#Choi Won-Chang

[footballmanageraddict]

Pentagon Pursuit | Part 6 | Stepping Up To J2 League

#FM24 #PentagonPursuit Part 6: Stepping Up To #J2League. Robaato Rasamu leads his #KamatamareSanuki side up into the second tier of Japanese football. And another massive rebuild sees them begin the season far better than expected. Read here:

The streets of Takamatsu were painted blue as the fans of Kamatamare Sanuki celebrated an unexpected promotion and J3 League title win in 2024. The supporters were united in thinking there was only one man to thank for this success, their fledgling manager Robaato Rasamu, who was instilled as a fans’ favourite alongside the mighty Himan “He-Man” Morimoto. And they weren’t alone in admiring his…

[mildly-inconvenienced-bat]

Nobody cares but ANYWAYS

This weekend I'll be seeing ateez 🥺😭💖

that's it, that's the post

[gozdziak]

Just finished watching If You Wish Upon Me, starring Ji Chang Wook, Choi Sooyoung, Sung Dong-il, Nam Tae Hoon, Won Ji Ah, and many more excellent young and veteran actors and actresses. It’s not an easy watch as the topics the drama tackles are heart-wrenching. Nevertheless, it it worthwhile… the drama is full of empathy and even though sometimes it portrays the end-of-life moments through optimistic lenses, it also delivers comfort. Ji Chang Wook is excellent as always. He has a wide range of acting skills and is quite believable as a gangster, a wish granting genie, and a tender boyfriend. Team Genie is a real delight.

[unnieshimkoongkdramas]

Six Underrated Shows Worth Watching

1. Today’s Webtoon Starring: Kim Se Jeong, Daniel Choi, Nam Yoon Soo SBS Promotional poster On Ma Eum (Kim Se Jong) is a former rising Judo star who quit and is looking for her own path outside of Judo. She is an upbeat and hard working. She is hired as an intern PD for a webtoon company. The company is the center of a power struggle and is at risk of shutting down. I loved this show as a…

[korelist]

KILL ME, HEAL ME // KDRAMA DİZİ YORUMU

UYARI : Yazılar genel olarak spoiler içerebilir. İçermeyedebilir.

İmdb: 8,3 Benim puanım: 9

Drama: Kill Me, Heal Me

Hangul: 킬미, 힐미

Director: Kim Jin-Man

Writer: Jin Soo-Wan

Date: 2015

Language: Korean

Country: South Korea

Cast: Ji Sung, Hwang Jung-Eum, Park Seo-Joon, Kim Yoo-Ri, Oh Min-Suk, Ko Chang-Seok, Choi Won-Young

2015 (8th) Korea Drama Awards - October 9, 2015

Best OST Award

2015 MBC Drama Awards - December 30, 2015

Grand Prize (Ji Sung)

Best Drama Award

Best Actor (mini series) (Ji Sung)

Best Actress (mini series) (Hwang Jung-Eum)

Excellent Actor (mini series) (Park Seo-Joon)

Ten Star Award (Park Seo-Joon/Hwang Jung-Eum/Ji Sung)

Best Netizen Award (Park Seo-Joon/Hwang Jung-Eum)

Best Couple Award (Ji Sung/Park Seo-Joon)

Best Actor or Actress Selected by Directors (Hwang Jung-Eum)

Dissosiyatif Kimlik Bozukluğu üzerine şahane bir dizi yapılmış. 2015 yılı için ekstra başarılı bir senaryo, bulunmaz bir oyunculuk diyebilirim. Zenginliği nesilden nesille geçen bir aileye torun kontenjanından katılan Cha Do-Hyun(Ji Sung) şirketin başına geçmek için Amerika’daki eğitimini tamamlayıp ülkesine döner. Ailesinden bile sakladığı hastalığını yalnızca asistanı ve doktoru bilmektedir. Kimlik bozukluğu olan karakterimiz kendi içinde bir sürü karakteri barındırmaktadır. Diğer yandan ise ülkesine yeni döndüğü için ailesine kendini kanıtlamak zorundadır. Bulunduğu mevki sebebiyle hastalığını kontrol altında tutması gerekir. Kendi doktorunun da tavsiyesi ile eve yatılı bir doktor almaya karar verir. Evde onu kontrol altında tutacak, şirkette de asistanı gibi rol yapacaktır. Bir şekilde ikna olup oyuna dahil olan yeni mezun doktorumuz Oh Ri-Jin(Hwang Jung-Eum) daha ilk günden Cha Do-Hyun ‘un alt karakterleri ile tanışır.

Bu noktada Cha Do-Hyun’un alt karakterlerden bahsetmek lazım. İlk kendini gösteren alt benlik Shin Se-Gi’dir. Mahallenin bıçkın delikanlısı, asi gencidir. Kural tanımaz, sert ve acımazsızdır. Aslında kızımız Do-Hyun’dan önce Se-Gi ile tanışıyor. Bu noktada diziye çok ufak da olsa fantastik durum katılmış diyebilirim. Kimliği Shin Se-Gi’ye dönüştüğü zaman boynunda bir dövme beliriyor. Aslında bu öyle abartılı fantastik bir şey değil, hatta belki de orada sadece o karakter öyle hissettiği için “varmış” gibi görünüyordu. Yani sihirli bir durumdan çok başka bir kişiliğe geçerken izleyiciye de o değişimi yaşatmak için yapılmış bir detay gibiydi.

Bir diğer kişilik Ferry Park mahallenin ayyaşı, neşelisi denilebilir. Hobi olarak patlayıcı ‘oyuncaklar’ üretiyor. 40lı yaşlarında olduğu düşünülüyor. En büyük hayali kendi isminin olduğu bir tekne sahibi olmak. Anlaşması kolay bir kişilik. Ahn Yo Sub ve Ahn Yo Na; 17 yaşında ikizler. Yo-Sub intihara meyilli depresif bir erkekken, Yo-Na ise tam tersi inanılmaz neşeli, ayran gönüllü genç bir kız. Aynı zamanda Oh Ri-Jin’in erkek kardeşi Oh Ri-On(Park Seo-Joon)’a aşık… Oh Ri-On(Park Seo-Joon) işsizmiş gibi görünen bir yazar. Omega takma adıyla kurgu romanları yazıyor ve yayınlanan bütün eserleri çok büyük bir hayran kitlesine sahip. Burada dizideki isim seçimlerine özellikle bayıldım. Kardeşlerin birinin adı Orijin diğerinin adı ise Orion gibi telaffuz ediliyor. Çok tatlı bir detay olmuş.

Bütün alt benlikleri tek tek anlatmak istemiyorum bunlar göze çarpanlardı diyebilirim. Baktığınız zaman kişilik bozukluğu üzerine bir hikaye anlatılıyormuş gibi görünse de aslında senaryo çok daha fazlasını barındırıyor. Çok daha fazlasını irdeliyor. Çocuk ihmali ve istismarı, travmalar gibi ince buz üzerinde yürüyen konular gündemde.  O yüzden dizinin türüne romantik komedi demek biraz haksızlık olur. Bu kadar ciddi ve travmatik konular etrafında dönerken bile izleyiciye kahkaha attırmayı başarıyor olması ise ayrıca ayakta alkışlanması gereken bir noktaydı. Düşündüğünüz gibi trajediden trajediye koşup sizi helak etmiyor. Yaşanmış bütün o travmaları ve trajedileri sarıp sarmalayıp içine mizah katmışlar.

Beğenmediğim şeyler olmadı mı? Oldu. Öncelikle en birinci kadın başrolü hiç beğenemedim. Abartılı, yapay bir oyunculuk sergiliyordu. Ona rağmen dizi çok iyiydi inanın. Keşke kadın oyuncu Han Ji-Min oynasaydı diye çok çok içimden geçirdim. Hwang Jung-Eum mimiksiz değil de fazla mimikli bir oyuncu, bence. İkinci beğenmediğim şey ise Hwang Jung-Eum’un karakteri Oh Ri-Jin’di maalesef 😊. Yani; henüz 1 yıllık doktor olarak her şeyi çözmesi ve kendi profesör hocasının 11 yıldır iyileştiremediği hastayı tedavi etmesi biraz manasızdı. Bir hastalık üzerine hikaye kurgulanıyor ise en azından biraz olsun çalışılmış üzerine düşünülmüş temellere dayanmasını beklerdim.

Beğenilmeyenleri konuşup çözdüysek sıra beğenilenlerde… Ji Sung !!! sen neymişsin… tek kelime ile anlatılamayacak bir şahanelik. İnanılmaz bir performans. 7 farklı karaktere bürünebilme kabiliyeti ve karakterler arası geçişlerde dahi izleyiciye hangi karakter olduğunu söylemeden anlatabilme yeteneği. Ne diyeyim bilmiyorum. Her karakterin, şivesi yaşı cinsiyeti farklı farklı olmasına rağmen, konuşmadan bakışlarıyla bile hangi karakter olduğunu anlayabiliyordunuz. Tek kişilik dev bir kadro gibiydi adeta. Buna rağmen yanına bir de oyunculuk anlamında benim takdir edip inanılmaz beğendiğim diğer bir aktörü koymasınlar mı; Park Seo-Joon. O da bence, her dizide başka karaktere bürünme konusunda bir dahi.

Bu dizinin erkek oyuncuları için farklı tercih yapılmış olsaydı, tutmasının imkanı yoktu, net. Bu yorumumu en güzel destekleyen şey ise 2015 yılı en iyi çift ödülünü Ji Sung ve Park Seo Joon ‘un canlandırdıkları Ahn Yo Na ve Oh Ri On karakterleriyle almış olmalarıdır. Ödül töreninde o kadar sevimliydiler ki açıp izlemelisiniz. Dizinin finalinde kapanış öncesi 4.duvarı yıkıp kameraya veda ettikleri bir sahne var. Orada Ji Sung’un kullandığı bütün aksan ve şiveleri ile veda etmesi ve o kısacık vedada bile pürüzsüz geçişler yapması aklımda kalan sahnelerden biriydi.

Sonuç olarak; diziyi kesin izleyin.

OST:

Lilly Mandover, Nashow - Auditory Hallucination

Raven Melus

BAŞKA NELER VAR ?

FOTOĞRAFLAR

[avidnn]

Started and finished watching during 2023 Christmas break

[jjunieworld]

THE UNDERGROUND ˒˒ 최연준

the night that your boyfriend came home from his underground boxing gig with bloody knuckles, a split lip, and a black eye was when you knew things had to change for the good.

pairing ‎⸝⸝⸝ choi yeonjun x fem!reader 𓄵 iηcℓudᥱs 𓈓 none!

genre﹙📄﹚⸝⸝⸝ established relationship, some angst, smut, underground boxer!yeonjun, ballerina!reader, boxer au, yeonjun has red hair hehe, boxing inaccuracies

warnings ‎⸝⸝⸝ unprotected sex, oral (m. rec) / deep throating, soft dom!yeonjun, creampie, cumshots / facial, slight hair pulling, riding, soft-ish sex overall honestly, mentions of bloodied wounds and bruises (black eye)

kipo’s note ‎⸝⸝⸝ literally immediatelyyy wrote this as i ate dinner lmao, but guys yeonjun’s mixtape!!! i’m so excited!! (ﾉ＾◡＾)ﾉ i can already tell it’s gonna be so so good, so this is in celebration of it before i post his birthday fic hehe ^^ i hope that you enjoy!! ͏ ͏ ͏͏ ͏ ͏͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏͏ ͏ ͏ ͏͏ ͏ ͏ ︵͡ 𝙖𝙡𝙡 𝙛𝙚𝙚𝙙𝙗𝙖𝙘𝙠 𝙖𝙣𝙙 𝙧𝙚𝙗𝙡𝙤𝙜𝙨 𝙖𝙧𝙚 𝙬𝙚𝙡𝙘𝙤𝙢𝙚 (⌒‿⌒)♡

∿ [ 1.4k ] ⋆ [ continue on to . . . masterlist ]

yeonjun came home mere minutes after you did. you were sitting at your small dining room table in the dark, the only light provided in the room coming from the stove light. you sighed deeply as you went over this month’s bills.

“what’s wrong, baby?” you heard yeonjun say, followed by a low wince. you swirled around in the chair, eyes widening as you took in the scene before you.

yeonjun had a blackening eye, a split bloody lip, and bloodied knuckles. he was still in his boxing apparel with a jacket hanging limply from his shoulders. you stood from your seat, hands flying to your mouth.

“oh my god, what happened?!”

you rushed to him, examining his wounds and bruises. yeonjun lifted one of his hands in yours to cup your cheek. “it’s nothing. just some guys who got mad that they didn’t win the match.” he tried to give you a comforting smile, but his brows knitted together from the pain of it.

a deep sigh emitted from you again as you brought him to the dining table and pushed him down in the chair you were previously sitting in. “where?” you demanded as you dug through a kitchen drawer for the first-aid kit. once you found it, you sat it down on the table in front of yeonjun.

“the alleyway outside of the building…” yeonjun trailed.

“the alleyw—” you cut yourself off as you ran you hands down your face as you shook your head. you walked to the bathroom for the hydrogen peroxide and when you came back to the dining table yeonjun was looking over the bills. there was a large wad of cash next to where you placed the first-aid kit.

you started to get the supplies out to clean his wounds when he spoke up again. “i won, baby! aren’t you proud?” he smiled up at you while leaning back in the chair. you couldn’t help the smile that started to grow on your face, and his grew with yours, but you quickly steadied your features as you tried to be serious.

“you better have made it hurt,” you said firmly, the smile growing again ever so slightly. you took the soaked cotton ball and dabbed it on his lip to clean it.

“if you think i look bad, you should see the other guys.”

“good,” you spoke as you finished. you pressed a soft kiss to his cheek as worry spread across your face.

loosening the tight bun your hair was in, you moved on to yeonjun’s bloody knuckles. “you can’t keep doing this, yeonjun. we need to figure something else out.” you pulled the cotton ball away from his knuckles slightly as he winced, body lightly jolting from the pain. the worry deepened on your face as you waited a moment before cleaning again. “you can’t keep getting hurt like this. what if something worse happened than some bloody knuckles, a split lip, and a black eye?” you continued.

yeonjun looked down as you started to wrap his knuckles. you knew he was doing all he could for the two of you, and you appreciated his efforts immensely, but what if this opponent harmed him more than he was? what if instead of sitting in front of you right now, he was still in that alley lying on the ground bloodied as rain fell around him? you wouldn’t be able to live with yourself if he were to ever get seriously hurt—you loved him too much.

“i know,” yeonjun said sullenly, “i promise we can figure something else out in the morning.” you put the first-aid stuff away and he grabbed your face so you looked at him. “i promise,” he repeated firmly.

you nodded and he dragged his thumbs across your cheeks comfortingly before gently placing his lips onto yours. you quickly pulled away, “your lip!”

“doesn’t hurt,” yeonjun replied, kissing you again. “i have a good nurse.”

he turned towards the wad of cash on the table. “i can finally get you those pointe shoes you’ve been needing, and we’ll still have a lot left over.” yeonjun turned back to you and smiled.

you shook your head as you smiled at him, “you are ridiculous!” yeonjun laughed, placing his forehead against yours. “ridiculous, but completely worth it.”

yeonjun pulled away, his eyes sparkling from the stove light. “now, are you gonna show me how proud you are?” he asked lowly. your smile grew.

“if your lip splits open more you’re cleaning it yourself,” you replied.

soon, clothes were discarded all over your shared living room. yeonjun’s arms were spread out across the back of the couch, head thrown back as pretty moans floated from his parted lips. you were between his open legs, warm mouth wrapped around his big, thick cock. your head bobbed up and down and you hollowed your cheeks as you took more of him into your mouth, hands wrapped around his length that you couldn’t reach.

“fuck, fuck, fuck—” yeonjun inhaled sharply as his hips thrusted up. you gagged, unprepared for the more length that suddenly went down your throat. “s-shit, baby, gonna cum!” yeonjun said through a strangled moan.

smiling through your watery eyes, your tongue circled the tip of his flushed cock. yeonjun hung his head towards you, face twisted in pleasure. you dragged your tongue across his slit before pulling your mouth off his cock in a lewd ‘pop!’

you then stroked his length with both of your hands, aiding him towards his oncoming release. yeonjun dug his fingers into the couch cushions as his hips thrusted up again, breathing falling heavily from his mouth. a deep whine was pulled from him before his warm, white cum splattered all over your face and tits.

giggling softly, you pumped him a few more times to help him ride out his high as he slumped back onto the couch. the rest of his load spilled down your hands until you were sure he was milked dry. “feel better?” you asked quietly as you got from your knees and leaned towards him, hands splayed across his thighs to hold yourself up. yeonjun nodded, eyes cracking open to smile at you.

“c’mere,” he said in a hushed voice and grabbed your hips. yeonjun pulled you onto him so you straddled him, his lips attaching to yours in a heated kiss—disregarding his recent release still on your face. he pulled away to grab his still hard cock, stroking it a couple times. the wet sounds filled the air around you and you stood on your knees to sink down onto him.

the two of you moaned loudly as you sunk down fully. you felt completely full of him and the feeling alone could’ve sent you right over the edge. you gripped the tips of his bright red hair glowing from the lights coming through the open blinds in your apartment that the two of you forgot to shut and pulled to pull his head back. you sloppily kissed him, completely forgetting about the fact that his lip was split.

you rolled your hips towards him, moaning against his mouth, as your eyes squeezed shut. yeonjun’s fingers dug into your hips as you moved them more and settled on a pace you liked.

obscene sounds emitted from the two of you as you rocked closer and closer to your orgasm. moans spilled from your lips against yeonjun’s and your brows furrowed. “j-jjunie—” you moaned. his hands traveled to your waist, pulling you against him as he rocked his hips up in time with yours.

that completely sent you over the edge—and seemingly yeonjun as well as the two of you came together at the same time. body shaking, you whimpered as your mixed cum poured out of you and down his cock, creating a mess underneath you. you sighed blissfully, wrapping your arms around yeonjun’s neck and resting your head on his shoulder.

after you both calmed down from your shared high, you said softly, “if you come home with any more cuts and bruises i’m gonna kick your ass, understand?” yeonjun laughed, hand rubbing up and down your back as he nodded.

