#angeles city vlogs

[realtyhubph-blog]

578 SQM Commercial Angeles near Holy Angel

Own a piece of prime Angeles City. This spacious 580sqm property is within walking distance to Holy Angel University, malls, schools & more. Perfect for development or investment! Inquire now!

LOCATION 📍 Brgy San Jose, Angeles City Pampanga Philippines FEATURES TYPE: Lot with Old Improvement📐 Lot: 578 sq.m Floor: 175 sq.m✅ Old House with small commercial space in front✅ Title Status: On-hand, has pending extrajudicial settlement POINTS OF INTEREST Holy Angel University • Tollhouse Main • Holy Rosary Parish • SM Telabastagan • NEPO Mall Complex • Rockwell NEPO • Veloce Tower Mall…

[vanteguccir]

The right love for me | M.S.

Matt Sturniolo x fem!oc (Elena)

Summary: Where Elena and Matt grew up together, fell in love as kids but realized too late. Will there be any hope for them?

Warning: A little angst and mentions of cheating.

Word count: 4.5k

Author's note: That is my work, I DON'T authorize any plagiarism! | English isn't my first language, so I'm sorry if there's any grammar error.

Part 2

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Elena was born and raised in Boston, in a two-story house, next door to one of the most beautiful houses in the city, but not because of its external beauty, but because of who lived inside.

Elena grew up being the next-door neighbor of the Sturniolo triplets, she also studied at the same school as the three of them, these two factors made her and the trio become almost a fantastic quartet.

The four of them grew up together, ran down the street every day together, got dirty with dirt and mud on rainy days together, played cooking together (they were forced by her) and, best of all, they made mini "vlogs" together throughout their childhood and pre-adolescence, becoming literally inseparable.

Nick was Elena's confidant, always there to listen to her and give faithful advice to the girl, giving her a shoulder to cry on and a company to laugh when needed. Nick trusted Elena with his eyes closed and loved her with all his heart, so much so that she was the first one he came out to.

Chris was her partner in crime, the two grew up playing pranks on their parents, brothers (on his side) and neighbors. Chris saw Elena as his anchor, losing count of how many times he entered the girl's room through the window in the early hours of the morning to vent or just to be able to sleep with her company, dispelling his biggest fears.

Matt was a different case. Matt was the boy who took her as his date to every school dance and accompanied her to every friend's party. Matt was the boy who bought Elena flowers every week and took her to the city's summer amusement parks, always making sure to get her a different teddy bear. Matt was the boy who made her heart flutter, but also stay in a sacred calm; that made her body freeze, but also warm with affection. He was the one who introduced the feeling of love to her...

But who said he did anything about it? Despite acting almost like her boyfriend, Matt was afraid of rejection, after all, his heart belonged 100% to Elena and he couldn't bear having it completely stolen from him if she denied it. And that's why, out of a silly but genuine fear, he lost her.

At the age of 17, Elena moved to New York with her parents after her mother received a job offer that she couldn't refuse and that would open doors for her career. Seeing her leave was one of the hardest things Matt has been through, but the most painful was seeing her post on Instagram, 6 months after she left. Elena was dating, and it wasn't him.

Over time, things changed, the triplets moved to Los Angeles and grew dramatically on social media, becoming extremely well-known and loved on the Internet.

And Elena... well, Elena finished school and started International Relations at NYU, working at a coffee shop near her house so she could save money, since she was engaged. That's right, her boyfriend, Jeremy, of almost 2 years had asked her to marry him. It was a big shock and Elena had to think a lot before accepting, but it was her dream, to have a successful career and raise a family. Right?

Elena and Jeremy were in the middle of a month of decisions for the wedding, decoration, food, cake, clothes, etc., so Elena was feeling overwhelmed, it was a lot on her mind, and she found herself wondering if that was really what she wanted. Therefore, the girl (now woman) decided to pay a visit to her grandparents, who still lived in Boston. Cooling down in a place more than familiar to her seemed ideal now.

Elena just didn't expect that her grandmother would tell Mary Lou, and that Mary would tell Nick, who would tell his brothers, generating a secret collective trip to Boston. The triplets were dying to see Elena, after all, it had been 2 years since they had seen her best friend, or, in Matt's case, crush.

It was a Saturday morning when Elena landed in Boston, quickly grabbing her small suitcase and hailing a taxi at the airport's main pedestrian entry and exit gate, giving as her destination address her grandparents' house, which coincidentally, was on the same street where she grew up.

Elena planned to stay in Boston only until the next day, Sunday, since Monday she had classes again and she was going back to work, besides she knew that if she stayed much longer away from home, from Jeremy, he would lose his mind.

It didn't take long for Elena to arrive at her destination. The girl got out of the car after paying the taxi driver and took her suitcase from the trunk, thanking him once again before she knocked on the front door, waiting.

It was a big surprise for her when her grandfather opened the door and behind him were her best friends, Nick was holding a sign that said "WELCOME BACK, ELENA! WE MISSED YOU ♡", while Chris was holding three packets of her favorite candy in his hands and Matt held a bouquet of flowers that almost hid his red face, Elena wondered if it was from embarrassment or the heat from the summer.

The girl dropped the suitcase, bringing her right hand to her mouth, covering half of her surprised expression. She felt her eyes fill with tears, God, how she missed the three boys.

Next to her were her grandparents, with big smiles on their faces and bright eyes, watching her with a mix of affection and pride.

"Oh my God, you guys are crazy! What are you doing in Boston? I thought you were in LA!" Elena exclaimed, her voice cracking mid-sentence with high emotions.

"We were, but Grandma told our mom that you were coming here today and I couldn't handle missing my best friend anymore." Nick said as he placed the poster on the couch. He turned quickly and ran to the girl, hugging her tightly. The action seemed to wake Matt and Chris, who quickly moved and formed a mini line behind the oldest.

"Damn, you look old" Chris joked when his brother got out of the hug, laughing loudly when Elena hit his forehead. "Here, to sweeten your life." He scoffed, handing the candy packets to her.

"I have to check if these aren't sour candies, coming from you I expect everything." Elena joked, taking the candies and placing them on top of her suitcase. She opened her arms and hugged Chris momentarily.

Chris pulled away as they separated and positioned himself next to Nick, the two exchanging glances before turning their gaze to Matt.

"They're pink tulips, I hope they're still your favorites" Matt stepped forward, showing the full bouquet before handing it to her.

"Oh Matt, they're beautiful! Thank you" Elena received the bouquet, smelling them quickly and mentally punishing herself for blushing.

Matt smiled widely and watched her for a few seconds, only breaking out of his trance when he heard Elena's grandfather make a fake cough. The boy shook his head and walked away, lowering his gaze to the ground.

Elena quickly placed the bouquet on the coffee table and finally greeted her grandparents, placing kisses on their age-marked cheeks.

"Let's take these things to your room and make plans for the weekend!" Nick spoke loudly, throwing the candies to Chris and taking the small suitcase in his hands, before starting to climb the stairs without waiting for anyone.

Elena laughed loudly as she heard Chris swear at Nick as he bent down to pick up the packages that fell at his feet. Matt shook his head, smiling as he saw the girl take the bouquet with extreme delicacy.

The three following the oldest up the stairs.

༻﹡﹡﹡﹡﹡﹡﹡༺

Hours later, the quartet found themselves in the triplets parents car, parked at the Mc Donald's they grew up going to, while eating their favorite burguers and catching up on conversations. They spent the afternoon driving around the places they went when young, which made Elena's heart warm, she missed that, that feeling of calm, without any burden, without obligations or responsibilities, just the interest of being happy.

During that early morning, Elena woke up to the sound of rocks hitting her window, which she quickly recognized. What surprised her was that when she got up and approached the window it wasn't Chris there, but Matt.

"What are you doing here?" Elena asked in a whisper after opening her window, squinting her eyes as she tried to better see Matt's silhouette in the pitch black night.

"Let me in." Matt whispered back, ignoring her question as he looked down to check if he wasn't about to fall off the edge of the roof.

Elena sighed and walked to the side, giving Matt space to enter through the window, closing it shortly after to stop the night wind of entering the room.

"What are you doing here at this time?" Elena asked again, sitting on the edge of her bed and watching him.

"As if I didn't pay you visits in the early hours of the morning before." He responded smiling, sitting on the bed and dragging himself until his back was against the headboard and his legs were stretched out on the mattress. He slapped his hand on the space beside him, looking at Elena.

The girl sighed but smiled, following his silent request.

"I missed you" Matt commented. "It's strange to live life without you with us"

"I miss you too" Elena replied, looking at him. "It's strange to only keep in touch on the phone and find out about some things through social media" She continued, receiving a nod from the brunette.

"You still have them" Matt realized as he noticed all the teddy bears he got for Elena piled up on top of the dresser next to the closet.

"Of course I have them, why would I throw them away? They're cute and remind me that you're actually good at something" She scoffed, receiving a light push from the boy.

"As if you weren't rooting like crazy for me while I was trying to hit the game targets" He mocked back, seeing Elena roll her eyes with a big smile on her face.

"Obviously, getting teddy bears is better than buying them, have you seen the prices of these little things?" Elena gave a low laugh when she saw Matt open his mouth exaggeratedly, soon after the two burst into laughter together.

"So, are you really going to get married?" Matt asked suddenly after they calmed down, looking directly at her.

"Yeah, I will" She replied, lowering her gaze to her hands, specifically to the silver ring on her left ring finger.

"You don't look very excited" He commented, making the girl sigh.

"I just... I don't know, I'm so young, you know? I'm only 20, getting married seems a bit drastic right now, but Jeremy thinks it will be good for our future, us having the same last name will help in the office" She replied, furrowing his eyebrows.

"What does he do for a living again?" The brunette asked.

"He currently works at his father's office and studies law," Elena said, noticing the grimace he made at her response. "What?"

"He doesn't seem like your type. In fact, he seems like quite a daddy's boy." Matt commented, regretting it seconds later after seeing Elena's eyebrows raise in surprise.

"And what do you know about my type, Matthew?"

"I'm sorry, ignore what I said" Matt intervened quickly, the last thing he wanted was to fight with Elena now, knowing that after that Sunday, he didn't know when he would see her again. Maybe at her wedding, the boy felt himself shudder at the thought.

Elena sighed.

