iamdkayyyyy

[iamdkayyyyy]

EYES OFF OF YOU — CHAPTER FiFTEEN

SYNOPSIS :: Seokmin was desperate to find the perfect model to pair up with his friend for his upcoming project, and he found you.

📝. word count: 2k words ‼️. warnings: slightly suggestive, mention of reader taking off her shirt (wearing a bra underneath)

“Alone again?” You sat down next to Seokmin. “I’m starting to think you didn’t like the idea of being here.”

 Seokmin chuckled and turned his head to look at you. He was hugging his legs and his cheek was pressed against his knees. It was such a cute sight, and the small, yet so beautiful, smile on his face made your heart skip a beat.

“This time I was alone on purpose.”

“Is it because of your social battery?”

“Nah,” he shook his head. “Because I knew you would come.”

 “And how did you know that?” You felt your cheeks heating up. “Am I that predictable?”

 “Sometimes you are, and I thank God for that.”

 “Shut up.” That was all you could say, and you felt like killing yourself in your mind when he nodded and looked at the ocean.

 Seokmin really kept his mouth shut for a moment, just enjoying the view of the ocean at night. The beach had no one but you and that made him feel like you two owned the beach, like you could rule the world.

 “Hey, Y/Nnie, do you wanna do something crazy?”

 You remembered those words – the same words you said to him when you went out to celebrate his A+ on his project; your lips curled up into a smile on their own and you hummed.

 “What do you have in mind?”

 “Let’s swim.” He nodded towards the ocean.

 “What about your ear infection?”

 “Someone special bought a pair of earplugs and I’ll be careful,” Seokmin smiled as he took the earplugs out of his pocket and put them on. “So, you in?”

 “I’m sure this person is amaz- wait, I never said I bought them for you.”

 “You didn’t have to,” he stood up and started to take off his shirt. And suddenly, you forgot how to breathe. He revealed his toned chest to you like it was nothing – little did you know he was so shy to the point that his whole face was as red as a tomato, thankfully you couldn’t see it because of the lack of light. “It was quite obvious and Jeonghan told me during dinner.”

 “That little fucker…” you scoffed and looked away for a second before looking back at him, checking him out discreetly as he looked down at you, waiting for your next move. “I’m not wearing my bikini anymore.”

 “You can get in with your clothes on if you want to, or we can forget about this and just sit here and waste some time.”

 You nodded and kept looking at him. Sure, you weren’t wearing a bikini anymore, but you were wearing a bra and it’s somehow almost the same thing, isn’t it? With a sigh, your hands found their way to the hem of your shirt and you started to take it off.

 Seokmin immediately looked away and cleared his throat. “W-what are you doing?”

 “It’s okay, you can look. I’m wearing a bra.”

 “I don’t know, it doesn’t feel right.”

 You chuckled and stood up, standing right in front of him. “Seokmin, I’m telling you that you can look, or are you going to stay the rest of the night with your eyes closed or not looking at me?”

 Seokmin swallowed hard and slowly looked at you, his eyes landing at your figure. The sight of you only with a bra and shorts felt so intimate to him that he lost his words and was struggling with how to act or where to look. He didn’t want you to think he was a pervert, but in the same way your eyes always ended up flickering in his face and his chest, his eyes were all over your body, as if trying to take a picture of it in order to never forget how you look.

 “I- uh.. Ladies first.”

 “Thank you.” You smiled and started to walk towards the ocean. Seokmin followed you right behind while taking mental notes on how to act and the things he could say or do next.

 “The water’s warm, it’s really good!”

 “You’re right!”

 You began to swim, but Seokmin just stood still and watched you, his feet still touching the sand. At that point, he wasn’t even trying (not that he could) to hide the fact that he’s enamored by you. He was looking at you like you were a goddess and the most precious thing in this entire world, because it was true for him.

 When you noticed you were the only one swimming, you swam back to Seokmin and stood in front of him. “Why aren’t you swimming?”

 He smiled. That cute little smile followed by the dimple on his chin and shiny eyes looking directly at you that could melt your heart right away.

“I don’t feel like swimming anymore, but I’m enjoying the feeling of the water on me so I’ll just stay here and watch you swim.”

 The moonlight hit his face and he looked surreal, straight out of a little girl’s dream about the perfect prince. It showed you everything you wanted to see, every single detail. Your hand went to his cheek, cupping it while your thumb brushed against the scar on his cheek.

“What happened here?”

 Seokmin’s eyes widened slightly at the sudden contact and it took all of his strength to not lean into your touch. “M-my scar? I don’t really remember that much about it, all I can tell is that I got it from fighting with my friend when I was a little kid. I don’t remember the reason why we were fighting or how it ended.”

 You hummed and started to caress his cheek while looking at his face, studying every mole, noticing how charming his pointy nose looked and how cute his bunny teeth were peeking out from his parted lips. Meanwhile, Seokmin finally gave up and leaned into your touch while also looking at your face. Instead of cupping your cheeks, his hands went to your wet hair, fixing it.

“What? Does my hair look like a mess?”

 “A little bit, but it’s cute.”

 “Is everything cute to you? First you say I look like a cute ghost, now my hair must be looking like a nest and you say it’s cute?”

 “It’s probably because everything about you looks cute to me.”

 You had lost your words, and suddenly all you could think about was to close the distance between you two. “You can’t just say stuff like that.”

 “Why can’t I?” He placed his hands on your shoulders and brushed his thumbs against your skin and took a step towards you. “Will you do something about it?”

 “Maybe I will, maybe I won’t. Why don’t you find out?”

 “Actually, I want to find out about something else.” His voice came out almost as a whisper. He was getting bolder and bolder, and he didn’t even know how he was being so brave to the point of flirting with you so confidently.

 “And what is it?”

 “I want to know how you’d react if I kissed you, can I?” He bit his lip and ran his hands over your arms. When you nodded, his lip-bite grew into a big smile before his facial expression turned into a serious one as he leaned towards you. His hands found yours and he squeezed them before closing his eyes and the distance between you, his lips pressing against your gently.

 As you squeezed his hands back before breaking their contact to wrap your arms around his neck, Seokmin tilted his head to deepen the kiss and wrapped his arms around your waist, pressing your body against his in response.

 Everything around you seemed to pause and it felt like there was only you and him in the entire world. You found yourself lost in pleasure and excitement as you kissed Seokmin back with the same intensity as he was kissing you.

He tried his best to not rush the kiss and not seem like a desperate man, but there was one thing he couldn’t hide – his happiness. Seokmin couldn’t stop smiling against your lips and then getting back to kiss you.

 When you broke the kiss, both of you were trying to catch their breath, but Seokmin’s smile didn’t disappear. He just kept smiling and holding you.

 “Now you know how I would react if you kissed me.”

 “That’s true,” he chuckled. “And I loved to get to know that.” He pecked your lips a couple times before throwing his head back with a huge heart shaped smile planted on his lips and taking a hand to his face, covering his eyes.

 “What?” You laughed and placed your hand on his wrist, removing his hand from his face. “Are you that happy that you kissed me?”

 “You have no idea how much happy I am right now. I feel like flying.”

 “Gosh, you’re so ridiculous. It’s making me want to kiss you again.”

 “Please, ma’am, do it. Why would you only want it if you can just do it?”

 You chuckled and kissed him. Seokmin immediately kissed you back, cupping your face and tilting his head, his nose brushing against your skin.

 Your hand gripped on his hair as you pressed yourself against him. Seokmin smiled against your lips just like the first time you kissed and his right hand traveled to your body until it reached your waist, squeezing it and making you squirm in response.

 This time, you broke the kiss before losing your breath because you could’ve sworn you heard someone shouting Seokmin’s name.

 “Did you hear it?”

 “Was someone calling out my name?”

 “Lee Seokmin~~! Where are you~~?” 

 “Soonyoung, keep it quiet! Let’s get back inside!”

 Seokmin groaned when he heard Soonyoung and Seungkwan’s shouts. “You have got to be kidding me…” he looked back at you with an apologetic pout. “I’m sorry, I bet he’s drunk.”

 You could only laugh at the moment, but if you said you weren’t annoyed that his friends ruined the moment, you’d be lying.

“Looks like your friend loves you very much.”

“He tends to get all clingy when he gets drunk.”

“Seokmin-ah~! Let’s drink together! Where are you?!”

“Can I?” He nodded towards the sand.

“Of course, I should go too and find my friends.”

 He gave you a small and sad smile and mouthed a let’s go. You nodded and started to swim back to the sand while he walked behind you.

“Seokmin-ah!”

“Yah! I’m coming! Enough with the shouting!”

 You chuckled as you put your shirt on, not caring that it was clinging on your skin.

 “So,” he cleared his throat while putting on his shirt as well. “Are we walking out together or are we hiding this?”

 “I don’t know,” you shrugged your shoulders. “I mean, it’s only Soonyoung and Seungkwan. You told me before that they're your best friends, right? I don’t mind them finding me beside you.”

 Seokmin nodded and started to walk with you. When Soonyoung’s eyes landed on Seokmin’s dark figure, he gasped and ran towards him, not even stopping to make sure it was really his best friend or some random man.

 “You’re wet, why are you wet?” Soonyoung’s words came out loudly and sloppily as he hugged Seokmin.

 “I was swimming.”

 Soonyoung paid no attention to you, but Seungkwan noticed you as soon as he got closer and made sure that the girl beside Seokmin was really you. He gave you and Seokmin a knowing look before clearing his throat. “Y/N, why don’t you go first and we stay here for a while? I bet the girls are looking for you.”

 You nodded and looked at Seokmin, giving him a small smile before walking away.

 Once you got back at the house, you found your friends and Seokmin’s friends gathered at the living room drinking, some of them talking, others playing some random games and Chan and Jihoon finding a song to sing on the karaoke machine.

 When Yuki looked at the front door and saw you, she sighed. “Girl, we were looking for you!”

 Seoyoung ran towards you and grabbed your hand. “Girls’ talk. Now!”

 She started to walk towards the stairs that lead towards the second floor while Yuki and Sujin followed behind with drinks and snacks in their hands.

 You didn’t even have time to process things, all you could notice was how Seoyoung’s free hand was plastered. “What the hell happened to your hand?!” Your face contorted with confusion and concern.

 “Everything’s fine, you’ll get to know everything soon!”

MASTERLiST - PREViOUS - NEXT

🔔. tagging! :: @svtmaryeom, @wonkierideul, @noircheols, @mi9yuz, @u7140823, @paradiseoflosers, @tastyluvr, @starshuas, @sooviiee, @supi-wupi, @starsunoo, @mimimiloomeelomi, @himewonu, @iamdkayyyyy, @lukeys-giggle

[iamdkayyyyy]

okay king of safe sex!

[iamdkayyyyy]

I have two finals tommorrow that I haven’t studied for in even the slightest. Do u regret reading this instead of studying my computer science notes ? Hell no

masterlist

if i could give you the moon

i would give you the moon

choi seungcheol x reader ll 9k words

The moon hung impossibly large in the night sky, casting silver light across the cityscape below. She leaned against the rooftop railing, eyes fixed on its luminous face, finding comfort in its silent presence. The distant hum of traffic and the occasional siren created a strangely peaceful urban lullaby.

She didn’t hear the roof door open, didn’t notice the approaching footsteps until they stopped beside her. Seungcheol’s familiar presence settled next to hers, his gaze following hers upward without a word. For a moment, they simply existed together in the moonlight, two silhouettes against the vastness of the night.

⋆.˚ ☾⭒.˚

Second Year: October

The crisp autumn air carried the scent of fallen leaves as they walked through the upscale shopping district. It was her birthday, and despite her protests, Seungcheol had insisted on taking her out for the day.

"You work too hard" he'd said when he showed up at her apartment that morning. "One day off won't kill you."

Now, as they wandered through boutiques she'd normally never set foot in, she tried to ignore the price tags that made her stomach clench. Seungcheol seemed completely at ease, occasionally picking up items and asking her opinion with genuine interest.

"What do you think of this?" he asked, holding up a soft blue scarf.

She touched it hesitantly, the cashmere impossibly soft under her fingers. "It's beautiful" she admitted, checking the price tag and quickly putting it back. "But I'm just looking."

Seungcheol nodded, seemingly letting it go. But when she turned away to examine a display of notebooks; something practical she might actually be able to affor. She didn't notice him discreetly hand the scarf to a sales associate with a quick whisper.

This pattern continued throughout the day. She'd admire something, a leather-bound planner, a pair of silver earrings, a vintage edition of her favorite book. And each time, she'd talk herself out of buying anything. Each time, Seungcheol would find a moment when she was distracted to quietly ensure the item was set aside.

At a small bookstore, she lingered over a collection of poetry she'd been wanting for months.

"You should get it" Seungcheol encouraged, watching her flip through the pages.

"Maybe another time" she said, returning it to the shelf despite the longing in her eyes. "Textbooks took up all my book budget this semester."

When she moved to the next aisle, Seungcheol quickly purchased the book, the associate slipping it into a bag that disappeared into his jacket before she returned.

By late afternoon, they'd stopped for coffee at a quiet café. She looked happier than he'd seen her in weeks, relaxed in a way she rarely allowed herself to be, even if she hadn't actually bought anything.

"Thank you for today" she said, warming her hands around her mug. "I needed this more than I realized."

"The day's not over yet, Seungcheol replied with a mysteriously satisfied smile. "But you're welcome. Happy birthday."

As the evening approached, they headed back toward her apartment. Seungcheol insisted on driving her home, though her place was easily accessible by public transportation.

"I have something for you" he said as they neared her building, pulling into a parking spot.

"Cheol, you didn't need to—"

"I wanted to" he interrupted gently, reaching into the backseat where, miraculously, a large shopping bag had appeared. "It's nothing extravagant, I promise."