∿ [ continue on to . . . masterlist , taglist , request ] ︵͡ 𝙖𝙡𝙡 𝙛𝙚𝙚𝙙𝙗𝙖𝙘𝙠 𝙖𝙣𝙙 𝙧𝙚𝙗𝙡𝙤𝙜𝙨 𝙖𝙧𝙚 𝙬𝙚𝙡𝙘𝙤𝙢𝙚 (⌒‿⌒)♡

🏷️﹙ want to be added to my permanent taglist? click here ﹚ - @jjunberry @gothgyuu @gyuuberries @beargyuuzz @kittyhyuka @dani-is-tired @riaawr @yeonjunsfox @nxzz-skz @jakeswifez @rapmonie2047 @soobieboobiedoobiedaboobie @skaterhoon @aaa-sia @jeonghaniehaee @todorokiskitten @onlyhyunjin @lilyuwon @who-tf-soddhi @americanojake @in-somnias-world @ghstzzn @chaconadine @inkigayocamman @won4me @usnve @ilobtinycats @alex-is-sleeping

© jjunieworld - all rights reserved. do not repost on any social media sites, translate, or modify any of my works.

[k-star-holic]

Brother and Sister Lee Ha-na helped Lim Ju-hwan with his intended Choi Cheol-won...

Source: k-star-holic.blogspot.com

[renku]

Shared Bliss

Soloist Choi Yunjin (Jini) x Male Reader

[Part 1?]

A/N: I just feel releasing this short fic for some reason. Maybe it’s my impatient ass or something. Anyway, I truly enjoyed writing this one so I hope you enjoy it too. Let me know if you’re up for a 2nd part. Ideas are also welcome to my inbox! Good day to all!

To define the relationship you share with Jini is difficult, but to be bothered by such trivial things is a waste of time. People are going to think what they want at the end anyway.

Both of you possess the same traits; carefree, live-in-the-moment type of people, cherish, and spend the youth before it’s gone. No commitments. Feel the joy of life outside responsibilities and duties. Time waits for no man at all.

It started in the old fashion way—kicked off as high school peers that escalated until college. Ironic as it is sounds, met at the same company and now coworkers in the present. Same department, just different sections and ahead of her for a year. Taking into account Jini’s exaggerated storytelling (at least from your point of view) on why she left her previous job: the weight of just being there was unbearable. She said that she’d rather work as a waitress at a pub or something.

Sharing various moments with each other, there’s this bond and connection that felt exclusive and genuine. A safe space—comfort and no judgement. Romance? It doesn't cross your mind a bit and not would even dare to step into that unfamiliar realm.

Here’s the thing: random chances often come by to bring good things, chaos, or something in between the two. In your case, Lady Luck bestowed upon you the last one.

It was one Friday night—her occasional invites for dinner or plain drinking session are something you’ve become accustomed to. A fifteen-minute ride is all it takes. Not bad, better to spend the rest of the night outside than get bored alone.

“Still gets me,” you thought, looking at the front of her house. The amount of detail and work she put are remarkable. After a few steps, you pressed the doorbell.

“Oh, hey loser. Thought you wouldn’t come,” she said, “Just a sec. I’m coming.”

She did not even bother to ask who’s on the other side, like she don’t have any visitor besides you. After waiting for a few seconds, the door opened, and there she is—Jini in her off-shoulder dress with rose imprint.

Stunning... Captivating... Tempting.

Three words to describe the sight right before you, in flesh.

Her dress did its job flaunting her figure. Her presence that exude an intimidating aura—fierce, attitude, and boldness. One fierece look and she can make anyone kneel in a matter of seconds.

“Hey, loser. Hey!”

“What?” you replied, still in shock.

“You zoned out, are you okay?” Jini asked, you just shook your head a bit.

“Sure?”

“Yeah, yeah... Hundred percent.”

“Come in then, it’s freezing out here.”

Few common dishes and cans of beer were already placed on the table in the living room. “Not much, but that's a free meal. Besides, I’m not a bad cook,” she winked.

“Full of yourself sometimes, aren’t you?”

“I think the word ‘confident’ is what you’re looking for, mister.”

“Fine, fine... Let’s just eat,” you said, before sitting and opening a can of beer.

“Hah! I won!”

Throughout the meal, different topics fueled the flow of conversation. Some of them were about work, things in the past, gossips, funny, sad, and anything that comes into mind until all that's left on the table were the beers.

“A question,” said Jini, bringing seat closer so she can lean forward towards you across the table.

“Be my guest.”

“Did you ever think about having sex with me?”

Making a surprised reaction would not change the situation so you just answered her in a straightforward manner. “Yes, and if I'm being honest, I can’t stop thinking about it the moment I stepped inside this house. You’re so fucking hot in that dress.”

Maybe it’s the alcohol, or just courage that came out of nowhere but you still said it, and who gives a shit anymore?

Jini finished her remaining beer looking at you. She stood up, walked slowly and sat down on your lap.

“Is that true?” her focus shifted on your lips.

“Yes.”

A split second was it all took. She kissed you, and you responded accordingly bringing it to a make out session. Sloppy, wet, and warm. Jini pulled your head closer as her tongue joins the action and so are yours. It wasn’t a fight for dominance, but rather an exchange of intentions; something beyond words and better expressed through actions.

None of you can’t stop as your hand began an exploration of its own—the smoothness of the silk dress gave the impression of touching her bare skin.

Jini broke free; hazy, lust-filled eyes remained in contact with yours.

“Dress.”

“Not so fast, pervert. My house, my rules.”

“Playing tough?” you asked, raising both brows. “I’m born tough, loser. Now take that shirt off.”

“Okay, I’ll play along.”

You took your shirt off swiftly in one motion, revealing a body built for years. Astounded, it occured to her that this is the first time she saw you shirtless. Keeping the composure she displayed moments ago is crumbling.

“Happy?”

“Oh, shut up.”

She initiated the kiss again—on your neck going downwards, taking her time to taste your upper torso sending sending you into a frenzied state. Her tounge plays one of your nipples, while her finger does the other by means of making these circular motions, teasing you.

“Fuck.”

Jini’s dirty assault continues and not a word has had left her lips since. She’s acting like a predator aiming to completely devour her prey whole with no intention to stop until she’s satisfied.

“Let’s see what you pack down here,” she said, before pulling in one go your pants and underwear. Jini’s subtle gasp was still noticeable after seeing your cock.

“Well?”

“N- not b- bad...”

“Touch it.”

“Wh- what?”

“You heard me. Just do it.”

It was already erect, and Jini didn’t even hesitate to wrap her fingers around it—contact sent an electrifying feeling as she executed few, careful slow strokes. Unbelievable. It totally feels like the first time. Her jerking you off was overwhelming that precum is already leaking from the tip.

“Oh- oh, shit... That’s good!” you exclaimed, grip tightened on the arm rest of the chair. You don’t want to cum and if you’ll do so, it’s better to land it somewhere more interesting. Grabbing her arm lightly to halt her actions, caressing her face.

“Why?” Jini asked, her face blushed.

You just stared at her eyes, before brushing your thumb on her pinkish lips. She gets the hint and she knew it was going to happen anyway, sooner or later. She nodded as a ‘yes’.

Jini seemed to hold back a bit but she opened her mouth anyway, sticks her tongue out as she starts to lick one of your balls. Fucking hell. She attempted to put one in her mouth, drenched from her saliva. Jini gives a slow, long lick from the base of your dick going to its tip, tasting that precum still flowing. She takes time to know your proud member.

“Ahhh~ fuck, so good! Keep going!”

Hearing words of affirmation encouraged her even more as Jini started to give attention to your head. Putting it just inside her mouth made wonders—her tongue swirls around it and the sensation is driving you crazy. Unknowingly placed a hand on her head for support from the pleasure that travels around your body, trying not to get consumed by her actions.

Jini starts to take more by pushing herself with her tongue tracing the underside of your cock until she reache the limit—tip reached the back of her throat. Her gag reflex is evident as she holds on for a few seconds before releasing your cock with a pop. Jini catches her breath for a moment, still maintaining eye contact after what she just did.

You stood up while Jini is basically on her knees. No words were spoken at the heat of the moment.

You just position your cock right away in front of her mouth, slowly pushing the tip to enter once again and Jini willingly accepts.

Moving your hips backwards slowly until the glans remained inside, one thrust forward and from there the pace started to build up as you just basically facefuck Jini. Subtle, suggestive moans from her were signs she's enjoying it.

Lasting this long was quite a surprise as the inevitable first release of the night started to build up fast. Primal instinct took over you—faster thrusts, lewd and squelching sounds, moans of pleasure from both of you get louder and you knew holding back was impossible.

“Ji- Jini... fuck... I’m about to cum!”

One final thrust as spurts and ropes of cum went straight down to her throat, and Jini just swallowed everything. Some were escaping the sides of her lips. The high feeling of orgasm disappeared and you went back to your senses pulling out your cock.

“Yum.”

Jini catched her breath after what you just did. It took her a few minutes before returning to a more relaxed state.

She looked even more sexy; scooping the remaining cum using her finger, putting it back into her mouth.

One word and you knew the night is far from over.

“Should we head to my room? You can still fill me somewhere else, right?”

“Oh, you bet.”

[97linelover]

MASTERLIST ♡´･ᴗ･`♡

Just a silly girl that writes about men that don’t leave her head. English is not my mother tongue so please be kind. All my story’s in one post!

Do not translate / copy / change my works.

♡= Angst ☆= fight ❀= fluff ♛ = smut

Unspoken Words ♡ ☆ summary: when your boyfriend comes back home after an fight, you did not expect your world falling apart.

It will always be her ♡ ☆ summary: You finally thought you found your soulmate, but you never had a chance in the first place right?

It´s always the quarterback ♡ ☆ ❀ summary: the quarterback and the nerd, how cliché- well not every cliché story has their happy end. The Story between you and Soonyoung started out like in the movies, but what if he betrays you?

Dont let me slip ways please ♡ ☆ ❀ summary: Dating an Idol was not always easy, you once again felt it with their newest comeback. What if your Boyfriend pushes you away and you could only watch? content: Idol Wonwoo x non Idol reader, fight,angst, happy end,fluff, smut

Where do broken hearts go? ♡ ☆ ❀ summary: Marrying the man of your dreams will finally come true, but what happens when the day comes and the Man is not there?

Shielding your heart. ♡ ☆ ❀ summary: When Jeon Wonwoo becomes embroiled in a scandal that threatens to expose the love of his life, to a ruthless public, he makes the heartbreaking decision to leave her. For Y/N, being with Wonwoo has always meant living in the shadows of his fame, but when the paparazzi uncover her identity, the stakes become dangerously high. Determined to shield her from the relentless scrutiny and vicious backlash, wonwoo ends their relationship, believing it's the only way to keep her safe. As he navigates the fallout from the scandal alone, Wonwoo is haunted by the love he sacrificed and the woman he left behind.

False number alert ♡ ☆ ❀ summary: it´s normal to chat over your phone nowadays, but what happens if you receive a text from a stranger? And what if this stranger is not who he claims to be?

Better off without me ♡ ☆ ❀ summary: nearly 10 years.. that´s the time you´ve been with Kim Mingyu. But what if his plans about the future are not the same as yours? What if the guy you love the most breaks your heart within seconds?

Don´t treat me like a Baby ♡ ☆ ❀ ♛

summary: Being the only Daughter in the Choi Family made you Precious. What if your Dad hires Kim Mingyu as your Bodyguard. And what if you develop a huge crush on him?

Did you hear what the rumor said? ♡ ☆ ❀ summary: Dating as Idols means, keeping it a secret. Rumors will spread, people will get hurt. What if this one Rumor brings you over the edge and you no longer can handle this Secret?

Versace on the floor ♡ ☆ ❀ ♛ summary: You´re sure of one thing, leaving the house with your Fiancé in a Suit, will lead to a steamy night.

Birthday of 2024 ❀ ♛ summary: it´s your boyfriends birthday, you decide to suprise him. Well the night gets pretty steamy.

Gym Session ❀ ♛ summary: when your boyfriend decides to workout late at night you won´t refuse, but your favorite part is always the after session.

Fatal desires ♡ ☆

summary: 5 Years of Marriage should mean something, right? Well your Husband did not seem to think so.

[nyashykyunnie]

//Solo Leveling yume

Introducing: Geum Seul-ae!!! Jinwoo's silly mage girlfriend.

Trope: Strangers to Friends to Lovers.

About Seul-ae ୭ 🧷 ✧ ˚. ᵎᵎ 🎀

Age: Same age as Jinwoo

Height: 152cm/5'0

Birthday: 04/09

Mbti: Infp

Rank: A-rank (She Reawakens to S rank later on)

Affiliation: None

Type: Mage

Title: Lady of Bloodied Petals, Her Highness of the sea

Powers: Sacred Primordial Sea, Botanokinesis

Regression ୭ 🧷 ✧ ˚. ᵎᵎ 🎀

Job: Freelance Artist, youtube vlogger><

♡ Seul-ae is one of those cute cozy youtube vloggers who don't share their face and voice on the video. She often posts about her art process + daily diaries as well as showing off her cute outfits<3

♡ Her content is mostly: draw with me, ootd, mundane life things, cooking, walking in parks and taking pictures of flowers or anything she finds pretty

Personality ୭ 🧷 ✧ ˚. ᵎᵎ 🎀

♡ She's a very lovely and sweet girl, though she is very insecure and anxious. Seul-ae stutters in her words a lot and gets tired of conversations easily, leading her to tend to attempt ending conversations without the other person noticing. Of course, she is still polite and very attentive, she just gets drained very very fast.

♡ At first sight, people always mistake her as cold and distant but she is actually a sunshine type of girl. She just has a poker face most of the time^^;;

♡ Seul-ae often imitates people out of fear that she would offend them. She observes how the other people act and tries her best to blend in so that she won't be bullied. Her real personality is quite eccentric in a way that she can't talk about things she loves such as whales and sharks. She often suppresses that side of her so that she can avoid being an outcast. She used to be one of those weird kids who got bullied in elementary and got shaken to the point that she became a people-pleaser. Seul-ae is only comfortable with people she is close to and most especially Jinwoo. He is her safe space.

♡ Seul-ae is not an academic achiever, she is in fact very academically challenged and only has average grades of C and D minus her art subjects. She hates studying anything except for marine life in which she can get heavy detail in.

♡ In her hunter days, Seul-ae was known as one of the kindest and most warm hunters there is. She has fans whom she often interacts with kindly and respectfully. Though she doesn't work with any guild, high ranked hunters like Choi Jong-in often invite her to assist in their raids and she helps willingly even offers to not get paid^^.

Love Story with Jinwoo ୭ 🧷 ✧ ˚. ᵎᵎ 🎀

Their ties go way back to elementary. They have heard of each other but never really interacted. But from what Jinwoo knew, she was one of those eccentric and obnoxious girls who have such loud voices during recess. In middle school, she was known for her absolute avoidance of feminine things. In senior high where they officially meet as classmates, Jinwoo was shocked to find how much Seul-ae had changed in a not good way. She became a loner but was still polite and respectful. He even noticed her having anxious episodes and often avoided conversations with anyone. However, Seul-ae was well known for her artistic capabilities and often won in art contests, which she doesn't really seem to be proud of.

After graduating, they never met again until his E-ranked days. Seul-ae hasn't awakened yet, but when she saw how much Jinwoo suffers trying to work, she offered him what little money she had. Seul-ae often visits Jinwoo in his odd jobs outside of hunting and gives him free food to eat out of kindness. They lose touch for a bit since Jinwoo keeps disappearing. But after a year, Seul-ae became an S-ranker after experiencing double awakening who is also now well beloved, and Jinwoo followed right after her, ascending as shadow monarch this time.

Seul-ae was extremely happy to have met Jinwoo again and wouldn't stop talking to him enthusiastically which he found adorable. And eventually, the two started to date. They didn't really hide it nor did they announce it.

When Jinwoo regressed, he approached Seul-ae in senior high and courted her again before returning her memories with him.

Their trope is just sunshine x sunshine protector<3. I love this trope a lot heheh.

Their Emojis:

🐈‍⬛🫐

[flurrys-creativity]

Warrior

Pairing: Choi San (Ateez) x Fem!OC Yeong-Ja; Genre: Joseon AU, Historical AU, Fantasy, Shifter AU, Werewolf AU, strangers to lovers, romance, angst, fluff, SMUT; Rating: nsfw, 18+, MDNI; Warnings: concubines, hints of misogyny, somewhat sold off, inaccurate historical stuff, San from his special performance warrior video including the tattoos, shifter San with a very demanding inner wolf, mentions of sex, getting a tattoo the old style (which is probably inaccurate as well), mentions of uproars, death (minor ocs), san murdering them, graphic violence, graphic description of injuries, san being chained to his bed, SMUT -> rough sex, unprotected sex, marking, biting, multiple orgasms, overstimulation, several positions, breeding kink, knotting, mating, pet names, mentions of softer sex; Wordcount: 11.482

Summary: Every time emperor San won a battle against foreign forces he got gifted another concubine - another person, who’d be scared of him. Though when he met the newest addition in his palace, he realised Yeong-Ja was everything but scared.

A/N: Ever since that special performance video of Warriors by San came out, I'm a changed person!! I wrote this chonky one within one weekend while playing the video on loop.

Yeong-Ja got ushered into a room by several servants, who told her to stay there until the emperor would arrive. Before she could even ask when that would be the door got shut right in front of her nose, leaving her alone.