"You know that my dream has always been to be successful with my career and have my own family. Us getting married would give me both... Having his last name, I will be able to start my International Relations profession within the office that soon will be his, which will make me grow faster on the career, and I'll have my own family." Elena spoke while gesturing.

"Sounds like there's a lot of self-interest involved" Matt commented.

"Matthew!" The girl exclaimed, making him raise his arms in a sign of redemption.

"Sorry, sorry." He sighed. "I remember, you know."

"What?" Elena looked at him confused.

"How you always wanted a family, when we were kids me, Nick and Chris were always messing around and you were playing mommy with your barbies. You wouldn't let go of that damn Baby Alive even if you were paid to, always taking her everywhere." Matt let out a laugh as he remembered, making Elena laugh along as she saw her own smaller figure running after the triplets with her doll in hands.

"You can't say anything, you always took care of my Baby Alive when I asked you to" The girl replied with a wide smile, watching Matt roll his eyes exaggeratedly while she laughed as quietly as she could.

The brunette turned to her to rebut, but stopped in his action, reinforcing in his mind every detail of the face of the girl who had his heart in her hands, details that he had memorized a long time ago and still found himself remembering and tracing in his mind on sleepless nights.

The two stared deeply at each other for what seemed like an eternity, before Elena looked away and fake coughed.

"Just think about your decision Elena." Matt asked softly before getting up from the queen sized bed.

"Where are you going?" Elena looked at him again, her eyes pleading, as if she was afraid he would leave her there, alone and without him.

"I'm going back home, if my mother wakes up and doesn't see me in bed in the morning, I'm sure she'll freak out, and the situation won't turn out very well for us." He spoke with a sigh, going to the window and opening it, looking back one last time, before moving outside, closing it again before disappearing from the girl's vision.

Elena stood still for a few minutes, processing the conversation and that last moment, feeling her heart sink at the thought of not seeing the boy again for a long time after Sunday. It felt like a goodbye.

༻﹡﹡﹡﹡﹡﹡﹡༺

On the next day, Elena woke up significantly early as she felt the sun's rays coming through her window. As she opened her eyes, ready to complain about why it was so bright in the room, she remembered Matt leaving and how she forgot to get up and close the curtains.

The girl sighed, before getting up and getting ready for the day. She felt excited to be able to see her friends again, but her heart ached at the thought that that very night she would leave again.

After getting ready, Elena took her cell phone and saw a message left by Jeremy.

"I hope you're having a good time there. I can't wait to have you here again today, I can't stop looking at the wedding catalogues. Do you prefer chocolate or vanilla cake? xx, jeremy"

Elena sighed again, it's obvious she preferred vanilla, how did he not know that? The girl shook her head, deciding to answer him another time.

༻﹡﹡﹡﹡﹡﹡﹡༺

"What are we doing today?" Nick asked as they found themselves in front of the triplets' door, as they had done years before.

"I thought we'd go to the amusement park, the one that only opens in the summer, you know? Like old days." Matt suggested. Elena looked at him when she heard about the park, quickly looking away when she saw him already looking back at her. She needed to stop this.

"Let's go then!" Chris spoke loudly, running over to his parents' car again, fiddling with the passenger door handle impatiently, begging Matt to unlock it.

Elena laughed at the action, running to the car too and soon getting into the back seat, sitting behind Chris's group, having a view of the driver's seat.

A few minutes later the four arrived at the amusement park and started going on the basic rides, which the four liked, bumper cars, roller coasters and carousel.

"Can we go on the ferris wheel?" Elena asked, puting her hands in a sign of prayer and looking at the three of them with a pleading look.

"I'm not going, it's too boring. I want to go to the arcade area" Chris replied, ignoring the girl who was begging.

"I want to go to the arcade too!" Nick shouted, raising his hand like a child and approaching Chris, making Elena roll her eyes and cross her arms with a huff.

"I'll go with you." Matt said looking at Elena, who smiled big, taking his hand and dragging him through the park to the ferris wheel line, ignoring the taller man's protests.

༻﹡﹡﹡﹡﹡﹡﹡༺

"Wow, I don't remember the last time I entered a cabin like that" Matt commented, closing the small door behind him and sitting on the single bench next to Elena, who smiled as she nodded and looked at the outside view through the cabin's glass window.

Matt found himself watching her, taking note of her profile, feeling himself falling in love with her all over again.

It didn't take long for the wheel to start moving, the cabin swayed a little making Elena let out a surprised sound, holding onto Matt's arm to steady herself.

"Sorry, I don't remember it moving that much" She commented, smiling awkwardly as she took her hand off the boy's arm, watching him wave his hand like it was nothing.

The two focused their eyes outside the cabin, taking note of the people who looked like little ants as the cabin rose higher, the blue sky with few clouds, the light breeze that blew and the birds that passed by in the distance. Elena looked at the cabin ahead and saw a couple cuddling each other, smiling big as they also watched the view, and she found herself trying to remember if she had ever been through that with Jeremy, but her mind came out was blank.

Her chest tightened as she realized that she had never even been to an amusement park with Jeremy, or a park, or a romantic walk. With Jeremy it was always all about work and having the perfect status.

Her gaze changed from the couple to Matt, noticing that he was also looking at the couple, but quickly his blue eyes focused on her as well.

"I love being able to look at you up close like this," Matt whispered, as if he was afraid of speaking too loudly and end what they were having.

Elena smiled, blushing, but forcing herself not to look away from him, she didn't want to miss that moment for anything. Her eyes took in all the little details of Matt's face, his sparkling blue eyes with dilated pupils, his nose perfectly shaped and the right size for his face, his cheekbones slightly reddened by the heat, his big, messy hair, his beard starting to appear again due to the time without shaving it... She felt like she could stay there forever.

Matt moved slightly closer, stopping with his mouth centimeters from hers, seeming to wait to see if she would pull away, which she didn't. Elena held herself in place, yearning to feel him.

Matt, realizing that there was no movement on her part, moved closer until their lips touched, and Elena felt that everything she read in romance books about the sensations of electricity through her body and the fireworks around her when kissing her right person was true.

Matt let out a sigh through his nose at the sensation, feeling instant relief and as if a weight had been lifted from his shoulders. He never wanted to leave there again.

It was just a touch of lips, but it was enough for them at that moment. It was exactly what they needed.

Elena pulled away first, still with her eyes closed, trying to prolong the feeling and sensations in her body and mind. When she opened her eyes, she noticed Matt already looking at her, smiling broadly, and she returned the smile.

"I love you." Matt blurted out, making Elena's eyes widen. "Elena, I'm sorry for not having said or done anything before, but I've loved you for as long as I can remember, since the first flower I plucked from my mother's garden and gave to you, since the first time you gave me your Baby Alive for me to take care of as if it were the most precious thing in the world, since the first day you asked me to kiss your scraped knee to heal it. I've loved you for so long and I was an idiot for not saying it. And it's okay if you don't want me, you're engaged, you have a life in New York and... Asking you to leave all of this is impossible, but I needed to tell you."

Before Elena could process it, the bubble around the two seemed to burst as the ferris wheel stopped and their turn was over, the little cabin door opening again.

Matt cleared his throat, getting up and helping Elena out. When they both touched their feet on the floor, Elena felt her cell phone vibrate, picking it up only to see that Jeremy was sending her a new message about the wedding, and at that moment she fell to reality, she had cheated on her fiancé with her best friend. A bitter taste entered her mouth, her body froze and a horrible feeling took over her heart. God, what did she do?

Elena quickly pulled away from Matt, feeling her hands shake. She put her cell phone in her bag and turned to the taller man, seeing him looking at her with a worried look.

"Matt I cheated on him... I-I cheated on my fiancé with you." She stuttered. Matt looked at her with a weight on his eyes, feeling horrible for having contributed to that, blaming himself for kissing her, wanting to go back in time and not even agreeing to go on the ferris wheel with the girl.

He loved her, but she didn't love him back, not like he wanted her to.

"Elena look, it's going to be okay, you can talk to him, I swear I won't approach you again, I'm sorry-"

"I-I need to go."

"What?" Matt stopped walking completely.

"I need to go Matt." She looked into his eyes, feeling guilty as she saw immense pain in the blue pools. "Don't go after me, please. I'm sorry."

Elena turned and ran away, wiping the tears that fell from her eyes without stopping and feeling an emptiness and weight in her chest, as if part of her had stayed with Matt.

༻﹡﹡﹡﹡﹡﹡﹡༺

The girl got out of the taxi in front of her grandparents house and walked to the door, taking the spare key that her grandfather had given her, trying to unlock the lock with her blurry vision.

"Elena?" The girl heard her grandmother call from the kitchen after closing the door behind her.

"Hi grandma." Elena responded, her voice cracking from the held back cry.

Her grandmother quickly appeared at the kitchen door after noticing the difference in her granddaughter's voice, approaching with quick steps when she saw the youngest's red eyes and wet cheeks.

"Oh Elena, what happened?" The older woman asked worriedly, taking Elena's shoulders and leading her to the sofa, sitting her on the soft surface and sitting next to her.

"Why does love hurt so much, grandma?" Elena asked, letting out a sob. Her grandmother sighed, pulling her into a tight hug.

"Oh Elena, love doesn't hurt dear. It took me many years to learn that, if love is right for you and your heart, and it's reciprocal, it doesn't hurt, it wasn't made to hurt. It was with your grandfather that I learned that love is free, it is generous, it is safe and it empowers you in a way that makes you feel stronger and like you can conquer the world." The oldest explained with a smile. "Do you want to talk about what happened?"

"I kissed Matt." Elena said, looking down at her hands, quickly looking away from the ring. "We went to the amusement park we went to as kids, I wanted to go on the ferris wheel and he accompanied me, we had a moment and we kissed."

"He always looked at you differently... And you at him, so much so that I swore you two would end up together. I remember all the times you came running here with a new flower in your hands and said it was from Matt, as If I didn't already know that." Elena smiled upon hearing her grandmother's words.

"But grandma, I'm engaged." She whispered regretfully.

"Do you love Jeremy?" The eldest asked, cupping her granddaughter's cheek and lifting her face so she could look her in the eyes.

"I-I... I don't know." Elena desperately tried to feel for Jeremy what she felt for Matt. "I don't feel about him what I feel when I think about Matt, or when I'm with him. Jeremy is an incredible man, with a planned and perfect life... I feel so pressured sometimes, like I have to be perfect all the time to fit in with him and his plans. It's not light, grandma."

