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luvbinnies · 4 months ago

Text

i made a promise, to distance myself

A boy who kept his feelings locked away and someone who wore their heart on their sleeve. When he walked away, it was without warning, without reason. And they refused to wait for an explanation. Now few months later, forced to work together on a project neither can escape, old wounds resurface. Silence turns into stolen glances, resentments bleeds into something dangerously familiar, and the past refuses to stay buried.

Genre: fluff, angst, exs to lovers, el oh el.

warnings: swearing, isaac newton mentioned, could be sad ig (?), i can't think of anything else

a/n: im back from the dead, recently fell under a moving car and got dumped el oh el, some parts in here are inspo by like my actual life, i have a list of all the similarities if anyone is curiosu at the end of the story. basically wake up from a dream where me and my ex got back together and wrote this.

wc: 9.6k (longest fic ever el oh el)

Jumping off a flight of stairs was probably not the best idea, but it was the only thing you could think of at the moment.

Reluctantly moving down the stairs and following the loud clunk sounds of your stupid bright neon green water bottle. Books and papers of drawings and blueprints that won't fit into your messenger bag without getting damaged. Maybe you should’ve listened to when people said getting a regular backpack was much more convenient than the bag you had now, but it was much more fashionable.

Landing at the bottom of the staircase, take a moment to breathe and prepare yourself for having to go back up five flights of stairs to get to class. Because even though the school is one of the prestigious in the country, they refuse to have any sort of elevators to ruin their “dark academic” aesthetic of the building.

Eyes traveling on the old cobbled stoned flooring, trying to locate a neo-coded water bottle, your mother insisted on getting since she read somewhere green is this year's lucky colour. Probably found in some ridiculous article, really got to get her off social media.

Bright neon green slipped through your peripheral vision, turning to face the still rolling bottle and walking towards it before it makes you late for your next class. It stops in front of a pair of solid black shoes, one that looks all too familiar. The figure stops at the feeling of the ratchet bottle that wants to ruin your day even more than it already has.

A recognizable pale hand, with a silver ring on the index, hesitantly drops down to pick up the bottle that led you down a path to the literal pits of hell for you. Eyes not dare looking up from the ground, taking your somewhat free hand and extending out your pinky to the now stranger you have a bitter taste in your mouth everytime you come near. Once the feeling of your pinky is weighted down by the feeling of the water bottle’s hook, you take off up the stairs with energy that you didn’t think you had anymore left of, as it’s your third time climbing these stairs in the past ten minutes.

Not a care in the world if a stranger walks by and deem you as a rude bastard who can’t even say thank you, because you can;t even say a word to the “nice stranger” who handed you your water bottle. All you can do around him now is just run and avoid. That’s what you continue to do until you reach your class, probably looking a little weird as you were also cursing at your bottle and gravity, mainly isaac newton, he’s usually the bane of all your problems lately, besides the man you used to call yours.

—

His friends would sometimes joke to him that the world is too fast for him at times, usually when he doesn’t get a joke right away or for him zoning out, especially as it has been worse in these past few months.

But that happened so fast, he has no idea what to do, or how to react but just to stare at your figure rushing up the stairs. Sunghoon’s jaw tightens as you fade away up the many flights of stairs. Acting like he is some contagious virus, even afraid to touch him, much less look at him.

He would remember when their friend group was still intact and when they would all hang out, how sometimes the gang would get too overwhelming, even from the other side of the room you would catch his eye and always give him a comforting smile. And the simple eye contact with one another, while the world moves along around them.

But he had lost that with you and it’s all his fault.

—

Taking a little break from the assignment in front of you to angrily tap on your phone so the ads on your music app stop, knowing you aren’t really actually doing anything to get rid of them unless you become one of the apps victims and pay for music. But your stubbornness and being broke, so aggressively hitting your phone is your next best solution.

The little silence after the ad is finally done and the next song is about to start, you can hear a mechanical pencil roll off of a desk. A quiet clatter could barely be noticed in the slight hum of the library. You didn’t hear it at first, the angry high you had because of the ad made you lock out of concentrating from your work— until you noticed the hand reaching for it making you pause.

Long pale fingers. A silver ring on the index.

You know those hands, it's your second time seeing them in… you weren’t too sure the last time you saw those hands when they were wrapped around your water bottle. All you knew was that you were seeing those hands much sooner than you needed to.

Those hands, you remember the weight of those hands in yours, the way they used to hold your face and caress your cheek, the way they tug at your sleeves on your sweater absentmindedly.

And you recognize the pencil.

It’s yours.

Not exactly, but you did buy that pencil.

Something in you starts feeling nauseous, or light-headed, you couldn’t really figure out in the moment because without thinking, you reach out and yank that pencil right out of his grip.

Maybe you shouldn’t have done that, because now that gross boy opened his mouth, but you didn’t care.

Sunghoon blinks. “Hey did you just—”

Whenever you were bored in class you would always do fun pencil tricks and even taught him how to do some with this said pencil in your hands.

Spinning the pencil around, inspecting it with feigned interest, not caring about the boy next to you with his mouth open like a fish staring at you. “Huh. I forgot how nice this pencil was.”

Now his mouth is close as he clenches his jaw, his stare sharpening. “You can’t be serious.”

Finally turning your head to look at him, trying to maintain the emotions on your face. Instead of saying something you might end up regretting, in the fear of sounding cringe, you just shrug.

“Give it back.”

“Why?” Resting your chin on your hand. “It’s mine.”

He exhales sharply, the kind of exasperated breath he used to let out when you teased for taking things too seriously. Except now there’s a little bit of an edge to everything.

“You gave it to me.”

You tilt your head “Did I?”

You weren’t sure if he could clench his jaw any harder, but somehow he does. “Yeah. You did.”

Your grip on the pencil tightens. You can’t say you remember everything that was said the night of the break up, but you remember the way you felt, the way he left without explanation— like he couldn’t bear to stay with you any second longer. As if he couldn’t stand to hold on to something that was already slipping away.

He didn’t even let you have a say, you didn’t get the chance to do anything, not even fight for what was yours then.

So now you hold on to that damn pencil.

“Well,” you say, voice light, “technically, it was mine first.”

Sunghoon lets out a humorless laugh, one you don’t recognize in this fever dream daze of nostalgia. Leaning against the table, he’s close now, closer than you could've prepared for. You hate the way your heart stumbles over itself at the lack of distance, at the way he still smells the same— like something clean and sharp, a little cologne you had bought him about a year ago for his birthday.

His voice drops an octave. “You’re seriously pulling this shit?”

Shrugging again, simply just pulling a stare you hope doesn’t reveal how fast your heart is beating stupidly like it used to.

He watches you for a long second, his brown eyes scanning your face like he’s trying to figure out what type of game you were playing. But then, not arguing, instead of pushing back, he just exhales softly.

“Fine,” he mutters, “Keep it.”

And then, right before he turns away— so quiet you almost think you had imagined it—

“It suits you better anyways.”

You blink.

Before you could say anything, maybe asking what the fuck he meant by what he said, he’s already walking off. Leaving you with a mechanical pencil in your hands and this time you watching him as he walks away, with a taste of words you don’t quite understand.

—

Two year ago

Rain pitter patters against the windows, a dull hum in the background in the near-empty classroom. It’s late— too late for anyone to be here— you didn’t care, you were too stubborn. Chewing on your nail, brows furrowed in concentration as you glare at your notebook, completely oblivious to the fact that Sunghoon hasn’t turned a page in the last ten minutes.

He should be focusing. He should be running through formulas in his head, thinking about the test tomorrow, or at the very least be pretending to be studying. Instead, he’s watching you— watching the way you puff out your cheeks when you stop understanding what you were just doing, the way you spin the pencil in your hand absentmindedly, the way you whisper to yourself while doing each exercise when you think no one’s listening.

You’re always like this– loud without meaning to be, pulling attention without even trying.

He should’ve known sooner. That you were dangerous in the kind of way that crept up on him, slipping past his defenses before he had the chance to stop it.

“Sunghoon.”

Your voice snaps him back to reality, he straightens, forcing his face into something neutral. “What?”

Pushing your notebook towards him, sighing dramatically. “Did you do this one yet? I don’t know if I did it correctly.”

He glances at your notebook, eyes widening a little, as to the most he could see on the page was a bunch of scribbles and some incoherent formulas and calculation. Having a hard time reading it , before shifting his chair closer. You don’t think twice about it when your shoulders brush. You never do.

But he does.

He always does.

“Is this your answer, at the corner?” he asks, taking your pencil without thinking, to circle the little number at the bottom of the page. Your fingers graze for a second, and he wonders if you feel the static the way he does. Probably not. You’d pull away if you did.

He attempted to go over your work, commenting on what you have written in a voice that’s much steadier than he feels. You nod along, resting your chin on your hand, eye flickering between his face and page.

“I hate Isaac Newton and that stupid apple.” you grumble.

Sunghoon huffs a quiet laugh shaking his head. “You just overthink everything.”

You groan. “I wish that apple killed that stupid white man.”

He watches as you bury your head in your arms on the table, tapping your forehead lightly with the end of the pencil before setting it back down. “Just stop overthinking and wishing death upon an already dead man.”

Lifting your head, you blink at him, lips parting like you want to argue, but for a brief moment, something passes between the two of you— something neither of you have a name for yet.

And then you roll your eyes, reaching for your notebook. “Yeah, yeah. Whatever, idiot.”

Sunghoon watches as you turn your pages to start a new question, completely unaware of the way his fingers twitch against his knee, resisting the urge to brush a stray strand of hair from your face.

Yeah.

He’s in trouble.

—

A few months ago

The night air is cold, but not as cold as the space between you.

Your arms are crossed. His hands are shoved into his pockets.

A street light flickers overhead. A car passes in the distance.

Sunghoon exhales, steadying himself.

Then. before he can stop it— before he can think too hard about what he’s about to lose—

“I think we should break up.”

Silence.

The kind that swallows everything whole.

Your lips part, but no words come out.

The look in your eyes— confusion, disbelief, then something else, something that burns—

“What-Why?”

He doesn’t answer. Or maybe he does, but it’s not the right thing.

It’s never the right thing.

The air is heavy, thick with things neither of you are saying.

Then, finally— your voice, quieter this time.

“Okay.”

A single step back. Then another.

And then—

Nothing.

—

The classroom hums with chatter, students moving around and the teacher speaking about some project, but you were barely listening. Your attention is elsewhere— on your notebook, on the scratches of pen against paper, literally anything but him.

He was two rows ahead, resting his chin on his hand, half-focused on his laptop. Almost similar to you right now. Too similar.

You don’t look at him. You don’t let yourself.

But then—

“For the project, you’ll be working in pairs.”

There is a ripple of movement through the room, students glancing around already choosing their partners.

“I’ve assigned them to you.”

Your stomach twists.

You sit a little straighter. Your fingers tighten around your pen.

The professor starts listing off names. One by one, students find their partner. You’re holding your breath, waiting for—

And then—

Your name.

And then, immediately after—

His.

You freeze.

The room suddenly feels too small, the air too thick.

Someone nudges your arm, murmuring something about how lucky you are since you get to work with the “hottest guy on campus”, but their voice is distant, muffled by the sound of blood rushing in your ears.

Slowly, hesitantly, you lift your gaze.

Sunghoon had turned in his seat.

For the first time in months, you’re looking at each other.

And the worst part? He doesn’t even look surprised.

—

Sunghoon doesn’t hear from you for the rest of the day.

Not a text, not a call— nothing.

And the, at exactly 11:51 pm., an email lands in his inbox.

Subject: Project Task

From: [email protected]

To: [email protected]

Attached is the project outline. I’ve divided the tasks. I’ll handle the structural analysis and concept sketches. You can do the mechanical components. Tell me when you are done.

Sent from my phone

That’s it. No greeting. No unnecessary words. Not even your name.

Sunghoon exhales through his nose, clicking open the file. You’ve already set up everything— titles, labels, even deadlines. You’ve practically built a wall of professionalism between you, as if you were never anything but classmates.

And it pisses him off.

Fine. two can play this game.

He types a reply, short and to the point.

Subject: Re: Project Tasks

Got it.

He doesn’t hit send.

His fingers hover over the keyboard. His jaw clenches.

Then, in a moment of stubborn impulse, he types—

You can’t avoid me forever.

And hits send before he can take it back.

—

“You know, he’s right.”

You shoot a glare over at Sunoo. “Don’t start.”

“I’m just saying,” he continued, kicking his feet up on the bench. “You can’t ignore him forever.”

“I can, actually.” you sip your matcha pointedly. “It’s called email.”

He snorts. “You sound like a middle-aged professor.”

“Good. Maybe he’ll leave me alone then.”

Sunoo raises an eyebrow. “He literally told you, ‘You can’t avoid me forever.’”

You roll your eyes. “Yeah, and? I don’t care.”

The words are barely out of your mouth when Sunoo suddenly stiffens, eyes darting over your shoulder.

“Uh—”

You don’t even have to ask. You just know.

There’s a familiar shift to the air, an awareness pressing down on your skin.

And then, just to confirm it—

“Shit,” Sunoo mutters. “He’s down the hall.”

You don’t think. You just move.

Your hands shoot out, gripping his sleeve as you drag them down the corridor.

“Are you serious?!” he hiss between stumbling steps.

“Shut up, shut up , shut up—”

“Please can we stop running, I don’t think he would be chasing us down for sport.”

You don’t care. You don’t turn around because you know if you do, you’ll see Sunghoon standing there, staring after you, that unreadable look on his face.

And you are not giving him that satisfaction.

Not today.

—

Staring at your laptop screen, fingers hovering over the keyboard, the flashing cursor blinking back at you in defiance. You’ve been avoiding this email for days— every time you think about it your stomach churns, and you mind races with excuses.

You don’t want to deal with him. Not now. Not ever again.

The project, the meeting, the unavoidable tension. You had hoped, foolishly, that you could really just avoid Sunghoon completely— keep everything strictly professional, send email, handle the assignment without having to face him in person. But that plan was crushed the moment the email landed in your inbox, his name in bold.

“Let’s meet in person tomorrow to go over the project. I’ll bring the drafts.”

Of course, Sunghoon had to take the initiative. You had a suspicion he’d never let you hide behind your screen forever. He was stubborn, too, in a way that always seemed to get under your skin.

You arrived at the library, dragging your feet, already feeling the weight of the situation settle in your chest. The project was an assignment, but the real challenge was having to sit across from him, pretending that nothing had happened, pretending that the last year— no, the last months— hadn’t been a whirlwind of frustration and heartache.

But here you were, faced with reality. You walked into the library, hoping to avoid eye contact, but you couldn’t escape the familiar sight of him sitting at a table with all his papers neatly organized, a slight form on his face as he scanned the documents.

His eyes flicked up when he saw you enter, and for a second, your heart skipped a beat. But you force yourself to remain calm. He was just a classmate now, just another part of your academic routine. Nothing more.

You set your things down at the table across from him, pulling your laptop out with the practiced motions of someone who had done this a thousand times before. You weren;t going to make this more personal than it had to be. No small talk. No catching up. Just the project.

“Hey,” Sunghoon greeted, his voice neutral but carrying the weight of something unsaid. He glanced at the papers in front of you and then back to you. “Are you okay with everything so far? I made some revisions to the outline.”

You didn;t look at him. Instead, you glanced at the project papers and began sorting through them, avoiding his gaze entirely. “I’ll read them over later. Just… let’s focus on getting it done.”

You felt his eyes on you, the tension palpable in the air, but you refused to acknowledge it. You had your own part to do, your own work to focus on. Nothing else mattered right now. The project was the only thing that mattered.

—

Sunghoon sighed, and you could hear the edge of frustration creeping into his voice. “Look, I know this isn;t easy for either of us, but we’re stuck with each other for this project. We might as well get it done right.”

“I’m not here to talk,” you snapped back, the words sharp and defensive. “Just focus on your part. I’ll handle mine.”

His expression hardened , but he didn’t push it any further. He opened up his own laptop and began typing, the sound of the keyboard tapping filling the silence between the both of you.

For a while, it was quiet— just the sound of typing, rustling of papers. But no matter how hard you tried to focus, you couldn;’t shake the nagging feeling that he was watching you. His presence was like a shadow that followed your every move you made, and you hated how it made your chest tighten. You shouldn’t feel like this. You had no reason to. This wasn’t supposed to be personal. It was just a project.

But then, suddenly, Sunghoon spoke again, his voice quieter, almost reluctant.

“You know,” he said, voice low but insistent, “we used to work well together. Back in high school. Why are you making this harder than it has to be?”

You froze, your fingers still on the keyboard. You could feel the old pain creep up your throat, but you swallowed it down, shoving it away. No. Don’t go there.

“I don’t know what you’re talking about,” you said, your voice steady but with a hint of something you don’t want to put a name to. And then, with a sigh, he turned his attention back to his laptop, typing in silence for a long time.

—

Two year ago

It had been a late night at the library, the kind where the air felt thick with concentration and the promise of deadlines hanging over every student in the building. You were sitting at the same table as Sunghoon, both of you buried in textbooks, trying to get ahead before the weekend.

It was supposed to be just another study session, but something felt different. Maybe it was the way the soft overhead lights cast shadows over his features or how the silence between you two wasn’t awkward but comfortable. You couldn’t help it— his face was so focused, his lips slightly pursed in concentration, and for some reason, the sight of him studying like that made your heart skip.

“Is there something on my face?” he asked, his voice teasing but gentle.

You blinked and quickly looked away, flustered. “No … it’s just, you look… nice when you study.”

Sunghoon raised an eyebrow, clearly amused. He leaned forward slightly, his voice lower than usual. “Nice, huh? That’s a first.”

You wanted to curl up and die from embarrassment, but instead you found yourself smiling despite the heat in your cheeks. Something about being with him felt so easy, so natural.

And then, before you could stop yourself, the words slipped out. “You look… pretty. When you study.”

There was a long pause, and then Sunghoon chuckled, his smile widening. “Pretty, huh? Well, that’s new.”

You couldn’t help it. You laughed too, the awkwardness melting away in the warmth of his gaze. That moment— when you both realized that maybe there was something more there— was when it all started.

—

The silence in the library stretches again. You go back to your laptop, trying to focus on the work in front of you. But the memory of that moment, of those words you’d said so long ago, hangs in the air like a ghost.

Sunghoon’s presence is undeniable now. Every time his shoulder brushes against yours as he reaches for his drink, it feels like a jolt of electricity. You grit your teeth, forcing yourself to keep working, to ignore the way his proximity makes your heart race.

“You know, if we just worked together instead of pretending we’re strangers, this would be a lot easier,” Sunghoon says again, his voice a little more insistent now, but still carrying that gentle tone.

You refuse to look up, clenching your jaw. “Just finish your part. I’ll finish mine.”

“I’ve always liked how stubborn you are,” he mutters, but there’s a soft fondness behind the words. “But you’re going to make this harder than it has to be, aren’t you?”

You bite your lip, fighting the urge to snap back. But the reality is that he’s right. You are making this harder. You’re making everything harder by refusing to acknowledge how much you still feel for him.

But you can’t admit that, not now, not when the walls between you two are so high, so insurmountable.

—

It’s late—too late for anyone to be at the library anymore. The harsh overhead lights flicker in the empty room, casting long shadows on the tables where students usually sat, buried in their books. But not you. You’re still here, alone, a stack of textbooks and papers spread out before you. The hum of the fluorescent lights fills the air, broken only by the soft tapping of your fingers on the keyboard.

You’ve been here for hours, the deadline looming closer with every passing second. Your mind is tired, but you won’t leave until you finish. It’s like a race against time. A way to distract yourself from everything else.

But then, you feel it. A presence.

You look up, and there’s Sunghoon, standing by the entrance, his gaze scanning the room. You immediately look away, pretending you hadn’t seen him. Why is he here? You weren’t supposed to see him, not tonight.

He walks toward you slowly, his footsteps soft but deliberate. You keep your eyes down, focused on the papers in front of you, but you can feel him getting closer.

“You’re still here?” Sunghoon says, his voice low, like he’s not sure what to make of the situation.

You sigh, unwilling to make this a conversation. “I’m working. Is that a problem?”

“No,” he answers quickly, but there’s a softness to his tone now. Something gentler. “Just... thought you’d left by now.”

You don’t look up, but you hear him pull out the chair opposite you. He sits down, but doesn’t speak immediately. You don’t say anything either. It’s awkward. You try to focus on the work in front of you, trying to ignore the feeling of his presence, so close but still so far away.

You keep your head down, but the longer you stay in the silence, the more you feel the walls you’ve built start to crumble, piece by piece. He doesn’t push you. Doesn’t force a conversation. He just... stays.

You try not to think too much about it. It’s just Sunghoon. Just a classmate.

But then, hours later, you’re blinking, your head feeling heavy as you try to focus on the screen in front of you. You hadn’t realized how tired you were until your eyelids started to flutter. You hadn’t meant to fall asleep, but the exhaustion catches up with you.

You don’t even realize you’ve nodded off until you’re suddenly jerked awake, your head jerking up from the desk. The library is quiet, almost too quiet, and the light from the desk lamp casts a soft glow around the room. That’s when you notice it.

A jacket—dark, heavy, and familiar—draped over your shoulders.

You blink, still groggy from sleep, and turn to see that Sunghoon is gone, his chair empty. You try to shake the fogginess from your mind, but there’s no denying it: He left his jacket with you.

You didn’t hear him come back. Didn’t feel him approaching. But somehow, he’d slipped it onto you while you were asleep, without a sound.

You sit there for a moment, the jacket still warm against your skin. His scent clings to it, and you find yourself unable to take it off. It feels wrong to just leave it behind, but you’re not sure why it feels so important to keep it on.

You look down at your own hands, your fingers grazing the sleeve, feeling the weight of the jacket, both literally and emotionally. You’re not sure if it’s the jacket that’s weighing on you or the memories that come with it. But it’s there. And so is he.

You stay there for a few more minutes, just sitting in the quiet, knowing that it would be impossible to get anything more done tonight. You pack up your things, but you don’t take off the jacket. Instead, you walk out of the library with it on, your heart a little heavier than when you came in.

—

It was dark outside, and the bus was filled with the soft chatter of your classmates. You and Sunghoon were sitting in the same seat, your shoulders brushing as you both leaned against the window, tired from the day’s activities.

You’d always been close, never quite aware of how it felt to have someone just be there with you. But that day, there was something different about it. It was like you both had settled into this quiet rhythm—comfortable, easy.

You leaned your head against the window, gazing out at the passing lights. The bus was warm, and your eyes were starting to grow heavy from the day’s exhaustion. Without realizing it, you drifted off, your head slipping onto Sunghoon’s shoulder.

He didn’t immediately pull away, didn’t complain. He just let you sleep, his body slightly tensing at the sudden closeness, but not enough to push you away.

And when you woke up, it wasn’t awkward. You just rubbed your eyes, looked up at him, and smiled.

“You’re comfy,” you murmured.

Sunghoon chuckled softly. “You really just fell asleep on me, huh?”

You laughed, feeling a warmth in your chest. “It’s not like I did it on purpose. I didn’t even realize.”

And even though it had only been a few seconds, you both lingered in that moment, your eyes meeting briefly before he gave you a smile that made your heart flutter.

You’d brushed it off as nothing—just a friendly gesture.

—

You’re still sitting in your room, the jacket still on your shoulders. It feels like a weight, not because it’s heavy, but because of the memories it brings. The warmth lingers on your skin, but so does the uncertainty. You can’t figure out why this is bothering you so much.

Your phone buzzes on the table, pulling you from your thoughts. A new email. You don’t need to look at it to know it’s from him. Sunghoon.

The message is simple: “Still need help with the project. Let me know if you want to meet up.”

You close your eyes and let out a slow breath. You want to ignore it. Pretend you didn’t see it. But you can’t. Because part of you wants him to be there. Part of you wants him to still be the one to help you, even if you don’t want to admit it.

You stand up, pacing around the room, the jacket slipping slightly off your shoulders as you move. You pull it tighter around you, almost subconsciously.

You know you’ll have to face him again. Maybe tomorrow. Maybe sooner. Hopefully later. But right now, with his jacket still draped over you, you’re not sure if you're ready.

But for some reason, you know you’re going to have to take it off.

—

You walk into the classroom, clutching the jacket in your hands. It’s been a couple of days since you woke up to find it draped over your shoulders, Sunghoon’s jacket—a silent gesture that spoke more than words ever could. He hadn’t said anything when you first found it. It had simply been there. At first, you thought it was an accident, but the longer you held onto it, the more it felt like something else. You hadn’t returned it immediately, unsure why you kept it. But now, with the fact the two of you share a class together, it felt like the right time.

You spot him sitting by the window, alone, lost in whatever thoughts occupy his mind. He doesn’t notice you as you approach, and the moment feels strangely... intimate, even though you're still far from the comfort you once shared.

You stand in front of him, holding out the jacket, but he doesn’t immediately take it. His eyes flicker up, and for a split second, something unreadable passes between you. He reaches for the jacket, but as his fingers brush yours, it’s more of a reflex than any real desire to touch.

Before you can pull away, a voice from behind you cuts through the moment.

"Are you two... together or just friends?"

You glance over to find a couple of classmates watching you both curiously. It’s a casual question, but the curiosity in their eyes is unmistakable. Sunghoon’s hand freezes mid-motion, his fingers still hovering over the jacket. He looks back at them briefly, his gaze faltering, not quite meeting yours.

For a moment, you’re not sure what to say. You notice how Sunghoon looks at the ground, avoiding any real response. His lips press together, his hand still unsure of whether to take the jacket back or not. He’s hesitant, as always.

You, on the other hand, feel the weight of the question, but you don’t shy away from it. Not this time. You stand tall, glancing over at your classmates and meeting their gaze.

“We’re just friends,” you say, your voice steady and clear. “Nothing more.”

Sunghoon doesn’t say anything. He just takes the jacket from your hand, his fingers brushing yours again, but this time it’s almost mechanical. You turn away quickly, the moment lingering behind you like an unspoken tension.

Your classmates exchange glances, their curiosity piqued, but they don’t push further. They turn their attention to the front of the room as class starts, but the question still lingers in the air.

You sit down at your desk, feeling the eyes of your classmates on you for a moment longer than usual. You force yourself to focus, pretending it doesn’t matter, but the thought of that brief interaction, the way Sunghoon avoided the question, settles heavily in your chest.

The class continues, but your mind drifts, back to that jacket and the weight of unspoken words. You can’t help but wonder what he might’ve said if you hadn’t answered for both of you.

No, that’s what he should’ve said because you guys were not dating, he broke up with you, and now the two of you were simply forced to work together. That’s it.

—

The autumn air was crisp, carrying the scent of fallen leaves as the two of you walked side by side down the quiet street. The school festival had just ended, and the distant hum of laughter and music still echoed behind you. Groups of students were lingering back at the event, but somehow, the two of you ended up here, together, away from it all.

It wasn’t planned. It never was with him. It was just how things always seemed to happen.

You hugged your arms around yourself because of the cold, cursing at yourself for not bringing a bigger jacket knowing the weather but wanting to look good for the event. He walked a little ahead, hands stuffed in the pockets of his jackets, his head tilted slightly towards you as if he was waiting for you to say something.

You had always been the talker between the both of you. The one who made friends easily, the one who never hesitated. But right now, the words sat heavy on your tongue, unspoken.

He let out a small sigh, looking up at the sky. “It’s late.”

“You should’ve left earlier then.”

He huffed, a tiny, almost-smile tugging at his lips before he looked back ahead. “You didn’t have to leave, you know.”

You shrugged. “Didn’t feel like staying.”

It wasn’t a lie, but it wasn’t the full truth either. The festival had been fine, fun even. But then you’d seen him standing by himself, lingering near the edges of the crowd, not quite a part of it. And suddenly, the excitement of it all had dimmed.

He kicked a small rock with the tip of his shoe, watching it tumble along the pavement. “Didn’t think you were the type to leave a party early.”

“I’m full of surprises.”

A breeze picked up, and instinctively, you crossed your arms tighter over yourself. Without a word, Sunghoon shrugged off his jacket and held it out to you.

You blinked at him. “What are you doing?”

“You’re cold.”

You scoffed. “I’m not cold.”

He didn’t say anything, just kept holding the jacket out with that blank expression of his— the one that meant he wasn;t going to argue. You hesitated for a second too long, and then, as if deciding for you, he draped it over your shoulders himself.

You looked up at him, a retort on the tip of your tongue, but then you caught the way his fingers lingered just a second longer against your shoulder, the way he swallowed, like he wanted to say something but thought better of it.

It was nothing.

It was everything.

Your heart did something stranger in your chest, a quiet stutter. But then he pulled away, shoving his hands back into his pockets, eyes flickering elsewhere like it was no big deal.

Like he didn’t just leave you standing there in the middle of the empty street, drowning in the scent of his cologne, trying not to overthink what had just happened.

“Let’s go.” he said, his voice calm, steady. Like always.

You didn’t move right away. You just watched him, this boy who always seemed out of reach.

Then you exhaled and started walking again, side by side, your steps falling in sync.

And if your hands brushed once— just once— neither of you said a word about it.

—

After class, you head out of the room, your mind still lingering on the awkward exchange. As you walk down the hallway, you notice Sunghoon a few paces behind you, his expression neutral. You don’t turn around, but you can feel his presence. It;s the same as always, but somehow it’s different.

The hallway stretches ahead of you both, and you find yourself wondering if it’s the same for him, if he’s feeling the same weight of the unsaid words hanging in the air between you. But then you push the thought away. You can’t keep thinking about it. Not now. Not like this.

The day continues, but it doesn’t feel the same. Something has shifted again. Not a big thing, just the subtle change in the air whenever Sunghoon is around. But for now, you focus on the present. The project. The work. There’s no room for anything else. At least not yet.

—

Sunghoon hated studying in public places. He hated the noise, the crowded spaces, the way it was impossible to concentrate. But for some reason, he was here.

With you.

The library was dimly lit, the only sounds coming from the occasional turning of pages and the soft clicking of keyboards. It was nearly empty at this hour, just the two of you tucked away in a corner, buried under textbooks and notes.

You sighed dramatically, stretching your arms over your head before slumping onto the desk. “I’m going to die here.”

Sunghoon didn’t look up from his notes. “You say that every time we study.”

“Yeah, and one day it’ll be true. And when that day comes, I hope you feel bad about it.”

