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dobomiyeon · 1 year

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shiny star / choi seungcheol

➝ Seungcheol x Reader

➝ shiny star!au // university!au // non idol!au // strangers to lovers // fluff // hurt comfort // tiny bit angsty i guess

➝ word count: 6.9k~

➝ inspired by: Shiny Star (2020) - KyoungSeo

➝ Shiny Star masterlist (can be read as standalone)

Seungcheol // Jeonghan // Joshua // Junhui // Soonyoung // Wonwoo // Jihoon // Seokmin // Mingyu // Minghao // Seungkwan // Hansol // Chan

➝warning: curses, food, description of toxic parents i suppose, seungcheol being too unreal bc thats just him, that's about it? not proofread bc i finished this like 2 hrs ago sdjfhbdjhg

➝A/N: happy birthday, cheol!!! am glad i found you in this life time🧡🧡🧡

많고 많은 사람 중에 너를 만나서

Meeting you among thousands of people

행복하고 싶어 두 번 다시 울지 않을래

Makes me want to be happy, I wish I won’t cry again

The first time Seungcheol sees you, you’re crying in front of Professor Jung’s office.

It’s not an unusual sight, if he’s being honest. Being Professor Han’s TA whose office is right beside Professor Jung’s, Seungcheol is used to seeing students crying after a session because Professor Jung is just unreasonably strict with his grade and assignment. He’d be surprised if anyone came out of his office with a grin on their face.

If he’s to be frank, he doesn’t understand how come no one has reported the professor to the higher ups. Isn’t this some kind of abuse? But, then again, maybe they simply don’t care because Professor Jung is one of the smartest people in the entire campus and he’s achieved a lot for the university.

Anyway, despite the usual occurrence, Seungcheol feels particularly bad that day seeing a student cry like that. You’re probably a junior, too. He thinks it’s the way you’re trying hard to swallow your sob as you cover your face in the otherwise empty hallway, like you can’t help crying even though you don’t want to. He’s usually the type of person to mind his own business, but your hiccups tug something in his consciousness (heart?) that he feels the need to reenter Professor Han’s office just to get some tissue for you.

You look up when you feel another presence in front of you, and you don’t even have it in you to feel embarrassed because it’s already too late at that point. You probably look like a mess, but the guy simply gives you a small smile and offers you some tissues.

“No problem, I was his student too,” he says when you thank him. “I know he can be a bit difficult–”

He chuckles at your pointed look, your red eyes unbelieving. “Okay, not a bit. He’s very difficult; but his class is worth it, I promise.”

“I know.” Your voice is very soft, Seungcheol decides, and he’s not talking about the volume of your voice. There’s just something comforting about it even though you’ve just finished crying. “It just… frustrates me because I thought I’d ace this particular assignment, but I got a B minus.”

Seungcheol blinks at your words, a B minus and you’re crying…? He passed with a C and he celebrated. Do you even know the average score of Professor Jung’s class? Did you… go to his office and ask about your score? At least you didn’t sound uptight.

But he holds back the judgement before he goes too far, maybe you’re one of those straight A’s students that holds academic scores above your head (which is cool, he’s always wondered how some people can take academics that seriously).

Whatever it is, it’s not his place to judge. You’re not saying it in a condescending way too. You sound genuinely upset and he’s here to comfort some poor student because it’s one of those impulsive days, not judge them.

“It’s pretty good for Professor Jung’s class. You know how strict he is with his grade,” he says anyway, hoping that his tone wouldn’t sound mocking. “And, hey, you can always ask for an extra assignment if you think you need it?”

You sigh, exhaling a deep breath and wiping the last of your tears before you offer him a small smile. “Yeah. This would sound annoying but… I just… I don’t actually know how to deal with bad grades. I’ve never gotten a B too, even for an assignment, and I know my GPA would still be pretty good as long as I ace the exams but…”

“Anyway,” you shake your head suddenly, your smile more genuine than earlier that Seungcheol catches himself staring. “I’m sorry for unloading on you. And… uh… thank you for listening.”

You’re already long gone when Seungcheol realizes he didn’t ask for your name.

Seungcheol curses as he gets out of his class, starting to wonder if taking Masters is even worth it. (Of course it is, he’s just in a whiny mood today.) Being a postgraduate student can be very tiring at times; yes, he doesn’t have classes everyday and he’s mostly on campus because of his TA works.

But, with that in mind, it means his class would go for three hours when he does have a schedule. He should’ve listened to Jisoo and took a job in her dad’s company instead of doing post-grad, but Joshua Hong and Yoon Jeonghan just had to rile him up and now he’s here out of spite to prove them wrong.

So much for being an adult.

It’s fifteen minutes past lunch time already and he’s sure the cafetaria is way too crowded if he wants a quick lunch. Perhaps going to the convenience store just outside the campus gate would be better. Also, Hanbin, his fellow TA, isn’t on campus today and he’s much too annoyed to deal with rowdy freshmen without his friend.

Much to his luck, the convenience store is pretty empty today considering it’s lunch time. There’s still a line in front of the cashier, but nothing he can’t handle. The few tables outside are filled with who he assumed to be students too (He thinks he recognizes one of them; Boo Seungkwan, was it?), but it’s too hot outside and he’d rather sit inside with the air conditioner system blasted on.

Hmm. Maybe he should get some fruit soda too now that he’s here. He’s been craving for something sweet anyway.

“Oh, hi!” The cashier greets him with a wave before he starts scanning his items. “Long time no see. Is this all?”

“Hi Bam.” Seungcheol grins at the younger guy. He used to mentor Bambam a few semesters back, and he’s pretty sure he’s only seen the tall guy pass by the corridor from time to time since then. “Didn’t know you work here. And, yeah, that should be all.”

They talk for a bit after that because there’s no one else behind him on the line, and it’s only when another customer comes in five minutes later that Seungcheol excuses himself to find a seat. The table by the window is already full, so he figures he should walk to the back and see if there’s any free seat inside.

He presses his lips together when he notices one of the tables is broken, the other occupied by a couple, and the last one by a girl whose face he can’t even see because she’s slumped forward. He never minds sharing a table, but will the girl think he’s some kinda creepy flirt if he tries to take a seat?

He’s about to just leave when she sits up and takes a deep breath, realization colors his face. It’s you. Your eyes find his too, and it’s your small smile and your small nod of acknowledgement that encourage him to make his way to you.

“Mind if I sit here? Everywhere else is full,” he asks just in case, thanking you when you tell him he’s free to do so.

It’s silent for a bit after that; you with your own thoughts, and Seungcheol simply glad that he doesn’t have to walk back to uni to eat some kimbap and drink some soda. And it’s when you sigh again that he asks if you’re okay.

“I make a good listener, if you remember,” he jokes, which makes you laugh a little in return.

“Just… one of those days.” You scrunch your nose before sipping on your lemonade, and it’s only then that he realizes you have a drink in front of you. Of course, you wouldn’t just be here chilling without buying anything. “You’re Professor Han’s TA, right? I’ve seen you around with Hanbin.”

He accepts the change of topic, perhaps you simply don’t want to talk about whatever it is bothering you. He is a stranger, after all.

“Yep,” he nods, munching some more before it dawns on him. “You know Hanbin?”

“He’s friends with Taehyung.”

“You know Taehyung?” Seungcheol blinks, not expecting his usual groupmate to be friends with you. Is he ignorant or he simply never sees you with him? But, then again, he doesn’t really hang out with the guy outside class, either.

“He’s my neighbor. My mom is close with his mom so he’s like an older brother to me, to be honest,” you shrug. “I’m actually here waiting for him, my class got cancelled and his won't end until… an hour from now.”

He laughs when he sees you sigh after checking your watch, and then proceeds to talk about Taehyung because that’s the only mutual ground you have with him at that point.

“Why are you waiting for him though? Going somewhere?”

“Oh, he takes me home, usually,” you suddenly avert your eyes to avoid his, looking embarrassed when you continue, hesitation colors your tone before you say your next words. “Because our house is actually an hour away from uni and I’m… uh, not familiar with public transportation because my parents don’t allow me to go anywhere by myself.”

You’ve expected Seungcheol to snort or mock you with the mask of joking, but he simply hums as he nods, still focused on his food like your words don’t weird him out. You know people see you like you’re some kind of princess because of that, even more because it’s Taehyung, of all people; the guy has girls (and guys) lining up for confession, and he brushes them off because he needs to cater for you first.

You always wonder why they can’t see that Taehyung simply takes care of you because it’s already a habit for him at this point. You practically grew up together, and you always cringe at the thought that people mistake you both for a couple. He’s basically a sibling–you really don’t need that image in your head.

“Taehyung must’ve really treasured you then. He’s very impatient with us during group assignments.” He grins after you say Taehyung waits up for you a lot, and tells you about how your brother lashed out once during Philosophy class because they were fooling around instead of getting right into it.

“Sounds like him.” You chuckle despite the doubt in your heart. It’s way too good to be true that someone isn’t judging you from what you’ve just said. Did this guy really just accept that you have Taehyung taking care of you to that extent? He must’ve grimaced on the inside at the very least, you wince at the thought. “I usually just tell people he’s my brother because that’s how he introduces me to people too.”

Seungcheol hums, squinting his eyes as he rakes his brain. “Oh, I think I remember Taehyung mentioning a sister a few times. I don’t think he’s ever mentioned your name, though?”

“Oh!” you exclaim, smiling sheepishly as you introduce yourself to him at last. Seungcheol waves his hand at your apology, assuring you it’s fine and tells you his name. Something seems to click in your mind, your lips turning into an ‘O’. “Oh? I think Tae mentioned you a few times too.”

Your conversation flows from there, and Seungcheol is pleased to know you’re into the same movies you’re into. He doesn’t even realize that his food is finished and it’s only when Taehyung’s familiar voice greets you both that you realize it's been an hour since you've both started talking.

"Oh?" His voice is confused, but is laced with warmth and it welcomes you nevertheless. "You… know each other?"

Your eyes meet Seungcheol's, and Taehyung is more than surprised to see you both sharing a knowing look before Seungcheol grins and you press your lips together to hide one. Apparently you two have an inside joke already.

Interesting.

"I didn't know he was friends with you," you say instead, and then gets up from your seat without really saying anything the moment Taehyung makes himself comfortable at the small table. Seungcheol quirks an eyebrow at that, and Taehyung helpfully informs that you're probably getting him bread or something.

"She's the sister you've mentioned before?" He makes sure, slurping the last of his drink.

"Yuppp." The younger guy nods, distracted, before taking a sip of your drink and grimaces at the taste. "Should've known she's drinking this again. That's basically sugar with water."

Seungcheol chuckles at that, but didn't get to comment on that because you've returned with some bread and some soda, placing them in front of Taehyung then proceeds to sit down next to him and just lays your head on his shoulder when he thanks you and pats your head.

He decides to keep his thoughts to himself as he watches you both; weirdly enough, you do look like a pair of siblings even though he's never seen siblings quite as affectionate as you two. Even if your cheek is pressed against Taehyung's shoulder and there's basically no space between your bodies, Seungcheol can tell that there's nothing romantic between the two of you. Whoever is accusing you of being romantically involved with his friend probably didn't even actually try to look or is too jealous to even care.

Wait.

Does Taehyung know you're having those problems?

He feels like it's not something that Taehyung wouldn't know–what, with his popularity and all that–but he doubts you're completely transparent about it.

Not that he actually knows if it's that bad. But by the looks of it, Seungcheol can imagine you really have no one but Taehyung if you went as far as waiting for him by yourself here instead of with other friends even though you knew he'd take at least an hour to be done.

Or maybe you enjoy your solitude.

Who knows? It's not his place to pry. He's spoken to you a total of two times anyway.

"Anyway. Did you finish that assignment? From Professor Jung?"

“Kinda. Just need to review it again and see if there’s anything I can revise.” You scrunch your nose in distaste. “I don’t even know why I took his class for electives.”

“I told you not to take it.” Taehyung snickers, and then turns to Seungcheol to make a point. “I told her the only person I know who’s passed his class with flying colors is Kim Jisoo, so she took the class to prove me wrong.”

Seungcheol blinks at that, not expecting you to be that kinda person though, really, he doesn’t have anything but groundless assumptions for now. He’s intrigued though, and he totally forgot Jisoo took that class because she did take it a semester early.

“Which reminds me, aren’t you close with her?” Taehyung continues, nudging his shoulder upwards to annoy you, to which you simply pinch his waist that gets Taehyung yelping before he stops real quick. “This nerd here would probably be kissing the ground you walk on if you get Jisoo to tutor her–or at least review her assignments.”

“Kim Taehyung!”

“What? It’s true–ouch, stop pinching me, woman! You’re so violent.”

“Then stop saying nonsense!”

“But you said–Ow! Stop!”

“Actually.” Seungcheol cuts the bickering even though it’s entertaining him to no end; as much as he knows Taehyung is friendly, he’s sure he’s never seen the guy this carefree before. Plus, there’s just something about you that pulls him in though he can’t exactly pinpoint what it exactly is. “Jisoo is looking for something to do. I think she mentioned her schedule is too empty because her internship wouldn’t start until next month. I know she’d be happy to tutor you for free if you want? She’s always liked tutoring. She doesn’t need the credits anymore.”

You gape at him, which Seungcheol doesn’t quite know how to translate; are you in disbelief or what? But he doesn’t really need to do that because Taehyung does it for him, shaking his head as he informs the guy that you’re malfunctioning.

“She has a crush on Jisoo, I think.”

“I told you to stop saying nonsense!” You snap out of it and smacks his shoulder so hard that Taehyung actually groans because it hurts. “I just admire her. She graduated undergrad as a valedictorian, no? And she’s so pretty and friendly. I’m sure she’ll graduate post grad with the highest GPA too.”

Seungcheol shares a look with his friend and nods. “Yeah. That’s a crush.”

You pout at him, not yet close enough to be able to smack him in the head like you would’ve with Taehyung. Seungcheol presses his lips together to mask a fond smile; what kind of person are you, really? He initially thought you’re just some straight A student who does nothing but study and doesn’t know how to have fun (yes, he was judgemental. But, come on, you were crying in front of Professor Jung’s office crying over a B minus on an assignment. At least you sounded nice enough, though), but after an hour with you and looking at you and Taehyung, he’s not so sure anymore.

“Okay, okay. I’ll stop.” He hears Taehyung say affectionately, catching the sight of the older guy messing with your hair before poking your cheek playfully. “But, will you ask her, Cheol?”

“Taehyung!”

Seungcheol shrugs with a smile, telling you once again that Jisoo would love tutoring you because that friend of his has always liked teaching other people (“Helps me with my patience,” she once told him.) and if you really want it, he’d even call her right this moment.

You don’t answer immediately, though the way you’re looking at him with wide eyes that seem to gleam with giddiness is enough answer for him already. How can a university student look like a kid in front of a toy store’s window?

He shakes his head with a laugh–how cuter can you be?–before taking out his phone and putting it on the table, dialing Jisoo’s number. The girl picks up at the second ring, a sassy ‘What?’ ringing through your little table.

“Jeez, you in a bad mood?” he retorts at her tone, and you hear Jisoo grumble before she asks once again what he’s calling her for. “Taehyung’s sister is taking Professor Jung’s class and needs a tutor. Do you think you can help?”

“Taehyung? Kim Taehyung?”

“Hi!” The guy in question chimes in, and Jisoo greets him back before saying she doesn’t know his sister attends their university. “Will tell you sometime. But yeah, she’s a nerd and I was talking to Cheol earlier and thought, why not?”

“Professor Jung, huh? Introduction to Philosophy?” you hear her faint voice from the phone, gripping Taehyung’s arm for some reason. Perhaps you do have a crush on her. “Who’s her name again?”

Seungcheol holds back a laugh when you bite down a squeal the moment Jisoo says ‘aha! I’ve heard of her! I think Professor Choi praised her a few times when I was her TA last year. She wasn’t my student though–Jongin’s I think?’. Taehyung looks at you pointedly when you bury your face into his shoulder, shaking his head as Jisoo starts talking instead about her last year as Professor Choi’s TA.

“Anyway! Yes, I’d love to tutor her. Just give me her number? Or give her mine, either way’s fine,” she closes the discussion before telling them she needs to hang up because someone else is calling. You’re practically hogging Taehyung’s arm the moment the call ends, both men looking at each other with amused grins.

“So you want her number, or…?” Seungcheol teases you, weirdly already comfortable enough to do so, laughing when you simply stare at him with eyes even wider than before. “Alright let me send it to you.”

It’s a second later that he realizes.

“Oh. I don’t have your number.”

So you quickly recite your number and Seungcheol texted you immediately, sending Jisoo’s contact to you with the name “Jichuuu👑”. You ask him about it, and he scrunches his nose before telling you that the girl has changed it herself and he’s too bothered to change it up until now even though he keeps on looking up “Jisoo” when he needs to call her and finding her contact nonexistent.

It’s later that night that you find yourself texting with Seungcheol. You meant to text Taehyung to ask about the new dessert shop near campus, but accidentally texted him because his text was on the very top after the exchange earlier–though Seungcheol happily supplied you with the information you needed nevertheless.

The conversation spiraled from there; because, apparently, even if your interests pretty much clash with each other’s, Seungcheol is happy to instead ask about those differences instead of questioning your taste.

Taehyung asks why you seem so sleepy when he picks you up the next morning, but you shake your head and simply tell him that you found something interesting last night that you ended up sleeping at 2 in the morning.

He does not need to know you spent all night talking to a certain Choi Seungcheol, heart giddy because you’ve found a new friend after so long.

It’s been about two months since you started talking to Seungcheol and your relationship has upgraded to sending each other random memes at just about anytime. Taehyung doesn’t even ask why you’re giggling at your phone anymore, simply shakes his head when he sees you laughing because he’s accepted that his humor code differs from yours and Seungcheol’s.

He’s glad though, because it’s been so long since you’re this open to someone new. The last time was already about a year ago and he’s since been wary of people trying to befriend you because the last one simply did it thinking they could leech off your study.

It’s a fact that he considers you a sister, and he’s probably more protective of you than of his own siblings–but it’s because he knows they’re able to fend for themselves and they don’t need him to be that protective.

But you… You’re an only child, grown up in a protective bubble because your parents are weirdly strict except when it comes to him. Perhaps it helps that your parents and his have always been close; but there’s a reason why you’ve grown to be the person that you are: much too careful and much too afraid.

You’ve been told your whole life to be careful, to not make mistakes, and to always be mindful of what you show to people. It’s not something that Taehyung agrees on, and perhaps he’s at fault too because he, too, becomes too protective of you and that leaves you almost no place to do things on your own.

But he doesn’t have it in him to let you be.

Because he’s seen how cruel people can be to those they consider kind, and you’re easily the kindest person Taehyung has ever laid his eyes on. He doesn’t want you to be taken advantage of. He’s given the benefit of doubts to too many people throughout school, and you always end up feeling betrayed because they either get close to you because they want to be close to him, or they want you to help them with assignments.

He’s had enough.

But Seungcheol obviously doesn’t have those agendas and it's only now that he’s started to realize that, perhaps, he should’ve brought you to his circle instead. His friends would have no business asking for your academic assistance, and it’s pretty clear that he knows which ones are good enough to be close to you.

Then again, you’re often burdened by a group interaction.

“Kay, I need to go to the library now,” you tell him after getting out of the cafeteria, having just finished your late lunch. “Jisoo can’t tutor me this Friday so she asked to reschedule.”

“Oh?” He stops in his track and blinks, as if he’s just heard an information he deems questionable. “Did you tell me about this already?”

“Nope. I just okay-ed her this morning. Why?”

“I… have a date.”

It’s your turn to blink, a little confused. “And?”

“I won’t be able to take you home, kid.”

Your mouth turns into a small ‘o’ as his words sink in. It’s embarrassing, to be honest, that you’re someone in your 20s and have only ridden the bus by yourself for a total of three times. You find fun in riding them, and perhaps you do so simply because you don’t ride it often enough to think of it as a part of your daily life. That said, while you’re a little concerned that you’d need to suddenly go home by yourself, you’re also excited to finally be riding the bus on your own after so long.

“I can take the bus!” You shrug almost nonchalantly, but Taehyung knows you and you pout when he gives you a pointed look. “I’ll make sure of the route and not get lost again, I promise.”

“Alright,” He huffs and continues walking towards the library with you beside him. He can’t possibly cancel this date, because he has already done it two times already and he’s sure Hanbin would kill him if he asked to postpone once more. This is his cousin, after all, and Taehyung wouldn’t have gone to this date if he didn’t owe Hanbin for covering his closing shift twice in the cafe last month.

You wave your hand and tell him ‘bye’ once you arrive in the library, but Taehyung grasps your wrist and looks at you worriedly. “Call me when you’re going home? Maybe my date would be finished by then.”

“Tae, your movie starts in two hours and my session usually lasts that long too,” you remind him. He can be a little overbearing sometimes, but you understand that it’s out of the goodness of his heart and you’re honestly glad you have him as a friend. “I’ll be fine, I promise. I’ll share you my live location.”

It’s obvious that he’s not convinced, but he also knows you’ve always liked taking the bus by yourself, so he simply nods and tells you once again to at least text him once you’re done.

You greet Jisoo once you see her on your usual table, finding a couple on the other end of the table. You don’t mind them though, and apologize that you keep her waiting because Taehyung wouldn’t shut up.

“It’s fine. Sorry for the sudden notice,” she smiles kindly and you almost swoon at the sight of it. Gosh, Seungcheol would’ve teased you if he knew. He’s been teasing you about it for some time now, sending you memes of lovestruck high school girls looking at ‘senpais’, as he likes to call it, captioning it ‘you @ jisoo’.

You bite down your lip at the sudden memory, a smile threatening to bloom on your face.

“Good day?” Jisoo asks, noticing your smile no matter how much you try to hide it. “You seem giddier these days.”

“Really?” You tilt your head in question. You? Giddy?

“Yup. It’s good to see though. You were so shy the first time we met,” she grins teasingly, and you can feel your ears getting warm because Seungcheol actually told you what Jisoo said about that first meeting.

She found you very cute, he’s said, and apparently she told him you’re adorable which he also successfully delivered to you a few weeks ago during lunch when Taehyung went to the restroom. You can still hear his laughter clear in your ears because you immediately went red after that.

The both of you start your study session after that, and Jisoo has kindly brought her old essay for you to use as a reference. You hold on to it like a holy grail, and the older girl simply laughs when you tell her you won’t let it wrinkle even the slightest bit.

You’re reading over a passage about Renaissance when your phone buzzes, Seungcheol’s name popping up in your notification. Jisoo looks at your phone placed between the two of you out of reflex, raising an eyebrow when she sees her friend’s name though she doesn’t comment on it.

Somehow, you don’t seem to realize Jisoo is watching you, and you also don’t realize the way she smirks openly when you bite your lip to hold back a grin as you type back a reply to her friend. Now that she thinks about it, hasn’t Seungcheol also been more attentive to his phone these days?

She doesn’t really see him a lot, but the few times she does meet him with the guys, it’s pretty clear that Seungcheol has been looking at his phone considerably more often than he used to. She didn’t think much of it, because she’s never been the kinda friend to confront little things like that. But this? She might be wrong, but it seems that he’s been getting comfortable with you and vice versa.

“Boyfriend?” She pretends to ask, almost laughing at the way you jump in your seat nervously. “I told you you seem very giddy these days.”

You tilt your head in question.

What? You? Giddy because of his texts?

You’re unsure why you’re not keen on disclosing that it’s Seungcheol you’re texting, so you shake your head and say instead, “Just a friend.”

“For now?” She teases just to see if you’d relent. But you simply smile and deny her with a wave of your hand, telling her it’s nothing like that. Jisoo is surprised to find your tone nothing sort of denial–almost like you actually believe that there’s nothing going on between you and her friend. Did she assume wrong? “Well, just know that you seem to… glow these days.”

Sending a shy grin towards her, you thank her in a whisper before going back to your study. As usual, you share small talk from time to time, because Jisoo deems just working for two hours straight can’t be effective if you don’t have small breaks in between (and, no, she doesn’t mean a few 10 minutes breaks. Just 2 or 3 minutes every now and then at most); and that’s how she found out you’d be going home alone today because Taehyung has a date.

She knows of your situation from Seungcheol, something that Taehyung has asked him to forward the gist of to Jisoo just in case. She doesn’t really get it, if she’s being completely honest, but she’s never one to judge others and has simply stored the information in mind for when it’s necessary. She considers offering to go home with you, but your places are in different directions and she’s promised her mom they’d have movie night later.

While it’s true that she’s not that close to you, she already sees why Taehyung (and Seungcheol) takes such good care of you. There’s just something about you that makes her want to coddle you, blanket you in layers and layers of bubblewrap to make sure you’re safe and sound.

Perhaps it’s you innocence, the way you dangerously trust people because you believe the good in them. Even though she doesn’t agree with the way Taehyung is protective over you because, considerably, it can be a little too much; she also understands why he does it.

But looking at you talk about how it’s been a long time since you go on a bus by yourself and you’re kinda excited for it, she softens at your childlike excitement, also glad that you seem to be comfortable enough to talk about this with her. She asks if you’re sure about the lines you’re supposed to take, and she feels the weight easening a little when you show her a screenshot of your bus route you’ve found off the internet.

Your phone buzzes again, and Jisoo doesn’t miss the way your eyes widen at the notification and how you take a deep breath before clicking something on your phone. She frowns in worry when she sees your face falls, and she can tell that you’re gritting your teeth in an attempt to calm down whatever’s bubbling up in your chest.

The question gets stuck in her throat, not wanting to seem like she’s prying and she feels like it’s not her comfort that you need. It turns out she doesn’t need to ask though, because you do it first by asking if you can cut the session short for the day because something came up and you need to go. You send her a forced smile when she asks if you’re okay, and you quickly tidy up your stuff before apologizing once again for the sudden turn of event.

Jisoo doesn’t even get to bid you goodbye because you’re already gone in a blink of an eye, her worried eyes following you out of the library until you go out of her vision.

The second time Seungcheol sees you crying, you’re by yourself in a random bench behind the engineering building.

It’s a place people usually go to find peace, because, for some reason, the park behind the engineering building has been the designated place for students to just cry or zone out without anyone questioning anything.

He’s almost panting when he gets there, and you don’t even look up at the presence of another person–simply buries your face more into your palms as you try to contain your sob.

“Cheol, are you at the university? I’m a little worried…” Jisoo has said over the phone, telling him she was tutoring you when that happened, not forgetting to tell him you’d be going home by yourself today and that worries her even more after what she’s witnessed earlier. “I’m not sure where she went though. She didn’t tell me anything. But I don’t think she’s gone out of the university.”

This park wasn’t his first choice, quite obviously, hence his heavy breath after running here and there. But that’s not important, what’s important is you; crying by yourself like some kinda tragedy has befallen you.

It hurts, to be honest. The first time he hears you cry, it was just impulse that made him comfort you. But now, after knowing you and spending time with you, he really just wishes he can comfort you somehow no matter how.

Seungcheol decides he doesn’t like nor hear seeing you cry.

“Hey.” Seungcheol feels bad at the way you jump because of his voice, and his heart clenches at how sad you look right now when you look up at him. He’s not even thinking when he moves forward to wipe your tears that still continue falling anyway.

You don’t even question why he’s here or what he’s doing, simply accept the way his fingers are gently wiping your tears from your face. His presence helps though, for whatever reason, because you find your sob dying down into hiccups though your eyes are still blurry from tears.

“Want to talk about it?” He asks after you seem to calm down a bit, watches the way you dig your fingers into the tissue you’re holding in your palm. He doesn’t expect you to lay your head on his shoulder, but the feeling is pleasant despite the worry in his heart.

You don’t answer him for a bit, seemingly to be deep in your thoughts; wondering if you should tell him or not. He’s about to tell you it’s okay if you don’t want to, but you beat him to it and start talking albeit hesitantly.

“I applied for this scholarship for a summer course. It’s abroad and my mom has always wanted me to go so I studied hard for the test.” Your voice is small, and he wouldn’t have heard it if not because you’re literally pressed against him. “I… I was so sure I would get in. That I aced the qualifications. But I didn’t and–”

“Hey, it’s okay,” he reassures you, wondering if it’s okay to put his arm around you–if you’d appreciate the physical comfort he wants to give you. “It’s not the end of the world and there are other courses–”

“No, Cheol. You don’t understand.” You shake your head, voice resigned. You sound like you’re about to cry again, and it’s reflex when Seungcheol wraps his arm around you. Fortunately, you either don’t realize or you don’t really mind it, so he keeps it there because you even bury yourself further into him, your forehead meeting his collarbone. “My mom… It’s her dream to go into that school. But… my dad doesn’t allow me to study abroad so she thought… it’d be okay if I can go even only for a short time?”

He bites his lips as you continue to talk about your parents; how you don’t want to disappoint them and you hate to imagine how your mom would feel when you tell her the news. You’ve told him a glimpse of your parents before, what they expect of you and how you always wish to meet those expectations.

But he’s never thought it was to this extent.

His soft voice whispers your name, and you pull away to look at him because he urges you to do so.

“I know your academics matter to you, I really do,” he starts carefully, not wanting you to get the wrong idea. “But… it’s not everything, okay? I promise it’s not. And this is just one door closed for you. Who knows how many more are open?”

“No, Cheol…” you repeat, biting your trembling lip so hard that Seungcheol almost puts his thumb there so you’ll let go. “I… I’m nothing without them.”

Wait.

What?

“It’s the only thing I’m good at; studying and doing assignments. I can’t offer anything but. And if I screw up those things…”

“Wait. No–Stop.” Seungcheol immediately stops you, his voice firm though he’s shaking his head like he’s confused beyond measure. Because he is. Did you really think you have nothing to offer but your scores? Your academic accomplishment? “Are you being real right now?”

He might sound harsh, he admits, but it seems to go past you because you simply repeat your words. And it hurts so fucking much because you sound so convinced, like it’s something you’ve believed your whole life and there’s no room to amend that.

“Y/N, I promise you’re more than that,” he grasps your hands and says firmly, his eyes piercing into yours so you’ll see that he means it. “You’re not made of your academic score. You’re your own person and you're worth more than your accomplishments–whatever they are.”

Your vision gets blurry again as Seungcheol starts listing down why he thinks you’re such a wonderful person, how he’s grateful that you let him into your life and he’s glad that he gets to know you as you.

He’s hugging you by the time he’s finished, because you burst into tears once more, overwhelmed by how sincere Seungcheol sounds. Truth is, Taehyung has told you all those things Seungcheol did just now–though you’ve always thought he’s just doing his brother duty and you choose to not trust him because it’s his job to make you feel better.

But Seungcheol sounds so sure, so firm, and so true that you actually believe him. Maybe not wholefully, but it's already more than you can ever imagine. You’re so used to having only Taehyung with you, but Seungcheol comes in and he’s changing things in your life that you don’t think possible. He makes you comfortable with yourself, makes you think that it’s okay to be rebellious once in a while even if it’s just skipping a class for the first time in your life and though you promise you’d never do it again because it made you too anxious, makes you think that… yeah, maybe you should be selfish sometimes and put yourself first even though those always appear as fleeting thoughts up until now.

Still, it’s only after meeting him that those thoughts appear.

“You’re okay,” he whispers to your hair, and you can vividly feel his plump lips on top of your head. “I promise you’re okay.”

The third time Seungcheol sees you cry (not counting the times you cry watching movies), it’s four years later as you clutch his fingers and try your best to hold back the tears even if you’ve failed already.

“They look so happy, don’t they?” He whispers against your ears, the way his lips grazed your ear still bring shivers down your spine despite the familiarity of it.

You nod as you sniffle, watching Taehyung dance with his bride on the dance floor. You’ve never thought your dumb best friend slash brother will be settling down this early, but you can’t help the happiness that blooms in your heart as you see how much love is reflected in his eyes as he looks at the love of his life.

“They do. I’m glad they found each other,” you whisper as you gently wipe your tears. Perhaps you should be more thankful Taehyung’s wife has forced you to use her makeup artist even though you refused at first, you’d hate to imagine how you’d look with mascara and cheap eyeliner rolling down your face with your tears otherwise. “He deserves it, you know? He’s always the happiest when he’s with her.”

You look up to your boyfriend when he brings up your joined hand and kisses the back of your palm, a soft, happy smile gracing your face when you feel the warmth of his lips despite the tears still running down your face.

And that’s when he promises he’d do anything he could to never let you cry again unless it’s paired with that smile.

A/N 2: your feedback will always be appreciated mwah

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dobomiyeon · 1 year

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𝐉𝐞𝐨𝐧𝐠𝐡𝐚𝐧 𝐚𝐬 𝐲𝐨𝐮𝐫 𝐛𝐨𝐲𝐟𝐫𝐢𝐞𝐧𝐝

got a request for jeonghan, so here it is! I had quite a hard time writing this one :’) i might rewrite it in the future

Yoon Jeonghan is a confusing man

he always jokes around, in dating situations as well

he flirts but not really???

with literally anyone he finds pretty too

its like he doesn’t believe in boy & girl friendships, but at the same time he never goes as far as making people actually fall in love with him

as a result, he doesn’t make any new friends, and dates no one either

very clown-like behavior

but if you tell him that he’ll deny it

at some point he starts jokingly flirting with you, since you work for Hybe as well

and for the sake of the story, you don’t react like others

other people were flustered and giggled at his pick-up lines (some, rare as well, didn’t react at all and told him to leave them alone)

you, being different, answered to his flirt with flirt

it confused him at first but he went on, and you did as well

so almost every day (any time you crossed paths at work) you either commented each other’s outfit/haircut/makeup look, or said a cheesy pick-up line, or anything that would make people around you roll their eyes and laugh quietly

he truly found you attractive and funny, and you did as well

maybe you’d consider yourselves as friends if you knew each other well enough

because you both joke around and stuff but you know nothing about the other

it takes some time for you both to notice it

once jeonghan does, its almost too late

he had seen you many times with one of your coworkers, you were great friends, and he asked you out on a date

Jeonghan didn’t show any reaction, but deep inside he felt jealous

either because he wants to be the only one to be flirted with by you

or because he knows that this date between you and your coworker could lead into something deeper, like an actual relationship

and he didn’t want that

but he didn’t want to show it, and at the same time, if he didn’t interrupt your co-worker’s date proposal, then his chances of getting in a more-than-friends relationship with you would be gone

because he actually wants this more-than-friends relationship

teasing you everyday made him grow fond of you

he memorized your work schedules, noticed when you changed something with your everyday makeup look, when you bought some new clothes, or when you changed your perfume

he was falling in love with you real fast, and couldn’t let you slip through his fingers, going with someone else

so he interrupted your coworker while he was asking you out on a date, pretending that there was an emergency meeting you had to attend

so you followed him in the corridors of the building, a bit surprised by the whole situation

when you got in one of the many meeting rooms, no one was there, only the two of you

so he used this opportunity to tell you how he really feels about you

he seems kinda distant in his way of saying things? jeonghan always sounds a bit detached from things when he tells a story or speaks important matters

but he is very honest with you, he looks at you straight in the eyes and just tells you all the things he feels for you, even how jealous he was when he saw your coworker trying to ask you out

From then on, you started dating

at first you went out a lot, going to the museum, or some coffee shop, basically anything that could make you see each other

a bit of physical touch was progressively added, then some sincere compliments

all of this before your first “i love you”

then you started sleeping at each other’s place

the members knew you already, and they were like “omg they’re finally together! what took you so long??”

they liked you lmao

but jeonghan preferred the intimacy of your appartment, its like he left the dorms at some point, because he was always at your place

cooking together was your thing

more like cooking experiences, because it was messy everytime

you once tried to make pop-corn in a frying pan, but there was too much corn in the pan so it overflowed and went everywhere in the kitchen, making a big, big mess

you even messed up some pizzas once

so you end up ordering take-out most of the time

also your dates go on, its like a habit, once every week (except when hes on tour) you go out somewhere to discover a new place

this involves you being a part-time photographer for jeonghan lmao

you never ask him to take pictures of you, but he still does, when you’re not looking, and when you look like your most natural self, the person he fell in love with

also jeonghan is very much in the traditional korean couple idea

so he celebrates your relationship’s anniversary every month during the first year, just like koreans do

he loves matching outfits, accessories, pins and everything

he also likes trying out your hobbies

so if you paint, he’ll try, same for reading, drawing, sculpting and stuff

sometimes it looks bad but hes very dedicated to anything he makes

at some point he’ll make a storage shelf in which he’ll put all of the artworks you made together, you often find him looking at it with a coffee in hand, as if he was admiring a museum’s masterpiece

he makes plans quite fast with you, in his mind at least

he projects himself a lot with you, but doesn’t want to scare you so he keeps it for himself at the beginning

like he always wanted to adopt a kitten and a puppy, giving them the names of some of your funny artworks, like “kerfuffle“ or “gobbledegook”

ofc he wants to get married, and maybe have children as well, if you want to

in the end, he went from joking around about love to getting in a very serious realtionship x)

smutty part below :)

Keep reading

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dobomiyeon · 1 year

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The Long Game (Chapter 12–Serendipity)||k.mgyu + j.ww

Genre: neighbors to lovers, strangers to lovers, angst, smut

Warnings: angst, kissing, cursing, so much pining, heartbreak, there's an argument

Summary: in which everything works itself out, for better or for worse

Word Count: 5.6k

series masterlist

Song(s)

Gone 2 Long - Prettymuch

Serendipity - BTS

_______________________________________________

ser·en·dip·i·ty

/ˌserənˈdipədē/

noun

the occurrence and development of events by chance in a happy or beneficial way.

(a/n: last chapter before the epilogue :_) )

Something is off with you. Wonwoo can't quite pinpoint what it is, but you're not acting like yourself. He thinks he did something wrong.

He's noticed an odd tension since you two had sex and he's unsure of what to do about it. You guys had an actual conversation about it once before it happened too.

He was at your place one day and things started to get heated. You had to stop him before it went too far and of course he was understanding about it. You'd only been together officially for less than three months, and both of you agreed things were moving faster than you intended to.

You agreed sex was off the table for the time being, but you could still have your fun. But then he came home early and you were all over him. He asked you if you were okay with it and you assured him you were.

But why the hell did he still feel like he did something wrong?

He fears he rushed into things prematurely and now you're backing away. Do you regret it?

He knew you enjoyed it and wanted it, as did he. But you've been acting weird ever since. You still spend time together, but it feels like there's a brick wall no matter how close he is.

Like right now. You're all at Woozi's house for a movie night. You and him are sitting on the floor and his arm is resting around your shoulder. You're not leaning into him the way you used to. You're sitting up straight and your focus is entirely on the tv. You've barely glanced at him since the movie started.

It's unlike you.

Matter of fact, he's pretty sure you've looked at Mingyu more than him.

He’s done his best to be a good boyfriend for you. He’s been in relationships before, but none of his exes have ever affected him the way you do. Since the moment Mingyu introduced you, he knew he’d like you.

You weren’t his usual type, you were cute and so nervous around him. He didn't mind hat you were a year younger, he just knew he liked you. He started seeing more and more of you after Mingyu introduced you. He liked talking to you.

Wonwoo knows he's quiet, as do his friends. He tends to keep to himself, especially in group settings. But then there was you. You would check on him when he was too quiet. You would go talk to him when he was a bit distant from the rest of the group.

It was something Mingyu would do before you started coming around. Something he appreciated deeply about the people around him. He liked to feel comfortable and at home, and you did that for him.

So why the hell do you feel so distant?

He felt it from France, but blamed it on the distance. You basically jumped his bones the moment he got back, made him second guess whether or not you were being distant while he was away.

But now that he is home and closer to you, you somehow feel further than ever and it's driving him crazy.

He whispers in your ear that he's going to the bathroom and excuses himself. He walks upstairs and locks himself in the bathroom with a sigh.

He misses his best friend. Mingyu is the person he would go to in times like these. But they haven't spoken a word to one another since the incident on the filed.

Wonwoo's not one to hold a grudge, but Mingyu hasn't taken any action whatsoever to reach out to him an apologize. What kind of person punches their best friend in the face and ghosts him? It makes Wonwoo wonder if he did anything to Mingyu either.

If he wasn't already insecure enough, having the two people closest in his life slipping away without a word only makes him second guess himself more.

He turns the handle on the sink, allowing it to run before splashing it onto his face. His face drips with water ask he stares at his reflection in the mirror.

He absolutely hated this.

___

The drive home was quiet, too quiet, even for Wonwoo. And when he walked you to your front door, you didn't invite him in. You told him you were tired, kissed his cheek and went inside.

It left a sour taste on his tongue and a pinch in his heart.

He wants to talk to you, needs to. He's only got so much time left with you before university and all he wants is to make the most of it. He likes you so much, more than any of the other girls he's messed with. It's just that, he's only messed with other girls before you. Situationships and failed talking stages. You were his first real relationship and he fears he's already failed.

Maybe he and Mingyu aren't so different after all.

___

Wonwoo is bad at confrontation. He doesn't like having tough conversations, not that anyone really does. He lets this behaviour in your relationship go on for another two weeks before deciding to say something about it.

He texted you 20 minutes ago asking if you could come over because of something important. He saw the typing bubble pop up and disappear 3 times before you told him you were on your way. He knows your initial messages were half assed excuses about why you were planning to blow him off. When you finally get there, his heart is racing. You don't come over often, it's only been a few times. He usually goes to your house considering you're home alone most of the time. He likes it better there too, feels more like home.

His shaky hands open the door and invites you in. You don't look happy to see him, rather a little annoyed. He feels his heart drops, he feels like an inconvenience.

"Hey," you step through the door frame. "You said it was important, what's up?"

His throat is suddenly dry. He thought he was ready for this conversation, but now he can't find the words to say to you and it's killing him. He always knew what to say to you, you made things so easy for him. Things felt so natural and now it's all fucked.

He doesn't answer you, simply bending down and picking up his cat, Phoenix. She helps him when he gets overwhelmed. He pets her softly and she purs, the vibrations help to put him at ease. His hands aren't shaking anymore, thankfully.

"Wonu?" you take off your shoes.

"Hmm," he responds.

"Did something happen?"

He sighs, placing Phoenix down and standing upright on his feet. "Do you want to break up with me?"

His question is met with complete silence. He can easily read the expression on your face, like a deer caught in headlights. It's clear that his question shocked you, but he doesn't know if it's because he knows exactly what's on your mind or if you're genuinely surprised he just asked that.

Your eyes meet, staring intensely into one another's. The expression on his face is hard to read, but his eyes give it away. There's something in his eyes telling you that he's hurting. He's desperate for answers, brown orbs silently pleading with you.

"What?" you finally let out in a breath.

"I asked you if you wanted to break up with me" he repeats himself.

"Why would you ask me that?" you question.

"Because it feels like you do."

A beat.

More silence fills the air, causing the preexisting tension to grow thicker in the room. You haven't broken eye contact with one another, even as yours start to grow glassy from the layer of tears forming.

"You've hardly spoken to me for the past month and a half. You barely kiss me, let alone touch me. You avoid me at school, you rarely text me back and you somehow have an excuse for everything. I can feel you pulling away– and please don't try and tell my I'm wrong because I'm not. I have been trying to find a way to talk to you about this but I can hardly get a word in with you because you're so busy avoiding me." He breaks the silence.

"I'm sorry," you mumble.

"I have spent the past month torturing myself trying to figure out what I did wrong. The last time I've felt like you were really here with me was when we had sex. And I know we talked about it before but then shit happened. So please just be honest with me, do you think us having sex was a mistake?"

"I wasn't ready." "So why didn't you tell me that?!" his voice breaks. "Do you have any idea how unfair that is to me? I have done nothing but take my time with you and respect every limit and boundary of yours! You came onto me, and I asked you if it was something you really wanted. You told me you were ready."

"I didn't realize that I wasn't ready until after it happened," your breathing starts to pick up as the tears stream down your face.

"I don't understand why you didn't just tell me, Y/n. Do you not feel like you can talk to me anymore? Did I really fuck up that badly?" his voice cracks again.

"You didn't do anything wrong Wonu," you sniffle.

"Then why the hell are you treating me like I did? It's so unfair for you to treat me like that. You realized how fucked up that is? To ghost me and treat me like I did something wrong instead of telling me so we could work it out. Did you ever want to actually work stuff out with me in the first place?"

"I don't know. I don't know where my head's at or what I want. It-it's just that I've had so much going on that I just couldn't tell you. I really couldn't and Mingyu–"

"–Mingyu?"

You freeze.

"What the hell does Mingyu have to do with this?!" He interrupts.

You don't know how to respond. You've never seen Wonwoo so upset like this. There's a nervous heat spreading through your body, it's drying up your throat and making your hands shake. Everything is falling apart, it wasn't supposed to happen like this.

"Y/n. What did Mingyu do?"

"He told me he was in love with me."

Fucking Mingyu. It just had to be Mingyu didn't it? You must've done a real number on him too, considering he told you he loved you. Mingyu didn't do love, he wasn't like Wonwoo. You knew that already though, yet is still feels like you're choosing him.

Wonwoo scoffs in disbelief. "Is that what's happening here? You're choosing him?"

"I never said that."

"You didn't have to. If you didn't want him, you would've told me. It looks to me like he told you he loved you and you jumped into my arms because you felt guilty about it. And when you got what you thought you wanted with me, you realized I wasn't him. So you just leave me here hanging onto absolutely fucking nothing.

"Wonwoo please," you plead with him.

You're crying. It hurts Wonwoo to see you like this, but you're somehow hurting him more. It hurts so fucking bad. Wonwoo's never been in a situation like this before. Completely devastated over a girl he loved.

"Do you love him?" he asks.

You hesitate."I don't know." you let out, words barely audible.

"Do you love me?"

"I don't know."

"Fuck," he lets out under his breath.

"I'm sorry. Wonwoo I didn't mean–"

"I think it would be best if you just went home." he cuts you off.

A beat.

"It doesn't make any sense for you to stay here, and I honestly don't want to be around you right now."

"So is that it?" you ask with a shaky voice.

"You tell me Y/n."

Silence.

His shaky hand turns the door knob before he pulls the door open. "There's your answer."

You take cautious steps toward and through the door silently. There's tears staining your cheeks, yet you still have nothing to say for yourself. Your eyes meet one last time, filled with sadness and guilt as your body moves through the door frame.

"I'm sorry I couldn't be him," he mumbles as you make your way through the door.

____

You haven't been to school in 3 days. No one has seen or heard from you, except seemingly Wonwoo and he refuses to say anything. Everyone suspects you two have broken up, and Mingyu has mixed feelings about it.

Thinking about it simply, it's pretty much a green light. In his ideal world, with you and Wonwoo broken up, all he needed to do was to take his shot with you.

But of course, it's more complicated than that.

He already broke up with Sora. She got angry, of course, but he knew he couldn't just keep stringing her along. He let her down easy, despite her response still being insane. But he made the right choice by ending things with her. He never really had feelings for her, she was something temporarily to fill the void that you left.

But he wanted something permanent, not temporary. Leading her on was a bad thing and he's been trying to get better, be better. He wants to be better, for you and for himself. He wants to break out of his old habits and develop better ones.

You deserve him at his best.

But of course, him working on himself isn't going to be enough to bring the two of you together. It's a great start, but not nearly enough.

You don't actually know how you feel about Mingyu. You fear you may be placeboing yourself into believing that you feel the same due to guilt of not returning his feelings.

But there's also the chance that you do feel the same.

You know there's something that lights up in your heart when you think about him. It was different from the way Wonwoo made you feel though, and you once thought that was love.

You've been reflecting for the past 3 days. Processing the breakup, crying, lots and lots of crying. But also a lot of thinking. Thinking about what you feel, how you've felt in the past, what you're going to do next.

Without the details, you informed your mom about the breakup. She was understanding of course, hence why you were able to skip 3 days of school. She let you cry on her shoulder, cooing you softly and assuring you that things were only going to be like this.

But fuck, it really did hurt. It may not have been love, but you really did like Wonwoo. You always did, long before you actually started dating him.

At the end of the day you know it was the right call. Your head was no longer in it. Wonwoo was trying for you, but you weren't receiving it and he had to make a choice. It pained him to do it, but it was the right call.

Wonwoo hasn't been doing so well recently either. He didn't have the option not to go to school, so when he did, he avoided his friends. He always preferred to be alone, now more than ever. He knew the second he spoke to one of them they would bring you up, and he really didn't want to talk about it.

