#kyungsoo romance

[dreamylittlesugarcube]

Flames of Attraction

Genre: EXO AU

Characters: Kyungsoo x Female Reader

Warnings: Swearing, kissing, mentions of “the deed” but nothing graphic

Word Count: 9.3k

Summary: Who’s the boss? You are! Or at least, you had been until he showed up. For the past month, you’d busted your sous-chef butt to keep the hotel restaurant afloat after the head chef abruptly up and quit. Now, the manager’s brought in a friend, celebrity chef Do Kyungsoo, to lead the kitchen. With Kyungsoo wanting to run things his way, will tensions flame into something more? 

A/N: Oh my gosh, I finally finished! This is my longest fic to date, as part of the Crimson Aurora Hotel and Spa Collab. Buckle up for ~10k, folks! ! hope you enjoy it! Please re-blog so that others can find and interact with this post easier. Thanks a million!

P.S. I’m planning to write some filthy epilogues for anyone interested!

P.S. GIFS and pictures do not belong to me, so credit should go to the original owners. (theonly-vagina-kyungsoo-will-fuk

~*~

“Feeling a little tense today, boss?” 

You glanced up briefly from your pork cutlets to find Hyun-min staring at you, elbows on the counter in a manner you’d told him you don’t enjoy. As the chef de partie in charge of the meat station, a classmate from culinary school, and a long-time friend, he was entirely too perceptive for your liking. This quality was exceptionally beneficial in the workplace, but not so much when you were trying to squash your anger in the name of professionalism. 

“No, what makes you think that?” you responded, lying through your teeth. 

Hyun-min flashed you a cheshire cat grin, feigning nonchalance. “Oh, I don’t know…maybe because our new boss shows up tomorrow? THE WORLD FAMOUS CELEBRITY CHEF DO KYUNGSOO?!”

“Who’s side are you on anyway?” you mumbled as Hyun-min squealed in excitement. 

“Yours, of course. But I can’t help it. The man’s a legend–helming a three-starred Michelin restaurant when he was under the age of 25 and he’s model-hot?!”

 He fanned himself dramatically with a copy of tonight’s menu. 

No one needed to tell you how talented Do Kyungsoo was. His accomplishments spoke for themselves–the book deals, the television shows, the James Beard awards, and yes–the coveted Michelin stars. You'd watched him on TV before and couldn’t deny that he’s good–okay, amazingly good, with a great knack for flavor. He’s been listed in more than one “30 Under 30” article. Was it fair to be blessed with that level of both talent and looks?!  Furthermore, you wondered why someone like him, who’s been the executive chef of many, many famous restaurants would come here. Perhaps, Manager Kim had more connections than you knew. 

It’s been several months since Head Chef Maurice abruptly departed. Many chefs have been interested in replacing him, but Manager Kim wasn’t satisfied with any of them, which left you, the sous-chef, to fill in the gaps.

Rather than sticking to one type of cuisine, you introduced fusion dishes, which have been very well-received. You were happy, guests were happy, and Mr. Kim seemed happy…so happy that you thought he might give you the promotion you always dreamed of. After five years of toiling away at this restaurant you’d thought maybe, just maybe this was your time. You felt blindsided at the news of Do Kyungsoo’s arrival not even two days ago, which left you with no time to process anything beyond anger. 

“I’m fine,” you said tightly, grabbing your meat hammer. “Absolutely.” Pound. “100%.” Pound. “Totally.” Pound. “Fine.” Pound. Pound. Pound. Pound. 

“Uh-huh, sure,” Hyun-min sayid, narrowing his eyes in obvious doubt.  “You can lie all you want, honey…but don’t take it out on my poor, innocent pork cutlets. They’re supposed to be thinly pressed, not hacked to pieces!”

He quickly grabbed the tray of meat and moved it protectively out of the way, like you were a wild animal he couldn’t trust not to strike once his back was turned. 

You flushed in embarrassment at your lack of composure, still incredibly on edge. Since you weren’t allowed to mete out your frustrations on the schnitzel, you’d need to seek out other avenues. Fortunately, your friend at the front desk was only too happy to help, and before you knew it, you were face down on a massage table, tension draining from your limbs under the masterful hands of the Crimson Aurora’s best masseuse.

~*~

Not 20 minutes into your lavender-induced stupor, a knock sounded at the door. Jongin told you to wait and slipped out the door, returning to quietly inform you that a certain Do Kyungsoo had arrived and “required your immediate attention.” 

