Oh, hey, Kanon." Jia returns the smile, tucking her hands into her pockets.

"What's up?"

"We were just leaving."

"Ah, gotcha." Kanon nods, her gaze flickering over the group before settling on Chan. "Nice timing, I guess."

Hyerin and Seungkwan glance over, both offering friendly nods as they ease into the conversation. It's all casual—just a passing exchange between schoolmates.

Jia tilts her head slightly. "Oh, did you hear? Lee Chan made the soccer team."

Kanon's eyes widen, her expression shifting into pure excitement.

"Oh my gosh—Chan, that's amazing!" She covers her mouth with both hands, looking genuinely thrilled. "You're gonna do so well—I knew you had it in you!"

Chan chuckles, rubbing the back of his neck. "Well, let's hope I don't embarrass myself."

"You won't," Kanon says, unwavering.

"You always pull through. And if you ever need a cheerleader—" She winks. "I got you."

Hyerin, Seungkwan, and Jia step aside, waiting for Chan as Kanon continues. He humors her excitement, letting her words wash over him.

But somewhere between his easy smile and nodding along, he glances at Jia—just for a second, fleeting but deliberate.

Jia just blinks.

When Chan catches up to them on the sidewalk, they naturally begin to go their separate ways—Seungkwan crossing the street, Hyerin turning right at the corner.

Chan, however, falls into step beside Jia, walking with her toward her dorm.

"The café's been busier lately," he mentions, hands tucked into his pockets. "I picked up extra shifts, but it's not too bad. Pays enough for me to cover stuff, and I still have time for soccer practice next week."

Jia nods, humming in acknowledgment. "That's good."

Chan continues, casually talking about balancing work and practice, but she feels something twist in her chest.

She keeps her expression neutral, offering small responses where needed, but the words don't quite reach her.

Instead, an old, familiar thought settles in:

She has everything she needs. Everything handed to her.

So why does it feel like she's missing something?

☂️

The rain has been falling for hours.

Jia sits in the dim glow of her dorm room, the only light coming from her laptop screen, where an unfinished essay blinks back at her.

The weight of the day presses against her—assignments piling up, deadlines creeping closer, her parents' voices looping in her head.

About how junior year is crucial.

About how she needs to stay focused.

About how distractions are dangerous.

She exhales, tilting her head back against her chair. The room feels smaller tonight, closing in on her with every passing second.

It's not just academics. It's everything.

The conversation with Chan lingers, unshakable. The way he talked so easily about his part-time job, about paying for things on his own, about balancing work with something he genuinely likes.

It should've been just another casual chat, but it gnaws at her.

Because he works.

Because they all do.

Vernon makes music. Seungkwan has his small printing business. Even Seokmin—before quitting—had been juggling shifts alongside classes. They know what it's like to earn, to understand the weight of money.

Jia doesn't.

Her parents have never let her.

She has everything—tuition paid, dorm fees covered, an allowance that never runs out. But with every privilege, there's a quiet, creeping shame. A feeling that she's untouched by reality, that her world is cushioned while the people around her push forward on their own.

It makes her feel lesser.

She shouldn't feel this way.

She knows she shouldn't.

And yet—

Her gaze drops to her phone. To a number she shouldn't call.

Seokmin is a distraction.

She knows that. She knows it the same way she knows she shouldn't be spiraling over this, that she should be grateful, that she should just finish her damn essay and go to sleep.

But instead, she presses the call button.

She doesn't even know what she says. Just a soft, "Are you still awake?" followed by silence.

But it's enough.

Because thirty minutes later, there's a knock on her door.

Jia hesitates before opening it, and when she does, the first thing she notices is that he's wet—rain still clinging to his hoodie, hair slightly damp, cheeks flushed from the cold.

He looks at her, searching, reading her like he always does, and then, without a word, he steps inside.

She closes the door behind him. The room is dark, save for the soft blue glow of her laptop.

Seokmin doesn't say anything at first—he just waits, letting her find the words.

But she doesn't have them.

Instead, she exhales shakily and sinks onto the side of her bed, pressing her palms into her lap, eyes cast downward. The pressure in her chest is unbearable, and before she knows it, her voice cracks.

"I'm so tired."

Seokmin sits beside her, facing her. Without hesitation, he takes her hands, warming them between his own. His voice is gentle, steady.

"I know."

It's all he says.

I know.

And somehow, it's enough to break her.

She doesn't say anything more. Instead, she leans in, her arms instinctively reaching for him.

Seokmin doesn't hesitate.

He pulls her into a hug, holding her gently but firmly, his arms wrapping around her without question.

Her fingers clutch weakly at the fabric of his hoodie, grounding herself in the warmth and steady presence he offers.

She's never let herself rely on him before—not like this.

But right now, she does.

He stays like that for a while, his hand running soothing circles along her back, murmuring soft reassurances she barely registers.

She just listens to the steady sound of his breathing, the quiet hum of the rain outside, the warmth of him grounding her in the present.

Eventually, she pulls back, her face still close to his. The air between them shifts, and the tension that's been simmering in her chest finally rises to the surface.

Jia lets out a heavy sigh, her chest feeling tight as she meets his gaze.

Her heart beats faster, but it's not from fear—it's from something else, something she's not quite ready to face.

Seokmin watches her, his gaze searching hers for permission, for something unspoken.

And when he leans in—slowly, giving her every chance to stop him—she doesn't.

She lets him.

Their lips meet softly, carefully.

It's not rushed, not desperate.

Just warm.

Just right.

Jia's breath hitches slightly, but she doesn't pull away.

Instead, her fingers tighten against his hoodie, and she leans in just enough to let him know—yes.

This is her answer.

When they part, Seokmin lingers, forehead resting against hers. His voice is barely above a whisper.

"Jia..."

