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p-erse-phone · 6 months ago

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Losing Focus - Ch. 24

- 24 : leave it (written) pt. 2

word count; 2.6k

Y/N stood in front of the mirror, smoothing her hands over her clothes as she stared at her reflection, but her focus wasn’t really on her appearance. Her mind was wandering. At first, she thought was reading too much into things. But she wasn’t the only one who had noticed it. Everyone seemed to be catching onto Riki’s odd behavior tonight.

Had something happened earlier? Was he just carrying over a bad mood from something else? Had she done something?

The last thought made her stomach sink.

Maybe he had just decided he didn’t want her around anymore.

She shook her head. There’s no way, Riki wouldn’t just cut her off like that. She didn’t take him for that kind of person.

Still, the idea of walking back out there and having him brush her off again made her chest ache oddly.

With a reluctant sigh, she pushed open the bathroom door and stepped back into the warm atmosphere of the restaurant. As she approached the table, her eyes landed on her seat—occupied.

She raised an eyebrow.

Jungwon chuckled at her expression. “Sorry, Sunoo and Jake needed to tell me something, and apparently, it’s secret, and needs to be done in a whisper” he teased, glancing at Sunoo, whose face held a guilty look. “Just take my seat.” Jungwon pointed, next to Riki.

Y/N hesitated. Her eyes landed on Sunoo, who was barely holding back a grin..

Still, she nodded, sliding into the chair beside Riki. The conversation swirled around them, but Y/N’s focus was on the boy next to her. She hesitated for a second before deciding to speak. “Thanks for earlier,” she said softly, playing with her fingers. “You know, with the shot.”

“It’s fine,” Riki replied smoothly, his tone more or less back to his usual. Y/N exhaled an internal sigh of relief.

“I knew you didn’t want to,” he added simply, his eyes never leaving the group in front of him.

That made her pause.

She turned her head slightly, her gaze searching his face. Almost as if he could feel her staring, Riki finally turned too, locking eyes with her.

For a second, her throat went dry.

She didn’t even know why she was hesitating, but she forced herself to ask, “Riki… are you really okay?”

His gaze lingered on her for a moment before drifting back to the group, silence stretching between them. Then, finally, he ran a hand through his hair, exhaling.

“I’m fine now, really,” he said, voice quieter. “I was just being sensitive.”

Sensitive?

Y/N wanted to ask what he meant, but something about the way he said it—like he was brushing it off even for himself—made her stop.

Instead, she hummed softly. “Okay.”

And just like that, the conversation picked back up.

Y/N found herself thoroughly enjoying the night, laughter bubbling up as she listened to everyone around her. It felt nice to be surrounded by such a big group. She loved her close circle, but something about this—more voices, more chaos—felt refreshing. Even more so because Riki was spending time with her friends.

Sangmi’s absence lingered in the back of her mind, though. Jay had made a joke to Jake earlier, and the pieces were slowly coming together in her head. A small part of her felt hurt—why was Sangmi hiding whatever this is from her? She made a mental note to bring it up later.

Riki had seemed to return to his usual self, but something was still off—a quiet distance that remained, even though they were sitting right next to each other.

And then, out of nowhere, Sunoo—who was now thoroughly intoxicated—dragged her straight into the spotlight.

“She was amazing, wasn’t she, Jungwon?” he exclaimed, turning to Jake and Jay with enthusiasm. “You guys should’ve been there. Honestly, the whole school should’ve been there.”

Y/N’s face went hot instantly, her ears burning pink. “Sunoo, stop,” she groaned.

“Never,” he teased.

“It was something,” Jungwon agreed with a nod, a small smirk playing on his lips.

Across from her, Riki shifted.

He rested his elbow on the table, chin propped against his palm, his gaze flickering to Y/N from the corner of his eye.

Y/N covered her ears, her hands pressing to the sides of her face as she shook her head in protest. “You guys are exaggerating.”

She was smiling, but when she glanced beside her, Riki was already staring at her.

Not in the casual, teasing way he usually did, this was different.

His eyes were sharp, studying her—searching her expression like he was trying to figure something out.

Y/N swallowed, chuckling awkwardly at his intense gaze. Did she have something on her face? Was he going to make fun of her?

But Riki said nothing.

He just watched.

And for some reason, she felt shy.