As you dressed, you could feel your stomach twisting into knots as you made your way to the kitchen. Standing outside the kitchen doors, the absence of clanging pans, furious chopping, and loud, boisterous voices was your first clue that something was amiss. Through the window, you could see the kitchen staff positioned in a line, as though awaiting military inspection from their commanding officer. Do Kyungsoo stood in front of them, looking every bit the formidable chef he was rumored to be in his immaculate black chef’s coat. 

Taking a deep breath, you pushed the door open, crossing the threshold that usually felt so familiar, yet was now completely alien. You put on your best “welcome” smile and stepped into the lion’s den. The noise from the squeaky doors drew the man’s attention and he turned to look at you.

Coming forward, you bowed in greeting. “Hello, my name is ____. I’m the sous-chef here. My apologies for being late, I was just informed of your arrival.”

Kyungsoo sized you up from head to toe, noting your messy hair, untucked shirt, and overall lack of polish. Not what he’d expect from his supposed second-in-command. What type of serious chef got a massage during the work day? If he were any of his former employers, you’d be given your notice immediately. The restaurant world was an unforgiving place, but Kyungsoo knew the dangers of being too quick to judge, so your skills in the kitchen had better impress. 

You shuffled past Chef Do to stand beside Hyun-min, painfully aware that the former probably definitely knew exactly where you were. You might not be happy that he was here, but you’d never want your professionalism to be questioned over such a matter. Tonight he wanted to observe and see how the kitchen works and this dinner was your chance to wow him, to prove to Chef Do that you knew what you were doing. You’d worked your butt off covering for Chef Maurice and done a good job, goddammit! 

With renewed vigor, you threw yourself into preparing tonight’s special, your team working hard alongside you to pull out the stops, all while under Chef Do’s watchful eye. It was unnerving to feel his gaze on you, judging your every move during prep work–choice of ingredients, knife work, organization–and you could tell everyone else in the room was feeling the same tension. If Hyun-min was an open book, then this man was the definition of a book wrapped in chains with a lock and key, his expression never changing, making it frustratingly impossible to know his thoughts. 

Kyungsoo circled the kitchen, observing each and every moving part, noting both what he liked and things that needed to change. People had always told Kyungsoo that he was hard to read. His agent was always telling him he needed to “emote” better and give more fan service to the camera when he was filming shows. Kyungsoo disagreed–it wasn’t that he hid his emotions, he just didn’t see the point in pretending to be something he wasn’t.

Cooking was serious business–raw and real, both chaotic and orderly at the same time. 

During filming for his various television shows, he missed the sights and sounds of the organized chaos around him–orders coming left and right, a flurry of quick hands pushing dishes through the window, and the joyful calm of the knife in his hand as he rhythmically chopped vegetables. 

By the time the first ticket came through, you and your team were in the groove and you were forever thankful for muscle memory. The donkkaseu was perfect–golden and crunchy from the panko crumbs and slightly spicy from the red pepper flakes. It went down on a brioche bun, topped with kimchi coleslaw, and accompanied by a creamy gamja salad. Running a clean cloth around the edge of the plate, you rang the bell, literally sending your heart and soul out of the kitchen on a platter. 

Ashley, longtime waitress and confidant, gave you a thumbs up through the window and you breathed a sigh of relief. Throughout the night, customer reactions were generally positive and you fielded the odd complaint of “the fish is dry” or “I asked for the steak medium” with ease. 

10:00 came and went and the kitchen closed down to its nighttime snack menu, serving a selection of Korean favorites like pajeon, tteokbokki, stir-fried squid, and cheese corn to be paired with a menu of creative cocktails. This brainchild of your’s and Taemin’s, the hotel bartender, had worked to draw in guests coming back from shows and concerts and attracted pedestrians from the outside looking for an elevated bar experience. 

An hour later, the kitchen was clean and the prep for tomorrow was done. You thanked the team for their hard work and sent them home, with you and Hyun-min remaining to fulfill the last-minute orders. You could see Chef Do in his office through the open door, scribbling furiously, no doubt making sure to take down every little mistake made during tonight’s service. You cringed, knowing there would be a debrief sooner rather than later, but pledged to defend yourself and your team, should the need arise. Everything ran smoothly tonight and you were proud of the job you’d done, though not immune to the fact that there was always room for improvement. 

Hyun-min rang the bell and Ashley came to retrieve an order, a secretive smile on her face, which could mean only one thing: gossip. 