He huffed a quiet laugh, shaking his head. “Dramatic.”

You turned your head to look at him, resting your cheek against your arm. The lamplight softened his features, highlighting the sharp angles of his jaw, the curve of his nose, the way his lashes cast faint shadows on his skin.

He was so pretty.

Unfairly so.

You frowned, furrowing your brows. “Do you know you’re pretty?”

That finally made him look up. He blinked at you, pen pausing mid-air. “What?”

“What?”

There was a flicker of something in his expression— surprise, amusement, something unreadable. He tilted his head slightly. “I don’t think about that kind of stuff.”

You scoff. “Oh shut up.”

Sunghoon shook his head, turning back to his notes. “You’re ridiculous.”

“You’re avoiding the question.”

“Because it’s a weird question.”

“It’s not weird.” You sighed, pushing yourself up onto your elbows. “I just think it’s unfair that some people get to be smart and pretty.”

His lips twitched, like he was trying not to smile. “You’re calling me smart too?”

“Don’t get ahead of yourself.”

You hadn’t meant anything by it. It was just a passing thought, casual observation. But for some reason. Sunghoon kept stealing glances at you for the rest of the night, his fingers tapping idly against his notebook, like he was trying to figure something out.

—

The library is quieter than usual tonight. The steady hum of air conditioning fills the space, and the dim, golden glow of the desk lamps casts long shadows on the wooden tables. It’s late— too late to still be working— but neither of you have left.

At first, you barely acknowledged each other. The project was the only thing keeping you here and even then, you refused to speak unless absolutely necessary. You typed your sections. He worked on his. Simple.

But at some point, between the furious clicking of keys and the scratching of his pen against paper, something shifted.

The silence wasn’t as sharpe anymore. The air between you wasn’t quite so cold.

You were still stubborn, still keeping your distance, but Sunghoon had started to slip through the cracks.

It was in the way he quietly slid your match closer when he noticed you reaching for it absentmindedly. In the way his eyes lingered a second longer than necessary whenever you furrowed your brows at the screen, lost in thought. In the way he wordlessly handed you a new pen when yours ran out of ink, his fingers brushing yours just for a second.

Little things.

Things you didn’t want to acknowledge.

Things that made it harder to pretend that you hadn’t missed this— missed him.

You force yourself to focus on the words in front of you, but your mind is elsewhere. On him. On the past.

—

It had been a long night.

You weren’t supposed to stay out this late, but somehow, time slipped away. It was just the two of you, walking home after an evening study session, the sky stretched out in a blanket of deep navy blue. The air was crisp, autumn settling in with a quiet chill, and your footsteps echoed against the empty sidewalk.

“I can’t feel my fingers,” you muttered, shoving your hands into your hoodie pockets.

Sunghoon glanced at you, amused. “Then why didn’t you bring gloves?”

“Because I didn’t know it’d be this cold.”

“You say that every year.”

You huffed, nudging him with your shoulder. “And every year, I am caught off guard.”

He rolled his eyes but reached for your sleeve, tugging your arm towards him. Before you could react, he took one of your hands in his, tucking it into the pocket of his jacket along with his own.

The warmth of his palm against yours sent a shiver up your spine— not from the cold, but from something else.

Something you hadn’t quite named yet.

Neither of you said anything about it. You just kept walkin, the streelights casting soft golden halos around you.

You reached your doorstep too soon.

Sunghoon stood there, shifting on his feet, his fingers still loosely curled around yours.

You should’ve pulled away. You should’ve said goodnight. But instead, you just stood there staring at him.

The light from the porch illuminated the sharp angles of his face, the way his dark eyes softened when they met yours. His gaze flickered down— just for a second— before he quickly looked away.

You swallowed, suddenly hyper-aware of how close you were. “Are you gonna keep standing there, or—”

“Shut up,” he muttered.

And then—-

He kissed you.

It was hesitant, barely a whisper of contact. But it sent your heart into a frenzy, your breath hitching, fingers tightening around him without thinking.

When he pulled away, his ears were red, and he wouldn’t meet your eyes. “I— I wasn’t planning to do that.”

You blinked at him, mind still catching up. “Okay.”

“Okay?”

“Okay,” you repeated, this time smiling.

Sunghoon exhaled, sometimes easing his shoulders.

“You;re still holding my hand.” you pointed out.

He let go immediately, shoving his hands into his pockets. “Shut up.”

But you could see the way the corners of his lips twitched upwards.

—

You stare at the screen in front of you, but the words are a blur. The memory lingers, making your chest feel tight.

Sunghoon shifts besides you stretching out his arms. His sleeves push up slightly, revealing the faint outline of veins along his forearms. You look away quickly, annoyed with yourself.

This is ridiculous.

You don’t care. You don’t.

“Take a break,” he says, voice low.

You exhale, rubbing at your temples. “I’m fine.”

“You’re not.”

You shoot him a glare, but he’s already looking back at his screen, unaffected. Typical.

Silence settles between you again, but it’s different now. He’s too close, the air between you too charged.

And then—

“Do you still hate me?”

Your breath catches. The question is quiet, but it feels deafening.

You turn to him, meeting his gaze for the first time in what feels like hours. His eyes are steady, but there’s something else there— something raw, something careful.

You open your mouth, but no words come out.

He swallows. “ you won’t even look at me.”

You force yourself to scoff, to roll your eyes. “I look at you all the time.”

“Not like before.”

That makes you freeze.

Because he’s right.

Before— before everything— you had looked at him like he held the universe in his hands. And maybe, in some ways, he had.

But that was then.

And now—

Now you don’t know what to do with this version of him, this version of you.

The air is thick with something you don’t want to name.

And before you can think better of it, before you can stop yourself—

You kiss him.

It's reckless, desperate, a collision of past and present, of things left unsaid and things you don’t want to admit.

His lips part slightly in surprise, but he doesn’t pull away. If anything, he leans in, his fingers grazing your jaw, like he’s afraid to break the moment.

And maybe you are too.

But then—

Reality crashed back in.

Your eyes widen, and you pull away abruptly, breathless, heart hammering.

Sunghoon blinks, still processing, “Wait—”

But you’re already pushing away from the table, standing up too quickly, your chair scraping against the floor.

“I have to go,” you say, voice unsteady.

And before he can stop you, before he can say anything else—

You turn and walk away.

Leaving him sitting there, watching you go.

Again.

—

Avoidance has always been your best defense.

You mastered it after the breakup, convincing yourself that if you could just stay out of Sunghoon’s orbit, then none of it— none of the pain, none of the unanswered questions, none of him— could touch you.

But ever since that kiss, it’s been impossible to keep up the act.

You stop sitting in your usual spots in the library. You change your walking routes between classes. You leave early to avoid any chance of running into him. Your emails about the project become even shorter, even more detached.

And still— it doesn’t feel like enough

Because the problem isn’t just him.

It’s you.

It’s the way your mind keeps replaying that night in the library, the way your lips still burn with the memory of his, the way your chest aches everytime you think about how you didn’t pull away immediately.

You shouldn’t have let it happen.

You shouldn’t have wanted it to.

But worst of all— you shouldn’t still want it now.

You tell yourself this over and over again. But nine of it matters when you turn the corner one evening, only to find yourself face-to-face with the one person you’ve been trying so hard to avoid.

Sunghoon.

Waiting for you.

Like he knew.

“You’re avoiding me again,” he says, his voice eerily calm.

You grip your bag tighter and look away. “I’m busy.”

“Liar.”

The word lands heavier than it should.

You take a step back, but he matches it, blocking your way. His eyes search yours, and you can feel how tired he is— tired of the silence, of the pretending, of whatever this is.

“Do you hate me that much?” His voice is quiet, but there’s an edge to it, something sharp and desperate.

You exhale hardly. “Sunghoon—”

“Just answer me,” he pressed, jaw clenched. “Do you hate me?”

The words catch in your throat.

You should say yes. You should give him the finality he seems to be looking for.

But you can’t.

And maybe he sees it— maybe he sees the way you falter, the way your fingers tighten around the strap of your bag— because his expression shifts.

And then—

The door beside you suddenly swings open. A group of students spills out, laughing and chatting, shoving past both of you.

You barely register it before someone crashes into you from behind, sending you stumbling backwards—

Right into the supply closet.

And of course— because the universe must hate you— the force of it slams Sunghoon into the tiny space as well.

And before either of you can react— click.

The door locks

Silence.

Then—

“You have got to be kidding me,” you hiss.

Sunghoon tries the handle, but it doesn’t budge. He exhales sharply, resting his forehead against the door for a second before turning back to you.

“Great.”

You let out a bitter laugh, crossing your arms. “What, you think I planned this?”

“No, but it’s convenient, isn’t it?” He glares at you, frustration bleeding into every word. “You’re always running away, and now you can’t.”

Your pulse spikes. “Excuse me?”

“You heard me,” he mutters. “You left the night. You’ve been avoiding me ever since. You won’t even talk to me—”

“Because there’s nothing to say!” you snap.

“Bullshit!” His voice rises, his patience unraveling. “Don’t act like you don’t care. You kissed me, and then you ran away like it meant nothing.”

You freeze.

Because he’s right.

It wasn’t nothing.

But admitting that? Giving him that satisfaction? You can’t.

So you do what you do best.

You push back

“You don’t get to act like you’re the victim here, Sunghoon,” you say, voice colder now. “Not when you broke up with me.”

Something flickers across his face.

“And not just that,” you continue, the weight of everything you’ve bottled up finally breaking through. “You left me without any warning. You didn’t talk to me about what was wrong. You didn’t even try. You just decided one day that it was over and that was it.”

—

It had been an ordinary afternoon. You remember it oo well— how he wouldn’t look at you, how his hands trembled slightly as he shoved them into his pockets.

And then—

“I think we should break up.”

The words hit you like a slap.

You laughed at first, thinking it was some sort of joke. But then you saw the way he avoided your gaze. The way his fingers curled into fists.

“Why?” Your voice had cracked. “What happened? Did I do something?”

He had only shaken his head. “It’s just…. I don’t think this is going to work.”

“What—”

“I am not sure I am what you really need.”

It was the last thing you expected to hear.

But it was the only explanation he ever gave you.

That's what started it, why you just started running away from him.

—

“You thought it wouldn’t work?” you glare at him now, eye burning. “What the hell does that even mean?”

Sunghoon pressed his lips together, like he regretted saying it. But it’s too late.

“You didn’t even give us a chance,” you continue, voice rising. “You just decided that it wasn’t going to work out for the both of us.”

“I wasn’t sure if I was what you really needed.”

Your breath catches. “Sunghoon—”

“You’re always surrounded by people. You make friends so easily. I wasn’t like that, I am not like that.” His voice is quiet now. “I feel like I was always holding you back.”

You shake your head, feeling something sharp and painful twist in your chest. “That’s what you thought?” You let out another bitter laugh. “You know, I thought that’s what brought us together. That we were so different. That worked because of that.”

Sunghoon looks at you then, something unreadable in his expression.

“There were two people in our relationship, you and me. You made that decision that we don’t work well, for the both of us.” you say, voice shaking. “And now you think it’s going to work now just because you want it to?”

He doesn’t answer.

And you hate how much that silence still hurts.

You exhale shakily, turning away. “I don’t trust you., Sunghoon.”

His jaw clenches. “I know.”

“And I don’t trust myself to let this happen again. Because if you could leave that easily once, what makes you think I believe you won’t do it again?”

This time, he doesn’t try to deny it.

Because he knows.

Because he did leave.

And you don’t know if you’ll ever be able to forgive him for that. You hated yourself for never being able to hate him at all.

The only sound in the tiny space is the faint buzz of the overhead light—

And the deafening weight of everything left unsaid.

The supply closet is cold, but the tension in the air is suffocating. When the door finally swings open, neither of you move right away. Sunghoon steps back first, his jaw clenched, like he’s holding back something he’ll never say. You follow a second later, not looking at him as you walk away.

After that, things are different.

You don’t avoid him anymore. Not really. You still exchange emails about the project, still sit across from each other in the library, still in the same space without outright hostility. But the sharpness between you dulls— replaced by something softer, something sadder.

One night, long after the library should’ve closed, you look up from your notes to see Sunghoon staring at you. He doesn’t look away this time. Neither do you. For a moment, the world stills.

Then you blink, and the moment is gone.

—

The project ends.

So does your reason to stay in each other’s orbits.

You expect things to go back to normal, whether normal is supposed to be. You expect distance to creep back in, the silence to settle.

But somehow, Sunghoon lingers.

He doesn’t force conversation, doesn’t push. But you catch him in the corners of your vision— watching, waiting, hesitation. As if he’s waiting for you to decide what happens next.

—

Then one evening, you run into him.

It’s late. The air is cold, thick with the scent of winter. Sunghoon is standing outside the campus gates, hands shoved into his pockets, the street lights casting long shadows around him. He notices you before you can turn away.

“Hey,” he says, voice quiet.

You hesitate. Then, “Hey.”

There’s so much unsaid between you, so much left unfinished.

A part of you wonders— is this it? The last conversation before you both fade from each other’s lives completely?

Sunghoon opens his mouth, like he wants to say something more, but you shake your head, stopping him.

“It’s okay.” you say. “You don’t have to.”

His throat bobs as he swallows. He nods.

The streetlamps flicker above you. A car passes, its headlights flashing between you like a border, a final dividing line.

You should say something else. You should tell him you’ll see him around, that you’ll stay in touch, that you’ll find your way back to him someday.

But you don’t.

Instead you step back, offering a small, almost imperceptible smile.

“Take care, okay?”

For a second, you think he won’t respond. But then, finally— softly— he nods.

“You too.”

You turn around first. You don’t look back.

Sunghoon watches you walk away, his hands still in his pockets, his lips parts like he wants to stop you— but he never does.

The night swallows the both of you whole.

And just like that, it’s over.

—

The city hums in silence in the distance, but here, on the rooftop, it’s quiet/ the two of you sit side by side, legs dangling over the edge, the skyline stretching endlessly before you. The night is warm, the stars barely visible through the glow of streetlights.

“You’re gonna fall,” Sunghoon murmurs, eyeing the way you lean forwards slightly, hands bracing against the ledge.

You grin, tilting your head towards him. “You’d catch me.”

He doesn’t answer, but the corner of his mouth twitches, like he wants to smile but won’t let himself.

A soft breeze ruffles his hair. You reach out before you can stop yourself, fingers brushing through the strand, smoothing them down. Sunghoon stills at the touch, but he doesn’t pull away.

“You do that a lot,” he says after a moment.

“What?”

“Touch my hair.”

You blink, your hand dropping back to your lap. “Does it bother you?”

He exhales, looking away, down at the glittering streets below. “No.”

That’s all he says. But in the way his fingers clench slightly against his knee, in the way his shoulders stay tense even as the night air cools his skin— you realize something.

Sunghoon likes it.

He likes being close to you.

The thought makes your chest feel warm, something soft and fluttering settling behind your ribs. You don’t say anything about it, don’t tease or push. Instead, you lean back on your palms staring up at the sky.

“Feels like we could stay here forever,” you murmur.

Sunghoon glances at you, his expression unreadable.

Then, so quietly you almost don’t hear it—

“Yeah.”

author's note: basically everything in here thats inpso from irl with my actaully ex. the water bottle incident but it was in a classroom. us actually having fucking class with each other the next semester. me running away constantly every time i see him now. me buying him a pencil as a present and him still using it (i really want to steal it back). him asking me if i hate him cuz i keep running away and even dragged a friend as i run away from him. him saying "i dont think it's going to work out" and thinking becuase im very outgoing and him being a big introvert was something that would lead to us breaking up, haha but it was just him and him not communicating with me about his feelings. el oh el.

#enhypen fanfiction #enhypen scenarios #enhypen #enhypen x reader #enhypen imagines #enhypen fluff #sunghoon #park sunghoon #sunghoon x reader #sunghoon enhypen #sunghoon fluff #sunghoon imagines #park sunghoon x reader #park sunghoon x you #enhypen sunghoon #enha fluff #enha x reader #enha imagines #enha

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kaiyunsim · 4 months ago

Text

sk8er boi —

pairing : skater boy!taesan x academic gn!reader

summary : taesan, the well known skater, slacker, and band member of boynextdoor, catches the eye of one of the top students in school which leads to a flurry of complications.

warnings : a.n.g.s.t, fluff, band au, woonahk + leehan are wingmen, LOTS of insecurities and insecurites, featuring sung hanbin from zb1 and leeseo from ive as the readers friends.

a/n : IT FINALLY DROPPED !! i've been too obsessed with this song i think i might die. taesan was soooooo sk8er boi coded so like yk i had to.

— wc : 11.6k — not proof read —

the first time you really see han taesan, it’s not at school. it’s not in the hallways where he leans against lockers, talking lazily to his friends, or in the cafeteria where he slouches in a chair, kicking his feet up on the table while jaehyun smacks them off. it’s not even in the skatepark where he spends most of his free time.

it’s in the library.

it’s late. later than you usually stay, but leeseo convinced you to help her cram for an upcoming quiz, and sung hanbin, the responsible one, promised to treat you both to coffee afterward. the library is quieter than usual, the overhead lights buzzing softly as the three of you sit in one of the far corners.

“if i fail this,” leeseo groans, pressing her forehead against the table, “i’m going to cry. like, actual tears.”

“you won’t fail,” hanbin reassures her, flipping through his neatly highlighted notes. “just focus. here, try this question—”

but leeseo isn’t listening anymore. her eyes widen as she nudges you, not-so-subtly gesturing toward the entrance. “look who just walked in.”

you glance up, expecting a teacher or maybe some last-minute studier like yourselves. leeseo has been mentioning a teacher she found cute but you had to cut her out of her delusions.

instead, you see him. han taesan, pushing open the library door with one hand while holding his skateboard in the other. he doesn’t belong here. not in this quiet, studious atmosphere. and yet, here he is, wearing a black hoodie over a band t-shirt, ripped jeans, and the same scuffed sneakers he always wears.

behind him, the rest of boynextdoor trails in. sungho looks bored, running a hand through his hair as he scans the room. riwoo has his headphones on, already bopping his head to whatever he’s listening to. jaehyun is carrying a backpack, which means someone is actually planning to study. leehan is whispering something to woonhak, who nods before laughing under his breath.

they stand out in every way possible. loud personalities forced into a silent space.

“what are they doing here?” leeseo mutters, wrinkling her nose.

“probably failing their classes,” hanbin says, not unkindly but matter-of-fact. “jaehyun’s the only one who actually studies, i think.”

“doesn’t matter,” you say, turning your attention back to your notes. or at least, you try to. but as you read the same sentence over and over, you can’t help but be aware of taesan.

he moves differently from the others. while the rest of his friends slink toward an empty table, he pauses by the bookshelf near yours, scanning the spines of the books with mild interest. it’s weird. you’ve never seen him hold a book before, let alone look for one.

you try not to stare, but then his fingers brush against a book, flipping it open casually. for a moment, he looks genuinely focused, eyes scanning the page like he’s actually reading. but then he shuts it just as quickly, sighing before shoving it back onto the shelf.

“he’s so full of himself,” leeseo says under her breath, watching as taesan finally joins his group. “have you seen the way he acts? like he doesn’t care about anything.”

“he doesn’t care about anything,” hanbin corrects. “except skating. and his band.”

“oh, right, his band,” leeseo scoffs, making air quotes. “like that’s gonna get him anywhere.”

you don’t say anything. it’s not like you disagree after all. taesan’s reputation is as solid as stone. he’s the guy who barely passes his classes, who gets detention for skipping, who spends more time perfecting a kickflip than doing actual homework. your friends see him as a lost cause, and you’ve never had a reason to question that.

but then, as if he can feel you thinking about him, taesan glances up.

your eyes meet for a split second.

it’s nothing. it’s barely anything.

but instead of looking away, he holds your gaze. and then, he smirks. just the slightest twitch of his lips, like he knows something you don’t.

you snap your head down, suddenly very interested in your notes. re-reading the same word again.

“gross,” leeseo mutters. “he’s so arrogant.”

“he really is,” hanbin agrees. “come on, let’s focus. we need to finish this before the library closes.”

you nod, forcing yourself to concentrate, but your mind keeps drifting back to that one moment. his gaze, his smirk, the way he seemed completely unbothered by everything around him.

it was nothing.

but for some reason, it doesn’t feel that way.

you tell yourself it was nothing. a look. a stupid, meaningless look in the middle of the library, a place han taesan doesn’t even belong in. you convince yourself it wasn’t directed at you. maybe he was looking at something behind you. maybe he smirked because of something his friend said.

maybe you’re just imagining things.

but the problem is now you notice him.

it’s not on purpose. it’s not like you want to be aware of him. but suddenly, han taesan is everywhere.

in the mornings, when you walk into school, he’s there in the courtyard with his skateboard, practicing tricks while his friends watch. sungho claps him on the back when he lands a difficult one, and riwoo films clips for their social media. sometimes he messes up, but he never looks embarrassed, he just laughs, shakes out his legs, and tries again.

in the halls, you catch glimpses of him leaning against lockers, chatting with jaehyun or leehan about something you don’t understand. his hoodie is always slightly oversized, his hands tucked into the front pocket like he has nowhere important to be.

in class, he’s not as disruptive as people make him out to be. sure, he zones out, tapping his fingers against his desk like he’s drumming to a song in his head, but he isn’t rude. he doesn’t talk over the teacher or make a big scene. sometimes, you even catch him sketching in his notebook, half-finished designs of skateboards, little doodles in the margins of his notes, messy but interesting. even some lyrics he thinks about while bored.

you don’t realize you’re staring until hanbin nudges you.

“earth to y/n. you okay?”

you blink, tearing your gaze away from where taesan is sitting a few rows ahead. he’s slouched in his chair, twirling a pen between his fingers, not paying attention to the lesson at all.

“yeah,” you say quickly, feeling heat creep up your neck. “just zoning out.”

hanbin raises an eyebrow but doesn’t question it.

but it doesn’t stop there.

one afternoon, on your way home, you take a shortcut through the park. it’s quiet, with only a few people scattered around, mostly kids playing or joggers passing by. but then, near the skatepark, you hear music.

you pause.

it’s a song you don’t recognize, but it’s good. raw, unpolished, but good. you follow the sound until you spot them. boynextdoor, huddled together on a set of stairs near the skate ramps. sungho has a guitar in his lap, strumming casually. jaehyun is humming along while woonhak taps out a beat on his knee. riwoo is messing with his phone, recording bits of their practice.

and then there’s taesan.

he’s sitting on his skateboard, elbows resting on his knees, head tilted back as he listens. his dark hair falls into his eyes, but he doesn’t seem to care.

“again,” he says after a moment. “start from the top.”

sungho rolls his eyes but starts playing again, and this time, taesan sings.

you freeze.

you’ve never heard him sing before. you know his band performs at underground gigs, but you’ve never gone. you’ve never had a reason to.

but his voice. his voice is rough around the edges, not perfect, but there’s something real about it. something honest.

you don’t mean to linger, but before you can move, taesan’s eyes flicker toward you.

your breath catches.

for a second, neither of you move.

then, instead of looking away, he lifts his hand in a lazy wave, like he’s not surprised to see you there at all.

panic jolts through you, and you do the first thing that comes to mind. you turn around and walk away.

fast.

you don’t stop until you’re a safe distance from the park, heart hammering in your chest.

why are you acting like this? why does it feel like you just got caught doing something you shouldn’t?

it’s not a big deal. it’s not.

except now, han taesan knows you were watching.

and the next day, he makes sure you know he knows.

it happens between classes. you’re at your locker, organizing your books, when a shadow falls over you.

“did you like the song?”

you nearly drop your notebook.

slowly, you turn your head, and there he is. the han taesan, standing next to you like it’s the most normal thing in the world. he smells faintly like cologne and something else, something warm, like sun on pavement.

you open your mouth, then close it.

“what?”

“the song,” he repeats, tilting his head. “you heard it yesterday, right?”

your throat is dry. “i was just passing by.”

he hums, unconvinced. “sure.”

you grip your notebook tighter. “why are you even talking to me?”

taesan shrugs, the corner of his mouth tugging up just slightly. “dunno. you’re interesting.”

your brain short-circuits.

you? interesting?

before you can process that, leeseo’s voice calls out from behind you.

“y/n ! come on, we’re gonna be late!”

taesan steps back, stuffing his hands into his hoodie pocket.

“see you around, genius.”

and then he’s gone, disappearing into the crowd like he didn’t just completely ruin your entire day.

leeseo and hanbin catch up to you, and leeseo frowns. “what did he want?”

“nothing,” you say quickly. too quickly.

hanbin eyes you but doesn’t press.

still, as you walk to class, you can’t stop replaying his words in your head.

“you’re interesting.”

this is bad.

this is really bad.

the worst part is that taesan doesn’t even try to prove your friends wrong.

after that weird conversation at your locker, you expect him to keep bothering you, to tease you every time he sees you. but he doesn’t. he doesn’t go out of his way to talk to you. he doesn’t change anything about the way he acts.

he just keeps being himself. skating in the mornings, goofing off with his band during breaks, sketching in his notebook when he’s bored in class.

but the damage is already done. because now, whenever he walks past, your stomach tightens. when he laughs with his friends, you find yourself looking before you can stop yourself. and when he catches you and smirks, like he knows you’re paying attention, you have to force yourself to look away.

your friends notice, of course.

“you’re acting weird,” leeseo says one afternoon as the three of you sit in the cafeteria. “ever since he started talking to you.”

“i’m not acting weird,” you say. too quickly.

“you so are,” she insists. “right, hanbin?”

hanbin sighs, poking at his food. “it’s not weird, it’s just… unexpected. taesan’s not exactly the type to take interest in school stuff.”

“yeah, which is why y/n needs to be careful,” leeseo says. “guys like him? they’re fun to look at but nothing else.”

you don’t say anything.

they aren’t wrong. han taesan isn’t like you. he’s a skater, a musician, the kind of guy who doesn’t think too far ahead. and yet…

“maybe he’s not that bad,” you mumble before you can stop yourself.

leeseo stares. “excuse me?”

“i just mean—” you hesitate. “i don’t know. he’s not rude or anything. he’s just… himself.”

“that’s exactly the problem,” she argues. “he doesn’t care about anything. he’s never going to take life seriously.”

you want to disagree. but you don’t.

because if you defend him too much, they’ll know.

they’ll know about the way your heart jumps when he looks at you. the way your brain replays his stupid voice saying see you around, genius.

so you stay quiet.

and you try to push it all away.

but then there’s woonhak.

you don’t know much about him aside from the fact that he’s the youngest in taesan’s group. he’s always laughing, always cracking jokes, always the most energetic of the bunch.

so it catches you off guard when, one day after school, he falls into step beside you as you’re walking out.

“hey,” he says cheerfully.

you blink. “uh… hey?”

“you’re y/n, right?”

“…yeah?”

he grins, nodding. “thought so. you know, taesan’s been talking about you.”

your stomach flips. “what?”

woonhak laughs at your expression. “not in a weird way! just, like—he thinks you’re cool.”

you stare at him.

taesan thinks you’re… cool?

“why are you telling me this?” you ask suspiciously.

woonhak shrugs. “dunno. you seem chill. also, i figured you should hear something about us that isn’t from your friends.”

you tense. “what’s that supposed to mean?”

he gives you a knowing look. “we know how people see us. dumb kids who don’t care about school, right?”

you shift uncomfortably. “i mean—”

“you don’t have to lie,” he says, still smiling. “i get it. we mess around a lot, and taesan’s got his whole too cool for everything vibe, but…” he pauses, tilting his head. “you ever actually talked to him? like, really talked to him?”

you don’t answer.

because the truth is… you haven’t.

taesan has spoken to you, sure. teased you, smirked at you, made your heart do all sorts of annoying things. but you’ve never sat down and had a real conversation. never actually asked him about his music, his art, his life.

“he works harder than people think,” woonhak continues. “he just doesn’t show it in the same way you do. and he really does like you, you know.”

your breath catches. “what?”

“not, like, in a romantic way,” woonhak clarifies quickly, though his grin suggests otherwise. “he just thinks you’re interesting.”

there it is again. interesting.

you don’t know what to do with that.

so you do what you always do.

you ignore it.

“cool,” you say, trying to sound unaffected.

woonhak doesn’t look convinced, but he just chuckles. “anyway, just thought i’d say hi. see you around, y/n.”

and with that, he jogs off, leaving you standing there, brain spinning.

you should just let this go. you should listen to your friends, stick to your world, and forget about taesan entirely.

but as you watch woonhak disappear down the street, you feel something shift inside you.

something that tells you, this situation isn’t going away anytime soon.

—

you try your best to forget about han taesan.

after woonhak’s little chat, you tell yourself it doesn’t matter. what he said. ‘he really does like you, you know’ was probably just him messing around. taesan barely even talks to you. he’s just being his usual, reckless self, getting involved where he doesn’t belong.

but no matter how much you try to ignore it, you keep running into him.

and each time, it gets harder to pretend that something isn’t pulling you closer.

the library incident happens on a tuesday.

it’s supposed to be a peaceful afternoon. you’re at your usual table, buried in your notes, trying to focus on your upcoming exams. hanbin and leeseo sit across from you, whispering about something that isn’t school-related.

everything is normal. until the door swings open.

“i cannot believe you actually dragged me here,” taesan groans, his voice breaking the quiet.

you stiffen.

you don’t even have to look to know it’s him. but, unfortunately, you do look—because his voice is impossible to ignore, because your brain is stupid and wants to confirm that, yes, han taesan is standing in the library, looking like he’d rather be anywhere else.

sungho and jaehyun flank him on either side, looking much more comfortable than he does.

“we dragged you here because you’re failing, dumbass,” jaehyun mutters, shoving him forward.

“i am not failing,” taesan protests. “i’m just… struggling.”

“struggling to even open your textbook,” sungho deadpans, leading him toward a table.

leeseo makes a noise of disapproval. “ugh. them?”

“just ignore them,” hanbin says, flipping a page in his notebook. “not our problem.”

but it is a problem. because now, taesan is sitting just a few tables away from you, slumped over his books, looking absolutely miserable.

you try to focus.

you really, really try.

but then—

“psst. genius.”

your pen stills against your notebook.

you don’t have to turn around to know it’s taesan.

you turn around anyway.

he’s leaned back in his chair, one arm draped over the backrest, looking right at you.

