heyditseeey - Tumblr blog

heyditseeey · 2 years ago

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Choi Seungcheol

Meet Me At Midnight

Part One Summary: Seungcheol finds you, his roommate, curled up and half asleep in your favorite living room chair. You haven’t slept well in days, but Cheol thinks he’s found something that can help you

Rating: T | Word Count: ~1.3k

Part Two Summary: You’ve been working too hard and sleeping too little, an unfortunate habit of yours. Not to worry, Cheol has a way of getting you to sleep

Rating: M (18+) | Word Count: ~4.5k

Tags: est. relationship, softdom!worried!cheol, smut, aftercare

Sleepless Nights (gn!reader) | All Through The Night (f!reader)

Whenever We Breathe

Summary: Weed always makes you a bit looselipped, especially around your two best friends, Wonwoo and Seungcheol | threesome, high sex, drug use

Rating: M (18+) | Word Count: ~4.1k

Work From Home

Summary: Seungcheol's got a lot of grading to do but it seems you just can't wait.

Rating: M (18+) | Word Count: ~2.3k

Fever Dreams

Summary: Seungcheol feels like he remembers confessing his love to you in a cough syrup haze, but you’d be acting weird if he did, right? Right? | friends to lovers, suggestive thoughts, no actual smut

Rating: M (18+) | Word Count: ~1.2k

Boyfriend Privileges | gn!reader

Prompt: covering the sharp part of the table when they pass so they don’t hit their hip

Rating: T | Word Count: ~0.7k

Newlyweds

Summary: Three days of wedded bliss and of Seungcheol not being able to keep his hands off of you. It seems you can't keep your hands off of him either, even when he's in the middle of ordering room service.

Rating: M | WC: ~1.9k

Babymaking Ask

Yoon Jeonghan

It's Nice To Have A Friend

You and Jeonghan have embarked on your fifth annual Best Friends trip, but it's a bit different than usual, considering he made the reservation under Yoon Y/N and told them he was your husband.

What's a honeymoon between friends anyway?

(Especially if it gets you that upgrade)

Rating: M (18+) | Est. Word Count: 25k - 30k

Soft Edges

Prompt: covering the sharp part of the table when they pass so they don’t hit their hip

Rating: T | Word Count: ~0.7k

Birthday Boy

Summary: Jeonghan wakes to an empty bed. His hand slides over the side that should have you in it, fingers curling in the cold sheets, and he sighs. It’s his birthday today, and he wishes you were here.

Rating: M (18+) | Word Count: ~0.5k

Stay The Night

Summary: Jeonghan's not ready for this date to end.

Rating: T | WC: ~1.1k

Soft!Jeonghan Headcanons

Hong Joshua

Who Needs A Crowd?

Pairing: hjs x f!reader | Rating: M (18+) | WC: ~5.7k

Summary: You try to convince Joshua to go to Cheol's birthday party. Joshua tries to convince you to have a party for two | husband!joshua, husband joshua is horny and in love with you

Tags: husband!joshua, softdom!joshua, domestic, smut

Late To The Party | Party For Two | Sundress Szn | Honeymooners

Beautiful Day, Sunday Morning

Summary: Joshua’s tried everything, but he just can’t stop being in love with his best friend | friends to lovers, horny and in love josh, softdom!josh, smut, aftercare

Rating: M (18+) | Word Count: ~7k

Soft!Joshua Headcanons

Joshua Blurb #1

Wen Junhui

Push Me (And I'll Give It Right Back)

Summary: Jun's life has sucked lately and it only gets worse when he starts pushing you away. He really shouldn't have forgotten you're willing to push back.

Rating: M (18+) | Word Count: ~2.3k

The Claw

Prompt: my love is your arm stuck in the claw machine. you were going to steal that prize for me?? oh my gosh. let me rescue you and also show you how to actually do this

Rating: T | WC: ~0.6k

Kwon Soonyoung

Tangled Up (but i like it)

Summary: Soonyoung wraps himself around you as soon as you get home from work. Cooking isn’t easy with a 5'10 backpack, but it’s worth it when you’ve missed your backp- boyfriend! your boyfriend just as much.

Rating: T | Word Count: ~2.1k

Late Night Tears

Prompt: be honest are you crying about the commercial with the kitten in it

Rating: T | WC: ~0.7k

'bout you

Summary: Soonyoung's busy studying so you get busy doing... something else. His headphones die at a most inopportune moment.

Rating: M (18+) | Word Count: ~1k

Bare Non-Essentials

Summary: In the middle of the sexual health aisle, Soonyoung realizes exactly what your new IUD means.

Rating: M (18+) | WC: ~1.4k

Over And Under

Summary: Here’s how it usually goes between the three of you - Jihoon calls the shots, you half listen, and Soonyoung happily plays along.

Rating: M (18+) | WC: ~1.4k

Soft!Soonyoung Headcanons

Jeon Wonwoo

For Worse Or For Better (Complete)

Rating: M (18+) | WC: ~11k

Summary: Wonwoo never meant to fall in love with his wife, honest!

Tags: fake marriage au, businessman!wonwoo, strangers to spouses to lovers, rom com, smut, fluff

For Worse Or For Better | And Better, and Better, and Better (alternate ending)

All Of You, All Of Me | Barefoot In The Kitchen

Breathe In, Breathe Out (Complete)

Rating: M (18+) | Word Count: ~9.2k

Whenever We Breathe Summary: Weed always makes you a bit looselipped, especially around your two best friends, Wonwoo and Seungcheol.

Ruin The Friendship Summary: Wonwoo knows he's fucked up by avoiding you after you, him, and Cheol slept together. He doesn't know how exactly he can fix it, but he figures begging for your forgiveness might be a good start.

Tags: high best friend threesome, best friends to lovers, idiots in love, hurt/comfort, rom com

Whenever We Breathe | GN Part One | Ruin The Friendship | GN Part Two

Good Luck Charm

Summary: Wonwoo is having a minor breakdown in a closet pre-tournament. Thank goodness you know the perfect good luck charm for him! | est. relationship, progamer!wonwoo, semipublix sex, tiny bit of aftercare

Rating: M (18+) | Word Count: ~3k

Angel Kisses

Summary: Wonwoo just got his wisdom teeth out, which is normal enough, but why is there an angel in the car?

Rating: T | Word Count: ~1.2k

Tongue Twister

Summary: Wonwoo has started practicing tongue twisters before bed. This benefits you greatly.

Rating: M (18+) | WC: ~1.1k

Step By Step

Summary: Finally, you and Wonwoo are married. Now if only you knew anything about what's waiting for you in his Royal Quarters.

Rating: M (18+) | WC: ~1.3k

Soft!Wonwoo Headcanons

Lee Jihoon

Golden, Like Daylight

Pairing: ljh x f!reader | Rating: M (18+) | WC: ~8k

Summary: Your relationship with Jihoon formed over little moments, and it changes during a little moment that doesn't stay so little.

Tags: producer!jihoon, est. relationship, rom com, reader pov, fluff, smut, husband!jihoon

Paper Rings | Lover | Part 3

The Short Cut

Summary: You knew you shouldn’t have taken the shortcut. It had seemed so enticing, making it to your grandma’s house in half the time, but now you worry you won’t make it there at all, not if the menacing crunch of leaves behind you is what you think it is.

Rating: T | Word Count: ~1k

Be The One

Summary: It's been three years, and Jihoon can't pretend he's not in love with you anymore. He doesn't care that you’re taller than him, or that his friends all rag on him for being shorter than you. Jihoon knows he could be the one for you.

Rating: T | Word Count: ~3k

Over And Under

Summary: Here’s how it usually goes between the three of you - Jihoon calls the shots, you half listen, and Soonyoung happily plays along.

Rating: M (18+) | WC: ~1.4k

Soft!Jihoon Headcanons

Lee Seokmin

Best Seat In The House

Summary: Seokmin asks you to sit on his face. You do. It’s wonderful for everyone involved (except your sheets) | est. relationship, smut, aftercare

Rating: M (18+) | Word Count: ~2.7k

Fresh Eyes

Summary: It’s your first time sleeping over at Seokmin’s place, and he’s ridiculously nervous. It’s hard enough keeping his cool around you already, and when you wash up and walk out with glasses on, Seokmin knows he doesn’t stand a chance | newly est. relationship, first sleepover, suggestive ending, no actual smut

Rating: M (18+) | Word Count: ~1.3k

Not A Baby

Summary: You're older than Seokmin and, honestly, he's not a fan of you calling him a baby. He makes sure you know. | est. relationship, dom!seokmin, smut, pwp

Rating: M (18+) | Word Count: ~1.2k

Technical Difficulties

Summary: Seokmin's computer breaking shouldn't make him as happy as it does, but who can blame him when his favorite IT person always comes to the rescue?

Rating: M (18+) | Word Count: ~1.1k

Kim Mingyu

Like A Cowboy

Pairing: kmg x reader | Rating: M (18+) | WC: ~25.2 k

Summary: Maintaining a homestead can be exhausting. Luckily, you've got a super hot cowboy husband who's got enough energy to do it all and take care of you once the work is done.

Tags: est. relationship, cowboy husband!gyu, romance, slice of farm life, smut, fluff

Like A Cowboy | Cowboy Like Me | Give You My Wild | May Flowers

Let Me (Complete)

Pairing: kmg x reader | Rating: M (18+) | WC: ~9k

Summary: You've been the student athletic trainer for your uni's basketball team all year, and you're pretty sure Mingyu has had a crush on you the whole time. You're not sure how much longer you can resist him.

Tags: college au, friends to lovers, basketball player!mingyu, smut, fluff, romcom

Part 1 | Part 2

Scrunchie

Prompt: Mingyu’s new little ponytail and my own evil brain

Rating: M (18+) | Word Count: ~0.8k

Salty and Sweet

Prompt: every time you taste my cooking you just say it’s amazing does it need more salt or not I swan to John | est. relationship, suggestive thoughts, kissing

Rating: M (18+) | Word Count: ~0.6k

Alternative Methods In Pain Relief

Summary: You have cramps, Mingyu has hands, need I say more?

Rating: M (18+) | Word Count: ~1k

Enjoy The Masterpiece

Summary: College boyfie!Mingyu wants you to sit on his face. He's literally begging here. | est. relationship, plus-size!reader, smut

Rating: M (18+) | WC: ~2.1k

Good To Me

Summary: You know exactly how to get your husband to fuck you like he means it.

Rating: M (18+) | WC: ~1.8k

Code of Mis(Conduct)

Summary: You're just trying to keep your head down and your coworkers out of your business but that's not exactly easy when your cubicle sits between Choi San's and Kim Mingyu's.

Rating: M (18+) | WC: ~10k

Lavender Haze

Summary: When you and your boyfriend smoke together and he gives you that look, you know exactly what you’re in for.

Rating: M (18+) | WC: ~2.8k

Soft!Mingyu Headcanons

Mingyu x Chubby!Reader Headcanons

Xu Minghao

Warmth

Summary: It's late and freezing when Minghao gets home from work. All he wants to do is crawl into bed, and he's eternally grateful the person he loves most in the world is already there - you.

Rating: M (18+) | Word Count: ~1.5k

Soft!Minghao Headcanons

Boo Seungkwan

Like A Domino (Complete)

Pairing: bsk x f!reader | Rating: T | WC: ~12.9k

Summary: Seungkwan falls for you a bit more with every date you have. And by you, he means you and someone else. He’s just the bartender.

