masquerade-md

[masquerade-md]

Hey! I saw that your requests were open so how about an Omegaverse fic (i think you will become the first Enhypen blog to ever write one, mwah) where the Popular! Student Jungwon goes after a not-so-popular and shy omega reader?

✩ˎˊ˗ how to claim an omega ( yjw ! )

✩ˎˊ˗ part of the untouchable series | enhypen masterlist

⤷ pairing — jungwon x fem!reader

⤷ word count — 10.2k ⤷ taglist for the series — open !

⤷ warning/s — a/b/o, alpha!jungwon, omega!reader, fem!reader, foul language, mutual pining, fated mates, shy!reader, down bad!jungwon, slow burn-ish, all characters are aged, jungwon not believing that you two are mates despite the very obvious signs, first part of the series, not proofread

✩ˎˊ˗ summary — yang jungwon has always been the definition of the word "perfect," almost around him almost praise and kiss the ground he walks on. even when it came to girls, various omegas practically throw themselves at the pureblooded alpha, but the oh-so perfect yang jungwon never pays them any mind because he already has his eyes set on a certain timid omega who has been trying her best to avoid him at all costs. and he won't stop until he gets what wants, in that case? you. or where it only took jungwon three years and three chances to finally get you.

sweet cream and lavender, those were the only thoughts running through the pureblooded alpha's mind as he sat down in his next class, surrounded by a sea of admiring gazes from his classmates, most of them being omega females. their eyes followed his every move like he was prey, a gazelle surrounded by lions, a bunny running away from wolves— ironic how he was the wolf and has the highest placement in the food chain within the four walls. but jungwon paid them no mind, he was used to the attention, immune to their advances.

ever since he stepped foot into the university, yang jungwon had been the epitome of perfection, a pureblooded alpha with his tall stature, soft yet sharp features, confident aura, one hell of a family background, and a charming smile paired with dimples that nobody could say 'no' to, it was like he was born to be praised and bowed down upon. he was the alpha that every omega dreamed of, yet he decided to remain aloof. for his heart belonged to one, and one alone.

"council meeting later at four, don't be late." jungwon felt a sharp slap behind his head, pulling him away from his thoughts. a low growl instictively formed in his throat, but as he recognized the voice and the scent that accompanied it, his shoulders slumped and he rolled his eyes.

turning around, he came face to face with one of his best friend's and fellow alpha, lee heeseung— who also happened to be the student council vice president, with a shit-eating grin on the older male's face.

''for fuck's sake, i'm literally the president.'' jungwon growled, his voice dripping with irritation , startling the beta sitting beside him who had been minding his own business. jungwon sent an apologetic look towards hum before redirecting his irritation towards the senior as he rubbed the back of his head where heeseung's slap had landed.

heeseung chuckled, the sound falling on deaf ears on the loud room as took a step closer, seemingly unfazed by jungwon's anger. "you're the president yet you can't control that anger of yours," he remarked, his tone teasing. "you weren't like this before, what has gotten into you?"

he wanted to scream: 'sweet cream and lavender, the omega sitting two seats in front of me, the only girl plaguing my mind, my omega, claim, mark, mate.' but instead, he forced a nonchalant shrug. "nothing's gotten into me," jungwon replied curtly, his tone dismissive towards the older alpha, yet his stare continued to bore behind your back.

heeseung followed his gaze, pupils dilating as realization dawned on him. but before he could say anything further, he held himself back from doing so.

''what are you doing here?'' jungwon's voice cut through the air with exasperation, his annoyance seeping through even without glancing in heeseung's direction.

"i stopped by to get some documents from sunoo, but it seems like he isn't here for me to annoy," heeseung grunted, frustration evident in his tone as he scanned the large classroom in search of the mentioned male and the missing documents, yet his seat beside jungwon remained empty.

"dude, he's in the cafeteria with jay.'' jungwon snickered, still not sparing heeseung a glance. the older alpha's breath hitched at the mention of jay's name, his eyes widening. heeseung fixed his posture and made a beeline for the cafeteria.

jay and sunoo together were a force to be reckoned with, their antics often leaving chaos. as members of the student council, they held a certain level of responsibility, but when left alone, they were known to push the boundaries of what was deemed 'acceptable'. jake, their council secretary and another alpha, was often left to clean up after their antics, answering numerous calls and complaints about their 'recklessness.' yet jake always manages to save their asses, with the excuse that they were simply "pureblooded alphas who were used to everything going their way."

jungwon stifled a laugh, as he observed the confused faces of his classmates, their attention shifting from him to the well-known council vice president. the sight was amusing yet familiar, a regular occurrence— attention seemed to follow them wherever they were.

yang jungwon had grown accustomed to being the center of attention wherever he went. from a young age, he had been expected to embody the epitome of perfection, his pureblooded alpha status made doors open and people bowed in his presence. if he wanted something, all he had to do was ask, and it would be in the palm of his hands without hesitation. after all, he was the one and only yang jungwon, a name that carried power in every corner of their society.

yet, despite his status and influence, there was one thing that eluded him: you. the omega who sat just two seats away to his front, engrossed in a book probably older than the library, your presence often served him some sort of fascination that he couldn't put a finger to— and it was scary, because he never found fascination in anything. you were unlike anyone he had ever met, your quiet and gentle personality pulled him in. and your scent—oh, your scent—was simply intoxicating.

but try as he might, the young alpha found himself unable to grasp you, to claim you as his own, his own omega. and it wasn't for lack of trying; he had approached you countless times. yet each time, you slipped through his fingers like thin air.

the first time he had tried to approach you was during his freshman year, during the campus tour.

he was minding his own business, walking through the sea of students with practiced ease, his steps confident as he made his way across the campus hallways. he was a first year yet his name already put fear in other people's minds. yang jungwon, the golden boy of the yang family, a pureblooded alpha that can ruin your life just by making one call, the god and savior of their generation as they call him.

but amidst the chaos, his attention was drawn to your figure standing near the student guide that you were listening so well to, the student guide that he didn't bother knowing the name of. you seemed like you belonged there, your louis vuitton bag and your whole being was engulfed by chanel from head to toe yet your quiet presence was a stark contrast to the other omega's standing next to you.

intrigued, he started walking towards your direction, swiftly moving away from the three senior alpha's he was already familiar with before stepping in the university. with a charming smile firmly in place, he approached you, his footsteps light and confident as he closed stopped right in front of you.

"hey there," jungwon started, his voice smooth and friendly as he looked at you. "enjoying the tour?"

"hello," your response was polite but guarded, your eyes darting away from the handsome alpha's gaze as you muttered a brief affirmation. "it's okay, i guess." jungwon lowly hummed, your scent was slightly off, maybe it was because of nervousness? he didn't bother asking.

"so what brings you here?" the young alpha asked, his tone playful as he gestured to the sea of students surrounding the both of you. his scent was the first thing that greeted you and god was it intoxicating. he smelled like whiskey and cedarwood and it enveloped you, wrapping around your senses that left you feeling dizzy and disoriented. it was as if his scent was calling to you, and it messed with your mind in ways you didn't know were possible.

you blinked, momentarily taken aback by the intensity of his presence and the warmth by his smile. his eyes held nothing but curiosity as he waited for your response. despite your efforts to maintain your composure, you found yourself at a loss for words, the smell of his being and his proximity was making you and your omega feel breathless.

you just met him and this dimpled alpha was already doing things to you.

"i, uh, i'm just here for the tour like every first year," you stammered, your voice barely above a whisper as you struggled to form words in front of the alpha that you didn't even know the name of.

jungwon's smile only widened at your response, he noticed the shift in the air, the way his scent mingled with yours and it sent shivers down your spine. you scent, sweet scent and lavender, pulled him and messed with his senses.

you were startled when his scent only got stronger, a thoughtful looked crossed the alpha's features. "by the way," he said, his voice soft but firm, "what's your name?"

his question made you laugh, a shy smile tugged at the corners of your lips as you finally met his gaze. "it's (y/n)," you replied, the intensity of his gaze sending a shiver down your spine. "and yours?"

he returned your smile, "i'm jungwon. it's a pleasure to meet you, (y/n)." and not so surprisingly, your name sounded good when he said it, and it sent a rush of warmth flooding through you.

he stuck his hand out for a shake, and your cheeks dusted with pink as you took it. it was a simple gesture, but it was enough to send your heart racing and your thoughts spiraling.

suddenly, the student guide spoke, his voice cutting through the air and catching everyone's attention, including yours. "alright, everyone, if you could please gather around," he said, his tone firm yet cheerful as he gestured towards the group. "we're going to move on to the next part of the tour."

with a quick muttered excuse, you turned away from the male you now know as jungwon, the warmth of his smile still lingering in your mind as you hurried to join the rest of the group.

meanwhile, jungwon watched you go. he couldn't explain it, but there was something about you that drew him in, something that made him want to know more about the omega who had caught his attention without any effort. perhaps you were his mate, but he wasn't delusional enough to jump into conclusions.

"hey man, i found them." heeseung's voice interrupted his thoughts, pulling him back once again to reality. jungwon tore his gaze from the back of your head to the classroom doors.

heeseung stood at the doorway, his expression being a mixture of amusement and annoyance as he gestured towards the younger alpha to come with him. jungwon followed his friend's gaze, a smirk tugging at the corners of his lips as he stood up from his seat, effortlessly catching attention as he strode towards heeseung.

as he passed by you, jungwon couldn't help but glance in your direction. your eyes briefly met his, and for a moment, time seemed to stand still. he saw the faint blush coat your cheeks as you quickly turned back to the book in your hands, and it was something that didn't escape his notice.

with a knowing smirk, jungwon continued on his way, his thoughts momentarily lingering on you. it amused him to no end that despite his advances, you still managed to evade his grasp.

heeseung patted his back, "come on, let's go get those troublemakers," the senior said with a chuckle, walking towards the cafeteria where jay and sunoo were no doubt stirring up trouble.

jungwon nodded, the smirk still playing at his lips as he followed heeseung.

heseung glanced at jungwon, a curious expression crossing his features as they made their way through the bustling halls. "why are you suddenly in a good mood?" he asked.

jungwon chuckled, "i told you, it's nothing." he replied with a casual shrug, but his subtle smirk betrayed him once again."

the older male arched an eyebrow, shooting jungwon a skeptical look. "nothing my ass, spit it out," he prodded.

jungwon nodded subtly back to the direction of his room, knowing that heeseung would understand the implication. "ah, i see. so it's about (y/n), huh?" he asked, his tone filled with amusement.

the younger chuckled in response, his expression confirming heeseung's suspicions. but the older male shook his head in mock disapproval, a teasing glint in his eyes. "you know, you've been dancing around this for a while now. why haven't you made your move yet?"

a sigh escaped jungwon's lips as he ran a hand through his hair. "trust me, i've been trying," he admitted, his tone laced with a hint of frustration. "but she keeps avoiding me for some reason." he added and turned his head, his gaze drifting towards where he last saw you.

"maybe she just hates your scent," heeseung joked, a playful smirk on his lips.

jungwon let out a soft chuckled, lightly punching heeseung's shoulder in response. "hey, my scent is irresistible, thank you very much," he retorted, a hint of amusement in his voice.

heeseung laughed, the sound echoing through the corridor as they continued on their way, but their conversation was interrupted by the sight of jay and sunoo appearing around the corner, each holding a handful of snacks.

"speak of the devils," heeseung said with a scowl, nodding towards the two that they've been looking for.

jay flashed them a mischievous grin. "hey, look at what we got!" sunoo followed suit, holding a towering stack of sandwiches. "we swear, we just bought food. no trouble was caused, not even from him," the pink haired alpha quickly added, shooting a pointed look towards jay.

jungwon chuckled at their antics, shaking his head in amusement. "heeseung has been looking all over for you."

the said male rolled his eyes and pointed at sunoo. "yeah, i need those documents from last week's meeting," he said with a pointed look towards the two.

jay's eyes widened. "oh, those documents," his blonde hair bounced as he feigned innocence. "i think i left them in...um, sunoo's dorm room?"

sunoo's eyes widened in realization. "wait, you mean the ones you spilled coffee all over?" he shot back.

heeseung's tired sigh filled the air as he rubbed his temples. "bro, what the actual fuck!?" he exclaimed, clearly done by their antics.

jungwon couldn't help but laugh at their banter as jay and sunoo scrambled to explain themselves which only seemed to worsen the situation. and the sight of a jake's furious expression as he ran towards the two alpha's was really a sight to see.

"get back here, you two fuckers!" jake's voice echoed down the corridor, the normally calm and collected alpha was now filled with irritation as his current scent of burning wood practically radiated off him, hot on jay and sunoo's heels.

with a shake of his head, heeseung joined the chase, leaving jungwon who sighed and scratched the back of his head.

the rustle of books in the library was a comforting sound to jungwon as he stepped into the vast room. rows upon rows of shelves towered over him despite his tall stature, each one filled with the knowledge and stories countless authors he grew up learning about.

sunlight streamed through the large glass windows, casting warm rays across the polished wooden floors. jungwon walked slowly, his steps muffled by the blood red carpeting beneath his feet. he ran his fingers along the spines of the books. the young alpha rounded a corner, but amidst the towering shelves and sea of quiet bodies, he saw you.

you were sitting at a wooden table with sunoo, surrounded by a stack of books, your attention fully absorbed in the pages before you. the gentle curve of your profile, illuminated by the soft glow of the reading lamp, drew him in like a moth to a flame. it was as if sunoo didn't even exist to him during this moment.

without realizing it, he found himself drawn closer, his steps cautious as he approached your table. jungwon cleared his throat softly, not wanting to startle you, but you remained lost in your own world, unaware of his presence.

sunoo gave jungwon a sly grin, his eyes flashing with amusement as he mouthed the words, "you finally got some balls to talk to her?", the teasing glint in sunoo's eyes was unmistakable.

jungwon shot sunoo a quick glare, silently willing him to be quiet, but sunoo only grinned wider, clearly enjoying jungwon's discomfort. but sunoo raised his hands in mock surrender, a playful smile still playing on his lips. sensing jungwon's need for privacy, the older pink-haired male quietly stood up.

with a nod of appreciation towards sunoo, jungwon turned his attention back to you. he raised a brow at you and your still oblivious form before before clearing his throat once again to grab your attention.

the sound echoed softly in the corner where you're seated in, cutting through the hushed atmosphere. you looked up from your book, your eyes meeting his, and for a moment, time seemed to stand still as you came face-to-face with the alpha you've been trying to avoid ever since you got there.

"hi," jungwon greeted, his voice deep but gentle as he took another cautious step closer to your table. "i hope i'm not interrupting anything."

you blinked, momentarily taken aback by his sudden approach. "oh, uh, no, not at all," you replied, your voice coming out softer than you intended. "i was just… doing something with sunoo."

as you glanced around, you noticed sunoo's absence as his now faint scent permeated through the air, a realization dawning on you that he had discreetly left while you were engrossed in your book. a faint flush of embarrassment colored your cheeks at the thought of being left alone with the alpha who had occupied your thoughts more often than you cared to admit.

with a quick mental shake, you focused your attention back on jungwon's towering figure, "um, yeah, he must have stepped out," you explained, offering a sheepish smile.

jungwon's gaze softened, his expression understanding. "qell, it's just you and me then," he remarked, his tone gentle as he gestured towards the seat sunoo had vacated.

you nodded, a small smile tugging at the corners of your lips as you shifted in your seat, well aware of jungwon's presence beside you. but your breath got caught in your throat as his scent washed over you, it was as if every inhale filled your lungs with the essence of yang jungwon himself.

"so, what brought you here?" jungwon's voice broke through the quiet tension that hung between you, his words pulling you back to the present moment. you swallowed nervously, momentarily taken aback by the question.

"i, uh, i just needed a quiet place to finish this," you replied and pointed towards the pile of books resting on the table, your voice wavering slightly as you tried to regain your composure.

jungwon took a peek and nodded, his expression softening, "partners with sunoo for the lab report, huh?" he question, a hint of curiosity in his tone. "sounds like you've got your hands full." he snickered.

you nodded, a small smile playing on your lips at jungwon's understanding. "yeah, you could say that," you replied with a chuckle, appreciating his humor. "sunoo always has a way of making things… interesting."

jungwon's lips curved into a knowing smile as finally he prepared to asked your reason behind your avoidance, but before he could utter a word, the shrill ring of the bell echoed through the library, signaling the end of your free periods. he cursed softly under his breath, his gaze flickering to the clock on the wall.

and before he knew it, you were already walking away and the young alpha found himself unable to tear his gaze away from your retreating figure. there was something about the way you moved, the grace in your steps, that held his attention captive.

with a sigh, he reluctantly tore his gaze away and closed his eyes in exasperation.

this wasn't the first time you'd tried avoiding him in the same room, after all.

it was a rainy afternoon, the soft pitter-patter of raindrops against the library windows creating a soothing sound to the otherwise silent atmosphere. a second year yang jungwon had entered the library, piles of paper tucked under his arm.

heads turned to catch a glimpse of the prominent alpha walking through the aisles of books. some stole glances filled with admiration, while others seemed intimidated by his aura that reeked of authority despite being only a sophomore. yet, he paid no mind to the curious stares, his focus solely on finding the resources he needed for his weekly student council report as the secretary.

"you done?" jungwon turned to see ni-ki grinning at him, his playful demeanor a welcome distraction from the seriousness of his task. ni-ki was a first year alpha, known for his mischievous antics and his tousled hair and bright eyes that seemed to sparkle with mischief.

"just about," jungwon replied with a chuckle, adjusting the stack of papers in his arms. "i wanna fucking curse the living hell out of heeseung and jay for telling me that the student council was all sunshine and rainbows, though." he shook his head, a wry smile playing on his lips as he recalled heeseung— the current president's words of encouragement when he took on the role of secretary.

"where's sunoo? i thought he was coming with us," jungwon asked, furrowing his brows in confusion.

"i dunno, he said he'd be coming here with someone," ni-ki mumbled, scratching his head.

an ever so familiar smell of lavender overtook jungwon's senses, and his eyes darted frantically around the library. qqithout a second thought, he grabbed Ni-ki by his hoodie, pulling him along as he followed the scent towards the source. ni-ki stumbled, caught off guard by the sudden pull and even managed to shout a small, "what the fuck, bro!?", but he quickly caught on and allowed himself to be dragged along.

finally, they reached the center of the library where the chandelier glowed softly above them, casting a warm, golden light over the scene. there, jungwon spotted sunoo chatting idly with the very same omega who'd been avoiding him like the plague since day one. the stone-cold stiff demeanor of yang jungwon can be heard cracking as his heart skipped a beat.

"so i asked jungwon if he wanted to come, and he literally threw a pen towards my face!" sunoo quietly exclaimed towards his pretty omega friend walking beside him.

it was no doubt that the omega— you, were indeed very pretty. your delicate features were highlighted by the soft glow of the library lights, and the way your eyes sparkled as you listened intently to the frustrated sunoo. ni-ki snorted at the memory, while jungwon only rolled his eyes, a small smirk playing on his lips.

"are you done talking about me behind my back?" jungwon teasingly asked as he approached sunoo and you, his voice carrying a playful tone despite his authoritative aura.

jungwon's presence alone seemed to command attention, drawing your gaze despite the already deeping flush creeping up your cheeks. the faint scent of whiskey and cedarwood surrounding him made your mind hazy.

sunoo's frustration melted into amusement as he shot jungwon a playful glare. "talking about you? who, us? never," he replied, his tone dripping with sarcasm. jungwon's smirk widened as he leaned in closer, his alpha pheromones swirling around you, making your heart race. "well, if you're done gossiping about my pen-throwing skills, you— kim sunoo, promised to take these papers to heeseung."

sunoo's eyes widened in realization as jungwon shoved the pile of papers under his arm. he let out a grunt of annoyance, shooting jungwon a glare. "oh, come on, mr. perfect yang jungwon. can't a guy have a little fun gossiping with his best friend without getting roped into paperwork duty?" he grumbled, as he shot you a glance.

jungwon chuckled, the sound sending a shiver down your spine. despite addressing sunoo, his gaze remained fixed on you, his intense cat-like eyes seeming to pierce through to your very being.

"rules are rules, sunoo. and you know heeseung doesn't take kindly to late papers," he replied, his words hung in the air, each syllable carrying the weight of his authority. Bbut it wasn't just his authority that captured your attention—it was the way he effortlessly managed to capture everyone's attention despite speaking in a hushed tone.

"fine, fine, i'm going. but i call dibs on ni-ki," sunoo declared, a mischievous grin on his face as ni-ki gave him a thumbs up.

"fine with me, but i'm coming with you both," jungwon shrugged, his tone casual yet decisive. he then pointed towards you, a small smirk playing on his lips. "but i'm taking (y/n) with me."

your heart skipped a beat at jungwon's unexpected declaration, and you blinked in surprise, momentarily taken aback by his sudden attention. sunoo's snicker turned into a full-blown chuckle at jungwon's remark.

what made you catch your breath was not just the alpha's sudden attention, but the fact that he remembered your name despite only interacting with him properly once during your freshman year.

how could he not remember you? you were the omega that plagued his mind and never left his thoughts.

"are you sure? i might just bother you, it's official student council business anyways after all." you mumbled, instinctively beginning to twirl a strand of your hair between your fingers, a nervous habit that often surfaced.

"it would be fun with you around. means that i won't get stuck with these two knuckleheads," sunoo grunted as he started walking towards the gigantic wooden doors, his tone carrying a hint of sarcasm.

as the four of you approached the towering doors of the student council room, none other than park sunghoon swung them open with a dramatic flair that only he can accomplish, his eyes narrowed as he pointed accusingly at sunoo.

"you!" sunghoon exclaimed, his voice carrying a mixture of annoyance as he locked eyes with sunoo. the fox-liked male froze in his tracks, a look of innocence crossing his face as he raised an eyebrow in mock surprise. "me?" he replied.

sunghoon let out an exasperated sigh, shaking his head in disbelief. "you know exactly what you did," he retorted, a hint of amusement softening his stern expression. "heeseung's looking for you, now." sunoo shrugged nonchalantly as he stepped inside the room, jungwon and ni-ki trailing behind him.

ni-ki glanced around, his brow furrowing in confusion. "hey, where did (y/n) go?" he quipped.

"who?" sunghoon raised a brow at the new name, his expression puzzled.

sunoo, caught off guard by ni-ki's question, quickly looked around and shook his head. "oh, you know, (y/n)," he replied with forced nonchalance. jungwon shot sunoo a warning glance, silently urging him to stop. the room seemed to shrink in on itself, every pair of eyes now trained on him, waiting for his response.

sunoo, ever the mischievous little shit, couldn't resist the opportunity to break through jungwon's stone-cold demeanor even further. "my friend that jungwon has been crushing on for two years now, or was it thr—"

before sunoo could finish his sentence, jungwon's patience reached its limit. with a swift motion, he elbowed sunoo hard, the impact causing sunoo to choke on air, his words cut off abruptly. jungwon's action was more forceful than he had intended, but he couldn't bear to hear any more of sunoo's teasing, especially not in front of sunghoon who wouldn't let him live it down.

jungwon's jaw tightened at sunoo's words, a faint blush creeping up his cheeks despite his best efforts to maintain his composure. he shot sunoo a warning look, but it only seemed to fuel the older's determination to push his buttons.

"and who could blame you?" sunoo continued, his tone laced with mock innocence. "she's your mate after all, no?" his words hung in the air, the room falling into a stunned silence at sunoo's unexpected revelation. jungwon's eyes widened in shock, his heart skipping a beat at the mention of the word: mate.

jungwon opened his mouth to respond, but no words came out. he felt as if the ground had opened up beneath him, swallowing him whole. the realization hit him like a truck, so that's why you drew him in so much, the way his heart raced every time you were near, the protective instinct that flared up around you— it all made sense now.

taking a deep breath, jungwon finally found his voice, though it came out more strained than he intended. "i… i didn't realize it myself," he admitted, his eyes darting to you the hallway then back to the group. "it's not something i wanted to burden anyone with, especially not (y/n)."

jungwon stared at the empty hallway leading outside the student council room, where you had managed to slip away. maybe sunghoon's dramatic entrance had startled you. either way, you managed to slip away, and a wave of worry washed over him.

"great," jungwon muttered under his breath, his mind racing with thoughts of where you might have gone. "just great."

the bright light of the library chandelier shining over his closed eyelids and a sudden pull on his ear snapped jungwon back into reality. he winced and turned to see sunghoon grinning mischievously, his fingers still holding onto jungwon's ear.

"daydreaming about your mate, huh?" sunghoon teased, his voice low enough not to attract too much attention from others in the library.

jungwon swatted sunghoon's hand away, "shut the fuck up, sunghoon," he muttered, his tone half-pleading, half-annoyed. he couldn't afford to let his mate become a topic of gossip, especially not now.

sunoo who just came back after leaving, saw another chance to push jungwon's buttons. "hey, it's not every day you find out the stone-cold president of the student council has a soft spot," he quipped, his grin widening.

jungwon glared at sunoo, but the usual intimidation seemed to have lost its edge. "just drop it." he warned, his voice carrying a mixture of frustration and annoyance.

the pinkenette's grin softened slightly as he raised his hands in mock surrender. "alright, alright, i'll back off. for now," he hummed.

sunghoon, sensing the tension and eager to move things along, rolled his eyes. "come on, you're late to your own meeting, goddammit," he said, starting to walk towards the door. "we have actual work to do."

the student council room was noisy with activity as the meeting went on. papers were scattered across the long wooden table, and the soft hum of voices filled the air. jungwon sat at the head of the table, his expression a mask of calm authority.

a disagreement broke out between two people, their voices rising above the general murmur. jungwon's attention snapped back to the present as he realized one of them, a beta junior named minjae and heeseung himself as minjae was questioning a proposal jungwon and heeseung had spent weeks preparing.

"i just don't see how this new policy is going to benefit anyone," minjae argued, his tone stubborn and dismissive. "it's too restrictive, and it's going to make students resent the council even more— a curfew after one in the morning, what are we? middle schoolers?"

jungwon's jaw tightened as he listened to the objections. he had anticipated some resistance and disagreements, but minjae's tone bordered on insolence, challenging not just the proposal but the council's authority as well— yang jungwon's authority.

"minjae," jungwon huffed, his voice calm but carrying a cold undertone, "this policy is designed to ensure the safety and well-being of all students. we've already seen incidents where the lack of such regulations has led to serious problems."

minjae scoffed, crossing his arms. "serious problems? or just problems that make the council look bad? this feels more like a power play than anything else."

jungwon darkly chuckled, the sound resonating through the room like a thunderstorm. leaning forward slightly, he let his scent fill the room— what was once whiskey and cedarwood turned into the foul smell of burning coffee and wood; the subtle but undeniable aura of dominance making the air feel heavier. heeseung and jay exchanged uneasy glances, aware of what the young alpha could do when pushed to his limits.

"power play?" jungwon growled, his voice low and dangerous. "who do you think you're talking to?"

minjae faltered for a moment, visibly affected by the intensity of Jungwon's burning scent and undeniable authority. but his stubbornness drove him to continue. "i just think there are better ways to handle this. ways that don't involve overstepping your bounds."

jungwon's eyes glinted with a cold fury, his anger a quiet storm that promised chaos and destruction of the beta sitting to the further side of the table. "overstepping my bounds?" he asked, his tone dangerously calm. "let me make something perfectly clear, minjae. my bounds are defined by the responsibility i carry to protect and lead this council. the responsibility that i carry as yang jungwon."

with a swift motion, jungwon stood up, slamming his hands on the table. the loud crack echoed through the room, silencing everyone instantly. "let me remind you all of what happens when we fail to act as decent members of this council," jungwon continued, his voice now a low, threatening growl.

"every time we hesitate, every time we allow chaos to happen, we fail in our duty. this policy is not about power; it is about protection." jungwon hummed, his voice cutting through the tense silence "and if you can't see that, you might as well surrender your position to someone more competent."

his words hung heavy in the air, a reminder of the standards jungwon demanded from his fellow council members. minjae shifted uncomfortably in his seat, the weight of the alpha's words pressing down on him.

"but—," minjae began, his voice faltering under jungwon's unwavering gaze.

"no buts," jungwon interjected, his tone firm. "we cannot afford to entertain doubts or indecision."

minjae swallowed hard, his defiance waning in the face of jungwon's authority. with a nod, he conceded, "i… iunderstand."

jungwon nodded in response, his expression softened slightly but still bearing the weight of his authority. "good. Now, let's proceed with the vote. all in favor?"

one by one, hands rose around the table. jungwon's smirk was subtle but it was there, and it served as a silent acknowledgment of his victory.

"now if you'll excuse me," jungwon began, his voice commanding yet composed, "i have more important matters to attend to. all the other higher-up members are excused as well." he glanced around the table, meeting each council member's eyes with finality. "i'm letting soobin take over this meeting."

as the alpha began to walk away, six figures rose from their seats and followed him out of the room, their expressions unreadable.

as the seven alphas disappeared from view, jake let out a snort, his words breaking the silence. "dude, i thought minjae was going to die," jake laughed , his voice filled with amusement, as they walked towards the stairs leading down to the university lobby.

heeseung chuckled, shaking his head at Jake's comment. "well, thankfully it didn't come to that," he replied, his tone teasing.

"he'll either be dead or lose his position," jay chimed in, his voice carrying a hint of sarcasm as he joined the conversation.

jungwon glanced at jay, a small smirk tugging at the corner of his lips. "let's hope for his sake it's the latter, yeah?" the president quipped, his tone dry but tinged with amusement.

"didn't we leave a little early? what time's the banquet anyways?" sunoo walked beside them, his stride matching theirs as they made their way down the stairs.

they all carried themselves with confidence, their shoulders squared and heads held high. the echoes of their private tutors voices from their younger years were etched in their minds: 'stand up straight with your head held high, remember who you are.'

sunghoon chuckled at sunoo's question, adjusting his tie with a flick of his wrist. "we left a little bit late, to be honest. the banquet starts at 7:00 pm," he answered, a smirk playing on his lips.

heeseung nodded in agreement, a glint of excitement in his eyes. "plenty of time to make a grand entrance," he added with a smirk.

jay grinned, his gaze sweeping over the bustling university lobby, where familiar faces mingled among strangers. "to hell if they get angry at us for being late; our families made this big event happen," he quipped, earning a round of chuckles from the group.

"please, young master, stop fussing or we won't get anything done at all." the annoyance emitting from jungwon's personal assistant, who had been with him since he was young, echoed in the hotel room where he was currently situated.

jungwon let out an exasperated sigh, his reflection staring back at him from the mirror as he adjusted his tie for what felt like the hundredth time. "i just want everything to be perfect," he muttered.

beside him, the hair stylist huffed in irritation as jungwon shifted again, causing strands of hair to fall out of place. jungwon offered a small apology, realizing his restlessness was causing a mess to those around him.

"young master, if i may," his assistant paused, as if trying to find the right words. "you've never been this… fidgety before an event. what changed?"

jungwon's gaze flickered away from his reflection for a moment. he hesitated before responding, his voice barely above a whisper. "i'll be seeing someone tonight. someone important."

his assistant's eyebrows raised in curiosity. "do i know who this person is?" he inquired, his tone laced with intrigue.

jungwon hesitated for a moment before answering. "do you know the (l/n) family?" he asked, his voice slightly strained.

the young alpha's assistant nodded knowingly. "ah, young master, who doesn't?" he replied with a knowing smile, his eyes reflecting understanding. "I see. well, I'm sure everything will go perfectly tonight. just relax and be yourself. you'll do wonderfully, as you always do."

jungwon managed a dry chuckle, though it held a hint of bitterness. "it seems like she hates me," he confessed, the weight of his words revealed a layer of vulnerability beneath his typically calm exterior.

his assistant's brow furrowed in concern, sensing the frustration within his young master. "why is that?" he asked gently, his voice filled with curiosity.

jungwon's expression darkened slightly, a shadow crossing his features as he sighed. "i've been seeing her for three years. around the school halls, classrooms, the library— everywhere. but she's always avoiding me," he confessed, the frustration evident in his voice as he recounted the countless encounters where he had tried to catch your attention, only to be met with the lingering smell of your scent.

"it's like she goes out of her way to avoid me," he continued, his tone was a mix of confusion and longing. "i don't understand why. i've tried to approach her, to strike up a conversation, but she always slips away before i can even say a word."

heeseung's strong scent of red wine leather and suddenly jungwon both as the older alpha strode into the room.

"i told you, maybe she just hates your scent," heeseung's blunt remark cut through the tension, his tone laced with a hint of amusement as he offered his perspective on the situation. jungwon's eyes narrowed at the comment, a small growl escaping his throat at the sudden intrusion. putting two pureblooded alphas in the same room wasn't the best idea, but jungwon only huffed out at his friend, his irritation evident in the way his shoulders tensed.

"or maybe she hates all of your guts and avoids me because you all," jungwon retorted, his voice clipped as he shot a pointed look at heeseung who merely shrugged.

"whatever it is, you'll figure it out," heeseung said with a smirk, clearly enjoying jungwon's discomfort, it made his inner alpha howl in laughter. "now, stop worrying about it. we've got a banquet to attend, remember?"

jungwon's jaw tightened, but he nodded curtly in acknowledgment. heeseung's teasing was the last thing he needed right now, especially when thoughts of you were already swirling through his mind.

"plus, you have the whole evening to go look for her." heeseung added with a knowing grin, his tone light but suggestive. jungwon shot him a glare, but the playful smirk remained on heeseung's face.

the loud chatter and classical music overtook jungwon's senses as he stepped into the grand ballroom of the luxurious venue hosting tonight's banquet. the vast space was adorned with sparkling chandeliers, intricate floral arrangements, and elegant decor.

the young alpha's cat-like eyes scanned the room, searching for any familiar faces among the sea of attendees. he spotted ni-ki and sunghoon engaged in conversation with a group of prestigious guests, their charismatic presence drawing attention from all corners of the room.

jungwon glanced at heeseung and the two shared a knowing look, the pair squared their shoulders and adjusted their suits, movements deliberate and composed.

tonight, he was more than just a young alpha heir attending a social event— he was a representative of the yang family, and he intended to uphold their legacy with grace and authority.

as jungwon descended the spiral stairs, his presence commanded attention, and a hush seemed to blanket the entire room. heads turned, whispers exchanged, as guests took notice of the young alpha making his entrance.

the dim lighting cast a soft glow over his features, accentuating his strong jawline and the intensity of his gaze. with each step, his confidence radiated outward, his demeanor exuding an aura of authority and power.

this genaration's god and savior, as they called him.

heeseung followed closely behind, mirroring the same power and grace. his presence exuded confidence and authority, complementing jungwon's own commanding aura.

"always with the dramatic entrance." a voice drawled, making the two alphas tear their attention away from the crowd. glancing to the right, they were met with a pair of ever so familiar fox-like eyes that anyone could recognize.

"there you are, you little shit," jungwon acknowledged, a hint of a smile tugging at the corners of his mouth.

sunoo, with his signature playful grin, approached them with an air of nonchalance. he was dressed impeccably, his suit perfectly tailored to his frame, and his presence reeked and screamed 'pureblooded alpha', his aura was less imposing than the two standing in front of him, he was still undeniably magnetic.

"couldn't help but notice the hush that fell over the room as you two made your grand entrance," sunoo teased, his tone light but with a sharp edge of mischief. "it's like watching a scene from a movie— two alphas descending from on high to mingle with us mere mortals."

heeseung chuckled, shaking his head as sunghoon's voice erupted from his right, "stop talking as if you aren't one yourself." he retorted, his tone carrying a mix of amusement and exasperation.

sunoo laughed, a melodic sound that seemed to capture the attention of those around them. "oh, come now, dude. you know i prefer to keep things interesting. besides, where's the fun in being just another alpha when you can be so much more?"

"you all are acting like children," jay chided, approaching the group with a smirk, jake and ni-ki trailing behind him. he held two glasses of champagne, one of which jungwon promptly snatched from his hand. jay's eyes followed him as he watched his friend take a long sip, clearly trying to calm his nerves.

heeseung raised his glass in a mock toast. "to our savior, the yang heir who's finally growing some balls and is trying to find his mate as we speak."

jungwon shot heeseung a glare but couldn't help the small smirk tugging at the corners of his mouth. "very funny," he muttered, taking another sip of his champagne.

jake chuckled, adjusting his tie. "hey, if it gets you to finally talk to her, i'm all for it."

"dude, I don't know if I have hearing problems, but i swear i just heard some old people talking about jungwon's engagement," ni-ki chimed in, his tone half-joking but laced with curiosity.

jungwon's expression darkened slightly at the mention of an engagement. "engagement?" he echoed, his voice filled with a mix of irritation and disbelief. he couldn't even talk to his own mate, let alone think about an engagement.

ni-ki shrugged, glancing around the room. "yeah, you know how these events are. rumors fly faster than anything."

heeseung's eyes narrowed thoughtfully. "it wouldn't be surprising if people started speculating. the yang family is more than well-known, and people love to gossip."

jay nodded in agreement. "especially when there's a young, eligible alpha like you, jungwon. they're bound to talk."

the young alpha let out a frustrated sigh. "well, they're wrong. there's no engagement. not yet, anyway. i don't even know at this point." his voice carried nothing but confusion, the weight of the said 'rumor' finally dawning on him.

heeseung raised an eyebrow, his usual playful nonchalant demeanor replaced with confusion. "you don't know? what's going on, jungwon? this isn't like you."

jungwon ran a hand through his hair, messing up the careful styling. "i can't even talk to (y/n) without her disappearing and now i just found out that i'm supposedly engaged? goddammit!." his voice rose with frustration, drawing the attention of a few nearby guests who quickly looked away, sensing the tension.

jake stepped forward, placing a calming hand on jungwon's shoulder. "hey, take it easy. this whole thing sounds like a mess, but we'll figure it out. maybe it's just a misunderstanding."

jungwon shook his head, his eyes filled with a mix of anger and despair. "i don't think it's just a rumor, jake. my parents have been hinting at it for months, but I didn't think they'd actually go through with it without telling me."

sunghoon, who had been quietly listening, finally spoke up. "have you tried talking to your parents about it? maybe they have a reason for keeping you in the dark."

"i have no idea where they are," jungwon replied, frustration lacing his words. he scanned the room again, hoping to catch a glimpse of his parents among the elegantly dressed attendees, but they were nowhere to be seen.

jake, always observant, pointed towards a group near the buffet table. "isn't that your sister over there?"

jungwon's eyes followed sunoo's gesture, landing on his older sister, jia. she was standing with a few friends, her bright smile contrasting sharply with his current mood. taking a deep breath, jungwon made his way towards her, his friends following closely behind.

jia turned, her eyes widening slightly in surprise. "jungwon! i didn't expect to see you down here so soon," she said, her tone cheerful but quickly noticing the furrow in his eyebrows. "what's wrong?"

"do you know where mom and dad are?" jungwon asked, trying to keep his voice calm.

jia glanced around before nodding. "i think they're in the vip lounge, talking with some important guests. why? what's going on?"

jungwon hesitated for a moment, not wanting to burden his sister with his frustrations, but he knew he needed to get to the bottom of this. "i just found out there's a rumor going around about my engagement. i need to talk to them."

his sister's eyes widened in shock. "engagement? but… you aren't supposed to know it yet…" she trailed off but didn't miss the shock plastered on her brother's face, her expression turned serious. "i'll take you to them. come on."

jungwon shared a nod with heeseung and the rest of the group before following his sister out of the bustling area. as they walked, he couldn't help but ask. "what do you mean i wasn't supposed to know? you knew?"

jia bit her lip, glancing at her brother with a mixture of guilt and concern. "i found out by accident a days weeks ago. i overheard Mom and Dad talking about it. i didn't think it was my place to tell you."

the young alpha's jaw tightened, his frustration mounting. "so everyone knew except for me? that's just great," he muttered sarcastically.

jia sighed and reached out, placing a hand on his arm. "i'm sorry, jungwon. i should have said something. i just thought… i didn't want to cause any unnecessary stress until they were ready to talk to you."

jungwon sighed, his anger fading away. "i get it. it's just that this whole thing is a mess. i need to talk to them and figure out what's going on."

as they approached the doors of the vip lounge, jungwon took a deep breath, trying to steady his nerves. one look at the siblings, and the guards let them in wordlessly. the room beyond was luxurious, filled with an air of exclusivity. the rich fabrics and decorations spoke of old money and high society.

inside, jungwon spotted his parents in deep conversation with a group of well-dressed individuals. his father, with his commanding presence, and his mother, with her elegant poise, looked every bit the powerful figures they were. surrounding them were other notable figures from influential families.

"mom, dad," jungwon called out, his voice steady but firm. the conversation ceased as his parents turned to face him, surprise and curiosity evident in their expressions.

"jungwon, what's the matter?" his father asked, his tone a mix of concern and authority.

the young alpha took a deep breath, stepping forward. "i need to talk to you. it's important."

"ah, you must be jungwon," a voice he recognized interrupted, making him snap his head in its direction. mr. (l/n), with his intimidating presence, was seated nearby, his gaze sharp and calculating. his wife, mrs. (l/n) seated beside him with a kind smile as she observed the heir of the yang family.

jungwon's heart skipped a beat as he realized the implications of mr. (l/n)'s presence. if (y/n)'s parents were here, it could only mean one thing— you were the one jungwon was supposedly getting engaged to. but he didn't want to jump into conclusions just yet.

"mr. (l/n)," the young alpha greeted, trying to maintain his composure despite his inner alpha clawing within him. "what brings you here?"

mr. (l/n) regarded him with a knowing smile, his eyes glittering with hidden meaning. "i'm here to discuss matters of mutual interest with your parents," he replied in a hushed tone, his expression unreadable.

the realization hit him like a ton of bricks, and a mixture of shock and disbelief washed over him. his mind raced with questions, but one thing was clear: he needed answers, and he needed them now.

"oh, it was very impolite of me to appear without notice. i deeply apologize," jungwon's older sister, jia, interjected, coming to his aid. sensing her brother's silent plea, jia nodded subtly, her expression conveying understanding and support. "let's go," she murmured to jungwon, her voice barely above a whisper.

as they moved away from the vip lounge, the air seemed to grow heavier, each step jungwon took were gnawing at his insides. he couldn't shake off the feeling of unease.

"have you seen (y/n)?" jungwon abruptly asked his sister, his voice tinged with a sense of urgency. The mere mention of your name seemed to do things to him.

jia glanced at him, her expression softening. "i saw her earlier; she was in the garden," she replied, her voice calm but laced with concern.

he let out a sigh of relief he didn't know that he's been holding in. "the garden," jungwon repeated.

with a quick goodbye to his sister, the alpha wasted no time. he took off towards the garden, paying no heed to the curious glances of onlookers as he ran like a madman.

the lush greenery of the garden enveloped jungwon as he entered, the scent of blooming flowers filling his senses with their sweet fragrance. the soft rustle of leaves in the gentle breeze were a stark contrast to the darkness his gaze held.

the moonlight filtered through the canopy of trees above, casting patterns of light and shadow on the ground below. his senses were heightened as he kept on walking.

with each step he took, the scent of sweet cream and lavender grew stronger, pulling him like a magnet. it was a scent he recognized more than his own name, one that made him question his hold on his own sanity, the very scent that belonged to the omega that he had already claimed as his from the moment your eyes met his.

and then, there you were, standing near a bush of blooming roses, bathed in the soft glow of the moonlight. you looked as beautiful as ever, the gentle light accentuating the delicate features of your face and the soft curves of your figure. your dress hugged your curves in all the right places, the fabric flowing gracefully around you as if it were made just for you.

for a moment, time seemed to stand still as jungwon took in the sight of you, his heart swelling with love and longing. everything else faded away, leaving only the two of you under the moonlight.

"i finally got you to myself, omega." he breathed, his voice a low whisper filled with affection and desire. there was a sense of longing in his voice, as if he had been chasing you for an eternity and now, finally, you were within his grasp.

the familiar voice made you turn around, your heart skipping a beat at the sight of jungwon standing there. he looked perfect, bathed in the moonlight, his features softened by the gentle glow. his eyes filled with a mixture of emotions. you felt a rush of warmth spread through you at the intensity of his gaze, his words sending shivers down your spine.

"jungwon," you whispered, your voice barely above a breath as you took in the sight of him.

"i've been looking for you," he said softly, his voice filled with sincerity as he reached out to touch your hand. "i couldn't bear the thought of being apart from you any longer."

you felt tears welling up in your eyes at his words, overwhelmed by his sincerity. without a second thought, you stepped into his embrace, feeling the warmth of his body and his scent enveloping you.

"i'm sorry I've been avoiding you," you confessed, your voice muffled against his chest. "i was scared at the thought of you rejecting me as your mate."

jungwon pulled back slightly, his hands cupping your face as he looked into your eyes with nothing else but love. "i would never reject you, (Y/N)," he said firmly, his gaze filled with love and devotion. "you're my mate, my other half. and nothing in this world could ever change that."

"i've been in love with you ever since you avoided me during our freshman tour," he admitted, his usually calm voice trembling with emotion as he met your gaze.

jungwon's expression softened as he stared deeper into your eyes, a tender smile playing at the corners of his lips. "i knew from that moment that you were someone special," he confessed, his thumb gently brushing against your cheek. "and i've been waiting for the day when I could finally tell you how much you mean to me."

"you've always had a way of making my heart race, even when you ran away from me, even when i tried to ignore it," jungwon whispered, his voice barely above a breath as he leaned in closer, his forehead resting against yours. "i love you, (y/n), more than words can express."

"can i kiss you?" jungwon's voice was barely above a whisper, his breath warm against your skin as he looked into your eyes as if you would disappear if he looked away. you nodded, unable to find your voice as you leaned in closer, your breath mingling with his.

with a soft smile, jungwon closed the distance between you, his lips capturing yours in a gentle yet passionate kiss. it felt like coming home, the warmth of his touch melting away any lingering doubts or fears. surrounded by the beauty of the garden and the sweet scent of flowers, all that mattered was the love you shared.

the sunlight peeked through the curtains, casting a warm glow into the room as the new day began. in the peaceful morning, the both of you lay entwined in each other's arms, the remnants of sleep still lingering on your faces.

with a soft smile, jungwon pressed a gentle kiss to your forehead, his heart overflowing with love for the omega beside him. "good morning, my love," he whispered, his voice filled with tenderness as he brushed a strand of hair away from your face.

you stirred at Jungwon's touch, a sleepy smile tugging at your lips as you gazed up at him. "good morning, alpha," you murmured, your voice still heavy with sleep. Yyu relished in the warmth of his embrace, feeling a sense of contentment wash over you as you snuggled closer to him.

with a gentle sigh, you remembered the responsibilities of the day ahead. "we have to get to school in a few hours," you mumbled, reluctantly pulling away from jungwon's embrace as you glanced at the clock beside his bed.

