#commit to one decision lmao

[loderlied]

ok i cannot find the original post/deleted the reblog i need for context so. doing with an old screenshot ig (cw for talk of sa)

so like. y’know how there are men who assault women they aren’t even attracted to, women they see as beneath them and this assault as a reinforcement of that status and nothing more, or especially like. military/war situations. defeating/destroying your enemy. that’s what i mean w the degrading & hurting thing in the tags

post linked in the og

[sergle]

yall are about to piss me off by not having any PASSING basic knowledge of the way the u.s. military manipulates its recruits into joining by typing up one of your uninformed, unresearched, unempathetic, individualistic, unbelievably annoying posts about how 100% of the people in the military ended up there because they just Love America So Damn Much! they're extremely mature and informed at time of recruitment, they can totally leave anytime they want, they totally had tons of other avenues in life they could've taken, there was no rush at all to get income as fast as possible, and everyone in the military also totally is part of the combat divisions and personally enjoys being IN the military very much, big believers of violence. everyone in the military is shooting guns all day, that's how that works. they LOVE BLOODSHED. also I love the "amewicans haha" twang to this type of shit because you're actually TOTALLY stealing our Thing, which is turning systemic issues into Individual Issues. Instead of talking about the powers that be, it's so Personal Choice up in here. It's, "well you shouldn't have done it then. I totally wouldn't because I know better." you don't wanna talk about the military industrial complex as a whole, and you don't want to talk about recruiters, you just want to pin the blame on Specific Individual People one-by-one, as if they're responsible for the system that they're being ground up in. someone was in the military? bad person, no matter what. it's easier to believe that, I guess, than to acknowledge that Normal People (with high school educations) are manipulated and incentivized into joining a system that is Bad. at like age 18. but yeah no that 18 year old should have just been smarter lol haha anyway here are some screenshots for no particular reason

side note this reply of someone going "umm just get loans and go into a high paying field it's easy XD" as a direct response to someone trying to explain how most americans joining the military are being funneled in that direction out of a need for money.

and another person who Decided that americans join the military just CLENCHING their teeth thinking of other people, and not thinking completely selfishly about their own selves and their own income/housing/healthcare.

[scorpiusmalfoylovesoscarwilde]

albus severus is the human embodiment of be gay do crime, in this essay I will-

[mad-hunts]

alright, i have come here to discuss something tonight and that topic is: barton still killing every single police officer that bothers him at the docks (except for jim, but i swear that's just for plot purposes. okay... nah 🫠 it's not lmao BUT moving on) and hating law enforcement in general + vigilantes, BUT with the new added context that he has a partner who he found out is a vigilante? well... i'm just here to say that it makes me think that doing mental gymnastics is just a daily practice for barton at this point LOL

but that's okay, because his vigilante partner is genuinely slay in his eyes + worth it. and thus, anyone who dares try to call him a hypocrite for being with her will be smacked halfway to tuesday so ❤️ (the heart essentially means don't do it JSJSJ ☠️ not to say that i would expect that anyone here would do it OFC though y'all know what i mean (,,: and oh, the mun who portrays the vigilante character that i'm talking about knows who they are tehe MUAH ilyyy)

[oozeandgoo-art]

everyone is sooo in love with vakori on account of le is so cool and smart and deeply pragmatic and is also completely batshit insane

[vynegar]

behind-the-scenes rambling now that part one is FINALLY posted

[radmista]

I did a somewhat impulsive thing 🫢🫢🫢

Isn't she so cute!!! I need name ideas! She came with the name Squid, and it's very cute, but I want to see if something fits her more.

I usually name my dogs after Greek heroes, idk if I should keep the same naming scheme with her. My other adopted dog is named after a liquor from her previous foster so I guess I don't hold completely to the naming schemes XD

[dorkylittleweirdo]

Do you still play choices? And do you play other games in that genre? I think you'd have fun with mystic messenger if you've never played it. :D

I do still play choices 😌 been liking terror fest and hearts on fire lately, but I've poked around at some of the other new books. I've played the vast majority of the stories they have on the app so I could give an opinion on almost any of them if y'all want me to talk about them lmao. And yeah I used to be obsessed with mystic messenger but I haven't played it since like 2020 so idk what's all been going on there in regards to updates, but I'd completed every route and ending before I stopped playing so ¯\_(ツ)_/¯ I'll play it again tho if things have been happening since then

[star-guts]

Sushi... attempted on one layer...

I like how you can clearly tell I backpeddled last second on so may decisions I commited to at first but idc anymore im tired of looking at this now LMAO

[yailtsv]

Rivals - j.w

📜 Syn: you and juju were best friends....and then you committed to ucla

౨ৎ— warnings: juju pulling a diana ;)

౨ৎ— notes: i loved writing this lmao

౨ৎ— word count: 1.1k

౨ৎ— pair: juju watkins x ucla!reader

if someone told younger you that you and juju weren’t friends anymore, you would laugh in their face and tell them that jujus stuck with you forever.

but now your in your sophomore year of college being no contact with juju. so i guess the “jujus stuck with you forever”…didn’t last forever

—all because of a college decision too

you guys had offer’s coming in since freshman year of high school, but you guys obviously weren’t going to choose until senior year - you guys wanted to do it together, even if you were going to separate schools.

juju, she knew she wanted to stay in california, so that limited down her options by a bunch. you, on the other hand, had no idea what you wanted to do. you didn’t have a dream like juju with usc, well….you did, ucla, but juju would never allow that in your friendship. she HATES ucla.

so, you took all the school tours. you toured uconn, lsu, south carolina, texas, tennessee, you name it, you practically toured every school with a good women’s basketball program, but none of them stuck out to when you toured ucla privately.

it’s in california #1 so you would be close to all your family still, the campus was beautiful, the sun - warm, the blue and yellow together…yeah. you were in love with ucla, and have been.

you just never told juju since she’s been so vocal about her hatred towards that school.

but you knew you had to choose soon, decision day was just around the corner.

you over worked yourself your whole senior year, trying to find a school good for your major that also has a good basketball program, while also having to ignore your acceptance letter from your dream school.

your mom eventually intervened, saying “follow your dreams, do what’s best for YOU, not what’s best for juju. you guys will work this out i promise, but go to ucla & follow your dreams. you’ll regret it if you don’t go to your dream college all because your best friend seems to hate the school.”

and that’s how you decided to go to ucla. when decision day came around, that was the day juju found out. she thought you were committing to uconn seeing as you were talking about the program a lot but, you were wearing a ucla sweatshirt.

juju felt heartbroken and betrayed, 1. you didn’t tell her about that, when you guys tell each other everything. 2. ucla? the school she hates most?

that day you guys had a fight. in all of the years of being friends with her, of course you had meaningless arguments through the years, but this one wasn’t as meaningless.

juju took your college decision to heart, and she said hurtful things during the argument. that was the end of your life long friendship.

so as you can imagine, today is probably gonna be the worst day ever. being on the ucla women’s basketball team means, you have to play against usc. you have to play against her.

and today is the away game. todays the day ucla goes to usc. what’s worse, sharing a court with her again or having to share her court with all of her fans?

it’s now halftime, and the game is going exactly how you expected it to go but also 10x worse.

juju is putting up one hell of a fight, trying to prove that she’s better, that usc is better…but you’ve been fighting right back.

you’ve also been stuck to be the one guarding her as your coach said “you know her game better than any of us.” eugh.

this whole game as been her touching you when she doesn’t have to, whispering teasing words in your ear to make you mad, her showing off that she’s better than you

but you’ve also been talking trash back to her, and teasing her.

everyone on the court can feel the tension between you two, i mean they already had to pull you two apart once. everyone off the court could honestly probably feel the tension too.

with the 3rd quarter starting, you and juju were both back on the court, your coaches taking both of you guys out of “timeout”

…juju should have stayed in timeout though. she’s being a menace right now. she keeps grabbing onto you and pulling you, as a way of guarding i guess.

—but she’s also trash talking with that said trash talking only getting worse every time you ignore her.

“would you shut up? do you know how to do that?” you snap back to juju in response to something she whispered to you, before you steal the ball from her—running down the court and getting a lay up before she can catch up “who’s quiet now?”

getting juju worked up in a game is bad…but also kinda funny, cause you never know what she’s gonna do in response. she could play “bad cop” and just get mad and have to sit on the bench OR she could just do something that would be hilarious to her, or go viral…

juju chose the latter.

you both were standing in the middle of the court during the fourth quarter. you were arguing over a foul that should have been called…jujus playing dirty with you and has been getting away with it this whole game.

you and juju are both super heated, and before any teammates or refs could step in between you guys, she leaned down and kissed you…making you shut up.

immediately after, a ref is pushing you guys away from each other while juju just smirks - feeling accomplished.

everyone was recording the argument not knowing where it would lead to…and they all got the kiss on film.

so as you can imagine….you and juju are now trending and the clips are going viral.

after the game, you and your team just left. your team lost and you guys didn’t want to stay in a rival territory. even if the fan’s support both teams —you guys weren’t really in the mood to give autographs or take pictures after that loss.

juju was trying to talk to you before you left, but you just kept walking. why should you give her a minute of your time? she hurt you.

🔖 @authentic-girl03 @evry1luvzzae @bethsleftnip @rebecca-woso @shikaizer @hellokittyfeenie @niya500 @ch-3-rry

[hwaslayer]

wildfire (cs) | six.

—spotify playlist | series masterlist

—summary: assistant professor in bioengineering, incredibly attractive, lonely and divorced; that’s how most people describe san. but despite the events that have happened in his life, san has a lot going for himself. he’s a successful, sought out professor due to his brilliant contributions to science at just an early age of 32. he worked hard to get where he was now; head deep into his research, his publications, building his lab and creating a name for himself. everything was good and smooth sailing— until it wasn’t. because when he meets you, a bioengineering grad student interested in rotating in his lab, he finds himself ready to risk all the blood, sweat and tears he put in throughout the years just to keep you close— his need for you spiraling out of control like a wildfire.

—pairing: asst. professor!choi san x grad student!f. reader

—genre: (18+ - minors dni) strangers to lovers, grad school au | fluff, angst, smut

—word count: 10.1k

—chapter content/warnings: cussing, mature language/sexually implied content, sorry if i missed anything i had to quickly edit in order to get this out lol, san x oc finally talk a little more abt each other - family - friends, small affectionate gestures and kisses, yes we have finally made it my friends… the sleepover where we discuss neuroscience papers!!!! lmao jk 😭 was not lying abt the true crime aspect tho (i fear i know nothing else), san also opens up a bit more about iseul, making out, neck kisses, breast play, unprotected sex, multiple orgasms, some clit play i guess!!, aftercare, cuddles

You decide to go to dinner with San, but the decision comes incredibly last minute. You've paced around your studio, sat on your bed for hours, going back and forth between a simple yes or no. Until, you finally realized you truly didn't wanna miss out. You felt like you'd regret it if you didn't just go to see what it'd be like.

Harmless.

Eunchae and Jurin are gone for the weekend for other family commitments, but you still find yourself having to make up some sort of scenario for the boys in case they come barging in while you're getting ready. You tell them that you're spending the afternoon with your mom and that you'll be back later tonight in case they wanna come over and hang out. Boys being boys— they don't pry much and leave it at that.

You let out a breath just after you end the call with Jiung and set your phone aside, dabbing a bit more blush onto the apples of your cheeks. 

San told you to meet him at a restaurant that's very Nobu-esque, and you damn near dropped your phone when you pulled up the directions and saw pictures of the fancy interior. Even if you protested, he wouldn't let up— promising you that he'd take care of everything and that he just wanted you to have a good time with him. He asked once more if you were sure about driving, and you insist; just for the one time, to play things safe, to relieve yourself of the pressure of having to be with San in a car in case dinner doesn't pan out well [for whatever reason].

You are equally excited, nervous and terrified. Might feel a little queasy from the combo.

You run the lip gloss across your lips before pressing them together, spreading it across the surface. You check the time and pack your things into your purse, giving yourself a little bit of wiggle room for the 30-minute drive east to meet San. You check yourself in the mirror and dust yourself off, smoothing down the simple, black cami-strap dress you have on. Good thing you checked the restaurant's dress code on their website last night, or else, you might have walked into the place in something a little more casual.

Not classy. Elegant. Black and white attire only.

You run off to your car without being spotted by anybody you know. You did run into a few classmates and other familiar faces, but ones that won't even bat an eye as to why you're running across the lot in heels and a black dress. You get into your car and warm it up before turning up the heat, pulling up one of your playlists and sending San a text to let him know you're leaving campus. The drive isn't so bad when your playlist is hyping you up, along with the clear highways. You've gotta cross a bridge and pay the toll on your way back, but you don't mind; you feel a sense of relief wash over you being that you've gotten yourself this far from campus.

You knew people from campus weren't fond of coming to the east side. It tailored way too much to the wealthy, hence, San's choice for tonight's dinner.

The side streets are a little too busy in the downtown area, but you finally catch sight of the restaurant on the corner of an intersection; nestled underneath a modern, upscale 5-star hotel. When you pull into the lot, San is chatting it up with the valet. He laughs and you catch that smile of his, his dimples. He's in a black button up, and black slacks. The first two buttons of his shirt are undone, the silver chain hanging around his neck— sitting prettily across his collarbones. He points at your car and signals your arrival to the valet, the staff member immediately meeting you at the driver's side when you park in front of the booth.

"Your lady has arrived." The valet says, taking your hand in his before passing you along to San and getting into your car to park it in the lot.

"Hey beautiful." San takes your hand in his and smiles down at you adoringly. "How was the drive?"

"Good." You're barely able to maintain contact because of how shy and nervous you've become being around him. He can tell, though. He chuckles and gives your hand a gentle squeeze before reassuring you with a:

"Promise I'll take care of you tonight, okay? Don't get shy on me."

"Who said I was?"