Tags: bartender!seungkwan, strangers to friends to lovers, rom com, fluff

Falling To You, I'm Always Diving | Keep Falling, Like A Domino

Night Changes

Summary: Seungkwan’s not sure you’ve ever made that sound before but he likes it. He likes it a lot. And he wants to make you do it more | est. relationship, softdom! Seungkwan, smut, aftercare

Rating: M (18+) | Word Count:~3.6k

IF you lose keys

Summary: “where’s the new coffee mix?” “i’ll tell you if you tell me where you put the keys?” “i TOLD you i don’t know where—”

Rating: T | Word Count: ~1k

Bottoms Up

Summary: Seungkwan facesitting ask need i say more?

Rating: M (18+) | Word Count: ~0.7k

Soft!Seungkwan Headcanons

Chwe Vernon

Buy A Boyfriend (Complete)

Pairing: chs x reader | Rating: M (18+) | WC: ~16.5 k

Summary: Being a professional boyfriend on SVTHub is great - all Vernon has to do is respond to a few texts, send out a couple selfies, do a stream every now and then, and he makes enough to cover tuition. Things get a little tricky when he finds himself wishing he actually was your boyfriend.

Tags: strangers to friends to lovers, boyfriend for hire!vernon, rom com, smut, SVTHub collab

Buy A Boyfriend | Buy A Boyfriend 2 | Bang A Boyfriend | Be A Boyfriend

Risk It All

Summary: Vernon's got a crush on his tutor, and everything gets harder when you start wearing thigh high socks. Everything.

Rating: M (18+) | Word Count: ~4.0k

On My Worst Behavior

Summary: Vernon's learned that you like him rough.

Rating: M (18+) | Word Count: ~0.6k

Soft!Vernon Headcanons

Lee Chan

The Very First Night

Summary: Chan’s got candles, he’s got music, he’s got rose petals, and he’s got lube. All of the essentials for a good first time together. So why's he still so nervous?

Rating: M (18+) | Word Count: ~3.8k

Soft!Chan Headcanons

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heyditseeey · 2 years ago

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LOVE & OTHER CLICHÉS

PAIRING: jeon wonwoo x fem!reader (ft. kim mingyu)

GENRE: fluff, angst, suggestive content

TROPES: brother's best friend, slow burn question mark, skirting around communication because that's a good plot point, jealousy as requested, banter, teasing, arbitrary social norms about words like "cute" and "sweet" pls don't listen to a word i say ever, etc.

WORD COUNT: 12k (for some reason)

The first time you re-meet Jeon Wonwoo, your brother Joshua's best friend, you think a lot of things. He does, too. It's really interesting how neither of you say exactly what you think.

"Y/N! Is that really you?"

If you hadn't been on the phone with Karina when you heard Wonwoo's voice, you think you might've genuinely passed away because his voice is something of nostalgic value to you, something distant and definitely not in the same living room as you. You look up and your eyes widen when you find the man gaping at you. "-Oh, hi–" you shoot up from your seat on the couch and then quickly remember your friend still on the line. You tell her, "Sorry, Rina, mind if I call you back later? Okay, thanks, love you. Night."

Wonwoo raises an eyebrow at you like you'd said something amusing and it's turn to take him in as you drop your phone onto the couch. "Wonwoo, god, you're alive?" you start with a small smile and continue, "Wow, um, you look… the same." What you mean to say is: How did you get even taller, you attractive bastard?

Wonwoo offers you one of his smug smiles at that and replies, "Thanks? I think. You look much more… grown up, you know." He really should've said: Holy shit, you're pretty. And then he opens his arms, "Bring it in, kid. Let's see if I can still get away with tackling you to the ground."

You scoff even as you step closer to him, ignoring the way his arms are a lot bigger than they once used to be when you tell him, "I think you're remembering it wrong, dude. I was the one tackling you."

It's no use, though, because when he wraps his arms around you, you sigh contentedly because this right here? This is a hug. Wonwoo's so warm around you and you can only pretend that the way you feel his hard muscles tense around you doesn't send chills up your spine. Wonwoo's smiling wide, only barely controlling a comment about how good you smell and how you might've grown taller but somehow still manage to fit just the same in his arms.

All in all, it's a pretty sweet reunion. You haven't seen each other in over five years so the curiosity and surprise is barely uncalled for. You only wished you could've held onto the hug longer before Joshua entered the room with a disgusted grimace on his face.

"Gross. Can you guys not do that?"

You're the first to pull away with a flustered sigh at Joshua's comment, rolling your eyes. Wonwoo tries to cover up the way he's slightly out of breath by countering, "Why? You can't handle us interacting like two normal humans? Want us to claw at each other's eyeballs like the good old times?"

–

"I don't get it, though," Wonwoo tells you, a slice of donkatsu hovering near his mouth, "Why didn't you just move in with Shua?"

"That's what I've been asking her! Haven't I been a good enough brother to you? What did I do wrong? Huh?"

You'd already seen Joshua's reaction coming, sipping the beer from your glass to brace yourself. "And as I've politely reminded you many times, big brother, it's not personal. I just thinking that would be the equivalent of moving back in with my parents. Plus, I can afford to live alone now, remember? The promotion that came with the reallocation?"

Joshua flashes you the unconvinced glare he always does when you reason with him. But you train your eyes on Wonwoo instead, determined to get him on your side at least. "It would be waste to just live with him and not do the independent thing. Plus, I literally live across from you, man, so I might as well be moving in with you."

Wonwoo nods quietly as he washes his bite down with some beer, "Hmm. That's fair enough. I don't know why Shua's been whining about it then."

You break into a pleased laugh at that where your brothers gasps in offense. "Hey, Jeon Wonwoo, whose side are you supposed to be on here?"

Wonwoo shrugs, "I'm on the side of logic, my man, I'm sorry."

"God, don't let her fool you. She says all this reasonable stuff but–"

"Oh, so you agree that it's reasonable then?" you question him with a raised brow but he ignores you as he spews his nonsense.

"-- But the real reason she wants to live alone is so she can get laid."

You hit Joshua real hard in the arm at that, "Ew, dude, don't be a pervert."

Wonwoo looks postively entertained between the two of you as he provokes you, "What does he mean?"

"Fuck if I know. I don't know what gave this guy the idea that I like to sleep around, if anything, he's the player."

Joshua narrows his eyes at you, "Uh-huh, me, the guy who was in a long-term relationship of nearly five years?"

"Emphasis on was in a relationship. How many people have you slept with since then? I don't want to know. I'm just making a point."

Wonwoo chuckles, "She's right, man. You're not exactly on the higher ground here."

"Okay, okay, but I did overhear you telling your friend that, quote, living with my brother would be the greatest clockbock there is, end quote."

Your jaw falls open when you hear him recount your words to Karina only a few hours ago. "You're eavesdropping on my calls? Wow, see, this is why I don't want to live with you."

"You weren't exactly very quiet! And you were sitting in the living room, too!"

"Whatever," you roll your eyes and then catch the questioning look Wonwoo sends your brother and you take matters in your own hands. "Fine, I said that because I mean, yeah, it's not like the hottest thing to be living with your brother, okay? Like what if I meet a cute guy and lose him to the fact that Shua's the biggest prude to exist?"

"Man, you just made a player, and now I'm a prude? Choose a story, goddamn it!"

You shrug with a grin, "People can be two things, bro."

–

"So, you all moved in yet?" Wonwoo asks you and you try to ignore how silly he looks with the edges of his glasses fogged up against the heat of the coffee in his hands. Last week, he'd texted you asking if you'd like to get coffee and catch up. You'd replied with a goofy grin playing on your lips at 1 AM with a: sure :))) if u pay!

You hum as you stir your own latte, "I think so. But everytime I think it's all done, there's always something small I forgot. Like, this morning I realized I don't have wine glasses."

He chortles, "Ah, I know what you mean. Something small but inconvenient. Like a good night lamp."

"Ugh, I need one of those, too. I brought my old one with me but ended up leaving it in the study because I didn't have one there." You sigh as you slump in your seat, "God, I hate moving. I'll have age twenty years by the time I'm fully done."

Wonwoo watches you with a bemused smile. "I can help you with shopping, if you'd like."

"Really?"

"Yeah, I mean, it's not like I moved in recently but I still remember some good places for this stuff. And it might be less tiresome if you have some company."

Your replying smile is so genuine that it's got Wonwoo smiling and he thinks he's helping you out more for himself than Joshua. It's an unsettling thought for a moment but then your voice pipes back up with an anecdote from your work and he can't care for the thoughts.

"...So, you have any luck finding cute guys to bring home?"

The question catches you off-guard and your grip on the wine glass you were inspecting loosens dangerously, but you hold onto it before it can break like your pretense of sanity.

"God," you groan as you look at a chuckling Wonwoo who's standing next to you, arms crossed in that infuriatingly attractive way. "I was slightly drunk when I said that, so it would be nice if you forgot about it."

"Why? I mean, it's understandable you'd want to get into the dating pool here. It's one way to get to know a new city."

You turn all your attention to a different glass. "I guess. But I haven't had too much luck, no. Maybe waiting around to find love organically is my problem."

Wonwoo doesn't immediately respond to that, making you uneasy and sending heat to your ears. Whatever. You'd just have to scream into your pillow and cry yourself to sleep so you could forget this embarrassment.

"Hmm, I don't know. It'll just take more time that way, I suppose. If you're willing to wait."

It's your turn to go mute except this time the silence is comfortable, only broken by a comment here and there about the glasses.

"What about you?" you ask Wonwoo at checkout, watching the worker wrap up your chosen set of glasses in bubble wrap. "Are you… with someone?"

Wonwoo's lips twitch with a small smile at your question. "Not at the moment. I like the space of being single." You nod in understanding.

"And I haven't really met anyone worth spending my time with," he says, eyes floating to you as he pushes his glasses up with a finger.

You pause at his words, thanking the cashier for their help and making your way to the exit. "You make it sound like dating's a chore, Wonwoo."

He shrugs with a shoulder, "It can be. With the wrong person."

–

"So… tell me all about your hot brother's hot best friend?"

"Ew and ew, Karina, do you want me to block you for real this time?"

"I'm just being honest but all right, do you want to talk about your years-old crush on your brother's best–"

"That's not any better. And I don't have crush on him. Also, it would really nice if we didn't say the word crush anymore. We're both adults with jobs."

"And adults with jobs aren't allowed to have a little fun?" Karina's voice is laced with laughter and you groan in frustration. Who has she been hanging out with to make her so much worse? Not you.

"Anyway, since you asked so nicely, I'll tell you. My older brother is okay. And so is Wonwoo. There."

A few minutes of further pestering from Karina and you finally let slip that Wonwoo and you have been hanging out here and there, sometimes over coffee that led to shopping dates (Karina's words, not yours) and other times spent over at Joshua's, drinking or playing video games on his couch. It was pretty cozy and you couldn't really complain about this new life.

"Oh, so you don't miss me then, huh? Nice to know. But also it seems like you're hitting it off with Wonwoo and before you cut me off, you did like Wonwoo for like half your childhood, remember? Maybe this could become something. Who knows?"

Oh, you remember. It was you who spent long summer afternoons staring at Wonwoo as he came over to your home after class, spending all his time arguing with Joshua about a card game they'd been playing or about which villain was cooler in the new movie they'd watched. For a while, it had been a distant thing but over time, you'd warmed up to them and started talking more to Wonwoo, now a regular participant in their arguments.

And as it turns out, it doesn't take a lot of arguments to fall for Jeon Wonwoo.