"the fuck are they going to do if i told them that i need some time with my mate? i'm literally the council president," jungwon retorted, a hint of frustration creeping into his tone.

"language!" you chided gently, a playful smile dancing on your lips as you reached out to tousle his hair affectionately. "but still, we need to go," you continued, your tone softening with understanding. "as much as i wish we could stay like this forever, duty calls, my dear alpha."

jungwon sighed reluctantly, but nodded in agreement, his gaze lingering "you're right, as always," he conceded, pressing a lingering kiss to your savoring the moment before you two attend to your responsibilties.

"but i need to scent you first," he added, his voice low and possessive, authority seeping into his tone. "can't have some stupid alphas claiming you under my watch now, huh?"

you chuckled softly at his protective demeanor, leaning into him as he pressed his nose against your neck, inhaling deeply as he left his strong scent of whiskey and cedarwood on you, his scent mingling with yours in possession.

"now we really gotta go," you said with a playful smile, gently pulling away from his embrace much to his dismay and heading towards the bathroom to freshen up before starting the day.

the sight of their intimidating student council president and pureblooded alpha, accompanied by the shy omega, wasn't a sight that the whole student body was expecting. as jungwon and you walked through the halls of the school, heads turned, whispers echoing in the air as students exchanged surprised glances.

some couldn't help but stare openly, their curiosity piqued by the unexpected pairing. others watched with a mixture of admiration and envy, recognizing the significance of the alpha and omega being together in such a public manner.

"are you sure you really want to carry that?" your voice was barely above a whisper as you pointed towards your hyperfeminine bag that jungwon was carrying with pride, amusement evident in your voice.

jungwon chuckled softly, glancing down at the bag before meeting your gaze with a playful smirk. "of course," he replied, his tone light and teasing. "it's an honor to carry something that belongs to my mate."

you couldn't help but laugh at his response, shaking your head in disbelief at the sight of the usually composed alpha carrying your very pink bag without a hint of hesitation.

the screams of shock snapped you out of your little moment, causing you to turn towards the source of the sound. heeseung, followed by the others, was striding towards the two of you, a mischievous grin plastered on his face.

"yang jungwon, you sly motherfucker!" heeseung exclaimed, his voice ringing out in the hallway as he reached the both of you.

out of instinct, you hid behind jungwon, feeling a rush of embarrassment at the sudden attention. jungwon, ever protective, instinctively moved closer, wrapping a reassuring arm around you as he faced his friends.

jay grinned at the sight, clearly amused by your reaction. "aww, look at you two. it's like a scene from a movie," he teased, his tone playful as he nudged jungwon with his elbow.

jungwon shot jay a playful glare before turning his attention back to you, his expression softening. "don't worry," he whispered, his voice soothing. "they're just teasing."

"holy fuck, who are you and what happened to the jungwon that we know!?" sunoo exclaimed, his eyes wide with mock disbelief as he approached, his tone playful.

jungwon rolled his eyes at sunoo's dramatics but couldn't suppress a small smile. "you're just jealous that i'm not scowling for once," he retorted, his tone laced with amusement.

the pink haired alpha chuckled, shaking his head in mock exasperation. "damn right, a am," he teased, flashing a grin at you. "but seriously, it's good to see you both together. about time, if you ask me."

"thanks, sunoo," you replied, your voice filled with gratitude as you glanced up at jungwon. jungwon squeezed your hand reassuringly, his gaze softening as he looked at you.

"that's how you get the omega, i guess." he murmured, his voice filled with affection.

taglist: @hoonbrry @hime98 @chae-darling @moonchus @peatchiedii @creamkwan @nyfwyeonjun @whoe-dis @woonie-muffin @caelumsjy @90sni-ki @leiomorea @junjungsunwoo @in-somnias-world @notcamii @yizhoutv @lovesickth @elairah @graythecoffeebean @skyearby @ikeumina @blckorchidd @littlebambi-isdee @immelissaaa @jakesfurry @dreamy-carat @cristy-101 @m1kkso @h4niyahcar @firstclassjaylee

© 2021 liuhsng��— reblogs are highly appreciated and please don’t hesitate to request some fics here if you want me to write anything !

[masquerade-md]

✩ˎˊ˗ bottom of the chain ( lhs ! )

✩ˎˊ˗ part of the untouchable series | enhypen masterlist

⤷ pairing — heeseung x fem!reader ⤷ word count — 12k ⤷ taglist for the series — open !

⤷ warnings — smut (minors dni), unprotected sex (wrap it before you tap it), p in v, a/b/o au, alpha!heeseung, omega!reader, fem!reader, foul language, established relationship, lowkey simp!heeseung, mentions of sexual assault, mentions of violence, mentions of sexua! harassment, non-con touching (not from heeseung), brief mentions of blood, marking, biting, mating, overstimulation, breeding kink, rough sex, aftercare, tooth-rotting fluff, mentions of the other parts from this series, not proofread

⤷ a/n — i wrote the post-fight scene while listening to love me like you do, and let me tell you, IT SLAPS | edited on 06.07.25

✩ˎˊ˗ summary — he was unapproachable, everyone knew that he was one of the people on top of the throne and a person to be looked up upon because of the various talents that he possess, and it was practically a hidden rule that lee heeseung's omega shouldn't be messed with as much as him. but some others still forget their lowly positions and cross the line. his only instinct? remind those bastards of their lowly statuses in the food chain.

It was nothing but a regular day, but the university halls were bustling with noise. Students hurried to their classes, laughter and chatter echoing off the vast walls.

As luminous shades of gold bled through the glass windows, casting a warm glow across the hallways, the sunlight painted patterns on the floors and walls. The hallways were suddenly blanketed with a hush as two figures made their way across the marble tiles.

Their presence commanded immediate attention, and their scents mixed together wasn’t for the weak—two pureblooded Alphas who reeked of authority and power. Students parted before them instinctively, a path clearing in the crowded corridor.

“Did any of them really put any thought into this proposal?” the piercing voice of the Student Council Vice President, Lee Heeseung, broke the silence. His usually calm demeanor was masked with frustration as he handed a thick folder to the President, Yang Jungwon.

Jungwon—someone that people feared to come across—took the folder as his cat-like eyes scanned the cover before flipping it open. His reputation for being icy and cold due to his standards had earned him both respect and fear among the students, whether they were a fellow Alpha, Beta, or Omega.

As he flipped open the folder, his expression remained unreadable, but the sharpness in his eyes clearly showed his annoyance. The corridor only seemed to grow quieter.

Heeseung snickered, his tone dripping with sarcasm. “It’s almost impressive how they call themselves members of the school board.” His eyes flicked towards the pages in the folder, his lip curling in disdain. “Do they really think this is acceptable? That this meets our standards?”

To say that Heeseung, the heir and youngest son of the very well-respected Lee family, was intimidating would be an understatement. He carried himself with an aura of power and authority that commanded respect and made the people around him quake in fear. As a pureblooded Alpha, his name alone was enough to send shivers down the spine of anyone who dared cross his path—and not in a very favorable light.

From a young age, Heeseung was groomed to perfection to uphold the family’s legacy within the hierarchy. With every step he took, confidence reeked off him. He’s already a formidable figure whose influence extended far beyond the walls of their prestigious estate.

But it wasn’t just his upbringing that shaped Heeseung into the Alpha he was. It was his charisma, his natural magnetism that drew Alphas and Omegas alike to him like moths to a flame. Despite his intimidating presence, there was something else to him, a magnetic pull that made it impossible to look away.

His pretty face, framed by tousled locks of dark hair and sharp features, only added to his allure. With piercing eyes that seemed to hold the secrets of the universe, he was the epitome of a perfect pureblooded Alpha.

Jungwon, unfazed by Heeseung’s sarcasm, closed the folder with a loud ‘snap’.

“We’ll have to address this immediately,” Heeseung stated as the younger Alpha handed him back the documents.

“And here I thought we could rest for today. What a shame, really,” Jungwon replied dryly, his eyes narrowed slightly as he stared at the folder that was starting to crumple under the pressure of the older’s grip.

The other students in the hallway couldn’t help but feel the weight of the stares exchanged between the two student council members, even if it wasn’t directed towards them. These were not just two ordinary individuals; they were pureblooded Alphas in every sense of the word.

As the pair rounded a corner, they were met with the laughter of the rest of the Alphas they came to know as friends, who were walking in the same direction as them, each carrying themselves with the same air of confidence and authority that marked them as pureblooded Alphas.

“What are you all laughing about?” Heeseung called out, his voice catching the attention of the group as they rounded another corner.

The older Alpha was met with the piercing gaze of Park Sunghoon, who raised a brow in amusement at Heeseung’s question.

“What are we laughing about?” Sunghoon repeated, a shit-eating grin on his face as he exchanged a knowing glance with the others. “Dude, Jay here almost punched another Alpha in the face for getting too close to his mate, and he didn’t even know her name!” he hollered.

As Sunghoon’s words rang out, Jay shot him an irritated glare before delivering a light punch to his shoulder. “Hey, watch it,” Jay barked back with a scowl. “As if you wouldn’t do the same.”

“I don’t even have a mate, you fucker,” Sunghoon retorted, rolling his eyes in mock exasperation. But his irritation quickly turned into amusement as his eyes met Heeseung’s, a smirk beginning to form on his lips.

“But this one right here does,” Sunghoon declared proudly, slinging an arm around Heeseung’s shoulders with a playful grin.

Heeseung’s expression softened for a moment, a flicker of affection flashing in his eyes at the mention of his Omega—his mate. The only person he’d die for was you.

He would move heaven and earth to keep you safe and happy, to protect you from the world and the burdens of his own responsibilities. His loyalty knew no bounds when it came to you.

Because beneath the facade of Lee Heeseung’s cold demeanor is a fiercely protective Alpha, especially when it came to those he held dear. His Omega, in particular, was his most cherished possession, and he would stop at nothing to ensure her safety and happiness. Those who dared to threaten or disrespect her would face the full force of his wrath—a reminder of the consequences of crossing a Lee.

“Yeah, but I agree with Jay,” Heeseung stated. “He should’ve punched the guy.”

Jay, who had been watching the exchange with an amused expression, raised an eyebrow in surprise at Heeseung’s unexpected agreement.

It was well-known that the Vice President preferred to handle matters with a silent approach, opting to use his power behind the scenes rather than resorting to physical violence like him.

Heeseung’s silence was more unsettling than his display of aggression, and it said a lot—a sign of the control he had over anyone and everyone.

While others might resort to loud threats or displays of violence, Heeseung’s ability to command respect through his silence alone was what set him apart. But it didn’t mean that the pureblooded Alpha didn’t pack a punch. Beneath his calm exterior was fire—fire that burned with an intensity that could not be extinguished.

“Wait, really?” Jay asked, his tone incredulous.

heeseung nodded, his gaze staring off into the vast hallway. "absolutely," he hummed, but his voice left no room for doubt. "no one messes with what we possess. yet some are stupid enough to test our patience."

“Wait, really?” Jay asked, his tone incredulous.

Heeseung nodded, his gaze staring off into the vast hallway. “Absolutely,” he hummed, but his voice left no room for doubt. “No one messes with what we possess. Yet some are stupid enough to test our patience.”

“So, can I punch him now?” Jay cheered eagerly, his fists clenching in anticipation.

“Absolutely not!” Jake’s firm voice cut through the conversation. He stepped forward, his expression stern.

“Boring,” Ni-ki yawned in response, his nonchalant demeanor contrasting with the rest of them.

“Just because Heeseung got away with beating up an Alpha last semester for just glancing at (Y/N) doesn’t mean that you should do the same,” Jake continued, his voice laced with warning as he addressed the blonde Alpha.

It was Heeseung’s turn to laugh—a deep, amused chuckle that echoed through the hallway. “Yeah, that was a different situation. But it doesn’t mean I won’t cover for you when you do punch the guy,” Heeseung said, raising his fist toward the blonde.

Jay’s eyes lit up at Heeseung’s words, and he bumped his fist against Heeseung’s with a grin. “Good to know I’ve got backup.”

But before anyone could laugh, Heeseung's expression sobered, tone dipping into something deeper, firmer.

“Jokes aside,” Heeseung said, eyes settling on Jay with quiet authority, “don’t let your instincts cloud your judgment. She ran off because she was overwhelmed, not because she hates you.”

Jay’s smile faltered, replaced by a flicker of guilt.

“You don’t need to scare her into knowing you,” Heeseung continued, voice even but edged with the weight of someone who’s seen too much. “Let her come to terms with it. Let her be ready. Being a mate doesn’t mean you get to skip over her comfort. It means you wait, even when it’s hard.”

Jay’s throat bobbed in a silent nod, shoulders sinking a little under the older Alpha’s words. There was no malice in Heeseung’s tone—only a raw, unshakable kind of understanding. The kind that came from experience.

“I didn’t mean to—” Jay started, but Heeseung lifted a hand to stop him.

“I know,” he said gently. “You’re not the type to hurt anyone. But even unintentional fear is fear. You have to earn her trust, not expect it.”

The hallway fell quiet. Even the playful glint in Ni-ki’s eyes dimmed for a moment as the gravity of Heeseung’s words settled over them.

Sunghoon nodded in agreement, arms crossed over his chest. “He’s right. Being a pureblood doesn’t mean you get to move faster. If anything, it means you slow down more than anyone else.”

Jay looked down at the floor, then back up, more grounded than before. “Got it.”

Heeseung gave him a small nod, satisfied. “Good.”

Ni-ki let out a breath. “Okay, serious big brother lecture over?”

There was a brief pause before the tension finally cracked, melting into the usual teasing banter that came with being around one another for too long.

Sunoo, who had been quiet until now, rolled his eyes and let out an exaggerated sigh. “We get it, you have Omegas and we don’t, yada-yada,” he drawled, folding his arms across his chest.

Ni-ki chuckled at the pinknette’s remark, “Jealous much?” he teased, a playful glint in his eyes.

Sunoo huffed, feigning annoyance. “Please, as if I need an Omega to complete me,” he retorted, though a small smile tugged at the corners of his mouth.

Before Heeseung could even retort, a familiar smell hit his nose. It was a scent he would recognize anywhere—yours. The sweet fragrance of strawberries and cinnamon wafted through the hallway, instantly making his inner Alpha purr in delight. His senses were heightened and his eyes zeroed on you walking alongside Jungwon’s very own Omega.

His gaze softened, the playful aura that had surrounded him moments before now completely gone. The cold, commanding presence he bore faded and was replaced by something that people rarely see: affection and vulnerability.

Lee Heeseung was a cold man. To most, he was someone whose reputation was built on his ability to remain detached to such trivial matters, and everyone knew better than to cross him.

But with you, it was different. You were his exception, the one person who could completely melt the ice that caged his heart. The moment his eyes landed on you, his entire world shifted, and the banter of his friends faded right before him.

As you and Jungwon’s mate approached, without a word, he stepped away from the rest of the group with Jungwon right behind him.

“Omega,” Heeseung called out softly, and his eyes softened as they met yours.

Your lips curled into a gentle smile, and you quickened your pace, closing the distance between you. “Alpha,” you responded, your voice soft, a contrast to the loud volume of voices usually heard in the hallways.

Jungwon’s mate chimed in, “Looks like we found you guys just in time.”

Jungwon chuckled, his eyes briefly meeting Heeseung’s. “Perfect timing. We were just heading to your classrooms before our meeting, but looks like the both of you found us first.”

Jungwon’s mate, a kind-hearted Omega with a gentle smile, handed over a neatly packed lunch box to Jungwon. “Here you go, Jungwon,” she said, her voice sweet.

Without a moment’s hesitation, Heeseung closed the distance between you, his arm naturally wrapping around your waist. “How was your day?” he asked, his eyes searching yours for any sign of discomfort or unease.

“It was good,” you replied, leaning into his embrace. “Just finished a study session with Jungwon’s mate.”

Heeseung’s protective instincts kicked in, his gaze flicking briefly to Jungwon’s Omega as if ensuring she had treated you well. Satisfied, he turned his full attention back to you. “I’m glad to hear that,” he murmured, pressing a gentle kiss to your forehead. “I missed you.”

Jay and the others watched the interaction with different degrees of amusement. Jay, ever the supportive friend, couldn’t resist a comment. “So, are you going to tell her about the argument?” he teased, a grin spreading across his face.

You looked between Heeseung and Jay, curiosity piqued. “What argument?”

Before Heeseung could respond, Sunoo interrupted with a dramatic sigh. “You know, something about punching other Alphas for looking at their mates, if you can still remember,” he said, rolling his eyes for effect.

“Sunoo,” Heeseung warned lightly, though there was no real threat in his tone. His eyes met yours again, and the world around him seemed to fade away. “Nothing important,” he assured you.

You laughed softly, the sound like a calm breeze to your Alpha’s soul. “If you say so,” you teased, shaking your head.

Ni-ki, who had been silent until now, chuckled. “Jealous much?” he teased Sunoo, nudging him playfully.

Sunoo huffed, though a smile played at his lips. “I already told you, I don’t need an Omega,” he retorted, though the slight pink tinge to his cheeks betrayed him.

Jungwon joined in the teasing, laughing. “Dude, we all know you secretly want one,” he said, earning a glare from Sunoo.

“Keep dreaming, you fuckers,” Sunoo shot back, pink hair swaying as he turned his nose up. “I prefer my freedom, thank you very much.”

Despite his friends bantering right next to his ear, Heeseung’s attention remained firmly on you, his expression softening further. He leaned closer to you, his voice low and warm, “Do you want me to walk you to your next class?”

You glanced up, smiling gently but shaking your head. Jungwon’s mate, walking snugly with the said younger’s arm around her shoulder, chimed in with a reassuring smile. “We’ll be fine. Besides,” she added, looking pointedly at Jungwon, “shouldn’t you all be at the board meeting?”

Jungwon sighed dramatically, rubbing the back of his neck. “They’re right. The board is probably already cursing us under their breaths.” He glanced toward the hallway leading to the conference room. “Not a great look for the whole student council to be late—again.”

Heeseung waved off Jungwon’s remark, his eyes still locked on you. “Let them wait,” he said smoothly. “They’ll survive a few more minutes without us.”

The younger Alpha groaned, exasperation clear in his expression. He turned to his mate, a faint smirk playing on his lips. “See what I have to deal with?”

Sunghoon raised an eyebrow, smirking. “Really, Heeseung? The board? The people who can ruin our lives for the rest of the semester? You want to tick them off just for this?”

Ni-ki chimed in with a playful expression. “You do know the board kind of hates us already, right?”

Sunoo groaned, arms crossed, his voice dripping with sarcasm. “Hates us? More like they’re terrified of us. We basically have more power than the entire board combined. Let’s not pretend they wouldn’t hesitate to bow down if our families got involved.”

Jungwon sighed, running a hand through his hair. “That’s exactly why we shouldn’t push it,” he said, his tone sharp. “We don’t need to rub it in their faces unless it’s absolutely necessary.”

Sunghoon shrugged, clearly unbothered. “I don’t know, man. Feels like a waste of all that power if you’re not going to use it every now and then.”

Jay snickered, nudging the oldest. “Yeah, Heeseung. Imagine the mess you could cause if you played that card right now.”

Heeseung’s lips curved into a small smirk, his eyes flickering with amusement. “Oh, don’t get me wrong. I’m all in when it comes to making those old geezers lose their composure,” he admitted. “It’s just that if I’m going to use that kind of power, it better be for something fun, not dealing with the board’s boring politics.”

Jay let out a booming laugh, clearly entertained by the thought. “Imagine their faces if we just walked in there and told them they’re fired.”

Sunghoon joined in, “Or better yet, just cancel the whole meeting and watch them scramble.”

Heeseung chuckled, shaking his head but not entirely dismissing the idea. “Tempting, really. But right now,” he paused, glancing back toward you, his gaze softening for a moment before returning to his usual confident demeanor, “I’d rather be here than anywhere else. No amount of power beats that.”

Sunoo rolled his eyes dramatically. “Ugh, we get it. You’re whipped.”

Jungwon finally had enough, grabbing Heeseung by the arm, effectively ripping him out of your grip and dragging him toward the hallway. “Alright, lover boy, time to stop testing the board’s patience. You’ve had your moment, let’s go.”

Just before Jungwon could fully drag Heeseung away, his mate, who had been quietly observing, forced a small cough. Jungwon’s eyes softened, a quick smile forming on his lips before he ran over and gave her a quick peck on the cheek.

Heeseung, though clearly hesitant, let out a small sigh, his attention still lingering on you for just a moment longer before turning his gaze to Jungwon and his mate. “I wasn’t even doing anything, I was just talking to—”

“Yeah, yeah,” Jake, who had been quiet until now, interrupted, rolling his eyes. “We know. But I don’t think anyone wants to deal with your whiny ass right now.”

Heeseung shot Jake a glare. “You really think I’m whining? I was just—”

“Stop,” Jungwon cut him off, looking over his shoulder with a raised brow. “We all know you get way too distracted when it comes to (Y/N). Just save it for when the council meeting’s over.” He sighed, clearly done with the back-and-forth.

You laughed softly at their exchange, the sound causing Heeseung’s heart to flutter. “I appreciate the offer, Alpha, but really, I’ll be fine, we’ll be fine,” you reassured him, your voice gentle as you nodded toward Jungwon’s Omega.

Your Alpha’s gaze softened. “If you say so,” he replied quietly. He hesitated for a moment longer, watching you as if memorizing every detail. His inner Alpha was on high alert, but something in your eyes made him pause.

“Take care, Omega,” he added softly, his voice low and tender.

Heeseung leaned in, his gaze intense as his breath brushed against your skin. Before you could react, he pressed a soft, lingering kiss to your forehead. He pulled back slowly, his eyes lingering on yours a moment longer. “Take care of yourself,” he said again, his voice softer this time.

With a final glance, he stepped back, the familiar smirk returning to his face, though it looked forced; he knew he had to go. He hesitated, but eventually turned to walk toward the hall, making the rest of the group follow.

Heeseung sat at the head of the long table, a position of authority he claimed with ease despite being the vice president, as it was simply the structure of things. Proposals like the one they were about to discuss fell under his jurisdiction as the head of the Vice President’s Committee.

With the proposal resting on the table before him, his sharp gaze swept across the four Alpha students seated on the opposite side.

They were members of his committee, yes, but Heeseung wasn’t the type to sugarcoat feedback. And judging by the look on his face, the proposal in question had done little to impress him.

Heeseung tapped the edge of the folder in front of him, his gaze sweeping across the table. “This project has potential,” he began, his voice steady but carrying an edge, “but it’s full of flaws. The budget alone is enough to raise a red flag.”

One of the Alphas, a tall one with a smug smirk permanently etched on his face, leaned back in his chair. “We’ve gone over this, Vice President. The budget is tight, but it’s manageable. You’re overthinking it.”

Heeseung’s jaw tightened. “Overthinking? If anything, I’m being realistic. The university doesn’t have the funds for this. Or to be more specific, the funds will mysteriously vanish before they ever reach the project.”

The comment hung in the air as the admin board members shifted uncomfortably at the back of the room, but Heeseung didn’t spare them a glance.

“Are you implying the admin board is corrupting the funds?” another Alpha asked, raising an eyebrow.

Heeseung didn’t flinch. “Implying? No. Stating, yes. We all know how this school operates. Our families pour billions into this place every year, and yet some of the facilities are outdated, and the other half are ‘under construction’ indefinitely. Explain that to me.”

The admin board sat stone-faced.

“Heeseung,” Jungwon’s voice was low, a warning. He was sitting a few seats away, Jay quietly observing beside him in contrast to his usual brash demeanor.

Heeseung shot him a brief glance, his irritation visible. “Anyways,” he said, waving his hand dismissively, “back to this mess of a proposal.”

The first Alpha, still wearing his smug expression, leaned forward, resting his elbows on the table. “Vice President, you’ve made your point. But just because you’re too cautious doesn’t mean the rest of us need to follow suit. We know what we’re doing.”

“Do you?” Heeseung countered, his voice dripping with sarcasm. “Because it looks like you’re throwing numbers at a wall and hoping they stick.”

Another Alpha scoffed. “We’ve already considered the risks. Just because you don’t agree doesn’t mean it’s a bad plan.”

“Oh, it’s not just bad,” Heeseung said with a humorless laugh. “It’s reckless. If this goes south, it’s not just on you, it’s on all of us. Do you want to explain to the students why their tuition went to a failed project instead of fixing what’s broken?”

The fourth Alpha, who had been quiet until now, crossed his arms. “Maybe if you weren’t so focused on being the smartest guy in the room, you’d see that we’re trying to make a difference. You’re just holding us back.”

Heeseung’s laugh was cold, biting. “Holding you back? No, I’m trying to stop you from embarrassing yourselves with stupid fucking ideas.”

The first Alpha smirked again, his tone condescending. “You sure you’re not just bitter because your name won’t be on this project?”

The room went silent. Heeseung leaned forward, his gaze sharp enough to bore holes. “If I wanted my name on this, it’d already be there. Besides, you’re all just under me, aren’t you?”

Before the argument could escalate further, Jake stood abruptly, his chair scraping against the floor. “Enough,” he said firmly, his tone brooking no argument. He turned to Heeseung, his expression a mix of exasperation and annoyance.

“Do you realize the admin board is right here?” He gestured toward the back of the room, where the board members sat, their faces carefully neutral.

Heeseung leaned back in his chair, exhaling sharply. “I realize. I just don’t care.”

Jungwon placed a calming hand on Jake’s shoulder, and he seemed to relax slightly, though his frustration was still clear. “We’re done here,” Jungwon said. “Meeting adjourned. We’ll get back to this when everyone can be calm and professional.”

As the others began to file out, one of the Alphas muttered under his breath, “You really think you’re better than everyone else, don’t you?”

Heeseung didn’t respond, but his glare spoke volumes. Jungwon sighed, rubbing his temples as he watched the group leave. “Heeseung,” he said quietly, “sometimes, you make my job a lot harder.”

Heeseung leaned back in his chair, a faint smirk tugging at his lips. “And yet, you brats wouldn’t survive without me.”

Sunghoon, who had entered midway and stood at the back watching the chaos unfold, barked a laugh. “Okay, now you’re just being like those good-for-nothing Alphas.”

Heeseung raised an eyebrow. “You say that like it’s an insult.”

“It is,” Sunghoon deadpanned. “And for the record, if you keep going like this, they’re gonna start petitioning to throw you out.”

“They can try,” Heeseung said, unbothered. “They’ll break before I bend.”

Jay, who had been silent the entire time, finally spoke. “And what if they don’t?” His voice was calm but laced with something sharper. “What if this time, they push hard enough, Heeseung?”

The question lingered in the air. Heeseung didn’t answer right away. His jaw clenched slightly, the faintest flicker of tension showing behind his otherwise cool exterior.

“I’ll handle it,” he said at last, quiet but firm.

Jake looked over from his seat, expression tired. “You always say that. But some of us are starting to wonder if you’re handling it… or if you’re just dragging us down with you.”

That stung. Heeseung didn’t show it, but something in his posture shifted.

“I never asked you to follow me,” he said coolly.

“No,” Jungwon said, “but we did anyway. Just don’t make us regret it.”

For once, Heeseung didn’t have a comeback. He simply reached for the proposal folder, flipping it shut with a crisp snap. The meeting was over.

You and Jiho had been walking side by side, a fellow omega friend you trusted. Your usual conversations were light and full of easy laughter as you made your way back to the main building.

You had just finished using the bathroom near the field, silently cursing yourself for not waiting in line in the main building. The line had been too long, so you opted for the quicker route, hoping the distance wouldn’t matter.

But as you neared the main building, your heart sank when you spotted them—four alphas lounging casually by the benches, part of the Vice President Committee. They were looking at you, some with their eyes narrowed, others sneering in your direction.

You hoped they wouldn’t take notice, but of course, they did. As you and Jiho walked past, one of them called out, his voice laced with mockery.

“Heads up, (L/N)! You’re Heeseung’s little omega, right?”

You kept walking, trying to ignore them, but the pressure of their eyes on you made your steps feel heavier. Jiho, noticing the tension, glanced at you, his brows furrowing in concern. But you just silently urged him to keep walking, hoping they wouldn’t follow.

But they stood up, slowly walking toward you both, their smug expressions clear. One of them smirked and called out again, “Where are you going, Heeseung’s little bitch and her little omega friend?”

You could feel Jiho tense beside you, but you didn’t want to make a scene. Still, your mind raced, knowing full well that you had to get away from them before things got worse.

“Let’s just keep going,” you whispered to Jiho, hoping they’d back off.

But instead, they quickened their pace, closing in on you both.

“What’s wrong? Don’t want to talk to us?” one of them sneered, his voice dripping with disdain.

You were starting to regret taking the longer route as your heart began to race.

“We’re busy,” you said firmly, but they didn’t seem to care. You could see the arrogance in their eyes as they closed the gap, surrounding you and Jiho.

“Just a little chat. Don’t be shy,” another one of them chimed in, his tone mocking.

jiho took a step forward, his voice faltered but still full of warning. “leave her alone.”

But they weren’t having it. One of the alphas stepped closer, grabbing your arm before you could move, his grip firm as he dragged you a step backward.

“Heeseung’s bitch thinks she can ignore us?”

Jiho immediately pushed forward, trying to get to you, but one of the others shoved him hard, sending him stumbling onto the grass. You gasped, trying to move toward Jiho, but the alpha holding onto you wasn’t letting go.

“Let go of her!” Jiho yelled, but as he scrambled to his feet, another alpha blocked his path.

“You should’ve stayed in your lane, omega,” the first one sneered, pulling you into a quiet corner behind the benches, out of sight from anyone passing by.

Your heart pounded in your chest, panic rising as they closed in. You tried to remain calm, but the smell of their scents was overwhelming. You didn’t know what they wanted, but you knew it wasn’t good.

“Stop,” you said, your voice trembling. “I don’t know you. Let me go.”

But they ignored you, only pushing you further into the corner. “You really think Heeseung’s gonna protect you? He’s too busy thinking he’s better than everyone else.”

Another smirk.

“You’re nothing but a plaything to him. Don’t get it twisted, you (L/N) bitch.”

You tried to pull away, but their hands were gripping onto your body like glue. Jiho was still trying to get through, but they kept pushing him back, and you knew help wasn’t coming fast enough.

Jiho, knowing the odds were against him, clenched his fists but knew he couldn’t win against four alphas. His face hardened with frustration, but he quickly realized the only way to help you was to get the council—Heeseung—involved.

With a quick glance at you, his eyes filled with desperation, he muttered,

“I’ll be right back,” before turning and darting off, running toward the council room as fast as he could despite the distance.

Jiho’s heart pounded in his chest as he sprinted, his legs burning in pain, but he couldn’t slow down. Not now. He pushed through the crowded hallways, his mind a blur, focused only on getting to the council room.

He muttered under his breath, “Please, please, Heeseung has to be there…”

His thoughts were a mess, his chest tightening with every step, but the image of you surrounded by those alphas, their harsh words cutting through the air, their disgusting minds filled with vile things—it fueled his desperation. He couldn’t let them do this to you. Not while he stood by, helpless.

Finally, he reached the council room. The door loomed before him, and for a split second, he hesitated. He should have knocked. He should have tried to compose himself, but there wasn’t time for that. Not when you needed help.

Without thinking, he grabbed the door handles, yanked it open with all his strength, and pushed his way inside.

The heavy door slammed against the wall with a loud bang, the sound echoing throughout the room, startling the students inside and freezing them mid-conversation.

Jiho stood there, panting heavily, his chest heaving as he gasped for breath. His eyes scanned the room, looking for Heeseung. There were students present, other committee members, paperwork scattered on the table—but Jiho didn’t care about them right now.

His eyes landed on Heeseung, who was sitting at his desk, looking up at him with an unreadable expression.

“Heeseung!” Jiho’s voice came out in a rush. He could hardly catch his breath, his words tumbling over each other in his panic. “You have to—they’re—they’re hurting (Y/N)! The alphas—they’re at the field, and—”

Heeseung’s eyes sharpened, his posture changing immediately as he stood up from the table, papers scattering to the floor as he dropped them carelessly. He could sense the fear in Jiho’s voice, and it was enough to make his blood boil.

Without hesitating, Heeseung was already on his way toward the door, his steps firm and resolute.

“Stay here,” he ordered, glancing briefly at the startled students before fixing Jiho with a look that asked for no argument.

Jiho, still frantic, nodded, trying to calm himself as he stepped aside to let Heeseung pass. His eyes lingered on Heeseung’s back, watching him storm out of the room, his expression hardening into that of a very pissed off Alpha.

Heeseung stormed out of the council room, his anger clearly written all over his face. The sound of his footsteps was heavy—each step echoing through the hallway, a clear warning of how pissed he was.

Students who had been talking nearby, including Ni-ki and Sunoo, stopped mid-sentence, their eyes immediately locking onto Heeseung’s retreating form.

The once lively atmosphere in the corridor turned tense in an instant, as though the air itself had thickened with his fury.

Ni-ki and Sunoo exchanged uneasy glances. Even though they were both pureblooded Alphas, they could feel it—that distinct change in power when someone like Heeseung let his temper show.

“Should we… go after him?” Ni-ki asked hesitantly, his voice low, as though afraid the wrong tone would make things worse.

That was when Sunghoon approached, having overheard the conversation. He moved to stand beside them, slipping his hands into his pockets with a casualness that contrasted with the tension in the air.

Sunghoon let out a dark chuckle, his lips curling into a knowing smirk. “Go after him? Are you kidding? Heeseung could take them all on by himself if he wanted to. If anything, we should stay out of his way.”

Ni-ki swallowed nervously, and Sunoo shot him a look, but neither of them moved. Their gazes were still locked on the hallway Heeseung had disappeared down, their silence heavy with concern.

Another presence joined them. Jungwon approached quietly, his brows drawn together in confusion. He sniffed the air subtly, and his nose scrunched up almost instantly.

Heeseung’s signature scent—normally a refined blend of red wine and worn leather, something that carried authority and quiet allure—was changing.

Now, it was sour, bitter, sharp on the edges, like something corrupted by fury and desperation. It turned Jungwon’s stomach slightly, a visceral reaction to the sheer force of rage it carried.

“That’s not good,” Jungwon muttered, eyes narrowing in the direction Heeseung had gone. “His scent’s gone acidic.”

Sunghoon nodded, still smirking but more serious now. “Yeah. Whoever messed with his Omega is about to wish they hadn’t.”

A silence fell over the group as they all exchanged glances. The hallway felt colder now, heavier.

And somewhere beyond those walls, Heeseung was heading straight for the source of the problem—with no intention of holding back.

Then, almost as if on cue, all their gazes shifted toward Jiho.

He was still by the doorway, hunched over slightly, his breathing uneven and chest rising and falling rapidly from the sprint. His face was flushed, panic not yet settled, and his hands trembled faintly as he tried to ground himself.

Jungwon’s Omega, who had been lingering nearby, moved quickly to his side. With quiet, careful hands, she offered Jiho a glass of water. Her voice was soft, barely audible, as she gently urged him to drink.

She settled beside him on the bench, placing a comforting hand on his back, rubbing slow circles to soothe him. Jiho didn’t speak—he just nodded weakly, grateful for the small kindness in the middle of the mess.

Jungwon watched the exchange silently, his jaw tight. His eyes met his Omega’s over Jiho’s shoulder—her brows furrowed, her gaze filled with unease. She didn’t have to say a word. He knew what that look meant.

This was bad.

He sighed, his hands slipping into his pockets as he stepped back slightly, his own mind already racing. With Heeseung charging headfirst into a confrontation, it could be catastrophic. And who would be the one expected to handle the paperwork, the reports, the meetings with the headmaster?

Yeah. Him.

Jungwon’s lips pressed into a tight line, and he muttered under his breath, “Looks like I’m working my ass off tonight.”

Ni-ki gave him a side glance. “What?”

“Nothing,” Jungwon replied, eyes still fixed on Jiho and his Omega. His tone was dry. “Just hoping our vice president doesn’t end up getting sued by four furious Alpha families. That’s all.”

Sunghoon gave a low whistle, running a hand through his hair. “If they laid a hand on her, he’s not stopping at warnings.”

“Yeah,” Sunoo added, arms crossing over his chest. “It’s not just about her. They disrespected him. And his claim.”

The weight of that realization settled over them all like a second layer of tension.

Jungwon exhaled through his nose and turned toward the council room. “Get ready. We’re going to need damage control.”

And somewhere in the distance, they could already feel it—the storm that was about to hit.

Meanwhile, Heeseung had already reached the field where the Alphas were still lounging around, laughing and talking amongst themselves.

The moment his gaze landed on them, his blood boiled. They were right there, just as they had been earlier—smug, cocky, and still full of themselves. But what made his blood run cold was seeing them circle around you.

You were standing there, trying to avoid their touches, but it was clear they weren’t letting you go easily. One of them had his hand too close to your arm, the other was smirking as he leaned in too close, his eyes glinting with malice. You were doing your best to pull away, but their presence was suffocating.

“Get the hell away from her,” Heeseung’s voice rang out, low and dangerous, sending a chill down your spine. His presence was already commanding enough as it was, and you could see the Alphas start to register just how much trouble they were about to be in. But they didn’t listen.

One of them looked over at Heeseung like he was a joke. “What, you’re this worked up over a girl? We’re just talking, no need to act all protective.”

Lee Heeseung saw red.

With a speed that took them all by surprise, he lurched forward, knocking the Alpha to the ground with a single push. The Alpha didn’t even have time to react before Heeseung’s fist collided with his face.

Heeseung didn’t stop. His fist connected again and again, each blow landing with more force than the previous one. Blood splattered across the grass as Heeseung landed a hit to his nose.

The sound of cracking bone echoed, and the tall Alpha let out a cry as Heeseung pinned him to the ground, his hands still tightly gripping his collar.

“Touch her again, and you’ll regret it,” Heeseung growled through gritted teeth. His voice was low. His eyes, dark with rage, locked onto the Alphas who dared to lay a hand on you.

“You can mess with me all you want,” he continued, his voice dropping an octave lower. His eyes narrowed dangerously, watching every movement the Alphas made. “But you leave (Y/N), my mate, my Omega, out of your bullshit.”

One of the other Alphas, seeing how quickly the pureblooded Alpha had taken out their friend, lunged toward him. But Heeseung didn’t even flinch. He dodged the first punch easily, stepping to the side and landing an elbow to the Alpha’s stomach, knocking the wind out of him.

The Alpha gasped for breath, stepping back as Heeseung’s fist came crashing into his jaw, but the enraged Alpha barely gave him time to recover before grabbing him by the collar and slamming him into the bench behind them. The bench creaked loudly under the force, and the Alpha crumpled to the ground.

The third Alpha, rushed at Heeseung from behind, trying to grab him in a chokehold. But Heeseung wasn’t done with them just yet. Effortlessly, he spun around, grabbing the Alpha’s arm and flipping him over his shoulder. The Alpha landed hard on his back, the air knocked out of him with a painful grunt. Heeseung stood over him, eyes seething with rage.

The last of the four Alphas, who had been watching from a distance, realized the situation was quickly turning into something they couldn’t just run away from. He made an attempt to get involved, charging toward Heeseung with a swing.

But the pureblooded Alpha was faster. With a quick step, Heeseung avoided the punch entirely and landed a blow that pushed the Alpha off his feet, sending him crashing to the ground with a thud.

“Back off,” Heeseung growled again, eyes flashing with anger. “I told you to stay the hell away from her.”

One of the Alphas—the one who had been the most smug—finally stumbled backward, hands raised in surrender. Heeseung was still breathing heavily, his chest rising and falling. The other three Alphas, bloodied and bruised, did the same as they slowly backed away.

Heeseung didn’t take his eyes off them until they were out of sight, his fists still clenched at his sides. He turned slowly to face you, his breath still heavy, his expression softening as he saw the worry in your eyes.

“Are you alright?” he asked softly, his voice now full of concern—a stark contrast to the fierce rage that had just poured out of him.

You nodded quickly, your heart still racing, not just from the fight but from the fear that had gripped you only moments ago. You tried to steady your breath. “Yes, I’m fine. Thanks to you,” you said, your voice shaking slightly.

His gaze softened, his expression melting from the anger that had driven him moments ago to something more vulnerable. He stepped closer, his hand reaching out as if to make sure you were really alright.

His other hand found its place at the back of your head. Before you could process it fully, he pulled you against him, your body flush against his as he enveloped you in his embrace.

The movement was based on his instincts—possessive in the most comforting way—as though he was holding you close to keep you safe from everything, especially from what had just happened.

For a moment, you couldn’t think of anything else. The warmth of his body, the steady beat of his heart, the way he held you protectively but tenderly, made everything feel less messy.

He rested his chin on the top of your head, breathing in deeply, as if trying to take in the fact that you were safe in his arms. His voice was low, almost a whisper, but it carried every emotion there was to feel. “I won’t let anyone hurt you again, (Y/N). Not as long as I’m here.”

The softness in his voice hit you harder than anything else, and you could feel the shake in his hands—the way his arms tightened around you just a little bit more, as if trying to make sure you knew that he meant every word.

You didn’t say anything at first, letting the silence stretch between you both, just basking in the feeling of being cared for—loved even—in the most intense way possible.

Finally, you managed to pull away just slightly, enough to look up at him, your hands pressing gently against his chest.

“I know,” you whispered, your voice shaky but soft. “I trust you.”

Heeseung’s eyes softened even more, a quiet smile tugging at the corner of his lips as he lowered his head slightly, pressing his forehead against yours. You could feel the warmth of his breath on your face, the tenderness of the gesture making everything feel just right.

But he didn’t stop there. Heeseung took a deep breath, his chest rising and falling. His lips hovered near your temple before he tilted his head slightly, his nose brushing gently against the curve of your neck—just above your scent gland.

His scent—red wine with a hint of leather—enveloped you completely, clinging to your skin as if marking you as his. He nuzzled closer, letting his jawline graze your neck, his skin brushing yours with nothing but care.

You felt a flush creep up your neck, your own scent of strawberries and cinnamon mixing with his. He pulled back slightly, his dark eyes locking onto yours, intensity burning in them.

His gaze traveled lower, locking onto your lips as if drawn to them, lingering there for a moment. His breath hitched slightly, and there was a moment of hesitation.

His voice was barely above a whisper, like he was afraid to disturb the innocence seeping through your every breath. “Can I kiss you?” he asked, his tone filled with vulnerability—and it caught you off guard. The sincerity in his voice made your heart flutter; there was nothing but honesty in his gaze.

He was asking for your permission, seeking your consent in the most gentle way possible. His lips hovered so close to yours, his breath mingling with yours, but he held back, waiting for you.

You blinked once, then let out a breathy laugh—soft and a little amused. “Hee…” you said, your voice laced with gentle affection. “We’ve been dating since we were fourteen, and you’re asking now?”

His cheeks turned slightly pink, lips twitching with a sheepish smile. But still, he waited.

Your laughter softened, and you nodded, eyes shining. “Yes… you can kiss me.”

And with that, the world around you seemed to fade away as Heeseung closed the distance, his lips meeting yours in a kiss that was soft at first, like he was still hesitant.

But as you both got lost in it, the kiss deepened, the mix of urgency and tenderness speaking volumes—everything he couldn’t say with words poured into that single moment. It wasn’t just a kiss—it was a promise.

His hands cupped your cheeks, thumbs brushing gently against your skin. His lips molded to yours perfectly, as if this moment had been written in the stars long before you even knew what it meant to love someone like this.

Then—too soon—he pulled back just a few inches, just enough to break the kiss, but not the closeness.

Your eyes fluttered open, your breath caught, lips still parted and tingling. You barely had a moment to exhale before his eyes searched yours again, something raw and unfiltered in his gaze.

And then he kissed you again.

This time, a little quicker. A little messier. His hands slipped around your waist, pulling you tighter against him as his lips crashed into yours with more need, more feeling—as if he couldn’t help himself. And you let out a soft, startled gasp, a sound that slipped from your throat without warning, half-giggle and half-sigh, because it was just so Heeseung to ask so sweetly, and then kiss you like he’d waited a lifetime.

You felt his smile against your lips when he heard the noise you made—like it gave him life.

He pulled back again, just slightly, resting his forehead against yours, both of you breathless and flushed, hearts pounding in sync.

“You always make the cutest sounds when you’re flustered,” he whispered, his voice warm and teasing, but there was an softness in it, like he couldn’t believe you were his to kiss, to hold, to protect.

You gave his chest a gentle push, laughing breathlessly, cheeks burning. “You didn’t have to go that hard, oh my god.”

Heeseung only grinned, hands still holding you close like he had no plans of letting go. “I did. You don’t know how long I’ve been holding that in.”

And with a low chuckle, Heeseung kissed you again—slow, lazy, and warm—like you were the only thing in the world worth pausing for.

The walk back to the council room was surreal, a mix of relief and the lingering warmth of Heeseung’s hand clasped firmly in yours. His knuckles were bruised, his perfectly tailored uniform slightly disheveled, and a streak of dried blood colored his sleeve—but it wasn’t his. Yet Heeseung carried himself with an air of confidence, his expression hard as if daring anyone to challenge him.

You glanced up at him, your fingers tightening around his instinctively.

“Are you okay?” you asked softly.

“I’m fine,” he said with a sigh. “They’re the ones who should be worried.”

Before you could respond, the PA system crackled to life, the headmaster’s voice breaking through the faint hum of the school’s atmosphere.

“Lee Heeseung and (L/N) (Y/N), please report to the office immediately.”

Heeseung scoffed, rolling his eyes as his grip on your hand tightened protectively.

“Of course,” he muttered under his breath. “They always have to make it messier than it already is.”

As you turned a corner and approached the office, your stomach twisted at the sight of the four Alphas seated outside, their faces bruised and swollen from the fight.

They glanced at Heeseung and immediately looked away, their earlier smugness replaced with fear. Heeseung shot them a cold glare, his lip curling in disdain as he pushed open the office door with you by his side.

The headmaster sat behind his desk, his expression grim as he gestured for you both to sit. Heeseung, however, remained standing, his jaw tight.

