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firstclassjaylee · 22 days ago

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Secretly Yours ☆ 박종성

“academic rivals to lovers” - enhypen campus series

☆ Forced to be rivals in the classroom, you never expected to fall for Jay—the one guy your best friend swore you should never trust. ✉️ wc. 11.3k ⚠️ tw. swearing, bullying, teasing, name calling, third wheeling 💔 false runors 📝: this is honeslty so cute and 4/7 of the members are done! let me know if you would like to be tagged for Jungwon’s trope as I will be writing his next. 박종성 x f reader

🏷️ @starniras @dearestdreamie @tkooooop @xuevkim @deluluscenarios @starboy-library @melodiessvy @steddie-steddie @i-am-not-dal @nct-sticker-127 @elimelbe @wonbinceps

It was a typical Tuesday lunch, and yet, you were finding yourself struggling to swallow the lump in your throat as you sat across from Heeseung and his girlfriend. They were laughing, teasing each other, their smiles easy and natural, as if they were the only two people in the world. You couldn’t help but feel like a third wheel—no, not just a third wheel. You were a joke third wheel, the one that could only sit in silence and watch as your best friend basked in the comfortable glow of a relationship you’d never quite understood.

Sure, you’d been friends with Heeseung for years, but watching him and his girlfriend together, this… thing between them that was so tangible, yet so fragile, made you realize just how much things had changed. You’d heard the rumors, of course. Everyone had. Heeseung and his girlfriend were that couple—perfect for each other one minute, toxic the next. Always breaking up and making up, but never really fixing anything. Every time they fought, Heeseung would storm to you afterward, venting about how his girlfriend wasn’t understanding him or how she’d said something hurtful. But when the storm passed, he’d always go back to her, and you’d be left standing in the middle, a supporting role, a listener—but never more.

And you never caught feelings for him. You knew better. Heeseung was your childhood best friend, the guy you grew up with, the guy who knew all your secrets, and vice versa. He was like a brother to you, and you couldn’t ever imagine crossing that line. And Heeseung? He never gave you a second thought in that way. He had his girlfriend, and you had your quiet corner of the world, content with your own space.

But now, you were sitting across from them, trying to smile through the awkwardness, pretending you weren’t hurt by the distance that had grown between you two over the years. It wasn’t even about the relationship itself, not really—it was about the way things had changed. Heeseung didn’t come to you as often anymore, and when he did, it was usually because he was angry or upset about something. And you were fine with that—until today.

“So,” Heeseung started, glancing over at you with a tired look in his eyes, “you know that dickhead, Jay, right?”

You nodded, taking a bite of your salad, unsure of where this conversation was headed.

“I’m still pissed at him,” Heeseung continued, running a hand through his hair. “I don’t care how much time has passed—what he did to me and her… I’m never going to forgive him.” He stabbed his fork into his pasta a little too aggressively, and you couldn’t help but notice the bitterness in his tone. “He kissed my girlfriend. And not just once. Twice.”

You frowned, looking between Heeseung and his girlfriend, who was sitting next to him, quietly fiddling with her phone. She didn’t seem as riled up about it as Heeseung was. In fact, she looked a little… resigned.

“Relax, Heeseung,” she chimed in, her voice softer, almost pleading. “That was a long time ago. Can’t you just forgive him already?”

Heeseung shook his head, lips pressed into a thin line. “I can’t. I just can’t. Not after everything. I don’t trust him, and I never will.”

You were quiet for a moment, staring into your food, lost in thought. You hadn’t even met Jay in person, but you knew enough about him from Heeseung’s rants—how he’d screwed up everything by kissing Heeseung’s girlfriend, how he was always getting under Heeseung’s skin with his cocky attitude. You didn’t know Jay well, but you couldn’t help but feel a grudge against him, too. Heeseung had always been there for you, and now, it was your turn to have his back.

You glanced at Heeseung’s girlfriend. “I get it. He messed up. But if he’s really your friend, don’t you think you should at least try to move on? I mean, holding onto it forever—”

“I can’t.” Heeseung’s voice was final, cutting you off. “I won’t. I’ve tried, believe me, but it just eats at me every time I think about it. I can’t just forget.”

You stayed silent, unsure how to respond. It wasn’t your place to intervene. You had your own tangled mess of emotions, but you kept them locked away. The last thing Heeseung needed right now was for you to add to his frustrations.

At that moment, the door to the cafeteria swung open, and in walked Sunghoon and his girlfriend. Sunghoon was always the quiet one—the kind of guy who would sit back and observe everything with a detached calmness that almost seemed unnatural. He was an introvert, a man of few words, but when he did speak, it carried weight. His girlfriend, on the other hand, was the complete opposite. She was loud, energetic, and always talking, often dragging Sunghoon along in whatever conversation she had going.

They sat down next to you, and Sunghoon’s girlfriend immediately leaned forward, her smile wide and playful. “Hey guys!” she greeted before turning her gaze to you. “So, what do you think about Jay, babe?”

You nearly choked on your food. You had no idea what Sunghoon thought about Jay—none of you really did. He was the kind of guy who kept his opinions close to his chest. He wasn’t the type to engage in petty drama or gossip.

Sunghoon just shrugged, his gaze flicking to Heeseung for a second before returning to his girlfriend. “He’s whatever,” he said quietly, his voice neutral, as though the whole Jay situation didn’t even register. “Not my problem.”

His girlfriend rolled her eyes with a laugh. “You’re so boring, Sunghoon.”

But even as his girlfriend playfully teased him, you couldn’t help but feel that pull again—the strange dynamic that seemed to always exist between you, Heeseung, and now Jay.

You glanced over at Heeseung, who was staring at Sunghoon with a look that you couldn’t quite decipher. It was a mix of annoyance, jealousy, and maybe, just maybe, something else.

But you didn’t have time to analyze it. Because you knew, no matter what, the tension was building, and soon enough, you’d be caught in the middle of it all

And what scared you most? You didn’t know if you’d be able to get out of it.

You sat back in your chair, staring at the two couples in front of you. Heeseung and his girlfriend were whispering something to each other, their heads close together, their hands brushing occasionally as if the world didn’t exist beyond their bubble. And then there was Sunghoon and his girlfriend, chatting away animatedly, with Sunghoon’s quiet presence in the background, nodding occasionally as she continued her endless chatter.

You felt a pang in your chest, the weight of the situation pressing down on you. You were surrounded by couples. Two of them, in fact—both of which seemed so… effortlessly happy, wrapped up in their own little worlds. And then there was you. Sitting alone at the table, a third wheel, no partner to distract you from the uncomfortable silence.

You groaned, dropping your forehead onto your arms. “Oh my god, I feel so single,” you muttered, the words escaping before you could stop them. You couldn’t help it. The jealousy, the loneliness—it was starting to eat at you, just a little bit.

Heeseung didn’t seem to notice, too absorbed in his conversation with his girlfriend. Sunghoon’s girlfriend, however, let out a laugh, glancing at you with a teasing smile. “You’re totally single, huh?” she teased, raising an eyebrow. “Isn’t it fun?”

You glared at her, rolling your eyes dramatically. “Yeah, so much fun,” you replied, sarcasm dripping from your voice. “Can’t wait to be the eternal third wheel.”

“You’re not eternal,” Sunghoon’s girlfriend said with a wink. “You’re just waiting for the right person to come along.”

You glanced at her, unimpressed. “If the right person is anything like Heeseung or Jay, I’ll pass.”

At that, Sunghoon let out a quiet chuckle, and even Heeseung’s girlfriend smiled softly. But the moment quickly passed, and you were left with the same feeling—surrounded by people who had someone to lean on, while you were left to sit with the emptiness.

It wasn’t that you were against being single, but today, right now, it stung just a little more than usual. The couples’ laughter and shared glances were like a reminder of what you didn’t have. And that reminder was just too loud in the middle of this lunch.

You sat up, trying to shake off the bitter feeling settling in your chest. “Alright, alright, I’m not that dramatic. It’s just… you know…” You trailed off, hoping to change the subject.

Sunghoon’s girlfriend shot you a sympathetic look. “Don’t worry, you’ll be fine. Just enjoy your food. And if it helps, I can always hook you up with some of my friends.” She gave you a mischievous grin, clearly trying to lighten the mood.

You smiled weakly but couldn’t quite shake off that feeling of being an outsider, watching the world go by in pairs.

It was much later in the evening when you found yourself sprawled across your shared dorm bed, dramatically burying your face in a pillow as the weight of the day’s fifth-wheeling trauma crashed over you all over again.

“I need someone so bad,” you groaned, voice muffled by the fabric. “Like, genuinely. I was fifth wheeling earlier today, Sunoo. Fifth. That’s not even normal. That’s just disrespectful.”

Sunoo, your roommate and longtime partner-in-chaos, glanced up from his skincare routine, dabbing toner gently onto his cheeks. “Honestly? I think it’s kind of iconic. Like, you’re the main character surrounded by background couples. It’s giving ‘independent baddie who doesn’t need a man.’ Very inspiring.”

You lifted your head to glare at him. “Inspiring? My entire lunch was a rom-com montage minus the actual romance. Heeseung and his girlfriend were being all cute and annoying, Sunghoon’s girlfriend was feeding him fries while he looked like he was contemplating the meaning of life, and I was there… chewing sad lettuce.”

Sunoo stifled a laugh. “Sad lettuce is such a vibe though.”

You dropped your head back onto the pillow. “I’m not joking, I actually feel like I’m gonna rot away as the token single friend.”

“Please,” Sunoo scoffed, moving to sit on the edge of your bed, legs crossed neatly. “Relationship stuff is so overrated. Love? Dumb. People? Dumber. You know Jake and his girlfriend? I still don’t understand how she took him back after that whole mess.”

You lifted a brow, glancing up at him. “What mess?”

Sunoo gave you a look like girl, where have you been?

“You don’t remember? Back when Jake and Jay had that idiotic bet—the bet?” He rolled his eyes and clasped his hands together mockingly. “Make her fall for me in a week or whatever.”

You blinked. “Wait. What?”

“Yeah,” Sunoo said, lips curling into a smirk like he’d been dying to spill the tea. “This was way back, before Jake actually caught feelings. But it was real. Him and Jay thought it would be ‘fun’ to bet on who could get someone to fall for them faster. Jake picked his now-girlfriend, and Jay picked some other girl from our econ class—Soobin, I think? Anyway, Jake actually started falling for her mid-bet and had a whole breakdown over it. Jay? I don’t even know what happened with his half. He’s a mystery.”

You sat up, your expression stunned. “So Jay actually did that?”

Sunoo nodded. “Mhm. He never really talked about it after. Most people forgot, but I didn’t. I don’t forget stuff like that.”

Your nose scrunched. “Ew. That’s actually disgusting.”

“That’s what I’m saying,” Sunoo sighed. “Like, love is not a game, babe. These guys out here are not serious.”

You chewed on your lip, letting the information settle. The grudge you already had toward Jay—planted by Heeseung and watered by years of side comments—suddenly felt validated. You didn’t know Jay personally, but from what you’d seen and heard, he was just another cocky guy who probably thought every girl wanted him. And now, knowing he made a bet like that? Your opinion of him sank even lower.

Still, a part of you was curious. Why did people still talk about him like there was more to the story? Why did Jake—arguably reformed—still hang around him? And why did you keep hearing Jay’s name pop up lately like he was some inevitable storm you were supposed to run into?

“So,” you said slowly, casually lying back down and folding your arms behind your head. “What do you think about Jay?”

Sunoo raised a brow, turning his head toward you like he was trying to figure out if you were joking. “Jay?”

You nodded.

“Honestly? I think he’s one of those guys who pretends not to care but lowkey cares a lot. Too much, maybe. He’s hot, I’ll give him that—but emotionally? Questionable. Like, he’s the kind of guy who’d flirt with you at 2 a.m. and then act like it never happened the next day. A walking green flag wrapped in red ribbon.”

You laughed, and Sunoo joined in, shaking his head.

“But,” he added, pointing a finger at you dramatically, “don’t let the face fool you. Pretty doesn’t mean trustworthy. Especially with Jay.”

You weren’t planning on letting it fool you.

At least, not yet.

It started with an eye roll.

Jay had made some snide remark about how your thesis summary lacked depth—depth, of all things—and you had to physically stop yourself from lobbing your pen across the lecture hall. You turned to him with the tightest smile you could manage and replied, “Right. Because the guy who spelled ‘Nietzsche’ wrong three times during last week’s debate is suddenly the standard.”

The professor chuckled like he was watching his favorite sitcom unfold. The rest of the class watched with that usual amused tension—the kind reserved for two people who were one sarcastic comment away from either ripping each other’s heads off or ripping each other’s clothes off. You refused to entertain the second option.

Jay was your academic rival. Has been since semester one. He was cocky, smart, and unfortunately, good-looking in a way that made your life more difficult than it needed to be. Every paper you aced, he had to beat by 0.5%. Every time you raised your hand, he’d follow with a rebuttal. You lived to make him eat his words. And from the smug way he smirked every time you got fired up, you knew he lived for it too.

Which is why when Professor Kim announced the University-Wide Academic Challenge, it wasn’t even a question who your competition would be.

And because the universe had a twisted sense of humor, they paired you with Jay for the regional prep rounds. As partners.

“I’ll drop out,” you told Sunoo dramatically that night. “I’ll pack my bags and transfer. I’ll fake my death and become a poet in the mountains before I partner with him.”

Sunoo had just blinked at you and said, “You’re so dramatic. Just destroy him with your intellect like usual.”

But it didn’t stop there. After a few forced library sessions and hours of silent research, the tension between you and Jay reached a boiling point. That’s when the bet happened.

“If I win,” you’d said, eyes narrowed, “you carry my bag, grab my coffee, and walk two steps behind me for a week.”

He had leaned forward, a smirk tugging at the corner of his mouth. “And if I win, you do the same.”

“And wear a ‘Jay is smarter than me’ sticker.”

“Deal.”

You shook on it like two enemies sealing their fates.

The week leading up to the challenge was ruthless. Debates in lecture halls, snarky notes left in shared textbooks, accidental shoulder bumps in the hallway that were never really accidental. You hated how good he was at keeping up with you. You hated even more that he made it feel… fun.

But after the results came in—after you tied, somehow, impossibly—you both stood outside the library, blinking in disbelief.

“Rematch?” he’d asked.

You tilted your head. “Or we just… call it even.”

He raised a brow. “Truce?”

You nodded slowly. “Truce.”

That truce, as it turned out, involved a lot of late-night study sessions. Whispered insults that started sounding like inside jokes. Accidental brushes of fingers that neither of you pulled away from. And eventually—somewhere between quiz prep and coffee runs—you kissed him.

The secrecy started right then. Because if Heeseung ever found out you were sneaking around with Jay—the same Jay he despised for “making out with his girlfriend twice”—he’d lose his mind. He’d call it betrayal. And you… you didn’t want to lose Heeseung either.

So you and Jay kept it quiet. A little rebellion, tucked between stacks of books and whispered under breathless kisses in quiet hallways.

You didn’t mean for it to become something real. But then again, you never expected him to look at you like that. Like you weren’t just his rival—but something else entirely.

And because you’d been spending a lot more time with him lately—strictly because of competition, of course, and not because of the way he furrowed his brows when he was focused or the way he actually listened when you spoke—you found yourself getting… curious. Against your better judgment.

You still hated him. That hadn’t changed. He was still Jay Park, your so-called academic nemesis, the cocky know-it-all who had allegedly kissed Heeseung’s girlfriend twice and made a game out of breaking girls’ hearts with Jake. Sunoo told you he was a walking red flag in designer sneakers. Heeseung said he was a traitor, a manipulator, a snake.

But… he also carried your books without asking last week. And when you fell asleep over your notes during one of your 2 a.m. study grinds, you woke up to find a neatly scribbled list of everything you missed—and a cup of hot chocolate, extra whipped cream, just how you liked it.

So yeah. You were confused. Just enough to want a second opinion.

You spotted him by the vending machine near the economics building, fiddling with the coin slot and humming some offbeat tune under his breath. Jake Sim. Jay’s best friend. The one person who might actually give you answers.

You inhaled sharply and walked up to him, half-regretting it before you even opened your mouth.

“Hi,” you started, awkwardly. “You probably don’t know me, but I know you, and this might seem kind of weird but—”

Jake turned to you with a crooked grin, eyes lighting up. “Oh, I know you.”

You blinked. “You do?”

He nodded. “You’re the girl.”

“What girl?”

“The one Jay’s always ranting about,” Jake said casually, like he wasn’t just detonating a bomb inside your chest. “The academic rival. The one who talks fast when she’s annoyed and refuses to take help on joint projects.”

You stared at him.

Jake just chuckled. “Yeah. He’s talked about you. A lot.”

Your mouth opened, then closed. “Right. Cool. Um… that’s not why I’m here though.”

Jake leaned against the vending machine, still smiling like he had front row seats to your mental breakdown. “Go on.”

“I… wanted to ask you something about Jay,” you said carefully, choosing each word like it was a live wire. “Just… some things I’ve heard.”

Jake raised a brow. “Let me guess. The bet thing? And the drama with Heeseung’s girl?”

You gave a cautious nod.

Jake sighed, rubbing the back of his neck. “Man, people don’t let that stuff go. Yeah, the bet was real. But it was forever ago, and he pulled out of it almost immediately. He felt bad about it. Still does, I think.”

You chewed your lip. “And the other thing?”

“The kiss?” Jake nodded. “It happened once, and it wasn’t what everyone made it out to be. She kissed him, technically. But it was before her and Heeseung were even together. Jay didn’t even know they were a thing yet.”

You didn’t say anything, trying to make sense of it all—trying to balance what you’d been told for months against the guy who now held open doors for you and left sticky notes with passive-aggressive compliments on your notebooks.

Jake tilted his head, watching you. “You like him, don’t you?”

Your eyes snapped up. “What? No.”

He grinned. “You do.”

“I hate him.”

“Sure you do,” he said, clearly not convinced. “That’s why you’re out here asking his best friend for the whole story.”

You crossed your arms, feeling caught.

Jake just laughed. “Don’t worry. I won’t tell him.”

You shook your head, muttering something about this being a bad idea as you turned to leave, but you didn’t miss the way Jake called after you with a teasing lilt in his voice.

“He likes you too, you know.”

Jay won.

By half a point.

You stared at the scoreboard like it had personally betrayed you, your mouth slightly open, the air sucked right out of your lungs. Half a damn point.

Jay, standing just a few feet away with his stupid perfect posture and that smug little smirk, turned to you slowly, like he’d been waiting for this moment since the second you made the bet.

“Guess that makes you my servant for the week, huh?” he said, hands in his pockets, tone smooth as ever.

You rolled your eyes and shoved your notebook into your bag with more force than necessary. “You cheated.”

“I didn’t.”

“Then you bribed someone.”

Jay grinned, tilting his head. “Maybe I’m just smarter than you.”

You scoffed. “You’re not.”

“Then what does that say about you, loser?”

You almost threw your pen at him.

Almost.

But you didn’t, because that would be too obvious. Instead, you threw him a sharp glare and marched past him—only for him to fall into step beside you like he belonged there.

“You gonna carry my bag to class tomorrow?” he asked, eyes twinkling.

“Go to hell.”

“I thought we were already there. Seoul U, midterm season, and you owe me coffee for a week? Sounds like hell to me.”

You hated him. You should’ve hated him.

But you didn’t miss the way he was biting back a smile, or how he didn’t actually push it any further. Didn’t gloat. Just walked beside you, shoulder brushing yours every few steps like he’d forgotten you were supposed to be rivals.

God, you were so screwed.

You found Heeseung outside the library, hunched over his phone with earbuds in, tapping at his screen like the world was on fire. He looked up when you called his name, one brow raised as you approached.

“Hey,” you said, clutching the strap of your bag a little tighter. “Can we talk?”

Heeseung pulled out an earbud, eyes narrowing slightly. “What’s up?”

You hesitated. You didn’t want to start anything, but this was already eating away at you. The more time you spent with Jay—forced time, of course—the more those stories didn’t line up. He wasn’t half as bad as everyone made him out to be. In fact… he was kind of the opposite.

“Are you sure Jay’s really that bad?” you asked, quietly.

Heeseung straightened, the corner of his mouth twitching like he was trying not to react too fast. “Seriously?”

You nodded. “I just—Jake told me he felt super bad about the whole bet thing. Like he didn’t even go through with it. And the thing with your girlfriend? He said she kissed him. Not the other way around.”

Heeseung’s eyes darkened. “Yeah, well, of course Jake would say that. They’re best friends.”

“I’m just saying,” you pressed, “what if it wasn’t how you remember it? Maybe Jay’s not—”

“Don’t,” he cut you off, tone sharper than usual. “Don’t let him get to you, Y/N.”

You blinked.

He scoffed, standing and slinging his backpack over his shoulder. “Guys like him? They’re good at making people feel like they’re the victim. That’s how they work. He’ll play sweet, act like he’s changed, make you question everyone else—and then the second you trust him, he’ll flip it.”

“He hasn’t done anything to me.”

“Yet.” Heeseung’s eyes locked onto yours, voice low. “Just be careful. You don’t know him like I do.”

You swallowed hard, nodding slowly, but something inside you twisted at the way he said it. Like you weren’t allowed to find things out for yourself. Like he had to be right.

But… the thing was?

A part of you wasn’t so sure anymore.

The next day was actual hell.

You should’ve known Jay would milk the “servant” thing for everything it was worth—but still, nothing could’ve prepared you for how absolutely insufferable he was about it.

“Y/N, can you carry my bag?”

“Y/N, I’m thirsty. You know my order.”

“Y/N, I dropped my pen—oh, oops. Guess you better pick it up.”

It was like every five minutes he found a new way to get under your skin. And the worst part? He didn’t even need the help. You were ninety-nine percent sure he only asked just to see how long it would take for you to snap.

By day four, you were a ticking time bomb.

You were both walking down the hallway after study group, and Jay had just asked you—again—to grab his charger from the common room because he “forgot it,” even though it was very clearly hanging out of his bag.

You whipped around to face him, nearly knocking into his chest. “Do you enjoy watching me slowly lose my mind? Is that it? Is this fun for you?”

Jay blinked at you, clearly trying not to laugh. “Kind of.”

“Unbelievable,” you huffed, arms flailing a little as the rant bubbled up. “I’m starting to think you only won on purpose just to torture me—like some twisted revenge arc. What kind of narcissist actually makes someone fetch their charger—”

And then he kissed you.

Mid-rant. Mid-gesture. Mid-sentence.

It wasn’t soft. It wasn’t careful. It was bold and sudden and shut you up instantly, your breath caught between the syllable you were about to say and the warmth of his mouth on yours.

You froze, hands still hovering stupidly in the air.

Jay pulled back just enough to murmur against your lips, “God, you talk so much.”

You stared at him, wide-eyed, cheeks flushed.

And he just stood there—completely unaffected—like kissing you in the middle of a hallway was totally normal. Like your heart wasn’t pounding loud enough to drown out every rational thought.

“You—” You opened your mouth.

Jay grinned. “Still talking.”

You almost shoved him.

Almost.

Sunghoon wasn’t trying to eavesdrop. He never was.

But he had a way of being in the right place at the right time, or maybe the wrong place, depending on how you looked at it. And when he turned the corner of the hallway that afternoon, a quiet observer like always, he stopped dead in his tracks when he saw you—mouth still pressed to Jay’s, your fingers curled in surprise around the strap of your bag.

He blinked once. Then twice.

Then, without a word, he turned and walked the other way.

Fifteen minutes later, he found his girlfriend standing outside the campus café, talking animatedly to her friend Stella about nail polish or hair gloss or something equally detailed. They barely noticed him until he slipped in beside them, calm as ever.

“Y/N and Jay kissed,” he said, like he was stating the weather.

Both girls gasped so loud half the quad probably heard.

His girlfriend whipped around to face him, eyes wide. “What?! Since when were you into gossip?”

He just shrugged, gaze flickering toward the library. “I saw it. Just now.”

Stella smacked his girlfriend’s arm. “Didn’t you say she hated him?”

“I did,” she breathed, already pulling out her phone like it would give her the rest of the story. “What the hell—?”

But Sunghoon leaned forward, kissed her cheek gently, and started walking away.

“Wait—where are you going?” she called after him.

“Library,” he said over his shoulder.

Because of course he was. Of course Sunghoon dropped a bomb and just casually strolled off to study like he hadn’t just flipped your entire social circle upside down.

Sunghoon was already at his usual study spot in the library when you arrived, clutching your bag a little too tightly as you scanned the rows of bookshelves like you were on some sort of secret mission.

He raised an eyebrow as you walked in, obviously distracted, your eyes darting around the room. You were definitely not here to study. The fact that you had only been in the library for a few seconds and your gaze had already flitted past the tables where students were hard at work said it all.

You weren’t here for Heeseung. Not at all.

Sunghoon didn’t miss a beat. He leaned back in his chair, watching you for a second, before sliding his glasses down his nose slightly and giving you a small smirk. “Hey, Y/N. What’s up?”

You jolted slightly, surprised to see him so casually lounging there. You shot him an awkward smile and then immediately tried to cover it up with a defensive shrug. “Oh, nothing. I’m just… uh, here to give Heeseung something,” you said, voice a little too high-pitched, almost like you were trying to convince yourself of your own words.

Sunghoon didn’t look convinced. He tilted his head slightly, studying you with a small, knowing smile. “Are you sure you’re here for Heeseung?”

Your heart skipped. “Yeah, of course,” you said too quickly, glancing nervously around the library again. “I mean, I just… I need to give him this thing and—”

“You sure?” Sunghoon interrupted, pushing his chair back just a little, his tone shifting slightly to something almost teasing. He didn’t buy it. “Because Jay’s in the cafeteria. Right now. Just thought you’d want to know.”

You froze. For a moment, it felt like the world had stopped. Your eyes widened before you quickly looked away, trying to hide the obvious flustered blush creeping up your neck. “I—” You cleared your throat, forcing yourself to straighten up. “I wasn’t looking for him,” you muttered, biting your lip.

Sunghoon didn’t say much after that, just shrugged casually and hummed a little tune under his breath as he pushed his chair back and stood up. His expression was unreadable, his quiet demeanor leaving you with an uneasy feeling in your stomach. Without another word, he simply smiled, offering a half-hearted wave as he walked past you.

You watched him go, unsure of what to make of the interaction. It was classic Sunghoon—quiet, observant, and always somehow getting under your skin without even trying.

You couldn’t stand how he could so easily see through you.

With a frustrated sigh, you picked up your bag and made your way out of the library, heading toward the cafeteria where you knew Jay would be. Even though your heart was pounding and your mind was spinning with confusion, you couldn’t stop yourself. You had to see him.

The thought of Heeseung’s warning echoed in your mind, but you pushed it aside. Sunghoon was right about one thing—things were already chaotic. Maybe this was the only way to make sense of it all.

You tried to calm your nerves as you walked to the cafeteria, but the closer you got, the harder it became to shake the doubt gnawing at you. Would you find the answers you were looking for, or would this just be another mess to clean up later?

When you stepped into the cafeteria, the noise hit you immediately—students chatting, trays clattering, the low hum of conversation filling the air. But despite all the noise, your eyes immediately zeroed in on Jay, sitting at one of the tables by the window, his usual carefree smile on his face as he joked around with his friends.

Your stomach flipped.

You didn’t want to admit it, but you were both relieved and anxious at the same time. He looked just as he always did—easygoing, confident, and annoyingly charming. The problem was, now you knew him differently. The things you’d heard, the things you’d seen—it was hard to look at him the same way.

You took a deep breath and walked towards him, trying to shake off the tension in your shoulders. As you got closer, you saw Jay’s head turn just as he noticed you.

His eyes lit up when he saw you, and despite the complicated mess you two had become, you couldn’t help but feel a flicker of warmth at the sight of him. He gave you a lazy grin, pushing his chair back and standing up in one smooth motion.

“Y/N,” he greeted, his voice low and smooth, like he wasn’t the least bit phased by the tension hanging between you two. “What’s up?”

You barely kept your expression neutral. “I need to talk to you.”

Jay raised an eyebrow, glancing at the empty seat across from him, then back at you. “Come on, sit down. You don’t look like you’re here to discuss world peace. I’m guessing you’re looking for something else.”

You hesitated, biting your lip. It felt weird being this close to him again, feeling the electricity between you like it was the first time you’d ever been in his orbit. Everything about this felt wrong. But you had to do it.

Sitting down, you met his gaze directly. “I’m not here to cause any more trouble. I just… need to know what’s going on between us.”

Jay tilted his head, his easygoing expression faltering slightly. He leaned forward, one arm on the table as if he was genuinely interested. “What do you mean? Between us?” His voice softened, and for a second, you could see the shift in him. It was subtle, but it was there.

You clenched your hands together on the table, trying to steady yourself. “You know what I mean, Jay. All of this—the bet, the confusion… what’s real and what’s not?”

Jay leaned back in his chair, the carefree smile from earlier slipping away, replaced by something more serious. “You still don’t trust me, huh?”

You swallowed, the words catching in your throat. “It’s not that. It’s just… I don’t know what to believe anymore.”

He was quiet for a long moment, his gaze lingering on you with an intensity that made your breath catch. When he finally spoke, his tone was different—he was no longer the cocky guy you used to know, but someone who seemed oddly vulnerable.

“Look,” he said, his voice quieter now, “I get it. Everything I did, everything I said—it was wrong. But I’m not that guy anymore, Y/N. I’ve changed. I care about you. I don’t want to mess this up.”

Your heart raced in your chest. You wanted to believe him. You really did. But the part of you that was still holding on to the past, to the version of Jay that Heeseung had painted, kept pushing those thoughts aside.

“I don’t know, Jay. It’s just… hard. You and I? We don’t mix well,” you said, your voice barely above a whisper.

Jay’s expression flickered. “I’m not asking for things to be perfect. I just want a chance, Y/N. A real one.”

The weight of his words hung heavy in the air between you, and for a split second, it felt like you were both on the same page—like everything that had happened before didn’t matter. But then, like a flash of lightning, the reminder of everything that had happened came rushing back.