–

One thing about you is that you're stubborn. You like to think it's a genetic thing because the only person who could rival your firmness was none other than your brother. And this meant that when Karina tried to convince you that you still had a soft spot for Wonwoo, you tried to tell her that's all it was: a soft spot. Like a platonic affinity for someone you'd spent a lot of time with growing up.

And you reasoned it out with yourself that night, thinking back to the time you'd spent with him recently. It was familiar in the best way possible. Where meeting new people at work was absolutely exhausting, coming back home to your brother and Wonwoo was like a hug to your soul.

Speaking of hugs, your mind rolled over to the one you'd shared with Wonwoo a few weeks ago, an event that you often found yourself thinking. As sane and rational as you thought yourself to be, the way you'd find yourself unable to control a giggle in the dark every time you remembered the way you all but melted into his arms, strong but fond in their embrace around your waist.

And when you come to your senses, you realize it's ridiculous how stuck up on that hug you are. It's stupid your smile that breaks through anyway and the way your heart beats faster when you remember the plans you'd made with Wonwoo for tomorrow, a trip to a local bookstore because he had found your collection of books lacking the day he'd come over for a visit.

You roll over in bed then, groaning a little because you're starting to think the soft spot might be… growing.

–

"You know I really didn't think I would spend this much on books today," you mumble as you tap your card at the register. It was almost funny how many conversations you and Wonwoo have had at check-out, almost inevitable because often the shopping experience itself meant a lot of focused silence as the two of you browsed around in tandem.

It was a weirdly heartwarming way to spend time together. Or maybe that was just you and your weakness for quality time.

"What do you mean? We literally mutually decided that you needed a better collection." Wonwoo leans against the counter with a cocked brow.

"Well, the mutual part is up for discussion. It's more like you shamed me for keeping a modest book collection. And I mean, I wasn't so sure if I'd find anything good here."

"Really?" he asks, picking up the heavy bag from the counter before you can reach for it, "Because I remember you agreeing pretty quickly and enthusiastically to my proposition to go book-shopping."

"That was only because you made it sound like fun." And it meant that I'd get to spend more time with you. "And it was fun. So that's one thing you're right about."

Wonwoo's smile turns smug as you exit the bookstore, each with a paper bag in hand. You'd settled for carrying Wonwoo's own purchase of two new books that he'd apparently been meaning to come out and buy.

"Anyway, now what? You wanna go to my place and break into one of these bad boys?" You shake the bag in your hand with a gleeful grin. But Wonwoo's looking at the mall across from you with mouth slightly ajar in concentration. And then he smiles, pure excitement plastered across his face when looks back at you.

"I have a much better idea." That's all he says before his unoccupied hand finds yours and tugs you after him. Admittedly, you're a little dizzy at the sudden touch and let him pull you across the road with quick steps, struggling to keep up with him. At the back of your head, you store away how attractive it is that Wonwoo's holding a good dozen books in a hand and yours in the other, racing ahead like it was the most important thing in the world. And honestly? If it was with Wonwoo, you think you feel the urgency in your veins as if it were travelling across your intertwined palms.

It's a good day to be a romantic for you, as you later find out, standing in line with Wonwoo to purchase tickets to a newly released movie. The genre? Rom-com.

"Well, it's not so much a rom-com as the poster makes it seem. That's actually a deft marketing stunt. It's actually a pretty serious movie about love and I've heard it's not for the weak."

So many questions. You have so many questions.

For one, "I didn't know you were into romantic movies," you comment, watching Wonwoo from the corner of your eye, too afraid to look him in the eye now that your hand was no longer in his.

"It's possible to avoid romance. Everything is about love these days, even if it isn't."

You also can't believe that you're about to watch a movie with Wonwoo. It's all strangely… different. You'd never been to the movies alone with him. It's a new territory for you. But you're not mad. If anything, the smile on your lips is playful.

"And it's not just that you're too scared to admit that you like rom-coms?"

"I'm not. Into rom-coms, I mean. The humor is straight-up bad and the romance is tolerable at best. It's like if you're going to do a x to death, you might as well do it well."

"I can't believe this," you mutter more to yourself than him, "Jeon Wonwoo watching a rom-com? This must be a dream."

"You dream about me, hmm?"

You narrowly avoid whiplash when you turn to look at Wonwoo, his teasing only another addition to the list of things you didn't think you'd hear your brother's best friend every say to you. But the more you know, huh?

The movie itself is insane. The plot is devastating enough on its own but the way Wonwoo's shoulder pressed into yours the whole time, despite there being more than enough space between the two seats, has you more vulnerable than usual. So find yourself tearing up halfway through the movie and sit through the credits with half-contained sobs. And where Wonwoo had laughed at your tears mid-way, when he noticed your sobs, his hand found your back, rubbing it comfortingly.

"That was horrific," you mumble when you're less overcome with sadness and pout at Wonwoo. "I hate you for making me watch that. I will never find happiness. And worse, I will never find love."

Your words, punctuated with that small pout of yours, has Wonwoo a breath away from falling to his knees with his head in hands because fuck, you're adorable. And truth be told, he was tearing up at the end, too, but he wouldn't let you know that because the way you accuse him for your state is just incredibly precious to him.

"It was terrific," he corrects you, "And I'm sorry, I didn't think you'd get so emotional."

You glare at Wonwoo at that, as if you hadn't just been dabbing at your eyes with his pocket tissues, "Okay, Mister Emotionless, don't think I didn't catch you wiping tears away in the closing scene."

Wonwoo shoots a guilty grin and pats your head, "You're cute."

The statement leaves you speechless enough that Wonwoo gets away with it, starting to walk away with a gaping you in his wake. You're deeply confused and slightly jittery when you finally catch up to him with a small "I wasn't trying to be" of affront under your breath.

–

"That's bad, right, isn't it? It's so bad. It's horrible."

"Calm down, Y/N, he called you cute, just so we're clear? Not a bunch of bad words right? So why is it bad?"

"Because!" you cry out, "Because cute is like the most platonic adjective. I thought we were having a moment, what with a movie date and all– but if he thinks I'm cute then I was wrong. So unbelievably wrong."

"Okay, I know what you mean but that's not always how things work. I mean, you said he held your hand and stuff, right? That's more than platonic. And it's all about the tone. Cute can be a very romantic word if in the right context."

"The context," you tell Karina with a sigh, "is that he's my brother's best friend! He couldn't make it any clearer. Wow, and I was all up in my head over him, too."

"Can we just take a moment to acknowledge how I told you that you still had feelings for Wonwoo?"

"We will do no such thing. Because the feelings are gone now!"

"Right. I believe you, Y/N," Karina deadpans over the phone, "You can call me when you're done being an idiot. Bye."

–

It's Karina's sarcastic tone that your thoughts catch onto the next few days, the ones you spend half in agony because Wonwoo hasn't contacted you and after your personal dilemma, you think you'd let someone shoot you before you texted him first.

So you try your best to distract yourself with work, showing up earlier than you'd built a reputation for, and staying a little later than most. It's a new routine for you, one that leaves you pretty tired in a way that your bones are not used to.

Maybe that's why your legs don't seem to be working that morning when you bump into someone on your way to the coffee machine. You'd been rubbing your neck, trying to feel out the knot that you'd woken up with, and had effectively lost track of where you were going and collided with a solid figure, sending a few steps back.

You sigh as you regain your balance, ever so thankful that you didn't fall flat on your butt as you look up at the person in front you. He's tall enough that you should've seen him coming so you're first to apologize. "Shit, sorry! I wasn't looking where I was going. Sorry about that!"

"No, no, I should've been more careful. I'm lucky I wasn't carrying a coffee or that could've been really bad. I'm sorry." The man's voice is hoarse and he talks over himself, as if eager to get all his thoughts before he forgets what he's saying.

You meet his eyes with a small smile, "I guess we're both at fault, huh?"

He reciprocates your smile with crescent eyes. "Yup. Can I get you a coffee as reparation?"

"I mean, it's not a big deal at all."

"I insist," the man levels his gaze at you and you wonder how he looks like he could throw you across the room without breaking a sweat, but still manages to be so soft.

"I'm Mingyu, by the way," he tells you as he hands you a cup of warm coffee. "Thanks Mingyu. I'm Y/N."

"I've seen you around. You were a new hire, right?"

You take your time with a sip of your coffee before responding, "Yes, I was originally at another branch but my leader wanted me closer to headquarters before they opened up new branches in this city. I don't know, something exposure for me and experience for them."

"You must be good if they sent you here," Mingyu points out and you brush it off with a noncomittal shrug. You find yourself pleasantly enamoured by Mingyu for the next ten minutes or so and you wonder how you'd missed him at all in the first place. But when he tells you he better get going, you nod with a smile, "Of course. It was nice meeting you, Mingyu."

Mingyu becomes the perfect distraction, as one might predict he would. He has a unique charm, what with the contrast between his intimidating physique but surprisingly shy demeanour. He's the textbook golden retriever in people and though you're not a dog person, you find yourself grow fonder of him every time you run into him near the coffee machine or while leaving work in the elevator.

"You have a work crush?"

You groan loudly, throwing a half-eaten cracker at Joshua. "Come on, what is it with all the people I know and having the most childish vocabulary?"

"Oh, I'm sorry, am I not erudite enough for you? You know it may not seem like it but I am four years older than you and I have that much more–"

"Yeah, yeah, something about experience and knowledge, I've heard it before. And by the way, it's technically three years and three months, not that I'm counting."

"You very clearly are," Joshua points out with a frustrated laugh, "Anyway, you gonna make a move on this guy?"

"No, because if you were actually listening to me, you'd have heard that I like him as a friend and that I need help buying a gift for his birthday."

"Right, right," your brother mumbles in thought, "And that's next week?"

You nod as you pick your phone up, scrolling through the chat with Mingyu to reach the text he'd sent you a day ago: by the way, i'm throwing for my birthday on the 6th. love it if you came ;)

Winky emoji and slightly short notice aside, you'd replied as enthusiastically as you could muster: your birthday??? when were you going to tell me!! and: ofc i'll be there but not before i make you suffer for hiding smth so imp from me :(((

Before you can squeeze any more vaguely helpful tips from Joshua, his bell rings and you sit up with a frown as he stands up to get it. "Ah, Wonwoo's here."

"Wonwoo?" is your shocked gasp to that information, body going stiff because you'd seen him only in passing since the day of the movie. You think you might pass out. Why does nobody think it's important to tell you anything these days?

You hear their voices in the corridor as Joshua lets Wonwoo in and your mind races with your options. Hiding in the bathroom for the night would be feasible if your brother wasn't a monster who would drag you out within thirty minutes. Maybe you climb out a window? But you were on the eight floor and as much as you liked to joke about death, you'd prefer to escape alive.

Your brother's voice breaks you out of your scheming, alerting you they're in the living room. "Oh yeah, Y/N, here's someone with not childish vocabulary if you want to replace me."

You look over your shoulder with a scowl but immediately lose your spirit when you lock eyes with Wonwoo, a lopsided smile greeting you. He's wearing a cozy sweater that's a shade of blue so dark that it might as well be black and you want to start crying because his hands are concealed beneath the sleeves, fists turned sweater paws as he stands there, looking between you and your brother.

"Why are you two fighting this time?"

"Nothing." "She has a crush at work."

Wonwoo lets out a sigh when you both answer simultaneously but seems intrigued by Joshua's statement, eyeing him. "What did you say?"

"She has a–"

"I'm warning you, if you say the word crush one more time, I will do something so unimaginable to your face at night–"

"She likes a guy from work."