She doesn't say anything. She doesn't have to.

Because she's already made her choice.

This is it.

This is where she finally lets herself be with him.

☂️

Jia and Seokmin spend the entire afternoon at a quiet park nearby, the air warm with the promise of summer.

The sun filters through the trees, casting soft, dappled shadows on the path where they walk side by side. The hum of the city feels distant here, replaced by the gentle rustling of leaves and the occasional chirp of birds.

They settle under a large tree near a small pond, the calm water reflecting the bright blue sky above.

It's peaceful, serene—just the kind of place where they can be together without a care in the world.

They've been chatting about the most random things—Seokmin's obsession with trying to beat a game Jia doesn't even understand, Jia's little victories in her classes, and the occasional goofy joke Seokmin makes that sends her into fits of laughter.

Right now, they sit side by side on the grass, legs stretched out in front of them, shoes discarded to the side. Jia crosses her arms over her chest, squinting up at the sky. Seokmin is absorbed in his phone, tapping away with the focused look of someone determined to win something.

Jia glances at him, a soft smile tugging at her lips. "You really are stubborn, aren't you?"

Seokmin doesn't look up, still glued to his phone. "What do you mean?"

His voice is muffled by the device, but she can hear the smirk in it.

"You're not even trying to take a break," she says, shaking her head playfully. "You know, the world won't end if you step away from the game for five minutes."

He finally looks up, eyes twinkling. "The world might end. How will I know if I don't finish this level?"

Jia rolls her eyes, but her smile doesn't waver. "You're impossible."

Seokmin puts his phone down beside him and nudges her gently with his elbow. "Come on, just one more minute."

"One more minute? You said that an hour ago."

"And I'm sticking to it." He grins and nudges her again, making her giggle.

She leans back on her hands, letting the cool grass tickle her fingers. "You're lucky you're cute."

Seokmin gives a dramatic gasp.

"Wait, you think I'm cute? I'm adorable, actually." He strikes a ridiculous pose, holding his hands to his cheeks like he's a cartoon character.

Jia laughs, playfully pushing him away. "Okay, maybe a little bit."

His grin widens, and he scoots closer, his knee brushing against hers. "Just a little bit?"

She rolls her eyes again, but the warmth spreading in her chest is undeniable.

"Fine, you're adorable. But only when you're not being weird about it."

"Like now?" Seokmin asks, eyebrow raised, his face only inches from hers as he leans in slightly, still grinning.

Jia's breath catches, and she quickly looks away, feeling her cheeks heat up. "Okay, okay, I take it back."

Seokmin laughs, clearly enjoying her reaction. "Nope, you said it now. You can't take it back."

"Fine," she says, glancing at him with a playfully resigned expression. "You're adorable."

Seokmin chuckles, nudging her one last time before leaning back against the tree. His smile softens, becoming something more genuine. "You know, I could get used to this."

Jia leans back beside him, her head naturally falling against his shoulder.

The world around them seems to slow down, the weight of the day, their shared laughter, and the quiet comfort of being together making everything feel just right.

The birds chirp overhead, and the soft rustle of leaves fills the silence between them. Jia closes her eyes, the warmth of his presence grounding her.

For a moment, it feels like everything is perfect.

"Thanks for today," she murmurs quietly, her voice barely audible.

Seokmin turns his head, and she can feel his gaze on her, even with her eyes closed.

"I should be the one thanking you," he says softly. "I get to spend the whole day with you, after all."

Jia smiles to herself, warmth blooming in her chest. She lets herself relax against him, breathing in the calm of the moment.

It's a moment she's wanted for so long—a moment that feels right. And as she rests her head on his shoulder, she realizes this is it.

They've made it official, without needing words.

The day stretches lazily into evening, the warmth of the sun lingering as it dips below the horizon, leaving a soft orange glow in the sky. The air feels like the perfect balance of cool and comforting, with a gentle breeze rustling the leaves overhead.

Jia breathes in deeply, letting the moment sink into her bones, a quiet contentment settling around her.

But as the evening fades, the campus buzzes back to life, and with it, the familiar hum of everyday routine—schoolwork, assignments, the chatter of friends.

It's as if the world has reset, pulling everyone back into their usual rhythm.

In the midst of it all, Jia finds herself lost in thought, the fleeting peace slipping away.

And that's the thing about intrusive thoughts: they come when she least expects them.

They creep in, quiet but persistent, weaving through her mind like whispers she can't ignore.

It's subtle, really.

Like the background hum of a mall. One minute, she's caught up in the buzz—laughing with friends, wrapped in the cool air, lost in the flow of voices.

And then, when everything stills, it's there, quiet and almost forgotten—the music playing beneath it all.

Always present, but she wouldn't notice it until the noise around her fades.

"Jia."

She jolts out of her thoughts, blinking as a hand waves in front of her face.

It's Kanon's.

She's sitting next to her on one of the outdoor campus benches, a small smile playing at her lips. She tilts her head, studying Jia with that ever-present curiosity.

"You spaced out."

Jia shakes her head, exhaling. "It's nothing."

"Hmm." Kanon leans back, stretching her arms with a soft hum. "So, how are things with Seokmin?"

Jia smiles at the mention of her boyfriend.

She's never felt like this before—a quiet excitement bubbling up from the inside out. She could get used to this. Even if it means always turning red across her face.

"We're good."

Kanon glances at her from the corner of her eyes. "That's good to hear. Though..." She trails off.

Jia hears the tinge of worry in her voice.

"Hm?"

Kanon shakes her head. "It's probably nothing."

"What? What is it?" Jia asks, brows slightly furrowed.

The brown-haired girl looks around cautiously before leaning in, her voice dropping low and quiet. "I saw him. With another girl."

Jia freezes. She clenches her jaw.

"What?"