You shook your head, pulling yourself back. “I can’t just forget all of it, Jay. It’s not that simple.”

Jay leaned in closer, his gaze intense. “I’m not asking you to forget. Just… don’t hold me to who I was.”

Your chest tightened. You were torn between everything you wanted and everything you feared.

“I’m still figuring it out,” you admitted, the vulnerability in your voice surprising even yourself. “But I’m not sure I’m ready for this… whatever this is.”

Jay didn’t respond right away. He just nodded slowly, like he understood, but there was a flicker of disappointment in his eyes. “I get it. But I’m not going anywhere, Y/N. When you’re ready, I’ll be here.”

You wanted to say more, but the words caught in your throat. Instead, you just stood up, trying to make your voice steady again.

“I’ll… think about it,” you said, but your tone didn’t sound as sure as you wanted it to. You didn’t know if you were ready for this, but you couldn’t just walk away.

Jay gave you one last look, his smile returning, though it was softer this time. “Take your time.”

As you walked away, your mind was a whirlwind of thoughts. What did this all mean? What would Heeseung say? Would Jay really change, or was this just another game to him? You didn’t have the answers. Not yet. But for the first time in a long time, you weren’t sure who you were supposed to be angry at anymore.

The days that followed were a whirlwind. You and Jay decided to keep things under wraps—something about the secrecy added a layer of excitement, even though it made everything feel a little more complicated. You couldn’t bring yourself to tell Heeseung, not yet. The thought of his reaction made your stomach twist in knots. But with Jay, it was easy. Easier than you expected. He was surprisingly attentive when you needed him to be, remembering little details about you that Heeseung and others had long forgotten.

Jay was still Jay, cocky and smooth-talking, but there were moments where he’d let his guard down. The way he’d walk you to class, his hand brushing against yours as if it were the most natural thing in the world. The way he’d drop a joke here and there, making you laugh when you needed it most. You never thought you’d say it, but Jay wasn’t the player you thought he was—well, not all the time anyway.

Of course, he was still a bit of a show-off. You could never really take him seriously when he’d lean against the doorframe of your dorm, smirking, saying things like, “You know, I’m way too good-looking to be keeping this a secret.”

You would roll your eyes, trying to suppress your grin. “Yeah, you’re such a mystery.”

He’d chuckle, that cocky smirk still glued to his face. “I know, I know. You’re welcome.”

But underneath the bravado, he was kind, listening to you vent about your day, cracking jokes just to make you smile. For the first time, you felt like maybe this whole secret thing wasn’t so bad. But that didn’t mean you didn’t have doubts. It was all so new, and despite everything, there was still a little voice in the back of your mind reminding you of how messy things could get.

You weren’t the only one who had doubts, though. Your first real step in sharing this secret came one night when you were sitting in your dorm room, staring at your phone. Sunoo, always seemed to know everything before anyone else, had been eyeing you strangely all week. He’d been quiet, his teasing always bordering on serious.

“Sunoo,” you started, hesitating as he sprawled out on your bed, scrolling through his phone, “I need to tell you something.”

His head snapped up immediately. “Oh?” He raised a brow. “Spill.”

You took a deep breath. “I’m… I’m seeing someone. But it’s secret. And I know it’s weird because—” you paused, running a hand through your hair. “It’s Jay.”

The look on Sunoo’s face was one you’d never seen before. His eyes went wide, his mouth falling open as he blinked rapidly. For a second, he just stared at you, completely silent. Then, as if he couldn’t contain himself any longer, he exploded.

“What?!” he half-yelled, half-laughed, scrambling off your bed and pacing around the room in disbelief. “Hold up, hold up. You’re dating Jay? Jay. The same Jay who—”

“Sunoo, please—” you interrupted, raising a hand to stop him from getting too carried away.

“—the same Jay who practically ruined Heeseung’s life?” He flung his hands up in the air dramatically. “The one you’ve been bashing to me for weeks? And now you’re secretly dating him?”

You sighed, running a hand down your face. “Yes. But it’s not like that, okay? I know what you’re thinking, but things are… different with him. He’s not like he used to be. It’s just—complicated.”

Sunoo was still pacing, clearly trying to wrap his head around it. “Complicated? This is beyond complicated, Y/N! Do you know how much drama this is going to cause? Heeseung is gonna flip. I’m not even talking about how Jay’s gonna react when he finds out that you were hiding this from him. You’re already tangled up in all of this and now you’re—oh my god, why is everything in your life like this?”

You slumped back into your chair, feeling the weight of your decision. “I don’t want to deal with drama. But I like him, Sunoo. And I think he likes me, too. And… honestly, I don’t care what people think. I just wanted to tell you because I can’t keep this to myself anymore.”

Sunoo stopped pacing and stared at you with an intensity that made you shift in your seat. “You really like him, huh?”

You nodded, trying to hold his gaze. “Yeah. It’s… it’s stupid, but I do.”

There was a long pause. Sunoo looked like he was about to explode again, but then he let out a slow breath, sitting down beside you. “Okay. Fine. I’ll let it slide. But seriously—if you get caught, I’m not helping you out of this mess. You’re on your own.” He raised a finger and wagged it at you. “And I’m keeping my distance from all of this. I didn’t sign up for this chaos, alright?”

You chuckled, relieved by the fact that Sunoo wasn’t completely flipping out. “Thanks, Sunoo. I appreciate it. I promise I’ll figure this out.”

He leaned back against the bed with a dramatic sigh. “You’re lucky I’m your best friend. If anyone else tried to pull this, I’d roast them for the rest of their life.”

“Well, I’m lucky to have you, then,” you said with a grin.

Sunoo shot you a look of mock disbelief. “Just promise me one thing,” he said, raising a brow. “If Heeseung finds out and loses his mind, I’m not helping you clean up the mess. You’re on your own with that one.”

You laughed, feeling the stress of it all lighten a little. “Deal.”

Sunoo was known for two things: his impeccable gossip radar and his inability to keep a secret for more than 24 hours. And, of course, the fact that he loved to stir the pot. As soon as you had finished telling him about you and Jay, Sunoo’s mind started racing. He was already formulating what he would tell Heeseung the moment he saw him. He wasn’t going to be able to keep this juicy tidbit to himself, no matter how much you trusted him to stay quiet.

The next day, Heeseung was sitting in the courtyard, casually talking to some friends, but Sunoo could see it—the slightest shift in Heeseung’s posture when he noticed him coming. Heeseung raised an eyebrow as Sunoo approached, a mischievous grin forming on his face.

“You’re looking like you’ve got something to spill, Sunoo,” Heeseung said, his voice light but clearly curious.

Sunoo couldn’t help himself. He sat down next to Heeseung, his eyes practically gleaming with the excitement of what he was about to drop.

“You wouldn’t believe it, man,” Sunoo started, looking around as if to make sure no one else was listening in. “You know how you’ve been all worried about Y/N and Jay, right?”

Heeseung’s expression darkened, and his eyes narrowed in suspicion. “What about them?”

Sunoo leaned in, lowering his voice as if he were telling a state secret. “Well, turns out… they’ve been secretly dating. For, like, a while now.”

Heeseung froze for a second, the weight of Sunoo’s words sinking in. His jaw clenched, and he quickly glanced around, as if making sure no one had overheard the conversation.

“Wait, what?” Heeseung’s voice was quieter, almost a whisper, as if he couldn’t believe it. “How do you know?”

Sunoo, unable to hold back the excitement bubbling inside him, leaned back in his seat and crossed his arms, like he was watching a drama unfold. “I’ve got my sources,” he said, winking. “And it’s not just a rumor, Heeseung. They’re actually seeing each other. Y/N told me everything.”

Heeseung stared at him for a moment, his expression unreadable, but it was clear the news hit him like a punch to the gut. His face twisted in a mix of disbelief and frustration,and for a moment, it seemed like he might say something, but he stopped himself.

“Y/N would never—” Heeseung started, his voice shaking with a mix of anger and hurt.

“Oh, she would,” Sunoo cut in, nonchalantly. “She’s just keeping it under wraps, like some big secret. But honestly, it makes sense, right? All that tension, all that back and forth between them, it was bound to happen.”

Heeseung stood up abruptly, running a hand through his hair in frustration. “I can’t believe this,” he muttered, more to himself than to Sunoo. “After everything, she goes behind my back like this?”

Sunoo could feel the anger radiating off Heeseung, and it made him feel a little guilty, but not enough to hold his tongue. “Yeah, it’s a mess, isn’t it? I mean, she’s been going on about how much she hates Jay, but clearly, something changed. Who knows? Maybe it was all that tension, or maybe she just got tired of waiting around. But whatever the case, it’s real. And if you ask me, I think you should be a little more worried about what’s coming next.”

Heeseung looked like he was about to explode. His fists clenched at his sides, and his face was flushed with a mix of confusion and rage. “I—I have to talk to her,” he said, his voice raw.

Sunoo shrugged, not caring that Heeseung was clearly on the verge of losing his cool. “I’m just saying, you might want to figure things out with her before she starts making it official with Jay. Things are already messy enough.”

As Sunoo stood up to leave, he turned to give Heeseung one last look. “You know where to find me if you need more tea,” he teased, before walking away, leaving Heeseung standing there, seething with emotions that were rapidly spiraling out of control.

Sunoo had done his part. Now, it was Heeseung’s turn to deal with the consequences. But something told him this was only the beginning.

You didn’t have to guess who was at the door. The feeling in your stomach told you everything you needed to know. Heeseung.

You stood frozen for a moment before you opened the door slowly, trying to act casual, though the nervous energy in your body betrayed you. There he was, standing at your door, his expression tight with something that looked like anger—and disappointment.

Heeseung glanced at you, then around your room, like he was trying to piece everything together. “What’s going on, Y/N?” His voice was strained, the usual warmth gone. “Why didn’t you tell me about this? Why didn’t you tell me about Jay?”

You swallowed hard, your heart racing. You weren’t sure how to answer. You could feel the weight of everything pressing down on you. The truth? Would he even believe you if you told him everything? Or would he just think it was another betrayal?

“Heeseung, I—” You began, but he cut you off, his voice sharp.

“Why, Y/N?” His voice cracked through the tension. “Why did you have to keep this a secret? Why with Jay? After everything?”

You could feel the guilt tearing at you, but you didn’t know what to say. The words were tangled up in your chest, but you knew you couldn’t hold back anymore. “I never meant to hurt you,” you said quietly, your voice barely above a whisper. You stepped back, leaning against your desk. “But… I don’t know. Things just happened with Jay, and I didn’t know how to handle it. You and I… we’ve always been so complicated, Heeseung. I never wanted to hurt you, I swear. But Jay and I… we’ve been spending time together. It just happened.”

Heeseung’s face hardened, his eyes narrowing at you. “So that’s it, then? You’ve been sneaking around behind my back with him?”

“No, that’s not it at all,” you snapped, finally feeling the frustration bubble to the surface. “I wasn’t sneaking around with anyone. It just… happened, Heeseung. We’ve both been playing these games for so long. And you—” You stopped yourself, realizing you were about to say something you might regret. “And you, you were always going back to her, your girlfriend, every time you fought with her. It was always me picking up the pieces for you. But no matter how much I helped, nothing changed. So… I stopped waiting.”

Heeseung’s face flickered with hurt, but it quickly morphed back into anger. “So you think I’m the one to blame here? You think I made you do this?”

Your voice cracked as you spoke, the frustration you’d been holding onto for so long finally breaking free. “I didn’t say that. But I’m tired, Heeseung. I’m tired of always being the one who’s there when you need someone to pick up the pieces. And I’m tired of holding onto something that’s not there anymore.”

Heeseung didn’t say anything for a long moment. He just stared at you, his expression unreadable. Finally, he sighed, running a hand through his hair. “I don’t know what to say to you right now, Y/N.” His voice was low, almost defeated. “You know… I don’t even know if I can forgive you for this. Not right now.”

The words hit you harder than you expected. Your heart sank as you blinked rapidly, trying to hold back tears. “I don’t need your forgiveness, Heeseung. I’m just trying to do what’s best for me, for once.”

Silence fell between the two of you, thick and suffocating. You wanted to say something, anything to fix it, but you knew deep down that there was nothing you could do. Heeseung turned to leave, but then stopped, his back still to you.

“Do me a favor,” he said, his voice soft, barely audible. “Don’t do something you’ll regret, Y/N. You don’t have to do this. You’ve been so important to me for so long. Please… don’t lose yourself in all of this.”

You stood there, unable to respond. You didn’t know what to say, didn’t know what to do. You were already losing yourself, weren’t you? But maybe I’ve already lost him, you thought as you watched him walk away.

The door clicked shut behind him, but the echo of his words rang louder than anything else. You stood there in your room, motionless, heart racing and chest tight like it was wrapped in barbed wire. You hated how he still had that power over you—how a few words, a stare, and the sound of your name in his voice could unravel everything you’d built for yourself.

He was wrong, wasn’t he?

You weren’t losing yourself. You were just… figuring things out. You weren’t the same girl who used to drop everything the second he called. You weren’t the one patching him up anymore after every fight with his girlfriend. You were your own person now. Someone who laughed too loud at Jay’s dumb jokes. Someone who liked the way he challenged you. Who liked the way he looked at you like you were the only one in the room, even when you were surrounded by people.

But that didn’t mean you didn’t feel like shit.

You paced your room, emotions swirling inside you like a storm you couldn’t control. It wasn’t supposed to go like this. You weren’t supposed to feel this confused. Jay made things easy, simple. You bickered, you competed, you flirted, and—somewhere in between—you found something that felt a lot like peace. Even if it was messy. Even if it was sudden. But Heeseung’s words… they lingered like a bruise under your skin.

Don’t do something you’ll regret.

God. Heeseung always made things feel heavier than they had to be.

You collapsed onto your bed, staring up at the ceiling, and after a long moment, you grabbed your phone. Your fingers hovered over Jay’s name. You were supposed to call him tonight. To talk about this. To maybe make it official, if you were both ready.

But suddenly, you didn’t know if you were.

Not because of Heeseung. Not just because of him.

But because you didn’t trust yourself not to break the same way again. To fall into old habits. To blur the lines between right and wrong. You’d spent so long being someone else’s lifeline, you weren’t sure how to be your own.

Still, your thumb pressed down, and the phone started ringing.

If there was one thing you did know—it was this: whether it ended in a smile or a disaster, you were too far in to back out now.

Jay picked up on the third ring.

“Hey,” he said, voice soft, almost hesitant. Like he could sense the storm brewing behind your silence.

You swallowed. “Hi.”

There was a pause—long enough for you to hear the faint music in the background on his end. Then, “You okay?”

You almost laughed. Was that a question anymore?

“I don’t know,” you said honestly, curling your fingers into your bedsheets. “Heeseung knows. Sunoo told him.”

Jay sighed, like he already expected that. “Yeah. I figured.”

That made you sit up. “You did?”

“I mean,” he murmured, “I didn’t think Sunoo would keep it to himself for long. He kind of looked like he was gonna explode when you told him. I saw him bolt across campus like he was on a mission.”

You let out a breathy laugh, the edge of panic softening just a little. “God, I should’ve known.”

“Hey,” Jay said gently, “are you okay? Like really okay?”

You hesitated. “Heeseung said I’m losing myself.”

Jay didn’t say anything at first. Then his voice came, steady and careful: “Do you think you are?”

You looked down at your lap, tracing a pattern over your comforter with your nail. “I don’t know. Maybe. I just… I feel like I’ve always been someone to someone. Heeseung’s best friend. The girl who fights Jay in every class. The toxic ex. The girl who makes reckless decisions and kisses people to shut them up.”

Jay let out a quiet, amused breath at that one.

You went on, “I don’t know how to just… be. Without people talking. Without feeling like I owe someone something. Even you. I keep thinking—maybe I don’t deserve to want this.”

There was silence again. Then Jay said, “You do.”

Your heart caught.

“I know you think I’m still that guy from a year ago,” he continued. “The guy who played stupid games and made stupid bets. And maybe part of me still is. But the part of me that matters now? The part that looks at you and wants more than some stupid competition? That part’s real. And it’s yours, if you want it.”

Your throat felt thick.

“I want it,” you whispered.

He didn’t answer right away. But then he said, “Then screw what Heeseung says. Screw the rumors. Screw everything that came before. Let’s make our own version of this.”

You smiled faintly, tears pricking your eyes for no good reason.

“Okay,” you whispered.

“Okay,” he echoed.

And for once, it felt like the world might finally let you breathe.

Heeseung sat slouched on the campus lawn, fingers tugging idly at the blades of grass beneath him, lips pressed into a thin line as his girlfriend rubbed slow circles into his back. Jake and his girlfriend were sprawled out nearby, half-listening, half-whispering to each other in the shade.

“I just—don’t know, babe,” Heeseung muttered finally, eyes locked on nothing in particular. “He’s supposed to be my best friend.”

Jake’s girlfriend sighed, straightening up. “And he still is, Heeseung. You’re just being stubborn.”

He rolled his eyes and leaned back on his hands, scoffing. “So now I’m the bad guy for not being thrilled that my so-called best friend is sneaking around with her?”

Jake’s girlfriend exchanged a look with Heeseung’s. “It’s not like they planned it to hurt you. You said it yourself—YN never even liked him. And now she does. What, she’s not allowed to fall for someone unless you approve?”

Heeseung didn’t answer, jaw tightening.

His girlfriend turned to him, her voice softer. “I’m serious, Hee. Jay’s not perfect, but he’s always been there for you. You’re being an idiot if you can’t see how much this means to them. Especially YN. She’s finally… happy. Can’t you just show up for her the way she always showed up for you?”

Heeseung’s eyes flickered up to meet hers, conflicted and clouded.

Then she added, “Also… for the record? I kissed Jay. Not the other way around.”

Heeseung’s head snapped toward her. “Wait, what?”

She nodded, expression calm. “You’ve been holding a grudge over something you only knew half the story of. I kissed him. He was surprised. And yeah, fine, he kissed me back the second time. But we weren’t dating the first time it happened—you just never wanted to believe that.”

Heeseung’s brows furrowed. “And the second time?”

“That one was on both of us,” she admitted, leaning back. “We were technically together, sure. But you wanna talk about betrayal? Don’t forget you kissed Ina.”

The silence that followed was thick. Jake’s girlfriend blinked. Heeseung’s shoulders tensed.

“Okay,” he muttered after a beat. “Low blow.”

“Is it?” a familiar voice chimed in as you approached the group, arms crossed and a raised brow. “Because if I remember correctly, that was while we were still close. And Ina was my best friend.”

Heeseung shifted uncomfortably, eyes flickering toward you.

You smiled, tight and sharp. “But hey, let’s keep talking about betrayal.”

He didn’t have a comeback. And for once, neither did you.

The silence this time was yours.

You were leaning into Jay’s shoulder, fingers tangled with his under the table while the two of you quietly scrolled through your phones, pretending not to notice the tension that still lingered in the air after the whole fallout. Things had gotten messy—too messy—but somehow, here you were. Still side by side.

You almost didn’t notice Heeseung walk up until a familiar paper cup was set down in front of you with a gentle thud. You looked up, brows furrowed, ready to snap at whoever was interrupting—until your gaze landed on him.

Heeseung stood there, holding out another cup toward Jay.

“Regular milk tea. No boba. Less ice,” he said, almost grumbling it, eyes flicking away like the words tasted sour in his mouth. “Still your favorite?”

Jay blinked, clearly caught off guard. He didn’t move to take it right away. “…Yeah.”

You sat up a little straighter, eyes darting between them as Jay slowly took the drink from Heeseung’s hand. Heeseung scratched the back of his neck and looked everywhere but at the two of you.

“I figured if I was gonna try not being a dick about this, bubble tea was a decent start.”

Jay gave a short laugh, like he didn’t know if he was supposed to be amused or suspicious. “Thanks, man.”

Heeseung just gave a tight nod and finally looked at you—his expression unreadable. You couldn’t tell if he was annoyed, resigned, or genuinely trying. Maybe all three.

You offered a small smile anyway. “Thanks for mine too.”

He didn’t say anything, just gave a shrug like it was no big deal and walked off, hands shoved deep into his hoodie pockets.

Jay glanced at you, then back at the drink in his hand. “Didn’t expect that today.”

“Me neither,” you muttered, leaning into him again.

But even as you rested your head against his shoulder, you felt a pang in your chest. Because Heeseung still remembered.

You took a slow sip of your drink, the sweetness of the milk tea doing very little to wash away the bitter taste in your mouth. Your eyes were narrowed, staring at the cup like it had personally wronged you.

“I’m still pissed at Sunoo for telling Heeseung,” you muttered, voice low but sharp.

Jay chuckled beside you, leaning back in his seat. “Come on,” he said, nudging your leg with his. “You know Sunoo can’t keep his mouth shut for more than twenty-four hours.”

“That’s not an excuse,” you snapped, looking at him now. “He promised he wouldn’t say anything. And the second he had the chance to stir the pot, he dumped the whole damn thing.”

Jay shrugged, still smiling a little. “It’s Sunoo. He lives for drama. Honestly, I’m surprised he lasted that long.”

You rolled your eyes, annoyed that Jay was taking this so lightly, but you couldn’t deny he had a point. Sunoo was like a walking group chat—loud, animated, and incapable of holding in a juicy secret. Still, it stung.

“I just wanted to tell Heeseung myself,” you muttered. “I wanted to do it the right way.”

Jay softened, tilting his head. “I know. But maybe… it worked out for the better? He doesn’t look like he’s plotting my murder anymore. That’s gotta mean something.”

You huffed, leaning your head on his shoulder again. “Barely.”

“Hey,” he said, brushing his thumb against your hand, “he brought me milk tea. That’s, like, Heeseung-speak for I’m trying.”

You couldn’t help the small smile that tugged at your lips. “Whatever. I’m still mad at Sunoo.”

Jay laughed. “Yeah, well, good luck staying mad. He’ll probably show up at our door with a glitter apology card and a fruit tray in, like, an hour.”

You snorted. “Don’t tempt me. I’ll slam the door in his face.”

“No, you won’t.”

“…Yeah, I won’t.”

A couple of weeks passed, and despite the underlying tension, things had gradually settled into an uneasy but workable rhythm. You and Jay were still keeping things mostly under wraps—well, for the most part. Sunoo had already spilled the beans to Heeseung, though. You knew it was only a matter of time before the rest of the group caught wind of it.

So, after a bit of back and forth, everyone finally agreed to a “peace offering.” Heeseung, Jay, and even Sunghoon (with his usual reserved demeanor) had agreed to meet for a casual garden picnic—something to bridge the gap. The only catch? It was going to be a quadruple date. Your best friends and their girlfriends were invited too, making it a bit of a group outing.

The picnic spot was serene, surrounded by the soft hum of the city just beyond the park. The weather was perfect—bright and sunny with a slight breeze. It felt like the universe was giving everyone a little break from the chaos. You sat next to Jay on the checkered blanket, his hand casually resting on your knee. You both helped set up, keeping your movements natural and easy. But as soon as your eyes met Heeseung’s, you couldn’t shake the awkwardness that lingered in the air. He was sitting next to his girlfriend, shooting occasional glances at Jay. You could tell he was trying to keep it together, but the tension was still there, unspoken and heavy.

“Do you think it’s going to work?” you asked Jay, glancing at Heeseung and Ina from the corner of your eye.

Jay shrugged, not missing a beat. “We’ll see. It’s not like we can change everything in one day.” His voice was quiet but certain. His eyes were warm, though, focused on you as he squeezed your hand gently. “Don’t worry. It’s not a big deal.”

As the others arrived, Jake and his girlfriend came over, immediately cracking jokes and setting up a game of volleyball. Sunghoon and his girlfriend, too, joined in—Sunghoon, as usual, staying relatively silent while his girlfriend bubbled with excitement. She looked at him with a playful smirk, nudging him with her elbow.

“Babe, are you actually going to talk today, or are you just going to sit there being a statue?” she teased.

Sunghoon just shrugged, not bothering to respond. But there was a tiny, amused glint in his eyes. His girlfriend rolled her eyes and turned to you.

“So, what’s the deal with you and Jay? You two are still keeping things hush-hush?” she asked, her voice a little too curious.

You shot her a quick glance, unsure of what to say, but Jay was already speaking up. “What’s the point of making things complicated, right? Sometimes it’s better to keep things simple.”

But the laughter from the others couldn’t entirely hide the tension between Heeseung and Jay. You could feel the unspoken rivalry simmering beneath the surface. Heeseung, ever the protector, was giving Jay an occasional hard stare, especially as Jake cracked more jokes.

“Come on, Heeseung. Don’t make this harder than it needs to be,” Jake teased, nudging Heeseung’s shoulder. “We’re all just here to relax.”

Heeseung forced a tight smile but didn’t say anything. He took a deep breath and muttered under his breath, “Still don’t like him.”

Jay smirked. “Yeah, I can tell.”

“Awkward,” Sunghoon’s girlfriend chimed in from the other side of the picnic blanket, dramatically glancing between the two boys. “Is this how it’s going to be? You two have known each other for years, but now it’s this… weird?”

You rolled your eyes but couldn’t help the small laugh that escaped. “I don’t know why everyone’s pretending this isn’t a little messy. It’s been weird from the start.”

But just as the tension began to settle back into that uncomfortable silence, Sunghoon—silent as ever—tapped his water bottle against the ground, glancing at you with a look that could only be described as amused. “So… when’s the wedding?”

You couldn’t help the blush that spread across your cheeks. “Shut up, Sunghoon.”

He just shrugged. “I’m just saying, if you two are going to be all secretive, you might as well just get married already.”

The laughter that followed made the air feel lighter, and for a moment, it almost felt like things could go back to how they used to be. The group chattered, eating, and playing games. Sunghoon’s quiet but steady presence made you feel like everything would somehow work itself out.

But you couldn’t deny the awkwardness still lingering between Heeseung and Jay. It wasn’t something that could be fixed overnight, and you knew that. Still, there was a small part of you that hoped, maybe hoped, this would be the start of something different—something better.

As the sun dipped lower, the golden light casting long shadows across the grass, Jay leaned closer, his arm resting around your shoulders. You let your head rest on his, the familiar warmth comforting in a way it hadn’t been in a long time.

He whispered, “It’s going to be fine. Just give it time.”

You nodded, grateful that at least for now, things felt right between you two.

It was messy, sure. But it was yours. And maybe, just maybe, that would be enough to make it work.

The sound of laughter, the clinking of glasses, and the chatter of your friends filled the air, and for once, it didn’t feel like anything was about to fall apart.

Everything was still awkward. But maybe… that was just the start of something new.

enhypen campus series

#tbr

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firstclassjaylee · 22 days ago

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• I-Y-K-Y-K - YJW ↳ ┊: iykyk - illit

꒰ 𝔖𝘺𝘯𝘰𝘱𝘴𝘪𝘴 ꒱┆a confession gone wrong could turn out to be the best thing that’s ever happened to jungwon ⨾

۶ৎ downbad!jungwon x crush fem!reader┆fluff, crack┆cursing, won’s a bit silly, so is riki, it all works out dw┆smau

⤷ 𝐲𝐞𝐣𝐢’𝐬 𝐧𝐨𝐭𝐞𝐬: hehe thank you to @sojumimi for the wonderful idea >.< i hope it turned out okay 🤍 feedback is always appreciated !

꒰ঌ ℬℴℴ𝓀𝓈𝒽ℯ𝓁𝒻 ໒꒱

more under cut!

˗ˏˋ ꒰ ✉︎ ꒱ ˎˊ˗ 𝐉𝐢𝐣𝐢’𝐬 𝐓𝐚𝐠𝐥𝐢𝐬𝐭: @vmpivory, @yuvany, @seozii, @pinknjm, @greentulip, @jomisu, @nxzz-skz, @ancnymcnzjy, @hyukabean, @annybah, @ijustwannareadstuff20, @chaeneu, @17ericas, @firstclassjaylee, @riribelle, @right-person-wrong-time, @cheruphic, @woniefication, @melodiessvy, @soona-huh

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firstclassjaylee · 23 days ago

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JUST MARRIED 、 psh

𝗔𝗟𝗧𝗘𝗥𝗡𝗔𝗧𝗜𝗩𝗘𝗟𝗬────𝖽𝗋𝗎𝗇𝗄 𝗈𝗋 𝗇𝗈𝗍, 𝗌𝗎𝗇𝗀𝗁𝗈𝗈𝗇 𝗂𝗌 𝗁𝖾𝖺𝖽 𝗈𝗏𝖾𝗋 𝗁𝖾𝖾𝗅𝗌 𝖿𝗈𝗋 𝗒𝗈𝗎

❪ 𝐏𝐑𝐄𝐂𝒾𝐒 ❫ ｡ 𝖽𝗈𝗐𝗇 𝖻𝖺𝖽!𝗉𝗌𝗁 𝗑 𝖿!𝗋 1OO3wc 𖥔 𝖿𝗅𝗎𝖿𝖿 ──𝗰𝗮𝘂𝘁𝗶𝗼𝗻𝘀 𝗄𝗂𝗌𝗌𝗂𝗇𝗀 drinking 贅沢／ 𝐌𝐀𝐆𝐀𝐙𝐈𝐍𝐄

★REBLOGPLEASE

“baby, please please,” sunghoon mumbles gibberish as he struggles to stand still, “it’s such a good idea, just hear me out!”

under the heavy influence of alcohol and the aftermath of some questionable yet impressive breakdancing at your friend’s wedding, sunghoon now stands flushed and breathless—face red, tie askew, a few shirt buttons undone. his tuxedo is bundled in your arms, and his hands are on your shoulders, trying to stabilize himself.

“we n-need to get married and—” hiccup “and, and m-move in—” hiccup “—will- will be the best hubby f-for you” hiccup

sunghoon grips your shoulders tighter, his weight tipping dangerously forward every time he leans in, eyes half-lidded with determination and booze-fueled affection. his lips purse in slow motion, aiming clumsily for yours.

you push a hand firmly against his chest. “nope. not happening.”

“my wife,” he whines, stumbling back a few steps on the empty road in front of the event, before striding towards you again, “you hurt me, i r-really need you!”