He nearly told you he loved you. The words were tingling on his tongue, but you just had to go and confirm his biggest fear. You fell for his best friend and broke his heart.

Everything started to make sense all of a sudden. The way you looked at him was a big tell, Wonwoo realizes it was foolish for him to think it was strictly friendship with no feelings. Now that he thinks about it, he doesn't think you've even come to terms with your feelings yet.

Wonwoo mentally face palms himself for not seeing it sooner. Mingyu even told him that you guys hooked up once, although he now has his doubts about it being a one time thing. He can't really judge though, who wouldn't fall in love with you after spending all those years together? It only took Wonwoo a few months, he can only imagine how badly Mingyu had it for you.

___

This keeps happening. You randomly showing up at his door completely unannounced, making his heart race. It's pouring rain outside and you're soaked when he opens the door. He pulls you in quickly.

It's been about a week since the breakup and he's seen you at school, but only from a distance.

"What the hell are you doing here in the rain? You walked here and stood out there for God knows how long. You're going to end up sick," he closes the door.

"You live right next door," you shrug. "And it didn't take you that long to open the door."

He sighs before grabbing you by the arm and dragging you upstairs. Silently, he grabs a hoodie and pair of sweatpants from his drawer and hands them to you. "Change. I'll throw your stuff in the dryer so you don't get sick."

You don't protest, simply doing as he says. He leaves the room while you change and comes back with a cup of tea. He knocks on the door and you assure him that he can come in. He hands to the mug and warns you that it's hot.

It warms your heart.

It reminds you of the aftercare he provided you. The way he's always cared about you. How he put you first even when you were children. How selfless he's always been when it came to you.

The way he always played the games that you wanted to play as kids, not because you were bossy as hell but because he was just happy to make you happy.

The way he pretended to hate the things you hated and love the things you loved just to satisfy you, even if he didn't truly believe it for himself.

The way he played with your hair when you slept next to him and watched you through your window just to make sure you were okay.

The way he loved you.

"Thank you for the tea," you tell him.

"Of course," he clears his throat. "But can I ask why you're here?"

Why are you here? Why is your heart beating all of a sudden? Did Mingyu's eyes always look liek that when he looked at you? So round and full of admiration? Why are you looking at him the same way? What's happening right now?

"I wanted to talk," you finally manage to say, placing the mug on his nightstand.

"Finally ready?" he asks.

Was his smile always that nice? Did you always make him smile that much? Why are you nervous all of a sudden? Was it always this hot in here? What is this feeling in your chest? Why can't you breathe?

"I love you," you blurt.

The words leave your mouth before they reach your brain. In that v moment, your mind is at its clearest. Every single moment you've spent with Mingyu flashes through your mind at once. It makes your heart swell.

You feel the glass in your brain shatter, allowing you to see everything. The way you cared for him the way he cared for you from the start. How you had a different way of showing it, but nonetheless it was there all along.

You can see it all so clearly now.

He's been there from the beginning. He waited and waited for you to come to him. Just like the wedding, all you needed was a little push before coming to your senses.

"What?"

"I love you," you repeat as the tears begin to well in your eyes. "I'm sorry it took me so long to realize it, but I mean it. I really do, and I–"

You're cut off by his larger frame encasing you. He pulls you into a tight hug, causing you to stumble back a bit before you regain your balance and wrap your arms around him.

He refuses to let you go, squeezing your body. You're the msot precious thing in the world to him and he can't believe those three words have actually left your mouth.

"You've no idea how happy I am to hear you say that," he tells you.

He's so overwhelmed with joy right now. He knows you slept with Wonwoo, he saw the car overnight. But truthfully, he doesn't care anymore. He was initially upset over the timing, you deciding to sleep with him within hours of hinting to him that he might have a chance.

He held onto that for a while, but hearing you say that has made all the negativity go away. He loves you, and you love him. He pulls away from the hug slightly, bringing his hand up to your face to wipe the tears that have started to flow.

He's so happy, he might cry too.

"I'm not ready for a relationship Gyu," you sniffle. "It's just too soon, and I don't think it would be good timing either. If we get together and then you go away, I'm scared we won't last and things will be too premature"

"–Hey"

"And I rushed into things with Wonwoo, and I don't want to do that again with you. I wanna get it right this time and–"

"Hey, kid stop, it's okay. I understand. Just breathe for me yeah?"

You take a deep breath in and exhale. "I'm sorry. It's just not fair for you, I mean you waited all this time and now that we're finally on the same page I feel bad that I'm still not ready."

"Who's to say I can't wait a little longer?" he smiles at you, tucking some of your hair behind your ear. "I don't mind, really. I think it's better for us that way. You know I've never really been built for relationships, and I think I still have some stuff to work on with me too. The distance will do us some good, and I don't wanna do that to Wonwoo so soon either. But not being together is okay. I love you and you love me, that matters the most right?"

He kisses your knuckles.

"Yeah," you breathe out.

"We've got two and a half months till I leave, so instead of worrying, we're just gonna have fun okay? Spend the summer together, have fun, on our best behaviour of course," he smiles.

His words make you smile and nod. "Best behaviour."

He hooks his pinky onto yours and kisses it.

"We can continue to talk stuff through, work on whatever it is that we need. I wanna get this right with you too."

Your heart feels so full you think it might burst. You are so incredibly happy, you can't even put it to words. You love him, you really do. You know you've had your ups and downs, but after all these years you can finally say that you are in love with Kim Mingyu.

___

The boys graduated today. The season ended well, with a beautiful record of 19-5. The team bought well, even despite the odd tension between the pitcher and catcher closer toward the end of the season.

The tension made things awkward, but thankfully it didn't take away from their ability to work as a team. None of the other boys took sides, silently agreeing to manuever their friendship as normally as possible.

Mingyu and Wonwoo still haven't spoken a word to one another, or you, in the past few weeks. You still hung out as a group, simply knowing how to avoid one another to the best of your abilities.

The first day you came to school after the breakup, Joshua was able to get it out of you and confirm to the friend group that the two of you ended things.

The moment the words fell from Joshua's mouth, Jeognhan's eyes darted toward Mingyu. He didn't miss the small smile that threatened to appear on MIngyu's face when Joshua told them. Everyone assumed the breakup had to do with him leaving for university, aside from Mingyu and Jeonghan. They knew they weren't getting any details out of Wonwoo, so the group settled for their theory and left the topic alone.

But now it was June. The boys were all dressed in their caps and gowns, happier than ever to have received their diplomas. There's a huge graduation party going on in Seungchol's backyard right now. A cookout to celebrate everything they've done as they all move into a new chapter of their lives.

The music is pumping, everyone is happy. Summer plans are already being made as DK continues insisting that everyone spends the most of their time together before university.

Hoshi's cried at least 4 times about how he's going to miss everyone, making sure he hugs everybody at least twice within the first hour of the party. While it's nice to spend time with everyone, Mingyu realizes his apology is long overdue and that with such limited time left, he needs to have a talk.

He slides the back door open, entering the house and entering the living room. Wonwoo is sitting there on the floor, playing with Hedgehog.

"Hi," Mingyu greets, walking into the living room.

Wonwoo turns his head toward the taller boy, pausing the TV in front of him. He doesn't respond, mostly out of shock from Mingyu's sudden appearance.

"Can we talk?" Mingyu asks.

Again, Wonwoo doesn't say anything, but his face softens. It's enough of an invitation for Mingyu. He walks further into the room and takes a deep breath.

"I know this is long overdue, but I'm sorry, for everything. It was fucked up for me to punch you and then go all this time without a word and get in the way of your relationship. I understand if you never want to speak to me again, but I just wanted to get that out there. I figured I owed you this at the very least," Mingyu apologizes.

Wonwoo listens, but still he doesn't say anything. The wound is still fresh, and Mingyu's right about him not wanting to talk ever again. And although the apology is beyond overdue, Wonwoo appreciates it. Mingyu's always been horrible with apologies, and Wonwoo knows how difficult it must've been for him.

"We're not together or anything, in case you were wondering," Mingyu mentions. "We both agreed it wasn't the best idea for us you know. The timing and of course out of respect for you."

"Thank you," Wonwoo responds, flashing a weak smile. "I accept your apology."

Mingyu nods before heading back toward the backyard. He already knew he wasn't going to get a perfect resolution with Wonwoo. Too much occurred and there hasn't been enough time to heal. However, he stops in his tracks and turns back around. "You know you'll always be my person right?"

"I won't," Wonwoo breathes out. "It's okay though, because she always will be. It's okay to leave me behind, we don't have to lie and pretend we're gonna be all buddy buddy again for the sake of the friend group and how close we used to be"

Mingyu frowns. "I know, you're right."

"I always am," Wonwoo smiles. "Just take good care of her yeah? I'm counting on you not to mess this up with her again. You played the long game, and now you've finally got your chance."

Mingyu feels warm inside. Admittedly, he's upset that he's losing a friend. His best friend, his person, the only person aside from you who's ever fully understood him. But he knows that he needs to do right by you.

Be the best version of himself for you. It's what you deserve and both he and Wonwoo know it.

Summer went by quickly, too quickly. You spent your time well, amusement parks, night swims in the lake, middle of the night drives, ice cream shops and more. Summer had always been your favorite season, but your boys made it so much better.

Karaoke nights at Hoshi's, stargazing with Joshua,hiking with Seungchol, and sneaking into the movie theater with Dino. That was always a fun one, sometimes throwing popcorn at Seungkwan during his shift and whispering his name to bother him. It was a perfect summer.

You'd spent so much time with the boys, sometimes all taking a group nap on Woozi's floor or even hanging out in Jeonghan's backyard while painting, reading, and listening to music. Yes, Jeonghan. It took a while, but he finally warmed up to you. Realized you guys were actually extremely compatible with one another and had a lot in common. You didn't ever ask him why he was so cold to you, but regardless he assured you it was a misjudgement of your character and he was able to admit that he was wrong.

But by far your favorite activity of the summer had to be your picnics with Mingyu.

Mingyu.

After your conversation, the two of you had been on your best behaviour. Granted, there were always the longing stares from afar and the lingering touches when your hands brushed past each other. The love that filled his eyes every time he looked at you. The way the softness increased in his voice when he spoke to you. The way your eyes followed his movement across a room. The way you touched him gently when he cut his finger or you needed to get past him. Nothing too crazy, just lots and lots of pining.

It wasn't intolerable though, holding yourselves back.

You knew it was best for both of you, not to get too attached before he went away. He waited all this time for you, and now that he had security you would be his, he didn't mind waiting a little bit longer.

The car ride to the airport was a sad one. You spent it cuddled up against Mingyu in the backseat while his mother drove and yours sat in the passenger seat. Your hands stayed in his the whole time. It was a quiet ride, not that you really minded. Being close to Mingyu felt better than talking to him.

Gosh, you were going to miss him like crazy.

You were going to miss looking out your window and seeing him. Spending your days together when your moms were working. The rare days where your parents were home and the four of you all got together.

Arriving at the airport made your stomach churn in knots. You weren't ready to let him go yet. After being distanced from him so much, you didn't want to have to go through it again.

So many tears were shed, even Mingyu himself got a little choked up. Both your parents hugged him tightly as they said their goodbyes. They continued to tell him they were proud of him and that they knew he would do great things at school. He assured them that he would and told them he loved them.

It was a special moment, especially when he clung onto his mom.

Lastly, it was your turn. He turned to you, seeing you were already a sobbing mess before he's gotten a word out.

"Hey, no don't cry," he wiped your tears. "I'll be back soon, I promise. You'll just have to wait a little, but I'm right here okay?"

His words do nothing because you're still crying like a baby over him. A fond smile is on his face as he pulls you in for a hug. He holds your frame protectively, rubbing soft circles on your back. He doesn't care that his shirt is soaked, he just cares that you're here with him.

"I promise I'll call you and text you whenever I'm free, this isn't a goodbye. It's a see you later." he assures you.

"You're not gonna have time for me," you cry. "You're gonna have all your school work and fun parties and-and friends and girlfriends."

He chuckles. "Kid, I've always had that, you know this. I still made time for you, didn't I?"

You nod your head. "But this is different, you're leaving me."

"Hey," he says softly. "I've had enough of that already, I'm not going anywhere this time. I'm in it for the long game with you."

He continues wiping away your tears as you sniffle and calm down. "Now," he smiles. "Can I get my see you later kiss?"

"I thought we decided to be on our best behaviours," you sniffle.

"You know I've never been one to follow the rules," he smirks.

Without another word, he pulls you in, immediately pressing his lips onto yours. You feel the sparks fly through your body, leaving your fingertips tingling and your body on fire. The fullness in your heart is overflowing. His lips are so soft and gentle and he kisses you delicately. He smiles into the kiss, his big hand holding onto your cheek.

Your parents are cheering in the back, causing you to giggle into the kiss as well. You finally pull away, shit-eating grins plastering both of your faces. You missed that so much. And fuck, it feels so much better now that your head is clear.

He mouths a meaningful "I love you," to which you mouth back immediately. Your heart is still beating out of your chest and you couldn't be happier.

"I'll see you later kid."

_______________________________________________

-taglist- @knucklesdeepmingi @marksflute @variety-is-the-joy-of-life @heidilolx @listxn @misssugarlips @lizzylovesboo @haogyuslut @taestrwbrry @everyw0nu @luvthatleader-nim @luveveryonewoo @jakecaffe @xeezi @wasteitonserendipity @whyokoa @shapeofgyu @fixonbreakoff @notscoupy @boo-juns @superheros-and-others @mingkis-world @thesmolishbean @bobohumyonlyboo @deekayownsme

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dobomiyeon · 1 year

Text

Between Heaven + Hell | One-Shot (Wonwoo, Mingyu)

Rating/genre: M (18+), friends to fucking; smut 💖 Pairings: Fem!Reader x Wonwoo, Fem!Reader x Mingyu Warnings: Explicit smut, unprotected vaginal penetration, creampie, oral sex (f + m receiving), dirty talk, reader gets called doll, slut, good girl and pretty girl, one of the boys gets called angel (guess which one lol), hair pulling, pussy slapping (lol what do you call this), switch!reader, dom!Mingyu, a bit of sub!Wonwoo, banter, stupid heaven/hell jokes, reader wears a skirt, a bra and panties, a bit of joking about religion/god, reader is shorter than both of them Word Count: 7.7k (how is something that was supposed to be just smut this fucking long??) Summary: Two of your hot friends get very into their halloween costumes. But when they said they were going to be an angel and a devil, this is not what you expected.

PART TWO

**I was super inspired by @kkulfm-2‘s fic Devil on Your Shoulder and the whole time I was reading it, all I could think about was this premise and how badly I needed to do it! lol. I checked with Evie of course and she gave me the go ahead to post mine since it’s quite different anyway. But please go check out her angel/devil costume threesome as well!!

“No.” You were already shaking your head, corners of your mouth pushing up into an amused smile. “No, no, no, no. Absolutely not,” you continued as you walked off, leaving the door wide open, the two cheeky men left to stare after you.

“What?”

“You need to switch costumes. Because this–” you turned back to the angel and devil leant against either side of your door frame, pointing an accusing finger between them. “This is all wrong.”

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dobomiyeon · 1 year

Text

Between Heaven + Hell | One-Shot (Wonwoo, Mingyu)

PART TWO

“What?”

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dobomiyeon · 1 year

Note

hello perhaps morning after sex with mingyu + wonwoo ?? like you wake up in bed with both of them after a drunken threesome and go again… maybe one of the boys wakes up first and you start hooking up with him right there only for the other to wake up and get pouty before joining in

Pairing: (Mingyu x afab!reader x Wonwoo)

Genre: smut

Word count: 1.8k

tags: Tags: poly, established friendship, brief enemies to lovers, unprotected sex, spanking, double penetration, degradation, brief hole slapping?, mean wonwoo, sweet mingyu

Summary: Mingyu being the common denominator for the strained acquaintanceship of both you and Wonwoo, he's determined to make this friendship work.

author note: can yall believe this is my first minwon fic, i mean theres a million ones out there that arent mine, but its interesting it took this long. thank you kaili my love for the request, i hope you like it

Mingyu and Wonwoo were and have been inseparable, that is until you came into the picture. You met Mingyu first and clicked immediately with him, taking him everywhere you went like schoolmates. You were self-claiming that he was your best friend, despite how many people telling you he’d be a better boyfriend (he is insanely hot), and that Wonwoo was second best to you.

Wonwoo didn’t like that about you. You just popped out of nowhere with your pretty face and can-do attitude, attaching yourself to Mingyu’s hip like a clingy fanny pack. He was there first and clearly had a stronger connection with Mingyu and he wasn’t going to let some ‘nobody’ steal his friend away from him, no matter how cute that smile was or how nice you smelled.

Mingyu being the ‘empath’ he is, starting to use the word unironically at this point, he could sense the hostility between the two and how things never seemed to align when you were together. It was like a dark cloud peering over everyone when they were in the same room. It made social gatherings suffocating at times and that was unfortunate since he enjoyed both their companies equally, so he set off a plan in motion.

The next gathering would just be the three of them, close and intimate. Drinks would be involved, maybe some food, have it all set up in his apartment, and before you know it, they’d all be besties. This was going to go great.

“Mmh, Wonwoo…”

Mingyu realized things went too well when he found out what he was waking up to the following morning. His eyes couldn’t process it initially, but through his strained eyes he can make out you grinding your wet entrance up against his best friend’s raging boner, moaning obscenities that he hardly ever imagined coming out of your lips.

Wonwoo’s deep chuckles were as dark as chocolate, running his hands all over your body in delight, looking up in amazement to see how needy you already were. “So whiny, you’re so annoying. You want me that bad?”

You nod back at him incessantly, tweaking your stuff buds between your fingers, “I…want…you in me…”

A corner of his lips quirks up, he forces your hips to ride his torso harder, “Yeah? You want my cock inside you?”

Your lips contort anxiously, dragging your hands over his toned, muscular build, “Mm, yes, I want it…”

“I’m gonna need to hear you beg for it. Beg for me, whore,” He taps his length on your stomach, having you mewl over him desperately.

Your core throb, practically hearing the echo from its vacancy, screaming at you to be filled, “Wonwoo please…”

He arches a brow, “Please what? Be specific.”

You’re clenching over nothing, whining in his ear as you leaned towards him, “Please put your cock in me…I need you…”

Mingyu was half asleep when this was all occurring. Tossing and turning, he was wondering what was happening in the background, and why the hell was he so tired for. He soon notices the instability of the bed slightly rocking in its spot, the pure stench of sex that coated the inside of his nostrils, and then your breathy moan, rhythmically dancing in the air. The images then all rush back to him, blood flowing to his lower half, finding enough for his shaft to stand on, and the feeling of neglect wash over him.

“Seriously? You guys couldn’t wait?”

You immediately collect the sounds of Mingyu's pretty whines and turn your head to his side of the bed. “Baby, you’re—ah—up.”

“Hey Gyu.” Wonwoo nods at the younger man.

Mingyu juts out his bottom lip childishly, lightly throwing a pillow back at his friends, and sees it make no effect on the situation. He shifts from the bed, the blanket falling from his body and exposing stiff length, rubbing his eyes in slight frustration. “I can’t believe you two. Without me.”

Your eyes latch on his size, pulling him by his shaft, giggling. “It’s not too late for you to join in.”

“Well, now I gotta catch up,” his hand catches the back of your head and claims your lips.

Your hips moved more slowly this time, focusing on savoring the taste of his lips while entertaining, but the man underneath you wasn’t so patient. Distracted with Mingyu, Wonwoo grips your hips and ruts you faster, bouncing you in his lap. As the sounds of skin slapping together in perfect harmony, you moan in soft, staccato breaths in Mingyu's mouth, allowing your lips to part and have his tongue explore. His hands start playing a part when they fell to your chest, teasing your nipples lightly.

With the endearing way you feel apart to his touch, he can’t help but pull away from the kiss to just have them in his mouth, sucking your tender skin and mouthing flesh around it. “You’re so fucking beautiful...”

His eyes gaze back at you like he was in heat, his hips, and cock twitching to be inside you, your eyes telling him the same. He embraces you as you ride Wonwoo, drawing circles with his tongue, clenching your flesh in his hands, drunk on your pretty voice calling out to him. He could do this all day if he could, but there was one thing he wanted to do a smidge more.

“Come on, Gyu, you know you want to,” Wonwoo takes his hand to your ass cheeks, have you whimper upon impact.

Mingyu knew all too well what his best friend meant and pushed you down to reunite your lips with Wonwoo’s in a frenzy. Mingyu made himself comfortable behind you, legs bordering Wonwoo and parallel to yours. He runs a slick finger over your moisture, and squeezes it between the older man’s cock and your walls, testing your limits.

“So fucking tight…has Wonwoo treating you well?”

You hardly mumble a yes as Wonwoo thrusts deep inside you, feeling the tension up your body and ramming repeatedly inside you, his hands clapping over your ass every few seconds or so.

“We’re gonna stretch you nice and wide for us okay?” Mingyu warns with a playful tinge.

You moan against Wonwoo’s lips, feeling the heat of his cocky chuckle on your neck. “I think that means yes, Gyu.”

Mingyu held your hips in place, rubbing the tip at the edge of your entry before gradually pushing his length in. With blown-out eyes, you try to quickly adjust to the strain of two cocks plunged inside you, feeling their slick griths rub against each other and fill up your vacancy past its limit, “Oh, fuck…”

It's when Mingyu finds his place that you realize it's only begun. Your hips stationary and nails digging into a pillow, they moved on polar pacing, but fucking you with a similar depth. The euphoria of fullness had overcome you and you try backtracking to the moment when you felt a sensation similar, but none comes in mind. You felt used in the most heavenly way possible.

“So…tight…Fuck, you feel good…” Wonwoo growls out between his grunts, “Stupid slut, perfect fucking body, perfect fucking hole, you’re just perfect everything, aren’t you?”

“So good for us…you’re taking us so good, baby.” Mingyu agrees.

Your eyes keep rolling back in your skull, taking deep breaths, restraining your own orgasm, and at some point the sweat of you three fuse together, becoming one living and breathing system, hot to the touch and unstoppable. Wonwoo eventually encourages you to sit up, pressing your back against Mingyu’s chest, having the image of you being spoiled giving him a sense of purpose and bliss.

“That’s a pretty picture,” he comments, watching as Mingyu grabs your chest again, rolling your nipples and abusing them to his liking.

“I’m c-c-cumming…” you stutter.

Mingyu smugly grins against your skin. “But we’ve only started, baby.”

“I-I know I’m…try–fuck–shit, Mingyu!” You react to the love tap he makes to your hole, his laughter flooding your ears.

Wonwoo laughs along with him, his nails running over your chest and stomach. “Listen to him, slut. Don’t make us have to make you wait…”

“Y-yes, sir…”

Wonwoo was pleased to see your chest heave up and down breathlessly, sweat beading down your body, and the helplessness on your face while Mingyu took advantage. The power running through his veins was immaculate; he made you grind faster, Mingyu pound you harder, all of his present senses were being fulfilled to their maximum. Despite being underneath you, Wonwoo clearly had the upper hand.

There was a point you couldn’t help yourself anyway, your arousal seeps out of you like oozing honey, dripping the side of your legs and down Wonwoo’s lap, clutching the man behind you desperately for reassurance. “S-shit…I’m sorry.”

“You better be. Mingyu, get on top of them.”

Mingyu follows orders well, your body flat on the mattress in mere seconds with him toppled over you, his smile staring back at you, “Hey, there.”

You get no chance to greet him back as he smothers you with his lips, his full length pushing back in you, and your body aches from the sensitivity. Wonwoo is just a step behind, pulling your legs just slightly more in his direction, he steps off the bed. He plants his feet on the ground and fills up your core to its brim, not caring about the mess you make, only thinking of the bigger mess he plans to make.

“S-so full…”

“You should’ve listened to Wonwoo, baby.” Mingyu strokes the side of your head, pressing his lips against your skin and sucking them until he sees the pigment rise to the surface.

The room could hardly contain any of the sounds happening, no doubt interrupting a fourth party’s day, and none of you had a care in the world. You were a sweating mess beneath the both of them, used up like their personal toy, and being bruised left and right, all worth it to meet another climax, this time both men joining you.

Mingyu was still kissing your flushed skin when it was happening and Wonwoo, having already poured thick ribbons of his nectar inside you, was pushing it back inside of you, a trail of his and Mingyu’s essence seeping out of you into the sheets. Doing it once, twice, and three times before, you’d do it again and again until your hunger presents itself.

Although both men knew how to make you full, they couldn’t distract or fulfill you from the absence of food. Knowing how exhausted you’ve become, Mingyu laid your body to rest, cleaning out any and all the remnants from your body, while Wonwoo called ahead for some breakfast.

“Anything specific you both want?”

Mingyu cuddles up next to you when he’s finished, throwing a blanket over bare bodies, “Yeah maybe a breakfast sandwich? How about you, baby?”

“That sounds perfect,” you grin, kissing the top of his nose.

Wonwoo smiles to himself, reciting it over the phone before joining them back in bed. He holds you from behind nuzzling to the crook of your neck, and you laugh, wondering why he ever bothered you in the first place. It felt complete with you three together, like a breakfast sandwich.

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dobomiyeon · 1 year

Text

ice cold, cabin fever - part 1

🌙 staring. Seungcheol & Mingyu x afab!Reader

🔮 preview. "come on, let’s just go back to snakes and ladders and you can pretend we’re not snowed in with no firewood and a dude you hate locked in the bathroom."

cw/ tw. threesome, daddy issues, mean/tsundere cheol, wet dreams, spanking, marking, dirty talk, choking, unprotected sex, pain kink, dacryphilia, breast play, praise, degradation, fingering, oral, hand job, blow job, multiple orgasms, overstim, edging, orgasm denial, manhandling, size kink, cumplay, finger sucking, spit roasting, hair pulling, voyeurism, I petnames. (hers) princess, bitch, whore, baby (s.coups) cheol, douche, dick, daddy (mingyu) gyu.

👹 rating. 18+ explicit I wc. 25.9k

🍭 aus. e2l, s2l, step brothers Jihan, non idol, ski resort, roomies, etc...

☀️ mlist + an. so when I tell you I know practically nothing about skiing... also, the recent soop episodes have been giving gyucheol and jihan and I'm dying. I other inspo: 🙂 🙂 🙂 I pls note. this fic has so much dialogue, it exceeds the number of paragraphs allowed in a tumblr post, so it will be split into 2 parts posted at the same time I read the whole thing in one post + the bonus by subscribing to my patreon and clicking here

Prologue:

“You guys aren’t going to believe this,” Jeonghan says as he enters the main area of the flat he shares with his brother and two best friends.

Three sets of eyes turn to him, and it’s Joshua who takes a shot in the dark and asks, “Did you get chlamydia again?”

“Aish, fuck off,” Jeonghan picks up a pillow to launch at his brother, “I just got off the phone with mom you idiot.”

“Ouch, since when are you telling mommy about your STI results?” Seungcheol teases, earning himself a pillow as well, that he easily bats out of the air.

“Tell us,” Mingyu urges seriously, “what did your mom say?”

“Only that our new step-sister decided to join us for the destination wedding, super last minute,” Jeonghan explains, taking a seat next to the youngest and sweetest of his friends.

“Did your mom tell her that they already gave up the cabin?” Seungcheol’s heart drops to his stomach, thoughts of powdered snow and skiing swirling on the periphery of his mind.

“Fuck if I know,” Jeonghan shrugs. “She sounds like a bit of a bitch if I’m being honest- sorry Gyu, but it looks like you’ll be giving up your bed.”

“We’re sharing a cabin with her?” The maknae’s jaw drops.

“Well she’s definitely not staying with us,” Joshua stiffens in his seat, “I don’t know what weird step-sibling porn you’re into Gyu, but we’re not that kind of family.”

“Listen,” Seungcheol leans forward, eager to keep the peace, “none of us have met her before- but your mom really likes her dad- let’s just hope she’s as nice as he is… I really doubt she’s a bitch. If it comes down to it, I can give up my bed, there’s a pullout in the cabin too, right? We’ll make it work.”

The glances all four men exchange betray how unsure they all are, and Seungcheol only wishes he was as positive as he makes himself out to be.

1: Thursday - Arrival

“Y/n! You made it!” your dad’s excitement should be contagious, but as you haul your suitcase into the lobby of the ski resort, you’re much too exhausted to mirror his attitude.

In fact, you’d bet you look exactly how you feel; done with this vacation before it’s even started.

Despite this, you accept the hug from your dad, trying to relax a little before he lets you go again. “Was your flight very long?”

“Too long,” you sigh, taking a deep breath before returning his question with “and you?”

“Too long,” your dad laughs. “But you can rest easy now, the hard part is over.”

Is it?

“I’m so excited for you to meet Suelki,” he continues, “and her two sons.”

“I’m excited too,” you really force a smile this time, trying your best to look sincere.

“Good,” your dad nods, beginning to lead you through the resort. “So listen, this trip is kind of like my honeymoon- so we really don’t expect to be seeing that much of you- Suelki and I have a suite in the actual hotel itself, but I think I mentioned to you over the phone that we booked two of the rustic cabins-”

“Yeah, you mentioned that,” your grip on your suitcase handle tightens.

“Because you originally said you wouldn’t be coming, we gave the second cabin up to Suelki’s boys’ roommates- and unfortunately, the entire resort is booked up this week, so we couldn’t get you your own room.”

“Right-” He’d mentioned something along these lines during your quick phonecall when you’d changed your mind about coming on the trip, and you’re eager to see what fix he has for this.

“Each cabin had a pullout though, so you’ll be staying in one of them, and whether it’s with Suelki’s boys’ or their friends, I really hope you use this trip to get to know your new step brothers.”

Your mouth feels dry, heart jittering in your chest at the concept of sharing a cabin for a week with two boys-

“The wedding is on Saturday,” your dad and you have reached a door leading outside; icy air hits your face when he opens it. “And the cabins you’re looking for are the last two down this road here- cabin 6 and cabin 7. Just follow the string lights-”

“Are you-” you swallow. “You’re not going to take me out to where I’m staying?” You tighten your grip on your heavy luggage, eying the snowy path.

“Sorry darling, but your plane was late, and you’ve arrived at a bad time- Suelki and I have massages scheduled in-” he checks his watch, “ten minutes? I really have to go- but you’re a strong, capable girl, you’ll find the cabins no problem.”

This is exactly the type of behaviour from your father that you’re used to.

Part of you had expected something to be different- you’d been hoping that the wedding jitters would make him more inclined to be compassionate to you- but it looks like he’s as intent on letting you go about it yourself as he’s ever been.

After your long flight, and now this- you’re really questioning if you should have come on this trip at all.

2: Thursday - Arrival

“Joshie, come look at this,” Jeonghan urges, holding his tea tighter while gazing out the small cabin window.

“What is it?” his brother sighs, putting down his book but remaining seated on the couch.

“Some girl is dragging her suitcase up the path.”

He can’t help but snicker. With the road covered in snow for the winter season, accessing the cabins isn’t the easiest task in the world.

Having been here before, the brothers had packed accordingly, and carrying their duffles had been substantially easier than the struggle Jeonghan is currently witnessing.

“Oh shit.”

“What?” Now Joshua stands up.

“She’s coming to the door- shit-” Jeonghan pulls away from the window roughly, and hot liquid spills over the edge of his mug, making contact with his fingers. “Shit!” he shakes his hand out-

“Must be the step sister?” Joshua suggests, ignoring the elder man tending to his reddening skin.

“Must be,” Jeonghan hisses, putting his tea down just as there’s a knock on the door.

The elder of the two takes a seat on the couch, pulling his hoodie sleeve down to cover his hand while Joshua answers the door.

“Hi-” your voice carries into the small space, and Jeonghan silently urges Joshua to move to the side so he can get a better look at you. “Are you Jeonghan?”

“No, Joshua,” he shifts, allowing you to see into the cabin, “that’s Jeonghan.”

Jeonghan lifts his unharmed hand, wiggling his fingers at you and offering a smile.

His eyes quickly take you in, assessing your cute outfit- and its lack of weather appropriateness. He finds himself stifling a laugh again, shaking his head to snap himself out of it before saying loudly, “Aren’t you going to let our new step-sister in?”

You look like a bunny entering a wolf’s den, and you stop just past the threshold, allowing the door to be closed behind you.

“I guess you guys know about the cabin situation?” Your first words aren’t something Jeonghan had particularly expected from you-

You’re much more forward than your appearance gives you credit for, and he begins to wonder if his little bunny has teeth.

“Cabin situation?” Joshua comes to join Jeonghan on the couch, reaching for his book.

“Yeah-” you swallow, “I heard my cabin got given up to two of your friends?”

“Right, that cabin situation,” Jeonghan and Joshua exchange glances, and they leave space for you to continue.

“I was thinking,” you shift awkwardly on your feet, a chunk of snow shifts off your boot and onto the wood floor, “uh- you guys aren’t really going to make me share a cabin with two of your friends, right?”

“What do you mean?” Joshua cocks his head, and Jeonghan leans back in his seat, enjoying the scene playing out in front of him.

“Just that-” you release a deep sigh. “Guys- I’m going to be honest, I’m really tired- is there no possible way one or even both of your friends could- I don’t know… crash in this cabin with you guys?”- there’s a beat of silence, Jeonghan and Joshua exchange glances - “like, that’s a pullout couch, right? So- at least one could stay here-”

Joshua opens his mouth to respond, but Jeonghan places a hand on his knee to silence him, taking the lead in these new family negotiations; “You might be able to convince one of them to stay here,” he tells you, “but I doubt you’d be more comfortable alone with a strange man you’ve never met, than you would be having two.”

“I mean…” you look between your new step-siblings, “these guys are your friends, right? It’s not like they’re going to- erm… try anything?”

“You’re right,” Jeonghan nods sympathetically, “let’s go over there and you can see which one you prefer to spend a week alone with.”

You shift again, releasing a groan. “I know we just met- but I’ve gotta say, you’re a bit of an asshole, you know that?”

Jeonghan laughs.

“He’s right though,” Joshua sighs. “As unfortunate as it is that your cabin got given up, there’s no chance both of our friends are going to give up their beds to sleep on a pullout in here with us.” He stands up. “I saw you were struggling with your bag earlier- I’ll carry it for you, we can go to the next cabin over and discuss the situation with Cheol and Mingyu-”

“Thanks, but no thanks,” you open the door, holding your suitcase tightly, “I’m a big girl, I’ll handle this myself.”

The new brothers watch you leave the cabin, and then Joshua heads to the window, eyes following you as you trudge down the path back to the main road again.

“Is she still struggling?” Jeonghan asks.

Joshua lets out something between a laugh and a sigh, then he nods. “She’s really struggling.”

3: Thursday - Arrival

“Is that your stomach growling?” Cheol groans, distracted from the Christmas film he’s watching for what must be the third time-

“I’m sorry-” Mingyu whines, hand rubbing his tummy in slow circles, “you know how I get when we go skiing-”

“Then eat more at dinner next time,” the elder man snaps, grabbing the remote to turn the sound up in the hopes it will drown out his friend’s stomach, “and make some ramen or something.”

“I’m too lazy, I can’t get up,” the large man sprawled on the couch groans, his voice switching to something more on the girly side when he says “oppa, make me ramen? We can have Netflix and ramen?”

“Aish-” Seungcheol reaches out to bat his friend’s foot.

Mingyu is the baby of their apartment back home, and all three of the men born in 95 try not to make a habit of indulging him in maknae privileges. In fact, Mingyu often ends up being the one who cooks and cleans, but Seungcheol will never admit that to anyone.

“Stop complaining and watch your movie,” Seungcheol urges, eyes returning to the screen, where Jim Carrey’s Grinch is having a similar meltdown to Mingyu’s.

A knock at the door stuns both men, their heads whipping towards the sound- then Mingyu is jumping off the couch, as if he wasn’t just claiming to be a lazy bum less than a minute ago.

“Who is it?” Cheol groans, leaning back against the pillows, stretching his tired arms out in front of him.

He’s never going to get through this movie if there keeps being distractions-

“Shh- it’s a girl-” Mingyu’s whispered response is another shock to Cheol’s system, and he suddenly finds himself sitting up in his seat.

“Well, answer the door!” he whispers back.

Mingyu follows through with the command, and a moment later he’s greeting you with a “Hello?”

“Uh, hi? Are you… Cheol?”

“No,” Mingyu steps to the side, “he is.”

Seungcheol blinks at you, taking you in.

He’s definitely never met you before, so how is it you know his name-

How is it you know the name that only his friends use?

“Then that makes you… Mingyu?”

You’re not even looking at Seungcheol anymore, your eyes have slipped over him and returned to the large man in front of you faster than Cheol can even clock-

“That’s right,” Mingyu nods, then, “wait! You must be the step-sister!”

“That’s me,” you sigh. “The step-sister.”

“Come in,” Mingyu urges you, “and let me take your bag, I bet you’re tired from your flight-”

Seungcheol rolls his eyes, setting the remote down. It’s unlikely he’ll be returning to the movie anytime soon, and he supposes he should be friendly with you- despite his exhaustion from a long day on the slopes.

“Did you drag your suitcase all the way through the snow?” Mingyu asks, blatantly bewildered at your behavior.

“Uh huh,” you nod, closing the door behind you and reaching down to take off your boots.

“No one helped you?” Mingyu’s tone makes the whole thing seem like blasphemy, and Cheol watches the way he fusses over you, setting your bag at the foot of his bed before rushing to help you take off your jacket-

“No one,” you confirm. “Joshua offered, but- I managed by myself, like always.”

“So you stopped at the other cabin first?” Seungcheol confirms, “Met Hannie and Josh-”

Your eyes meet, and then Seungcheol finds himself looking at your lips-

“Yeah,” you tear your gaze away, turning to Mingyu when you explain, “wanted to talk with them about bed arrangements first-”

“You can have mine,” Mingyu offers, flashing you an earnest smile.

“Really?” your eyes widen, and you look between the two men again. “You’re not uh… too big for it?”

Seungcheol feels like he’s been hit in the chest.

If you’d had asked your question without looking directly at him, he might have been able to convince himself you weren’t insinuating anything- but it’s clear what you’re saying. It’s clear you’re clocking him as being smaller than his younger friend, clear you’re inadvertantly suggesting that as the shorter man - Cheol - should sleep on the couch.

A month ago, Cheol had suggested the very same thing, thinking you’d be some nice girl he could give his bed to.

But now?

He wouldn’t give you his bed if your life depended on it.

“It’s okay,” Mingyu is quick to assure you, “you can have my bed. Here, have a seat, we’re watching a Christmas movie- did your flight serve you dinner? Are you hungry?”

“Starved,” you sigh, collapsing onto the couch, taking the corner Mingyu had inhabited earlier.

“I’ll make us some ramen,” Mingyu tells you. “Ramen always goes well with Christmas movies.”

Seungcheol notes the way you smile at Mingyu’s words.

He feels invisible, and most of all, bitter. He’s not happy about any of this, not the way you’d taken a hit at his pride, nor Mingyu’s new burst of energy and overly friendly demeanor.

Picking up the remote again, Seungcheol hits play, and he hopes nothing else sets him off tonight, or he just might explode.

4: Friday - morning

Waking up is slow at first, and then it hits you all at once. You sit up, clutching the quilt to cover your body while blinking away the last of your drowsiness, eyes acclimatizing to the soft glow of the room.

Sunlight is coming through the cabin shades, and you realize two things very quickly. First, that you’re alone, and second, that you’re not where you’d fallen asleep last night.

After settling in and eating your ramen, you’d gotten comfortable on the couch. The movie hadn’t truly captured your interest, and you’d begun to doze off with the intention of waking up when the film was complete to move to the bed-

But you have no recollection of being woken up.

You hadn’t even had any dreams. You’d been so exhausted from a day of traveling that you’d blacked out, and now, you’re left with confusion and body aches.

Someone must have carried you to bed-

You hope it was Mingyu.

When you look down, you see you’re still dressed in your travel outfit, so the first thing you decide to do is explore the small cabin and find the shower.

Part of you is grateful the men you’re rooming with allowed you to sleep. It makes finding a routine easier. You take your time in the shower, allowing yourself to relax a little, and you consider what your day might look like.

You guess the men are on the slopes, as the skis that had been propped next to the door when you’d arrived are gone, and you decide exercise might be exactly what you need.

Besides, you’re at a ski resort, skiing seems like an obvious choice- although you’re not quite sure how it will work, seeing as you haven’t brought your own equipment-

You begin looking around the cabin for a resort map- and you’re so busy looking in all the hard places you almost miss the glaringly obvious piece of paper resting on the coffee table under a set of keys.

Your heart lurches in your chest. You pocket the keys and open the paper to find it’s the resort pamphlet you’ve been searching for.

Along with a map of the mountain, someone has taken the time to circle cabin 7, draw a line to the main hotel, and circled another section, which has been labeled ‘ski rentals’ in handwriting that’s just barely legible.

There’s no other writing to indicate which man has left this for you, so you decide to assume it’s Mingyu.

Cheol had barely talked to you last night. He’d given off cold vibes; a man with walls built up around him.

You truly can’t imagine that the quiet, brooding man had stopped to write on a map and leave you keys.

And honestly? You don’t want to imagine it.

It’s much safer to identify one of your roommates as a tall, white knight, and the other as a dark entity you’ll have to suffer through for a week.

It makes it easier to plan on ignoring Cheol.

5: Friday - afternoon

Today is a good day for Seungcheol.

He’d been worried that your arrival would mean babysitting duty, so when you’d slept in and he’d convinced Gyu to leave you be, he’d been nearly ecstatic.

He’d clocked you as a non-skier the moment you’d arrived without the correct equipment, and despite his day job as a physical trainer, Cheol is not in the mood to be teaching anyone how to do anything.

No, he’s much happier taking the slopes with his best friend.

Mingyu isn’t as adept with skis as Cheol is, but he’s good enough for the elder not to worry too much about him.

After tackling a few of the harder slopes, the two men find themselves on a green run.

It’s enjoyable to take the hill in an easy manner, crisscrossing down the incline, watching the powder fluff up and take air with each harsh turn-

The day is gorgeous-

And then Cheol spots you, and his mood drops instantly.

You’re a couple hundred feet down the mountain from he and Mingyu, and they both stop for a moment, battling the glare from the sun-

“Is that-”

“Y/n,” Seungcheol confirms with a sigh. “First the thing with her bags, now this- it’s like she’s never been to a ski resort before.”

“Maybe she hasn’t,” Mingyu cocks his head to the side, looking thoughtful for a moment. “We should go help her.”

Seungcheol scoffs. “You really think she wants our help?”

“It never hurts to offer,” the younger, more considerate man points out. “Besides, this is Jeonghan and Joshua’s new step-sister, we’re trying to be nice to her, right?”

With a sigh, Seungcheol agrees, and the two continue down the mountain, catching up to you easily.

“Hello!” Mingyu calls out to you, in classic extroverted Mingyu fashion. This earns him a smile from you, and you stop your slow slope descent to chat.

“Hi Mingyu,” you say, pushing your hair out of your face and adjusting your hat.

You don’t say hello to Seungcheol, and he doesn’t greet you either.

“How’s your day going so far?” Mingyu asks. “Are you enjoying the fresh air?”

“Yeah- found some skis at the rental and I think I’m getting the hang of it,” you tell them, “wasn’t sure I’d be skiing much this trip but, well, here I am.”

“You slept in,” Seungcheol finds himself stating. “We weren’t sure we’d bump into you today.”

“Right…” you trail off, giving Seungcheol a quick once over before your eyes return to Mingyu, and an easy smile works its way across your face again, “Have you been skiing long? I mean, I get the feeling that I’m the only person on the trip who doesn’t have much experience with all of this- you guys all brought your own skis.”

“Yeah, we’re all big snow sports people,” Mingyu tells you. “Seungcheol was actually almost an olympic level snowboarder-”

“Really?” Now you’re looking at Seungcheol. Truly looking at him. “But… you brought skis?”

“He’d be much too fast on his board,” Mingyu grins. “Skis slow him down, make him level with the rest of us. But, he’s still pretty good at skiing too.”

“Could give you a few pointers if you want,” Seungcheol says, earnestly.

He’d gotten a good look at what you were doing wrong before they approached you, and a few minor tweaks would have you skiing with the best of them-

“Erm, thanks, but no thanks, I think I’m good learning at my own pace for now.”

He notes the way you avert your eyes, upper lip curling slightly with disdain.

He should have never bothered to offer you help.

Seungcheol takes a deep breath. “You two are probably more compatible for your level, and I want to do some harder runs. I’ll see you around.”

And with that, he leaves you and Mingyu, taking off down the mountain at a speed his friends can only dream of.

6: Friday - evening

It’s been a good day for Mingyu, and settling in for dinner with his friends is the perfect ending for it. They order half the menu, covering the table in all sorts of foods to try together, and it reminds him of their time in university.

While Mingyu is younger than his friends, he’d entered their frat before they’d graduated, and the bond he has with his older hyungs is truly one born out of a shared love for food.

“Try this,” Jeonghan insists, and Mingyu opens his mouth before he even gets a good look at what’s about to be fed to him. “It’s good right?”

Mingyu can only nod happily while munching, hand reaching for his beer.

“Where were you guys today?” Joshua asks, “we missed you on the slopes.”

“Did a couple of the harder ones,” Seungcheol responds while the maknae has his mouth full, “then bumped into your step-sister on the easier hill-”

“Oh?” This grabs both Jeonghan and Joshua’s attention. “She was skiing?”

“Badly,” Cheol leans back in his chair, sipping his beer.

“She wasn’t that bad,” Mingyu insists, swallowing his food so he can defend you. “I did a couple runs with her and she wasn’t that bad, really.”

The brothers exchange a glance that Mingyu can’t read.

He’s always been jealous of how in tune Jeonghan and Joshua are. As ‘irish twins’ - siblings born within the same year - it’s like they can read each other’s minds, and Mingyu always feels like he’s missing some crucial part of the conversation.

“Did you guys sort out the bed situation?” Joshua asks, looking down at the steak he’s cutting. He gives off an air of nonchalance, but Mingyu can tell that this is a topic both brothers are interested in.

“I think you mentioned giving up your bed when we talked about it a few months ago,” Jeonghan adds, “isn’t that right, Cheol?”

“That was before I met her.”

The brothers exchange a glance, and a smirk works its way onto Jeonghan’s face. “Looks like Gyu got the short end of the straw, huh?”

“I offered her my bed,” Mingyu insists.

“But she fell asleep on the couch during our Christmas movie,” Seungcheol says smoothly. “I moved her to his bed, wasn’t going to let him off the hook that easy.”

“My neck is aching,” Mingyu groans, rubbing at it, “but it was worth it. I told her she could have my bed, so she had my bed.”

“He’s so eager to help her out,” Cheol teases, pushing at Mingyu’s shoulder. “When we saw her on the mountain earlier, she refused my help, but was more than happy to ski with him.”

Joshua and Jeonghan exchange a glance that has Mingyu rushing to assure them, “she’s your new step sister- I’m not trying anything, I just want to be friendly-”

“What was that?” Cheol leans closer, “I don’t think I heard you?”

“I said,” Mingyu raises his voice, “she’s their stepsister, and I’m not trying anything!”

“Perfect, that’s exactly what I thought I heard,” Seungcheol grins, and then he’s looking at something over Mingyu’s shoulder. “Hey Y/N, you should join these three for dinner.”

“Uh…”

Mingyu turns to find you standing there, and his skin heats with embarrassment.

He’s pretty sure you’d just heard what he’d loudly said to his friends, and his skin tingles with regret, ears heating-

“Really,” Seungcheol stands, “take my seat, I was just leaving.”

“Where are you headed?” Jeonghan asks, more curious about his friend than his own step-sister.

“The pool.” Cheol grabs the jacket on the back of his chair. “Have some knots in my back, but nothing the hot tub jets can’t fix.”

For the second time today, Mingyu finds himself watching Cheol make a hasty retreat in order to avoid spending time with you. And for the second time today, Mingyu finds himself eagerly attempting to help you fit in, despite his oldest friend’s rejection of you.

“Come eat,” Mingyu urges, patting the newly empty seat next to him.

“Are you guys sure? I can always eat alone-”

“Don’t be ridiculous,” Joshua laughs. “You’re one of us now, come sit.”

