#and they never stop where you want them to

[mr-ribbit]

something fascinating to me about egg discourse is how often tme people Also joke about or question their friends potential to be trans, and it's literally never talked about like this.

my cis and tme nb friends routinely joke about celebrities or characters that have big "nonbinary energy" or who otherwise exhibit behavior we would associate with ourselves. i have tme friends and acquaintances who have approached me or my wife and straightforwardly said "something seems trans about you, have I asked for your pronouns recently?"

similar friends have even talked about other still-cis friends in our circle this way, or joked about "when are you going to transition like the rest of us?" or "yeah cis people are a minority in this group, just give it time" or "no wonder you have queer friends with how comfortable with being gnc you are" or etc etc examples like that

even the actual examples of people in my life that I can think of as being the most "invasive" or presumptive about gender have been tme people:

it was my cishet friends who outed me and my wife as trans to everyone at their wedding, including their boomer parents and hundreds of strangers, and called it "the most queer wedding party ever"

it was my tme nb friend who kept saying they could "always tell" her transfem cousin was trans before she came out, and then proceeded to randomly give us extremely personal details about her bottom surgery

it was my transmasc friend who refused to call me and my wife anything other than "little enby beans" after we met and introduced us with our full genders+sexuality labels to every single person one by one at a party

it was my transmasc nb friend who kept insisting my wife could "still be nonbinary" when she was first considering identifying as a trans woman instead, and it was THAT idea that actually slowed her down from making changes to her life that she wanted

it was my cis friends who approached me arm and arm and cornered my outside of a bathroom at a party right after I took a piss to suddenly ask me what my pronouns were because they "heard something" at the party

like, transfems deserve robust support against this trash so a lot of our defensive discourse has ofc been about how it IS okay for transfems to talk about eggs and be jokey about it and non-invasively approach others about being trans

but i swear to god none of these weird people have even stopped to make their discourse ABOUT anyone BUT transfems. it's so clearly targeted!!

no one has EVER approached *me* as a tme nb person and suggested i was pressuring gnc people with my egg jokes. never. nothing even remotely similar. i joke about other people being trans all the time and no one has ever treated me the way you all are treating transfems over this issue.

important note: my examples are all things I recall as being invasive and awkward, and I'm sharing them to make a point about how often rude behavior comes from the same tme people pointing fingers over this. but I still don't think any of them are worth the crucifixion people are treating transfem egg discourse with.

even when my friends were weird to me in the above examples, my reaction was either to confront them about it as friends who I trust to be able to communicate with, or to cut those individuals off after they proved not worth a relationship in the long run. at no time did I desire to make a call-out post or spread rumors about them or publicly declare all of their gender as a screeching menace to society.

my point here is that even when I do think about moments where others crossed a line, acting like this is a "issue trans women have" is blatantly transmisogynistic garbage that only exists to serve the woman-hating machine at the heart of our society. fucking cut it out

[cheeseceli]

With a sleepy s/o

Pairing: skz Ot8 × Gn!reader (individually)

Genre: headcanon, fluff, established relationship

Request: skz with a very sleepy s/o, kinda like han but worse lol.

Warnings: none

A/n: pink lee know can save lives | important highlight

Bang Chan

No one likes it more than him, trust me. He just loves it so much whenever you start to feel a bit drowsy and then sleep in his shoulder/lap. Partially because he thinks you're adorable when sleeping but partially because he feels he can protect you when you're vulnerable like that. He really really likes it

Lee Know

Please stop falling asleep all the time, his camera roll can't take it anymore. Seriously though, every time you sleep he takes thousands of pictures in all possible angles. He says it's because he wants to blackmail you but in reality he just finds you extremely adorable (won't admit that tho)

Changbin

He has like this sixth sense where he just knows you're about to fall asleep, no matter where he is. He physically needs to be like your pillow for whenever you're in this state. Always has a proud smile for when he manages to be there when you need him. Asks for the boys to take pictures of you both like that (they can't handle it anymore)

Hyunjin

The first time you fell asleep next to him he was a bit in shock, but now that he is used to it, he welcomes you with open arms whenever your eyes start to close. He is really satisfied with how you trust him enough to sleep around him, it never fails on making him smile

Han

We just know y'all sleeping together everywhere no matter what time it is. The world could be potentially ending but y'all would be cuddled up and sleeping on the nearest sofa. Honestly it's expected for you both to end up like this after a while, but it's also very cute of you ngl

Felix

Another one who sees this as an opportunity to cuddle everywhere, even if he doesn't feel sleepy in the slightest. He just really enjoys holding you while you dream. The boys took a picture of you both like that once to try to tease Felix but it didn't work at all, as he was extremely happy about it lmao

Seungmin

Also has a lot of pictures of you sleeping but you'll never know that because no way on earth he is showing you that, he might as well die of embarrassment. You also always wake up covered by his jacket/sweatshirt, warm and cozy.

I.N

Most likely to have you sleeping as his phone wallpaper and the least likely to change it. He's so relieved you can't see him when you're sleeping because he always gets this huge lovesick smile on him, he'd probably combust if you could see that.

Masterlist | you'll probably like: you give them flowers

Thank you for reading 🩷

Taglist (open!): @yuyubeans @dandelions-143

Credits for images 1 , 2 and 3

Dividers by @saradika-graphics

[maplesyrupsainz]

˖⁺｡˚⋆˙opposites attract | CL16˖⁺｡˚⋆˙

pairing: charles leclerc x tattoo artist!reader y/n (she/her) x alexandra saint mleux

genre: social media au, polyamory

warnings: polyamory, some sexual innuendo

summary: in which no one actually believes your new partners could actually like you

a/n: LOVE this request i jus chose charles & alex coz i figured they r both sweet and tattooless LOL they dnt rly match y/n vibe hehe i luv it tysmmm

request!!!: reader is a tattoo artist of at least heavily tattooed. I’m talking big tattoos all over her body. I imagine that no one believes they could be together let alone be friends because it’s someone you totally wouldn’t expect to be with a driver and his girlfriend? I’m open for any driver x wag pair :))

my masterlist

fc: aussiedomxo on ig

twitter ->

instagram ->

yourusername 📍 monaco

liked by alexandrasaintmleux, yourbff, and others

yourusername so much fun in monaco this week – got to do some super cool tattoos among other things!

view all comments

user1 alex in the likes

user2 why would they be friends 💀

user3 we dont know them lol. be srs rn

user4 she's so cool

yourbff sooo cool

yourusername ilysm

user5 who's the man lol

user6 who is she???

user7 tattoo artist who's been seen out with alex

user8 who cares bro 😂

user9 idk ppl r so dramatic and nosy lol

alexandrasaintmleux me next! 🙋‍♀️

yourusername i could never mark that glorious skin of yours

alexandrasaintmleux not what you were saying last night .......

charles_leclerc 😂😂😂

user10 urmmm WHAT

user11 excuse me lol

twitter ->

instagram ->

f1wagupdates

liked by user12, yourusername, and others

f1wagupdates (your nationality) tattoo artist y/n y/l/n was spotted driving one of charles leclerc's cars this weekend in italy, following rumours of her newfound "friendship" with him and his girlfriend, alexandra saint mleux

tagged: yourusername

view all comments

user18 stop it hahahaha

user19 is this some elaborate prank

user20 not y/n liking this post lol

user21 i kind of love her

user22 threesome alert threesome alert

user23 our unbothered queen y/n

yourbff she looks good in red

liked by yourusername, alexandrasaintmleux, charles_leclerc and others

user24 omg hello????!???!

yourusername posted a story

liked by alexandrasaintmleux, charles_leclerc, and others

user25 there's no way charles & alex like u covered in all that 💀

alexandrasaintmleux wow

yourusername i am not worthy of you

charles_leclerc my love 😻

yourusername meow

charles_leclerc oh stop it you

user26 me when i love women

user27 wow the tats r so cool

user28 charles & alex have rich prince and princess vibes & then there's y/n

user29 trashy tbh

alexandrasaintmleux posted a story

liked by charles_leclerc, yourusername, and others

charles_leclerc wow look at her 😻

liked by alexandrasaintmleux

francisca.cgomes love her!! bring her to a raceeee

alexandrasaintmleux all in good time 🤓

user30 omg y/n again??

user31 why are u always with her now

user32 where's charles!!!

user33 this pairing makes no sense

charles_leclerc

liked by alexandrasaintmleux, yourusername, and others

charles_leclerc home life lately

view all comments

user34 AHHHHH stop it

user35 omg wait what?

user36 WAS THREESOME ALERT THREESOME ALERT REAL???

user37 YESSSS F1 POLYAMORY

user38 maybe they're just friends??? everyone always wants ppl to be dating

user39 be fr...

alexandrasaintmleux our tattooed goddess 💘

charles_leclerc she is so majestic!

alexandrasaintmleux unbelievably beautiful

charles_leclerc oh, i believe it 😌

yourusername GUYS. stop it im blushing

user40 AHH NO WAYY

user41 where are the charlesalexyn deniers now

user42 omgg they are so mismatched but in the best ways possible

user43 i can't believe it's real omg

user44 literally i didnt believe it at first

yourusername im so lucky to know you guys! you know what they say, opposites attract 😉

charles_leclerc forever and always ❤️

alexandrasaintmleux our missing piece 🧩

THE END ❤️

[crybabydooly]

♡ bloodstream

pairing: boxer!jungkook x bookworm!reader

warnings: language, pet names, little blood, fingering, clit stim, aftercare, vaginal sex, cum shooting, not proofread

listen to: stateless - bloodstream

It wasn't such a bad day...

You go to the library and pick up a few books then you head to the gym where Jungkook was. You usually meet him there once you're both done with work.

You sit and read, waiting for him to finish so you can go home with him. You two rented a nice apartment not too long ago after high school.

He pays rent and you take care of the bills. You both pitch in for grocery shopping and stuff. You both get home around nine at night, never really home during the week days.

You sit on the floor by the benches, reading your books and taking notes; sticking small sticky notes on the pages you tab.

Jungkook continues to train, damaging his fists with each punch he gives the bag banging from the ceiling.

He grunts and pants, sweating all over himself. His shirt soaked and your eyes wandered to his abs. They were outlined by the white shirt he was wearing and you could hardly snap out of your state.

He chuckled, "like what you see babe?"

"What?" You look up to him, seeing him stop what he's doing. He just caught you looking at him...not the first time it's happened but it's just as embarrassing each time.

"Caught you looking again..." He walks to you and bends over a little. He grasped the back of your neck gently and pulled you in towards him, kissing you on the forehead.

You giggle, "ew, you're all sweaty."

"I thought you liked that." He laughed as he pulled away, using the towel that was around his neck to wipe the pooling sweat on his face.

"We should get home. It's pretty late." You stand up and place your book in your tote bag.

Jungkook smiles and nods, "getting hungry?"

"Yeah, I didn't eat all day." You sigh, "but I'll make something yummy."

Jungkook grabs the rest of your things and walks you to the car. He drives you back to the apartment and helps you in. He can't help but notice how you smell...it's new.

Once you both got inside it began to rain outside and you were relieved you got home when you did. You love the rain, just hate getting wet.

"Okay. I'm getting in the shower. Need any help with dinner?" He walked to the hall and turned to look at you.

You shake your head, "no, I'm okay."

Jungkook walked into the bathroom and you heard the door shut. You immediately got ready to cook; getting a pan out, putting some nice chopped vegetables inside to cook.

Dinner wasn't too bad tonight. You just can't seem to find anything appealing at the moment.

You cook for a while, getting some plates out to serve. Once you had placed the plate down on the counter, Jungkook came around the corner, ruffling his hair with a towel.

"This looks amazing baby." He walks towards you and gives you a kiss.

You smile, "thank you. I made it just for you."

You both ate dinner and did a load of dishes together. Jungkook always offers to do so, but he works so much harder than you.

You always take over when it comes to house chores, he just couldn't be away from you.

He wraps his arms around your waist as you scrub the dishes, kissing the back of your neck as he pushes your hair to the side.

"So pretty..." He mutters between kisses.

You nudge your elbow into his chest, "go get the bed ready."

"So feisty." He scoffs, giving you one last kiss before going off to the bedroom. He took the throw pillows off the bed and pulled the comforter out from under the other pillows, adjusting them so they're comfortable.

Once you finish the load of dishes you head off to the bedroom to see Jungkook taking off his shirt. Your cheeks flush red and you wonder if you should be looking...

"Babe?" You ask for him, seeing him turn around. "Can I talk to you?"

"Sure sweetie. What's the matter?" He sits on the edge of the bed and looks at you with those big black eyes.

You sigh, "this is embarrassing but I wanted to talk about taking the next step."

"You mean...sex?" He asked.

You nod, feeling embarrassed. He sees this but he understands. He knows you're a virgin and scared shitless.

"Baby, if you're ready. Then I'll help you take that next step." He stands up and walks to you, pulling you gently by your arm.

He nuzzles his nose into your neck, kissing the area to calm you down, swaying you back and forth, he didn’t want to move at a pace that made you feel uncomfortable. He made sure to go slow.

“Just relax for a minute, love.” He kissed your forehead and gently rubbed your lower back with his soft hand.

You hum, “I’m nervous.”

“Hey, no. It’s okay. We don’t have to do this if you don’t want to.” He kissed your lips, letting you think for a moment.

You didn’t answer and he didn’t want it to seem like he was pushing you to do this. He was trying so hard not to touch you in anyway he thought you wouldn’t like.

“Here.” He spoke, breaking the silence. He gently put your hand over his right peck, letting your palm rest against it. “Feel my heartbeat. Just focus on that.”

You stood there, your face snuggled in his neck. He rocked you once more, helping you feel more calm and relaxed. He knew what you wanted. You were just too scared.

“Mm, it’s beating fast.” You whisper.

He smiles, stroking you hair. “Because of you.”

You smile, pulling away. You can see the gentleness in his eyes. How content he was. He was so pretty, so sweet and gentle with you.

“I wanna try.” You mutter.

He looks at you, a little socked. He wasn’t against it. He just wasn’t sure about it. He didn’t want you to get scared again.

“Okay.” He answered you, “we can try.”

Soon he gently took off your clothes, keeping his eyes on you as he did. He slipped off your shirt, your pants and your bra next. He kissed your lips as he helped you take off your underwear. He didn’t look down for a second.

He pulled back, seeing your shy form. He saw your arms fold over your chest and red spread across your cheeks.

“Jungkook-“ you mutter nervously.

He strokes your arm gently, “don’t be embarrassed baby. You’re beautiful. You’re mine.”

He kisses you, pushing you back onto the bed with his hand behind your head. He supported you as he pinned you down.

He felt hot, ready and comfortable. But he was still worried about you. He wasn’t inpatient, he wasn’t mad. He was just worried.

“My love?” He asked.

“Hmm?”

“Are you doing okay so far?” He asked. You nodded and he smiled slightly, kissing your neck.

He felt you tense up and relax every so often. Feeling your soft skin in his grasp. He moaned and hummed, kissing you all over.

“Ooh, baby.” You cry.

“You okay?” He asked worried.

You nod, “I just-“

You were too embarrassed to say. But he knew exactly what was happening. “I know. You’re a bit turned on, aren’t you?”

You nod, nervously looking into his eyes. He didn’t judge you. You were nervous, but confident enough to at least try to be honest.

“Tell me when you need to stop, okay?” He spoke sweetly. You nodded and watched his lips latch onto the skin of your breast.

“Mmh!” You whine, feeling pleasure as he kisses you in your sensitive areas.

“That’s it.” He muttered between kisses. “Surrender to me.”

“Fuck, Jungkook.” You moaned as his finger brushed against you clit. You shook, not with pleasure but with anxiety. You felt a bit overwhelmed.

He paused, looking down at you, he looked so worried. “Are you okay love?”

“Mm, sorry.” You say. He shakes his head, not wanting you to feel sorry.

“Dont apologize sweetie.” He kissed your lips.

“K-keep going.” You speak randomly.

"Are you sure?" he asks softly. He takes your hand in his own, intertwining your fingers as he leans in for another kiss. "Let's take things slow," he whispers against your lips before gently pulling away to look into your eyes once more.

“Mmh, I can’t wait any longer.” You kiss his neck, lifting your back off the bed slightly to get closer to him.

“Baby, you’re so eager.” He teased. “I don’t wanna hurt you.”

“You won’t. I trust you.” You reassure him. If you had to be honest with yourself. You were nervous. You were so scared and self conscious.

He kissed your temple, “tell me when.”

He kisses your neck again and leads his hand back down to your clit, rubbing gentle circles around it. You mouth opens slightly and you let out small gasps and moans.

“That’s it.” He praised, rubbing your clit moderately.

“Mmh, feels good!” You moan. He smiles and slips a finger into your tight cunt. “Mm!”

“Is this okay?” He asked. You nodded desperately. You needed this more than anything. “Good girl.”

“Fuck-“

“So naughty baby.” He smirked a little, slipping another finger into your cunt. You were on the edge of ecstasy. He felt your soft walls squeeze around his fingers.

“Mmh wanna cum.” You moan.

He chuckled, “not so fast baby.”

He pulls away making you whine desperately. You grab his arm, trying to get him back to you. But he pulls away. He was amused by your response. He loved to tease. Especially now that he’s able to fuck you.

“Be a good girl.” He takes off his sweats, throwing them aside. His shirt was next to go. “My good girl.”

“Please, Jungkook mm!” You whine again, he looks down to you, letting his long cock go free for your eyes.

Once you saw how big he was, your first thought was how much you could take. You were too desperate to care about the pain.

“Fuck, see what you do to me.” He stokes his cock, moaning and hissing at the pleasure.

You saw him pleasing himself and his moans were too much for you to handle. It was so hot, his reactions to his own touching and his way of being vocal.

“Want it?” He teased. You nodded desperately, sitting up a little on the bed. “Shh, baby relax.”

You look up at him as he positions himself between your legs. He kissed your leg gently before putting it over his shoulder, letting the other rest on his waist.

“Please-“ you plea.

He chuckled, “it’s okay. I’ll give it to you right.”

He puts his tip near your folds and brushes his tip against your clit. You squirm and whine. His grip was gentle but strong on your legs. He kept you still enough.

He pushes in a little, “Does it hurt?”

“A bit.” You admit. He nods and sits for a moment. He lets you adjust to his size each time he pushed in, giving you a moment.

“Just take a deep breath.” He whispered, bending over a little to kiss your cheek. He led his lips down to your jaw. You clench around him, moaning quietly. “That’s it.”

“Fuck. Mmh!” You cry, trying hard not to be loud. Jungkook could tell you were embarrassed by your behavior.

He reassured you, “I wanna hear all those pretty sounds baby.”

He kisses your lips, fucking you slow and sensually. “Mmm.”

“Fuck me- please.” You beg again and he chuckled. He loved to see you so desperate.

He groaned, his cock twitched and his precum started to fill you slow. “So beautiful, princess.”

“Ahha-“ you moaned again, squeezing the sheets around you. You grew a little frustrated because of how much you were taking. Jungkook was quick to respond.

He grabbed your hands and gently put them by your head, intertwining his fingers with yours. He kissed your nose, speaking softly. “Squeeze if you need to.”

His voice was so soft and romantic. He pulled you down to get deeper. You let out a small yelp, but it wasn’t too bad.

“Fuck!” You grunt, quietly moaning his name in small doses. “Jungk-kook.”

“That’s my pretty girl.” He kisses your lips again before picking his pace up.

“Ah-AH!” You squeeze his hands and he slows down a little. “Sorry-“

“No baby. Don’t be sorry. I need to make this comfortable for you.” He kisses your forehead as he thrusts in and out of you at the pace he started with.

“I wanna c-cum.” You mutter, eyes fluttering. You felt your stomach get tight and your head go fuzzy.

He hummed, “cum on my cock baby.”

He picked his pace up again and felt you pulsate around him. He moaned, pulling out. He replaced his cock with his fingers, stimulating you, milking your orgasm to its peak.

“So pretty when you cum.” He praised you as he stroked his cock, still keeping his fingers in you. He pulled them in and out letting your lewd wet sounds fill the bedroom.

He came shortly after, all over your stomach. He felt bad for doing so. He got all red and flustered for the first time in the last couple hours.

“Sorry baby.” He kisses you again, getting on top.

You giggle, “it’s okay.”

“Here. Give me a second.” He rushed out of the room, grabbing his robe and slipping it on. He came back with a wet, warm cloth.

He sat on the bed next to you, brushing the warmth over your sore cunt. He kept his eyes on you, making sure he moderates any discomfort.

“Are you okay my love?” He asks.

“I’m okay, Jungkook.” You wince at the slight burning he left you with.

He furrows his brows and seems concerned, “I’m sorry.”

“It’s okay. I asked for it.” You tried to reassure him.

“I don’t deserve you.” He kisses you once more.

® crybabydooly, dont repost

[minhosimthings]

Lucifer|| Prolouge

Synopsis: After you found your husband cheating on you, you found a different kind of comfort in his devilishly handsome colleagues.

Pairings: detective 02z × fem!reader

Warnings: angst, fluff, suggestive, minors please do not interact, catcalling, mention of alcohol, reader is cheated on by Heeseung, cheating (which I do not condone in real life)

A/N: Prologue for my 02z short series everyone! I abandoned everything else after Enha dropped Memorabilia just to write this BECAUSE I CAN. I will try to put out the oneshots as early as possible and I hope all of you will enjoy it! Au revoir!

Taglist: Open

Series Masterlist

Crystalline tears filled your eyes as you walked under the dark azure sky. Your feet ached, your heart thumped hard against its prison and your mind spun and yet you kept walking. Walking somewhere, you didn't even bother to understand.

Adjusting your skirt, and moving your scarf down to reveal your bloodied lips from having bitten them too much, you tried to recall what had happened today that made you so miserable. Was it the broken coffee machine, or was it the recent murders in the newspaper? Or was it a person? Perhaps it was the latter.

Heeseung.

You loved Lee Heeseung. With all of your soul and all of your heart you loved him all the way through the bright Mays and the chilly Decembers. You loved him in a way only the setting sun could love the ocean, the way its rays danced with the water so gracefully.

And yet you caught him in your own bedroom, strong sinews of muscles handling another girl's lusty bones, as she merged her body with someone you thought belonged to you.

His apologies went deaf to your ears, you spent an hour or so packing up all your things and driving out the house without a second thought. You didn't even realise how much time you spent screaming your head off at him, trying hard to stop your tears from escaping their barrier as you shoved each and every gift he ever gave you into his arms and asked him to burn them to the ground. And yet you didn't know how to cope without them either.

Your mother never taught you how to handle grief without alcohol and your father's blood always seeped through your mouth in words of fire and fury everytime something went wrong. It was no wonder you had found comfort in Heeseung, a man who could handle all of your pain and all of your anger.

You had trusted him with your life, marrying him happily to escape your childhood home and entrusting in him your most beloved secrets, your love and dedication and your virginity as well. You thought that had been enough, staying home whilst Heeseung worked his ass off at the police station to provide you with everything you could ask for and more.

And when he came home, you were his toy, a plaything for him to release his stress on and yet you didn't budge. Why should you? When you were recieving all the pleasure you could ever want and giving all the pleasure back to your husband. Nevertheless, you stared at your empty ring finger now, hands shivering in the cold as you scolded yourself on not wearing mittens. Heeseung used to scold you too.

Lee Heeseung. What would you have done to absolutely irradicate Lee Heeseung?

You had parked your car at the nearby park where you knew it'd be safe, and had gone for a walk. Thoughts rushed to your mind. You had known about Heeseung's affair for some time now, but you wanted to catch him in the act, to prove to the world, to yourself, that your melancholic delusion could be justified. Here you were now, dragging your feet across the cemented pavement, knowing there's only one other place you could go to. The darkness was a bad place for a woman to be, at 10 pm but you didn't give a single fuck about anything as your prosaic body tried to get itself up. You swore you could have heard voices behind you.

"Hey, hey you!" You heard a voice shout behind you, "What's a pretty lady doin' in a place like this?"

You gulped in fear as your feet sped up. Stupid stupid girl, you thought to yourself, should have stayed in the goddamned car!

"Hey you ignorin' me?" The voice shouted again, and you could hear the gruff footsteps which followed you, getting closer by the moment, "Stop fucking runnin' away from me!"

Your heart pumped blood faster as you picked up your skirt and ran, at the fastest speed you could. This wouldn't have happened if Heeseung was here!, you thought, and though a part of your brain tried to scold you about still thinking about him, at the moment all you were focused on was getting somewhere safe.

The man's drunken voice could still be hear by your ears, and his harsh footsteps told you he was running behind you, chasing you as if you were a wild mongrel to be caught and leashed.

Only one place. Only one place you could go now.

Turning swift on your feet, you ran down the wide lane filled with shops on one side and the empty road on the other, being careful not to crash into the glowing streetlights, as your destination came into your visage.

The police station. Where you knew, your last hope would be standing.

|•|•|•|•|•|•|•|•|•|•|

"Got the Samson case solved yet?" Sunghoon yawned and stretched his limbs above his head, like a prosaic cat, "Man I could do with a drink right now."

"It's 10 pm." Jake checked his pocketwatch, running his hand through his hair as he always did, "What bar is going to be open at this time?"

"Hey, should we steal Jay's stash?" Sunghoon glanced, with mischievous eyes at Jake, who mirrored an equally mischief filled smile back.

"Don't even think about touching my bourbon." A dark haired man, with eyes as black as kohl, walked in, equally black gloves decorating his hands, "Unless you want to be stuck on traffic duty all week."

"Who pissed in your cereal today?" Sunghoon snickered, leaning back in his chair, a crack of his bone could be heard as he lazily stretched, "Let me guess, Heeseung?"

"Is it about his wife again?" Jake groaned, hair tangled in his hand again, "Jay, just leave it man, they'll sort it out."

"Sort it out?" Jay looked at the long haired man with a quizzical look, "What kind of a man cheats on a beautiful woman and brags about it?"

"Most of them." Sunghoon broke out into his drawer, hands reaching for a eloquent wooden pipe, which he lit and transferred to his mouth, sighing out the smoke as he relaxed into his chair, "You're too righteous to understand that, Jongsoeng."

Jay wrinkled his nose, as Sunghoon blew a puff of cigarette smoke into the air. Settling into his own chair, Jay's eyes flickered towards Heeseung's desk, where files lay messily scattered. A solitary photo frame brightened up the lonely atmosphere of the desk. Lee Y/N, Jay thought, his wife, not yours.

"Jay, come on, stop sulking over your little crush," Jake scoffed, his hands busy with a sleek, brownish-yellow bottle in his hand, "Just have a drink and get your mind off it."

"First of all, how did you get into my bourbon cabinet." Jay snatched the glass from Jake's hand, and toyed with it protectively, "Second of all, I can't just get my mind of it. I mean, come on," He extended his glass out to Jake who poured the elysian liquid into Jay's glass, "Who the fuck would have the gall to cheat on such a pretty woman who loves him to bits?"

"Look, you like her right? And don't say no, we all know it Jongsoeng." Sunghoon leaned forward in his chair, "So when she finds out about everything, just offer to take her home and, you know, let her sob into your arms and then take her into your bedroom and-"

"Since when did you start reading romance?" Jake chuckled, pressing a glass of bourbon to his lips.

"Since lover boy here started crushing on..what's her name? Y/N wasn't it?" Sunghoon laughed, taking another piquant drag of his pipe, "I get it, she is really pretty."

'Really pretty' was one way to describe you, Jay thought, smiling into his glass of bourbon. Every inch of you called out to him, beckoned him closer and closer to your poisonous radius. It wasn't that he didn't try to fight it, lusting after another's wife, but it was that he found that hidden sadness in your eyes heartbreaking everytime he looked into them.

"Want to head home, fellas?" Jake briskly sat up straight in his chair, "Or are either of you going to stop at a brothel?"

"Don't have time for that." Sunghoon chuckled darkly, putting out his pipe, "Plus I've got a-"

Bang!

The door of the quite airy police station burst open with a loud bang, and it seemed as if a hurricane in the guise of a panicked woman had swept in, alarming the three detectives. The sudden action caused them to act on their reflexes, pulling out their revolvers faster than their eyes could comprehend the sight in fron them. Jake's eyes seemed to work the quickest.

"Ma'am? Are you alright?" Jake called out, signalling the other two to lower their weapons. He stepped forward and turned a switch on, which caused the entire room to light up in bright light, contrasting to the soft yellow light that earlier shone from the desk lamps.

Jay's senses had seemed to ding up after the initial shock of the entire thing, as he walked forward with careful steps towards you, as Jake and Sunghoon whispered to each other, making out why you were here. Your eyes took a moment to register the man in front of you.

Jay Park, you thought, a man who was perfection incarnated.

"Y/N," Jay spoke softly, careful not to frighten you, "What are you doing here? Are you alright?" He looked you up and down to check for any disfigurements.

"I-" you spoke, your throat tightening by the moment, "Heeseung—he" you couldn't speak any more as his name uttered out your mouth. Bursting into tears, you buried your face in your hands as you felt your cheeks burn up with embarrassment. You really weren't crying in front of your (ex) husband's colleagues, men who you barely knew, apart from the usual condolences.

You felt warm, strong muscles pull you into their hold. It felt like a cozy cocoon, scented with the fragrance of pine and paper.

"Calm down, doll," Jay whispered into your ear, his hot breath fanning your neck, "take a breath for me."

Jay coached you through breathing in and out, which restored some of your consciousness. You had nearly been on the verge of fainting, with how much you had ran.

"Can I—May I sit down for a moment?" You asked, weary of the other two men's eyes watching you, "Please."

"Of course." Jay said, supporting your figure with his sinews as he led you over to his cubicle. You could see the other two hastily clearing out messy piles of papers. The shorter one, you assumed was Jake, from his drooped posture and lion-like hair. The taller one then, had to be Sunghoon, with porcelain skin and an ice cold gaze.

"Did-did you walk all the way from your house?" Jake questioned, offering you a seat, which you gratefully collapsed into.

"No, just the park nearby." You shot him a small smile through your croaky voice, which he returned, "My car's still parked there though. I drove from" you stopped in your words uncertain to say his name, "-from Heeseung's house."

You felt the tension in the room as you said those words. Heeseung's house, you thought, it had been home once. You felt Jay shift his position in the chair next to you, and Sunghoon transfer his weight to one foot, whilst leaning on the desk.

"If you want us to go beat him up, we'll gladly do it." Sunghoon offered, making you chuckle and shake your head.

"No it's fine, I mean she wasn't that pretty anyway, he's bound to lose interest in her some day or the other." You smiled, to no one but yourself. Humour had never been your strong suit.

"Aww man I really wanted to beat him up." Sunghoon feigned defeat, "Asshole deserves it for how much paperwork he gave me."

"That's the only reason you want to beat him up?" You raised a brow at the light skinned man, who raised one back.

"And for betraying a pretty lady of course." He winked at you, making you internally roll your eyes.

"Would-would you like some bourbon?" Jake awkwardly offered you a glass. You could see the embarrassment in his eyes the moment he asked the question, "Or water if you want-"

"I'll take the bourbon." You grabbed the glass from Jake, who, with his shocked eyes poured you a glass, which you downed immediately without flinching in front of the three startled detectives, "Can I have another?"

"Can we have some too?" Sunghoon smirked at you, grabbing his own glass and beckoning Jake to pour him a shot. Jay, admitting defeat, had grabbed a glass too, filled with the bubbly alcohol.

"Well," Sunghoon raised his glass in a toast, "to Heeseung hopefully getting bored of the other woman."

"Peculiar toast, Detective Park." You laughed, "I like it."

The moments that followed still felt like a fever dream to you. You had sat in a building, alone with three handsome men, talking down right shit about your husband, whilst drinking more bourbon than you ever had and although you had already defeated Jake in drinking (almost) half a pint, you still wanted more. This definetly was not on your itinerary for the evening, but did you care at this point? Absolutely not.

"Ugh fuck." You swore under your breath. You probably shouldn't have drank that much, but in all honestly, it would have helped to relieve some of the painful memories of the night.

"Woah steady there." Jay looked at you cautiously as you stirred in your chair. Jake was on the verge of passing out, having even taking his glasses off, while Sunghoon and Jay, who hadn't drank as much, looked as calm as the winds.

"You know what?" You started, not knowing the words coming out of your drunken mouth anymore, "Fuck Lee Heeseung, fuck that man." A sudden maniacal giggle from your mouth seemed to have amused Sunghoon.

"Fuck in what terms, Mrs Lee?" He asked, trying to hide his cunning smirk, whilst ignoring Jay's warning glares.

"Mrs Lee?" You questioned, feeling your senses come back, though you were still tipsy, "Who's Mrs Lee? Not me, no sir-ee." You laughed, "If I had the chance to chop off that asshole's dick right now, I would."

"But you wouldn't allow us to beat him up? Strange." Sunghoon whistled out in his usual cocky tone.

"It's getting late." Jay checked the grand clock in the corner of the room, his eyes wavered over the dried tears on your face, it was alarming to him how much a mere glass of bourbon had managed to get you giggling like a cuckoo, "Y/N I can drop you-"

"I'd rather fuck all of you in one night rather than see that idiot's face again." You chuckled again, this time, saying the sentence with full seriousness. Did you really mean it?, perhaps not, as you would have thought later on. But were you up for having sex with three extremely attractive men who happened to be the best friends of your ex-husband? That, was a definite yes.

"Oh really?" Sunghoon placed his forearms on the desk in front of him, leaning in closer to your face. Jay's hand clutched harder against the edge of the desk. "And what if I say yes to that proposal?"

"What are you implying, Detective Park?" You looked into his dark, devilish eyes, "That you'd have sex with someone pathetic enough to get cheated on?"

"Don't say that, you're not pathetic." Jay's eyes softened as he looked at you, but you merely scoffed, turning your face instead to look at Sunghoon, who was evidently smirking. You caught Jake's widened eyes from the corner of your eye, listening intently.

"How about this-" Sunghoon started, folding his arms, "You get a night of good sex, I get a night of good sex, you and I both get to rub that in Heeseung's face, and then we have breakfast in France."

"Are you married Detective Park?" You quizzed him with an amused face, his offer seemed at the very least, interesting to you.

"Not yet, no. I'm still young aren't I?", Sunghoon's mouth stretched like a cat's into a lazy smile, "Why do you ask? Are you....perhaps intrigued by my offer?"

There was something ironic about that sentence "I'm still young" that struck a chord within you, you were the same age as him and yet you were sitting there talking about your husband.

"Intrigued is one way to put it." You smiled back, hoping you looked anything like a vixen, matching the bastardous fox like energy of Sunghoon's, "But don't you think it's greedy of you, Detective Park? To want me all to yourself?"

"And what do you mean by that, Miss Y/N?" Jake smiled in his boyish manner, "Is Sunghoon here not enough for you?"

"I'm just saying." You held up your hands in mock defence, "wouldn't you both like to get a taste too?"

You glanced at Jay in the corner, who you had expected to be shaking his head in disapproval. But to your utter surprise, he had one of his gloves hands stroking his chin as if in deep thought. His eyes were dark even in the fluorescent light of the room, deep pools of cataclysmic waters floating around in his pupils. He looked vaguely interested.

"So just to recap," Jake started, clearing his throat, such that his Adam's apple was clearly visible, "You want us to bed you, so as to make your ex husband, our colleague and friend, someone's whose wife we definetly should not be sleeping with, jealous?"

"That's the blueprint." You said in a sweet honeyed voice, "How exactly you make him know that I'm not his anymore, you figure that out. If I even so as look at that man's face again, I will jump off a cliff."