“how do you do this?” he asks, pushing a book toward you like it personally offended him.

“do what?” you say flatly.

“study,” he groans. “it’s so boring.”

jaehyun smacks him upside the head. “shut up and focus.”

you should turn back to your work. you should.

but instead, you sigh. “maybe if you actually read instead of whining, it wouldn’t be so hard.”

sungho snorts. “finally, someone who says it straight.”

taesan huffs. “wow, okay. you could just offer to tutor me.”

“not happening,” you say immediately.

he grins, like he expected that answer. “worth a shot.”

you roll your eyes and go back to your notes. but even as you pretend to ignore him, you can still feel his eyes on you, like he’s waiting for you to slip up and react.

and the worst part?

you kind of want to.

the next time you see him, it’s at the skatepark.

you don’t mean to go there. you’re just walking home, taking a longer route because the weather is nice. and somehow, your feet lead you to the park, where you hear laughter and the familiar sound of wheels against concrete.

you could leave.

you should leave.

but instead, you linger at the edge, watching.

taesan is mid-trick, flipping his board with practiced ease. he lands smoothly, a smug grin spreading across his face as riwoo claps.

“finally,” riwoo says. “took you long enough.”

“shut up,” taesan laughs, grabbing his board.

you don’t realize you’re staring until woonhak pops up beside you.

“you so have a crush.”

you nearly jump out of your skin. “what—“

woonhak just grins. “don’t even try to deny it. i see you.”

“i don’t have a crush,” you say quickly. too quickly.

“uh-huh,” he hums, clearly unconvinced.

before you can argue, someone else joins you—leehan, quieter than woonhak but just as observant.

“are you coming to the show?” he asks casually.

you blink. “what show?”

“we’re playing this weekend,” he explains. “you should come.”

“i don’t think—”

“taesan would love it if you did,” woonhak says, grinning.

you freeze.

leehan elbows him. “stop making it weird.”

“what? i’m just saying.”

“you’re implying things,” leehan mutters. then he turns back to you. “seriously, though. you should come. it’ll be fun.”

you hesitate.

your friends would definitely disapprove.

but then you glance back at taesan, who’s laughing at something sungho said, looking so effortlessly cool, so different from the type of people you usually surround yourself with.

and before you can stop yourself, you say—

“okay. maybe.”

woonhak cheers, clapping you on the back. “knew you had it in you!”

you shake your head, already regretting it.

but deep down, a part of you is excited.

the night of the concert comes faster than expected.

you almost don’t go.

hanbin and leeseo invite you to study, and for a second, you consider it… going back to your routine, pretending like han taesan doesn’t exist.

but something stops you.

something pulls you there.

so now, you’re standing in the middle of a dimly lit venue, surrounded by people who actually belong in this crowd. the air buzzes with energy, anticipation thick as the stage lights flicker.

and then the band steps on stage.

and then he steps on stage.

han taesan doesn’t hesitate. doesn’t falter.

he owns it.

he grabs his mic, runs a hand through his hair, and smirks at the crowd like he knows he’s exactly where he’s meant to be.

the music starts, loud and raw and alive.

and then he’s singing.

his voice isn’t perfect. it’s a little rough, a little unpolished, but it fits. it’s real. it’s him.

and then, in the middle of the song, his eyes scan the crowd...

and lock onto yours.

your breath catches. for a second, the world tilts.

he doesn’t look away.

neither do you.

and in that moment, with music thrumming through your veins and taesan’s voice filling the air, you realize

you’re completely screwed.

you can’t breathe.

not because the room is stuffy, or because the music is loud, or because the crowd is pushing in from all sides.

but because han taesan is looking right at you.

the stage lights flicker, flashing over his face, highlighting the smirk curling at his lips. the microphone is gripped loosely in his hand, the strap of his guitar slung over his shoulder. he sings like the stage belongs to him, like the music was made for him, and yet...

his eyes don’t stray from yours.

you feel rooted to the floor, like if you move, you’ll break whatever invisible thread is keeping the two of you connected.

and you hate it. you hate how much your heart reacts to him, how your stomach tightens every time his voice rasps into the mic.

this is bad.

this is really bad.

and it only gets worse when, from the corner of your eye, you see woonhak grinning at you from across the room.

he’s standing near the side of the stage, watching the exchange like he’s witnessing the most entertaining thing in the world.

and then, because he’s the absolute worst, taesan winks at you.

you snap your gaze away, face burning.

but the damage is already done.

because now, you can’t not notice taesan.

the way his fingers glide over the guitar strings so effortlessly. the way his hair falls into his eyes when he tilts his head. the way he smirks between lyrics, like he’s enjoying this.

like he knows what he’s doing to you.

this was a mistake and you shouldn’t have come. but god, you can’t bring yourself to regret it.

because even though everything inside you is screaming that this is dangerous, that getting involved with him will only make things complicated.

but still. you don’t want to look away.

not now. not ever.

when the set finally ends, the room erupts into cheers. people push forward, clapping, whistling, shouting their names.

you try to steady yourself, try to ignore the way your pulse is racing, hand gripping your shirt for stabilty, but you feel a graze on your shoulder.

woonhak appears at your side.

“so,” he says, arms crossed, smirk firmly in place. “you’re definitely in trouble.”

you glare at him. “i don’t know what you’re talking about.”

he snorts. “oh, please. i saw that whole thing. he saw that whole thing.”

“he was just looking at the crowd,” you say, even though you know it’s a lie.

“right. because taesan always makes intense eye contact with random people while singing,” he deadpans.

you groan, rubbing your face. “i hate you.”

“nah, you love me,” he grins. “but not as much as you love him.”

“woonhak—”

“i’m just saying,” he singsongs. “you might wanna start being honest with yourself. and maybe with him, too.”

you don’t dignify that with a response.

but as you glance toward the stage, where taesan is still lingering, laughing at something jaehyun said—

you know woonhak is right.

and that terrifies you more than anything.

—

taesan doesn’t come to practice.

he never skips practice.

it’s something you hear from sungho after school, when he finds you by the front gates, watching the sky darken as you wait for your usual bus. you’re trying really hard not to think about what happened earlier. about the way taesan looked at you before walking away, about the heavy silence he left behind. but sungho showing up with that look on his face makes it impossible to ignore.

“he didn’t show up,” he says, standing next to you like it’s the most natural thing in the world.

you glance at him. “who didn’t?”

sungho gives you a flat look. “you know who.”

your stomach twists, but you force a shrug. “maybe he had something else to do.”

“he never skips,” sungho repeats, more firmly this time.

you don’t answer.

because what are you supposed to say? 'yeah, it’s probably my fault. i didn’t defend him when i should have, and now he’s upset. i didn’t mean to hurt him, but i still did.'

sungho sighs, shoving his hands in his pockets.

“what happened?”

you swallow. “nothing...”

“don’t lie.”

“i’m not lying.”

he levels you with a stare, unimpressed. “you totally are.”

you exhale sharply, looking away.

“look,” he says, voice softer now, “he’s been acting weird all day. he barely talked during lunch, barely even looked at his board, and now he’s skipping practice? that’s not taesan.”

“i don’t know,” you mumble.

sungho raises a brow. “don’t know, or don’t want to say?”

you press your lips together, gripping the straps of your bag.

because the truth is...

you do know.

and you hate yourself for it.

it started during lunch.

your friends were scrolling through their phones, passing around a video of boynextdoor performing.

“god,” leeseo groaned, wrinkling her nose. “he’s so obnoxious.”

“who?” hanbin asked, leaning over to look.

“han taesan.” she jabbed a finger at the screen. “look at him. he acts like he’s a rockstar or something.”

your grip tightened around your drink.

“he is in a band,” hanbin pointed out.

“yeah, but he takes it so seriously. it’s kinda embarrassing.”

they laughed.

but you didn’t. and you didn't say anything either

you just sat there, staring at the table, pretending like the words didn’t make something in your chest ache.

but just then.

taesan walked by.

he wasn’t close enough to hear everything, but he did hear enough. his steps faltered just slightly, his easygoing expression slipping for just a second before he schooled his face back into something unreadable.

and then his eyes met yours. not angry. not annoyed.

just… disappointed.

like he expected this... like he expected you to be different.

but you weren’t.

you didn’t speak up. you didn’t say anything.

so he walked away.

and now, he’s gone.

—

sungho watches you carefully, waiting.

when you still don’t answer, he tilts his head. “so… it was you.”

“i didn’t do anything,” you say quickly.

“exactly.”

you flinch.

sungho sighs, rubbing the back of his neck.

“look,” he says, “i don’t know what’s going on between you two, but if this is about your friends—”

“it’s not,” you cut in.

his brows lift. “isn’t it?”

you exhale sharply, looking away.

because it is.

and it always has been.

from the moment you met taesan, you knew your friends wouldn’t approve. you knew they’d see him as reckless, as trouble, as someone you shouldn’t be around.

so you held back.

you pretended you didn’t care, pretended that the way he looked at you didn’t make your heart race, that his stupid grin and sharp comebacks didn’t make you want to keep talking to him.

but you do care. you care too much. and now, it’s hurting him.

“you know he likes you, right?” sungho says, breaking the silence.

your breath catches. “what?”

sungho gives you a look. “don’t play dumb. it’s so obvious.”

you open your mouth, then close it again.

“you like him too, don’t you?”

your heart pounds. “i—”

“you do.”

he says it like it’s a fact. like it’s undeniable.

you swallow, gripping your bag tighter.

“so what are you so afraid of?”

you inhale sharply because the answer is simple.

you’re afraid of what people will say. afraid of how things will change. afraid of being wrong about him.

but most of all...

you’re afraid of how much you want this. how much you want him.

sungho watches as the realization washes over your face.

then, after a beat, he sighs.

“look,” he says, voice gentler now, “i’m not telling you what to do. but if you don’t talk to him soon, you’re gonna lose him.”

the words hit harder than you expect.

“i just want my friend back to normal so just… think about it, yeah?"

you don’t respond... but you don’t need to.

because the moment sungho walks away, leaving you alone with your thoughts, you already know.

you have to fix this.

before it’s too late.

—

days pass, and taesan doesn’t talk to you.

he doesn’t show up at school, and every time you hear the familiar buzz of a new notification, you convince yourself it’s not boynextdoor. not that you’d check it, anyway. not that you’re even tempted.

except you are.

the silence is suffocating.

the whole thing has weighed on you. his disappointment, your hesitation, the stupid comment from leeseo and hanbin earlier, everything. the guilt keeps clawing at you from the inside. and each time you see a new picture of taesan or one of his bandmates posted online, each time you hear about them playing a new show, you feel like you’re suffocating in your own indecision.

but you don’t do anything about it.

because you’re scared.

scared of what your friends will think. scared of what your whole reputation means, scared of breaking the illusion that you’ve built up for all these years. you’ve worked so hard to maintain this image, to fit in with the people you’ve always been around, the friends you’ve known for years. how can you just throw that all away for some guy you barely know?

for taesan?

no.

it’s safer to stay where you are.

so you do what you’ve always done. keep your distance. make yourself busy. keep your head down. you don’t need to deal with whatever feelings you’ve got swirling in your chest. you don’t need to question everything.

but when you hear the news about BOYNEXTDOOR performing at an underground gig that weekend, something in you snaps.

it’s all too much.

you can’t just keep pretending.

you can’t keep telling yourself that everything’s fine when you know it isn’t.

you’re standing in the middle of the hallway when the poster catches your eye. the colors are bright, the date is bold. BOYNEXTDOOR. their name plastered across the top in big letters, their faces a reminder of everything you’ve been trying to ignore.

the gig is that Saturday.

you don’t know how long you stand there, staring at the poster, feeling the weight of your own indecision. your heart is hammering in your chest, a familiar sense of unease gnawing at your insides.

but this time, you don’t look away.

this time, you’re not running from it.

you don’t tell anyone about it. not leeseo, not hanbin. not even sungho. you don’t need their opinions right now. you’ve heard enough of them. you just… need to make a decision. your own decision.

when the night of the gig arrives, you feel sick to your stomach.

your heart thuds against your ribcage, the adrenaline buzzing through your veins like you’re about to jump off a cliff. you’re standing outside the venue, the doors just up ahead, with a small crowd already lining up in front of you. the building’s dark, unmarked by anything other than the small neon sign above the entrance. the thumping music from inside pulses through the walls, and for a second, you think about turning around, walking away.

but you don’t. you walk forward.

because for the first time in ages, you don’t care about what anyone thinks.

and you want to see taesan.

you want to see him so badly that it almost hurts.

you missed him. his smirk, his teases, his presence.

the crowd outside is packed with people, but you push through, feeling the warmth of the others as they chat amongst themselves, their energy high. you walk in, and the moment you do, the music hits you. the bass reverberates in your chest, and for a split second, you forget everything.

until you see them.

you see BOYNEXTDOOR on the stage, taesan right at the front, his guitar slung across his shoulder, his eyes scanning the crowd. when they meet yours, something shifts in his expression. he doesn’t smile, but there’s something there, something that makes you freeze in place.

but he doesn’t come over.

he doesn’t even move.

and you don’t know if that’s worse. if you should be relieved, or if you should be disappointed that he’s not even trying anymore.

you’re frozen, staring, and then you feel a tap on your shoulder.

woonhak.

he grins, the usual playful glint in his eyes. “hey, didn’t think you’d actually show up.”

you swallow, blinking, trying to force your heart to calm down. “yeah. well… i guess i changed my mind.”

woonhak studies you for a second, his smirk softening into something that’s just a little too knowing for your liking. “you’re here for taesan, huh?”

“i—” you start, but you can’t finish the sentence. because it’s true. you are here for him.

woonhak laughs, nudging you with his elbow. “you’re not fooling anyone, you know.”

you look away, not answering.

he doesn’t press. instead, he just leads you to a spot near the front, a little closer to the stage. you can see the others now: jaehyun, riwoo, leehan, sungho. all of them lost in the music. and then you see taesan again, this time a little closer, his fingers moving across the strings of his guitar as if nothing in the world matters but the rhythm.

it’s intoxicating.

and, as you stand there, all you can think about is how badly you want to be a part of his world.

you glance at woonhak, and there’s a glint of something in his eyes, like he knows exactly what’s going through your mind. he catches your gaze and gives you a little nudge with his shoulder. “maybe you should talk to him after the set,” he says, his voice light, teasing.

you bite your lip. you want to say something, anything, but instead you just nod.

because the truth is, you’re terrified.

you’re terrified of what taesan might say. terrified of what might happen if you admit how you feel, how wrong everything has felt without him around, how much you’ve been hurting without the chance to make things right.

the set continues, and you find yourself caught in the music, in the connection between the band and the crowd. for the first time in forever, you feel like you belong. you feel like you could belong.

and when the music finally dies down and the crowd goes wild, cheering for an encore, you glance over at woonhak. he looks at you, then at taesan, and then back at you, his knowing grin widening.

“he’s waiting for you,” he says quietly.

you can’t breathe for a second, your heart thudding louder than the sound of the crowd.

you finally nod, the decision clear now, undeniable.

you’ve kept up appearances for too long. it’s time to stop running.

you push your way through the crowd, heading straight for the backstage area. you don’t look back. you don’t care who sees.

because, finally, you’re choosing him.

you can feel woonhak and leehan’s eyes on you as you make your way through the crowd. it’s like the air is thicker, charged with anticipation, but you don’t stop. your feet move on their own, pulling you toward the backstage area where the rest of BOYNEXTDOOR is winding down after the set.

the music fades behind you, but the echo of the bass still thrums in your chest. every step feels heavier than the last, but somehow, you don’t want to turn back. you’ve already made the decision, and now all that’s left is to face him.

taesan.

the backstage area feels quieter now that the excitement of the performance has died down. the crowd’s energy is still buzzing in the air, but it’s starting to feel distant, like an echo that doesn’t quite reach the calm of the space you’re standing in.

taesan’s there, still leaning against the wall with his guitar case by his side, but now there’s an air of distance about him. he barely looks at you when you enter. his attention drifts elsewhere, to the other band members, to anything but you.

your heart sinks at the coldness, the disappointment you see reflected in his posture. you want to go to him, to explain everything, to make it right, but you can’t. something’s stopping you. he’s clearly upset, maybe even mad, and you’re not sure how to fix it.

woonhak, the youngest, is still grinning over the fact that you’ve come here tonight. leehan, always the one to watch everything unfold with an amused look, exchanges a knowing glance with him. both of them seem to be aware of something that you aren’t yet, but you can’t quite place what.

the tension in the air is thick, and for a moment, you almost wish you hadn’t walked in here at all.

then, jaehyun breaks the silence.

“isn’t that y/n?”

he’s pointing at you with a raised eyebrow, clearly surprised to see you standing there. taesan’s wiping his face off with a towel, but his gaze never leaves you.

you freeze, a bit caught off guard by the attention. jaehyun, always so direct, seems more curious than anything. but his question lingers in the air, and all eyes are now on you.

you glance at taesan, but his expression is unreadable. his gaze is fixed on the ground, his body language telling you all you need to know: he’s not ready to engage, not yet.

“yeah,” leehan says, his tone teasing. “didn’t expect to see you here, y/n.”

you swallow, trying to steady yourself. “i wanted to see the performance,” you say, voice quiet, but clear. “i told you i would.”

you can’t tell if they believe you or not.

woonhak’s grin is still there, his eyes glinting with mischief. he looks between you and taesan, sensing the tension before anyone else. “yeah, sure,” he says, as if he knows something you don’t. “we all know how much taesan cares about you coming to the show.”

taesan doesn’t react, but you can feel his frustration simmering just beneath the surface. it’s impossible to ignore.

there’s a long pause, and in that moment, you wonder if you’ve made the wrong choice. if you shouldn’t have come, if you shouldn’t have tried to make things right, because it feels like taesan is shutting you out more with every passing second.

but then, just as you’re about to leave, something unexpected happens.

taesan looks up. just a glance, but it’s enough to make your heart skip. you meet his gaze, and for a moment, it feels like you’re the only two people in the room.

then, without a word, taesan walks past you, ignoring you as if you’re not even there. you can feel the sting of it, the weight of the unspoken disappointment in his actions. your chest tightens, and for a second, it feels like your feet are stuck in place.

you want to call out to him, to stop him, but you’re frozen. you don’t know what to say, don’t know how to make this right.

woonhak watches you, his grin still there but a little less playful now. he gives you a knowing look. it’s like he’s aware of the struggle inside you, aware of the way taesan is pulling away even though he knows you’re standing there

“he’s not mad at you,” woonhak says softly, catching your eye. “he’s just… not sure how to act around you, y/n.”

you don’t reply at first, still processing the way taesan ignored you, the way his distance felt like a rejection. but woonhak’s words sink in.

“he likes you,” leehan adds, his tone more serious now. “but he’s not good at showing it.”

the words hit you harder than you expect. they settle in your chest, a mix of confusion and longing. taesan likes you? it doesn’t feel like it, not when he won’t even look at you.

“why doesn’t he just... say it then?” you mumble, your voice barely above a whisper.

woonhak shrugs. “he’s still trying to figure it out, y/n. he doesn’t want to mess things up, especially when you’ve got so much going on with your friends and everything.”

you stare at him, your heart beating faster. you can’t deny it now. it’s clear that something is there between you and taesan. something you haven’t been able to admit to yourself until now.

and yet, despite everything, you can’t shake the feeling that you’re caught between two worlds. your friends, your reputation, and then taesan, someone you never expected to feel this strongly about.

“he’s scared, y/n,” leehan says, his voice quieter now. “he doesn’t want to be the reason you ruin your life.”

you look at taesan again, still standing off to the side, conversing with jaehyun, his face unreadable. his posture is stiff, almost like he’s bracing for something. maybe he’s bracing for you to walk away, for you to choose the people you’ve always been with instead of him.

you feel the weight of it all. the pull of your friends, the pressure of their expectations. and then there’s taesan, standing there, vulnerable in his own way, waiting for you to decide.

the silence between you two feels like it could last forever, and yet, it’s the moment you need to make the choice.

but you’re scared.

you don’t want to lose your friends, don’t want to mess up everything you’ve worked so hard for. but you also don’t want to lose taesan.

the choice weighs heavy on your chest, but you can’t stay frozen forever. you can’t keep ignoring what you feel.

and, maybe for the first time, you finally make a decision.

time to come clean.

the quiet hum of the room feels more suffocating than peaceful. you’re sitting on the edge of one of the couches backstage, fiddling with your phone aimlessly. it’s been a few minutes since taesan walked away, and you’re still left with this gnawing feeling that you could have done something different.

the members of BOYNEXTDOOR are scattered around the area, some talking amongst themselves, others sitting with instruments or music sheets in hand. it’s almost like nothing happened. but you know that’s not true. you can feel the weight of the tension hanging in the air, especially when you catch woonhak’s gaze across the room. he’s giving you a sympathetic smile, though it doesn’t make you feel much better.

you want to walk up to taesan, to explain everything, but you can’t. he’s still standing there, staring off into the distance, his arms crossed.

instead, you settle for hanging out with riwoo.

“you okay?” he asks, sitting next to you with a curious look. his voice is light, but there’s an edge of concern in it.

you nod, offering a tight smile. “yeah, just…” you trail off, unsure of how to explain what just happened. you don’t want to sound like you’re complaining about taesan. it’s not like you’re angry with him. in fact, you can’t even be angry with him when you’re just as confused.

“he’s hard to read, huh?” riwoo says, his voice calm but knowing. it’s like he’s read your mind.

you glance at him, surprised. “yeah. i don’t know what’s going on with him. it’s like, one minute, he’s all… well, taesan, and then the next, he’s distant. it’s frustrating.”

riwoo leans back on the couch, resting his head against the backrest as he watches the others in the room. “taesan’s always been like that. he’s not great with… emotions, you know?”

you blink at him, unsure where this conversation is headed. “so what, he just shuts people out?”

“basically,” riwoo says with a slight shrug. “he’s not really used to being honest about how he feels. but I think he does like you, y/n. he just doesn’t know how to show it without pushing you away.”

the words hit you like a freight train. taesan likes you? all this time, you’ve been so unsure of what he wanted, what he needed, and now it feels like it’s been right in front of you.

“but he’s been ignoring me…” you say quietly, almost to yourself.

“he doesn’t know how to deal with the fact that you’re... well, you’re you,” riwoo adds, his tone light but thoughtful. “you’ve got your own friends, your own reputation. taesan doesn’t want to mess that up for you. he’s scared of it, y’know?”

that was the second time it's come across you. taesan cares about your reputation, maybe more than you.

the pieces start to click together. you’ve been dancing around your feelings for taesan, unsure whether to admit them or not, and now it seems like he’s been doing the same thing. the difference is, you’ve been letting the fear of judgment hold you back. taesan’s fear is different. he’s afraid of losing you.

the realization makes you uneasy, but in a good way. there’s something so real about the way riwoo describes taesan, and for once, you can’t help but want to believe it.

just as you’re about to respond to riwoo's comment, woonhak appears, practically bouncing into the room. his eyes are wide, and there’s a mischievous grin on his face.

“you should go talk to taesan,” he says, the grin never leaving his face. “he’s still being stubborn, but I think he’s ready to listen.”

you frown. “how do you know?”

“because,” woonhak says with an exaggerated shrug, “he’s been pacing around like a lost puppy ever since you saw eachother.” he looks between you and riwoo. “and leehan’s not much better. he’s the one who convinced him to talk, so… yeah. go talk to him. he’ll listen... eventually.”

you want to tell woonhak you’re not ready, that you don’t know how to fix things with taesan, but something in the way woonhak says it makes you feel like you have to.

“just go for it,” riwoo says, giving you an encouraging nod. “you’ve got nothing to lose.”

you nod, though your heart is pounding in your chest. you stand up slowly, feeling a little out of place in the midst of all the quiet chaos around you. taesan’s still by the wall, his posture tense. you can tell he’s trying to convince himself that it’s fine, that everything is fine, convincing himself you’re just here for the music, just like the others.

but you know that’s not true.

he knows that's not true.

as you approach him, you hesitate for a second, unsure of what to say. but before you can even open your mouth, taesan speaks first, his voice low and a little defensive.

“you didn’t have to come, you know,” he says, not looking at you. his voice is almost too casual, as if he’s trying to brush off the seriousness of the moment. “I mean, this isn’t really your kind of music.”

you bite your lip, fighting the urge to just walk away. his words sting, but you know he’s just trying to protect himself.

“I came because I wanted to see you,” you say, your voice steady even though you’re terrified of how it sounds. “I didn’t come for the music, taesan. I came for you.”

there’s a long pause, and for a moment, you think you’ve said the wrong thing. but then taesan finally looks up at you, his eyes flickering with something you can’t quite place.

“you don’t have to pretend for me, y/n,” he says, his voice quieter now. “you don’t need to act like you like this stuff just to be around me. I get it.”

you shake your head, your heart racing. “I’m not pretending. I… I like you, taesan.”

taesan freezes, his expression softening slightly. he opens his mouth to say something, but the words get caught in his throat. instead, he exhales slowly, running a hand through his hair.

“you’re not just saying that because you’re here, right?” he asks, his voice uncertain.

“no,” you reply, taking a step closer. “I’m saying it because it’s true. I like you, taesan. I’ve liked you since you looked at me in the library, and I’m sorry I was too scared to admit it before.”

there’s a brief silence, and then taesan finally lets out a breath he seems to have been holding for a long time. his lips curl into a small, almost shy smile.

“you’ve always liked me?” he asks, his voice soft with a hint of disbelief.

“yeah,” you whisper. “I just… I was worried about what people would think. about what my friends would think.”

taesan’s expression softens even more, and he steps a little closer to you, his voice barely above a whisper. “you don’t have to choose, y/n. I never wanted you to. I just wanted you to be honest with yourself.”

you blink, surprised at how easy it is for him to say that. “honest with myself?”

“yeah,” he says, his voice low and steady now. “I just needed you to admit that you feel the same way about me. I didn’t want you to choose between me and your friends.”

you stare at him, feeling the weight of his words settle in your chest. it’s like a weight lifting off your shoulders, the tension you’ve carried with you for so long melting away.

“I’m sorry,” you whisper, stepping closer. “I was scared.”

“it’s okay,” taesan says softly, his hand reaching for yours. “you don’t have to be anymore.”

and for the first time in a long time, you feel like everything’s finally making sense.

the moments following your confession feel like the longest stretch of time. taesan is standing in front of you, his presence almost suffocating, and for a split second, you’re unsure if he believes you. it’s the kind of silence that hangs in the air, thick and heavy, like it’s too much to fill with anything but the things unsaid.

taesan takes a step back, running a hand through his messy hair, his eyes not quite meeting yours. it’s clear he’s thinking hard about something, but what? you can’t tell. your heart is pounding in your chest, and a part of you is terrified you’ve said too much, too soon, but another part is relieved. you’ve finally admitted it. finally let the truth out into the open.

and then taesan looks at you, his gaze softer now, and you can see the conflict in his eyes. “you really do like me?” he asks, his voice still unsure but laced with something else. maybe hope? maybe fear?

you nod, your breath catching in your throat. “yeah. I do.”

there’s a long pause, and you watch him carefully. his hands are shoved deep in the pockets of his jacket, his lips pressed together as though he’s trying to figure out what to do next. you’re not sure if he’s angry, confused, or just processing everything, but you wait, giving him space to think it over.

“you should’ve told me sooner,” he mutters, more to himself than to you. “I’ve been waiting for you to admit it. but I guess I didn’t want to push you.”

you take a step closer, your heart fluttering nervously. “I didn’t want to disappoint anyone. I didn’t want to mess things up with my friends, you know? I’ve had this group for years, and I didn’t want to seem like I was changing everything just because of you.”

taesan’s eyes soften as he watches you, and he takes a deep breath, clearly trying to wrap his head around what you’re saying. “I get it,” he says quietly.

his words settle into you, and you realize for the first time that maybe taesan’s always understood more than you gave him credit for. he’s not asking you to give up your friends, and he’s not trying to pull you away from the life you’ve built.

“so… what happens now?” you ask, a little unsure of where to go from here.

taesan shrugs, the corners of his mouth twitching into a small, almost playful smile. “we figure it out. I’m not going anywhere, if that’s what you’re worried about.”

you breathe a sigh of relief, the weight on your shoulders finally lifting. you’ve said what needed to be said, and taesan isn’t pulling away. instead, he’s looking at you with a new understanding, and it makes your heart feel lighter than it has in a long time.

just then, you hear footsteps approaching, and you turn to see woonhak and leehan walking toward you, both of them wearing knowing grins. leehan gives you a teasing wink, while woonhak’s grin is a little wider, almost smug.

“well, well,” woonhak says, his voice loud enough for taesan to hear, “looks like someone’s finally come clean.”

you feel your face heat up, and taesan groans softly, running a hand through his hair again in that familiar frustrated gesture. “don’t start,” he mutters under his breath.

leehan raises an eyebrow, clearly not willing to let taesan off the hook. “we saw the whole thing. looks like y/n’s got the guts after all.”

you glance over at taesan, who’s still avoiding eye contact, and let out a soft laugh. “it wasn’t exactly how I planned it.”

“hey,” woonhak says, his tone suddenly much more serious. “we’re not here to mess with you two. but, for what it’s worth, I’m glad you told him.”

taesan looks up at him, his expression softening, though he still doesn’t seem to know how to react. “you guys were waiting for this to happen?”

“obviously,” leehan replies, flashing a grin at you. “we could see it coming from a mile away. it was just a matter of time.”

woonhak chuckles, crossing his arms over his chest. “honestly, I’m just glad y/n showed up at the concert. I knew you’d figure it out.” he looks at you with a smile that feels almost reassuring. “you were meant to be here, y/n. not just for the music.”

you can’t help but smile, feeling the warmth in woonhak’s words. it’s as if, for the first time, you realize that taesan and his friends aren’t the strangers you’ve built them up to be in your head. they’re people you can trust. and taesan… well, taesan is someone who’s been waiting for you to figure out what your heart really wants.

taesan doesn’t say anything right away. instead, he just looks at you, his gaze softening. there’s a hint of vulnerability in his eyes that you haven’t noticed before. he’s not the tough, unapproachable guy you assumed him to be. he’s someone who just needed you to meet him halfway.

