#haechan blurb

[aesthyuckic]

[11:18pm]

The night was quiet and peaceful. Music played softly in your dimly lit bedroom. Little taps of a phone keyboard could be heard just a few inches down from where you sat on the bed. You looked from your own phone to see Donghyuck looking down and texting someone.

For a moment your mind wondered to the potential of him texting a lover that made you eyes waiver unknowingly. Surely he would’ve told you if that was the case, you were best friends after all. He was probably just texting his other best friend, Mark.

You wanted to be in his heart only like he was in yours so badly. You screamed about it every night into your pillow on the rare occasion he wasn’t there. When he was, you settled on silently screaming while rolling around in anguish on the bed where he slept soundly next to you, blissfully unaware.

You loved staring at him. He was so beautiful with his golden skin and the fluffy brown hair that was growing out nicely. He was slouched against the wall but still his composure was so elegant. His hands that typed away seemed so dainty and effortless as his fingers were adorned with rings. The thought of holding them and feeling that familiar warmth always made your breath hitch in your throat as you felt your heart stop. Your gaze shifted with one of his hands that reached up to move his glasses back up. He wore no makeup due to the time which allowed you to view the moles on his cheeks that cascaded down his neck perfectly. The longer you looked the more things you found to love.

So lost in your own mind, you hadn’t cared about the fact he noticed your eyes and was now looking at you.

“What’s up?” He asked, his head tilted a bit.

That was his way of asking if anything was wrong. There was a familiar flutter in your chest from the simple action. You blinked a few times before sitting up straight against your pillows and shaking your head.

“I was just thinking.” You shrugged.

“About what?” He pondered.

“Your moles.” You answered.

A pout appeared on his lips at the mention. He confided in your once they made him insecure which you could never understand. You never knew how to respond just because you knew you’d end up with a whole essay which would be suspicious.

“You know-“ He started.

“I know.” You confirmed before he could finish his sentence. “I never understood your resentment toward them, Hyuck.”

“Of course not.” He sighed.

“Some people theorize they’re where your twin flame kissed you most in the last life. They’ve always been pretty and maybe that idea can help you change the way you think about them.”

His phone landed in his laps at your words. You could see his eyes look across your own face and body in silence. He moved from his snug spot against the wall on your bed to sit directly across from you. The closeness always startled you despite how regular it was between the both of you. It never failed to get your heart going and your only hope was he didn’t know.

“You have them too.” He leaned in closer as his eyes scanned your face.

He moved the strands of hair out of your face and tucked them behind one ear. You didn’t expect him to get any closer but suddenly he leaned in and left a kiss on your temple.

“Like here.” He pointed out after leaving the unexpected peck.

He reached up to grab your chin and then there was another kiss on your own cheek, not far from your lips.

“And there too.” He hummed.

There had been plenty times where the both of you had kissed each other cheeks. Something felt different now though. You just hope he hadn’t been able to see the blush appear on your cheeks and the felt the heat with the kiss.

Both hands now cupped your cheeks in such a way there was no way to avoid his stare. You could see his gaze move downward before moving back to meet your own once again.

“I’ve never noticed how many little moles you have around your lips.” He smiled. “I guess I kissed you a lot there in the last life… And I’ll do it again in this one.”

Before you could even question him, his plump, soft lips were against your own. The air was taken out of your lungs and you could feel your heart pounding in your chest. A sigh escape automatically and you could feel your body relax under his touch. You moved into his body more as his hands moved down your sides to rest on your waist as your hands instinctively went to his neck to pull his closer only to slid down to his rest on his chest as his arms were now wrapped around your waist to pull you flush against him.

You could feel his rapid heartbeat under your palm which had you smiling against his lips.

Oh yes, he would most be definitely keeping his promise to you.

not proodfread. aesthyuckic © 2024. all rights reserved.

[haechwrites]

sugar, butter, & the royal crown - L.DH

prince!lee donghyuck x baker fem!OC (no name!)

synopsis: prince donghyuck only has one princess on his mind, but she's not actually a princess. she's just the royal baker's granddaughter.

wc: ~17.1k

warnings: pet names used only so i don't have to namedrop lol. no other warnings tho!

A/N: this is my second longest fic i've actually finished hehe i'm really happy with this one and now i wish i had a prince haechan lol

-- some things to note first:

THIS FIC IS WRITTEN IN FIRST PERSON. if you see ♔, that means it's in haechan's pov written in third person!

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As a child, life is all about the simple pleasures. It didn’t matter that I’d come home to a dark house carrying the faint snores of my mother. I was still reeling from the sweet taste of mangoes on my tongue, the slight dusting of sugar in my hair, and the lingering soreness from laughing in my cheeks. I’d quickly wash up, give my mom a quick peck on the forehead, and tuck myself in bed. Before I know it, the sun greets me again and I meet my grandma outside as she leads me to the palace. This was my routine and for my young brain, there was nothing ever wrong with it.

My grandma is the head baker at the palace. Since the separation of my parents, I have spent my days with my grandma at work. It was all I knew and I was content with it. Every sunrise, I’d have 30 minutes before I had to meet her outside. Together, we’d walk to the palace’s servant entrance and my grandma would give our favorite guard, Doyun, a warm smile and a promise to slip an extra pastry in his meal for letting me tag along. I’d walk past him with a finger to my lips asking him to be sworn to secrecy. He’d always return it with a wink and a small laugh. It was our little promise, though I’m sure no one would actually mind an extra guest on the grounds – especially a mere 7-year-old. 

Once inside the kitchen, I strap on the apron that the palace’s tailor secretly made specifically for me. Grandma told me that the busiest times in the kitchen were the mornings, so I always sit in the corner to let her start the day. I occupy myself for at least an hour before my friend comes to play with me. His entrance is always the same: a secret knock on the side door and a gleaming smile when I open it for him. 

Today he’s dressed up in a super fancy garment, almost like a uniform. I had never seen him in anything other than his casual button-up and pants, typically covered by an extra adult-sized apron we’d find laying around.

“Donghyuck! What are you wearing?”

“Princess!,” He’d squeal, pulling me into a tight hug. “It’s my special outfit.”

“Is it your birthday?” My nose scrunches in confusion, looking him up and down. Even if it was his birthday, I can’t imagine his servant parents could afford such expensive fabric. 

Donghyuck laughs before yanking a spare apron off its hook and pulling it over his head. 

“Nooo. I have something important to do today. That’s why I’m wearing this,” He explains, looking a little nervous.

“Oh wow. You look like the King. Or like a prince,” I say jokingly, but Donghyuck freezes. His eyes are wide like the time he accidentally ate the last mango tart I was saving.

Then he breaks out into an awkward laugh and smiles wide at me, “I am a prince… because you’re my princess.” He says with utmost confidence, before grabbing my hands. We’re standing the way I position my two play dolls during a pretend wedding ceremony.

I quickly turn the shade of freshly baked cherry pies and I tear my hands out of his hold.

“Donghyuck-ah! How many times do I have to tell you to stop calling me that?” I huff, crossing my arms. 

He snickers, “Hmmm… maybe one hundred more times.”

“One hundred more times?!”

“Yes, if you can even count that high,” he smirks, instantly easing the tension from earlier. He plops down onto my stool and looks up at me. “So what are we playing today? Or should we read? Or does Baker Grandma need help?”

I aimlessly kick the leg of the stool, thinking about what we could do today as I can see him anxiously bounce around in his seat. He looks like he’s running on limited time today. Sometimes Donghyuck disappears on me in the middle of our hangouts or doesn’t show up at all. I just assume his parents need help with their tasks just like how Grandma often calls me to help her bake. He’s never told me where in the palace they work despite the years we’ve been hanging out. 

“What if we help your parents today?” The minute the question leaves my lips, I hear a snort from the kitchen staff and Donghyuck goes into a coughing fit as if the flour seeped into his lungs.

I begin to feel myself turn red again and wondering what was so wrong till I feel a familiar warm hand on my shoulder.

“Ah Donghyuck, you’re here today?” My grandma looks at his attire with a suspicious gaze. “Don’t you have somewhere else to be?” Her hands are on her hips and it feels similar to the times she’s caught me using the oven on my own.

Donghyuck starts shyly giggling while fiddling with the oversized apron my grandma is reaching to remove. I stand there in confusion as he looks like a puppy that was told he wasn’t allowed to play or have a treat. I want to help him but the look on grandma’s face is too scary to fight.

She’s slowly ushering him out the door and I’m holding his apron in my hands, watching him pout.

“Bye Hyuck,” I mutter, sad that our day was cut short before it even began. This was the quickest that one has ended.

“Byeee Princess,” He says with as much despair in his voice. He always has to be a little more dramatic than me. I giggle and wave him goodbye, spirits lifted by his antics. I see a smile grow on his face at the sound of my laugh before my grandma closes the door.

My loneliness returns as I stare at the wooden panels of the side door. 

“Did he have to go?” I ask, slumping back onto the stool he was just on.

My grandma turns to me with a quizzical look. I can’t tell if she’s angry, sad, or disappointed and then she’s crouched down in front of me. Her flour-coated hands are resting on my lap.

“Donghyuck got called by his parents. They’re very important people,” She starts slowly. Grandma has never talked about Donghyuck’s family or personal life before. It was never brought up in the past because I assumed he was just like me. Now that we’re finally beginning to talk about it, the hesitant look on her face makes me not want to know anymore. 

“Guards?,” I ask. To me, Doyun is the most important worker in the castle as he freely lets me in and out. Maybe guards earn enough to adorn such fancy clothes I saw Donghyuck wear.

“No, honey,” She glances back at her staff, and I notice they’ve been watching. They give me a reassuring smile, but there’s uneasiness quivering on their lips.

“Donghyuck… Donghyuck is the Prince.”

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♔

They found him. Donghyuck’s personal guards find him where they usually do when he escapes his tasks, and that would be at the palace kitchen. This time, they find him outside the door, rather than inside scarfing down mango tarts. 

Without any hesitation and with no room for him to trick them and run, they grab the tiny prince and bring him to the meeting he was meant to attend with the King. It was meant to be the first glimpse of his life as a future ruler, attending meetings with fellow diplomats and other boring princely things. Donghyuck does not understand why he can’t spend his day playing like a regular 7-year-old with his pretty friend from the kitchen. 

Despite having complained and whined his way out of most duties, Donghyuck had reached the level of maturity to know that this one he couldn’t fight. I mean, the tailor adjusted his royal attire just for this one-hour meeting. After having come to terms with sitting in boredom for an hour, Donghyuck did not expect to be dragged into more as he was about to skip his way over to the kitchen once the diplomats left.

“And where are you off to now, Donghyuck?”

He freezes in his tracks and a shiver ripples down his spine at the sound of her voice. He’s been caught again.

He spins around, plastering the biggest smile possible on his face. “Nowhere, Mother. Just strolling around until my tutoring session.” He hopes she doesn’t recognize this path to the kitchen.

“And is your tutoring session located in the kitchen today?” She asks, words dripping with a patronizing attitude. Nothing Donghyuck isn’t used to.

“Oh! I wanted to see if I could get a quick snack before. My brain needs food, right?” He hides his crossed fingers behind his back, praying she doesn’t call his bluff.

“And you’re not just going there to see that girl, are you?” She takes a step closer and Donghyuck is scared she can see the drip of sweat beginning to trickle down his forehead. How did she know about Princess? He wonders if his guard ratted him out… even after Donghyuck gave him half of his tart. The betrayal, he scoffs. 

“There’s no girl, Mother.” Donghyuck decides it's best to deny it and stare straight at his feet. 

“You are correct, there will never be a girl. Instead, there will be a future queen. A princess for now and you need to begin meeting our potential suitresses,” The queen firmly states, grabbing his shoulders to steer him towards the library. Before he could stop himself, his chest bubbles with heat, and his brain is fogged with confusion. He can’t imagine anyone by his side but her.

“Why can’t she be my princess?”

The words spill out from his royal lips before he could catch them. There’s no missing the instant look of rage and disgust on the Queen’s face when her son’s true desires are revealed. Desires of the heart, but a complete disgrace to his duties as the Prince. Her eyes grow colder and her skin pales till her blush is the brightest hue on her cheeks. 

Donghyuck feels his throat go dry and the crossed fingers behind his back unlock. No luck can help him now.

“No more kitchen visits, Prince Donghyuck.”

The queen’s words are final. His shoulders slump lower and his feet are heavy as he drags them across the cobblestone trailing toward the library. It feels like there was a wall that slammed into the ground behind him, forbidding him from seeing her again.

“Yes, ma’am. No more.”

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^ FIFTEEN YEARS LATER ^

The only memory of my childhood that lingered was the heat of the oven. Like I did every day at the age of 7, I continued to bake to keep that fire alive. There were days where the warmth was cooler than normal and my urge to bake waivered. Days like when my grandma stopped showing up outside my house every day a half hour after sunrise. Days like when my mother decided I was too much to raise when I stopped spending my time at the palace. And days like the one when I moved out of the city to live with my dad. 

However, there were also days where the flame was ablaze. Days like when I got my own personal baking set. Days like when I got accepted into a baking school. And days like today, where I return to the city that pushed me out fifteen years ago to open a bakery. Despite the dismal circumstances of the day I left, I always felt the urge to return. It never felt right that I moved in the first place. Confusion still envelops my mind when I think about how my grandma stopped taking me to the palace for unsaid reasons and how my mother was incapable of taking care of me due to it. There had to be something more going on. 

Outside of this mystery of my childhood, my main goal was to return with my own bakery specializing in my soon-to-be infamous mango tarts. I had visited the city for the first time since my move before to scope out bakery locations. But today was the day that I officially move in, to both my home and bakery, and kickstart my business. My first task was to put up a sign displaying the bakery’s name.

“Oh my goodness… so it is true!”

Warmth blooms in my chest; I would recognize that voice anywhere. I flip around and I’m greeted with her same sugary sweet smile. My grandma looks just as she did before but her hair is dusted white like the flour she worked with. But she still smelled like spiced apple pie, my eyes watered in disbelief. 

“Grandma!” I ran into her open arms and I could feel her chuckle. 

“Oh honey, it’s been much too long. Look at you now… a beautiful woman before my eyes,” She’s smiling widely and I can see her eyes take in my features. Fifteen years worth of change and growth. 

“I’m sorry we haven’t been in contact much. I could barely find the time to tell you I was coming back.”

“It’s alright. All that matters is you’re here,” Grandma rubs my arms reassuringly. “And are you here alone? Or have you moved back with a lover?” The childish gleam on her face makes me giggle and I quickly correct her that I’m single and focusing on my baking.

“Ah, I see. In that case, you must have more time than I anticipated. You must come with me to work one of these days. Just like old times. Consider it research for your bakery.” The way she sways with excitement makes it hard for me to turn it down, and I can’t deny the flutter in my heart at the idea of stepping foot onto the palace grounds again. It was where it all started for me. I agreed with a smile.

⋆ ˚｡⋆୨୧˚ *:･ﾟ✧*:･ﾟ✧

After a week of prepping the bakery, I decided to visit my grandma. To be completely honest, outside of the work I had to do, my nerves did play a role in keeping me from going earlier. But now that I’ve decided I’ve run out of excuses, I’m walking to the servant entrance of the palace a little before noon to give my grandmother the morning to solely focus on work. It makes me smile knowing I still remember the schedule of the palace kitchen. 

The streets surrounding the castle are quiet at this hour. I can still remember the hustle and commotion of the staff in the early morning, lining up to get inside to start their days. It was never daunting to be a young girl surrounded by a diverse array of people. It was thrilling and almost comforting and it was much better than staying home alone. 

When I reach the gates, I feel like I’ve traveled back in time because blocking my path is a young guard who looks eerily like Doyun, the guard I knew from before.

“How can I help you, miss?”

“Hi.” I’m inspecting his face. He has the same colored hair, but it’s parted differently. He has the same warm light brown eyes and his face is a little softer than Doyun’s. My mind can’t help but ask, “I’m sorry if this is a strange question but do you know Guard Doyun?”

His stiff demeanor drops like a curtain and the young guard’s eyes light up, “I’m his son, Yunseo! How do you know my father?” Suddenly I don’t see a guard in uniform, but instead a bright, inviting individual in his place.

“No wonder! I’m the granddaughter of the head baker. I used to greet your father every morning when I was a child.” 

“Oh yes! Yes, she told me you were coming. You can go right along in, just make sure she knows to sneak me an extra sweet treat.” He opens the gates for me.

“Ah like father, like son,” I giggle, slightly bowing to him as I enter.

“Do you remember how to get to the kitchen?”

I stare at the familiar worn cobblestone paths and nod, “I think so.”

The walk to the kitchen is shorter than I remember but the smell wafting from the windows is all the same. I reach the side door and I’m about to knock when I notice it’s creaked slightly open. I hear a voice above all the kitchen noise.

“Gran, please sneak something in my food today so I can get sick and stay in bed for the whole week. I do not want to court these women.” I peek my head in further to take a look at the man speaking. I let out a soft gasp when my eyes land on him.

Outside of his stunning beauty, he looks familiar. His tufts of chestnut brown hair are slightly waved as they curl around the nape of his neck. He often shakes his head to get the bangs out of his face, exposing his tan skin. If I look close enough, he has distinguishable moles on the plush curves of his cheeks. His rosy lips are wrapped around a piece of pastry and even when he’s talking with his mouth full, he’s still attractive. My eyes instantly widen when I notice his outfit: the royal attire.

A squeal escapes my mouth and before I could hide, the door is swung open by my grandma.

“You’re here!”

At the announcement of my arrival, the young man is dusting the crumbs off his hands, and looks like he’s about to make a quick escape. 

“Hi Grandma,” I give her a hug, not minding the flour sticking to my sweater. “I was just about to knock.” I let out a small laugh to hide the fact that I was definitely eavesdropping not moments ago.

“Grandma?” I hear the man say behind her. He decided to stay after realizing it wasn’t one of his guards coming to get him, but instead a pretty woman. An oddly, familiar, pretty woman. 

My grandma bites her lip to keep from smiling any bigger and she grabs my arm to present me to the man.

“Oh my. I forgot you guys know each other! It’s Donghyuck, do you remember, honey? You used to play with him every day as I worked.” The glint in her eyes is something more than just happy nostalgia and I give her a look.

“Pri-... Princess?” When the old nickname leaves his lips, I gasp and feel my cheeks bloom pink. The layers of the handsome man in front of me started to peel and I could see the little boy I spent my early life with. Most of my warmest days were spent with him. But I’m also brought back to one of the colder days of my childhood. The day I found out my childhood best friend was the Prince. 