The night was finally winding down. Laughter was softer now, conversations slower, voices carrying a content kind of exhaustion. As the group trickled toward the front of the restaurant, Riki and Sunoo lingered behind, handling the bill. Riki had lost at rock, paper, scissors. Sunoo offered to split the cost since they’d been invited last minute.

Outside, the air was cool against Y/N’s skin, different to the warmth of the restaurant. Everyone stood in loose clusters, exchanging goodbyes.

“It was really nice to meet you all,” Jake said brightly, clapping Beomgyu on the shoulder before turning his attention elsewhere. His gaze landed on Y/N, and with a teasing grin, he added, “Especially glad I finally got to meet you.”

Y/N blinked, caught off guard by the comment.

Before she could react, Riki took a quiet step closer to her, closing the small space between them.

Jake, noticing immediately, gave him a pointed look before smirking. “You’re like a guard dog, man.”

Y/N’s brows knitted together in confusion, her eyes flicking between the two.

Riki didn’t react, but the air around him felt a little more dense.

“Jake, seriously, shut the hell up,” Jay said, smacking Jake’s shoulder before offering an apologetic glance in their direction. Beomgyu, unfazed by whatever tension had settled between them, pulled out his phone. “I’ll call a taxi.”

“Taxi? What about the car you came in?” Jungwon repeated, looking puzzled.

Beomgyu just sighed, shaking his head as he subtly gestured toward Sunoo, who stood off to the side with an innocent grin.

“Oops,” Sunoo chirped, sticking his tongue out. “I’ll pick up my car in the morning.”

Beomgyu rolled his eyes. “Yeah, yeah. Y/N, I’ll call you one too—”

“I’ll take her.”

Riki’s voice cut through the conversation, calm but firm.

Beomgyu paused, confused.

Jungwon turned his head slightly, but not before Y/N caught the barely-there smirk tugging at the corners of his lips.

Y/N glanced at Riki, “No, no, Riki, it’s okay,” she assured him. “You know I live out of the way from everyone else.”

“Exactly.”

She blinked. “What?”

Riki crossed his arms, tilting his head slightly as if it were obvious. “Those two,” he nodded toward Sunoo and Beomgyu, “can go together. But you’d have to take a taxi alone.”

“I don’t mind, though—”

“I only took one shot,” Riki interrupted smoothly. “I’ll take you.”

There was no teasing in his tone, no smirk. Just quiet insistence.

Y/N hesitated.

Something about the way he said it—how easily he had decided for he—made butterflies appear in her stomach.

She swallowed, eyes searching his for a moment before nodding.

“Okay.”

From the corner of her eye, she caught Jungwon shaking his head, an amused expression on his face. Beomgyu and Sunoo exchanged glances, both eyeing Y/N with mild confusion. “Text the group chat when you’re home,” Beomgyu said as the taxi pulled up, his tone laced with something unspoken—curiosity, maybe even concern.

Jake let out a stupid, drunken giggle, but before he could get a word out, Jay sighed, wrapped an arm around his shoulders, and steered him away. Jungwon waved and followed behind them.

“Let’s go,” Riki said, his voice low as he turned toward his car.

Y/N followed, a few steps behind at first. The cool night air felt heavier than before, like it carried the weight of something unsaid between them. As if sensing the space between them, Riki glanced back over his shoulder, then slowed his pace to match hers. Hands buried in his hoodie pockets, he took a breath, eyes flickering to the ground.

The silence was loud.

The soft beep of his car unlocking broke the quiet, and without a word, Riki pulled open the passenger door for her.

“Thanks, Riki,” Y/N said, offering him a small smile as she slid inside.

He shut the door gently before rounding the car to the driver’s seat.

The drive started off the same way—thick with quiet, the only sounds coming from the faint hum of the engine and the occasional shuffle of movement. Y/N shifted slightly in her seat, glancing at him from the corner of her eye before deciding to fill the silence.

“It was really fun,” she said softly, staring out at the city lights passing by. “I like your friends. Jake is so funny.” She let out a quiet chuckle at the memory.

Riki shook his head, a smirk tugging at his lips as he thought about Jake. “He’s a dumbass,” he admitted, “but he’s a good guy I guess.”

And then—the silence crept back in, settling between them once more.

Y/N turned her head slightly, watching his profile as he focused on the road, his fingers tapping absentmindedly against the steering wheel. Just as she was about to talk again, his voice cut through the quiet.

“Y/N?”

Her heart skipped.

