★ limelight | c.yj
▰ genre: fluff and angst (sorta) - there’s a lot and nothing going on at the same time
▰ word count: 4.4k
▰ synopsis: you show up to one of yeonjun’s grand parties at his grand estate and you find you’re the only one who actually showed up + yeonjun is a big softie but has a bad reputation </3
a/n: i started writing this bc i saw this interview and it got away from me… i feel like a bad person for writing this but anyways im getting worse and worse with titling these things idk what to do hhhh also i realized too late that i made him to be like gatsby and i was too lazy to fix or elaborate that i apologize for this ! this sat in my drafts for far too long and well i just wanted something published >_<
When the school year began, kicking off your first semester at this brand new university, you knew little to nothing about Choi Yeonjun and his reputation, let alone where your classes were.
From the chatter that always seemed to filter around you, no matter where you were in the campus, talk about this guy would range from little compliments to extreme accusations of things you’d never even dream of knowing.
You hadn’t planned on making friends or hanging out with said friends, so these internal affairs didn’t appeal to you. This was how your school career here was supposed to go.
Things changed when your schedule suddenly could no longer afford a certain class at a certain time, so last minute, almost two weeks in, you were thrust into an entire new class for this one elective.
Things further remixed when your professor practically forced you to partner up and form groups with those around you, much to your dissatisfaction. (You struggled to socialize, even if the matters at hand were merely for school.)
To your astonishment, Yeonjun was by far amongst the popular, or in high demand of other students wanting to partner up. You knew little about him, but it seemed even then he was a magnet for popularity. The situation just made you feel like a child again,
That day, when he and you made eye contact, you realized he was also remarkably beautiful. Tall, handsome, proportionate, pretty, bright, and surprisingly pretty funny. He had it all. He was friends with everyone. It just seemed that he was a star, the star.
Professor Kwon seemed to have had enough of these childish antics and decided to take matters into her own hands.
“Y/N,” she called, earning the eyes of other students. It seemed as though that had been the first time anyone had registered your presence. And not with open arms, might you add. “I see that you’re unfortunately running a bit behind, since you just transferred in, and that’s okay! To get you caught up and for extra help and guidance, I’d like you to partner up with Yeonjun. Yeonjun?”
If anything could be made from the way his eyes found and trained on you, you knew for a fact that Yeonjun stared.
He blinked owlishly before being met with your back once you turned away from him.
That had been the first chance meeting; class had ended before he could assume a seat beside you, the one where your backpack had been. Nonetheless, you had seemed adamant about spending as little time as possible with Yeonjun.
Life’s deck of cards did not fold in your favor.
He sat beside you everyday. Not only that, you realized that he was the type of person to reach out constantly; he initiated conversations, hangouts, discussion, complimented your nails or jewelry, even your stationary. The stark contrast between him and you left you with an odd taste in your mouth.
Weeks blurred into canvases of months, and you noticed more that he remained firm in his role to show you around campus, ensure that you were caught up, or that you were doing well, even if he would miss more questions on a test or quiz than you. It was puzzling, but a part of you welcomed it, even if you were set on not getting attached, especially to the guy that was everywhere—fashion club (in which he would model for the others quite often, for the arranged fashion shows, and if you could count how often he made you meet him there for group work, you’d be comfortably wealthy), pottery club, dance classes, culinary classes, etc.
It seemed inevitable that you’d come across him. A part of that was why you hadn’t been unable to turn down the party invitation he himself handed to you along with a humble bouquet of flowers and gift card for a cafe you had mentioned you enjoyed.
Despite the grandeur of the building before you, the bass of the music vibrating the walls, the stringlike straps of the gift bag in your hand weighing and drawing pained lines into your palm, the grip of an uncomfortably dressy outfit, you find yourself shocked at the revelation that you can’t bring yourself to leave. It would just take a few steps to perfectly turn away and start your descent. In fact, it would require an insanely less amount of effort to come down as you had come up.
Yet, the excuses that you’ve had kept in your pockets in use for lack of attendance were out. You’d lived your entire life this way, and it amazed you that even now, you were under the impression you were able to recycle the excuses that have kept you the way that you are: home-bodied, comfortable.
But at the same time, you wondered, if you were to quickly zip off into the sunset and just text him that something had come up, what exactly would you be missing?