Kanon tilts her head, her expression unreadable. "I don't know who she was, though. I didn't get a good look."

A pause.

And then, just as quickly as she brought it up, Kanon waves a hand dismissively.

"Sorry for bringing that up. I'm sure it was nothing."

She smiles.

"Seokmin's a good guy, after all."

Jia swallows, gripping the edge of the bench. She doesn't want to ask, doesn't want to sound affected. But the words slip out anyway.

"Where did you see them?"

Kanon shrugs, glancing away. "I think it was inside a café? They were having coffee."

Jia tries to remember.

Did Seokmin mention going to a café? Did he say anything about meeting someone?

Kanon studies her for a moment, then—gently, so gently—places a comforting hand over Jia's.

"Don't overthink it, okay?" She says, her voice soft and reassuring.

And Jia—

She nods.

Even as the words start sinking in. Even as the doubt starts creeping in. Even as she tells herself that it's fine.

That she trusts Seokmin. That this is nothing.

She's happy with Seokmin.

This is the happiest she's ever been.

Right?

Yes, she is.

So why—so suddenly—can she hear the music?

The laughter, the cool air, the flow of voices, all the noise—gone.

Why can she hear that background hum of the mall now?

Beneath the stillness, it's there.

A thought—quiet, present, intrusive.

Why—in a future chapter—would she break up with him?

☂️

They weren't supposed to run into her.

It's just another casual afternoon—Seokmin walking beside Jia, hands shoved into his pockets, talking about something funny that happened in class earlier.

Jia's not really listening, too preoccupied with the warmth of the sun on her face, the distant hum of the city, the way Seokmin laughs when he gets too caught up in his own stories.

And then—

"Seokmin?"

A voice. Soft, surprised.

Jia barely has time to register it before Seokmin's head turns, his lips parting in equal surprise.

"Oh—Sophie?"

Jia follows his gaze.

And there she is.

Standing a few steps away, looking effortlessly graceful despite the unexpected encounter, is a girl—a woman.

She's pretty. Older. Just about Seokmin's age.

And in an instant, Jia knows who she is.

Seokmin's ex.

He told her once, in passing. Nothing too deep—just a casual mention that he'd been in a relationship before, but it didn't work out. Jia hadn't asked for details, and he hadn't offered any.

And now, here she is.

Sophie smiles. "Wow, it's you again."

"Didn't think I'd run into you twice," Seokmin chuckles, rubbing the back of his neck. "What are the odds?"

Sophie glances between them, and that's when Seokmin remembers—

"Oh—this is Jia," he says, gesturing toward her. "My girlfriend."

It's the first time Jia's heard him say it out loud.

My girlfriend.

And she should be happy about that. Right?

Sophie's expression shifts—just slightly—but it's gone in an instant, replaced by something softer. She nods in acknowledgment.

"Nice to meet you."

Jia nods back. "You too."

Seokmin and Sophie talk for a bit.

Just light conversation, catching up, nothing serious.

But Jia doesn't hear a word of it.

She's looking at Sophie—at the way she carries herself, the way she speaks so easily to Seokmin, the way she just fits into his world.

And Jia wonders—

Why did they break up?

Sophie is beautiful. Confident. The kind of person who seems like she has everything figured out.

And she's his age.

Jia doesn't realize she's zoning out until she feels Seokmin squeeze her hand.

She blinks.

"Sorry," she mutters.

Seokmin frowns a little, tilting his head. But Sophie takes that as her cue to leave.

"Well," Sophie sighs, "I should go. It was nice seeing you again, Seokmin."

"Yeah," Seokmin says, smiling. "You too."

Sophie nods, gives Jia one last glance, and then she's gone.

Jia doesn't know why she suddenly feels like she can't breathe.

"Jia?" Seokmin's voice pulls her back. "You okay?"

She looks at him.

At the guy who's been nothing but kind to her, patient with her, who holds her hand like he's afraid to let go.

And she nods. "Yeah. I'm fine."

☂️

The sky is painted in shades of orange and pink as Jia and Hyerin walk side by side, their steps unhurried.

"It's kinda nice, isn't it?" Hyerin hums. "Having the whole afternoon to ourselves while our boyfriends are busy with practice?"

Jia snorts. "I wouldn't call it 'busy.' Seokmin practically lives for soccer."

"So does Minghao," Hyerin grins, stretching her arms above her head, "but, still, it's nice to have a break. You think we could head to The Bookmark Café? Chan's cousin works there, right? I bet she's got all the best recommendations."

Jia smiles softly. "Oh, you mean Saerom?"

"Yeah," Hyerin nods, "I met her a couple of times, always takes my order. She's cool, and apparently, she's into all the weird, quirky drinks."

Jia chuckles. "Yeah, she does have some special concoctions for regulars."

They're halfway through the school's lobby when a familiar figure sprints toward them from a distance.

Minghao.

He's breathless, hair slightly disheveled, eyes wide with urgency.

"Jia!" He calls out first, then Hyerin.

The girls stop in their tracks.

Something in his expression makes Jia's stomach drop before he even speaks.

"It's Seokmin and Chan," his voice is sharp, strained. "They're fighting."

Jia's mind briefly races to piece it together, but before she can process fully, she takes off running.

Minghao shouts after her, but she doesn't stop.

Hyerin asks, worry clear on her face. "What happened?! Why are they fighting?!"

Minghao answers with urgency. "I don't know. But it's bad. Come on, let's go!"

They hurry after her, but Jia's already a few feet ahead.

Her heartbeat pounds in her ears.

She doesn't know what's going on, but she does know one thing—

Whatever it is, it's not good.

By the time she reaches the field, it's already chaos.

Chan lands a hit to Seokmin's cheek. Seokmin retaliates with a punch to Chan's jaw.