Wonwoo looks surprised as he looks back at you inquisitively and you frown. "Untrue. It's just a guy I made friends with recently. And I only mentioned him so I could get advice but clearly, nobody here supports me so I'm going to take this conversation elsewhere."

"I support you." Wonwoo's quick response has you freezing in your dramatic exit and you turn to look at him in doubt but when his expression is clear of any mischief, you sit back down.

"Nice to know. But I'd love it if we talked about something else for now. Like dinner."

The night takes on a more comfortable journey from thereon, with the three of you ordering take-out and fighting it out with a card game while it was on its way. You were actually proud of yourself for acting normal around Wonwoo, despite all your past internal conflict. And you would've gone to sleep somewhat peacefully if he hadn't approached you in the kitchen, while Joshua was taking out trash, having lost the game.

You were placing the leftovers in the fridge when Wonwoo materialized behind you, the only warning of his presence the question he asks you, "You want any help?"

You barely hold in a surprised squeak as you spin around to him. "Goddamn it, Wonwoo, make some noise next time you sneak up on me?"

"Then I wouldn't be sneaking up on you, would I?"

You roll your eyes, closing the fridge behind you as you declare, "Well, I'm done here. Thanks for washing the dishes, by the way."

"Sure, I know how much you Hongs hate touching water. I was surprised you installed a faucet in your kitchen at all."

You give Wonwoo a push in response, "That's a very funny way to conceal the fact that you lost at rock paper scissors."

"I just think it was an unfair way to decide tasks. I'm really bad at that game."

"Right, and assuming one can be good or bad at a game of rock paper scissors, what else would you have preferred to play?"

Wonwoo's eyes twinkle with an idea and then, he puts up a hand and wiggles it around in your face. "Arm wrestling."

Your smile falls, "No. That's just–"

"See," he points at you, "That's how I feel about rock paper scissors."

Despite how much you claim that the two games are not at all on the same par, you let Wonwoo drag you to the kitchen table, standing across from you and arm ready for the wrestling. Slowly, you lean closer to him, hand coming to rest against his.

"Don't be too cocky," you mumble when his hand squeezes yours, already triumphant before the game had begun. The result of the game itself is pretty obvious but when you start to wrestle and feel Wonwoo's forearm tense against you, it has you light-headed. Your eyes leave the match to look at him, only to find him watching you with a glint in his eye. He smiles when you make eye-contact with him, going strangely silent for all his gloating a minute ago. You raise a brow at him and the bastard has the audacity to send a wink your way before pressing your arm against the wood of the table.

"Whatever," you tell him before his already obnoxious grin can swell any more. He opens his mouth and you're already anticipating something insulting to meet your eyes. But instead, Wonwoo says, "Your hand's so small." You look up at him only for him to take your hand in his and carefully line it against his own palm.

You feel your cheeks burn. It's all so cliché, especially if he's flirting with you. Arm-wrestling turns into a hand-measuring contest. So trite. And yet, you find yourself smiling.

"See?" your hand wriggles, imitiating Wonwoo from earlier, "This game was rigged. Maybe if you had a handicap or something."

"Okay, I think I better leave before you take a knife and cut my hand up or something…"

–

wonwoo: hello you

you: hi?

wonwoo: heard there's live music at the pub today. wanna come with?

you: ok creep

wonwoo: excuse me??? just informed you of a one in lifetime opportunity. shua's treating

you: WAIT he is???????

you: the one time i can't come?

wonwoo: you can't?

you: yes… have to attend a coworker's birthday party tonight. sorry :(

wonwoo: u should be sorry

wonwoo: imagine how much damage we could've done to joshua's wallet

You throw yourself into your sheets with a disappointed sigh, stomach uneasy at the thought of missing a hang-out with your favorite duo. But then you roll over to your side and think it's better if you go out with people who you didn't grow up with, for once. It might be a new experience. Just to be clear, this was Karina's voice resounding in your head. She had her way of giving you advice without you calling her for it.

Three hours later, you're tiring yourself out at Mingyu's birthday party. It's intense, the party, bustling with people but then again, you'd be a fool to think Mingyu wouldn't have a roster full of friends to invite to a party. You meet the man of the night an hour into the party and he throws his hands around when he recognizes you.

"Y/N, I'm so glad you could make it!"

"Of course. Happy birthday, Mingyu!"

He leans over the bar and yells something at the bartender who eyes Mingyu and upon recognizing him as the birthday boy, places two shots in front of you.

"Have a shot with me?" Mingyu grins, a slight layer of sweat shining on his forehead. You chuckle in defeat, "Sure, why not?"

A shot turns into two and you're working on swallowing the third one when your phone buzzes in the back-pocket of your denim shorts. You're about to take a look at the caller ID and decline almost immediately but when you realize it's Wonwoo calling you, you pause. You excuse yourself from Mingyu's side quickly, making your way to a slightly quieter cornern of the party and answer.

"Wonwoo?"

"Oh," comes Wonwoo's voice, a little distant, and he seems shocked as if he hadn't expected you to pick up. "Hey, Y/N. How are you?"

"Um. I'm fine, Wonwoo, just at that party I told you about. Is everything okay?"

"Yeah. You're not too drunk, are you?" he asks, ironically slurring the question.

"I should be asking you that question. Wonwoo, where's Joshua? Do you need me to come pick you up?"

"No," his voice is laced with disbelief, "I'm fine. Just a little tipsy. Sorry, you should get back to the party."

"Yeah," you reply, feeling a little uneasy as the liquid in your stomach sloshes around with each movement you make.

"Stay safe, Y/N. Call me if you need anything? I'm gonna go find Shua now."

Before you can ask him what he means by finding Joshua, Wonwoo's hung up on you, almost as quickly as he called you. Okay, so that was weird. And cool, now you're nauseous.

–

When Wonwoo drunk-calls you, he thinks he's officially lost you. If you didn't find him weird before, you probably thought him a lot weird now. That's great, he thinks. But the regret of his decision doesn't outweigh the need to see you right now, something about the fact that you're at some guy's birthday party making him all worked up. It should be obvious why he's like this but Wonwoo can avoid a serious thought for days if it keeps him slightly more sane than usual.

But then the Joshua's bell rings and he opens the door, finding you standing there just like he'd imagined a few minutes ago. You're in a slouchy shirt that unbuttoned all the way to your mid-torso to reveal a black bikini top. He clears his throat to contain the thought that threatens to escape him: fuck, you look hot.

"Shit," you exclaim when you see Wonwoo, "This isn't my place. Ugh. I'm stupid."

Wonwoo steps closer to you, "Are you okay, Y/N? Did you just get back?"

You nod silently and then take a step back from him. "Sorry, I'm just gonna go to the right place. You can sleep… or whatever."

"Wait, no," he rushes to your side, taking your elbow in his hand, "I'll help you."

You roll your eyes, "It's okay, I'm not drunk, Wonwoo. And by the looks of it, neither are you." But you don't push off the hand on you and simply let him follow you to your door, "Is Shua already asleep?"

"Hmm, he passed out. I don't know why he claims to be heavyweight when he can barely handle alcohol. I had force him to leave the pub before he made himself sick."

You listen intently, unlocking the door with a hum, "He's an idiot." You throw the door open and Wonwoo lets himself in after you. He's clearly not too sober because when you bend down to take of your shoes and your ass juts out dangerously close to his crotch, he almost falls over in an attempt to jump away to give you space. But he remains close just in case you stumble, his own shaky state be damned.

But you're unnervingly stable as you stand back up, taking your hand off the wall when you're done taking your shoes off and brushing them against yourself with a suspicious look thrown at him– unnerving because Wonwoo just wants an excuse to get his hands on you somehow. You're effortlessly magnetic, moving across the hall to your kitchen to pour yourself some water, still unebelievably stable, and Wonwoo follows you in a trance-like manner.

"You want something to drink?"

Your question hangs in complete silence and it's only when you look over at Wonwoo that he comprehends that you're asking him. He clears his throat again, "Um, I don't want to bother you if you want to go to bed."

You raise a shoulder nonchalantly, "'M not sleepy. And you're here so we might as well hang." You disappear from his sight as you crouch down behind the counter, sliding open a shelf, "I have some shiraz I've been meaning to break open, if you're up for it?"

"Oh, that sounds great actually," he replies and you reappear with two wine glasses in your hand. You beam at him and he feels a thrill down his spine, recognizing the set you'd bought with him. "Great. Go sit in the living room and I'll be right there."

"No, I'll help you get the stuff."

You pause your movements toward the liquor shelf, "Come on, I thought it was clear I'm not drunk by now."

"I know," Wonwoo walks closer to you, picking up the glasses you'd set down earlier, "Just want to be here with you."

You turn back around and Wonwoo doesn't know it's to hide the flush that colors your face at his confession. You spend a minute too long picking out the shiraz to recover and you're glad Wonwoo also doesn't know that you could pick the bottle of red out without actually looking.

"Geez, I've got sand in my feet now," you complain as you take your first sip of the wine from your glass when you catch sight of the particles lodged in your toes.

"Sand?" questions Wonwoo as he leans over to get a look.

"Yeah, it was a beach-themed party," you tell him. He nods, thinking that your outfit makes a lot more sense now. "Mingyu's a silly guy for someone who's turning twenty-five."

"Mingyu, huh?" Wonwoo tries out the name, watching out for how you react. You don't give away much, simply taking another sip but your chest burns for reasons other than alcohol.

"Hmm, yeah."

"So do you like him? Joshua seems pretty convinced about it."

You hide your face against the couch, "Fuck Joshua. He's an idiot."

"So you've said."

"No, but really. Mingyu's a sweet guy and all, but he's… not my type."

Now this is something Wonwoo can work with, relief flooding his veins at your honest reply. "What is your type?"

You meet Wonwoo's gaze for the first time in this conversation and groan again. In your head, you can't help but be burdened by how unbelievably cliché your situation is. Your brother's best friend sitting next to you swirling a glass of red wine, asking you about the guy you liked when it was clearly him you liked. In fact, you think your entire relationship with Wonwoo's always been full of clichés: falling for his charm as a youth and growing into the feelings long after, hanging out with him as grown-ups, going on dates that are left unlabelled, measuring hands with him for fuck's sake– It was a little too on the nose, you think.

But you don't tell Wonwoo any of this, maybe because you're too scared to or maybe you'd liked to see the plot thicken a little. "I don't have a type."

Wonwoo is surprisingly quick to leave the topic alone after that and you're thankful, but half-irked because you'd hoped for more. But you can't complain when he has you wrapped up in a completely different conversation, distracting enough that you can barely remember how you finished the wine in your glass.

"Want a refill?" he asks you when the empty glasses have been sitting on the coffee table for long enough.

"Mhm, I think I'll have some apple juice instead."

"As you wish."

He doesn't even bother asking you where you keep your juice and takes off with the glasses to the kitchen. You watch him keenly, letting your heart lead your mind for a little as you take in how cozy the night is when you're in Wonwoo's company.

It's with that uncontrollable giddy smile on your face that Wonwoo catches you.

"Happy about something?" he asks, placing a cup with golden liquid in front of you and keeping his glass of wine next to it.

"Yeah. About everything. I'm happy."

Wonwoo smiles, arm reaching to your side and squeezing your hand in a way that leaves you thinking that you might actually like physical touch more than you've been led to think. "I like the sound of that."

Your smile only turns goofier. "What about you? Are you happy?"

He huffs out a breathy laugh, "I'm not too bad myself. Things have been looking up recently."

Fucking fuck, even everything you say to each other sounds like it's been said before, somewhere else in an idealistic movie about two people slowly falling in love with each other. But you can't get yourself to hate the idea so you simply shift closer to him.