A buzz from the elevator tethered and pulled you back down to earth. You could make a break for it, if you really wanted to. There was a cute cafe just down the street that you’d passed that seemed worth visiting; you could catch a seat in the far corner, so there wouldn’t be a chance in hell anyone could prove you were even in the area.
A tumble and click of the door’s locks whipped your head back to the now open door where you saw your beautiful classmate. The usual features jumped out to you: his height, piercings, luscious lips, that unnervingly gorgeous twinkle of the mole below his eye, and his heavy but welcoming cologne.
“Y/N,” Yeonjun called your name so cheerfully it took you by surprise. “You came.”
Now, with a change of setting, lighting, and proximity, there was more to meet your eye: he did his hair, the eyeshadow around his eyes was a brilliant idea, the subtle lines of his neck, the twitch of his now widening smile, the blush settling over the tips of his ears — since when did his Adam’s apple bob so much?
Reality settled enough now for you to see the surprising amount of illumination from behind his figure.
“Y/N,” he said again, a little weaker but still rich in enthusiasm, which made you laugh. That seemed to sober him up, too. “You came.”
There was something in his tone, in the lilt, in the almost hushed descent of volume that raised a nebulous implication. You opened your mouth to speak, but only for all words to elude you with his next statement.
“Hey, it’s like the first time seeing you in this color or something,” you looked down at your near-uncomfortable outfit with a frown itching your features.
“What makes you say that?” You asked aloud, unaware that your back was now to the closed door, and you were inside. A place that felt like what the second home of a millionaire must look like with the high ceilings, echo of your voices, and the shine of every surface possible.
He tilted his head, letting a few strands of hair fall over his brow before regaining composure.
“It really suits you. You’re really good looking,” your mouth went dry at that. Even if you could form a sentence, you weren’t sure of what to say. Who in their right mind said that so easily?
“Oh! Let me take that from you,” when he reached down to take the gift bag, your fingers jostled beside his, and it shocked you enough to shiver. “Wow, really sweet of you to have brought something.”
He said it more to himself, eyes twinkling and the apples of his cheeks so high.
As you followed and tried to keep the staring to a minimum, there was a pressing weight that wouldn’t leave you be. Even when a maid, you assumed, had helped you into a nice set of slippers (which you were going to definitely replace your other pair with), there was something off that you couldn’t quite your finger on. Not in a skin crawling way. Just something amiss, but you paid it no heed.
The music had significantly lowered from when you were at the front step, when the very beat had intervened your own heart’s, down to the minimal volume stemming still from the room you walked closer and closer to.
As you entered the kitchen, which overlooked what you assumed to be the living room and a living space that was about the same size as your own apartment, it all came to you. A little shudder itched down from your ears to your ankles.
There was no one else here.
Maybe you were too early. Maybe you got the dates mixed up. Maybe everyone just left, and you, by some chance, missed a large crowd going the opposite way you came. But, it didn’t change the fact that there wasn’t a soul in the suite.
Shuffling resonated behind you, along with a defeated, almost tired sigh. You turned to it, your heart stumbling at the means of the situation.
Yeonjun leaned his body against the marble counter. It lifted his cardigan off his body, so you could catch the gleam of his luxurious looking belt. Gucci, maybe? Something expensive, that was all you knew. Despite his fancy outfit, and the runway-ready look of makeup that was set on his remarkably beautiful face, it couldn’t shake the fact that his expression was downcast due to the matter at hand.
What a beautiful person. It seemed futile to even consider or humor the idea that no one appreciated Yeonjun—more than the objectively, unbiased charm of his appearance; his obvious abyss of money; his sportsmanship; personality that had to have been molded from a mother and father who loved their only son with all of their hearts.
Of course, people had to see beyond his pretty face, right?
“Yeah, I know,” he let out halfheartedly, chuckling with a pained smile: the sardonic tone was in reference to the lack of guests.
You weren’t sure what to say, really. It was clear he hadn’t an idea either, only choosing to state the obvious. There were dozens of pathways that could be taken on dozens of things that could be said in this moment. So, you opted for —
“What did you have in mind to do tonight?”
His smile only blossomed from there.
