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cherrybr4t · 5 months ago

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say it — choi seungcheol

ABOUT.

you’re back from college, and seungcheol starts to realise you’re no longer the bratty little 18 year old anymore — and has trouble accepting that he’s not protective of you just because he thinks of himself as an ‘older brother figure’ in your life.

PAIRING.

seungcheol x reader (fem)

TAGS/WARNINGS.

rich!seungcheol and rich!reader, age gap (cheol is older by 6 years), childhood friend! cheol, smut with plot, mentions of older brother mingyu (reader), cheol suffers from jealousy! denial! possessiveness! friends to lovers au <3 one-sided pining!

ׂ╰┈➤ CHAPTER TAGS/WARNINGS. ⭐️

rich!seungcheol and rich!reader, older brother mingyu, wonwoo x reader, age gap, alcohol consumption, cheol may seem slightly controlling 😕 not much gg on yet BUT! slow tension building!

ׂ╰┈➤ series masterlist

i. red lips and red wine

Bottles of dom perignon, check. Smell of butter cookies wafting through the hallways, check. Dad nitpicking the spread prepared by the chef? Check. That about kicks start Christmas in your household.

The annual christmas party held by your family was not to be missed, especially since you’re back home this year and immediately took an interest in making sure it would be the best damn Christmas party anyone will ever step foot in.

You woke up in the wee hours — with your Prada monolith boots snug on your feet, along with your favourite puffer jacket, and headed out to complete your errands — getting new christmas lights, more cedar wood scented candles, as well as some decorative poinsettias your mom loves to have around.

When evening came rolling around, the party was in full swing. Gold garlands complementing the bright red poinsettias, and the food spread — done to perfection, all thanks to your housekeeper who’d executed your vision down to a T.

You strutted down the stairs with your vintage dior dress — red, silk, flowy edges that stopped near your knees. Paired with gold jewellery that you were still busy clasping on as you walked out of your room, only to bump into your older brother, already grinning down at you.

“Hey munchkin, late as usual?” Mingyu reached out to adjust pieces of hair falling in front of your face, knowing how you liked your up-do neat. Offering a lopsided grin to your brother, you shrugged.

“You already know it, plus I was busy appeasing mom about the absence of her favourite — the 1982 chateau. Swear it’s impossible to find this time of the year,” you huffed.

Chuckling, Mingyu held up his elbows for you to interlock your arms with as you both made your way down to the party.

“Cheol! Jae!” Mingyu’s excitement coursed through him way too quick — tossing away your arm tugging onto him in a flash. Rolling your eyes, you let your eyelashes flutter on your eyelids before settling your gaze upon the men in front of you.

Your family and the Choi’s go way back. The bridging of the Kim’s and the Choi’s started when both your grandparents were neighbours — and when you four came along; seungcheol, seungjae, mingyu and you, you four were inseparable. Be it playing outside your yards, pulling shenanigans at the Choi’s basement or wherever.

You’ve just recently returned home from college, and it has been quite some time since you’ve met the Choi’s. Adulthood and what not. Looking at the pair in front of you, your eyes took one scan over Cheol.

He was still the same effortlessly handsome fella, though he seemed to be sporting a different hair colour, and no longer with an undercut as you’ve last remembered him in. He’s gotten more buff, the shape of his built emphasized with the dark blue cashmere sweater he was clad in.

Still a sight for sore eyes.

You can’t help the smile creeping on the corner of your lips and teetering on the edges of your tightlined eyes. It was like the 19 year old in you reigniting that intense infatuation you had for your neighbour.

His familiar dark eyes darted over to you, before greeting Mingyu in a warm hug. Letting Mingyu catch up with Jae, he makes a beeline towards you, clutching the bag on his hand tightly.

“Merry Christmas,”

His woody scent mixed with a hint of citrus hits you in the face, and you were immediately transported back to how obsessed you were with this particular scent of his as a teenager — you would sneak over to take naps in his room constantly, to be engulfed in his scent and warmth through his sheets.

Your heart palpitates at the familiar scent. It’s been years since you were a teenager harboring a hopeless crush, and you sure did not want to spiral back to that state. You self soothed, mentally berating yourself.

“Merry Christmas, Cheol. It’s been a while, time seems to be treating you well,” you tilt your head as you take in his appearance in his face, as if you weren’t already checking him out before he came over to you.