“sunghoon, the cab will be here any minute—”

you couldn’t even finish your sentence as sunghoon slumps his whole body weight over you, gathering you into a bear hug.

somehow, you manage to create a fair space between the two of you. pressing your hands on his chest, you try to push back as sunghoon wraps his arms around your waist and rests his head on your shoulders.

“i love you,” he barely makes coherent sentences, snuggling his face at the crook of your neck, his lips gently pressing against it, “please marry me. we could elope. vegas. tomorrow.”

you laugh, something between blushing, humour and your heart swelling up to his words. you muster all your strength and push him until he’s just one arm away.

“i swear to god,” you sigh, trying to pry him off as his tux almost slips away from your hold, “you will wake up with zero memory tomorrow morning.”

“i don’t need memory,” sunghoon pouts again, chuckling out loud as he comes closer to you again, stumbling and swaying in his steps as he cups your face, “my body knows, my lips .. know.”

before you can say anything, he leans in and connects his lips with yours in the sloppiest, neediest kiss ever.

your brain short circuits.

his mouth is warm and clumsy, moving with unplanned precision against yours than he usually has— this is all desperation and tipsy affection. he hiccups once, twice into the kiss, chuckling before reconnecting his lips with yours. you feel your knees becoming weaker.

you try to push him away but he only leans in even more, humming into the kiss like he has been craving this all night. he slides his hand up your back, pressing you impossibly close to him, both his hands anchoring to your body.

he pulls back just a little, lips brushing yours, eyes fluttering. “you taste like forever,” he whispers, so seriously that your chest tightens despite the absurdity.

“sunghoon, there are still people here—” you gasp, pulling him back by his raven hair. he winces as the pull softly, but refuses to let you go.

“there’s no one here but us and destiny,” he breathes, and kisses you again before you can even roll your eyes.

this time the kiss is slower, softer, he tilts his head to kiss you deeper, his hands soon finding your cheeks. although he reeked of alcohol still, you couldn’t shake him away. you gasp softly as he tilts his head, deepening it—his mouth opening against yours with such yearning, you nearly forget where you are. his lips trail down to your jaw for a second, then back up, brushing teasingly slow before capturing your bottom lip again with a sigh.

“sunghoon,” you whisper against him, dizzy, drunk in love as well. but sunghoon only hums against your lips, and kisses them soft. slow. longer and lingering, blushing like he’s kissing for the first time.

“enough now,” you pant for breath as he pulls away, hitting his chest, “we have to go— what are you doing?”

sunghoon suddenly drops down on his knees. like, actually drops, hard, on the pavement outside the wedding venue with flickering lights still on.

you gape, “oh my god, ‘hoon! get up, you’re ruining your pants!”

“no!” he shouts, well, slurs incoherently while his arms wrap around your waist, “this is it. i have waited for this and i will say it.”

“get up—”

“y/n,” he cuts you off, dramatically clutching at his chest like he’s been shot. “i am so, so in love with you. like there is nothing in this world i wouldn’t do for you and—”

“oh my god.”

he takes a deep breath, then grabs your hand in both of his, pressing it to his heart. “marry me,” he says, eyes shiny with sincerity and tequila. “please. i’ll be so good. i’ll do the dishes. i’ll learn to cook. i’ll stop trying to do flips at weddings. probably.”

“you’re so drunk,” you try to lean in, eyes pricking with tears of both laughter and yearning.

“but I’m serious,” he insists, eyes locking onto yours like they’re the only steady thing in his spinning world. “i want to marry you. tonight. tomorrow. whenever. just—say yes. please, baby, please.”

“sunghoon, baby,” you sigh, controlling your chuckle as you start to caress his neck and face, “get up.”

“if i—” hiccup “get up, will you marry me?” sunghoon pouts.

“yes!” you almost shout, a little laughter escaping you. your heart aches, he is a total mess, drunk to the nose, shit crumples and knees dirty from the pavement as he stands up. but through all of that, you know he means all of it.

“okay,” sunghoon straightens his back, holding your hands, “we are married now. can i kiss my bride?”

you almost cry, tugging softly at his hands, “yes.”

he doesn’t waste no time, immediately capturing your lips in his, pulling you impossibly close again. hands resting on your cheeks, sunghoon truly loves you.

스루 ܃ never lower your standards, if your man doesn’t get on his knees for you, boy next 😹

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firstclassjaylee · 24 days ago

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Hyper & Chill | psh

act 40: workplace shenanigans

Things at work had been going smoothly. You and Sunghoon had perfected the art of professionalism—keeping your relationship lowkey while navigating your respective departments. No one suspected a thing… or so you thought.

That was, until lunch break one day.

You were in the cafeteria with some of your colleagues, minding your own business, when a few people from Sunghoon’s department walked past. Among them was a girl named Jihye, who worked closely with Sunghoon on projects.

“I swear, Park Sunghoon and Jihye would make such a power couple,” someone at your table mused.

You almost choked on your food.

“Right?” Another person chimed in. “They’re always in sync. The finance and accounting team literally thrives because of them.”

Someone else turned to Jihye and grinned. “Jihye, do you hear that? You and Sunghoon, the office’s golden pair!”

Jihye simply laughed, waving them off. “Oh, come on. Sunghoon and I just work well together. Nothing else.”

And then—just as fate would have it—Sunghoon himself arrived, tray in hand, looking completely clueless about what he was walking into.

One of the guys clapped him on the back. “Bro, we were just talking about how you and Jihye are basically a match made in heaven.”

Sunghoon blinked. “Huh?”

“Sunghoon and I?” Jihye chuckled, shaking her head. “No way, we’re just work partners.”

But the conversation didn’t die down, and Sunghoon looked more confused than anything. You, on the other hand, focused on your food, acting completely nonchalant.

Inside, though?

What do they mean ‘match made in heaven’?

Sunghoon, oblivious as ever, simply responded, “I don’t think I’d be her type.”

The conversation moved on, but you couldn’t help but feel a tiny twinge of irritation.

—

Sulky Y/N at Home

That night, you tried your best to act normal. Really, you did.

But Sunghoon, being Sunghoon, noticed.

“Lolove,” he called, poking your cheek as you sat on the couch, scrolling through your phone. “What’s wrong?”

“Nothing,” you replied, maybe a little too fast.

Sunghoon squinted at you. “You’re lying.”

You kept your eyes on your phone, even as he nudged you again. “Not lying.”

“Are you mad at me?”

“Nope.”

Sunghoon hummed, thinking for a moment. Then, realization dawned on his face, and his lips curled into a knowing smirk.

“…Is this about what happened at lunch today?”

You froze.

That was all the confirmation he needed. His grin widened.

“You are sulky about it,” he teased, shifting closer. “Are you jealous, Lolove?”

You rolled your eyes, crossing your arms. “I’m not jealous.”

Sunghoon didn’t believe that for a second.

With a dramatic sigh, he wrapped his arms around you, pulling you against his chest. “You are,” he cooed. “It’s cute.”

“I just think it’s funny,” you muttered, not looking at him. “Funny how people just assume things.”

Sunghoon chuckled. “People assume a lot of things. But you know the truth, right?”

You stayed quiet.

“Lolove,” he murmured, pressing a kiss to your temple. “You’re the only person I see like this. The only one I come home to.”

You exhaled, finally leaning into his hold. “I know.”

Sunghoon smiled against your hair. “Good. Because I’d much rather be shipped with you—but, you know, secretly.”

Despite yourself, you laughed. “We’re already secretly shipped. We just can’t let them know.”

Sunghoon grinned. “Exactly.”

And just like that, your sulky mood faded away.

Making Her Forget

Sunghoon could tell from the way you settled into bed that you weren’t completely over what happened earlier. You weren’t ignoring him, but you weren’t melting into him like you usually did before falling asleep.

He exhaled softly, propping himself up on one elbow as he gazed at your back. His fingers traced light circles over your waist before slipping under your shirt, pressing warm against your skin.

“Lolove,” he murmured, voice low, gentle.

You hummed, not turning around.

“You’re still thinking about it.”

“I’m not.”

A soft chuckle escaped him. “You’re such a bad liar.”

Before you could protest, he leaned in, pressing a lingering kiss to the back of your neck, then another to your shoulder. His hand slid across your stomach, pulling you closer until your back was fully against his chest. You felt the heat of him, the slow, deliberate way his lips brushed over your skin.

“Let me help you forget, hmm?” he whispered.

A shiver ran down your spine as his touch grew firmer, his hands traveling with purpose. He shifted you onto your back, eyes meeting yours in the dim glow of the bedside lamp. There was something undeniably tender in the way he looked at you—as if he needed you to know that you were all he wanted.

Your fingers curled into his hair as he kissed you, slow and deep, drawing out every ounce of tension that had built up throughout the day. He whispered against your lips between each kiss, soft reassurances mixed with words of devotion.

“You know it’s only you, right?”

You nodded, breath hitching as his hands explored you with the kind of familiarity that came from knowing every inch of you.

“You’re the only one I see, Lolove.”

Your heart swelled at his words, the last remnants of insecurity fading under the warmth of his touch. He made love to you with unhurried adoration, his movements speaking more than words ever could.

By the time you were tangled in his arms, spent and utterly blissful, the only thing on your mind was him. And as you drifted off to sleep, Sunghoon pressed one last kiss to your forehead, whispering,

“Only you, always.”

bonus:

The next morning at work, Sunghoon walked into the office with his usual composed demeanor—crisp dress shirt, sleek tie, and his usual air of quiet confidence. Except this time, there was something different.

It didn’t take long before his coworkers noticed.

“Oh my god,” one of the analysts, Minseok, gasped dramatically. “Dude, what is that on your neck?”

Sunghoon blinked, confused for a second before realizing what Minseok was pointing at—the faint but unmistakable love marks peeking out from his collar.

Shit.

He glanced at the reflection in the nearby glass wall, barely suppressing the amused smirk threatening to break through.

Another coworker, Jisoo, nudged Minseok. “Weren’t you guys just saying Sunghoon and Jihye from finance would look good together?” she teased. “Guess someone else thinks otherwise.”

Sunghoon let out an amused scoff. “Right. About that—” He smoothly adjusted his collar, but not before flashing them a knowing look. “I’m pretty taken, actually.”

The group fell into shocked silence before Minseok let out a groan. “Damn, there goes my bet. Who’s the lucky one?”

Sunghoon just gave a smug shrug. “Someone amazing.”

“Wait, so the ships should stop?” Jisoo asked, raising an eyebrow.

Sunghoon chuckled, shaking his head. “They should’ve never started.”

The teasing didn’t stop throughout the morning, but Sunghoon didn’t mind. Every time someone brought it up, he just thought back to last night—to the way you had held him close, whispering his name like it was the only thing that mattered.

And the best part? The one person who actually mattered already knew exactly who he belonged to.

taglist: @iboughtnjz @rikidaze @pocketzlocket @jaerisdiction @ijustwannareadstuff20 @doririsstuff f @whateveridontcarsheesh @rikifever @firstclassjaylee @jayhoonvroom @veilstqr

permanent taglist: @ijustwannareadstuff20 @hoonielvv @rjssierjrie @firstclassjaylee @morganaawriterr @rikifever @daisyintherainsposts @kkamismom12 @pocketzlocket @semi-wife

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firstclassjaylee · 26 days ago

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Project: Park Sunghoon

“she fell first, he fell harder,” - enhypen campus series

୨ৎ After their first date, you and Sunghoon slowly built something real—filled with quiet moments, lingering touches, and kisses that spoke louder than words. He never said much, but every look, every smile, and every soft “I love you” proved he was all in. ✉️ wc. 3.1k - quiet 박성훈 x talkative yn | READ PART 1 FIRST

🏷️ @fancypeacepersona @k1ttyjwon @m1kkso @enjakey @motherscrustytoenailclippings @dearestdreamies @wonuziex @jendeuke-bae @haerni @koizekomi @mariegibeau @sheseung @httpenhoon @sievenderz @rikifever @skzenhalove @chvconn3 @wonzzziezzzz @blvengene @gvtdoll @a3r4-for3ver @sunghoon-cam @luvksnn @aaaaarmiiiiin @bloomiize @starnaris @pinknjm @marimariiisblog @blckorchidd @doririsstuff @tobiosbbyghorl @aeminju @blueserpent1 @aheewonenthusiast @katarinamae @aheewonenthusiast @rhinoracha

The conversation lulled back into the quiet rhythm of the evening, the soft clinking of silverware and distant chatter from other tables filling the gaps. You found yourself lost in the peacefulness of it, the unexpected calm that came with being with Sunghoon. It wasn’t like the dates you had imagined, with awkward silences or forced attempts at conversation. No, this felt… different. Comfortable. Still a little new, but not uncomfortable.

And then, almost out of nowhere, Sunghoon spoke up again.

“So… how’s your dad?” he asked, voice low but sincere. “I know you were rushing the other day because of him… is everything okay?”

The question hung in the air, and for a moment, you were taken aback. Sunghoon wasn’t the type to dig deep into personal matters. At least, you didn’t think he was. But here he was, asking with a kind of quiet concern that made your chest tighten.

You smiled faintly, trying to push down the little wave of worry that always seemed to hit whenever you thought about your dad. “Yeah, he’s doing better. It was just a scare, but he’s stable now. Thanks for asking.”

Sunghoon nodded, his gaze soft as he listened intently. It was strange—how even in his silence, he somehow made you feel heard. “I’m glad to hear that,” he said quietly.

You couldn’t help but feel a little lighter, his genuine care reminding you of just how much he had been paying attention. Even when he wasn’t speaking, he was listening. It wasn’t something you were used to. The way he saw you—fully and quietly—was starting to feel more like a gift than anything else.

There was another pause between you two, but it wasn’t the uncomfortable kind. It was the kind that came with understanding, with trust. And just as you were about to say something, Sunghoon caught your eye and gave you a small, reassuring smile.

“Really, though,” he added, his voice still soft but with a hint of something else—maybe a little relief. “If you ever need someone to talk to… you can always talk to me.”

Your heart did a small flip at the sincerity in his words. You were so used to talking to Stella, Sunoo, and everyone else about your dad, but Sunghoon was different. The way he said it made you feel like he meant it—really meant it.

You didn’t know how to respond to that, so you simply nodded, your own smile gentle. “Thanks, Sunghoon. I appreciate it.”

For a moment, the quiet between you two didn’t feel so heavy anymore. Instead, it felt like something you could both share—slowly, surely, one moment at a time.

So that’s what you did.

Through the summer, all you did was talk. You talked about everything—stupid things, serious things, things you hadn’t even realized were weighing on you until he looked at you with that quiet patience that said go ahead, I’ll be here. And he listened. Always listened. Sometimes he’d raise an eyebrow and hit you with a dry, borderline judgmental “really?” that made you laugh too loud, but that was about the most dramatic reaction you’d get from him. Still, it was enough.

You found yourself gravitating to his place more often than not. Not because you didn’t love being at home or with Stella or Sunoo—but because Stella had a very bad habit of inserting herself into every single moment between you two. One time she handed Sunghoon a fake engagement ring “just in case,” and you were still recovering from the secondhand embarrassment.

So Sunghoon’s apartment became a quiet little bubble of peace. Your peace.

And the first time you stepped into Park Sunghoon’s place, it was—

Wow.

Minimalist. Clean. Not overly sterile, but everything had its place, its vibe. Warm light spilled across soft gray walls and wooden floors. His bookshelves were filled with neatly organized psychology books, a random snow globe collection you absolutely did not expect, and a few faded photo booth strips tucked into the corner of a corkboard. The air smelled faintly of fresh laundry and cedar.

You just stood there in the doorway for a second, blinking. “This is… not what I expected,” you said slowly, toeing off your shoes.

Sunghoon, already heading to the kitchen, raised a brow. “What did you expect?”

“I don’t know. Skater boy chaos. A dark cave. You, sleeping on a mattress on the floor with no bedframe.”

“Why does everyone think I live like a stray cat?” he muttered.

You grinned and dropped your bag on the couch, already making yourself at home. “Because you have the personality of one sometimes.”

And he just shook his head, fighting a smile, and disappeared into the kitchen—where you would soon follow, probably talking his ear off the entire time.

Just like always.

Things with Sunghoon were… slow. Like, glacial.

It had already been a month since that first date. A full four weeks of library meetups that turned into late-night takeout on his couch, shared playlists, accidental naps beside each other, and you—talking more than ever. He’d always listen, always be there, sometimes with that unreadable expression, sometimes with a hidden smile, and sometimes with those rare but deadly one-liners that made your heart do weird things in your chest.

But the most you’d gotten?

Hand-holding.

Once.

And even that felt like a fever dream. You were walking back to his place late one night after getting boba, and the streets were quiet in that eerie way—dark, empty, too still. You weren’t scared-scared, but you had clutched your tote bag a little tighter and stepped a little closer.

Without saying anything, Sunghoon had just… reached over and grabbed your hand. Not in a dramatic way. Not even in a nervous way. Just calm and casual, like it was the most natural thing in the world.

Your brain had short-circuited.

You remembered staring at your joined hands like it was some foreign object. His palm was warm, fingers longer than yours, steady and grounding. And then—just as quietly—he kept walking like nothing happened. He didn’t even look at you.

He didn’t let go until you were standing outside his apartment.

And that was it. That one time.

No kisses. No cuddles. No “are-we-actually-dating” talk. Nothing.

Just you, absolutely losing your mind alone in your room later that night, texting Sunoo and Stella in all caps like, HE HELD MY HAND I REPEAT CONTACT HAS BEEN MADE.

Meanwhile, Sunghoon texted you:

let me know when you get home safe

And then: and charge your phone next time. it was at 2%.

Classic. Park Sunghoon.

A boy who listened. A boy who cared.

A boy who was driving you insane.

It had been brewing for days.

Maybe even weeks, if you were being honest. That quiet, crawling frustration that came with almost. You were always almost touching, almost kissing, almost something more than whatever this slow-burn nightmare was.

And tonight? Tonight was your villain origin story.

Because Park Sunghoon stood in his kitchen, sleeves rolled up, black apron tied around his waist, casually stirring ramen like he didn’t just look criminally attractive. The dim kitchen light hit the curve of his jaw way too well, and his glasses kept sliding down the bridge of his nose in a way that should’ve been illegal.

And there you were—sitting on his counter like a pathetic little extra in your own love story, watching him exist and trying not to explode.

You crossed your arms. Uncrossed them. Crossed them again.

He looked up, noticed your silence, and cocked his head slightly. “You okay?”

That did it.

“No,” you said, sharp and sudden.

He blinked, surprised. “No?”

You hopped off the counter, suddenly filled with chaotic, unhinged bravery. “No, Sunghoon. I’m not okay. I’ve been coming here for weeks, we talk, we eat, you touch my hand once like we’re in a coming-of-age indie movie and then go right back to acting like we’re not clearly into each other—are we into each other? Actually, screw it. What are we?”

The room fell dead silent.

Sunghoon froze with the ladle halfway out of the pot, his lips parted slightly like his brain was buffering.

You stared at him, heart pounding in your throat, adrenaline burning hot in your cheeks. “Seriously. I need to know. Because I can’t keep doing this ‘slow burn friends but maybe not but maybe yes’ thing. I’ve been patient. But I’m not a psychic. I can’t keep guessi—”

And then he kissed you.

No warning. No slow build. Just one hand cupping your jaw as he leaned in and pressed his mouth to yours, effectively shutting you up mid-rant.

You froze. Breath caught. Time stopped.

When he pulled back, his voice was quiet, steady. “There. Does that answer your question?”

You blinked at him, stunned silent for the first time in your life.

He raised an eyebrow. “You were saying?”

You swallowed. “I—um. I don’t remember.”

He gave a rare, satisfied smile and turned back to the stove. “Good. Want eggs in your ramyeon?”

You stared at him. “You’re so lucky you’re cute.”

He didn’t look up, but you heard the smile in his voice when he replied—

“I know.”

Sunghoon wasn’t great with words. He never had been.

You’d picked up on that early—how he’d go quiet when things got too serious, how he’d watch you more than speak, how his feelings lived in the way he looked at you rather than the things he said. But you didn’t mind. Because somewhere along the way, you realized that with him, silence wasn’t cold. It was safe.

And instead of talking, Sunghoon kissed you.

You slipped on Sunghoon’s hoodie, the fabric swallowing you whole. It was too big—way too big—but it felt comforting, warm, and somehow, it smelled like him. The way it hung off your shoulders, the sleeves so long that you had to roll them up just to use your hands, made you feel oddly protected, like you were wrapped up in his world.

You walked into the living room, ready to hang out, when you saw him sitting on the couch. His eyes flicked over to you, immediately catching the sight of you in his hoodie. His gaze lingered, and for a moment, the usual silence between you two seemed to stretch just a little longer than usual.

Then, without a word, Sunghoon stood up, the space between you two shrinking rapidly. His hand brushed a loose strand of hair from your face, and his fingers lingered along your jaw.

And before you could say anything, he kissed you.

It wasn’t slow or hesitant. It wasn’t soft and shy. It was urgent, like he’d been holding back for too long. His lips were warm, sure, confident as they pressed against yours, the weight of his kiss pulling you closer, making you forget about the awkwardness that had once lingered between you two.

When he pulled back, his eyes searched yours, soft but intense. “You look better in my hoodie than I do,” he muttered, voice low, as if the kiss had left him breathless.

You blinked, still reeling from the sudden kiss. “What?”

He kissed you again, just as quickly, cutting off your words. When he pulled back this time, he gave you a small, teasing smile. “You just look… good. In general. Always.

You couldn’t find words. All you could do was smile back, your heart pounding in your chest.

As time went on, Sunghoon started to shift, just a little. He still wasn’t exactly a fountain of words, but something had changed between the two of you. Maybe it was the way you both learned each other’s rhythms, the comfortable silence that stretched between you two like a blanket that fit just right.

At first, it was small things. He’d sit a little closer to you on the couch. His hand would brush against yours in a casual, almost absent way, but his fingers would linger, just long enough for you to feel the quiet weight of his touch. Then, one evening, when you were watching something, he simply leaned his head onto your shoulder. He didn’t say a word, didn’t even acknowledge it. He just rested there, like it was the most natural thing in the world.

You froze for a moment, unsure how to react. But the longer he stayed there, the more you realized how much you liked it. It wasn’t anything grand or over-the-top. It wasn’t even that much of a gesture in the grand scheme of things. But to you, it meant everything.

The next time you were sitting on the couch, reading something on your phone, he just draped his arm around your shoulders. Not asking for permission, not needing to say anything—he just did it. And when you didn’t pull away, he leaned in and kissed the top of your head, soft and fleeting, like he was testing the waters, seeing if you were okay with it.

And when you didn’t flinch, when you didn’t pull away, he started doing it more. He’d rest his head on your lap, your thighs, without so much as a word. Sometimes, he’d even tug you closer to him, wrapping his arms around your waist in an almost possessive way, but it wasn’t controlling. It was just him, wanting to be close. Wanting you to be close.

But even as he became more clingy, more affectionate, he still didn’t talk much. He didn’t need to. His actions were louder than his words ever could be.

You’d find yourself lying next to him, his arm around you, his chest pressed against your side. His breathing was steady, calming, and even though he didn’t say much, you could feel his presence in a way that words never managed to convey. And even in that quiet, you knew something was growing between you two. Something that was deeper than just hugs or casual touches.

It was the way he would lean into you when you were watching a movie, or the way he’d sneakily grab your hand when no one was looking, or the way he’d wait for you at the door when you were running late, without making a single sound, just quietly waiting for you to be ready.

And somehow, with every little moment, he became more yours. Even without speaking much, he was opening up to you in ways that were enough to make your heart swell. He was showing you that he cared in his own quiet way, and you didn’t need anything else.

It was a peaceful evening, and you were curled up on the couch with Sunghoon, your head resting against his chest. He hadn’t said much the whole night, but that was nothing new. Instead, the comfort of his presence, the warmth of his body against yours, and the sound of his steady heartbeat were more than enough. He was always like this, quiet but present, and in that silence, you found a kind of understanding that words could never quite capture.

You’d been texting Stella earlier, and she’d mentioned she was staying at Sunoo’s for the night. They were just friends, so you weren’t too concerned, but you did wonder why they hadn’t planned to stay out longer.

Either way, it was just you and Sunghoon now, and you didn’t want the night to end. You felt safe and content with him, wrapped up in his arms on the couch. The two of you were practically fused together, your legs tangled, his arm loosely draped over your waist.

You couldn’t help but feel a little giddy, like this was the moment you’d been waiting for. It wasn’t grand gestures or loud declarations—it was just the quiet comfort of being with him. You nestled in closer, the soft fabric of his hoodie brushing against your skin, and for once, you didn’t feel the need to fill the silence with words. You were happy just being.

But then, a loud noise from the front door jolted you both out of your little bubble. You lifted your head just in time to see Stella and Sunoo walking in, both looking a little surprised to see you and Sunghoon on the couch together.

“Wait, you guys are here?” Stella asked, her eyes flicking between you and Sunghoon, her voice tinged with confusion. “I thought you were… well, you know… doing your own thing tonight?”

You quickly sat up, realizing you must’ve looked a little too comfortable, probably too couple-y for them to walk in on. “I thought you were staying at Sunoo’s,” you said, trying to play it cool, but your cheeks were burning a little.

Sunoo, ever the curious observer, raised an eyebrow. “You two look like you’re about to fall asleep here. What’s going on?”

Before you could respond, Stella held up her phone with a sheepish grin. “I forgot my charger. Sorry for the interruption.”

You quickly glanced at Sunghoon, feeling a little awkward now that the moment had been interrupted. But when you looked at him, he was still calm, relaxed, as if nothing had changed. He just gave a small shrug, his usual quiet self.

“No problem,” he said simply, not really fazed. And somehow, his easy-going response made everything feel a little less awkward, even as Sunoo and Stella exchanged curious glances.

Stella dropped her bag by the door, a teasing smile tugging at her lips. “Well, we’ll just leave you two to… whatever this is,” she said with a wink before grabbing her charger off the counter and heading upstairs with Sunoo.

You couldn’t help but laugh nervously as Sunghoon adjusted himself on the couch. The quiet between you was familiar, comfortable again, and though the moment had been interrupted, you knew the night was far from over. With Sunghoon, it never felt like things were rushed. Everything just seemed to fall into place when you were together, no pressure, no expectations.

You snuggled back into his side, and this time, the quiet between you felt even more peaceful than before.

The room was quiet again, the only sound the soft hum of the air conditioning and the occasional creak of the floorboards as Stella and Sunoo moved around upstairs. You had long since settled back into Sunghoon’s side, your body finally succumbing to the fatigue of the night. The warmth of his body and the rhythmic rise and fall of his chest were so comforting that you couldn’t help but drift off, your head nestled against his shoulder.

You were dead to the world, completely asleep and oblivious to anything around you, but it wasn’t long before you started to feel a little… off. A weird sensation on your cheek made you stir, and when you wiped it away in your sleep, it was then you realized what had happened. You had dropped—right onto Sunghoon. You were drooling.

Your heart raced in your sleep, but you didn’t know why at first, until you heard a chuckle. A small, teasing sound that broke through the haze of your sleep.

“Y/N,” Sunghoon’s voice was soft, but playful. You could feel his fingers gently tapping your cheek, as if waking you from a pleasant, yet embarrassing slumber. “You’re drooling on me.”

You woke up with a start, eyes wide and hands flailing in panic, but all that happened was you flopped backward and accidentally bumped into the couch cushion.

“Wh—what?” you stammered, still half asleep, your face heating up in embarrassment as you realized what had happened. “Did I—? Oh my god, I did, didn’t I?”

Sunghoon was trying to hold back laughter, the sound of it bubbling up in his chest as he watched your sleepy confusion. You could see his lips twitching, the smallest of smirks threatening to break free.

With a mischievous glint in his eye, Sunghoon grabbed a pillow from the couch and swung it lightly at you, tapping your forehead. “You’re so cute,” he teased, his voice dripping with a mock-seriousness that you weren’t used to hearing from him.

That was all it took. You were suddenly wide awake, blinking furiously as you registered what had just happened. Sunghoon, the usually quiet and reserved Sunghoon, had playfully hit you with a pillow. And you were going to absolutely not let that slide.

You grabbed the nearest pillow you could find, your eyes narrowing in on him. “Oh, you did not just do that!” you said with mock indignation, then swung it at him as hard as you could.

Sunghoon yelped, stumbling back as the pillow made contact, and you felt a rush of satisfaction. But, in true Sunghoon fashion, he quickly recovered, a smile now fully breaking across his face as he held up his own pillow in defense.

The two of you continued to swat at each other, laughing and playing around. You’d never seen Sunghoon so open, so carefree. Every time your pillow connected with his arm or side, he’d laugh, his deep voice resonating through the room, and every time you missed, you’d both burst into even more laughter.

It wasn’t long before the two of you were sprawled out on the couch, still catching your breath between giggles. The soft sounds of your laughter filled the room, more natural, more in tune than you’d ever imagined it could be. For once, it felt like you weren’t just friends—you were something more, something that made the moment feel like it could last forever.

Sunghoon, who had been quietly watching you, his smile wide and unguarded, finally relaxed back against the couch, his arm slipping around you again. There was a beat of silence between you two, and then, unexpectedly, Sunghoon spoke.

“I love you,” he said, the words soft but undeniably real.

You froze, your breath catching in your throat. The air seemed to shift, and for a moment, everything around you went quiet. The confession hung in the air like something both fragile and precious, and you didn’t quite know how to respond at first.

You looked up at him, your heart thudding in your chest. Sunghoon wasn’t usually so open, so this sudden vulnerability caught you off guard.

“I love you,” he repeated, his voice a little quieter this time, but just as certain.

A smile spread across your face, warm and real. “I love you too,” you whispered back, feeling your chest tighten in the best way.

And just like that, the awkwardness you thought might remain between you two vanished. You didn’t need to say anything more. Your hands found each other, your fingers intertwining naturally as you both settled back on the couch, the world outside forgotten.