"You can barely look me in the eye, Y/N." You look up at him and try to hold eye contact, but you shrink; subtly biting onto your lip and hiding behind him when the host greets him like he's known him forever. He walks through the restaurant, heading towards the private back patio. This section is closed off and by reservation only— your guess is that San bought out the patio for your enjoyment, to ease your nerves. And you're proven right when the host slides the back door open, and there's only one table draped in white linen in the middle of the garden. There's a candle in the middle of the table and a singular red rose on your plate, San deciding to forego the additional decorations and rose petals because he didn't wanna do too much for a first dinner. He just didn't wanna overwhelm you knowing you might already be, but he hopes you know he'd take care of you in all ways if you'd let him— the roses and candles being a glimpse into that.

"The waiter will be with you both shortly." The host does a curt bow before leaving you and San in the patio.

"Choi San." You look at and he cocks a brow, trying to prevent himself from smirking too big.

"Mhm?" He looks at you.

"Why did you buy out the whole patio?!"

"To keep you comfortable." He smiles, eyes roaming your figure and the way your dress hugs you so, so beautifully.

"San." You frown a bit. "You didn't have to spend all that just for me."

"Um, yeah. I did, sweetheart." He laughs. "I wanted to. The last thing I wanted was for you to worry tonight." You slowly sit in the high chair in front of him, taking the singular rose to your nose before smiling shyly at him.

"Thank you."

"You're welcome." His hands are clasped together, elbows resting on the table— his piercing eyes bore into you. "How was your day?"

"It was good. I didn't do much besides get ready for the evening. Had to tell the boys I was running off for the evening like Eunchae and Jurin." San nods and sips his water.

"Sorry love."

"For what?"

"For having you lie to your friends."

"They don't care much." You wave it off with a giggle. "How was your day?"

"Well, I was gonna hang out at Jongho's but someone told me they wanted to go to dinner last minute."

"Wonder who that could be?" You tease and he laughs a bit.

"Yeah, right? She's lucky she's cute." He teases back and the heat rises to your cheeks.

"Didn't mean to impose on your plans with the other Professor Choi."

"Never. I see him all the time, he won't mind if I leave him behind for an evening." You laugh.

"Touché." At this point, the waiter comes and sets down some complimentary edamame before taking orders. You decline any alcohol solely because of your drive home, and San follows suit. He proceeds to order the food for tonight after remembering you didn't have any specific allergies, giving him free range to order things he enjoys, but also knows you'd love. 

Wagyu.

Chef's choice omakase.

Other choices of nigiri, like toro. 

Uni tempura.

Squid pasta with garlic sauce.

Chilean seabass with dry miso.

It all comes out of San's mouth like the price tag is nonexistent, and you're internally screaming. How could he be so damn charming and suave? Let alone, this is how he spoils you for the first dinner?

"That's all." San smiles toothlessly before handing over the menus to the waiter. He licks his lips and shifts in his position as if he didn't just order a line of the most expensive items on the menu.

"San, this is gonna be so expensive. I can't accept this. Please let me at least pay for half."

"Uh, no. What did I tell you, Y/N? I'd take care of you tonight. I meant it. Just enjoy yourself for me." You sigh and tilt your head before playfully rolling your eyes.

"I can't with you."

"Yes, you can." He chuckles. "So, tell me."

"Hm?" You hum.

"About you."

"What about me?"

"I wanna know everything and anything about you." He gives you that look. "I wanna know what Miss Y/N is about outside of her CV." You snort at the comment, the reality of you being San's rotation student almost hitting you dead in the face until you decide to brush it off completely.

"Well, I'm the only child?" You say in a questioning tone, unsure of where to start. But, the conversation eventually flows on its own. You tell San about your mom being a single mom and how it's always been you two from the very beginning. You don't know much about your dad, but you don't mind talking about it if asked. It's not necessarily a sensitive or heavy topic for you; it's just unfortunate that you don't have anything to add simply because you don't know him. You have family nearby, but your family is small. You don't have cousins you're close to, your relatives are mostly middle-aged, older.  Your grandparents were around up until you were in high school, then they both died from illnesses that got to the best of them.

Then, that was that.

You and your mom— mostly you, doing things for your own and on your own while your mom continued to work tirelessly at the hospital to keep food on the table. Rent. Necessities. You worked a few jobs throughout school to help as much as possible, but your mom always told you to put your studies first and to never force yourself if your body was too tired, too overwhelmed. It felt hard for awhile because your mom was barely around. When she was, she was tired. You felt distant, almost like you couldn't be close to your mom regardless of how hard you tried. You didn't think you'd be able to build a better relationship with her until you moved away for college. When you finally had your own space and the distance in between, your relationship blossomed and she became your bestfriend. Then, you tell San how you feel the utmost pressure to make her proud because you're the only child, the only person she can rely on in the future. The only person who can also truly disappoint her, which you don't want. 

Though, you feel like you've already started wandering down that path.

You're slightly interrupted when the waiter comes to bring in half of the order, starting with the nigiri and chef's choice, setting it down in the middle of the table. You both thank him before he says he'll be right back with the rest, San giving you the priority and freedom to choose whichever you want to eat. When you start to dig in, you continue to tell San about your friends and how Jiung's been your longest friend since high school. Otherwise, there haven't been too many people you could call your close friends. You knew people, you socialized, but you weren't one to toss the 'close/good friend' term around unless you felt a genuine, real connection with someone. You do feel like you could say that for Felix, Eunchae and Jurin even though it hasn't been long since you've known them; you've clicked with them easily and well. You're grateful for it. 

The conversation switches to San's point of view now, and he begins with his family dynamics. He relates to the pressure of making his parents happy as the only child, but he likes to think he's done well for himself so far. He talks about school and how brutal it was for him and his friends— San had a great mentor, but it was hours and hours of clocking in with no endpoint. Days and days of just hustling to finish and make sure he was producing amazing work. You reassure him by telling him you think it's all paid off, adding a little dash of seasoning with your 'or else we wouldn't be here, right?' playful teasing. He touches up on Jongho and their longtime friendship, followed by Mingi, Yeosang, Christopher, and now, Namjoon. He does talk about how him and Yunho used to be bestfriends, inseparable even, but he doesn't go into the details of what went down between him and Iseul. 

You won't press him. You'll let him come to you when he's ready to open up about it. Even though San acts like he's fine and he's moved on [he has], you can only imagine how it feels to replay the entire situation in your head, with the two people you trusted and adored more than anything.

"So, yeah. Namjoon and I got close because he was really there for me throughout a lot of the stuff that's happened. Even just down to minuscule things for the lab, my classes— anything. He's always been there for us no matter how busy he is."

"That's good. I can tell Namjoon really cares about you guys and the students."

"He's a good guy. His wife is lucky." You laugh.

"Do you see your parents often?" You watch as San puts another helping of the pasta and fish on your plate.

"From time to time, yeah, when they're around. My dad still travels a lot for business. Even though he stopped teaching, he's on a few boards as a consultant and agrees to talk for conferences or symposiums all the time. Mom's retired so she joins along. What about you?"

"I try to see her when I can. She's worked as a nurse at this hospital all her life, basically." He nods. "So, do you and the guys all live near each other?"

"Uh, sorta? Namjoon lives a bit further down south, but Mingi, Yeosang, Chris and Jongho live in close proximity."

"When you're not at work, do you just hang out with each other?" 

"For the most part. We're not always together, though. We like having our own space." He laughs. "Mingi used to pop up randomly and I had to tell him to stop doing it so often."

"Aw, he just wants your company. Don't be mean."

"I'm not mean! I just like to have my peace. Mingi is everything but peace." You laugh.

"Your home must be nice for him to be barging in like that."

"It is. I take pride in it now, not gonna lie." He sips his water, eyes gazing at you from over the rim of his glass. "You know, you're always welcome at my place." You look at him and slowly nod, trying to let the statement sink in. None of it feels weird to you; in fact, it makes you more curious to know about San's personal life. His home. What it'd be like to be in his space, alone.

"I'll keep that in mind. Might have to take you up on that one day." He smirks a bit.

"Yeah? That's kinda nice to hear. Lets me know I didn't entirely blow this." You giggle.

"Not at all." He sits back in his chair, content and satisfied from tonight's meal. He sees that you've finished everything on your plate, your attention now on the garden to your left while you sip on your water. He can't even deny how attracted he is to you, and how he has this indescribable pull to you. You're beautiful, and from your interactions, the way you speak and carry yourself, the passion behind your work, the way you care about your friends and mom— you've got a good, comforting soul that could balance his own. Almost like Yin and Yang, Tui and La. "What?" You ask him all innocently and he's struggling. He can't even help the huge smile that grows on his face when he looks at you.

"Nothing." He runs his finger across his bottom lip. "You're just.. so beautiful."

"Thank you, San." You respond softly and he feels his heart melt. The waiter comes back with the check, in which San is quick to hand over his card before you can even get your hands on it. You give him a look and he laughs, shaking his head after playfully reminding you that he'd take care of you. 

"Any plans for the rest of the weekend, or next week?"

"Not really. I'll probably hang out with the boys while the girls are gone. Next week, I've got a lot of behavior to run for Sunwoo, things to prep for the class I'm TAing for." He nods.

"Always working so hard."

"Uh, yeah. Especially for you." You poke fun at him and laugh. "What about you?"

"Mm, I have to actually start prepping for the symposium because it's coming up."

"Do you have your talk ready to go?"

"Nah." He shrugs. "But, I will."

"Do you still get nervous for talks?"

"Oh yeah, absolutely."

"You look so natural when you're doing it, though. I wouldn't have expected it."

"I do. I get pretty nervous. Not as bad as before, I'm able to shake it off better now." He lets out a breath, the both of you popping the little coffee candy that came with the check.

"How bad was it before?"

"Hm." He hums and thinks about it for a second. "Right before my first lecture for the big neuroscience association conference, I almost threw up. I was so nauseated, was dry-heaving for a good minute before I could get myself together."

"What? I would have never guessed." 

"Took a lot to get used to it. Still getting used to it." He smiles brightly. "But, I'm glad you think so. At least I'm doing something right." He looks at the date on his phone. "Speaking of the neuroscience association conference, the next one is coming up. Did you and your friends register to go?"

"Me, Jiung and a few others, yeah. Felix, Eunchae, Jurin and everyone else is just going to go on the trip cause they know that's where everyone will be at."

"Can't disagree, it'll be party central for the neuroscience community." You laugh.

"Can't wait to experience it." You look at him. "Will you be busy during the entire duration of the conference?"

"Mm, yeah. I've got a few other commitments and meetings. Lots of colleagues I haven't seen in awhile will be there, so I'll be catching up with them. There's also another smaller conference nearby that I'll be speaking at upstate before I head back down for the main one." 

"Busy you."

"Maybe. I'll always have time for you, though." He winks and you laugh it off. At this point, San stands and stretches before reaching out his hand for you to grab. "Ready to go?"

"I am." You take his hand and stand in front, letting San pull you flush against his body; hands resting on the small of your back.

"Is it okay if I kiss you?" His hand comes up to cup your cheek, thumb caressing the surface. Eyes examining your features closely. "Kinda wanna re-do the first kiss. Wanna do it right this time." You bite your lip and nod, eyes locked onto his lips as he leans forward. His lips meet you in a soft, tender kiss— one that isn't rushed, one that releases all your feelings into the universe, the galaxies. One that feels so natural, so meant to be.

One that gives you butterflies,

One that also unravels Pandora's box.

He holds the kiss for longer than expected, letting his lips mold into yours delicately. When he pulls away, he quickly reattaches his lips to yours; indulging in small sweet, repeated kisses before he kisses your forehead. He pulls back completely to look at you again, and he's admiring every inch of you from underneath the moon. You watch his jaw slightly tick, Adam's apple bob up and down; eyes full of desire. Need. Encompassing you, all of you.

"Hope you enjoyed dinner."

"I did, San. Thank you, again."

"No, thank you for joining me." He flashes you a cute, toothless smile before lacing his hand with yours. "Shall we? Do you want dessert or something?"

"I'm good, I'm stuffed. The food was so good." You pat your tummy as the both of you walk out of the restaurant and head towards valet, thanking the staff on your way out.

"Yeah, it was. Glad you're satisfied and happy." He presses a kiss to the surface of your hand just before greeting the valet. He runs to bring over your car first, parking it off to the side by the entrance to the lot to give you and San some time to say goodbye. San pops the driver's door open, allowing you to slide in while he hangs by the door. 

"Thank you again for tonight." You buckle your seat belt and look at him.

"Course. Drive safely, okay? Text me when you get home please."

"I will." 

"Good." He smirks before dipping down to give you another kiss on the lips. He shuts the door and gives you one last wave before walking towards his own car and letting you drive off. 

The butterflies that man gives you is insane. 

You can't even help but smile widely during the drive home, recounting each moment of the night and how you've quickly grown comfortable with San as a person. He's easy to talk to, easy to get along with.

Easy to be attracted to. Easy to be charmed by.

Easy to love.

You see it. You see why people love him and adore him, you see the bright aura he has. You see why people respect him.

You see yourself and him.

And the thought never leaves your mind once after that. You want San, just as he with you.

You head home alone that night, and the idea about being alone with San more— off campus, anywhere but there— becomes more and more enticing. It doesn't leave you for a few days, even while San is trying to give you the space to take things slowly. He's never pressured you into moving at a pace you didn't like, always gently touching you but never doing anything that would make you overwhelmed. Not only does he know you two have to be careful, but most importantly, he knows all of this is a lot. In general.

So, he sticks to the cute texts and phone calls.

Quick mini-meetings in his office in between commitments, especially during the rare moment of an empty basement. Quick hello's in said office that result in chaste kisses and you darting out before anyone can think twice about why you've been in Professor Choi's office twice [or thrice] in one day.

You do want to be alone with him more, though. You want to see what possibilities lie behind closed doors, the ways you both could show each other your feelings. You want to see where else this could take you two, how it could continue to grow. Where things could head once you two are alone in a space together, with no background noise. No outsiders.

you: are you in your office?

san: sure am!

