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sweetmisery · 5 months ago

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fighting with piwon | maknae line

pairing: intak | soul | jongseob x female!reader

genre: angst, fluff

a/n: part 2 of fighting with piwon is here 💔 angst is definitely my favorite genre to write and i‘m trying to come up with ideas for even more angsty stories haha also i wanted to thank everyone for all the love my stories have received by now, each like, share and comment really means alot to me 🥹 i hope you enjoy reading!! ♡

hyung line | maknae line

INTAK

You had always loved borrowing Intak’s hoodies. They were warm, oversized, and smelled like him, making you feel safe and comforted whenever you wore them. He never minded - if anything, he seemed to like it, always telling you how cute you looked in them.

But today was different.

“This one’s my favorite,” Intak had said that morning as he pulled the hoodie over your head, adjusting it so it sat snug on your shoulders. “It was expensive, so please be careful with it, okay?”

You had nodded absentmindedly, pressing a quick kiss to his cheek before he left for work.

Later that afternoon, you found yourself curled up on the couch with a plate of spaghetti, enjoying the quietness of the apartment. The soft fabric of Intak’s hoodie enveloped you in warmth as you twirled the noodles around your fork, eyes glued to the TV screen.

And then, it happened.

A slight miscalculation. A slip of your hand. A sickening plop.

Your stomach dropped as you looked down. A splotch of red sauce had landed directly on the front of Intak’s hoodie. Your mind immediately replayed his words from earlier: this one’s my favorite… expensive… be careful with it…

Panic surged through you. Without thinking, you bolted to the bathroom, yanking the hoodie over your head as fast as possible. You scrubbed at the stain frantically, then threw it into the washing machine, hoping for a miracle.

But when you pulled it out later, your heart sank. The stain was still there - faint, but unmistakable. No matter how much you rubbed at it, it wouldn’t come out.

You spent the next hour sitting stiffly on the couch, the hoodie balled up beside you, heart pounding every time you heard a noise outside. When the front door finally opened that evening, you swallowed hard, gripping the fabric in your hands.

“I’m home!” Intak’s voice rang out warmly. You heard the rustling of his jacket as he kicked off his shoes. A moment later, he was in front of you, grinning like he always did. “I missed you,” he murmured, leaning down to press a quick kiss to your lips before plopping onto the couch beside you.

You hesitated, fingers tightening around the hoodie. “So… funny story,” you started, forcing out a small laugh.

Intak turned to you, brow raised in curiosity. “Yeah?”

Slowly, you lifted the hoodie from behind you and held it out to him. His gaze dropped to the fabric, his smile fading the moment he spotted the faint red marks.

His expression darkened. “Are you serious?!”

The sudden sharpness in his voice made you flinch. You had expected him to be annoyed, maybe let out a frustrated sigh or tease you about being clumsy, but not this. Never this.

A tense silence stretched between you as he stared at the ruined hoodie, his jaw clenched tight. You had never seen him this angry before.

The room was filled with tension so thick it was suffocating. Your heart pounded in your chest as you tried to speak, voice shaky but earnest.

“I’m sorry, Intak, I-”

“I can’t believe it!” he cut you off, voice sharp with frustration. “I specifically told you to take care of it!”

You flinched at his words, your fingers tightening around the ruined hoodie in your lap. You weren’t trying to make excuses, you knew you messed up, but the way he was reacting caught you completely off guard.

“I-It was an accident,” you stammered, trying to explain. “I can take it to the laundry shop, they’ll-”

“That’s not the point!” Intak snapped, his voice rising. “It’s about you not respecting my stuff!”

Your chest tightened. “That’s not true…” you murmured, barely above a whisper.

Intak let out a harsh, sarcastic laugh, shaking his head. “Oh, really? Then what about last time when you broke my favorite mug?!”

Your breath hitched. He was still mad about that? It had been weeks ago, and you had apologized over and over, even offering to replace it.

Anger started bubbling up inside you now, pushing past the initial guilt and hurt. “Why do you even care so much?” you snapped back. “It’s just material things!”

Intak’s eyes flashed with something almost like disbelief. “Because they are my things!” he shot back, his voice laced with frustration. “Things I paid for with my own money!”

You scoffed, shaking your head. “Fine,” you spat, folding your arms. “Then I’ll just buy you a new hoodie, problem solved.”

But that only seemed to push him further. His face twisted with something unreadable before he suddenly yelled-

“And maybe I should get a new girlfriend that’s not so irresponsible!”

Silence.

Your lips parted as if to argue back, but no words came out.

For a moment, it was like neither of you could move. Intak’s chest rose and fell sharply, his hands clenched into fists at his sides. His expression flickered - anger, regret, something else -but he didn’t take it back.

You felt your throat tighten, heat stinging at your eyes. Your fists clenched at your sides as you forced yourself to swallow the lump in your throat.

“Fine,” you finally said, voice barely above a whisper. Then, louder, “Good luck on that!”

Before he could say anything else, you turned on your heel and rushed to the bedroom, tears finally spilling over as you slammed the door behind you.

You sat curled up against the headboard, hugging your knees to your chest, your face still damp with dried tears. Your heart ached from the argument, from the words that had been thrown back and forth like weapons.

The door creaked open, and you stiffened.

Intak stepped inside, his expression softer now, his usual warmth creeping back into his eyes. You snapped your head up, voice laced with bitterness as you muttered, “What are you still doing here? Aren’t you busy finding a new girlfriend?”

He let out a deep sigh, running a hand through his hair before stepping closer. “Stop saying such silly things,” he murmured.

A bitter chuckle escaped your lips. “Silly? Those were your words, Intak.*”

He exhaled heavily before sitting down on the bed beside you. “I know… and it was so stupid.” His voice was quieter now, tinged with regret. “I’m sorry. I shouldn’t have said that.”

You wanted to stay mad, you really did. But deep down, you knew he had a point. You had been a little careless with his things, and if the roles were reversed, you’d be upset too. You let out a shaky breath, looking down at your hands. “I’m sorry too,” you murmured. “I didn’t mean to ruin your hoodie… I’ll do anything to fix it.”

Intak reached for your hand, his thumb gently brushing over your knuckles. “You were right,” he admitted. “It’s just material things. I shouldn’t have gotten that worked up. The last thing I ever want is to make you feel this way.”

Your eyes met his, searching for any lingering frustration, but all you found was sincerity. You squeezed his hand lightly. “I get it though… I shouldn’t mess with your stuff, especially when you ask me to be careful.”

For a moment, the tension melted away, replaced by something softer.

Then, you pouted, tilting your head at him. “So… did you really want a new girlfriend?”

He let out a breathy chuckle, shaking his head. “Are you crazy?” He gave your hand a playful squeeze. “I already have the most perfect girlfriend.”

A small smile tugged at your lips as you looked at him.

He reached up, his fingers gently wiping away the traces of tears on your cheeks. “She’s just a bit clumsy,” he teased. “So I hope she’s more careful in the future.”

You giggled, nudging him lightly. “I’ll try… no promises, though.”

Intak hovered closer, his gaze locked onto yours as he tilted his head. “Are we good now?” he asked softly.

You nodded, your heart swelling as he leaned in, pressing a soft, lingering kiss against your lips.

SOUL

The living room was quiet except for the soft rustling of pages as you turned them. You were curled upon the couch, your book resting comfortably in your hands.

You had been waiting for Soul to come home, listening for the familiar sound of the front door unlocking. When it finally did, you glanced up, watching as he stepped inside. His blonde hair was slightly tousled, his jacket slung over one shoulder. He looked exhausted, but when his eyes met yours, they softened.

“Hey,” he murmured, leaning down to press a soft kiss on the top of your head. The scent of his cologne mixed with the crisp chill of the night air.

“Hey,” you replied, offering him a small smile before turning back to your book.

“I’ll be right back,” he murmured, his voice low and gentle. “Just gonna grab one of my mangas from the office. Then we can read together.”

You hummed in acknowledgment, already feeling the warmth of your quiet routine. This was your thing - spending nights together, side by side, lost in your stories.

Five minutes passed. Then more. You were reaching the end of your chapter when Soul finally came back, his brows furrowed.

“Hey,” he started, crossing his arms, “have you seen my manga?”

You lowered your book, blinking up at him. “No? You know I don’t go into your office.”

He let out a small sigh, running a hand through his hair. “I swear I left it right there. Are you sure you didn’t move it?”

There was an edge to his voice that immediately put you on guard. You straightened a little, closing your book but keeping a firm grip on it.

“Well, I don’t know what to tell you,” you replied, keeping your tone even. “I haven’t touched it.”

He exhaled sharply, frustration creeping into his voice. “It was right there. It didn’t just vanish.”

“Oh, like last time,” you said, tilting your head, “when you couldn’t find your headphones and blamed me? But then found them exactly where you left them?”

Soul’s jaw tightened. “Yeah? Well, last time I found my sunglasses in your purse.”

You let out a scoff, your grip on your book tightening. “Yeah, because you put them in there.”

“That’s not true.”

“Oh, come on, Soul! You always do this!” Frustration spilled over, heating your voice. “Whenever you lose something, you immediately assume I took it. Do you even hear yourself?”

His jaw tightened, his hands balling into fists at his sides. “Maybe if it didn’t keep happening, I wouldn’t think that!”

The tension between you thickened, the warmth of your home replaced by the chill of an argument neither of you had meant to start.

You sat stiffly on the couch, gripping your book, though you were no longer reading. Soul stood a few feet away, his arms crossed, his brows furrowed. The lost manga no longer felt like the real issue, it had become something bigger, something tangled in frustration and unresolved feelings.

“Maybe you should be more responsible with your stuff instead of always blaming me,” you snapped, your voice sharp with irritation.

Soul let out a humorless laugh, shaking his head. “Oh, so now it’s my fault? Every single time I can’t find something, it’s automatically on me?”

“Yeah, because it is on you!” You gestured toward him, your frustration boiling over. “You lose things all the time, and instead of just looking for them like a normal person, you jump to blaming me. It’s exhausting, Soul!”

His expression darkened, and then, in a low but firm voice, he said something that made your blood run cold.

“Well, maybe we shouldn’t have moved in together. Because then my stuff wouldn’t strangely get lost.”

The words hit you like a knife, sharp and unforgiving. You felt your breath hitch, your heart pounding in your chest. For a moment, you just stared at him, trying to process what he had just said.

Your lips parted, your voice low and laced with disbelief. “Are you serious right now?!”

Soul didn’t hesitate. His expression remained firm as he shot back, “I’m just saying… when I was still living at the dorm, my stuff never got lost.”

A stunned silence settled between you. Your heart pounded, the weight of his words pressing heavily on your chest.

Then, a bitter laugh escaped your lips. “Well, maybe you should move back to your members then.”

Soul’s jaw tensed, his hands curling into fists at his sides. You pushed yourself up from the couch, your movements rigid with emotion.

“I can’t believe you said that, just because you’re too stupid to take care of your own stuff!” The words were out before you could stop them, but you didn’t regret them. You were furious.

Before he could respond, you turned on your heel and stormed toward the bedroom, your vision blurred with frustration. The moment you stepped inside, you grabbed the door and slammed it shut behind you, the sound echoing through the apartment like a final statement.

And just like that, silence followed.

Soul was alone in the living room. And you were alone in the bedroom, your heart still pounding.

You sat on the edge of the bed, your arms wrapped around your legs, your mind replaying every sharp word from the argument. The weight of Soul’s voice still echoed in your head.

“Maybe we shouldn’t have moved in together.”

Did he really mean that?

Your chest tightened as the thought sank deeper, twisting into something heavier, something painful. The anger you had felt before hadn’t faded, but now, it was tangled with something worse - hurt.

You sniffled, tilting your head back to stop the sting in your eyes, but it was useless. The tears came anyway, slipping down your cheeks before you could stop them. You hated that his words had this much power over you, but they did.

A few moments later, a soft knock broke through the silence.

You stiffened, your heart beating faster.

“Leave me alone!” you yelled, your voice coming out harsher than you intended.

For a second, there was silence. You thought he would listen and walk away. But then, the door creaked open.

You looked up sharply, ready to snap at him, but the moment your eyes landed on what he was holding, your blood boiled all over again.

There, in Soul’s hands, was the manga.

The exact one he had accused you of misplacing.

He smiled awkwardly, rubbing the back of his neck as he lifted the book slightly. “Hey… look what I found.”

Your jaw clenched. Heat flared up in your chest again.

“Well, congrats,” you hissed sarcastically.

Soul flinched slightly at your tone but still stepped inside, shutting the door behind him. His movements were careful, like he was approaching a wounded animal.

“I’m… really sorry,” he said, his voice softer now. “For what I said earlier.”

You let out a bitter laugh, shaking your head. “I can’t believe you said that. Over some stupid manga.”

Soul frowned and sat down next to you on the bed, keeping a bit of distance between you. “It’s not stupid… it’s Jujutsu Kaisen.”

For a second, the tension cracked.

A quiet giggle slipped from your lips before you could stop it. Soul was such a baby when it came to his manga, and even in the middle of a fight, he somehow managed to make you laugh.

His lips twitched slightly, like he wanted to smile too. But then, your expression shifted, and the anger returned.

“I’m still mad at you,” you muttered, your voice quieter now, but still firm.

Soul nodded immediately. “I know. You should be.” He looked down at his hands, exhaling. “What I said was so stupid. I didn’t mean it. Not even a little.” His voice was filled with regret as he glanced back at you. “I was just frustrated, but that’s no excuse.”

You didn’t respond right away, just staring at him. You could still feel the sting of his words from earlier, still feel the weight of them in your chest. But looking at him now, at the way his shoulders were slightly slumped, at the way his brows were furrowed like he hated himself for what he had said… it was hard to stay completely furious.

You sighed, wiping at your damp cheeks. “You really hurt my feelings, Soul.”

His gaze softened, and without hesitation, he reached out, taking your hand gently in his. His fingers were warm, his grip careful, like he was afraid you might pull away.

“I know,” he whispered. “And I hate that I did. I don’t want to hurt you. Ever.” He squeezed your hand. “I’m sorry.”

You swallowed, staring down at your joined hands.

After a long pause, you exhaled slowly and nodded. “I forgive you… but you really need to take better care of your stuff.”

Soul let out a breath, relief washing over his face. “I will. I promise.”

A small silence settled between you, this one no longer heavy with tension but something softer, something mending.

Then, Soul gave your hand another squeeze and tilted his head. “Wanna watch some anime instead of reading?”

You rolled your eyes playfully, but a small smile tugged at your lips. “Yeah… okay.”

His eyes brightened at that, and without hesitation, he pulled you up from the bed, leading you back into the living room.

Just like that, the warmth returned.

JONGSEOB

You had only meant to tidy up a little. The apartment was already clean for the most part, but you knew how easily dust settled on Jongseob’s desk, and since he had left to pick up your food, you thought - why not? Just a quick wipe. Nothing more.

But then, somehow, in the process of brushing off his desk and running the cloth lightly over his still-running laptop, your finger must have grazed a key. A window popped up.

“File deleted.”

Your heart stopped.

You froze, staring at the screen, a silent horror creeping up your spine. You hadn’t meant to open anything, let alone delete something. What did you even erase? Was it important? A work assignment? A document? Something irreplaceable?

Panic tightened in your chest, but before you could think of a way to fix it, you heard the front door open. Jongseob was back.

You stepped away from his desk like it had burned you, hurrying to the living room, willing yourself to act normal. You didn’t do anything. Nothing happened. If you just stayed calm, maybe, just maybe, he wouldn’t even notice.

Jongseob walked in carrying the takeout bags, his face relaxed. “Hey,” he greeted, kicking off his shoes. “I just need to finish something real quick, then we can eat, okay?”

You nodded, your stomach twisting with nerves. “Okay.”

He smiled at you before disappearing into his workspace. The moment he left your sight, your heart pounded in your ears. You clutched your hands together, fingers trembling slightly. Maybe it wasn’t anything major. Maybe it was just a temporary file, something he wouldn’t even notice was gone-

“What the hell?!”

His voice rang out from the office, sharp, alarmed.

Your stomach dropped.

You stood frozen in the doorway of his office, your fingers gripping the hem of your shirt as you watched the frustration on Jongseob’s face deepen.

“It’s just… gone,” he muttered under his breath, his hands running through his hair. “I was almost done.”

Guilt gnawed at you. You swallowed hard, your throat dry. You could’ve kept pretending, could’ve just stood there in silence and let him believe it was some kind of system error. But as you looked at him, his jaw clenched, his eyes scanning the screen as if hoping the file would somehow reappear, you couldn’t hold it in any longer.

“I… it was me,” you admitted, your voice small. “I was just cleaning your desk, and I think I accidentally-”

Jongseob’s head snapped toward you, his eyes narrowing. “You did what?!”

His voice was louder than you expected, sharp and filled with disbelief. You flinched.

“I-I didn’t mean to,” you stammered, stepping closer. “I was just wiping your desk, and I must have hit something on the laptop. I didn’t know-”

“How many times have I told you not to touch my work stuff?!” he snapped, cutting you off.

Your head dropped, shame washing over you like a wave.

“You don’t even know what you just did,” he went on, his voice tense. He let out a short, bitter laugh before turning back to the laptop, shaking his head. “I was supposed to present this song to my team tomorrow. And now? Now I have nothing. I have to start all over again!”

Tears burned at the corners of your eyes. You had never seen him like this before - frustrated, angry… disappointed. The weight of your mistake pressed down on you like a stone in your chest.

“I…” Your voice cracked as you forced out the words. “I’m so sorry…”

But he didn’t respond. He was staring at the screen, jaw tight, fingers clenched into fists.

The silence felt unbearable.

So you turned and walked away.

You made your way to the bedroom, the lump in your throat growing heavier with each step. The moment you closed the door behind you, the first tear slipped down your cheek.

The room was quiet except for your muffled sobs. You lay curled up on the bed, your face buried in the pillow, your heart heavy with guilt. You barely registered the soft creak of the door opening until you felt the mattress dip beside you.

Jongseob had come in.

You didn’t lift your head, but you could sense him there, sitting close. He didn’t say anything at first. The silence between you was thick, but it didn’t feel as tense as before.

Through shaky breaths, you whispered, “I’m so sorry, Jongseob… If you came to scream at me, just do it. I deserve it.”

But instead of yelling, his hand found yours, gripping it gently. His touch was warm, steady, different from the anger you’d seen earlier. You hesitated before finally looking up at him, your vision blurred with tears.

His face was softer now, more worried than mad.

“I-I had no idea how important that file was to you. I shouldn’t have-”

“It’s okay,” he interrupted, shaking his head.

“No, it’s not,” you insisted. “You worked so hard on it, and now you have to do everything all over again because of me.”

Jongseob let out a sigh, running a hand through his hair. “I mean… yeah, it was an important song. And yeah, I was really frustrated. But I can just do it again. It’ll take me a little while, but… it’s fine, I guess.”

Regret washed over you all over again. You squeezed his hand, your fingers lacing with his. “I really am sorry, Jongseob.”

He squeezed back, his thumb brushing over your skin. “I know.”

Then he sighed again, a little softer this time. “And… I’m sorry too. I shouldn’t have yelled at you like that. I was upset, and I took it out on you. That wasn’t fair.”

You shook your head. “I get why you reacted that way. I’d be mad too. But I promise, I’ll never touch your stuff again.”

At that, Jongseob let out a small laugh. “Yeah, please don’t do that.”

A tiny smile formed on your lips, and the weight in your chest lifted just a little.

He reached up and gently wiped a tear from your cheek with his thumb. “Are we good now?” he asked, his voice soft.

You nodded. “Yeah. We’re good.”

His shoulders relaxed at your answer, and he smiled. “Good. Now, let’s go eat before our food gets cold.”

You let out a small laugh and sat up, your fingers still loosely wrapped around his.

Even after everything, he was still here. And that was all that mattered.

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sweetmisery · 6 months ago

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oops, i think i love you | yoon keeho

summary: falling for your best friend was never part of the plan, but when Keeho returns home, teasing turns into tension and a secret comes to light. now you��re faced with the question: was this always meant to be or will it ruin everything?

pairing: keeho x female!reader

genre: fluff, angst

word count: 8.3k

a/n: sassy Keeho with a little bit of teasing on top makes the perfect match 🫶🏼 thank you to the anon who requested this, i really enjoyed writing it :) hope you enjoooy!! ♡

The soft hum of your phone vibrating on the nightstand broke the silence of your dimly lit bedroom. You reached for it instinctively, already knowing who it was before even checking the screen.

Keeho.

Swiping to answer, you were immediately greeted by his familiar voice, laced with exhaustion but still carrying that unmistakable warmth.

“Yo, you still awake?”

Rolling onto your back, you stared at the screen. “Obviously. Who else would pick up your late-night FaceTime calls?”

His laughter was soft but genuine. The screen stayed black for a moment as he fumbled with his phone, probably trying to prop it up somewhere. Then, his face appeared, slightly disheveled, hair damp, probably fresh from a shower. His eyes were heavy with exhaustion, but somehow, he still looked effortlessly good.

“So,” you teased, propping yourself up on one elbow, “how was the day in the glamorous life of Keeho?”

He groaned dramatically, dragging a hand down his face. “Brutal. Dance practice for hours, then interviews, then photoshoots… I think my soul left my body at some point.”

“Did you find it again, or is this just your ghost calling me?”

“Not sure. Wanna exorcise me just in case?”

You laughed, shaking your head. This was how it always was between you two - easy, effortless. No matter how busy he got, no matter how exhausted he felt, Keeho always made time to call. It was a small thing, but it meant everything.

“Hold on, let me get comfortable,” he muttered, and the screen blurred as he moved. He shifted until he was lying down, his head resting against a pillow. “There. Now we can suffer together.”

You scoffed. “I’m not suffering.”

“Liar.”

You opened your mouth to protest but stopped. He wasn’t entirely wrong. Lately, things had felt… different. It wasn’t just the same old playful friendship anymore. Not for you.

It started subtly. The way your heart raced when you saw him perform on stage in videos, the way your stomach flipped whenever he sent you a random selfie looking stupidly handsome, the way you found yourself replaying old voice messages just to hear his voice.

And now, lying there, watching him through the screen as he lazily blinked at you, you felt it again - that soft ache in your chest. The one that whispered, this is more than just friendship.

But that was the problem, wasn’t it? Because if you were wrong, if this was one-sided, it could ruin everything.

You took a quiet breath, pushing those thoughts away. “Anyway, are you at least eating properly?”

Keeho smirked. “Look at you, being all caring.”

“Shut up. Just answer.”

“Yeah, yeah. Don’t worry, I’m not about to starve to death.” He shifted slightly, looking at you with an unreadable expression. “Hey… you good, though?”

The question caught you off guard. “Huh?”

“I don’t know. You seem kinda… off lately.”

Your heart skipped. Were you that obvious?

You forced a laugh. “I could say the same about you, Mr. ‘My Soul Left My Body.’”

Keeho narrowed his eyes like he wasn’t buying it, but he didn’t push. “Fine. I’ll let you off the hook. For now.”

“How generous of you.”

You stayed on the call for a while longer, talking about nothing and everything, until eventually, his breathing evened out. He had fallen asleep.

You watched him for a moment, a small smile tugging at your lips. He’d probably scold you for not hanging up, but you didn’t care.

You whispered, just to yourself, “Good night, Kyo.”

And for the first time in a long time, you let yourself wonder - what if?

You weren’t even planning to watch the interview.

It had been a busy day, and you were just about to unwind when a notification popped up: P1Harmony’s latest interview was out. Normally, you caught up on these things eventually, but this time, something told you to watch it right away.

So you did.

The interview started off as expected: questions about their latest comeback, funny stories from the practice room, and the usual chaotic energy from the group. You smiled absentmindedly as Keeho joked around, his personality effortlessly shining through the screen.

Then came a question that made you sit up a little straighter.

“Do you guys even have friends outside the group? Or is it just you six, 24/7?”

The members laughed, exchanging knowing glances. Keeho was the first to answer.

“Of course, we have friends! But honestly, we barely get to see them because of our schedule.”

That much was true. He was always busy, always moving, always working. You had long accepted that your friendship existed mostly through late-night FaceTime calls and stolen moments when he was in town.

But then, Keeho continued.

“I actually have a best friend from childhood.”

Your lips curled into a small smile. That’s me.

“He understands my situation really well. He’s always there for me, especially in tough times, and I’m really grateful for that.”

The smile froze on your face.

…He?

Did you mishear that?

You quickly grabbed the remote and rewound the video, listening again.

“He understands my situation really well. He’s always there for me, especially in tough times, and I’m really grateful for that.”

Nope. You heard correctly.

Keeho just called you “he.”

A mix of emotions bubbled up inside you - confusion, annoyance, disbelief. Why would he say that? It’s not like the interviewer asked for your name. He could’ve just said “my best friend” and left it at that. But no. He specifically chose to refer to you as a guy.

You tried to brush it off, but it stuck with you for the rest of the day. So when Keeho called you that night, you were still fuming.

The second you picked up, you didn’t say a word. You just stared at him through the screen, arms crossed, lips pressed into a tight line.

Keeho, fresh from whatever long day he had, blinked at you in confusion. “Uh… what’s with the face?”

You narrowed your eyes. “So your best friend… who is he? And why have I never met him?”

Keeho paused, processing your words. Then, realization dawned on his face, and just like that, he burst out laughing.

“Oh my god,” he cackled, burying his face in his hands for a moment. “You’re mad about that?”

“You called me he on national television!” you snapped, though the irritation was quickly dissolving into something more playful.

Keeho wiped a fake tear from the corner of his eye, still grinning. “I had no choice! If I said she, people would start digging and freaking out.”

“Wow. So I’m just some mysterious guy to the world now?” You crossed your arms. “I feel so special.”

Keeho smirked. “Hey, technically, I still called you my best friend. You should be honored.”

“Oh, yeah. So honored.”

He rolled onto his side, resting his head on his hand. “You’re really pressed about this, huh?”

“I just think it’s funny,” you said, even though your face was still stuck in an unimpressed expression. “Do I look like a ‘he’ to you?”

“Hmm.” Keeho squinted at the screen like he was deep in thought. “Now that you mention it… maybe a little.”

Your jaw dropped. “You are so dead.”

Keeho cracked up again, his laughter filling the screen. “Relax, relax! You know I didn’t mean it like that.”

“Sure you didn’t,” you muttered.

The call naturally shifted into your usual banter after that, bouncing between playful teasing and casual conversation. Even after years of friendship, talking to Keeho always felt the same - comfortable, familiar, easy.

Then, near the end of the call, Keeho let out a content sigh. “Man, I can’t wait to go home next week.”

Your ears perked up. “Wait- You’re coming back?!”

“Yeah. Finally. It’s been way too long since I saw you in person.” He gave you a lazy smile. “I mean, technically, I see you every day, but you know what I mean.”

You rolled your eyes, but warmth spread in your chest anyway. “Took you long enough.”

“Missed me that much?” he teased.

“Yeah, yeah,” you said sarcastically, but the truth lingered behind the words.

Keeho grinned. “Good. ‘Cause I missed you too.”

And just like that, your heart did that stupid thing again - the little flutter, the quiet ache, the feeling you were still too scared to name.

You exhaled, shaking your head. “Whatever. Just hurry up and get back.”

“Yes, ma’am,” he said with a lazy salute.

The call ended a few minutes later, and you fell back against your pillow, staring at the ceiling.

Next week.

You were finally going to see Keeho next week.

And somehow, that thought made it impossible to sleep.

The anticipation had been building all day.

Keeho was finally back.

You had offered to pick him up from the airport, but he had immediately shut that idea down.

“Too risky,” he had said over text. “If anyone sees us together, it could cause problems.”

You understood, but that didn’t mean you liked it. The thought of Keeho stepping out of the terminal, exhausted from his flight, and having to go home alone instead of being greeted by a familiar face didn’t sit right with you.

Still, you waited.

And then, finally, the doorbell rang.

You practically ran to the door, throwing it open with an excited grin. The second you saw Keeho standing there, his suitcase by his side and a playful smile on his lips, you launched yourself at him, wrapping your arms around him in a tight hug.

“Whoa-!” Keeho laughed, stumbling back slightly before regaining his balance. Then, in true Keeho fashion, he took things a step further.

Before you could react, he lifted you off the ground and spun you in a full circle.

A surprised giggle escaped your lips as you clung to him, the familiar warmth of his embrace sending a rush of happiness through you. His presence, his scent, even his stupid antics - it all made your heart skip a beat.

When he finally set you down, you beamed up at him. “I’m so happy to finally see you again.”

Keeho smirked. “I don’t even know how you survived without me.”