“Mr. Lee,” the headmaster began, his tone laced with weariness, “do you have any idea what kind of trouble you’ve caused today? You’re the vice president of the student body. Students look up to you, Mr. Lee.”

Heeseung stood tall, his arms crossed over his chest as he moved in front of you, meeting the headmaster’s gaze without a hint of regret. His expression was impassive, but his eyes hinted he wasn’t about to back down.

“With all due respect,” Heeseung began, his voice sharp, “what’s expected of me is to protect the students of this school. Especially my own mate.” His tone dropped slightly, his words laced with restrained anger. “Isn’t that what you old geezers want anyway? To keep the Omegas safe? Our Omegas safe?”

The headmaster’s brows furrowed, his lips pressing into a thin line, but Heeseung didn’t stop. He took a step forward.

“So tell me, what was I supposed to do? Wait for your so-called protocols to work? Wait for you to step in while they were harassing her? Threatening her?” His voice cracked slightly as he jabbed a finger toward the desk.

“Because if I had waited, if I’d done nothing, you wouldn’t be sitting here lecturing me. You’d be covering up a scandal about how you failed to protect one of your students.”

“She’s the heir to the (L/N) family, for god’s sake!” Heeseung’s voice was sharp, silencing any complaints.

“Do you have any idea what kind of power her name carries? Her family has done more for this institution than any of those filthy Alphas ever will, and yet you’d stand by and let them treat her like that?”

“Mr. Lee, this isn’t just about you or Ms. (L/N)—” the headmaster started, his voice rising in irritation, but Heeseung cut him off, taking another step forward.

“This is about what you think is power, isn’t it?” Heeseung’s voice was low, steady, and laced with a dangerous edge. His piercing gaze locked onto the headmaster, each word cutting deeper.

“Let’s stop pretending it’s anything else. Those Alphas thought they could get away with it because no one’s ever stopped them before. Because people like you let them think they’re untouchable.”

He straightened his posture, exuding authority.

“Let me remind you of something,” he continued, his voice sharp.

“They’re under my supervision within the student council. I have the power to expel them if I wanted to. Their fathers’ donations don’t scare me. Do you really think I care about their family names or the buildings their parents helped fund?”

Heeseung scoffed, his lip curling into a bitter smile.

“They don’t even share a fraction of the contribution my family does to this institution.”

Heeseung chuckled darkly.

His jaw tightened, the anger he had been holding back now showing just beneath the surface.

“Fix this,” he demanded, his voice dropping an octave. “Because what matters to me isn’t their money, their names, or their so-called status. What matters is making sure no one else has to go through what my mate just did.”

Heeseung took a step back, his hand tightening around yours, his protective grip steadying you both.

“Fix this. Not for me, not because I’m asking, but because it’s the bare minimum someone like her deserves. And if you don’t,” he added, his voice dropping even lower, “I’ll make sure it’s fixed my way. And trust me, you won’t like what that looks like.”

Without waiting for a response, he turned sharply, pulling you along with him. The door slammed behind you, leaving the headmaster frozen in place.

Just outside the office, Jungwon was leaning casually against the wall beside the doorway, arms crossed, head tilted slightly as if he’d been listening the whole time. He pushed himself off the wall and sighed.

“Well, I guess it’s my turn,” he muttered, eyes flicking to the now-shut door.

Heeseung raised an eyebrow. “Try not to get into more trouble than me.”

Jungwon smirked, brushing invisible dust off his uniform. “Don’t worry. I got your ass.”

The assistant at the front reception desk, who had clearly heard that last part, blinked and looked up from her paperwork with wide eyes.

Jungwon glanced at her, then scratched the back of his neck.

“Sorry,” he said sheepishly, flashing a tight, awkward smile before disappearing through the office door.

As Heeseung led you down the hall, his grip on your hand remained firm, but you could feel the anger radiating from him. His jaw was still set, and his brows furrowed in frustration. The silence between you was heavy, the sound of your footsteps echoing in the nearly empty corridor.

“Hey,” you said softly, giving his hand a small squeeze. He didn’t respond right away, his focus still ahead, but his pace slowed just a little.

“Heeseung,” you tried again, your voice gentler this time. “You need to calm down. It’s over now. I’m okay.”

He finally stopped, turning to face you. His dark eyes searched yours, filled with different emotions: anger, guilt, and fear. “How can I calm down?” he muttered, his voice strained.

“They touched you. They—” he took a deep breath, his hands balling into fists at his sides. “They crossed every line, and I wasn’t there to stop it sooner.”

You stepped closer, placing your hands on his chest. “But you were there, Heeseung. You stopped them. That’s all that matters now. I’m safe because of you.”

His expression softened slightly as he stared at you, your words sinking in. He exhaled slowly, his shoulders dropping as some of the tension eased out of him. “I just… I can’t stand the thought of something happening to you,” he admitted quietly.

You smiled softly, reaching up to brush a strand of hair away from his face. “And I can’t stand the thought of you beating yourself up over it. You did what you had to do, and I trust you, okay?”

Heeseung's gaze lingered on you for a moment longer before he nodded, his lips pressing into a thin line. “Okay,” he said, though his voice still carried the annoyance it possessed earlier.

The two of you resumed walking, his hand still securely wrapped around yours. When you reached the council room, he pushed the heavy doors open, his eyes scanning the space quickly. Relief washed over him when he saw it was empty, the room quiet and bathed in soft sunlight streaming through the windows.

He stood beside you for a moment, his gaze lingering on you with an unreadable expression. After a moment, he sank into the chair next to yours, leaning slightly forward as he addressed you in a quieter, more serious tone

“You shouldn’t have had to go through that,” Heeseung murmured, his voice softened with a tenderness that contrasted sharply with the anger he carried within him earlier. “I promise it won’t happen again.”

You turned to face him, your eyes locking with his. You reached out, your hand trembling slightly as it caressed his cheek, your touch soft and soothing—a silent reassurance.

“I know,” you whispered, “but just… don’t shut me out, okay? You don’t have to carry it all alone.”

Heeseung's eyes fluttered shut for a moment as your hand caressed his cheek. He then slowly placed his own hand over yours, gently pressing it against his face. His fingers curled around yours, the silence between you both so intimate, yet so powerful.

He opened his eyes, meeting your gaze with a deep intensity. The vulnerability within him was visible now—one he rarely let anyone see.

His thumb brushed over your knuckles softly, his voice a little more strained than before. “I just want to protect you,” he murmured, his eyes never leaving yours.

“I know, Alpha,” you whispered back, your other hand coming up to rest gently on his chest, over his heart. “And I’ll protect you too.” He nodded, his grip on your hand tightening just slightly.

Just as the tension in the room began to melt away, Heeseung's phone rang, shattering the intimacy between you two. He sighed, reaching into his pocket to grab the device, his grip on your hand never loosening. Looking at the screen, he saw it was Sunoo.

“Of course,” Heeseung muttered under his breath, shaking his head as he swiped to answer the call. “Yeah?”

Sunoo’s voice came through the speaker, lighthearted and playful, “Hey, I went ahead and submitted half-day leaves for both of you. Thought you’d need the break.”

You let out a quiet laugh, nudging Heeseung gently with your shoulder. “Of course Sunoo would do that,” you joked. “Always looking out for us. His future mate is lucky.”

Sunoo’s voice came through again, clearly laughing on the other end. “Nah, I’m good. I don’t need a mate to tie me down, thank you very much. But you both owe me now. That paperwork was annoying. I better get a car out of this.”

Heeseung scoffed. “Yeah? Want one with your number plastered across the windshield so you finally get your own Omega to deal with your dramatics?”

“Oh please,” Sunoo snapped back, feigning offense. “My dramatics are half the reason your Omega likes me.”

You chuckled, shaking your head. “He’s got a point, Heeseung. I do find him charming.”

Heeseung rolled his eyes, though there was a smile tugging at his lips. “You’re both lucky I’m too tired to argue.”

“You do that, and I’ll actually buy you a car. Just so I can run it over,” Heeseung said flatly.

You giggled, resting your head on Heeseung’s shoulder. “Thanks, Sunoo. Really.”

“Anytime,” Sunoo replied. “Even if I don’t believe in love, someone’s gotta be the third wheel to it.”

Heeseung let out a small laugh before ending the call, slipping his phone back into his pocket. “We should probably make the best of this half-day off,” he said, his voice a little more serious, but the warmth in his eyes remained as he looked at you.

With a small smile, you nodded. “Yeah, let’s do that.”

The next morning, Heeseung let out a low groan as he blinked his eyes open, squinting slightly at the golden sunlight filtering through the glass walls of his room, peeking past the drawn curtains.

The early warmth of the day cast a soft glow across everything it touched, but nothing—not even the gentle rays of the sun looked half as beautiful as the person nestled in his arms.

He adjusted just slightly, careful not to disturb you. His movements were slow, protective—like the tiniest shift might ruin the peace he’d found wrapped up in you.

His gaze dropped to your face, still tucked into the curve of his bare chest, your breathing soft and even. A dopey smile tugged at his lips, completely unguarded as he watched you sleep.

His fingers reached up, brushing back a few strands of hair that had fallen over your face, just to get a clearer view—because god, he couldn’t help it.

You were breathtaking like this, curled up against him without a single barrier, so trusting, so safe. His chest rose slowly as he let out a quiet chuckle, not because anything was funny, but because he genuinely couldn’t believe he was this happy just holding someone.

Just holding you.

When you moved slightly, your cheek rubbing against his skin, nuzzling instinctively closer to him, Heeseung swore under his breath—softly. He pressed a feather-light kiss to the top of your head, the corners of his mouth still curved into that dumb, boyish smile he only ever wore around you.

He let his eyes wander, warmth pooling in his chest—and a little lower—when he noticed the evidence of the night before still lingering on your skin.

Already-turning purple bruises and bite marks trailed down your neck, over your collarbone, and further… along the tops of your breasts, barely hidden by the blanket tangled around you.

His grin widened, but it was laced with mischief now.

“You’re so gonna scream at me for this,” he whispered to no one, already picturing your half-horrified, half-flustered reaction when you’d get up and try to cover everything. “‘Heeseung, how am I supposed to hide this?!’” he mocked under his breath, trying and failing not to laugh out loud.

But the moment he closed his eyes, it came flooding back—the way you looked just hours ago, chest heaving, skin damp, tears welling at the corners of your eyes as you stared up at him with that wrecked, pleading expression.

He’d been hovering above you, arms shaking from the effort it took not to completely lose control.

Your voice, breathless and broken as you whispered his name—“Heeseung… please…”—was seared into his memory like a brand.

And fuck, the way you clung to him, nails digging into his back, thighs trembling around his hips, it had driven him insane.

His jaw clenched just remembering it, the image of your lips parted and pupils blown wide, moaning as he kissed down your neck, slowly trailing down, worshipping every inch of skin like it was holy.

He’d felt you tense beneath him, watched your eyes flutter shut when his tongue traced circles just above your heart, teasing and slow, only for you to whimper out his name again—“Alpha…”—and that had snapped whatever little restraint he had left.

Something in him snarled, his eyes darkening as he kissed down your body with renewed hunger, claiming every inch of skin like it owed him loyalty. And maybe it did—because in that moment, you were his. Fully, entirely, undeniably his.

And then you whispered it, barely audible, voice wrecked from moaning his name all night:

“I want their touch out of me… make me forget, Hee…”

He went feral. You didn’t even finish the sentence before he was already flipping you over, his lips crashing against yours in something closer to desperation than desire.

His grip was rough, arms trembling with the effort it took not to break the bed frame as he thrust into you, slow and deep, again and again until your back arched off the sheets, until your voice cracked from gasping his name over and over like a prayer.

And it didn’t stop there.

He dragged you to the edge of the bed, dropping to his knees in front of you, his mouth working at your core until your thighs shook and your fingers fisted in his hair.

You begged him not to stop, and he didn’t. Not even when your legs went weak and tears slipped from your lashes. Not even when you whimpered that you couldn’t take any more.

Because he knew you could. He knew exactly how much you could handle—and how much you needed to be ruined to forget every ghost of unwanted touch.

Then he carried you, trembling and slick and barely able to breathe—from the bed to the office attached to his room. He didn’t even make it past the desk.

You were laid flat against the smooth wood in seconds, papers scattering to the floor as he hooked your leg over his shoulder and took you again, this time slow and deliberate, hands gripping your hips so tightly they were sure to bruise.

His desk chair was ruined. Pushed aside in his frenzy. And the couch in the corner of his office? That poor thing had no chance. He bent you over the armrest, your hands gripping the leather as he rutted into you from behind, whispering over and over,

“Mine. Mine. You’re mine.” His voice cracked at the edges, raw with emotion, because this wasn’t just about lust—this was about claiming back every piece of you that ever felt violated.

And then he bit you.

Right where your scent gland pulsed beneath his lips. His fangs sank in as you cried out his name—choked, breathless, trembling—and the second he tasted your skin, his whole body shuddered.

Heeseung reeled from it. From the feeling. From the need. He hadn’t planned to scent you that way, hadn’t meant to bite so deep or press his face so possessively into the crook of your neck—but the second your scent burst open against his tongue, he lost it.

Your sweet, intoxicating mix of strawberries and cinnamon bled into the air, flooding the room and curling into the corners of his territory like a wildfire. His own scent of red wine and worn leather clung to your body in return, wrapping around you in thick waves until there was nothing but the two of you.

Until everything else—the past, the memories, the ghosts—were burned out by the very rawness of your connection.

The air was thick. Almost suffocating. The scent of sex and sweat, of moaning and marking, of Alpha and Omega, hung around like smoke from a fire that wouldn’t die out.

His sheets were ruined. His desk was still shaking. His body felt like it had been cracked open from the inside and he still couldn’t get enough.

He could hear your voice—God, he kept hearing it.

“Please—please don’t stop—oh my God, Heeseung—don’t stop…”

The memory slammed into him like a punch to the gut, and it broke whatever thread of sanity he was barely hanging onto. He growled, low and dark, hands tightening on your hips as he thrust into you deeper, angling just right so your breath hitched and your nails raked down his back.

Your thighs clenched around his waist, your walls fluttering as you arched into him, begging for more even when you had nothing left to give.

He didn’t stop.

Not when you looked at him like that—eyes wet, lips swollen, whispering his name like it was the only word that mattered. Not when your scent was branded across every inch of his skin. Not when the memory of another Alpha’s hands on you still haunted the edges of his mind.

So he gave you everything.

Took you to the point of breaking, only to pull you back with gentle kisses between the bruises. Whispers between the growls. “I got you, baby,” he murmured against your ear as he rocked into you again. “Only me. You’re safe. You’re mine.”

And when you finally came apart again, clinging to him like he was the only thing keeping you sane—his name a broken sob on your lips—Heeseung followed right after you, releasing deep inside with a low, guttural moan that could’ve torn the walls down.

He buried his face in your neck and breathed you in, his knot keeping him locked inside, like some desperate prayer that if he stayed close enough, you’d never be touched by anything else again.

The best part of it all was that he planned it.

The staff weren’t home. He sent them off that night—told them to clean the secondary houses scattered across the property, far from the main estate. He wanted privacy. He wanted you loud. He wanted to hear you scream his name into the halls of his home like it was the only name you’d ever speak again.

And oh, he got it.

Because by the time you both collapsed back into bed—sheets tangled, bodies ruined, your scent flooding the room like his favorite perfume—Heeseung could barely breathe.

His entire body ached. You were curled up on his chest, dazed and raw and smiling in that blissed-out way that made his heart feel like it was melting.

Heeseung shook his head now, jaw tightening as a low, amused huff escaped him. He’d done it. He gave you new memories. He washed away every touch but his.

And he’d do it again.

Still grinning like a lovesick idiot, he carefully tugged the blanket higher, covering the marks he was sure would have you sulking the entire morning.

With one final look at your peaceful face, he pulled the blanket up to your chin and wrapped his arm tighter around you, anchoring you both back into the warmth you’d created together.

His last thought before letting himself drift off again was simple—pure, honest, and entirely wrapped in you: Mine.

But, of course, peace never lasted long for him.

His phone rang—loudly—somewhere on the nightstand, vibrating with the kind of aggression that made him groan in irritation. He squinted against the light, reaching over with a grumble under his breath. “Shit…”

You stirred just the tiniest bit on top of him, a soft whimper muffled by his chest, and Heeseung stilled instantly. The last thing he wanted was to wake you, especially when you looked that content—tired out, glowing, still wrapped in the aftermath of the night he swore he’d never forget.

Without even looking at the caller ID, he swiped to answer and pressed the phone to his ear with a soft grunt. “This is Lee Heeseung.”

“Dude.” Jungwon’s voice came through immediately, followed by a snort. “What’s with the corporate voice at eight in the morning? Who the hell are you trying to impress?”

Heeseung rolled his eyes, voice dropping into something rougher and sleep-heavy. “Just spit it out, man.”

Jungwon didn’t miss a beat. “They’re gone.”

That woke him up. “Gone?”

“The Alphas,” Jungwon said, and Heeseung could hear the satisfaction in his tone. “Board made it official this morning. Full expulsion. Academic and territorial sanctions. They won’t be back. Not under this name or any of the others.”

Heeseung's lips curled into a smug smirk as he glanced down at you, still sleeping soundly against him, unaware of the storm he’d swept away for you. “As they should,” he muttered, low and dark. “What, you thought my donation last night was just for show?”

Jungwon burst out laughing. “You dropped more digits than the student fund’s seen all year. I should’ve known you were planning something.”

“Had to make it very worth their while.” Heeseung smirked again, tone laced with that quiet, dangerous confidence only he could pull off. “We’ve got power, right?”

Jungwon hummed. “Yeah. But we know how to use it properly.”

Heeseung let the silence hang for a second—comfortable, victorious.

“Tell the board I want that report by tomorrow,” he said casually. “I’ll read it during breakfast.”

“Jesus, you’re a menace. Alright, I’ll text you the files. Go back to (Y/N) before she wakes up and realizes she can’t walk.”

Heeseung hung up without a reply, lips twitching as he dropped the phone beside him.

His gaze fell back to you—bare skin peeking out from under the blanket, bite marks still blooming across your neck and chest like defiant flowers in the sun. You were shifting now, blinking blearily, face squishing into his shoulder as a sleepy sound left your throat.

“Mmh…” Your voice was hoarse. “Hee?”

“Go back to sleep, baby,” he whispered, brushing your hair back lazily. “It’s still early.”

You sighed into him, eyes still half-closed. “My whole body aches.”

That made him laugh—soft but entirely smug, chest vibrating under your cheek as he pulled you even closer. “Yeah?” he murmured, nuzzling into your hair. “That’s kinda the point, baby.”

“Asshole…” you mumbled, but your arms still wrapped around his waist and your leg slid possessively over his.

And Heeseung—well, he just grinned, eyes fluttering shut again, feeling more like an Alpha than ever with you tangled up in him.

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© 2021 liuhsng — reblogs are highly appreciated and please don’t hesitate to request some fics here if you want me to write anything !

[masquerade-md]

ꕥ MAKE YOU MINE ⸻ lee heeseung

lee heeseung doesn't do relationships or any of that 'labels' stuff, it's a known fact. yet when jay's gaze lingers too long on you, he can't help but leave his mark on you in one way or another

this work contains ⋆ smut. mdni. jealousy, p in v, creampie, no protection, manhandling, name calling, degradation!!! hair pulling, mean hee won't kiss you, kinda toxic situationship thing going on, Feelings, reader is kinda crazy but also i've had too much caffeine today So ⸻ rules ⋆ m.list

length ⋆ drabble ⸻ 1.8k words

Heeseung, all things considered, is a pretty chill and laid back guy. Not prone to big displays of jealousy, especially anywhere public.

Most of the time he's quietly laying back on a couch at a party across the room, watching you with a glint in his eyes as you reject yet another guy trying to sneak his way into your pants. There’s something about the way you so obediently glance his way every time someone tries to flirt you, how your expression ever so slightly shifts to something he would describe as needy when he slouches further into the soft brown cushions, legs spread almost as if to invite you over on his lap.

It’s been months since you started fucking, and as embarrassing for you as it feels to admit, you two haven't really put a label on what your... status actually is. You’re definitely more than friends—though you don't know if you would even consider Heeseung your friend in the first place—but you also don't believe you're anywhere close to being a thing yet. That litter sliver of something keeps you fucking hooked on Heeseung though, even when you know it's terrible for you.

And he enjoys every second of it. How you're so loyal to him even when he doesn't give you any reason to be.

He’s confident you'll follow him around everywhere like a little lost puppy as long as he keeps feeding you whatever crumb you need; a gentle brush of his hand whenever he greets you, a soft compliment whispered in your ear before leaving you to find something to drink, a sweet forehead kiss at the end of the night when you've both found your way between the bed sheets. I’ve got it under control, he thinks.

Yet he can't find any explanation—one that he’d make peace with, that is—for the scorching rage that overcomes him whenever he sees you and your bestie walking hand in hand around campus. The slightest twitch to his eye when he notices how bright you seem to be around Jay, how hard you laugh at his jokes and how touchy you are, shoving his shoulder away when he makes a stupid comment, yet letting your hand linger on the cotton of his shirt. There’s a different light coming from within you when he's around, and Heeseung fucking hates it with his entire being.

Mostly because he doesn't want to admit what it really is. Lee Heeseung is the furthest thing from a relationship-kind-of-guy you could possibly ever find, and it's always been this way, everyone knows.

To fuck with him is to make peace with the fact that you'll never be anything more than someone to warm his bed—or car backseats more often than not. And most are okay with that as long as they get their hands on a piece of him, no matter for how short. You were okay with that too, at the very start. It just doesn't help that lately he has fucked you like he loves and hates you at the same time, and while you try your best to not let his empty calculated affections tie you down to him too much, it's gotten harder and harder to escape the literal black hole Heeseung is.

You promised yourself to only orbit around him for a bit, then escape at the first pull you feel is too strong. But here you are, on the event horizon anyway.

His lingering stares whenever Jay is around don't go unnoticed by you, far from it actually. And maybe you even play into it a little too much, because here you are, underneath Heeseung, and for the first time in weeks he's fucking you like love is the furthest feeling possible from both his mind and heart.

It's funny, how he's tried to maintain his cool around you so desperately, and what finally breaks him is Jay staring way too long at your ass for it to be a mistake. There’s nothing Heeseung would have loved more than to beat him to a pulp, for looking at his girl like that.

Except you're not his girl—he hadn't even realized he really wanted you to possibly be until then—so he can't do that. But what he can do instead is take it out on your poor unsuspecting pussy.

"You are such a nasty slut," he whispers against your lips as he pistons into your weeping cunt, ignoring every attempt you make to kiss him, biting down on your bottom lip when you don't catch the hint. "Walking around in that tight black skirt, for what?" It feels like he's spitting venom at you, a primal edge to his tone unlike anything you've ever heard from him. Despite everything, you'd be lying if you said it didn't make your pussy clamp even harder around him, trying to milk his girth for all it’s worth.

You take too long to reply for his liking, his hand digging almost hurtfully into your cheeks to force you to look at him. "For. What?"

"I– fuck, i don't know."

He looks at you incredulously, like you must've gone dumb on his cock already, while his movements come to halt, despite your little cries and begs for him not to.

"Yes, you fucking do," he spits, grabbing your thighs and flipping you over onto your knees. A little scream rips out of you at the sudden motion as he manhandles you in whatever way he wants, paying no mind to any possible aching body part of yours or any discomfort you may feel. "Wore it to flaunt this ass around, didn't you? I know you did."

He lands a harsh smack on the skin of your bottom, kissing his teeth in annoyance when your entire body jerks forward, front collapsing on the bed. He eases his cock back into you in one thrust, setting a pace that is somehow faster and harsher than the one you could barely keep up with earlier. "Wanted  Jay to bend you over like this, huh?"

"N-no! I– ngh." Your rebuttal is cut short by his hips slamming into yours with a harsh thrust, his thick hand pushing your head against the sheets, uncaring of all the drool that's dripping from your mouth, your eyes rolling into your skull. He plants one of his feet into the soft mattress, the new angle helping him reach so much deeper inside you as the hold on your hips becomes nearly unbearable, sure to leave a flashy bruise.

Good, he thinks. Let everyone know I own you.

It doesn't matter that you two will still not put a label on whatever you have going on after this, Heeseung will find a way to mark you up with his actions instead. He'll fuck you so good even in the off chance you give Jay a chance all you'll think about is gonna be going back to him right after.

"Oh, shut the fuck up." He grabs some of your hair, using it as leverage to fuck into you even harder, the mix of pain and pleasure so unbelievably delicious you don’t even know what to do with yourself if not just lay there and take it all. "That’s all a slut like you is good for anyway, shut her mouth and let me use her pretty pussy as I please."

And it doesn't matter for you either you realize, a fucked out smile spreading on your face as he takes you like he has never done before, because to get a reaction out of the ever so collected Lee Heeseung, it means you have made him your bitch as much as he has made you his. He just doesn't know it yet.

The sudden thought is so euphoric it pushes you close to the edge instantly, your cunt clenching around him more and more while Heeseung is behind you wondering why he just heard a giggle leave your throat in the midst of it all.

"Is this some kind of fucking joke to you?" His voice is rough, but the hint of uneasiness behind the facade is easy to pick up on, it only spurs you to laugh more—as much as you can manage, because soon his thrusts get angrier and you don't know if you're laughing, crying or moaning anymore.

You taste the salty tears running straight into your open mouth, and you don't exactly know why you're crying because you have never felt lighter, even with the harsh, repeated press of Heeseung's hips against your red, marked up flesh.

Heeseung thinks you must've gone delirious on his cock, the proof being the very white ring you're leaving on the base of his cock, and while his chest blooms and tickles with something unfamiliar to him, he can't help but want even more. He wants to give you even more.

He doesn't recall when this punishment he's inflicting on you turned around to him chasing your approval so fucking bad, but he can't stop. He can't stop himself from gawking at your bent back littered in his marks, he can't stop himself from bending down to mouth at your neck when all he initially wanted to do was put you back in your place, he can't stop himself from letting his hand find your familiar little bundle of nerves to roll circles on it.

He tells himself it's not for you, it's for him, so he can hear all the divine noises you're making for just a little longer, just enough to reach his orgasm.

His lips brush your nape again, and he wishes he hadn't turned you over so he could taste your laugh right off your lips. He almost opens his mouth to say something he might regret, but he stops himself with a low, guttural moan and a stripe licked on your skin instead.

Neither of you last long after that, and you come with shudder around him, cunt milking him for all he has, all he is worth. He gives it all to you, filling you up so well it has you clawing the sweaty bed sheets beneath you.

You're glowing underneath him as he gets off of you, and Heeseung doesn't want to linger on the fact that his chest cavity, where his heart is supposed to be, glows just as much for you. It's a scary thought.

"You're mine," you whisper, like you've finally cracked the code to something you couldn't wrap your head around for the longest. You state it like a fact, like how you do when you say things commonly agreed upon—like the earth being round and Sim Jaeyun having the prettiest dick on campus.

You don't turn to Heeseung when he says nothing after and all that fills the room is the swooshing of his clothes being collected from the floor and your front door shutting with a soft thud.

It doesn't matter, because whether he likes it or now, you know he has nowhere to go if not back to you.

[masquerade-md]

HEAVENLY ┆ A PARK SUNGHOON ONESHOT

SYNOPSIS! park sunghoon has put a curse on you after smashing you heart into a million pieces — that you’d never be able to find anyone comparable to him. and now he’s back, cocky and flirty as ever to prove that he’s the only one you’d ever need.

GENRE! playboy! sunghoon x fem reader, kiss his face with an uppercut romance, exes to lovers, fake dating, mutual pining, fluff, angst

CAUTION! cursing, party, attempt of writing heartbreak angst, slightly toxic (?) behaviour, make out scenes, cheating allegations, sunghoon douchebag, sunghoon has major confrontation issues, smoking

WORDCOUNT! 9.5k

MIKAELA’S! IM BACK, he’s back. playboy hoon! finally writing after like three months, it’s not the best so please forgive me. written to CIGARETTES AFTER SEX’s discography. feedback and reblog are appreciated! NOT PROOFREAD

TEASER SERIES MASTERLIST

WHERE IT’S SO SWEET AND HEAVENLY

THE VERY definition of sin and salvation, Park Sunghoon brings out the best of you in the worst ways. The first, your first — your first kiss, your first boyfriend, your first love.

He pulls you in and invades your senses, every careless whisper, every note passed in class, every make out session in dim empty classrooms, Sunghoon makes you yearn for him and you would be able to tell him apart from everyone else by touch and smell alone.

You still remember the summer two years ago, when you sat in the passenger seat of his convertible, wind in your hair as you had the greatest time in your life.

“Frozen?” You say as the radio in his car starts blasting ‘let it go’, and Sunghoon looks over to you with a boyish grin on his face.

“Why not?” He says, one hand on the steering wheel and the other moving to brush a strand of your hair back, “Elsa and Anna are pretty cool.” He holds your hand, thumb caressing the smooth skin of yours as he watches you throw your head back, laughter ringing through the air at his words.

“They are,” you agree with a giggle before your other hand fists to your lips as a microphone. And you sing with him, at the top of your lungs. That summer, in his passenger seat, you fell irrationally and irrevocably in love.

He looks at you, trying to catch his breath, and he adores — the way your lips curve up into the prettiest smile, the way you radiate warmth, and the way you’re you, intoxicating, captivating, and all together godly.

And he kisses you like his life depends on it. It’s soft, hot, desperate, and tender all at once. Your lips smooth, falling open at the brush of his tongue and Sunghoon can’t seem to get enough, teeth tugging at your lips, fingers twined into your hair before he breaks it only to barely press his lips onto your again, shifting from the corner of your lips to the centre, and then to the rest of your face, tiny pecks everywhere, as if he was worshipping you.

“Let’s do this again when we’re eighty,” he whispers, eyes locked onto you and forehead pressed against yours.

“You really think we’d make it till eighty?” You ask, and Sunghoon wears that infamous grin of his. A scoff leaves his lips as he replies, “baby we’d still be together even if you’re in heaven and I’m stuck in hell.”

“You don’t think we’d ever break up?” You question, and he chuckles at your innocence. Him? Breaking up with you? And he wonders if you realise the way he looks at you, how he kisses you like your lips are heaven.

“No way, princess,” he murmurs, bending over to place a ghost of a kiss on your lips, “I could be clinically insane or have the worst memory lost but I’d never forget how in love with you I am.”

How stupid you were to indulge in such empty promises. You should have known, been more aware that you could never change him — his habit of losing feelings fast.

How quickly he threw away a year of memories, how he kissed it off you and how you couldn’t help but comply, tears rolling down your cheeks. And you hated the way his face flashed a glimpse of regret — as if he was sorry he got caught.

“She pushed herself on me, love. As soon as she heard footsteps approaching.” Sunghoon pleaded, and you truly wanted to believe him. The way his hair was unusually dishevelled, his eyes full of pain. Yet all you could envision when you saw him was the picture of his body against one that was not yours, looking at her the way he looked at you.

“I really can’t handle this right now Sunghoon,” you cry, twisting your wrist out of his hold. Sunghoon feels his heart crush — he hears it. It chips off piece by piece as he watches you crumble to the ground, hands over your face and he wants to go over to console you yet his feet are glued to the ground.

“I swear,” he whispers, soft yet it shakes both hearts in the room, “you and me.”

Your head hurts and nothing matches up. Maybe you’re a coward for not choosing to fight or maybe you’re just too tired. “I can’t,” your voice cracking uglily, “I saw it with my own two eyes.”

“I love you,” you say, vision stuck on the floorboards, too scared to look at Sunghoon’s expression — was it pain like yours was, or was it joy and excitement at breaking yet another girl’s heart, “so much Hoon,” you manage to croak out.

“And I’d always trust you, but I need some time to process this, alone.”

That was the breaking point, when his heart shattered into small sharp shards of fragile vulnerability. It just seemed like yesterday when the both of you laid side by side and swore your forevers. He was never one for love and romance but now he gets it.

There wasn’t any point living if it’s not with you.

And he blames himself — his previous actions and deeds that cursed him for life, the karma that haunted him for his unrighteousness. Maybe he does deserve it, he thinks, if this was what every other girl felt like when he had broken things up with them.

“Please,” he muttered, eyes red and tears running down. Sunghoon doesn’t know who he’s talking to anymore; if he was begging you to stay by his side or begging himself to stop inflicting pain on your precious heart.

“Not now,” your chest squeezes and your rib cage traps your ferociously beating heart to hold it in its place as you make a rash decision, “I don’t want to see you.”

Sunghoon thinks he could’ve turned into a grotesque monster the way you shunned him out. All bloody and contorted, far away from the charm he once used to hold. And he wants to disagree, yet he murmurs the heavy words of agreement.

You only hear the shuffling of feet — one that you can recognise from miles away, before the door clicks close and your throat burns from the loud sobs emitted from your heart.

As much as you wanted to indulge in such a cliche that you could be the one person who changed his way, this was sadly reality. That Park Sunghoon never belonged to you the way you belonged to him.

He’d always be wanted everywhere he went, and you don’t know if you’d ever be able to handle that.

ONE YEAR LATER

You’re kissing a boy whose name you don’t remember. Is it Park Jaemin or Park Jaeon? Is his surname even Park? Eyes closed and lips on lips, and it isn’t very polite of you to rate a boy’s kiss, but it’s all you can do to satisfy your boredom as his teeth carelessly bites down on your tongue. Fucking hell, you think, as you break the kiss only to meet the boy’s apologetic expression, it’s a two out of ten.

Dreading to tell your friends about yet another terribly gone blind date, you force a tight lipped smile as you wave goodbye to the boy whose cheeks are flushed red. As cute as he looked, you wished you would never see him again.

“God, why are men like this,” you complain right as you open the doors to your dorm room. Karina, your dorm mate and self proclaimed best friend sits up on her bed, patting the spot next to her in eagerness, ready to listen to yet another night of whining.

“It can’t be as bad as the lifeguard guy,” she says, tilting her head to examine your fatigued expression, “how was the kiss this time round?”

You don’t even bother saying it out, you didn’t even want to think about it again. Simply raising two fingers up at her, your back hits the soft cushion of Karina’s bed, a loud sigh leaving your lips.

“Still not comparable to,” she pauses, looking at you warily before continuing, “him?”

Him. God, it’s insane that he’s still stuck in your mind a year after he mercilessly stepped on your heart. You stay silent, and that’s all it takes for your dorm mate to flop down beside you, a big sigh leaving her lips as well.

You’re over him. You’re over Park Sunghoon. Or at least that’s what you tell yourself. But despite days and nights of going out again and again with different boys to forget about him, changing habits and sleep schedules to leave memories with him behind, deep inside your heart you know that you’ll never get over Park Sunghoon.

He’s the reason why any blind date your parents set you up with doesn’t go smoothly. You’re picky, and you can’t seem to find a boy comparable to him. And you fault Sunghoon for making you like this — overly obsessed with the composition of people.

Like every boring blind date starts, the boy picks you up, drives you to your favourite restaurant and asks you the same questions, “what do you study?”, “how are you liking school?”, and oftentimes questions of more substance like, “how was your day today?” At least with those kinds of questions your answer could vary.

And everytime you get asked such questions you can’t help but remember him. Park Sunghoon, who told you that he practised knotting his tie an hour a day to prepare for your very first date together. How he likes KitKats so much but he’s boycotting Nestle so he doesn’t buy them, and how he absolutely hates the taste of coffee, but drinks it to look cool.

Your eyes start to burn slightly, and you squeeze them shut, trying to stop the collecting tears from trailing down the apples of your cheeks. You hate Sunghoon, you despise him so much you wish you could punch him and his god awful handsome face a couple times. Why, you wonder, why did he have to be such a good boyfriend? Maybe if he wasn’t you’d be content with a boy who wasn’t experienced in kissing, maybe you’d be fine with a boy who asks you how your day went just for the sake of asking.

And it doesn’t help that you’ve grown the exact same habit as him, that you had to restrain yourself from telling every single boy you sit across the table from small details about you like you used to tell Sunghoon.

Hands moving to furiously wipe the tears streaming down your face, you open your eyes to see Karina, who looks at you with sympathy. It’s become too common of an occurrence, and she hates that she can’t do anything about it other than offer you comfort.

“He was a good boyfriend, but there are better out there,” she says this time round, moving over to lay beside you. There are better boys out there, everyone is better than a boy who broke your heart. But he’s the one you want. Park Sunghoon.

No words are exchanged but a tight hug before you shuffle back to your bed. Your nighttime routine begins as your head hits the pillow and you start thinking about Sunghoon. You always think about Sunghoon before you fall asleep, you did since the very first time you met him, and you do now. The words he said, the way he looked. The inside jokes you had, the silent moments you shared. And if you ever dream, you dream about him. Because it’s Sunghoon, and everything in your life seemed to revolve around him.

It’s strange, how the moments the both of you shared felt like forever. Until suddenly you’re nineteen, and he’s halfway across the world. The earth becomes an hourglass, and you’re watching the sand pile up at the wrong end. And you’re thinking about how when you first met him, when you dated him, and when you were just beside him. Then your heart was like a kick drum at a rock show. But now, it is merely a ticking bomb of pain and anguish.

The arrogance and beautiful glory that shined with him — and you can still never forget the time it blinded you. How you were supposed to be the main character yet all you could focus on was the godly playboy who stole your firsts.

“I’d kiss you but your boyfriend’s watching,” Sunghoon mumbled, and he was so close you could feel his breath on your lips.

He held your gaze confidently, with a tinge of arrogance as his tongue darted out to lick his lip. You remember thinking that Sunghoon was the most annoying person in the world, because how could he have looked so devilishly handsome and have such an intoxicating effect on you.

It all started when he showed up unannounced and uninvited to your birthday party — still in his school uniform, tie loosened and sleeves rolled up with his blazer hanging over his shoulder.

And you should have known better than to let him charm his way into your house. “What are you doing here, Hoon?”

Sunghoon loved the way his nickname rolled off the tip of your tongue, so addictive that he wanted to record it — to play it again and again, even if your tone was one of spite.

“Happy birthday princess,” Sunghoon completely ignored your words, taking steps closer towards you, “now, where’s my birthday kiss?”

He’s at it again, aimlessly flirting with you. You rolled your eyes, a deep sigh exiting your mouth, “it’s my birthday, Hoon.” How did he even know where you lived? You were sure you told everyone you invited not to bring him along.

“So I’ll give you a birthday kiss,” he grins, eyes glinting with mischief as he watches your facial expressions fall, ears burning red as you quickly turn around.

You hated Park Sunghoon and the unimaginable hold he had on you. “I’m going to find my mother. Do not, I swear to god, cause any trouble.”

“Your mother? It’s a little early in the relationship,” he moved swiftly to your side, arms casually slinging over your shoulder as he pulled you closer into him forcefully. “But it’s okay, I’m ready.”

Where in the world did Sunghoon get his cocky attitude from, you think as you try your best to pry and lift his arm away from your shoulder. Despite your surface indifference towards his advances, there were millions of butterflies invading your stomach at his every single action.

Before you can even try to escape, a voice calls your name and you stop to talk to Yunjin. “Park Sunghoon? What are you doing here?”

Sunghoon steals a glance at you, and he thought you looked absolutely adorable as you pouted at the image of multiple people seeing you with him; given how you always seemed to have complaints about his overly flirty nature and playboy ways.

But Sunghoon hadn’t fooled around since you transferred into Decelis two months ago, a personal record for him. At first all you were was a form of entertainment, someone who had cute reactions to his smooth pick up lines.

Then it all came crashing down, when he started to feel the need to bicker with you everyday and mess up your hair every time he saw you in the hallways. And somewhere in between the blurred lines, he fell in love.

“Here to celebrate my girl’s birthday,” he cocks his head towards you, who’s palms now cover your face in sheer embarrassment. God, now it’s going to spread like wildfire. His girl?

Yunjin’s eyes widen and jaw drops, “really? You guys are together? But I thought you were with Choi Soobin.” She asked, nudging you.

Sunghoon frowns at her words. Choi Soobin? Since when? Sunghoon literally followed you around school whenever he saw you, and he’s never seen you ever talk to that boy.

“Soobin and I are just friends,” you clarify, “also we are not a couple,” your finger gesturing to you and Sunghoon as you answer the girl.

“We’ll be one by tomorrow,” Sunghoon cuts back into the conversation, voice loud, and he catches your surprised expression as he smirks slyly.

Though he continues the conversation without a single stutter or break, Sunghoon’s feeling utterly disgusted. Is that the kind of boy you like? Nerdy losers who can’t do anything for the life of themselves? He doesn’t really like the thought of turning into those types of boys, but whatever you want, he thinks — he’s already practised abstinence for you, he might as well go all the way.

At the same time Sunghoon wonders if you’re really that oblivious to his obvious advancements towards you. He’s made it crystal clear: dumped his girlfriend, followed you around, talked about you literally all the time, and yet you’re still clueless.

And he whisks you away before you find the chance to clarify his words again. He’s determined this time round, to make it extremely straightforward for you.

“Hoon why in the world would you say stuff like that,” you groaned, hands slapping his chest. And he grins like an idiot at your touch, if this was what it took for you to initiate skinship with him, he’d be more than willing to proclaim himself as your boyfriend any day.

He placed a hand on the place you’d just hit, “it’s painful,” he pouted, and you almost feel a little guilty at your harsh actions, “can you kiss it better?”

Until that. You huffed, “I'm leaving,” you announced as you turned away, ready to walk right back into the crowd. Sunghoon quickly clasped his fingers around your wrist, pulling you into his chest.

Your eyes become those of a deer caught in headlights as your body is pressed firmly against his, his arms finding their way to your waist; a gentle but firm hold as he bent down.

“Wasn’t done yet, princess,” he smirked, and you feel some sort of danger looming over because Sunghoon looks like a devil enticing you to commit sin. His black hair styles perfectly like always and his red tie, due to his excessive movements, is now dropping down even more to expose his honey skinned collarbones.

The most you can muster is a mumble, “what,” and your eyes are glassy as you stare up at him, he thinks he might go insane — to just move in to place a kiss on your invitingly soft lips.

“I’d kiss you but your boyfriend’s watching,” and he literally spat the term out, unable to believe he’s labelling someone else other than him ‘your boyfriend’. He knew you guys weren’t together, but just for the comfort of his heart he had to hear it again.

It took you a while to process his words. “He’s not my boyfriend, Hoon,” and it’s that short statement coupled with the way you said his name that really did it for him.

Sunghoon moves in just as you finish your sentence, and he sinks into your pillowy lips. It’s paradise on earth and he thinks he will never be able to get enough of this feeling.

“Sunghoon,” you mumbled when he broke the kiss, slightly out of breath as you looked up with hazy eyes.

He chuckled, “sorry, baby, my bad. I’ll return your kiss back,” and Sunghoon doesn’t hesitate to give you another kiss, fingers caressing your waist as he pulled you closer to him.

This time it’s you who breaks the kiss, way too out of breath to even form full sentences without a few breaks in between. “You just kissed me.”

“Right, I just did that baby,” he smiles, those tiny fangs of his showcased as he gazes adoringly at you. “Actually, I’m looking for a girlfriend.” He pauses, eyeing your flushed cheeks and pink lips, “Are you looking for a boyfriend by any chance, princess?”

Now that you’re literally glued onto Sunghoon, you take the chance to look at him. Sharp nose, pretty moles that you could probably trace along all day, and his eyes which contrasting to his calm demeanour, held anxiousness as he waited for you to answer.

You’ve thought about dating Sunghoon before. Multiple times. Way more than you should’ve. And you never wanted to ever confess to it, because he was everyone’s crush. And not only that, he was annoying — constantly teasing you and making you flustered by his actions. You’d curse every time your heartbeat started to accelerate at his flirty words. You had thought that there was no way he’d ever like you back.

“I’m looking for a boyfriend,” you admit, letting out a soft giggle at Sunghoon’s overjoyed expression. And you decide that maybe now’s the time to get back at him, tease him a little to get him to stay on his toes, “maybe I should go find Soobin.”

His shoulders downturn almost immediately and his arms wrap around your waist securely, chin resting on the top of your head. “No fucking way,” he grumbles, “you’re my girlfriend now. And I’m your boyfriend.”

“Yeah, you are,” you say, voice muffled in the embrace of Sunghoon. And you hear him giggle slightly, the rumble of his chest exposing the boyish feelings your boyfriend was currently going through, “for now.”

Sunghoon lifted his chin from your head, fingers brushing over your cheeks before they landed themselves on your jaw. He tilts your chin up, “too bad my intention is forever.” And he placed chaste kisses on your lips again and again.

What a joke. What a liar, you think as you feel the cords of your heart tug at the memory. He haunts you and you wish you were here with him in his arms, fresh perfumed scent from Tamburins that he always used wafting into your senses, intoxicating you, consuming you.

Sticky cheeks and bloodshot eyes adorn your face as Karina shakes you incessantly, bringing you back to reality. “What,” you groan. You weren’t in the mood for whatever gossip she had to tell you — Sunghoon consumed your mind in ways that made it ache; you barely have space for any other thoughts.

She thrusts the phone into your face, the blaring screen making you squint as you recognise the familiar school news forum website. The big bold title of the post names ‘guys help me find this guy i saw on campus in omfg’ along with a picture attached.

You’re left speechless as a wave of emotions hits you and you feel like you’re drowning. This is not a dream, it’s real. And you don’t know if this was the universe’s way of pushing you to get over him or if you’d just managed to anger the world with your incessant wailing about the boy.

Because Park Sunghoon is back and he’s looking ten times hotter than you’d remembered.

Sunghoon sits with his long legs comfortably spread open and arms resting on the cushions of the couch, as if he was the owner of the house.

“So,” the girl straddled on his lap says, twirling her hair and batting her eyelashes at him, “what’s your favourite fruit then?”

They’ve been at it for minutes that felt like hours and Sunghoon doesn’t think he can withstand the urge to push her off his lap for any longer. Sunghoon grins cockily, “wanna know, babe?”

He watches with dark eyes as the girl, who’s name he can’t seem to remember, nods bashfully. It’s the fifth girl in three days, and Sunghoon’s getting a little tired of the same old expressions to his flirty behaviour.

“Strawberries,” Sunghoon tells her, “I could live on strawberries my whole life.”

“You like them that much, huh?” He almost visibly cringes at the sultry tone of her voice. That’s too much. But he doesn’t say anything, nodding his head at her words. “Why?”