“Yes?” she replied, her voice soft, hesitant. He didn’t speak right away. Instead, he kept his eyes on the road, exhaling slowly before finally glancing her way.

“Sorry about earlier,” he said, his tone measured. “I’ve just been busy. Ruined my mood, I guess.” He shrugged, like it was nothing.

Y/N studied his face in the dim glow of the dashboard lights. She knew him better than that. Knew that wasn’t the whole truth. But she didn’t push—just like earlier, when he brushed things off with the same dismissive tone. Instead, she offered him a warm, understanding smile. “It’s okay. I understand. I just… I was worried I upset you somehow.”

For the first time all night, something in Riki shifted.

His fingers tightened ever so slightly around the wheel, his jaw tensing before he exhaled again, shaking his head.

“I couldn’t be mad at you.”

The words were quiet, almost lost to the hum of the car.

But Y/N heard them.

“It’s here.”

Y/N pointed out her apartment building as they approached, her voice soft. It wasn’t like the sleek student complexes most of her friends lived in, but it was home. It was what her parents could afford, and she was grateful. Even still, a familiar flicker of insecurity settled in her chest whenever someone from school saw where she lived.

As if sensing her unease, Riki spoke.

“I’ll have to come over sometime.”

“Oh.” The sound left Y/N’s lips instinctively, surprise evident in her voice.

“With Jungwon or with your friends,” Riki quickly added, his tone casual.

Y/N let out a quiet chuckle, trying to hide the fact that—for just a second—she had assumed something else.

“Or just me,” he added, voice lower this time. “Whatever works.”

Her heart did something strange.

Riki pulled into an empty parking spot, the car rolling to a smooth stop. Y/N took that as her cue, unbuckling her seatbelt and stepping out into the cool night air again. She walked over to his window just as he rolled it down.

“Thank you, Riki. Sorry it’s kind of far,” she said, leaning slightly against the car door.

“All good.” His response was easy, a small smile playing at his lips.

“Okay, well… I should be fine from here. You don’t have to get out.” She straightened up, flashing him a reassuring smile as she turned slightly. “Goodn—”

“Nah, it’s fine.”

Y/N took a step back as he pushed his door open, unfolding himself from the driver’s seat.

She blinked, surprised.

“Oh… okay.” She mumbled. “Thanks.”

Together, they made their way to the front entrance of her building. Once they reached the door, she turned to him again. “Thanks, really,” she said softly.

He nodded, but as she reached for the door handle, she suddenly felt something/

His hand, gently wrapping around her fingers and pulling softly.

Y/N froze.

“Tell me next time,” Riki said.

She turned to face him fully, eyes searching his. “Tell you what?” she asked, her voice barely above a whisper, trying to ignore the way his fingers lingered on hers.

“Your performance.”

Her lips parted slightly, surprise flickering across her face. Was this why he had been acting off all night? That couldn’t be it. There was no way he was actually upset about that. He probably was just curious.

“Uhm… okay. Sure,” she nodded, trying to keep her voice light. “I just get shy, you know? I didn’t really tell anyone, honestly.” She let out an awkward laugh.

But his grip remained, soft yet firm.

“You told Jungwon.”

Her breath hitched.

His eyes met hers fully for the first time, dark and steady under the dim glow of the building’s entryway.

For a second, she didn’t know what to say.

“Oh—” she swallowed, her voice suddenly unsteady. “No, well… he actually just found out by accident.” The words tumbled out as she tried to explain, the air between them feeling heavier now. “I mentioned something about it in passing while I was venting in our class, and he just… invited himself, in a sense.”

Riki raised his eyebrows slightly, something unreadable flashing through his expression. Y/N swore she saw a flicker of embarrassment in his eyes before he glanced away, running a hand through his hair. A smirk ghosted his lips, a soft huff of air escaping as he shook his head slightly, almost like he was laughing at himself.

“Foreal?” His voice was quiet, almost as if he was speaking to himself.

“Yeah, so seriously, it wasn’t a big deal,” she reassured him, shaking her head. “Truly, I’m just shy about it.”

“Even with me?”

“Huh?”

Riki’s gaze was back on her, this time with that teasing glint she was used to “You’ve played in front of me a thousand times.” He bit his lip slightly, his usual playful demeanor slipping back into place, but not completely.