“I guess it’s about time I stopped running from it,” taesan finally says, his voice quieter now, almost like he’s admitting something to himself. “I don’t want to lose you, y/n.”

you step closer, feeling the warmth of his words settle into your chest. for the first time in a long time, the uncertainty you’ve carried around fades, and you can finally breathe easy.

“I don’t want to lose you either, taesan,” you say, your voice steady.

taesan looks at you, and for a brief moment, there’s this look of understanding that passes between the two of you. he doesn’t need you to make a choice between him and your friends. he just needs you to be true to yourself.

“so,” leehan starts, breaking the silence with a grin. “what now? you two gonna kiss, or what?”

you and taesan both freeze, the air suddenly feeling thicker than ever. taesan blushes, his face turning a shade of red that matches yours, while woonhak laughs loudly, clearly amused by the awkwardness he’s just created.

“shut up, leehan,” taesan mutters, clearly embarrassed but secretly relieved.

you chuckle softly, feeling the warmth of his presence next to you. it’s a different kind of silence this time. comfortable. familiar.

“you know,” you say after a beat, your voice teasing, “I think we’ll figure it out.”

taesan looks at you, his smile finally breaking through the tension. “yeah. we will.”

and for the first time, you realize that maybe the hardest part wasn’t admitting your feelings. maybe the hardest part was just letting yourself be honest.

—

the weeks following your confession feel like an endless rollercoaster, full of highs and lows. at first, your friends, especially leeseo and hanbin, don’t take the news as well as you’d hoped. you knew it wouldn’t be easy, but you didn’t expect it to hit this hard.

when you first told them about taesan, about how you felt, the reactions were... well, less than ideal. leeseo had stared at you like you’d just announced you were leaving the country, and hanbin had seemed more confused than upset. but the hardest part was seeing the disappointment in their eyes.

it wasn’t that they didn’t care about you. in fact, it was the complete opposite. they cared about you so much that it was more that they couldn’t understand why you would want to throw away years of reputation you built up, for someone who, to them, was nothing more than a rebellious skater.

"are you really sure about this?" leeseo had asked, her voice quieter than usual, her expression tight with worry. "taesan… he’s not like us. he’s part of a different world. why risk it?"

hanbin hadn’t said much at first, just quietly watching, as if waiting for you to change your mind. but the uncertainty was there, hanging between you all, heavy and uncomfortable.

you had tried to explain it to them, tried to make them understand that this wasn’t just some fleeting crush or an act of rebellion. it was real. but they just couldn’t see it. not at first, anyway.

it hurt more than you cared to admit, seeing their disapproval. these were your friends. the people you’d known since childhood. and suddenly, it felt like you were standing on the edge of something, unsure whether to jump or pull back. the fear of losing them, of being alone in your decision, gnawed at you, but something deep inside you knew that you couldn’t keep pretending. you couldn’t keep hiding how you felt.

you just had to trust that the people who truly mattered would eventually see the truth in your actions. that they would come around and accept you for who you were becoming.

and in the end, they did.

it wasn’t immediate, but as time passed, leeseo and hanbin began to understand. it wasn’t about taesan being a skater or part of a different crowd. it wasn’t about the fact that he was in a band or that he lived a life they didn’t understand. it was about the way he made you feel seen, understood, and for the first time in a long time, happy.

"so, when are you bringing him to hang out?" leeseo had asked one afternoon, her voice teasing but genuine. "I want to see what the big deal is with this guy."

hanbin had smiled too, though there was still a hint of hesitation in his eyes. "yeah, he’s got to be something special for you to stick with it this long."

and that was when you realized they weren’t just accepting your decision. they were supporting it. and that, more than anything, was all you needed.

taesan, for his part, had been more than understanding. he’d known how hard it had been for you to get to this point, to finally let go of the mask you’d been wearing, the one that kept you safe in the comfort of your old life. but he never judged you for it.

he made sure you never regretted your decision, pulling you into his world with open arms.

he showed you his music, the songs that were both raw and beautiful, filled with emotions he couldn’t always express in words. you’d always been the academic type, focused on grades and assignments, but now you found yourself getting lost in the music, in the way taesan played his guitar with such passion, as if the notes were extensions of his very soul.

late-night skating became a regular part of your life, too. at first, you were hesitant, worried you’d embarrass yourself or make a fool of yourself in front of his friends. but taesan had a way of making you feel like you belonged. the others, woohak, leehan, riwoo, and jaehyun, had all accepted you with open arms. they didn’t care that you didn’t have the same history with skating that they did. they just cared that you were there, trying something new.

taesan would always smile, his gaze softening as he watched you push yourself, getting better each time. "you're doing great," he’d say, always encouraging, never dismissive. "just keep at it."

and the laughter, oh, the laughter. you had never known what it was like to be this carefree, to just let go and enjoy the moment. taesan had a way of pulling you into his world of easy-going fun, where everything seemed light and full of possibility. the worries that had once weighed you down melted away whenever you were with him.

one evening, after a long session of skating under the city lights, you sat together on the rooftop of a building, the wind blowing softly through your hair. taesan leaned back, his head resting on the edge of the roof, looking up at the stars.

"you know," he said, voice low and casual, "I never thought I’d find someone who’d get me this way."

you glance at him, feeling a smile tug at your lips. "what, you’re not that hard to get."

taesan laughs softly, turning his head to meet your gaze. "you’d be surprised. i mean, maybe when you're not putting up a front it might be different," he jokes,

you nod, understanding more than you ever had before. "yeah, I get that."

he smiles, that real smile of his that always makes your heart skip a beat.

it’s in moments like these that you realize just how much you’ve changed, how much you’ve grown since you met him. you stop worrying about what others think, stop pretending to be someone you’re not. the people who truly matter, the ones who care about you for who you really are, will always be there for you. and those are the people you need to focus on.

you’ve stopped hiding. you’ve stopped pretending. and now, with taesan by your side, you feel like you can face the world as yourself. no masks, no fear. just you and him, and whatever the future holds.

—

it’s been a few months since you stopped hiding, since you started living life as yourself, unashamed, and unafraid. taesan’s world has become your world, and yours became his. BOYNEXTDOOR has started gaining more traction, the band’s energy electrifying, pulling in more fans with every performance. it’s not just the music that’s drawing people in, though. it’s the rawness. the authenticity that the group radiates. and as they grow, so does your connection with them.

sungho, riwoo, jaehyun, leehan, and woonhak. each of them has become an important part of your life. you’ve spent so many late nights with them now, at shows and skateparks, in studios and cafés, and each moment feels more natural than the last. the guys have all grown to appreciate your company, your unguarded nature, your willingness to let go of the walls you once had up.

woonhak’s grin is constant whenever you’re around, and he’s never shy about throwing playful remarks your way. “you know, if you hang out with us more often, you might start getting better at skating. or maybe you’ll just get really good at cheering us on,” he teases, elbowing you gently as you both watch taesan show off his latest tricks at the skatepark.

you laugh, shaking your head. “I think I’m good with cheering for now.”

“yeah, yeah,” he says with a wink. “we’ll see.”

leehan, quieter than the others but equally as kind, has begun to open up to you more too. you find yourself in deep conversations with him after practice, talking about everything from music to fish, which makes you wonder why he has a huge interest in fish. he’s got a way of listening that makes you feel heard, truly heard, and it’s something you’ve come to value in a way you didn’t expect.

“you know,” leehan says one night as you sit beside him on the band’s tour bus, “sometimes, I think you understand us more than we give you credit for.”

you smile softly, a little surprised. “what do you mean?”

he shrugs, staring out of the window. “well, it’s just… you fit in, y’know? and I don’t think you’ve ever tried to be anything other than who you are. it’s refreshing.”

the compliment hits you harder than you expected, and you realize just how far you’ve come since that first day of being unsure about yourself, hiding in plain sight.

jaehyun, the loud and often mischievous member, is always up for a laugh. he’s started making jokes about you and taesan, though it’s never mean-spirited. “so, you two are still doing that whole ‘silent romance’ thing, huh?” he teases one afternoon as the band gathers for a quick break before the next performance.

you roll your eyes but can’t help the smile tugging at your lips. “we’re not silent, jaehyun. we just don’t broadcast everything.”

he raises an eyebrow, his grin mischievous. “uh-huh, sure. whatever you say.”

taesan, of course, just watches the back-and-forth with a small smile, his gaze soft. you’re starting to learn how to read him, how his eyes light up with affection and pride when he looks at you, even when he tries to hide it.

“you’re in trouble now,” riwoo adds from the side, glancing between you and taesan.

but there’s something deeper there in the way the group interacts now. it’s not just about the music or the laughs. they’ve truly embraced you as one of their own. you’re no longer just the outsider; you’re part of their family.

and you realize, as the weeks go by, that taesan’s music is beginning to reflect the change you’ve both undergone. he’s been writing more, pouring his heart into the lyrics, and it’s clear from the way he talks about the process that it’s more than just songs to him. it’s his way of expressing everything he’s ever wanted to say, but never could.

one day, as you sit in the studio, scribbling down some notes for your own personal project, taesan walks in, his usual calm demeanor now mixed with a hint of excitement.

“I finished something new,” he says, looking at you. “I want you to hear it.”

you raise an eyebrow, intrigued. “what’s it called?”

“it’s… well, it’s about us,” he explains, shifting a little nervously. “about how I felt when you finally stopped pretending you didn’t care.”

your heart skips a beat as you look up at him, but you don’t say anything. you just follow him to the music setup, where he starts fiddling with his guitar.

he strums the first few chords, and instantly, you know it’s something different. it’s raw and honest, with a touch of rebellion, the sound of someone finally coming into their own after fighting their own doubts.

(listen to sk8er boi during this part guys !!)

when the final chord rings out, the room is silent. you’re sitting there, stunned, unable to process the feelings swirling inside you. it’s a song about you, about how taesan has always been there, quietly waiting for you to see him for who he truly is

he looks at you, his expression soft, almost unsure. “do you like it?”

you can’t say anything at first. your throat feels tight, and there’s a lump in your chest that you can’t shake. finally, you nod. “taesan… it’s perfect.”

he smiles, though it’s shy, as if he’s relieved. “I’m glad.”

later that evening, you’re in the crowd at one of BOYNEXTDOOR’s shows, feeling the energy buzz around you. the crowd is loud, excited, the air electric with anticipation. the lights dim, and the first notes of a familiar tune fill the air.

you recognize the song immediately. it’s the one taesan wrote. and as he steps forward, microphone in hand, he scans the crowd, his gaze lingering on you for a brief moment. there’s no hiding the way his eyes soften when he spots you.

you stand there, in the middle of the crowd, heart racing, as taesan sings the song he wrote for you. the lyrics are even more powerful live, the music thrumming through your body.

woonhak, stands beside you after the set, noticing the way you were both looking at each other. he grins, making eye contact with leehan, who’s watching from the side. they share a knowing look, as if they’ve been expecting this moment all along.

“hey,” woonhak says quietly, elbowing you. “looks like someone’s got the spotlight.”

you can’t help the smile that spreads across your face. you’re finally here, in this moment, with taesan. no more hiding, no more pretending.

and as the final chords ring out, you know you’re exactly where you’re supposed to be.

— ty for reading pookies :) —

~ fic taglist - @the0p

~ bnd taglist - @bxnedo

~ perm taglist - @s0shroe

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emo-batboy · 2 years ago

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Things Battinson Totally Did During His First Year of University

Using Unhinged or Odd Things I Also Did as a College Freshman :D

Note: for this list, let’s believe Bruce was living in an (admittedly expensive and swanky) dorm because it is required for first-years, especially those entering at a young age, and Alfred told him he needed to make friends. Also yes I did every single thing on this list. I never claimed to be a role model

Bruce, to his TA: I’m so sorry I’m late to class. I gave blood a few hours ago and almost fainted on the way here, but it won’t happen again.

Signs up for a class called “Age of Dinosaurs” despite it not being required whatsoever and proceeds to work his entire schedule around it

Bruce: Your mental health is super important. If you think you should see the on-campus therapist, go see them. Friend: Fine. I’ll sign up for therapy if you sign up for therapy too. Bruce: Hold on-

Finds a loophole in his housing contract that allows him to get a pet frog, calls him kermit :)

Gets a second frog because Kermit was lonely, names it Constantine after Muppets Most Wanted, then realizes that they’re gay for each other. Wonders if the rainbow-colored rocks he got them triggered anything

Swings dramatically between calling Alfred every single day and ghosting him for weeks, cries when he realizes what he did

“Accidentally” joins the student body council, doesn’t know what he’s doing, gets re-elected anyway

Molds a dragon out of Laffy Taffy instead of doing his work

Bruce: *joins Honors, gets all A’s, takes the max amount of classes, has several minors, overachieves* Also Bruce: I’m a failure.

Breaks into a building after hours to study because NO ONE KNOWS HOW TO SHUT THE FUCK UP AT THE LIBRARY

Bruce: I will not get seasonal depression this year. Bruce: *gets real and seasonal depression that year*

Meticulously schedules his day with a color-coded planner because if he sits down for too long, the thoughts will consume him

Gives a presentation to his rhetoric class on how much he likes Spider-Man: Into the Spiderverse (it is 20 minutes long)

Successfully allocates funding from the student body council to pay for free feminine products in the dorms OUT OF SPITE because someone said it couldn't be done. fuck you, Andrew

Bruce: It is not an all-nighter if I go to sleep before my first class. Friend: It is 7:30am, the sun is in the sky, and your first class is at 12:30. Bruce: But I am getting sleep.

Refuses to go anywhere without his backpack because what if he needs three notebooks at once

Loses over 20 pounds because ✨stress✨ and scares the shit out of Alfred when he comes home for Thanksgiving

Argues with his TA over the one (1) question he got wrong on his Dinosaur exam

Bruce, calling Alfred: Hello father figure. How do I do taxes? Do I have to do them myself? Also, I think I’m having a panic attack.

Joins in on a charity arts-and-crafts project that gives kids books with matching activities made by volunteers, proceeds to commandeer the project because “it’s not color-blind friendly” and rewrites the instructions for everyone

Makes a murder wall

Goes to one (1) sports game and proceeds to leave in the first ten minutes because it’s way too loud wtf is wrong with people

Professor, addressing the lecture hall: I dare you to write an essay about these two sentences. Bruce: *writes an essay about six words, gets a 100, never even read the book*

Crawls into the ceiling for some alone time

Ghosts someone after a date because he’s too scared to tell them he didn’t know it was a date in the first place and now he feels bad

Classmate: How tf does he walk across campus that fast? I go in the same direction he does on my bike, and he’s always ahead of me. Bruce: *is gay sprinting to Dinosaur class*

Refuses to let others use his Favorite Pen TM

Constantly gets mistaken for a Grad Student because he is “so wise and mature” (bestie, that’s the autism)

Alfred: *casually mentions he got into a car accident through text* Bruce: *replies with a meme while hyperventilating because he doesn’t know what to do with that information??!*

Wears a suit to one of his finals

Regularly eats non-organic food for the first time in his life, proceeds to learn about several allergies Alfred forgot to mention he has

Writes “What is a Hot Pocket?” in calligraphy and proceeds to laugh his ass off alone in his dorm because he is so exhausted he’s reached the point of delusion

Locks himself out of his dorm right before class, frantically asks the floor group chat if someone can help, proceeds to tell the nice gay man on the floor who saved him “I love you” because his social skills have hit rock bottom

Makes a little music album display next to his desk for his favorite band (Nirvana) His friends call it a shrine, and they are technically correct

Has a blacklist of people he refuses to interact with because Reasons

Counselor: What do you want to do when you graduate? Bruce: *gestures vaguely*

Refuses to take the bus because there are people in there and he doesn’t like those

Loses one of his frogs, how tf did he do that, they’re fully aquatic, oh fuck, this is probably why they got rid of that loophole a year later because unbeknownst to Bruce, he accidentally started a frog revolution in the dorms, btw he SWEARS he did not mean to do that

Has two trash cans in his room: one for the Good Garbage, and one for the Bad Garbage. Only Bruce knows which is which

Bruce: *writes a creative piece about a ship’s final thoughts as it sinks, bringing its passengers down with it* TA: Absolutely lovely, Bruce, but are you okay?

Goes on Night Walks, keeps himself safe by maintaining a level 12 resting bitch face at all times

Earns the nickname “8th floor cryptid” after pacing the halls at 3am when it’s too cold for Night Walks (honestly tho how tf didn’t he get the nickname earlier?)

Bruce: Do you think a depressed person could do this? Bruce: *has a manic episode*

Okay that's all love you BYE

#cryptid Bruce Wayne #college au #does this count if op is the au #fully nocturnal unhinged madman Bruce but make him like 17 and full of crippling separation anxiety and autism #bruce would rather die than inconvenience a professor but hE KNOWS HIS DINOSAURS #Dino class was my fav one in uni hands down #yes i am insane thank you for asking #originally this was just going to be a normal list but I kept taking from my own experience then said “fuck it I'm the captain now”#one of these was a lie tho...the murder wall was third year :/#battinson #bruce wayne #batman #the batman 2022 #batman 2022 #the batman #battinson needs a hug #dc universe #gotham #autistic bruce wayne

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sunarryn · 3 months ago

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DP X Marvel #10

It all started because Clockwork got bored. That was the only reasonable explanation Danny could come up with. One minute he was signing ghost realm tax paperwork—yeah, turns out being Ghost King came with bureaucracy—and the next, Clockwork was swirling his little time-staff like a smug ghostly Gandalf and muttering something about “character growth” and “you’ve gone soft, Daniel.” And then bam, vortex of neon green time-energy, and suddenly Danny Fenton—a.k.a. Danny Phantom, Ghost King, Defender of Amity Park, Sloppy Hot Mess™—woke up in Westchester, New York, in a bed that smelled like lavender detergent and severe academic trauma.

Also, there was a kid across the room with laser eyes. Like, literal laser eyes. Danny dodged the optic blast with a yelp, crashed into a dresser, phased through it out of panic, and immediately got tackled by some blue-furred acrobatic Shakespeare enthusiast named Hank McCoy, who tried to sedate him with a tranquilizer gun the size of a trombone.

The chaos didn’t end there.

After an hour-long misunderstanding involving accidental ghost-punching, a kid phasing through a wall and screaming about “this new spirit trying to possess my Xbox,” and someone named Jean calmly levitating him mid-air like he was a naughty kitten, Danny finally got an audience with Charles Xavier. That guy. The bald one. Professor X. Wheelchair. Mind reader. Wears a turtleneck in July.

And of course, as soon as Danny sat down, Professor X pressed two fingers to his temple and Danny felt his entire mental vault of trauma shatter like a haunted snow globe. “Ah,” the Professor said with the polite cadence of someone realizing they’ve just tuned into a true crime documentary instead of the weather channel. “You have a great deal of… unique experiences.”

Danny laughed. Hysterically. “I died at fourteen and now I run a death monarchy in an alternate dimension. Unique is so last week.”

Turns out Clockwork, that glorified antique grandfather clock with too much free time, had decided that Danny needed to “learn to connect with others his age again” and “gain allies outside the Ghost Zone.” So he dropped Danny off at a mutant boarding school like some sort of half-dead foreign exchange student. And Charles Xavier, either because he’s too nice or secretly thrilled to collect weirdos like Pokémon cards, welcomed him with open arms.

Now, Danny wasn’t a mutant. He made that very clear. He was a half-ghost hybrid from an accident involving his parents’ DIY death portal and a broken sense of safety regulations. But that didn’t stop the other students from assuming he was just a weirdo with very specific powers and a questionable haircut. The moment Rogue tried to absorb him and got an accidental flash of the time Pariah Dark tried to possess his left kidney, she screamed, exploded a tree, and refused to make eye contact with him for a week. Logan thought that was hilarious and called him “Casper with PTSD.” Danny called Logan “Hairy Ferret Man.” A rivalry was born.

Also, it turned out that mutants at Xavier’s School had no chill. None. Zip. Zero. When they found out Danny could go intangible and invisible? Prank war. Full-on, Cold War-style prank war.

Kurt teleported hot sauce into his shoes. Danny replaced Kurt’s shampoo with slime from the Box Ghost. Bobby froze Danny’s underwear drawer. Danny phased into Bobby’s room at 3 a.m. and whispered “I’m always watching” into his ear like a cursed Roomba. Scott tried to discipline them with a “team bonding” exercise. Danny phased his clothes off in front of the entire class during the obstacle course.

He did not know Kitty Pryde could scream that loud. Or punch that hard.

Things escalated.

One day, Jean and Ororo walked into the library to find Danny floating upside down while holding a book with his foot, chewing a pen, and muttering to himself in the Ghost Zone’s dead language. When asked what he was doing, he said he was “reverse engineering a spectral war code to crash the cafeteria’s menu algorithm so they’d bring back pizza bagels.” Jean left the room. Ororo gave him a high five.

That might’ve been the least unhinged thing he did that week.

Because Danny had fans now. The students—bless their hormone-fueled, superpowered hearts—thought he was the coolest thing since Wolverine got into a fistfight with a vending machine. He had followers. A literal cult. Called themselves “The Phantom Phreaks.” They made glow-in-the-dark hoodies with his face on it. One kid tried to dye their hair white using bleach and ghost peppers. It didn’t go well.

It got worse when Peter Parker showed up.

Apparently, he was doing some college-credit tutoring with Xavier’s School because of course the kid with radioactive spider powers and crippling anxiety was the designated Marvel mentor. Peter tried to explain the concept of “laying low” and “not being a public menace” and Danny just blinked, turned intangible, floated through a wall, and popped his head back in to say, “I once bench-pressed a building-sized ghost walrus. I am beyond menace, Peter.”

They became friends instantly.

Peter would swing by to help with science classes and would end up staying for hours, mostly because Danny was a magnet for eldritch ghost disasters. One time, a time-displaced pirate specter named Captain Bloodwhistle tried to possess the student kitchen mixer. Peter got covered in spectral marshmallow fluff. Danny laughed so hard he accidentally ripped a hole into the Astral Plane. Peter got dragged halfway in. Jean had to psychic-yank him back with what she described as “a migraine made of bees.”

Also, Danny started dating one of the Cuckoo sisters.

He wasn’t sure which one. They wouldn’t tell him.

One of them would show up to lunch, sit next to him, hand him a thermos full of ghost chili, kiss his cheek, and then disappear into the crowd. Danny asked once if they were just messing with him. The Cuckoo in question smiled and said, “Maybe. Or maybe we’re all in love with you. Isn’t that romantic?”

He nearly screamed.

That was before the Avengers got involved.

Apparently, Xavier forgot to tell them he’d adopted a literal half-dead godchild of the underworld into his school. So one day Tony Stark landed in the front yard in a red-and-gold panic and tried to “detain the supernatural threat.” Danny responded by phasing into the suit, taking control of it, and flying it into the sky while singing “Let It Go” at full volume. Tony had to eject mid-air. He landed in a bush. Scott filmed it. Jubilee added sparkles in post.

Then Nick Fury showed up and tried to recruit him.

Danny told him he was already King of the Dead and the living were beneath him. Then he tripped on his shoelace and fell into a bush. Same bush Tony had landed in. They bonded. Kind of.

And then Loki showed up, because someone (cough Wanda cough) told him that a teenage ghost king with ancient death powers was living rent-free at Xavier’s. Loki tried to seduce Danny into joining his side. Danny asked if his horns were compensating for something. Loki cursed his shampoo to turn his hair pink. Danny retaliated by summoning an actual ghost bull to chase Loki through the halls while yelling, “Fight me, Party City Maleficent!”

Charles suspended them both for 48 hours.

Danny used the time off to open a haunted lemonade stand in the Danger Room. It made five grand and summoned three minor demons. Hank was not pleased.

And look, Danny was trying. He really was. He went to his classes (when he remembered), tried not to make sarcastic comments during training (he failed), and even got a job at the school paper writing ghost horoscopes. (“Sagittarius: avoid mirrors this week. Capricorn: the undead whisper secrets to you, don’t trust them unless they have snacks.”) But trouble followed him like a clingy poltergeist.

One time a field trip to Central Park ended with a ghost bear rampaging through the zoo. Another time, he got possessed by a Victorian poet ghost and started writing depressing haikus on the bathroom walls. He once accidentally opened a mini-portal in the girl’s dorm by sneezing. No one knew how. Not even Clockwork.

And oh, Clockwork?

He’d drop in occasionally, hovering in midair with that smug look, sipping ghost tea, and muttering things like, “Growth looks good on you,” while Danny was being chased by a ghost goose that had eaten a cursed student ID.

It was chaos.

It was ridiculous.

It was unhinged, feral, terrifying, and oddly heartwarming.

Because for the first time since he’d become half-ghost, since he’d died and come back and been crowned a spectral king with too many responsibilities and not enough hugs, Danny had a home that was weird enough for him. A home full of flying kids, clawed professors, laser eyes, psychic meltdowns, teleporting blue elves, and students who didn’t flinch when he told them his parents once tried to dissect him in a lab accident.

He was just another freak among freaks.

And he kinda loved it.

Even if his bedroom lights occasionally flickered Morse code insults.

Even if Logan kept threatening to shave his head in his sleep.

Even if Peter Parker made a “Ghost King Survival Kit” and stuffed it with snacks, holy water, and emotional support memes.

Even if the Cuckoo sisters left threatening notes in his locker written in glitter glue.

Even if Xavier kept giving him polite but exhausted psychic lectures about “not weaponizing the garden gnomes.”

Even if the Danger Room now had a setting labeled “Phantom Mode” that was literally just a green portal, a pissed-off dragon ghost, and an army of flying textbooks.

Danny Phantom was home.

And Ghost King or not, these mutants had no idea what kind of disaster they’d just adopted.

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thinkingotherwise · 4 months ago

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Be my MC

part 1, next

Written in 3rd POV; With fem! reader; This part happens at the end of ep. 3 Tried to get some info about the curriculum in Korean HS, so if anything's wrong - sorry.

I was very shocked to see so many people liking the HC I posted for Gamin, I hope you like this story as well, it was based on the HC

Walking through the front gates of the Yuseong Vocational High School, (Y/n) slipped right past the disciplinary committee as they grilled one of the students. She believed that the less she saw them and got their attention the better. She heard many rumours while sitting in her seat in the classroom about them. Her classmates were particularly chatty about such things. Even though she spent her free time between classes writing in her notebook and reading books related to game creation, her head was filled with voices that mentioned how the disciplinary committee was kind of like a school gang, and everyone was wary of getting on their bad side.

The girl went straight to her classroom, and spent her day like usual, listening to some of the lessons while during the more boring ones, she doodled or scribbled in her notebooks. However, during lunch, she heard amazing information. There was a library in this school. Now this was something else, truly shocking that such school had a library, but it made the girl happy. Immediately, the girl thought that maybe there were some books about coding, and maybe, just maybe also game development. (Y/n) felt herself buzzing in anticipation as she waited for the rest of the school day to pass.

As soon as the classes finished, she had one place in mind. She made her way straight to the second floor, where she heard the library was. Her eyes moved along the nameplates of each classroom, and when she found the one, she stopped before the doors. She took a deep breath hoping the library wouldn't be trashed and then in one strong move she slid the doors open and slightly bounced in place seeing that the place was quite well-kept. She quickly turned left and right making sure no one else was there, as she stepped in and closed the door behind her.

(Y/n) excitedly moved towards the shelves in the back of the room and looked through the topics and titles. A gasp left her as she noticed a book about coding and creating game software. She eagerly reached for it and opened it, looking through the table of contents and checking for the interesting bits. She found the paragraph that seemed to contain some good tips, and just as she was taking a step back to the tables in front of the shelves, the door slid open.

(Y/n) felt a wave of nervousness and quickly hid behind the shelf. Hearing the chair scrape against the floor as someone took a seat, she peaked from behind her little hiding place and noticed a brown-haired boy with glasses looking through his backpack and taking out several pictures as well as markers.

The girl wasn't sure about walking out even if he didn't seem all that scary like some boys in the school. She took her place behind the shelf and slid down to the ground, slowly and quietly. With the book open she started reading, hoping he wouldn't be in the room for that long.

Unfortunately, fifteen minutes later she was still sitting in the library hiding from the boy. (Y/n) regretted not coming out right away, because if she was to do it now, that would make her out to be a little weird, and she really didn't want that, even if there was a possibility she wouldn't see the boy again.

What was worse, a group of people stepped in right after, and she caught the name of the boy who was with her in the room. She felt her breath hitching as she recognized Yoon Gamin from the gossip her classmates were sharing with each other, as well as other students, when she was walking down the hall. (Y/n) heard that he not only set fire to his classroom during the fight with one of his classmates but also beat up the disciplinary committee in their room, all on his own.

She felt a shiver run down her spine just thinking about him and his friends in the same room as her. Despite her heart beating quicker she tried to calm down and read some more sentences hoping they could take her attention from the situation she found herself in. Well, it didn't help. The girl thought she read the same line at least five times and still couldn't understand a thing.

The laughter and taunting voices of the group made her head turn slightly to catch what they were talking about and surprisingly the conversation didn't seem like something she expected from them. 'Wait, are they... studying?' (Y/n) thought when she heard one of the boys mention a math exercise.

She moved to her knees and peeked at the group watching them carefully. Gamin's voice echoed throughout the room as he asked question after question about the one exercise. Honestly, (Y/n) was perplexed and couldn't believe the words falling out of his mouth. 'How can someone as scary as him be so stupid?' She asked herself, hearing yet another one. "Isn't it just the same as addition? They are all x's, I can just add them up." His confidence in spitting such dumb things was astonishing. "You can't, it's a polynomial equation, they all have different powers." The second boy commented. "But they are all x's." Gamin replied and (Y/n) had to shake her head to get her bearings of what he was saying. It was so stupid, a little chuckle escaped her and she tried to cover her mouth, but it was too late.

The group turned toward her and she pushed against the ground to go back behind the shelf. That made her blood pump and breath hitch. 'Oh, I'm about to get beaten up, am I not?' She heard someone stand up before a girl's voice called. "Who the heck is there? Get out of there!" "Hey, hey, Jiwu calm down." The boy, who taught Gamin, spoke, trying to calm down the girl. (Y/n) sighed, grabbed the book that she was reading, and stood up. Carefully, she stepped from behind the shelf and came closer to the group stopping next to Gamin. "Hi there." She waved timidly, her eyes on the Jiwu girl who was scoffing.