"San?" You poke your head into his office before sliding in and locking the door. The basement was incredibly [and unusually] empty for a weekday, San's office door and the walls the only thing separating you two from each other.

"Hey." He smiles from his desk, immediately pushing his chair back so he can stand and pull you close. "Wasn't expecting a visit from you right now."

"Sorry." You pout a bit and he shakes his head before placing a soft kiss on your forehead. "I should've asked if you were free first."

"Mm, well." He hums. "I've always got time for you, remember?" You giggle. "Is everything okay?"

"Kinda?"

"Kinda? What's going on in that pretty little head of yours?" He sits back on the edge of his desk, hand pulling you towards him and slotting you in between his legs.

"I wanted to ask you something."

"Mhm?" He says in a sing-song tone, curious about what you surprisingly popped in for.

"Can I come over?" His eyes widen a bit; not because he doesn't want you to, no. But because he's been dying to have you over. He's just been waiting until you seemed more ready to take that step.

"Tonight?" You nod, playing with his hands. "Of course you can." He pulls his hands away just to rest them behind your back. "Sure you wanna?"

"I do." He chuckles.

"I'll pick you up this time? Down the street from your building."

"Okay."

"Is that all that's been bothering you?"

"I just wasn't sure how to ask without seeming too eager, or desperate, or—"

"Hey." He laughs a bit, brushing your hair away from your face. "Never that. I've been wanting you over, but I wanted to wait until you seemed more comfortable." You relax in his hold and sink into his touch more, fingers threading through the ends of his hair.

"I wanna stay." You boldly let out, causing San to smile.

"You can stay. Whatever you want. Have more than enough room for you, sweetheart." He leans forward to meet you in a sweet, simple peck. "What time do you want me to come get you?"

"I should finish a few things before leaving."

"Just text me then, hm? I'll come whenever you're ready."

"Okay." You look at him before smirking. "That's all I wanted to talk about, Professor Choi." He chuckles, giving your side a good squeeze while biting his bottom lip.

"You're gonna be the death of me."

"Likewise." You playfully tap his nose before planting a kiss on his lips. "I'll text you later."

"Leaving already?" He pouts as you slowly pry yourself off of him because you're in his office. On campus grounds. You have to, even if you don't want to.

"I gotta get back to work, just like you do." You give him a look before waving by the door. "See you later."

"Mhm." He responds in a sing-song tone, crossing his arms tightly against his chest while he watches you walk out.

The butterflies you give him are insane.

After another long ass day of work and classes, you quickly grab dinner with your friends before rushing off to finish the rest of your assignments. You hop in a long, hot steamy shower— exfoliating and moisturizing like crazy. You strut around in your towel, throwing your toiletries into a huge bag, along with some clothes just in case. 

You can never go wrong with an emergency set of clothes and toiletries, right?

You send San a text to let him know you're about to be ready and throw on a lazy fit, feeling comfortable enough to not have to dress up for him during an occasion like this. It's a set of black wide-legged sweats and a cropped half-zip sweater, slipping into your platform Uggs for extra comfort. You step through your little cloud of perfume before grabbing your bag and heading out.

Ring, ring.

"Hey." You pick up the call, your eyes quickly scanning your surroundings. There isn't anyone in close proximity, but you still feel like someone might've caught onto the phone call coming through. Like someone could be listening, could be nearby, could be onto you.

"Where are you? I'm right outside the lot, leading into the residential street."

"I'm on my way. Someone might see you!"

"Y/N, I promise. No one's out here. This part of the street is pretty dead."

"Okay, but people coming in and out of the buildings?"

"I promise you it's fine and out of view. Hurry. I miss you." You roll your eyes when you hear the slight whine in his tone.

"Choi San, I swear." You mutter his name so lowly, paranoid of someone accidentally hearing you call your professor's name on the phone in passing.

"Mm, when you say my name like that, though." He wears a shit-eating smirk underneath the black mask he's wearing. Truthfully, he does look a little suspect hanging out in his car off to the side of the lot in a hat and black mask. He uses his second car, a Porsche Taycan, that he doesn't really take to campus— usually drives it when he wants to go for a drive down the highway by himself late at night, or when it's time to kick it with the boys. He's certain none of them are lingering around campus since they're always so quick to book it after their last meetings or classes. It's the best way he could conceal himself right now, he thinks.

It's all good.

"I'm coming out the side door. I'll be there in a second." You hastily hang up and tuck your phone in, feeling some kind of relief that you're almost at the stairs that'll lead you to the side—

"Yo!" Felix calls out with Jiung next to him. "Where are you going? We were just coming to bother you." He furrows his brows, eyes shifting to the huge tote bag you're carrying.

"I.. need to go to the lab."

"The lab? Now?" Jiung tilts his head. They're a little confused, but they're also not entirely surprised— people were in and out of the labs doing work at all times of the day. Some were night owls and preferred doing work late nights to avoid fighting over equipment and space during the day. It wasn't uncommon.

What is confusing is your large ass bag, though. For what?

"Yeah, I gotta check on one of the mice. The vet said they looked sick." Jiung and Felix nod as they take the lie. Again.

"Why are you bringing a big ass bag, though? Are you hauling the mice away or something?" Felix snorts.

"No, I have some supplies in here that I'm bringing over. We're building new behavior arenas now that the foundation of the rig is done." Felix shrugs.

"Oh, okay. Do you need us to walk you?"

"No!" You respond a bit too quickly that they're back to giving you weird, confused looks. "No— Sorry." You smile. "I'll be fine. I think Sunwoo has been there anyway. Thank you, though."

"Mm, okay then." Jiung shrugs. "Just let us know if you need us to come get you?" He pops another apple slice in his mouth.

"I will." You wave as you walk through the door and head down the steps in a hurry. 

"Was Y/N being a little weird or..?" Felix asks, but Jiung shrugs.

"Eh, she's probably a little overwhelmed or something." He turns down the hall. "Let's just go see what Eunchae is doing." 

You finally dart out the side door, doing a light jog over the grassy area and taking a shortcut towards the street that leads into the residential area from your building. You see San parked behind another car near the first house on the street, and San can see you making your way over through the rearview mirror. He smiles to himself when you near the car, pulling on the door handle to slide into the passenger's seat. His car smells like a mix of his air freshener, along with a hint of his cologne that you've slowly become obsessed with.

"Hey beautiful." He leans over the middle console and pulls down his mask. He puckers up his lips and it makes you giggle just as you lean in to give him what he wants. He doesn't pull back right away, no. Instead, he deepens the kiss and slips some tongue in, a shaky exhale released in between as his hand comes up to caress your cheek.

"Maybe we should leave." 

"Mhm." San teases as he continues to kiss you, smirking into the kiss. 

"San."

"Just one more." He chuckles before dipping forward and kissing you passionately again. You bite onto your bottom lip when he finally sits back in the driver's seat and rests his head against the headrest, admiring how cute you look in your leggings and hoodie. "You're cute."

"Stop." You giggle and shake your head. "Drive before someone sees us."

"Yes ma'am." He starts up the car and begins to drive to his destination. You're not really sure what to expect since it's your first time going to his place. You knew San was well off, but you didn't know what you were walking into— did he live in a modern, expensive ass apartment? Was it a penthouse? A regular single family home? You'll finally see why Mingi likes to barge in from time to time. "How was your day?" You're pulled out of your thoughts when he chimes in with the question.

"It was okay. I ran into Jiung and Felix as I was leaving." He leans against his window with one hand on the wheel, letting out a breathy laugh.

"Oh? How was that?"

"I don't know? I think they believed me. I said I was heading into lab." San shrugs.

"That's a good reason since it isn't uncommon. I'm sure it's fine, angel." He looks at you before returning his attention to the road in front of him. "It's pretty hot seeing you work so hard in my lab."

"Shut up, Professor Choi." He bites on his bottom lip before slipping his hand on your thigh. He gives it a good squeeze as he continues to drive in silence, the music softly filling the void in the car.

"Did you eat?" You nod.

"Mhm. Just grabbed something from the dining hall."

"Good."

"Did you?" He nods.

"Mhm. Just wanted to make sure you were okay, though."

"I am. Thank you." You watch as the surroundings pass you by while San takes you down towards another neighborhood near campus. A lot of other professors live closeby since the university has housing assistance for them as well. You just hope San's home is one of the select few that's isolated and isn't heavily populated with said group of professors.

When San pulls into his garage, you're a little surprised at the house. You're in awe because you wonder how San makes use of all this space living alone. It's a beautiful single family home, and you're sure the decision to buy this had come from Professor Lee when they had been married. You wonder if he still holds onto those memories, or why he didn't end up moving to another place. Perhaps—

"Y/N?" You snap out of it and turn to San, who has already parked the car and is unbuckling his seatbelt. "You okay?"

"Oh, yeah. Sorry. I was spacing out."

"You sure you're okay?" He chuckles. The both of you step out of the car and head into the hallway that leads straight into his bar and kitchen area first. "I can practically hear you thinking, sweetheart." He kicks off his shoes and you follow suit, San waiting for you before walking deeper into his house. You look up at him and he gives you a small smile, holding out his hand for you to take. "Relax. You can ask me anything." He pulls you flush against him, hands gently rubbing up and down your sides. "Okay?" He tilts your chin up and presses a kiss against your lips, which surely does put you at ease.

"I'm just curious about some stuff."

"Like?" You step into the living room and set your bag down on the couch temporarily. Your eyes roam around, scanning the sleek and simple decorations. It gives off a classy, modern look; room full of brown, white and black themes, wood hints.

"I'm not sure I know how to ask." You rub at your arms while San grabs two wine glasses from the cabinets and sets them down on the island counter.

"Ask away. I won't mind. I think I already know where you're going with it, anyway." You walk towards the island and rest your elbows against the marble countertop. "Is wine good, or do you want something else?"

"Wine is good." You pause, fully taking in what San is wearing as he continues to move around the kitchen. He's casually dressed in black Essentials sweats with a matching black tee. He sets his hat off to the side, running a hand through his soft, black hair. You think San is attractive during the day with his usual button-up top and slacks, but this— this was even more attractive to you and had you buckling at the knees the more you ogled at him. "Don't you get lonely being in this big house? I-I mean, you used to live here with her, right?" You chime in, hoping not to seem too spaced out and in your thoughts again.

"Mhm. I've gotten used to it, though." He says with a soft smile. "By the way, white or red?"

"White, if you have any please." He nods.

"I got you." He digs into his wine cooler beneath the island.

"Why didn't you wanna sell this and buy another house?" He shrugs.

"To be honest, I've thought about it. Every corner of this house used to remind me of her and I'd hate it." He pours wine into your glasses. "But, I really do love the house and the space it gives me. I just flipped it into something I'd be happy and comfortable with, and I've moved past all of that. It just feels like my space now."

"That's good. As long as you're okay. You decorated your home beautifully too, San."

"I am, yeah. Thank you, pretty girl." He smiles and comes around the corner to wrap his arms around you from behind. He kisses the back of your head as you relax in his hold, letting out a small exhale. "Is there anything else you're curious about?"

"Not right now." San chuckles a bit.

"Okay, well. I'll be ready for the next time." He kisses your temple. "Why don't you get comfy so we can relax and watch a movie? Sip on some wine, eat some cheese and crackers." You giggle and turn to face him in his hold.

"You're gonna prep some cheese and crackers, too?"

"Why not?" He chuckles. "Let me take you upstairs so you can get comfortable." You grab your things and take his hand, silently following San up to the second level of his home. There's a little loft that he's converted into a small gaming area— another smaller L-shaped sectional couch nestled against the walls with his gaming consoles on the shelf beneath the TV, board games neatly stacked away. There's a guest room to your right, his office to the left. You peek and find a large bookshelf covering the back wall behind his large desk and computer set up. "Here's my room." He takes you into his large master bedroom; sheets neatly made, large master bathroom off to the right corner of the room. "Bathroom's through there if you need anything." He looks at you. "Or, you can use the guest room if you feel more comfortable doing so."

"Thank you."

"Course. I'll be downstairs, okay?" He kisses you on the lips. You watch as he heads back downstairs to give you some privacy, returning your attention to the interior of his room. It's a little weird when you think that this used to be a space shared by Iseul— she'd be in here all the time, closet partially hers, bed shared with her. You brush off the thoughts and set your things aside before walking into his spotless bathroom to freshen up even though you just took a shower. San's got his own skincare, cologne and other hair products neatly organized off to the side. You complete your nightly routine for your skincare and slip into more appropriate pajamas in an effort to wind down and get cozy for bedtime. When you step out of the bathroom, you hear the tv echoing from downstairs, along with what sounds like San humming to a song. You head down the steps to see San setting up the last bits of his cute cheese and crackers display, wiping off the crumbs on his island counter. "Hey. You all good?"

"Mhm." You giggle, following him to the couch. You plop onto the open space just as San jogs back to bring over the wine he poured earlier. "What're we watching?"

"Good question." He says, flipping through the channels while sitting next to you and sipping on his wine. "Should we put on something cute or..?"

"Have you ever watched Worst Ex Ever?"

"Oh— ah, okay. So we're going the true crime route." You laugh and shake your head.

"I watched that, but I wanted to watch the other installment, Worst Roommate Ever." He nods and throws it on.

"Yeah, I'm all for it!" He kicks off the first episode and leans back against the couch, one arm draped over you from behind, giving you the opportunity to scoot closer to him.

As the episode continues, you find that San is actually really interested in these things— engaging in conversation about your thoughts, why certain events happened in the episode, motives, thought processes— you love how he carries the conversation with you. You enjoy watching the show a little too much with him that time seems to fly right on by despite the hour-long episodes. You'd laugh and giggle when San pouts and whines when he's guessed wrong, resulting in you two sharing cute, little intimate kisses in between. After you both finish your wine and go through most of his charcuterie board, you snuggle up closer to San. You've got your legs folded up on the couch, with San's hand grazing your thigh every time he dips forward for a kiss. You've gone through 2 and a half episodes before you're yawning and giving San tired eyes, so he pauses the show; hand gently rubbing at your thigh.