You rolled your eyes, shoving his shoulder. “Shut up.”

He chuckled and reached out to tousle your hair, messing it up on purpose. “I’m just kidding. I missed you too.”

You wanted to be annoyed, but you couldn’t stop smiling. It had been way too long since you had moments like this.

As you finally took a proper look at him, something about him felt… different. Of course, he was still the same Keeho, the same ridiculous goofball you grew up with, but there was something new in the way he carried himself.

“You look so different,” you said, tilting your head as you took him in.

Keeho smirked and ran a hand through his dark hair. “Glad you noticed that I got super handsome.”

You let out a sharp hiss of disapproval. “Cocky much?”

Keeho burst out laughing, nudging your arm. “I’m kidding! Without my team of stylists, I’d still be that ugly guy from a few years ago.”

“Okay, okay,” you sighed dramatically. “I get it. You are suuuper handsome now.”

You both laughed, the playful teasing feeling just as natural as ever. But there was more to it than just his looks.

“It’s not just that,” you added, suddenly more thoughtful. “It’s your whole presence. You’re more confident now.”

Keeho raised an eyebrow, watching you carefully. “Is that a good or a bad thing?”

You met his gaze and smiled. “It’s good, of course. As long as you can still be your old self around me.”

Keeho’s expression softened slightly. “You don’t have to worry about that.”

The moment lingered just for a second before he smirked again. “Now, can we go inside? I need to destroy you in Mario Kart.”

With that, the conversation shifted back to its usual energy, but your words stayed with you. Keeho had changed. And as much as you liked teasing him about it, part of you wondered: was it only his confidence that had changed? Or were his feelings changing, too?

Once Keeho settled in, the two of you ended up on the sofa, falling into your usual routine - lazy, comfortable, and filled with endless teasing. Mario Kart became the game of the afternoon, and soon, the living room was filled with dramatic reactions and exaggerated insults.

“You are so bad at this game,” Keeho groaned as you crossed the finish line before him.

“You’re just mad because I’m winning,” you teased, flashing a smug grin.

“I’m mad because you got lucky,” he shot back.

“Excuses, excuses.”

Keeho dramatically collapsed against the couch, pretending to be gravely wounded by his loss. “How did I ever let you get this good? I trained you! I made you!”

“You did not train me,” you laughed. “You just sucked at the game from the start.”

He gasped, clutching his chest. “Betrayal.”

It was stupid, it was childish, it was perfect. Just the kind of moments you had been missing ever since Keeho moved to Korea and his life became a whirlwind of schedules and stages.

After a few more rounds, you finally asked, “By the way, why wouldn’t you let me pick you up from the airport?”

Keeho groaned, stretching his arms above his head. “Because there could’ve been fans there. If someone saw us together, it could start rumors.”

You frowned. “What kind of rumors?”

He glanced at you, as if the answer should have been obvious. “A dating scandal.”

You blinked. “Dating scandal?”

Keeho laughed. “Yeah. If I get spotted with a girl, people will definitely assume something.”

The thought hadn’t even crossed your mind before, but now that he said it, it made sense. To fans, Keeho wasn’t just a normal guy hanging out with a friend. He was an idol, and any interaction with a woman could spiral into endless speculation.

Still, a teasing glint appeared in your eyes. “Would that be so bad?”

Keeho let out an exaggerated “Uh-huh.”

But then, with a mischievous smirk, he added, “Also… just imagine people thinking you and me were dating. Wouldn’t that be so weird?”

Your stomach twisted.

It was just a joke. Just Keeho being Keeho. But for some reason, it stung.

You forced a laugh, shrugging off the strange feeling in your chest. “Yeah, yeah. That’d be hilarious,” you muttered, quickly focusing back on the game.

Keeho didn’t seem to notice the slight shift in your tone. He simply stretched his arms behind his head, completely at ease. “Exactly. So yeah, no airport meet-ups for us. Gotta keep you hidden.”

You hummed in response, but your mind was elsewhere. Because for the first time, it wasn’t just about hiding you from fans. It was about hiding your feelings from yourself.

The evening passed in a blur of laughter, teasing, and playful competition.

After multiple rounds of Mario Kart battles, way too many accusations of cheating, and an excessive amount of dramatic groaning from Keeho whenever he lost, the two of you finally called it quits.

You stretched, feeling the exhaustion from the day start to settle in. “Alright, I’m heading to bed.”

Keeho let out a deep sigh and leaned back against the couch. “Actually…”

You turned to look at him, raising an eyebrow. “Actually… what?”

“Can I just crash here tonight?” He gestured lazily around the room. “I’m too lazy to go anywhere else.”

You rolled your eyes but couldn’t help smiling. “Of course, dumbass. You don’t even have to ask. Make yourself at home.”

Keeho grinned. “Knew I could count on you.”

With that, you turned toward your bedroom, already thinking about how nice it would feel to finally collapse into bed. But just as you reached the doorway, Keeho’s voice stopped you.

“Hey.”

You turned back around, finding him sitting up now, his expression softer than before.

“Thank you.”

You blinked, tilting your head slightly. “For what?”

Keeho hesitated for a moment, then gave you a small, genuine smile. “For everything.”

Your heart skipped. “Be more specific, dummy.”

He chuckled but then exhaled, his gaze turning more serious. “For being my best friend. And mostly… for treating me the same way you always did.”

You frowned slightly. “Why would I treat you any differently?”

Something in Keeho’s expression shifted. He glanced down for a second, as if choosing his words carefully.

“You know… once you become famous, people start treating you differently,” he said quietly. “Or worse, they use you for your fame to get something out of it. It’s hard to tell who’s really there for you and who just wants the advantages that come with knowing you.”

You stayed silent, letting him continue.

“But with you, it’s different,” he said, looking back up at you. “I know I can always be myself around you. I can rely on you without wondering if there’s a catch. So… thank you for that.”

The sincerity in his voice made your heart beat just a little faster.

You gave him a soft smile. “Of course, Kyo.”

Keeho’s eyes flickered at the nickname, the corner of his lips twitching like he wanted to smile again.

“I’ll always be here whenever you need me,” you added.

Keeho’s gaze lingered on you for a moment longer before he gave a small nod. “Good night, then.”

“Good night,” you said, offering him one last smile before finally heading into your room.

You shut the door behind you, but sleep didn’t come easily.

Instead, you lay in bed, staring at the ceiling, Keeho’s words replaying in your mind.

You had always known he trusted you. You had always known your friendship was special. But hearing him say it like that, hearing the vulnerability in his voice, the way he relied on you so completely, it made your emotions feel even more complicated.

The boy you had been friends with since forever, the one who had been there through every stage of your life, the one who made you laugh without even trying, the one who had somehow become more attractive every time you saw him, was only a few meters away from you.

But somehow, it still felt like he was far out of your reach.

The room was dark, and the warmth of your blankets wrapped around you like a cocoon. You were lost in the depths of sleep when suddenly, a hand gripped your waist.

A soft breath ghosted against your skin as you shifted in bed, feeling an unfamiliar presence beside you. Your body tensed.

Your eyelids fluttered open, adjusting to the dim light filtering through the window. Keeho.

He was next to you.

Your heart skipped a beat as your mind scrambled to process what was happening. “Keeho? What are you-”

“Shhh.”

Keeho’s index finger gently pressed against your lips, silencing you before you could say anything else.

Your breath caught in your throat. This wasn’t normal. This wasn’t your usual playful Keeho.

Before you could react, he leaned in.

And then - he kissed you.

Your eyes widened in shock at first, the feeling of his lips against yours sending a wave of disbelief through your body. This was real. This was happening.

But as the initial surprise faded, something inside you gave in. Something that had been buried for too long.

Your eyes fluttered shut, and without thinking, you melted into the kiss.

Keeho pulled you closer, his grip on your waist tightening as the kiss deepened. His warmth, his touch, everything about him felt so intoxicatingly familiar yet completely new at the same time.

You had no idea what this meant. Why was Keeho doing this? What did it mean for your friendship?

But in that moment, you didn’t care.

Until-

You woke up.

Your eyes snapped open, heart pounding. Staring up at the ceiling, you tried to breathe, to process, to make sense of what had just happened. Until it hit you.

It was just a dream.

Sitting up abruptly, you ran a hand through your hair, trying to steady yourself. Your lips tingled as if the sensation had been real, and without thinking, your fingers traced over them.

“What the hell was that?” you whispered to yourself.

As if to ground yourself, you glanced around the room. Everything was exactly as it had been when you went to bed. The blanket was still wrapped around you. The door to your bedroom was still closed.

Just then, the faint sound of running water reached your ears. You turned toward the door, realizing Keeho was still here. He must’ve woken up before you and was now taking a shower.

You exhaled sharply, pressing your hands against your face. How the hell were you supposed to look him in the eye after having such a wild dream?

You sat at the edge of your bed, rubbing your temples. Get a grip. It was just a dream. A very realistic, very intense dream, but still, just a dream.

Shaking off the lingering sensation of Keeho's lips on yours, you got up and made your way to the living room, hoping some fresh air would help clear your head.

The first thing you noticed were Keeho's clothes scattered across the sofa. His hoodie, his sweatpants, his socks, his boxers - all of them just thrown there like he had stripped on the spot.

Your brain was still half-asleep, so it took a second to register why they were there.

And then, before you could process it, you turned around and slammed straight into something solid. No. Someone.

Large hands instinctively wrapped around your arms to steady you, keeping you from stumbling back. The warmth of his skin against yours sent a shock through your body, and when you looked up, you froze.

Keeho was standing right in front of you.

Dripping wet.

His damp, dark hair clung to his forehead, strands falling into his deep brown eyes.

His bare chest was still glistening from the shower, water droplets running down the sharp lines of his toned torso.

And that's when you realized.

He was wearing nothing but a towel.

Keeho was basically naked.

A strangled noise left your throat as you jumped back, throwing your hands over your eyes like it would somehow erase what you just saw.

"Oh my god! Keeho!"

Keeho burst out laughing, completely unbothered. "What? Can't handle the sight in front of you?"

Your face burned. "Put on some clothes, you idiot!"

He smirked. "Why are you acting so weird? You've seen me shirtless countless times before."

Yeah. But this time was different.

This time, your mind was still stuck in that dream. This time, he wasn't just your best friend. This time, you couldn't ignore how attractive he was.

You kept your hands firmly over your eyes, refusing to let yourself look at him again.

"That was before you became a full-on gym rat!"

Keeho grinned. "Oh? So you're saying I look better now?"

You groaned. "Shut up and put some damn clothes on!"

Still chuckling, Keeho ruffled his damp hair and finally turned to grab his clothes from the couch.

Meanwhile, you stood there, refusing to open your eyes, trying to will your heart to stop racing.

After what felt like an eternity of keeping your eyes shut, you finally heard Keeho shuffling around behind you. A moment later, his voice rang out, still way too amused for your liking.

“Alright, alright. I’m dressed. You can relax now.”

Cautiously, you peeked through your fingers, just to be safe. Keeho stood in front of you, now fully clothed in his hoodie and sweatpants, hair still slightly damp but no longer dripping.

You exhaled in relief, pretending like your heart wasn’t still racing. Pretending like you weren’t replaying the image of him half-naked in your mind. Pretending like last night’s dream wasn’t messing with your head.

Keeho smirked, watching you carefully. “You good?”

“Yeah,” you said way too fast.

Keeho’s smirk deepened. “Are you sure? You seem kinda… tense.”

“I’m fine,” you said, waving him off. “Let’s just- let’s eat or something. I’m starving.”

“Uh-huh,” Keeho said, clearly not buying it, but thankfully, he didn’t push. Instead, he stretched his arms over his head and yawned. “Alright, food sounds good. What do you have?”

You made your way to the kitchen, glad for the distraction. “Not much. I need to go grocery shopping. But I think I have eggs, maybe some toast.”

Keeho gasped dramatically, cutting you off. “Excuse me? You invited an international K-pop sensation into your home and didn’t prepare a five-star meal for him?”

You snorted, rolling your eyes. “First of all, you invited yourself. Second of all, you’re getting whatever I have, Mr. International K-pop Sensation.”

Keeho grinned. “Fair enough. I’ll make us something.”

“You can cook?” you asked, raising a skeptical eyebrow.

“I lived alone for years. What do you think I ate? Air?”

“Honestly? Wouldn’t be surprised.”

Keeho rolled his eyes but started gathering ingredients anyway. Soon, the kitchen was filled with the sizzling sound of eggs frying in a pan and the familiar comfort of easy conversation. For a moment, everything felt normal again.

Until Keeho suddenly turned to you and asked, “Hey, are you seeing anyone?”

You nearly dropped your glass of water.

Your brain short-circuited for a second before you managed to choke out, “W-what?”

Keeho shrugged, flipping the eggs like he hadn’t just sent your entire nervous system into overdrive. “I dunno. I was just thinking… I’ve been gone for a while. Maybe you met someone.”

Why was he asking this? Why now?

Your heart was pounding, but you forced yourself to play it cool. “No. Not seeing anyone.”

Keeho smirked. “Interesting.”

You frowned. “Why is that interesting?”

Keeho gave you a pointed look. “Because you’re awesome. Anyone would be lucky to date you.”

For a second, you forgot how to breathe. You opened your mouth, but no words came out. What were you even supposed to say to that?

Keeho seemed completely unaware of the chaos he had just unleashed inside your brain. He just went back to cooking like he hadn’t just casually thrown you into an emotional crisis.

You took a deep breath, trying desperately to regain your composure. It was just Keeho being Keeho. Playful, teasing, completely unaware of the fact that you had been hopelessly falling for him.

“Well,” you said, forcing a smirk, “what about you? You seeing anyone?”

Keeho paused. It was subtle, but you caught it. The tiniest hesitation. The smallest flicker of something unreadable in his eyes. Then, just as quickly as it came, it was gone.

“Nah,” he said easily, plating the eggs like the question meant nothing. “Too busy for that.”

Something about his tone didn’t sit right with you. Too busy? Sure, Keeho was busy, but that never stopped him from making time for you. From calling you at 3AM after a long day. From flying home whenever he had a break, even if it was just for a few days. If he really wanted to be with someone, he’d find a way. Right?

Before you could overthink it, Keeho slid a plate in front of you and grinned. “Eat up, loser.”

You rolled your eyes, but your mind was still stuck on that tiny pause. That unreadable look. And for the first time, you wondered - was Keeho really not seeing anyone? Or was he hiding something?

The two of you were laying on the couch, watching some random movie, when Keeho’s phone buzzed. At first, you didn’t pay attention. But then, he ignored the call.

No glance at the screen. No “I’ll call them later.” He just reached over and flipped his phone over, screen-down. Your eyebrows furrowed.

“Who was that?” you asked.

Keeho stretched his arms over his head and yawned. “No one important.”

Another buzz. A text this time. And again - Keeho ignored it. Your curiosity piqued.

Now, normally, you weren’t the nosy type. Normally, you respected privacy. But something about the way Keeho was deliberately ignoring his phone had your stomach twisting with suspicion.

So when Keeho got up to grab a drink from the kitchen, leaving his phone unattended, you glanced at the screen. Just one quick look. One tiny peek. But what you saw made your breath catch.

Unknown Number: Hey… I miss you.

Your heart stopped.

What. The. Hell.

Before you could process it, Keeho returned, plopping back onto the couch like nothing had happened.

“You want anything?” he asked, sipping his drink.

But you barely heard him. Because your brain was now screaming with questions. Who the hell was that? Why were they saying they missed him? Why did Keeho act like it was nothing?

You opened your mouth, about to say something - confront him, ask him, anything - but Keeho suddenly threw an arm over the back of the couch, stretching out lazily. And then, as if sensing the tension in your body, he smirked.

“Why do you look like you’re plotting my murder?”

You stiffened. “I do not.”

“You do.”

You forced a laugh, shaking your head. “You’re imagining things.”

Keeho raised an eyebrow. “Uh-huh. Sure.”

He was completely unaware of what you had just seen. And maybe it was the paranoia creeping in. Maybe it was the exhaustion of constantly pushing your feelings down.

But suddenly, for the first time since he came home, you didn’t feel like you knew Keeho as well as you thought. And that thought terrified you.

The breaking point came later that night.

Keeho had gone to the bathroom, and you were curled up on the couch, pretending to scroll through your phone. But your thoughts were elsewhere.

Who was texting him?

Why didn’t he answer?

Was he hiding something from you?

And before you could stop yourself, you found yourself reaching for Keeho’s phone. It was sitting on the coffee table, completely unlocked. He trusted you. And you weren’t the type to snoop.

But something deep inside you, something desperate, something insecure, something you didn’t want to name, was itching for answers. So, before you could second-guess yourself, you grabbed his phone and opened his messages.

Your heart pounded as you scrolled, searching for the unknown number. And then - you found it.

Unknown Number: Hey… I miss you.

Unknown Number: Keeho? Are you ignoring me?

Unknown Number: I know things got messy, but can we please just talk?

Messy?

Your breath caught in your throat. This wasn’t just some friend. Something happened between Keeho and this person. And he hadn’t told you.

Your fingers hovered over the screen, temptation gnawing at you. Do you click the number? Do you look through their conversation? But before you could decide-

“What are you doing?”

Your whole body froze.

Slowly, dread creeping up your spine, you turned around. Keeho was standing there, dripping wet from the shower, a towel slung around his neck.

His expression? Not amused. Not confused. Just… disappointed.

You opened your mouth, scrambling for an excuse, a joke, anything. But Keeho’s voice came low, serious.

“I trusted you.”

Your stomach dropped. For the first time in your life, you had nothing to say. And for the first time in your life, Keeho wasn’t smiling at you. Your breath caught in your throat. The air between you and Keeho was thick with tension, heavier than it had ever been before.

“I-” Your voice cracked, and you swallowed hard, forcing yourself to meet his eyes. “Keeho, I’m sorry. I didn’t mean to-”

Keeho let out a sharp breath, shaking his head. “Didn’t mean to what? Go through my phone?”

Your stomach twisted. “I wasn’t- I just-”

“You just what?” His tone wasn’t angry, but it wasn’t Keeho’s usual teasing either. It was calm. Controlled. But that was almost worse.

You felt the urge to explain, to tell him that you weren’t trying to snoop, that you had just seen the text and couldn’t get it out of your head. But how were you supposed to say that without making it sound even worse?

Keeho exhaled, running a hand through his damp hair. “You know, I don’t think you realize how messed up this is.”

Your chest tightened. “I know. I know it was wrong. But Keeho- why are you acting like I just betrayed you?”

Keeho scoffed. “Because you did.”

You flinched.

He sighed, gripping the back of his neck like he was trying to stay calm. “Do you have any idea how many people already invade my privacy? How many people already think they’re entitled to know every little detail about my life?” His voice grew tighter, more frustrated. “I never thought you’d be one of them.”

Guilt clawed at your chest. “That’s not what this was-”

“Then what was it?” Keeho pressed. “You don’t trust me?”

Your heart pounded. “Of course I trust you.”

“Yeah?” Keeho let out a dry laugh, shaking his head. “Because it sure doesn’t feel like it.”

Your fingers curled into fists. “Keeho, I saw the text. Someone said they missed you, and you just ignored it. What was I supposed to think?”

“You were supposed to ask me, not sneak around behind my back!”

That made you snap.

“Oh, like you would’ve just told me the truth?” The words left your mouth before you could stop them.

Keeho’s expression shifted, something unreadable flickering through his eyes.

The silence that followed was loud.

He let out a slow breath, shaking his head. “You know what? Maybe I should just go.”

Your heart dropped.

“Wait- what?”

Keeho grabbed his hoodie from the couch, not looking at you. “I think it’s best if I head home now.”

Panic flared in your chest. “Keeho, don’t do that. Can we just-”

“I don’t want to fight with you,” he said, finally looking at you. But his eyes weren’t filled with the usual warmth. They were tired. Guarded. Distant.

And that hurt more than anything.

Your throat felt tight. “So what? You’re just gonna leave?”

Keeho hesitated, like maybe, just maybe, he was reconsidering.

But then, he exhaled sharply and turned away. “Yeah.”

And just like that, he was gone.

The door shut behind him, the sound echoing through the apartment. You stood there, frozen, staring at the empty space he had just left behind. And for the first time since Keeho came home, you weren’t sure if he was coming back.

One day.

It had only been one day since Keeho left your apartment, but it felt like an eternity.

His absence clung to every corner of the space. The empty spot on the couch where he had been sitting, the unfinished game of Mario Kart on the Switch, the faint scent of his cologne still lingering in the air.

And worst of all? The silence.

Keeho hadn’t called. He hadn’t texted. Nothing.

Which meant all you had left was your own mind, replaying the fight over and over again, twisting it around in every possible way, wondering if you had just ruined the most important relationship in your life.

Maybe it was best to just let him go. Maybe you had messed up too badly this time.

But suddenly your phone buzzed.

Your heart jumped into your throat as you scrambled to grab it, nearly dropping it in your rush. And there it was. A message from Keeho.

Keeho: Can we talk?

For a moment, all you could do was stare at the screen, heartbeat pounding. Then, without hesitating, you typed back:

You: Yeah. Come over.

Keeho arrived later that evening.

The second you opened the door, you searched his face, trying to read him. But his expression was… blank. Not cold. Not angry. Just carefully unreadable. That alone made your stomach twist.

You stepped aside, letting him in. Keeho walked past you into the apartment, heading toward the couch like he had done a hundred times before. Only this time, it wasn’t the same.

You quickly grabbed two glasses of water from the kitchen before sitting beside him, but not too close. There was still a strange weight in the air, a careful distance between you. For a moment, neither of you spoke. The silence was unbearable.

Until finally, you broke it. “Keeho, I am so sorry for-”

“Stop.” Keeho’s voice was firm, cutting you off immediately.

You looked at him, confused.

His jaw tensed slightly before he exhaled and shook his head. “There’s nothing for you to apologize for.”

Your eyebrows furrowed. “Keeho-”

“Seriously.” He glanced down at his hands, voice quieter now. “If anything… I should be the one apologizing.”

You blinked. “What?”

Keeho let out a deep sigh, running a hand through his hair before finally meeting your eyes.

“There’s something I have to tell you.”

Your breath hitched.

“I haven’t been completely honest with you.”

Your pulse spiked.

Suddenly, the room felt too small, too quiet. The air crackled with tension, thick with something unspoken, something Keeho had been holding back. And as you looked at him, as you saw the hesitation, the conflict in his eyes, you realized - whatever Keeho was about to say, it was going to change everything.

And the question wasn’t whether you wanted to hear it. It was whether you were ready.

Keeho remained silent at first, his fingers fidgeting with the hem of his hoodie. The air between you was thick, every second of silence dragging on painfully.

Your heart pounded as you whispered, “What is it, Keeho?”

He took a deep breath, as if gathering courage.

“When I asked you if you were seeing anyone…” Keeho started, hesitating before his eyes finally met yours. “I asked because… I am seeing someone.”

Your breath caught in your throat. A painful sting spread through your stomach, sharp and unexpected. Did Keeho just- Did he just confess that he has a girlfriend?

You forced yourself to stay still, composed, but the sudden weight in your chest made it hard to breathe.

Still, all you could manage to say was, “What- what do you mean?”

Keeho sighed, running a hand through his hair. “I thought that maybe if you were seeing someone, I wouldn’t have to feel so bad for not telling you about this earlier.”

He looked down, ashamed.

“But I was wrong… I feel guilty. I feel like I betrayed you because I was lying to you.”

Even though jealousy gnawed at your insides, you tried to pull yourself together.

You swallowed the lump in your throat and said, “You didn’t lie to me, Keeho. You just kept it a secret, and that’s totally reasonable. Not every single detail of your life is my business.”

Keeho’s head snapped up, his eyes locking onto yours with an intensity that made your pulse race. “But you’re my best friend… and there shouldn’t be anything that makes me feel the need to not tell you.”

You forced a fake, shaky. “It’s okay, Keeho.”

Keeho searched your face for something, maybe reassurance, maybe understanding, but his expression only tightened. “But it’s not what you think.”

Your eyebrows furrowed. “What do you mean?”

Keeho hesitated again, like he was searching for the right words. Then, his voice dropped lower. “I think I didn’t tell you because I was scared of how you would react to it. Of how it would change things between us.”

Your stomach twisted.

“What are you saying?” you murmured. “Keeho, if you’re happy, I’m happy.”

Keeho shook his head.

“But I’m not happy.”

Your heart skipped.

“I tried- I really tried to open up to her,” Keeho admitted, voice strained. “But I failed. I didn’t want to hurt her, but…” His fingers clenched into fists. “I figured that there’s already someone else my heart belongs to.”

Your lips parted in shock.

Someone else.

What… What did he mean?

Was there another person, someone he hadn’t told you about? Your mind raced, trying to make sense of his words.

Your mouth felt dry as you whispered, “Who…?”

Keeho looked at you, his gaze unreadable.

And suddenly, everything felt like it was hanging on his next words.

Keeho’s eyes darted down to his hands, his fingers fidgeting with the hem of his hoodie as he struggled to find the right words. His hesitation made your stomach twist. He was nervous. But why?

“I’m not sure how things will change after this,” Keeho admitted with a sigh.

Your nails dug into your thighs nervously. Your heart pounded against your ribs, fear creeping up your spine. You were scared of his answer. Scared of hearing something that would break you into pieces.

But when he finally spoke, his words shattered you in an entirely different way.

“It’s you.”

Your breath hitched. Your lips parted, but no words came out. Did you hear him right? You stared at Keeho, eyes wide in shock.

He gave you a small, nervous smile, but his fingers were clenched together like he was holding his breath, waiting, terrified of your reaction.

“Please say something,” he murmured, voice barely above a whisper. “Or else this is super awkward for me.”

Your mind was still spinning.

“Keeho… I- I don’t know what to say.”

Keeho let out a short, nervous laugh. “Just say something. Anything. Even if you’re gonna break my heart, I won’t be mad at you.”

You quickly shook your head. “No, Keeho. I just- I had no idea you were feeling this way.”

Keeho exhaled sharply, his lips curling into a self-deprecating smile. “Well, that’s because I never told you.”

You could feel the weight of his words hanging in the air. This wasn’t a joke. This wasn’t Keeho teasing you like he always did. This was real. Keeho was serious.

And you needed to say something - anything - to make him understand that you felt the same way. But before you could even form the words, Keeho rubbed the back of his neck, looking away.

“Well… this is embarrassing,” he muttered. “Maybe I should’ve just kept my mouth shut.”

“No!” The word burst out of you before you could stop it.

Without thinking, you reached out and placed a hand on his thigh, your grip firm, desperate. Keeho’s eyes widened, completely taken aback by your sudden reaction.

Your voice softened as you mumbled, “It’s not embarrassing.”

Keeho stared at you, his lips parting slightly, stunned. You took a deep breath, gathering your courage.

“Keeho, I…” You hesitated, then pushed through. “I’ve been feeling the same way.”

Keeho’s body tensed.

You could feel your face heating up, but you didn’t stop.

“I didn’t know how to tell you. I didn’t even know if I should tell you-” You swallowed hard. “Because I didn’t want to ruin our friendship.”

Keeho blinked at you, his expression unreadable.

The silence was heavy, deafening.

Then, after what felt like forever, Keeho let out a breathless laugh. “Are you serious?”

You gave him a small, nervous nod.

Keeho exhaled, running a hand down his face. “Holy shit.”

You bit your lip. “Yeah. Holy shit.”

Keeho stared at you for a moment longer, like he was trying to process everything.

And then, suddenly, Keeho grinned.

A real, genuine, Keeho-style grin.

“You’re telling me we’ve both been idiots this whole time?”

A laugh escaped your lips, relieved, overwhelmed, completely breathless. “Yeah. I guess we have.”

Keeho shook his head in disbelief before grinning like an idiot. “I can’t believe you kept it a secret that you’re in love with me.”

You hissed, narrowing your eyes. “Who says I’m in love? It’s just a little, tiny crush.”

Keeho let out a deep chuckle, running a hand through his hair playfully. “Oh, come on. Stop lying. I know it’s hard not to fall in love with someone like me.”

You rolled your eyes. “I can’t even believe I like someone as cocky as you.”

Keeho raised an eyebrow. “Oh, you’re gonna regret that.”

Before you could react, Keeho lunged forward and started tickling you.

“K-Keeho!” you shrieked, laughing so hard you could barely breathe.

“Admit it!” Keeho said between teasing attacks.

“N-No! Stop!” you gasped, thrashing against him, but he didn’t let up.

You kicked, you squirmed, tears forming at the corners of your eyes from laughing so hard.

“Keeho, please!” you screamed.

But he didn’t stop. Instead, in the middle of his merciless assault, Keeho lost his balance and suddenly he slipped and fell on top of you.