Wonwoo notices, obviously, and smiles a little because he notices the light dusting of red on your cheeks. Your hair's come undone from what was presumably a low bun at the back of your head and he has an itch to brush the strands away from your face– a thought that if you were privy to would only be an addition the list titled reasons why wonwoo and you are a straight-up cliché.

But you find out soon anyway, because Wonwoo acts on the itch, hand coming to cup your face before a few fingers find the crown of your head, gently tucking the stray hair behind your ear.

You hum in satisfaction and Wonwoo's heart hammers, thinking that is probably the best reaction he could've hoped for. He takes a sip of the wine in his hand and moves to rest his face on his fist.

Except you intercept him mid-way, closing the space between you with a noise of surprise that Wonwoo lets out when he feels your warm lips against his. The shock causes the wine in his mouth to bleed into yours, just like you'd hoped, and before Wonwoo can act on your advance, you've already pulled back.

Your smile is warm with shyness when you notice the starstruck expression on Wonwoo's face. "Sorry, I wanted to taste the wine."

Wonwoo's silent as he processes this, moving slower thanks to the wine in his sytsem and now– the feeling of your kiss on his mind. When he does break from the silence, he moves to take another sip of wine and this time it's him crossing over to you, big palm steadying your jaw so he can spill into you, literally and not. You let out a little noise this time, not expecting him to reciprocate your shameless move but delighted anyway as you move against his mouth.

There's a third kiss. And you pull away with a dreamy sigh because really, this was straight out of your dreams. Wonwoo rests his head on his hand like he'd intended to about three kisses earlier and watches as you avert your gaze, suddenly bashful. You fix your gaze on the coffee table, proud that you'd finally chosen to place it opposite the couch instead of near the bookshelf.

"I haven't dated anyone for a while, you know," Wonwoo suddenly blurts out, your hair once again in your face when you turn to face him. "I was in a pretty… fucked-up relationship after high school and that made me give up on love altogether."

You listen attentively, eyes on his as he tells about the person he was with, voice dropping to a soft octave. When he finishes you find his hands with a smile, "Thank you for telling me that. And I'm sorry. You deserve so much better than that. You're a pretty solid guy."

"Really?" Wonwoo's mood turns light again at your comment and you try to maintain your composure, reminding yourself that his smile might be casual but your words still hold weight.

"Yeah, you're a rare find, Wonwoo. Quiet but not boring, witty yet funny, tall but nice to hug."

You bite your lip at that last part, clearly giving yourself away. But Wonwoo's eyes light up anyway, "Nice to hug, huh? That's a new compliment. Glad to know."

You can feel him lean closer to you without looking because his voice is closer to your ears. Flustered, you reach for your abandoned apple juice and take a sip, but overestimate your own sobriety because you manage to spill a third of it on yourself. "Fuck," you curse under your breath and throw your head back against the couch in frustration over yourself.

"Fuck," Wonwoo echoes you, shifting beside you, "You okay? Wait here, I'll get you a towel." He's already standing up by the time you have it in you to find your footing. You stop him with a slightly damp hand on his arm.

"It's okay, I'll just go throw this in the laundry. Needed to change anyway."

Wonwoo nods as he makes way so you can pad lightly to your room, ears adorably red. He lets out a heavy breath when you close the door behind you though, placing a hand against chest because the sight of your half-exposed chest slightly wet with juice– well, it was doing more things to him that he'd like. Your low expletive followed by your limp body hadn't helped his wild imagination either, instantly wondering what it might be like to run his hands through–

"All right, that's it. I need some fresh air." Fresh air so he could feel less like a pervert and more like… normal. And it helps to step out onto your balcony, the scenery of the moonlit night a pleasant surprise to his senses. He hums happily, almost forgetting about his preoccupied thoughts entirely.

And then he hears your voice resound in the living room faintly. He calls out your name, telling you to come out to the balcony, and a minute later, you step out, now clad in a cozy night set, matching blue shirt with shorts. "Hey," you mumble as you join him near the railing, body visibly relaxing in the night air. "Woah, it's nice here."

"It is, isn't it?"

"Yeah, this is actually my first time coming out here since I moved in. I always figured this place would be full of spider webs and like bird shit."

Wonwoo chuckles, "I mean we're probably standing on something that's not supposed to be here but it's for us to worry about tomorrow."

–

When you wake up the next morning, it takes you a good amount of groaning and screaming to figure out if last night was real. Taking shots with Mingyu at his birthday bash? Understandable. Receiving a call from a self-proclaimed tipsy Wonwoo? Confusing but not impossible. Inviting Wonwoo over for wine and ending up making out with him? Insane.

What's worse, you couldn't really remember how the night had ended, a consequence of your inebriated self combining with sleep deprivation. But that was a pretty important thing to remember, wasn't it? It could be difference between a regretful farewell and a promising one. You don't know which one would ease the storm in your stomach faster.

You roll over to unlock your phone and sit up when you see you have two unread texts. And then, you see they're both from Mingyu.

mingyu: thanks for coming last night :D

mingyu: sorry i couldn't see u out. hope you made it home safe!

You sigh in barely contained disappointment as you throw your phone back into the sheets, looking up at the ceiling. You suppose you ought to do something about the Mingyu situation soon but right now, you find the idea of suffocating in your bedsheets for the next two hours much more comforting.

–

See now, this right here is your problem. As much as you complained about hating being a cliché, you kind of wish your situation with Wonwoo was more of a cliché because right now doesn't exactly feel like something out of a film.

It feels like hard cold reality. And it's not the first time either.

1: things will happen between you and Wonwoo: he holds your hand, he kisses your lips.

2: he doesn't text you about it and you're too much of a coward to force him out of his shell.

3: things end up all in the air. And now, you're miserable.

But later that evening, you find out there's more to this list of not-so-cliché things that happen between you and Wonwoo.

4: you run into Wonwoo at your brother's place.

He's so casual, too, dressed in a plaid shirt and lounging on Joshua's couch, gaming his time away. You almost immediately regretting making an impromptu trip to your brother's place but it's too late to back out because Joshua's already set the dinner table for three. How you despise your extroverted, loving brother.

"Did you make that deadline you were complaining about yesterday?" Joshua asks you over a spoonful of his soup. You nod, "Yeah, turns out it was easier when I stopped whining about it."

Wonwoo lets out a laugh, earning him a look from you which you quickly retract, going back to your quiet self when the two engage in conversation. You're glad to ignore but they find it less than easy to, given how unusual your disengagement is. Wonwoo does have an idea for your mood but he doesn't feel like discussing it with your brother just yet.

So when Joshua asks him, "Do you know what's up with her?" when you excuse yourself to the bathroom, Wonwoo stiffens. Why was he asking Wonwoo? … Had he been obvious?

"Dunno. Maybe work's busy or something."

"You think I should go pester her with some ice-cream later tonight?"

"Best if you don't do that. She might disown you."

"That's like legally impossible, Wonwoo. Right?"

When you take an unexpectedly long time in the bathroom, Joshua goes on. "Did something happen between you two?"

Again, Wonwoo tenses up. "...No. Why do you ask?"

"I mean, she seemed fine yesterday when she came over. So I don't think I'm the problem here. Not that I'm accusing you of anything. Just… I know y'all have been bonding recently."

Wonwoo averts his gaze, deeply uncomfortable with this chat. "Um, yeah, I guess."

"Listen, man, I don't mean to take on the older brother tone in this conversation or anything but…" Joshua sighs as he plays with a leftover piece of bread, "You know I'm okay if something does happen with you and her, right? I trust you. And well, she was an adult long before me so I hardly have a say there."

Wonwoo stares at his half-empty glass of water, frowning. "Okay, cool." His answer is curt because he's still caught off-guard by this conversation. He'd wanted to bring up the developments between you himself, in his own way, but this left him a little panicked. Like, he was being rushed to make a move. And his brain ended up shutting down in the process.

…but it really wasn't the best time for his malfunction, given that you'd managed to overhear a good half of that conversation, specifically on the Joshua asking Wonwoo about you and him being indifferent about it. What was he thinking? What were you thinking?

5: you storm out of dinner without an explanation. you pretend you don't hear wonwoo call after you when you do. his texts that night go unanswered.

How's that for a cliché, huh?

–

These days, you're trying find the joy in small things. Like waking up to your very first alarm for the morning. Or brewing an especially aromatic coffee at home.

Like making it to the end of a phone-call with Karina without talking about Wonwoo.

"Oh, wait, before I forget to ask, how did it go with Wonwoo?"

Almost.

You take a deep breath to steady yourself, "Not too well. I mean, we kissed. But then, he didn't text me for like three days after. Then I run into him at Joshua's and he acts all… cold. And judging by that one conversation I overheard, he thinks everything that happened between us was a mistake."

"Okay, okay, hold your horses, friend, I feel like a lot happened there. You kissed? Why is this the first I'm hearing of it?!" Karina sounds genuinely upset and you let out a groan.

"Well, I was trying to stop bringing up Wonwoo every time we catch up. It's annoying and I want to hear more about your life than complain about mine."

"We can both complain about our lives, Y/N. I have all the time in the world. At least till six. Anyway, that's besides the point! You kissed but he ghosted you afterward? And did he actually say he thought it was all a mistake?"

You bite your lip in rumination and then admit, "He didn't actually say that but it was implied. You would agree if you'd heard the same conversation as I!"

As it turns out, Karina doesn't seem to approve of the conclusion you've come to all on your own. But then you point out that it's been over a week and it's been radio silence. So you have every right to feel as hurt as you do.

"I suppose you do. But still, it wouldn't hurt to approach him first."

"I would rather die."

"Okay, well, maybe find out how he's doing from Joshua?"

"Will not."

"You're being difficult right now, Y/N. What do you want to do then?"

"I want to move on and not think about Wonwoo. Maybe I should go on a blind date or something."

"We're not in a movie right now, man, plus, I'm pretty sure you were the one who swore your life to finding love organically and whatnot."

"...Gah, I was hoping you'd forgotten about that. Fine, I'll do… something."

Your words are nothing if not misleading because by something, you don't mean to communicate with Wonwoo like a sane person might. Instead you check up on Mingyu, who you've still been succesfully making small talk at work with, and ask him if he wanted to get dinner. The enthusiasm with which he responds is comforting, a relieving contrast from the tension in your relationship with you-know-who.

mingyu: omg i woud love to

mingyu: but im unfortuntely busy tonight :((((

mingyu: would you be down for tomorrow? i can make some killer spaghetti if given the opportunity

you: make???? i was thinking of buying the food… but i won't turn that offer down

mingyu: i'm a man of many talents ;)

You work out the details of the date (neither of you call it that, but it's understood to be one) over the night and you feel a little uneasy as the afternoon of the day comes to a close. Either way, you find a comfortable dress that is flattering against your skin and welcome Mingyu into your place, letting his excitement work its contagious magic.

If you're following the plot line of this story closely, you'd figure out that the next cliché is this: Wonwoo behind the door across from your home, just now learning about this date of yours with Mingyu.

He's broken his pledge to himself and asked Joshua about you, after having missed seeing you there for the past week. Joshua had hesitated to respond but is honest anyway, muttering, "I think she has a date over."

"A date?" is Wonwoo instantaneous question, barely-concealed dread underlying in its tone.

"Yeah, remember that guy from work whose birthday she attended?" Joshua pretends to have forgotten his name but his best friend is quick to chime in, "Mingyu?"

