#i switched from korean back to chinese a while ago but now i switched back to korean again LMFAO

[enden-k]

undefined

alrighty, heres all languages for you guys!! i cropped out the whole picking/submitting food after the first one, i just gave them the same dishes (golden crab, lotus flower crisp and bamboo shoot soup) like 4 times lmfao

[fouryearsofshades]

Hanfu movement is about MODERN ethnic clothing. What is the authentic “han” clothing? Who is going to decide for everyone? There are millions of Chinese around the world. Who could say something and everyone would follow? You? Me? The China government? Come on the moment China government said something it will be on the news that a totalitarian regime is mandating how people should dress.

Korean, Japan, Vietnam and England did not have such a tragic discontinuation of wearing their style when they all have their “modernization” period of pain. Also, have you considered the amount of Chinese involved in the situation? Also the geographical differences, the culture background and the resulted fashion preference of those people? Having only one (1) style of clothing actually is not the norm. Like the Dai people could have very different clothing depending on their villages. And the related Thai women in Thailand have at least... 7 different blouses? And those are modern invention too. Less than 100 years.

I live in a country where wearing traditional clothing, at least for women (pretty sure this is a relic from the colonialism period - men wore the European clothes while the women wore the ethnic clothes to show “fusion”, “respect” etc.), is very normal, even for work. For example, Indians. What is the traditional clothing of an Indian woman? A sari, you may say. But in my experience, most people don’t wear sari to work. I asked my teacher why. She said she did not like showing the waist. I only had one colleague who regularly wears Sari to work. But she is also a priest. Also I am quite sure that she only wears Sari when she is going to the temple on that day. What does the other wear usually?  Usually they wear a tunic plus a trousers. There are many many many different types of tunic and I did not follow them. Each type of tunic are most likely came from different region (so the bottom to match is actually slightly different, but again, I did not follow). I remember back in high school, once they showed about 20 different types of Indian clothing, each from different regions, or different kingdoms historically. And that was put together by one (1) schoolmate. I am sure there is much more variants in Indian traditional clothing.

In addition, clothing from each dynasty reflected their characteristics. And modern Chinese needs something that reflect them. So why stick to a dynasty when you have so many to chose from? Looking back at different periods of time was also what people did back in the days (Ming dynasty), but they did not have the technology nor the archeological discoveries that we can access nowadays. Also people from different regions have different needs. Certain styles would be more prominent in certain regions.  And those not suitable for people will fall into disuse.  Like, quju was rather popular a decade ago, but only a handful of people are into it now, because the construction of the clothing does not match modern needs.

So forming a modern Han clothing is still an ongoing process. It has only been, like, 20 years? It takes time to come to a conscious. Many people just started to wear hanfu recently. It takes time to build up their taste and wardrobe. Historically, it took a few decades for Ming dynasty to settle into their own style. Chill. People will come to a conclusion. Give them time. Give yourself time.

If one don’t want to sit it up one could always wear the cheongsam. Even then there are so many different cuts to choose from. XP   There is also non-cheongsam Chinese traditional clothing but people probably don’t recognize them and only really old grannies wear them nowadays. And most of them switched to buttons, at least in my region.

On the other hand, please consider cultivating your own social experience. And only hang out with friends or circles that decided on the style you also liked. I know there are people who are firmly focus on late late Ming style. There are also a lot of events and gatherings that are style-limited. YOU CAN MAKE YOUR OWN CALL. Don’t let the others decide for you. If you wear hanfu, you are one of the movement. Development your own circle if you like certain style. Consider becoming an influencer if you want people to follow your way. (Also, some people are only in for the money and know no shit about hanfu. So beware.)

Lastly, the online filter bubble is actually very strong if one picks the right people to follow. Like, a couple months ago I asked my friend what did she think about the fashion trend this year because I couldn’t see one. She said, definitely heziqun, especially for the newbies. For me, I have seen nearly zero news and updates on heziqun since Qinghuige time because I only followed a selection of people and bots on weibo. Since anyone wearing hanfu as daily wear for a few years knew heziqun is a recent invention (less than 3 years) as the whole structure is ridiculous and tedious to wear, so heziqun isn’t something those people would consider. Therefore I don’t see them on my dash. There were a couple of beidaiqun. Meh. Tang style is a wild place. Don’t go into Tang style if you want 100% historical accurate style. Or don’t even go into general hanfu fashion but only follow that handful of research and reconstruction blogs.

TLDR: There is no one that has the authenticity in Hanfu Movement to decide what specific style people should stick to. Make your own decision and hang out with people of like mind if you don’t want to see a variation of styles appearing in one place.

[unforth]

Danmei Raws of Titles Censored/Removed by JJWXC

About two months ago, @celestialsilhouette, who knew I did fandom archival work, contacted me to ask if I'd help archive works that JJWXC had blocked by adding pirated copies to the Wayback machine. Since then, they, @alisajbrown and I have been working on that since then, as we've had time. Until a month ago Friday (Oct. 29, 2021), we hadn't done more than back up to Wayback, but when word hit that additional titles had been blocked, we switched gears from backing up to also making document copies to archive. But, we confronted the problem: having made these copies - from explicitly pirate sources - what should we do with them? How could we balance being both anti-censorship and anti-piracy (or at least, specifically anti-piracy of content created not-by-horrible-corporations)?

On the one hand, we don't want to contribute to piracy from the authors. So should we not share them?

On the other hand, fuck JJWXC and censorship. So should we share them freely?

On the other other hand, many people (including me) had paid for the raws on JJWXC of titles that are now blocked. So should we only share them with people who could produce proof of payment?

Since then, as we've continued to work, we've talked about the issues, and we've reached the following decision:

We are creating PDF copies of the original Chinese versions of danmei titles that have been removed by JJWXC for censorship purposes (as in: files of the raws, not English fan translations!!). We will share locked, non-copyable, non-downloadable copies of these titles ONLY with people who are willing to e-mail us proof of purchase of at least one version of the work in question.

We think this is the fairest, safest way to balance "anti-censorship" and "anti-piracy." We are determined to support the authors, not undermine them, while also preserving their work. If you aren't interested in doing the same, don't bother getting in touch. If we find out people are cheating this system we will remove the access, period.

1. If you bought titles on JJWXC that are now locked, and your Chinese isn't good enough for you to know how to prove that you purchased them, here's a tutorial on how to access proof of your purchase that I oh-so-conveniently wrote and posted.

2. If you hadn't gotten around to buying the titles you wanted on JJWXC, and they're now locked, you CAN still purchase them - just, in print instead. THIS POST by minmoyu contains lots of information on ways that you can buy physical copies. I personally have used minmoyu's post to help me buy from Books TW, and I wrote a guide on how to use Books TW to buy some of the locked titles.

In order to request a PDF, you must send us a screen capture or a photograph that demonstrates that you've bought the source material in any language (as in: I will accept purchases of the Korean or Vietnamese versions, trad or simplified Chinese, or - for the MXTX - proof of pre-order AND PAYMENT of the English translations). Any purchase proof must include either a log-in name in the screen capture OR a handwritten note with your log-in name that matches or is recognizably similar to the e-mail address from which you write to us. (For example: my username on Tumblr is "unforth." My e-mail name is "unforth6748." If I just wrote "unforth," that's similar enough that it's acceptable proof. If my username was unforth, though, and I sent from my personal account that has a completely different username, that wouldn't work.)

ALL PROOFS OF PURCHASE must include the screen name information indicated above - we must be able to recognize it's "you" by looking at the image/note and comparing it the e-mail address from which you contact us.

For example, here's a JJWXC screen cap of my purchases of Guardian and Tian Guan Ci Fu, with an identifying post-it:

We're deliberately emulating the system that @yukacchi uses for sharing their Guardian translation, and their post includes other screen caps/sample images/examples that match what we will also consider as appropriate proof. You can view that post here. (and, as a side note, Yukacchi is doing something similar with sharing raws - at least I think it's raws? it might be their translations, I'm not sure - though they've only got 2ha and Guardian available. They're accepting purchase of an equivalent value of other titles by the same authors as proof-for-access.)

We are currently accepting the following options as proof of purchase:

a screen capture or photograph of the confirmation of your purchase on JJWXC (the guide linked above explains how you can get that, even for locked titles) + a screen name/hand-written note linking it to your e-mail address username

a photograph of a hand-written note linking you to your e-mail address username next to/on top of/clearly associated with a physical copy of the book you're requested in any language, though if the language isn't Chinese, Japanese (are there official Japanese translations? I don't even know), or English, make sure I can see the cover, cause I can't read Korean, Vietnamese, Russian...yeah basically I can read the Latin alphabet, katakana, hiragana, some kanji, and some hanzi; any other alphabet I can't.

a screen capture or photograph of a receipt for a pre-order of SVSSS, TGCF, or MDZS in English translation. Please obscure all personal information! We do NOT want your name and address, we ONLY need to be able to link the image to the e-mail address from which you're contacting us.

E-mail me at unforth6748 at gmail dot com with your proof of purchase and which title(s) you're asking for, and I will send you links to access the pdf(s). These PDFs cannot be downloaded, copied-and-pasted, or printed. Note that it make take me a few days to get back to you, and my apologies in advance. I'm juggling a lot right now, but I didn't want to leave this unposted any longer (it's been pending for a month).

Making the files is time consuming, especially since we're doing our best to remove the annoying ads that a lot of piracy websites insert in the documents. We can't promise to have excised them all, nor can we promise that these are complete and uncensored, but we're doing our best. We also understand that sharing these is potentially contentious. Based on the information we currently have, we think this is the best way to handle this, but we are prepared to change that view and remove the files if we learn more and feel it's no longer appropriate to do share them. Feel free to DM me or send me an ask if you have questions or concerns.

Also note: PLEASE DO NOT ADD TO THIS WITH CRITICISMS OF THE CHINESE GOVERNMENT. THIS DOES ABSOLUTELY NOTHING TO HELP, AND MAY ACTIVELY HARM, THE AUTHORS. JUST DON'T DO IT.

Below the cut is a list of titles that we know of that have been removed from JJWXC and their current status. (read more)

CURRENTLY AVAILABLE:

墨香铜臭 (Mo Xiang Tong Xiu/MXTX)

魔道祖师 (Mo Dao Zu Shi/MDZS/Grandmaster of Demonic Cultivation/GDC) in simplified Chinese. This version is partially censored (especially the incense burner extras), and missing the Taiwan exclusive. We have the others but honestly we just haven't had time to update the file yet.

魔道祖师 (Mo Dao Zu Shi/MDZS/Grandmaster of Demonic Cultivation/GDC) in traditional Chinese. Uncensored to the best of my knowledge.

人渣反派自救系统 (Ren Zha Fanpai Zijiu Xitong/Scum Villain's Self-Saving System/SVSSS) in simplified Chinese. This version was originally censored. We think we've found all the censored scenes and extras and inserted them correctly.

天官赐福 (Tian Guan Ci Fu/TGCF/Heaven Official's Blessing) in simplified Chinese (split into two files). Has all extras.

肉包不吃肉 (Roubao Buchi Rou/Meatbun Doesn't Eat Meat)

二哈和他的白猫师尊 (Erha He Ta De Bai Mao Shizun/The Husky and His White Cat Shizun/2ha/Erha) in simplified Chinese (split into two files). Uncensored. Has all extras.

Priest

镇魂 (Zhenhun/Guardian) in simplified Chinese. Has all extras, we think.

杀破狼 (Sha Po Lang/SPL) in simplified Chinese. The extras are...complicated...but we think we got them all, and in a vaguely-correct order. We sure tried anyway.

Other Removed Titles that We Know Of:

Priest

天涯客 (Tian Ya Ke/TYK/Faraway Wanderers) in simplified Chinese. (We have a source we just haven't had time to clean up a copy yet.)

巫哲 (Wu Zhe)

撒野 (Saye/Run Freely) in simplified Chinese. (We have a source we just haven't had time to clean up a copy yet.)

Also pending: all titles in traditional Chinese.

We're all really busy with stuff in December (heck, we're all so busy it's taken me three weeks to actually post this from when I first wrote it) so we probably won't get to any additional titles until the new year, but I'll try to scrounge the time for TYK.

If you know of other titles that have been removed and we should search for, please let us know.

Also, lest anyone come at me for double standards, here's the proof that I held myself to exactly the same ownership requirements that I'm expecting of others. I've already posted the screen cap I took of my own purchase of Guardian and TGCF on JJWXC.

And here are the hard copies of Erha, SVSSS, MDZS, and SPL that I bought on Books TW:

I tried to buy a physical copy of TYK but it wasn't available; I'm going to keep looking, and I'll do my absolute damnedest to acquire it legally before I finish and share the file; if I'm not able to, I'll double check the notes I took on it's price on JJWXC when I first signed up there, and then I'll get something else from Priest of equivalent value (probably Qiye).

Which is to say: I practice what I preach. Don't waste what little time I have if you're not prepared to do as much.)

[k-llama-llama]

Ultimate Gift

SuperM/WayV AU: 8th member

YinYin x SuperM/WayV/NCT

SuperM has a surprise to cheer Yinnie up.

A/N:ALSO FYI check out my patreon (patreon.com/kllamallama for exclusive posts!)

Requests are Open…and your feedback is still super important to me.

Masterlist and other Follow Me links in bio!

“I need coffee.” YinYin declared, walking over to stand next to Taeyong.

“What?” He looked shocked. “You don’t drink coffee.”

“I don’t care. I’m exhausted.”

She leaned against the well, looking around the room. It wasn’t quite a party, given the current restrictions, but all of SuperM had gathered with their staff and some of the SM executives to celebrate the new album. YinYin wasn’t a party girl at the best of times, but between SuperM promotions, prepping for NCT 2020 and her physiotherapy, she could barely keep her eyes open. She’d actually fallen asleep in the stylist’s chair an hour ago while they tried to curl her hair and make her presentable for the party.

Taeyong patted her on the shoulder. “I wish I could tell you that you can sleep in tomorrow…but…”

“I know.” She sighed. “Rehearsal. It’s okay. I’ll just give in and start drinking coffee.”

“Are we complaining over here?” Kai walked over, looking remarkably chipper. It seemed odd, especially considering the fact that YinYin knew he was just as exhausted as the rest of them.

“Yinnie was just telling me that she’s going to go raid a Starbucks.” Taeyong said.

“Aw, Yin. Are you not having fun?” Kai grinned.

She tilted her head. “Not as much as you. Have you been drinking?”

“What? No.” He shook his head. “Come on, we have something to show you.”

“Show me?” She let him take her arm and lead him away, missing the look he exchanged with Taeyong over her shoulder. “This isn’t something that Lucas has built out of cutlery again, is it?”

“No, I promise.” He pulled her through the party.

Lucas appeared at her side. “Hey, Yin. How’s it going?”

“Good.” She looked between them, and then at Taeyong, who was following them. “What are you guys up to?”

“Nothing.” Lucas said too quickly. “Lets just…go see the others.”

Unconvinced, she tried to catch a glimpse of where they were leading her. By the doors on the other side of the party, Baekyun and Taemin were talking to some people. They were blocking her view, but she assumed it was probably Lee Soo-Man and someone else. The boys were probably looking forward to making her talk to business people.

“I don’t want to talk to anyone, guys.” She protested. “Just let me go eat a donut or something.”

“That’s crazy talk.” Kai laughed. “Come on.”

“Guys…” She whined.

Baekyun turned his head when he saw her. “Hey, Yin.”

“Hi.” She gave him a little wave.

“There’s someone here who’d like to talk to you.” Taemin said, stepping aside.

“I know. But I really have to….” She trailed off, realizing who they had been talking to.

“Yinnie?” Taeyong prompted.

“MOM!” She exclaimed, launching herself forward and into her mom’s arms. She ignored how it caused her back to strain, and just pressed her face into her mom’s shoulder. “What are you doing here?”

Her mom was crying too much to talk, just petting her head, so her father answered. “Your friends flew us out.”

“Daddy!” She reached for him, pulling him into the hug.

The others took in the scene before them. YinYin wasn’t much of a crier, but there were happy tears streaming down her face. It was easy to see her resemblance to her parents. She had her father’s eyes, and the man himself was significantly taller than his wife or daughter, with a face covered in the type of wrinkles one gets from years of working outside.

Her mother was, by some miracle, shorter than YinYin. Their faces were nearly identical, with only a few wrinkles showing her mother’s age.

“What did you guys do?” YinYin sniffled, pulling back enough to look at the boys, and switching into Korean.

Mark looked proud of himself. “You hadn’t seen your parents in years.”

“And you’ve been really down lately.” Ten said with a smile.

“Don’t you guys take credit for this.” Baekyun protested. “We arranged everything. And Taemin’s the one who paid.”

YinYin wiped her eyes. “I’ll pay you back.”

“No, you won’t.” Taemin shook his head.

“Can I hug your mom now?” Lucas begged, speaking in Chinese.

YinYin’s mom let go of her, reaching for him. “You’re much taller in person.”

“It’s so nice to meet you.” He hugged her. “You’re so much prettier than YinYin.”

Her mom playfully swatted his shoulder. “My daughter is gorgeous. And she’s gotten so tall.”

“What?” Ten’s eyes widened. “This is tall YinYin?”

“She used to be this small.” Her dad held a hand up to his waist. “She’s grown a lot since she left.”

“Liu Guanyin, you should make introductions.” Her mom said. “We just got here.”

“Right.” YinYin wiped her eyes. “Mom, Dad, this is Baekyun, Taemin, Kai, Taeyong, Mark, and you’ve talked to Lucas and Ten before on the phone.”

“It’s really nice to meet you both.” Kai held out a hand, which her dad shook.

“We’ve heard so much about you.” Taeyong gave a polite bow.

“Taeyong!” Her mom pulled him into a hug. “You’ve taken such good care of our girl!”

“Yinnie?” Taeyong looked at her in concern, obviously confused by the crying woman in his arms.

“She says thank you.” YinYin translated.

“Tell her thank you!” Mark exclaimed. “She made my favorite scarf without ever even meeting us.”

“Mark!” He was pulled into a hug too.

YinYin leaned into her dad’s side, laughing and crying at the same time. “I can’t believe you guys are here.” She said quietly.

“We’ve missed you so much.” He pressed a kiss to the top of her head.

“I’ve missed you guys too.” She wiped her nose on her sleeve. “I feel like I haven’t talked to you in forever. I’ve been so busy.”

“It’s okay, we’re here now.”

“Yinnie’s mom, did you know she has a boyfriend?” Lucas said proudly, obviously aiming to get her in trouble.

“She already told me.” Her mom said. “Taeyong! Guanyin says you took such good care of her when she got hurt.”

Taeyong just patted her back as he was pulled into another hug. “Is this another thank you?”

“Basically.” Lucas frowned. “Yinnie, your mom doesn’t love me as much as she’s supposed to.”

YinYin rolled her eyes. “Try not being yourself, that might help.”

“Guanyin, don’t be rude.” Her dad poked her side.

She wrinkled her nose at him, before stepping away.

“You know I have to hug you right?” She said to Taemin.

He opened his arms. “Come on.”

“Thank you so so much.” She whispered. “I can’t explain how much this means to me.”

“Don’t worry about it. You deserve this.” He hugged her tightly.

“Now, as fun as this is.” Kai said. “We’ll cover for you so you guys can go out for dinner or something.”

“You will?” YinYin beamed. “Mom! I’ll take you out for Korean food!”

“Baekyun will handle it.” Kai grinned at the leader. “So go.”

“Thank you, thank you, thank you.” YinYin hugged both of them, more excitable than they’d ever seen her, and then grabbed one of each of her parents’ hands and started pulling them out the door without looking back.

“When do we get to meet your boyfriend?” Her mom asked.

“Mom!” She exclaimed. “I literally didn’t know you were coming.”

“But we want to meet him.” Her dad said. “And we want to eat barbeque.”

“I’ll take us to a really good restaurant.” She promised. “My treat.”

[hansolmates]

jeongguk; a royal exchange (02)

feat. the rom-com college!jeongguk x princess!reader au no one asked for

she’s the man!au where the princess impersonates her brother yoongi in order to finish his degree on time while yoongi is thrusted into princely duties. jeongguk is in the mess purely through room arrangement.

notes: p.2 is a straight up roll of pure crack and fluff. lil sexy for like .2 seconds. super self indulgent and inspired by the princess diaries. princess is stressed the whole time and we live to see her suffer

w.c: 7.1k 

01, 02

“I’m sure this is probably the hundredth time you’ve heard since you’ve landed, but welcome to Illyria! The palace welcomes you to your new home away from home.” 

“Ho-ly,” Jeongguk slaps a hand in front of Taehyung’s offending tongue, in case swearing is forbidden on royal territory. Wouldn’t want their scholarships taken away over Taehyung’s potty mouth. 

“Excuse me, Mr. Hoseok, sir?” an exchange student from a university in New Zealand (yet Korean-born, ironically) pipes up, “why does the infrastructure of the building look like that?” 

The student is referring to the ravines of gold metal that stream the walls of the palace. While the architecture is classic, the sheen of the metal definitely gives it an air of regality. 

“Good question, Namjoon. The castle is wired and designed after our main export, Illyrium. The element was discovered in the early 1850s in what is now the ruins of Oros,” Hoseok quips brightly, patting the stone affectionately. “It has a conductivity percentage of 106% percent, more than silver. It is also quite durable.” 

Namjoon’s deep laugh echoes throughout the pavilion, “I was just asking because it makes the castle so beautiful. Thank you.” 

Jeongguk takes the time to snap more pictures of the castle, switching between his Sony and his phone. He zooms in on a low balcony overlooking the terrace they landed from. A figure rolls into his shot, stumbling barefoot with a ruby silk robe swishing between steps. You’re tired, sleep-laden as you clutch a snow white mug between your two hands, leaning your elbows against the metal bearing. You’re staring at nothing and everything, glazed over your backyard that seems to stretch on for eons. 

“You’re right,” Jeongguk marvels at your visage between his lens, “absolutely beautiful.” 

“Can I please get a better assignment, Jimin?” 

“Your highness,” Jimin frowns, following after you, “you love teaching the exchange students, what has changed?” 

“Exactly, Jimin,” you sigh, stopping in the middle of the hallway. Jimin’s nose nearly bumps into yours, “nothing has changed. I teach students every quarter, the same subjects every time. It’s not to say that I don’t love teaching,” you exhale, blowing into Jimin’s honeycomb bangs, “but can’t I have a more challenging assignment? Conversing with dignitaries, renovating the town square, I’ll even do culinary!” 

Your poor secretary squeaks, pushing up his rose gold iPad to carve some distance between you two. “You-you know those jobs aren’t suitable for a Princess,” Jimin cuts himself off once he sees your eyes soften in defeat, “b-but! I’ll see if Hoseok would be willing to take on another class? And maybe we could arrange a presentation to the King in regards to your proposals?” 

“Right,” you smile sadly, folding your arms and stretching the tight blazer your mother forced you in, “as if another Google Slideshow will impress him.” 

Jimin squeezes your shoulder, as if he could tell you all the things he could never say through body language. “Showtime’s in two minutes, your highness.” 

You nod, making haste to the large double doors that lead to the main living room. Normally, the scholarship program’s presentation is done in the throne room, a big show of bravado and an ego booster to your family. However, this particular class is entirely post-grad and under ten students, so you figure they were placed in a more intimate area for the sake of comfort. 

Jimin pulls a lint roller out of nowhere, careful to catch every bit of dust that dares meet your presence. You tug uncomfortably at your collar, and give the signal to the door bearer. You fight the urge to flinch at the usual bombastic announcement. 