"But the question is-" you put on a proud smile, eyes darting from one man to the next, "Who's going first?"

"Shouldn't you decide that sweetheart?" Jay's deep voice came like a rumble through the ground during an earthquake, slightly startling you. He hadn't said anything in the past few minutes, his sudden break of silence alarmed you.

"Alright then." You chuckled, not daring to meet Jay's eyes, you knew you'd melt as soon as you saw them, "How about the person who suggested this?" You turned your face towards a smirking Sunghoon, with his head held high like a peacock's, "Detective Park?"

"Shall I go with the lady's word boys?" Sunghoon asked Jake, who nodded his head, taking his glasses off the desk and outting them on again. The effect it had in him was quite handsome, according to you.

"Should we make a pact then?" Jake asked cheekily, glancing around for a piece of paper, finally picking one up from underneath the mountain of files lying on the wisened wood. Putting it down on the paper, he scribbled something down quickly, showing it off proudly to the others. You let out a laugh when you saw what he wrote.

"'The make Heeseung jealous organisation'?" You laughed, "I can't tell if you're serious or not."

"I'm dead serious." Jake looked at you with glossy eyes, he always was a funny one, you recalled, "Come on everyone, I need signatures."

He's serious about this, you thought, amused at Jake's comedic demeanor. You swiftly pressed the black ink to the paper, leaving off a flashy signature to decorate it. Jay signed off last, with an impeccable font.

Words couldn't have described that very evening. No sentence that could come out of your mouth could have ever even begun to explain to a complete stranger about how you had ended up in Sunghoon's car, driving to his house in silence. Shrugging off the moral doubts in the corner of your brain, you stared out the window into a dewy night.

Relax, you thought to yourself, there wasn't anything wrong with what you were doing.

Was there?

Taglist: Open! Send an ask or comment to be added.

[clockwayswrites]

Tired Dads bit-

AN: I polled HH for something from my hopefully list to write no pressure for as a reward for finishing 2 fics, this is what they voted for and what the result is!

-

“—and then he flew right off the bridge! Just, done talking with me and off he went. ‘Parently I sounded angry and he didn’t want to talk to me when I was like that— a certain bird told him he shouldn’t have to! Being fair that is true, he shouldn’t have talk to me if I’m having a mare. He doesn’t have to put up with anyone’s anger, but I wasn’t angry! I was just… I was just…”

“Scared?” Bruce suggested when John couldn’t bring himself to say the word.

Bruce was lounging in the dark leather armchair, actually lounging too. It was the most relaxed that John had ever seen Bruce. His long legs were spread wide and stretched out over the opulent carpet, feet clad in nothing but socks. One arm was draped carelessly over the arm of the seat, the other rested the crystal glass of deep, amber whiskey against his temple. It ruffled his dark hair slightly.

John swallowed and looked away for more than one reason. “Yeah mate, scared. You’re lucky your brood can’t fly.”

Bruce snorted inelegantly.

“Fuck off,” John said, “you are.”

“No I’m not,” Bruce said, voice low and soft, “because that means they can fall.”

“Oh, that’s…” John swallowed a mouthful of his own whiskey. “Yeah, that is worse.”

The clink of ice was loud in the resulting quiet.

Bruce was, fascinatingly, the one who broke it.

“Did I ever tell you how I got Dick? And don’t you dare say what’s running through your mind right now.”

John wisely snapped his mouth closed.

Bruce eyed him for a moment longer before his gaze drifted, unfocused, to the side. “I was at the circus of all places. Alfred keeps a list of events in Gotham for me to go to so that I’m not absent from the social sphere for too long. This circus had, among other things, a family of famous acrobats. That night was their son’s first public performance with them.”

“…fuck.”

“Yes,” Bruce said. That was one of the good things about Bruce, he never thought John was stupid. Foolish, reckless, and brash, sure, but not stupid. He knew that John already saw where this was going, but kept speaking anyways. Maybe he needed to tell it. “Their lines were sabotaged and the parents fell to their deaths. Dick watched the whole thing. I’ve spent every night that he flies with me afraid that I’ll watch him fall too.”

John rolled his glass between his hands, feeling the cut crystal press into his palms. “But you still let him go out.”

There was that snort again. “Because there’s no stopping him. He was meant to fly.” Bruce tossed back the rest of his drink, swallowing more money in booze in one mouthful than John had drank to get blackout drunk. “And your son was too.”

“Not my son.”

Bruce leaned forward, placing his glass down on the side table with a heavy clink. His rich blue eyes were piercing— serious in a way that John’s own ice blue never could manage. “You have to stop telling yourself that, John. If he wasn’t your son, you wouldn’t be so afraid.”

John scowled as he burred his face in his glass. It was easier than facing Bruce because Bruce, out of everyone, knew. “Fuck you.”

“I’m hardly drunk enough for that, John, especially from you.”

John choked on his drink, coughing down the expensive whiskey.

[tripg]

Ghost slowly going deaf from years of noise overexposure. He's been able to read lips from years of recon and operations, but he learns sign language as a fallback.

Of course, Ghost doesn't want to tell Soap so that he doesn't worry, and so that Ghost can keep the status quo of the 141 until it's too late. He only tells Price.

Ghost loves hearing Soap's voice so much, and is desperate to hear it while he can (even if he hears it a lot already) since his sergeant's voice comforts him so much, and he's his ops partner...that's all, he tries to convince himself. Successfully, even. He doesn't want some of the last things he remembers hearing Soap say to be caring concern. Nothing to hold him back and make him regret things he can't help...

He doesn't want his hearing to go out, but when it does, he wants to remember things as they were. There's no place for him once it does. He's slowly becoming a liability. Price knows it, and only Price...

Soap finds out Ghost's going deaf and that Ghost was keeping it from him...(source withheld). But he also finds out why. Soap is decimated knowing his Lieutenant is so concerned about him and how he'd react but also that Ghost didn't want him to know...and he learns his Lt.'s reasons, and that cuts him deeper.

Soap never stops talking to Ghost, and tries to feign that he doesn't know what's happening, trying desperately to make sure Ghost only hears nice and good things...but knowing what's happening, he starts learning sign language in secret.

The day comes when Ghost finally loses his hearing medically. It's over, and he's not getting it back.

The same day, he tells Soap what happened. Soap seemed to notice at least—since he was the one affected most, and Ghost wanted Soap to know as soon as it was too late. He can only feel the vibrations of the words leaving his throat and watch Soap as his sergeant listens quietly. Ghost spills everything, especially while he can't hear himself anymore, and is just depending on how he remembered his words should feel as he spoke.

It's over, he thinks. I'm sorry.

But then, Ghost reads Soap's lips—wide-eyed—as Soap responds presumably verbally, but also in sign: "You may not know it, but I can still tell you I love you, Si..."

He reads Soap's lips as he probably spoke aloud, but Soap signs perfectly the entire message, up until the end...when he signs "Si":

Soap pinches with both hands, vertically, with fingertips together, drawing his right hand up from his left in a wavering, wispy motion. But then he clasps both hands into fists, with his arms crossing his chest in an X: "ghost"..."love"...

"Si. Simon."

After a few seconds, Ghost signed back: "S...Simon"

After a half minute of silence where they were both still and silent, Ghost asks a question to Soap, given he's still learning too.

"How do you sign 'sunshine'?"

...and then the base became a lot quieter, save some sniffling and questions as the two of them talked for hours.

The next day, Soap's voice wouldn't lead you to Ghost anymore.

Context + reasoning on the sign language described, which was American Sign Language (ASL) and not British Sign Language (BSL). My apologies for any confusion! tl;dr: Soap swaps from BSL to ASL only for his pet name for Ghost, so that it's less likely to be picked up by others.

[fragileheartbeats]

⌗ 𝘈𝘝𝘌𝘕𝘛𝘜𝘙𝘐𝘕𝘌 𝘏𝘊 ⁝ 𝘏𝘰𝘸 𝘐 𝘪𝘮𝘢𝘨𝘪𝘯𝘦 𝘩𝘪𝘮 𝘢𝘴 𝘢 𝘺𝘢𝘯𝘥𝘦𝘳𝘦 ( ♱ )

˚꒰♡꒱‧ Hi there! Before you read this, you should know that English is not my first language Hope you enjoy!

Many describe Aventurine as a yandere who would hurt or kidnap his darling, but I can't see it. To me, he would be one of the softest yanderes imaginable. He’s painfully aware of his feelings, knowing they’re unhealthy and twisted. He tries to control them, but it’s never enough. His love for you is too overwhelming, too consuming.

And it hurts. It hurts like a thousand knives piercing his heart, because it's killing him. It hurts because he doesn’t want to harm you, but it also hurts because he can’t bear to be without you. Each day, the struggle between his desire to be near you and his need to protect you from himself tears him apart.

He would do anything to protect you, becoming your shadow, guarding you from every danger—even himself. So, he makes the hardest choice: he avoids you. He stops talking to you, stops smiling at you, stops watching you from afar. It’s a self-imposed exile that tortures him more than any physical pain ever could.

You’re left confused and hurt. Why is he avoiding you? Just weeks ago, he was so sweet, so attentive. You thought maybe—just maybe—he had fallen for someone like you. How foolish. Stupid, stupid, stupid. Your heart aches with the sting of rejection and the bitterness of unfulfilled dreams.

If only you knew... If only you knew how deeply he loves you. He loves you so much that he’s willing to destroy himself rather than see you cry. He loves you so much that he would tear his own heart apart rather than see your smile fade. He knows himself. He knows you. He knows that if he stayed close, he would hurt you. His feelings are a storm, a dangerous maelstrom that could sweep you away.

He knows you’re too precious. He could be a monster. He would be a monster. A monster who feeds on your love and tears. A monster hungry for your body and pain. He knows it. He knows it all. And that knowledge shatters him.

Because he doesn’t want to be a monster. He doesn’t want to hurt you. He wants to be your shining knight, always protecting you, even if you never know it. He dreams of a world where he can hold you without fear, where his love doesn’t come with the risk of destruction.

He would do anything to see your smile, even if it means sacrificing his own. Each time he sees you from a distance, his heart breaks a little more. He whispers your name in the dead of night, a prayer, a lament, a vow to keep you safe. Even if he has to carve out his own heart, he will do it, because your happiness means more to him than his own life.

In the silent agony of his solitude, he watches you move on, believing you’ll find someone better, someone worthy of your love. His heart bleeds with every step you take away from him, but he endures it. He endures it because he loves you too much to let his darkness touch you. And as he fades into the background, he finds a twisted solace in the knowledge that he’s done the right thing, even if it destroys him.

Aventurine's love is a tragic symphony, a beautiful yet sorrowful melody that will never reach your ears. It’s a love that lives in shadows, hidden from the light, forever unseen, forever aching. And as he stands alone, watching over you from afar, he whispers one last promise to the wind:

“I will always love you, even if it means I must disappear. For your happiness, for your safety, I will sacrifice everything. Even myself.”

@ 𝒇𝒓𝒂𝒈𝒊𝒍𝒆𝒉𝒆𝒂𝒓𝒕𝒃𝒆𝒂𝒕𝒔 . 𝐷𝑜𝑛'𝑡 𝑝𝑙𝑎𝑔𝑖𝑎𝑟𝑖𝑠𝑒, 𝑟𝑒𝑝𝑜𝑠𝑡, 𝑜𝑟 𝑡𝑟𝑎𝑛𝑠𝑙𝑎𝑡𝑒 𝑎𝑛𝑦 𝑜𝑓 𝑚𝑦 𝑤𝑜𝑟𝑘𝑠 𝑜𝑛 ℎ𝑒𝑟𝑒 𝑜𝑟 𝑎𝑛𝑦 𝑜𝑡ℎ𝑒𝑟 𝑤𝑒𝑏𝑠𝑖𝑡𝑒𝑠.

[roosterforme]

Covering the Classics Part 13 | Bob Floyd x OC

Summary: Confronting Kevin in California should have made Anna feel like she had the advantage, but nothing with him ever went to plan. As soon as Bob encounters Anna's husband for himself, he knows something isn't quite right.

Warnings: Angst, Kevin is a dick, bruises on Anna's arm, adult language, 18+

Length: 4300 words

Pairing: Robert "Bob" Floyd x Female OC (this story is part of the Beer Boy/Sugar and Jake/Jessica universe)

Covering the Classics masterlist. Check my masterlist for more!

"Did you delete her number yet?" Nat asked as she lifted her helmet and Bob's off of the shelf in the hangar where their gear was stored when they weren't flying. "Or are you trying to prolong the pain like some sort of sadistic artist?"

Bob flinched at her words, because she hit a little too close to home for his liking. It wasn't that he wanted to be missing Anna like this, but he had been writing a lot of poetry about her. He couldn't help himself. He hadn't posted any since the one about his bookshelf, but that didn't mean his computer wasn't full of it.

"I'm not trying to prolong the pain," he told his friend with a grimace. "I don't know what I'm doing."

She shoved his helmet down onto his head and told him, "I know she threw you for a loop, but either delete her number or give her another chance. Don't sit in this annoying gray area. I don't know why you guys insist on doing that shit. I tried for ten years to get Bradley to contact his wife, but he just flounced around in the gray area like an idiot instead. Don't be like him," she said firmly, pointing to where Bradley was looking down at his phone with a dopey smile on his face. He was almost definitely texting his wife if he looked like that.

Bob sighed. "Nat, I don't know if she wants me to give her another chance right now. She said she's going to deal with her husband, but I think she needs time."

Nat rolled her eyes and held her hands up in the air. "Why don't you," she said, waving her fingers like she was performing magic, "talk to her again?!"

Bob pulled his helmet off again, saying, "What would you suggest I say? She already knows I've had feelings for her for months. There's just a point where it becomes too much."

"You could tell her that even though it blew up in your face, she's the best lay of your life." Bob immediately wished he hadn't told her that. "Or that you'll still be around after she figures her shit out. I think the ball is in your court."

He was still blushing furiously and nowhere closer to knowing what he should be doing when they all got called to the tower, but he did smile when Nat snapped at Bradley to put his phone away. She probably needed to get laid more than Bob ever did.

---------------------------

The bus ride from San Diego to Carlsbad shouldn't take an hour and a half when it would take barely forty minutes to drive yourself. Not for the first time, Anna wished she had a car in California. That way she could get to Kevin faster. Kevin. Fucking Kevin. The man who was the reason she didn't have a car in California.

She needed to stay calm. If she could catch him while his guard was down and convince him to just sign the paperwork, she would be golden. But every time she thought about seeing his face, she started to panic. She had seen nothing except kind faces for months. The faces of her friends. The faces of her students. Bob's beautiful blue eyes always seemed to look at her with a smile behind them. Even now, after she met up with him for a little bit at the bookstore, his eyes were kind.

Her hands shook slightly. She needed to deal with Kevin so she could move on and never have to see him again. Then she could work on getting back to the people who didn't look at her like she was worthless. When the bus finally fought its way through traffic and made a stop near the hotel where the conference was being held, she sprinted down the steps and up the block. She had already memorized the map and knew she needed to find the grand ballroom, but when she got to the upscale hotel, she was sweaty and panting for breath, and even the doorman was looking at her skeptically as she slipped inside.

The lobby was crowded enough that she padded her way across the marble floor in her beat up sneakers, blending in well enough with the others. Signs for the National Neurological Physicians Association conference were plastered all over the place, and she had to keep from rolling her eyes. It was laughable that physicians from all over would come here to listen to Kevin blathering on and on about his specialty area of study. But when Anna paused to really think about it for a second, something close to cold fury started flowing through her veins, because she was the one who paid for that for him. She was the reason he was a speaker at this massive conference in the first place.

With renewed purpose, she picked up her pace and turned right past the elevator bank, following the signs that led her toward several people in monogrammed lab coats. The ballroom was in sight, and she was ready to push through the double doors when one of the men in a lab coat popped up in front of her. 

"Not so fast," he said, a forced smile plastered on his face. "You're late for the introductory speakers, and you haven't signed in yet."

"Oh," she said, scrambling to push her bag up on her shoulder. "Right." When he gestured toward a long table with some unclaimed name badges and information booklets, Anna's heart skipped a beat. She took a step closer, praying nobody would ask her for any sort of identification, and reached for the badge that said Dr. Angela Harmon, MD. She clipped it onto her shirt, realizing she was terribly under dressed to even try to pull this off, and then she picked up the booklet with Dr. Harmon's name on it as well. "Is this all I need?" she asked, tapping the name badge and praying this random woman didn't decide to show up right now.

With a nod, the man said, "Please try to find a seat at the back to keep disruption to a minimum. I believe Dr. Webber is still speaking, and you know how excited we all are to have him here."

Anna had to bite down on the inside of her cheek and take a deep breath before she could say, "So excited," through clenched teeth. "I wouldn't dream of being disruptive."

"Of course not," he agreed, finally smiling kindly. "Enjoy the conference, Dr. Harmon."

Carefully and as quietly as she could, Anna entered the ballroom to find hundreds of people sitting in rows of chairs listening to her worthless husband giving a presentation in a three piece suit. 

"But we already know recent attempts to update computational axial tomography are largely like someone trying to reinvent the wheel," he said with a charming smile, and the room hummed with amused laughter like everyone was in on some sort of inside joke. Anna's skin crawled as she carefully took a seat in the last row, praying Kevin hadn't seen her yet. If he was this well known and well regarded in his field, then he didn't need money from her manuscript. He was simply holding onto it to be an ass.

She had to listen to him for twenty more minutes after that. Nineteen too long in her book. His voice sounded light and carefree, and his smile was handsome and unassuming. Frankly he was putting on some sort of persona, and it was nothing like she was used to. But it wasn't until he started on a short presentation that Anna's attention was piqued, because it was then that she saw he was using the laptop that they used to share. The one she used to type up her book.

A soft sound escaped her as she stared longingly at it, wondering if her work was still there. He slammed the computer shut, and she was jolted back to reality as he said, "Once again, thank you all for being here for the next week. We have so many groundbreaking topics to learn about and some of the most renowned research physicians in the country sharing their expertise with us. Let's take a quick break and then dive right into new MRI techniques with Dr. Nunez."

There was an immediate round of applause, and Anna jumped to her feet, heart pounding so hard, it was making her nauseous. When she headed toward his cocky, smiling face, she realized Kevin was already surrounded by colleagues, shaking hands and laughing. And that was when he spotted her. They'd been on the phone just a handful of hours ago, but he looked shocked to see her here. She watched his sharp, gray eyes narrow in on her with a spiteful glare before he smoothed out his features into something neutral. And that's when she came to terms with the fact that he would know she was living in southern California. That's when she knew she needed to make this work.

"Anna," he said with absolutely no emotion as she cut in front of the person he was talking to. "What are you doing here?"

She swallowed hard, imagining Bob and her two friends were with her, urging her on, cheering for her to fix this. "I have something for you to sign," she told him as her voice shook. She took a step closer as she reached into her bag to pull out the folded paperwork and a pen.

"No," he practically growled under his breath, trying not to draw more attention to himself. "Why are you doing this here? I'm a little busy."

Anna wanted to laugh in his face. She was a little busy trying to get on with her stupid life, but that didn't stop him from disrupting her mission every day. "Just sign the divorce papers, Kevin," she demanded, but she sounded like a child even to her own ears. His eyes flashed with so much anger, she could barely breathe with him this close to her. He was built similarly to Bob, which was a frightening realization. Where Kevin always used his size as an intimidation tactic, Bob had never done that to her. She always felt safe around him. Right now she felt very unsafe around Kevin, even though they were literally in the midst of a crowd of people.

"Just sign it," she whispered, trying to push the document into his solid chest. It was unbelievable that at one time, she was in love with this man. It was crazy to think about how he used to tell her he loved her too. "Please, Kevin." He looked so angry right now, and Anna felt the hairs on the back of her neck stand up in fear as the people behind her started whispering.

"Who is this woman? That's not Alyssa."

"Did she say divorce? Isn't he married to that other physician? The pregnant one?"

So Alyssa was pregnant. And nobody here even knew about Anna. It was like she didn't even exist. Like she had never existed to her husband. A mortifying little sob bubbled free from the back of her throat, and she looked up at Kevin as he said, "Let's take a little walk."

His hand closed around her bicep, and Anna wanted to yelp as he pulled her up onto the stage, past the podium, where nobody else would be able to hear them. The laptop was right there, and she considered trying to take it, but she'd never make it out of the hotel let alone back to her apartment with it. Instead she tripped along next to him until he had her where he wanted her.

"Are you out of your fucking mind?" he snarled. "Were you always this stupid? Or have you gotten worse?"

"Come on, Kevin," she pleaded, and he finally released her throbbing arm. "You don't need it. Look how well you're doing. You don't need my book."

He shook his head and ran his fingers through his hair as if he was trying his hardest to keep his composure. "You think you can come here and embarrass me in front of my peers? Mentioning our marriage like we still have one when you moved away?"

Her fist clenched at her side. "Our marriage didn't fall apart because I left," she hissed under her breath. "It fell apart because of you. And now your mistress is pregnant?"

Kevin sighed. "I understand that you're jealous, Anna. I really do, but I'm not signing anything for you."

She clenched and unclenched her fist. The desire to punch him in the face was so strong as her other hand shook with the papers grasped between her fingers. She was far from jealous, and he knew it. He wanted to get a rise out of her because he felt cornered. "I don't care what these people think about me," she whispered. "But you do. So just sign it."

He stood before her, tall and broad with his jaw set as he said, "There is no way in hell you have what it takes to intimidate me. Now get the fuck out of here, or I will have security remove you from the hotel for disrupting the conference."

She knew she didn't have any other choice. If she somehow got herself in trouble for being here, she didn't have the money to spend on more legal help. So she took a step backwards just as Kevin's hand flew up to pull the name badge from her shirt. "And you're obviously not Dr. Harmon. She has enormous tits, and I fucked her last year in Toronto. Now go." 

Twenty minutes later, Anna was back on the bus heading south toward San Diego, empty handed with tears in her eyes and a bruised arm.

-----------------------------

"What happened to your pretty girlfriend?"

Bob looked up from his phone as he walked up his porch steps after a long run on Monday evening. He hadn't been sleeping well, debating reaching out to Anna again, and he was hoping the run would tire him out. But he should have known Suzanne would have her door open and her game shows blaring at this hour.

"Hi, Suzanne," he said, wishing he could just duck inside his own place without having to chat with her.

"I haven't seen her again in weeks."

Bob sighed and tipped his head back. "She's not my girlfriend. She never was."

"Not with that attitude," his neighbor mused under her breath.

"You have a good night, Suzanne." Bob swatted Sylvester away from his front door before heading inside and up to take a shower. He thought about Anna as he ran his soapy hands along his body. He tried not to, but she was on his mind a lot. When he climbed into bed, his skin felt too hot. He opened the window to let the late fall air in, but it did nothing to help him. He wanted to see her, even just to make sure she was still okay.

He reached for his phone, typed up a text, and then deleted it. "You sound so desperate for her," he groaned, trying again. But again he had to delete it rather than send it. Finally he settled on something simple.

Hey, I've been craving some peanuts from Chippy's. Feel like joining me for a bit tomorrow?

It sounded neutral enough. If she said no, he'd ask Jessica to make sure the ladies were checking in on her. If she said yes, then Bob could see with his own eyes if she was okay. He would also get to see with his own eyes how fucking beautiful she was, but that didn't matter as much, honestly.

He was just slipping into a daydream where Anna's husband divorced her tomorrow and never left the state of New Jersey again when his phone vibrated on his nightstand.

Anna Webber: Peanuts from Chippy's sound heavenly right now. I would love to join you for a little bit.

He exhaled as the cooler air finally met his skin, and he pulled his sheet over himself after he promised to meet her there.

----------------------------

Before she went down to the quad with her lunch bag, Anna adjusted her cardigan. She knew her sleeve was covering his bruised arm, but she felt naked all morning during her lectures anyway. She felt like her skin and the inside of her brain were on full display for everyone. She wondered when Alyssa was due. She wondered if Kevin slept with Dr. Harmon when he was in Toronto last June or last October. Perhaps both. She wondered how someone who was so full of shit could keep coming out ahead of her.

"Anna!"

At least her friends were still faithfully waiting for her at the weird looking tree. And at least Bob was making it a point to let her know she was welcome around him. She could hardly wait to go to Chippy's later. 

"Hi," she said, plopping down in between them on the bench, adjusting her sleeve one more time before pulling her sad sandwich out. "What's new in the world of science and mathematics?"

Almost immediately, she had a container of veggies and a homemade ranch dip in her hand while her friend told her about a fascinating math conference she wanted to go to next year in Philadelphia. Apparently the dates were just announced, and you had to be someone important to even get an invitation. Anna loved that her friend already knew she was going to go, but it made her dwell on Kevin and his conference which was still going on in Carlsbad.

"Oh!" Jessica said as she poured some potato chips on her already delectable looking sandwich. "Jake and I are going to Cabo next month! A much needed break after the term ends."

"I love that for you," Anna told her, feeling jealous in spite of herself. And that made her feel even sadder. She almost winced when her other friend wrapped her arm around her, inadvertently mashing her hand against the bruise from Kevin.

"Don't worry. Bradley and I aren't going anywhere for term break. I wanted to, but his favorite Grateful Dead cover band is playing right here in San Diego on New Year's Eve, and he absolutely can't miss it. That would be a crime." Her voice was dripping with sarcasm which made Anna laugh. "How's your week going?" she asked cautiously. 

Anna wanted to tell them all about going to the conference at the hotel. She wanted to tell them that she saw Kevin and left with less than nothing. She would tell them, but not right now when she only had a little bit of time before she had to give her Classics lecture. She didn't want to run the risk of arriving to the lecture hall with tears in her eyes. 

Instead she softly said, "I'm going to see Bob later. Just a quick visit to Chippy's for some peanuts."

Jessica was instantly vibrating with excitement. "That's great. I think you and he will have fun!"

"We will," Anna confirmed. Even though it was a little awkward, she'd had a nice time with him at the bookstore. She always did. Because he was kind and sweet and literally the opposite of everything that Kevin turned out to be. She just wished there was some reality in which she could feel his arms around her again. "We will."

The end of lunch came way more quickly than she wanted it to, and Anna found herself mentally regrouping to try to find another way to get her manuscript. She taught her last two lectures and graded a handful of essays, counting down the minutes until she could see Bob again. His blue eyes would be soft when he looked at her, and his words would be enough to make her feel better even if they only engaged in some small talk.

When she only had thirty minutes until she was supposed to meet him, she printed off sixty copies of the quiz she would need for tomorrow afternoon. Anna locked her office door behind her as she headed down to the teacher's lounge to retrieve the quizzes before someone moved them, never to be seen again. She learned her lesson after last time that if you didn't grab them right away, there was a good chance they'd end up in the trash. Then she would drop them off before going to meet Bob.

----------------------------

Since he was running early, Bob decided to just head to Anna's office and meet her there. He'd been so antsy to see her, he showered and dressed in his favorite jeans and tee shirt in record time after work. Even though he'd only been in this one academic building one time, he remembered exactly how to get to her office. Having an outstanding sense of direction just came with the territory for a WSO, but her hallway also smelled like fresh baked bread.

When he rounded the last corner, Bob skidded to a halt and ducked back behind the wall. There was a man about his age who was vigorously jiggling Anna's doorknob. "Anna. Open the door so we can talk," he said calmly even as he pushed his fingers through his hair in exasperation. Bob didn't know who he was, but he had a bad feeling, and that's when the man turned his head and spotted him.

Bob squared his shoulders to try to match the other man's height as he rounded the corner completely and asked, "Are you looking for Dr. Webber?"

The other man appraised him with cool gray eyes and smirked. "Let me guess. You're sleeping with her?"

Bob's heart lurched into his stomach as the color drained from his face. He knew this had to be Kevin. He knew it without confirmation, and now he didn't know how the hell he was supposed to respond. So he simply kept his mouth shut while the other man took a step in his direction.

"She really likes to act so high and mighty. Very hypocritical in this scenario," he muttered, making Bob's skin crawl. "I can't believe her."

Bob swallowed hard, trying to figure out why Anna agreed to go to Chippy's today if she knew Kevin was in San Diego. All he knew about was what she'd told him when she came to his house. Bob didn't think he should divulge too much to this man, so he simply asked, "What do you want from her?"

The answer was swift and felt like a punch to the gut. "She's my wife, and she's coming back to New Jersey with me where I can keep track of her. She doesn't belong here, and she needs to stop lying. So why don't you tell me what you want from her?"

His nostrils flared as his fingers curled into fists, and Bob had to take a few deep breaths before he said, "I just wanted to make sure she's okay."

Kevin crossed his arms over his chest and said, "She's nothing you need to be concerned about."

The uneasy feeling that started to fill him up spread through his whole body now, and Bob took a step backwards. Maybe Anna was already at Chippy's. Maybe she didn't know Kevin was here at all. He backtracked his way through the building as he started to panic. What if she did know he was here? What if she had played Bob and everyone else the whole time?

He would check for her at Chippy's. He made it all the way across the quad to a weird looking tree that was growing sideways when he froze again. It just didn't make sense. Anna said she hated Kevin and never wanted to go back to New Jersey, and Bob had no reason to believe someone else over her.

He started calling her phone, torn as to which direction he should head. Back up to her office? To Chippy's where they were supposed to meet up? She didn't answer. He started toward the bar, covering the few blocks at a brisk pace as he tried to call her again. He walked back and forth across that sticky floor through the clusters of students enjoying an after class drink before he was satisfied that she wasn't there. 

"Damn it, Anna. Answer your phone," he muttered as he ran back to her building and up to her office. The building was virtually empty at this hour, and now there was nobody in the hallway at all. He knocked on her door and called out her name, but he was met with silence. The kind of silence that just didn't feel right.

He felt like he was going crazy, running in circles both metaphorically and physically for this woman, and when he finally reached his truck, he had to wipe the sweat from his brow. Her apartment wasn't far from campus, and he didn't know where else to even look at this point. When he got there, he parked and tried to call her one more time before someone else who lived in the building simply held the door open for him.

"Thanks," he muttered, heading for the stairwell and taking the steps two at a time until he reached Anna's floor. And then her apartment. What he heard coming from inside made him want to rip the door from the hinges.

--------------------------

I hate Kevin. Hate. Him. I'm sorry, but he's still going to get worse. Just remember that Bob is a sweet cinnamon bun. Thanks @beyondthesefourwalls

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[slamminslamminmcgill]

had sex with my daddy fwb last night and he inspires a LOT of my content soooo

warning: breeding, daddy kink, premature ejaculation (sorta??? but not really idfk)

anatomical terms: pussy/cunt

Joel was a good fuck. An exceptional fuck, even. You never left his bed feeling underwhelmed. On an average night, your vocal cords would be shredded and raw from screaming for him. Your pussy would feel similarly worn out, but it’d be nourished by the thick load of cum pumped inside it. Your knees would buckle when you stand, having lost all muscle memory to walk in the few hours you spent as his sex doll.

But tonight, something was different.

Not worse, not by any means.

But different.

Perhaps it was your fault. You’d overwhelmed him. There’s no way he could be expected to last long in a slingshot cunt like yours. But he usually does, what happened tonight? Maybe he was just going through a dry spell, and you happened to stop by with just the right place for him to empty his achingly blue balls. Well, it couldn’t have been THAT long of a dry spell, right? When’s the last time you were over here?

You could feel him coming soon after you did, again. He tried to hold out, to his credit. He’d been slamming away to your incessant cries of “fuck! right there, right there, oh god, daddy, please right there! fuck me right there!”, and then he’d stop. Then he’d start back up, and so would you, with the “fuck! yes, yes, oh my god, so close, so close, right there, please!”

And then he’d stop.

To be fair, you were kinda rubbing it in his face with “so close”. As if he needed you to remind him.

Poor Joel. He really tried to hold on. But you were just too needy, weren’t you? You couldn’t let the old man rest. He was so embarrassed to admit it, but you’d forced his hand.

“…’m gonna cum.”

You took the news surprisingly well.

“Cum inside me! Please, Daddy, fill me up! Fill me with your cum, I want it! I want it, I want it, cum inside me!”

And in a few thrusts, he did, gritting his teeth as he sprayed his hot load all inside your spasming cunt. His whole body shivered against you, the comedown from such an intense rush. He sighed, wiped his brow, and pulled out, then rolled onto his back so you could cuddle up to his chest.

“Comfy?” He asked.

“Mhm,” you nodded, “Feels like a lot.” Curiosity got the best of you, and you slipped your hand between your legs to swipe at your hole. Two fingers splotched with white, you popped them into your mouth to taste him. Milky, a little salty, sorta tangy. Not bad.

Joel chuckled at your antics and ruffled your hair. “Yeah, I’m prolly not gonna cum again, tonight.”

“So are we done?” You asked.

“Nah, nah. We’ll just rest up for a few minutes and we’ll go again, okay?”

“Okay!”

A few minutes passed in Joel’s arms as he chit-chatted to you about this one job where he had to redo the insulation in some old lady’s house. You weren’t really listening, until out of the blue, he said,

“Suck it.”

And in no time at all, his spit-shined cock was hard once more, digging his seed even deeper into you.

[cameronspecial]

I thought about Rafe and reader having a fight or heated argument and their child is scared that they will get a divorce

Divorce

Pairing: Rafe Cameron x Reader

Warnings: Arguing

Pronouns: She/Her

Word Count: 0.6K

Masterlist

Loud screams coming from downstairs cause Colin to wake up from his dream where he is a firefighter. In fear a monster is in the house, he goes running to his parents’ room. The bed is empty and terror grows. What if the monster ate Mommy and Daddy? He rushes down the stairs in hopes they will be there. While on the steps, he recognizes the sources of the yells. He freezes where he stands. “I don’t understand what is so hard for you to understand. There is nothing going on between Heather and me. She is just my assistant,” Rafe argues. Through the bars, Colin can see his mommy’s eyes roll. She chuckles, “It’s not that I think you are doing something with her. I don’t like the way she looks at you. I know she wants a bite of you and I’m not sharing.” Colin has never heard his Mommy use such an angry tone. He remembers something his friend said about her parents screaming a lot before they got a divorce. Now, she can’t see her mommy or daddy every day. He has to stop this; he can’t let his parents get a divorce. 

Tiny feet slapping against the hardwood floor causes both parents to turn their heads in the direction of the stairs. Small blue eyes stare up at them with tears at the edge of his long eyelashes. “Colin, Sweetie, what are you doing up?” Y/N questions, bending over as he runs into her arms. His short arms wrap around her neck and she picks him up while she stands straight. Even if they are arguing, Rafe doesn’t hesitate to step forward and rest his left hand on Y/N’s hip and the right hand on Colin’s back. 

Colin’s head buries into his mother’s neck, “You and Daddy no get a divowce.” Warm tears begin to stain her neck. Rafe’s head tilts to the side. “Why do you think that’s going to happen, Buddy?” Her fingers flatten the hair on the back of the little boy’s head. “You and Mommy fight,” he muffles against his mom. The mother coos at her son, “Aww, Sweetie. Just because Mommy and Daddy have a little disagreement, it doesn’t mean that we are going to get a divorce.” “Weally?” he confirms, looking up at her through teary eyes. Rafe jumps in, “Yeah, Buddy. I know it sounds like Mommy and I are very angry at each other, but we really love each other and I, for one, know that we can overcome anything.” Y/N presses her lips to her son’s cheek. “Daddy and I can. I may not like how Ms. Heather looks at Daddy; however, I trust your Daddy and I know he loves me very much. Sometimes, Mommy needs to vent to Daddy a little bit,” she adds. 