The room went completely silent.

Your breath hitched as you froze beneath him. Keeho’s hands were on either side of your head, his body hovering over yours, his face only inches away. You could feel the warmth of his breath, the weight of his presence pressing against you.

Your stomach flipped.

Keeho had never been this close before.

You could see every detail - the way his dark eyes flickered with something unreadable, the way his lips were just slightly parted, the way his chest rose and fell a little faster than usual.

“Hey…” Keeho murmured.

Just one word.

Soft. Barely a whisper.

Your lips parted, breath catching in your throat. “What-”

But before you managed to finish your sentence, Keeho leaned in. And then, his lips intertwined with yours.

Your eyes widened in shock.

For a split second, your brain refused to believe this was real.

Was this happening?

Was Keeho really kissing you?

But you quickly realized that this time, it wasn’t a dream. This time, it was real. A million butterflies erupted in your stomach, your whole body tingling at the feeling of Keeho’s lips against yours.

Soft. Warm. Perfect.

And suddenly - you weren’t thinking anymore.

You let yourself melt into the kiss.

Your body relaxed, your hands gripping the fabric of his hoodie, pulling him in just the slightest bit closer.

Keeho responded immediately, tilting his head, deepened the kiss, one of his hands moving to gently cup your cheek. It was slow, sweet, teasing. Just like him.

Your heart felt like it was about to explode.

Every suppressed feeling, every stolen glance, every unspoken word between you - all of it was pouring into this moment.

When Keeho finally pulled away, his forehead rested against yours, his breath shaky. For a moment, neither of you spoke.

Then, he let out a soft chuckle.

“You okay down there?” he teased, like he hadn’t just turned your entire world upside down.

“No, I am not okay.” You buried your face in your hands. “You can’t just kiss me out of nowhere and then act all casual about it!”

Keeho chuckled. “Would you rather I have given you a warning?”

You glared at him. “Yes!”

“Alright,” Keeho grinned. Then, he suddenly cupped your face with his hand, leaning in way too close again.

“Hey,” he whispered.

Your breath hitched. “W-What?”

“I’m gonna kiss you now.”

Your brain malfunctioned.

And then, before you could even process what was happening - Keeho kissed you again.

This time, it was shorter, but just as dizzying.

And when he pulled away, he was grinning even wider.

“There. Warning included.”

Your soul left your body.

“Keeho, I swear to God-!”

Keeho cackled, dodging the pillow you threw at him.

“Told you,” he murmured.

You blinked up at him, breathless. “Told me what?”

“That you were in love with me.”

You groaned, covering your face with your hands. “Shut up, Keeho.”

He just laughed, stealing another quick kiss before finally letting you breathe again.

And in that moment - you realized.

This wasn’t just a crush anymore.

It was so much more.

And it always had been.

The room was still charged with electricity from the kiss, the warmth of Keeho’s lips lingering on yours. Neither of you had moved. Neither of you had spoken. But the question hung in the air between you, heavy and impossible to ignore.

“So… what happens now?” you finally asked, your voice softer than you expected.

Keeho exhaled, running a hand through his hair as he leaned back against the couch, deep in thought.

“I guess that depends on us,” he murmured.

Your stomach twisted. “Us.” That word felt so foreign - so new.

Keeho looked over at you, studying your expression carefully. “You’re overthinking, aren’t you?”

You bit your lip. “It’s just… you’re leaving soon. You’re going back to Korea, back to your crazy schedule, back to a life where we barely see each other.”

Keeho was quiet for a moment before he shifted closer, reaching for your hand. His fingers curled around yours, warm and familiar.

“We’ll figure it out,” he said simply.

You let out a breath. “How can you be so sure?”

Keeho squeezed your hand gently. “Because it’s us.”

Your heart fluttered.

“Yeah, but long-distance relationships are hard. You’ll be busy, traveling, constantly surrounded by people. What if-”

Keeho cut you off. “What if we make it work?”

You blinked at him.

“What if we don’t let the distance change anything?” he continued, his voice steady. “I know it won’t be easy, but I don’t want to pretend this didn’t happen. I don’t want to go back to how things were before.”

Your chest tightened. “Neither do I.”

Keeho smiled, his thumb grazing over your knuckles. “Then we’ll find a way.”

You stared at him, searching for any hesitation, any doubt. But Keeho looked at you like this was the easiest decision in the world.

Like he had already chosen you.

You let out a shaky laugh. “I still can’t believe this is happening.”

Keeho smirked. “If you need another kiss to remind you, I’m happy to help.”

You rolled your eyes, but your smile didn’t fade. Maybe this wouldn’t be easy. Maybe there were challenges ahead. But right now, sitting here with Keeho, his fingers laced with yours -

You were willing to try.

───── ♡ ─────

288 notes · View notes

sweetmisery · 6 months ago

Text

touch me, tease me | choi jiung

summary: what started as a silly crush, ended with this - pinned beneath Jiung, his touch slow, deliberate torment. only one thought lingers on your mind: how much longer could you withstand Jiung‘s teasing?

pairing: jiung x female!reader

genre: smut

warnings: mdni! foreplay (f receiving), protected sex, looots of teasing

word count: 10k

a/n: well that escalated quickly lol this wasn‘t meant to be this long but i just couldn‘t stop writing about teasing Jiung 😝 (also blonde Jiung is just ugh!!!) it's been a while since i have written smut and i like keeping it a little decent 🙈 thank you @lilacs4ung for requesting this, i hope this matches your suggestions :) hope you enjoy reading it ♡

The club was loud, music pulsing through the air, lights flashing in chaotic patterns, and bodies moving in every direction. You had lost track of how many drinks you had, but you knew it was enough to make the room spin slightly. Keeho and Intak had kept a close eye on you all night, laughing at your slightly clumsy movements but making sure you didn’t get into too much trouble.

You stumbled off the dance floor, giggling at absolutely nothing, and found them sitting at a booth near the bar. They looked up as you approached, and Keeho immediately raised an eyebrow.

"Are you okay?" he asked, reaching out to steady you as you nearly tripped over your own feet.

Intak, on the other hand, just laughed. "Yeah, you don’t look okay," he teased. "Maybe we should get you home?"

You shook your head, then paused to steady yourself. “Can we go to your place?”

Keeho and Intak exchanged a glance.

"Whyyy?" Keeho asked, dragging the word out as if he already knew you were about to say something stupid.

You didn’t even hesitate. “Because Jiung is there.”

The second the words left your mouth, you realized your mistake.

Silence stretched between the three of you, the club’s pounding music suddenly background noise compared to the sheer weight of your drunken confession. You watched as Keeho and Intak turned to each other, their confusion melting into matching smirks.

“Ohhh,” Intak said, grinning from ear to ear.

Keeho leaned in, eyebrows raised. "Interesting."

Your stomach dropped. "What?"

Intak nudged Keeho. "She wants to go to our place because Jiung is there."

Keeho gasped dramatically. "Wait- could it be? Our dear friend has a crush?"

You groaned, burying your face in your hands. "Can we just go?"

Keeho and Intak exchanged another knowing look, their grins widening. They didn’t say anything as they grabbed their coats, but you just knew this wasn't over. Not by a long shot.

“So, since when have you had the hots for Jiung?” Keeho asked, his voice dripping with amusement.

You rolled your eyes, stumbling slightly as you walked. "I don't have the hots for him."

Intak snickered. "Uh-huh. Sure. That’s why you immediately asked to go to our place when you found out he was there?"

The alcohol had you feeling bold or reckless, maybe both, so you huffed and threw your hands up. “Fine! I think he’s hot! Like, stupidly, unfairly hot! I mean, have you seen him? His jawline? His voice? His hands?”

Keeho and Intak bursted into laughter, but you were on a roll now.

“And he’s so… I don’t know, cool. Like, effortlessly cool. It’s annoying! And don’t even get me started on when he wears those sleeveless shirts because oh my god. I want him so bad-”

You stopped. The realization hit like a truck. Your eyes went wide as your drunken brain catched up with what your mouth had been spewing for the past minute and a half.

Slowly, you turned to look at Keeho and Intak, who were now wheezing, practically crying from laughter. Keeho was bent over, gripping his stomach, while Intak was clutching onto his shoulder for support.

"Oh no," you whispered, horrified. "I talked too much."

Keeho wiped a tear from his eye. "Oh, you sure did."

Intak grinned. "I think my favorite part was when you said you wanted him."

You choked. "I said what?"

Keeho smirked. "You said, and I quote - 'I want him so bad.'"

You stared at them in absolute horror as the words replayed in your head. You did say that. Out loud.

"Take me home," you mumbled, covering your face. "Bury me in the ground. I don't exist anymore."

But Keeho just threws an arm around your shoulder, shaking his head with a devilish grin. "Oh no, we're definitely going to our place now."

"And you're definitely facing Jiung," Intak added.

You were doomed.

The ride to Keeho and Intak’s apartment was torture. They wouldn’t shut up about Jiung, throwing your own words back at you every chance they got. You threatened to jump out of the car, but that only made them laugh harder.

By the time you arrived, you were fully expecting to die of embarrassment the moment you stepped inside. But then - relief.

Jiung wasn’t there.

“Thank god,” you mumbled under your breath, slumping against the doorway.

Keeho glanced at his phone. “He must be working late,” he muttered before tossing his keys onto the counter. “Lucky you.”

You let out a huge sigh and stumbled toward the couch, throwing yourself onto it dramatically. The cushions were soft, and your body finally relaxed now that the immediate threat of Jiung witnessing your humiliation had passed.

But Keeho and Intak? They weren’t about to let you off the hook so easily.

“So…” Keeho dragged out the word as he flopped onto the couch beside you.

Intak plopped down on the armrest, grinning. “Are we just gonna ignore the fact that you said you want Jiung?”

You groaned, burying your face in a pillow. “Can we please forget that happened?”

Keeho scoffed. “Absolutely not.”

"You said you want him," Intak reminded you, smirking. “So, maybe you should try to get him.”

You lifted your head just enough to glare at him. “Yeah? And how do you suggest I do that?”

Keeho shrugged. “I mean, Jiung is still single. He’d definitely be down for a little fun.”

Intak hummed in agreement. “He hasn’t been with a girl in a while, so honestly? He’s probably just as desperate as you are.”

You choked. “Excuse me?”

Intak grinned. “I’m just saying…”

“Stop,” you groaned, dragging your hands down your face. The heat creeping up your neck was unbearable, and it only got worse when Intak and Keeho exchanged that look, like they were already planning ways to make this worse for you.

But thankfully, after a few more minutes of teasing, they seemed to get bored of torturing you. Keeho stretched with a yawn. “Alright, I’m heading to bed. Don’t stay up all night thinking about Jiung, okay?”

Intak smirked as he stood up. “Or do. Might help you manifest something.”

You grabbed a pillow and threw it at him. He dodged effortlessly, laughing as he disappeared into his room. Keeho followed, leaving you alone in the living room.

You exhaled deeply and sank further into the couch, exhausted. The apartment was quiet now, the only sound being the distant hum of the city outside. The warmth of the alcohol still lingered in your body, making your eyelids heavy. You didn’t even bother grabbing a blanket. The couch was comfortable enough, and after the chaos of the night, sleep took you instantly.

The first thing you felt when you woke up was a pounding headache. The second was the realization that you weren’t in your own bed. Your eyes fluttered open, and as you stared at the ceiling, it took you a moment to remember - Keeho and Intak’s apartment. The place they shared with Jiung.

Panic set in.

You groaned softly, rubbing your face as memories from last night started flooding back. The club. The drinks. The things you had told the boys about Jiung.

Oh god.

You squeezed your eyes shut in embarrassment, silently praying that Jiung hadn’t seen you passed out on the couch. Maybe he still wasn’t home. Maybe you could sneak out before anyone noticed. Slowly, you sat up, scanning the apartment. The place was quiet, and there was no sign of Keeho or Intak. That was a good sign, right? You quickly gathered your things, trying to be as quiet as possible. If you could just slip out the door without making a sound-

"Leaving already?"

You froze.

That voice was too familiar. Your breath caught in your throat as you turned around, heart pounding.

There he was.

Jiung stood a few feet away, looking effortlessly attractive despite being dressed casually in sweatpants and a hoodie. His bleached hair was slightly messy, and the soft morning light from the window made him look even more unreal.

You let out an awkward laugh, trying to mask your nervousness. “Uh- yeah. I need to shower and everything.”

Jiung tilted his head slightly, a small smirk tugging at the corner of his lips. “You can shower here.”

You blinked. What?

Before you could respond, he walked past you toward the kitchen. “I was about to make breakfast,” he added casually. “It’d be a shame if you couldn’t try the best pancakes in the world.”

Your brain short-circuited. Jiung was… inviting you to stay? Why was he being so nice to you all of a sudden? You had never really talked much before, and now he was offering you a shower and pancakes?

You swallowed, trying to ignore the heat rising to your cheeks. “O-okay. I’ll just ask Keeho if I can borrow some clothes.”

Jiung nodded before disappearing into the kitchen, leaving you standing there, completely dazed.

As you made your way to the bathroom, your mind raced. Was Jiung just being polite? Or did he- no, stop. Don’t overthink this. Still, as you closed the bathroom door behind you, you couldn’t help but let out a deep sigh.

This man was going to make you suffer.

After a quick shower and changing into the clothes Keeho lent you, you took a deep breath and stepped out of the bathroom. The scent of fresh pancakes and syrup filled the air, making your stomach grumble. As you entered the kitchen, Keeho, Intak, and Jiung were already sitting at the table, plates of food in front of them.

The moment Intak spotted you, he grinned and, with a mouth full of food, yelled, "Good morning, drunkard!"

You froze.

Keeho burst out laughing, and even Jiung let out a small chuckle as your entire face heated up. You groaned, rubbing your temples as you sat down at the table, avoiding their amused gazes. "Can you not?"

"Sorry, sorry," Intak said, clearly not sorry at all. "You just had a lot to say last night. Very entertaining stuff."

You shot him a glare before quickly turning your attention to the plate in front of you. The food looked incredible, but more than anything, you found yourself staring at the stack of pancakes Jiung had made. They were golden brown, drizzled with syrup, and smelled heavenly.

You picked up your fork and took a bite, your eyes widening slightly. "Oh my god."

Jiung glanced at you, raising an eyebrow. "Good?"

"So good," you admitted, immediately taking another bite.

He smirked slightly before focusing back on his own food. Keeho, however, wasn’t about to let the moment slide.

"So, what’s the plan for today?" Keeho asked, stretching lazily.

Jiung leaned back in his chair. "We could just stay in. Play some video games, watch some movies."

Intak nodded. "Sounds good to me."

You swallowed the last of your pancake and wiped your hands on a napkin. "I should probably head home after breakfast."

You expected them to just nod, but instead, Jiung looked up from his plate. "You can chill with us if you want."

Your heart stopped for a second.

Keeho and Intak both turned to look at you, and you could practically feel their knowing smirks burning into your skin. Why was Jiung asking you to stay? You weren’t even that close. You’d barely talked before.

You hesitated, still processing his words, but then… you realized something. This was your chance. Your chance to get closer to him, even if it was going to be awkward as hell now that Keeho and Intak knew just how down bad you were for Jiung.

You cleared your throat, keeping your expression as neutral as possible. "Uh… yeah. I guess I could stay a little longer."

Intak smirked. Keeho wiggled his eyebrows. Jiung just nodded and continued eating like he hadn’t just thrown your entire world into chaos.

You were so doomed.

The day had gone by in a blur of video games, silly movies, and way too much teasing from Keeho and Intak. You had done your best to act normal around Jiung, but every time you glanced in his direction, you felt the heat rise to your cheeks.

Now, as the evening settled in, you stretched your arms and let out a small sigh. “Alright, I should really head home now.” You glanced at the others, expecting someone to offer to drive you. “Anyone down to take me?”

Keeho suddenly let out an exaggerated yawn, stretching his arms. “Ahh, I’m so tired. I think I need to go to bed right now.”

You narrowed your eyes. Liar.

Intak smirked. “Yeah, same. I have to prep some things for work.”

Before you could argue, Keeho turned to Jiung, grinning way too much. “Jiung can drive you home.”

Your stomach dropped.

Jiung barely hesitated before nodding. “Sure, I can do that.”

You swore you heard Intak snicker under his breath. Keeho gave you a pointed look, and before you could even react, both of them were already heading toward their rooms, leaving you alone with Jiung.

You glared at the hallway where they disappeared, knowing full well they did that on purpose.

Jiung grabbed his jacket and car keys before turning to you. “Got everything?”

You nodded quickly, still trying to process that this was actually happening. “Yeah.”

The two of you headed outside, the air crisp against your skin as you climbed into Jiung’s car. The moment he started the engine, a thick awkward silence settled between you. You stared straight ahead, your hands resting in your lap, too aware of his presence beside you. Jiung, in his usual effortless way, didn’t seem fazed at all. But you? Your thoughts were racing.

Then, after a beat, Jiung reached for the console and turned on some music, filling the quiet with a soft melody. You exhaled, relaxing a little. But then, as you subtly glanced at him from the corner of your eye, a new problem presented itself.

Jiung looked… insanely attractive when driving.

The way his hands gripped the steering wheel, the faint glow of the dashboard lights reflecting off his skin, the relaxed expression on his face as he focused on the road - it was almost too much.

You swallowed, quickly looking away. This is fine. Just act normal.

But no matter how hard you tried, the thought wouldn’t leave your head.

The rest of the drive to your apartment had been quiet, aside from the soft hum of the music playing through the speakers. You spent most of the time overthinking, stealing glances at Jiung while trying to act normal.

But somehow, you had survived.

As Jiung pulled into the parking lot of your apartment complex, he slowed to a stop. You exhaled, feeling a mix of relief and disappointment. Relief because you finally made it home without embarrassing yourself, but disappointment because you didn’t want the night to end just yet.

You turned to Jiung with a small smile. “Thanks for the ride.”

He nodded, lips quirking up slightly. “Anytime.”

You reached for the car door handle, ready to step out - but then, a thought hit you.

This was it. Your chance.

You had spent so long admiring Jiung from a distance, always feeling like there was some invisible barrier between you two. But now, after everything that had happened today, the breakfast, the movies, the car ride, you felt closer to him than ever. If you didn’t take this opportunity now… would you ever get another one?

Your heart pounded. Before you could talk yourself out of it, the words left your mouth.

"Do you maybe… wanna come up?"

The second you said it, regret hit you like a truck.

Why did you say that?!

Jiung was probably going to turn you down, politely decline, and you’d have to live with the embarrassment for the rest of your life. You braced yourself, already planning how you’d laugh it off and pretend you weren’t dying inside. But then-

“I’d love to.”

Your breath caught. You turned to him, eyes wide, expecting him to be joking. But Jiung just looked at you, completely serious. He wanted to come up.

You quickly nodded, trying to ignore the way your pulse was racing. “O-okay. Cool. Yeah. Let’s go.”

Jiung smirked slightly, unbuckling his seatbelt.

As you both stepped out of the car and walked toward your building, one thought consumed your mind. What the hell did you just get yourself into?

The moment you stepped inside your apartment, a strange, heavy tension filled the air. Jiung followed behind you, his presence impossible to ignore. You set your things down, pretending to be busy while trying to calm your racing heart.

Jiung leaned casually against the wall, watching you with a small smirk, as if he could tell just how nervous you were. Then, his voice cut through the silence. "So… why did you invite me up?"

You froze.

Your breath hitched as you turned to look at him, caught completely off guard. "I- uh- I just thought maybe you wanted to, you know… chill a bit more before heading home."

Jiung raised an eyebrow, clearly not buying it. "Oh?" He tilted his head slightly, taking a slow step closer. "And why do you think I agreed to come up?"

You swallowed, suddenly hyper-aware of the way he was looking at you. There was a small pause, the tension between you both thick enough to drown in.

Then, finally, Jiung spoke again. "Well… if I'm being honest… I wanted to spend some time alone with you."

Your mind went blank.

What.

Did he just-?

You stared at him, trying to process his words, but your brain refused to function. Jiung could sense your nervousness, and instead of backing off, he only made it worse. He took another step forward, closing the space between you. His voice dropped slightly, teasing yet soft. "Isn’t that what you wanted too?"

Your head snapped up, eyes locking with his. Your throat went dry. Your heart was pounding. You tried to speak, but the words caught in your throat before you finally stammered out, “Y-y-yes.”

Jiung’s lips curved into a soft smile, and before you could even react, he reached out and gently took your hand in his. "You don’t need to be nervous," he murmured. His thumb brushed lightly over the back of your hand, sending shivers down your spine.

But how could you not be nervous? Jiung was this close, his touch was this gentle, his gaze was this intense. How were you supposed to survive this moment without completely falling apart?

Jiung’s thumb brushed over the back of your hand again, his grip gentle but so distracting. You felt like you were standing on the edge of a cliff, the air thick with something undeniable.

“I have to admit something,” Jiung said, his voice smooth yet laced with amusement.

You blinked, still trying to get your heart rate under control. “W-what?”

He leaned in slightly, the teasing glint in his eyes unmistakable. “Keeho and Intak told me about what you said at the club.”

The world stopped.

Your entire body went stiff. Your face felt like it had been set on fire. The ground beneath you? Gone. The last shred of your dignity? Disintegrated.

Jiung knew.

He knew what you had said about him. That you found him hot. That you wanted him.

Your brain screamed at you to run, to somehow escape this nightmare, but your body betrayed you, completely frozen in place.

Jiung tilted his head, watching your reaction with pure amusement. “You’re really quiet all of a sudden.”

You snapped out of your panic just long enough to stumble over an apology. “I- I’m so sorry, I was just really drunk, and I didn’t know what I was saying, and I-”

Jiung’s expression shifted slightly. His eyebrows furrowed, and his grip on your hand tightened just a little. “So you didn’t actually mean what you said?”

You opened your mouth. Closed it. Opened it again.

Crap.

You had meant it. Every. Single. Word. But how were you supposed to admit that to his face? You could barely even breathe properly around him, and now he was expecting you to just… say it? You scrambled for an answer, but before you could even attempt to dig yourself out of the hole you were in, Jiung let out a small sigh.

“Well, too bad.”

Your breath hitched.

Jiung’s gaze locked onto yours, and with the most casual expression in the world, he added, “Because I was just about to tell you that I feel the same way about you.”

What. The. Hell.

Your brain short-circuited. Your mouth fell open, but nothing - absolutely nothing - came out.

He felt the same way? Since when?! You couldn’t process it. Couldn’t even react properly. All you could do was stare at him in complete shock, your heart threatening to explode. Jiung, on the other hand? He looked so smug. So completely amused by your flustered reaction. And you? You were absolutely doomed.

Jiung chuckled softly, his smug expression only making your flustered state worse. "You should say something," he teased, tilting his head slightly.

But you couldn’t. Your brain had completely shut down, your words tangled up somewhere between your rapidly beating heart and the overwhelming realization that Jiung liked you back. "I-" you swallowed, struggling to find the right words. "I don’t know what to say."

Jiung let out a small hum, his amusement only growing. "That’s cute."

Your face burned even hotter, and Jiung, clearly enjoying how easy it was to tease you, decided to push a little further.

"So?" He leaned in just a fraction closer. "Are you going to admit it?"

You bit your lip, your fingers curling into your palms. He wasn’t going to let this go. He was waiting - waiting for you to say it out loud. And god, you wanted to deny it, to keep holding onto whatever tiny bit of composure you had left, but the way he was looking at you, the way your heart was racing just being near him.

You inhaled sharply before finally muttering, “I- I like you.”

Jiung’s smirk widened. "See? That wasn’t so hard, was it?"

You glared at him, your face still burning, but before you could come up with a response, Jiung's tone suddenly shifted, just slightly. "Since we’re being honest…" He let his fingers brush against your wrist, his touch light but deliberate. "I’d be down so bad to have a little fun with you."

Your breath hitched.

Jiung watched you carefully, his expression playful but also sincere. "But only if you wanted to of course," he added. "I don’t want to push you."

You knew what he meant. And the thought alone sent your entire nervous system into overdrive.

"I-" You opened your mouth, then immediately closed it, panic creeping in. "I don’t… I don’t know how to do that."

Jiung’s eyebrows furrowed slightly. "Do what?"

You hesitated before forcing yourself to say it.

"Get intimate with someone?"

His lips parted in surprise, and for a second, you thought he had misunderstood what you meant. But then you quickly shook your head. "No! I mean- that’s not what I meant."

Jiung tilted his head, now genuinely curious. “Then what do you mean?”

You exhaled, forcing yourself to meet his gaze. "I mean… intimacy without commitment."

Jiung’s expression shifted slightly, his usual playful smirk replaced by something more serious. He studied you for a moment, his gaze searching, as if trying to figure out exactly what you meant by that.

The silence between you felt heavier now. Not awkward, but weighted, like you had just opened a door neither of you had ever stepped through before. And for the first time all night, Jiung didn’t immediately have a teasing remark ready. Instead, he simply watched you, waiting for you to say more. Waiting to see where this was going to go.

Jiung was silent for a moment, his gaze locked onto yours, as if carefully considering what you had just said.

"Intimacy without commitment."

His fingers, still lightly brushing against your wrist, suddenly traced a little higher, barely grazing your forearm. The touch was subtle, almost innocent but not quite.

"You don’t know how to do that?" he murmured, voice low and laced with something undeniably teasing.

Your breath caught in your throat.

Jiung tilted his head slightly, studying your reaction. "So… does that mean you’ve never done it? Or just that you don’t know if you could?"

Your throat went dry. He was testing you, pushing just a little to see how much you could take. "I just-" You swallowed, trying to keep your thoughts straight. "I don’t know how to… separate it. How to be close to someone without getting-"

Jiung took another step forward, closing the space between you inch by inch. "Attached?" he finished for you.

You nodded slowly, pulse hammering in your ears.

He hummed softly, his fingers trailing down your wrist before finally pulling away. The loss of contact made you exhale, only to realize that now his entire focus was on you.

"So if I were to touch you like this…" Jiung reached up, his knuckles barely grazing your jawline as he tucked a stray piece of hair behind your ear. His touch was gentle, featherlight, but your entire body reacted to it like a live wire. "Would it be too much?"

Your breath hitched. Was it?

You didn’t move away. You didn’t even flinch. But the way his fingertips lingered near your skin, the way his voice dripped with curiosity and amusement, it made it so much harder to think straight.

Jiung let his fingers trail down, brushing the side of your neck so deliberately that it sent a shiver down your spine. "Too much?" he asked again, his voice barely above a whisper.

You should say yes.

You really should. But instead, you just whispered, "No."

Jiung’s lips quirked up into a small, knowing smirk. "Interesting."

His hand dropped back to his side, but the electricity of his touch still lingered on your skin. You barely had a second to process what just happened before Jiung leaned in just enough for his breath to tickle your ear. "So, if there were no feelings involved," he murmured, voice dangerously soft, "you think you could handle this?"

Your heart nearly gave out. Jiung was testing you, pushing just enough to see how far you were willing to go. And the worst part? You weren’t sure if you even wanted him to stop.

The air felt thick, every breath you took weighed down by the lingering touch of Jiung’s fingers against your skin. You barely had a second to react before he suddenly reached for your hand. His grip was firm yet unbelievably gentle, and without a word, he guided you across the room toward the couch in your living room. Your pulse skyrocketed.

Jiung didn’t hesitate. He led you to sit down, his movements slow, deliberate, like he was savoring the way your body tensed under his touch. Then, without warning, he knelt down in front of you. Your heart stopped.

Jiung was right there, at your feet, his hands resting casually on his knees as he looked up at you with that same infuriatingly smug expression. The sight alone was almost too much. Too intimate. Too dangerous.

"You’re nervous," he mused, tilting his head. His voice was soft, but the teasing lilt in it was impossible to ignore.

You swallowed hard, gripping the fabric of your borrowed clothes. "I- I’m not."

Jiung’s lips curved into a smirk. "Liar."

Your face burned.

Then, slowly, he lifted his hand and rested it lightly on your knee. Not firm, not insistent, just enough for you to feel it. "Tell me," he murmured, his fingers tracing slow, lazy circles against your leg. "How far do you think you could go without catching feelings?"

Your entire brain shut down. The way he was looking at you - his dark eyes filled with pure amusement, like he was enjoying every second of watching you unravel - was enough to completely wreck you.

"I-" You swallowed again, your thoughts barely stringing together. "I don’t know."

Jiung hummed, pretending to think. Then, with excruciating slowness, he leaned in closer, his face inches from yours now, his breath warm against your skin. "Should we find out?"

Your stomach flipped.