“Am I going to have to ask or are you just going to tell me?” you asked, giving her a pointed look before handing over the plate of cheesy rice cakes. 

“Fine, twist my arm if you must.” 

Ashley beckoned you and Hyun-min over and leaned in close, as though she was about to divulge top-secret information. 

“Chanyeol’s getting lucky tonight…sent a drink to a girl and now he’s laying on the moves.”

“Hot piano guy?” you clarified, watching as Hyunmin hung his head and groaned. “Sorry, Hyun-min, I guess that ship has sunk.” 

“Why are all the available men in this place taken?” he whined. “First hot, ice king Sehun, now tall drink of water, Chanyeol?!” 

You patted his arm in sympathy and silent agreement. Despite the fact that the Crimson Aurora Hotel seemed to employ a mysterious amount of above-average looking men, neither of you had been able to make a love connection. 

That might be for the best, you mused.

You worked long hours and not everyone was understanding about the amount of time and effort it took to do what you do. Your last boyfriend had complained that you worked too much, were too focused on the restaurant and not enough on him or your relationship. In hindsight, he’d been right–you had put the job first–but honestly, he hadn’t supported you in the way you needed–always making comments about you needing to “get a real job” like his. You wanted and deserved someone who not only believed in you, but understood your drive and passion for creation and innovation. 

Ashley grabbed the plate from the pass and turned on her heels, throwing an “I’ll keep you updated” over her shoulder. 

With the last order of the night complete, you closed down the kitchen, hanging up your apron on the hook before turning off the lights. The glow from the office drew your eye, but the now-closed door dissuaded you from further investigation. Slinging your bag over your shoulder, you pushed through the kitchen doors and made your way to the place your night usually ended: the bar. 

You slid onto a bar top stool, feeling relaxed for the first time today. The red bubble pendant lights, reminiscent of magma, cast a crimson glow over the space. At this hour, the place was mostly deserted, save a lone businessman in one of the alcoves. Seeing no sign of Chanyeol, you assumed he’d retired for the evening with his new lady friend. 

Without asking, Taemin placed your drink of choice in front of you and you took a sip, enjoying the burst of fruity flavor on your tongue. He left you to your thoughts, but not before leaving you a bowl of spiced nuts and prawn crackers to snack on. You closed your eyes, letting the jazzy music wash over you, appreciating this time to decompress. 

“May I join you?” 

The request, accompanied by a gentle tap on the shoulder startled you practically out of your chair. Chef Do stood before you, dressed in jeans and a simple black t-shirt, looking remarkably less intimidating than just an hour previous. Considering the two of you hadn’t started off on the right foot, you couldn’t imagine what he wanted to talk about. 

When you gave a hesitant nod, Kyungsoo took a seat next to you. Mindful of first impressions and the work he had to do tomorrow, he asked for water when the bartender came to take his order. You were quiet next to him, so he tried to break the ice.

“Service went well today…You did well today, _____.” 

You froze mid-swallow, sputtering as liquid went down the wrong way. 

“Was that the wrong thing to say?” he wondered. 

“No,” you confirmed, trying to keep your tone as even as possible. “Just not what I was expecting.”

Kyungsoo managed to stifle a smile.“What were you expecting then?”

What had you been expecting?

A jerk who thought he walked on air, someone who ordered others around without deigning to lend a hand, that’s what.  It would be easier to hate someone like that, easier to let your anger simmer under the surface. Honestly, you weren’t sure what to do with the person who was currently in front of you. You munched on the prawn cracker, grateful for the crunch, crunch that filled the silence. 

Kyungsoo lifted a brow at your obvious avoidance of the question. He chose to artfully change the topic. Eyeing up the prawn crackers, he asked you to share, taking a second to lift it to his nose and inspect the outside before putting it in his mouth.

“Even fry, consistent cuts, crisp texture. Where do you source these from? They remind me of the ones my grandmother used to make.”

“Actually, all the bar snacks are made in-house,” you informed him, pride filling you as you spoke.

You explained that you’d been trialing the homemade snacks and late-night bar menu in hopes of attracting new customers, ones who appreciated quality food and alcohol. 

“Not what you were expecting?” you responded cheekily.

“Not exactly,” he returned, smiling genuinely at your response. 

“And the response has been good?” he asked, a hint of skepticism as he peered around the now-deserted room.