His lips twitched into a smile, "Always with a biting comment,"

The secret is to always remain calm, cool, collected. Nonchalant. It’s what the 23 year old you picked up from years of being amongst the worst of the worst — college boys.

You know Seungcheol isn’t comparable to them. They could never. And — he’s…him. The guy who would willingly let himself get dragged along for boxing classes, just because you needed a reason to impress your high school crush.

He was your solace, your comfort — and you’re not sure why you’re feeling the need to place an invisible boundary with him right now. Could be the years of distance, perhaps.

His lips spread out in a wide grin, shaking his head as he hands over the bag, containing — “a 1982 chateau? How did you…” your jaw slacked as you looked at the bottle inside. This kiss ass. No wonder he was always your mom’s favourite.

“I never divulge my secrets,”

You couldn't even formulate a reply as your mom — with some sort of telepathic tingle, ran over to greet Cheol with a warm hug, slightly tipsy from the few glasses of Dom Perignon already.

“Seungcheol! It’s so good to see you — is that a bottle of my favourite 1982? You’re always the sweetest, Cheol,” your mom cooed, patting his arm before engaging in light conversation with him.

You took the bottle with you and headed to the kitchen, placing it down with the other bottles of liquor, wine lined up along the counter.

You could use the silence to let the heat trickling up your neck subside.

“Running away so fast?”

Cheol leans against the kitchen counter, crossing his arms — allowing his arms to bulge through that sweater of his. Peeling your eyes away, you give him a cheeky grin.

“Never,” you took a decorated glass and poured some bubbly for him, “just had to make sure all of my guests are properly hydrated.”

Taking a sip, he hums in appreciation before shooting you a glance again. “So, congrats on graduating with first class honors, heard you’re back for good? Looking for a job here?”

You raise your eyebrows, “Hmm, yeah for now, applied for a few writing jobs here and there,” you fidget slightly under his gaze, before deciding to pour a glass for yourself.

“Writing? Didn’t you graduate with a bachelor’s in...Economics?” he stares fixedly, a slight frown displayed, skeptical.

“Yeah, and?"

"And...may I ask which love interest has you applying for writing jobs?" He starts to look around, observing other bottles laid out on the counter.

You roll your eyes, lightly smacking your forehead with your palm.

"Writing as in you know — journalism, relating to the financial markets, or anything about politics, I guess, but really — I'm open to whatever,” you shrugged.

”I hope you know what you’re doing, I know how you are,” he clears his throat.

”What’s that supposed to mean?” You cut him off, narrowing your eyes at him.

“I just mean, you’re 23 now, you can’t necessarily go through jobs like you’re picking out a new hobby, or switching love interests. Remember when you made me pick up — let me think, the drums, cross stitching, boxing,"

“Hey, you enjoyed doing those with me!” you throw him a glare, “plus without me, you wouldn’t have found your love for jiu jitsu classes…”

"May I remind you that your hobbies or interests all line up with whichever love interest you're trying to impress,"

He raises his eyebrows before downing the rest of the sparkly in the bow tied glass.

You rolled your eyes for the nth time, “I’m 23 now, and I'm no longer the little girl you knew before okay? I’ve grown.” With an inward cringe at yourself, you only hope he sees how serious you are. With an amused look behind his eyes, he lets out a tiny chuckle, “We’ll see about that,"

"But, congratulations anyhow, and, it is good to have you back," Cheol clinks his glass with yours before downing his drink while maintaining eye contact.

Seungcheol, in fact, knows you are definitely not the same 19 year old he knew. Well, at least you did not look like it anymore. He berates himself silently for letting his eyes linger a little too long at how well the dress sits on you.

You’ve also apparently opted for switching to red lips paired with bolder eye makeup. You no longer looked like the girl who would pester him every day, calling him for a ride home from a house party at 3 in the morning. Which always resulted in him nagging the whole ride back home — and you falling asleep mid-way, giving in to your migraine.

Seungcheol’s been around for almost your whole life. He was 6 when he sat around at your baby shower, 16 when he had to babysit you and your brother, 21 when you had your first crush, 24 when you cried to him about your first heartbreak.

26 when you told him you were leaving for college.

He was a busy man even then, having started working at his dad’s company. Was busy chasing the validation and status required for him to step up and take over one day. As much as the role came naturally to him, dealing with the sudden spotlight on him was another issue.

Over the years, Mingyu always kept in close contact with him despite being in college, and was a dependable friend to him consistently.