"Tired?" You nod.

"Kinda tired, yeah." He chuckles and shuts off the TV.

"Let's get upstairs then." You help him clean up the wine glasses and the board even though he insisted he had everything under control. But, as he steps back and takes a moment to watch you rinse out the dishes and load them into the dishwasher, he finds his heart skipping a few beats. He likes seeing this; he likes seeing you, in his kitchen, as if you were always meant to be in this home. With him. It just felt so.. natural and domestic. It's been so long since he's genuinely felt that way. You give him a small smile when you've finished, beginning to climb up the steps as San shuts off his lights and makes sure all the doors are locked. You head into his room and start to brush your teeth, San following suit next to you. You don't even think twice about the whole thing, even as you walk towards his bed with him. He pulls back the covers and you slide in, staring at the ceiling above while he cozies up to you.

"San."

"Yeah?"

"I think I'm ready to ask the next question. But, you don't have to answer if you don't want to." You turn towards him and lay on your stomach. He chuckles a bit and brushes your hair back, reassuring you to continue on. You said you'd wait for him to open up, but you couldn't help it— you were curious, and you felt like you were getting deeper into this thing with San. Maybe it was time.

"I'll answer, but I might not go into detail. How about that?" He already knows where this is going. And with you, he wants to be as transparent as possible without having to relive that part of his life again. Despite his feelings for you, he still needs to hold space for himself especially with that aspect. He doesn't wanna undo the work he's done on himself.

"Okay."

"Go for it, angel."

"What was your relationship like with her?" He lets out a breath as he rests his cheek on the palm of his hand, elbow propped up on the pillow. 

"Mm, well. I'd say it was good until she realized it wasn't me she wanted this entire time. We were one of those couples who moved quickly and unfortunately, it just didn't work out well for us at all. We ended just as quickly as we blossomed." You look at him.

"So, when did you meet and when did everything happen?"

"We met in grad school. We started going out maybe a year after we had met and been good friends. Me, her and Yunho were always together. Another year after that, we're married. Things were good even though things were moving fast. Parents liked each other, we bought this house. It felt like things were falling into place. We were doing a lot of 'future' talks, even thought about kids at one point." You continue to listen intently while San goes on, his hand tracing faint shapes on your clothed back. "But then, the postdoc years happened. We were both busy, but me especially. I hadn't realized it then, but I was putting work and the lab before anything and anyone else. I kinda can't even blame her for acting the way she did because I should've paid more attention to her as her husband."

"You can't blame yourself, San." 

"I don't." He smiles a bit. "Not anymore, at least. In general, I should've just paid more attention." He lets out a small sigh. "I knew her and Yunho had gotten close so I didn't think much of it when I started to see them hanging out more without me, or starting things without me. The busier I got, the more she leaned on Yunho. He was there for her when I wasn't. That's what she wanted and needed the most, and he was there to provide that for her. He was able to." 

"Did she ever talk to you about it?"

"She was the type who couldn't communicate well. She'd harbor everything until that one thing triggers her and makes her blow up." You nod. "Whenever I felt tension or whenever I felt her being off, I'd ask, and her response was always 'i'm just tired' or 'too many things going on with my project, it's overwhelming.' There were only a few occasions when she told me she felt like I wasn't there for her enough. I wanted to fix it, but she brushed it off and said it was fine, that this was just our life together." San shakes his head. "Not once did I ever wanna give up on her. I wanted to fix it. I tried everything to be better for her, but I was too late, I guess. I found out about her and Yunho seeing each other behind my back, I called the divorce. She tried running back a few times but we'd always end up worse than the last time. We'd yell, we'd argue. I'd be hurt all over again, re-opening that same wound over and over again. Had me thinking I had a chance to actually fix us, only to be shot down. Then later, her and Yunho eloped and got married."

"Fuck." You mutter. "Sorry— I just, I don't even know what to say."

"The worst part is that she blamed me and painted me to be the bad guy. It got so toxic, it really messed me up. She would tell people this false narrative that I always fought with her and that I was unfair. My priorities were everywhere. She told people she properly broke it off before seeing Yunho when that wasn't the case. I dunno why she said and did all those things. Maybe she was angry at me for not trying the way Yunho did? Maybe she just hated me?"

"You and Yunho are two very different people, and you did try to fix it. She just wanted to be a brat about it. She wanted to have her cake and eat it, too." You frown. "I'm sorry, San."

"For what, baby?" He laughs a bit. "It is what it is, it happened and I'm past it."

"Yeah, but still." You play with his hair. "What was Yunho doing in all of this?"

"Denying the affair even though I caught them. He kept trying to apologize but there was always a 'but.' I mean, what else can he do? That's his girl so he's going with it."

"Sick." You sigh. "Can't believe them. They don't deserve you anyway."

"You're right. They don't. I have my people by my side." He taps the tip of your nose. "Now, you."

"You do have me." You lay your head down on the pillow while looking at him.

"I do?" He teasingly leans forward, inches away from your lips.

"Mhm."

"Good. That's all I need." His eyes shift down to your lips briefly before shifting back up to you. "Is there anything else you wanna ask?"

"Hm. Do you really mean that?"

"What? That you're all I need?" You nod. "I don't lie. Ever." He chuckles, caressing your cheek sweetly.

"Just kinda hard to believe hearing it from you."

"That's okay. I mean—" He whispers, pressing light, feathery kisses to your cheeks, corner of your lips. "I can show you instead, if you'd let me?"

"Show me." You whisper back, tilting your head back to give San more access to your neck, to you. One second, he's kissing up on your neck with your hands tangled in the ends of his hair; the next, your tongues are fighting for dominance in a heated kiss. Everything feels so calculated, so full of genuine emotion and desire. San's hands travel up your shirt, massaging your breasts before letting his thumb play around with your nipples. You let out a breathy moan in between kisses, back arching in response to his touch. He carefully removes your shirt and tosses it aside, mouth now latching onto one hardened bud. His tongue flicks around, working in circular motions before pulling back with a pop— earning a louder moan to slip from your lips, goosebumps rising on your skin. He repeats the motions on the other, taking his time to lick and suck around your nipple before pulling back. 

San is quick to reattach his lips to yours; this kiss holding more fervor, more intensity, as his hand slides down to completely slide your bottoms off. You work to remove his shirt, the both of you bare in a matter of seconds.

Clothes littering his bedside.

He tries not to break the kiss, even as he crawls on top of you, fingers dipping into your heat and in between your folds to get a sense of how wet you already are. 

"Oh my god." You cry. San's cock is painfully hard, hitting your thigh while he continues to pepper your jaw, neck, with kisses.

"Can I have you, baby?" He whispers in your ear. 

"Y-yes." You can barely make out from the overwhelming desire, excitement. Thrill.

This was actually happening.

San hovers slightly to slide his nightstand drawer out, but you stop him before he can grab a condom. 

"I'm on the IUD." You shake your head. "Don't need it."

"You sure?" He asks once more for final confirmation, and you give it to him with a nod. He pauses, eyes skimming through your features again before pecking you on the lips, hand coming down to stroke his length. You drool at the sight, admiring how perfectly long and thick he is. He smirks, tapping his heavy cock against your pussy a few times. 

Just to be a fucking tease.

He starts slow— pressing his cock in between your folds, gliding up and down. 

"Mm— god." He huffs. "You feel perfect already." San watches the way your eyes roll back, mouth open as you let out small whines and whimpers at the feeling. He nudges your clit with his tip as he continues to slide up and down, earning a loud mewl to release from your lips. His other hand is now gripping your jaw to force you to maintain eye contact with him— it's not a harsh grip, but it's enough to keep you clenching around nothing. Enough to keep you writhing for more underneath him. He rubs the tip against your sensitive nub directly, another shaky moan releasing from your lips. 

"Fuck, San." You hiss, feeling the pleasure build right at your core with the way he's rubbing against you; legs cocked all the way open for him.

"So beautiful. Think I can make you cum like this, angel?" You take your hand and wrap it around his base, letting him thrust into your hand as he continues his movements between your folds. "Feels so fucking good. Can't even imagine how you'd feel wrapped around me. Hm?" He hums, head kicking back in pleasure while trying to maintain his composure. Because fuck, he can feel himself dangerously close to the edge, but he's hanging on so he can feel you— all of you.

"San, San— oh god, San." You cry repeatedly, feeling your clit ready to explode. His tip is hitting it at the right pace, hitting you in all the right spots at the right pace. You move your hips upward, grinding into his length as he continues; mouth slacked open from the overwhelming pleasure. "You're gonna make me cum." 

"Yeah? Use me. Wanna see how pretty you look when you cum." He stills and watches as you use his cock to reach your first orgasm of the night, pressing him down with the right pressure onto your heat as you grind at a quicker pace— finally toppling over the edge. His eyes glow when he watches your mouth slack open from the silent moan you release, hands coming down to ease your twitching body. "God, you're perfect." He presses feathery kisses across your jaw, chin.

Neck.

Coming right below to your sweet spot below the ear.

"Ready for me?" He asks near your ear, gently nibbling your earlobe and giving you chaste kisses on said sweet spot. You nod, giving him the green light to move further. He lines himself at your entrance before gently pushing himself in, loud moans escaping the more he buries himself to the hilt. "Baaaby." San's moan drags out as he eases himself into you. "Shit, you're so tight." He slowly pumps in and out, eyes glued to his cock as you coat it with your slickness. "Feeling okay?"

"Mhm. Feels so full." You almost whine. His hands are now pressed onto your inner thighs to make sure you keep yourself open for him. He rolls his hips into you as he hovers over your body and locks you into another kiss. He doesn't waste any time picking up his pace, the way you whine and beg, beg and whine— it drives him crazy. 

"Take me. You can do it, sweetheart." His thumb presses down on your bottom lip, tongue licking into your mouth just as he devours you in a sloppy, wet kiss. You let out a strangled, lewd moan when he starts pounding into you harder, deeper; sounds of skin slapping against skin bouncing off the walls. Pussy squelching. San's name being repeated like a song, a mantra.

The noise is nothing short of pornographic.

"Please. More. Give it to me." You plead. "Feels too good."

"Shit— Y/N, jesus fucking christ." San groans when he slowly pulls out just to the tip, creamy mess lathering the top of his dick like icing. "Gonna make me cum." He pounds back into you at an angle where he can reach all your spots. He lowers himself back down to kiss you, fucking into you while expertly rubbing away at your aching clit.

San is so, so good.

"Want you to cum in me, San."

"Yeah? You did so well for me, baby. I'll fill you up real good. Just how you want it."' After two, three more hard thrusts, you find yourself unraveling for the second time. And this time, it comes crashing down harder, your walls squeezing and constricting around him. You're digging your nails deep into San's back, moaning into his mouth as he continues to chase his high. "I'm cumming— fuck." He lets out a loud, breathy moan as he stills; milking every last bit of himself into you. He buries himself in the crook of your neck, pressing kisses to the surface before coming up to kiss you softly on the lips. "You okay, baby?" He smiles.

"Mhm." He presses a few more repeated, tender kisses to your lips before running off to the bathroom to help clean you up. You lay back on your tummy as San slips himself back under the sheets, sitting back against the headboard. He sighs, black glasses perched on his nose while the sheets are pulled up to his hips. You watch as he pulls his laptop and sits it on his lap before typing away, letting out a small giggle at the way he's working.

"Do you always work naked like that? Especially after what just happened?" You tease. San smirks before giving your head a playful but gentle rub.

"Only if you're around."

"You're sick." He laughs.

"Why, is it distracting?" You giggle and shake your head, shoving your face further down into the pillow to avoid eye contact.

"No." You mumble into the pillow. 

"Then, why can't you look at me?" You peek from the pillow, catching San looking straight down at you with a small smile on his face. "Gotta beg for a kiss, too?" You roll your eyes and shift upwards to give him a peck on the lips before sinking back down into the sheets. "Good girl."

"In all seriousness though, do you always have a ton of work to catch up on at night?"

"Mm, I just prefer to catch up on things at night. Sometimes, it's easier to get through it when I'm winding down." He lets out a small sigh as he continues to scroll through his inbox and reply to a few emails. He also needs to work on some more grant-related things that he's been kinda putting off. "No biggie, though." He looks at you. "Getting sleepy now?"

"A bit. Good thing I caught up on everything before leaving."

"How'd you know you'd be busy?" He laughs a bit.

"You're so annoying. Plus, I'd rather not do my homework around you."

"Why? I can be of help."

"No, Professor Choi. Leave me to my own work." You mutter as you turn the other way and shut your eyes for a little longer. San lets out a small laugh before typing away on his laptop. It isn't long before you've stopped moving and he hears your soft breathing against the pillow, causing him to smile to himself. He leans over to press a kiss against your head, whispering a quick 'goodnight beautiful' before resuming his work. He works for another 15 minutes before he feels exhaustion taking over his body. He shuts off his laptop and sets it aside, snuggling under the covers and pulling you close as he quickly drifts off to sleep with you in his arms.

When the next morning comes, you wake up from the best sleep you've had in awhile. The sheets are keeping you warm and cozy, the mattress feels perfect against your body— everything feels perfect, except there's no San and you're yearning for him already.

You've barely been awake and all you want is San.

Luckily for you, you hear his footsteps as he comes up the steps right at that moment. When he turns into the room, he's already dressed in today's attire: a cream-colored long-sleeve henley top and jeans.

"Hey." San sits on the edge of the bed and runs his soft hand up and down your bare back. You look at him lazily, threatening to fall back asleep with the way his fingers lightly run across the surface.

"Hi." You look at him sweetly and he feels his heart melt. He could get used to this.

"Going back to sleep?"

"Mm." You stretch a bit and sit up, grabbing the covers to shield your naked body. "I should probably get up and get ready to head back."

"Do you have to?" He whines.

"Yes." You giggle. "My friends are probably gonna try and bother me before class. And in case you've forgotten, sir, I have to help Sunwoo fix the 2P for our work in your lab."