Their teammates shout, some trying to get between them, yelling for them to stop, but neither of them listens. They're too caught up in their anger, too lost in the heat of the moment.

Jia's eyes widen.

For a brief moment, everything around her feels muted, as though the world has slowed down—her breath, the shouts, the chaos itself—all distant, fading into a blur.

Her heart races, each beat thumping louder as she takes it all in, paralyzed by the suddenness of it.

Then—everything crashes back.

The sounds are deafening. Her body surges forward with urgency, her feet pounding against the grass.

"Stop! Both of you!" Her voice breaks through the noise, desperate and pleading.

But the world doesn't stop.

Chan and Seokmin, too wrapped up in their own fury, don't hear her.

She steps forward, trying to wedge herself between them. But in the next moment, Chan yanks his arm back—sharp, reactive—and his hand smacks straight into her face.

The force knocks her back, a sudden sting blooming across her nose as she stumbles.

The entire field gasps.

Hyerin and Minghao rush to her side.

"I'm fine, I'm fine," Jia assures them, though her voice trembles with the shock of it all.

But as Hyerin and Minghao help her up, she sways on her feet, dizzy and unsteady, her legs feeling like jelly.

Hyerin's voice is frantic. "How do we stop them?!"

Jia looks around, her mind racing.

And then, her eyes land on something—a soccer ball left near one of the teammates.

She yanks her arm out of their hold, her fingers still trembling, as she stumbles toward the ball. She barely has the strength to throw it, so she hands it shakily to Minghao.

Without a word, he takes it, and in one smooth motion, hurls it at the pair.

It's only when the ball smacks one of their faces that Chan and Seokmin finally stop.

They freeze, staring. At first, their eyes land on Minghao, but then they shift to Jia next to him.

Her chest heaves with fury, blood dripping from her nose, her expression twisted in sheer, unrestrained anger.

The boys—panting, bruised, and still seething—stand motionless, their shock evident as they take in the sight of her, bloodied and glaring.

Jia glares back, hands on her knees.

"Fuck."

The word leaves her lips before she can stop it.

She barely ever swears, but right now, she can't find a better way to express the frustration bubbling inside her.

Seokmin moves first. "Jia—"

"Don't."

Her voice is cold, sharp, unwavering, but there's a slight tremor in it as she struggles to catch her breath, the blood dripping down her nose making it harder to speak.

He stops in his tracks.

Chan shifts half an inch forward. She whips her head toward him. "Don't even think about it."

"But Jia—"

"Shut it." Her tone is lethal, quiet but deadly, despite the effort it takes to form the words.

She straightens up despite the pain searing through her nose.

Seokmin tries to speak.

"I don't know what happened here," she interrupts, her glare enough to silence him before he can even continue.

Chan doesn't get a chance to start before she's cutting him off.

"And I don't wanna know. But if you don't stop it, I will murder the both of you."

Silence.

No one dares to laugh.

Not even the guys on the team who usually joke about how small she is compared to them. The weight of her words settles like a storm.

Chan has only seen Jia like this once before—but not this bad.

Seokmin, still catching his breath, clenches his fists. He's not mad at her.

He's mad at himself.

He's mad that it even got to this point, that she got caught in the middle of it.

"Jia, I'm so sorry. I didn't mean—"

"I said shut it," she warns again, voice lower now, dangerously quiet.

She turns on her heel and starts walking away. Seokmin follows.

He reaches for her hand but she shoves it away.

Chan watches from a distance, his jaw tight, his fists clenching at his sides before he looks away.

But then—

A sharp gasp.

Chan's head snaps back, eyes widening in disbelief.

Jia is on the ground.

Half of the team sprints toward her, while the rest stay frozen in shock.

Hyerin and Minghao are among those rushing to her side.

Seokmin doesn't think. He doesn't breathe. He drops to his knees next to her and shakes her lightly.

"Jia! Jia, wake up!"

She doesn't move.

"Shit!"

Without hesitation, he scoops her into his arms and takes off toward the school building.

Chan can't move.

He just watches—watches as Seokmin disappears in the distance, Jia's limp figure cradled in his arms.

And for the first time that day, the weight of what he's done crashes down on him.

☂️

Chan leans against his locker, staring at the floor as his mind drifts back to the fight.

He can still hear the shouts, the tension thick in the air.

Seokmin's words—"You're just mad because of her, aren't you?"—still echo in his mind.

It wasn't supposed to go down like that, not in front of everyone. He never imagined things would unravel so publicly.

The heat of the moment had built up, and before he knew it, the words slipped out from Seokmin: "You're mad because you like her."

And now, they kept echoing in his mind.

The weight of it presses down on him again. It was too late now. He threw the first punch out of anger, out of frustration. But there was something more—something he hadn't fully explained to anyone yet.

It was Seokmin's fault, really. Or at least, that's how it felt.

Chan witnessed Seokmin with another girl. It's been days, maybe even a week already.

But that's what made him snap at soccer practice. That's when he decided Seokmin must be seeing someone else, that he was hiding something.

The sound of footsteps breaks his thoughts, and he looks up to see Jia entering the hallway.

His heart skips. He doesn't think, doesn't wait.

He rushes toward her.

"Jia!"

Jia stops, but she just stares at him, cold and distant.

He falters, but he's already here, standing in front of her. The words spill out before he can stop them.

"I—I'm sorry, Jia. I didn't mean to hit you. But please, you need to understand why we fought."

Jia doesn't respond.

She just stands there, her expression unreadable. He continues, the weight of his guilt making every word feel heavier.

"I thought... I thought Seokmin was cheating on you. I saw him with another girl. Outside a café. I thought—"

Jia's gaze shifts, just slightly, her eyes flickering. Chan doesn't notice, but the change is there, subtle.

"Outside?" She asks.