With a heavy sigh Yeong-Ja turned around and took a closer look at the room in front of her. While it definitely appeared luxurious - the room was basically as big as her old home - but except for a large bed there wasn’t much inside the room. It didn’t even have windows. There was only another sliding door, which probably led to the private quarters of the emperor.

Yeong-Ja stood in the middle of the room unsure what she was supposed to do besides waiting for the emperor. Should she stand somewhere specific or sit on the bed? She knew what was expected of her yet she couldn’t wrap her mind around the fact she had become a concubine in the span of only a few hours.

That morning Yeong-Ja had woken up and gone out to town since the market was open and she had hoped to buy a few things for her family. So while she bargained with one of the sellers, she got approached by a tall man in fancy clothes.

“Excuse me”, he said with an awkward smile, “I’d like to have a conversation with someone, who speaks for you.”

Yeong-Ja raised an eyebrow, forgetting the little quarrel with the seller as she turned towards the man and crossed her arms in front of her chest. “I’m able to speak for myself, sir.”

A twinkle in his eyes and the soft chuckle revealed his amusement even after he focused himself again with a short shake of his head. “I’d still like to inform your husband or any kind of relative that you’re chosen to become a concubine.”

For a split second everything around Yeong-Ja stopped. She stared at the stranger with wide eyes, needing several seconds to register what he just said. Once the heaviness of the message fought through and settled into her mind, her whole world started to crumble. She nodded almost mechanically as she asked the man to follow her, cutting her time at the market short.

Even when she brought him to his parents and sat beside them in the small dining area, somewhat listening to the words he had to say, her thoughts had travelled to a different place. While Yeong-Ja wasn’t the only woman at her age unmarried, it was rather uncommon. Her headstrong attitude and the fact she came from a poorer family were the reasons why she hadn’t been married yet. Though it hadn’t been a problem in her family, Yeong-Ja was incredibly thankful for that since she loved her independence. 

“If you want to take something with you, Miss Yeong-Ja, now would be the time to get it.” The stranger, who had himself introduced as Park Seonghwa the head counsellor of the emperor, looked at her. A hint of pity and understanding swirling in his dark eyes. 

Her mother had followed her to the sleeping area, laying a hand on her shoulder. She had tears in her eyes as she pulled her daughter into her arms. “You’ll have a better life at the palace”, she whispered and caressed the back of the younger woman. “Please take this with you.” With that her mother let go of her and walked over to a small cabinet. She pulled a box out from the farthest end and turned back to Yeong-Ja. “This was a gift from your great grandfather to your great grandmother. It’s supposed to be a lucky item. Wear it to receive the blessings -” she swallowed the lump inside her throat, her voice sounding choked up - “and to remember us.”

Yeong-Ja hiccuped as she accepted the gift with trembling fingers. She looked down at the fine silver necklace in her hands, seeing one turquoise stone added as a pendant. She closed her hands and clutched them against her chest, whispering her thanks while tears streamed down her cheeks.

Now inside the luxurious bedroom Yeong-Ja fumbled with the dozens of layers of clothes to reach for the pendant. She wrapped her fingers around the turquoise and felt the calm energy spreading throughout her body. With no way back she could only look ahead.

She noticed a bowl of water and several towels on a nightstand close to the bed. Yeong-Ja walked closer to the bowl, leaning over it and staring at her own reflection. She barely recognised herself and a frown appeared on her features. 

That ghost-like face looking back at her wasn’t the woman she wanted to be. While the make-up looked magnificent and had been applied with the utmost care by the servants, Yeong-Ja couldn’t help herself but to hate it. She knew noble women liked to appear paler to show they didn’t work on fields in the sun, but Yeong-Ja was born and raised on such fields. She had a natural tan skin and any other colour made her look sick.

Without a second thought Yeong-Ja pushed the fabrics up her arms and dunked her hands into the bowl, cupping them and splashing water into her face. She rubbed her face meticulously and hoped to get rid of all the white make-up plastered on her skin.

Once she deemed her face clean, Yeong-Ja grabbed a towel and patted her skin dry. Her face already felt much lighter without all the make-up. Although the minute Yeong-Ja looked down at her body and saw all the layers of fancy fabric she felt like a fool again. Her face didn’t match this dress anymore. Yeong-Ja pursed her lips and brushed the sleeves of the fabric back down, feeling uncomfortable in all these layers. The young woman looked over her shoulder to the two closed doors, contemplating whether she should risk it and change or just stay put.

She swallowed and tried to listen intently to the sounds outside of the room. When she wasn’t able to pick up any words or steps, she decided to take the risk. 

Yeong-Ja fumbled with the fabrics and the knots that held everything in place. It took her every ounce of self control to stay patient and not rip everything apart. Once she finally got rid of every layer and only stood in the finest silk underwear in the middle of the room, Yeong-Ja thought she was able to breathe again.

She bent down and started folding all the fabrics, placing them neatly in front of the nightstand. Yeong-Ja only kept the outer piece and a few pins. She draped the fabric over her body and secured it with the pins.

When Yeong-Ja was brought into the bedroom, the emperor - Choi San - arrived at the throne room. He barely kept the sigh inside his lungs when he saw Seonghwa waiting for him.

“Another victory, huh?” Seonghwa stepped next to San, trying to contain his grin. He could read San like a book and knew how annoyed his emperor was already.

“Which means another concubine.” San plopped down on the throne. He pushed his hair back with his hand before he fixed his eyes on the older man. “Why is the court getting a concubine every time I come back from a battle? They’re running away in the end.”

“Now, now. You make it out as if every concubine has fled so far. You still have a thriving harem, San.”

San only rolled his eyes and clicked his tongue, resting his chin on his hand. “Anything else I should know before I tell the servants to bring the new concubine to their quarters?” San only wanted to get a bath in peace, wanted to wash off all the grime and blood from the battlefield. He needed to rest and regain his strength again. San had used almost all of his power to keep the intruders in check and only with the help of his wolf was he able to overpower them.

“This one is different. Take at least a look at her.” 

San zoned back into the conversation and shook his head. Whatever Seonghwa had told him just now, San only heard the last two sentences. He grimaced but decided to wave it off for now. With a dismissive hand gesture San got up from the throne and walked to the hidden door behind it. “I’ll think about it”, he told Seonghwa before he bid his goodbye and followed the wooden path towards his private quarters.

A servant rushed to his side, offering their assistance. They nodded in understanding with each order - preparing a bath and bringing the new concubine to their quarters - they received. 

San opened the door to his private bedroom and closed it right behind him again. He trotted towards the bathroom and started stripping out of his clothes, which needed to be washed as well. 

A sudden scream followed by frantic yelling, interrupted San in his undressing. Without regard to his appearance the emperor rushed towards the disturbance. He slammed the door to the concubine bedroom open and hurriedly stepped inside, his eyes jumping from corner to corner. San was ready to fight but except for a servant and a woman he never saw before he couldn’t sense any danger. “Wha-”

“I am so sorry, my emperor. I didn’t mean to disturb you with my yelling. I just wanted to take the concubine to her quarters when I saw what she did.” The servant bowed deeply as they apologised over and over again.

“Please”, San only said in a stern voice, successfully shutting up the servant. He looked around the room again, trying to understand what the servant meant. He inhaled deeply when a sudden wave hit his senses.

‘Smells good’, his wolf hummed, forcing San to inhale again. He even closed his eyes, focusing solely on the sweet scent invading his nose. When he opened his eyes again, they immediately landed on the new concubine.

Yeong-Ja had crossed her arms in front of her chest. She felt embarrassed for screaming when the servant tapped her shoulder. She hadn’t noticed them coming into the room and yelped in surprise from the sudden touch. Yeong-Ja also felt embarrassed for being scolded so harshly. While she had expected to get scolded, she had pictured it to be the emperor himself.

Her eyes fell on the man who had entered the room as well. She could feel the heat rising to her cheeks when Yeong-Ja saw the half-naked form of him. Involuntarily her eyes wandered over his toned upper body and well defined muscles. She took the tattoos adorning his body in as well, fascinated by the intricate painting of a wolf’s head on his left pec.

As her eyes continued to wander over his body she finally reached his face. The air inside her lungs nearly got stuck when Yeong-Ja saw the intense gaze on her. She locked eyes with him and the feeling of being a small prey spread throughout her whole body. 

San glanced at the servant, telling them they were dismissed, before his eyes landed on the new concubine again. 

His wolf rumbled inside of him, growling something about having found their mate. He eagerly wanted to cross the distance and get to the woman, wanted to touch her, smell her, scent her, take her and most importantly breed her.

San’s fingers twitched as he fought to keep control over his own body. Seonghwa’s words played in his mind again, while San stared at the woman in front of him. He noticed how she wasn’t turned into a doll-like human like all the other concubines before her. He also noticed how the clothes around her body weren’t as neatly placed. 

‘Easier access’, his wolf nearly howled, keen with the choices that were made.

Yeong-Ja could have sworn she was on fire from the intensity of his gaze but at the same time one ice cold shiver after another ran down her spine. She could feel her heart pounding inside of her ribcage.

“May I know your name?”

The soft voice of the emperor - even though it sounded slightly strangled - surprised Yeong-Ja. She would love to simply listen to him all day, every day. “Yeong-Ja”, she introduced herself, bowing slightly in hopes it was enough courtesy towards the emperor.

San repeated her name, same as his inner wolf, getting a feeling of it on his tongue. “That is a beautiful name”, he complimented her as he suppressed another attempt of his wolf to pounce on her. “Have you been waiting for a long time?”

Yeong-Ja blinked several times, thinking about the question. She wasn’t even sure whether she could answer it or not. Without any windows Yeong-Ja wasn’t able to see how high the sun was and therefore unable to tell the time. Yet she knew it had been enough time for her to change her appearance. “Long enough to wash my face and dress differently.”

San’s eyes widened in surprise. He hadn’t expected such an answer and most importantly he hadn’t expected that she took the liberty to change her looks, disregarding everything the servants must have prepared for him. Before San could control himself, he let out a loud laugh. San held his stomach as he leaned back from the force of his laughter. The mental picture of the frustration from his servants and her just undoing everything that has been made, just got to him.

Yeong-Ja observed him silently, a small smile playing over her lips upon noticing the dimples on his face when he grinned brightly. 

Once San calmed down again, he wiped the corner of his eyes. He still grinned, the amusement apparent in his voice as well. “Make yourself comfortable in this room. If you’re in need of anything don’t hesitate to call for a servant.”

Yeong-Ja nodded slowly, trying to hide the confusion that filled her thoughts. She thought the emperor would want her to undress and get on the bed so she could please him. Therefore she hadn’t expected something like this.

“I’d like to have breakfast with you tomorrow morning. Is that alright with you?” San ignored the warning growls from his wolf, telling him to stay with her. But San wanted to be a little more careful with her. He hoped by getting to know her first and taking it slow, Yeong-Ja might not fear him like most of the other concubines. And most importantly she hopefully wouldn’t run away.

Yeong-Ja had to remind herself of keeping it together and actually answer the emperor. Everything she witnessed from him so far contradicted all the rumours surrounding him. It was a miracle that she wasn’t too stunned to speak with him. “It would be a pleasure.”

San smiled and nodded shortly, before he bid his goodbye and walked back into his private chambers. Much to the dismay of his inner wolf.

Over the next weeks San ordered to bring more furniture into the concubine’s bedroom. While he could have admitted Yeong-Ja to the special quarters for the concubine instead of the regular ones, his inner wolf insisted to have her as close as possible - and if sharing a bed wasn’t an option yet it had to be the room right next door.

Yeong-Ja still didn’t know how to properly act around the emperor. He was sweet towards her during the day and made sure every wish she could possibly have was fulfilled as fast as possible but he never called her for the purpose she was brought into the palace.

At night she would lie awake in the large bed, staring up at the ceiling, which she barely saw with the small night light on the stand next to the bed. At first Yeong-Ja wasn’t able to sleep because she constantly stayed on edge, expecting to be called for her duty at any moment. Though when it didn’t happen her thoughts started to tear her apart from the inside. She couldn’t understand why San never came to her at night, why he always kept his distance even when they met. 

Yeong-Ja couldn’t possibly know how much he suffered from not being close to her. His wolf rioted every chance possible - especially at night. A time where he wanted to take his mate and nothing else. 

San writhed in pain, trying to keep his cool. Yet the hard on he sported in his loose pants throbbed painfully. No amount of masturbating helped him and it slowly but surely drove him insane.

‘Go to her.’ His wolf whispered, the sly smirk prominent in his voice. ‘She’ll take care of us.’

“No”, San grunted breathlessly. He pushed himself up and walked over to the door. San stood in front of it, his whole body trembling as he fought with himself. It took all of his will power to go through the other door. 

He walked up to the concubine quarters. San needed a release and he couldn’t care less about who he had to fuck for that. As long as it meant he wouldn’t harm Yeong-Ja.

The woman struggled to fall asleep again. Therefore she decided to go for a short walk. She followed the wooden path to the centre of the palace, where she found a small koi pond and some greenery. Yeong-Ja sat down on the stairs that led down to the pond and stared at the water. The light of the flames from the lanterns around her reflected on the surface, almost dancing to a melody she wasn’t able to hear.

When she heard the sudden movements to her right, she cowered behind the handrail, hoping to stay hidden from whoever walked past in the middle of the night.

San pushed the concubine towards the special quarters since he couldn’t use the bedroom anymore. He got impatient with her stumbling and irritated with his wolf wanting to go somewhere else. Hopefully it would die down the second he stepped into the quarters with that concubine.

Yeong-Ja watched them silently, a lump forming inside her stomach when she recognised San with another woman. She wondered what this woman had that she didn’t have. Her shoulders hung down and she couldn’t contain the sigh that spilled past her lips. While being with the emperor had its perks, she still felt out of place. No matter how many tea ceremonies, breakfasts or evening walks she would have with him, Yeong-Ja still thought there had to be something wrong with her as she seemed to be the only concubine that wasn’t used for her original purpose.

Yeong-Ja winced when she heard the faint cries of pleasure. Swallowing the building lump in her throat she decided to go for a longer walk. There was no way she could just sit there and listen, nor could she go back to her chamber that was located right next to them.

On silent soles the young woman moved over the bridge of the pond and up the stairs towards the throne hall. She hoped the door behind the throne would be open, so she could sneak past. Even though she knew she’d be stopped at the main gate, she had a slimmer of hope within her.

“Miss Yeong-Ja?”

She squeaked and slightly jumped on the spot, her hand hovering above the handle for the sliding door to the throne hall. Yeong-Ja’s head turned almost mechanically to her left, where she saw Seonghwa.

He looked at her with concern written all over his face. Ever so carefully he stepped towards her, fearing she might bolt if he made too hasty movements. “Is everything alright?”

Yeong-Ja winced again, feeling incredibly exposed all of a sudden. “I just wanted to take a walk.”

“In the middle of the night?” Seonghwa finally reached her, placing a hand on her shoulder. He tilted his head, exploring her face in detail. His attention momentarily faltered when he heard the outcry from the special room. Understanding dawned on his features as his attention returned to the woman in front of him. “May I accompany you, Miss Yeong-Ja?”

Yeong-Ja nodded softly, a small smile playing over her features when she saw his awkward grin. “Can we leave the palace grounds for a while?” She asked hopefully, needing some distance to clear her thoughts.

“I’ll send for two guards to follow us”, Seonghwa confirmed and ushered her through the door. They crossed the throne room in silence and waited at the large entrance to the courtyard for two guards to join you.

For a while the silence continued as they walked through the streets of the upper town. Though as if Seonghwa was able to read her mind, he spoke up again: “Something is troubling you.”

Yeong-Ja sighed deeply, tilting her head back and looking up into the dark sky. “Is there something wrong with me?” She didn’t dare to look at Seonghwa, fearing his answer for some reason.

Seonghwa raised an eyebrow, observing her closely. “Why would there something be wrong with you?”

She shrugged with her shoulders, looking back down to the ground again. “It’s a little embarrassing to talk about this”, she confessed, her voice so soft nobody else but Seonghwa could hear her. “I just feel like the emperor doesn’t want me like he wants the other concubines. I’m not even sharing the same quarters with them.”

Seonghwa placed his hand on her shoulder again, chuckling softly. “I’m sure it is quite the opposite, dear.”

Yeong-Ja raised her head and looked at Seonghwa in confusion, a frown adorning her features while she tried to understand what the counsellor meant. “If the emperor wants me why wouldn’t he come to me at night?”

“That is something you should ask him yourself”, Seonghwa answered ominously, halting in his steps and turning around. 

Yeong-Ja followed his example, still confused about what he was hinting at. She noticed him staring ahead and followed his gaze. 

Her eyes widened in surprise when they locked with San’s, who stood breathing heavily in the middle of the street before them.

When she had left the palace, San had stopped mid-thrust. ‘She’s leaving!’ San’s eyes widened in panic when he realised his wolf was right and the scent of Yeong-Ja grew more distant. San growled almost animalistically as he pushed himself away from the concubine. “Go back to your chambers”, he ordered before he rushed out of the room.

He hurried to her bedroom first, needing to confirm what his instincts and sense of smell told him with his own two eyes. San momentarily stopped in front of her door, making himself presentable before he entered. His heartbeat accelerated when he didn’t see her inside the room.

‘Follow her!’ His wolf snarled and pulled San back.

The emperor barely snapped out of this, keeping control over his own body, as he ran towards the main gates. He ignored the questioning looks from the guards and only continued to run through the streets. San followed his nose for the most part but his eyes still frantically scanned his surroundings, making sure he wouldn’t miss her.

He stopped upon finding her - together with Seonghwa, who had a hand placed on her shoulder. San breathed heavily, his shoulders heaving from the sprint he just did. His eyes jumped between Yeong-Ja and Seonghwa, trying to figure out what was going on while his wolf wanted nothing but to rip Seonghwa’s hand off.