Mingyu is glad that your step brothers immediately start asking you questions, and for a little while, everything runs smoothly.

Every minute he spends with you, he warms up more and more to your presence.

It’s obvious to him that yesterday, when you’d arrived, you’d been out of sorts after hours of traveling. Your temperament has improved drastically, and Mingyu finds himself laughing along with his friends at small jokes you make here and there.

The four of you spend a much longer time in the resort restaurant than Mingyu had expected, and it’s only when Jeonghan begins to yawn that you all decide it’s time to head back to your cabins.

The night is cold, but it’s not snowing, and your small group follows the poles of string lights diligently.

Jeonghan and Joshua pull off one stop earlier than your own, wishing you goodnight before heading into their cabin.

As you and Mingyu continue up the path, Mingyu finds you walking closer to him, and he’s surprised when you say “Thank you.”

“For what?”

“Carrying me to bed last night,” you respond, “and the map you left on the coffee table, the one with the ski rental circled.”

“Oh, uh…” Mingyu swallows thickly, “that actually wasn’t me. I think it’s Cheol who you have to be thanking.”

“Oh…”

‘Oh’ is right.

7: Saturday - morning

When you wake up, you’re struck by two things. First, that you’re alone, as you were when you woke up yesterday. And second, that your father is getting married.

Your body aches when you sit up, muscles screaming at you for having the audacity to ski as long as you had with Mingyu, and you decide pretty quick that another attempt at the slopes is off the table.

You remember what Seungcheol had said yesterday, about the pool and the hott ub, and decide maybe he had the right idea about jets and sore muscles.

He can be an ass, but you suppose he uses his brain sometimes.

You change into your swimsuit, and make sure to layer yourself with comfy sweats and your parka, pool bag in hand before you set out to take on the weather.

For the billionth time since arriving at this God forsaken cabin, you wish you’d gotten a room in the resort itself. It’s snowed over the night, but the path is somewhat cleared. Even so, the trek to the main hotel is difficult, and your muscles are even more tired when you arrive.

The resort is a ski destination, and you cross your fingers that most of its patrons are on the hills and not utilizing the various pools and saunas.

Your wish comes true, and you’re pleased to see hardly anyone as you pass through the indoor pool to check out the outdoor areas, intent on having a hot tub to yourself-

As you’re walking along the pool deck, clutching your parka tight around your body, you notice someone swimming.

He’s underwater, slicing through the pool like a professional swimmer. The glare from the overcast sky makes it impossible to get a great look at the athlete and you settle next to the hot tub, hoping to see more when he comes up for air.

You’ve just taken off your parka and are wading into the hot tub when the swimmer stops at the edge of the pool. He’s in the shallows now, and he’s able to stand up, his back to you.

Droplets of water glisten down his back in the light, steam immediately beginning to lift off of his skin-

His shoulders and back look like they were crafted by the Gods, and the man runs a hand through his hair, shaking it out of his face.

You just wish he would turn to look at you, so you can see who you’re drooling over-

In no time at all, this wish is coming true, only, you wish it hadn’t, because the moment the gorgeous, well-muscled athlete turns to look at you, you’re locking eyes with your least favourite person on the mountain.

Seungcheol is as taken aback as you are for a moment.

He’d been reaching for the rail to pull himself out of the pool, but now, he’s simply frozen.

You’re practically gawking at each other, and you’re the first to break eye contact, clearing your throat and looking away.

You can feel your skin heating, and it’s not just from the hot tub, which you wish you could simply submerge yourself in and never come back up-

In the periphery of your vision, you see Seungcheol getting out of the pool, and it takes every ounce of self-restraint in your entire body not to turn and watch him.

Then, to your surprise, he gives you an excuse to look at him, calling out, “The wedding starts at four, don’t be late.”

Your jaw hits the hottub floor, and you watch Seungcheol practically run away from you.

It’s becoming an all too familiar sight.

8: Saturday - afternoon

Sitting in his mother’s hotel room, watching her do the final touches on her wedding look, Joshua is struck with memories of the past.

There’d been many mornings growing up where he’d sat on the closed-lid toilet, watching her brush through her hair, sometimes braiding it, before taking him and Jeonghan to school.

In the quiet of their small apartment bathroom, nothing could come between them, not Jeonghan whining for whatever reason, nor the angry father who’d disappeared from the picture when the boys had turned ten.

To Joshua, the moment feels like peace, or at least, as close to it as he’s ever come.

He can tell, by the way his mom smiles when she looks at herself in the mirror, that she’s truly happy, and it’s all he’s ever wanted for her.

The moment is fleeting, as Jeonghan enters the room and brings with him a certain level of chaos, the kind of windswept mayhem that follows him everywhere, like a moving storm.

“Booze?” The first word to come out of his mouth.

“In the fridge,” Joshua motions to the small cooler before asking his elder brother, “drinking already?”

“Just spent half an hour running all over and making sure everyone’s doing what they’re supposed to be doing,” Jeonghan sighs, bending down to retrieve a can of beer, cracking it open with nimble fingers.

“You wanted to be the best man,” Joshua points out.

For such a small wedding, consisting of only close family and a few friends, roles hadn’t been a necessity, but Joshua wasn’t aware that scrambling around to make sure people are in place would be necessary either.

“Y/N forgot her shoes at the cabin, so Mingyu ran to get them, but by the time he got there, Seungcheol had apparently realized the heels were needed, so he’d grabbed them- and somehow they’d missed each other in the lobby-” Jeonghan cuts off his own ramblings with a large sip of his drink.

“Sounds like quite the goose chase,” their mother’s calm voice visibly settles the best man, who takes a seat next to his brother.

“You look amazing,” Jeonghan tells her, as sincere as Joshua’s ever seen him. “Our new step-sister’s dad is a lucky man.”

“Since when did you stop calling him by his name?” Seulki laughs, returning her gaze to the mirror, fixing her veil. “Looks like you’re both getting used to Y/N though, Joshua mentioned that you all had dinner last night. Is she settling in okay?”

“I think so,” Joshua says thoughtfully.

“Mingyu really likes her,” Jeonghan adds.

Joshua nods. “And we do too.”

Their mom gives them a knowing look. “How’s Seungcheol finding his cabinmate? Haven’t you both always said he’s a good judge of character?”

“He’s also a stubborn ass,” Jeonghan grins over the rim of his drink, “so we can’t really trust his opinions on her- besides, any time she’s around, he runs the other way. I doubt they’ve talked much.”

“That’s a shame,” Seulki frowns. “I bumped into her with Mingyu on the slopes yesterday, she seemed really lovely.”

“She is,” Joshua admits. He’d also enjoyed getting to know you last night over food and drinks.

“Well,” Seulki turns to her boys, “let’s just hope Seungcheol warms up to her, but we’ll put that to the side for now, we have a wedding to get to.”

9: Saturday - evening

The ceremony had gone exactly as planned.

After the initial goose chase looking for your shoes, there’d only been one or two small details Jeonghan had been forced to attend to. But after it all, his mom had walked down the aisle, vows had been said, and Jeonghan had gained a father figure.

Standing at the alter next to his brother, Jeonghan had watched everything take place with a keen eye.

He’d been pleased to see the three couples invited - his aunt and uncle, and two of your father’s friends with their wives - sitting in the small venue with his roommates. And he’d been even more interested in watching his friends react throughout the service.

Mingyu had gotten teary-eyed the moment Seulki had begun her walk down the aisle, and even Seungcheol had torn his gaze from you for long enough to admire the dress.

When everything was said and done, the small party had moved to a secluded room off the main restaurant to have food, drinks and further celebration. Here, Jeonghan had again noticed Seungcheol’s affinity for having you in his line of sight.

“You know,” Jeonghan says, as he settles into the seat next to his brother, eyes fixed on his muscular friend by the small bar, “for a guy who runs away whenever y/n is around, he spends an awful lot of his time watching our step sister.”

Joshua chuckles, sipping his champagne. “You noticed that too, huh?”

“Hard not to,” Jeonghan grins, following Seungcheol’s gaze to where you’re clinging to Mingyu on the makeshift dance floor. “What do you think about those two?”

“I think Cheol better cut his losses now,” Joshua says, setting his drink down.

“Really?” Jeonghan cocks his head, considering it all. “We’re only two days into this trip… a lot could happen before the week is done, don’t you think?”

“A lot could happen,” Joshua admits, “especially if someone like you decided to meddle.”

“I never meddle, only… help push things along.”

“In the direction you want it to go.”

“Touche,” Jeonghan lifts his champagne, gently clinking it against his brother’s discarded glass.

“I think I’m going to go ask y/n to dance,” Joshua says, pushing his chair back and standing.

“Now who’s meddling?” Jeonghan laughs.

“Still only you.”

10: Sunday - morning

The couch had been uncomfortable on a normal night, so Mingyu supposes it’s his own fault that he wakes up aching after a night of drinking and dancing at the wedding.

Stretching his arms over his head, he tries to ease the tight muscles in his shoulders, but he’s unable to get comfortable again.

He lays there for a few minutes, watching you dance in your cute bridesmaid dress on the back of his eyelids. He’s not sure if it’s you, the dress, or the visual combined, but he knows he’s going to remember last night for many years to come.

When he finally sits up, Mingyu looks towards your bed, and he’s not shocked to find you still sleeping. This is the third day waking up in the same room as you, and Mingyu’s becoming accustomed to the fact that you sleep in longer than he does.

He’s becoming accustomed to your cute, unsuspecting, resting face.

It makes sleeping on the couch worth it, and his sore muscles are almost forgotten- until he has to stand up, and they scream at him again.

Cheol is sitting up in his bed, scrolling through his phone, and he looks up when Mingyu stretches his arms above his head to release his shoulder tension.

‘Did you sleep well?’ Cheol mouths at him.

The two have been scared to even whisper in the mornings - scared to wake you up - and have adopted this silent way of communicating. Mingyu nods quickly, pointing back at his hyung as if to say ‘and you?’

Another quick nod, plus a thumbs up, then Cheol makes the motion of a man shoveling food into his mouth and points to the door.

Mingyu holds up his hand, ‘give me five minutes’ and slowly begins to tiptoe to the bathroom, where he can have some water, fix his hair, and change into better clothes.

It’s a routine they’ve gotten used to, and for the third day in a row, Mingyu prays that when he exits the bathroom, by some miracle, you’ll be awake and eager to join them in the resort restaurant for breakfast.

Mingyu and Seungcheol - quite predictably - end up weathering the early morning elements without you, and it’s on the snowy path that Mingyu tells Cheol “I think I’m going to skip skiing today.”

“Really?” Seungcheol’s shock is written all over his face.

Mingyu nods. “I feel bad that we’re always ditching y/n- and we mostly go on the slopes she can’t ski on, so… I figured, after breakfast, I'd stay behind at the cabin and wait till she wakes up, then see what she wants to do today.”

There’s a long pause, and then Seungcheol sighs. “I see how it is.”

“Hmm?”

“You also walked her home last night after the dinner. Hannie, Joshie and I stayed up drinking, you usually join, but instead, you walked y/n home.”

“We were both tired,” Mingyu defends himself. “Watched a bit of a movie, then fell asleep.”

“Is that all that happened?”

“What do you mean?”

“I mean… part of me wondered if I should have stayed on Jeonghan and Joshua’s couch last night, to give you privacy.”

Mingyu’s heart skips a beat in his chest, and he fumbles with the hood of his parka. “We didn’t- we aren’t-”

“You guys danced a lot last night, then you walked her home… if it’s not like that then… well, people might get the wrong idea.”

“Who’s people?” Mingyu nearly laughs. “It’s just us here- you think anyone really cared last night?”

“I guess not.” There’s a pause, then Seungcheol changes the topic, asking, “What do you think you’ll have for breakfast today?”

It’s then that Mingyu realizes, someone did care last night, and that someone, is Cheol.

11: Sunday - afternoon

You’d been a little shocked to find Mingyu reading on the couch when you’d woken up from your long sleep, but when he’d explained to you that he’d stayed behind from skiing with friends to make sure you had a proper buddy for the day, your heart had melted.

After a slow start, the two of you had decided to rent some snow shoes and use the back slope trails, which is how you end up climbing one of the smaller mountains together.

“We’re almost at the top,” Mingyu tells you, pulling out the trail map provided by the resort. You try to catch your breath while he points to a spot on the paper. “I think we’re about here, so just-” he drags his finger up the green line, “this far to the top.”

“Are you sure?” you laugh, grasping onto his arm to pull yourself closer so you can get a good look at the map.

There’s a pause, then he shakes his head, “No. We could also be sort of lost.”

“Don’t say that-” you grin, pushing at him, “you’ve been mostly using this map alright- I trust you, and your trail-following capabilities.”

“Maybe you shouldn’t though,” Mingyu insists. “Honestly, following maps is definitely Cheol’s thing. One time, we were on a road trip, and we were going down this road for half an hour before we had to pull over and he got to look at the map- we’d missed a turn and it set us back like two hours-”

“It’s easier to miss a highway turn than a trailhead,” you assure him. “Come on, we said we’d climb this small mountain, and then we can take the lift back down and finish our movie from last night at the cabin- just think about our nice, warm cabin-”

“Nice, warm cabin,” Mingyu nods, folding the map back up to put in the pocket of his parka. “Let’s go, we can do this.”

You watch the large, beautiful man pull away from you and continue your trajectory up, and you can’t help but smile, echoing the sentiment, “we can do this.”

12: Sunday - evening

Seungcheol had been surprised to find the cabin empty after skiing, and he’d been even more surprised when he went to the restaurant to find you and Mingyu not there either.

However, he does find Jeonghan, who informs him that he’d seen you and Mingyu getting snow shoes a few hours ago, and Seungcheol’s heart sinks.

There’s a storm coming, and darkness has already begun to settle in across the resort-

He hopes, for both your sakes, that you’re not on the top of the mountain, lost in the trails, when the worst of the winter weather hits.

After waiting diligently for his meal order to come through, Seungcheol ends up trekking back to your cabin with food and firewood in hand just as the snow begins to get heavier.

The last thing he expects when he enters your lodging, is to find you sitting there with a minty green facemask on, and for a second, he stands in the doorway just staring at you.

You break eye contact first, calling out “Cheol’s back!” and a moment later, Mingyu comes out of the bathroom, mid-facemask application.

“Cheol!” Mingyu beams, rubbing the green goo against his cheek, “you’re back from skiing!”

“I was back earlier-” Seungcheol closes the door behind him, “stopped here for a bit but you guys weren’t around.”

“We just got back from a snowshoe hike like, twenty minutes ago?” Mingyu tells him, looking at you for confirmation. Seungcheol watches the way you nod at Mingyu, and his friend lights up. This time, when he says “twenty minutes ago,” he says it with confidence.

“Well, I brought food and firewood,” Seungcheol sighs, kicking off his snow boots and entering the small space.

“Firewood?” You’re looking at him again, and Seungcheol can’t find it within himself to meet your eyes while you’re green in the face like this, so instead, he sets the food down and moves to the small cast iron fireplace in the corner.

“Did you think this cabin heats itself?” The question comes out much snarkier than he’d intended, and he regrets it as he begins to build the fire.

“No- I mean, I noticed it was cold when we got in twenty minutes ago- but I don’t know, I sort of assumed that maybe hotel staff would bring the wood and keep the embers going-”

Seungcheol scoffs. Of course another good deed of his would go unappreciated.

“It’s plausible!” you try to insist.

“I never said anything.”

“You scoffed, you went like-” you mimic the throaty annoyed sound he’d made, “you went like that, a scoff- you scoffed at me!”

“Here’s your dinner,” Seungcheol pushes the bag of takeout towards you across the floor, eyes fixed on the fire he’s still building.

“What if I don’t want your food? What if I want to finish with this mask and go grab food for myself?”

Seungcheol sighs again. “There’s literally a storm coming in- if you go out, you’re going to get windswept away- just eat the food I brought.”

“What if I don’t like the food you brought?” you insist again, and Seungcheol’s getting real tired of your bratty stubbornness.

“You will, it’s what you’ve been eating for two nights in a row.”

This finally gets you to open the bag he’d brought, and you remove the three takeout items, eying them. “How did you know I like this?”

“Like I said- you’ve eaten it two nights in a row.”

“Why were you watching?”

“Oh my god,” Seungcheol groans, running a hand through his hair. “Just say thank you and eat your fucking food while I make this fire so you don’t freeze to death- why does everything have to be so hard with you?”

There’s a long pause, and he hears the sound of a food container opening.

He’s thankful you’ve finally shut up and are going to eat.

“Even without the fire- this cabin is well insulated enough that we wouldn’t die,” you say after a moment. “The hotel wouldn’t be able to have a cabin where its renters could just die.”

If he hadn’t just lit the fire, Seungcheol might have considered allowing you to test your theory out of spite.

“You always need to have the last word, don’t you, brat?” He stands up, dusting his hands off on his pants before turning to look at you.

You open your mouth to respond- but quickly shrink under his hard gaze.

A moment later, you pick up the remote, and a movie begins to play.

At least in this, Cheol’s gotten the last laugh.

13: Monday - morning

“Fuck-” Jeonghan’s cursing does more to wake Joshua up than the knock at their cabin door had, and the younger irish twin goes to cover his ears while Jeonghan stumbles out of bed.

“Who is it?” Joshua groans, giving in and sitting up, squinting at the door that his brother throws open to reveal their eldest friend.

“Are you two really still sleeping?” Seungcheol pushes into the cabin, throwing his gloves down before gruffly kicking off his boots.

“What time is it?” Jeonghan asks, rubbing at his eyes and groaning before running back to nosedive into his bed.

“Late enough that you should both be awake.”

“Y/n’s not awake,” Jeonghan insists, tucking himself back under the covers, “and I don’t see Mingyu anywhere- why do they get a free pass from your bitching but we don’t?”

“Because they’re not my ski buddies today,” Seungcheol says smoothly. “Seriously, what’s up with you two- and why is it so cold in here?”

They all look towards the castiron fire place, and the emptiness of it gives Joshua a chill that he feels tingling through his entire body.

“We thought we had enough firewood to carry us over from the evening and into the night, so neither of us picked up any dry wood from the hotel yesterday-” Joshua begins to explain.

“Evidently you both ran out,” Cheol concludes, scanning the rest of the small space with his precise, all-knowing, eyes. His gaze lingers on the bottle of fireball on the coffee table. “Instead of running to get more wood, you guys took to drinking, huh?”

“It’s not like we were going to cuddle,” Jeonghan groans.

“So you’re both hung over.”

“Just a little,” Joshua sighs, swinging his legs out of his bed. “Give us half an hour and I can be up.”

“It’s funny,” Cheol says, moving to sit on the couch, “I just had a fight with your step-sister last night about whether we’d freeze to death if we forgot firewood- and at the same time, you guys were over here, resorting to fireball instead of an actual fire-”

“It’s not like we could go out and grab wood once we realized we didn’t have enough,” Jeonghan defends himself. “The storm was really bad.”

“And it’s going to be bad for the next few days,” Seungcheol tells them, “so you better get used to grabbing firewood every evening after dinner.”

Both of his friends groan. “Sure, dad,” Jeonghan buries his head in his pillows. “You know what? If you’re going to be like this, maybe I’ll sleep in and not be your ski buddy today.”

“Mingyu ditched me yesterday, and now you’re ditching me today-” Seungcheol clicks his tongue, “am I really being that much of a dick this vacation?”

It’s Joshua who responds, pointing out, as thoughtfully as he can; “you have been more of a dick than usual.”

To which Seungcheol replies, “Yeah, well, you guys have been pissing me off more than usual.”

Except, Joshua knows it’s not necessarily he and Jeonghan who have been pushing Seungcheol’s buttons this trip- but he keeps that to himself.

14: Monday - afternoon

After skipping out on skiing with his friend and brother, Jeonghan had gotten some much-needed rest. Then, around lunchtime, he’d left his cabin in search of food only to bump into you and Mingyu doing the same thing.

As if that wasn’t coincidence enough, when your odd trio had entered the resort restaurant, you’d found Joshua and Seungcheol midway through their own meals.

Jeonghan had insisted you all join together, fully intending to meddle with you and your cabin mates. After all, he’d just gotten some sleep, and his mischievous mind was eager to stir the pot.

To his disappointment, the seating arrangements make poking people’s buttons difficult- with Cheol all but ignoring you from his vantage point as far from you as possible.

Despite the less-than-ideal format of your table, Jeonghan still finds a way to draw everyone into the conversation when he states, “so I heard there was a fight over cabin temperature last night.”

This earns Jeonghan a rough kick under the table from Cheol, as well as a harsh look from you.

“Who said that?” you ask.

“Cheol did,” Jeonghan smiles through the pain in his shin, and this time, when Cheol goes to kick him, a quick movement of his leg has him narrowly avoiding his friend’s boot. “This morning, when he came to pick of Joshie for skiing.”

“It wasn’t a fight,” you go to insist, but the harsh glare you send Seungcheol’s way has Jeonghan nearly laughing.

“Definitely not a fight,” Mingyu confirms, and Jeonghan almost feels bad for the way he’s sat between you and Seungcheol. A man caught between two stormy personalities ready for a clash.

“If it makes you feel any better,” Jeonghan says, “we ran out of wood last night, and we didn’t die.”

You sigh, leaning back in your chair. “Well, that’s good to know.”

“Y/n was saying last night,” Mingyu adds, “that she doubted we’d die without wood- hotel regulations and everything-”

“Was Cheol insisting you’d die without a fire?” Joshua’s eyes have widened, and he leans in, elbows on the table next to Jeonghan’s food. “Cheol? Really?”

“He was just being dramatic,” you say, and Jeonghan watches the way his friend’s ears turn red at your statement.

“Says the girl who was going to go out in the storm instead of eating the food I brought for her.” Seungcheol crosses his arms over his chest, and a muscle feathers in his jaw. He’s glaring at his plate, and a thick tension blankets the table.

Jeonghan loves it.

But then something happens that he couldn’t possibly predict: your parents enter the restaurant, and before he knows it, you’re hopping up to go say hello to Seulki and your father, leaving the men to deal with the unresolved tension.

“Are you trying to start something?” Seungcheol whispers angrily as soon as you’re out of earshot, his angry gaze fixed on Jeonghan.

“Who, me?” Jeonghan touches his chest, pretending to be the most innocent person in the room. “I was just looking for conversation. Besides, we’re the one’s who forgot firewood last night, it’s quite embarrassing for us.”

“You don’t look embarrassed,” Seungcheol notes, sitting back in his chair.

“He has no shame,” Mingyu adds, nodding sympathetically.

“You’re right, I don’t,” Jeonghan’s grin widens, and he looks over Seungcheol’s shoulder to see you leaving the restaurant. “Now that it’s just us, I suppose I should be a good big brother and figure out which one of you intends to fuck my new step-sister.”

Mingyu had been taking a sip of his drink, and now he’s choking, which only adds to Jeonghan’s delight.

“Jeonghan,” Joshua’s harsh warning bounces off the elder brother, whose smile is becoming something akin to the Cheshire Cat’s.

“Neither of us are going for your stupid step-sister,” Seungcheol growls, thumping Mingyu on the back to aid with the water caught in his lungs.

“Oh, so you’re both in denial?” Jeonghan’s eyes widen. “I’d thought at least Mingyu would fess up.”

“Fess up to what?” Mingyu says between coughs. “I’m just being nice to her!”

Jeonghan nods. “Sure you are.”

“Why do you all think I want to fuck your stepsister?!” Mingyu whisper screams at his friends, doing a quick look around the restaurant before adding, “you guys are all horrible.”

“Cheol’s been bugging you about this too, huh?” It’s one of the first things Joshua’s really said, and Jeonghan realizes his brother is right.

“Bet he had a lot to say about the way you danced with our sister at the wedding.”

“Were you all watching that?!” Mingyu’s eyes have widened.

“It was quite the spectacle,” Jeonghan plays with his glass of water. “Cheol was jealous.”

“What!?” This time, when Seungcheol misses Jeonghan’s shin with his foot, the whole table shakes from impact along the underside of it. “Was not! I didn’t even dance with her- how could I be jealous when I never even danced with your stupid sister-”

“Stop calling her stupid,” Joshua’s harsh tone is a surprise to everyone, and the table goes quiet. “Just because you’re in denial about everything doesn’t mean you get to call our new sister stupid.”

“Someone’s taking their older brother role a little seriously-” Seungcheol lets out a whistle.

“Deflect all you want,” Joshua sighs, “Change the topic and make fun of me, but at the end of the day, you’re only making things harder on yourself… both of you.”

For a moment, both Seungcheol and Mingyu are put on the spot, then Seungcheol insists, “We’re not doing anything.”

“And denial is a river in Egypt,” Joshua sighs, shocking the whole table with a pop culture quote- something that’s very unlike him. “Cheol, you’re done eating, let’s leave these two and get a few more runs in before the storm makes skiing impossible.”

15: Monday - evening

Sitting on the floor with your roommates, roasting marshmallows on the fire while the storm rages outside, you find yourself noticing all the small details about them both.

It’s the first night that you’ve actually allowed yourself to take a breath and relax, accepting that, with the extreme weather, there is really nothing else that can be done except to work on enjoying your company.

Mingyu is easy, as you’ve grown accustomed to having him around. You’ve gotten used to his large form, the clumsiness and easy smiles.

Seungcheol, on the other hand, is something you’re newly exploring, sneaking glances at his side profile whenever you think he’s fully distracted in his marshmallow making.

Unlike Mingyu, who thrusts his treat into the fire and watches it burn, Seungcheol is meticulous about his food, preferring a spot where his marshmallow can slowly turn golden near the embers.

He’s got a pretty side profile, and there’s a stubborn set to his jaw when he focuses, eyes fixed on flames that light his face in pretty hues.

His nose is also quite striking, and along with his strong brow, his face is altogether quite attractive, something you’ve been fighting yourself on since the moment you entered the cabin and he’d been cold to you.

There’s something about the duality of him that has your heart racing whenever he’s around.

You’re never sure which Cheol you’re going to get.

You’ve had glimpses of his softer side, especially on your first day when he’d carried you to bed and then left you a map- then there’d been the way he brought you your dress shoes after you’d forgotten to pack them and trekked to the hotel in snow boots on the day of the wedding-

It seems as if Seungcheol is the kind of man who likes to do nice things for you when you’re not watching, but after your small altercation last night, wherein you’d realized he’s also been doing fire duty, you’ve made more of an attempt to notice small things.

Small things like the way he takes the perfect golden marshmallow out of the fire, places it between two chocolate graham crackers, and hands it to you without a word, giving you the best s’more of the night.

He balances his kindness to you by offering Mingyu the s’more after, and you think he must be doing it as if to say ‘you’re not special, I’ll share with everyone’ but you can’t help but think there might be more to it.

To your surprise, Mingyu is the first of the three of you to get sleepy, and after a quick washup in the bathroom, he’s collapsing onto the couch and falling asleep.

For the first time since arriving at the cabin, you find yourself truly alone with Seungcheol, no big, human buffer to keep you both in line.

The silence is thick. Even so, in the quiet, Seungcheol gives you wide birth to go wash your face and brush your teeth while he cleans up the few items from your s’mores.

There’s hardly anything to be said, and the two of you find yourselves getting into your own beds in no time at all.

“Turning off the light,” Seungcheol tells you, hand reaching for the lamp chord.

He pauses, waiting for your curt “okay” before following through with his statement of intent, and the room is captured in darkness.

The wind howls outside, drowning out any sounds of your roommates breathing, and for a little while, you can almost pretend you’re alone.

Almost.

In the dark, your mind begins to have all sorts of thoughts, and you surprise yourself when words slip out of you; “I’m sorry for calling you dramatic today.”

The air feels thick and heavy, a few beats of silence passing that almost convince you Seungcheol’s asleep, but then, he responds. “I’m sorry for referring to our disagreement last night as ‘a fight’ when I talked to Jeonghan this morning.”

“It’s okay,” you say quietly.

For a short while, you think nothing else is going to be said, but then; “Goodnight y/n.”

You take a breath, wrapping yourself tighter in your blankets. “Goodnight, Cheol.”

CONTINUE READING PART 2 HERE I note. the fic was too long to be posted in one tumblr post 🤪

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dobomiyeon · 1 year

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Black Suit | (seungcheol smut)

Pairing: MafiaBoss!Seungcheol X BossWife!Reader Synopsis: You just couldn't help if you husband looked so good on an all black suit. Genre: smut Word Count: 5.3K Warning: unprotected sex. clothed sex. public sex. vouyerism. creampie. breeding kink. daddy kink. petnames (good girl, pretty girl, baby, darling) name calling (whore, slut) manhandling. marking. biting. choking. face slapping. possessiveness. size kink. big dick cheol. seungcheol is very jealous. jeonghan is a little shit on purpose. Tag: - A/N: seungcheol on a black turtleneck has me on a chokehold I swear

He looked so good in all black suits. Not even he could deny how good he looked. The way the turtleneck blouse wrapped around his muscles, puffing out his chest and carefully carved his biceps muscles and forearms. The long coat that fell just in the right way and elongated his build figure, giving him an air of superiority. The high waisted pants, buckled with a leather belt that hugged his waist, the fabric of the pants being a little too tight for his strong thighs. You could not help but press your thighs together as you fawned over Seungcheol getting ready, his strong eyes scanning over his figure through the mirror. You were sitting on bed, all prepped and pretty, ready to leave for the important meeting you two had. But gosh the way your husband looked so delectable in that goddamn suit made you curse under your breath as you slowly lost your mind over having to leave and not being able to just have him right there and now.

Seungcheol was too caught up on his own figure to notice you fiddling around in the edge of the bed, legs firmly held close as you tried to get some sort of relief through the thin lace fabric of your panties, eyes closing shut and mouth breathing a quiet moan when you felt the texture just barely rub onto your already swollen bud. You wished you had the guts to just tell him to fuck you right there but the words got caught up on your throat as you eyed him again, the way his face was so serious, fingers quickly closing the coat's buttons and wrists.

"Okay, I'm ready. Let's go" You snapped back to reality as you heard his voice, quickly jumping to your feet as you felt your underwear stick into your folds as you got up and adjusted the dress. Seungcheol quickly grabbed his wallet and keys, calling you over with his hand, which you were quick to hold onto as you knew he could not stand the idea of walking around without having his hand on you in some sort of way. Possessive? Seungcheol? You never heard of it.

The way to the meeting was the worst part. Trying to get your head out of the image of him with the suit, your mind doing its best to just focus on his voice and talking, but every time you turned to look back at him, you were met with the sight made in heaven of him wearing the black suit. Your thighs were mushed together due to how hard you were pressing them against each other, trying so badly to get relief yet failing miserably. It only got worse when he placed his hand on one of them, giving a tight squeeze and rubbing his palm of your bare and warm skin, wanting to feel your flesh under his touch. The way he was completely possessive of you, needing to have the feel of your body onto his grip in some sort of way always made you melt into a puddle. It was so hot seeing how jealous he got whenever another man tried to get funny with you, how he was quick to wrap a arm around your waist and hold it in bruising strength. Seeing his jaw clench when hearing the dude's stupid words, his lips curling into a satisfied smirk as he saw the man fumbling around while trying to talk. He was so intimidating and you could not help but lean into that from day one.

When you met him for the first time at an event organized by your parents, you felt your legs almost turn into jello. The way he stared at you, curious to know who was the child of his parents biggest allies, a child he, somehow, had never met before. The way he was so polite, bowing to you as you got introduced and gently taking your hand, placing a kiss on the top of the back. The way he was quick to catch on your favorite conversation topics, making talking with him an easy and pleasant experience. From day one, you were on the palm of his hand, just like he was at your feet the moment his eyes landed on your figure. Your marriage was no surprise to the big names of the underworld, and your relationship was almost a goal for every single younger couple that saw you two together. You felt the car stop, looking right at the window and seeing the big ballroom that awaited you two. As you took your seatbelt off, Seungcheol opened the door for you, quickly giving you his coat as he saw you lightly shiver over the cold wind of the night. You could see his muscles perfectly with the thin shirt, wanting nothing more than just palm and squeeze them as his hands traveled around your body as well.

"I promise this is going to be quick, okay my love?" He adjusted the coat on you, making sure it covered a part of your figure so you could get warmer "I sorta promised Jihoon and Soonyoung I would be here, but we don't need to stay much" He gave you a tiny smile.

"It's okay, I don't mind" You did mind, in fact you were dying to come back and plead in your knees for him to bang you all night "Lets get inside, maybe they have a few nice drinks"

"My lady?" He offered you his arms, and you laughed as you linked with it.

"Always such a gentlemen"

"Only for you" Seungcheol winked at you, you two laughing lightly as you walked inside of the big building. It was just like any other ballroom: over the top and extremely rich looking. The chandelier was the prettiest part in your opinion, shining in an abnormal way, almost as if it was made with actual diamonds. Cheol was quick to navigate with you through the crowd of people, soon finding two men drinking together at a more reserved table, capturing their attention by just walking closer.

"There you were, thought you two would never appear" The man with platinum blonde hair laughed, quickly giving both of you tight hugs as the other one just gave a polite head motion as a welcoming sign, calling over one of the servers for more drinks. You couldn't even be mad as you had known Soonyoung and Jihoon as long as you had known your husband. Jihoon was the son of a major politician and now head leader of an important information chain that covered the whole underworld throughout the country, gathering important and personal data about almost every single mafia family that existed. Soonyoung was the youngest of a family of five kids, child of one of the richest men of the crime scene, and yet he was the one selected to be the new leader of the family as he had proved himself to be a prodigy in the fine art of commiting crimes. Both of their families had alliances with yours, not as strong as Seungcheol's family, but just as important, and you were aware that the event you four were in right now was a big one for all three of their families. That's why you were cursing yourself for being horny at just an important situation. But god, couldn't Seungcheol just choose another day to be this attractive?

You quickly grabbed one of the martinis the server brought, gulping on it quite hard to try and get your head out of the foggy needy state it was right now.

"Do you by any means know when Jeonghan's arriving?" Jihoon asked Seungcheol, and you noticed how the grip on his glass of whiskey got tighter. His jaw clenched mid gulp, Adam's Apple bulging as he tensed at the mention of Jeonghan's name. They were not enemies, no, they were acquaintances. Mostly because of you. You were Jeonghan's childhood best friend, and the one he stuck to like glue. Neither of you liked each other, no. Jeonghan was already married by the time you met Cheol, and he was very happy with his partner. But he loved to tease Seungcheol for the shits and giggles. Hugging your arm, holding your waist, draining your attention to him, he loved seeing Seungcheol get worked up and annoyed by his closeness with you. And you couldn't even protest because every time Jeonghan appeared, Seungcheol took you to heaven and beyond by the time you were home. It was almost as if Jeonghan was aware of your manhandling kink and made that on purpose.

"No, I'm not aware of when he is arriving" Your husband answered shortly, arm creeping around your waist and pulling you closer "I wasn't even aware that he was coming"

"Yeah, apparently this event is a big one because of his partner's family, y'know?" Soonyoung answered, scrolling around on his phone "They are like the main investors on this scheme they are going to propose and he needs to be here because he's one of the it boys for the campaign's image, something like that. Nothing that us mere mediocre looking fellas would know about" He said, giving you a quick wink right after, causing you to giggle lightly as you knew he didn't think any of them were mediocre looking, nor did you. Your conversation was quickly disrupted by an amalgamation of sound coming from the rest of the party, seeing as some people whispered while someone traveled between the sea of humans. Soon enough, said person appeared in your vision, and it was no one other than Yoon Jeonghan himself. His eyes scanned through the tables, eyes lighting up as he met yours and a smile spreading across his handsome face, feet quickly making their way towards you.

"Good evening, gentlemen" he slightly bowed, turning his attention towards you with a cheeky smile "Good evening, Y/N. Looking amazing as always"

"Jeonghan, you always say that" You punched him lightly on the arm, laughing at his complement "I'm going to start showing up on a potato sack to see if you're still gonna say that"

"Well I'm sure you would still look marvelous even on a potato sack" Jeonghan put his hands on his pants pockets, directing his eyes attention to someone right by your side "Don't you agree, Seungcheol?"

"Yes. Yes I agree" You could see the tension in his neck, vein popping out as he picked his inner cheek with his tongue, gaze fixated with rather hatred on your best friend "My wife looks amazing on anything she wears" The emphases on my wife, as well with the tight and strong grip around your waist made your skin get goosebumps, the pool between your legs getting wetter by the minute. You just wanted to drag Seungcheol to the nearest bathroom and fuck him there. You noticed Jeonghan's grin getting wider, chuckling to himself as he grabbed a drink from the server's tray. He could tell by the way your whole body was almost stiff that something was clouding your mind, and he was almost certain that something was your husband who now, was hugging you from behind, arms firmly wrapping your torso and chin resting against your shoulder as his piercing gaze almost burned a hole through your best friend's skull. Jeonghan gave you a funny look, indicating his mind had created one of his devilish tricks in order to get Seungcheol where you wanted him to be.

"Do you two need a room or something? This place has some private bedrooms in it, y'know?" Jihoon mentioned with a sarcastic tone, a blush creeping through your cheeks as you felt Cheol sign in discontent against your ear, releasing your waist and adjusting himself to your side. It's not that the three men felt uncomfortable, they were already used to Seungcheol's antics when it comes to you. But the rest of the people at the party, some important investors and family leaders could disapprove of such "inappropriate" behavior, and that could cost your husband's family a huge deal. Soonyoung quickly fumbled around his phone, calling Seungcheol over to see something regarding the announcement that was about to be made during the event.

That was Jeonghan's cue to quickly link arms with you and drag you out of there, pulling you through the maze of people and approaching a balcony, the glass doors quickly shutting behind you two as the cold air of the night hit you. Luckily, you still wore Seungcheol's coat, feeling the scent of his perfume hit your nose and fill your senses.

"Finally I got you out of the wolf's grip" Han started, signing in annoyance "I know you find attractive the way he's extremely possessive of you, but dear god if he could he would murder me in a heartbeat"

"Oh please, he would never" You took the last sip of your drink, placing your elbow against the rail of the balcony as the older gave you a wondering look "Besides, you are always teasing him. It's like you're constantly asking him to hate you"

"I do it because it is fun. I even do it with my father in law" He shrugged "But seriously, he is just so… Aggressive when it comes to you. I'm needy for my partners attention but he is just next level obsessed"

"And I'm okay with that" You gave him a cheeky smile, laughing as he rolled his eyes at your statement.

"Of course you're okay with it. You're not the one almost getting its neck cracked" He gulped on the drink, placing the glass lightly on the rail of the balcony "Besides, we all know what happens when he gets jealous and you two go home" The suggestive smirk made you blush even more, eyes averting his teasing gaze as you shook your head negatively "Oh please, don't pretend like he doesn't rail you when he's this jealous and you don't like it"

"I'm not, I just don't know how to react when people point out" You bit your lip, mind traveling back to the vision of him being tense due to Jeonghan's presence, his muscles getting even more visible through the black turtleneck he wore. Your best friend could see that your head was leading you through something, quickly remembering his plan from earlier.

"It's the black suit, isn't" He knew you like the back of his hand "Seeing him in a black suit made you horny and you're trying to avert that but failing miserably because he keeps getting all touchy with you" He laughed, making you hit him on the chest as he shook his head "Oh gosh, you're two are worse than horny teenagers that just found out what sex is… I mean, that's kinda how it all started-" You hit him in the chest again, face red from his statements as you tried to hide your embarrassment. It was true, you two could not spend more than a couple of hours without getting into each others pants, getting to the point of arriving on places late because you two were fucking or simply missing family gatherings to dive into each others body throughout the whole evening.

"Can you please just don't?" You asked, trying to hide your smile but failing.

"What? Talk about the suit or that you two were horny teenagers?" His smile made you feel even more ashamed. Jeonghan knew how to make you embarrassed without needing much.

"Both! Please, I'm trying my best to not just pounce on him in the middle of everyone" you sigh "It's not my fault that my incredibly handsome husband looks like an absolute five course meal on that all black suit"

"I'm not saying it's your fault, I'm saying neither of you know how to control your hormones. I'm surprise I'm not an uncle yet" He took a last sip of his whiskey, chuckling lightly "I'm going to quote Jihoon and remind you that there are bedrooms in this place for some reason and that you two can just solve your problems by going there"

"I don't think Cheol would like the idea of having sex outside of our house. Beside the walls in this place are thin as ice and anyone would he-"

"Y/N!" You heard the door swing with a bang, startling both of you as you turned your heads to the familiar voice. Seungcheol's face was red with anger and jealousy, looking over at both of you as you could hear his teeth clenching against each other and his nails digging into the wood frame of the glass doors. You felt your knees start to give in, holding on to the rail so that you wouldn't fall on your face as he approached both of you with stomping feet. Yet Jeonghan didn't seem to be amused by it, appearing rather calm as your husband got on his face, eyes burning with anger.

"Who do you think you are to just drag my wife across this fucking party and get her away from me?" His satoori accent popped out every time he was furious, making his voice tremble low and making you feel your folds clench against nothing as your core aches.

"We were just sharing a few laughs and talking, like best friends do" Jeonghan's snarky tongue made sure to put emphasis on best friends, assuring that Cheol only got more worked up as his first clenched, wanting nothing more than to just punch the smugness out of your friends face. Seungcheol grabbed your wrist with rather force, you were sure you're getting a bruise.

"Jihoon is calling us, they are going to announce whatever the hell this event is for" The light on his eyes, whoever, did not lie to you "Let's go" Cheol dragged you along with him, leaving a smirking Jeonghan to sit there on the balcony, proud that he had accomplished yet again his goal of making your husband do what you wanted him to. Seungcheol took you across the place, quickly getting both of you lost on a series of corridors as he searched for something. It was not long before you found yourself in a corridor full of doors, each one labeled with a gold number plate. He impatiently searched around in his pockets, quickly finding a key with a tag that had the same number as the door you were in front.

"I said it was going to be a quick event, nothing more than just an hour. But no" He angrily stuck the keys on the keyhole, opening the door and dragging you inside "He had to test my patience yet again and just drag you away from me" He closed the door with rather force, your eyes noticing how tense his forearms were "I'm getting fucking tired of his behaviour. He does it to get on my nerves, I know" He tossed the key on a nearby table, turning himself back to you. The look on his eyes, that dark lustful gaze he only gave you when he was going to ruin you. He approached you, your feet walking back until you hit the wall, feeling like a prey under his intense gaze. He caged your frame with his arms, resting them on each sides of your body as he slowly got closer to your flushed face, lips getting dangerously close to yours "Now I'm going to make sure the whole building knows who you belong to"

It was the last thing you heard before you felt his plush lips crash against yours, mouth captivated in an intense breath-taking kiss. Your hands flew to his neck, feeling the baby hairs and gripping on his shoulder as his arms pulled you up against the wall, legs wrapping around his waist and dress getting bunched up in the process. You could feel your core rubbing against the leather belt that held his high-waisted pants, unintentionally grinding down as a way to get more friction. His hands gripped your ass, riding up your dress even more and making the fabric stop at your waist, his mouth traveling down south through your face, jaw and neck, sucking purple love bites across your skin. Your back kept arching towards his body, hands gripping on anything as your head lost itself to the feeling of his teeth nibbling at your sensitive spots. You tried your best to hold the inevitable moans coming out of your throat, but it was almost impossible as your husband was quick to slide one of his hands between your legs, long fingers rubbing your fold through the lace underwear.

"You love to see me angry, don't you?" He growled, sending shivers down your spine as you felt your panties getting more soaked "Such a dirty little whore… Getting all wet and needy just from seeing me fight with Jeonghan…" He pushed the fabric to the side, fingertips gently touching your clit as he rubbed you in small teasing circles. You whined, hips halting and trying to search for more stimulation, making him chuckle low "You ask him to do that shit, don't you? To make him tease me and make me mad. You asked him, didn't you?"

"N-No" It was all you could mutter, teeth gripping on your bottom lip as you felt one of his slender fingers slide inside of you, curling up inside and teasingly moving slow "H-He does it b-because he thinks its f-fun" You were trying so hard to not moan out loud, the fear of getting caught by someone hiking up the adrenaline running through your body. Your eyes were closed but you could hear him smirking.

"Ah, sure. He does it because it's fun…" He added another finger, using his thumb to press against your sensitive bud and rub it very slowly, making you lose your mind "Well, I'm doing this because I think it's fun to see you melt on my touch like that" He whispered against the shell of your ear, biting and nibbling at your earlobe as you pressed your lips to muffle the moans.

"C-Cheol, p-please…" It felt humiliating to beg for him, but he knew how much you liked to do so. Whether it would be on your knees or on his lap, he always had you begging and pleading for him to touch you in the right way. You yelped as you felt his hand come down on your thigh, a hard and loud spank marking the flesh of your skin and making it tingle in pleasure.

"That's not my name, pretty" He hummed, kissing up your jaw, his free hand traveling up your torso and wrapping around your throat, squeezing lightly. You knew what he wanted to be called, and it made your face flush with red.

"D-Daddy…" The smirk on his face made your walls clench, seeing him get cocky always made you turned on. And that only boosted his ego "P-Please… Need you…"

"That's my pretty girl" His voice sounded so endearing, but his fingers kept doing the dirty job, pumping in and out of your pussy with zero resentment. He brought his lips closer to yours, an inch away from kissing you "You want me that bad hm? Since we left the house you've been like this…" Your breath hitched, body tensing, Did he notice your absolute neediness in the past hour? He chuckled low.

"Think I wouldn't notice? You squeezing your thighs together, tensing up every time that I touch you, avoiding physical touch with me when I know that you love to have your hands on me… I'm handsome but I'm not dumb, y'know?" Hearing him brag about himself made your cunt clench around his fingers, his head shaking negatively as he smiled "I'm so fucking lucky to have you, aren't I?" You whimper, lips searching for his in a messy kiss as you pathetically tried to move your hips, trying to find that sweet friction that you oh so needed to tip over the edge. But you soon felt empty as his fingers left you, hand stopping you from moving as you tried to wiggle your way to your orgasm. You whined, pouting mid kiss as you heard him laugh lightly.

“So you rather have my fingers inside you than my dick? Got it” His hands were about to leave your body, but you hurriedly stopped him, aggressively shaking your head no.

“No, no, no, no, please. Daddy please” You begged, eyes round and pleading for him to not leave you stranded like that, hot and bothered.

“Daddy what, baby?” You could feel the tease dripping from his voice, strong hands holding your waist as he pressed himself against you more, making you easily feel his bulge through the pants. Your eyes rolled back, breath hitching as you tried to say again the all mighty words that could give you anything you wanted.

“Daddy, please fuck me” Your breath came out shaky, eyes diving onto his gaze with your best puppy look as you pleaded for him to do something, anything. He smirked.

“Always such a polite and good girl” His lips glued on your neck, sucking even more purple spots on your skin as you felt one of his hands fumble to open his belt and pants, one of your hands coming down to help him out “All mine… You get that right? You’re only mine” He growled low in your ear, earning a whine from you as you felt your cunt clench around the cold air. Your panties were ruined at this point, so it was not hard for him to swissfully take them off of you, the air hitting your slicked slit and making a shiver go down your spine. Your fingers were fast to start pumping his shaft once his cock was out of its confines, your hand getting messy with his precum as you lubed him up, earning low growls and small curses from his plush lips that kept biting and sucking the entirety of your throat.

Seungcheol lined his tip with your entrance, slowly stuffing you up as his hands helped your hips sink towards his, both of you moaning at the feeling of relief. Your knuckles were white from gripping in his shoulder for support, and his were white from gripping on your ass, the flesh being marked with his rough fingerprints and leaving bruises you were going to admire later. With no previous warning, Cheol gave an experimental thrust, grinning wide once he saw your eyes roll back as your mouth tried to gasp for the air that got knocked out of your lungs. Dr leaned over you, one of his hands holding onto the wall behind your figure, pressuring you and consequently diving even deeper in your cunt, your walls gripping around his dick with enough force to make him moan loud. Your eyes widened, the possibility of getting caught running through your mind again.

"Worried someone's gonna find us, baby?" He asked teasingly, face getting closer as his lips were less than an inch away from yours "Don't worry, I'm making sure that Jeonghan hears from whenever he his how much you love to bounce on my dick" His voice sounded husky and dangerous, the hand holding against the wall gripping on your jaw, slowly making its way down to your throat "And don't you dare to muffle your noises, do you understand?"