At first, I didn’t understand why my grandma was so fearful of telling me who he really was. I was ecstatic to hear that Donghyuck was royalty. I was fascinated and curious to see what his life was like and how it compared to being the granddaughter of a palace worker. I soon learned that what I wanted to discover was not so glamorous. Because apparently, his life excluded me. I didn’t piece that together until a few years after my move. Why else did Donghyuck stop showing up and why else was I forbade from going to the palace with my grandma? When I came to the realization, I began to resent him and eventually, completely forgot about him.

“Prince Donghyuck,” I bowed, trying not to show any expression. He had his arm slightly raised like he was about to reach for me but his body stiffened at my curtness. My grandma even looks at me with confusion. “It’s… It’s nice to see you again.”

“Oh, there’s no need to be so polite. You guys were friends!” My grandma squeezes my arms, urging me to get closer. I stay in my place.

“He’s the Prince, Grandma,” I whisper through my teeth and I can tell he hears me by the dejected look on his face. I can’t get myself to look him in the eyes.

“It’s quite alright. I actually have to get going. Prin-... Sorry, It was lovely to see you,” The Prince ducks his head and leaves the way I came in. He looks back at my figure once more, thoughts churning, before he disappears.

My feet remain still and I’m staring at the place he stood. Staring at the pastry he bit into. He’s real and he’s back. And the door he walked through was the same one he used to leave me 15 years ago. The alarms rang in my brain and I quickly shook my head, grabbing a bowl and mixing whatever contents are in it. The faster I stirred, the more I begged my mind to stop thinking about Donghyuck.

“You’re overwhipping the cream.”

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♔

On every page he turned to, the words blurred and all Donghyuck could see was her. She was more beautiful than he remembered. She’s much taller now, and he naturally smiles remembering when she used to argue that he was only taller than her by a centimeter. Her hair was also longer and not bound in her classic two braids. Though he didn’t get to see her smile, he was sure that it’s brighter than before. After all, everything about her seemed to have grown more beautiful than before. Donghyuck wonders if he should be calling her “Queen” now with how wonderfully she’s aged. 

A delicate tap on his shoulder forces Donghyuck out of his lovestruck haze. “Prince Donghyuck, are you enjoying your book?”

He remembers that he’s in the library with one of his potential suitresses. He turns to her and almost wants to laugh. For the years that his childhood friend has been gone, it was the memory of her that invaded his mind whenever he was forced to go on these dates. But now that Donghyuck has seen her again in the flesh, he realizes how doomed he is and how these other princesses definitely don’t stand a chance.

During the fifteen years apart, Donghyuck’s gloom exacerbated the Queen’s determination to find him a future queen. Out of all his regular royal responsibilities, his courtships took the most time. He excels in all areas of his duties, but the one he can’t manage to succeed in is getting a wife. From playdates to formal dates, Donghyuck aged and remained single. And both he and the head baker knew why. 

Despite the Queen’s warnings to never enter the kitchen, Donghyuck found himself there every week whether it was to steal extra mango tarts or ask about the baker’s granddaughter. It was usually after failed dates when he’d trudge into the kitchen, completely drained of energy, and beg the baker to talk to him about his first love. Questions about where she is, how she’s doing, and whether she thinks of him spill from his mouth, and the baker would entertain him every time. Even if he only knew and could only remember the child version of her, Donghyuck still managed to compare her to every suitress he met. None of them stood a chance against his princess. And though with time he could recognize how silly this infatuation had gotten, he grew fatigued of courtship and this was the easiest way to go about it. The grandmother was wary of this long overrun connection as well, but at the same time commended him for his commitment to her granddaughter. She also didn’t have the heart to tell him to move on.

And now Donghyuck’s here, on another date and he actually has an image, a real person, to be thinking of. 

“I’m sorry. I don’t think this is going to work out.”

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“So you are hiding from me?”

“Oh Jesus Christ,” I drop the bowl of frosting at my feet and scramble to pick it up. A pair of far too expensive shoes enter my vision. I shoot up and my heart races, knowing exactly who it is.

“My prince,” I bow, meeting the ground once more. I stand upright and give him a passing smile.

“I like hearing you say that,” The Prince smirks. He swiftly scoops a finger of frosting before popping it in his mouth.

“Formalities,” I respond and I move the bowl out of his reach.

He chuckles and he starts to fiddle with an apron left on the counter.

“So you’ve been visiting at nighttime. Are you actually avoiding me?” He looks at me like he’s challenging me to say no. 

Yes. “No, I just prefer the kitchen at night.” I clutch the frosting bowl tighter and focus my attention on what’s salvageable.

“You mean my kitchen… which you’ve been sneaking into with the help of my guard.” I can feel that he’s moved closer and I wince.

“Yes… I’m sorry. My grandma said it’d be okay and my kitchen at the bakery isn’t finished being built. If you’d like me to stop coming, I can.” I start to untie my apron and his hand catches my wrist.

“No,” He blurts out. “There’s no need. Feel free to use the kitchen.” The Prince raises his hands in the air as if to give me permission. I politely nod and go back to fixing my frosting, ignoring the tingling I feel on my wrist. 

He doesn’t make a move to leave. Instead, he puts on the apron from the counter and leans in to watch.

“Um, what are you doing?” The Prince is tapping the table and humming as he stares at me.

“Hanging out,” He says matter-of-factly. 

“I see,” And that’s all that I can say because who am I to kick the Prince out of his own kitchen? So I just mix and continue doing my thing.

“Just like the old days. You do remember, right?” I make the mistake of looking up and meeting his eyes. He’s looking at me like his question meant more than just a test of my memory.

“Vaguely… It was a long, long time ago.” A time I don’t wish to relive.

There’s a short pause before The Prince replies.

“Well, I remember. I think I’ll always remember. You were my best friend… And those were probably the best days of my life.” He doesn’t look at me when he says this. In fact, he looks nervous to be admitting it in the first place. 

All I can do is nod, not knowing what to say to his confession. Especially when the feeling I get when I look back on those times is not as positive.

“Anyway… I’m planning on recreating those times.” Without thinking, I meet his eyes and he’s smiling hopefully. “So don’t try to hide from me next time. I’ll be here whenever you are. Think of it as your payment for using the kitchen.” 

The uneasiness and warmth in my stomach are hard to decipher. The thought of spending more time with him is thrilling and terrifying at the same time. I try to ease my nerves by mixing even harder and he notices before laughing. 

With my unspoken agreement, we spend the rest of the night in silence, just in each other’s presence. Every now and then he steals a bite of my makings and tries to lighten the air with a poorly made joke. And I don’t hold my laughter back.

⋆ ˚｡⋆୨୧˚ *:･ﾟ✧*:･ﾟ✧

“And then, once the frosting is on, you can add the strawberries.” I demonstrate by putting the nicely sliced strawberries on in a thin layer. 

“When are you going to teach me how to make the mango tart?” The Prince pouts and bites the strawberries instead of putting them on the cake. I scowl and move the bowl away from him. 

“When are you going to stop eating my ingredients?”

He smirks and taps the counter, “When are you going to stop using my kitchen?” He tilts his head to the side to goad me.

I roll my lips into my mouth and stuff another strawberry in his face when he laughs. 

“Eat up,” I say sickeningly sweet.

Completely out of my control, my hangouts with Prince Donghyuck have returned. However, this time, I know he’s the prince and instead of every day in the morning, it’s 2 to 3 times a week at night. My excuse is that my kitchen in the bakery isn’t done being built, but to be completely honest, I could have it done by the end of the week. Maybe it’s because I enjoy my time with the Prince or maybe it’s because I actually do want the extra amenities I asked to be installed last minute… who knows? The end conclusion is that I find myself in the palace’s kitchen more often than I intended, and I find myself enjoying the Prince’s company more than I intended.

“Okay, your highness. Do you think you can stack these layers evenly?” 

He gives me a playful salute, mouth full of cream, as he hops off the kitchen counter. He stands by my side and takes the cake from my hands.

“You know… as much as I like hearing you call me ‘your highness,’ why don’t you ever call me by my name anymore?” 

“Because now I know you’re the Prince.” And I don’t know how it feels to have your name roll off my tongue as it did before, I think to myself.

The Prince lets out a low whistle. “Do you see me differently?” He trains his eyes to the level of the cake to get it precisely right. I watch him from above.

“It’s been fifteen years… so yes, I do see you differently.” I move to mix more frosting to coat the cake with.

“Okay,” He nods, thinking about my response. “So me being the Prince isn’t part of it?” He glances at me quickly with what I can assume is worry before he goes to add another layer of cake.

“Mmm… It is. Not a big part, but definitely a part. I think it’s mainly because you’ve grown up, We’ve both grown up. Maybe me more than you,” I tease. He sticks his tongue out at me and I make a face back. “Example number one.”

He finishes putting on the last layer and stands up straight to admire his work.

“What makes me different than before?” He takes the frosting bowl from my hands and begins icing the cake like I’ve taught him a couple of days ago. I take this as a break and I lift myself up to sit on the counter, dangling my feet.

“You’re taller than me, for one,” he gasps in fake shock and I hit him on the shoulder. 

“You’re dressed nicer.”

“That’s not a compliment for me, that’s a compliment for my stylist,” He corrects me.

“True, okay. You’re smarter than before, I can see you’re not skipping your tutoring sessions. And… you’re not as cute.”

At that, he perks up, frosting is long forgotten. “What do you mean I’m not as cute?” And with the face he’s making, I almost take back my words.

“Well, your highness, you were a boy before. Of course, you’re not cute now. You’re a man.” I roll my eyes as if that were the most obvious thing.

“If I’m not cute, then what am I?” He squints at me and I can tell I’ve fallen into a trap.

“You’re… You’re handsome. Now,” I mutter out. I quickly clear my throat and point to a bald spot on the cake. “Hey, you missed a spot.”

Without even looking at him, I know he’s smiling. “You think I’m handsome.”

“Alright,” I drag out the word. “You’re the Prince. Aren’t you supposed to be handsome so you can woo and marry a pretty princess?”

“Not exactly. Being ridiculously handsome isn’t a royal requirement.”

I let out a scoff, “When did I say ‘ridiculously handsome’?”

“You didn’t have to, I see it on your face.” He taps my cheek and I suddenly notice how close our faces have gotten. Before I know it, my face is blooming pink again and I can feel the warmth shoot from my head to the rest of my body. I launch myself back and adjust my apron. And he stares at me like he’s won.

“Okay, your turn. What’s different about me?” I look around the kitchen to get my heart to settle down. What is happening?

The Prince doesn’t hesitate. “Well, you’re just as beautiful as you were before. Maybe even more.”

I gasp at his words and look him in the eyes. There’s no hint of his typical teasing attitude; he looks completely genuine. My mind goes blank and my ability to respond is rendered useless. He seems to notice that so he brushes off his comment quickly, thinking he’s overstepped.

“Anyways, since we’ve discovered that the only thing that makes me different from before is that I’m exceptionally more handsome-”

“Didn’t say that.”

“-Then why don’t you just call me ‘Donghyuck.’ Like you did before.”

Maybe it’s because he called me beautiful. Maybe it’s because I like the idea of exclusively calling him ‘Donghyuck.’ Or maybe I’m excited to eat the cake we just made, but my heart is fluttering quicker than it ever has.

“Okay. Donghyuck.”

⋆ ˚｡⋆୨୧˚ *:･ﾟ✧*:･ﾟ✧

“FIRE! DONGHYUCK! FIRE, FIRE!”

“OH SHIT!”

Watching the medium sized fire bursting from the top of the pot, I run to the fire extinguisher. I’m scrambling to grab it, swift to squeeze the white dust all over the burning stove, despite the dough covering my hands. I hear Donghyuck’s screams in the back and he’s grabbing my shoulders to hide. Once I see the last flame get coated, I drop the extinguisher on the ground, exhausted.

I feel his hands digging into my shoulder blades and I grab him by the jacket, turning him to face me. Knowing how to cover his ass, he smiles in shame, rubbing my arm.

“I swear I was watching the stove,” He whips out his baby voice and try my best not to smack the side of his head. He’s the Prince. He’s the Prince. He’s the Prince, I repeat to myself. 

“Your looks distracted me.” I slap him anyways.

He groans in pain, even though I could’ve slapped harder and I cross my arms to look as threatening as possible. 

“You burnt the caramel,” I whine, staring at the black tar in my brand new pot. “And my pot!”

He immediately attacks me with a hug, shaking me around, mumbling apologies. “I’ll buy you a new one, I promise! I’ll buy you three! Four? Seven!”

“Make it eight,” I huff, tearing his arms off me, only to weirdly miss them.

He gasps, hands against his head in shock. “You definitely dressed prettier today just so I could set your pot on fire and buy you twenty more… You’re evil,” He looks at me like I’ve masterminded the biggest robbery of the century. 

I narrow my eyes at him, lifting my hand to smack him again. “And you’re on timeout. No more baking today.” I start putting away the dishes I had ready.

“Hey! Who’s older here?” Donghyuck begins helping me sort the supplies into the pantry.

“I’m pretty sure I am,” I say, trying to remember if we told each other our birthdays back then.

“When were you born?”

“May.”

“Shit,” He mutters. He tosses the burnt pot into the trashcan, wincing at the char. “Okay, let’s keep the ball rolling. What’s your favorite color?”

I laugh, “Really? Also should I save this dough for tomorrow when we try again?” I hold it up to show him and inspects it.

“Yeah, why not? Just wear a trashbag or something tomorrow.” I kick him in the foot and he chuckles. “But yes, really. What’s your favorite color? I like red.”

“Purple,” I play along while saran wrapping the dough. “Favorite food?”

“Kimchi jjigae,” he spits out, with no hesitation. I nod along, remembering all the times he’s requested it as a midnight snack while we bake. “What do you like to do besides baking?”

“I like to go on walks. When I moved out of the city and with my dad, we lived near the beach. It was nice to just walk on the shore only five minutes away from me. I miss it sometimes. I should probably visit soon.” I tap the bowl mindlessly, trying to figure out my schedule.

“You should take me,” Donghyuck says. He’s right next to me now. “I always wondered where you went after I stopped seeing you. I assumed you were still in the city, until your grandma told me you moved-moved.”

“Ohh, no, yeah. I moved. It was hard leaving everything I knew, but at the same time, I learned so much when I was there with my dad. Come with me next time, and we can hangout on the beach. Nothing should be too flammable there.” I tease, bumping his hip with mine. He laughs with me, but I can tell his mind is somewhere else. His eyebrows are furrowed, and he looks almost guilty.

“You know, when I found out you were the Prince, I wrote down a list of questions. I was so excited to see what your life is like.” 

This grabbed his attention and my heart eased seeing his eyes light up a little more. The kitchen was relatively clean now, so I decided to prop myself up on the counter. Donghyuck always gets mad at the sudden height difference, but I can tell he loves it when he naturally wedges himself between my thighs like he does right now.

“Yeah? Do you remember any?” His hands were pinned on either side of my hips, forearms pressed against my outer thighs. It’s comfortable. I’m not sure when we got so comfortable. “This is kind of like ‘Princess and The Pauper.’”

I snort trying to remember my list. “I think I wanted to know how many crowns you had.”

“Classic question. I’m pretty sure I have three. My head’s kinda small, so it actually takes awhile for them to make it.”

I hum, investigating his head. “I can tell.”

“Mean.” He lightly pinches my thigh and I stop staring at his skull.

“I also wanted to know if you had any royal pets.”

“A cute, small, white dog. Yep.” He nods, like he’s impressed with himself for having such a basic dog and I have to laugh. 

“Any cool cars?”

“Tons,” He brags. “Okay, what does ‘Adult You’ want to know?”

There’s always been a question I wanted to ask him since I started hanging out with him again. It nagged in the back of my mind as I watched him, always happy, always cheering everyone on. Despite his bright facial expressions and body language, I could tell it was tiring, it must be. I never imagined the royal life to be hard, or as hard as my own, until I met him again.

I look at his face, checking for any signs that I shouldn’t be asking him. But he looks at me with such softness and openness, that I don’t hesitate to ask.

“Are you happy? Like… do you like being the Prince?”

His eyes widened at my question and he looks down at my lap to think. He takes longer than I expect, and I assume no one has ever bothered to ask. His silence is telling.

“Hey…,” I reach for his face to lift his chin up. “It’s okay to say you’re not. You don’t have to be all the time.”

He flinches like this was a concept he couldn’t accept for himself. I grab his face a little tighter so he really hears me.

“As long as you’re at least looking for your happiness, that’s all that matters,” I stroke his cheek with my thumb. “You deserve all the happiness, Hyuck.”

I can see his mind slowly wrapping around my words as something in his face shifts. He looks hesitant for a different reason.

“And what if I find my happiness in you?” I gasp, instinctively letting go of his face slightly. He’s fast to bring his hand up to keep mine there. His fingers slot between my gaps. He looks desperate to keep me here.

Knowing my words hold immense weight, I still don’t stop myself from saying, “Then I’ll be that for you, in whatever way I can.”

Despite me being vague, Donghyuck takes all that he can. His face blooms into a smile and I return it, knowing it was cause of me. He holds my hand this time and brings it down to my lap, sighing happily.

“Thank you.”

And for a split second, I’m scared for what I’ve promised. After all, he’s the prince and I’m the pauper.

⋆ ˚｡⋆୨୧˚ *:･ﾟ✧*:･ﾟ✧

♔

Donghyuck is the happiest he has ever been. Unlike how it was when he was a kid, he’s attending his classes, his meetings, and even having lunches with the princesses the Queen sends over. However, he can’t promise that these dates are leading up to a potential marriage. He’s doing just enough so that his mother doesn’t get suspicious. Best of all, for most nights, he gets to sneak into the kitchen and talk, bake, and laugh for hours.

The secret hangouts are going amazingly. He can tell she’s warming up to him as she did back then or maybe it’s just the fire from the oven heating up the place. Last week, the kitchen at her new bakery finally finished being built and he knows this because he hired his staff to make sure the job was done well without telling her. That day he expected her to come in and tell him that she had to stop seeing him, but she still showed up like clockwork – two to three times a week. 

Next week, her bakery is set to have its grand opening and Donghyuck hopes this isn’t what actually stops her from coming to see him. He’s even practiced his baking skills on his own and eaten less of the fruit while they’re together in hopes it doesn’t make her want to leave again. And so for the following week, Donghyuck is treading carefully.

“Do you need help with that, Princess?”

“Should I preheat the oven for you?”