Seonghwa bowed slightly towards San and then turned back to Yeong-Ja. “I’ll leave you in his care now.” He smiled knowingly and squeezed her shoulder in reassurance before stepping away.

Yeong-Ja looked puzzled. Instead of finding answers to her questions, she only had more questions inside her head now. Once Seonghwa was out of her sight, her eyes landed on San. Uncertainty wafted off of her in waves and even San could sense it without his inner wolf telling him.

“Is everything alright?” He asked carefully, eyes exploring her expression. San feared she had attempted to escape and only got stopped by Seonghwa.

Yeong-Ja crossed her arms in front of her chest, slightly hugging her upper body even. “I just needed to take a walk.”

“In the middle of the night?”

“Yes!” She snapped, before looking away in embarrassment. “In the middle of the night”, she added more softly, “I needed to clear my head.”

San stepped closer - at least a little. “Is there something bothering you?” He tried to even his breathing, even though the fear inside of him made him want to gasp for air. His thoughts swirled around his head and the whining of his wolf to move closer didn’t help either to stay level headed.

Yeong-Ja watched him. She saw the fear in his eyes, saw him struggle and fight with himself but she didn’t understand why. She tightened the hold around her upper body. “Is there something wrong with me?”

“What?”

She was about to repeat herself, when San interrupted her: “No! Why would you think that? There is absolutely nothing wrong with you! You’re beautiful just the way you are!”

“And yet you always keep your distance.” Yeong-Ja mumbled to herself without knowing San’s heightened senses still picked up on her words. 

“I don’t want to hurt you.” San groaned and pressed his face into his hands, before running them through his hair. “I keep my distance because I don’t want to frighten or hurt you.”

Yeong-Ja looked up at him through her eyelashes, gnawing on her lower lip as she contemplated her next question.

San’s wolf begged him to cross the distance and scoop her up in his arms; begged him to litter her in kisses but San stayed put. He wanted to wait; wanted to hear what she had to say.

“So could we have a tea ceremony where you won’t sit across the room and far away from me?” The wavering in her otherwise hopeful voice was heartbreaking.

“If that is what you wish for”, San agreed with a nod, never moving his eyes away from her. He didn’t dare to let her out of his sight for even a second. “Let us do that then. Tomorrow. After a good night’s rest.”

Yeong-Ja nodded shortly. She still felt uncertain around him but having him agree on being closer felt like a small step in the right direction. The young woman walked over to San - momentarily surprised he didn’t step back, but incredibly pleased he followed through with his words already. “Then we should head back again.”

“Yes”, San breathed out and walked next to you. Relief washed over his whole body once he realised she hadn’t tried running away and was even willing to go back with him. He definitely had to work harder to keep Yeong-Ja by his side - even if it meant torturing himself.

~

San sat in the middle of his private chamber. He had his eyes closed, trying to mentally prepare himself for the close proximity he was about to have with Yeong-Ja. 

Behind him the tattoo artist prepared his utensils to create another mark on the emperor’s body. Hongjoong created every art piece on San’s skin and it hadn’t surprised him to be called again. He placed the small bowl with black ink to his right on a cloth of linen. Next to the bowl he kept the needles and a wooden piece he used as a hammer. To his left Hongjoong had placed a larger bowl of water and several towels. 

“Everything has been prepared. We can start now.”

San raised one hand, halting the artist in his movements. “Please wait a moment. I’m expecting someone to join us.”

Hongjoong’s eyes widened as he stared at the back of the emperor’s head. So far each tattoo session has always been just them. He leaned back on his feet, placing his hands on his thighs to wait.

A servant announced their arrival, requesting to open the door and let Yeong-Ja inside. 

Yeong-Ja played with the fingers of her hands behind her back. She stepped inside once the sliding door got opened enough for her to walk in. To her surprise the door got closed behind her right away. For a second it felt like a deja vu but when she turned her head and looked into the room, she noticed the two men sitting on the floor. 

Just like during the first night San only wore some pants, revealing his bare chest and arms. He looked up at her with a nervous smile. “I know this isn’t like our usual meetings”, he explained when he saw her tilting her head to the side and eyeing Hongjoong behind him. “Will you still join me?”

The woman nodded hesitantly and crossed the room to sit in front of San. She leaned a little to the side to get a better look at the second man, who nearly got devoured by San’s broad shoulders. 

“That’s Kim Hongjoong”, San told her, successfully getting her attention back on him. “He did all of my tattoos and will do another today.” San momentarily looked over his shoulder and told Hongjoong to start now.

At the mention of his tattoos Yeong-Ja’s eyes dropped to his chest, staring at the large wolf tattoo. She mused Hongjoong to be a great artist if he was able to create such detail of a wolf’s head with nothing but black ink. “Do they have a meaning or are you just having them for aesthetic reasons?” 

For a while only the slapping of the wood against Hongjoong’s fingers filled the room. San focused on the slight pain pulsating through his body to keep his wolf in check. The close proximity to her made his wolf run up the walls but he couldn’t let it be. “Some have meaning, others don’t”, he breathed out, his jaw clenching and hand twitching as his wolf made another attempt to reach out to her.

Yeong-Ja watched him silently, noticing how he tensed up and struggled to hold this conversation.

Even Hongjoong noticed the unusual behaviour of the emperor. He knew for a fact San didn’t react to the pain of the needle, so seeing him this tense surprised the artist.

Yeong-Ja turned her attention back to the artist while San continued breathing purposefully. “How are you creating these?”

Hongjoong momentarily halted in his movement to look up at the woman. A proud grin flashed over his feature before he continued to work and started explaining the process to her. 

While his inner wolf got jealous and wanted to bring the focus back to them, San felt some sort of relief that he could deal with his wolf for a moment as she listened intently to the process of tattoo making from Hongjoong.

After what only felt like seconds but probably had been much longer Yeong-Ja looked back at San. She noticed how he had already been watching her, making the heat rise up to her cheeks. Yeong-Ja quickly dismissed the feeling and cleared her throat. “May I see how he’s doing it?”

San’s eyes widened but he nodded nonetheless. He silently watched how she got on her knees and crawled past his left side. She stopped right next to him, letting only her head be behind his body to watch the artist creating the tattoo. Yeong-Ja stayed on all fours as she watched, surprised at the mess she saw on his back.

Hongjoong grabbed one of the towels and dunked it into the water bowl before wiping it over the fresh tattoo.

“Oh”, Yeong-Ja gasped when all the residue ink got wiped away and revealed what the artist had created so far. “How can you see with all the ink and blood being in the way?”

“Memory and constant cleaning.” Hongjoong picked the needle and piece of wood back up into his hands. He dunked the tip of the needle into the black ink and placed it on San’s skin before he slapped the wood against his fingers and pricked the skin in the process.

Yeong-Ja’s hand involuntarily grabbed onto San’s hand that had rested on his lap. She watched the tattoo artist with wide eyes, her hand squeezing San’s with every slap of the wooden piece. 

San had gone completely still, his heart nearly beating out of his chest while his wolf rumbled in satisfaction. The little electric shock waves that flowed through his body were so much stronger than the pain from the needle. He swallowed harshly and turned his head to look at her. His eyes roamed over her features and a soft smile spread over his lips. San turned his attention down to her hand and before he could get second thoughts he placed his free hand on hers and started rubbing his thumb over her delicate skin.

Yeong-Ja leaned back on her feet again, eyes now on San’s face. “Does it hurt?” She noticed how he had relaxed soon after she held his hand, she also realised - with a slight panic arising - how this was the first time she actually had skin to skin contact with San.

“Not anymore”, he answered softly, continuing to stroke her hand with his thumb. “It’s reassuring even. To know I’ll soon have another mark on my skin that shows I’m fighting for my people.” San easily continued to speak about his tattoos and their meaning now, when she asked him to tell her more about them. 

He would be laughing at himself, if it weren’t for the tattooing. San never expected that the simple contact with her skin was enough to keep his wolf somewhat satisfied and make him definitely easier to control. For weeks he battled inside of his mind with his wolf to take it slow. The constant suffering of being near her, having her scent and presence invade all of his senses without the possibility to act on it, turned San almost crazy. Yet, simple hand holding had been the solution all along.

“I’d like to have one as well”, Yeong-Ja announced suddenly, making both men freeze and stare at her with wide eyes.

Hongjoong was the first to break out of his stupor. “You want to have a tattoo?” He raised an eyebrow in question, looking at her and then at San before he looked back at her. “What would you want to get and where?”

Yeong-Ja’s eyes flicked to San, who still hadn’t moved, where she looked at the wolf tattoo shortly. Her eyes moved back up to San’s face, seeing how stunned he was with her statement. 

San barely heard any of Hongjoong’s question as his heart hammered inside his chest and pumped his blood like a raging stream through his body.

Yeong-Ja bid down on her lower lip, feeling suddenly nervous with the way both men stared at her. “I’d like something that shows what I am. Something that shows I belong to the emperor.”

‘She wants us to mark her!’ 

San could feel his dick twitch from the image of marking her. The excitement his wolf felt washing over to himself as well. He had to fight to keep his thoughts clear, needing several minutes before he could even speak again. “You want my sigil on your body?”

Yeong-Ja nodded softly, still gnawing at her lower lip. She had thought of a wolf at first but the second San mentioned his sigil - the moon - she knew it was the perfect tattoo to show she belonged to him. “Would that be alright?” Yeong-Ja looked up at San through her eyelashes, nervous to get a rejection from him.

“Yes”, he breathed out, squeezing her hand gently. “Absolutely!” San turned his head to glance at Hongjoong. “Once you finish my tattoo, prepare everything to make another.”

Hongjoong agreed quietly and got back to work, finishing the tattoo soon after. He cleaned San’s back one last time before he stood up and called for a servant, requesting fresh towels and water. When he turned back around, his eyes landed on the woman. “Have you thought about where you want to get the tattoo?”

“Somewhere where I can see it, if I want to.” Yeong-Ja looked down at her body, wondering which part that would be. She lifted her arms and turned them, quickly deciding against them and looking further down her body. Her gaze momentarily flickered to San’s chest, thinking she could have the moon tattoo on her chest just like him, but she already squirmed at the thought of revealing her breasts. Finally Yeong-Ja’s gaze landed on her lap. “On my thigh?”

Hongjoong nodded. “That’s a good choice for a first tattoo placement. It will hurt less.” He started to prepare everything again, thanking the servants that brought the things he requested.

San squeezed her hand and brought her attention back to him. “Are you afraid?” He asked softly, tilting his head to one side.

“Not with your approval”, she answered him, smiling shyly and brushing a strand of hair behind her ear. “I was more afraid of your reaction”, she admitted. Again she glanced up at him, gauging his expression to her words. 

San could only grin foolishly at her, his dimples appearing in his cheeks. He loved how she asked for his approval; loved how she wanted to do it with him in her mind. Before he could say anything of that though, Hongjoong requested Yeong-Ja to lay down on her side. San nearly whined out loud when she pulled her hand away from him to follow the request.

Yeong-Ja tried breathing naturally but her nervousness slowly got the best of her. She only followed the instructions of Hongjoong now, her head otherwise empty. She pulled the fabric of her dress to the side, revealing her right thigh. 

Hongjoong then grabbed her by her hip gently and pulled her back to his lap, so that half her body leaned against him. “If this position is too uncomfortable we can get you a pillow to support your upper body.”

San immediately scrambled closer to them. He offered his own lap as a pillow and grinned giddily when Yeong-Ja accepted and placed her head on his lap. The emperor grabbed her right hand as well, pulling her arm up over her head so it wouldn’t be in the way for Hongjoong and so he could hold her hand again.

‘We should be marking her’, his wolf growled. He felt conflicted watching another man putting a mark on the body of his mate - even if it showed humans she belonged to the emperor - and having her so close to him. On one side he wanted to smother his mate in kisses and licks and on the other he wanted to tear his teeth into the artist for touching her. Or take her in front of him just to show his claim.

San groaned silently, debating with his wolf inside his mind. He unconsciously closed his eyes and clenched his jaw, too focused on controlling his wolf.

Yeong-Ja, who had been staring up at San for the whole time, noticed how he tensed up again. She squeezed his hand and smiled reassuringly when he opened his eyes and looked at her.

“Does it hurt?” San asked and raised her hand to his lips, kissing the back of it before he could even think about the action.

“Not anymore”, Yeong-Ja answered, grinning at him as she saw the twinkle of understanding in his eyes. She didn’t just say these words to copy his answer from before, she actually barely felt the way Hongjoong tattooed her since all her focus had been on San only, making her heart soar and stomach flutter. This was the closest she had been to him and she liked the feeling, hoping it would only deepen in the future.

~

“Can I see your tattoo again?” San turned on his side, looking up at Yeong-Ja’s sitting form. He grinned innocently as he looked through his bangs, appearing almost boy-ish. 

Yeong-Ja giggled and leaned back on her hands, stretching her leg out. “You've been asking every day since I got it.” She closed her eyes and inhaled the fresh air surrounding her. 

Ever since she got the tattoo, San kept her as close as possible. He still hadn’t taken her at night but during the day he became quite clingy, disregarding the looks from others when he stayed so close to her.

Though right now he didn’t have to worry about it, having taken Yeong-Ja out on a picnic to a nearby stream in the bordering forest. He told Seonghwa where they were headed and ordered the guards to stay behind. San wanted to be solely with her at least for a moment.

“And I’ll continue to ask every single day.”

Yeong-Ja opened her eyes and laughed softly. “I’m yours. Technically you wouldn’t even have to ask.” She licked over her lips and averted her eyes again, taking in her surroundings instead.

The sun filtered through the canopy of the trees above their heads, letting thin rays of light hit the ground around them. Some rays reached the water of the small stream, where the moving water reflected the light. Birds and cicadas chirped around them and somewhere up the stream even a frog croaked its mating song.

San pushed himself up and crawled over to Yeong-Ja, his body half hovering over hers now. He grabbed her chin with his forefinger and thumb and turned her head until she looked into his eyes again. “I will always ask for your consent.”

Yeong-Ja exhaled shakily and smiled up to him. “And I’ll always give you my consent.”

San grinned brightly and let go of her chin, his hand moving down to her leg instead. When he reached her ankle, he finally made contact with her skin. Ever so slowly San pushed his hand up along her leg now, moving the fabric of the dress to the side in the process. Once he revealed her bare thigh to his sight, he let his thumb brush over the dark tattoo. 

‘We should mark her right next to it!’ His wolf tried to order San and growled in frustration when he didn’t bud. ‘She’s ready for us! Take her, mark her, breed her!’ 

San swallowed harshly, trying to ignore the pictures floating into his mind. He grabbed her thigh, his large hand squeezing it. His eyes slowly wandered back up to her face, seeing how she stared at him with bated breath. 

‘She wants us! Wants us to breed her! Do something!’ His wolf roared in frustration when San only dropped down on her form, using her body as a pillow. 

San pressed his ear against her chest, listening to her erratic heartbeat with a smirk playing over his lips. He sighed in content and closed his eyes. It took all his strength to keep his wolf in check and simply relaxing in her lap helped him gain the power to keep it that way.

Yeong-Ja shifted her weight to hold her up on one hand, so she could card her fingers through San’s dark locks. She tried to ignore how her heart hammered inside of her chest, making her emotions incredibly obvious to the emperor. She tried to ignore the flutter inside her stomach and the heat pooling in her lower regions when he squeezed her thigh. While a part of her wanted him to take her in the middle of the forest, she couldn’t bring herself to ask him.

Yeong-Ja wasn’t inexperienced - not that she’d tell anybody about it - but now that emotions had joined the situation, it created a pit in her stomach and made a mess out of her.

A twig snapped in the distance, alerting San and his wolf. He tensed up before pushing himself into a crouching position in front of Yeong-Ja, ready to protect her at any cost. San barely held the growl inside him when he heard steps coming closer.

“What’s wrong?” Yeong-Ja sat up as well, placing one hand on San’s back and peering over his shoulder. 

“Someone’s coming”, San informed her with a low voice. He had his eyes still trained on the trees in front of him, listening intently to the steps. His nose twitched as he tried to use the sense of smell from his wolf, hoping to get a read on the person that was approaching.

“San?”

Yeong-Ja sat a little straighter than before, her mouth shaping an ‘o’ as she recognised the voice. She also noticed how San visibly relaxed and stood up, calling out for Seonghwa.

Soon enough the older man appeared between the trees with an awkward smile adorning his face. “I’m terribly sorry to interrupt”, he apologised and bowed shortly in front of the couple. “But I have to ask you to return to the palace.”

San frowned and crossed his arms in front of his chest. “Why?” Was the only word he said, slightly glaring at Seonghwa for even requesting something like that.

Seonghwa glanced towards Yeong-Ja, who slowly stood up too, readying herself to leave at any moment. He sighed deeply and returned his attention to his emperor. “Patrolling guards have stumbled on a camp of soldiers from the neighbouring region. They were able to overwhelm them without any casualties but now they insist on delivering a message to the emperor himself.”

“And that couldn’t wait?” San grunted in annoyance, but started to pack the few things he had brought along nonetheless. 

“The prisoners make the court nervous.”

“And a nervous court is a bad court.” San sighed and rubbed a hand over his face. He didn’t want to leave Yeong-Ja’s side so soon. He turned his head and looked at her, contemplating his options. “Would you” - he paused, unsure about his own request - “stay with me?”

Yeong-Ja nodded and quickly stepped next to him, placing a hand on his upper arm. “If that’s what you wish.”

San thanked her quietly and grabbed her hand, leading her back to the palace and towards the throne room. His thumb rubbed slow circles to the back of her hand as his gaze was trained on Seonghwa’s back. He knew Seonghwa wouldn’t have interrupted them if it wasn’t necessary. He still cursed the older man for doing it though.