This little pep talk seems to appease the worried boy and his breathing steadies. “You pwomise no divorce?” he confirms. Rafe nods with a smile, “I promise, Buddy. Now, how about we go night night. You can sleep in our bed tonight.” The little boy lights up with a grin. “Yayy!” Y/N sets down her son and gives his bum a little tap toward the stairs. “Why don’t you go get your T-rex and head to our bed? We will meet you upstairs,” she suggests, laughing as he runs to the second floor. She turns to her husband, “You know I trust you, right? She just makes me feel uncomfortable.” He presses his lips to her forehead and pulls her in for a hug. “I know. I understand how you feel and I’ll see if I can transfer her to another department. Not because I want her to stay, but because I can’t fire her for no reason,” he says. She nuzzles into his neck, “Thank you. How about we get upstairs so we can snuggle our baby boy to sleep?” 

He guides her in their movements to their room. “Let’s. I love you.” Her head falls on his shoulder, “I love you too.”

Taglist: @winterrrnight @loves0phelia @thelomlisrafecameron @wickedlovely121 @thepatriarchykeychain @drewsmusee @starkowswife @maybankslover @forstarkey @loving-and-dreaming @magicalyoura @rubixgsworld

[joeshiestyslover]

moth to a flame- m. sturniolo

pairing: matt sturniolo x reader

summary: you and matt have hated each other since you were kids, you two constantly bickering and arguing. however, there has always been an underlying tension, but you and matt have always chosen to ignore it. yet, the unspoken tension begins to break when another guy takes an interest in you.

warnings: language, angst, smut, oral (male receiving), p in v, unprotected sex (don’t do that), fluff, cheating (don’t do this either pls), nick once again being a g

masterlist

lowercase intended

a/n: does the smut suck? yes probably but it’s okay 😌

“you have a date? how much did you pay him?” matt asks you, a snark evident in his tone. you roll your eyes at his comment. “guys find me very likable, thank you very much.” you retort. “oh i’m sure.” he scoffs. “can you just shut the hell up?” you snap, looking into the eyes of the boy you’ve hated since freshman year.

you met the triplets when you moved to boston in the ninth grade. you shared a class with nick, and you two quickly hit it off. he then introduced you to his two brothers, matt and chris. chris was super sweet and welcoming towards you, but matt was the complete opposite. he barely spoke to you, and when he did, it was to make some snide remark. at first, you let it slide, thinking he was just uncomfortable around new people, but the mean comments never subsided, so one day, you snapped back at him, much to his surprise. thus began the endless fighting and screaming matches between the both of you. it got so bad that nick and chris wouldn’t allow you two alone in the same room out of fear that you might kill each other. you two found ways to argue about anything, even things as stupid as what the best soda is.

although you hate matt with every fiber in your being, you still love nick and chris as if they were your own brothers, and they obviously felt the same. when their youtube channel first blew up, you were always by their side to support them. eventually, they decided they were going to move to los angeles, and they asked you to go with them. you immediately accepted because the course you wanted to study in college had great programs in los angeles.

you’re currently in the triplets’ apartment, telling them about the most recent development in your life: you got a date. “y/n, just ignore matt.” nick interrupts yours and matt’s squabble. “so, what’s his name? how did you meet him?” nick asks excitedly. “well, his name’s blake and we met at the coffee shop on campus.” you smile. matt rolls his eyes. “blake? the guy sounds like a douchebag.” “and you would know all about douchebags wouldn’t you?” you ask with a false sweetness in your voice. “what the hell is that supposed to mean? you saying i’m a douchebag?” matt narrows his eyes at you. “if the shoe fits.” you shrug. “okay can you guys not for like two seconds?” chris asks. you raise your hands up in surrender, “fine but he started it.” “sure blame me for everything.” matt says sarcastically. “fuck off.” you reply. “guys seriously, stop.” nick tells you sternly. “anyway where are you and blake going?” chris asks, trying to lessen the tension between you and matt. “we’re going to this restaurant down the street from my apartment. it’s pretty nice actually.” you tell him, smiling slightly. you then stand up and grab your car keys. “i’m gonna go get ready, and i’ll tell you guys all about it after.” “you better!” nick yells out after you as you walk out the door towards your car.

nick watches you leave, then turns to matt, “we need to talk.” matt raises an eyebrow, “okay…” he says hesitantly, setting down his phone. “what the fuck is up with you and y/n?” “what do you mean?” matt asks. “you two have been at each other’s throats for years! it’s so exhausting watching you two constantly fight over dumb shit!” nick yells at him. “what about her? why is she not included in this conversation?” he retorts. “because you started this shit! you were awful to her when you first met! this whole situation could have been avoided if you were man enough to tell her you like her!” matt’s taken aback by nick’s outburst. “tell her what?” he asks, hoping he heard his brother wrong. “come on matt, it’s obvious that you like her.” nick deadpans. “you’re kidding right? she’s disgusting, and not to mention, a total bitch. how you guys tolerate her shit, i’ll never know, but i sure as hell won’t.” matt rants. “okay matt, whatever you need to tell yourself.” chris adds, rolling his eyes. “you agree with nick? seriously?” matt turns to the youngest triplet. chris just shrugs, “i mean, yeah. i might be an idiot, but even i can tell that you like her.” matt scoffs, “fuck you guys. i’m going for a drive. i’ll be back later.” he stands up and grabs his keys. he then walks out the front door, making sure to slam it shut.

matt gets into his car and begins to drive, not knowing where to go. during his drive, thoughts of you begin to invade matt’s head. there is absolutely no way he likes you. you’re annoying, you’re stubborn, and you’re just so insufferable to be around. sure, you’re conventionally attractive, but that doesn’t mean anything, it actually pisses matt off more because he doesn’t understand how such a pretty face could have such an awful personality paired with it.

after driving for a while, an idea pops into matt’s head. matt knows you well enough to know which restaurant you would go to because it was always one of your favorites. he begins to drive that way and plots what he’s going to do once he gets there. after a few moments of contemplating, he decides to just sit a couple of tables away from you and your date, just to make you uncomfortable and on edge.

he arrives at the restaurant and walks in through the large glass doors at the front of the building. the moment he walks in, he can spot you and blake in the back. you’re laughing at something he said, and an unfamiliar feeling began to pool in the pit of matt’s stomach. his thoughts are cut off by the hostess coming up to the stand, “how many?” she asks. “umm just one, and is there any way i can get a table back there?” he points to where you’re sitting. “of course. follow me.” she smiles as she begins to walk towards the your table, matt following close behind. “here you are, sir.” the hostess sets the menu down on the table before walking away. he sits down and looks at the menu, waiting for you to notice his presence.

as you’re talking to blake, you notice a familiar head of hair out of the corner of your eye. you look over an see matt sitting diagonally across from your table. your eyes widen when your eyes meet his. what the fuck is he doing here? you try your best to ignore him, but you can see him continuously glancing at you. blake notices you looking over to your right. “are you okay, y/n? is something wrong?” he asks. your eyes snap back to his. “no i thought i saw something, but i didn’t.” blake just shrugs and continues talking. you try to listen to his words, but you can’t. your mind constantly drifts back to the brown-haired boy sitting to your right.

after a couple hours, and some very awkward glances to matt, your date finally ends. you and blake bid each other goodnight before you walk back to your car. you see matt walking to his own car and you send him with a death glare, to which he just responds with a cocky smile. you wait for him to drive out of the parking lot, and once he does, you follow him home, wanting answers as to why he thought it was a good idea to crash your date.

as he pulls into his garage, you park on the street. you turn your engine off and get out of the car, storming through the front door, where you see matt standing in the kitchen. you walk over to him and slam your purse down on the counter.

“why do you feel the need to ruin every good thing that comes my way? what do you have to gain from that?” you ask matt frustratedly. “i don’t ruin every good thing. i just wanted to make sure he’s good for you.” he replies nonchalantly. “that’s not for you to decide matthew!” you yell, moving closer to him. “y/n, you just need to trust me.” his calmness is pissing you off even more. “but i don’t trust you! all you’ve done since we met is berate me and talk shit about me! how can i trust your words when i can’t even trust you?!” you begin to wave your arms frantically. “look,” he begins, “i know guys like that and i just-” “guys like what matt? guys like you?” you ask accusingly. “no. guys that will treat a girl right until they get into her pants and then leave once they get what they want.” you scoff at his words. who does he think he is? “you don’t know what you’re talking about. did he say something to make you believe he’s like that?” matt averts his gaze to the floor. “no, but i have a feeling.” you laugh, not believing the words that are leaving his mouth. “a feeling? so you just made it up.” he looks back up at you. “god, i didn’t make it up y/n! stop being so naive and open your fucking eyes!” matt begins to raise his voice. “you are such a fucking asshole! you have no right to stick your nose in my love life! just because no one wants you doesn’t mean you get project that onto me!” you yell in his face, seething with rage. matt’s face turns cold, his eyes boring into yours with a look you can’t make out. he remains silent for a few seconds. “what no snarky comment? did i hit a sore spot? it’s so pathetic that you’re so insecure that you feel the need to-” you’re cut off by a pair of lips smashing against yours. your eyes widen and you can feel yourself almost melting into the kiss before you realize who it is you’re kissing. you quickly shove him backwards, and matt stumbles a little. you look into his eyes, the both of you saying nothing. you don’t know what comes over you, but before you can think it through, you take a step forward, grab the back of his neck, and press your lips against matt’s once again. the kiss is rough, teeth and tongues clashing together. 

matt’s kisses begin to fall from your lips to your neck, biting and sucking as he goes further and further down. “matt” you moan breathlessly. “what is it baby?” he asks in a husky voice and you could cum from just the sound of his voice. “we should go to your room.” you say between small moans. you can feel him nod against the crook of your neck as he put his hand under your ass to pick you up. you immediately wrap your legs around his waist as he begins to walk towards his room. you get into his room and he sits down on the edge of his bed, so now you’re in his lap.

matt removes his head from your collarbone and he finds your lips again. you subconsciously begin to move your hips against his, a soft groan leaving his lips and you can feel yourself clench at the noise. matt’s hands slowly trail up your back and you can feel his right hand grip your hair. he gives it a quick but firm tug, pulling your head back which gives him the opportunity to attack your jawline. “matt please.” you breathe out, needing his touch. “what do you want, baby?” he asks, knowing damn well what you want. “i need you.” he looks up at you with a smirk on his face. “yeah? then show me how bad you need me.” you feel his grip on you relax slightly, so you get off his lap and drop to your knees. your eyes immediately find the large tent in his sweats. you can feel your mouth water with desire.

you grab his dick through his pants and matt lets out a light gasp. “don’t tease me baby.” you bite your lip and tug his sweatpants down to his thighs, his extremely hard dick slapping against his stomach. you wrap your hand around his base and begin to stroke him up and down. you then bring your lip to his tip, giving it a few kitten licks. matt’s hand finds your hair and forces himself down your throat. you feel your eyes begin to water as you find your rhythm. you continue to bob your head up and down and pump what you can’t fit in your mouth. “fuckkk” matt moans, his hand tightly gripping your hair. “i’m gonna cum baby.” you quicken your pace and you can feel your cunt dripping, making a mess between your thighs. matt’s groans become louder and louder as he feels himself getting closer. his dick twitches in your mouth and you still your movements, feeling his thick ropes of cum hitting the back of your throat. you swallow every drop before pulling off him, both of you panting and trying to catch your breath.

“fuck that was so good.” he praises you as he grabs your hands and leads you back onto the bed. he flips the two of you around so now he’s on top of you. “you’re such a good girl for me.” he says before he kisses you again. he bites your bottom lip before slipping his tongue into your mouth. you can feel his dick sliding up and down your clothed cunt. “please fuck me matt.” you whine against his lips. “patience baby.” he demands. his hands find the waistband of your pants, yanking them down so your bottom half is only covered by your thin panties. he looks down and sees the wet patch that covers the bottom of them. “holy fuck you’re soaked. you really liked sucking me off that much, huh?” he then gets up on his knees and takes his shirt off, revealing his toned stomach, and you can somehow feel yourself become wetter. “how bad do you want me?” he asks you cockily. “so bad matty. please fuck me.” he chuckles, “so needy.” he then lines himself up to your leaking hole, swiping his tip against your clit a few times before sliding himself inside you slowly. you let out a loud moan and he covers your mouth. “shhh baby. we don’t want nick or chris to hear how good i’m making feel do we?” you shake your head as he continues to rut his hips into yours. he removes his hand from your mouth and it soon finds its place on your throat. “fuck you’re so fucking tight. oh my god.” he throws his head back in pleasure as you moan out his name. “you’re such a little slut for me aren’t you? you like it when i fuck you like this?” he smirks down at you, admiring the way your jaw was slack and your eyes rolled back. he tightens his grip around your neck as a warning, “answer me or i’ll stop.” “fuck yes matt i love it.” you moan out. he takes his hand off your neck and trails it down to your clit. he begins to rub it in small, tight circles and you can feel the coil in your stomach begin to form.

“fuck baby you’re gonna make me cum soon.” he picks up his pace, going harder as his hand rubs your clit faster. you can feel yourself begin to clench around him, matt starting to let out broken moans at the sensation. “you gonna cum baby?” you nod, on the verge of cumming around him. “give it to me baby. cum on my dick.” he urges. at his words, you let go, letting out a loud and long moan as you release around his dick. matt’s pace begins to falter as he feels himself about to fall apart too. “where do you want it baby?” “inside me please.” you beg. he twitches inside of you and you can feel him cumming inside you, painting your swollen walls white as he lets out a groan of your name. he stills inside you for a few seconds before pulling out. he gets up from the bed and walks to his bathroom. you feel the sink run and turn off and he returns to the bed with a damp towel. he begins to clean you up a bit before tossing the towel to the side. he crawls towards you and lies down next you, pulling you into his arms.

you both lie in his bed for a few more minutes before you speak up. “this can’t happen again.” matt turns to look at you, “why not?” he questions. “i don’t want to hurt blake. he’s a good guy.” matt scoffs. “sure he is.” he says, sarcasm evident in his tone. “you don’t even know him matt.” you try to reason. “i don’t need to know the guy to know he’s an asshole. his name’s blake, and that says enough.” you roll your eyes at his childish behavior. “okay matt whatever.” you pull the covers off your body and you begin to put your clothes back on. matt grabs your arms and spins you around to face him. he looks into your eyes for a few moments before crashing his lips against yours. you want to pull away, but you can’t. the kiss becomes more and more heated as he backs you up until you’re both lying on the bed with him on top of you. “this is the last time.” you demand, knowing that’s probably a lie. “no it’s not.” he says against your lips as he begins to trail kisses down your neck.

weeks pass by, and you and matt are still hooking up. because of this, you’ve become more tolerant towards each other. you don’t necessarily like one another, but you can at least go a day without arguing. nick and chris begin to notice the change in dynamic between the both of you. they don’t ask questions because they’re just happy you all can hang out without the two of them being caught in the middle of one of your petty arguments.

much to matt’s dismay however, blake is still in the picture. you haven’t become official with him yet, but you both have gone on many more dates and even kissed a few times. of course, you felt bad for lying to blake, but what are you supposed to do? you just can’t escape matt. you’re a moth to his flame. you’ve come so close to breaking it off with matt, but each time you fail, somehow always ending up naked in his bed.

this is one of those times. you came over to the boys’ apartment to break it off with matt, but of course, you couldn’t. instead, you’re pinned against the wall of his bedroom. “matt we can’t keep doing this.” you breathe out against his lips. “doing what?” he asks, backing away and raising one eyebrow. “hating each other in public and fucking in private. i can’t do that to blake.” you try to reason with him, but matt simply rolls his eyes. “then just end things with him. i told you he isn’t good for you.” “he’s a good guy, matt.” you reply. matt takes a step closer to you, “well, if he’s such a good guy, then why are you here? why aren’t you with him?” he asks, knowing the answer. you look down and shake your head, “i don’t know. i shouldn’t be here. i should go.” you grab your purse from the counter and swing it over your shoulder, but before you can walk towards the door, matt grabs your wrist. “wait, don’t go.” you turn towards him, “why not?” there’s a few seconds of silence before matt answers your question. “i don’t want you to.” “okay.” you concede.

about a week later, you get a text from blake, asking you to go over to his apartment. you get into your car and drive to his place. you get out and walk up to his door, knocking twice. he open the door with a smile on his face, and it fills you with guilt. he invites you in and sits you down on his couch. “so i invited you here because i wanted to ask you something.” he begins. you nod, nervous for what he’s about to say. “i wanted to know if you would be my girlfriend.” he asks hopefully. you sigh softly and look down. you can’t hold it in any longer. you can’t keep lying to the poor guy. “look, you’re an amazing guy, don’t get me wrong, but i can’t” you tell him. his smile drops instantly. “oh. can i ask why. i thought we were doing good.” “i’m just not ready to be in a serious relationship. i thought i was, but now i know i’m not.” it’s not totally a lie. you’re not ready for a relationship with someone that isn’t matt. “okay i understand.” he says sadly. “i think i should leave. i’m so sorry blake, but i know you’ll find someone as great as you are.” you smile to try and lift the mood. he just nods while staring at the ground. you stand up from his couch and walk out the door, wracked with guilt.

you get in your car and drive to the triplets’ apartment, needing to talk to matt. you have to tell him how you feel. you arrive at their apartment and place your car in park. you walk up to the door and knock. you wait for a few seconds before the door opens, revealing matt. “hi.” you break the silence. “what’s up? you need something?” he inquires. “i actually need to talk to you.” you can feel butterflies in your stomach as you rock back and forth on your feet. “ummm okay come in.” he motions for you to enter the apartment. you walk inside and matt closes the door behind you. you both stand in the living room and you set your keys and phone down on their counter. he stands there, waiting for you to speak.

“i broke up with him” you break the silence. “what? why?” matt questions, his head immediately perking up. “you were right. he wasn’t good for me.” he scoffs, “well no shit. what does that have to do with me?” “i also broke up with him because i realized something.” are you really about to do this? are you really about to confess your feelings to the boy you’ve hated for years? matt gives you a look, telling you to go on. “i know we’ve always hated each other, but since we started sleeping together, i realized that i don’t want blake. i want you, and not just in a sexual way. i want to actually be with you.” you take a deep breath you didn’t know you were holding, waiting anxiously for his response, but he says nothing. “matt? please say something.” matt looks down at the floor and shakes his head slightly. “i can’t, y/n.” he says softly. “can’t what?” you’re confused now. what the hell does that mean? “i can’t be with you.” your heart drops. “why not?” you ask. “i… i just can’t.” you’re start to become irritated at his words. “what can’t you do matt?!” “i can’t give you what you want. you want to date and do couple-y stuff and i can’t do that.” his gaze remains on the floor. “so i’m good enough to fuck, but not good enough to date?” you ask condescendingly. “that’s not what i’m saying, i just-” “you just what matt?! what is so awful about being in a relationship?!” you begin to yell. “i don’t do relationships! the fact that you’re whining and screaming about it is the reason i don’t! you’re being fucking dramatic and i’m sick of it! we’re not dating and we’re never going to so just accept it and stop being so fucking clingy!” he yells back at you. your jaw drops to the floor at his words. “fuck you matthew. don’t text me again.” you walk towards the front door, making sure to bump his shoulder on the way out. you open the door and slam it shut, shaking the walls of the apartment.

hearing the commotion, chris and nick walk downstairs into the living room. “what the hell happened?” nick asks. “nothing happened. she’s just being a bitch as usual.” matt replies, rubbing his temples. “what did you say to her?” nick sighs, knowing you’d never react that way unless matt said something really fucked up. “i don’t wanna talk about it.” nick scoffs. “well too bad. if i just lost my best friend because of you then we’re gonna talk about it.” nick and chris drag matt over to the couch and sit down. matt sighs and begins to explain everything that happened between the two of you. “why would you say something like that to her?” chris asks him, disappointed in his older brother. “i told you, i’m not a relationship guy.” nick looks at him with a look of worry. “but do you like her?” matt looks at him and nods. “then tell her that you dumb fuck! you just broke her heart for no reason!” he yells in matt’s face. “look, i can’t do this right now. i’m going to bed.” matt sighs softly as he walks out of the room.

as soon as matt gets into his room, he shuts the door, lying down in his bed. his mind is racing with thoughts of you. nick was right. he should have told you that he wanted to date you too, but he was too much of a pussy to actually say it, so he hurt you instead. matt knows you’re probably still mad at him and would slam the door in his face if he went over to your house now, so he decides to wait a day or two. after contemplating it, matt walks over to nick’s room and opens the door, knowing he needs help getting you back. “how do i win her back nick?” he sits down on his brother’s bed. “look, i don’t know if she would take you back for sure, but what you need to do is give her a heartfelt apology and tell her how you feel. that’s your best bet.” matt nods, taking in everything he says. “and flowers. get her some flowers.” “i’ll go over there tomorrow.” matt states. “good because if i lose my best friend, i’ll actually kill you.” nick says with a glare.

the next day, matt woke up ready to prove to you that he wants to be your boyfriend. however, the anxiety was pooling in his stomach. what if you didn’t want him? what if you went back to blake? he tried to push those thoughts out of his mind, but they still lingered.

once he gathered the courage, he got up out of bed, throwing on a sweater and some jeans. he looks at himself in the mirror, fixing his hair until it looks presentable enough. matt throws on his shoes and grabbing his keys. he begins to walk towards the front door when he passes by nick on the couch. “good luck matt.” nick tells him. matt just nods and walks out the door towards his minivan.

on the way to your house, he stops by a flower stand and gets you a bouquet of your favorite flowers, hoping that it’s enough for you to forgive him. as he speeds toward your house, matt’s mind is going a million miles a minute. he’s continuously going over what he’s going to say to you in his head. his thoughts are cut off by him arriving at your apartment. matt looks at himself in the mirror once more before grabbing the flowers and stepping out of the car.

matt walked up to your front door and took a deep breath before knocking. he waited a few seconds then the door swung open, revealing you. your hair looks disheveled and your eyes puffy. “what are you doing here?” you cross your arms at the boy. “i’m sorry y/n. i’m so sorry.” he holds out the flowers for you to take. you grab them hesitantly and turn around to put them in a vase. matt follows you inside towards your kitchen. “so are you gonna tell me what you’re doing here or can you leave now?” you ask, a harsh tone in your voice. matt sighs, “you were right. i’m an asshole. i never should have said those things to you. i was just so scared.” you tilt your head to the side. “scared? of what?” “what i feel for you, what i’ve felt for you since i met you, it’s unlike anything i’ve felt before. i’ve been in love with you for years, and i was too fucking stupid to tell you. i’m sorry for everything i’ve done to you over the years. you didn’t deserve any of it.” you can see matt’s eyes start to become glossy as you step towards him. “what changed all of a sudden? last night you were dead set on not being with me, but now you do? that doesn’t make any sense matt.” you tell him, still skeptical. “nick and chris laid into me last night. they made me realize that i hurt you for no reason and that i was being selfish. i told you i didn’t want to be with you, but it was a lie. being with you is all i’ve ever wanted and when it was right in front of me i panicked. i know that i probably fucked everything up, but please, if there’s any part of you that can forgive me, please give me one more chance. let me prove to you that i can be the man you deserve.” you take a deep breath, tears beginning to invade your waterline. you want to tell him off so bad. you want to tell him that you would never take him back, but you can’t. before you can overthink it, you take a few steps towards matt and wrap your arms around his neck, resting your head on his shoulder. “do you really mean it?” you ask him softly. “i mean it baby. i promise i’ll never hurt you again.” he pulls away and looks down at you with a small smile on his face. you reciprocate the smile as he begins to lean down. your lips brush against each other before he presses his lips against yours. the kiss isn’t like any other kiss you’ve shared before; it’s soft and sweet instead of hard and rough. you both break away and rest your forehead on his. “you’re so beautiful, y’know that?” you feel your face heat up and a smile forming on your face. “shut up.” you tell him before reaching up and kissing him once more.

[gallavichsreddie1128]

Trapped (Art Donaldson/Patrick Zweig)

Description: Y/N is in love with Patrick but when she thinks that he doesn’t like her back she starts hooking up with Art who is in love with. When Patrick tells Art he likes Y/N without knowing Art and her were hooking up, Art will stop at nothing to make sure they don’t end up together.

Word Count: 3,859k

Author’s note: I didn’t put the warnings because it would be a spoiler. Also I still can’t comment anything on my own posts but I appreciate all the compliments! Thank you sm!! I don’t know why I can’t comment

When Y/N first met Art Donaldson she didn’t think anything of him. He was a well known Tennis player at Stanford and was on his way to becoming big. Art was nice and caring. But Y/N had her eyes on his best friend Patrick Zweig. Patrick was a bit of a player but had her heart. He constantly flirts with her but never makes an actual move. Resulting in Y/N and Art hooking up. Art was attractive Y/N never thought otherwise and when she realized that Patrick probably wasn’t into her she fell into the arms of Art.

Someone who was into her. But it was just sex. Great sex but still sex. After they had sex Y/N would get up and leave his dorm while Art stared at the door praying that Y/N would come to her senses and realize that he was the one for her. Y/N was his best friend besides Patrick and she never mistreated him and almost gave him everything he wanted. But yet he was ungrateful. Anytime he saw Patrick and her talking and laughing he was scared that Patrick would make the ultimate move on her that would end whatever they had going on.

Y/N was at all of his games alongside Patrick cheering him on. When he won (which was almost every time) she would give him the best blowjob of his life. “So are you and Y/N…” Patrick trailed off as him and Art ate lunch together. Art looked at him and laughed. “Why? You finally into her or something?” God he hoped not. Patrick shrugged and it took everything in Art not to drop his smile. “I feel like I should have made a move on her a long time ago.” He said, Art nodded. “Yeah she’s an amazing girl.” Art said.

“Do you think she’s still into me?” Art looked at him and shrugged. “She never talks about you.” That was a lie. Y/N constantly talked about him. To her understanding there are no feelings between her and Art. “Well I guess there’s only one way to tell.” “What are you going to do?” “Talk to her later you dumbass.” Art hummed and felt sick. He almost had everything and Patrick was going to ruin it. 

Y/N gave Art a key to her room. He had a few hoodies there that she had taken from him that he told her he wanted back. She found it odd since he never cared before but gave him the key. As he entered the room he took in the scent. He loved the smell, it reminded him of her. He wasn’t sure where the hoodies were so he went over to her dresser. That’s when he saw her birth control.

He stared at it for a good few minutes before he thought about it. If he gets her pregnant she can’t go be with Patrick. She’d have to stay with him. But that was wrong and he knew it. He grabbed the pills and put them in his Tennis bag. He found the hoodies and left her room, guilt consuming him. “So we are going to have to be extra careful when we fuck because I can’t find my birth control pills and I don’t have time to get a refill so buy some condoms.” She told him as they walked back to her dorm. “Got it.” He said. “Well I guess I’ll see ya tomorrow.” She said and he nodded. 

The next night they fucked for the first time without her being on the pill and to make matters worse Art poked a hole in the condom before she got there. He prayed that this worked. After he came he pulled out and quickly threw away the condom. “Art why does it feel like you came in me?” She asked. He looked at her confused. She reached her fingers down and gasped as she felt his cum leak out of her. “Art holy shit.” She sat up quick. “I don’t understand. I wore a condom.” He said. “It must have broke without either of us noticing.” She said and went to his bathroom to clean herself up. 

The next few weeks Art made sure not to do that for a while so it wasn’t so obvious what he was trying to do. One day Y/N didn’t show up to his game or class. He was concerned and went to check up on her. She was sick. She had been puking all morning and felt terrible. “I think maybe I’m just ill.” She said but how? Y/N was very healthy and never got sick. “I’ll take you to the doctors, come on.” Art was keeping Patrick updated on the situation. Patrick really wanted to talk to her but she was so busy. “Well Ms.Y/L/N you’re pregnant.” The doctor told her. Her jaw dropped and she felt tears in her eyes. She nodded and left the room to go find Art who was waiting in the waiting room.

He stood up as he saw her, “Are you okay?” She shook her head and started crying. He hugged her as she cried. “What’s wrong?” He asked. She pulled away from the hug and sighed, “I’m pregnant.” She whispered. He wanted to celebrate but knew that this wasn’t something planned by the both of them. “What?” He asked softly. She nodded. “And it’s yours.” He gave her a soft smile, “wow.” “Art we aren’t fit to be parents, we aren't even together.” She said.

“We could be.” He said and she shook her head. “We just fuck and I like Patrick.” That annoyed him but he kept it together. “Patrick doesn’t feel the same way Y/N plus you deserve better.” He told her. “How do you know?” She asked him, “He told me.” “No how do you know what I deserve?” He was speechless. He wanted to tell her that he loved her but wasn’t sure that was the right answer. “Can you just take me back?” She asked after silence. He nodded and they left. 

It was a few weeks before Art heard from her. She cried and sobbed for weeks not knowing what to do. Art felt terrible for what he did but he could never tell her. Patrick was upset that she was pregnant and it was by his best friend but he didn’t find that out from Art. He knocked on Y/N’s door worried about why he hadn’t seen her in a while. She answered the door and she looked like a mess. “Holy shit are you okay?” He asked her. She shook her head and let him in. “What happened?” He asked as he shut the door.

She sat on the bed and cried. He sat on the bed with her and pulled her into his chest letting her cry. He rubbed her back and tried calming her down. “Patrick I love you so much.” She said through tears. His eyes widened and he looked down at her. “I know you don’t feel the same way but I needed you to know that.” She said. He smiled and laughed, “are you kidding me? Of course I feel the same way.” Her heart broke. “I’ve been meaning to tell you for awhile now.” He said and cupped her face.

At any other time she would have been so happy and smiled but she didn’t. He leaned down to kiss her but before he could she whispered his name. “I’m pregnant with Art’s baby.” He pulled away and looked shocked. “You and Art had sex?” He asked hurt. “We’ve been hooking up for awhile now but only because I didn’t think you liked me back and he confirmed that to me.” She said. “Y/N Art told me you didn’t have feelings for me.” They both look at each other and realized. Art was a shitty friend. 

Y/N banged on Art’s door. He quickly got up and opened the door. There stood a fuming Y/N who had tears streaming down her face. “Hey where have you-“ She smacked him across the face. “You asshole.” She yelled. He was taken back by her sudden anger towards him. “You told both me and Patrick that we didn’t like each other when we did.” She yelled. “You talked to Patrick?” He asked annoyed.

“Is that all you heard? How about the fact that you’re a shitty friend?” She screamed. He looked down at her words, she was right. “Why the fuck would you lie?” She asked. He didn’t say anything and kept looking down. She pulled his chin so that they were making eye contact. “Answer me.” She yelled. “Because I love you!” He yelled back. “And I want to be with you but you want him and he doesn’t deserve you.” He yelled.

“Art, it’s not your place to say whether or not he deserves me.” She tells him. “I know but I can’t, I can’t live without you Y/N. When you told me you were pregnant I was so happy because I thought that finally we could have a shot but no matter what I see now that you will always choose him.” He had tears streaming down his face. Her eyes softened. “Art.” She whispered and walked over to him. “I get it just go be with you him. Just let me see the kid.” He said. She shook her head and cupped his face. “No.” She whispered. She leaned in and kissed him. He was shocked but kissed her back. He pulled her closer and deepened the kiss. This was all he ever wanted and he got it. 

Y/N finished her first years of college before dropping out. Art stayed in college and managed to become a pro in Tennis. They got a house together near campus so he could still go while she stayed at home. He worried for her and never wanted to leave her alone. Patrick and him were no longer friends. Art got Tashi Duncan as his coach who also helped Y/N. She never judged Y/N for getting pregnant at 19 unlike her family. She made it so Art could continue school and not have to worry. 

Y/N was about ready to pop any second it seemed. Her due date was near so she and Art got everything ready for when the time was to come. It would be in the middle of the night that Y/N woke up screaming in pain. Art freaked out but took her to the hospital and called Tashi. Tashi was there at the hospital as Y/N got ready to push. Art held her hand as she screamed and cried as she pushed out his baby for dear life. Art looked as he heard the baby cry and saw her. He started crying seeing his beautiful baby girl. Tashi smiled as she saw the baby and congratulated the two. 

Playing Tennis and raising a baby was hard but they managed to do it. They both always talked about how she was gonna love Tennis and want to play. She looked just like Art but was a mommy’s girl. 

“Are you sure everything’s okay?” “Yes Babe Tashi is with her, she'll be fine.” Art assured her. She smiled as they walked down the beach that her Art and Patrick used to walk down all those years ago. Their daughter was almost 2 now and everything was perfect. Well almost. Art had a ring in his pocket that he kept playing with out of nerves. “Are you okay?” Y/N asked him as she noticed how nervous he looked. He smiled and shook his head, “I’m perfect.” She smiled but Art stopped walking.

Y/N turned to him confused. “Y/N, I love you so much more than anything on this planet. I couldn’t imagine a life without you or Y/D/N.” He got down on one knee. Y/N covered her mouth with her hand as tears formed in her eyes. “Will you marry me?” He asked. She nodded and smiled, “Yes Art.” She said and pulled him up for a kiss. He smiled into the kiss and pulled away to put the ring on her finger. 

The wedding wasn’t anything crazy just a simple one with close friends and family. Their daughter was the flower girl and Tashi was her maid of honor. Y/N sighed as she stood staring in the mirror as she got her wedding dress on. She looked beautiful. “Are you nervous?” Tashi asked. Y/N looked at her and shook her head, “Nope. I’m so excited and happy.” She said and it was the truth.

She knew that her and Art were meant to be. She had no fear or cold feet. Art stood in the mirror at the same time as her except he was nervous. Y/N hadn’t seen him without his curls as he just got his haircut today. He tried to push in the back of his head what he did years ago. He sighed and stepped away from the mirror. 

Y/N’s father walked her down the aisle. She sighed and looked around at everyone in the chairs staring at her, some in awe. She looked at Art and gasped. He cut his hair. He looked really good. They smiled at each other and what felt like eternity she was finally down the aisle. She faced Art and they both stared at each other in awe. I like your hair, she mouthed to him.

He smiled and thanked her as the priest talked. The phrase “you may now kiss the bride.” Couldn’t come fast enough but when it did. They both laughed in relief and kissed. They sealed their love with a kiss and the crowd cheered. 

Art wasn’t at his best and Tashi couldn’t stop giving him shit for it. She had put him in a challenger claiming that he needed his confidence back. “She says I’m not confident enough.” Art told his wife as they got in bed. She turned to him, “Is she wrong?” He shook his head, “I don’t know.” “From what I know you’re one of the best.” She said and winked at him. He laughed and pulled her on top of him. She leaned down and kissed him. 

“Patrick Zweig is here?” He asked in anger. Tashi nodded and looked over at Y/N who didn’t look upset at all. “Yes but you can beat him.” Tashi told him. Could he though? Y/N never was sure about that but maybe all this anger he had towards Patrick would help or would it distract him? 

“I feel like she planned this.” Art said as they walked into the hotel. “Doubt it babe it’s just coincidence.” She said. It was also a coincidence that Patrick was at the same hotel at the bar. Luckily Art didn’t notice but Y/N did. “I’ll meet you back in the room I’m going to meet up with Tashi.” She told him. He kissed her and entered the elevator. Patrick didn’t see her but she walked up to him. “Patrick?” He turned around and his jaw dropped.

“Y/N.” He exclaimed and hugged her, she giggled and hugged him back. “You look amazing.” He told her. “You do too.” He did oh god he did. He looked sexy. They stared at each other for a while, no words exchanged. Patrick saw the wedding ring on her finger. “So you married him?” He asked trying to hide the disappointment. She nodded, “yeah I did.” “How’s he doing?” “Good.” He nodded. “I don’t have a lot of time Pat but I just wanted to say Hi.”