But you'd told him he was just a friend. You'd called him sweet for fuck's sake, and that was the most platonic adjective you could use for a potential love interest. Well, he's been proven wrong by your date tonight.

He looks down at his clasped palms, the same ones that were intertwined with your skin, first the skin of your hands, then your cheek when he'd leaned into kiss you. And if he hadn't spent the last four days regretting every minute he didn't call you up, he sure did want to punch a hole in the fabric of time right about now.

"You okay there, buddy?"

Joshua's concern brings Wonwoo back to his body and he looks up, lips pursed and your brother thinks how ridiculous it is that both of you won't just talk it out. But he keeps that judgement to himself, choosing to sit back and watch his best friend pace it out.

"Yeah, I'm fine. Fine. Really fine. I'm okay." He clears his throat, the first tell. "I'm just… um, a little hot. It's hot in here, huh."

Joshua tames his bemused smile. "Is it? I just turned up the air-con though?"

"Oh, well, it's just me then. Anyway, what was I saying? Oh yeah, um, I love this video game."

"Wonwoo, we were in the middle of choosing a card game to play."

"Fuck. Okay, sorry, just give me a minute, I need to go call… my mother."

"No worries, my guy, give Mrs. Jeon my greetings!"

Across the hall, you're busy watching over Mingyu as he makes his way around your kitchen. You say watching over because really, the man is so clumsy in his own feet, you wonder how he's lived this long. You have to make sure he doesn't cut a limb off every two seconds.

But then your phone buzzes urgently in your pocket and you pull it out, the light smile playing on your face falling when Wonwoo's name pops up on your screen. Now he texts you?

wonwoo: hey! you think we could talk?

You lock your screen almost as soon as you read the message because honestly, you don't have time to dwell over this man in your phone when there's a whole another person cooking you dinner in front of you. That's what ends up leaving a heartbroken Wonwoo, slumped on Joshua's couch as he barely zones into the movie that was playing on the screen.

Joshua's had it with sitting around when Wonwoo stays unmoving throughout the ending credits– the man hates the credits for crying out loud!-- and instead decides to play cupid. It wasn't ideal, having to set up his sister with his best friend but well, any commoner could see how clearly you were meant to be with each other and he'd rather not have to listen to both sides' misery.

It's okay timing, you've finished eating dinner with Mingyu, showering his food with compliments the whole time and flustering with your genuine shock at his abilities the whole night. He's helping you clean up with a cheeky grin on his face whenever he leans in a little too close to place a utensil back in its place and you let a smile overtake your face. But you can barely let yourself enjoy the date because if Wonwoo ill-timed text wasn't enough, you're done for when both him and Joshua show up at your door.

"What the fuck?" you ask your brother because you're positive you told him you had a date tonight and then you spot a spaced out Wonwoo next to him, and suddenly put two and two together.

Wonwoo's eyes never leave your figure, taking in how beautiful the blue dress you were wearing was and how you'd put your hair up in a half-bun, a few strands framing your face prettily. He feels sick, first in a good way and then Mingyu pops up behind you, and now Wonwoo's sick in a bad way. The tall man looks so comfortable next to you, arm brushing against yours as he raises his eyebrows in confusion at the two intruders.

"Sorry, Gyu, these are…" you start to introduce them as they are and then, find a particularly provoking way to put it, "...my brothers."

Wonwoo might actually throw up right here and right now. Gyu? Brothers???

Joshua butts in quickly, "Well, technically, I'm Y/N's older brother, and this is Wonwoo, my friend."

"Ohhh," Mingyu nods in understanding, bowing when he realizes Joshua's your sibling, "Nice to meet you. I'm Mingyu and I work with Y/N."

Before you know it, Joshua works his charms on Mingyu and suddenly, date night for two turns into family night for four. You watch in dismay as your date spends a full hour talking to your brother about one thing and another, actually considering setting them up for a minute. And then, Mingyu glances at his watch and sighs, telling you he needs to take off.

Joshua, devil incarnate, offers to walk Mingyu out and before you can protest, Mingyu accepts (????) and you watch helplessly as your brother leaves you alone with Wonwoo, narrowly missing the pointed look Joshua sends his best friend on his way out.

The room now silent with them gone, you stand up with a wary sigh, patting down your dress. Wonwoo's watching and you know because the first words he says that evening are, "You look beautiful tonight."

You hate how the heat creeps up your neck immediately at his beck and call. But you keep from telling him off because even that would mean you caving in.

But then he follows you to the kitchen, steps in tandem as you pretend to busy yourself with the dishes. The space between you is small though and you end up bumping into the man trying to reach for the fridge. He takes the chance and holds your wrist in his hand. "Hey," he breathes, "You won't even look at me?"

"No, I've seen enough."

"I'm assuming that includes the text I sent you tonight. And the ones before that?"

God, you hate how good Wonwoo is at frustrating you. You snap, "Don't act like this is on me, Wonwoo. You're the one who pretends like nothing's happened between us."

"Really? Because a lot's happened between us, Y/N. A lot of things that haven't happened with you and that Mingyu."

You scoff, brushing his hand off your wrist. "That is so typical of you. Coming around because you're jealous? But you can't stand to tell my brother something happened between us? What is this, a game to you?"

Wonwoo freezes when he considers what you've said. "Did Shua say something to you?"

You cross your arms, "No. I overheard you telling him. I can't believe it though. I really thought we had something good going for us."

You break away from the arm that Wonwoo raises to keep you close and throw yourself onto your couch with an exasperated sniffle. This couch sure has seen a lot, you think wistfully, silently listening as Wonwoo's footsteps came closer. He's sitting next to you then, hesitant arm around you.

"I'm sorry, Y/N, I'm really sorry. What you heard was… me being an idiot. I wasn't ready to talk about it with Shua so soon. I meant everything happened so fast. I hadn't exactly planned on falling for my best friend's sister, you know? Or kissing her in her apartment either. But it happened and I'm so glad it did. I was just slow at processing it. I'm sorry."

You groan. "It's not completely your fault, I guess. I just wish you would've talked to me about it. I felt so alone the whole time."

Suddenly Wonwoo's moving up from next to you and dropping onto his knees so that you're now meeting his eyes. He looks concerned, mouth ajar as he takes your hands in his. "Are you with Mingyu?"

You let out a sound of disbelief, "No! I'm– I just called him over because I was mad at you! I thought you thought it was a mistake so I…"

"I don't. And I never did. I'm just scared. But I shouldn't have made that your problem. I love hanging out with you though and I especially love kissing you. It would be great if you'd let me take you out on a date instead, please?"

And in that moment with Wonwoo on his knees in front of you, looking at you like you'd just told him he would live forever, you don't think you could do anything but say yes.

–

"You think we're a cliché?!"

You flinch at Wonwoo's shocked question after you'd revealed to him the mental list of clichés that you embodied in your relationship with him. He's nearly seething when he finds out you're not joking.

"Y/N, you know that's the meanest thing you could ever say to me? Am I really that bad a boyfriend?"

"Woo, my love, will you calm down?" you take one of his hands in yours, "I don't think clichés are as bad as you think they are. They're cliché for a reason! It's because they're meant to be done over and over again. They're tried and true."

"Tried and trite, more like."

"Come on, Woo, you can't act like you don't see it! From the very beginning!"

He takes a lick at his gelato and you smile when you see him softening a little. You stop walking and stand in his way, barely concerned about the strangers littering the small ice-cream shop when you press a kiss to his lips. "I love you," you mumble against his ice-cold mouth. He shoots you a look that informs you that he knows what you're doing but he shoots back, " I love you, too."

"And love itself is cliché, don't you think?"

Wonwoo closes his eyes as if in physical pain while you uncontrollably laugh. "I knew I shouldn't have fallen for that! You're trying to make me cry in public, aren't you?"

"Aww, it's okay to cry, Woo, baby. Emotions are only natural–"

"I'm calling Shua and asking him to pick you up. I'm leaving."

"Okay, I went too far. Don't make me commute with my brother, I beg you."

–

"Love, you ready to go?" you hear Wonwoo ask from the living room. You'd banished him to the couch after he'd made it his life mission to get in your way while you tried to get ready for your date. Well, double date actually. Karina was visiting you on break with her boyfriend, Taeyong, and she'd asked if you'd be down to get dinner with them. You had never agreed to dinner plans faster.

"I am," you call back, just as you smear on lipstick, checking your teeth for any missed food particles for good measure. "Can I come in now?"

You can see Wonwoo's silhouette at the door, gingerly watching you from the back for confirmation. You melt with a soft smile, beckoning him in, "Yes. Your exile's over."

Wonwoo celebrates with an exaggerated fist pump and you laugh at his antics when he skips over excitedly. "I'm a free man," he murmurs as his hands naturally slide down your arms to find your fingers. He twirls you around, admiring the black dress you broke out for the ocassion. "You look gorgeous," he says with a kiss to your cheeks.

"Are you quoting Taylor Swift at me?" you ask him with a giggle.

"Who's that?" he questions with a poorly feigned frown of confusion. You roll your eyes but open your arms invitingly, "Will you hug me?"

Hugging had gradually become your favorite part of your skinship with Wonwoo, even more so than kissing, because the way he would shoot you a loving smile before wrapping his arms around and swallowing you into a world of cozy and comfort… yeah, you don't think anything could compare easily. Sometimes, he would hum happily, the vibrations would only soothing you into the embrace further and often your boyfriend had to peel you off him so you could actually get on with your day.

Today, he lets you cling on longer than usual (he likes to say he's rationing his hugs. You tell him he's just a big tease), probably because he's busy relishing in being overwhelmed by your scent and the little kisses you sprinkle across his exposed neck. When he pulls away, you don't complain like normal, instead revealing the stars in your eyes to him. "You're warm. I love this sweater of yours."

It was the same navy sweater that had you sweating over Wonwoo back when you were still going back and forth with your feelings for each other. He chuckles in amusement and then steps away without warning, earning a whine from you. But then he tugs the sweater off and your expressions turns playful.

"Woo," you start warningly, "you know we're meeting them at the restaurant by nine–"

You're stopped mid-sentence when Wonwoo straightens out his garment and commands out, "Raise your arms for me, baby?"

But this is not his bedroom voice, no, no. This is his sappy voice and you already know what he's doing when he pulls the sweater over your head and down your torso. "It looks cute," Wonwoo comments by the time you have the sleeves pulled down properly.

"You know I hate that word, Woo," you complain but he doesn't let you, pecking your forehead. You sigh in defeat and admire the sweater in the mirror, the fabric sitting surprisingly well against the skirt of your dress. You shrug, "I suppose I can work with this new outfit."

"If not, I can always just take it off for you–"

"Okay, we're leaving before you say another word!"

Wonwoo laughs as he lets you pull him out after you, out the living room and into the hallway. He stands next to you, hands in his pocket while he waits for you to lock the door and glances at Joshua's door, wondering what his best friend was up to. You don't give a chance to do something about it though because your hands back on his arm in no time – and he swears you touch his arm for reasons beyond appropriate but you'd rather die than admit to it– and walk into the night.

You meet Karina at a place called Love in the Air and Wonwoo's had listen to you go on, super smug, about how beautifully cliché the name and ambience of the restaurant is. Each dish has a romantic origin, like the shall I compare thee to a summer's day cocktail that Karina and Taeyong share, down to the lipstick-shaped bottles of wine served to your table. And as much as Wonwoo pretends to hate the cliché of love, he still orders the matching Valentine's soup as you just so you can watch his order come out in surprise.