"You were behind the shelves all this time." The short-haired girl asked, her arms crossing over her chest as she glared at (Y/n). "Just how long were you there?" (Y/n) chuckled nervously, gaze moving from her and around the room. "Just a few minutes before he came in." She pointed her hand at Gamin, quickly glancing at him. The moment their eyes met, she turned away and continued. "I was just reading a book nothing much, didn't spy or anything." She showed them her book while explaining herself to try and avoid getting into a fight.

Her gaze then moved to the table and she noticed the math exercise they were talking about. She furrowed her eyebrows, her mouth twisting in confusion as she noticed what the boy wrote as a solution. Gamin moved his eyes from her to where she was looking and when he noticed she was reading his notebook, he tilted it for her to read more easily before turning to her. "Do you get-" "You know it's wrong, right?" She cut him off as she couldn't look at the horrible solution anymore. (Y/n) picked the pen that was lying on the table next to his book and leaned over the book as she started solving the equation. "First, you move everything to the other side, but you need to keep the sign in mind. You need to change the plus to minus before it-" She started explaining, circling certain parts and drawing arrows and pointers so that he would understand better.

Gamin turned fully to her, his gaze moving from her to the notebook and what she was writing, and he nodded every now and then. His eyes sparkled with excitement as she talked him through the solution. "And then when you solve the two separately, you get the solutions." (Y/n) finished placing the pen down as she looked at the boy. Somehow, she momentarily forgot he was the Yoon Gamin who beat up people, especially after she saw his big eyes sparkling behind the glasses as he stared at the solved equation in confusion. She sighed, realizing he didn't get it, so she nudged him to the chair beside him, took his previous place, and moved the notebook between them. She went through the solution once more, step by step, trying to be clear in her explanation and when using the colourful pens she noticed in his pencil case.

The two were in their little world of math equations and didn't notice that the rest of the group stared at them with baffled expressions. They were muttering with each other about the strange girl that now sat beside their study leader and how she was sitting in the room the whole time they were there.

As (Y/n) replied to every question Gamin had, even the dumbest ones, in her opinion, the rest took their seats at the table and stared at the two. As they finished with the explanation of the already solved task (Y/n) told Gamin to solve the next one using a similar method. She watched as he hummed to himself, writing line after line, pointing at the next steps he should take but not saying anything as she wanted him to at least do that much on his own. Solving the exercise Gamin's face brightened when he checked that he got the correct answer. He turned eagerly to (Y/n) with a big smile and she clapped her hands thrice. "Congrats." She commented shortly.

Then he caught her gaze and turned to her on his seat. "What's your name?" He questioned getting the attention of the rest of his study group, as they also wanted to know who the weird girl was. "Eee.. (L/n) (Y/n)." She replied, suddenly reminded of the rumours around him as she stood up quickly and took a step back. "Wait, as in (L/n) (Y/n) that got first place in the entrance exam?" The girl next to Jiwu asked and Gamin stood up after hearing that. The girl in question nodded her head. "Do you want to join our study group?" The leader of said group asked leaning on the table and the back of his chair. (Y/n) shook her head. "No, no, thank you. I'm fine." She looked at him and bowed lightly before doing the same in the direction of others. As she moved to the door, Gamin grabbed her forearm. " Why not? You are smart, you can study with and help us." "Mostly him." Jiwu added under her breath.

(Y/n) looked at her arm, where his hand held her. Her eyes widened, and her mind ran with thousands of excuses she could use at this moment to reject him and not end up in his bad book. She held the book closer to her side as her gaze moved from his hand to him and back. "I'm working on a project currently, so I don't really have time to study." She replied finally and Gamin's mouth opened in astonishment. If she wasn't studying and still understood current topics in class, then what if she was studying? She had so much potential that she was not utilizing in his opinion. It was such a shame and he couldn't let it go. He couldn't let her go, he needed her in the study group.

Before he said anything else, she got out of his hold, quickly walked through the door, and ran all the way to her classroom to collect her bag and go out of school as soon as possible. She didn't want to risk him following her scared he'd make her join the group or even intimidate her to do that. She surely didn't need that, all she wanted was to focus on her future game.

#study group #study group x reader #yoon gamin x reader #yoon gamin

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jaggedamethyst · 6 months ago

Text

circuit breaker 🔬🌌 (part one)

tutor!jayce talis x reader, modern college au

content: reader is forced to take gen ed classes in order to graduate college. this unfortunately includes physics for which you desperately need a tutor for...jayce talis happens to need community service and is available to help. (references to adhd/neurodivergence in this chapter, that’s all)

notes: hiii. as i am on my indefinite break from golden boy, i wanted to start something else bc the yearn for jayce content can only be filled as long as i work to preserve him myself... so here’s my first official series!! double note, while this is modern, i still want to keep hints and references to the show/characters so they’re believable! so if you see viktor talking in a way that seems unnatural with dialogue, its just my smarty pants bf being his smart self with vast vocabulary. 🤍

word count: 1.5k

series masterlist here

。·:*:·ﾟ★,。·:*:·ﾟ☆　　。·:*:·ﾟ★,。·:*:·ﾟ☆

The absolute worst part of college is being forced to take the general education classes simply to graduate. You were an arts major, there was no reason for you to be cramming your brain with math equations so many years after high school—and yet here you were. Unfortunately, you waited until later in your university career to take on the required course load, and now you were stuck in one of the only classes with availability that worked with your schedule—physics. The thought of the class alone made your head hurt. The only upside was having it with a friend, albeit much more skilled at the subject, Viktor was always welcome company.

“I hate these weekly quizzes, I genuinely cannot afford to fail another one.”

Viktor chuckled, “The subject matter isn’t that difficult…”

“We can’t all be geniuses, Viktor.”

“Yes, some of us are more skilled than others, I’d say.” He moved to gather his books, the class having ended.

You mirrored his action, packing your bag as you spoke to him. “Natural skill or not, this shit is actually dumb…makes me feel dumb.”

“You are not dumb,” he reassured you, “It can be a lot to comprehend.”

You shuffled through the aisle, following behind Viktor as he moved toward the exit. “It’s these gen ed classes…why do I need to understand physics for liberal arts. Granted, I know the school is more tech based…but I changed my major! I should be free of the shackles of math by now.” You wiped a hand over your face, clearly exasperated.

You matched Viktor’s steps, picking up a bit to open the door for him. The slight breeze of the outside air brushed over you—cooling the heat that you didn’t realize was there. A breath left you, exhaling the bubbling rage in you.

Viktor reached a hand toward your shoulder, grasping it with a firm encouragement. “You will conquer physics. Natural skill…or not.” He smiled again, a teasing tone on his voice.

“Viktor!” You swatted his hand away, “I hate you! Could you at least offer a solution? These quizzes are literally every week. What’s the point of checking my comprehension if I know I’m gonna fail-“

“Listen, you will not fail. In fact,” he paused, “I have a solution for this little conflict.”

“The solution being?”

He stopped walking, an obvious look on his face, “Get a tutor.”

A scoff, “Yeah right. I’m not in middle school. I don’t need a tutor, Viktor.” You started walking again, “Besides, why can’t you just help me—you’re all the tutor I need!”

“I have quite a bit on my plate this term already. I have two labs, recitations, and work-“

“Which is just code for find time to see Sky, got it.”

He didn’t reply to that, not directly. But the way he blushed and looked away was indication enough. Viktor explained before that he and Sky have known each other practically their whole lives. They always saw each other around; the fact that they ended up at the same school was purely by fate, or chance, Viktor would say. That was, despite the relatively high probability with there being so few state schools.

He changed the subject, leading you across the street. “I know someone who would be willing to help. He mentioned needing community service.”

“Fine, I guess…”

“Good, because we’re here.”

You looked up, the student resource center labeled clearly in front of you. The prospect of walking in was already daunting. You loved independence and it often came at the expense of feeling incompetent when you had to ask for help. You confided in Viktor about that before. He figured the best way was to just show up, not giving you the opportunity to get yourself worked up and find an excuse to not go.

He opened the door, tilting his head towards the inside. “You got this.”

You shook your head, the idea making you nauseous. He returned the motion, this time shaking his head. You can do this.

It took a second, but you finally walked in, Viktor slightly on your trail. “He should be here, he told me he would be.” He continued as you nodded silently, “Oh, there he is.”

His back was to you, speaking to a woman he seemed to be friendly with. His shoulders were wide, making her barely visible to you from this angle—but she was undoubtedly stunning. You couldn’t help but acknowledge the way they so enthusiastically spoke. You didn’t want to interrupt, that would be embarrassing, torturous, even. Instead, you turned to the desk, eyeing the receptionist. She seemed to be close to your age…which somehow made you even more nervous—gosh.

“Hi…” You cleared your throat, “Hi, I wanted to ask about tutoring? Like for physics?”

Viktor nodded behind you, proud of the seemingly small gesture. He knew this was actually an immense step for you.

The receptionist greeted you back, “We do have physics tutoring available! There are a few student volunteers, but we usually assign according to those with a more free schedule…” She looked to her left, pointing to the QR code that faced toward you. “You can register here, it’s fairly quick and someone…” she locked onto the man across from her, still mid conversation. “Someone should be able to help you get started today actually…Jayce!”

You turned to see the man pause his conversation, a brow raising at his name being called. Recognition flashed in your direction as well, “Oh hey, Viktor.”

“Hello, Jayce.”

The man walked up to the counter, a more annoyed tone and body language accompanied him, then. It wasn’t genuine, but rather one out of familiarity, like he and the receptionist had known each other a while. It was quite jovial, actually. “What do you want, Cait?”

She rolled her eyes at that, “Someone needs a tutor,” she smiled at you before looking to him with a grimace, “You’re a tutor, correct?”

He shrugged, “I need community service.”

“Great, so you two are a match, then.”

Your phone suddenly became rather interesting—the simple intake form immediately became numerous pages long and excessively tedious. You felt his eyes on you, though, and saw a hand out towards you in your peripheral. “Nice to meet you…Jayce.”

You looked up finally, reaching to shake his outstretched hand. The only thing that came to you was your name—first and last, simple.

He half smiled, echoing your reply, “Jayce Talis. I like the formality.” He chuckled, dropping your hand.

You looked back silently at Viktor, a sort of terror on your face. He spoke then, “I should be going. Shouldn’t these two have their introductory meeting now?” He observed your twisted facial expression, looking towards the desk for a reply.

She nodded, “Great idea! It’s a short one, just getting to know one another and scheduling for later. You can use that room right there,” she looked at the computer in front of her for confirmation, “It should be empty for a few more minutes!” She motioned her hands for you two to hurry along. The man, Jayce…Jayce Talis…walked over and spoke to the woman he’d been talking to before. You couldn’t hear them, but observed the way he rubbed her arm before reaching for a hug. You tried not to stare, but you weren’t entirely familiar with the resource center and he was supposed to be leading you, you thought.

You trailed behind Jayce, turning back to see Viktor. He stood with a hand on his cane, the other with a thumbs up to you. You nodded, rubbing your hands awkwardly at your sides. You watched as Jayce opened the door, stepping back to let you in first. That was nice. You held a tight smile, a pleasantry you’d grown accustomed to displaying in uncomfortable situations such as this one.

Both of you sat down, a brief silence filling the room. Jayce spoke first, “So what brings you to tutoring?”

You swallowed, “I am not great at physics…I’m pretty bad at it actually…and Viktor said you could help.”

He nodded, “You two are friends?”

“Yeah, we met a while back. How do you know each other?”

“Lab partners, same major, rest is history.”

“Right…” A huff from you and the shuffle of Jayce reaching in his pocket were the only sounds in the room.

“So,” he scrolled on his phone, “You noted you have a hard time focusing. Is it just this class?”

“Not just physics, no. I have a hard time paying attention in general. Bad memory, disorganized brain, the works. Makes retaining the information really hard as you can imagine.”

“I get that, but we can work on that…find things that help you remember a bit better…make it more interesting.”

You could only blink as a response. This was the first time you could recall, besides with close friends, that someone didn’t make you feel extremely weird for not being able to stay focused. You often skipped from one topic to the next, forgetting your starting point. Conversations would float away from you, or you’d get too emotionally invested. People would call you loud, random, even. You appreciated that Jayce replied simply, concisely, offering a solution. Sure, it was his job…kind of…but it felt pretty good.

“Thank you.”

“Sure.”

He went over a few more questions with you—referring to the intake form you’d filled out on your phone. In no time, you had set a meeting time for the following day.

Both of you stood, collecting your bags.

“See you tomorrow?”

“Tomorrow.”

part two

#jaggedamethyst #circuit breaker #angst #jayce talis #arcane jayce #jayce talis x reader #jayce talis x you #arcane #arcane x reader #jayce x reader #jayce league of legends #jayce talis arcane #jayce arcane #jayce x you

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sunnami · 11 months ago

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marauders era — the interactive story. [sneak peek.]

experience the thrill of being sorted into your hogwarts house all over again! who will you be in this story? a daring gryffindor, a generous hufflepuff, a clever slytherin, or an inquisitive ravenclaw?

will you be kind? reserved? bold? or, perhaps, mischievous? the choice is yours!

roam the castle corridors, attend your favorite classes and build your stats—go on a path that YOU choose!

spend your time at the library, or discover the secrets of the castle. develop your magic—do you like herbology or defense against the dark arts?

but more importantly, befriend students from other houses, or keep to your own circle, make enemies—or even fall in love!

(includes options for pronouns, any romantic path for the reader to pursue, etc.)

interact with these characters: lily evans, james potter, sirius black, remus lupin, peter pettigrew, dorcas meadowes, marlene mckinnon, gideon and fabian prewett, frank longbottom.

narcissa black, regulus black, lucius malfoy, barty crouch jr.

xenophilius lovegood, amos diggory, and more!

your story is yours to write!

snippet:

(this is a work in progress. a very, very rough draft that will undergo a long period of coding, writing, and editing!)

i have ALWAYS wanted to write an interactive story, not one based on votes—but one where a reader can stumble upon it months later and still be able to make their choices. when i was younger, i bought an interactive fantasy book, and it was the most magical novel i’ve ever read. i am so, so, excited to share this with everyone! it will be my first ever interactive story, so i only ask for a bit of patience, ueuue.

this is a gift for my friends, my wonderful readers, who have been so kind and generous to me, and so this is my show of love for everyone! 🤎🤎

feel free to leave any suggestions, comments, and feedback as i go through the development stage! i’ll be sharing progress and snippets every now and then.

again, thank you all so much!

— sunny

#marauders x reader #hp imagine #poly!marauders x reader #sunny's hp fics #james potter x reader #remus lupin x reader #sirius black x reader #lily evans x reader #interactive fanfiction

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rafescolors · 2 months ago

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❝so i won't sleep no more.❞

𖹭 pairing: rafe cameron x reader.

𖹭 summary: rafe finds you cramming at 3am and forces you to take a breath.

𖹭 tags: fluff.

𖹭 warnings: none.

𖹭 other: she/her!reader. not proofread, constructive criticism is always welcome<3

It was three a.m. on a Friday night and yet you were wide awake in your room, lights on and a bunch of books open in your bed, carefully color coding everything for your midterms. Your head hurt, right behind the eyes, and you were on your third cup of coffee, but you kept whispering to yourself just a bit more, gotta finish at least half of this.

Who were you kidding, though? Unless you fell asleep on accident, you were going to keep it up.

You blindly reached for your cup, making a disgusted face when you realized the coffee had gotten cold, but caffeine was caffeine, when a knock on your window startled you out of your zone.

Squinting a bit while your vision adjusted to the dark outside, you stood up from your bed and opened the curtains.

And there he was, your nighttime visitor. Rafe Cameron somehow ended up in your room in the middle of the night almost every day.

You still wondered how that happened, but you had to admit, he was much nicer than usual during his visits, and he brought you comfort in ways no one ever had.

So, you opened the window to let him in.

"What are you doing up?," he questioned the second you stepped aside.

Rolling your eyes, you grumbled something ininteligible and pointed to the mess that was your bed.

Rafe frowned.

"Isn't it better to study during, you know, daytime? With eight hours of sleep?"

Waving your hand around, you turned and sat on your bed again.

"Maybe for people like you. I work during the day. And attend classes on the late-afternoons/night. This is my only free time on weekdays."

He simply stared at you, the frown deepening in a way that made you smile.

"Come on, rich boy, change that face or you'll get stuck like that."

He frowned harder.

"Aren't you tired?"

With a slightly crazed giggle, you shrugged. "Coffee's keeping me awake just fine."

You had never seen Rafe Cameron more horrified than in that moment.

"Shouldn't you go to sleep?," he asked softly.

Tilting your head, you looked up at him, confused.

"I don't work tomorrow," you shrugged.

He seemed to struggle with what he wanted to say.

"But– I mean, you just said you were out the whole day, isn't it better if you... sleep now? Study tomorrow?" He spoke slowly, and you felt a bit offended when you realized he was talking to you as if you were a child.

You scoffed.

"No. Today's class is still fresh and all the things they said about midterms, I gotta take advantage of that, duh." You tapped your head with your pen, a pretty rose gold thing with a plastic diamond shaped top.

Rafe just– stared at you.

"That can't be healthy," he blurted out.

Shrugging, you uncapped one of your highlighters. "It is what it is."

You suddenly felt two hands grab you by the waist and drag you out of your bed. "Wait! Rafe, what the fuck?!," you screeched, squirming in his hold, but he just tightened his grip.

"You. Will. Sleep," he grunted.

When he plopped you down on your desk chair, you simply stared wide eyed at him, still in shock at his outburst.

Rafe, on the other hand, was carefully collecting your books and notes, before grabbing all your highlighters and pens. When everything was in his hands, he left it all over your desk. Laying each hand on the arms of your desk chair, he leaned until both your faces were inches away from each other's.

"You're not studying anymore."

His tone was stern, firm, and it made you frown, crossing your arms.

"You're not the boss of me," you challenged.

Snorting, he looked deadpan at you.

"Yeah, I know. No one's the boss of you, darling." The name made you flush, along with the way he practically purred it.

You huffed, looking to your side.

"I really need to study." Your voice had lost it's decisiveness, now tinted with a bit of apprehension.

His gaze softened. "You can wake up early tomorrow, yeah? But right now, you need to sleep. Those eyebags of yours may look hot, but they're not necessarily healthy."

Pouting, you looked down.

"Can't. My head's driving me crazy. Each second I don't study is a second lost."

He lifted your chin with a gentle finger.

"C'mon, let me lay with you. We can watch something until you fall asleep, okay? I'll help distract you."

Chewing on your bottom lip, you nodded. Sighing in defeat, you pushed him a little and stood up once he gave you room to do so.

"Fine. You're not going under my covers in your filthy outside clothes, though."

Rafe chuckled, poking you on your side but agreeing.

You quickly went to the bathroom, changing into your pajamas and brushing your teeth.

In your room, Rafe was laying on your single bed, your old laptop popped open on his lap. You lifted your covers, laying underneath them and on your side so you two could fit, your head resting on his shoulder.

"Pride and Prejudice?," he mumbled on your hair. You nodded, smiling at the fact he remembered that was your go-to movie when you needed to feel better. Humming, he simply put play.

The opening scene already had you relaxing on your bed, and you burrowed in your covers and on his side, sheets up to your nose.

You softly repeated your favorites lines, laughing at certain scenes and rolling your eyes at others. Rafe's arm had slid underneath your head, his hand softly brushing against your hair.

Between the film and Rafe's touch, you felt yourself slowly drifting off to sleep, the world turning soft around the edges.

And just before sleep claimed you, you felt a brush on your forehead, distantly recognizing it as him kissing you.

You fell asleep with a smile.

#rafe cameron #rafe cameron fic #rafe cameron fanfic #rafe cameron blurb #outer banks fanfic #rafe cameron x you #rafe cameron x reader #rafe cameron x yn #rafe cameron fanfiction #rafe cameron imagine #rafe cameron drabble #rafe cameron one shot #rafe cameron fluff #rafe x reader #rafe x you #rafe x yn #r.c. fics #my fics #my r.c. fics

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elikajinnie · 1 year ago

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The Heartthrob Code

Pairing: Fratboy!Jake x nerd!reader (+17)

Warnings: Alcohol use, foul language, misunderstandings, mature themes, tension, minor angst, suggestive content only.

a/n: I wrote this during ovulation week... i dont remember half of what i wrote. so there is no smut, its just very... detailed? like hooking up! i went feral honestly with it... I also did some research on everything prior, and some things was ridiculous so i took took some inspo from norweagian party culture :3 also jake is a not an asshole

--------------------------

On campus, the hustle and bustle of student life filled the air. Groups of friends chatted animatedly, study partners exchanged notes, and some carefree souls tossed a frisbee back and forth in the warm sunshine. Yet, amid all the noise and activity, you walked alone, holding your schoolbooks close to your chest.

You navigated through the throngs of students with ease, your mind focused on your destination. The main building loomed ahead, slipping inside, the cool air a welcome contrast to the heat outside. The hallway stretched out before you, bustling with students rushing to and from classes, but you knew exactly where you were headed.

The library, awaited you. You entered the hushed space and offered a polite greeting to the librarian, who nodded back with a warm smile, recognizing one of the library's most diligent regulars. You made your way to your favorite corner, a secluded spot where you could immerse yourself in your studies without distractions.

Settling down, you spread out your books and notes, diving into your schoolwork with determination. This free period was precious, a chance to get ahead and prepare for the challenges ahead. After all, you were a high achiever, and every moment counted.

The silence of the library wrapped around you, a cocoon of focus and productivity. Outside, the campus buzzed with life, but here, in your corner, it was just you and your ambitions. The minutes ticked by, each one bringing you closer to your goals, each one a testament to your dedication.

As the minutes ticked by, you remained immersed in your studies, absorbing every detail, every concept, with unwavering focus. Time seemed to stretch and contract in the quiet confines of the library, until finally, the chime of the clock reminded you of your impending class. With a sense of satisfaction at a productive study session, you carefully packed away your books and notebooks, ensuring everything was in its proper place before leaving your secluded corner.

Exiting the library, you stepped back into the bustling corridors of the main building, where students hurried to and fro, their conversations blending into a gentle hum. You made your way towards your classroom, navigating the familiar halls with ease. At the door, you paused briefly to gather your thoughts before entering.

Taking your customary seat at the front of the classroom, you arranged your belongings neatly on the desk, a habit born out of a desire for organization and efficiency.

You reached for your workbook, flipping it open to a blank page. The scratch of your pen against paper filled the air as you began to scribble, jotting down thoughts, ideas, and snippets of information that floated through your mind. It was a ritual of sorts, a way to center yourself and prepare for the lesson ahead.

Lost in your thoughts, you scarcely noticed the passage of time as you filled the pages of your workbook with your thoughts and musings. The classroom gradually filled with the eager chatter of your classmates, anticipation building as everyone awaited the arrival of the teacher.

And then, as if on cue, the door swung open, and the teacher entered the room. With a final flourish of your pen, you capped it and tucked it away, ready to focus your attention on the lesson about to unfold.

The teacher made their way to the front of the classroom, as they greeted the class with a warm smile. You returned the smile with a nod of acknowledgment, your mind already primed for the lesson ahead.

Throughout the lesson, you remained an active participant, raising your hand to offer insights or ask questions when prompted.

The minutes slipped away unnoticed as the teacher led the class through the intricacies of the subject matter. Before you knew it, the bell signaling the end of the lesson rang out, snapping you out of your intellectual reverie.

As the class began to disperse, you gathered your belongings, ready to exit the classroom and continue with your day, when the familiar voice of your teacher halted your movement. " Y/n. May I have a word?" they asked, and immediately, a flutter of nerves danced in your stomach. Did you forget an assignment? Fail an exam?

Your mind raced with possibilities, each one more anxiety-inducing than the last. But as your teacher spoke, relief flooded through you like a wave crashing onto the shore. "Y/N, you are one of my most prodigious students and I favor you very much," they began, and you felt tension release from your shoulders.

"I think you would be perfect to tutor Sim Jake," they continued, and your eyebrows furrowed in surprise. "What?" you uttered, caught off guard by the unexpected request.

"Yes! He's unfortunately falling a little behind in class, and I was hoping that you could help him catch up," your teacher explained, their tone earnest.

"Oh… well, I'm not sure. I have a lot of assignments," you responded, hesitating as you weighed the pros and cons of taking on such a responsibility.

"I know it may put more on your plate, but this is a great opportunity for you! I will even give you extra credit if you do this," they added, their voice laced with encouragement.

After a moment of internal deliberation, you relented. "Alright, I will tutor him," you agreed, albeit with a hint of reluctance.

"Brilliant!" your teacher exclaimed, their enthusiasm palpable as they thanked you for your willingness to help.

As you left the classroom, a sense of defeat washed over you. You weren't exactly excited about the prospect of tutoring Jake. Experience had taught you that tutoring students like Jake often proved to be a formidable challenge, and it had often been a struggle to keep them focused and engaged. With Jake, you could only imagine the added challenge, given his reputation and the distractions that came with it.

With a sigh, you resigned yourself to the task ahead. Perhaps, against all odds, Jake would surprise you. But deep down, you couldn't help but harbor doubts. All you could do was hope that he would be willing to put in the effort and listen to what you had to say.

After a long day of classes, you trudged wearily back to your dorm, the weight of impending responsibilities hanging over you like a dark cloud. As you pushed open the door, you were greeted by the sight of your dormmate, Liz, surrounded by a chaotic mess of papers and textbooks strewn across the floor.

"What happened?" you asked, concern lacing your voice as you surveyed the scene before you. Liz looked up from her sea of notes, her expression a mixture of surprise and distress.

"Oh! Nothing much, just found out that I have an exam in a few days!" she replied, her voice tinged with anxiety. You watched as she scrambled to organize her materials, a sense of sympathy welling up within you.

"In what subject?" you inquired, stepping carefully around the scattered papers to reach your bed, where you perched on the edge, observing Liz's frantic efforts.

"Physics," Liz answered with a sigh, her shoulders slumping. You nodded in understanding, silently empathizing with her struggle.

As you flipped through one of Liz's textbooks, absorbing the complex equations and theories within its pages, she interrupted your thoughts with a question.

"Anyways, how was your day?" she asked, her voice slightly strained.

"Oh, nothing exciting, except that I now have to tutor Jake in psychology," you replied nonchalantly, though the weight of the task ahead hung heavily in the air between you.

In an instant, Liz was on her feet, her eyes wide with disbelief. "What?!" she exclaimed. You blinked slowly, taken aback by her sudden outburst.

"I swear, that's the fastest I've seen you move…" you mumbled, a hint of amusement coloring your words as you watched Liz's animated reaction.

"You have been given the honor of tutoring The Sim Jake!" Liz exclaimed, her excitement palpable as she shook you by the shoulders, causing you to wince slightly at the sudden movement.

"Do you know what this means?!" she continued, her words tumbling out in a rush of enthusiasm. You struggled to keep up with her frenetic energy, trying to make sense of her excitement.

"No?" you replied, attempting to extricate yourself from Liz's enthusiastic grasp. She released you, her eyes shining with fervor as she explained her reasoning.

"A golden opportunity!" Liz declared, her voice ringing with conviction as she paced around the room, her excitement contagious. You followed her movements with bemusement, raising an eyebrow in question.

"How is it a golden opportunity?" you asked, the skepticism evident in your voice as you emphasized the air quotes around the phrase. Liz's cheeks flushed slightly, her enthusiasm undeterred as she launched into her explanation.

"With you being close to Jake and his friends, we can actually be invited to a frat party! And before we know it, we are climbing higher and higher in status!" she exclaimed, her eyes shining with anticipation.

"I'm sorry, we?" you questioned, a hint of amusement coloring your tone as you watched Liz's reaction. She blushed slightly, her excitement faltering as she hesitated.

"Well, I mean…" she began, trailing off uncertainly. You couldn't help but laugh at her flustered response, shaking your head in amusement.

"I'm just kidding!" you reassured her, a smile playing at the corners of your lips. Liz grumbled playfully as she sank down onto her bed, her cheeks still tinged with embarrassment.

"Oh, you can be so mean sometimes!" she teased, though there was a hint of fondness in her words as she settled back into the familiar comfort of your shared space.

The library was silent, only the sounds of rustling pages and the faint tapping of keyboards orchestrated a symphony. In your usual spot, nestled amidst towering shelves of books, you were in your own world.

Yet, in a blink of an eye, the tranquility shattered.

One moment, you were engrossed in the labyrinth of your studies, the next, he appeared. Jake materialized beside you, as if summoned from the ether, his sudden presence jolting you. Startled, you spluttered in surprise, fingers instinctively reaching to remove the headphones that had been delivering a steady stream of music to your ears.

"Oh! Sorry, did I scare you?" he asked, his voice carrying a note of genuine concern as he regarded you with an apologetic smile. Wide-eyed and still recovering from the shock of his unexpected arrival, you managed a shaky nod, attempting to regain your composure, "Kinda, but it's fine," you managed to reply, your voice tinged with a hint of lingering disbelief. Jake's smile widened at your response, his features lighting up with an infectious enthusiasm.

"Great!" he exclaimed, his words punctuated by a burst of energy that seemed to radiate from him like sunlight.

"So, you are my tutor?" Jake's voice was filled with curiosity as he tilted his head, his eyes sparkling with anticipation. As you met his gaze, you couldn't help but be struck by the resemblance he bore to a golden retriever.

"Yeah, I am," you confirmed, your voice slightly softer as you met his gaze, unable to resist the warmth in his smile. There was something endearing about the way he looked at you, a genuine curiosity that seemed to bridge the gap between you.

Before you could fully process his response, Jake reached into his pocket and retrieved his phone, the screen marred by small cracks, a testament to its well-worn nature. His eagerness was palpable as he held out the device towards you, a hint of excitement in his voice.

"Give me your number, and we can set up a time to meet up!" he exclaimed, his words tumbling out with an eager urgency. You hesitated for a moment, caught off guard by his enthusiasm, before reluctantly accepting his phone.

"Alright," you mumbled, fingers moving with a uncertainty as you typed your number into his phone, the soft click of the keys punctuating the quiet of the library. Once finished, you returned his phone to him, a faint buzz from your own device signaling the arrival of his message.

"I'll see you later then!" Jake said happily, the warmth of his smile lingering in the air as he slung his backpack over his shoulder and strode away. You watched him go, a sense of contentment settling over you like a comforting blanket.

Admittingly, Jake had proven to be more receptive than you had anticipated, his genuine eagerness a pleasant surprise.