She accepted the bag with suspicious eyes, peering inside. Her jaw dropped as she recognized the items; the cashmere scarf, the planner, the earrings, the poetry book, and several other things she'd admired throughout the day.

"How did you—" she looked up at him, bewildered. "I didn't see you buy any of this."

Seungcheol's smile was both mischievous and tender. "I have my ways. And before you argue about it being too much, it's already done. Consider it compensation for putting up with me all year."

She ran her fingers over the soft scarf, emotions warring inside her. Pride fighting with gratitude, independence with the rare feeling of being cared for so thoughtfully.

"I don't know what to say," she admitted.

“Thank you works" he suggested, his eyes soft in the dimming light. "Or you could just promise to wear that scarf when it gets colder."

Something in his voice made her look up, and for a moment, the air between them seemed charged with unspoken feelings.

"Thank you" she said quietly. "Not just for the gifts, but for seeing me. What I love, what I want but won't let myself have."

Seungcheol reached across the center console, taking her hand in his. "That's easy" he said simply. "Seeing you is the easiest thing in the world for me."

The moment stretched between them, teetering on the edge of something more. But then her phone rang, her mother calling to wish her happy birthday. And the moment passed, leaving behind a lingering warmth and the unshakable feeling that something had shifted between them.

⋆.˚ ☾⭒.˚

First Year: September

The lecture hall buzzed with nervous energy as students filtered in for their first class. She clutched her notebook tightly, scanning the room for an empty seat. Years of academic excellence had earned her this scholarship, and she wasn't about to waste it by being anything less than perfect.

"Is this seat taken?"

She looked up to find a tall figure gesturing to the chair beside her. Plump lips, gentle eyes that somehow managed to be both playful and serious, and an easy confidence that spoke of privilege.

"No, go ahead" she said, sliding her bag closer to make room.

"I'm Seungcheol" he offered, extending his hand. "Choi Seungcheol."

She introduced herself, shaking his hand firmly the way her father had taught her. "Nice to meet you."

"First day nerves?" he asked, unpacking his brand-new laptop that probably cost more than her entire semester's expenses.

"Just ready to get started" she answered, not wanting to admit that yes, her stomach was in knots, and she'd barely slept last night.

The professor walked in, and the room quieted. As the syllabus was distributed, she methodically wrote down every due date, every percentage breakdown of grades. Beside her, Seungcheol leaned back in his chair, seemingly relaxed but she noticed how intently he was listening, how his eyes never left the professor.

When they broke into pairs to discuss their academic goals, she hesitated before turning to him.

"So, why Business?" he asked before she could speak.

"Practical choice. Good job prospects. I want to make sure my younger siblings have options I didn't." The words came out more honest than she'd intended. "You?"

"My father runs Choi Enterprises. I'm expected to take over eventually." he said with a small smile that didn't quite reach his eyes.

The name registered immediately. Choi Enterprises was one of the largest conglomerates in South Korea. This wasn't just any rich kid; this was heir-to-an-empire rich.

"That must be a lot of pressure" she said carefully.

Seungcheol shrugged. "It's always been the plan. What about you? What's your plan after graduation?"

"Top of my class, land a job at a multinational firm, work my way up," she recited the goals she'd set for herself years ago. "Nothing too complicated."

"Ambitious" he nodded, looking impressed. "I like that."

When class ended, she gathered her things quickly, ready to head to her part-time job at the campus coffee shop.

"Hey," Seungcheol called as she stood. "A bunch of us are grabbing lunch. Want to join?"

She glanced at her watch. "Can't. I have work."

"Work? On the first day?"

"Some of us don't have the luxury of free time," she replied, immediately regretting the sharpness in her tone.

Instead of being offended, Seungcheol just nodded. "Fair enough. Maybe next time?"

She softened slightly. "Maybe."

As she walked away, she couldn't help but think that Choi Seungcheol was nothing like she'd expected a chaebol heir to be.

⋆.˚ ☾⭒.˚

First Year: November

Two months into the semester, she found herself spending more time with Seungcheol than she'd ever anticipated. They'd fallen into a rhythm of studying together at the library, his easy-going nature balancing her intensity.

"You're going to wear a hole in that paper if you keep erasing so hard" Seungcheol commented, looking up from his economics textbook.

She sighed, dropping her pencil. "This concept isn't clicking."

"Let me see." He moved his chair closer, leaning in to look at her notes. His shoulder brushed against hers, and she caught the faint scent of his cologne—something expensive, no doubt, but understated.

"Here's where you're getting stuck" he said, pointing to her formula. "You're overthinking it. Look at it this way..."

As he explained, she found herself watching his hands—strong but gentle as they moved across the page, drawing diagrams that somehow made everything clearer. When she finally understood, the smile that broke across his face was triumphant, as if her success was his own.

"See? You've got this" he said, and for a moment, she believed him.

Their study session ran late, and when they finally emerged from the library, the campus was quiet, streetlights casting long shadows across the paths.

"Let me walk you home" he offered.

"I'm fine on my own" she insisted automatically.

"I know you are. But it's late, and it's on my way."

It wasn't on his way at all—his luxury apartment was in the opposite direction from her modest housing—but she was too tired to argue.

As they walked, he asked about her family, and she found herself telling him about her parents' sacrifices, about being the first in her family to attend university, about the expectations weighing on her shoulders.

"That's a lot of responsibility" he said quietly.

"It's what has to be done" she replied, the mantra she'd repeated to herself countless times.

When they reached her building, she turned to thank him.

"Hey, there's this project for Business Strategy coming up" he said suddenly. "Want to partner up?"

She hesitated. Group projects usually meant carrying someone else's weight.

"I promise I'll pull my share" he added, reading her expression. "I'm not just some rich kid coasting through."

Against her better judgment, she agreed. "Alright. But if you slack off, I won't hesitate to tell Professor Kim."

Seungcheol grinned, unfazed by her warning. "Wouldn't expect anything less."

⋆.˚ ☾⭒.˚

First Year: December

Their Business Strategy project earned them the highest grade in the class, a perfect blend of her meticulous research and his innovative thinking. They celebrated at a small café near campus, sharing a plate of pastries.

"We make a good team" Seungcheol said, pushing an extra strawberry tart toward her.

She nodded, allowing herself a moment of satisfaction. "We do."

"So, winter break plans?"

"Working extra shifts" she said, mentally calculating how much she could save in the three weeks off. "You?"

"Family trip to Switzerland. Annual tradition." He said it casually, but she saw the flash of discomfort in his eyes, as if he was suddenly aware of the gulf between their lives.

"Sounds nice" she offered, trying to smooth over the moment.

"It's mostly business for my dad. Meetings disguised as skiing trips." He paused. "You should come over for dinner before I leave, though. My place. I've been practicing this pasta recipe, and I need someone to tell me if it's actually edible."

She raised an eyebrow. "You cook?"

"Don't look so surprised" he laughed. "I'm full of hidden talents."

Two days later, she found herself standing outside his apartment door, clutching a bottle of moderately priced wine that had still cost more than she'd wanted to spend. When he opened the door, wearing a simple black t-shirt and jeans with an apron tied around his waist, she was struck by how different he looked outside of their university setting—more relaxed, more himself.

His apartment was exactly what she'd expected: spacious, tastefully decorated, with floor-to-ceiling windows overlooking the city. What she hadn't expected was the mess in the kitchen; flour dusting the countertops, a pot boiling over on the stove, and what looked like tomato sauce splattered on the wall.

"Don't say it" he warned, rushing to turn down the heat. "I know it looks like a disaster."

She bit back a smile, setting down the wine. "Need help?"

Together, they salvaged dinner. She showed him how to save the sauce from being too acidic, and he admitted that perhaps watching YouTube tutorials wasn't quite the same as actual cooking experience. By the time they sat down to eat, the pasta was slightly overcooked, and the garlic bread was a touch too brown, but it was edible.

"Not bad for a first attempt" she conceded, taking a sip of wine.

"High praise coming from you" he teased. "But thank you for saving me from complete embarrassment."

As the evening wore on, conversation flowed easily. She told him about her younger siblings, how her brother was hoping to follow in her footsteps to university, how her sister was showing talent in art that no one in the family knew how to nurture. He shared stories of growing up under the shadow of his father's success, of the weight of expectation that had been placed on his shoulders since before he could understand what it meant.

"Sometimes I wonder what I'd do if I had a choice" he admitted, his voice softening.

"And what would that be?"

"Music, maybe" he said, gesturing to the piano in the corner of the living room that she hadn't noticed before. "Or psychology. Understanding how people think has always fascinated me."

"You'd be good at that" she said, and meant it. Seungcheol had a way of making people feel seen, of creating space for others to be themselves.

Later, as he walked her to the bus stop despite her protests, snow began to fall lightly around them.

"Thank you for coming tonight" he said, his breath visible in the cold air.

"Thank you for dinner" she replied. "Even if I did most of the cooking."

He laughed, the sound warm against the winter quiet. "Next time, I'll do better."

"Next time" she echoed, and realized she was looking forward to it.

⋆.˚ ☾⭒.˚

Second Year: March

Spring semester brought new classes, new challenges, and a growing circle of friends that revolved around Seungcheol. She'd been gradually introduced to his other friends; twelve guys who formed a tight-knit group but welcomed her with surprising warmth.

Jeonghan, with his angelic face and devilish sense of humor, had initially been skeptical of her, watching her interactions with Seungcheol with knowing eyes. Joshua, gentle and thoughtful, had been the first to make her feel truly included, asking about her studies with genuine interest. Junhui's quiet kindness, Soonyoung's boundless energy, Wonwoo's sharp wit, Jihoon's musical genius, Seokmin's sunshine personality, Mingyu's clumsy charm, Minghao's artistic sensibility, Seungkwan's dramatic flair, Vernon's laid-back attitude, and Chan's youthful enthusiasm—each of them brought something unique to the group.

Today, they were gathered at Seungcheol's apartment, ostensibly to study but mostly to distract each other.

"I still don't understand why we can't just order food" Mingyu was saying as he chopped vegetables in the kitchen. "I always end up cooking anyway."

"Because you love it and you're good at it" Seungcheol replied, passing him salt.

She sat cross-legged on the floor, surrounded by textbooks and notes, trying to focus amid the chaos. Jihoon sat nearby, headphones on, completely absorbed in whatever composition he was working on. Wonwoo was immersed in a game, while Jeonghan and Joshua debated something in hushed tones.

"You know, you're allowed to take breaks" Seungcheol said, sitting down beside her with two mugs of tea.

"I have a midterm on Monday" she reminded him, accepting the tea nonetheless.

"So does everyone else. But they're not killing themselves over it."

She bristled slightly. "Not everyone has as much at stake."

Seungcheol opened his mouth to respond but was interrupted by Soonyoung launching into an animated story about his dance instructor. The moment passed, but she felt his eyes on her, concerned and thoughtful.

Later, when most of the others had drifted off to various corners of the apartment, Seungcheol nudged her gently.

"Come on, I want to show you something."

Curious despite herself, she followed him to the building's rooftop. The night air was cool, the city lights spread out before them like stars fallen to earth.

"I come here when everything gets too loud" he said, leaning against the railing. "Thought you might need it too."

She stood beside him, exhaling slowly. "It's beautiful."

"You know, you work harder than anyone I know" he said after a moment. "But sometimes I wonder if you remember to actually live while you're working so hard for your future."

"That's a luxury I can't afford" she said simply.

"It's not about luxury" he insisted. "It's about balance. Even my father, who works insane hours, makes time for the things that matter."

She didn't respond, unsure how to explain that balance was a privilege of those who had safety nets.

"My parents want to meet you, by the way" he said, changing the subject.

She turned to him, surprised. "Why?"

"Because I talk about you all the time, and they're curious about the person who keeps beating me in every class" he smiled. "Just dinner. Nothing formal."

"I don't know, Cheol..."

"Please? They're not scary, I promise."

Against her better judgment, she found herself agreeing.

⋆.˚ ☾⭒.˚

Second Year: April

The Choi family home was intimidating in its understated elegance; a modern mansion in one of Seoul's most exclusive neighborhoods. She'd worn her best dress, simple and black, but still felt underdressed as a housekeeper led her through the marbled entryway.

Seungcheol was waiting for her, looking unusually formal in a button-up shirt. "You came" he said, relief evident in his voice.

"I said I would" she replied, trying to keep her nerves from showing.

Mrs. Choi appeared first, a graceful woman with kind eyes that reminded her of Seungcheol's. "So lovely to finally meet you" she said, taking her hands warmly. "Seungcheol speaks very highly of you."

Mr. Choi was more imposing; tall and distinguished, with an air of authority that commanded attention. But when he smiled, she saw where Seungcheol got his warmth. "The mysterious study partner who keeps our son on his toes" he said, shaking her hand. "I've been looking forward to meeting you."

Dinner was served in a dining room that could have comfortably seated twenty, but they kept to one end of the table, creating a sense of intimacy. She was surprised by how easily conversation flowed, how genuinely interested the Chois seemed in her studies, her background, her aspirations.

"Seungcheol tells us you're at the top of your class" Mr. Choi said, sounding impressed. "On scholarship, no less."

"I've been fortunate to have good opportunities" she said modestly.

"Opportunity means nothing without the talent and drive to seize it" Mrs. Choi countered. "Don't diminish your achievements, dear."

As the evening progressed, she found herself relaxing, even laughing at Mr. Choi's surprisingly dry sense of humor. When Seungcheol excused himself to take a phone call, Mrs. Choi leaned in slightly.

"You know, you're the first of Seungcheol's friends he's ever asked to bring home" she said thoughtfully.