You didn’t need grand declarations or dramatic gestures. With Sunghoon, it was enough that you knew—he loved you. And you loved him.

enhypen campus series

#tbr

730 notes · View notes

firstclassjaylee · 26 days ago

Text

﹙✧﹚ SUMMER ⁺⊹₊ 𝗌𝖺𝗂𝖽 𝗇𝗈 𝗅𝗈𝗏𝖾 𝖻𝗎𝗍 𝗂 𝗐𝖺𝗇𝗍 𝗍𝗈

IN WHICH ✷ your best friend is your bf just for the summer

엔하이픈 x f!r ― fluff + eensy bit of angst + crack ⨯ 876O ⨯ friends to lovers + cursing + brainrot/gen z/a terms + mutual pining + pet names

em's note ★ this fic was originally for jungwons birthday but guess who's 2 months late,, dot dot dot. this one's semi-based on summer by keshi. anyways I miss summer sm what the heck :( ∘ ∘ ∘ more

─── ♡

the cool breeze in contrast with the summer nighttime humid air sent a rare shiver down your spine this time of year. you pulled your jacket a little closer around yourself, the distant hum of traffic fading away as you walked further away from your workplace.

for a moment you forget you have your best friend jungwon (and temporary coworker, though you wish he’d get fired already for being making you laugh all shift and lose pace) walking beside you until he interrupts your thoughts with some dumb comment about a new game coming out.

“so are you gonna play with me or not?” jungwon nudged your arm lightly, his voice taking on that playful whine he always used when he wanted something from you.

you blinked, snapping out of your thoughts, and shot him a half-hearted glare. “i’ll think about it.”

jungwon scoffed. “what’s there to think about? just say yes.”

you rolled your eyes, tucking your hands into your jacket pockets. “you act like i have all the time in the world.”

“and that’s because you do,” his eyes widened pointing the truth out. “you literally wake up, eat, sit on your phone for what, 6 hours? then go to work, come home and sit on your phone, then sleep,”

to which you lightly curse him out telling him to quote ‘eat shit’. which he does holding a proud grin right after. jungwon only chuckled, clearly pleased with himself for getting under your skin. he stuffed his hands into his pockets, rocking back on his heels as you both continued walking.

to be fair, he wasn’t entirely wrong. except for those ‘6 hours’ on your phone more specifically being time spent on your phone facetiming jungwon while he plays games.

“anyway,” he said, dragging the word out, “if you’re not gonna spend your time gaming with me, what are you planning to do this summer?”

“get a boyfriend maybe, you never know,” you grin

jungwon snorted, shooting you an unimpressed look. “yeah, right. you?” he looks you up and down and hosts a disgusted look on his face.

you raised an eyebrow. “what’s that supposed to mean?”

“i mean,” he shrugged, “be so for real with me right now. you think you’re just gonna pull a boyfriend out of your ass?”

you rolled your eyes, nudging his arm. “rude. i could if i wanted to, i just choose not to thank you.”

that and the fact your parents would kill you before you even talked to a boy that wasn’t jungwon. even if your parents would let you have a boyfriend, the only one allowed would be jungwon as he’s a quote “boy and a friend”

it wasn’t just because he was your best friend. they’d known him since you were both little kids—since the first time he helped you with that science project in middle school, when you cried because you had procrastinated and your idea wasn’t working as expected. when you were both still in the awkward phase of school dances and sleepovers. they loved him like he was family, and as far as they were concerned, he was family.

jungwon snorted, clearly unimpressed. “uh huh. keep telling yourself that.”

you shot him a look. “excuse me?”

“i’m just saying,” he smirked, shoving his hands into his hoodie pocket, “if you really could, you would’ve done it by now.”

your mouth opened in offense. “okay, first of all—”

“nah, nah, don’t even start,” he cut you off, grinning. “no game. no rizz. zero bitches. zero aura. no roster.”

you gasped dramatically. “i’m telling you i could bag a boyfriend whenever i want, won.”

“prove it.”

you narrowed your eyes, stepping in front of him and pointing a finger at his chest. “fine. i will.”

jungwon raised an eyebrow, crossing his arms. “yeah? where’s he at, then?”

you faltered for a split second before crossing your arms as well, matching his stance as you stop to hit the button at the crosswalk. “i just haven’t picked one yet.”

“mhmm,” he hummed, unconvinced.

you wracked your brain for a way to turn this around, and then it hit you. you smirked. “actually… how about you?”

jungwon blinked. “what?”

“you heard me,” you said, tilting your head. “if you’re so sure i can’t get a boyfriend, then you be my boyfriend. just for the summer.”

he stared at you like you’d lost your mind. “you want me to fake date you… because i said you couldn’t get a boyfriend? you’re like actually psycho.”

his words were pure venom to any outside person, yet you knew as soon as you had brought up the idea, essentially he was already agreeing to it by just being near you. obviously.

you raised an eyebrow, trying to hide the smirk tugging at your lips. "oh, so you're not up for the challenge? thought you liked proving me wrong."

jungwon scoffed, rubbing the back of his neck as he looked away for a moment, clearly trying to process your words. "this is insane. what’s in it for me?" he asked, his tone still incredulous, but you could tell he wasn’t entirely dismissing the idea.

"come on," you teased, "it'll be fun. and, hey, maybe it'll even help you get some street cred with the ladies. people from school will think we’re a thing, and you can enjoy all the benefits of being my fake boyfriend without any real commitment."

he rolled his eyes dramatically but the faintest smile tugged at the corner of his lips. "right, because getting fake affection from you is definitely my dream summer."

the crosswalk symbol turns green as the two of you continue walking onwards. “see! you’re already basically my boyfriend cause’ you’re walking me home, how sweet, i’m flattered,”

“we literally work together and live next to each other. you’re insane,” he deadpanned, but one good look into your eyes, he knew his name was already signed up to do this for the summer. he groaned, running a hand through his hair. "i swear, you’re lucky i’m a good friend."

"you’re doing this because you love me, jungwon," you said with a grin, nudging his side.

"yeah, yeah, try not to actually fall in love though," he muttered, but the faint smile on his face told you everything you needed to know.

who knew getting a boyfriend was this easy?

─── ♡

ride or die: gm honey

ride or die: did you sleep well?

to say that you didn’t physically recoil seeing those texts would be a lie. your face contorted with a mixture of concern, your eyebrows furrowing just reading the word honey. you couldn’t deny that you felt some mixture of butterflies erupt in your stomach, but you’re pretty sure it’s just the pet name and not that it was from jungwon

y/n: wtf y/n: who tf is honey

ride or die: stfu im method acting as your bf rn be grateful

y/n: method acting is crazy

y/n: your ahh is NOT an A list actor

ride or die: i could be though ngl. i’m a dedicated asf honey

y/n: who tf is honey: neverrrrr text me like this again

ride or die: good id rather kms than do that again ride or die: anyways be ready by 2, we’re going out

y/n: ??? going where

ride or die: idk either!

you groaned at your phone screen, swiping down to see the time.

1:30 pm.

you panickedly rushed out of bed, tripping on the chair in between you and your closet and began searching for some resemblance of an outfit. clothes flew from your closet to the chair, a heap of fabric now piling up one what you could’ve once called a place to sit.

you yanked a sweatshirt from the pile, held it up, then threw it aside. too casual. next came a sundress—immediately vetoed. too much.

why do you care what he sees you wear. i mean he wasn’t even your actual boyfriend. you don’t dress up for men, let alone jungwon of all people. he’s seen you in the worst phases of your life. from your pink and only pink elementary school phase, to late-night convenience store runs in mismatched pajamas while crying over an ex boyfriend. he’d really seen it all.

it’s just a hangout really, like the thousands of other times you’ve hung out. so why were you standing here, holding two different shirts like it was some life-altering decision? was it because you cared what he thought

your fingers finally landed on some anime tshirt from a convention and some (probably unwashed) cargos you thrifted. good enough.

you grabbed your phone to check the time.

1:48 pm.

"shit."

ride or die: ur not ready are u

you rolled your eyes.

y/n: i’m literally done rn calm down diva

ride or die: uh huh ok

you slipped your shoes halfway on your feet, rushing out to see jungwon through the passenger side window staring at his phone laughing to himself (probably scrolling reels).

you made your way over to the car, still shoving your feet into your shoes, putting them on in the process of walking, yanking repeatedly on the car handle while reaching down to finally put on your shoes correctly.

jungwon looked up unamused and unlocked the door, whilst you slid in. "made it," you said, slightly out of breath.

he gave you a once-over. "not bad," he said with an amused smile. "i was fully expecting pajamas."

"well, i try to exceed expectations."

he pushed off the wall and fell into step beside you. "good. 'cause our first date can't start with you in your 'i took a shit today t-shirt."

you groaned. "that was one time. and for your information, multiple people found it funny."

"mm-hm."

“so where exactly are we going?” you asked, pulling your seatbelt across your chest.

jungwon shrugged as he shifted into drive. “i told you. i don’t know. just... somewhere.”

you shot him a look. “you dragged me out of bed, made me sprint around my room like a lunatic, and you don’t even have a plan?”

“not having a plan is the plan,” he said, eyes twinkling as he turned onto the main road. “besides, isn't that what couples do? just drive around aimlessly until they end up at target or the mall?”

you rolled your eyes before pulling out your phone to text your parents who were away at work that you were going to go hang out with jungwon. to which they “thumbs upped’ your text.

jungwon glanced over at you, noticing your thumbs flying across the screen. “letting your fan club know where you are?”

“you wish,” you muttered. “just telling my parents we’re hanging out.”

“oh, then i’m officially approved, huh?” he said, drumming his fingers on the steering wheel. “they probably think this is a date.”

“they probably think every time we hang out is a date,” you replied. “you’re literally their dream come true.”

jungwon let out a dramatic sigh. “great. can’t wait to get the ‘you two should just date for real’ speech at the next barbecue.”

“or the classic ‘why can’t you find someone like jungwon’ lecture,” you added, mimicking your mom’s voice.

jungwon shot you a side glance, his lips curving into a teasing smirk. “uh huh, now where are we going? you pick, pretty girl.”

you nearly choked on your own breath. “don’t call me that.”

“why not? i’m just staying in character.” he turned his attention back to the road, the smirk still plastered across his face. “you should be grateful i’m such a committed boyfriend.”

“committed to being annoying,” you muttered, shoving your phone into your pocket. “fine. let’s go get ice cream or something.”

jungwon nodded, signaling to turn. “ice cream. classic couple move. solid choice, honey.”

you groaned, sinking into your seat. “i hate this already.”

jungwon just laughed. “you’re the one who asked me to date you.”

─── ♡

“...and also one scoop of strawberry swirl with a waffle cone. it’s her favorite, but she’s trying to act cool. so just that and the rocky road please.”

the girl behind the counter smiled politely as she scooped the ice cream. “oh, that’s cute. you know her order.”

“sure do,” jungwon nodded, ending the conversation as he turned back to you.

you furrowed your brows, squinting at him. since when did jungwon actually know your order and not order you some diabolical weird flavor. jungwon gave a blank stare back, then turned back to the counter to grab the two cups.

"what?" he asked, not looking at you. "you’re acting like i don’t know you or something."you shook your head, still a little confused. “i’m just surprised you would actually order something i like and not their ‘exotic’ flavors.”

“like their vanilla and balsamic vinegar,” you coughed under your breath. “woah that’s crazy who said that.”

he rolled his eyes in response and tapped his phone to the register to pay. "i had to suffer through that once to know you wouldn’t touch it with a ten-foot pole. hence why you suffer with me."

the two of you walked to a two seater table outside watching the many rich cars that went by continuing your conversation.

“so, am i a good boyfriend.. or am i good boyfriend?” jungwon asked with confidence, his eyes following a sleek black sports car that zoomed by, the sound of its engine filling the brief silence between you.

you scoffed, taking a bite of your ice cream. “debatable.”

jungwon turned to you, feigning offense. “debatable? i literally remembered your order. if that’s not boyfriend material, i don’t know what is.”

“ that was quite literally bare minimum,” you teased, waving your spoon. “but i’ll admit, i expected worse.”

there was a pause, just the sound of passing cars and distant chatter filling the air. then, jungwon spoke again, more casual this time.

"so, do i have to do all the heavy lifting in this relationship, or are you gonna start acting like my girlfriend too?"

you rolled your eyes. "what, you want me to start holding your hand and gazing into your eyes lovingly?"

he smirked. "wouldn’t hurt."

you went to throw a napkin at him, but he dodged easily, laughing. "hey, i'm just saying, you talk a big game, but if we’re committing to this, you gotta step up."

"oh, please," you scoffed. "you’re lucky i even suggested this in the first place. it’s a good look for you. ‘loser senior jungwon bags a baddie’."

jungwon tilted his head, eyes scanning your face like he was studying you. "yeah," he said after a beat, "guess i am."

there was something about the way he said it—like it held more weight than the conversation called for. it sat there, unspoken, lingering between the two of you as he nonchalantly scooped another bite of his ice cream. you weren’t sure why, but something about it made you shift in your seat, suddenly hyper aware of the casualness of his voice in contrast to the meaning behind his words.

but instead of addressing it, you did what you always did—brushed it off. you can’t be going crazy only a day in.

“you know,” jungwon started again, breaking the silence. “you never answered my question.”

you blinked. “what question?”

he turned back to you, tilting his head. “am i a good boyfriend? or just a good boyfriend?”

you rolled your eyes, exasperated. “are you gonna keep fishing for compliments or actually eat your ice cream?”

“you’re avoiding the question.”

“because it’s a dumb question.”

jungwon leaned forward, resting his elbows on the table. “sounds like you just don’t wanna admit that i’m doing a great job.”

you scoffed. “we’re literally fake dating. the bar is on the floor, six feet under even. my standards are so much higher than you,”

“just scared to admit i’m the best i know, you can thank me at the end of the summer,”

you ignored the way your heart skipped at the if we were real part, instead focusing on scraping the bottom of your cup. “sure, won. whatever helps you sleep at night.”

“see? that’s your problem,” he teased. “you’re all talk, but when it comes down to it, you’re bad at playing along.”

you narrowed your eyes. “excuse me?”

he leaned back again, looking far too smug for your liking. “we’re fake dating, honey. at least pretend to be obsessed with me.”

you stared at him, unamused. “you wish i was obsessed with you.”

jungwon grinned. “see? that’s exactly what someone obsessed with me would say.”

you groaned, throwing your crumpled napkin at him, which he easily dodged, laughing. but despite the playful banter, despite the way he was obviously messing with you, something about the conversation felt like it was stepping in and out of the line that bordered between friends and more than that.

a line that neither of you were acknowledging.

─── ♡

as the new two weeks passed, the whole fake dating thing started feeling less like a bit and more like something else—something you didn’t want to put a name to.

at first, it was just like every other time you hung out with jungwon. same dynamic, same banter, same comfortable familiarity. but now, there was a difference. a shift so subtle it was almost unnoticeable—almost.

when it was just the two of you, things felt normal—like nothing had changed. jungwon was still the same jungwon who teased you relentlessly, who knew exactly how to push your buttons but also when to stop. you were still you, rolling your eyes at his antics but never actually pushing him away.

but when other people were around? that was when the difference became obvious.

it was in the way jungwon would throw an arm around your shoulders so casually, like it was second nature. the way he’d lean in closer than necessary when talking to you, his voice dropping just slightly. the way he’d call you honey or pretty girl without a second thought, like the words belonged to you.

and the worst part? is how he’d continue on even after people had left.

like the time you ran into your friend yunjin at the convenience store and his arm immediately slithered around your waist. how the two of you watched yunjin jump with delight and call out “finally!” then, even after you parted ways with her, his arm remained, as if he forgot, but it seemed intentional the way he just ‘did it out of instinct’.

his fingers tapped lightly against your side, like he was absentmindedly tracing a pattern only he knew. you had waited for him to pull away, to step back now that the audience was gone—but he didn’t.

when you got to the diner for work, ready in uniform to go clean tables for 8 hours a day at minimum wage monday morning, jungwon was already there, waiting at your desk with a grin like he had all the time in the world.

“morning, honey,” he greeted, voice light, teasing.

you sighed, setting your bag down. “we’re at work, jungwon. chill.”

he leaned back in your chair, arms crossed. “so? couples work together all the time.”

“yeah, real ones.”

“ouch,” he deadpanned. “so cruel this early in the morning.”

before you could respond, your boss strolled by, offering a knowing smile. “you two make such a cute couple,” they commented before disappearing down the hall.

jungwon turned back to you, looking entirely too pleased with himself. “see? real ones.”

you groaned, taking your card off the wall and clocking in.

“you know what today is right?” jungwon smirked with confidence and pride, thoroughly enjoying this stupid agreement that you had first brought up.

“no, what,”

jungwon gasped, clutching his chest like you’d just insulted his entire bloodline. “wow. i cannot believe this.”

you gave him a blank stare. “just say it.”

he leaned in slightly, like he was about to drop the most important news of the century. “it’s our two-weekversary.”

you blinked. “our what?”

“two weeks of this beautiful relationship,” he said, dramatically wiping a fake tear. “two weeks of love, commitment, and unwavering devotion—”

“okay, shakespeare wrap it up. you are in public, do not pull this shit right now,” you muttered, shoving him lightly as you both made your way to start prepping utensils and napkins for tables.

jungwon, still grinning, grabbed a stack of napkins and started folding them with practiced ease. “so, how does it feel?”

you raised a brow. “how does what feel?”

he glanced at you, a glint of something unreadable in his eyes. “being my girlfriend for two whole weeks. life-changing, right?”

you snorted, rolling up silverware. “oh, totally. i don’t know how i ever survived without you.”

jungwon chuckled, but instead of firing back immediately, he let a beat pass. then, casually, he said, “well, i kinda like it.”

your hands froze for half a second before you shook it off. “fake dating? yeah, i guess it’s not the worst.”

“no,” he corrected, voice lighter, but still deliberate. “just… being your boyfriend.”

you looked up at him, but he was focused on his task, fingers smoothing over the napkin edges. you were unsure of how to react, so you just shrugged, trying to act casual, though your heart had picked up pace.

you swallowed, forcing a scoff. “yeah, yeah. you’re really selling it.”

jungwon finally looked at you, eyes warm, teasing—but something else, too.

“who says i’m selling anything?” he murmured.

before you could process that, the door jingled as customers walked in, pulling you both back into reality.

jungwon straightened up, tossing a napkin at you. “anyway, anniversary dinner. you in or what?”

you rolled your eyes, grabbing a menu. “depends. are you actually paying this time?”

he smirked. “for you? always.”

you ignored the way your chest tightened slightly at that, chalking it up to the lingering effects of his dramatics.

yeah. that had to be it.

the whole day at work he kept making glances at you and smiling, though not the teasing ones or the ones where he’d conveniently look over when you would make mistakes, and laugh at you. or when he would take over the overfill tables or yell at customers to get out cause you didn’t have the heart to.

throughout the day, you found yourself acting differently too—not in a huge, obvious way, but in small things that didn’t feel all that fake.

like when he forgot to tie his apron properly, and you rolled your eyes but fixed it for him anyway, muttering, “seriously, how do you function.”

or when he barely had time to eat during the lunch rush, and without thinking, you slid half of your sandwich onto his tray, acting nonchalant. “don’t make it weird. just eat.”

he blinked at you, then took a bite with a small, knowing smile. “wow. you do care.”

you scoffed. “debatable.”

and everytime he would say “hey, pretty girl,” or “hey honey,” you turned at the nickname. one that should’ve made you roll your eyes, but instead, it sent a weird warmth through you, though it was really just the nickname. if your #1 enemy also called you honey, or pretty girl you would also be a blushing mess, right..?

it was different watching him look out for you now and you looking out for him. and in a way you hoped this could still persist when you went back to being friends.

but when you gave it another thought, what were you thinking? this was just practice experience being a girlfriend and caring for someone in not just a friend way.

─── ♡

jungwon had asked you one day if you would’ve ever considered waking up at 3am to watch the sunrise, to which you told him to hell with that idea.

there was absolutely 0 way you were down to wake up that early just to see the sunrise then immediately go back to sleep.

but then one night, around 1am, as you both sat lazily on your porch with empty slushie cups and a half-finished bag of spicy chips between you, he tilted his head and said, “what if we just… didn’t sleep?”

and for some reason—maybe because he looked at you with that grin, soft and challenging at the same time—you nodded. “okay, fine. but if i pass out in the car, that’s on you.”

you ended up in the trunk of his car, parked on a small hill just outside town. he’d folded the back seats down, thrown in a bunch of old blankets and pillows, and even brought snacks he knew you liked. it was quiet except for the occasional hum of cicadas and your favorite playlist playing softly through his phone speaker.

you both lay on your backs, watching the sky shift slowly from ink-black to a deep navy, the stars beginning to dim one by one.

“this is kind of nice,” you mumbled sleepily, your cheek pressed into one of the throw pillows.

jungwon laughed, low and quiet. “kind of?”

you turned your head just enough to see him beside you, his arm bent behind his head, eyes wide open and reflecting the first signs of light.

“okay, very,” you admitted.

time slowed down in that little space. the air between you was warm with sleep-deprived comfort. you felt his pinky graze yours where your hands lay between you, and neither of you moved away.

you shifted a little, your shoulder brushing his as you tried to get more comfortable, but then his arm lifted slightly in invitation.

“come here,” he said, barely above a whisper.

you hesitated for a second, heartbeat skittering with nerves, before moving closer, slowly, carefully. your head found its place just over his heart, your cheek pressing softly into the fabric of his hoodie. he let his arm rest gently around your waist, not pulling you in, not forcing anything—just… there.

the steady thump of his heartbeat was all you could hear for a while. it was soft, slow, grounding. you found yourself syncing your breathing with his without even meaning to.

he didn’t say anything, and neither did you. you didn’t have to. the silence said enough.

his heart kept beating under your ear, like it had all this time, like it always would, and it felt safe. like home. like maybe you’d been leaning toward this moment all summer without realizing it.

and then the sun finally peeked up over the horizon, casting everything in soft gold and pale pink.

you didn’t even bother looking at it for long. instead, you glanced sideways again, just to see how he looked in the morning light.

he must’ve felt it, because he turned, catching your gaze.

and instead of looking away this time, you just stayed there, hearts beating softly in sync, eyes saying more than either of you dared to speak aloud.

─── ♡

“yknow maybe we should tell our parents that we’re dating,” jungwon suggested absent mindedly, causing you to actually spit out the matcha rose boba you had just taken a sip of a second ago.

you coughed, choking a little as you reached for a napkin, your eyes wide. “excuse me?”

he just blinked at you like you were being dramatic. “what? it’s not that crazy of an idea. they already think we are.”

you stared at him. “yeah, and we’ve done a fantastic job pretending we’re not.”

he raised an eyebrow. “have we, though? your mom made us take couple pictures at my birthday dinner. your dad told me to ‘take care of his daughter’ like he was giving me a blessing. i’m pretty sure your cousin asked if we were getting married soon.”

you groaned. “okay, maybe. but then we tell them we broke up, what happens then?”

jungwon paused for a second, his straw still between his lips as he considered it.

“we say it was mutual,” he said casually. “no big deal. we wanted to stay friends. which is true.”

you narrowed your eyes at him. “but what if they get weird about it? or start trying to set me up with random people like minjoon from the parent’s community center?”

jungwon made a face. “ugh, not minjoon. he used to eat glue.”

“okay but you get my point, see there’s so many issues with it,”

“it’ll be fine, we’ll cross that bridge when we get there,” he rolled his eyes, “let me call my mom and say i wanna eat at yours and then tell her to come over as well.”

your mom made too much food as always, jungwon’s mom brought over way too many tupperwares of side dishes, and both families slipped into that comfortable rhythm like they’d all done this a million times before. which, honestly, you had.

jungwon took your usual spot at the dinner table—right next to you, of course—elbow bumping yours every now and then, passing you all the dishes he knew were your favorites without you asking. he even stole a bite of your highly cherished japchae when you weren’t looking.

the dinner was the usual kind of chaos—both your moms chatting over each other about some market sale, your dad and jungwon’s dad arguing about grilling techniques, and the unmistakable buzz of familiarity that only came with years of shared holidays and weekend potlucks. it was normal. it was warm.

jungwon cleared his plate to which you made fun of him telling him to slow down, and that you weren’t gonna fight for food he already touched.

you leaned back in your chair, letting your gaze drift toward him just as he turned to glance at you. it wasn’t a big look—barely a second—but his eyes lingered. and in that split moment, everything stilled.

you gave him a look. something cautious. something questioning. are you sure?

his eyes searched yours like he was answering. only if you are.

and you didn’t say anything. you didn’t have to. your breath hitched the smallest bit, and you gave the tiniest nod.

and that was it. the go-ahead.

he set his chopsticks down with a soft clink, just enough to get the attention of the table without being dramatic.

“actually,” jungwon started casually, glancing once at you as if to double check—like there was still room to back out.

but you didn’t.

you sat a little straighter. steadied your hands in your lap.

“we just wanted to tell you something real quick.” the two of you say in unison just as you had planned 15 minutes earlier outside your front door.

both sets of parents nod on prodding the two of you to continue. and jungwon looks at you to talk. your dad raises an eyebrow, immediately setting down his glass filled with some cheap supermarket wine.

“so um,” you start, the words getting caught in your throat. all the confidence you had mere seconds ago dissipating the moment you actually realized you were going to confess to something that wasn’t even real.

you felt jungwon’s hand gently squeeze your hand twice as if to say ‘you got it’, though you would’ve much preferred if he just took over and talked, but you knew damn well jungwon would find every way to word it wrong.

“me and won are uh. well. dating?” you manage to word out with what sounded like a question at the end. as if to ask your parents for confirmation that you were dating.

like they knew.

you winced for a small moment, scared of their reaction, not that they would react poorly, but still just to brace yourself for whatever words came out.

“oh? i thought you already were, okay,” jungwon’s dad spoke first and continued on with his grill talk with your dad.

jungwon’s mom, however, let out a small gasp—her hand flying to her chest like she’d just received the best plot twist of her life.

“i knew it!” she half-whispered, half-squealed, reaching across the table to swat your mom lightly on the arm. “i told you, didn’t i tell you?”

your mom just nodded smugly, sipping her tea with a knowing glint in her eyes. “you didn’t even need to say it. i’ve been calling him my son-in-law since christmas.”

your jaw dropped. “what?”

jungwon choked on his water. “mom?!”

his mom grinned proudly. “don’t act surprised, you practically live here anyway. every time i call you, you’re with y/n. what was i supposed to think?”

“that we’re close friends?” you eyes widened bewildered at the revelation.

jungwon just gave you a look that clearly read be so serious right now.

“no offense, but y’all passed the ‘just friends’ stage like two summer barbeques ago,” your mom added, barely suppressing a grin.

your dad, who had been suspiciously quiet up until now, leaned back in his chair and sighed dramatically. “guess i have to find a new way to threaten you when prom rolls around.”

“dad!” you cried.

jungwon snorted. “sir, with all due respect, i think you ran out of threats after you made me recite your ten rules of dating… twice.”

everyone laughed, and just like that, the tension vanished. the table settled back into the usual rhythm—chatter about work, complaints about grocery prices, light gossip about neighbors you barely remembered.

your heart, though, hadn’t calmed at all.

you didn’t know if it was from the thrill of the performance or the way jungwon kept glancing at you when no one else was looking—soft, almost unreadable, like he knew something you didn’t.

the two of your families after dinner, cleaned up and played poker until late at night, the house full of laughter, cheer, banter, backstabbing each other through teams. it all felt just right.

after jungwon’s parents walked back to their house across the street leaving you and jungwon to hangout in your kitchen after your parents had gone to sleep..

after a long night of baking brownies and blowing up the kitchen the two of you cleaned up the kitchen and you were just about ready to go sit down and rest. at least until jungwon tugged your sleeve as you were walking back into the living room.

“come on,” he said quietly, his voice just for you. “let’s go.”

you blinked. “go where?”

he didn’t answer—just gave you that annoyingly mysterious smile and nodded toward the front door.

you hesitated only a second before slipping on your shoes and following him out.

outside, the summer air had cooled, but not enough to need a jacket. jungwon’s hoodie hung loose on him, sleeves shoved up to his elbows as he leaned against the car, twirling his keys on one finger.

“spontaneous post-dinner getaway,” he said, opening the passenger door for you. “get in loser, we’re avoiding emotional fallout.”

you rolled your eyes but climbed in anyway. “you’re so stupid.”

for some reason it felt eerily normal having jungwon take you on a drive at 11pm, and you tried to think of who else would you really allow to drive you this late at night.

no one. just jungwon.

it was an awkward moment of realization as you stared

─── ♡

the small “endearing” moments that should in theory mean nothing became more common. as much as you’d like to lie and say ‘haha yeah we’re just super close friends, he does this all the time, he’s so silly’, that vocabulary to label whatever went on between the two of you did not mentally exist by any means.

like when he casually pulled the sleeve of your hoodie down over your hand and held it there, fingers brushing yours a little too long. like when he casually adjusted your necklace, fingers grazing your collarbone. like how at work, when there was no one to perform for, he’d still pull up a chair next to yours, close enough that your elbows brushed.

or even when the two of you were attending keeho’s 18th birthday party, he was stuck by your hip as though he were going to lose you in the crowd of the 6 people in your friend group.

“so,” jungwon said now, setting his chin in his palm as he watched you tap away at your computer, “what are we doing for our final date pretty girl?”

you didn’t even look up. “final date?”

“well, summer break ends in today and we might as well go big or go home, we should go like stargaze or something, ”

you shot him a look. “since when do you stargaze?”

jungwon smirked. “i don’t. but you’d be surprised what i’d do for my girlfriend.”

you ignored the way your stomach flipped at that and focused on your screen.

because this was fake.

it’s all fake, it’s just your best friend. this is normal. it’s not like you were gonna miss these totally non-romantic dates or whatever when it ended. and god the second you took a small glance up to see that stupid dumb smug smirk, you couldn’t help but want to kiss that smirk off his face.

you blinked hard and dragged your eyes back to your laptop, like it could somehow undo the thought. like you didn’t just imagine what it’d be like to kiss him for real—no excuse, no fake label. just you and jungwon and the quiet press of lips that meant everything.

god.

what were you even saying.

you couldn’t be in love with your best friend.