“Introducing, the Princess of Illyria!” 

The students and staff are bowing when you enter, and you send a look to Yoongi, who only offers you a lazy smirk. It’s a look you’ve feared since childhood, an explicit tell that he knows something you don’t. Nevertheless, you tack on a smile, standing in front of the ten students who are still dutifully lowered. You have to hand it to them, the undergrads would already be turning heads to get a peek at the princess. 

“You may rise,” you voice floats. As mother always said, your voice must replicate a dandelion seed, bouncing in the wind. 

The student directly in front of you elevates, a pair of doe eyes taking his sweet time to appreciate the view. 

Jeon Jeongguk gives you a lazy smirk, mirroring your brother’s. The smile evaporates from your face, taking in the handsome man that you lived with for two months over two years ago. His eyes have certainly not lost their spark, but his hair is trimmed and showing off his forehead. A Sony camera wraps around his neck, held tightly by a strong pair of hands. He’s even dressed brightly, wearing a navy blazer over a plain white tee and a pair of dark jeans. Something twinges in your heart when you see that a familiar pair of black combat boots remain. 

Jeongguk is the first to break eye contact, deciding to at least pretend to care about Hoseok’s presentation on the flatscreen. An overplayed video about Illyria’s history drones on, while Hoseok and Jimin are exchanging schedules in between. You’re sure that Jimin is passing on your word about choosing not to teach this quarter, and now it’s personal. 

This urges the students to take seats on the couches, while staff floats around with various pastries and refreshments. 

Your family takes their respective seats, and you fight the urge to pinch Yoongi as you hiss, “You knew about this?” 

“Surprise,” Yoongi sing-songs, munching on a linzer cookie. “I handpicked all the students.”

“Couldn’t give your sister a heads up?” you snap hotly, making sure no one was looking as you pop a whole cream puff in your mouth. 

“Sorry,” Yoongi leans over the shell of your ear, “Your hot ex-roommate is here, just wanted to let you know before you eat the dessert table.” 

You mouth a fuck you, taking a stab at him under the table with your heeled foot. 

After Yoongi’s not-so-subtle reveal of each other’s identities in a crowded Chinese restaurant two years ago, you’ve since cut off all contact with Jeon Jeongguk as you resumed your life as Princess of Illyria. Simultaneously shocked, but not surprised due to the obvious hints of suspicion, Jeongguk had forgiven your lie and allowed you to leave in good spirits. You remember leaving him at the front door of your dorm, hugging you warmly and bidding you safe travels. 

It confused you, because it would've been easier to leave if Jeongguk had gotten angry at the complete breach of trust and kicked you out. 

Hoseok is now presenting a slideshow of the intended schedule and itinerary for all students. You’re now glaring at the back of Jeongguk’s head, trying your damn hardest not to shove three brownies in your mouth in the presence of guests. Your tiny dessert spoon picks pathetically at the measly crumbs, and Jimin is urging you to smile from his position opposite you. 

“And as always, our lovely princess will be conducting our class on Modern Illyrian Anthropology and will be organizing your field studies!” Hoseok practically shouts across the room, where you’re sitting wide-eyed with your family. You feel Yoongi reach over to dab the crumbs off your lips, enjoying your suffering. 

You shoot a look at Jimin who was supposed to take care of things, and he gives you a pained expression that reads don’t fire me.  

With a tight-lipped smile and feigning ignorance to Jeongguk’s interest in you teaching, you reply to the expectant students, “It’s always a pleasure to teach, I promise to not bore you with Illyrian history, that’s Hoseok’s job.” 

“Hey!” he scrunches his nose, then turns to the students who are hiding their giggles, “Better get on her good side if you want a nice field assignment.” he warns good-naturedly, giving you a mock glare. 

You suppose giving Jeongguk a field assignment far, far away from the castle. 

After the long-winded presentation and a handful of brochures, the royal family is escorted out to retire for the day. As the youngest in the family you're the last one to leave.

Out the doorway you hear Taehyung utter, "That's her? What a babe!" 

As to not arouse suspicion, it takes longer than anticipated to get a private moment with Jeongguk. No one but Taehyung and Jimin know of your circumstances, and it is to remain that way due to the fact that you and Yoongi committed fraud, royal or not. 

Jeongguk is a quiet student, surprisingly. Choosing a seat by the window, he spends most of your classes doodling and looking out the pavilion. As stimulating as Namjoon and Irene’s questions are, you’re a little disheartened at the fact that Jeongguk has made little effort to talk to you, even if it’s as impersonal as classwork or office hours. 

Today Hoseok’s teaching, and that gives you ample time to work out where you want to assign the students for field study. You’ve shaken off Jimin for now, and you’re currently roaming the halls with your phone, checking off your schedule. 

Called the Museum of Modern Illyrian Art for Namjoon … check. 

Sent staff to the villa in prep for the kiddies’ weekend getaway … check. 

Sent e-vites and physicals to the Genovian royals … next.

Find a quiet corner to stress cry before 2:30—

A hand flies out of nowhere, grabbing your waist roughly and throwing you in a small room. The hand clasped over your mouth swallows your scream as the door shuts tight. 

The captor turns on the singular lightbulb, grinning at you like a madman. “Hey Princess—what the fuck!” 

You grimace, putting down your switchblade that was dangerously close to Jungkook’s jugular. “What the hell, Jeongguk! I could’ve killed you!” 

“Dang, princesses are something else nowadays. Where on your body are you hiding knives?” Jeongguk marvels as if he wasn’t ten seconds away from being dead!Guk, patting down your lavender pantsuit in a way that’s highly inappropriate. “What are you, Ty Lee?” 

“Self-defense secret,” and under your breath you add, “and Mai’s the one who hides knives. Ty Lee’s the acrobat.” 

The grin easily returns to the tall boy’s face, burnt eyes shining against the naked bulb. This is the most emotion you’ve got out of him since classes started, and it’s doing nothing to ease the butterflies in your stomach. “So, come here often?” 

“To the storage closet?” you snort, “not particularly.” 

“And where’s a place I can go that you do come often?” 

“My office hours,” you deadpan, “in which you haven’t visited, by the way. As a friend and as a teacher, I’m insulted.” 

A low whine erupts from his throat, and he leans against the shelves, long arms spread across the three-ply toilet paper. “But your little secretary’s always there. It’s awkward when we’re not alone. I don't know if I should act like a friend or a student. Speaking of, where is he?” 

“Ah, Jimin’s getting Starbucks.” 

“Lit, can you tell him to pick me up a pink drink?” 

“No,” but you send a text to Jimin anyway. “Shouldn’t you be in class?” 

“I’m supposed to be coming back from the bathroom,” he air-quotes, “AKA, running around the palace until I can corner you.” 

You sigh, fiddling with the hem of your blazer. 

“Are you annoyed at me?” and for a second, Jungkook’s eyes betray a hint of vulnerability. “Am I being too forward? Or do you not want to catch up? I don’t know, I figured you’d be excited to see me but you’ve just been so busy.” 

“Jeongguk,” you put a hand on his shoulder, ceasing the rambling. He opens his mouth to add more, but you squeeze his bicep. “I’m not annoyed at you. I’m annoyed at the situation. I’ve missed you,” you offer him a shy smile, and he returns a small, hopeful one in return, “but you’re right, it’s been really busy with the usual duties and I’ve been a little on edge with keeping things together without letting any secrets out.” 

You’re also confused as to why you’re still harboring feelings for him, but that’s another secret you keep to yourself. 

“Well, your duty is doo-dy.”  Jungkook huffs, but is placated by your confession. “Don’t worry Princess, I’ll think of something.” 

A knock startles the both of you, and Jeongguk squeaks, brandishing a plunger in defense. With a dainty finger, you push the plumbing tool back to the ground, as the knockings did not stop. 

“Ohmygod—am I going to be beheaded for kidnapping the Princess?” Jeongguk panics and checks his phone, realizing his bathroom break turned into a straight up game of hooky. “Do you guys still behead? I mean if you’re pulling out knives from who knows where—” 

“Guk, relax,” recognizing it immediately as a code between you and your brother, you swing the supply closet open. 

Yoongi looks between the two of you, gauging the situation. When he notices that no, you two did not just romp between the 3-ply and were in fact only talking, he huffs. “Losers,” he mutters under his breath, hiding a grin as he leaves you two to splutter. 

It’s already well over twenty minutes past your class time, but Taehyung just wouldn’t shut up. 

You can’t blame him, he’s thrilled that you managed to snag him a field study with your personal couture designer. He’s lit up like a good boy on Christmas eve, getting his present early. He’s gushing about how excited he is to use authentic Swarovski crystals and rub noses with the fancy fabrics. 

“I’ll make you the perfect dress for the upcoming gala, Your Highness.” Taehyung’s vibrating in a manner you never imagined on a human before.

“Thank you,” you reply awkwardly, “I’m sorry, but what gala are you referring to?” 

He shrugs, “I’m sure there’s a gala you have to go to sometime. I’ve just always wanted to say that, makes me feel special.” 

“Tae,” Jeongguk is sitting on your desk, heels bumping into the mahogany. With a stiff jerk of his head, Tae’s lips morph into an ‘O’ and he finally gets the hint, bowing to you and scurrying off. 

“Y’know, his fashion’s kind of eccentric.” he nods over to the excessive fur lining on Taehyung’s slippers, “I’d make sure your designer keeps a close eye on him.” 

“And what do I owe the pleasure of your presence,” you click, “twenty minutes after class?” 

Jeongguk has the audacity to roll his eyes, rolling his head back to crack out the stiffness. “The chamber choir, really?” he exhales, dropping the itinerary you spent the better half of your nights preparing. 

You raise your eyebrows, “What? It pertains to your major.” 

“For the past six years all I've done is eat, sleep, and breathe music,” he says, and you’re suddenly reminded that you had a glimpse of that version of Jeongguk two years ago. A slave to the music, as much as he loved the subject, it sometimes felt like a tether that weaved far too deeply under his skin. “Can’t my field assignment be something different? More eclectic?” 

“Do you have anything in mind?” 

“In fact, I do.” Jeongguk lolls his head to the side, chestnut bangs falling softly. “For my field study, I want to shadow the Princess’ duties.” 

You slam your hands down, standing up so you’re nearly nose-to-nose with the young man. “Are you crazy? Do you want Yoongi and I to get caught?” 

“Listen, I’ve thought about it all throughout class—”

“—what? You didn’t listen to my lecture?—”

“—and today in class you mentioned that you graduated with a Master’s in Public Affairs, because in fact I always listen to you,” Jeongguk presses a finger to your lips when you try to cut him off, “and lo and behold, one of my minors was in public affairs! What better way to get more experience in the business when I have the master right in front of me?” 

“I don’t know, Guk,” you try, mulling through all the possible situations and horrors that could occur because of it. 

“Princess, we’re killing two birds with one stone!” Jeongguk pleads, giving you the puppy eyes, “not only do I get a far better field study assignment, but it’s far better because I get to spend more time with you!” 

You hate how absolutely weak you’ve become under his gaze. In the span of less than three weeks, Jeon Jeongguk has re-entered your life like he never left. He wanted to spend time with you. The selfish part of your brain says you wish the same. Who are you to deny such a simple desire? 

“Fine,” you spit out, putting up a front and pretending to be annoyed, “but you better not get all huffy around Jimin.” 

He shrugs, throwing his bag over his shoulder. “Worth it.” 

“You’re different,” Jeongguk states bluntly, actively ignoring the way Jimin tries to push between you two. Jeongguk continues to press into your shoulder as you weave through the gardens. You’re picking flowers for a specific theme arrangement and pattern. A diplomat from Spain is coming and he is bringing her young daughter. You've heard that she’s recently taken in interest in constructing flower crowns. 

“Well, two years can do that to a person,” you reply airily, dropping a tiger lily in the wicker basket Jeongguk insisted on carrying. 

Having Jeongguk follow you around like a duckling is fun, to be frank. Jimin is no longer hyper-focused on you, forcing him to spread his attention between you and your overly-attentive  student. Jeongguk can’t attend every single one of your events because some of the information’s sensitive, but when he does it makes your job feel less of a job and more like a fun group project. 

Like when you and Jeongguk would stumble in the farmer’s market every Sunday morning, hungover but aching to fill your bellies. You two were walking zombies, forcing yourselves out of bed to feed yourselves. But it was always fun because you were together, whenever it was Jeongguk’s turn to pay, you’d sneak in more KitKats for yourself. Whenever it was your turn, Jeongguk would smuggle more cartons of banana milk. 

“No, no. It’s not that,” your friend admonishes instantly, “your personality’s still the same, even though it was Yoongi-fied. Your heart hasn’t changed,” you turn your head sharply towards a field of carnations, concealing your flush. “I mean, you’re more confident.” 

“In other words,” Jimin pipes, looking up from his iPad, “an air of regality.” 

You scoff, putting a hand on your hip and looking expectantly at the two boys. “You’ve changed too, Guk,” you reason, shaking your head. “Old Jeongguk wouldn’t be wearing white dress shirts and shoving princesses in closets.” 

“You shoved the princess in a closet—!” Jimin starts, having half a mind to cancel the field study all together.

“Well, Old Jeongguk didn’t have a chance to really get to know you,” Jeongguk twirls a baby’s breath between his fingers, tucking it in-between your ear. “That’s New Jeongguk’s job.” 

“So, you’re the Princess’ head of security,” Jeongguk tilts his head to look up at the slightly taller man, his visage covered by a pair of shades. The bodyguard is never really present, only when citizens enter the castle or you’re out of town. “You know you’re inside, right?” 

The man only slightly inclines his head to acknowledge Jeongguk’s prodding. Hmph, he looks like a talker. 

“If you’re her head of security,” Jeongguk leans closer, trying to avoid any further attention to his conversation, “do you know where she hides her knives? Because sometimes she wears those tight pencil skirts and I can’t help but wonder—”

“That’s classified.” 

“Alright, where do you hide your knives—”

“Also classified.” 

“Jeongguk,” you relent, sliding your footrest next to your throne, “leave Seokjin alone and come here, please.” 

You can’t blame him. It’s always been a pastime of yours to ruffle Seokjin’s feathers, but you must admit that meeting with citizens is a long and frankly, boring process. The routine is fairly simple, the citizen bows and offers something for the table, and in return you lend your ear and offer assistance if possible. 

“For your table, Your Highness,” the next citizen bows, carrying a foil-lined tray filled with fresh baked bread. 

“Smells delicious, Bertrand.” you beam, ripping open the tin to snatch a hot slice off the top. Rosemary and thyme are egg washed atop the brown bread, and you proffer a piece to Jeongguk, as you could imagine the poor guy is as antsy as ever. “And may I introduce you to my student, Jeon Jeongguk? He’s studying my diplomacy for his field study.” 

Bertrand tips his head, “Lucky you, she’s a true leader.” 

Jeongguk nods shyly, nibbling on the crust. “Truly an honor.” 

Jeongguk offers to bring the gift to the table with the other offerings across the room, and you nod, conversing lightly with Bertrand. His worries are simple enough, he feels pressured by a catering request from an Illyrian Duke, and wishes to serve a party fit for a royal. In resolution, you offer to send a palace chocolatier and chef to help with the preparations. Jeongguk returns to his seat next to yours just as Bertrand leaves. He pulls up his iPad, feigning notes that he should be writing while observing you. 

The next citizen hobbles over, holding a large ivory wicker basket covered by a beige tarp. “For your table, Your Highness,” they bow, “I hope you like omelets.” 

If you weren’t on the throne with an audience of one-hundred, you’d be delivering a very confused expression, coupled with panic. “May I?” you inquire, forcing a smile as you lift open the tarp.

In the basket there are two small jars of marmalade, and one huge chicken sitting fat and proud that its skin overflows between the gaps of the wicker. Its head twitches in your direction, barely turning because its neck is hugely bulbous with excess weight. Its beady little eyes mock you. It smells fear. 

“Her name’s Dixie,” the citizen supplied helpfully. 

“Holy shit,” Jeongguk whispers next to you, but not soft enough for it to not echo in the throne room, “Dixie, you are a thick chick.” 

“Jeongguk!” you exclaim, which causes the whole room to reverb at your shrill cry. 

Of course the chicken has to freak out, flapping its wings and freeing itself from the confines of its package. The animal dives for you, and you press yourself as much as you can against the throne. Jeongguk knows no bounds, throwing himself in front of you to catch the large bird. Feathers weave unto his umber tresses as the bird meets gravity, Jeongguk unable to calm down Dixie. 

 It’s more or less a wild goose chase (chicken chase?) after that, Jeongguk follows Dixie down the platform and around the throne room. The citizens and staff are clutching their stomachs in laughter, endeared by the young man following the chicken. Jimin is laughing and slapping Seokjin’s shoulder, his face breaking in an unabashed smile. 

And you can’t help but laugh along with them, trying to smother your giggles by covering your face with a silk fan. You peek over the thin fabric to see Jeongguk looking especially concentrated on his mission. It wasn’t like the chicken was going to escape the throne room because the doors are closed, but surely it will be a workout as Dixie’s a trooper and isn’t going down without a fight. 

“Don’t worry Princess, I got this!” Jeongguk’s voice reassures you from the far edge of the throne room. He’s taken a break, but the glint in his eyes show he’s committed to catching Dixie as she scuttles in circles.

He flashes you a breathtaking smile, all gums and pearly whites as he runs a hand through his wavy locks. Your smile falls slightly, and you clutch your fan tighter at the realization. Oh, you are besotted. 

“Hoseok’s had me on my back about teaching a full class before your weekend getaway but I’ve long decided,” you lift your chin haughtily in a way only princesses do, jutting out your lip in confirmation, “that you should enjoy the time you have here. Summer’s almost over. You all should get a headstart on your packing so you can get to the beach early.” 

Your class erupts into hoots and hollers, the Powerpoint presentation about the minerals of Illyria long abandoned. Two months have already passed, and in a couple weeks they’ll be saying their goodbyes. A twinge of sadness hits you as you relish in your students’ happy smiles. As each semester passes, each group leaves something behind you’ll never forget. This summer, as much as you taught them, you’ve learned a lot from them as well.

Students are already starting to pack up, but Namjoon’s butt is firmly planted in his seat, raising his hand. “Sorry, I have a question.” 

You smile goodnaturedly, already used to his usual spiel. “I can email you the Powerpoint and we can go over whatever you want on Monday.” 

“Ah, no. I was wondering if you were coming with us,” Namjoon mutters sheepishly. 

You’re surprised, even moreso when Irene and Yerin insist that you should go. “Yes, you have to go!” Yerin bounces in her seat.

“Oh,” you blush, “I can’t. I don’t normally go on these things, wouldn’t it be weird to have your teacher at your party?” 

“Hell no!” Yerin gasps shamelessly. It’s one thing you liked about this class, after class is over, they always managed to make you feel normal. Maybe it’s the closeness in age and education, but they remind you so often that you’re still young. After all, they weren’t Illyrian, and while outside of class they put on the whole shebang for you, it didn’t take long for them to get comfortable around you. “We can show you what real college life is like! We can roast barbeque on the beach and tell scary stories!” 

Taehyung snorts, already halfway out the door, “I’m sure the Princess doesn’t wanna see you shitfaced in the ocean.” 

You placate Yerin with a small smile, “I have to work after this, but I’ll see what I can do.” 

Namjoon walks up to your desk as the rest of the students file out. He runs the spine of his journal along your desk, “Prince Yoongi and Hoseok will be there too, if it makes you feel any better. Hope you can come.” 

The room is soon vacated, leaving you and your Star Student alone. 

“‘I’ll see what I can do’, really?” Jeongguk rolls his eyes, plopping himself atop your desk. Your eyes snap to the way the dark denim cords around his thighs, and you make a deal of slamming your laptop shut. “C’mon, of course you wanna come. I’m not taking no for an answer.” 

“Not really,” you admit. “I used to really like spending the weekend at the villa. I loved getting to know each class and know what it feels like to be like you guys,” you downplay yourself, stuffing books and electronics in your briefcase. “But ever since we roomed together two years ago, I can’t bring myself to go anymore. It’s not the same when you’ve actually had a taste of it.”

Jeongguk’s eyes soften at your confession. You could feel that he wasn’t prepared for your honesty, and you don’t blame him. He swallows, Adam’s apple bobbing. “I leave in two weeks, you know.” 

“I know.” 

“Can you at least try to come, for me?” 

You lift your head up to reach his eyes, looking equal parts nervous and vulnerable. You’re suddenly thrusted back to two years ago, cornered in your dorm room where Jeongguk was upset at the thought of hurting him, lying to him. You didn’t want to hurt him, or yourself. 

But as Jeongguk’s large hand reaches across the desk to your smaller one, you don’t think to pull away. 

“Your Highness!” Jimin interrupts the two of you, and Jeongguk snatches his hand back with a glare. Jimin ignores him, looking breathless as he leans against the door of your classroom. “Your 3 o’clock is ready. We have to hurry if we want to get through the crowd.” 

With one last look, Jeongguk excuses himself, brushing past Jimin with a gruff “Bye, Princess.” 

“Today’s not your day to meet with citizens,” Yoongi mumbles next to you, looking disapprovingly at the way you wait for the next citizen to approach you. 

Seokjin holds the crowd off as you converse with your brother, who looks ready to leave to the villa. He’s dressed in a plain white t-shirt, foam slides and baggy slacks. If it wasn’t for the family crest proudly presented on his right breast pocket, he could easily be mistaken as the average citizen. “Mother insisted,” you reply shortly, growing more irritated by the second. 

“Really?” his brows disappear under his bangs, “because from the way she said it, you were looking for work.” 

Caught, you turn away from his watchful gaze. “I have a problem, okay?” you say stiffly, “I needed a distraction.” 

“Alright,” Yoongi shrugs, leaning close to your ear to murmur, “where’s the dead body?” 

You slap his arm, “Yoongi! I didn’t kill anybody!” 

“At this rate, it looks like you’re wasting yourself away.” Yoongi replies bluntly, stuffing his hands in his pockets. “C’mon, Loverboy was all pouty in my room not too long ago. Don’t disappoint him.” 

With that, Yoongi turns on his heel and walks off. Citizens bow at him like dominos as he exits, your break definitively over. 

Whatever is blooming between you and Jeongguk, is and never will be fair to the both of you. In your eyes Jeongguk isn’t the type to settle, not relationship-wise, but life-wise. He wanted to grow and cultivate his art, and taste freedom every step of the journey.

You weren’t freedom or growth, and you could only hope he realizes that before you become too selfish. 

“Your Highness?” you break out of your reverie when a young woman your age looks at you shyly, “My name is Wendy. I didn’t get anything for the table but, I got you a caramel macchiato.” 

She brandishes a venti iced caramel macchiato, condensation dripping from her fingers. Your face lights up, accepting the caffeinated drink. “I really needed this!” you perk up immediately, taking a sip and letting the cool flavor soothe your tastebuds. “Thank you, Wendy. What is it that you request?” 

“Advice,” she admits, a blush creeping from her neck. She looks down at her work boots, caked in grime. “I’m an engineer who works in manufacturing Illryian technology.”

“We are eternally grateful for your service to this country,” you reply evenly. Engineers are highly revered in your country, as your economy is dependent on their brilliant minds. 

“But I have fallen in love with a man who is under my station, and wishes to find work elsewhere,” she bites her lip, her eyes growing glassy. “I haven’t told him my feelings yet, however I’m also worried for my family who finds men like him to be unworthy of an engineer like myself.” 

“Ah, bound by duty and expectation.” you reply grimly, “a rock and a hard place, huh?” 