"Oh, we're just classmates" she clarified quickly. "We study well together."

Mrs. Choi's smile was knowing. "Of course. Still, it says something that he values your opinion enough to want you to meet us."

Later, as Seungcheol walked her to the car his parents had insisted on sending her home in, she felt strangely conflicted.

"They like you" he said, looking pleased. "I knew they would."

"They're different from what I expected" she admitted.

"Different good or different bad?"

"Different good. They're... real people." She winced at how that sounded. "I mean—"

"No, I get it" he laughed. "They're not the cold business tycoons people assume. They work hard, but family matters to them. Values matter." He paused. "You matter to them now, too. Once you're with my parents, there's no escaping."

She didn't know why that thought made her heart beat faster.

⋆.˚ ☾⭒.˚

Second Year: Summer

Summer brought an unexpected opportunity—an internship at a prestigious firm that could set her up perfectly for post-graduation employment. The only problem was the cost of living closer to the city center where the firm was located; her part-time job wouldn't cover the higher rent for those three months.

When she mentioned the dilemma while studying with Seungcheol, he immediately offered a solution.

"Stay at my place" he said as if it were the most natural thing in the world. "I'm leaving for Jeju to help with my father's new resort development, so the apartment will be empty anyway."

"I can't just take your apartment, Cheol."

"Why not? It's sitting there unused, with a perfectly convenient commute to your internship. It makes logical sense."

She hesitated, pride warring with practicality. "I'd pay rent."

"You absolutely will not" he said firmly. "Consider it an investment in your future success, which will make me look good by association."

"Seungcheol—"

"Please? It would actually help me out. Someone should be there to water my plants and make sure the place doesn't get robbed."

In the end, logic won out, though she insisted on at least covering utilities. When Seungcheol gave her the keys before leaving for Jeju, there was something unreadable in his eyes.

"What?" she asked.

"Nothing" he said, closing her fingers around the keys. "Just take care of yourself, not just my plants."

Living in Seungcheol's apartment was a strange experience. Everything was comfortable, convenient, designed for ease. She found herself working later at the internship than required, partly out of dedication and partly to avoid becoming too accustomed to the luxury that wasn't hers.

Mingyu and Wonwoo checked in on her occasionally, bringing food and company. Junhui brought books he thought she'd enjoy. Jihoon, surprisingly, became a regular visitor, often working on his music while she prepared reports for her internship, the silence between them comfortable.

One night, as they shared takeout after both working late, Jihoon looked up from his noodles. "You know he's in love with you, right?"

She nearly choked. "Who?"

Jihoon gave her a flat look. "Don't play dumb. It doesn't suit you."

"Seungcheol and I are friends" she said firmly. "Good friends."

"Sure" Jihoon shrugged, returning to his food. "But just so you know, he doesn't lend this place to just anyone. I've known him since high school, and you're the first person he's ever given keys to."

She didn't know how to respond to that, so she changed the subject. But later, alone in Seungcheol's guest room, she found herself staring at the ceiling, thinking about his easy smile, his unwavering support, the way he seemed to see her—really see her—in a way no one else did.

It was a dangerous line of thought, one she couldn't afford to entertain.

⋆.˚ ☾⭒.˚

Third Year: November

The third year brought mounting pressure; harder classes, preparation for thesis proposals, the looming reality of job hunting. She and Seungcheol remained close, though their different schedules meant they saw each other less frequently. When they did, it was usually in group settings with the others or during late-night study sessions in the library.

Tonight was rare; just the two of them, working on separate thesis outlines in his apartment. Rain lashed against the windows, creating a cozy atmosphere despite the stress of their work.

Jihoon, Mingyu, and Jeonghan had been there earlier, working on their own projects, but had left hours ago, leaving them alone with their thoughts and the sound of keyboards clicking.

"I think my brain is officially fried" Seungcheol announced, pushing back from his laptop. "Want some ramyeon?"

She glanced up, blinking as her eyes adjusted to looking at something other than her screen. "Sure."

In the kitchen, she watched as he moved efficiently, preparing their late-night snack. There was a comfortable domesticity to it, one that made her chest tighten with a feeling she refused to name.

"My father asked about you yesterday" he said casually as he waited for the water to boil.

"Oh?"

"He's impressed with your internship performance. Apparently, his friend at the firm couldn't stop singing your praises."

She felt a flush of pride. "I didn't realize they knew each other."

"Seoul's business world is smaller than you think" Seungcheol said, pouring the hot water into their bowls. "Actually, he mentioned they might have a position opening up after graduation. Said you'd be a perfect fit."

She froze, ramyeon halfway to her mouth. "What?"

"It's just an option" he said quickly. "No pressure. But it's a good company, great benefits, room for advancement—"

"Did you ask him to do this?" Her voice was suddenly cold.

Seungcheol looked genuinely surprised. "What? No. He brought it up on his own."

"Really? Your father just happened to mention a job opportunity at his friend's company, for me specifically?"

"Yes" he frowned. "What's the problem?"

She set down her chopsticks. "The problem is I don't need your family pulling strings for me. I can get a job on my own merits."

"No one's saying you can't" he countered. "It's just networking. Everyone does it."

"Everyone who has connections" she shot back. "Some of us have to work for everything we get."

Seungcheol's expression hardened. "And you think I don't work? That everything just falls into my lap because of my last name?"

"That's not what I meant—"

"It's exactly what you meant" he said, voice rising slightly. "You've always thought that, haven't you? Poor Seungcheol, born with a silver spoon, never had to struggle a day in his life."

"That's not fair."

"Isn't it? You've built this whole identity around being the scholarship kid who does everything herself. You're so afraid of accepting help that you don't even see when people are just trying to care about you."

The words hit too close to home, igniting a defensive anger. "I don't need anyone to care about me. I'm doing fine on my own."

"Are you?" he challenged. "Because from where I'm standing, you're working yourself to exhaustion, pushing away anyone who tries to get close, all because you're terrified of admitting you might actually need someone."

"What I need" she said, standing abruptly, "is to not be your charity case. I'm not some project for you to fix, Seungcheol. I'm not here to make you feel good about yourself for helping the poor scholarship student."

His face went pale, then flushed with anger. "Is that really what you think of me? After three years?"

The hurt in his eyes made her want to take back her words, but pride kept her silent.

"I have never," he said, voice low and controlled, "seen you as a charity case. I thought we were friends. I thought—" he stopped, running a hand through his hair. "Forget it. If that's what you think of me, maybe we don't know each other at all."

She gathered her things in tense silence, shoving papers into her bag without caring if they crumpled. When she reached the door, she paused, knowing she should apologize but not knowing how.

"Let me call you a car at least" he said stiffly. "It's pouring out there."

"I'll take the bus" she replied, and left before he could argue.

The rain soaked her within seconds, but she barely noticed, her mind replaying their argument on loop. By the time she reached her apartment, she was drenched and shivering, but the cold emptiness inside her had nothing to do with the weather.

⋆.˚ ☾⭒.˚

Third Year: December

Three weeks passed without a word between them—the longest they'd gone without speaking since they met. She threw herself into her thesis preparation, taking extra shifts at work to avoid her thoughts. Her phone remained silent; even the group chat with the others had gone quiet for her.

One evening, as she was closing up the coffee shop, she looked up to find Jeonghan waiting at the counter.

"We need to talk" he said simply.

They sat at a corner table, her still in her apron, him elegant as always in a camel coat.

"He's miserable" Jeonghan said without preamble. "And from the looks of it, so are you."

She stared at her hands. "It's complicated."

"It's really not" Jeonghan countered. "You both said things you didn't mean, and you're both too stubborn to apologize first."

"He told you what happened?"

"He didn't have to. We've all been watching this dance for three years now." Jeonghan's expression softened. "Look, I get it. Pride is a hard thing to swallow. But is it worth losing him over?"

"I don't want to lose him" she admitted quietly.

"Then do something about it" Jeonghan said, standing. "And for what it's worth, none of us, especially not Seungcheol, have ever seen you as anything less than what you are: brilliant, determined, and incredibly frustrating."

After Jeonghan left, she sat alone in the darkened coffee shop, thinking about Seungcheol. How he'd never once made her feel less than, how he'd always believed in her abilities, how he'd created space for her in his life without question.

The next morning, she found herself standing outside his apartment, heart pounding. When he opened the door, he looked as bad as she felt; dark circles under his eyes, hair uncombed, wearing a hoodie she recognized as one of his comfort clothes.

"Can I come in?" she asked softly.

He stepped aside wordlessly.

Inside, they stood awkwardly in his living room, the silence heavy between them.

"I'm sorry" she finally said. "What I said was unfair and untrue. You've never made me feel like a charity case. That was my own insecurity talking."

Seungcheol's shoulders relaxed slightly. "I'm sorry too. I shouldn't have pushed about the job thing. I know how important your independence is to you."

"It's not just about independence" she tried to explain. "It's about feeling like I've earned my place. Like I belong in those rooms on my own merit."

"You do belong" he said firmly. "More than most people I know. But accepting help doesn't diminish that." He paused. "I'm not trying to make your path easier because I think you can't handle it. I offer because I care about you, and that's what people do when they care. They try to make each other's lives better."

The simple honesty of his words broke something open inside her. "I'm not very good at letting people care about me" she admitted.

"I've noticed" he said, a ghost of his usual smile appearing. "But I'm pretty persistent."

"That you are" she agreed, feeling the tension between them begin to dissolve.

"So, friends again?" he asked, and there was something vulnerable in his eyes that made her heart ache.

"Friends" she confirmed, trying to ignore the voice inside her that whispered it wasn't enough.

⋆.˚ ☾⭒.˚

Fourth Year: February

Senior year was flying by too quickly, the future looming large on the horizon. She and Seungcheol had settled back into their friendship, though something had shifted subtly between them; a new awareness, moments of silence that stretched a beat too long, touches that lingered.

Tonight, they were on the rooftop of his building again, bundled against the winter cold, celebrating the completion of their thesis drafts with a bottle of wine.

"To never having to look at my thesis again," Seungcheol toasted, clinking his glass against hers.

"Until next week when we get feedback and have to revise everything" she reminded him, but she was smiling.

"Always the optimist" he teased.

They fell into companionable silence, watching the city lights below them.

"Have you heard back from any of the places you applied?" he asked after a while.

"Not yet" she said, trying to keep the worry from her voice. "You?"

"I start at the company in July" he said. "After graduation and a brief vacation.” 

"That's great, Cheol," she said, genuinely happy for him despite the twist of anxiety in her own stomach about her uncertain future.

"It is" he agreed, though he didn't sound entirely convinced. "It's what I've been working toward."

"But?"

He shrugged. "No 'but.' It's the right move. The responsible choice."

She studied his profile, illuminated by the distant city lights. "Does it make you happy?"

"Happiness isn't always the point" he said quietly. "Sometimes it's about doing what needs to be done."

Coming from anyone else, it might have sounded like a platitude. Coming from Seungcheol, who carried the weight of his family name with such grace, it was a confession.

"I think" she said carefully, "that you'll find a way to make it your own. You always do."

He turned to look at her then, his eyes searching hers for something she wasn't sure she was ready to give. "What about you? What makes you happy?"

The question caught her off guard. She'd spent so long focusing on survival, on achievement, on making something of herself, that happiness had always seemed like a distant luxury.

"I don't know" she answered honestly. "I haven't thought about it much."

"Think about it now" he urged gently.

She closed her eyes, letting herself imagine for once. "Stability," she said finally. "Knowing my family is taken care of. Work that matters. People who understand me." She opened her eyes to find him still watching her. "Freedom to choose my own path."

"That sounds like a good life," he said softly.

"It does," she agreed. "What about you? If you could choose anything?"

"This," he said simply. "Moments like this. Being with people who see me as me, not as the Choi heir. Making my own decisions. Music, maybe. A life that feels authentic."

His honesty made her brave. "And us? Where do we fit in those futures?"

The question hung between them, loaded with unspoken feelings. Seungcheol reached out, tucking a strand of hair behind her ear, his touch feather-light.

"I don't know" he admitted. "But I know I want you in mine. However that looks."

Before she could respond, her phone buzzed. Reluctantly, she checked it—an email notification that made her heart stop.

"What is it?" Seungcheol asked, noticing her expression.

"A job offer" she whispered, hardly daring to believe it. "In New York. The international firm I applied to, they want me."

Seungcheol's face went through a rapid series of emotions before settling on a proud smile that didn't quite reach his eyes. "That's amazing. When would you start?"

"August" she said, still processing. "They want an answer within the week."

"You're going to take it, right?" he asked, voice carefully neutral. "It's what you've been working for."

It was everything she'd dreamed of—a prestigious firm, international experience, a salary that would let her help her family. But suddenly, the thought of leaving Seoul—leaving Seungcheol—made the victory taste bittersweet.

"I need to think about it" she said, and they both knew it was a lie. There was no decision to make. This was her path, the one she'd sacrificed for, the one that would validate all her hard work.

"Of course" Seungcheol said, raising his glass again. "To new beginnings."

She echoed the toast, but as they drank in silence, the space between them seemed to grow, filled with things they weren't ready to say.

⋆.˚ ☾⭒.˚

Fourth Year: May

Graduation day dawned bright and clear, the campus transformed by decorations and proud families. She stood among her classmates in her cap and gown, scanning the crowd for her parents and siblings, who had saved for months to make the trip.

She spotted Seungcheol with his parents near the front, looking handsome and official in his regalia. They hadn't spoken much in the weeks since she accepted the New York position, both busy with final exams and preparations for the future. But they'd maintained their friendship, carefully avoiding any mention of her imminent departure.