“Here, let me tie your apron.”

“I’ll carry that for you.”

All of these mini acts of chivalry are met with a suspicious gaze and a light dusting of red on her cheeks. Donghyuck feels a sense of achievement whenever she accepts his help. And this all leads up to the night before her grand opening.

Donghyuck is lighting the last candle when the sound of keys unlocking the side kitchen door is heard. He quickly blows out the match before scurrying behind the table to greet her with a “Surprise!”

“Donghyuck! Don’t do that! God, I thought I was caught for sneaking in.”

He rolls his eyes at her lackluster reaction and reorients himself. 

“I said… Surprise!” He dramatically waves his arms around to show all the work he put into decorating the kitchen. She finally notices her surroundings and her eyes light up. Donghyuck can feel his heart soften, compared to how it was racing earlier trying to set all of this up without his staff.

“What… what is all of this?” Her hands are covering her mouth in disbelief. There are streamers and fairy lights gracing the walls and candles are littered all around the room. Donghyuck is standing in the center with a single cupcake in his hands.

“Congrats. I heard from the grapevine that your bakery opens tomorrow.” She laughs at his theatrics and sets her bag down to look at the cupcake he’s made. In messy red font, the top of the treat reads the name of her bakery. She almost wants to tear up.

“Only one? Are we sharing?” She takes the cupcake from his hands and he tries not to think too hard about her fingers touching his.

“Well, I made that myself, and I personally don’t trust that I didn’t mess up the recipe in some way. So if anyone’s getting food poisoning tonight, it’d be you.” He taps her nose. “Eat up!”

At that, her jaw drops and she keeps the cupcake at a distance as if it’s some nuclear substance.

“Do you secretly want me dead?” She laughs.

“Hey, when it comes down to a royal and a baker. The baker’s going.” Donghyuck mimics his throat being slit and bites his lip to stop himself from smiling too hard. He loves to mess with her.

“You are the worst. Way to look out for your people, your highness.” She begins to unwrap the cupcake, taking a sniff out of precaution.

“‘Your Highness’? Aw, Princess, don’t be like that.” He moves closer to her and she shifts back, tutting.

“Nope. As a baker under your kingdom, I will gladly sacrifice myself by eating this cupcake. Alone.” She dramatically curtsies before going in for a hesitant bite.

Donghyuck swiftly beats her to it and takes a large bite out of the other end as her lips touch the cupcake. Her eyes widen in shock and he sends her a wink before brushing the crumbs off his mouth.

“Now you can’t tell me I don’t care about my people,” He says while chewing the weird texture of his creation. Donghyuck smirks at the deer-in-headlights reaction she has on her face. 

She gulps, shaking her head so that her hair hides her blush. She sets the cupcake down, not wanting a reminder of how close his face just was.

“Well, it’s edible,” She jokes. Donghyuck’s tongue prods the inside of his mouth as he takes in what was supposedly a compliment.

“Says the one who took the smallest bite known to man,” He accuses, pointing at the cupcake.

“How was I supposed to take a bigger one when you practically shoved your face into it and devoured half?” Once again, she’s reminded of what just transpired and feels her cheeks growing warm.

“Ooo, did I make you flustered? Scared your lips were about to touch mine?” Donghyuck takes a step closer and brushes a nonexistent crumb off her lip with his thumb. He hopes she doesn’t feel his heart pounding like fireworks.

Like she can sense his fake confidence, she grabs his wrist. “Is that what you were thinking about when you took a bite? Kissing me?” She tilts her head to the side and his whole body buzzes.

Before he could crumble even further, he tears his hand out of hers. “Please. Like I’d let anyone touch these royal lips.” He turns around to calm himself down and pretends to busy himself with something on the fridge.

He hears her laugh behind him. “I bet they’re not as sweet as a baker’s.”

He turns around and narrows his eyes at her. “How did this grand opening celebration turn into you messing with me?” Accepting defeat, he resorts to fake anger and his signature pout.

“You started it,” She playfully rolled her eyes. “Anyways…”

With the softest smile, she says, “Thank you, Hyuck. I really appreciate you.”

He returns it, “Always.”

The rest of the night is filled with laughter and playful bickering as the two avoid finishing the mysteriously textured cupcake. Donghyuck makes multiple attempts to pit the blame on her as the teacher, and the soon-to-be bakery owner fails to leave and sleep early at the expense of the Prince’s whines. To be honest, the lack of sleep was worth it if she got to spend more time with him.

⋆ ˚｡⋆୨୧˚ *:･ﾟ✧*:･ﾟ✧

Now that the bakery is well past its grand opening and flourishing greatly, I’ve gotten my days back. My employees are well-trained and seasoned and I feel comfortable taking days off when I need to. Oddly, my new opened-up schedule was somehow sensed by Donghyuck and I was invited to the palace during the daytime for the first time ever. I was nervous at first to be sneaking in in broad daylight, but he assured me that if I followed the steps he gave me exactly, I’d be fine – not that reassuring. 

As written in his note, I greeted Yunseo, the guard, as usual, and he gave me weird looks, going back and forth between the sun and my face.

“You know the sun is out, right?” He asked, still looking at me funny.

I gave him the most incredulous look. “You’re joking? It’s not nighttime?” I made an effort to crazily look around and he sighed.

“Alright, alright, I get it,” He shook his head. “What are you doing here?”

“Thought I’d switch things up,” I shrugged, not wanting to reveal who I was meeting.

Yunseo nodded, “Fair… okay, be careful, okay? The palace feels a little frantic today.” With that, he opened the gates for me and I gave him a smile.

“You’re the best. Make sure to stop by sometime this week, I have pastries for you.” I waved goodbye as he promised to come. 

Following Donghyuck’s poorly drawn-out map, I realized our meeting point isn’t the kitchen and that he’s taking me on an obscure path that the Queen and King definitely are not aware exists. As I walk through centuries-old, dimly lit stone walls, I think about how many times Donghyuck has used these secret passageways and if little Donghyuck used these when he snuck out to see me, 15 years ago. I can imagine 7-year-old Donghyuck discovering these routes within the castle’s walls.

“Stop right there!” A voice echoes through the abandoned hallway.

My heart spazzes and as loud as my brain is yelling at me to run, my feet don’t budge. I curse under my breath and crumple Donghyuck’s map in my hands, remembering to kill him unless I die right here. And if I do happen to die here, then I have to make sure I return as a ghost, haunting that man for life. I turn around slowly, eyes half closed, to see who’s behind me, but there’s no one there. There’s no one in the passageway at all. I whip around a few more times to confirm and I notice a crack in the wall to my right. It’s a peephole overlooking the actual palace hallways.

Out of curiosity, I look through and I see the Queen, face as red as the beautiful gown she adorns.

“Prince Lee Donghyuck,” his name is spat out like bile. “You will follow my orders.”

Coming into view, I see Donghyuck. He and the Queen are in the middle of a heated argument. His head is hung low and I can see him playing with his sleeves like he does when he gets anxious. I wish to reach for him, but then I remember the wall separating us.

“Your majesty, I… I can’t. I don’t want to,” He hiccups, and if I can’t see the tears on his face, I can hear them. “I never did.”

The space in my chest feels as tight and narrow as the walkway I’m in and I want to look away, but I can’t.

“It doesn’t matter what you want. You are the Prince and you are expected to marry a Princess. How dare you fool me for all these years?” As the Queen, she still carries her natural elegance, but her words burn like acid. She’s speaking to him at a normal volume, but her tone pierces your ears. 

“I-I didn’t mean to fool you. I tried my best, but I don’t love them. I don’t love the suitresses you send. And I need you to understand that I never will.” Donghyuck finally looks up and I can see the desperation in his eyes from where I stand. 

“Love?,” The Queen laughs bitterly. “I don’t need you to love them. You just need to marry one. As the Prince, what makes you think you have the privilege of being in love? Not when you have a country to rule.” There’s less anger in her words and more disappointment. 

Donghyuck winces, looking like he’s fighting back what he wants to say. His bottom lip is trembling and the grip he has on his sleeves is tight. His whole body practically shakes. Eventually, he lets go.

“If I’m not meant to love someone, then explain to me why I already do. Explain to me why I love her? Explain to me why I can’t have her?!” 

Tears are rolling down his cheeks like heavy rainfall. “I never asked for this!” He screams, and I wonder to which he’s referring to. 

My body is sweaty like I ran a mile and I feel like my breathing can be heard through the wall. He never mentions my name, but I know, I can feel, that he’s talking about me. My whole body is buzzing and I don’t know whether to feel ecstatic or sad. Despite my confusion, one feeling is clear: fear. Before I can hear what the Queen has to say, I run. 

⋆ ˚｡⋆୨୧˚ *:･ﾟ✧*:･ﾟ✧

♔

“Oh God. Sorry, I was supposed to get here before you. I was supposed to be part of the surprise,” He smiles meekly, praying the puffiness from crying doesn’t make him look strange. He accidentally sniffles and hopes she blames it on the flowers and his chronic allergies.

She’s sitting in the garden chair next to the tea table Donghyuck had set up an hour ago. He scoped out a secluded spot in the royal garden and slowly put everything together. He moves to sit down across from her and she’s staring intently at the cup in front of her. 

“I asked Gran what your favorite tea is and brewed some for us. I know I don’t have your baking skills, but if we get hungry, we can sneak back to the kitchen,” he playfully winks, trying to hide the fact that he was in the worst state five minutes ago. Although he can’t bake, he can definitely make a good batch of tea. He hopes it hasn’t gone cold. 

He waits for a response, but she’s still frozen, chewing the inside of her cheek. Maybe he’s still on edge from his argument with the Queen, but she doesn’t look happy. This is definitely not the reaction he was expecting.

“Do you wanna try the tea? I bet it’ll amaze you so much, you’ll beg me for the recipe,” he teases. The teapot hovers over her cup, but she makes no move to accept it.

“Okay, no tea. That’s fine,” Donghyuck chooses to laugh it off. “Do you wanna walk around? Most of the garden is secluded so we don’t have to worry about someone catching us.”

“Would that be so bad?” The first words she whispers strike him with confusion. Her voice is dry like she just strained it.

“Huh?” He tilts his head, scooting his chair in closer to hear her.

“Would that be so bad?” She says, unable to bate her anger. “Being caught with me? Would his royal highness hate being found walking with me?”

“Hey,” Donghyuck grabs her hand from her lap, interlocking his fingers. “What’s going on?” She tears her hand out from his hold like it stung and he feels like he’s making mistake after mistake.

“I-I’m sorry, is this too much? I wanted to do something nice for our first date outside of the kitchen. Was this a mistake?” He starts to stack the plates, quickly discarding his work. “I usually don’t plan these myself, so I’m sorry if this is bad. I-”

Donghyuck sees her wince in his peripheral and feels her hand on his wrist as he’s about to haphazardly dump the tea in the bushes. Her hands are cold today.

“Date?” The word leaves her mouth as if it made her sick.

The alarms go off in Donghyuck’s mind. “Date? Did I say date? Sorry, I actually mean-”

“Donghyuck,” she cuts him off. He can see her harshly swallow. “Why are you doing this?”

He blinks. “I… I wanted to do something nice for us. It doesn’t have to be romantic if you don’t want it to be. I didn’t mean to make you uncomfortable.” Donghyuck can feel himself beginning to ramble.

“No. Why have you been hanging out with me? If it’s because you feel guilty about ditching me all those years ago, forget about it. I don’t care anymore.” She looks at him with so much intensity, not only trying to convince him, but convince herself that none of this matters.

“Princess, please. No, it’s not out of pity. You know that.” He shakes his head almost violently, begging her to believe his honest intentions. He was shocked he had to convince her in the first place, always assuming she knew his heart better than him.

Completely ignoring him, she continues, “And why aren’t you married yet?”

“W-what?” Similar to whiplash, Donghyuck feels like his brain has just been jostled. Are his ears tricking him and forcing him to relive the traumatic conversation he just had with his mother? Why is this topic being brought up?

“You’re the Prince,” she says like it’s an unwavering fact. “You’re meeting with princesses weekly. You’re meant to rule side by side as King and Queen. Why… why aren’t you married yet?” She asks and her eyes are ice cold like her hands. 

She too closely resembles the older woman who was just yelling at him moments ago. The casing around his heart begins to harden and the feeling he gets from the girl in front of him is now anger. The same bitter taste returns in his mouth.

“Are you serious?” He looks at her and the Donghyuck she knows has washed away. Betrayal, rage, and sorrow are painted across his face. It was like she was looking through the peephole again.

“Don’t ask stupid questions you know the answers to,” he mutters, words barely making it past his tight lips. He’s breathing much harder than before.

“Answer me. Why. Aren’t. You. Married.” Her hands are gripping the edge of her knees to stop them from shaking. 

Donghyuck stares at her for a long time, eyes flittering over every facial feature, confirming that she actually wants to hear the answer. Her face is firm and her question is set. He takes a deep, pained breath and leans back slightly.

“It’s because I love you.” Not like the confession he imagined in his head, Donghyuck reveals his long-term feelings like this was their end and not their new beginning. The period at the end of a sentence. The last page of a hardcover book. The last second on a timer.

She simply nods, stiff in the neck. She excuses herself before standing up, bowing, and walking away.

⋆ ˚｡⋆୨୧˚ *:･ﾟ✧*:･ﾟ✧

“That’ll be $6.06. Would you like your receipt?”

The cash register dings with another purchase and I slump back in my chair as the customer leaves. It was a slow and agonizing shift with only two more hours till closing. It’s also been a slow and agonizing two weeks. 

I’m haunted by what went down at the royal garden almost every hour of the day. At first, I was using every chance I could get to skip work and wallow at home. But suddenly the plants in my room reminded me of him and the teacups in my cabinets smelled like the tea he prepared for us. So for the second week, I decided to dedicate myself to work. I’ve been coming in every single day and overworking myself to the point where my employees don’t know what to do but stand around. I debate whether or not to let them leave early when a familiar head of brown hair walks in. My heart picks up its pace and it’s like the teacups all over again.

“Donghyu- oh. Hi, welcome!” I smile wide, trying to hide the previous disappointment drawn on my face. The customer gives me an awkward smile back and begins browsing the pastry racks as I mentally slap myself.

I slump down to the floor behind the counter and silently groan in my hands. Why does every male brunette customer these past two weeks remind me of him? And why are there so many of them? Like every other time I’ve confused a customer with Donghyuck, the guilt begins to creep back into my system and I get flashbacks of our last conversation. 

“Why aren’t you married?,” I mock my own voice. “Are you stupid?” I repeatedly hit my palms against my head when I hear a ding from the counter bell. I quickly shoot up and brush the bangs out of my face, hoping the customer thinks I’m at least slightly normal.

“Hi, how can I hel- Grandma!” On instinct, I glance behind her, foolishly hoping he’s hiding behind her tiny frame, and my shoulders slump when I’m met with no one. So now I’m really imagining him.

“What are you doing here?” I ask, composing myself.

“Just checking in on you. I notice you haven’t been coming to the kitchen because when I come in in the mornings, my counter is actually clean,” she jokes. I smile sheepishly and nervously adjust the apron string around my neck. 

“Sorry, it’s usually Donghyuck’s fault,” I quickly clear my throat, answering a little too fast. “The Prince, I mean.”

Grandma’s eyebrows shoot up at the mention of his name and she looks down at her feet, suddenly fidgety. I notice her change in demeanor instantly. 

“Speaking of him…”

“We don’t need to,” I cut her off. “Speak about him, I mean.” I wince at how suspicious my words sound.

“If you don’t want to, that’s okay. I’m just curious… if anything happened between you two.” She whispers the last part, looking back at the customer to make sure he can’t hear. She clears her throat and steps behind the counter with me, naturally rearranging the bread in the display case. She busies herself while encouraging me to speak.

I gnaw on my lip, tapping the counter, debating if I should finally talk it out with someone. I’ve only been talking to my employees about bread starters and yeast.

“We fought.” I admit.

“About?” Grandma loads the case with more bread. I start passing them to her one by one. 

“He told me… he told me he loved me.” I press my lips together and I hear her head hit the top of the display case and the bread hit the floor. “Grandma! Are you okay?”

I crouch down, grabbing the top of her head to inspect, and she’s giving me the most incredulous look.

“He told you he loved you?!” She squealed at an embarrassingly non-discrete volume, making the customer drop the pastry in his hands. He’s looking around, frazzled, and I can see him debate whether or not he should pick it back up.

“Don’t worry about it! I’ll clean it up!” I screamed from behind the counter. 

“Grandma, keep it down,” I curse through my teeth.

She’s rubbing her head and shaking it in either pain or confusion.

“I know, I know. A Prince saying he’s in love with the baker’s granddaughter is farfetched and unrealistic. I get it.” It’s what has been circling through my brain every day.

“That’s not what I’m confused about, dear.” She looks like she’s debating what to say next. “Did you not hear?”

“Hear what?” At the end of my question, and like a universal sign, the door jingles and the mailman is rushing in, hair swept back by the wind. 

“Sorry! I forgot to drop this off this morning. It’s urgent mail.” He salutes and is out the door as quickly as he enters. 

On the counter is a letter with the royal stamp. My stomach feels queasy assuming this is the first contact I’ve had from Donghyuck since our fight, but I can’t help the naive smile that breaks out on my face. I rush to open it, not worrying about the papercuts. Every doubt that was just in my head disappeared and my grandma interjects, hoping to bring me back down from my high.

“Sweetie, wait. I need to tell you that-”

To the owner of Princess Bakery,

Prince Lee Donghyuck will be celebrating his union with Princess Nam Soohae on 26 May, 2023 at the royal garden grounds. The royal family requests a wedding cake to be made with your expertise and culinary skills. 

Please accept this royal assignment with details soon to come.

Signed,

The Lees

The words on the page silenced me and my thoughts, my breaths barely leaving my lips. My eyes kept darting across the paper; the calligraphed words are being repeated over and over again in my brain. 

Prince Lee Donghyuck.

His union.

Wedding cake.

Realization finally dawns that this isn’t the love letter or apology I was expecting from Prince Donghyuck. A breath finally escapes and it’s shaky as it wavers in the air like an offkey music note. A heart-stopping pain envelopes my chest and it seizes up to my eyes. The whites of the paper burn my irises. I catch a teardrop splattering onto the parchment. I’m haunted with images of Donghyuck at the altar with someone else. And then I’m thinking about the garden. And us. 

Surprise.

Our first date.

Because I love you.