Y/N let out a small laugh, shaking her head. “I guess I didn’t think about it that way, the formality makes me nervous,” she admitted. “I haven’t performed much for audiences. And now… going here, it feels a lot more real.”

Riki didn’t say anything for a moment, just studying her.

Y/n began shifting her hand in his grip, intertwining their fingers and lifting them up to shoulder level and giving his palm a playful squeeze, shaking their hands back and forth almost in a childish way. “Next time,” she promised, offering him a soft grin.

He grinned back, letting their hands linger a moment too long before finally—finally—releasing her fingers.

“Okay,” he murmured. “You better.”

Before she could respond, he reached up, lightly tugging at a strand of her hair. The gesture was playful.

“We’re friends.”

Y/N nodded slowly, stepping back toward the door. “Yeah,” she said, her voice softer than she expected. “We are.”

They said their goodbyes, and as she stepped into the elevator, she leaned against the wall.

Her mind was a mess again.

The warmth of his hand still lingered on hers. And the word friend almost, almost, left a sour taste.

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author note; heyy, once again I love everyone's comments <3

Alsooo.. I hope the pacing is okay, I really love slow burn, so that's what I want to write. Haha, feedback is always welcomed. hehe, gn

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p-erse-phone · 7 months ago

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Losing Focus - Ch. 23

- 23 : leave it (+written) pt. 1

word count: 1.1k

Y/N’s eyes locked onto Jungwon, who stood casually in front of the restaurant. As soon as he spotted her, she waved excitedly, her smile bright. “Hi!” she greeted cheerfully, stepping up with her friends. “Thanks for inviting us, seriously.”

“I’m glad you guys came,” Jungwon said, flashing his usual easygoing smile. “Jake really wanted to meet you.” Y/N blinked. She wasn’t sure why Jake would really want to meet her, but she just nodded, laughing along with him. “I’m glad to be meeting him and Jay, finally.”

“Hi Jungwon,” Sunoo chimed in, his outgoing nature ever apparent.

Jungwon flashed another smile at her friends with a nod. “Let’s go” He held the door open for them.

As soon as they stepped inside, a wave of heat and a rich, smoky scent of grilled meat hit Y/N like a wall. The low hum of conversation, clinking utensils, and bursts of laughter filled the space, giving it an almost intoxicating warmth. Her eyes instinctively scanned the room, searching—and without hesitation, landed on Riki.

Her breath hitched slightly, just for a second. That had been happening recently—ever since the party at Heeseung’s. She had convinced herself it was just newfound admiration for him.

Still, she trailed behind her friends, her gaze flickering from the ground to Riki, her heartbeat oddly uneven. Each step toward the table felt heavier, thick. As they finally approached, the boys at the table looked up, their greetings blending into the background noise as Y/N met Riki’s eyes.

She smiled. Gave a small wave. It had been a couple days since she had seen him.

And then—he barely acknowledged her.

A short wave. No teasing remark. No easy grin. Just a quick, almost lazy gesture before he turned away, immediately picking up his conversation with Jake.

It was subtle, but it was off.

Y/N blinked, the moment feeling oddly awkward. That wasn’t like him. Riki never greeted her like that. He was always casually playful, giving her some sort of reaction at least.

He was just focused, just immersed in whatever they’d interrupted was her explanation. But even as she and her friends slid into their seats, hers across from Riki, she could almost feel an air of tension between them. No one else seemed to notice but for some reason, it didn’t sit right.

Y/n inspected the table, taking note of the few bottles of empty soju, and the opened ones with liquid still inside. She wasn’t sure how much everyone had already had, but the energy at the table was warm, entertaining.

“Y/N!” Jake’s voice rang out, snapping her from her thoughts. Her head jerked up, caught off guard.

“Jake!” she responded instinctively, matching his enthusiasm before even processing it.

Jake let out a laugh, clearly amused. “Nice to finally meet you. Riki was hiding you from us, I swear.”

At the mention of Riki, Y/N’s eyes flickered to him, just for a split second—quick enough to catch his face but not long enough to read it. His gaze was fixed downward, chopsticks in hand, plucking at a slice of meat.

“Us too,” Beomgyu added. “If I can’t get a hold of her, I might as well call Riki,” He smirked, leaning forward.

Jay chimed in this time. “I’ve thought about getting Y/N’s number for the exact same reason.”

Riki lets out a huff of air, sounding almost annoyed.

Jake and Jay exchanged a quick glance, subtle but telling. Y/N caught it immediately, tucking the moment into the back of her mind.