“Yes, forgive me for my crassness. I felt as if you would understand my predicament.” 

Putting your drink down, you reach for her hand. Oil and dirt cake her fingers, and she attempts to pull away as to not soil you, but you hold on tighter. “Tell him how you feel, Wendy.” you whisper, a conversation so intimate it’s only proper it be for her ears and her ears only. “Whether he leaves or not after you tell him is his decision. However, I assure you it will hurt far more if you don’t give yourself a chance.” 

Her voice cracks, “But what if it doesn’t work out?” 

You start to feel a little teary at her candor, and you run a thumb over her palm. “Then you’re one heartbreak closer to happiness. Nevertheless, you are a strong, intelligent, beautiful woman. Don’t let your fears reject that.” 

Wendy finds the strength to squeeze your hand, and you belatedly realize that if this piece of advice was personified, it’d be slapping the shit out of you. 

“You came!” 

Hopped up on bitter caffeine and potential regrets, you stand in the living room well past midnight, party in full swing. Jimin trails behind you sans iPad, feeling lighter in a pair of trunks and a black tank. A playlist of Namjoon’s organizing is blasting from the surround sound, coupled with the flatscreen television projecting an intense lap of MarioKart. Irene and Taehyung are shoulder to shoulder, concentrating on getting that Mushroom Cup. The sliding doors that lead from your villa to the beach are cracked open, wide enough to hear the conversations the other students are exchanging. 

It was always nice to have your villa occupied like this. Less empty, more familial. 

Yerin is the first to greet you, throwing her arms around you and smelling like seasalt and vodka. She’s drenching your clothes, clad in a yellow polka-dot one-piece. “This weekend’s gonna be killer,” she whispers in your ear, causing the hairs on your neck to rise. For a petite thing, she really wastes no time cutting to the chase. 

You detach yourself, holding up a bag of pastries. “Snagged some munchies for your inevitable drunk crash,” you smirk, placing the container on the kitchen island. 

Yerin gapes, red tinted lips mouthing an ‘o’ at your language. “You’ve been hidin’ out on us, haven’t you Princess?” Yerin then brushes past you, ready to get her fingers on the confections. You’re over her shoulder, pointing out both Illrian delicacies and pastries she’s familiar with. 

After Irene snags the Mushroom Cup they’re joining you at the island, lips coated in powdered sugar and jam. The girls laugh when some powdered sugar gets into Taehyung’s hair, Irene patting him a little too hard on his bangs. 

“You’re here!” 

You whip around to see Jeongguk sliding the glass doors hurriedly, bare feet slapping across the tiled floor to reach you. He’s dripping wet, ocean water rivering around his body. Your eyes can’t help but follow the flow of the cool liquid, finding purchase between the planes of his chest and honeyed abs, glowing from the heat. 

Three years of your life were spent studying preparation and execution for war or nuclear threat. Unfortunately, at this very moment you feel way more prepared for war than Jeon Jeongguk standing in your villa, looking like that. 

Instead of the usual pleasantries, you hold up a leather wallet. “You left this in the classroom,” you chide. 

It’s a baldfaced lie. Somehow, Jeongguk’s wallet had conveniently ended up in your office between reams of paper. The bastard himself has the audacity to feign surprise, coral lips gaping in relief. “Wow, Princess. Totally not a ploy to get you to come here.” 

“Right.” 

“Give it here, I’ll drop it off in my room.” 

“Wait, wait!” you hold up both your hands, centimeters away from Jeongguk’s pecs. You’re nearly eye level with them, and you force yourself to look up at his smug face. “You’re dripping wet on the tile! Your feet still have sand you heathen! Do not get our carpets dirty!” you hold the wallet to your chest protectively, “where’s your room?” 

He tilts his head adorably, droplets flecking from his slicked back mane. “Third door on the right.” he doesn’t dare to argue with your sudden passion to keep your villa clean. 

You nod, “go enjoy the water. I’ll be right out.” You don’t give him a chance to reply, kicking off your sandals as you reach the cosier part of the villa. Soft carpet meets your toes as you pad off to the guest bedrooms. 

Jeongguk managed to snag the corner room, albeit smaller, it’s a single with a full mattress. You see his Superdry backpack open on the floor, its bottom worn with the white lining peeking through. Despite only arriving in the afternoon, his fresh scent is palpable. You drop the wallet on his desk, and you notice that his laptop’s still on. 

The Macbook Pro glows confidently, his screensaver revealing a photograph of you on your balcony. 

“Snooping around, Princess?” 

You whip around, seeing Jeongguk appear fully clothed, running a towel over his hair. He is no longer dripping water or sand, but he still smelled like salt and fire. He nonchalantly closes the door behind him, taking a seat at the foot of his bed. 

“You know it’s illegal to take unsolicited pictures of royalty, right?” 

“And who should I answer to, hm? The Princess?” he teases, face blooming from the fluffy white towel. 

You’re not upset about the picture, he knows that. But there you sit, slumped over his desk, looking forlornly at his picture of you. 

“I’ve locked the door,” Jeongguk pipes up, looking at you worriedly. “Yoongi mentioned that the room’s are soundproof. He said you looked upset today. Tell me what’s on your mind.” 

The room feels smaller, swallowing you whole. You’re tired from today’s events, both emotionally and physically. Jeongguk is having nothing of it, reaching between the two of you to pull the arms of the desk chair, wheeling you between his thighs. 

“Jeongguk,” you start, “why weren’t you mad at me when you were right? Right about me hiding something from you.” 

His brows furrow, “You made a sacrifice and protected your brother. Why would I be mad at that?” he says honestly, “sure, I was upset at first. Who wouldn’t be? But you did it out of love.” 

You smile wanly, knowing that there wasn’t going to be a chance that he’d be upset at you. It was out of your devices. “I wanted you to be mad,” you admit, wringing your fingers between your skirt, “it would’ve made it easier to leave.” 

“It would’ve, wouldn’t it?” he replies, his voice cotton soft. “After you left, Yoongi wouldn’t let me talk to you on the phone. Said you needed time. But I got him to tell me stories about you, stories that made me realize that I missed getting to know you.” 

It’s then you feel the weight of today express itself onto your cheeks, the wetness dampening your skin. You feel his thumb brush away the tears. 

“Tell me,” Jeongguk requests softly, “tell me what you really feel.” 

You let your head collapse in his hands, relishing the warmth and comfort it brings. “I feel hurt. And confined.” 

“More,” Jeongguk bids, his other hand squeezing your thigh, “let it out, Princess.” 

You are a strong, intelligent, beautiful woman. Don’t let your fears reject that.

“I miss acting like fools at the grocery store, falling on top of each other half-asleep.” Everything tumbles out shamelessly, like a waterfall. “I hate how frustrated I am when you call me Princess, because while it is my title, it turns me on in the most devastating way when you say it.” you drop your head in the crook of his neck, embarrassed to see his reaction. “I want to laugh with you, hold you, I want you, so badly. But I want you to be happy, to make music and art, and travel the world to find your muse,” you shake your head, pushing yourself away from him. “I feel so stuck here, I can’t hold you back when you’re free and—”

“That’s enough bullshit,” and he’s kissing you, a clashing of teeth that has you sensitive and reeling. His hands grasp your cheeks, and you’re stumbling in your chair as the wheels make moves on their own. You squeak against his lips before you’re wheeled back to the bed. Hot hands pull you forward to teeter your body onto the bed, keeping you in place. 

The man in question breaks apart, but close enough that his lips brush against yours when he speaks, “I’ve never kissed a princess before,” Jeongguk says wryly, cupping your cheek, “but if you make one more gripe about freedom and your stupid self-righteousness and I’ll stop.” 

A pure, unprepared whine escapes your lips, shame be damned. 

“You’re my muse,” he plants a kiss on your forehead, “I bothered Yoongi for weeks, working tooth and nail for that scholarship,” a kiss on both your nose, “you’re what it means to feel free.” 

And that’s all it takes for you to surge forward, toppling over him until he’s pushed against the headboard. Capturing your lips with his, you catch droplets of saltwater and a flavor that’s so distinctly Jeongguk, feeling high off the taste. 

Your skirt rides to your waist, your underwear damp from the ocean and arousal. You straddle him, feeling so unbounded and free as Jeongguk lets you do what you’ve both wanted to do. With a roll of your hips Jeongguk grunts, forehead pressed to yours. “Princess,” he rasps, meeting your thrusts, “we have until Christmas to do this, no need to rush.” 

Wait, Christmas? 

Jeongguk grins, kissing away your surprise. For now, you’ll ignore the burn between your thighs. “Before we left today, Yoongi and I asked the King, your father, if he would consider extending my scholarship for a full semester. I mentioned that Yoongi and I had some unfinished projects from undergrad,” he pecks your lips, “and he’s going to help me produce a full album for my final thesis.” 

“That’s amazing!” you cheer, pulling him into a hug. “I’m so proud of the two of you!”  

“Mhm,” he nuzzles your neck, pressing featherlight kisses to your skin, “can’t produce anything without my muse around, so I’d say Illyria is the perfect location.” 

Your fingers thread into his damp locks, and you feel your heart swell with happiness. Here, under the gaze of the beautiful boy who wanted to offer you his heart and his world, you felt free. 

extra.

It takes the strength of both your hands to pull Jeongguk in the storage closet, but it isn’t like he’s putting up a fight anyhow. 

“Come here often?” you drawl, leaning forward to press a kiss to his cheek. 

“Impressive,” he chuckles, “usually it takes you an hour to shake Jimin off ya. It’s only been thirty-five minutes.” 

“I just wanted to show you something funny,” you pull up your Instagram, and play the featured video. While it was posted weeks ago, it started to pick up traction after Yoongi liked the post this morning. Jeongguk is dashing around the palace, sweating bullets and cooing “c’mon Dixie!” to the sprinting chicken in the throne room. 

“You’re viral!” you giggle, “you put Illyria on the social media map!” 

Under the lowlights, it’s still easy to see Jeongguk’s skin has gone placid. “If I ever hit it big, that shit better not haunt me,” he groans into your neck.  

“Please,” you roll your eyes, “every famous person has a backstory. Aubrey Graham had Degrassi and the Yodeling Wal-Mart boy–”

“Are you really gonna compare your boyfriend to the Yodeling Wal-Mart kid? Tell me what you really came here for,” And like a teenager, Jeongguk reels it back in, winding his hands around your waist. He gives you bedroom eyes like it's a session of Seven Minutes in Heaven, “so, we’re gonna make out or what?” 

[sanakoreanlangblr]

2021 Goals

Heyy! I’ve decided to put my goals for this year here, hoping that that might motivate me further, and maybe motivate someone else as well. Good luck everyone! And please take extra care of yourselves and your health, mental or otherwise! Everything else can wait.

This year has been difficult for all of us. As for me, even now, the upcoming semester is a big question mark. Currently I’m studying in France, and this semester I was supposed to go on an exchange to Taiwan buuuut that’s not happening anymore, as it has been cancelled. So per my school’s requirements I need to find an internship in the place of expatriation, which is a pain now. And that basically just means I have no idea where I’m going to be in the coming year or what I’m gonna be doing ¯\_(ツ)_/¯ Sorry, needed to complain for a bit, as I am going absolutely insane with the stress…

Anywayyyy, I still hope I will be able to uphold most of these goals, wherever I will end up. I tried to not make them overly big, so that I won’t get burned out too fast. But I have a whole year for those, some of these have dates for which I could expect to finish but I will not keep to them very strictly. Whatever happens, happens :))

Also, sorry if there are any mistakes, English is not my first language!

Korean (A2 -> B1)

1. Do 100 lessons of grammar from the HowToStudyKorean website.

I’ve started a few grammar books but in the end decided to settle on this website as I like its explanations best, and it provides the most example sentences when introducing each point. A nice touch is also the fact that it includes a list of a number of new words before each chapter, which gives me some new vocabulary to learn :)

So far I’ve divided the grammar points introduced in lessons into „to learn”, „to revise”, „already know”, and turns out I have:

66 „to learn”

35 „to revise”

32 „already know”

So if I did 3 points a week, I should be done around August.

2. Read 2 little stories per week from “Easy Korean Reading for Beginners”.

There is 30 stories in the first one (I already did 5), so I should be done by the middle of April.

3. Do one chapter per week from “My first hanja guide”.

I just got this book for Christmas and haven’t had the time to fully go through it so we will see how it goes.

4. Do Anki at least three times a week.

Every day would be preferable but I know that would last like a week at most.

5. Have iTalki lesson at least once a week.

That one is not a problem as I have been doing one or two per week for the last year, but I would just like to keep it up.

6. Try writing at least twice a month, and at least 2 pages.

Yeahhh that one is a bit of a bother, as writing still takes me a long time so we will leave it a twice a month and see how it goes.

7. Watch one youtube video per week on Korean grammar or vocabulary.

Generally I would say my goal is to use Korean more, as I know quite a lot but when I’m speaking I tend to go towards the easier words and grammar, which is why I am thinking that writing more could help me. And also I really want to focus on learning vocabulary as that’s always been a pain for me, I’m more of a grammar lover :))

French (A2 -> hoping for upper B1/ beginning of B2)

1. Finish the intermediate grammar book. I’m currently doing „Grammaire Progressive du Français” Intermediate edition, for A2/B1.

The problem is that my grammar knowledge of french is a mess , so going through this book is a bit of an annoyance, as most chapters I technically know but each time I find some nuance I wasn’t aware of... therefore I need to go through it, even the chapters I would have assumed I know :|

So I divided the chapters the same way I did Korean, into „to learn”, „to revise”, „already know”, and I ended up with:

14 „to learn”

34 „to revise”

4 „already know”

So technically if I did 2 points a week, I should be done in June.

2. Read the two french books I got for Christmas (“Les aventures d’Alice au pays des merveilles” and “Le tour du monde en quatre-vingts jours”).

3. Read at least two of the Harry Potter books in French.

I have started the first one this week, and I can tell it’s gonna be a very very slow process. It’s the first book I’m reading in french so it’s a bit difficult and frustrating but hopefully it’ll get better as I go along.

4. Watch at least 4 french movies, with french subtitles.

5. Learn a french song.

6. Read one story per week from „French Stories for Beginners”.

These are quite easy, but they are a nice practice for switching to books later on.

I don’t know if I’m gonna keep this one in, depends on how much my reading of actual books will progress.

7. Get to point 5 on the Duolingo tree.

I use Duolingo mostly as a revision tool, so I’m not really going to focus on it much, but still want to keep it up.

8. Watch one YouTube video per week (on any topic).

9. Listen to two podcasts per month.

10. At least one iTalki lesson per week.

11. Do Anki at least 3 times a week.

I really need to listen to french more, as I’m good at reading and I usually understand that pretty well, and I’m not the worst as speaking, but I am absolutely terrible at listening :| So that’s a priority.

Chinese (tbh I don’t know...end of HSK1/Beginning of HSK2 -> let’s say the goal is HSK3 for this year)

1. Finish the book „Integrated Chinese”

I’m having a tough time to pick a book from which to learn but I guess for now I’ll continue with that one.

Again, I divided the points in the book to „to learn”, „to revise”, „already know”, and ended up with:

47 „to learn”

11 „to revise”

15 „already know”

So doing 2 a week I should be done in July.

2. Learn 15 characters a day

I am way behind on learning characters.. I remember the words well but I didn’t put enough time to learn the characters at the start and now that’s gonna be a bit annoying to catch up on :|

3. Finish the drama „Go Ahead”.

4. Watch 3 Chinese movies, with both English and Chinese subtitles.

5. Have one Italki lesson per week.

6. Learn a children song in Chinese

7. Watch one youtube video per week on grammar.

8. Do Anki twice a week.

Generally focus more on characters. My speaking isn’t terrible (well besides the tones), but I need to work on the grammar a bit more as I seem to mess up the structures quite frequently. I need to put more work outside of my lessons. Since I found out I’m actually not going to Taiwan this semester my motivation has fallen a bit, but on the other hand I now have more time to prepare for fall, at which point I will hopefully be able to go!

Personal

Read 20 books.

I have always loved reading but in the past two years the amount of books I’ve read has gone down, which upsets me a bit…  On the other hand the amount of fanfiction I’ve read is tremendous, so there’s that. However I would like to make more effort to read this year, especially since I’ve accumulated a huge pile of books over those few years.

2. Workout regularly.

Right now I’m at home, so that should be easy to do. I don’t really know what’s gonna happen this semester, so we’ll see what I’m going to do about that later.

3. Eat better.

Meaning: cut down on sugar, eat more veggies and fruit.

4. Get a bit closer to my ideal weight

I’m not necessarily focusing on that this year as the previous one has been hell and really managed to deteriorate my mental health back to high school levels... but still hopefully working out a bit and eating less sugar, more veggies, I will be able to lose a tiny bit of weight. But overall I just want to focus on being a bit healthier.

5. Clean out my wardrobe

Sorry that’s a silly one but I’ve been getting to it for half a year now and I’m just too lazy to do that... maybe once I put it here I will have some motivation

6. Take care of my face and hair

So my sensitive skin hates wearing masks and needs extra care these days I need to really focus on it and baby it, to not go back to the awful red mess it was two months ago

As for my hair, I have kind of 3a curls which I haven’t been taking care of properly and plus I damaged them with hair dye (still I refuse to give up ginger hair, I blame Merida). So now during lockdown and quarantine season I finally had some time to read up on hair care of curls, and honestly after a month I can already see the difference, and well I hope for the best :)))

7. Get a tattoo

It’s something I’ve always put off since I either didn’t have the money or time. And now again both are problematic, so I will wait for the decision until I know what my school semester is going to be like. Maybe this time I will find a good moment! (Although honestly saving up for travelling after all this is over is also a great idea :))) )

8. Don’t go to sleep at 5

Yeah so during lockdown and because of online classes my sleeping schedule got so messed up I don’t even know what to do about it anymore. And while my goal isn’t to switch it to 10 pm, cutting it to 2 am at max would be nice

9. Watch 25 movies

10. Sell/donate the things that I don’t need

I’ve accumulated a huge pile of books, movies, CDs, Xbox games, art products - that I need to get rid of - and I’ve been saying that for like three years now, about the same pile of things. I will try to do that one this year!

I hope everyone’s 2021 will be a ton better than 2020! Keep fighting!

[h0neyjaehyun]

☁︎ 𝐃𝐢𝐬𝐡𝐞𝐚𝐫𝐭𝐞𝐧𝐞𝐝 ☁︎

Summary // Tali has a heart to heart with Chan, and the Dreamies experience Tali's child like personality when she is really happy.

Characters // Talia Flores + Bang Chan (ft. Dreamies expect Mark, Doyoung)

Era / Year // October 2017

Word Count //

Bold // English

⚠️Warning⚠️ // Breakdown

"Chan its gonna be okay, its not your fault it was never your fault and never will be."

It was the middle of a survival show of the creation of Straykids, Minho not to long ago got eliminated. She went over to his house and brung him food to cheer him up and she promised him that when she had free time she would help him with singing plus rapping. Then just last night Felix got eliminated just because he couldn't speak Korean properly, deep down she felt guilty not teaching him Korean, but she was busy with schedules she couldn't. After Chan walked him to his home, she just finished practice and went to Felix's house to comfort him. He felt so guilty and her heart broke at her friend feeling guilty he couldn't speak a language.

Korean was hard to learn from an english speaker perspective. It was like the opposite of English. She striked a deal with him at least once a week she would help him with Korean, inperson or through a screen since she did have to go on tour.

After she left Felix's place after putting him to sleep. She went to the person who felt most guilty.

She went into JYP building heading towards the studio where Chan usually is. He always in there, either producing, or avoiding his problems and feelings. She heard music, it was Hellevator, she heard it replay over and over again. She knocked on the door, the music stopped and it revealed a tried Chan.

"Hey sweetie" Tali smiled at him sadly she came in and sat on one of the chairs. Chan sat down on his chair and just looked at her. Then he just started to breakdown.

"I- I- I failed the- them Tali." Chan choked up crouched down in Tali's stomach.

"No, no you didn't Chan you tried your be-"

"NO I DIDN'T, I LET THEM GET ELIMINATED TALI....its my fault, I failed them, I promised we would debut together Tali....I promised them." Chan sobbed. Promises to them meant a lot to them. So when Chan couldn't keep that promise it broke him.

"Chan its gonna be okay, its not your fault it was never your fault and never will be." Tali comforted Chan petting his hair trying to calm him down.

"They don't blame you, they don't hate you, as long as you keep trying and helping each other you guys will make it. Jyp was just nit picky. This is not your fault." Tali said cupping his face whipping the tears off his face.

"But-" "No buts Channie, come on, lets go out for a bit, and get your mind off things" Tali suggested

Chan agreed.

They packed up at went to a open store and got some food and snacks. They went to a near by play ground and stayed there for a bit talking.

"Tali?"

"Hm?"

"How do you handle it?"

"Handle what?"

"The hate?"

Tali stopped at the question. She looked up at him in confusion. "What do you mean how do I handle the hate Channie?"

"Well, Ive been seeing some comments that, Im not a good leader or person and that im a f-"

"Shh hey hey, one that not true and two... I don't. Im not able to, but I don't show it. I usually distracted myself and not think about it. But they do get to me I am human."

"What about the staff?"

"Oh the staff are still asswholes to me and the Chinese line. I record whats she said about boys and me. Also that she left a member behind and got in the car instead. Honestly one more thing from her, she out." Chan laughed at her statement, but knowing she was serious. She hated when people get discriminated, she doesn't care if she does, only the people around her. So a staff member came she started acting like the boss and mistreating the chinese members which got Tali pissed.

Whether the boys or the staff know it she has a lot of power. Sm made her co-leader for a reason and that is to point out any staff mistreating members and setting them straight or firing them. They know she honest and knows how the entertainment system works. So they trust her who ever can't handle the idols or treat the idols properly and are reported by her. They will get fired so quick. So most staff that worked with her before know this and they know not to tell new staff because the staff themselves don't want a problems in the future because of another staff member.

"So one more strike huh?"Tali looked up at him.

"Yeah" she said quietly.

"How are you and Han?" Tali frozed at the boy's name.

"Fine" Chan raised an eyebrow at her.

"Fine? Really that all you gonna give me?"Tali sighed at the statement.

"Well, I don't know, its just. Its hard. He didn't believe me Chan. When he promised he would be there. He left me." Tali said quietly.

Chan was saddened that she still was unsure of her friendship with the boy. He made a promise he shouldn't have and didn't believe her words and left her, then expected when she forgive him everything would go back to normal. Which did, from the outside. People who did know Tali, would know it wasnt gonna go back to normal anytime soon.

When Tali talkes to people she cares about, her eyes have this light about them. But when she is unsure of the person a doubts them she has this sheild which would take a pretty long time to get down. It took Han since 2015 to atleast get Tali to talk to him again, 2 years. She was scared.

"You know he cares about you right? That he loves you like the rest of us?"Tali looked at Chan with doubt in her eyes.

"Does he really tho?"

"Tali.." Chan went infont of her and grabbed her hands.

"He really cares about you, do you think the guy will try to make you talk with him for around 2 years for him not to care about you?"

"I- Im just scared that he won't believe me.........that he'll leave."

"Tali if he does ever hurt you, you can always drop him, you are scarily good at that" Channie joked

Tali giggled

"Chan?"

"Yeah?"

"I'm afraid."

"You're afraid of what?"

"I'm afraid my group is gonna do that to me....not believe me, break promises, and leave me."

"Hey they won't, as long as you trust them I believe that it won't happen." Tali was stuck in thought.

"....what if they ask about my family....what do I say?"