Because he loves me? Because Prince Lee Donghyuck loves me? Prince Lee Donghyuck who is getting married to an actual princess in a week? Suddenly, it feels like the floor’s unsteady and the oven temperature was turned up to the highest. The letter wrinkles between my fingers and the ink smudges with salty tears. 

This is what I was afraid of. And yet this is what I set myself up for. I knew I should have stopped seeing him. I knew it the moment mango tarts began to remind me of him. The moment my secret ingredient of love found in every bake was powered by him and his place in my heart. Even though I meant to stop this from happening during our talk in the royal garden, that small teaspoon of hope was still sprinkled in my mind. That hope stayed every time I saw a plant, a teacup, or a brunette. But now it’s dissolved.

A new feeling washes over me. One that I haven’t felt once these past two weeks. Not false hope. Not heartbreak. And not regret.

Anger. 

“Don’t blame him.” 

My grandma’s words slice through the red and her hands on my arms attempt to calm me down. I look up through wet lashes, lips trembling.

“Donghyuck… Prince Donghyuck had no say. The royals… they never do.”

“Aren’t you supposed to be my grandma?” I clench my jaw to stop the shaking, slightly regretting my bitter words. 

Her grip is softer. “Oh honey, I am. And that’s why I’m telling you not to waste this energy on being mad at him. What you guys share is beautiful, don’t let this taint it.” She takes the letter out of my hands and physically turns me to face her.

“Shared,” I corrected her.

“Share,” She corrects me. “Your love for each other is seen by everyone. I know it can’t flourish the way love is supposed to, but at least cherish it for what it was.”

Her words reintroduce more feelings. Sorrow. Frustration. 

“I was really hoping this time it works out…” She voices my thoughts.

At this point, I’m hiccupping between breaths, caught between reliving the past and hearing these explanations. The world was never meant to have us together it seems. But at least I was told this time we had an ending.

⋆ ˚｡⋆୨୧˚ *:･ﾟ✧*:･ﾟ✧

The next royal letter came two days after the first, and I was called to spend a week in the royal palace to test out different wedding cakes. I essentially had no choice but to say yes as the royal chauffeurs picked me up every morning to take me there. It felt like those sunrises with my grandma when I was seven but the butterflies in my stomach turned into bees. Unlike the past, I prayed I wouldn’t run into Prince Donghyuck, but with him having requested I make his cake, I’m sure he knows I’m here.

My grandma designated a portion of the kitchen to me as the head baker and it mimicked the old days as much as it could. That was until I got a visitor on the second day.

“Good morning! I’m Princess Nam Soohae.”

My eyes widened and my whisk fell out of my grasp as I took in her presence. She’s beautiful. She’s an actual princess. Her bright, toothy smile would’ve made anyone smitten if it weren’t for the fact that she was about to marry the man I loved. The pretty pink dress she wore was tinted green through my eyes. I shook my head, trying to remind myself of my place. 

“Good morning,” I bowed. “I’m the baker in charge of your wedding cake.” My smile faltered only slightly with the mention of the union.

She giggles and I almost want to laugh with her. “I know that, silly. I was sent by the Queen to sample some. Or should I say my future mother-in-law.” She bites her perfectly manicured nail with excitement.

Soohae leans her hands on the counter and peers at the bowl in my hand.

“Is there any to try right now?” Her head surveys the kitchen like a kid looking for cookies. It’s genuinely hard to dislike her.

“Um, I have a few cakes placed to the side to cool right now. There’s no frosting on it yet, but I’m sure it’d be good to try the base first!” I move to grab one of the trays and she flutters to follow me.

“Ooooh!” She gushes. “I’m so excited to try it. My own wedding cake, can you believe it?”

“No.” I almost drop the cake. “I mean, yes? Sorry. Getting married to the one you love is… it’s a crazy thing.” I cut a piece of cake and place it on a plate for her.

She doesn’t hesitate to take a bite and as she chews, she thinks. 

“I don’t love him yet, to be honest. This cake is really good, by the way.” I start cutting a slice from the other cake to sample. “But I know I will love him eventually. I already get butterflies when I look at him. I trust that he’s the one for me, I mean have you seen him?”

Before I can agree, and thank god she doesn’t give me a second to, she continues, “I know it’s silly for a person in my position to believe in the one. But I really, really do think it could be him. The other day he brought me my favorite flowers, like how did he know?!” She pops a bite of the other cake in and her eyes light up.

“Oh this is the one! Don’t even think about giving me another,” The Princess reaches for another bite and applauds me.

I laugh and make sure to note to go with the lemon base and not the mango one. As my hands are about to toss the mango cake away, my mind stops me and I consider whether Donghyuck would prefer this instead. The clanking of the Princess’s fork on the plate, finishing the lemon cake slice till it’s crumbs, reels me back and I let the cake fall into the garbage. It feels eerily like a metaphor.

For the rest of the week, Princess Soohae visits me and taste tests the frosting, fondant, and other things she wants. With every passing day, I hear more about Haechan and I can feel that her words have turned fonder. Coincidentally, her sweet tooth has gotten worse and the final components of the wedding cake are a complete sugar bomb like her personality.

On my final day, the Queen joins her. The last time I saw her majesty, she was berating the Prince as I secretly watched. It felt like I was in that hidden passageway again as she watches me prepare a slice of the wedding cake for her. My hands shake, placing the plate down in front of her and her gaze is sharp. It’s interesting how harsh her energy is when her facial features are as soft as the Prince’s. She looks like she’s been through a lot and I wonder if Donghyuck will experience the same thing when he fulfills his role as King. Like she can tell I’m thinking about him, The Queen’s eyes narrow. 

“I hope you enjoy,” I bow, and she doesn’t say a word. Princess Soohae on the other hand is completely bubbling over how good it turned out and how her guests are sure to love it too. 

The Queen simply nibbles on a piece and nods along. The black and white vibes almost give me whiplash as I stand there, watching the two of them. A sweat forms on my hairline and I’m internally glad this is my last day. I can’t go through this any longer. 

And like a karmic jinx, the kitchen door opens and a familiar brunette walks in. This time, it is him.

“Oh my! Prince Donghyuck!” Princess Soohae scrambles off her chair and bows both gracefully and clumsily. I bow as well, trying hard to hide the immediate blush on my face I get whenever I see him. I wonder if I can stay bowing so I don’t have to meet his face. The last time we saw each other was when we talked at the royal garden, and as much as I prayed I wouldn’t run into him here, truthfully, a part of me also hoped I would.

As soon as I force myself to stand up straight, we lock eyes and the strain in my chest loosens like a snapped thread. I can feel my lungs fill with air and it’s relieving to see him again after so long. It hurts in the best way as I’m overwhelmed by his presence. That familiar brown waved hair, the sunkissed tan skin, and the plump smiley cheeks. Everything is how I left it but his expression is not one I expected. He’s in complete shock and I don’t know what to do but look around the room to find something that would cause such surprise. I quickly glance at the Queen, and for the first time since she sat down, there’s a small lift in the corner of her mouth. Is she smirking?

“Princess?” He tilts his head, still staring at me before he realizes what he just called me. “Princess! Princess Soohae! I came to get you.” He runs over to grab her hand and the lifted cheekbones on her face tells me she’s grinning. 

“What- uh- what’s going on?” I’m fixated on the way he fiddles with her hand as he looks around the room for answers. 

“Cake testing? How did you forget, silly?” Princess Soohae laughs as she playfully pats his cheeks. Everyone in the room can tell she’s head over heels and my stomach hurts. As I’m clutching my stomach and the Prince stares at me quizzically, there’s one person in the room watching all of this go down.

“She’s the wedding cake baker we outsourced, Prince Donghyuck.” The Queen says calmly, gesturing to me. She tells him like it’s his first time hearing this and I’m taken aback, my movements making the utensils on the table quiver slightly.

“He didn’t know?” My mouth was too quick to voice my thoughts. “His highness, I mean.” I bow in apology.

“No. No, I didn’t.” His hands are at his side now, gripping the fabric of his sleeves. The shock left his face and now he’s staring at me with pity and then silent anger when his head turns towards the Queen. My eyes follow his and she returns his look as if to challenge him to say more. 

Completely obvious to the shift in atmosphere, Princess Soohae raves about the final wedding cake decisions and begs the Prince to try a bite. He turns her down without sparing a glance and asks her to leave with him. He doesn’t give me a second thought as he breaks eye contact with the Queen and drags his future wife away. There’s no stopping the ache that fills my chest again, slow but strong like the rising tide.

“So he still likes you.”

Snapped out of my haze, my ears don’t believe the words I hear coming from the Queen’s lips.

“Pardon?” She’s looking at me now and it’s a mixture of disappointment and disinterest etched on her face. The warmth on her face has depleted. 

“My son. Prince Donghyuck. He still likes you,” she laughs dryly. “After all these years…” 

My eyebrows furrow and I feel myself getting dizzy. Maybe this is all some sort of hallucination and the Queen isn’t talking to me right now. I grip the counter for support, and she doesn’t wait for me to respond.

“You know, I thought I handled the issue 15 years ago when I asked the head baker to stop bringing you here. I was stupid to think it would be that easy when he purposely sabotaged every date I set up for him the years after.”

She’s twirling the fork on the plate now and the scrapes make me flinch. The kitchen no longer feels like a safe space for me right now as her words slowly suffocate me. 

“And when he started to actually go on these dates this year and report back to me that they’re going well? I was foolish to think it was him beginning to try. I saw you one day, back in this kitchen. Back in his life. It all made sense and it made me so angry.” Her hands grip the fork handle. They’re dainty, but if you look close, they’re calloused, indicating years of work. Her face appears the same. If it weren’t for the terrifying state I was in, I would’ve wanted to comfort her. She looks up at me, and I felt tinier than I did before, her eyes piercing into me. 

“Do you not understand the life I’m trying to set up for Donghyuck? He’s the future king. He needs a queen, a real queen to survive in this world. As the queen, I know firsthand what he needs. My king wouldn’t be anywhere without me and his mother who set me up with him. You’re not fit for this role and you never will be.” She finally sets the fork down with a clatter. 

“Listen to me, and let him go. It’s what’s best.” Her threatening nature fades as quickly as it came and she gracefully stands up, brushing the nonexistent debris on her gown. The Queen gives me one final look, waiting for me to bow and essentially agree, before leaving the kitchen. 

The air returns and I grasp my chest to let myself breathe. Tears prick the corner of my eyes as I choke back sobs.

⋆ ˚｡⋆୨୧˚ *:･ﾟ✧*:･ﾟ✧

“Remember, it’s the room on the right hallway. Third door. And if anyone sees you, don’t tell them I sent you. I’ll get in trouble.” My grandma hammers in the details one more time, waiting for me to nod in confirmation.

It’s the end of my final day and she asked me to deliver pastries to a room in the palace before I leave, saying her workload is too large to be going herself. I figured it’s one more thing I could do before I never step foot in the palace again. I almost turned her down earlier in fear of running into the Queen. Just the thought of that happening makes me feel sick, but I know I won’t be seeing her again after this anyways.

I scoff, “So you’d rather I get sent to the guillotine?” I tease her with an exaggerated horrified look. 

She easily flicks my forehead, despite our height difference, and I grab it wincing. “You’re lucky I don’t chop off your head myself with that attitude of yours.” She sneers at me and I giggle.

“Fair…,” I playfully mutter, soothing the area between my brows.

Her directions sent me to a room with beautiful brown double doors. I smile at the two ladies standing outside of it and I’m about to explain why I’m here before they cut me off.

“Pastry delivery for the Prince?” They say in unison.

Like a horror movie, my jaw drops and I lose my instinct to run. One thing I do know is to make sure I yell at my grandma later as I nod and tell them they’re correct. She completely set me up.

On another occasion, I would’ve appreciated the doors to Prince Donghyuck’s bedroom more, but right now, they look like the gates of Hell. I attempt to swallow whatever saliva was left in my suddenly dry mouth as I brushed my hair out of my face. The ladies allow me to knock on the door. My palms are sweaty as I shakily knock on the varnished wood, hearing it echo into the space on the other side. His room must be huge.

No responses are heard. This was my out, but my body was telling me not to leave, even though my mind was screaming to run. Instead of knocking again, I turn the knob and almost wish it wasn’t unlocked, but it was.

There he is on the other side, scribbling at his desk. His back is facing me and I watch the muscles in them move with vigor. I haven’t seen him work this hard since he convinced me to teach him how to make a creme brulée and accidentally made scrambled eggs with the yolks.

I shut the door behind me and hope it catches his attention, but it doesn’t. I gulp, realizing how very real this situation is and I almost want to throw up knowing I have to speak.

“Hyuck.”

I hear him inhale and he spins quickly out of his chair to look at me. Different to how it felt seeing him in the kitchen earlier today, his face is softer, accepting my presence. My heart floats in my chest, wondering why I was so nervous to see him when just the sight of him oozes comfort. He looks at me like he’s feeling the same way. I see the longing in his eyes and the way they warm, I close my own to stop myself from giving in too much.

“Princess.”

His voice is fragile and his choice of words makes me shut my eyes harder, scared that I’d lose all my resilience and run straight into his arms. He doesn’t correct himself this time, and he says it again with more confidence.

I finally peel them open and force myself to act cold. Just an hour ago I was finishing his wedding cake; this fire has to be extinguished.

“Princess Soohae will make a great queen.” I move to set the pastry basket down on a table near me.

“It’s not what you think. I was going to-“ He turns around in a frenzy and grabs the paper he was just writing on. The Prince takes a step closer and it takes all my strength to recoil. It takes all of me not to be swayed by the obvious hurt on his face. This will be good for us, I have to remind myself.

My hand is up, drawing the line. “You don’t have to explain. It’s not what I’m here for.”

He hesitantly puts his arm down, eyebrow twitched in confusion. The paper is still in his hands.

“I got you a gift,” I partly smile. “A wedding gift and I guess, also… a goodbye gift.” With that statement, I break away from his stare, fixating on a corner in his grand room. 

I hear paper wrinkling. “A goodbye gift?” His voice gets lower and it causes me to wince. It feels like all the tension in the room gathered in the small vacancy in my chest and the overwhelming pressure makes my eyes sting. I can already feel the tears build up as I play with the hem of my shirt. 

“Mhm,” I painfully affirm. “The wedding cake. It’s both my gift and my goodbye. I thought you requested it when I first got the royal letter,” I laugh at the situation, trying to stop myself from letting him see me cry.

“Turns out it wasn’t you, but regardless. You’re getting married and I can’t be here anymore. So I left it in the kitchen. Obviously, it’s not a goodbye-goodbye, since I’ll still be living here in the city, but… No. Yeah, it’s a goodbye,” I nod to myself, trying to unravel the knot in my throat. “I guess you took my advice, huh? Congratulations, your highness.”

The silence from him is thick and it leaves a sour feeling in my stomach. It calls me to look up at him, and his eyes are icy cold. The sweet honey brown is as dark as coal.

“This is your response?” His words are robotic, I can feel the venom on his tongue as it pricks at my heart.

“S-sorry?” I tilt my head, not understanding him. It felt terrifying to make him repeat himself in the state he’s in.

“I told you I loved you. I’m assuming this is your response.” My eyes flicker to the paper in his fist, no longer readable. Neither is his face as he gives me the blankest look. It makes me want to cry more knowing this is how I will remember our last moments.

This time, I do take a step towards him but he’s shaking his head aggressively, lower back pressed against the edge of his desk. Now I know how he felt.

“If you want to hear me say ‘I love you’, you know I can’t do that.” Just having those three words leave my lips causes a tear to roll down my cheek. 

“Because I’m the Prince?” This time, his expression changes to match mine. I can feel the frustration and pain radiating off of him, and all I want to do is to tell him what he needs to hear. But I just nod, forcing a distance.

“So it always mattered. What if… what if it was 7-year-old Donghyuck asking his princess? What would you have said? You didn’t know who I was back then. I was just… just Donghyuck.” He sighs, his body is limp as he settles onto his desk. I notice his frail build, worried that he’s been eating less.

I smile, fondly remembering the ignorant bliss from 15 years ago. But then I’m forced to remember our situation now, our ugly situation where our hearts are demanded to stay silent. 

“I would’ve told him I loved him too.”

And with that, all strength is gone as I sob into my palm. I’m trying to force the wails in, but my body is shaking. My legs feel weak and he’s over here and his arms are wrapped tightly around me in a second. I can feel his heart beating against my arm trapped between our bodies and his breath shakily blowing on the top of my head. One hand is holding me tight and the other is brushing through my hair as he shushes me. 

“I love you. I love you. I love you,” He repeats. A part of me thinks this is to calm himself down too. 

I know I’m right when I slowly pull myself back and see the red in his eyes and on the tip of his nose. My hand flinches as I’m about to caress his cheek. His breath is steadier as it now fans across my face and his eyes are lidded like they’ve finally got some rest. My hesitation vanishes as I let myself cup his face, trace the constellation painted on his cheek, and feel the sweetness of his lips on mine. The warm sensation that envelops my body makes me gasp and Donghyuck tightens his embrace on me, refusing to let go. He tasted better than every sweet treat I’ve had combined. He was intoxicating and my whole body buzzed like a sugar rush. 

I close my eyes tighter, savoring the feeling of his lips, wanting to remember every trace — letting myself be selfish this last time. He’s sugary, cozy, and soothing like the afternoon sun on my back. His mouth moves with such ease against mine and it feels like I’ve been kissing him my whole life. The feeling of his tongue gently nudging my bottom lip jolts me back to reality and I push away, seized by the cold air of his big room again. 

I bring my hands to my face, hoping to cool down the flush. The Prince is breathing as heavily and in sync with me, and all I can hear is our matching breaths and the ringing in my ears. I have to end it here. 

“Um. Congratulations on your wedding,” I say in one breath. I don’t dare look at him as I quickly bow, scrambling to his door. 

“Princess! Wait,” He grabs my wrist, almost too tight. “I can’t go through with this. Please, I-I only want to marry you.”

“Your highness…”

“Don’t. Don’t call me that. Say my name, please. Call me Hyuck. Call me Donghyuck. Anything but that. Just don’t-“ His teeth are chattering and he blinks away the tears. “Don’t leave me again.”

Without a second thought, I’m shaking my head ‘no.’ Even with tears blurring my vision, I can see the hurt on his face and I feel a part of my heart rot. It pains me just as much to reject him, but the Queen’s words swirl around in my head, unrelentless. I’m forced to leave him and my heart here and I want to scream, but I can’t. He notices that. It reminds him of himself.

Letting the finality of my decision settle in, he lets go of me, taking in a shaky breath. This was our end.