Her first word since yesterday, since the fight.

But her face remains impassive.

"Y—yeah." Chan answers nervously.

Jia's gaze lingers on him for a long moment, but she says nothing else.

Then, without another word, she turns and walks away.

The rest of the day is a blur for Jia. She doesn't quite register the words in class, nor her friends' stories during lunch.

Vernon and Seungkwan were worried about her when they heard the news, but they're relieved to see her okay.

Or at least, half-okay. Her head is throbbing, the pain in her nose lingering despite it being cleaned up already.

It's only when she arrives at Seokmin's dorm that she begins to feel a bit more at ease.

Jia's eyes are heavy, her mind still foggy, but she can't seem to escape the endless scroll of her phone.

The soft orange light from the lamp casts a warm glow over the room, the quiet only broken by the occasional tap of her screen. A dull throbbing lingers behind her eyes.

Seokmin's presence beside her is comforting, his hand brushing through her hair. It's grounding, but her thoughts are elsewhere.

"Did you mean it when you said that you were gonna kill us both?" Seokmin's voice is soft, teasing, breaking through her haze.

She blinks at him, still lost in her phone. "I'll try my best to get away with two murders. Joshua can help me cover up."

He chuckles softly, shaking his head, and then strokes her hair again. She finally puts her phone down and closes her eyes, leaning into his touch.

Despite the dull headache, a small smile tugs at her lips.

"I'm so sorry, Love."

She doesn't answer right away, just lets him continue to run his fingers through her hair.

But then, her voice barely above a whisper, she asks, almost lulled to sleep,

"Why were you even fighting?"

Seokmin hesitates, his fingers pausing briefly.

"I don't know, honestly." A pause, the words hanging between them. "But I think... I think Chan likes you."

Jia scoffs lightly, her eyes still closed. "That's impossible. He likes someone else. He's been telling us about this girl—"

"I can feel it, Jia. I know he likes you." His voice is firmer now. "And I—I don't like it."

She looks up at him then, her eyes narrowing slightly. "You're kidding, right?"

"I'm serious." His lips press together. "I hate that your best friend likes you. Because I feel like you're gonna leave me for him."

Her expression softens, the tension in her shoulders easing.

"I won't." She says it firmly, without hesitation.

"Lee Chan's just a friend from childhood, okay? And he doesn't like me. We don't see each other that way. He's family."

He watches her closely, as if searching for a lie, a crack in her words.

But there's nothing.

Seokmin's expression softens, though a trace of unease lingers in his eyes. He dismisses it, however.

For the first time since the fight, Jia feels the tension slip away between them.

And she smiles, letting herself fall asleep.

☂️

"I think... I need to break up with you."

"Did I do something wrong? Did I say something? Why—why are you suddenly breaking up with me? Can't we talk about this?"

"There's nothing more to talk about. I'm breaking up with you."

"Is that what you really want? Do you really want—"

"Yes."

The room is still.

The window is slightly open, the evening air drifting in, cool against her skin.

The faint hum of cicadas lingers outside, blending with the distant rumble of footsteps in the hallway.

A single cup sits on her desk, the remnants of coffee staining the rim.

The shadows stretch long against the floor, shifting ever so slightly with the flickering streetlights outside.

I've seen this before, Jia thinks.

This has happened before.

Why does it look familiar?

Why does it feel familiar?

Like a scene that's unfolded before, in a chapter that's been told way back—at the beginning of this story.

When Kanon receives the text, her lips curve upward in a smirk.

"I broke up with Seokmin. It's final."

Her fingers hover over the screen, almost savoring the moment. Her eyes flicker with something darker, something too calculating to be called joy.

She leans forward, adjusting her reflection in the mirror, fixing her hair and makeup with methodical precision.

Her fingers trace the edge of her lips as she stares at herself, her expression softening into something almost... satisfied.

With a soft chuckle, she sets the phone down and walks toward her wardrobe. She opens the door slightly, revealing framed photos lining the shelves—dozens of pictures of Chan.

Some candid, others taken from angles that scream secrecy.

Stolen.

She returns to the mirror after getting a jacket, picks up her phone, and types a reply.

"aww, don't worry jia, im coming over. lets drink the night away. xx Kanon 💋"

part ten | previous | next | chapter list

☔

a/n: omg so this part?!?! gosh i had such a blast creating this but also this was sooo difficult to pull off of bc i meant for this to have that "blending effect" between the good and bad chapters or "experiences."

idk if i was able to do that but i still did my best and this is one of my fav parts of the whole story! also, were almost at the climax of one of the most important arcs here so i hope ive prepared u enough for what's next bc it will be heavy.

see u next part!

questions? send your thoughts! feedbacks are much appreciated!

☔

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bougainvillea-and-saltwater · 8 months ago

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Sujamma Sundas

The wonderful @lathepoquerose tagged me in this cutest game where I have to share 3-5 quotes from my OC, so me and Jia can help sweet Sujamma learn his letters! 🥰

"I am Akatosh’s blessed, Daedra. I always have a choice."

"Strike hard and brave and do not humble me. If you do, I will come back from the dead to haunt your limited time on Nirn. By my hope of Sovngarde, I swear this, Miraak."

"That fire, and all the fires of this world, are mine. They belong to me and no other."

"When I was a girl (. . .) my Shield-Sister, Aela, used to run her fingers over my forehead; here, like this. And she was telling me, she’d make me the loveliest wreath made of forget-me-nots to wear over my head, so I would never again forget the dreams hanging around in there."

"It's the first time you're looking at me like that. Look at me. You know what I do—I recount everything I went through with you, every moment, every minute. I was enduring it, and I was telling myself to wait. I swore I'd take my vengeance, but first I wanted you to know. You ask what I am. I am what you named me: I am Fire. I am Death."