Jiung’s hand, still resting on your knee, squeezed ever so slightly, just enough to send a spark of heat straight through you. He was testing you again. And you were seconds away from breaking. The air between you was thick, suffocating in the best and worst ways. Jiung’s presence, his touch, his words, had you balanced on a razor’s edge, and you had no idea how much longer you could hold yourself together.

Then, he dropped the bomb.

"How about we start off by getting rid of Keeho’s clothes?" Jiung murmured, his voice smooth yet playful. "It’s kinda distracting me."

You froze.

Your mouth opened, but no words came out. Your brain struggled to process what he had just said. "W-what?" you finally managed, looking at him in pure shock.

Jiung let out a soft laugh, clearly amused by your reaction. "Okay, okay. I’ll start first."

And then, before you could even fully react, he reached for the hem of his hoodie and pulled it over his head in one smooth motion

You stopped breathing.

The fabric landed somewhere across the room, but you couldn’t care less. Because now, Jiung was kneeling in front of you, shirtless, his toned chest and sculpted shoulders fully on display. His hands - warm, gentle, deliberate - rested lightly on your thighs again, his fingers barely brushing against the fabric of Keeho’s sweatpants.

That was it. The breaking point.

Your pulse skyrocketed, your entire body burning under his touch.

Jiung tilted his head slightly, his expression a mix of amusement and something deeper. His gaze never left yours, watching every tiny reaction you gave him. He was still teasing you, but carefully.

"You good?" he murmured, his fingers tracing small circles against your leg.

You swallowed hard, nodding way too quickly. "Y-yeah."

Jiung smirked. "If you don’t want something, stop me, alright?"

You barely had the chance to process his words before your body reacted on its own.

"Don’t stop."

The words left your mouth before you could even think about them, barely above a whisper, but Jiung heard them loud and clear. His smirk deepened.

"You like when I tease you like this?" he asked, his voice lower, smoother, almost testing you again.

Your body betrayed you, a tiny, involuntary shiver running down your spine. Jiung’s hands squeezed just slightly against your thighs, his touch light but firm enough to send another wave of heat through you. Your lips parted, your breath shaky, as you stared at him, completely spellbound.

Jiung chuckled, leaning in just a little closer, his bare skin impossibly warm. "Very interesting," he murmured.

And just like that, he had you completely in the palm of his hand. He knew exactly what he was doing. The way he watched you, his gaze intense yet playful, made it impossible to think straight.

You barely had time to process the next wave of teasing before Jiung’s hands slid up just slightly, his thumbs grazing the sensitive skin where your thighs met your hips. His touch was featherlight, but it sent a shiver straight through you. Your breath hitched. Jiung noticed.

And that was when his teasing stopped - just for a second. His smirk softened, his grip on you easing as he looked up at you through his lashes. Then, his voice dropped into something quieter, something almost hesitant.

"Can I…?"

You barely had time to process the question before Jiung slowly, so achingly slowly, leaned in and pressed his lips against yours. Your entire body froze. Then melted.

His lips were warm, soft, and so deliberate, like he was giving you time to pull away if you wanted to. But you didn’t. You couldn’t. Jiung took your lack of resistance as an answer, his hands shifting slightly, still firm, still keeping you grounded, but now… closer.

The kiss was slow, teasing in the way he barely applied pressure at first, like he wanted to see just how much you wanted him before giving you more. And god, you wanted more.

When he finally pulled back just an inch, his breath still lingering against your lips, he tilted his head and smirked. "You’re shaking," he murmured.

You were. And you had absolutely no idea how you were supposed to recover from this. And you couldn’t take it anymore. Before he could pull away completely, you closed the distance, crashing your lips back onto his. Jiung let out a small sound of surprise, but it quickly melted into something deeper, something more certain. His hands gripped your thighs a little tighter, his body tensing slightly as you wrapped your arms around his neck, pulling him closer.

You needed more.

Jiung felt it too.

Because without warning, he stood up from the floor, his hands never leaving you, and slowly pushed you down onto the sofa. Your back met the cushions, and before you could even process what was happening, Jiung was hovering over you, his body perfectly aligned with yours.

This time, the kiss was different. It wasn’t teasing anymore. It was hungry. Intense. Like neither of you wanted to hold back any longer. Jiung’s lips moved against yours with purpose, his hand sliding up to rest at the side of your face, his thumb brushing lightly against your jaw.

You let out a small, shaky breath as his weight pressed slightly into you, grounding you beneath him. It was overwhelming - his warmth, his touch, the way his fingers gripped the fabric of Keeho’s borrowed shirt like he was seconds away from pulling it off of you. Your fingers tangled into his hair, tugging slightly, and that was when Jiung let out a low, satisfied hum against your lips.

"Eager, huh?" he murmured against your mouth, his tone dripping with amusement.

You barely had time to feel embarrassed because the next thing you knew, Jiung’s lips left yours only to trail lower, pressing soft, lingering kisses along your jawline, down to the side of your neck. Your breath hitched, your fingers tightening against his shoulders.

Jiung chuckled at your reaction, his voice low and warm. "I knew you liked it when I teased you."

And honestly? You couldn’t even deny it anymore.

Jiung’s lips moved against your skin with a deliberate slowness, as if he wanted to memorize every reaction you gave him. The warmth of his breath against your neck sent a shiver down your spine, and you could feel the way he smiled against you, completely aware of how much he was affecting you.

Then, his fingers grazed the hem of your borrowed shirt. He pulled back just enough to meet your gaze, his dark eyes filled with something intense yet undeniably gentle. His hands rested at the edge of the fabric, waiting. "Can I?" he asked softly, his voice lower now, more serious.

Your chest tightened, not from nerves, but from the weight of the moment. Jiung, for all his teasing and confidence, was still giving you control. He wanted this, but only if you did too. You nodded. That was all he needed. With excruciating slowness, he lifted the fabric, his fingers grazing your skin as he pulled it over your head and tossed it somewhere behind him. The way his gaze darkened as he took you in made your heart skip a beat.

His hands traced a slow path down your sides, his fingers barely pressing into your skin, just enough to leave a trail of heat in their wake. "You look so good," Jiung murmured, his voice laced with something deeper, something real.

Your breath hitched as he leaned back down, his lips brushing over your collarbone, lingering, before he kissed lower. It wasn’t rushed. It wasn’t hurried. It was slow, deliberate, like he wanted to take his time with you. Like he wanted you to feel everything.

Your fingers instinctively threaded through his hair, holding onto him as his lips pressed soft, mellow kisses along your skin, his hands mapping out every inch of you with an unbearable gentleness. It was intoxicating - the way he touched you, the way he worshipped every reaction you gave him, like he was savoring it.

"Still doing okay?" he murmured between kisses, his voice breathless but completely focused on you.

You nodded, but it wasn’t enough for him.

Jiung pulled back just enough to study your face, his fingertips trailing lightly over your waist, his expression softer now. "I mean it," he murmured. "I need you to tell me."

Your heart squeezed at his words, at the way he made you feel like you were the only thing that mattered in this moment. You exhaled, your fingers tightening slightly against his shoulders. "I’m okay," you whispered.

Jiung smiled, really smiled, before pressing another kiss to your lips. "Good," he murmured against your mouth. And just like that, he pulled you right back under with him.

Jiung's lips were everywhere - soft, warm, deliberate as they trailed across your skin, leaving a path of heat and electricity in their wake. His fingers followed, tracing along your waist, your ribs, mapping out every inch of exposed skin like he was trying to memorize you. The slow drag of his touch sent shivers down your spine, and you knew - he was doing this on purpose.

Jiung pulled back just slightly, his breath warm against your skin. His dark eyes flickered up to yours, and the way he looked at you, like he was taking his time, like he was savoring this moment, made your stomach flip.

"You’re so easy to tease," he murmured, his lips curling into a small, knowing smirk.

Your face burned, and you let out a shaky breath. "Jiung-"

He shushed you, pressing a soft kiss to the edge of your jaw before whispering, "I like hearing the way you say my name."

Your fingers curled into the fabric of the couch, your entire body reacting to him in ways you couldn’t control. Jiung chuckled, obviously pleased with himself, his hands slowly traced down your belly, his eyes never leaving yours. You could feel your heart racing as he reached for the hem of your borrowed pants, his fingers brushing against your soft skin as he began to pull them down. You lifted your hips off the couch, helping him as he slid them down your legs and tossed them aside.

You were left laying there in just your panties, your breath coming in short, sharp gasps as you carefully watched Jiung. He ran his hands over your thighs gently, his hands exploring further, taking in every inch of you. His teasing sent your mind into overdrive and you could feel yourself growing more and more aroused by the second, throbbing with need.

"You’re really not stopping me," he murmured, his voice quieter now, less playful, more real.

You swallowed hard, your hands moving instinctively to pull him closer.

"I don’t want you to stop," you whispered.

Jiung could see the anticipation in your eyes, the way your breath hitched every time his hand moved lower. With a smirk, he slipped his hand between your thighs, his fingers finding the damp fabric of your panties.

"You're so tense," he teased, tilting his head. His fingers danced over your panties, barely touching yet setting your nerves on fire. "Relax for me."

Relax? How were you supposed to relax when he was doing this?

Jiung’s hands continued their slow descent, his lips hovering dangerously close to yours but never quite closing the distance. You could feel his smirk against your skin.

"You can still stop me anytime," he reminded you, voice softer now, gentler, as if he wanted you to know that you were still in control.

But stopping was the last thing on your mind. You weren’t sure when it had happened, when your hesitation had started to fade, when the tension had become something you actually wanted to lean into instead of shy away from. Jiung saw it. Felt it.

And that was why, without warning, he tilted your chin up, forcing you to meet his gaze.

"Tell me how much you want this," he murmured, his lips barely an inch from yours.

It was a challenge. A test. And god, the way he looked at you, like he was daring you to admit it, made your whole body heat up. Your lips parted, your breath shaky.

Jiung waited.

And then, finally, you gave in.

"I want this… so fucking bad." Your voice came out softer than you expected, but it was honest.

Jiung smirked at your response, his eyes glinting with mischief. ''Oh, I know you do,'' he said, his voice dripping with confidence. ''But I'm going to make you wait for it.''

You bit your bottom lip, feeling another rush of arousal flood your panties at his words. You couldn't help but squirm as Jiung's body hovered just above yours, the heat radiating off of him, and you wanted nothing more than to feel his skin against yours.

Jiung leaned forward, his breath hot against your skin as he placed a gentle kiss on your bare chest. You shivered, hips bucking up towards him as you let out a low moan. You could feel his smile against your skin as he began to tease you once more, his fingers tracing lazy circles over the fabric of your panties.

''Please Jiung,'' you begged, your voice barely above a whisper. ''I need more.''

Jiung chuckled, his fingers continuing to tease you as he looked up at you. ''Patience y/n,'' he said, his voice low and husky. ''I'm going to make this so good for you.''

Before you could respond, he slipped his fingers under the edge of your panties, teasing you with the barest of touch. You let out another low moan, as you felt his fingers brush against your wet folds.

You gasped, your back arching as Jiung's fingers began to explore. He teased you under the fabric, his touch light and taunting, as his thumb began to draw small circles over your sensitive spot. The heat between your legs grew more intense with each passing second. His fingers danced over your skin, before he finally - finally - pushed two of them inside you slowly.

You barely had time to breathe before he started pumping them gently inside of you, making you feel a desire you had never experienced before. Jiung continued pressing soft, lingering kisses along your collarbone, down your shoulder, each one making your pulse race even faster.

That's when he paused, glancing up at you, making you whine at the sudden stop of his movement.

"You’re really letting me do whatever I want, huh?" Jiung murmured, his smirk deepening.

You bit your lip, your breath shaky. "Maybe."

"Dangerous answer," Jiung chuckled, shifting just a little closer, his fingers curling up just a little inside of you. "Still no complaints?"

You couldn’t complain. Not when he was looking at you like that. Not when his hand made you feel like your entire body was on fire. His lips found your neck again, his fingers moving just a little faster inside of you now and just like that, you were completely lost in him. You felt yourself growing more and more desperate, letting out sharp gasps as your body shivered slightly.

"Sensitive, huh?" He smirked against your skin, pressing a kiss just below your jawline before whispering, "I like that."

You swallowed hard, gripping the fabric of the couch beneath you. "Jiung-"

He hummed, acting completely unbothered, even as his hands explored new territory - testing, pushing, waiting to see how much you’d let him get away with.

''Please,' you whimpered, your voice full of need. ''I need to cum.''

For a moment it seemed like he finally gave in to your begging, his fingers diving deep inside of you as he moved them with a fierce urgency. You let out a load moan, as you felt yourself spiraling out of control.

Just as you felt an orgasm building up inside of you, Jiung pulled his fingers away, leaving you panting and desperate for more. You frowned, your body aching for release.

Jiung simply chuckled, his eyes filled with mischief. ''I'm not gonna let you have all the fun to yourself,'' he said, his voice low. His lips hovered over yours, so close yet still refusing to fully close the distance. "You said you wanted this," he murmured, his voice smooth and knowing.

You swallowed hard. "I do."

Jiung tilted his head, his hands slowly dragging lower. "Then how much do you trust me?"

The question sent another wave of heat through you. Your body reacted first, shifting instinctively closer to him. Your fingers tightened around his bare shoulders, the warmth of his skin under your touch making your head spin.

Jiung chuckled at your silence. "That much, huh?"

Then, with deliberate ease, he reached for the waistband of his sweatpants, tugging them down along with his boxers, kicking them off completely.

You gasped at the sight of Jiung being fully exposed to you now.

Jiung noticed.

"You’re staring," he teased, smirking as he settled back between your legs, his fingers dipping beneath the hem of your panties.

Your stomach flipped as he toyed with the waistband, giving you plenty of time to stop him. You should’ve been embarrassed. Maybe even hesitant. But the truth was, you had already let him push you this far, and stopping now… stopping now felt impossible. So, instead of answering, you lifted your hips slightly, wordlessly giving him permission.

Jiung’s gaze darkened. And with excruciating slowness, he hooked his fingers into the waistband and slid your panties down, leaving you completely vulnerable beneath him. He took his time, his eyes dragging over you, admiring every inch of skin he uncovered. Then, finally, he exhaled.

"God," he muttered, shaking his head slightly, his fingers pressing into your hips. "You have no idea how good you look right now."

Your face burned. Before you could response, Jiung reached for his sweatpants again and pulled a silver wrapper out of its pocket. Once he wrapped it over his length he hovered over you, steadying himself between your legs. His hands remained firm on your waist, grounding you, keeping you exactly where he wanted you.

But just when you were about to completely melt into him, he pulled back slightly, his gaze meeting yours, his smirk softening just a little. "Still doing okay?"

You smiled, nodding. "Yeah."

Jiung studied you for a moment, as if making sure, before leaning down and pressing another kiss to your lips - slow, deep, filled with something more than just teasing. Something undeniable.

"Tell me what you want," he whispered against your ear.

Your stomach flipped at his words, heat pooling in your chest as Jiung’s hands resumed their slow exploration. His fingertips skimmed over your skin in featherlight touches, never lingering too long in one place - just enough to drive you insane.

You squeezed your eyes shut, your fingers tightening in his hair as you exhaled shakily. "Jiung… please, just-"

That was all he needed.

His grip on you tightened, his body pressing closer, his breath mixing with yours as he finally let himself fully sink into you. You moaned softly, your body stretching to accommodate him. Jiung moved slowly at first, his thrusts gentle and controlled and you could feel every inch of him, the sensation overwhelming. Instinctively, you wrapped your legs around him, pulling him deeper.

Jiung groaned, feeling his control slipping. He began to thrust harder, his movements becoming more frantic. You met him thrust for thrust, your nails digging into his back. You could feel yourself getting closer, the heat between the both of you building. Jiung's thrusts became erratic, his body shaking with effort. Your bodies intertwined, the tension grew as you moved together, your rhythm syncing perfectly.

This had started as a game - slow, teasing, meant to test you, to push you just far enough without completely unraveling you.

But now… now it was different.

Jiung had finally given in and now, neither of you wanted to stop.

His lips moved against yours with a new kind of urgency, a quiet hunger that wasn’t just about teasing anymore - it was about you. About this moment. About finally letting himself want you the way he had been holding back from all night.

Jiung, who had spent the entire night pushing you to the edge, was now fully lost in you too. You felt it. In the way his fingers curled into your waist, in the way his body pressed against yours, in the way his breath hitched slightly when your nails digged into his back, pulling him closer.

The playful remarks - they were gone now, replaced by something deeper, more raw. Because this wasn’t just about testing boundaries anymore. This was about crossing them together.

His forehead rested against yours for a moment as he caught his breath, his fingers still tracing slow, absentminded patterns against your skin, like he needed to memorize the feeling of you beneath him.

When he finally pulled back enough to look at you, his expression had changed.

"You’re really letting me have you like this," he murmured, his voice lower now, softer, almost as if he was still processing it himself.

You moaned softly, nodding. "I am."

Jiung exhaled, his fingers tightening slightly against your skin before he leaned down again, this time, pressing a kiss that was slow, deep, meaningful.

Not just teasing.

Not just desire.

But something more.

And neither of you ever wanted it to end.

Jiung could feel you getting closer, how your body tightening around him. He knew you were on the edge, and he was determined to send you over. With a final, deep thrust, he whispered your name against your ear. Your eyes squeezed shut as your orgasm crashed over you like a wave, your body arching off the couch. A soft moan escaped your lips, barely audible, yet electrifying. The sensation was like nothing you had ever felt before.

Jiung watched you carefully, his own release following quickly, as his thrusts slowed down and became more sloppy. With a raspy, whimpered moan, his orgasm finally washed over him. His body trembled above you, as he buried his face in your neck.

The room was quiet now, the only sounds filling the space were the soft, uneven breaths you and Jiung shared. The tension that had been so thick between you all night had finally unraveled, leaving nothing but the warmth of him against you.

Jiung collapsed on top of you, his body heavy yet comforting, his chest rising and falling with deep, steady breaths. His head rested against your chest, his damp hair tickling your skin, his warmth completely surrounding you.

You exhaled slowly, your fingers gliding gently down his back, tracing the lines of his shoulder blades, feeling the way his muscles relaxed under your touch. His skin was warm, slightly damp from the heat between you, and you could feel the way his heartbeat slowly began to steady against yours.

Neither of you spoke.

There was no need to.

Jiung let out a soft sigh against your skin, his fingers tracing absentminded patterns along your waist. You wondered what he was thinking, if he was feeling the same overwhelming mix of emotions crashing into you all at once.

You stayed like that for a little while, wrapped up in the warmth of each other, neither of you in a hurry to move, to break the fragile moment that had settled between you.

But eventually, Jiung stirred.

He lifted his head, his dark eyes meeting yours, something soft, unreadable flickering behind them.

His arms tensed slightly as he pulled himself up, his hands resting beside your body, caging you in without feeling overpowering. He studied your face for a moment, his lips slightly parted, like he wanted to say something but wasn’t sure how.

And for the first time tonight, he looked hesitant.

You weren’t used to seeing Jiung like this - the ever-confident, ever-teasing Jiung now looking at you with something uncertain, almost vulnerable in his gaze. As he hovered over you, his arms still bracing him on either side of your body, his dark eyes locked onto yours. There was something different in his gaze now - softer, yet just as intense as before.

Then, after a beat of silence, his lips curled into a slow smirk.

"That was amazing," he murmured, his voice low and slightly breathless. His eyes scanned your face, taking in every little detail - your flushed cheeks, your dazed expression, the way you were still trying to catch your breath.

His smirk deepened.

"You looked really good just now," he added, his tone so effortlessly teasing that it made heat rise to your face all over again.

Your stomach flipped, and you immediately covered your face with your hands, groaning. "Jiung, stop."

He laughed, the sound soft yet filled with amusement. "What? It’s true," he said, nudging your hands away so he could see you again. His fingers lightly traced your wrist, his touch still gentle, still lingering. "You should’ve seen yourself."

You could barely handle the way he was looking at you. Smug, teasing, but still incredibly fond.

"Jiung-" you tried to protest, but he was relentless.

He leaned down, his bare chest pressing against yours, his lips ghosting over your ear.

"Shy now?" he whispered, his breath warm against your skin. "You weren’t so shy a few minutes ago."

Your entire body burned at his words.

"You’re insufferable," you muttered, attempting to turn your head away. But Jiung only grinned, pressing a soft kiss to your cheek before pulling back just enough to see your reaction.

"Maybe," he mused, tilting his head, his fingers now tracing lazy circles on your waist. "But you like that about me, don’t you?"

Your heart skipped a beat.

And the worst part?

You did.

But there was no way you were going to admit that out loud.

So instead, you huffed, looking away. "I liked you better when you weren’t talking."

Jiung chuckled. "Liar."

His hands skimmed up your sides, slow and deliberate, sending another shiver through you. Your breath hitched - a small reaction, but one Jiung caught immediately.

His smirk widened.

"Oh?" he teased, watching you closely. "Do you want me to stop talking then? Or do you want me to-"

"Jiung!" you cut him off, your voice higher than you intended.

He laughed again, the warmth in his expression making it impossible to be mad at him.

Jiung leaned down one more time, pressing a soft, lingering kiss against your forehead before pulling back.

"Relax," he murmured, his tone finally softening. "I’m just messing with you."

You exhaled slowly, your heart still pounding, your emotions still all over the place. Jiung was back to teasing you like nothing had changed - but something had. His gaze flickered over your face, thoughtful, before he spoke again.

"So…" he murmured, voice low, teasing but curious. "How do you like the idea of intimacy without commitment?"

You blinked, caught off guard by the sudden shift in conversation. Jiung didn’t look away, his fingers lazily tracing over your waist, waiting for your answer. You took a moment to think.

After everything that had happened tonight - the teasing, the tension, the way he had pushed your boundaries yet still made you feel completely safe - you realized… You liked this. You liked him. And maybe, just maybe, you could get used to this.

A small smile tugged at your lips as you exhaled slowly. "I think… I could do this more often."

Jiung’s smirk widened.

"Really?" he mused, tilting his head slightly. His fingers pressed into your waist just a little more, his touch still slow and deliberate.

You nodded, watching his reaction carefully.

Jiung let out a low chuckle, his gaze darkening slightly. "Good," he murmured. "Because I’d be down for it too."

You giggled, unable to help the warmth that spread through you at his words. He smirked, clearly enjoying how flustered you were, before grabbing your wrists and pinning them down for a second, just to tease you more.

"Am I making you shy again?" he grinned, hovering closer.

"Maybe," you muttered, biting back a smile.

Jiung just chuckled, releasing your hands, his fingers lightly brushing over your wrist before finally pulling away. Then, after a moment of silence, he spoke again, this time, his voice softer, more curious.

"What do you think about me staying over tonight?"

Your breath hitched.

"You want to?" you asked, searching his face for any hint of hesitation.

Jiung’s lips curled into a lazy, knowing smile as he leaned back down, his mouth barely an inch from yours.

"I mean… the night’s still young," he murmured, his voice sending a shiver down your spine. Then, with pure confidence, he added, "and we were just getting started."

Jiung’s words hung in the air between you, thick with meaning, his smirk never faltering as he watched your reaction. Your stomach flipped, your fingers still curled slightly against his arms, your body responding before your mind could even catch up.

You should have hesitated. Should have questioned what this meant, what you were getting yourself into. But the way Jiung was looking at you, his dark eyes filled with amusement, his bare chest still lightly pressed against yours, his breath warm against your lips, it was impossible to think about anything else.

So instead, you exhaled, a small smile pulling at your lips.

"Then stay," you whispered.

Jiung’s smirk widened.

"Yeah?" he teased, watching you carefully. "You sure?"

You nodded, your voice more certain this time. "I want you to."

His gaze flickered, something unreadable flashing behind his eyes before he leaned down again, kissing you slowly, deeply, like he had been waiting for you to say that. His hands slid down your sides again, reclaiming the space between you, his touch both teasing and deliberate.

"You’re gonna have to keep up with me, then," he murmured between kisses, his tone light but challenging, his smirk pressing against your lips.

You giggled softly, your fingers tracing over his shoulders. "Oh? Think I can’t handle you?"

Jiung chuckled, shaking his head. "I just know how easy it is to make you fall apart beneath me."

Your face burned, and Jiung grinned when he noticed.

"You’re doing it again," he teased, tapping your chin lightly, his expression smug.

"Doing what?" you muttered, looking away.

Jiung tilted your chin back toward him, his thumb brushing over your jawline.

"Looking at me like you want me to ruin you."

You gasped, shoving at his chest, but he just laughed, his head tilting back slightly in amusement.

"You’re impossible," you mumbled, biting back a smile.

"And yet, you’re still letting me stay," Jiung mused, trailing soft, lazy kisses along your jaw, his touch slow, unhurried, like he wanted to take his time with you all over again.

Your fingers curled into his hair, pulling him closer, your heartbeat pounding against his.

And in that moment, with Jiung hovering over you, his hands exploring your skin like he had all the time in the world, you realized…

The night really was just getting started.

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sweetmisery · 6 months ago

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welcome to my blog .⋆☾⋆⁺₊✧

❥ about me

❥ masterlist

❥ works in progress

・❥・ requests are open ♡

#masterlist #kpop writers

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sweetmisery · 6 months ago

Text

sweetmisery masterlist ♡

・❥・ requests are open ♡

currently only writing for p1h! check out works in progress here ♥

guide; ✿ fluff ★ angst ♥︎ smut

───── ♡ ─────

P1HARMONY

THEO 테오

fingertips & heartbeats ✿ summary: what starts as a simple guitar lesson turns into something more - shared smiles, lingering touches, and a quiet realization neither of you can shake

KEEHO 기호

oops, i think i love you ✿★ summary: falling for your best friend was never part of the plan, but when Keeho returns home, teasing turns into tension and a secret comes to light. now you‘re faced with the question: was this always meant to be or will it ruin everything?

JIUNG 지웅

bet on love pt.1 | bet on love pt.2 ✿★ summary: a risky bet between Jiung and Intak threatens to damage both their relationship and their relationship with their stylist

everything we never said ✿★ summary: your lifelong friendship with Jiung is tested when you fall for him, leaving you torn between confessing your feelings or losing him forever

touch me, tease me ♥︎ summary: what started as a silly crush, ended with this - pinned beneath Jiung, his touch slow, deliberate torment. only one thought lingers on your mind: how much longer could you withstand Jiung‘s teasing?

INTAK 인탁

bet on love pt.1 | bet on love pt.2 ✿★ summary: a risky bet between Jiung and Intak threatens to damage both their relationship and their relationship with their stylist

SOUL 소울

nothing yet

JONGSEOB 종섭

nothing yet

OT6 (drabbles & reactions)

first kiss with piwon ✿ - hyung line | maknae line

fighting with piwon ★ - hyung line | maknae line

#masterlist #kpop writers #p1harmony #p1harmony x reader #p1harmony imagines #p1harmony theo #p1harmony keeho #p1harmony jiung #p1harmony intak #p1harmony soul #p1harmony jongseob #p1h #p1h imagine #p1h x reader

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sweetmisery · 6 months ago

Note

can you do piwon members taking care of you when youre sick/have fever ?? ^^

absolutely yes!! tysm for requesting this :) <3

#p1harmony #p1harmony x reader

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sweetmisery · 6 months ago

Note

keeho friends to lovers but really quirky and playful and they lowkey bully each other

oops, i think i love you | yoon keeho (teaser)

summary: falling for your best friend was never part of the plan, but when Keeho returns home, teasing turns into tension and a secret comes to light. now you‘re faced with the question: was this always meant to be or will it ruin everything?

genre: angst, fluff

a/n: thank you so much anon for requesting this!! ♡ i can definitely see Keeho as a playful, teasing friend/lover so i already came up with some ideas on writing this :p i can‘t wait to share this once it’s finished :)

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sweetmisery · 6 months ago

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fighting with piwon | hyung line

pairing: theo | keeho | jiung x female!reader

genre: angst, fluff

a/n: i looove writing ot6 scenarios and this time it‘s about having your first fight with them :( i hope you enjoy reading this, if you have any ideas for scenarios/reactions feel free to send me a request, i‘d be very happy to write about it ♡ maknae line will follow soon!

hyung line | maknae line

THEO

You let out an exhausted sigh as you stepped back, hands on your hips, surveying your work in the living room. You had spent the past hour rearranging the furniture, pushing the coffee table a little closer to the couch, angling the armchair just right. They were small changes, but they made the space feel fresh. You smiled, satisfied.

And then - thunk.

Your foot caught on something. A dull, hollow sound followed, and when you glanced down, your stomach dropped. Theo’s guitar lay face-down on the hardwood floor, the headstock at an odd, unnatural angle.