Elena cried harder when she realized how heavy her days were with Jeremy, how she always had to have the most impeccable and perfect clothes, with the best posture, the most flawless makeup, the best-groomed hair and the best modes. How she felt about being looked at and evaluated by everyone all the time, especially at Jeremy's parenting conferences or in her father's office.

"Elena, pay close attention to me, what does your heart say if you spend more time worrying about perfection than kissing him? If you spend more time in the day thinking about a thousand things than living love lightly? Do you feel like to run away when with him? Honey, I'm sorry, but that's not love. Not the right one for you, at least."

Elena looked at her grandmother, surprised by her wisdom and how it all made sense.

Jeremy was a perfect man, but not for her. Matt was her perfect match.

God, what would she do now? She ran out of the park and left Matt all by himself after he declared his love for her. And she still had Jeremy...

"I already know what I gave to do."

༻✦༺ 　༻✧༺　༻✦༺

Part 2

[lonelystczennie]

Surprise Visit

Haechan x Reader

Summary: You and Haechan spend the day together after you surprise him on tour.

Word Count: 700+

Warnings: swearing, teeniest bit suggestive, not proofread

A/N: Thanks to the lovely anon who requested this! This is kinda set in New York, cause it reminded me of when he and part of 127 went exploring on Ty’s vlog last year. Hope you like it!

Masterlist

Requests are open

°•°•°•°•°•°•°•°•°•°•°•°•°•°•°•°•°•°•°•°•°•

‘304. 305. 306.’ You quickly scanned the room numbers as you made your way down the hotel hallway, double checking the info Mark had texted you for what felt like the hundredth time, unable to quell the flurry of nerves in your stomach as you finally found the correct room.

The same list of worries that had pestered you for hours on the plane rolled through your mind again. What if he wasn’t here right now? What if he was busy? What if he was upset at you showing up like this?

Granted, that last one was highly unlikely, based on the way he’d been lamenting to you over video calls and text in the last two weeks. If you’d had a nickel for everytime either of you had said “I miss you”, it would’ve more than covered the cost for your flight here.

Taking a deep breath, you knocked lightly.

“Room service!” You called.

You could hear a faint “What?” from inside, followed by the sound of shuffling footsteps before the door was suddenly thrown open with a loud screech.

“BABY!” You were immediately engulfed in the tightest bear hug from him, nearly tipping off balance from the force of impact.

“MY BABY!” He cried, clinging to you.

“Hyuck shush, people’ll think you're being murdered.” You giggled, struggling to breathe.

“I don’t care! My baby! My angel!” He cried, covering your face in kisses as he pulled you into his room.

“What are you doing here? How did you get here?” He asked once he finally relaxed his hold on you.

“You kept saying how much you missed me, so I asked Mark and the guys to help me surprise you.” You explained.

“That’s what they kept snickering about earlier.” Haechan realized, recalling how Jaemin kept grinning while asking if he’d talked to you yet that day.

“You know, I’m not sure how I feel about you texting my members behind my back.” He told you with a small frown.

“You wanna get jealous or do you wanna be happy that I’m here?” You asked.

“I can do both.” He replied, earning a shove from you that he played up by falling back on the bed dramatically. “Agh, I’ve been hit! Medic!”

You laughed as you sat down next to him. “So is there anything you wanna do today?”

“I can think of a few things.” He said with a smirk, reaching for you teasingly.

You swatted his hands away, giving him a pointed look. “Besides that.”

“Alright then, that sounds fun.” You agreed.

“Fine.” He groaned, thinking for a moment. “Do you wanna go explore the city? Do some sightseeing? I can take the afternoon off.”

"Won't the others be annoyed though?"

"If they are, they'll only have themselves to blame as your co-conspirators." He said.

The two of you quickly got ready and headed out, opting to steer clear of some of the busier tourist areas and wandering around downtown, going in and out of little shops that you thought looked interesting, till you happened to pass a particular restaurant that Haechan recognized.

“Wait! I remember coming here with the 127 hyungs, let’s eat here!” He said excitedly, already pulling you along inside.

“See? They have games and ping pong tables, you wanna play a round?” He asked, already gravitating towards an empty table.

“You sure you want to get your ass beat by me again like last time?” You teased, raising a brow at him.

“I’ll have you know that I’ve been practicing, so it’s your ass that’s in danger this time, babe.” He said cockily, twirling a paddle.

“Alright, then, loser pays for lunch?” You suggested.

“Deal.”

*Ten minutes later*

“That’s match point, I win!” You squealed as you spun around in celebration.

When you turned back around, you noticed he just stood staring at you, a crooked grin adorning his face.

“You look awfully happy for someone who just lost a bet.” You commented.

“I just can’t believe that you’re actually here.” He said with a small laugh.

“It was a good surprise then?” You asked.

“The best surprise.” He said, coming round the table to wrap his arms around you. “I swear, I want to take you everywhere with me from now on.”

“Yeah?”

“Mhm.” He hummed, leaning down to kiss your nose.

“That can be discussed, but first I want fries.” You grinned.

He laughed. “Why do I feel like I’ve been hustled?”

“Beats me, you’re the one that agreed to it.” You said, turning to head for the seats.

“I’d always agree to you.” He whispered.

[onlyonetifosi]

Behind the camera -> chapter 8

<- previous series masterlist my main masterlist next ->

author note1: more yn/joris fluff 🥹🥹 based on charles los angeles vlog here

The warm California sun welcomed Charles Leclerc and his entourage as they stepped off the plane at Los Angeles International Airport. The city's vibrant energy and palm-lined streets signaled the beginning of a much-needed break for the Formula 1 driver and his companions.

"Ah, Los Angeles! It's good to be here," Charles exclaimed, stretching his arms wide.

Andrea, Charles’ trainer, nodded in agreement. "Sì, Los Angeles è sempre bello. È il momento di divertirsi" ( Los Angeles is always beautifuI) (t's time to have fun)

Joris, Charles's best friend and Yn's boyfriend, grinned. "Time for some fun, my friends!"

As they settled into their luxurious villa, Charles couldn't help but feel a sense of excitement. "This is exactly what I needed, guys. A break from the racing world and some time to unwind," he said, a genuine smile on his face.

The group, which included Charles, Andrea, Joris, Charles's girlfriend Alexandra, Riccardo, and his wife Marta, as well as Antoine, Charles's photographer and videographer, headed to their hotel to drop off their bags. Charles couldn't help but glance at Yn, his twin sister, who was engaged in lively conversation with Alex.

"Hey, Yn, ready for some LA adventures?" Charles teased, a mischievous smile playing on his lips.

Yn rolled her eyes. "Always ready, Charles. As long as you don't embarrass me too much, big brother"

The group's first activity was a friendly basketball game at a nearby court. Charles, not known for his basketball skills, tried his best to dribble and shoot hoops.

"Mon dieu, Charles, maybe stick to racing, tu es vraiment nul au basket!" Yn teased him, earning a laugh from the others.

Alexandra chuckled, also teasing him, "Yea, mon cher, maybe stick to the racetrack. Your skills on the court are... how do you say... not impressive."

Charles smirked, replying in kind, "Eh bien, at least I'm a world-class driver, not a basketball player. And Yn you think you’re very funny, Yn. Let's see you try" Charles replied, passing the ball to her.

After a few failed attempts, Yn admitted defeat. "Okay, maybe basketball is not my forte either, it's a twins thing"

The group decided to cool off with some ice cream, sharing laughs and stories. Charles couldn't help but admire the way Joris and Yn interacted—the subtle glances, the shared jokes. It was a reminder of the strong bond they all shared.

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

The following day, the group rented bikes and explored the iconic Venice Beach boardwalk. Charles and Alex shared a tandem e-scooter, while Yn sat on Joris's lap and with Andrea on another.

"Vous avez l'air tellement mignons ensemble!" Alexandra grinned. (You two look so cute together!)

Yn couldn't help but giggle as Joris wrapped his arms around her waist. "Looks like you guys are having fun," Charles shouted from behind them, causing them all to burst out laughing.

Yn blushed, playfully swatting her brother's arm. "Ignorez-lui, il est juste jaloux" Joris calms her before the two siblings start bickering (Ignore him, he’s just jealous)

"Bon, let the race begin!" Charles declared, revving the e-scooter engine.

Andrea struggled to keep up, and Yn couldn't stop giggling at his attempts. The Venice Beach adventure ended with a mini-race, with everyone enjoying the wind in their hair.

Next on the itinerary was a trip from Malibu to Universal Studios. Yn couldn't contain her excitement, especially when they entered The Wizarding World of Harry Potter.

"Charles, we need to buy wands!" Yn exclaimed, practically dragging him into Ollivanders.

"I solemnly swear that I am up to no good," Yn whispered, holding her wand and exploring the magical surroundings and Charles chuckled, indulging his sister's enthusiasm "You really are a fan, aren't you?"

Yn winked. "Always."

"Charles, you have to try the butterbeer! It's amazing!" she exclaimed, dragging him toward the Three Broomsticks.

"Alright, alright, I'll give it a go," Charles chuckled, letting Yn lead the way.

Meanwhile, Joris and Alexandra rushed behind them, especially behind Yn. "I can't believe we're here," Joris whispered

"Me neither, but it's magical and they seem so excited," she replied, high fiving him.

"Look at her, she's like a kid in a candy store," Alexandra remarked, her arm intertwined with Charles'’ when they finally reached the twins in a merchandise shop.

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

The group also spent another day at Six Flags, where Charles, Alex, and Yn attempted to persuade Andrea and Joris to go on some thrilling rides.

"I prefer the safety of solid ground," Joris insisted, while Andrea nodded in agreement.

Charles, not one to be deterred, grabbed Joris and Andrea by their arms and playfully dragged them towards the rides.

"Come on, guys! Live a little!" Charles exclaimed.

"Non, non, pas question," Andrea protested (No, no, out of the question)

Joris nodded in agreement. "We'll pass, thanks"

"Come on, Andrea, we'll hold your hand the whole time," Yn said with a grin.

Yn, ever the persuader, looked at Joris with puppy-dog eyes, "Allez, mon amour, just one ride!"

"Yeah, come on, guys! It's all in good fun," Alexandra urged, exchanging a glance with Yn.

Joris resisted, but Yn's persistence paid off. Andrea, on the other hand, was tougher to crack. Charles, feigning violence, grabbed Andrea and Joris by the collars, threatening with a smile, "You're coming with us, whether you like it or not!"