You grinned behind your hand. “There’s a concert venue down that street that should be getting out in about–”, you checked your watch, “–fifteen minutes. This place’ll be packed soon with people looking to wind down from their music high. I usually try to be out of here by then, but you’re welcome to stick around and see the chaos for yourself.”

You downed the rest of your drink and pulled cash from your wallet, which Taemin warded away with a firm shake of his head and an “on the house”. You bowed your head in appreciation and stuck a couple bills into the tip jar.

“Just friends trying to support friends,” you said, smiling sweetly at Taemin’s look of censure. 

You looked over to see that Chef Do had finished his water and put his coat on. You bid each other goodnight and then you were off to the subway station, ready to get home to your apartment, take a well-deserved shower and watch some mindless TV. 

Sitting at home, wrapped up in a blanket, you flipped through TV channels searching for something to watch, not that there was anything decent to watch this late anyway. You turned to a cooking channel that was your usual standby and came face-to-face once again, with your new boss, but this time he was whipping someone’s butt in a battle for the best beef bourguignon. He won, of course, but on these types of shows it seemed like he always did. 

You thought back to your day, which to your surprise, wasn’t as bad as you imagined it might be. This morning you’d been angry–angry that Chef Do was coming, angry with Manager Kim for not giving you a promotion, and in all honesty, angry with yourself for not being good enough yet.

Now, those emotions felt flimsy and fragile, slipping through your fingers like air, and as much as you tried to hold on, away they went. Resentment might remain, sure, but a burgeoning respect had started to well inside you, one that recognized talent for talent and appreciated a dry sense of humor…and something else too, that you don’t want to name just yet. With that in mind, you clicked the television off, tuning the man out of your living room and out of your life–at least until tomorrow.

~*~

Morning came and Kyungsoo felt hungover, despite having nothing but water at the bar last night. He knew it would be a long day at the restaurant, so he filled up on some breakfast and plain coffee. His phone rang and he saw his agent’s number flashing on the screen. He was tempted to ignore the call, but knew she’d just keep calling back if he didn't pick up. 

“How’s my rockstar chef today?” his agent, Nina, drawled in her Texas accent.

“Fine, Nina, just–”

“Perfect,” she interrupted. “Listen babe, I know this whole “head chef” thing wasn’t exactly your first choice, but Kim Junmyeon is a good friend and I owed him a favor. Think of it like a little mini-vacation.”

It was obvious that Nina had never worked in the kitchen because no one, no one who’d ever worked in a restaurant kitchen would refer to it as a “vacation”. 

“Listen sugar, I’m working on lining up another show for you. The network is thrilled with ratings for your last series and they’re clamoring for more.”

“But Nina, I don’t want to–”

“Yeah, you don’t want to stay at the hotel for too long. I know, I know. Nina will get you out of there soon, don’t you worry.”

“That’s not what I was going to–”

“Listen, Kyungsoo, my Starbucks is here so I’ve got to run. Mwah!”

Kyungsoo didn’t even have time to say anything before she was gone. He wasn’t  surprised–Nina ran a mile a minute and he was absolutely certain the woman was made up of 90% caffeine. She’d been his agent for years, since the beginning, when he’d been a simple link cook with a dream. 

It would be fair to say he never expected things to go this far–the crowds, the book deals, the shows, the fame–everything. All he ever wanted was to share his cooking with the world, maybe even own his own farm-to-table restaurant, so truth be told, he was excited at the prospect of settling down for a little while and making his mark on the Ink & Pepper. 

When he’d been approached about the opportunity six months ago, the Ink & Pepper had seemed like a restaurant with uninspired food and little direction, and needing some massive changes. He’d come prepared to wipe the slate clean of anything or anyone weighing down the place–employees, concepts, menus, whatever it took. Upon arrival, he’d been shocked to find the kitchen in pretty decent working order. Provisions were well-organized, stations were clean, and the staff worked cohesively. 

Not at all what he expected.

He knew it came down to you, the sous-chef masquerading as the one in charge. The sous-chef who got massages during the work day. He hadn’t thought much of you when you walked in looking like you’d just woken up from a three-hour nap; however, you’d quickly proved him wrong–executing and expediting dishes flawlessly. 

From the beginning, it was obvious you were used to being top dog and he wondered how you’d take to following his orders. He smiled, fondly thinking of the days he himself had been filled with bright ideas and loads of sass-not so different from you. 