I restrain myself from taking any steps towards him as I reach for the door behind me. The wooden panel swings open, gliding past my extended fingers as I’m met with the face of the Queen.

That same hand shoots up to touch my lips, remembering what just happened in here and I bow till my hair grazes the tiled floors. 

“Your Majesty,” I squeak. She looks at me with a million emotions and plants her glare at the Prince. Like pieces of a puzzle coming together, her face twists into anger, dissecting the situation. I take this as my cue to leave but the Queen shuts the door behind the both of us. I don’t hear the Prince make any moves to save me.

“What were you doing in there?” She angrily whispers between clenched teeth. Not sure what comes over me, but the fear I felt before is gone. Instead, I’m left feeling numb.

“Don’t worry. I was just saying goodbye.” I swallow, bracing myself for her reprimands. 

A beat passes, before she speaks, this time in a normal tone. “Are you done?” 

I nod, “Yes, and I’d like to be excused from attending the wedding to serve the cake.” The Queen’s eyebrows quirk up, shocked that I’ve made a request. I look her straight in the eyes so she knows I mean it.

“I can’t… I can’t be there for that. I believe I’ve done all the preparation I can and I am not needed to actually attend.” My confidence waivers, and I draw my attention back to the ground.

“Fair enough. You don’t have to attend. I’ll tell the other bakers to serve it.” I take my chance to meet her eyes again and I can almost see concern on her face. I shake my head of that ridiculous thought, and offer her my best smile.

“Thank you, your majesty.” I bow before dragging my feet off the palace grounds. Hoping to never set foot in here ever again.

⋆ ˚｡⋆୨୧˚ *:･ﾟ✧*:･ﾟ✧

Bells. I plan to remove all bells from my bakery. The royal wedding bells have been ringing all morning and I don’t need any more reminders moving forward. 

I spent the whole night crying after leaving the palace and then my anxiety kicked in, trying to get me to map out my life without him. Naturally, I planned to pour myself into work and here I am, out of bed, manning the shop by myself on his wedding day. I may have cried into a batch of dough in the morning, but baby steps are important. This is only day one anyways.

I realized I made a mistake leaving the house when I overheard everyone in town talk about the wedding of the century. I even let my employees off for the day, mainly to have my space to wallow alone. Practically everyone was outside the palace gates, waiting to get a glimpse of the couple. The streets were currently empty and I wonder if I should just close up shop. 

Right when I was about to count up the cash and close out the register, the bell on the door jingles. I’m halfway into the one dollar bills when I roll my eyes at the sound, pressing my lips together to stop a groan. I make a mental note to remove the bell before I leave.

I look up to check on the customer and I see a man with, of course, brown hair surveying the bread on the back wall. All I can see is the back of his head as he peruses. I scoff to myself at the instant fluttering of my chest at yet another brunette customer. Is no one blond anymore? Are gingers that rare for me to never encounter one in my bakery?

I finish counting the ones and I move onto the fives when I realize he’s still standing in the same spot. I’m organizing the bills in my hands as I examine him. Normal guy. Black hoodie. Jeans. 

Maybe he’s just really indecisive. I can see him tapping his foot from the counter. I decide to offer help after I finish counting the five dollar bills.

With the last dollar to count, I place it in the tray and slowly walk over to the man. As I get closer, my stranger danger instincts kick in and I suddenly regret my decision. His foot is still shaking and from this close, I can see him fidgeting with his sleeves in front of him. I grab a pair of tongs from the closest case and approach him.

“Excuse me, sir? Can I help you find something?” I have the tongs gripped with both hands, discreetly but ready to swing. 

I see his body tense and my breath hitches, thinking I’m really going to have to hit this man with my makeshift weapon.

He turns around painstakingly slow and I raise the tongs instinctively to block my face, before letting out a squeal.

But then I see his face. And different bells go off.

“Oh my god. Hyuck?”

The bags under his eyes are prominent and I finally notice the way his hair has been pulled in different directions. His lips are dry as he cracks a sheepish smile. He’s rubbing the back of his neck and notices the kitchen utensil in my hands.

“Were you gonna hit me?!” His mouth is open in surprise and he’s taking the tongs from my hands. I let him and put my hands up in defense.

“You were standing there for so long, all fidgety! I’m alone in here, what was I supposed to think?” I fight back, taking the tongs back and clutching it close to my chest.

He lets out a long sigh, seemingly frustrated with himself as he runs his hands through his hair. I hate that I find it attractive.

“Wait.” He looks up at me through his lashes, swallowing. “What are you doing here?” I ask. He blinks, knowing that question was coming. 

I expected to feel sick awaiting his answer, but instead my heart is racing, anticipating his next words. I almost feel that false hope I felt a week ago, and I try hard to deny it. But the way he’s looking at me leaves me with no doubts. 

I’m about to push him out the door when he digs a hand into his pocket and pulls out a piece of paper. The wrinkled piece of paper from yesterday. He plays with it in his hands as he thinks about his next move.

“I was drafting a request to get the law changed.”

His words peak my interest. I set the tongs down and let him continue. Wrapping my arms around my waist for security, I’m fearful of what he has to say next.

“I’ve actually been working on it for the past two months.” He flattens the paper out in his hands. “You caught me finishing the final draft yesterday. I didn’t expect it to take up until my wedding day…” He laughs, unhumored by the situation. 

He hands it to me. “This is an old copy now, but it’s actually already being reviewed by the King. Right now. Being who I am, I fled just in case.” 

He looks at me anxiously as I read the top of the page, the words in bold:

Formal Petition to Repeal the Royal Marriage Ordinance 

Written By Prince Lee Donghyuck

My eyes don’t believe what’s written, like the royal letter I received not too long ago, requesting I bake the royal wedding cake. The same royal stamp and all rests in the top left corner. 

This time, I can read the words clearly. They settle into my chest, leaving me with such a funny feeling. I read the text and I can tell it’s written by him. I imagine him staying up every night after we meet in the kitchen, working by himself on this proposal. All of his hard work for the past couple months was printed on this very paper. All this work… for us. 

I feel my cheeks wet from pure joy and I cover the smile straining my mouth. A rush unfurls through my body like sweet, sweet sugar and I look up to share it with him. 

“Donghyuck… You-?”

“Marry me.” 

He gets down on one knee, holding my free hand. He’s rubbing that one spot on my ring finger and it feels unreal. The gleam in his eyes reminds me of the toasty fires in the oven, the glistening mangos on his favorite tart. His smile matches mine, nervous just slightly, and I want to paint this memory in my brain forever. The love and desperation in his eyes are begging me to think of him. Think of us. Every fear that had been eating away at me the past month was overcome by his pleas. This paper and his actions are proof that we can happen.

He continues, 

“Princess, please marry me. I’ve only wanted to marry you almost my entire life. I know that sounds crazy, but how can I doubt my obvious soulmate? You always come back to me, but I still don’t want another reason for you to have to leave. So please, trust me and trust us. Forget everything and everyone else and say you’ll marry me. If this petition doesn’t pass, I’ll continue to fight. Just…

Say you’ll be my princess forever.”

I tug his hand softly to get him to stand up. He obliges and I free my hands to hold his face. He finally breathes and closes his eyes, leaning into my touch. I can feel him relax and his hands rest on my hips, drawn like a magnet. My mind is bouncing back and forth trying to contain the frenzy in my heart and the steady warmth of my core. I tap his eyelid lightly with my thumb and ask him to look at me. He opens them slowly, fear still trickling in his irises. I smile at him.

“My Prince,” His breath hitches. “I love you too.”

Donghyuck wastes no time tucking his head into my neck and lifting me against his body. He spins me around between the cases of bread and I giggle, feeling his heart beat erratically against mine. He softly lets my feet touch the ground and we’re looking at each other again, tears adding sparkles to his eyes. I wipe them away instantly.

“Thank you for coming back,” he whispers, but it feels like he said it with his whole being.

“Always.” I say with just as much commitment.

We’re cherishing the moment together, laughing at how happy we get to be, when the wedding bells go off once more. I look at him with confusion and he shrugs, just as lost.

“I can’t believe my wedding cake is going to waste,” I pout, remembering all my hardwork. And he squeezes my hip at my choice to be silly, snickering.

“I can’t believe you went with a lemon cake. Do you even know me?” He teases, pretending to be hurt. I gasp, slapping his chest.

“I’ll make sure to go with the mango tarts for ours.” I press a soft kiss on his lips and he smiles with me, pulling me unbelievably closer. 

“I like the sound of that,” Donghyuck hums.

“I’m sure you do.” I laugh.

Donghyuck and I stand there in each other’s arms for as long as our legs allow. We talk about the past, how it felt to leave each other. We talk about the garden and I admit to catching him talk to his mom, which explains everything he needs to know. Even as I’m profusely apologizing, he’s doing the same, saying sorry for putting me in such a situation. I choose to ask about Princess Soohae and he bites his lip nervously, telling me he hasn’t handled that predicament yet. I almost drag him out of the bakery at the sound of that. We even go over his repeal proposal and I call him out for some typos.

Eventually we move to the kitchen, doing what we do best, and what we’ve done for years, waiting for someone to find him. The Prince and his Princess.

⋆ ˚｡⋆୨୧˚ *:･ﾟ✧*:･ﾟ✧

A/N: i hope you enjoyed!! pls like, reblog, reply, whatever!! if u want hehe

[thewonandonly]

11:03 —i’ve never known someone like you, tangled in love, stuck by you, from the glue, don’t forget to kiss me or else you’ll have to miss me, i guess i’m stuck forever by the glue, oh, and you. | glue song by beabadoobee

donghyuck was often prevailed as a mood maker, a sense of sunshine, especially to his fans. he was the sunshine that peeks out from rainy days and casts a rainbow. he’s the stars and the moon that illuminates the night sky. he’s the flowers that bloom after a long and unforgiving winter. he’s the river that flows through, crystal clear and refreshing.

he was all these things and more. but, as he sits next to you on the picnic blanket as you let the small ladybug crawl on your hand, the sun angled just perfectly for the light to hit your irises and show the speckles of color. he was everything to so many people, yet when he looked at you, all he could see was someone so ethereal, that his heart nearly stopped.

he loved your smile, he loved how you tilted your head slightly to look at the bug that sat atop your finger, and he loved the way you were like that with every bug you came across. he loved... you.

god, he's really stuck on you.

copyright © 2023 thewonandonly. all rights reserved.

[lustbile]

This probably slips into dubcon but haechan who doesnt stop fucking you until you admit that you like him

I have been itching to get to this ask im not even kidding, and listen there’s nothing wrong with a little dubcon in my opinion so I hope you like it.

Warnings: mean haechan with a splash of infatuation, also seriously dubcon. it’s not too bad in my opinion but if you’re not into dubcon at all then I wouldnt read this. ultimately, reader wants it, but there’s no outright expressions of consent so

——

——

“I fucking hate you,” you say harshly as Haechan squeezes his hands tightly against your shoulders, the grin that overtakes his face being worlds different that the way you wish he’d flinch at your words. 

Haechan wasn’t a stranger, far from it actually. You had drunkenly found yourself underneath him more times than you could count, but when you both were sober and didn’t have your lips locked together, he was the bane of your existence. He was infuriating and too flirty for his own good, and he had recently developed an infatuation with staying glued to your hip every time you were unfortunate enough to be in the same room as him. 

This time though, his clinginess had gone farther than just being a slight inconvenience. You had sighed when you saw him standing in the center of the living room, enjoying all the attention of the other party goers as he made them laugh and slap him gently on the shoulders in amusement, but you sighed even louder when you saw who stood next to him. It was just another boy to anyone else, but to you, it was specifically the cute boy from your calculus class that had helped you with every problem you got stuck on and had made your heart flutter in the process. 

You were smitten in ways you couldn’t describe, he was just good and you liked good. And when you had finally gotten him alone to talk, you thought you were on the road of making him your hookup of the night, and maybe you’d even get his number in the end. That was until Haechan caught a glimpse of you two. 

He had rushed over immediately, his jealousy hidden well behind a teasing glint in his eye. To you, it just seemed like another ploy to get under your skin, and when he grabbed you and pulled you away with a lie about your friends asking for you slipping through his teeth, he succeeded.  

You scrambled up the stairs of the strange house, his hand tight around your wrist pulling you along with him as if he knew the layout of the rooms like the back of his hand. You spewed hateful words at his back as he just laughed and pulled you into a random empty room, and that’s how you ended up staring at him as he wiggled happily in front of you, wishing more than anything that you could make his head explode with just your mind. 

“No you don’t,” he argues, using his hands to shake your shoulders as you reach up to dig your nails into his wrists. 

“I absolutely do,” you say, trying and failing to pull his hands off of you, “I finally get to talk to that guy outside of class for once, and of course you come by to ruin it.”

“Oh come on, I saved you a lot of disappointment with that one,” he assures, dropping his voice to speak in a sleazy whisper, “I heard he nuts quick.”

You scoff when he shoots you a wink, finally pulling his hands from your shoulders before you try to walk away. 

“I don’t care what you’ve fucking heard Haechan,” you say over your shoulder as you turn to sulk away, “I can’t fucking stand you.”

“Me and you both know that’s not true,” he taunts, grabbing your arm and tugging you until your back slams against his chest, leaning in to whisper in your ear as you squirm against him, “you know for a fact that even if something had happened with him, you’d still would have come crawling back to me to show you what a good time really is.”

“You’re disgusting,” you say, as he walks you backwards, not liking the way your body heats up immediately at his touch.

“Maybe, but you like it don’t you?” he asks rhetorically, twisting your body and pushing you roughly to lay face down on the strange bed in front of you, “say it.”

“Say what?” you ask defiantly, trying to lift yourself up with your hands before he pushes you down again. 

“Say you like it,” he lays his palm flat into the center of your back, pushing you down into the mattress as you squirm and fight against him, “say you like me.”

“No,” you yelp with a sarcastic scoff and a laugh, “did you not just hear me, Haechan? I said I fucking hate you. I hate everything about you.”

“I heard you,” he confirms, leaning down until his face presses into the side of yours, “I just don’t believe you.”

His hand keeps you pushed into the bed while his other hand trails slowly down your side, you try to kick back at him, landing a few blows to his thighs, but he ignores it as he moves to tug at the hem of your skirt. You feel the cool air of the room on the back of your thighs when he flips the fabric up to lay across your back, and as you try to half heartedly push against him, you feel a sudden sting of pain as his palm cracks against the skin of your ass. 

“Say it,” he commands again, rubbing his hand across your now burning skin, “just admit that you like me.”

He conceals the desperation in his tone well, covering it with biting venom as he glares down at your shivering form. He’s not sure what did it, maybe it was seeing you so obviously enraptured with another man, but a sudden need for a confession from you washes over him, almost making him want to pull out his hair. 

“I hate you,” you say again, your voice breaking when he smacks you again. Your words are true, or at least you think they are, so you’re not sure why they get harder to say as your resolve slowly crumbles. 

“Wrong again,” he scoffs, shaking his head even though you can’t see it from the way your face pushes into the sheets below you. He holds back from another command, and instead he just roughly pulls your underwear until they wrap around your thighs, and starts fumbling with his belt as you grumble beneath him. 

You feel the pressure of him pushing the head of his length against your clit before he speaks again, the friction of him dragging himself against your skin making you try to sit up again. 

“If you admit that you like me,” he starts, bargaining with you as if he’s giving you any real options, “I’ll go easy on you.”

“You’re a liar,” you huff, spreading your legs when his length catches on your entrance, “you’ve never gone easy on me.”

“What can I say? I like it rough,” he confirms, shrugging before he starts to push himself into you, “and so do you. That’s why you keep coming back.”

“I only fuck you when I’m drunk,” you say, hoping to stab at his confidence but your voice trembling from the way he stretches you lessens the effect of your words. 

“You’re not drunk right now,” he counters, shallowly thrusting into you to watch the way you throw your head back, “so with that argument dead, the only thing that I can imagine keeps you under me, must be the fact that you really fucking like me.” 

You whine as he punctuates every word with another thrust, his hips smacking against your ass as your legs lose their strength beneath you. You stop trying to get up, the way he stretches you clouding your mind too much for you to keep denying liking the way he uses your body, so instead you just lay there, squirming at the way he fills you up perfectly. 

You let out a sob when his hand reaches to push at the back of your skull, pushing your face more into the sheets as he uses his hold to keep you still as he fucks you. The way his hips are tilted against you makes him hit a spot in you that makes your eye well up with hot tears, and as his thrusts speed up you struggle to keep your thoughts straight. 

“Look at you,” he scoffs as if disgusted, but deep down he knows you’re the most beautiful thing he’s ever seen, “you’re already falling apart and we just got started. So why don’t you just admit it?”

You let out grumbles of confusion as he kicks your legs farther apart, your arousal spilling past him to slip down the inside of your thighs as he seemingly fucks every memory out of your mind. You clench around him when he laughs at you again, and he’s quick to pick up on how you seem to melt at the way he handles you so meanly. 

“Just say it,” he speaks softly, condescending you as your hands grab tightly at the stranger’s sheets, “say you like me, and I’ll give you everything you need.”

You let out a babble of sounds when he stills his hips to grind against you, his length pushing fully into you as your legs twitch weakly. You don’t want to give him what he wants, but the truth crawls up your throat like a rabid animal. You thought you hated him, and maybe a part of you really does, but a bigger part loves the way he handles and speaks to you. Maybe a part of you also likes the attention he gives to you so shamelessly. 

That realization stabs at your pride. The idea that maybe the rolling eyes and annoyed scoffs you’d offer him whenever he’d come trailing after you every time he saw you across the room were some type of front, an act to hide the way your chest tightens when you see his smile. But as he rolls his hips against you, and fills you in ways you can’t imagine the boy downstairs ever could, you start to realize you couldn’t imagine your night ending any different than how it is now. 

“I’ll make it real easy on you,” he offers with empty promises as he fucks into you enough to make your thighs ache, “just repeat after me,” he continues, pitching his voice to imitate yours before he starts to mock you, “Haechan I like you so much I can’t stand it. You fuck me so well, some pathetic little boy could never compare to you.”

He fucks you harder after his real feelings start to peek through, his imitation of you dying towards the end of his words as he spits them harshly at the back of you head. He can’t deny the angry jealousy that sparks in his chest as he’s reminded of why he pulled you up here, so all he can do is take it out on your sprawled out form beneath him. 

“I said, fucking admit it,” he commands impatiently, only feeling slightly more satisfied when he sees your tears start to fall from your eyes, “admit you like me for fuck sake.”