“I’m glad you did.” She walked away but he called her name again. She turned to face him, “Do you ever think about what would have happened if you never got pregnant?” She didn’t answer him she just looked down. “Goodnight Patrick.” She said and walked away. 

She stared at the ceiling wide awake as Art slept next to her. She couldn’t stop thinking about him. Patrick. His question. Of course she thought about it. How could she not? It was sick to say but that was the only reason she gave Art a chance. She doesn’t regret it though but of course the what if? Crossed her mind. 

She cheered as Art won over and over again leading up to the finales. Tashi may have been hard on him but it paid off. Y/N hadn’t seen Patrick since that night. She wondered how he was doing, she never got to ask. She didn’t tell Art that she saw him let alone talked to him. That would make him more mad than he already was. It was the final game before the finals. It looked like him and Patrick would be facing off.

“Hey Art forgot his bag can you go grab it for him?” Tashi asked. She nodded and walked off to the locker room. She went to his locker and grabbed the bag. She smiled as she saw it was the one from college. She swung it over her shoulder but heard what sounded like pills? She put the bag down and looked in the bag for what that noise could possible be. She shuffled the bag again and opened the front pocket. She pulled out pills. She was confused until she realized that they were birth control pills. WTF? She thought.

She gasped when she realized that they were the ones she lost. Why did Art have them? She never took them around him. She shook her head and put them in her pocket and took the bag to Art. “Hey I’ll be right back.” She tells him and she walks away. She takes the pills out of her pocket trying to figure out why he had them. She sat on the grass and thought really hard. She gasped as she remembered how Art hated the fact that she and Patrick liked each other. He lied to both of them about the other's feelings.

Y/N remembered the time he asked for her keys and after that day she couldn’t find the pills. Art took them. She felt sick as she realized. Tears were streaming down her face as she realized that Art planned her getting pregnant. She got up and put the pills back in her pocket. “Hey.” She looked up and saw Patrick. “Hi.” He could see her teary eyes and walked up to her. “Are you okay?” He asked her. “Can you pick me up at midnight?” She ignored his question. “Sure…but are you okay?” He asked her, “we will talk about it.” She tells him and walks away. 

Art had won and was in the finals with Patrick. She hide her sickness towards him and congratulated him. Art hadn’t suspected a thing thankfully. 

“Promise me that if I lose tomorrow it won’t matter.” Art stood in the bathroom doorway. She looked at him confused. “What?” “If I lose tomorrow, promise me that it’ll be okay. We will be okay.” She stared at him, “Why wouldn’t be?” “Baby please.” “Yes Art everything will be okay. I don’t care what the outcome is tomorrow I will love you no matter what.” She tells him and unfortunately that was the truth. She’s grown to love him and even though what he did was awful she still did love him. 

Patrick smiled as he saw Y/N run to his car. She got in the passenger seat. “Drive.” He pulled away from the hotel and drove off. “You wanna tell me what this is about?” He asked. “Pull over first.” She told him. He turned into an empty parking lot and parked. He turned towards her. She looked at him and handed him the pill bottle. He looked at it, “birth control pills? Why are you giving me these?” He asked her.

“I was taking those all through high school and college and never once missed a beat.” She tells him. “Okay?” She sighed, “Remember when I got pregnant?” He nodded. “Art took those from me so it would happen.” Patrick’s jaw dropped, “what? Are you sure?” She nodded. “I found those in his Tennis bag he had from college, he brought it with him and I never took those in front of him. One night I give him my key so he can take back his hoodies and after that I couldn’t find them.” “He hated that we liked each other.” Patrick said, “he lied about it Patrick.

He wanted this. Hell when I went to his room to confront him he guilt tripped me. I wasn’t going to be with him just cuz he got me pregnant. I loved you.” She exclaimed. “Y/N?” She looked at him, “do you still have feelings for me?” 

Patrick looked over at Y/N as he bounced the ball. Y/N kept a straight face as he bounced the ball a few times. Art watched as Patrick put the ball to the center of the racket. Art’s face dropped and he looked at Y/N. She wasn’t even looking at him. He looked at Patrick who nodded and smirked. “Fuck off.” He yelled. Patrick hit the ball and Art didn’t hit it back. Y/N held back tears as she watched Art’s world crumble. Why did she feel bad for him? 

Y/N hugged Patrick after they both came down from their highs. He inhaled her sweet scent. “I’ve dreamt about doing that.” He said in her neck. “In your stinky car?” She joked. He chuckled, “not exactly but it works.” He said and pulled away from her neck. She kissed him and it wasn’t full of lust. No it wasn’t something else. Love? He kissed back. 

They played Tennis like they hadn’t played Tennis before. And it was a great scene. Art was definitely angered but felt like it was deserved. Patrick was on top of the world that he got to sleep with Y/N. It was a crazy thing when at first it wasn’t clear who won. 

Y/N laid on Patrick’s chest as they laughed. “So you and Art had a secret way of telling each other when you fucked someone?” She asked. He nodded, “Yup. I almost wanna do it tomorrow.” “Will he know it’s about me?” “He should.” “Do it then.” Patrick looked down at her, shocked. “Really?” She nodded and looked up at him. “But I still love him.” She said softly and Patrick nodded. 

Art entered the hotel room with Y/N walking behind him. “So Patrick and you?” He asked. She nodded, “Why?” She took out the pills and gave them to him. His face turned more white than it already was. “How did you find these?” He asked her. “Your tennis bag is the same one from college.” She told him. “You hate me now don’t you?” He asked softly. She shook her head, “ No. I should but I don’t.” He looked up at her with relief. “You’re a piece of shit Art.” She tells him and his face drops. “But I’m willing to forgive you if we can add Patrick into our relationship. I’m not an idiot, I know you two had a thing for each other.”

[lividstar]

干満 — ♡ GOLDEN HOUR.

៚ wc: 31k (idk what happened)

៚ fluff, barista!seonghwa x florist!reader, slowburn, friends to lovers, mutual pining, woo is your bff, copl joong cameo

៚ You’ve always had a knack for finding beauty in the most ordinary of things, a trait that serves you well in your work as a florist at your grandmother’s flower shop. Every petal, every stem, holds a world of wonder in your eyes. It’s this appreciation for the exquisite that draws you to the quaint café just a stone’s throw away from your apartment. The cozy ambiance and friendly staff have made it a home away from home, but even so, it’s the long-haired boy who works behind the scenes in the kitchen who truly catches your eye. You long to unravel his being like a delicate bloom waiting to unfurl its petals, but you do so in silence, never being brave enough to make a move. Yet fate has decided it has had enough of you being a coward. As Valentine's Day approaches, your world is thrown into chaos when your grandmother’s flower shop is tasked with providing flowers for a special event at a café, which just happens to be the one where Mr. Pretty Boy™️ works at.

The intoxicating aroma engulfing the interior of the coffee shop gave you a warm welcome, the scent immediately finding itself brushing past your nose as the bells hung from above the door clink against each other, signaling a new arrival to the employees, making them look up from what they’re doing to briefly greet you before going back to work. Upon recognizing you immediately, the smiles on their faces when they greeted you were far different from the ones they gave to other customers—this is something that you never fail to notice, and you believe that perhaps it’s because you’re one of their most loyal customers, having been visiting the place since the first day they opened.

The coffee they brew and the pastries they bake are already good by themselves, so the fact that they’re located near where you live is just all but a bonus factor. You think that even if you were to live from a farther distance from the café, you’d still end up visiting the place just as often as you do now. Your eyes scanned all over the place, looking for an empty seat to occupy—ones that are near the window, preferably.

Finally spotting a vacant seat at the very back of the café, you hurried over, not wanting anyone to occupy it before you did. Only after you placed your bag on the sofa and sunk yourself on the cushion did you realize that this seat wasn’t exactly going to be able to provide you a… proper view for what, or who, rather, you actually came for.

He rarely ever comes out from where he works inside the back kitchen, and if he does, usually, it would be whenever one of his co-workers would request for his presence, most of the time the reason being them needing help with either cleaning, taking out the trash, so on and so forth. He’s never been tasked to take up the job of taking customers’ orders, let alone deliver it to their tables, and you’d know, since you’ve been visiting their café before he even started working here. All you knew about him was his name, thanks to the name tag attached to his uniform.

Park Seonghwa.

The first time you saw him was about five months ago, and his hair wasn’t as long as it is now. You were able to tell him apart from everyone else as a new employee with the way the older ones were guiding him with all the basics, and also because you know you’ve never seen such a face like his amongst the other workers before. It felt like you were in a western romance movie from the 90’s locking eyes with your love interest for the first time while he was shown in every angle as you sat there with comically widened eyes and a mouth left agape, the world around both of you coming down to a stop.

You didn’t see him often anymore after that, and you actually believed he already got fired at some point, but it wasn’t until you saw him closing the shop one evening when you passed by it on the other side of the road on your way home from your grandmother’s flower shop where you worked.

It’s safe to say that you’ve been captivated ever since then. It was just too bad he was given a position that doesn’t require him to head out and socialize with customers, but you figured things would be better the way they were meant to be. He doesn’t seem like someone who’s much of a talker, and neither were you.

He’s meant to stay in the back kitchen, and you’re meant to stay sitting by the tables. It wouldn’t be hard for one to tell that future interactions between both of you would be impossible, but perhaps you like things better that way. He gets to be paid by doing his job, and you get to make your days better by admiring him from afar silently.

Just then, one of the café’s workers approached your table with a familiar smile.

“The usual for Saturdays?” she asks, already aware of your preferences. You nod with a smile, appreciative of how well the staff knew your routine. They have gotten to know you so well over the months that they’ve even memorized your orders depending on the day of the week. “Yes, please.”

As she walks away to relay your order to the coworkers behind the counter, you watch her figure become descending with each step. Your mind wanders as you pull out your phone and begin typing a message to your best friend, Wooyoung, who always enjoys hearing about your experiences at the café.

‎‎‎‎‎‎‎‎ㅤ‎‎‎‎‎‎‎‎ㅤ‎‎‎‎‎‎‎‎ㅤWooyoung: Going to assume you haven’t seen Mr. Pretty Boy yet?

You recall the day Wooyoung had dubbed Seonghwa with the nickname. It was the first time Wooyoung had seen him when you tagged him along to the café, and you both watched Seonghwa step out from the back kitchen to temporarily take over his co-worker’s duties at the counter. He nudged your shoulder, looking at you with a teasing smile, saying, “Didn’t know you had a thing for pretty boys.”

Wooyoung's playful comment had taken you by surprise, but as you thought about it, you realized how true it was—Seonghwa was undeniably a pretty boy with his soft features, elegant demeanor, and long, smooth hair. With the way he carries himself, it wouldn’t take much for one to notice he takes self-care seriously.

‎‎‎‎‎‎‎‎ㅤ‎‎‎‎‎‎‎‎ㅤ‎‎‎‎‎‎‎‎ㅤYou: How am I supposed to know when I can’t even see the counter from where my seat is?

After sending the message, you look up, scanning the café once more in case Seonghwa was around. Realizing he wasn’t after looking around the place for about three times straight, you sigh and plop your elbow down on the table, placing your hand on your chin as you look to your left, busying yourself with watching people walk by, going by their different routines and plans for the day.

‎‎‎‎‎‎‎‎ㅤ‎‎‎‎‎‎‎‎ㅤ‎‎‎‎‎‎‎‎ㅤWooyoung: How tragic. Must suck to be you.

You couldn’t help but roll your eyes at Wooyoung’s playful remark, already picturing the mischievous grin on his face as he typed the message. Sometimes, you find yourself questioning how you ended up being friends with someone who seems to enjoy teasing you so much.

‎‎‎‎‎‎‎‎ㅤ‎‎‎‎‎‎‎‎ㅤ‎‎‎‎‎‎‎‎ㅤYou: At least I’m

Before you could finish typing your response, your gaze drifts up from your phone to see the boy you’ve been hoping to see ever since you first stepped inside the café, eyes widening in realization when you see the direction he is headed to. Getting your nerves tangled with each other, you weren’t sure what to do, accidentally sending the unfinished response to Wooyoung.

‎‎‎‎‎‎‎‎ㅤ‎‎‎‎‎‎‎‎ㅤ‎‎‎‎‎‎‎‎ㅤWooyoung: You’re what?

His apron was tightly knit on his back, accentuating his lean figure while his hair was tied neatly in a half bun, a few stray strands of his hair hanging off the sides of his face. He was as beautiful as ever. Your breath catches in your throat, feeling a mixture of nervousness and excitement, and you quickly look down, pretending to focus on your phone even though you were literally just scrolling back and forth on the weather app.

‎‎‎‎‎‎‎‎ㅤ‎‎‎‎‎‎‎‎ㅤ‎‎‎‎‎‎‎‎ㅤYou: OhmygODWOO

“Here’s your order,” he offers you a polite smile, and his voice sounded as soft as the calm waves of the morning sea. He looks even more breathtaking up-close, you thought. You were quick to put your phone face down on the table, ignoring the notification of Wooyoung’s message you saw before turning it off.

‎‎‎‎‎‎‎‎ㅤ‎‎‎‎‎‎‎‎ㅤ‎‎‎‎‎‎‎‎ㅤWooyoung: WHAT?

You look, feigning surprise as if you hadn’t noticed him until that moment. “Oh, thank you,” you reply, your words coming out rushed.

He politely nods while smiling, his eyes holding a hint of curiosity as he observed you—but you failed to notice it, as your eyes were fighting to look anywhere but at the boy standing right in front of your table. “Enjoy your meal,” he says before turning to walk away.

“Thank you, you too-” Fortunately, he was already a distance away when you spoke, and you thanked the heavens for not letting him hear you express your stupidity through words.

‎‎‎‎‎‎‎‎ㅤ‎‎‎‎‎‎‎‎ㅤ‎‎‎‎‎‎‎‎ㅤYou: YOU’RE SO NOT GONNA BELIEVE WHAT JUST HAPPENED.

‎‎‎‎‎‎‎‎ㅤ‎‎‎‎‎‎‎‎ㅤ‎‎‎‎‎‎‎‎ㅤI’M SO STUPID OH MY GOD.

‎‎‎‎‎‎‎‎ㅤ‎‎‎‎‎‎‎‎ㅤ‎‎‎‎‎‎‎‎ㅤI’m gonna need you to bury me 6ft under, please.

The contrast between the three messages you sent within five seconds surprised you, whereas it made Wooyoung laugh from the other side of the screen.

‎‎‎‎‎‎‎‎ㅤ‎‎‎‎‎‎‎‎ㅤ‎‎‎‎‎‎‎‎ㅤWooyoung: Now why are you letting all of your personalities take over at once?

‎‎‎‎‎‎‎‎ㅤ‎‎‎‎‎‎‎‎ㅤ‎‎‎‎‎‎‎‎ㅤJudging by the way you’re talking, I think this is something that requires a face-to-face discussion.

A few minutes later, Wooyoung was now sitting across the table, eating the cinnamon roll in his hands while listening to you ramble about what just happened before he arrived.

“-He told me to enjoy my meal, and I said, ‘Thanks, you too’! Like, I’m not even kidding! The only saving grace I had was the fact that he was already walking away when I muttered that out… But I can’t help but overthink that maybe he did hear it and just ignored me to save me from embarrassment, you know? I mean, come on,” you talk endlessly without taking a breath, careful not to speak too loud in case one of the employees, or worse, Seonghwa himself, were to walk by and overhear your conversation.

Wooyoung chokes after taking another bite of his cinnamon roll, covering his mouth with his hands so his loud laugh wouldn’t disturb the other customers. He disappears from your line of sight momentarily, head underneath the table as he struggled with containing his laughter. “Now you’re just overreacting. It’s really not that funny,” you deadpan, arms crossed as you looked at him, your annoyed face a huge contrast to his close-eyed smile.

“It is that funny!” Wooyoung sputters out in the middle of his laughs, hands on his stomach as he laid his head down on the table. Clearly, telling him about it was a very regrettable decision. You were certain he wasn’t going to let go of this anytime sooner. “God, no! It’s embarrassing! I was so nervous earlier I ended up pressing buttons on the weather app pretending I was on my phone, you know?” You sigh, taking a sip of your coffee that has now slightly gone cold.

Wooyoung finally stops laughing, sighing as he dramatically wipes a stray tear on the corner of his eye. “If I were him and I heard you say that, I would’ve been so weirded out I’d never think of leaving the back kitchen again,” he teases, earning a hard kick from your feet underneath the table.

“Ow!” Wooyoung grimaces, looking down to massage his leg that now had a sore spot, thanks to you. “Okay, now that was unnecessary,” he whines, glaring at you. “So is fueling up my embarrassment even further, but I can’t bring that up, can I?”

“Alright, alright! I’m sorry,” he grumbles under his breath, downing the last cinnamon roll on his plate. “I mean, I’m not, but I’ll let you hear what you want to hear since I’m such a good friend.”

“I wouldn’t call a boy who visits me during my working hours at the flower shop just to sweet-talk my grandmother into treating him to lunch while leaving her granddaughter all alone to handle the shop a good friend, but whatever you say,” you shrug, snickering after seeing the annoyed look on his face.

“Now you’re just twisting the story! Mind you, she’s the one who offers to treat me to lunch whenever I visit you, not the other way around…” Wooyoung whines once more, nearly making you laugh at his childish antics.

“You know, since she clearly cares for you more than she does for me, why not take over my shifts for the upcoming week? I could really use some rest,” you suggest, leaning forward as if forcing him to consider the idea. But Wooyoung only shoos you away, turning his head to the side while avoiding your gaze. “No can do, I’ve got dance lessons with Yeosang for the whole week. Schedule’s packed,” he deadpans, leaning his back against his seat.

“And you call yourself a good friend,” you jokingly sigh, shaking your head in disapproval. “You should totally join us sometime, though. I think you’ll like it there,” Wooyoung smiles at you, and the way it surprisingly looks genuine was what now had an eyebrow of yours arched. “What do you mean?”

“What I mean is that you’re really horrible at dancing and the heavens are begging for you to sneak dance lessons in your schedule.” Seeing the annoyed look on your face, Wooyoung huffs in triumph.

You stand up, slinging your bag on your shoulder while looking down at Wooyoung. “Don’t even dare to show up at the flower shop again starting from today,” you say, making a beeline to the doors without even looking back at Wooyoung, who was now scurrying over to catch up to you. “I was joking!”

Just as you opened the doors to step outside of the café, you nearly bump into a tall man who was heading inside. Looking back to apologize to the said person, you were met with the sight of Wooyoung briefly greeting the said man, making you wonder if they knew each other.

Wooyoung was struggling to find out whether he was supposed to push or pull, making you snicker as you yell from where you stood, “Catch up and I’ll forgive you!”

Two people from inside the cafe watch the scene unfold in amusement by the counter, one being an employee and the other being his friend who stopped by to visit. “Are your customers usually this chaotic?”

To which the man only laughs at, saying, “The girl is usually quiet when she comes here by herself, but whenever she tags her friend along with her, all hell always breaks loose.”

“You’ve got one hell of a job, Seonghwa.”

****

The flower shop is quiet in the evening, the only sounds to be heard being the faint sounds of your favorite song playing on your phone. Your grandmother had already headed home hours ago, and as Wooyoung said last weekend, his schedule for this week is entirely packed with dance lessons with Yeosang, which is why he can’t accompany you tonight, leaving you alone to tend to the shop for the rest of the night. It’s peaceful here, a sanctuary amid the day’s chaos, and you savor the tranquility as you wander through the aisles of blooming arrangements.

Closing time isn’t until 10 p.m., but it’s only 9 now, meaning you have some time to kill. The floral scents fill the air, each bouquet and arrangement contributing its own delicate fragrance. Half of them are your creations, while the others were lovingly crafted by your grandmother. You pause at the sight of a bouquet of gypsophila nestled at the very back of the shop, a recent addition, perhaps.

The sight of gypsophila brings back memories of your mother. Your grandmother once told you it had been her favorite flower, and her love for flowers was what pushed your grandmother into opening up this shop a year after her passing.

Your mother would always speak of how she wanted to build her own flower shop when she was young, a story that would never fail to bring tears to your eyes, despite the fact that you’ve been told of it multiple times already.

She had fallen ill when you were just seven years old, facing a battle with a disease that couldn’t be cured. Your financial situation had been tough, and your grandmother juggled multiple jobs to keep her daughter alive. Despite the hardships, your mother’s spirit remained bright, and she imparted her love of flowers to you. You remember her last words, spoken with tenderness.

“Continue my dream, my lily. Fill the world with the beauty of flowers, just like these. And remember, even when I’m not with you, my spirit will be there, like the soft touch of gypsophila in the air.”

Those words resonate deeply with you even up to this date, guiding your life choices and strengthening your passion for floristry. Your mother often compared you to a lily, symbolic of purity and beauty, and you hold on to that connection to her as you nurture the shop.

Your phone's notification ring echoes around the empty flower shop, pulling you away from your thoughts. You walk over to the counter and glance at the notification on your lock screen. It was a message from Wooyoung.

‎‎‎‎‎‎‎‎ㅤ‎‎‎‎‎‎‎‎ㅤ‎‎‎‎‎‎‎‎ㅤWooyoung: Dance lessons finished earlier than usual. Are you still at the flower shop? I'll be on my way if you are.

You check the wall clock above the counter. It was 9:24 p.m., giving you enough time to hang out with your best friend before you had to close the shop for the night. Looking back down at your phone, you quickly type out a response.

‎‎‎‎‎‎‎‎ㅤ‎‎‎‎‎‎‎‎ㅤ‎‎‎‎‎‎‎‎ㅤYou: Still here :)

After sending the message, you turn off your phone and let out a soft yawn. You couldn’t wait to get the day over with. Whenever Wooyoung stopped by the shop, he always brought your favorite food with him. It was an unspoken gesture that you always appreciated. Knowing he would arrive soon with food in hand, you return to your spot behind the counter and began tapping your finger lightly on the surface, patiently waiting for your friend to show up.

On the other side of the city was a boy who is in the same situation as yours. He was mopping the floor of the café, humming along with the song playing through the speakers when he heard the familiar jingle of the bells hanging above the door. He looks up with a smile as he saw who had entered.

“I thought your dance lessons usually end at 11 p.m.?” he asks, setting the mop aside for a moment. The boy sighs as he plops himself down on one of the café's couches. “They decided to call it a day earlier than usual. I’m not sure why, though,” he shrugs.

“You know what, Seonghwa? You should definitely tag along with me there sometimes,” he speaks up again, resting his elbow on the table with his chin in his palm.

Seonghwa chuckles. “Enough with that, Yunho. You know it’s been years since I last danced,” he says, lightly groaning as he stretches his back, which had been sore from mopping the floor for quite some time. His coworkers had already left, leaving him to finish up.

“That’s the point! You’re there to re-learn the basics, not to impress everyone with amazing dancing skills right off the bat,” Yunho replies matter-of-factly.

Seonghwa sighs, shaking his head. “Still not interested. Plus, our café will be holding an event soon. My schedule will be even busier than usual—you know I can’t sneak dance lessons into my routine.”

Yunho perks up at the mention of an occasion. “An event? What’s it for?”

“Valentine's Day,” Seonghwa explains. “We’ll all have to work overtime starting next week to prepare the decorations for the shop. We’re facing a bit of a challenge, though.”

"Why? What's the problem?" Yunho tilts his head, curious. Seonghwa sighs again. “We need to decorate the shop with flowers, but we don't know where to buy them in bulk.” Yunho remains silent for a few seconds, but the moment he finally spoke up, he did so with enthusiasm. “And if I tell you that I know where you can find them?”

Seonghwa eyes Yunho suspiciously. “Something tells me there’s a catch to this offer.” Yunho raises his hands in defense, a wide-eyed look on his face. “What? No! No catch at all.”

“You’re not going to make me attend your dance lessons in exchange for you telling me where I can buy flowers for our café’s upcoming event, are you?” Seonghwa raises an eyebrow, but Yunho only shook his head in response. “I wasn’t even thinking of anything! But, now that you mentioned it-”

“Don’t even dare.” Yunho raises his hands yet again, lips pursed as he nodded. “Got it, got it. How does giving me a 99% discount for everything I’ll purchase from your café for a whole week sound?” Yunho smiles, tilting his head as he leans closer, as if trying to convince Seonghwa to agree to his proposal.

“Saying you want a 99% discount is basically demanding to be given your orders with no charges,” was all Seonghwa said in response. “If you think about it, that’s kinda like the point.” Yunho shrugs. “So… are you in for it?”

Truth be told, covering for Yunho’s purchases does sound better than attending dance lessons Seonghwa was certain he really does not need. So, being left with no choice, all he could do was nod. “I hate how you always know how to play your cards right.”

Yunho grins in triumph, standing up. “You’ll always let yourself fall victim to it no matter what, anyway. That’s on you,” he looks at the wall clock of the café, noticing that it was now past 10 in the evening and Seonghwa’s shift was finally over.

“No I don’t-”

“-think you can get away with this!”

You were nearly out of breath, chasing Wooyoung in circles at the park nearby the flower shop. You’ve been doing this for about five minutes now, nearly forgetting the reason behind it in the first place.

When he first showed up in front of the shop’s transparent window doors with a box of donuts in his hand and a can of your favorite soda in the other, you were more than excited to let him in, a smile gracing both yours and his lips. You hung out inside as he sat on the surface of the counter, feet hanging off as they swung back and forth while he told you all about how his day went. It was how you both preferred to hang out, him doing all the talking while you sat back and listened attentively.

He loved being able to ramble on for hours on end, and you loved not having to talk as much, only having to listen quietly while throwing in short reactions in the middle of him telling stories every once in a while. You were both content with each other’s presence, and the atmosphere in the shop was nothing short of peaceful. It wasn’t until he absentmindedly reached for the last piece of donut inside the box, only realizing it was the one you loved the most the moment you gasped out of shock and the pastry was already far down his throat.

“I didn’t mean to! Cut me some slack, I can barely even feel my legs anymore!” Wooyoung yells, looking behind every now and then to check if the distance between both of you was growing wider or if you were drawing closer.

“Not until you say sorry!” you say in response. Wooyoung looks back once again, supposedly about to stop in his tracks and just allow you to catch up to him because he swears his legs will literally detach themselves from his body if he were to continue running for the next few seconds.

But he was met with the sight of an annoyed look on your face, and things took a turn for worse—for you, and for better—for him, as he pushes himself enough to quicken his pace even more. “Catch up and I’ll apologize!” he echoes your words from the day he chased you out of the café. The sound of him mischievously giggling while you struggled to match his pace made you even more annoyed, and at this point, you didn’t even want to catch up to him anymore. You just wanted to throw him off a cliff.

Suddenly, Wooyoung stopped in his tracks, making you do so as well. He was now facing you, catching his breath as he held his arms up in defeat. “Okay, okay! I give up-”

Wooyoung cut himself off, earning a confused glance from you as he looked behind you. “Hey, isn’t that your Mr. Pretty Boy over there? And that’s—Yunho?” he squinted, leaning his head forward. “Cut it out, Wooyoung. I’m not falling for your tricks,” you said, crossing your arms. “But I’m not! Look behind you!” he whisper-shouted, stealing a few glances at the two men behind you who were now inching closer as they walked side by side. “No way in hell-”

“Oh, Wooyoung?”

Looking behind to see who the person who just greeted your best friend was, you found yourself at a loss for words with your eyes comically widened over the sight you were met with.

It was Seonghwa, along with the man you almost bumped into earlier—the one Wooyoung greeted in the middle of struggling with opening the café’s doors.

You immediately turned your head back to Wooyoung, who was now looking at you with an ‘I told you so’ gaze. Your best friend’s attention was now taken away by the two men drawing closer to where you both stood.

As Seonghwa and Yunho approached, you couldn’t help but feel a rush of nervous energy coursing through you. You shifted slightly, feeling nervous. The last thing you expected was to cross paths with your crush in the middle of chasing your bestfriend for eating the last piece of donut you saved for last on purpose because it was your favorite.

Wooyoung and Yunho seem to have been talking about something, and you heard the words ‘dance lessons’ being thrown around here and there. You eventually figured out that Yunho goes to the same dance workshop Wooyoung attends, their brief interaction at the café last weekend now making perfect sense.

But you couldn’t find it in you to pay attention, their conversation going in one ear and out the other—not when the boy you’ve been crushing on hard for five months now was standing in the same space you were. The only thing you could focus on was trying to keep your composure and not make a fool out of yourself.

Yet all attempts to do so immediately crumbled down when he smiled briefly in your direction, catching you off guard. And for a moment, time seemed to slow as you locked eyes with him. His smile was warm, genuine, and it sent a flutter through your chest. You managed to return the smile, although you did so a bit awkwardly, before quickly averting your gaze, cheeks flushed in embarrassment.

As the conversation between Yunho and Wooyoung continued, you found yourself stealing glances at Seonghwa whenever you thought he wasn't looking. There was something captivating about him, something that drew you in despite your efforts to remain composed.

He wasn’t clad in the uniform he usually wore for work—this was something you noticed soon after taking note of how pretty he looked with his hair down. He wore a white dress shirt with its first two buttons undone, layered with a sleeveless dirty white knitted sweater on top. His pants were loose and in the same color as the apron that came along his uniform—chestnut brown. To top it all off, he wore white converse shoes, perfectly completing his look.

And here you were, thinking he couldn’t look even more beautiful than he already does.

When it was time for Yunho and Wooyoung to part ways, Seonghwa looked at you once more, giving you a small, polite wave. It was a simple gesture, but it sent a surge of warmth through you. You hesitated for a moment before raising your hand to return the wave, a shy smile creeping up on your lips. As Seonghwa turned to walk away with Yunho, you couldn't help but feel a sense of longing wash over you. The brief interaction had left you wanting more, craving the chance to get to know him better. But for now, all you could do was watch him go, still trying to process what on Earth just happened.

“You’re not slick,” Wooyoung snickering out of the blue dragged you out of your thoughts, and the first thing you see after snapping back to reality is your best friend wiggling his eyebrows while giving you a knowing look. “I saw that very, very clear, just so you know.”

“W-what?” Even though you knew what he was referring to, you couldn’t find it in you to come to terms with the fact that what happened was actually real and not just a fragment of your imagination—the living proof being Wooyoung and his teasing smile.

Wooyoung rolled his eyes, “You were looking at him like you were planning your wedding in your head! You were like,” he shifted, mimicking the way you were standing still with your hands intertwined in front of you, staring at him with stars in your eyes when he wasn’t looking, “and then when he waved at you, you were like,” he raised his hand, waving awkwardly with a shy smile on his face. “You couldn’t have been any more obvious!”

“I was not acting like that!” You placed your hand on your chest, a look of disbelief on your face. “Tell me you’re exaggerating right now. You’re lying, right? Like, I didn’t actually act like… that, right?”

“I’m not gonna tell you the false truth you wanna hear,” he said with a teasing grin, crossing his arms. “All you can do now is to hope he wasn’t being attentive earlier.”

“Oh God…” you sighed, dramatically crouching down on the ground with your hands covering your face. “This is the second time you’ve embarrassed yourself in front of him, you know. Remember when he told you to enjoy your order and you said-”

“Just stop!”

****

As the clock struck past closing time, the atmosphere in the café shifted from lively to quiet as the last lingering customers bid their farewells and the staff began their post-closing routines. Chairs were stacked, floors were swept, and the air was filled with the anticipation of the impending meeting. An hour later, the café was transformed into a makeshift conference room, with the tables pushed together to form a large communal workspace. The employees, along with their manager, gathered around, ready to discuss their plans for the upcoming Valentine’s Day event.

"Alright, everyone," she began, her voice commanding attention as everyone fell silent. “Valentine’s Day is fast approaching—we only have a month left to prepare, and we need to ensure that our café is ready to enchant our customers with romance. I know some of you may be thinking preparations seem far too advanced, but I’d rather start working early on than to rush things and end up making us look like we aren’t capable of doing any better. Any ideas for what we can do in order to achieve our goal?”

“How about we switch things up and focus on creating a cozy atmosphere?” suggested one of the employees. “We could set up small seating areas with plush cushions and warm lighting, perfect for couples looking for a quiet spot to enjoy their coffee. Maybe even hang up fairy lights or something.”

“I like that idea! We could also offer special dessert pairings, like chocolate fondue or dessert platters,” another chimed in, their voice filled with excitement. “It’ll give our customers a chance to indulge in some sweet treats while they soak in the romantic ambiance.”

“We could also set up a photo booth corner with props and backdrops," one employee said, leaning forward as they began to explain their idea further. “It’ll give our customers a fun way to capture memories and share them on social media—which could also be a way to promote our café, if you catch my drift.”

“And to add a personal touch, why don’t we encourage customers to write notes to each other as the last part of the event?" another employee proposed. “We could provide stationery and pens, and then display the notes around the café. It’ll spread love and positivity throughout the space.”

“I’ll make sure to keep your ideas in mind. Now, as we discussed in our group chat last week,” the manager said, looking up from the notepad she wrote everyone’s ideas on, “we want to incorporate flowers into our décor to enhance the romantic atmosphere. Have any of you been able to find a supplier?”

With the sudden opening of the discussion regarding the manager’s idea to decorate the café with flowers, everyone fell silent—a clear indicator that the answer was clearly a no. Despite the manager’s earlier directive, no one had been successful in finding a supplier for the flowers they needed. Just as the manager was about to let out a disappointed sigh, their youngest employee, who hadn’t muttered out a single word so far, raised his hand, making everyone look towards where he sat.

“I, um, I have, but…” he wasn’t even finished talking yet, but a smile was already gracing the manager’s lips. “Is that so, Seonghwa? Tell us about it! We’re all ears,” she grinned, and the other employees glanced at him with a hopeful smile, as he was their only saving grace that could prevent their manager from firing them all.

“My friend told me about it a week ago, but he said I’d have to cover his expenses for everything he’ll be purchasing here for an entire week before he gives me the location. It’s only Wednesday today, so he won’t fulfill his end of the deal until Saturday…” he trailed off, giving his manager an apologetic smile. “Oh, why didn’t you say so sooner! Do you think it’s possible for him to give away the location now if you tell him his expenses will be covered by us—you as an exception, for the rest of the year?” she smiled, but Seonghwa’s eyes were quick to widen at the suggestion. “A-A whole year? I don’t think that’s…”

But one of his co-workers immediately agreed with their manager’s suggestion, not wanting to lose their job that paid them well enough to survive a day just yet. “Yeah! We’ll, uh… we’ll pay for all of his orders for as long as he wants!” they regretted saying those words as soon as it slipped out of their mouth, but they didn’t have it in them to take it back now.

“See? Even your co-workers agree. Now, why don’t you try ringing up this friend of yours?” Seonghwa believes the idea of paying for Yunho’s orders for an entire year sounds absolutely absurd, but he couldn’t bring himself to disagree when everyone gathered around the table was looking at him with hopeful gazes. Seonghwa’s phone rang for about a few seconds while everyone waited patiently, and after dialing Yunho for the third time, he finally answered the call. “Seonghwa? What’s up?”

He wasted no time in getting to the point, wanting everyone to take their eyes off of him as soon as possible. “Would you be willing to fulfill your end of the deal right now if I tell you all your purchases from the café will be covered by my manager and co-workers for the rest of the year?” Yunho went silent for a few seconds, as if trying to process Seonghwa’s proposal. “Okay, now, hold on—where is this coming from? Are you being held at gunpoint?” Technically, yes.