When her name was called, she walked across the stage with her head held high, accepting her diploma with the knowledge that she had earned every bit of this moment. As she shook the dean's hand, she heard cheers from the audience; her family, but also a distinct group that could only be Seungcheol and the others, who had become her second family over these four years.

As she moved the tassel on her cap, she caught Seungcheol's eye in the crowd. He smiled at her, proud and pained all at once, and something inside her chest constricted. This was what she had worked for; her ticket to a better life, a chance to make her mark on the world. Why, then, did victory feel so hollow?

After the ceremony, amid the chaos of families taking photos and classmates saying tearful goodbyes, she found herself pulled into an embrace by Mrs. Choi.

"We are so proud of you" the elegant woman said, holding her at arm's length. "Such an accomplishment."

Mr. Choi nodded in agreement, his usually stern face softened with genuine warmth. "Seungcheol tells us you're headed to New York. An excellent opportunity."

"Yes" she confirmed, "I start in August."

"Seoul's loss is New York’s gain," Mrs. Choi said with a meaningful glance toward her son, who was talking with her parents a few feet away. "But I suspect you'll do remarkable things wherever you go."

Before she could respond, Seungcheol approached, bringing her family with him. There were introductions, handshakes, her mother looking slightly overwhelmed but pleased as she chatted with Mrs. Choi. Her younger siblings stared in awe at Seungcheol, who treated them with the same easy respect he showed everyone.

"We're having a small celebration at our home this evening" Mr. Choi announced. "For Seungcheol and his friends. You and your family are welcome to join us."

Her mother started to decline, she knew they had planned to take the evening train back home to save on hotel costs, but Seungcheol interrupted gently.

"Please" he said, addressing her parents directly. "It would mean a lot to me. To all of us. We've made arrangements for your accommodations, and transportation back tomorrow."

She opened her mouth to object, pride rising automatically, but caught herself. This wasn't charity; this was friendship. After four years, she was finally learning the difference.

"We'd be honored" her father said, and the matter was settled.

⋆.˚ ☾⭒.˚

The Choi residence was transformed for the evening, the formal spaces made warm and inviting with soft lighting and flowers. The celebration was more intimate than she had expected—just the fourteen of them, their families, and a few close friends of the Chois.

She watched as Seungcheol moved through the room, the perfect host, making sure everyone was comfortable. He had a gift for making people feel at ease, regardless of background or status. Her father, initially stiff and uncomfortable in the opulent surroundings, was now laughing at something Joshua's dad had said. Her mother was deep in conversation with Jihoon's parents about music education, while her siblings had been thoroughly adopted by Seokmin and Soonyoung, who were teaching them some ridiculous dance moves in the corner.

"He gets it from his mother" a voice said beside her, and she turned to find Mr. Choi offering her a glass of champagne.

"Sorry?"

"Seungcheol. The way he brings people together" Mr. Choi clarified, nodding toward his son. "His mother has always had that gift. I'm more like you—focused on goals, sometimes at the expense of connections."

She accepted the champagne, surprised by his candor. "I wouldn't have guessed that about you."

Mr. Choi smiled slightly. "I've learned over the years. Thanks in large part to her." He glanced fondly at his wife across the room. "The right people in our lives have a way of making us better versions of ourselves."

Before she could respond to this unexpectedly personal insight, Mingyu appeared, dragging her away to settle a debate with Wonwoo about the best street food in Seoul. The evening continued, warm and joyful, a perfect culmination of their university years.

Later, as the party began to wind down, she found herself on the terrace, taking a moment of quiet amid the celebrations. The night air was cool but pleasant, the garden below illuminated softly by strategically placed lights.

"Hiding?" Seungcheol's voice came from behind her.

"Just catching my breath," she replied as he joined her at the railing. "It's been quite a day."

"One for the books" he agreed, loosening his tie slightly. "Your family seems to be enjoying themselves."

"They are. Thank you for including them."

"They're important to you" he said simply, as if that explained everything. And in a way, it did.

They stood in silence for a moment, the sounds of the party muted behind them, the city spread out before them like a constellation of earthbound stars.

"New York" he said finally, the word heavy with everything they hadn't been saying. "When do you leave?"

"Three weeks" she answered, her voice smaller than she intended. "I need to find an apartment, get settled before orientation."

Seungcheol nodded, his profile stoic in the dim light. "You're going to be amazing there. They're lucky to have you."

"What about you?" she asked, needing to change the subject. "Ready to be the new face of Choi Enterprises?"

A smile flickered across his face. "Not exactly the new face. More like the behind-the-scenes guy implementing changes while my father continues to be the public figure."

"Changes?"

"I've been thinking about what you said months ago, about making it my own." His eyes met hers, serious and determined. "I want to shift some of our priorities. Focus more on sustainable practices, ethical sourcing. Maybe expand our scholarship program."

Pride bloomed in her chest. "That sounds like something you would do."

"It's something you inspired" he corrected gently. "You've always pushed me to be more than just my father's son."

The sincerity in his voice made her throat tighten. Four years of friendship, of challenges and growth, of becoming adults together—it all seemed to crystallize in this moment.

"I'm going to miss you" she admitted, the words barely audible.

Seungcheol turned to her fully then, his eyes searching hers. "I've been trying to figure out how to say this for weeks" he began, his voice steady despite the vulnerability in his gaze. "Actually, years, if I'm honest."

Her heart stuttered in her chest, knowing what was coming and terrified of it.

"I'm in love with you" he said simply. "I have been since that first study session when you corrected my accounting formula and told me I needed to pay more attention to details."

A small laugh escaped her, half-surprised, half-pained. "That was four years ago."

"I know" he smiled ruefully. "I'm not telling you this to complicate things or make you feel guilty about New York. I just couldn't let you leave without being honest. I respect your choices, your independence. I always have."

"Cheol—" she started, but he shook his head.

"You don't have to say anything. I just wanted you to know that someone sees you—all of you, the strength and the vulnerability, the ambition and the fear. And loves you for it."

The words she'd been holding back for so long rose to her lips, but before she could speak, the glass door to the terrace slid open, and Seungkwan appeared.

"There you are! We're about to do toasts, and Jeonghan says we can't start without you two."

The moment shattered, Seungcheol stepped back, the confession hanging unresolved between them. They rejoined the party, where champagne flowed and emotional speeches were made. Through it all, his words echoed in her mind, both a gift and a complication.

⋆.˚ ☾⭒.˚

Three Months Later: August

New York was everything and nothing like she had imagined. The city's energy matched her own drive, the constant movement and ambition a perfect reflection of her internal landscape. Her apartment was small but functional, her job challenging and rewarding. On paper, everything was exactly as she had planned.

But in the quiet moments—late at night when the city's pulse slowed, or early mornings when the light slanted just so through her window—she found herself thinking of Seoul, of thirteen boys who had become family, of one in particular whose confession she had never properly answered.

They kept in touch, sort of. Group texts with the others, occasional video calls where they carefully maintained the friendship they'd always had, neither mentioning the words spoken on the terrace. She saw snippets of his life through social media—Seungcheol at business functions, Seungcheol implementing new company initiatives, Seungcheol with the others on weekend trips. He looked good, successful, exactly where he was meant to be.

Tonight, she found herself on her tiny balcony, staring up at the narrow strip of sky visible between buildings. The moon was bright, a perfect silver disc that seemed to follow her across oceans and continents.

Her phone buzzed with a text from Jihoon, a rare direct message from the most reserved of the group.

*You're both idiots, you know that?*

She blinked at the bluntness of it.

*Hello to you too, Jihoon.*

*He's miserable. You're probably miserable too, knowing you.*

She hesitated, fingers hovering over the keyboard. *We're both where we need to be.*

*Need and want are different things. Figure it out.*

The conversation ended there, typical Jihoon—direct, uncompromising, and unfortunately insightful.

She sighed, leaning back in her chair. The truth was, she was doing well professionally but personally... personally, she felt adrift. She'd achieved her goal, proved herself capable and worthy, secured her family's future. But something was missing, and she was finally honest enough with herself to name it.

Her phone buzzed again, this time with an email notification. A follow-up from her boss about a project she was leading—an expansion into the Asian market, specifically South Korea. They needed someone with local knowledge, language skills, and connections. Someone exactly like her.

She stared at the screen, heart racing with sudden possibility. It wasn't a solution, not yet, but it was a door opening where before there had been only walls.

⋆.˚ ☾⭒.˚

Six Months Later: February

Seoul in winter was exactly as she remembered it; crisp, vibrant, familiar in a way that settled something inside her. She pulled her coat tighter as she walked through the business district, the cashmere scarf, his gift from years ago, wound around her neck.

The Choi Enterprises building loomed ahead, modern and imposing against the skyline. She had informed her team she would handle this meeting personally, citing her familiarity with Korean business culture. She hadn't mentioned her familiarity with the company's leadership.

At reception, she stated her name and appointment, the Korean flowing easily from her lips after months of practice to maintain her fluency. The receptionist directed her to the elevators, instructing her to go to the 42nd floor, executive offices.

Her heart pounded as the elevator ascended. She hadn't told him she was coming. Hadn't told any of them, afraid she might lose her nerve if she did. The doors opened to a sleek reception area where another assistant greeted her.

"He's expecting you" the woman said with a smile, leading her down a hallway to double doors at the end.

She took a deep breath as the assistant knocked once, then opened the door.

"Your 10 o'clock is here, Mr. Choi."

She stepped into the office; spacious and modern, with floor-to-ceiling windows offering a stunning view of the city. Seungcheol stood behind his desk, reviewing documents, his back to the door.

"Thank you, I—" he began as he turned, the words dying on his lips when he saw her.

For a moment, they simply stared at each other, taking in the changes six months had wrought. He looked different; more mature, his hair styled differently, wearing a perfectly tailored suit that made him look every inch the business leader he had become. But his eyes, his eyes were the same, warm and deep and suddenly wide with shock.

"Hi" she said softly, when she could find her voice.

"What are you—" he stopped, glancing at his assistant who was watching with undisguised curiosity. "Thank you, Min-ah. That will be all for now."

When the door closed behind her, silence descended, heavy with unasked questions.

"I'm here on business," she explained, stepping further into the room. "My company is looking to expand into the Korean market. I'm leading the project."

Understanding dawned in his eyes. "You're representing them."

She nodded. "They thought my connections might be helpful."

"Your connections" he repeated, a hint of a smile playing at his lips. "And you chose Choi Enterprises as your first meeting."

"It seemed logical" she said, maintaining the professional facade, though her racing heart betrayed her. "Your company has a strong digital presence, innovative ideas. We're looking for a partner with vision."

Seungcheol moved around his desk, closing some of the distance between them. "Very logical. How long are you in Seoul?"

"Two weeks, to start. Longer if the partnerships develop well."

"And after that?" he asked, the question loaded with meaning.

She took a deep breath. "That depends on what we find here."

Their eyes held, the pretense of a purely business conversation slipping away.

"I never answered you" she said quietly. "That night on the terrace."

"You didn't need to" he replied. "Your path was clear."

"My path has led me back here" she countered, taking a step toward him. "Maybe that means something."

Seungcheol's expression softened, hope cautiously emerging. "What are you saying?"

"I'm saying that I've accomplished what I set out to do. I've proven myself, secured my future, helped my family. I'm saying that I'm proud of who I've become, and that includes being someone who can finally admit what she wants." She took another step closer. "I'm saying that I love you too. I have for a long time."

The distance between them vanished as Seungcheol closed the gap, one hand coming up to cup her face with a tenderness that made her breath catch.

"You're sure?" he asked, his voice low. "Because I don't want you to ever feel like you've compromised your independence for me."

"Loving you isn't a compromise" she said firmly. "It took me a while to understand that accepting love isn't the same as accepting charity. You were right—it's what people do when they care."

The smile that broke across his face was like sunrise, bright and full of promise. "I've missed you" he whispered, forehead touching hers. "Every day."

"I've missed you too," she admitted, her hands coming to rest on his chest, feeling his heartbeat strong and steady beneath her palm. "More than I allowed myself to acknowledge."

When he kissed her, it felt like coming home.

It’s like finding something she hadn't known she was missing until this moment. It was gentle at first, a question and an answer all at once, then deepening with the weight of feelings long held back.

A knock at the door forced them apart, and Seungcheol cleared his throat. "Yes?"

"Sorry to interrupt, sir," his assistant called through the door, "but your father is asking if you'd like to join him for lunch with your visitor to discuss the potential partnership."

Seungcheol looked at her, eyebrows raised in question. She nodded, a smile playing at her lips.

"Tell him we'll be there" he called back, and then more quietly to her, "My parents are going to be insufferable when they see you. My mother has been asking about you for months."

"They knew how you felt?"

"Everyone knew" he laughed. "Apparently, I wasn't subtle."

Her phone buzzed in her pocket—a message from the group chat she shared with all thirteen of them. She pulled it out to find a text from Jeonghan:

Tell him we expect both of you at dinner tonight. No excuses.

She looked up at Seungcheol, confused. "Did you tell them I was here?"

He leaned over to see the message and laughed. "No, but Jeonghan has an uncanny sixth sense. And possibly spies in my building."

Another text came through, this one from Jihoon: Told you so.

"What does that mean?" Seungcheol asked.

She smiled, putting her phone away. "It means he was right. We were both idiots."

Seungcheol took her hand, interlacing their fingers as if they'd been doing it for years. "Not anymore" he said softly. "Now we're just two people who took the long way home."

As they walked out of his office together, she thought about the journey that had brought her here; the scholarship girl determined to make it on her own, the walls she'd built around her heart, the gradual realization that true strength wasn't about standing alone but about choosing who to stand with.

Outside, the winter sun broke through the clouds, casting long shadows across the snow-covered city. In the distance, the Han River flowed steadily, unchanging and ever-changing all at once. Like the moon that had watched over both of them from different corners of the world, bearing silent witness to their separate paths that had, against all odds, converged once more.