Still, the conversation moved along effortlessly. Laughter bounced between them, chopsticks clinked against plates, and somewhere along the way more shot glasses scattered the table. Extra bottles of soju and beer were placed alongside them.

And yet, despite the lively atmosphere, her mind kept drifting. Every now and then, her eyes found their way back to the tall boy across from her.

Riki wasn’t his usual self tonight. He wasn’t leaning back with that lazy grin, throwing quick-witted playful insults at his friends. He was just there, unusually quiet.

At one point, Beomgyu subtly leaned toward Jungwon, voice low. “What’s his deal?” He jerked his chin toward Riki in question.

Jungwon barely glanced up before rolling his eyes. “He’s moody,” he muttered.

Y/N caught the interaction, being close enough to hear it.

Her grip on her chopsticks tightened slightly. “Riki, are you okay?” She questioned him, voice low.

“I'm good,” he responded. She didn’t know what else to do but nod.

As the night wore on, the atmosphere grew looser, laughter a little louder, words a little sloppier. The plates were now pushed aside to make room for more bottles, Sunoo and Beomgyu had fully embraced the drinking, their cheeks turning pink, and their movements more exaggerated and carefree.

“Y/N, your turn,” Sunoo giggled, gripping a soju bottle with both hands.

Y/N held up her hands, shaking them slightly. “No, I—I’m fine. Last night was enough for me.”

Sunoo pouted, his bottom lip sticking out in protest, but Beomgyu just smirked, rolling his eyes. “You know her, just leave it,” he said, shaking his head.

“Wait, come on,” Jake interjected, swiping the bottle from Sunoo’s hands. His grin was easy, his tone playful. “You gotta. For our first meeting. I’ll pour.”

“Well, I don’t know.” Y/N hesitated. She didn’t want to drink really, but she also didn't want to make it a big deal or kill the mood. These were Riki and Jungwon’s friends, and she could already feel the unspoken pressure of the group’s attention on her. Awkwardly, she reached for her glass. “Uhm—okay,” she relented with a nod.

“Hell yeah,” Jake exclaimed.

But before the bottle even tilted, a voice cut through the moment.

“Jake, nah.”

Riki.

His tone wasn’t loud, but it carried a weight that made the entire table still for just a beat too long. He shook his head, his expression unreadable. “Leave it.”

Jay raised an eyebrow at him. Even Sunoo, who was well into his giggling phase, looked momentarily confused.

Jake, however, just shrugged, brushing it off. “Too bad she already said yes. Here, Y/N.” He leaned over Sunoo to pour, filling her glass. He picked up his own shot, waiting for her to clink glasses with him.

Y/N barely had a second to process, when her glass was gently lifted by someone else from her fingers. Without a word, without hesitation, Riki tipped his head back and downed it in one swift movement.

The table fell into silence. He just—did it.

Jake blinked, exhaling sharply through his nose before shaking his head with an amused chuckle. “What the hell, Riki?” he muttered, feigning annoyance.

Another glance exchanged between Jake, Jay, and Jungwon. That had to be at least the fifteenth silent conversation they’d had tonight.

Still, the conversation picked up again, laughter returning, smoothing over the moment like nothing happened.

“I’m going to go to the bathroom.” Y/n said softly, standing up.

To be continued…

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author note; I have pt. 2 typed up, but it is just the rough draft. It's too late to final draft it, but I still wanted to post an update. Part 2 tomorrow <3.

Thanks for Reading <3

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p-erse-phone · 7 months ago

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Losing Focus - Ch. 22

- 22 : left out

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p-erse-phone · 7 months ago

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Losing Focus - Ch. 21

- 21 : Our

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author note; 2/2

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p-erse-phone · 7 months ago

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Losing Focus - Ch. 20

- 20 : Shy

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p-erse-phone · 7 months ago

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Losing Focus - Ch. 19

- 19 : Her choice

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author note; (long) hey gang, sorry haven't posted in a fat ass minute. I started school again and some shit went down with my work LOLOLOL. Quick explanation my bad oopsies. I have more updates I've made that I'm going to post today to feed y'all. On a real note, I appreciate your guys's comments, i love reading them. So sweet heart emoji. Sorry I'm a shit ass poster.