“What? No, just answer the question, please.”

“I’m starting to doubt if you really know me because first of all, why should you even be asking me that? You know I’ll never turn such a good offer down. I mean, a whole year? Come on, that’s like heaven on Earth!” With the positive response from Yunho, everyone let themselves loose, letting out a breath they had no idea they were holding.

“I’ll take that as a yes, then,” Seonghwa replied. “I’ll text you the location. Does that sound good?” Yunho asked, and Seonghwa didn’t even take the time to respond, immediately hanging up on him. “The deal is sealed,” Seonghwa playfully saluted, as everyone started praising him for saving their jobs without even realizing it. “Great! Just forward the location to me once you receive it from him. You can all go home now,” she smiled at everyone, who stood up one by one, returning the chairs to their respective places, packing their things afterwards.

As Seonghwa made his way home, the weight of the day’s events hung heavy on his mind. The responsibility of securing the flower supplier for the café’s event had unexpectedly fallen on his shoulders, but he couldn’t help but feel a sense of pride knowing he had come through for his team. Lost in his thoughts, Seonghwa was startled when his phone buzzed in his pocket. Pulling it out, he saw a couple of notifications from Yunho.

‎‎‎‎‎‎‎‎ㅤ‎‎‎‎‎‎‎‎ㅤ‎‎‎‎‎‎‎‎ㅤYunho: The flower shop’s located at 1117 Paradigm Street.

The first message was the address Seonghwa had been eagerly waiting for. Upon reading the next messages Yunho sent within the same minute, a soft smile crept up on Seonghwa’s lips.

‎‎‎‎‎‎‎‎ㅤ‎‎‎‎‎‎‎‎ㅤ‎‎‎‎‎‎‎‎ㅤYunho: Dance lessons for the day will last way past 11. It’s by choice, though, so don’t worry.

‎‎‎‎‎‎‎‎ㅤ‎‎‎‎‎‎‎‎ㅤ‎‎‎‎‎‎‎‎ㅤWanna stop by and wait for me? We can hang out at my apartment afterwards.

It had been a long day for Seonghwa, so the idea of spending time with his friend to unwind and release all the stress he had bottled up for the whole day brought him a sense of comfort.

‎‎‎‎‎‎‎‎ㅤ‎‎‎‎‎‎‎‎ㅤ‎‎‎‎‎‎‎‎ㅤSeonghwa: Sure :)

Minutes later, he was now standing in front of the building where the dance lessons Yunho attends were held. He stuffed his hands inside the pockets of his dark brown coat, lightly shivering due to the cold air of the evening. The building had a sign that says “KQ Fellaz” atop the doors, the lights of the first letter slightly flickering. Tapping his foot on the ground, he looked around, patiently waiting for Yunho. Visitors were prohibited from entering the building alone, hence why he had to remain frozen where he stood until Yunho would fetch him.

The doors in front of him opened, revealing Yunho, who was nearly soaked in his own sweat. Do they not take breaks in the middle of their lessons? “You’re a little earlier than I expected,” he managed to let out, although he did so with huffs in between. Clearly, he was still trying to catch his breath.

“Jesus, are you alright? You look like you just ran five laps in a row,” Seonghwa chuckled, not used to seeing Yunho in such a state because he’s the one who’d always visit Seonghwa at the café after his dance lessons, and not the other way around. “Think of it as having to interact with customers by the counter continuously for a whole day,” he shrugged. “Oh. It’s that bad, huh?” Seonghwa replied, to which Yunho only sighed. “See? Now you get me.”

Stepping aside to let Seonghwa in, Yunho closed the doors behind both of them once Seonghwa had entered the building. “So…”

“So?” Seonghwa tilted his head, taking his hands out of his pockets to put his hair up with the tie on his wrist. “Were you being for real earlier? Like, you know, the whole thing about covering for my purchases for a whole year?”

“You heard it loud and clear earlier already, Yunho. My manager was dead serious—she doesn’t play around when it comes to her business, so I guess it makes perfect sense for her to just air out such a proposal so casually just so you’d give me the location of the flower shop you were talking about a few days ago.” Seonghwa shrugged, the sound of his and Yunho’s footsteps echoing through the empty hall of the building.

The atmosphere surrounding them was peaceful, yet the building’s practice room, which was now only a few steps away from where they were at, was the complete opposite. Even from a fair distance away, they could hear the distinct yelling and laughter from inside the room.

“What?! What do you mean ‘Modern Seoul Gracias’? What are you even talking about?!” Wooyoung yelled, not even being able to hear his own voice regardless of how loud it was due to the song playing through the headphones he was wearing that Yeosang set on full volume.

“No, no! Pay attention, you dummy! This is a place people often visit during weekends!” you yelled back even louder, saying each word slowly so Wooyoung could read your lips. From behind him, Yeosang held up a piece of paper with the words ‘amusement park’ written on it. You and Wooyoung had been stuck on this round for a while now, and what’s worse is he had to guess 5 words within 5 minutes—you only had a minute left.

“My… what? What does that even mean?! What on Earth is the keyword for you to be describing it like that?!” The look of frustration on both your faces was evident, making Yeosang burst into a fit of laughter.

Your grandmother decided to let you off your duties for the day, hence why you decided to tag along with Wooyoung on his dance lessons. Fortunately for you, a few familiar faces other than your best friend’s were around, namely Yeosang and the guy named Yunho who happens to be a mutual friend of Wooyoung and Seonghwa, making you feel a little less awkward inside the crowded space.

The field wasn’t really something of your expertise, so all you did for the day was record their practice performances for them and head in and out every now and then to buy them some snacks so you could at least offer a little bit of help. The rest left the building earlier at 10 in the evening already, but Wooyoung, Yunho, and Yeosang chose to stay overtime—you don’t know why, but you promised Wooyoung you’ll spend the whole day with him today to make up for not being able to hang out with him for a short while, so you had no choice but to stay longer as well.

At first, the three of them were just practicing some of their choreographies while you sat on the floor at the very back as you browsed the internet, but one thing led to another, and Wooyoung ended up suggesting the idea of playing the infamous Whisper Game. He, of course, chose to pair up with you, while the opposing team consisted of Yunho and Yeosang.

Yunho and Yeosang were kind enough to let you and Wooyoung play first, but their willingness to step down and offer a gesture of kindness has been proved to be completely useless, seeing how your team has barely even made any progress. “Pass, pass! I can’t do this one anymore!” he yelled, stomping his foot on the ground twice in frustration. “We’re not allowed to pass! You proposed that rule earlier before we started playing, remember?” Wooyoung, however, thought you were still trying to describe your given keyword to him, making him shake his head quickly with his brows furrowed.

“Get it over with! I can’t-”

The door swung open all of a sudden, and even though neither you or Wooyoung heard it, the door was near enough where you were for you to be able to see it in your peripheral vision. However, what you weren’t expecting was your eyes to lay upon Yunho with another person trailing behind him.

The world—for you, at least, came to a stop, and suddenly, the loud music from the headphones you wore no longer rang in your ears. You found yourself in a temporary state of shock, the day seeming to have done a 180 out of nowhere. Behind him was none other than Seonghwa, and God did he look even more ethereal than you can last recall.

The long coat he wore was shrugged off his shoulders, revealing the fitted black turtleneck he wore underneath. His pants were of the same color, and the reflection of the lights on the practice room’s roof shone perfectly on his shoes.

“You still haven’t gone past that word?” Yunho said, though it was more of a statement than a question—the answer was already laid out in front of him, anyway. Yeosang knew both you and Wooyoung couldn’t hear him, so he took it upon himself to speak on your behalf. “I’d say it’s Wooyoung’s fault. He’s been reading her lips incorrectly the whole time,” he said, laughing afterwards.

“By the way, time’s up! Congratulations for scoring zero points,” he followed, taking off Wooyoung’s headphones for him, while you remained in a trance, blanked out while staring into the depths of nowhere. Wooyoung stood up, walking towards you while waving his hands in front of your face. “Hello? Earth to my best friend?” he said, having to repeat it a couple more times before he got tired and straight up flicked your forehead, making you flinch as you hurriedly took the headphones off your head, hanging them on your neck. “Ow! What the hell?!”

“Game’s over! We scored zero points,” he said casually, as if the prize on the line for the winners wasn’t a whole pack of what just happened to be your favorite food. Soon enough, a frown has already made its way to your face. Being all too familiar with the expression you held, Wooyoung was quick to throw his hands up in the air, an apologetic look on his face. “I’m sorry, okay?! I genuinely had no idea what you were saying!

“Then maybe you should’ve considered suggesting a different game—one you aren’t absolutely horrible at.” Yunho and Yeosang watched in amusement, while Seonghwa remained curious, trying to figure out whether you two were actually arguing or if this is simply how your friendship goes.

“Do they normally…?”

“Yeah.”

Meanwhile, Wooyoung was still trying to find a way to receive your forgiveness. “I’ll just stop by the convenience store near my apartment and I’ll buy you a whole pack—two, even! Just forgive me and don’t get rid of my free food privileges at your grandmother’s shop!”

“No can do, Woo. You promised me you’d win the prize for us! That’s so, so different from buying it from some convenience store down the street, you know?” Wooyoung knew you were just messing around, yet he failed to notice you were doing it on purpose to get him to play the game all over again just so you didn’t have to head home early and miss the opportunity to be in the same space as Seonghwa.

“Okay, look, I’ll just,” Wooyoung turned around, facing the three men who were watching you two bicker just now, locking his eyes with Seonghwa, who stared back at him with brows slightly raised in curiosity. “Seonghwa, right? Do you know how to play the Whisper Game?”

What?

“Me? Oh, yeah, I’m pretty decent at it, I guess,” he responded, nodding. You, however, watched the scene unfold with widened eyes. Your plan did work, but at what cost? Was Wooyoung going to ask him to-

“Can you take my place for tonight? I mean, if you haven’t already noticed from my bestfriend’s glares, I’m really, really terrible at it, and clearly, she values the prize more than she does with me,” he explained, making Seonghwa chuckle lightly at the last part. You, however, were quick to interject with Wooyoung’s idea, knowing there was no way you’d be able to focus on the goal of winning if Seonghwa were to be your partner for the game. “What? No, that’s… that’s not necessary. Woo, we could just try again-”

“Sure thing,” Seonghwa slid between your words with a soft smile on his face, immediately shutting you up. Even though Wooyoung was facing away from you, you could still feel the sinister smile on his face begging to be released.

Wooyoung took the headphones off his neck, giving it to Seonghwa as he stepped aside so he could sit down on the chair facing you from a fair distance across the room. Trying your best not to melt down to the ground right there and then, you held back the urge to glare daggers right into where Wooyoung was standing, replacing it with a sarcastic smile instead, making your bestfriend lightly flinch—he was not going to get away with this.

“Are you ready?” Seonghwa asked, looking at your face to search for any signs of discomfort as he patiently waited for your response while holding a soft grip on the headphones hanging off his neck. It was most likely due to the fact that you always have your heart-shaped glasses on whenever he’s in the same space as you are—you were well aware of that, but part of you hopes you weren’t just being delusional over thinking his voice softening ever so slightly when he spoke to you was intentional.

“Yeah, um, I’m good,” you slipped a small chuckle in the middle of your words, the sound of it coming off awkward being completely unintentional—to be fair, anyone would be nervous as well if they were to be put in your shoes, so who’s to say it wouldn’t have happened with other people?

“Why don’t we switch it up this time? I’ll give Seonghwa the keyword instead,” Yeosang chimed in, walking around the room to stand behind where you sat. “Is that alright with you guys?” To which you all agreed.

There was never any specific category you all agreed to follow before playing, so Yeosang let his mind wander as freely as possible while thinking of a word to scribble on the blank paper he held in his hands. Wooyoung, Yunho, and Seonghwa watched him in both curiosity and anticipation as he started writing on the paper, while all you could do was stare down on the ground and fiddle with the hem of your sweater. It’s not like you could look behind you, anyway, and neither do you have enough courage to stare right into Seonghwa’s eyes.

“Okay, here we go,” Yeosang announced, holding the paper up for everyone except you to see. The word, scribbled in Yeosang’s handwriting, was “The Gingerbread Man.”

Wooyoung's jaw dropped, crouching down while the sounds of his hysterical laughter and his claps echoed all over the room. “No way!” Yunho chuckled, shaking his head in amusement. “This is going to be one hell of a round,” he said, his laughter joining Wooyoung’s in a chorus of amusement.

Seonghwa, however, had his eyes widened in disbelief as he scanned the word. “You’ve… got to be kidding me,” he muttered under his breath, running his hands through his hair. “How on Earth am I going to describe this?” he muttered, more to himself than anyone else. His brow furrowed in concentration, trying to come up with a plan.

“Hey, it’s a word that’s pretty easy to guess,” Yunho offered him some encouragement, patting him on his shoulder, “it’s just hard to describe. Well, not really, but you get what I mean.”

Meanwhile, you watched the scene unfold with growing nerves, your heart pounding in your chest as you anticipated what was to come. You weren’t sure how to feel about the variety of reactions. From Seonghwa’s reaction alone, you could already tell the word given to him was a difficult one. As he began to describe the word, you quickly realized just how difficult this was going to be. Seonghwa stumbled over his words, struggling to find a way to explain the complex term without making it too easy or too hard. His brow furrowed in concentration as he tried to come up with the perfect description.

“It’s like... something you often see during Christmas,” Seonghwa started, his voice hesitant as he searched for the right words. He glanced at you briefly, his eyes filled with uncertainty, before continuing with his description. “A see-through crisis… What?” you replied, brows furrowed in confusion while you tried to read his lips. “No, no! It’s often seen during Christmas,” he repeated, this time speaking more slowly than before. “It’s, like… ah, how do I…” he sighed, staring above the ceiling while trying to come up with an effective description.

Wooyoung couldn’t contain his laughter, rolling on the ground as he clutched his stomach. “This is gold!” he exclaimed between breaths, his laughter echoing through the room. He wiped tears of laughter from his eyes, struggling to catch his breath as he continued to laugh uncontrollably.

“A see-through crisis? What does that even mean?” Yunho said, his laughter contagious as he joined Wooyoung down on the floor. He placed his hands down on the surface for support, his laughter mingling with Wooyoung’s as they both struggled to catch their breaths. Seonghwa sighed in frustration as he struggled to find the right words. “I have no idea how to describe this,” he admitted, his voice tinged with defeat. But even his frustration couldn’t dampen the mood, and soon enough, everyone was laughing along with him.

“No, no, come on, you’ve got this! Just come up with whatever you can, and I’ll try my best to make a word out of it!”

Maybe it was because you were getting too lost in the moment, or perhaps it was because you really wanted to win the prize. Eitherway, you failed to notice the fact that you were no longer acting so awkward and bashful around Seonghwa like you usually would.

Wooyoung didn’t, though. And maybe that’s why he was no longer laughing, instead just focused on both you and Seonghwa trying your best to guess the keyword correctly with amusement filling his eyes, grinning while doing so—he was definitely never going to let you hear the end of it after this.

Seonghwa took a deep breath, determined to give it one more shot. “Okay, let’s try this again,” he said, his voice more determined this time. He squared his shoulders, steeling himself for the challenge ahead as he prepared to make one final attempt.

“He’s leaning forward now!” Yeosang pointed out, slapping his knees while laughing. “He’s like those dads leaning forward with their elbows on their knees the moment the basketball game they’re watching on the television comes near the final stretch,” Yunho followed his commentary, leaning to the side after Wooyoung slapped his shoulder playfully over his remark.

“Okay, okay, it’s like... it’s edible, and it can be made through baking. Edible, can be baked.” Seonghwa's brows furrowed in concentration as he tried to articulate his thoughts, but his vague descriptions only left you more confused. “Edited by a candidate…?” you whispered, turning to the others for help. But their faces only mirrored your confusion, refusing to lend you a hand, leaving you feeling even more lost.

Yunho chuckled, shaking his head. “I think he’s just as lost as she is,” he joked, earning a laugh from Wooyoung and Yeosang. Seonghwa sighed in frustration, running a hand through his hair as he tried to regroup. “Okay, okay, let me try again. He’s a little guy who’s edible.” he tried, his voice faltering as he struggled to find the right words.

But as you tried to decipher his words, you found yourself completely off track, misinterpreting his descriptions in the most absurd ways possible. “A little time for enigma?” you guessed, earning a round of laughter from the others. Seonghwa blinked in confusion, his lips quirking up in a small smile despite his frustration. “Uh, no, that’s not quite it,” he chuckled, shaking his head.

As the game progressed, Seonghwa's descriptions became more refined, each one inching closer to helping you unravel the mystery of the keyword. With each new attempt, you found yourself getting closer to understanding, the pieces slowly falling into place.

"It's like, okay, it’s edible, often seen during Christmas, and takes up the form of a little guy,” Seonghwa’s voice was more confident now, his eyes alight with determination as he tried to guide you towards the answer. Well, realistically speaking, he’s only been giving you the same description for the whole time—the only thing that differs each of them from one another being the arrangement of words. You furrowed your brows, mulling over his words carefully. “Christmas, edible, little guy…” you murmured to yourself, trying to make sense of it all.

And then, it clicked.

“Oh my God. Please don’t tell me it’s The Gingerbread Man,” you deadpan. Seonghwa’s eyes lit up with joy, a wide grin spreading across his face. “Yes! That’s it!” he cheered, his voice filled with pride as he nodded enthusiastically. With a rush of adrenaline, you tore off your headphones and stood up, turning around to see Yeosang holding up the paper with the word “The Gingerbread Man” written on it. The sight only fueled your excitement further, and you couldn’t help but let out a triumphant laugh.

“Whoa, they actually got it!” Wooyoung exclaimed, his eyes wide with disbelief as he exchanged stunned looks with Yunho and Yeosang. The room erupted into cheers and applause, everyone celebrating the unexpected victory. As the cheers and laughter filled the room, Seonghwa’s eyes sparkled with joy. Caught up in the excitement of victory, he turned to you with a beaming smile, his hand raised for a congratulatory high five.

Without a second thought, you mirrored his gesture, reaching out to meet his hand with yours. But as you were too lost in the moment, already thinking of eating the prize once you get home, your fingers intertwined with his, the touch sending a jolt of electricity through your veins. Seonghwa’s expression softened, a hint of surprise flickering in his eyes at the unexpected connection. Yet, instead of pulling away, he gently tightened his grip, intertwining his fingers with yours. Seeing others happy had always been his personal source of joy.

For a fleeting moment, time seemed to stand still as you both stood there, excitedly shaking both your hands while they remained within one another’s grasp. It wasn’t until you caught a glimpse of Wooyoung’s teasing glance in the blurry background of your vision.

A warm flush crept up your cheeks as you finally became aware of the intimate gesture, wasting no time to let his hands go. But before you could muster a response, Seonghwa's smile widened, his eyes crinkling at the corners with genuine warmth. “Great job! I didn’t think you’d actually get it, since, I was, like, really bad at coming up with descriptions, you know,” Seonghwa chuckled, rubbing his nape sheepishly.

“What? No, I, it was probably on me—I mean, I literally misread your lips so many times. Great, now I feel bad for yelling at Wooyoung when he made the exact same mistake earlier…” you trailed off as your gaze found its way to your best friend, who was still looking at you and Seonghwa teasingly, this time with both his eyebrows wriggling.

Seonghwa laughed, the sound echoing in your ears, leaving you in a trance for a fleeting moment. How come even his laugh is so beautiful? At this point, you were certain the heavens above took their time with him.

You and Seonghwa looked around, noticing that Wooyoung and Yunho were now the ones seated on the chairs facing each other. It seems like their turn to play the game has finally arrived, and instead of a word, they had to guess a proverb.

As you both turned your gaze to Yeosang who was standing behind Yunho, you waited in anticipation for what he was going to write—bursting in a fit of laughter the moment he held the paper up, the words “a bird in the hand is worth two in the bush” written on it. Normally, it would be easy to describe it for anyone else, but you knew your best friend well enough to be sure he was not going to be able to describe it correctly to Yunho. This time, you both chose to let them have a moment of their own, being kind enough not to distract them unlike how they did with you earlier.

“You know, I was supposed to ask you this question earlier, but I was unexpectedly caught up in the whirlwind of your game, so I couldn’t…” Seonghwa spoke up all of a sudden, leaving you hanging off his words in curiosity. “Oh? What is it?”

“I might be mistaken, but… you’re the girl my co-workers claim as our café’s most loyal customer, right?” he asked, head tilting to the side slightly as a strand of his long hair got carried along, framing the middle of his face. God, must he really have a face people would go to war for?

Your eyes widened slightly at the mention of the nickname, finding it unexpected. “That’s what they call me?” you asked, a smile finding its way to your lips, with Seonghwa mirroring it with one of his own after hearing your answer. “Oh, so it is you.”

“Anyway, to answer your question, it’s a yes. My duty lies in the back kitchen, so I’m not really updated on who visits our café the most and who doesn’t, but they talk about you a lot, especially during the after-hours of work,” he replied.

“Oh, really?”

You weren’t exactly good at everything, and there’s a fair amount of things you were absolutely horrible at. If you were to be asked to list them all down, lying would definitely hog the first spot. Not only did your attempt to sound like you had no idea he works in the back kitchen as if you haven’t had your eyes on him for months on end now come off as you only pretending to be interested, your blank facial expression—which, in your defense, is an attempt to act clueless of the “newfound” knowledge beforehand, also ended up not being able to offer any help.

Afraid to rub off the wrong impression on Seonghwa, you were quick to steer away and focus on another thing that’s remotely related to the topic at hand. Opting to start talking about the café itself instead and neither the workers nor the customers, you picked back up on your words, the sound of Wooyoung’s laughter blending in the background.

“You know, the reason why I visit the café often is because it’s only a few steps away from my apartment. Not only that, everything you guys offer in the menu just never seems to miss, too,” you smiled, searching his gaze for any signs of whether you had successfully driven his attention away from your terrible response earlier or not. Seeing the way his eyes started to look like they were sparkling, you sneakily let out a breath of relief. “Really? That must be nice… There aren’t really any cafés near where I live—in fact, the one where I’m working is the closest a café can get for me,” Seonghwa jokingly put on an angry expression, making you laugh.

He didn’t have to know you did so not because he looked funny, yet rather because you found it adorable how the front of his eyebrows had risen ever so slightly with his cheeks puffed along with his nose scrunching.

“But you don’t really have to live near a café when you already work at one, don’t you? Makes me wonder if you’ve ever taken wrong orders with you on your way home,” you teased, although a bit hesitant—afraid he’d get the wrong impression and assume you were being passive aggressive somehow. Much to your fortune, he laughed at your comment, holding up both his hands in the air. “Guilty as charged,” he joked, playing along with your antics.

Mulling over the topic at hand, a question suddenly appeared in your mind. And as if Seonghwa noticed it immediately with the way your eyes widened ever so slightly, he tilted his head to the side, asking, “Something on your mind?”

“Were there ever times you got your customers’ orders wrong on purpose just so you could indirectly make yourself a drink without having to pay for it?” you asked, hoping it didn’t sound like you were making accusations. Yet, to your surprise, you were met with the sight of Seonghwa in a state of disbelief. “How’d you know?” he said, making you mirror his expression. “No way! You’ve actually done it before?”

“Done it before? Please, I do it all the time,” he said with a smug look on his face, yet was quick to take it back, “I mean, well, I mean, not all the time, because, like, that’s kind of evil, you know, but like-” Seonghwa gave up in explaining himself, putting his hands up in defeat once more. “Okay, fine, maybe I do. But in my defense-”

“I’ve got it! I’ve got it! I’ve got it!”

The sound of Wooyoung chanting like his life depends on it and proceeding to throw away his chair across the other side of the room along with Yunho yelling in victory cut your conversation short, both you and Seonghwa immediately turning your heads to Yeosang, who looked at you with an expression just as bewildered as yours.

“Don’t ask me, I don’t know either,” he mouthed, letting out a sound of surprise when Wooyoung and Yunho suddenly lifted him up and started throwing him in the air back and forth. Exchanging concerned glances with Seonghwa, both of you were certain that from this point onwards, it was going to take you two a lot more time to calm your bestfriends’ energies down. Can the night take any longer to go away?

****

You were shocked, to say the least.

Well, in much more… realistic terms, it’d be better to use the term ‘annoyed’. It all started earlier in the morning, when your grandmother called you just when you were about to take a 5 minute nap after your alarm woke you up, telling you that you were going to have to work overtime for the following weeks. It would’ve been the trigger for your sour mood long ago, but at this point, you were already used to being greeted by such announcements.

You were certain it was most likely because she was planning on taking a break from work and letting you handle everything for a while as she gets her well-deserved rest, so you didn’t really mind it at first, immediately telling her “alright, got it,” before she could even finish speaking.

What you weren’t expecting was the bomb she had dropped down on you just now as you both indulge in a conversation regarding your work by the counter.

“You mean I need to make how much of what in how many days because it’s due when exactly?” you bombarded her with questions, leaning forward from outside the counter as you rested your shoulders on its surface while staring at your grandmother who stood inside the counter in disbelief, your expression growing more frustrated after each inquiry spoken. Great—just when you thought the gods will be nice enough to grant you a peaceful week for once.

Your grandmother held your hand laying down on the surface, looking at you with an apologetic gaze. “I’m sorry, dear, but I really wasn’t expecting it either. She only came in last night during your rest day and told me everything about what she wanted to happen and wanted us to do a minute before the shop was supposed to close, and she seemed to have been in a rush just as I was to close the shop. It seemed like it’s an urgent matter, so I couldn’t turn her down…”

Snapping back to reality and realizing that perhaps you were being a little too dramatic, you were quick to shake your head, placing your other hand down on hers. “No, no, grandma, I’m not upset at you, you don’t have to apologize. It’s just… who exactly is this person, and why did they only visit our shop now that the deadline for whatever they need our services for is nearing and not when they could’ve done so in advance?”

Your grandmother furrowed her brows, a puzzled expression crossing her face as she tried to recall the details of her conversation with the manager from the previous night. "Hmm, let me think... She mentioned something about being the manager of a café, but I'm afraid I can't quite remember the name of the place. My memory's not what it used to be, you know.”

With the mention of a café, your mind instinctively drifted off to Seonghwa—perhaps it was because you haven’t seen him for quite a while now.

For the past few weeks, you couldn’t exactly say you were in a good state. The reason why your grandmother has been taking care of the shop all by herself lately is because she refuses to let you work—not when you were severely ill. Each day felt longer to you than it usually would, as the only things that have been keeping you entertained within the confines of your apartment were your phone and Wooyoung himself.

Not a day during the time you were sick felt enjoyable to you, especially since Wooyoung was the one who had been taking care of you through it all. Sure, you appreciate the gesture more than he believes, but you couldn’t exactly say his countless amounts of teasing you for being ‘born with a respiratory system that wouldn’t survive a horror house’ weren’t annoying. It didn’t help that you couldn’t see Seonghwa for three weeks straight, either. Ever since you got sick, all you could think of was every interaction that happened between both of you that night when you chose to accompany Wooyoung with his dance lessons. You couldn’t get him off your mind.

From the way his brows were furrowed ever so slightly while trying to describe the keyword given to him to you, to the way his hands squeezed yours for about two times at most when you were both celebrating your victory—all of it.

Snapping back to reality after hearing the shop’s door open, you were quick to compose yourself and greet the customer who came in, before turning your attention back to your grandmother. “That’s okay, Grandma. Do you remember anything else she said?”

Your grandmother tapped her chin thoughtfully, her eyes scanning the ceiling as she searched her memory. “Well, she barely gave me a chance to ask any questions before she started laying out her plans for the Valentine’s Day event they’re hosting. Apparently, they want to go all out with the decorations this year, and she thought our shop would be the perfect fit to sponsor the flowers.”

“And did she mention anything about why she waited until the eleventh hour to ask for our help?” you asked, both your curiosity and annoyance getting the better of you. Your grandmother frowned, her brow furrowing in thought. “Not really,” she admitted. “She was so focused on getting everything organized that she didn’t offer much in the way of explanation. But I got the sense that she’s under a lot of pressure to make their event a success.”

You sighed, massaging your temple. You had just recovered from your illness, yet it already feels like it’s crawling its way back to your senses. “Alright, um…” you trailed off, trying to think of how to proceed with the situation at hand.

Suddenly, your grandmother’s face brightened as a memory surfaced in her mind. “Ah, I almost forgot! She did leave me something before she rushed out.” With a sense of urgency, she rummaged through a drawer under the counter, finally pulling out a crumpled piece of paper. She smoothed it out carefully before placing it on the counter for you to see. “This is what she left me,” she explained, pointing to the phone number scrawled on the paper. “She said she was in a hurry and couldn’t specify which café she manages or where the event would be held. So, she asked me to call her today so we could discuss the details properly.”

“Huh…” you hummed, lost in thought as you looked at what was written on the crumpled paper. “Well, why don’t we call her now? The sooner we start, the sooner we can get this whole thing over with.”

“No, no, I’ll do it myself, dear. I’ll just let you know of all the details later. For the meantime, help out that customer over there,” she said, pointing to a man with split-dyed hair wearing a black leather jacket who was scanning the rows and columns of various bouquets sprawled out in front of him, “he looks like he needs a little assistance.”

You smiled, pushing yourself off the counter. “Got it,” you said, playfully saluting before heading towards the aforementioned man at the corner of the shop. “Would you like some assistance, sir?” you asked politely to grab his attention as he turned his head behind to look at you. “Oh, uh, yeah… Do you have any suggestions on which bouquet in this section would be best to give to my girlfriend for Valentine’s Day? They all look beautiful, but I don’t know which one to choose…”

Ah, that’s right.

Valentine’s Day, the sweet old event held annually every February 14th you never had a chance to participate in. With all the heavy workload and life burdens you’ve been carrying on your shoulder lately, you didn’t even realize the said day was fast approaching. Just a day ago, when you were taking a stroll around the city, couples were all over the place—not too much of a rare occurrence, yet it was strange all the same—you thought you were going crazy and were just seeing different versions of the same couple everywhere. Now, it makes perfect sense.

You wonder if Seonghwa has a date planned with someone for Valentine’s day, too. It would be funny if he were to suddenly enter the flower shop asking you the same question Mr. Cruella De Vil had asked just now—the humorous effect of it would definitely wear off later in the evening if it were to actually happen and you’ll most likely end up curled up in your blanket with tears in your eyes, but hey, it would definitely be a fun story to tell Wooyoung about.

“Well, let’s see…” you trailed off, scanning the bouquet flowers presented in front of you. “I think it would be pretty basic if you were to just pick one of these. I mean, think about it. What are the odds that another girl or guy out there already has this in their room?” you said, pointing to some random bouquet.

“Like, 7.5/10?” the man answered, his face looking as if he was actually thinking your little subtle marketing strategy through. “Exactly. That’s more than 5, which means you definitely shouldn’t be opting for any bouquets displayed here in this aisle.”

“Don’t you think it’d be better if you, perhaps,” you spread your arm to gesture to the little synthetic decorations of varying flowers by the counter, “search up different flowers and their meanings and choose the ones with a description that matches your partner’s vibe the most? And then onward, I’ll take care of the rest and make sure I’ll be able to compile them and turn them into a beautiful bouquet as soon as possible.”

He seemed to have been lost in thought for at least a few seconds, making you second-guess whether you were promoting your business correctly or if all you were actually doing was blowing his socks off out of pure fear, yet all your worries fell silent the moment a smile started to form itself on the corners of his lips, “I’d like that. That sounds like something she would definitely appreciate.”

****

The wall clock on top of the counter has once again hit the after-hours of work. The bells hung on top of the café’s doors keep clashing with each other each moment another fellow employee of Seonghwa calls it a day and heads out, their need for a rest as clear as day with the way their voices would sound as if they’ve just finished carrying the weight of the whole world on their shoulders. Face buried in his palms with his hair all disheveled, Seonghwa left the counter and dragged his feet against his will to one of the couches, laying on his back on its soft surface, initiating eye contact with the warm fairy lights hung by the ceiling.

He found himself lost in thought, trying to decipher why exactly the past few days have felt so flavorless and dull for him. He doesn’t even know when or how it started—one minute, he was just playing video games on Yunho’s PC, then the next thing he knew was suddenly he needed a thousand years of rest, away from everything. He knows it’s normal for people to feel down out of nowhere for no reason at all, but it wasn’t the same case for him, not when he doesn’t usually find himself struggling with such a feeling. Out of all the times he could’ve felt it, like when he once had to balance 4 jobs at once just so he wouldn’t find his things in a trash bag outside his door with a note from his landlord way before he started working at the café, why now?

“Seonghwa? Why are you still here?”

The familiar voice of his manager woke him up from his daydream, making him immediately sit up straight. “Oh, uh, they said I was on duty for closing up the café tonight…” a lie. “But they told me you haven’t gone home yet, so I thought of waiting for you to leave before I’d start cleaning up,” another lie. “I was just laying down because I figured I should charge up my energy before working on tonight’s duties,” why is he lying when it isn’t even necessary at all?

“Is that so?” she asked, raising an eyebrow as if she’s not buying his excuses—well, to be fair, who in their right mind would? “You know you can just tell me you’re tired, Seonghwa. Admitting to that wouldn’t be a crime at all,” she gave him a reassuring smile, walking towards the couch from across the one Seonghwa was sitting on, placing her phone down on the table in between them. “I mean, I don’t even know what to call what I’ve been feeling for the past few days,” Seonghwa sighed, shrugging as he leaned back against the couch. “When did it start?” his manager asked, as if trying to help him out with piecing two and two together.

“That’s… I honestly don’t know either. All I know is I feel like everything has been so dull and gloomy lately, like something in my life I never knew existed has disappeared behind the scenes,” he said, stopping in between a few parts as if he’s not sure if what he’s saying even makes sense. “Well, uh,” she pondered, tapping her index finger on her cheek while her eyes examined the roof absentmindedly, “I don’t know much about you and what goes on in your life, so forgive me if this is a ridiculous theory, but.. perhaps what you’ve been feeling lately is caused by a person?”

“A person?” Seonghwa echoed her words, as if even he himself is unsure if a person is actually capable of making him feel strange emotions–without him noticing until the effects of it have finally taken place, too, if anything. “I’m not sure, I… don’t know how that could happen.” His manager was quick to wave her arms off in front of him, retracting her theory. “Well, I’m not sure! After all, it’s just a theory. Maybe it��s true, maybe it isn’t. I’m only throwing that assumption out there because I know that feeling very well, but hey, things are different for each of us,” she smiled, attempting to drive him away from stressing himself out further.

“Yeah, yeah, I agree. Let’s just… maybe not talk about it for now?” Seonghwa politely requested, to which she happily followed. “Of course! Which reminds me, I forgot to tell you about this earlier in the morning, but I went to that flower shop your friend recommended yesterday.” “How’d it go?”

“Well,” she clasped her hands together, smiling so wide Seonghwa swore the distance between her eyes and the corners of her lips was little to none, “I’ve got it sorted out! I may or may not have felt really bad after leaving the shop, though…” she trailed off, frowning. “Why?”

“I thought the owner would be a pretty girl around our age because well, you know, every girl dreams of opening up a flower shop at some point in their lives, or a sassy bald man with glasses who dresses like Edna from The Incredibles, but it was neither.” Seonghwa tilted his head, “What was the owner like, then?” “A sweet old lady who looked like she wanted to turn me down yet didn’t do so because she probably has a heart of gold and I’m pretty sure it’s also because I gave off the impression that I might just die then and there if she didn’t accept my proposal,” she said.