She squeezed Seungcheol's hand, feeling him squeeze back without hesitation, and knew with certainty that this—this was what coming home felt like.

⋆.˚ ☾⭒.˚

Just like the moon, I'll pull you back again

I'm always going to be who I've been  

But I'm not afraid to admit I'm wrong

When I know I'm right where I belong

- moon song, phoebe bridgers

[iamdkayyyyy]

Knox and Knox

[iamdkayyyyy]

seventeen 10th anniversary messages to all caratss! ;((

[iamdkayyyyy]

RIGHT IM NAWT OKAY

THE CHOREO IN CHEOLS PART WHEN THEY SING "ALO ALO" IS SO HAWTTTTTTTTTT

[iamdkayyyyy]

because/despite 🎸 vernon x reader.

one fine day, you find a list.

★ vernon x rockstar!reader, a.k.a the catch you when i can couple. ★ word count: 1.5k ★ genre/warnings: established relationship, romance, fluff. set after the events of part five; based on a headcanon from part four. ★ footnotes: happy 0218 day. couldn't let it pass without an ode to my darling couple. 🎸🐻‍❄️

It’s a lazy kind of day. The kind where neither of you have anywhere to be, no pressing schedules or urgent obligations. Just you, Vernon, and the sun filtering through the curtains, painting golden stripes over tangled limbs and soft sheets.

You can’t help the sound of protest that rises out from the back of your throat when Vernon tries to disentangle from you. 

“No need to be so clingy,” he huffs, ruffling your hair as he rises from the bed. “I’m not going anywhere you can’t reach.”

“We were so comfortable,” you whine in protest. 

You’re momentarily distracted by the sight of his bare back as he crosses the room, but even that is ripped away from you too soon. He pulls his shirt back on, and you grumble something under your breath. It sounds suspiciously like selfish bastard. 

Your boyfriend pays you no heed. Go figure. 

“Getting us snacks,” he announces. “Want anything?” 

“You’re the only snack—” 

Your shirt hits you squarely in the face. 

“Hey!” you sputter in between laughter, ready to retaliate with a pitch of your own. 

Vernon is already slipping out, though, leaving the door open a crack behind him. The sound of his chuckles carries over from the next room. It’s the type of moment you used to pray for, isn’t it? 

You flop back down onto the bed. You should get up, but you realize there’s something you want— nay, need— to do. When you reach around the sheets, you’re less than pleased to not have your phone within reach. 

Charging in the living room. Right. 

Your fingers catch on Vernon’s phone, though, and you figure that’ll have to do. 

“Borrowing your phone for a sec,” you holler out to your boyfriend. 

It’s more of a cursory thing; there were no secrets between you and Vernon. His sound of approval from the kitchen is to be expected. Your mind supplies you with the image of what he must look like— barefoot, leaning into your refrigerator, rummaging through all the cans of soda in search for something somewhat substantial. 

Man, the things you’d give up to have this forever. 

You punch in his password and pull up Instagram. Your private, joint couple account has chronicled your relationship since day one, and this is a moment you want immortalized. The sun hitting the bed post just right. The mess of your hair; a product of his restless fingers. The domestic bliss of it all. 

There’s a specific caption you want. Something about laundry and taxes. You let out a low ‘tsk’ as you try to recall it verbatim. It’s a good thing your boyfriend keeps a meticulous note of all his favorite movie quotes. 

Later, you will swear up and down to Vernon that it was looking up at you. You hadn’t gravitated to his Notes app with the intention to pry! You just wanted to be sweet, to be cute. A girlfriend who could accurately quote Everything Everywhere All at Once. 

It tempted you. A locked note, the title nothing but a rock guitar emoji.

You tilt your head. Interesting.

Of course, you try to open it.

It asks for a passcode, and you roll your eyes. Vernon is predictable, so you type in your birthday. Wrong. His birthday. Wrong. 

The name of your secret couple’s Instagram account? 11203km. Bingo. 

The note unlocks, and immediately, the screen floods with words. It takes a bit to load, like the note is bogged down by the sheer amount of content in it. That might be the case, really. After all— as you find out later— the note has been sitting snugly in his phone for years now. 

It’s fairly straightforward. Bullet point after bullet point, all starting with the same four words. I love you because. 

I love you because you hum when you’re tuning your guitar.

I love you because you let me steal your fries even though you pretend to complain.

I love you because my shirts are all a little bit big on you, and it makes you look cute. 

You let out a stuttering breath. The entries are specific enough for you to know they’re about you, but general in a way that you wouldn’t know when or where they were written. It could’ve been on his plane ride here, could’ve been weeks ago, could’ve been just this morning. 

You can’t help it. You keep scrolling, your eyes flitting over the big and small moments that your boyfriend has masterfully kept from you. A dragon hoarding its treasure. And then— 

I love you because even when you said goodbye, I couldn’t stop loving you.

Your stomach drops. Suddenly, you’re taken back to the headlines, the time apart, the brief stint at being shitty exes. PLEDIS Confirms SEVENTEEN’s Vernon Has Broken Up With Rockstar Girlfriend. The whole breakup lasted only a couple of months, but it’d felt like the longest few months of your life.

If Vernon’s entries are anything to go by, then he felt the same. 

I love you because I know you thought leaving was the best thing for me. But I wish you’d stayed.

I love you because you perform like you went through a wholeass divorce. Hot. 

I love you. I don’t know how not to. 

You swallow, the lump in your throat thick, threatening to spill over into something heavier— until a voice cuts through the silence.

“You fuckin’ snoop.” 

Vernon stands over the side of your bed, watching you over your shoulder. Damn him and his uncanny ability to move in silence. He sets aside the plate of fruit he’d prepared before plucking the phone from your fingers.

Thankfully, he doesn’t look particularly displeased. The guilty-as-charged expression on your face must be enough for him, because your boyfriend only looks vaguely exasperated. 

“First of all,” he says, “you cracked my passcode?” 

You sit up, propping yourself up by your elbows. “You should really be more unpredictable.” 

“Noted.” Vernon falls back into bed, one of his eyebrows quirking upward inquisitively. “How much did you read?” 

You press your lips together, and instead of answering, you just look at him. Really look at him. He’s teasing, sure, but there’s something soft in his expression. Something open and raw, like he’s challenging you to be as honest as he’s been. You take him up on it. 

“You kept writing,” you say, your voice small and disbelieving, “even when we weren’t together.” 

His teasing edge fades, replaced by something more sincere. “Yeah,” he says, like it’s the most obvious thing in the world. 

“Why?” 

“Why not?” 

The answer is so quintessentially him that you can’t help the half-laugh, half-groan that escapes you. His easy grin only widens a bit at your amusement— like your happiness is the only reason he does any of this. 

Something in your chest tightens all over again, but this time, it’s different. This time, it’s warmth, pooling in your ribcage, spreading through every inch of you. 

You roll over until you can rest your chin on his chest. Instinctively, Vernon wraps an arm around your waist, bracing you against him. He stares down at you with the smile of a man who has found reason after reason after reason to adore you, across the five years of this whole thing.  

That’s what makes it easy for you, too, to blurt out, “I love you, even though you’re shit at peeling oranges.” 

Vernon barks out a startled laugh. “What?” 

It’s the first thing that came to mind; the fruit is peeled haphazardly and plated messily at your bedside, after all. You ignore his confusion, barrelling on. “I love you despite the fact you pet all stray cats, rabies be damned,” you say. “I love you even though it’s absolute hell to take photos of you because you have the same pose for everything.” 

Realization seems to dawn on Vernon. He attempts to pinch your side, but the playful move only has you burrowing further into him. 

“I love you despite your resting bitch fa— hey— ce!” Your words are punctuated by a squeal as Vernon ups his ante, his fingers skating over your sides. 

“Don’t go stealing my gig,” he complains. 

You thrash underneath his tickling, trying, still, to keep going in between breathless giggles. “I love— love’y— even though— even— Hansol!”

He laughs, unrelenting. 

The fruit lays forgotten at your bedside. The sheets are crumpled, twisted between the two of you. The sun sinks; the world goes on without the two of you, just for today.

Vernon loves you because— you love him despite— 

[iamdkayyyyy]

A loud gasp echoed through the dorm as the members stepped in.

Seungcheol's eyes widened, immediately on alert as he tried to peek over Mingyu's shoulder. “What happened?!”

Mingyu whipped around, hand over his dropped jaw. “The antique vase from the entry table...”

Everyone froze.

Except Jeonghan - who immediately moved further into the dorm to make space for the rest of the members. With arms crossed, dramatic fury was already bubbling to the surface through his furrowed brows.

“WHO,” he said, voice sharp and commanding, “broke the vase I specifically told you guys not to touch?! That was from my mother! It was sentimental!”

Jun pointed at Dino. “He was spinning that dance move again before we left this morning-”

“It wasn’t me! I'm always careful around that vase!”

Seungkwan groaned. “We told you not to practice at home!”

“It really wasn’t me!”

“Then who—”

“…It was me.”

Your head popped out from the hallway, sheepishly rubbing the back of your neck. You felt your cheeks flush pink, a clear sign of guilt. “I was rushing out for practice this morning, I think i accidentally knocked into the table.”

Silence. You felt your fingers knowingly fidget together, bracing yourself for the reparations.

The room tensed, eyes flicking toward Jeonghan - ready for the storm.

But instead of exploding, Jeonghan blinked.

Paused.

And then said, “Oh. That’s okay.”

Everyone stared.

“…What?” Seungcheol said flatly.

Jeonghan turned, already waving it off. “Accidents happen. It’s just a vase.”

Minghao narrowed his eyes. “You were about to curse the heck out of us if it had been Dino.”

“Different circumstances.”

“You yelled at me for breathing near it last week!” Dino cried.

“You could've stained it.”

“You just said it was sentimental!”

“It was. Now it’s… a good memory.” Jeonghan patted your head gently. “Don’t worry about it, alright? I’ll clean it up.”

You looked guiltily at the shards, appalled from his reaction. “I’ll help-”

“No, no. Go sit. You'll only hurt yourself.”

The others gaped as Jeonghan practically escorted you to the couch, fussing over you like a VIP guest while muttering something about “dangerous shards” and “precious member.”

Woozi stared, deadpan. “He’s not even hiding it anymore.”

Seungcheol sighed deeply. “This is why the rest of us get gray hair.”

Mingyu whispered, “If I broke that thing, he would’ve called a family meeting.”

“Favoritism,” Seungkwan said, exasperated. “Blatant. Shameless. Ridiculous favoritism.”

And yet, as Jeonghan handed you a snack and made sure you were comfy on the couch, no one could really argue.

They were always extra with you. That wasn’t new.

But this time? It was so obvious, even you couldn’t help but hide a smile.

-

[iamdkayyyyy]

god I am so in loveee with that man

tough love?

in a world that expected silence, joshua gave his son softness.

pairing: joshua hong x reader warnings: boy dad!joshua, parents au, teeth rotting fluff, domestic asf word count: 1.2k a/n: i seem to only be able to write about joshua lately so here u go 🤓 + im actually sobbing at this baby shua pic im crying

𖤓

most people say joshua would be the perfect girl dad.

the quiet warmth in his eyes, the softness in his voice, he just looked like someone meant to raise a daughter. you could just picture him tying pink ribbons into pigtails, learning how to braid hair through youtube tutorials, walking around with sparkly stickers on his cheeks because “my daughter said I’m a unicorn today.”

and you understood why. he’d be wonderful at that — raising a little girl with tender care, the kind so many women grew up needing but never quite received.

however, you thought otherwise. in your heart, he was a boy dad. it was like he was made to raise a son, your son.

you could see it in how he held him close like a secret he’d waited his whole life to be told. how he loved him in a way that rewrote everything the world ever said about what fathers and sons should be.

because while the world expected fathers to be stern and boys to be strong, joshua gave your son something else entirely — the space to be soft. to feel deeply. to cry without shame, to reach for comfort without apology, to be both gentle and enough.

you saw it the moment your son was born.

they placed him on your chest first, and you watched joshua’s hand shake as he reached out, touched the tiniest part of your baby’s arm, and whispered, “hi, buddy.”

he was crying before the baby was.

not from fear. not from shock. not from the weight of it. but from the kind of overwhelming love that settles into your bones.

“he’s perfect,” he said, voice trembling. “i’m gonna love him so well.”

and he did.

joshua carried your son everywhere those first few months. in wraps, in slings, tucked against his chest like he never wanted to let go. he hummed lullabies into his hair, traced soft circles on his back, and spoke to him even when he couldn’t understand the words yet.

“you’re safe,” he’d whisper. “always safe with me.”

the baby didn’t know what those words meant yet.
but he felt it. and you did, too.

your son’s first real tantrum happened over a broken crayon.

he was three. overtired and overstimulated. crumpled on the floor in tears, fists balled up, face red and frustrated.

you were about to kneel beside him when joshua gently touched your arm.

“i’ve got him,” he said.

then he sat down the floor sitting across his son, letting him cry. he didn’t flinch, didn’t correct. he just waited. letting him express his feelings while also letting him know that he was there.

“hey. that was your favorite crayon, huh?” he asks softly.

he receives a tiny nod through hiccups.

“it’s okay to be sad about that. i get sad about things too.”

the crying didn’t stop right away. but your son crawled into joshua’s lap minutes later. not because he was told to, but because he wanted to. and joshua wrapped his arms around him like he had all the time in the world.

that was the moment your son learned he never had to be alone in his feelings.

sometimes, the world got louder than joshua could control.

like the day your son came home from daycare with red-rimmed eyes and stiff shoulders. he wasn’t crying anymore, not visibly, but you could see it in the way he avoided joshua’s gaze, how his small hands stayed balled in his lap during dinner, barely touching his food.

joshua knelt in front of him, “did something happen today, bud?”

your son hesitated, “i cried when i missed you. and some of the boys saw.”

joshua’s hands stilled.