You nodded, eyes glazed with tears as he started to pound into you at an inhuman pace. Your head could not get thrown back due to the wall, but that didn't stop you from letting out the most choked out moans you could, whining as his cock rammed against your walls and hit your sweet spot over and over again. Didn't matter how long you two were married, you never got used to his size, thick and long, making you feel full and cumming just from getting inside of you. The stretch you felt was unbelievably delicious, your pussy spilling more and more of your juices on his dick, the gushing sounds being borderline pornographic and making you even wetter. You bit your lip hard in order to muffle a really loud, borderline scream moan, feeling as your teeth cut through the flesh of your soft lips and the taste of blood caressed your tongue gently. It wasn't until you felt your face being slapped, the tingling sensation pulsating on your cheeks as your eyes opened and you were met with Seungcheol's burning gaze on you, the anger and lust clouding his dark pupils.

"What did I say about muffling your noises, darling?" He hissed through grinned teeth, fingers yet again wrapping around your throat, his strong grip squeezing tightly and making you light headed. The feeling of being railed by his cock while he choked you made your head spin around in dizziness, your cunt betraying you and spilling more of your juices, ruining his pants and making the skin of your thighs wet. You could barely whine, tears falling from your eyes as you tried your hardest to form a cohesive answer, but to no avail, babbling nonsense.

"Tsk, can't even follow a simple rule. You're really a dumb little slut, aren't you?" You mewl, feeling the coil underneath your stomach start to build up as he quickened his pace "But I can't complain. I like you like that: cockdumb, whiny and ready to be breed. Can only say my name again and again, can't you?" Your answer was a dragged moan of his name as he hit your spongy spot with force, your cries sounding like music to his ears "C'mon baby, tell everyone in this fucking event who's the one fucking you just right" He whispered in your ear, a moan from him following right along as your walls clamped around his dick like a vice, ready to milk him dry. His thrusts started to halt, becoming more frenetic as his hands gripped on your waist, making the task of pouding you to oblivion easier. The coil got tighter, your mouth shouting his name like a mantra over and over as your orgasm finally washed over you, making you see white as your whole body shook from the hard climax.

Just as the overstimulation started to make you sensitive, you felt Cheol's body tense against yours, his pink lips spilling a series of curses, moans and your name as you felt his cock shoot white ropes of warm seed inside of you, cum mixing with your own and making a mess. You two stood in silence, catching up your breath as you cockwarmed him, hugging his shoulder tightly as he hugged your waist, gluing his body to your even more. Your fingers brushed the dark strains of hair that stick to his forehead, allowing you to see his face better before searching his mouth for a passionate kiss, tongue diving onto his mouth and tasting the drinks from earlier.

"I needed you so fucking bad…" You said as he slowly pushed out of your pussy, the mixture of your cum with his slowly dripping from your legs as you pulled the ruined panties up, all while he pushed his dick back to his trousers and closed up his zipper.

"I needed you really fucking bad. Do you have any idea how amazing you look in that dress? Couldn't wait to fill you up..." He whined, motioning towards your figure as you searched around in the drawers that existed in the room, finding a box of tissues and cleaning the trail of cum that slowly made its way down your leg. You could feel the pool of cum pilling up inside your underwear, the thought of being filled up again by your husband making you instantly clench "Baby?"

"Hm?" You looked back at him, a shiver going down your spine as you noticed how dark his gaze still was. It was like he knew what was going on through your mind, he knew you like the back of his hand.

“Let’s go home. I’m not done with you yet”

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dobomiyeon · 1 year

Text

driving me crazy

member | bandmate!seungcheol x reader genre | smut, enemies to lovers word count | 1.3k warnings | reader has a vagina and breasts, unprotected sex (reader is on the pill but be safe irl or i'll hit you), name calling (slut, whore, cumslut, cumdump), cumshot, creampie, masturbation (m), mentions of degredation & humiliation, one mention of spanking. this is pure rough hate sex but it gets really soft at the end notes | so i was writing this in @duhnova's inbox to attack her and all of a sudden i checked how much i'd written and it was fuckin,, over a thousand words?? this isn't really a "fic" per se, it's more like a headcanon (there's no dialogue) but i thought it was long enough to share. i don't know where this came from or how it happened but- enjoy! - june 💒

you and seungcheol are in a band together– maybe he's the guitarist and you sing, and since the day the band formed you've had it out for each other. neither of you are willing to give in to what the other wants, even when you both know you're in the wrong. he wants the chords a certain way? nope, because you need them this way so you can sing them. you want to write your own lyrics for this one song? nope, he criticizes every word.

and the tension just keeps growing and growing until one day it boils over and you find yourself underneath him, back pressed against the sofa in his garage after band practice when everyone else has gone and he's fucking you like you're the last person on earth. pushing his lips to your neck to call you filthy names, things he's never wanted to say to your face before; but something about this time, with his cock splitting you open and you fighting to hold back tears of pleasure because like hell you'd let him get that reaction out of you, he can't help but want to tell you how much of a slut you are. you hate each other, yet you'd let him fuck you like this, hm?

and you'd die before you admit it to him or to yourself, but just this one time with him will completely ruin you for anyone else's cock. no matter how hard you try to forget him and how many shitty tinder hookups you suffer through, he's the only thing on your mind every single time you cum. and so finally you give in, and you come back to him, practically begging him to fuck you again, and he'd be more than happy to oblige because you're the only thing that's been on his mind every time he jerks off after you leave practice, his cock throbbing in his fist and milky white cum splattered all over his hands as he realizes he just moaned your name out loud. so at the end of the day maybe you do still hate each other, but damn if you aren't the best sex each other's had.

so despite how much you supposedly hate each other, now that neither of you can deny how insanely horny you are for each other you're fucking all the time. and i mean all the time. of course, it starts out as only after practice in his garage, and occasionally in his car when practices are at your other bandmates' houses. but one day a couple weeks later when he's fucking you in his bed, on his kitchen counter, even in his front doorway because you're both so impatient you can barely keep your hands off one another long enough for him to shut the door, that's when you realize how fucked you are—metaphorically and literally.

if your friends are shocked at the fact that seungcheol, your literal worst enemy, is suddenly driving you home every night, they don't mention it. there's no way they don't know by now, but you won't hear a peep out of them, because in practices, you're actually… managing to get along with cheol now. it turns out that having the roughest, nastiest (aka best) sex of your life with the man you hate most is doing wonders to relieve the tension between you two; so much so that the only arguments you can muster with him are about how the color of his new guitar looks ugly compared to his old one, or that your singing would be better if you actually looked at the microphone for once instead of looking at him.

by day you're cooperating enough to make music together for once, and by night you're getting fucked like the cumslut you are, cheol slapping your ass and roughly handling your hips into place so he can push into you even deeper so you can feel him completely filling you.

and after a while, you can't even remember the reason why you hated him in the first place. because maybe the tension between you two was just sexual tension all along. getting dicked down like a whore makes you happy, and having his own personal cumdump makes him happy. it's a win for everybody.

one day he's fucking you in his bed after a really successful practice and it's... unusually soft. he's not calling you filthy names or humiliating you for how hard you came from just his fingers. he's holding you so close, praising you for how well you always take his thick cock, squeezing around him so perfectly, so warm and wet and tight just for him and him alone. he's not calling you "his hole" or telling you to crawl across the floor and beg him to allow you to suck his cock. his words come out no more a soft growl by your ear, low moans scattered in between the praises.

and that's the first time you let him cum inside you. you're on the pill and you've both been tested so there's been no reason for him to use a condom any of the times you've been together, but he's always pulled out to cum on your back, your pussy, your stomach, or his favorite place– your face.

but this time when you feel his thrusts start to stutter and he begins to let go of you to slip out of your aching cunt, you just wrap your legs around his waist and pull him back in, whimpering and pleading for him to stay inside, to cum inside, to fill you up and claim you as his. and he can barely stop himself from cumming on the spot as he stumbles into the hardest orgasm of his entire life, spurting rope after rope of liquid into you.

and afterwards, when you're both laying there panting, stuck in a post-orgasmic haze as it begins to dawn on you what just happened, he does something that makes you doubt any of this was even real in the first place, that it was all a dream and you haven't actually been having sex with him on almost a daily basis for nearly the last month. because the seungcheol you know, the seungcheol you hate, would never say this. the seungcheol you used to hate would never own up to anything, would argue about anything and anything and refuse to apologize for his words, no matter how hurtful.

at least, that's what you thought. because now you've realized you never actually hated him, not even before you two were involved like this. you would argue for the sake of arguing just like he would, because that's all you knew how to do around him.

you didn't yet know this side of him; not just the side that makes you cum over and over and refuses to stop until you have to pry his mouth off of your pussy, but the side of him that always gives you rides home, even when the night doesn't end in sex. the side of him that lets you use his shower to clean up afterwards and always leaves a stack of fresh towels out for you that you can tell he warmed up in the dryer. the side of him that, even the first time when you hated each others' guts, asked if it was okay to do something before he did it, because even though he can't stand you, he doesn't want to hurt you intentionally.

so you're laying there on his bed, and he holds you tighter, burying his face into the crook of your neck, and he sighs. and for the first time ever, he says,

"i'm sorry."

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dobomiyeon · 1 year

Text

push it down (sooner or later it all comes out) - part five/finale

summary: thirsting over your ex’s best friend in general is a bad idea. given that you and seungcheol have never gotten along, it’s even worse. when you accidentally stumble across his stream, though, and he finds out? all bets are off.

pairing: seungcheol x fem!reader

word count: 16.6k (I am so sorry, y'all, but I'm also not)

genre: smut (18+), enemies to lovers, angst, camboy au

warnings/contains: adult language, banter, teasing, explicit sexual content, oral sex (m. and f. receive), manual stimulation (m. and f. receive), unprotected sex + creampie (reader is on bc), two swats on the ass, discussion of potential power dynamics in sexual situations (but I think it's pretty mild tbh), brief discussion of camboy things, gratuitous use of petnames, being disgustingly affectionate in public, mutually consensual possessiveness, strength kink, sir kink, reader likes being a brat and cheol is into it. I think that's it, but if I missed any, please let me know.

a/n: thank you to every single person who has read this series and waited so patiently along the way. this is the biggest and longest thing I've ever written and it's been an experience, for sure! I hope you all enjoy this last part and how the rest of the story unfolds. special thanks to @biaswreckingfics and @librarian-stacks for being my hype women, my executive board, and my extra sets of eyes on this story when I was struggling with ????? I love you both and don't have words for how much I appreciate and respect and value you.

I'll get the taglists on a reblog because tumblr is NOT liking the length of this post rn.

series masterlist

svthub masterlists: hyung line and maknae line

previous part

Despite his words about shoving you through your door and fucking you against it, Seungcheol let you enter before him on your own time, walking in after you and shutting it behind him gently. He flipped the deadbolt then you watched as he let his back fall to the door and rested his weight there, banked heat in the brown eyes meeting yours. The sight of his tongue slipping out to wet his lips and him catching his lower lip between his teeth as he stood there and slowly looked you up and down, stoked the flames in your body, fire licking at you with the pass of his gaze over your body.

His smirk said he knew damned well what he was doing.

You tore your own gaze away from his mouth and waited for him to meet it, lifting both brows and tilting your head slightly in question. “I thought you were going to fuck me against the door, Cheol. Did you decide to just stare at me from the door instead?”

Seungcheol chuckled, pushing himself away from the door and walking toward you. “Trust me, my preference is to already be inside you, princess, but I’m trying to be at least a little bit of a gentleman here and give you the space to change your mind.”

Oh.

Another two steps and he was close enough to touch. Your hands came up to rest against his abdomen and he sucked in a sharp breath, brushing the back of his fingers across your jaw while he gripped your hip with the other hand and drew your body into his. The action erased the rest of the distance between you and your fingers fisted in the fabric of his t-shirt at the feel of his body pressed to yours.

“I can’t help staring, though. Since you can’t either, I’m guessing you don’t mind too much,” he murmured, the hand at your jaw shifting to your nape. Fingers slid into your hair and tightened around it. Tilted your head back. Leaning in until his lips were hovering above yours. “Tell me.”

Jesus Christ.

You were not proud of the sound you made then, the needy little whimper that spoke volumes, but it worked its way past your lips before you could stop it. That smirk of his was back and only Seungcheol could make you simultaneously want to kiss him and kick him. You needed to say something instead of just – just standing there and letting him have the upper hand.

“Tell you what? That I don’t mind you staring at me? Or that I didn’t change my mind and my preference is also for you to already be inside me? You’re gonna have to be more specific,” you finally managed, proud of yourself for the teasing lilt in your voice. For the way he cursed in response and his fingertips pressed harder into the skin at your hip.

When he spoke, his voice was a growl. “Careful, princess.”

Your smile was as sweet as pie, and you blinked guilelessly at him. “Why’s that, sir?”

Seungcheol groaned then his lips were on yours, fingers in your hair tightening their hold further and pulling – gently, just enough for you to feel it, just enough to make your knees go wobbly and you to breathe his name. Your lips parted for him and he took advantage, sliding his tongue into your mouth and against yours, suckling at your tongue before pulling back to bite at your bottom lip. To lave at it with his tongue.

His own lips turned up in the corners at your attempt to follow his mouth as he drew back further and your pout when his grip in your hair stopped you.

“We’re gonna have a long talk later about exactly which of my videos you watched and why,” he said, words a low rumble against your neck from where he spoke them into the skin beneath your ear. You pressed your thighs together and squeezed your eyes shut at the way the rumble worked its way down your spine to settle in your center. “About kinks and limits, aren’t we?”

“Hmm?”

He nipped at the skin of your neck and your body jerked. “That was a question, sweetheart. I expect an answer.”

You had been wet since the car, but your reaction to the authoritative tone and words should not be to flood your fucking panties. It shouldn’t. Should it? It should. Whatever. Seungcheol – first, as S.Coups and now, as himself – had clearly taught you some things about yourself and obviously would continue to do so.

Given his fingers were still fisted in your hair and his hold was solid, you nodded as best you could. “Y-Yes. We’ll talk about it. That. All of that.” Lashes fluttering open, you settled your gaze on his and your knees would in all honesty have buckled at the way his eyes burned, if his hand at your hip didn’t slide around your waist to hold you up. Well. They did buckle, but you didn’t fall on your ass because he had you.

He had you.

He had you and you knew you were safe with him, even if you from a month ago – hell, even a week ago – would’ve called you crazy for even thinking it. Your breath left you in a soft sigh.

“I didn’t change my mind, Cheol. Are you done being a gentleman yet or did you change your mind?”

“No, princess,” Seungcheol said with a shake of his head, although his gaze remained locked on yours and his mouth pulled into a knowing smirk. “I didn’t change my mind. Told you last night that you could have anything you wanted and I meant it. Including me. If you want me, you’ve got me.”

Your fingers dug into his upper arms, your stomach doing somersaults. At face value, his words could be taken to mean physically. Could be confirming that he’d take you to bed and give your body what it was aching for. Yesterday, you would’ve taken it that way. Tonight, his strong arm still wrapped securely around your waist and holding you up, the warmth in his eyes that was far more than sexual, his confession from earlier still reverberating in the back of your mind, you knew better.

Yes, of course, he also meant he was going to fuck you. That’s why he was in your apartment at that moment. But it wasn’t just about that. You might have been oblivious for…far longer than you perhaps should have been but you were no longer. What happened next – how you chose to interpret those words – was up to you. He would honor your choice.

Sexual release between two people who were no longer enemies?

Accepting his feelings and yours, and starting something more?

You’d joked about you not hating him earlier and wanting to be his, about him wanting to be yours. The gentle squeeze at your waist was a reassurance that he wouldn’t hold you to that. As was the soft kiss he pressed to the bridge of your nose while he waited for your response. Waited for you.

Again.

It was still wild to be on the receiving end of his understanding and affection, but that’s where you were.

What did you want this to be?

“I get to keep you, huh?” you finally settled on, fingers fiddling with the sleeves of his t-shirt.

Seungcheol’s chest expanded with the deep breath he drew in and when he smiled, it was wide, bright, both of those devastating dimples in full effect. “Yeah, princess. You get to keep me.”

“Oh good! In that case, I take my coffee with –”

“I know how you take your coffee,” he interrupted with a puff of laughter.

Your eyes widened. “You do?”

Another soft laugh before his lips brushed over yours. “Yes. It might shock you to hear this, but I’m a pretty observant man. I pay attention even when I’m pretending I don’t.”

“That does shock me, actually.”

“It’s like you want me to put you over my knee.”

You hadn’t really given it much thought, but the way you throbbed in response indicated maybe you should start. Instead of telling him that, though, you lifted your chin and taunted. “As if you could.”

His answering smile was lupine and you felt a shiver work its way through you, a delicious apprehension (anticipation) in the face of his change in demeanor.

“Where’s your bedroom? Unless you really do want me to fuck you against the front door or bend your bratty ass over the back of the sofa, I suggest you tell me now.” Seungcheol’s tone left no room for arguments, voice deep and rough in the way that you’d had fucking dreams about since the first time you heard him use it on a stream. In the way that never failed to leave you wet and wanting. Now, wanting and soaked as you already were, it was near to painful.

Releasing your hold on one of his arms, you gestured toward your bedroom door. You let out a choked gasp when he stepped forward and you had to step backwards, the movement of his body guiding yours toward the room.

“Are you really going to– ?” What? Put you over his knee? Spank you?

The very idea of Seungcheol’s hand on your ass made warmth bloom in your cheeks, made your insides twist in the most enticing, tempting ways. Because he had been right when he said you liked to get a reaction out of him. The part of you that got a thrill out of him being all authoritative and in control and wanted to be naughty as much as you wanted to be praised was desperately attentive right in that moment.

Your back met the closed door to your bedroom and you inhaled sharply as you found yourself pinned between the hard wood and Seungcheol. He hummed softly, nuzzling the crook of your neck, setting the gentlest of kisses there and you felt yourself relax into it, tilting your head to the side to bare more of your neck for him. His lips curved into a smile, fingers slipping into your hair, gripping it and holding your head there as he sucked hard at the skin you’d so-helpfully exposed to him, pulling a breathy whine from you as he marked you.

He groaned and the hand at your waist squeezed.

“Cheol,” you breathed, sliding your arms around his shoulders and a hand into the hair at his nape. Pressing closer. Pulling him closer.

“I’m not gonna do anything you don’t want me to do, princess,” he said as he brought his head up and caught your gaze briefly. Reassuring even as it challenged. The arm around you dragged your body away from the door and he spun you to face it, pressing your breasts into the wood and his lower body against your bottom. He let out a soft chuckle when you pushed back against him, a low growl when you ground your ass into his cock. “Want that, don’t you?”

You nodded, tilting your head back to rest on his shoulder as you continued to grind back against him. “Uh– Uh huh.”

“I know you do,” he cooed then before pulling his hips back. You opened your mouth to complain but his palm landed against your ass and you couldn’t bite back a gasp, the swat a sharp sting that went straight to your cunt and you shuddered, squirming in response.

He squeezed the cheek, soothing and somehow magnifying the heat, causing it to further spread through your body, your veins.

“Thought you said you weren’t going to spank me,” you commented breathlessly, even as you pressed into his touch. The sting having faded, shifted, morphed into just more…want.

“Said I wasn’t going to do anything you didn’t want, princess.” His hand slid up your ass and to your hip, fingers digging into you, a silent reminder of his strength. Jesus, his strength that you’d never given a second of thought to until you didn’t know who you were looking at. Until you knew who he was in ways you shouldn’t. Until he’d picked you up and carried you to bed the night before.

You squeezed your eyes shut, as if you could block out the force of your need for the man. “You’re so,” you started, having to suck in another shallow breath when his teeth grazed along the line of your neck, “presumptuous.”

Seungcheol chuckled. “Attentive. That’s the word you’re looking for there.”

You scoffed but you further settled back against him as he twisted the doorknob and pushed the door open, body a gentle pressure against the back of yours as he continued to guide you into the room.

When you both stood by the foot of your bed, he slid his arm from around your waist, hand catching yours. “Turn around for me,” he directed you softly.

Turning around because you wanted to – definitely not because he told you to – you found his eyes with yours. His, determined and still burning so hot that it was a wonder it didn’t scald you. Yours, questioning, likely also heated and conveying exactly how much you wanted him. No more hiding and, in fact, reveling in the openness between you.

Seungcheol’s gaze lowered, deliberately slow as he took in the sight of you, from head to toe: breath coming in shallow pulls, shifting restlessly from foot to foot, doing your very best not to fidget further under his scrutiny. Doing your very best not to tug him into you, fall back onto the bed behind you, and drag him with you.

“So many things I want to do to you, princess,” he said, palm pressed to your belly and sliding up your torso to trace along your clavicle. His hand found your neck, encircling it, using the gentle hold to tip your head back. “Especially when you look at me like that, fuck.”

“How am I looking at you?” You swallowed thickly, the action rendering you even more achingly aware of the vulnerable position in which he had you. In which you allowed him to have you. The positions in which you wanted him to have you.

His lips curled at a corner and you knew he could tell, that he could see you. “Like you want me to ruin you. It’s beyond just letting me, isn’t it?” he purred. “My needy princess. If I were feeling mean, I’d make you beg for it.”

Jesus Christ. You almost wanted to hiss at him like a feral fucking cat. Or scratch him. For saying shit like that and looking at you with such a cocky expression, knowledge and self-satisfaction burning alongside the lust in his eyes.

For being right.

For teasing you.

“I –” You started to tell him that you would beg when hell froze over, but you remembered him withholding permission to come more than once, with other viewers, with you, for doing so. The thought of him edging you right now – punishing you really – sounded excruciating. Next time, you told yourself. Next time, you would make him make you beg. Would prove to yourself that you could hold out. Right now, you just wanted him.

“You need me to say it? Wanna hear me admit that I want you?” Your fingers caught hold of the bottom hem of his shirt and gathered the fabric into fists as you fought against instinct that urged you to keep at least some of your cards close to your chest. “I wanted you even when I wasn’t supposed to, Cheol. I dreamed about you the first time I saw your stream. Didn’t even know it was you, but I think you called me princess in that one.”

The sound he made may as well have been a growl. It could have been a warning, but you sucked in a breath and continued, determined to give as good as you got and to rile him up as much as he was doing you.

Keeping your gaze locked on his, you let your hands slide to his shoulders, over his chest. Down, down, a barely-there touch on his abdomen, until you could feel the belt he was wearing through the cotton of his shirt. Until you pushed the hem of his shirt up and brought your fingers to the fastening of the belt. “I’ve been wet since the car and all I can think about is what it felt like to be full of you.”

It was definitely a growl Seungcheol let out then, the hand in your hair tightening its grip and his other hand coming to cover yours on his belt. “I swear to fucking God.” Dark eyes bore into yours. “You wanna be full of me, princess?”

You nodded, literally throbbing at the idea of him inside you again. Finally.

“Then you’re gonna need to take my cock out, aren’t you?” The hand covering yours moved to the neck at the back of his shirt, pulling it up and off of him, and he arched an eyebrow at you as he let it fall to the floor at his feet. “First time taking off a belt?”

Actually, you’d been distracted as hell by the sight of his naked torso – something you were never going to get used to seeing up close. To touching, Jesus. But also floored at his casual delivery of the first question and wrapping your head around why you liked it so much.

Mentally shaking yourself, you ignored the heat you felt spreading across your cheeks, instead opening said belt deliberately roughly. Purposefully tugging hard on one end to slip the belt through the loops on his pants, smiling serenely up at him once it was out and you dropped it next to you. “Like that?”

He narrowed his eyes, but the twitch of his lips belied his humor. “You are such a fucking brat.”

You grinned, popping the button of his jeans open, then sliding the zipper down. “I know, but you like me anyway, soooo. What does that say about you?”

“Two things.” Seungcheol leaned in to brush his lips against yours, then captured your lower lip between his teeth and gave it a slight tug before releasing it, smiling at the breathy whimper you let out. “One, I’m never gonna know a moment’s peace. Two, I must really like you.”

There went the butterflies in your belly again. Damn the man. Except not really because you liked that swoopy feeling.

“Yeah?”

“Mhm.”

“Maybe you just have a thing for brats,” you teased. “Have you seen someone about that? Because it seems like that could maybe be not great.”

He chuckled and nipped at the skin beneath your jaw. “Fishing for compliments or trying to ask about my dating history without actually asking?”

“I wasn’t – I didn’t – no?” Liar, liar, pants on fire.

You felt him smile against you and saw the quirk at the corner of his mouth still there when he lifted his head. “I have a thing exclusively for you, princess,” Seungcheol said then, forehead pressed to yours. “Whatever mood you’re in.”

“That’s really good because I am seriously terrible at sharing.”

“I know,” he acknowledged, voice low and rough. “Likewise. Now, you gonna kneel and let me fill that pretty mouth of yours with my cock or are you gonna lie back, so I can get my mouth on your cunt? I bet you’re aching for some relief by now.”

Your knees made the decision for you, going gelatinous before he’d even finished speaking, the free fall only stopped by his quick reflexes, hands catching your upper arms and slowing your descent. He cursed and cupped the back of your head once you settled in front of him, fingers finding purchase in your hair. “Wanna suck me off that bad, huh?”

“Yeah,” you admitted, biting at your bottom lip, and keeping your eyes on his. Reaching into his jeans, you carefully took him out, slipping his cock through the opening in his boxers and tracing your fingertips along the length of him. You’d barely had the chance to touch him the night prior, too desperate to have him buried as deep inside you as he could get, for him to drive his cock into you until you forgot why you weren’t supposed to want it.

Now, though, you could touch and tease and taste to your heart’s content.

He hissed, fingers in your hair fisting, tightening his grip just enough for you to feel the pull and gasp. You wrapped your hand around him, giving the shaft a slow stroke, and brought your other hand up to brace yourself on his thigh. Another slow stroke. Another and you leaned in, nuzzling against him where his other thigh met his pelvis, quite honestly glorying in the tension you could feel in his leg, could hear in the hitch of his breath.

Dragging your lips across his lower abdomen, peppering him with soft kisses, you continued to lazily pump him in your hand, intentionally letting your breath spill out against the tip of his cock as you deliberately passed over it with your mouth. Instead, you pressed your lips against the skin on the other side of his abdomen, your tongue slipping out to lick that same skin before you sucked at it, a sharp pull into your mouth that left the beginnings of a bruise.

The hand in your hair drew your head away from your ministrations and tilted it back so you were forced to look up into his stormy gaze. “Having fun?”

Your answering grin would put the Cheshire Cat to shame. “I really am.”

Seungcheol’s soft laugh only made you smile wider and he shook his head. “I bet. Since you seem to be having such a hard time remembering how to suck dick, I’m gonna help you out.”

God, that condescending tone should not turn you on. It shouldn’t. But fuck, it did. You rubbed your thighs together, swallowing hard and nodding.

“Open,” he prompted you, voice dropping an octave. He cooed when your lips parted, hand in your hair guiding your face forward. His other hand covered yours over his cock, pumping it slowly as he brushed the tip against your lower lip. “That’s it. This is what you wanted, right?”

The needy sound that bubbled up and out of you in that moment would be embarrassing at any other time or in any other situation, but the twinge of shame at just how much power this man whom you used to hate had over you was not enough to stop you from darting your tongue out to taste him. In fact, the shame was washed away by his moan and the fierce fire in his gaze as he stared down at you.

Took in the sight of you on your knees for him. A sight which you knew hid absolutely nothing of your desire. A sight which, in all actuality, screamed out your want of him: pupils blown, breath coming in sharp, shallow pulls, thighs pressed together in search of friction, arousal spilling from you, dripping down said thighs, and your mouth open and waiting.

Inviting. Beseeching.

Seungcheol’s curse was a growl. “Fuck. Gonna kill me, princess.” That strong hand was deceptively gentle when he drew your face further forward, cock slipping into your mouth, sliding across your tongue. When you closed your lips around him and sucked, tongue laving against the underside – teasing at the sensitive spot just under the tip – his head dropped back and you hummed around him.

You were on your knees and his fingers were still fisted in your hair, gently guiding your mouth over his length – the picture of being in a position of power, but he wasn’t. How could he be when you could feel the way his thigh muscles spasmed beneath your fingertips, the way he had to use every ounce of control he possessed to not just thrust into your mouth, to bury his cock all the way into your throat, the way your name left his lips on a breathy groan as you started to move your mouth on him faster?

As you started to take him deeper, your hand under his pumping what you couldn’t fit inside your mouth, as you continued to suck and lick. Until you pulled your mouth off of him and traced a line down his dick to tease at him beneath the base, gently suckling at the sensitive skin while you let your thumb brush over his tip, teasing at the slit and spreading the precome over the head.

“Yeah, just like that,” he rasped, hand slipping from beneath yours to cup your jaw, thumb grazing across your lower lip while his dark, hungry eyes met yours as you took him back in between your lips. “Such a good girl for me when you’ve got your mouth full, hm?”

Letting him slip out of your mouth, you countered, “So nice when you’re getting your dick sucked, hm?” You tried desperately to ignore the full-body shiver that went through you at his words.

His wolfish smile should have been a warning, but you were too proud of yourself for managing that Grade A comeback in the middle of going down on the hottest dude you’d ever actually known, who was also the biggest pain in your ass ever, to notice. And fine, the larger part of you who just honestly liked the man and got off on getting him off after having to just watch him get himself off for so long, was too into the moment, fully relishing being able to indulge without guilt – without questioning yourself constantly like the night before – to consider how he might take said comeback.

At least until he was jerking your head away from his cock and stepping back.

That, you noticed. You frowned. “What –?”

“I can be very nice, princess. Or very mean. Depends on you,” he said with another one of those exasperating smirks, as if that explained anything.

You watched as he slowly stroked his cock with one hand, the other hand brushing his hair back, and you were fucking jealous of his hands. Which was just ridiculous but it was true.

Tearing your gaze from the sight of his fingers wrapped around himself, you lifted it to his. “Depends on me…how?”

Seungcheol brought the hand in his hair to cup your chin and his thumb traced across your lower lip. “It depends on whether you want me to be nice or to be mean,” he said softly, eyes warm, attentive, and charged.

“What if I want you to be both?” you asked, resting your hands on his thighs and pressing yours together. Challenging him and confessing to him, all at once.

He groaned and the hand at your chin slid to your neck, encircling it with a gentle pressure and forcing your head back. “Then it depends on whether you behave or act up, doesn’t it?”

Jesus Christ. You had literally never wanted anyone more. Nodding, you swallowed hard, the press of his palm against your throat only adding kindling to the lustful fire burning in your core.

“Words, princess.”

“Y–Yes.”

His dark eyes locked on yours. “Stand up,” he instructed.

You complied, pushing yourself to your feet and standing on unsteady legs in front of him.

Seungcheol purred, “Good girl,” then ran the back of his fingers over your cheek, a touch you instinctively leaned into. “I need you to do something else for me now, yeah?”

“Yeah,” you sighed, nuzzling into the hand that was now cupping your jaw. “Of course.”

“Strip for me,” he said and you sucked in a breath. “Then lie back on the bed, part those pretty thighs, and show me just how wet that pussy is for me.”

Heat. Scalding heat. It rushed over you like an inferno and you gaped at him.

His tongue darted out and wetted his lips before they pulled into a smirk. “I bet it’s nice and messy already, isn’t it?”

Oh fuck him.

Fuck him for being so cocky and bossy and hot and attractive and knowing you well enough to know that you would (at that it was). And fuck you because you were already pulling your shirt up and off, your bra following closely behind. There went your pants. You hesitated with your thumbs in the waistband of your panties, glancing up at him, noting he’d taken a step closer and inhaling sharply at his proximity.

“Those too, princess. Unless you need my help,” he challenged and all the air left your lungs when he stepped even closer, his hands settling onto yours at either side. “I might not be as gentle with them, though. You want to keep these or should I rip them off of you?”

Whatever word came out of your mouth in that moment was not an actual word in any language known to man.

Except apparently Seungcheol because the look he gave you was wicked, right before you felt the fabric snap and fall, panties only held up then by your thighs, still tightly held together. God. You rocked forward on your feet until your front pressed against his chest and his arms came up around you, one hand resting against your lower back and the other caressing its way up your spine. “You,” you said on a gasp, “do not play fair. And you owe me two pairs now.”

He nuzzled your neck and his breath was warm when he let out a soft chuckle. “If I played fair, I wouldn’t be here with you. I wouldn’t have you trembling in my arms or know that you want me as badly as I want you. Why would I play fair when you like it so much that I don’t?”

Your fingers dug into his triceps, grounding yourself and stabilizing yourself with the grip on his upper arms. “You…may have a point.”

You felt him smile against your jaw and the hand at your lower back pulled your hips into his, a low whimper passing your lips as the move had his still bare cock pressed to your naked belly. He groaned and then both hands were at your hips, lifting you, tossing you away from him and onto the bed behind you. Fucking tossing you. As you landed, you bade good riddance to the last vestiges of denial about liking to be manhandled.

At least by him.

“I’ll buy you a dozen pairs of panties, princess. Buy you a new pair every day if it means I get to tear them off of you and have you clinging to me.” That damned eyebrow arched at you again when you went to argue the ‘clinging’ point, his hands moving to the waistband of his jeans and boxers, pushing both articles of clothing down his hips.

The sight of which promptly stopped the denial before it could make it anywhere close to being spoken. Instead, you scooted further back on the bed, settling yourself against the pillows as you watched him. You tangled your hands in the comforter at your sides, lust-stricken gaze focused entirely on the man in front of you. Your breath caught in your throat once the last of his clothing was kicked away and Seungcheol knelt on the foot of the bed.

God, you wanted him and part of you was still floored at that and at the knowledge that you could have him. That you had him already.

His eyes were dark as his gaze swept up your legs, as it lingered on your bared breasts and the sharp rise and fall of your chest with each shallow breath, as it found yours. “Legs,” he reminded you and you had to squeeze your eyes shut at the force of the need that crashed into you at the pitch of his voice.

You let your legs fall open, a soft moan spilling from you when Seungcheol’s palms landed on your shins and slid up to your knees, to your thighs. Your eyes flew open when his hands parted your legs further and you felt him slip between them, his knees against the bed on either side of your hips, while he pressed a hand to the pillow next to you. His other hand continued to slide up your body, fingertips tracing up your torso to tease circles over the skin of your breasts, never quite circling close enough to the center to graze against your nipples.

“Ch-Cheol,” you panted in protest, arching your spine and pushing your chest into his touch.

“Hm?”

“Stop teasing.”

Seungcheol cooed. “My poor princess. Tell me what you need.”

Jerk. You glared. “Need you to touch me.”

“I am touching you,” he said. “See?” Seungcheol punctuated the question with a pinch of your nipple, earning a choked gasp from you before he released the swollen bud and palmed your breast, thumb then softly brushing over your nipple.

Pushing your head back into the pillow, you leaned into his hold, hands clutched at the bedding beside your hips. “Please.”

He smiled and ducked his head to kiss along the line of your throat as he shifted over you. “There’s my polite girl,” he murmured and you felt his breath against your collarbone as his kisses fell still further down your body, “asking so nicely.” You brought a hand up to the back of his head, fisting your fingers in his hair at the first sweep of his tongue against the swell of your breast, and earning a low groan from Seungcheol.

His tongue flicked over your nipple and he caught the peaked flesh between his teeth, wrapping his lips around it and pulling it into his mouth with a sharp suck that you felt in your cunt. You squirmed, the hand in his hair tightening, a whine pouring out from between your lips as the hand that had been on your breast dropped to your thigh and squeezed, thumb pressing into the line where your thigh met your pelvis, sliding against skin slick with your desire.

He hummed around your breast, releasing your nipple to lave at it with his tongue before sucking a mark into the flesh of your breast. Seungcheol shifted his hand and drew his thumb through your folds, a slippery slide from your entrance to your swollen clit and then back down. “Love how wet you get for me, princess.”

You shuddered and whimpered. “Cheol, please.”

“So fucking needy,” he growled, pushing his thumb into your cunt and drawing it back out again to circle around the opening in a tease. “Just for me, right?”

“You’re– You’re kidding, right?” you managed to gasp out, tilting your hips in silent entreaty.

An entreaty which he ignored. Instead, he tutted, pulling his hand away entirely and you had to bite down hard on your lower lip to keep in a whine of protest, while he shifted further down on the mattress. “Answer the question.” Bracing his weight on palms on the bed at either side of your waist, he pressed his lips to your belly button as his eyes – so dark they may as well be black – bore into yours.

“God, you’re so –” Annoying. He was annoying, but his shoulders were between your thighs, then, holding them open while he trailed kisses down your lower abdomen. One hand fell to your knee and he pushed your leg up, pushed it out, then his mouth was pressing into the sensitive skin of your inner thigh, teeth grazing it and tongue slipping out to trace up the inside of your thigh. “Oh, fuck,” you said on a soft moan. “Y-Yes, Cheol. Only – Just for you.”

“That wasn’t so hard, was it?” His words were a low rumble against your skin and then he was groaning. Seungcheol’s lips covered your cunt, his tongue parting your folds and tasting you, licking at your entrance and drawing your arousal into his mouth, pushing into you and tearing a mewl from you. “Taste so fucking good, princess,” he rasped as he drew back to shift his weight and slid his tongue up your slit to flick at your clit before wrapping his lips around it and sucking.

Your body jerked and both of your hands clawed at his hair, his shoulders, his name falling from your lips in a choked gasp.

He hummed and the vibrations against your clit while he continued to lap and suck at the sensitive flesh, made your head spin. Made you shiver and whimper, body restless beneath his ministrations, forcing him to hold your hips down with a palm on your belly. And Jesus, you loved that even more. Loved that he held you down and just made you take the pleasure he was giving you.

You whimpered and felt him smile against you.

The hand not holding your hips to the bed had a vise grip on your thigh and you wanted to feel the imprint of his fingers tomorrow. The next day and the next. So you told him as much, which earned you a breathy curse, choked as it was in a mirthless laugh against your cunt.

“Yeah? You want me to mark you up, princess?” he murmured, sliding his hand up your thigh and waiting until your gaze met his – until you felt dizzy with the heat you found in his and shuddered, your nails digging into his nape – to slowly drag his tongue through your swollen, slick folds while his hand released your thigh to press a finger into your cunt. His own breath catching at the way your body sucked him in and the needy whine you let out. “Fuck, yeah, you do. Wanna know I’ve been here. Touching you like you’re mine because you are. Want this, too, don’t you?”

Fuck. Fuck fuck fucking fuck fuck. You wanted – what you wanted was –

“More.” That much you knew and could articulate. “Want more, Cheol.”

“I’ll give you more, sweetheart,” he promised, doing just that as he gave you another finger and started pumping them both into and out of you, curving them until they dragged against the spot that left you hissing and bucking with each pass. “Give you anything.” Seungcheol flattened his tongue and circled your clit with it, groaning at the way you writhed. “Everything.”

You nodded, swallowing thickly and covering the hand on your abdomen with one of yours, lacing your fingers through his and squeezing as you fought to keep your gaze on him, on the hungry, scalding, possessive, fucking tender look in his while his mouth and fingers drove you closer to the edge. “Want t-that. Want all of y-you,” you admitted before throwing your head back, unable to keep your eyes open anymore. Your brows pinched together and you bit your lower lip, struggling to swallow back the desperate sounds threatening to spill from your mouth.

“Nuh uh,” he said in a growl. “Let me hear you fall apart for me, princess. Gonna see and hear and fucking taste it.” The fingers thrusting into you then were three and he fucked you with them harder while he sucked at your clit and his tongue pressed more firmly against it as he moved it on you faster.

Driving you up the goddamned wall.

In a straight shot into a climax that you couldn’t fight any more than you could bite back the moans of his name or curses or pleas or even – Fuck your mouth, honestly, the damned betrayer – a choked “thank you” as the orgasm slammed into you. The only thing keeping you from floating away was his strong palm, still pressed to your body and holding you in place.

Vaguely, you were aware of the rush of arousal that left you, coating his face with you, spilling over your bedding and soaking the fucking fabric in a way that you were going to bemoan later when you needed to sleep.

His tone was pleased – so pleased and proud of himself – and as rough as you’d ever heard it when he spoke your name then. Muttered about what “a good girl you are for me,” and cooed, “that’s it.” Told you how “fucking hot you are, shit, princess,” as he drew back to cover your torso with soft kisses and gentle nips while he made his way back up your body.

You would be mortified that he was able to work your body like that if you weren’t so thunderstruck by that he was able to. If you weren’t still boneless and breathless, arms automatically coming up to encircle his shoulders, instinctively curving your neck to bare it to him for more of those delicious, addicting brushes of his lips and swipes of his tongue.

“Cheol, Jesus,” you breathed.

“Mm. I’ve got you,” he said quietly, the hand not holding his weight petting your side, from your thigh to your ribcage. Soothing touches while you waited for your brain to come back online and for your body to stop shaking with aftershocks.

Eventually, your brain did even if your body hadn’t quite, and you carded your fingers through his hair, bringing his head up and drawing his lips to yours. You let out a happy little hum at the taste of yourself on him and the way he hissed when your lower bodies brushed against each other. The hard jut of his cock against your pelvis and the harsh grip he took of your hip as he rested his forehead on yours reminded you that you weren’t done and that he wanted – needed – you as much as you wanted and needed him.

You lifted your legs to wrap around his waist and your eyes rolled back as the action brought his bare cock to your cunt and he ground into you, the slide made easy, so easy, by the wetness that still coated you and slipped from you. He cursed and buried his face in the crook of your neck, teeth catching your skin and biting down gently when you moaned his name.

“Ch-Cheol, God, I want – please. Need you inside me. Wanna be full of you.”

“I know you do. Fuck, I need that, too.” Seungcheol pushed himself up enough that he could look down at you, gaze meeting yours as he rolled his hips again, both of you gasping at the drag of his cock through your folds. “Let me go get a condom,” he gritted out even as he rocked against you once more.

You mewled, arching into him. Clawing at his shoulders. “Do you want – Are you clean?”

Eyes so dark they were nearly black bore into you at that and his voice was a rasp. “Yeah, princess. I’m clean. You? You on something?”

Your next breath was sharp and you couldn’t look away, trapped by the force of his gaze. “Uh, yeah, I have an IUD and obviously, I got checked out after I found out James cheated. I’m goo–” His mouth on yours swallowed the rest of your words, tongue sliding along yours, lips crushed to yours, stealing the remainder of your breath before pulling back to let you both gasp for air.

“James is such a fucking idiot. His loss,” Seungcheol murmured, brushing his nose against yours, his hold shifting from your hip to the back of your thigh, fingers digging into the muscle there while he hitched your leg higher up his torso. “My gain. You gonna let me fuck you raw, princess? Fill you all the way up with me?” he practically growled before biting at your lower lip. “That what you want?”

Every nerve in your body lit up at his words and the way he was circling his hips, grinding the underside of his dick against your clit in a way that left you clinging to his shoulder blades and doing your best to rock up into him. “Jesus Christ, Cheol. You can’t – can’t say shit like that!”

He grinned and let out a puff of breathy laughter, tilting his hips to nudge at your entrance with his cock. Short, shallow rocks of his hips teased you with what you both wanted and you pouted up at him. You fucking pouted. “Like it too much, huh?”

“I hate you,” you grumbled, squeezing your eyes shut and pressing your head back into the pillow, legs tightening around his body in an effort to silently encourage him to stop teasing you and just fuck you already.

The roughness in his voice when he swatted at your ass was dizzying. “That’s not very nice, princess. Why don’t you answer the question instead of trying to lie to me?”

The question. Questions. There had been several of them, hadn’t there? Each one purposefully uttered to devastate you, the stupid, annoying, attractive, smart, endearing (endearing???), intoxicating man who knew exactly which buttons to push. “Yes, yes, yes, and yes, okay,” you said finally, reluctantly, impatiently. “Yes to all of the questions, Seungcheol.”

His response in turn was to let out a shaky breath and press his hips forward, cock at your entrance pushing into you, filling you up exactly as you’d wanted. He didn’t stop until his pelvis was flush to yours and a roll of his hips had him grinding against your clit, tearing a soft gasp of his name from you.

You shuddered, clenching around him, and tangled a hand in his hair to tether yourself, the sharpest of pleasure sparking through you at the sensation of him buried deep inside you without any barriers between the two of you. His breath fanned out over your face, warm and unsteady, and another wave of want rolled over you at the way his features were pinched – his brows pulled together, lips pursed, jaw tight – while he held himself over and inside you. The moment felt intimate, so intimate, and you wanted to drown in it.

In him.

In the sexual heat and the tenderness that made your heart flutter in your chest when his eyes opened and met yours, all walls fallen away, lying in metaphorical pieces at your feet. Naked need was there, yes, but also the affection that he’d kept hidden from you all this time. You bit at your bottom lip, sucking it into your mouth as you let yourself take it in. Forced yourself not to hide from it or question it.

Then he drew his hips back and slid out of you, only to reach down and guide the tip of his cock to your clit, circling it, teasing and tempting and excruciating. “Ch-Cheol,” you warned — whined?

Forehead pressed to yours, he placed a kiss on your mouth, then was sliding into you again, giving you every inch. Every bit of him until he bottomed out, pulled back, then rocked forward, filling your aching, needy, greedy cunt with his cock. His words were low and warm, rough, spoken against your lips. “There you go. S’what you needed, right? Fuck, you feel so goddamned good, taking me so well.”

You nodded, fingers fisting in his hair and your other hand clawing at his sweat-slicked back, and bucking your hips up to meet him.

“Such a good girl for me, get so wet and always ready to take my cock, hm?” he said, grunting as he snapped his hips on his next thrust, pleasure punching into you with the sharp movement and the wet slap that sounded at the impact of his skin against yours. “Listen to that. You hear it?” He punctuated the question with another, then another harsh snap of his hips into yours and you felt heat flaming in your cheeks, radiating through you at the lewd sounds echoing in the room with each one.

Seungcheol started to find a rhythm, driving himself into you, leaving your head spinning and you couldn’t. stay. still. Your legs squeezed his waist and your pussy clenched around him, a desperate contraction to keep him in you and feel every inch, every drag and pull against your inner walls. You couldn’t bite back a moan – you tried to swallow it and the way your lips wrapped around his name, the way both spilled from your mouth reedy, breathlessly, a plea and a question and a demand.

In response, he groaned your name into the curve of your neck, a hand cupping your ass, slipping to the back of your thigh, fingers digging into the soft flesh as he hitched your hips against him and dragged you up onto his thighs as he knelt between yours, lifting you into his thrusts. Stars bursting behind your eyelids as the actions had his cock hitting you just right, you gasped. Writhed. Arched your neck and held his face to your neck, sucking in a sharp breath when his teeth caught your skin.

You wanted to drown in him and for him to drown in you. You were drowning in him. “Please, please, please. Cheol, please.”

“Beg so prettily,” he growled and you heard the hitch in his own breath, felt him shudder above you as he rutted into you, as he gave you more of him. “I’ve got you, princess.”

“I know you d-do. Just – I just –”

Words got tangled up in the back of your throat – or maybe they didn’t even make it that far, maybe they were stuck in your brain, twisting and twining around each other until you couldn’t tease out what you wanted to say. What you needed to say. You just knew that you needed. Needed this, needed more, needed him.

Needed Seungcheol.

Which was ridiculous because he was literally inside of you. His broad body was covering yours, surrounding you and filling you. His harsh breaths spilled out against your neck and lips pressed to the hollow of your throat. At least until he lifted his head so he could look down into your eyes, hand releasing your thigh to gently encircle your neck, his thumb catching your jaw and tilting your face toward his. Irises swallowed by his pupils, Seungcheol’s eyes were nearly black as they studied you.

As they watched the way your lashes fluttered and you bit at your bottom lip, breath coming in gasps while each thrust, each drive of his cock into your cunt had you spiraling. Drove you closer and closer to the sharp edge of bliss. Your fingers in his hair clutched at it as if the grip could keep you from falling beneath the rapidly rising waters of…what? Of your want for him and your feelings for him?

That steady, searching, scalding gaze seemed to miss nothing. Of all people in the world, it was Seungcheol who saw you and somehow knew you on the most terrifyingly, liberating, and comfortingly intimate level. This whole time. The whole time you’d been with his best friend, he’d been watching you, seeing you, wanting you. His eyes flared with understanding and fucking tenderness, and it was your heart that felt caught in a vise in that moment.