“Oh, really?” Seonghwa looked genuinely surprised. “I’m sure Yunho wouldn’t have thought of recommending that shop to us at all if that was the case, though… Maybe she has someone who’s helping her out? Like, a grandchild of hers or something?”

“I don’t know, I was in too much of a rush when I went there so the thought didn’t really cross my mind. I really hope that’s the case,” she sighed, looking over to her phone on the table. “I’m still waiting for her to ring me up, though. I told her to call me yesterday, but I haven’t received anything at all.”

“Maybe she’s taking her time thinking about it? It’s a pretty huge proposal, anyway,” Seonghwa guessed. “Yeah, maybe that’s it. I’m hoping she’ll dial my number by tonight, though… Valentine’s Day is fast approaching, and I really can’t afford having any last-minute issues with our plans-”

The manager’s phone suddenly rang, cutting her and Seonghwa’s conversation short. She quickly picked it up, glancing at the screen. “Oh, it’s the flower shop! Talk about perfect timing,” she smiled, tapping the answer button as she set the phone call on speaker so Seonghwa could listen in on the conversation as well. “Hello? This is the manager of the café you visited yesterday.”

“Good evening, dear! Apologies for the delayed call, I’ve been pretty busy here,” your grandmother’s voice came through clearly, her tone both polite and professional. “I just wanted to discuss the details of your request for the Valentine’s Day event, if that’s alright with you?”

“Ah, yes! Thank you so much for getting back to me,” the manager said, her tone as bright as day. “I’m really excited about this collaboration. We want to go all out for this event and make it really special for our customers.”

“Of course, I understand. Could you remind me of the name of your café again? I want to make sure I have all the details right,” your grandmother asked. The manager hesitated for a moment, “Actually, I didn’t get the chance to tell you yesterday, my apologies. The café is called ‘Heavenly Brews’. We’re located just a few blocks away from your shop.”

“Ah, I see. Thank you for letting me know. Now, regarding the flower decorations, could you tell me more about what exactly you’re looking for?” your grandmother asked, pulling out a notepad to jot down details. “We’re thinking of something that really captures the essence of Valentine’s Day,” she began. “We’d like a color scheme that gives off those classic Valentine vibes—reds, pinks, whites. Perhaps some heart-shaped arrangements or something that really stands out and adds to the romantic atmosphere.

“That sounds lovely. I can definitely work with those colors and themes,” your grandmother said, scribbling down notes. “Do you have any specific types of flowers in mind?”

“Well, we were thinking of using roses primarily, but we’re open to suggestions. Maybe some baby’s breath or lilies to complement them? Something that looks elegant and sophisticated, but also warm and inviting,” the manager replied. “I can certainly arrange that. Would you prefer more traditional arrangements, or are you looking for something more modern and creative?” your grandmother inquired, her mind already running like a train off the rails with ideas.

“A mix of both would be great. We want the café to have a cozy, welcoming feel, but also something that catches the eye and feels special. It’s a big day for us, and we want our customers to feel that love and effort,” the manager explained. “Understood. I’ll start working on some designs and get back to you with a few options. When would you like to see the samples?” your grandmother asked, feeling more confident now that she had a clearer idea of what was needed.

“If possible, could I visit your shop tomorrow? It would be great to discuss things and see the process in person,” the manager requested, tone so bright your grandmother swore she could practically hear her smiling from the other end of the line. “Of course! That sounds like a good plan. What time would work best for you?” your grandmother asked, flipping to a fresh page in her notepad to note the appointment.

“How about around noon? That’s usually a quieter time for us, so we can discuss everything without too many interruptions,” the manager offered. “Noon works perfectly for me. I’ll see you then,” your grandmother confirmed. “Great! Thank you so much for working with us on this. We’re really looking forward to seeing your designs,” the manager said, her relief evident in her voice.

“It’s my pleasure. I look forward to working with you as well,” your grandmother replied warmly before the call ended. The manager looked over at Seonghwa, who had been listening intently. “Looks like things are starting to come together, huh?” she said with a smile on her face. “That’s great news. I’m sure the event will turn out amazing,” Seonghwa said, mirroring her smile with one of his own. “I hope so. It’s going to be a lot of work, but I think it’ll be worth it,” she replied, her enthusiasm evident in her voice. “Thank you for sticking around, Seonghwa. You should probably head home and get some rest now.”

****

The night had long since then passed, and Seonghwa was now already on his way to work, tapping his foot on the ground while waiting for the stoplights to turn green so he could cross the street. He pushed the long strands of his hair that were framing his face back, fingers getting slightly wet since his hair was still quite soaked. Why, must you ask? His decision of staying overtime at the café last night was made on a whim, because he wasn’t really thinking straight yesterday due to his strange emotions taking a toll on him. Had the manager not been met with the sight of him looking absolutely disheveled laying down on the couch, he probably might’ve even considered staying the night.

He was too busy trying to untangle his feelings to even remember that he hadn’t gotten any sleep the night before—and so, as a result, Seonghwa ended up oversleeping yesterday. Yet one thing about him was that he was either gonna show up fashionably late, or not show up at all. Despite knowing he should’ve resigned from wearing a stylish fit and making an effort to fix himself up at least just for today, Seonghwa does not want his customers to say in their thoughts, “He looks like he just came back from a war.”

Today, he chose to wear an oversized checkered brown and white cardigan on top of a plain white shirt, paired with black pants with converse shoes in the same color as the brown hue of his cardigan. He didn’t have much time left for fixing his face up—everyone believes this is totally unnecessary for a face as beautiful as his, but he insists—so he decided to just wear a pair of glasses with a brown frame, remembering what Yunho used to say about glasses perfectly suiting him.

The stoplights had finally turned green, and he wasted no time in practically running towards the coffee shop he works at. He knew his hair would end up looking like a flock of birds had just nested on it by the time he’d reach the café’s front doors, but at this point, he was too late to care. Stopping in his tracks by the time he saw the large signage of the café he works at, Seonghwa decided to take a break from running and started walking slowly towards it, heavy breaths getting released with each step. The familiar ringing of the bells echoed in his ear the moment he opened the doors, the warm scent of various brews making its way to his nose.

“Oh, hey, Seonghwa!” a coworker of his called for him by a table, motioning for him to come over. “Our manager left a note for you by the counter. She said it was about something urgent, so you might wanna take a look at it,” he said, pointing to a small folded piece of paper pinned by the corkboard. Seonghwa nodded, immediately making his way to the corkboard by the counter. Taking the piece of paper off the corkboard, he carefully unfolded it, reading the words that seem to have been hurriedly written on it:

“Seonghwa, before anything else, I deeply apologize for the late notice. Remember when the sweet old lady from the flower shop asked me to stop by today so we could discuss our plans for the event further? Well, the thing is, something urgent came up and I can’t visit her today. If it won’t be too much trouble for you, could you please be the one to visit her this afternoon instead? You’re free to have the rest of the day off after doing so for compensation. I’ll make it up to you once I get things sorted out.”

For at least a few seconds, all he could do was stare at the scribbled words on the paper blankly. Part of him wonders what came up for his manager to have to skip work for the day, but then he eventually realizes that it’s probably something regarding her personal issues, so he shouldn’t really meddle about it. A detour to the flower shop in the middle of the day sure does sound a little hectic for him, especially since it’s a last-minute request, but being given permission not to continue working at the café afterwards and just spend the rest of his day to his liking does sound like a good deal to make it up for him, too.

You, however, were not exactly feeling the best of the best.

Unfortunately, your grandmother couldn’t go to work today due to having a fever you swear she got from not listening to your consistent reminders to take her medications regularly, so it was all up to you to manage the shop all by yourself. It didn’t help that your duties for the day were of a higher amount than the usual, either. Earlier in the morning, your grandmother called you to inform you about the phone call she had the night before with the manager of the café whose Valentine’s event your shop will be sponsoring, informing you that the manager had already told her about specific designs and patterns she thought would fit the theme of their event.

Their requests were highly specific, too, which only ended up making things harder for you—as now, you’re still stuck on completing the first set of decorations. It wouldn’t be an issue at all, had you not been working on it since the brink of dawn, and had the manager not been supposed to stop by later around 1, which is currently half an hour away from now. So, as a result, you decided to close the shop for the day and solely focus on getting the decorations done. Of course, you made sure to leave a little note by the front doors for the manager, telling her to disregard the “CLOSED” signage and just barge in as she wishes.

The first set of decorations consisted of a series of small floral arrangements designed to be hung from the ceiling. You were envisioning these hanging arrangements as delicate bursts of color that would gently sway above the heads of the café’s customers, creating a romantic atmosphere.

Each decoration was to be composed of a variety of flowers, with a strong emphasis on pink and white hues to match both the manager’s requests and the event’s theme. You had chosen to use a mix of roses, peonies, and baby's breath, carefully arranging them into small, rounded bouquets. Each bouquet was tied with a length of white ribbon that would be used to hang them from the ceiling. After finally finishing the first batch of decorations, you gathered them all together on the ground, carefully examining it as you can’t shake the feeling that something’s missing—it exceeds beauty yet lacks character. As you were thinking of what to add, the sky suddenly turned gloomy, with droplets slowly starting to stain your shop’s glass door. The weather forecast for today said today would be a sunny day, so this was completely unexpected.

You absolutely dread days like this. If there was one thing you hate more than the feeling of wet socks on your skin, it would be none other than rainy days. You just don’t have any good memories tied with it, is all. And it seems as if the world hates to be in your favor, as it’s been raining for weeks now. From your view inside the shop, citizens were either hurrying to the nearest area of shelter, while others were normally continuing their strolls, only having to take their umbrellas out of their bags. You wonder if the manager brought an umbrella with her.

Suddenly snapping out of your thoughts due to thinking about her, you immediately looked up to the wall clock by the counter, only to find out that there are approximately a few minutes left until she arrives. You then hurriedly get back on track, thinking of what additional decoration to add to the small bouquets.You wanted to add a unique touch, and after some thought, you decided to incorporate tiny heart-shaped ornaments, each one nestled among the flowers. These ornaments were delicate and glittery, catching the light in a way that would add a touch of magic to the decorations.

You were carefully adding them onto each bouquet, making sure that the flowers were perfectly arranged and that the ribbons were tied securely. The process was moving slowly yet surely, and you found yourself frequently glancing at the clock, anxious about the manager’s arrival. As you were carefully attaching a heart-shaped ornament to one of the bouquets, the bell above the shop door rang, signaling the arrival of someone. You looked up, expecting to see the manager, but instead, you saw a young man with soaked hair and a stylish yet slightly hurried appearance, dark spots on his cardigan which you could only assume were from the pouring droplets outside. He looked around the shop, his eyes eventually landing on you.

Your breath caught in your throat. There, standing in the entrance of the flower shop, was Seonghwa. You hadn’t seen him since the day you accompanied Wooyoung to his dance lessons, and now, here he was, looking as effortlessly stunning as ever despite being soaked by the rain. His presence was so unexpected that you felt like time had stopped for a moment. The world outside seemed to blur, and all you could focus on was him. Seonghwa, the guy you had been crushing on for what felt like forever, was standing in your flower shop. The same Seonghwa who worked at the café you loved to visit, the café you had no idea was the one your shop was sponsoring for Valentine’s Day—at least not until now. This wasn’t what you had prepared for. You were expecting to see the manager, not the man of your dreams.

“You know, I’m so close to fully believing we’re destined to know each other—with how many times I’ve unexpectedly crossed paths with you,” Seonghwa said while shrugging his hair out of his face, his tone clarifying that he was clearly just throwing in a harmless joke to ease your nerves.

Yet despite this, you find your brain short-circuiting as the only thing you heard clearly was him saying you were destined to know one another.

“If that’s the case, I hope you remember me as the girl who did well on a whisper game round with you and not as whatever else God knows you witnessed me doing,” you replied with a laugh, trying to appear as if you weren’t going absolutely insane deep inside. “Well, unfortunately, I do know you as the girl who said “thanks, you too,” when I placed her order on her table-”

“I don’t even know who you are.”

He suddenly starts laughing, and for a moment, you ponder if this is what lone souls headed to heaven hear on their way there. You find yourself joining his fit of laughter, dropping the act of being annoyed by him—an act not even one person would’ve bought anyway, because even if you were rolling your eyes at him, it was still painfully obvious you were trying your very best not to smile. “The weather forecast is an absolute liar for stating it’ll finally be sunny today,” Seonghwa said while placing his things on the counter. You couldn’t agree more.

“I’ll get you a towel you can dry yourself with real quick,” you hurriedly said as if it’s a line you’ve been practicing and preparing to say for the past few seconds, placing the bouquet you’re holding down on the floor to look for a towel in the somewhat clean storage room. As you entered the area, you were quick to close the door behind you and lean your back against it, dramatically sliding down with your hands covering your mouth. Searching your pockets for your phone so you can message Wooyoung about it, your eyes widened as you suddenly remembered that you left it by the counter.

Sighing, you stood up, silently squealing while burying your hands in your hair. At this point, you were so close to just kneeling down and begging the ground to eat you alive. The fact that Seonghwa has this much of an effect on you leaves you appalled. Finally getting it together after what seemed like a pretty long while—at least to you, your eyes started searching the room for a clean towel to give Seonghwa as if you weren’t just going insane over him a few seconds ago.

Meanwhile, on the other side of the door, Seonghwa was walking through the shop, admiring every creation of both yours and your grandmother’s settled down by the aisles. Spotting a bouquet of gypsophila in the middle of his stroll, Seonghwa immediately stopped in his tracks. Somehow, he feels like this bouquet in particular holds a meaning more special than the other ones he has seen. It holds a beauty other bouquets don’t seem to have in them, too.

“Seonghwa? Where are- oh...”

Seonghwa’s head then turns back, only to find you standing by the end of the aisle with a towel hung by your shoulder and a hair comb within the grasp of your hand.

“Oh, hey, I was just checking out the place. I hope that’s alright with you…?” Seonghwa trailed off, unsure whether he should be where he is right now, given the look on your face. Upon this, you were quick to wave him off, shaking your head with a small laugh. “What? no, no, I don’t see why it wouldn’t be at all,” you said, walking towards him. “Do you like this one?” you asked, pointing to the bouquet of gypsophila you saw him staring at earlier. “Yeah, it’s really pretty. It has this ring of uniqueness in it that the others don’t seem to have,” he replied, smiling at you.

Silence then engulfs the room, and the only thing you could hear were the muffled sounds of raindrops harshly falling down to the ground from outside. The humming buzz of the shop’s air-conditioner was another thing, too. While Seonghwa was busy looking at the other sets of flowers in front of him, you were busy contemplating on whether you should overshare a piece of information regarding the bouquet of gypsophila your conversation with Seonghwa would still be perfectly fine without.

Well, it’s either one step forward or three steps back.

“My mother’s favorite flower was gypsophila. She always wanted to build a flower shop of her own, too,” you spoke up, breaking the chains of silence binding itself around you and Seonghwa. It takes him a few seconds to put two and two together, and once he finally did, it was as if you already saw the look of pity on his face coming ahead.

Yet much to your surprise, you were proven wrong, as the moment he turned his face towards you, a soft smile was gracing his lips. Seonghwa glanced at the bouquet of gypsophila again, then turned back to you, his expression gentle. “You know,” he began, “the reason this bouquet holds a different vibe is probably because your mother’s soul has chosen to reside in it. Maybe she did so to ensure that, even as a soul now, she can still watch over you.”

His words made your heart skip a beat, and you felt a different type of warmth spread through your chest—something you haven’t felt in quite a long while. You weren’t sure if it was the sentiment behind his words or the sincerity in his eyes that moved you so deeply. Perhaps it was both.

“I… I never thought of it that way,” you replied softly, feeling a lump forming in your throat as memories of your mother suddenly began to resurface in your mind. “It’s a beautiful thought, though.” Seonghwa smiled, his gaze still as soft as ever. “Sometimes, I think the people we’ve lost find small ways to let us know they’re still with us. Your mother must have had an incredible spirit to leave such a beautiful mark behind.” You looked at the bouquet, blinking away the tears that threatened to spill. “She did,” you said, your voice barely battling with the muffled sounds of raindrops outside. “She really did.”

For a moment, the two of you stood there in silence, the soft glow of the warm lights of the flower shop casting a comforting hue over everything. It was oddly peaceful—an almost sacred moment.

Seonghwa gently placed a finger on the bouquet, his touch as light as a feather falling down the ground. “I’m sure she’d be proud of everything you’ve done here,” he said with a smile. “This shop, these flowers, they’re a testament to her legacy and to your hard work.” You nodded, a small smile tugging at the corners of your lips. He returned your smile, his eyes crinkling at the corners. No words needed to be spoken at all. After a moment, you remembered the towel you were holding and handed it to him. “Oh, uh, here, you should dry off before you catch a cold,” you said, hurriedly wiping a stray tear the moment he took it from your hands.

Seonghwa took the towel with a grateful nod. "Thanks," he said, starting to pat his hair dry. As he did, he glanced around the shop again, his curiosity piqued. “So, what’s the plan for the decorations?” You perked up at his question, eager to shift the conversation to something a bit more practical. “Well, the manager had some specific requests for the event. I’ve been working on a set of decorations that’ll be hanging from the ceiling. They’re meant to create a sort of canopy effect with flowers and lights.”

"Oh, right, I saw those. They’re the ones on the floor by the counter, right?” Seonghwa asked, genuinely intrigued. "What kind of flowers are you using?”

“A mix of roses, lilies, this and that,” you replied, gesturing to a nearby arrangement outside the aisle. “They all complement each other well and give off a really romantic vibe, which is perfect for Valentine’s Day.” Seonghwa nodded, his eyes lighting up with interest so much the lights above were even reflecting on his eyes—as if his gaze held the night sky within them. “Do you need any help with them? I’ve got the rest of the day off after this, so I’d be happy to lend a hand.”

The offer took you by surprise, and you felt your cheeks turn warm again. “A-are you sure? I mean, wouldn’t you want to use your free time to yourself?” you asked, feeling hesitant to accept his offer because 1. He’s not even supposed to be here in the first place, and 2. You don’t think you can last a few more hours in the same space as him without fainting somewhere in the middle of it.

“Don’t worry about it! I don’t have anything else I want to do, anyway, and what you’re doing genuinely seems fun—minus the stressful part of having to come up with ideas, of course,” Seonghwa said with a grin, making you laugh and nod in agreement. “Anyway, I insist. Plus, these decorations are for the café I’m working at, anyway, so why shouldn’t I help you out?” he said, tilting his head. After a few more seconds of him trying to convince you to accept his offer, you finally caved in. “Alright, fine.”

You led him to the workspace where you had been preparing the decorations. You decided to start with demonstrating the process, and as you were doing so, you found yourself stealing a few glances at him, feeling a mixture of excitement and nervousness. It was surreal to have him here, helping you with something so important, and you couldn’t help but feel a little flutter in your chest every time he smiled at you or complimented your work.

The conversation you’re about to have with Wooyoung later in the evening will definitely last for hours on end.

“Wow, you’re really good at this. Did you always have a knack for flower arranging?” Seonghwa asked, his voice filled with genuine admiration as he watched you skillfully weave the flowers together. “Oh, uh, thanks,” you replied with a sheepish laugh, trying not to make it obvious that a simple compliment for him is enough to drive you on edge.

“I guess it runs in the family. My grandmother taught me everything I know," you replied with a smile, your hands moving deftly among the blossoms. Seonghwa observed you closely, his eyes tracing the movements of your fingers as you arranged the flowers with such ease. “She must be really proud of you, then. This shop is amazing,” he said, glancing around at the various floral displays that adorned the room. “I’ve never seen someone handle flowers with so much grace. It’s like you’re conducting an orchestra,” Seonghwa says as he turns back to you with a lighthearted laugh, making you smile. “I can’t say I’ve heard such a compliment before.”

Finally down to the last touch, you finished making the bouquet after adding the little heart-shaped ornament on it. “And, there you go! All done,” you said, handing it to Seonghwa for him to observe while you busied yourself with stretching your arms. Seonghwa observes the bouquet, turning it gently in his hands to take in every detail. The arrangement is perfect, each flower meticulously placed, and the heart-shaped ornament adds a charming touch. “This looks amazing,” he said, genuinely impressed. “It’s pretty and definitely matches the Valentine’s vibe we’re aiming for at the café.” You felt a swell of pride at his words, your cheeks warming slightly. “I’m glad you think so. Now, it’s your turn.”

Seonghwa blinked, taken aback. “My turn?”

“Yep, your turn, Seonghwa.” you replied with a playful grin. “You saw what I did. Now, you get to try making one of the decorations on your own. Don’t look so nervous now, I’ll guide you through it. And then, after you’re done, we’ll start working together.” He looked a bit apprehensive but nodded, rolling up the sleeves of his cardigan as if preparing for a challenge. “Alright, let’s do this.”

You handed him a bundle of flowers and some tools, stepping beside him to offer guidance. “First, you need to choose a few flowers that complement each other. Think about the colors and how they’ll look together.” Seonghwa carefully selected a few blooms, his brow furrowed in concentration. “Like this?”

“Perfect,” you encouraged, your fingers brushing against his as you helped him arrange the flowers. Seonghwa took a deep breath and began the process of making the bouquet, following your instructions step by step. You watched him closely, offering guidance when needed.

“Start with the largest flower in the center,” you said, handing him a beautiful red rose from the set of flowers he picked. Seonghwa carefully placed the rose in the center, arranging smaller flowers around it. He was surprisingly focused, his brow furrowed in concentration as he tried to replicate your earlier demonstration. His hands were a bit clumsy at first, but he gradually got the hang of it. “This is harder than it looks,” he muttered, a lighthearted frustration in his voice. You laughed softly. “It takes practice, but you’re doing great. Just be patient with yourself.”

“Now, add some greenery to fill in the gaps,” you instructed, handing him a few sprigs of baby’s breath. He nodded, his hands moving more confidently as he worked. Just as he was placing a delicate spray of baby’s breath, he winced, jerking his hand back. “Ouch!” he hissed, looking at his finger. You quickly moved closer, concern etched on your face. "What happened?”

“I think I pricked my finger on a thorn,” he said, holding up his hand to show a small drop of blood forming on his fingertip. “Here, let me see,” you said, gently taking his hand in yours. Your touch was light, but it sent a jolt through you, your heart racing. You tried to focus on dabbing at the small wound with a tissue you found by the counter, all while trying not to think of how close you were to him. Seonghwa watched you, his gaze fixed on your face. He noticed the way your brows knitted together in concentration, the gentle way you handled his hand. He found himself unable to look away, somewhat mesmerized.

“You’ve got to be careful,” you said softly, finally looking up at him. “Roses are beautiful but tricky to work with.” Seonghwa cleared his throat, snapping out of his trance. “Yeah, I’ll keep that in mind. Thanks.” You smiled, giving his hand a final pat before letting go. “Alright, back to work. Just a few more touches and you’ll be done.” He nodded, still a bit confused by the strange flutter in his chest. He resumed his task, this time more mindful of the thorns.

After a while, Seonghwa was now nearing the final stretch, now getting down to the step of binding the bouquet with a ribbon. He took a deep breath and tried to tie a neat bow, but somehow ended up with a tangled mess. He looked at you silently, his eyes pleading for help. You couldn't help but laugh gently, “I think you just invented a new kind of knot, Seonghwa.” He chuckled, slightly embarrassed. “Yeah, tying bows was never my strong suit.”

“Let me show you again,” you said, moving closer to him. You demonstrated the technique, your fingers deftly working the ribbon into a perfect bow. “You see? It's all about making a simple loop and pulling it through.” Seonghwa nodded, but when it was his turn to try again, he still ended up with another tangled mess. Seeing his frustration, you decided to guide him more closely. “Here, let me help you,” you said softly, positioning yourself behind him. Kneeling down, you leaned forward slightly, so your face was level with his from behind. You reached forward, your hands gently covering his.

“Okay, just follow my lead,” you instructed, guiding his hands with yours. Your proximity made your heart race, but you focused on the task at hand. “Make a loop with this end,” you said, your hands moving his fingers to create the loop. “Now, take the other end and pull it through here.” He followed your movements, feeling the smooth texture of the ribbon under your combined touch. “See? Just like that,” you whispered, the bow finally taking shape. As Seonghwa turned his head slightly, he suddenly realized just how close you were. In that brief moment, he swore he felt your breath on his skin, and for an instant, it seemed like your lips were almost touching.

Quickly, he turned his head back to the front, his cheeks flushing with embarrassment. He cleared his throat, trying to push aside the sudden rush of emotions that had flooded him like a waterfall in that moment. “Uh, thanks again,” he managed to say, his voice in a slightly lower octave than usual. You nodded, trying to appear unbothered. “No problem,” you replied. For a moment, neither of you spoke, the air heavy with unspoken tension. Then, with a shaky laugh, you stepped back, breaking the spell. “We should probably finish up this bouquet,” you said, your voice slightly higher than usual. Seonghwa nodded, grateful for the change in topic. “Yeah, we should.”

A few hours have passed, and as the last bouquet was finished, neither of you realized just how much time had passed. When you finally glanced outside, you were surprised to see that it had already gone dark. Turning to check the wall clock, you noted that it was now 6 in the evening. Leaning back to admire your handiwork, you and Seonghwa exchanged a satisfied glance.

Then, almost as if in unison, you both high-fived each other, a sense of accomplishment filling the air. As you sat beside each other on the floor, a comfortable silence settled between you. Gazing at the tiny bouquets neatly sprawled on the floor, you couldn't help but feel a sense of pride. “Wow, they're beautiful, aren't they?” you remarked, your voice filled with awe. Seonghwa's eyes softened as he looked at you, a gentle smile playing on his lips.

“Yeah, beautiful.”

You turned your head to look at him, only to find him staring at a bouquet he’s holding. “So, have you got any ideas for what other decorations you can make yet?” he asked, laying down on the floor. You decided to mimic his actions, laying down in the opposite direction yet still remaining at face level with him. You sighed. “No, my mind’s at a dead end right now,” you said, staring at the lights hung at the ceiling above. “Any suggestions?”

“Well…” Seonghwa trailed off, raising his hand to look at his wounded finger you gently wrapped with a daisy patterned baby blue bandage earlier. “How about heart-shaped window displays?” he suggests. “You could make them from a mix of red and pink roses, with ribbons and laces for that extra touch of romance.”

“That sounds perfect,” you say, trying to sound enthusiastic. “But... I’m not sure how I’ll finish everything in time for Valentine’s Day. There’s still so much to do.” A flicker of uncertainty crosses Seonghwa's features as if he’s unsure whether to say what’s in his mind or not before he offers you a smile, tilting his head to the side to look at you. “Well, I’m here now, aren’t I?” he says, with a voice as soft as water running through a river in the morning. “I can always lend you a hand if you need help. All you need to do is ask.”

“Seonghwa, you have to go to work, too,” you said in a matter-of-fact tone, tilting your head towards him—and suddenly, you’re reminded of the moment your lips nearly touched when you were teaching him how to tie a knot earlier. “Don’t worry about it. It won’t be hard to talk my manager through letting me get off the hook of which I call my working hours a little earlier than usual, trust me,” he said with a smile.

You sighed, finding yourself caving in to his plans once more. “Okay, okay, fine. You know, I’m starting to think you’re casting a spell upon me that makes me unable to say no to you in all aspects,” you joked, earning a laugh from him. “Maybe, maybe not,” he plays along, sitting up after glancing at the wall clock hung on the wall by the counter. “So then, if you don’t mind, may I have your number?”

The world stops all of a sudden, and not even the buzz of the air-conditioner was able to help with making your surroundings a little less silent. “I mean, just so we could keep in touch in case you need my help, of course,” he said, faster than the speed of light to clear himself up after realizing what impression his last words just gave off.

“Oh, yeah, uh, sure,” you stumbled upon your words, sitting up from the ground to reach for your phone so you could exchange phone numbers with him. Opening your phone for what feels like the first time today, you were bombarded by countless message notifications from Wooyoung all piled on top of each other in your lockscreen. You’d have to tell him to come over once you get home.

“Seonghwa, it's getting late. You should probably head home. And take this,” you add, handing him your umbrella, “just in case it starts raining again on your way home.”

Seonghwa's eyes widen slightly in surprise as he tries to refuse, “Oh, no, I couldn't possibly-”

“I insist. Besides, I have plenty at home. You might need it more than I do,” you said, inching the umbrella closer to him.

You did not have plenty at home at all, and the umbrella you were holding in your grasp was literally the last one of its kind in your possession, but hey, we all have our moments, don’t we?

"Well,” he started as if there was an idea brewing inside his head, “your shop's closed for the day, anyway, isn't it? I can just help you with cleaning things up here, then I'll walk you home afterwards."

Your heart skips a beat at his unexpected offer, and you can feel a blush creeping up your cheeks. “Oh, Seonghwa, you really don’t have to do that. I can manage on my own.”

But he mirrors your earlier insistence, his voice gentle yet firm in a way that indirectly implies to you that there’s no room left for saying no. “I insist. Like you said earlier, it’s getting late.”

As you and Seonghwa stroll along the quiet streets, the evening air crisp and cool, you find yourself engaged in conversation, the words flowing easily between you.

"So, where do you live?" you ask, curiosity bubbling up as you realize you don’t really know much about Seonghwa's personal life. He gestures towards a direction, “I live a bit further from here, actually.”

You nod, a hint of surprise clouding your features. “Oh, really? Now I feel bad for agreeing to your offer of walking me home,” you said genuinely, but all Seonghwa could do was let out a soft laugh. “Don’t stress it out. It’s no trouble at all.”

As you continue your conversation, you eventually bring up his best friend, Yunho. “So, tell me about Yunho. How do you two know each other?”

Seonghwa's expression lights up with fondness as he reminisces. “Yunho and I go way back in high school. I was the president of the high school dance club named Dilettante, and it was a small group at first, just a few of us who shared a passion for dance. Yunho joined us early on, and from the moment he stepped into the studio, I knew he was something special—that’s when we started getting to know each other.”

You can't help but be surprised by this revelation. “Wait, you used to be a dancer?”

He chuckles softly, shaking his head. “I know, I don’t exactly fit the stereotype. But yeah, I was. Although I stopped dancing after entering college. Just lost interest, I guess.”

You furrow your brows in curiosity. “But Yunho still dances?”

Seonghwa nods. “Yeah, he’s still really into it. Funny how things turn out, huh?” he said, making you nod in agreement. Silence then fell between both of you for a short while, but it wasn’t until Seonghwa picked the conversation back up.

“What about you and Wooyoung?” he asked, “you both seem to have quite the friendship.”

You chuckle, nodding in agreement. “Yeah, we’ve been through it all together. We actually go way back, too, but instead of high school, we’ve been friends since childhood. He’s the son of a family friend, so we practically grew up together.”

Seonghwa laughs at the image painted by your words. “Sounds like quite the dynamic duo to me.”

You nod, smiling. “You have no idea. Our childhood friendship mainly consisted of arguing and making each other cry over toys, candies, and who gets how many turns on playground rides, though…”

Seonghwa chuckles, shaking his head in amusement. “Well, it appears some things never change. Remember when Yunho and I walked in on both of you yelling at each other on top of your lungs while playing the whisper game?”

“Unfortunately, I do.”

You both then burst into a fit of laughter, and for a second, you wish time would just stop running so this moment could last longer than it’s meant to be.

Finally reaching your apartment, you turn to face Seonghwa. “Thank you for walking me home and for everything else you helped with today. I appreciate it a lot.”

Seonghwa offers a warm smile, shaking his head slightly. “It’s nothing, really. I’m glad I could help.”

Then, unexpectedly, he adds, “And I don’t mind doing it again. Even every day, if you’d like.”

His words catch you off guard, and for a moment, your heart skips a beat as butterflies spread all over your body like wildfire. Could he be implying...? No, you chide yourself, not wanting to let your assumptions run wild.

But it wouldn’t hurt to try and push a few buttons to see where it’ll lead you, right? So, you laugh lightly, trying to brush off the sudden flutter in your chest. “Um… see you again soon, then?” you said, hoping he catches your drift.

Seonghwa’s smile only widens, his gaze softening. “See you again soon.”

****

You wake up to the symphony of birds chirping outside your window, the gentle gap between your curtain binds allowing the sun’s rays to spill into your room, casting a warm, golden glow. A smile graces your lips; what better way to greet the day than with the embrace of a sunny morning? This has always been your favorite kind of weather.

Sitting up, you lean against the headboard, hugging your pillow, reluctant to leave the cocoon of your bed. Your gaze falls upon the flower vase on your nightstand, and your thoughts, as if by instinct, drift to Seonghwa and the time you both spent together yesterday.

It feels surreal. Just months ago, he was merely the pretty boy working at your favorite café, someone you admired from afar—nothing more, nothing less. You always believed your lives were like parallel lines—close, yet never meant to intersect.

And now, that same pretty boy had walked you home last night. The series of not-so-coincidental events and the threads that wove yesterday into being seemed almost dreamlike.

It’s amusing, really. Since the last time you saw him, rainy days have been relentless. But after last night, the sun shines as brightly as a daisy.

Your phone then suddenly rings, jolting you from your thoughts. The name on the screen makes your eyes widen—Wooyoung. You suddenly remember the flood of messages he sent you yesterday, messages you had promised yourself you'd respond to once you got home. But after a whirlwind of a day and feeling utterly exhausted, you had gone straight to bed.

You quickly answer the call, trying to sound as awake as possible. “Woo, hey!”

“Why on earth haven’t you been picking up or answering my messages?” Wooyoung’s voice emerges from the other end of the line, a mix of annoyance and concern.

You sigh, feeling a pang of guilt. “I’m so sorry, Woo. I was super busy yesterday working on decorations for a café’s Valentine’s Day event—the one I told you about, remember? I saw your messages but didn’t have a chance to reply.”

“Oh, right,” he said, his tone eventually softening as he remembered. “What café is it, anyway?”

Fully awake now, you suddenly recall you haven’t told him about the big twist. “Oh my gosh, Woo, I haven’t even told you the craziest part yet.”

“Wait, what? Tell me!” His curiosity is piqued, and you can practically hear the eagerness in his voice.

You take a deep breath as if to drive Wooyoung on edge and dive in. “Okay, so, the thing is… the café I'm doing the decorations for is the one Seonghwa works at.”

There’s a brief pause before Wooyoung exclaims, “Wait… Seonghwa? Like, the Seonghwa from your favorite café? The one you’ve been crushing on for ages?!”

“Yes!” you laugh, feeling the excitement bubbling up again. “It was so surreal. He came to the shop because his manager wanted to check the progress of the decorations, and my grandmother was supposed to handle it, but she was sick, so I was there instead.”

Wooyoung then cuts you off. “Wait, wait, wait! This is too good to just talk about over the phone. This is a gossip conversation we need to have in person.”

You laugh, amused by his enthusiasm. “Seriously, Woo?”

“Seriously! Hold on, I'll be there in a few,” he said, and you could hear the sound of his bedsheets rustling in the background. “Don’t say another word about it until I get there.”

A few minutes pass, and you and Wooyoung are now sitting on the sofa, munching on snacks he bought on his way to your apartment. The cozy familiarity of his presence fills the room, and you feel the excitement bubbling up again.

“Okay, spill,” Wooyoung says, leaning forward eagerly. “Continue your story from where you left off.”

You sit up straight, ready to tell him all about it. "Alright, so I was just working on the hanging ornaments when he suddenly showed up in the shop. And, oh my gosh, Woo, his hair and part of his clothes were all drenched from the rain.”

“It’s like what they all say,” he says, “you can take Seonghwa out of the K-drama male lead, but you can never take the K-drama male lead out of Seonghwa.”