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p-erse-phone · 8 months ago

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Losing Focus - Ch. 18

- 18 : I know you (written)

word count: 2.4k

Y/N sat in the backseat of Beomgyu’s car, her friends’ laughter filling the small space. The group had met up earlier, taken pictures and hung out, but it was all in preparation for tonight—a night that already had Y/N’s stomach in knots. Something so ordinary to everyone else felt like a huge deal to her. Her heart beat a few beats too quickly as she absentmindedly toyed with the hem of her shirt.

Beomgyu and Sangmi had been giving Y/N the rundown: who was going to be there, watch your drink, other things like that. Y/N nodded along, but the truth was, she wasn’t planning to drink much—if at all. The idea of maybe losing control in a house full of strangers wasn’t super enticing. She’d already made up her mind to slip out early once Sangmi inevitably got herself caught up in who knows what.

Beomgyu’s voice broke through her thoughts. “I forgot about parking. It’s a bitch every time,” he grumbled. They drove around a bit trying to find a spot in the abundance of parked cars until he found an open spot between two cars, his hands gripping the wheel as he attempted a parallel park.

After what felt like a lifetime of three-point turns and sighs, the group finally exited the car. Sangmi led the way, clearly excited but still keeping her cool aura, while Y/N lagged behind, fidgeting with her outfit. It was different from her usual style, and she couldn’t shake the thought that it looked wrong on her. Sunoo must have noticed her nerves because he looped his arm through hers and shot her an encouraging smile. “You look great. Relax.”

The muffled bass of music seeped through the front door as Sangmi pushed it open, ushering them inside. The scene was less chaotic than Y/N had imagined—too many movies, she laughed at herself—but it was still bustling. Voices mingled with music, and groups clustered in corners, laughing and chatting.

“Let’s find Heeseung,” Beomgyu suggested, his eyes scanning the room. They soon approached a tall boy with sharp features, flanked by another equally striking figure. Beomgyu introduced Y/N to Heeseung, the host, and his friend Yeonjun. “Thanks for coming,” Heeseung said warmly before turning his attention back to Beomgyu and Sangmi.

Y/N found herself under Yeonjun’s curious gaze. “Y/N, right? Are you new this year?” His smile was genuine, and Y/N’s breath hitched. Yeonjun wasn’t just handsome—he was Yeonjun. Famous, even on Decelis’s campus. She’d harbored a quiet appreciation for him for a while now.

“Yes,” she managed, her voice steady despite the butterflies in her stomach. Yeonjun leaned in slightly, asking her questions and drawing her into an easy conversation. His attentiveness felt surreal, and before she knew it, Sangmi’s voice cut in: “Sunoo has gone to find Sunghoon and we’re grabbing drinks.”

Y/N nodded, assuming she’d follow, but Yeonjun’s parting words stayed with her. “Nice to meet you, Y/N. Let’s talk more next time.” His smile lingered in her mind as she trailed after Sangmi.

People came and people went from the Party and everyone seemed to know each other to an extent. Sangmi, Sunoo, and Beomgyu kept introducing Y/N to different people, and in all honesty she had gotten a little worn out of the repeating introductions and small talk, slowly secluding to the wall with each conversation. The alcohol had obviously started hitting Sangmi’s bloodstream and Y/N admired her for her ability to draw people in. Y/N’s eyes had been going back and forth between the front door and her friends for a while now. She had been wrestling with the idea of leaving, but didn’t want her friends to make a big deal, or them have leave because of her. When they were clearly enjoying themselves and preoccupied, Y/N made her way quietly towards the door.

“Running away already?” A teasing tone stopped her for a second. Looking around she say the owner of the voice. Riki. He descended the stairs, a smirk playing on his lips.

“I’m not running away,” she retorted, trying to match his playful energy, but clearly caught.

“So…” he trailed off pointing at the front door. “You’re not about to walk out that door and not about to walk home?” Riki raised his eyebrow at her. “No.” She said back avoiding eye contact. “Mmhmm.” He hummed back sarcastically.

“Why’d you assume I was going to walk?” Y/N questioned.

“Because I know you.”

Y/N stared at him for a second, his words floating around in her mind. Riki’s eye contact lingered while a grin appeared on his face. “Don’t I?” Riki chuckled, his demeanor light despite the faint flush on his cheeks that hinted at a few drinks.

“Where’s Jungwon? Wait, when did you guys come?” Y/N questioned Riki. She hadn’t seen them walk in.