Panic set in instantly. You dropped to your knees, hands shaking as you reached for it. Turning it over, you saw the damage: the wood near the tuning pegs had splintered, a jagged crack running through it. This wasn’t just any guitar. This was Theo’s guitar. His favorite one. The one he played when he was stressed, when he was happy, when he was just messing around. The one he treasured.

Your throat tightened. No, no, no.

For a second, you considered calling him, confessing immediately, but fear won. Instead, you lifted the broken guitar carefully and slipped into the bedroom, tucking it out of sight. If he didn’t see it right away, maybe… maybe you would have time to figure out what to do. Maybe he wouldn’t even notice.

The front door opened.

Your heart jumped. Footsteps followed, the sound of Theo kicking off his shoes, the rustling of his coat as he tossed it onto the hook. You forced yourself to breathe, smoothing down your shirt like that would somehow make everything feel normal.

“Hey,” he called from the hallway. “Where are you?”

You swallowed hard. “Living room.”

Theo appeared in the doorway, his dark hair slightly disheveled from work, his expression soft. He looked tired, but he gave you a small smile anyway. “Hey,” he said again, stepping forward to press a quick kiss to your forehead. “What have you been up to?”

You forced a casual shrug. “Just, uh, moving some things around.”

He nodded, then glanced around the room, his gaze landing exactly where the guitar should have been. His brows pulled together slightly. “Huh. Do you know where my guitar is? I’m sure I left it in the living room.”

Your pulse hammered.

You met his eyes, feigning confusion. “Hm?”

Theo tilted his head. “My guitar. The acoustic one.”

You felt the lie pressing against your lips, thick and sticky. “Oh, uh… I don’t know? Maybe you put it somewhere else?”

He frowned, glancing around again before heading toward the bedroom. Your stomach twisted into a tight knot as you watched him go, every step bringing him closer to the truth.

Then - his voice rang out, sharp and unmistakable.

“Y/N!”

Your heart stopped.

Theo stood in the doorway of the bedroom, his face twisted in anger, the broken guitar clutched in his hands. His knuckles were white as he held it up, the damage glaring under the soft glow of the bedside lamp.

“What the hell did you do?!” His voice was sharp, accusing.

Your chest tightened. You opened your mouth, but no words came. Theo shook the guitar slightly, as if that would somehow force an answer out of you.

“I-I don’t know,” you stammered, your voice barely above a whisper. “It wasn’t me.”

A bitter, disbelieving laugh escaped him. “Oh, come on, stop lying!” His tone dripped with frustration. “You rearranged the living room, where I left my guitar yesterday, and suddenly it’s broken?! What, it just snapped on its own?”

You pressed your lips together, heart pounding. You had never seen him this angry before.

“And this is my favorite one!” Theo shouted, his voice echoing through the small bedroom. “Do you even know how expensive it’s going to be to get this repaired?!”

Your throat tightened as the weight of guilt crushed you. Your lips trembled, and you could feel the tears building, hot and stinging. “I’m so sorry,” you mumbled, your voice shaking. “I didn’t mean to break it.”

Theo scoffed, shaking his head. “That’s not even the worst part,” he snapped. His dark eyes locked onto yours, burning with frustration. “The worst part is that you lied to my face. You didn’t even admit it.”

The words hit harder than you expected. You swallowed past the lump in your throat, trying to find something to say, anything to fix this. “I-I’ll pay for the repair,” you offered weakly, your voice barely steady.

Theo let out a sharp breath, his jaw clenching. “That’s not the point!” he hissed. His hands gripped the broken guitar tightly for a moment before he exhaled and shook his head again, looking away. “Just… leave me alone,” he muttered, his voice lower now, rough with exhaustion.

Without another word, he turned and walked past you, making his way toward the living room.

You stood there, frozen, alone in the bedroom. The silence pressed in around you, thick and heavy. And then, finally, you let the tears fall.

——————

The bedroom felt quiet, apart from the soft sound of your sniffles as you sat curled up on the bed. You wiped at your eyes with the sleeve of your sweater, but the tears kept coming, leaving streaks down your cheeks. Your chest still ached from the argument, from the way Theo had looked at you - frustrated, disappointed.

Then, you heard footsteps approaching.

Theo appeared in the doorway, no longer carrying the broken guitar. His expression was softer now, the anger from before fading into something calmer. You braced yourself, thinking he was still upset, but instead of speaking right away, he sat down beside you.

You kept your gaze on your lap, avoiding his eyes. The bed dipped slightly under his weight, and then, his hand landed gently on your thigh.

You blinked in surprise, hesitating before finally looking up at him. Your voice wavered through your tears as you mumbled, “I’m so sorry… for breaking your guitar… and for lying to you.”

Theo let out a quiet sigh, rubbing the back of his neck. “I was mad,” he admitted, “but I didn’t mean to overreact and make you cry.”

You sniffled again, nodding. “I get why you were mad,” you murmured. “It’s your favorite guitar…”

His fingers squeezed your thigh gently, a silent reassurance. Then, to your surprise, he exhaled a small chuckle. “Honestly? I can just buy a new one.”

Your eyebrows lifted slightly. “But… it was your favorite.”

Theo shrugged. “Yeah, but I was already thinking about getting a new one anyway. This one’s been old for a while.”

You hesitated. “I’ll pay for it,” you said quickly, feeling like you at least owed him that much.

Theo let out a laugh, shaking his head. “No, you don’t need to.”

His hand lifted to your face, his thumb gently wiping away a lingering tear from your cheek. His voice was softer now, filled with regret. “I’m sorry for making you feel this way,” he murmured. “Are we good?”

You nodded, sniffling once more. “Yeah.”

Theo’s lips curved into a small smile. “Good.” Then, his expression turned teasing as he added, “But from now on, you have to stay at least five feet away from my guitars.”

A watery giggle escaped your lips. “Deal.”

His hand slid up to cup the back of your head as he leaned in, pressing a soft, warm kiss to your forehead. And just like that, the tension melted away.

KEEHO

The apartment was quiet except for the sound of running water from the bathroom. Keeho was in the shower, leaving his phone unattended on the kitchen counter. You weren’t proud of the way your eyes kept flickering toward it, drawn by every little vibration that echoed in the stillness of the room.

You had no reason to doubt him, at least, that’s what you kept telling yourself. He had always been kind, attentive, and loving. But lately, something had felt… off. You had noticed the way he smiled at his phone, his fingers flying over the screen with an eagerness that made your stomach twist. And when you had asked, he had simply said it was his family.

You had believed him. Or rather, you had tried to.

But then, the screen lit up again.

Buzz.

Your heart pounded.

Buzz.

You swallowed hard. The name on the screen sent a wave of unease through you.

You hesitated. You knew you shouldn’t. You knew that trust was the foundation of every strong relationship. But something deeper, something ugly and jealous, clawed at your insides. You weren’t normally like this. Keeho had never given you a real reason to doubt him before.

And yet, before you could stop yourself, your fingers were reaching out.

The screen unlocked with a simple swipe.

You shouldn’t have looked.

But you did.

And what you saw made your breath catch in your throat.

?: i miss you :(

?: i can’t wait to meet you when I’m in Seoul

Your hands trembled. The words blurred for a moment as your mind scrambled to make sense of them. I miss you? Can’t wait to meet you?

Your stomach dropped.

Was Keeho… cheating?

No. He wouldn’t. Would he?

You wanted to think there was some kind of explanation, something innocent you weren’t seeing. But in that moment, all you could feel was a sinking, suffocating sense of betrayal. Your chest tightened as a storm of emotions swirled inside you - hurt, confusion, anger, fear.

And then, before you could even begin to process what to do next, a voice cut through the silence.

“What are you doing with my phone?”

Your body went rigid.

Slowly, you turned around, your hands still clutching the device as if caught red-handed.

Keeho stood in the doorway of the bathroom, a towel wrapped loosely around his waist, his wet hair dripping onto his bare shoulders. His expression was unreadable, his eyes locked onto you, a flicker of something behind them that you couldn’t quite place.

The air between you grew heavy.

And just like that, the moment you had been dreading had arrived.

The fight was inevitable now.

The weight of Keeho’s gaze pinned you in place. His phone was still in your hands, the damning messages from the mysterious girl glowing on the screen. You could barely hold back the sting of tears as they welled up in your eyes.

Keeho’s brows furrowed as he took a step closer, water still dripping from his hair. His voice was sharp, laced with disbelief.

“Why the hell are you snooping through my phone?”

You flinched. You knew this was wrong, you knew you had crossed a line. But the pain in your chest was too strong to ignore. The betrayal, the doubt, the ache of wondering if everything you had with him was a lie - it was suffocating.

A shaky breath left your lips as you finally lifted your eyes to meet his. “How could you do this to me?”

Keeho’s expression shifted. The irritation in his eyes flickered into something softer, something more concerned. His voice lowered, confusion creeping into his tone.

“…do what?”

Your chest tightened. A part of you wanted to believe him, to believe that there was some kind of explanation. But your mind replayed the words on the screen: I miss you. I can’t wait to meet you.

“I already had this feeling for a long time,” you whispered, your voice breaking slightly. “And now I know. You’re cheating on me.”

Silence.

Keeho blinked at you, completely stunned. Then his jaw tensed, his eyes narrowing as if he couldn’t believe what he had just heard.

“What the hell are you talking about?” he demanded, his voice rising in frustration.

“I saw the messages,” you shot back, your grip tightening around his phone.

Keeho let out a bitter laugh, running a hand through his wet hair. “What messages?”

Your heart pounded as anger swelled inside you. You let out a sarcastic chuckle, shaking your head. “Are you seriously still trying to deny it?”

Keeho exhaled deeply, his frustration now evident in the way his shoulders tensed. “Wait… so you seriously think that I’m cheating on you?”

“I know that you are!” you snapped.

For a moment, he just stared at you. Then, something in his face shifted. His frustration was still there, but now it was mixed with something else. Something more painful.

“Wow,” he muttered, his voice laced with disbelief. He shook his head, looking at you like he didn’t recognize you anymore. “So that’s what you take me for? A cowardly cheater?”

You swallowed, your emotions a mess of anger and pain. “Then tell me…” Your voice wavered as you took a step closer, gripping the phone in your shaking hands. “Who the hell is Anna?”

The second the name left your lips, Keeho’s face twisted, not with guilt, but with sheer frustration.

“Seriously?!” He let out a bitter scoff, rubbing his temple as if he was trying to keep himself from yelling. “That’s my sister.”

Your breath caught. Your thoughts froze.

No. That couldn’t be.

“You’re lying,” you whispered. You had to be right. The messages were too suspicious. He was just trying to cover it up now. “Stop lying.”

Keeho’s expression darkened, his patience running thin. “I’m not lying,” he said through gritted teeth. “Why the hell would I lie about that?”

“Then why didn’t you ever tell me about her?”

Keeho scoffed, running a frustrated hand through his hair. “I thought I did.”

He snapped his phone from your hands and started scrolling through his photos. Within seconds, he found what he was looking for - an old picture of him and Anna, both of them grinning at the camera, looking unmistakably alike. He turned the phone toward you, his jaw tight.

“There,” he said, his voice cold. “That’s Anna. My sister.”

You stared at the picture, your mind reeling. The resemblance was undeniable. The way she smiled, the way her eyes crinkled at the corners. It was Keeho’s face in a female version.

Your stomach twisted.

“My family is coming to visit soon,” Keeho continued, his voice still sharp. “I was actually planning to surprise you with it. I wanted you to finally meet them.” His lips curled into a bitter smile. “But you just had to go and ruin the surprise, huh?”

Guilt crept up your spine, but you were still too stunned to speak.

Keeho scoffed, shaking his head in disbelief. “I can’t believe this,” he muttered. His voice was low, almost to himself. “I can’t believe you would actually think that I’d cheat on you.”

Before you could say anything, before you could even think of how to respond, Keeho turned on his heel and stormed off.

The bedroom door slammed shut behind him.

And just like that, you were left standing alone in the kitchen, heart pounding, mind racing, and regret already sinking in.

——————

Your hand rested on the bedroom doorknob for far too long.

The weight of what had just happened sat heavy in your chest, making it hard to breathe. You had accused Keeho of something terrible, something he didn’t deserve. And now, on the other side of this door, he was hurt because of you.

Your fingers tightened around the handle. You were scared to face him, scared of the disappointment in his eyes. But you knew that you had to.

With a deep breath, you slowly turned the knob and stepped inside.

Keeho sat on the edge of the bed, his arms crossed over his chest. His head was slightly bowed, his expression unreadable in the dim light of the room. He didn’t look up when you entered.

Carefully, you approached, your steps hesitant.

“Keeho…” Your voice was soft, almost unsure.

He scoffed, finally meeting your gaze. His eyes were sharp, but there was something else beneath the frustration - something tired, something hurt.

“What do you want?” His voice was flat, emotionless.

Your stomach twisted, but you didn’t back down.

“I’m sorry,” you said, your voice barely above a whisper. “I made a mistake.”

Keeho didn’t reply. His silence felt heavier than if he had just yelled at you.

You swallowed the lump in your throat and continued. “I didn’t even know you had a sis-”

“That still doesn’t give you the right to look through my phone.”

The words hit you like a slap. You knew he was right. No matter how much your emotions had clouded your judgment, no matter how suspicious things had seemed, it still wasn’t okay.

Tears pricked at your eyes again, but you refused to let them fall. “I know,” you admitted, your voice trembling. “I broke your trust, and I understand if… if you want to break up now.”

Keeho’s head snapped up.

His entire posture changed as he quickly stood, closing the distance between you. His brows were furrowed, eyes wide as if he couldn’t believe what you had just said.

“Break up?” His voice was filled with disbelief. “Are you serious?”

You lowered your gaze, unable to look at him. “I messed up, Keeho. I accused you of something awful. I don’t deserve-”

“I would never want to break up with you,” he interrupted firmly. His expression softened, but there was still something heavy in his gaze. “But…” He let out a quiet sigh, shaking his head. “I won’t lie. It hurts that you don’t trust me.”

Your heart clenched.

“I do trust you,” you insisted, desperation creeping into your tone. “I should have just asked you instead of… instead of going through your phone.” Your voice broke as you continued, “I swear, I would never do this again. Please… please believe me.”

For a moment, Keeho just stared at you.

Then, without warning, he reached forward and pulled you into his arms.

You melted against his chest as he wrapped his arms tightly around you, his warmth seeping into your skin. He didn’t say anything right away, just held you there, as if trying to calm the storm of emotions between you both.

Finally, Keeho leaned back slightly, his hands still resting on your shoulders as he looked down at you. His expression had softened.

“I get it,” he murmured. “You didn’t know about my sister. And… maybe I have been acting a little suspicious lately.” His lips curled into a small, tired smile. “I guess I can understand why you got the wrong idea.”

Your throat tightened with guilt. “I’m still so sorry,” you whispered. “Especially for ruining the surprise with your family.”

Keeho let out a small chuckle, shaking his head as he reached up to gently wipe away a stray tear from your cheek. “It’s okay,” he reassured you. “Honestly, I should’ve just been upfront with you from the start.”

He paused for a moment, then met your gaze with a serious expression. “But promise me something, okay?”

You nodded quickly. “Anything.”

“From now on, if you ever have doubts about anything, talk to me.” His voice was gentle but firm. “No more assumptions. No more snooping. Just be honest with me.”

You swallowed hard, nodding again. “I promise.”

Keeho studied you for a second longer before a small smile finally broke through his stern expression. He pulled you in for another hug, holding you close as he murmured, “I’m sorry too… for making you feel like you had a reason to doubt me.”

A shaky breath of relief left your lips as you hugged him back.

You pulled back slightly, looking up at him with a hesitant smile. “No more surprises, okay?”

Keeho chuckled, his usual warmth returning to his eyes. “No more surprises,” he promised, pulling you back in a tight hug.

JIUNG

The weekend had finally arrived. After weeks of Jiung being swamped with work, you were both looking forward to spending time together. You had planned everything down to the last detail - a cozy day in the kitchen, cooking his favorite Korean dishes together. It felt like the perfect way to reconnect.

At first, everything was perfect. The kitchen was filled with the comforting aroma of garlic and sesame oil, the sound of vegetables sizzling in the pan. Standing at the counter, you were slicing carrots into thin strips. It wasn’t anything fancy, but you were doing your best.

Beside you, Jiung was focused on chopping onions with precise, practiced movements. Every now and then, he glanced over at your cutting board.

“You’re cutting them wrong,” he pointed out, leaning over your shoulder.

You giggled, not taking it seriously. “Oh no, the perfectionist chef has arrived,” you teased.

Jiung rolled his eyes, but there was a small smile playing on his lips. “You should cut them like this,” he said, demonstrating with his own knife. His voice was calm, but there was a hint of seriousness in it.

You looked at your uneven slices and then back at him, smiling playfully. “It’s fine, Jiung. They’re just carrots.”

He sighed softly, setting down his knife. “But they won’t cook evenly if they’re all different sizes.”

You giggled, finding it cute how much he cared about something so small. “Okay, Chef Jiung, whatever you say.”

But he didn‘t laughed. Instead, he picked up one of your carrot slices and examined it like a food critic. “You’re holding the knife wrong too. Here, let me show you.”

Before you could react, he stepped behind you, gently guiding your hands. His fingers curled around yours, adjusting your grip on the knife. His touch had been warm, and for a second, your heart had skipped. But then he took your wrist and moved it in a controlled motion, like you were a student in a cooking class.

“See? If you do it like this, it’s much easier,” he said.

You bit your lip, trying not to laugh. “Jiung, it’s just vegetables. We’re not on a cooking show.”

He didn‘t let go. “I know, but if we’re going to do it, we should do it right.”

That was when you started feeling a little annoyed. This was supposed to be fun, but he had been taking it so seriously, almost like he was critiquing you instead of cooking with you. You pulled your hands away and continued cutting the way you wanted.

“Okay, okay, I got it,” you said lightly.

You shrugged and kept chopping, but soon, he started correcting you again. First, it was the size of the carrots. Then, the way you were stirring the sauce.

“That’s not how you do it,” Jiung sighed, stepping in to take the spoon from your hand.

You frowned and turned to face him. “Jiung, are you serious right now? It’s just dinner. It doesn’t have to be perfect.”

Jiung let out a frustrated breath, shaking his head. “This is my favorite food, okay? We can’t mess it up.”

You felt your chest tighten. “So now I’m messing it up?” you said, voice quieter now, but the hurt was obvious.

He frowned slightly. “I'm just saying that it should be done properly. Otherwise, what’s the point?”

Something in his tone made your frustration flare. “The point is to have fun. Not to make some five-star gourmet meal. You’re acting like I’m ruining everything.”

Jiung let out a breath, rubbing his temple. “I’m just trying to help.”

“Well, it doesn’t feel like help. It feels like you’re just telling me I’m doing everything wrong,” you shot back.

His expression hardened, his voice raised. “Well, maybe if you weren’t so terrible at cooking, I wouldn’t have to tell you how to do everything!”

The words hit you like a slap. You stared at him, feeling your stomach twist. Was he being serious?

Your heart pounded. “Do you even hear yourself right now?” you asked, voice quieter now, but the hurt was obvious.

Jiung sighed and ran a hand through his hair. “I just- look, never mind. Let’s just finish the food.”

But you had lost all interest. The cozy atmosphere that had surrounded you earlier now felt tight and heavy. You didn’t expect to argue tonight, you were so excited for this. But suddenly, the warmth of the moment had turned into something frustrating, something that made your chest ache.

“You know what? Just finish it yourself,” you said, setting your knife down with a soft clatter.

Jiung looked at you, his lips pressed together, as if he tried to choose his next words carefully. But you didn’t want to hear them. Not right now. Without another word, you turned away, walking straight to the bedroom.

You didn’t slam the door, but you shut it firmly enough to make a point. Sitting on the edge of the bed, you stared down at your hands, replaying the words in your head.

Maybe if you weren’t so terrible at cooking…

A lump formed in your throat. You weren’t expecting him to be that harsh.

From the kitchen, you could still hear him moving around, pots clanking, the faint sound of something sizzling in the pan. But he didn’t come after you.

And that hurt even more.

——————

It had been a while since you left Jiung alone in the kitchen. The muffled sounds of clinking dishes and the faint aroma of his cooking had long since settled, but you didn‘t move from your spot on the bed. Arms crossed, you stared at the floor, still replaying the argument in your head.

Then, there was a quiet knock. A moment later, Jiung pushed the door open and stepped inside. His expression was unreadable as he leaned against the doorframe.

“Dinner’s ready,” he said.

You didn’t look up. ��I’m not hungry anymore.”

Jiung frowned, stepping closer. “I put in all my effort to cook.”

Your frustration bubbled up again, and before you could stop yourself, you snapped, “I wanted to cook with you, but you were being so bossy and annoying.” Finally, you looked up at him, your eyes sharp. “Why did you have to take it so seriously? I just wanted to have a nice, fun evening with you.”

Jiung scratched the back of his head, exhaling slowly. “When it comes to cooking, I just… I want everything to be perfect.”

You rolled your eyes, your voice dripping with sarcasm. “Oh, really? I couldn’t tell that.”

His confident stance faded, and his expression softened into something more worried. He could see just how upset you were. Without another word, he sat down on the bed beside you, hesitating before speaking again.

“I’m sorry,” he said quietly.

You stayed silent, still sulking.

Jiung sighed and continued. “I know that sometimes my perfectionism takes over, and I can get… annoying.” He gave you a small, guilty smile before quickly shaking his head. “No, really annoying. But I know I should have never let that out on you. And I’m so sorry for making you feel this way.”

You finally turned to look at him. His eyes were filled with regret, and the corners of his lips were turned down slightly. He was really feeling bad about this.

A teasing idea formed in your head. You tilted your head, pretending to think. “Hmm… I don’t know if I can forgive you.”

Jiung’s face fell instantly. “What?!”

You struggled to hold back your amusement, keeping your expression serious.

“And let’s not forget,” you continued, raising an eyebrow, “you called me a terrible cook.”

Jiung’s eyes widened. “No! I didn’t mean that when I said it!” He exhaled dramatically, shaking his head. “I love your food, especially the cupcakes you make.”

You almost smiled at that, but you kept your act up. “Hmm. I don’t know, Jiung. I might need to think about this before giving you another chance.”

Jiung groaned and suddenly leaned over you, hovering just inches away. His lips jutted into a pout, and his eyes grew wide and pleading. “I’m so sorry,” he whined, voice softer now. “Pleaseee forgive me?”

You tried - really, really tried - to keep your serious face. But with him looking at you like a lost puppy, it was impossible.

Letting out a dramatic sigh, you finally said, “Fine. I forgive you.”

Jiung’s lips curled into a soft, relieved smile as he leaned in and kissed you gently. The tension melted away, leaving behind only warmth between you.

Pulling back, you looked at him and smirked. “But just so you know… I’m never cooking with you again.”

Jiung laughed, shaking his head. “Deal.”

He kissed you again, a little longer this time, before pulling you up from the bed. “Now come on,” he said, intertwining his fingers with yours. “Let’s eat together.”

And just like that, the fight was over.

Even if you never cooked with him again, at least you knew one thing for sure - Jiung was terrible at letting go of his perfectionism, but you were even worse at staying mad at him.

559 notes · View notes

sweetmisery · 6 months ago

Note

theo teaching you how to play the guitar and he takes care of your hands later!

fingertips & heartbeats | choi taeyang

summary: what starts as a simple guitar lesson turns into something more - shared smiles, lingering touches, and a quiet realization neither of you can shake

pairing: theo x female!reader

genre: fluff

word count: 1.5k

a/n: tysm anon for requesting this! ♡ why can i imagine theo so good in this scenario.. gentle and caring theo is such a big weakness 🫠

The office was quiet, the warm glow of a desk lamp casting long shadows across the walls. It was late, much later than you had realized, but the peaceful atmosphere made it hard to notice how much time had passed.

You had spent the entire day assisting Theo and the rest of the group, running around handling schedules, fetching drinks, and making sure everything was in order. It had been exhausting but fulfilling, and by the time you packed your bag, you were more than ready to head home.

That was until you realized you had left your notebook in the recording studio earlier.

With a sigh, you retraced your steps back to the studio, pushing open the door slowly. You expected the room to be empty, but instead, you were met with the sight of Theo, still sitting at the desk, his guitar resting on his lap. His fingers moved across the strings with ease, plucking out a melody that filled the room with a soft, soothing tune.

He looked up when he heard the door, blinking in surprise before offering you a small smile.

“You’re still here?” you asked, stepping inside.

Theo chuckled, his fingers pausing on the strings. “Yeah. Just wanted to practice a bit more.”

You shook your head with a small laugh, moving toward the table where your notebook sat. “You’ve been working all day. You should rest.”

“I’m fine,” he assured you, flashing his usual bright smile. But even as he said it, you could see the faint exhaustion in his eyes.

You hesitated for a moment before deciding not to push him further. Instead, you glanced at the guitar in his hands. “You know… I’ve always found it fascinating how someone can play the guitar so easily. It seems really hard.”

Theo tilted his head slightly before chuckling. “It is hard at first. But if you practice enough, it gets easier.”

Silence settled between you for a brief moment, the warmth of the room wrapping around you both. Then, out of nowhere, Theo asked, “Do you want me to teach you some chords?”

You blinked. “Huh?”

He grinned. “I can teach you a few simple ones. It’s not as bad as you think.”

You hesitated, feeling a bit embarrassed. “I’m too clumsy for that.”

Theo laughed, shaking his head. “Anyone can play guitar if they take it step by step.”

His confidence was oddly reassuring, and before you knew it, you found yourself nodding. “Okay… I guess I’ll give it a try.”

Theo’s smile widened. He patted the empty space beside him, motioning for you to sit. As you did, he carefully lifted the guitar strap over your head, adjusting it so the instrument sat comfortably in your lap. His hands were gentle, his proximity sending a tiny jolt of awareness through you.

Your breath hitched for a second, and you wondered if he noticed.

If he did, he didn’t say anything. Instead, he simply positioned your hands on the guitar. “Alright, let’s start with the basics.”

His voice was soft, guiding, and as he patiently walked you through the first steps, you couldn’t help but think that this night had taken an unexpected - yet strangely wonderful - turn.

The guitar rested against your lap, its polished wood smooth beneath your fingertips. You were trying your best to keep a firm grip on the strings, but it was much harder than it looked. No matter how much you pressed down, your fingers kept slipping, making the notes sound weak and uneven.

Theo chuckled beside you, clearly amused by your struggle. “Wait, let me help you.”

Before you could respond, his hands reached for yours, his fingers gently guiding yours back onto the correct strings. His touch was warm and soft, and the moment his skin met yours, a strange, unfamiliar feeling shot through you - something between excitement and nervousness. You weren’t sure why.

“Okay, now try again,” he said, his voice encouraging.

You hesitated for a second before strumming down on the strings, producing a clear, harmonious sound.

Theo’s eyes lit up, his smile widening. “See! Now you got it.”

You couldn’t help but giggle at his excitement. “Yeah, but I’ll never be as good as you.”

Theo laughed, shaking his head. “That’s what everyone says at first.”

You smiled at his words, your confidence growing ever so slightly. Maybe playing the guitar wasn’t completely impossible after all. But before you could try again, your finger suddenly slipped off the string at the wrong angle, causing a sharp sting to shoot through your skin. You instinctively flinched, exhaling a quiet, “Ouch.”

Theo’s expression immediately shifted. His brows furrowed, his smile fading into concern. “Are you okay?”

You looked down at your fingertip, where a tiny bead of blood was beginning to surface. It was barely a scratch, but Theo’s eyes widened in alarm as soon as he saw it.

“Oh my god! You hurt yourself,” he said, his voice filled with panic.

You giggled at his reaction, shaking your head. “Theo, I’m fine. It’s just a small cut.”

But he wasn’t listening. Standing up quickly, he motioned for you to follow him. “Come on, sit over here.”

Before you could protest, he gently guided you toward the small sofa in the corner of the studio. You sat down, watching as he rummaged through one of the drawers near the recording equipment.

“Theo, seriously,” you tried again, amused by his determination. “It’s really nothing.”

But he ignored you, turning back with a small patch in his hand.

“You might think it’s nothing, but I don’t want your first guitar lesson to end in injury,” he said matter-of-factly, kneeling down slightly so he was at eye level with your hand.

You bit your lip to hide your smile, your heart doing something strange in your chest as he gently took your hand into his.

Theo carefully wrapped the patch around your finger. His touch was delicate, as if he were afraid of hurting you even more, and his brows were slightly furrowed in concentration.

Something about the worried look on his face made him look so… adorable.