Aside from the buffet of food readied and arranged in a beautiful way on the table, which became of the object of most your stolen glances for the night, the fun for the night seemed never ending. There were drinks available due to a bar within the pool house, which was, of course, behind the actual pool, but that was hardly the beginning of all that was available to you.
You learned a lot about Yeonjun throughout the games and eating.
However, you felt that the starkest revelations about your classmate were made when the sun had officially taken its place beneath the clouds that were practically high tide. The moon was full enough that you could see its dimples and craters; this observation was enough of a distraction from the fact that the proximity between you two was nearly too close for comfort.
You and Yeonjun now sat at the edge of the pool with your feet in, a gentle breeze wading through the air and erupting ripples that would make the water lift a little higher up your legs.
The light chatter that had been resonating from the height of the games you had played or when you had snacked had settled into complete silence. Surprisingly, it wasn’t uncomfortable; this was something you’d come to put two and two together. Even when you both would study together, the bouts of quietude never felt unnerving to you. It felt natural.
Despite the serenity of it all, Yeonjun’s constant fiddling with his fingers gave you the impression he had something on his mind.
“This doesn’t always happen if you’re wondering,” he laughed cynically, kicking at the water. “I’m just surprised it was you that showed up.”
The longer you wait to assemble all that you wish to convey, it became easier to see how far his heart was traveling south.
“You didn’t think I was going to show up?” You asked and he choked lightly on one of his little laughs. It was moreso out of the fact you didn’t want to say anything he didn’t want to say.
“No, no… well, I thought you’d be the last person to ever show up for me. It means a lot,” he sighed again, and the air just became so taut you couldn’t ignore it.
“Yeonjun, is it okay if I ask why no one showed up. I mean, you invited the upperclassmen, too. And those guys practically worship you… You always go to their parties, but the one time you throw one and…”
Your words died in your throat. He craned his neck, stretching his neck as he leaned his head back. What a beautiful person.
He tilted his head to meet eyes with you, lids relaxed, but there was that smile dry of any hope. A drought.
“Oh, come on. Don’t tell me you fall for that act, too,” he sighed, like it exhausted him.
“What ‘act’? Is-do you mean…” your words died in your throat, and at that moment, he glanced up towards you again, eyes unwavering in their almost cautious gaze. You cleared your throat. “What? They just use you?”
Your tone was a blunt pierce into his back. It could be seen in his wince that squeezed at his eyes. He nodded.
“I felt like you knew by now. I mean, everyone does,” he exhaled, kicking his legs around. A chill wracked his body. “Still doesn’t stop me from hoping, which I see now is pathetic.”
You stared hard at his cuffed jeans, chest filling endlessly with something as heavy as dread but as dense as remorse. You weren’t sure.
“That’s why you were surprised I came?”
A part of you cracked, like a glass of fine china getting nicked.
“I don’t mean to appeal to you for pity. I realize, again, I’m hosting my own literal pity party, and you’re the only guest,” he leaned forward, elbows settling on his knees to keel forward. “You must be so miserable.”
“Not entirely.” You tried to joke, but as soon as the last syllable left your mouth, you were hit with the piping hot revelation that you are not very funny. He looked up to you, face half hidden by his hair. Eyes dark with possible shock and dejection of your statement.
“I’m kidding, Yeonjun, I’m kidding,” you panicked. He deflated at that.
“It’s just that I honestly had the most fun I’ve had since I got to this school today. Pool party, food, games-I mean, literal games; like are you kidding me?” It was the truth. He sat up pretty quickly. “You said that this doesn’t always happen—what do you mean by that?”
Yeonjun lifted his hand to brush back his hair away from his face.
“Yeah,” he sniffed. “It was when I didn’t have the reputation I have now.”
“Reputation?”
He nodded again but more sullenly. His full lip jutted out, and you curbed the urge to almost coo.
“There’s lots of rumors, some are false. Rarely are they true. But, at the end of the day, when people see me, all they see is a pretty face, maybe, but they see a judgmental, opinionated snob with a lot of money,” Yeonjun paused and you looked at him again. “But, when you get to know me, you’ll just find that I’m a fool, innocent and afraid of a lot of things.”
By now, since the sun had officially taken its place beneath the horizon, his pool lights flipped on and bathed you both from underneath. Distantly, nightingales chirped their twenty something repertoires, unfurling their sweet notes to the darkened sky.