He shoves your body up the bed as he speaks, his roughness making you cry out as you feel tension build in your stomach. Your tongue feels heavy in your mouth as he seems to not understand how the way he fucks you blurs your thoughts. You don’t want to say it, the idea of being so vulnerable after mouthing off so proudly earlier makes you shrink, but the way your body flutters around him and the way your spine starts to curve deeper, you don’t think you can stop yourself. 

“I, fuck,” you yelp as pleasure starts washing over your body, your breath turning into heavy pants as he doesn’t seem interested in relenting on you even when it’s clear how much you struggle. 

“Say it,” he speaks softer as his ears perk up at the beginning of what might be the exact confession he itches for. His hips stutter as he keeps pushing into you, the way you clench around him starting to get the better of him. 

He watches in awe as your shoulders curve back, and he has to push your leg again with his foot as your thighs try to slam closed. He can feel the words lingering in the air before you even say them, and with an overwhelming push of hope in his chest almost choking him, he rolls his hips in a way that he knows will have you falling apart. 

“Fuck, fuck! I like you Haechan,” you finally admit, your words coming out in sobs as you start to come harshly around him, your body thrashing as much as it can under his hold, “I like you so much I can’t- oh my fucking god, I like you.”

He swears along with you as your words spill out without control, the way you babble and whine sounding like music to his ears as he stills inside of you. His hips press tightly against you, and he lets out pants of relief as he feels like he’s just won the universe. 

“I like you, I like you, I like you,” you mumble mindlessly as you feel the warmth of him filling you up. You sob happily once the words are out, a dopey smile spreading across your face as you melt into the bed below you, and as he pulls his hand off of your throbbing head, you turn your head to look at him with wide eyes. 

His face is brightly flushed as he stares down at you in awe, his chest heaving as he absorbs your words hungrily. He feels winded and like you’ve both landed on cloud nine, and all he can do is shake his head again in disbelief. 

“I knew it,” he huffs cockily as he recovers enough energy to grin, before he leans down to smother the side of your face with familiar kisses, “I fucking knew it.”

[vickylamore]

Kiss Kiss / LDH

words suggested by; anon (mwah)

words; Haechan. Hugs. White. True love. Forehead/eyelid kisses.

(if confused, see post rebloged about me waiting to write blurbs with words suggested. suggestions are still open!)

———

You hated the cold; everything about it was just so gloomy and well— cold. The window curtains weren't pulled back enough to see the blizzard raging outside, the curtains weren't pulled back to see the obscenely bright snow that fluttered across the sky. Yet, despite the cold weather outside, you were warm. So comfortably warm. His arms wrapped around your stomach, your own hands intertwined with Hyuck's as his soft snores filled your ears.

Snow days were probably the best and the worst winter phenomena that occur once every full moon; you loved it because a, you didn't have to go to work, and b, you would be stuck with your favorite person on earth. There wasn't a con unless staying inside all warm and cozy was one, you didn't have a chance to complain.

Carefully turning around because forbid you woke him up, your eyes lingered on Donghyuck's face. How peaceful and beautiful he looked, the way his chest fell into a steady rhythm, his soft features were angelic and delicate as he slept.

Unconsciously, you brought your hand to his face, lightly caressing his cheek. He was so perfect, not meant for this world. Your heart swelled, and the mere thought of him in your life sprang tears to your eyes and sent a wave of happiness coursing through your body.

He's yours. The love of your life is yours.

You gave him a small but lingering kiss on his forehead before pulling back the covers to get ready for the day. However, his arms around your waist didn't move, and the smile that tugged his lips didn't go unnoticed.

"Have you been awake all this time?"

Hyuck's eyes cracked open, "just long enough to know that you kissed me."

"Really?"

"Mh-hm," he let out a yawn, a small smile crossing his face. "Can I show you where you kissed me?"

"I don't know," you hummed, "can you?"

He didn't respond and only brought his face towards yours, peppering your face your kisses on your nose, your cheeks, your eyelids, your lips— just all over your face.

Soft giggles echoed through the room, ones that only got louder and louder as time went on. The cold winter storm outside was nothing compared to the warmth and love that you felt inside the comforts of your boyfriend's arms.

[angelicmark]

want & need (m)

pairing: haechan x reader

genre: angst, fluff, smut

warnings: sad hyuck, thigh riding, marking, unprotected sex, overstimulation

wc: 4.4k

summary: donghyuck is in love with you. he swears he would cross the ocean just to get to you. he only wants you to love him, convincing himself that was all he needed. donghyuck is severely in love, and you’re just scratching the surface of love. you are all that donghyuck wants, but not what he needs.

➣ apart of ‘right lover, wrong time’ series

↳ masterlist

it’s the way he looks at you.

it’s the way he feels when he sees you and the way his stomach turns when you talk. it’s the way he loves the way you move. it’s the way he stares just a moment too long. maybe he sounds a bit stalkerish, but he can’t help himself when you’re the most beautiful person he had ever seen. with the most gorgeous soul he had ever experienced.

he doesn’t realize you notice these things, but you do.

you notice the sad look in his eyes when he realizes you don’t feel the same just yet. you notice the way he shifts in his seat and clutches his stomach lightly when you talk. you notice the way his eyes don’t leave your body when you walk to grab a bottle of water. you notice how long he stares and how the look in his eyes tell you he’s in love.

but it’s a sad love.

a puppy love.

and you notice. god, you notice.

you wished you were oblivious to the signs, but it’s way too obvious when all he wants to do is be around you. you feel shameful every time you kiss him. you feel your heart clench when he hugs you, knowing you can’t return the feelings he so desperately deserves right now.

and he stays, because he hopes you’ll love him too.

hyuck’s eyes haven’t left yours for the past minute as you stand at your front door as he drops you off, “thank you for the ride home.”

“anything for you,” he smiles, but it doesn’t feel whole. it doesn’t feel real and you can feel the pain and hear the sorrow in his voice. it hurts. hyuck swallows the pain in his throat as he stares just a little bit longer than he’s supposed to, “goodnight, love.”

you lick your lips, waiting for the goodnight kiss, “goodnight.”

and when the kiss comes, you feel guilty all over again. it’s such a sweet kiss, and you know it’s full of love. love that you can’t return. you’re not sure why either. he treats you the way you’re supposed to be treated and he gives you everything you could ever want. why can’t you just love him?

soft lips leave yours, and when you finally walk inside, hyuck watches as you close your door and he feels the aching in his chest return. he knows. he knows you don’t love him the way he loves you, and it’s the most painful feeling he’s felt in a very, very long time.

maybe he’s too much. maybe he’s the problem.

hyuck returns to his car with a heavy mind that night, driving slower than usual and sluggishly walking into his own apartment.

why don’t you love him?

what has he done wrong to make you not love him?

questions swarm his head more than he’d like all night long. it’s like his head was swimming. like he was drowning. he ache in his chest never leaves, but he just hopes that one day you’ll love him the same way he loves you.

one day, hopefully, you’ll love him too.

one day you’ll look at him with stars in your eyes, rather than a glooming and pitiful look. one day you’ll say how much he means to you. one day you’ll kiss him and mean it. one day you’ll show him all your deepest secrets and trust him with your heart.

hyuck lays on his bed, staring at the ceiling.

one day, you’ll love him too.

and it won’t hurt when he stares at you. it won’t hurt when you kiss him. it won’t hurt when he listens to the way you talk so passionately about other things that aren’t him. it won’t hurt when he hugs you tightly goodnight.

one day, it won’t hurt anymore.

the pain will fade, and he’ll be happy. with you right by his side.

hyuck rolls over in bed, slowly closing his eyes and hoping to dream sweetly of you.

one day. just, one day, you’ll love him too.

“no! stop!“ you push hyuck away with a giggle. it’s so harmonious in hyuck’s brain. the sound echoing with love and passion.

hyuck smiles mischeviously, trying to rub his wet hair on you as you shove him away with gorgeous laughs. your lips separate sweetly and let out a heavenly sound. he couldn’t get enough of it.

“fine, fine.” hyuck moves back.

“you didn’t have to come over, you know.” you shift on your feet, “it’s pouring outside.”

hyuck came over at night when you called, saying you could use a little bit of his company. it wasn’t sexual, no hidden intentions and hyuck knew that. he was respectful of your distance as much as he could be, no matter how much it tore him apart.

hyuck pulls you close, but not too close to chase you away, “i know, i wanted to.”

you’ve been dating hyuck for five months now, things have been going well. too well. he was affectionate, never picked fights, did whatever he could for you. you just wish you could understand why you didn’t love him the way he needed you to.

“well, thank you.” you lean in for a kiss, and hyuck quickly responds to it with slight greed. hyuck will take whatever he can get from you. your affection was rare, but sweet.

if he could choose how to die, this would be it. in your arms, your kiss so sweet and soft and tasting of maple syrup. he wondered if you had pancakes or waffles that day. it didn’t exactly matter to him, your kisses were always so sweet no matter the taste.

when you tangle your hand in his hair, he falls apart in your hold. he was yours. he belonged to you, no one could make him feel the way you do. the aching in his chest returns the longer he kisses you, but he would ache forever if he could stay just like this.

you pull away first, looking at him with a small smile. but it doesn’t reach your eyes. how sad.

“did you want me to stay, or leave tonight?” hyuck pulls apart from you reluctantly, his hands burning just to touch you again. the pain is almost unbearable.

you shift around, “you can stay if you want to. it is raining after all.” you want to love him. you want to spend as much time with him as possible. could you fake it until you make it?

it wasn’t like you resented him or didn’t like him. hyuck was attractive, affectionate, loving, caring, perfect. he was perfect. so, why was he wasting his time on you? why did it matter so much to him that you love him? he could find someone better, someone who wasn’t so emotionally constipated. someone who knew what true love was.

but he chose you.

and, in his mind, he would choose you over and over again.

hyuck nods, “sure.”

when night turns too late and you’re cuddled up with him, you can feel your body warm up. you couldn’t tell if it was because of his own body heat, or because your heart was beating so fast being so close to him. it wasn’t a smothering feeling, and you assumed this was progress.

but does love have progress? is that how you should have described it?

you weren’t sure, you were never sure. all you knew was, for once, you felt comfort in the hold of donghyuck.

hyuck could feel you relax in his hold, and he sighed out of relief. you were comfortable. that’s all that mattered to him. he was willing to give this up and sleep on the couch just so you could be comfortable. but when you snuggled deeper into his chest in a slumber, he couldn’t stop the tug on his heart.

hyuck softly kisses your forehead, imagining this for the rest of his life. he would die a happy man.

if only you could love him.

it’s snowing.

and all hyuck can think about is how sweet it would be to kiss you out there, throw snowballs, warm up with hot chocolate and a nice fireside in his apartment. but you’re not here, and he’s not with you there. he stares out the window, watching as the snowfall builds up on the ground. he feels something wet fall down his cheek before he realizes he’s crying.

why was he crying?

hyuck realizes that he would never truly get the things he desperately desired. the things he wanted out of a relationship, the things he needed in a relationship for as long as he was with you. but why doesn’t that change anything? why does he still continue trying after all these months? you’ve known him for over two years, quickly becoming his best friend over those two years and soon enough becoming his first true love.

why don’t you love him?

what was it that he wasn’t doing enough of?

hyuck sobs quietly as he falls to the ground in soft defeat. hyuck could never give you up no matter how much he knows he needs to. he could never give up what he has with you, because despite everything, you were still his best friend. you were the one person he could lean on when things got hard. you were the one person who truly means it when they say they care. you are the one person who truly means it when they say they’ll be there for you. you are the one true person he loves, and he’s just not quite ready to give that up, no matter how damaging it is to his mental health.

hyuck couldn’t sleep well that night, tossing and turning and occasionally getting up to stare at the snow again and reminisce on the things he couldn’t have with you. sleep was difficult without you by his side, he learned. he was afraid of getting separation anxiety, but he’s aware now that it’s too late for that. the second he fell in love, he knew just how doomed he was.

hyuck sighs, shaky breaths leaving him.

he may never understand, but he’s slowly coming to terms that this is just how it is being with you. he can’t change you, he can’t convince you, he can’t force you.

he just has to hope that, one day, you’ll love him back.

no matter how long it takes. no matter how many tears he lets out. no matter how many times he starts to lose hope. no matter the aches and the pains.

no matter what, he just hopes you’ll love him too.

then, he can be happy.

“it’s cold, hyuck.” your complaints make hyuck smile a bit and you scowl at him.

hyuck wraps you in his arms, “would you like to go back inside, darling?”

the both of you were outside trying your best to make some kind of snowman. it wasn’t turning out very well, and it was also very lumpy and kind of small. it wasn’t the cutest or the prettiest, but to hyuck it was yours and his. it didn’t have to be the best looking snowman for him to love it the same way he loves you.

it was beautiful in his eyes, and so were you.

you looked gorgeous in the snowfall, so gorgeous that he couldn’t keep his eyes off you. he could see the way the snow stuck to your hair and clothes, adoring the way you look in the cold. he almost didn’t want this moment to end, watching you try to perfect a snowman that was already doomed from the start.

when you make eye contact again, he doesn’t realize the smile that had crossed his face along the way of staring at you. he feels almost creepy for staring so long, but he just couldn’t help it with the way you looked like some kind of snow princess. cheesy, but he means it.

the ache in his chest returns when you lean over for a peck on the lips, a smile gracing your lovely face. god how he wished you meant it. he wished the dull feeling in his body wasn’t caused by you. he couldn’t force you to love him. every time he kisses you, he feels as if his love is being taken for granted. every time you hug him, he feels his heart slowly start to break.

he wants to believe it’s worth it.

“are you okay?” you tilt your head in oblivion.

hyuck swallows down, “of course.” he smiles, but you could see in his eyes he didn’t mean it. you want to ask, but you don’t.

maybe you should have that day.

hyuck can’t believe this is happening. he honestly never wants this to end. this incredible, amazing feeling. you’re straddling his lap, hands in his hair, fingers tangled, kissing him with fever. what else could he possibly ask for? this was everything he had ever dreamed of and more. you were so beautiful to him, but the noises that came from your mouth when you rubbed down on his thigh? absolutely perfect. nothing compared to it. nothing compared to you.

hyuck can’t stop himself from tracing his kisses down your neck, sucking maybe a bit too hard. he marks you unconciously, but the sounds you let out were heavenly, sending sparks down his spine. you were his, you are his. as you rock your hips back and forth on his thigh, he flexes his thigh a bit to help you out. the moan that escapes your mouth is so captivating.

“hyuck..” you breathe, leaning your neck to the side for more access so he can leave even more marks down your neck and collarbone.

“yes?” hyuck licks the hickey on your neck before whispering in your ear, “what do you want?”

“please, fuck me.”

that was all he needed to flip you over, undress the both of you, and slowly enter your pussy. the moans that echo between the both of you was harmonious. his dick fills you up perfectly, and your pussy wraps around him so tightly. when he starts moving, hyuck leans down to moan and breathe heavy in your ear. shivers run down your spine at the noises.

“fuck, you’re so tight. so perfect.” hyuck’s words make you arch your chest into him.

he can feel how slick you are, how your pussy contracts around his dick. it was everything he could dream of, and more. he was in heaven. he swore if this was how he was going to go, he would be okay with it.

“i’m gonna cum..” you utter, clutching onto his back, legs around his waist.

“w-wait.” hyuck clutches the sheets beside your head, pumping into you faster and faster, but you couldn’t stop yourself. you came with a scream of his name, making him shutter into you but not stopping once as he chases his own high.

“h-hyuck,” he pumps into you into overstimulation. your pussy so sensitive but feels so good that you don’t ask him to stop, just pull him closer and claw at his back more.

hyuck feels himself fall straight into you. the aching in his chest grows, and so does his orgasm. he lets out a soft whine when he feels you cum around him again, urging his own orgasm.

“f-fuck, fuck, fuck..” hyuck moans as he cums inside, kissing along the marks on your neck and calming the both of you down.

soon enough after he takes care of you, washing you with a cloth and giving you a pair of his clothes, the pain returns.

bliss seemed to only be temporary with you.

hyuck rests his head in his hand, staring at you with stars in his eyes. there’s a dull pain behind then, although, and you feel guilty for noticing it.

hyuck neglects the truth that you’re bad for him, and he’s good for you.

hyuck asks cutely how your breakfast was, watching the way you answer with eagerness. he listens to the way you rave on his cooking, and his chest tightens. he wishes you would rave abt him in general that way. he wished you loved him the same way you love his cooking. he wished you loved him for him.

hyuck resists a sigh, “i’m glad you liked it.” he smiles sweetly, and it makes your heart speed up in your chest. you weren’t used to this feeling. your hands became clammy, your fingers fidgeting, your heart beating heavy. what was happening to you?

“of course i did, i always do.” you smile back, and hyuck finds it to be so damn angelic. you were an angel straight from heaven, made just for him.

at least, that’s what he’d like to believe. what he desperately wanted to believe.

when he starts to wash the dishes, he feels arms wrap around his torso, making him jump where he stood. it was such a warm, gentle gesture. something he noticed became more and more normal from you. you weren’t too keen on big gestures, only settling for simple ones. it made his heart hurt the longer you held him. he could feel himself start to slip.

was this love?

was it really love if all he felt was pain when he was around you?

he couldn’t help but wonder the whole night with you. he was starting to notice just how painful it was being around you. he loved you so much, that it hurt. loving someone who doesn’t love you was the harshest pain he had ever experienced. especially with the small, sweet gestures you displayed while knowing it was forced because he knew you knew just how much he loved you.

he could feel just how much you forced yourself to keep this relationship together for him. it was painful.

why was he so selfish? why did he want to keep holding on? why was he waiting for real love from you?

hyuck stares into your eyes with sorrow, realizing that, soon enough, he’s going to have to let you go one day.

was the pain worth it anymore?

“i love you.”

the words leave hyuck’s lips before he can think. he really wished he would’ve thought this one out.

the shock on your face says it all, really. from that moment, he knew he shouldn’t have said it. he should’ve kept it deep down inside him. he knew from that moment forward, it would chase you away.

“oh hyuck…” your voice was sad, reaching out for him. but he rejects your touch, shaking his head in a dramatic way. his love wasn’t returned.

“no, no. sorry. forget it.” hyuck looks away from you. you could see his nose turn slightly red as he sniffles. you wanted to say it back. you wanted to reassure him that it’s okay, that you know where your feelings stood with him. but you couldn’t. you couldn’t lie to him.