You, on the other hand, had slowly started to disappear. All he could count on for verification you were alive were your instagram stories filled with flashing lights in the club and weekly calls with your family — shaking his head in a very older brother fashion when he sees what you’re up to on a saturday night.

Daily texts had started to fade to weekly, monthly and then once in a blue moon. Not that seungcheol was too bothered by it though, he had his own fair share of worries and responsibilities piling up.

4 years of college done, and you had set off for a year-long break travelling with friends, before deciding it was time to head home and get a job.

And here you were, chatting and mingling around looking like you no longer needed to have seungcheol by your side at such gatherings — no longer seeking solace in his presence when guests were enervating.

Bittersweet, he concludes before he realises he’s been eyeing you for almost the whole night.

“Parties getting too draining for you?” Mingyu chuckles, playing around with the wine in his glass.

“Still getting drunk with 3 glasses of wine?”

“Now that’s low — those days are behind me,” a hiccup cuts Mingyu off, and he starts giggling while Seungcheol smirks knowingly, shaking his head.

“You still get your ass embarrassingly drunk, what do you mean,” seungcheol shoots and he scores as mingyu snapped his head towards him, glaring playfully before challenging him to a drink-off right then and there.

“Not with the alcohol here — it’d be a waste to chug these,”

“Just say you’re scared, you old fuck,” Mingyu’s devilish smile makes way and seungcheol gives him a tight smack on his shoulders — Mingyu grimaces, rubbing the spot with a slight pout.

“And to think that we’re all grown adults now — but some things never change huh,” you appear at sight with arms crossed, a teasing smile on your red lips.

“You’re talking a little too big for someone who’s just entered the real adult world,” Mingyu walks up to you, flicking your forehead before downing the rest of his wine.

You gasp, “I expected more from you gyu” you scurried over to cheol’s side, clinging onto his arm and he notices how you’ve grown slightly taller over the past few years.

“Yeah yeah, go ahead and gang up on me again — we all know cheol prefers me,” Mingyu clicks his tongue before heading towards the kitchen for a refill.

“I’m guessing you’ve already heard about Jeonghan's wedding?” He cuts the thick air, ever so suavely leaning against the wall. You’ve always hated his nonchalance. Airiness. Made you feel insignificant when it came to the brain map of Choi Seungcheol.

“Wouldn’t miss it for the world. Though, he did give a pretty lame excuse for missing this party,” you snickered.

“Give him a break, he’ll need a month beforehand to charge his energy before his wedding,” you chuckled, and before you could even formulate a reply, a loud crash from the kitchen interrupts and catches everyone’s attention.

Mingyu runs out with a sheepish look — cheeks red eyes crinkly — “oops,”

When seungcheol sees you at Jeonghan’s wedding the following week, the last thing he expected was to see you hand in hand with a plus one, sashaying around the grand hall.

His brain goes into autowire, immediately scrutinising said man under his watchful gaze. You had a track record of always canoodling with guys who only left you with sore eyes and a broken heart — it’s only natural for him to be on guard.

He takes no longer than 10 seconds to decipher that he’s no good for you. Blames it on brotherly instincts. He struts over to your direction, staring fixedly before you wave enthusiastically at him, pulling your date over to him.

"Cheol! Cheollie, c'mere, this is Wonwoo. And Wonwoo, this is Seungcheol," he sees you pursing your lips, fidgeting while standing between them.

"Hi," Cheol stares him down, but the formally trained business man in him reaches out a hand towards the tall man sleeked out in an all-black suit.

"I'm," he clears his throat before glancing over at you, "somewhat like an older brother, except her real brother is probably at the bar right now," and he sees you do a half eye roll, clearly amused by the situation.

"Nice to finally meet you, I've heard a lot about you," Wonwoo offers a tight smile, and Cheol feels slightly impressed by the tight grip Wonwoo had while shaking hands.

And then he thinks, if this man has heard about him, how close exactly are you with this tall and sleek man? But at this point, the you that's always been wearing their emotions on their sleeve starts to feel inscrutable, even to Cheol.

Your small talk gets interrupted by an announcement, ushering all guests to be seated in the main dining hall. You make your separate ways, only to realise that to no one's surprise, Jeonghan placed you with Cheol, Jae and Mingyu in the seating arrangement.

Looking at the name cards placed prettily across the table, you glanced at Cheol who was already settling down beside Mingyu.

Letting out an inward sigh, you shake away thoughts of how absolutely dashing Cheol looked tonight in his suit and tie. Instead, diverting your focus to the glass of red wine placed in front of you.