A moment passed before you felt like the song wasn’t in your throat anymore.
“You really are beautiful, you know that?” To your astonishment, he breathed a broken inhale, and he shuffled his posture and eyes around, as if shy from your statement.
“Do you really see me that way?” He asked, tone lifting in something close to hope. When Yeonjun looked at someone, and truly looked, you noticed his eyes shimmer, even by a twinkle at the least.
You nodded with a smile. He mirrored your response.
Another breeze nestled its way past your thin layers of clothes, which ignited a shiver from you. He blinked a few times soberly before immediately rising, water crashing and pouring down his legs over the edge. He now stood, hunched over with an extended arm towards you. Yeonjun looked to you expectantly.
“You must be freezing and uncomfortable. Come, let’s get out and get you in some warm, comfortable clothes.” If anyone else, in any other circumstances, had said that to you, they would have been met with hesitance; this time, you slid your palm into his and allowed him to pull you up and guide you to warmth, even if he himself radiated it in waves.
He knew how to take care of a guest, the way a great host would, even if he had maids, housekeepers, people looking after him. They allowed him to do as he pleased, and he was definitely pleased by taking care of you and helping you around the house as if you lived here.
After the initial shock of the most luxurious shower you have ever taken in your life, you found that there was a change of fresh, warm clothes for you folded neatly on the marble bathroom counter. Somehow, you didn’t hate it; it was just cotton sweats and a cotton t-shirt—both plain and gray, but you could tell they were new. Had you lived in luxury your entire life, you had a feeling these would be purchased straight from the mall, probably priced with triple digits, including taxes.
There was a hairdryer ready at your disposal, but you opted out, almost a little overwhelmed at the fact that every possible need or even want could be met so easily here.
When you found your way back to the main room (you were surprised that you hadn’t gotten lost), Yeonjun was in the living room, scrolling through Netflix mindlessly. Until he perked up at the staccato sliding of your slippers against his pristine floor.
He jumped and smiled as soon as he turned to you, full lips stretched welcomingly. Yeonjun had also changed attire—monochromed flannel over the exact same outfit you had on. The realization that you were matching made your ears and cheeks burn.
“Welcome back,” his tone was quite soft, said in a manner as if he had rehearsed it in his head a few times. “Was everything to your liking? And the clothes?”
You blinked at him a few times, returning a smile to ease his worries.
“Yeah, it was all perfect, Yeonjun. Thank you,” you walked around the couch to take a spot on the other side of the sofa, despite countless other sofas present around you. He immediately relaxed into the cushions at that. “Are you looking for something in particular to watch?”
He gave a short, little laugh: one that made you jump with how genuinely cute you found it. What an adorable guy. Yeah, that was what he was to you.
Apparently, he was looking for a film not on Netflix, so you spent a while looking on almost every streaming service. When it came down to watching the movie, he made sure you were comfortable and hopped off the couch to turn the lights off, even though the nearest butler had offered to do so.
Halfway through, even if the movie had you both confused, one of his many butlers had come in, crouched down to his level in between you to mutter a hushed, “Mr. and Mrs. Choi wanted me to notify you that they will be returning home in half an hour.”
His eyes twinkled again as he gave a little node, lips parting in understanding.
“Oh, okay. Thank you. Was there anything else they wanted to say?”
“No, sir. They had only called to give you notice, so as to not startle you.”
“Okay, thank you!”
He grinned at the butler, watching him walk out. When Yeonjun turned back towards you, you had lowered the volume by a lot and were beaming at him without realizing.
“What?” He asked curiously, and you snickered, losing the fastest staring contest you’d played in your whole life.
“That’s really kind of your parents to do that.” You said with a sigh, one that was done with your whole body. He tilted his head, quickly pausing the movie.
“Yeah, it’s no big deal. They might, um, ask you to stay for dinner or something. I don’t know. Don’t feel obligated to do anything, though. It’s just that - well - they encourage me to throw these parties. After all, it doesn’t hurt anyone.”
You couldn’t help but frown, furrowing your eyebrows.
“Well, that’s…” It was hard to find the words. “Again, that’s really kind. But, it does hurt someone in the end. It hurts you, doesn’t it?”