You had always found Theo handsome, there was no denying it. His long dark hair, strands falling messily into his eyes, the softness of his plum lips, and the deep, expressive gaze that always held so much warmth. He looked effortlessly stunning, and in that moment, you realized you were staring.

“Now it’s better,” Theo finally said, smoothing the patch over your finger before glancing up, only to find you already looking at him.

Your eyes locked.

A strange tension settled between you, not uncomfortable but lingering, like an invisible thread pulling you closer.

Theo’s voice was gentle when he spoke. “Are you okay?”

You blinked, snapping out of your daze. “Y-yeah, I’m fine, Theo. Don’t worry at all.”

Theo exhaled, letting his head hang slightly. “I feel guilty… You hurt yourself because of me.”

His voice held a softness that made your heart squeeze. Without thinking, you reached out, your fingers wrapping around his hand.

Theo’s head snapped up at the sudden touch, his dark eyes widening slightly in surprise.

“It’s not your fault,” you reassured him, offering a small smile. “It’s just a little cut.”

For a second, Theo didn’t move. His gaze flickered down to your hand holding his, and something unreadable passed through his expression. Then, finally, he let out a quiet chuckle.

“Really, Theo,” you added, squeezing his hand slightly. “I’m fine.”

A smile tugged at his lips, and this time, he didn’t look away. “Okay.”

The warmth of his palm lingered against yours longer than necessary, but neither of you pulled away immediately.

It was only when you finally shifted in your seat that reality seemed to settle in. “I-I should probably head home now,” you said, breaking the silence.

Theo blinked, then quickly stood up. “Oh- yeah, sure.”

You grabbed your bag, heading for the door, but before you stepped out, Theo called after you.

“If you ever want to learn some more chords…” He rubbed the back of his neck, a small grin forming on his lips. “You know where to find me.”

You smiled, warmth bubbling in your chest. “I’d love to. And next time, I’ll try not to hurt myself.”

Theo laughed, his eyes crinkling at the corners. “That’d be ideal.”

With a final exchange of goodbyes, you stepped out of the studio, leaving Theo standing alone in the dimly lit room.

He ran a hand through his hair, exhaling softly as he stared at the spot where you had just been. His fingers absentmindedly brushed over his other hand, the one you had held just moments ago.

Something inside him had shifted, and no matter how hard he tried, he couldn’t shake the feeling you had left behind.

117 notes · View notes

sweetmisery · 7 months ago

Text

everything we never said | choi jiung

summary: your lifelong friendship with Jiung is tested when you fall for him, leaving you torn between confessing your feelings or losing him forever

pairing: jiung x female!reader

genre: angst, fluff

word count: 8.9k

The night air brushed cool against your skin as you stepped out of the car, Jiung beside you. Your cheeks were warm, not just from the alcohol you’ve had, but from the sound of his soft laughter as he thanked your friend for the ride. The streetlights cast a soft glow, and the world felt slightly off, though maybe that was because of the drinks.

Jiung’s hand touched your arm gently, steadying you as you swayed just a little. “Alright, let’s get you home,” he said, his voice full of that familiar warmth that always made your chest tighten.

You laughed lightly, brushing your hair out of your face. “I’m fine, Jiung. Really.”

He raised a brow, unconvinced. “Sure you are,” he said with a small smirk. “Come on.” He gestured for you to lead the way, but stayed close, his steps matching yours as you made your way down the quiet sidewalk. His presence was comforting, just like always. Too comforting. You wished it wasn’t.

The night felt surreal. Or maybe it was the alcohol that made everything feel dreamlike. The sound of your heels clicking against the pavement, the faint buzz of distant traffic, and Jiung’s steadying hand brushing against your arm every time you lost your footing slightly. Your heart fluttered each time, even though you knew it shouldn’t.

You reached the steps to your apartment building, and as you climbed, your foot catched on the edge of a step. You stumbled forward with a gasp, but before you could hit the ground, Jiung’s arms were around you, holding you steady.

“Whoa, careful!” he said, laughing softly, his hands firm but gentle on your arms. “You’ve definitely had a few too many.”

You giggled along with him, your hands gripping his forearms to steady yourself. “Guess so,” you murmured, your voice quieter now. You realized how close he was - how his dark eyes catched the faint light, how his smile softened as he looked at you. The warmth of his touch lingered on your skin, and suddenly, the night felt even hazier.

Your laughter faded as you both fell silent, staring at each other. His face was inches from yours, and your heart felt like it was trying to beat its way out of your chest. You couldn´t think straight, not with him looking at you like that, not with the way he was holding you like you were something precious.

And before you could have stopped yourself, you leaned in, your face tilting toward his. It was instinctual, your mind spinning with thoughts of what if? What if he feels the same? What if this could be something more?

But just as your lips were about to meet his, Jiung turned his face away. Your heart dropped, the moment shattering like fragile glass.

“Y/n…” he said softly, his voice heavy with something you couldn´t quite place. Regret? Guilt? “I’m so sorry.”

Your breath catched in your throat, and you pulled back quickly, your hands falling away from him. “Oh my god,” you blurted out, your voice shaking. “Jiung, no. I’m sorry. I-I shouldn’t have-”

“Y/n, stop,” he interrupted gently, his hands still on your arms. “It’s not like that. I… I really like you, but-”

“No,” you cut him off, shaking your head rapidly. “It’s fine. I… I drank too much, and I wasn’t thinking straight. It’s my fault. Just… forget it, okay?”

His brow furrowed, and he looked at you with something like hurt in his eyes. “It’s not intrusive or your fault, y/n,” he said softly, his tone so careful it made your chest ache. “Are you okay?”

You forced a laugh, waving your hand dismissively as if that could have erased what just happened. “I’m fine, Jiung. Really. I’m just… embarrassed. Let’s just go inside, okay?”

For a moment, he didn’t move, his gaze searching yours like he wanted to say something more. But then he nodded, his hands falling away from your arms. “Okay,” he said quietly. “As long as we’re good?”

“We’re good,” you said quickly, plastering on a smile you hoped looks convincing. You stepped past him, leading the way to your apartment door, but your heart felt heavy, each step harder than the last.

When you finally reached your door, you thanked him softly and told him goodnight. He hesitated for a moment, like he wanted to say something else, but in the end, he just nodded and turned to leave.

As you closed the door behind you, the weight in your chest grew heavier. You leaned against the door, your fingers brushing your lips, remembering the moment that almost was. He said he liked you. But… why did he stop? Why did he apologize?

You told yourself to forget it, to move on. But as you crawled into bed, staring up at the dark ceiling, you couldn´t stop the tears that slipped down your cheeks. You couldn´t stop wondering if things would ever be the same again.

The morning sunlight streamed through the curtains, harsh against your pounding head. You groaned, burying your face in the pillow in a pointless attempt to block it out. But the light wasn’t the only thing you couldn’t ignore. As soon as you opened your eyes, the memory hit you like a wave.

Jiung.

The way his arms had steadied you. The way you’d leaned in. The way he’d turned away. The sound of his soft, apologetic voice as he said, “I’m so sorry.”

Your chest tightened. Why had he stopped you? Was it because he didn’t want to take advantage of you while you were drunk? That seemed like something Jiung would do - always kind, always looking out for you. Or… was it something else? The thought made your stomach twist. What if he didn’t feel the same way you did? What if he only saw you as his best friend, nothing more?

Your head throbbed, not just from the hangover, but from the endless spiral of thoughts. Pulling the covers over your head, you let out a groan of frustration. Why did I do that? You replayed the moment in your mind, cringing at yourself. What if you’d ruined everything? What if he didn’t even want to be your friend anymore?

A vibration on your bedside table pulled you from your thoughts. You reached for your phone, half-dreading what you might see. When you unlocked it, your breath caught.

A new message from Jiung.

“Morning. How are you feeling today?”

Your heart fluttered despite yourself, but embarrassment quickly followed. How could he be so casual after what happened? Still, you couldn’t help but feel relieved. At least he was reaching out. That had to mean something, didn’t it?

You hesitated for a moment before typing back, your fingers hovering over the keyboard. Finally, you sent: “I’m fine, don’t worry about me. Just a little hungover.”

His reply came quickly. “That’s good. But… do you want to talk about last night?”

Your stomach dropped. Of course he wanted to talk about it. He probably felt awkward, too, and wanted to clear the air. But the last thing you wanted was to relive the humiliation of that moment. The words you typed came out faster than you could fully think them through.

“Jiung, I’m so sorry about what happened. I wasn’t thinking clearly, and it was stupid. I hope you don’t take it too seriously… I was drunk. Can we just forget it happened?”

You stared at the screen, biting your lip as you waited for his response. It felt like forever before your phone buzzed again.

“Y/n, you don’t have to worry. It’s already forgotten.”

You let out a breath you didn’t realize you’d been holding. Relief washed over you, but it was tinged with something else. Sadness? Disappointment? You couldn’t tell. Trying to push the feelings aside, you typed one more question.

“Are we still best friends?”

Another buzz, his response almost immediate. “Of course! I think I’m stuck with you forever.”

The words made you smile despite yourself. You sent back a laughing emoji and a heart, trying to focus on the fact that he still cared about you, that he wasn’t pulling away. But as you set your phone down on the bed, the smile faded from your face.

You were relieved that things weren’t awkward between you and Jiung. That he still saw you as his best friend. But that was just it, wasn’t it? Best friend. That’s all you’d ever be to him.

The thought lodged itself in your chest like a stone. How could you go on pretending to be his best friend, pretending you didn’t feel something deeper when every moment spent with him only made you want more? How could you laugh and joke with him like nothing had happened when part of you wanted to cry every time you thought about how close you’d been, only for him to pull away?

You ran a hand through your hair, your fingers tangling in the strands. Maybe this was just the way it had to be. Maybe you could bury your feelings, push them down so far that they didn’t matter anymore. Jiung was still here. You hadn’t lost him. That had to be enough.

Didn’t it?

The hum of conversation and faint strains of pop music greeted you as you stepped into the karaoke bar. Keeho was the first to spot you, his face lighting up as he waved enthusiastically. “Y/n! You’re finally here!” he called, weaving through the small crowd to greet you with a warm hug. His cheerful energy was infectious, and for a moment, it helped ease the nervous weight in your chest.

You hugged him back and smiled. “Hey, Keeho. Thanks for inviting me.”

“Of course! Go grab a drink or some snacks,” he said, gesturing toward the small table in the corner, stacked with bottles, bowls of chips, and plates of finger food. “We’re just getting started, so don’t worry, you haven’t missed anything.”

You nodded, unzipping your jacket and shrugging it off. As you folded it over your arm, your eyes instinctively scanned the room, looking for him. And there he was.

Jiung.

He was sitting on one of the couches near the karaoke machine, and your heart jumped at the sight of him. But your relief at seeing him faded the moment you noticed the girl sitting beside him. She was laughing, her head tilted slightly toward him, her hair falling effortlessly over one shoulder. Jiung was smiling back at her, that same warm, easy smile he used to give you when you shared some inside joke or traded silly remarks.

And then there was the way she touched his arm every now and then, light, casual, but still enough to make something twist painfully in your stomach.

You froze, your hands gripping your jacket a little too tightly. Jiung glanced up at that moment, his eyes meeting yours across the room. His face lit up, and he waved at you, that same familiar grin spreading across his face.

You waved back automatically, your lips curving into a polite smile. But inside, you were a mess. Why did seeing him with her make your chest feel so tight? Why did your mind keep replaying the way she laughed at something he said, like she belonged there beside him?

Shaking yourself out of your thoughts, you made your way to the table, pouring yourself a drink to keep your hands busy. You weren’t going to sit near Jiung and… her. No way. Instead, you slid into a spot on the other side of the room, joining Keeho and some of his friends. They were lively and talkative, but you could barely focus on the conversation, your mind drifting back to Jiung and the girl every few seconds. The way they seemed so at ease with each other. The way she leaned in just a little too closely.

You hated it. You hated how much it bothered you.

Keeho’s voice broke through your spiraling thoughts. “You’ve been awfully quiet today.”

You blinked, startled, and turned to him. “Me?” you asked, trying to play it off with a small laugh.

“Yeah, you,” Keeho said, his head tilting as he studied you. “Is everything okay?”

“Of course,” you said quickly, forcing a smile. “Why wouldn’t it be?”

Keeho didn’t look convinced. He leaned in a little closer, lowering his voice so the others wouldn’t hear. “Is it… because of Jiung?”

You felt your heart drop, panic bubbling up in your chest. “What?” you blurted out, a little too quickly. “Why would you think that?”

Keeho shrugged, his expression calm but curious. “I mean… this is the first time Jiung’s really been around another girl, at least when you’re here. I thought maybe it’d feel weird for you or something.”

Your stomach twisted, but you forced yourself to laugh, shaking your head. “No, not at all. Jiung can do whatever he wants. I’m happy for him.”

Keeho raised an eyebrow, clearly not buying it, but he didn’t press the issue. Instead, he gave you a small smile and clinked his glass against yours. “Alright, if you say so. But, you know, if you ever need to talk…”

“Thanks, Keeho,” you said softly, grateful for his concern but eager to steer the conversation away from yourself.

You took a sip of your drink, Keeho’s words lingering in your mind. This is the first time Jiung’s been around another girl. Was that why it hurt so much? Was it because you weren’t used to seeing him like this, his attention on someone else instead of you?

Deep down, you knew the answer. It wasn’t just that Jiung was sitting with someone else. It was the way he looked at her, the way he laughed with her, the way she seemed so at ease touching his arm. All of it reminded you that you weren’t special to Jiung in the way you wanted to be. That the feelings you had for him, the ones you’d been trying so hard to bury, would never be returned.

You glanced across the room, watching as Jiung laughed at something the girl said, his eyes crinkling in that way that made your heart ache.

Turning back to Keeho and the others, you tried to focus on the conversation, tried to laugh and smile like everything was fine. But deep down, a quiet pain settled in your chest, one you didn’t know how to ignore.

The lights of the karaoke bar felt too bright, the music too loud, and the air too thick to breathe. You’d tried your best to stay, to focus on Keeho and the others, to act like Jiung’s presence with her wasn’t gnawing at you. But it was no use. Every laugh he shared with her, every glance in her direction, felt like a needle piercing your chest.

You leaned over to Keeho, giving him a small smile you didn’t quite feel. “I think I’m going to head home,” you said, your voice soft but steady.

Keeho’s face immediately fell. “Already? You just got here.”

“I know,” you said, guilt creeping into your tone. “I’m just… tired. But thanks for the invite, it’s been a nice evening.”

He studied you for a moment, as if trying to figure out if you were telling the whole truth. Then he sighed and gave you a warm smile. “Alright. Take care, y/n. Text me when you get home, okay?”

You nodded, thanking him again as you grabbed your jacket and slipped out of the room. The cool air of the hallway was a relief after the stifling atmosphere inside, but the knot in your chest remained. You pulled your jacket tighter around yourself and started walking toward the exit, your footsteps echoing softly in the empty corridor.

“Y/n!”

The sound of his voice made you freeze in place. For a moment, you considered pretending you hadn’t heard him, but you knew that wasn’t an option. Slowly, you turned around, your heart pounding as Jiung jogged toward you, his expression a mix of concern and confusion.

“You’re leaving already?” he asked, stopping a few feet in front of you.

You nodded, forcing a smile. “Yeah. I’m just tired. Long day, you know?”

“Ah…” Jiung hesitated, scratching the back of his head in that way he always did when he was unsure of what to say. “That’s too bad. I thought we’d get a chance to hang out tonight.”

Your stomach twisted at his words, but you kept your face neutral. “You’ve already got some nice company,” you said lightly, nodding toward the direction of the karaoke room. “You should stay and enjoy the evening.”

Jiung blinked at you, his expression shifting into something unreadable. “Oh,” he said awkwardly, his hand still at the back of his neck. “She’s just Keeho’s friend. I was just… being friendly.”

You shrugged, trying to seem indifferent, though your chest ached with every word. “Well, friendly suits you. Anyway, I should get going.”

He frowned slightly, like he wanted to say something more, but then he nodded. “Alright. I’ll call you tomorrow, though, okay? We haven’t really seen each other this week.”

His words tugged at your heart in the worst way, filling you with a bittersweet mix of relief and sadness. You smiled softly, nodding. “Sure. Good night, Jiung.”

“Good night,” he replied, his voice gentle.

You turned and walked away, your footsteps echoing down the hallway. You didn’t look back, even though you wanted to. You told yourself it was better this way, better to leave than to sit in that room watching him laugh with someone else. Better to protect yourself from the constant ache of being near him when you couldn’t have him.

As you stepped out into the chilly night air, you took a deep breath, trying to steady yourself. The cold wind bit at your cheeks, but it was nothing compared to the dull ache in your chest. You pulled your jacket tighter around you and started walking toward the bus stop.

Inside, Jiung stood where you’d left him, staring at the empty hallway. He felt a strange weight settle over him, something he couldn’t quite put into words. Why had you left so early? Was it really because you were tired, or was it… something else?

He frowned, replaying your words in his mind. “You’ve already got some nice company.” The way you’d said it, so casual yet distant, didn’t sit right with him. He knew you well enough to sense when something was off, and tonight, something definitely was.

Scratching the back of his head again, Jiung let out a small sigh. He couldn’t shake the feeling that you’d left because of him.

The restaurant was lively, filled with the clatter of dishes and the hum of chatter from other tables. You sat quietly, fiddling with the hem of your shirt, as Keeho and the boys joked and laughed about something you hadn’t really been listening to. Your thoughts were elsewhere - on Jiung, who hadn’t arrived yet. You hadn’t seen him in a few days, and part of you was nervous to face him after the karaoke night.

Still, when the door to the restaurant opened and you saw him walk in, you couldn’t stop the small pang of excitement that shot through your chest. Jiung scanned the room for a moment before spotting your table. His face lit up as he walked over, brushing a hand through his slightly tousled hair.

“Sorry I’m late,” Jiung said, slipping off his coat and draping it over the back of his chair. “Traffic was insane.”

You managed a small smile, keeping your gaze down as he pulled out the chair next to yours and sat down. But before he could say anything else, Intak leaned forward with a teasing grin.

“Oh, come on!” Intak said, laughing. “Just tell us you were meeting up with Stella before this.”

The words hit you like a jolt of electricity, your stomach sinking. Jiung froze, his expression tightening, and the air around the table shifted. You kept your head down, hoping the others wouldn’t notice the way your hands clenched your shirt.

“Who’s Stella?” Jongseob asked curiously, looking back and forth between Jiung and Intak.

Intak laughed again, waving his hand. “She’s the girl from the karaoke bar. Keeho’s friend. You know, the one Jiung was all buddy-buddy with.”

At that, the rest of the boys started laughing and throwing out their own teasing remarks, except for Keeho, Jiung, and you. Jiung’s face grew awkward, a faint blush creeping into his cheeks. “That’s not true,” he said flatly, his voice quiet but firm.

“Did you at least ask for her number?” Intak pressed, leaning back in his chair with a smug grin. His tone was playful, but you couldn’t ignore the knot tightening in your chest.

Jiung furrowed his brows, his jaw clenching slightly. “No,” he said shortly, the irritation in his voice clear now.

You stared down at your lap, barely able to breathe. The boys were laughing again, but all you could hear was the sound of your own heartbeat pounding in your ears. The image of Jiung and Stella from that night at the karaoke bar flashed in your mind, making your chest ache all over again. You tugged harder on the hem of your shirt, wishing you could disappear.

Jiung’s gaze flickered toward you, and his expression softened. “We just had a nice talk,” he said, his voice quieter now, as if the words were meant for you more than anyone else. “Nothing more.”

“Pshh,” Intak said, rolling his eyes dramatically. “That’s such a waste. She’s so pretty.”

You winced at his words, your stomach twisting painfully. The urge to get up and run out of the restaurant grew stronger, but your legs felt like they were cemented to the floor.

“Alright, how about we start focusing on ordering our food?” Keeho interjected suddenly, his voice sharp and purposeful. His eyes darted to you for a brief moment, his expression knowing. It was clear that he’d noticed how uncomfortable you were, and he was trying to diffuse the situation.

“Fine,” Intak sighed, throwing his hands up in mock surrender. But then he grinned mischievously. “If Jiung’s not interested, you could at least give me her number, Keeho. Help a guy out.”

“Shut up, Intak,” Keeho snapped, his tone more serious than usual.

The table fell into an awkward silence, broken only by the distant clatter of plates from the other diners. You swallowed hard, staring down at the menu in front of you even though the words blurred together in your vision. The discomfort was almost unbearable. You wanted to scream, to cry, to do anything that might release the tension building inside you. But instead, you just sat there, frozen and silent, hoping that no one would notice the tears threatening to well up in your eyes.

Jiung glanced at you again, his expression troubled. He could see the way your shoulders were hunched, the way you refused to meet anyone’s gaze. Something wasn’t right, and he couldn’t shake the feeling that it was because of him.

“I’ll be back in a second,” you said suddenly, your voice barely above a whisper. Pushing your chair back, you stood up quickly, avoiding everyone’s eyes as you made your way toward the restroom.

The moment you were out of sight, you leaned against the sink, gripping the edge tightly as you stared at your reflection in the mirror. Your chest felt heavy, your throat tight, and you let out a shaky breath, trying to compose yourself.

Why does this hurt so much? you thought bitterly, blinking back tears. Why do I care so much about who Jiung talks to?

Back at the table, Jiung watched you go, a pang of guilt settling in his chest. He replayed the conversation in his head, the way you’d stayed so silent, the way you wouldn’t even look at him. He knew Intak’s teasing had been harmless, but something about the way you’d reacted didn’t sit right with him.

“Hey,” Jiung said softly, leaning toward Keeho. “Is… y/n okay?”

Keeho glanced at him, his expression unreadable. “Why don’t you ask her yourself?” he said quietly before picking up his menu.

Jiung sat back in his chair, his jaw tightening. He didn’t know exactly what was wrong, but he had a sinking feeling that you’d left the table because of him.

You returned to the table, sliding back into your seat as casually as you could manage, though your hands were still slightly shaky. The rest of the boys had moved on, engrossed in a random debate about music genres, laughing loudly over their drinks. You plastered on a faint smile, picking up the glass of water in front of you and taking a small sip, hoping no one would notice how quiet you were.

But Jiung noticed.

As the conversations swirled around you, his gaze lingered on you for a moment before he leaned in, his voice soft so only you could hear. “Y/n… is everything okay?”

You stiffened slightly, keeping your eyes fixed on the glass in your hands. “Yeah,” you said quickly, nodding. “I just needed to use the bathroom.”

Jiung’s lips pressed into a thin line, clearly unconvinced. “Y/n, if there’s anything bothering-”

“What did everyone decide to eat?” you interrupted, forcing your tone to sound light and cheerful. You glanced up at him briefly, giving him a small, polite smile, before looking at Keeho and the others. “Did you guys already order?”

Jiung hesitated, his words hanging in the air for a second longer before he let out a quiet sigh and sat back in his chair. “Yeah,” he muttered. “We ordered a while ago. Keeho picked something for you.”

You nodded and gave Keeho a small smile of thanks, even though your heart felt heavy. Jiung didn’t press the issue again, and the conversation around the table resumed as if nothing had happened. But you could feel his eyes on you every so often, like he was trying to piece something together.

The rest of the evening passed uneventfully, though you barely spoke. Everyone chatted and laughed, but your mind was elsewhere, replaying Jiung’s words and Intak’s teasing from earlier. By the time the check came, you felt exhausted, not from the dinner itself, but from the effort of keeping your composure.

As the group gathered outside the restaurant to say their goodbyes, the air was cold and crisp, your breath visible in the faint glow of the streetlights. Everyone hugged or waved, their voices cheerful as they parted ways. Eventually, it was just you and Jiung left standing there, an awkward silence settling between you.

You glanced at him briefly before looking away, hugging your coat tightly around yourself. “I should head home now,” you said quietly, your voice barely above a whisper.

Jiung nodded but hesitated, shoving his hands into his pockets. “Do you… maybe want to grab some ice cream and walk for a bit?” he asked, his voice careful, almost hopeful.

The suggestion made your heart ache, but you shook your head, forcing a small smile. “I’m really tired. Maybe another time.”

You turned on your heel, hoping to leave before the conversation could get any heavier. But you only made it a few steps before you heard Jiung call your name. You ignored it, your footsteps quickening, but then his voice came again, this time closer.

“Y/n.”

You felt his hand wrap gently around your wrist, stopping you in your tracks. Slowly, you turned to face him, your breath catching in your throat at the serious expression on his face.

“Are you avoiding me?” he asked, his voice quiet but firm.

Your eyes widened slightly, caught off guard by his bluntness. “What? No,” you said, shaking your head quickly. “Why would you think that?”

Jiung held your gaze, his dark eyes searching yours. “Because it feels like it,” he said, his tone soft but filled with something you couldn’t quite place. “You’ve been distant. Ever since that incident the other night…”

Your heart started to race, his words making the memory of that night flood back all at once. You tried to mask the panic rising in your chest with a dismissive laugh. “I thought you already forgot about that.”

Jiung frowned, tilting his head slightly. “Seems like you haven’t forgotten about it either, judging by the way you’ve been acting.”

You opened your mouth to respond, but no words came out. Instead, you looked away, your fingers tightening around the strap of your bag. Taking a deep breath, you finally said, “Look, Jiung… this is already embarrassing enough for me. Why can’t we just pretend like it never happened?”

For a moment, Jiung was silent, his brows furrowing slightly as he processed your words. Then, his voice came softly, almost hesitantly. “Because maybe I don’t want to pretend like it didn’t.”

You froze, your eyes snapping back to him. “What?” you asked, your voice barely above a whisper. “What do you mean?”

Jiung let out a quiet sigh, running a hand through his hair. “I don’t know,” he admitted, his voice tinged with frustration, not at you, but at himself. “I’ve been trying to figure it out, but… I don’t know.”

Your heart was pounding so loudly that you were sure he could hear it. The vulnerability in his voice, the way he was looking at you, left you completely speechless. But you couldn’t let this conversation continue, not now, not when your emotions were already so raw.

“I have to get up early tomorrow,” you said quickly, stepping back. “We should talk about this another time.”

Jiung nodded slowly, though his expression was filled with reluctance. “Alright,” he said softly. But as you turned to leave, he called out again, his voice stopping you in your tracks. “Y/n.”

You glanced back at him, your breath hitching when you saw the look in his eyes. “Please stop pushing me away from you,” he said, his voice almost a plea.

You felt tears prick at the corners of your eyes, but you forced them back, swallowing the lump in your throat. Smiling faintly, you gave him a small nod. “I promise I’m not,” you said, though your voice wavered slightly.

Before he could say anything else, you turned and walked away, the tears you’d been holding back finally slipping down your cheeks as you disappeared into the night. Behind you, Jiung remained standing there, watching your retreating figure, his breath visible in the cold air. The ache in his chest was undeniable, but all he could do was wonder how to fix what felt like a growing distance between the two of you.

The silence in your apartment was deafening, broken only by the muffled hum of traffic outside. You sank into the sofa, burying your face in your hands and letting out a long, shaky sigh. The evening’s events played on a loop in your mind - Jiung’s voice, his plea for you to stop pushing him away, the look in his eyes that you couldn’t quite decipher.

Your chest ached with guilt and confusion. You hated the way you’d been treating him lately, how you’d let your own feelings complicate everything. You’d always thought that as long as you kept those feelings hidden, you’d be able to hold onto your friendship with him. But now it felt like the harder you tried to keep your emotions in check, the more they were pulling you apart.

What am I supposed to do? you thought, running a hand through your hair. If you told him the truth, you risked ruining everything. But if you kept pushing him away, you knew it would hurt even more.

And then there was the look on his face when you walked away tonight - the confusion, the hurt. It lingered in your mind like a ghost, and a pang of regret washed over you. He didn’t deserve this. He didn’t deserve to be left standing alone in the cold, wondering what he’d done wrong. But what could you even say to him? What words could possibly make this right?

Your thoughts were interrupted by the sharp sound of the doorbell ringing. You sat up, startled, your heart skipping a beat. It was late. Too late for someone to be visiting. Your first instinct was to ignore it, but when it rang again, curiosity got the better of you. Rising from the couch, you padded to the door, hesitating for a moment before looking through the peephole.

Your breath caught in your throat.

Jiung.

He was standing there, his hands shoved into the pockets of his jacket, his hair slightly messy from the wind outside. His expression was tense, his lips pressed together in a thin line as he glanced toward the hallway and back at your door.

Your heart raced, panic blooming in your chest. What was he doing here? Had he followed you home? And more importantly, why?