“I’m here,” he spoke softly then. “I’ve got you and m’not goin’ anywhere.” He pressed his lips to yours, hissed against them, and slid the hand at your throat down your torso, drew those dangerous fingers of his along the front of you until they slipped between your legs to your clit.

You sucked in a breath, nodding, brushing a kiss against his lips. “Good, because – ‘cause I’m not gonna l-let you. Keeping – keeping you.” You pressed another kiss against his cheek where that devastating dimple would be if he smiled and oh, he did. He did and you were so fucking smitten with the man. Smitten and whining because he also chose to start rubbing at your clit in that moment, while his hips snapped and he pounded into you. “Oh fuck. Cheol.”

Seungcheol groaned and you thrilled at the sound, at the sight of his oh-so-pleased, self-satisfied, knowing smile. “My possessive princess. You’ve – shit – you’ve got me, too.”

Your body twisted itself into the best sort of knots at the words and with each breath he took, each drive into you, every swirl of his fingers against your clit. Tension built and built and built, and you were right there at the edge of everything.

“Let go for me, sweetheart. Show me I’m yours by coming on my cock, hm? Make me nice and messy. Let me feel it.” His words were a rasp and you were going to die. You were.

Let the goddamned tidal wave overtake you because you couldn’t – couldn’t take it, couldn’t hold it back, couldn’t do anything except own the fact that yeah, he fucking was yours. (You might actually have said that then, the words a soft exhalation against his lips while your gaze was locked on his and you drowned in the force of the emotion there, the challenge and the pride and the lust and the possessiveness of his own, the warm affection underlying it all).

“That’s it,” he purred, and you let yourself be swept away by the full force of that wave of want and need that coalesced into overwhelming bliss as your climax hit. Let yourself tremble and cling to him, cunt pulsing around his cock, earning you a curse, a growl of your name, and a harsh kiss. A bruising kiss broken only by the need to breathe.

Desperate pulls of air into your lungs as your body shook beneath him and you felt him holding himself tense above you while he watched you ride out your orgasm, while he slowed the motions of his fingers and instead ground his pelvis into yours, slow rolls to draw out your pleasure. Sensitive. You were so sensitive. Whimpering, you gave him a questioning look as you tried to make your brain – your ability to words – come back online.

Seungcheol’s forehead pressed to yours and his brows pinched together, his teeth gritted as he held himself back. “Until all you know is me, right?”

What – he was saying. It took several moments for you to put it together and when you did, his name left you in a whoosh. “Y-Yeah.”

“Not gonna run away this time, though, are you? Gonna let me keep my promise?”

Fuck.

A flash of guilt swept through you and you wrapped your arms around him, pulling him even closer, until his chest was pressed flush to yours and you could feel each others’ chests rising and falling with breaths, the beat of one another’s hearts. That was on you. A lot of the messiness between you had been on him, but that – running away – had been on you, despite the fact that he said he understood. You cradled the back of his head, fingernails gently grazing his scalp.

“I’m not going anywhere, either, Cheol. I was serious when I said I’m keeping you, so you’re, you know, stuck with me.”

He hummed, dark eyes boring into yours. “Good,” he said lowly, echoing your earlier words. His hips, that had been doing that slow, teasing grind into you, drew back and then he pushed them forward, a deep thrust that you could swear you felt in your throat. He repeated the action and you bit back a gasp.

“Also, I mean, we’re at my apartment, so running away would be kind of pointless, wouldn’t it?”

His eyes flashed with a familiar challenge and you couldn’t help the soft, shameless laugh that bubbled up and out of you. “Smartass.”

Your laugh turned into a choked whimper when his next thrust and the next and the next were hard, fast, and stealing the breath from you. “Drive me fucking crazy,” he growled as he found his rhythm, a hand fisting in your hair and tilting your head back to bare your neck to his mouth, to his teeth.

“L-Likewise,” you admitted, arching up into him. Inviting him to take and take. Demanding he do it, honestly. Needing him to lose himself as you had before. You were game to only know him but fair was fair and you wanted to be all he knew.

Seungcheol nipped and sucked at the sensitive skin of your throat while his hips snapped into yours. Again and again and again.

Until you were clawing at his shoulders, digging your nails into his skin, letting out breathy whines and whimpers and gasps of his name, of, “Please” and, “Don’t stop, God, don’t ever stop.”

His fingers gripped your hips tightly enough to bruise then he was sitting up, dragging you up with him and into his lap. Lips crashing into yours, covering yours, sucking them into his mouth and dragging his teeth over them, each pull on them sending a pulse of heat to your core. Seungcheol drove his cock up into you, the hold at your sides guiding you up and down over his length, cooing at you when you tore your mouth from his to catch a breath and buried your face in his neck.

He released one of your hips to wrap an arm around your torso, hand finding the back of your head and petting you – fucking petting you, which you actually really, really liked, goddamn it – as you clung to his shoulders and felt yourself spiraling. Rushing toward another crest, each upward drive of him into your cunt ratcheting up the tension within you. This time, it was even better, though, because you could hear the way his breathing was unsteady and feel the way his rhythm faltered.

You could hear the desperate need in the roughness of his voice as he promised not to stop, never to stop, and told you how much he had wanted this, wanted you, that could never get enough. That you were his and he was yours and he’d show you “every fucking day,” so you “never forget how goddamned beautiful, how fucking precious” you were. You felt the tightness of the muscles in his back while he sped toward that inevitable bliss point with you.

“Cheol, Cheol, Cheol.” His name fell from your lips again and again. “Close.” You were panting at that point, your own teeth catching the skin where his shoulder met his neck as you bit back another whine. “Need to – need to feel you. Want you to – want you to feel good, too.”

“Fuck,” he hissed when you clenched around him. “Already do, fuck, I already do. Feel so fuckin’ good squeezing my cock like that, princess.” His fingers fisted your hair as he bucked up into you, hand at your hip shifting to again find your clit and give you the friction you needed. “Tell you what,” he said in a groan.

“A-Anything,” you agreed, nodding, knowing your answer would be the same no matter what his next words were. You swallowed hard and writhed, nails digging into his back, as you fought to maintain focus, to hear what he needed to say.

“Be the good girl I know you can be – my good girl – and come.”

You would. You really would. But you wanted him to –

“You do that and I’ll fill you up with my come. Until it’s dripping from you and you never doubt again that you’re mine.”

Jesus. Christ.

You could no more stop yourself from doing exactly as instructed than you could stop your heart from its next beat. Filthy. The mental image was filthy and sexy and you wanted it to be reality, wanted it deep in your bones. It was your turn to growl, then: his name into his neck while you shattered into delicious, floaty, blissed out pieces.

His voice was a rasp in your ear when he felt you falling apart around him, every muscle in your body spasming and you were shaking, shuddering, the only thing holding you in place was him. His strong arms around you. The force in his grip at your shoulders as he held you down while he fucked into you once, twice, three times, and then he was done. It was him shuddering and shaking, clutching you to his body while spilled himself inside of you and moaned your name into the air, into your ear, against your lips as his mouth covered yours.

You both held tightly to each other in that moment. In the next and the next. Another rush of pleasure lapped at you at the feeling of him being buried deep inside and further still while his come did, indeed, drip from you when he pulled out. Your come, his come – the both of you were a mess and you definitely were going to need to change the sheets before you went to bed, but you didn’t care. (Actually, that was a lie. You cared, but did so in the sense that you loved it, loved the way it was tangible evidence of what had happened, of what it signified. And yes, okay, a purely primal part of you thrilled at knowing Seungcheol was drenched in you. And fine, that same part of you thrilled at knowing you were – not drenched in him, exactly, but that you were full of him.)

Your forehead dropped to his shoulder and his hands tenderly brushed over your back, softly rubbing up and down along the line of your spine. A quiet, contented sigh left you then, a gentle rush of air against his skin. One of his hands came to cradle the back of your head and you felt his lips press to your temple, heard as well as felt him speak your name in that deep voice that was so filled with warmth and affection it made your breath catch and your arms around him tighten.

“Thank you,” he said with another brush of his lips to your temple.

“For what?” you asked, trying to work out whether the man was actually thanking you for having sex with him or there was something else you’d missed.

He smiled – you could hear it in his voice as much as you could feel the curl of his lips against your skin. God, you were smitten. “You want a list?”

Pulling back so you could look at him, your own mouth pulled into an answering smile. “There’s enough for a list?”

“Oh, definitely.”

“Really? Well hell. Yeah, I want the list!”

“Mm, you want it in alphabetical or chronological order?”

“Cheol.”

“Hm?”

You just looked at him.

He grinned, letting out a breath of laughter. “For finding my stream and watching. For not being able to stay away even once you figured out who I was. For turning on the audio on our private stream. For giving me the chance to explain. For listening. For forgiving me.” The last, he said while he pressed his forehead to yours. His dark, now so serious eyes locked on yours, trapping your gaze so you couldn’t look away, couldn’t hide or miss the sincerity in his.

It was a lot, being so close to him, being so bare for him and having him be so emotionally laid bare for you in turn. Those butterflies in your belly were out of control. “For the sex?”

“Princess.”

“What?”

He lifted a brow.

You squirmed.

“It feels really weird to say ‘You’re welcome’ for masturbating while watching you get yourself off on camera.”

The noise he made was choked.

“It does!” you said in a laugh, inordinately proud of yourself for causing him to make that sound.

“Maybe, but I would’ve been very sad if you didn’t touch yourself while watching me.”

“So needy!”

Seungcheol’s gaze dropped to take in the sight of you, still wrapped around him where you sat, basically in his lap. Still a fucking mess. He looked oh-so-pleased at the sight once his eyes found yours again, and you felt the heat bloom in your cheeks under his knowing perusal. “What’s that saying about the pot and kettle?”

“...no comment.”

“Now, you have no comment? That’s convenient,” he teased, chuckling when you swatted the back of his shoulder in response.

Pursing your lips, you narrowed your eyes at him. “You. Hush.”

Seungcheol shifted on the bed, moving toward the edge and bringing you with him, a smirk playing at the corner of his lips as he did so. “Yes, your highness.”

You sputtered, yelping and clinging to Seungcheol when he stood from the bed, lifting you up as he did so. Briefly – for half a second – your life flashed before your eyes until you remembered the man had carried you to bed just like that the night prior and hadn’t dropped you. Still… “What are you doing?”

“I’m taking you with me to clean up this time,” he replied breezily. Which, given that he was carrying you as he walked toward the door to your bedroom, was impressive. Not one grunt of exertion. Jesus. “Where’s your bathroom?”

—-------------------------

You were going to have dreams of Seungcheol with water from the showerhead raining down on him, streams of water rolling down his body, highlighting every muscle and the long stretch of his torso, sliding down, down, down. Down that toned abdomen, dripping into his belly button before droplets escaped to fall further, tracing paths along those thick thighs and strong calves. The complete lack of any fucks from him when your gaze caught on his cock, hard again, sharply jutting up into the space between the two of you. Rather, your dreams were going to be filled with the flash of daring in his gaze when you forced yourself to stop ogling him.

Or Jesus, the tenderness in his touch as his hands drew the soap over your body and worked the shampoo into your hair. The graze of his fingernails against your scalp when he conditioned your hair and rinsed it. The open adoration in his eyes when you returned the favor and the soft squeezes of his hand at your hips while you did so. The memory of steam rising up to surround the both of you and cocoon you in a world of your own all the while.

Either or both (definitely both) were going to linger in your conscious and unconscious and you couldn’t even be mad because you were so bowled over by the experience. You wanted to do it all over again and lose yourself in it before he even finished turning the water off.

It was a miracle you managed to only get sidetracked once. Seriously, you dared anyone to be able to make it through a shared shower with Seungcheol without finding themselves with their back pressed to the slippery wall, leg hitched around Seungcheol’s hip, Seungcheol’s low grunts and soft, dizzying praise and titillating taunts breathed into their ear, while he fucked them into a state of bliss. It was not possible. It wasn’t.

Eventually, though, the two of you were clean and dry. You had changed into comfy pajama shorts and a tank top, and you’d offered Seungcheol an old t-shirt and pair of sweats that James had left at some point. Seungcheol had grimaced when he realized what you were holding out to him, staring at the items of clothing as if they’d personally affronted him then looking up at you questioningly.

“Just how much of his stuff did he ‘accidentally’ leave here?”

“A…normal amount of stuff?”

He scowled then, scoffing, and muttering something about, “A normal amount of stuff is no stuff.” Looking around your bedroom as if your ex’s things would be scattered out in the open, as if trying to decipher what of the clutter might belong to his best friend. Former best friend? Were they still best friends? That could be awkward but it was not your problem. “When I leave, I’ll take it with me. I will personally return all of James’ things to him.”

“Oh, will you?”

“Yes.” The look he gave you as he tossed the sweats and t-shirt to the floor in favor of sliding his own jeans back up his legs and his own shirt over his head – well, if he were anyone else, you would call it a pout.

It took everything in you to keep a straight face. To not coo at the man. He was adorable.

“Are you actually jealous right now?” you asked.

“Jealous? No.” Seungcheol’s fingers encircled your wrist and he tugged you into him, a cocky slant to his mouth when you allowed yourself to be drawn toward him and wrapped your arms around his waist, resting against him. “Fighting the sudden urge to buy fucking couple’s shirts, of all things, and parade around town with you in them, yes. That, or hire one of those planes that pulls a banner behind it.”

Okay, that was just – the giggle that bubbled up and out of you was irrepressible, as was the warmth that bloomed in your chest. “Okay, so you’re not jealous; you’re just feeling super possessive. Totally different things,” you teased, pressing a kiss to his chin.

He shrugged but you saw his lips twitch. “Exactly.” Those same lips brushed against yours. You felt them twitch this time, as he continued. “Although, honestly, if you wear anything other than turtle necks for the next week, I don’t think the couple’s shirts are necessary.”

Your hands flew up to your neck and you gaped at him. You’d known he was leaving some marks, but – “Exactly how many hickies did you give me, you damned vampire?”

His face transformed, devastating dimples both on display, and his laugh was warm as he wound his arms around you. “No more than you gave me, Akasha.”

“I – Wait, was that a Queen of the Damned reference?”

Another laugh, an even broader grin, then you found yourself being guided to the living room and settling with him on the couch. He tucked you into his side and you snuggled closer. Oddly enough, the two of you agreed on what to watch with minimal fuss. It was easy – so easy – the way you found yourselves curled up with each other, Seungcheol grabbing the throw off the back of the couch and wrapping it around you.

The hours flew by with shared commentary on the drama: the two leads were dripping in sexual tension and at some point, someone was going to plant a kiss on the other in the middle of an argument. You were sure it would happen sooner rather than later, but Seungcheol suggested they were stubborn enough and oblivious enough to drag it out as long as possible. Not two episodes later, one main character dragged the other into an embrace, crashing their lips together, and you cackled – Seungcheol looked so betrayed; you were just giddy for being right.

Seungcheol stayed the night (of course he did).

You, who normally had trouble sharing your space and bed with a new person, slept like a baby. For the first time in a long time, you weren’t kept up with spinning thoughts about the man lying behind you, thoughts and worries of what to do about him, about your feelings, about the unmitigated disaster that was looming. The truth was out and instead of everything falling apart around you, it was okay. It was more than. Seungcheol’s presence, the warmth of him pressed to your back, and the soft sounds of his breathing – the soft exhalation of air against the back of your neck – was soothing and you drifted off in no time.

—--------------------

The morning after brought with it sleepy smiles and groggy teasing that lead to breathless giggles as you squirmed beneath him, his fingers seeking (and finding unerringly fast) your most ticklish spots. In revenge, you wrapped your legs around his waist and drew him down into you, sending a coquettish smile up at him when he cursed at the unexpected action, at the intimate way you cradled his hips between your thighs. Said smile didn’t last long because what you started, Seungcheol finished. Play sexy games, win sexy prizes apparently.

By the time you dragged yourselves out of bed, the sun had been up for hours. Which meant that the two of you were rushing around to get out the door. You were supposed to be meeting Nari in half an hour and Seungcheol was twenty minutes late for meeting up with the friend he’d started helping move the day prior.

His hissed, “Shit!” when he noticed the time had startled you at first, breaking your attention away from where you’d been looking through your closet for what to wear and drawing it right to him. The half-dressed, pull his pants on dance he did around your bedroom, all while he muttered apologies to you and swore up and down that what he wanted to do was stay and spend the day with you, was entirely too endearing.

“Cheol, please don’t trip over your pants and give yourself a concussion. Here,” you said, picking up his shirt from the floor and tossing it over at him. “And it’s okay,” you offered reassurance while you grabbed the first top your hands touched, your glance at the time and his urgency igniting your own. If you could get out of the apartment in ten minutes, you would only be a little late. Nari would forgive you. Probably. No, definitely. She loved you, so she would totally forgive you. “We can do the whole ‘wake up and spend the day together thing’ another time.”

“We’ll do it more than once, princess,” he promised, pressing a quick kiss to your lips. He groaned and set another there. “Fuck, I really wanna stay.” Sighing, Seungcheol stepped back. “Okay. I’m going. I’ll talk to you tonight, though.”

“Yes, you will, now go.”

You didn’t even have time to process the way your heart fluttered at the smile that bloomed on his face before he was rushing out and you were turning back to your closet to pull out the nearest pair of jeans. Five minutes. You had five minutes to get out the door.

Totally doable.

Now, if only you could make it through the next couple of hours with Nari without it being blatantly obvious you were down deep and had spent the night with Seungcheol. Goddamn it, you cursed when you caught sight of yourself in the mirror on your way out. You had a fucking sex glow.

—----------------------------

It turned out that – to no one’s surprise, least of all yours – Nari knew something was up in the first thirty seconds. Eyebrows knitted in curiosity quickly rose to her forehead, her eyes widened, and a sly smile curved her lips when you couldn’t meet her gaze as you took your seat.

“Oh-ho! What happened?” she cajoled before making eye contact with the waiter who walked up to the table and asking him to bring another mimosa. He glanced at you for confirmation and, at your nod, moved to do just that. You were more of a bellini woman, but thinking about peach anything right now only made the fire in your cheeks burn hotter.

While you waited for the waiter to come back with your drink and tried to ignore Nari’s patient, knowing gaze, you did the mental math: the odds of her letting you get away with blowing the question off were slim-to-none. It wasn’t that you didn’t want your friends to know! It was just…new. And God, they were going to give you so much (affectionate) shit. Seriously, the number of times you were going to hear “I told you so” in the near future was astronomical.

You forced yourself to look at your friend then oh-so-casually spoke while pretending to be very interested in the brunch menu as if you hadn’t been to this exact place and ordered from this exact menu at least a hundred times. “Seungcheol and I talked it out.”

Out of the corner of your eye, you saw her lean forward. “...And?”

“...And we maybe slept together? And he might have stayed over.”

Her shriek made you wince and look around apologetically at the other diners, but the happy laugh as she scooted her chair around the table to sit next to you pulled a smile from you. “Oh my God, finally.”

“Finally?”

“Mhm,” she hummed. “Seriously, you two are not subtle.”

Jaw dropping, you scoffed. “We hated each –” you paused because that wasn’t true, was it? I don’t hate you. I never have. Seungcheol’s words echoed in your head. I’m crazy about you. Have been all along, even when I was acting like a jackass. There was that warmth in your chest again and there were those fucking butterflies in your belly.

It must have shown on your face because Nari took the menu out of your hand and set it on the table, waiting until she had your full attention before she spoke again, softly. “You really like him,” she stated as fact. As if there were no question. “And I know he likes you. Tell me everything.”

You did, leaving no detail out.

When Lily got back into town later that day and showed up at your door unannounced, with a wide, eager smile on her face as she pushed past you into your apartment and plopped down on your couch, you laughed. “Hi, Lily! Please, come in. Make yourself at home!”

She just grinned and settled further into her favorite spot on the couch. “Always do,” she said – well, sang, really. “Do you have any idea how hard it was not to text you ten thousand times yesterday? Because it was very hard. I had to make Jeonghan hide my phone from me at one point.“

“Your self control is admirable, really.”

“I know, right?”

“Uh huh. What brings you here again?”

“Nuh uh. Don’t you dare hold out on me! You didn’t kill each other, so you totally banged, right? And since you said there was some talking, you guys admitted you’re both super into each other?”

“Oh my God, Lily.”

Lily patted the cushion next to her. “Sit. Start talking.”

Resigned, you sat down beside her and grabbed your phone off the coffee table. “I’m calling Jess first. I can’t have this conversation two more times.”

She gasped. “You told Nari already, didn’t you?”

You laughed and dodged the pillow she tossed at you. “I had no choice! We had brunch earlier and my face hides nothing; you know this.”

“...Yeah, okay, that’s true. Ugh, fine,” she agreed reluctantly. “Call Jess and tell her to hurry! I need to know what I missed in the last thirty-six hours.”

Twenty minutes after calling her, Jess was there and you were caged between both of your friends as you told them what you’d told Nari earlier in the day. As you admitted that yes, you had feelings for Seungcheol – not just for the version of him that you’d known in the anonymous “phone calls” and messages, but for the man you’d been able to see and know, finally, in person. That they were one and the same and you knew that. You shared with them that Seungcheol confessed to never having hated you, that he’d been trying to look out for you with James since the beginning even if he were intentionally acting like a jackass out of some bizarre logic that only made sense to him in order to hide the fact that he had feelings for his best friend’s girlfriend.

Lily’s snort in response to that particular piece of information earned her a questioning head tilt from you, to which she shrugged and said Jeonghan had told her as much. At your outraged protest, Jess joined you in staring expectantly at your other friend. Waiting for an explanation or elaboration or both. “You knew?” she directed at Lily.

Lily winced, waving her hands in front of herself. “I would’ve told you if you guys hadn’t talked it out this weekend. Arranging for you to run into each other at Jeonghan’s was sort of the last resort before the actual last resort, which would have been telling you. I wanted you to hear it from him instead of third-hand, from me, but I would have if he didn’t confess, I swear.”

“I get it,” you said with a sigh and gave her a reassuring nudge with your elbow. “And I’m glad I heard it from him. For one thing, I would’ve found it harder to believe if it was coming from someone else, but also I think I would’ve been more mad if he didn’t just own up to it and apologize before I was, like, confronting him with the truth I’d already been told.”

Jess made a humming sound and when you glanced at her, she smiled wryly. “I barely know the man and I’m not thrilled he chose to be an ass rather than just act like an adult or admit that he was sweet on you so he, you know, was going to try to keep his distance…but it sounds like he at least realizes it was the wrong play and he’s willing to take responsibility for it.”

“I just want you to be happy. If Seungcheol makes you happy, then I’m happy,” Lily said, linking her arm through yours and leaning into your side.

Jess mirrored the action on your other side and your lips curved into a soft smile as she spoke. “If he makes you unhappy, though, I’m more than happy to kick his ass.”

“Oh God, yeah. That goes without saying.”

You let out a laugh and squeezed the arms of your friends with yours. “I love you.”

“Love you, too,” they said against either shoulder.

“I’m pretty confident it won’t come to that, though. He’s…not who I thought he was.”

“So what’s the plan, then? Are you guys together?” Lily asked from your left.

“The plan,” you started, brows pinching together, “is to uh – I mean, he did say he was crazy about me and that I could keep him? And he may have mentioned wanting to personally return all of James’ leftover things to him. And, um, said something about parading me around while we’re wearing couple’s shirts.”

Jess cackled before she caught herself and you saw her biting back a grin. “Definitely together, then. I would pay actual money to see the look on James’ face when Seungcheol shows up at his door with a box of his shit from your apartment.”

“I’d pay double if I got to watch him react to you and Seungcheol wearing matching shirts.” Lily didn’t even bother trying to hide her wicked smile. “What if we planned a…friendly dinner and forgot to mention to him when we invited him that –”

You cut her off. “No. We are not doing that.”

“But think of the satisfaction when he realizes–”

“No.”

“Fine, but if we ever naturally find ourselves in that situation, I’m totally recording it on my phone,” Lily promised and Jess held her hand up in front of you for a high five, which Lily happily gave her.

“...”

Not long after that, Nari came over, too. Surrounded by your best friends, you spent the rest of the evening together. Good-natured trolling and teasing was interspersed with food delivery and an impromptu living room dance party, which only ended when the last of you (Jess) finally had to flop onto the floor, lying on her back and staring up at the ceiling and trying to catch her breath while everyone else literally applauded her stamina.

By the time everyone went home, it was too late for Seungcheol and you to get together, but you did manage to sneak in a couple of texts throughout the evening – much to your friends’ amusement – and a bedtime phone call. His sleepy voice over the line was just as devastating last thing at night as it had been when you’d called him at that ungodly hour the day prior. Warm and husky, it was equal parts tempting and soothing, of all things.

“Don’t use your sex voice on me,” you demanded at some point, lips pursed into a pout at his chuckle in reply.

“My sex voice? This is my normal voice.” He didn’t even try to hide the humor in his tone. “You sure you don’t just have a voice kink, princess?”

The warmth blooming in your cheeks – and between your legs, goddamn it – spoke volumes, but at least he could neither see nor feel either of those things. “I do not – I don’t have a voice kink!”

“Mm,” he hummed lowly, and when he spoke again it was an octave lower, for fuck’s sake. “I kinda think you do. Kinda think you also have a kink for being talked through touching yourself and how pretty you sound when you get all breathless and whimpery for me.”

As if to prove his point, you gasped and had to fight the urge to squirm. “That is cheating, sir. You can’t use things you learned as S.Coups against me.”

Seungcheol’s laugh was rough. “Says the woman who just called me ‘sir.’”

Pressing your lips together, biting at the lower, heat pooled in your abdomen. “Oh? Is that what does it for you?” you asked. It was meant to be a taunt and probably could have been, if not for the way air ate up the words, leaving them softer, breathy.

“You do it for me, highness.”

His easy confession had your heart squeezing in your chest. “Cheol.”

“Yeah?”

“You do it for me, too. Even if you’re still a pain in the ass.”

You could hear his smile on the other end of the line. “I do it for you in part because I’m a pain in the ass.”

“Seungcheol.”

“Yes, dear?”

“Are you going to talk me through touching myself or continue trying to drive me up the wall?”

“Fuck,” he hissed, just barely audible enough for your ears. “That’s what you want – for me to get you off like this?”

God, you wanted so many things. More than anything, you wanted him to be there with you right then, wrapped around you, low whispers in your ear while he touched and didn’t just tell you how to. Wanted to fall asleep in his arms again. Whipped. You were so whipped. Glancing at the clock, you let out a soft whine when you saw how late it was.

Phone sex, it was. Good thing your, uh, whatever Seungcheol was to you, was an expert.

“Yeah,” you admitted.

“Say please,” he purred and you found yourself doing exactly that.

Later, lying in bed while your heart tried to slow itself to a normal rhythm, you forced yourself to ask, “Cheol, are you– are you still–”

A curious, encouraging hum came across the line. “Am I what, princess?”

Despite the fact that your heart was suddenly racing for more reasons that recent orgasms and a big part of you wanted to avoid the subject for fear of no good coming from it, you took a deep breath and made yourself ask the question that had been niggling at the back of your mind since you’d been in bed with him the first time. No, that wasn’t right. Since you’d been on that private stream and he’d called you out for being possessive.

“Are you still doing, um, streams?”

It was quiet on the other end of the line for several moments and every bit of you that had been relaxed was tense, on-edge. You just had to ask, didn’t you? Of course he was. It was his job! Well, one of them. He had a full-time, daytime job, but that didn’t mean – just because he was sleeping with you and said he had feelings for you, didn’t mean he had or was going to stop. Just because you had feelings for him didn’t mean he was going to rearrange his life.

The two of you were just…sleeping together, after all.

“No,” he finally said after clearing his throat. “I’m not.”

Oh.

“You’re not?”

He was quiet when he answered, but there was no hesitation in his tone. “I’m not. If I’m being honest, it hasn’t been as…fun, I guess? in a while. The stream with you being the exception, obviously. That, I enjoyed immensely.”

“I’d hope so, otherwise I’d have some questions about what just happened,” you said drolly.

A soft laugh came in reply. “I enjoyed this, too. I always enjoy you. And I’m not comfortable sharing myself the way streaming requires when I’m with you. Unless you wanna play pretend; in which case, I’m happy to bring out S.Coups and play the camboy for you. Just say the word.”

Your lips curled up at the corners and you tucked yourself more securely under the covers, slipped an arm under your pillow, as you let relief wash over you. “I’m pretty partial to Cheol, but S.Coups has his charms, so I’ll keep that in mind for someday, maybe.”

“Mm, good because I’m pretty partial to you, too. You sound sleepy. Gonna pass out on me?”

“Mhm.”

“Okay, princess. Sleep well, hm?”

“You, too, Cheol.”

—-------------------------------

The following week was busy. You stayed late at work every day as several projects were coming due and your boss figured the surprise project that the company was given at the last minute was perfect for you. (It was, but still.) Too tired to do anything once you got home except eat whatever junk you could find in your cabinets and fridge, shower, then crawl into your bed, your contact with Seungcheol was limited to texting and sporadic voice notes during the days, and brief, half-asleep conversations over the phone once you did said crawling into bed.

Despite the fact that you were exhausted, it was nice to hear his voice at the end of the day. His voice that was all full of concern for you and consternation at your boss, followed by reassurances that the week would be over soon and he would take care of you then. Actually, he tried to talk you into letting him come over to cook for you on Thursday. You agreed until you realized you were stuck at work until nine o’clock and wanted to cry with frustration but instead spent far too long drafting a text to cancel at the last minute, apologizing for bailing and promising to make it up to him. On top of being tired, you felt like a flake, which only made you feel worse.

When the delivery guy dropped by your workplace with dinner, courtesy of Seungcheol, you were pretty sure you were in love. With Cheol, not the delivery driver.

Obviously.

After leaving the office on Friday, you refused to even think about work for the next two days.

—--------------------------

You were early to the restaurant because you were just so ready to do something that wasn’t work or zombie around your apartment. Deciding to wait at the bar and get a drink rather than grab a table and sit there alone (because it was different, sitting at the bar and chatting with the bartender or munching on bar snacks versus sitting alone at a table – you didn’t make the rules; it just was), you found a free stool and slid up onto it.

Catching sight of you, the bartender made his way over to you and set a napkin down on the countertop in front of you. “What can I get for you?”

“Can you make a peach daiquiri?” you asked hopefully. The only time you’d ever had a peach daiquiri was that night in the club when Seungcheol ordered one for you, but you had only managed to take one sip. A sip that you’d barely tasted in the midst of your panic, of course, but better late than never.

“Yeah, of course,” he said with a nod. “Give me a sec.”

Someone slid onto the stool next to you, drawing your gaze from where it had been focused on the bartender making your drink. The man was undeniably handsome and smiled at you when your eyes met his. He was also vaguely familiar, but you couldn’t quite place his face. “Hi.”

“Hi,” you answered, lips twitching in an answering smile.

He gestured to the drink the bartender set down in front of you just then. “So, I know you just got your drink, but can I get the next one?”

“You again,” came a drawl from behind you right before you felt a chest press up against your back and strong arms you knew very well sliding around your waist, a chin dropping to rest on your shoulder. “I thought I told you last time that she’s spoken for.”

Your initial startle at finding yourself draped in Seungcheol, for all intents and purposes, faded into confusion and then realization as you looked at the stranger again. “Oh!” Tall, dark, and dreamy. “You’re the guy from that night.” The night Seungcheol had said you’d always be James’ girl and you’d suggested he ask his friend just why the two of you broke up.

Mister Tall, Dark, and Dreamy looked between you and the man wrapped around you. “You did, but I remember her saying she wasn’t. Figured I would shoot my shot again, but I guess she is now?” The last, he directed at you, eyebrows lifted in question.

“Uh, yeah. I am. I wasn’t then, but I am now.” You were babbling. Christ, this was somehow embarrassing and deeply satisfying. You squirmed, but Seungcheol only gave your waist a squeeze and shot the man a cocky smile.

The other man let out a soft laugh and held his arms up in front of him as he slid off the stool. He gestured at the bartender, motioning toward the other end of the bar, and received a nod. “Message received. I’ll leave you two to it then.”

“Oh my God,” you said once the mystery man walked away, turning your head as best you could to look at Seungcheol, exasperated and endeared. “You’re so – What are you doing?”

He let his hands fall away only to shift to your side and slide one of those arms around your waist, leaning his head in toward yours and locking his gaze on yours as he spoke. “Looking out for my girl, obviously.”

“Publicly claiming your girl, you mean?”

Seungcheol’s grin was lupine. “Same thing.”

“You guys are seriously so cute. Seriously. I’d be jealous if I weren’t so happy for you both.”

“It’s about time!”

Both you and Seungcheol looked toward the voices only to find Lily and Jeonghan standing there. Lily looked giddy and Jeonghan looked amused.

“No, but really. I think they’re gonna kick us out if you don’t give your girlfriend some personal space, Cheol,” Jeonghan said, sticking his arm out and slipping it between you and Seungcheol, who cursed and arched an eyebrow at his friend.

“If they kick me out for holding my girlfriend, then we’ll just have to go someplace else, won’t we? I’ve got months of PDA to make up for,” Seungcheol countered and you would kiss him if you weren’t in public and didn’t actually want to test the place’s PDA tolerance.

Jeonghan laughed and removed his arm, moving to take Lily’s hand instead. “Fine, fine. But can we get a table already? I’m starving.”

“So. Cute,” Lily cooed.

“Turnabout is fair play, best friend of mine,” you reminded her.

She pressed her lips together and made a motion as if to zip them, which earned a laugh from you and Seungcheol, and a kiss on the cheek from Jeonghan.

Seungcheol drew back, sliding his hand into yours, lacing your fingers together and looking at you expectantly as your friends headed toward an empty table. “C’mon, princess. I figure we’ve gotta stick around for like an hour, maybe two, then I can take you home and help you…relax. I know you’ve had a long week.”

And just like that you melted. Well, melted and the little spark of desire that always seemed to be burning in the background when it came to Seungcheol lit. “What are you gonna do if I let you take me home and then just demand cuddles and to go to sleep?”

His smile was soft, twin dimples at either side of his mouth. “Then I will give you cuddles and we’ll go to sleep.” He pulled your body into his with his hand in yours, voice a low rumble against your ear. “But I really don’t think that’s gonna happen.”

“No?” you breathed.

You could feel his grin as he pressed a kiss to the skin beneath your ear. “I mean, I think it’s gonna happen eventually. I’m just gonna have you naked and writhing, clinging to me, and begging me to come – begging for me to come inside you again – before the cuddling and sleeping.”

Jesus Christ.

“You’re a menace.”

“You love it.”

“God help me, I really do.”

Seungcheol drew back, hand cradling your chin, and sought out your eyes. His dark and warm and not even pretending to hide the affection there. “I love you, princess.”

All the air left you in a whoosh. “I…”

He gave you that dimpled smile again, squeezing your hand, and taking a step backwards, only pausing because your grip on him was tight and you stopped him from moving further. Attentive, curious gaze searched your face as he let himself be held back and waited for you.

“I love you, too. I just – I wanted to say that. Back. I wanted you to know.”

You watched his chest rise sharply and the next thing you knew, you were back in his arms, his lips brushing against your temple. Vaguely, you heard your friends cheering from across the room, but your focus – every real bit of awareness you had was on the man holding you. “You realize this means you really are my girl from here on out, right? Because you just said you love me and I’m keeping you.”

Heart fluttering, you let your arms go around his torso and rested your palms against his shoulder blades. “I mean, I did sort of figure that when you chased away the random guy earlier. And it really started to get clear when called me your girlfriend earlier,” you teased and he chuckled.

“Keep it up, brat. See what happens when we get home.”

“Is that supposed to encourage me or discourage me?”

“Princess.”

“Yes, boyfriend?”

“You think calling me your boyfriend is going to get you out of trouble?”

“Yeah?”

“...Goddamn it. You’re right,” he grumbled, but you could see the effort it cost him not to smile. You saw the moment he gave up and let the urge overtake him. Let yourself take it in and receive the love written in his gaze as he let out a soft laugh. “So fucking soft for you, I swear.”

He was, but you were just as soft for him. You pressed a kiss to his cheekbone and turned, walking towards the table your friends sat at, his hand held tightly in yours. As he pulled out your chair and took a seat in the chair next to you, his arm over the back of yours, you looked at him, looked at your friends, and for a moment you were thunderstruck. There was no way you could have predicted this – predicted the two of you – but it felt right. So right.

Seungcheol calling your name brought you out of your head and you turned your attention to him. “Hm?”

“You okay?”

“Never been better,” you answered and it was the honest truth.

2K notes · View notes

dobomiyeon · 1 year

Text

ʚ stop kissing me, please! ɞ

ʚ pairing: k. mingyu x fem!reader

ʚ genre: fluff + smut

ʚ warnings: PROOFREAD!!! established relationship, morning/sleepy sex, unprotected sex (wrap ur willy pls!!!!), petnames: baby/princess, low caps.

ʚ nsfw under the cut, minors dni!!! ɞ

sliding on a pair of white socks, you glided towards the door and opened it, revealing a focused mingyu chopping a pair of vegetables.

“gyu, what’re you doing up this early?”

ears perking to the sound of your raspy voice, he looked up at your hunched figure.

“more importantly, what’re you doing up this early? did i wake you up?” he questioned, face softening at your eyebags.

you weakly moved your head from side to side, spreading your arms open motioning for a hug, he immediately set down his knife and gloves to run into your embrace.

mingyu picked you up by the lower side of your thighs, burying his face into your neck.

“my baby sounds and looks so pretty in the mornings, even without getting ready.”

letting one hand come up to his shoulder to playfully slap him, your face heated up with embarrassment.

“seriously, gyu, your so corny.”

what seemed like a few soft kisses on your neck quickly turned into needy and sloppy kisses. in response, you shifted uncomfortably in his embrace, you took a handful of his hair softly tugging at it.

“don’t want this? i’ll stop right now if you’d like me to.”

“nono, keep going just—let’s move somewhere more comfy, please?” you requested.

nodding, fixing his grip on your thighs, he carried you back to your shared bed, laying you down below him. he moved some hair to the side of your face, admiring your entire face.

even more kisses were pressed on your skin, now starting from the top of your forehead to the bottom of your chin.

“stop teasing me, pretty please.”

was it the way you moaned the sentence out? no, it’d probably been the way your voice sounded. oh how he loved your raspy, morning voice. and of course, he could never say no to his ‘pretty girl’.

mingyu quickly discarded of his white t-shirt, throwing it aside. while he did so, you wasted no time in messing with his sweatpants’ drawstrings; untying them- pulling his sweatpants all the way down.

“you think you want to use lube, babe? if you don’t, i’ll take my time, i know it hurts getting in when i don’t use it.”

you gave him a weak response that you wanted to go without it, not wanting to waste much of your energy on your voice. he was the one who got you so needy so fast, so he’d have to finish this “so fast”.

mingyu’s eyes lingered past your neck, eyeing your flimsy nightgown, he groaned. currently, you’d been making grabby hands at him, cheeks tinted pink, whining about how long he’d been taking and how he had to solve *his* problem.

giving in, he pushed up your gown and pushed aside your cotton panties. just looking at the sight made his mouth water. you rested your head on the pillow behind you, making sure not to hit the headboard.

digging in, he attached his mouth on your pussy whilst keeping his arms locked on your hips. the feeling made you subconsciously cover your mouth. annoyed by this— mingyu used his spare hand to force you to moan as loud as you’d want.

“don’t stop your moans, baby. i want to hear them, love hearing your raspy voice.”

the breathy moan that came out from your mouth went right from his ears straight to his dick. while sucking on your clit like a lollipop, he instinctively thrusted his hips into the mattress softly, trying to get some type of friction.

“gyu, i—.. i can’t..”

“don’t call me by my name, what’s that name you always call me in situations like these, hm?”

you tried your best to suppress the urge of calling him by that, but your mind was currently mush, clouded by all the pleasure being given to you.

“fuck, sir please! will be so good f-for just you!”

he hummed against your pussy, taking his arm off of your wrist that’d been against you covering your mouth, using 2 fingers to scissor you; preparing you for his dick—aaanddd more importantly getting you closer to the edge.

the way your eyes fluttered shut, and how your hands flew to his hair just to have something other than sheets to ground yourself on— he could tell you were close.

“sir, c-can i..”

he found it so cute when you asked permission to cum, mingyu was all about service. cooing at you, he gave a small kiss to your clit before you stained his pretty face.

you watched him bring his face up to take his fingers and clean off his face. the way his tongue licked all of your mess off was entrancing.

both falling into an awkward silence, broken by your giggles, both looking at each-other with such endearment— you motioned for him to come closer hugging his neck,

“want you inside of me, like this, close to me.” you whined.

a shade of dark pink clouded his face, his forehead kissing yours. you both watched each-others expressions as he aligned his dick with your entrance, sinking in.

your eyes shut tightly, “a-a little slower please.”

“i’ve got you baby.”

you moved your hands down to his back making sure you wouldn’t hurt mingyu’s neck on accident—scratching. both you and mingyu hissed, sharing the pain.

you finally got all of him inside of you, letting your fingernails stop. you panted, hugging his neck once again. looking up at him, you gave him a nod.

humming, he started rolling his hips at a delicious pace— you moaned breathily each thrust, head backing into the pillow beneath your head even more.

“oh my god mingyu.”

you felt his forehead get off of yours, just to then feel his hot tongue on your neck, massaging that one spot of yours you found all sensitive.

you let yourself go to the rhythm of his thrusts, yes, it was slow but he felt so deep. you guys felt as if you were one, and damn, it was turning you on.

and maybe you couldn’t tell drowsiness apart from how horny you were, but whatever it was, it was really getting to your head; you weren’t complaining though.

“fuck, m’ close princess— cum with me.” gyu whispered.

you held on tighter feeling his hot breath on your neck, words going to your core. you grinded your hips harder on his length, urging him to go faster.

he abided by your orders, just as you wanted to. he picked up his pace and used his thumb to rub your clit— was he always this good at multi-tasking?

from the way he licked the sweet spot on your neck, to rubbing your clit, and finally making sure his thrusts were hitter that spot so deep inside of you; it felt like you were floating inside of his grasp.

“i-i..”

“thats it let it all out baby.”

you held him even tighter than before, as if he’d float away if you didn’t do so— following his command, you cried out his name one last time before panting softly.

mingyu thrusted a few more times to help you ride out your orgasm and to let him reach his own. mingyu pulled out right before he made his own mess on your lower abdomen.

“c’mere.” you motioned.

he hugged you, pressing the now millionth kiss onto your lips. looking at him with a “really?” type face, you both burst out giggling admiring each-others features up close.

“let’s clean up later, wanna stay like this a lil more, gyu.”

“anything for you, princess.”

2K notes · View notes

dobomiyeon · 1 year

Text

𝐘𝐎𝐔, 𝟏𝟐𝟎𝟎𝟎 𝐒𝐄𝐂𝐎𝐍𝐃𝐒 𝐋𝐀𝐓𝐄𝐑

╰► ⌕ ᴘᴀʀᴛ ɪɪɪ, ᴏꜰ 𝐋𝐀𝐒𝐓 𝐌𝐎𝐌𝐄𝐍𝐓𝐒 𝐀𝐓 𝐇𝐎𝐓𝐄𝐋 𝐋𝐎𝐍𝐋𝐄𝐘

THIS WORK can still be read as a standalone if you dont wish to read the earlier acts,, it’ll feel more like catching up from a different stage of the night & so on; ofc if u do read the whole thing there be more clearance to some of the deeds

❥ ᴘᴀʀɪɴɢ: kim mingyu × f!reader

❥ ᴡᴏʀᴅ ᴄᴏᴜɴᴛ: 8.1k

❥ ɢᴇɴʀᴇ: smut / angsty; ᴡᴀʀɴɪɴɢꜱ: cursing; more arguments more switch dynamic; ok pining! degradation, prise; begkink size!kink smh; hand!job; f!ngering; unprotected; come!eating

the falling action, the speculating tension of what awaits you after those specific 12.000s have gone by; will you be in time to tie the loose ends, or?

A precisely wrapped gift of a time-deal, yours to spend any way you wish, no strings attached!

A twelve thousand second coupon to utilize the ‘needy weaknesses’, and do as you please.

Only a deal that comes with a ‘hidden cost’, and whether these seconds are rightfully invested, or you two end up not using them wisely, at the end of every ‘such’ night – they are simply just time, lost.

‘Rightfully’ and ‘Wisely’ are either way doomed in the context of your love. Whichever way you look at it, it all adds up to the same thing, a year gone to waste.

A short-lived-hotel-romance turn vapor, once one of your is first to press the door handle. Exactly the way for a moment you can see the mist and a few minutes later it’s gone. Just the way you can see the steam coming out of your coffee cup and the next second it disappears.

Simply put, a star-crossed deal.

Keep reading

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dobomiyeon · 1 year

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Love Me Out Loud

Pairing: Mingyu x fem!reader

Featuring: BooSeokSoon, the rest of team ENFJ, Kim Taehyung, Irene/Joohyun, Younghee

Synopsis: Kim Mingyu was your first, but to him, he was for sure you were his endgame. One year out from university, no one expected you to be dating the former campus heartthrob. It's why you had to hide it from everyone – Mingyu's 14.5K Instagram followers, at least. However, the return of your childhood best friend Kim Taehyung to Seoul for a wedding, forces Mingyu to rethink the secrecy of your whole relationship.

Genre: Fluff, angst, smidgen of crack, established relationship, secretbf!mingyu, medschoolgrad!reader, childhood bestfriend!taehyung, bestfriend!younghee, title inspired by Chungha's Love Me Out Loud

Warnings: Use of profanity, mentions of food and alcohol, inaccurate statistics about couples, lack of communication, insecurities, yes I chose cliché wedding songs . . . I think that's it?

WC: ~14.6K

A/N: Surprise 🤡 This fic was inspired by Mingyu's IG thirst photos. Also . . . high-key low-key me projecting my beef with him onto the couple in this au😳 I deeply apologize in advance if the main conflict of this fic is kind of stupid 😭 I needed to . . . uh, vent out some steam :') Only Kim Mingyu can make me feel this deeply to the point where I can smash out almost 15K words in three sittings, despite recently declaring Vernon (and maybe Jihoon) as my new biases . . . (I am not proud).

I was this close to throwing out this fic, but @onlymingyus encouraged me to follow through with it, so here's the final result. Thank you for believing in my hot recycling writing when I can't, fam 😭

Other things: Per usual, this is unedited, so I'm sorry for any grammar and error mistakes. One of these days when I'm feeling ambitious, I will come back and fix them. This will probably be my last update in a while! I have a couple big exams coming up I need to focus on. I also need to work on those 1K fic drabbles (and finishing my 2 other series 🤡)! I'll be lurking around simping over Vernon, but for the most part, I'll see you all on the other side in a few weeks, hopefully having passed my exams with flying colors and with some new stories and updates in hand.

Last, Kim Mingyu if you're reading this: Sir, please love me back in my dreams at the bare minimum!!! 😭💔 #iykyk

Permanent taglist: @sleeplessdawn @woozarts @wonuziex @rockwidthyou @bibinnieposts @jeonghanniehae95

“He looks like a . . . a fuck boy.”

Her brows knitted together with a frown set on her lips, Younghee sank down into the wooden chair and shot you a concerned look. Mirroring her disappointment, though for different reasons, you pouted and lowered the image of your new boyfriend closer to your chest. Silently, you clicked the side button of your phone that turned your screen black.

“He’s not,” you mumbled, your feelings hurt that your best friend would think you were that dumb to fall for a fuck boy.

Younghee let out a heavy sigh, running her hands through her long wavy black hair. She tucked a loose strand behind her ear and clasped her hands together, tilting her head curiously to the side. “What’s his name again?”

“Mingyu,” you replied promptly, “Kim Mingyu.”

“Kim Mingyu, Kim Mingyu, Kim Mingyu,” she repeated like a mantra, tapping her chin curiously. She narrowed her eyes, “The name sounds familiar.”

“He . . . went to the same uni as me,” you added – not that it mattered a whole lot. Younghee didn’t know many of your friends from university as she didn’t attend with you when the both of you graduated from high school. Rather, she went down her own unique path, opting to attend culinary school and now owning her own bakery. Busy with your post-graduation and adult lives, the two of you hardly found the time to sit down like this and catch up anymore – it’s almost been a year since you last saw Younghee and had a lot to update her on, your relationship Mingyu being the main new occurrence.