"Sexy."

"You're too much." You tease, making San chuckle. "Do you have meetings in between class today?"

"Mm, yeah. A few. I have to meet with Chris and Jongho about this ongoing collaboration discussion and some last minute symposium things, then I have to meet with some donors."

"Goodluck."

"Thank you, baby." He caresses your chin before kissing your forehead. "Come downstairs when you're done getting ready."

"Okay." You stretch as San heads to his office really quickly before heading back down to the kitchen. You strut to bathroom to wash up and get ready for your day, throwing on the same outfit you had on when San picked you up. After gathering your things and fixing San's bed, you head downstairs and find that San's got a cup of coffee and a breakfast plate fixed for you. He's standing near the counter, sipping his coffee while scrolling through his phone.

"Breakfast?" He smiles at you before wrapping an arm around you, pulling you in for kiss.

"Thank you."

Even though things feel too good to be true, you could definitely get used to this.

—read 6.5 here

—taglist: @asjkdk @interweab @woojirang @svintsandghosts @cheolliehugs @persphonesorchid @mxnsxngie @jycas @cowboydk @vcutparis @chngbnwf @struggling101 @sanhwalvr @angelqueendom @barbielibra @brown88 @choisansplushie @yunhoswrldddd @hyukssunflower @vickykazuya @lucid-galaxys-world @jaytheatiny @pommelex @thespiffynerd @vixensss @santineez @nopension

[diamonddeputy]

Okay I put this together for a buddy who couldn’t make it so I may as well put it here too now that I have it all in one place

All the dev commentary I picked up from the UTY anniversary stream

PLEASE REBLOG WITH ANYTHING I MAY HAVE MISSED

• It apparently took them FOREVER to solidify a design for Decibat. One of the early concepts was a literal baseball bat with wings and I enjoy this fact very much

• They originally had an idea that Dalv would accidentally try and move into Martlet’s house after leaving the Ruins LMAO

• They expanded on this piece of concept art that had been floating around: there were never really plans for the Feisty Five to be evil, they just made their own wanted posters to inflate their own egos LOL

• I didn’t really write any of the specifics down, but listening to them talk about the Flowey fight was so interesting because they were all chiming in about who worked on what parts and where the inspirations were from and where they sourced their materials. Some details I remember off the top of my head:

- Flowey’s voice lines were pulled from the same McDonald’s commercial as his canon ones

- The audio for the scene where Martlet melts before Meta Flowey was a combination of a stock laugh and a clip one of the devs just so happened to have, when they used to edit for a YouTube channel, and the file got corrupted and just randomly made that sound

- The heartbeat monitor sound that plays during the Organic speciman is taken from the frequency of an actual human heart. Don’t remember the story about how they acquired that one

- The graphics for the Polygonal speciman were inspired by PS1 horror, Ben Drowned and that meme that went around in the late 2010s of a gif of a bug that made it look like a bug was on your screen (in specific reference to the little Flowey gremlins that crawl down the screen)

- They originally had plans to include a spectrogram in the fight, but decided it would make them seem too tryhardy

• There were plans for an underwater segment that were scrapped extremely early in development, something about a bridge in Waterfall breaking

• The comment Starlo makes in the Wild East about there being a fourth mission that was scrapped from the regimen is a reference to a literal fourth mission that the devs cut because they felt like it killed the pacing, where Virgil would kidnap the Feisty Five and tie them up in places around town and you had to go rescue them and it was a stealth game type thing

• - The designs for the Feisty Five have a lot of funny inspirations

- Ed was originally designed to be a normal monster, but they liked his design so much they used it for something more important

- Initial concepts of Moray’s design had them in a fisherman’s cap or a paper boat hat, to show how unserious they were about this. Also, they weren’t originally designed to be Angie and Gillbert’s child, a playtester just made that assumption and they were like y’know what sure we’ll roll with it

- Mooch’s design originated from a Minecraft RP OC that one of the devs had that she never got to use. Which is iconic tbh

• Mo was inspired by this lil dude, who showed up and had babies in one of the devs’ attic. Additionally, while coding the game, there were little variables they put in for fun like a timer. One of them was a number that just incrementally increased, and was labelled “Crimes that Mo has committed”

• The fact that sparing Dalv doesn’t abort Geno, that everyone chalked up to being a genius narrative decision, was AN OVERSIGHT??????? It was a coding error caused by the fact that they were initially gonna make everything that happens in the Dark Ruins not count towards any route, like Flowey implies in his dialogue, but they went back on that decision and fixed it for everyone except Dalv. They made a comment on stream like “we should really fix that” and everyone in chat was like PLEASE don’t LOL

• There were never really concepts for a Geno Starlo fight. And a lot of it is the reasons the fandom talks about that he’s a coward before his character development and it makes more sense for him to back out in the face of real danger. But also because in terms of power level, it didn’t make sense for him to stand a chance. And also because they were making all the routes at once and designing the boss fights at equal times and this was the first chance they got to make a boss fight for Ceroba LOL. But the plan was already set by that point that it was gonna be her instead of him

• No one truly knows the origins of the super faded silhouette standing in the background of the UG Apartments shop in Geno. Apparently the dude who made the CG just. Put it there

• We got more insight into the Martlet transformation animation. It was made with SO much purpose. If you look closely, she starts to melt and the determination puddles underneath her, but then she gains control of it and the puddle ABSORBS BACK INTO HER, then shoots out in a burst when her first wing transforms. THAT’S SO COOL

• Additionally, they also canonized that Martlet took the determination before Alphys had any of the fallen-down bodies, and that she had no idea what it actually WAS, other than that it had something to do with the human SOULs. Which makes this even MORE impressive because she wasn’t intrinsically prepared to control determination, she just DID it

• Additionally, they also canonized that Martlet took the determination before Alphys had any of the fallen-down bodies, and that she had no idea what it actually WAS, other than that it had something to do with the human SOULs. Which makes this even MORE impressive because she wasn’t intrinsically prepared to control determination, she just DID it

• The dive-bomb attack Martlet does in her first-phase Zenith fight was inspired by Dyna Blade, as a Kirby fan that fact just made me happy lol

• Retribution was the last song made for the game, and was composed in just a couple days, which is WILD to me

• We got confirmation that Flowey is still in control of saves after defeating Axis in Geno, and Clover’s text in the overworld/after dying is just them being so focused on their mission that they’re drowning out everything else

• CANNOT forget The Jincident

[nicromancytarot]

WHO IS COMING INTO YOUR LIFE ROMANTICALLY?

This is a general reading based on a collective of people. Take what resonates and leave what doesn’t. If you don’t feel the pile resonates with you, don’t be scared to try another, if it still doesn’t feel right, that’s ok! Maybe our energies aren’t as connected and my readings are not for you.

I do these strictly for fun and educational purposes. I don’t change for these readings and I do not fake readings. I would tell you the cards I got but I pull like 20-30 cards each reading and that just slightly a strenuous task to write them all down lmao.

PICK A CARD READING

I asked my spirit guides what you need to know about the next person who is coming into your life romantically, pick a pile and find out what they had to say!

Pile 1 ———> Pile 2 ———> Pile 3

PILE 1

This person is embodying the energy of the king of cups, they are giving off much more masculine energy, this doesn’t mean that they are a guy, however this person is more in tune with their masculine, leadership side. When you meet this person, they will be going with the flow, allowing life to take them wherever, and coincidentally they will find you.

I am getting the feeling that this person is new to most, if not all of you. So I’m not seeing any exes or reconciliations in this pile.

This person seems to have been going through something which led them astray or possibly ended in them getting hurt, for some this may have been a breakup.

Around the time that the two of you meet, they’re going to act like a taster for you, they’ll give you these little moments with them, which leave you waiting for more, yearning for them to allow you in some more, but you only receive a drip, a dribble of what they could actually give you.

They’ll keep this going on for a while, keeping you interested and guessing, during this time they may have you lined up as an accomplishment or trophy, they may still have feelings for an ex, and have you as a second option.

It will take a while to get out of the situationship and bring yourselves to something more committed and long term, honestly I’m seeing around 6-8 months of no label.

All while it can absolutely end well, it can give you what you desperately want in a relationship, the agony and anticipation may turn to be too much for you.

For those of you who choose to walk away from this without letting it grow or become anything more, you are making a good decision, you’re embodying the queen of wands energy, you don’t need anyone to define you or make you any more worthy than you already are.

For those of who choose to stay, be careful of your heart, make sure to protect your dignity and don’t let this person get you down, you can build something beautiful with a lot of patience and determination, however you are always ok to walk away.

PILE 2

A lot of you are getting over something at the moment, I’m unfortunately getting an ex, someone from your past who I’m not too sure that you received closure from when you last saw or spoke to them.

I do see this ex coming back into your life, if they come back during mercury retrograde, dawg bin them, we are in no need of negativity during this time! However, for those who do not come back during this current moment, either you will contact them, or they will contact you. I do see that a lot of you have some stuff to talk out with this past person.

The closure conversation won’t exactly go to plan, you may be sucked in by their drama, trauma dumping or a poor attempt to get you back. I do feel as though you will entertain this situation for a little, perhaps not too long, but long enough for some emotions and feelings to arise again.

However on the other side of things, you have someone completely new, someone who is willing to give you things that this past person wasn’t able to supply for you. This person is coming in hot and heavy, they will be very direct about what they want with you.

I feel like you’ve always been the one to make the first move, or admit your feelings, this person will turn your life on it’s head, they will be honest, direct, real and just very straightforward about what they desire.

They may say something along the lines of not wanting to be with you until you’re over your ex, this could be a drunken confession where you try to tell them that you are, and they tell you you’re not. It will either end up with you crying into their hands as they cradle your head, or some hot and heavy make out session lmao.

This person is willing to wait for you, they will be on the sidelines for as long as you need them to be. It doesn’t seem like they will be letting go easily.

The ex person is giving me twin flame vibes, meanwhile the new person is a soulmate.

So it’s either out with the old and in with the new, or out with the new and back to the old.

The choice is yours.

PILE 3

You guys seem to have gone through some type of break up as well lmao, something which forced you to let go of someone that you cared a lot about. If it’s not a relationship, then it’s a situation that had you up at night upset and stressing.

During this time there was this one person that you would confide in, this person was there to rub your back while you cried, and tell you that everything was ok.

They watched you through your healing journey, helping you become one with yourself and your expression once again, help you build yourself up until you felt comfortable in your own skin. This person is a people watcher, especially when it comes to you, they’re observing to the point of writing down every little thing about you, you could ask this person the colour of your eyes, or how many freckles are on your face and they would be able to answer without a second glance. They know you like they know themself.

This person may call you their flower or petal, you may have a flower relating name, something to do with how delicately they view you, you’re like a piece of china to them, one wrong touch and you’d break. They don’t want to break you.

They metaphorically stand by your bedside as you sleep, protecting you from every scary dream, or any unwanted negativity that could come your way, they want nothing more than to protect you and keep your safe, it’s their purpose.

You are Barbie, and they are just Ken. (No gender affirmed)

This person will wait for the right time before making their move, and when they do, they will resume leadership and continue to look after you for as long as you allow them to.

This person will love you like you have never been loved before, they will caress every inch of your skin as though you were sculpted by the Gods, they want nothing more than for you to be theirs, and them to resume being yours.

Because they will always be yours.

[ghostprince]

well it only took uh. like. 5 days. but I FINALLY got my designs for Maxie and Archie done!! I initially just meant to draw over their official art to warm up, and then... I kept drawing so I just committed to it. whoops.

I wanted to do versions of them for the headcanon setting that @brannwen and I have! Featuring some slight tweaks to their ORAS outfits ( @endiecutieo6's lovely designs inspired most of them!! <3)

Headcanon rambling and design notes under the readmore:

Story/character headcanons:

(Overall, this setting is a weird mix of ORAS and Emerald. In simple terms, it's ORAS's characterization with Emerald's plotline)

Maxie is a trans man, and gay. Archie is a cis gay man.

Maxie is from Fallarbor Town, while Archie is from Lilycove. Maxie's family is fully Hoennian, while one side of Archie's family is from Alola. (He grew up visiting Alola yearly to stay with family there. He hasn't gone back to see them in a loooong time though, especially uh. after... gestures. all the kyogre and groudon shit)

They met after they both joined the Hoenn Pokemon Rangers in their 20s, and became best friends despite their differing personalities. Their mutual interest in the environment was an easy way for them to bond, even if they had different specific focuses

The major rift between them started when Archie confessed his love to Maxie, who rejected him. (Out of fear of being outed as trans, specifically. He was also in love with Archie, but was too afraid of what would happen if Archie found out about him being trans. the answer is he wouldn't have cared, u idiot)

When Groudon and Kyogre were awoken and underwent Primal Reversion, they possessed Maxie and Archie, causing the two to try and murder each other in Sootopolis City.

After Rayquaza quelled the fighting Legendaries, Maxie and Archie were left irreversibly changed -- neither human or Pokemon, with instincts and powers of the Legendaries that "blessed" them.

They spent a handful of months avoiding each other as much as they could (outside of the Delta Episode shit happening), until Maxie couldn't stand it anymore and went to visit Archie in Lilycove. While there, they realized that oddly enough, proximity to each other seemed to curb the surges of power (and irritability) they'd both been experiencing. Maxie hypothesized that it's due to the Red and Blue Orbs being able to calm the opposite Legendaries.

Maxie ends up visiting again after that, and. well. one thing led to another and they ended up confessing their feelings for each other and deciding to merge their teams to try and do Actual Good for the region. (keyword being try. they're doing their best, man)

May is basically their unofficially adopted daughter. Both of them think they don't deserve her forgiveness (she lost her parents in the natural disasters that the Legendaries caused) but she forgives them anyway, as long as they promise to try and Be Better. (Officially/Legally, May's been adopted by Steven and Wallace, who are only letting Maxie and Archie go without legal punishment because of May. also no prison could hold two people with legendary powers lmao)

May ended up in a similar situation re: Legendary powers, as Rayquaza offered her its power (either during the climax of the ORAS plot, or during the Delta Episode, haven't decided yet) and she accepted. While she doesn't regret her decision, it has made her feel even more aliened from other kids her age. Maxie and Archie have beef with Rayquaza over this, and they're particularly protective of May because they understand the struggle of being Less Than Human now.