Andrea finally relented, and the four of them headed to the ride. As they waited in line, Charles couldn't resist teasing Andrea about his fear.

"Don't worry, Andrea, I'll protect you," he joked, wrapping an arm around his trainer.

Andrea rolled his eyes but couldn't hide the smile on his face.

The group's day ended with a whimsical game at the carnival section of Six Flags. A victorious throw won them two enormous plushie bananas. Gleefully, they engaged in a playful banana battle, filling the air with laughter and the occasional thud of soft impacts.

"Attention! Incoming banana attack!" Charles shouted unexpectedly.

Laughter echoed as bananas flew through the air, hitting targets with precision. Alexandra threatened Charles, "If you hit me one more time, you're sleeping on the couch tonight!"

"Banana warfare!" Charles laughed, dodging plushie projectiles.

And they engaged in a hilarious banana fight, Joris and Andrea being the main targets.

The evening continued with board games and ping pong. Charles and Andrea engaged in fierce ping pong battles, while Yn and Alexandra shared laughter and girly moments.

"Hey, Yn, let's go shopping tomorrow before we leave," Alexandra said, breaking Yn out of her thoughts.

Yn grinned. "I would love that"

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

The following morning, Alexandra and Yn set out for their much-anticipated shopping trip in the heart of Los Angeles. The city's famed boutiques and exclusive shops awaited their exploration. The sunlit streets beckoned them as they strolled, laughter and excitement filling the air.

Their first stop was a trendy boutique showcasing the latest in Los Angeles fashion. Racks adorned with colorful dresses, stylish accessories, and unique pieces lined the walls. Alexandra and Yn eagerly sifted through the racks, exchanging opinions and approving nods.

"I can't believe how different the styles are here," Yn remarked, holding up a vibrant sundress.

Alexandra nodded in agreement. "It's a whole new world of fashion. I love it!"

After finding some stylish additions to their wardrobes, the duo headed to Shepora, that promised exclusive and makeup brands that are not available in Europe.

Yn's eyes widened as she discovered the vibrant array of products, including makeup from House Glass, and other niche brands that had yet to make their way across the Atlantic.

"Alex, look at this! I've heard so much about this and now we can finally try it" Yn exclaimed, her excitement contagious.

Alexandra, equally thrilled, added a few items to her basket. "And House Glass! I've been dying to get my hands on their products. This is like a beauty paradise."

The duo then ventured into clothing stores that were exclusive to the United States. American Vintage, Brandy Melville, and Forever 21 were on their list, promising a unique shopping experience with styles not commonly found in their European wardrobes.

As they explored the racks of clothes and tried on various outfits, the two friends couldn't contain their joy. Yn found a bohemian-style dress at American Vintage that perfectly suited her taste, while Alexandra discovered a trendy jacket at Brandy Melville that she couldn't resist.

With bags full of fashionable finds and exclusive makeup and after a successful shopping spree, the duo met with the rest of the group for a leisurely lunch. They chose a charming outdoor cafe with a relaxed atmosphere, where the California sun cast a warm glow over the scene.The vibrant energy of Los Angeles seemed to follow them, making the meal even more enjoyable.

Charles, Joris, Andrea, Riccardo, Marta, and Antoine were eager to hear about the shopping escapades of the two ladies.

"So, how was the shopping spree, ladies?" Charles asked with a grin.

Yn laughed, "We may have gone a little overboard, but it's all worth it."

Yn and Alexandra couldn't stop sharing their excitement, showcasing their newfound treasures and makeup finds. The group laughed and exchanged stories, creating an atmosphere of camaraderie.

Charles, Joris, Andrea, and the others eagerly greeted Yn and Alexandra, curious about their shopping spoils. The table quickly became a showcase of vibrant fabrics and makeup palettes.

"Wow, those dresses are stunning!" Joris exclaimed, eyeing the bags.

"And look at these makeup goodies! You two are going to turn heads," Charles added with a grin.

"Looks like the shopping trip was a success," Joris remarked, his eyes twinkling.

As they settled into lunch, the conversation flowed seamlessly between bites of delicious California cuisine. Yn and Alexandra recounted their shopping adventures, sharing anecdotes about the unique styles and products they discovered.

"Next time, we're all going shopping together!" exclaimed Marta, glancing at the fashionable purchases.

As the sun began to set, casting a warm glow over the city of angels, the group bid farewell to the vibrant streets of Los Angeles. Early the next morning, they would embark on the next leg of their journey, heading to the Vegas Grand Prix.

The excitement in the air was palpable as they boarded the plane, their hearts still buzzing with the memories of the Californian adventure. Ahead lay the glittering lights of Las Vegas, where the roar of engines would once again take center stage in the world of Formula 1.

i hope you liked it and if you want to know more about joris and yn and the adventures they are going to follow stay tuned (drama coming soon)

taglist: @love4lando @gcldtom @im-mi @topguncultleader @celesteblack08 @reblog-princess @sunf1ower16

[sserajeans]

dogs and cats | dani's cats

kang haerin (@/kangyangiz) '06 - istp, school of life sciences: biology, a member of skku's dance troupe, HATES the outdoors, loves her own peace and quiet but she doesn't need a social battery when it comes to her friends, came from the same high school as danielle and eunchae and has known eunchae since they were born, volunteers at the animal shelter sometimes, adores cats (she finds dogs too rowdy), is familiar with minji as they're from the same department

hanni pham (@/hakneep) '04 - infp, school of performing arts: music, also childhood/family friends with y/n and jake (just not as close as those 2 but they're comfortable!), has a youtube channel and posts covers & vlogs!! (semi celeb for them tbh), like(d)(?) y/n for a bit, you'd think she's extroverted when you see her with her friends but she's quite awkward w strangers

hong eunchae (@/hecthegoat) '06 - isfp, school of life sciences: forestry, bothering haerin is probably her full-time job, easygoing, gets along with anyone and everyone! (is she really an introvert?), friends with haerin since forever and was the one who convinced her to join the dance troupe, loves playing cupid for her friends whether they like it or not

yang jungwon (@/y9ngjwon) '04 - isfj, school of humanities: literature, super shy super shy, has a circle with his guy friends but he's closest to the girls, in the taekwondo team, an actual angel w devil tendencies, the type to act straight to protect his friends, sulks everytime they have to drop him off at the boys' residence compound bc he said the communal bathrooms stink like crazy

danielle marsh (@/mojjidani) '05 - enfp, school of business: business communications, the bridge between everyone & their only extrovert (god save them), shares classes with hanni and jungwon, high school friends with eunchae and haerin, got along so well with y/n on orientation day finding out they lived in the same city yet they never got to know each other, actual ball of sunshine everyone just loves her and being around her

masterlist. next.

taglist: @yyeonmis @jiwoneiric @hhongchae @lesleepyyy @rangf @limbforalimb @sofakingwoso @awkwardtoafault @rdfgfv @manooffline @mightymyo @imthisclosetokms @masuowo @khaepriv @haerinkisser

[b3alm1ghty]

GIRL ALMIGHTY   ੈ✩‧₊˚ THE PRE-RELEASE SINGLE

Girl Almighty is the first pre-release single by Boys Almighty ( also known as BAM! ) under Rainbow Entertainment. The song was a surprise drop on January 20th, 2024 with no warning or advertising in promotion for their re-debut album ; One and All.

Produced and written by ROZE, the song was greatly received and shot the group to instant fame, generating widespread anticipation for their first album under their new company. The song was not heavily promoted, with only a few music show appearances and few other official schedules, however the boys promoted frequently on social media with a dance challenge and sharing vlog style behind-the-scenes clips that captured the same aesthetic essence of the mv. Despite this, it peaked at 14 on the Circle Chart and 28 on the Billboard Hot 100, marking their first time on either chart.

ੈ✩‧₊˚  i. the music video

The music video depicts the 5 members and their friendship and adventures with a girl, the presumed girl almighty. The group shots include them all exploring their city and laughing, enjoying their time together in youthful reverence. Each member has several solo sequences with the girl, and it is clear by the way they look at her and interact with her that they have feelings for her, but are too nervous to admit them to her. Sammy's scenes include the pair roaming a school's sports field after hours, climbing the abandoned bleachers, and running and dancing across the grassy field. In Bo's scenes, the two are in a mostly empty fast-food restaurant, laughing, chatting, and sharing food. Taeyoung's scenes show the two in a bedroom, playing around with a vintage-looking camera. They take turns taking pictures of each other in different poses and playing around. Kiho's scenes show the pair riding bikes together in the dusk, riding circles around each other as their hair blows in the wind and the sun sets in the background. Kitae's scenes take place in the snow as the two play around, throwing snowballs, making snow angels, and chasing each other in the fresh powdery snow. The girl is always depicted as she is in the lyrics of the song, care-free and almost wild. However, we never see this girl almighty's full face, giving her an air of mystery. The video received praise for its cinematic quality in capturing a coming-of-age-esque story of longing.

ੈ✩‧₊˚ ii. the styling

Styling for this song was essentially just casual clothes with a skater sort of style inspiration. Baggy jeans, t-shirts, hoodies, jackets, and sneakers made up their outfits both in the music video and in the few performances they did.

ੈ✩‧₊˚ iii. the highlights

✦ although the release was entirely unexpected, it was incredibly well received by the public

✦ however, old fans of the group were completely blindsided by the changes to the lineup, and many were left wondering where jisung and dohyun had gone

✦ after new fans began looking into the group's background and began wondering the same, the company released statements that the two had simply decided against renewing their contracts with RBE for personal reasons

✦ the group gained 17M TikTok followers in the first few days after the song's release, several of their vlog-style videos going viral for the vibes

✦ one even gained traction with western audiences and being entirely in english it made a smooth transition to a popular '2024 so far' photodump trend

✦ the group gained a ton of new fans which was pretty divisive among old fans, there were those who were super excited to have an expansion to the fandom and then of course those who instantly became gatekeepers

✦ they also received plenty of praise for their visuals as a group, sammy admitting in a tiktok comment that he wasn't used to getting so many compliments

✦ a taeyoung edit of moments from lost boys to clips from the mv celebrating his debut while shading neverland went viral, causing the group's first fan war!