“yeah sure whatever stargazing is fine or whatever,” you tried to non-chalantly choke out to no avail with his super dumb, extra idiotic with a side of even more dumb smirk, curving up even more than it had already.

that night when he picked you up to take you stargazing, you hated how stupidly good he looked in that hoodie—the one you always stole, the one that still smelled like his cologne and laundry detergent even after a wash. he leaned against his car with two slushies in hand and a smile that made your stomach flip like it had nothing better to do.

by the time you reached the hill just outside of town, the sky had already started to darken. stars dotted the sky, and the night was cool but not cold. jungwon grabbed a blanket from the backseat like he’d planned this—which, of course, he had. because he always thought ahead when it came to you.

“come on,” he said, flopping down onto the grass and patting the spot next to him.

you sat beside him, and the two of you looked up in silence for a while. the stars were quiet and constant. but your thoughts were anything but.

and then, he broke it.

“i’m gonna miss this,” jungwon said, not looking at you.

your breath caught. “what, the fake dates?”

he chuckled softly. “no. just… you. like this. with me.”

“yeah, me too.”

your voice was quieter than you meant it to be, barely more than a breath. and maybe that was all it took—just that one admission—because when you glanced over at him, he was already looking.

his eyes held that same softness they always did with you. that same calm, steady warmth. only this time, it felt different. heavier. fuller.

you didn’t know who leaned in first.

maybe it was him. maybe it was you. maybe it was both of you moving at the same time, pulled by some invisible thread that had been tightening for weeks now.

but suddenly, he was close.

so close you could notice the way his lashes curled slightly at the ends, the way his breath warmed your skin. your noses nearly touched. your lips—god, your lips were maybe a centimeter apart. your hands were resting between you on the blanket, barely brushing.

and the moment stretched, unbearably quiet, unbearably full. a fragile, perfect pause.

you weren’t sure what you were waiting for. a sign? a reason? an excuse?

but nothing came.

instead, jungwon swallowed slowly, gaze flickering down to your lips—then back to your eyes. and then he leaned back just slightly, like it had all been some kind of mistake he didn’t want to admit to.

you both laughed a little, and it was the worst sound—because it didn’t feel funny. it felt like stalling.

you glanced down at your hands, fingers curled into the fabric of your hoodie, gripping like you were holding onto something that was already slipping.

“well,” you breathed out, your voice steady in a way that surprised you. “thank you for being my fake boyfriend.”

jungwon blinked. “thank you for being mine.”

you nodded, forcing a small smile. “we did good.”

“yeah,” he said softly. “we did.”

and then there was silence. stars blinking overhead. grass brushing against your legs. the quiet between you more deafening than anything he could’ve said.

you cleared your throat, gaze fixed somewhere in the sky. “this is for the best, anyway. it’s better this way.”

jungwon didn’t respond.

“like,” you continued, trying not to sound too breathless, too desperate to fill the space, “summer’s ending. we can finally just be normal again. go back to how it was before.”

you swallowed hard, forcing the words out like they didn’t sting. “thank god, honestly.”

and it was a good performance. you said it with a smile. a soft laugh. like the past few weeks hadn’t meant anything more than two friends goofing around, pretending for fun.

but god, you wanted to take it all back. you wanted to say please don’t stop pretending. please don’t let this be the end.

you wanted to tell him you weren’t relieved. not even a little.

but you didn’t.

because this was your best friend. and this was what you’d agreed to. and maybe if you kept lying to yourself just a little longer, it wouldn’t hurt so much.

so you stood up, brushed off your jeans, and turned to him with a grin that didn’t quite reach your eyes.

“come on, loser” you said. “we’ve got school in the morning.”

and jungwon… jungwon just nodded.

the car ride back was silent, as you looked out the window lost in thought of the tense moment. maybe you were just going crazy after all.

─── ♡

it felt like summer fell behind you in the blink of an eye. one night you were busy pulling an all-nighter with jungwon, the next you were back at school doing stupid class introductions as if everyone didn’t already know each other, considering the senior class this year was so much smaller than other years.

you thought every thing would just go back to how it was when you and jungwon were purely “best friends”, though the world had different plans.

you thought everything would go back to normal. that once school started, once senior year rolled around, you and jungwon would fall back into the routine of just being best friends. no more weird stargazing moments. no more forehead kisses because “you looked really kissable right then.” no more fake confessions whispered under fireworks or his hand steadying yours under the dinner table.

and senior year didn’t exactly give you space to process the maybe-definitely growing feelings anyway. college applications were looming like dark clouds. essays. deadlines. the gnawing anxiety of futures you couldn’t picture clearly yet.

“okay but like… when are we gonna talk about the fact you two were literally in love?” keeho asked casually, popping a grape into his mouth as he flopped down on the grass next to you during lunch.

“we’re not in love and never were,” you said quickly. too quickly.

“uh huh,” yunjin chimed in, arching a brow. “so the couples matching lockscreen is just a coincidence?”

“or how he tied your shoe this morning,” sunoo added helpfully, sipping from his yogurt drink. “like we didn’t all watch him kneel like he was about to propose.”

“it’s wasn’t a proposal,” you muttered.

“but you are dating still though,” yunjin insisted, as if this was obvious. “right? there’s no way you break up just like that,” she declared with a snap of her fingers.

“sure we did,” you persist.

technically not a lie. technically still acting. technically going to emotionally ruin you at some point, but hey. not today.

he just raised an eyebrow. “sure, but then why did he look like he got dumped by taylor swift in the hallway this morning?”

you didn’t have an answer for that.

and then there was jungwon himself—who wasn’t exactly acting like a best friend or an ex-boyfriend or anything you could neatly label.

he still saved you a seat in homeroom.

still brought you a can of whatever energy drink from the vending machine if he beat you to school.

still sent you stupid pictures of his dog in sweaters.

but now, there were these weird silences between you two—little pauses where you’d catch him looking at you like he didn’t know if he should smile or not.

you didn’t talk about the summer.

you didn’t talk about the stargazing.

you didn’t talk about watching the sunrise from the back of his car, your head laying on top of his chest feeling his heartbeat, every thump lining up with yours as though they were purely beating together.

you didn’t talk about how you’d almost kissed him, how close your face had been to his under that sky, how your heart had been pounding so loud you were sure he heard it.

you especially didn’t talk about the night in his car, when the music faded low and the world felt quiet, like it was holding its breath just waiting for you to say something.

and now you were here—back to school, back to “normal.”

except it didn’t feel normal.

not when your hand still remembered the way his felt in yours.

not when the thought of him dating someone else made your stomach twist.

not when you couldn’t look at his hoodie without thinking of the way it smelled.

god.

you missed him.

even though he wasn’t really gone.

even though he was right there.

even though he was just your best friend.

just your best friend. nothing more, maybe even less now too.

─── ♡

there you were, tying your apron behind your back, fingers fumbling more than usual. the diner you and jungwon worked at was quiet—the kind of quiet that only existed right before the dinner rush. fluorescent lights buzzing faintly above. the distant clatter of cutlery and the hum of the milkshake machine running its cycle.

you were halfway through restocking the napkin holders when you heard his footsteps walk in

they were unmistakable. slightly too light for someone his height, always a bit rushed like he was trying not to be late, even when he always was.

jungwon.

you didn’t turn around at first. not because you didn’t want to. but because you couldn’t.

because the last time you two stood in this diner together, you’d both agreed it was time to end it.

“the summer’s over,” you’d said with a shrug, even if it felt like peeling off skin.

“yeah,” he had replied. “we said just for the summer.”

and that was that. no more fake dates. no more shared drinks. no more lingering looks when you thought the other wasn’t paying attention.

no more pretending.

but it never really felt like pretending.

and now—now he was behind you again. the bell over the door still echoing faintly. his presence filled the space before his voice even did.

“hey,” he said softly.

you finally turned around, catching sight of him in that same black apron, hair slightly messed from the wind, cheeks flushed like he’d run part of the way.

you hated how your heart still picked up at just the sight of him.

“you’re late,” you muttered, hoping the tease would mask the way your voice shook.

“i know.” he paused. “i was… thinking.”

you blinked, trying not to read into that. “you do that?”

he let out a weak laugh but didn’t say anything right away. instead, he stepped forward, closing the space between you like he always did—like he never even noticed how close he got until your shoulders nearly touched.

“i don’t think i was pretending,” he said finally, so quietly you almost thought you imagined it.

your fingers froze on the napkin holder. “what?”

“this summer. the fake dating.” he looked at you, really looked at you, and your stomach dropped. “it wasn’t fake for me.”

your breath caught, everything else in the diner blurring around the edges.

“jungwon…”

he shook his head. “i know we said it’d be easier to go back to normal. i know that was the plan. but i can’t keep facing you and acting like i didn’t mean any of it.”

you stared at him, every feeling you’d buried over the past few weeks clawing its way up to your throat.

“you didn’t say anything,” you whispered. “you just agreed.”

“because i thought that’s what you wanted, and what better way to basically be dating the only girl who’s been right for you. play stupid games win stupid prizes.” he tried to choke out a laugh, voice rough now. “i thought i was the only one who—”

“you weren’t.”

he looked up sharply.

you swallowed hard. “you weren’t the only one who didn’t want it to end.”

for a second, neither of you moved. the air between you crackled with something unspoken and electric and real. no roles to play this time. no script. just two people standing in the middle of a diner, hearts pounding like it was the first time all over again.

jungwon’s eyes softened. just a little.

his shoulders, tense from whatever courage it took to say all that, eased the slightest bit.

“okay,” he said, voice quiet. steady.

you nodded. “okay.”

neither of you smiled. neither of you had to. it was just… understood.

he stepped behind the counter, grabbing an apron like it was any other shift. like you were just co-workers again. like nothing had changed. except everything had.

and when your hands brushed while reaching for the same menu, you both didn’t pull away.

you just kept going. together.

─── ♡

to be honest the next coming weeks were weird. now officially dating and having to tell people, “we broke up and got back together”. you weren't sure if you counted the summer months as part of your relationship or not, but ultimately decided they were.

the two of you were back out driving late into the night going somewhere, but also going everywhere. small raindrop falling into the windscreen, while you watched the streets pass by in a blur, admiring the outside world, as if you’d never seen the familiar streets you’d grown up in all your life.

“you okay honey?” his question catches you off guard after 20 minutes of silence.

you hum with contentedness feeling cool air of the outside world brush past your skin with the windows down.

normal was out the window. this new kind of normal was messier, softer, realer. like the way he now reached for your hand without needing a reason.

you caught yourself watching him when he wasn’t looking—still in awe that it was allowed now. and sometimes he’d glance over like he knew, and he’d smile that small, familiar smile that made your chest warm.

you still bickered over dumb things. you still teased each other constantly. but there were also forehead bumps and quiet “get home safe” texts and shared playlists and late night phone calls where no one said anything for a long time.

when jungwon pulled into your driveway, neither of you moved right away. the rain still tapped against the windshield, soft and steady, like background music.

you turned to him, and he looked at you like he always did—like you were something constant in his world.

“wanna come in?” you asked, voice quiet.

he shrugged, lips tugging into a smile. “only if you make me tea.”

“you don’t even like tea.”

“i like it when you make it.”

you rolled your eyes, but your heart tugged anyway, that familiar, fluttery way it always had when it came to him.

so you nodded, reached over to unbuckle your seatbelt, and the two of you stepped out of the car and into the rain together.

this was the new beginning.

not loud. not dramatic.

just you and him, walking toward the front door

side by side.

finally, for real.

271 notes · View notes

firstclassjaylee · 27 days ago

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FOUL MOUTH

who knew the brightest student was actually after everyones guts?

secretly unhinged class pres jungwon! x chill/sporty y/n! jungwons MEAN only for a bit ! mentions of unaliving, drugs and smoking

perm:

@nikiswifiee @ancnymcnzjy @ja4hyvn @17ericas @hoonieyun @jellyluv4eva @wheretheheckis-ssaki @hyukabean

@shhh1233728 @007chan

884 notes · View notes

firstclassjaylee · 28 days ago

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medieval knight!heeseung.

knight!heeseung x royalty!reader. in which heeseung, a loyal knight bound by duty, finds himself powerless when you, his royal charge, are gravely injured — evoking the rise of forbidden feelings.

it’s been a while since i did something like this, but i love doing these types of posts. i might be a little rusty so bare with me but i was feeling inspired.

he had fought in wars, bled for kingdoms, and smelled the breath of death countless of times, yet it was you who brought him to his knees in an agonising cry.

heeseung didn’t know fear until his eyes settled upon the crimson stain by your abdomen, didn’t know panic until he caught your falling frame, and had never kissed desperation until he saw your eyes shutter closed.

not me putting you through hell already-

he prayed to every deity he knew, whispered wishes to a thousand stars, hoping they were listening, that they would take pity on his desperation. he swore to change every bad habit, to undo every wrong he’d ever committed, all for a chance that your wound would be shallow enough to heal swiftly, that fate might grant him this one mercy.

never one to linger behind the cold stone walls of the castle, you’d asked for a walk to the markets. heeseung, your personal knight—the one entrusted with guarding you, the kingdom’s most cherished treasure, held the highest honour in the land. he was bound to you, dedicated to your safety and well-being, he was your shadow, as constant as the sun.

it was on this walk that you had wandered out of his hawk eyed gaze, woven into the thick herd of your people, becoming a vulnerable target for a limited space of time.

‘hawk eyed gaze’ bffr he lost you 😭

a moving dummy, ready to be struck down without your trusted shadow directly beside you.

the arrow had already sunk deep into your flesh, it’s jagged tip protruding as your body crumpled, half way to the ground before you even realized heeseung was no longer by your side.

a wave of frantic screams erupted from the crowd, their hands reaching out in desperation, but amidst the chaos, your attacker slipped away, vanishing like a coil of smoke into a narrow side street.

OOOH OOOH OOOH YOU WANNA GET FUCKED UP 🤺

heeseung was by your side a heartbeat later, his breath ragged with panic. the horror etched across your face mirrored his own, and as he cradled you, every inch of him screamed in self loathing. he had failed you. he had been bestowed the highest rank of honour—and he couldn’t even prove himself worthy.

what had meant to be a peaceful day—an innocent breath of fresh air and a chance to mingle with your people—had shattered in the worst way imaginable. and now, heeseung found himself carrying your bloodied form back to the castle, creating an uproar of chaos from the guards standing watch.

hours dragged like light years, each second stretched taut with dread. with every passing minute, heeseung seemed to fade into a hollow shell of himself. he was pale as a ghost when he faced the king and queen, and by the time the healers had arrived, his complexion had turned a sickly shade of green—as if he, too, bore the wound you’d suffered, carved into his skin with an invisible knife.

“perhaps you should sleep, dearest,” said the queen, her honeyed voice seeping through his skin and reaching for his frozen organs—warming, but never thawing the glacier lodged in his chest.

failure. failure. failure. a cruel mantra carved into his mind, echoing like a curse only he could hear.

not him being bullied by his brain ☹️

heeseung knew it wasn’t an order, merely a gentle suggestion — so he felt no guilt in refusing. the queen only nodded with quiet understanding, pressing a kiss to your brow before taking her leave.

not him ignoring the goddamn queen for you! standards are RAISED

several days and several nights passed in a blur of rising suns and flickering candle light, and still, your most trusted guard remained—gripping your hand like it was the thing keeping him tethered to earth.

the devotion??? give him the throne rn idc

and then, beneath a moon hanging high and the hush of a world drowned in exhaustion, your eyes fluttered open.

“heeseung?”

a gentle hum of a voice broke through the weak barriers of sleep, and his own eyes shot open at the sound of your very first word.

you hadn’t even known he was in the room until you craned your neck to the right, haziness giving way to relief at the comforting sight of your most faithful companion — the embodiment of safety.

yeah he’s there ig 🙄 i’m also here too

“your highness,” he breathed out, feeling the glacier start to melt beneath the warmth of your gaze, dripping into his core as you cast aside all propriety and extended your arms, inviting him into an embrace that defied the boundaries between a knight and a royal.

still, heeseung slid from the chair to his knees before you, trembling hands gripping you with a tenderness so raw it nearly unleashed a waterfall of tears.

“i’ve been so worried… i’m so sorry i wasn’t fast enough,” the weight of regret poisoned his tone, the words tumbling off his tongue in quick succession. “i should have been there, it should have been me who took the arrow.”

he’s so dramatic pls

i’d also take an arrow for you btw- heeseung could never handle an arrow the way i would

JUST ONE CHANCE I BEG

taking his face in your palms, a soft voice of caution echoed in the back of your mind, warning that you were teetering on the edge of something far beyond duty and trust—something that was driven purely by the beat of your heart.

medieval boss/employee romance core LMAO

“i’d much rather neither of us take an arrow.”

“but my duty is to protect you and—”

“and you have, heeseung,” you cut in gently, your touch deliciously torching his skin. “this one wound doesn’t erase all the others you have prevented. your duty is not in question.”

heeseung’s eyes slammed shut, momentarily shedding his title, ignoring the consequences of his hearts desires, as he rested his forehead gently against yours.

mirroring his expression, a soft sigh escaped your parted lips, revelling in the feel of his flesh against your own. his thundering heart steadied with every breath you gifted to the air, reminding him that you were safe—you were alive, and you didn’t blame him.

consequences be damned, heeseung allowed himself the night—slipping into bed beside you, holding you in his arms as he whispered improper confessions and desperate declarations. he held you tightly, the two of you breathing in sync until your hearts steadied to the same beat.

bros about to risk it ALL

“this is going to get complicated,” spoke the king in a quiet whisper to his wife, his voice barely audible as they peeked around the door and found you sleeping in the arms of your knight, a peaceful expression softening your features, captivating your entire being.

“hearts know no boundaries, they do not live by the royal code,” the queen replied with a gentle sigh, though her eyes gleamed with something akin to pride. “let us leave them for now. it seems this is the deepest sleep he’s had in years.”

yep. uhuh. even the queen ships it.

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firstclassjaylee · 1 month ago

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──𝙒𝙃𝙀𝙉 𝙃𝙀𝙀𝙅𝘼𝙆𝙀 𝘽𝙊𝙏𝙃 𝙒𝘼𝙉𝙏𝙎 𝙔𝙊𝙐 ✶ mini smau

heeseung & jake x fem reader

𝐖𝐀𝐑𝐍𝐈𝐍𝐆𝐒: suggestive mdni!! cussing and my bad humor sorry

𝐀𝐍𝐆𝐄𝐋’𝐒 𝐊𝐈𝐒𝐒𝐄𝐒: why have one when u can have both :3 🗣️ I love u all !! ♡ requests open & enjoy ↓

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firstclassjaylee · 1 month ago

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Brewed to Be Yours | lhs

Café for7you followers event

Order for @firstclassjaylee ⋆˚✿˖°

One Trope Latte “co-workers to lovers” with Romance Cream #3. “Let me teach you how to make my order.” coming right up!!

- Brewed with a splash of slow-burn, a shot of soft gazes, and topped with whipped tension. This love’s been percolating behind the counter.

The first thing you noticed about Heeseung when you started at Brew & Bloom wasn’t his smile or his voice or the way his name tag always sat crooked on his apron. It was how distant he seemed.

He wasn’t cold—not exactly. Just quiet. Professional. Efficient.

You’d greet him during shift changes and he’d nod back, maybe throw in a soft “morning” if you were lucky. While the other baristas cracked jokes and swapped playlists during lulls in the rush, Heeseung stayed focused, movements clean and purposeful as he prepped drinks with a precision that bordered on obsessive.

Still, you couldn’t help but notice him.

He had this calm energy, the kind that settled a room without trying. He never raised his voice, never fumbled a cup. And while he never offered more than necessary, he always stepped in to help when you got flustered mid-order, sliding in with a quiet “I got this” before saving you from disaster with a perfectly timed espresso shot.

One day, during a rare slow morning shift, you found him behind the counter, organizing the syrup pumps. You were restocking lids when he glanced your way and said—completely out of nowhere—

“You always put too much ice in cold brew.”

You blinked. “Excuse me?”

He didn’t look up. “It waters down the taste.”

You raised a brow. “So I’ve been serving sub-par drinks?”

His lips twitched like he wanted to smile but wasn’t ready to give you the satisfaction. “Only when it’s mine.”

You narrowed your eyes at him. “Well then, teach me, oh coffee master.”

That was the first time he smiled—really smiled—and it knocked the air out of your lungs.

It became a thing after that.

You’d tease him about his textbook pouring technique. He’d point out how your whipped cream swirls were “inconsistent at best.” Sometimes you caught him watching you during rushes, and if you looked back fast enough, he’d glance away like he hadn’t been looking at all.

But there was this moment—one snowy Tuesday morning—where the distance cracked.

You’d both opened together. It was dark outside, the snow thick and falling, and only the hum of machines filled the space between you.

You were still groggy, trying to prep the counter when he appeared next to you with a hot mug.

“Try this,” he said, sliding it toward you.

You blinked at the warm cup, then at him. “What is it?”

“My usual,” he said. “Made it for you.”

You took a cautious sip. Vanilla, a hint of cinnamon, and something rich you couldn’t place. You looked up at him, surprised. “This is really good.”

Heeseung shrugged, leaning on the counter beside you. “Let me teach you how to make my order.”

You raised a brow, heart thudding a little faster. “Right now?”

He nodded once. “You’ve been trying to guess it for two weeks. I figured I’d save you the trouble.”

He walked you through it, guiding your hand as you tamped the espresso, showing you the exact angle he poured his cold brew, the amount of syrup, the swirl of cream—“not stirred, that’s the secret,” he whispered like it was some national treasure recipe.

You weren’t sure when you started smiling. Maybe it was when he let his fingers linger over yours while showing you how to hold the cup. Maybe it was the way his voice softened when he said, “You’re actually paying attention this time.”

After you slid the finished drink back to him, he took a sip, gave an approving nod, and then looked at you a beat longer than necessary.

“It’s perfect,” he said. “You made it better than I do.”

You laughed. “Liar.”

“No, seriously.” He held the cup between both hands, eyes warm. “I think anything tastes better when it’s from you.”

Your heart stuttered.

“Wait—are you flirting with me?” you asked, half-joking.

Heeseung tilted his head. “Is it working?”

You flushed, caught somewhere between flustered and thrilled.

“Maybe.”

He grinned, sliding the cup closer to you. “Then tomorrow, I’ll teach you how to make my weird afternoon drink.”

“Only if we make it a date,” you said before you could stop yourself.

He looked surprised for half a second. Then, he nodded.

“Deal. But only if you make it.”

And just like that, the distance between you and Heeseung was gone—melted, maybe, like cream swirling into coffee.

The next day, the café was packed—blustery winds always drove people indoors with a craving for something warm. You barely had time to breathe between orders, let alone tease Heeseung like usual.

But he noticed anyway.

“You okay?” he asked, brushing past you as he grabbed another cup. His hand lightly touched the small of your back—barely there, but enough to send a flutter through your chest.

“Yeah. Just need a coffee the size of my face.”

He smirked. “I’ll make it for you after. The weird one. Deal’s a deal.”

You glanced at him. “You remember?”

He shot you a look like of course I do.

It was nearly dark by the time the café emptied out and the last chairs were stacked. You peeled off your apron and plopped down on a barstool as Heeseung moved behind the counter, sleeves rolled up and hair a little messy from the long shift.

“Alright,” he said, clapping his hands together. “Time for the weird one.”

You watched as he moved with that same focused rhythm—except this time, you noticed the way he looked up every few seconds, checking if you were watching. And you were.

He poured espresso over a citrusy syrup, added steamed oat milk, and topped it off with a light dusting of cardamom and orange zest.

You squinted. “Okay, that’s either genius or chaos.”

Heeseung handed you the cup with both hands, waiting. “Try it.”

You sipped. It was… strange. Bright. Spicy. Warm. But oddly comforting.

“I kinda love it,” you admitted, licking foam from your lip. “It’s like… a hug and a punch at the same time.”

Heeseung chuckled, sliding into the seat next to you, his thigh brushing yours.

“Exactly how I like my drinks. And maybe my people.”

Your eyes widened, heart stammering at the weight behind the words. Heeseung didn’t flirt like the others. He didn’t throw out compliments or cheesy lines. When he said something—he meant it.

“You’re not as distant as everyone thinks,” you said softly.

He looked down at his cup, then at you. “I’m just… careful with who I let in.”

You smiled, warmth blooming in your chest that had nothing to do with coffee. “So… you let me in?”

Heeseung turned fully to face you, eyes steady. “I think I did the second you messed up my first drink and didn’t even apologize.”

You laughed, nudging his knee with yours. “Bold of you to assume I’m sorry.”

He reached for your hand under the counter, gently intertwining your fingers. “I’m not.”

You sat there in the quiet, sipping strange citrus coffee and holding hands across syrup-sticky counters, both of you smiling like idiots.

It wasn’t dramatic or loud or wild.

It was slow. Sweet. A little awkward.

And just like a really good cup of coffee—it was worth the wait.

Want to place an order? See here what Café for7you has to offer for you! ₊˚⊹♡

permanent taglist: @ijustwannareadstuff20 @hoonielvv @rjssierjrie @rikifever @firstclassjaylee

barista’s note:

hi lovie!! tysm for requesting<33 I had fun brewing it ( i guess its obvious since I hit 1k words with it😅) BUT FIRST TIME WRITING FOR HEE I HOPE I YOU LIKE IT!૮꒰ྀི⸝⸝> . <⸝⸝꒱ྀིა

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firstclassjaylee · 1 month ago

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jake au recs

smau

1. the love ride | @whjluv

after your mutual breakup, your ex disappears from the public eye for almost a year, only to comeback with a deeply emotional album entirely about you, sending fans into a frenzy. they analyze every lyric and link it to your past relationship, causing your breakup to become once again the talk of the internet. upset and surprised that the so private Jake preferred to deal with his emotions publicly instead of talking it out with you, you drop a single in response, highlighting the parts of your breakup he left out.

full/written

1. taking jake’s glasses off for a kiss | 0.2k | @jiwuu

2. attracted to you | 500 | @yuzujjn

3. latte hearts | 835 | @bywons

𝗒𝗈𝗎’𝗅𝗅 𝖿𝗈𝗋𝖾𝗏𝖾𝗋 𝖻𝖾 𝗃𝖺𝗄𝖾’𝗌 𝖿𝖺𝗏𝗈𝗋𝗂𝗍𝖾 𝖼𝗎𝗌𝗍𝗈𝗆𝖾𝗋

4. toothbrush | 1.4k | @winterlico

after months of living together, the distinction between "just roommates" and something more begins to haze due to late-night movie marathons, sharing food, and Jake's toothbrush's inexplicable permanent presence in your bathroom.

5. falling deeper | 3.5k | @winterlico

another casual night drive with Jake, "This is the best idea I’ve ever had."

6. clickbait romance | 3.5k | @heartsriki

When the head journalist of the university magazine is paired with campus heartthrob Jake Sim for a fake dating photoshoot, the lines between pretend and real begin to blur.

7. your name | 5.1k | @soobnny | 🌟

you give a different fake name every time you come into the coffee shop jake works part time in and he just wants to know your real name bc ur cute but here he is scrawling “rainbow dash” into your stupid cup

8. cupid’s arrow has struck… the wrong target! | 10.3k | @s1rawb3rry

As a cupid, Y/N's job has always been to make people fall in love– that has been her task for centuries. However, everything goes horribly wrong when Jake accidentally locks eyes with her instead of his intended match. Now, she's stuck with a hopelessly in-love Jake, following her around like a lovesick puppy. The worst part? Cupids aren’t allowed to fall in love…

9. professional yearner | 13k | @itendtothinkalot | 🌟

growing up, you had two heroes: jake and sunghoon. thick and thin, chaos and crayons, they were always there. so when your ex dumped you for "being so oddly close to your best friends” well… fair. but what he didn’t get is that you never needed him. you’ve always had jake sim and maybe that was the problem.

10. the matchmatic 3000 | 19k | @jakesimfromstatefarm | 🌟

simp, i mean, sim jaeyun is a hopeless romantic. a cursed hopeless romantic, he would say, doomed to exist as just your friend, nothing more. but when his genius (read: nerdy) best friend creates a highly accurate matchmaking app for the university, jake is ready to bribe, beg, and possibly sell his soul to make sure he gets paired with you. plan a? hack the system. plan b? there is no plan b. to jake, being delulu is the solulu, and he's all in.

11. no doubt | 23.7k | @jakesimfromstatefarm | 🌟

struggling to balance a world tour, endless responsibilities, and...well, the sting of getting dumped by his girlfriend, jake finds peace & comfort confiding in you—one of his closest friends. what begins as lighthearted late-night phone calls while he's away on tour deepens into something more, quickly pulling you both into uncharted emotional territory. as your connection with jake intensifies, so does your inner turmoil—torn between the comfort of your easy relationship with him and the terrifying possibility of falling for someone you're not even sure you can have in the first place. but jake? jake has absolutely no doubt of what he wants—and spoiler alert? it's you.

🌟- fav

updating regularly for my own sake lol :)

#tbr

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firstclassjaylee · 1 month ago

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When The Calls Stopped [p.hs]

“Even through the distance, I knew we’d find our way back to each other.”

SOMAR𝒊O ─── Sunghoon promised nothing would change when he left to chase his dream, and at first, he kept that promise—answering every call with warmth, filling the distance with laughter and late-night whispers. But slowly, the calls grew shorter, his replies delayed, and some nights, he didn’t answer at all. Still, you called, same time, same hope, until one day… you didn’t. At first, he barely noticed, too caught up in his hectic world, but as the silence stretched on, unease settled in. Why weren’t you calling? Why weren’t you texting? And why did the quiet feel heavier than he ever expected? 박성훈 𝐱 𝑓. reader ✉️ wc. 19.9k ✶ careful ! skinship, kissing, nicknames, long distance relationships, etc 🔖

requests open | masterlist

The moment Sunghoon tells you he got accepted, his eyes shine with excitement, his breath unsteady as if he can’t believe the words coming out of his mouth. “I did it,” he says, his hands gripping yours tightly. “I got in.”

For a second, time stops. You’ve always known this day would come—he’s worked too hard, sacrificed too much for it not to. But now that it’s real, your heart clenches in a way you weren’t prepared for. “Sunghoon, that’s amazing,” you say, forcing your lips into a smile, even though there’s a lump forming in your throat. “I knew you would.”