When they reached the throne room, Seonghwa stepped next to the throne as the head counsellor, looking down at the five soldiers that kneeled at the bottom of the steps towards the throne. 

San glared at them as he walked up the steps and plopped down on the throne. He still held onto Yeong-Ja’s hand and used the chance to pull her right into his lap. There was no way he’d let her go now while being irritated already. San wrapped his arms around her body and silently nosed her neck, inhaling her scent with closed eyes to calm himself down again. 

Yeong-Ja hadn’t expected to sit on the throne as well but she sensed how San needed her presence to keep his cool. She placed one hand on his chest, silently telling him she would be there for him.

“What is this message you have for me?” San opened his eyes again, glaring down at the five soldiers, who cowered away from his intense aura. Even some of his own guards shrunk down on themselves. 

“It’s more of a warning”, one of the soldiers spoke up, raising his head to look up and smirk at San and Yeong-Ja. “You might wanna keep a closer look on your concubines.”

San snarled loudly and tightened his hold on Yeong-Ja, leaning forward a little as if he wanted to attack at any moment. “Be careful of your next words or I will rip your tongue out”, he threatened, baring his teeth in the process.

The soldier laughed maniacally. “I’m not surprised rebel groups are forming in your kingdom when the emperor himself is more concerned whether I insult a concubine or not.” He glared back up at San, a crazy look in his eyes and a smirk on his lips. “They say the dumber the concubine the better the sex. So this one must be incredibly stupid if you keep her that close.”

Yeong-Ja pressed her hand on San’s chest, keeping him in place. She turned her head to the soldier, raising an eyebrow to taunt him. “Oh really?”, she asked with a scoff. “In this case your stupidity outshines mine. You never intended to give the emperor a real warning, did you now? You only desired to insult him or get a rise out of him, isn’t that right? But here you are, on your knees, pathetic and incredibly stupid for revealing your association with rebel groups.” 

Seonghwa stared at the woman with wide eyes. She was the first woman to speak during a court meeting of this magnitude. She was also the first to attend one but that's besides the fact she kept San in check, threw the insults right back at the enemies face and pointed out valuable information. He had also picked up on the rebel part but would have brought it up at a later point without the soldiers present. 

Seonghwa turned his attention to San, noting how he barely held himself together. The only thing stopping him right now was Yeong-Ja’s hand on his chest. Otherwise he appeared to be absolutely livid.

“Pah”, the soldier barked, internally cursing himself for speaking about the rebel groups.

“And let me guess”, Yeong-Ja continued, ignoring how the soldier bared his teeth at her, “part of the rebel group is a former concubine that ran away. Why else would you bring it up?”

“A loud one, aren’t we? I’ll keep in mind to gag you when I fuck you and make you submit to me!”

In a flash San pushed Yeong-Ja from his lap and leaped down the stairs, crashing into the soldier, who had insulted her on several occasions. He punched his face over and over again, not stopping even when he heard the crack of bones.

Seonghwa rushed over to Yeong-Ja and placed his hand on her shoulder, forcing himself into her line of view. “You should leave now!” 

Yeong-Ja stared up at him with an open mouth. She noted his stern voice and expression but something inside her insisted to stay put. “He asked me to stay by his side”, she tried to bargain with Seonghwa, knowing full well her weak voice did nothing to compel him. 

“You do not want to see this”, Seonghwa only told her and grabbed her upper arm, pulling her up and away from the throne. 

“What kind of monster is he?” One of the other soldiers screamed as he tried to move away. 

Yeong-Ja looked over her shoulder upon the scream, seeing how San got tackled by several of his own guards, who tried to pull him away from the now lifeless body of the first soldier. She watched how San pushed all of the guards away and stood up, blood dripping from his fists. His eyes had turned turquoise as he fixed the soldier, who had screamed, with his stare. The last thing Yeong-Ja saw was San snarling, revealing larger canines than a human being should have, before she got pushed through the door behind the throne.

“What is happening to him?” She asked in concern and stared up at Seonghwa’s grim expression. Yeong-Ja stumbled along the wooden path, trying to keep up with the pace Seonghwa had.

“That’s something he’ll have to tell you himself.” Seonghwa opened the door to her quarters and gently pushed her inside. “Stay here and do not come out until I or a servant come for you!”

“What about San? Can I leave when he-?”

“No!” Seonghwa interrupted her immediately, his grip on her shoulder tightening. “In this state San can’t be near you! He wouldn’t want that!” 

Before Yeong-Ja could ask more questions, Seonghwa let go of her and closed the door in front of her nose. She wrapped her arms around her upper body and slowly walked to the large bed while all of her thoughts were with San.

Seonghwa basically ran back to the throne hall, seeing the bloodbath in front of him. He ordered the guards around as he tried to get a better grip of the situation. So far he counted four dead bodies already and several injured guards - which were thankfully on the lighter side. 

San stalked across the room to the remaining living soldier. He pushed himself through the guards that tried to hold him back, his hands that had already turned into claws reached out for the soldier and his turquoise eyes fixed him in the corner of the room. When San broke through his guards he landed on all fours but it didn’t stop him, instead he just continued to crawl forward. He growled menacingly and ignored the guards that grabbed onto his clothes and legs.

“They’re going to kill you! They will hunt you like the animal you are!”

San licked over his canines and pushed one last time forward, breaking free and reaching the soldier. He wrapped his hand around the soldier’s throat, his sharp claws digging into the skin and drawing blood. San leaned down to his face, leaving only a hair’s width between them. “They can try”, he growled before he snapped his back. 

Even though the soldier was dead, San still ripped his throat out and clawed at his upper body. He had lost all of his control, letting his wolf overpower him.

‘Die, die, die, die!’ The wolf chanted over and over again as he relished in the disembodiment of the soldiers. A small part of him had been incredibly proud of his mate for handling the situation so quick-witted but it did nothing for the rage he felt. Nobody insulted his mate and would get out of that alive. He scanned the room, making sure none of the enemies had survived, grinning even when he saw their bodies - or what was left of them. He inhaled deeply and closed his eyes, the stench of blood infiltrated his nostril as well as the fact the scent of his mate was missing.

Seonghwa and seven other guards stormed towards San, grabbing him and placing huge chains around his arms and wrists. They struggled quite a bit to keep San in check but did it in the end, despite his writhing and twisting.

They brought him to his private quarters and chained San up against his own bed, making sure he wouldn’t be able to break free unless he regained his human consciousness again.

“Take the time to cool off again”, Seonghwa told him with a pained smile on his lips. “You did what you had to. We’ll clean up the mess and take care of the rebel groups. Their scent will be traceable.”

San growled at the mention of the rebel groups, pulling at his chains as well. ‘Anybody associated with these soldiers has to die!’ 

Seonghwa sighed deeply and rubbed a hand over his face. He only hoped San would regain control again sooner than later. He didn’t want to imagine the consequences otherwise.

Yeong-Ja sat up on the bed as she heard the commotion outside her room. She scooted to the edge and listened with bated breath, hearing some muffled words being spoken as well as the rattling of chains. The woman swallowed the lump forming in her throat and stood up, walking to the door that connected her room with San’s. One of her hands clutched the turquoise pendant hanging around her neck while the other hovered above the door, trembling from the nervousness running through her body.

A pitiful whimper from the other side of the door, settled her decision and she pulled the sliding door open. Yeong-Ja glanced into the darkened room, her breath catching in her throat when her eyes connected with the turquoise glowing ones from San.

He whimpered again, trying to move one hand in a weak attempt to reach for her. “Yeong-Ja”, he rasped before he wetted his lips with his tongue.

Yeong-Ja carefully stepped closer to the bed, both hands now clutching the pendant while her eyes took in every detail of the scene before her. 

San laid splayed across the mattress, his upper body slightly hoisted up by the dozens of pillows behind his back. His arms were pulled to the side by heavy looking chains that wrapped around them up to his elbow. His fingers, which appeared more like claws, had blood slowly drying on them. Same with his clothes that got covered in blood stains and started to dry up. San had blood smeared over his lower face as well, the dark liquid a stark contrast to his smooth skin and his glowing eyes.

“San?” She asked hesitantly, halting at the end of the bed. Concern was written all over her features and it only deepened when he whimpered again. Yeong-Ja stared at him, a knot forming in her chest from the helplessness that suddenly arose inside of her. She wanted to help him, be there for him, but she didn’t know how.

A loud crack rang through the room and San broke free in the blink of an eye. He grabbed Yeong-Ja by the waist and slammed her down on the mattress, caging her underneath his body. He leaned down and nosed along her neck, inhaling deeply her intoxicating scent. “Our mate”, he rumbled and pressed his pelvis against her core.

The way San easily threw her onto the bed, knocked Yeong-Ja’s breath out of her lungs. The heat and throbbing inside her lower regions built up tenfold out of nowhere, leaving her incredibly aroused.

“We’ll take good care of our mate,” he breathed against the sensitive part of her neck, gently nibbling the skin even, “we’ll make her feel full with our cock, make her full of our cum until she’ll carry our pups.” He spoke more to himself than to her, too consumed by his own hunger and lust.

Yeong-Ja mewled softly underneath him when he ripped her clothes off, leaving her in a few shredded pieces of fabric but otherwise bare for his eyes. She wanted to hide from his intense gaze but stopped upon hearing him growl. Instead she raised her hands above her head, intertwining her fingers even, to show she wouldn’t hide a single part of her body from his sight. 

He growled almost impatiently as he grabbed her by the hips - the chains around his arms clanged loudly with each movement. With ease he lifted her body and turned her around so she was on all fours. He tore the fabric of his pants open while he pushed Yeong-Ja’s upper body into the mattress, presenting her ass nicely for him. 

Yeong-Ja gasped for air when he thrusted into her with one swift motion. Her walls tightened around his shaft, squeezing him hard from the sudden intrusion. She arched her back, changing the angle slightly he’d fuck into her. 

He grabbed her hair and held her down, pressing her into the mattress with one hand. Part of the cold chains rested on her back, adding to the intense feeling. The other grabbed onto her hip, keeping her body in place as he started to thrust into her. He snapped his hips so his pelvis hit her ass cheeks and created a loud slapping sound that reverberated through the whole room. He growled with each thrust, gaining strength from the increasing moans that turned higher in pitch with every snap of his hips.

Yeong-Ja cried out in pleasure, feeling her insides tingle in pleasure. Every fibre of her body reacted to him and sent her over the edge. If he hadn’t held her hip with a vice-like grip, she would have collapsed on the mattress. She barely caught her own breath when he used his strength again. She whined over the loss of his dick from her throbbing hole but yelped when he turned her back around and slammed her back into the mattress once more.

His claws ran over her skin, leaving thin red lines along their path. He moved them from her neck over her chest and down her sides until he stopped at her hips. His eyes landed on the moon tattoo on her thigh, grinning wickedly as he dropped down and licked over the dark ink. “Our mate. We’re marking her for good this time.” He nibbled around her tattoo, licking and kissing it in his way as well. Until he found a spot close to her core.

Yeong-Ja arched her back and screamed out when San bit down on her thigh, together with plunging two fingers into her hole at the same time. The pain and pleasure battled inside of her for the prominent feeling as San’s large canines stayed inside her flesh while he started to fuck his fingers into her at a brutal pace.

Only after he felt satisfied, he pulled away from the bite mark, rumbling pleased to see his own mark on her skin. He leaned down and licked over the tender wound, sealing it with his saliva. “You’re such a good mate for us. So perfect. Taking everything so well.”

With one last kiss on the bite mark he moved to her centre, brushing his lips over her sensitive nub and teasing her folds with a few licks. All while he still pounded his fingers into her relentlessly. He only slowed down his movements to add his tongue to the mixture, pushing it along his fingers into her hole. His nose nudged into her nub during the process, making her mewl and whine in pleasure.

As her high built up yet again, Yeong-Ja wanted to clutch her legs together but his broad shoulders and a tight grip on her thigh prevented her from doing so. She had to endure the onslaught of pleasure to her clit and folds, being toppled over the edge when he added a third finger to push into her. Yeong-Ja’s whole body trembled and was covered in a thin sheen of sweat, her breathing erratic and her mind wrapped in a cotton-like bliss.

He lapped at her essence, slurping up every last drop, before he pushed himself up and ripped the rest of his own pants and shirt away. He tore at the chains as well, getting rid of them and finally being just as bare as her. His dick slapped against his toned stomach, thick and throbbing, with droplets of precum oozing out of its tip. He leaned back down again and rolled his hips against her core, lathering his shaft with her juices and wetting it again before he pushed himself inside of her.

Yeong-Ja didn’t get a warning, nor was she prepared for what was to come. Her legs got pushed to her chest, where he wrapped his arms around to hold them secure while he rammed his dick into her tight hole. The drag along her walls had her thoughts spiralling and her high building rapidly again. Yeong-Ja grabbed onto the sheets of the bed, needing something to ground herself.

“Such a good mate”, he rumbled, accentuating each word with a harsh thrust, “taking us so well. Feeling so good around our cock. Our mate is the only one we need, only one we want.” He pushed into her, getting more and more aggressive since her moans spurred him on. “Need to breed her. Need pups. Need her full of our cum.”

When he let go of her legs, they fell almost limply back on the mattress, spread wide so he could still fuck into her. He grabbed onto her sides, his claws slightly digging into her skin as he continued to push into her. He grunted and growled, hitting the soft spot inside her. 

Yeong-Ja cried out in pleasure, writhing underneath him as she couldn’t control her own body anymore. She grabbed onto her hair with one hand, moaning obscenely loud. Her senses zoned in on the connection between their bodies and with one hard thrust she came undone once more.

He stilled his movements, having his dick pushed inside of her core as far as possible. He felt how the base engorged, forming the knot that would prevent any of his seed spilling out. He kept his position, leaning on his elbows and staring down at the connection. He could see how her entrance got spread wide from the building knot, which was enough to make him spill inside of her. His dick twitched and shot rope after rope of white hot cum into her, painting her insides white and filling her up to the brim.

“So good. Taking it all. Our mate will be round and plump with our pups.” He rumbled in satisfaction, watching how her lower stomach slightly expanded from the amount of cum he shot into her.

Even after he was done, he stayed in place - the knot wouldn’t reduce in its size anytime soon. He tore his glowing eyes away from their connected body parts, letting them wander over her body and up to her face. Out of the corner of the eye he noticed something around her neck.

Yeong-Ja winced slightly when he shifted his weight and reached out to carefully pull at her necklace until he had the turquoise pendant resting in his palm. She watched how the glow in his eyes slowly died down and his warm brown eyes returned again.

San’s gaze flicked from the pendant up to her face, confusion spreading over his features since his memory appeared a little hazy. “Yeong-Ja?” His voice was soft with a hint of worry lacing it. When she only smiled weakly - still too out of it from multiple orgasms - concern replaced San’s confusion. He wanted to push himself up when both of them winced, making him look down at his body again. San scoffed and shook his head. “Can’t believe my wolf fucked you before I did”, he grumbled, hiding his face behind his dark bangs.

“Your wolf?” She asked quietly, her voice hoarse from the constant moans. Yeong-Ja raised one hand to cup his cheek, lifting his head until San looked at her again. She rubbed her thumb over his cheek bone and smiled softly at him, even brushing his bangs out of his eyes. 

San sighed and closed his eyes for a moment, gathering his thoughts. “I’m not entirely human”, he mumbled, swallowing harshly in fear of her reaction. “I am part wolf.” He noticed how her gaze dropped down to his tattoo, making him grin slyly. San turned his head from side to side and looked around, noting the broken headrest of the bed and the chains discarded on the mattress to his sides. He slowly gained scenes of his memory back, putting the pieces together to get a whole picture. “I’m sorry”, he whispered and his head dropped down again.

“Why are you apologising?” Yeong-Ja got up on her elbows, ignoring the sting between her legs from the movement. “You have nothing to be sorry about!” 

San shook his head. “I wanted to ease you into this mess since it’s a lot to take. I understand if you’re afraid of me now and want to keep your distance. I’m deeply sorry for losing control over my wolf and letting him use you like that.” To his surprise he heard Yeong-Ja chuckle, so he looked back up at her with wide eyes.

“It is a lot to take in”, she agreed with a twinkle in her eyes, “but it doesn’t mean I can’t take it. The moment I requested the tattoo was the moment I decided to be in this for the long run. You don’t have to hide from me, don’t have to keep any secrets. I’m yours. Wholeheartedly.”

San cursed under his breath as he grabbed Yeong-Ja by the neck and pressed his lips against hers. He hummed into the kiss, barely suppressing the grin building from the pleased rumbles his wolf made. San licked over her lips, asking for entrance and deepening the kiss when she gave it to him. He slowly started to roll his hips as well, feeling his hard on buried so snuggly inside of her.

Yeong-Ja arched her back, her eyes rolling to the back of her head. While San’s movements were a lot softer they were precise and hit her insides just right.

San took his sweet time with her, adoring every second of it. For once he could enjoy the pleasure of life without his wolf commenting on everything he did. For once he felt like he became one - not just with himself but with another person as well, a person so special in her own unique way. And he would show her his gratitude every single day for the rest of his life.

© all rights reserved

Taglist: @xavi-in-kpopland​ @songsoomin​ 

[yurimother]

Korean GL Film 'The Summer' Tops Independent Arts Box Office

Korean Yuri aeni film The Summer (Geu Yeoreum) reached the top spot at the Korean independent art film box office upon its June 7 debut. The film is one of a few queer animations produced in Korea.

The 61-minute long movie follows the life of 18-year-old Yi-gyeong (Yoon Ah-Young), a quiet, ordinary student who meets Suyi (Song Harim), an athletic girl who stirs up new romantic feelings in her, causing her to realize her identity. Over the next two years, their relationship helps both women grow, but ironically, because of this development, Yi-gyeong realizes her thoughts about Suyi have begun to change.