✦ eunji was asked about producing the song while she was on live, and she revealed that she didn't know it would end up being used for them, but that she had grown up attending the same schools as sammy

[bizarrequazar]

GJ and ZZH Updates — May 5-11 :D

previous week || all posts || following week

This is part of a weekly series collecting updates from and relating to Gong Jun and Zhang Zhehan.

This post is not wholly comprehensive and is intended as an overview, links provided lead to further details. Dates are in accordance with China Standard Time, the organization is chronological. My own biases on some things are reflected here. Anything I include that is not concretely known is indicated as such, and you’re welcome to do your own research and draw your own conclusions as you see fit. Please let me know if you have any questions, comments, concerns, or additions. :)

[Glossary of names and terms] [Masterlist of my posts about the situation with Zhang Zhehan]

05-05 → Zhenguoli posted two photo ads [1] [2] featuring Gong Jun.

→ The Instagram posted seven photos of "Zhang Zhehan" running a marathon.

→ Gong Jun's studio posted fifteen photos from the filming of Go Fighting! episode 3. Caption: "The face of an angel, the little devil's lot of clever ideas 😈 Tonight at 9 o'clock, @ Gong Jun Simon uses his strength to subvert the stereotype of 'silly male god' and reaches the peak of 'smart and handsome guy'!"

→ Gong Jun's studio posted a vlog from the filming of Go Fighting! episode 3. Caption: "Something bad is going to happen. Can the green plum extract here 'eat people'? Don’t worry, everything is under the control of the clear and clever @ Gong Jun Simon 😎"

→ Gong Jun Outdoor Office posted nine gifs of him from Go Fighting! episode 3. Caption: "Oops! @ Gong Jun Simon was beaten by green plum extract while passing by! Didn't you agree you're not allowed to become elite?"

→ Go Fighting! episode 3 aired. [full ep with subs]

05-06 → Nothing of note.

05-07 → Gong Jun posted images of a shirt with a photo on it of him in a wig from Go Fighting! episode 3. Caption: "Next time you have a pajama party? Hurry up and print my handsome photos on your xiongdi’s clothes"

→ Tissot posted four photo ads featuring Gong Jun. (1129 kadian)

→ ELLE Men released a teaser photo from their May issue featuring Gong Jun. Caption: "He said that the most important thing for a person is to be self-consistent, and this has been his path to self-consistency in recent years. I hope that I can continue to move forward. It doesn’t mean who I will become, I just hope that I will slowly make progress."

→ ELLE Men released the cover for their issue featuring Gong Jun. Caption: "@ Gong Jun Simon stands in front of us with his usual enthusiasm and clarity. It is easy to read the key words on him, happiness, order, and 'volume'. As a person who likes order and planning, he is somewhere between a 'strong person' and a 'light person'. He understands the expectations he carries, establishes a unique sense of order in his own world, and then takes it step by step." Gong Jun's studio reposted this with the added caption, "Relax and have a degree of self-control. Enjoy the gentle breeze in @ Gong Jun Simon's world."

→ ELLE Men released their photoshoot with Gong Jun. Caption: "This boy who grew up in the urban fireworks of Chengdu has travelled to China's most dynamic cities as an adult and has quickly gained a distinct place among young actors. @ Gong Jun Simon has a lot of expectations from the outside world - as an actor, he can achieve the maturity of his acting skills and the versatility of his roles. This is also his expectation for himself. But he said, step by step, you can't reach a thousand miles without taking small steps. This is the background of diligence and order in his character."

→ Gong Jun posted nine photos from the ELLE Men photoshoot. Caption: "Whether it's strong or light, it's all mine. Thanks @ ELLEMEN" He also posted six of the photos to his Instagram, caption: "I don't really want to shave my head" and six to his Xiao Hong Shu, caption: "Confirmed, yes Pleasant in both shades"

→ ELLE Men posted a video from their shoot with Gong Jun. Caption: "The conversation with @ Gong Jun Simon seemed to be chatting about his career, tight schedule and relaxing vacation within an established framework, but the communication was more like waves. The lowest logic in his heart, the most cherished place in the world he was dragging with him, surged forward."

→ The Instagram posted five photos of "Zhang Zhehan" in a gothic Visual Kei-ish outfit to promote the scam's newest song. The song itself has only a single repeating line of lyrics. Truly a gargantuan amount of effort going into this.

→ Gong Jun's studio posted a behind the scenes video from the ELLE photoshoot. Caption: "Jumping inside and outside the frame, and he travels in the dreamy world. @ Gong Jun Simon is suitable for both 'strong' and 'light', every step of the way is pleasant." They posted another to their Douyin (minor flashing lights cw) shortly after. Caption: "Gong Jun unlocks multi-faceted looks and interprets ever-changing charm. Listen to @ Gong Jun Simon’s inner voice."

05-08 → Gong Jun's studio posted an additional nine photos from Gong Jun's ELLE photoshoot. Caption: "Highlights dropped! 📸️ Strong or light, @ Gong Jun Simon wants it all!"

05-09 → PRSR posted a behind the scenes video from Gong Jun's photoshoot for Zhenguoli, highlighting their glasses.

→ The jewelry brand Messika posted five of Gong Jun's photos from the day of his performance with Li Ronghao, highlighting their pieces.

05-10 → Za posted two photo ads [1] [2] featuring Gong Jun.

→ GXG posted a short commercial featuring Gong Jun.

→ Tissot posted four photo ads featuring Gong Jun. (1129 kadian)

→ Messika posted a teaser video for their upcoming endorsement with Gong Jun, to be announced on 05-15.

→ The Instagram posted a video promoting the aforementioned song.

05-11 → Zhang Zhehan's 33rd birthday! 🎂 Below is a collection of fanworks done in celebration. This is of course limited to what I've come across personally, so if you made something and I've missed it please feel welcome to send me a link! Fanart: [1] [2] [3.1] [3.2] [4] [5] [6] [7] [8.1] [8.2] [9] [10] [11] [12] [13] [14] [15] [16] [17.1] [17.2] [18] [19] [20] [21] [22] [23] Public screens: [1] [2] [3] Offline events: [1] [2] [3] [4] [5] [6] Videos: [1] [2] Twitter space reviewing old candy

→ 🍬 Gong Jun wore a hat with an H on it. [photo]

→ The Instagram posted five photos of "Zhang Zhehan" and five of some scenery. The scam also held a livestream on Instagram with one of the body doubles.

Additional Reading: → Blue's charity drive for Zhang Zhehan's birthday concluded with a total of $7747 CAD in donations, surpassing the goal of $5110! Thank you to everyone who took part 💙

previous week || all posts || following week

[taegularities]

o lord i really want to request a drabble but brain is going brrrr, for cmi jk & oc taking inspo from taehyung's vlog today, them both going for a drive, jk trying to show oc his favourite music but maybe she's trying to read or something & then inspo from in the soop taehyung and hobi going for food and sitting in the boot of the car eating and listening to music and dancing, jk & oc then go do that. is this not enough, i feel like i'm being bossy, this is v stressful when you have 1 creative braincell aaaaaaaafuhienjwqkjeirfugjhejw

fic: colour me in

pairing: jungkook x reader

warnings: nothing much; super soft convos, super subtle confessions, a flying kiss, a day out... just two idiots totally not in love

wc: around 1.1k

a/n: LMFAO ur request had me cackling 😭 it's okay, it's such a sweet one !! and the 'inspo from tae' bit has me :') unedited! hope u like it <33 made this one an actual drabble without bullet points!

ask my characters! (no drabble requests, please!) <3

–

“Do you want me to turn the music down?”

You’re sitting cross-legged on the passenger seat, skimming through the chapter of your new book. Or at least, you’re trying. Because Jungkook next to you is a thief of attention, distracting you with jokes, his favourite songs and his connotations to them.

It’s endearing, really – you can’t even be mad. You don’t quite understand why you brought a novel anyway – it’s not like it’s easy to focus with him around.

“Oh no,” you tell him, shutting the book and placing it on your lap. “Keep talking about the songs. I was listening.”

“Really?”

“Of course. You said this one was the first rock song you ever listened to, yes? Back in elementary school.”

“Ah, yeah!” he chimes enthusiastically, delighted to be the centre of your focus. “I was a badass kid.”

“You’re still a badass kid.”

“Outrageous,” he laughs, raising a hand from the steering wheel to touch your chin lightly, “I don’t kiss you like a kid, do I?”

You giggle, straightening your posture, and open the window fully. The breeze hits you immediately, fresh and warm, pleasant on a summer day like this one.

“Now that you say it,” you start, fingers at the nape of his neck playing with his soft, dark hair, “I’d love a kiss right now.”

Jungkook flashes his bunny teeth – smiles at you from the side, leaving the highway out of his sight for merely a tiny moment before he shoots a flying kiss your direction.

“For my angel,” he says.

You roll your eyes to disguise the heat in your cheeks, your stare wandering out the window and into the nature surrounding the highway. Jungkook drives off it a minute later, and the scenario changes immediately.

Thickets surround the street, high trees on one side and a field on the other. It’s different here; not a single trace of a busy city or loud chatter in sight. The atmosphere is serene and quiet, and with it, the music calms down, too.

Some jazz song now.

He hums along to the melody; fingers tap the steering wheel softly. The scent of food sitting on the backseat wafts through the air, only lessened by the wind that plays around your skin and hair. 

“What do you think?” Jungkook asks, pointing at a spot near a lake.

You barely saw the lake nearing – but now that you detected it, it’s all you can see. Sparkly and blue, catching the colours of the sun and the sky. You lean forwards, smiling a little, and say, “Perfect. And the weather’s nice, too.”

“Just for us.”

Jungkook parks close to the lake, squinting at the sight. There’s a small platform divers probably use to jump off of; but you’re not here to swim anyway. With a small yawn, you step out of the vehicle after what feels like an eternity rather than an hour.

You stretch your limbs, blinking into the sun; you realise that Jungkook has parked with the backside of the car facing the lake, and you know exactly why.

Grabbing the food from the backseat, you rush to the boot of the car, opening it with a groan. Jungkook strolls to your form, cracking his fingers as he says, “You’re hungry, aren’t you?”

“You’re not?”

“Was busy looking at the road. Didn’t really notice, but now that you said it…”

“Come then,” you say, patting the spot next to you.

Side by side, you unwrap your food, sipping on your drinks; watching nature in silence for a few minutes.

The place is tranquil – you wonder if you’re not a city kid after all. If you had the chance to move here, start a new life, go swimming every day and fishing every week – could you do that? Would you like that?