“they all laughed at me,” your son continued. “said boys don’t cry. that i was acting like a baby. like a girl.”

each word came with less confidence than the last, like he wasn’t sure anymore what was okay to feel. like he was repeating a rule he didn’t understand but was suddenly supposed to follow.

joshua didn’t scold. nor did he try to explain it away. he just opened his arms and asked gently, “can i show you something?”

he climbed into joshua’s lap, pressing his face into the curve of his shoulder.

and there in the middle of the playroom, he let a single tear fall.

your son pulled back, wide-eyed. “daddy… are you crying?”

joshua nodded. “yeah, i am.”

“why?”

“i cry when i feel big things. like love. or sadness. or when i hear you say something that makes my heart heavy.”

your son looked at him with sad eyes.

“and today, hearing that they laughed at you, that made my heart hurt a lot.”

your son looked confused for a second. then his little arms went around joshua’s neck.

“sorry, daddy.”

“no need to be sorry,” joshua whispered. “it’s good to feel things. you’re allowed.”

and that was the moment your son learned his softness would never make him less.

they had a language all their own.

not in words, but in the way your son instinctively reached for joshua’s hand when he was unsure. how he laid his head on his dad’s shoulder when he was sleepy. how he never hesitated to say, “i love you, dad,” because he heard it so often, it just lived in his chest.

joshua was the kind of father who kissed his son’s forehead when he dropped him off at school. who packed handwritten notes in his lunchbox.

he wore matching pajamas with him on movie nights.
let him fall asleep against his side during bedtime stories. held him during fevers, nightmares, scraped knees, never once rushing the hug.

people still said joshua gave girl dad energy.

but if they could see what you saw, if they witnessed the way joshua raised your son with open hands and open arms, they’d understand.

this wasn’t about pink or blue, softness or strength.

this was about a boy who grew up knowing he never had to earn his father’s affection.

that love wasn’t conditional. that tenderness wasn’t weakness. that he could be everything he felt and still be whole.

joshua didn’t just raise a son.

he gave him the gift of belonging in every hug, in every gentle word, in every time he held him a little longer than the world said was “necessary.”

and one day, when your son is grown, you hope he remembers all of it.

the warmth. the softness. the safety.

that his father never made him feel like love had to be tough to be true.

[iamdkayyyyy]

Sungho: How many popsicles have you eaten today Leehan? Leehan, lying in a bed of popsicle wrappers: Now is not the time to talk about my personal flaws as a human being.

[iamdkayyyyy]

ʚིᵋ ⋆ INSTAGRAM UPDATE ࣪ ! ˓ ౨ৎ ࣪˖ ─── 250523: Life Lately

╰ ౨ৎ LUNA-VERSE MASTERLIST ╰౨ৎ luna's instagram

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lunabae life’s better on Saturn ⊹˚₊‧୭̥⋆｡˚

View all comments

svtforever17_ we’re back to black hair! everyone stay calm. she’s powerful again 💕

hoshifiedbaby SHE WENT RED TWICE AND BOTH TIMES SHE RAN BACK TO BLACK LIKE IT BURNED HER… WHAT IS THE MEANING?!?

vuismyreligion she hasn’t posted in WEEKS and just came back with a casual picture of HALF OF JEONGHAN’S FACE IN A DATE PIC like we wouldn’t go into cardiac arrest 😭

dkdaydreams i just know jeonghan made her that lego wall after being like “idk if it’s stupid” and now they have a shrine of bricks i’m screaming 😭

minghaosmanifestation THE STUDIO PIC??? oh we’re COOKING. LUNACY DELUXE ERA?!! INCOMING???! IM NOT OKAY 🥲

↳ missbitch1997 PLSSSSS I NEED MORE OF LUNCAY!!

↳ nanastudiofiles she’s so unserious but i’m FERAL. GIVE US THE MUSIC MA’AM.

babycaratrose you see black hair luna and you just KNOW it’s about to be her villain arc again. i love this 🤩

jeongnadaily THAT MOTHERFUCKING TEXT!!!?! WHATTHEFUCKKKK YOON JEONGHAN!!? 😫

ashonashonash i saw the corner of jeonghan’s face and my serotonin said ✅

↳ hannienanaarchive she be feeding us better than pledis rn thank u queen for this man who’s been ghosting the entire internet

jxjupdates english translation of the message: “If no one has told you yet today, let me. You did really well today, really. I’m proud of you, Nana-ya. So don’t doubt yourself right now, okay? Don’t worry. Don’t think too much. Don’t be scared. You can just… exist. Breathe. Be proud. And yes I know I’ll see you in a few hours, I’m not counting, but I want to see you like I haven’t seen you in decades. So breathe. Breathe. Eat something. And if the world feels too loud, remember that I’m here. Always. I love you in all the languages I don’t know yet, my pretty moon.”

↳ jeongnadaily I’m. Crying. Throwing up. This man is in LOVE.

↳ lunaticchild “if no one has told you yet today, let me…” oh so jeonghan’s gonna personally rip my heart out huh

↳ jeonghansleftvein WHEN HE SAID “I WANT TO SEE YOU LIKE I HAVEN’T SEEN YOU IN DECADES” THAT WAS SO ROMAN EMPIRE I’M NOT OKAY

shualight i can’t stop re-reading the TEXTTTT.

user19562901552 luna is so fake it’s insane 🙄 idc what anyone says but she’s literally using jeonghan for clout and aesthetics. he’s in the military and she’s out here posting half his face like some trophy. she’s loud, attention-seeking, and painfully average. jeonghan could do a thousand times better 🤷‍♀️

↳ caratsforluna Jeonghan would hate you. he’d burn you alive if it meant keeping luna warm. try him.

↳ nanasmoonlight you call her loud but jeonghan calls her his. he’s never looked at anyone the way he looks at her, so stay mad i guess 🤷‍♀️

↳ teamjeongna every time someone hates on Luna because she’s dating Jeonghan— i will remind you that he wrote her that insane love text, wrote her song and released it on her birthday, gifted her a bunny because she said she was lonely and has always wanted one, learned how to use a film camera just to take her pictures, called her “his constant” during their rookie days, a million more things, and probably did thousand more things we don’t even know about yet. he’s in love. painfully, obviously in love. y’all can hate but he’s busy worshipping her.

wonwonweasley the lego wall is eating me alive! I WANT WHAT THEY HAVE 🫵

caratforlife03 he called her “my pretty moon” and my lungs collapsed.

↳ nanajelly they are sooooo the love story where he looks like he doesn’t care about anything but actually writes her a letter every day to give her 😭 SOMEBODY WRITE A MOVIE ABOUT THEM!!!

↳ cheolsoftwife jeonghan said “don’t think too much. breathe.” and i’m using that as my wallpaper, life motto, and thesis statement.

moonlightbae she goes blonde = chaos. she goes red = crisis. she goes black = we ball.

lunaroyalty me reading that text: 😭

me translating it in google: 😭😭😭

me reading it again in korean: 😭😭

me wondering if i’ll ever be loved like that: 🧍🏻‍♀️

baebaebaeby not to be dramatic but this post just reset my entire year. taxes done. skin clear. heart broken but healed. lunch eaten.

sebongcentral who do i contact to get a tour of the JeongNa lego museum?!? i’ll sign an NDA. i’ll crawl. i’ll cry. i’ll PAY!!

lunarrrnotfound she gave us one half of his face and the full force of their love story. who does that. WHO!?

hanniehae_1995 jeonghan be like “breathe. exist. eat something.” meanwhile i haven’t known peace since the first line of that text 🥹

caratcore_17 not her posting like she didn’t just emotionally nuke us with that text. my girl this is a public platform!!??

queenjiyeonie to be loved like that 🥹… jeonghan is the type of lover who would lift you up when you’re running on empty— like he watches you quietly, sees everything you’re carrying, and then reminds you it’s okay to rest. he’s gentle without being passive, always present, always soft in the right places. and luna… she’s the kind of person who carries herself with so much strength and independence, but underneath it all, you can tell she just wants someone who won’t be scared of her fire. someone who meets her there, who doesn’t dim her down. they match because he sees her and doesn’t flinch, and she trusts him enough to let him in. and that kind of love? it’s rare. and so real. i’m just really, really happy they found it with each other. 💕

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[iamdkayyyyy]

📲 Raising Us | wonwoo x f!reader | (4) the third year | 002

Paring: wonwoo x f!reader. Genre | tags: smau, series, non idol!au, best friends (idiots) to lovers, unexpected pregnancy, slow burn, angst, pinning, fluff, humor/comedy. Warnings: toxic parents (yn's), more fights, random girl face claim, hyunwonie missing his parents 🥺.

Summary: On the night of your eighteenth birthday, you and Wonwoo made a pact to lose your virginities together. Ten years later you're co-parenting your unexpected child while figuring out where you stand with each other.

A/N: I don't... even... know. Just let me know what you think 💗

Status: on-going.

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Every ask & comment gives me life 💗 If you’re enjoying it, don’t forget to reblog—helps so much and gets the fic out there!! Sharing is caring before you scroll!

💌 Taglist: @eisaspresso, @christinewithluv, @choco-scoups, @armycarat2612, @ziidino, @vernons-wifey12, @jihoonsbbygirl, @wonvsmile, @smiileflower, @lukeys-giggle, @my-atiny-kookie-rkive, @toplinehyunjin, @skz-elle, @ateez-atiny380, @aeerio, @paranoid-borderline-insane, @chariseiswriting, @blxcknwhite-lady, @maryseesthings, @max-1404, @minhui896, @jembem, @blaycke, @livelaughloveseventeen.

© VERNONVERSE. I do not condone reposting, plagiarizing or translating my work in any form.

[iamdkayyyyy]

EYES OFF OF YOU — CHAPTER FOURTEEN

SYNOPSIS :: Seokmin was desperate to find the perfect model to pair up with his friend for his upcoming project, and he found you.

📝. word count: 0.5k words

“Hey, Lee Seokmin!” The boy turned his head to look at where the shout came from, and his frown in confusion turned into a warm smile when his eyes landed on your figure smiling and waving at him. You walked towards him, your feet being hugged by the sand with each step you took. “What are you doing by yourself? You look so miserable.”

Seokmin smiled and shook his head while glancing at the sand before looking up at you. “I was just taking some pictures, nothing much,” Seokmin’s eyes traveled to your body. He had never seen you wearing those clothes before – shorts, a crop top and having the bikini straps showing off. He felt his cheeks and his palms warming up because of the thoughts that came up in his head, he was almost unable to not feel extremely attracted to you at that moment. “Uh… What about you?” He looked at your face and his facial features softened. It was like your face was his safe space.

“Me? I was just helping Jun, Seoyoung and Joshua with the food, then I left the house and saw you here.”

Seokmin nodded and was about to talk, but Soonyoung’s shout caught his attention. “Seokmin! Y/N! Come play with us!” He raised the volleyball ball and smiled. Chan, Seungkwan, Seungcheol and Yuki waved at you and shouted as well, trying to encourage you into getting in the water and playing with them.

“I can’t,” Seokmin shouted back and tapped his ear. “I forgot my earplugs! But when you decide to play outside the water, call me!”

Soonyoung only gave him thumbs up and got back to play with the others, but you looked at Seokmin in disbelief. “You forgot your earplugs? How come?”

“Couldn’t find them at the dorm, I think that I left them at my parents’ house,” Seokmin shrugged. “It’s fine, I can survive without getting in the water for two days at the beach.”

You sighed. “Why didn’t you buy new ones, then?” Your hands reached your pocket as you took off ear plugs. “You’re lucky I have these ones. I always bring them with me in case I need them,” you said as you put them on his ear. “Who goes to a beach house and forget to bring earplugs? You have to be more careful.”

Seokmin smiled brightly as he fixed the earplugs, making sure they wouldn’t fall. “Thank you, really. And don't worry, I'll be more careful next time”

He could’ve sworn that he could cry at that moment. The urge to hug you and press his lips against yours was becoming unbearable.

He felt loved, he felt cared for by you. It was such a small action, yet it meant so much to him. He knew that you were probably lying, those earplugs seemed brand new. As far as he knew you, he was sure that you didn’t need earplugs and you’d never share your actual earplugs with someone else, it didn't matter who the person was.

“Let’s go play, okay? You’ll have a great weekend. I won’t let your ear infection ruin it.” You started to walk towards Soonyoung and the others, leaving Seokmin behind.

He looked at you like a puppy looking at its owner after an entire day without seeing them and started to follow you. “Yeah, you won't let it ruin my weekend.” Seokmin's smile turned into a grin, even if he hadn't 'borrow' your earplugs, just by spending the weekend so close to you was enough to make that weekend the best weekend of his life.

MASTERLiST - PREViOUS - NEXT

🔔. tagging! :: @svtmaryeom, @wonkierideul, @noircheols, @mi9yuz, @u7140823, @paradiseoflosers, @tastyluvr, @starshuas, @sooviiee, @supi-wupi, @starsunoo, @mimimiloomeelomi, @himewonu, @iamdkayyyyy, @lukeys-giggle

[iamdkayyyyy]

help me hide a body - lsm

pairing - seokmin x f!reader

genre/warnings - college au, non idol au, comedy, fluff, death scenario, mentions of blood, mentions of murder/killing, jeonghan (menace) cameo, boosoon cameo, one mention of jihoon and two of wonwoo, seokmin is a simp for reader, use of petname (min/minnie for seokmin), kissing, cursing, nothing serious is happening in here <3

wc - 5K

summary - seokmin never thought you'd ask him to help you hide a body. worse, he never thought he'd agree.