“i..” you pause, swallowing down tears, “i’m so sorry, donghyuck.” your eyebrows furrow in slight frustration, wondering why you couldn’t love him the way he deserves. you’ve known each other for so long, shouldn’t you love him?

hyuck shakes his head again, rolling his eyes to himself, “don’t. i really don’t want to hear it. it’s not your fault, don’t make it your fault.” hyuck’s words cut through you. maybe he sounded a bit harsh, but he couldn’t stop the pain that cut him deep down. he was hurt. you hurt him. it wasn’t your fault, but he couldn’t deny it hurt.

you look away from him, nodding your head. you say nothing else for the rest of the night except when you left his place. the two of you were watching a movie, so having to sit through the rest of it was the most awkward thing you’ve ever had to experience. for hyuck, it was the most painful thing he’d had to experience. the whole time he wanted to cry, but suppressed it the best he could.

when he shut the door when you left though, it all came pouring down. an absolute mess. hyuck felt like an absolute mess that night. it wasn’t your fault that he felt this way. maybe it was his for letting himself fall so easily.

nothing will be the same. not for him.

hyuck sighs, twirling a pencil around his fingers. he’s trying his best to focus on his studies, but all he could think about was you. per-usual.

the first time hyuck said he loved you, was the last time he had said it.

he waited and waited for you to finally say it back for months on end. but as month eight of being together approaches, he’s starting to lose hope. maybe you just won’t ever love him.

maybe there’s no use trying anymore.

“i can’t do it, hyuck.” you stare at him with sad eyes.

this was the answer he needed. it was your ten month anniversary, months passing since he had the flashback of the first time he said he loved you. he tried to move on mentally, but he couldn’t. so, here he was asking if you loved him. asking if you felt the same way he did. and your answer was all he needed to realize just how much of his time was wasted.

“then we can’t be together.”

hyuck stares at you with the most intense eyes you’ve ever seen. you could see the tears threatening to spill. it hurt you to see him like this, but you know it hurt him more than it hurt you. unrequited love was a bitch.

hyuck can feel his heart crack in two the longer he sits at the dinner table, homemade food displayed for the two of you on your anniversary. he wants to leave, but he’s at his own damn apartment. of course he had to set everything up at his own apartment. hyuck sighs, a shakey sound escaping. he can’t stand being around you anymore. he doesn’t want to even breathe the same air as you anymore.

“can you go?” hyuck spits out, the words harsh and painful. you wanted to talk to him, stick by his side. you couldn’t lose him, not when you’re so close.

“hyuck-” you try to talk to him, try to explain that you maybe you were close, but you were too late. way too late.

“i really can’t stand to hear it right now, y/n. i just know it’s going to hurt my feelings even more, and i can’t stand this anymore. i’ve waited long enough to be loved, to feel loved. i can’t keep doing this.”

his words struck like lightning. he addressed the huge elephant in the room like it was nothing, and you were surprised. you could feel a cold sweat burning down your spine, licking your lips as you slowly raise out of your seat. you take a look at hyuck and see him tightly clutching the sides of the table, as if to restrain himself. it was so painful to see.

you could feel your heart breaking as you realized you were just starting to love him.

you could never tell him that, it would only make things worse. he deserves better. someone he doesn’t have to wait on for so long, someone who can give him everything he needs. no matter how badly he may want you, he can never get what he needs out of you. you could tell it was exhausting him, the bags under his eyes giving it away.

“i.. i’m sorry.” you say softly.

hyuck scoffs, “yeah, me too.”

you can feel the anger, the tension. and hyuck was angry. he was so, so mad. why couldn’t anyone love him? why was he never enough for anybody? was he too much? did he give too much?

who gave him such a big heart? who let him have his heart on his sleeve the way it was?

hyuck doesn’t bother leaving the table to walk you out the door, only sitting at his seat in silence. he stares blankly, tears falling helplessly once he hears his own front door shut. lately, breaking down seemed to be his thing.

you’re sorry.

you’re fucking sorry.

hyuck scoffs again. what a shit apology. what a shit way of ending things.

hyuck gave you everything. he gave you his heart, presents, everything you need, flowers, chocolates, a shoulder to lean on when you cried, a friendship and relationship that wasn’t comparable to others. maybe his ego was too high. but he knows he loved you with everything he could. he loved you the best way he knew how, and he wondered every second of his time with you on why that wasn’t enough.

why was his love never enough?

hyuck falls asleep with tears in his eyes that night, his chest so heavy it weighs him down. breaking apart from you was like breaking apart a half of him. you were the only thing keeping him going day by day. and as the days go by without you, it only gets worse.

nothing will ever be the same for him.

he won’t love the way he loved you. he knows this.

hyuck sighs.

he got rid of everything in his apartment that reminded him of you. he couldn’t even stand the thought of you anymore. he was going through the stages of grief, and right now he was angry. everything about you seemed to piss him off.

he wished things ended better, but he knew there wasn’t really a good way to end an unrequited love. especially when hyuck was so bitter about the whole situation.

it’s been weeks without you, and the hole never seems to go away. the aching never seems to dull. the pain never seems to stop. all he can think of was the good memories. the good memories that were tainted by hyuck’s bitterness.

how could things end the way they did?

hyuck sips his coffee, the silence of his apartment filling the room. he was without you. the silence devouring him and making him into a new person. a bitter, cold person.

he loved you so, so much.

he just hopes you know how dear you were to him after all that time. even if he didn’t want to admit it, you would always be special to him. you would always have a place in his heart.

but, at the end of the day, hyuck was good for you.

and you were bad for him.

a/n: thank you for reading! this series means a lot to me. they’re all based on some previous experiences. i hope everyone enjoys this series as much as i did.

[anqeluv]

thinking about haechan pavlov’s dogging you into becoming more of a masochist by hurting you a little bit every time he eats you out: biting your clit as you cum or tying your wrists just a little too tight, so they ache every time you move; edging you and slapping your pussy every time he pulls away.

“mm, my pretty baby,” he rubs his thumb across your clit, his other hand skimming your breast as he does it. his fingers find one of your nipples, pinching hard enough to make you cry out. “do you like it when i hurt you?”

[hall0ween-twn]

pairing: hybrid!donghyuck x gn reader x hybrid!mark

word count: 152

tags: smut. threesome. hand job. rim job. pegging.

donghyuck thought he was going to cum right then and there once he sunk onto your strap, moaning as the tip went in. his cock twitched, watching you flick your wrist on mark’s cock, the cheetah hybrid sitting on your face. the bear hybrid whined, his body shaking as he went deeper. 

you grabbed onto the flesh of mark’s ass, moaning and lifting your hips, your strap pushing farther up into donghyuck as he slumped onto mark’s shoulder. he closed his eyes, lips parted as he panted, everything felt too overwhelming. you shoved your tongue into mark’s rim, your pussy clenching around nothing when both hybrids started to ride on you.

mark wrapped his arms around donghyuck as your hand went faster on his cock, both of their bodies shook uncontrollably. high pitched whines, bodies slapping against yours, it was only a matter of time before they came undone all over you.

[theficblog]

FREESIAS AND FROCKS

LEE HAECHAN

Prologue: You can let go of things, but not a childhood love too pure. It will find it’s way back to you somehow. 

Genre: Angst + Yandere + Childhood lovers AU

Wordcount: 987

Prompts: “I gave you my heart, you weren't supposed to give it back.”

Warnings: Yandere

The pleasant, sweet, and sharp scent of the green grass mixed with the flowery smells of the yellow and purple freesias. The spring breeze swept past your body, making the unruly toddler hair a mess. At that time, this world was too big for you. You were just a little girl. 

"These are for you." The little boy handed you a bunch of those flowers, his eyes fixed on the ground. The yellow ones that matched your yellow frock.

-

It was the same boy years later, asking you out to that popular song from your tweens, that's what everyone at middle school was doing. Things felt like forever. 

"I can't wait for the day we'll both be grownups." You said to the boy, walking hand in hand, in another spring sunset some years later, sipping on the soda pops.

-

The high school furniture held the carvings of your initials, inside a heart, leaving traces of your love, marking it forever.

That one photo for the yearbook, that recorded two kids in matching red and white striped shirts that read "Highschool Sweethearts". Everyone knew what it was. 

Even though each one of you would fly like a freed pigeon after this, one thing was going to keep floating in the air forever, yours and Haechan's love. 

-

Nothing lasts forever, even if we think so. 

Humans, they never keep their promises. 

They can't be trusted.

You can't be trusted. 

-

"But everything you do makes my heart race. I can't even think straight"

The store blasted out hip music. The place was too lively, well, it had to be if this was where the college freshers hung out. It smelled of coffee, it smelled of freshly printed papers, and it smelled of that cafeteria sandwich. 

Getting here was hard for you, but all those sleepless nights, those breakdowns, and those burnouts were totally worth it all.

"Wish you'd let me stay, I'm ready now" These lyrics floated in the background.

"Heart on your sleeve like you've never been loved. Running in circles, now look what you've done." 

Your friend Renjun hummed as he rummaged through the CDs section in the back aisle of the store, trying to find just the one he wanted. You met him only at the start of this year, but this friendship bloomed quickly. "Do you think we'll be able to make it in time for the biology lecture? Not at this speed." You nagged at him.

"Y/N?" It was the voice that made you freeze on the spot. It was his voice. 

"Hae-hae-chan?" You turned around, only to see the boy with those brown gleaming eyes and those pouty lips. Oh! How badly you've missed them.

"You forgot I existed?" His words were sharp, like a dagger.

"You got so busy with your life you forgot me?" He questioned you again, not giving you any time to defend yourself.

"Listen, Haechan.." You stammered, trying to find words that could describe your condition, but they just seemed to not exist in any language at that moment.

He stepped closer, grabbing your wrist with his hand, the same hands that once intertwined their fingers with yours. 

Your friend got up and stepped into the scene, CDs were not his only priority. "Excuse me? What do you think you are doing?" He pointed out your wrist, which was now visibly red due to Haechan's tight grip. It was hurting and tears were forming in your eyes, however not due to the physical pain. 

"Renjun, I'll see you at the lecture." You announced, asking for his leave. 

"But-"

"Please, I'll see you there." He nodded with concerned eyes before he eventually left. 

"Did that hurt you? Are you okay Y/N?" Haechan gasped, gently stroking his fingers on your damaged wrist. His eyes were no longer full of that resentment, he was back to looking like that little boy again.

"Hold my hand as tight as you need to." You stated with a bland voice, lacking all emotions.

"Every time I try to fix something, I just make it worse." He commented with a little giggle, not out of any happiness though.

These were emotions that did not know how to express themselves.

"This is what your selfishness did." You helped him with an answer. 

"Was I selfish? Was it me?" Haechan questioned, lifting your chin up, making your eyes meet his. "You just left me behind, did my love not mean anything to you at all?" His eyes were shimmering with the liquid, tears. 

"Your love could not pay off my bills Haechan!" You screamed. You knew how hard it was for you. You knew how hard it was when the other kids flaunted and flexed, things had always been easy for them, but never for you. Never once. You did not want to leave him, but you were desperate, for both him and stable financial life. You had to choose, you had to. 

"I gave you my heart. You weren’t supposed to give it back." You let him know. Tears were streaming down your cheeks. The only thing in view was him, everything else seemed to be fading away. 

You pulled your hand away, ready to take your leave.

"Please don't leave me here." He pleaded, his voice breaking. You knew if there was one thing he would never give up on, it was you. His heart only belonged to you, and yours to him. It had always been him, it had to be him. 

You turned back again. Looking at that boy, with his eyes fixed on the ground. There were no yellow freesias and frocks today. He lifted his gaze, slowly.

Everything was slow. The windchimes, the flipping pages, the chit-chats, everything was in slow-mo, just like a movie.

You ran back to him, smiling through those tears. He held his arms open, just like his heart. This was where you belonged. 

SONG IN THE FIC: Friends - Chase Atlantic

TAGS:  @nightfalls-teddy

LET ME KNOW YOUR VIEWS + ALSO SEE : MASTERLIST

PLEASE REFRAIN FROM PLAGIARIZING ,TRANSLATING, OR POSTING OUTSIDE THIS PLATFORM.  

[catboyieejeno]

texts ; lee donghyuck (˵ •̀ ᴗ - ˵)✧

pictures bf! hyuck sends you of himself

‧₊˚ ☁️⋅♡𓂃 ࣪ ִֶָ

masterlist

[aesthyuckic]

🎃🎭 catch me! ┊͙✧˖*°࿐

“Catch me if you can!” You taunted the masked man before making a run for it.

Immediately you felt regret, you were never much of a runner and now you were falling down darkened, unfamiliar hallways not completely sure where to go. You always wondered how the one trying to get away would also trip when the killers had the disadvantage.

It was over before it begun, as you barged into a room you practically cornered yourself. The man was right behind and felt warm hands grip your waist before you ended up pin against the wall by the other body while his hands had a firm grip on your wrist which he also pinned above your head.

“Got ya.” He whispered, close enough to your ear you felt a chill run down your spine as you gasped for air as your heart beat quickly.

You managed to get your wrists out of his grip, one hand went the nape of his neck while the other lifted the mask just enough to show the man’s plump, pink lips which you found your own on in the matter of seconds.

He melted quite quickly with the way his hands felt to your waist to bring you both closer together. The way he kissed, it was full of hunger yet so passionate at the same time. It was tempting to just continue making out right there as pulling apart, gasping for air was painful.

You could see smudges of the red lipstick you wore smear across his mouth that now smiled brightly under the orange lighting of the haunted house before he took of his mask, swiftly.

“Good?” He asked, with a smile on his face.

“Always, Hyuck.” You smiled back, wrapping your arms around his neck to leave a little peck on his lips.

Thank god your boyfriend, Donghyuck always got a job as a scare actor around this time of year so you could do this little thing of yours yearly for the entire spooky season he knew you adored so much. He had his own fun with it but truly, he’d do anything for you to be happy. Seeing you almost skip happily out of his shift made him fall in love with the season more. He probably fall more in love with you too if that was even possible.

[haechwrites]

two winners - L.DH

idol!lee donghyuck x gn!reader (first person)

synopsis: haechan has ideas when the boys are gone

wc: ~1.1k

warnings: suggestive ish, not really. idk how to write smut

A/N: this is just a blurb tbh but i wanted to thank you guys for the attention on my first work hehe <3 also this is written in first person!! as most of my works will be in the future, so i hope that's okayyy

⋆ ˚｡⋆୨୧˚ :･ﾟ✧:･ﾟ✧

“okay, we’ll see you guys in a few hours. you sure you don’t want us to bring any food back?”

fully engrossed in the ending of the movie, i let haechan reply and he tells mark that we’re okay. while i was trying to piece together the last few clues before the movie reveals who the killer is, haechan is anxiously bouncing his leg as the rest of the boys leave. i put my hand on his knee and rub soothingly, thinking the movie is just exciting him. after he hears the sound of the lock, he launches himself off the couch and my hand is long forgotten.

“jesus christ, you scared me! sit back down, we’re about to find out who the killer is,” i groaned, tugging at his wrist and trying to look past his body at the screen.

“no time!” he announces. “come with me to my room.”

tearing my eyes away from the TV, i stare at him in shock as he races to his door, not bothering to check if i were following. part of me wanted to whine again until i put the pieces together myself. the boys are out? he wants me to come to his room? my heart started to race at the thought of what we were going to do, and i giggled to myself. quickly wiping the popcorn salt off my hands, i scrambled to grab the remote to turn off the TV. with a hop in my step, i scurried to his room.

and there he was standing… with a board game in his hands. he’s grinning from ear to ear and shaking the newly sealed box in my face. i look at him dumbfounded, about to protest and trudge back to the living room.

“i found a new game at the store the other day and i’ve been waiting to play it with you.” he plopped down on his rug and savagely tore open the packaging. standing there with a pout, i watched the excitement pour out of him as he sets up the game next to my socked feet. haechan whacks my calf to get me to sit down and i oblige with a huff. so this is what he wanted to do.

“and you wanted to play this while the boys were gone?”

he looked up and i gave him my best half smile, trying not to ruin his fun, even though i was hoping to have some fun myself tonight…

he sneered as he set up the board, “the hyungs like to steal my game pieces so that they don’t have to play with me.”

i couldn’t help the chuckle that left my lips and i gave in, picking up the instruction manual.

“oh my poor hyuck,” i coo, cupping his cheek.

he quickly pecked my palm and shrugged it away, “okay, game time.”

i roll my eyes and prepare myself for the natural competitiveness i was about to witness. he animatedly rubbed his hands together and briefly explained the game. without any time to waste, we started the first round.

i tried to be as invested as possible for his sake, even though the pit of my stomach had been dying for something more… exciting. and a little more active. i glanced at his lips as his tongue peeked out to wet them while he focused intensely on his next move. fumbling with my game piece, i cleared my throat and tried to snap myself out of it.

haechan looked up at me to check if i was alright, or to see if i was having as much fun as him, and i gave him my best smile. he saw right through it but he shook it off. i watched his hair bounce and noticed that one side was flat from laying on the couch earlier. i held myself back from wanting to run my hands through it. can i not play a game with my boyfriend without wanting to jump his bones?

after about half an hour, all hopes of doing something more had left my brain and i was as fully engrossed in the game as he was. i took off my sweater since it got warm in his room with my matched game spirit and tossed it on his bed. it was his anyways. doing a quick arm stretch above my head, haechan looked up from the board to see the bottom of my tank top lift.

“uh your move,” he blurted, suddenly completely flustered and fully aware of how good his significant other looked sitting in front of him.

“oh shoot, my bad,” i chewed on my lip as i thought about my next move, twiddling the piece between my fingers.

haechan shifted in his spot, watching my mouth a little too closely, but i was too focused on my game strategy to notice.

my eyes lit up when i figured out my next move, and i leaned over the board to place my next piece. my hand fell in front of his crotch to place it down and i smiled at what i thought was a really smart decision on my part. i looked up at his face, hoping to see haechan defeatedly staring at the board but he was already looking at me, only an inch away. the usual warm, honey brown in his eyes was a deep, darker shade. i almost flinched.

the look etched on his face was completely different than earlier too. there was no way his mind was on the game anymore. at this point, i realized how close i was to his face and how my body was hovering the board.

“haechan?” i whispered, trying to break his trance.

“mm?” he responded, only breaking eye contact to quickly glance down at my mouth.