Jungkook has told you several stories about his life in the countryside; back where his family lives, a small town with a neighbourhood whose members all know each other. If you weren’t popular and your name as big as it is, would you want a life like that more urgently?

One in which it’s okay to let people know about your secrets. In which you’re famous within small town residents, but not famous in the whole country.

“What’s going through your head?” Jungkook asks.

You shuffle on your seat, inching closer to him. You devour your meal before Jungkook has eaten even half of it – which means a lot considering the fact that he’s a fast eater.

“Someday I really wanna see what living at such a place is like,” you tell him, and he hums.

“I did offer it to you. Next time when I drive down to my family, I’m taking you with me.”

“Yeah?” You wait and smile, matching the joy he emanates. “Can I ask you something?”

He nods, leaning back until his feet float in the air. He sways them back and forth, like a little child; looks at you with eyes so sweet and starry that you melt for a moment.

“Why do you want that?”

“Why do I want what?” Jungkook inquires, cocking an eyebrow in question. “Take you with me?”

You nod timidly, awaiting his answer. The hand holding his food drops into his lap slowly, and he hums again, lost in thoughts before he tilts his head and answers, “I think I just… you’re very close to me. And the thought of my family adoring you as much as I do is kinda nice.”

“Oh,” you voice, swallowing hard, “you adore me, do you?”

He looks at you as though he admitted to committing a severe crime. Told you a secret he was supposed to keep. As if he hasn’t just hinted that he wants his family to approve of you, like you’re an actual girlfriend, going home to the man of her dreams to impress everyone as much as you impress him.

“And if I do?”

The statement is supposed to sound ominous from his side. But the dropped head, the hidden smile, the affection in his eyes he doesn’t want to show you so blatantly – they reveal his true thoughts.

So you lean in more, shift until your shoulders and knees touch. And you say, “I adore you, too. You’re really cool.”

“Shut up,” Jungkook jokes, averting your eyes to look at the lake. “You’re just easy to…”

Adore? Like? Love?

Your heart hammers against your chest. It has been thumping like this a lot these days – with him around.

“Yes?” you ask.

“You’re easy to be fond of. Of course I adore you, angel.”

And perhaps, just for the moment, that’s enough.

With the water flowing peacefully… the birds chirping… his music chiming quietly from his phone. And the silence of the place wrapping around you like a blanket in the winter. With no one around but the both of you. Basking in the fact that he wants no one around but you…

It’s enough.

And you memorise the moments, readying yourself for seconds – days – without him. But at this moment, things are okay.

The both of you… you wouldn’t replace watching the colours of the world with anything else right now.

–

i love them :( this really took hours to write for some reason?! so please let me know what u think if u like it !! 🥰 <33

[soursgrpe]

₊  ˚  🦢      𓊈    JENNIE KIM ,   TWENTY EIGHT ,   CIS WOMAN ,   SHE/HER.    𓊉     ⇢      did  you  see  YOUNA  KOO  roaming  around  the  city recently ?   heard  their  top  song  on  spotify  lately  is  I GOT IT  by  THUY ,   probably  a  great  motivator  when  they're  working  as  a  LIFESTYLE  YOUTUBER  &  INFLUENCER.   they're  typically  spotted  carrying  around  A  DIAMOND  TENNIS  BRACELET  and  known  for  being  GENTEEL  and  PERMISSIVE.     

            hello   besties   ,   i'm   monday   (   twenty6   ,   she/they   ,   est   )   !   for   my   pronouns   ,   please   feel   free   to   use   both   ,   but   not   one   exclusively   ,   thank   you   !   header   template   is   a   variation   of   the   sugar   baby   psd   set   ,   the   divider   is   from   the   #kittygirl   psd   set   ,   and   the   intro   template   used   is   the   coffee   template   ,   all   created   by   strifesource   .

full   bio   coming   soon   i   swear   🥺🩷   .

HEADCANONS.

youna   moved   to   vienna   as   a   means   of   a   change   of   pace   .   she   found   new   york   to   be   too   crowded   and   los   angeles   to   be   too   cliche   considering   that   she's   a   content   creator   ,   but   she   can   luckily   live   wherever   she   wants   with   such   a   career   .

she   is   known   as   ynakoo   on    her   social   media   platforms   (   instagram   ,   tiktok   ,   youtube   )   .   she   focuses   on   lifestyle   content   primarily   ,   with   a   little   haircare   and   makeup   mixed   in   as   well   .   youna   doesn't   have   millions   of   followers   on   one   single   platform—   she   does   ,   however   ,   have   enough   to   maintain   her   lifestyle   .

youna's   possession   is   the   diamond   bracelet   she   bought   herself   when   she   made   enough   money   to   do   so   .   it's   not   something   that   costs   a   whole   lot   of   money   ,   but   it   was   her   first   big   purchase   and   she's   really   proud   of   it   (   it's   based   on   the   viral   pandora   tennis   bracelet   from   tiktok   )   .

she   loves   to   explore   vienna   ,   which   is   often   the   subject   of   her   vlogs   .   she   especially   loves   to   try   new   restaurants   ,   and   she   goes   to   bookstores   in   the   city   a   lot   of   the   time   .   youna   doesn't   read   a   lot   ,   but   when   she's   in   the   mood   to   she   likes   to   make   a   stop   at   the   local   stores   .

personality   wise   ,   youna   is   a   nice   girl   !   she   has   her   moments   where   she   can   be   stubborn   and   sometimes   a   little   bitchy   ,   but   she's   overall   pleasant   to   be   around   .   she   doesn't   switch   up   her   personality   to   appear   different   when   she's   not   getting   content   ,   so   she's   pretty   easy   to   become   friends   with   .

this   is   completely   unnecessary   info   ,   but   youna   lives   in   a   pretty   one   bedroom   apartment   that   has   been   renovated   a   little   bit   .   it's   not   the   most   colorful   home   ,   but   it's   also   not   sad   and   beige   .   she   prefers   color   ,   but   not   too   much   ,   but   she   especially   loves   the   large   windows   in   the   apartment   .   she   loves   to   host   at   her   apartment   ,   and   is   always   willing   to   use   her   place   when   someone's   throwing   a   party   .

[behind-the-screen-of-bangtan]

Jimin (지민)

Real name: 박지민 (Park Jimin)

Birth date: 13 October 1995

Home city: Busan

Instagram account

BU character: Park JiMin

BT21 character: Chimmy

(src)

Biography

As a kid, Jimin used to have lots of hobbies, following anything that piqued his interest. However, when he discovered dance, he realized this was his calling and took lessons for two years while in middle school before getting into Busan High School of Arts. He interrupted his scolarity once he got recruited by Big Hit. He’s the last member to have joined BTS, two years before their debut. Always hard-working, Jimin has illustrated himself through his dance and his acrobatic figures but he also know for his kindness towards the members and the fans.

For a more complete biography, you can check these ressources:

biography from the volume 5 of the Japan Official Fanclub magazine (trans by kocchi, Kimmy Yang)

interview with Kim Ki-yoon, the owner of the dance school in Busan, where Jimin used to go to (English translation)

Jimin has also shared tidbits of his daily life:

[VLOG]  Let's take a picture of Paris and go to Hawaii (2019)

팔찌공방 VLOG (Bracelet workshop) (2022)

Birthday albums: 2013, 2014, 2015, 2016, 2017, 2018, 2019, 2020, 2021, 2022, 2023

Recommendations

Music

Spotify playlist

You can find Youtube playlists of the songs he shared on Spotify and on Twitter or during interviews.

Books/Movies/Series/Anime

Google sheet of his recommendations

Solo activity

Music (discography)

Jimin & V - “95 graduation” (2014)

Jimin & Jung Kook  - “Christmas Day” (Origin. Justin Bieber - Mistletoe, 2014)

Jimin, JK - “We don't talk anymore” (gift for the Festa, 2017)

“ 약속  (Promise)” (2018)

“Christmas Love" (2020)

지민(Jimin) X 하성운(Ha Sung-Woon) - “With you” (우리들의 블루스 (Our Blues) OST, 2022)

--- Chapter 2 ---

TAEYANG - 'VIBE (feat. Jimin of BTS)' (2023)

FACE (2023) (see this post) (2023)

NLE Choppa, Kodak Black, Jimin of BTS, JVKE, & Muni Long - “Angel Pt. 1″ (FAST X OST) (2023)

JVKE, Jimin of BTS, Charlie Puth, Muni Long - “Angel Pt. 2″ (FAST X OST) (2023)

MUSE (2024) (see this post)

For more details about the songs that don’t have their own post, I listed all the info I had here. For Chapter 2 songs, please check here.

Shows

구오즈 만다꼬 (95z Mandaggo) (2015, anchor)

?_?

?ㅅ?

?ㅡ?

ㅡㅅㅡ

Pixid (2023, guest): teaser, show

Brand endorsement

Global ambassador for Dior (2023): tweets, Jimin’s Instagram post, #2

House ambassador for Tiffany & Co. (2023): tweets, Jimin’s Instagram post, Youtube video, TikTok video, WWD: “EXCLUSIVE: Tiffany & Co. Releases Jimin’s First Campaign, Costarring Zoë Kravitz and Gal Gadot”

Magazines

W Korea 2023 Vol.2 (January 2023): tweets, Q&A, Behind the scene

Daman magazine February/March issue: tweets, interview

L’Officiel Malaysia March issue: tweets, interview

ELLE Hong Kong March issue: Instagram reel, interview in Cantonese

Vogue Korea April issue N°321: tweets, interview

AERA magazine No.16: tweets, interview translation

GQ Korea November Issue: tweets

Harper's Bazaar JP 2024 March issue: tweets, Youtube video, interview (in Japanese)

Interviews

BE comeback interview: “I’m the kind of person who likes to be loved”  

Butter release interview: “There’s people who’ve been rooting for us throughout this difficult time”

Proof release interview: “I want to be better, and cooler”

Trivia

Due to his round cheeks, Jimin earned the nickname of Mochi or Manggaetteok, which is a rice cake wrapped in manggae leaf.