"...do you want them to know?" "....no"

"Then tell them your not comfortable talking about your family"

"But what if they feel hurt when they find out you guys know and not them?" Tali said filled with gulit.

Chan sighed for once not knowing how to reassure the girl. Because if he was in the group and found out that a completely different group is closer to their only female member. He would feel sad and bitter. So Chan just hugged the girl to reassure her to gonna be okay.

Tali basked in this moment knowing nothing last forever, then realized something.

"...wait a minute shouldn't this be the other way around?"

"Shh no its fine" "No its not fine switch me"

"Tali its fine"

"No-"

"I swear Talia we are not fighting about this again"

They started bickering about who comforts who then she got a phone call.

She flinched at the sound and cursed in her mind realizing what time it is and how she didnt tell ANYONE she left the house. She turned the phone and sees the ID number as Doyoung. She cursed out loud, she was really hoping it was Taeyong.

"Hey language" Chan joked, Tali just glared at him. She picked up the phone scared if there was gonna be either yelling or a scary calm Doyoung

"Hell-"

"HELLO MY ASS WHERE ARE YOU ITS 1 AM IN THE MORNING AND YOUR NOT BACK HOME YOU MIGHT BE 18 (17) BUT YOUR STILL YOUNG!" Tali cringed.

"Im at the park, I was spending time with an old friend I lost track of time sorry." Tali said sheepishly.

"Its fine just come back home the dreamies were in panick when you didn't come back to the dorms so just go there and make sure your friend takes you there....wait is it a g-"

"Omg look at the time, its getting late thanks for calling me oppa im gonna go now bye!"

"Wai-" Tali cut him off and ended the call. She knew if she said it was a guy they will go all investigative mode and try to find out who the guy is.

Chan smacked the back of her head.

"Ow what was that for?!" Talia whinced while rubbing her head.

"For worrying your members and ending the call early, Talia you should know better." Chan said jokingly, shaking his head and pointing at her.

Tali smacked his finger and made are you serious face at him.

"You can't say anything, rememb-"

"Nope, this is not the time." Chan cut her off putting his hand over her mouth and dragging her off the park to the dreamies dorm.

"We are here thanks for walking me." Tali turned and hugged Chan knowing she won't see him for awhile. Chan just gave her a warm smile.

"No problem anything for our Butterfly." Tali smiled at the nickname. Remembering all times they have been together.

"Thank you for everything Channie, I really appreciate you." Tali said still hugging him looking up at him with this light in her eyes like Chan first saw when he was able to get closer to her. He always cherished that moment because it showed that she trusted him. Her eyes just poured out her emotions, it took time to able to read them but it was all worth it, and he would do it all over again.

"Always, I will keep my promise to you, and to him." He said rubbing her head. Tali's eyes changed when she thought about him, not sad ones more like grateful. Tali let him go and she went inside and waved him goodbye.

She went up the elevator, reminiscing the old times, even though it came to an end she still had part of them left with her as she held her locket in her palm looking at a picture that she cherished so much closing it back again once she was on the floor of the dreamies apartment.

She was at the door preparing herself for either a scolding or affection, probably both.

She unlocked the door and Jaemin tackled her to the ground.

"WHERE HAVE YOU BEEN I WAS WORRIED SICK SOMEONE HAD TAKEN YOU FROM US." Jaemin scolded her while he was squishing her. Then he picked her up and she went back on the ground by the 2 mankaes.

"Why didn't you at least text us" "Yeah I came in your room for cuddles and you weren't there." Chenle pouted while Jisung scolded. Tali giggled but she felt guilty for making them worried.

"Im sorry I didn't mean too. I was just visiting some friends I haven't seen in awhile." Tali said sheepishly.

"Wow so you left us for them wow." Haechan said with a betrayed face. Tali rolled her eyes at the boy running up to him and hugging him. He was surprised at the contact, Tali at the time wasn't big on skinship so she never really did it herself.

"Don't be a baby, I saw you all this morning and afternoon. I haven't seen them in a long time, how about this we can see a movie in my room for the night hm?" Tali pouted, she didn't want to get scolded.

The boys have never seen Tali act this cute and touchy before. They were loving it.

"Hm? How about we cook and then watch a movie?" Haechan inquired trying to see how long her cuteness will last. Her eyes brightened at the idea she let him go and clapped her hands.

"Yes pleaasee." Tali giggled. Tali was acting her age, which was the first time in forever, they didn't know how. But they were taking advantage of it.

"Lets start cooking, hm?" Jeno said while rubbing Tali's head. Tali looked him and gave him her famous smile that would literally make his hearts burst.

"Come on Tali, help me prepare~" Renjun said while grabbing Tali and gently leading her to the kitchen.

Everyone just stood in place for a couple seconds. Processing what they just witnessed.

"Hyung, what did we just witnessed?" Jisung asked

"I don't know, but I loved every single moment of that." Haechan said, Then Tali popped out with a cute apron on with Renjun behind her smiling at her fondly.

"You guys wanna help?" Tali said cutely, everyone gushed on how adorable was being. They didn't know but when ever she hangs out with Straykids she has this kid like persona come out of her and even afterwards, and thats what they are seeing, she just grew up with Nct and Straykids differently she acts an adult with Nct while Straykids she acts her age maybe a little younger. So when she left Chan she was in a happy mood and that continued to now.

They all looked at each other and then back at Tali.

"Of course Princess."

[sluttyten]

We Got That Good Love

summary: Kun’s your husband and he’s been away for a while, but he’s home at last and he’s got a special present for you

words: 4,488

pairing: Kun x Reader

tags: husband and father Kun, fluff, smut

Being married to an idol had its pros and its cons. 

Pros: a hot, talented man who was fantastic at entertaining you and your daughter with songs and dance, always bringing in a fairly decent paycheck, able to take you abroad to places that you likely wouldn’t have ever seen otherwise.

Cons: he was gone a lot, had fans who still liked to pretend that you and your daughter didn’t exist, and had you already mentioned that he was away from home far too much for your liking?

When you and Kun were first talking about getting married, about the possible future of having a family, this was one of the issues you’d had. 

“You’re overseas a lot, Kun. How can we have a family if you’re away all the time?” You’d asked with your knees drawn up to your chest, your back against the headboard of his bed in the dorm. “I don’t want to raise a family alone, live the married life alone. I need you there with me.”

Kun had moved closer then and covered your hand with his, and told you, “I understand that. And if you think that you can’t handle this life that I’ve chosen, then I... I can--”

“Don’t you dare!” You’d pushed him away before he could get out the next words. “You had better not offer to give up this career Qian Kun! I would end it all before I let you give up on your dream.” Kun opened his mouth again and you crawled into his lap, covered his mouth with your hand, and shook your head. “Don’t say it. I won’t let you.”

His mouth moved against your hand and you pressed your palm harder against his lips, trying to muffle his words. His eyes narrowed and he pulled his head back with a shake. “I’m not saying it, I swear. I said I love you. I love you more than you can ever know. I think we can make this work, the two of us as a married couple, as a family.” 

Kun’s arms slid around your waist, holding you firmly in his lap. His erection was poking against you, but you didn’t mind. If it were up to you, you’d have started working to make a family with Kun right then and there, but he wanted to do things the right way. Which meant not getting you pregnant before marriage, and not having sex in the dorm when any of his members could hear or walk in on you. 

But now, six years later, you were happily married to the international singer Qian Kun, the father of your four-year old daughter Mei. 

And today, although it had been a long day at work for you, was Kun’s first day back home after three weeks away promoting. Your mom had been watching Mei, and she’d texted you earlier around lunch to tell you that Kun was home so she was leaving. 

You quietly open the front door, and immediately you’re met with the smell of a home-cooked meal, the sound of someone moving around in the kitchen, and from farther inside is the sound of the TV playing a cartoon. You toe your shoes off, leaving them beside the door as you head toward the kitchen and peer through the doorway. 

Kun’s immersed in cooking, dicing up vegetables while a pan sizzles on the stovetop and a pot boils beside it. 

You’ve missed him, you realize as your heart lurches in your chest. Like, of course you’ve missed him. He’s your husband and he’s been away for three weeks, but all of your exhaustion from the rest of the day fades away, replaced with a feeling of pure softness and love for the man standing across the room from you.

He’s wrapped in a sweater, an apron tied nicely around his waist, his wedding band glinting on his finger with each dip of his hand on the knife. You want to sneak up behind him, wrap your arms around him like the apron strings, and surprise him with a kiss.

You can just imagine him jumping, letting out a startled noise and dropping the knife. You almost laugh at the visual, but the last thing you want is to get him accidentally hurt. Spending your first night back together in the emergency room getting him stitched up is not the way you’re planning on spending tonight.

“Mama!” Mei cries, and your head snaps toward the living room where she’s leaning over the arm of the sofa backwards, waving at you upside down. Her mouth is a blur of purple, probably from a popsicle, and her hair is a wild mess.

“Hi, baby!” You scoop her up into your arms before she can slide off the sofa’s arm and land on her head. “How was your day?”

You lick your thumb and attempt to rub at the purple on her face, but she squirms and avoids it, all while babbling to you about her day. Mei tells you about how she and your mother had cereal for breakfast, then they went for a walk in the park and she got to swing and pet a puppy and feed birds. Then they went shopping and came home and your mom was making them lunch when the door opened.

“And Daddy’s home!” Mei cries happily, clapping her hands together and bouncing in your lap. “He’s home! He’s home! He ate lunch with us and then grandma left, and I told Daddy all about everything I could remember, and we watched cartoons and he let me eat a popsicle and we took a nap and then he started making food and let me watch more cartoons.”

You smile at her, watching the way her eyes light up so brightly talking about Kun. You knew that she’s missed him too. A few times over the past few weeks, Mei woke up crying, sniffling and begging for her Daddy. Talking to him over the phone and even FaceTiming with him weren’t quite enough for her.

“Daddy said he missed me the most.” Mei grins. “And he brought home presents for me and for you, but he said we have to wait until after dinner for them.”

You stroke her hair, attempting to tame it down just a little. “I think he’s almost got dinner ready. Why don’t you go wash your face and wash your hands, then come to the kitchen, alright?”

Mei nods and slides off your lap, running down the hallway toward the bathroom. The sound of her feet pattering against the floor disappears as you hear water start pouring into the bathroom sink.

Kun is right where you left him, standing in the kitchen looking immersed in his cooking, but this time he glances up when you walk into the room.

“Hey, you’re home.” He grins, reaching out toward you. You tuck yourself against his side, your arm curling around his waist as you lean into him and kiss him. You nearly melt into his embrace, falling deeper and deeper into him, and you could definitely get carried away, but you stop yourself before you can.

“Yeah, I’m home.” You slide your hand up his back to the nape of his neck, trace your fingers there for a moment. “But more importantly, you’re home. We’ve missed you.” The words linger on your tongue, and you meet Kun’s eyes, feeling the moment swell, and you open your mouth to tell him more, but before you can, Kun speaks up.

He sinks into your touch, closing his eyes briefly. “I missed you and Mei too. Ten kept pestering me to FaceTime you two. He kept saying he misses his goddaughter, so I told him that maybe he should actually come over some time.” Kun switches off the stovetop, moving the pans from their burners. “But I missed you so much.”

Kun turns to fully face you, both of his hands on your hips and he reels you in closer. His hands wander, one down to your ass, and when you sigh, Kun kisses you again and his other hand rises up to your chest. He backs you up a few feet until your back hits the countertop, and you moan into the kiss and dig your fingers into his hair, trying to hold him closer and kiss him more desperately.

Distantly you hear singing, and its when you realize that it’s Mei singing as she skips toward the kitchen, you quickly push Kun away. 

He clears his throat, presses the back of his hand to his heated cheeks, and steps back toward the stove to make sure that the food is all ready to be served. You fan yourself and move over to the table, sinking down into a chair just as Mei enters the room and climbs up into her chair, a big smile on her face as she looks up at Kun’s back.

“Lets eat! I want my presents!” 

Kun laughs, his eyes flicking to you as he brings a pot over to the table. “You’ll both get your presents soon. Eat slowly, Mei. Chew carefully, alright?”

She nods, but somehow you don’t think she’s really listening.

After dinner, after you and Kun have finished cleaning up the kitchen, you join Mei in the living room while Kun fetches from your bedroom his carry-on bag where he stowed the presents. 

He pulls out a doll for Mei as well as a tiny, very likely expensive purse, and a storybook in Chinese that he promises he’ll read to her tonight when he tucks her in. Still, she clutches her new doll to her chest and climbs into Kun’s lap, lays her head on his chest and begs him to read it to her right then.

Mei doesn’t know much Mandarin. It’s not something spoken in the house very often because you live in Seoul, so she knows Korean with a few scattered words of Mandarin. But you know she likes the way that the language sounds when it comes from Kun’s lips because she looks at him the same way she does any time that he sings: like he’s a magical prince with the most beautiful voice.

So even if she won’t understand the words of the story, you know she wants to hear it, wants to see the pictures in the book, and pretend like she understands everything. Kun’s tried sometimes to teach her Mandarin, but now that he’s brought her a storybook, you suspect he’s going to use it to try to teach her the language.

“What about Mama’s present?” Kun asks when Mei opens the book for Kun, pouting as she points at the page and begs him to read to her. 

You frown at him. 

Years ago, several months into the relationship, Kun left for China and returned several weeks later with all sorts of presents for you. He’d basically showered you with gifts and told you just how much he missed you the whole time he was away. The next time he had to leave, Kun had asked you what sort of presents you wanted him to bring back for you.

“Kun,” You’d said while you held his hand. “You are the best present you could possibly bring back to me.” And you’d meant it, although he didn’t seem to believe you that first time or the time after that. It took you telling him several times before it sank in and Kun brought himself back to you, the only present you ever wanted.

And now, sitting there on the sofa with him, you can’t help but frown. If he brought you a present back...

“What present?” Mei reaches for Kun’s bag, ready to dig inside and find what he brought for you. She pulls out a tangle of headphones, a charging cord, a book that gets tossed aside. A sweatshirt, a hat, a mask.

Mei pouts when she reaches the bottom of the bag.

Kun laughs and runs a hand over her hair. “Relax, Mei. It’s not in there.”

In a warning tone, you say, “Kun.”

He puts a hand on your knee, shaking it gently. “You’re my wife. The love of my life, mother of my child. Is it the worst thing that I occasionally want to bring you back a present that made me think of you when I saw it?”

Of course it’s not the worst thing. 

Kun slips his hand into his pocket, and when he pulls it back out, he holds a small box. “This one’s for you, my love.”

You can’t be angry with him, not when he holds the box out to you so earnestly, hope and adoration in his eyes. You take it, flip the lid up, and gasp.

“What is it?” Mei asks, crawling from Kun’s lap and craning her head so she can see inside the little box.

Sitting atop the cushion inside is a beautiful silver locket. It’s a simple design, silver and in the shape of a heart with a swirling design engraved on the front. You open it and find that the inside is empty, the two spots for pictures left blank for you to fill, and the back side of the locket has two dates engraved.

“Our wedding anniversary. Mei’s birthday.” Kun tells you, as if you didn’t already know. “I saw the locket, and I thought about you and how you always wear that necklace that I brought back the first time.” You touch the small pendant hanging around your throat. “You told me a little while ago that the clasp was starting to wear, and I thought that you might really like this one, and I know that you always tell me not to bring you anything except for me, but--”

“I love it.”

Mei reaches in to touch the locket, her little fingers running over the bright, spotless shine of it. “It’s so pretty. What do you put inside?”

“Pictures. A picture of you, so I can show you off in a picture wherever I go, so I can always have you close to my heart. A picture of Daddy, too.” You close the lid carefully and sit the box aside. “I love it, Kun. Thank you.”

After that, Mei pretty much decides she’s done with not being read to, so she climbs back into Kun’s lap, makes herself right at home in his arms and leans against his chest so he can read her the story. The sound of his voice reading the story to her in his native tongue is almost lyrical, magical, and mesmerizing. It’s not long before Mei starts dozing off, her eyelids sinking, and soon she’s out.

Kun’s voice trails off. “I’ll take her to bed,” He whispers to you.

You nod silently, a little sleepy yourself as you get to your feet and head to bed.

You’re staring at yourself in the mirror on your vanity table, fixing the hem of the nightgown you’re wearing, when Kun walks into the room. You meet his gaze in the reflection and smooth your hand nervously over the front of your gown before you turn to face him. 

Kun shuts the door behind him then walks over to you. His arms circle your waist, his lips go to your forehead. “Mei’s down. I tucked her in, turned on that music box. With any luck she won’t wake up at least until the sun’s up, which is perfect because I have another present for you.”

“Oh, do you?” You tilt your head and look into his eyes, draping your arms over his shoulders. “What would that be? Is that another gift box in your pocket, or are you just happy to see me?”

He laughs quietly, and leans in to kiss you once again.

This time he doesn’t have to stop. Neither one of you do, so you tangle your fingers in Kun’s hair and kiss your husband until you’re both breathless. Kun presses you back against the vanity, lifting you just enough so that you sit on it, scattering some lipstick, lotions, and jewelry you had sitting there. 

“Mmm, God. I really missed you,” Kun moans. His fingers move up your thighs, pushing your nightgown with it. “Hotel beds are cold when there’s not someone there to warm it up with you. Mornings, nights, and every moment in between are boring when I can’t do this, can’t hear this.” Kun rubs you through your panties and instinctively, your legs move to close around his hand and you let out a whine.

“You didn’t touch yourself while I was gone, did you, my love?” Kun kisses your neck, tracing delicate shapes over your clit through the panties. “I didn’t. Not once. I’ve been saving it up, all for you.”

You feel his cock throb against your leg, and you reach for the waistband of his pants, hurrying to unfasten them and get them out of the way. You’ve missed Kun for all the normal reasons, but fuck have you missed his cock too. When you can’t get his pants down fast enough, you settle for just shoving your hand down into them, getting your hand wrapped around his length.

Kun groans and you smile victoriously and tilt your chin to draw Kun’s attention back to your lips. He kisses you, his fingers on your panties, your hand working over his cock, and it feels so nice to make out on the vanity table while touching each other. 

“Fuck me.” You press a hand to his cheek, nearly growling the words to him. “I miss the feeling of you inside me, Kun. Three weeks is forever. You’re not allowed to leave for so long ever again. Not when we’d be missing out on something this good.”

Kun takes a step back then drags your hips forward too, and together you stumble to the bed.

You feel the straps of your nightgown slip down your shoulders, exposing one breast as the strap slides down lower and lower, and your back hits the bed. Kun covers you, his hands firm on your thighs, spreading them and lifting them up on either side of his hips. 

“Wow.” He stares down at you. “You’re so beautiful. How did I ever get so lucky?”

One of his hands comes up to caress your exposed breast, gentle (for which you’re grateful as your boobs have been more sensitive recently), and then he sinks lower without breaking eye contact with you and flicks his tongue over your nipple before taking the peak into his warm mouth.

You gasp and arch into his touch. 

His other hand strokes your thigh in unending circles that just build the heat in your core, and you curl your toes against the sheets. “Kun, Kun.” You moan his name, and when he pulls back from your nipple, leaving it startlingly cold in the absence of his mouth, he immediately reaches his hand over to your other breast, pushing the fabric of the nightgown out of the way so he can kiss over this one as well.

“So beautiful,” He compliments again.

You jolt when he sucks this nipple into his mouth too.

At the same moment his hand on your thigh pushes your nightgown up over your hips, his fingertips snag against the waistband of your panties, and he starts dragging them down your legs, never ceasing the sweet pleasure he’s giving your boobs as he rids you of your panties.

Kun’s fingertips move between your legs next, sweeping up between your folds, gathering your wetness on his fingers, which he then slides smoothly inside you, crooking a finger to press right against that spot that he knows so well.

You squeeze your legs together and cry out.

“Shh!” Kun kisses your chest. “Don’t wake Mei.”

“Then stop playing with me. I want to feel you inside me, Kun.” You reach down for his waistband again, but Kun slips out of your reach, leaving you alone on the bed for a moment. Your pussy gives a throb when Kun tears his shirt over his head, and you moan. “I need you so badly right now. I’m dripping.”

Kun swears, his gaze riveted between your legs, and you know that he can see how wet you actually are. He grips his cock through his pants.

“It’s been a tough three weeks without you,” You tell him, letting your hand fall between your legs. “I’ve been horny, but I couldn’t do anything without you here. Now that you’re back, I want you to fuck me so good I won’t even be able to get out of bed in the morning.”

Kun smiles and at last his pants disappear. His cock, hard and leaking, springs up against his belly. That’s something you never get tired of. 

He pulls your hand away from where your fingers were resting against your wetness, and he pins the hand over your head. “Leave it there.”

You shift your hips, rocking them up, drawing his attention down to where you need him the most, and your sweet husband knows better than to make you wait any longer.

He runs his hand over his length a few times and then he slides into you, the perfect fit like he’s home right there inside you. He sinks down over you, his cock going as deep as possible, and he sighs and lowers his forehead against yours.

“So good to be home.”

You twist and tangle your arms and legs around him, and with your fingers in his hair, your guide his mouth back to yours. All it takes is sucking once on his tongue and Kun’s hips start moving. Slowly at first, his cock dragging slowly against your walls, the pleasure intense and torturous.

The mattress squeaks quietly, and you cling tighter to him, your pussy clenching around Kun’s cock. He picks up the pace, his cock punching into you in such a way that you know you’re not going to last much longer. Already you can feel your orgasm building strongly, a sea of pleasure held back by a veil.

Kun’s arms flex as he holds himself up over you, you can sense the tightness of his muscles all over, and when he bites your lip and pulls away to mutter a quiet swear, you know that he’s just as close as you are.

“I’m so close, Kun.” You rake your fingers through his hair, digging your nails in when he fucks in deep and stays there, grinding his hips against you, giving you that bit of pressure against your clit as well. 

“Are you going to cum, my love?” Kun pants heavily, still moving inside you.

You nod. You can feel your orgasm, just waiting to be unleashed with just a little bit more...

You squeeze your eyes shut, push your hips up, and Kun gets the message, drawing out only to pound back into you again and again.

The thin veil bursts apart and you feel overwhelmed with pleasure, tingling warm and glowing through every part of your body, your orgasm burning through you. Your pussy pulses around Kun, setting him off as well, and you feel him filling you up so you squeeze tighter around him. Every part of you clings to every part of him.

“I love you,” You tell him, and Kun echoes those words right back at you.

When you ease up on him just a bit, Kun thrusts a bit more, going until he can’t anymore as he goes soft and gets more sensitive. 

He kisses your throat as he pulls out, his hands trail down your chest, and he flops over onto his side beside you, one of his hands stays covering your breast. He leaves kisses on your collarbone and across your shoulder, and sighs in a totally relaxed and happy way.

“I love being home.” He tells you. 

“I love when you’re home, too.” You roll onto your side too, and Kun withdraws his hand to help you pull the straps of your nightgown back up into place. You hold one of his hands in both of your before he can pull it fully away, then you bring it up to your lips and kiss his knuckles.

“I have a present for you too.” You move his hand to your cheek, nuzzling into the touch.

“What?” Kun smiles. “More than what just happened?” 

You nod and hum. “That was your present to me, remember? Even if we did both enjoy it. My present to you is something else that we’ll both get to enjoy.”

“Oh, really?” Kun starts to slide his other hand between your legs again, but you swat it away. 

“Not like that!” You whisper with a laugh. “Close your eyes.”

He squeezes them shut immediately, grinning as you move closer. “What kind of present is this?”