As you returned to your studies, a small smile tugged at the corners of your lips.

-----------------------------

Standing in front of the frat house, you felt a wave of apprehension wash over you, mingled with a tinge of self-doubt. It was a Saturday afternoon, and the streets relatively quiet, with only a few scattered figures milling about.

Glancing down at your phone, you double-checked the address, confirming that this was indeed the frat house Jake had invited you to. Originally hesitant about holding the first tutoring session at his place, especially with his friends around, you had eventually relented, swayed by Jake's assurances that you would have space to work undisturbed. Yet, despite his reassurances, doubts still lingered in the recesses of your mind.

The frat house loomed before you, its imposing facade softened by the warmth of the afternoon sun. A large banner adorned the front, proudly displaying the name "Enhypen" in bold letters, surrounded by a chaotic collage of symbols and images.

Taking a deep breath, you approached the door, your gaze flickered to the saggy couch on the front porch, its worn cushions reeking of beer and other less savory scents. You wrinkled your nose in distaste before refocusing your attention on the task at hand.

Summoning your resolve, you rang the doorbell and waited, the anticipation building with each passing moment. When the door finally swung open, you were met with Yang Jungwon, a figure familiar only through Liz's extensive briefing on Jake's frat house.

"May I help you?" he asked, his voice tinged with sleepiness. You offered a polite smile, your nerves fluttering in your chest as you met his gaze. "Yes, I have a meeting with Sim. He invited me to come here," you replied, your voice steady despite the faint tremor of uncertainty that lingered beneath the surface.

"Oh yeah, he did mention you would come!" Jungwon exclaimed, his demeanor brightening, "Come in, come in," he invited, gesturing for you to enter, as he opened the door wider, inviting you inside. With a grateful nod, you stepped over the threshold, your senses immediately assaulted by the sights and sounds of the frat house.

Taking in your surroundings, you noted the spaciousness of the interior, surprisingly devoid of the expected chaos and clutter. A few articles of clothing lay scattered here and there, but overall, the space seemed relatively tidy.

"Follow me," Jungwon instructed, leading you upstairs and down a hallway lined with closed doors. The air was thick with anticipation as you trailed behind him, your pulse quickening with each step.

Finally, Jungwon came to a stop, gesturing towards a door at the end of the hallway. "This is Jake's room. It was lovely to meet you," he said cheerfully before bidding you farewell and disappearing down the hallway. "Yeah, you too," you replied, though your words felt somewhat hollow as you watched him disappear.

Left alone in the hallway, you took a moment to collect yourself, before gathering the courage, you knocked on Jake's door and waited, listening as the sounds of shuffling reached your ears from the other side. Moments later, his voice called out, slightly muffled by the closed door. "Who is it?"

"It's me," you simply replied. Almost immediately, the door swung open to reveal Jake standing there, his face lighting up with a wide, eager smile.

"You're here!" he exclaimed, stepping aside to allow you entry. You returned his smile softly and walked into his room, taking in your surroundings with a sense of awe. Jake's room was spacious and remarkably tidy.

"Wow," you thought, unable to keep the thought from slipping out in a whisper as you took in the room's neatness and order.

Jake moved over to his desk and pulled out a chair, patting the seat beside him invitingly. "Come sit," he urged, his eyes still sparkling with that boundless enthusiasm.

You walked over and took the seat next to him, pulling out the materials you had meticulously prepared for the day's session. "Let's start," you said, your voice filled with determination and a hint of anticipation.

Jake nodded, his smile unwavering as he focused on the work laid out before him. Hours seemed to pass by in a blur as the two of you delved into the intricacies of psychology. You found yourself pleasantly surprised by Jake's engagement. Not only did he pay close attention to your explanations, but he also asked questions, showing a genuine interest in understanding the material.

As time neared 5pm, your phone buzzed with a message. Glancing at the screen, you saw that Liz had sent a message asking where you were.

"I have to leave," you told Jake, noting the sudden sadness that flickered across his face.

"Yeah, yeah, of course," he said, standing up quickly. "I'll follow you out."

You smiled in appreciation, gathering your materials and slipping them into your bag. As you left Jake's room, you were abruptly met by a shirtless guy sprinting past, causing you to stiffen in shock.

"Joonwoo! Put a shirt on!" Jake shouted beside you, clearly embarrassed.

"I'm sorry, most of the guys have already come home… I didn't want you to think we're too rash like the stereotypes," Jake explained, his cheeks tinged with a hint of color.

"No, no, it's fine. I get it, I see that not everyone here is too bad, especially you," you said, offering him a reassuring smile as you walked away. Unbeknownst to you, Jake's face flushed a deeper shade of red at your compliment.

Descending the stairs, you noticed a few guys lounging in the living room, their attention momentarily diverted from the TV to you and Jake.

"Who's that, Jake?" Sunghoon called out, curiosity evident in his voice.

"This is Y/n, my tutor," Jake introduced you, and you gave a small wave.

A chorus of greetings met your ears, and you responded with a polite nod. Jake gently guided you toward the front door, his hand resting lightly on your waist. The unexpected contact sent a flutter through your stomach, which you quickly pushed aside.

"Thank you for coming today," Jake said, leaning against the door frame with a grateful expression.

"Yeah, no problem," you replied, matching his relaxed posture.

"Well… I'll see you later?" Jake asked, a hopeful note in his voice.

"Bye, Jake," you said, giving him a final smile before walking away.

"Bye…" Jake echoed softly, watching you until you disappeared down the sidewalk. Only then did he close the front door, turning to find himself immediately surrounded by his housemates.

"That's your crush?" Ji-yeong asked, a teasing grin spreading across his face.

"She's cute," Jong-su commented appreciatively.

"How did it go?" Jay inquired, genuine interest in his voice.

"Any progress?" Heeseung added with a mischievous glint in his eye.

Jake groaned, shaking his head in exasperation. "It's only the first day, guys," he answered, pushing through the cluster of curious faces to make his way back to his room.

As he closed his door behind him, he couldn't help but replay the day’s events in his mind, a small smile tugging at his lips.

Days turned into weeks, and with each passing moment, you found yourself growing closer to Jake and his friends. Your initial apprehension about tutoring him in a frat house had long since faded.

Every tutoring session with Jake seemed to bring out new facets of his personality. He was attentive and genuinely eager to learn, and his enthusiasm was contagious. You began to look forward to these sessions, not just for the academic progress but for the easy, relaxed conversations that often followed. You discovered that Jake was more than just a popular rugby player and a frat boy; he was kind, thoughtful, and surprisingly insightful.

Gradually, you became a familiar face at the Enhypen frat house. Jake's friends welcomed you with open arms, their initial curiosity evolving into genuine friendship. Sunghoon often joined your study sessions, bringing snacks and providing light-hearted commentary that kept things lively. Jay and Heeseung occasionally popped in, their questions and banter adding to the warm, communal atmosphere.

One afternoon, after a particularly productive session, Jake suggested a break. "Hey, how about we join the guys downstairs? They're playing some games, and it might be fun," he proposed, his eyes sparkling with excitement.

You hesitated for a moment, then nodded. "Sure, why not? I could use a break."

As you made your way downstairs with Jake, the sounds of laughter and friendly competition grew louder. The living room was filled with activity; a group of the guys was huddled around the TV, engrossed in a video game. They greeted you with enthusiastic waves and cheers.

"Hey, Y/n! Ready to join the chaos?" Sunghoon called out, tossing you a controller.

You caught it with a grin. "Absolutely. Let's see what you've got."

------------------------------

One evening, as you sat on the porch with Jake, the two of you watching the sun set, he turned to you with a thoughtful expression. "You know, I never expected to enjoy being tutoring so much," he admitted. "You've made it… fun. And not just the studying part. Everything."

You smiled, feeling a warmth spread through you at his words. "I feel the same way, Jake. I didn't expect to get so close to you and your friends, but I'm really glad I did."

Jake's gaze lingered on you for a moment, his eyes reflecting a depth of emotion that took you by surprise. "You've become an important part of our lives, Y/n. My life."

The sincerity in his voice sent a shiver down your spine, and for a moment, the world seemed to stand still. Jake's eyes held yours, and you could feel the intensity of the moment wrapping around you like a warm blanket. His gaze softened as he leaned in slightly, his eyes flicking down to your lips and then back up to meet your gaze.

Your heart pounded in your chest, and you felt yourself being drawn closer to him, almost as if an invisible force was pulling you together. The world around you seemed to fade away, leaving just the two of you in a bubble of shared emotion and unspoken words. Slowly, Jake began to lean in, closing the distance between you. You felt your breath hitch in anticipation, the air thick with the promise of a kiss.

Just as your lips were about to touch, the bubble burst with a sudden cacophony of voices.

“Jake! Y/N! Get in here, you have to see this!” Sunghoon’s voice boomed, followed by a chorus of laughter from the other guys.

Jake pulled back slightly, his eyes widening in surprise and a hint of frustration. He glanced toward the house, then back at you, his expression a mix of apology and lingering desire. You let out a shaky breath, the moment of almost-kiss still buzzing through your veins.

“Sorry about that,” Jake said, his voice low and a bit strained.

You managed a small smile, trying to calm your racing heart. “It’s okay. We should probably see what they want.”

Reluctantly, you both stood up and made your way back inside. The living room was a scene of chaotic fun, with the guys gathered around the TV, laughing and shouting at whatever was on the screen.

“There you are!” Sunghoon said, turning to grin at you both. “We were wondering if you two got lost out there.”

“Yeah, something like that,” Jake muttered under his breath, earning a chuckle from you.

“What’s going on?” you asked, trying to shift the focus back to the group.

“Just a ridiculous video we found,” Heeseung said, gesturing toward the TV. “You’ve got to see it.”

You and Jake settled into the couch, surrounded by his friends, the earlier tension between you lingering like an unfinished conversation.

------------------------

You sat on your bed with your computer on your lap, a movie playing on the screen while a bowl of popcorn sat beside you. With Liz working a late shift, you had the room to yourself, relishing the rare peace of not having any plans or assignments to stress over. The soft glow of the screen illuminated your face as you lazily munched on popcorn, completely absorbed in the film.

Before you knew it, your eyelids grew heavy, and the movie became a soothing background hum. You fought to keep your eyes open, but eventually, you succumbed to the comforting lull of sleep, the computer still perched on your lap and the movie playing on.

You were abruptly awakened by the sensation of someone jumping onto your bed. Your eyes flew open to see Liz grinning mischievously at you, her weight causing the mattress to bounce slightly.

"Had a nice nap, sleepyhead?" Liz teased, snatching the popcorn bowl with an impish grin.

"What are you doing?" you asked groggily, rubbing your eyes as you tried to shake off the remnants of sleep.

"What does it look like I'm doing?" Liz retorted, her mouth full of popcorn.

You rolled your eyes, a small smile tugging at your lips despite yourself. Glancing at the clock, you were startled by how much time had passed. "I slept for so long?" you exclaimed, noting the late hour.

"Yeah, you slept through my shower," Liz said, flopping onto her own bed with a satisfied sigh, still munching on your popcorn.

You clapped your computer shut and set it aside, feeling a mix of grogginess and amusement. "Oh joy," you muttered, staring up at the ceiling.

Liz noticed your distant expression and quirked an eyebrow. "What's on your mind? Thinking about your tutor sessions with Jake?" she asked, her tone playful.

You turned to look at her, still lying on your back. "Maybe," you admitted, a shy smile playing on your lips.

Liz chuckled. "You know, it's not every day you get to tutor a cute guy from a popular frat. Plus, it sounds like you're actually enjoying it."

You nodded, thinking back to the near-kiss between you and Jake. "Yeah, I guess I am," you said softly.

Liz's eyes sparkled with excitement. "I knew it! Just promise me one thing."

"What's that?" you asked, curious.

"Invite me to one of their parties someday. I need to experience the legendary Enhypen frat house firsthand," she said with a dramatic flair.

You laughed, shaking your head. "Alright, deal. But only if you promise not to embarrass me."

Liz crossed her heart with her finger. "Scout's honor."

With a contented sigh, you turned back onto your side, closing your eyes.

-------------------------------

You and Liz were sitting at a cozy café near campus, hunched over your respective textbooks and notebooks. The aroma of freshly brewed coffee and the soft murmur of conversation created a calming backdrop as you both prepared for an upcoming exam. The table between you was cluttered with papers, highlighters, and half-empty coffee cups.

The silence was only broken by the occasional rustle of pages turning or the scratch of your pen as you scribbled equations into your workbook. Liz's phone buzzed, and she picked it up, her fingers quickly scrolling through her notifications. You didn't look up, too absorbed in solving a particularly tricky problem.

Suddenly, Liz gasped. You glanced up, curiosity piqued, but she had already stood up and moved around the table to sit beside you. Her eyes sparkled with excitement as she thrust her phone under your nose.

"Look!" she exclaimed, her voice bubbling with enthusiasm.

You took her phone and read the post that had her in such a state. Your jaw dropped. The screen displayed a post from Jake's fraternity house, announcing a frat car wash. The picture showed all the boys posing with water buckets and sponges, their playful smiles and toned bodies on full display.

"Oh," you managed to say, your eyes lingering on the image. Jake was in the center, his grin as charming as ever. "Oh," you repeated, feeling a strange mix of surprise and amusement.

"We should totally go!" Liz said, her excitement infectious.

"What?" you looked at her incredulously, handing back her phone. "Why?"

"Why not? We get to see shirtless guys wash our car!" she said, her eyes twinkling mischievously.

"Your car," you corrected her, trying to maintain a semblance of rationality.

"It doesn't matter, let's go! Take a break from studying," Liz insisted, already starting to pack her things.

"But..." you mumbled, feeling a bit overwhelmed by her sudden enthusiasm.

"No buts!" Liz added firmly, her determination unwavering.

You groaned but began packing up your own things. The idea of a break was appealing, even if you felt a bit out of your element. Within minutes, you both had your bags slung over your shoulders and were heading out of the café, the thought of the upcoming car wash making your heart race with a mix of anticipation and nervousness.

As you walked towards Liz's car, she kept up a steady stream of chatter, her excitement growing with each step. You couldn't help but smile at her enthusiasm, even as you felt a flutter of uncertainty in your stomach.

When you arrived at the frat house, the scene was even more lively than you had imagined. Music played from a set of speakers, and the guys were already hard at work, washing cars with an energy that was both entertaining and impressive. You spotted Jake immediately, his easy smile and confident demeanor standing out among the crowd.

Liz nudged you with her elbow. "See? This is way better than studying," she said with a wink.

You had to admit, she had a point.

When it was finally your turn, Liz drove the car up to the designated spot. Immediately, a few of the frat boys began splashing soap and water on the car, their playful energy adding to the lively atmosphere. You watched with amusement as they started scrubbing the car with gusto.

Heeseung, standing by your window, smiled at you as he scrubbed the glass. His friendly demeanor was infectious, and you couldn't help but smile back. He then turned to Jake, who was a few feet away, messing around with two other boys. You followed Heeseung's gaze and saw him say something to Jake, who then looked up. Upon noticing you, a wide grin spread across Jake's face as he made his way toward the car.

"Liz!" you called out, but Liz was too engrossed in oogling the shirtless boys who were flirting with her to pay any attention.

Jake reached your window and waved at you. You gave a small wave back, but your eyes widened in surprise when Jake was suddenly splashed from behind by Young-chul. Jake gasped and spun around, chasing after Young-chul with a water hose. He managed to hose him down, much to the delight of the onlookers. You giggled at the display, enjoying the light-hearted chaos.

Your attention shifted back to the front of the car, where the guys were dragging Heong-min back and forth on the hood, pretending to give him a soapy massage. It was a bizarre but hilarious sight, and you couldn't help but laugh. A quick glance at Liz confirmed she was thoroughly enjoying the spectacle, her eyes gleaming with amusement.

You and Liz settled into the car as the guys enthusiastically scrubbed and washed it, their flirtatious banter and playful flexing drawing amused reactions from Liz. She was clearly enjoying the attention, giggling and blushing at their antics. You, on the other hand, remained more reserved, though you couldn't help but smile and blush occasionally. You had built solid friendships with some of the guys, and their displays were more amusing than anything else.

However, you felt a knot of discomfort tighten in your stomach when you noticed Ji-yeong. He was leaning against the car behind you, shamelessly flirting with a group of girls. Your mind flashed back to the time he had confessed his feelings for you. You had rejected him not just because you weren't interested, but also because of his creepy behavior toward other girls and his general assholery. Your glare from the side window was intense, your dislike for him palpable.

Just as your annoyance peaked, a wet Jake appeared in your window, his bright smile instantly lifting your mood. He scrubbed the window and, with a cheeky grin, drew a heart with the soap. You giggled, the tension melting away. Jake blew a kiss through the soapy heart before rinsing it off, his playful demeanor a stark contrast to Ji-yeong's unsettling presence.

Jay walked around, inspecting the car, and deemed it clean. Liz started the engine, and as you drove away, she couldn't contain her excitement. "See! That was fun, wasn't it?" she said, her cheeks still flushed with exhilaration.

"Yeah…" you replied, your voice trailing off as you glanced back at Jake, who waved goodbye with a warm smile.

----------------------------------

You were sitting in the dorm with Liz, both of you munching on snacks and watching a random movie that Liz had been begging you to watch. Finally, after much pestering, you had caved in, and now you both lounged on your beds, enjoying the rare moment of free time.

Your phone suddenly pinged, interrupting your concentration. You grabbed it and saw that Jake had sent you a message: "Hey, I know it's a little out of the blue, but we are having a pool party at the house now, and I was wondering if you wanted to come?"

"Pool party!" Liz exclaimed, peering over your shoulder to read the message. You looked at her, eyebrows raised. "We totally have to go!" she said, springing up from the bed with excitement.

"Why should we?" you asked, half-heartedly. You were about to protest further when another message from Jake came through: "I would like to see you there."

"Cause that's an actual invite! Now we are obliged to go!" Liz explained with a mischievous grin. You sighed, feeling the weight of obligation and maybe a touch of excitement yourself.

"Fine…" you relented. Liz didn't waste a second, pulling out her bikini with glee.

You typed back a quick response to Jake: "Be there in 15." Then, you got up and rummaged through your drawer for your own bathing suit. With Liz's help, you quickly put it on, the two of you adjusting each other's straps before slipping on jeans and crop tops over your swimsuits. Once ready, you both exited the dorm and made your way toward the frat and sorority houses.

When you and Liz arrived at the Enhypen house, it was already in full swing, loud music blasting and flashing lights illuminating the scene. You and Liz exchanged a look of anticipation before making your way to the front door, where a bulky guy stood guard.

"Invite?" he asked, eyeing you both with a scrutinizing gaze. You showed him the invite from Jake on your phone, and after a brief moment of examination, he nodded and opened the door, letting you both in. Liz grabbed your wrist and eagerly pulled you inside.

The colorful lights from the ceiling made you squint as Liz navigated through the throng of people standing and dancing around. You scanned the crowd, trying to find someone familiar. Near the TV, you spotted Jay, Sunoo, and Sunghoon playing games, their laughter echoing over the music.

When you finally reached the back of the house, you found a bustling scene around the pool. People were lounging on inflatable floats, others were splashing in the water, and a few were gathered in clusters, chatting and laughing.

"Let's find Jake," Liz suggested, her eyes scanning the crowd.

You nodded, your heart pounding with a mix of nerves and excitement. The atmosphere was infectious, and despite your initial reluctance, you couldn't help but feel a thrill at being there. As you continued to look around, you felt a tap on your shoulder. Turning, you saw Jake, dripping wet from the pool, a wide grin on his face.

Jake was wearing black swimming trunks that clung to his hips, highlighting his athletic build. His hair was wet and slicked back, glistening under the party lights. Water droplets trailed down his face and neck, tracing paths over his toned chest and abs before disappearing into the waistband of his trunks. Each movement he made caused more droplets to cascade down his body, glinting like tiny diamonds in the light.

"You made it!" he exclaimed, his eyes lighting up with excitement.

"Yeah, we did," you replied, unable to hide your smile. The sight of Jake, with his easy confidence and the water shimmering on his skin, sent a shiver of anticipation through you.

"Come on, let's get you a drink," Jake said, his voice warm and inviting. He led you and Liz towards the refreshment table, his hand lightly grazing your arm. The coolness of his touch sent another shiver down your spine.

As you walked, you couldn't help but steal glances at him. The way the water droplets traced the lines of his muscles, the playful glint in his eyes, and the effortless way he moved made your heart race even more.

Jake led you and Liz to the refreshment table, where an assortment of drinks and snacks were laid out. The thumping music and laughter from the pool area created a lively background as Jake handed you a cup. "Here, try this," he said with a wink, passing a drink to Liz as well. You took a sip, the cool liquid refreshing in the warm night air.

Jake's eyes sparkled as he looked at you. "How about a swim? The water's perfect."

Before you could respond, Liz piped up, "Absolutely! Let's go!" She grabbed your hand and started pulling you towards the pool. Jake followed, his presence reassuring as you approached the edge.

Liz, ever the enthusiastic one, quickly undressed down to her bright red bathing suit, tossing her clothes onto a random chair without a second thought. "Last one in's a rotten egg!" she called out, and with a splash, she jumped into the water, sending ripples across the pool's surface.

You stood at the edge, watching as Liz swam energetically, her laughter echoing around the pool area. Jake was beside you, his eyes flicking from Liz to you, his smile gentle and encouraging.

Taking a deep breath, you began to undress as well. You felt Jake's gaze on you, not intrusive but warm and supportive. You folded your clothes neatly and placed them on a nearby chair, revealing your bathing suit underneath. The night air was warm against your skin, and the pool water looked inviting.

As you stood there, looking at the water, you felt a moment of hesitation. The party atmosphere was lively, and you were slightly out of your comfort zone. Jake, sensing your uncertainty, took a step closer. "It's going to be fun, I promise," he said softly.

With that, you took a deep breath and stepped to the edge of the pool. Jake was right beside you, his presence a comforting anchor. You glanced at him, and he gave you an encouraging nod.

"Ready?" he asked, his eyes sparkling with excitement.

"Ready," you replied, a smile forming on your lips.

Together, you both jumped into the water. The coolness enveloped you immediately, refreshing and exhilarating. You surfaced, laughing, the tension melting away. Jake was right beside you, his grin wide and genuine.

Liz swam up, splashing water playfully at both of you. "See? Isn't this great?" she said, her eyes bright with excitement.

You nodded, feeling a surge of joy. "Yeah, it really is," you admitted.

Without warning, Jake playfully splashed you, sending a spray of water over your face. You laughed, retaliating with a splash of your own. The two of you engaged in a lighthearted water fight, the sounds of your laughter blending with the music and chatter from the party.

"You're going down!" you declared, trying to splash him again.

"Oh, really?" Jake said with a mock-serious expression. He lunged forward, grabbing you by the waist and pulling you through the water. You squealed in surprise but couldn't stop laughing.

Liz cheered you both on from the sidelines, her own amusement evident. "Get him, Y/N!"

You wriggled free from Jake's grip and swam a few strokes away, turning to face him with a challenging look. "Catch me if you can!"

Jake's eyes sparkled with determination. "Oh, I will," he said, swimming after you. The chase was exhilarating, and you felt a thrill every time he almost caught up to you.

Finally, Jake managed to catch you, wrapping his arms around you and lifting you slightly out of the water. "Gotcha!" he said triumphantly.

You laughed, breathless but happy. "Okay, okay, you win," you conceded, enjoying the closeness and the warmth of his embrace.

Jake lowered you back into the water, but his hands lingered on your waist for a moment longer. "This is fun," he said, his voice softer. "We should do this more often."

You nodded, feeling a connection between you two that was growing stronger with each passing moment. "I'd like that," you replied, your smile matching his.

After a while, you found yourself by the pool's edge, Jake still by your side. He leaned in closer, his voice soft yet clear over the music. "I'm really glad you came tonight," he said, his eyes locking onto yours.

Before you could respond, a loud shout interrupted the moment. "Hey Jake, come over here!" someone called from the other side of the pool. Jake looked over, clearly torn between staying with you and joining his friends.

"I'll be right back," he promised, giving your hand a quick squeeze before swimming away.

You watched him go, a mix of emotions swirling within you. Liz swam up next to you, a knowing smile on her face. "Looks like someone has a crush," she teased.

"Shut up," you mumbled, though you couldn't help but smile.

But unbeknownst to you, not everyone at the party was thrilled with how close you were getting with Jake. In a corner of the backyard, a group of girls watched you with narrowed eyes, their whispers barely audible over the music and laughter.

"Can you believe how she's clinging to him?" one of them muttered, her tone dripping with disdain.

Another girl, her arms crossed over her chest, nodded. "She just showed up out of nowhere, and now she's acting like she belongs here. Jake should be with someone from our circle."

A third girl, who had been silent until now, smirked. "We should do something about it. Jake needs to see that she's not right for him."

As they continued to hatch their plan, their minds set on dividing you and Jake, Ji-yeong approached the group, a mischievous glint in his eyes. He had overheard their conversation and saw an opportunity to involve himself in a scheme that piqued his interest.

"Hello, ladies," Ji-yeong greeted, his voice smooth and confident. "I may have a little proposition for this problem we seem to be having."

The girls exchanged glances, curiosity and intrigue evident in their eyes. They knew Ji-yeong had a reputation for being cunning and persuasive, and his involvement could prove beneficial.

"We're listening," one of them said, her tone cautious yet hopeful.

Ji-yeong leaned in, lowering his voice conspiratorially. "I've noticed how close Jake has gotten with her, and frankly, it's unacceptable. But I have a plan that might just work. We need to make sure she understands her place. And more importantly, make sure Jake sees it too. If we play our cards right, we can push her out and remind him where he really belongs."

The girls nodded, their interest piqued further. Ji-yeong's suggestion seemed like exactly what they needed to execute their scheme.

"So, what's the plan?" another girl asked, her eyes narrowing as she listened intently.

Ji-yeong smirked, his mind already whirling with ideas. "Leave that to me. Meanwhile, you girls can subtly isolate her, make her feel like she doesn't belong here. A combined effort will be much more effective."

The girls exchanged looks of agreement, their resolve strengthening.

You swam around the pool a bit more, enjoying the refreshing water against your skin. However, as you glanced back at Liz, you noticed she was already surrounded by guys, laughing and chatting animatedly. You smiled to yourself and shook your head, knowing she was having a great time.

Climbing out of the pool, you grabbed a towel from a nearby table and dried yourself off. You found your clothes easily but decided to keep your bathing suit on under your jeans, letting your top hang from your waist. Walking around the crowd, you eventually spotted Jake playing beer pong against another guy you didn't know.

Moving through the crowd, you approached Jake just as he won a round, his triumphant shout echoing through the air. He turned and noticed you standing there, a smile lighting up his face. "Hey! Wanna try it out?" he asked, gesturing to the table.

"I don't really know how to play," you admitted.

"It's easy, here, I'll show you," Jake said, guiding you to stand where he had been. He picked up a ball as the cups were refilled, and Heeseung, who was refilling them, smiled at you.

"You throw the ball into the other cups with the right trajectory, and when they drink everything, you win," Jake explained.

You nodded, watching intently as Jake handed you the ball. The girl you were playing against threw her ball but missed. It was your turn, and you focused, calculating the trajectory before confidently throwing the ball, landing it in one of her red cups.

"Omg!" you exclaimed, jumping up and down with excitement. Jake cheered you on from beside you as more onlookers joined to watch the game unfold.

As the game progressed, the crowd around you grew, and you felt a surge of adrenaline. You were down to four cups while your opponent had two. The pressure was on, but you remained focused, determined to win.

When your opponent missed her shot, you seized the opportunity, throwing the ball and scoring yet again. The cheers erupted as she drank from her cup, realizing she was on the brink of defeat.

With a final shot, you aimed carefully and watched as the ball landed perfectly, sealing your victory. "I did it! I won!" you shouted, the excitement coursing through you as the crowd erupted into cheers and applause.

Turning around, you saw Jake clapping happily, his smile beaming with pride.

The party had winded down, leaving you standing in the kitchen, surrounded by the remnants of the evening's festivities. You found yourself eyeing the snacks absentmindedly, contemplating in a late-night treat, when the sound of footsteps interrupted your thoughts.

Turning, you saw Jake entering the kitchen, accompanied by Jungwon. Jake's presence alone sent a jolt of anticipation through you, and you couldn't help but feel a flutter of excitement at being alone with him.

"Hey there, you are," Jake greeted you with a warm smile, his eyes bright with genuine interest. Jungwon nodded in acknowledgment before grabbing a drink from the fridge and exiting, leaving you and Jake alone.

You returned Jake's smile, feeling a mixture of nerves and excitement coursing through you. As you finished your drink, tossing the glass bottle into the trash, Jake's question hung in the air. "Did you have fun today?" he asked, his tone slightly nervous but filled with genuine concern.

You turned to face him fully, taking in his earnest expression. For a moment, an mischievous thought crossed your mind, and a playful smirk tugged at the corners of your lips. "I did, thanks for inviting me," you replied, your voice tinged with playful ambiguity.

Jake visibly relaxed, a smile spreading across his face at your response. "I really had fun," you added, your tone softening as you took a step closer to him, closing the distance between you.

Suddenly, you felt a surge of boldness wash over you, fueled by the charged atmosphere between you and Jake. You trailed a finger down his clothed chest, the fabric of his tank top soft under your touch. Jake's eyes widened in surprise, his cheeks flushing with a deep blush as he stared down at you, taken aback by your sudden boldness.

"Oh," he breathed, his voice barely above a whisper, his eyes locked with yours in a mixture of shock and anticipation.

In that moment, time seemed to slow to a crawl as you both stood there, the air thick with tension and unspoken desire. With a shared sense of longing, you both began to lean in, the space between you shrinking until your lips finally met in a soft, tentative kiss, the world around you seemed to fade into oblivion, leaving only the electric current of desire pulsating between you and Jake.

Feeling emboldened by the intensity of the moment, Jake's hands found their way to your waist, pulling you closer to him until there was barely an inch of space between your bodies.

Lost in the haze of desire, you instinctively leaned into his touch, your hands finding purchase on his shoulders as you melted against him. His kiss deepened, becoming more fervent, more urgent.

With a low growl of desire, Jake gently guided you backward until your back collided with the cool surface of the kitchen counter, the sensation sending a thrill coursing through you. Without breaking the kiss, he pressed his body against yours, pinning you against the counter with a delicious weight that left you breathless.