So, I tag: @miraakulous-cloud-district, @hircines-hunter,

@skyrim-forever, @pocket-vvardvark, @oblivions-dawn, and

@pinessydr without pressure of course! 💖

#that last quote hasn't happened yet but I LOOK FORWARD SO MUCH >:) (even if it'll take a while to be written...)#oc: jia #tesblr #skyrim oc #last dragonborn #the priest and the dragoness

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eulaliasims · 5 months ago

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Round 4, Hill Farm 7 / 8

Mouse: ZzzzZZz... I am the best... zZZzzz...

Jia: Take that! Oof—

Jia has found a wooden practice sword somewhere (let's be real, she didn't find it, Aunt Wenna probably gave it to her).

Xiang: Jia, what are you up to?

Jia: Ummm, nothing?

Xiang: Would you like to continue playing, or would you like some actual lessons?

Jia: Lessons! Do I get a real sword for lessons?

Xiang: No.

Jia: Aw.

Xiang: At least, not yet.

Eisu wanted to host a party to celebrate Yule, and Xiang is looking forward to tasting what his husband has been cooking up since dawn.

Sun: She copied my dress.

Gytha: This is my MOTHER'S dress. You're clearly copying me.

I have like three clothing sets in this hood, everyone shut up.

Elmet: Ugh, the armpit on this tunic is too tight...

Helenet: At least you haven't been pregnant for a hundred moons.

Elmet: I didn't say anything about that? And it hasn't been that long?

Drustan: Excuse me, I'm TRYING to get inside.

There's space all around them, just go around.

Oh, I see, you had to pointedly shove past Angus to make your feelings known.

Sun: Do you want to see a really cool bug I found?

Diseta: Do I ever!

#TS2 #eulalia: Veridia #sims: Eisu #sims: Xiang #sims: Drustan #sims: Jia #sims: Xiuying #pets: Mouse #sims: Sun #sims: Gytha #sims: Elmet #sims: Helenet #sims: Angus #sims: Diseta

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instruth · 18 days ago

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EPISODE 4, SEASON 5.

“ALL CHARACTERS in the Series—RECAP & UPDATES.”

The New Celestial Series continues…

——————————————————————

(As a help, guide and reflection, I shall provide a Summary of the Stories—with a list of the Series’ Characters show below:

1/ Spiritual Beings—managing ghost apparitions (*Chronicles of Conscience).

King & Queen of the Galaxy; Chief Warrior Perseverance (Persie), Prudence (Lady with the Lamp & Flying White Horse), Miss Pearly, Mr Trusting, Mr Pursue, Miss (referPebbles, Lady Dawn, Chaplain Twilight, Miss Moon (later becomes Queen Moon); Master Sun (who loves Miss Moon, but they cannot meet); Arkra, great warrior (Son of Pursue / Pebbles—nephew of Perseverance); Lady Susie (Mayfly / Butterfly / Leader of Nymphs); From Chinatown: Jia Li (Homely Pear), Yuè Er (Moonlight Swan), Lord Houyi (Legendary Archer who shot down 9 Suns); The Jade Emperor & Empress, who lost 9 sons (parents of the remaining 10th Son—named Master Sun); Mr Stones (Guardian of fallen stars & diminished Conscience), Miss Constance & her parents—Sally & Stanley (the Scientist, Discoverer of Conscience)… and minor characters…

2/ Earthlings—(and earth creatures):

John & Holiday, Manny Larfs, Inspector Truman & Mrs Truman (Trudie); Elizabeth Wilkinson, Charles Wilkinson, Jeffrey Cunningham, Steve Grossman, Lewis Lowe, Mr Terashima (Foreign Minister, Japan); Samurai Saigo; Bong Tien Hoi and his wives; Bong Kim & Fung Mooi Kui, Bong Ngiu, Bong Leung & Kong Nyet Ngo (elder daughter of Mr Kong Sen/ one son Vong Lo Park), Mr and Mrs Ban, adopted daughter Miss Ban Ping Onn (illegitimate half sister of Vong Lo Park); the Temple Medium, his wife & young beautiful daughter (Lueng’s Lover, Mother of Ban Ping Onn); Miss Tidings (the girl who drowned), her father Mr Tidings (Little Trinity Story); and more minors ones…

—————

Please continue to view / read our stories in the CELESTIAL SERIES, and our Intermediary Chronicles of Conscience—12 Episodes.

Enjoy—especially those who may have missed some of them, and new readers who have totally missed the inaugural series.

Thank you.

(Novelist, Author & Poet, Registered Publisher—Instrument of Truth)

15 July 2025

IMAGES of my FamiLEE & Relatives (not actual characters)—courtesy of J. P. Lee. Hope they help to give a dramatized effect

#poetryportal #writerscreeds #smittenbypoetry #spilledwords #writtenconsiderstions #writingthestorm #poeticstories #inkstainsandheartbeats

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zsakuva · 9 months ago

Note

Hello!! Even though it's absolutely irrelevant, I thought I'd ask anyway since you seem the best person to answer the question(s) I'm about to ask:

First of all, I am someone who has listened to/ is open to listening to most types of music. But these days I feel like I'm falling behind in music genres such as ambient, folkkore or soundtrack annd much more.

On the other hand, it would be hard not to realize that you listen to these genres religiously in the short time I was able to use Discord!! So you kinda get the point of me asking this question specifically to you 🦉

So, let's ask you, King Crumpet, do you have any suggestions?, or important stuff you want to talk about? Let your people be cultured too!!

I normally consume soundtracks of things that I've played/watched before, and many are nostalgic for me. But I tend to listen to music that helps with my work, so I curate my playlists when I'm searching for a specific theme or mood. I also listen to my 'Discover Weekly' and 'Release Radar' semi-regularly to find new songs, so the artists in total are ALL over the place.