The theatrical edition of The Summer is an edited version of Red Dog Culture House's 2021 mini-series net animation. The series contains seven 10-minute episodes and streamed on Laftel, which co-produced the series, in Korea from September 2021 until its conclusion in October. Laftel crowdfunded the series during the Summer of 2021.

Ji-won Han directors both the original net animation and the theatrical adaptation and serves as its writer. It is based on the short story of the same name by best-selling author Eun-young Choi. The short story won the Young Writers Award in 2017. It has received positive word of mouth and praise for its music and animation.

The Summer is currently showing in theaters nationwide in Korea. Neither the theatrical version nor the original net animation are licensed for international release or streaming.

Source: Kyunghyang Shinmun

[teriri-sayes]

TCF Modern AU Character Checklist (Official)

RIDI, one of the Korean publishers of TCF/LCF, recently released new ebook volumes for TCF. The volume set consisted of volumes 10-18, spanning chapters 201-398 of Part 1. And RIDI added a "Character Checklist" as the exclusive bonus content for buying the volume set.

What is this character checklist about? It's just a list of things that the characters are most likely to do or prefer. But it is set in a modern AU (alternate universe) setting.

Those who want to purchase official merchandise can head over to RIDI to buy the new ebooks. You can get a 10% discount and a 5000 won coupon if you participate in the event, so the cost for the new volume set will only be 24,160 won. But be aware that this is only in the Korean language. There is no official English ebook for TCF. 🥲

The new ebooks included new novel covers. For volumes 1 - 9, they changed the ebook cover to this:

And for volumes 10-18, the new ebook cover is this:

Because the character checklist is not publicly available for free, I will only post a quick summary of it.

***

Alberu 

likes to eat snacks while working

beautiful handwriting

celebrates others' birthdays grandly

frequent social media poster because of work

Beacrox 

makes tteok-galbi and gives it to Cale

2nd best at making snow ducks

Ron

makes travel plans because of the kids

good at claw machines

Bud 

world traveler who's good at driving any vehicle

frequent social media poster because he's an attention-seeker

Hilsman 

scared of bugs

Witira 

heavy drinker

troublemaker child because she couldn't control her strength

Eruhaben 

good singer of old songs but only does it upon the kids' request

picky appetite

doesn't use kiosks because he's not interested in learning anything new

On

great dancer

makes travel plans

knows the most about memes

Hong

makes travel plans

likes winter because of family get-togethers

frequent social media poster because he finds it exciting

good at drawing because everyone praised their drawings

posts memes

Raon

makes travel plans

prefers to play together than go on amusement park rides

likes winter because of family get-togethers

late sleeper because he always daydreams of going on trips with his family

good at drawing because everyone praised their drawings

Choi Han

stiff dancer

secretly prefers thrills in the amusement park

good at making snow ducks

student with low grades

Deruth

believes in fortune telling stuff but is in denial over it

Cale

somehow ends up as the leader in team projects

celebrates others' birthdays secretly

best fit as the leader of a K-pop boy group

buys lots of online books to read when he achieves slacker life

heavy reader

drinks hot Americano because Ron says cold drinks is bad for him

Mary

likes spicy food

likes horror movies

good at computers because Tasha taught her

Lock

first to apologize after getting into a fight

model student with good grades

Tasha

loves to eat meat

Archie

always grumbles on trips but shuts up when Cale stares at him

Toonka

bad at using machines and gadgets

Cage

prefers eating over studying

Rosalyn

drinks iced Americano in the morning

troublemaker child because she wanted to do lots of things

Jack

likes pineapple pizza

Hannah

likes mint chocolate and eats it together with Mary

***

Some trivia:

Mint chocolate in Korea is similar to pineapple pizza that people either heavily like or dislike.

Witira being a heavy drinker is a pun related to her race as a whale tribe. Sulgorae (술고래) is a figurative expression for a heavy drinker. It’s a combination of the words 술 (alcohol) and 고래 (whale). English has a similar expression to it - drink like a fish

Making snow ducks is a trend in Korea. They use plastic tongs with a duck mold to create snow ducks. Some treat is a game where you make dozens of it fast as if printing out items in a factory, and line it up in a row.

Tteok-galbi is grilled short rib patties. Hmm, delicious~! 😋

[ravenrothstr]

Once Again Part II🤍

summary. jaehyun and his classmates go through the darkness of adulthood filled with bitterness, where both of them ended finding each other sparks in within

genre. high school! au, second chance love, fluff

words count. 8.0k

disclaimer. the story is fully fictional. other names mentioned are just for the story and pure imagination, with no bad intentions

--｡⋆✮ 🎧 ✮ ⋆｡--

The smell of paper and the whole aura of space are as peaceful as nature, bringing you and the other students in the library to a state of peace as if it were a treat to your minds. Well, at least that was what Jaehyun thought when he declined his teammates' offer of lunch.

He still couldn't bring himself to face Eunwoo ever since the incident at the couch office.

"Why him?"

"Why now?"

"How could he?"

Those are the only thoughts that crossed over his head for the past few days. He closes his book for the day, dragging his feet back to the class. He had his shirt unbuttoned at the top with his tie loosely dangling around his neck. He tries his best to keep himself composed, but there are times he wishes the world to shut its mouth for him to swear it out.

He closes the wooden door behind him as he walks into the classroom. With the class still half empty, he could see you taking your seat. Surely you too just arrived at the classroom. You were in your sports attire, wiping some sweat across your face with a small towel your friend in front of you offered.

"Thanks," you smile at her.

Jaehyun swings his eyes off you as he takes his seat, way back from you. Mingyu was already there by the time he got there.

"Is it true?" Mingyu asked, leaning forward to Jaehyun.

"What do you mean?"

"I heard y/n has been practising alone for the festival dance."

Jaehyun turned sharply to Mingyu behind him, his forehead wrinkled in surprise as the sense of heat rinsed in his body. Only god knows how much he hates this guy right now.

"What did you say?" he frowns, feeling agitated.

"She's been practicing alone. I thought you have known it already, you always stay longer to practice on your own."

He felt bad hearing that. Indeed, he stays a little longer, but he usually turns his back on both of you. He notices how you usually start warming up earlier before Eunwoo came, and he thought it was better for him not to face them. Not sure wonder it was the sight of Eunwoo or both of you dancing, but it wasn't something pleasant for him to look at.

"Why is she alone anyway?" he asked.

"Some said Choi Ye Won didn't like both of them together, but Eunwoo said he didn't need that much practice anyway. An open interpretation I guess,"

Mingyu shrugged his shoulders as he leaned back in his seat, clearly not interested in continuing the conversation. Jaehyun did the same, turning back to his seat.

The teammates took a glance over the door as a familiar figure walks into the court.

It was you.

You looked drained and exhausted today because you came after your art lessons. The red eyes and little eye bags under your eye didn't help you from hiding the tiredness.

Nor the sadness.

Jaehyun couldn't help but stare pitifully at you as you already took a seat between those benches. He saw you slowly leaning back in the seat, closing your heavy eyes, letting yourself drift into a short nap. There are a few minutes left before the training ends, which fits perfectly for you to rest.

He snapped out from his empathizing back to the court. With the focus in his eyes, he ends the training more passionately today.

The whistle blown by the coach woke you up, signaling the training over. The team disperses around the court before heading to the changing room. Jaehyun could see Eunwoo making his way to you as he said something to you. The nosy Jaehyun would want to walk closer to them just to eavesdrop, but he didn't. He thought it would be better if he left both of you alone, and for that, he picked up the ball and continued with his training.

As the teammates emptied the court, you slowly made your way to the opposite side of the court from Jaehyun. Everyone left the area, even Eunwoo, leaving only you and Jaehyun both minding your own business.

It's usually like this, but this time Jaehyun decided to take a peek at you in between his training. To what he and everyone assumed, you were indeed practicing alone.

He immediately stops his training and walks sternly to you. He now looks angrier than concerned.

"Where's Eunwoo?" he asked, taking you off guard.

You turned slightly towards Jaehyun, and a soft smile forms on your face.

"Hi Jaehyun," you were trying to avoid the question.

"Answer me!" he rinsed his voice with his eyes narrowed.

He scared you and made you flinch a little; you never heard him scream before. Jaehyun had always tried his best to be soft with you. He feels intense regret gradually taking over his head when he saw your eyes become watery after he screamed. He shifted his eyes immediately to somewhere else. It broke him to see you like this, although he knew he didn't mean it that way.

"Y/n, I'm sorry, I didn't mean it that way. I'm sorry-"

But your response was sharp, tinged with hurt and frustration. "Why did it take you so long to ask?" you choked out, tears streaming down your face like a torrent. Your voice, though not as loud as Jaehyun's earlier yell, carried the weight of your emotions.

"Are you... angry?"

You didn't answer; you folded one arm to your face, covering those teary eyes. How you wished it would stop anytime now.

"I asked you, didn't I? I've already said I'm sorry. Are you angry at me?" he pressed, desperation creeping into his tone.

"Where is he?"

"I don't know. He left... after telling me, once again, that he'll practice later," your response was barely audible, your words choked with tears.

You gasped between sobs, trying to fit words in when you could. For days you'd fought back the emotion, but you couldn't do it any longer. The emotions you felt were too heavy for you.

You sobbed so hard you began choking; it looked like you were not going to stop anytime soon. Without realizing, his eyes got teary too. Jaehyun hated that sight, this appearance of you buried with bruises of tears, he hated the eyesight so much that he stormed out of the court without a doubt. He wanted nothing more than to haunt Eunwoo, throwing a fist across his small face.

One for him.

One for you, he thought.

He ran down the stairs next to the court aimlessly. The heavier his steps got, the more he came back to his sense of rationality.

He has no idea where he is, and neither does y/n.

Breathless with anger, he closed his eyes, going silent as he tried to drag emotion back under where he didn't need to feel it. Grinding his teeth, Jaehyun exhaled noisily through his pursed lips as he palmed his face with his hand.

Once again, the rage almost took him over.

He quickly makes his way back to the court after realizing he left you inside alone. No explanation, no nothing. He was no better than Eunwoo after all.

Jaehyun longed to comfort you, to soothe your tears with a gentle touch or a warm embrace. But he hesitated, unsure if his presence would be welcomed in your vulnerable moment. Watching you cry broke his heart; he had never seen you so distressed before. Each apology he uttered felt inadequate, a feeble attempt to ease your pain.

"Y/n, I'm sorry," he repeated for what felt like the twelfth time, his voice tinged with regret.

But your response was weary, your eyes red and your voice strained from crying.

"You've said that already," you murmured, meeting his gaze with a mixture of exhaustion and sadness.

"I'll say it as many times as it takes, just to make you smile again," he reassured you, his voice filled with warmth. With a gentle touch, he wiped away your tears, silently promising to be there until your sadness faded away.

Your smile, though tinged with traces of sadness, warmed his heart. You reached out to him, and for a moment, you were lost in your own little world of understanding and empathy.

"I do feel better now," you admitted, your voice barely above a whisper.

After what seemed like an eternity, your sobs began to subside, and Jaehyun couldn't help but smile in relief.

"Do you still want to practice?" he asked gently, his eyes searching yours for any sign of discomfort. You nodded, your eyes lighting up with newfound determination.

"Yes."

"Then let me practice with you," he offered, extending a hand towards you.

An enormous smile spread across their face as their smile deepened the wrinkles wizening their face. The thought of being each other companion for the evening sparks excitement in them.

"I've seen you practise with Eunwoo, I can try dancing with you"

"So-", Jaehyun continues. He let out one of his hands, palms shown in front of you while another bent behind his back and leaned down.

"Can I offer you a dance?", he smiled.

You giggled and laughed at his actions. It was a cheesy action but you loved how he felt comfortable with you.

"Okay", your eyes were alight with joy taking his offering hand in yours as a yes to his question gladly.

In no time, you radiate the same energy back to Jaehyun. Both of you drag each other to the wooden tiles that are now so-called the dance floor. You gazed across the wooden floor and, with a sudden burst of courage and warmness, your eyes sparkled with glimmer before lifting your head up to Jaehyun giving him a soft smile. As the imaginary thrumming rhythm of classical music whispered into their ears, you began to dance.

The two of you danced as if the music was playing in the background, the joy definitely brought both of you to your own new euphoric world. For a moment, all the bitterness of reality escapes them. The only things in their new world were waves of laughter and joyless. Neither of you wanted to leave this contentment.

--

As the math lesson droned on, your mind wandered, your fingers idly sketching in your notebook. You let out a sigh of boredom, your gaze drifting across the classroom.

Spotting Seokmin dozing off, you couldn't resist the urge to draw him. With a mischievous grin, you began to sketch, adding exaggerated details to capture his sleepiness.

But as you worked, your thoughts turned to Jaehyun, and before you knew it, his image began to take shape on the page. You hesitated for a moment, unsure if you should continue, but something compelled you to keep drawing.

By the time the bell rang, signalling the end of the lesson, you had finished your sketch. But before you could erase it, your classmate Saerom caught sight of it.

"What did you draw?" Saerom asked, leaning in for a closer look.

Your heart raced as you tried to think of an explanation.

"Oh, just some doodles," you replied dismissively, hoping to avoid any further questions.

But before you could erase the sketch, Eunwoo intervened, his eyes narrowing as he examined the drawing. Your heart sank as you realized he had recognized Jaehyun in the sketch.

Before you could react, your class president, Seokmin, announced a new topic for discussion: ideas for the upcoming school festival. Amidst the chaos of brainstorming, you couldn't shake the feeling of unease that settled in the pit of your stomach.

Eunwoo's discomfort was palpable as he observed Jaehyun and Mingyu exchanging smirks over the proposed idea, a confession booth. In truth, Eunwoo wasn't fond of the idea at all. He couldn't comprehend why some people were so hesitant to express their feelings openly, especially when it came to matters of love.

"I don't think that will work. The teachers are really against any activity related to 'dating,' remember?" Seokmin interjected, disrupting the class's momentary excitement.

A collective sigh swept through the room as frustration began to creep in. But before their disappointment could fully settle, Your voice cut through the air with a solution.

"We could propose it as a counseling booth—"

"—and keep both people anonymous," you suggested, causing all eyes to turn to her.

The classmates exchanged glances, surprised to hear you speaking up in class for the first time. For Jaehyun, your newfound assertiveness sparked an unfamiliar emotion within him. Unsure of what to make of it, he felt his heart leap in response to witnessing this side of you.

Indirectly, they signalled their agreement with the proposal, nodding slowly in unison.

"Hey, that's a good idea, y/n," Seokmin chimed in awkwardly, quickly adapting to the new dynamic.

"We all could do that, right?"

The class nodded in agreement, settling on the suggestion as they prepared to distribute tasks for the event. However, their planning was interrupted by Eunwoo's question.

"Do y/n and I still need to contribute to the booth?" he asked. "We'll be busy practising for the festival."

The classroom collectively sighed at his reluctance to participate, understanding that Eunwoo was trying to avoid additional responsibilities. They had grown accustomed to his behavior by now.

"You can be excused if you want," Seokmin offered before you interjected.

"I don't mind helping. I could assist on the day of the event before our performance," you volunteered.

The class fell silent, taken aback by your newfound assertiveness. The quiet, reserved girl they once knew was now speaking up and refusing to be overlooked. With your willingness to help, the class agreed to let her assist on the day of the event while they assigned tasks to others.

--

Jaehyun let out a heavy sigh as he sank down onto his haunches, attempting to make himself as inconspicuous as possible. He couldn't bear to face the reality of the situation unfolding before him: sitting in a room with Mr. Lee, the guidance counselor who should have been eyeing him for the scholarship, instead focusing on Eunwoo.

He had never wanted to escape a room more desperately.

"Come to think of it, Eunwoo has more potential," Mr. Lee remarked. "I spoke to your homeroom teacher. You're interested in becoming an architect now. There are plenty more scholarship opportunities in that field."

Jaehyun struggled to contain his emotions. This was the second time this month that Mr. Lee and the counselor had summoned him to their office, each time subtly indicating that they favored Eunwoo and were prepared to overlook Jaehyun.

In a fit of rage, Jaehyun threw open the door and stormed out, his anger simmering just beneath the surface. But as he prepared to unleash his pent-up frustration, he heard someone calling out to him, causing Jaehyun to turn slightly.

"We need to talk," Eunwoo said.

The basketball court was silent as Jaehyun and Eunwoo took their seats on the benches, bracing themselves for a difficult conversation. The tension between them hung heavy in the air, stifling any attempts at casual conversation. Finally, Eunwoo broke the silence.

"Let me take the offer," he said.

With those words, Jaehyun felt a surge of anger rising within him. The scholarship meant everything to him—it was his ticket to a better future, one that would lift his family out of poverty.

"They may not say it, but they're choosing me because my father has more to offer than yours. Enroll in the architecture course instead." Eunwoo continued.

Jaehyun stared at Eunwoo in disbelief, struggling to process what he was hearing.

"What?" he managed to utter, his voice trembling with emotion.

"Take the architecture student program offer. If this basketball issue is part of my father's plan, then he'll provide more than enough for you with architecture. But there's something you need to do," Eunwoo continued, his tone grave.

"You have to get into my father's company, Nexus Architecture and position yourself on the board."

Jaehyun felt a chill run down his spine at Eunwoo's words. For the first time, he found himself questioning Eunwoo's motives, his anger bubbling to the surface.

"Do you think this is a joke?" Jaehyun snapped, his voice laced with fury. "Do you live so comfortably that you can just dictate what others should do?"

"It's because I live comfortably that I don't have the courage to defy my father," Eunwoo replied, his voice tinged with desperation.

"They're planning to blame Evergreen Designs & Associates, y/n's company for fraud, and the next project site will be in your parents' neighborhood. It's an illegal project, approved through bribery," Eunwoo revealed.

"They're hiring inexperienced workers for the project so they can easily dispose of them afterward, and the fewer people who know, the better."