You push lightly on his chest so he rolls onto his back, and then you lay your head on his chest, his heartbeat thudding steadily under your ear, and his arm curls around you. You hope he can’t feel the rapid beating of your heart as you slide the words around in your mouth, considering them before you make them real. 

“What is it?” Kun asks again.

“I really missed you while you were gone. We missed you.” 

Kun rubs a hand up and down your arm. “I know. I missed you and Mei so much too.” 

You shake your head and shift around so you can rest your chin on his chest, look at his face as you say, “No, I mean we all missed you. I did, Mei did, and the baby did too.”

Kun’s eyes flash open, a smile half-formed as he asks, “What?”

“I’m pregnant. Again. I found out while you were gone, but it just didn’t seem right to tell you any way except face-to-face.” You curl your lips in to keep from smiling so widely. “I’m definitely not very far along yet. A month and a half at the most, but I’m pregnant, Kun.”

“Oh my God!” Kun wraps his arms tight around you, holding you against him as he rolls you over beneath him. “Oh my God!” He kneels up and his hands slide down to your belly, his gaze sticking right there where soon enough the growth of the life inside you will be visible. “We’re going to have another baby!”

You nod, and the smile bursts to your lips, unable to be controlled any longer. 

Your emotions sweep over you, so filled with that good, loving feeling that you always have when you’re with Kun, and warm tears of happiness spill down your cheeks. 

As he falls back down beside you, still cradling you in his arms against his chest, brushing kisses against your forehead and cheeks and lips, you sink into him, totally blissfully happy. You feel home.

[ecreau]

Boredom Rules!

Probably since it was announced that the lockdown would be implemented in my place. I was already working from home since February imagine being at home for 6 months now haha! As an introvert, I am not complaining at all. Although I miss my usual habits whenever I go out of work. I usually get a morning shift (even now) from 6am to 3pm so I won't be haggling the rush hour because traffic here is the worst!

Anyway, after work, my company doesn't let us work beyond our work schedule so the office is empty at around 3:30pm. I would start to walk going to our trains here and traveling at least 30 minutes until I arrived at a mall where I usually hang out for hours until I go home haha I really miss it.

My usual habit made commuting easy and fun. I go to different stores in the mall especially gaming stores, where I window shop for Nintendo Switch games that I wouldn't buy just happy to look at it then I go for an early dinner at around 4pm. I usually eat Chinese, Japanese, or Korean for dinner because most of the restaurants were near the train usually those cuisines. I love it and miss it so much!

The fact that you're just enjoying your meal, browsing on your phone, or in my case watching an episode of my favorite series sucking up the free wifi in the mall haha I miss these small activities so much. I just wish everything will be back to normal after a year or so.

Although in this case, I am still happy I have work that lets me do everything at home. I can save money, time, and energy. As I also promised that 2020 would definitely be keeping it low in my expenses because 2019 was definitely a blast.

Boredom Rules, as I say right now because from it I definitely learned something new to myself and it is to be patient. After work, I just rest for awhile doing nothing as in lying on the bed, closed eyes and after 30 minutes or so I would get up eat dinner, take a bath and watch my favorite series again or play video games. Boredom definitely made me think of many possibilities that I can do while having so much free time.

Here are some lists that I do when bored haha

1.) I read magazines. If you have heard of Kzone magazine it was a magazine issue started 2003 (?) and its last issue was 4 years ago I think but I always reminisce something from my childhood when I get bored.

2.) List all the series that I haven't finished yet. I am organized I always list everything that I wanna do, especially the series I want to watch. Right now, I am watching Modern Family and I am in Season 5. It is an amazing show!

3.) Drawing challenge. I have so much free time right now and I've always wanted more content in my art blog especially Deviantart because it has been 2 years since I created my account. Special thanks to my followers who always favorite my content. I am happy you are with me since the start.

4.) Play video games haha this is kind of obvious when you are currently addicted to both Pokemon and Animal Crossing (HELP ME haha kidding). I started a new game in both games and I am loving every bit of it! I named my characters, Oreo haha! I'm going to post more pictures of them soon!

5.) Exercise or do chores. As I said, I am an organized person once a week I make sure I clean my room, I wash my clothes, mop the floor and clean everything. It is a small task but I find it as an exercise too. :D

I hope everyone is still healthy and kicking happiness out of themselves! This would be over soon but for now, let us be patient and enjoy the small things we have.

Here we go, August!

Oh here are some of the pictures I've taken this month. I ordered Chinese food, it was coated shrimp, fried rice, and beef stew. They're all delicious!

[nctbyeol]

stuff byeol says/does

calls her fans beary’s

↬ “it’s gender neutral, cute, and connects back to me!”

byeol: “woke up today and got sad because i realized that chenle doesn’t live with us anymore…” :(

renjun: “he moved out two years ago.” byeol: :( donghyuck: “great, now you made her sadder.”

“can i be in a CF for strawberry milk and get free strawberry milk for the rest of my life please?”

*spews some psychology facts when nobody asked for any*

“you guys won’t believe what sunny did!”

“renjun needs a solo album, sm, i’ll even produce his songs free of charge! anything for renjun’s world domination!”

*says everything with a big smile*

*trips over literally nothing and then worries everyone around her*

“sometimes when i stand up really fast my head just goes… static.”

“sehun tries to lie to everyone but i think we all know that vivi is mine.”

gets bored and tells the kids that she thinks the dorm is haunted just for the fun of it

“sm do a variety show where we go to haunted places and ghost hunt, i promise it will be funny especially if jisungie is there.”

jisung: absolute fear

“murder is bad please don’t do it.”

*tries to tell a story but starts laughing so hard she can’t tell it*

nobody:

byeol: “omg ok since you’re asking so much i guess i’ll show you my newest tik tok.”

“okay so… i know the manager said that 2 animals is enough but what do you think he would do if i bought a hamster? really wanting a hamster recently…”

“i found a good song, it might be my favorite song ever. *plays baby shark and starts laughing* a good song!”

*is supposed to be looking at the v-live comments but is instead watching dog videos on youtube*

“every hour is loving chenle hour!”

*writes lyrics onto her wrist when she doesn’t have paper and gets scolded by jaemin and doyoung*

“i know i should be supportive of my own group but if my group and seventeen ever have to compete please vote for seventeen!”

*plays no longer out of nowhere for no reason*

“doyoung said i can’t be trusted to go buy groceries because i’ll get distracted by anything on the way and i’m very offended.” *pouts*

byeol, to dream: “i’m going to start a crystal collection so anytime you need a cure just come to me….. so far i only have rose quartz so if you want anyone to fall in love with you, i got you.”

*switches from korean to chinese to korean in one sentence and then has to repeat the sentence so everyone can understand what she said*

*gets excited and starts speaking in jeju dialect*

*plays around with autotune every time she makes a new song*

autotune voice: “my son,,,, he is sick.”

“a beary told me to do a solo album and i can’t do that without the ceo’s permission but if i accidentally leaked my top secret myspace page with every song i’ve ever written on it, how do you think he’d react?”

*shows a blurry picture she accidentally took of the ground* “if you squint you can see the outline of a dolphin drawn on the ground :D”

“i know everyone sees me as very easygoing and optimistic but math will definitely be the one thing to break me… wait oh no now my enemies know how to ruin my life.”

*tears up while telling someone about a random elephant video she watched because she remembered how cute it was*

*does the heart attack choreo to any song*

*blows a kiss at the sky* “for the birds, they’re working so hard.”

“remember, be nice and respect everyone! you never know what someone is going through and treat everyone equally!! it’s very important.”

*accidentally puts some chords together that sounds good when messing around* “okay wait….. i’m prodigy.”

*pretends she’s a beauty vlogger every time she does her makeup or skincare*

[staytheb]

Like Oh 2.0 - #KINGJACKSONDAY

Previous Chapter: White Day Word Count: 5,078 Summary: The group celebrates Jackson’s birthday.

Like Oh 2.0 masterlist

and here’s the 8th chapter. it’s Jacksn’s birthday, and yes that was the hashtag they used for his birthday! anyways, happy reading and kthxbai, Admin Lia~

Melanie was at the Cheongdam supermarket buying ingredients to make two types of cakes and while picking out those items she indulged in other things. "Hmm, I do have Serena's card and she did say I could buy whatever I wanted." A Cheshire cat smile appeared on her face as she also picked out some chips, some other snacks, and drinks she's been craving as of late that Serena didn't have at the house. Once she got everything she made her way to the check out. What Melanie didn't pay attention to was that the line she went to where the cashier was a familiar face she's been trying to avoid since meeting him a few weeks ago. When Melanie realized that fact it was already too late to move to another lane as she was next after the family of four got through.

"Chaewon-ah, hello. It's good to see you here. I didn't think I would ever see you again." Kyungtae greeted her with a bright smile and Melanie cringed on the inside at his use of familiarity when they weren't that close at all. Actually, you saw me just this morning before my class started, she thought in her head, but plastered on a smile regardless. "Kyungtae-goon. Hi." "I thought I told you to call me oppa even though I know you're older than me." The older male frown upon the formal greeting he received from the female as he rang up her order. "Ah, yeah," She lamely let out, "Anyways, I didn't know you work here." "I started last week." He flashed her another smile. "Now I have another reason to come to work knowing you shop here."

Melanie groaned inwardly at the male's words, but cast Kyungtae a meek smile. "I see." Kyungtae finished ringing up Melanie's order and started to bag it as well. "So, Chaewon, my shift ends in like three hours. Do you want to do something later when I get off?" Melanie slightly panicked and almost froze on the spot, but thought up something quickly. "Oh, sorry, I can't. I have plans with my sister tonight and I'm busy throughout the rest of the week." "Oh, okay." He frowned, but shot the younger woman a hopeful look. "Maybe another time then." "Um yeah, maybe. Well, goodbye." She told him as she gathered up her things and took off without another glance in Kyungtae's direction. "I'm never shopping here again." Melanie muttered to herself as a slight shiver ran down her spine.

~~~~~~~

Melanie arrived to an empty apartment. "Where the fuck she go?" She asked to no one in particular as she placed everything in the kitchen and went looking to see if her sister had fallen back asleep. Serena was no where in sight and Melanie let out a sigh as she pulled out her phone to call her. "Hello?" Serena answered on the second ring. "Where are you?" Melanie asked her as she began putting away the groceries. "I went to go see Chloe for a bit. I'll be back soon." "Why didn't you wait for your car?" "Because Chloe was already in Gangnam and we just met up in Sinsa." "Still could have waited or have Chloe come to your place." Melanie mumbled. "It's fine. Chloe says hi." "Okay, tell her hi back. Anyways, I spent like a lot." "I don't doubt it." "But, dude, guess what?" "What?"

"Remember that Kyungtae dude from the group date," Melanie began to tell her story as she turned on Serena's super smart TV while settling herself onto the couch after having put everything away. "I saw him at Zion Market." "No way." "It was so awkward, dude. Like hella awkward. I really hope he's not a stalker." "Just be careful." "No shit, Sherlock." "Just saying. I have that glitterified pepper spray that James bought for me in my room somewhere." "Are you talking about that pink glittery bottle he got you two Christmases ago?" "Yeah. It still works." "I'll think about it." "But yeah, anyways, are Jasmine and Jeannie coming over later tonight?" "Yeah. Jeannie had to talk to the counselor about a few of her classes. Something about the teacher. As for Jasmine, she's finishing up a group project."

"Okay. Do you want anything when I come back?" "Papaho?" "Really? You want pho?" "Hell yeah. I know the twins would want some, too" "I guess." "Aight, thanks." "Will do. Gotta go. Chloe's dragging me to another store.." "Later." Melanie hung up as she used one of the many remotes Serena used for her smart TV. "Alright, what should I watch?" Melanie contemplated on what to watch as she scrolled through the many applications on the screen. Just as she clicked on the DramaFever icon, the Skype app popped up soon afterwards with the caller's name displaying on the screen. "When did Serena get that to do that?" She looked at it confused on how to even pick up the call as it was Mark's username again. "Which remote is it?" The call went to missed and Melanie frown.

The female hit the DramaFever icon when the Skype icon popped up again. "I wonder what he wants." Melanie said as she used all the remotes to answer the call and found the right one just in time. Yugyeom's face appeared instead of Mark's. "Oh, hi Chaewon noona." "Hello Yugyeom. Why are you calling on Mark's name?" "Because Mark hyung's the only one that has Jyongi unnie's Skype contact information." "Oh I see." "Um, where is Jyongri noona?" "She's busy. Where's Mark?" "Hyung went with Jinyoung hyung, Youngjae hyung, and BamBam hyung to do something. It's just me, Jaebeom hyung and Jackson hyung here." "I see. Um, do you need something?" Melanie asked while opening a bag of honey chips. "Not really." "Okay. If that's all you wanted then-"

"Wait, wait!" Another voice interrupted as Jackson appeared. "You can't just hang up and not wish me a happy birthday, noona." "Happy birthday, Jackson." Melanie wished him with a smile as she placed a chip into her mouth. "Okay, goodbye." She waved, but Jackson stopped her again. "Don't be so mean." Jackson pouted. "I thought you were an ahgase?" Melanie laughed at the younger male's reaction. "I am, Jackson. Actually we were going to bake you a cake." "You were, but?" "But we weren't going to see one another to celebrate it either." "What? Who says?" "Aren't you guys busy?" "No, well yeah. We're busy." Jackson confessed as Melanie shook her head with a smile. "Exactly my point, Jackson."

"What did you think of the song, the music video, and the album?" Yugyeom interjected as Melanie grinned. "It's amazing, Yugyeom! The music video is pretty good too, but what's with the ending though?" "It's a secret. You'll just have to wait for the other part." Jackson grinned as Melanie rolled her eyes. "Whatever, Jackson. I still have the songs to listen to." The female smiled as she then flashed the duo her mobile device. "I bought DEPARTURE on iTunes." She then went through her phone to play the FLIGHT LOG: DEPARTURE mini-album. "And Jyongri unnie pre-ordered the albums, too. So I can't wait to see who I get!" "Who's your bias, Chaewon noona?" Yugyeom asked as Jackson was curious, too. "Yeah. Who's your bias?" Melanie grinned at the duo playfully. "Secret."

When Melanie clicked on the album to listen to Fly started to play and Jackson then started rapping his part live. "What are you two doing?" Melanie heard another voice asked the other two. "Just listening to our songs, JB hyung, with Chaewon noona." Jackson answered as he took the phone from Yugyeom to show Jaebeom that Melanie was on the other side. "Hey, JB." Melanie greeted him as Jaebeom smiled back. "Hi, noona. Did you buy our latest album?" "Of course!" She flashed her phone to show him the album's cover on her phone. "Which one is your favorite song?" Jaebeom asked curiously as the other two were still jamming, but to the song Can't this time as it played next. "REWIND!" Melanie answered instantly as she switched over to the said song. "It's my absolute favorite track so far!"

Before any of the three could say something they spotted a toy poodle in a pink dress enter in their line of sight followed by Serena. "Noona! Hi!" The idols greeted Serena as she waved at them with a small smile. "Hi. What are you guys calling for?" She asked as she set her things onto the coffee table and took the leash off of the toy poodle who instantly ran over to Melanie. "What chu want, Ugly?" Melanie asked the toy poodle in English who happily jumped into her lap. "Och, Biscuits! Calm down." Melanie said as she place the dog beside her while Serena faced the TV and spoke in Korean. "So what did you guys call for?" "How do you know that Chaewon noona didn't call us?" Jackson countered.

"Because Chaewon doesn't know how to work the Skype app on my TV and I never call Mark. Mark always calls me." Serena answered. "So what do you guys want?" "Do you know what today is?" Yugyeom asked as Serena nodded her head. "Yeah. It's a Monday and hashtag King Jackson Day. Shēng rì kuài lè, Jackson." "Aww xiè xiè nǐ!" Jackson thanked her with a happy expression. "Anyways, guys," Serena let out as she picked up her remote control. "Gotta say goodbye." "It's okay, noona." Jaebeomm smiled at her. "We need to get back to practice." "Aww. Do we have to?" The duo whined as Jaebeom just eyed them. "Yes. Now say goodbye." "Fine. Bye." Jackson complied as Yugyeom waved cutely. "Goodbye." "Bye and good luck with practice!" The sisters bid the idols goodbye as Jaebeom waved. "Thanks and goodbye." He ended the call as Serena looked over at Melanie. "Eat your pho before Biscuits does."

~~~~~~~

"Hey guys, so should we write Jackson's name in Korean, English, or Chinese?" Jeannie asked the other three as she finished spreading the frosting onto the second medium sized vanilla cake. "Do all three." Serena grinned as Jeannie rolled her eyes. "I don't even know Jackson's Chinese name even less the characters for it." "Just write it in English, Jean. It'll be easier for you." Jasmine told her sister as Jeannie nodded her head. "Okay." "Here you go." Melanie handed Jeannie the icing to write with as she grinned. "I can't wait to eat this when you're done, Jeannie." "I know right." "Whatever, Melanie. You've been licking the icing and frosting since we started." "And you're point is?" "None since you'll do it anyways." "Mmhmm." "Serena." Jasmine called for Serena's attention. "Hmm?"

"Biscuits keeps staying by the door." Jasmine told the older woman while walking back into the kitchen. "She's been like that for a few minutes now." "Yeah, she probably wants a walk or needs to pee." "But it's kinda late for a walk, isn't it? Don't you have a pad where she can go when it's night time?" "I do, but she likes to stretc her little legs, too. Besides, I'll be watching her for a while until Chloe's done moving." "Where is Chloe moving again?" Jeannie asked while writing 'happy'. "She's moving to Banpo, in Seorae Village." "Why there?" "She's moving in with like four other people she's in cosmetology school with and one of them was looking for roommates. Also, she has to ask them about Biscuits." "Hopefully it works out." Melanie said while looking at her sister. "Because you can't take care of the dog with your schedule." "I know, but Chloe has something else planned if Biscuits can't live with her."

"Anyways," Serena directed the conversation elsewhere. "Have you guys seen some of the buses and subway stations walls with Jackson on it for his birthday celebration by the fanclub?" "Yeah!" The trio let out with widened eyes. "I wonder how much that cost." Jeannie commented as she finished writing 'birthday' before moving on to write 'Jackson'. "Yeah, I was actually surprised when I came over here." Melanie said with a  laugh. "Them fans are amazing to do such things." "Yeah, but the Korean fans are always like this with birthdays and other things. I know since I follow all of SM Artists. Chinese fans also like to go all out as well." Jasmine stated with a laugh. "And that's a lot of groups and members. I'm just waiting for SM to debut there new boy group." "Ugh, too many rookie groups still coming out and they keep getting younger."

"You're just getting older." Melanie teased as Serena rolled her eyes. "Whatever. Anyways, I need to take Biscuits out before she gets impatient." Serena stated as she heard the small dog beginning to whine. "Don't get lost." "Haha, you're not funny." The trio chuckled as Jeannie finished with the icing. "Alright. Done." "Let's eat it." Jasmine commented with a laugh. "First, let's put a candle on it and light it up. So that we can take a picture and post it online." Melanie suggested as she got the candles ready. "You guys can do that without me. I'll be back in half an hour or whenever Biscuits done playing outside." "Just call." Jeannie called out as Serena gave her the O.K. sign before putting on a oversize hoodie, then putting her things in the pocket, after that she slipped on her shoes while attaching Biscuits' leash to her collar afterwards, and then out the apartment within a minute or so.

Once Serena came out of her apartment and headed towards the elevator with Biscuits yapping around happily as its doors opened to reveal a group of people exiting it. "Jyongri noona!" A familiar voice called out to her and Serena looked up to see BamBam jogging towards her while looking down at the toy poodle and both parties momentarily stopped walking. "Who's that?" "Hi BamBam and her name's Biscuits. She's my friend's dog." "She looks like Coco." Youngjae cooed as he crouched down to pet the dog. "Hi." "She's a toy poodle. Kinda similar I guess." The rest of GOT7 joined them. "Where are you going?" Mark asked. "To walk her." "It's kind of late isn't it?" Jaebeom inquired as Serena shrugged. "It is, but I'm used to it."

"Why not ask the others?" Jinyoung suggested. "Because I like my alone time." Serena admitted as she felt Biscuits pulling on the leash urgently. "I need to get going. Biscuits really has to go now." She then remember something. "Since you guys are done with practice or if you have free time to do so, the girls just got done decorating Jackson's birthday cakes." "Aww you guys made me a cake." Jackson let out happily. "We didn't know you guys were coming by and we were going to eat it without you anyways." "Wow, rude." "Hey, it's not like we see each other often." "Actually, we see each other twice a week." Mark corrected her as Serena rolled her eyes. "No. You guys have been busy. Don't make a mess in my apartment if you guys stop by."

"When do we ever make a mess, noona?" Yugyeom asked her with a slight scoff as BamBam agreed. "Yeah, we don't make that big of a mess." Serena shrugged with an indifferent look. "You're guys. I would know, especially when it involves food. Don't make a mess." "We'll make sure to not do that, noona." Jaebeom assured the older female as she shot him a grateful smile. "Good and thanks. Alright, later." Serena bid the group of seven a small wave as she moved passed them and towards the elevators with Biscuits in tow. Serena waved at them again as the doors closed a few seconds later. The elevators door instantly opened a second later as Serena looked at the doors opening with furrowed eyebrows. "Hi." Mark shot her a boyish grin and stepped inside. "You don't mind if I tag along, right, Serena?"

~~~~~~~

Melanie opened the door to see six familiar faces. "Hi. What are you doing here?" She asked as Jackson replied. "Obviously, to celebrate my birthday, Chaewon noona." Melanie looked over to the wall on her left and saw the time. "It's like past midnight. You're birthday's over." "So? Jyongri noona mentioned that you guys have a cake for me." "Oh, yeah." BamBam coughed. "Are you going to let us in, Chaewon noona?" "Oh, right. Sure. Come in." Melanie opened the door wider to let them in. "Hey, GOT7 is here minus one." She then looked at Jaebeom who was the last to enter. "Where's Mark?" "Hyung went to accompany Jyongri noona just now." "Oh, right. I forgot she went to take Biscuits out for a walk." Melanie shrugged as she closed the door. "Oh well. They're both missing out on the amazing cakes."

"Yeah they are." BamBam agreed as he ate another forkful. "This is the best cake I've ever had." "It's just a pre-made cake that we just mixed, baked, and then decorated, BamBam." Melanie told him with a shake of her head as the twins agreed. "Yeah, BamBam, even you guys can make it." Jasmine told them as she finished cutting the cake into individual pieces while Jeannie handed them to the others. "Yeah, because I don't even bake and this turned out really super well." "It's still good." Jaebeom agreed as he took another large forkful of the cake. "Like really good, Chaewon noona." "Whatever. You're just hungry that's why." Melanie told him as Jaebeom chuckled. "That, too." He shot her his signature eye-smile as Melanie shook her head as Jeannie handed her a plate.

"Hey, let's play Mafia." Youngjae suggested once the group of nine were settled around the living room eating their own plate of cake slices. "Um, yeah no. You guys can play Mafia. Leave me out of it." Melanie told them as she grabbed one of the remotes to switch back to DramaFever from Youtube. "Yeah, I'm not good with Korean games." Jeannie stated. "I'm down to play." Jasmine agreed to playing the game. "But I don't want to be the moderator." "I'll be the moderator." Jinyoung decided. "I just need paper and a pen." "What if I wanted to be the moderator?" Jackson asked as everyone looked at him. "What?" "You won't be able to keep the story straight, hyung." Yugyeom said as the others agreed. "What? I can totally keep the story straight."

"I'm the moderator." Jinyoung firmly stated as Jeannie returned with a pen and notebook. "Thank you, Jaehwa noona." "You're welcome, Jinyoung." "Alright," Jinyoung began to list game's players as he wrote them out. "The Mafia, The Detective, The Doctor, and the three Civilians." When he was done Jinyoung folded the pieces and then shuffled them. He handed the papers over to Melanie who was closes to him. "What's this for?" Melanie asked him with a raised eyebrow not taking the slips. "So that no one cheats." "Who's going to cheat, hyung?" Yugyeom asked and Jinyoung eyed him. "I know my members quite well." "It's just a game." Jaebeom stated. "Besides, Minjae noona is going to playing with us, too." "Oh don't mind me." Jasmine dismissed his intention. "Let's just play."