So in no particular order, I'll list off soundtracks that help my brainstorming/writing (bear in mind I don't listen to the whole soundtrack, just pieces that fit what I need):

MOVIES/TV SHOWS/ANIME

Game of Thrones - Ramin Djawadi

House of the Dragon - Ramin Djawadi

The Hunger Games movies - James Newton Howard

The Lord of the Rings: The Rings of Power - Bear McCreary

The Wheel of Time - Lorne Balfe

The Untamed - Hai Lin

Tales From Earthsea - Tamiya Terashima

Psycho-Pass - Yugo Kanno

The Sandman - David Buckley

The Bourne Trilogy - John Powell

Oppenheimer - Ludwig Göransson

VIDEO GAMES

The Elder Scrolls V: Skyrim - Jeremy Soule

The Elder Scrolls IV: Oblivion - Jeremy Soule

Final Fantasy XII - Hitoshi Sakimoto

Final Fantasy XV - Yoko Shimomura

Horizon Zero Dawn - Joris de Man

Moss - Jason Graves

Pine - Tumult Kollektiv

Detroit: Become Human - Nia Fakhrara; Philip Sheppard; John Paesano

MISCELLANEOUS BUT NOTABLE ARTISTS

Yuki Kajiura

Gareth Coker

Nobuo Uematsu

Two Steps From Hell

Howard Shore

Jia Peng Fang

Will Savino

Royal Philharmonic Orchestra (normally renditions of video game soundtracks like Tomb Raider II)

Hans Zimmer

Loreena McKennitt

Mark Eliyahu

Yutaka Yamada

#zsakuva #music #writing

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noonaenthusiast · 6 months ago

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Heiress Reborn 1998 1x03

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solar-verse · 4 months ago

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Masterlist

08: chapter seven

Idoljk x oc

The phone kept buzzing with incoming messages, disrupting the silence of the room. Rian was still half-asleep, groaning in frustration as the persistent noise refused to stop. With her eyes closed, she reached toward the dresser where she usually placed her phone, blindly feeling around for it. But after several unsuccessful attempts, she sighed in defeat. Whoever was spamming her this early in the morning she was going to kill them.

Reluctantly, she cracked her eyes open, ready to grab her phone only to freeze.

This… this wasn’t her bed.

Her heart skipped a beat as realization dawned on her. And even more alarming? There was an arm draped over her waist.

What the hell?

Turning her head slightly, she found herself face-to-face with Noah, her latest entertainment of the month. She immediately lifted the covers, peeking underneath. Relief washed over her when she saw that her clothes were still intact. Thank God. At least drunk her had enough sense not to make any stupid decisions last night. Even in a drunken haze, it seemed she had remembered one important rule, she didn't do sloppy seconds.

Sometimes, you met someone who looked like they knew what they were doing. Then, when you actually put them to the test, you realized you had to teach them everything. That was exactly what happened with Noah. She had met him at a party with Jia, handsome, confident, and persistent enough to take his shot. So, out of sheer boredom, she let him. And maybe… just maybe, that was the only reason she had kept him around this long.

Carefully, she untangled herself from his hold, making sure not to wake him up. The last thing she wanted was morning-after small talk. After crawling out of bed, she searched the room for her phone, eventually spotting it under the bed. When she finally grabbed it, the screen was flooded with missed messages from Jia.

Jia [7:12 AM]: Where the hell are you?

Jia [7:15 AM]: Rian, seriously, wake up!

Jia [7:18 AM]: If you’re dead in a ditch somewhere, I’m going to be so pissed.

Jia [7:22 AM]: Wait… don’t tell me you’re with HIM.

Jia [7:22 AM]: You are, aren’t you? Oh my god.

Jia [7:24 AM]: You said you were DONE with him last week! LMAO, you’re so full of shit.

Jia [7:27 AM]: Okay, whatever. Just get your ass here. You’re LATE.

Jia [7:30 AM]: Rian.

Jia [7:31 AM]: RIAN.

Jia [7:32 AM]: Don’t make me come drag you out myself.

Rian groaned, rubbing her temple as she processed the messages.

Fuck.

She was late.

Her eyes widened as she read the latest one.

"Where the hell are you? The professor is here!"

Fuck.

She was really late.

Thank God Noah’s place was near RCA. Well, not near near, but close enough that an Uber would get her there faster than if she were coming from her own apartment.

Right. Uber. She needed to call one.

But first, she needed to fix herself.

Rian immediately got out of bed and headed to the bathroom. The moment she looked in the mirror, she groaned. Her hair was a tangled mess, mascara smudged beneath her eyes like she had just crawled out of a horror movie. Running a hand through her hair in a weak attempt to tame it, she sighed. There was no time for a shower. Instead, she washed her face, swished some mouthwash around to freshen up, and called it a day. At least she wouldn’t have morning breath.

Her reflection still screamed hungover mess.

The skirt? Passable. The shirt? Not so much. It might as well have had “partied all night” written across it in bold letters.

Just as she was about to figure out what to do, a voice interrupted her.

“Babe.”

Rian shut her eyes and winced.

Oh, God. Where the hell did that come from?

She swears they both knew this was casual. Why did this always happen?

Taking a deep breath, she walked back into the room, grabbing her things. “Good morning,” she said, keeping her tone light.

Noah stretched lazily, watching her. “It’s early. How about we grab some breakfast?”

“I really don’t have the time,” she replied, already opening the Uber app to book a ride.

“I can take you to uni,” he offered.

Tempting. Not gonna lie. But—

She found a ride and booked it. The driver would be here in ten minutes.

When she glanced up, Noah was looking at her expectantly.

Alright. Better now than later. No need to drag this out. Also, Jia would absolutely blow her head off if she was any later.