Maxie's team consists of Camerupt (Igneous), Crobat (Travertine), Mightyena (Obsidian), Flygon (Arkose), Torkoal (Basalt), and Claydol (Shale)

Archie's team consists of Sharpedo (Styx), Crobat (Dango), Mightyena (Fang), Lanturn (Flicker), Kingdra (Admiral), and Dhelmise (Keelhaul)

Design/Legendary powers notes:

High emotions result in their markings (the black/blue lines on Maxie, and the red lines on Archie) to appear and start glowing. Especially high emotions/surges of instinct cause their eyes to change as well. Otherwise, they just have the "base" features shown in the post-game art.

If their power/instincts are particularly high/strong, they can start to become less lucid and more feral. It usually doesn't last long, and typically the other can snap the other out of it.

They've only been in their Primal forms when Groudon and Kyogre were, and were not in control of themselves at all during it. Both of them hope they never have to go through that again.

Weather affects them, with Maxie becoming lethargic and cranky if it's raining, and Archie drying out and losing energy if the weather is particularly hot and dry

Conversely, they are much more energetic during weather that "matches" them. Maxie LOVES it when it's super hot and sunny, and Archie practically bounces off the walls when it's raining/storming

To some extent, they can control the weather. Archie's been known to summon storms if he's particularly upset about something, for example

Prior to gaining the Legendary powers, Maxie ran cold (hence the 5 zillion layers of his Magma Leader outfit) and Archie ran hot. Now, it's the opposite, with Maxie's body temperature being very warm (and he has to consciously keep it from getting too hot, or else he risks melting things he touches), and Archie's being very cold. It doesn't bother them (they barely feel it), but physical contact between the two of them feels very good nonetheless.

Maxie's Mega Glasses were broken while Groudon had control over him, so he has new glasses post-game.

Maxie's post-game outfit is semi-based on his original RSE outfit, and it's specifically made so the slits at the side allow his tail easy movement despite him wearing a coat. He also specifically avoids wearing anything with the Team Magma emblem these days.

Archie's post-game outfit is basically just his RSE outfit, though he still likes wearing his wetsuit (after modifying it to accommodate his tail), and refuses to stop wearing his bandana, even though it has the Team Aqua emblem on it.

Archie got the facial X tattoo, and start filing his teeth to be sharp, after leaving the Rangers. He did it to match with his Sharpedo, Styx.

The scars on Archie's left arm are from wrestling with Styx.

[v6quewrlds]

❝ bad liar, a. iosivas. ❞  ‎ ‎ ┉  

‎ ‎ ⁎⠀┉⠀summary: midterm season at princeton is no joke. despite your commitment to academic success, your friends convince you to take just one night off to go out for halloween. andrei is a nice perk too.

‎ ‎ ⁎⠀┉⠀author's note: andrei fic bc that's my baby boy. i needed more andrei fics so i decided to make my own lmao. this will have at least one other part, part two here.

‎ ‎ ⁎⠀┉⠀warnings: suggestive, please do not interact with my work if you are under 18. friends to lovers, andrei is a simp 🫵🏾, language, sexual references & innuendos, irresponsible decision making, college setting, presumably underaged drinking.

‎ ‎ ⁎⠀┉⠀pairing: andrei iosivas x reader.

‎ ‎ ⁎⠀┉⠀word count: 6.4k.

Your eyes scanned the dense text of your biology book, your highlighter poised and ready to strike. You sat at your desk, the room's soft light reflecting off your round glasses, casting an orange halo on the pages in front of you. Your braids were pulled back into a tight bun, a few loose strands escaping to frame your focused expression. The only sound was the steady tick of the clock on the wall, marking the seconds that brought you closer to the dreaded physics midterm exam. Your mind was a mess of formulas and principles, your thoughts racing to keep up with the material you needed to commit to memory.

The door to your dorm room swung open, and in barged a flurry of energy—Kaia, your best friend, and fellow study buddy—her silk-pressed hair bouncing with every step.

"Girl, I know you're not still stuck on that same page," Kaia teased, tossing her bag onto the chair. Her voice had the melodic lilt of her Brooklyn upbringing, a stark contrast to the seriousness etched on your face. "You're gonna wear a hole in that book if you don't give it a rest."

You sighed and set the highlighter down, rubbing your eyes. "I can't help it. This stuff just won't stick."

"Well, maybe a little break would help," Kaia suggested, plopping down on the bed. She pulled out her phone and opened TikTok, the app's loud music completely cutting any remaining focus you might have had. 

"Look at this one," she giggled, flipping the screen towards you as you simply looked at your best friend with a blank expression. "Fix your face, I'm trying to help you."

The group chat on Kaia's phone began to blow up with messages. It was your friends Andrei, Malik, and Javi, asking if they could crash the study session. You groaned internally, knowing that once they arrived, studying would take a complete backseat to their usual shenanigans. But you couldn't ignore the twinge of relief you felt at the thought of a distraction. "They want to come over," Kaia announced, raising an eyebrow at you.

"Tell them no," you responded, turning your attention to your phone that lay face down on your desk. You knew your friends' intentions were not to help you study, but you couldn't hide the smile that played at the corners of your mouth.

Kaia only smirked, sending a text into the group chat. "Nah, let's hear them out. Call Andrei."

You rolled your eyes as you turned to face your best friend once again. "Why do I have to call him?" You protested, knowing full well that Kaia had an ulterior motive.

"Because..." Kaia hummed, her eyes glinting with mischief, "You know he'll answer for you." She nudged you playfully. "Let's be real, dude’s in love with you. He'll pick up on the first ring."

You playfully slapped Kaia's leg. "Shut up, Kaia," you said, your cheeks suddenly hot with embarrassment. 

Kaia simply rolled her eyes muttering, "Girl, just call him." With a dramatic sigh, you picked up your phone and dialed Andrei's number. Sure enough, he picked up on the first ring.

"Yo, what's good?" Andrei's voice boomed through the phone speaker, sounding way too cheerful for someone who should be studying for midterms.

You couldn't help but laugh. "We're trying to study for our Physics exam," you said, glancing at Kaia who was now lying on her front atop the bed. "What are you doing?"

Andrei's voice was filled with feigned innocence. "Just chilling, missing my favorite girls. Why are you guys still at it this late?"

You shot a look at Kaia, who was grinning ear to ear. "Well, some of us actually have to work for our grades," you quipped, "Not all of us can be student-athletes."

Andrei's sarcastic laugh echoed through the phone. "Ouch, that's low, bruh," he said, but the good-natured teasing was a familiar dance between the two of you.

Malik's voice interrupted, his deep chuckle audible in the background. "Why don't you just let us come over and bring some good vibes to this sad-ass study party?"

You rolled your eyes. "First of all, it’s not a party. Second, y'all are everything but good vibes. Why do you wanna come over so bad?" you challenged, a hint of curiosity in your voice despite your protests.

Malik's voice grew loud and dramatic. "I'm dying over here, bro. Andrei got no snacks, Javi got no weed, and I'm just here, starving and sober. We just need a little love from our favorite pre-med."

You couldn't help but laugh. "Who said I have snacks or weed?" you shot back. "Javi and Andrei are athletes who shouldn't be smoking anyway. Plus, I need my study space."

But the boys were persistent. Andrei's voice grew more persuasive. "Come on, dude. We're bored over here. You always have food."

You sighed, glancing at the well-stocked snack shelf. "Fine," you relented, "But only if you bring over something to replace what you're going to eat. And y'all can share one blunt, okay?"

The line went silent for a moment as the boys deliberated the terms before Andrei's voice broke through, "Deal, we're on our way." The call ended, and the room filled with the sound of Kaia's laughter. "You know you love the attention," she teased.

You couldn't argue, you did enjoy their company. The stress of your MCAT and midterms had been suffocating you, and a night of distraction sounded heavenly. You leaned back in your chair and closed your eyes, taking a deep breath. "Fine, but we're going back to studying after this," you warned.

Kaia just winked. "We'll see."

Nearly 30 minutes later, just as the girls began to wonder where the boys were, the door to the dorm burst open, and in came Andrei, Malik, and Javi, a whirlwind of testosterone and laughter. They barged in, tossing their jackets and shoes onto the floor, and immediately made a beeline for the snacks. You sighed, watching them dig through your stash without as much as a greeting or acknowledgment of either one of you.

"Looks like they're not going anywhere for a while," Kaia murmured, her eyes on the chaos unfolding in front of you.

You couldn't help but laugh. "I guess not," you said, shaking your head as Malik pulled out a bag of chips. You leaned back in your chair, watching as your friends raided your snacks like a pack of hungry wolves. They had barely taken a breath before Andrei looked up at you with his round brown eyes, holding out a takeout box of fortune cookies from the Chinese restaurant across the street. "Thought you could use this," he said, his voice hopeful.

Your stomach rumbled in response, and you took the box gratefully, setting it on your desk. "Thanks," you murmured, popping open the lid to reveal a handful of the cookies. The scent of various snacks and the sound of popped soda tags filled the room. Suddenly the thought of studying was less appealing than it had been a few minutes ago.

Kaia sat up, your eyes lighting up. "You guys are the best," she said, snatching a bag of M&Ms from Malik’s Walmart bag. "But seriously, girl, take a break. You're gonna burn out."

You knew Kaia was right. You had been pushing yourself to the brink for weeks now, and maybe a little break was exactly what you needed. "Okay," you said with a sigh, "But just for a little bit. We still have that exam tomorrow."

The boys nodded, though their eyes remained glued to the TV that had been turned on without your permission. "Don't worry, we got you," Malik said, plopping down on the floor with his bag of chips.

"If you get crumbs on my carpet, Malik, I swear to god I'll end up on the news for your death," you warned, but the smirk on your face betrayed your true feelings. You couldn't stay mad at them for long. They were your chosen family here at Princeton, the ones who knew you inside out, who had seen you at your best and your worst, and who had your back through every exam and heartache.

As the group settled in, the TV's volume grew louder, and the energy in the room shifted from one of studious tension to easy conversation. You found yourself leaning back into your bed, a mouthful of sushi balanced on a chopstick, listening to Malik's latest conspiracy rant with a mix of amusement and admiration. Despite your initial protests, the break was just what you needed. Andrei sat beside you on the bed, his knee brushing against yours as he scrolled through his phone, occasionally chiming in with a joke that made you laugh. The warmth from his leg was oddly comforting, and you found yourself not minding his presence as much as you'd feigned earlier.

The conversation grew livelier as they discussed their upcoming Halloween plans. You had been contemplating skipping the festivities to focus on MCAT prep, but the enthusiasm of your friends was contagious. "Come on, dude," Kaia pleaded, her voice mirroring the exaggerated pout on her face, "It's our last fall together, you can't just study the whole semester." You sighed, you knew Kaia was right considering Javi was a year ahead of the rest of you and would be off to grad school this time next year.

You rolled your eyes, the corner of your mouth twitching. "Fine," you conceded, "But I'm not going all out with costumes or anything."

Malik groaned obnoxiously, gaining a glare from you who reached over to pop him in the head. "Ow," he complained, "Why you gotta be like that? Halloween is the best night of the year."

"Because it's a distraction," you said, your eyes returning to your notes. "I need to focus on the MCAT."

"Dude, you're not going to learn anything if you don't take breaks," Andrei said, his voice gentle but firm. "Besides, it's Halloween. Live a little."

You sighed, knowing he had a point. You looked around at your friends, all of you in various states of relaxation and indulgence, and felt a pang of longing for the days when you could let loose like that. "Okay, okay," you said, holding up your hands in surrender. "But we're not staying out late."

"Pinky promise?" Andrei asked, his grin wide and mischievous.

You rolled your eyes, a small smile playing on your lips. "Pinky promise," you said, looping your pinky with his. Pinky promises in your friend group were serious business, obligations that could not be broken without severe repercussions. The warmth of his touch lingered as the two of you broke the promise, and you couldn't help the flutter of excitement in your stomach.

As the night grew darker outside, the group's energy grew more intense. The laughter grew louder, the music got bolder, and the jokes edgier. You found yourself getting lost in the moment, your worries about the MCAT and school momentarily forgotten. They decided on their costumes for the coming night, a group theme of Toy Story characters. Kaia proudly announced she would be a slutty Jessie, urging you to join in as a slutty Barbie from the second movie. Malik muttered that it wouldn't be too difficult under his breath, gaining another smack to the head from both girls this time.

The night of Halloween arrived, and the anticipation was palpable. Your dorm room was a chaotic mess of makeup and costume pieces as the trio of girls got ready. Kaia, ever the fashionista, had gone all out with a red-sequined corset, a cowboy hat, and thigh-high boots for her Jessie costume, while Faith, Javi's girlfriend, had chosen a Mrs. Potato Head look that perfectly complemented Javi's Mr. Potato Head ensemble. You, true to your promise, planned on wearing a blue catsuit with 80s leg warmers. You reluctantly accepted the "stripper heels" Faith brought over from her closet, reminding herself that it was just for one night.

As the three of you applied your makeup, the conversation was a mix of nervous laughter and playful banter about your costumes. "You're gonna break necks in those heels," Faith said, admiring your bare legs underneath the oversized Princeton shirt from freshman orientation. Kaia giggled, "And Andrei's gonna lose his mind when he sees you."

You playfully rolled your eyes, but the mention of Andrei had your heart beating faster. You had always felt a connection with him but never wanted to admit it. You had been friends for so long, that you didn't want to mess with your dynamic. Plus, you had your eyes on going to medical school, and dating was the last thing on your mind. But lately, you had caught yourself staring at his arms when he was brushing his dark hair back. His smile when he attempted to tell a joke. His big brown eyes thinking when he was trying to catch up to a reference.