He laughed again gently, leaning his weight on an elbow and pushing his bangs back from his face.
“It does, but only because no one else has been coming since rumors spread and my reputation got worse. I think one day, things might turn around for me.”
You let out a scoff and leaned on the arm rest to which he perked, eyes shimmering warily.
“What?”
“I don’t get it. I don’t get how you’re still a nice, good person, no matter how unfairly treated—“
It was his turn to scoff, though there was no venom detected.
“I’m not that unfairly treated. I’m an incredibly privileged person, really—“
“Yeonjun, you deserve the world!” You raised your voice a little, and his eyes translated clearly the awestricken feeling that hit him straight in the face.
“Sorry,”
“No, don’t be sorry. Please,” he played with a button on his flannel before looking back up to you hesitantly. “It’s the nicest thing anyone’s said to me — who meant it.”
The movie was quickly progressing, but you had hit mute, so the colors and light from the expansive television washed over you. It was a quiet moment, but it was nice. The two of you smiled at each other, and you weren’t sure for how long, but it had to have been quite some time, considering that that same butler entered again, this time turning a lamp on with him.
“Sir, your mother and father have called to notify you they will be entering within five minutes.”
Yeonjun bid his thanks, watching him walk away and returning his cat eyed gaze to you, to see that you were standing up.
“I should probably get going. I’ve overstayed my welcome.”
He stood with you, shaking his head with that ever present smile on his face.
“No, that’s… I promise that’s not true,” he cleared his throat, swinging one of his arms a little awkwardly. “I can walk you out to your car.”
Halfway to the door, he had even asked, “Are you sure you don’t want my chauffeur to take you home and someone else to drop off your vehicle?”
Of course, he was met with resistance to his question. Yeonjun noted to himself that despite all the silent fights and walls you put up with him, throughout your shared class and the last few months of school you shared with him, you were the one to tear down a few for him.
When you both reached your car, your heart quickened its pace and the ripples of its beat paced heavily in your ears, and you couldn’t figure out why.
Instead of the uncomfortable bag and clothes from before, you held a new gift bag with your belongings in it, but besides that, you felt you also carried a new attitude moreso towards your classmate.
“Well, um… Thank you for having me, Yeonjun.” You grinned at him, sweetly showed your teeth, to which he dimpled shyly, as if he felt sheepish about the red creeping on the tips of his ears.
After a brief beat of silence, his eyes confronted yours and he outstretched a hand to you.
Without thinking, which was probably a good thing, you slipped your hand into his, admiring the warmth and placement of his lines, the lengths of his digits, when he brought the backside of your palm to his mouth shakily. His full lips pressed a tender kiss that surged and electrified all the wires in your brain that made you shiver. He let go with another shy but sure smile.
“Thank you for showing up for me, Y/N.”
He watched you open your door after you had hesitated and struggled with the lock, but you hadn’t stepped in yet. Yeonjun arched an eyebrow.
“We should do this more often. Would you want to hang out again?” You asked, and his face dropped. What were those eyes thinking?
“Yeah,” he cleared his throat and nodded. Nodded again and another time after that.
“Sounds good. And since you have my number, we can text, too,” you smiled, and he also noted that it showed in your eyes this time. “Well, I’ll see you in class tomorrow, Jun.”
Even if the surface seemed as simple as a pavement, Yeonjun felt stunned, seeing the dirt, the ants, the roots of earth, the mantle of the world beneath his feet.
“Please text me when you get home safely, okay?”
You nodded, chest blossoming.
“I will,” Tonight would be the beginning of your real friendship with Yeonjun, who was now more than just your classmate. You vowed to remain by his side, to protect him, to cherish him, to put yourself out there for him in ways he did so naturally for you, to introduce new things to him, but most importantly, to be there for him.
Maybe you would finally be able to tell him how you feel since you don’t think you can imagine the next semester without him in one of your classes, but for tonight, and foremost, you would be his (first) friend.
“I promise.”
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hey!! if you are taking requests, i wanted to request the tmnt mm! boys having a crush on a fem! reader who’s EXACTLY like raph. she loves fighting, may or may not have anger issues, cursed with resting bitch face, BUT, she’s actually really sweet and outgoing. never afraid to speak her mind, so, she may come across as rude sometimes, but, she never really means to be. (lowkey a biased request but SSSHH, we’re not gonna talk about that)
(this is cute and of course! Enjoy!)