Sucking in a sharp breath, she asked, “I don’t remember you talking about him.”

“That’s because I didn’t,” you cleared your throat and took a long sip of your own drink before replying. “We didn’t run in the same circles – I mean, we did, he’s friends with Seokmin and Seungkwan, but I was hardly around when he was because ya know, medical school is busy . . . We met after I graduated.”

“Ah,” Younghee nodded slowly.

“He’s really nice – a sweetheart,” you volunteered. You rubbed your arm, suddenly feeling self-conscious. “Treats me well . . . and s-stuff.”

“I mean, I hope he does,” Younghee replied. She shrugged and turned back to her iced coffee, twirling the straw nonchalantly as the ice sloshed against one another inside.

You frowned and let out a heavy sigh. Your shoulders slumped forward. “What don’t you like about him already? You haven’t even met him yet”

“I never said I didn’t like him.”

“You said he was a fuck boy and keep giving me these weird looks.”

Younghee rolled her eyes. She hated how observant you were at the wrong times. “I said he looked like a fuck boy,” she pointed at your phone, “And I don’t know? It’s the air, the vibe, about him in his pictures? He’s definitely good-looking and you can tell he knows it – it’s like . . . arrogant?”

“He’s not–”

“And don’t lie to me, you can tell, the man has had bitches before you.”

“Okay and? We’re nearing our thirties, haven’t we all dated someone at this point?”

“You’ve never dated anyone before Mingyu and there’s a chance that there will be bitches after you.”

“I’m going to pretend you didn’t just say that,” you scoffed. As much as you loved your best friend, she was quick to judge and did not know how to filter herself at times. “Also, I did date before this! There was –”

Younghee pointed at you, her eyes wide and playful as she was trying to make a point. “Hoseok doesn’t count – you both were so shy, nothing came about it.”

Annoyed, you pressed your lips tightly, waiting for Younghee to finish rattling off nonsense about Mingyu. She wasn’t wrong per se, but she also wasn’t right. Mingyu was one of three major heartthrobs at your university, and unironically, they were best friends with one another: Kim Mingyu, Joshua Hong, and Lee Chan. Like those cheesy coming-of-age movies set in high school, people gawked at them in the hallways while they blessed everyone with their presence. Women flocked in their direction at parties, hoping at a shot to be their companion for the night, or perhaps even the next few months.

They each had their own charms, it just depended on what you preferred. Joshua Hong was the soft “indie” type. Seemingly lost in his own thoughts, daydreaming and sketching away in his notebook or strumming his guitar during his free time, the former Film major was quite the romantic. He was warm, kind, and soft-hearted. He was the owner of the gentle tinkling laugh that had women and men alike on their knees. Lee Chan was the youngest, but the boldest, of the trio. Effortlessly, funny and shameless, he was quite the flirt; yet known to be quite serious when it came to studies. And last: Kim Mingyu – arguably the most popular out of the three of them. He was a man written by a woman: Handsome, tall, well-built, respectful, and friendly. His photos on Instagram surmounted hundreds of likes within hours of posting them. Rumor had it that brands had offered him deals for modeling, but he always turned them down, opting to focus on pursuing his career in architecture instead. He was practically a university socialite, though that did come with a downside.

“Are you done?” you asked when you saw Younghee lean back into her chair and crossed her arms over her chest.

She nodded. “All I’m saying is you need to be careful with men who look like him. Looks can be deceiving.”

“I understand where you’re coming from and thank you for your concern,” you sucked in a sharp breath, “But . . . give him a chance? Mingyu’s . . . the first guy I’ve really liked in a long time.” You peered up at Younghee through your lashes, gnawing at your bottom lip. “I also thought he was going to be like that in university, up to when Seungkwan first introduced us: arrogant, only here for an ego boost and to play with me and go about his life, but . . . I don’t know, he has his flaws, but something’s . . . different about him. I promise.”

Younghee eyed you curiously, chewing the tip of her straw between her pearly white teeth. She turned your words in her head over and over like she was observing a stone in her hand. To her, Mingyu was an interesting shift from your type, which you had claimed your last crush, Hoseok, was. He wasn’t ugly, but from the first look, you knew that wasn't all there was to him like Mingyu. Hoseok was cheerful – he added color to your dull, gray life. His style was definitely unique to put it kindly, but he was supportive and got along well with all of your friends, especially Seokmin. She hadn’t met him yet, but one look at the picture of Mingyu wearing a black T-shirt reading, “ART THAT KILLS,” and coyly looking at the camera while putting on his headphones was enough to set off alarms in her head.

Younghee let out a sigh and dropped her empty plastic cup onto the table. Her lips contorted as her eyes wandered around the cafe before they landed on you. Reaching over to place her hand over your clasped ones, she leaned in, trying to read your face. Clearly, you were upset with her. She wasn’t sure if you were just so far up Mingyu’s ass that you didn’t see the red flags, or maybe, she was wrong and Mingyu really was a good guy, so you genuinely did like him.

“How long have the two of you been dating again?” Younghee asked.

“Seven months,” you mumbled.

She nodded. It was a sizable amount of time and you usually did have a good read on people to break things off before they got toxic – but maybe Kim Mingyu was a different breed. “And why is that I’m only finding out about him now? As your best friend, I kind of expect you to blow up my phone the day you made it official.”

“We agreed to keep it on the down-low,” you played with your thumbs, avoiding her eyes. Your mind flitted to the day, Mingyu and you talked about it on his old beat up blue couch. You still remembered the way his hands gingerly crept up to caress your own, his eyes silently pleading you to give him a chance. “A secret, if you will?”

“But I’m your best friend,” Younghee frowned. She felt her stomach churn, though she was trying to keep calm and let you explain your side of the story before she misunderstood.

“You are!” you exclaimed, covering her hands with yours now. You folded your thumbs over her fingers. “B-but for my sake, I chose to keep it a secret and I asked him to do the same – he was only doing what I asked him to do . . . Not many people knew about us. Only Seungkwan, Soonyoung, and Seokmin really did – Seungkwan set us up anyhow. Mingyu only told his friends recently too.”

“Okay,” Younghee replied slowly, “Why did you want to keep it a secret then?”

“I - I . . . Mingyu is, err, famous?” you offered.

“All of it in one go, girlie, don’t stutter,” Younghee encouraged you, “I won’t understand otherwise.”

You huffed out a breath, blowing off the fringes in your eyes. “This is so cliche,” you muttered, “But Mingyu . . . was the, uh, ‘campus heartthrob’ at our university. A lot of people liked him and, uh, you were right, he dated a lot of people before me. With those people, he . . . was very vocal about his relationship with them on Instagram – you know, like, posting cute couple pictures and stuff. You knew when they were together, and you knew when they weren’t anymore, or when he found someone else. As much as I like him, I don’t want everyone from university who follows him to be all up in my business – especially since we graduated already. I-I like my privacy and the small world I built in university. You know too, I hardly use my IG account.”

“Anything else?” Younghee offered, giving you the space to add any sparing details.

Biting your bottom lip, you replied, “I’m also scared about how my parents, especially my mom, will react when they find out I’m dating Mingyu . . . You know how they are.”

“You didn’t even tell your mom!?” Younghee exclaimed.

“I know I’m almost twenty-six and I shouldn’t be scared of my mother, but I am,” you wailed, burying your head in your arms. “I wanted to be sure before I introduced Mingyu to them, let alone, tell them about him because I’m scared they’ll give the same scolding you did – but worse.”

Younghee let out a chortle. She rounded the table to sit in the seat next to you, pulling your form into her arms. “You’re the cutest.”

“Stop finding joy in my misery,” you whined.

“But in all seriousness,” Younghee rubbed circles into your back, “I get it now. It makes sense why you kept it from me, especially when we run such opposite lives – you at the hospital and me at my bakery.”

You nodded, letting out a soft hum. “I’m sorry.”

“It’s okay. Though,” Younghee started teasingly. You glowered at her in annoyance, only eliciting a playful smile dancing on her lips, “You must really like him if you’re this cautious and scared.”

You shrank back against the window. “I’m just . . . not sure he feels the same. What if I do like him more than he likes me?”

“What makes you think that?”

“He’s Kim Mingyu, and I’m me – I didn’t see this coming.”

“Did he approach you, or did you approach him?”

You thought for a bit. “The former.”

“And what made you cave in?”

“ . . . Seungkwan?”

“You dated him for Seungkwan?”

You shook your head furiously. “No, no, no – I, um . . . Mingyu . . . after we met at Seokmin’s birthday party, we, uh, hung out a few times – as friends, friends only. But one day, he just casually asked me out on a date.”

“And how does Seungkwan play into all of this?” Younghee shook her head.

“At first I told him no because I thought he was joking, but he was persistent. The first time turned into a second, then a third, then a fourth. I thought he’d give up by the fifth time, but he asked again, and he probably told Seungkwan about it because shortly after, he gave me a good long talk,” you peered up Younghee, “You know, Seungkwan and his long talks.”

Tossing her hair over her shoulder, she chuckled and replied, “I know them the best.”

“But yeah,” you said in a small voice, perching your chin meekly on your hand.

“Well, I think he’d be blind not to like you as much as you like him,” Younghee reassured you.

You scoffed. “You’re obligated to say that as my best friend.”

“Y/N,” Younghee rolled her eyes, “You’re ambitious, pretty, humble, easygoing – you’re a fucking doctor for heaven’s sake. You’re everyone’s dream girl. Give yourself some credit.”

“I don’t know, Younghee,” you muttered.

Younghee wanted to shake you. As amazing as you were, your insecurity was one of the things that always seemed to get the best of you. It made her heartache that after all your achievements at such a young age, you still succumbed to self-doubt. If only you saw you through her eyes.

“When do I get to meet this ‘Kim Mingyu’?” Younghee asked, hoping to get your mind off of things.

“You . . . want to meet him?” you asked nervously instead.

She nodded. “I need to scope him out – make sure, he’s not here to play with my best friend’s heart.”

“Oh god – don’t. Soonyoung already gave him a hard enough time,” you chuckled at the memory of Soonyoung’s shocked expression when the two of you showed up hand-in-hand, the older man eventually pulling Mingyu aside and giving what Mingyu described as a “stern dad warning.” “But I do really want you to meet him . . . and he wants to meet you too.”

“Oh?”

“I talk a lot about you to him,” you nudged her in her ribs.

Younghee smiled and pulled you into another hug. “I’m happy for you, truly – though, I don’t trust Mingyu 100% yet. Come by the bakery after work or on the weekend sometime. We’re gonna play on my turf.”

“Younghee,” you warned, jokingly.

As you pulled away, your phone lit up, Mingyu’s caller ID, a photo of him with his dog Bobpul that he insisted on, displaying on the screen. Younghee wiggled her eyebrows at you playfully.

“Hello?” you answered, tucking a strand of hair behind your ear. Younghee moved to press her ear next to your phone, hoping to also catch a word or two from your boyfriend.

“What are you doing right now? Where are you?” Mingyu asked softly. His voice was rasp and low as if he just woke up from a nap.

“I’m meeting with Younghee, remember?” you peered up at your best friend. She smirked at you, lightly slapping your shoulder in excitement.

Mingyu let out a soft hum. You heard ‘poof’ in the background, assuming he rolled onto his back and collapsed on his bed. “How much longer are you gonna be there? Do you work today? I miss you – I want to see you.”

“I don’t work today, but I was hoping to spend more time with Younghee,” you side glanced at her, heat creeping across your cheeks. She was angrily holding up her two pointer fingers in a cross, suggesting you cancel your plans and run home to Mingyu. You rolled your eyes and shoved her away. “You know I only get to see her every few months and I saw you two days ago.”

“Mmm . . . it’s been too long though,” Mingyu groaned.

“I’ll see you tonight? After the movie?” you offered.

“I wanna see you now,” he chuckled.

“Gyu.”

“Y/N.”

“You are insufferable,” you chortled.

“But you’re stuck with me, so,” you could just picture him skittishly shrugging his shoulders.

“I’ll come over after, okay?”

“Okay,” he pouted jokingly, “Don’t be too long, love.”

“Bye, Gyu.”

“Bye.”

When you ended the call, you were met with Younghee’s shit-eating grin. A moment of silence passed before she erupted in a thunder of squeals and giggles.

“You two are so gross, but so cute!” she latched onto your arm. “‘Love’? What other pet names does he have for you? Babe? Honey? Sweetheart?”

“Stop,” you groaned, reaching for your purse. “Let’s just go to the movies.”

“Sure thing, love,” Younghee winked facetiously.

. . . .

As promised, you returned to Mingyu’s apartment that evening. Initially, you had only planned on staying a few hours before returning to your own home; however, like more times than not, he managed to convince you to stay the night. Hence, why you were lying in the crook of his arm on his bed, wearing one of his many black T-shirts that were much too large for you, the hem hitting you below mid-thigh.

Because Mingyu couldn’t sleep unless it was completely pitch black, there wasn't a trace of light. He had chosen a windowless bedroom, so not even the slightest sliver of moonlight would seep through. Your only sense of him was his large body half underneath you and the steady rise and fall of breathing.

“I told Younghee about us,” you muttered, tracing invisible circles into his abdomen.

Mingyu replied with a soft hum, followed by a sigh of relief. You felt him shifting underneath you, turning until you were laying on his bicep. You peered up at him through your lashes, the light from outside reflecting off his deep brown irises shining like stars. Mingyu’s hair was getting long as his messy dark bangs were starting to skim the tops of his lashes.

Mingyu reached over and brushed a few strands of loose hair from your face, letting his fingers linger a little longer along the curves of your cheeks. He gave you a small smile. “And?”

“Do you want me to be honest or do you want me to sugarcoat it a little?” you whispered.

His smile grew into a grin – he was already expecting to not be well-received by Younghee as you’ve told him she was rather blunt and critical. It took her almost half a year to warm up to Seokmin because she claimed he was too nice to be true. Especially in the case that he was your first boyfriend in a while, Mingyu knew he’d have to be more than ‘nice’ for Younghee to welcome him into your life.

Mingyu slipped his arms lower, wrapping them around your waist. He pulled you closer to him; you automatically placed both of your hands on his chest in efforts to create some distance between the two of you. It wasn’t that you didn’t like his physical affection, but rather, you weren’t used to someone being so clingy and touchy with you like this before.

“Lay it on me, love,” Mingyu whispered, tucking your head underneath his chin. “I have to hold you in case it hurts too much.”

“You can just hold me if you want to, Gyu,” you giggled.

“You’re my emotional support teddy bear,” he insisted.

You rolled your eyes. Nonetheless, you found yourself snaking your arms around his waist as well. “Younghee thought you looked like a fuck boy.”

“Hhmm,” Mingyu hummed. You could already picture the slight pout setting on his face. You knew he didn’t like it when people made this assumption about him based on his appearance.

“She’s . . . kind of nervous about you for me,” you continued to explain. It was as Mingyu expected, “But . . . I reassured her that you were good and she wants to meet you – but she thinks we’re gross.”

Mingyu let out a breathy chuckle. “Why?”

“When you called, she overheard you calling me ‘love’,” you squirmed a little in his hold.

“Do you think it’s gross?” Mingyu asked instead.

You pressed your lips into a tightline, answering his question with silence. Had you been an outsider watching the two of you, you might have said the same thing as Younghee: gross. However, admittedly, the pet names he gave you like, ‘love’ and ‘teddy bear’ made you feel warm and fuzzy inside – almost special if you will. There was a small voice inside of you that questioned if he did the same with his various past girlfriends.

You buried your face into his chest, the scent of floral laundry detergent filling your nostrils. He must’ve pulled this out of the dryer recently. You felt a rumble bubbling through his body as Mingyu let out another chuckle at your reaction. You had a feeling, he already knew what you were going to say. You’ve only been dating seven months, but he already read you so well.

“Kind of,” you finally replied, your voice muffled by the fabric of his shirt.

“I . . . don’t blame you,” he reassured you. He planted a brief kiss on the crown of your head, while rubbing your back. “We are kind of gross, but . . . I wouldn’t have it any other way. I like it when you call me ‘Gyu.’”

“It’s not that special of a nickname,” you pointed out.

“It is when you say it,” he immediately replied.

You were glad he couldn’t see you right now as your cheeks grew warm. Again, you found yourself burying your face deeper into his chest – as if it could take anymore of you. Simultaneously, you were silently cursing yourself for swooning so easily at each flirt he shot your way. You shouldn’t let him have this much of an effect on you. What happens when the honeymoon phase is over? Will he still be calling you ‘love’? Will you still feel this special for doing the bare minimum?

“What are you thinking about?” Mingyu asked, his voice soft.

“Nothing,” you lied.

“You’ve been quiet for a while now though.”

“I’m just getting tired,” you sighed. You pulled back from his chest, fluttering your eyes shut. “We should sleep.”

Because he didn’t want to argue, Mingyu chose to leave it at that. Perhaps another day he’ll ask what’s been keeping you so preoccupied. With a deep breath, Mingyu turned and tightened his grip on you, molding his body against yours. He could feel you moving in his arms, trying to find a position to get comfortable.

“Good night, Gyu,” you whispered when you had stopped turning.

“Good night, love,” Mingyu replied.

. . . .

You spun around at the familiar sound of his Leica camera shutter going off. Mingyu smiled softly, a fond look in his eyes as he admired the photo on the back screen. Placing the pumpkin spice candle back on the shelf, you shoved your hands in the pockets of your peacoat and walked over to him. Leaning over, you tiptoed peering over his shoulder looking on as well. The picture was of your profile as you read the label of the candle, your hair spilling over your shoulder. You knew Mingyu loved photography and you could appreciate it, but you couldn’t help but frown at the thought of him taking photos of you unaware. You just didn’t like taking pictures unless you had to; they made you uncomfortable, even if it was just Mingyu. Silently, you nudged his side, snapping him out of his musing. Mingyu lowered his camera and turned to face you, a nervous smile dancing on his lips.

“Gyu,” you said softly, “You know I don’t like pictures.”

“You looked nice though,” he mumbled.

You frowned at him.

“Candid pictures are the best,” he tried to convince you.

When you didn’t respond, only pressing your lips into a thin line and looking away, Mingyu finally relented with a soft sigh. He only wanted to love and appreciate you for who you were and that included taking pictures. He wanted to show you, you through his point-of-view; yet, you didn’t want it. Hooking the red camera strap around his neck, he reached over to place his hand on the crook of your elbow, tugging you closer towards him.

“Hey,” he said more firmly this time. You peered up at him silently through your lashes. “I’m sorry, okay? I don’t want to make you uncomfortable, but . . . I just like taking pictures of the people I love.”

Though you understood where he was coming from, it didn’t necessarily make you feel any better. Especially when the Instagram images of Mingyu with his previous girlfriends have flashed through your mind.

“You’re beautiful and I just want to remember small moments like this with you,” his hand trailed from your elbow, down your forearm, naturally fitting them into yours. He gave you a reassuring squeeze. “But if you really are against it, I’ll stop.”

Guilt flooded your system at his words – it was the same unsettling feeling you had when you had asked him to delete his first Instagram story of the two of you. It was a photo taken by Seungkwan, Mingyu’s arm wrapped loosely over your shoulder while your head was tucked away in the nape of his neck with your arm resting on his chest – a closer look would reveal the bashful smile on your face.

“Why?” Mingyu had asked innocently through the phone when you had anxiously called to ask him the favor.

“I just like my privacy,” you had simply told him. “I would also rather . . . uh, keep our relationship out of the . . . public eye right now,” you chuckled nervously, “On the down-low?”

It wasn’t a lie, but it also wasn’t the whole truth.

“Okay,” he replied. Little did you know, his heart sank a little. He was excited for your relationship when it started that late spring – as corny as it sounded, it was as if the cherry blossoms bloomed late that year, just for the two of you to come together. Nonetheless, Mingyu wanted to try and be understanding and accommodating – you weren’t quite like any of the other girls he dated previously. “For future references though . . . would you be comfortable if I post pictures of us? Photography,” Mingyu let out a breathy, but nervous chuckle, “It's kind of a hobby of mine and I like sharing the ones I took.”

You had taken a minute to reply, your mind running at 100 miles per hour, weighing the pros and cons of the situation. It was as if the course of your whole relationship flashed before your eyes, the end seemingly soo and grim.

“I-I . . . um, for now, let’s not,” you stuttered, “Maybe as we go along I’ll be more comfortable – just ask.”

But as time continued, the situation didn’t seem to get better. Similarly to today, you’d only get quiet when he took pictures of you, quickly reminding him not to post it on Instagram. Though he was curious if there was more of a reason beyond your privacy, Mingyu never dared to question you. Yet, it made you all the more guilty as time went on.

He loved photography and he loved you – Mingyu was an altruistic and rather pure soul, so you knew his words weren’t without substance. You didn’t want to cut him off from his passion either – refraining from sharing your relationship was already a huge sacrifice for him. Mingyu was extroverted, confident, and unafraid to show himself to the world, and this included his photos and you. For that, you loved him, but you wouldn’t want him to change that for you.

“It’s fine,” you finally muttered.

Mingyu frowned, unconvinced. “Is it though?”

You pulled away from his hold, though not letting go of his hand. “J-just . . . give me a heads up next time okay? Like ‘hey, babe, I brought my camera and I might snap a few pictures,’ okay?”

A mischievous smile replaced the sullen look on his face. He cocked a curious eyebrow in your direction. “Babe?”

You rolled your eyes. “That wasn’t the point I was trying to make.”

Mingyu nodded, acknowledging your point. “I know, I know – I’ll let you know next time.”

“Don’t post it on Instagram,” you added.

Mingyu felt his heart drop into his stomach, unsettled. It’s been seven months and most, if not all of your friends knew at this point. Were you still so worried? Nevertheless, he shooed away the turbulent feeling and nodded. “Promise.”

Looking down at your watch, you tugged Mingyu along towards the exit of the store. “C’mon, it’s almost time to meet Younghee.”

He sucked in a sharp breath, nervous.

You chuckled at him, “Just be you and she’ll love you.”

“I purposely wore this jacket instead of my leather one because I thought it wouldn’t make me look like a fuck boy,” he noted as you pushed open the door. A clang sounded through the store as you walked out, being met by the crisp air of autumn.

You paused in your steps, turning to him and grabbing either side of his collar. Pulling him towards you, you placed a chaste kiss on his lips. “Mr. Kim,” you teased, “I think we’re past the point in adulthood where you can refer yourself to a fuck boy.”

“Mr. Kim? Are we getting–”

You pecked his lips again to stop him before he could say anything suggestive. “We’re not in university anymore,” you explained, “Nor are we . . . the young adults we used to be.”

“Babe,” Mingyu interrupted, dragging on the word. “You don’t have to be in university to be called a ‘fuck boy’ – Joshua has a full-time job and I can assure you, he still is one!”

“But you’re Kim Mingyu and you aren’t one,” you tilted your head coyly at him.

He pouted, stomping his feet. “I’m just still . . . mildly offended that she would think that.”

“Admittedly, I showed her a very hot picture of you,” you joked, hoping to take the edge off of him. You patted away an invisible crease on his jacket.

Mingyu wrapped his arms around your waist. His eyes darkened as he leaned in, replying in a low voice, “Did you now?”

“I did,” you placed two fingers on his forehead and pushed him away, eliciting a whine from him. You chuckled and marched along. “Younghee doesn’t like people who run late, so we gotta hurry.”

For a moment, Mingyu watched you walk down the street, your hair swaying behind you. He was grinning stupidly and happily, and people were probably staring at him on the street, but he didn’t care. Serendipity was the best way to describe your presence in Mingyu’s life. To this day, he still wonders why he didn’t notice you then when the both of you still attended the same university, your friend groups even clashing through Seungkwan and Seokmin. Nevertheless, he was grateful to have you now. You had problems and differences, but he was hopeful the two of you could work them out. You had to – it’s what people who love each other do when things get hard.

When you were a good distance away and noticed the lack of Mingyu’s presence, you turned around, eyebrows furrowed at him still standing by the streetlamp where you left him. He was grinning, though you weren’t quite sure at what. Just as you were about to call his name, he came jogging in your direction. Immediately, he linked hands with you and marched forward towards Younghee’s bakery again. Though he paid no mind to you, you stared at his profile curiously. Sometimes, you wondered what went on in that pretty head of his.

. . . .

Mingyu liked to think that he was a confident man, always willing to stand up to a challenge. If there was anything he wanted to do, he could put his mind to it and see it through. Yet, sitting here in front of Younghee with coffees that had grown lukewarm and half-eaten cranberry scones on the table, his cheeks burned with shame, the feeling of failure settling in the bottom of his stomach like a rock sinking to the bottom of a lake. Even with your presence next to him, Mingyu couldn’t help but feel like he had just flunked one of his university exams – it was like that, but ten times worse because he knew that there were no revisions.

To put it plainly, rather than this being a pleasant meeting between new friends, Younghee had just grilled him and Mingyu stumbled through it like a rat lost in the sewers. Interestingly, however, the first meeting seemed to go differently for Younghee, your friend, leaning back in her chair and crossing her arms over her chest, with a sly, but pleased smile dancing on her lips.

An uncomfortable silence ensued. Underneath the table, you felt the warmth of Mingyu’s hand previously resting on your thigh leave your leg, nervously clasping his hands together in his own lap. His eyes fell from Younghee, choosing to take up interest in the creases of his hand instead. Mingyu’s short lashes fluttered quickly . . . almost as if he was blinking back tears? Concerned, you reached over and placed your hand over his, gently pushing them apart, so you could slot your hands in one of them. It didn’t require much effort as Mingyu knew, he needed your reassurance more than ever right now.

“Well, I should probably get back to work,” Younghee casually glanced down at her watch. “Gotta close the shop and prepare for tomorrow – lots to do.”

“Of course,” Mingyu replied softly. He looked up and smiled at your best friend, though it didn’t quite reach his eyes.

In contrast, Younghee grinned and leaned over the table. “It was an absolute pleasure to meet you, Mingyu,” her eyes flickered to you before they rested on his figure again. “I guess . . . you’re . . . much different from what I was expecting. I can kind of see why Y/N likes you now – I hope you stick around, get to know you better, make sure you’re the right fit for my best friend.”

“Younghee,” you warned.

She winked at you playfully. “I’m kidding, Mingyu – but really, it was a pleasure.” Younghee stood up from her chair and wiped her hands on her worn brown apron, stained with blotches of flour here and there. She extended a hand for Mingyu to take. “Come by again, okay?”

Mingyu was utterly confused at the invitation, but took her hand nonetheless. He moved towards the door of the bakery to grant you and your best friend a few moments of privacy to say your goodbyes. You were making your way over, adjusting your purse on your shoulder when Younghee suddenly called your name again. You responded with a soft hum.

“Joohyun’s getting married at the end of next month,” Younghee announced.

Mingyu watched the way you gripped onto the leather strap, your feet stuttering to a stop at the drop of the news – at least to him it was.

“Taehyung,” she continued, stretching out the last syllable. Mingyu noted the way your eyes visibly widen at the sound of the name, “He’s coming back for it, ya know?”

“Taehyung?” you choked. You spun around to look at your best friend, your mind reeled back to the lanky teenage boy with the round chocolate eyes and boxy grin, his hair neatly cut into a bowl cut. “As in Kim Taehyung?”

The space between Mingyu’s eyebrows dipped at the tone of your voice. It was definitely surprise, but was it the good kind? As in you were excited to hear again about this person? Or was it the bad kind, in which he left a dent in your heart? Either way, Mingyu did not have a good feeling about it.

Younghee nodded. “I’m surprised he hasn’t contacted you.”

“He hasn’t,” your voice trailed off, “We haven’t chatted for a while – lost touch the first or second year of university because we both got busy.”

“You’re going, right?” Younghee asked. You saw the way her eyes trailed to your boyfriend standing behind you, her lips pulled mischievously between her teeth. “With Mingyu?”

Right – Mingyu.

You didn’t have to turn around to know the way Mingyu’s lips were already set in a small pout, a crease between his sharp brows now softened in a dispirited expression. He thought he knew everything about you – good, straightforward communication and no secrets, like the two of you agreed. But why was this the first time he was hearing about Joohyun and her upcoming wedding when you seemed to have known for a while now?

Pressing your lips together, you nodded once stiffly. “Y-yeah, I think so.”

The hesitancy in your voice wrung Mingyu’s heart in a funny way.

“Good,” Younghee chuckled, hiding her smile behind the back of her hand. “Him in a suit would make for a dashing Instagram photo with lots of thirsty comments underneath.”

. . . .

“Who’s Joohyun?” Mingyu finally asked.

The two of you were on your way back to his car parked a few blocks away from Younghee’s bakery. The first half of the walk was oddly quiet, but you had chalked it up to Mingyu feeling disappointed about his conversation with Younghee. His usual charming ways did not quite work on the girl as it did with most people. You figured he needed his time and space to process the situation, only asking every now and then if he was okay and where he wanted to go for dinner. However, it seemed like it wasn’t Younghee on his mind, but rather someone else.

Mingyu reached into the pocket of your jacket, intertwining his fingers with yours that were tucked away inside. He eyed your side profile carefully, giving you a soft squeeze, waiting for you to return the gesture – it was your thing. He did this when he was nervous (which was not often) and needed reassurance, but too shy to tell you the truth out loud.

“She’s, uh . . . a friend,” you explained, squeezing his hand, “From high school.”

“How come you never mentioned her?” he pressed on.

“She wasn’t ever really relevant in our conversations,” you replied softly, “And we weren’t that close really.”

“But close enough to be invited to her wedding – in a month,” Mingyu huffed, “That you didn’t tell me about.”

“I-I was going to tell you,” you stuttered, “Ask you – eventually. I just wasn’t sure how.”

Mingyu let out a half-hearted chuckle. “How hard could it be? You know I would happily go anywhere with you.”

You shrugged, jostling your linked hands. “Our . . . agreement, you know?”

Even though it’s been months since the two of you decided to keep your relationship fairly hidden, it still didn’t fail to send a sting through his heart. He tried to be understanding and respectful of your values of privacy, but Mingyu liked to love loud. Holding your hands at events with friends, kisses out on the sidewalk, and cute Instagram photos of the most seemingly boring things were beautiful to him.

“How much longer do we have to keep it this way though?” Mingyu asked quietly.

“Mingyu,” you started slowly.

“I mean, at this point, all our friends know, right?” he pressed on, cutting you off. You could hear the exasperation in his voice overtaking his thought process. “Seungkwan, Seokmin, Soonyoung . . . I told Josh and Chan recently, and today we met Younghee.”

“I know,” you muttered, “B-but . . . there are just . . . so many other people who’ll be at the wedding.”

“I don’t care about those other people,” Mingyu deadpanned.

“And if I do?”

At this point, the both of you had stopped walking, your hands still linked. Mingyu searched your face for an answer – anything, yet you always managed to stay so stoic somehow. In contrast to him who wore his heart on his sleeves and his current emotions written all over his expression, your heart was hidden in the folds of your jacket while an expressionless mask shielded your true feelings. It made you seemingly strong, but sometimes, for him, Mingyu wished you would let your guard down and tell him what was bothering you.

“Is this about that Taeyong guy?” Mingyu asked abruptly.

Your eyebrows ticked, furrowing together momentarily before they returned to their places. A small frown on your face, you corrected him, “Taehyung.”

“Taehyung, Taeyong – tomato, to-mah-to.”

“Why are you asking about Taehyung?”

Mingyu shrugged, “I . . . dunno – you seemed pretty shocked to hear his name again and I was wondering why.”

“He’s just a friend who Younghee and I grew up with.”

“You seem to have a lot of friends I don’t know about,” Mingyu mumbled.

“He was a neighbor from down the street and we went to school together, but he ended up going to a different university. I really mean it when I say I haven’t seen him since the first year of university,” you quickly summarized, hoping to calm his nerves. “Any other questions?”

Mingyu twisted his lips, glancing at the crack along the curb. “Who was he to you?”

“A friend,” you answered promptly.

“Anything more?”

You shook your head fervently. “Why are you so curious?”

“I mean, Younghee specifically mentioned him. Seokmin and Seungkwan went to high school with you too, but she didn’t talk about them going,” he shrugged like a child upset on the playground, “Frankly, I’m curious – perhaps, mildly jealous.”

“Mingyu,” you frowned. You leaned in and wrapped your arms around his waist. “Taehyung was just a good friend of ours and neither of us have really heard from or seen him in a while. We see the other two fairly regularly. I’m surprised Tae’s even coming back for this.”

“Tae?” Mingyu repeated. You’ve only ever shortened his own name – he assumed he was special.

“Gyu,” you scowled at him for latching onto the miniscule change in detail.

Mingyu gnawed on the inside of his cheek. He should give you the benefit of the doubt, right? It’s been years and if there was something between you and this Taehyung, it would’ve happened already. If you said you were friends, then you must’ve been. He had no reason to question you otherwise.

Sucking in a sharp breath, Mingyu nodded and stepped towards you, bringing his hands up to your waist too.

“Okay,” he relented. He peered up at you, “But . . . the wedding?”

“What about the wedding?”

“Are we . . .” his voice trailed off, hoping you’d finish the thought for him.

But your answer was something he didn’t want to hear.

“I, uh . . . I do want to go with you,” you stuttered, “A-as my plus one.”

Visibly, Mingyu’s eyes lit up.

“But, I’m not sure yet,” you finished, your voice soft followed by a shaky breath. “Let me think about it, hm?”

The light in his eyes dimmed as quickly as they came. "What is there to think about?"

"It might not seem like a big deal to you, but it's a big deal to me – just . . . Be patient, okay?"

The corner of his lips sagging, he nodded slowly. “Okay."

Because that’s all he could do right now.

Be okay with it.

. . . .

Leaning against the pillar of the front office, Seungkwan cocked a curious eyebrow at you as you walked in, yielding a red lunchbox that you weren’t holding before you left. A wolfish grin grew as you neared with your eyes wide, silently warning him to keep any snark comments he had to himself. It didn’t deter Seungkwan from teasing you, however – it never did, especially when it came to Mingyu. Clicking his tongue against his teeth, he jovially joined your side.

“Mingyu came by again, didn’t he, love?” Seungkwan asked, using the nickname, he’s heard Mingyu call you more than a thousand times at this point.

“Shut up,” you grumbled.

“He packed you lunch too?” Seungkwan pointed to the red lunchbox in your hand. “You guys are so domestic.”

“He didn’t – I just forgot it at home,” you tried to explain as you got onto the metal crate.

“Oh so he spent the night?” Seungkwan pondered aloud, hiding a chuckle behind his hand.

Aggressively punching the button reading ‘9’, you turned to your supposed friend and glared at him. “Boo Seungkwan if you know what’s good for you–”

“I’m kidding, I’m kidding!” Seungkwan let out a boisterous laugh as the elevator door closed. He wrapped his arms around your shoulder. “I just think it’s very cute to see you so in love – I feel like . . . a proud mother, that’s all.”

You rolled your eyes, trying to shake him off your shoulder as the elevator door opened. If there was one bad thing about working at the same company as your friend, it’s the constant teasing when you were trying to be serious. The two of you weaved around the hallway towards the lunchroom, engaging in a light conversation about your weekends.

“Younghee finally met Mingyu,” you announced when the two of you settled down at a lunch table.

“Oh yeah?” Seungkwan stuffed the egg salad sandwich in his mouth. “How’d it go?”

“You know Younghee,” you shrugged, “She was all ‘no shits’ and serious – her talk was worse than Soonyoung’s! I’m pretty sure she scared Mingyu.”

Seungkwan chortled, taking a quick swig of his sparkling water to wash down his food. “Sounds like Younghee.”

“He did well though,” you nodded, poking your chopsticks at your vegetables. “I think she likes him enough for now.”

“Is she the last friend you have to tell?” Seungkwan asked, knowing well about your decision to keep yours and Mingyu’s relationship a secret from the beginning.

You paused, letting the chopsticks that were halfway to your lips drop with a clatter against the container. Your mind reeled back to the part you left out of meeting with Younghee: Joohyun’s wedding and Taehyung.

“Younghee brought up Joohyun’s wedding,” you started, your voice suddenly growing soft.

“And?” Seungkwan pressed on. He was confused with your change in demeanor.

“I . . . hadn’t told Mingyu about it yet.”

“Oh,” Seungkwan puckered his lips.

That was kind of bad.

“Then Younghee said Taehyung was coming back to town for it.”

“Oh,” Seungkwan reiterated, as if it couldn’t get any worse. He remembered Taehyung very well.

“Yeah,” you muttered.

Silence ensued while you picked at your food. Seungkwan watched you carefully, questions about your situation spinning in his mind as they always have since you asked him, Seokmin, and Soonyoung to stay quiet about your relationship with Mingyu. Initially, the request to keep it a secret made sense: it was a new relationship, let alone with Mingyu. However, the two of you got along so well, it didn’t make sense for you to be insecure now. You telling Younghee was the final step to ending all of this, no? From Seungkwan’s point-of-view, all your dilemmas and inner turmoil could be solved with one simple solution.

Holding his sandwich up to his lips, Seungkwan let out a sigh and shook his head. He looked up at you, his round eyes narrowed in confusion. “I don’t get it – why don’t you want people to find out about you and Mingyu still?”

You chewed slowly on your rice, taking your time to grind each piece and swallow it down with a sip of ice water. Seungkwan refrained from eating his sandwich until you replied.

Your eyes flickered hesitantly up at him before they fell on your tray again. Bringing your fist to your lips, you faked a cough, clearing your throat of your food.

“Y/N,” Seungkwan said sternly.

“I-it’s . . . too early, okay?” you stuttered.

“You’ve been together for almost a year now,” he deadpanned.

“It’s only been seven months,” you corrected him.

“And?”

“Mingyu’s best relationship lasted six months and we just barely made it past that,” you explained, the pace at which words were flying out of your mouth was astronomical. “I just want to make sure it’s not just a honeymoon phase and our relationship works out okay before it . . . gets out there. I’m comfortable with our close friends knowing, but not the whole world and Mingyu knows quite literally, the whole world.”

“What do you mean?” Seungkwan scrunched up his nose. “He’s friendly, but he doesn’t know the whole world – you're exaggerating.”

You sighed heavily, slumping over on the lunch table. “Unlike me, he’s quite friendly and makes friends anywhere he goes – it could be a rock and he’d somehow make relations with it! His Instagram following is also insane for a regular, non-celeb person.”

Seungkwan frowned and shook his head. “And that matters because . . .?”

You suddenly felt small and bare – vulnerable in a place where you shouldn’t be so. For some reason, however, the small voice at the back of your head told you that maybe you should share this insecurity with someone – and perhaps that someone could also be Seungkwan. “Mingyu’s been in a lot of relationships before me and, uh, I just . . . don’t want to be another girl who dated Kim Mingyu.”

Seungkwan’s eyes soften at your response.

“Is that why you don’t want to post a picture with him on Instagram?”

“Partly,” you shrugged, “Research also shows that 67 percent of couples who post about their relationship consistently are insecure and about 45 percent of those social media couples break up.” You sucked in a sharp breath and lifted your eyes to meet Seungkwan’s gaze. “And as you know, Mingyu’s past relationships kind of . . . followed that trend.”

“Aaaww, my dear, Y/N,” Seungkwan cooed. He ruffled your hair lovingly. “You really think Mingyu is unsure of your guys’ relationship, so he needs to upload pictures to reinforce it?”

You swatted Seungkwan’s hand away and brushed your strands back into place. “Shut up,” you grumbled.

Seungkwan smiled at you apologetically, stars shining in his eyes. “You really love him, don’t you?”

“Love is a stretch,” you stammered, “But like? Yeah, um, I like him . . . a lot.”

“Honestly, Y/N,” Seungkwan took a bite of his sandwich, “I don’t think you need to worry about anything. You’re different.”

“What do you mean, different?”

“Different from the previous girls,” he replied with his full. He took a swig of his iced Americano to wash the food down. “He’s different with you.”

“As in . . .?”

Seungkwan rolled his eyes, shooting you a look of disbelief – as if you grew antennas from your head. “I guess it’s not fair to assume you’d know, but I’ve been around when Mingyu dated other people and I’m currently around while he’s dating you, and honestly? I hope he keeps dating you. Of course, getting engaged and marriage aside, but I’ve never seen him so . . . calm and sure before? I’m not sure if ‘sure’ is the right word, but there’s a sense of stability and content – maturity, maybe? I haven’t seen it before. Sure the other girls might have been prettier or more fun, and he squealed like a thirteen year-old girl getting tickets to a BTS concert after amusement park dates, but with you? He looks like he’s actually having fun cleaning with you.”

You tuned out as Seungkwan continued to ramble on. It was indeed nice to get an outsider’s perspective rather than being stuck in your own head. Your friend was probably right, and you were being irrational. But that’s what fear did to you. Mingyu was understanding and you know if you brought it up eventually, he’d be more than willing to listen and reassure you to the world's end. There was a piece of you that still hesitated, nonetheless. What if he got mad at you?

“If you’re that worried about it, I’d just bring it up to Mingyu – he’s understanding and has a good head on his shoulders,” Seungkwan finally finished ou.

Stuffing your cheeks with rice, you gave Seungkwan a small nod. “I’ll think about it.”

. . . .

[unknown number]: hey

[unknown number]: this is tae :)

[unknown number]: kim taehyung from high school if you remember me haha

[unknown number]: younghee gave me your new number – i hope you don’t mind:)

[unknown number]: i just wanted to say hello and see if you were free to meet up?

A warm mug of coffee in his hand, Mingyu paused and stared blankly at your phone as each new message from Taehyung flashed across your screen. He frowned, tightening his abdomen as if it would do anything to control the nerves swirling in the pits of his stomach right now. Baseless thoughts flooding his mind, he failed to hear your padded footsteps behind him.

“Whatcha doing, Gyu?” you asked, reaching for your coat.

Swiftly, he turned around and smiled at you, though it didn't reach his eyes like most times.

“Ready?” Mingyu asked, avoiding your question.

He didn’t miss the way the space between your brows dipped slightly at him avoiding your question. You chose not to hound him on it, however.

“Yeah,” you untucked your hair from the collar and reached for your phone.

Holding his breath, Mingyu watched you carefully as you swiped at the screen. His heart sank a little when the little smile on your face formed at the new messages from an old friend. It was the smile he pictured you would have every time he sent you something.

Tugging on the arm of his jacket, Mingyu asked softly, “Who’s got smiling like that?”

You stopped in the middle of tapping away at a new message to Taehyung. You pulled your lips into a slight pout. “Like what?”

Mingyu waved his hand at your face before tucking them into his pockets. “Like that – the small one where you’re incredibly happy but you’re nervous to show it.”

You pressed your lips into a thin line, clicking off your phone and dropping it into your purse instead. You extended a hand for him to take. “Only you Mingyu.”

“You sure?”

“With my whole heart.”

“Then why didn’t you tell me it was Taehyung messaging you?” Mingyu muttered.

It was now your turn to frown. You didn’t have anything to hide from him nor was it the idea that he was snooping at your texts that made you upset. It was the fact that he was withholding his feelings from you. He was upset, jealous maybe, and he didn’t want to tell you.

“Gyu – are you still hung up on that?” you asked.

His gaze drifted to your hands. He rubbed small circles into the back of your skin, opting not to answer.

Gently, you pulled your hands from him and moved up to cup his cheeks instead, forcing him to look at you. He stared at you reluctantly with his puppy-like eyes.

“He’s just a friend, Gyu,” you reminded him, “No one’s taking me away from you.”

Mingyu gulped, scared. You’ve never been quite this certain with your words before. “Promise?”

“Promise.”

Wrapping his fingers around your own, he pulled them off his face, lacing them together in the space between you. He took note of the new coat of baby pink nail polish on your fingertips. Silently, he brushed the rough pads of his fingers over them – they were calloused from the barbells at the gym.

If you told him not to worry, there was no use in worrying, right?

You loved him and he loved you.

“Okay,” Mingyu finally relented.

“Let’s go get those groceries now, hm?” you hummed, tightening your fingers around his.

He nodded, his heart swelling once more. It was simple, grocery shopping, but it was in the ordinary things like this that were all the more precious because they were with you.

. . . .

“Kim Taehyung?” Seokmin sits back, wracking his brain for a mental image of the man.

Despite your reassurance, Mingyu was growing skeptical – more of Taehyung’s intention than he was of you. These past few days, you had been texting Taehyung non-stop and it was making Mingyu nervous. Your giggles were becoming more frequent and whenever Mingyu asked, it was always “back in high school Taehyung and I did this” or “Taehyung just said the funniest thing” when it wasn’t even that funny.

It was bearable until it wasn’t.

When you broke the news to him yesterday that you had agreed to meet up over coffee with Taehyung, it really pressed Mingyu into acceleration mode – nearly veering off a cliff.

Was Mingyu worried that you would intentionally cheat on him? Absolutely not – you loved him and it showed enough. You were just happy to see your childhood friend again. Admittedly, the two of you did have some pretty bizarre memories. The story of when Taehyung got Hot Tamales stuck in his nose in detention was quite entertaining – Mingyu choked on his salad at that one.

Was Mingyu worried that Taehyung might try to pull something funny and sweep you up from under his nose? Absolutely. You were smart, pretty, shy, but outgoing enough. You had a charm to you that was attractive and alluring. Not to mention, Mingyu has done his research (read: Instagram stalking) and Taehyung was undeniably gorgeous. His aesthetic was classy and sophisticated, sprinkled in with a touch of goofiness.

He definitely seemed to be “your type” – Taehyung was every girls’ dream type: a handsome gentleman with a touch of humor.

Hell, even Mingyu almost fell for the man.

Hence why today, Mingyu recruited the help of Seokmin to prevent you from falling for Taehyung and Taehyung from falling for you.

In an attempt to help jog Seokmin’s, Mingyu slipped his phone across the table, the screen displaying Taehyung’s Instagram page. Seokmin narrows his eyes curiously at his friend and reaches over for the phone, slowly scrolling through the pictures. As he gets further and further down, you could see the epiphany forming on Seokmin’s face.

“This Kim Taehyung!” Seokmin screeched. He snapped and pointed at Mingyu. The latter winced back in confusion at his friend’s sudden excitement. Hands clasped tightly over Mingyu’s phone, Seokmin leaned over the table as if he had a secret to share with Mingyu. “Taehyung from high school – yes, I remember him. He hung out with Y/N – and so Younghee by default too, a lot. I thought it was a little weird at first, but didn’t think much of it since they just seemed like good friends and he was a nice kid! He grew up on the outskirts of town, kinda grubby, to be honest, but very sweet and goofy – shy too.”

Seokmin wiggled his eyebrows as if he had the hottest tea to spill. “But,” he dragged out, “Senior year at someone’s graduation party, we found out he did actually have a crush on Y/N!”

Seokmin glances down at the pictures again, his eyes latching on a black and white photo of Taehyung staring mysteriously into the camera, a hand placed teasingly by his temple. His forearms were ripped. Seokmin shook his head in amazement, letting out a shocked groan. “Wah, I can’t believe he grew up to look like this! He’s gorgeous! Almost identical to V of BTS!”

Eyes downcast on the chipped mahogany table, Mingyu couldn’t help but frown at Seokmin’s reaction. If his friend was this excited and shocked to see Taehyung again, how would you react? Let alone, knowing the two of you were close friends too.

Seokmin finally took the hint when Mingyu remained quiet, calming down from his marvel. “I mean,” Seokmin coughed, thumbing through Taehyung’s profile some more, “He’s not that handsome – nothing compared to you Mingyu. You’re much better looking than him.” He stopped at a photo of Sesame plushies lined up on the couch. “I mean look at this – he likes stuffed animals like a kid!”

“Seok,” Mingyu deadpanned.

Seokmin shrugged back, mumbling a soft apology. He cleared his throat. “Okay, um, well, why are you asking if I know him?”

“Y/N’s meeting up with him tomorrow,” Mingyu explained.

“Aahhh,” Seokmin nodded slowly, starting to put the puzzle pieces together. “You’re nervous she’s gonna fall for him, aren’t you?”

Mingyu’s eyes flickered up timorously at him then downcast at his fingers.

“Eeeyy,” Seokmin dragged out, “Have a little faith in Y/N? She’s whipped for you even if she holds back a little.”

Mingyu frowned even at Seokmin.

“Okay, well maybe not a little – she holds back a lot, but she’s just nervous, okay?” Seokmin tried to reassure him.