His grin is wide and bright, but it falters as he studies your face. “You’re happy for me, right?”

You nod quickly. “Of course I am.” And you are. You really, truly are. But you’re also terrified.

He sighs, squeezing your hands like he’s reassuring himself as much as you. “I’ll be busy, but I swear nothing will change between us. I’ll call every day. No matter what.”

You hold onto that promise like a lifeline. “And I’ll call too,” you say, trying to sound certain. “We’ll make this work.”

A small smile tugs at your lips as you poke his chest lightly. “And I’ll be your number one fan. No matter what happens, I’ll always be cheering you on.”

He chuckles, shaking his head. “You already are.”

The day he leaves, the airport is filled with noise—people moving, voices overlapping, announcements droning over the speakers—but all you can hear is your own heartbeat. It’s too fast, too loud, too unsteady. Sunghoon stands in front of you, his bags slung over his shoulder, his expression unreadable.

“This isn’t goodbye,” he says softly, as if reading your mind. “It’s just… see you later.”

You manage a small, shaky laugh. “Yeah. See you later.”

His arms wrap around you, pulling you in, and you cling to him, trying to memorize the way he feels. The warmth of him, the familiar scent of his cologne. “I’ll miss you so much,” he murmurs into your hair, his hold tightening.

You squeeze your eyes shut. “Me too.”

Neither of you moves for a moment. You want to stay like this just a little longer, just until the ache in your chest fades—but the world doesn’t stop for you. His name is called. He steps back.

One last look. One last smile.

And then he’s gone.

You take a deep breath, gripping your phone in your hand. Every day, you remind yourself. No matter what.

The first night without Sunghoon feels strange. Your room is quieter, emptier. You lie in bed, your phone resting on your chest, staring at the ceiling as you wait for his call. He promised he’d call every day. You know he will, but the seconds drag on too slowly.

Then, finally, your phone rings.

You answer instantly. “Sunghoon!”

“Y/N!” His voice is slightly breathless, like he rushed to pick up. “I’m here. I made it.”

A relieved smile tugs at your lips. “How is it? How’s your dorm? Your members? Did you eat? Oh! What about your schedule? Are they making you run laps already?”

He chuckles, the familiar sound sending warmth through your chest. “Whoa, slow down! One question at a time.”

You listen as he talks about his first day—how he barely had time to settle in before being thrown into meetings, how his members are all nice but just as nervous as he is, how their dorm is smaller than he expected but still comfortable. He tells you about the rules: no phones during training, strict curfews, early mornings.

“It’s… a lot,” he admits after a pause. “I knew it would be hard, but it’s only the first day, and I’m already exhausted.”

You hear the tension in his voice—the weight of his dream settling on his shoulders. You wish you could be there, to see him, to tell him in person that he’s got this. Instead, you hold your phone a little tighter and say, “That just means you’re working hard. And you always work hard, Sunghoon. You’ll get used to it. Soon, it won’t feel as overwhelming.”

He exhales, and you can almost picture him closing his eyes, letting your words sink in. “Yeah… you’re right.”

“Of course I am,” you tease. “I am your number one fan, after all.”

His laugh is softer this time, more at ease. “You really are.”

Then, he suddenly groans. “Y/N, I swear, all the guys here are so good-looking. It’s kind of unfair.”

You blink before laughing. “And? Don’t forget you are too.”

He scoffs. “I don’t know… Compared to them, I—”

“Sunghoon,” you cut him off, your tone firm but affectionate. “You’re literally one of the most handsome guys I know. And I know a lot of people.”

He huffs out a shy laugh. “That’s not even true.”

“It is true,” you insist. “And don’t let anyone, not even your ridiculously good-looking members, make you forget that.”

There’s a short pause before he murmurs, “You always know what to say.”

“I just tell the truth.”

Sunghoon suddenly groans again, but this time, his voice is more playful. “But seriously, Y/N… Heeseung hyung? He’s so good-looking. It’s actually insane.”

You hum in thought. “Huh. He kinda is.”

Silence.

“…Excuse me?”

You bite back a grin, waiting for his reaction.

“You’re not supposed to agree with me!” he exclaims, sounding completely betrayed.

“I’m just saying,” you tease. “You’re right, he’s pretty handsome.”

You hear rustling on the other end, followed by a dramatic sigh. “I can’t believe this,” he mutters. “I’m telling Heeseung to stay away from you.”

That’s when you finally burst into laughter, and after a second, Sunghoon joins in too, the sound soft and warm.

Even with exhaustion creeping in, neither of you want to hang up just yet. You talk for as long as you can, lingering in the comfort of each other’s voices.

And when Sunghoon finally murmurs a sleepy “goodnight,” you hold onto his promise a little tighter.

It’s different now. The distance is real.

But at least, for now, nothing has changed.

The second night without Sunghoon feels a little easier. Maybe it’s because you know he’ll call, or maybe it’s because the sound of his voice last night still lingers in your mind.

When your phone rings, you pick up immediately. “Sunghoon!”

“You were waiting for me, weren’t you?” he teases, his voice laced with amusement.

You roll your eyes. “Obviously. My favorite trainee calls once a day—I have to clear my schedule.”

He chuckles. “Good. I’d be offended if you didn’t.”

His tone is light, but there’s an underlying exhaustion in his voice. It’s only been a day, but you can already tell the training is wearing him out.

“So, how was today?” you ask, settling into your bed.

He exhales, and you hear him shifting, probably lying down as well. “Intense. We had dance practice all day. My body hurts everywhere.”

You wince in sympathy. “Did you at least eat?”

“Yeah, but I barely had time. Everything’s so fast-paced here. The second you finish one thing, there’s already something else waiting.”

“Sounds stressful,” you murmur.

“It is,” he admits. “But… it’s exciting, too. I mean—” He suddenly stops himself.

You frown. “What? What were you gonna say?”

A long pause. Then, a nervous chuckle. “I, uh… I can’t tell you.”

Your eyes narrow. “Why not?”

“Because it’s a secret.” His voice is smug now, like he enjoys keeping you on edge.

“Sunghoon.”

He laughs. “Okay, fine. I can tell you this much—I’m preparing for my debut.”

Your breath catches. “Already?”

“Well, not officially,” he corrects himself quickly. “But training’s getting more intense because they’re getting us ready. It’s still early, though, so nothing’s confirmed.”

“That’s amazing,” you say, your chest swelling with pride. “You’re already so close, Sunghoon.”

“Yeah…” His voice is softer now, almost like he’s processing it himself. “It still doesn’t feel real.”

You smile. “It is real. And soon, the whole world is gonna know Park Sunghoon’s name.”

He groans, embarrassed. “You always make it sound so dramatic.”

“Because it is dramatic! You’re literally gonna be a K-pop idol! I can say I knew you before you were famous.”

“That’s the only reason you’re keeping me around, huh?” he teases.

“Obviously,” you joke. “Gotta secure that ‘childhood friend of a celebrity’ title.”

He laughs, but then he sighs. “I just wish I could tell you more. It sucks that there are so many rules.”

You nod in understanding, even though he can’t see you. “I get it. But it’s okay—you don’t have to tell me everything. I’ll be here cheering for you, even if I don’t know what I’m cheering for yet.”

There’s a brief silence before he quietly says, “That means a lot.”

You smile. “It’s because I’m your number one fan, remember?”

“Yeah,” he murmurs. “You are.”

The conversation shifts after that. He tells you about his members again—how Jungwon is way too mature for his age, how Niki keeps making everyone laugh, how Jay seems intimidating but is actually super nice. You listen, taking in every word, because even though you’re not physically there with him, you want to be part of his world in whatever way you can.

Eventually, his voice grows sleepier, and you know he’s fighting to stay on the phone.

“You should sleep,” you say softly.

“Mhm.” He sounds half-asleep already. “Talk tomorrow?”

“Of course,” you whisper.

The line goes silent, and for a moment, you just hold your phone to your ear, as if the connection alone can bridge the distance between you.

The next evening, when your phone rings, you can already tell by the tone in Sunghoon’s voice that he’s had a long day. You answer quickly, trying to mask the worry creeping up on you.

“Hey, how was today?” you ask, trying to sound upbeat, though you can hear the fatigue in his voice.

“I’m starving, Y/N,” he says, his words coming out in a rush. “They’re putting us on a diet to get us ready for the debut. I can barely eat anything.”

You frown, the concern rising in your chest. “What? Are you okay? How can they expect you to work so hard and not let you eat?”

“I don’t know,” he mutters, a tinge of frustration in his voice. “They said it’s part of the training. I’m just trying to push through, but… I’m so hungry, Y/N. I just want to eat something that’s not just protein and vegetables.”

“Sunghoon,” you say, your tone gentle but firm. “You need to eat. I know they’re pushing you hard, but you can’t run on empty. Don’t starve yourself.”

You hear him sigh, the weight of everything pressing on him. “I’m fine. I can handle it, Y/N. It’s just… so much right now. I don’t know how to keep up with it all.”

“I get it. I know it’s tough,” you reply softly, “but your body needs fuel. If you starve yourself, I’m going to be really mad at you.”

“Really?” he asks, sounding amused but still stressed.

“Yes, really,” you say with a playful but serious tone. “If you starve yourself, I will too. I’ll just sit here eating my feelings, okay?”

He laughs, but it’s light, lacking its usual energy. “I can’t let you do that. But I guess I’ll try to eat more. I’ll sneak a snack or something when no one’s looking.”

“Good. Just promise me you won’t push yourself too hard. I can’t be the only one who’s worried about you.”

“I promise. I won’t starve myself. But the training, Y/N… it’s just nonstop. I’m exhausted, and I don’t know if I can keep up with all of it.”

You pause, your heart aching for him. “You can. You’ve been working toward this your whole life, Sunghoon. You’re stronger than you think.”

“I don’t know. It feels like I’m always falling behind. There’s so much pressure.”

“I know, and I can’t imagine what it’s like right now, but I believe in you. I always have.”

There’s a soft silence on the other end, and you can almost hear him letting your words sink in.

“I… I really needed to hear that,” he says quietly. “Thank you, Y/N.”

“You don’t have to thank me,” you reply with a small smile. “I’m your number one fan. That’s what I’m here for.”

He chuckles softly. “Yeah, you really are.”

You continue talking for a little longer, but by the time the conversation starts to wind down, you can tell he’s beyond exhausted. His words become slower, more drawn out, as he struggles to stay awake.

“You need to sleep,” you remind him, your voice soft.

“Yeah… I know.”

“Goodnight, Sunghoon. Take care of yourself, okay?”

“I will,” he mumbles, and for a moment, you can hear the faintest hint of a smile in his voice. “Talk to you tomorrow?”

“Of course,” you whisper. “Sweet dreams.”

The call ends, and you find yourself lying there, your phone pressed to your chest, your heart heavy with all the things he didn’t say.

The next evening, you’re getting ready for bed when your phone rings. Sunghoon’s name flashes on the screen, and you pick it up almost instantly, eager to hear his voice.

“Y/N!” His voice sounds much lighter today, more energized, though you can still detect the edge of exhaustion beneath his words. “Hey, how’s your day been?”

You smile at the sound of his familiar tone. “It’s been good. How about you? You surviving the diet and the training?”

Sunghoon laughs, but it’s a little strained. “It’s been… tough, but I’m making it. You know, Jay’s been teasing me a lot about the diet. He keeps calling me the ‘hungry trainee.’”

You can hear the smile in his voice as he talks about his members. “I bet he’s being dramatic about it, huh?”

“Yeah, totally,” he says, and there’s a bit of laughter in his voice. “But he’s actually kind of right. I am starving half the time.”

“Well, you better eat something tonight. Don’t make me come over there and force-feed you!” You joke, but you’re half-serious.

Sunghoon chuckles, but before he can respond, you hear a voice in the background.

“Wait a minute,” the voice says. “So this is the famous Y/N? The one Sunghoon’s always talking about?”

You blink, surprised, but Sunghoon quickly calls out. “Jay! Don’t interrupt, man!”

Jay’s voice sounds teasing, and you can almost picture the grin on his face. “Oh, I see now. You’re real. I thought you were just some fake girlfriend Sunghoon made up to seem cool.”

You laugh, not at all offended. “Well, I’m glad I’m real. I guess Sunghoon’s not just making up stories to impress you guys, huh?”

Sunghoon groans from the other end, clearly embarrassed. “Jay, I swear, if you keep this up—”

But Jay cuts him off, clearly having too much fun with this. “Nah, I’m just kidding. But seriously, Sunghoon never stops talking about you, so I was starting to wonder if you were just some figment of his imagination.”

You can hear Sunghoon muttering something about how Jay is the weird one, and you laugh, feeling the warmth of the moment. It’s nice to hear Sunghoon in such a comfortable environment, surrounded by people who care about him.

“I promise you, I’m not a figment,” you reply playfully. “But tell Sunghoon that if he doesn’t start eating properly, I’ll come and find him myself.”

Jay bursts out laughing. “I think he needs to hear that! Hey, Sunghoon, don’t make her come over here. She’ll beat you into eating.”

“Yeah, yeah,” Sunghoon mutters, clearly fighting to hide his smile. “I get it, I’ll eat.”

“Good,” you say, your tone more serious now. “Take care of yourself, Sunghoon. I don’t want you pushing yourself too hard.”

There’s a brief pause, and then he sighs, a little softer this time. “I will. Thanks, Y/N.”

“I mean it,” you reply quietly. “I’m always here. You know that, right?”

“I know,” he says, his voice full of sincerity. “You’re the best, Y/N.”

You smile, your heart swelling with affection. “I love you, Sunghoon,” you say, your words filled with so much sincerity that you can feel them resonate in your chest.

For a moment, there’s a soft silence on the line, and you wonder if he’s heard you correctly. But then he answers, his voice just as gentle, “I love you too, Y/N.”

Jay, not missing a beat, interrupts again. “Aww, look at that. Sunghoon’s all soft now. It’s cute.”

“Shut up, Jay,” Sunghoon mutters, but you can hear the smile in his voice.

“Alright, alright,” you say with a grin, “I’ll let you guys go. Don’t get into too much trouble.”

Sunghoon laughs. “We’ll try not to. Talk to you tomorrow?”

“You bet,” you reply. “Sleep well, Sunghoon. Both of you.”

The call ends, and you can’t help but smile to yourself. You’re glad Sunghoon’s surrounded by people who make him laugh, who help take the edge off the stress. But you also know that no matter what, you’ll always be there for him—cheering him on through every part of his journey.

The following evening, as the call connects, you immediately notice something’s different. Sunghoon’s voice sounds tired, more worn out than usual. The usual warmth isn’t as present, and he answers after a few rings, his greeting slower than before.

“Hey, babe…” he says, a slight sigh in his tone.

“Hey, Sunghoon. How’s everything? You sound a little off.” You try to keep the concern out of your voice, but it’s hard not to notice.

“I’m fine,” he responds quickly, but it’s clear he’s not. “Just… a long day, you know? Practice and all that. It’s been non-stop. I’m pretty drained.”

You can tell he’s trying to push through it, but it’s obvious that the exhaustion is catching up to him. His usual spark is dimmed, and you wish you could do more for him.

“Sunghoon, you need to take care of yourself,” you say gently. “I don’t want you running yourself into the ground.”

He laughs softly, but it’s weak. “I’ll be okay. Just… a bit of a rough day, that’s all.”

You can hear him shift in his seat, probably leaning back and trying to get comfortable, but it only worries you more.

“Are you eating enough? Please tell me you’re not starving yourself again,” you ask, your voice a little firmer now.

“I had a little to eat,” he replies, though you can hear the hesitation. “I’m just really stressed about everything… I’m supposed to be prepared for this comeback, but there’s so much to remember, and the pressure is intense.”

You frown, feeling the weight of his words. “I know it’s tough, but you can’t let the stress take over. You’ve got this, Sunghoon. You’re amazing, and everyone is rooting for you.”

“I just feel like I’m barely keeping up,” he admits. “I’m trying, but it’s hard.”

A silence falls between you two, and for a moment, you don’t know what to say. But then, you hear his voice again, softer this time.

“Y/N…” His voice catches slightly, like he’s mustering the strength to say something important. “You still there?”

“Yeah, I’m here,” you say quickly, trying to ease the tension. “I’m always here.”

“You know I love you, right?” He says, though his voice is quieter than usual, almost as if he’s saying it for comfort more than anything.

The words make your heart ache, hearing him say them so softly, knowing how much he’s carrying right now. “I love you too, Sunghoon,” you reply, making sure your words are full of sincerity and warmth. “You don’t have to worry about me. I’m always here for you, okay?”

He pauses for a second, as if processing your words, then adds with a sigh, “Promise you’ll keep saying that to me? I need to hear it right now.”

“I promise,” you say firmly, your voice steady and full of affection. “I’ll always tell you. I love you, Sunghoon, and you’re doing amazing. I know it’s hard right now, but you’re getting through it.”

You can hear him exhale, like he’s finally able to relax a little. “Thanks, Y/N. That means a lot.”

You smile softly, even though you know he can’t see it. “Anytime, Sunghoon. I’m always here. Get some rest, okay? Don’t overwork yourself.”

“I will,” he replies quietly, but there’s still a trace of exhaustion in his voice. “Talk to you tomorrow?”

“Definitely,” you say. “Sleep well, Sunghoon. You deserve it.”

“I will. Goodnight, Y/N. Love you.”

“Love you too,” you whisper, the words feeling like a promise to both of you.

The next day passes, and when your phone rings, you’re excited as usual to hear from Sunghoon. But when you answer, there’s something different in his voice right away.

“Hey, babe! What’s up?” he greets, a little too cheerfully.

“Hey! You sound excited,” you say with a grin, already sensing there’s something new going on. “What’s going on? Did you finally get a good meal or something?”

He laughs, but it’s clear there’s a little more to it. “Well, actually… I got a new haircut today.”

Your heart skips a beat. You’ve seen Sunghoon change up his look from time to time, but hearing that he’s got a new hairstyle has your curiosity piqued.

“Really?” you say, feigning surprise. “I bet it looks amazing. You were already handsome enough, but now you’re just showing off, huh?”

He chuckles, but you can tell he’s excited to hear your reaction. “I’ll send you a picture. Hold on.

You hear the sound of him shifting around, and a few seconds later, a picture message pops up on your phone. You eagerly open it, only to see a shot of Sunghoon with a fresh, slightly messy hairstyle—his hair styled with a bit of volume and some subtle layers, giving him an effortlessly cool vibe.

Your eyes widen, and you immediately burst into laughter.

“Oh my god, Sunghoon! What did you do to your hair?” you tease, your voice full of playfulness. “You have like—the stereotypical idol hair cut. Are you even real?”

He laughs, clearly amused by your reaction. “What? You don’t like it?”

You’re still laughing, unable to stop yourself. “It’s not that I don’t like it. I mean… wow, you look good, but you’re definitely going to make all the fans swoon even harder now. You’re making it unfair for the rest of them.”

“I don’t know if I’d say that,” he replies, sounding a bit shy now, though the amusement in his voice is still there. “I just wanted to try something different. You think it suits me?”

You pause for a second, pretending to think about it seriously, then grin. “Hmm, well… it’s not bad. I mean, it’s not like you were ever ugly, but now… I’m going to have to fight off all the fan girls who’ll be falling even harder for you.”

“Stop it,” he says with a playful groan. “You’re going to make me embarrassed.”

“I’m just saying the truth!” You laugh, shaking your head even though he can’t see you. “You really are trying to make everyone else jealous now, huh?”

Sunghoon lets out a soft chuckle. “Well, as long as you’re not jealous, I think I’m doing alright.”

You can’t help but grin, your heart feeling lighter at the playful moment. “Don’t worry, Sunghoon. I’m your #1 fan, and I’ll always be here for you, no matter what hairstyle you go for. Just… no more drastic changes, okay? I might not recognize you next time.”

“Deal,” he says, and you can hear the relief in his voice. “I’ll keep it simple next time, I promise.”

You smile, feeling your heart swell with affection. “You look great, Sunghoon. I’m happy you’re trying new things. Just… don’t forget I like you just the way you are, no matter what your hair looks like.”

“I won’t forget,” he says softly. “I promise.”

“I love you,” you say, a soft, genuine smile on your face.

“I love you too,” he replies, his voice quieter now, and there’s a warmth in it that makes your heart flutter.

The next day, you’re both on FaceTime, and you can’t help but smile when you see Sunghoon’s face light up as soon as he picks up. His hair looks great as always, and he’s looking slightly more relaxed, though still busy with everything going on.

“Y/N!” he greets, his usual smile spreading across his face. “How are you? I miss you so fucking much I think I’m going crazy”

“It’s been alright. I miss you too hoon,” you reply with a grin, but then you hesitate, glancing at yourself in the reflection. You’re not exactly feeling confident, especially after a long day, and you barely managed to throw on something comfortable. You decide to only show half of your face on camera, hiding the side you’re not happy with.

“Hey, why are you only showing half your face?” Sunghoon asks, his voice filled with playful curiosity. “Come on, let me see all of you.”

You shake your head, feeling self-conscious. “No way. I look terrible today. I’m just not in the mood to show all of me.”

Sunghoon pouts dramatically. “I don’t believe that for a second. Let me see all of you, please? You know you’re beautiful.”

You laugh, even though his words make your heart flutter. “I’m serious, Sunghoon. You don’t want to see it. Trust me.”

He gives a soft chuckle, clearly not buying it. “Y/N, you’ve got to stop hiding. Just show me, and I promise you’ll feel better. I know you look great.”

You let out a soft sigh, feeling the pressure of his persistent words, but you still resist for a moment. After a few seconds of silence, you finally roll your eyes and, with a reluctant sigh, shift the camera to show your full face.

“See? Told you,” you mutter, bracing for the inevitable teasing.

But then Sunghoon’s eyes widen, and you hear his voice soften. “Wow, absolutely stunning” His tone is sincere, and you can tell he genuinely means it.

You blink, unsure if you heard him right. “What?”

“I said you’re cute.” He grins, and there’s a playful gleam in his eyes as he leans closer to the camera. “Really cute, actually. Like, ridiculously cute. Can’t believe you’re my girlfriend.”

Your cheeks flush at his words, and despite yourself, you smile. “Stop it, Sunghoon. You’re just saying that.”

“No, I’m not,” he says, his voice lowering slightly, his eyes now locked on yours. “I’m serious. You’ve got no idea how gorgeous you are.”

You try to fight the blush rising to your cheeks, but it’s hard when his gaze is so intense. “You’re impossible, you know that?”

“I’m not the one hiding my face,” he teases, but then his expression softens. “I just want to see all of you. You don’t have to hide, ever.”

You look down, feeling a little shy. “You’re way too sweet.”

Sunghoon gives a soft laugh, but then his voice drops into something more playful, more flirty. “I’m just telling the truth. But if you’re this cute even when you’re hiding… I can’t even imagine how amazing you look all put together.”

You roll your eyes but can’t stop the smile that spreads across your face. “You’re really laying it on thick today, huh?”

“I’m just stating facts.” His grin grows wider. “And I’m telling you, if you keep looking this cute, I’m going to be even more smitten with you.”

Your heart flutters, and you’re suddenly at a loss for words. You never quite get used to the way he can make you feel so special with just a few words.

“Alright, alright,” you say, trying to brush off the sudden rush of warmth in your chest. “I guess I’ll take the compliment, but only because you’re my favorite.”

Sunghoon winks at you through the screen, his eyes sparkling with affection. “Good, because you’re mine too. But I think you knew that already.”

You smile, a little shy but full of affection for him. “I guess I did.”

There’s a comfortable silence between you two for a moment, both of you just enjoying the moment. The teasing fades, and for a while, it’s just the two of you, connected despite the distance.

“I really do think you’re cute, Y/N,” he says softly after a beat, and you feel the sincerity in his words even through the screen.

You smile, feeling the warmth spread through your chest. “Thanks, Sunghoon. You’re not so bad yourself.”

He grins. “I know. I’m a keeper, right?”

You laugh, shaking your head. “You might just be.”

When Sunghoon picks up, you can immediately tell something is off. His face is shadowed, his usual smile absent. His eyes look heavy, and there’s an exhaustion in his voice that he tries to hide, but it’s clear he’s been pushing himself too hard.

“Hi, Y/N,” he greets, his voice low and slow, as if every word is a struggle.

“Hey, Sunghoon,” you reply, concern creeping into your tone. “You don’t sound like yourself. You okay?”

He sighs heavily, rubbing his eyes. “I’m just really tired… It’s been a long day. We’ve been rehearsing non-stop, and it’s been hard to keep up. I haven’t really had much sleep the past couple of days.”

You can’t help but frown. You’ve seen him work hard before, but this is different. He’s always been energetic, full of life when talking to you. But now, he sounds like he’s barely keeping his eyes open.

“Hoonie,” you say softly, “you need to rest. Don’t push yourself too much. You know I want you to take care of yourself, right?”

“I know,” he mumbles, but the words don’t seem to have the usual fire behind them. “I’ll be fine… just need to get through this.”

A long pause settles between you two, and you try to gauge what’s going on in his mind. You can hear the faint background noise of the dorm—footsteps, someone laughing in the distance—but it only adds to the sense that he’s not fully present with you.

“Are you eating enough?” you ask, your voice firm with concern. “If you’re not eating, I swear I’ll—”

“I’m eating, Y/N,” he interrupts, but it’s sharp, the kind of snap that catches you off guard. “Stop worrying about me so much.”

You freeze, startled by the sudden change in his tone. It’s not like him to snap at you. You can tell he’s frustrated, but you can’t help but feel hurt by how quickly his patience seems to have worn thin.

You try to keep your voice calm. “I’m just worried about you, Sunghoon. I know you’re stressed, but—”

“Yeah, I know,” he cuts you off again, his tone more defensive. “I’m just… tired. Can you give me a minute, please?”

The request stings, and you try to hide the disappointment creeping in. He hasn’t snapped at you like this before, and though you know it’s just stress, you can’t help but feel a pang of hurt in your chest.

“I… I just want you to be okay,” you whisper, fighting the tightness in your throat. “I love you so, so much.”

There’s a pause on his end. You can hear him breathing heavily, and then he exhales deeply. “I’m sorry,” he says quietly, his voice softer now, regret evident in his words. “I didn’t mean to snap. I’m just really drained right now. It’s not you.”

You take a deep breath, trying to steady yourself. “It’s okay. I know you’re stressed, but you’ve got to remember you can’t do everything on your own. Don’t forget to take a step back sometimes.”

“I know… I just feel like everything’s piling up, and I don’t want to let anyone down,” he admits, his voice a little shakier now. “I’m sorry for snapping. I really didn’t mean to take it out on you.”

“It’s alright, Sunghoon,” you say softly, your heart aching for him. “I know you’re doing your best. Just… please don’t wear yourself out completely. I care about you.”

“I’ll try,” he responds, though the exhaustion in his voice still lingers. “I’ll rest soon… I just need to finish up some stuff first.”

“Promise me you’ll rest after?” you ask, your voice gentle.

He sighs again, but it’s a little more peaceful this time. “Promise.”

There’s a moment of quiet before you speak again. “I love you, Sunghoon. Don’t forget that, okay?”

“I love you too,” he says, his words more sincere now, even though you can tell he’s still a little worn out. “I’m sorry again for snapping. I didn’t mean it.”

You smile softly, knowing how hard he’s been working. “Don’t apologize. Just get some rest, alright? You’ve got this.”

He nods, though you know he’s probably too tired to keep his eyes open much longer. “Talk to you tomorrow, okay?”

“Definitely,” you reply, your voice warm. “Sleep well, Sunghoon.”

“Goodnight, Y/N. Love you.”

“Love you too.”

Sunghoon answers the call, something feels different. His usual warmth, the energy he once had when he saw your name light up on his screen, seems dimmed. He’s quieter, his responses slower, like he’s barely present in the conversation.

“Hey, Sunghoon,” you greet, trying to keep the cheerfulness in your voice, but there’s a subtle tightness in your chest as you notice the shift.

“Hey,” he replies, his voice flat. It’s not the usual excitement or affection that you’re used to hearing. “What’s up?”

“How’s everything today? How’s the comeback prep going?” You ask, trying to break through the silence, your concern creeping in with every word.

“It’s fine,” he answers, but there’s a detachment in his tone. “Same as usual. Busy. A lot to do.”

You pause, the words hanging in the air, and you feel the distance between you grow, even though you’re both on the phone. “Sunghoon, you okay? You sound kind of… off.”

There’s a long pause on his end, like he’s debating whether to answer honestly. When he finally speaks, his voice is tired, but he doesn’t say much.

“Yeah… just a little tired,” he mutters, almost dismissively.

You can sense that he’s shutting you out, and it hurts. “I know you’re busy, but you can talk to me, you know. If you need a break or anything.”

“I’m fine, really,” he responds, a little too quickly. “I’m just dealing with some things… but I’ll be alright.”

You can feel the gap between you widening with every passing second. Normally, Sunghoon would reach for your hand, even through the phone, but now it feels like he’s pulling away. You take a deep breath, trying to stay calm.

“I’m here if you want to talk, Sunghoon. You don’t have to keep everything inside,” you say softly.

“Thanks,” he mutters, his tone still distant, not offering much more. “I’ll talk to you later.”

The words strike you hard, like a cold wave. You want to reach out, ask him if something’s wrong, but he’s already pulling away from you. You swallow the lump in your throat, trying to push back the hurt that starts to bubble up.

Before the call ends, you quickly add, “I love you, Sunghoon.”

There’s a long pause. You hold your breath, waiting for him to say it back, but instead, there’s only silence.

“Sunghoon?” you say, a little softer this time, hoping for the reassurance you always get, but he doesn’t respond.

“I love you,” you repeat, quieter now, your heart sinking. Still, nothing.

“Talk to you later, Y/N,” he says quickly, cutting through the silence, his voice tinged with impatience, and the call ends before you can say anything else.

You stare at the screen, the absence of his usual “I love you” echoing in your mind. Your chest feels heavy, and for the first time, you wonder if the distance is becoming more than just physical.