The door to your dorm burst open, and the boys stumbled in, their laughter filling the room. Andrei was dressed as Buzz Lightyear, his tattoo sleeve on full display in a departure from his typical hoodies and sweatshirts. "Who's surprised that she's not ready yet?" He teased, turning his head dramatically from side to side as your friends kept silent.

You rolled your eyes as you pulled your braids into a high ponytail. "I'm almost done," you called out, your cheeks flushing slightly. You could feel the heat of Andrei's gaze on you, and you wondered if he could sense your nerves. "Give me a second to finish my makeup."

"Fuck that," Malik announced, approaching you with a hint of mischief in his eyes. Your eyebrows furrowed as you watched him come closer, screaming in shock at his strength when he abruptly picked you up and tossed you over his shoulder like a sack of potatoes. 

"You're not getting out of this." 

True to his word, he caught the pieces of your costume tossed to him by an amused Kaia, carrying you to your bathroom before setting you down on the floor, and locking the door to leave you to change.

You slipped into the costume, your skin prickling with excitement. You looked yourself over in the mirror. The blue catsuit hugged your curves, the legwarmers adding a nostalgic flair to the look. Your makeup was simple but effective: bold winged eyeliner and a touch of blush on the cheeks, giving you the innocent yet seductive vibe of an 80s workout video instructor. You stepped out of the bathroom to the sound of whistles and applause from your friends. 

"You guys are pigs," you said with a laugh, your cheeks burning as you took in their appreciative looks.

Andrei's gaze lingered on you longer than the others, his eyes traveling over your body in a way that made you feel both self-conscious and desired. "Pick your jaw up off the floor, Iosivas," Kaia whispered harshly, gaining a laugh from you and Faith. 

Andrei's cheeks turned red, and he stumbled over his words, "You just... you look... good."

The two other girls exchanged glances, the air thickening with the unspoken tension between the two. You couldn't help but feel a thrill at his reaction. "Thanks, Andrei," you said, your voice softer than you had intended.

Snapping out of his daze, Andrei reached for one of the shot glasses Javi had filled with a questionable brand of tequila. He handed it to you with a sheepish smile. "No regrets," he said, raising his own glass. You took the shot into your hand as Javi spoke over the music, "Pa'rriba pa'bajo pa'l centro y pa dentro!", the group threw your shots back in a cheer. You held Andrei's gaze as the fiery liquid burned down your throat. The warmth of both the cheap alcohol and his heated eye contact spread through your body, loosening your nerves.

As you all left the dorm and made your way through the crowded streets of Princeton, the cool October air hit you with a chilly breeze. You shivered, but the warmth from the drinks you had been passing around kept you from feeling too cold. The town was alive with the energy of the night, students in various stages of inebriation stumbling from party to party, costumes ranging from the clever to the downright absurd.

The group decided to hit up your first club, the bass pounding from the speakers spilling onto the sidewalk and beckoning you like a siren's call. Kaia, ever the social butterfly, recognized the bouncer with a bounce in her step. Adjusting her corset, she floated over, whispering something in his ear that had him grinning like he'd just won the lottery. With a wink, she turned back to the group and gestured for you to follow her in. You felt a twinge of envy at Kaia's ease with men but brushed it aside as you were ushered into the pulsating heart of the party.

"How the fuck did you get us through that long ass line?" Malik shouted over the music as the group entered the club. The lights strobed wildly, casting kaleidoscopic patterns across your costumes. "I sucked his dick once like a year ago," Kaia responded simply, smiling sweetly at the bouncer as she sailed past. You couldn't help but laugh at your friend's audacity, the sound lost in the boom of the music.

Once inside, the group spread out a bit, each getting drinks and mingling with the sea of costumed partygoers. You found yourself drawn back to Andrei, his Buzz Lightyear costume making him stand out in the sea of prisoners and bananas. As the night went on, the drinks flowed, and the dancing grew more energetic. Andrei's hand found its way to the small of your back, guiding you through the throng of bodies, and you didn't protest. The chemistry between you was palpable, a current that seemed to pulse in time with the bass of the music.

The friends danced inside the club for all of 45 minutes before Malik announced it was dead, and demanded you move to another club. You all agreed, eager for a change of scene and hoping the next place would be livelier. As you stepped into the cool night, the sound of your laughter and the throb of distant music filled the air. You felt a mix of excitement and exhaustion, but the alcohol made it easier to ignore the latter. Andrei wrapped an arm around your waist, pulling you closer as you navigated the crowded street. His touch sent shivers down your spine, and you leaned into him, feeling his strong presence against you.

The second club was a different world. The line was around the block, and the bass was so intense it made the sidewalk vibrate. You all groaned in your tipsy impatience, settling in a small circle at the back of the line behind the group in front of them.

"I can feel my common sense coming back to me," Javi complained, shooting a glare at Malik who demanded you leave the first club in the first place. "Why did we leave the last place?"

Malik shrugged, his eyes glazed over. "Because I said it was dead," he shouted back, his words losing their earlier slur.

"Luckily for you," Faith began with a smirk, "I stole this from your fridge." She lurched forward and pulled out a small, unopened bottle of Pink Whitney from her purse, a pale pink concoction that smelled faintly of sweet tea and vodka. "You're a lifesaver," Kaia said, snatching it from her hand. The others cheered as Faith playfully princess waved with a wide smile.

A twinge of annoyance flashed across your face as you watched your friends pass around your stolen Pink Whitney. "You guys are the worst," you called out over the thumping bass that echoed down the street, though the amusement in your voice was clear. "Stealing my shit like I didn't pay for it with my hard-earned work-study money."

Andrei leaned in close to whisper in your ear, a muscular arm resting on your shoulder to pull your body closer to his. His body heat sent a shiver down your spine. "But we're worth it, right?" He winked, his eyes sparkling with mischief.

You couldn't help but laugh shyly, nodding in agreement as you grabbed the bottle from Kaia for a quick swing. The sweetness of the drink mixed with the faint hint of vodka coated your tongue, the alcohol burning a pleasant path down your throat. The music grew louder as you approached the entrance, and you felt the vibrations through the soles of your heels.

When you finally made it inside, the club was packed. The air was hot and sticky with sweat and perfume, the lights strobing in a dizzying array of colors that painted the Princeton students in a sea of blue. Andrei didn't stray far from your side as you pushed your way through the crowd, his hand a comforting anchor amidst the chaos. You found a small space large enough for the six of you, the music so loud that conversation was almost impossible.

The beat dropped and the crowd went wild. Andrei leaned down, his mouth close to your ear. "You wanna dance?" He shouted, his breath warm against your neck. You nodded, a thrill racing through you as his hand slid around your waist, pulling you into the rhythm of the music. You moved together, your bodies syncing in a way that felt more intimate than any dance you'd shared before. His hands roamed over your hips, the fabric of his costume sticking to your skin as you danced. You felt a heat building in your chest, a warmth that had nothing to do with the packed room or the cheap booze.

As the night went on, the lines between friendship and desire grew blurrier. Andrei's touches grew bolder, and you found yourself turning around to face him, your bodies pressed together as you danced. His hands slid down your back, resting on the curve of your ass, and you leaned into his touch, your heart racing. The music washed over you, the bass vibrating in your chests as your eyes locked. The chemistry was undeniable, a dance of push and pull that neither could ignore.

Kaia and Malik were already lost in their own worlds, dancing wildly with strangers, leaving you, Andrei, Javi, and Faith in your little bubbles. The air was electric with unspoken tension as Andrei leaned down to whisper innocent conversation in your ear, his breath hot against your neck as his words contrasted the tension building between your bodies. You couldn't help but close your eyes, savoring the moment. Javi and Faith were too busy making out against the wall to pay you any mind.

Suddenly, the music switched to a slow jam, and Andrei took the opportunity to pull you closer. His hands slid down to finally cup your ass, and you gasped softly. The alcohol had loosened your inhibitions, but you were still surprised by his boldness. Looking into his eyes, you saw a mix of excitement and nerves, mirroring your own feelings. He leaned in, his breath hot against your ear. "I've wanted to do this all night," he murmured, and before you could respond, he captured your mouth in a kiss that was anything but innocent.

The kiss was deep and hungry, leaving your knees weak. Your hands found his chest, feeling the rapid beat of his heart as you melted into him. The crowd around you faded away, and it was just the two of you, lost in the moment. Andrei's hands roamed up your body, pulling you closer, his tongue teasing yours as you danced in a grind that was more intimate than any tango. You felt his erection pressing into you, and you couldn't help but grind back, your body responding to his touch.

The music shifted again, this time to a fast-paced rap song, snapping you out of your trance. You broke apart, both panting slightly and shared a knowing smile. The group gathered around you, Javi and Faith looking surprised at your sudden closeness. "Girl, what the fuck? When did this happen?" Faith yelled over the music, her voice playfully accusatory. You hid your face in your hands, your cheeks burning, while Andrei chuckled and gave a nonchalant shrug.

Malik, seemingly unfazed by his best friend's bold move, shouted over the music, "Y'all need to get a fucking room!" His words were met with a round of laughter and cheers from the group, effectively diffusing the tension. You danced together, the night's excitement fueling your moves. The club's strobe lights painted your sweaty bodies in a chaotic dance of color as you lost yourselves in the music and the moment.

"We're gonna go grab more shots," you announced to the group, reaching for Andrei's hand as you dragged him away to the bar. The thrill of the kiss still lingered between you. The bar was packed, but Andrei's height allowed him to navigate the crowd with ease. He moved to stand behind you, his hands on your hips, his body pressing into your backside as you waited for the bartender's attention. You leaned back into him, the warmth of his body a stark contrast to the coldness of the bar top.

The bartender finally looked up, a coy smile playing on your lips as she took your order. Andrei leaned down to press light kisses to the side of your neck, a hand moving your ponytail to rest on your shoulder as the other squeezed at your waist. "You know I’ve had a crush on you for the longest time," he murmured, his breath hot and sweet with the scent of alcohol. Your heart skipped a beat, his admission sending a jolt of excitement through your body. You turned in his arms to look at him, your eyes searching his, and you felt your resolve to keep things platonic crumbling like a sandcastle against the tide of his desire.

"I know!" You giggled as your hands snaked from his chest to wrap around his neck. "I didn't think you'd ever do something about it though."

Andrei laughed with a roll of his eyes. "If you knew, why didn't you just tell me?" He leaned in closer, his mouth a whisper away from yours. With your sky-high heels, you were nearly eye level with the 6'4" athlete, though he still managed to hold a bit of height over you.

"I'm not chasing after a man, Andrei," you said, a smirk playing on your lips as you leaned against the sticky bar. "But if you want to keep kissing me like that, who am I to stop you?" The bartender slammed down two shots of tequila in front of you, snapping you out of your heated conversation. You both downed the shots, the burn of the alcohol mixing with the desire simmering in your chests.

Andrei leaned in, his voice low and gruff with need. "I don't just want to kiss you." His hand slid up your thigh, reaching and finding the fat of your ass. You gasped, your eyes wide with surprise and lust. "Andrei," you scolded him, though your body was already begging for more.

"Later," he promised, pressing a kiss to your parted lips. "I'll take you out on a proper date. Just the two of us."

Your friends were scattered across the dance floor, lost in their own drunken revelry. Andrei's hand remained firmly on your ass, his thumb making small circles that had your core pulsing in time with the music. The tension between you was like a tightly wound spring, ready to snap at any moment.

"We should get back to the others," you murmured, though your body was screaming for more of Andrei's touch. Reluctantly, you broke apart and returned to the dance floor, weaving through the throngs of costumed bodies to rejoin Kaia and Malik. Javi and Faith were nowhere to be seen, likely having disappeared into one of the darkened corners for a more intimate rendezvous.

Malik's eyes were glazed over, his body swaying slightly as he attempted to keep up with the beat. Kaia was laughing, a drink in hand, watching him with a mix of amusement and concern.

"I think we should get him home before he passes out," Kaia shouted over the music, her hand on Malik's shoulder to steady him.

You nodded, your eyes flicking to Andrei. "I'll go tell Javi and Faith." You pushed through the crowd, finding the couple in a dimly lit corner, wrapped in a passionate embrace. Tapping them on the shoulder, you yelled over the music, "Guys, we're heading back to the dorm!"

Javi looked over, his eyes glazed with lust, and nodded. Faith, slightly more coherent, protested, "But we just got here!"

"Babygirl," you laughed, reaching for Faith's hand to drag her back to the group, her boyfriend following like a man possessed. "It's 1 in the morning, we've been here since 10."

Faith pouted but allowed herself to be led away from the darkened corner. "Fine, but you guys are boring," she whined, stumbling slightly in her high heels.

"We're not boring," Andrei shot back, a grin spreading across his face as he took your hand. "We're just responsible."

You couldn't hide the smile that tugged at your lips. The group stumbled out of the club, the cool October air a welcome relief from the stifling heat inside. You laughed and talked over each other as you made your way back to the dorm, the sidewalks still packed with costumed partygoers.

"My feet hurt," Faith complained, and without missing a beat, Javi swooped her into his arms, her giggles piercing the night air. Kaia and Malik stumbled alongside you, their laughter infectious. Andrei held onto your hand tightly, leading you through the maze of costumed students.

The walk to the dorm was a blur of laughter and teasing, with Andrei occasionally stopping to steal a kiss. You felt alive in a way you hadn't in weeks. The stress of your MCATs and exams seemed to evaporate under the influence of the alcohol and Andrei's touch. When you reached the dorm, Malik declared that he was taking the first shower, much to the protest of the others and the confusion on your face.

"Malik, you don't have clothes here!" You called out, trying to hide the amusement in your voice as you fumbled with your keys.

"That's what you think," Malik shot back, a knowing grin playing on his lips as he pushed open the door to your dorm. The room was a mess of discarded shot glasses and open makeup products. "I got clothes stashed everywhere," he said, winking at you before stumbling off to a corner of the room. Opening a drawer you never used, he produced a pile of neatly folded sweats. "Ta-da!"