Jaehyun's shoulders sagged as the weight of Eunwoo's words sank in. It was a harsh reminder of the harsh realities faced by families like his.

"It's the game of the rich, and we're just pawns in it," a voice whispered in Jaehyun's head.

Summoning his resolve, Jaehyun met Eunwoo's gaze, his eyes filled with determination.

"So what do I do now?" he asked.

"You play the game," Eunwoo replied.

Jaehyun rested his head heavily on the desk, the weight of his unsorted thoughts and decisions pressing down on him. Lost in his own mental labyrinth, he didn't immediately register your gentle knocks on the desk.

"Maybe it's too soft," you mused to yourself, rapping slightly louder.

"Jaehyun, everyone is going to lunch. You should eat something," you urged.

Gradually, Jaehyun reoriented himself to the present, acknowledging your presence before quickly adjusting to a sitting position.

"Yes, you should too, y/n," he replied nervously, straightening his scattered stationery.

You offered him a soft smile before retreating to your desk, and he reciprocated with a shy smile of his own once your gaze shifted. His eyes lingered on the lunchbox you typically brought during their shared lunch breaks, and he found himself scratching the back of his head, mustering the courage to initiate a conversation.

"Urm, hm," he stuttered as he approached you, who looked puzzled by his sudden change in demeanour.

"Jaehyun? Are you okay?" y/n inquired, concern evident in your voice. His ears flushed crimson.

"Are you going to lunch at the school field again?"

"Oh yes, since I'm not practicing—"

"Can I join you?" Jaehyun blurted out.

"Can I join you today?"

--

As they made their way to a nearby bench, you wasted no time in starting her meal.

"I'll make it quick, okay?" you assured him, mindful of their past difficulties. Jaehyun turned his gaze to her, his hand resting on his knee.

"It's okay, you can take your time," he replied, a diagonal smile forming at the corners of his mouth.

In no time, his smile was mirrored by you. This side of Jaehyun was new to you, and you found yourself drawn to it. Memories of the shared experiences, like sightseeing among the flowers and dancing in the hall, flooded back to you, though the unspoken agreement to return to their usual aloofness afterwards lingered in your mind, questioning your significance to him. Breaking eye contact, you pushed her lunchbox toward Jaehyun as she began to speak.

"You should eat too, Jaehyun," you said, ignoring his confusion.

Jaehyun took a gimbap from her lunchbox, and the two of you made the silent lunch a routine that stretched over several weeks.

But as their classmates began preparing booths and Jaehyun became engrossed in the activity while you busied yourself with dance practice, their shared lunches gradually faded into memory.

That day y/n found yourself alone once more during lunchtime, your eyes scanning Jaehyun's vacant desk before you reluctantly left for practice.

As you reached for the door, your heart fluttered as someone on the other side. It was Jaehyun. Your eyes met, sparking a moment of anticipation in your chest. You held her breath, waiting for him to break the silence.

But as Jaehyun passed by without a word, the hope that had briefly flickered within extinguished like a candle in the wind. Leaving you standing alone in the doorway, grappling with the unanswered questions that hung heavy in the air.

The corridor echoed with the sound of their footsteps, each step a painful reminder of the distance that had grown between them. Your mind buzzed with a whirlwind of emotions, from frustration to sadness to a lingering sense of longing. You couldn't help but wonder if the silent lunches had ever held any significance for Jaehyun.

With a heavy sigh, you resigned yourself to the reality of their situation. As you turned away from the doorway, your shoulders slumped with the weight of unspoken words and unresolved feelings.

The day of the festival arrived with an air of anticipation and excitement, as students buzzed with energy about the various attractions and activities planned for the day. Among the many booths and stalls set up on the school grounds, one in particular stood out—a counseling booth, discreetly tucked away in a quiet corner.

This seemingly ordinary counseling booth held a secret—it was actually a hub for love confessions where your class had plan out to use the guise of counseling to provide a safe and private space for students to express their romantic feelings to their crushes. Throughout the day, a steady stream of nervous and hopeful students discreetly made their way to the booth, each carrying a letter or message professing their love to someone special.

You welcomed the visitor with warm smiles and reassuring words, creating an atmosphere of trust and confidentiality as you were in charge of handling the booth that afternoon.

“Hi, who would like to talk to?”, you asked.

“I would like to talk to Jaemin from the freshmen’s”, the girl infront of you whispered quietly.

You had to laugh, you were familiar with the name as it was mention quite a few times this morning. With the information, you tapped Minghao, one of your classmates who were in charge of calling out the person and you directly the girl in a small stall for her to confess. The seats were divided by a window with a black cloth, so the confessor will kept anonymous.

As you make your way back at the counter of the booth, you smiled when Jaemin figure approached the small stall of the nth time today.

“Y/n, you can go now and prepare for the dance”, your classmate told you.

“Oh right, I almost forgot about that. Thanks for filling me in.”

Just when you were about to reach the changing room for your performance, Minghao took you ny suprise when he tapped your shoulders.

“y/n, someone’s looking for you”

—

“So this is what they felt”, you thought when you quietly sat at the small stall, not knowing what to feel.

There was a moment of silence before you saw a blurry image of the anonymous person entering across the black cloth window. It sort of familiar to you but you didn’t want to jump into conclusion that fast.

“Hm, hi y/n”

You recognise the moment the person called your name.

“Hi, do you have anything to say to me?”

“I do, I have a few actually”, you can see his blurry figure going through some notes at his hands before continuing.

“I don’t know where to start, but I think it’s better off I apologise to you first for the long due lunch incident with the basketball team”.

“It’s okay, that’s too far in the past. But if it’s makes you any happier, I forgive you and for the record, I too would like to apologise for making you my impromptu lunch partner”

“NO! Don’t say that”, you was startled by the sudden protest.

“I found those lunches very helpful for me. The field was really calming and looking back to it, you looked really-“

“Y/n, what are you doing here? We need to practice “, Eunwoo suddenly opened the stall door from your side, cutting out Jaehyun’s confession.

You were puzzled at his actions. He had gone for the whole day and now he just magically appears to have some practice.

“I’m in a middle of a situation here, can you wait?”

“Of course not, I’ve been waiting for you”, as he grabs your wrist, pulling you out of the stall.

In that moment, you despised Eunwoo. The practice was a mess. He spent most of the time on his phone and scolded you for minor mistakes. After practice, he left right away. You quickly changed into your performance outfit, eager to move on to the closing ceremony.

—

As the opening of the closing ceremony approached, Y/N stood nervously backstage, dressed in her elegant gown and ready to perform the slow dance with Eunwoo. However, panic began to set in as Y/N and the rest of the team realized that Eunwoo was nowhere to be found. Without Eunwoo, their carefully planned performance was in jeopardy, and Y/N felt a sinking feeling in the pit of her stomach.

Jaehyun scanned his surroundings that was filled with whispers in the air as Y/N's classmates exchanged worried glances, unsure of what to do when the ceremony went off schedule.

"What's going on?" Jaehyun asked Seokmin, standing beside him in the audience.

"I heard Eunwoo isn't coming, so they can't start the show," Seokmin replied.

"What? I saw him just a few minutes ago with Ye Won."

"Really? Ye Won mentioned she was leaving. Maybe Eunwoo went with her?"

Jaehyun's anger flares up as he realizes Eunwoo's absence. By that time, the realisation that Eunwoo hadn't shown up because of Ye Won hit you like a wave of ice-cold water, leaving you with devastated and betrayed. You couldn't believe that Eunwoo would let his secret relationship with Ye Won interfere with the dance, especially after all the time and effort both of you had put into practising together.

The sting of betrayal cut deep as you struggled to come to terms with the situation. You felt a mix of anger, hurt, and sadness swirling inside her, threatening to overwhelm her entirely. As you stood there, grappling with her emotions, You couldn't shake the feeling of being let down.

"Hey, Y/N," Jaehyun approached them, catching you and the backstage team by surprise.

"I saw you practising a few times, and I know the routine. Let me stand in for Eunwoo," said Jaehyun.

There was a hint of reassurance in Jaehyun's voice as he reached out to take your hand. He knew it wasn't the ideal situation along with his casual attire of a leather jacket and jeans but he was determined to make the best of it and ensure that your hard work and dedication didn't go to waste.

Together, the two of you stepped onto the stage, Jaehyun standing in for Eunwoo as they prepared to perform their slow dance. With every step of the dance, Jaehyun kept his gaze steady, his movements precise and controlled. He didn't want to let his emotions show, especially not in front of the entire school. Instead, he focused on supporting you, ensuring that you felt confident and secure despite the unexpected turn of events.

Deep down, Jaehyun's heart ached for you. He hated seeing her upset, and he wished he could do more to ease her pain. But in that moment, all he could do was be there, standing by you side as the both of you danced together on the stage.

Although his efforts to maintain his stoic facade, there were moments when Jaehyun's eyes softened as he looked at you, a flicker of warmth and concern betraying his otherwise impassive expression. But he quickly masked those emotions, channeling his focus back into the dance, determined to support you through the performance.

After the performance, there's a brief moment of silence as the audience processes what just happened. Some whisper among themselves, speculating about Eunwoo's absence and Jaehyun's sudden appearance on stage. You and Jaehyun stand side by side, the tension palpable between them as you await the reaction of the crowd.

Suddenly, applause erupts from the audience, starting as a few scattered claps before growing into a thunderous ovation. You and Jaehyun exchange a surprised glance, both relieved and grateful for the positive response.

As you step off the stage, both of you are met with a flurry of questions and compliments from their classmates and friends. Some express curiosity about Eunwoo's absence, while others praise you and Jaehyun for their impressive performance.

The festival drew to an end, and the atmosphere was a mix of relief and exhaustion. Students began to trickle out of the venue, their energy spent from a day filled with performances, games, and festivities. Laughter and chatter filled the air as friends said their goodbyes and made plans for the evening. The atmosphere between Jaehyun and you was a mixture of relief and tension.

You exchanged awkward but sincere words of gratitude, thanking Jaehyun for the unexpected performance and support during the festival. As the usual bus approached the stop, you both boarded it.

Then, the bus neared a familiar stop, and your heart fluttered with a sudden impulse. Without thinking too much, you leaned forward and pressed the stop button, signalling the bus driver to halt. Jaehyun glanced at you in surprise, curious about your sudden decision.

"Hey, isn't this...?" Jaehyun began, but you cut him off with a smile.

"Yeah, it's the cherry blossom road. I thought we could take a walk there," you said, voice tinged with a hint of excitement.

Jaehyun's lips quirked up in a small smile, sensing the significance of the place for you. Without hesitation, both of you disembarked from the bus together and made your way to the familiar path lined with cherry blossom trees.

--

The air was cool and crisp, carrying the sweet scent of cherry blossoms as Jaehyun and you walked side by side. There was a comfortable silence between two of you, broken only by the occasional rustle of leaves and the soft murmurs of their conversation.

Suddenly, Jaehyun broke the silence, his eyes lighting up with childlike wonder as he reached out to catch a cherry blossom in his hand. His movements were graceful yet determined as if he was trying to capture a fleeting moment of beauty.

"What are you doing?", you laughed at his actions.

"I'm trying to catch a cherry blossom, to make a wish"

Both of you continued laughing at Jaehyun's determination, it definitely lit up the dark night. Jaehyun's eyes sparkled with excitement as he held the cherry blossom delicately between his fingers.

"Got it!" he exclaimed triumphantly, a wide grin spreading across his face.

You couldn't help but laugh at his enthusiasm, feeling a warmth spread through you at the sight of his joy. As Jaehyun gazed at the cherry blossom in his hand, a thoughtful expression crossed his face. You watched him curiously, wondering what thoughts were running through his mind as he held onto the delicate flower.

Finally, he closed his eyes and made a silent wish, his expression serious yet hopeful. When he opened his eyes again, Jaehyun's gaze met yours.

"Can I ask what you wished for?" you asked.

A playful smile danced on Jaehyun's lips as he looked at you, his eyes reflecting the twinkling stars above.

"Well, someone once told me it's better to wish for someone else," he chuckled softly. "I wished for you. And for whatever you wish for to be granted."

Your heart skipped a beat at his words, overwhelmed by the sincerity and tenderness in his voice. In that moment, it felt as if the world around you had faded away, leaving only the two of you immersed in a world of shared understanding and affection.

"You're silly, I wished for your happiness. So, are you happy?"" you teased affectionately.

"I'm happy with you," he confessed softly, his gaze filled with warmth and adoration. "Are you happy when you're with me?"

"Yeah, of course. Your my lunch partner"

Both of you laughed at your inside joke. As you both walked beneath the blooming cherry blossoms, Jaehyun couldn't shake off the weight of the decision he had been contemplating. The silence between you and Jaehyun was comfortable, but Jaehyun knew he had to breach the subject that had been weighing on his mind.

"Y/N," Jaehyun began.

His voice was gentle yet filled with uncertainty. Jaehyun took a deep breath, gathering his thoughts before continuing.

"Do you ever think about waiting... for me?", his words carrying a weight that hung in the air between them.

Your smile faltered slightly at Jaehyun's question, sensing that there was more to his words than he let on. You nodded, trying to suppress the unease that crept into your heart.

"I don't mind waiting," you replied, smiling.

Deep down, the feeling of uncertainty that lingered within you. You wondered why Jaehyun seemed distant lately as if he was hiding something. Little did you know, Jaehyun was wrestling with his own internal conflict.

For now, Jaehyun chose to keep his thoughts to himself, burying his inner trouble beneath a facade of calmness and composure. But deep down, the decision weighed heavily on his heart, casting a shadow over the blossoming relationship.

Years passed, and you never heard from Jaehyun. Eunwoo continued to support your life, filling the void left by Jaehyun's absence. Even with time, you couldn't shake the lingering ache in your heart, wondering what had become of Jaehyun and where life had taken him.

Meanwhile, Jaehyun immersed himself in the architecture student program in the States, throwing himself into his studies and accomplishing his and Eunwoo's mission. Yet, despite his determination to succeed, his heart remained heavy with the weight of the decision he had made. He couldn't shake the feeling of longing for the life he had left behind.

Until the day of the school reunion, your excitement surged within you as you attended the event, holding onto a small hope of meeting him again, perhaps reliving some of the memories from your university days. However, to your surprise and that of your classmates, he was nowhere to be found. Jaehyun was gone for good.

Eunwoo noticed the disappointment written all over your face after the reunion, and his heart sank for you. He felt guilty, understanding the intensity of the program and its demanding submission deadlines during that time. Thinking it best not to burden Jaehyun with this, he made the difficult decision to keep the matter to himself.

"Hey, do you want to do something? Anything would be good", Eunwoo asked, trying his best to cheer you up.

"I do, do you like to have some midnight walks?"

"Yeah sure, it's not too late for that."

Your face brightened with a glimmer of hope as Eunwoo agreed to accompany you. Leading him to the cherry blossom-lined road you once frequented with Jaehyun, you felt a sense of determination wash over you. It was time to let go of the past and create new memories, replacing the ones you once cherished with Jaehyun.

"Do you like it here?" you asked Eunwoo, looking for some reassurance.

"Yeah, it's nice," he replied, but his steps seemed slightly hesitant, and he glanced around with a faint furrow in his brow.

Your heart sank, realizing that this place didn't hold the same significance for him as it did for you and Jaehyun. Desperate to lighten the mood, you plucked a cherry blossom and extended it to him, hoping to share a moment of connection. However, he refused to take it.

"Let's keep walking"

You continued to study diligently ever since that fateful night, determined not to let lingering feelings and the past hold you back. It was time to focus and move forward. Before you knew it, you found yourself in your twenties, striding confidently through the doors of Evergreen Designs & Associates as a qualified architect.

Each day is filled with meetings and blueprints of projects, as you struggle to keep every in order. At night, you divert your tiredness to a glass of wine. Grasping on the temporary comfort it gives you.

--

As the anticipated moment arrives, Eunwoo stands in Incheon Airport, awaiting Jaehyun's arrival near the smoking area. Ignoring disapproving looks, he lights his last cigarette, finding a moment of calm in the busy airport. His thoughts drift to the day's tasks at Nexus Architects, where he's a qualified architect. He stubs out the cigarette when he sees his friend's arrival.

"You should have come out later; I haven't finished my cigarette."

"Let's just go," Jaehyun walks away with a grumpy expression, leaving Eunwoo standing in disbelief.

"You're welcome. I really don't mind picking you up at the airport."

It’s been a while since Jaehyun met Eunwoo. Even though both of them made the deal ten years back and are still very serious about it, they rarely keep in touch as for the time being, Jaehyun’s task was only to get himself on board at the company and today was the day.

Eunwoo slipped off his leather shoes at the doorstep before stepping into Jaehyun’s new apartment. The place had been fully furnished in advance when the company announced that Jaehyun would be stationed in Seoul. Jaehyun rolled his eyes at Eunwoo’s figure. Wondering out of all his high school friends, why is he still with Eunwoo.

“Do you have any cigarette? I wasn’t able to smoke the whole day at the company”, Eunwoo asked, heading to the balcony.

“I don’t smoke, Eunwoo”,

Filled his frustration, Eunwoo glared at Jaehyun. They were really the opposite of each other. He made his way to the island table as he sat, making himself comfortable while Jaehyun looked around his kitchen.

“You did great back there-”, Eunwoo praised.

“For all these years”

Jaehyun sighed. He had tried his best and push his limits to get where he is today. The memories flashback through his mind. Moving out his family to Seoul for a better and safer home, excelling the company’s student and internship program at the States and making his way to the project they aim for. He longed for some praise and rest, hoping to make the ends meet.

“Aren’t you curious about her?”, Eunwoo sudden curiosity took Jaehyun by suprise.

“I don’t know what you are talking about”,

“You definitely know what I’m talking about, she was one of our, a.k.a you, main reason of doing this”

“If you are going to talk about her, just spill it already”, Jaehyun said with all ears ready.