You try calling him again later that evening, hoping for a better conversation. When he picks up, his voice is more rushed than usual, and there’s a faint background noise of chatter and shuffling.

“Hey, I can’t really talk right now,” Sunghoon says quickly, his tone tight and distracted. “I’m in the middle of something.”

You blink, surprised. “Oh, okay… I didn’t realize you were busy. Everything okay?”

He sighs, and you can hear the tension in his voice. “Yeah, just practice and other stuff. It’s a lot to juggle right now. I really can’t take a long call.”

You try to hide the disappointment, but it’s hard. “I get it, Sunghoon. I just wanted to hear your voice.”

“I know, but… I just don’t have the time right now,” he says a little apologetically, but there’s still a sense of distance in his words. “I’ll talk to you when I can. Sorry, Y/N.”

There’s a brief pause before you speak again, trying not to let the hurt show. “Alright, take care of yourself, okay? Don’t push too hard.”

“I will,” he says, though his tone is distracted. “Talk to you later.”

You hesitate for a moment, but before the call can end, you quickly add, “I love you, Sunghoon.”

There’s a silence on the other end, just long enough for you to second-guess yourself. He doesn’t respond right away, and it makes your heart ache. Then, his voice comes through, quieter than before.

“Yeah… I’ll talk to you later,” he says, but his words feel rushed, and the usual warmth isn’t there.

You sit there, staring at the screen, the weight of the silence lingering in the air. The distance between you feels bigger now, and you wonder if the connection you once had is fading away.

The following day, you call Sunghoon, needing someone to talk to. A lot’s been weighing on your mind, and you just want to vent to him. It’s been a rough day for you—your boss had been incredibly difficult, and a few personal things have left you feeling down. You just want to hear his comforting voice.

When he picks up, you immediately start talking, eager to unload. “Sunghoon, you won’t believe what happened today. My boss was so unfair with me, and it just… it feels like everything’s going wrong. I tried to stay calm, but nothing I did was good enough.”

There’s a brief pause on the other end, and when he responds, his voice isn’t as warm as usual. “Oh… yeah?” His tone is flat, as though he’s distracted, and it catches you off guard. You push on, not noticing the change at first.

“Yeah, and then my friend was being distant too, which just made everything worse. Like, I don’t know if I’m doing something wrong, but it’s been a lot. I just want to get it off my chest, you know?” You’re pouring your heart out, hoping he’ll be the support you need right now.

“I mean, that sucks,” Sunghoon responds, his voice a little distracted. “But it’s not like there’s much you can do about it, right? You’ll be fine.”

His words sting more than you expect. You try not to let it show, but the impatience in his voice is unmistakable. “Yeah, I guess. But it just feels like everything’s hitting at once, and I can’t catch a break.”

You expect some sort of comforting reply, something to ease the tension in your chest, but instead, he sighs. “Yeah, well… I don’t really have time to talk about this right now. We’ve got practice, and I really need to focus.”

You freeze, your words hanging in the air. For a moment, you don’t know how to respond. The distance in his voice is more evident now than ever. You take a deep breath, trying to hide the disappointment that threatens to show. “I… I understand, Sunghoon. I just wanted to talk to you. It’s okay.”

There’s a pause before he replies, his tone still somewhat distant. “I’ll talk to you later, okay? I really have to go.”

“Alright…” you say quietly, the words barely leaving your lips. You feel like you’ve been cut off mid-sentence, but you don’t know how to push further.

The call ends abruptly, and you sit there, the weight of his impatience lingering. The feeling that something’s not quite right between the two of you grows heavier with every passing second.

Later that evening, you try calling him again, hoping for a chance to talk more calmly now that he might have a break. But as the phone rings, you can feel the knot in your stomach tighten. He doesn’t pick up.

You wait for a few more rings, then the voicemail picks up.

“Hey, it’s Sunghoon. Sorry, I can’t take your call right now. Leave a message and I’ll get back to you.”

His voice sounds distant, almost robotic—nothing like the Sunghoon you know. You stand there for a moment, staring at your phone, feeling your chest tighten. You had hoped things would feel a little more normal tonight, but now, the silence on the other end only deepens the gap between you.

You swallow the lump in your throat and try to shake off the feeling of abandonment, but it lingers.

“Hey, Sunghoon… It’s me. I know you’re busy, but I just wanted to talk. I… I miss you. I miss your voice, your presence—everything. Call me when you can, okay? I’ll be here.”

You end the message, and for a second, you just stare at your phone. The call didn’t go the way you hoped, and as you hang up, you can’t shake the feeling that something is slowly slipping away. You wonder if he’ll ever call back.

You wait for a few more rings, then the voicemail picks up.

“Hey, it’s Sunghoon. Sorry, I can’t take your call right now. Leave a message and I’ll get back to you.”

You swallow the lump in your throat and try to shake off the feeling of abandonment, but it lingers.

“Hey, Sunghoon… It’s me. I know you’re busy, but I just wanted to talk. I… I miss you. Call me when you can, okay? I’ll be here.”

Later that week, another wave of bad news hits you. Your friend, who you’ve been trying to support through some personal struggles, completely shuts you out. It’s frustrating, confusing, and you’re feeling completely drained from trying to be there for everyone else while no one seems to be there for you. You reach for your phone, desperate to talk to Sunghoon, hoping he’ll be the support you need, even if it’s just for a few minutes.

When he picks up, you immediately start venting, your emotions spilling out faster than you can control them. “Sunghoon, I don’t know what to do. My friend… she’s been shutting me out, and I don’t know why. I tried to be there for her, but now it’s like I’m just invisible. Everything feels like it’s falling apart, and I don’t know how to fix it.”

There’s a pause, and then Sunghoon’s voice comes through, colder than you expected. “Again with the drama, Y/N? I’m really not in the mood for this.”

You blink, caught off guard. “What? I’m just telling you what happened. I don’t have anyone else to talk to.”

“You’re always making it about yourself,” he snaps, his tone sharp. “Everything’s always about you. You’re the one who needs attention, who needs someone to fix everything for you. I’m sorry, but I can’t deal with that right now.”

His words hit you like a slap, and for a moment, you don’t know how to react. You thought he’d be there for you, even if it was just to listen. But now, it feels like the weight of your emotions is too much for him, too much for anyone.

“You don’t even care, do you?” you say quietly, your voice shaking with hurt. “I’m just trying to talk to you, Sunghoon. I didn’t expect you to fix it, I just needed to tell someone.”

“I can’t always be there for you like that,” he says coldly. “I have my own things going on. Maybe you should start thinking about that instead of making everything about you.”

Your heart sinks, and before you can respond, you hear him exhale sharply.

“I gotta go,” Sunghoon says abruptly. “I’ll talk to you later.”

Before you can even say another word, the line goes dead.

The phone still pressed against your ear, your heart racing in your chest. The words echo in your head, and the distance between you feels like an insurmountable gap. The person you thought you could rely on, the one who promised to be there, just hung up on you, leaving you alone with nothing but the weight of his harsh words.

The next day, your phone rings, and when you see Sunghoon’s name, your heart skips a beat. You hesitate before answering, still reeling from the harsh words he had said yesterday. But when you finally swipe to answer, his voice comes through, and it’s immediately clear something is wrong.

“Y/N…” His voice cracks, and you hear the unmistakable sound of tears. “I’m so sorry… I shouldn’t have said those things. I was just so… overwhelmed. Everything’s falling apart, and I… I didn’t know how to handle it.”

Your heart tightens at the sound of his pain. You weren’t expecting this at all, but the sincerity in his voice makes the anger and hurt you felt yesterday fade. You stay quiet for a moment, letting him speak, and when he continues, you can hear the exhaustion in his words.

“I’ve been so stressed with practice, with everything going on, and I just… I lost it. I didn’t mean to take it out on you. I don’t know what’s wrong with me. I’m so sorry, Y/N.”

You can’t help but feel the weight of his apology. You know how much he’s been dealing with, how hard everything must be for him. Despite how hurt you were, you take a deep breath, your voice gentle as you reply.

“It’s okay, Sunghoon,” you say softly, trying to comfort him. “I understand. You’re under so much pressure, and it’s a lot to handle. But that doesn’t mean you can’t talk to me about it. I’m here for you, always.”

There’s a brief silence on the other end, and then you hear him sniffle. “I don’t want to push you away, but I’ve been pushing everyone away. I don’t even know how to deal with this anymore.”

You feel your heart break for him. “You don’t have to deal with it alone, Sunghoon. I’m right here. I’m not going anywhere. You can vent to me, and I’ll listen, okay? You don’t have to keep it all inside.”

“I don’t deserve you,” he whispers, his voice trembling. “I really messed up, Y/N.”

“No, you’re allowed to have your moments. You’re human, Sunghoon,” you reassure him, your words soft but full of care. “It’s okay to be stressed and overwhelmed. I get it. I’m not going anywhere. We’ll get through it together.”

He sighs heavily, as if the weight on his shoulders has lifted just a little. “I don’t know what I’d do without you. I’m really sorry for how I acted.”

“You don’t need to apologize. Just take care of yourself, okay? And if you need to talk, I’m always here.”

“Thank you,” he says, his voice more stable now, though you can still hear the lingering tension. “I’m really lucky to have you, Y/N.”

“I’m lucky to have you too,” you reply, your voice full of warmth and affection. “Just remember, we’re in this together. You don’t have to go through it alone.”

You can hear him take a shaky breath, and for the first time in what feels like forever, there’s a sense of peace between the two of you. Even through the stress and distance, you know this moment—this understanding—will bring you closer.

A few days pass, and you try to stay positive, especially after the heartfelt conversation you had with Sunghoon. You thought things were going to improve, that the distance between you two was finally closing. But when you call him again, you feel that familiar weight of uncertainty creeping back.

When he picks up, the usual warmth you’ve come to expect isn’t there. His voice is distant, almost emotionless. “Hi,”

“Hey, Sunghoon,” you reply, trying to keep your tone light. “How are you today?”

There’s a long pause before he answers, and when he does, his response is flat. “I’m fine.”

You furrow your brows, sensing something off. “You sure? You don’t sound like it. Is everything okay?”

“Yeah, everything’s fine,” he says quickly, but there’s no conviction in his voice. It feels like he’s just saying the words to get through the conversation. “Just busy, you know? Lots of stuff going on.”

You try to push through, wanting to hear more, wanting him to open up to you like he did before. “I get it. You’ve been working a lot. But you know you can talk to me, right?”

“I know,” he says, but there’s no real emotion behind it. “I’ll talk to you later. I don’t have much time now.”

You feel the sting of his detachment, and your chest tightens. “Sunghoon… I’ve been really worried about you. You’ve been distant lately, and I don’t know what’s going on. Is it me?”

There’s another pause, longer this time, and you hold your breath, hoping for something—anything—that’ll show you he still cares. But when he responds, his words come out cold and brief.

“No, it’s not you. I just don’t have time for this right now. I’m too tired.”

Your heart drops. His words cut through you, and the sudden shift from the Sunghoon you know to this distant version of him leaves you speechless. You swallow, trying to steady your breath, but it feels like your chest is caving in. “Okay… if you need space, I understand,” you say quietly, trying to hold it together.

“Yeah,” he says, his tone distant, like he’s already mentally checked out of the conversation. “I’ll talk to you later.”

Before you can say anything more, he hangs up.

You gaze at your screen, the words he didn’t say hanging in the air. He didn’t even say “I love you” this time. The silence feels louder than ever, and a sinking feeling fills your stomach.

You call Sunghoon, you’ve got something lighthearted to share, hoping it might bring some energy back into your conversations. You’ve just bought a new set of makeup, something you’ve been wanting to try for a while, and thought it’d be fun to try it on while on the phone with him. Maybe he could offer his opinions—or, at the very least, cheer you on.

When he picks up, his voice is quieter than usual, and you can immediately feel that familiar distance hanging in the air. “Hey,” he says, his tone flat, barely any emotion behind it.

“Hoonie!” You try to sound upbeat, forcing a smile even though you’re not feeling it. “ I bought some new makeup today! I was thinking of trying it on while we talk. Maybe you can tell me if it looks good?”

There’s a slight pause on the other end. You can hear him sigh softly before he replies. “Uh, okay…”

You go on, excited despite the unease in his voice. “I got this cute blush and a new lippie, and I thought I’d do a quick little look. You can rate it or whatever. It’ll be fun, right?”

You pull out the makeup, feeling a bit nervous but also wanting to share something fun with him, hoping it might make him a bit more engaged. As you start applying the blush, you glance at the screen to see if Sunghoon’s paying attention. But when you look up, he’s staring off to the side, looking distracted, his hand running through his hair absentmindedly.

“Sunghoon?” you say, trying to pull him back in. “What do you think so far? Do you think it looks cute?”

He doesn’t respond right away. Another pause. You can feel your heart sink just a little, but you could see a slight smile on his face.

“I… don’t know,” he mutters, sounding distant. “I can’t really tell from here. Maybe it looks fine.”

You try again, brushing a bit of eyeshadow on, hoping he’ll at least show a little excitement. “Come on, Sunghoon, you can at least say something. You know I love when you notice the little things.”

But instead of the encouraging words you were hoping for, you hear him sigh again, his voice a little frustrated. “I’m just… kind of tired, okay? I don’t really feel like giving opinions on makeup right now.”

Your smile falters, and you can feel the excitement you had draining away. “Oh, okay… I just thought it’d be fun to share with you.”

“I know,” he says, but his tone is distant, detached. “I’m just not in the mood for it. I have a lot going on.”

There’s a slight edge to his voice, and it stings more than you expected. You’re left holding the makeup brush in your hand, feeling like you’re talking to a wall.

“Alright, I get it,” you say softly, trying not to let the disappointment show. “I just wanted to do something fun… but I understand.”

He doesn’t respond right away, and the silence stretches between you both. It’s like the distance you’ve been feeling in his voice is now physically present, filling the space where your excitement used to be.

“Sorry,” he mutters finally, though it feels like an afterthought. “I’m just really tired. I’ll talk to you later, okay?”

You nod, even though he can’t see you, and whisper, “Yeah, okay. Take care of yourself, Sunghoon.”

Before he can say anything else, the call ends. You stare at the phone screen, makeup half-applied, the weight of his lack of interest heavy in the air. The silence that follows feels like a painful reminder of how far apart you’ve grown.

The next time you call Sunghoon, you try once again to bring back the warmth that’s been slipping away. You went shopping earlier and picked up a few new outfits—pieces you were excited about, ones you thought he might like. Maybe, just maybe, this could be a moment to reconnect, even if just for a little while.

When he picks up, his voice is the same as it’s been lately—tired, distant. “Hey.”

You push past the hesitation in your chest and smile at the camera. “Hey! Guess what? I went shopping today and got some cute clothes. Wanna see?”

There’s a slight pause before he responds. “Sure.” It’s not enthusiastic, but at least it’s not dismissive.

You grab the first outfit—a soft pink top and a white skirt—and step back so he can see. “What do you think? Cute, right?” You twirl a little, hoping for some kind of reaction from him.

Sunghoon watches through the screen, his gaze lingering for a moment before he nods. “Yeah… it looks nice. It suits you.”

You feel a flicker of warmth at his words, even though his tone is subdued. Encouraged, you switch into another look—baggy jeans and a black zip-up sweater. “And this? I thought it was a cute, casual look.”

Again, he takes a second before responding. His eyes scan over you, and for a brief moment, the old Sunghoon peeks through—his lips twitch, as if he wants to smile, and there’s a softness in his gaze that you haven’t seen in a while. “It’s cute. You always look good in stuff like that.”

You light up at his words, but just as quickly as that warmth appears, it fades. Sunghoon shifts slightly, rubbing the back of his neck, and the distance in his expression returns. “Sorry, I’m just kind of out of it today,” he mutters.

Your heart sinks a little, but you don’t let it show. “It’s okay,” you say gently. “I know you’re busy. I just wanted to share something fun with you.”

He nods, but he doesn’t say much after that. The conversation feels like it’s slipping through your fingers, no matter how much you try to hold onto it.

Still, at least for a moment, he looked at you the way he used to. And even if he’s distant, you can tell—deep down, he still thinks you’re pretty. He still thinks you’re cute. But is that enough to hold onto?

When you call him again, you’re craving even the smallest bit of warmth—some kind of reassurance that things between you aren’t slipping away completely. So, you try something different, something playful, hoping to pull a smile from him the way you used to.

“I miss you,” you say softly, shifting against your pillow. “I wish I could kiss you right now.”

There’s a pause on his end, and for a second, you think maybe you’ve caught him off guard in a good way. But when he finally speaks, his voice is flat. “Yeah.”

Hoping to lighten the mood, you call him again, determined to make him smile—really smile, like he used to. When he picks up, his face looks just as exhausted as before, his expression blank. But at least he answered. That’s something, right?

“You look tired,” you say softly, trying not to sound too worried. “Rough day?”

“Mhm,” he mutters, running a hand through his hair. “Practice was brutal.”

You nod, thinking for a moment before reaching for the bag of chips sitting beside you. “Alright, since you’re too tired to talk, I’ll entertain you instead.”

He raises a brow, barely interested. “What?”

You grin, bringing a chip close to your phone’s mic. “ASMR,” you announce dramatically before biting into it with an exaggerated crunch.

Sunghoon blinks, clearly caught off guard. Then, to your relief, the corners of his lips twitch just the slightest bit.

“You’re so weird,” he mumbles, but there’s a tiny glimmer of amusement in his eyes.

Encouraged, you take another loud bite, chewing obnoxiously slow. “This one’s for you, Park Sunghoon. May it bring you strength in these trying times.”

This time, a small, fleeting smile appears on his face. It’s not much, but it’s something.

“Also ridiculous,” he mutters, shaking his head slightly. But the exhaustion in his voice remains, and just as quickly as that tiny smile appeared, it’s gone.

You keep munching, hoping to keep the moment alive, but Sunghoon just leans back against what looks like his dorm bed, staring at the ceiling.

And in that silence, you realize something.

You can still make him smile. But it doesn’t reach him the way it used to.

Determined to lift his mood, you keep going, crunching dramatically into another chip. “This one,” you say between bites, “is the ultimate, most perfect crunch. Listen closely.”

You take the slowest, loudest bite yet, exaggerating every sound.

Sunghoon huffs a quiet laugh, shaking his head. “You’re such a dork.”

You gasp. “Excuse me? This is high-quality ASMR content. People pay for this, you know.”

He lets out a soft chuckle—small, but real. “Yeah, yeah. You’re still ridiculous.”

You smile, relieved to finally hear something other than exhaustion in his voice. “But you love it.”

He pauses for a moment, then mutters, “Yeah… You’re cute.”

Your heart skips. It’s been a while since he’s said something like that, and even though his voice is still quiet, still tired, the warmth in his words makes your chest ache.

“Damn right I am,” you tease, trying to keep the moment light. “The cutest, actually.”

Sunghoon hums in agreement, but just as quickly as the warmth appeared, it fades again. He shifts, rubbing his face tiredly. “I should probably go soon.”

Your smile falters, but you nod. “Yeah… okay.”

He looks at you for a moment, as if he wants to say something else. But in the end, he just sighs.

“Goodnight, Y/N.”

And just like that, the call ends.

He called you cute. He smiled. But something still feels off. Like no matter what you do, he’s slipping further and further away.

You don’t want to overthink it. You tell yourself he’s just tired, just busy, and that things will feel normal again soon. So when you call him the next day, you try to act like nothing’s wrong.

When he picks up, he looks even more exhausted than before. His hair is damp, probably from a shower, and he’s lying in bed, his face barely illuminated by the dim glow of his phone screen.

“Hey,” you greet, keeping your voice soft. “Long day?”

“Yeah,” he mutters.

You hesitate before trying to lighten the mood. “Well, lucky for you, I’m here to entertain you. No ASMR today, but I can sing you a bedtime story.”

A ghost of a smile flickers across his face, but it doesn’t last. “That’s okay,” he says, his voice distant. “I don’t really feel like talking much.”

Your stomach twists. “Oh… that’s okay,” you reply, forcing yourself to sound understanding. “Do you just want me to stay on call with you, then? We don’t have to talk.”

Sunghoon exhales slowly, staring at the ceiling. “I think I just wanna sleep.”

You hesitate, gripping your phone a little tighter. “Okay,” you say softly. “I’ll let you rest. But… Sunghoon?”

“Mm?”

“I love you.”

Silence.

Too long of a silence.

Then finally, in a voice so quiet you almost don’t hear it, he mumbles, “Night, Y/N.”

And just like that, the screen goes dark.

He didn’t say it back. Again.

And this time, you’re not sure if he ever will.

That’s it. Just “yeah.” No teasing remark, no soft chuckle, no quiet “I miss you too.”

You swallow, ignoring the sting. “Nothing to say about that? You used to get all shy whenever I said stuff like this.”

He sighs. “I don’t know, Y/N. I’m just really tired.”

You try not to let the disappointment show in your voice. “I get that… I just—I feel like we barely talk anymore. I just want to feel close to you.”

Another pause. This one drags on a little too long.

“I don’t know what to tell you,” he finally says, and this time, there’s no frustration, no sadness—just distance. Like he’s already somewhere else.

Your heart tightens. “Do you not want to talk to me?”

“It’s not that,” he mutters. “I just don’t have the energy right now.”

You nod, even though he can’t see you. Even though you don’t really believe him.

“…Okay,” you whisper. “I love you.”

He doesn’t say it back.

And for the first time, you don’t even have the energy to ask why.

Sunghoon stares at your name flashing on his screen, the vibration of your call buzzing in his hand. His break has just started, and he’s sitting with the other members, chatting and laughing, trying to unwind for a few minutes before going back into practice. He wants to answer, he really does, but he knows he doesn’t have the energy right now. His mind is too tired, his thoughts too scattered.

He glances over at his friends, who are talking about something ridiculous, and decides to let the call go to voicemail. “It’s no one,” he mutters to himself, feeling a flicker of guilt in his chest as he hangs up. But the guilt is drowned out by the noise of the room, the ease of conversation, and the constant pressure of what comes next.

Back to you, the call still ringing, still waiting on the other side.

You sit there, phone in hand, staring at the screen for a moment longer than you should. The sound of it ringing empties the room, the space between you growing wider with every unanswered call. You sigh, closing your eyes for a second. The familiar ache in your chest is back, heavier than before, as you reluctantly end the call.

This distance, this silence—it’s growing harder to ignore. And yet, you keep dialing, hoping, praying that maybe this time, just once, he’ll pick up.

You try to push the unease down, telling yourself it’s just a busy moment. He’s probably overwhelmed with practice, maybe distracted, but deep down, something tells you that it’s not just that anymore.

You leave a voicemail, your voice soft and hesitant. “Hey, Sunghoon… it’s me. I called because I wanted to hear your voice. I miss you. I know you’re busy, but… just wanted to check in. Hope everything’s okay.”

After hanging up, you sit there, waiting for the tiny moment of hope that he might call back. But the minutes stretch on, and your phone remains silent. You stare at it for a while, the weight of your unanswered call pressing against your chest.

The uncertainty begins to gnaw at you again. He hasn’t been the same lately, and you’ve been ignoring the signs, hoping things would go back to normal. But with every passing day, it feels like a door is closing, slowly but steadily.

You toss your phone aside, but the ache doesn’t go away. It lingers, an unspoken question hanging between you both. What happened?

The rest of the day goes by in a blur. You try to keep yourself busy, but the empty space he’s left behind in your heart feels louder with every minute that passes. You can’t help but think back to when he would call you every night, excited to hear your voice, to tell you about his day. Now, it feels like you’re clinging to something that’s slowly slipping away, and you don’t know how to hold on.

By the time you try again, it’s late. The day’s gone, and you’re sitting in bed, scrolling mindlessly through your messages and photos. You know you should probably let him have his space, but you can’t help it. You miss him. You miss the old him—the one who would answer your calls with a grin and talk to you like you were the most important part of his day.

This time, when you call, you stare at the screen, almost bracing for the rejection, the unanswered ring. But something inside you doesn’t want to give up. Not yet.

It rings.

And then it stops.

He picked up.

“Hello,” his voice sounds tired, hoarse, but you’re relieved to hear it at all. It’s been too long since the last time. You can barely contain your relief.

“Hi, Sunghoon,” you say, trying to sound casual, but you know your voice gives away the knot in your chest. “I’m glad you picked up. I was starting to think I wouldn’t hear from you today.”

There’s a long pause, and for a second, you wonder if he’ll hang up again. You can almost hear the gears in his head turning. “Sorry,” he finally murmurs, his voice low. “I’ve just been… busy.”

You nod even though you know he can’t see it. “I get it. But you’ve been busy a lot lately. I just… I miss talking to you. Like we used to.”

“I know,” he says quietly, his tone distant, yet tinged with something almost apologetic. “I’ve just had a lot on my plate. But you’re right. I’m sorry for being… distant.”

His words hang in the air, but they don’t feel like the apology you need. They’re words, yes, but there’s no warmth, no reassurance in them. You fight to keep your voice steady.

“I don’t need an apology,” you say, your heart beating faster. “I just want you. I just want us to be… us again.” You bite your lip, trying to hold back the rush of emotions threatening to spill. “I want to be there for you, Sunghoon. I want to be that person who makes you feel better when everything’s hard, but… I don’t know how to do that when you’re shutting me out.”

Another long pause. Then he exhales heavily, like he’s trying to find the right words. “It’s not you, Y/N. It’s just… everything. It’s harder than I thought. Being here… and everything that comes with it.”

Your chest tightens, but you force yourself to take a deep breath, pushing down the feeling of being left behind. “I know it’s hard. I get it, Sunghoon. I do. But you don’t have to go through it alone. You’re not alone in this.”

He doesn’t respond right away, and that silence feels more deafening than any of the words exchanged.

“I need to go,” he says quietly, his voice almost breaking. “I’m sorry. I’ll call you later.”

Before you can respond, the line goes silent again.

You stare at your phone for what feels like an eternity, the weight of it sinking deep into your bones. Another call that ends before it even really starts. Another goodbye that isn’t really said.

You want to scream, to throw your phone across the room, but you don’t. Instead, you clutch it tightly to your chest, willing yourself not to break. You thought it would get better, but now you’re not so sure anymore.

You only wish he’d realize you’re still here. Still waiting. Still holding on, even though it’s getting harder every day.

You try to push the weight of his absence aside, but it lingers, pulling at you with every word he says, or doesn’t say. The silence feels deafening when the call drops again, and you sigh softly, trying to keep things light. You hate that you’re always the one to reach out, always the one to try and make him smile. But it’s a fight you’re not ready to lose yet.

“Hey, can you turn on your camera?” you ask, your voice soft, but full of longing. “I miss seeing your face, Sunghoon. Just… turn it on for a bit?”

You hear him shift on the other end, and there’s a pause that stretches far too long. “No,” he answers quickly, his voice flat.

The response stings, and your chest tightens at the coldness in his voice. “Why?” you ask quietly, trying to push past the hurt. “I just want to see you. Just for a second.”

He sighs heavily, sounding exhausted. “I don’t feel like it, okay? Just… not today.”

You bite your lip, forcing the disappointment down. You try to laugh it off, but it comes out empty, more of a nervous chuckle than anything else. “Alright, fine. But you know I miss seeing your face. It’s not the same without it.”

There’s no response at first, and you wonder if he even heard you. You wait for a few moments, and just when you think he’s going to end the call without saying anything else, he mutters, “I’m sorry… I’m just… tired.”

You nod, even though he can’t see it, and keep your voice gentle. “I know you are. But… just remember, you can always turn on your camera for me. It doesn’t have to be perfect, I just want to see you, okay?”

He doesn’t say anything back. Instead, the line goes quiet again, and the conversation falls into that familiar emptiness—silent, distant. A space between the words, between the feelings, between the two of you.

The days blur together, and each time you call, you feel like you’re reaching out to someone who’s becoming harder and harder to hold onto. Sunghoon’s responses have grown shorter, and each time he picks up, it’s like you’re talking to a version of him that’s further and further away. You tell yourself he’s just busy, overwhelmed, that things will get better—but the silence between you is growing deafening.

You try again, the hope still there, the quiet voice in your mind that whispers that maybe today will be different.

The phone rings, and for a moment, you hold your breath, hoping for a familiar voice. When it finally picks up, it’s not the warm, enthusiastic “Hey!” you’re used to. It’s flat. Distant.

“Hey,” Sunghoon says, his tone lacking the usual excitement.

“Hi, Sunghoon,” you try to sound upbeat, but the strain in your voice betrays you. “I miss you. I feel like I haven’t heard from you properly in so long.”

He sighs heavily, and for a second, you think he might say something comforting, might try to reassure you. Instead, there’s nothing. Just that quiet, suffocating silence.

“I’ve been busy,” he mutters, barely audible over the static.

“I know you’re busy,” you reply, forcing the patience into your voice. “But I don’t want to feel like I’m chasing you all the time, Sunghoon. It’s like… like I don’t even matter to you anymore. ”

You can feel his shift, hear him pull back even further. “I didn’t say you didn’t matter,” he says, his voice cold now, like he’s irritated with you for feeling this way. “I’m just dealing with a lot right now, okay?”

You don’t know if it’s the exhaustion or the frustration building up inside you, but something snaps. “Don’t you think I know that? I’m not saying it’s easy for you, but I miss you. I miss hearing from you. You promised me you’d call. You promised we’d talk every day, Sunghoon!”

He doesn’t answer at first, and you can feel your anger building, that familiar ache in your chest turning to something sharper. “I’ve been trying, Y/N,” he finally says, his voice barely controlled. “You think I don’t want to talk to you? I’m just tired, okay? I have a million things to do, and I don’t need you making this harder.”

You clench your fists, biting back the frustration that’s threatening to boil over. “Making it harder? I’m just trying to be here for you. But you—you’re acting like I’m some inconvenience. Like you don’t even want to talk to me anymore. You’re shutting me out, Sunghoon!”

“I’m not shutting you out,” he snaps, his voice rising. “I just can’t deal with this right now, okay? I can’t deal with you needing so much from me when I’m barely hanging on myself.”

You feel your breath catch in your throat, the sting of his words sharper than you expected. “So now it’s my fault?” you ask, trying to keep your voice steady. “I’m the one who’s ‘too much’ for you now? That’s what this is?”