You stepped back from the door, your hand hovering over the doorknob. A part of you wanted to open it, to let him in and finally have the conversation you’d been avoiding for so long. But another part of you was terrified. Terrified of what he might say, of what you might have to admit. Were you ready for this?

The doorbell rang again, a soft but insistent chime that made you flinch.

“Y/n,” Jiung’s voice came from the other side of the door, muffled but clear enough to send your heart into overdrive. “I know you’re there. Can we talk? Please?”

You closed your eyes, pressing your palms against the wood of the door as if it could shield you from the emotions surging inside you. The sound of his voice, so gentle and full of something you couldn’t quite name, made it impossible to think straight.

“Y/n,” he called again, his tone softer now. “I’m not leaving until we talk.”

You bit your lip, your mind a whirlwind of emotions. If you didn’t open the door, he would just stand there, waiting, and you couldn’t bear the thought of him spending the night like that. But if you opened it, you knew there would be no turning back. You’d have to face him, face everything you’d been running from.

Taking a deep breath, you wrapped your fingers around the doorknob, hesitating for just a moment longer before finally turning it. As the door swung open, you were met with Jiung’s wide, dark eyes, filled with a mixture of relief and concern.

“Jiung,” you said quietly, your voice barely above a whisper.

He let out a small breath, his shoulders relaxing slightly. “I’m sorry for showing up like this,” he said, his voice earnest. “But I couldn’t just leave things the way they were.”

You nodded, stepping back to let him inside. He hesitated for a moment before stepping through the doorway, his presence filling the small space in a way that made your chest tighten. You closed the door behind him, suddenly hyperaware of how close he was, of how quiet the room had become.

For a moment, neither of you spoke. Jiung glanced around your apartment briefly before turning back to you, his expression serious. “Y/n… are you okay?” he asked, his voice soft.

You nodded quickly, folding your arms over your chest. “I’m fine,” you said, though the words felt hollow even as they left your lips.

Jiung frowned, his brows furrowing slightly. “No, you’re not,” he said gently. “You’ve been acting differently ever since… that night. And I don’t know why, but it feels like I’ve done something to hurt you.”

You shook your head, your throat tightening. “You didn’t,” you said quickly. “It’s not you, Jiung. It’s me.”

His eyes searched yours, filled with concern and something else you couldn’t quite name. “Then tell me what’s going on,” he said softly. “Please. I don’t want to keep guessing.”

You looked away, your arms tightening around yourself. You could feel the tears building in your eyes again, but you blinked them back, trying to keep your composure. “Jiung, I…” You trailed off, struggling to find the right words. “I don’t know how to explain it.”

He took a step closer, his voice quieter now. “Then just say what you’re thinking. Whatever it is, I will listen.”

The sincerity in his voice made your chest ache, and you finally looked up at him, your heart breaking all over again at the sight of his worried expression. He’s your best friend, you reminded yourself. He doesn’t deserve this.

Taking a shaky breath, you said the only thing you could manage in the moment. “I’m just scared, Jiung. I’m scared of losing you.”

Jiung’s eyes softened, his expression shifting into something gentle and full of understanding. “Y/n,” he said quietly. “You’re not going to lose me. Ever.”

You wanted to believe him. But deep down, you weren’t sure if that was a promise he could keep.

The room felt heavy with silence, the air thick with unspoken words as you stood there, your heart pounding against your ribcage. Jiung was looking at you - really looking at you - with an intensity that made it hard to breathe. You tried to calm the whirlwind inside you, but it was impossible. You’d just told him the truth, something you’d buried deep for so long. The weight of your confession hung in the space between you, and for a terrifying moment, you wished you could take it all back.

But you couldn’t. And maybe you didn’t want to.

Taking a shaky breath, you forced yourself to speak, though your voice was barely above a whisper. “Jiung, there’s something I need to tell you…” You hesitated, your hands trembling slightly. How could you put this into words without falling apart completely? “I’ve been feeling… something for you. For a while now. And I’ve tried so hard to ignore it, but it’s getting to the point where I can’t anymore.”

Your voice cracked, and you felt your throat tighten, your vision blurring as tears began to well up. “You’re my best friend,” you said, your voice trembling. “And I know I shouldn’t feel this way about you. But I do. I can’t stop it, no matter how hard I try. And the more I try to push it down, the more I push you away, and I hate myself for it.”

Tears spilled over, streaming down your cheeks as your voice broke completely. “I’m scared, Jiung. I’m so scared of losing you because I don’t know what I’d do without you. But… I know that after this, things will never be the same again. I’ve ruined everything, haven’t I?”

You covered your face with your hands, trying to hide the tears that were falling freely now. “I’m so sorry,” you choked out, your voice muffled by your palms. “I shouldn’t have said anything. I don’t know what I was thinking.”

Before you could spiral further into your own despair, you felt Jiung’s hands gently wrap around your wrists, pulling your hands away from your face. “No, y/n,” he said softly, his voice steady and firm. “Don’t say that. Don’t apologize.”

You looked up at him, your breath hitching as you saw the tenderness in his eyes. His expression was unreadable, a mix of emotions swirling in his gaze, but there was no anger, no disappointment. Only something warm and soft that made your chest ache.

“I’m the one who should apologize,” he said, his voice barely above a whisper.

You blinked at him, confusion washing over you. “What…? Why would you apologize?”

Jiung’s lips parted as if to speak, but he hesitated, his brows furrowing slightly. He looked down for a moment, collecting his thoughts, before meeting your eyes again. “Because I had no idea you were feeling this way,” he said, his voice thick with guilt. “I should have known. I should have noticed. And I didn’t.”

Your chest tightened, embarrassment flooding you as you stood there, exposed and vulnerable. You felt like you couldn’t bear another second of this. “Jiung, I get it,” you said, your voice shaking. “If you want to leave, if you need time to-”

“I’m not going anywhere,” Jiung interrupted, his voice firm as he took a step closer to you. “Y/n, I mean it. I’m not going anywhere.”

You stared at him, unsure of what to say, unsure of how to even breathe. And then he said it. The words you never thought you’d hear.

“Look…” Jiung started, his voice faltering slightly as he hesitated. He let out a quiet sigh, running a hand through his hair before meeting your gaze again. “I’ve been trying to figure some things out lately, and I think… I feel the same way.”

Your heart stopped. The air seemed to leave your lungs as you stared at him, your mind struggling to process what he’d just said. “What… what do you mean?” you asked, your voice barely audible, trembling with disbelief.

Jiung took a deep breath, his eyes searching yours as if trying to find the right words. “I care about you so much, y/n,” he said softly, his voice steady but filled with emotion. “You’ve always been there for me, no matter what. And I… I’ve liked you for a while now. But I thought it was just some silly feeling, something I could shake off. I was scared of ruining what we have, so I tried to ignore it. But the more I tried to push it down, the harder it became to pretend it wasn’t there.”

You stared at him, your breath catching in your throat. Your mind was racing, your heart pounding so hard it was almost painful. “So… does this mean…” you started, your voice trembling as you tried to get the words out. “Does this mean you…?”

“Yes, y/n,” Jiung said, cutting you off gently. “I like you. A lot.”

The room seemed to go completely still. The silence between you stretched on, heavy and fragile, as if the moment could shatter at any second. You stared at him, trying to make sense of what was happening, trying to convince yourself that this wasn’t just some dream.

Jiung shifted slightly, his expression softening as he spoke again. “I’ve been so scared, too,” he admitted. “Scared of losing you, scared of messing things up. But I can’t keep pretending anymore.”

Your lips parted, but no words came out. You were too overwhelmed, too consumed by the emotions crashing over you like waves. Jiung liked you. Jiung liked you.

“I…” You tried to speak, but your voice faltered. Tears welled up in your eyes again, but this time, they weren’t from sadness. “I don’t know what to say.”

Jiung smiled softly, a hint of nervousness in his expression. “You don’t have to say anything right now,” he said gently. “I just… I needed you to know.”

For what felt like an eternity, the two of you stood there in silence, your emotions swirling together in the quiet. Finally, you let out a shaky breath, a small, tentative smile breaking through the tears on your face.

“I never thought…” you started, your voice trembling. “I never thought you’d feel the same way.”

Jiung stepped closer, his hand brushing yours lightly, as if testing the waters. “I do,” he said simply. “And I’m done pretending I don’t.”

You looked up at him, your heart still racing, and for the first time in what felt like forever, you let yourself hope.

The room was still, the air charged with emotions that neither of you fully knew how to navigate. Jiung stood before you, his words still ringing in your ears, his confession slowly sinking into your heart. You had imagined so many scenarios of how this moment might go, but now that it was here, it felt both surreal and terrifying.

Your mind drifted back to that night, the night everything shifted, and the question that had been nagging at you ever since. Finally, you found the courage to ask, your voice barely above a whisper. “Jiung… then why did you pull away when I tried to kiss you?”

He hesitated, his eyes briefly looking away as if the memory unsettled him. But then he met your gaze again, his expression soft and sincere. “Because you were drunk,” he said gently. “I didn’t want you to regret it the next day. I didn’t know how you really felt, and I didn’t want to take advantage of the situation.”

His words hung in the air, the truth of them hitting you like a wave. You could see it now, the hesitation in his eyes that night, the way he’d looked at you, not with rejection but with caution and concern.

Jiung shifted slightly, his voice lowering as he continued. “I knew it wasn’t the right thing to do, not when you weren’t thinking clearly. And honestly…” He paused, his brows knitting together. “I was scared. Scared that it would confuse me even more about what I was feeling.”

A soft flush crept up your cheeks, and you looked down at the floor, embarrassed by how much you’d misunderstood. You let out a quiet, almost whispered, “Oh…”

Jiung’s hands reached for yours, his touch warm and grounding. He held them gently, his thumbs brushing over your skin. “Y/n,” he said softly, his voice full of emotion. “I would never brush you off like that. I just… I didn’t know what to do in that moment. I didn’t know how much it would hurt you.”

You swallowed the lump forming in your throat and shook your head. “You couldn’t have known,” you said, your voice trembling slightly. “It’s not your fault. I should have-”

“Please don’t be sorry,” Jiung interrupted, his grip on your hands tightening just slightly, as if to steady you. “I’m the one who should be sorry. I didn’t know what to say, or how to handle things, and I ended up hurting you. I never wanted to hurt you, y/n.”

Tears welled in your eyes again, but this time they weren’t from sadness. They were from the overwhelming mix of emotions, relief, gratitude, and something deeper that you couldn’t quite name. You shook your head again, forcing a small smile. “It’s okay,” you said softly. “You couldn’t have known. None of this is your fault.”

Jiung studied you for a moment, his gaze tender but filled with uncertainty. “So…” he began, his voice hesitant. “What are we supposed to do now?”

You blinked at him, caught off guard by the question. It was one you’d been asking yourself over and over, and yet you didn’t have an answer either. “I don’t know,” you admitted, your voice quiet. “What do you want to do?”

Jiung shrugged lightly, his lips tugging into a faint, nervous smile. “All I know is that I don’t want to push you away anymore,” he said. “I don’t know how things will turn out between us, but… I want to try.”

His words sent a wave of warmth through you, and for the first time in what felt like forever, the ache in your chest began to ease. A genuine smile broke across your face as you nodded. “Me too,” you said softly.

Jiung’s smile widened, his entire face lighting up in a way that made your heart swell. Without another word, he stepped closer and wrapped his arms around you, pulling you into a warm, secure embrace. You melted into him, your head resting against his chest, his steady heartbeat calming the storm inside you. His hand rested lightly on the back of your head, his touch gentle yet grounding.

“I believe we can make this work,” Jiung murmured, his voice quiet but full of conviction. “One step at a time.”

You closed your eyes, inhaling the familiar, comforting scent of him, and a soft smile curved your lips. “This is all I ever wanted,” you whispered, your voice muffled against his chest.

Jiung’s arms tightened around you slightly, as if to reassure you that he wasn’t going anywhere. For the first time in what felt like forever, the weight you’d been carrying began to lift. The fear, the doubt, the pain - they were still there, but they were softer now, overshadowed by the warmth of his embrace and the promise of something new.

Neither of you said anything more, content to stand there in the quiet of your apartment, holding on to each other as if the rest of the world didn’t exist. And for that moment, it didn’t. It was just you and Jiung, figuring it out together, one step at a time.

The warmth of Jiung’s embrace was comforting, like a safe harbor in the middle of the storm that had been swirling between you for weeks. But after what felt like forever, Jiung slowly pulled back, his arms still resting loosely around you as he gazed down at you. His face was close, so close you could feel his breath against your skin, and your heart started to race all over again.

You looked up at him, your cheeks warm as a shy smile tugged at your lips. Jiung smiled back, his expression soft and full of something that made your chest tighten in the best way. For a moment, neither of you said anything, the silence stretching between you, filled with unspoken feelings.

His eyes flickered down to your lips, his confidence faltering slightly as a faint blush crept into his cheeks. He hesitated, clearing his throat softly before speaking. “Can I…” he murmured, his voice trailing off as if he was afraid to finish the question.

Your heart skipped a beat, and you felt your own cheeks flush as you gave him the tiniest nod, your smile widening slightly. Jiung’s lips quirked up nervously before he closed his eyes, his head tilting forward as he leaned in closer. You could feel your stomach twist with anticipation, your mind reeling as the moment you had imagined so many times began to unfold.

But just as his lips were about to brush yours, you blurted out, “Wait!”

Jiung froze immediately, his eyes snapping open as he pulled back slightly, his brows furrowing in confusion. “What’s wrong?” he asked softly, his voice filled with concern.

You bit your lip, trying to suppress the grin forming on your face. And then, unable to hold it in, you let it out, a cheeky smile that made Jiung blink at you in surprise. “You’re not going to turn your head away this time, are you?” you teased, your tone light and playful.

Jiung stared at you for a moment before letting out a laugh, the sound rich and genuine, filling the room with warmth. He shook his head, the corners of his eyes crinkling as he smiled down at you. “I promise I won’t,” he said, his voice firm but laced with amusement.

You giggled softly, your cheeks burning as you nodded again. “Okay,” you whispered, your heart pounding as you watched him lean in once more.

This time, there was no hesitation. His lips brushed against yours, soft and warm, and the world seemed to melt away. The kiss was slow, tender, and filled with so much vulnerability it made your chest ache. It wasn’t rushed or intense - it was perfect. Better than you’d ever imagined in all the nights you’d dreamed of this moment.

A million butterflies erupted in your stomach, and for a brief second, you forgot how to breathe. Jiung’s hands gently rested on your waist, grounding you, while your own hands instinctively reached up, brushing against his arms as you leaned into the kiss.

When he finally pulled back, his face was still close to yours, his eyes searching yours nervously. “Was that okay?” he asked, his voice soft, almost hesitant.

You couldn’t help but smile, your cheeks burning as you replied, “More than okay.”

Jiung let out a laugh, his tension easing as a wide grin spread across his face. “Good,” he said, his voice warm and teasing. “Because I thought it felt really nice.”

You giggled, nodding in agreement. “It did. Really nice.”

He smiled at you for a moment longer before his expression turned playful. “We should do this more often,” he said, his tone light but filled with a teasing edge.

Your cheeks burned even hotter, and you bit your lip nervously, trying to suppress the grin threatening to take over your face. Jiung’s laugh filled the space between you, and you couldn’t help but laugh softly with him, your heart feeling so light it was almost overwhelming.

As the laughter faded, the two of you stood there in comfortable silence, his hands still resting on your waist, your hands brushing lightly against his arms. The weight that had been pressing on your chest for weeks was gone, replaced by a warmth that spread through your entire being. You felt happy. Truly, blissfully happy. And for the first time in what felt like forever, you weren’t scared of what the future might hold.

This was the moment you had been dreaming of, and now that it had finally come, it was better than anything you could have imagined. You didn’t know what would come next, but as you looked up at Jiung’s smiling face, you knew one thing for certain.

Whatever the future held, you couldn’t wait to face it with him by your side.

294 notes · View notes

sweetmisery · 7 months ago

Text

first kiss with piwon | maknae line

pairing: intak | soul | jongseob x female!reader

genre: fluff

a/n: pt 2 of sharing your first kiss with piwon, hope you like it :)

part 1 - hyung line

INTAK - Nervous Hearts

The cozy hum of the restaurant surrounded you, warm candlelight flickering between you and Intak as you sat at your table. The soft clink of silverware and low chatter of other diners created a soothing atmosphere, but you couldn’t help noticing how nervous Intak seemed.

His fingers fidgeted with the edge of his napkin, his gaze darting between you and the menu as if he were afraid to mess up even the simplest decision. You tried to keep the mood light, but a part of you wondered why he was so tense.

Then again, maybe you already knew.

Earlier in the week, Theo had let slip the reason for Intak’s nervousness.

“So,” Theo started, resting his arms on the guitar he was lazily strumming minutes before as he leaned back in his chair. “Intak likes you.”

Your heart skipped. The words hit you like a soft blow, and for a second, you weren‘t sure if you heard him right. “Wait- what?” you blurted, sitting up straighter.

Theo laughed, shaking his head. “You heard me.”

The disbelief bubbled up, and yet… it didn‘t. Not completely. You blinked at him, trying to piece together your thoughts, but all you can picture is Intak - confident, easygoing Intak - stumbling over his words the last time he talked to you. The way he avoided your eyes and suddenly seemed more interested in his shoelaces. The way his smile lingered just a little too long before he quickly looked away, a faint pink dusting his cheeks.

“You’re serious?” you asked, your voice quieter now.

“Dead serious.” Theo grinned, setting the guitar aside. “He told me himself.”

The admission sent another jolt through you. Intak told Theo? Theo, your protective, overbearing older brother? The idea was almost laughable.

“And?” you pressed, your curiosity outweighing your shock. “What did you say?”

Theo leaned forward, propping his elbows on his knees as he gave you a pointed look. “I gave him the big-brother talk, of course.”

Your brows furrowed. “The big-brother talk?”

“You know, the ’don‘t hurt her or else‘ talk.” He shrugged, like it was the most obvious thing in the world. “Told him I’ll break his nose if he hurts you, that kind of thing. He looked like he was about to faint, though. Honestly, I think the guy’s more scared of disappointing you than me.”

You had just stared at him, completely floored. "You're unbelievable," you had muttered, pressing your palm to your forehead.

You were still processing the sheer absurdity of Theo having this conversation with Intak - your Intak, the one who practically radiated self-assurance on stage but turned into a completely different person around you.

Theo picked up his guitar again, strumming a lazy tune like he hadn’t just turned your world upside down. “You’re welcome, by the way,” he said casually.

“For what?” you asked, raising an eyebrow.

“For giving him the green light,” he said with a smirk. “Otherwise, he probably would’ve just kept staring at you from across the room like a weirdo.”

You groaned, throwing a pillow at him as he laughed. But beneath the teasing and the embarrassment, there was that same warm feeling growing inside you.

Intak liked you.

Theo’s expression softened, though there was still a mock sternness in voice. “But just so you know, I’m watching him. And you, too.”

Back in the present, you glanced at Intak as he nervously adjusted his silverware, his expression so earnest that you felt your heart soften even more.

“You okay?” you asked gently.

“Y-Yeah,” he said quickly, though his fingers fumbled as he reached for his glass. “I’m fine. Totally fine.”

But as soon as the words left his mouth, his hand slipped, and the glass tipped over. The dark liquid spilled across the table, pooling near your plate and dripping onto your dress.

Intak froze, his eyes wide with panic. “Oh no! I-I’m so sorry!” He frantically reached for napkins, but they scattered from his hands onto the floor.

You couldn’t help it - you laughed. The situation, his reaction, all of it was too endearing.

“Hey, it’s fine,” you said, holding up a hand to stop him before he knocked anything else over. “It’s just a little spill. Don’t worry about it.”

“But your dress-”

“I promise, it’s okay,” you said, smiling to reassure him. “Really.”

He slumped back in his chair, his face burning with embarrassment. “I… I don’t know why I’m so clumsy tonight.”

You tilted your head playfully. “I have a theory.”

“Y-Yeah?”

“You’re probably scared of Theo.”

His startled laugh broke through his nervous energy, and he finally met your gaze, his expression softening. “You’re not wrong about that.”

You grinned. “Don’t worry. I’ll protect you from him.”

The playful comment seemed to relax him a little, and as the evening went on, the tension between you eased. But his clumsiness wasn’t finished yet.

The cool evening breeze brushing your face softly as you and Intak strolled down the path of the park. Dinner had been a mixture of laughter and clumsiness, but neither of you seemed to mind.

Intak walked a step behind you, his hands tucked nervously into his pockets. The silence wasn’t uncomfortable, but you could sense his lingering embarrassment from earlier.

“You’ve been awfully quiet,” you teased, turning to look at him.

“I just…” He trailed off, looking up at the stars before glancing back at you. “I’m still kind of kicking myself about dinner. I spilled my drink, dropped the napkins… I must’ve looked so ridiculous.”

You stopped walking, stepping in front of him to block his path. “You know what I think?”

His eyes widened slightly as he tilted his head. “What?”

“I think your clumsiness made tonight even better.”

His cheeks turned pink, and he scratched the back of his neck. “You’re just saying that to make me feel better.”

“I’m serious,” you said with a soft laugh, nudging his arm. “It’s cute when you’re nervous. You’re adorable, Intak.”

The words seemed to catch him off guard. He ducked his head, a shy smile spreading across his face.

You continued walking, spotting an empty bench under a nearby tree. “Let’s sit for a bit,” you suggested, gesturing toward it.

Intak followed and sat down beside you, though as he did, he misjudged the edge of the bench and nearly fell off. You burst into laughter as he quickly steadied himself, his face turning a deep shade of red.

“I swear I don’t normally do this,” he muttered, groaning.

“Sure, sure,” you teased, still laughing. “You’re just keeping me entertained, right?”

“Something like that,” he mumbled, slouching slightly. Then, his voice grew quieter. “I just… I don’t know why I’m like this tonight.”

You turned to look at him, tilting your head. “You don’t?”

He hesitated, then sighed. “Okay, maybe I do. It’s because… I like you. A lot. And I wanted tonight to be perfect, but instead, I’ve been a walking disaster.”

His honesty made your chest feel warm, and a smile tugged at your lips. “Intak…”

Before he could finish his flustered apology, you leaned in and pressed a soft kiss to his lips. His breath hitched in surprise, and when you pulled back, his wide-eyed expression made you giggle.

He raised a hand to touch his lips, his cheeks glowing red. “Wha… Did you just-”

“Yes, I did,” you said, cutting him off with a grin. “And for the record, tonight was perfect. Exactly because you were you.”

His lips twitched into a sheepish smile, and his gaze softened. “You really mean that?”

“Of course,” you said. “But just to make sure you believe me…” You leaned in again, this time kissing him a little longer.

When you pulled away, Intak looked completely dazed, his face lit up with an awkward yet happy smile. “You’re amazing,” he said quietly.

You laughed softly and tucked a strand of hair behind your ear. “And you’re adorable. So, stop worrying so much.”

For the first time that evening, Intak relaxed completely. The two of you sat there on the bench, your head resting on his shoulder and your fingers brushing lightly as the night carried on around you.

SOUL - One Step Closer

The clock on your desk blinked 11:47 PM, its numbers glowing faintly in the dimly lit office. Most of the staff had left hours ago, the once-bustling corridors of the label now eerily silent. You rubbed your tired eyes, a small pile of notes and schedules still waiting for your attention. You’d been organizing P1Harmony’s upcoming schedules for weeks, ensuring every detail was perfect. They worked so hard; the least you could do was support them.

As you tidied up your papers, a sudden thought made your stomach sink. My purse. You’d left it in the practice room earlier when you were running errands. Letting out a small groan, you grabbed your jacket and headed for the elevators. The practice room was on the third floor, and with every step closer, you braced yourself for the faint hope it wouldn’t still be locked.

When you arrived, however, the sound of muffled music greeted you through the door. It wasn’t just anyone practicing - this was P1Harmony’s practice room.

Curious, you opened the door cautiously and peeked inside. There he was: Soul.

Dressed in casual sweats and a tank top, his hair slightly damp from sweat, he moved to the beat with precision, repeating the same step over and over. You leaned against the doorframe, watching his determination. His members always joked that he was an “alien,” someone who could be weird and out of this world, but to you, his quirks were nothing short of adorable.

You cleared your throat gently, and Soul spun around, startled. His expression softened when he saw it was you. “Oh, it’s just you,” he said, breathing hard. “What are you doing here?”

“I could ask you the same thing,” you replied, stepping inside. “It’s so late. Why aren’t you resting?”

He smiled faintly, brushing back a strand of hair from his forehead. “I needed more practice. There are still parts I keep messing up.”

“Messing up?” you echoed, incredulous. “Soul, you were incredible today. Everyone thought so.”

But his smile faltered. He dropped his gaze to the floor, fiddling with the hem of his shirt. “I’m nervous about the comeback,” he admitted softly. “I don’t want to mess up and disappoint the fans. They expect so much from us, and I… I don’t know if I’m good enough.”

Hearing his doubt struck a chord in you. You’d never seen him so vulnerable before. “Soul,” you said firmly, walking closer. “You’re amazing. You’re one of the most talented dancers I’ve ever seen. Your fans love you, they adore everything about you. There’s no way you could ever disappoint them.”

His eyes met yours, searching, as if trying to find truth in your words. Finally, he sighed and gave a small nod. “Thanks,” he murmured. “I needed to hear that.”

A silence settled between you, comfortable yet charged. Then, out of nowhere, he asked, “Do you want to learn the dance?”

“What?” you laughed, taken aback. “Soul, you know I can’t dance.”

He grinned, his usual playful side returning. “Everyone can dance if they want to. Come on, I’ll teach you.” Before you could protest, he grabbed your hand and pulled you to the center of the room.

For the next few minutes, you stumbled through the choreography, laughing at yourself while Soul patiently guided you through each move. He showed you the steps slowly, his hand resting lightly on your waist as he adjusted your posture or corrected your footing. His touch was warm, grounding, but it also sent butterflies fluttering through your stomach.

You felt at ease with him, even when you messed up. His laughter filled the room, infectious and pure, and you couldn’t help but laugh with him. For a brief moment, it felt like there was no one else in the world but the two of you.

Then it happened. You slipped on the polished floor, your footing giving way. Before you could hit the ground, Soul caught you.

His arm wrapped securely around your waist, his other hand steadying your shoulder. You were so close, his face mere inches from yours. His eyes were wide, his lips parted in surprise. “Are you okay?” he asked, his voice low.

You nodded, your breath caught somewhere in your chest. The world seemed to slow down as you locked eyes with him. Time hung suspended, the air between you thick with something unspoken.

“Soul,” you murmured, interrupting whatever he was about to say. You leaned in and pressed your lips softly to his.

Soul froze.

The kiss was soft, fleeting, but it carried so much that you’d been holding back for what felt like forever. Your heart raced as you leaned back slightly to gauge his reaction. His eyes were wide, his lips still parted in surprise.

“I… I’m sorry,” you stammered, suddenly unsure. “I didn’t mean to-”

He blinked, snapping out of his trance. “No,” he interrupted quickly, his voice soft. “Don’t be sorry.”

The corner of his lips quirked upward, a small, shy smile spreading across his face. The warmth in his eyes made your chest tighten, and for a moment, neither of you said anything.

“I didn’t know you felt that way,” he finally said, his voice barely above a whisper.

“I didn’t plan for you to find out like this,” you admitted, your cheeks burning. “I just… I couldn’t help myself.”

Soul’s smile grew a little wider as he let out a quiet laugh, rubbing the back of his neck. “Well, I guess we’re both full of surprises tonight.”

You chuckled nervously, but before you could say anything else, Soul spoke again. “You know,” he said, glancing down, “sometimes I feel like I’m not… normal. Like, maybe I don’t fit in with everyone else. The guys always joke that I’m weird, and I laugh it off, but…” He paused, his voice trailing off.

Your heart ached at his words. “Soul,” you said gently, reaching for his hand. “That’s what makes you you. The way you think, the way you are - it’s what makes you special. I’ve always loved that about you.”

The word “loved” hung in the air between you, but you didn’t take it back. You wanted him to know.

Soul’s gaze lifted to meet yours again, his eyes searching yours with an intensity that made you hold your breath. “You really mean that?” he asked softly.

“Of course,” you replied. “I wouldn’t say it if I didn’t.”

He nodded, his thumb brushing against the back of your hand. The small gesture sent a wave of warmth through you. Then, after a moment, he tilted his head slightly. “So… does this mean I get to teach you the rest of the dance now?”

You burst out laughing, the tension in the room breaking. “Soul!”

“What?” he said, grinning. “I mean, you’ve got potential. I think we could make a good team.”

You rolled your eyes playfully but couldn’t help smiling. “You’re impossible.”