~~~~~~~

Mark and Serena quietly walked side by side along the streets of Cheongdam as Serena let Biscuits lead her towards the park. She didn't expect the idol to actually join her for another night of walking beneath the night sky. The female felt awkward as she was hanging out with her sister's bias, but felt even more awkward that he was an English speaker as well so she couldn't get away with saying anything in English afraid that he'll overhear. Neither of two initiated conversation due to their reserve and quiet nature, but Serena felt like she just had to say something. "You know you're missing out on cake, right?" "Yeah." Mark softly replied as the two continued their silent atmosphere.

"So, Biscuits, huh?" Mark started another topic a moment later. "She's my friend's dog that I'm pet-sitting." Serena explained as Mark nodded his head. "How old is she?" "Two or three years old. I forgot." "She's around the same age as Coco." "Oh, right, she is. How is Coco?" "She's good, but still needs some training." "Ha, those are tough times." "Yeah." "I'm sure you and Youngjae will get her trained properly." "Thanks." Silence fell between them again and Serena knew how totally awkward this was and maybe it was because they were just alone and weren't in a classroom or doing homework. "Um, shouldn't you guys be catching up on sleep?  Since your schedule is filled up due to your comeback with the whole Flight Log Departure album, yeah?"

Mark let out a small chuckle. "We are, but a break is nice." He then cast her a look. "What do you think of it?" "Fly is a really good song. I like it a lot." Serena then looked at him and saw he was also looking at her and diverted her eyes forward again. "The music video is good, too. My favorite part is when Jinyoung is still free-falling and then he flips over to see the other members ascend as he still free falls and a tear escapes." Mark let out another chuckle as Serena eyed him. "What's so funny, Mark?" "Nothing, Serena." He told her as his laughter ceased, but a silly smile still graced his lips. "Do you have a favorite song from the album?" "I haven't  listened to all of the songs yet. Fly's the only one I've listened to." "Have you watched our live performances?" "No I still haven't." "Wow." "Hey, I'm busy, too. I got a life outside of the K-Pop world."

The idol laughed as the female rolled her eyes. "Whatever, Mork." Mark stopped laughing to eyed the female. "What did you just call me?" "Mark." Serena answered hoping that the tone of her voice wouldn't give her away. "No, I'm pretty sure you just said 'Mork', Serena." "I did not." "Yeah, you did." "Mark, are you really going to argue with me about it?" "Maybe." "You're so childish." "No I'm not." "Yeah you are." "No." "Yes." And the awkward and silent atmosphere between the two from earlier started to dissipate away as the duo continued their friendly banter with one another until they reached the park. Serena released the toy poodle from her leash so the dog could run around happily. "You're not gonna follow or chase after her like that?" Mark asked with a puzzled expression. "Nah. She'll come back when she's ready or when I call for her."

"Coco's not like that yet." "It's because you baby her." "No we don't." "True, because I don't know." Serena laughed as Mark shook his head with a laugh. "Biscuits and Coco should meet one another soon. I think they'll get along well." "Can if they're free." "I'll ask Youngjae about it." "Alright, cool." "Cool." Just then Serena's phone vibrated and dinged to signaled that she had received a message notification. She pulled her mobile device from out of her jacket's pocket to read what her sister had just sent her. She let out a sigh before replying back. "What's wrong?" Mark asked upon hearing the sigh leaving the female's lips as Serena turned to face the male. "The kids want ice cream." "Ice cream sounds good. Let's go get some." He smiled at her with his pearly whites gleaming.