[realtyhubph-blog]

Mekong 1430 Rent Friendship

Lot for Rent in Mekong Angeles City Korean Town

A commercial land that is a one-minute walk from Friendship Highway in Anunas, Angeles City is FOR LONG TERM LEASE PROPERTY FEATURES Total Area: 1430 sq.mVacant Lot, through lotIdeal for commercial purposes such as motels, hotels, retail stores, office building, and many more. NEARBY POINTS OF INTEREST IM Korean Mart, Yuganne 2, Friendship Bridge • Cafe Dia, Jung’s Kitchen, Jun-Jun’s BBQ •…

[dear-science]

Week in (mostly tennis-related) Youtube 🐶🎾

Morgan Riddle | *productive* days in los angeles: barbie movie, events/showrooms, prepping for NYC!

Niamh Adkins | MIDNIGHTS ALBUM REACTION + 3AM TRACKS

Tennis TV | Novak Djokovic vs. Taylor Fritz (Cincy '23 QF)

Tennis TV | FINALS DAY: Inside Jannik Sinner's Victory in Toronto

Morgan Riddle | nyc weekend in my life vlog: morning routine, favorite products, relaxing sunday in the city

[opulvnts]

   •  •  •    brand  new  city  by  mitski :    spotted !    if  it  isn’t  talia  yilmaz  walking  through  the  streets  of  nyc .    people  say  she  looks  like  özge  yağiz ,    but  i  really  don’t  see  it .    the  twenty-four  year  old  youtuber  &  artist  is  out  here  making  mommy  and  daddy  proud .    while  they  have  been  known  to  be  exuberant ,    we’ve  all  seen  their  capricious  nature  come  to  light .    sources  tell  me  they  remind  people  of  feminine  prowess  contorted  into  a  performance  ,   spoon  fed  poison ;   never  quite  knowing  why  insides  ached  ,   the  perfect  sacrificial  lamb  .   /  ciswoman  /  she  &  her .

♡     ◞        𝐷𝑂𝑆𝑆𝐼𝐸𝑅  ,   𝗍𝗁𝖾   𝗌𝗍𝖺𝗍𝗂𝗌𝗍𝗂𝖼𝗌 .

official   name  :  talia   leyla   yilmaz  .   nickname  :  tals  .   birthdate  :  september   25th  ,   1998  .   birthplace  :  upstate   new   york  .   citizenship  :  american  .   current   residence  :  outpost   estates  ,   los  angeles  .   gender  :  cis   female  ,   she / her   pronouns  .  orientation  :   pansexual  ,   panromantic  .   languages  :  english  ,   turkish   &   some   high   school   spanish  .   occupation  :   former   reality   tv   star ,    youtuber   &   artist  .

♡     ◞        𝐷𝑂𝑆𝑆𝐼𝐸𝑅  ,   𝘱𝘩𝘺𝘴𝘪𝘤𝘢𝘭 .

faceclaim  :  özge   yağiz  .   height  :   four   foot  nine  .   build  :  slim  ,   slightly   underweight .   eye   color  :  brown  .   hair   color  :  brown  .   hair   style  :  half  up  /  half  down  ,    accented  with  a  velvet  bow .   signature   scent  :  mon   pairs   eau   de   parfum   by   ysl  .   style  :  inspired   by   y2k   grunge  ,   coquette  /  nymphette  .   piercings  :  two  on  each  lobe  .   tattoos  :  none  .   scars  :  none  .

♡     ◞        𝐷𝑂𝑆𝑆𝐼𝐸𝑅  , 𝘱𝘦𝘳𝘴𝘰𝘯𝘢𝘭𝘪𝘵𝘺 .  

big   three  :  libra   sun  ,   scorpio   moon  ,   virgo   rising  .   mbti  :   infp  .   label  :  the   esoteric  .   traits  :  exuberant  ,   capricious  ,   coquettish  ,   mercurial  .   character   inspo  :  will   byers   (  stranger   things  )  ,   anastasia   steele   (  fifty   shades   of   grey  )  ,   andrea   sachs   (  the   devil   wears   prada  )  ,   charlie   kelmeckis   (  the   perks  of  being  a  wallflower  )  .

♡     ◞        𝐷𝑂𝑆𝑆𝐼𝐸𝑅  ,    𝘧𝘢𝘮𝘪𝘭𝘪𝘢𝘭 .  

biological   father  :  adem   yilmaz  .   occupation  :  nfl   all   star  .   biological   mother  :  fahriye   yilmaz  .   occupation  :   momager  .    siblings  :  too  many  .

♡     ◞        𝑩𝑰𝑶𝑮𝑹𝑨𝑷𝑯𝒀  ,   𝘵𝘩𝘦   𝘴𝘵𝘰𝘳𝘺 .

upstate  new  york  was  where  the  dissection  of  talia  yilmaz  began .    a  birth  that  reeled  in  the  masses ,    media  attention  looming  over  the  small  town  family  .    the  mother ,    fahriye ,    had  dreams  of  chasing  the  spotlight  which  came  to  fruition  the  moment  camera  crews  rallied  at  her  door .

every  milestone  recorded  from  age  6  to  17 ,    talia  never  knew  how  to  act  when  she  was  old  enough  to  understand  how  strange  the  entire  thing  was .    nor  did  she  know  what  to  do  with  the  influx  of  opportunities  falling  into  their  laps .

what  cameras  didn’t  see  was  a  condition  slowly  eating  away  at  fahriye ,    munchausen’s  by  proxy .    this  psychological  and  behavioural  disorder  caused  fahriye  to  make  her  children  sick ,    most  notably  talia  as  she  suffered  with  depression  and  didn’t  have  the  energy  to  protest  her  mother’s  doting .    talia  never  knew ,    nor  does  she  still ,    that  all  the  medicines  and  pills  her  mom  would  feed  her  were  in  fact  making  her  worse .    an  attempt  to  keep  her  babies  close ,    to  nurture  them  and  of  course  to  garner  sympathy  from  others .

cheating  rumours  had  swirled  and  threatened  to  taint  what  little  remained  of  family ,    talia  couldn’t  even  look  at  either  of  her  parents  for  a  long  time  after  that ,    sure  their  family  was  far  from  perfect  but  she  never  thought  infidelity  would  slink  into  their  lives .

after  the  shows  end  talia  had  no  direction ,    surface  level  interests  and  worsening  mental  health .

after  being  put  on  display  for  so  long  all  talia  wanted  to  do  is  withdraw  from  society  more .    the  seventeen  year  old  practically  fell  off  the  face  of  the  earth  and  hid  in  her  room  24/7 ,    one  of  her  comforts  was  in  creativity  such  as  painting ,    playing  instruments  or  singing .    the  other  was  youtube ,    the  videos  posted  online  offering  her  an  escape .

eventually  talia  began  to  return  to  reality ,    deciding  she  wanted  to  put  herself  out  there  on  her  own  terms .    she  started  a  youtube  channel  which  consists  of  videos  like  daily  vlogs ,    challenges ,    travel ,    pranks ,    exploring  abandoned  places  and  her  favorite ,    ghost  hunting .

she  rose  steadily  to  internet  stardom ,    talia  was  much  more  content  on  doing  things  her  own  way  rather  than  letting  their  mom  dictate  everything .

recently  her  worsening  mental  health  has  caused  her  to  stay  with  her  parents  for  a  few  weeks ,    having  no  idea  that  the  stay  may  extend  if  fahriye  can’t  restrain  her  mbp  tendencies .

♡     ◞        𝑴𝑶𝑹𝑬  ,   𝘵𝘩𝘦   𝘩𝘦𝘢𝘥𝘤𝘢𝘯𝘰𝘯𝘴 .

she  is  still  very  much  a  hermit ,    preferring  her  own  company .

her  youtube  channel  consistently  sits  within  the  top  ten  channels  on  the  site .

tries  to  use  her  creative  outlets  to  take  her  mind  off  of  the  darker  thoughts .

stopped  taking  her  medication  again  and  has  fallen  into  the  habit  of  not  sleeping ,    withdrawing ,    drinking  etc .

with  being  put  on  display  for  the  entirety  of  the  years  she  was  growing  up  it’s  left  talia  with  a  twisted  sense  of  self  worth ,    she  tends  to  over-sexualize  herself  and  act  in  ways  people  want  from  her  when  she’s  in  one  of  her  rough  patches .

has  a  weird  relationship  with  her  mother ,    feels  cheated  out  of  a  normal  childhood  but  never  voices  it .    think  along  the  lines  of  amma  crellin  and  adora  crellin  in  sharp  objects .

[adriankennedy]

if you’re hearing TANGERINE by GLASS ANIMALS playing, you have to know ADRIAN KENNEDY (HE/HIM; CIS MAN) is near by! the TWENTY-EIGHT year old SOCIAL MEDIA MANAGER has been in denver for, like, THREE YEARS. they’re known to be quite UNCERTAIN, but being CREATIVE seems to balance that out. or maybe it’s the fact that they resemble JOE KEERY. personally, i’d love to know more about them seeing as how they’ve got those SCROLLING THROUGH TIKTOK AT 3AM, FOLLOWING YOUR CELEBRITY CRUSH ON INSTAGRAM, CALLING IT A DAY AFTER TWO DRINKS, and LAUGHING ALONG AT JUST THE RIGHT TIME vibes. and maybe i’ll get my chance if i hang out around the RINO DISTRICT long enough!

BASICS

NAME: Adrian Joseph Kennedy

AGE: Twenty-eight

GENDER & PRONOUNS: Cis man, he/him

SEXUALITY: Queer, undefined

EYE COLOR: Dark brown

HAIR COLOR: Medium brown

HEIGHT: 5'10"

ZODIAC SIGN: Aquarius

BACKGROUND

EDUCATION: High school graduate

OCCUPATION: Social media manager, youtuber

HOMETOWN: Sacramento, California

QUICK BACKSTORY tw: Parental neglect, sexuality confusion

He was born in Sacramento, California to two parents who couldn’t care less about himself and his two other siblings. A harsh start? Maybe, but that’s exactly how it was for him too. The kids pretty much had to fend for themselves, and any time the parents were surprisingly home, it was nothing but arguments and complaints. So, early on, Adrian was determined to get out. And he did, at just eighteen.

Once he was out, he used up the rest of his meager savings from working two jobs to buy a camera and quickly went on documenting his California adventures with his siblings whenever they visited. It didn’t take long for a following to amass, for him to turn to vlogging instead as well as skits, and soon he was a popular YouTube figure before it could even be called a career.