He freezes up for a while. Why? Well, Sunghoon has never had a care for strawberries, but that summer, your lips were so stained with strawberries it was all he could ever taste.

And he remembers how your hands traced the veins of his neck, limbs tangled with his as he kissed your strawberry lips goodnight and good morning.

“Tastes nice,” he shrugs, and the girl moves on to her next question. Sunghoon, however, tunes her out like he had wanted to since she pounced over onto his lap.

He almost curses the girl for asking him such a harmless question, cursing himself for answering it the way he did. Sunghoon doesn’t have a favourite fruit, so why did his thoughts have to travel there, to the back of his mind, where he kept all his memories with you untouched.

Ironically, Park Sunghoon is here to see you. Despite having a girl planted on his lap, he finds his eyes constantly wandering every time people enter the house — it’s an unfamiliar game of waiting, one that Sunghoon’s never played before.

Hell, Sunghoon doesn’t even know if you’re going to come, but he’s bagging on it because he knows your parents wouldn’t let you skip the chance to network with your schoolmates. And now that he’s back as your schoolmate, Sunghoon swears that he wouldn’t miss the chance to ‘network’ with you.

Speaking of the devil, you walk through the door, and Sunghoon is in awe. Pretty little black dress with black heels, and god you still looked the same, maybe even prettier — yeah, definitely more prettier.

And his heart is thumping against his rib cage, nostalgia flushing through him as Sunghoon remembers the very first time he saw you in class after he came late. One look at you and he thinks all his efforts are in vain, Sunghoon wants to touch you, call you pet names and see your cheeks flush his favourite shade of rosy red, but the weight on top of his lap stops him, and he can only watch as you walk into the kitchen without a glance towards the couch.

Then he hears your voice, it's loud and smooth like it was back then, and he remembers because every single time he hears the nickname ‘Hoon’, he hears your voice. And Sunghoon will never forget the sound of your voice calling his name over and over.

“Soobin,” you call out, “Choi Soobin,” and his shoulders drop. Soobin? Out of everyone you could move on with, you got together with him? He’s better, Sunghoon knows he is, and he can’t believe the fact that you would downgrade to a second class nerd.

Sunghoon shifts in his seat, the poor girl on his lap thrown to the side as he attempts to get a view of the open kitchen where you stood alluringly. He disregards the scoff thrown at him from the girl, who walks away with hips swinging.

God it’s that effect again, and without even a look you have him wrapped around your finger unknowingly. Sunghoon suddenly feels the need to kiss you again, and he realises how much he misses you.

How selfish of him though, to crave for you as though you were his to miss at all.

Sunghoon clears his throat, arms folded and muscles bulging, trying to be discreet about the toll you take on his mentality. He’s here and you’re just a walk away — yet why does he feel so undeserving of being next to you.

The past was just a misunderstanding, and he wouldn’t have been at fault if he didn’t just hop on a plane to the other side of the world just as you were ready to talk it out.

But there you are now and he feels as if it’s his final opportunity before you slip through his fingers. Sunghoon wants to call your name, blurt out his feelings and kiss himself better; hell he’d never admit it over his pride but he had been thinking of what to say to you when he would finally see you again.

The lump in his throat’s the size of a cherry pit as he shifts awkwardly, finding himself on the way to the kitchen, on the way to you.

And he hates it — how fidgety you make him feel, how his palms turn sweaty like a teenage boy, how out of character you make him feel.

You’re just another girl now, an ex, a stranger. Sunghoon knows he’s just lying to himself, because you’d never be a stranger to him, not when you’re in everything he sees and does, not when he’s never had the confidence to tell his parents who constantly ask about you that you’re no longer together.

Filtering through the crowded room, he prepares himself, rehearsing the words he’s always wanted to tell you. Yet a flame in his heart burned luminously green at the sight of you laughing, with a boy that wasn’t him, with Choi Soobin.

“New boyfriend already? I see the princess has downgraded from a prince to a knight,” Sunghoon looms over you, a look of distaste all over his face as he looks pointedly over at the other tall boy.

You knew he was here watching, you could feel the gaze of Park Sunghoon from a mile away. And now he’s right behind you, chest pressed against your back as Soobin looks away from you to meet his gaze.

“Sunghoon?” Soobin murmurs in confusion, and Sunghoon smirks, waving him off as a gesture to leave the both of you alone.

That was one thing you’d always hated about Sunghoon, how he used his influence to control everyone around you, as if they were unworthy of your attention.

“Stay Soobin,” you say, before you turn around to meet Sunghoon’s gaze for the first time in a long while. Your heart slams against your chests like fists on a punching bag and feelings overwhelm you. You wouldn’t label yourself as someone emotional yet whenever you’re around Sunghoon you can’t help but drown in your feelings — love, hate, anger, and longing.

Sunghoon shoots you a sharp glare before returning his gaze to Soobin and cocking his head to the side. “I think I should leave,” he mumbles, tripping over his words before he steps out of the kitchen.

And there you find yourself, face excruciatingly close to Park Sunghoon’s as you try to choke down your feelings. He looked a little different, less playful and more mature, yet he still has the same sharp features you loved, and the multiple moles peppered across his face that you used to kiss every night.

“Is this fun for you, Sunghoon?” And he winces at your tone, loaded with disappointment and frustration but he remains quiet, reaching over to brush a strand of hair away from your face.

You can’t stop yourself from leaning into it, his warmth and familiarity. “Hm?” Sunghoon hums, his voice deeper than it was back then, “I don’t know, is this fun for you, princess?”

You’re taken back to highschool, when Sunghoon would press you up against the cool metal lockers and tell you how pretty you are, like a princess hence the nickname he has for you. Then, you couldn’t control the vibrant red that ruled over your cheeks and ears at the sound of that nickname and now, you still can’t seem to.

“You can’t just barge in here and act like you know me, Park Sunghoon,” you seethed, “like nothing ever happened.”

“I don’t know, princess, maybe you can refresh my memory,” he grins at the way your eyebrows squeeze in irritation, “a kiss for old times sake?”

You place your palms on his chest, using force to push him away yet he doesn’t budge. “Hey sweetheart, I know you’re excited to see me but it’s a little early to be feeling me up don’t you think?”

Immediately retracting your hands, Sunghoon lets out a laugh. It’s just as melodious as you remember and you can’t help but sigh at the familiar feeling of bickering with him. “Get the fuck off me, Park Sunghoon,” you groan.

“Woah, full government name? Baby I thought we were in love.” God, you think, how you wished you could kiss his face with an uppercut. It didn’t help that he was exactly the same as he was before and everything more, because you can feel yourself sinking deeper and deeper into him, more than before.

And you hated how he looked so good, like he never ghosted you and gave up on your relationship, like he wasn’t crying constantly over the memories you shared together.

“Why are you back Sunghoon,” you sigh, at least you were prepared — having cried your heart out, panicking over what to do when you’d finally see him with Karina. “Why are you here disturbing me, why can’t you just go find another girl to bother?”

It hurt you to say this, yet the clear image of Sunghoon with other girls was painted clearly in your mind. He was a player, and you felt hopeless trying to change him.

“It’s always been you, love.” He bends closer towards you holding your gaze, “I can’t eat, I can’t sleep, I wake up in the middle of the night calling out your name.”

“Will you please stop joking around,” you scoff at his unbelievable attempt at wooing you yet your heart pounds against the blooming flowers of your rib cage.

“Who says I’m not being serious,” he says, “besides it’s hard to find another girl to bother when you’re all everyone around me talks about.”

Your heart stops and your stomach dips as though you’ve just tumbled from a great height. It’s the closeness between the both of you that makes your knees weak, and his skin brushing against yours that jolts you like a spray of hot sparks. It’s how he knows exactly what gets to you, even if you’d never meant for him to.

His words pierce your heart, half agony half hope. And maybe if you loved him less you’d be able to bite back.

“We are long over and you know that,” you answer, so softly yet the pain drums against your whole being, “you made sure of that when you left without a word.”

Sunghoon feels constricted, and his shoulders feel the heavy weight of his guilt as he breathes. And since a few months ago, he’s always thought that the wound from your relationship had festered yet here, right in front of you, it still bleeds fresh.

“We never officially broke up,” Sunghoon points out. And he feels like such a desperate douchebag hanging onto the thinnest thread that could snap at any given second.

You scoff as you feel annoyance rise up in you, “you’d think that leaving your girlfriend to live across the world at the lowest point of your relationship literally shouts break up in every single angle.”

Sunghoon, for once, doesn’t have a cocky comeback to your words as they fizzle down his throat in silence. He opens his mouth yet bites back his tongue, guilt ridden.

You look at him, begging for an explanation that never seemed to come, “forget it, I’m an idiot for thinking that you’d ever waste your breath explaining yourse-”

“I get it, you hate me,” he groans, cutting you off as you fidget awkwardly at his words. No one could ever hate Park Sunghoon, even you — especially you. He sucks in a breath, ready to embarrass himself, bracing himself for rejection.

He can’t let you go like this, not when your heart blackens at the sight of him, not when he’s still madly in love with you.

So he does what he does best, he plays. And this time, it’s a game that he needs to win.

Park Sunghoon has a way with words, or maybe that’s just his charm — where every sentence and every word entrances, putting you in a state where you can’t seem to do anything but oblige to his commands.

You stand in one of your favourite dresses at the entrance of the restaurant, Sunghoon beside you as you try your best not to take a peek at him for the nth time.

You’re not here for him, you’re here for his mother.

At least that’s what you’ve been trying to tell yourself.

And you’ve been dreading it all, the feeling of familiarity — remembering how much you’d loved his parents, how well they treated you, and how you’d always meet up with them with Sunghoon.

Yet here you were again, a year later, trying to convince yourself that this was the closure that you needed to move on. It’s just an hour or two.

“Oh my gosh Sunghoon, you brought her,” a flowery voice cheered as you watched Mrs Park push back her chair to throw her arms around you, “I’ve been asking Sunghoon to set up a date for us to meet for the past year but he always claims you’re busy with Uni. How are you doing?”

You wrap your arms around her, a real smile blooming on your face, “I’ve been coping well, it’s much busier than I could’ve ever imagined. But I’ve never been better.”

Lie, lie, lie. It seemed like that was all you could do around things that surround your ex boyfriend; lying about your feelings, lying to his mother, lying to yourself.

“I can imagine,” she smiles, gesturing to the both of you to sit, “now that Hoon is back, I’m sure he’d look after you well.”

“Not even a hello to your own son and you’re already putting words in my mouth,” Sunghoon complains, rolling his eyes at his mother’s usual antics.

And at times like this he remembers how you’d squeeze his hands, as if warning him to listen to his mother, yet right now his hands lack the warmth yours radiate and he only has himself to blame.

After all he was the one asking you to join him, and he couldn’t have expected you to actually act like you used to. You weren’t his to touch anymore.

“It’s great that you’re back next to him,” Mrs Park comments, completely ignoring her son. “You’re the only one he listens to. He’s changed a lot since he met you.”

You let out a forced laugh, one that goes unnoticed by Mrs Park but not Sunghoon. And he questions if you actually believe his mother’s words.

Sunghoon used to think it was foolish to believe that people could truly change for the better — life was made to be a cycle, and no matter how long summer radiated, winter would still send a chill down your spine. Yet with you his world felt like constant summers in paradise, peace and comfort he hasn’t been able to find anywhere but in your arms that wrapped around his flaws and never let go.

“Barely any parties overseas, always studying,” she points out and you’re shocked at the new revelation you’d just made, “but he’s started smoking, maybe now that you’re back by his side you can fix that up.”

Sunghoon groans, “whatever.” His fingers run through his hair as you finally cave in, taking a glance at him. His sculpted features that followed you to your dreams, the rustic looking leather jacket that hugged his figure perfectly and just everything; from the way he breathes to the way he speaks. He’s everything.

Time ticks away as you find it harder and harder not to hold Sunghoon’s hand like you used to, holding yourself back from purposefully hitting his leg with yours under the table cloth just for the fun of it. And it wasn’t that you weren’t enjoying yourself — it was just how minutes felt like days being so close yet not being able to touch him.

The cold breeze of the night bites your cheeks, turning them a frosty red. You shiver as you blow hot breaths on the palms of your hand, rubbing them to keep warm only to find the weight of a jacket draped over your shoulder.

“I don’t need it,” you say to Sunghoon, without having any intention to give his jacket back, “I’m not that cold.”

“I can hear your teeth chattering from a mile away, princess,” he says, lips twitching.

“Sure,” you comment, “and when you’re cold later on don’t ask for the jacket back.”

Sunghoon lets out a laugh, it’s animated and excited as his head rolls back and his mouth widens. “Don’t worry about me, love, I’ve got it covered.”

Reaching into his pocket, Sunghoon pulls out a box of cigarettes, smoothly lighting one up before he breathes out a cloud of grey smoke. And you can’t help but look.

You hold your breath at the sight — his dark eyes alight under the moonlight and his jaw tilted a few angles up, hair messy from the night’s breeze, and finger clad rings that hold such death.

It makes you scared: scared of the love you have for him. Because it has ruined you once and it will ruin you again, you’d let it ruin you again.

“You shouldn’t smoke, you know,” you start, “it’s bad for your health.”

“You’re bad for my health, sweetheart,” he answers, “yet you seem to be everywhere I am.”

The silence of night engulfs the both of you, and the chatter from the restaurant tunes out as you meet his gaze.

It’s insane, you’re going insane. “You know you can’t just do that,” you say, trying to keep yourself calm.

“Can’t just do what, love?” He hums, smoke wafting around him. And it really should have disgusted you, the way he chose to blacken his own lungs yet it didn’t. It could never.

“That,” you point out, tearing your gaze away from him. “You can’t just return out of nowhere and pretend like everything is fine. Calling me pet names, making me meet your mother because you failed to tell her about our breakup. You can’t just rope me back in after I’ve spent all my time and energy grappling out of the hold you have over me.”

Tears well up in your eyes as you desperately try to blink them away. Your vulnerability on full display for Sunghoon to read — not that he ever needed you to tell him, he could read you like an open book.

“Stop playing with me Sunghoon. I’m not just a toy you can throw around and find when you’re bored.”

Only the soft cackle at the end of Sunghoon’s cigar can be heard as he stills. And he wants to tell you that he loves you, he wants to scream it to the world. You were never a toy to him and he has always been fully devoted to you, like a religion of his.

Sunghoon doesn’t know how to say it, he can’t really put it into words: the feeling he has when he’s around you. He’s addicted to it — the feeling of being alive, like he’s known you for lifetimes after lifetimes, like he’s free.

His proclamation gets stuck in his throat as he fumbles on a thorough response. It’s always been hard for him to show his true feelings, much more to actually say it out loud.

He’s never really been an emotional person, much less a confrontational one. It was why he liked playing around; baseless actions without reason, there wasn’t any need to show his true feelings or even feel much to begin with. He never had to explain himself, not once.

And at times like this when Sunghoon’s utterly scared, he can’t do anything but accept; that maybe you and him were just meant to be a precious memory.

Maybe it was time to let you move on.

Friends with deep history. That’s what Karina decides to title your relationship with Sunghoon. And you’d never thought it’d hurt this much, given you and Sunghoon were never once considered friends.

It’s a whole different type of pain and worry that gnaws at your heart — like an emerald monster of envy as you watch him interact with other girls in ways he once did with you, to hear him call others by pet names like he used to call you.

Sunghoon lets the word ‘babe’ roll off his tongue without a second thought, it’s the only pet name he could ever bear saying without much thought of you.

‘Babe’ was conventional, normal. It was everything you were not.

And he wonders if you realise it, if you pay attention to his every word like he does to yours, if you’d really moved on and accepted the fact that the two of you were friends.

It’s weird, Park Sunghoon has never hated any word more. The sour aftertaste it left on his tongue and the tension surrounding it. Fuck friends, he thinks, it’s only been a week of such an arrangement and he can’t take it any longer.

There’s only been two types of days throughout the week — ones where you’re beside him and he can smell the familiar scent of vanilla and honey and others, where seconds felt like months and minutes felt like years.

This isn’t what he came back for. He didn’t come back just to torture himself with close proximity, he came back to touch you, kiss you, to feel your breath on his lips, to feel your heart beat against his.

It’s been a week since Sunghoon swore to himself that he’d let you move on, give you space, and finally let you go from his grasp. Yet whenever he spots you with another boy that wasn’t him, his being burns.

His heart scalds as if it’s drowning in fiery hot lava. And Sunghoon doesn’t sob or wail, his grief horribly discreet, persistent, and almost as silent as bleeding from an unstitched wound. It feels unspeakably lonely, draining and his mind’s a blank state. A sickening wet feeling.

How the memories haunt him everywhere he finds himself to be; your favourite cafe, a poster of the movie you’d made him watch multiple times he could recite half the movie script, the bitter coffee he forces down his throat just to torture himself.

“Because it’s kinda cool,” he remembers telling you, “stuff like coffee runs, or caffeine adrenaline that runs through my veins after the bitter taste coats my tongue.”

The heavenly laugh that you let out, the one that makes him want to keep on loving you. “Caffeine adrenaline, really Hoon?” You said with a grin on your face, “I don’t think there’s such a thing.”

“Yeah there is,” he insists, mirroring the goofy grin plastered on your lips, “and it makes me want to kiss you.”

Now all time does is pass and he finds himself in front of your favourite cafe, wondering if you still order your favourite chocolate pastry and get it all over your lips; if there’s someone else who kisses the stains of chocolate away like he did once.

And he shouldn’t have been surprised to see you there, in your glory, a plate of your favourite chocolate pastry in front of you half eaten.

At least some things don’t change.

He watches you intently, as you take another bite of the chocolaty goodness, nodding inattentively at the words spouted from your company’s mouth.

Sunghoon thinks the boy in front of you is doing it all wrong. If he was in front of you now he would’ve teased you for being a messy eater, bent over the table just to kiss the chocolate away from your lips as you tell him to stop while laughing.

You find your attention dwindling from the boy in front of you. He was good looking, for sure, defined features and a nice smile. But Sunghoon’s more handsome, Sunghoon looks good with and without glasses but the boy in front of you would never be able to pull glasses off.

If Sunghoon was here, he’d have already made me laugh at least thrice, he’d have planted a kiss on my lips, calling me a messy eater, he’d have already changed the topic to keep to your interests.

You look away from the boy, scanning the interior of the familiar cafe, one that was supposed to be your favourite yet you’ve never really thought much about the interior or their food. Everything’s dull and you figure that maybe it’s the company you’re around that matters instead.

The cafe wasn’t your favourite, Sunghoon was. With his witty comebacks and chivalrous smirk, the tall figure and eyes you could stare at for days.

And then you see him, and he’s just there. You don’t know what to think anymore. Just that you’re here and he’s here. That you’re supposed to hate him for leaving yet you can’t find a tinge of hate in your heart. That moving on was clearly for the better but everything’s mundane without him.

Sunghoon’s already looking at you, and when you meet his gaze he lets out a string of curses under his breath. This wasn’t a good idea. You and him in a place scattered everywhere in your memories, just a few steps away yet miles apart at the same time.

He can’t take it any longer. So Sunghoon leaves, fingers clenching the pack of cigarettes in his pocket.

You frown at the sight of his back, turning as he left the cafe without a second thought. A sense of déjà vu encompasses you. Is this how it’s always going to be — turning away from each other without a smile, seeing him everywhere yet not being able to talk to him, holding the label of friends but never having a proper conversation?

“Hey, you okay love?” You grimace at the name he calls you, looking back at the boy who did nothing but blabber away all this while.

“Uhm, I think I have to go,” you say, chair pushed back hurriedly as you make your way out without a second thought. Head turning to find a boy in a denim jacket, the boy that held your heart in his hands.

“Sunghoon,” you call once you spot him, puffs of smoke wafting over and around him as he leans gorgeously against a wall. “Is this really how it’s going to be?”

Sunghoon lifts the cigarette between his fingers, cold eyes that once held no emotion seemingly brightening at the sight of you. “What are you doing here princess?” He asks, small puffs of smoke exiting his mouth as he talks, “boy not to your liking? He seemed bland.”

“Why are you doing this Sunghoon,” you say exasperatedly, “why are you everywhere that I am, why do you follow me in everything that I do.”

“Am I distracting you from your dates, love?” Sunghoon laughs, and you’re annoyed at how he dodges your questions perfectly, how he manages to twist everything yet hit the nail on the head.

“You promised me that you’d let me move on,” you pause, catching your breath, “you owe me that. You owe me space.”

“You think it’s that easy to give you up?” Sunghoon’s eyebrows furrow as the cigarette in his finger dims and drops to the ground, “I wasn’t lying when I said that you’re all around me. I can’t even-”

“Then why,” you cut him off, vision already blurry, “why did you leave without a word, why did you leave just when I was ready to talk, why didn’t you answer the thousand messages I left you, why did I have to find out you were gone from someone that wasn’t you. Why?”

“I didn’t have a choice,” Sunghoon says shakily.

“You didn’t have a choice?” You scoffed, “I cry myself to sleep wondering who you were talking to instead of me, wondering why you did me so wrong and everything that was wrong with me. I checked my phone, Sunghoon, every fucking ten minutes hoping to see your name on the screen and if it wasn’t I would cry again and again. You always come and go as you please, whatever is convenient for you. I bet you’ve never once thought of my feelings, yet all I could think about was if you were coping well on the other side of the world.”

Sunghoon stands and he marvels, your words striking him like a final knockout blow. And its realisation all over again that he loved you, he loves you, and you still loved him.

He’s always thought you’d hate him for what he’s done, the suffering he’s brought into your life. Being serious never yielded him much results so he kept pretending, passing it over.

“And you think I didn’t,” he wails, and it’s the first time you’ve seen perfection with flaws, “you think I didn’t look at your texts and cry? You think I’ve never had any sleepless nights thinking if texting you back would be the right choice? I thought it would’ve been the best for you, I wouldn’t have been able to treat you the way you would’ve wanted to be treated and I didn’t know how long my father would’ve made me stay there if I didn’t beg to come back.”

“But now that you’re here in front of me, I’ve realised how stupid I must have been to make such a decision. I missed you and I still miss you even when you’re here — and it occurs to me that I’ll probably never move on from you because you’re the first person I’ve ever truly loved unconditionally, the only one that’s ever mattered.”

A strangled sob of tears leaves your throat as you bury your face in his chest, trembling wildly as tears travel down your cheeks. “I hate you,” you croak out, fists clenched, “I hate that I miss you.”

“I missed you everywhere.” He says, fingers running through your hair to your back. And for the first time, Sunghoon lets the pain and ache bleed into his voice.

“Here,” he says and his lips brush against the place your heart beats, “and I’ve missed you here.”

Once Sunghoon kisses you, your heart slows and everything seems so dreamy. How much you needed him terrified you, and you couldn’t imagine that this was what love was like for everyone. Maybe it was just you, just you and Sunghoon. Maybe together you were just a volatile entity that would either implode or melt together, thrilling and exotic, sweet and heavenly.

It’s silent for a minute and you miss his voice again.

After a period of sadness, happiness doesn’t just jump in your life. It grows slowly into the cracks and fissures of you, like small plants that sprout in cracked concrete.

“Can I kiss you, princess?” Sunghoon mutters into your mouth as his arms wrap around your waist. Your arms around his neck as he hoists you up in the waters of his swimming pool.

It’s weird, how it feels like he’s never left. And ever since you’d cried your hearts out in each other's arms, you’ve both been making an effort to communicate with each other.

“You just kissed me, Hoon,” you laugh, water droplets harmonising with the sound of your laughter. And Sunghoon just stares like he did last night and the night before. He isn’t obsessed, yet when your fingers run through his hair he can’t help but think he is.

“I know, but I want to,” he grins, “I want to kiss you again.”

“You don’t have to ask,” you say in slow tenderness. His star mapped skin, cacophony of laughter, and his smile that makes you feel a little less alone — it makes you feel like the sun’s out in the middle of the midnight sky.

“Consent is what hot guys do,” he smirks, and you almost fall back in laughter.

“Really?” You reply, “I don’t see any hot guys around here?”

Sunghoon groans, “I’m right here? You’re saying that as if you don’t want a piece of me.”

You don’t think twice before leaning into Sunghoon, thoughtlessly holding him as you fall in love all over again with all your heart.

“You know who I want a piece of,” you sigh, head buried in the crook of his neck. “This new hot guy in school, everyone’s been raving about him for the past month. Bet he kisses well.”

“Oh,” Sunghoon gasps, “what is his name?” You roll your eyes at his facade of obliviousness.

“I think it’s Park Sunghoon,” your lips raise as you turn to look at him.

“That’s me baby,” he chuckles, “too bad I already have a girlfriend.”

“Oh, that’s too bad,” you frown.

“Yeah, too bad I’m all hers,” he mirrors your frown, “now can my girlfriend allow me to kiss her?”

You giggle, nodding your head before Sunghoon presses his lips on yours. And it’s everything and nothing at once — heartbeats merging as one, heaven’s on your lips and Sunghoon feels the need to repeatedly repent his sins. He wants to touch you until his palms burn.

And unlike the rollercoaster of emotions his heart once felt, it feels calm, it feels as though he’s finally returned home.

© SJYUNS

[masquerade-md]

LOVE NEXT DOOR - p.sh

SUMMARY: After discovering your fiancé’s infidelity, you leave behind the life you’d built in the U.S. and return to Korea to stay with your parents. The familiar streets and faces bring a bittersweet nostalgia, but nothing compares to reuniting with Sunghoon, your childhood best friend. He’s different now—more reserved, maybe a bit colder. While he tries to bury the feelings he thought he’d left in the past, being around you stirs something in him that he can’t ignore. And as you start to find comfort in each other again, you both realize that some feelings never truly fade.

PAIRING: childhood bsf! sunghoon x f!reader

WARNINGS: smut (oral m and f receiving, unprotected sex), angst, denial, mentions of cheating

wc: 20k

You’re not sure what you expected when you walked into your apartment that day. You’d left early for a business trip—an opportunity too good to pass up, even if it meant being away from Daniel for a few days. The wedding was only a month away, and you’d been looking forward to everything finally settling into place. You’d imagined your life with him so many times: your wedding day, the honeymoon, the house you’d live in together, the family you’d build. It was all supposed to be perfect.

But as you pushed open the bedroom door, the world you’d been building shattered.

There they were, tangled in sheets that were meant for the two of you. Daniel's eyes widened in shock, but he didn't even bother scrambling for an excuse. You felt your chest tighten, each heartbeat a hammer against your ribs. For a moment, you stood frozen, every emotion rushing through you all at once—anger, betrayal, disgust, disbelief. The room, filled with their hurried whispers and excuses, began to spin, and you could hardly breathe.

You’d spent countless hours planning your future together, from the lace details on your wedding dress to the way you’d wear your hair. You had been so meticulous, imagining every little moment, every dance, every vow. Now, each of those dreams felt like a cruel joke. The engagement ring on your finger suddenly felt heavy, almost suffocating, a symbol of the love and trust that had been so easily shattered.

You weren’t supposed to be home. The thought lingers as you stand in the doorway, frozen, watching the scene unfold in front of you. Daniel, the man you were supposed to marry in a month, is tangled in your sheets with another woman. His face pales, and he stumbles over himself, trying to sit up, as if there’s any explanation that could possibly make this right.

“Y/N, I can explain,” he starts, throwing on the shirt that had been discarded on the floor. His voice is a mix of desperation and guilt.

“Explain?” you manage, though your throat feels tight, your voice barely a whisper. You feel like you’re in a daze, like this can’t possibly be real. “You’re in our bed, Daniel. The bed where we—” You choke on your words, unable to finish the sentence. Everything you’d built with him, all the dreams and plans, now feel hollow and meaningless.

He takes a step toward you, but you instinctively back away. “It wasn’t supposed to happen like this. It was a mistake, Y/N. Please, just let me—”

“A mistake?” You let out a bitter laugh, the sound foreign even to yourself. “We’re supposed to get married in a month, Daniel. A month! I was planning our wedding while you were—” You stop, shaking your head as the reality of it all starts to sink in. “Did you ever even care about us? About me?”

“Of course I did,” he says, his voice cracking. But there’s a hollowness in his words, one that you can’t unhear now.

“Don’t,” you interrupt, holding up your hand to stop him. “Just… don’t. I trusted you. I thought you loved me.” The weight of the engagement ring on your finger feels unbearable now, as if it’s mocking you, reminding you of every lie he’s ever told. You pull it off and toss it onto the bed, where it lands with a soft thud. “Keep it. I don’t want it anymore.”

He reaches for you, his hand outstretched, but you step back. “Y/N, please, don’t go. We can fix this—”

“Fix this?” You laugh again, the sound almost hysterical. “There’s nothing left to fix, Daniel. You ruined it. You ruined us.” The finality of your words hangs in the air, and for the first time, he seems to understand that this is it. You’re done.

Without another word, you turn and walk out, leaving behind the life you’d once believed in, the future you’d painstakingly planned. And as you step outside into the fresh air, you feel a strange sense of relief mixed with the ache of betrayal. 

˚୨୧⋆｡˚ ⋆

The hotel room is cold and impersonal, nothing like the home you’d shared with him. As you sit on the edge of the bed, you feel the weight of everything crashing down on you. You’re alone, truly alone, in a way you haven’t been since you first moved to the U.S. Daniel was supposed to be your constant, the one person you could rely on in this foreign place. Now, it all feels like a lie.

You clutch a pillow to your chest, trying to hold yourself together as the realization sinks in. You gave up so much to be with him, to build a life together. You left behind friends, family, and a whole world you knew, all for someone who didn’t care enough to stay faithful. The emptiness that fills you is overwhelming, and for the first time in a long time, you feel lost.

The next day, you return to your shared apartment. The place feels different now—tainted, like a ghost of the life you thought you had. You walk through each room, collecting your things in a daze, each item a painful reminder of a future that no longer exists.

In the bedroom, you pause, glancing at the photos on the nightstand. One of them is from the day he proposed, your faces beaming with happiness that now feels so far away. You grab the picture frame and toss it into a box, the glass cracking as it hits the other items. It feels oddly satisfying.

Once you’ve packed everything, you head to work for what you know will be the last time. The office is buzzing with the usual hum of conversations and keyboard clicks, but it all feels distant, like you’re watching it from the outside.

You find your boss in his office, and he looks up as you walk in. “Y/N, I wasn’t expecting you back so soon. How was the trip?”

You force a smile, though it barely reaches your eyes. “The trip was fine, but I need to talk to you about something.”

He senses the seriousness in your tone and gestures for you to sit. “What’s going on?”

Taking a deep breath, you steady yourself. “I’m resigning. Effective immediately.”

He blinks, surprised. “Are you sure? I mean, you have such a promising future here, and—”

“I’m going back to Korea,” you say, cutting him off. “There’s… there’s nothing left for me here.” You swallow hard, fighting back the tears threatening to fall. “I need to go home.”

He nods slowly, seeming to understand that this isn’t just a spur-of-the-moment decision. “I’m sorry to hear that, Y/N. We’ll miss you around here.”

The finality of it all feels like a release, and as you walk out of the office for the last time, you feel a strange mix of sadness and relief. You’re leaving behind everything you’d built, but you’re also walking away from the pain, from the betrayal. It’s time to start over, to find yourself again. And you know exactly where you need to be.

With your suitcases in hand, you leave the apartment, the job, and the life you’d once loved, and head for the airport. This time, you’re going home—for good.

˚୨୧⋆｡˚ ⋆

The plane ride back to Korea feels like a dream—a hazy, surreal blur where the reality of what’s happened hasn’t quite caught up with you. You stare out the window, watching as the city below grows closer, the familiar landscape bringing a wave of bittersweet nostalgia. You’re going home, but not for the reasons you ever imagined.

You feel a wave of apprehension mixed with relief. You hadn’t planned on returning home so abruptly, with nothing but a suitcase and a broken heart, and you certainly hadn’t told anyone. You let yourself imagine how surprised your parents will be when you show up at the door unannounced. But you push the thought aside as you step into a cab, the familiar cityscape passing by in a blur.

The familiar street feels almost surreal as you pull up to your parents’ house, the one you haven’t seen in years. After everything that’s happened, this was the only place that felt like it could hold you together. As you step out of the cab and stand in front of the door, the weight of your decision settles over you. 

You take a deep breath and ring the bell. you stand at the door, hesitating. You haven’t been here in so long, and everything looks just as it did before—yet somehow different. The door swings open to reveal your mother’s shocked face.

“Y/N?” she gasps, her hand flying to her mouth. “Is it really you?”

“It’s me, Mom,” you say, managing a small smile as she pulls you into a tight hug. 

“Oh, honey!” She squeezes you, almost as if to make sure you’re real, then steps back, looking you over with a mixture of joy and worry. “What are you doing here? We didn’t know you were coming!”

“I know. I wanted it to be a surprise.” You look over her shoulder to see your father standing in the doorway, his expression just as bewildered.

“Well, come in, come in!” Your mother ushers you inside, closing the door behind you. Your father wraps you in a quick hug, his grip firm but gentle.

“What brings you back home so suddenly?” he asks, his voice tinged with concern. “We thought you’d be busy with wedding plans.”

Your heart skips a beat, but you keep your expression steady. “Yeah… I just needed to get away for a bit. I missed you both.”

Your mother gives you a searching look, sensing there’s more to the story. “But your wedding is only a month away. Is everything okay?”

“It’s fine,” you say quickly, forcing a smile. “Daniel and I decided to take a break. I just needed some space to think, so I thought it’d be nice to come home for a while.”

Your parents exchange glances, their worry deepening. “A break?” your father echoes. “This close to the wedding?”

You take a deep breath, bracing yourself against the wave of emotion that threatens to break through. “Yeah, it was a last-minute decision. But I promise, it’s nothing to worry about. I just… needed to clear my head.”

Your mother reaches out and takes your hand, her grip warm and reassuring. “We’re here for you, sweetheart. You know that, right?”

“I know.” You squeeze her hand, grateful for their presence. “I just needed to be here. With you.”

Your father nods, his expression softening. “Well, you’re always welcome here. For as long as you need.”

 They settle into the familiar rhythm of conversation, asking about your flight and your plans, you find a small sense of comfort in their voices. But beneath it all, you can feel the questions they aren’t asking, the truths you’re not yet ready to share. For now, you let their warmth surround you, clinging to it like a lifeline in the storm you’re still navigating alone.

˚୨୧⋆｡˚ ⋆

As the night settles in, you find yourself standing in the doorway of your childhood bedroom, heart pounding. It feels both familiar and foreign, the walls adorned with posters of your teenage dreams and the desk still cluttered with relics of late-night study sessions. You push the door open, stepping inside and allowing the memories to wash over you. 

The bed is made, just as you left it all those years ago, with the comforter patterned in pastel colors and stuffed animals peeking out from under the pillows. You take a deep breath, inhaling the scent of your childhood—the faint hint of lavender air freshener mixed with the familiar aroma of old books. It’s comforting and painful all at once.

You sit on the edge of the bed, your mind drifts back to nights spent cramming for exams, the soft glow of the desk lamp illuminating pages of notes and textbooks. You remember laughing with your friends during late-night study sessions, the sound of their voices filling the air as you all shared dreams and plans for the future. Those were simpler times, before life became a tangled web of expectations and disappointments.

With each memory, a wave of nostalgia crashes over you, but the pain of your recent reality looms just beneath the surface. You can almost hear the echoes of your younger self, confident and excited about the future. Now, you feel like a shadow of that person, haunted by the weight of betrayal.

You shake your head, forcing a smile as you pull out your pajamas from your suitcase. No sense in dwelling on the past. You need to maintain the strong front you’ve put on for your parents. They deserve to see you as the daughter who’s come home, not the girl whose world has crumbled in a matter of weeks.

As you change into your pajamas, you catch a glimpse of yourself in the mirror—your eyes tired and a hint of sadness in your smile. But you quickly brush it aside, reminding yourself that you can’t let them see how vulnerable you feel. Your parents have already expressed their concerns; you can’t burden them with the truth just yet. You don’t want to break their hearts with the reality of why you’re here.

Slipping under the covers, you take a moment to appreciate the softness of the sheets, the way they wrap around you like a warm embrace. You lie back, staring at the ceiling, and allow your thoughts to wander. You think of Daniel, of the way everything fell apart so quickly, and the ache in your chest sharpens. But you breathe through it, determined not to let the tears spill over.

Instead, you focus on the memories that fill this room, allowing yourself a brief moment of comfort before the darkness creeps back in. You can hear your mother’s soft footsteps in the hallway, her gentle voice drifting through the walls as she chats with your father. They’re worried about you, and you know it. But you refuse to let them see the cracks in your facade. 

You close your eyes, the past and present collide in a whirlwind of emotion, but you push the chaos aside, seeking solace in the familiarity of your childhood sanctuary. Here, in this room, you can hold on to the illusion of safety, if only for a little while longer.

˚୨୧⋆｡˚ ⋆

The next morning, you wake up to the smell of something familiar—your mother’s cooking. For a moment, you let yourself enjoy the simplicity of it, the warmth of home wrapping around you like a blanket. You push back the covers and head downstairs, where you find her bustling around the kitchen, setting the table like she used to when you were in high school.

“Good morning,” she says brightly as she sees you, her smile wide and welcoming. “I made your favorite—jeon and kimchi jjigae. Figured you could use a nice breakfast after that long flight.”

“Thanks, Mom.” You slide into a chair at the table, the normalcy of the moment grounding you. It’s almost like the old days when everything was so simple—just you, your parents, and a quiet morning before the day truly began.

She sets a plate down in front of you, the scene feels like something out of the past. The kitchen hasn’t changed, with the same floral curtains and the light clinking of dishes filling the quiet space. It’s peaceful, almost enough to make you forget why you’re back.

You both fall into an easy conversation—talking about small things like the weather, what’s been happening in the neighborhood, and her latest gardening projects. She doesn’t press about Daniel or the wedding, and you’re thankful for the reprieve. You’re determined to keep up this front, to act like everything’s fine, at least for now.

Just as you start to relax into the conversation, the front door flies open with a loud bang, and a familiar voice cuts through the morning calm.

“Y/N!”

You look up just as Yeji storms into the kitchen, her expression a mix of excitement and disbelief.

“How could you not tell me you were coming back?” she demands, standing with her hands on her hips as she glares at you in mock offense. “I had to hear it from our mom’s call this morning! Do you know how betrayed I feel right now?”

You blink in surprise, a guilty smile tugging at your lips. “Yeji, I—”

“Unbelievable,” she cuts you off, shaking her head. “I thought we were best friends! You’re lucky I love you.”

She strides over and pulls you into a tight hug before you can finish your sentence. You laugh softly, hugging her back. “I’m sorry, I didn’t tell anyone. It was a last-minute thing.”

Yeji pulls away and gives you a playful glare. “You owe me, big time.”

Your mother, who has been watching this entire exchange with an amused smile, shakes her head. “I told her she should’ve called you first,” she teases, glancing between the two of you.

Yeji crosses her arms, looking at you expectantly. “Well, you’re here now, so spill. What’s going on? Why the sudden return?”

You feel the weight of her question hang in the air, but before you can figure out how to answer, your mom steps in.

“Let her eat first, Yeji,” she chides gently. “She just got here yesterday.”

Yeji grumbles, taking a seat next to you with a dramatic sigh. “Fine. But after breakfast, you better be ready to talk. No way you’re getting out of this.”

You smile, feeling the warmth of her friendship wrap around you, even as you dread the inevitable questions. For now, though, you focus on the food in front of you, allowing the conversation to flow around you like it used to—just another morning in the house where everything was simple.

˚୨୧⋆｡˚ ⋆

“Im heading to the market to get stuff I need for tonight’s dinner. I’ll be back in a little,” Your mom tells you, walking out the door and closing it behind her.

Yeji narrows her eyes, tapping her fingers on the table. “Okay, Y/N. Enough stalling. Why are you really back? This close to the wedding? What’s going on with you and Daniel?”

You feel your stomach tighten, but you keep your face neutral, cutting a piece of pancake as if her question hasn’t hit you like a punch to the gut. “I told you, I just wanted to visit. I missed everyone.”

Yeji isn’t convinced. “Y/N, don’t give me that. You didn’t even tell me you were coming back, and you’re usually texting me about every little thing. Now you show up out of nowhere, and we’re supposed to believe this is just a friendly visit?”

You meet her gaze, your heart pounding, but you force yourself to stay calm. “It is. There’s nothing else to it.”

She raises an eyebrow, clearly not buying it. “Come on. You and I both know something’s up. Was there a fight? Did Daniel do something?”

You shake your head quickly. “Yeji, really. I just needed a break. That’s all.”

Yeji stares at you for a moment longer, waiting for you to crack, but when you don’t, she throws her hands up in defeat. “Fine. Keep your secrets. But mark my words, I’ll get it out of you one way or another.”

You breathe a silent sigh of relief as she finally drops the topic. You’re not ready to talk about Daniel, or the betrayal that shattered everything. Not yet.

Yeji leans back in her chair, crossing her arms. “Anyway, speaking of things you haven’t told me… have you seen Sunghoon yet?”

The question takes you off guard, and you look at her, surprised. “Sunghoon?”

“Yeah,” Yeji says, eyeing you with a knowing smirk. “Your other childhood bestie? The one who’s still very much around? He lives next door, you know.”

You fidget with your fork, feeling an odd mix of emotions stir at the mention of his name. “No, I haven’t seen him yet.”

Yeji tilts her head. “Really? You’ve been here since yesterday and haven’t run into him? That’s weird. He’s practically part of your family.”

You shrug, trying to appear indifferent. “I got in late, and I’ve been busy with unpacking. It’s not that surprising.”

Yeji chuckles. “He’s going to be so mad you didn’t tell him you were coming back either. You’ve got a lot of explaining to do, Y/N.”

You manage a small laugh, though the thought of seeing Sunghoon after all these years sends a small flutter of anxiety through you. Things with him had always been comfortable, easy, but after so long apart, you’re not sure what to expect. And after everything that’s happened with Daniel, the idea of facing someone who knows you so well feels almost too raw.

“Well, good luck with that,” Yeji says, giving you a teasing smile. “You know how he is. He’s probably going to give you the cold shoulder for a bit.”

You force a grin, though you’re already dreading the inevitable reunion. “Yeah. I guess I’ll deal with that when it happens.”

˚୨୧⋆｡˚ ⋆

Later that afternoon, feeling a bit restless from being inside all morning, you decide to take a walk to the nearby convenience store. The air is crisp and cool, and the quiet hum of the neighborhood feels calming. It’s the kind of peace you missed during your years abroad, and for a moment, you let yourself relax, letting the familiar surroundings ease your mind.

As you approach the store, lost in thought, you nearly bump into someone coming out. You step back, about to apologize, when you realize who it is. Sunghoon.

Your heart stutters in your chest as you take in the sight of him. He looks the same, yet somehow different. Taller, more mature. His dark hair falls slightly over his eyes, and he’s dressed casually in a hoodie and jeans, holding a bag of snacks in one hand. But it’s his expression that catches you off guard—cool, almost indifferent, as his eyes meet yours.

“Sunghoon?” you say, trying to mask the awkwardness creeping into your voice. “I didn’t think I’d run into you here.”

He blinks, a brief flicker of surprise crossing his face before it quickly fades into something more guarded. “Y/N,” he says, his tone even. “I heard you were back.”

There’s no warmth in his voice, no hint of the familiarity you used to share. The coldness of his reaction makes your stomach drop, and for a moment, you don’t know what to say.

“Yeah… I came back yesterday.” You offer a small, tentative smile, hoping to ease the tension. “It was kind of a last-minute thing.”

Sunghoon nods, but his expression doesn’t change. “I figured.”

You stand there awkwardly, the weight of the unspoken tension between you heavier than you expected. This wasn’t how you thought it would go. He used to be one of your closest friends, someone you could talk to about anything. Now, it feels like you’re standing in front of a stranger.

“Have you been okay?” you ask, trying to bridge the gap between you.

“Yeah, I’ve been fine.” His answer is short, clipped, as if he’s not interested in small talk.

The coldness in his voice stings, and you can’t help but wonder if your sudden disappearance all those years ago had more of an impact on him than you realized. “It’s good to see you,” you offer, even though you’re not sure if it’s true anymore. “I’ve missed everyone.”

“Right.” He looks past you, as if already ready to leave. “Well, welcome back.”

That’s it? No questions, no catching up, just… this? You feel your chest tighten, the conversation feeling colder by the second. 

“Thanks,” you manage to say, trying not to let his aloofness get to you. “I guess I’ll see you around?”

Sunghoon shrugs, his expression unreadable. “Maybe.” 

With that, he steps past you, walking away without another word, leaving you standing there, feeling strangely hollow. You watch him go, the distance between you now more than just physical. It’s like there’s a wall where there used to be a connection, and you’re not sure how—or if—you’ll ever break through it again.

After your brief and awkward run-in with Sunghoon, you continue into the convenience store, your thoughts swirling. The encounter had left you unsettled—more than you wanted to admit. You’d expected maybe a little awkwardness after all these years, but not this cold, indifferent version of Sunghoon. The Sunghoon you remembered was always warm, protective, quick to tease you. Now, it felt like he couldn’t care less that you were back.

You absentmindedly browse the aisles, picking up a few snacks and bottled water, you replay the conversation in your head. Every curt response, every emotionless glance. Was he mad? Hurt? Or had he just moved on with his life so much that your return didn’t even register? You didn’t expect everything to fall back into place after so many years, but you certainly didn’t expect this.

You make your way to the counter, trying to push the thoughts away. Maybe it’s better not to overthink it. You’ve only been back for a day—things might take time to feel normal again. Or maybe you’ve just been gone too long.

The cashier rings up your items, and you pay before stepping back outside into the cool autumn air. The sky is a soft gray, and a slight breeze carries the scent of falling leaves, a reminder that some things, at least, remain the same.

˚୨୧⋆｡˚ ⋆

On your way back home, your mind drifts to everything that’s happened in the last few days. You’d been so focused on escaping Daniel, on putting distance between you and the life you’d built with him in the U.S., that you hadn’t really prepared yourself for how different everything might be back here. 

You shake your head. This wasn’t the time to spiral. One thing at a time.

When you reach your house, you feel a bit lighter, the familiarity of home giving you a sense of stability. As you open the door and step inside, your mother is in the living room, flipping through a magazine.

“Hey, sweetie,” she greets with a smile, glancing up at you. “Did you get what you needed?”