Serena eyed him, but cast him a tired smile. "How about you buy the ice cream and I continued to hang out at the park with Biscuits." "And leave you out here all by yourself?" "I have Biscuits." Mark looked over to where the small dog was rolling around in the grass. "Yeah, no. Let's go get the ice cream together." "I don't want to." "Serena." "Mark." "Serena." "Mork." "Aha. I knew you called me Mork." "Yeah, yeah. Stop crying." Serena told the male as she turned to scan for the toy poodle while pressing her lips together to make a kissing-like smacking of lips sound. Biscuits instantly responded and ran back towards Serena happily. "Let's go, Biscuits." Serena attached the leash back onto Biscuits' collar and then looked at Mark. "Next time, I'm making sure that none of you interrupt or cut my night walk short again." Mark just laughed in response as the trio headed back towards the apartments.

~~~~~~~

"Let's play another game." Jasmine said after playing Mafia for the fourth time and being killed again as a civilian. "I don't know why I agreed to playing a fourth around earlier." "Oh, c'mon Minjae noona. It's not that bad." BamBam told her with a smile as Jasmine rolled her eyes. "Whatever. You killed me twice." "It's my job as the Mafia to kill." "Mmhmm." Jinyoung coughed. "You're not supposed to talk." "I'm already out. It doesn't matter." Jasmine told the younger male as Jinyoung looked at the older woman firmly. "Yes it does when I'm the moderator and about to tell the story, noona." "Whatever." Jasmine stood up to stretch. "I'll be with the other two." She meant Melanie and Jeannie who were in the kitchen to avoid the Mafia game.

"Did you die again?" Jeannie asked as Jasmine nodded her head and grabbed a bottle of iced tea from the fridge. "Yes. I'm never playing Mafia with GOT7 ever again." Melanie laughed. "Why? What happened?" "I'm too drained to talk about it. GOT7 has way too much energy for me to deal with although it was only for a short while" Jasmine joined the duo in watching the rest of the first episode of Vampire Detective. "The guy that plays Goohyung is so funny. I like his character with the guy that plays San." "You don't know Lee Joon?" Melanie asked looking at her friend with disbelief. "He used to be a part of MBLAQ." "Vaguely, Melanie." "I'm glad he's back doing something." "I think Serena would like this." "She would. It's vampire related and she likes Joon, too."

A second later there were a few loud crashing sounds and the three females became alert. "What was that?" Jeannie asked as they looked at each other uneasy. "I don't know, but I hope they didn't break anything." Melanie stated as Jasmine agreed. "Yeah or Serena's going to kill somebody." The trio then headed back to the living room to see the six males trying to put Serena's coffee table back together. "What happened?" Melanie asked upon reaching them first. The six males tensed upon hearing the female's voice and tried to block the damage with their bodies from the trio's view. "Um, it's nothing much." BamBam told them with a smile. "We didn't break anything. Ow." Jackson elbowed the younger member. "Yeah, don't worry. We didn't do anything." Jackson added as the trio looked at them suspiciously.

"You guys sound even more guilty." Jeannie commented as Jasmine agreed. "Yeah. It doesn't help that your body language says otherwise, too." The boys rubbed the back of their neck nervously as Jaebeom apologize. "Sorry. I'm not sure what led up to it exactly, but we didn't mean to break Jyongri noona's table." The idols then parted to show the trio the damage. The coffee table was broken in several pieces. "How did you guys even break it to so many pieces?" The males looked at one another which didn't answer Melanie's question. "Wow." "I hope unnie doesn't get to mad at you guys." Jeannie told them as Jasmine went to inspect the damage. "Scratch that, Jaehwa. I hope unnie doesn't beat them with one of the broken pieces."

"When I said don't make a mess guys, this is what I meant." Serena spoke from behind them as she, Mark, and Biscuits entered the apartment with a bag of individual ice cream in hand. "We're so sorry, noona." Youngjae cried as he fell to his knees to do a begging motion. "Yugyeom and Jackson just wanted to test out some stupid thing I don't remember what it was about that they wanted to test out." "It wasn't my fault. Jackson hyung pushed me because of King Jackson Day." Yugyeom defended as Serena held up a hand. "It doesn't matter. Here." Serena said as she walked up to her sister to hand her the bag. "I'll be in my room. Have them clean up." She faced the group. "Goodnight." Serena retired to her room with Biscuits in tow.

"Wow." Mark let out in surprised as he walked up to them while examining the damage and eating an ice bar. "I'm so glad I wasn't part of that." "Well, aren't you lucky then." Jeannie commented as Melanie then looked at him with a smile. "Although true, but you're going to help out your fellow members in cleaning up the mess." "Why?" "Because you're going to help them throw that down the chute." The idols groaned as Jasmine looked at them with a slightly stern look. "Hey, you guys were the ones that did the damage." "I wasn't even here for that." Mark grumbled as he handed Jasmine the other bag of individual ice cream as he still helped his members clean up while Jeannie returned from the kitchen with a broom, a dustpan, and a few garbage bags.

"I'm surprised unnie was so calm about it." Jeannie said as she began to sweep up the little pieces. "She'll rant later. Let's just help them and get this done and over with." Melanie said as she and Jasmine opened up the two large black trash bags. With that being said, the group of ten cleaned up the mess altogether. The older idols lugged the broken table out to the chute while the younger idols helped the female trio rearrange the living room so that it didn't look so opened, but it was hard when another furniture that was there was now gone. Some time later, they were all satisfied with the partial layout. They all called it a night as the girls gave the boys all of the ice cream and bid them a good night and wished them luck on their schedules for later that day and the rest of the week. The boys did the same and apologized once more. Serena didn't come back out that night due to exhaustion.

[pasteltofus]

1 Year of Learning Korean

One of the most popular questions I’ve gotten since coming back from Korea is: Are you fluent in Korean now??*

*Spoilers: I am not. 🙃

Looking back, I probably would have become more conversational if I had just done a 3-month intensive program. Although, compared to just learning by myself in the Bay Area, being in Korea definitely gave me more opportunities and motivation. I was placed in the high intermediate class for orientation (switched to low intermediate), but I would say that I’m now truly at an intermediate level. I think my Korean’s more or less the same as my Japanese (which has regressed a lot, and I only took 3 semesters in college) but with very shaky foundations. 

Anyways, here’s a brief timeline of what I did this grant year. Let’s go~

[Initiate lock n’ load montage]

July

Korean Intensive Program (8-12pm, 1-2pm M-F) 

Because of how the program was structured, I didn’t feel like I learned very much. This is partly why my foundation is so full of holes...we skipped around here and there. 

August

Korean Intensive Program

September

Korean was put on pause due to troubles adjusting to homestay

October

Occasionally did a few chapters of Billy Go’s Korean Made Simple at school 

Studied some Korean vocab 

November

???

December

I don’t think I studied Korean at all

January

Got a wakeup call when I spent 5 minutes trying to read the back of a sign at a smoothie shop and realized how slow I was at reading

February

Vocab grind (1000 Essential Korean Words), plan was to finish by the end of March. Two weeks of intense vocabulary cramming on Quizlet (did nothing in the end lol don’t try that)

Bought the Real Life Conversations Intermediate book

Studied Korean in Kpop lyrics

Started a side coding project to help my touch typing (K-pop lyric typing game)

March

Memorized dialogues from Real Life Conversations book with Lauren

Improved reading skills slightly by listening and following along with the audio recordings that come with the book

Read through the dialogues with the Korean literature teacher in my gyomushil

Continued to learn song lyrics

Wrote sentences with each new vocabulary word, got my co-teacher and the Korean literature teacher to check them (<-this was probably the most helpful game changer...it helped a lot with my spelling too)

Continued working on the K-pop typing game

April

Stopped learning new vocab at around Chapter 11 of Essential Words, focused on retaining old vocab through Anki flash cards

Finished the Go! Billy Korean Made Simple book that I bought ages ago (tbh it was too easy for me at this point but I was just too lazy)

Finally sat down and “learned” Korean verb conjugations (I’d just been going by gut instinct before…tbh I still kind of do 😅)

Kind of dropped the typing game after finishing the MVP 😅but I’m gonna try to finish it up now that I’m back

May

Started to panic about leaving Korea in 2.5 months but still sucking at Korean

Signed up for private lessons once a week for 90 minutes (My tutor asked me to give her a shout out. Her name is 서영심 (bwv830@gmail.com). If you’re in the Cheongju/Ochang area, she comes to you! She’s very professional and you’ll get your money’s worth.)

Started at the intermediate book that focused on grammar

Learned ~5 grammar points every week

Started writing and reading a lot more and actually seeing how words are spelled. The first time I saw 여기--a super common word (yogi) that means here--written out I thought it was so strange...not that I had thought it was 요기 (also pronounced yogi) but I just didn’t have a visual of it in my head, I guess.

June

Depressed about lack of improvement

Continued with private lessons but felt like I wasn’t really retaining the grammar dump from each week

At the very least, Korean homework kept me on track and made me practice even when I didn’t want to

Started Anki again since I hadn’t actively studied vocab since April.

An old K.Will song that I hadn’t listened to for a long time came up and I realized I could suddenly understand the lyrics. That was pretty cool and one of my small win moments.  

July

Feeling pretty hopeless with Korean

However, hung out with more Korean friends that only spoke Korean and felt like I was actually able to contribute to the conversation. (3 hours of Korean Listening ...🙃)

Was able to understand 70% of the conversation at my gyomushil’s final farewell lunch for me. I contributed to the gossip! 

Went home and immediately lost 50% of my Korean skills upon touching U.S. soil. 

So basically, after my burst of inspiration in February, my confidence and motivation in Korean just kept plummeting. Even now as I write up this post I feel an overwhelming sense of hopelessness. But I do want to highlight the progress that I’ve made since orientation.

Korean Reading

We were all supposed to be able to read Hangul before we came to Korea. Being able to recognize the alphabet is different from being able to read and also different from knowing the pronunciation rules and where to pause in your reading. During my first semester, my eyes would automatically glaze over whenever I saw Korean text. When the second semester started, I tried to force myself to read everything I came across - storefronts, street signs, advertisements on buses, etc. Even if I didn’t know what it meant, I would force myself to read it. Right now, I can navigate a Korean shopping website and read a menu semi-comfortably. I’m still waiting for the day when I’ll see English sounding hangul and be able to read it as fast as English. Although, I will say it’s really nice to be able to read the Korean titles in Kpop videos on Youtube, especially when I come across really old songs (like Super Junior’s No Other 너 같은 사람 또 없어) and realize I now know what it means. 

Also, a new world that has opened up to me is...노래방!! Karaoke is such an adrenaline rush. I’d compare it to sight-reading or DDR/rhythm games where you know something is coming up and the satisfaction you get when you get it right with the beat of the music is 👌. It’s so gratifying to be able to sing along...거기 너 I FANCY YOU 아무나 원하지 않아 HEY! I love you (LOVE YA)!! 

Korean Writing

Back during orientation, I couldn’t spell anything on my own. I knew words every koreaboo knew like 어떻게 and 괜찮아 but I couldn’t write it because I didn’t know how spelling worked. It’s no wonder my spelling didn’t improve since a) I didn’t write and b) I didn’t even read. Even now I still make a lot of spelling mistakes, but I pay attention to words when I see them. It’s still a very slow process, but now I can picture the hangul in my head when I think of the word. 

Typing: I started orientation with around 15 wpm, then by the end of orientation I got to around 30 wpm. Currently, I’m at 60 wpm when I start cold and after I get warmed up I can go up to 80wpm. Being able to touch type is so useful, especially when I’m typing up long sentences from my textbook and I don’t have to look up.

Korean Listening

Dare I say...my Korean listening is my strongest point??? I remember when I took French listening tests in high school, I would always lament with everyone else that they spoke too fast for me to understand. But interestingly, for both Japanese and Korean, I never had that problem. If it only contains words and grammar I know, I can understand it perfectly fine even if it’s fast. I intuitively understand most Korean verb endings and exclamations so it’s not hard to know which way the conversation is flowing or when to interject with “세상에,” “맞아 맞아,” or “말도 안돼.” I used to think my poor lack of vocabulary was the number 1 thing blocking me from understanding, but then I learned more grammar and realized the things I didn’t know. I do feel like parts of the fog are being lifted...sometimes...

Korean Speaking: 

I still feel pretty embarrassed when I speak Korean because there are some sounds that I can’t pronounce. Compared to orientation, I have a few more stock phrases tucked and ready to go, but I still feel unable to express myself. Every conversation will start out fine, but they’ll all stagnate to the same topics and sentences after a while. 

Complications with other languages

I talked about how knowing some Japanese and Chinese was both an advantage and a disadvantage during my beginning stages, but this is true even now. 

Ever since I started getting more comfortable with typing and spelling Korean, I’ve started seeing the actual Hangul in my head when I think/hear Korean. I’ve also started to associate the locations of the Hangul characters with their locations on the Korean keyboard. 

One day, I was trying to text back my mom with “那是什么?” (Na Shi Shen Me/What’s that?) but was confused because those characters weren’t showing up. Then I realized I was typing “sk” instead of “na.” Some of you guys might get it....because “s” is where ㄴ(n) is and k is where ㅏ(a) is on the Korean keyboard. Clearly, my brain can’t handle it. It’s interesting because both the Japanese and Chinese keyboard uses the same alphabet placements as English.

Another time: I was watching a Talk To Me in Korean video where Hyunwoo talked about how 하다 is a very versatile verb. I immediately thought about how the Japanese equivalent is 수루 and even mentally mapped it out on the Korean keyboard...before realizing this is WRONG, WRONG, it’s する not 수루 LOUISE WHAT ARE YOU EVEN DOING. (They are both pronounced suru)

What’s next? 

Now that I’m back in the States, it’s going to take even more determination and self-discipline to keep up with my Korean. But I really don’t want everything I’ve worked towards to just wash down the drain. I’ll aim to finish my intermediate grammar textbook and grind anki flashcards. Hopefully, I can find a language partner or a study group. We’ll see! 

[alexsmitposts]

Lies Which the West Manufactures and then Consumes After my work in the Middle East had finished, at least for the time being, I was waiting for my flight to Santiago de Chile. In Paris. I could count on a few ‘free’ days, processing what I had heard and witnessed in Beirut. Day after day, for long hours, I sat in a lounge, typing and typing; reflecting and typing. As I was working, above me, France 24 television news channel was on, beaming from a flat screen. The people around me were coming and going: West African elites on their wild shopping sprees, shouting unceremoniously into their mobile phones. Koreans and Japanese doing Paris. Rude German and North American beefy types, discussing business, laughing vulgarly, disregarding ‘lower beings’, in fact everyone in their immediate radius. No matter what was happening in my hotel, France 24 was on, and on, and on. Yes, precisely; for 24 hours, recycling for days and nights the same stories, once in a while updating news, with a slightly arrogant air of superiority. Here, France was judging the world; teaching Asia, the Middle East, Africa and Latin America, about themselves. In front of my eyes, above me, on that screen, the world was changing. For many months I had been covering the nightmarish riots of the treasonous violent ninjas in Hong Kong. I was all over the Middle East, particularly Lebanon, and now I was on my way to my second home, Latin America, where socialism has kept winning elections, but was getting beaten, even terrorized, by the corrupt and crooked Western empire. All that France 24 kept showing, I have been habitually witnessing with my own eyes. And more, much more, from many different angles. I have filmed it, written about it, and analyzed it. In many countries, all over the world, people have been sharing their stories with me. I have seen barricades, photographed and filmed injured bodies, as well as tremendous revolutionary enthusiasm and excitement. I have also witnessed betrayals, treasons, cowardice. But in the lounge, in front of the television set, everything appeared pretty groovy, very classy, and comforting. The blood looked like a well-mixed color, the barricades like a stage of the latest Broadway musical. People were dying beautifully, their shouts muted, theatrical. The elegant anchor in a designer dress was beaming benevolently, whenever people on the screen dared to show some powerful emotions, or were grimacing in pain. She was in charge, and she was above all of this. In Paris, London and New York, powerful emotions, political commitments and grand ideological gestures, were made outdated, already a long time ago. During just the few days that I spent in Paris, many things have changed, on all the continents. The Hong Kong rioters were evolving; beginning to set on fire their compatriots simply because they dared to pledge their allegiance to Beijing. Women were unceremoniously beaten, with metal bars, until their faces were covered in blood. In Lebanon, the big clenched fists of the pro-Western regime-change Otpor were suddenly at the center of the anti-government demonstrations. The economy of the country was collapsing. But the Lebanese ‘elites’ were burning money, all around me, all around Paris and all around the world. Poor Lebanese Misérables, as well as the impoverished middle class, were demanding social justice. But the rich of Lebanon were mocking them, showing. They had it all figured out: they have robbed their own country, then left it behind, and now were having a great ball here, in the “City of Lights”. But to criticize them in the West has been taboo; forbidden. Political correctness, the mighty Western weapon used to uphold the status quo, has made them untouchable. Because they are Lebanese; from the Middle East. A good arrangement, isn’t it? They are robbing their fellow Middle Easterners, on behalf of their foreign masters in Paris and Washington, but in Paris or London, it is taboo to expose their ‘culture’ of debauchery. In Iraq, the anti-Shi’a and therefore anti-Iranian sentiments have been dispersed, powerfully and clearly, from abroad. The second big episode of the so-called Arab Spring. Chileans have been fighting and dying, trying to depose a neo-liberal system, forced down their throats ever since 1973 by the Los Chicago Boys. The Bolivian socialist government, successful, democratic and racially inclusive, has been overthrown, by Washington and Bolivian treasonous cadres. People have been dying there, too, on the streets of El Alto, La Paz, and Cochabamba. Israel was at it again, in Gaza. Full force. Damascus was bombed. I went to film the Algerians, Lebanese and Bolivians; people who were pushing for their agendas at the Place de la Republique. I anticipated the horrors that were waiting for me, soon; in Chile, Bolivia and Hong Kong. I was writing, feverishly. While the television set was humming. People were entering and leaving the lounge, meeting and separating, laughing, shouting, crying and making up. Nothing to do with the world. The outbursts of indecent laugher erupted periodically, even as the bombs were exploding on the screen, even as the people were charging against the police and the military. *** Then, one day, I realized that nobody really gives a damn. Like that; so simple. You witness what happens, all over the world; you document it. You are risking your life. You are getting engaged. You get injured. Sometimes you come close, extremely close, to death. You do not watch TV. Never, or almost never. You appear on the television, yes; you supply stories and images. But you never watch the results; what emotions your work, your words and images, truly evoke. Or do they evoke any emotions at all? You only work for the anti-imperialist media outlets, never for the mainstream. But for whomever you work for, you have no clue what the facial expressions your reports from the war zones are arousing. Or what emotions any war zone reports stir. And then, you are in Paris, and you have some time to watch your readers, and suddenly you understand. You get it: why so few are writing to you, support your struggle, or even fight for the countries being destroyed, decimated by the empire. When you look around, observing people who are sitting in a hotel lounge, you clearly realize: they feel nothing. They want to see nothing. They understand nothing. France 24 is on, but it is not a news channel, which it was intended to be, many years ago. It is entertainment stuff, which is supposed to produce sophisticated background noise. And it does. Precisely that. Same as the BBC, CNN, Fox and Deutsche Welle. *** As the legitimately elected socialist President of Bolivia was being forced into exile, tears in his eyes, I got hold of the remote control, and switched channel to some bizarre and primitive cartoon network. Nothing changed. The expressions on the faces of some twenty people around me did not change. If a nuclear bomb would have exploded on the screen, somewhere in the Sub-Continent, no one would pay any attention. Some people were taking selfies. While I was describing the collapse of the Western culture on my MacBook. All of us were busy, in our own way. Kashmir, West Papua, Iraq, Lebanon, Hong Kong, Palestine, Bolivia and Chile were on fire. So, what? Ten meters away from me, an American businessman was shouting into his phone: “Are you going to invite me back to Paris in December? Yes? We have to discuss details. How much am I getting per day?” Coups, uprisings, riots, all over the world. And that plastic, professional smile of the lady, the news announcer, in her blue and white retro designer dress; so confident, so French, and so endlessly fake. *** Lately, I keep wondering whether the inhabitants of Europe and North America have any moral right to control the world. My conclusion is: definitely not! They do not know, and they do not want to know. Those who have power are obliged to know. In Paris, Berlin, London, New York, individuals are too busy admiring themselves, or ‘suffering’ from their little, selfish problems. They are too busy taking selfies, or being preoccupied with their sexual orientation. And of course, with their ‘business’. That is why I prefer to write for Russian and Chinese outlets, to address people who are scared like myself, anxious about the future of the world. The editors of this magazine, in faraway Moscow, are; they are anxious and passionate at the same time. I know they are. I, and my reports, are not some ‘business’ for them. People whose cities are smashed, ruined, are not some sort of entertainment in the editorial room of NEO. In many Western countries, people have lost their ability to feel, to get engaged, and to fight for a better world. Because of this loss, they should be forced to give up their power over the world. Our world is damaged, scarred, but is tremendously beautiful and precious. It is not a business, to work for its improvement and survival. Only great dreamers, poets and thinkers can be trusted, fighting for it, steering it forward. Are there many poets and dreamers amongst my readers? Or do they look, do they behave, as those guests in the hotel lounge in Paris, in front of the screen beaming France 24?

[chisie12]

Gency Week Day 4: Morning Glory/Affection

A little late for Day 4 but I do hope you enjoy! 

Just some notes: Meine Maus is German for 'My mouse', a small term of endearment. Jungspunde (if you've seen it in Dance of Silver) just means 'youngster' These might also be spelled wrong. My fav German is currently asleep. So mistakes are on me.

AO3: https://archiveofourown.org/works/19071907/chapters/45535678

Day 4: Desire and Desiderium

The last week's event with the daffodils had been successful. The limited time food and drinks were quite a hit with the customers. Upon opening the cafe, she picked up the mail in the mailbox on the way, dropped them onto the counter and begun the early setup. She worked silently and efficiently, not a single word of complaint escaping. She was happy to be able to put her back into this, to the point she hummed a small tune. The melodious sound echoed in the empty cafe and unbeknownst to her, a shadow was watching her the whole time. But he never showed himself, at least not until a little later.

Dawn had just broken when she finished putting the chairs down and a cheerful voice broke the comfortable silence.

“Good morning, Angela!”

“A very good morning to you too, Mei,” the blonde grinned and they started cooperating on getting the cafe ready. Angela entered the kitchen, preparing the ingredients that needed to be used that day as Mei checked on the machines that they would use for the drinks.

“Last week was really fun!” Mei giggled, bending over the counter on the tip of her toes. With a flick of her finger, the switch to the coffee machine was turned on. “We should hold another event like that again!”

“I agree!” Angela’s laughter drifted out from the open kitchen door.

“Have you seen the posts online?”

“No?”

That’s when Angela suddenly found herself — after finding her phone and opening the social media applications — grinning at the comments she read online.

“Homemade Swiss chocolates. Definitely not for children unless you want to put them to sleep!” A user posted a picture of chocolate drops finely presented on a porcelain plate. Each chocolate was different, some were spherical, some dome-shaped and white one was heart-shaped. By its side, fresh, cut strawberries decorated them, a chocolate drizzle lightly covering the juicy redness.

A commenter responded below the picture: “Oh my God. Did she draw the angel around the chocolates?”

Because right on the other side of the fruits, an angel in dark chocolate was drawn embracing the alcoholic sweetness.

“Yes, she did!”

Users, especially young teenagers, who found out of the event the week after were feeling utter regret. How did they not find out about this café sooner? And those flowers around the cafe! Warm lighting! Perfect Instantgram photos!

Pride swelled up within the blonde café owner. Her hard work had paid off! Those angels were not easy to draw, especially when 60% of her customers requested it and only she knew how. She scrolled down further on the social media results of the café’s social media tag, upon which she spotted the handiwork of Mei herself.

“Mei! Come look at this!” She yelled out to Mei who was busy concocting another iced drink in the kitchen. The Chinese girl popped her head out as Angela brought the phone over to her.

“Oh, I haven’t seen this!” Mei exclaimed and she read out loud, "Mei's ice cream rolls! Made on the spot! Do you feel your mouth watering now?”

In the picture was the image of cookies and cream ice cream rolls placed in a glass sundae cup held up by beautifully manicured nails, with similar flavoured Pocky sticks further adorning the creamy sweetness.

"You were at Mercy's Apothecary?! Why didn't you bring me!” A user commented with a series of angry emojis.

The two of them giggled at some comments that followed after, feeling immensely proud after such a hectic week. They took a quick breather, simply reading post after post, comment after comment, until one caught their eyes.

“I heard that their menu was designed a little after some of the fallen Overwatch team members. Do you think that’s true?"

“I remember the names Hellfire Shots and Sleep Special in the night drinks menu. Are they some?”

“Their Rum Punch was named ‘It’s High Noon’, I believe.”

“I ate some sandwiches named Grillmaster 77. And I think the Lemon Syrup Tea was called Mountain D.Va? Isn’t D.Va the Korean eSports celebrity who was in the army before joining Overwatch?”

"Do you think she was part of them?”

"She does look a lot like the blonde doctor that used to be on the field!"

Angela’s face contorted into confusion. What were the users saying? She had come up with those names on the fly. Overwatch? She didn’t know anyone from that organisation. The closest person she knew to an agent was Jack, and Genji (Jesse and Lena too), but even he wasn’t from Overwatch. At least, she didn't think so. And she definitely wasn't.

“Angela?”

The blonde woman shook her head. “Don’t worry about it. They’re just speculations. I don’t know what they’re talking about.”

Mei looked on worriedly. “Al…right. If you say so.” She turned back into the kitchen, but not without taking a second glance back. Angela’s eyebrows were furrowed into a deep confusion, teeth gnawing at her bottom lip. Her fingers clenched at the phone before she clicked it off.

Speculations? They're not speculations at all.

‘Why would Angela be confused? What was wrong with their comments?’ Mei sighed inwardly before grabbing the drink she just made and coming back out.

“Here.”

Angela looked up from her thoughts. “Thank you,” she said upon receiving the iced tea.

Mei took the other seat beside Angela behind the counter.

Angela then picked up the letters and looked through them. “There’s one addressed to you.”

“That’s weird? I didn’t set the cafe’s address for anything.” Mei took the letter with a frown as she sipped on her green tea frappuccino. She flipped the letter over. "There's no sender either."

Angela hummed as she opened each letter, the majority being bills that she had to pay. At one letter however, was an enveloped exactly identical to Mei's, down to the font used on the front. Mei originally brushed the letter away, her attention directed more at her phone, but when Angela looked over to compare their envelopes, even she couldn't help but be curious. Tacitly, they simultaneously tore their respective envelope open and picked out the paper folded within.

"Dear Angela, I am pleased to invite you and your Overwatch teammates to attend a specially organised masquerade dinner celebrating your good deeds. The event will take place on the 13th next Friday at Lumiere Hotel. We will also be graced with the appearance of a special guest joining us that evening," Angela muttered under her breath. Below the body were details of the event printed in elegant cursive text.

Feeling a presence peer at her letter, Angela looked up with a quirked eyebrow at Mei. "Oh, it is the same too!"

Huh? Same too? What did she mean by 'too'?

Seeing the inquisitive, baffled expression on Angela's face, Mei was beginning to be convinced that something was wrong with Angela, otherwise why else would she be rough with Genji?; wouldn't react upon seeing Junkrat or Roadhog except for confused silence; upon treating her like merely a colleague when they've shared late nights discussing the effects of climate and weather in relation to cybernetics; upon receiving the overly friendly smile you receive when you weren't good friends yet.

But they were. And have been for years — ever since she joined Overwatch after being thawed out.

"I received the same invitation," Mei waved her letter.

"Overwatch?" Angela tested the words on her tongue, so foreign yet why did it feel so familiar at the same time. She'd felt it before, just only a little over four months ago, when she saw his face wrapped around that scarf, the faint scars carved into his skin. It was… just like the time she did with Genji. Her face furrowed into confusion. Wait, if Mei received one too then wasn't she from Overwatch too?

"Yeah, Overwatch," Mei parroted without missing a beat before Angela could question. She contemplated whether to continue or not, to inform Angela that they've gone out into the field together way back when Overwatch still stood tall and proud, but something tugged at her not to say and to not intrude into the matters of others, yet… "Angela, were —"

"G'day, snowflake!" Junkrat slammed the cafe doors open. The maniacal grin dancing on his lips stretched wider when his eyes found their target sitting together with Angela. "How ya doin'!" He bounded over to the women as Roadhog lowered his head to enter the just-tad-too-short doors.

Mei waved Angela to remain sitting while she stood up to attend to their new regular customers. "Good morning, Jamie. What's your order today?"

Junkrat chuckled under his breath and, for the first time Mei saw him, he straightened his spine and leaned back. His hips were pushed forward, thumbs hooked in his pockets and she found herself flicking her gaze onto his remaining fingers. "You."

"Alright! I'll get that —  wait, what?" She had subconsciously jabbered on in routine when his order finally clicked in her mind. "M-Me?"

"Yes, 'flake. You." The slightly crazed man grinned while he watched her reaction, having caught her gaze. "What say you? You, me, on a date?"

Was it just her or was the cafe heating up? Junkrat watched, satisfied at the deep flush her fair cheeks were sporting. Her pink lips parted, only to have her teeth nibble at her bottom lip. The seconds felt like minutes and everything slowed down in that very moment; Angela watched with curiosity deeming proud for a feline, Junkrat puffing out his chest with the pride of a lion, and Mei, poor flabbergasted, confused Mei, simply pinched and played with her fingers. Was he playing a joke on her? If he was, it was such a sick joke! But as she lifted her eyes to glance at him, the shred of sincerity shining in his eyes caused her to flinch. Was it real? It really seemed so real. Should she accept?

‘I mean like, it wouldn’t hurt to right? Maybe? Argh! I don’t know!’ Mei felt as though animated tears streaming down her distraught face as she wished she was holed up in a corner to her thoughts.

This was just too sudden! This wasn’t the Jamie — Junkrat — that she knew! Where did that crazy, maniacal laughing, bubble tea loving pyromaniac go! She’d rather face his usual babble of explosions and threats of blowing this building, that building, or even the park if he could just because some dog peed on his leg (and no, clearly not on the fleshy leg).

As the time ticked by, Junkrat’s confident smile twitched at the corner. It shouldn’t be taking that long to decide would it? Or did she not find him attractive enough? That what? She preferred those stick thing, unreliable Asian men better (with of course, excluding that cyborg ninja Genji and archer Hanzo. Those two could give me one hell of a run if they tried, he scoffed)?

“Uh…”

His ears perked up at the soft voice, just like the little tweet of a nightingale and his eyes sparkled with anticipation. Really, just what could go wrong, right?

Everything, of course.

The door, for the second time that day, opened with the lightest of push, but it was that small creak that sounded especially deafening in the tense silence. In stepped a tall, muscular blond man whose blue eyes first beamed at spotting Angela behind the counter, before falling onto a nervous Mei and a threatening Junkrat.

“You — What are you doing to Mei?” Jack stepped towards Junkrat with a level glare. “You wouldn’t happen to be threatening a waitress, would you?”

“Fuck off, cunt. I was just asking her a question!” Junkrat returned the glare with one of his own. “Fucking ruined the moment!”

Jack ignored his cussing, turning to Mei instead. Gesturing at the angry pyromaniac with a flick of his chin, he asked, “Is that true?”

“U-Uh, yeah. He was,” Mei heaved a mental sigh of relief at seeing a familiar face walk through the door. Oh gosh, she couldn’t even begin imagining what she’d do if unacquainted customers came by!

Jack was about to continue questioning her when a gentle voice cut him off. “It’s alright, Jack. He really wasn’t threatening her.”

At Angela’s reassurance did the agent relax his guard and walk up to the second cashier, to which she stood up to man. He observed her grinning countenance, scanning for any abnormalities, but he found none. ‘So, the letter hasn’t arrived?’ His mind floated towards the ninja that appeared moments before he entered, frowning at the memory. 'Did she see him too?'

Angela paid no heed to his stare and continued gracing him with her smile. “Good morning. You’re not normally in this early, or this often.”

Concluding that it really hasn’t arrived and haven't seen the cyborg ninja, he returned her grin and shook his head. “I just miss you that’s all. I was wondering if you’re free later today after work as I got a day off.”

“Sure, I don’t have anything planned. What did you want to do?” she responded almost immediately.

“Just perhaps a walk in the park? Thought we could both do with a nice change in pace,” he suggested.

“Sounds good to me.”

Junkrat seethed at the side, scowling darkly at the scene and faced Mei again. She half feared that he was going to ask her out again and forced herself to keep smiling. If he asked, she’d reply! If not, then… well. She wasn’t sure?

“Just give me the breakfast set. Roadie will have the same but with more sausages.” Instead, he grumbled under his breath while glaring at the till.

Somehow, just somehow, Mei was disappointed. Was she only worth that much to him? Was it really a joke after all? She carefully took his payment and gave him his order number before quickly entering the kitchen to prepare the meal. Simple dishes like this, she could do, but anything that required more skills, they were normally sent to the kitchen staff on hand or Angela to complete. However just for this meal, just this one, even if she’d deny it in front of others, she wanted to at least make that crazy man his breakfast. Juicy, ripened tomatoes were sliced in half before being lightly seasoned with salt and pepper with a drizzle of olive oil before being baked in the oven. On the frying pan was a couple of thick striped bacon and sausages sizzling away that she flipped over before checking on the simmering pot of water. With a dash of vinegar, she then stirred to create a whirlpool before carefully cracking a fresh large egg into it. She watched in anticipation as the egg whites swirled and danced around the yolk, like a butterfly’s wings cocooning itself.