He wished to see you after all these years. How you were doing, did you long for him, did you even search for him. He wanted to know everything.

“She eating well, growing well, not to mention how she’s becoming into a beautiful lady over time-“, Jaehyun gave him a sharp gaze with a meaningful look of his own.

“And she’s about to be engaged with me”

There it was—the reality Jaehyun had been trying to deny, the true reason behind his eagerness to hear about your updates. He maintained his stoic expression, ensuring Eunwoo didn't see how swayed he was.

“I’m sorry, engaging with her about our family plan forever and it looks like they are still serious about it”

“Do you have feelings for her?”, Jaehyun confronted.

“Well, I do care for her, a big part of me wants to protect her”

“You’re not answering the question”

After a long pause, Eunwoo lifted his face from staring at his fingers that were playfully at the mug Jaehyun gave him. Making eye contact with Jaehyun, he embraced himself with courage.

“No, I don’t. I’m still in love with Ye Won”

“You’re a mess, Eunwoo”

Jaehyun could feel the rage building up inside him. He couldn't imagine how Eunwoo had been treating you, pretending and faking it all along. If his suspicions were correct, and you remained the same girl he knew back in high school, you would definitely be loyal and kind to him. He hated the thought.

After a late-night catch-up with Jaehyun, Eunwoo left the apartment. As the night grew darker, Jaehyun washed away his negative thoughts and went to bed.

You hurried into the convenience store near the company building, swiftly grabbing a sandwich and a can of coffee for your quick breakfast. The sudden meeting for the Tranquil Grove project disrupted your usual morning routine. This project, a collaboration between Nexus and Evergreen, held immense significance for you. It was the culmination of your parents' hard work, now entrusted to you to see through to completion. However, for Eunwoo and Jaehyun, it was merely a strategic move in their ongoing game, one they were eagerly waiting to execute.

As you pass by the can section, you swing the freezer open taking out the coffee.

"Excuse me," interrupting your action to close the freezer as the man took out another can of coffee and went straight to the reception.

"How rude", you thought.

You stood next to the man, waiting your turn to pay.

"I'll pay for hers as well"

Your fist tightly clenched in the other hand, feeling insulted. Feel that your mind made a poor decision in this situation when you grabbed the man's arm with ruthless pressure.

"Hey, do you think you could get away being rude just by buying me drinks?"

Your hands snapped back like they’d touched something hot as soon you recognised the person, his lips curled up to your reaction.

"Jaehyun?"

"Hi, y/n"

The two of you went to the Nexus Architects building together, learning that Jaehyun would also be attending the meeting. You used the short time to catch up with him, though it never seemed like enough. Just as you entered the building, you saw the board of directors gathered, including Eunwoo's father, whom both of you greeted with a bow.

"Let's grab lunch together; it's been a while," you offered, and Jaehyun nodded in agreement.

"Sure, you look great by the way"

"For someone who went MIA for years, you look great too Jaehyun"

His smile matches yours, in the moment as the two of you went back to focus on your work.

—

In no time, you found yourself irresistibly drawn back to Jaehyun, realizing he filled voids you didn't even know existed. With the work getting more intense, you find comfort in him giving you reassurance and stability that Eunwoo never gave you.

"So, tell me what was life like for you in the States",

You asked Jaehyun, leaning in with genuine interest as you sat across from him at the dinner table. He invited you over to dine at his apartment after a gruelling week, providing a much-needed break from the hectic routine.

His eyes lingered on your face, tracing every line, etching each detail into his memory. You found it hard to hold Jaehyun’s steady gaze, turning away with a shy smirk. His laughter echoed throughout the room, he found your actions adorable.

"It was nice. Though the cultural was a lot different from here, not to mention the winter", both of you laugh before his continues.

"But it nice to be at home, you know. Where the heart is"

You respond him to agree with his statement.

"How about you?"

You felt nausea churned your stomach. You did not want to remember how you got here, the lonely nights and competitive race in the reality world. You often yourself alone at the top. Now that your parents are arranging the engagement and wedding for you and Eunwoo, your heart aches.

"I... actually... I'm getting engaged to Eunwoo," you admitted, the words heavy on your tongue.

The silence took over the room after you announce. Jaehyun wanted to forget about the engagement, you deserve someone better. But he understood how you wanted to be honest to him and he was thankful for that.

"I'm sorry if this makes you uncomfortable. I should leave," you said, sensing the tension as you reached for your coat.

"No, no, no, no! Can we just… stay here for a while?" he pleaded.

"A dinner won't hurt, trust me," he lied to himself.

"Okay."

As you resumed your dinner with him, you couldn't shake the feeling that if one of you had been brave enough to stand up for your feelings, the engagement might not have taken place.

The hectic day took a toll in you, dragging your feet out of the building at night. Looking at the time, it was late for dinner as you glanced around looking at any restaurant open. Eunwoo was supposed to have dinner with you tonight but it was cancelled last minute resorting to your overtime.

As you walk around the street for a bit, you bummed into Jaehyun. With the engagement news out, it was a bit awkward for you to meet up with him like this. Regardless of the situation, he gave you a soft grin.

He gotten familiar with you schedules during the days both of you spent catching up with each other.

“Working overtime?”

“Yeah, you too?”

“Yup, those companies better pay us good”

Your laughter echoed the night as his follows you. The silence overtakes you later. You refuse to believe your reality at the moment, so did Jaehyun. Yet, in the face of uncertainty, your desire for love wins over your pride.

“Do you want to head for dinner together?”, you asked bravely.

The night deepened by laughter and shared giggles between you and Jaehyun, as if in that moment, the two of you were the only ones in the world.

“I hated the most when..”, he playfully makes you guess.

“when the meeting exceed one hour?”

“YES!-“

“It just too much for me”, you laughing.

“I hate the most when I work overtime”

“But you always work overtime, y/n. Are starting to hate your job?”

“No, it’s not like that”, you corrects him before continuing.

“It’s just I hate that I’ll feel tired over it and resort to alcohol”

He listens to you carefully. During your times with him, he never sees you drinking. In fact you always refuse to drink when he offered. It was a surprise to him you felt that way.

“Do you feel you don’t have anything else to resort too?”, he asked.

“Yes, and now that I have grown older I realise I never took some time to figure out how to distress”

Jaehyun's heart sank; he never liked seeing you unhappy. He quickly finished his drink, promptly paying for the meal at the reception. His sudden action caught you off guard, leaving you feeling bewildered. As he returned to the table, he gently took your hand in his, silently reassuring you without a word.

“Let’s get going”

“To where?”, you rushed to gather you belongings.

“To find how to distress yourself”, he said cheerfully.

Later that night, you and Jaehyun enjoyed like high schoolers. From arcades, to street shopping and finally karaoke.

“You can never miss out this. I miss this the most when I was at the States”

You can feel the excitement building as you approach a popular karaoke bar. Inside, the neon lights dazzle, and the energy is contagious as you flip through the songbook, choosing your favorites. With microphones in hand, you and Jaehyun sing your hearts out to beloved K-pop tunes, immersing yourselves in the music and creating unforgettable memories together.

“Jaehyun, I need to use the bathroom”, you tapped his shoulders in the middle of the song.

Unlucky for you, he was too immersed with the song to notice you urgent need. Jaehyun seems to be enjoying singing so much that you decide to left him in the room, as you drag your feet to door. You were about to open it but the familiar figure in the next room, stops you.

It was Eunwoo and Ye Won, lost in their own world of love.

"Hey, close the door. We can't let the fun escape," Jaehyun called out to you.

He approached you, oblivious to the situation, until he stood next to your frozen expression, ready to close the door. It was then that he realized the chaos Eunwoo had caused.

“Y/n, let’s just go. He isn’t worth your time”, he tried to get your attention.

“You knew about them, didn’t you?”

“Y/n, I didn’t meant for you to found out this way. He told me he was going to telling you, I really didn’t expect him to carry on with the engagement”

Jaehyun wanted to hug you so much, he’s been dying to do that ever since he saw you crying at the court. But he knew it would only make you uncomfortable.

“Let’s just go”

As you begin to pack your bag and rush out of the karaoke bar after using the bathroom with Jaehyun. Jaehyun insisted on walking on the cheery blossom road to your house. Too tired to argue, you simply follow him.

“Are you okay?”

“I will be okay”

“Please don’t say that”

“But I am going to be okay, Jaehyun. I’m used to this already and I see it coming”

Jaehyun remains silent, understanding the pain you're going through. Though neither of you was officially in a relationship, it's no secret that Eunwoo has a history of flings dating back to high school, while you waited faithfully for him. Now, on the brink of getting engaged to him, you can't help but feel naive for believing he would change.

“Jaehyun, I really like to spend my time with you here but I think we should go home”, your coping mechanism for alcohol is calling you.

“I refuse too”, he said sternly.

“Jaehyun, you’re always saying no to me. Please, I don’t feel good tonight”

“That’s why I’m not going to leave you tonight. At this state, you’re going to go back to drinking and make irrational decision. I am not letting you”

In a moment of raw vulnerability, you lean in and press your lips against his, seeking comfort in the warmth of his embrace that night of betrayal. But as much as he loves you, he gently stops you.

"This is not you," he whispers softly.

"Y/n, I love you but right now, you’re just confused”, taking your hands in his and massaging them delicately.

His words penetrate through the haze of your emotions, grounding you in the reality of the moment. With a heavy sigh, you nod to him as you lean into his chest.

[x0x0josephinex0x0]

Wedding Bells

Summary: Choi Seungcheol, your bff's older brother, is at your house when you get home from a very long day.

TW: Academic abuse of power, s3xual harassment

1.8k

Leave it to you for him to be here right now. Seungcheol, your best friend’s older brother, who had won your heart when you were twelve years old when he, two years older than you, had punched a school bully who was picking on you, just had to be there on the worst possible day for him to be sitting at the kitchen table.

You had had a tough childhood. The best thing about it had been meeting Bug in the second grade, when Seungcheol had been in fourth grade and you both still believed the opposite gender had cooties. You had grown up side-by-side, spending time at Bug’s house more than your own, and for the first several years you knew him, Seungcheol was just a thorn in your side: the one who teased incessantly and ruined perfectly good fun. 

But then, you had gone to junior high. Within weeks, you’d become the target of the local bully. He had singled you out because you were quiet and studious and tried not to draw attention to yourself, and he had made your life miserable for two weeks straight. He never touched you, though, so it was difficult to catch him at it. Until one fateful day when he had tripped you, sending you stumbling into a thorny bush and knocking your mouth against a curb. You still remembered the taste of blood as you pushed yourself up, crying.

And then it happened, so fast you barely registered. There was a thick smacking noise, and the bully tumbled backwards, landing on his butt in the dirt. You looked up to see Seungcheol standing there, his eyes flashing with rage. “Pick on someone your own size,” he’d growled. 

His eyes grew tender as he turned to look at you. “Are you okay?” he’d asked, helping you up and dusting you off. He winced when he saw your bottom lip, which was still bloody. “That looks bad.”

Your eyes had spilled over. Seungcheol had waved away the group of people who were staring at you before holding you against his shoulder and calling your mom to come get you. You had cried quietly into his school uniform until she’d come, but that day had changed the way you saw Seungcheol forever. 

You had spent your teenage years being quietly smitten with him -- popular, funny, talented, and smart, there had been plenty of girls who had liked him, and even a few he’d dated. You tried not to let it get to you, but you’d spent plenty a lonely night wishing it was you he was asking out. It was, to date, the only secret you had ever kept from Bug.

When time had come to select a college, you knew where you had wanted to go -- wherever he was. The college was close enough to home that it wasn’t suspicious why you’d like to go there, and Bug got in too — an easy excuse. You knew you’d wanted to study journalism since grade school, and the program was just what you needed. Within your first two semesters, you worked hard enough to make honor roll and dean’s list, although the highlight was still seeing Seungcheol’s eyes light up with pride whenever you mentioned a new achievement. Even if he still thought of you only as a little sister, his support meant everything to you.

“So it’s been that kind of day,” Seungcheol says languidly, turning his attention back to his phone. 

“You be quiet,” you say indignantly. “I’m not in the mood.”

He looks a bit surprised and displeased at your tone. “Bug isn’t here,” he says, standing up, “so if you’re going to be rude, you can do it by yourself.”

“This is my apartment,” you remind him, eyes on your papers, “so if you don’t like it, you can always go back to your own house.” You mentally curse your voice for how it shakes toward the end of the sentence. 

He notices the change in your tone, watching you now, eyes sharp and discerning and almost black in their intensity. “Hey,” he says, his voice gentler. “What happened? Why are you especially prickly today?”

You look at him to check if he’s sincere. His phone is nowhere to be seen, and his dark eyes are steady on your face. So you breathe in deeply, and then let it all out. “It’s that guy in my graphic design class again.”

Seungcheol wrinkles his nose in disgust. “Not that guy,” he groans. “What’d he do this time?” 

You robotically pull a microwavable burrito out of the fridge and unwrap it. “He just…said something really gross,” you say, still avoiding his gaze.

“Gross?” he presses, walking to stand across the table from you with his hands in the pocket of his gray sweats.

“It’s really not worth repeating,” you say, putting the burrito in the microwave looking through your tote bag for your laptop charger, although you feel Seungcheol’s gaze on you like a laser beam.

“No,” he says, moving closer, so that he’s standing right beside you, and places a hand on the countertop to prevent you from brushing past him. “You never go into detail, and I’m starting to get worried that that’s because it’s worse than you’re letting on.” 

When you still don’t look at him, he leans down toward you so that his eyes are nearly level with your own. “Hey,” he says, soft but firm. “Look at me.”

You finally do. He’s looking at you with a gentle half-smile, one dimple visible. He nods encouragingly.

You rub at your forehead in distress. “He told me that the teacher probably gives me extra credit for the way my legs look in these jeans.”

Cheol’s expression shifts, his gaze going icy. He raises an eyebrow, and his jaw flexes for a split second. “Is it always that bad?” he finally asks in a slightly strained voice, tense as a rubber band pulled tight over a watermelon.

“Well,” you say, hesitantly, “That’s actually pretty mild, but the real issue is…”

“Is what?” Cheol asks sharply. “Please tell me how this situation can become any less awful for you.”

You close your eyes as though trying to block out the memory. “He’s faculty,” you finally admit. “Tenured faculty.”

Your hands are shaking with anger. You brush your hair out of your face to try to hide it, but Cheol catches one of them and holds it. “Hey,” he says again as tears sting your eyes. “Look at me, love.”

You force yourself to meet his gaze. A single tear slips out, and he brushes it away with the hand you’re not holding. “I am so sorry,” he says, “And I’m going to do what I can to make it right, okay? No girls should have to deal with that.”

You nod. He’s looking at you with a burning look, worry mingled with iron-hot rage. “And I hope,” he says, his voice low, “That you’re not forgetting that you are the reason you’re here. Nobody else gave you your drive or your intelligence. You worked so hard and pushed yourself to succeed, and you have.” He hesitates, seeming to catch himself in his passionate words. Then, in a tender tone you rarely hear from him, he says, “I’ve never met anyone who does it like you.”

You look up at him, and his eyes are burning with something like anger — fierce and fiery, but not quite as hard. Your vocabulary has never failed you, and it doesn’t take long before you can name what you see on his face. Desire.

He’s still really close to your face. But now you’re looking at him with a question like his eyes know the answer. And they do — for a split second, they flick to your lips. He leans in slowly, and you involuntarily find yourself reaching for him as he closes the distance between you. 

He brushes your lips with his so softly at first — more of an experiment than a kiss, really. He pulls back to look at you again, and his face is red and his eyes are wide. Somehow, your hand has found its way to his cheek, and you brush the redness that has appeared there with your thumb, feeling your heart pounding. He seems to process for a moment — and then his face lights up with a realization. He leans in again, more sure of himself this time, and kisses you more deeply.

You wrap your arms around his neck as he does. Somewhere between kisses you feel him lift you off the chair into his arms, and he carries you to the couch where you kiss some more. Finally you slowly ease slightly apart, your foreheads still together, both of you breathing heavily. 

“Whoa,” you say, smiling at him sheepishly.

He laughs. “Yeah,” he agrees. “Have you been wanting to do that awhile?”

You roll your eyes, blushing furiously. “Since seventh grade,” you admit, and he chuckles, pulling you into his chest so you’re snuggled in tight. 

“You mean that time I slugged that dude?” he laughs. “I’ve wanted to too,” he says, “except for me it was like two years ago.” He tucks your hair behind your ear. “But it felt like forever,” he complains.

“So…just so we’re clear,” you say, sitting up to look into his eyes, “that wasn’t a one-time thing, right?”

He scoffs. “Absolutely not. I would never think of kissing you like that if I wasn’t at least planning on dating you, but I’m pretty sure I’m planning to marry you.”

“Come on, be serious,” you protest, slightly panicked. 

He smiles. “I am so serious right now,” he says, cupping your face with his hands. “I haven’t been able to get you out of my head for two years straight. You’d think that amount of time to fantasize about kissing you would make the actual first kiss a total letdown, but it was somehow better than I thought it would be.”

You gape at him. The door opens and shuts, and you hear Bug’s voice. “Hey, where are you guys,” she calls, then walks into the kitchen to see you snuggled up with her brother. 

She pauses for a minute to look at you. “So is this finally happening now?” She asks, a knowing half-smile spreading on her face. 

“Bug, your brother just told me he wants to marry me,” you say incredulously. 

“That’s great! Now he can stop telling me about how he wants to marry you. You probably like hearing it a lot more than I do.” She heads to the fridge and starts putting groceries away. “Just don’t make out in front of me,” she warns.

You look at Cheol. He is beaming at you, looking utterly in love. “I can’t wait to file a lawsuit to get your teacher fired,” he says, rubbing the back of your arm with his hand. “Happy day one of being my girlfriend.”