“do you still wanna play?” i hold back a laugh, already knowing his answer.

he shook his head slowly but in an assured away. i smiled wide at his response and flicked the game pieces off the board before crossing to straddle his lap. i wasted no time in hooking my arms around his neck and he instinctively wrapped his around my waist. i hummed in satisfaction, finally getting my hands in his hair. the familiar buzz in my body returned.

“you know, when you asked me to come to your room when the guys left, this is what i thought we were gonna do,” i teased.

he tossed his head back and laughed, “this was probably a better idea.” he pulled me closer and swiftly pushed the board game to the side.

i lean in and ghost my lips over his. “i think so too,” i whisper before giving him a long awaited kiss.

“i was gonna win anyways," we both say at the same time.

[hwaflms]

𐙚˙⋆.˚ nct dream reaction to you touching yourself!

‧₊˚ 💭 ✩彡 , , 2.5k, smut under the cut [cw: masturbation, degradation, voyeurism, fingering, very mild dubcon in jaemin’s, nudes, allusions to phone sex, established relationship in most, i think that’s it]

♡ mark . . . the poor baby had just gotten back from practice and was nearing the bedroom door when he heard some sounds of what he thought was you in pain or distress. being the sweet boyfriend he was, he hurriedly went to open the door, but the sight that greeted him was certainly not one he was expecting. you were laid out on the bed, your pants pulled only halfway off your legs as if you were too desperate to even bother taking them off fully, a hand stuffed in your underwear as you threw your head back and let out the prettiest sounds, looking so blissful and fucked out. your eyes shot open at the disturbance that was mark's arrival, the light blush coating your cheeks nothing in comparison to the bright, tomato-red one that decorated his. "fuck, um– i'm sorry, lemme just– i'm just gonna go", he mumbles his way into the bathroom, bumping into the door while trying to enter, but you both knew he looked for too long. now what was he supposed to do? it's not like that godly an image of you is going to leave his head anytime soon, no, of course not, he wouldn't be able to stop thinking about it for days, weeks, months even. sprawled out on the bed like that, lips parted and letting out such dirty, magical sounds– fuck, he couldn't help letting his hand travel into his pants in a similar fashion to you. before he knew it, he was jerking himself off to the thought of you (something he had definitely done before, but he had some wonderful new material now), pumping his cock up and down while his breathing became laboured, but in all his haste and pleasure, he had "forgotten" to lock the door. "um, need a little help there?"

♡ renjun . . . you thought renjun texting you “pleaseee baby, come over tn” meant that the two of you would spend time together until you eventually fell asleep, which did happen for a while until your boyfriend excused him to go play “one game with the boys”. though you rolled your eyes at him, you were fine with him playing a game or two, figuring you could just be on your phone for a bit. you weren’t, however, expecting to be sat on your phone for over an hour, with renjun now having his headphones on (you don’t know what the point was, though, you could still hear all the slurs being shouted mutedly from them). “renjun”, you grouched, but he doesn’t even turn to face you. “if you wanna leave me for a man, just say that.” he does laugh at this, but he pleads “one last one”, making you sigh and slump back down on the bed. you had chosen the pretty, new lace underwear you had bought the other day to wear tonight, but now you’re too salty to let him take it off you. deciding to take matters into your own hands, you shimmy out of your shorts, rubbing circles over your underwear with your eyes trained on his back. if he was too busy to touch you, what’s stopping you from doing it yourself? you try and fail to stifle your moans with your arm as you slip your hand into your underwear, rubbing your clit for a moment before dipping your fingers into your entrance. “renjun…”, you call out again, but both of you know it sounds different this time, and he glances over his shoulder at you. it’s almost comical the way he does a double take, pushing his headphones off of one ear, to get a clear look at you. slowly but surely, the tips of his ears and cheeks are dusted with red, but his eyes still shyly observe the hand concealed by your underwear. “oh…”, he sounds out while you throw your head back and whine, his headphones now fully off and you could hear whoever he was on call with distantly calling out “renjun? renjun, what the fuck we’re losing?” he shuts off his computer screen without even looking at it, getting up and slowly walking over to you, sinking down on the edge of the bed. “you just gonna sit there or you gonna help me?”, you grumble, but his eyes don’t miss the way your hips buck up. “wanna watch.”

♡ jeno . . . you swear you had meant to wait for him to return, you had tried your best to busy yourself while jeno was at schedules. he had told you the exact time that he would return, no earlier, no later, than 7:30 p.m. and there he was, promptly unlocking your front door at 7:29 p.m., expecting you to be reading a book in your room, or baking brownies-for-one in your underwear in the kitchen. he definitely wasn’t expecting the sight that greeted him. he had given you one rule for when he was away at work, to “not touch what’s mine”, one simple rule. you seemed eager enough to please him before he left, so he certainly wasn’t expecting to hear moans coming from the kitchen. he watches you for all of five seconds, back facing him with one hand disappearing into the waistband of your shorts, head thrown back a little as you leaned against the counter. “what are you doing?”, the sharp, gruff way in which he says it make you stop immediately, yanking your hand out of your shorts and holding it behind you. it was one thing if you were pleasuring yourself in the bedroom, but right out here? in the kitchen? jeno promptly walks over to you, reaching over and clasping the hand behind your back tightly, jerking it over to him. your fingers all but glisten when held under the ceiling light, and your cheeks redden at the short “pathetic” he spits while looking at you. not breaking the heavy eye contact, he closes his lips over your two fingers, swirling his tongue around them before releasing them with a ‘pop!’. the next thing you know, your face is being pressed against the cold granite surface of the counter hard, while jeno’s other hand holds both your wrists together behind your back. “you know how to count, right?”, he asks demeaningly, and while he lets go of your head, your cheek is still pressed against the counter so hard you can see the condensation form as you breath, nodding your head before he yanks your shorts down with such force that you can still feel the burn on your hips five seconds later. he places the palm of his hand flat against your ass, pulling your underwear up to reveal more flesh. “i’m gonna show you what happens to whores when they don’t follow a simple rule.”

♡ haechan . . . “well, well, well," you could practically hear the smirk in his voice, tone dripping, pouring with desire, just sounding so sultry. your eyes shot open at the sound of him, squealing shortly and rushing to cover yourself up with the blanket. "what do we have here?", he cooed from the door, one foot in front of the other and a hand placed against the doorframe, leaning against it. "f-fuck off, hyuck", you replied breathlessly, cheeks dusted with pink due to your embarrassment and also the rush you were feeling from touching yourself. he wasn't supposed to be back so early, you thought you were going to be alone for a little while longer; clearly you were wrong. "fuck off? did you mean 'fuck me'?", he drawled, letting out a half scoff and half chuckle, slowly sauntering towards you. “why don’t you show me what you were doing there?”, his suggestion sounds more like an order, and its like you lose the ability to think when he reaches over you to lead the hand straying away from your pussy right back, inclining his head to the side expectantly. under his urging, watchful eyes, you continue your previous actions, eyes widening when hyuck lets out an almost pornographic moan at the sight. sinking your fingers deeper into yourself, you whimper out of pure frustration from the fact that these were your fingers instead of his, and you swear you are almost in tears when he says, “stop”. he’s quick to replace your fingers with his own, coating his digits in your wetness before pumping two into you without any warning. “think you can give me three? maybe four orgasms?”, he cooes, tutting when you shake your head ‘no’. “i think we’re gonna find out.”

♡ jaemin . . . “aren’t you sweet?”, to say hearing your roommate jeno’s friend’s sultry voice startled you would be an understatement, fully believing you were home alone when you started pleasuring yourself. “jaemin– what the fuck–”, a blushing, bumbling mess, you’re quick to yank your blanket over your partially naked body, not knowing how long he’d been standing there watching you or how he had gotten into your house in the first place, choosing to ask about the latter first. “how the fuck did you get in? and did no one ever teach you how to knock?”. tilting his head to the side, jaemin raises his eyebrows but makes no efforts to hide the way his eyes scanned over your blanket-covered body, tracing your hips, collarbones, legs with his gaze. “jeno gave me the keys. and that’s not fair, the door wasn’t shut. besides, you called me”, he replies coolly, taking a step into the room but leaving the door wide open, as if you invited him in. “i heard you call my name in that pretty little voice of yours, but i thought you were hurt. didn’t think you were fucking yourself with your fingers to the thought of me.” you move to further cover yourself up as he walks closer to you, embarrassed out of your mind that he both heard you moan his name and watched you touch yourself. but what he does next really has you shocked– eyes never leaving yours, his hand snakes over to his pant-covered cock, gripping it with a satisfied hiss, a smirk curving on his lips when he sees your look of surprise and…desire??? “you see how hard i am for you, pretty?”, he all but moans out and you do see, the outline of his cock straining against the material of his sweatpants and making your mouth almost water at the thought of it. without another word, he’s in front of you, pulling his raging boner free from his pants. “what do you say we give jeno a little show when he comes back?”

♡ chenle . . . “damn, you started without me?” after enjoying the dinner you had cooked for the two of you, you suggested taking a shower together before slipping into bed to watch a show. following the routine that you had wherein one of you would cook and the other would clean, chenle grabbed your plate and his, placing them in the sink and telling you that he’ll be there in about ten minutes after he finished washing the dishes. figuring you could just get undressed and enjoy the extra space in the shower before your boyfriend joined you, you opted to start without him, but leaving the door unlocked for him. the second the hot water hits your body, you are relaxed, letting it soak your hair and cover your body. you trail your hands along your body to further spread the water, but soon you can’t ignore the dull thud coming from your core when you reach your inner thighs. grazing your fingers against yourself and testing the waters, you slowly begin your ministrations, spreading your folds with more intent now. another two minutes in and you’re blatantly touching yourself, head resting against the glass of the shower, steam engulfing its expanse while you sigh out of bliss. chenle, having left the dishes to dry, decided to join you, ridding himself of his clothes and finding the bathroom door to be partially open. when he’s greeted by the sight of you, your back is facing him, but it doesn’t take a genius to understand what you were doing. when you finally hear his voice, you look over your shoulder in surprise and slight embarrassment, but that is soon replaced with pure lust when your eyes mirror the look in his. “thought i’d get a head start”, you offer, slowly picking up the pace with your hand. “is that so?”, he muses, placing his hand over yours but not stopping your actions. “we both know that i can make you cum much faster than you can.”

♡ jisung . . . when you first started dating your boyfriend jisung, you didn’t realise just how much time you’d be spending on your own. if he wasn’t away at practices, he was busy filming various videos and content, so a large portion of your day was spent waiting for him. this was not to say you were unsatisfied with your relationship, you still got to spend time with him and when you did, it was time well spent. all you were saying is that you got a little lonely and bored at times, and that would explain why you were currently standing by the sink, debating whether you should hit send. you had just finished taking a couple photos of yourself during a moment of confidence and horniness and now they sat in the message bar of yours and jisung’s dms, waiting to be sent. you and jisung had gone there multiple times, but nudes were unexplored territory, yet you thought, fuck it, and hit send. even though you know he’s busy, it doesn’t take long before the ‘delivered’ changes to a ‘seen’, and you watch as the typing bubbles appear and disappear a number of times. after five minutes or so, you’re starting to worry and overthink, biting your lip when you see that jisung is now trying to call you. you pick up and play it off with as much confidence as you can, but jisung sounds the opposite– breathing heavy and voice quiet, like he’s trying to make sure no one hears him, and you hear the sound of a lock clicking. “why would you– are you–”, he blubbers, clearly at a loss for words and you can just picture him, cheeks coated with a sheen of red, eyes wide and mouth opening and closing. “what are you doing right now?”, he asks in a goofy manner and you can’t help your chuckle at the sound of his shy voice, cooing into the speaker. “i was missing you, sungie…”, you mewl, positively beaming when you hear him audibly gulp. “was thinking about you.” his breathing quickens and he mumbles “thinking of me?”, before he clears his throat. “what about me?” you smile at his inability to balance his shyness and desire, and you tell him what you were thinking about, soon hearing the telltale sound of a zipper being pulled down.

[lustbile]

what do you think of panty thief haechan? like, he's so nasty that one day you're sleeping with a skirt on only to wake up with your panties missing bcs haechan's using it to jerk off.

I feel like with most panty thief concepts it’s just him stealing them from the laundry, but him stealing them straight from your body,,, im so obsessed with that. but I also raise you, waking up with not only your panties missing, but him jacking himself off with them as he stands next to your sleeping body. and when you finally wake up he just beams when he sees you in your groggy confusion, pouting up at him and taking a moment to really understand what he’s doing. shifting until your feel how suddenly bare you are and giving him your best sleepy puppy dog eyes and he gets himself off with the meanest grin on his face, before he starts telling you how pretty you are that he just couldn’t help himself

[tddyhyck]

perv!hyuck who… [ l.dh ]

pairing ⇢ pervert!hyuck x gen!reader (no pronouns used but panties and skirts mentioned)

warnings ⇢ 18+, filming, photos, jerking off, NIPPLE RING HYUCK, cum eating, guided masturbation, voyeurism, exhibitionism, cuck vibes, toys mentioned, just general pervyness

a/n ⇢ i’m back hehe.

masterlist

perv!hyuck who steals panties every time he’s over or takes them off of you he has a growing collection in his car and his room

perv!hyuck who “accidentally” calls while he’s jerking off and moaning your name

perv!hyuck who shoves his hand down his pants right in front of you saying he just can’t help himself staring right into your eyes when he cums on the floor

perv!hyuck who walks in on you in the shower peeking behind the curtain and jerks off while he watches you lather up

perv!hyuck who jerks off while you’re driving cumming in his fist after whining about how sexy you are when you drive not caring about any passing cars seeing him

perv!hyuck who fucks you in the dirty bar bathroom because he can’t wait and somehow the smell of cigarettes and the sticky walls covered in writing make him cum even harder

perv!hyuck who never draws the curtains letting all the light and wandering eyes in while he fucks you

perv!hyuck who grinds against you in public to the point of cumming his pants

perv!hyuck who wants to get a fleshlight molded to your pussy because nothing compares to the way you feel

perv!hyuck who likes to get you mad at him so you can degrade him because it makes him hard when pretty people are mean to him

perv!hyuck who got hard when he got his nipples pierced and will cum if you touch them too long

perv!hyuck who likes eating you out after filling you with his cum

perv!hyuck who fantisizes about his own friends fucking you while you both degrade him

perv!hyuck who makes you stand in front of him while he sits behind you on the subway and takes up skirt photos of you he’s mastered the phone angle so each shot is perfectly centered on your cunt and he begs you to not wear panties so he can get a better view

perv!hyuck who begs you to talk him through jerking off he wants precise directions from you for every touch

© tddyhyck

[gyeomsweetgyeom]

[7:21 am]

(cw: f!reader, a child, "shit")

Haechan shuffled back into the room tiredly. His hair was a mess, his pajama pants were rolled up to his knee on one side and normal on the other, he was missing a sock, and he could hardly see clearly due to him still stuck in the awake but so close to being asleep state. The baby on his hip, on the other hand, was very much the opposite. His eyes were wide, a happy smile on his face as he caught sight of you on the bed, leaning forward with his arms outstretched for your attention.

Haechan set him on the bed gently and watched his son quickly crawl over the sheets to be in your embrace. "Good morning sunshine! Did you sleep well?" You asked with a soft and tired smile, pushing your son's hair from his eyes.

Despite his lack of speech he smiled widely, pulling his pacifier from his mouth to place a wet kiss on your chin. You laughed brightly and cupped his cheeks, "I love you too sunshine," and then you placed a kiss on his chubby cheek. You kept him in your hold while you turned the tv on to some cartoons at a low volume in case Haechan still wanted to sleep.

He laid there for a while, hoping sleep would soon find him again, but it didn't. He sighed loudly, rolling to face his little family and pulling you into his hold while his eyes focused on the cartoon dogs on the screen. He placed an arm around your shoulder and the other arm on his son's belly, patting it gently. Without looking at his dad, his son quickly pushed the hand away from him and pulled your arm over him.

"What makes you so special?" Haechan whined.

You scoffed with a laugh, "I birthed him, hello!"

"But I'm his dad."

"And I'm his mom, he's just my baby mama's boy," you cooed as you wrapped your arms around your baby and hugged him lovingly.

Haechan knew he was a jealous person. He was jealous when you were both only dating, he hated to see when other people would make you laugh or talk to you for extended periods of time. Not because he was insecure in your relationship, no. He was jealous that your attention wasn't on him. His jealously had thankfully lessened after getting married. Two calm and blissful years of love and enjoying one another, until the baby came along. Haechan would never admit he was jealous of his son, his own flesh and blood, but... he was.

Haechan pouted, "You're both so mean to me! My son and my wife, that's a pair. And me? I'm all alone, ostracized in my own home with the people I love."

You laughed, leaning over to press a kiss to his cheek, "You know we love you."

His pout stayed on his face, "another."

You smiled placing a series of kisses on his cheek, "better?"

He smiled triumphantly, leaning forward to place a single kiss on your mouth. It was innocent, sweet, and lasted all of 3 seconds before he heard a whine and a small hand hit his cheek.

He pulled away with wide eyes, looking at the scarily identical pout on his son's face. He tested the waters again, placing a chaste kiss on your mouth again only to then see his son turn and climb up until his head was right beside your so he could block his dad.

"I can't even believe this right now, I have to be having a nightmare." Haechan stated, shocked.

He leaned in for another kiss and was stopped with a baby sized shove to his cheek and a whine. He tried to go over his son's head and again another whine and a tiny hand stopped him. You scolded him, "You're antagonizing him, stop." You pulled your son to your chest pressing a kiss to the top of his head.

Haechan maintained eye contact with his son and gasped at the sneaky smile shot his way, "You little shit!"

You shot your arm out and hit his shoulder, "don't use those words around my baby."

Haechan continued to stare at his son, "Sometimes I question if this kid is even mine, but he acts just like me. I guess it's settled."

You scoffed loudly, "I birthed your clone, who is identical to you in every way: possessive, loud, looks, and personality and you questioned if he was yours?"

"You forgot that we're both obsessed with you," Haechan added.

You rolled your eyes, smiling softly when your son's hold on your shirty tightened, "That was the possessive part."

+BONUS

yourusername

Liked by leehaechan, suh.johnny, nayuta, and 131 others

yourusername good morning from sunshine!☀️💛

moon_taeil Good Morning Sunshine🫶

leehaechan my SONshine🤩🥰

marklee so we’re going to act like you didn’t call me and complain about him 10 minutes ago?

yourusername TEN minutes????!

ddoyoung he called me for at LEAST 15 to tell me his “SONshine” was stealing his wife

yourusername Lee Donghyuck.

leehaechan thanks a lot guys marklee ddoyoung