“About what? I try my best to remind her she’s the only apple of my eye every day,” Mingyu pouted.

“I mean, I would be scared too if I was dating you,” Seokmin noted.

Mingyu furrowed his brows at Seokmin, wondering what his friend was getting at. However, that wasn’t the purpose of this meeting though. He had to get to the main point – it was easy to get caught up in tangents with Seokmin.

“I need you to help me tomorrow,” Mingyu started again.

“Huh?” Seokmin frowned.

“I’m gonna follow Y/N and Taehyung to their coffee thing tomorrow,” Mingyu told him, “Make sure he doesn’t pull any funny moves on her.”

“Mingyu, don’t you think that’s a little –”

Mingyu sighed heavily, cutting off his friend. “I . . . just want to make sure, Seok,” he fumbled with his thumbs. “I . . . really like Y/N – like really, really, really like her.”

“So you . . . love . . . her?”

“I . . . think so,” Mingyu pressed his lips into a thin line. “I just . . . don’t want her to slip out of my grasp.”

MIngyu looked like a kicked puppy, his eyes literally sagging at the thought of losing you. The sad expression on Mingyu’s face tugged at Seokmin’s heartstrings (granted, he cried very easily, but still). What's worse could happen if he just lets Mingyu follow you this once? Mingyu would only be reassured because Seokmin was sure you wouldn’t swoon so easily for Taehyung. If you had, you wouldn’t be here with Mingyu all these years later.

“Fine,” Seokmin sighed. “Whatchu got for disguises?”

. . . .

Detective trench coats, sunglasses, and a fake mustache.

Very original.

Seokmin rolled his eyes behind his Ray Ban sunglasses as Mingyu looked not very covertly over his menu, craning his neck to get a better look at you and Taehyung. A bell of laughter erupted from yours and Taehyung’s table. You threw your head back, covering your fabulous smile with the back of your hand.

“Can you hear what they’re talking about?” Mingyu whispered. “What’s so funny?”

“Mingyu,” Seokmin tugged at the fake mustache that his friend made him wear. Fuck, it was itchy. “You’re being ridiculous – why would we be able to hear what they’re saying? We’re literally on the opposite end of the cafe!”

“Am not!” Mingyu pouted. “You just need to listen better.”

“They’re literally just laughing like old friends,” Seokmin peeled the mustache off, wincing in pain as it tugged at his upper lip. “Mingyu, when you said we were following them, I thought you meant just standing from afar to make sure Tae doesn’t put his hand on her ass or something.”

Seokmin had expected his friend to protest in return, but Mingyu just remained silent. Through the sides of his shades, Seokmin could make out his hardened gaze was hardened on you and Taehyung. You were leaning over the table while Taehyung held up his cell phone aimed at the two of you. Seokmin presumed he was just taking a selfie. Your pink-glossed lips were spread wide in a happy grin, Taehyung holding up a playful peace sign. Why was Mingyu so upset?

“Uh, Mingyu?” Seokmin called.

Still no answer.

The moment Taehyung set down his phone, swiping at his screen, Mingyu whipped out his own device. He quickly logged into Instagram and typed in ‘thv’, pulling up Taehyung’s page.

“Mingyu –”

Aggressively, Mingyu pulled the toggle down to refresh the page. He did it again and again, until a new photo popped up in the upper left corner.

‘Reunited </3,’ the caption read under a photo of you and Taehyung he had taken just moments ago.

That was the last straw for Mingyu. Aggressively, he got up from his chair, nearly toppling it over. He ripped off his sunglasses and started walking – stomping, towards your table.

“Oh – oh my god, Mingyu! Stop!” Seokmin hissed as he lunged forward. Mingyu’s pace was a tad too fast for Seokmin, his fingers barely grazing against his coat. Before Seokmin knew it, they were both standing at the foot of your table and you were blankly staring up at Mingyu.

Taehyung peered up innocently, his face lighting up when he saw Seokmin.

“Seokmin!” Taehyung called cheerfully.

“H-hi!” Seokmin laughed nervously. He punched Mingyu’s shoulder, but his gaze was hard and set on you.

Taehyung looked back to you, then Mingyu, and back at you. He figured half as much as you and the tall, handsome man were acquainted with one another.

“Who’s this?” Taehyung asked curiously. He brushed his wavy bangs out his eyes, tucking hand into his pocket. A gentle smile on his face, his eyes scanned your boyfriend up and down, oblivious to the daggers Mingyu was sending his way.

“This is . . . Mingyu,” you explained hesitantly. It was as if time was moving through viscous honey, all eyes on you waiting for a further explanation beyond his name. Yet in this moment, all you could see was the man who’s name just slipped from your mouth. Usually, it tasted like cotton candy, but the shift from envy to desperation in his eyes as he anxiously gnawed at the inside of his cheek, waiting for you to tell them the truth, the taste of iron spreading across your tongue.

“He’s . . . a good friend,” you finished, your voice soft.

And that was the final nail in the coffin.

“Oh!” Taehyung chuckled innocently, already extending a hand towards Mingyu. “We’re the same. I’m Taehyung, Kim Taehyung – also a friend of Y/N’s. Nice to meet you!”

Silence, then a beat. Only the chatter of the other customers and the hissing of the espresso machine filled the air.

Mingyu pressed his lips into a thin line, clearing his throat and offered Taehyung a tight smile. “Pleasure to meet you, Taehyung.”

“Do you guys want to sit with us?” Taehyung offered, moving his Boston bag from the chair next to him, already making room for the two. “We were just about to order.”

Mingyu chortled half-heartedly and shook his head. “Thank you, but we should be on our way. Just . . . stopped to say ‘hello.’” Mingyu’s eyes flickered to you once more. “I’ll see you around, Y/N.”

And with that, Mingyu was gone.

. . . .

Coffee with Taehyung was anything, but fun after Mingyu and Seokmin’s departure. As much as you tried to stay engaged and keep up with his stories about traveling across Europe with his new job, it was clear your mind was elsewhere. You were on edge, eyes flitting to your watch every five minutes, your fingers tapping at your phone screen every chance you got to see if you got any messages from Mingyu (spoiler: you didn’t). It was Taehyung who cut the hangout short. He knew something wasn’t quite right between you and your so-called “friend,” but was a polite man and pretended not to notice. Taehyung fibbed and told you he had forgotten he had a meeting to attend instead.

After bidding him goodbye, you sped walk back to the safety of your apartment, already rehearsing in your mind what you would say to Mingyu when you call him later. You paid no mind to the fact that his car was parked in the guest lot. Nor did you bother to listen to Mrs. Lee who worked the front desk, when she tried to tell you she saw Mingyu coming in earlier, only offering her a brisk nod.

Hence, when you finally opened the door to your safe haven and let out a deep breath, pressing your body against the silver handle, you didn’t expect the familiar sound of Mingyu clearing his throat.

Your eyes shot up to find him sitting at your kitchen island, his elbows propped up on the table. The trench coat he was sporting earlier was draped over the chair next to him, suggesting he immediately came to your apartment after leaving the cafe. He had a key to your place after all.

Your breath hitched in your throat, unsure of what to say. You knew you had fucked up introducing him as a friend to Taehyung, but your thoughts were jumbled and you couldn’t dare face him now. All you had prepared earlier vanished from your brain.

You had to move (and think) fast as Mingyu was already making his way towards you, getting out of his chair. You pushed yourself off the door, preparing yourself to walk past him and drop your stuff off in room in an effort to give yourself a little more time to think. You should've known better that Mingyu would never let you make it that far though – not with this large of an elephant in the room.

Mingyu stood 187 centimeters tall and showed in his reach as his hand latched onto your bicep, stopping you abruptly in your tracks. His head turned robotically towards you, staring holes into your head. You could see in the side of your eye, the hurt in his face, silently begging you to say something.

Closing your eyes, you inhaled deeply before you spoke. "Can we not –"

"No," he said softly.

“Mingyu–”

“No,” Mingyu stated more firmly this time. His voice was loud and commanding, taking you by surprise. He’s never raised his voice at you before. You caught sight of his grip on the edges of the granite counter; he was holding so tight, his knuckles grew white.

“We’re not going to wait anymore – we’re talking about this now,” Mingyu continued. He took note of your stunned expression. “I’m tired and this is wearing on me, Y/N; I’m not sure how much of it I can take, but I also know I don’t want to lose you over something that could’ve been easily solved if we were just . . . honest about our feelings. I truly want this,” he waves his finger between the two of you, “to work . . . So please."

You gnawed the inside of your cheek, staring into his sharp dark brown eyes. You weren't used to them filled with so much sorrow and anger, and it pained you knowing you were the cause of it. As much as you were afraid of the dark path where this conversation may lead, you also knew it needed to be had if you wanted your relationship with Mingyu to progress – and you did.

With a heavy sigh, eyes downcasted on Mingyu’s hand on your arm, and nodded, silently agreeing to talk this through. His hand slipped down the expanse of your arm and laced his fingers with yours. His grip, but even in trying times, he held your hand ever so tenderly – because this was Kim Mingyu: unshakeable, yet soft hearted.

“Where do you want to start?” you asked quietly as the two of you settled onto your blue couch. He still hadn’t let go of your hand.

Swallowing harshly, you could see his Adam’s apple bob up and down. “Are you ashamed of me . . .? Of dating me?”

Your heart sank; though his words were minimal, the look in his eyes was deep. That was the thing about Mingyu. Perhaps he never cried in front of you (or anyone for that matter) and he never got outright angry, but one look in his eyes and they were a dead give away about the feelings swirling in his heart and the thoughts tumbling in his mind. Right now, his eyes told you heart was bruised and his mind was confused and set on one thing only: you.

“It’s not that Mingyu,” you muttered. You could feel your airway tightening, your esophagus growing stiff. It was getting hard to even swallow your own saliva.

“Then what is it?” Mingyu asked impatiently, “Why is it that you didn’t tell anyone outside of our mutual friends about our relationship? Why did you wait seven months to tell Younghee? Why did you introduce me as “a good friend” to Taehyung? Why can’t I post pictures of you, of us, on my Instagram, but Taehyung can?”

There was a long pause before you spoke again. It only grew harder for Mingyu every ticking second, he could feel an uncomfortable warmth spreading across his chest, threatening to boil over.

“I’m scared,” you replied in a small voice. If it hadn’t been dead silent, Mingyu probably wouldn’t have heard you.

“What?” Mingyu frowned. “What are you afraid of?”

“This,” you shook his hand, gesturing between the two of you. “Us. You and me. I’m . . . like, it’s too good to be true --you're too good to be true. And it's not even because you're handsome or whatever, Mingyu. It's your patience and consideration. It's your willingness to drop everything for the people you love. Do you remember that time Seungkwan got a flat tire? You had a big presentation at work, but rescheduled it and left early to go help him. You love so . . . so openly and loudly, not just through words.

"Sometimes I wonder if I even deserve you? I’m scared that it’s all a dream and tomorrow when I wake up, you’ll be gone. I’m afraid that I’ll grow too attached – fuck, I'm probably already in too deep, and when we don't work out, it'll hurt more than it needs to.”

Mingyu sucked in a sharp breath, nodding slowly as he digested your confession. So this is what Seokmin must’ve meant when he said he would be nervous too if he was you. Truthfully, it was hurtful to hear all of this, but not necessarily irrational. Mingyu too thought you were too good to be true – all his past relationships were rather vain, ending because he wasn’t who they had dreamed him to be. They found his love for architecture boring and when he couldn’t meet their expectations of extravagant dates, they pouted until Mingyu came running with flowers and chocolates. It got tiring - fast.

However, the difference was in that Mingyu trusted the process and let himself grow attached to you. Never mind the thoughts of no longer having you by his side while taking Sunday morning strolls or staying up until 4AM on Friday nights because you both thought it would be a good idea to try the Starbucks PSL at 8PM. He lived in the moment, and while this didn’t mean he didn’t think about a future with you, he wanted to relish in all phases of being in love with you. What hurt him was the fact that you harbored all these feelings to yourself, not trusting him to understand your emotions and insecurities.

"And is that why you want to keep us a secret? Because you're scared I'm going to leave you?" Mingyu finally asked.

"It’s not . . . Completely baseless," you muttered, looking away from him.

"Then tell me more."

"It’s stupid."

"I'm sure it's not." He raised his eyebrows at you, silently warning you not to be stubborn but also reassuring you that he just wanted you to be heard. He knew how stuck in your head you could get when you were overcritical of yourself.

"When . . . we were in university, I followed you on Instagram because you know,” you shrugged, picking through your mind to find the right words. “And I saw all the girls you dated and how . . . they didn't last.

“And one day, I was doing some light reading on Pledis Times and there was a study that talked about couples on social media . . . How they felt insecure and overcompensated with photos and videos of each other . . . And ultimately, most of them broke up. I, um . . . as much as I lo– I mean like you, I feared that the louder we were about ‘us,’ I’d just end up being ‘just another girl’ who dated Mingyu.”

It was nothing to be shameful of, yet, your cheeks burned. You couldn’t bear to look at him. As the silence between you grew louder, the urge to flee to the sanctuary of your room became overwhelming. You squirmed in your seat, inching away from him.

“Love,” Mingyu chortled. You felt him give your hands a squeeze in an attempt to stop you from moving.

“I told you it was stupid,” you muttered.

Rather than replying to you with words, however, Mingyu leaned over and captured your lips instead. He pressed against you with just enough pressure to reassure that you were his whole world, but not enough to scare you off. The kiss was firm, but tender – like Mingyu.

When he pulled away, an apology spilled from your lips as if on instinct. You weren’t sure why but you felt you owed him one. Mingyu shook his head slowly as rested his forehead against yours, while his fingers played with the loose ends of your hair.

“You don’t need to be sorry for your own feelings,” Mingyu said.

“I ended up hurting you though,” you whimpered.

Tucking your head under his chin, he hummed. “I think I’m more hurt by the fact that you didn’t tell me you were feeling this way. I just assumed you just wanted to keep things under wraps because we were a ‘new thing’ and wanted to take things slow.”

“I’m sorry,” you mumbled again.

“It must’ve been hard, hm?” Mingyu noted as he stroked the crown of your head. “I don’t know what else I need to do, but trust that I’m utterly heads over heels about you, alright? If you need me to tell you every day until you believe me, I will.” he tugged your hand out of your lap and placed it over his heart. There was a fast, but rhythmic thump.

”You feel that?” he asked.

You chortled softly. “Mingyu, I think I know where you’re going with this and it’s kind of corny.”

“I don’t care – you’re the only girl who has made me feel this way. The sight of you excites me, but it all feels . . . right. I’m scared, but I’m reassured things will fall into place in due time.”

You curled your fingers around his heart, letting his voice vibrate from his chest and flow into your ears melodically.

“As unreal as I seem to you, you are equally a dream I don’t want to fade either,” Mingyu continued to explain. “No one has ever sat patiently and listened to me ramble about cameras for two hours, let alone when you don’t know the first thing about photography. You match my ‘grandpa’ energy, willingly going on hikes with me on the trails hours away from the city to keep me company. Heck, you didn’t even blink twice when I accidentally sneezed on you or scratched my ass in front of you during the first month we dated.”

“Gyu,” you chuckled, burying your face into his chest.

He kissed the crown of your head. You could feel smiling into your hair. “Instagram, old girlfriends, old boyfriends–”

“Taehyung was a childhood friend,” you remarked.

“Old childhood friends,” Mingyu corrected himself, “And statistical data aside, it sounds like we’re both scared – and that’s not a bad thing, okay? It means we both care deeply about this relationship and neither of us would let it slip away so easily. That said, I also don’t want that fear getting in between us. I love you and I trust you – I could only hope you feel the same for me.”

And for the first time in your relationship, you decided you wanted to be strong for Mingyu – you needed to be. Too long you’ve locked away your feelings and let them run how you act around him with others. Rather than hiding away in his embrace and kissing him in secret, perhaps it was your time to love him just as loudly as he has loved you all this time.

Rising from his chest, you peered up at him through your lashes. There was nothing but adoration for you gracing his face, patiently waiting for you to say something.

“I do,” you replied hesitantly, “I . . . love you and I trust you too, and I’m sorry if I’ve struggled to show it, but I’ll be braver – I’ll change.”

“I don’t want you to change,” Mingyu cupped your cheeks, squishing them together. “I love you for you, and If you don’t want to be vocal about it, we don’t have to.”

You pushed his hands away and pecked his lips, shaking your head. “I want to – no more hiding. Let your 14.5K Instagram followers know that I’m utterly head over heels for you, Kim Mingyu.”

He grinned from ear to ear, his cheeks puffing up like marshmallows. He leaned over and gave you another breathtaking, yet simple kiss. How he was so relieved to be able to show you to the world.

“I have a lot of pictures to choose from, you know?”

. . . .

Joohyun’s wedding was a success – the blizzard outside and blustery wind seeping through the windows aside. Her and her new husband’s wedding photos were going to be absolutely stunning with all the winter white snow though, Mingyu had whispered to you during the ceremony. Bellies full of chicken and mashed potatoes, garters and bouquets tossed to all the single people, the reception was finally getting started. The DJ played bopped to the upbeat dance music, people starting to stream in and join the bride and groom.

Mingyu had an arm thrown over your shoulder, his hand resting on the head of your chair. Arms crossed, you leaned into his chest and watched your friends sing and dance happily to Tao Cruz's Dynamite. You had that smile on your face that Mingyu adored so much – the small one where you knew you were incredibly happy, but afraid to show too much of it.

Mingyu watched the crowd while pointing out funny occurrences on the dance floor. Soonyoung getting top excited and wrapping his tie around his forehead. Chan and Seungkwan were krumping in the corner as a small crowd formed around them. They both backed away when Seulgi pushed between them, however, a round of "oohs" and "ahhs" at her sharp and playful dance moves.

"Hello, Y/N," a familiar voice called from afar. Your attention turned to the source of the voice, your face spreading into a grin at the sight of Taehyung weaving through the tables. Though Mingyu knew he was ultimately no threat, he couldn’t help but stiffen at the presence of the other man.

Taehyung tipped his head in Mingyu’s direction. "Y'N's good friend," he teased, raising an eyebrow at you.

"Tae," you greeted him with an eye roll, "How's the party going for you?"

"Splendid," he tucked his hand into his pants pocket. "Got myself a nice cocktail earlier, caught up with Younghee, and even caught myself a garter," he pulled out the thing and waved it in the air.

"Gross," you chuckled.

He winked at you playfully and tilted his head at the dance floor. "What do you say, old friend? Wanna dance? Make it up to me when you went with Seokjin to prom instead?"

Instinctively, Mingyu found himself wrapping a hand around your waist, tugging you protectively into his side. Taehyung took note of this. "Your good friend is rather possessive."

You gave Mingyu a warning look, gently pushing his hand off your abdomen. You gave him a reassuring squeeze in an attempt to calm his nerves. "Mingyu’s actually my boyfriend."

Taehyung nodded. "I figured when he looked like he was ready to take me out at the cafe," he clicked his tongue against his teeth. He laughed at the sheepish look that crossed Mingyu's face. "It was worth a shot though," he shrugged, "In all seriousness, I'm happy for you, Y/N. He seems to like you a lot."

"Thank you," you turned and peered at him shyly through your lashes. Mingyu took it as a cue to press his lips against your temple.

"Alright, alright," Taehyung waved you off, shielding his eyes. "I'm gonna leave you lovebirds alone," he pointed at pretty blonde in a silk spring green gown sitting in the corner, her eyes wandering the venue. "I'm gonna go shoot my shot over there."

"Sure thing, buddy," you giggled.

He gave you both one last wave of goodbye. "The next wedding I see you at, it better be yours!"

"You caught the garter, Tae!" you shot back.

He gave you both one last boxy grin before he turned his back to you. Immediately, Mingyu let out a brisk 'tsk'.

"I like him, but he sure knows how to push my buttons," Mingyu huffed.

"It’s Tae," you giggled watching your friend approach the girl. She blushed when Tae extended a hand. "He teases a lot – it's his thing."

"Ladies and gentlemen, why don't we slow it down for the night?" The DJ tapped into his mic and announced, not giving Mingyu a chance to pout further. The gentle strumming of the guitar in Ed Sheeran’s ‘Photograph’ filled every corner of the room.

Mingyu brushed his lips gently against your cheek. His hot breath hit your skin as he asked, “If you won’t dance with Tae, will you dance with me?”

You rolled your eyes as if the answer wasn’t obvious. Your hand was already reaching for his own, leading him to the dance floor. Not letting go of him, you spun around to rest your free hand around his neck. The two of you settled into a gentle sway, Mingyu holding you by your waist and guiding you through the waltz. He grinned at you, his canines peeking out. Even under the dim lighting, his sharp eyes twinkled with fondness. Your face reflected his joy, the small smile spreading into something bigger.

You loved him and he loved you, there was no denying it.

“Bro,” Seungkwan sipped on his drink, nudging Seokmin. He pointed at you and Mingyu on the dance floor. Seokmin grinned widely, fishing for his phone in his pocket. He aimed his camera at the two of you, zooming in and adjusting the lighting to best capture all your features in the photo.

“They’re so in love, I’m kind of regretting introducing them to each other,” Seungkwan grimaced, swallowing down the bitter taste of his alcohol.

Seokmin slapped his arm. “Don’t say that – they look cute.”

Seungkwan leaned over and peeked at the photos on his friend’s phone. He nodded in approval at the one that captured your grin over Mingyu’s shoulder, your dress swirling at your calves very prettily.

“Post that one to the ‘gram,” Seungkwan chuckled.

“Ew, don’t say that,” Seokmin looked at him scornfully. “You sound like an old fart.”

“They’ll thank me later,” Seungkwan shrugged.

Even after your intervention, neither you nor Mingyu had posted anything onto the web to suggest that you were dating to your followers – not that it was a big deal to either of you at this point. If a good photo comes up, you would. It was just not on the forefront of your mind anymore and the both of you had been too busy to look through Mingyu’s gallery.

Seungkwan figured, if you guys wouldn’t be loud about your relationship, he would – it was the least he could do to support the Mingyu-Y/N agenda.

Nonetheless, it didn’t take an Instagram post to know you were mad about one another.

Without words, pictures, or even a peep of your voices, Kim Mingyu loved you loud enough and you loved him, equally as clear.

3K notes · View notes

dobomiyeon · 1 year

Text

— again and again ⟢

pairing: mingyu x reader

summary: your mother calls one day, asking if you’re bringing mingyu along for chuseok this year. in your panic, you end up giving her an affirmative—never mind the fact that you and mingyu have stopped seeing each other over half a year ago.

word count: 15.7k words

tags: exes, fake dating, mutual pining, idol!gyu, vet!reader, mild angst, fluff, smut

warnings: medical jargon, mentions of shots (for pets), mentions of snake bites, graphic sexual content (minors dni!!)

notes: i wrote this with bss' 7pm on loop for two straight days. nothing like the sweet taste of yearning <3 this also wasn't extensively proofread, so if you spot a few mistakes, i implore you to ignore them EJWHJHSDF

smut tags: vanilla, mingyu is super whipped, praise kink, service top gyu, dirty talk, nicknames (babygirl, sweetheart, sweet thing), overstimulation, multiple rounds, unprotected sex, creampie, heads up that the filth is at the very end tho

taglist: @cherrycheolie1995 - @ashkuuuu - @potatofrieswithketchup - @christinewithluv - @fancypoisonapple - @odetoyeonjun - @minnie-mouser22 - @etherealyoungk - @davoraciousreader - @mariondior - @hella-sirius - @coveyland - @marlow234 - @dobomiyeon - @belysusonrisa - @wonderfulshinee - @misssugarlips - @yourfavoritefreakyhan - @jeanjacketjesus - @just-here-to-read-01 - @hanihans - @venusrae - @taestrwbrry - @seoksoop - @dreamhannies - @renjunphile - @thvhannie - @kkooongie - @acgyu - @gae-uls - @pluviophile-xxx - @lenireads - @gaebestie - @ryusha-rose - @yutadae - @smileyjimvn

additional notes: you might want to check your visibility settings if you can't be tagged!

When you hear the telltale ring as the call connects to its intended recipient, you wonder why you even considered this idea in the first place. Not to mention, you’re getting a nasty case of phone call anxiety—one that you haven’t felt in god knows how long. Maybe it’s because of the identity of the person you’re calling that your nerves are all over the place.

In fact, you’re not sure if he’s even going to answer. There are a million and a half reasons why famous superstar Kim Mingyu won’t be able to pick up your call. He could be shooting for a music video or some fashion magazine. He could be in the middle of an interview. Or he could be out spending time with his members like tends to these days if his recent Instagram posts are anything to go by.

But you try anyway because your mother sounded so hopeful in the phone call you just hung up on five minutes ago (The rice wine he got for us last Christmas was splendid! He’ll bring some again for Chuseok, won’t he?), that you just didn’t have the heart to tell her the truth.

So, because you can’t take back the pretty white lies you uttered (Uh, of course he will. Gyu told me he missed everyone back at home, too. Especially Namja), you’re attempting to rope Mingyu into the charade even if the odds are against you.

The first call doesn’t go through. Neither does the second.

By your third try, you’re about to accept the fact that you’re going to have to make some due corrections to what you told your mother until you hear a groggy, “Hello?” on the other line.

You nearly fall off your seat at the throaty sound of Mingyu’s voice, but you’d rather not get weird looks from your receptionist, so you breathe in as deeply (and quietly) as you can before mustering a smile that he won’t even be able to see.

“Hey, Mingyu, it’s me,” you begin, a bit proud of how your voice didn’t even falter. “It’s been a while. Did I catch you at a bad time?”

He doesn’t respond for a while, and the prolonged silence makes you bite the inside of your cheek. Did the call fall through? Did he not hear what you said? But just when you’re about to repeat the words—

“Kind of,” Mingyu grumbles, and you try not to think about how sexy his morning voice sounds despite it being two in the afternoon. “We finished taping a variety show today and I figured I’d get some sleep. It’s midnight right now.”

Well that’s news to you.

“Oh. You’re not in Korea?”

“Nah. We’re in New York for some brand collaborations,” he says, and you hear some rustling in the background, followed by a yawn. “Though I doubt you’ve been keeping tabs on us.”

Okay, he doesn’t have to call you out like that.

Sure, you still catch posts from Mingyu, as well as the other twelve members of SEVENTEEN from time to time, but…after breaking up with him (on good terms, promise!), you thought it’s best if you didn’t see too much of them anymore. The block and mute buttons are your best friends, and while you didn’t use them on the members directly, gossip outlets were your regular targets.

So to speak, it’s been a peaceful six months since your break up with Mingyu.

Until now.

“Do you need something?” he asks, and you realize you didn’t respond to what he said last. “Whatever it is, I might not be able to help you out right away. We’re holed up here until next month.”

Well…that’s all the confirmation you needed.

“I see,” you sigh, trying not to sound too disappointed. “It’s— It’s okay.”

“So you do need something,” Mingyu points out, voice much clearer now than it was two minutes ago. Like he was more awake. “What is it?”

“Nothing you should worry about, Gyu,” you reassure before making a face, not realizing how easily the old nickname just slipped out. “I’m sorry for waking you up. You should go back to—”

The sound of him whining at the other end sends another rush of vertigo through your entire being. “Come on, I’m awake anyways right? You know how hard it is for me to fall asleep again.”

“If I’d known we weren’t in the same continent, I wouldn’t have called altogether,” you say before quaintly adding, “Shit. This counts as an international call, doesn’t it?”

There’s someone else in the room with him, you think—a quiet drawl of Mingyu-hyung, what time is it? You immediately recognize it as Seungkwan.

“Five minutes past midnight,” Mingyu says, and Seungkwan asks another question that you aren’t able to catch. “Who am I talking to? Bookkeu and Bobpul’s worst enemy.”

“Hey!” You scowl at him. “They never even whined when you and Seungkwan brought them to me for their shots!”

“Noona? Why are you calling this guy?” Seungkwan says a bit more loudly for you to hear. “Didn’t you dump him already? Good choice, by the way.”

This time it’s Mingyu’s turn to utter out a semi-offended, “Hey! Mind your own business, Seungkwan-ah.”

A few minutes of bickering with his dongsaeng later, you figure that Mingyu must’ve gone outside of their hotel room for some privacy. You can vaguely hear the sound of the wind blowing on his end before he heaves a deep sigh.

“Sorry about that.” He coughs awkwardly. “Anyway, if you’re not going to tell me about what you needed help with, how are you? Is the clinic doing well? Did your receptionist finally ditch her shitty boyfriend? Does that one guy with a husky still hit on you?”

You’re a little overwhelmed by the sudden influx of questions. Last you checked, you haven’t spoken to Mingyu since you greeted him on his birthday over a quick text message. But then again, your ex does have a talent for completely ignoring the time that exists in between interactions. Mingyu’s always been amicable for conversation, idol or not, boyfriend or not.

The mere thought that he hasn’t changed at all makes your heart ache in more ways than one.

You manage a quiet laugh. “I’m fine. The clinic’s fine. Chae has a new boyfriend now. He even helps us sort out new products on the shelves sometimes.”

At the mention of her name, your receptionist whips her head in your direction, one brow raised. You shake your head with a smile, gesturing that this is nothing she should even be remotely concerned about.

It’s just Mingyu after all.

“Okay, how about the guy who—”

“I turned him down when he asked me out for lunch last week.”

He whistles. “Ouch. And he’s been trying to get with you all this time.”

“I don’t usually date my clients, you know.”

“Yeah? I must be special then.”

Then comes the silence—so thick, you can cut through it with a knife.

“Uh, so I have a patient coming in an hour for a castration procedure,” you tell him a bit awkwardly. “Gotta prepare everything before the owner arrives.”

Mingyu sighs, and you can almost imagine him pouting. “You’re really not gonna tell me? I can still help you with whatever you need even when I’m out here. Unless it requires me to, you know, physically be there.”

You chuckle. “That’s the thing, Gyu. You can’t help me because I need you to actually be here.”

“Oh. Why? What for?”

You inhale sharp breath through your nose, closing your eyes as your face warms with embarrassment. Chae is definitely looking at you funnily from her station now, but you tell yourself not to give it too much thought.

“Mom asked if I was bringing you with me for Chuseok,” you admit. “I haven’t been home since Christmas, so… They kind of have no idea that we aren’t together anymore.”

Mingyu falls silent for a while yet again, and you realize that your anxiousness spikes whenever he isn’t talking like there’s no tomorrow. You wonder if he’s figured out what you’re trying to insinuate and is silently berating you for the lapse in judgment. But when Mingyu bursts out laughing on the other end, you suddenly don't mind being on the receiving end of his silence after all.

“No way,” he gasps between chuckles. “You were going to ask me to pretend to be your boyfriend over the holidays, weren’t you?! One of the fans wrote a story about the exact same thing once, except it’s between me and Wonwoo-hyung. It was in English though, but Vernon translated it pretty well.”

…Kim Mingyu admitting to reading fanfiction about himself and Wonwoo aside, you groan. “What am I supposed to do? My family loves you. I’d rather not dampen the Chuseok spirit by saying their favorite son has unfortunately made his unannounced exit half a year ago.”

“So you’re willing to pretend we’re still together just to keep them happy?”

“Well, yeah. It’s not like you’re an ex I should be ashamed of, Gyu.”

“Because I’m an idol that millions are vying for?”

You roll your eyes. “No. It’s because out of all my exes, you’re the only one that Namja actually likes. That’s pretty much the highest honor you can receive in your entire life.”

Your heart does a little flip when Mingyu barks out another light-hearted laugh. You tell yourself that you’re only reacting that way because…it has been a while since you talked to him. That, and Mingyu was always so smiley whenever you brought up your ten year-old retriever.

“Point taken,” he says. “I’d totally be down to help you out, but…yeah.”

“I knew you would be,” you reply, a sad smile ghosting your features. “That’s why I called.”

Silence settles over the line once again, but it’s, by no means, awkward. It’s more…sentimental. Like two old friends reminiscing about the good memories you shared.

Huh. You’re friends with Mingyu…

“Anyway, thanks for catching up with me, Mingyu,” you tell him before you end up saying something you’re not supposed to. “I’ll get going now. Good night.”

“Hey—”

You end the call before he can have the chance to make you falter.

Right behind her desk, Chae looks up at you with a knowing look. You flash her a smile that silently pleads for her not to say a word, but your receptionist has always been on the frank side.

“Something’s telling me you’re still hung up on him, boss.”

Sighing, you push yourself back to your feet, tugging on the lapels of your crisp white coat. That might be true to some degree, but it’s not like you can do anything about it.

You and Mingyu live in two completely different worlds. It’s something that you both came to terms with when you broke up. You just had to accept the fact that there’s simply no efficient way to work around his busy schedules and the appointments you need to attend to at the clinic.

It was the most unproblematic breakup you’ve ever had, and it’s with a famous idol. Who would’ve thought.

“Anyway,” you tell Chae before nudging the door to the operating room open. “Care to help me look for the anesthetics? I can’t remember where I put them away last time…”

Your receptionist is most definitely judging you inside your head, but despite how straightforward she can be, Chae still knows when to drop it. After a few clicks on the clinic’s desktop computer, she joins you on the hunt for that pesky bottle of anesthesia without asking any intrusive questions.

You make a mental note to treat her to some coffee tomorrow.

…

One of the reasons you seldomly paid your hometown a visit is the hassle that comes with the entire commute.

First you have to endure the long queue to get tickets before sitting through an eight-hour train ride to the seaside town of Haenam. Then comes navigating the local bus routes and schedules that always seem to change every time you go home.

When you made it out of the train station for this year’s Chuseok celebration, you didn’t even bother stressing yourself out with taking the bus back to your parents’ house—flagging down a taxi that definitely charged you a ridiculous rate in exchange for your utmost comfort instead.

You try not to think about how easier it was last Christmas, when you and Mingyu took turns driving one of his company’s cars on the way here—laughing and singing along to their songs on the road like nothing else mattered.

The scent of salt hangs heavy in the breeze when you unload your baggage from the trunk of the taxi. You had the foresight to make the trip before midnight, so you’re rewarded with the sight of the sunrise breaking through the nearby ocean—light glittering across the horizon like it means to say welcome home.

That’s what you should feel; like you’re at home. But the fact that you’re about to bring some disappointing news to the table regarding your breakup with Mingyu isn’t doing your peace of mind any favors.

You contemplated coming clean about it to your parents over a phone call, but it seemed too…impersonal with how attached they’ve gotten to your ex-boyfriend. Having a significant other that your family absolutely adores seems like a double-edged sword now that you think about it.

Once the cab hits the road again, you stand in front of your family home with a wistful sigh. It’s barely past seven in the morning, but your father must already be at the pier—sorting out today’s catch with the other fishermen in town.

Your mother loves taking walks in the market even if she doesn’t have anything in particular to purchase for the day. They’re early risers by default.

You can’t really say the same for your younger brother, Haneul, though. That one likes to sleep until noon.

When you ring the doorbell outside, you expect to hear the sound of excited barking from the other side of the gate. Namja was always the first to welcome you back whenever you’re in town, and just thinking about reuniting with him quells your anxiousness a little. But surprisingly, you don’t hear the telltale noise of your family dog’s excitement.

What you do hear is the sound of the screen door opening and slamming back shut—slippers being hastily slid on before the gate creaks open, revealing Haneul still sporting a bedhead as he rubs his eyes.

“You’re back,” he says a-matter-of-factly, like he isn’t even thrilled to see you, but you’re too surprised to see him up so early to quip about it. “Mom said you wouldn’t arrive until noon.”

“I wanted to make the most of my vacation leave,” you explain before looking around the garden inside. “Where’s Namja? Did Mom take him for a walk, too?”

Haneul hums before taking your luggage. “Hm. You can say that.”

“What does that even mean?”

As if on cue, your ears perk up at the sound of a familiar bark resounding from the end of the road. You quickly whip your head around to see your beloved golden retriever, Namja, wagging his tail excitedly at the sight of you before letting out another woof when you call out his name in glee.

However, the moment you realize who’s holding his leash, you suddenly feel like you got struck by lightning.

It’s Kim fucking Mingyu.

The sight of your ex-boyfriend just...standing there when he told you he was on the other side of the world sends a million thoughts surging through your head all at once.

You try not to think about how gorgeous he looks in the early morning light. Loose, long sleeved shirt that still emphasizes his muscular build despite. Hair having grown past his chin, curling slightly at the tips. And those stupid fucking canines that peek from his lips every time he grins.

The bastard is just standing there with zero disguises, as if his existence in this place, at this point in time, doesn't throw a wrench in all of your plans.

What the hell is he even doing here?!

“Oh, sweetie, you’re back!”

The sound of your mother’s voice is, thankfully, enough to snap you out of your impending mental breakdown. You were so taken aback by Mingyu’s presence that you didn’t notice her standing next to him, carrying the bag she usually brings for her early market visits as she flashes you a warm smile.

You can only stand there in shocked silence as your mother makes her way back to the house with your dog and ex-boyfriend in tow. Haneul was already inside, so you can’t exactly glare at him for not giving you a head’s up. But given that you still have no idea what on earth is going on, you’ll play along. For now.

“Are you surprised?” your mother giggles before patting Mingyu’s shoulder. “Mingyu here said he got off work for a while so he could celebrate with us!”

“Gee, I didn’t know about that,” you say dryly, unsure of what expression you should even wear. “I thought he was going to be in New York until next month.”

She laughs again. “Oh, he told me and your father to keep it a secret that he’s going back to Korea anyways. Seems like the surprise worked, didn’t it, Mingyu-ah?”

The culprit himself agrees with a minute nod before loosening his grip on Namja’s leash.

Your goldie immediately bounds towards you at the first sign of freedom, bracing his paws on your stomach as he attempts to lick your neck. It’s enough to distract you from the current predicament at hand, making you sigh in defeat as you sink to your knees and receive Namja’s slobbery affection in its entirety.

As you snuggle up to the family dog, Mingyu says, “What can I say? I missed Haenam a lot. The scenery, the family, Namja, but of course…”

You can only sit there in growing disbelief as Mingyu mirrors your movements. He crouches low enough so that your gazes are leveled before caressing your face with a tenderness that’s both familiar and foreign at the same time.

“I missed her the most.”

This is all a charade—that’s what you can confirm from the limited clues he’s dropping for you to pick up on. You can try to figure out why he’s suddenly here in your hometown—having arrived earlier than you, from the looks of it—a little later.

What’s important is that Mingyu, ever-so helpful, is actually playing along with the act you not-so-jokingly told him about on the phone.

You should be glad.

…But why do those words make your heart ache anyways?

“Of course you do,” you sigh before peeling yourself away from his touch, carrying Namja in your arms as if he doesn’t easily weigh thirty kilograms. “Come on. Let’s get back inside and help Mom prepare whatever she’s planning on cooking for lunch.”

Mingyu’s smile doesn’t falter despite your obvious dismissal of his affection. You remind yourself that he’s racked up a lot of acting gigs throughout his career, so it’s normal for him to be a natural at this.

But even if you know that this is all an act, you can’t help the way your heart lurches when Mingyu scoops Namja out of your grasp—the mere brush of his skin on yours more electrifying than it should be.

Namja whines in your ex’s arms, pawing at his chest before licking a long stripe across his cheek. Mingyu bursts out laughing as he coos at him, and your chest burns with an indescribable feeling.

A few moments later, your mother starts gushing about how excited she is to have both of you in the kitchen with her again as she leads you back inside the house. But all that rings in your head is a broken mantra of Mingyu saying I missed her the most.

As if repeating the words enough times will make them come true.

...

It’s one thing to know that Mingyu is in Haenam when he’s supposed to be overseas.

It’s another thing to see his usual overnight bag at the foot of your unmade bed, making you realize that he definitely came here much earlier than you anticipated.

Mingyu is currently in the kitchen, helping your mother out with lunch prep while she insists that you get some sleep first. Though the trains that led to the southern provinces were designed to be more comfortable than the ones contained in Seoul, nothing defeats the comfort of your old childhood bed.

Except when you’re made aware of the fact that your ex-boyfriend probably slept in it after making the trip all the way here.

The sheets even smell like him. A hint of that expensive fragrance he never seems to get tired of laces your pillows, and warmth rushes to your face when you realize you’re breathing it in a bit too much.

So what if Mingyu slept here, right? Your parents’ house doesn’t have a guest room, and this was probably the only room available.

Oh, and in your family’s eyes, Mingyu is still your boyfriend. There shouldn’t be anything weird about your boyfriend, who went out of his way to quote-unquote surprise you, sleeping in your room, on your bed, without your knowledge.

And there definitely isn’t an issue with having to sleep next to him on said bed come nightfall.

You totally got this.

An attempt to dissuade all these intrusive thoughts is made as you unload the contents of your luggage into your old cabinet. It works for a while because all the old clothes you still kept tickled some memories from way back in high school, when becoming a vet was nothing but a pipe dream you came up with after Namja became sick on the day of his first birthday.

In fact, as you look around further, you’re reminded of just how much time has passed since you moved out. The paint on the walls is starting to chip, and the floorboards creakier than you remember. Even the bed that was too spacious for your liking seems to shrink when you imagine Mingyu sprawled all over it with a blanket thrown over his large form.

But when you recall how you two somehow made the sleeping arrangement work last Christmas, you figure that there isn’t much to worry about.

Aside from the fact that you’re not together anymore. Fuck.

“Hey. Are you awake?”

You jolt at the sound of a soft voice coming from the door. Mingyu’s handsome face peeks from the crack before he opens it all the way, lips pressed together in a hesitant smile.

“Your mom asked if I could fetch your father at the pier in a few,” he says. “Do you want to come with me or do you want to get some sleep first?”

“Do I want to—” you cut yourself off, throwing your hands up in disbelief. “Mingyu, what I want is for you to explain what you’re doing here.”

He cranes his head. “You said you needed help.”

“Yeah, but I was going to be honest about the breakup anyway!” you whisper, not wanting to attract unwanted attention from outside. God knows this house has paper-thin walls. “But then you’re suddenly here, cozying up to my family like we haven’t been ignoring each other for months already.”

“Hey, I’d never ignore you.” Mingyu pouts. “I even picked up when you called me at ass o’clock in the morning, remember? If someone’s ignoring anyone here, it’s you, sweetheart.”

You hate how you bristle at that little pet name. Mingyu doesn’t seem to notice how you react to it, so you steel yourself instead—refusing to give into his unintentional charms. “That’s not the point and you know it, Mingyu. You can’t blame me for reacting this way when you told me that you wouldn’t be able to help me out.”

“But I’m here, right? I thought you’d be a little happier to see me, but I might have been overestimating myself.”

You are. You are happy to see him.

But having to live with the knowledge that Mingyu is right here, close enough for you to touch, yet can’t because your relationship has long expired?

You weren’t ready for that. You don’t think you’ll ever be.

“Look,” he starts with a tone that’s meant to placate you, “you were right about not wanting to ruin the holidays with the breakup. I’m just here to help you out since you’re obviously not ready to break the news to your family. It’s not a big deal.”

You scowl at him. “Mingyu, it is a big deal. You are literally an idol with a packed fucking schedule. You can’t just play house with me here when you’re expected to be somewhere else.”

Mingyu shakes his head. “Listen to me first, okay? We were all given the weekend off because of Chuseok on short notice. You don’t have to worry about you unknowingly stealing me away from work because there is no work. Besides, I told you I’d still be here when you need me, right?”

How can he say all that with a straight face? Like he still thinks of you as anything but an old flame that’s long been snuffed out?

The problem with Mingyu is that he’s too earnest for his own good. Always wearing a spectrum of emotions on his sleeve. Always so honest about what he feels about certain things. It’s so fucking difficult to stand your ground against someone who’s nothing but forthcoming about every aspect of his life.

But it’s not like you could ever resist him to begin with, right?

“Fine,” you grumble. “Give me a few minutes to prep. I don’t want to go out in the docks wearing this many layers anyways.”

You hate how your chest warms when Mingyu’s eyes light up at that. Fight back, maybe?!

He looks like he’s about to say something when an abrupt knock disturbs the quiet atmosphere of your room. From how annoyingly long it lasts, you single out your younger brother as the perpetrator.

“You better not be making your firstborn in there,” Haneul drawls from the other side.

Mingyu flashes you a mischievous smile before cupping the sides of his hands over his mouth. “We might be making our second born for all you know.”

You won’t survive this weekend. You really won’t.

…

“Remember when we used to eat ice cream by the Han River?”

You flash Mingyu a perplexed look as you climb out of the car he used to drive all the way to your hometown. It’s a mystery how his manager allows him to go places with their company car with no supervision, but it’s not like Mingyu has done anything in the past to warrant that kind of surveillance anyway.

Besides, if he’s spending the entirety of Chuseok with a bunch of bodyguards lingering around your house, you might actually force him to go back to Seoul altogether.

“Why’d you bring it up?” you ask. “I thought you didn’t like those kinds of dates ‘cause you had to amp up the disguises and everything.”

Mingyu pockets the keys to the car before leaning against the metal railings installed along the pier. Your father is yet to show up at your rendezvous point, so you figure it wouldn’t do anyone harm to entertain Mingyu’s attempt at small talk.

“Hmm. While I did prefer just cuddling in the dorms and at your place, it always felt a little different whenever we went out together,” he muses, the wind tossing his hair around slightly before turning to look at you. “How about you? Do you have any favorite date of ours in particular?”

You sigh, unsure why he’s even asking you all of this. Yet you indulge him anyway with, “I don’t think it classifies as a ‘date’, but I kinda liked it whenever you hung out with me in the clinic while I tended to some patients. Even if your presence there is an occupational hazard in itself.”

He snickers to himself, and you know damn well he still remembers the flock of fangirls that ran into him in the waiting room when Mingyu paid you a visit out of boredom. Thankfully, they were the respectful kind, and promised not to divulge information about Mingyu’s whereabouts whenever they catch him at your clinic.

“The dogs are always happy to see me,” he chuckles. “The cats, not so much. Oh, but remember when someone brought in their pet snake? I think that one had a crush on me.”

You do, in fact, remember the day Mingyu got bitten by a boa constrictor named Yujin. Her owner is one of your regulars, since other vets in the city don’t have reptiles under their area of expertise. Yujin hasn’t bitten anyone since she first came for a checkup, so you figure that Mingyu must have done something pretty stupid to provoke the aggression.

“You better be glad constrictor bites aren’t venomous,” you point out with an airy laugh. “Not even a true love’s kiss can cure a venomous snake bite.”

“It can cure a handful of other things though.”

You turn to glance at Mingyu with a miffed look at his attempt at smooth-talk. He’s always been this way, so it doesn’t particularly faze you. But it still feels surreal to be talking with him right next to the open sea in your hometown as you both wait for your father to arrive.

“I never really got to ask,” you murmur, eyes still trained on a flock of seagulls huddling together near the docks. “How are you? You’re not burning yourself out again, are you?”

You don’t see it, but Mingyu smiles to himself. “It’s in our job description to push ourselves past the limit, you know. But…honestly? It’s been pretty lonely.”

You make a face at that. “Lonely? You’re literally with twelve other guys, like, eighty percent of the time. How does it ever get lonely?”

Mingyu hums before leaning further over the railing. He looks up at the clear blue sky, breathing deeply with his eyes closed, and for a moment, you’re a bit taken aback by how breathtaking he looks under the spill of morning sunlight.

“You can still get lonely in the middle of all the noise,” he murmurs. “That’s why I was kind of glad I got to go back here for a while. I know I said I meant to help you out, but there might’ve been some selfish reasoning behind the choice, too.”

Your gaze softens at his words. Mingyu is one of the most intensely passionate members of their group, so it’s not hard to believe that he’s also one of those that ends up feeling this way. You remember having a similar conversation with him during a quiet night in your apartment, limbs tangled together under the sheets as he wonders if your lives would be different if he wasn’t an idol.

But of course, it’s your job to remind him that, even if it could become exhausting at times, he once dreamed of being where he is now.

“They probably miss you already,” you say. “Don’t you guys usually film content for Chuseok?”

“Yeah, but all of that’s prerecorded. They’re all with their families right now, too.”

“Really? What are you doing here then?” you tease.

Mingyu tilts his head to the side, lips curved into a lopsided smile that reminds you how it felt to catch feelings for him the first time.

“Who ever said you aren’t family?”

Unfair. He’s being so fucking unfair right now.

But you can’t even think about pushing him into the sea because your father has already made his entrance, waving at the two of you despite his hands being full of fishing paraphernalia.