“Yeah, just a few things,” you reply, holding up the bag. “Thought I’d take a walk.”

“Good. It’s nice to have you back home.” She pats the seat next to her on the couch, and you sit down, the warmth of the house and her presence comforting.

You try to focus on the moment, pushing aside the confusing encounter with Sunghoon for now. But it lingers in the back of your mind, like an unresolved thread, tugging at you no matter how hard you try to ignore it.

One day at a time, you remind yourself. You came back to Korea to heal. Whatever happens with Sunghoon—or anything else—will have to wait.

As you settle into the couch next to your mom, you finally let yourself relax a little. The warmth of the house, the quiet rhythm of the afternoon—it almost feels normal. But as you sit there, your mom glances at you with a casual smile, one that makes you wary.

“Oh, I forgot to mention,” she says, flipping the magazine shut. “Sunghoon and his parents are coming over for dinner tonight.”

You freeze, your fingers tightening slightly around the edge of the couch. “What?”

“Yeah,” your mom continues, completely unaware of the tension that suddenly grips you. “I’ve been meaning to invite them over, and I thought it’d be nice to have a little family dinner now that you’re back. You know how close we are with them.”

Your mind races. You had barely survived your run-in with Sunghoon at the convenience store, and now you were supposed to sit through an entire dinner with him? After how cold and distant he’d been? The thought alone makes your stomach twist.

“Tonight?” you ask, trying to keep your voice even.

“Mm-hmm,” your mom says, already getting up to head toward the kitchen. “I’m going to start prepping soon. It’ll be fun, don’t you think? Just like old times.”

Fun wasn’t exactly the word you’d use. “Mom, I—”

Before you can come up with an excuse, she’s already busy listing out dishes. “I was thinking we’d do something simple. Maybe some bulgogi, kimchi, a few side dishes. Oh, and that japchae you love. Sunghoon always liked that, too.”

You rub your temples, feeling the weight of the situation settle on your shoulders. There was no getting out of this. Your mom had clearly put thought into this dinner, and after being away for so long, you didn’t have the heart to tell her no.

“Yeah… sounds great,” you manage to say, though your enthusiasm is clearly lacking.

“Perfect! I’ll get started now. Why don’t you help me later with the table?” she says cheerfully, disappearing into the kitchen.

You sit there, trying to wrap your mind around the fact that in just a few hours, you’ll be sitting across from Sunghoon at dinner—awkward silences, tense glances, and all. You’d thought you could avoid him for a while, at least until you figured out how to talk to him, but it seems the universe had other plans.

˚୨୧⋆｡˚ ⋆

Dinner time arrives faster than you’d hoped, and the pit in your stomach grows heavier with each passing minute. You spent the last hour helping your mom set the table, the familiar routine of laying out chopsticks and plates doing little to calm your nerves. Every time you hear a sound outside, your heart jumps, anticipating their arrival.

Finally, there’s a knock at the door, followed by your father’s cheerful voice as he greets Sunghoon and his parents. You force a steadying breath, bracing yourself for the inevitable as they step inside.

“Come in, come in,” your mom calls from the kitchen, wiping her hands on a towel as she moves to greet them.

You stay rooted by the table, trying not to let your unease show. When you glance up, your eyes meet Sunghoon’s. His face is impassive, and though his parents are all smiles, he barely acknowledges you beyond a polite nod.

“Y/N,” his mother beams, walking over to give you a warm hug. “It’s so wonderful to see you back home! You look so grown-up. How long has it been?”

You muster a smile as you hug her back. “It’s been a while, yeah. I’ve missed being here.”

Sunghoon’s dad shakes your hand with a broad smile. “You were always such a good kid. Your parents must be thrilled to have you back.”

You nod, trying to keep the conversation light as you exchange pleasantries with Sunghoon’s parents. Meanwhile, Sunghoon himself stands near the doorway, hands in his pockets, looking anywhere but at you. The coldness from earlier lingers between you, thick and uncomfortable.

Your mom ushers everyone to the dining table, her excitement palpable as she serves the food. “Let’s all sit! It’s so nice to have everyone together again.”

You find yourself seated across from Sunghoon, who remains quiet as the meal begins. His parents chat easily with your parents, exchanging updates on family matters and local gossip. You try to join in, but it’s hard to focus when you can feel Sunghoon’s presence directly in front of you, the weight of his silence pressing down.

At one point, his father glances at you, his smile genuine. “So, Y/N, how long are you planning to stay? I’m sure you’ve got a busy life back in the States, with the wedding and all.”

You freeze, the mention of the wedding making your chest tighten. You’d hoped it wouldn’t come up, but of course, it was inevitable. All eyes turn to you, and you feel Sunghoon’s gaze on you now, sharp and watchful.

“Oh… I’m not sure yet,” you answer, trying to keep your voice steady. “I haven’t really figured everything out.”

His mother looks over, curious. “Aren’t you worried about the wedding? It’s only a month away, right?”

You swallow hard, avoiding Sunghoon’s gaze, which feels like a dagger from across the table. “I… I decided to take some time off. You know, to clear my head before everything gets hectic.”

Your parents exchange glances but don’t press further, sensing that there’s more to the story than you’re letting on. Sunghoon’s mother, however, isn’t as easily deterred.

“Well, I’m sure Daniel’s missing you terribly,” she says with a laugh, clearly unaware of the tension her words cause. “You two must be so excited about the big day!”

You feel your throat tighten, your fingers gripping the edge of your plate. Before you can figure out how to respond, Sunghoon finally speaks.

“Maybe we should give Y/N a break,” he says, his tone low but unmistakably cold. “She just got back. No need to bombard her with questions about her wedding.”

Everyone goes silent for a moment, the shift in his tone catching them off guard. You glance up, surprised by his sudden defense of you, but when your eyes meet, his expression remains unreadable. 

His mother blinks, a bit flustered. “Oh, of course. I didn’t mean to pry.”

“It’s fine,” you say quickly, trying to smooth over the tension. “Really. I just needed some time to think.”

Your father clears his throat, steering the conversation to a different topic, but the air remains thick with unspoken words. As dinner continues, you can’t help but glance at Sunghoon, who stays quiet for the rest of the meal, his face hard, distant.

By the time dessert rolls around, you’re exhausted from keeping up the act. You want nothing more than to escape this table, to be anywhere but here, trapped between old memories and the unresolved tension that hangs over everything like a storm cloud.

Sunghoon may have spoken up for you, but the chill in his demeanor tells you everything you need to know—he hasn’t forgiven you for leaving, and this dinner is just the beginning of whatever complicated mess lies ahead.

˚୨୧⋆｡˚ ⋆

After dinner, the weight of the evening presses on your chest, and you feel the overwhelming need for space—somewhere away from the questions, the tension, and the relentless memories. Your parents chat casually in the living room with Sunghoon’s parents, but their laughter feels distant, like you’re no longer part of it. Excusing yourself quietly, you slip out of the house, letting the cool night air hit your skin as you walk down the quiet, familiar streets.

You find yourself heading to the park where you, Sunghoon, and Yeji used to play as kids. The old swings, the jungle gym, even the worn-out slide—it’s all still there, untouched by time. The memories of those carefree days flood back, bittersweet in their simplicity. You push down the ache in your chest and sit on one of the swings, the creak of the chains loud in the stillness of the night.

The moon hangs low, casting a pale glow over the empty park. You let yourself swing gently, the motion soothing, but your thoughts are anything but calm. Everything is swirling—Daniel, the wedding that won’t happen, your sudden return home, and the wall Sunghoon’s built between you since the moment you saw him again.

Lost in your thoughts, you don’t hear him approach until he’s already there. The soft crunch of his footsteps on the gravel pulls you from your reverie, and you glance to your side, startled to see Sunghoon standing there, his expression unreadable. He doesn’t say anything at first, just looks at you for a moment before settling onto the swing next to you.

For a long while, neither of you speaks. The silence stretches between you, thick and uncomfortable, but somehow familiar—like the many quiet nights you’d spent together here as kids. Back then, silence was easy. Now, it’s loaded with everything you haven’t said, everything that’s changed.

Finally, you break the quiet, your voice barely above a whisper. “I didn’t think you’d follow me.”

Sunghoon doesn’t look at you, his gaze fixed on the ground as he kicks at the dirt with his shoe. “I didn’t think I would either,” he admits, his voice flat. “But here I am.”

You glance at him from the corner of your eye, trying to gauge his mood. The coldness from earlier lingers in the air between you, but there’s something else too—something softer, more hesitant, like he’s struggling with whatever’s on his mind.

The gentle creak of the swings is the only sound for a few more moments, until he finally speaks again, his tone low and distant. “You left,” he says, his words simple but heavy. “No warning. No goodbyes.”

Your stomach twists at the accusation, but you can’t deny it. “I know,” you say quietly, gripping the chains of the swing a little tighter. “I’m sorry.”

He lets out a small, bitter laugh. “Yeah, well, that doesn’t exactly change anything, does it?”

You wince, the sharp edge in his voice cutting deeper than you expected. “Sunghoon, I didn’t mean to just disappear. Things were… complicated.”

“Complicated?” He finally turns to look at you, his eyes narrowing slightly. “You couldn’t have called? Texted? I had to hear from my parents that you were moving to the U.S. And now, after years of nothing, you just show up out of nowhere, acting like everything’s fine?”

You bite your lip, the guilt weighing heavily on you. “I didn’t mean to hurt you. I just… I needed to get away. From everything. And then… life happened.”

Sunghoon shakes his head, his jaw clenching. “You’re always running away, Y/N. You did it back then, and now you’re doing it again. What happened with Daniel? Did he screw up, and now you’re back here hiding?”

His words strike a nerve, and you feel your chest tighten. “It’s not like that,” you say defensively, though a part of you wonders if he’s right. 

“Isn’t it?” he presses, his voice sharp. “You’re back here, pretending everything’s okay when clearly, it’s not.”

You turn away, the pain and frustration bubbling up inside you. “You don’t know what I’ve been through, Sunghoon. It’s not that simple.”

For a moment, he stays silent, the tension between you thick and suffocating. Then, he sighs, the anger seeming to drain out of him. “You’re right. I don’t know. Because you never told me.”

You look over at him, and for the first time since you’ve been back, you see something in his eyes that isn’t coldness or anger—just hurt. The years you’ve spent apart, the silence between you—it’s all built up into this wall that neither of you knows how to tear down.

“I didn’t mean for it to be like this,” you whisper, the weight of the years catching up to you. “I just… I needed to figure things out. And now, I don’t know how to fix it.”

Sunghoon looks away, his expression softening, though the hurt still lingers. “Maybe it’s not about fixing things,” he says quietly. “Maybe it’s just about being honest. With me. With yourself.”

You don’t know how to respond, the truth of his words settling heavily on your chest. The silence returns, but this time it feels different—not as cold, not as distant. You both sit there, side by side, swinging gently in the cool night air, the echoes of your childhood swirling around you.

˚୨୧⋆｡˚ ⋆

The walk back home from the park is quiet, but it’s a different kind of silence now—less charged, more reflective. Sunghoon walks beside you, his hands in his pockets, and though neither of you speaks, there’s a tentative sense of peace settling between you.

The night air feels lighter as you near your house, and you glance over at him, wondering if this fragile understanding between you will last. Just as you’re about to say something, you hear it—a voice calling your name from across the street. 

“Y/N!”

You freeze, your heart skipping a beat at the sound of Daniel’s voice. It’s impossible. He shouldn’t be here. Slowly, you turn, and there he is, standing under a streetlight, his face a mixture of desperation and determination.

“Y/N, wait!” he calls again, hurrying toward you, his voice strained with urgency.

You can feel your blood run cold as he approaches. Sunghoon stiffens beside you, his gaze hardening the moment he sees Daniel. You swallow, taking an instinctive step back, every muscle in your body tensing as the man you’d left behind in the U.S. closes the distance between you.

“What the hell are you doing here?” you manage, your voice shaking with equal parts disbelief and anger.

Daniel’s eyes are pleading, his hands reaching out like he’s trying to reel you back in. “I came to find you. To explain everything. I messed up, Y/N, but we can fix this. You can’t just run away like this.”

Sunghoon moves slightly closer to you, his presence a shield as you stand frozen, trying to process the surreal scene unfolding in front of you. The front door to your house swings open, and your parents step out, concern etched across their faces. They must have heard the commotion from inside.

“Y/N? What’s going on out here?” your mother asks, her gaze moving between you, Daniel, and Sunghoon. Your father follows, frowning deeply as he takes in the scene.

Daniel seems to seize the moment, stepping toward you again. “I made a mistake, okay? I know I hurt you, but we can work this out. We were so close to the wedding, Y/N. Don’t throw it all away because of one mistake.”

The words hit you like a punch to the gut, the weight of the betrayal crashing down on you all over again. Your mother’s eyes widen as she glances between the two of you. “What… mistake?” she asks slowly, her voice tight with worry.

You don’t want to say it. You don’t want to admit it in front of your parents, in front of Sunghoon, but the truth is too heavy to keep inside any longer. You take a deep breath, your voice trembling as the words finally spill out.

“He cheated,” you say, your voice breaking slightly. “With someone else. That’s why I left.”

The air seems to freeze around you. Your mother gasps, her hand flying to her mouth in shock. Your father’s expression hardens, his eyes narrowing as he stares at Daniel. And Sunghoon… Sunghoon’s fists clench at his sides, the barely restrained anger radiating off him in waves.

“How dare you?” your father’s voice is like steel, cold and furious. “How dare you come here after what you’ve done?”

Daniel takes a step back, looking genuinely shaken by the fury directed at him. “It was a mistake,” he insists, his voice desperate. “It didn’t mean anything. I love Y/N, and we’re supposed to be getting married. I just—I want to fix things.”

Your mother, usually calm and collected, is trembling with emotion. “You think you can fix this?” she demands, her voice rising. “After what you’ve done to her? After breaking her heart like this?”

You feel Sunghoon’s hand on your arm, a silent gesture of support as everything unfolds around you. His voice is low, but every word drips with barely controlled fury. “You think you can just show up here and make everything better? She doesn’t need you anymore. Get lost.”

“Stay out of this. It’s none of your business.” Daniel tells sunghoon, his jaw clenching at the sight of him pleading for forgiveness.

Daniel looks between you and your parents, his panic growing. “Y/N, please,” he pleads. “We’ve been through so much together. You can’t just-

Your father steps forward now, his voice firm and filled with authority. “Get off my property,” he says, his eyes narrowing as he stares down Daniel. “You’ve done enough damage.”

Daniel looks panicked, his desperation clear as he looks at you one last time. “Y/N—”

“Go,” you say quietly, your voice steady despite the turmoil in your heart. “Just… go.”

Sunghoon is still fuming beside you, but he doesn’t move. He waits, fists clenched, as Daniel hesitates for a moment longer before finally turning and walking back down the street. His footsteps fade into the night, leaving behind an unbearable silence.

Your parents stand by the door, your mother’s hand on your father’s arm as they watch you carefully. Sunghoon stands stiffly beside you, his anger simmering just beneath the surface.

“I’m so sorry you had to find out like this,” you murmur, mostly to Sunghoon. He turns to look at you, his expression softening ever so slightly. There’s still anger in his eyes, but beneath it, you see something else—concern, hurt, maybe even guilt for not knowing sooner.

“Why didn’t you tell me?” he asks, his voice low, but there’s no accusation in his tone. Just quiet frustration and sadness.

You swallow hard, the weight of everything finally hitting you. “I didn’t want anyone to know,” you say, your voice barely above a whisper. “I just… I couldn’t.”

Sunghoon’s gaze lingers on you for a moment longer before he finally lets out a slow breath. He doesn’t say anything, but the tension between you begins to ease. Slowly, the weight on your chest starts to lift, even if only a little.

As the tense moment begins to settle, your parents usher everyone back inside, their expressions a mix of concern and disbelief. Sunghoon follows you quietly, his usual confident demeanor replaced by a somber silence. Inside, the atmosphere is heavy with unspoken words and lingering shock from Daniel's unexpected visit.

Your mother offers tea, her hands trembling slightly as she pours, trying to find some semblance of normalcy in the midst of the chaos. Sunghoon remains quiet, his eyes fixed on his tea as he sits opposite you at the kitchen table. The air feels charged with unresolved tension, each passing second stretching the fragile peace thinner.

“I can’t believe he had the audacity to show up here,” your father finally breaks the silence, his voice rough with suppressed anger. “After what he did to you.”

You nod silently, unable to find the words to explain or justify Daniel’s actions. The betrayal still feels fresh, the wound reopened by his sudden appearance.

Sunghoon finally speaks, his voice calm but tinged with an edge you can’t quite place. “Why didn’t you tell me?” His eyes meet yours, searching for answers. “You could have… I could have helped.”

You swallow hard, the guilt weighing heavily on you. “I didn’t want to burden anyone,” you admit quietly. “And I didn’t want you to hate me.”

Sunghoon’s expression softens slightly, a flicker of understanding crossing his features. “I could never hate you,” he says softly, his gaze unwavering. “But I hate seeing you hurt.”

Your heart clenches at his words, a mixture of relief and sadness washing over you. “I’m sorry,” is all you manage to say, the weight of your emotions threatening to spill over.

Your mother places a gentle hand on your shoulder, offering silent comfort. “Sweetheart, you don’t have to apologize,” she says softly, her eyes filled with maternal concern. “We’re just glad you’re home now.”

The tears you’d been holding back finally spill over, and you let out a shaky breath. “I just… I needed to come back,” you admit, the truth finally surfacing. “Everything fell apart, and I didn’t know where else to go.”

Sunghoon reaches across the table, his hand hesitating for a moment before gently covering yours. His touch is warm and reassuring, grounding you in the midst of turmoil. “You’re home now,” he says quietly, his voice steady. “And we’re here for you.”

You nod gratefully, overwhelmed by the support of your family and the unexpected comfort from Sunghoon. Despite everything, a sense of relief washes over you—the first glimmer of hope that maybe, just maybe, you can begin to heal.

˚୨୧⋆｡˚ ⋆

The evening wears on, the tension gradually easing as conversations shift from the shock of Daniel’s visit to lighter topics. Your parents share stories of neighbors and friends, trying to lighten the mood, while Sunghoon remains by your side, a silent presence that speaks volumes.

As the night draws to a close, you find yourself standing at the front door with Sunghoon, the faint glow of streetlights casting shadows around you. He looks at you, his eyes soft with unspoken understanding.

“Thank you,” you say quietly, breaking the silence between you. “For everything.”

Sunghoon offers a small smile, his hand brushing yours briefly. “You don’t have to thank me,” he replies gently. “I’m just glad you’re okay.”

You take a deep breath, the weight on your shoulders a little lighter than before. “I think I’m going to be,” you admit, a tentative smile tugging at your lips.

Sunghoon’s smile widens slightly, a hint of relief in his eyes. “Good,” he says softly. “And if you ever need anything… I’m just a phone call away.. I’m also right next door.”

With a small smile, he turns to leave, and you watch him disappear into his house, a sense of gratitude filling your heart. As you close the door behind you and lean against it, you realize that while things may still be uncertain, you’re not facing them alone anymore. And for now, that’s enough.

˚୨୧⋆｡˚ ⋆

Over the next few weeks, life began to settle into a routine, the shock of your sudden return starting to fade into the background. Each day, you found yourself easing back into the rhythm of your old life in ways you hadn’t expected. It was strange at first, being in your childhood home again, but soon it began to feel familiar—comforting, even. The late-night conversations with your mom, your dad’s predictable quips over breakfast, the peaceful quiet of your small neighborhood.

And then, there was Sunghoon.

At first, things between you remained cautious and quiet, both of you still navigating the unfamiliar territory of this new chapter in your lives. But bit by bit, as the days passed, the invisible walls that had sprung up between you began to crumble.

It started small. A casual conversation as you bumped into each other outside, a shared glance when you both found yourselves at the convenience store at the same time. Each interaction felt like a tentative step back toward something you thought was lost.

You had always been able to talk to Sunghoon so easily, and it wasn’t long before the old rhythm between you began to resurface. The awkward tension that had once hung over you melted away, replaced by the comfortable ease you’d always shared. Whether it was a quick coffee at the café you used to frequent as teenagers, or the impromptu walks around the neighborhood, it felt like the years apart had never happened. The quiet moments spent together became familiar again, and with them came a warmth you hadn’t realized you missed.

One afternoon, you were both sitting in the park where you used to spend hours as kids, watching the leaves fall as autumn began to set in. Sunghoon glanced over at you, a small smile tugging at the corner of his mouth.

“Remember when we used to race to see who could swing the highest?” he asked, his tone light but nostalgic.

You laughed, nodding as memories of your childhood flooded back. “You always won. I swear you had superpowers or something.”

He chuckled softly, his gaze shifting to the old swingset. “I wasn’t that fast. You were just slow.”

You nudged him playfully, rolling your eyes. “Says the guy who fell off the monkey bars twice trying to impress Yeji.”

Sunghoon winced dramatically, rubbing the back of his neck as if the memory still stung. “Yeah, well… not one of my finer moments.”

Moments like these became more frequent. The playful banter, the shared laughs, the easy way you slipped back into each other’s lives—it all felt natural, as if no time had passed. And with each passing day, the bond between you grew stronger, echoing the closeness you had once shared as children.

Some days, you’d find yourselves sitting on the porch steps of your house, talking until the sun dipped below the horizon. Other days, you’d meet up for late-night snacks at the convenience store, a habit that reminded you of your carefree teenage days.

But it wasn’t just about the nostalgia or the familiarity. There was something deeper now, something unspoken but present in the way he looked at you or the way his gaze lingered a little longer than before. It was subtle, but undeniable.

˚୨୧⋆｡˚ ⋆

One evening, as you both sat under the stars in your backyard, Sunghoon turned to you, his expression thoughtful. “It’s weird, isn’t it?” he said quietly.

You looked at him, curious. “What is?”

He hesitated for a moment, then shrugged lightly. “How everything changes but somehow stays the same.”

You knew what he meant. The years had changed both of you, but sitting there with him, it felt like you were slipping back into the simplicity of what you had before—before life got complicated, before you’d left, before everything.

“Yeah,” you agreed softly. “But in a good way.”

He smiled at that, his gaze meeting yours for a brief, charged moment. “In a good way,” he repeated quietly.

And just like that, the past weeks had brought you closer to him again. It felt like the Sunghoon you knew—your childhood best friend—was back in your life, but with something more layered beneath the surface now. The bond you shared had always been special, but as the days passed, you began to realize it wasn’t just about the past. It was about the present, about where you were both headed next.

Little by little, it felt like old times, but it also felt like something new was beginning to bloom between you. Something you weren’t ready to name yet, but couldn’t deny.

˚୨୧⋆｡˚ ⋆

Sunghoon had always been good at hiding his feelings. Through all the years of friendship, he kept his crush buried deep, tucked away in the corners of his heart. It was easier that way. You had always been oblivious to it, lost in your own world of school, dreams, and later, the whirlwind of your life in the U.S. But now, with you back in his life after years apart, those old, buried feelings were starting to resurface, no matter how hard he tried to keep them at bay.

He remembered high school all too well. You were both juniors, sitting together at the school library late into the evening, pretending to study but really just talking about everything and nothing. He’d watch you as you rambled on about whatever topic had captured your interest that day, completely unaware of the way his gaze would linger on your face, his heart doing that stupid fluttering thing whenever you laughed.

He could still recall one particular moment as clear as day. You had been struggling with an essay, the stress getting to you, and Sunghoon had tried to help. You’d glanced up at him, frustration in your eyes, and he’d frozen. For a second, he swore his heart had stopped altogether. You were wearing his jacket that day because you’d forgotten yours at home, and he couldn’t focus on anything but how right it looked on you. How much he wanted to tell you that you could keep it forever.

But instead, he’d just shrugged, offering a teasing, “Maybe you’re overthinking it. It’s not a love letter or anything.”

You had thrown your pencil at him, rolling your eyes. “Thanks for the help, genius,” you’d muttered with a laugh, completely oblivious to the way his heart had been racing just from sitting so close to you.

And that was how it always was. You, perfectly unaware. Him, painfully aware.

Now, as he spent more time with you, it was like those feelings had never left. They’d just been waiting, buried but not forgotten, and the longer you were back, the harder it became to ignore them. He found himself watching you again, the way he had back in high school—only this time, it felt different. You were different. More grown, more guarded, but still the same girl he’d fallen for all those years ago.

The late-night walks, the quiet conversations under the stars, the way you leaned on him like you used to—all of it was stirring something in him. He tried to tell himself it was just nostalgia, that he was just getting caught up in the past, but the truth was, it was more than that.

It was the way you smiled when you caught him off guard, the way your laughter sounded like home, the way you instinctively reached for him whenever you needed comfort. It all felt too familiar, too easy, and too real.

One evening, as you both sat on the porch steps of your house, watching the sunset, Sunghoon glanced at you out of the corner of his eye. You were talking about something from work, your voice soft, but he wasn’t really listening. His mind was somewhere else—stuck on the way you looked in the fading light, like the girl he’d spent all of high school silently pining over.

It hit him then, harder than he expected, that those feelings hadn’t gone anywhere. Not really. He had just buried them because he’d thought he had to. But now, sitting here with you again, laughing like you always did, he wondered if maybe those feelings never really had a chance to fade.

“Sunghoon?” you asked, breaking him out of his thoughts.

“Huh?” He blinked, trying to focus on what you were saying.

“You okay?” You tilted your head, giving him that look you always did when you could tell something was off.

“Yeah, just spaced out,” he lied, offering a small smile.

You didn’t push, but you gave him a soft smile in return, nudging him playfully. “You’re not very good at pretending to listen.”

He chuckled, shaking his head. “Sorry. I’ll do better next time.”

But as you laughed and went on with your story, Sunghoon couldn’t stop the thoughts racing through his mind. How long could he keep pretending that nothing had changed? That his heart wasn’t pulling him back to the same place it had always been?

It was different now, though. You weren’t just the girl he’d fallen for in high school. You were the woman who had been through heartbreak, who had returned home looking for something familiar, something safe. And despite everything, Sunghoon realized that he still wanted to be that for you. He wanted to be the person you turned to—not just as a friend, but maybe something more.

But the question remained, did you see him that way, or would you always just see the boy next door, your childhood best friend?

His feelings had always been intense—he knew that much. But what he didn’t expect was how overwhelming they’d become now that you were back in his life. It wasn’t just nostalgia or some fleeting crush he could brush off. No, this ran deeper, more complicated than he was willing to admit. Every time he was near you, his heart ached with the weight of everything he’d kept hidden for so long.

And that’s why he started avoiding you.

It wasn’t something he planned, but he couldn’t help it. The more time you spent together, the harder it became to act like everything was normal. Like he wasn’t on the verge of telling you exactly how he felt, of confessing that these feelings had never gone away. But how could he? You’d just come out of one of the worst situations imaginable, and Sunghoon knew you needed time to heal. The last thing he wanted was to complicate things with his feelings, especially when you were clearly not ready for it.

So he pulled back.

It started with small things—canceled plans, excuses about being busy with work, avoiding your messages for a little longer than usual. He didn’t want to lie to you, but he also couldn’t keep pretending that everything was fine. Every time he saw you, he felt like he was standing on the edge of something he wasn’t ready for, and he knew you weren’t either.

Yeji noticed first.

“You’ve been acting weird,” she said one evening as they grabbed coffee together. She leaned forward, narrowing her eyes at him. “What’s going on?”

Sunghoon shrugged, avoiding her gaze as he sipped his drink. “Nothing. Just busy.”

Yeji scoffed. “Busy, huh? Is that why you’ve been dodging Y/N’s calls too?”

He flinched at that, his grip tightening on his cup. Of course, Yeji would notice. She was sharp like that—always had been.

“You’re being ridiculous, you know,” she continued, crossing her arms. “She’s your best friend. She just got back after everything with Daniel, and you’re avoiding her? What’s your problem?”

Sunghoon sighed, rubbing a hand over his face. “I’m not avoiding her,” he mumbled, though he knew it wasn’t true.

Yeji raised an eyebrow, clearly not buying it. “Really? Because that’s what it looks like from where I’m standing.”

He stayed quiet, unsure of how to explain what was going on in his head. How could he possibly tell Yeji the truth when he hadn’t even come to terms with it himself?

“Look, I get it,” Yeji said after a moment, her voice softening. “She’s been through a lot, and maybe you think giving her space is the right thing to do. But Sunghoon, she needs you. You two have always been there for each other. What’s really going on?”

Sunghoon glanced up at her, his chest tight with the weight of what he was about to say. “It’s just… complicated.”

Yeji’s eyes widened slightly, as if realizing something. “Oh my God. You still like her, don’t you?”

The words hung in the air between them, heavy and undeniable. Sunghoon didn’t answer at first, but the look on his face must’ve said enough because Yeji leaned back in her chair, her expression softening.

“You never got over her,” she said quietly.

Sunghoon sighed again, feeling like the dam he’d been holding back was starting to crack. “No,” he admitted, his voice low. “I never did.”

Yeji didn’t say anything for a long moment, just watching him with a mixture of sympathy and understanding. Finally, she leaned forward, her tone gentle but firm. “You know you’re gonna have to deal with this, right? Avoiding her isn’t going to make it go away.”

“I know,” he muttered, running a hand through his hair. “But it’s not that simple. She’s been through so much, Yeji. She doesn’t need me coming in and messing everything up with how I feel.”

“She needs her best friend,” Yeji countered. “You’re not going to mess anything up by being there for her.”

“But it’s more than that,” Sunghoon said, his voice tight. “I don’t just want to be her best friend, Yeji. I want… more. And if I tell her that now, when she’s still dealing with everything from Daniel, what if I make things worse?”

Yeji leaned back, crossing her arms again as she considered his words. “Sunghoon,” she said after a beat, her voice gentle but serious, “you’re not going to ruin anything by being honest with her. But you’re right—she’s not ready for something like that right now. So maybe you don’t need to tell her everything just yet. But avoiding her? That’s not the answer either.”

Sunghoon frowned, knowing she was right but still feeling conflicted. “I just… I don’t want to hurt her,” he said quietly.

“I know,” Yeji said softly. “But trust me, you’re hurting her more by pulling away.”

Sunghoon looked down at his hands, feeling the weight of her words settle over him. He didn’t want to hurt you, not after everything you’d already been through. But how could he face you when he could barely manage to keep his feelings under control?

“I just need some time,” he said, almost to himself. “To figure this out.”

Yeji sighed but nodded, though her expression remained concerned. “Just don’t take too long. She’s going to notice something’s off.”

Sunghoon nodded slowly, knowing deep down that Yeji was right. But for now, he wasn’t sure what else to do. All he knew was that the feelings he had buried for so long were clawing their way back to the surface, and no matter how much he wanted to, he couldn’t ignore them forever. 

˚୨୧⋆｡˚ ⋆

The next few days felt different. You couldn’t quite put your finger on it, but something was off with Sunghoon. He was distant—more than usual. Whenever you tried to hang out like old times, he found an excuse. Too busy with work, too tired from errands, too anything but here.

At first, you tried to ignore it. Maybe he really was busy. Maybe it was just a phase. After all, coming back had changed a lot, for everyone. But the more it happened, the more unsettled you became. You weren’t used to Sunghoon being like this, and you couldn’t help but wonder if you’d done something wrong.

The morning after your last attempt to make plans, you found yourself sitting at the kitchen table, picking at breakfast while your mind raced. Your mom was bustling around, wiping the counters and humming softly to herself.

“You look distracted, honey,” she said, glancing over at you. “Everything okay?”

You forced a smile, nodding. “Yeah, just thinking.”

Your mom raised an eyebrow, giving you that knowing look she always did when she didn’t quite believe you. “Does this have anything to do with why Sunghoon’s been acting so strange?”

You blinked, caught off guard. “What?”

“Come on, Y/N,” she said, turning to face you with a small smile. “I’ve known that boy his whole life. He’s always been so close to you, but lately, he’s been keeping his distance. Something’s bothering him, and I think it might have to do with you.”

Your heart sank at her words, and suddenly, all the little things you’d been trying to ignore came rushing to the surface. You hadn’t imagined it. Sunghoon was pulling away.

“I don’t know, Mom,” you mumbled, fiddling with the edge of your napkin. “He’s been busy, I guess.”

“Maybe,” she said thoughtfully, “but busy doesn’t explain why he avoids you whenever you come over. I don’t think this is about work.”

You stared down at your plate, your chest tightening. The thought of losing Sunghoon’s presence after everything that had happened made your stomach twist. He’d always been your rock—the one person who understood you better than anyone. If he was pulling away, what did that mean?

“I’ll talk to him,” you said softly, more to yourself than to your mom.

“Good,” your mom said with a warm smile. “I’m sure it’s nothing a good conversation can’t fix.”

But as you made your way upstairs to get ready, you couldn’t shake the feeling that it wasn’t going to be that simple. Sunghoon wasn’t the type to pull away without a reason, and you had a sinking suspicion that whatever was going on, it wasn’t something he’d be willing to talk about easily.

˚୨୧⋆｡˚ ⋆

Later that afternoon, you found yourself sitting outside on the porch, staring off into the distance as you tried to make sense of it all. The crisp autumn air brushed against your skin, the quiet neighborhood almost too peaceful for the storm of emotions swirling inside you. The longer you thought about it, the more frustrated you became.

Sunghoon wasn’t just distant—he was avoiding you. And that hurt more than you were willing to admit. You’d been through so much already, and now it felt like you were losing the one person who’d always been there for you.

Determined not to let this go on any longer, you decided to confront him. You grabbed your phone, quickly typing out a message.

Hey, are you free to talk?

You stared at the screen, waiting for a reply, your heart pounding in your chest. Minutes passed, and just when you thought he might not respond, your phone buzzed.

Busy today. Maybe another time?

Your frustration flared. You knew he wasn’t that busy. This was just another excuse.

Without thinking, you typed back.

Sunghoon, what’s going on? You’ve been avoiding me for days. Did I do something wrong?

You hit send, your fingers trembling slightly. The silence that followed felt suffocating, each passing second adding to the weight in your chest.

Finally, after what felt like an eternity, his reply came.

No, you didn’t do anything wrong. I’m just… dealing with some stuff. I’ll explain later.

You frowned at the vague response, feeling even more confused. What kind of “stuff” was he dealing with that he couldn’t even talk to you about it? You started typing another message but stopped, realizing that pushing him wouldn’t help. If he wasn’t ready to talk, there wasn’t much you could do.

But that didn’t make the sting of his distance any less painful.

You put your phone down, staring out at the quiet street once more. Sunghoon was hiding something—something big. And no matter how hard you tried to convince yourself it wasn’t your fault, you couldn’t shake the feeling that it was connected to you.

For the rest of the day, your mind wouldn’t let it go. What could possibly make him pull away like this? You had no idea what was going on with him, but one thing was clear: you needed to get to the bottom of it. Because the longer this went on, the more it felt like you were losing him. And you couldn’t bear the thought of that, not now—not after everything you’d been through.

˚୨୧⋆｡˚ ⋆

The next few days were a blur of half-hearted attempts to distract yourself, but Sunghoon’s distance lingered at the back of your mind. Each time you saw him, whether by chance or at family gatherings, it felt like there was this invisible wall between you two, and it hurt more than you wanted to admit.

He wasn’t avoiding you entirely, but something was definitely off. The easy-going conversations you used to have were now strained. He barely looked at you, his responses shorter, and you couldn’t help but notice how he always found some reason to leave early.

It was Saturday afternoon when Yeji invited you out for coffee. She’d noticed the tension too, but unlike you, she wasn’t willing to let it slide.

“So, you and Sunghoon,” she said as soon as you sat down, not even bothering with small talk. “What’s going on?”

You blinked, surprised by her directness. “What do you mean?”

Yeji gave you a look, crossing her arms. “You know exactly what I mean, Y/N. He’s been acting weird since you got back, and don’t even try to tell me you haven’t noticed.”

You sighed, staring down at your drink. “I don’t know. I’ve tried to talk to him, but he just says he’s dealing with stuff. He won’t tell me what’s wrong.”

Yeji tilted her head, her eyes narrowing in thought. “You think it’s about Daniel?” she asks you, trying to allude to something more.

The mention of his name made your chest tighten. “I don’t know. Maybe? He was weird even before he knew about Daniel.”

“Hmm.” Yeji leaned back in her chair, crossing her arms. “That boy’s always been complicated, but I’ve never seen him this off with you. It’s like he’s avoiding something—something big.”

You frowned, feeling even more lost. “But what? What could it be? I didn’t do anything.”

Yeji tapped her fingers on the table, her gaze thoughtful. “Maybe it’s not about something you did. Maybe it’s something he’s dealing with.”

You shook your head. “He won’t talk to me about it. He just keeps saying he’s busy, but it’s more than that. I can feel it.”

“Of course it’s more than that,” Yeji said, her voice firm. “Sunghoon’s always been a terrible liar. He’s hiding something, and my guess? It has something to do with how he feels about you.”

You blinked, staring at her in confusion. “What? What do you mean?”

Yeji sighed, giving you a soft smile. “Come on, Y/N. You really think he’s just your childhood best friend? That boy has been in love with you since high school.”

Your stomach dropped at her words. “No, he hasn’t,” you said quickly, shaking your head. “We’re just friends. He’s never—”

“He’s never told you,” Yeji finished for you, her tone gentle but serious. “But trust me, it’s been there. He’s always liked you, but he never acted on it because he didn’t want to ruin what you two had. And now, with everything you’ve been through, he’s probably even more scared of saying something.”

You stared at her, stunned into silence. The idea of Sunghoon having feelings for you—real feelings—had never crossed your mind. Sure, you’d always been close, but he’d never given you any reason to think it was more than that. Right?

Yeji sighed, reaching across the table to pat your hand. “Look, I’m not saying you have to do anything about it. But you need to talk to him. He’s avoiding you because he doesn’t know how to handle what he’s feeling. And im truly so sick of him moping around like a puppy.

You swallowed hard, your mind racing. Was it true? Had Sunghoon really been hiding his feelings all this time? And if he had, what did that mean for you? You couldn’t even begin to process the possibility, not after everything that had happened with Daniel. You weren’t ready for this—couldn’t be.

“I don’t know,” you mumbled, feeling overwhelmed. “I don’t even know if I’m ready to talk about it.”

Yeji gave you a sympathetic smile. “I get it. But Sunghoon is your best friend, and if you don’t at least clear the air, this is just going to keep getting worse. Whatever happens, you both deserve to be honest with each other.”

You nodded slowly, knowing deep down that she was right. Avoiding the situation wasn’t helping anyone. If Sunghoon was really struggling with his feelings, the least you could do was try to talk to him about it. But even as you told yourself that, a knot of anxiety settled in your chest.

Because if Sunghoon really had feelings for you, this was going to change everything. And after everything you’d already been through, you weren’t sure if you were ready for more change.

But one thing was clear: something had to give. You couldn’t keep pretending like everything was normal when it so clearly wasn’t.

“I’ll talk to him,” you finally said, your voice quiet but determined.

Yeji smiled, squeezing your hand. “Good. You’ll figure it out.”

But as you sat there, sipping your coffee and trying to keep your thoughts from spiraling, you couldn’t shake the feeling that things were about to get a lot more complicated.

˚୨୧⋆｡˚ ⋆

That night, you found yourself staring at your phone, Sunghoon’s contact pulled up, your thumb hovering over the call button. The weight of Yeji’s words hung heavy in your mind—he’s always liked you—and the longer you thought about it, the more restless you became.

What if it was true? What if Sunghoon had been hiding his feelings all this time? The idea seemed impossible, but then again, you’d never imagined him pulling away like this either.

With a frustrated sigh, you locked your phone and tossed it onto the bed, running your hands through your hair. You couldn’t just call him out of the blue. It had to be face-to-face. You had to know for sure, but the thought of confronting him sent a surge of anxiety through your chest. What would you even say?

Unable to stand the suffocating silence of your room, you grabbed your jacket and slipped out of the house, your feet carrying you in a familiar direction. The night air was cool against your skin as you headed toward the park—the same park where you, Sunghoon, and Yeji had spent countless afternoons as kids.

It was quiet when you arrived, the swing set creaking gently in the breeze. You hesitated for a moment before sitting down on one of the swings, the chains groaning under your weight as you gently kicked at the dirt beneath your feet. Memories of your childhood came flooding back—the three of you racing to the swings, fighting over who could go higher, laughing until your sides hurt.

And then, Sunghoon’s face flashed in your mind—his shy smile, his teasing words, the way he’d always looked out for you, even when you didn’t realize it. Could Yeji really be right? Had he been feeling this way for years?

You were so lost in thought that you didn’t hear the footsteps approaching until someone sat down on the swing next to you. You looked up, startled, only to see Sunghoon, his expression unreadable as he stared ahead.

For a moment, neither of you spoke, the silence between you heavy and awkward. You weren’t sure whether to be relieved or more anxious that he’d found you here.

“I didn’t think you’d be out this late,” Sunghoon finally said, his voice quiet.

“I couldn’t sleep,” you replied, your fingers curling around the swing’s chain. “Needed some air.”

He nodded, his gaze still fixed on the horizon. “Me too.”

You wanted to ask him—needed to—but the words felt stuck in your throat. Instead, you sat there, side by side in silence, the tension between you growing thicker with each passing second.

Finally, you couldn’t take it anymore. “Sunghoon, what’s going on?” you asked, your voice barely above a whisper.

He didn’t answer right away. His jaw clenched, his hands gripping the chains of his swing tightly. When he finally spoke, his voice was low, almost strained. “I’ve been trying to figure that out myself.”

Your heart skipped a beat at the cryptic response. “Is it me?” you asked, turning to face him fully. “Did I do something wrong?”

His eyes snapped to yours, wide and alarmed. “No, Y/N, you didn’t do anything wrong.”

“Then why are you avoiding me?” you pressed, frustration bubbling to the surface. “You’ve been acting so strange ever since I came back. I don’t get it.”

Sunghoon sighed, his gaze dropping to the ground as he raked a hand through his hair. “It’s not that simple.”

“Then explain it to me,” you said, your voice soft but pleading. “Please, Sunghoon. I don’t want to lose you.”

His expression tightened at your words, and for a long moment, he didn’t say anything. You could see the internal battle playing out behind his eyes, the conflict he’d been hiding so well suddenly visible. When he finally spoke, his voice was raw, vulnerable in a way you’d never heard before.

“I don’t want to hurt you, Y/N.”

His words hung heavy in the air, and your heart clenched in your chest. “You’re not hurting me. You’re my best friend, Sunghoon. Whatever it is, we can get through it.”

He let out a bitter laugh, shaking his head. “That’s the problem. I don’t know if we can.”

You frowned, confusion swirling in your mind. “What do you mean?”

Sunghoon’s eyes met yours, and for the first time, you saw the weight of everything he’d been holding back. His next words came out in a rush, as if he’d been holding them in for far too long.

“I’ve always liked you, Y/N. More than just a friend. Since high school, maybe even before then. But I never told you because… because I didn’t want to mess things up. And then you left, and I thought I’d gotten over it. But now that you’re back…” He trailed off, his voice catching in his throat. “It’s like all those feelings just came rushing back, and I don’t know what to do with them. I can’t act on them, not after everything you’ve been through with Daniel. It’s not fair to you.”

Your heart pounded in your chest, Sunghoon’s confession hanging in the air between you like a fragile thread. You’d always thought of him as your best friend, the one constant in your life that had never changed. But now… now everything was different.

“Sunghoon…” you whispered, at a loss for words.

“I’m sorry,” he said quickly, standing up from the swing as if he couldn’t bear to stay any longer. “I shouldn’t have said anything. I’ll—”

“No,” you said, cutting him off, standing up too. “Don’t run away. Not again.”

He looked at you, his expression torn, and for a moment, you saw the vulnerability in his eyes—the fear of rejection, the fear of losing you completely. You took a deep breath, trying to steady your racing heart.

“Sunghoon, I… I don’t know what to say,” you admitted, your voice trembling. “I never knew you felt that way.”

“I didn’t want you to know,” he said quietly. “But now… now I can’t hide it anymore.”

The silence between you was deafening, the weight of his confession settling heavily on your shoulders. You didn’t know how to respond, not after everything you’d been through. But one thing was certain: nothing between you and Sunghoon would ever be the same again.

˚୨୧⋆｡˚ ⋆

The days that followed felt surreal. Sunghoon’s confession lingered in your mind like a persistent echo, one that you couldn’t quite shake off. Every time you replayed his words, your chest tightened, and your thoughts spiraled into confusion. You didn’t know how to feel—about him, about your past, or even about yourself. You spent so many years thinking of Sunghoon as your constant, your rock, your best friend, and now all of that felt uncertain.

Sunghoon avoided you even more than before, making sure he was never in the same place as you for too long. At first, you gave him space, understanding that things were complicated. But the distance started to gnaw at you. He’d always been the one person you could rely on, and now, when you needed him most, he was pulling away.

It was Yeji who finally brought it up, sitting across from you at the café as she studied your downcast expression.

“You look like you’ve been hit by a truck,” she said bluntly, sipping her iced coffee.

You sighed, pushing your own drink around the table without taking a sip. “I’m fine.”

“You’re not,” she said flatly. “And let me guess, it has something to do with Sunghoon?”

You didn’t answer right away, but the slight flicker in your eyes was enough for Yeji to know she was right. She groaned, leaning forward.

“I swear, if you two don’t figure this out, I’m going to lock you in a room until you do.”

You managed a weak smile at her joke, but it faded quickly. “It’s complicated, Yeji.”

“Everything is complicated with you two. But the longer you let this sit, the worse it’s going to get.”

“I don’t even know what to say to him,” you admitted, sinking into your seat. “He told me how he feels, but… I’m not ready for that. I don’t know if I’ll ever be.”

Yeji studied you carefully, her expression softening. “You’ve been through a lot with Daniel. No one expects you to be ready for something like this. But Sunghoon is… well, he’s not Daniel. You know he’d never hurt you.”

Your throat tightened at her words. “That’s what makes it worse. I don’t want to hurt him either.”

“You won’t,” Yeji said confidently. “Not if you’re honest with him. He knows what you’ve been through, and he’ll understand. But avoiding each other like this isn’t helping anyone.”

You rubbed your temples, feeling the weight of it all pressing down on you. “I don’t know, Yeji. It’s just… too much.”

She reached across the table, placing her hand on top of yours. “Take it one step at a time. Sunghoon’s not going anywhere. He just needs to know where you stand.”