And as much as Wonwoo pretends he doesn't love the cliché of love, when you lean into his arm at the end of the night, already dozing off when he runs his fingers through your scalp, he can't help but let his heart soar with affection for you. And he thinks he would, after all, be in a cliché if it means to end up in your arms night after night.

AUTHOR'S NOTE:

hiii oh my god why is this fic actually long!!! i wrote in like a day too so i'm just confused... it was 3k a minute and then 29 pages the other?? that's just wonwoo magic or smth i guess... this was requested and i hope the anon who asked for this enjoys it!!! writing it made a lil sick because of how sappy it is but ... it is what it is.

and consider this me admitting that i wouldn't mind having joshua be my brother... and that's just the flavor of parasocial relationship i'm dealing with these days lol

as always: lots of love to all friends and foes !!

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heyditseeey · 2 years ago

Text

not a single dandelion ; johnny suh

pairing: johnny suh x fem! reader genre: childhood best friends to lovers ; fluff, a hint of angst, coming of age word count: 5k listen to: dandelions - ruth b. warnings: mentions of alcohol and partying a/n: happy bday vicky, i love you <3 this is my little gift haha @delicatewerewolfsoul

johnny suh has always been your whole entire sun, moon and all of the stars above. wishing for his feelings to finally be reciprocated is no use as you repeat the same ritual every year - not a single dandelion is on your side when you ask the solemn question and blow on the seeds, watching them fly away with your passing youth. years go by, yet, the question is still the same- does johnny suh finally love you back?

i.i THE SUN

Fifteen and in love for the first time, heart hurting and your eyes full of tears; you don’t think you’ll ever stop crying. Frankly speaking, you think your life is ruined just as much as your self-esteem is. The ache in your insides is physically wrenching with your soul, making you feel like you lost a piece of yourself in the flowing wind, when a figure dressed in casual clothes holds your hand to stop your movement, and crouches in front of you. Curiously watching your best friend, you realize he’s tying your shoelaces, precise movements turning the white fabric into a knot.

You haven’t even noticed your shoelace getting undone. Everything around you goes by like a blur– your shoes are the last things you care about when your heart aches so much. You’re only fifteen and you feel like your whole world is ending.

Once he’s done, he taps your ankle just the slightest– take it as a small act of encouragement. He stands up and walks alongside you again, leading you to somewhere and nowhere at all. Perhaps the heated streets are meant to distract you from your heartbreak. You don’t think it’s working quite well.

“Will you beat him up for me?” you ask, sniffling a laugh when he shakes his head in disbelief and hugs you around the shoulders.

“I mean… I wasn’t really planning on doing that, but if you really want me to, I guess I could make an exception…” he says, a joking manner filling up his voice as he stares at the crown of your head from above, ruffling your hair, “he’ll catch those hands for ever messing with my amazing best friend.”

“He deserves his ass kicked. I waited for an hour, Johnny. An hour,” you sniffle, shaking your head. Getting stood up on your date– your first date, to be exact, is nothing a girl wants to go through when she’s fifteen and so, so in love. “He said he’d call. But he never did and then- then he-”

“I know, I know,” he cuts you off, not wanting you to cry harder, because just the hint of you choking on your words is a big, fat red exclamation mark.

Johnny didn’t want to be unnecessarily annoying and ramble about how he told you so, because realistically speaking, he was the first and only one that kept telling you just how much of an asshole your newest crush is. He’s been trying to change your mind about the accepted date invitation to the last minute; but the noisy jab stays locked in his mouth, unspoken, as he hears another one of your sniffles, sighing.

“You were right,” you mumble. Here we go, then, he thinks- it’s good to know you finally acknowledge his good eye for people. He always wants what’s the best for you, right? You should’ve just trusted his opinion.

“Well,” he starts, the urge to rub it in your face instantly gone when he sees your glossy eyes staring at him from under his chin, “at least you tried. It’s okay, because you never really know unless you don’t try. Who knows, I could have been wrong and he could have been a really good guy for you. But still, you can learn from this, and that’s important.”

You hum in agreement, feeling his hand rubbing the crown of your head- efficiently messing up your hair in the process– which is something you hate with burning passion, but won’t mention right now. You watch him as he quickly strides off into the distance and makes you wait at the corner of the street. People passing you by make the whole wait even more embarrassing, as you’re sure you have mascara running down your cheeks and you look like you just went through the worst break-up of your life, but the presence of your best friend is once again your comfort as his tall figure shields you from the crowd and nudges an ice cream cone into your hand a few minutes later.

Feeling electricity run through your veins at the contact, meeting Johnny’s eyes and smiling; the world suddenly feels more cheerful than before. You’re not sure if it’s the ice cream on your tongue or the encouraging smile of your best friend in front of you, but you decide you want a boy like Johnny in your life.

A boy that would wipe away your tears and cheer you up when you need it the most. A boy that would go meet you immediately when you call him– no excuses and broken promises.

What you don’t realize at that very moment, though, is that if you want a boy exactly like Johnny, the only option is… Johnny. Because no one could quite beat him.

i.ii maybe it's the way you play your game

Sitting in a field of yellow, the dandelions around you almost blind you with their glowing rey. The sun shining down on you feels hot on your skin, falling to your body with heated kisses to your shoulders. You don’t even notice the sweat forming on your forehead, not even the shade under the big maple tree not serving you any help; you’re too busy typing away on your phone to realize that your best friend is peering at your screen over your shoulder.

“Who are you texting? I think I just saw a heart emoji,” he says, quirking up a questioning eyebrow at you as you sit a little further away from him, locking your phone so he doesn’t see. You throw a subtle glare at him for not giving you privacy, but wipe that frown away from your face as soon as you meet his eyes.

“No one,” you dote, peeping like a scared mouse. Something inside of you lights up like a fuel when you think your best friend might just be jealous of the one you’re sending yellow hearts to in your whatsapp chat. The ray of sunshine on your skin feels even hotter as your skin burns up with the thought of the message he almost read on your phone screen– not that you care about Mark from your Biology class that much, he’s just your friend you met through a shared project, after all.

“Because I don’t wanna see you texting that asshole from before,” he says, clicking his tongue, “you better not be wasting time on idiots, or else I’ll really whip out the good old ‘told you so’ when I drag you home crying the next time,” the tone of his voice is almost scolding, looking after you like any good friend would while instantly blowing down the happy bubble you had around your brain when you thought it’s going somewhere where it’s, obviously, not.

Johnny Suh could never be jealous of a boy you’re texting– he just wants to see you smile.

“It was just Mark anyway,” you say, sighing, “so you don’t have to worry,” you complete, tone of voice almost defeated, as if you were missing out on something you so dearly desired.

“Say hi to him from me,” he grins, “he should tag along some time. You two seem close.”

Johnny Suh could never be jealous. Not of Mark anyway– that boy is too kindhearted to ever break your heart. The two of them are in the same classes and you hang out with him every time Johnny doesn’t have time. Maybe you should have chosen a different name to see his reaction…

“Hmm,” you nod, “maybe one day.”

He puts his head on your shoulder, gazing off into the distance. “Do you still want me to kick the ass of that guy that broke your heart all those weeks ago?” he asks, voice soft and playful.

The irony of your feelings settling for someone else– someone so close to you he doesn’t even notice it in the first place, makes you chuckle. It’s kind of funny how those feelings you had for Yoon Jonghan from your English class are now so carefully thrown onto another person– you almost forgot how he stood you up for another girl last month. You’re only 15 and foolish. You’ll have time to regret it later.

“I’m over it already, don’t worry,” you mutter, “there’s plenty of fish in the sea.”

“Hmm,” he hums, picking a single yellow dandelion from the grass to his right, twirling it between his fingers and offering it to you. Your eyes meet as he smiles when you take the flower into your hand and play with it the same way he did a few seconds ago. “Good. You should only settle for a guy that treats you just as right as I do, okay?”

With a weird feeling in your stomach, you only nod, scoffing. “Of course.”

ii.i THE MOON

Looking at the moon shining down on you, you sit at the front porch of your house only a few hours before the midnight. The lonely luna reminds you of the dandelion calmly resting in your hand; its head now white, as if it has grown old and it was its time to leave. A legend says that if you blow on a white dandelion head and all of the seeds scatter away, then you are well loved by the one that your heart desires. If some of the seeds still cling to the stalk, then your loved one has reservations about the feelings that you feel. You always found this legend at least a little romantic, yet, you never had the courage to try it out yourself. The fear of disappointment is bigger than the thrill.

Sighing, shaking your head and looking down at the flower in your hand, you decide to blow on it for the first time in your life– but something inside of you already knows that it’s gonna say exactly the opposite of what you want anyway. Taking a shaky breath in, you close your eyes and blow on the sad flower in the dark, silently repeating four words in your head that somehow remind you of a curse like a broken mantra; please love me back, please love me back, please love me back…

You almost don’t open your eyes in fear of what you’re going to see. You do it anyway, alone and feeling almost nostalgic, looking at the head of the dandelion being almost empty– but still carrying a few lost seeds. They laugh you in the face, making fun of you and your feelings for your best friend. You realize it’s perhaps a little silly, but it feels as if your heart was being taken out of your chest, as if all the years you’ve spent together were all a funny lie.

Johnny Suh could never love you back– and you can’t blame him. He’s seen you at your worst, after all. He saw you when you embarrassed yourself in front of everyone at your freshman prom, the heel of your shoe breaking as you fell face first to the ground in the spacious auditorium. He saw you crying so much that snot was running down your nose when your childhood cat ran away, he saw you when you were anxious so much to the point you’d bitten your nails to blood, hissing at the pain when he tried to hold your hand to calm you down.

There’s no way he could have loved you after all of that. He’s smart. He wouldn’t put himself through that much trouble.

The few, lonely seeds sitting at the white head of the dandelion remind you of the loneliness you feel inside. Johnny isn’t sitting by your side like he always used to be during those sad nights, talking your feelings out and making sure you fall asleep soundly after he leaves. He’s not there to hold you tight when you complain about your mother and cry about missed assignments anymore.

You’re eighteen and you feel like your whole world is ending.

Johnny doesn’t love you back– and it’s no surprise, really. And how could you ever think he would? Silly you. Wishing on a dandelion while he’s on a date with another girl.

ii.ii I've never dreamed of nobody like you

Laying in your bed, nose stuffed and the medicine left on your bedside table. This is how Johnny finds you after the whole day, making sure you are okay. College is a difficult time, and while you had your mum to take care of you when you were sick while you lived back home, your college dorms are just too far away for her to know if you have a fever or if you need warm soup.

That’s when Johnny comes in– being the human personification of your guardian angel, or so it seems.

Your best friend was always one of the caring ones. While he made sure to laugh at your weirdly sounding sneezes the whole day and fakely gagged when he had to throw out your wet tissues to your trash can at the other side of the small room, you knew he did it all with love. And maybe a little bit of salt– and you don’t blame him, the snot-covered tissues really aren’t the best thing to touch after two long Business lectures, but that’s what he gets for caring so much.

“Thanks, Johnny,” you mumble, staring at him with glossy eyes. You’re too tired to try to hide the lovesick gaze filling your orbs, but he is too oblivious to notice it anyway. You’ve noticed that after long years of yearning, and while everyone else around you knew that you were pretty much in love with your best friend, he himself, although he claimed to be smart, never figured it out.

“Anything for you,” he says matter-of-factly, putting on his warmest jacket and going over to your bed to flick your forehead, prepared to leave and get some sleep. It’s late, after all, and he can’t sleep over in your dorm room. “You’re like my sister, after all.”

A low snicker leaves your mouth at that, nodding. “Yeah. Exactly.”