"For you, miss red wine and red lips,"

Your eyes scrunched up, "You already know me so well Wonwoo."

"Of course, will never forget how stunning you were when I first saw you across the bar weeks ago," he smiles, "sipping on that red wine with that dangerous red lip of yours," he chuckles, whispering that last bit, holding up a glass of red of his own.

Right. That was how he came about to be your date today.

You've met him at the airport lounge, coincidentally, both finding solace in the selection of red at the lounge bar. What were the chances that you were both catching the same flight, and heading home too.

You would never miss a chance to sit with a man like Wonwoo, and he proved worthy of your time when conversations flowed naturally with a spark of tension from time to time.

Cheol overhears bits of your exchange across the table, mind working in overtime as he pieces the information together. Thinks of it as protective instincts he can't seem to shake off even after all these years.

"So, Wonwoo, tell us — what're you currently doing?" Cheol props his elbow up on the satin lined round table, raising his eyebrows towards Wonwoo.

You shot him a look across the table, but Wonwoo just chuckles calmly, squeezing your arm lightly under the table after noticing your slight distress.

"I'm a co-director in a small start up company. We focus on programming and designing games — our current focus is on MOBA games," He clears his throat, "I was returning from a research work trip when I met y/n at the airport."

"Games?" Mingyu perks up, suddenly interested in the conversation.

"Yeah, well.. I'm a pretty big fan of gaming myself, which got me and two other friends to start up this company,"

Cheol nods, smirking a little as he starts to reminisce on how horrible you were at games — always being a pain in the neck to teach. He says nothing, and the conversation fizzles out to Mingyu and Wonwoo chatting about his trip while Cheol and you engage in a small staring contest while you sip on your wine.

What? You mouthed towards him. Nothing. He shakes his head and turns his attention to the emcee of the night who starts introducing the events that were going to unfold for the rest of the night.

You're about 10 drinks in when it reaches the open dance floor segment.

You've danced with about everyone you knew, and when the band starts opening up requests for songs, silly silly drunk you couldn't miss the chance to take over the microphone.

Wonwoo is laughing, enjoying your antics while Mingyu is shouting at you to get your ass back down.

It's 11pm, most guests were either retired to their rooms booked for the night at the hotel or mingling outside the grand hall. It was down to Jeonghan, his bride Minji, and remaining rascals who can't get enough of the free flow drinks and colourful lights.

Jeonghan slaps mingyu across the back, "Stop, let her have her fun. I missed the little gremlin and her singing,"

"You just want her to embarrass herself, don't kid anyone Jeonghan," Mingyu rolls his eyes as he rubs a palm across his forehead.

Cheol on the other hand, as much as he agrees with Jeonghan, knows you're going to regret every bit of this the next morning — if you're going to remember this at all. He stays seated, watching how things unfold and deciding to step in when it gets too much.

Wonwoo steps out to make a call, and you pout while blowing raspberries into the mic. "Boo, I haven't even started my set yet,"

"Oh God I can't watch this, Cheol, you handle her," Mingyu excuses himself from the scene, and Cheol nods, "Don't worry, I've got her,"

You giggle, "Cheollieeee, I knew you would stay. You always do," A hiccup ends your sentence, but you stay swaying and blushing while gripping onto the mic stand.

Jeonghan sends a look towards him at the table, "After all these years and she's still as attached to you, hmm,"

"Yeah well, I've always been the big older brother to both her and Mingyu," he shrugs, eyes crinkling with slight adoration as he looks at you starting the first verse of your favourite classic — like a virgin.

What a choice.

Things start to turn ugly when you're three songs in, and more guests filter out. Cheol notices the stage of intoxication you're at and decides it's time out for you.

"All right Madonna, no more. Let's go. You're going to bed," He struts towards the stage, and grabs the mic off your hands.

"Show's over ladies and gentlemen, goodnight."

"What? Hello?" You try to pry the mic away but the lead singer of the band seems to be on Cheol's side, in a hurry to pack up for the night.

Cheol grabs onto your shoulders firmly yet not too forceful, and guides you off the stage. Intertwining your hands, he pulls you towards the room's exit.

You try to make a fight for it, struggling against his hold.

"Let go of me!" You squeak out, trying to sound as assertive as you can.

Once you're at a secluded area of the grand hall, behind big pillars near the lift lobby, he turns around to face you.