Rian sat beside him on the bed, exhaling. “Noah,” she started carefully, “I’ve really had a great time with you. You’re a great guy, and a million girls would kill to be with you—”

If you actually knew how to utilize what you’ve got.

“—but—”

“That’s why I think we should make this official,” he cut her off, grabbing her hands in his.

Rian blinked. What.

She looked down at their hands, frowning. Okay. He’s slow too.

There was no other way to do this except to rip the band-aid off. She pulled her hands away. “No, Noah,” she said firmly. “I told you from the beginning, I’m not looking for a relationship right now.”

“But why?” he asked, frustration laced in his voice. “We work really well together.” He reached for her hands again.

She leaned back slightly, shaking her head. “No, I can’t. I’m busy, and I’m focused on my studies. I don’t want to drag this out when I already know it won’t lead anywhere. It’ll only end up hurting both of us.”

Hurting him, more like.

Noah opened his mouth as if to protest, but when he saw the unwavering look in her eyes, he sighed. “Okay. I really had a great time with you too.”

Rian smiled, relieved. “Thanks. By the way, can I take one of your shirts?”

When Rian arrived, she carefully closed the studio door behind her, wincing as the hinges let out a faint creak. Professor Evans had his back turned, gesturing at a holographic design projection while explaining a technique to one of her classmates. Seizing the opportunity, she slipped into her seat beside Jia, who wordlessly handed over her bag, already packed with Rian’s sketchbook, tablet, and a half-finished iced coffee.

"I wouldn’t know what to do without you," Rian whispered, pulling out her stylus.

"Yeah, yeah, just remember this when you’re accepting your ‘Designer of the Year’ award," Jia muttered back, smirking.

Professor Evans turned, his sharp gaze lingering on Rian just a beat too long. "Since all of you are finally here,"* he said, stressing the last word, "your task is to design a headpiece incorporating filigree metalwork"

The studio erupted into the familiar rustle of sketchbooks flipping open and tablets lighting up. Rian exhaled, tapping her stylus against her palm as she stared at the blank screen.

Even now, it still felt surreal. Her? At the Royal College of Arts?

Everything had gone according to plan, mostly. First, two grueling years at Central Saint Martins , where "glamorous" meant surviving on three hours of sleep and critique sessions that left even the toughest students questioning their life choices. But it was there she’d met Jia, and somehow, within just three months, they had gone from casual classmates to inseparable best friends. They were so close that they decided to rent a place together, a decision Rian never once regretted.

Initially, their friendship was built on solidarity, two Koreans well, Jia was born and raised in the UK, but still, in a place where they were the only Asians in their program. But soon, it became something deeper. They had each other’s backs through everything.

Then came RCA.

The application process had been a special kind of torture. Only fifteen to twenty students accepted per year, and the portfolio reviews were brutal. The worst part wasn’t the sleepless nights or the endless revisions, it was the unspoken fear that one of them would get in, and the other wouldn’t. Would Jia resent her if Rian made it and she didn’t? Would Rian be able to celebrate if the roles were reversed?

But deep down Rian knew in both scenarios, each of them will be happy for the other.

The day the acceptance emails arrived, Jia had barged into the living room, laptop open, face streaked with tears.

"We—we both—"

Rian didn’t let her finish. she immediately hugged her tight . Jia, ever the dramatic, collapsed onto the floor, wailing, "I can’t believe we have to do this all over again!"

That day, There had been screaming. Tears. Laughter. More tears. Snot. So much snot. Rian swore she cried enough to water an entire field that day.

But they’d made it. Together.

"Okay, for the next session, I want that design finalized so you can start bringing it to life," Professor Evans announced as the class began packing up. "But before you leave, there’s something important we need to discuss."

The students, who had been packing up their things, paused to listen.

"As you know, this university collaborates with top jewelry brands. This year, one of them is offering a seven-month apprenticeship for a team of two students." He folded his arms, scanning the room. "Selected students will work directly under the brand, gaining hands-on experience in design, production, and client relations. To be considered, you and your partner must submit a portfolio featuring ten original designs, with one standout piece physically crafted to showcase your skills."

Rian’s stomach dropped.

"Judging will be at the end of the year, giving you five months to prepare. The winning team will train at the brand’s headquarters, and your performance will determine the results of the next year." He paused. "Selection criteria include creativity, technical execution, participation, and professionalism. Good luck."

The moment the professor dismissed them, Rian and Jia locked eyes.

We’re screwed.

Their class accepted only twenty students a year, meaning the competition was brutal. Cutthroat. Some would sell their souls for this opportunity. And they weren’t just up against anyone; they were competing against the best.

Rian exhaled sharply. No sleep for the next five months. She could already feel her under-eye bags darkening.

"So, partner," Jia muttered, rubbing her temples. "How do you feel about our impending doom?"

"Completely and utterly fucked," Rian sighed, taking a long sip of her now-lukewarm coffee.

"Same." Jia groaned. "No parties. No social life. Just caffeine and regret."

"Speaking of regrets…" Rian winced. "I finally ended things with Ken’s doppelgänger."

Jia smirked. "Took you long enough. Do I want details?"

"Only if you enjoy secondhand embarrassment. The two times we hooked up, I stared at the ceiling and imagined I was in a wild porno just to get through it."

Jia fake-gagged. "Wow. No wonder you dropped him this morning."

"Uh-huh. This morning. Please, if you ever see me making dumb decisions again, you have full permission to drag me by the hair."

Jia laughed before shifting gears. "Any guesses on which brand it is?"

Rian tapped her pen. "Bvlgari? They’ve partnered with the school before."

"If it’s them, I might actually cry." Jia slumped in her chair. "So, what’s the game plan? Panic first, then work?"

"Food first," Rian decided. "Then we drown in sketches and regret."

Jia groaned. "Not again."

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