A/N - this is an idea of my friend who sent me a reel where somebody was asking which kpop idol would you not trust with helping you hide a body and someone answered dokyeom ಠ⁠﹏⁠ಠ thanks to her for making this come to life! also i really did not think it'd be this long but haha, i hope it doesn't flop 🤍🤍🤍

huge thanks to both my babies @hannah81141418 & @kissbyoon for being my ultimate support through the writing process <3

“Help me hide a body.”

The liquid nearly shot from Seokmin’s mouth, a spray that thankfully missed you. You stood beside him, your heart drumming loud in your chest.

"That's hardly a joking matter," he stated, turning to you, expecting the relief of laughter that would signal a prank. Instead, your expression remained starkly serious.

"I'm not joking, Seokmin," you insisted, and the glass halfway to his lips stilled as he faced you again.

"Come on, Y/N, that's really not funny."

Your bottom lip jutted out, your eyes holding an insurmountable desperation that tightened a knot of anxiety in Seokmin's gut.

He was truly fucked.

✦ ⎯⎯ㅤִㅤ୭ ୨♡୧ ৎ ㅤִ ⎯⎯ ✦

Seokmin clung to the belief that this was an elaborate deception as he followed you towards the college's forgotten storage room. Surely, any moment now, you would burst into laughter, mocking his obvious fear.

But the sight that greeted him shattered that hope: a familiar figure sprawled on the dusty floor, a dark red pool blooming around his head.

Seokmin's breath hitched. His eyes widened, fixed on the still form. Beside him, you looked like you were on the verge of collapse.

A raw, high-pitched scream tore from his throat, making you jump. He turned to you, disbelief etched on his face. Then, a shared scream echoed in the confined space before your hand clamped over his mouth.

"SHUT UP! Do you want the entire building to know!?"

He wrenched your hand away. "Y/N, are you insane?! There's an actual dead person here! You actually killed someone?! And it's Jeonghan, for God's sake, he's our friend!"

"YES, I KNOW! I KNOW!" you exclaimed, your voice trembling with terror and disbelief.

"IT WASN'T deliberate! I swear! I don't know how or when it happened! We... we were just fooling around and... and I... I pushed him, and he... ahggg! What do I do, Seokmin? What do I dooo?"

"Oh my God... oh my God..." Seokmin began to pace the cramped room, his hands raking through his hair in frustration. "No..."

"No, tell me this is some twisted prank you two planned."

"Tell me that's just spilled paint, and he'll sit up laughing at my foolishness."

"TELL ME HE'S NOT DEAD, Y/N!" He gripped your shoulders, shaking you with a desperate force that made his heart ache.

You shook your head, your gaze defeated. "I'm not joking."

"He won't wake up." Tears began to well in your eyes, causing him to recoil, staring at you in utter disbelief. "No... no, this can't be real... no, I..." His gaze flickered back to the lifeless body of your common friend.

"Have you called for help? What if he's not actually gone?" he demanded, moving towards the body despite the nausea rising in his throat. He had always had a weak stomach for blood.

"He is."

“No. He could be— wait, he’s smiling!”

Your eyes shot to Jeonghan’s still figure, his face barely visible under the dim light. For a cruel second, you believed Seokmin, but Jeonghan was indeed not smiling. “You've gone insane, Seokmin.”

“No! He was smiling just now! I swear I saw it!” Seokmin’s neck craned to look at him again, and his face fell. Was it an illusion?

He shook the image out of his head, still in disbelief. “What if— what if he's alive?”

"Seokmin, are you for real? Just look at the blood, damn it!"

Seokmin’s eyes narrowed at the still body—thick red liquid illuminated under the moonlight streaking through the window. Seeing Jeonghan’s bloodied body sent a wave of revulsion through him, a painful lump forming in his throat. He couldn't suppress it.

You had to rub his back as he vomited into the nearby bushes. And then you both sat in the oppressive silence of the storage room, Jeonghan's form covered with a soiled white blanket.

"No... no, this is very wrong," Seokmin suddenly declared, rising to his feet. "This is terribly wrong. We need to come clean. We need to call for help, get him to a hospital."

Your face drained of color and you stood quickly, "Are you out of your mind! I could go to jail! We can't do that!"

"Well, what alternative do you propose?! We can't just... for God’s sake, Y/N, he was our friend!"

"I KNOW! Which is precisely why I'm saying he wouldn't want this!"

"Please, Min. I can't endure that. My entire future will be extinguished before it begins! How will I face his parents? His sister? I'll be branded a murderer! I'll be imprisoned, Seokmin! Do you want that for me?"

"But, you... he... I..."

You grasped his arm, your eyes pleading with an intensity he found difficult to resist. He always did. "Please, Min. Please. Just help me this once, hmm? Just help me bury him, and I will never burden you with another request."

Seokmin stared at you, really looked at you, his jaw tight with conflict. He had never done anything more immoral than cheating in his test once. Burying a dead body of his friend who was murdered by his best friend wasn't something he could allow himself to do.

But you were there, looking at him with your beautiful eyes that were filled with tears—a sight he hated. You pouted at him, and begged him like your life would be over if he didn't help you, and for once, it really would be.

Seokmin decided that he couldn't do that to you. Not when you were looking at him like that, not when he was your only hope.

A frustrated groan escaped him. He nodded, and your arms were instantly around him, rambling words of gratitude. He hated how his heart still quickened at your touch, even now.

Even now when he had to help you hide his friend's dead body.

✦ ⎯⎯ㅤִㅤ୭ ୨♡୧ ৎ ㅤִ ⎯⎯ ✦

Then came the enormity of your task. How could you possibly execute this without being caught?

Seokmin perched on a wooden crate, with you leaning heavily against him from a higher one, the glow of a phone screen illuminating your faces as you frantically searched online for methods of body disposal.

Seokmin suggested a remote location, telling you that that's where they hide bodies in novels and movies.

“Yeah, and they always get caught." You countered, rolling your eyes at him.

"Well, do you have a more effective idea!?"

"No!? How would I have such knowledge? I don't murder people everyday!"

"Are you planning to murder people everyday!?"

"NO!? What the hell is wrong with you!"

Before Seokmin could respond, your hand clamped over his mouth, your senses alert to the sound of approaching footsteps.

Someone was directly outside the storage room.

Oh hell no.

You gestured frantically for him to silence his phone. In the dim light filtering through the cracks, Seokmin's eyes seemed to bulge with a silent 'what now!?'

Then, the familiar bickering of Soonyoung and Seungkwan drifted through the door. Their argument revolved around the late hour, a consequence, according to Seungkwan, of Soonyoung's procrastination on their shared project.

"What do we do?!" Seokmin hissed when you removed your hand.

"Don't worry, the door is locked from the inside," you whispered back.

"Hey, this is locked," Soonyoung's voice announced as he tested the handle.

"The CR said it was unlocked and that Y/N and Jeonghan were in here earlier and hadn't returned the keys," Soonyoung explained, earning a skeptical look from Seungkwan.

You were certain Seokmin could feel the frantic hammering of your heart. Unbeknownst to you, his own heart drummed against his ribs, a cold sweat slicking his skin.

"Brilliant, genius. We are definitely failing.” Seungkwan muttered.

"Hey, don't say that. I'll plead with the professor to extend the deadline. Maybe we can do something."

"You do realize that Jihoon is likely going to kill us, right?”

Soonyoung groaned. "Yeah, but why were we cursed to be paired with him!"

"Why were we cursed to be paired with you?"

Soonyoung pouted. "Alright, fine. Let's go back and think of something else instead of arguing here," he said, allowing the two hidden figures to release a collective, shaky breath.

"Move, you idiot," Seungkwan commanded, pulling out a set of keys from his pocket.

"You had the keys this entire time!?" Soonyoung's voice held a note of betrayal. You and Seokmin both froze in stress as you heard the jingle of keys against the lock.

"Yes. I’m always prepared unlike you," Seungkwan retorted, making Soonyoung roll his eyes. "Yeah, Boo Seungkwan, the supposed genius of this college, still manages to rank second last."

"At least I don't rank last."

The lock clicked open.

Panic surged within the storage room. Your eyes darted around, seeking some sort of escape. Maybe you would prefer jumping out of the window than being caught with your friend’s dead body in your college’s storage room.

Realizing the dread of your situation, you moved suddenly and desperately. It was stupid, and wrong, but you had to save yourself and Seokmin. You had to distract the boys. You knew they'd instantly run away. You had no other choice.

You gripped Seokmin's collar, pulling him close. He hardly had time to register his reality when your lips crashed against his.

All of Seokmin’s senses numbed. He sat frozen like some statue of disbelief, his eyes wide as your lips stilled against his, your own eyes squeezed shut.

"That hardly makes you any smar-" Soonyoung's sentence fractured as he took in the scene and Seungkwan jaw already hung slack.

"What in the actual hell-" Soonyoung's hands flew to his mouth, his gaze fixed on his two very platonic friends locked in an intense embrace in the dark storage room where the only source of light was the moon peeking in through the window.

Realizing your impulsive act wasn't having the desired effect, and your friends remained rooted to the spot, you slowly pulled away, facing a thoroughly flustered Seokmin. His cheeks were flushed red, and you could feel the tremble in his body.

Well, there went nothing. You swallowed hard and took a hesitant step back.

"What the hell do you two think you were doing!?" Seungkwan demanded.

"I would very much like to know the answer to that myself," Seokmin mumbled under his breath, his gaze unfocused.

“Oh, he seemed to be enjoying it."

"Shut up, Soonyoung!" Seungkwan snapped, turning to you for an explanation. You merely cleared your throat, avoiding eye contact with the three bewildered faces.

"Are you two... together!? Since when!? I thought Y/N liked Wonwoo!"

Seokmin felt a poisonous bubble rise up his throat at the mention.

"Yeah, and wasn't Seokmin secretly-" Soonyoung's breath hitched as Seokmin's large hand clamped over his mouth, silencing him. You looked from one to the other, your mind fogged with confusion. You couldn't really tell why Seungkwan was face-palming, and why Seokmin looked like he had seen a ghost. Well maybe because you just kissed him out of nowhere.

It was then that Seungkwan's attention snagged on something in the shadows at the back of the room: a white sheet partially covering an indistinct shape, with a disturbing patch of red visible.

"Is there something at the back!?" he asked, squinting his eyes to look better in the dim light. Oh no no no.

You couldn't be doomed. Not like this.

"It's nothing!"

"It's a project!"

The contradictory responses from both you and Seokmin echoed in the room. You slowly craned your neck to glare at him, and he still refused to outright meet your eyes. His gaze was trying to focus on the slight movement he saw under the sheet, but Soonyoung's voice snapped him back to reality. It must be an illusion again.

"I know!" Soonyoung exclaimed, as if struck by a sudden realization. "They're hiding something!"

You swallowed hard, a sheen of sweat breaking out on your forehead. You couldn't really tell how Seokmin looked like, but the years of knowing him could give that much away: he must be scared shitless.

"That much is obvious," Seungkwan deadpanned. “They're obviously trying to hide their special effects makeup project so we don't steal their concept. Did you also really kiss him to scare us away, Y/N?!”

You stood in stunned silence, unable to know what you should be feeling. You were relieved, and if you heard it right, Seokmin also let out a breath. You did not want to answer Seungkwan. While your friend lay dead and his body was rotting, a kiss stemmed from extreme distress was not your major concern.

What, however, was your concern was kicking your two friends out. You ushered them out somehow, confirming that you were indeed preparing for your special effects project and you'd like it if they kept their noses out of it. Once they were out, you collapsed against the closed door, a shaky breath escaping your lips.

Seokmin was still numb, staring at the floor when you turned to him. "You kissed me."

"I know! I'm sorry, Min. My mind went blank; I couldn't think of anything else-"

"You just kissed me," he repeated, his tone flat. He really looked like he'd seen a ghost. Maybe being kissed by your best friend of years was more terrifying than seeing a ghost.

"I swear I will make it up to you later. We don't have time for this right now. Please, let's focus, hmm?"

He looked up at you, managing to mask the sting of your casual dismissal. He understood that your mind was clearly occupied with more important matters like burying your dead friend.

"Okay," you said, rubbing your temples. "Think. Where? Where can we put him where nobody will ever find him?"

Seokmin chewed on his lip, shaking the feeling of your lips on his own away from his mind. But whatever he said still sounded absurd. "What about... the woods?"

You stared at him blankly. "Seokmin, we live in the middle of the city. The nearest woods are like an hour away. And how exactly are we going to carry a dead body through the entire college campus and then into a car without anyone seeing?"

“Oh. Right."

You paced the small storage room, your mind racing and your heart hurting. You could feel tears prick at your eyes anytime your gaze drifted towards the body, but you had to hold on. You had to save yourself. Jeonghan wouldn't want you to go to jail for killing him accidentally.

"What about... outside? Somewhere on campus?"

Seokmin's eyes widened again, this time with alarm. "Are you crazy?! Someone will find him for sure!"

"But where else, Min?" you pleaded, throwing your hands up in frustration. "We can't just keep him here! He's... he's going to..." You trailed off, unable to say the word. Your eyes filled with the tears you'd been holding back, but you didn't let them fall.

Then, your eyes landed on the dusty window overlooking the back of the storage room. It was overgrown with vines and looked like it hadn't been opened in years. Beyond it, you could just make out the very edge of the college grounds, a patch of uneven, untended land bordering a high brick wall.

"Wait," you wiped your eyes with the back of your hand, walking towards the window. You peered through the grime. "What about... right there?"