“And you’re stubborn,” he countered, his grin widening. “But seriously…” He hesitated, then stepped a little closer, his expression softening. “Thank you. For everything you said earlier - and for this.”

Before you could reply, he leaned in and kissed you. This time, the kiss lingered, unhurried and full of unspoken feelings. When he pulled back, his face was tinged with the faintest blush.

“You’re amazing,” he said simply, his voice steady but quiet.

You felt your heart flutter at his words, a smile tugging at your lips. “So are you,” you whispered.

He exhaled deeply, glancing toward the clock on the far wall. “It’s late. We should probably call it a night.”

“Yeah,” you agreed, though part of you didn’t want to leave this moment behind.

As you both made your way toward the door, you paused and turned back to him. “Wait,” you said, and he raised a curious eyebrow.

“What is it?”

“There’s one more thing I need to do before we leave,” you said, stepping closer.

Soul tilted his head, clearly puzzled. “What?”

You leaned in and kissed him again. This time, his lips curved into a smile against yours, and when you pulled back, he was grinning from ear to ear.

“Okay,” he said, laughing softly. “Now we can leave.”

The two of you walked out of the practice room together, the quiet hallways of the label feeling a little less empty as your footsteps echoed side by side.

You didn’t know what tomorrow would bring, but for now, you were content.

JONGSEOB - Unexpectedly Us

The late afternoon sun hung low in the sky, its golden rays seeping through the narrow windows of the studio as you stepped into the familiar building. Your phone buzzed in your hand, and you glanced at the message again. It was from Jongseob: “Can you come to the studio? I need help with something.”

Your heartbeat quickened, though you weren’t sure why. You had been by his side for years now: his best friend, his constant cheerleader, the one who always answered his calls. But there was something about him asking for your help in moments like this that made you feel… special. Maybe it was because you’d seen his journey from the very start, since the first time he nervously auditioned as a trainee, barely daring to dream of becoming an idol.

When you reached the door to the recording studio, you heard muffled sounds coming from inside. Pushing it open, you saw him immediately. There he was, standing in the booth, long hair tied into a half ponytail, strands falling loosely against his sharp features. He looked frustrated, pacing back and forth, muttering words under his breath as if rehearsing something he just couldn’t get right.

You’d never seen him like this before - so wound up and on edge. Usually, Jongseob radiated a quiet confidence, the kind that came naturally with his undeniable talent. You leaned against the mixing console, watching him for a moment, hesitating to interrupt his thoughts.

Finally, you pressed the button for the booth speaker and said teasingly, “You needed my help?”

The sound of your voice startled him. He jumped slightly and turned toward you, wide-eyed.

“Yah!” he exclaimed, clutching his chest dramatically. “You scared me!”

You couldn’t help but laugh, and as your laughter filled the room, his lips curved into a smile. Small at first, but then growing wider, accompanied by that high-pitched giggle you’d always loved.

He stepped closer to the booth window, his hands resting against the glass. “I need help with this rap,” he admitted, his tone softening. “I just… I can’t get it right.”

You nodded and took a seat on the other side of the console. “Alright. Show me what you’ve got so far.”

As he returned to the microphone, you settled in, resting your chin on your hand. Watching him like this, immersed in his work, focused, and pouring his emotions into every line, made your chest tighten in ways you didn’t fully understand. His voice was like a rhythm that only he could master, each word laced with a passion that had always made your heart flutter.

But today, that fluttering feeling was almost overwhelming. You shook your head, trying to focus on helping him, not on the way his jaw tensed when he concentrated, or how his hair fell into his eyes when he tilted his head.

When he finally finished recording the verse, he stepped out of the booth, rubbing the back of his neck sheepishly. His long hair was slightly disheveled, and his cheeks were faintly pink from exertion.

“Well?” he asked, raising an eyebrow.

You broke into applause, grinning. “That was amazing. Honestly, I don’t know why you even needed my help.”

He giggled again,higher this time, a little shy, and your heart clenched. You wanted to freeze this moment, to hold onto the sound of his laugh forever.

“I mean it,” you continued, standing up. “Why do you always call me when you need help? You could ask one of the producers, or someone with more experience-”

“Because…” he interrupted, looking down at his hands. His voice was quieter now, almost hesitant. “Because I feel like whenever you’re around, I’m at ease. The words… they just come naturally when you’re here.”

Your chest tightened, the weight of his confession sinking in.

“Jongseob…” you murmured, unsure of what to say. But before you could gather your thoughts, he looked up at you, his eyes searching yours.

“I’m serious,” he said, his tone firmer this time. “It’s not just today. It’s always been like this. Whenever you’re around, I feel different. And lately…” He trailed off, playing with his fingers nervously. “Lately, it’s been getting stronger.”

“What are you saying?” you asked, your voice barely above a whisper.

For a moment, he said nothing. Then, he lifted his gaze to meet yours. “I don’t know exactly what I’m feeling yet, but… I know I don’t want to hide it anymore. Not from you.”

Your heart raced, the weight of his words leaving you breathless. You took a step closer to him, his familiar scent enveloping you. “Jongseob…”

He held up a hand, his cheeks flushed. “You don’t have to say anything right now. I know this is-”

“Wait,” you interrupted, shaking your head. “You’re not the only one who feels this way.”

His eyes widened. “You do?”

You smiled, your chest tightening with a mix of nerves and exhilaration. “Yeah. I do.”

He let out a high-pitched giggle, the sound filling the small studio. You couldn’t stop yourself. You took another step toward him, cupping his face gently in your hands. His skin was warm beneath your touch, and his cheeks burned red.

“That laugh,” you said softly, your thumb brushing against his cheek. “That’s exactly why I fell for you.”

His lips parted as if to respond, but before he could, you leaned in, your heart pounding. Your lips brushed his, a tentative, fleeting touch, and the world seemed to pause.

For a second, neither of you moved. The soft press of your lips against his felt both surreal and electric, like a line you’d both been toeing for years had suddenly disappeared. But when you pulled back slightly, just enough to see his expression, you were met with a sight you’d never forget.

Jongseob’s eyes were wide, his lips parted slightly in shock, and his cheeks burned an even deeper shade of red. His long lashes fluttered as he blinked at you, clearly at a loss for words.

“Cat got your tongue?” you teased, your voice light, though your heart was racing.

He opened his mouth, then shut it again, his brows furrowing as he tried to process what had just happened. You couldn’t help but laugh at his expression, it wasn’t often you saw Jongseob so completely flustered.

“Yah,” he finally muttered, his voice low and shaky. He glanced down, avoiding your eyes, but the redness in his cheeks betrayed him. “What was that?”

You tilted your head, pretending to think. “Hmm, I think they call that a kiss.”

He groaned, dragging a hand through his hair as if trying to hide his face. “You’re unbelievable,” he muttered under his breath.

You grinned, stepping closer to him again. “Oh, come on, you’re the one who basically confessed first. What, you didn’t expect me to do something about it?”

“I didn’t expect you to-” He cut himself off, turning his back to you as if to regain his composure. “I was trying to be serious…”

“And I was serious too,” you interrupted, your tone softening. “I meant it when I said I felt the same way.”

He turned to face you again, his eyes meeting yours, and for a moment, the teasing stopped. The air between you grew heavy with unspoken feelings, and you could see the vulnerability in his gaze.

“Really?” he asked, his voice barely above a whisper. “You’re not just… saying that to mess with me?”

You sighed, stepping closer until you were standing right in front of him. “Jongseob, do I look like I’m joking?”

He hesitated, then shook his head. “No,” he murmured.

“Good,” you said with a small smile. Then, unable to resist the chance to tease him again, you added, “But seriously, you should’ve seen your face just now. You looked like a deer in headlights.”

His mouth fell open, and you could see the mixture of embarrassment and indignation flash across his features. “Yah! Don’t do that!”

“Do what?” you asked innocently, biting back a laugh.

“Make fun of me!” he said, crossing his arms over his chest. “This is already hard enough, and you’re just- ugh.” He let out a frustrated groan, but you could see the faint smile tugging at his lips despite his protests.

“I’m sorry,” you said, not sounding sorry at all. “But you make it so easy. You’re cute when you’re flustered, you know that?”

“Stop,” he whined, hiding his face in his hands.

Your laughter filled the studio again, and when he peeked at you through his fingers, his pout made your chest ache in the best way. “Okay, okay, I’ll stop,” you said, raising your hands in surrender. “But seriously, you’re not mad, right?”

He dropped his hands and gave you a long look. “Mad?” He paused, then shook his head, his expression softening. “No. I don’t think I could ever be mad at you.”

His words sent a wave of warmth through you, and for a moment, neither of you said anything. The tension between you shifted, turning quieter, sweeter.

“Hey,” you said, breaking the silence. “You know I really do love your giggle, right? It’s kind of my favorite thing about you.”

“Why do you keep bringing that up?” he mumbled, his ears turning red. “It’s embarrassing.”

“It’s not embarrassing,” you insisted. “It’s adorable. Just like you.”

His eyes widened, and you could see his ears turning an even deeper shade of red. “You’re seriously going to kill me,” he muttered, looking away.

You smiled and reached out, taking his hand in yours. “I mean it, Jongseob. You’re amazing - onstage, in the studio, and… just as you are. You don’t have to figure everything out right now. I’m not going anywhere.”

He looked down at your intertwined hands, his thumb brushing against yours, and when he glanced back up at you, his expression was softer, calmer.

“Thanks,” he said quietly. “For being here. For… everything.”

“Always,” you replied, squeezing his hand gently.

For a moment, it felt like the world outside the studio didn’t exist - just you, him, and the quiet hum of the equipment around you.

And then, because you couldn’t help yourself, you added with a playful grin, “But seriously, next time you call me for ‘help,’ at least give me a warning before you make me fall for you all over again.”

He laughed - soft at first, then louder, that high-pitched giggle you loved spilling out of him. “You’re so annoying,” he said, shaking his head.

“And yet, here you are, holding my hand,” you shot back.

He rolled his eyes, but the smile on his face told you everything you needed to know.

811 notes · View notes

sweetmisery · 8 months ago

Text

first kiss with piwon | hyung line

pairing: theo | keeho | jiung x female!reader

genre: fluff

a/n: just a little drabble of sharing your first kiss with piwon, hope you like it :) pt 2 with maknae line will follow soon!

part 2 - maknae line

THEO - Between the Strings

The recording studio was dimly lit, as Theo sat there alone, his fingers fumbling on the guitar strings. His brow furrowed in frustration as he plucked and strummed the same chords over and over again. His lips moved silently as he worked through the song under his breath, his fingers slipping once more on the neck of the guitar.

“Come on,” he muttered to himself. He let out a frustrated sigh, slumping over the guitar.

It had been weeks since Theo had felt like himself. The pressure to finish the new album, the late-night recording sessions, and - most of all - the tension between the two of you were getting to him.

He didn’t know why things had become so awkward. At first, everything had been easy - your quick wit and creative eye as the groups stylist had made every interaction exciting, even fun. But lately, something had shifted. Theo found himself tripping over words around you, and he couldn’t ignore the way his heart raced every time you walked into the room.

You hadn’t seemed unaffected either. Your usual sharp comebacks had softened, replaced by a hesitance he couldn’t quite read. Every time you brushed past him backstage or adjusted something on his outfit, he’d catch you looking away a little too quickly.

Theo strummed the wrong chord again, his frustration bubbling over. He cursed under his breath, shaking his head.

Then the door flew open with a bang.

You froze in the doorway, wide-eyed. “Oh god, Theo, I’m so sorry! I thought this room was empty!”

Theo startled, nearly dropping his guitar as he turned to face you. His pulse quickened, the sight of you making it impossible to find his voice for a moment.

“No, it’s fine!” he said quickly, standing up so fast he almost knocked over the stool. “You’re fine. Really.”

“I didn’t mean to interrupt,” you said, already backing toward the door. “I’ll just-”

“No!” The word came out louder than Theo intended, and he winced at himself. Clearing his throat, he added more quietly, “I mean, don’t go. I could, uh… use your help.”

Your eyebrows knitted together in confusion. “My help?”

Theo set the guitar down, running a hand through his already messy hair. “Yeah. I’ve been working on this song, but I’m stuck. I just need someone to listen, and everyone else is… busy.” He left out the part where he didn't even ask anyone else.

For a moment, you hesitated, your hand still on the doorframe. Then you nodded. “Okay. Sure. I can do that.”

You stepped into the room, closing the door behind you. Theo swallowed hard, suddenly hyper-aware of how close you were as you leaned against the wall.

“I’m still figuring out the melody,” he said, his voice quieter now.

Then he started to play.

The first notes were soft, tentative, but as his fingers found their rhythm, his voice followed. The melody unfurled like a thread in the air, and when Theo sang the first line, you froze.

His voice was rich and haunting, a perfect match for the bittersweet lyrics. The emotion in his tone was palpable, like he was pouring pieces of himself into every word. You couldn’t look away.

Leaning against the wall, you let yourself get lost in the sound. It wasn’t just that his voice was beautiful, though it was. It was the way he sang with such vulnerability, as if baring his soul.

When he finished, the silence in the room felt almost holy.

“That was…” you began, but the words wouldn’t come.

Theo set the guitar aside, shaking his head. “Terrible, right?” He gave a self-conscious laugh, breaking the spell.

“No!” you said quickly, your voice firm. “Theo, that was… incredible. Your voice- it’s-” You stopped, heat rushing to your cheeks. “I mean, it’s beautiful. The whole thing is.”

Theo’s gaze met yours, and for a moment, something passed between you, an unspoken connection that made your heart race. But as quickly as it had disappeared, the tension returned, settling heavily between you.

“I, uh, should probably go,” you said, pushing off the wall.

Theo’s heart sank, but he nodded. “Yeah. Thanks for… listening.”

You smiled faintly, your fingers lingering on the doorknob for just a moment before you slipped out, leaving Theo alone with his unfinished song - and the sound of your voice still echoing in his mind.

-the next day-

The next day, Theo couldn’t get you out of his head. The way you’d looked at him during the song, the way your voice had softened - it played on repeat in his mind like an earworm he couldn’t shake.

He told himself he was imagining things, that he’d misread the moment. But when you walked into the studio again that afternoon, this time deliberately, he felt hope flicker to life.

“Hey,” you said softly, lingering by the door.

Theo straightened up on the stool, setting the guitar down as if unsure what to do. “Hey.”

“I was thinking about your song,” you said, stepping inside. “And I realized… I need to hear it again.”

“You do?” Theo's surprise melted into a small smile.

You nodded, your expression a mix of nerves and determination. “Yeah. I think… I wasn’t really listening yesterday. Not the way I should’ve been.”

Theo’s throat felt dry, but he nodded. “Okay. Yeah. I’ll play it for you.”

He started the song, his fingers moving more confidently this time. But as the melody filled the room, his gaze drifted to you. You weren’t leaning against the wall like before - you were standing closer, watching him with an intensity that made his heart race.

His voice was mesmerizing - angelic, even. The emotion in it was undeniable, raw and achingly real. It made your chest tighten, your breath catching as you took a step closer to him.

By the time he finished, you were standing just a few feet away, your heart pounding.

“That was…” you began, but your voice broke. You took another step forward. “Theo, that was incredible.”

His eyes met yours, his expression soft but searching. “Thanks,” he murmured. Theo set the guitar aside, standing up so that you were just a foot apart.

The tension between you was thick now, impossible to ignore. For weeks, you’d both danced around whatever this was, but now there was no escaping it.

”You know…,” Theo said softly, taking a step closer. ”Things have been kinda weird between us lately.”

You swallowed hard, nodding. “Yeah, they have.”

“I don’t know why, but…” Theo said, his voice low. ”I don’t want it to be like that anymore.”

You looked up at him, your eyes wide. “Me neither.”

For a moment, neither of you moved. The air felt electric as Theo suddenly took a tentative step closer, his gaze flickering to your lips.

“Can I…?” he began, his voice trailing off.

You didn’t let him finish. Instead, you closed the distance, your lips brushing his.

Theo froze for a split second, then melted into the kiss, his hands coming up to cradle your face. His lips were soft, warm, and impossibly gentle, and the sound of his breathing mixed with yours, creating a music of its own.

When you finally pulled away, Theo’s forehead rested against yours, both of you smiling through the nervous energy still buzzing between you.

“So,” you teased, your voice still breathless, “guess I should storm into recording sessions more often.”

Theo laughed, the sound warm and genuine. “You’d be my favorite distraction.”

You grinned, your fingers brushing against his as the two of you stayed close. The guitar still sat on the stool behind him, but the song felt complete now, even without another note being played.

KEEHO - Drenched in Love

The rain began as a soft drizzle, cool against your skin as you walked beside Keeho. The two of you had just left the café, where your usual flow of chatter had been replaced by long, quiet stretches. It wasn’t uncomfortable, but it felt different - charged, somehow.

“Guess we didn’t check the weather again, huh?” Keeho said, his laugh cutting through the sound of raindrops hitting pavement. His dark hair was already damp, strands clinging to his forehead in a way that made your stomach do an unwelcome little flip.

You pulled your jacket tighter, though it did little to keep the rain, or your emotion, at bay. Being with him had always been easy, effortless. But lately, you’d felt something else creeping in, something that made you hyper-aware of how close he was or how his smile lingered when he looked at you.

By the time the rain picked up, the two of you had ducked under the awning of a closed bookstore. It was familiar ground, a place you’d stopped at countless times to joke about bad book titles or dream up absurd stories. This time, though, neither of you seemed to know what to say.

Keeho leaned against the wall, his hands shoved into his jacket pockets. “Hey,” he said, his voice quieter than usual.

“Yeah?” You tried to sound casual, but it came out more uncertain than you’d hoped.

“You’ve been…” He paused, his gaze flicking to yours before darting away again. “I don’t know. You’ve been kind of different lately.”

Your heart skipped. Was he guessing at the feelings you’d been struggling to keep hidden? The ones that made your chest ache whenever he smiled at you like you were the only person who mattered?

“What do you mean?” you asked, hoping you sounded more composed than you felt.

Keeho hesitated, one hand lifting to rub the back of his neck, a habit you knew well. “I mean, not in a bad way. Just… I don’t know how to explain it.”

The rain filled the silence that followed, the steady rhythm matching the nervous thrum of your heartbeat. You wanted to say something, to push him to clarify, but fear rooted you in place.

“It’s probably stupid,” Keeho added with a quiet laugh, his eyes meeting yours for a fleeting moment before looking away again.

“It’s not stupid,” you said quickly, your voice firmer than you expected. “Just tell me.”

He turned to face you fully then, and the intensity in his expression made you forget the chill of the rain. “I don’t want to mess this up,” he said, his voice barely audible over the downpour.

Your throat tightened. “Mess what up?”

Keeho opened his mouth as if to answer, but a sudden crack of thunder made you both jump, the sound splitting the air and breaking the tension. You laughed nervously, the momentary distraction easing the tightness in your chest. Keeho’s laughter followed, warm and familiar, and for a second, things felt normal again.

But then his hand brushed against yours - whether by accident or not, you couldn’t tell - and the warmth of his touch sent a jolt through you. He didn’t pull away, and neither did you.

“We should probably find better shelter,” he said, though he made no move to leave.

You nodded, but your feet stayed rooted to the ground. His gaze found yours again, and this time, it didn’t waver. The rain fell harder now, soaking through your jacket and chilling you to the bone, but you hardly noticed.

“Keeho,” you said, your voice barely above a whisper.

“Yeah?” he asked, stepping closer.

The distance between you seemed to vanish in an instant. You could see the rain clinging to his lashes, the way his lips parted as if he wanted to say something but wasn’t sure how.

“I-” Your words faltered, caught somewhere between your head and your heart.

Before you could gather the courage to continue, a gust of wind whipped around you, scattering rain in chaotic waves. Keeho laughed, reaching out instinctively to steady you as the storm raged on. His hand wrapped around your arm, and the touch was electric, sending heat coursing through you despite the cold.

For a moment, the world seemed to fall away, leaving only the two of you standing there, soaked and shivering but unmoving. The words you wanted to say hovered on the tip of your tongue, but you didn’t need to speak them to know they were written all over your face.

So were his.

The rain was relentless now, soaking through every layer of clothing. You and Keeho were still standing there, frozen in a moment that felt like it had been years in the making. His hand lingered on your arm, his warmth a stark contrast to the chill seeping into your skin.

He didn’t let go.

The world around you seemed to blur, the pounding rain and rumbling thunder fading into the background. All you could focus on was him, the way his dark eyes searched yours, like he was trying to find the courage to take the leap you both knew was coming.

“Keeho,” you whispered, not trusting yourself to speak any louder.

His name on your lips seemed to break something in him. He took a small step closer, his fingers tightening slightly against your arm. “I… I’ve been wanting to say something,” he began, his voice low but steady. “But I didn’t know if-”

“Me too,” you interrupted, the words tumbling out before you could stop them.

His eyes widened slightly, his breath catching in his chest. “Yeah?”

“Yeah.” You nodded, and suddenly the words came easier. “I didn’t want to mess things up either. But… I can’t keep pretending that I don’t feel this.”

Keeho let out a shaky laugh, a sound of relief and disbelief. “You have no idea how long I’ve been trying to figure out if you felt the same way.”

The vulnerability in his voice made your chest ache. How could you not have seen it? The way he looked at you, the way his hand would linger when he touched your shoulder or brushed against your fingers. It had always been there, just below the surface, waiting for one of you to acknowledge it.

And now there was no going back.

“I guess we’re both pretty bad at this,” you said, trying to lighten the mood.

Keeho grinned, his usual confidence creeping back in. “Maybe. But we’re figuring it out, right?’’

His words hung in the air between you, and for a moment, neither of you moved. The rain poured down, soaking you both to the bone, but the cold didn’t matter anymore.

Keeho’s hand slid down your arm, his fingers brushing yours before settling on your hand. The touch was tentative, like he was waiting for you to pull away. But you didn’t.

Instead, you took a step closer, your free hand lifting almost instinctively to push the wet strands of hair out of his face. His breath hitched at the contact, and for a heartbeat, the only thing you could hear was the sound of your own pounding pulse.

And then he leaned in.

It was slow at first, as if he was giving you every chance to stop him. But you didn’t. You tilted your head up to meet him halfway, your heart racing as his lips brushed against yours.

The kiss was soft, almost hesitant, but it was enough to set your world spinning. Keeho’s hand tightened around yours, pulling you closer until there was no space left between you. The rain continued to fall, cold and unrelenting, but all you could feel was the heat of his touch, the warmth of his lips moving against yours.

When he finally pulled back, his forehead rested against yours, his breath warm against your rain-chilled skin. “Was that okay?” he asked, his voice barely above a whisper.

You laughed, the sound breaking through the storm. “More than okay.”

Keeho smiled then, the kind of smile that made you feel like nothing else in the world mattered. “Good,” he said. “Because I’ve been wanting to do that for a long time.”

You didn’t know what would happen next, but in that moment, you didn’t care. The storm could rage on around you, but all that mattered was that you were here, together, no longer hiding what you both felt.

And as Keeho pulled you back into another kiss, you realized you didn’t want to be anywhere else.

JIUNG - Before You Go

The styling room was unusually quiet, the hum of activity that normally filled the space replaced by the soft rustle of make-up supplies being packed into your suitcase. You moved systematic, putting the powder brushes into a small etui and tucking it into the case. The air carried a bittersweet tension; it was strange to think that tonight would be the last time you’d close this door behind you.

Working as P1Harmony’s stylist had been more than just a job. You had shared laughter during fittings, offered comfort during stressful shoots, and your heart ached, not just for the job you loved but for the unspoken feelings you had buried deep inside for Jiung.

You couldn’t pinpoint when your feelings for him started to grow, but over time, his subtle smiles and quiet moments with you had become the highlight of your day. Of course, those feelings could never be acted upon. Being a stylist for an idol group meant following unspoken rules, and dating an idol was taboo.

It wasn’t easy to walk away, but this job could no longer sustain the financial pressures you faced. The offer from another music label was too good to pass up, even if it meant leaving behind the people you had grown to care for deeply.

You sighed, brushing aside the wave of emotion that threatened to consume you. “Just a few more things,” you whispered to yourself, trying to keep the ache in your chest at bay.

Suddenly, the door creaked open. Startled, you turned to see Jiung standing in the doorway, his dark eyes scanning the room before locking onto you. He was dressed casually, a black hoodie pulled over his head, but the way he stood there made your heart race.

“I thought I might find you here,” he said softly, stepping inside and closing the door behind him.

“Jiung,” you said, your voice catching slightly. “I didn’t expect-”

“I.. I wanted to see you one last time,” he interrupted, his gaze never wavering. “Before you leave.” His words hung in the air.

You swallowed hard, unsure of what to say. The intensity of his presence in the quiet room made it hard to breathe.

You forced a smile. “You’ll be fine without me. You’ve got a great team-”

“Don’t say that,” Jiung interrupted, his voice trembling slightly. He took a step closer, his eyes searching yours. “Do you really have to go?”

His question caught you off guard. “Jiung, it’s not that I want to leave,” you admitted, avoiding his gaze. “I just… need something different. I need to pay off some debts, and-”

“I know,” he interrupted. “But… if it's about the money, I will talk to our boss. I'm sure they are willing to match your new offer. You don't have to leave."

You shook your head, feeling tears prick at the corners of your eyes. "It's not just the money. I thought maybe it was time for something new, even if it hurts to leave."

Jiung frowned, his brows knitting together. "But you love working with us, right?"

"Of course, I do," you said, your chest tightening. "It's not an easy decision."

“Please don’t go,” Jiung said, his voice breaking slightly. “I don’t know how I’m supposed to handle not seeing you anymore.

His words struck a chord deep inside you. The thought of leaving P1Harmony, of leaving Jiung, had been tearing you apart. But you had convinced yourself there was no other option. Now, standing here in the intimate stillness of the styling room, his plea cracked the walls you had built around your emotions.

"Jiung, what are you saying?" You whispered, barely trusting your voice.

He took another step closer, reaching out hesitantly, his fingers brushing against yours before wrapping around your hand. His touch was warm and grounding, sending a jolt through your body.

Jiung took a deep breath, his gaze locking with yours. "I should've said this sooner, but l didn't know how. I was scared. Scared of what it could mean for me... for us. But now, with you leaving, I can't keep it in anymore."

Your heart was beating fast in your chest as he hesitated, searching for the right words.

"I like you," he confessed, his voice trembling slightly. "No, I- I think I've fallen for you. I don't know when it started, but every time I see you, I feel... I feel something I can't ignore. And now, knowing you won't be here anymore, it's killing me. I had to tell you, even if it's too late."

The world seemed to stop. Jiung’s words hung in the air, and for a moment, all you could do was stare at him, stunned. Jiung - the person you had been secretly pining for - felt the same way about you?

“Say something,” he urged, his voice cracking.

"Jiung," you said, your voice barely audible. "I... l feel the same way."

His eyes widened, a flicker of hope replacing the nervousness on his face. "You do?"

You nodded, a smile breaking through despite the tears threatening to spill. "I've liked you for so long, but I thought it was impossible. I thought you'd never feel the same."

He let out a shaky laugh, relief washing over him. "I should've told you sooner."

Before you could reply, he closed the distance between the both of you, his free hand gently cupping your cheek. Your breath hitched as he leaned in, his lips brushing against yours in a kiss that was soft, tentative, and full of emotions you had both kept buried for far too long.

The kiss deepened, and you felt a thousand butterflies take flight in your chest. Jiung’s hands gently cupped your face, and for the first time in what felt like forever, everything felt right.

When he finally pulled away, his forehead rested against yours. You were both breathing hard, your emotions tangled in a beautiful mess.

“Please stay,” Jiung said, his voice barely above a whisper. “We’ll figure it out. Together.”

You hesitated. “Jiung… this is risky. What if someone finds out?”

“I don’t care,” he said firmly, his eyes locking onto yours. “I care about you. And I can’t let you leave without trying.”

Tears welled up in your eyes. “I didn’t want to leave in the first place. But I thought it was better this way. I thought… I thought you didn’t feel the same.”

Jiung smiled softly, brushing a tear from your cheek. “I’ve felt this way for so long. I just didn’t know how to tell you. But now that I have, I can’t let you go without a fight.”

His words melted the last of your doubts. “Okay,” you whispered.

“Okay?” Jiung asked, his eyes lighting up with hope.

You nodded. “I’ll stay. But we have to be careful.”

A relieved laugh escaped his lips, and he pulled you into a tight hug. “Thank you. Thank you for staying.”

As he held you close, you couldn’t help but smile. For the first time in a long time, the future felt bright, even if it was uncertain. Whatever challenges lay ahead, you knew you’d face them together.

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