The kiss deepened further, becoming more passionate, more consuming, as if the hunger between you could never be satisfied. You felt the heat of his body seeping into yours, the friction of your bodies igniting a firestorm of desire that threatened to consume you both.

As you gasped for air, the world seemed to spin around you, the haze of desire clouding your senses as Jake's lips continued to trail down your neck, igniting a trail of fire wherever they touched. "Jake," you whispered, your voice barely audible above the sound of your pounding heart.

He hummed in response, his lips still grazing the sensitive skin of your neck, sending shivers down your spine. With each gentle kiss, a wave of electricity coursed through your veins, leaving you tingling with anticipation.

"Let's go to your room," you whispered, your voice trembling with desire. Jake didn't hesitate, his movements swift and confident as he guided you through the crowded party and up the stairs, his touch sending sparks flying wherever it landed.

As you made your way through the dimly lit hallway, the sounds of passion echoed around you, a symphony of moans and groans "People are really getting into it," you thought.

Finally, you reached Jake's room, the door closing behind you with a soft click as he locked it securely. The room was shrouded in darkness, illuminated only by the soft glow of LED lights hanging from the ceiling, casting an eerie red hue over the space.

As you turned to face Jake, a mischievous grin tugged at the corners of your lips. The playful challenge danced in your eyes as you backed away, leading him deeper into the room.

The room seemed to shrink around you as Jake followed, a playful glint dancing in his gaze. Your heart raced with excitement as you retreated, a teasing smile playing on your lips. There was an undeniable thrill in the chase, a delicious tension that crackled in the air.

With every move you made, Jake mirrored, his movements fluid and purposeful. It was like a dance, a seductive game of cat and mouse, with you both caught in its intoxicating rhythm. Your pulse quickened as Jake drew nearer, his presence dominating the space around you.

In the dim light, his features took on a sculpted allure, his eyes dark pools of desire that seemed to draw you in. You could feel the heat of his breath against your skin, a tantalizing reminder of the closeness between you.

As you backed up against the edge of the bed, your heart pounded with anticipation. There was a hunger in Jake's gaze, a primal need that mirrored your own.

"Where do you think you're going, baby?" Jake's voice was a low, husky whisper, sending a shiver of anticipation down your spine. "I don't know," you replied, your tone teasing as you fell onto the bed, your back hitting the soft mattress. But before you could move, Jake was upon you, you tried to crawl away, but he captured your wrists in his hands, pinning them above your head with a playful grin. "I got you," he murmured, his voice filled with desire as he leaned down, his lips capturing yours in a searing kiss.

Caught in Jake's grasp, you melted into the kiss, your body responding instinctively to his touch. His lips were soft yet demanding, igniting a fire within you that burned with a fierce passion. Jake's hands trailed down from your wrists, exploring the curves of your body with a hunger that left you breathless.

You arched into him, craving more of his touch, more of his intoxicating presence. His fingers traced along your skin, sending sparks of electricity dancing across your senses. Every caress, every touch, sent waves of pleasure coursing through you, driving you closer to the edge of ecstasy.

Jake's lips trailed down your jawline, leaving a trail of fire in their wake as he explored every inch of your skin with a fervor that left you gasping for air. Your hands roamed over his body, tracing the contours of his muscles with a hunger that matched his own.

With a gentle yet urgent touch, Jake guided you further onto the bed, his body pressing against yours as he claimed you with a fervent passion that left you breathless.

As the intensity reached its peak, you found yourself sinking deeper into the heat of the moment, your body responding instinctively to Jake's touch. Somewhere in the midst of the passion, you felt a subtle shift in your positions, and before you knew it, you were straddling Jake's lap, his strong arms wrapped securely around your waist.

But as the haze of desire began to lift, you suddenly became aware of the new position, your eyes meeting Jake's as you pulled back from the kiss, the connection between you unbroken. Sitting up fully, you looked down at Jake, his gaze filled with a mix of desire and adoration, his hands lingering on your thighs.

For a moment, you both simply gazed at each other, the weight of unspoken words hanging in the air between you. But as Jake's hands began to explore the curves of your body, tracing every contour with a gentle yet possessive touch, you felt a surge of desire coursing through your veins.

With a soft gasp, you felt Jake's strong arms wrap around you as he sat up fully, his back resting against the wall. He pulled you closer, his touch sending shivers down your spine as he adjusted his position, making room for you to straddle him more comfortably. You gasped in surprise at the sudden movement, but before you could react, Jake's lips found yours again in a searing kiss.

His hands moved to the small of your back, pulling you impossibly closer as he deepened the kiss, his touch igniting a fire within you. You melted into him, your fingers tangling in his hair.

As Jake slowly pulled back, releasing you from the fervent embrace, he lowered you gently onto your back, his touch tender yet possessive. You lay there, chest rising and falling with each deep breath, your gaze fixed on him as you took in the sight before you.

In the soft, crimson glow of the LED lights, Jake's features were cast in an ethereal light, his eyes dark pools of desire that seemed to drink you in. His hair was tousled, a testament to the passion that had consumed you both, and his lips were swollen from the intensity of your kisses. The absence of his tank top revealed a toned torso, muscles defined beneath smooth skin, adding to his allure.

The red light danced across his body, casting shadows that made him look almost devilish, a dark and irresistible force that drew you in even deeper.

You reached up to touch his face, your fingers tracing the sharp lines of his jaw. Jake leaned into your touch, his eyes never leaving yours. There was something both tender and fierce in his gaze, a mix of emotions that left you breathless.

In Jake's eyes, as he gazes down at you, you are the epitome of his deepest desires, the embodiment of everything he has ever wanted and loved. From the moment he first laid eyes on you, he knew there was something special about you. It wasn't just physical attraction; it was something deeper, more profound. He called it love at first sight, a feeling that overwhelmed him from the very beginning.

Now, as he hovers above you, his heart races with a mixture of passion and adoration. You are the girl he has dreamed of, the one he has yearned for with every beat of his heart. And now, here you are, lying beneath him, all for him to see, to touch, to love.

As your hands find their way to Jake's shoulders, you pull him down closer to you, craving the intimacy of his touch. He willingly complies, his lips meeting yours in a deep, passionate kiss that sends sparks flying through your veins.

With each kiss, the world around you fades away, leaving only the two of you in your own private sanctuary. His touch is electric against your skin, setting your senses ablaze with desire as he trails his hand down your jawline, sending shivers down your spine.

You respond eagerly, melting into his embrace as you lose yourself in the heat of the moment. His kisses are like a drug, addictive and intoxicating, leaving you yearning for more with each passing second.

With a surge of desire, you wrap your legs around Jake's waist, pulling him closer to you, craving the sensation of being as close to him as possible. He responds eagerly, his body pressing against yours with a fervent urgency that matches your own. One of his hands holds his weight, supporting him above you, while the other explores your body.

When Jake pulls back from the kiss, his lips trace a fiery path down your neck, leaving a trail of electric tingles in their wake, you gasp at the intensity of the sensation, your fingers instinctively clutching his bicep tightly.

His words, whispered against your skin with a fervor that ignites your soul, send shivers cascading down your spine. "You are so perfect," he murmurs, his voice husky with desire, each word dripping with sincerity and adoration.

As the first rays of sunlight filtered through the curtains, gently illuminating the room, you began to stir from your slumber. Blinking away the remnants of sleep, you shifted slightly, only to find yourself cocooned in the comforting embrace of Jake's arms. His presence was like a soothing balm, wrapping you in a sense of security and contentment.

Lying there in the half-light of morning, you couldn't help but smile as you gazed at Jake's sleeping face, his features softened by the tranquility of sleep. He had curled himself around you, spooning you under the soft blankets, his steady breaths creating a rhythmic melody that lulled you into a state of calm.

Sighing softly, you decided to savor the moment a little longer, allowing yourself to bask in the warmth of Jake's embrace. After all, it was the weekend, and there was no rush to start the day.

However, as you drifted in and out of consciousness, you were eventually roused by the sensation of soft kisses against your shoulder. Yawning softly, you hummed in contentment, acknowledging Jake's presence with a sleepy smile.

"Good morning, baby," his whispered words brushed against your ear, sending a shiver of delight down your spine. In response, you murmured a sleepy greeting, rolling over onto your back to face Jake.

But the mischievous glint in Jake's eyes caught your attention, prompting you to raise an eyebrow in suspicion. "What is it?" you asked him, your curiosity piqued.

"Look in the mirror," he replied cryptically, his eyes twinkling with anticipation. Intrigued, you sat up, casting a wary glance at him before sitting up and turning to face the mirror beside the bed, you were met with a shocking sight that elicited a gasp of surprise from your lips.

"Jake!" you exclaimed, your voice a mixture of disbelief and indignation as you grabbed a nearby pillow and began to pummel him with it. "Hey, hey, ow! I'm sorry!" Jake protested, attempting to shield himself from your playful assault.

The reason for your outburst was glaringly evident in the mirror—the purple and pinkish marks that adorned your neck and shoulders. Though they were not bruises in the traditional sense, the telltale signs of hickeys were impossible to ignore.

As the reality of the situation sunk in, you couldn't help but feel a rush of embarrassment and self-consciousness.

"How do I cover this up?! They're everywhere!" you exclaimed in distress, your voice muffled by the plush pillows as you flopped face down onto the bed, your frustration evident in the tone of your voice.

But Jake's response was far from sympathetic, his teasing tone only adding fuel to the fire of your exasperation. "I mean, you could not cover them?" he quipped, his playful smirk evident even in the dim morning light.

With a groan of disbelief, you sat up to confront him, your gaze sweeping over his figure to find that he, too, bore the telltale marks of your shared passion. "Oh God… did I do that?" you asked him, your voice laced with a mixture of embarrassment and incredulity.

In response, Jake simply nodded, a mischievous glint dancing in his eyes as he echoed your words with a teasing smirk. "Oh God? Now where did I hear that again?" he teased, his playful banter eliciting a groan of frustration from you.

Unable to resist the urge to retaliate, you delivered a swift kick, sending Jake tumbling off the bed with a yelp of surprise. "Ow!" he exclaimed, his voice echoing through the room as he quickly sprang to his feet, his movements fluid and graceful even in his disheveled state.

"If you'd like to stay for breakfast, I could fix it," Jake offered, his voice tinged with warmth and sincerity. But before he could finish, you interjected, declining his invitation politely. "No, no, it's fine. I have plans soon," you explained, your words punctuated by a gentle smile.

"Oh, that's fine," Jake replied, a hint of disappointment flickering across his features before he handed you the hoodie. "What's this?" you asked, curiosity piqued as you examined the garment in your hands.

"Well, it's a bit cold out now and... I thought you might want it?" Jake explained, his words accompanied by a sheepish grin. "Oh, thank you," you replied, gratitude lacing your voice as you pulled the hoodie on, relishing in its warmth and the faint scent of Jake that lingered on the fabric.

"Let's go," Jake suggested, his tone light as he unlocked the door and led you out of the room and down the hallway. As you followed him, you couldn't help but notice the chaos that reigned throughout the house, with people sprawled out on couches and floors.

"That's gonna be a nightmare to clean up," Jake muttered, his voice tinged with exasperation as he surveyed the scene before you. With a nod of agreement, you slipped on your shoes and made your way to the door, ready to face the chilly morning air.

"I'll see you later?" Jake inquired, his gaze lingering on you with a mix of hope and uncertainty. "Yeah, see ya," you replied, offering him a small smile before stepping out into the crisp morning.

-----------------------------------

In the days leading up to a exam, your interactions with Jake were limited as the pressure of impending tests consumed your focus. You devoted yourself entirely to your studies, immersing yourself in textbooks and lecture notes. You spent countless hours holed up in the library or sequestered in your room, pouring over your coursework with unwavering determination.

Whenever Jake reached out to make plans, you had to decline, unable to spare even a moment for leisurely activities. Your responses to his messages were brief, and sometimes you even found yourself ignoring them altogether. Yet, despite your lack of availability, Jake remained understanding and supportive, sending you encouraging messages every day and occasionally surprising you with coffee and food to help sustain you through your long study sessions.

As the day of the exam finally arrived, nerves churned in the pit of your stomach, threatening to overwhelm you. But as you sat down to take the test, a sense of determination washed over you, driving you to give it your all. And when you finally emerged from the exam room, the weight of the world seemed to lift from your shoulders, replaced by a surge of relief and accomplishment.

Instead of returning directly to your room, you found yourself drawn to the ENHYPEN house, seeking solace in familiar surroundings. Knocking on the door, Sunoo greeted you, "Hello, Y/N," he greeted you, "Hi, is Jake here?" you inquired, hoping to see him.

"Sorry, no, he's not," Sunoo replied, "He had a family emergency," he added, his words sending a ripple of concern through you. "Oh," you murmured, a pang of sympathy tugging at your heart. "Thank you, Sunoo," you said softly before turning to leave. "No problem," Sunoo called after you, his voice filled with genuine concern as he closed the door behind you.

Upon returning to your room, you wasted no time in taking a much-needed shower before collapsing into bed, the events of the day swirling through your mind as you drifted into a restless sleep.

You awoke from your nap, the room bathed in the gentle glow of afternoon light filtering through the curtains. Stretching languidly, you reached for your phone, only to find no new messages waiting for you. A sense of unease crept over you, prompting you to dial Jake's number. To your dismay, it went straight to voicemail. Frowning, you tried again, but once more, it ended up in his voicemail.

Growing increasingly worried, you sent him a message, hoping for a quick response. But as the hours passed, there was still no reply. Anxiety gnawed at your insides, fueling your concern for Jake's well-being. When your attempts to call him went unanswered yet again, you dialed his number one more time, your heart pounding in your chest.

To your surprise, a woman's voice answered on the other end. "Hello?" she said, her tone gentle but tinged with concern. "Hello? Is Jake there?" you asked, your voice trembling slightly. "I'm sorry, dear, but Jake can't come to the phone at the moment," she replied, her words sending a shiver down your spine.

"Why? What's happened?" you pressed, desperate for answers. "He's having some struggles right now that I think it's best he tells you himself," the woman explained, her voice softening with empathy.

"I understand," you replied, trying to keep your voice steady despite the rising panic within you. "May I ask who you are?" she inquired politely. "Oh, I'm Y/N," you responded.

"Oh, it's you! Jake hasn't stopped talking about you since, ever!" she exclaimed warmly, her words easing some of your tension. A nervous laugh escaped your lips as you absorbed her words. "I'm Jake's mother," she added, her voice filled with warmth and sincerity.

"Oh! A pleasure to meet you," you said, feeling a mix of relief and apprehension. "I can say the same to you," she replied kindly before something caught her attention on the other end of the line. "Oh, I'm sorry, dear, I have to leave now. But don't worry. He'll be back soon," she reassured you before bidding you farewell and hanging up.

You sat there for a moment, the weight of the conversation sinking in. Despite the reassurances, worry still gnawed at your mind, leaving you restless and unsettled. With a heavy sigh, you resolved to wait for Jake's return, hoping for the best but fearing the worst.

The soft glow of the television illuminated your cozy bedroom as you settled in to watch a movie, seeking solace in its familiar scenes. Lost in the world of the film, you were jolted from your reverie by a sudden knock at the door. With a furrowed brow, you paused the movie and made your way to the door, a sense of apprehension knotting your stomach.

Opening the door, you were met with the sight of Jake standing there, a suitcase in hand. The worry etched on his face struck you like a blow. "Jake?!" you exclaimed, your heart leaping into your throat.

"Hey, Y/N—" he began, but before he could say another word, you enveloped him in a tight hug, relief flooding through you. "I was so worried! I came to the house, and Sunoo told me you were gone, and your mother said you weren't doing good! I feared the worst!" you exclaimed, your voice trembling with emotion.

Jake held you close, his embrace offering a sense of comfort and reassurance. "I'm sorry that I worried you… My dad wasn't doing so good and had to be hospitalized… I couldn't bear to see anyone," he explained, his voice barely above a whisper.

Pulling back slightly, you looked into his tired eyes, a wave of empathy washing over you. "It's okay, I forgive you. You're here now," you said, a warm smile gracing your lips as you reassured him of your forgiveness.

"Come in," you said, gesturing for him to enter as you closed the door behind him, barely giving him time to set down his suitcase before ushering him further into the room. "How's your dad doing now?" you asked, genuine concern lacing your words.

"He's doing good now. He was allowed to go home," Jake explained, a hint of relief evident in his voice.

"I'm glad to hear that," you replied, a genuine smile tugging at the corners of your lips as you felt a weight lift from your shoulders.

"Can I borrow the shower?" Jake asked, his voice tinged with exhaustion.

"Yeah, sure," you replied, opening the bathroom door for him as he made his way inside. As the sound of the shower turning on filled the room, you climbed back into bed, grateful for Jake's return and the comforting presence he brought with him. With a contented sigh, you unpaused the movie, allowing its familiar scenes to wash over you once more.

After a brief moment, the sound of the shower ceased, and Jake emerged from the bathroom, looking refreshed and clad in fresh clothes. "May I join you?" he asked, his eyes filled with a warmth that eased the tension in the room.

You nodded, a soft smile playing on your lips as you pulled open the covers, inviting him to join you. With a grateful smile, Jake climbed into bed beside you, his presence a soothing balm against the uncertainty that had lingered in the air. Cuddled up together beneath the covers, you both settled back to watch the movie.

-------------------------------------

As you walked through the bustling halls of the school, lost in your own thoughts, the sound of your name being shouted suddenly pierced through the noise. Startled, you turned and saw Jake running towards you, a wide grin plastered on his face as he waved a piece of paper excitedly in the air. He skidded to a stop in front of you, breathless but beaming with pride.

"What is it, Jake?" you asked, your curiosity piqued as he showed you the paper. As you took it in, your eyes widened in astonishment, a gasp escaping your lips. It was the exam from the subject you had tutored him in, and at the top, there it was—an A, shining brightly as a testament to his hard work and your dedication.

With a joyous screech, you threw your arms around Jake, enveloping him in a tight hug. "You did it!" you exclaimed, unable to contain your happiness.

"I did it!" Jake echoed, his voice filled with elation as he hugged you back tightly.

"We have to celebrate!" Jake declared, his excitement contagious. "Celebrate?" you asked, a smile spreading across your face.

"Yeah! We have a party tonight! You have to come! I'll send you the invite!" Jake said before kissing you swiftly and dashing off, leaving you standing there, filled with a mixture of astonishment and delight.

But your joy was short-lived as you were abruptly pulled into a nearby classroom by a harsh tug on your arm. Startled, you looked up to see five girls standing around you, their expressions cold and disdainful.

"You really think that just because you seduced Jake, you are now one of us?" one of them sneered, her words dripping with contempt.

"You aren't even close to our status," another chimed in, her tone equally disdainful.

Confusion clouded your mind as you tried to comprehend their words. "What do you mean?" you asked, your voice laced with uncertainty.

"Frat guys belong with sorority girls, that's the whole scheme, and you!" one of them spat, pushing you forcefully backward. "Are not one!" she finished, her words like a slap in the face.

Your anger surged as they continued to berate you, cornering you against the wall. "I will not," you declared, pushing back with all your strength. With a satisfying thud, the girl who had pushed you stumbled backward, landing on the floor with a screech. Seizing the opportunity, you darted out of the classroom, leaving the girls behind in a flurry of righteous indignation.

As you stormed back into the hallway, the echo of their insults still ringing in your ears, you muttered under your breath, "Bitches," a fire burning bright in your eyes as you continued on your way.

As you and Liz arrived late to the party, the scene was already in full swing, the air thick with the scent of alcohol and the sound of laughter and music filling the space. People were scattered throughout the house, some already drunk and others engaged in passionate embraces. You rolled your eyes at Liz, who wasted no time in flirting with a guy she had her eye on, before deciding to venture deeper into the crowded house in search of Jake.

Spotting him across the room, you smiled, eager to join him and share a moment together. But as you moved closer, your steps faltered, your heart sinking as you witnessed a sight that shattered your hopes. Jake stood surrounded by a group of people, mostly sorority girls, and with his arm draped around one of them. They seemed so comfortable together, sharing laughs and whispers, and you couldn't deny the pang of jealousy that gnawed at your heart.

Your mind raced, struggling to comprehend what you were seeing. You didn't want to believe it, couldn't fathom that Jake would move on so quickly. But as you overheard a conversation nearby, your worst fears were confirmed. The words cut through you like a knife, leaving you reeling with pain and betrayal.

"Who is the girl with Jake? His new girlfriend?" one guy asked another, the question hanging heavily in the air.

"Probably. You know how these frat guys are," the other guy replied nonchalantly, the callousness of his words only adding to your anguish.

A wave of emotion crashed over you, and before you knew it, tears blurred your vision, threatening to spill over. Without another thought, you turned and fled, the sound of your own sobs echoing in your ears as you raced out of the house and into the cool night air.

By the time you reached your home, the sobs wracked your body, tears streaming down your cheeks as you collapsed onto your bed, the weight of your heartache consuming you.

Unbeknownst to you, a group of people watched from afar, their faces twisted with satisfaction at the success of their cruel ploy. They had orchestrated the scene, knowing it would break you, reveling in the pain they had caused.

You stayed in bed for what felt like hours, your tears eventually subsiding into silent sobs. The pain of betrayal weighed heavily on your chest, making it hard to breathe. You couldn’t understand how Jake, who had been so kind and attentive, could hurt you like this. The image of him with that girl, his arm around her, kept replaying in your mind.

Eventually, exhaustion took over, and you fell into a restless sleep. The next morning, the light filtering through your curtains woke you up. Your head throbbed, and your eyes felt swollen from crying.

Determined to face the day, you forced yourself to get out of bed. You went through the motions of showering and getting dressed, but everything felt surreal. As you stared at yourself in the mirror, you could see the toll the night had taken on you. Your face looked pale and drawn, your eyes red-rimmed and puffy.

With a heavy heart, you left your room and headed to your first class of the day. You tried to focus on the lecture, but your mind kept drifting back to Jake and the events of the previous night. Every time you closed your eyes, you saw his smile and heard the girl’s laughter. The pain was almost unbearable.

The rest of the day passed in a blur. You kept your head down, avoiding eye contact with your classmates and friends. You couldn’t bear the thought of explaining what had happened, of admitting that your heart had been broken.

Later that evening, as you sat alone in your room, there was a knock on your door. Your heart skipped a beat, wondering if it could be Jake. You hesitated, your hand hovering over the doorknob, before finally opening it.

To your surprise, it wasn’t Jake. Instead, it was Sunoo, looking concerned and slightly out of breath.

“Y/N, I’m so sorry to bother you,” he said quickly, “but I think you need to know something.”

You stepped aside to let him in, your heart pounding with a mix of fear and curiosity. Sunoo’s expression was serious as he sat down, taking a deep breath before speaking.

“There’s something you need to know about what happened last night,” he began. “Jake had no idea you saw him with that girl. It was all a setup by a few of the sorority girls. They wanted to hurt you, to make you think Jake was cheating.”

Your head spun with confusion. “What do you mean?” you asked, your voice barely above a whisper.

“They planned the whole thing,” Sunoo continued. “Jake was just being friendly. They made sure you saw it, and they even had people there to make comments that would upset you.”

Tears welled up in your eyes again, but this time they were tears of relief and anger. “Why would they do that?” you asked, your voice shaking.

“Because they’re jealous of you,” Sunoo said simply. “You and Jake have something special, and they wanted to ruin it.”

The relief of knowing that Jake hadn’t betrayed you was overwhelming, but the anger at those girls for manipulating you filled your chest. You knew you needed to talk to Jake, to sort everything out.

“Do you know where he is?” you asked Sunoo.

He nodded. “He’s at the house. He’s been really worried about you.”

Without another word, you grabbed your coat and rushed out the door, determined to set things right. The walk to the Enhypen house felt like it took forever, but finally, you were there, knocking on the door with a mixture of anxiety and hope.

Jake opened the door, his eyes widening in surprise when he saw you. “Y/N,” he breathed, reaching out to pull you into a hug. “I’ve been so worried. Are you okay?”

Tears streamed down your face as you clung to him. “I’m so sorry, Jake. I saw you with that girl, and I thought…”

Jake pulled back slightly to look at you, his expression filled with pain. “I’m so sorry you had to go through that. I swear, I had no idea they were planning anything. I was just talking to her. I promise.”

You nodded, sniffling as you wiped your tears. “I know. Sunoo told me everything. I’m just so glad it was all a misunderstanding.”

Jake hugged you tightly again, his relief palpable. “I would never do anything to hurt you, Y/N. You mean everything to me.”

You pulled back slightly from Jake's embrace, looking up into his eyes with a mix of relief and lingering confusion. "Jake, who was that girl?" you asked softly, your voice trembling a bit.

Jake sighed, running a hand through his hair as he met your gaze. "That was my cousin, Sophie," he explained. "She just moved here for college and I was trying to help her get settled in. I never imagined it would be turned into something to hurt you."

A flood of relief washed over you, but there was still a tinge of anger at the situation. "I can't believe they did that," you murmured, shaking your head. "I really thought…"

Jake gently cupped your face, his thumb brushing away a tear. "I know, and I'm so sorry, Y/N. I should have been more aware. I should have seen what they were trying to do."

You leaned into his touch, the warmth of his hand soothing your frayed nerves. "It's not your fault, Jake. I'm just glad it was a misunderstanding."

He nodded, his expression serious. "I love you, Y/N. I want you to know that. And I'll make sure nothing like this ever happens again."

A small smile tugged at your lips. "I love you too, Jake."

He leaned in and pressed a gentle kiss to your forehead. "Let's get out of here. We need to talk and just be together, away from all this drama."

You agreed, and together you left the Enhypen house, walking hand in hand back to your place.

Once inside, you both kicked off your shoes and Jake wrapped his arm around your shoulders, pulling you close as you walked to your bed.

As you both sat on the edge of the bed, Jake looked at you with a mix of apology and love. "I'm really sorry you had to go through that, Y/N. I promise I'll be more careful from now on."

You shook your head, placing a hand on his cheek. "It's okay, Jake. I trust you. Just, let's be more open with each other, okay? No more misunderstandings."

He nodded, leaning in to kiss you softly. "Agreed."

You stood up and stretched, feeling the tension of the past few days slowly melt away. "Do you want to watch a movie?" you suggested, hoping to lighten the mood.

Jake smiled, his eyes brightening. "I'd love that."

You picked a movie and settled back on the bed, pulling the covers over both of you. Jake snuggled in beside you, his arm around your shoulders, holding you close.

--------------------------------

Ji-yeong's face was twisted with rage as he towered over the cowering sorority girls. "The plan was perfect! But no, you lot just had to gossip so loudly about how brilliant the plan was! Everything I built up is ruined!" he shouted, his voice echoing off the walls.

The girls shrank back, their eyes wide with fear. "But…" one of them started timidly.

"No, I don't wanna hear it! Girls are good for nothing! The only good you bring is pleasure!" he spat, raising his hand and slapping one of them hard across the face. She whimpered, holding her cheek.

"My master plan on breaking up Jake and Y/N is ruined!" Ji-yeong raged, pacing back and forth like a caged animal.

"Um," another girl began hesitantly.

"What?!" Ji-yeong barked, spinning around to face her. He noticed all the girls were staring at the door, their faces pale.

He turned slowly, his blood running cold. Standing in the doorway were Jungwon, Sunghoon, Jay, Heeseung, Sunoo, and two other girls. They all glared at him with a mix of disgust and anger. Sunoo had his phone pointed directly at Ji-yeong, clearly filming the entire scene.

"Oh, hey guys! I was just setting these girls straight," Ji-yeong stammered, a forced smile on his face.

"Don't bother. We heard everything," Jay said, his voice cold.

"You have no respect for our name. You are off the frat," Jungwon declared, his tone leaving no room for argument.

"And when I show this to the dean, you'll be in big trouble," Sunoo added, holding his phone up as proof.

"Guys, no, wait…" Ji-yeong started to plead, but it was too late. They turned and walked away, leaving him standing there, his face drained of all color. The sorority girls quickly scattered, not wanting to be caught in the fallout.

Ji-yeong stood there, alone and defeated, the weight of his actions crashing down on him. The smug confidence he once wore like armor was gone, replaced by a sinking realization of just how badly he had miscalculated. His plan had not only failed but had also destroyed his standing within the frat. There was no coming back from this.

-------------------------------------

You and Jake were lying in his bed, ostensibly watching a movie together. However, you had long since lost interest in the film, your attention instead fixed on him. You absentmindedly played with the hem of his shirt, twirling the fabric between your fingers. Unlike you, Jake was clearly engrossed in the movie, his eyes fixed on the screen.

Growing bored with his lack of attention, you whined softly, "Jake."

He hummed in acknowledgment and paused the movie to look at you, "Yes?"

"I'm bored," you told him, a pout forming on your lips.

He raised an eyebrow, "But we are watching a movie? Do you not like it?"

"I would rather focus on something else right now," you replied, a mischievous glint in your eyes.

"Like what?" he asked, genuine curiosity in his voice. Before he could react further, you swung your leg over his lap, straddling him. Jake made a surprised sound from the back of his throat as he looked up at you.

"Like you," you said, smiling down at him.

He adjusted himself beneath you, spreading his legs slightly wider to accommodate you. The shift caused you to gasp softly as his hands found their way to your hips, his touch firm yet gentle. "Oh yeah?" His initial surprise had melted into a smug look.

"Why didn't you tell me sooner, babe?" he said, his voice low and teasing as he began caressing your hips, one of his hands slipping under your hoodie to rest against your bare skin, his touch warm and electrifying.

"I didn't want to disturb you," you mumbled shyly.

"What was that?" he asked, feigning ignorance as he brought his ear closer to your mouth. "Talk louder."

"I didn't want to disturb you," you repeated, louder this time.

Jake's eyes softened as he looked at you, a smirk playing on his lips. "So good for me," he murmured, and you felt your cheeks heat up at his words. "I think you need a reward for your patience," he added, pulling you closer.

With that, he tilted his head up and captured your lips in a deep, lingering kiss. The movie was long forgotten as you melted into him, every touch and caress pulling you further into the moment.

Jake's kiss was all-consuming, his lips moving against yours with a fervor that made your heart race. You could feel his fingers trailing under your hoodie, the warmth of his touch sending shivers down your spine. You deepened the kiss, your hands threading through his hair, tugging gently as you pressed closer to him.