Eventually being a YouTuber brought sponsorships and actual money, and he was able to make the move to Los Angeles where he’d be closer to Hollywood and the hub of all things entertainment on the west coast. He moved his little sister in with him to be his camera woman and things were all good from there... for a long time. He even recently had a brief stint as a talk show host before he quit and went on a year-long hiatus from the world. 

The reason? His personal life was a mess. Romantic attention from women made him a mess, and attention from men made him an even bigger, more confused mess. He took to shunning everyone and the eventual lying to himself took an internal toll that left him running off and disappearing for said year.

When he came back, he’d of course lost some following, but the core of his audience remained. Adrian took to making videos like before but this time made a side series about interviewing people within the city for fun. He’d moved to Denver for a change in scenery and has now settled with a day job of being a social media manager for a local news station.

HEADCANONS

Has a cat named Tuna that likes to bolt whenever he opens his apartment door. So, chances are he's asked his neighbors if they've seen him

Has a stupid recurring joke that he can be called Ri-ri too sorry Rihanna

WANTED

His little sister is a wc i’ll be putting in later!

General friends honestly just give him people to go to brunch with

Maybe an ex-but-not-really he nearly got serious with but he freaked out at the last second and kind of just... dipped?? Cue the old angst

Neighbors would be cool and I love those plots

Fans of his YouTube channel? Or even non-fans who think he's cringe

Hinge dates! Let's throw our muses together and plan nothing

[speakeasy8]

[001] Fujii, K. (through the eyes of his manager, Zuzzu)

Sooo...this is from the staff journal on Kaze's app mostly updated by his main manager, Tomonori Kawazu, or more affectionately known as Zuzzu. I've been catching up on it slowly (there's 2+ years worth of entries). I'm reading it in its original language because even though the app seems to be available in multiple countries, I haven't seen any mention of English entries or the content of the diary among Kaze's international fanbase.  So I figured I'll share some of the more interesting entries I find here.

Do lemme know if there are already official translations available and it's just me who doesn't know about them so I don't keep doing all this work for nothing, yeah?

Oh I checked and found that Kaze's team has given blanket permission for stuff on the Kaze app to be reproduced. It's only when people rip the stuff in there for unauthorized reuse (like pictures to be printed on t-shirts, etc to be sold as unofficial merch and what-not) that they put their foot down. So in case you're wondering, this thingy that I'm doing here is a-ok in their books, since it's basically content reproduction, which they do not seem to consider as rights infringement. As far as Kaze goes, anyway.

Note that this is based on whenever I get to making more headway into the journal itself and only on whatever entry I come across that I find interesting enough to want to share so it's not going to be everything and it ain't going to be regular. Far from it. Hope y'all understand.

Also, this probably isn't necessary given where this is and there's only like 5.5 of us Kaze fans in here but if anyone wants to share this outside of Tumblr, I'd appreciate it if I'm asked about it first. Thank you!

This particular entry was posted 31 Dec 2020.

Good evening, one and all!

The other day, I talked about working on two music videos in a single week in this Staff Journal. As today is the last day of 2020, looking back on what the year was like, it dawned on me that it was a year where our concerted efforts lie mostly with shooting these videos. We've released seven of them so far so I thought we could take a short trip down memory lane and recount what crazy 2020 was like for us.

It's been just about a year.

Since Kaze's first individual concert that was held at LINE CUBE in Shibuya, that is. This was the show Kaze decided to first announce to the world his original song, NaN-NaNw. It goes without saying that the first music vid that's going to be released would also be that of NaN-NaNw. As someone whos's been making and uploading videos on YouTube all by himself all this time, it's a matter of course that he has very clear ideas on what he wants in this first music video.

Calling ourselves Team Kaze, a small team of staff all came together and brainstormed on everything right from the concept, to the director, to the location.

Call it great timing, but we were able to find ourselves a director willing to take on the job and we were able to have a series of in-depth discussions with them.

See, not only is the entire song in Japanese, it's also sung in a rural dialect. But. The location is NYC. (Kaze himself wasn't too particular on the location though.)

The final story concept was something that came about after many in-depth back-and-forths between Kaze and the director to brush it up. Casting auditions including for the role of the angel were held at the location city right up to the last minute when, three days before we were due to travel to the shooting location, the original director had to bail on us for reasons I'm not able to disclose.

※Please refer to the vlog on YouTube to find out a bit about the progress we were able to make with said director and the concept of the song itself.

Remember, this was Kaze's very first music video. And it's slated to be shot at an overseas location, no less. But here we are, served with this shocking news, three days before we had to show up on set.

"Let's just give up on NYC and rethink the concept from scratch while we search for a new director. I mean, we could just delay this whole thing, couldn't we?"

Were some of the suggestions brought up within the team at the late night discussion table. But Kaze wiped everything clean off it when he said:

"Ah can't think o' another concept that'd work wit' this song."

By the way, just so you know, I actually tabled a suggestion where we go to India with a skeleton crew and shoot with just a single camera instead. But it got voted down pretty quickly which was just as well. Lol.

SEP Nakagawadani-san, Itabashi, the cameraman Kamiike-san, the lighting engineer Takahashi-san and Chris, who took over directorial duties, accompanied us on this journey with its beginnings full of ups and downs, starts and stops. The location coordinator Chika-san and Michael were also a huge help.

(Img taken from Kaze's app)

Here's a little anecdote from the shoot I thought I'd share:

You know the emotion-sharing scene where Kaze was in this room surrounded by a whole bunch of the cast who were all dressed in white? That was actually the very first scene shot which Kaze was initially none too happy about. He complained to me, "Ah never once imagined that the very firs' scene o'mah very firs' music vid wud see me lip-syncing in fronna whole buncha foreign peeps ah've ne'er met X(." He sounded nervous and I probably didn't imagine that hint of agitation I detected in his tone, either.

Also, because shooting was around Christmas season, NYC was alight with decorations. Which complicated things for us as the music vid had absolutely nothing to do with the holiday and we now had to be extremely careful to avoid anything to do with it getting into any of the shots.

When shooting the opening scene of the music vid, the image Kaze, the director and the cameraman each had for it in their respective minds were all different so tensions were slightly strained until everyone eventually came to an agreement.

Reckon it can't be helped, since the original director is no longer on board.

The last scene shot was at the subway. After wrapping up, everyone in Team Kaze and the film crew all felt as though we've created something pretty dang awesome.

And we weren't imagining it either because as a result, NaN-NaNw  won this year's MTV Video Music Award Japan for the R&B category. I can't even begin to describe how happy this made us all.

(Img taken from Kaze's app)

This song and its MV turned out to mark a good start for us all so it felt like all the things we went through for it paid off.

After we've returned to Japan, without waiting for the music vid's release on 24 Jan, we went on ahead and dove headlong into pre-pro for MOH-EE-WA.

Since MOH-EE-WA is a song with hip-hop vibes to it, we figured we could engage a director who's at home with the genre, preferably someone young? Were some of the things Kaze and I talked about and it just so happen we were fortunate enough to have crossed paths with one Spikey John earlier, who not only hail from Okayama just like Kaze, they're pretty much the same age, with Spikey having been just one school year above.  We met him some time in early Jan.

But, whether it was the folly of being about the same age, or both being extremely dedicated to their craft, as things turned out, they were pretty far from smooth-sailing. Having been able to meet the man was a highly fortunate thing in itself still, though. Lol.

Basically it's like this:

The ideas Spikey thought were great, Kaze didn't see eye-to-eye with.

The things Kaze wanted in, Spikey didn't think much of.

For someone who's usually pretty chill, Kaze got uncharacteristically worked up by the communication issues he seemed to be having, at one point going, "There's no way ah can work wit' someone ah can't co'municate on equal terms wit'. Wha he expect me ta do? Git down on mah knees an' beg?"

And from Spikey's end, it was, "Yanno, maybe I'm not the right guy for this."

So while trying to placate Kaze on one hand, on the other I spoke with Spikey to help him gain a better understanding of Kaze. It took several meetings but the two were gradually able to close the gap between themselves and understand where the other was coming from.  Once they've gotten to the point where they've gained respect for one another, well, I'm sure you were all able to see the work that resulted for yourselves.

After the video's official release, Kaze well and truly considers Spikey as one of his bros and Spikey proclaimed himself a Kaze fanboy.

(Img taken from Kaze's app)

Goes to show how important it is to trade ideas, even if they clash.

Whoa, seems like I've been going on forever about this and I'm not even near the end yet. Mind if I took a break? I'll continue in the next entry, promise!

Oh right, since we're looking back on the past, I figure I should let you all in a bit on how Kaze and I met.

"Oh hey, so I've been pretty into this young dude on YouTube lately," Asako Miyazaki, the guitarist-cum-vocalist of SHISHAMO, the band I was managing back then, told me one day. That was how I first learned about the existence of one Fujii Kaze. If memory serves, that was probably around the end of 2017.

Back then, I was just like, "Oh, is that so?" But half a year later, in the summer of 2018, I found myself reaching out to him, and was promptly rejected as he told me, "A bunch of people who claimed to be from the industry have already gotten in touch, so I think I'm good, thanks."

Me, dejected: D8 T___T

So I placated myself by thinking that it didn't have to be me, that he'd for sure be able to meet someone worthy, who could do proper justice to his talent.

But Asako, bless her generous soul, wouldn't hear of it and urged me to not give up, telling me , "Dude. Don't just throw in the towel. Keep trying."

"Wow. That's really big o' her. Me, ah wouldn't be able to find it in meself to jus' han' mah own man'ger over ta someone else," was what Kaze said when I told him about it later. But really, this is just one of the countless things that make Asako an extremely cool person.

After that little push from behind, I gathered up my will to try again and eventually managed to get to a point where he was willing to meet with me at Okayama Station to hear me out.

There, we settled into a cafe and spoke at length and, on that very same day, he brought me home to meet his folks.  In the days after, I made a few more visits to Satosho to explain to Kaze and his folks my ideas and hear what they have to say as well. We communicated a lot and, well, here we are.

They say that fate or destiny is what brings people together and I can't stress enough the truth and importance of that. Thinking back on what led us here this New Years Eve has just renewed my conviction of it.

Lastly,  I'd like for you all to know that the warmth you have so generously shown us was what kept us going throughout this whole year. Trust me when I say we can't begin to thank all of you enough. Really, thank you all so very, very much! I hope you'll continue being generous in your support through 2021, as well.

Looking forward to seeing you all in tomorrow's piano livestream!

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