"You, little miss, have had enough for the night."

"You're not the boss of me, not anymore." Your voice tunes down at the last part, suddenly feeling not as convicted as you were under his scrutinising gaze.

"You sure about that?"

You felt like you sobered up in that second, the moment he uttered those words in your face. Your vision cleared up as you looked at him in the eye, slight chills running down your exposed spine.

"Stop with this whole big brother act. Stop treating me like i'm 18 years old, i'm a fucking adult now," you maintained his gaze, crossing your arms to try to one-up him in an unspoken game of dominance.

"Hm. You want to be treated like an adult?" He speaks up after a beat of silence.

You fidget, eyes shifting as you start to feel a little warm. "Yes."

He takes a step closer, face inching nearer as you start to feel his breath on you, "Then act like one," he mutters with an edge of mischief on that otherwise serious face of his.

Damn. You puff out air, unwilling to lose this fight. You never do.

"Do you get off on acting like you're the boss of me or something?"

And you close your eyes, silently regretting those words the minute you uttered them.

"Excuse me?" Cheol quirks an eyebrow, scoffing with his tongue poking out of his cheek.

"You heard what I said,"

He shakes his head, and interlaces your fingers once again, dragging you to the lift lobby.

In the dark and cold elevator, you and him stand at complete opposite sides. In a moment of self reflection; you silently observe the patterns on the sleek marble wall, but when your eyes accidentally shift over to the man in front of you, you jump slightly when you notice he's already staring down at you — intense and unblinking.

He holds onto the elevator bars behind him, crossing his leg one over the other as his poor button on his shirt looks like it's about to give out. All while his hair seems to fall perfectly on his brows, and his gaze on you remains unwavering.

The flicker of emotion behind his stare was difficult to decipher, you felt exposed, and you weren't sure if it was the alcohol causing the heat trickling down your nape.

"W-what?" You rub your arms in cold mechanism, also subconsciously comforting yourself in this situation.

But the man opposite you says nothing, just continuing to burr holes into your face.

You roll your eyes, and continue to look elsewhere, this time focusing on the increasing numbers on the elevator screen propped on the top right corner.

"So, this wonwoo guy," Cheol decides to bring up what was stuck on the back of his mind the whole night.

"Crap! Wonwoo! Where is he? I just left without letting him know, wait where's my phone?" You jolt up, standing upright as you start to panic mildly.

"Calm down, Mingyu's gone over to tell him you're settling in for the night. And, your phone is with me," he pulls out the sleek device out of his pocket and you grab it eagerly.

"You like him quite a lot huh,"

You ignore his comment before releasing a small breath of relief when you saw the texts Wonwoo left you.

hey! heard from your brother you've went to settle in for the night.

sorry i was settling a work call earlier

hope you rest well tonight! remember to drink up lots of water, as i'm assuming you'll be reading this in the morning 🥰

"Bring him around for our weekly dinner, I think it'll be good to know him better," Cheol suggests, not willing to let go of the topic.

"Our weekly dinner is back?"

"It's never been gone, I'm closer to Mr and Mrs. Kim than I am to you at this point,"

You gasp, feigning annoyance but feeling glad that your parents had the Choi's around when you and Mingyu weren't around as much.

"I'll think about it," you shrug as you put your phone away.

"No, bring him around if you're planning to see him long term," he crosses his arms, and seems relentless.

You roll your eyes, and groan while leaning your head against the elevator.

"Fine. Fucking Controlling," you whisper the last part to yourself, and before Cheol can butt in with his wide-eyed anger, you groan again - alcohol giving you the extra liquid courage.

"And why is this god-damn elevator taking so long,"

Cheol reasons with himself. Doesn't want to pick up your broken pieces if you get your heart broken by Wonwoo. Doesn't want you to jump into another guy blindly without him assessing them. Thinks of it as his right as your older brother, sort of.

Yeah. He's just looking out for you. He thinks as he clenches his jaw slightly.

Definitely not because he wants to know what exactly about Wonwoo has gotten you so smitten.

ׂ╰┈➤ A/N: omg. i've finally posted the first chapter 😭 brain juices weren't flowing during the holidays but THANK YOU all for the love on the teaser (ish), and for waiting so patiently :( i swear i'll make it more juicy n +18 for the next few chapters 😱 just wna let things roll out a lil more for this one 😉

ׂ╰┈➤ like + reblog + comment if you've enjoyed it! all love <3

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