He sulks about how it took you so long to go back home, and you had to explain that things have been extra hectic at your clinic, especially when you inevitably earned the reputation of being ‘SEVENTEEN Mingyu and Seungkwan’s trusted veterinarian’ despite neither of them having dropped by since the breakup.

You don’t tell them that last part though. The last thing you need is for Mingyu to have something to gloat about.

“It’s a miracle how those nasty paparazzi folks from Dispatch haven’t caught on yet,” your dad says before climbing into the backseat of Mingyu’s company car. “Unless you’re already in cahoots with them? Remember, Kim Mingyu, leave my daughter out of any celebrity gossip! She’s already built a good name for herself.”

A throaty laugh rumbles in Mingyu’s chest as he pulls out into the street. “You don’t have to worry about that, sir. Protecting her has always been my top priority.”

Your father nods, seemingly pleased with his response. “Damn straight.”

You don’t express any outward reaction to what Mingyu just told your dad, but you don’t resist when he reaches for your hand over the center console.

The moment you he squeezes your fingers, you squeeze back.

…

The rest of the day is packed with preparing lunch and dinner options for your other relatives in town. Having Mingyu on board is an undeniable asset, since the man knows his way around the kitchen even better than you do. It’s a little endearing to think that, even if it’s the first time he’s meeting your aunts and uncles and cousins, his personality makes him fit right in.

Turns out, one of your cousins’ daughters is a huge fan, and she couldn’t believe her eyes when she saw Kim Mingyu smoking fish in the backyard of your parents’ house. She made him promise to sign one of her photocards before they leave—a request that your ex is all too happy to oblige.

By dinnertime, most of the guests have already left, and it’s just you, Mingyu, and Haneul sharing the rice wine Mingyu brought for the occasion, with your parents having already retired for the night. You didn’t even tell him that your Mom wanted another taste of it, yet he delivered anyway.

“How are you guys doing it?” Haneul whines, a bit red in the face since he’s already had a few beers before your cousins all left. “When my ex-girlfriend moved to another city, it only took two weeks for us to break up. Long distance is the bane of everyone’s existence.”

“Everyone but ours,” Mingyu says before clinking his glass with yours. “You just have to communicate with each other constantly. If you’re honest about everything both of you are feeling, then it’ll be easier to work things out together.”

It’s so easy for him to say these kinds of things. As if your relationship didn’t go to ruin because of the long distance that always kept the two of you apart. You feel a bit bad for having Mingyu lie to your brother right in his face, but you tell yourself that you’re already here anyway.

You’ll just have to fake it until you make it.

“But what if the other party doesn’t want to talk about it?” Haneul sighs, tracing the rim of his own glass with his finger. “I wanted to make it work. I really did. But she… She didn’t even want to try anymore. Lost faith in us so quickly, I could hardly believe she even loved me.”

You know Haneul is just drunkenly rambling about his grievances with his ex. He called you about it a few years ago, long before you even met Mingyu, and you consoled him by saying that his ex-girlfriend never deserved his love in the first place.

But even if you know the circumstances that led to your split with Mingyu are completely different, you can’t help but find similarities between the stories.

You broke up with Mingyu on the first day of spring. When the snow was just beginning to thaw, and the wind started to bring in a warmer climate. They’d just gone back from tour, and you know you’re not the only one feeling the tightly-wound strings of your relationship beginning to fray at the seams.

“I’ve been thinking about it for a while now, but I don’t think we’re going to work, Gyu,” you murmured, not having the guts to meet his eyes. “I think it’s best if we just focused on our careers.”

You thought he’d throw a fit. Or at least ask you a bunch of questions. Did he do something wrong? Is he not enough? Yet Mingyu simply flashed you a sad smile before nodding right back at you.

“Okay,” he said with a kind of resignation that breaks your heart to hear. “Thank you for being with me all this time.”

In the present, Mingyu shifts beside you on the table—abruptly startling you out of that impromptu trip down memory lane.

“Then, you’ll just have to take it in stride, Haneul-ah,” he murmurs before throwing back the rest of his drink. Mingyu manages a tight-lipped smile that pains you to look at. “If you really love her, you’ll respect whatever choice she’s come to make in the end. Even if that choice doesn’t involve you anymore. Even if it hurts to see her walk away after everything you’ve built together.”

When Mingyu turns to look at you, you feel like there’s cotton sticking to the roof of your mouth.

“It’s a good thing I never have to experience that with your sister, though. She loves me too much to let me go.”

Haneul huffs from across the table before rising to his feet. “You two are so in love it’s actually disgusting. You know what, let’s just go to sleep.”

Half an hour later, you find yourself standing in the middle of your bedroom as Mingyu gets ready to sleep. He seems to be talking to someone on the phone inside your bathroom, but you purposely decide not to listen in. It was probably his manager or one of the other boys checking in on him.

You don’t wait for him to finish when you climb under the sheets, leaving enough space for him to occupy on the mattress, should he decide to share it with you tonight. There’s also an extra blanket folded on his side of the bed, since Mingyu’s a notorious blanket hogger, and you’d rather not wrestle that six-foot hunk of muscle for warmth.

Mingyu takes so long on that phone call of his that by the time he finishes, you’re already fast asleep, curled up while facing the wall so you wouldn’t have to face him. He chuckles, lingering just a few seconds longer by the doorframe of the bathroom. How long has it been since he’s last seen your face under the peaceful guise of slumber?

It’s been too long, and he isn’t about to pass up on the opportunity to commit the sight into memory.

…

Sometime in the middle of the night, you’re rudely roused by the sudden drop in temperature.

It’s only the beginning of autumn, but you noticed that it’s a lot colder than usual. Even if you already have a cozy blanket draped right on top of you. You sigh, shifting on the bed to get more comfortable before realizing that you’re not exactly alone.

Much like yourself, Mingyu is blinking out the drowsiness in his eyes as he turns to look at you with a question in his sleepy gaze. You shake your head in a wordless attempt to tell him not to worry.

“You’ve been tossing and turning for thirty minutes now,” he says, and hearing his throaty voice in person doesn’t even compare to that phone call you shared a week ago. “What’s wrong?”

You sigh. “It’s cold, and it isn’t even winter yet.”

He looks at you for a while, as if thinking of what to say before he reaches out for you and tugs you into his arms. Even if you’re practically half-asleep, the sudden action kickstarts your brain into motion, and you struggle against his grip all while whispering, “What the hell are you doing?!”

“You told me back then I’m as good as a furnace on cold days,” he mumbles as he tucks you into his chest—making you hyper aware of every ridge of his toned chest through his shirt. “If it bothers you so much, just think of it as a favor from one friend to another. How’s that sound?”

Friend. You know that’s all that Mingyu is to you these days, and all you are to him, but even in this drowsy haze you’re in, the word still feels like an insult. A word meant to scorn the time you’ve spent as lovers.

Just thinking about Mingyu as a friend leaves a bitter taste in your mouth, so instead of answering him, you cave and burrow yourself into his warmth—something that he seems pleased with, if the satisfied sound that rumbles in his chest is anything to go by.

He holds you in his arms the same way he did last Christmas, but there’s an unfamiliar sense of possessiveness sinking uncomfortably in the pit of your stomach. You know you shouldn’t think of what he’s doing as anything but a favor between friends. You’re perfectly aware that, as the person who officially ended things between the both of you, you have no right to yearn for something you already gave up on.

But when Mingyu tilts your head up so you can meet his sleepy eyes, you don’t even put up a fight when he presses his lips to yours.

It doesn’t seem like he planned on doing anything beyond that. In fact, you don’t think he meant to do it at all. Just a heat-of-the-moment decision that the two of you could just forget about come morning.

However, the moment he starts to pull away, you force a hand across the back of his head, crushing your lips back together as you hook one of your thighs across his hips. Mingyu groans into the kiss, large hands migrating to your waist as he reciprocates your newfound hunger like you knew he would. His touch leaves trails of fire tingling across your skin, and every time his canines graze your bottom lip, you quietly moan into his mouth.

This is stupid. You’re both being incredibly stupid. The walls are anything but soundproof, and your parents are sleeping just across the hall.

Yet you can’t bring yourself to care. Not when Mingyu is making your body remember what it feels like to have him all over you like this.

You missed him. His heat. His touch. His kiss. Everything. You missed him so much that it hurts. You missed him so much that when Mingyu’s fingers start to glide along the exposed flesh of your thighs, you detach your lips from his before pushing him away.

You missed Kim Mingyu with the intensity of a dying star collapsing in on itself, of black holes tearing through reality, but this isn’t how you should go about it.

“Let’s…” you whisper, not quite trusting your voice to carry out your message. “Let’s just sleep.”

Mingyu doesn’t argue. He rarely does. But neither do you when he tugs you back in the caging embrace of his warmth.

For the first time in weeks, you find yourself drifting off into undisturbed slumber.

…

The next morning, you’re set to go back to Seoul, and by some stroke of luck, so is Mingyu. Still, the two of you decide to stick around until lunch time—neither of you breathing a word about what just happened last night.

But while Mingyu starts to load both of your things into the trunk of his car, your mother asks you for a favor at the last minute.

“Can you bring Namja along with you back to the city?” she asks. “He’s been really listless before you and Mingyu arrived. Your father and I were starting to get worried, and figured you might have to do a check up first.”

You raise an eyebrow at her claim, not really noticing anything amiss about your retriever’s health, aside from the usual signs of age. He’s ten years old, turning eleven this year, so it isn’t such a mystery to see that Namja isn’t as hyperactive as he was as a puppy. But then again, your mother has spot-on intuition about all the strangest things, so you indulge her request in the end.

Besides, having a pet of your own to keep you company doesn’t sound so bad.

Fortunately, Mingyu is more than hospitable when you ask if you could bring Namja along for the ride—promising that he’s car-trained, and won’t make a mess as long as you pull over from time to time. In fact, your ex seems more elated with the idea of your goldie joining the road trip than you are.

“I can come visit Namja in Seoul whenever I want now, right?” he asks with a soft laugh, and you wanted to reply with, Yeah, if you aren’t always so far away, that is, but choose not to.

The two of you take shifts in driving as usual. Whoever isn’t behind the wheel is in charge of entertaining Namja in the backseat so he wouldn’t end up whining for attention the whole drive back. It’s a setup that you’re pretty okay with, since it minimizes any sort of window for you and Mingyu to have a conversation. God knows you’re not exactly ready to talk about…whatever happened last night.

So instead, you ask him about a bunch of trivial things so he doesn’t get any ideas.

“You sure your manager is okay with you returning the car while it reeks of Namja?” you laugh before switching lanes on the freeway. “He might not take the news that he sheds very lightly.”

Mingyu chuckles before scratching behind Namja’s ears. “I promised I’d have it cleaned before I returned it to the office building. Don’t worry about it.”

“Hm. Whatever you say.”

By your third stop-over, you decide to give Namja some food and water while Mingyu gets takeout for the both of you at a nearby fast food chain. You stretch out your limbs while your retriever happily laps from his water bowl, wondering how much longer it’s going to take before you reach Seoul.

Before you have to part ways with Mingyu again.

You’re startled out of your train of thought when you see Mingyu practically sprinting back to the car, his sunglasses nearly falling off the bridge of his nose. Namja glances up at him quizzically, and you have to stifle a laugh.

“Yeah, a bunch of fans spotted me in line, so we might have to get food back in the city instead,” he explains hurriedly as he helps tidy up Namja’s food and water bowls. “Let’s go. I’ll drive.”

After his meal, Namja is sated and sleepy—content with resting his head on your thigh as you watch the streetlights blur past the windows. Mingyu is a much faster driver than you are, so he’s able to cut the travel time shorter than it would have been had it been you behind the wheel. But the lack of anything to do has you quietly staring at Mingyu from the backseat while his eyes are glued to the road.

You can’t help but let your gaze linger on his strong arms, and the fact that you were tucked safely between them the night prior. But that’s your first mistake because now, you’re thinking about those desperate kisses you shared in the privacy of your room. Touching each other like you both feared the other would disappear if you didn’t pull them close enough.

You shake your head. No. This isn’t how friends should think about each other.

Whatever happened back in Haenam, you’re just going to have to leave it there.

It’s already past eight in the evening when Mingyu eases the car into your neighborhood, and you try not to think much of the fact that he still knows where you live.

“Guess that concludes our weekend getaway,” Mingyu says the moment he finishes helping you carry your stuff back inside your apartment. “Though it seems that someone’s getting pretty cozy really quickly.”

Namja is already familiarizing himself with his new home, wandering around the living room all while sniffing everything in his path. You stifle a soft laugh.

“Yeah. I guess it is,” you murmur before managing a kind smile. “Thanks for having my back, Mingyu. It…means a lot. Really, it does.”

He laughs softly, eyes trailing around the living room with a curiosity that isn’t so different from Namja’s. “You have your first boyfriend with you now. I can rest easy knowing you’re in good company.”

Your face flushes at the thought that Mingyu still remembers the reasoning behind Namja’s namesake. Namjachingu. When he was still a puppy, you said Namja was your first boyfriend, and that you didn’t need anyone else.

He lived up to his title for years, too—always acting hostile around past boyfriends that you did end up bringing to your parents’ house despite coming from a friendly breed. The only boyfriend that your first boyfriend seemed to approve of is the man standing right in front of you, just when you thought you would never see him again within the four corners of your house.

“You know,” Mingyu begins, hesitation crossing his face for a split second before he meets your eyes. “My family’s in Seoul for Chuseok, too. I told Minseo to bring Bobpul and Baptori, and you might want to schedule a little playdate between my kids and yours.”

You raise an eyebrow. “Where’s Aji?”

“Too old to travel around,” he chuckles. “But I’m sure the other two can keep Namja company just fine. Join us tomorrow for dinner. What do you say?”

You hesitate. This should’ve been where you drew the line. Mingyu has already helped you out of your initial predicament. You really shouldn’t create any more problems for yourself by joining his family for a late Chuseok dinner. In fact…

“What, you haven’t told your family that we split either?” you ask, half-jokingly, half-seriously.

“No, they know.” Mingyu shakes his head. “But they’ve always liked you too, so I see no harm in getting everyone to hang out in one place.”

You shoot him a pointed look. “You know this is just going to make things more complicated, right?”

When he flashes you that toothy grin, you already know that this is a losing battle.

“It does, but it’s still going to be fun,” he says. “So, are you coming?”

Sometimes, you wish you never met Mingyu at all. Maybe your life wouldn’t be so fucking difficult.

“Fine.”

…

The next day, you bring Namja to the clinic, and Chae is more than happy to see the brand new addition to the workforce. But while she’s giving your goldie more pets than he probably deserves, you ask if you have any clients coming this morning that called in advance.

“Oh, there’s this one guy who’s bringing in a maltese today,” she says, laughing a little when Namja whines at the fact that her attention is divided. “I think his name was… Seungkwan? Something like that. He has some records from last year, but he hasn’t been back since.”

Seungkwan’s coming today? Huh. Talk about coincidence.

You tell Chae about how Seungkwan and Mingyu belong to the same group, and your receptionist is adept enough to catch on to what you’re trying to say. She’s all too quick to suggest plans on how to mitigate the fans from flocking the entrance to the clinic, like that one time when Mingyu was too lax in disguising himself from anyone who could recognize him.

But when Seungkwan arrives at your door, you remember that he’s one of the members that doesn’t particularly like being crowded by people, even if they are his fans.

He’s dressed discreetly—dark shades, a beanie, and a black face mask—while carrying an adorable pet carrier that’s probably worth half your monthly salary. Seungkwan is so straight-to-the-point with carrying out his business with you, that it’s hard to believe you and him used to joke around like old friends a year ago.

But for some reason, when Chae excuses herself to answer a phone call, the façade he puts up falls apart in seconds.

“Noona, you have no idea how much I missed you!” he wails before throwing his arms around you. “Other vets just don’t cut it for Bookkeu! They’re always either too mean or too lax with her. You handled her just right today. Can’t believe Mingyu-hyung always calls you her worst enemy.”

You chuckle before patting his back, and Seungkwan pulls away with a pout on his face. “Hey, you guys are the ones who ghosted me after Mingyu and I broke up. You’re always welcome to come back to have your pets checked—non-showbiz girlfriend or not.”

“That hyung of mine is stupid,” Seungkwan scoffs as he scoops Bookkeu into his arms. “Well, you’re kind of the same way, but I can’t exactly call you stupid or you might take it out on Bookkeu—”

“I would do no such thing, Seungkwan-ah,” you complain.

“Okay, it’s just my personal opinion that maybe you two didn’t have to split up at all,” he huffs. “Mingyu-hyung has become more and more listless since you broke up with him. He might look like his usual self on camera, but when we’re not recording anything? He’s always so lost in thought! It gets on Coups-hyung’s nerves sometimes.”

Listless, huh…

Your mother said the exact same thing about Namja. Speaking of, your gaze drifts over to your goldie who’s staring outside the door to your clinic, like he’s waiting for Chae to come back and shower him with attention again.

Is Seungkwan insinuating that he and Mingyu aren’t so different?

“Maybe he’s just going through a blue period,” you suggest before writing up a prescription for the vitamins that Bookkeu will have to take for the next two weeks. “It’s been so long since we broke up. I doubt he’s acting that way because of me.”

Seungkwan breathes in deeply, like he’s just barely able to contain the urge to slap some sense into you. “Noona, listen to me. Kim Mingyu is catastrophically in love with you. When you called that night when we were sharing a hotel room in New York, it was the first time I saw him look so genuinely happy for reasons that aren’t related to our music. But that hyung of mine is too selfless for his own good.”

You startle a bit when he suddenly lifts Bookkeu closer to you and points her adorable face in your line of sight.

“He wants you back, but he’ll never admit it, especially when you made your choice clear all those months ago,” Seungkwan says before pushing his maltese even closer to you. “But now, something tells me that you’re still hung up on him, just as much as he’s hung up on you—if all the things he told me about your trip to Haenam are true, that is.”

Huh. That time he took so long in the bathroom… He must’ve been talking to Seungkwan.

“Okay, but why does it feel like you’re using Bookkeu to threaten me into doing something?” You laugh softly. “Seungkwan, our time is up. And it’s not something we can just take back whenever we feel like it.”

“Wh—! Don’t you think things are only that way because both of you are making it more complicated than it should be?” He sighs, exasperated. “Also, yes I am using Bookkeu to threaten you. Promise that you’ll at least talk to Mingyu-hyung about this? We can’t stand seeing him so out of it anymore. Come on, you can’t resist those cute puppy eyes, right?”

You sigh, half-considering pointing out that Bookkeu is, by no means, a puppy anymore, but then again, you still call Namja that despite being more than a decade old.

“Alright, alright,” you relent. “I’m meeting his family tonight for dinner anyways. Might as well clear the air.”

Seungkwan gasps, a comical expression rooting itself on his face. “See! You’re having dinner with his family, too?! If you’re not back together by the time we fly back to the U.S., I'm never talking to either of you ever again.”

Now, it’s your turn to pout. “Who are you going to go to for Bookkeu’s check-ups then?”

He opens his mouth, closes it, then opens it again before letting out a petulant huff. You can’t help the snicker that bubbles in your chest as Seungkwan tilts his chin up with indignance.

“Point taken,” he says before narrowing his eyes and pointing his index finger at you. “But I’m expecting Kim Mingyu to come back to the dorms later, happy and not heartbroken. Okay?”

You raise your hands before handing him your written prescription. “No promises.”

When Chae returns inside the clinic, you physically have to hold Namja down just so she can give Seungkwan a receipt for today’s visit. Your mother was right, he definitely was growing lonely back in Haenam. You haven’t seen him this excited in years.

Seungkwan bids you another, more formal goodbye, now that you're not alone anymore. He doesn’t need to reiterate what he asked of you out loud—the look in his eyes is already telling enough.

Given that today is a bit of a slow day, you decide to run a few diagnostic tests on Namja just to confirm whether or not he’s silently carrying some sort of disease. But all his results came out normal, except for a clinically insignificant but still noticeable increase in his body sodium levels. Might have to cut down the treats for a few days.

Otherwise, he’s happy and healthy ten—going eleven—years into his lifespan. The reason for his lethargy back home must have something to do with innate loneliness after all.

Then you remember what Seungkwan told you about Mingyu. How he hasn’t really been himself since the breakup. You never really felt that during your time together in your hometown. He’s still the effortless charmer that you once fell in love with. The big softie that can get along with anyone and everyone, given the right circumstances.

Mingyu has always been a people pleaser. The last thing he wants to do is inconvenience others. So it’s kind of hard to believe that he’s been so out of it that even Seungcheol is starting to get pissed with his behavior.

The sound of Namja barking jolts you out of your thoughts before your goldie pads over to where you’re seated behind your desk, whining as he nuzzles your hands as if he knows you’re thinking a bit too hard about something distressful. You let out a quiet laugh, scratching behind his ears just like you know he likes.

“I wonder what I’m supposed to do,” you chuckle. “Maybe I should’ve been born as a dog instead. Thinking about all of this is giving me a headache.”

Namja growls before barking again. Like he doesn’t approve of the idea of not having you as his fur parent. You let out another laugh that’s a lot less quiet before you decide to pull out your phone and shoot Mingyu a text.

Are you picking me up later or not?

…

Dinner with Mingyu’s family is splendid

The outdoor restaurant his mother booked in advance probably serves the best songpyeon you’ve ever tasted in your life. Add that to the fact that they accommodate pets in their alfresco area, this could easily be one of the next places you’ll take your own parents for a meal when you bring them to Seoul for a quick getaway.

Namja is a bit shy around other animals—a result of being around no one but your family for so long. But when Minseo introduces him to both Bobpul and Baptori at the same time, the two little rascals easily coaxed your senior citizen goldie out of his shell. Next thing you know, they’re running around the outdoor dining area like a bunch of energetic pups.

“Unnie, are you back together with this guy?” Minseo asks in the middle of dessert, pointing her spoon accusingly at Mingyu. “You can do so much better than him, though.”

Their father laughs at their youngest’s comment, and their mother rubs Mingyu’s back as if she agrees, yet still wishes to console her son regardless. Mingyu is simply scowling at his family for how quick they are to throw him under the bus.

“Shut up, you sound just like Seungkwan,” he whines.

“Well, we’re both right.”

You let out a laugh of your own before scooping some ice cream into your mouth. Then, tentatively, you say, “Don’t say that. Gyu wasn’t that terrible of a boyfriend, you know?”

“He’s always so busy though. Doesn’t even have time to come visit Bobpul and our other dogs anymore,” Minseo sulks. “He even missed my graduation! Can you believe it?”

Mingyu pouts. “I said I was sorry, didn’t I?”

She huffs. “Not sorry enough!”

“Well, for starters, even if he is ridiculously busy, he still makes sure to call me before he goes to bed after a particularly tough schedule,” you say. “He also answers my calls even if our time zones are different, and it’s an ungodly hour where he currently is. Then when he finally comes back to Korea, he’ll give a bunch of gifts that reminded him of me on his trip overseas.”

You don’t know what compelled you to do so, but the words just gush out naturally. It was a little difficult the first time Mingyu had to hop on a plane to some other country to film some content with the boys, but you eventually got used to it, and managed to make a couple work-arounds.

Now that you think about it, if you were so used to it, why’d you decide it was best for you to part ways when he got back from tour? It’s been so long that you don’t even know the logic behind the reasoning anymore. You just remember feeling like it was the best decision at the time. And you were right—your careers have definitely thrived even after the breakup.

As you continue telling Minseo and their parents about how much of a catch the eldest son of the Kim family really is, you fail to notice the way Mingyu’s eyes never leave you the entire time. Soft, with just a hint of yearning that you’ll only be able to notice if you knew what you were looking for.

“Ugh, fine,” Minseo huffs, and you don’t think she and Seungkwan are all that different from each other. “This is the first time I’ve seen a couple that’s broken up months ago talk about each other so fondly, still. You sure you two aren’t secretly dating again?”

“Minseo,” their mother scolds before flashing you an apologetic look. “I’m sorry about her. Minseo’s just been really snappy lately. Must be because she missed Mingyu here very much.”

She rolls her eyes. “As if I’ll miss that credit-grabbing punk. He didn’t even acknowledge me in his latest Instagram post!”

“Speaking of dating again,” their father interjects before taking a sip of his wine. “Minseo’s right about one thing at least. You and Mingyu still have chemistry after so long. What’s stopping you from getting back together again?”

At your side, Mingyu flashes his father a cautionary look. “Dad, that’s a really inappropriate question, don’t you think?”

“Oh, yes, of course. My apologies. This old man is really just…curious, so to speak.”

He bows his head slightly, and you make a little gesture that insists you took no offense. But the inquiry definitely made you think for a moment.

It’s like everyone you know completely supports the idea of you and Mingyu just burying the hatchet and rekindling your relationship. But didn’t they consider the logistics of it? You’re a full-time vet and Mingyu’s a full-time idol that travels out of Korea at least once a month. Though you’re a bit unsure of it now, that still played a part in why you called it quits in the first place.

Even when Mingyu took it upon himself to drive you and Namja back to your apartment, his father’s question still lingers in the back of your mind.

What’s stopping you from getting back together again?

The answer is pretty simple, but it’s not something you’re ready to face just yet.

It’s you. You’re the only one keeping yourselves from reigniting what you once thought was already lost. Your guilt. Your regrets. Your fears. You didn’t need a verbal confirmation to know that Mingyu would drop everything in a heartbeat if it meant you’ll take him back again. But as much as your friends joke about how you deserve better than Mingyu, you’re convinced it’s the other way around.

Mingyu deserves someone who can reciprocate the love he’s so willing to give tenfold. Someone who doesn’t flake out when he needs them most.

Someone who isn’t you.

When he pulls over a red light, he lets out a sigh as he checks the text messages that popped up on his phone. After a few scrolls he says, “Oh. Jeonghan-hyung texted about some party in Gangnam. Do you want to—”

“Gyu,” you whisper, eyes riveted on the busy street. “What are we doing?”

He blinks. “Celebrating Chuseok together?”

“But we’re friends right?” You laugh somewhat bitterly. “Friends don’t normally celebrate the entirety of their Chuseok weekend bonding with each other’s families. Friends don’t make out with each other in the middle of the night. And…”

You let out a shuddering sigh before adding, “Friends don’t look at each other the way you look at me.”

You can clearly hear the sound of his breath hitching even if you don’t turn to look at him. It seems like he was about to say something in return, but the stoplight turns green, and he’s back to pulling his focus on the road instead of you.

In the backseat, you can hear Namja whining—ever the empath, that one. You immediately feel him pawing against your seat, as if silently asking what’s wrong. Turning around, you give him a few reassuring pats, not wanting to get claw marks all over Mingyu’s borrowed car.

The two of you are completely silent as he walks you back to the front door of your apartment. You know he didn’t have to, yet he did anyway. How Mingyu of him.

When you finally muster the courage to look up at him and bid him good night, Mingyu grabs your wrist—forcing you to meet his desperate gaze.

“If I told you I wanted you back, would anything change? No, right?” he whispers, voice tinged with so much emotion, you can feel your own heart ache at the sound of it. “So I’m sorry if I’m being selfish for inviting you to every place I could think of. If I want to spend as much time with you as I can because I know I won’t ever get the chance to do so if I let this pass.”

When he presses your foreheads together, the look in his eyes is so smoldering, you can’t bear to look away. This is what a man that’s been yearning for you for months looks like, it seems.

And you don’t think you can keep resisting him for long.

“Before I get thrown back into that haywire of a schedule again,” he whispers, and you feel every breath fan across your skin, “can’t you at least let me have this? Let me have you?”

You don’t even know who it is that lunges in for the kiss. The next thing you know, Mingyu has you pressed up against your front door, devouring your lips where all your neighbors can see. But you don’t care. Not when he’s desperately holding your body flush against his as you reclaim what’s always been yours.

He whispers a bunch of things along the column of your neck as he loosens the strings holding your dress together from behind. Some sweet, some endearing, and others a touch too filthy for others to hear aloud. You stifle your little gasps when he wraps a strong arm around your waist, nudging your thighs apart with his knees so you can feel the hardness straining against his middle.

“It’s you,” he murmurs against your feverish skin, teeth grazing across your flesh ever-so lightly. “It’s always been you. And it will always be you.”

You know Mingyu is a good actor. But it’s so earth-shatteringly different to hear the raw desperation in his voice. How earnest he is in telling you just how much he still loves you without saying the words outright. You can only dream of being as honest with your true feelings as he is.

But tonight, you don’t think there’s anything wrong with letting yourself fall.

In the midst of your mounting desire for each other, though, a lone whine in the night snaps both you and Mingyu out of your newfound vigor. You nearly forgot about Namja, who’s impatiently waiting for either of you to open the front door so he can finally take a nap. You glance at Mingyu, and he glances right back, before the two of you burst out laughing like a couple of teenagers without a care in the world.

Once you’ve gotten your needy retriever settled outside, Mingyu practically tosses you on the bed the moment the door to your room clicks shut—all too eager to cage you between his arms as he continues where you left off.

The suit he wore tonight looked a bit too good on his frame, but now you want nothing more than to claw it off him. He chuckles, sensing your desperation as he shrugs off his coat and unbuttons his dress shirt along the way.

“I don’t remember you being this desperate for me, sweetheart,” he murmurs, leaning down to grasp your face as he strokes your heated skin with his thumb. “I can’t say I hate the development though.”

“Mingyu,” you whimper as you guide his thumb to your lips, suckling on it in a way that you know makes him lose his mind every time. “Please. I want you.”

It’s so easy to be honest with yourself. You wonder why you’ve struggled with doing that for so long, but then you remember that your brain is fogged with desire for the man that’s currently staring you down like he’s doing everything in his power not to fuck you into the mattress right away.

But at that moment, you throw all logic and caution in the wind in exchange for taking even more of Mingyu’s thick fingers into your mouth.

“So good for me,” he whispers when he sees you inch your knees apart to welcome him in between. The hand that’s not being fellated by your tongue finds its way to the apex of your thighs—cupping your clothed heat in a way that makes you moan around his fingers. “How badly do you want me, sweet thing?”

“So, so badly,” you manage to wrench out despite your mouth being full, rutting your hips to introduce some friction between your aching pussy and his hand. “Please, Gyu…”

When he’s satisfied, his free hand migrates to your thighs, spreading you further apart as he brings his lubricated fingers to your sopping core. There’s something so fucking hot in the way he just nudges your panties to the side—groaning when he finds you already soaked for him.

“You need something to stretch out this pretty little pussy, don’t you?” he murmurs into your ear, nipping at the lobe just the way you like it. “You want my fingers or my cock, babygirl? Better choose wisely.”

You want to say that you’re too fucking horny for foreplay, but also remember that each time you had sex with Mingyu in the past, the stretch of his massive cock can be quite uncomfortable if he doesn’t prep you. With how long it’s been since you’ve laid in bed together, you don’t want to rush into it without thinking of the consequences after.

So, you mewl, “Fingers first. Then your cock.”

Mingyu laughs—a deep, sexy sound—before planting a kiss on your nose. “That’s my girl.”

He carefully eases one digit into your hole, eyes never leaving your face as he gauges your reactions. Part of you wishes to tell him that he doesn’t have to worry so much. That you still trust him with your own body even after all this time. You don’t say anything aloud, but Mingyu seems to get the gist from the look in your eyes either way, surging forward so he can press his lips back onto yours as he loosens you up.

“You’re always so quick to get wet for me, baby,” he sighs, stifling the noise that escapes you when he slides in a second finger to test the resistance of your walls. “You’ve no idea how much I missed this. Missed you .”

“Gyu, I—” Your breath hitches once he curls his fingers just so, making your legs rise involuntarily off the mattress, but Mingyu pins one of your thighs down with his free hand.

“What was that?”

He’s teasing. He rarely ever does that. You shoot him a petulant look before taking his bottom lip between your teeth, tugging hard enough to coax a groan out of him.

“I missed you, too,” you whisper. “You’re the only one who can make me feel this good.”

A dozen emotions flit through Mingyu’s face in the span of a millisecond, but the one that remains is something not so different from longing. You hear him sigh a couple of words that you don’t quite catch before he’s taking his fingers out of your sopping cunt and pulling away from you. Just when you’re about to voice out a complaint, he starts undoing his trousers, kicking them away to some uncharted part of your bedroom before working on the rest of his dress shirt.

Not-so-newsflash: your ex-boyfriend is still fucking hot.

But he doesn’t seem to notice the way you’re reacting to the sultry way in which he peels his clothes off—dark eyes still trained on your pliant form on the bed. As Mingyu palms himself through his boxers, you can’t help but press your thighs together in anticipation of what’s to come.

There was a time when he railed you so good, you legitimately couldn’t walk straight the next day. You wonder if he plans on reenacting the whole thing tonight.

“Let’s get you out of that dress, sweetheart,” he breathes before gently guiding you back into a seated position, tugging at the hem of your dress before tossing it to the side.

You feel your cheeks warm when he stares at the underwear set you have on tonight. Plain cotton panties and plain cotton bra. In your defense, you really didn’t expect to get laid tonight.

“Doesn’t matter,” Mingyu chuckles. It’s either he can read minds or he still knows you well enough to figure out what you’re thinking. “I’m taking everything off anyways.”

As he makes quick work of what’s left of your clothing, you distantly remember the last conversation you had with Seungkwan. How you told him you’d ‘clear the air’ with Mingyu right after having dinner with his family.

You’re pretty sure what you’re doing right now is only blurring the lines even more, but you don’t really fucking care right now.

You let out a hushed moan when Mingyu latches his mouth onto your nipple, massaging your other breast as he swirls the appendage across your sensitive skin. His free arm snakes itself behind the curve of your waist, pressing you against his firm body while rutting his hips against the bed.

He’s just as desperate for you as you are for him, and it fills you with a heady sort of hunger that only Mingyu can alleviate.

“Can I?” he whispers.

You feel his teeth graze across the skin of your chest, making your toes curl with anticipation. It’s been a while, but you can’t easily forget how much of a biter Mingyu is in bed. He loves leaving his marks on your body, and even if you always complain about how hard it is to cover them up, you let him do as he pleases every single time.

“Yes,” you whimper, rubbing your bare pussy against the ridge of his abs. “Do whatever you want with me, Gyu.”

The sound you let out once he finally bites down is caught between a yelp and a moan, your fingers threading across his hair as he suckles on your skin. He’s such a talker in bed, too—whispering all sorts of endearments that are too soft for you to hear, but add fuel to your growing desire regardless.

“So fucking pretty,” he says once he detaches himself from your breasts and marvels at his own work. The fruit of his effort is yet to become visible, but he’s left enough angry red marks on your skin to guarantee the lovebites they’ll turn into come morning. “And it’s all for me.”

Lacing your fingers around his nape, you mold your lips together in another kiss, tongues dancing to the rhythm of your erratic heartbeat as you grind yourself against his toned stomach.

“Mingyu,” you whimper against his mouth—hot and heavy. “I need you inside me. Need to get stretched on your cock.”

He groans again, fisting your hair so that he can kiss you even deeper. As he busies you with his mind-numbing kisses, Mingyu gets rid of his boxers in a flash—positioning himself between your thighs. You nearly cry out when you feel the fat head of his cock sliding against your soaking slit. When he grazes your sensitive clit, you could’ve sworn tears started together in the corners of your eyes.

“Fuck, babygirl, so fucking wet for me,” he sighs as he lays you back down on the bed and eases your knees further apart.

You bite your lip at the sight of his cock, still as long and girthy as you remember. Mingyu pumps his length all while sliding the head across your cunt, but you let out another desperate mewl to just fuck you already.

“Shhh,” he says, leaning down to plant a chaste kiss on your forehead. “Let me take my time with you, sweetheart. I want you to commit all of this to memory. Gonna have you feeling me inside you for days.”

And you don’t doubt that. Kim Mingyu has a knack for making it hard for people to forget about him, and if he plans to fuck the shape of his cock into your pussy, who are you to complain?

When you feel his cock catch across your entrance, you genuinely wonder if it’s going to hurt. Mingyu’s attempt at foreplay was cut halfway through because he got distracted by his sudden desire to leave a trail of love bites all over your breasts. But the thing about having sex with Mingyu is that your comfort is his top priority.

He would never do anything that he knows can hurt you.

“I’ll go slow, alright?” he whispers, and all you can manage is a nod. “Words, baby. You have to talk to me so I’ll know if you really want it.”

“Gyu,” you whine, arching your hips in a feeble attempt to get him to fuck into you. “I’m alright. Anything you do is alright with me, just— Please. Please fuck me full.”

He sighs, staring down like he doesn’t know what to do with you before finally, finally, you feel his dick breach your entrance—pushing inch by delicious inch inside you with restrained hunger. You fist the sheets at the familiar stretch, but it’s not so uncomfortable that the sensation burns. You’ve taken Mingyu’s cock dozens of times before, and it seems that your body still knows how to accommodate his ridiculous size.

“Pretty pussy’s happy to see me again,” he chuckles, his grip on your thighs tightening ever-so slightly. “Still made to fit me so snuggly. Did you miss my cock, sweet thing? I can feel you pulsing around me.”

“Yes,” you drawl. “Missed your cock so fucking much, Gyu. Fuck—”

You feel so hot, so full. It’s like Mingyu’s the only thing you’ve ever known—surrounding you in every direction until all that floats in your lust-addled mind are the letters of his name. Once he buries himself to the hilt, Mingyu doesn’t move right away, still so attentive to your reactions that even if you want nothing more than for him to rail you into the mattress, he won’t press forward until he’s sure you’re ready.

“Is it too much?” he whispers, tucking your hair behind your ear. “Do you need more time to get used to me?”

Something similar to a growl reverberates in your chest as you stare at Mingyu hard. “What I need is…for you to fuck me until I black out.”

Mingyu’s lips turn up into a grin as he shakes his head. “Baby, the last thing I want to be is some sex-deprived savage after we’ve been apart for so long. I don’t want to hurt you.”

Then, he leans forward on the bed again, bringing his lips right next to your ear.

“But I can still make you feel good.”

He prefaces the words with a powerful thrust that you don’t expect, splaying your thighs further until they’re flat against the mattress. The slide of his cock still feels so unbelievably good that even if the sudden stretch should’ve been uncomfortable, you’re too blindsided by the pleasure to notice.

Your eyes trail across the beautiful man above you as he fucks you in his favorite position. Mingyu has always had a thing for missionary—something about wanting to see your face as he wrecks you. You think you’re starting to share the same sentiment because not only do you get to see his fat cock slide in and out of your sopping cunt, but you can admire all of him at once, as well.

The exertion in those toned arms with every forward thrust. The conspicuous outline of his pecs. That toned fucking stomach. That gorgeous fucking face, so lost in the velvet heat of your pussy—

Why did you ever think letting someone like this go was a good idea?

“You’re going to laugh at me for this but,” Mingyu breathes, chuckling to himself. “I think I’m kinda close.”

You do laugh, but it’s quickly silenced when one of his fingers finds your clit, rubbing it in quick, precise circles like he hasn’t forgotten how to get you off after all this time.

“I am, too,” you tell him. “Cock so fucking good, you can make me come in minutes.”

Mingyu lets out another guttural noise as he presses your knees to your chest, throwing your legs over his shoulder with a look in his eyes that promises nothing but pleasure. Though his fingers have departed your puffy clit, the angle he has you bent in has his cock easily grazing your g-spot with every thrust—reducing you into a pathetic, mewling mess underneath him.

“Your pussy’s a fucking drug, babygirl,” he sighs. “Haven’t wanted anyone else after you.”

Even in your cock-drunk haze, those words bring forth some semblance of clarity within you. But it’s immediately snuffed out when Mingyu amps up the cadence of his thrusts, fucking into you with the intention of bringing you to completion at the same time he achieves it. Your eyes are screwed shut, fingers finding purchase across the ripping muscles of his back as you babble an incoherent mantra of yes, yes, so close, so fucking close, love how you fuck me, love how you make me feel full—

And then, it’s over—a white hot flash like stars bursting behind your eyelids. You curl into Mingyu’s embrace as your orgasm washes over you like a tidal wave, and he’s all too glad to help you ride it out, pistoning inside your spasming walls with a rhythm that’s starting to stagger.

“So goddamn tight,” he growls. “Where do you want my cum, sweetheart?”

You’re still too blissed out to give him a proper response, but from the way your legs tighten themselves around your waist, Mingyu figures that that’s the green light he needs to make a mess out of you. Mingyu sighs, burying his face in the crook of your neck before biting down—his cock twitching in the heat of your cunt as his release gushes into you in thick globs.

He comes so much that when Mingyu does pull out of your abused pussy, his essence trickles out of your hole as you do your best to catch your breath. The world is just starting to return to its normal axis in your vision, and the first thing that your eyes focus on is the sight of Mingyu smiling at you so fondly, it makes your heart hurt.

The look scares you. Like he’s about to say something that you don’t know how to respond to.

So instead of giving him any leeway for conversation, you tug him back down into a tongue-filled kiss, rubbing your ruined pussy across his still hard length as you mewl against his lips.

“More,” you whimper. “I need more, Gyu.”

And he’s all too happy to oblige.

Mingyu slides himself back inside you with an ease that wasn’t present earlier—your mixed arousal acting as a good enough lubricant to accommodate him. His erratic breathing as he fucks his cum deeper inside you only serves to turn you on even more, making another orgasm creep ever-so slightly beneath your skin.

“Babygirl can’t get enough of this cock, can you?” he sighs. “Seems to me like your pussy never wants me to leave.”

“Yes!” you hiss, moving your hips in time with his as you desperately claw at his back. “Love your cock so much, please—”

“Come for me again, sweet thing, I know you can do it.”

It’s unbelievable how a few choice words can get your body to submit to his whims without much thought. Unlike your first orgasm, the second one that Mingyu coaxes out of you singes through every functional nerve-ending in your body—sending you into a flurry of overstimulation that has you twitching under his touch.

Just when you thought Mingyu’s finally done with you, however, he suddenly flips you onto your stomach—pressing your chest against the mattress while your ass is high in the air. The sudden change in positions makes your head spin, but you’re too dazed to protest.

When you glance over your shoulder, he’s showing you that same smile you fell in love with a lifetime ago.

“You can give me a few more orgasms, right, baby?”

When he slides his still hard cock along your swollen cunt, you groan into the sheets—having momentarily forgotten that Mingyu’s stamina can go until morning. If you don’t stop him now, he might actually fuck you until you black out, despite his earlier refutal.

But honestly? You’re not against the idea. Not one bit.

…

When you wake up the following day, it’s to cold sheets and the startling clarity of Mingyu’s absence.

You never minded living alone. You’ve been doing it since your first year of college here in Seoul. You’re used to waking up with nothing but the silence of your room to keep you company.

Even when you eventually got together with Mingyu, lonely mornings have always been a staple, especially on days where he has early schedules. It fills you with a sinking feeling to see that he isn’t with you, but you’ve learned to take it in stride.

Besides…it’s not like you’re together anymore now.

This is what you wanted, right? For him to not treat…whatever this is as if it’s a relationship thing. The two of you were just heavily pent up, and caved into your mutual desires last night. There’s nothing more to it.

However, when you pad outside the bedroom after shrugging on a flimsy oversized shirt, the scent of pancakes and frying eggs fills your nose. When you see Namja sitting right next to a tall figure hunched over your stove, you can hardly believe your eyes.

He doesn’t notice you right away—too preoccupied with making the perfect breakfast to pick up on your presence. Namja, however, is more perceptive, glancing behind and perking up at the sight of you. He lets out an excited bark before skidding over to where you’re standing, and you crouch down to the floor so you can give him a tight hug.

“Oh, you’re awake!”

Mingyu faces you with a smile that’s nearly blinding in the morning light, a spatula in one hand and a kitchen mitt in the other. It’s the exact same scene that you’re greeted with during lazy weekends where he doesn’t have any work to do, and your chest twists yet again at the memory.

“Yeah, I am.” You smile, rubbing Namja’s belly when he sprawls himself on the floor. “What are you still doing here? Don’t you have to go back to New York tonight?”

“Yes, but it’s still morning,” he points out, and you roll your eyes.

A few minutes later, Mingyu starts to set the table while you wash your hands. He tells you about how Seungkwan doesn’t want to room with him anymore over breakfast because Mingyu takes so long to close the lights when he’s binging a new drama. You tell him to be more considerate of his roommates or they might just dropkick him off the hotel room balcony in his sleep.

When you help him put away the dishes, the sight is so…domestic, it gives you whiplash. Bumping shoulders, splashing water, stifling mutual laughter... Being with him like this, tucked in your own little pocket of happiness makes your heart soar in ways that not even mind-blowing sex can help you attain.

You pray that Mingyu doesn’t breathe a word about it, but of course things don’t always go your way.

Just when you’re about to turn around to give Namja her morning fix of dog food, you find yourself trapped between the sink and Mingyu’s arms—unable to escape the fondness in his eyes even if you tried.

“I think,” he whispers, “we can still make this work. You and me.”

You bite the inside of your cheek. “Gyu…”

You think so, too. With someone as understanding and compassionate as Mingyu, you know nothing’s impossible if you just quit being so stubborn. You were so afraid of him attempting to bring your relationship back to life last night, but…

Seeing him bathing under the sunlight in your kitchen after months of getting used to being alone again…

Maybe it isn’t so bad to let him back inside your heart.

“O-Of course, you don’t have to answer right away,” he says, turning red in the face. Cute. “You can tell me when I get back from New York. How’s that sound?”

You’re about to open your mouth to respond, but the moment is quickly shattered by the sound of Mingyu’s phone going off. He sighs, releasing you from the figurative cage of his arms as he leans against the sink right next to you—fishing his phone from his pocket before answering it in loudspeaker.

“Kim Mingyu, where the hell are you?!”

“Good morning to you, too, Seungkwan-ah,” he chuckles. “Why? What’s wrong? I told Jeonghan-hyung I won’t be coming back to the dorms until noon.”

“Well, Jeonghan-hyung must’ve forgotten to tell everyone else because the entire dorm panicked when we realized you didn’t make it home!” the younger man squawks. “We thought something bad happened! You weren’t answering your phone last night either!”

You and Mingyu exchanged knowing looks, and you have to stifle your laughter if you didn’t want to be on the receiving end of Seungkwan’s rage, too.

“Sorry about that, I was a little…busy,” Mingyu supplies.

“Well, whatever you’ve been ‘busy’ with, you better get your ass back here! Manager-hyung is looking for the car you borrowed, and if you don’t bring it back soon, he’s going to give all of us an earful.”

“Fine, fine. I’ll be back in thirty. Bye, Seungkwan.”

“Hey—!”

Mingyu ends the call with little remorse before letting out a long sigh. When his eyes dart back to yours, they flicker momentarily to your lips before he leans forward. You meet him halfway this time, pressing your mouths together in a firm kiss.

“I’ll be back,” he murmurs. “I hope you’ll still be willing to accommodate me when I do.”

Though it pains you, he peels himself away from your touch, leaning down to kiss Namja’s head as he gathers his coat in his arms. It just occurred to you that he’s been eating breakfast with you donned with the outfit he wore last night while you’re dressed in nothing but a loose, oversized shirt. The knowledge makes you blush a little.

When you hear Mingyu’s car drive away, you sigh, running your hands through your messy hair. Namja pads over to you, tail wagging as he anticipates another round of petting. Of course you indulge him.

“Kim Mingyu is such an idiot, isn’t he?” you tell your goldie, and you like to think the small huff he lets out means he’s agreeing with you. “Why wait until he comes back when I already have an answer for him?”

This time, Namja actually barks out loud, making you shake your head with a laugh.

You don’t mind waiting for Mingyu, really. He obviously doesn’t mind waiting for you. At this point, you’re at peace with the fact that you might still love him. Maybe, you never stopped loving him at all. Once he lands back in Korea and comes home to you, you promise yourself that you’ll definitely show him.

Again and again.

⟢ end notes: pHEW i'm so glad to have the mingyu brain rot out of my system (OR IS IT?!) i've been wanting to write this trope for sooooo long and i'm really glad i finally got to bring it to life! there's just something so endearing about mingyu that i thought he'd be perfect for this hehe :3c if you've made it this far, thank you so much for reading through my love letter to our resident 97 line babygirl. this honestly would've just been 5k words long if the reader just wasn't so in denial LOL ++ lmk what you think in the tags + reblogs MWAH

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