It didn’t take long to finish the meal. The tomatoes came out first and then poached eggs, and she neatly plated them on a warm porcelain plate. A garden salad was placed on the side with a lemon balsamic tang before the bacon and sausages was put on. She repeated the same on another plate but with added sausages. Once content with everything, she brought out the plates, one in each hand and sauntered towards the table. This time, confidence was oozing out of her every pore and it showed, as Junkrat’s attention was suddenly shifted towards her as he caught her from the corner of his eye. His eyes were locked onto the delicious upward tug of her lips before blinking at the glint in her eyes so bright behind the glasses. He visibly gulped the lump in his throat when he watched her curves dance towards him with mouth-watering meals in her possession.

“Here you go. A breakfast special made especially for you.” The plates lightly thudded on the wooden table and Junkrat was stunned at the smile that she gave him.

He gulped again, somehow noticing that the distance between them was rather short. He could feel the heat that radiated off her body and even when she pulled her hands back to her side, they were made deliberately slow and elegant as she turned to fully face him. “So,” she whispered breathily. Goosebumps tickled his skin when her cold fingertips graced his warm ones gripping the armrest. “Is the date still on?”

“W-Wha?” Incoherent words tumbled off his tongue. What was his Snowflake saying?

Mei grinned cheekily at his response and the confidence building within allowed her to lean forward just by a few inches, enough so that the words rolling off her lips would tickle his ear. “The date. The date you wanted to take me on. When will you take me out?”

The warm breath, so unlike her cold fingertips, caressed his ear and he shivered at the intensity of it all. The words repeated in his mind over and over again, before his mind finally processed it and he felt his lips tug at the corner. His shock vanished like a drop of water in the desert and he returned her gesture, sheer satisfaction blooming at the pinkness that slowly crept upon her cheeks. Leaning on his arm, he closed into her face, the smug smirk playing off his lips. “Oh, babe. We can have a date tonight if you want. Or even right here, right now.” Then, with his free hand, Junkrat lightly traced his thumb over her parted lips with a quick, fluid motion. “Of course, if you rather not, my flames are hot as fuck like the Australian sun and it’ll definitely keep you warm at night.

It was like the kettle going off when the last of his breathy words kissed her lips. Mei’s face flushed entirely red where it rivalled the juiciest ripened red apples, feeling extremely hot to the point she believed steam was about to rise. Just what, why, how, what?

With his smirk widening, Junkrat leaned back and winked. “I’ll see you tonight then, Snowflake.”

With a blink of her eyes, Mei managed to compose herself before smiling sweetly at him. “Okay!”

When Mei walked away, cheeks still a little red and a little flustered, but her steps had a bounce to them. Angela grinned upon seeing that and couldn’t help her eyes wandering over to Jack who was seated by the window, eating his sandwich and reading the news. She too, was pretty eager for tonight.

“Oh, good morning Ana!” Mei chirped when an elderly lady appeared by the door. Her skin was tanned and white hair braided neatly, but unlike normal women, one of her eyes were hidden behind an eyepatch.

“Good morning. I brought the new batch of flowers for this week,” Ana smiled as she held up the pots of morning glory. The royal purples were a beautiful contrast from their dark leaves and a fresh scent immediately wafted around the cafe. “I have the rest in my car.”

Angela beamed at the morning glory. They were absolutely beautiful! And they seemed to have just bloomed as well. Gratefully taking the heavy pot from Ana’s hands, she proceeded to set it down near the door, close enough to be by the entrance but not enough to get destroyed when the door opened (courtesy of a particular fellow).

While Ana turned around to get the other pots, a burly man standing at easily over 2 metres was blocking the doorway. In his thick arms were two large pots of morning glory, the trellises covered with buds in full bloom. “Ana, Meine Maus. You left your car door open.”

Ana grinned lopsidedly at the man. Steps filled with elegance and a deathly vibe, she walked up towards the man and lifted her hand to gently caress his cheek on her tiptoes. The short hairs of his beard tickled her calloused palm. “Why wouldn’t I, my love? I could easily spot you from a mile away.”

Reinhardt, the big old burly man chuckled lovingly at the smaller woman before him. Her head was lowered as she lifted her one eye to blink innocently up at him. “And besides, you wouldn’t let anyone steal a defenceless old woman’s car, would you?”

Her whisper was only audible for him to hear and he couldn’t help guffawing at the bashful, defenceless look she was putting on. Her? Defenceless? Hah! She could easily send someone to meet their father in Heaven if she wanted to!

“And besides, who would steal the car when someone like you was already stealing flower pots out of it?”

His laughter bellowed louder in the cafe. Nimbly, he pecked her on the forehead, the adoration so clear in his gaze. “Oh, Meine Maus. I’m just helping you carry these heavy things.” He knew full well that she could easily handle these pots herself too with all the years having been in the field with her sniper rifle, and gods, that gun was not light to begin with. “I even finished training the Jungspunde as fast as I could, just so I could see you.”

Ana smiled and stepped aside to allow Reinhardt entry, mouthing him a silent ‘thank you’ before turning to Angela. “Tell him where you’d like them.”

She warmed at the scene before her, feeling rather wistful from it all. When would she be able to experience something like that? A simple, comfortable relationship with nothing else that was more important. A sigh slipped from her lips before she stepped forward to instruct Reinhardt on the positioning of the plants. A few customers arrived when the cafe was being transformed into a mini garden once more whom Mei attended to as Angela handled the decorations. It was bittersweet, watching the old couple. Sweet, simple ministrations of small pecks, rubbing of her cheek on his bicep, and unburdened laughter that was so addictive that the others couldn’t help but join in too.

“Thank you.”

Ana and Reinhardt looked up from their seats to smile at Angela who brought a plate of food and a tray of refreshments. Setting the sandwiches down with the drinks, she thanked the couple once more.

“It’s our pleasure, Angie. You’re doing really well with the cafe.” Ana commented, her words tinged with pride.

“It’s a team effort,” Angela responded bashfully. And that was true. Without Jack’s assistance in forming the cafe, she would have then never built the cafe up to the standard that she wanted; He was the one who found Ana the florist, and not long after she posted job positions, Mei came (with a few other staff of course, but the Chinese woman was the most memorable one out of the lot) with her refreshing iced drinks. When she faced the couple again, there was something that nagged at her mind, itching at her to ask: “How do you make it work?” She knew Reinhardt was somewhere in the military; the guy had to be with that kind of body!

“You mean relationships?” Ana asked back and she nodded. When the old woman turned to look at Reinhardt, she caught his silent, endearing gaze as he nibbled on his sandwich and her lungs burst out into giggles. “They’re work, Angie. Definitely not 50/50. Some days when I get up, I feel like only giving 10% of my effort and my love here will have to step up to give 90% that day.”

“But there’s 100% love,” Reinhardt finished for her as he handed her the cup to drink. “It’s really hard to put it into words because it can’t really be measured. Sometimes you just gotta feel for it.”

“But how would you know who?”

“Someone who feels like home,” Ana grinned, taking Reinhardt’s hand into hers. “It’s not about the excitement or the things you share in common. Sometimes, it’s really just someone that makes you feel comfortable, someone that you can go home to and relax without a worry.”

“Without a worry, huh…”

“How come, Angie? Is there someone on your mind?” Ana questioned, leaning back as she daintily picked up her cup and sipped her tea. She truly did wonder, just who might have Angela ended up with? She watched the pondering woman closely, feeling slightly odd at the sight. The blonde cafe owner before her was nothing like the doctor she knew back in Overwatch, like something… had changed. It wasn’t such a major, drastic change no. Just something subtle, something you wouldn’t have been able to grasp if you weren’t attentive enough.

Angela hummed as she hugged the tray closer to her chest. At first, her eyes darted towards Jack, her questioning gaze staring at his back. Would he be the one? Sure, they’ve shared laughter and smiles before, but that’s all there was. It was like there was never a rainy day between them and honestly, that was nice. She felt happy with him and rather free, yet simultaneously, there were times where she had to constantly put that smile on — even if she didn’t want to. Putting away her fatigue, her stress for the day, just so she could smile for him… was that really what she wanted? Yes, she was smiling. Yes, they laughed together. And he'd helped her with a new beginning. But it was just so tiring…

Ana caught onto the direction of her gaze, and so did Reinhardt. They both shared a glance, untold conversations silently weaving through the air.

"I haven't seen Genji in awhile. How is he doing?"

Angela was snapped out of her reverie at the man's question. Genji… huh. "I haven't seen him in awhile. I guess he must be busy."

Reinhardt let out a sound of acknowledgment. "I suppose he is. But shouldn't you check up on him? To make sure he's working fine?"

She was startled. "Huh? What do you mean?"

This time it was Reinhardt who was surprised. "Am I wrong? Don't you regularly perform checks on him? To make sure the cybernetic parts of his body are operating at optimum levels, or something?" He paused, holding her gaze with his quirked eyebrow. "Am… I not right? These things are just too confusing!"

"I - I…"

At a loss for words, the cafe owner flinched back a small step. Everything in her was a mess lately. She hadn't believed Genji the first time he told her she was a doctor, that she was in Overwatch, but then the letter came. Inviting her. And then, now this.

Was this why they all gave her weird expressions when they first met? When Mei came for an interview and she appeared all cheerful, only to be shocked and confused, before the same smile was brought back, although albeit forced. Angela honestly always thought that the icy woman was just someone who wore her heart on her sleeve while still being capable of maintaining a professional attitude; the ability to create the iced drinks were just icing on the cake. And when Angela first met Ana, the older woman had instantly treated her with warmth, giving off the vibe of a loving grandmother who desperately wanted to give hugs and cookies. Yet, when Angela kept that professional distance and introduced herself, Ana, similarly like Mei, had given her an expression full of confusion.

As though they were supposed to adjust be acquainted.

But she… couldn't remember.

Remember.

It's always her memory. Something was definitely missing. Something related to Overwatch. Something she should have known but couldn't. Something… argh! What was it? If only she could —

The door to the cafe opened and the first wave of breakfast customers came rushing in to get their daily coffee and food. Dropping the topic right there, Angela quickly returned to her position with an apology and helped Mei attend to the customers.

"Something's not right… with Angie."

"I agree, Meine Maus. It's like she can't remember us."

"But it's only been a little under five years since the disbandment of Overwatch."

The couple had only gotten in touch with Angela from time to time before she opened the cafe. That was simply life. You'd get busy and things start to pile up. You'd focus on one task before moving onto the next, or even, you'd just sit and laze there, waiting for the time to pass for the exact reason that things were starting to pile up, like pile up.

"I don't know, my love. It's not as simple as that…" And pursed her lips while her motherly sixth sense was tingling. Something. Was terribly wrong.

Angela busied herself with the customers, plastering on the usual smile as the wave kept coming for breakfast or early lunches. She'd pass Jack occasionally with a plate of food or with a tray of drinks, and though she wished she could forget about what the old couple has mentioned, her mind constantly strayed away. Would he be the one? Was he the one I feel like home? She glanced at Jack as she walked towards the table behind him before quickly lowering her lashes. The image of his smiling side profile flitted into her mind, chin in palm and a warm mug in the other. He watched the people by the sidewalk pass by the cafe while the sun peeked out from behind the clouds. A lovely day indeed.

After serving the drinks, she too, looked out the window. 'It's been sunny for awhile,' she noted mentally. 'I wonder when will it rain?'

Her footsteps immediately paused and her nose wrinkled.

If every day was a sunny day, who would not wish for rain?

His words, crisp and clear, rang in her mind. It was already muddled with thoughts, a total mess of a mindscape like messy clothes strewn carelessly around the room, but his words remained bolded and strong. Her lips subconsciously twitched upward.

True. We all need a rainy day once in awhile.

And when the day had come and gone, the sun finishing its cycle to allow space the moon to bask in its glory, Angela stood outside her cafe with her face towards the fiery sky. Hues of orange and yellow painted the clouds a passionate colour, with a visible of violet and pink. She released a deep sigh, letting it all out and the gentle breeze blew, caressing her cheek and danced with her hair. It's been 17 weeks since she opened the cafe, 17 weeks since her new beginning, and two weeks since she saw him. Was he doing well? Was he eating well? Did those scars hurt?

"Have fun!" Mei called out from inside the cafe. Junkrat was waiting on her inside, fingers drumming impatiently on the armrest as he balanced the car on its two back legs.

"Thanks for closing up!" Angela smiled. There was still 30 minutes to closing, but Mei had offered to close up, giving the owner the short break from the Monday Mayhem. They hadn't expected it to be so busy, but after the first wave came, they never stopped.

Jack waved bye to Mei after a warning glance at Junkrat to come stand beside Angela. "You cold?" He asked when he saw her crossed arms.

Smiling sweetly, she shook her head. "Not really. I'm fine."

Although he acknowledged her words, he still removed his coat and gingerly wrapped it around her shoulders. An indescribable feeling washed over her, the emotions bubbling up to her throat. He was sweet, such a gentleman, and he was strong and loyal. But why did she feel like there was something that she could never cross? Something held her back, an invisible threshold her heart refused to jump across.

"Come, let's go to the park nearby."

However, just as he uttered those words, the darkening sky lost its passionate hue as dark clouds immediately converged above the city. Lightning flashed before their eyes as the winds picked up speed, with barely three seconds later as the thunder clapped, the sound rumbling and shocking her nerves.

Instantly, like a tear in the sky, it started pouring. Angela stood beneath the eaves of her cafe, watching the grey faded curtain of the rain fall before her. The chill pervaded her senses, yet the feeling was refreshing, a nice calm in the chaos of her heart.

"Shit. I'll go borrow an umbrella." Jack turned back into the cafe.

Angela hummed nonchalantly, her attention still on the pitter-pattering of rain. Her fingers, still on her cross arms, twitched, as though something was missing — something that had normally done before. A sad smile flitted onto her lips the more she thought about it. The empty slate of memories that she had of year before her awakening in the hospital, that wide gap, was beginning to get on her nerves. The doctors said that with time, her memories should resurface. Nothing was wrong with her that was extremely detrimental, everything was functioning alright. At least, that's what the doctors said.

Were they right?

She began to seethe at the doubt that arose. What was the truth? What was the lie?

"Ahh, there aren't any umbrellas in the cafe," Jack groaned as he returned to her side. "Why isn't there one? Sigh… what would you like to do?" He felt dejected at the weather, inwardly cursing the bad timing to have it rain. After so long of finally getting a day off just to spend it with her, it rained. It. Just. Had. To. Rain. Fuck.

Angela didn't even spare him a glance, too lost in her thoughts when she suddenly cried out in pain at the sharp stab to her brain. It pulsed and burned, like a knife was carving in her skull. A faint, blurry memory was resurfacing, the scene dark, but she felt a sense of comfort. A phantom warmth crept on her cheek, like a gentle caress of the wind, but the calloused touch brought shivers down her spine. She closed her eyes and relished in the memory, as blurry as it may be.

Murmured whispers began to echo.

“Oh, it’s raining.”

“Mmm, it would seem like it is.”

“If I recall, it was raining when I found you too.”

“Yeah, it was raining just like this at that time.”

“I’m glad that I did though.”

“Huh?”

“It allowed me to meet you.”

The close intimacy of those words brought upon a wave of desire and anguish in her heart. The man’s voice was familiar, too familiar in fact and the same instinctual feeling she felt weeks ago — buried long ago — resurfaced.

She tried to calm her breathing, the pain now throbbing a dull ache. By her side, Jack was worried and anxious, but his words fell on deaf ears. She couldn’t hear a word he uttered, nor could she hear Mei’s.

“Then I propose we have a date in the rain.”

“In the rain? Then I’ll just have to bring an umbrella.” The her in the memories giggled, giggled, at the prospect of walking in the rain.

There came the phantom caress once again, causing her heart to burn with renewed fervor.

“Two lovers in the rain have no need for an umbrella.”

His name, barely audible in the rain, was murmured under her breath, a soft kiss of desiderium that warmed and at the same time, anguished her within.

The large hands that held onto her arm and patted her back brought her out of her senses, and cruelly back to reality. She snapped her head towards a worried Jack and she stared into his eyes so blue that mirrored her countenance. Did he know?

'Did Jack know anything of me in Overwatch?' She thought. 'If he did, why wouldn't he tell me?'

An uneasy feeling rose up his throat at the blank, level stare that she gave him. Did she recover her memories?

The doctors said that with time, her memories should resurface, but it was Jack that told her, "It's alright if you don't remember. Each day is a new beginning."

What were his intentions then? She believed him like a baby depended on its mother when it first opened its eyes. He was there by her bed when she woke up, there when she felt lost at everything, there when every new thing popped up. But now —

Just how much shit could she have avoided if she knew his intentions from the start?

"Angie…?" He tested the waters warily, a sense of danger sparking off in his mind. An angry woman was after all, more dangerous than any sniper bullet.

The unreadable expression on her beautiful countenance disappeared with the blink of an eye as the same smile he was used to appeared. "Oh, I'm sorry. I blanked out."

He heaved a mental sigh of relief. Outwardly, he returned her smile. "You were in pain just now. Did your head hurt?"

"Yeah, but it's fine now."

And now, for the actual worry. "Did you recover your memories?"

Angela closed her eyes as she shook her head, using that moment of darkness to hide the sharp glint in her gaze. Memories? Yeah, she recovered just the slightest bit of them, but it doesn't look like he wanted her to. However, she easily lied through her smile, "No. I didn't. I think I'm just cold. I want to go home. Sorry about this."

Jack patted her head and she forcefully repressed the urge to flinch. "You don't have to apologise." I do. "I'll send you home."

She wanted to refuse him, to go alone and sit with her thoughts, but seeing the eagerness in his eyes made it sizzle away. "Sure."

And as they ran across the streets, jacket or hands covering their heads, a lone shadow appeared by the cafe door. In his hand was a brown paper bag. For the first time in two weeks, he wasn't in his cyborg suit. He didn't shiver at the cold, feeling a hollow space in his heart. For two weeks, he held back in seeing her. For two weeks, he worked hard to finish the thing in the bag. For two weeks… he tried to swim against the raging waves of his mind, that she didn't intentionally forget who he was, that she didn't intend to leave him, to hurt him like this.

Yet, when I tumbled and turned in my thoughts, I always came to the same conclusion: It's sad when the person that gave me the best memories, becomes a memory.

"Genji! You're here." Mei greeted me despite Junkrat's scowls and grumbles. "Do you want something to drink?"

I shook my head, looking around the cafe for any signs of Angela. Water dripped from my hair, wet clothes clinging to my body and the scent of morning glory entered my senses. Affection, I vaguely remembered its meaning. Mei caught onto my gaze and asked, "Are you looking for Angela? She just left with Jack before you arrived."

I gave her a bitter smile. Jack. Jack Morrison again. He stopped me from entering this morning when I gathered enough courage to see her as the cafe opened, and when I heard his words, I swallowed the acid in my throat and resolutely walked away. The dragon in my blood stirred, the unaccepting fury bubbling.

"What are you doing here, Genji?"

"Commander," I had curtly replied with the same brown bag in hand. Tugging my scarf higher, I continued. "I'm here to see Angela."

Jack shook his head, arms crossed on his chest as he leaned his weight on a foot. "You're just going to hurt her when she sees you."

"Why?" I narrowed my eyes, the dark irises flashing a dangerous red and Jack tensed his muscles in retaliation.

Instead of replying, Jack shook his head and shifted the topic. "You know. It was amazing how you two have been friends for so long. She talked about you all the time."

My ears perked up. "She did?"

"Yeah, I have to say, I have no idea how you didn't fall in love with her yet." My heart ached at the bitter memory of months ago. "Lucky for me though."

And I swore, I was about to pummel him for the smug grin he graced me with. Had he thought I hadn't felt that? That they were together? That I had missed out on my only chance just because of a damn mission?

"Did you have to fucking tell me that?" I growled at him. "Then go, go to her."

And I had then turned around, my back to the cafe, to her, and walked away, and it was with that, that I missed Jack's agonised expression, muttering incoherent words under his breath.

"I wish I could. She hasn't even agreed to date me."

Turning my attention back to Mei, I ignored Junkrat by the side and handed her the bag. "Could I leave this bag here with you?"

"What's in it?"

My face twitched into a smile. "Nothing much."

Mei narrowed her eyes in jest. "Really? It's not something I need to be afraid of, right?"

I shook my head but Junkrat had been faster, grabbing the paper bag from my grip before she could lay a finger on it. "No! If it's fucking dangerous, cunt. You're not leaving it here with her."

I rolled my eyes at the pyromaniac. "It's a lot less dangerous than you."

"Damn right it should be!" He proudly exclaimed.

Mei laughed at his antics, taking the bag away from him. "I'll keep this safe. How have you been?"

I could sense the hidden worry in her tone and I chuckled sadly. "As good as I can be. Jesse and Lena are helping me through this ordeal."

Mei hummed in agreement. "That's good. Angela is a little different though."

I scoffed lightly. "Of course. She's lost her memories. Doesn't remember a single thing."

Mei gasped. "Seriously? Aiya, no wonder she found it weird when she got the letter. Did you get it too?"

I raised an eyebrow. "That dinner invitation?" At her nod, I replied, "Yeah. I did."

"Hey, hey. What letter! Why am I not invited to something Snowflake is invited to?" Junkrat grumbled with a scowl.

Mei rolled her eyes. "Cause you're not part of Overwatch."

Junkrat narrowed his eyes at her. "You aren't anymore too!"

I turned my head away from their public display of affection and bid them farewell. Stepping outside the cafe, I watched the heavy rain fall from the clouds. It was raining just like that night many years ago, and just like that one memory I've shared with her.

If I could, I'd take her out on a date on the rain. Her hand in mine as we walk amidst the rainy curtains. Grace her with a rose and surprise her with a box of Swiss chocolates. She'd hum a tune, that's for sure, and we'd dance to it. Freely, like birds uncaged. Not a care in the world as it's just us. Just us two, living in the rain.

Closing my eyes, I allowed the rain to fall on my face in the night. No, no tears in the rain. A cleansing of my broken heart. To allow the pain to slowly wash away with the rain, leaving me nothing but an empty hollowness in my chest. It hurt. Hurt too much.

Yet, I also knew, knew that the pain will never really go away. No one would really ever forget the pain of losing someone once loved. I'd pretend to move on and act like it didn't happen before everyone else, just because it's what to be expected.

Rubbing at my cheeks, I gulped the heavy lump lodged in my throat and fought the burning sensations in my eyes.

'If I did anything right in my life, it was when I gave my heart to you.'

[yamasbatcave]

A story in a cave (my love letter to Cave Story)

This is my personal love letter to a game called Cave Story. Hopefully you are willing to listen what I got to say and why I love this game, and maybe give it a chance yourself. NOTE: I am not going to talk about any spoilery stuff, so you're all safe!

Title screen of the Switch version

Important facts first: Cave Story (Doukutsu Monogatari) is an indie game released originally in 2004. The whole game was created and developed by a single man, Daisuke Amaya (also known as "Pixel"). He spent five years making the game. Cave Story was originally released for free on PC, and even up to this day the original version of the game is available for free. You can download it from here, and it's available in multiple languages, including Japanese, English, Russian, Chinese, German and Korean. If you're interested, check and find out if it's in any language you're comfortable with! Cave Story is often considered being the game that started the whole indie game industry, and for a very good reason: it brought back the retro graphics people grew up with while playing old Nintendo systems. It's often compared to Metroid, and even though I have never played Metroid, I can see why is that.

As for why I love Cave Story, I need to talk about my personal experiences over this game. I played Cave Story for the first time in summer 2015. Up to that point I had played very little games outside of Pokémon (I've been trying to fix that) and Cave Story was one of the first non-Pokémon games I played as an adult. One reason why I got into this game was because years ago I had read an article about it in a magazine, and it had praised the game greatly. So, when I one day was going through Nintendo eShop and saw Cave Story there, I immediately remembered the article and how curious it had made me about the game. Since the game was pretty cheap (8 euros) I decided to give it a go. Now, you need to know something about me. Some of my favorites games I played when growing up had certain qualities in them: a lot cool, detailed pixel art and great, synthetic/chiptune music. Because Cave Story is in some ways similar to the old games I grew up with, it was easier to connect with it. This being one of the first non-Pokémon experiences I had after my childhood, it was a good way to get into gaming overall, and getting courage to try out other games as well.

I need to give a big shoutout to the soundtrack in Cave Story. Mister Amaya himself have said that he knows nothing about making music, yet he composed the whole soundtrack of this game - and it's brilliant. When you start the game, you wake up in a cave. The music is almost like echoes of the deep dark cave you're about to explore...

I mean, listen to this! Doesn't this make you wanna explore this new area you just found?

Or do you feel your blood pressure getting higher in an intense battle?

After all that excitement it is always good to take a deep breath and relax for a bit.

Oh, and something extra for all Finnish people out there: Cave Story has a character named Jenka, and her theme music is literally the Finnish Letkajenkka!

And I did not even list all of my favorite tracks (some of them are kinda spoilery), so there's more awesomeness to hear when you play Cave Story!

Oh, and did I mention that there are dogs? And you can carry them on your head? (Note: you can carry more than one dog only in the Switch version)

I am not going to spoil the story, but the story is great. There are funny and exciting moments, but it's not all happy and peppy...the world building in Cave Story is intriguing, and it tells you just enough to piece everything together, but leaves enough up to your imagination to make you curious and wanting more. Cave Story also has three different endings, and it is possible to get them all on one run (I've done this myself couple times). Do not expect getting all the endings on your first playthrough, though - getting the so-called best ending requires you to do some very precise things at certain points of the story. This ending is also the hardest in the game, as it took me three months to do on my first attempt. I only did it to get the best possible outcome for my favorite character Just to give an idea how hard the best ending is, here is a sign you'll find in the final area of the game if you're trying to get this ending:

The game knows.

This game has everything - even a place named after me!

---------------------------------------------------- Cave Story is an experience you should not let pass by if you like indie games. The game is very available with a free PC release and being on Nintendo 3DS and Switch (neither of the console releases are too expensive, either). Cave Story isn't very long, and if you play the game through normally you should get over it pretty quickly! Hopefully this sparked your interest in the game if you haven't played it yet. It would be great to get more new players for Cave Story.

[serinemolecule]

Kanji

It’s said that all modern writing systems descend from either Ancient Sumerian, or Ancient Chinese. [1]

You’ll notice that Japanese is not on that list of two languages. Japanese was purely a spoken language when Japanese people first visited China, and learned to read and write kanji – Chinese characters.

Writing is, of course, extremely useful [2], so sooner or later, Japanese people started learning Chinese so they could read and write.

Writing in Japan

Imagine this: You know some Chinese, but you’re not great at it, because you are not Chinese.

You see 三 in front of you. It’s the kanji for “three”.

Now, you could say the Chinese word for three (it’s “san”, in case you forgot). Or... bear with me here... you could just say “three”. No one would know. It’s not like you’re in China.

Congratulations, you just invented kun’yomi!

Actually, why don’t we just do that with entire sentences?

Japan tried, but Chinese and Japanese sentences have different word order. If you just read a Chinese sentence, and translated each kanji into Japanese, it would be in entirely the wrong order!

Kanbun

Japan had a solution to that, called Kanbun.

What if you took a Chinese sentence, and just... read it in Japanese word order, and also figured out what words were missing to make it grammatically correct, and add those words back in?

Great idea! So that’s what Japan did, for a while. They called it Kanbun. Write in Chinese, read in Japanese by reading in a different order and inserting words as necessary.

It didn’t work great, though, because most Japanese people are not great at Chinese, and it’s kind of hard to just stare at a sentence and figure out how to rearrange it so it makes sense in Japanese.

I’m sure you can think of an easy solution to this problem.

Yes, that’s right! Draw arrows around the Chinese sentence, so people know what order to read the characters in!

So Japanese people started adding those little symbols on the left, meaning “go down”, “skip”, “reverse”, “go up”. The numbers on the right are the order you’re supposed to read those kanji in. Easy, right?

Eventually, Japanese people finally realized this was stupid, and started just writing sentences in the order you were supposed to read them.

Man’yougana

And those words you had to add in to make the sentence make sense? Japanese people started just writing those out, by just writing kanji with the same Chinese pronunciation as the words you needed to add in. This was called man’yougana, which later evolved into the hiragana and katakana we use today.

Pronunciation

Meanwhile, there are two ways to pronounce kanji.

1. On’yomi – say the Chinese word in a Japanese accent.

2. Kun’yomi – just say a Japanese translation of that Chinese word.

This is actually huge! Japanese people and Chinese people approach kanji in totally different ways.

To a Chinese person, a kanji is just a word. It has a meaning and a pronunciation.

To a Japanese person, a kanji is a concept. It has a meaning, but pronunciation? Just say any word that means roughly the same thing. Words and kanji are different things in Japanese.

On’yomi

On’yomi is a bit more complicated than I let on earlier. “Say the Chinese word in a Japanese accent” is correct, but – the Chinese word from when?

You see, it’s been over a thousand years since Japanese started using kanji from China, and Chinese pronunciation has changed drastically in the meantime.

So when we say “say the Chinese word”, do you mean the pronunciation from six centuries ago? From twelve centuries ago?

Because this is Japan, the answer is: All of the above! It’s not like a kanji has a single pronunciation in the first place.

There are several ways a kanji can be pronounced as on’yomi:

1. Go-on – pronunciations from over 15 centuries ago

2. Kan-on – pronunciations from 12-15 centuries ago

3. Tō-on – pronunciations from less than 12 centuries ago

4. Kan’yō-on – pronunciations that Japanese people thought were Chinese, but they were wrong [3]

The most common on’yomi for any kanji (and the one people will tell you if you ask “what’s the on’yomi?”) is going to be Kan-on. [4] The others are pretty obscure.

Kun’yomi

If you’ve started learning Japanese, kun’yomi might seem simple to you. Some words are written with some kanji.

Once you’re more advanced, you might learn that sometimes multiple words are written with the same kanji. And sometimes, one word might have multiple kanji associated with it, each with slightly different connotations.

Maybe one day, you learn about jukujikun – sometimes, a word will be written with a multiple-kanji phrase that can’t be broken down. You can’t find these in a kanji dictionary because they’re not kun’yomi of a single kanji.

But it ends there, right?

Gikun

Nope. I hinted at this earlier – the most important thing to understand about how Japanese people approach kanji is that kanji are not words, kanji are concepts.

And so the standard way to write certain words with certain kanji? They’re not rules, they’re really just suggestions. And you can just ignore those suggestions, and use whatever kanji with whatever word you want. This is called gikun. [5]

Maybe you’ve seen 超電磁砲 being pronounced “Railgun”.

Consider: 宇宙 (uchuu, meaning “outer space”) and 空 (sora, meaning “sky”). They mean vaguely related things! So Japanese people sometimes switch it up and pronounce 宇宙 “sora”, or 空 “uchuu”. This tends to happen in things like songs, where you want the lyrics to look fancy, but “sora” fits the rhythm better. Or in people’s names – “Sora” is a nice name, but maybe you want to spell it more creatively than other people are spelling it.

My first exposure to how crazy Gikun can get was probably the name Kazuko, written 一子. You see, kazu means “number” and 一 (one) is a number!

Another one of my favorites: 小鳥遊, which, as a surname, can be pronounced “Takanashi”.

Because the kanji in 小鳥遊 mean “little birds playing”. And “Takanashi” means “no hawks around”.

You see? Because little birds are safe and can play when there are no hawks around to eat them?

Kanji are concepts, not words

I hope I’ve made my point by now.

It’s actually really cool how any kanji can be associated with any word.

I just hope you still find it cool when you’re staring at a kanji and have no idea how to pronounce it.

[1] Writing was also independently invented in Mesoamerica, but those have all died out. Several other writing systems are debatably independently invented, but they’ve all died out. Some historians say that there’s nothing saying Ancient Chinese wasn’t inspired by Ancient Sumerian, but there’s no evidence that this actually happened so I’m going to dismiss them as just Westerners being jealous of China.

[2] citation needed

[3] Japanese people learned a lot of Chinese from Koreans who were not actually that great at Chinese. You can understand how mistakes might creep into this process.

[4] During the Tang Dynasty, Japanese people were like “okay, we have a bunch of different inconsistent ways to pronounce Chinese, partially because some of us learned Chinese from Koreans who were not actually that great at Chinese”. So they decided to standardize on how Chinese was pronounced in China at that time. This standardized sound was called Kan-on and mostly caught on, but not completely, because Japanese people just love having fifty pronunciations for a single kanji.

[5] Japanese people will sometimes call this ateji. Depending on who you ask, gikun is either a type of ateji, or the exact opposite thing of ateji. Honestly, if you’ve read to this point, it should be pretty clear that this is far from the biggest consistency problem Japanese has.