You nod, laughing. “That doesn’t make any sense at all, but it’s exactly like that. And he looked so beautiful, I swear I nearly died yesterday.”

Wooyoung lets out a low whistle. “Man, if that’s not straight out of a drama, then I don’t know what is. What happened next?”

“So,” you start, “I went to the storage room to fetch him a towel. I was in there for, like, a minute or two? Because I couldn’t regain composure and was just straight up walking back and forth without even daring to look for a towel. And when I came back, I saw him admiring a bouquet of gypsophila that my grandmother made.”

Wooyoung’s eyebrows shoot up. “Gypsophila? Isn't that...?”

You nod, the memory making your heart ache. “Yeah, it was my mom’s favorite flower. I got a little emotional when he said something sentimental about it.” Wooyoung leans in, his eyes glistening with curiosity. “Wait, what did he say?”

You then recall the moment vividly. “I told him it was my mom’s favorite flower and how she always wanted to build a flower shop. And instead of looking at me with pity, he just smiled and said, ‘You know, the reason this bouquet holds a different vibe is probably because your mother’s soul has chosen to reside in it. Maybe she did so to ensure that, even as a soul now, she can still watch over you.’”

Wooyoung's mouth drops open. “Wow, that’s beautiful—definitely one way to look at things. Now I get what Yunho means by calling Seonghwa a token sweet boy. So, what happened next?” he asks.

“I told him I never thought of it that way, but it was a beautiful thought. And he said, ‘Sometimes, I think the people we’ve lost find small ways to let us know they’re still with us. Your mother must have had an incredible spirit to leave such a beautiful mark behind.’”

Wooyoung leans back, seemingly impressed with Seonghwa’s mindset. “That’s pretty profound. How is this guy real? Seriously.” You smile, feeling the warmth of the memory. “I know, right? It was such a beautiful moment.”

Wooyoung nods thoughtfully. “Okay, what happened next?”

“He offered to help me with the decorations,” you continue. “I showed him how to make them, and then told him it was his turn. But he kept messing up.” Wooyoung snickers. “Messing up? Like, how bad are we talking?”

“Pretty bad,” you laugh. “And then, he accidentally cut his finger on a rose thorn.” Wooyoung gasps, eyes wide with a mix of shock and amusement. “Ouch. What did you do, then?” he asks in a teasing tone.

“Well, I bandaged his finger up,” you say, your cheeks warming at the memory. “We were so close, I could barely even look up at him! It felt so surreal, Woo. I can’t believe it all actually happened.” Wooyoung nods vigorously, still buzzing with excitement. “This is the best thing I’ve heard in ages! You have to tell me everything else that happened.”

So then, you recount the moment when you were teaching Seonghwa how to tie a knot on the bouquets. “So, I demonstrated it to him first, but he couldn’t quite get it right,” you say, a fond smile finding its way to your lips. Wooyoung leans in, his eyes wide with anticipation. "So what did you do, then?”

“Well,” you continue, "I positioned myself behind him, kneeling down and, like, leaning forward slightly so my face was level with his from behind—if you get the image I’m trying to paint. I reached forward, my hands gently covering his, guiding him through making the knot.” Wooyoung's eyebrows shoot up. "No way, you were that close to him? Wow, you never striked me as the type to be brave enough to pull that kinda move.”

You roll your eyes at his comment, yet still feeling the heat rise to your cheeks. “Yeah, and then, you’re so not gonna believe this, but then Seonghwa suddenly tilted his head, and then our lips almost touched-”

“Shut up! Are you serious?!” “Dead serious, Woo!” you confirm, your heart still racing at the memory. “It was so awkward, you know. Like, I wasn’t expecting him to look behind at all so I didn’t bother much about keeping a distance between our faces, and there was this tension and silence before we both cleared our throats and went back to work, trying to act like nothing happened!”

Wooyoung bursts into laughter, doubling over with amusement. “Oh my god, you and Seonghwa are literally the embodiment of a slowburn trope, you know?” You join in his laughter, feeling lighter than you have in a long time. "Yeah, tell me about it. It's been quite the rollercoaster.”

“So, what else?”

“It was already getting late that time, so I told him he should probably head home. Since the weather was acting up yesterday, I offered him my umbrella in case it would rain, but he refused,” you start, continuing after getting a hum from Wooyoung, “I kept insisting, and he suddenly came up with something.”

“Something?” Wooyoung tilts his head.

“He said that since the shop was closed for the day last night anyway, he can just help me with cleaning up, and then he’ll walk me home afterwards,” you said, a warm rush creeping up to your cheeks once more. “Please tell me you said yes,” Wooyoung pleads, leaning forward with widened eyes. You sheepishly chuckled, earning a raised eyebrow from him.

“I mean, I was kinda hesitant at first, but he kept insisting, tossing my words back to me and saying it’s already getting late and it wouldn’t be safe for me to head home alone.” Wooyoung then nods thoughtfully. “He’s right.”

You smile in return, being reminded of how it’s what Wooyoung would always tell you whenever he insists on walking you home during the times you’d head home a little later than usual. “So, did you accept it?” You nod in confirmation. “Yeah, I did. And as we were walking, we started talking about all sorts of things, this and that. I asked him about Yunho, and it turns out they go way back in high school. Seonghwa used to be the president of a dance club named Dilettante, and Yunho was its first member.”

Wooyoung's eyebrows shoot up. “Wait, Seonghwa used to be a dancer?”

“Yeah, I know, it surprised me too. He stopped dancing after college, but Yunho still dances,” you said, shrugging. “That’s new. How come I never heard anything about this from Yunho?” Wooyoung furrows his brows slightly.

You shrugged, “It was totally unexpected on my end, too. He doesn’t really strike me as the type of guy who’d be interested in such a hobby, but he did say he stopped dancing after entering college due to losing interest. People just change over time, I guess.”

Wooyoung smiles, his eyes sparkling with excitement. “Sounds like he’s doing a great job at keeping your spirits up, huh?” he says, glad you seem like you’re finally starting to find the light inside you again.

Seeing you so happy over your interactions with Seonghwa fills Wooyoung with a profound sense of joy. He’s known you since childhood, when you were a bright, bubbly spirit untouched by sorrow. After your mother’s passing, he watched that light within you begin to fade. Though you remained optimistic, something essential seemed to have dimmed. Over the days since you first saw Seonghwa at the café and developed a crush on him, Wooyoung noticed a subtle yet beautiful transformation. You began to heal, bit by bit. Now, as you recount your moments with Seonghwa—the way you smile, your laughter ringing through the room—it all reminds Wooyoung of the carefree child you once were.

He realizes that, without knowing it, Seonghwa is helping to rekindle the light inside you. Watching you return to that vibrant, joyful person is more than enough for Wooyoung. Your happiness is his own, and seeing your spirit lift once more is a gift he treasures deeply.

Wooyoung’s smile widens as he speaks up once more. “So, did anything else happen?” You nod, feeling a blush creep up your cheeks again—you swear you’re about to explode any minute now. “Uh, actually, yeah. When we reached my apartment, I thanked him for helping me with the decorations and even offering to walk me home, and…”

“And? Now’s not the time to keep me waiting,” Wooyoung playfully says, impatiently tapping his finger on his thigh. “He said he didn't mind walking me home again. Even offered to do it every day,” you say, sheepishly rubbing the back of your neck. Wooyoung’s eyes light up with mischief. “Don’t play with me right now! Oh, I’m telling you, that man definitely has a thing for you.”

You wave your hand dismissively. “I don’t want to assume anything, Woo. I mean, maybe he’s just being nice.” He gives you a skeptical look. “Nice? Yeah, sure,” he deadpans, rolling his eyes in disbelief. “But hey, you should've asked for his number or something.” You laugh, feeling a bit flustered. “I mean, actually, he asked for mine back at the café.”

Wooyoung’s eyebrows shoot up. “Really? Then why not send him a message and see where you’re both headed?”

You open your phone, searching for Seonghwa’s contact number, feeling Wooyoung’s curious eyes on you. Finally, you find it and click on his name, typing out a simple “Hi,” but then immediately delete it. Shoving the phone into Wooyoung's chest, you exclaim, “I can’t do this!” as you stand up and start walking around.

Wooyoung eyes you with a raised brow as you pace around the living room, wringing your hands. “Would you stop pacing around and just sit down? Just send Seonghwa a ‘hi’ already.” You glance at him, biting your lip.

“But what if he’s busy doing something? What if he only asked for my number for matters related to their café’s Valentine’s Day event? What if he only asked for my number to be polite and didn’t actually want me to hit him up?”

Wooyoung rolls his eyes, exasperated but amused. “Seriously? You’re overthinking this. Remember, he literally said he doesn’t mind walking you home again. Even every day, if you want. Tell me, does that sound like someone who's just being polite?”

You stop pacing, feeling the butterflies in your stomach go wild. “I mean… I know, but what if things don’t go well?” Wooyoung stands up, placing a reassuring hand on your shoulder. “If things don’t go well, I’ll be here for you. But you won’t know until you try. So just sit down, open up your phone, and send that message already,” he says while handing you your phone. You take a deep breath, nodding. “Okay, okay. I’ll do it.”

With shaking hands, you take your phone back from Wooyoung and start typing out a simple message: “Hi, Seonghwa! It’s me. Just wanted to thank you for helping me out with the ornaments and walking me home last night :)”

Before you can overthink it again, you hit send and look up at Wooyoung, who gives you a thumbs-up with a toothy grin. “There, that wasn’t so hard, was it?” You laugh nervously. “No, but now we wait.”

Wooyoung grins, settling back on the sofa. “And while we wait, let's talk about something else to distract you. Got any good gossip?”

A few minutes pass, and while you and Wooyoung are talking about the latest town gossip, your phone on the table suddenly lights up with a message notification. Both of you sit up straight, eyes wide with anticipation. “Check it out!” Wooyoung urges, almost bouncing in his seat.

You grab the phone with trembling hands, reading the notification on your lock screen. The moment you see Seonghwa’s name, you throw your phone at Wooyoung’s chest, hiding your face in your hands while kicking your feet back and forth in a mix of excitement and anxiety. Wooyoung catches the phone, surprised. “What did he say?” he asks, but upon seeing your state, he decides to check the message himself. As he reads it, his eyes widen and his mouth falls open in astonishment.

‎‎‎‎‎‎‎‎ㅤ‎‎‎‎‎‎‎‎ㅤ‎‎‎‎‎‎‎‎ㅤSeonghwa: Anytime :) How have you been?

Wooyoung gasps, looking at you with a mix of disbelief and glee, “Shut up right now. He asked how you’ve been! That’s a good sign!” Peeking through your fingers, you finally lower your hands, a grin breaking out on your face despite your nerves. “Wait… really?” “Yes, really!” Wooyoung says, excitement lacing his voice as he hurriedly hands you your phone. “Now, what are you going to reply?”

You and Wooyoung then go on a debriefing session, debating intensely on what to reply to Seonghwa. You squeal like a teenage girl, barely able to contain your excitement, while Wooyoung rolls his eyes, urging you to snap out of it. “Come on, we need to keep the conversation going!”

After much back-and-forth, you finally settle on a reply. Wooyoung insists on something that implies you’re free for the day, hoping to hint at an opportunity for Seonghwa to make a move. “Tell him you’re feeling well but a little bored because you don’t have work today and have nothing else to do,” Wooyoung suggests, his eyes glimmering with mischief. “If he follows the script in my head, he’ll ask you out.” With a mixture of both nerves and excitement, you type out the message and hit send.

‎‎‎‎‎‎‎‎ㅤ‎‎‎‎‎‎‎‎ㅤ‎‎‎‎‎‎‎‎ㅤYou: I’ve been feeling well, but I’m a little bored since I don’t have work today. There’s nothing else to do…

You and Wooyoung hold your breaths, watching the screen intently. A few moments later, Seonghwa's reply lights up your phone.

‎‎‎‎‎‎‎‎ㅤ‎‎‎‎‎‎‎‎ㅤ‎‎‎‎‎‎‎‎ㅤSeonghwa: I know how you feel. My schedule isn’t packed today, either. Wanna go out and do something fun together?

The two of you burst into squeals, jumping up and down with hands intertwined like teenage girls. “He followed the script!” Wooyoung exclaims, eyes wide with excitement. You can't stop grinning, the butterflies in your stomach turning into a full-on swarm. “I can’t believe it, Woo, oh God. He actually asked me out!”

Wooyoung laughs, giving you a playful shove. “Well, don’t keep him waiting. Say yes!” You quickly type out your response, heart pounding in your chest. You made sure not to sound too excited, afraid you’d be too obvious.

‎‎‎‎‎‎‎‎ㅤ‎‎‎‎‎‎‎‎ㅤ‎‎‎‎‎‎‎‎ㅤYou: Oh, I’d love to :D

Seonghwa replies almost instantly, setting both the time and place for your meet-up.

Seonghwa: Great! How about we meet at 2PM at the park near the café? There’s a festival happening there today.

You can't help but smile at his initiative. Don’t we all love a man who plans everything out?

You: Sure. See you later!

Wooyoung claps his hands together, already in full planning mode. “Alright, go take a shower. I’ll pick out your outfit and even find a matching hairstyle for you. We've got to make you look stunning!” You laugh, feeling a wave of gratitude for having such a supportive friend. “Thank you, Woo.”

“Anything for my best friend,” he says, pushing you towards the bathroom. “Now go!”

After a refreshing shower, you step out of the bathroom, a towel wrapped around you. Opening the door, you're met with the sight of a perfectly coordinated outfit laid out on your bed—cute but comfortable, perfect for a day out at the festival. The outfit Wooyoung chose for you is a mix of sweet and stylish. It includes a crisp white ruffled blouse paired with a soft yellow cardigan for a touch of warmth. You’ll be comfortable and chic in a flowing brown maxi skirt, complemented by white ankle ruffle socks peeking out of a pair of brown doll shoes. To tie it all together, there’s a cute crochet beige crossbody bag to be slung over your shoulder and a brown beret to match with your skirt. It’s definitely the perfect blend of casual and cute for your day out with Seonghwa. As always, you could never go wrong with trusting Wooyoung to pick your outfits for you.

Wooyoung looks up from his phone with a grin, gesturing towards the outfit. “Well, what do you think? Am I qualified to be the next Yves Saint Laurent?” You chuckle, admiring the outfit he's put together. “Definitely! I couldn't have picked a better outfit myself.

He beams with pride, crossing his arms. “I knew it! Now, let’s get you ready. We have a date to prepare for!”

After Wooyoung leaves the room, you quickly slip into the outfit he's chosen, feeling a surge of confidence as you catch a glimpse of yourself in the mirror. Heading to the living room, you find Wooyoung sitting on the sofa while scrolling on his phone. Upon hearing your voice, his head shoots up, a wide grin immediately finding its way to his lips. “What do you think?” you beam, doing a little twirl as your skirt flows gently around you.

“Oh, you’re definitely gonna blow his socks off.”

He then proceeds to style your hair, showing you a few different options he found online. After settling on a hairstyle that completes your look, Wooyoung takes a step back, appraising his handiwork. “You look amazing,” he says with a grin. “Seonghwa won’t know what hit him.”

You smile gratefully, feeling a mix of excitement and nervousness spreading through you. “Thanks, Woo. I don’t know what I’d do without you.” He waves off your gratitude with a grin. “It’s so weird hearing you say nice things to me. Now, go knock Seonghwa off his feet—and make sure to tell me all about it once you head back home!”

Just as you’re about to twist the doorknob open, you turn your head back, flashing him a huge smile. “You bet I will, Woo. And you better not gobble up my whole fridge while I’m away!”

“I can’t promise you anything!”

****

You’re on your way to the park, the anticipation buzzing in your chest like a swarm of butterflies. The sky above is a patchwork of gray clouds, partially obscuring the sun’s warm rays. You hope it won’t start raining all of a sudden like what happened yesterday. With each step, your mind races, rehearsing what to say when you see him. Waiting for the stoplight to turn green, you then find yourself in an internal monologue battle with yourself.

“Okay, so... casual greeting or something more enthusiastic?” you ponder, your thoughts echoing in the confines of your mind. “Laid-back might hide my excitement, but would it come off as disinterested? What if I appear to be too enthusiastic and scare him off?” You shake your head, dismissing the first idea. “No, too casual. I want him to know I’m excited to see him, but not like... overly eager,” you mutter to yourself, a faint frown creasing your brow.

A gust of wind ruffles your hair as the light turns green, signaling it’s time to move forward. Hurriedly crossing the street, you make your way to the park beside the café where Seonghwa works. With each step, your heart pounds against your ribcage, a mix of nerves and anticipation swirling within you. Reaching the park, you find the area filled with lively decorations and a varying amount of stalls, swarmed with people who look like they're having the time of their lives. You’re glad this is the occasion Seonghwa chose to invite you to; you could really use a festive celebration to brighten up your mood. Your eyes search the place, looking for him.

As if on cue, the moment he entered your line of sight, the clouds part, and a radiant beam of sunlight breaks through the gray expanse. There he is, sitting on a bench, his figure illuminated by the soft glow of the newfound sunlight. Your breath catches in your throat as your eyes lock with his, and a smile graces his lips as he stands up and walks towards you.

“Hey,” he says, his voice warm and inviting, and suddenly, all the words you had meticulously crafted in your mind evaporate into thin air. “Hi,” you reply, your voice coming out softer than intended, your nerves palpable. You mentally berate yourself for completely forgetting your practiced dialogue.

Seonghwa’s eyes sweep over you, and a genuine smile lights up his face as he takes in your appearance. “You look lovely,” he says, the words slipping from his lips with such ease, as if he's just making casual conversation with an old friend. Your heart skips a beat at his compliment, and you struggle to maintain your composure, trying to contain the whirlwind of emotions threatening to burst forth. His nonchalant delivery of such a heartfelt compliment only serves as the cherry on top.

“Thank you,” you manage to reply, a blush creeping into your cheeks despite your efforts to appear composed. Inside, you’re anything but calm, your heart racing with a mixture of excitement and nervousness.

It’s unfair, you think to yourself, how effortlessly he can make you feel like you’re walking on air while he remains so composed and unruffled. But then again, maybe that’s just part of his charm.

You take your time to look at him, unsurprised that he’s dressed fashionably—yet at the same time, his beauty always feels so new to you. Seonghwa is clad in a clean white dress shirt, topped with a cozy yellow sweater vest. On top of it is a brown leather jacket with a matching bow tie for style—it’s cute, you think. His attire is completed with brown trousers, black docs, and a simple beanie of the same color for a casual touch. He’s wearing his glasses from yesterday, too.

“You look great,” you say, offering him a genuine smile.Seonghwa chuckles, glancing down at his outfit. “Thanks. Funny how we unintentionally ended up matching, huh?”

You laugh along with him, feeling a sense of warmth spreading through you at his playful demeanor. “I guess great minds think alike,” you play along with him, hoping it would suffice to hide the butterflies swarming in your stomach. Looking around your surroundings, you can't help but feel impressed by the park’s lively atmosphere. “This festival is amazing,” you remark, turning to Seonghwa with admiration. “You’re pretty good at picking the best occasions to attend.”

Seonghwa’s smile widens at your words. “I’ve been coming to this festival for a few years now,” he admits. “But this is actually the first time I’ve attended with someone.”

You raise an eyebrow in surprise. “Really? What about Yunho?”

Seonghwa shakes his head. “Yunho’s always busy with his schedule during the festival,” he explains. “So I usually end up coming alone. I’m excited to finally share this experience with someone, though. I promise you this’ll be worth your time.”

“Any time with you is worth my time,” was what you wanted to say, “I’ll trust your word, then,” was all that escaped from your mouth.

Seonghwa starts with leading you through the bustling festival, making your way through the crowd until you reach a row of vibrant food stalls. The air is thick with mouth watering aromas of mixes of grilled meats, sweet pastries, and exotic spices. Each stall is brightly decorated, and vendors call out to passersby, showcasing their culinary delights. “Wow,” you say, your eyes wide with excitement. “I don’t even know where to start.”

Seonghwa grins, clearly enjoying your enthusiasm. “How about we try some tteokbokki first? It's one of my favorites.” He points to a stall with a cheerful sign advertising spicy rice cakes. You nod eagerly. “Sounds perfect.”

You both join the line, and as you wait, Seonghwa explains the different foods on offer. When it's your turn, Seonghwa orders a generous portion. The vendor scoops the tteokbokki into a paper bowl, the vibrant red sauce glistening under the festival lights. Seonghwa hands it to you with a pair of wooden chopsticks.

“Here, try it,” he says, his eyes twinkling with anticipation.

You take a small bite of the chewy rice cake coated in spicy sauce. The flavors explode in your mouth, a perfect balance of heat and sweetness. “Oh my gosh, this is straight up heaven on Earth!” you exclaim, your eyes lighting up with delight. Seonghwa chuckles, clearly pleased with your reaction. “I knew you’d like it. Want to try some hotteok next? It's a sweet pancake filled with brown sugar, honey, and nuts.” You nod eagerly, already hooked on the culinary adventure.

You move to the next stall, where the vendor expertly flips hotteok on a griddle. The sweet, nutty aroma is irresistible. Seonghwa orders two, and you watch as the vendor wraps the golden pancakes in paper, handing them over with a smile. You take a bite, and the warm, gooey filling melts in your mouth like honey. “This is incredible,” you say, savoring the rich flavors.

Seonghwa takes a bite of his own, nodding in agreement. “It really is. I love the mix of textures—the crispy outside and the soft, sweet inside.”

As you continue to explore the food stalls, you come across a vendor selling fresh fruit skewers. The colorful display of strawberries, pineapple, and melon catches your eye. “These look so refreshing,” you say, pointing to the skewers. “I’ll get us some, then,” Seonghwa responds almost immediately. He buys a couple of skewers, and you both take a bite, the juicy fruit a perfect palate cleanser after the rich, spicy food.

You stroll through the festival, sampling different dishes and sharing bites of everything. Seonghwa tells you stories about his favorite festival foods and the memories they bring back. You share your own experiences, bonding over the simple pleasure of good food and company. At one point, you come across a stall selling unusual snacks like fried insects and durian. You wrinkle your nose at the smell of durian, and Seonghwa laughs. “Not a fan?”

You shake your head, grinning. “Eh, not really. But I’ll try anything once.”

He raises an eyebrow, impressed. “Brave. Maybe next time.”

As you and Seonghwa continue to walk through the festival, you come across a section filled with colorful carnival games. The area is alive with the sounds of laughter, ringing bells, and playful shouts. Brightly colored booths line the path, each offering a different challenge or prize. The enticing smells of popcorn and cotton candy fill the air, adding to the festive atmosphere. Seonghwa’s eyes light up like stars in the night sky when he spots a ring toss game. “Hey, let’s try this one,” he says, gently tugging you towards the booth.

You glance at the game, noticing the bottles arranged in neat rows, each waiting for a ring to be tossed around its neck. “Sure, why not?” you reply, matching his enthusiasm.

The booth attendant, a friendly woman with a wide smile, hands Seonghwa a few rings. “Good luck!” she says cheerfully. Seonghwa takes a ring, carefully aiming at one of the bottles. His first toss misses, bouncing off the edge and landing on the ground. “Ah, so close,” he mutters.

You try your best not to laugh, but Seonghwa was quick to notice, playfully shooting you a look of disbelief. “Second time’s the charm, maybe?” you try to lift his spirit up, although not without snickering in the middle of your words. You watch him try again, this time with a bit more focus. The second ring lands perfectly around a bottle, and you both cheer in unison. “You did it! See what I meant by second time’s the charm?” you exclaim, clapping your hands.

“Beginner’s luck,” he says modestly, but you can clearly see the pride in his eyes. He hands you a ring. “Your turn.”

You take the ring, feeling a mix of excitement and nervousness. “Alright, let’s see if I can match your skills,” you say, positioning yourself in front of the bottles. Your first toss goes wide, completely missing the target. You laugh, shaking your head. “Please tell me no one saw that.” Seonghwa steps behind you, placing his hands gently on your shoulders. “Try aiming a bit lower,” he advises, his breath warm against your ear. His proximity sends a pleasant shiver down your spine, and for a moment, you completely forget about the game you’re currently playing.

Following his advice, you adjust your aim and toss the ring. It flies through the air and lands around a bottle with a satisfying clink. “I did it!” you shout, turning to face him with a triumphant smile. “Nice job! Second time’s the charm indeed,” he says, giving you a high-five.

The booth attendant claps her hands together. “Congratulations! You both get to pick a prize.”

You look at the array of stuffed animals, keychains, and toys hanging above the booth. Your eyes land on a small, pink bunny plushie. “I’ll take that one,” you say, pointing at it. Seonghwa chooses a cute plush squirrel. “I think this little guy will keep me company,” he says, showing it to you with a grin.

Walking through the rest of the carnival games, you try your luck at various booths, from shooting water guns to popping balloons with darts. Each game is an adventure, filled with laughter and playful teasing. Seonghwa’s competitive side comes out, but he never lets the fun turn too serious. He’s always there with an encouraging word or a lighthearted joke whenever you miss a shot or drop a ring.

At one point, you find yourselves at a booth where you have to knock down stacked cans with a ball. Seonghwa lines up his shot, eyes narrowing in concentration. He throws the ball, and the cans topple with a satisfying crash. “Yes!” he exclaims, turning to you with a toothy grin.

“You’re on a roll today,” you tease, giving him a playful nudge. He laughs, a sound that blends seamlessly with the joyful noise around you. “Just lucky, I guess.”

As the evening progresses, you both accumulate a small collection of prizes: a rubber duck, a keychain, and a tiny toy car. Each one feels like a memento, a small token of the wonderful time you’re sharing.

Finally, you come across a photo booth, decorated with twinkling lights and festive banners. “We have to take a picture,” Seonghwa insists, pulling you towards it. You step inside the booth, squeezing together on the small bench. The screen flashes a countdown, and you both make silly faces for the camera. The machine whirs and clicks, producing a strip of photos that capture your laughter and joy.

Seonghwa looks at the photos, smiling fondly. “We look good together,” he says, handing you the strip.

For a moment, you had to do a double take and make sure you heard him correctly.

“Don’t we?”

You did.

You take the photos without a word, feeling a blush creep up your cheeks. You decide not to bring it up for now, as you’re certain that if you do, you might very well start showing signs of being qualified enough to be put in a psych ward. As you move from one attraction to another, the crowd seems to grow thicker. The once exhilarating hustle and bustle starts to feel overwhelming. Seonghwa immediately notices the shift in your demeanor. He gently places a hand on your arm, leaning in to ask, “Are you alright? We can find a quieter spot if you need a break.”

You appreciate his concern, shaking your head. “I’m fine, don’t worry. I want to push myself to get used to these kinds of experiences. Besides, I’m having a great time with you,” you say, giving him a reassuring smile. Seonghwa hesitates for a moment, clearly worried, but nods in understanding. “Alright, but remember, we can always step away if it gets too much.”

Seonghwa guides you through the festival crowd, his hand hovering near your elbow to ensure you don’t get separated. You find yourselves in front of a small stage where performers, dressed in vibrant hanbok, are preparing for a traditional dance. The area is buzzing with anticipation, and a soft hum of excitement fills the air.

“Let’s sit over there,” Seonghwa suggests, pointing to a spot near the front but off to the side where the crowd is slightly thinner. You both make your way over and settle down on a blanket spread out for spectators. The moment you sit, you feel a bit more relaxed, grateful for the brief respite from the overwhelming throng of festival-goers. The performers take their places, and the music begins. The rhythmic beats of the janggu and the soothing melodies of the daegeum fill the air. The dancers move gracefully, their sleeves flowing like water with each elegant gesture. You can’t help but be mesmerized by the beauty and precision of their movements.

“This is amazing,” you whisper, leaning slightly towards Seonghwa so he can hear you over the music. “Have you ever done anything like this?” you ask. Seonghwa’s eyes are fixed on the stage, but he turns to you with a soft smile. “Not traditional dances like this, but I did dance in high school—like I told you yesterday. I leaned onto modern styles more, though.”

“I’d really love to see you dance sometime,” you muse as your eyes fixate on the dancers.

A blush creeps up Seonghwa’s cheeks, and he chuckles softly. “Now, that’s one thing I can’t promise you.”

The performance continues, each movement more captivating than the last. You’re drawn into the story the dancers are telling, feeling the emotions conveyed through their expressions and steps. Seonghwa seems equally entranced, his gaze following the dancers with admiration. At one point, a dancer spins close to the edge of the stage, and the flow of her hanbok sends a breeze in your direction. The cool air is a welcome relief from the warmth of the crowd, and you take a deep breath, savoring the moment.

Seonghwa leans closer, his shoulder brushing against yours ever so slightly. “Do you come to festivals like this often?” he asks, his voice gentle. You shake your head. “Not really. I’m not great with crowds, to be honest. I’ve been having a lot of fun so far, though.”

There’s a comfortable silence between you as you both watch the dancers. You can feel the heat from Seonghwa’s body next to yours, and the subtle brush of his shoulder against yours sends a pleasant shiver down your spine. You sneak a glance at him, and catch him doing the same. Both of you quickly look away, a small, awkward laugh escaping your lips.

The performance reaches its climax, the music growing louder and more intense. The dancers move with even greater fervor, their expressions fierce and passionate. The audience claps along, the energy infectious. You join in, feeling a sense of unity with the people around you, despite the usual discomfort crowds bring. When the performance finally ends, the dancers take a bow, and the audience erupts in applause. You clap enthusiastically, genuinely moved by the beauty and skill of the performance. Seonghwa joins in, his smile broad and genuine.

“That was incredible,” you say, turning to Seonghwa once the applause dies down. “Thank you for bringing me here.”

He looks at you, his eyes warm and earnest. “I’m glad you enjoyed it. I always find these performances inspiring. They remind me of the passion and dedication that goes into art.” You nod, feeling a deep appreciation for the experience. “It’s amazing how something so traditional can still feel so powerful and relevant today.”

After the performance, Seonghwa suggests visiting a section of the festival dedicated to local history. “How about we check out the historical exhibits? It’s usually less crowded and quite interesting,” he proposes. You nod eagerly, welcoming the idea of a quieter area. “That sounds perfect. Lead the way.”

The transition from the lively stage area to the more subdued history section is like entering a different world. The noise of the crowd fades into the background, replaced by a calm atmosphere filled with the soft murmur of people quietly reading plaques and admiring exhibits. The path leads you through a series of well-curated displays. Old photographs of the town, artifacts from bygone eras, and detailed descriptions of significant events line the way. The lighting is dimmer here, casting a warm, almost nostalgic glow over everything.

Seonghwa stops in front of a large mural depicting the town’s founding. “Did you know our town was established over a hundred years ago?” he asks, his voice low and reverent as if he’s afraid to disturb the solemnity of the place. You shake your head, genuinely intrigued. “Really? Tell me more.”

He gestures to the mural. “It started as a small trading post. The river nearby made it a key location for trade and transport. Over time, it grew into the town we know today.” As he speaks, you find yourself drawn not just to the history but to the way Seonghwa talks about it. His passion and knowledge are evident, and it’s clear this is something he cares about deeply.

“Wow,” you say, genuinely impressed. “You know so much about this place. It’s fascinating.” He smiles, a little bashful. “I guess I’ve always had a thing for history. There’s something about understanding where we come from that makes me appreciate the present more.”

You both move to the next exhibit, a collection of personal items donated by long-time residents. There are old letters, pieces of clothing, and even some tools that were used in the early days of the town. Each item has a story, and Seonghwa takes his time explaining the significance of some of the more interesting pieces.

“This letter,” he says, pointing to a yellowed piece of paper under glass, “was written by one of the first schoolteachers here. She talks about the challenges of teaching in a one-room schoolhouse and how the children were so eager to learn despite having so little resources and space.”

You lean in closer to read, feeling a strange connection to the past through this small window into someone’s life. “It’s amazing to think about how much things have changed, yet some things stay the same. Like how the desire to learn and grow is still here.” Seonghwa nods thoughtfully. “Exactly. That’s what I love about history. It shows us that despite all the changes, there are fundamental things about being human that never change.”

As you continue to explore, you reach a display about traditional festivals and celebrations in the town’s history. There are photos of past festivals, similar to the one you’re attending, with people in traditional clothing, dancing, and celebrating. “Look at this,” Seonghwa says, pointing to a black-and-white photograph of a festival from the 1950s. “It’s amazing how festive and vibrant these events have always been.”

You smile at the picture, noticing the joyful expressions on the people’s faces. “It’s nice to see that some traditions continue. It kinda makes you feel connected to those who came before us.” There’s a comfortable silence between you as you both absorb the stories and artifacts around you. The air is filled with a sense of nostalgia, and for a moment, it feels like you’ve stepped back in time.

“This is proving to be worth the while. I’ve lived here all my life, but I’ve never taken the time to really learn about the town’s history,” you say softly, turning to Seonghwa. His eyes soften as he looks at you. “I’m glad you’re enjoying it. It’s nice to share something I care about with someone who appreciates it.”

There’s a brief moment where your eyes meet, and you feel a flutter in your chest. The connection you felt earlier seems to deepen, and you’re suddenly very aware of the closeness between you. It’s not quite romantic, but it’s undeniably charged with the possibility of something more. You clear your throat, breaking the moment. “Shall we move on to the next exhibit?” you suggest, trying to steady your voice.

Seonghwa nods, his own composure returning. “Oh, uh, right.”

As the sun begins to set, casting a warm, golden hue over the festival, Seonghwa leads you towards the towering Ferris wheel. The giant, illuminated structure stands as a beacon against the twilight sky, its lights twinkling invitingly. Seonghwa turns to you, his eyes reflecting the soft glow of the evening. “How about a ride on the Ferris wheel? The view from the top is spectacular.”

You nod, your excitement evident. “Sure, that sounds amazing.”

You both join the line, which is surprisingly short at this hour. The anticipation builds as you inch closer to the front. Seonghwa's presence beside you is comforting, and you find yourself stealing glances at him, appreciating how the soft light accentuates his features. Finally, it’s your turn. The operator opens the gate, and you step into one of the small, enclosed cabins. Seonghwa follows, and as he sits down opposite you, the cabin gently rocks, adding to the thrill.

The door closes, and with a slight jolt, the Ferris wheel begins its ascent. You lean back, watching the ground slowly fall away, replaced by a breathtaking panorama of the festival below. The lights, the music, and the laughter all blend into a vibrant mixture of color and sound. “Wow,” you breathe, eyes wide with wonder. “This really is incredible.”Seonghwa smiles, his gaze fixed on you more than the view outside. “I’m glad you like it. I thought this would be a perfect way to end the day.”

You share a quiet moment, the only sounds being the soft hum of the Ferris wheel and the distant murmur of the festival. The higher you climb, the more the world below transforms into a magical scene. You can see the entire festival sprawled out beneath you, every booth and ride lit up like stars in the night. The soft rays of the golden hour color your face as you lean towards the window to look at the scenery painted in front of your very own eyes. “It’s beautiful,” you say softly.

Seonghwa’s gaze radiates fondness, and he leans slightly forward, his eyes focused on you.

“Yeah… it really is.”

The cabin reaches the top, and for a moment, it pauses. You both take in the breathtaking view. The horizon stretches out, painted in shades of purple and gold, while the festival below looks like a miniature wonderland. The quietness of the moment feels almost sacred. As you sit there, suspended high above the ground, the gentle swaying of the cabin creates an intimate bubble. There’s a comfortable silence between you, filled with unspoken thoughts and shared glances. Seonghwa shifts slightly, his knee brushing against yours. The brief contact sends a jolt through you, and you feel a blush rising to your cheeks. You catch Seonghwa’s eyes again, and for a moment, the world seems to hold its breath.