You nodded, knowing deep down that she was right. The tension between you and Sunghoon had become unbearable, and if you didn’t talk to him soon, it would only get worse.

˚୨୧⋆｡˚ ⋆

Later that evening, you found yourself standing in front of Sunghoon’s house, your heart racing. You hadn’t planned to come here, but your feet had carried you here almost on instinct. His confession had thrown everything into chaos, and you needed to clear the air, for both your sakes.

You took a deep breath before knocking on the door. The wait felt excruciatingly long, but finally, the door opened to reveal Sunghoon, his expression shifting from surprise to something more guarded.

“Y/N,” he said, his voice hesitant. “What are you doing here?”

“I needed to talk to you,” you replied, trying to steady your voice. “Can we?”

He looked uncertain for a moment, but eventually, he stepped aside, letting you in. You followed him to the living room, the air between you heavy with unspoken words.

Sunghoon stood by the window, his hands stuffed into his pockets, avoiding your gaze. “What is it?”

You took a seat on the couch, feeling your pulse quicken. “About what you told me the other night…”

He tensed, his shoulders stiffening. “You don’t have to say anything. I get it.”

“No,” you interrupted, your voice firmer than you intended. “You don’t get it. You can’t just drop something like that on me and then disappear, Sunghoon. We’ve been friends for years. I deserve to know what’s going on with you.”

Sunghoon sighed, finally turning to face you. “I was trying to give you space. I didn’t want to make things harder for you after everything with Daniel.”

“I appreciate that,” you said, your voice softening. “But shutting me out isn’t helping either of us.”

There was a long pause as Sunghoon ran a hand through his hair, clearly struggling with his own emotions. “I didn’t know what else to do, Y/N. I’ve been holding this in for so long, and now that it’s out, I don’t know how to act around you.”

“You don’t have to act any differently,” you said quietly. “But you also can’t avoid me forever.”

Sunghoon stared at you, a conflicted look in his eyes. “I just… I don’t want to make things worse. I know you’re not ready for… anything like this, and I’m not going to push you. But it’s hard, Y/N. It’s hard being around you and pretending like everything is the same when I’ve been feeling this way for so long.”

You looked down, your heart heavy with guilt. “I don’t want to lose you, Sunghoon. You’re one of the most important people in my life, and I can’t imagine things without you. But I’m not ready for more, not after everything that happened.”

“I know,” Sunghoon said softly, his expression pained. “And I’ll wait. I’ll always wait for you, Y/N. But that doesn’t make it any easier.”

The vulnerability in his voice hit you hard, and for the first time, you saw just how deep his feelings ran. He wasn’t asking for anything from you—he was just being honest, and it was tearing him apart. You took a shaky breath, feeling the weight of it all crashing down on you.

“I’m sorry, Sunghoon,” you whispered, your voice breaking. “I wish things were different.”

He shook his head, stepping closer to you. “Don’t be sorry. It’s not your fault. I just… I just needed you to know.”

The silence stretched between you, both of you caught in the painful reality of the situation. Neither of you knew what the future held, but for now, all you could do was take it one step at a time.

˚୨୧⋆｡˚ ⋆

The days passed in an uneasy quiet, the tension between you and Sunghoon lingering like an unspoken secret. He no longer avoided you as much, but the once easy-going banter you shared felt stilted, weighed down by everything unsaid. You couldn’t stop thinking about his confession. It felt like a constant reminder of how complicated everything had become. No matter how much you tried to focus on anything else, Sunghoon’s words echoed in your mind, making it impossible to pretend like things were back to normal.

One evening, as you sat in your room, you heard a knock on the door. Your mom poked her head in, smiling warmly.

“Dinner’s ready, sweetheart,” she said, her eyes soft with concern. “You okay?”

You plastered on a smile, nodding. “Yeah, just lost in thought.”

She gave you a knowing look. “You’ve been doing a lot of that lately. Is everything okay between you and Sunghoon?”

Your heart skipped a beat. “Why do you ask?”

“You two have always been inseparable, but things seem… different now. You can talk to me, you know.”

You bit your lip, unsure of how much to say. You hadn’t told your parents anything about Sunghoon’s confession, and you weren’t sure you could without making things more complicated. “It’s nothing, Mom. We’re fine. Just adjusting, I guess.”

She raised an eyebrow but didn’t push further. “Alright, but you know we’re here for you. If you need to talk about anything—about Sunghoon or anything else—you can always come to us.”

You nodded, feeling the weight of her words settle over you. She meant well, but the last thing you wanted was to burden your parents with the tangled mess of your emotions.

After dinner, you found yourself wandering outside, needing fresh air to clear your head. Without thinking, you walked down the familiar path to the park, your steps slow and deliberate. The quiet of the evening felt comforting, a stark contrast to the storm of thoughts swirling inside you. You found your way back to the swings, sitting down as you often did when you needed to think.

As you rocked gently back and forth, your mind drifted back to high school. Back to the carefree days when things between you, Sunghoon, and Yeji had been simple. The memories were vivid—late nights studying together, hanging out at the park after school, and how Sunghoon had always been there, a steady presence by your side. Back then, you’d never questioned his loyalty, never thought twice about the way he always seemed to put you first. But now, looking back, you wondered how you hadn’t noticed the way he looked at you, the quiet way his feelings had been growing all along.

You remembered one particular moment, just before you left for the U.S. Sunghoon had walked you home after a late study session, the two of you chatting about nothing in particular. It had been a chilly night, and he’d offered you his jacket without hesitation. You’d laughed, teased him for being too polite, but his expression had been serious, almost sad. At the time, you hadn’t thought much of it, chalking it up to the fact that you’d be leaving soon. But now, in hindsight, you realized it had been more than that. Sunghoon had been struggling with his feelings, even back then, and you’d been completely oblivious.

A pang of guilt hit you as you thought about how long he must’ve held everything inside, how hard it must’ve been for him to see you leave, knowing you didn’t feel the same way. And now, after everything that had happened with Daniel, Sunghoon was still there, waiting for you in the background, even though you couldn’t give him what he wanted.

“Why does everything have to be so complicated?” you muttered to yourself, staring up at the darkening sky.

Just as you were about to lose yourself in more memories, you heard footsteps approaching from behind. You didn’t have to turn around to know who it was. Sunghoon.

“You’re here again,” he said, his voice quiet but familiar as he sat on the swing next to you.

“I needed to think,” you replied softly, your eyes still focused on the ground. “This place… it helps.”

Sunghoon nodded, his gaze drifting up toward the sky. “Yeah. It’s always been like that, hasn’t it?”

A comfortable silence fell between you, though it was laced with the tension of everything unsaid. For a moment, it felt like old times—just the two of you, sitting together in quiet understanding. But you knew things were different now, no matter how much you wanted to pretend otherwise.

Finally, you broke the silence, your voice tentative. “Sunghoon… I know things have been weird lately. And I hate it.”

He didn’t respond right away, but you could feel the weight of his gaze on you. “I know.”

“I just—” You hesitated, trying to find the right words. “I don’t want to lose you. I don’t want things to be like this between us.”

Sunghoon sighed, running a hand through his hair. “I don’t want that either, Y/N. But I don’t know how to make it less weird. I can’t just forget what I said.”

“I’m not asking you to,” you said quickly. “But maybe we can figure this out. I need you, Sunghoon. I don’t know what I’d do without you.”

He looked at you, his expression conflicted. “I need you too. But that’s the problem.”

Your heart clenched at his words. You could see the struggle in his eyes—the fight between his feelings for you and his desire to protect you from more pain. It wasn’t fair to him, and you knew it. But you didn’t know how to fix it, how to make things go back to the way they were.

“I’m sorry,” you whispered, the guilt heavy in your chest.

Sunghoon shook his head, his voice soft but firm. “Don’t be. It’s not your fault. None of this is.”

You sat there in silence, the distance between you feeling both vast and fragile. There was so much you wanted to say, so much you needed to figure out. But for now, all you could do was sit side by side, both of you trying to navigate the complicated mess of feelings that had always been there, just beneath the surface.

˚୨୧⋆｡˚ ⋆

Weeks passed, and the uneasy tension that once lingered between you and Sunghoon gradually began to fade. Little by little, things started to feel like they were falling back into place, though not quite the same as before. The awkward silences became comfortable again, and the shared moments between you started to carry a different weight.

You found yourself paying closer attention to him in ways you never had before. The small gestures—how he’d bring you coffee without asking, or how he’d go out of his way to make sure you were comfortable—began to take on a deeper meaning. Sunghoon wasn’t just being your best friend; he was being your support, your constant, the one person who had always been there for you, even when you didn’t realize how much you needed him.

It was in those moments that your feelings began to shift. At first, you tried to brush them off, telling yourself it was just gratitude, that you were still recovering from everything with Daniel. But the more time you spent with Sunghoon, the harder it became to ignore the warmth that bloomed in your chest every time he smiled at you, or the way your heart raced whenever your hands accidentally brushed.

One evening, the two of you sat in your backyard, a quiet evening settling in around you. Sunghoon had insisted on helping your father with a project earlier, and afterward, he stayed for dinner, as he often did. Now, the two of you were sitting on the porch, the cool breeze gently rustling the leaves above you.

Sunghoon leaned back, his eyes drifting to the sky. “You’ve been quiet tonight,” he said softly, glancing at you. “Everything okay?”

You smiled at the concern in his voice, feeling that familiar warmth spread through you again. “Yeah, I’m just… thinking.”

He turned slightly to face you, raising an eyebrow. “About what?”

You hesitated, unsure how to put your feelings into words. You weren’t ready to say everything out loud yet, but you couldn’t shake the overwhelming sense of gratitude and admiration you felt for him. “Just about how things have changed… and how much you’ve been there for me.”

Sunghoon’s gaze softened, and he shrugged casually, though you could see a flicker of something deeper in his eyes. “That’s what friends do, right?”

You nodded, but the word “friends” felt wrong now. There was something more between you, something that had been growing quietly in the background, and it was starting to become impossible to deny. You weren’t sure when it had happened, or maybe it had always been there, buried beneath the surface. But what you did know was that Sunghoon wasn’t just your friend anymore.

˚୨୧⋆｡˚ ⋆

More time passed and you found yourself seeking him out more, spending more time with him than anyone else. You began to crave his company, his quiet strength, and the way he seemed to understand you without needing to ask. And it wasn’t just the grand gestures that made your heart flutter—it was the small things. The way he always checked if you were okay, how he listened when you talked, really listened, and how he’d make sure you weren’t alone whenever you seemed down.

It was these little acts of kindness, the quiet care he showed you, that made your feelings for him grow into something undeniable.

One evening, the two of you found yourselves at the park again, sitting on the swings like you used to as kids. The sky was a deep shade of pink and orange, the sun setting in the distance. Sunghoon was talking about something—work, maybe—but you weren’t really listening. Instead, you were focused on him, on the way his hair fell into his eyes, the way his voice softened when he talked to you.

You realized, suddenly and overwhelmingly, that you cared for him in a way you hadn’t cared for anyone else. It wasn’t just that Sunghoon had been there for you, but the way he had always, quietly and without expectation, supported you, no matter what. He didn’t ask for anything in return, didn’t push you for answers or confessions. He just… cared.

And that’s when you knew. You had feelings for Sunghoon. They had been there all along, waiting for you to realize it.

Sunghoon must have noticed the look on your face because he stopped mid-sentence, turning to you with a curious expression. “What is it?”

You blinked, startled out of your thoughts. “What?”

“You’re staring at me,” he said, a hint of amusement in his voice.

You felt your cheeks heat up, quickly looking away. “I wasn’t.”

He laughed softly, but didn’t push further. Instead, he leaned back on the swing, the smile fading as a comfortable silence settled between you. You wanted to say something, to tell him what was on your mind, but the words wouldn’t come. Not yet.

For now, you were content just being here with him, the weight of your growing feelings a secret you weren’t quite ready to share. But you knew, deep down, that it wouldn’t be long before those feelings couldn’t be hidden any longer.

˚୨୧⋆｡˚ ⋆

It was a cozy Friday evening, and the house felt unusually quiet. Your parents and Sunghoon’s parents had decided to take a weekend trip together, leaving the two of you alone for the night. You had taken advantage of the opportunity to host a movie night, and the living room was filled with the inviting smell of popcorn and the soft glow of fairy lights strung around the room.

You settled onto the couch, a soft blanket draped over your legs, while Sunghoon reclined next to you, the space between you filled with a warm tension. The movie played in the background, but you found it hard to focus on the screen. Instead, your gaze kept drifting to him—the way the light danced in his hair, the casual way he laughed at the jokes, and the ease of his presence next to you.

As the minutes turned into hours, you felt the atmosphere shift. Each time you glanced at him, your heart raced a little more. You couldn’t ignore the way your feelings for him had transformed over the last few weeks, the moments you had shared sparking something deeper than friendship.

Finally, during a quieter moment in the movie, you turned to him, heart pounding. “Sunghoon,” you said softly, your voice barely above a whisper. He turned his head, eyebrows raised in curiosity, his expression inviting you to continue.

You hesitated for a moment, unsure if you should voice what had been on your mind for so long. But the warmth of his gaze, the way he was looking at you, made the decision feel inevitable. “I need to tell you something,” you began, feeling your heart race.

He tilted his head slightly, encouraging you. “What is it?”

You took a deep breath, trying to steady your nerves. “I’ve been thinking a lot about us… and how I feel about you.” Your voice trembled slightly as you spoke, but you pressed on. “When I came back to Korea, everything felt so chaotic. But you… you were there for me in a way I didn’t expect. And the more time we spend together, the more I realize that I care about you, Sunghoon. A lot.”

His eyes widened slightly, surprise flickering across his face. “Y/N, I—”

Before he could respond, you continued, your heart pounding in your chest. “I know I’ve been through a lot, and I don’t want to rush anything. But I can’t pretend anymore. I have feelings for you—feelings that go beyond friendship. I want to explore this… whatever this is between us.”

A moment of silence stretched between you, filled with the weight of your confession. You could see the shock in his expression slowly melting into something softer, something hopeful.

“I’ve wanted to hear you say that,” he finally said, his voice low and sincere. “I care about you too, Y/N. I’ve felt this way for a long time, but I didn’t know if you’d feel the same after everything that’s happened.”

Your heart soared at his words, relief flooding through you. “Really?” you asked, your voice barely above a whisper.

He nodded, a small smile spreading across his lips. “Really.”

In that moment, everything else faded away. You felt a magnetic pull between you, drawing you closer together. Without thinking, you leaned in, your heart racing as you closed the space between you.

Sunghoon met you halfway, his lips brushing against yours with a gentle hesitance that quickly melted into a deeper kiss. It was electric—filled with all the unspoken emotions you had both held back for so long. The world outside your living room ceased to exist, leaving only the warmth of his body and the rhythm of your hearts.

You melted into him, feeling the softness of the couch beneath you as he deepened the kiss, hands finding their way to your waist, pulling you closer. You could feel the heat radiating between you, igniting something passionate and alive that you hadn’t anticipated.

You  moaned softly into Sunghoon's mouth, the sound fueling his desire even further. Breaking the kiss for air, you stared into each other's eyes, both breathless and flushed. "Your room," Sunghoon whispered hoarsely. "Let's go to your room."

Hand in hand, you made your way to your childhood bedroom, a space that held countless memories of your friendship. The room was a sanctuary, adorned with pictures and trinkets from your shared adventures. Sunghoon closed the door behind you, sealing your private world from the outside.

You leaned against the door, heart racing as he approached her. He gently cupped your face, his thumbs brushing against your soft cheeks. "I've dreamed of this moment for so long," he murmured, his voice husky with desire.Your lips met again, this time with a hunger that burned through your restraint. Sunghoon's hands roamed over your body, exploring the curves and contours of your hips and waist. His fingers played with the hem of your tshirt, as if he was silently asking permission to take it off of you. You nod, his hands wasting no time in peeking the fabric to reveal the lacy black bra you wore beneath. 

Your breath caught in your throat as his fingertips traced the delicate lace, sending shivers down her spine.

With deft fingers, Sunghoon unhooked your bra, freeing your breasts. You gasp at the cold air that suddenly hits you. He gazed at them with reverence, his eyes dark with desire. Leaning down, he took one nipple into his mouth, suckling gently while his thumb teased the other.  You arch your back at the sensation, moaning softly as waves of pleasure rippled through you.

"You're so beautiful, Y/N," Sunghoon whispered against you skin. "I want to make you feel so good."

Feeling a sudden burst of eagerness, your hands found their way to Sunghoon's belt, unbuckling it with trembling fingers. You undid his jeans and slid your hand inside, wrapping your fingers around his hardening cock through his boxers. Sunghoon gasped, his breath hot against your neck, placing a small, wet kiss there as you began to stroke him. “S-shit baby.”

You slip your hand out, guiding Sunghoon towards your bed, you pushed him gently onto the mattress, positions now reversed. You straddled his waist, grinding your hips against his, feeling his erection press against your clothed cunt. His hands roamed over your thighs, inching upwards, exploring the soft skin beneath her shorts that had been driving him insane since the moment he stepped foot inside your house. 

With a gentle tug, you lifted your hips as he removed your shorts as well as the cute black panties that matched your bra, revealing your bare pussy, glistening with desire. Sunghoon's eyes darkened further as he took in the sight, his breath coming in short gasps. "You're so wet, Y/N. want to taste you so bad."

“later, you say as you slide down his body, positioning yourself between his legs. You leaned forward, your long hair cascading over your shoulders, as you began to kiss and lick the length of his shaft. Sunghoon groaned, his hands gripping the bedsheets as you took him deep into your mouth, tongue swirling around the head of his cock. “Feels so good baby”

Sunghoon couldn't hold back any longer. He sat up, positioning you on the bed, and parted your thighs with gentle kisses. His tongue traced the outer folds of your pussy, teasing your sensitive skin. You squirmed with pleasure,  hips bucking against his face as he found your clit and began to suckle it with relentless passion.

"Oh, Sunghoon!" you cried out,  voice hoarse with desire. "Fuck don't stop, please!"

Sunghoon continued his relentless assault on your clit, sending you spiraling towards an intense orgasm “tastes so fucking good, all wet just for me.” Your body trembled,  crying out his name as waves of pleasure washed over you. Sunghoon didn't let up, continuing to lick and suck until you were a quivering mess, your body drenched in sweat and satisfaction.

After a few moments to recover, you reached for Sunghoon, pulling him up to kiss him in a more hungry kiss. You could taste yourself on his lips, and it drove you wild with desire all over again. "I want you inside me," you whispered between kisses. "Now."

Sunghoon needed no further encouragement. He positioned himself at your entrance, his cock throbbing with anticipation. With one smooth thrust, he filled you completely, eliciting a gasp from your parted lips. you moved in perfect harmony, your bodies slick with sweat as ge fucked you with raw, unbridled passion.

"Harder, baby" you pleaded, nails digging into his shoulders. "fuck me harder.” Sunghoon obliged, pounding into you with abandon, his hips slamming against yours. 

The headboard banged against the wall, marking the rhythm of your frantic coupling. your cries filled the room as you rode the waves of pleasure,  orgasm building to an intense crescendo.

“Fuck baby your pussys clenching so hard around my cock, im so fucking close.” You could feel his thrusts becoming sloppier, your own orgasm approaching just a quick. “gonna c-cum hoonie.” He couldn't hold back any longer. With a final, powerful thrust, he came deep inside you, his hot cum painting your walls white. 

He collapsed onto the bed, bodies entwined, both breathing heavily as the aftershocks of pleasure rippled through each of you. “If I would’ve known you’d fuck me that good maybe I would’ve given you a chance much earlier.” You tell him out of breath, eliciting a chuckle from him. 

˚୨୧⋆｡˚ ⋆

The soft morning light streamed through the curtains, casting a gentle glow in your room. You stirred awake, feeling warmth enveloping you. Sunghoon was nestled beside you, his arm draped protectively around your waist, holding you close. The memory of the night before flooded your mind—the kiss, the confessions, and the spark of something beautiful igniting between you.

You smiled to yourself, feeling a sense of contentment that you hadn’t experienced in a long time. But as you settled deeper into his embrace, a sudden noise from downstairs jolted you from your blissful reverie.

“Y/N, I think your parents are back,” Sunghoon murmured sleepily, rubbing his eyes as he became more alert.

Your heart raced as the reality of the situation hit you. “Oh fuck, They’re not supposed to be back yet” you whispered, panic rising in your chest.

Sunghoon’s eyes widened, and he immediately sat up, glancing around the room. “We need to hurry”

You both scrambled to untangle yourselves from the sheets, adrenaline coursing through you. As you hopped out of bed, you glanced at each other, both of you laughing nervously at the chaotic situation. There was an unspoken agreement—you needed to act casual, like nothing unusual had happened.

“Okay, you get dressed first,” you said, tossing him a T-shirt and a pair of sweatpants that had been strewn on the floor. “I’ll throw on something too.”

You quickly changed into a comfy hoodie and leggings, your heart still racing as you heard your parents’ voices growing louder downstairs. The last thing you wanted was for them to walk in on you two after the night you just shared.

“Are you ready?” Sunghoon asked, his hair slightly tousled as he pulled on the T-shirt. He looked adorable, and it took everything in you not to linger on how cute he was at that moment.

“Almost!” you replied, giving your reflection a quick check in the mirror before moving to the door. “Let’s go!”

You both rushed down the stairs, trying to make as little noise as possible, your hearts pounding in your chests. As you reached the bottom step, you could hear your parents chatting in the kitchen, their voices bright and cheerful.

“Y/N, are you home?” your mom called out just as you and Sunghoon entered the living room, trying to appear nonchalant.

“Yeah, Mom! Just hanging out!” you replied, forcing a casual tone, hoping it didn’t sound too forced.

You glanced over at Sunghoon, who was giving you a small, reassuring smile, but you could see the nervousness in his eyes. You both moved into the kitchen, where your parents were unpacking bags, completely oblivious to the whirlwind of emotions that had just taken place in your room.

“Hey, Sunghoon! you’re here,” your dad said, giving him a friendly nod. “Did you keep Y/N entertained while we were gone?”

“Of course!” Sunghoon replied, a little too quickly, his eyes darting to you for a brief moment. “We had a fun movie night.”

You nodded enthusiastically, trying to match his energy. “Yeah, just a normal hangout. Nothing out of the ordinary,” you added, unable to hide the hint of a nervous laugh.

Your mom chuckled, giving you both a knowing look. “You two have always been inseparable. I’m glad you’re spending time together.”

You felt your cheeks flush, and you shot Sunghoon a sidelong glance. He was trying hard not to smile, and it was contagious.

“Did you enjoy the trip?” you asked, hoping to shift the conversation away from the night before.

Your parents launched into stories about their travels, and as you listened, you couldn’t help but sneak glances at Sunghoon. He caught your eye, and you both exchanged a small smile that felt electric, reminding you of the connection you had just started to explore.

As breakfast was prepared, the atmosphere felt relaxed and easy, but your heart raced at the thought of your parents unknowingly interrupting something that had felt so significant. You couldn’t help but feel giddy about the night you had shared, and the prospect of what lay ahead for you and Sunghoon, even as the morning unfolded like any other day.

After breakfast, your parents retreated to the living room to relax, leaving you and Sunghoon to clean up the kitchen. The atmosphere felt light, almost like the calm before a storm as you both exchanged playful banter, your earlier connection still fresh in your minds.

Later that afternoon, you heard a familiar voice ring out from the front door. “Y/N! I’m here!” Yeji called as she burst into the house, her energy immediately filling the space.

You couldn’t help but smile, excitement bubbling up at the sight of your childhood best friend. “Yeji! You’re back!” you exclaimed, rushing to greet her with a hug.

As you pulled away, she looked at you intently, her gaze sweeping over you from head to toe. “You’re glowing,  What’s going on with you?” she asked, a teasing lilt in her voice.

Your cheeks flushed slightly, and you tried to play it cool. “What are you talking about?” you said, attempting to sound nonchalant, but you felt a giddy warmth spread through you.

“Oh, come on” Yeji pressed, her eyes sparkling with curiosity. “You look so happy. Are you and sunghoon fianlly together?”

You felt your heart race at the thought. “It’s… complicated,” you said, a shy smile creeping onto your face as you remembered the kiss, the way he made you feel, and the warmth that had lingered long after. “We’re just figuring things out.”

“Just figuring things out?” Yeji exclaimed, her voice rising in disbelief. “Y/N, you’re practically radiating happiness, That sounds like a classic ‘we’re together’ situation to me now spill bitch.”

You laughed, unable to suppress the joy bubbling inside you. “I promise, it’s nothing like that! We’re just friends hanging out—well, more than friends, but still… you know.” You were stumbling over your words, and you could feel the warmth of your blush creeping down your neck.

Yeji’s eyes widened, her expression a mix of disbelief and excitement. “Oh my god, did you fuck?” she pressed, bouncing slightly on her heels, clearly thrilled at the prospect.

You don’t say anything, except you give her a knowing look that told her everything she needs to know. 

Yeji’s smile grew wider, her excitement infectious. “Fucking finally. I thought you idiots would never figure it out” She grabbed your shoulders, her eyes gleaming. “You have to tell me everything.”

Just then, Sunghoon appeared in the doorway, glancing between the two of you, a bemused smile on his face. “What’s going on in here?” he asked, leaning against the doorframe with an amused expression.

Yeji turned to him, her eyes sparkling with mischief. “Oh, just catching up on the latest drama. Y/N and I were just talking about how she’s glowing and—”

You quickly interjected, feeling the heat rise in your cheeks. “We were just talking about… uh, my skincare routine!”

Sunghoon raised an eyebrow, a smirk playing at the corners of his lips. “Your skincare routine, huh? Sounds fascinating.”

“Shut up,” you shot back playfully, laughter spilling out. But deep down, you felt a thrill at the thought of your feelings for him becoming more public, shared between friends.

Yeji wiggled her eyebrows suggestively, a teasing smile on her face.

You rolled your eyes, but you couldn’t help the smile that spread across your face. As Sunghoon joined the conversation, you felt a warmth in your heart, realizing how much you had missed this—how much you had missed him.

˚୨୧⋆｡˚ ⋆

You and Sunghoon settled into a rhythm of secrecy and excitement. Every stolen moment felt like a thrilling adventure, each shared smile charged with an energy that left you both breathless. You spent evenings hanging out at parks, grabbing snacks at your favorite convenience store, and reliving old memories. But as your bond deepened, so did the intensity of your feelings.

You both agreed to keep things under wraps for a little while longer, wanting to navigate this new chapter without the pressure of parental expectations looming over you. But sneaking around only added to the thrill, and soon, it became second nature.

One Friday evening, you decided to go on a real date. After all, you had managed to keep things low-key, but you were ready to enjoy being together without the pressure of hiding. You picked a charming little café downtown, a spot you both loved, and as the sun began to set, the place glowed with a warm, inviting ambiance.

You shared a dessert and exchanged playful banter, the world outside fading away. Sunghoon’s laughter felt like music, and each lingering glance seemed to whisper promises of something beautiful. The night was perfect—until it was time to go home.

As you walked down the quiet street, the cool night air wrapping around you, you felt a surge of affection. You turned to Sunghoon, smiling softly, and without thinking, you pulled him into a warm embrace. It felt so right, being close to him, your heart racing at the proximity.

But just as you pulled away, a familiar voice broke the silence. “Well, well, well. What do we have here?”

Startled, you turned to see your parents standing just a few feet away, a mix of surprise and amusement on their faces. Sunghoon’s eyes widened, and you felt your heart drop. “Uh… hey!” you stammered, feeling heat rise to your cheeks.

Your mom stepped forward, a knowing smile spreading across her face. “We always knew you two would end up together,” she said, crossing her arms and raising an eyebrow playfully.

Sunghoon chuckled nervously, rubbing the back of his neck. “Um, well, this is a bit unexpected.”

Your dad grinned, stepping beside your mom. “You think we wouldn’t notice the way you two look at each other? You’ve been sneaking around, haven’t you?”

You exchanged glances with Sunghoon, a mix of embarrassment and relief flooding through you. “Okay, maybe a little,” you admitted, unable to hide your smile.

“Just a little?” Yeji suddenly appeared from behind your parents, her arms crossed and an amused look on her face. “I could have told you they were dating from the way they looked at each other!”

Your heart raced, but seeing the warmth in your parents’ eyes eased your nerves. “We just wanted to take our time, you know?” you said, looking up at Sunghoon.

Your mom laughed softly. “You kids and your secrets. We were starting to wonder when you would finally tell us!”

Sunghoon relaxed, a smile spreading across his face. “Sorry for keeping it from you, but we wanted to figure things out first.”

Your dad patted Sunghoon on the back. “You’re a good kid. We’re just happy to see you both happy. Just remember to keep it respectful, alright?”

You nodded vigorously, feeling the weight lift off your shoulders. As you stood there, surrounded by family and friends, you realized how wonderful it felt to share your happiness openly.

Sunghoon looked at you, his expression softening. “Well, I guess the secret’s out,” he said, smiling broadly.

You chuckled, leaning against him, warmth spreading through you. “Yeah, but I wouldn’t have it any other way.”

As you walked home together, hand in hand, you knew this was just the beginning of a new chapter in your lives—one filled with love, laughter, and the promise of many more adventures to come.

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[masquerade-md]

“i was wondering if i could have your instagram?”

your heart hammered against your chest as the anticipation weighed down on your shoulders as you stood in front of the confused boy in front of you.

“ah… i’ll have to get back to you on that.” iwaizumi replied quietly as your stomach dropped.

“oh… okay then thanks anyway!” you forced a friendly tone out to mask the utter humiliation and upset that had washed over your mood entirely upon the few words the dark haired boy offered.

the rest of the class was a blur to you. you spent majority of the time staring blankly ahead of you to face the backs of forgettable classmates heads. the only classmate that mattered to you in this particular class had rejected you just before the teacher walked in so from this moment on you had no motivation to pay attention or look forward this class.

the end bell rang and you mindlessly threw your belongings into your bag before dragging yourself through the halls to your locker to collect the rest of your belongings and head home. you didn’t even bother to wait for your friends, no. they could wait until you were in the comfort of your own home to hear you scream over the phone how embarrassed you were as a result of the rejection over something as casual as asking to be instagram buddies.

‘what sort of loser gets rejected for that?’ you almost had to laugh it was so stupid. ‘whatever.’ you thought as your feet carried you to the front gates of the school. you’d have to apologise to your friends in advance before blowing up the groupchat with your over dramatic tendencies but a little tlc from your friends was needed at this vital milestone of your life; your first ever rejection.

upon the endless string of thoughts running through your mind as you walked, you failed to pick up on the voice that had been calling after you repeatedly from behind you. you tensed up at the feeling of someone gently tugging on your sleeve out of nowhere but that surprise was nothing compared to the surprised you felt upon seeing the culprits gaze.

“iwaizumi?” you asked as your classmate caught his breath. “you on a mission or something?” he huffed a little as you frowned. “yes. a mission to get home, so see ya!” you replied quickly as your pace in walk picked up again.

before you could march off, a hand tugging on the strap of your bag stopped you before you could flee the scene which happened to include the last face on earth you wanted to see right now. “before you run off again,” he started before pulling his phone out his pocket. “my instagram. you said you wanted it?”

you looked at the device in his hands with confusion. zero followers, zero posts, zero following and a cute yet handsome photo of iwaizumi in place of the profile picture icon. “i didn’t have one earlier when you asked, so i made one during that class so you could add me.” he rubbed the back of his neck and looked away from you as you fought the urge to pounce on him and bite him.

‘he’s so fucking cute.’

you tapped your own handle into his phone and followed yourself before grabbing your own phone to immediately follow him back. a weird sense of pride came over you seeing his follower and following go up by one and that one being you.

“you didn’t have to do that.” you insisted as you handed his phone back to him. “nah, i should’ve made one ages ago but i just never got around to it.” he admitted, the heat on his face finally calming down. “but now you can message me if you ever need anything… or if you just wanted to you know, talk?“ he muttered as the urge to bite the shit out of this man piqued once more.

“i’ll definitely message you if i need anything or if i want to talk but you can do the same too!” you hummed as you slipped your phone back into your pocket.

“i’ll keep that in mind.” he smiled before turning around to walk away. “please do.” you shot back before turning to make your own way home. offering a quick exchange in waves you marched home ready to text your groupchat about what had just happened until you felt your phone vibrate.

‘@iwa.hajime has sent you a message: see you tomorrow :)’

on second thought. maybe your group chat could wait.

[masquerade-md]

02:48 ➵ park gunwook

park gunwook x reader

you’re set on playing some more games of valorant, and gunwook is trying to change your mind.

general genre/warnings ➵ established relationship, fluff, suggestive, lots of kissing, hickey moment…, valorant mention

word count ➵ 800 words

a/n ➵ happy birthday @shegotthewoobies <3 ily and i hope you like this drabble :DD if you enjoyed reading, please do reblog & leave feedback!

want to be part of my taglist? send me an ask! masterlist

gunwook wishes he isn’t the needy type. the one who can handle the distance. the one who can keep his hands to himself. the one who can fall asleep without you by his side. he hopes he can be the one to fulfill your every request, regardless of the hours or miles it may take.

he likes to think he’s made for you, but the reality is that he needs you.

before gunwook left for work, he promised you a few matches of valorant. his busy schedule didn’t give you two enough time in the day to spend with each other. all you had were hours made for sleep. although you understood gunwook’s schedule, only wanting him to rest before another day filled with work, he couldn’t share the same sentiments as you. all he wants is to be around you; intertwine fingers, and graze his lips over the expanse of your skin. despite your protests, it all falls on deaf ears as he cuts you off with a single kiss before taking his leave.

yet, work is spontaneous. he’ll never know if it’ll be a day where he waits for hours to pass by or to chase them.

gunwook tried to conceal his fatigue, peppering your face with kisses before telling you he’ll shower before he hops on the game. despite your worried eyes, he leads you to your chair before making his way to the washroom.

although he was tired from today’s work, he enjoyed the few matches he got to play. regardless of taerae’s trashtalk, matthew’s missed shots, and taerae’s partner’s whines, his stress levels subsided—all thanks to you. still, he couldn’t fight off the exhaustion.

“hey, i think i’m done for today,” gunwook says, earning a series of groans.

“no! we can’t end here. i mean, we can’t end on a loss!” regardless of taerae’s attempt to make him stay, he already closed the game. 

“bye guys.” he doesn’t wait for another word to leave his friends before he drops the discord call. as he looks over to his right, he sees your screen is on the lobby. he stands up from his seat, expecting you to take your leave until you pull out your phone. 

“hey, let him go to sleep. i’m down to play some unrated. but if you guys find someone else to fill, i’m also up for more ranked matches.”

gunwook can’t help but pout. he should’ve known that you would play a few more games. after all, you’d always try to find time in the day to play. yet, he wishes you could read the words in between his farewell—hey, let’s go to sleep.

a hum leaves you. “okay, let me try to ask my friend if they want to play.”

for a moment, gunwook considers going to bed, leaving you one kiss before you can continue playing. this is your time to destress. but his feet take him to where you are and his hand quickly reaches for your mouse so that he can mute your microphone.

you move your headphones to the side. “hey, what are you—”

his arms find their spot around your waist. “baby,” his whine has you holding your breath, “can’t you play some more games tomorrow? i missed you.”

“gunwook,” a shy giggle leaves your lips, “i’ll just play one or two more games. i’m pretty sure matthew and taerae are trying to find someone to fill.”

then, he nestles his face into your neck. while his nose grazes your skin, you let out a quiet exhale. but the moment you feel his lips, your eyes shut close. out of instinct. out of comfort. out of desire.

“c’mon, i’m sure they’ll understand.” his lips continue to cover every inch of your neck as his hands sneak under your shirt, fingers drawing shapes on your hips. gunwook’s persuasion is hard to ignore.

feigning ignorance, you say, “but i won’t get to play tomorrow. just one game.”

he musters a sigh and you think you won the battle, until his lips latch onto your neck. blunt teeth scratch against your skin as his tongue darts out, sucking in the spot. a soft moan leaves you as you throw your head back.

taerae’s shouts leak out of your headphones but you have no interest in hearing what he has to say.

gunwook’s lips leave you and you try to steady your breathing. you hate his effect on you. “c’mon, let’s go to bed.”

you need a few seconds before you swallow your shame. “to sleep?”

he giggles before he pulls back, allowing you to meet his gaze. “depends if you’ll quit valorant now or later.” and when you spot the smirk that rests on his lips, you don’t think twice about disconnecting from the call without saying goodbye.

taglist: @kflixnet @blankjournal

[masquerade-md]

ೃ༄ 𝐌𝐀𝐑𝐑𝐘 𝐌𝐄? 𝐟𝐭. 𝐈𝐧𝐚𝐫𝐢𝐳𝐚𝐤𝐢

𝗱𝗲𝘀𝗰: how they pop the question! (hcs + drabbles)

𝗰𝗼𝗻𝘁𝗮𝗶𝗻𝘀: atsumu miya, osamu miya, suna rintaro, kita shinsuke, aran ojiro

𝘄𝗮𝗿𝗻𝗶𝗻𝗴𝘀: (16+) fem! reader, established relationship, mentions of marriage (obvi lol)

𝗮/𝗻: i needed something mushy and disgusting to tide me over. blame the ceo of adderall for how fucking long some of the drabbles turned out i was locked in. also opening requests yay!!! (as always sorry for any typos sending telepathic hugs if any of this is slop)

-> read part II here!!! <-

𝐚𝐭𝐬𝐮𝐦𝐮 𝐦𝐢𝐲𝐚

» the type to like really want something overly romantic and picturesque

» i’m talking proposal on the beach (you already know this man is asking you in public, sorry)

» he’s been meticulously planning this for the past couple of months, the ringbox is practically burning a hole in his pocket

» when he tells osamu his plan, his brother is surprisingly more than happy to agree to hide somewhere and film it for him (because atsumu will die without the memory to look back on, that’s just how he is)

» calls osamu the night before in a panic, “what if she says no?!” and osamu is like “….be so fr.”

» you’re wondering why exactly your boyfriend is so antsy on the hour-long drive to the beach, raising a brow at how he keeps readjusting his sweaty grip on the wheel or gulping unnecessarily loudly

» accidentally butchers the approach (he’s just so nervous that it seems suspicious)

» proposes on two knees like shane dawson IM JUST KIDDING EVERYONE!!! THAT WAS A JOKE YOU GUYS EVERYBODY LAUGH PLEASE IT WAS A JOKE!!!!!!

Something about Atsumu was off today. What started as a rather awkward car ride bled into a beach day with a subtotal of about three productive conversations. Perhaps you were just making things up, but, you couldn’t exactly stop yourself from reading too much into his antsy tone and darting eyes. What’s going on? The question has plagued you since the moment he’d opened the car door for you that morning. 

As night fell, the expected continuation of stuffy silence ensued; there’s a difference between savoring the romance of shared silence and whatever this is. You couldn’t exactly put your finger on why things weren’t normal, but deep in the pit that has been forming in your stomach all day, you knew that they weren’t. 

What a shame, tonight is beautiful, after all. The moon is full, casting a milky glow of its face across the rippling waves, illuminating the gritty sand you walk upon. You consider commenting on the way the air was perfectly crisp, not as sticky and humid as it was earlier in the afternoon, but a perfect marriage of chilly winds and hot air.

Just as you prime yourself to speak, Atsumu beats you to it, halting his gait completely, much to your confusion. 

A few moments pass that individually feel as if they could have last an eternity, silence only broken by the crashing of waves and distant cawing of seagulls.

“Ya know I love ya, right?” Atsumu says the worst thing he could possibly say in this moment, it leaves you sputtering, wondering what exactly this sudden declaration could imply.

Is he just saying it to say it? Is he mad? Is he breaking up with you?

A nauseous jolt of fear churns in your stomach and sends the painful tingle of unrefined fear crawling up your spine. With haste, you turn away, hoping that as long as you don’t meet his eyes, he won’t say what you’re dreading. Tonight is so beautiful, does he really have to spoil it? The beach is empty already, tall grass ripples in a dance with salty seawind, and you try your hardest to watch the bobbing of cattails to ignore what stands in front of you. Your struggle to soothe your racing mind suddenly becomes a lot easier as confusion kicks in at the sight of a familiar face that’s quick to duck behind a fence. 

“Is that…Osamu?” You squint, straining your eyes to try and make out the identity of the crouched silhouette in the distance with such little clarity provided by dim beacons of moonlight. Atsumu chokes out a strained noise of frustration, his brain temporarily losing all sense of direction in his surprise, and as a result he jumps the gun on what he was waiting at least a few more paces to do. 

You’re still caught up in discerning whether that figure in the distance was your boyfriend’s brother, it had to be. The question was, what on earth is he doing here?

Turning back around, the question is raring to fall for your lips, but is quickly drowned out by a short gasp of alarm to see that Atsumu is no longer standing. Down on one knee, he’s already staring at you like you’re the only way he can continue to live, an entire meal in his lifelong starvation. He’s been yearning for this, craving it for longer than he’s let you in on. In spite of his desperation, a dry laugh of self-deprecation tumbles under his breath.

Your hand flies to cup your mouth, and the only thing on your mind is the little box he’s fishing from his back pocket and cracking open before you. “I already knew I’d be asking ya this the first time I met ya,” the smile he dons is less smug than its usual appearance, it’s humble, a quiet declaration of love. 

How could you be so stupid to think he’d do anything but this? It’s all led up to this, hasn’t it? Secret love notes shared in high school classrooms, hasty kisses exchanged anywhere you couldn’t be seen. You think of unpacking your first apartment, how it took too long because he kept making you laugh or how he managed to forget his coffee order once but remembered yours, late nights spent touching instead of sleeping and going to his volleyball games where everyone looked at him, but he only ever had the ability to look at you. That’s what this was all along, wasn’t it? The beginning of the rest of your lives had already started a long time ago, before you could realize. 

“The best part of my day is wakin’ up and fallin’ asleep next to ya,” he swallows a dull lump in his throat, unable to control his own watery eyes at the sight of fat tears racing down your cheeks and nestling under your chin, “so would ya let me have that for the rest of my life?”

Maybe this wasn’t exactly how he wanted it to go, but there was never a scenario in which he’d do this and regret any part of it. Atsumu hadn’t realized it until the moment came, but it felt as if his entire life had led to this moment, that he was basking in his zenith as you stared down at him and teetered the edge between girlfriend and wife. 

And as it grows heavy on his tongue, Atsumu is certain nothing he ever says after this point will be as relieving as this, “Will ya marry me?”

𝐨𝐬𝐚𝐦𝐮 𝐦𝐢𝐲𝐚

» This is Osamu Miya there is going to be food involved in the whole production please and thank you

» Has the wise idea to ask the owner of the bakery next door to bake the engagement ring into a cake

» The problem? He's now convinced himself that you are going to choke to death right in front of him

» Thinks the perfect opportunity is when you visit him at the shop when you're done with work, only because that's his favorite time of the day

» Lowkey nervous but is not about to go to Atsumu for advice, he is going to make it ten times worse

Nights like these weren’t uncommon since you moved in with Osamu, but they're still as wonderful as the first. He never thought you were one to enjoy this type of busywork, which is why he hardly asked you to help until you voiced how much you loved helping him close up his shop. 

His employees are long gone for the night, you finish mopping up the dining area with a satisfied hum as Osamu counts up the till in the back. After draining the mop bucket, you knock softly upon the door, opening it at the sound of his hummed response. 

“Well? Are we billionaires?” You snicker as you catch the tail end of him locking the safe, “Almost there.” He snorts, standing up with a certain stiffness that wasn’t there earlier, you chose to pin it on a tiring day finally catching up to him. 

Osamu stretches his back with a drawn-out sigh, then tilts his head down at you, “Dessert?” 

Tonight, just like every other night, your boyfriend made sure that you ate before helping him clean up, happy to share another meal with you in the empty shop. It wasn’t uncommon to celebrate the end of the day with the pint of ice cream stowed in the freezer for this specific reason, but you were certain that the both of you had dug out the lasts of it a couple of days ago. 

“You got another pint of ice cream?” You question, eyeing the walk-in freezer tucked in the corner of the brightly lit kitchen. Osamu shakes his head with a sniff, “Nah, dropped by next door during my lunch break.” He supplies, reaching down to open the mini fridge under his desk. The business next door was a bakery, and it happened to be one of your favorite spots when you had the time to drop by, which meant that…

“You got cake?” You straighten up with excitement as he pulls out a clear to-go box containing a hefty slice of rich chocolate cake. Osamu smirks, following you back to the front to share it at the counter while he listens to your happy chatterings of how you’d been craving this all day.

Leaning on the counter across from you, he’s close enough to see his own reflection in the glint of your eyes, had he looked this nervous the whole time? Truth be told, Osamu has also had his mind on something all day too, but it was much more complex than the slice of cake he’d turned around to get a pair of forks for. Well, technically, the problem lays within the cake.

 This was no spur of the moment idea, but it felt too soon. What is he going to say? Would you even think this is romantic enough? It’s a stupid idea, isn’t it? And it’s too late to fix it, because there’s nothing he could do about the ring that sits latent between two layers of chocolate sponge. 

He hands you a fork, jaw clenched unusually tight as he grits his teeth to bite back to the urge to begin panting with worry. Osamu is unable to hold his own fork properly, clammy hands making a weak attempt at gripping the cold metal while he hovers it over the cake, waiting for you to dig into it without a clue of what’s to come.

Partially nervous, but overcome with excitement, he gnaws on the side of his mouth when you bring a large, ringless piece of cake to your mouth. 

You chew thoughtfully, blissfully unaware of the way Osamu can practically feel his heart jumping up his throat; there’s nothing too noticeable about the shift in his stoic demeanor, but it does raise a few red flags in your mind to see that he has yet to take a bite. 

A look of confusion pulls at your eyebrows and Osamu thinks he might be done for as you eye him curiously, bringing your fork down to dig out another bite. Your fork hits something solid, bringing your attention down to the dessert in front of you. You let out a quick noise of surprise at the clinking noise of metal against metal.

“What the-...” you frown, initially in disgust (which nearly makes Osamu keel over and die), but your jaw quickly goes slack as you lift your fork up, a ring dangling off of one of the tines. 