Kaia and Andrei couldn't help but laugh at your stunned expression. "What did you expect?" Kaia teased, leaning against the wall. "You're the mom of the group, we all have clothes stashed around here."

Malik disappeared into the bathroom, the sound of the shower echoing through the room. You shook your head, a smile playing on your lips, and turned to Andrei. "I guess I shouldn't be surprised," you said, your voice low enough that only he could hear. "You're all a bunch of freeloaders."

Andrei chuckled, his gaze dropping to your cleavage. "Only because you make it so easy to want to stay." He leaned in closer, his hand resting on the small of your back, and whispered, "I've had clothes here since freshman year."

You rolled your eyes playfully and turned to Kaia. "You too?"

"What, you didn't know?" Kaia smirked, holding up a pair of sweatpants and a hoodie. "I practically live here when I don't feel like walking back to my own dorm."

You couldn't help but laugh, "You live down the hall, stupid." You playfully shoved Kaia, who stumbled into Andrei's arms, almost knocking him over. You all shared a laugh, the alcohol and exhaustion making you sloppier than usual.

"Alright, the shower's free," Malik announced, emerging from the bathroom with a trail of steam following him. You nodded towards Kaia, who disappeared into the bathroom next. Andrei took the opportunity to pull you closer, his hands running up and down your arms.

"So, about that date," he began, his voice thick with want. "I'm serious."

Your heart skipped a beat, the thrill of his words sending a shiver down your spine. You looked up at him, your eyes searching his. "Yeah?" you replied, trying to play it cool despite the heat building in your core.

Andrei nodded, his expression earnest. "Yeah, I want to take you out. Just the two of us. No studying, no group hangs. Just us."

Your stomach flipped at his words. The idea of a date with Andrei was both thrilling and terrifying. "Okay," you whispered, your eyes dropping to his lips. Before you could say anything else, Kaia stumbled out of the bathroom, her hair wrapped in a shower cap, looking for her stashed clothes.

"Alright, I'm gonna crash," Malik said, already halfway to the floor. He laid down, using his jacket as a makeshift pillow, and was out cold in seconds. It was then that both you and Andrei realized that Javi and Faith were dead asleep, tangled up together at the foot of the bed.

Andrei looked down at you, his eyes dark with want. "I guess it's just us now," he murmured, his hand sliding up to cup your cheek. You leaned into his touch, the heat from his palm seeping into your skin.

Kaia emerged from the bathroom, now dressed in a pair of your oversized sweatpants and a hoodie. "Looks like love is in the air," she sang, waving her phone around as she snapped photos of the two of you. "It's about damn time." She muttered under her breath as she approached her friends for closer pictures.

"Knock it off," you said, trying to hide your hot cheeks as you gently pushed Kaia's phone away. But the playfulness in your voice betrayed you. Andrei took it as his cue to lean down and kiss you again, this time slower and more deliberate. You felt a warmth spread through you that had nothing to do with the alcohol.

Breaking the kiss, you whispered, "We should probably shower before we end up like them." You nodded towards the bed where Faith was now snoring lightly.

Andrei chuckled, his brown eyes flickering with interest. "With me?"

You rolled your eyes with a laugh. "No, not with you. But you can use the shower after me."

You slipped away from him and into the bathroom, the sound of the shower turning on echoing through the quiet space. Andrei watched your retreating form before collapsing onto the bed next to the sleeping Javi and Faith, his hand reaching for the TV remote. He flicked through the channels, trying to find something to distract himself from the anticipation of finally having you all to himself.

When you emerged from the steamy bathroom, you found Andrei lying on the bed, observing a baseball game with a bored expression. You couldn't help but feel a little disappointed that your moment of passion had been interrupted by the realization that your friends had basically crashed at your place. But you pushed the feeling aside and whispered to Andrei that he could take the bathroom.

You slipped into a pair of oversized pajamas you had set aside for yourself. The warmth of the fabric was a comforting embrace after the chilly evening out. You looked up to find Andrei leaving the bathroom, a towel slung low on his waist, his bare chest glistening from the shower. Your eyes met and held for a beat too long before you turned away to grab a water bottle from your fridge, giving him some privacy to change into the clothes that he had apparently hidden in your room. The air was thick with unspoken tension as you both tried to ignore the electricity arcing between you.

Kaia and Malik were sprawled out on the floor, snoring in unison. Faith had managed to flip around, her body now perpendicular to Javi's. The sight was comical and heartwarming all at once.

Andrei, now dressed in a pair of sweatpants with the waistband of his briefs peeking out from underneath, sat down on the edge of the bed. His hand brushed against your skin as he reached for the water bottle you had set down. You couldn't help but feel the spark that shot through your body.

You turned to face him, the weight of the moment heavy between you. Andrei's eyes searched yours, looking for any hint of doubt or hesitation. Finding none, he leaned in closer, his hand reaching out to cradle the side of your face. "So pretty," he murmured, his voice low and husky.

The group remained asleep around you, the only sound the occasional snore and the distant bass from the party still raging outside. Your heart pounded in your chest as Andrei's thumb traced the line of your jaw.

"Let's get some sleep," Andrei said, his voice a gentle rumble in the quiet room. "We can talk more in the morning." He stood up and gestured for you to take the bed. "You can take the bed, I'll sleep on the floor."

You shyly spoke up to protest. "We've literally cuddled a million times before, Andrei. We can share the bed." You slid into the middle, leaving a space for him. He hesitated before joining you, his eyes never leaving yours. You lay side by side, the mattress dipping slightly under your combined weight. The silence grew heavier as your friends' snores grew louder. Your head found Andrei's chest as his arms wrapped around you.

The warmth of his embrace was a comfort you hadn't realized you'd been craving. Your hand rested on his chest, feeling the steady rhythm of his heart. The TV played a late-night sitcom, the laugh track serving as a strange lullaby for your crowded dorm room. Your mind raced urged to race with thoughts of the impending MCAT and the unspoken promise of a date. But as you felt Andrei's chest rise and fall with his even breaths, you couldn't help but let your exhaustion win.

[callmedaleelah]

collision ft. gojo satoru

part one | next part >>

summary : gojo satoru, rich nepo baby and law student, wakes up to a leaked scandal that wrecks his reputation. as pr damage control, his parents fund a scholarship—unknowingly forcing him to live with its recipient.

warnings : dump antics, teenage delinquency, cursing, female reader described, english is not my first language, not proofread, works under cut

the first thing gojo satoru registers is the pounding in his skull. a deep, relentless throb that syncs perfectly with the bass still echoing in his bones. he groans, shifting against the ridiculously soft sheets, his face half-buried in a pillow that smells vaguely of expensive cologne and a bad decision.

his mouth is dry. his limbs feel heavy. his stomach churns in protest the moment he shifts.

hangovers. god, he hates them.

he blinks up at the ceiling, this isn’t new. he’s had mornings like this before—waking up disoriented, mind fuzzy with the aftermath of too much liquor, too much noise, too much everything. but something feels off.

his phone vibrates on the nightstand. he doesn’t move at first, waiting for the nausea to settle, but then it starts buzzing. actually, no—blowing up.

he cracks one eye open, wincing at the blinding glow of the screen on his nightstand. notifications flood in so fast they blur together. messages, missed calls, news alerts.

missed calls from dad (4)

missed calls from mom (2)

missed calls from shoko (who literally never calls him, what the hell?)

messages from suguru (12)

his brows furrow. okay. weird.

he scrolls further, past the texts, past the concerned messages, until his eyes catch something else.

he fumbles for the phone, squinting against the assault on his retinas. the moment the words register, his stomach does a slow, unpleasant flip.

“heir to the gojo financial empire caught in scandalous video—questioning the leadership of university!”

“gojo satoru: law student or walking pr disaster?”

“leaked video: gojo satoru’s wild night with a stripper goes viral!”

his blood runs cold.

for a second, his brain refuses to process it. like the words are just a blur on the screen, some ridiculous clickbait that has nothing to do with him.

but then his fingers move—on autopilot, tapping the link.

and there he is—plastered across every social media platform, shirt unbuttoned, eyes half-lidded with intoxication, moving against a woman who is very clearly a stripper. her hands are in his hair. his hands are on her. they’re swaying together, his lips close enough to her neck that there’s no mistaking the intimacy of the moment.

his stomach drops.

he scrolls. the comments are brutal.

“bro didn’t even try to be subtle LMAO.”

“and this guy is supposed to be a law student? a future leader? yeah, right.”

“not just any law student. the heir to gojo corp. imagine the pr budget after this mess.”

gojo groans, flopping back onto the bed and dragging a hand down his face. he knows he fucked up, but come on—stuff like this happens all the time. he’s young, he’s got money, people party. why is everyone acting like he just committed a federal crime?

his phone rings, and he doesn’t even have to check the caller id. he already knows.

he lets it ring twice before sighing, bringing the phone to his ear.

“satoru.” his father’s voice is ice. sharp, controlled, and laced with the kind of quiet anger that’s somehow worse than outright yelling. “my office. now.”

the line goes dead.

well. that can’t be good.

gojo stares at his phone for a second longer, debating whether to just not show up and see how far his dad will go to drag him there. but knowing the old man, he wouldn’t even get the luxury of a warning. just a team of security guards breaking down his door and shoving him into a blacked-out car.

so, with a dramatic sigh, he swings his legs off the bed, wincing as the movement sends another wave of nausea rolling through him. god, he needs water. and maybe sunglasses. definitely sunglasses.

he stumbles into the bathroom, squinting at his own reflection. white hair still a mess from last night, shirt hanging off one shoulder, and a very faint lipstick stain on his collarbone. classy.

by the time he’s freshened up, thrown on a dark sweater, and grabbed his sunglasses, his phone is still going off. more texts, more headlines.

“university under pressure to respond to gojo satoru scandal—what does this mean for future funding?”

he scowls. okay, that is a little concerning.

•••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••

the company building is chaos when he arrives.

security is out in full force, trying to keep the press at bay. journalists shove microphones at employees walking in, camera flashes go off like fireworks, and the entrance is a swarm of bodies all trying to get the latest scoop.

gojo watches from inside the tinted car window, jaw tightening. shit.

his driver doesn’t even bother asking if he’s ready before pulling into the underground parking garage.

“so,” he says, glancing at the driver. “you think my dad’s gonna kill me?”

the man wisely keeps his mouth shuts and not even glancing from the rearview mirror.

as he steps out, a familiar weight settles in his chest—the weight of knowing he can’t charm his way out of this one.

the executive wing is eerily quiet. no one meets his eyes. no one even looks at him.

the assistant outside his father’s office glances up as he approaches. “they’re waiting for you.” she says, nodding toward the double doors at the end of the hall.

“they?”

she doesn’t answer.

great. now he’s walking into an ambush.

with a sigh, he pushes the doors open.

his father is seated behind his massive desk, posture stiff, eyes hard. across from him sits another man—one gojo recognizes immediately as the university’s dean.

well. that’s new.

gojo drops into the chair opposite them, draping one arm over the back like he’s settling in for a casual chat.

“so,” he starts, popping a piece of gum into his mouth. “who wants to yell at me first?”

his father doesn’t react. but the dean? he looks like he’s two seconds away from throwing something at gojo’s face.

“do you have any idea how bad this looks?” the dean snaps. “the university is under fire. parents are demanding explanations. donors are threatening to pull their funding. do you realize what that means?”

gojo does. he just doesn’t like acknowledging it.

he rolls his jaw, looking off to the side. “look, it was a party. i had a little too much fun—”

“you were caught on video grinding on a stripper like you had no concept of personal space!”

gojo winces. okay. when you put it like that.

“this isn’t just about you, satoru.”

his father’s voice is sharp, cutting through the tension like a blade. the weight behind his words settles deep in gojo’s gut, pressing down like a stone.

“the media isn’t just talking about your little… stunt at the bar,” his father continues, his expression unreadable. “they started digging into the case of the threat to a professor at the law faculty that recently just emerged. and guess what they found?”

gojo forces himself to sit still. “i don’t know. why don’t you enlighten me?”

the dean—who has been silent until now—slams a folder onto the desk. “look.”

gojo eyes the folder for a second before leaning forward and flipping it open.

a crypto transaction ledger.

his name isn’t on it. but his wallet address is.

and the payment—made in a discreet privacy coin—was sent to the account that funded the threats against professor nakamura.

gojo keeps his expression neutral, but his mind is already racing.

this is bad.

“what the fuck is this?” he mutters, swiping through the logs. the timestamps, transaction hashes—whoever set this up knew what they were doing.

“that,” the dean says, voice cold, “is proof that you paid for a faculty member to be harassed.”

“gojo satoru,” his father’s voice is eerily calm, “did you send this payment?”

gojo tosses the tablet back onto the desk, forcing out a dry laugh. “seriously? if i wanted nakamura gone, i’d do something way more efficient than sending him scary emails.”

the dean’s nostrils flare. “this is not a joke, gojo.”

“no, but it is bullshit.” gojo leans back, arms crossed. “i didn’t make that payment.”

“then explain why the transaction is linked to your wallet.”

“you ever heard of spoofing?” gojo snaps. “or do you think blockchain is some magical truth serum?”

his father’s expression darkens. “satoru.”

gojo clicks his tongue, jaw tight.

his father exhales. “there will be an investigation.”

“go ahead.” gojo stands, shoving his hands in his pockets. “just don’t expect me to sit around while someone drags my name through the dirt.”

“watch yourself, satoru.” his father’s voice is low.

gojo just smirks, heading for the door. he pauses, tilting his head.

“so… am i, like, officially expelled, or do i get a farewell party first?”

i’m so sorry for writing a new series while the last one discontinued for months 😔 i don’t even know what i wrote here and would it be written till finish 😣😅 that’s such a pressure if you ask me—i’m just a girl with a bunch of assignments and a little time to write but too much imaginations to represent 🥹😊

and my request is open guys 🗃️📑