“Today felt… different, somehow,” Seonghwa says, breaking the silence. “I’ve been to this festival so many times, but this is the first time I’ve truly enjoyed it. You know, I think it’s because of you.” His words catch you off guard, and you feel your heart skip a beat. "Oh… really?” you pause, unsure what to say next. If only you could telepathically send Wooyoung a cry for help.

You then decide it’s time to stop holding back and just express what your heart yearns to express. “Well, if that’s the case, then I’m glad I could be here with you.”

The Ferris wheel starts its descent, but the moment feels far from over. You both sit in comfortable silence, absorbing the experience. As the cabin slowly lowers, you find yourself wishing the ride could last just a little longer. When you reach the ground, the operator opens the door, and you step out, the cool evening air a refreshing contrast to the warmth of the cabin.

You clutch the bunny plushie in your hands, turning to look at Seonghwa with a bright smile on your face. “Well, that really was a perfect way to end the day.”

“Glad you think so as well,” he says, looking around the place. “Thanks for playing a huge part in making my day better.”

Seriously, when was he going to stop with the unexpected heart-stopping comments?

As the night deepens, Seonghwa keeps his promise and walks you home, both of you reminiscing about the day’s highlights. The conversation flows easily, filled with laughter and shared memories. You recount the funny moments at the shooting gallery, the unexpected camaraderie at the food stalls, and the magical experience on the Ferris wheel. Each memory cements the bond growing between you.

Finally, you reach your apartment building. You turn to Seonghwa, feeling slightly nervous. Gathering your courage, you say, “I wouldn’t mind hanging out with you again.”

Your confidence wavers slightly, but then Seonghwa’s smile brightens, and he replies warmly, “Neither would I.”

You do your best to hold back your excitement until you reach your apartment door. Opening it, you’re greeted by the sight of Wooyoung lounging on your sofa, engrossed in a movie. The moment he notices you, he quickly sits up, his eyes brimming with curiosity.

“Well?” he demands, unable to contain his excitement. “Tell me everything!”

Boy, was he in for a ride.

****

The next few days pass by in a blur. Seonghwa stops by every day to help with the decorations, his presence becoming a comforting constant. Sometimes Yunho and Wooyoung join in, turning the task into a fun, collaborative effort. With each passing day, your bond with Seonghwa deepens. His kindness, his humor, and everything else about him you’ve grown to be fond of makes you realize something profound: you’re not just harboring a crush anymore.

You are head over heels in love.

Valentine’s Day finally arrives, and you can hardly contain your excitement to see how they’ve placed the decorations. Seonghwa mentioned a special occasion at the café that evening, piquing your curiosity, but he remained tight-lipped about the details. All you know is that you’re in for a surprise.

As the afternoon progresses, you call Wooyoung over to help you decide what to wear. “Alright, let’s see what we’ve got,” Wooyoung says, rifling through your closet with a critical eye. He pulls out a few options, laying them out on your bed. “What’s the vibe tonight? Romantic, casual, or somewhere in between?” You bite your lip, considering. “I’m not really sure what to expect. Seonghwa didn’t give me any hints about the event. He just said it’s special.”

Wooyoung smirks, raising an eyebrow. “Special, huh? Sounds like he’s planning something big. You might want to go with something that says ‘effortlessly stunning.’”

He picks out a chic, knee-length dress that balances elegance with a touch of casual charm. “This,” he declares, holding it up. “And maybe those heels to go with it. What do you think?” You nod, a smile spreading across your face. “Perfect. Thanks, Woo.”

As you start getting ready, Wooyoung searches the internet for a matching hairstyle. “How about this?” he suggests, showing you an image on his phone. “It’ll complement the dress without looking too overdone.”

After showering, you open the bathroom door to find Wooyoung meticulously laying out the outfit on your bed. He turns to you with a playful grin. “Fashion designers should be glad I chose to be a dancer.”

You laugh, shaking your head. “You’ve definitely got an eye for fashion. Maybe you missed your calling, Edna Mode.”

You take a deep breath, feeling a mixture of excitement and nerves. “I hope it goes well.”

“It will,” Wooyoung assures you. “Seonghwa wouldn’t go through all this trouble if it didn’t mean something to him. Now go knock ‘em dead.”

Before you leave, you sit on the bed and sigh exasperatedly. Wooyoung, noticing your sudden change in demeanor, asks, “What’s the matter?” You take a deep breath, the words tumbling out before you can stop them. “I’m feeling so nervous.” Wooyoung furrows his brow. “Nervous? Why?”

You bite your lip, torn between keeping your plan a secret and confiding in your best friend. But then again, you could never keep your mouth shut—especially not around Wooyoung. Finally, you blurt out, “I’m planning on finally sealing the nail in the coffin and confessing my feelings to Seonghwa.”

“Well, it was about time, anyway,” he says, shrugging. “If anything, I’m pretty sure he already knows. Do you even know how painfully obvious you are?”

You land a harsh hit on his shoulder, making him wince in pain. “Ow! Okay, okay, sorry! But seriously, you’ll be fine. If things don’t go as planned, I’ll be here for you.” You let out a heavy sigh, shaking your head. “I really don’t think I can do it, Woo. I mean, what if it’s all in my head? Like, what if every moment we’ve spent together is all but a walk in the park for him—what if it all holds no meaning to him? I don’t want to embarrass myself, but if I don’t confess my feelings sooner, I swear I’ll go insane.”

“Wow, you really are head over heels.”

“That’s all you have to say?!”

“No, but seriously,” he adjusts his sitting position on the bed turning to face you, “I really don’t think you should let your concerns get the best of you—not tonight. Think of it as a now or never moment. Just let go of all these worries you’re carrying with you, okay? We might not know what his answer may be for sure, but whatever happens, I promise you it’s always better to express your feelings rather than to bottle it up.”

You sigh, staring up at the ceiling. Then, all of a sudden, a light bulb appears above your head. “Hey, Woo,” you start, turning your head towards him, “maybe you could just come with me there?”

“Are you saying you want me to be your emotional support for the night?” he asks, tilting his head.

“Well, yeah, kinda.”

“I mean,” he shrugs, “The outfit I’m wearing is too stylish to just be wasted on rotting in your apartment, anyway.”

“Is that a yes?” you beam, eyes lighting up with a smile just as wide.

“Yeah. I’ll be sitting at a different table, though—just so you can have your moments with Seonghwa.”

****

You both arrive at the café, and it is nothing short of beautiful. The decorations you and Seonghwa painstakingly crafted are perfectly placed throughout the space—you really should give yourself a pat on the back. From the outside, you notice a flurry of activities. Notes are plastered all over the windows, and you can faintly see a photobooth backdrop at the very back. “Woo, we totally have to take pictures there before the event ends,” you say excitedly.

“Absolutely,” Wooyoung grins. “Let’s make sure we get some good ones.”

You both step inside, and Wooyoung keeps his promise, separating from you. “Catch you later,” he says, spotting Yunho sitting at one of the tables and immediately heading towards him. Left alone, you feel a wave of anxiety as you scan the room for a vacant seat, suddenly self-conscious about your appearance. You take a deep breath, smoothing your outfit and hoping you look as good as you feel. Just as you’re about to continue your search, you hear someone call your name from the counter.

You turn your head towards the sound, and your breath catches in your throat. Seonghwa stands there, framed by the warm, ambient light of the café. His dark hair is perfectly styled, soft strands falling just right to accentuate his sharp features that gives him the kind of face people would go to war for if combined altogether. He’s wearing a tailored shirt that fits him like a glove, highlighting his broad shoulders and lean frame. The soft smile on his lips, combined with the sparkle in his eyes, makes your heart skip a beat. For a moment, everything else fades away into the background, and you’re completely entranced by his beauty. The way he effortlessly exudes both charm and warmth leaves you momentarily speechless, and you can’t help but feel a rush swelling within you.

He starts walking towards you, and for a moment, you debate on whether you should shamefully leave and make a run for it or shoot your shot. But then, Wooyoung enters your line of sight, his gaze immediately setting your priorities straight—it’s the latter or nothing.

“You look beautiful,” is the first thing Seonghwa says, and you swear your knees almost give up on you. You manage to compliment him as well, and he leads you to a table. Not just any table—you recognize it as the one you were sitting at that time he gave you your order and you awkwardly said, “thanks, you too.” You joke about how he probably chose the table on purpose.

What you didn’t expect was for him to actually confirm your joke. “I did,” he says with a smile. “I reserved this seat just for us.” For a moment, it feels like you’re both a couple on their nth date and not two people navigating the waters of a budding romance. As you sit down, you compliment the way they incorporated your decorations into the café. “The interior looks amazing,” you say, glancing around. “You guys did a great job.”

Seonghwa smiles appreciatively. “Thank you for your effort. This event wouldn’t have been possible without you.”

It’s funny, because he has no idea he’s the sole reason behind your unwavering determination to finish all the decorations without procrastinating at times in between.

You place your order, and Seonghwa jokes, “It feels weird not serving you and instead actually sitting across from you. I’m not used to this.” You raise an eyebrow. “Not used to what exactly?”

He clears his throat, brushing off the question. “Just... not used to this kind of setting.”

From a distance, you catch sight of Wooyoung and Yunho engrossed in a conversation at a faraway table. Wooyoung suddenly wriggles his eyebrows while looking at you, making you blush and clear your throat. Seonghwa notices and asks, “What’s the matter?”

For a moment, you feel your worries get the best of you, but you immediately brush them off, deciding to follow Wooyoung’s advice to let your feelings show. “I just feel a bit nervous,” you admit, looking down at your hands. Seonghwa immediately becomes concerned, flashing you a look of worry. “Why?”

Just as you’re about to answer and confess your feelings, his manager calls for him from the back kitchen. “I’m so sorry,” Seonghwa says, standing up quickly. “I’ll be back in just a minute.”

While he’s away, you shift closer to the window, drawn to the heart-shaped notes stuck on it. As you read them, you notice each note begins with a capitalized letter written in red, while the rest of the words are in black. You begin reading them one by one:

Sometimes, my heart beats faster just thinking of you.

Every moment with you feels like a precious gift.

Over time, I’ve come to cherish you more than I can say.

Never have I felt so alive as when I’m with you.

Glimpses of your smile light up my world.

Holding onto these feelings, I hope you feel the same.

With you, I see a future filled with happiness.

And every day, I fall in love with you even more.

As you finish reading, you feel a surge of courage. You glance back over the notes, this time paying attention to the red letters. Slowly, it dawns on you. The capitalized red letters spell out: SEONGHWA.

Seonghwa returns just as you connect the dots, and you turn away from the notes on the window to look at him. He sits across from you, and for a moment, neither of you say anything. The air feels charged with an overflowing tension.

“Seonghwa, is this...?” you start, your voice showing hints of hesitance.8Seonghwa takes a deep breath, his eyes locking onto yours. “Yes, it is,” he says softly, a shy smile evident on his lips. “I’ve… been wanting to tell you this for a while.”

He pauses, gathering his thoughts before continuing. “You know, it all started when we played the whisper game with Yunho, Wooyoung, and Yeosang. I remember watching you laugh, your eyes lighting up when you realized the keyword was the Gingerbread Man, and something about that moment stuck with me. I couldn’t get it out of my mind. After that, I just found myself unconsciously looking forward to seeing you around, noticing the little things that make you who you are. Like, you know, the way you scrunch your nose when you're focused, or how your eyes sparkle when you talk about something you love.”

Seonghwa’s voice grows more tender, his emotions clearly surfacing. “And before I even realized it, I was falling head over heels. Every interaction, every smile, every word you spoke, it all just… drew me in deeper. I was in a tough battle with my feelings, unsure of how to approach you, worried about ruining the friendship we were building, worried about making you feel uncomfortable.”

“But during the festival,” Seonghwa continues, “when we rode the Ferris wheel and you were looking out the window with that beautiful smile on your face as the golden hues of the sunset painted you... that’s when I knew. I knew I was really in love. I saw you bathed in that light, so serene and happy, and it hit me like a speeding truck just how deeply I felt for you.”

He leans forward slightly, his gaze softer than the calm waves of the sea. “You’ve made my life so much more colorful, and I don’t think you even realize it. Your presence brings a kind of warmth and joy that I hadn’t felt in a long time. Every day, I find myself looking forward to the moments I get to spend with you, even if it’s just for a little while. You have this incredible ability to make everything better, just by being, well, you.”

Seonghwa sighs, running a hand through his wavy hair. “I couldn’t keep battling with my feelings any longer. I’m into you, like seriously, really into you. I’m in love with you, and I really, really want to be yours.”

You both stare at each other, unsure what to do next. You couldn’t believe what you just heard.

“Can you step on my feet below the table with your heel, please? Just so I know that I’m not making this all up in my head,” you say, and Seonghwa laughs.

“You’re not,” he starts, and for a moment, you nearly assume he was actually going to step on your feet. Instead, he reaches for your hand laying down on the table. “See? This is as real as it can be.”

His touch is warm and reassuring, and it washes all your worries away completely. You take a deep breath, feeling a wave of courage wash over you. “If this is what we’re doing, then I have something to tell you, too.”

His gaze focuses on you, ready to listen to whatever you have to say. Nervousness was written all over his face—what would your answer be?

“I’ve… I’ve actually liked you all along. Well, at first, it was just a silly little crush. You know, admiring you from afar and thinking you were just really handsome and kind.” You see his eyes widen slightly in surprise, but he doesn’t let go of your hand, his thumb gently stroking the back of it.

“But then,” you continue, “I started talking to you, getting to know you, and it became so much more. I started to fall deeper and deeper, and before I knew it, I was in love. Every time I see you, it’s like the day just brightens up. Your presence makes everything better, and I can’t imagine my life without you in it.”

“I’ve been in a pretty bad place for quite a while,” you admit, your voice softening. “Losing my mom... it left me feeling so lost and hopeless. I used to wake up feeling like there was a gray cloud over me, like the world had lost its color. But then, you came along. Your presence brought a warmth and brightness that I didn’t even realize I was missing. With you, the world started to seem vibrant again. Your smile is like sunshine breaking through the clouds, your laughter like music that drowns out the silence of my sadness. Every moment with you adds a splash of color to my life, turning my grayscale days into something beautiful and vivid.”

Seonghwa’s eyes glisten with emotion as he takes in your words. He squeezes your hand gently, his smile radiating warmth and affection. “I had no idea,” he whispers, and you wonder just how oblivious exactly he is, because you swear you’ve accidentally aired yourself out more than you’ve successfully hid your feelings for him.

“But hearing this from you... it makes me so happy. I’m glad I could bring some light into your life because you’ve done the same for me.”

For a moment, the world seems to stand still as you share the moment, both of you still in shock over the fact that your feelings are mutual. The air around you feels charged with unspoken promises and perhaps even the beginning of something beautiful. Seonghwa smiles, a mixture of happiness and anticipation in his eyes.

“So, where do we go from here?” he asks, a hint of playful curiosity in his voice. You think it’s cute how he sounds so excited.

You smile back, looking forward to the future just as much as he does—perhaps even more. “Wherever this journey takes us,” you say. “Together.”

“Together,” he echoes.

As you both bask in the moment, you glance over Seonghwa’s shoulder and catch sight of Wooyoung and Yunho across the café. They’re watching you with proud smiles and teasing looks plastered on their faces. You can’t help but snicker, causing Seonghwa to turn and see what’s up. He sighs in amusement upon seeing Wooyoung and Yunho’s expressions.

“You know,” you say, turning back to Seonghwa, “I think I finally get why Valentine’s Day is such a crowd favorite.”

He laughs softly, his eyes never leaving yours. “Yeah, I think I do too.”

And in that moment, surrounded by the warm ambiance of the café, the festive decorations you both worked so hard on, and the comforting presence of Seonghwa, you feel like you’re exactly where you’re meant to be.

🪞 — lividstar.

[strlvvr]

my best friend's brother (is the one for me) - matt sturniolo x reader

where y/n has had a crush on her best friend nick’s brother for years

word count: 1.1k words

“i’m not setting you up with my brother.” nick said as he was unlocking the door to his house.

“oh come onnnn,” i whined walking into the house behind him, “he’s so fine though.”

“i’m gonna pretend you didn’t say that actually.” he laughed as matt came out of his room. i stopped for a second or two staring at him. i took in what he was wearing, grey fresh love sweatpants and a tight tank top. his hair all over the place, wiping sleep from his eyes.

"what did she say?" he questioned with tiredness in his voice. "nothing, nothing." i quickly replied eyeing nick not to say anything to his brother.

"you do know it's two p.m. right?" nick asked matt seeing the boy still in pajamas and obviously tired. 

"and? can't a man sleep in?" he said sarcastically. i couldn't help but laugh as i put the snacks me and nick had just bought in the fridge. "why are you laughing miss ‘sleep until four p.m.’? you can't be saying anything here." matt eyed me making me stop laughing as soon as he spoke.

"hey now, i haven't done that in months. didn't you just do that, let me see, yesterday?" i retorted watching him roll his eyes at my comment. 

i've been friends with the triplets since high school and moved out to l.a. around the same time as them. we became closer with the move, all of us looking for houses and making sure whatever houses we found weren't too far from each other.

i've had a crush on matt since we first met. only recently have i realized it's way more than a crush. i find myself craving him and his presence. we've always had more of a flirty friendship, which didn't help any of my feelings towards him. his nicknames for me bordering pet names, sweetheart, princess, baby.

“whatever you say, princess.” 

“of course we can get food, sweetheart.”

“I don’t want to not live by you, baby.”

of course i never believed he ever meant anything by it, but they still made my stomach flutter and my heart skip a beat. the way he said it so casually but yet so lovingly never failed to have me in my head wondering if he really meant what he said.

"what'd you guys get me?" chris asked the second he walked up and saw the bags, no "how are you guys" or "how was the trip".

"nothing. you said you didn't want anything. all four times we asked you." nick said after grabbing one of the drinks we had just bought. i grabbed the pepsi i knew he wanted, along with some of his usual snacks and threw them to him.

"see at least y/n loves me." chris said to nick and then stuck his tongue out at him.

"did you get me anything?" matt asked walking over to me, not stopping til he was right behind me. my breath hitched as he put his hand on my waist.

"yeah, a root beer and the food you texted me about." i replied as calmly as i could, secretly hoping he wouldn't leave his spot to grab them. 

"thank you, baby." he whispered into my ear before he pulled away to go find everything, his hand trailing my lower back as he walked away.

he knew what he was doing. there was no way he didn't. i know he feels the way my body shifts into him, the way my breathing gets heavier, the effect only he seems to have on me.

“what are we watching tonight?” i asked while walking over to put my drink on the coffee table, and then grabbing my blanket from the basket. 

“what about retribution?” matt suggested sitting in his usual spot on the couch next to me.

“you only wanna watch that for liam neeson.” i told him, grabbing the remote to put on something that wasn’t a liam neeson movie.

“yeah, but he’s just so good.” matt emphasized, moving his arms around trying to make a point.

“what about the crow?” i asked everyone, only to be met with groans from everyone.

“yeah for the thousandth time? no thanks.” chris said, rolling his eyes and throwing popcorn at me. 

“yeah and it’s my turn to choose a movie tonight so i don’t see the problem here..” i told him while going to amazon prime and searching up the movie. 

as the movie got to my favorite scene, i moved closer to matt to lay on his shoulder. as i was moving he pulled his arm up for me to be closer. as the movie got more gruesome, i felt him hiding in my hair so he didn’t have to watch.

“something funny?” matt asked once he felt me laughing.

“yeah, you. you do this every time at this exact part too.” i looked up at him still laughing a bit, only to find him already looking at me. i put my head back down onto his chest to hide the blush creeping onto my cheeks, directing my attention back to my favorite movie.

“i don’t know why you like this movie so much, it’s weird.” nick complained, obviously intrigued in the movie though. 

i roll my eyes, “is that why you’re still watching?”

as the movie went on and i got more tired, i moved down into matt’s lap and put my feet up on the couch. once i was comfortable, i felt matt start to shift around underneath me. 

“can you stop moving around, you’re bothering me.” i almost yelled at him, while trying to stay comfortable.

“sorry sweetheart.” he said, moving his hand to my hair, slightly massaging my head. after a couple minutes of that, i was starting to fall asleep. i woke up to him adjusting himself, yet again. this time he got up and started walking towards the bathroom. 

“where are you going?” i whined, missing the comfort of him.

“nowhere, just the bathroom.” he said quietly, before rushing off to the bathroom. i moved into his spot, trying to keep what was left of the warmth before he got up. i squint my eyes in confusion, wondering why he rushed off so quickly. but i decided to ignore it and got up and went to the kitchen to grab something to drink. i heard something behind me when i closed the fridge, i turned and saw a disheveled matt behind me. 

“you okay?” i questioned once i took in the sight in front of me.

“all good, sweetheart.” he answered, with a familiar look in his eye that made my knees weak. 

“you wanna grab me another drink while we’re here?” he asked, still staring at me.“oh yeah, sure,” i turn back to the fridge to grab whatever was in there for him. as i handed it to him i couldn’t help but watch him take the can, the way his fingers wrapped around it had my mind going places it shouldn’t be going.

especially not about my best friend’s brother.

tag list:

@beersangel @whoseyouare @wh0schl0

[chukys-mouthguard]

What if?

Genre: fluff

Word count: 3,229 words

Featuring: matt rempe x female reader

Warnings: drunk guy being an asshole at the bar, aggressive/protective Matt

Note: okay, this is the first thing I’ve written in years, please be kind 😅 I just got a thing for this man now idk…feel free to send in some requests or let me know if you want more to this story? Not sure if it will be a one off or a little series

“Okay, how do I look?” You walk down the hall of your apartment, stopping to pose for Matt so he can give you his stamp of approval. He eyes you up and down, as if he is going to deliver some harsh critique. Your outfit is nothing crazy; jeans, a gray long sleeved bodysuit, black heeled boots, and a small cross body bag. With the New York City weather still chilly out, you figured it would keep you warm along with the alcohol you’d be consuming.

“Beautiful as always. But let’s try and keep the collecting of guys' phone numbers to a minimum tonight huh?” You laughed as you playfully smacked Matt’s arm. Making your way to the fridge to grab your High Noon you’d started sipping on before getting dressed. “Don’t tell me you’re jealous Matthew Rempe.” He shot you a cocky smirk as he leaned on the kitchen island next to you. “Me? Jealous? Never. Because I’m the one in your apartment and not them.” You rolled your eyes as you swallowed down the last bit of seltzer before unplugging your phone from the charger nearby. “Okay Mr. Chauffeur, let’s hit the road.”

You loved having Matt in NYC playing with the Rangers. The two of you had been best friends since you were teenagers, though you’d lost touch a bit once you moved to New York. Matt’s stint in Hartford allowed the chance to slowly reconnect, but having him now with the Rangers was even better. The two of you often spent nights at each other's apartments, going out to dinner, and of course you attended every home game you could to see Matt play.

You’d always had a soft spot for Matt. Sure he was a bit intimidating being practically 7 feet tall, his knuckles cut up or bruised half the time, and a black eye never seeming to catch you off guard anymore. But you’d gotten close enough to see the side of him most people don’t experience. Though you never imagined your relationship being anything more than what it was. Friends, and nothing more than that. But you couldn’t deny the way you had paid attention to how he’d grown into a man. He had outgrown his awkward phase, and you now looked at him and saw him as handsome, not cute or adorable like he was when you were growing up.

You constantly find yourself thinking, what if you weren’t just imagining things? When he spends the night and walks into your room wearing just a towel after a shower. The way he hugs you and lingers longer than just a friend would. The way he takes care of you when you’re drunk. Or nights like tonight, where he’s willing to stay up late to be your designated driver when he’s got an early morning skate and a big game tomorrow night.

Just one day, one day you’d love to kiss him and see what happens. Or flirt a little extra and see if he takes the bait. But you also don’t want to lose your best friend in the process, or be turned down and embarrassed for thinking he’d ever feel that way about you.

“So what’s the plan for tonight?” Matt asks as he puts a hand on the back of your seat as he looks over his shoulder, backing out of his parking space. It’s such a cliche action, but boy does he look good doing it, and your heart certainly skipped a beat.

“The typical routine. Start at Tucker’s. Then move on to 1989. Then finish-“ “At Coop’s?” Matt smirked as he looked out at the road. One hand on the wheel with the other resting on his thigh. He was literally in jeans and a hoodie yet somehow he looked just as good as he does in a suit on game day. “Either that means I go out too much, or you’re finally starting to pay attention when I tell you things.” “Definitely not paying attention, it’s you going out too much.” He laughed as you playfully punched his arm, pulling out your phone to text your friends that you were a few minutes away.

“So Cooper’s closes at 2:30, but I honestly don’t think I’ll last that long. Especially because someone has a big game tomorrow! And I wanna be well rested. So let’s plan for like 12:30/1? Is that okay?” You looked at Matt a bit apologetic, knowing he’d have to be up early for morning skate. But he was always adamant about driving you, no matter what time it was.

“Of course, you know I’ll be here no matter the time. I’ll plan to be at Coop’s around 12:45. I’ll come in to get you too, it’s gonna be cold and dark out. I don’t want you walking to find me.” You put a hand to his cheek as you make a joking pouty expression. “Aww, such a gentleman Matty.” He smiled at your touch, almost leaning into your hand as he looked back at you, “Anything for you. Now go on, I know the girls are waiting. Text me if you need anything, and I mean anything y/n. I’m not that far of a drive.” You let out a sigh as you undid your seatbelt, “Honestly Matt, nothing to worry about, I’ll be fine.” You blew him an air kiss as you exited the car, heading into the first bar of the night. Matt sat and watched you show your ID to the man at the door, waiting until he saw you get inside safely to drive away.

As promised, Matt arrived at Cooper's around 12:45. He was thankful that you and your friends chose to end your nights at a bar that wasn’t too crazy, but also not too crowded that he might be recognized. Just to be safe he threw on a hat to shield his face as much as he could, though the bar was so dark he doubted anyone would be able to make out his face in the crowd.

He handed his ID to the bouncer before making his way inside. He texted you a simple “I’m here”, you would know his typical meeting place and where to go. You were in the restroom when Matt texted, quickly replying “bathroom, be right out” before you sighed as you stared blankly at the wall. The line in the girls restroom always 100 times longer than it was for the guys.

Matt didn’t mind waiting, he checked some scores on his phone. Assuming that the line was long since girls love to use the buddy system when going to the bathroom. He scanned the crowd and enjoyed people watching, nodding his head and smiling softly as your friends gave him a wave from across the bar. He checked the time again, before glancing over towards the hallway to find you pushing past a crowd of girls to exit the restrooms. He chuckled to himself as he saw the frustration on your face, knowing you probably waited 20 minutes just to pee. He started to walk towards you but fell back as he noticed a guy stop you in your tracks.

“Can I help you?” You looked at the man a bit confused, you’d recognized him from the crowd of people, but hadn’t interacted with him much. He was out with a group of guys for someone’s birthday. You only knew that because they mentioned it to you and your friends at least 30 times. Definitely trying to help the birthday boy get laid. “I noticed you’d left your friends, I thought maybe my shot at getting to buy you a drink was gone.” You chuckled to yourself, why does this have to happen in front of Matthew?

“Oh, yeah, I’m actually on my way out. So, maybe another time. Sorry.” You try to excuse yourself but he moves with you, cutting you off. “Oh come on, one more drink isn’t gonna hurt anyone. Or if you want we could go somewhere else, just the two of us and get a drink.” He had a cocky grin on his face as you looked at him in disgust. He was clearly drunk, and wasn’t keen on taking no for an answer. You looked at Matt standing just a few feet away, a concerned look on his face as he wasn’t sure what was going on.

“Look, I’m not interested, okay?” He scoffed as he seemed to be a bit insulted by your comment. “Not interested, you and your friends were dancing right up against our group all night. I saw the way you were eyeing all of us guys, I’d say you were interested sweet heart.” You gagged at the smell of alcohol on his breath as he got closer to you. “Yeah news flash buddy, it’s a small fucking bar. My option was dancing right next to people or on the bar.”

As you tried walking past him to get to Matt, you felt a tight grip on your wrist pull you back, “That sounds hot, can you put on a show just for me?” His hands attempted to grab more than just your wrists but before you could react Matt was already stepping in, pulling the guy away from you and pinning him to the wall by the collar of his shirt. “Don’t you dare fucking touch her like that.”

You were a bit taken aback at the way Matt stepped in. Sure he’d protected you from dumb drunk guys before, but never like this. His jaw clenched as his grip tightened on the collar of the man’s shirt. “And what the fuck are you gonna do about it huh? What are you her little brother or something? Ain’t no way you’re banging a bitch like that.” Matt’s grip tightened on his collar as he pushed him harder into the wall, “what did you just call her?!” His voice louder, drawing a bit of attention, thankfully none yet from the bouncer.

“A bitch, and what are you gonna do about it?” The drunk dumbass laughed in Matt’s face and you knew this wouldn’t end well.

Before you could step in, Matt’s fist connected with the guy's jaw, causing him to stumble to the floor. Before pulling himself together and running off to the restroom.

“Fuck!”

Matt shook his hand as he winced, immediately realizing he fucked up but his anger got the best of him. “Come on, let’s get out of here.” You grabbed his arm and pulled him toward the door. Thank god no one seemed to really notice the altercation that just took place.

The walk to the car was quiet as Matt was still fuming, you simply climbed into the passenger in silence. He gripped the steering wheel tight with his good hand as he peeled out of the parking lot. You sat next to him, studying his face to see when it might be a good time to say something. Blue and purple started to appear across the knuckles on the hand that threw the punch as he let out a large sigh.

“I’m sorry.”

You let out a soft laugh as you rested a hand on his thigh, softly holding his bruised hand, careful not to hurt him. “Sorry for what? You didn’t do anything wrong? You stepped in as I would’ve hoped you would the second that guy put his hands on me. Don’t be sorry for that!” He seemed to relax at your touch, so you kept your hand on his, slowly brushing your thumb over his skin to attempt to calm him down.

The rest of the car ride was quiet, the two of you heading back to Matt’s apartment since he had to be up early for practice. You kept your eyes on him, studying the look on his face, wishing you were in his head to know what the heck he was thinking. He took your hand in his as you two walked through the quiet parking garage, then headed up the elevator.

You knew your way around his place, first going to his room to grab an oversized t-shirt to throw on before heading to the bathroom to take off your makeup. Matt was sweet enough to go out and buy you your own toiletries to keep at his place. Including your makeup remover and even your 4 step skincare routine.

Matt came to join you in the bathroom as you brushed your teeth. He smiled at the sight of you as he leaned against the wall: your hair in a messy bun, his oversized Seattle Thunderbirds t shirt covering you up enough while still giving him a good view of your legs. “What?” You chuckled as you tried not to choke on the tooth paste threatening to fall from your lips. He just shook his head, “Just glad nothing bad happened to you tonight. I’m glad I was there.” He took your hand, his fingers fiddling with yours, “I just kept thinking what if i wasn’t there, I couldn’t handle it if anything would’ve happened.”

You looked at him in the mirror, relief and exhaustion covered his face. “I’m really glad you were there too, but I really hope we don’t end up with a possible scandal on our hands.” You started laughing as you exited the bathroom, Matthew following suit. “New York Rangers rookie Matthew Rempe gets in a bar fight over a girl.” You spoke in a sarcastic newscaster voice as you made your way to the freezer, grabbing a bag of frozen peas to tend to Matt’s fist bearing the proof of his heroic actions at the bar.

Matt chuckled along with you before wincing at the feeling of the cold bag on his hand, “If it happens, so be it, I was ready to knock that son of a bitch out after what he said to you.” You shot him a glare, “Matthew Rempe. Absolutely not, I am not worth you getting in trouble with the team because of a dumb bar fight.” He walked over to you, now the one shooting you a glare. His arms rested on either side of your waist as he gripped the edge of the counter. “Y/n, yes you fucking are.” You shot him a look as he swiftly picked you up and sat you on the island in front of him. A cocky grin coming across his face at how caught off guard you were, gripping his biceps tight as his hands now moved to rest on your thighs. “I’d fight 20 guys at the bar if they put their hands on you and said shit like that guy tonight.” His tone now more serious, his smirk fading as you two stared at one another for what seemed like an hour. The voice in your head screaming at you, this is your what if moment. Take it or leave it, but it may never come again. What if he’s trying to confess his feelings, what if he’s trying to make a move but he’s too scared. What if you just beat him to the punch. What if-

Before your brain could even rationalize a thought or an action, you felt Matt’s lips crash into yours. His hands cupping your face as yours snaked up his neck to grab a handful of his hair. The kiss like fireworks and a weight being lifted off your shoulders all at once. He began to smile into the kiss, before pulling away with a slight laugh.

“Oh yeah, that’s exactly what every girl wants. The guys she’s been dreaming of kissing to pull away laughing!” You rolled your eyes and frowned at him as a look of shock washed over his face. “Been dreaming of kissing huh??? I knew it!” You immediately turned red, covering your face with your hands, though Matt found it extremely cute.

His hands gripping your thighs before lifting you off the counter, “It’s okay, i get it. I’m sure there’s lots of girls out there who dream of kissing me.” “Matt! Shut up!” You laughed as he carried you down the hall into his room, tossing you on the bed while he finally changed out of his jeans and sweatshirt. “Hey, listen…if you’re interested, maybe we could work something out so that you can be the only girl who gets to kiss me from now on. How does that sound?”

You barely heard him, too busy staring as he stood in just his underwear in front of you. Your eyes tracing every detail of him before his laugh interrupted your thoughts. “Damn, one kiss and all of sudden you’re just head over heels huh?” You pull a pillow over your face out of embarrassment as you feel the bed sink beneath his weight. Matthew now hovering above you as he pulls the pillow away from your face.

He brushed some hair from your face as your fingers play with his chain hanging from his neck, “you really want to kiss me and only me from now on?” You blushed as he shook his head laughing at you, “of course you goof! That’s all I’ve wanted for like the last 5 years, probably even longer!” You felt yourself trying to fight a smile, though you were sure your cheeks were bright red, letting Matt know you liked his response.

He laid next to you as you continued to play with his chain, now resting on his chest. His thumb tracing circles on your thigh as you smiled like a dork to yourself, your heart bursting with excitement that all your what ifs had come true.

“So if I agree to this-“ you say up, trying to pull a serious face as you looked down at him. His hands still glued to your thighs, as if he couldn’t get enough of touching you now. “Do I get a cute custom Rempe jean jacket or something to wear to your games? Like I wanna be decked out and I want people to know that I'm the only girl you’re kissing from now on.” Matt rolled his eyes and laughed at your change of tone, as you babbled on and on about your ‘conditions’ should you agree to this. But he loved the thought of you in a Rempe jacket at his games, getting to see afterwards and kiss you like crazy after a big win, to have you be his biggest fan cheering him on every night. Even though you already were, now it would be more special.

“Listen.”

Matt cut you off as he pulled you into his lap, his hand pulling your face to his as he kissed you. This time the kiss was soft, as he took his time to really take in the feeling of finally getting to kiss you and be this close to you. “If you be my girlfriend, I’ll get you whatever jacket you want, I’ll get you the best seats at the Garden for my games, you name it. Just make me the happiest guy ever and be my girlfriend!” You laughed at how he begged like a little kid who couldn’t contain their excitement.

“Yes-“ you peppered his face with a hundred kisses, “Matthew Rempe, I would absolutely love to be your girlfriend.”