Osamu lets out a breath of relief, glad you didn’t choke to death (which was one of the worst case scenarios he had formulated in his head during the day), then smirks weakly, “Sorry it’s kinda covered in cake.” Why would that be the first thing he says? Is he an idiot?! He feels his cheeks begin to run hot before finding that the shock in your expression has since melted into something else. 

“Is this-” you suck in a strained breath when your lover steps from around the corner, taking the ring from your fork. He’s happy that most of the cake had fallen off at this point. “Y’know, I’ve played this over so many times in my head and I still haven’t figured out what to say at this part.” Osamu huffs, partly to himself as he gets down on one knee. 

At this point, you’ve stood up once more, clutching a hand to your mouth in surprise. Part of you truly believed you might be dreaming, nothing so perfect could ever happen in real life, could it? 

A hopeful look lights up in Osamu’s eyes, the inevitable feeling of a shaky smile tugs at his lips. There’s nothing he’s wanted more in his entire life than to ask you this question, and no matter how it happens, he needs you to know that much. 

“I thought I could tell ya how much I love ya, but, I really can’t put that into words,” he’s surprised at the faltering in his voice, his throat caught with a sudden onslaught of emotions, “But I do love ya and I want to spend the rest of my life with ya…more than I’ll ever be able to say,”

You’re already nodding, unable to bring yourself to speak, before he can even ask the question. It makes a lighthearted laugh fall under his breath, unadulterated by anything but love, “Would ya let me marry ya?”

𝐬𝐮𝐧𝐚 𝐫𝐢𝐧𝐭𝐚𝐫𝐨

» Has been wanting to do this for well over a year but keeps chickening out, who woulda thunk it?

» After drunkenly complaining to the twins about it, Osamu suggests he proposes in a more nostalgic setting (less daunting than his previous attempts in fancy restaurants and sunny flower gardens)

» Nostalgic? Suna can't help but think about your first date, which initially seems like a good idea, but now that he's thinking about it...

» If this canoe tips over he's going to die. He's not even going to try to come back up for air. That's it for him.

Suna is beginning to really wonder how lame a person could be before it’s cause for concern. This is attempt number four at proposing to you, and he still has not mustered up the courage to do it. Three dates beforehand, each time a ring box burning a hole in his pocket, each time the two of you walk away unengaged. This time was different, it had to be. 

This spot was very familiar, the location of your first date. No, it was not a romantic Italian restaurant nor was it an impressive botanical garden. Your first date, as you both recall, was a terrible attempt at a boat picnic, ending in a capsized canoe and everything precious overboard. Now, it could be a gamble, but Suna was more than willing to right his near-decade-old wrong. 

The two of you had paddled out to the middle of the same lake, giggling nervously at every unexpected rock the boat made, an internalized panic attack happening in Suna’s brain each time he thought about the ring in his back pocket at the bottom of the lake. This is a terrible idea, why did he let Atsumu convince him otherwise?

It was sunset, the bright orange glow of the sun gradually sinking beneath the horizon cast a golden hue across Suna’s face, lighting the sage green of his watchful eyes. You’re gripping onto either side of the canoe, trying to catch your breath, “I’m not in shape for this,” you groan playfully. 

Suna snorts at this, rolling his eyes, “Stop acting like I didn’t do all of the paddling over here.” 

You let out an indignant scoff, nudging him with your oar, “That’s your duty as my boyfriend.” 

He chuckles in amusement, but he’s once again reminded of why he suggested you two spend your Saturday like this, for him to stop being your boyfriend. “Is it now?” he hums, sobering up a bit from the laughter. 

“Mhm.” You nod, crossing your arms with a feigned scowl that makes his heart flutter. 

“Would it be my duty if I were your husband?” God, what is he saying? He’s totally going off script. Suna hates how easy it is to let you throw him off kilter, but, he doesn’t miss the sudden break in your expression. “I suppose it would be, yeah.” You sniff, fighting hard to preserve the joking nature of your conversation despite the weird twist of hope that made your head spin. Rintaro was only joking, you know that, but the way he was looking at you begged to say otherwise. 

He clears his throat, “I’d really like that.” 

You place your palms, suddenly softened with sweat, onto the tops of your knees, the corners of your mouth twitching in thought, “You’d like paddling me out to the middle of a lake?”

Rintaro breaks the charged silence with a deep laugh, some foreign mixture of nerves and mind numbing love bubbled up in his chest, and he knows for certain that this is always going to be why he loves you. 

“I wouldn’t mind it that much,” he supplies, reaching back to pull out a little box from behind him, “But, you know, I’d have to marry you first, so…”

“Rin!” You yelp, trying your very hardest to stay balanced as he shifts carefully to one knee on the floor of the boat; it’s no use, if you really were in danger of tipping over, you were too preoccupied with the sight before you to really do anything. 

“And I’d love to do a lot more for you than paddling a boat, y’know? I’d love to do anything for you,” the top lid of the box pops open, revealing a gorgeously cut diamond that reflects the light bouncing off the water from a fading afternoon sun. “I really want to spend my life making you happy.” 

Suna sucks in a deep breath, then smiles at your look of shock slowly fading into a quivering smile and teary eyes, “Would you let me do that for you? Will you marry me?”

𝐤𝐢𝐭𝐚 𝐬𝐡𝐢𝐧𝐬𝐮𝐤𝐞

» Who says something has to be extravagant to be romantic? Not him

» Kita's a very go with the flow kinda guy, he says what comes to mind and hopes you'll feel comfortable enough to do the same with him

» So why on earth would he want to surprise attack you with a proposal? Seems unsensible to him

» Kita "I'll let you pick out the ring" Shinsuke, everybody

Kita always made sure to keep a schedule with you around; before the two of you lived together, he found himself working in the rice paddies later into the early evening, but when he has you to come home to, he can’t be home soon enough. 

The smell of dinner meets him as he walks through the door, slipping off his work shoes with a sigh of relief to finally be in your presence once more. The sound of you clattering around with pans and dishes in the kitchen is enough to make him want to fall to your feet in gratitude. What did he ever do to deserve you in his life? Monumental good deeds from countless past lives must have added up in order for him to have the pleasure of just knowing you. 

“How was your day?” you muse sweetly as he walks into the kitchen, placing a chaste kiss onto the crown of your head like always, “Just fine.” He replies, leaning up slightly against the counter to watch you mix up something in a pot that smells absolutely delicious. As you tap the wooden spoon against the lip of the pot, he’s brought back to reality once more. 

All day he’s been wondering how he should approach this. He knew he certainly wanted it to happen tonight, and after a short phone call with Aran on the car ride home, he decided there was no other way for him to ask you than the way he’d initially decided. 

Nothing too plain, Aran advised, but nothing too extravagant either. 

Kita couldn’t understand this advisory if he tried, and he did try. So, he thought to himself, why not just do what feels right? That’s what he’s been doing this whole time, hasn’t he? 

He clears his throat, earning your attention from the meal you were making him. 

“Do you want to get married?” Shinsuke asks plainly, almost so plain that you nearly let out a generic hum of agreement, before reevaluating the words just spoken. 

“What?” you choke, snapping your head to fully face him, baffled by the perfectly calm expression he held. 

“Well, I figured,” he shrugs, “You and I have been together for a while and I don’t think I want that to ever stop, do you feel that way, too?” 

To say this isn’t exactly what you would expect from Shinsuke is a lie, he’s always been this way. Other people may find this seemingly nonchalant nature of his insincere, but you know without a doubt that it is perhaps the closest to sincere a person can really get. No sugarcoating, pure honesty, and you know every word he says is impossibly planned out with the same thoroughness he uses to approach everything in life. 

“I’d love that,” you finally speak up with a nod, feeling a deep blush begin to blossom in your cheeks with inherent delight, something you’ve always had when looking at Shinsuke.

His eyes light up, a content grin making its rare appearance, “You mean it?” You nod and another, more tender kiss is placed upon your pretty forehead, his hand cradling the back of your neck, “I’m happy to hear that.” 

Ever since you’ve fallen in love with Kita, since you’ve started living with him and sharing every spare moment by his side, you’ve come to realize that life doesn’t need to be anything more than simple. Life in itself when you are in love is more than enough. And as you continue your night as if nothing really changed, you realize that this is exactly the case.

The ring Shinsuke lets you pick out the next day has no effect on his preexisting unconditional love for you, he already knew that he wanted to be with you for the rest of his life. The vows you exchange, and the home you make, and the nameplate outside that reads Kita are all just byproducts of something much better, the fact that he’s devoted his life to you. 

𝐚𝐫𝐚𝐧 𝐨𝐣𝐢𝐫𝐨

» Aran is just effortlessly romantic sometimes, it's perplexing

» Maybe it has something to do with how genuinely sweet he's always been to you, but you swear you don't even see this one coming

» Even if things aren't going according to plan, he's surprisingly more sure of himself than he's ever been of anything

» Of course he manages to make getting poured down on movie scene level romantic sighinggg

Just his luck, he thought. The moment you two head out towards the restaurant (in which he had a very large task to fulfill) an onslaught of unpredicted rain began to pour. Hollering in horrified excitement, the two of you make a run for it, regretting the wise idea to take the scenic route through the downtown park a few blocks away from your apartment. 

Seizing your wrist, he takes you to what he considers his saving grace, a perfectly located gazebo to hide from the rain. You’re both panting from the sprint, soaked to the bone from the heavy showers that are now accompanied by crashing thunder. In no time, however, your rasping breaths dissolve into laughter at how dumb of a situation you two landed yourselves in, like always. 

“My makeup is running,” you whine, looking at your reflection on the screen of your phone. Aran shakes his head lightheartedly, bringing a hand up to move wet strands of hair from your face, “Your makeup is absolutely fine,” he counters fondly.

How could he manage to make a terrible situation like this so romantic? You’ll never understand him for the life of you. 

“I, um,” Aran seems to be deep in thought all of the sudden, before interrupting himself quickly, “we better head back as soon as it stops raining, I don’t want you to catch a cold.” You don’t miss the hint of disappointment in his voice, it makes your heart begin to sink. Was he angry? No, he didn’t seem angry at all. 

“Good idea.” You nod, holding your hands behind your back, “This totally sucks, huh?” 

Aran agrees with a dry chuckle, something different starting to wash over his face; he wanted this to happen tonight, maybe it still can, just not how he wanted it.

Who is he kidding? The only thing that ever mattered about tonight was slipping a ring on your finger, he couldn’t care any less about a romantic walk through the park or a fancy dinner. He had something even better than what you expected for the night in his back pocket, weighing it down as a constant reminder. 

“Actually, I had something else in mind for tonight,” he starts, a bit unsure of where this will lead, “Oh?” You muse curiously, tilting your head at him ever so slightly. “Yeah,” he swallows thickly, then lets a long breath escape him. 

“In fact, I don’t care if we miss dinner, because,” he musters enough strength to smirk at you, fumbling around in his back pocket before pulling out a small velvet box, “this is what tonight was supposed to be about.” You gasp as he effortlessly drops to one knee, offering up the ring with a beam of satisfaction, “The only thing I’m really worried about is making sure I get to spend the rest of my life with you.” 

He’s right. Nothing else matters but this. The heavy downpour, the angry honks of cars on wet streets, distant carryings of music from somewhere in the distance, none of it mattered, nor will it ever. The only thing that you could find a care for is the warmth spreading through your body as Aran gazes up at you with such a tender display of love. 

“Will you be my wife?”

[masquerade-md]

love you in slow motion (psh) | mini series masterlist

♡ main masterlist ♡

—summary: seonghwa will go through hell and back for you, as long as he can continue to see that smile on your face. because to him, that smile feels like a rainbow after the rain, the warmth of the sun on a winter day. because to him, you’re more than just his bestfriend—you’re love. even though everyone seems to see that except you.

—pairing: park seonghwa x f!reader

—genre: (18+ - minors dni) bestfriends to lovers | fluff, angst, smut

—general warnings: cussing, mature language/implied sexual content, unprotected/protected sex, alcohol consumption, bar/club scenes, insecurity, jealousy - additional warnings will be posted for each chapter.

—release: april 20, 2024

♡ spotify playlist ♡

one: pichu

two: sannie is back!

three: [redacted]

four: exes & oh's

five: fleeting moments

six: traditions

[masquerade-md]

love you in slow motion (psh) | mini series masterlist

♡ main masterlist ♡

—summary: seonghwa will go through hell and back for you, as long as he can continue to see that smile on your face. because to him, that smile feels like a rainbow after the rain, the warmth of the sun on a winter day. because to him, you’re more than just his bestfriend—you’re love. even though everyone seems to see that except you.

—pairing: park seonghwa x f!reader

—genre: (18+ - minors dni) bestfriends to lovers | fluff, angst, smut

—general warnings: cussing, mature language/implied sexual content, unprotected/protected sex, alcohol consumption, bar/club scenes, insecurity, jealousy - additional warnings will be posted for each chapter.

—release: april 20, 2024

♡ spotify playlist ♡

one: pichu

two: sannie is back!

three: [redacted]

four: exes & oh's

five: fleeting moments

six: traditions

[masquerade-md]

GOJO SATORU: ❛❛ YES, I HAVE A GIRLFRIEND, AND YES, SHE'S REAL! ❜❜

.ೃ࿐ streamer!au: what happens when your gamer boyfriend brings you on-screen for the first time?

contents: fem!reader. use of she/her pronouns + reader is referred to as gojo's girlfriend. toji slander bcs he deserves it.

author's note: everyone welcome streamer!gojo to the world! he'll be here for a while...

"oh, please," satoru laughs, leaning back and grinning at the screen in front of him. he tosses his hair, but it falls back into his eyes just seconds later. "no way you guys all thought i would lose that one. c'mon, have some faith in me!"

you watch satoru reply to the hundreds of comments lighting up the side of his monitor, smiling endearingly at the way he laughs at some and practically chortles at others.

it was only after the two of you started dating that satoru disclosed his streaming hobby, and to your surprise, he was pretty popular. thousands of people tuned in to watch him play some game or another every night, and well, it paid better than you'd expect.

satoru whistles, hands resting comfortably behind his head as a particular question catches his attention. "ah, do i have a girlfriend?" he muses, grinning as he shoots a quick side-glance at you. "yeah," he continues, snorting when what looks like a flurry of no fucking way's flood the chat.

he clicks his tongue disappointedly, shaking his head in mock disbelief. "what, did all eight thousand of you think i couldn't pull? thanks a lot," satoru deadpans, waving his hand and sighing dramatically. "i don't know what any of you mean. i'm a catch!"

you snicker at that, and your laughter only increases when satoru turns and gapes at you. he juts his bottom lip out, face sinking into an adorable pout at he crosses his arms. "even my own girlfriend's laughing at me," he mumbles petulantly. "hmph!"

satoru sticks his tongue out at you childishly, and you blow a kiss back. he pretends to faint before turning back to his monitor, quickly skimming the comments before he gasps. "what do you mean, she probably doesn't exist?!" he sputters, clutching his heart exaggeratedly.

the look on his face is priceless — imagine getting told by thousands of people that one, they think you can't pull, and two, that they don't even believe your significant other exists. naturally, satoru reacts as dramatically as ever. he pretends to ignore everyone in the comments before calling them out individually.

"oh, i see you, toji... fishy-guru," satoru gripes, wagging his finger at his screen. "my girlfriend exists and she's mine! don't even think about it." he pauses, squinting at the chat before correcting himself with an eyeroll. "fushiguro. whatever. either way, she's real and she's all mine."

satoru swivels his chair to face you, making an incredulous face as he gestures to the screen. "can you believe this?" he grumbles, ocean-blue eyes focused on you. "these guys don't think you're real."

you shrug, toying with the corner of his sheets as you smile back at satoru. he's so childish, but that's just one of the many things you adore about him. sure, he's an annoying brat, but at least he's a total sweetheart too.

your boyfriend extends his hand, beckoning you to come over to him. "c'mon, darling," he cooes, scrunching up his nose at you. "wanna help me prove these losers wrong?" satoru mouths please, and the puppy eyes he gives you are cute enough to convince you.

so you hop off his bed, running a hand through your hair as you stroll over to where he sits in front of his monitor. beaming like a kid on his birthday, satoru takes your hand and twines his fingers with yours.

smiling smugly, satoru pulls you on screen and into his lap, wrapping his arms around your waist and resting his chin on your shoulder. you watch the chat erupt with she's real's and how did he pull a girl like her's and smile, flicking satoru's forehead affectionately.

he ignores the thousands of dumbstruck users in his comments and holds you close to his chest, adjusting his grip on your waist to make his lap as comfortable as possible for you. satoru's adoring eyes are fixed on you, only you, even as his chat explodes.

suguru-geto: haha i already knew

toji-fushiguro: how the fuck did a loser like him pull her?

yuuji-itadori: gojo has a girlfriend??? what did i miss??

[masquerade-md]

12:03 pm  — gojo satoru

synopsis. gojo tries to convince his first years that he was able to pull you.

contents. fluff, crack??, whipped!gojo, mentions of having a kid, he is SO in love with his wife it's disgusting, the first years are sick of their teacher

“[name] sensei is a good looking woman, isn’t she?” yuji remarked, nonchalantly propping his feet up on the desk. “you think so too, right gojo sensei?”

a sly smile played on the corners of gojo's lips, eventually blossoming into a wide, dreamy grin. “good eye yuji! she's undeniably the most beautiful woman on this planet.”

megumi, seated at the desk beside yuji, couldn't hide his grimace.

nobara's expression mirrored that of a disgruntled sea urchin. “dream big, you two. she’s way outta both of your leagues.”

“she is, isn’t she?” gojo sighs dreamily, his gaze far away. a dopey grin settles over his face; like a man walking on air. it was deeply unsettling to the first years to see a grown man behave this way.

megumi rolled his eyes and muttered his disapproval, choosing to ignore his sensei, who had casually seated himself backwards on a chair.

gojo propped his chin with both of his palms, leaning closer into the first years students. “do you think i’d stand a chance with a woman like her?”

megumi buried his face in his hands, audibly groaning in response.

“a sensible woman like that and you? fat chance.” nobara deadpanned, squinting disapprovingly at her teacher. her negative comments elicit a grunt from the snow-haired man.

yuji’s eyes flit nervously from kugisaki to gojo. 

“sensei! i think you have a chance with [name] sensei!” yuji tried to reassure his white haired teacher, offering a thumbs-up. gojo responded by affectionately ruffling yuji’s hair.

megumi couldn’t help but speak up. “she’s a married woman, you know,” he mutters to his friend.

yuji’s eyes widened,  “you’re kidding! who do you think got the honor?” 

“but she’s so young!” kugisaki exclaimed, slamming her hand on the table. 

their discussion is cut short when the shoji doors of the classroom slide open abruptly.

with hands on your hips, you stood sternly before your first year students and their teacher, an air of authority about you.

satoru couldn't help but gulp; you were indeed captivating when you were upset. it’s not his fault that you look so cute when your eyebrows furrow and you puff up in anger.

“i waited for half an hour in the courtyard to start today’s lesson and yet here i find my students, along with their sensei who should be in kyoto for a meeting.” a wry smile graced your lips, sending a chill down everyone’s spine. the three first years bowed their heads in shame.

yuji thinks this is the first time he’s seen his teacher nervous. a bead of sweat appears on the side of gojo’s face.

“honey!” he quickly stands up and walks towards you. with every step he takes, nobara’s face scrunches up at his disgusting conduct. 

“don’t.” you warned, raising a finger up to keep satoru at an arm’s length. he respected your wishes to some extent, grasping your hand and placing it within the hold of his own. the diamond on your ring finger glistened as satoru toyed with it.

gasps filled the room as yuji and nobara observed the display of affection. just how inappropriate could their sensei get, and why were you allowing it? what would your husband think?

satoru tenderly caressed your hand in his, cradling it as he leaned in closer. “please forgive me; it was an honest mistake.”

“honest mistake my ass. yaga told me that this is the second meeting you’ve skipped out this month,” you stated, peering fiercely into his blindfolded eyes. satoru’s cocky demeanor wavered, replaced by a nervous chuckle.

“the first time was when i took you to naha, remember?” he wiggles his eyebrows suggestively. “and if i remember correctly, you enjoyed our night out,” your eyes widened, recalling the romantic trip satoru had organized. 

feeling the heat rise to your cheeks, you attempted to pull away, but his grip on your hand tightened.

“forgive me?” his voice softened, lips curving downward, giving him the appearance of a dejected kitten.

a sigh escapes your lips. he was going to be the death of you.

“fine. but this is the last time,” you warned, “and you owe me for covering for you.”

satoru straightened up, nodding fervently. “have i mentioned how much i love you?” wrapping an arm around you, he placed a kiss on the top of your head, despite your futile attempts to stop him.

“this is…” yuji’s jaw dropped.

“so inappropriate! shame on you!” nobara’s chair makes a harsh screech with how fast she leaves it to come to your aid. 

“kugisaki–” you attempted to calm her down, but she clung to your elbow, desperately trying to pry you from satoru’s embrace.

satoru’s hold on you tightened as he wrapped his other arm around your frame, pulling you close. he plops his chin on top of your head and resists nobara’s attempts to free you. like hell he’s letting anybody take his girl, not even his own student.

“crushing on a married woman is one thing, but to openly flirt with her– ” kugisaki struggled. you tilt your head in confusion. 

satoru’s strong arms flexed as he fought to maintain his hold on you. he nuzzled your neck. “’m fine right here,” he inhaled deeply, as if trying to take in as much of you as possible.

“[name] sensei! how can you stand there and let this man disrespect your marriage?!” nobara implored, wide-eyed, disregarding all respect she had for her teacher.  “how will your husband react when he finds how gojo sensei behaves around you?” she looks desperate, and you want to laugh at the sincerity behind her actions. you get it now.

only your idiot husband would pull a stunt like this.

“i hope your husband can fight because i’m willing to fight him to the death for your hand,” satoru mutters from your neck. you take your hand from nobara’s shoulders to shove the six-foot-three giant away.

“you seriously didn’t tell them, satoru?” you ignored his whiney protests as you created distance between the two of you. 

“tell us what?” kugisaki demanded. yuji was on the edge of his seat, nervously watching the unfolding scene, while megumi put his head down in embarrassment.

satoru looks at you with a deep frown on his face. uncertainty clouds your mind as his silence forebodes something. wetting his lips with his tongue, he quickly closed the gap between you, too fast for you to escape. a secure hand rested on your lower waist as your husband dipped you down to deepen the kiss. 

had you not been so absorbed into the kiss, you would have heard the scandalized gasps from your students.

you managed to place a hand on his chest to separate yourselves, “satoru, stop.” his eyes remained fixed on your lips, but he complied.

“yuji, nobara.. satoru and i are–” you hold up your ring finger for display.

“happily married!” your husband finished for you, a triumphant smile on his face. he squeezed you close, throwing up a peace sign. “been madly in love since i met her!” 

“what– no way! you pulled her?!” nobara spluttered, head whipping from satoru to you, unable to wrap her mind around the revelation.

yuji’s jaw is still on the floor, “megumi, you knew about this?!”

the sea urchin looks the other direction, avoiding his friends’ judgemental gazes.

“they… raised me.. sorta..” he mumbles under his breath. your heart melts at his confession. unlike you, the other first years don't take too kindly to his comment, as they start shaking him by the shoulder and starting their own interrogation.

“and we did a good job too! don’t you think we’re ready for our own?” satoru smiles down at you jokingly, his hands snaking around your waist and his hands sneaking onto your stomach. he leaves a couple of soft pats. 

“you’re cuter when you’re quiet, y’know?” you whispered. taking advantage of your students' attention on megumi, you place a single finger on his lips, hoping your husband does not notice the way your face feels like it is on fire. 

he does.

“no need to be shy now,” satoru said, grinning wolfishly, “we’ll continue this at home.”

your face flushes even deeper.

unbeknownst to you, the first years had fallen silent, observing how gojo whispered in your ear, successfully turning you into a flustered mess. perhaps they should give more credit to their sensei.

notes. not proof read (oh no). this was just a random scenario that has been plaguing my mind during halloweekend so i typed it on my phone at a party LOL this is me desperately trying to get out of my writing slump

[masquerade-md]

jjk men when you aren't feeling well but try to hide it...

"hello! i was wondering if you could write an angst but w comfort fluff headcannon w the jjk men? i was thinking reader has an injury or is sick but she hides it, but they find out. it would be great if you can, but if not i totally understand. your writing is amazing!!!" -anon

gojo, geto, nanami, choso, toji, sukuna

satoru gojo: (sprained ankle!)

you're fucked.

you know you are the moment you go to pick yourself up from your boyfriend's hardwood kitchen floors and wince in pain in reaction to the pressure in your left ankle.

you hiss, immediately stumbling back to a sitting position. You look over your outstretched foot to find that your ankle is rapidly swelling, and you curse under your breath.

this is so inconvenient. of all times to injure yourself, you of course had to a day before an important mission. you never handle injuries very well. you are always so quick to brush them off, or at least be in denial about them because you can't stand the thought of feeling helpless or incapable.

especially not when satoru gojo is your boyfriend, who unfortunately knows you far too well to overlook something like an injury to your ankle.

damn. what are you supposed to do? satoru will never let you out of his sight, let alone allow you to go on this mission if he finds out about your injury. as much as you love the way he looks after you, you're not in the mood to accept the fact that you may not be able to walk for a few days without his help.

you try to stand again, stubborn with determination. you grip onto the countertop and rise slowly on your able foot, then lean to press your injured foot down slowly. okay... not so bad! Maybe you can add just a little bit more pressure, and-

"fuck," you curse, sharp pain throbbing through your foot the moment you try to walk. You lift your leg immediately and whimper, leaning your body against the counter. "god dammit," you pout.

you should ice it, you think, but icing it will only make the injury more real. maybe it's not so bad, right? maybe if you just sit down for a bit and push it to the back of your head, it will go away?

you know it's not smart, but truthfully, you don't have the time to worry about a stupid ankle. you're sure you only irritated it. with some rest, you'll be fine.

you hop your way up the stairs with your hand gripping the railing tightly to your shared bedroom and ease yourself into bed. you decide you'll take a nap while you wait for satoru to come home, ignoring the simmering pain in your swollen ankle.

"babyyy!"

you wake suddenly to the sound of satoru's voice singing through the house. you jump and immediately hold in a whimper of pain when you accidentally shift your foot beneath the covers. you can tell solely by the lack of mobility in your ankle that it's, unsurprisingly, gotten worse.

you panic, moving quickly to prop your back up against the headboard. you fix yourself in the most normal possible position you can without agitating your foot, and you turn to the door with an innocent expression the second satoru bursts through with a beam.

"hey, pretty," he walks in and immediately crouches over the bed to wrap you up in a hug. you cringe as his lips meet every crook of your face, his body enveloping you in warmth. "missed you so much today," he sighs.

"missed you too, toru," you wrap your arms around his back. "how was your day?"

"same old same old. the higher-ups only get more annoying each day, if that's even possible," he grumbles into your ear, slumping against you. "what are you doing cooped up here all by yourself? you taking a nap?"

"yeah, I just woke up," you tell him with a hefty exhale, his lips meeting the crook of your neck lazily as he nuzzles into you. "you wanna take one with me, you big baby?" you giggle.

"god yes," satoru agrees. "but first, I'm starving. did you eat while I was gone?"

"nah, I waited for you, toru."

"well, you normally cook, baby, I was waiting for you."

you momentarily freeze and he pulls back reluctantly, not before dotting one more kiss to the crook of your jaw. you had completely forgotten about making dinner, but seeing how you couldn't even walk, those cards were off the table.

he looks down at you with his arms propped on either side of your figure on the bed. your ankle continues to throb, and while you try to hide the pain that you are currently in by shifting ever so subtly beneath him, his sapphire eyes catch the twitch in your brow and the motion of your body beneath his blindfold.

"not that I care if you cook or not. obviously you were tired..." he trails off. "you okay?"

fucking hell, damn those six eyes.

you nod despite yourself, keeping a soft smile as you brush your fingers over satoru's hair. "yeah, of course. just tired like you said. I'm sorry about dinner, it slipped my mind."

"don't you dare apologize," he ducks down to kiss your cheek loudly. "we can go out to eat. make it a date before your big mission tomorrow, yeah?"

you internally deflate. the idea sounds amazing, but going on a date would mean getting up, getting dressed, and walking out the door. you're unfortunately physically incapable of doing any of the above at the moment.

satoru watches the way your shoulders slump and your lips part as if to protest, and he tilts his head in slight confusion. "...or not..." he says slowly.

"sorry, toru, it's not that I don't wanna go, i just don't have the energy..." you excuse pathetically.

satoru's face tells you that he doesn't buy your words, but he complies nonetheless. "that's no problem, baby, we can order in instead."

you sigh and nod with a gentle smile. "that sounds great."

"someone's feeling real lazy today, huh?" he teases, hooking his finger into his blindfold to peel it from his face, revealing his bright irises gazing curiously down at you. "you sure you're just tired?"

"yeah... why?"

"i'm just askin," he says. his eyes dart over you one more time before he pushes himself up with an exhale and tugging at your arm. "come on, let's go to the living room to order."

why the hell does he want to move around so much?!

"um- why can't we just order here?"

a smile quirks on Satoru's lips as though you've made a joke. "cause, we'll be downstairs once the food gets here," he says.

you pucker your lips slightly and tilt your head. "can't we just eat it up here and you can go get it?"

gojo's eyes are now slim with suspicion as he pulls himself back over to you. "i mean, of course i can but you never eat takeout in bed, we always cuddle downstairs and eat."

"I'm tired, can't i change it up today?"

"you know i have no problem doing what you want and pampering you baby," satoru starts slowly. his eyes dash to your legs, and he suddenly notes that he has not seen you bend them in the few minutes he has been home. in fact, you had been rather stagnant instead of running up to clobber him when he entered the room, whether you were previously asleep or not. "but you're acting a little weird."

"no, I'm not," you deny adamantly. you have always been a poor liar, but in the face of Satoru Gojo, your lack of talent in the arena only proves to be more prominent. "you think too much, you know that?"

"you think so?" he raises a brow at you, a hint of playfulness remaining though it is steadily fleeting the longer he examines you. "you think i'm thinking too much if i feel like you're lying to me?"

you press your lips together tightly. "...yes."

"hm," he nods. "come here for a second, pretty," he requests, stepping back a bit to give you room to stand. "just real quick, then you can lay back down and I'll get us that food."

"why do you want me to stand?"

"i wanna give you a big hug," he opens his arms widely. "c'mon, give your loving boyfriend a hug. you'd never deny me that after such a long day."

"come hug me here, then," you roll your eyes, turning to look the other way as heat overtakes your body.

"i want to hold you and pick you up," he argues, knowingly. "just stand and walk to me for one second."

"no."

"no?!"

"no, i don't want to."

"don't want to or you can't?" he accuses, face falling along with his arms. he moves to sit at the edge of the bed beside your legs, resting a hand over your uninjured one. "why can't you get up?" he asks, this time a tad more serious.

"i don't feel like it, satoru, god," you murmur in annoyance, growing agitated with his swiftness to notice that something is wrong.

"don't 'satoru' me, baby, you're the one not telling the truth," he says. "what's wrong with your legs?"

"nothing."

"then stand up."

"no, satoru. stop telling me to stand."

"i will if you tell me what's wrong."

"nothing's wrong!" you shrug harshly, crossing your arms and suddenly taking interest in whatever is outside of the bedroom window. satoru stares at you intently for a moment then back down at your covered legs.

he gazes harshly between the two, pondering, before reaching over to rip the comforter upward to reveal your bare feet. you gasp slightly, jerking to stop him, when your swollen ankle is revealed.

his brows immediately angle and he leans to hastily look over it. "(y/n), what the hell?! what happened to your foot?"

you grow embarrassed suddenly, moving to brush his hands away. "it's not that bad, stop," you say, going to move your leg to the side when you hiss sharply.

"not that bad? baby, your ankle's the size of a golfball!"

"satoru, you're being dramatic."

"what happened?" he asks, concerned. "did this happen while I was gone?"

"it's fine, relax."

"(y/n)," satoru begins sternly. you can tell that you've pinched a nerve. "i'm about to lose it if you don't tell me how this happened and why you were trying to hide it from me."

you frown. "But-"

"Now."

you hug your arms around yourself with another meek shrug. "it's humiliating..." you murmur.

satoru softens slightly. "baby, humiliating? i'm worried about you getting hurt."

"yeah, but-" you sigh and close your eyes, your emotions suddenly getting the best of you. you hate feeling small and weak, as though you can't handle yourself, and you swear every time you injure yourself or get sick, it's the worst possible thing that could happen in the entire world. "i don't know. whatever."

"uh uh uh," your white-haired boyfriend tuts, leaning over the smooth his hand over your leg comfortingly. "it's not 'whatever.' i know exactly how you are. you can't fool me. is this about your mission tomorrow?"

"it's not just about the mission, toru, i just don't- i hate it when i can't do stuff on my own."

"you don't have to tell me something i'm already well aware of." you give him a look. "don't look at me like that. i know you like the back of my hand, and i especially know when you're uncomfortable."

"i get it, toru," you frown.

"why the attitude, hm?" he asks, leaning over to prop his elbow on the other side of you, his body resting against your lap as he peers up at you gently. "it's okay to get hurt- well, no, it's not okay for you to get hurt because it makes me wanna die, but you get what I mean."

your lips twitch in amusement momentarily, leading satoru to grin widely.

"there's that pretty smile."

"it's just-" you huff. "it was such a stupid thing... i rolled my ankle stepping down from closing the cabinets and when it started getting worse, i thought it was so dumb that something so small did that to me so i left it alone. now it's probably twisted, and i just feel really..."

"you're not weak," satoru interjects urgently. "if that's what you're saying, which i'm pretty sure you are. you're far from what i would call weak."

"still. it still made me feel weak. and i'm supposed to go on that mission tomorrow, and i don't know what the hell i'm gonna tell yaga-"

"forget the mission."

"...satoru, i can't just-"

"you can and you will. you have an injury, baby. you can't walk. it's okay, i'll talk to yaga and he'll get someone else on the assignment while I take care of you."

"but the fact that you even have to do that because i was clumsy!" you shake your head and look down. "it's so ridiculous. and i knew you were gonna worry..."

"of course i'm gonna worry, (y/n). no less than you'd worry for me."

"but you're you."

"so? do you worry for me any less because of that?"

"i mean... i know you're always gonna be fine, but... yeah, i guess."

"you guess?" satoru scoffs. "to think, my girlfriend doesn't care about me..."

"oh shut up," you nudge his head away. his grin remains, face turning back to you as he captures you in his soft gaze. "obviously I worry."

"then, there you go," satoru says. his free hand runs over your hip. "i know you can handle yourself just fine and that you're strong as hell, but whether you're going on a mission or stubbing your toe, I'm worrying 'cause i love you."

you pout slightly. "I love you too."

"i know," he beams, kissing your thigh. "so stop with that. as if you'd ever be weak for getting a little boo boo."

"yeah, but now you're not gonna let me do anything," you whine.

"is there really such a big problem with that?" satoru smirks. "try hiding an injury from me again, and you really won't be able to do anything. now let me see."

he pushes himself up to round the edge of the bed. he kneels down and cradles your foot in his hand delicately, fingers grazing the area of swelling. his brow angles. "can you move it?"

you shake your head slowly. "not without it hurting."

"in all seriousness, baby, you need to take better care of yourself. why didn't you ice it?"

"...i wanted it to go away."

"and you walked up the stairs after rolling your ankle?!"

"i wanted to get into bed!"

satoru lowers his head. "what am i gonna do with you? you're gonna give me a heart attack one of these days."

"it's really not that serious. i just need to rest it a bit and then I'll be fine-"

"i'm gonna go cook you some dinner, okay? then we can eat in bed and cuddle, and then I'll run you a hot bath later."

"satoru, i just said it's not that serious! please don't go burning down the house because of my ankle. we can literally still order food," you try to convince him, but the blue-eyed man is already on his feet, by your side, and kissing your lips.

"not another word. you're practically dying, now, i have to look after you."

"toru-"

"i'll be right back, i'm gonna grab you some ice and a pillow for your foot."

"satoru!"

but when you call him, he's already zooming out of the room and down the stairs. you sigh and plop your head back against the headboard with a soft smile. as humiliating as you find it to be injured, you can never say that gojo doesn't do everything he can, if not excessively more, to look after you when you are.

suguru geto: (cold!)

shit.

you step into the bathroom for the umpteenth time today to blow your nose, clearing your searing throat as you do so with a groan.

something in you knew this morning that you were coming down with a cold when you woke up to that dreadful scratch in the back of your throat, but the idea of getting sick physically ails you more than actually being sick does.

you're far too busy today to be weighed down by some common cold. you're in between meetings at work as you toss another tissue into the women's trash. You have paperwork to finish filling out by midnight, and you have to pick up the girls later from daycare.

how can you be sick of all things?

you know it's likely because you run yourself ragged more often than you need to, and suguru always tells you to slow down and take a breath, but you rarely listen to him. your life moves at a quick pace, constantly on the run from one task to the next, and you truly do not feel that you have the leisure of giving yourself one second to rest.

you're on the verge of earning a new promotion, and you need the money. you need the opportunities, and the accomplishments to care for the family you've built with geto. just as suguru works tirelessly to manage his cult, you work tirelessly to keep a living for yourself.

you're proud of the work you have done, truly you are, but at times it feels as though you are amounting to nothing, chasing promises of a higher position that have yet to come. despite the haziness of the path ahead, you push harder and harder each day.

suguru hates it, how you drive yourself to the brink of insanity day in and day out, but you can't help but be an overachiever. you can't help but work hard for those who may not even deserve it.

and now, of course, you're sick. you can feel your temperature spiking, your nose is stuffy, and your head is pounding. you want to go home and curl into bed, but you have responsibilities to fulfill. just a few more hours... then you're home with geto, with the girls, safe in bed just to wake up and do it all over again tomorrow.

you jump when your phone suddenly rings in your pocket. you pull it out to see your boyfriend's contact, and you straighten yourself up as best as you can to make it sound as though you aren't struggling to breathe through your nostrils.

"hello?"

"hey, babe, how's work going?" suguru's soothing voice echoes through the phone and you sigh, clinging to the comfort his tone provides. you miss him. you want to go home already.

"it's good," you lie. "i have a few more meetings. then some paperwork to finish, but I'll be able to get mimi and nana on time."

"actually, i called to tell you not to worry about that. i got finished up here with the group pretty early, so i'll be able to get them later."

you're relieved that you won't have to expose the girls to your germs in the car. "okay, thanks for letting me know. you need me to pick up some food on the way home?"

"no, we're gonna make pizzas later. the girls have been dying to try it making it from scratch forever, so i'll take them to the store once i get them."

"...oh. okay..." you nod. "there's nothing else you need me to do then?"

"just to come home in one piece," suguru says. "i'm trying to take some stuff off your plate, (y/n). you've been exhausted, and you can't tell me otherwise."

"sugu, I'm fine," you dismiss him, only to turn your head into your elbow to muffle a cough. you forget to mute the call when you do so.

"what was that? are you okay?" the dark-haired man questions quickly. "you're not sick, are you?"

"no, no," you deny fast, voice slightly hoarse. you clear your throat quickly. "something was just- stuck in my throat. but I'm fine. i'm not sick."

suguru's quiet for a moment, and you chew on the inside of your lip while you wait for him to respond. you know it's impossible to fool suguru, especially when it comes to matters regarding you or the girls, but you can't handle him worrying over you right now. his concerns would only bring you back to reality, pulling you from this cycle of overworking you've fallen into. you need to keep going. You can't stop, and if suguru knows you're sick, he will make you stop.

"suguru? you there?" you finally say.

"oh yeah, i'm here," he responds rather quickly, and you internally curse yourself. "what time do you get off?"

"uhhh..." you think about it for a moment. it's 3:30 now, and technically you only have an hour and a half left, but since the girls will be picked up by Suguru, you realize you can finish your paperwork in the office. "today's kind of a long day... so I probably won't be home until... 7?"

"(Y/n)."

"i know, i know, but listen, i just have to finish up this paperwork. that's all."

"weren't you just gonna do it at home?"

"well, yeah, but since you're getting the girls, it's kinda easier for me to finish it here..." you start mumbling lowly, knowing that whatever explanation you give is not one that suguru will willingly accept.

"babe, please just come home at a normal time today. you can't keep doing this to yourself."

"i promise it won't be past 7. i swear. just let me get this done, and I'll be home."

suguru releases a hefty sigh, and you can picture him rubbing his thumb against his forehead in stress. "7 o'clock, (y/n). i mean it. if you're so much as five minutes late, i'm coming over there myself with rainbow dragon."

you chuckle softly. "i promise it won't get to that. i'll be fine, alright? i'll text you when I'm headed out."

"okay. I'll see you in a bit."

after your meetings had ended, your cold symptoms grew worse. your coughs were more frequent, a pile of tissues were stacked at your cubicle, and the glare of your computer screen felt as though it was burning a hole into your already aching head.

you feel miserable, and as luck would have it, your boss placed a new stack of papers onto your desk to finish filling out before you went home on his way out of the door.

you're alone in the office now, surrounded by excess assignments, and you can hardly breathe through your nose. you check the time, and its thirty to the time you told suguru you'd be home. you groan, rubbing your hands over your face.

you're tired. your bones are aching. you want to be with the girls, you want to be home, you don't want to do this anymore. you're so burned out, it hurts, and you want to cry and collapse face-first onto your desk at the same time.

just then, your phone lights up with a message from suguru. you open it eagerly to be greeted with an image of the girls beaming up at the camera in the kitchen, hands covered in tomato sauce as they display them to the phone. beneath the photo, suguru types.

we miss you :(

you break, placing your phone down and shielding your face in your hands as the tears flow. god, you miss spending time with them. you're hardly home anymore because you've been so busy with work, and you're yearning to be held by your boyfriend, to hear the girls laugh, to sink into the bed combined with your deteriorating physical state makes you feel worse.

you miss having a life.

you don't know how long you spend crying in your empty office before your body shuts down on you completely. the energy you exerted shedding tears in addition to your long days at work send you into a deep sleep. before you know it, you're knocked out with your cheek pressed against one of your unfinished papers.

the second you failed to answer Suguru's text, he knew something was wrong. he calls, and calls, and calls after twenty minutes, but you don't answer. He wastes absolutely no time in calling up manami to look after the girls before trekking out of the house to you with rainbow dragon, just as he promised.

he's prepared to break a window when he sees the janitor leaving the building. he takes the opportunity to swoop in through the doors after grumbling something about his girlfriend being inside, before making his way up to you.

when he reaches your office, he finds you lying in the only occupied cubicle. His eyes go wide as he studies your slumped figure, walking slowly to where you're seated. he notes the tissues and cough drop wrappers crowding your space, then the tears that coat your lashes when he kneels down.

"jesus, (y/n)," he murmurs, swiftly getting to work and clearing your desk of all your trash. when he's done, he crouches by you again and runs a hand over your back. "baby, wake up for me. come on," he coaxes softly.

you stir, face tightening in discomfort. suguru sees the bags under your eyes and his frown deepens. Eventually, you wake with furrowed brows, adjusting your blurry eyes to the sight of suguru gazing down at you worriedly.

"sugu...?" you mumble weakly, only to be interrupted by a few coughs that rack your chest. suguru's heart aches.

"i knew it," he sighs, eyes hardening as his hand strokes over your warm forehead. "why don't you listen?"

"what are you doing here?" you grumble, picking your head up slowly. you're greeted with a retched reminder of your headache, and you wince, pressing your hand to your head.

"we had an agreement, remember?" he reminds you, and you slowly recall. you move to grab your phone and the time reads 7:15. "i wasn't joking."

"suguru..."

"stop," he immediately cuts you off. "look at you, (y/n). you've made yourself sick."

"it's just a- a cough," you murmur, rubbing your irritated eyes harshly.

"that's bullshit, baby," he tells you rather firmly. "i don't know why you're trying to hide this from me when i knew something like this would happen. we're going home."

"no, wait, Suguru, i didn't finish my paperwork yet."

"do you think I give two shits about your paperwork?"

his tone comes off rather harshly, and both of you notice. he blinks his eyes tensely and readjusts himself, attempting to reel in his anger. his anger for you, over your lack of care for your wellbeing, at your fucking boss for letting you work yourself like this.

"you've been killing yourself for weeks, (y/n). i won't let you anymore. this is the last straw."

"hold on," you urge. suguru looks down at you, befuddled. "i really can't just up and leave my work behind like this. I'm sorry, I can't."

"what's more important to you, (y/n)? being healthy or working yourself to death?" he proposes, almost pained by the latter. "if you cared about your well-being, you would have asked for an extension or at least had a conversation with your dick of a boss about doing this another time. anyone can see that you aren't feeling well, and someone who cares will tell you that enough is enough."

"don't make me do this, suguru," you whimper. suguru's face relaxes when he sees your eyes glossing over. "don't make me stop. I can't stop."

"baby," he curls his brows, holding your cheek in his hand as he kneels before you. "why are you doing this to yourself?"

"b-because, I have to..."

"no, you don't. i've been telling you this for years, you don't have to do this."

"but I need to make something of myself. i have to keep going. i can't just quit, because if I do, then what will any of this have meant? why have i been doing this?"

"you're breaking my heart, baby," suguru exhales. "this job doesn't define you. i see how hardworking, smart, and strong you are. i see the effort you put into everything you do. i see the commitment in your heart. i see it everywhere, all the time, and that is one of many reasons why i love you so much."

your lips wobble as you look into his hazel eyes as his voice and words melt you into his palm. you've been moving so fast all this time, you've been trying to prevent yourself from falling into suguru's warmth, which has always had the power to make you do anything he says.

"but I can't stand to watch you make yourself sick because you think there's more you need to do. this isn't good for you. you know it isn't."

you nod, red nose flaring as you sniff. "i know," you admit.

"so please, please take a break. i'm literally begging you. you need to come home and rest. i'll take care of everything else, just come home. lay down. come back to us. to me."

your shoulders jerk as a few tears drop from your eyes. "sugu, i can't do this anymore," you finally give in. "i don't even feel like myself. i just want to go home."

"then let's go baby, come on," he stands and takes you with him in his arms, pressing your body to his as he holds you. you sink into him, your exhaustion and your sickness finally crashing down over you. "i'm gonna fucking kill your boss," he murmurs into your hair.

you laugh weakly against him, closing your eyes. "later. just take me home, now. please."

"yes ma'am," he nods, kneeling down to pick you up into his arms. you wrap your arms around his neck, burying your face into his chest.