Seokmin followed you, squinting through the dusty glass. "Right where? Behind the storage room?"

"Yeah," you said, pointing. "That little patch of land right against the back wall. It's the very end of the campus. Nobody ever goes back there. Remember? We used to sneak back there to... you know..." You trailed off again, the memory of happier times feeling like a joke now.

Seokmin looked doubtful. "But... wouldn't it be too obvious? Right outside?"

"Not if we do it right," you argued, your mind starting to form a plan. "It's hidden by all these bushes and that broken fence. If we dig a grave deep enough, and then cover it up really well... nobody would ever know."

“Dig a grave? Y/N, we've never even planted a proper flower, let alone dig a grave for a..." He swallowed hard, unease settling over him once again. What was he supposed to say? Dig a grave for our friend? The thought alone gave him a fresh wave of nausea.

You looked at Jeonghan’s covered body for a while, pursing your lips together to not burst into tears. You second guessed your proceedings for about half a second before your future played like movie in front of your eyes—cold, grey walls closing in, the heavy clang of a metal door, the judging eyes of strangers, the endless, empty days stretching out before you.

You saw yourself in a drab uniform, the vibrant colors of your life fading to dullness. The faces of your parents, etched with disappointment and shame, swam before your eyes. The thought of never laughing freely again, never feeling the warmth of the sun on your skin without bars in between, made your stomach clench.

“No!” You yelled to yourself, shaking your head violently. The desperate urge to avoid the ugly future took over you. There was no turning back now.

Seokmin was in front of you before you knew it, his hands on your shoulders as he looked down at you in concern. “What happened?”

"We have to do this. It's our best shot, Min. We can't risk trying to move him off campus. This is close, it's hidden, and hopefully, nobody will ever think to look there."

Seokmin bit his lip again, his gaze flicking between you and the window. He looked pale, almost like he was about to be sick again. "But... digging sounds hard. And what if someone sees us from a window?"

"It's late," you reminded him. "Most people are in their dorms. We'll be quick, and we'll be careful.” You looked at him, your eyes pleading again. "Please, Min? Just like you said, you'll help me?"

Seokmin sighed, the fight draining out of him. He looked at your pained face, your tear-reddened eyes, and the sheer desperation radiating off you. He knew this was wrong, so incredibly wrong. But the thought of you facing this alone felt more wrong.

"Okay," he said finally, his voice barely a whisper. "Okay, Y/N. We'll... we'll dig a grave behind the storage room." He swallowed hard again. "Just tell me what to do.”

✦ ⎯⎯ㅤִㅤ୭ ୨♡୧ ৎ ㅤִ ⎯⎯ ✦

Now came the most agonizing part: digging a grave.

You both were bound to be inexperienced. It wasn't like you dug graves everyday, but you hadn't ever thought you'd be this bad.

Somehow, Seokmin managed to carve a shallow pit from the hard earth. And then you both stood outside the window, staring at the blood stained sheet that Jeonghan was wrapped in. All that was left was carrying him to his grave. The final act of separation.

You shook your head, tears rolling down your cheeks. "No."

"No, I can't do this. This is wrong."

Seokmin shut his eyes tight, letting his own tears fall. He could feel the immense pain in his heart, but he had to be strong for you. His hand found it's place on your back, rubbing softly. “We can't turn back now, Y/N. We have to."

"But what if they find out!? What if... what if my parents discover this! They'll hate me! Jeonghan’s parents will never forgive me for... for this. And Wonwoo... he'll never want anything to do with someone like me." Seokmin's hand dropped away as if burned.

"Seriously? That's your primary concern right now? His potential disapproval? Not the fact that one of your friends is dead, and the other is now your accomplice!?"

Your jaw tightened at his tone, your tears blurring your vision of his teary face. "Well, who forced you to help me if it was such an unbearable burden!?"

"YOU! YOU'RE THE ONE WHO BEGGED ME TO HELP YOU!"

"WELL, I DON'T NEED YOUR HELP ANY LONGER! YOU ARE FREE TO LEAVE! I WILL MANAGE THIS ALONE!"

"ARE YOU INSANE!? I CAN'T LET YOU DO THAT!"

"WHY NOT!? WHY DO YOU CARE!? WHY DID YOU AGREE IN THE FIRST PLACE!?"

"BECAUSE I—" Seokmin's confession was abruptly cut short by the distant wail of police sirens, growing rapidly closer. Something close to a flashlight shone through the dirty windows of the old room.

You could hear some voices, and if you could, you'd lie down beside Jeonghan and drop dead yourself too.

"Shit," Seokmin muttered before he held your hand, pulling you into the shallow grave he had just dug.

"Jeonghan! Jeonghan is still in there!" You gasped.

"Oh my God, we are going to get caught red-handed," Seokmin shook his head in horror. Your voice cracked, and your fists involuntarily tightened onto Seokmin's shirt. "No, I am too young to go to jail.”

Seokmin felt his heart clench painfully. Apart from seeing his friend dead, the sight of you trembling in fear and crying was the single most haunting sight he'd ever had to see.

He didn't know where he found his voice when he softly wiped your tears. "Don't worry. I won't let you go to jail."

You looked at him, your eyes watery and your lips trembling, as you heard the distinct sound of footsteps. Seokmin began to cry with you, his own fear escalating despite his big talk. "What do we do now, Minnie? What do we dooo? We're so dead," you sobbed as he pulled you into his arms, trying to hide you. "Don't worry. I am with you. I am with you in all of this. I won't leave your side, no matter what."

"Really?" You looked up at him with tear-filled eyes. You knew he was far too kind for the horrific situation you had dragged him into. He nodded, sniffing, before you buried yourself in his embrace, and he held you tightly.

"Let's... let's just turn ourselves in," you whispered as the voices came closer and closer. "Alright... let's do that," Seokmin choked out.

"We'll be okay, right?" You asked, looking up at him with a tearful pout. He replied with an equally tearful and pouty face, nodding. "As long as we're together, we will be alright."

"What is going on here?"

The voice was oddly familiar and close. Seokmin and you stood up from the hole together, raising your hands in the air and squeezing your eyes shut as you began to murmur pleas for mercy.

"Please forgive us! We didn't—"

"It was me! I did it! I killed him! I forced her to be an accomplice! Arrest me!" Seokmin blurted out, cutting her off, making her stare at him in disbelief. "What are you—"

"What are you doing! Arrest me quickly!" he repeated, his eyes still shut tight, as he extended his hands to be cuffed.

"What are you doing, Seokmin! That is not—"

"Shush! Don't say anything!"

"No, I can't let you do that!"

"I said don't say anything!"

"How dumb do you both have to be?" The two of you fell silent as you heard the chillingly familiar voice again. When you both opened your eyes, you saw your dead friend standing in front of you with his arms folded.

The air was crisp with stunned silence before it was shattered by the simultaneous, high-pitched screams of you and Seokmin.

Jeonghan burst out laughing, a loud, hearty sound that echoed in the silence. He clutched his stomach, tears of mirth streaming down his face. "Oh my god! Y/N, you literally did not even check my pulse! Exactly like I predicted. I know you so well."

You and Seokmin stared at him, your mouths agape, still trembling from the adrenaline and fear.

“I didn't think you'd bring this dummy in, but God, are you both dumb?! You made it all so easy!”

Jeonghan wiped his eyes, still chuckling. "How does it pay you for hiding my phone in the literal refrigerator, Y/N?”

Seokmin’s knees buckled, and he fell back into the shallow hole he'd dug up. His illusions from earlier slapped him right across his face. He wished he could just bury himself right here and never see the sun again.

Jeonghan waved his phone that played the police siren for a second before pocketing it. His hair were still red, painted in fake blood that you only now realized was paint.

Paint from the tins that were lined up right where Jeonghan hit his head.

No, you couldn't have been so dumb.

“It was so hard to stay still and act dead while listening to all of your foolishness. You both are funny.”

“Yoon Jeonghan.”

“No no no,” Jeonghan clicked his tongue, “Do not even think of turning this against me. Not only did you guys kiss over my dead body, you were also literally going to bury me?! Without even holding a funeral?!”

"Shut up Jeonghan, or you will actually be dead in the next few seconds," you snapped, your jaw clenched and your voice still trembling slightly. Your head spun with the sudden proceedings and if you weren't rooted to your spot from the shock you just experienced, you would've choked Jeonghan to death.

"Wow, so I was the one who was killed and you guys are traumatized instead of being thankful that I'm actually not dead? Were you happy that I died!?" Jeonghan continued, his tone laced with mock hurt.

"GO AWAY, YOON JEONGHAN! YOU SCARED THE LIFE OUT OF ME! I DON'T EVEN WANT TO SEE YOUR STUPID FACE! DO YOU EVEN KNOW WHAT I HAD TO DO BECAUSE OF YOU? I FREAKING KISSED SEOKMIN!" you exploded, the memory still vivid and mortifying.

"What did hiding my body have to do with you kissing Seokmin!? Why would you kiss him!?”

"Did you hate it that much?" Seokmin interrupted, a visible ache painting his face while he stared at the sky. It looked beautiful from the grave. He really wished to never get up after all that he went through for the night.

But you weren't listening to him, your focus solely on the 'not-so-dead' culprit.

"UGH JUST- JUST DISAPPEAR FROM MY SIGHT RIGHT NOW OR I MIGHT REALLY KILL YOU THIS TIME.” you yelled, throwing your hands up in exasperation.

"Fine! I am going," Jeonghan huffed, turning towards the door. "You better apologize, or I might report you two to the police for trying to bury me alive!"

“Entitled fucking bastard.” You muttered under your heavy breath, trying to calm your nerves. But all you wanted to do was rip your hair out and maybe tie a rope around Jeonghan’s ugly neck.

You sat down on the ground, your legs giving up as you stared into nothingness. All that happened in the past two hours flashed before your eyes, and you couldn't help but grow more and more hatred towards Jeonghan. However, the boy right behind you, slowly climbing out of the hole made your entire being shudder.

"Why did you do it?" you asked, not realising how weak your voice came out. Your eyes were still fixed ahead, as if looking at Seokmin would somehow stab your heart.

"What?" Seokmin asked, sitting beside you with a sigh.

“Why did you take the blame upon yourself? You could've gone to jail for something you did not do," you elaborated, finally craning your neck to meet his eyes.

Seokmin felt like his heart would leap out of his chest. "I would do it again if I was faced with a similar situation. I would do it if it was a real situation too.”

"Why?” You looked at him intently, searching his eyes for an answer. “Why would you do that far for me? Am I that important to you?"

“Yeah, you are," he replied nonchalantly, as if stating a simple fact. His face turned to look away as he wiped any remaining wetness from his eyes.

"Why?" You pressed, talking in a daze.

"Because I love you," he whispered, unable to hold it in any longer. Seokmin had kept his love as a secret for years, but now that he experienced an extremely overwhelming situation, all of his hidden emotions oozed out of him easily.

You felt your blood run cold.

"And I'm not saying it as a friend," he added, his voice a little rougher now. "I hate it when you keep swooning over Jeon Wonwoo. I hate it when you can see all the guys in the world but never me," he confessed, his gaze holding something indecipherable as he looked at you.

"I don't care if you stop being friends with me anymore. I can't keep pretending to be just a friend.”

"I want to date you."

Your breath hitched in your throat. Your heart beat in your ears, and you feared this was another overly ugly prank. You couldn't be fooled twice in a day. You would've liked to believe this wasn't real, but your eyes stayed wide open as he leaned in, his hand gently cupping your cheek, and placed a quick, tender kiss on your lips.

"This is for the kiss you stole from me," he said softly, pulling back slightly but still close, a light blush dusting his cheeks as he looked ahead. You, however, remained frozen, staring at him in utter disbelief.

"Hey! We promised no dating among ourselves!" Jeonghan's voice boomed from the window. He had a comical look of disapproval plastered on his face, forcing Seokmin to pull a little away from you.

“Yoon Jeonghan.” You gritted your teeth, eyes not leaving Seokmin’s face but speech addressed to the menace you had as a friend. “I told you to get the fuck out of here. I'm really going to bury you the next time I see you, but right now I have some important business going on. SO LEAVE.”

Your sudden yell startled a reddened Seokmin, and Jeonghan just laughed, proceeding to close the window. “You both should thank me and my genius brain for tonight. Otherwise Seokmin would've forever fooled around and you would've stayed oblivious.”

You didn't know why in the world was Seokmin’s side profile suddenly attractive, and why was he glowing a little in the dark. But you knew that you wanted to kiss him again. And you also knew that you were going to do it.

Seokmin and you walking hand in hand a few days later at the campus wasn't a surprise to anyone.

[iamdkayyyyy]

friends to lovers | vernon smau one shot

pairing: best friend!vernon x gn!reader

tags: bsf!vernon, f2l, you get it, killing jokes, swearing, seungkwan cameo, the usual, very silly, don't expect this to be a serious work okay i had fun with it

request: Helloooo can I request a best friends to lovers with Vernon please ?? Thank uuuuuuuu����

summary: your best friend vernon tries to confess to you with the help of your mutual friend seungkwan. what could possibly go wrong?

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[iamdkayyyyy]

☆ VERNON BOYFRIEND TEXTS AFTER A FIGHT

pairing: vernon (hansol) x f!reader

warnings: established relationship, mentions of having fought/argument, more?

a/n: requested by anon! sorry for being absent for so long sweeties :[ ive been busy in sk and w class >_<

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[iamdkayyyyy]

r: accidental confession |- svt!maknae line smau

pairing: maknae line x gn!reader (individual) | read the hyung line here !

summary: seventeen accidentally texting their crush their love confessions - thinking they were texting one of their friends !

requested: yes ! - thank you for requesting, i hope you like it :)

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