“He’s here, wandering around somewhere with Jay. I’m surprised you didn’t run into him.”

“Yah I’m not sure–doesn’t help that I’ve been glued to the wall.” Y/N laughs. “Let’s find Jungwon,” Riki suggests, but Y/N hesitated. She wanted to say hi to Jungwon, of course, but... She at this moment, as much as she hated to admit it, really wanted to leave. She just felt out of place and a little bit insecure. These people had been running in the same circles for a while now, and if they hadn’t they were confident enough to join the group. Y/N couldn’t seem to muster the same confidence.

He sarcastically sighed and pushed her playfully towards the door. “Okay okay, let’s go.” He shook his head.

“Wait, huh?” Y/N said confused looking back at him. Riki looked at her, amused.

“I’m taking you home,” he declared, wrapping an arm around her shoulder and steering her toward the door.

“Riki, you don’t have to—”

Pressing a finger to his lips, he interrupted, “Don’t argue. I’m not letting you walk alone.”

“I’m a big girl Riki, I got it.” She said to him playfully standing tall and puffing her chest. “Yah yah sure sure.” he rolled his eyes sarcastically. “Maybe you could scare the bugs, at most.” pulling her towards the door opening it.

“Riki, where are you going?” Y/N hears a girl’s voice call out. She turns her head in his arm, trying to match the voice to a face. She finally lands on a girl standing at the top of the stairs that Riki had come down just a few minutes earlier. “I’ll be back.” Riki said back to her as she walked down the stairs. Y/N and her met eyes, where eye contact was held for a moment too long, before the girl glanced at Riki. She gave him a look, sighed, and walked away. Riki closed the door behind them and let go of Y/N walking alongside her.

“Is it really okay to leave?” Y/N asked Riki, her voice had a hint of concern.

“It’s just a party.” Riki shrugged. “There’ll be about a hundred more this year.”

“I could’ve driven you, but…” he chuckled. “You know.”

“It’s okay, I like night time walks.” Y/N takes a deep breath of the night air looking up at the sky. She wished she could see the stars, but the city lights drowned them out.

“Yeah, I remember.” Riki said softly. His voice carried a rare sincerity, and Y/N glanced at him, surprised.

The conversation flowed easily as they walked, her earlier discomfort melting away. When Yeonjun’s name came up, Riki’s expression shifted—a flicker of something she couldn’t quite place.

“I met and talked to Yeonjun for a little bit.” Y/N giggled. “He’s one of the only people at our University that I was following before enrolling.”

“Hmm.. yeah Yeonjun is cool.” He nodded. His tone still stiff. Y/N couldn’t read his expression, but she continued. “I love his style, and I heard he’s super talented. He was really nice as well.”

“You mean you like his face?”

Y/N playfully hit his arm in response “Why do you care?”

Riki gave her a look before faking a scoff and softly yanking on a strand of her hair. “I didn’t take you as a fan girl.” He replied, his regular demeanor returning.

“I’m not.” she playfully protested.

As they strolled under the street lights, Y/N felt a warmth settle in her chest. Maybe the night hadn’t gone as planned, but somehow, it felt right in the end.

Y/N and Riki continued walking as the school came into view in front of them, the streetlights casting long shadows on the pavement. The easy rhythm of their conversation felt like a balm after the strained tension she’d felt at the party. Riki’s laid-back energy was as comforting as ever.

“Wait,” Riki said suddenly, tilting his head. “Don’t you live off campus? Are you going to take the bus this late?”

Y/N chuckled, brushing a strand of hair from her face. “No, no. We kind of assumed we’d be out late, so I’m just staying at Sangmi’s.”

Riki nodded, though his gaze lingered on her, as if turning the thought over in his head. “Makes sense.”

When they reached Sangmi’s apartment building, Y/N began to say goodbye, but before she could finish her sentence, Riki’s voice cut through the quiet.

“Why did you leave?”

She blinked, caught off guard by the abruptness of his question. It felt as if he was… stalling. His smile is smaller now, his face almost serious.

“Oh, you know, just… tired.” Y/N forced a laugh, but it came out stilted.

Riki didn’t buy it. His sharp eyes locked on hers, and for a moment, the air between them felt heavier.

“Y/N.”

“What?” she said, trying to sound casual but failing.

“Come on.” His tone was soft but insistent.