Donatello
You guys have such contrast in your relationship
He can be hyper, but sometimes quiet and mostly calm
He just wants to have fun, and basically be there to vibe
While you're there and ready to fight and down for anything
He tries to help you manage your anger but he sometimes finds it funny and entertaining
Not in an assholey way, just letting you be and the shit you say can actually be pretty funny
He doesn't really like when you get into fights when you don't need to
But when someone says something about you, him or his brothers?
He lets you rain hell
He really loves that you cut bullshit and speak your mind
He needs help deciding something and he knows to go to you because you can actually give an honest answer
He doesn't mind your RBF
At first it did make him think you were a mean person before he got to know you
But now you're so sweet and happy and outgoing and he loves you very much!
He knows you don't mean to be rude, you're just speaking and don't mean to
He lets you know that what you say can be rude, but he isn't mean about it
He just helps you correct it, lmao
(I wrote sm for Donnie and you can tell who I grew up crushing on just by this)
He def uses your angry and RBF to scare ppl messing with him off
Leo
He tries to get you to calm down a lot
But usually he is also one to let you be
He's always getting you out of trouble
You remind him a bit TOO much of Raph
He does love you though
At first he was very hesitant to get to know you because of your angry energy and because of the RBF
But now he is very glad that he did and that you're his friend…crush-
Sometimes the stuff you do, especially defending him, gets him so blushy it's not even funny
The fact you love to fight actually made him worry a bit
He didn't want you getting hurt
But he is always glad to scold you while patching your dumbass up
The anger issues he tries to help you manage and give you little tips to help
But those like breathing exercises just hypes you up even more so he kinda gave up
He now just lets you have at something like a punching bag or letting you run free and rampant as he sits and lets you do your thing
When you turned out to be very sweet and caring he was pleasantly surprised
He's very glad that you guys match on that level at least
He is sorta surprised on how freely you speak your mind
He is the one to constantly be watching what he says while you say the most rancid and random shit
He has to cover your mouth a lot lmao
Mikey
OH HE LOVES YOU
The anger issues sometimes surprise him especially at random times but he is the one to be able to also get on your level to an extent
He's very funny and he's always hyping you up
Especially when you're in a more fighting move
You could be beating the shit out of someone and just have him yelling and hyping you up and ready to run outta there with you
You guys are constantly sneaking off and on rooftops as you're pretending to mimic a fight and he's just eating pizza
He helps you get your energy out a lot
He smack talks you just for you to get mad and show off them skills bae
Oddly finds it cute? A bit idk how to explain it
He says it fits you better than it fits Raph
He really likes being around you, especially because of the RBF and how you sometimes tend to look mean
He acts like he has them scary dog privileges where he gets to hang out with the "Bad Kid" and he's basically protected
He loves your energy because of how outgoing, caring and sweet you can be
He loves that you can go from angry and upset and fighting to sweet, caring and helping some old guy in his shop just because you want to
You're just like him when speaking your mind
You guys say some loud and rancid shit and don't care at this point
When you're mean and don't know, at first he thought you were mean on purpose and got quite sad
It wasn't until you or someone else noticed and you apologized a lot
But now he thinks it was kinda funny
Raphael
Raphael has met his soulmate and match
You guys are constantly talking smack and shit to each other but dare someone else do it about the other
You guys have both a RBF at times but more you
He is constantly pointing it out and teasing you about it and how mean you look
He thinks it's pretty cool though
The fact that you get him on a level nobody else can just makes the crush feelings even more stronger
He loves how he can relax and just have fun with you to be angry, punch and fight something
He loves when you guys go out and just are on a rooftop, probably fighting with each other or wrestling to get the energy out
The anger issues also he doesn't mind
He doesn't think he has them, and doesn't really think you have them
He just blames others for making y'all mad and calls it a day
But due to these anger issues when you guys argue it gets heated
But somehow turns into a major joke like 20 minutes later idk how
He finds it funny how you can go from an RBF, angry and fighting t sweet and caring to him in a matter of seconds
You guys have a lot of competition going on it's not even funny at this point
Shit is serious and he's going to die because of it
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