He pulled back slightly, his breath hot against your lips. "You’re so beautiful," he whispered, his eyes dark with desire.

Your cheeks flushed at his words, and you couldn't help but smile. "You know just what to say," you murmured, your voice soft.

Jake chuckled, the sound vibrating through your chest. "Only for you," he said, his hands moving to your back, pulling you even closer.

You shifted in his lap, feeling the heat between you grow. "Jake," you whispered, your voice barely audible.

"Hmm?" he responded, his hands still roaming your body, exploring every inch of skin he could find.

"I need you," you said, your voice trembling with anticipation.

Jake's eyes darkened even more at your words, and he pulled you into another searing kiss. "I've got you," he murmured against your lips, his hands moving to the hem of your hoodie, lifting it slightly.

You broke the kiss long enough to pull the hoodie over your head, tossing it aside. Jake's eyes roamed your body, appreciation and desire evident in his gaze. "You're perfect," he whispered, his hands coming up to cup your face gently.

You leaned into his touch, feeling a rush of affection for the boy in front of you. "So are you," you said, your voice filled with emotion.

You tugged at Jake's shirt, your fingers gripping the fabric as you whispered, "I wanna see you too."

Jake's smirk deepened, and he raised an eyebrow playfully. "Oh, you do, huh?" he teased, his hands still resting on your hips.

You nodded, biting your lower lip as you looked up at him. "Yes, please," you said softly.

Jake's eyes sparkled with mischief as he lifted his shirt over his head, revealing his toned chest and abs. You couldn't help but run your hands over his skin, feeling the warmth and the steady rise and fall of his breath. "Your turn," he said, his voice a low rumble as he leaned in closer, his breath hot against your ear.

You felt a rush of excitement as you reached for the waistband of your sweatpants, your hands trembling slightly. Jake's fingers joined yours, helping you tug them down, his touch sending electric sparks through your skin. Underneath, you wore tight, black shorts that hugged your curves, accentuating your figure and adding an extra layer of anticipation to the moment.

Jake's eyes darkened with desire as he took in the sight, his breath hitching slightly. He ran his hands up your thighs, his touch both gentle and firm, leaving a trail of heat in its wake. "You're driving me crazy," he murmured, his voice thick with emotion.

You blushed under his intense gaze, feeling a mix of shyness and exhilaration. "Thank you," you whispered, your voice barely audible.

Jake leaned in, pressing a soft kiss to your lips before trailing his kisses down your neck and across your collarbone. His hands roamed over your body, exploring every inch with a gentle yet possessive touch. You arched into him, your breath coming in shallow gasps as his lips found a particularly sensitive spot on your neck.

"Jaeyun," you breathed, your fingers tangling in his hair as you pulled him closer.

With your hands trembling slightly from the anticipation, you moved to the waistband of Jake's pants. Your fingers brushed against his skin, sending electric sparks through both of you. Jake's eyes never left yours, dark and intense, as he lifted his hips slightly to help you slide his pants down. You took your time, savoring the moment, feeling the heat radiate from his body.

As you pulled his pants off completely, he was left in just his boxers. Jake's chest rose and fell with his deep breaths, his desire for you evident in every movement.

You leaned in, your lips brushing against his ear. "I can't get enough of you," you whispered, your voice filled with a mix of desire and affection. Jake's hands moved to your waist, pulling you closer until your bodies were pressed together, the heat between you almost unbearable.

He responded with a low groan, his hands gripping your hips as he guided you back onto the bed. You felt the cool sheets against your back, a stark contrast to the heat of Jake's body pressing down on you. His lips never left your skin, trailing kisses down your chest and across your stomach.

With a gentle smile, Jake leaned in, capturing your lips in a slow, passionate kiss. His hands explored your body, every touch igniting a fire within you.

The night passed in a blur of kisses, touches, and whispered words. As the night turned to dawn, you lay in each other's arms, your bodies intertwined.

Jake pressed a soft kiss to your forehead, his fingers tracing gentle patterns along your back. "I love you," he whispered, his voice filled with emotion.

You smiled, feeling your heart swell with love. "I love you too," you replied, your voice barely audible.

With that, you both drifted off to sleep.

(IVE BEEN A NASTY GIRL, NASTY)

#enhypen #enhypen fic #sim jake x you #sim jake x reader #sim jaeyun #fanfiction #jake sim #sim jake #jake enhypen #enhypen jake #enhypen x reader #enhypen imagines #jake x reader

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bambisnc · 1 year ago

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[OPERATION : true love] or, how likely riize is to NOT confess!

PAIRING : ot7 x reader! GENRE : crack/fluff CW/TW : food mention WC : 495! SUGGESTED 🎧: love me back, fromis_9 XOXO : queued smth :3 + [m.list]

౨ ˖ 大崎将太郎 : OSAKI SHOTARO ৎ ⋆

[2/10] - cutie would plan out eveyrhting the moment he sees you and has that italicised oh moment - i'm talking your favorite flowers delivered by hand followed by your ideal date + lots of fairy lights/candles. trust me.) and woo you exactly how you deserve to be wooed <3 would get a little anxious about making everything perfect for you tho

౨ ˖ 송은석 : SONG EUNSEOK ৎ ⋆

[7/10] - he'd lowkey be such a tsundere ... thanks to my talk w mai i'm fully convinced he's the Only academic rival to lover to exist. would for sure pine after you silently and end up confessing in the middle of an argument. you know like "why do YOU care who i'm going out?" "BECAUSE. i like you. okay bye."

౨ ˖ 정성찬 : JUNG SUNGCHAN ৎ ⋆

[928304219283/10] - im biased sorry. but you can't tell me you don't see best friend!him being so obsessed with you - like all your friends know it, hell even you know it but the guy himself refuses to admit. is so "we're besties!! it's natural for us to hug and hold hands and make out between classes in the janitors closet :D i mean what. i didnt say anything" coded like c'mon

౨ ˖ 박원빈 : PARK WONBIN ৎ ⋆

[a solid 13/10] - i feel like he'd be really conflicted. like on one hand he'd rather you be the one to confess but on the other he wants to do like a huge romantic gesture and be the one to confess to you. i can imagine there being this one phase of time where he'd kinda start ignoring you to get you to reach out to him or wtv tactics the insta/tiktok girlies (gn) teach him too

౨ ˖ 홍승한 : HONG SEUNGHAN ৎ ⋆

[5/10] - okay but i see him either just randomly blurting it out of nowhere over a voice call or while ur ft-ing ("hey this cat reminded me of u" "aww haha im in love with you" "WHAT") OR doing it via a more traditional, thought out kinda way ... maybe like making you a gift or writing you a love letter/song :(( <3

౨ ˖ 이소희 : LEE SOHEE ৎ ⋆

[4/10] - bbg is confessing to you so fast. he'd only do it once he confirms (multiple times) that you both like each other though. is immediately planning the best way he could confess to you. does all his necessary research, books everything in advance - goes all out to ensure there's no hitches, basically. him and taro probably share notes

౨ ˖ 이찬영 : LEE CHANYOUNG ৎ ⋆

[11/10] - bro is Not confessing. you can feel free to tho he'll say yes obvi! as soon as he gains back enough conherence after he (half) faints that is. for sure the type to get you soso many gifts and he'd try to be so casual about it too "hey i got u a customized acessroies set with the fav flower/colour you like" "anton wtf" "uh no dw i had an extra hahaha". def gets u guys matching stuff a lot too

𐙚 . regulars : none yet! ⋆

[@bambisnc] 2k24

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suzannahnatters · 10 months ago

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Many people have asked me why I say THE RINGS OF POWER is far more faithful to the spirit of Tolkien’s work than the Peter Jackson films. Let me explain. No, there is too much. Let me sum up.

(Warning: if you deeply love the Jackson movies, feel free not to read this. I’ve been meditating on this for 20+ years. You are not going to argue me out of any of it.)

FIRST – Jackson is, how shall we put it, not sufficiently familiar with Tolkien or his influences. He repeatedly and stubbornly made mistakes both large and small. Tolkien was a master of medieval military tactics. Jackson... is not. Every military decision taken by the characters in Jackson’s TWO TOWERS is pure stupidity. In Jackson’s RETURN OF THE KING, Aragorn casually beheads the Mouth of Sauron, which is a war crime, since the Mouth is Sauron’s ambassador. Jackson’s Eowyn tries to flirt with Aragorn by cooking him stew, even though she is a noblewoman from the warrior class who was raised to act as a civil and military leader in a medieval-coded society where cooking is not intrinsically linked to femininity. Jackson’s Theoden, grieving over the death of his son, utters the words “No parent should have to grieve the death of their child,” which is the kind of sentiment only imaginable in a society where infant mortality and death in battle is a good deal rarer than among the Anglo-Saxon Cossacks during the War of the Rings. Jackson’s Dwarf women are reduced to a punchline; Tolkien’s were miners, craftspeople and adventurers in their own right.

I won’t go on. BUT I COULD.

SECOND – One problem that by itself ought to have disqualified Jackson from adapting Tolkien, is that he is incapable of depicting or even understanding goodness the way Tolkien does. This deeply pervades all Jackson’s films. Jackson’s idea of goodness is ethereal, anaemic, and ineffective before gross and creepy evil. His Elves are not the vivid, passionate, hearty warriors Tolkien wrote: they pluck mistily at harps and feed on spinach. (TROP has Galadriel scaling frozen cliffs and Elrond splitting boulders. That’s FAR more like it).

Tolkien insisted on the concept of Faerie as being foundational to his work. This is a difficult concept to explain. It meant the beauty and glory of Valinor, yes. But it also meant an element of otherworldly, yet immanent, beauty and glory in Middle Earth itself. This is a good summary:

“Faerie may be roughly translated as Magic, but not the vulgar magic of the magician; it is rather magic "of a particular mood and power," and it does not have its end in itself but in its operations. Among these operations are "the satisfaction of certain primordial human desires" such as the desire "to survey the depths of space and time" and the desire "to hold communion with other living things."” (Source: https://www.ewtn.com/.../tolkien-and-the-fairy-story-4094)

When Lewis said of THE LORD OF THE RINGS, “here are beauties that pierce like swords”, that’s that he meant. Peter Jackson had no sense of Faerie. When, at the end of his trilogy, he has his characters get on a ship to go to the Undying Lands, he makes it a metaphor for death. Death! Tollkien’s Valinor isn’t the afterlife; it’s the earthly paradise of his world. Jackson cannot imagine an earthly or material locus of goodness.

This affects many of his narrative decisions. In the book Faramir resists the temptation of the Ring handily. Jackson’s Faramir succumbs to the power of the Ring and has to be scared straight. Jackson justified this by saying that Faramir needed to fall to the Ring’s temptation so that it remained an effective narrative threat. Basically, having failed to grasp the importance of Tolkien’s vision of powerful and present goodness and beauty in the first place, Jackson believed he needed to further degrade it for the sake of the story.

Obviously, THE RINGS OF POWER isn’t perfect, and still has plenty of time to betray its early promise. However, so far its showrunners appear to have a far better grasp of Faerie, beauty, and goodness than Jackson ever did. Its vision of Valinor is ineffably beautiful while still home to flawed living people. Its Elves are noble, ceremonious, dignified, warm, and grave. It is also actively pursuing Tolkien’s original themes. Elanor has a discussion of Providence that contains intentional echoes of “The Shadow of the Past” in LOTR, but there are also meditations on art and mortality that show an attempt to engage with themes Tolkien himself said were foundational to his entire work (Letter #131). These themes may yet be mishandled: but THE RINGS OF POWER has clearly at least READ the assignment. (Jackson’s films, by comparison, did dumb stuff like having Theoden, who in the books is simply dealing with depression, be literally possessed by Saruman and in need of exorcism “because exorcism is a Catholic thing and Tolkien was a Catholic, lol!”)

Jackson didn’t completely obscure the beauty and goodness of Tolkien, and I’m aware that THE RINGS OF POWER could not have happened without his pioneering and often sacrificial work in adapting the story to screen. I don’t want to discount the things that are good about his intentions, his work, and his love for the source material. But watching THE RINGS OF POWER was the moment when 20 years of frustration boiled over as I realised that, contrary to what I’d always told myself, it WAS possible to do Tolkien more justice than this. So far, I’m very pleased, and I’ll be waiting for future seasons with bated breath.

#the rings of power #lotr trop #trop positivity #repost from twitter #how's this for the golden apple of discord #haters to the LEFT #I wrote this two years ago after seeing the first couple TROP eps #and I still stand by it today #although to be fair the TROP military tactics are the one (1) area where the show is as bad as the movies

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recreationalfanfics · 10 months ago

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Twisted Wonderland x Lab Rats Crossover HCs

The world's first bionic superhumans.

They're stronger than us. Faster. Smarter.

The next generation of the human race is-

STUCK IN TWISTED WONDERLAND?!

Because I'm hyperfixtaited and love making crossovers, I've decided to make a crossover where YOU can choose which Davenport sibling you want to be and what dorm you'd be sorted in and what your life would be like as a bionic human in Twisted Wonderland. The reader will be using gender neutral pronouns but if I overlooked some please let me know!

Feel free to send in asks or questions about this AU!

Before We Get Started:

- Ace and Deuce are still your very first besties and are the ones who meet you first.

- Grim is your precious kitty and still calls you his bionic henchuman and definetly uses you to get out of situations he got himself stuck in.

- I'm sorry but Crowley is so Donald Davenport coded so you're not as surprised or annoyed by his narcissistic tendencies.

- You've been here at NRC for a while, as a result, Ignihyde managed to build you a bionic recharge chamber in Ramshackle.

- I haven't finished book 7 yet so pls keep that in mind.

- I'm rewatching the show currently but I'm not following any specific timeline.

Adam Davenport! Reader:

- The thembo of your siblings and now, of NRC.

- Okay, but imagine that you see your little brother, Leo, in Ace and Deuce. Ace obviously reminding you of Leo's more mischievous and clever side and Deuce reminding you of his more well-natured and clumsy side. As for Grim, HE'S LIKE THE PET YOU NEVER GOT TO HAVE.

- The fact that you're living at a school is your worst nightmare though. Trien and Crewel have you absolutely stressed😭 During studying sessions, Ace and Deuce get somewhat annoyed with you but they do know it doesn't come easy so they help you study by explaining it to you the same way they would to a five year old.

- But, thanks to your awesome durability that you keep hidden from teachers, if you guys ever feel unprepared for a test then you just casually fall down the stairs and Ace and Deuce act all worried for your safety and BRAVELY volunteer to skip class. However, you kept using it as an excuse a bit too often much to Ace and Deuce's dismay so they eventually caught on.

- You are the BANE of Riddle's existence, you have no regard for the rules AND you aren't able to be collared. Much like how it is with Floyd, Riddle openly despises you but unlike Floyd, YOU DON'T CATCH ON THAT HE DISLIKES YOU. Which makes him feel guilty and puts him at an impasse.

- Since Riddle's collars only work on people with magic, imagine that you can just rip it off with your bionic strength. When Riddle first used his unique magic on you, Ace and Deuce were in ramshackle when you walked in with one of the collars on.

Ace: "OH NO, RIDDLE PUT A COLLAR ON Y/N!"

You: "Haha, guys, check out this dope friendship necklace Riddle gave me! I'm gonna take it off and put it somewhere safe! AW, MAN, I BROKE IT....I'm gonna ask me to make another one!" and then they have to stop you.

- LOWKEY, SAVANNACLAW IS THE PERFECT PLACE FOR YOU. The other guys love having you there but also, they will be nicer to other students because you are still a hero after all. When you see them messing with other people, you lift them up and put them in air jail.

- You're like Leona's little court jester ngl. While you're not a complete idiot, you're pretty foolish and it can get entertaining for a while but when you get a bit too destructive, he will have Ruggie escort you out. He likes to take naps on you, though, especially because if someone disturbs him then you shoot a warning shot with your laser vision and are all: "SHHH! The kitty is sleeping!" But if Grim chooses to kick Leona out of your lap, you 100% obey your favorite kitty.

- Jack is your one-sided rival. He wants to be just as strong as you and demands to train with you. He even tries to copy your work out regimen and kinda stalks you to try and learn how you're so strong but then he sees you casually lifting up the sports shack for Vargas.

- BRO, AZUL WOULD 100% TRY TO PUT YOU IN A CONTRACT. A strong bionic superhuman with laser vision AND the ability to breathe underwater whose incredibly stupid and naive? It's like you were sent to him by the Seven themselves. So Ace, Deuce, and Grim and your other friends have to steer you away from him.

- Azul: "Y/N?~ Would you be interested in a deal!"

- You: "Yeah, sure! Just let me finish my applesauce."

- Ace: "Y/N, NO! You're not allowed to make deals with Azul, he's a shady businessman, remember?"

- You: "Ooooh, okay. Sorry then, but I can't."

- Floyd: "Silly Tiger Shrimp, it's opposite day!~"

- You: "Okay! Sorry guys, I have to make a deal with Azul- Wait, I mean NOT make a deal with Azul! Hehe~"

- KALIM IS IN AWE OF YOUR STRENGTH, Jamil thinks that you're a clumsy and reckless fool and he doesn't trust you around Kalim. Like, Kalim was talking about how Jamil is so awesome at basketball and in awe of how high he jumps so you're all: "Haha, wanna see what it's like?" and Jamil walked in on you THROWING THE HEIR OF THE AL-ASIM FAMILY AT A HOOP.

- Jamil: "KALIM, ARE YOU ALRIGHT!?"

- Kalim, on the ground: "THAT WAS AWESOME!"

- You're not allowed in Scarabia without supervision, nevermind that you have to be a certain distance away from Kalim because JAMIL REFUSES TO LET THAT HAPPEN AGAIN.

- YOU ARE EPEL'S HERO, HE TOTALLY LOVES HEARING YOUR STORIES ABOUT SAVING YOUR WORLD AND THINKS YOU'RE AMAZING. Like, Vil is forcing you to sit down for a makeover and you're all: "Oh, this is like the time I had to sit still to get ready for my interview after stopping an asteroid from hitting the planet." and Epel is all: "AWESOME!" and Rook is next to you and is all: "Tell us more about this enchanting tale, mon cœur brave!~" and Vil is trying to stop you from eating make up.

- I'm sorry but Epel would so try to convince you to throw Plasma Grenades at Vil when he's overblotted😭 and he's all: "What!? I'm sure it won't hurt him that bad!"

- During book 6, YOU ACTUALLY DON'T THINK IDIA'S FAMILY HQ IS THAT CREEPY and you feel so nostalgic. Like, they go through the sanitation station and you're all: "Aw, this reminds me of my capsule back at my dad's lab in his basement...I miss my dad...and Bree and Leo and Tasha...and beating up Chase...AND CHASE!"

- But when you're fighting the other overblot monsters, that's when you show how much of a competent hero you are. You're protecting everyone and keeping them safe, as well as doing your best to keep the monsters away as your fellow classmates try to recharge the thunder spears.

- Idia would totally want to uncover your bionic biology to see if he could improve upon Ortho and you're just there like: "WOAH. At least take a bionic person out to dinner first before you ask to dissect them, man-" and Idia just being all flustered.

- YOU AND ORTHO being technogically advanced buddies, obviously there's huge differences between you guys but YOU AND HIM JUST HAVING SLEEPOVERS AND IT'S JUST YOUR CHARGING PODS BEING IN THE SAME ROOM. Anyways, he totally brings out the older sibling instincts with you and Idia kinda tolerates you and your thembo ways.

- MALLEUS THINKS YOU'RE SO FUNNY and he just laughs when you say something foolish but Sebek is all: "STAY AWAY FROM LORD MALLEUS, your ignorance is an insult to his majesty!" and you just kinda wanna bully him a little bit because he reminds you of Chase but in a bad way. When Silver falls asleep, you just carrying him around and stuff because he's your friend! Lillia also finds you amusing as well ngl, you're such a spirit young individual.

Chase Davenport! Reader:

- OKAY, BUT YOU LOWKEY PANICKED AT THE REALIZATION OF NOT BEING IN YOUR WORLD. Not only because you're in a strange and totally unfamiliar world but BECAUSE YOU'RE NO LONGER THE SMARTEST PERSON.

- Ace and Deuce during the detention thing were just staring at you weirdly as you read and try to get as much information on the world of Twisted Wonderland as much as possible. Grim literally having to sit on all of your books or swat them out of your hands.

- Even though you respect and like rules, you think that the ones in Heartslabyul are kind of excessive but YOU STUDY THEM REGARDLESS because you will not be caught lacking. So when Ace and Deuce come to you and they're collared, you're all: "Ha, let me guess, you forgot to take your shoes and wear them around your neck today, huh? Amateurs." and they just glare at you or roll your eyes.

- Despite that, as an experienced team leader, you can somewhat influence the Adeuce doubt and Grim to listen to you and they do respect you to some degree when you're not being a know it all. GRIM WILL BRAG ABOUT HOW SMART YOU ARE and try to convince you to let him copy your work and you're all: "Grim, when you cheat, you're only cheating yourself." and he just hisses at you and you roll your eyes.

- Tbh, I love the idea that when Riddle went through his Overblot, you were using your bionic supervision to analyze the threat but then Ace punched Riddle and you're all: "Oh, okay, that works too, I guess."

- While Adam! (Y/n) would fight the Overblots, your concern would lie in protecting your fellow students so you tell Adeuce and Grim and any other students to come close to you and you activate your force field to protect you and them.

- During the whole Savannaclaw thing, you were the first to figure out about Leona's whole plan but you were quickly humbled when he Overblotted. When he's done, you and him bond about being younger brothers with older brothers. TO BE FAIR, Leona admits that you have it worse because Falena doesn't constantly throw him around.

- Also, if you have a sensory overload because of your enhanced senses; I can totally see Savannaclaw kind of having a room to calm down because, like, they're Beatmen. You don't necessarily like Savannaclaw but they do think your martial arts skills are cool.

- DURING THE EVENTS OF BOOK 3 IS WHEN YOU ACTIVATE YOUR COMMANDO MODE and everyone meets your alter ego, Spike. Like, Floyd is threatening you and your commando app takes over and you and him duke it out. When you finally take control, Floyd is all: "WE HAVE TO DO THAT AGAIN, DWARF SHRIMPY! THAT WAS SO FUN!" and you're confused while Jade is all: "Huh, who knew Bionic Humans can be so interesting and complex!"

- But yeah, while Azul took you as a fool, you do a very good job at finding loopholes and mistakes in his contracts to help people out of them. Which he would find respectable but sadly, that's bad for business. So much like he does with Jamil, HE WOULD SO WANT YOU TO JOIN OCTAVINELLE, PLEASE, PLEASE, PLEASE. IMAGINE THE PROFITS.

- During Schemer of the Scalding Sands, you totally agree with Jamil and sympathize with the fact that he never got to have a normal childhood. HOWEVER, he is still doing bad things and as a hero, you can't excuse that behavior. I can see you guys being good friends and bonding with each other.

- ALSO, Chase was always awkward girls so imagine that you're awkward around pretty people in general. Like, you meet Vil and your brain short circuits and you're all: "H-Hi!" or you'll be explaining things and Vil is all: "Davenport, I need you to help me with something!" and you just turn around to face him and you're all: "...Y-Yeah, sure! Okay! Wow, your eyes are so pretty-" You also totally agree with his perfectionism and not just because he's the most jaw dropping person you've ever seen but also because you're a perfectionist yourself.

- YOU'D BE IN THE SCIENCE CLUB WITH ROOK AND TREY. Mostly to learn about the amazing science of this new world but also, you show off a bit of science of your own. Trey is super impressed by your knowledge of chemistry and Rook is their like: "Oh, how does one become as smart and charming as you?" and then you just giggle and blush and you're all: "Haha. You don't mean that~...Do you?"

- LIKE THE REGULAR CHASE, YOU'RE ALSO A HUGE CUTIE. You would totally love to watch cartoons and play pranks on people except they're completely harmless pranks. Jade will do something to annoy you and you'll be all:

Y/n: "Jade might think he got the best of me but little does he know, I'll get the last laugh!"

Ace: "I've never seen this side of you before, Y/n. What'd you do?"

Y/n: "I switched his No. 2 pencil with a number 1 pencil. LET'S SEE HOW YOU LIKE SMUDGED NOTES, LEECH. CAN I GET A HIGH FIVE!?"

- And all of the first years just look at you and leave you hanging and you frown and you're all: "See, its perfect because No.1 pencils are higher in graphite and much softer, so they're more prone to smudging-" and they're all: "No, (Y/n), we get it. It's still stupid."

- I can see you hanging out in the Ignihyde dorm, mostly because they have all the resources needed to try and figure out how to get back home but also, I can imagine that after a few months of coaxing and bonding with Idia, you guys would become friends due to your love for your siblings and your awkward ways.

- I CAN TOTALLY IMAGINE YOU AND HIM GAMING WITH LILIA, aka, Muscle Red. I can also see that Ortho would adore seeing you and his brother getting along, until you both sneak out of gym together to go and play your video games.

- I love the idea that you would love to listen to Malleus talk about gargoyles and you'd look up things with your supercomputer brain. You also would love your guys' walks because he can talk to you and inform you more about the magic in your world and you can talk to him about the science in yours. Your mind is still getting used to the idea of magic but Malleus would totally love to see your views on everything.

- SEBEK THINKS YOU'RE AN INSOLENT HUMAN, how dare you think your stupid human brain can match to that of the Great Malleus!? But he does admire your dedication to knowledge. SILVER SOMETIMES DOZES OFF WHEN YOU TALK but you're used to it and sigh but Silver tries to assure you it wasn't because he was bored.

Bree Davenport! Reader:

- Much like the ICON that is Bree Davenport, you will 100% sass back Crowley. He has to ask advice from Mozus on how to approach you since he's handled sassy teenagers before but that knowledge is sadly limited when it comes to BIONIC sassy teenagers.

- Not to mention that you're very maliciously compliant with him. When he asks you to run an errand and tries to imply he'll turn off Ramshackle's electricity if you don't, you just roll your eyes and go do it. But NOT BEFORE YOU TRASH HIS OFFICE WITH YOUR SPEED.

- When it comes to Grim, you totally decorate him with cute little bows and pamper him but you guys also exchange witty comebacks and retorts once in a while.

- ACE WOULD LOVE TO PIGGY BACK RIDE YOU SO HE'S NOT LATE TO CLASSES. At first, you did it out of the kindness of your heart but when he kept trying to trick you or guilt trip you, you ended up just dropping him off on the opposite side of campus from his classes. He was made but Deuce defended you.

- You're a little bit of a romantic as well, sometimes bordering on delulu but to be fair; you were raised in a basement and occasionally allowed to watch high school musical dramas. And being sent to a magical all-boys college is a dream come true!

- Until you have to deal with overblots and the very real possibility of innocent people dying, then you're just reminded that this world isn't SUPER different from your other world but being a hero is a never-ending job.

- You don't really get along with Riddle but you and Cater would be such good friends, you carry him to take him to places he said would be so "magicamable" and you turn invisible and listen in on all of the juicy gossip so you can report back to him and you two can giggle about it.

- You would 100% be able to tame the rowdy Savnnaclaw students because size doesn't scare you. You would be a little bit of a simp for Leona because he fits your type and he gets kind of annoyed by it but when you go back to your usual sassy and fiery self, he does kind of think twice.

- As for Jack, he admires your speed and likes joining you on runs. You happily let him know whether he's getting faster than you or not, even if he knows it's not achievable to be as fast as you, you do a good job of helping him monitor his progress. He reminds you of a smarter more competent version of Adam!

- You and Ruggie would team up to sometimes do small jobs, only if he handles the gross stuff just because you personally can't, but delivery jobs are up your alley because of your speed and you guys split the profits.

- Speaking of profits, AZUL WOULD LOVE TO TRAP YOU IN A CONTRACT TO WORK AT THE MONSTRO LOUNGE. When you briefly took Ace and Deuce's place to work, you were a one person serving machine. Getting impatient when dishes weren't done fast enough, you ran in the kitchen and took care of everything yourself.

- However, he now tries to make it not so obvious because the last time he did, you created an tornado with your super speed and shot him and his creepy twins from it. Floyd thought it was the coolest thing ever and begs you to do it again, while Jade pretended to sniffle as he mourned about how, "rude bionic humans are to poor eels like them."

- As for Scarabia, after Jamil sends you guys into the dessert and they have to make an oasis, you're just there like, "So...I'm going to just speed my way back to the dorm. Meet you guys there!" and then you're off.

- I DO THINK YOU'D BE IN THE POP MUSIC CLUB WITH KALIM, CATER, AND LILLIA. So after the events of book 4, you do kinda make sure Kalim doesn't put so much on Jamil. Such as throwing a party and you help him with the decorations instead so Jamil can have a break or, at the very least, you handle the clean up yourself.

- Also, you're not as surprised as everyone else is when Kalim decides to forgive him, purely because your uncle/father was forgiven from killing you and your family multiple times.

- OKAY BUT YOU WOULD SO BE IN POMEFIORE, after all, you've longed to be an ideal sophisticated and classy version of yourself. However, it simply isn't possibly when you're around your brothers who love to mess with you and tease you. So Vil is your go-to when it comes to makeovers and bonding. I'M SORRY BUT BOTH OF YOU BONDING OVER BEING NEPO BABIES *but well deserving nepo-babies* and it's nice to finally have make up without someone EATING IT OR DOING SOME WEIRD SCIENCE THING WITH IT.

- Rook, per usual, will be a freak as always and try to hunt and stalk you like he does with Leona and the other non humans. According to him, you are "the most elegant of prey. With the eyes of a soulful bird and the speed of a gazelle." and you'll use your speed to run away from him but he would totally have a list of places that you would run too and meet you there.

- Like Bree, you always wanted to have a friend that was a girl so you totally mistook Epel as one and that did not bode well for the both of you. Still, you make it up to him and tell him about how being strong and manly isn't really all it's cracked up to be.

- When it comes to Idia, he gets so nervous and flustered around you because you're so...peppy. Whenever you speed into his lab, he gets all nervous and flustered. Sometimes you tease him about being a nerd but you mean it in a loving way. YOU ADORE ORTHO THOUGH. He's such a cute little guy♡

- When fighting overblots, I can imagine you use your super speed to evacuate everyone and use your invisibility to jump out and surprise them at the last second.

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