Y/N sighed, her shoulders sinking slightly under his gaze. “Fine,” she admitted, her voice quieter now. “I just felt… out of place, I guess.” She shrugged, her words tumbling out before she could stop them. “Everyone there just blends in so easily, and I feel like—like I don’t belong. Like I’m some kind of imposter or something.” The confession hung in the air between them, and Y/N quickly laughed, trying to smooth over her vulnerability. “But it’s just me probably reading too much into things, so don’t worry about it.”

Riki shook his head, his brow furrowing. “You’re not an imposter,” he said firmly. Then his lips grew into a smirk, lightening the mood. “If anything, those assholes are the imposters.”

Y/N couldn’t help but laugh, her chest loosening as his playful tone chased away her self-doubt.

“You should’ve found me,” Riki added casually, but there was something in his voice that caught her off guard.

She hesitated, her smile faltering. “Yeah, right. Me, you, and ‘them,’” she said, adding air quotes for emphasis.

Riki raised an eyebrow, feigning confusion. “What’s that supposed to mean?”

Y/N rolled her eyes. “I thought you’d be busy,” she teased, bumping his shoulder lightly. Y/N might’ve been naive at times, but she wasn’t oblivious, she had seen Riki with girls, and she had definitely heard about it from Sangmi.

“Hmm.” He hummed, his expression unreadable for a moment before breaking into a grin. “I would’ve hung out with you. For real.”

Her heart stumbled, an unsteady beat she tried to ignore. “Well, I’ll keep that in mind,” she said, shaking her head.

“Good,” he said, his tone almost too casual. “Next time, you’re sticking with me.” He stopped before quickly adding “and Jungwon, Jay, and Jake.”

Before Y/N could reply, Riki’s phone buzzed. The screen’s glow lit up his face as he glanced at the message, his jaw tightening slightly before he shut it off.

“You can go,” Y/N said quickly, waving a hand toward the door. “If someone’s looking for you, I mean, we’re already here—”

“It’s nothing,” Riki interrupted, his voice firm. He moved toward the steps leading to Sangmi’s building and sat down, motioning for her to join him. “Sit. I don’t want to leave yet.”

Y/N hesitated, her heart doing that strange, skipping thing again. Finally, she relented, sinking onto the step beside him.

They talked like they always did—effortlessly—but this time, there were moments where the conversation felt different. Louder in its silences. Warmer in its pauses. When Y/N drifted into a quiet moment, staring at the stars above, she felt a gaze, and turned her head.

Riki was already looking at her.

“What?” she asked, her voice soft, turning her head shyly.

“Nothing,” he said, a charming smirk spreading across his face. “You look good today.”

Her breath caught, the words landing like a small jolt in her chest. She looked away, brushing off the compliment with a laugh. “I feel like I’m wearing someone else’s clothes.”

“Not at all,” he said quietly, his gaze still lingering on her.

The weight of Sangmi’s constant warnings about Riki echoed faintly in her mind, but she shoved them aside. He was just being nice, she told herself. Friendly like always. Besides, she was sure she wasn’t his type at all so there's no way he was coming on to her, she thought.

When his phone buzzed again, this time it was a call, Riki sighed and answered with a curt, “Hello?”

Y/N caught snippets of the conversation—the sharp tone of Jay’s voice, the mention of Jake’s disappearance.

“You left the party to… walk her home?” Jay’s voice was confused even through the phone.

Riki laughed, the sound low and unbothered. “Yeah. I did.”

After hanging up, he stood and offered his hand to Y/N. She hesitated for only a second before taking it, letting him pull her to her feet.

“Time to go, I guess,” he said, though his tone lacked its usual energy.

“Thanks, Riki,” Y/N said softly as she stepped toward the door.

He grinned, the expression lingering on his face for a beat too long.

“Anything for you.”

Y/N gave a slow nod in response and shut the door behind her, making her way to the elevator. Her mind replayed the night over again as she got ready for bed, and then again as she laid in Sangmi’s bed ignoring the fact that her friends were blowing up her phone, turning it off. She sat awake for a moment thinking about Riki’s words, he was always friendly, sure, and they got along great as friends, close friends even. Similar to Beomgyu or Sunoo, but he was never THIS friendly before. She chalked it up to him being a little loose from the alcohol, unaware of what he was saying… but part of her couldn’t help but wonder about it until she finally fell asleep.

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author note; 2/2. persephone posts when she says she will challenge(impossible) lol, but anyway here it is :)

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