You watch the man leave your room, completely unaware of how much his words affected your poor, small heart. You’re twenty now. It’s been years.

Maybe you should finally move on.

ii.iii I've heard of a love that comes once in a lifetime

Not a single dandelion is able to make him love you back. No matter how much you blow on it and wish to find the seeds flying away with the wind, leaving you with an empty stem in your hands, they just keep on sticking to the very top, the white head reminding you of the moon you watch on dark evenings like these, when everything seems so okay, but so messed up at the same time.

“What do you wanna listen to?” he asks you, playing with the radio of his car with one hand and driving with the other, but still paying attention to the road.

“Anything. I don’t care,” you mumble, watching the scenery behind the windows change in the dark. The lampposts blur your vision as you pass them by and let reality take you away into another world. It’s been a long, stressful week at college and while you only wanted to sleep, Johnny took it upon himself to take you out somewhere to destress first.

The speakers suddenly play your favorite song, a hint of a smile creeping up your cheeks when you realize Johnny purposely played a tune so dear to your heart, even though he made sure to tease you how you only listen to underground artists to seem cool in front of the campus kids when you showed him your new favorite song the other day.

Driving through a tunnel, there’s a hint of orange sitting on his cheeks that almost makes you want to reach over and take his face into your hands, examining the features you know by heart by now. How could you not– you dream of them almost every night. Sometimes, you wish you wouldn’t wake up. You like it better there, with him.

“Is it far?” you ask, snapping back to reality. “I’m bored,” you say, hearing him snicker.

“I even put your favorite music on! Stop being a baby and just trust the process,” he says, rolling his eyes at you and playfully slapping your thigh, making you laugh.

His touch on your skin remains.

The car finally gets to its final destination. A starry hill away from the city invites you to its silence, the chaos and the stress long forgotten as you stare at all the faceless homes under you. Getting out of the car and sitting on the trunk, you feel your best friend’s presence appearing when he takes his place next to you and leans on his own car. It’s beaten-up and old– it’s second hand, so no wonder, but it’s enough for him. He’s a broke college student, there’s only so much he can afford with the money he gets from his work at the nearby café. You would even say the car suits him. You always thought Johnny had kind of an old soul.

Or perhaps, he was always just the more mature one between the two of you.

“Is this where you take all your dates nowadays?” you joke, looking at him in the moonlight. The white glow on his skin makes his features stand out, his eyes gleam with broken galaxies in them. You could stare at him for hours and you wouldn’t ever get bored.

You don’t think he ever looked more beautiful.

A smirk appears on his face, almost mocking you for your noisy question. You don’t think he knows the real reason behind it, though– he’s unaware of your hidden jealousy and bitterness that coats your heart any time you see a girl from your campus tag his account on her Instagram story late at night, when you study for your exams in your dorm room.

He shakes his head, playfully nudging you with his hip.

“Only the best ones.”

iii.i THE STARS

You feel fingers drumming against the skin of your naked calf, the casual rhythm almost lullying you to sleep. A quiet hum escapes Johnny’s mouth as he carries you home on his back, your hands snuggly wrapped around his neck. Your heels are in your grasp and you are pretty sure you feel your purse bumping you into your asscheeks as it’s carelessly thrown over your neck and out of the way.

“Parties aren’t good for you, honey. Maybe you shouldn’t go again,” he mumbles when he halts in his steps and secures you on his back, hostling you higher. His steady steps show that you’re not as heavy as you sometimes think you are– or maybe he’s just strong. Who knows… (judging by the time he spends at the gym, you think it must be the second option. Oh well…)

“But I like to party,” you mumble, pouting. Another sigh escapes the man’s lips as he shakes his head in disbelief, his soft hair tickling your cheek when you settle your head into the crook of his neck from behind.

“But you’re bad at handling alcohol, sweetie. One day, you’ll puke on that guy’s white cashmere carpet in the living room and he’ll have you pay for it. And do you want that? Hm?” he asks, the scolding tone ever so present in his voice. It reminds you of the time when he talked to you about dating bad guys and getting lied to by rude girls in middle school. It’s like looking out for you, but acting just a little bit like your dad by making you look out for yourself so it doesn’t happen again.

“I’m pretty sure it’s not cashmere, Johnny…” you doze off, making him huff under you.

“Well, who cares. I bet it’s expensive. And you’re broke,” he emphasizes, making a breathy chuckle leave your mouth. If you really think about it, he’s right. He always is…

“Okay, fine… I won’t- I won’t drink again,” you hiccup, yawning, “but it’s nice to get piggy back rides home from you from time to time,” you grin, a teasing tone seeping through your words.

“If you really wanted me to carry you around, you could have just asked,” he clicks his tongue against the roof of his mouth, “you don’t have to ruin your liver for that, honey.”

“Don’t call me honey,” you pout. Johnny is big on nicknames. If it’s anything close to being a little cringey, he absolutely adores to call you that. You’ve learned to get used to sugarbum, sweetie-pie and sexy pants over time, but that’s when you’re sober. When you’re under the influence of alcohol, you can’t quite control your emotions that well.

“Why?” he asks with the same amount of pout in his voice, making you giggle.

“Because- oh look at that!” you gasp in the middle of your sentence, making your companion jump up a little when you shriek into his ear.

“What?”

“There!” you point your finger into the distance, the area under the lamppost illuminating the short grass. Your heels dangle from your hand when Johnny brings your arm lower so you don’t poke out his eye with your shoe.

You can almost hear the confusion in his voice. “What is there?”

“The dandelion!” you yell out, so excited it’s almost concerning. “Pick it for me?” you pout.

And Johnny does just that– he crouches a little with an over-exaggerated sigh, of course, and picks up the lonely white dandelion under the lamp. Once he brings it to your hand and finds you twirling it around in your grasp, he only scoffs as he puts you down– much to your dismay, because you’re bare-foot and drunk, to take out the keys from your purse and unlocks the front door of your apartment complex.

You haven’t even noticed you were home.

When the door is open, he wastes no time in holding you by your hand and walking you inside. The ride up the elevator passes by like a dream when he drops you off in front of your flat, brushing your hair back with his fingers.

“Drink some water and sleep on your side, okay?” he orders, seeing you nod. It’s not the first time you’ve been drunk– and while you can’t quite walk straight, Johnny knows you can take care of yourself well once you’re home safe and sound.

“Good night sweetie,” he smiles. He’s almost back in the elevator, ready to go back down, when you reach for his hand and stop him.

“Hm?” he asks, furrowing his eyebrows.

You open your mouth and bring the dandelion in front of your lips, blowing on it. Johnny watches you with a soft look in his eyes, your own eyes closed shut as you repeat the same four words in your brain since you were fifteen. Opening your eyes, you squint to see the dandelion almost empty.

Still, there’s a single white seed sitting soundly on top of your dandelion, making your wish unfulfilled.

“Sleep well,” he smiles, reaching over and planting a quick kiss on your cheek.

Watching him leave, you sigh. It’s okay. You’ll try again next time.

iii.ii and I'm pretty sure that you are that love of mine

It’s been ages since you were back in the town where you grew up in. The flowers around you smell like your childhood and make you smile when you feel the familiar caress of the sun on your shoulders. You just graduated, deciding to spend a few months back at home before you look for a job somewhere else. It’s not that you hate your hometown– you just like the idea of a big city where you could get lost in much better.

The field of dandelions reminds you of Johnny. Even now, he’s sitting next to you. Never once did you lose him in the journey of growing up. He’s always been by your side.

Maybe that’s what’s so hard about letting you move on. Once you think you finally have the courage to let your feelings go, you look at him and feel the same comfort you always have.

That’s the thing– loving Johnny is easy. However tragic it may sound, you never once regretted it. Your heart chose him when you were 15 and you never once scolded it for settling on your best friend. If you could have a re-do, you’d do everything just the same so you could end up with him here, like this. You’re okay with the idea of just loving him, no strings attached, no hard feelings, no heartbreak and no regrets.

His eyes are gently closed in the sunlight, the maple tree over the two of you shielding him just the slightest. You think he’s taking a nap. A smile creeps onto your cheeks as you watch his frown slowly go away, the curve of his lips reminding you of a curious cat. His eyelashes kiss his cheekbones. You think he feels you staring at him– he shifts just a little, finding a better spot in the grass. Sighing, you turn to look around.

You’re both adults now. But your lives are just as intertwined as the roots of the tree above you.

Finding a lost dandelion only a few meters to your left, you can’t hold yourself back. Picking the flower, you twirl it in between your fingers. It reminds you of your youth. Somewhere along the way, it became your favorite flower– it’s always been your closest companion, after all.

The smiling yellow dandelion was with you on sunny days of summer. The white, puffy dandelions were always with you in late summer, scattered all around the fields and parks at your college campus. You could perhaps say that the flower is quite celestial– the yellow head representing the sun, the white one the moon, and the seeds scattering in the wind are the stars lonely sitting in the darkness of the night.

You could call Johnny everything and that. Your sun, moon, and all the stars above. He’s your everything. Maybe you’re just a little cliche.

It’s alright. You’ve always been a hopeless romantic.

Opening your mouth and closing your eyes shut, you try for the last time. You tell yourself that you’re old enough now to stop dreaming– old enough to stop wishing on a hopeless flower in the dandelion field. A weak spark of hope lights itself up in your insides when you blow on it, but it dies a few seconds later, when a frown finds its way back onto your face after you open your eyes and find the white seeds all sitting on the stem, peaceful as ever.

“Why do you rely on that flower so much anyway?” Johnny suddenly asks from beside you, startling you.

Shrugging, you reply. “I don’t know. It’s just something that stayed with me from childhood. If the seeds all fly away, the one I love loves me back. And if they don’t…” you trail off, feeling a little silly.

“Hmm,” he hums, sitting up beside you and glancing at your face. You suddenly feel shy, already knowing what he’ll ask next.

“And who is it that you love?”

“Well…” you chuckle, averting his gaze. You feel your cheeks heating up from shyness, chewing on your bottom lip. You could lie to him and say just whoever. Or you could perhaps say you don’t love anyone– that’s why the seeds always stay on top of the stem, laughing in your face. Or you could… you could just tell him the truth. And own up to it, after all those years.

“You,” you peep, glancing at him from under your eyelashes. Your whole posture is stern, frozen in its place despite the warmness of the sun shining down on your face. Waiting for him to reject you, you grow weak, almost letting the flower fall onto the ground, when your best friend catches it and grins.

Opening his mouth and blowing on it as hard as he can, you watch all the seeds scatter away like shooting stars. Johnny then shrugs, throwing the empty stem to the grass next to him.

“Well, the flower confirmed it, so I have to trust you now…” he teases, making you roll your eyes and playfully nudge him with your foot.

“Oh, shut up-”

“And since it’s stubborn and doesn’t want you to know when you try it, you’ll just have to trust me when I tell you that I love you back,” he shrugs, the nonchalance of him almost making his confession fly over your head.

“Johnny-”

“What? Not what you wanted to hear?” he asks, his grin only widening. “Well, if you don’t trust me, I’m ready to find even a hundred of those stupid dandelions and you better blow hard enough to make the seeds fly away, okay?” he says, standing up from his position and gazing into the dandelion field, eyes scattering to find some to bring to you.

“Johnny…” you grin and shake your head in disbelief, tugging him down by his hand and smiling at his face.

And when you watch him observe you so lovingly, the glint in his eye just as playful as when you were both fifteen, you realize one thing– he always had you, and you always had him.

Not a single dandelion could make your love go away.

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