"m'gonna get you sick," you mutter.

"we can be sick together," he chuckles. "the girls and I can make you some soup. they've been obsessed with cooking lately," he says, leaning over to shut off your monitor before carrying you off to the elevators.

"that picture of them you sent earlier made me so sad. I miss you guys so much."

"i'm sorry baby, i didn't mean to upset you that much. i was only trying to guilt you a little into coming home early."

you slap his shoulder pathetically. "asshole."

"i know, i'm sorry," he kisses your head. "gonna get you all better in no time."

kento nanami: (low iron!)

you have always been a little anemic, and of course that never really posed as a terrible challenge for you until you ran out of iron supplements.

it is your responsibility undoubtedly to keep track of when you run out and when you need to restock, but recently, you've found yourself neglecting the habit.

you never did like taking iron pills, or any supplements for that matter. you feel as though they take too much out of your daily life, as though they're a burden to your existence, and the harder you think about it, the less inclined you are to keep track of it.

it's been about three weeks since you last took your iron, and while you would like to say that you have improved significantly, you would be lying.

perhaps the first few days of not taking your supplements was fine, but as time droned on, the symptoms kicked back in rather quickly. you are extremely tired all the time, you feel lighter on your feet as if you are going to pass out at any given moment, and your hands and feet are ridiculously cold though it is now the summertime, and the weather outside thoroughly contrasts your body temperature.

you're in denial about the changes, of course. you want to be able to feel fine without the crutch of your pills, but the reality of the situation is that you don't, and it's crushing you for some reason.

what's crushing you more is that you know how disappointed nanami will be to find out that you haven't been being responsible in stocking up on your supplements. he would normally keep track of when you run out in addition to you, but he's reeled it in a bit over the past few months because you wanted him to trust that you can handle taking care of something that you've managed all of your life, so he did.

and yet, here you are, trying to hide the symptoms of your iron deficiency that are only proving harder to veil. nanami has already asked you a few times if you are feeling okay over the past few weeks, therefore you know that he suspects exactly what is happening, but you brush him off each time.

"i'm good, honey," you'd tell him. "just had a long day. what about you? how are you feeling?"

you feel like shit lying to him, but you're afraid of being truthful for some reason. he would scold you, and you'd have to resort to the aid of your only weakness all over again.

god, why can't you just be normal?

you've even tried to ween off of the strict iron-sufficient diet that you've been on practically all your life because you feel like you have something to prove, especially in this world of jujutsu. how can you be a sorcerer with low iron? how can something so smell render you so weak? it's pathetic.

you don't want to think about it, in truth. you want it all to just go away. you want to be fine, to feel fine without eating certain things constantly or taking those damn pills, and you try to force yourself to, but it only grows worse the longer you hide it.

you stumble into your home after a long day of teaching and press your back to the door with a sigh. you know nanami won't be home for another forty or so minutes, so you kick your shoes off, go grab a water, and plop down on the couch.

you feel so tired. you pinch the bridge of your nose and close your eyes, leaning back. this is stupid, you think. you're being stupid. just reorder the damn pills.

but something stubborn within you refuses. something within you that must prove you can push past this.

you decide to watch some tv to distract you as you wait for nanami to return home. he suggested cooking for you tonight, so you rest until you hear him walking through the door.

"hi honey," he greets. you turn to smile gently at him as he rounds the corner. your cheeks pinch with happiness, your current turmoil momentarily forgotten when you see your husband approach. you go to stand and walk into his open arms, just like you normally do when he comes home.

you put the remote to the side and shoot up. your mind is occupied only by nanami as you move toward him, but you see his face drop and your vision turns upside down, and suddenly, you're falling.

kento is quick to react, ducking down impressively to catch you in his arms before you can hit the ground. you collapse into him, head dizzy and breath suddenly gone.

"sweetheart?! (y/n) are you alright? are you awake?"

you groan, shifting in his strong arms as they cradle you securely. when your vision regains focus, you're staring up at nanami's worried face, your body resting over his lap. you blink rapidly before realizing what just happened.

"oh shit," you whisper.

"(y/n)," nanami says your name again, caressing your cheek sweetly. "are you here with me now?"

"y-yeah," you nod, moving to sit up and press your hand to his chest. "i'm alright."

"absolutely not," he stops you immediately, pressing against you to lay you back down on his lip. you frown, looking up at him. "don't even try sitting up like that right now."

"kento," you start, growing worried by the tense look on his face. "i'm okay, really. i just sat up too fast."

"i know," he affirms, his thumb still smoothing over your skin. "and care to tell me why that alone is making you pass out?"

you can't find the words to respond as you stare at him, likely as guiltily as you feel. he hums knowingly.

"right," he sighs. "(y/n), how long has it been since you've taken your iron?"

and there it is. the very question you had been dreading.

"...i'm not sure what you're-"

"don't. really, don't," he interjects firmly and you shiver, rather unfamiliar with this side of your doting partner. "i'm still trying to adjust to the fact that you haven't been truthful with me. the least you can do is tell me how long it's been."

your heart drops. "kento..."

"i'm not in the mood for stalling, sweetheart. go on. out with it."

the sternness of his voice hardly matches the way he is holding you and stroking your cheek, but nevertheless, you feel awful. you avert your gaze and shrink into yourself. "three weeks."

"three?" he repeats incredulously, and you nod in shame. "i knew it had been over a week, but three, (y/n)?"

"i know," you mutter.

"why? after you told me not to check after you, to trust that you'd take care of yourself," nanami questions. "this is why i tried to help you. i know it can be a hassle sometimes, and forgetting is one thing, but to deliberately stop taking them when you know how much i worry about it... when you know how important it is for you?"

you bite hard on your lip and look away, brows curling. nanami notices immediately and softens himself, leaning down closer to you.

"my love," he starts. "i don't mean to upset you, but this is very upsetting to me."

"i know. i know, i'm sorry..." you whimper.

"but not because it's about me, (y/n), because it's about you. and you've been hiding this from me, of all things. i don't understand."

"i just didn't wanna take them anymore, ken," you say quietly.

the blonde furrows his brows. "you didn't want to take them? have you not been taking them for years?"

"i have but that's the problem. i'm a sorcerer now, and..." you exhale. "the point of being a sorcerer is to not have anything weighing you down, and this weighs me down."

"if anything, (y/n), not taking the supplements weighs you down more."

"no, i just mean- all of it, the whole iron deficiency, i hate it," you confess. "i'm tired of relying on something to be strong. i'm tired of being tied down to this. i wanted to see if i could overcome it, but i can't. i'll always have this problem, and it sucks, ken," you ramble. "if i could go without taking these pills and still do my job like i always have, then just maybe.... maybe i could be better. and i could prove that i... i don't need those stupid pills, or the extra greens, or the- whatever. just all of it."

nanami looks down at you rather sadly. "i had no idea you felt this way."

"i haven't always felt this way. it's just lately, i don't know, i feel pressured to go beyond."

"darling, your iron-deficiency doesn't make you any less talented than other sorcerers."

"i know. i mean, i should know, but i can't help but feel that way."

nanami presses his lips together, smoothing a knuckle over your cheekbone. "i'm sorry you feel like this."

"it's not your fault, ken. and i shouldn't have kept this from you, i know. i'm sorry. i just felt humiliated by it."

"there's nothing for you to be humiliated by," he reassures you. "your deficiency is no different from any of us having to feed ourselves or drink water in between missions to keep ourselves alive. it's a necessity, and though we are sorcerers, we live off of necessities to keep ourselves physically and mentally able to work. you have a responsibility to yourself. just like the rest of us. just because your iron's a little lower doesn't mean anything about who you are as a sorcerer."

"...i never thought of it like that. i've just been thinking of it as a burden."

"it's only a burden if you view it that way. you are a grade one sorcerer who i have watched climb the ranks effortlessly since we were in high school, all the while with an iron deficiency that you have always taken supplements for. that never stopped you," he says. "the problem comes in when you don't keep up with yourself and take care of those needs. just like how i'd be unable to work if i decided to skip my last few meals and drink less water."

"that makes sense," you mumble, capturing his soft brown eyes with yours.

"good," he nods. "(y/n) you can't neglect your needs like this."

"i know."

"i'm being serious. i'll start checking behind you again if i find out that you're not doing what you need to do to take care of your body."

"i know, ken, i'm sorry, i-" you stop yourself and shake your head. "i just let my insecurities get the best of me."

"then, let me handle taking care of your insecurities. you handle taking your supplements. do we have an agreement?"

you nod slowly. "yeah. we do. i'm sorry for lying again, ken."

"please don't do it again," he sighs, ducking to kiss your forehead. "but i know you wouldn't lie to me about anything else, and that you hiding this was solely out of fear."

you slowly move to sit up, and this time, kento helps you very gradually. he guides you back to sit on the couch and cups your face gently, pressing a soft kiss to your lips. "i'll go order some more iron and then get started on dinner. alright?"

you hum with a soft smile. "alright. i love you, ken."

he returns your loving smile. "i love you more, sweetheart."

choso kamo: (broken finger!)

it had fully been an accident.

you should have been paying more attention to what you were doing and at the same time, so should have panda.

it really was an honest mistake. you were standing in the doorway as everyone left the classroom, your fingers clutched around the frame as everyone filed out. you were asking around if anyone had seen your boyfriend, and yuta mentioned that he saw him with yuji earlier that day.

you thanked him, and just as you were about to pull your hand away, panda, who was the last out of the room, slammed the door shut behind him thinking you had already moved out of the way.

but you hadn't.

the door flew into your index and middle fingers and you screamed bloody murder. the cursed corpse as well as his classmates whipped their heads around, and to panda's horror, you were knocking your forehead against the wall with tears in your eyes as your fingers trembled in the doorframe.

"(Y/N), HOLY SHIT I'M SO SORRY!"

you hadn't expected panda to actually break one of your fingers, but you give the freak credit for his unnatural strength. you later find out that yuji and choso had gone out to grab food for you when you see a text from your boyfriend pop up asking what flavor ramen you want the second you learn that shoko will not be available until late tonight.

for the time being, you're given a finger splint and pain medicine as though you aren't freaking surrounded by jujutsu sorcery.

and god, did it hurt! like, really, really hurt. your fingers are throbbing, and the one that isn't broken is bruised and stained with some blood. you wish you could be angrier at panda, but his groveling before your feet on his knees eases your frustration a bit. after all, it hadn't been on purpose.

you're sent home and you are given no choice but to wait until choso returns, and you're... nervous. choso never handles the ailment of his loved ones very well. his spiritual and physical connection to his brothers wellbeings' often causes him to lose his mind every time yuji gets accidentally punched in the face during training, and when it comes to you? well, choso is just the same if not somehow worse.

you remember one time you got a papercut and winced when your finger made contact with soap. choso was quick to your side, grasping your wrist and looking over your hand as though it had been severed off.

one thing you have come to know in your relationship with the brunette is that he would (and has) killed someone for the sake of the people closest to him. he does not mess around when it comes to his family, and he certainly doesn't mess around when it comes to you.

and while you think he can be a bit excessive with making sure you're alright when it's hardly necessary, it's first and foremost endearing, and it only makes you realize that he will go ballistic the second he finds out that someone broke your finger.

he doesn't naively think that you can never go unharmed, though he would be incredibly content with the notion if it were plausible. he's familiar with scars, wounds, fights, and battles, and he knows you're in the very center of it just as much as he and his brother are. but still, he hates it when you're hurt. he wants to protect you as best as he can, or to at least prevent you from suffering any more than a sorcerer already has to suffer. he only wants you to be safe.

so to prevent him from having a heart attack, you decide it's better if he doesn't know about the incident. when you answer his texts before heading home, you mention nothing about your poor finger in hopes of him not finding out at least until after you're healed.

that plan of yours, however, fails when choso comes barging through the door three hours earlier than you expected him to return. your eyes go wide from where you sit on the couch, and you have no time to even go to hide your fingers behind your back when choso marches up to you, agitated.

"uh-" you're cut off when he grabs your arm gently and lifts it into the air, your taped crooked finger showcasing itself to him. you press your lips together at how poorly the plan to conceal this from him has failed. "cho-"

"were you gonna tell me about this?" his violet eyes fly to yours in a fury, and you're almost stunned by how aggravated he looks. his voice is calm, low, but his face is wrecked with concern and almost betrayal.

"...i was, but i wanted to wait because i didn't want you to freak out..." you say slowly, watching him softly. "like you are now..?"

"that's not fair, (y/n)," he frowns and you furrow your brows. "that's not fair at all."

"woah, hold on... are you mad at me?"

"i don't know," he answers you honestly, looking between your face and your trembling hand. "i'm... upset."

"who told you about my fingers, love?"

"yuji got a text from yuta," he tells you, moving to sit down on the space beside you with your hand still cradled in his. "he said that panda was begging me not to kill him, and this was after i had talked to you."

"oh..." you sigh. "okay, yeah, i can see how that looks."

"why didn't you tell me you got hurt? and pretty badly too? where's ieiri?"

"she won't be back on campus for another hour," you explain. "i didn't want you to worry, cho, i figured i'd just tell you after it was better, but..."

"why would you try to hide something from me?" he asks you, suddenly sounding hurt. it's clear on his face that he doesn't understand why you would conceal something as important as your health from him, whether it was small or not. you tell each other everything, and that shouldn't have stopped now of all times because you don't want him to worry.

"i didn't know you'd get so upset, cho, honestly," you tell him. "i-" you stop when a sharp pain shoots through your fingers and you gasp. choso's face drops and he gently sets your hand down to his lap, panicked.

"i'm sorry," he apologizes. "shit, you must be in a lot of pain."

"it's nothing i haven't experienced before," you try to reassure him, giving him a tight smile.

"why does that matter?" choso drags his brows together. "pain is pain. i don't like when you feel any of it."

you melt. "i know. i know you don't, i don't like when you feel any of it either."

"so don't... keep stuff like this from me, (y/n)," he says sternly. "please, i need to know. i don't have the same connection to you that i have with my blood brothers, but i'm still connected to you all the same. when you hurt, i hurt."

"i get it cho, i'm sorry," you nod bashfully. "i wasn't trying to make you mad. i just don't like it when you're stressed out."

"i'm always stressed out," he says flatly, and you raise your brows with a halfhearted smile.

"yeah, i know. so why stress you even more?"

"i'd rather be stressed about you if i'm stressing about anything," he says, looking over your face as the hardness in his gaze washes away. "you know you're everything to me."

"i know, baby," you push out your bottom lip, pressing your free hand to the side of his cheek and leaning in to kiss him. his ears burn when you pull away, and he sighs heavily.

"don't offend me by trying to hide stuff like this. it won't work."

"i'm sorryyyy," you giggle and choso grumbles incoherently under his breath.

his gaze goes back to your fingers and his brows curl. "how the hell do you slam a door on someone's hand?" he hisses.

"it was an accident, cho, he didn't mean it."

"i know, and i shouldn't really be angry at him but i can't help but be irritated because you're hurt..." his fingers graze the tape. "how bad does it hurt?"

"cho, it'll be okay."

"that wasn't my question."

you roll your eyes at his attitude with a soft smile. "it hurts as much as a broken finger would."

"right. sorry," he murmurs.

"you're okay, love, you don't need to apologize."

"i still wish i- nevermind," he refrains himself from discussing how he wanted to be there to protect you from such an unpredictable occurence. "is there anything i can do to help you feel better while we wait? do you need anything?"

"ummm," you try to think. "actually, could you grab a new pack of ice from the freezer? and... the snacks you got me earlier."

the brunette's face brightens slightly with the thought that he can do something to help ease your pain as you wait for shoko to return to the school.

he nods in determination, carefully sliding your hand into your lap and kissing your cheek before hopping up to run to the kitchen. he returns with the items you requested, placing the snacks down beside him and lifting the bag of ice over your hand.

"like this?" he eases the bag down and you wince, nodding.

"mhm. yeah," you strain out. choso watches your face sadly, hating the fact that you're hurting.

"i'm sorry for getting upset," he mumbles. you turn to look at him curiously. "i just love you a lot."

"i love you more, cho," you smile gently, leaning your head against his shoulder. he sighs, resting his chin atop your head as he ices your hand. "and don't worry, i get it. i won't try to hide injuries from you anymore."

"i really hope so."

"now can you pass me those chips please?"

toji fushiguro: (knife cut!)

toji is going to absolutely kill you, and you are dreading the moment he does.

he has always told you not to touch his weapons. even if you see any of them lying around his place because he never bothers to clean up in between jobs. his one rule when you're over is to leave them alone and to let him handle them when he gets back. he doesn't care how much you protest, he doesn't care that you want to help him pick up after himself.

no touching. that is all he asks of you.

and of course... one afternoon when he's out sorting out some finances with shiu and one of his knives is glaring at you from where it lay on the kitchen table, you can't help yourself.

you don't really think anything is going to happen. after all, you're not a baby, nor are you an idiot. you know how to handle a freaking knife and you know where to put it, and yet, somehow, you allow your arrogance with the task to distract you. you're not handling it as carefully as you should be, and the second you hear the keys jingling outside the front door, you panic.

the blade, naturally, fumbles in your grasp, and swipes through the air, over your palm, and to the carpet. you jump, stepping away as quickly as it falls. you feel a sting in your hand and look down to see the fresh gash stretching over your skin. you gape as blood slowly simmers from the wound, befuddled as to how something like this even happened so quickly.

you have no time to clean it when you hear the key inside the lock. you hurriedly pick up the knife with your unwounded hand, place it back on the table where you first saw it, rip a napkin from said table to press to your bleeding palm, and clench it into a fist just as the door opens.

toji immediately greets you with a raised brow, jade eyes eying you oddly as he steps in. "the hell are you gettin' into?" he asks, confused by the way you are standing against the wall when he enters.

you're quick to move into his space to distract him from the vision of his knife and from looking any further downward from your face. you lean up on your tiptoes, normal hand on his forearm as you kiss his scarred lips. "what do you mean?"

"why were you just standing there like that?"

"can't I wait by the door for you to come back?" you bat your eyelashes, and toji grunts, gazing down at you with lidded eyes as his hand comes around the small of your back. "i'm just happy to see you."

"you take a pill or somethin', doll?"

you glare at him. "now why would you ask me that?"

"you're just acting a little too nice, that's all."

you scoff. "i don't know what you're talking about, i'm literally always happy to see you."

"yeah, but i was gone for thirty minutes and you never make a show of it like this."

"why are you making it sound like i don't show you love? you're the one who's mean all the time," you retort sassily.

a smirk captures toji's lips as he ducks down to kiss you again. "that's more like it," he murmurs against you. "still ain't answer my question though."

"i literally did. i told you i was waiting for you."

"sure," he says, unconvinced. his eyes drag down your body and momentarily go to your fist when you swiftly wrap both arms around his neck, pulling him down to crash your lips into him once more.

his brows narrow and as you kiss him, and you can feel the blood on your hand seeping through your napkin. you curse internally, lowering your hand back down behind him as he pulls away.

"not that i'm against this," toji starts, voice dangerously low against your mouth. "but it feels like you're tryin' to distract me from something."

"why would i be doing that?" you ask gently, looking up into his piercing eyes. he hums, dragging himself away from you. he grabs your chin softly and tilts your head left and right, looking over your face. "what are you doing?" you ask.

"lookin' for whatever you're hiding."

"i'm not hiding anything, toji."

"uh huh."

shit. it's never a good sign when toji doesn't even try to pretend to believe anything you're saying, and the way he's looking over your face let's you know that he at least suspects you've done something to yourself that he should know about.

you keep your fist to his back as he looks over the rest of your body with a rather relaxed expression, which only means that he doesn't suspect you touching any of his weapons. yet.

you have to keep his attention away from the knife on the table so that he doesn't figure it out.

"can you stop messing around already? i wanna go take a shower," you try to say, but toji doesn't listen.

"turn around f'me."

"huh?"

"huh?" he mimics you, looking at you unimpressed. "turn."

you suck your teeth. "i hate when you get like this."

"and i hate when you lie, now turn."

you grimance. you can't turn around with him looking down at your hand, and you're sure by now that the napkin you hold is coated red. your eye twitches in that moment when you feel a line of blood drip down your wrist.

god dammit. you're so dead.

nonetheless, you try to keep your palm facing inward as you slip it from his back and turn over your left shoulder, which connects to the uninjured hand. the second your back is to him, you bring your bloody hand in front of you.

"yeah, no," you hear toji gruffly say. your heart hammers in your throat and you know what's coming next. he moves around you to wrap his hand around your wrist and tug at it.

you cringe, allowing yourself to accept your fate when he pulls forward your balled up hand.

"open."

"can't we just-"

"open."

you sigh heavily, slowly peeling open your palm to reveal the red-stained napkin balled in it, the line of blood rushing down your inner arm, and the slice that stretches across your hand.

toji's eyes blow wide, and before he asks you anything, he throws his head over his shoulder to locate the knife that sits on the table. "are you fucking kidding me, (y/n)?" he growls, turning back to face you angrily.

"okay, let's not act like this is so crazy!" you immediately defend, throwing your other arm up. "you leave your shit lying around all the time!"

"and every single time, i tell you that i'll take care of it. what the fuck, do i have to go child-proofing the house now because of you?"

"if you would just be more mindful of how you leave your space, you wouldn't even have to worry about shit like this! you shouldn't even have knives lying around in the first place."

"i'm a grown man, (y/n), i know how to avoid cutting myself with the weapons i use daily."

"you're being a prick."

"oh baby, you must not know me because i'm about to be worse," he grunts, eyes heated with fury, and you frown.

"toji, come onnn, it was an accident."

"what do i always say about my weapons, (y/n)?"

"i just wanted to help you put it away, is that so crazy?"

"what. do i say. about my weapons."

you deflate slightly, uneased by the rate at which toji is growing angry with you. "...not to touch them."

"so why the fuck did you touch them?" he growls, picking up the napkin in your palm and tossing it over his shoulder. he looks over your wound and clenches his jaw. "fucking hell, (y/n)."

"look, i'm sorry."

"shut the hell up and come on."

despite his rage, he leads you to the bathoom with surprising care.

when you arrive, he flicks on the light with his free hand and swipes up a cloth from under the sink. he turns to you, pressing it down to your wound to stop the bleeding. once it seems like it's done, he puts the cloth down and turns on the faucet. "put your hand under," he orders, guiding it to the cool water nonetheless.

the water hits your open wound bitterly and you jump, watching the blood run through the drain as toji washes your arm as well.

"sit," he nods over to the bathtub, shutting off the faucet.

you oblige mutely, shuffling over and holding out your hand. you sit slowly on the ledge of the tub and watch as toji shuffles through his cupboards for a bottle of peroxide, some bandages, and ointment. you dread what is coming, for you know your hand is gonna sting like a bitch.

toji thuds over to sit hunched on the closed toilet lid, leaning over to grab your hand again. you stretch your fingers out and he sighs, shaking his head. "so fucking hard-headed," he murmurs.

you watch him screw open the bottle of liquid.

"go slowly," you plead.

"it's gonna hurt all the same, doll," he tells you, and you pout. "you should listen next time, then maybe you wouldn't have to go through this."

"shut the fuck up."

toji clicks his tongue, glancing at you momentarily before leaning down and holding the bottle over you, grasping your wrist loosely with your hand above his knee. "keep still."

the peroxide comes flooding out of the bottle and onto your hand, bubbling instantly over your gash. you whimper, tensing your body and scrunching your eyes at the sting.

"i know," toji mumbles, smoothing his thumb gently over your wrist. "you're alright."

your fingers dig into your thigh as it continues to burn. toji leans over to put down the bottle and continues to caress your arm, lowering your hand to his lap. he blows over your palm slightly as the peroxide dries, and you eventually open your eyes.

"not so bad," he tells you. he leans himself back to reach for a new cloth then pats it around the gash, drying your hand and your arm. he reaches back again for the tube of almost empty ointment he found and twists it open, squeezing it over your wound. "shit, hold on," he stops. he lets you lift your hand as he rushes to wash his own before coming to sit back down at hold yours on his leg again, now with bandages in hand.

you watch him gently as he works the bandage over you with such attentiveness, a dip in his brow proving his focus. you suddenly feel guilty for making him worry.

"i'm sorry," you finally say again, this time with more meaning.

toji's green eyes snap up at you amidst his wrapping. "yeah?"

"i really was just trying to help you. didn't mean to stress you out."

toji sighs, pausing his movements to look you in the eye. "you need to be more careful. i tell you not to touch my stuff because it's not your responsibility. obviously i know you can yourself, but some of my shit's really dangerous and i don't want you gettin' hurt," he gestures to your hand. "it could've been a lot worse, but still."

"if you don't want me touching your weapons, toji, you should probably clean them up more," you quirk a brow and he exhales loudly.

"i'm seeing that now, yeah," he says. "i'll be more careful if you are. don't need my doll getting a bunch of scars 'cause of me, now."

you smile softly. "yeah. i won't touch your stuff anymore, i promise."

"...how about instead i just... teach you how to handle 'em the right way?"

you perk up. "really?"

"i don't see why not. i'd rather you know how to use some of it than see you scrape yourself up because you don't know how to hold a knife."

"don't be a smartass."

toji smirks, continuing with his wrapping of your hand. "i mean it. i'll sit down with you sometime to show you."

"...how about after we're done here?"

"don't fucking push it."

ryomen sukuna: (fever!)

you wake up in a cold sweat, shivering.

you groan in displeasure, rolling over, slightly discombobulated. it can't be any later than 7 am, but you are boiling hot. you press your hand to your forehead and curse. you're sweating profusely and you feel incredibly lightheaded.

you don't even have the energy to get up, but you know that you need to take your temperature. you shudder, carefully shuffling out of bed and wincing as every brush against your skin feels like the stab of a thousand pins and needles.

you lethargically make your way to your bathroom, the cool air hitting your neck and sending you into a fit of shivers. you cling to yourself, teeth chattering, and reach into your cabinet for a thermometer. with half-open eyes, you pop it under your tongue and make your way back to your bed, bundling up in your blankets and curling into a ball.

it feels like hours before the beep resounds, and you slowly lift it from your mouth to read the little digital numbers.

102.4. perfect.

you shudder in pain, tossing the thermometer to the side and nestling your face in your pillows. you feel like absolute shit, but you can't bring yourself to do much else. you need medicine, water, a cool compress, but none of those things you have access to currently.

you close your eyes as your mind swarms, body throbbing and shuddering with chills though the last thing you need is to be cuddled under the covers. you think maybe it will go away if you get some rest. maybe you just need to relax, to take some time in bed. you'll let sukuna know when-

shit! sukuna.

there's no way in hell or on earth that sukuna will allow you to go untreated if you tell him, but god, you don't feel like letting him know. despite his likely haste to make sure you have everything you need, you can only imagine the snarky comments about your fragility, your strange body, your vulnerability that he''ll spout.

you don't want to hear it. you don't want to hear any of it, because you're sure that if you do, you'll start crying. you're already worn down, clearly, and the last thing you need on top of a fever is your boyfriend joking about your weak state.

you elect to stay in bed and tell sukuna you'll see him another time if he pesters you today.

which of course, he does.

a whirlwind of alarming dreams that you almost thought were hallucinations are disrupted by the persistent buzzing of your phone on your dress. you groan, reaching out a shaky hand to blindly grab the device and answer the call, pressing it to your ear with no knowledge of who you're speaking to.

"yes?" you croak.

"can't answer a telephone call the first time it rings?" sukuna's voice thunders through the mic, and you lift your brows.

"kuna?" you try to say his name normally, despite the constant chatter of your teeth.

"who the hell else would it be?"

"sorry... i was asleep."

"at this hour?"

"...what'dy'mean?"

"jesus, woman, it's 2 in the afternoon. why the hell are you still in bed?"

you reel momentarily at his words. 2 pm? it was just 7 in the morning! have you really been sleeping all this time?

"oh..." is all you can manage to say before a chill wracks your body again. you cringe, curling into yourself and holding the phone away from you.

"oh?" the king of curses repeats. "what is the matter with you?"

"n-nothing," you respond quickly. "i guess i was up late last night. i was c-completely knocked out..." you tremble.

"last night you told me you were going to sleep early because you were tired, you brat."

fuckkkk.

how could you have forgotten about that? you hadn't been feeling well last night, which is likely the reason why you feel so much worse today, so you turned in early. "i- couldn't fall asleep until later, though," you mumble.

"you are attempting to deceive me," sukuna grunts. "care to explain why?"

"m'not, kuna," you sigh halfheartedly.

"what exactly do you take me for?"

you're really not in the mood for this. you're aching at this point, and you can tell your body temperature has only risen. you're so weak. you can barely even process the fact that you're on the phone, and you can't handle sukuna's attitude. not if he's not going to help, which you automatically assume that he won't.

"i'm going back to bed," you say softly.

"what do you mean back to bed?!" sukuna fumes. "seriously, what the hell is the matter with you. you sound ill."

"i'm not i-ill."

"then why do you keep stumbling over your words, woman?" he questions, his voice mellowing out into a steady intensity. "what is it now? your monthly plague? whatever you people call allergies?"

this is exactly why you don't want him to know. he handles these things too crudely, as if it's a burden upon his existence. "y-you ask too many damn questions."

"i wouldn't have to if you answered them. now talk."

"i'm fine, sukuna. i'm just gonna go back to sleep."

"you hang up this phone, i'm at your door in two seconds."

"that's impossible."

"try me."

you know he's serious, but you don't have the energy. you can't stay on the phone with him any longer, trying to speak like nothing's wrong. it's cold. so cold, but you're so hot. you're probably drenched in a pool of your own sweat, but you can't feel it. you want to sleep. you just want him to let you sleep.

your vision grows dizzy as you stare ahead, brows arching in discomfort. you think you press the end call button, but you can still hear his voice picking up in urgency... is he shouting? are you even on the phone anymore? you aren't sure.

your vision suddenly drifts into inky blackness as the phone rests beside you on your pillow. the last thing you are aware of before you slip into unconsciousness again is banging at your front door.

sukuna bursts into your apartment mere minutes after you stopped answering him on the phone. he looks about ready to kill, crimson eyes wide and pupils shrunken as he breathes heavily, looking all over your apartment.

he's stomping to your room and throwing the door open when he sees you laying in the bed. "(y/n)!" he barks, searching for some response from you, but all he recieves or nonsensical murmurs.

he moves quickly to the side of your bed and grabs at your shoulder, turning you over to find your sheets drenched and your face tight with discomfort. he falters, heart jerking at the sight. "...the fuck?"

he presses a hand to your sweat-drenched face and furrows his brows in concern. you're hot. too hot for the temperature of a human being, and you're sweating like crazy, mumbling things under your breath in your sleep he can't even hear.

"the fuck did you do?" he grumbles, starting to internally panic. he scrambles to remember what this could be. he knows of plague, of pestilence, so maybe you're suffering some form of that?

hell, he can't tell. not from a glance. he's not even sure if he knows how to help you. you're entirely too hot for him to brush this off like it's nothing, and you passed out in the middle of speaking to him.

he looks over and sees the thermometer on your sheets and leans over to pick it up. the screen reads a high number, which he assumes is the temperature of your body. curious himself, he prods open your jaw and tucks it into your mouth, pressing the button the way you had shown him when you had the flu to reset the time.

"come the fuck on," he growls as seconds tick by before it beeps, and he pulls it from your lips to read 104.7.

he doesn't know how far it is from your usual temp, but he knows it's high. too high.

he's quick to dial uraume for some more information, and the second he hears that you need immediate medical help, he's picking you up and making a run for it without even thinking that uraume can likely help you.

when you wake, you're blinded by nauseating lights blaring down overhead. "ugh," you groan, feeling light and disoriented. you turn your head to the side and blink, to find sukuna's face staring directly at you rather harshly.

you jump slightly, startled. "what-?" you start, scrunching your eyes to adjust to the sight before you. "sukuna? what are you..." you trail off when you realize that you aren't in your house, nor are you at sukuna's estate. instead, you're in a hospital bed hooked up to a series of fluids.

your eyes go wide as you sit up suddenly, only to be hit with a sudden dizzy spell that sends you leaning back into the bed.

"don't move," he orders, and you turn to him in confusion. never would you have expected to see the day that sukuna sits in a chair beside you in a hospital.

"why are we... what happened?"

"apparently you had a high fever," he answers harshly, fist-propping his chin up over his leg. "too high for you to be seen in my care, and too high for you to be lying in bed as though nothing was wrong."

your heart sinks. "how high?"

"when we got here, tipping past 105."

"...are you serious?"

"i had to come bust down your door to make sure you were alive. i put you on an empty roller downstairs because these fucking dumbass doctors can't see me and i had to get their attention so they could notice you. yes, i am serious."

he sounds pissed. and you hardly want to think of what he means by ‘getting their attention.’

"what do you have to say for yourself? for daring to lie to me? for pretending like you weren't on the brink of a much worse fate?"

"...i..."

"you're so lucky you're unwell, girl, because you don't even want to imagine the things i would do to you as punishment for putting yourself in such a ridiculous situation," he growls. "all you had to do was tell me and i would have taken care of it before it got worse."

you blink, almost dumbfounded. you still aren't all there, but you can tell that your fever has gone down significantly. you're no longer sweating and fewer chills wrack your body. "...huh?"

"did that fucking fever scramble your brain or what?" he fumes, eyeing you sharply. "you should have told me."

you part your lips slightly as you look at him. "honestly, sukuna, i didn't think you'd really... i don't know-"

"care?"

"no, not care. i just didn't think you'd handle it well. i didn't even handle it well myself."

"you believe me to be incapable of tending to sickness?"

"no, i just thought you'd like... not take it seriously."

sukuna's eyes darken, and you realize that you may have said the wrong thing. "in what reality would i fail to take any threat to your health seriously, whether you are frail or not?"

"see, that's what i mean. you always have to slip in something about me being frail."

"because you are. as a member of your species. look at where you lay currently," sukuna grimaces. "that is not an insult to you, it's an observation. it's an insult, however, to everyone else who isn't you."

you relax slightly. "then you were actually worried?"

sukuna scoffs. "why the hell do you think i'm sitting in a human hospital with your sick ass right now? i thought we were past you believing i do not concern myself over you."

you suddenly feel foolish, having forced yourself to suffer in your isolation and simultaneously made sukuna, of all people, worry over you.

"hm. feeling foolish, are you?" he says, reading your mind.

"shut up,," you whine, only to clutch your stomach suddenly with a groan. sukuna sighs as he gently eases your head back onto the pillow.

"i told you not to exert yourself. you give me a headache."

"kuna," you mumble.

"what?"

"can you... take me home?"

sukuna raises a brow. "home?"

"to your place," you clarify. "i don't wanna be here. i just want to be with you. want you to hold me."

"you're such a needy thing," he exhales, toying with a strand of your hair as he leans over and gazes gently at you. "you have medications you need to take."

"then bring them with."

"and if you get sick again? you've only been here ten hours."

"ten?!" you exclaim.

"you were very ill, (y/n)."

you groan. "ten is long enough. i hate hospitals. take me home. i feel better anyway, and if i get worse, i’ll just go to uraume."

sukuna sighs, standing slowly. "after i get these tubes out of you without further damaging you, i will take you home," he says, looking over the IVs that you're hooked up to.

you close your eyes tiredly and nod in acceptance. "okay," you murmur.

he grunts. "let me find some damn instructions.”

"kuna," your hand weakly reaches out to catch his wrist and he stops, turning to look down at you.

"what is it?"

you open your eyes to look up at him fondly, exhaustion welling in your gaze. "thank you."

the king of curses clenches his jaw. he smoothes ahead over your now warm forehead and leans over you. "don't do some shit like this again."

[masquerade-md]

Different but the Same (MASTERLIST)

To kick-off the start of my blog, here’s a series that I’ve been working on for the past 2 months or so! 

Genre: Angst, fluff, smut (a whole ass MEAL)

All trigger warnings will be tagged and posted at the beginning of each section!

Omegaverse AU, Rating: 18+/M

Pairings: Iwaizumi x fem!reader, Ushijima x fem!reader

Summary: An unexpected encounter at the Inter-High tournament tossed you into a whirlwind. Being tugged between two males, two different packs, who will reign supreme in this battle for your heart? 

tag: dbts | Skye’s Omegaverse HCs

part 1: a rival appears part 2: safe  part 3: manager part 4: seijoh’s omega part 5: the college team part 6: courting part 7: battle of the packs part 8: tokyo - day one part 9: tokyo - day two part 10: a sejioh summer part 11: the best friends part 12: where she belongs part 13: instincts part 14: the hospital part 15: morning after part 16: urgent part 17: honesty hours part 18: normalcy part 19: comfort

epilogue alternate ending

supplements/bonus content

supplement: Bokuto steals Omega

supplement: Iwaizumi x Reader x Semi 

supplement: Beta Reader

bonus: spring pre-lims

*updates Wednesdays!* 

Please message me or send me an ask if you’d like to be added to the taglist! 💞

[masquerade-md]

an omegaverse au. iwaizumi finally meets oikawa’s other best friend, the girl responsible for the delicious scent that always clings to him.

warnings - light swearing

word count - 1.1k

a/n - this is my first time writing an omegaverse au but i’ve been dying for some alpha iwaizumi content so here i am attempting to write some

1 | 2 | 3 | 4

He sniffed Oikawa suspiciously. A warm, soothing smell that reminded him of freshly baked cookies mingled with Oikawa’s scent. Iwaizumi had definitely smelt it before. It had been fainter then. Less pronounced. This time that other scent completely overwhelmed his senses, making him feel slightly dizzy with desire.

“What’s that smell, Shittykawa?” he snapped, jaw tightening with tension. Oikawa looked up at him, unable to resist shooting him a cheeky smirk.

“Just my precious little y/n-chan,” replied Oikawa smugly. Iwaizumi knew of her, though they had never met. She was a close childhood friend of Oikawa and was often mentioned by the man in conversation.

Keep reading

[masquerade-md]

EARLY PROMISE

gn!reader | 1.3k words, you see the ring iwaizumi wants to propose with a little (very) early

there’s a box behind shirts that iwaizumi no longer wears in his closet.

maybe that’s why you’ve never seen it before. you never would have, were you not given permission to look for clothes to donate while he went on a run.

it’s small, velvet, and inside there’s a ring that, any other day, you would have lingered to watch for as long as possible at a jewelry store.

but you’re not at the mall, nor are you currently being proposed to. you’re at home, standing alone while your stomach churn, and fingers tremble as you stare at the box in your palm where, right now, it decisively should not be. “fuck.”

“babe?”

the sound of the door and his keys accompany hajime’s voice from the entryway. if you listen closely, above your heartbeat pounding in your ears, you can hear him kick off his shoes—them hitting the step that he’s tripped on a few times after long nights with friends and drinks.

he shouldn’t be home yet.

you will your voice to work. “yeah?”

“you looking through the closet already?”

“...yeah?” there’s a questioning lilt at the end as your eyes scan around, his engagement ring—your engagement ring?—still in your hands.

and you know the pattern of hajime’s walk. you know his usual pace, how the floorboards creak as he walks down the hall toward your bedroom. he’s steady—slippers sometimes dragging across the wood if he’s tired, quiet in the morning when he thinks you’re still asleep.

today his footsteps come closer, a little faster, a little heavier than usual.

you assume it’s from the same nerves as yours.

“i forgot, there’s, uh, some shirts i’m keeping that i don’t want—”

hajime opens the door and spots you easily, standing in the middle of the closet as if you were the worst criminal alive, caught stealing in broad daylight.

you to see.

“to throw away,” he finishes, shoulders dropping. his voice quiets to a whisper, “shit.”

silence circles the both of you.

the velvet feels warm in your palm—much heavier than it was a moment ago. you wish you had an analogue clock in your room instead of hajime’s digital. maybe its ticking could take off some of the weight you feel at the sight of him standing a few feet away. maybe you could stare down its hands, listen to its rhythm, let it guide your breathing instead of standing with bated breath, chest unmoving while hajime’s rises as he catches his own.

seconds pass and you flounder, mouth opening and closing while you stand across from each other, neither sure who should speak first.

you don’t think this is how proposals are supposed to go.

your eyes flicker to the still open drawer to your right.

and you walk over, crouch to put the box where it was, pat the old obscure band t-shirt at the top of the pile in front of it, close the drawer, and go back to stand where you were, hands clenched into fists on your sides.

hajime blinks.

“did you really just put it back?” he asks, a little breathy as if he wants to laugh.

you look to the wall beside him then back at his face, as if you could be confused about his question. “...put what back?”

and this time, hajime really does laugh. and then he shakes his head, the way he does when you ask a silly question. “hon—”

“no, no, i’m not—you—that was—” you shake your head and frown. you wish his laughter would comfort you the way it always does, but you think you need to let guilt stay, gnaw for a little while longer. “this isn’t how it’s supposed to go.”

he tilts his head and smiles, just a little. “you’re telling me.”

“hajime.” you purse your lips. “i’m sorry. i feel like i just ruined whatever you were planning.”

hajime huffs and walks toward you, arms reaching out to hold yours. his hands are cool from the morning air, and goosebumps cover your skin as his touch runs from your elbows to your hands, where his fingers find their place in between yours. he’s looking down at them as he speaks—the ones that had held the box, to be specific. “it’s okay, it’s not your fault i forgot. plus i decided to run back a block instead of just texting or calling.”

“you panicked.”

“obviously.”

letting go of one hand, you lightly push his chest. but his hand follows, this time holding you to his heart. you give him a look. “i would’ve done the same thing if i was as fast as you. and i don’t know, i could’ve checked somewhere else. or closed my eyes. or wiped my memory.”

“you would’ve checked eventually, and closing your eyes is not effective for what you’re doing.”

“mind wipe would’ve been okay?”

“how would i have known?”

“...the mind wipe-y gun in my hand.”

he snorts. “what? it keeps a little history of your memory wipes?”

“i don’t know, maybe they have those. do you have one?”

“we’re getting off topic,” hajime chides, though there’s no real anger behind his lopsided smile and tilt of his head.

you sigh. there’s no average way of dealing with the topic of exposed proposal plans, so the best you can offer is a small, closed mouth smile of your own. “...you really wanna marry me?”

he reaches to squish your cheeks. “no, that’s for the other person i’ve been dating since high school and live with while you’re asleep.” you roll your eyes and clasp your hand over his.

“of course i wanna marry you. i’ve wanted to marry you for years,” he says with ease, as if it was the most obvious thing in the world.

“well,”—you fidget—“that’s good to know.” your reply is soft, and you will yourself to ignore the warmth that creeps up your neck and face. your eyes fall to where hajime’s thumb rubs the back of your hand, if only to avoid his gaze. “i...can i ask how you were thinking of proposing or is that weird? or maybe you shouldn’t tell me so you can still do it.”

he pauses.

you look at him. “hajime?”

he tenses at his name, sucking in his bottom lip before answering. “well, i was kind of leaving that part of the plan for later—”

“i didn’t even let you plan the proposal?”

“—but if you think about it,” he continues, already aware of how you’d react, “you just saved me a bunch of anxiety by implying you’d say yes.”

your mouth falls open, hands moving away from his. “i already knew i fucked up our engagement, but i really did fuck up our engagement.”

“you didn’t fuck up our engagement,” hajime breathes out your name as he moves to hold your shoulders.

your head falls forward, landing against his shoulder. “i fucked up our engagement so bad.”

your boyfriend, your sweet boyfriend who always seems to come out of situations calmer than you, snickers, and you hit his chest half-heartedly.

“why are you laughing, oh my god—”

“i’m not laughing—”

“shut the fuck up, you’re laughing—”

“i’m sorry—you just, you didn’t fuck anything up, okay?” his laughter quiets as his arms wrap around you. “i can still propose and keep it a surprise, and i’m pretty sure it’s better you found out while i wasn’t in the middle of the plan, yeah? we just…know your answer already which, seriously, is a relief, so stop beating yourself up for something that wasn’t your fault.”

silence wraps around the both of you again—softer this time. an extra comfort intertwined with hajime’s voice and arms holding you.

moving away to look at him, you let out a deep breath. “okay, but i still feel bad.”

“babe—”

“as if you wouldn’t feel bad,” you retort, which your boyfriend responds to with nothing but a look that says you’re right. “is there anything i can do to make up for it?’

he hums and taps your hips, thumbs fitting perfectly against you. “promise to say yes when i actually propose?”

and this time it’s your turn to laugh, though it’s more a puff of air followed by rolling eyes and a kiss to his cheek. “i can probably promise that.”

little nia luvring comeback Bc my brain Sounds Like a garbage disposal + nails on a chalkboard And only these fictional characters r keeping me going. Hope u all thought of me for a moment the past 2/3 months

@devilgirlcrybabiey @lordbugs @smiithys @xfangirl-trashx @passionateuchiha @scaramouchesfootstool @fifteenshadesofpinkk @chloee0x0 @kenmaslov3r @bakugosgrenade @sakusasdirtyragdoll @dai-tsukki-desu @momoewn @dazaisfavgf @simpforerenn @crystal-lilac @idontlikeyourjob @sparrowb3nscloset @awkwardaardvarkforever @rory-cakes @prblmtic @kuroaka @sunaslay @h0n3ysgh0st @lackey-laufeyson @bontensbabygirl @dira333 @spooky1magazine1bread @lilithlunas @anime-ships-gay @todorokiskitten @kellesvt @tooruchiiscribs @curiouslilbeast @fiona782 @cvhenia @mitskiologist @libbyistired @milkbreadforlife @itsukkie @sirimirihiro @mylahrins @aria-chikage @heyitstial

[masquerade-md]

an omegaverse au. iwaizumi finally meets oikawa’s other best friend, the girl responsible for the delicious scent that always clings to him.

warnings - light swearing

word count - 1.1k

a/n - this is my first time writing an omegaverse au but i’ve been dying for some alpha iwaizumi content so here i am attempting to write some

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He sniffed Oikawa suspiciously. A warm, soothing smell that reminded him of freshly baked cookies mingled with Oikawa’s scent. Iwaizumi had definitely smelt it before. It had been fainter then. Less pronounced. This time that other scent completely overwhelmed his senses, making him feel slightly dizzy with desire.

“What’s that smell, Shittykawa?” he snapped, jaw tightening with tension. Oikawa looked up at him, unable to resist shooting him a cheeky smirk.

“Just my precious little y/n-chan,” replied Oikawa smugly. Iwaizumi knew of her, though they had never met. She was a close childhood friend of Oikawa and was often mentioned by the man in conversation.

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