Sunghoon’s silence feels colder now, like he’s turned away from you completely. “I didn’t say that.”

“Well, it sure feels like it,” you snap, the words spilling out before you can stop them. “You don’t have time for me anymore. You’re always too tired, too busy, too everything. And I’m just supposed to sit here and pretend like everything’s fine?”

He exhales sharply, sounding exhausted, but his tone is still distant. “I can’t always be there for you, Y/N. I’m not perfect. I’m just trying to get through this.”

“Yeah, well, I’m not asking for perfection,” you say, your voice thick with frustration. “I’m asking for you to be here. For me. For us. But all you’re doing is pushing me away.”

The silence that follows feels like a wall between you. He doesn’t speak, doesn’t try to make it better, and the weight of that realization hits you harder than anything else. You can feel the distance between you two, like an ocean that you can’t cross no matter how hard you try.

Finally, Sunghoon speaks again, but his words sting. “Maybe you should just move on, Y/N. You don’t need to deal with this. I don’t know what you want me to say.”

The words hit you like a punch to the gut. You stare at your phone, unable to respond, your throat tightening as the tears you’ve been holding back start to rise. “Is that what you really want?” you whisper, but he’s already gone, the line going dead before you can hear his response.

You sit there, phone in hand, feeling like you’ve just lost the person you loved, even though he’s still on the other side of the world. You wanted to fix things, to make it right again, but right now, you’re not even sure what’s left to save.

And just like that, the call ends.

The days drag on, each one blurring into the next. You tell yourself to be patient, that things will get better with time, but each call you make—each unanswered ring—chips away at the hope you’re clinging to.

You start calling every day, at the same time, like a routine, but every time you hear the familiar beep of the voicemail, it feels like a dagger to your chest. The voicemail greeting, his voice a distant memory, echoes in your ears like a cruel reminder of how far away he’s become.

“Hey, it’s Sunghoon. I’m not available right now, but leave a message and I’ll get back to you,” the robotic message says. And every time, you leave a message, pouring your heart into each word, hoping, just hoping that he’ll hear it, that he’ll pick up, that things will go back to the way they used to be.

“Hey, Sunghoon,” you say in the first voicemail, trying to keep your voice steady. “I miss you. I’ve been trying to reach you, but… it feels like you’re not even trying anymore. I just want to talk. Please pick up the phone. I don’t want to feel like I’m the only one fighting for us.”

The next day, you try again, hoping he’s had time to think about it. Maybe today will be different, maybe he’ll answer this time. But again, the same voicemail greeting. Your heart sinks a little lower.

“Hey, it’s me again,” you say, trying to keep the frustration out of your voice. “I don’t know what’s going on, but I’m still here. I don’t know how much longer I can do this, Sunghoon. I miss you. I need you to pick up. Please… please let me in again.”

Every message feels like a plea, like a desperate attempt to reach him through the wall he’s built. But it’s always the same. Voicemail after voicemail. Nothing.

You can’t remember the last time he picked up, and the emptiness of each unanswered call is starting to suffocate you. But still, you keep calling. Because you can’t bring yourself to stop. You tell yourself it’s just a phase, that it’s only temporary, that maybe he’s just busy, overwhelmed. But the silence is too loud now, and the uncertainty gnaws at you.

And still, you keep calling.

Sunghoon scrolls through his phone, his thumb hovering over the missed calls from you. Each notification is a reminder of the silence between you two, and he feels a pang in his chest each time he sees your name on the screen. Days pass, and he tells himself that he’ll call back soon, that he’ll make things right, but the weight of everything—his schedule, the practice, his exhaustion—keeps him from picking up the phone.

It’s been a while since he last heard your voice. He used to look forward to your calls every day, the way you’d brighten his mood with just a few words. But now, it feels like something is different. He’s caught up in the whirlwind of his own world, and he tells himself that it’s all temporary. You’ll understand, he thinks. You’ll be patient.

But then, one day, there are no more calls. No more texts. The notifications stop coming, and it hits him harder than he expects. The silence feels strange, unsettling even. You always used to reach out—every day without fail. And now, there’s nothing. No missed call. No “hey, I miss you.”

Sunghoon stares at his phone, unsure of what to feel. There’s a part of him that wants to reach out, to apologize, to ask you what’s going on, but he doesn’t know where to start. He wonders if you’ve finally given up on him, on the relationship, on the person he’s become. The thought lingers in his mind, but he’s frozen, unable to make the first move.

He could call, but every time he picks up his phone, he hesitates. What would I even say? He can’t find the right words. And the longer he waits, the harder it becomes to reach out.

The silence is deafening. And as the days go by, he starts to realize that he might’ve let you slip away. He wonders if it’s too late, if you’ve already moved on, if he’ll ever be able to fix this. The thought eats at him, but the fear of confronting it head-on paralyzes him.

He’s lost track of time. He doesn’t know how many days it’s been since the last time you tried to call, but it’s long enough for him to feel the distance between you, the absence where there used to be a connection.

Maybe he’s the one who’s been pushing you away all along. And maybe, just maybe, it’s too late to fix it.

You’ve been staring at your phone for what feels like forever, waiting, hoping for something—anything—from Sunghoon. The days without his calls have been suffocating. The silence between you two is louder than anything else, and it’s starting to settle in your chest like a heavy weight.

You’ve almost convinced yourself that it’s over, that he’s moved on, that maybe he doesn’t care anymore. You’ve stopped calling. You don’t even know if he noticed the absence, but you couldn’t keep doing it. You couldn’t keep chasing after someone who didn’t seem to want you anymore.

But then, your phone lights up.

It’s him.

For a second, your heart stops. You stare at his name flashing across the screen, a mixture of hope and hesitation flooding through you. Part of you wants to pick up and hear his voice, to hear the explanation you’ve been waiting for. But another part of you feels scared—scared of what he might say, scared of what you might hear.

Your thumb hovers over the screen for a moment before you finally press accept, the sound of your breath catching in your throat as you bring the phone to your ear.

“Hey,” Sunghoon says, his voice sounding tired, but it’s still familiar, still comforting in a way. But there’s something off about it. His tone is different. “I… I’ve been thinking about you. A lot.”

You don’t say anything at first. You can feel your heart beating louder than before, the anticipation and the hurt mixing in your chest. “I didn’t think you would call,” you manage to say, your voice quieter than you intended.

“I know,” he replies, sounding almost apologetic. “I’m sorry for not reaching out sooner. I don’t know how to explain it.”

You can feel the lump in your throat as you try to hold back the words you’ve been dying to say. “Why didn’t you?” You let out a shaky breath. “I kept calling, Sunghoon. I kept trying to reach you, and… you just kept ignoring me.”

There’s a long silence, and when he finally speaks, it’s almost like he’s struggling with his words. “I didn’t mean to hurt you,” he says, his voice softer now, as if he’s finally realizing the weight of what’s happened. “I’ve just been… caught up. Everything’s been so much. And I didn’t want to drag you into it.”

“Drag me into it?” The frustration creeps back into your voice, but you try to keep it in check. “I was already in it, Sunghoon. I’ve been here, waiting for you to just… talk to me. You promised we’d always talk, but you stopped trying. And I just… I just feel so alone right now.”

He’s quiet again, and you wonder if he’s even listening. But then, you hear him take a deep breath.

“I’m sorry. I should’ve tried harder,” he admits, the guilt in his voice unmistakable. “I didn’t mean for things to get this way. I’ve just been so stressed, and I didn’t know how to juggle everything.”

The words hit you harder than you expect, and for a moment, you don’t know what to say. The sadness in his voice is so raw, so real, and despite everything, you can feel a small part of you softening, wanting to forgive him.

“I don’t want to be angry anymore,” you say quietly, trying to steady your emotions. “I just need you to be here, Sunghoon. To actually be here with me. I don’t know what’s going on with you, but I can’t keep doing this alone.”

Sunghoon’s voice cracks, and for a second, it sounds like he’s struggling to hold back tears. “I know. I know, and I’m so sorry. I’ll do better. I’ll make it right. I promise.”

Your chest tightens, but you let out a soft breath. “I hope you do, Sunghoon. I really do.”

You stay silent for a while, listening to each other’s breathing. The call feels like a fragile moment, like something that could either fix everything or break it all apart. But for now, at least, you’re talking. At least, for now, you have him back.

As the days go by, things start to shift, slowly but surely. The calls with Sunghoon become more frequent, and you can feel the connection growing between you two again, even if it’s over the phone. There’s a certain ease when you talk now, a comfort that wasn’t there before. Maybe it’s because he’s finally starting to open up, or maybe it’s because the silence you both felt for so long has finally started to lift.

One evening, you’re on FaceTime with him, and as soon as he picks up, you can’t help but laugh a little. “Hey, what’s up?” you ask, your voice playful.

Sunghoon grins, holding up a piece of fried chicken to the camera. “I’m having dinner,” he says, already knowing what you’re thinking.

“Fried chicken again?” you tease him, raising an eyebrow. “Well at least you’re not starving yourself baby.”

He shrugs, looking innocent. “I just really like it. Besides, it’s K-fried chicken! You have to appreciate that.” He then leans closer to the camera, his grin widening. “You want some ASMR?”

You laugh. “You’re serious?”

“Of course! You’ve never heard K-fried chicken ASMR before?” he says, before biting into the crispy chicken. The sound of crunching fills the screen, and you can’t help but giggle. It’s so silly, but it’s so… him.

As if on cue, you hear a voice in the background. “What are you two doing?” Jake’s face suddenly pops up in the corner of the screen, interrupting the moment. His eyes flicker between you and Sunghoon, amused.

“Hey, Jake,” Sunghoon says, a bit sheepish, but his smile is still there. “Just having some fried chicken with my girlfriend.”

Jake raises an eyebrow, a smirk creeping across his face. “Ah, I see. You two really are cheesy as fuck, huh?”

You laugh, trying to hide the pink creeping up on your cheeks. “Nuh, uh. Just trying to make the most of it.”

Sunghoon rolls his eyes playfully at Jake before turning his attention back to you. “Don’t listen to him. He’s just jealous of my fried chicken skills.”

Jake laughs, shaking his head. “Yeah, okay. I’m sure that’s it,” he teases before making an exaggerated gagging sound. “Just promise me you’re not going to do this every time, Sunghoon. I’m pretty sure we all don’t want to hear your ASMR.”

Sunghoon chuckles. “We’ll see. Maybe next time I’ll do some kimchi ASMR.”

Jake just laughs and shakes his head before walking off, leaving you and Sunghoon alone again.

You smile at Sunghoon. “You know, you’re so cheesy.”

He smiles back, his eyes softening. “Only for you.”

The playfulness between you two feels different now, more natural, like you’re both letting your guards down a little bit. Every day, it feels like the distance is slowly fading away, and you find yourself looking forward to these moments—just the two of you, talking about the most random things, but feeling more connected than ever.

“Next time, I’ll do a real ASMR for you,” Sunghoon says with a wink, the teasing edge to his voice, but there’s an undeniable warmth in his smile.

And for the first time in a while, it feels like everything might just be okay.

The next time you FaceTime Sunghoon, there’s a familiar, but still comforting energy in the air. The tension that had been present before seems to have eased a bit, but it’s still clear that things aren’t completely back to normal yet. Despite the lingering distance, Sunghoon greets you with a soft smile.

“Hey, remember that makeup you showed me last time?” he asks, his voice light. “I want to see it again and give you my real review.”

You laugh softly, raising an eyebrow. “Your real review? Are you sure you’re ready for that?”

He grins, a playful glint in his eyes. “I promise, I’m not going to hold back this time.”

You shake your head, amused, as you grab the blush and lip tint you showed him earlier. You hold them up to the camera, showing him both products. “Here it is. The blush and the lip tint.”

Sunghoon leans in, his face so close to the screen that you can see the concentration in his eyes as he inspects them. His gaze flickers back to you, and a teasing smile spreads across his face. “Hmm, I can’t even focus on the makeup,” he says with a chuckle. “You’re just so cute.”

You roll your eyes, trying to hide the smile tugging at the corners of your lips. “I’m trying to show you makeup here, Sunghoon. Focus!”

But he just continues to stare at you, his eyes soft and filled with admiration. “I’m focused. You know, that blush is nice, but I think the real highlight is you. I swear, you’re too pretty for your own good.” His tone is flirty, and it makes you feel a little warmer inside.

You laugh, feeling your cheeks warm up, but you play along. “Really? You’re just saying that.”

“I’m serious,” Sunghoon says, his voice lowering a bit as he leans in closer to the camera. “I can’t even think straight when you’re this cute.” He pauses for a moment, looking at you like he’s memorizing every little detail of your face. “You look even better on camera than you do in person. I can’t decide if it’s the makeup or just you.”

His words make your heart skip a beat, but you try to keep your cool. “You’re ridiculous,” you say, laughing.

“No, really,” he insists, his voice teasing but with an undeniable sincerity. “You’re just… amazing. Everything about you is perfect.”

You’re about to respond, but before you can, he interrupts with a grin. “Okay, okay, now that I’ve given you my real review—” he pauses, a glint of mischief in his eyes, “—you’re absolutely killing it with that makeup. But I’m still more into how you look without it.”

You bite your lip, feeling a little bashful. “Sunghoon…”

“I’m just saying,” he continues, winking at you through the screen. “You’ve got that natural beauty. I don’t know how you do it. But I love it.”

You smile at him, feeling a rush of affection. “Well, I love you too, you know.”

Sunghoon’s eyes soften, and he suddenly looks a little more serious than usual. “I love you more,” he says quietly, a tender smile on his lips.

The playful banter gives way to something deeper, a warmth between you two that’s undeniable. Even though the calls have had their ups and downs, moments like these remind you that it’s all worth it.

The week of Sunghoon’s comeback has finally arrived, and with every update he posts on social media, you can’t help but feel a mix of excitement and longing. Watching him rehearse, getting closer to the big day, it’s all so thrilling, but at the same time, it makes the distance between you two feel even more intense. You wish you could be there with him, supporting him in person.

The idea hits you out of nowhere one night as you’re scrolling through his posts. You’ve been waiting for the right moment to see him, and this feels like the perfect time. His comeback is such a monumental event in his career, and you want to be there to cheer him on—not through a screen, but in person.

You’re standing outside the building, the anticipation making your heart race. You can’t stop smiling, even though you’re nervous. The plan is simple: sneak in, find Sunghoon, and surprise him. You just hope he’ll be as excited as you are when he sees you. But there’s a small part of you that wonders if it’s too much—if it’s too soon, too unexpected. Still, you push that doubt away. You came all this way for him, and this surprise is going to be worth it.

Before you can get too lost in your thoughts, you see a familiar face approaching: Ni-ki. He smiles at you as he walks over, his usual cool demeanor making him look like he’s ready to break into a dance at any second.

“Y/N,” Ni-ki greets you, his voice light and playful. “You really came. Sunghoon’s going to be shocked.”

You nod, a little too excited. “I know. I can’t wait to see his face when he realizes I’m here.”

Ni-ki gives you a mischievous grin. “He’s in his room right now, so we’ll just go in and surprise him.” He leads you through the hallways, and every step feels like a drumbeat in your chest.

As you reach Sunghoon’s door, Ni-ki pauses, a teasing look in his eyes. “Ready for this?” he asks, his voice soft so you don’t alert Sunghoon yet.

You nod, your heart racing. “Let’s do it.”

Ni-ki pushes the door open just a bit, giving you a glimpse of Sunghoon sitting on his bed, his head down, focused on his phone. He doesn’t even look up when the door creaks open.

With a quick glance at Ni-ki, you step inside, your heart pounding as you make your move toward Sunghoon. You take a deep breath before calling out his name. “Sunghoon!”

His head jerks up, his eyes widening in surprise. “Y/N?” His voice is soft, almost as if he’s still trying to process the sight of you standing in front of him. For a split second, it feels like everything is perfect. But then you notice something—there’s no excitement in his eyes, no rush of joy, like you expected. Instead, he just stares at you with a blank expression.

You smile nervously, feeling the unease growing inside you. “I wanted to surprise you. I’m here for your comeback, Sunghoon.”

He looks at you for a moment longer, and then, his gaze shifts. His lips press into a thin line as if he’s holding something back. He doesn’t smile. Doesn’t even seem remotely excited, despite the obvious shock of you being there. His posture is stiff, distant.

“Yeah… thanks for coming, I guess,” Sunghoon mutters, his tone flat.

The words sting, and you suddenly feel smaller than you should. You’ve traveled all this way, wanting to be there for him, to show him how much you care—but this coldness, this distance in his voice, catches you off guard.

Ni-ki steps back, sensing the tension in the air, and quietly mutters something about leaving you two alone before disappearing down the hallway, giving you space. You’re left standing there, feeling like an outsider in your own surprise. The silence between you and Sunghoon is palpable, making your heart sink even deeper.

You open your mouth to speak, but the words feel trapped in your throat. “Sunghoon, is everything okay?” You try to sound calm, but there’s a shakiness to your voice that you can’t hide.

He runs a hand through his hair, the gesture almost too familiar, and sighs. “I’m fine. It’s just… it’s been a long day. I’m tired.”

The excuse feels weak, like he’s brushing you off. You can’t ignore the way his words seem to distance him even more. The Sunghoon you talked to on the phone—the one who always smiled and laughed, the one who joked around and called you cute—feels like a distant memory now.

You take a step closer, your heart sinking further. “You don’t seem fine, Sunghoon. I came all this way to see you… to surprise you. Don’t I at least deserve a little more than this?”

His gaze shifts, avoiding yours, and he mumbles, “I said I’m fine. I just need some space right now.”

You feel the distance between you two growing, wider and wider with every word that leaves his lips. It feels like you’re talking to a completely different person—the Sunghoon you used to know, the one you’d talk to every day, isn’t here. Instead, there’s a coldness you don’t recognize.

For a moment, you stand there, unsure of what to do. The excitement you had when you first arrived has drained from your body, replaced by a sense of confusion and hurt. Why does he seem so distant now? What happened to the Sunghoon who was always so kind, so playful?

“I’m sorry. I thought this would be a good surprise,” you say quietly, your voice cracking slightly.

Sunghoon’s eyes flicker to you for a brief second, but then he looks away again. “I didn’t ask for this… I didn’t ask for you to come here.”

His words hit you harder than you expected. You try to mask the hurt, but it’s impossible. You’ve never felt this far away from him, and you can’t help but wonder if this distance will continue to grow, no matter how hard you try.

You swallow, trying to keep the tears at bay. “I thought I could help, but… maybe it was a mistake.

The room feels suffocating as Sunghoon doesn’t say anything more. You wish he’d just look at you the way he used to, with affection, with love. But right now, you feel completely invisible to him.

You slowly back away, not knowing what to say or do. The surprise you thought would bring you closer has only pushed you further apart.

You get a rush of adrenaline as you think about it: What if I just surprise him?

The thought of flying to Seoul without telling him sends a little thrill through you. No heads-up, no warning—just a surprise that shows up when he least expects it. The thought of seeing his face light up when he realizes you’re there for his comeback makes your heart flutter. You can imagine his shock, his joy. It would be the perfect way to show him how much you care and how proud you are, without needing to say a word.

You don’t waste any time. You start making the arrangements, booking the flight and planning the logistics. It’s a bit last-minute, and you know it’s risky. But at this point, the excitement is too much to hold back. You pack a small bag, just enough to get you through the few days, and make sure to grab something small for him—a surprise gift to make it even more special.

The whole time you’re planning it, you keep it to yourself. You don’t want to ruin the surprise. No texts, no hints, just silence. You’re counting down the days until you’ll see him, and every minute feels like it’s dragging on. But the moment you board the plane to Seoul, it finally feels real. You’re doing it. You’re going to see him.

The flight feels like it lasts forever, but the anticipation only grows as you finally land in Seoul. You take a deep breath as you walk through the terminal. You’re here now, and you can’t wait to see Sunghoon’s reaction when you show up at his rehearsal or his dorm, wherever you’ll find him.

You don’t tell him where you are or what you’re doing, letting the surprise unfold when the time is right. Every step you take towards surprising him feels like a step towards rekindling everything that’s been lost between you two. You smile to yourself, knowing that when he sees you, it’ll be all worth it.

Ni-ki gives you one last reassuring smile before standing up. “I’m going to grab you some snacks,” he says, his tone gentle but firm. “Just stay here and take a breather. I’ll be right back.”

You nod slowly, wiping your eyes and trying to calm your breathing. The room feels a little quieter now, the soft hum of the building around you making the space feel a little less heavy. As Ni-ki leaves, you lean back in the chair, trying to steady yourself. You’re still shaken, the lingering hurt from Sunghoon’s coldness making your heart ache, but you’re grateful for the small moment of peace that Ni-ki’s presence offered.

After a few moments, Ni-ki comes back, pushing a small cart with an assortment of snacks—chips, fruit, cookies, and bottled drinks. “The building provides these for us,” he says with a small smile, setting the cart next to you. “You can help yourself.”

You offer him a faint smile, though it’s clear you’re still struggling. “Thanks, Ni-ki.”

He pats your shoulder before giving you a soft look. “I��m gonna need a second. Don’t worry, I’m going to talk to Sunghoon. He needs to hear this.”

You look up at him, confused but too tired to ask more. “What do you mean?”

Ni-ki’s eyes narrow slightly, his expression turning more serious. “You don’t deserve to be treated that way, Y/N. No one should make you feel like this, especially not Sunghoon. I’m going to make sure he understands that.”

Before you can respond, he turns and heads toward the door. “Just stay here and take care of yourself for now. I’ll be back in a bit.”

With that, Ni-ki exits the room, leaving you alone with the snacks and your swirling thoughts. The silence stretches around you, the sound of your own breathing louder in your ears. You don’t feel hungry, but the thought of something familiar, something simple, is comforting. You reach for a bottle of water, but your mind keeps drifting back to Sunghoon—what’s going on with him? Why was he so distant?

Ni-ki’s words echo in your mind. “No one should make you feel like this.”

You hope he’s right—that maybe Sunghoon just needs to be reminded of how much you mean to him. But a part of you wonders if things are already too broken to fix.

As you sit there, slowly nibbling on the snacks Ni-ki brought, you try not to overthink it. But the uncertainty is hard to shake. When Ni-ki returns, you’ll probably have more answers, and maybe you’ll finally understand why Sunghoon shut you out.

Meanwhile, somewhere upstairs, Ni-ki is on his way to find Sunghoon, hoping to give him the wake-up call he needs.

Ni-ki walks away from the small practice room and heads upstairs to where Sunghoon is. The building is quieter now, the soft echo of footsteps on the floors the only noise. He makes his way down the hall to Sunghoon’s room, his steps deliberate. As he reaches the door, he hesitates for just a moment, but then he knocks lightly.

“Hyung,” Ni-ki calls, his voice steady but carrying an edge of concern. “Can I talk to you for a second?”

There’s a brief pause before the door creaks open. Sunghoon stands in the doorway, his face tired, his eyes not meeting Ni-ki’s. He’s wearing the same blank expression that’s become all too familiar lately. Ni-ki looks at him with a mix of frustration and sympathy.

“What’s up?” Sunghoon mutters, sounding distracted, his voice flat.

Ni-ki sighs, stepping inside without waiting for a response. “It’s about Y/N.”

Sunghoon furrows his brows slightly but says nothing, just leans back against his desk, clearly not interested in whatever Ni-ki has to say. He’s been distant lately, almost cold, and Ni-ki isn’t sure what Sunghoon’s thinking anymore.

“Y/N’s upset,” Ni-ki continues, crossing his arms. “She’s in tears right now.”

Sunghoon’s gaze flickers to him briefly before drifting away again. “What about?” he asks, his tone still flat, like he doesn’t really care.

Ni-ki clenches his jaw, trying to keep his frustration in check. “Because of you, Sunghoon. She came all this way to surprise you, and you… you barely acknowledged her. You shut her out, and now she’s questioning everything. She’s hurt.”

Sunghoon stays quiet for a moment, his gaze fixed on something in the distance, his posture slumped. He doesn’t seem to grasp the gravity of what Ni-ki is saying.

“I didn’t mean to… hurt her,” Sunghoon mutters, though his words don’t seem to carry the weight of genuine remorse. “I’m just—there’s a lot going on right now.”

Ni-ki steps closer, his voice firm. “I get that. I know you’re stressed, but that doesn’t give you the right to treat her like that. She’s been calling you every day, Sunghoon. She cares about you. But you’ve been pulling away, and it’s obvious.”

Sunghoon’s eyes meet Ni-ki’s for the first time, a flicker of something unreadable crossing his face. He doesn’t respond, just looks away again, rubbing his temple like the conversation is giving him a headache.

“You need to fix this,” Ni-ki says, his voice softer now, but still laced with concern. “She’s not some kind of distraction. You can’t just keep shutting her out when things get hard. If you keep doing this, you’ll lose her.”

Sunghoon doesn’t answer immediately. He seems lost in thought, like he’s weighing something in his mind. Finally, after a long silence, he sighs deeply. “I don’t know what’s happening. I… I don’t want to lose her, Ni-ki, but everything is overwhelming right now. I don’t know how to balance it all.”

Ni-ki watches him for a moment, his eyes softening. “I get that you’re struggling, Sunghoon. But you need to show her that you care. Don’t shut her out. Don’t let this become something bigger than it needs to be.”

Sunghoon finally looks up at Ni-ki, his eyes filled with a mixture of exhaustion and something else—regret, maybe. “I’ll talk to her,” he says, his voice quieter now, like he finally understands the weight of what’s going on. “I’ll fix it.”

Ni-ki nods, though he’s not entirely convinced. “You better. Or you’ll lose her for good.” He gives him one last look before turning to leave. “Don’t waste any more time.”

As Ni-ki exits the room, he can’t shake the feeling that Sunghoon has a long way to go. But at least now, maybe, he’s starting to realize just how much he stands to lose.

Sunghoon’s heart pounds as he stands in front of the small practice room. The conversation with Ni-ki still lingers in his mind. He knows he messed up, knows that he’s been distant, and he can’t keep letting you slip away. He takes a deep breath, steeling himself for whatever comes next.

He hesitates for just a moment before opening the door and stepping inside. There you are, sitting with your arms crossed, looking down at your phone, your expression a mixture of exhaustion and sadness. Your eyes meet his for the briefest of seconds, and he feels his chest tighten.

“Y/N,” Sunghoon says softly, stepping closer. He watches as you lift your head, your eyes wary but hopeful. He can see the pain in them—pain he caused—and it makes his heart ache.

“I… I know I’ve been distant. I’ve been so caught up in everything, and I’ve hurt you because of it,” he says, his voice thick with regret. “I didn’t mean to do that. I’m sorry.”

You don’t say anything at first, just stare at him, taking in his words. Sunghoon feels the weight of the silence between you, like every moment he hesitates, he’s pushing you further away.

“I’m sorry,” he repeats, his voice cracking slightly. “I’ve been an idiot. I let everything else distract me, and I pushed you aside without even realizing it. But I’m not going to let that happen anymore. I care about you… so much, Y/N.”

You swallow hard, your throat dry. “I’ve been trying, Sunghoon. I’ve been calling you every day, I’ve been trying to be there for you, but it feels like you just… didn’t care. I came here to surprise you, to be with you, and it felt like you didn’t even notice.”

“I noticed,” he says quickly, stepping closer to you, his eyes soft. “I just… I didn’t know how to handle everything. I was too focused on all the wrong things, and I didn’t see how much I was hurting you. I’m sorry. I’m so sorry, Y/N. Please don’t think I don’t care. You mean the world to me.

You look at him for a long moment, the walls around your heart slowly starting to crack. The distance between you both, the pain, the confusion—it all feels like it might finally be fading.

“Do you really care?” you ask, your voice barely a whisper, vulnerable. “Because it’s been hard, Sunghoon. I don’t want to feel like I’m just… an afterthought.”

He takes a deep breath, stepping closer until he’s right in front of you. “I care more than you know,” he says, his voice low and sincere. “And I’m going to show you. I promise, I’ll make it right.”

You look up at him, eyes searching his face for any trace of doubt, but all you see is sincerity and regret. And for the first time in days, you feel like you can breathe again.

Sunghoon hesitates, his hand reaching out slowly, fingers brushing against your cheek as if he’s waiting for you to pull away. When you don’t, he gently cups your face, his thumb brushing over your skin as he leans in, his breath mingling with yours.

“I’m sorry for everything,” he whispers again, his voice barely audible as he closes the distance between you. His lips meet yours gently at first, a soft, tentative kiss, like he’s testing the waters, hoping you’ll kiss him back.

You do, pressing your lips against his, and everything else falls away. There’s no more distance, no more uncertainty. Just the warmth of his kiss, the feeling of his arms pulling you closer, and the quiet understanding that things are going to be okay.

When the kiss breaks, you both stay close, foreheads resting against each other as you catch your breath. Sunghoon’s eyes are full of softness, his expression tender as he looks at you.

“I’ll make sure I never hurt you like this again,” he promises quietly, his voice thick with emotion.

“I know you will,” you whisper back, your hands resting on his chest, feeling his heart beat beneath your fingertips. “I love you.”

“I love you too,” he says with a smile, his eyes lighting up. And for the first time in what feels like forever, everything feels right again.

You both stand there for a moment, letting the silence between you feel comfortable for the first time in days. Sunghoon gently holds your hand as you both walk out of the practice room, the weight of everything that’s happened finally starting to lift. The distance, the misunderstandings, the pain—they all seem smaller now, fading with every step you take toward something more solid, more real.

“I’m never letting you go, Y/N,” Sunghoon murmurs as you both walk together. His grip on your hand tightens, and you can feel his sincerity in every word.

You smile up at him, feeling lighter than you have in so long. “I’m not going anywhere, Sunghoon.”

There’s a warmth in your chest as the two of you make your way out of the building. For the first time in what feels like forever, everything feels right. You know there will still be hard days ahead, but you also know that with Sunghoon by your side, there’s nothing you can’t handle.

As you step out into the world together, hand in hand, you realize that the future may be uncertain, but for once, you’re not afraid. Because with him, you know you’ll make it through anything.

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