With a little time left before he had to be at the restaurant, he took his two puppies out for a walk before dropping them off at daycare. Leaving his car behind, Kyungsoo strolled through the neighborhood, making note of the small, tucked-away restaurants that he wanted to try (and maybe own) someday. 

He was stopped by several older ladies who asked for his autograph and was happy to oblige. Two signed napkins and many selfies later, he was zooming through the streets on his way to the Crimson Aurora.

The kitchen was in full swing by the time he walked through the doors and he was greeted by the sound of clanging pots, sizzling pans, and steam, which halted to a whisper. Gazes followed him as he walked to his office and stowed his things. He called the team together and went over his notes from the previous evening. Once he made it clear that he wasn’t firing anybody, the staff visibly relaxed…well maybe except you. 

You frowned several times while he was talking, most notably when he mentioned that menus would solely focus on classic, French cuisine. Interesting. You must prefer a different style of food, and he made a note to ask you about that later. You also cringed when he critiqued the cook on the lamb chops from last night. Not debatable, in his opinion, it was medium or bust. 

After he finished, he pulled several staff members to go over the grocery order for next week, when his menu went into effect. He had relationships with some of the top vendors in the city and he wanted to make sure the restaurant had access to the best ingredients possible. He hadn’t had time to go over the new menu with you, but he was excited to roll it out next week. 

The day flew by–diners came and went, food left the kitchen and empty plates came back–and soon the moon was high in the sky. The kitchen lights dimmed, and from his office he could see the staff heading out for the night, leaving you and Hyun-min behind to finish up.

The spicy, sweet smell of tteokbokki filled his nose, making his mouth water. He remembered the tteokbokki his mother used to make him growing up, with plenty of fish cakes and sliced eggs. 

During culinary school at Le Cordon Bleu, he lived in Paris, adopting the lifestyle and the cuisine. Fresh fruits and vegetables, cheeses, yogurt, meat, and fish–a delicious and nutritious diet, but very different from the food he ate growing up. 

From his vantage point, he could hear bits and pieces of your conversation with Hyun-min–a bad experience on a blind date, the latest episode of The Bachelor, and Hyun-min’s cat giving him the cold shoulder. Kyungsoo didn’t have any use for idle gossip, so ended up tuning out most of it anyway, at least until he got a late-night call from New York. By the time he was done, the kitchen was deserted. Curious, made his way to the bar, and sure enough, there you were, sitting in your usual spot. Without thinking too hard, he slid into the seat next to you and ordered his new usual. 

~*~

Three months later

“Just water will do tonight, Taemin.”

You knew who spoke  without even having to look. Chef Do’s voice was distinct–deep and rich like melting chocolate, one that carried perfectly in a room (or kitchen). Water again tonight, it seemed. It made sense, Chef Do–Kyungsoo, as he’d told you to call him off-the-clock, seemed like a water kind of guy. 

“Do you drink anything else besides water?”

“Do you drink anything besides passion fruit cocktails, ___?” Kyungsoo shot back playfully, sliding into the seat next to you. 

“I’ll have you know these are passion fruit mocktails, Kyungsoo. In my old-age, I can’t handle alcohol on a weekday like I could in my youth.” 

You were over-exaggerating a little bit, considering you weren’t even 30, but bouncing back seemed harder these days, especially when you had the responsibility of being up for work just hours later. 

Looking over at Kyungsoo, you lifted an eyebrow. “What’s your excuse?”

Kyungsoo shrugged. “I just drink water, nothing else. It’s very…hydrating.” 

He winced, clearly aware of how obvious that answer was. 

You nodded awkwardly before reaching into your bag and pulling out a glass container. You’d learned that Kyungsoo was a sucker for snack foods, so this ought to do the trick. Oddly enough, this had kind of become your nightly routine for the past few months: cook your butt off all day and hole up at the bar with your boss at night. Hyun-min had joined you a couple of times, but dubbed it “boring” since it didn’t involve soju, spandex, and getting down at the club. 

“You want some kimbap? Nothing fancy, just some beef rolls and a couple of tuna.” 

You handed over the container for Kyungsoo’s inspection. Someone once said “you eat with your eyes first”, and you found that was especially true for chefs. Your kimbaps looked pretty good, the veggies were cut consistently, the egg was yellow and soft, and the roll was tight. Not as good as your mom’s, but decent.

Kyungsoo cautiously took one and popped it in his mouth. You offered him more and the two of you ate in silence.

Kyungsoo chewed thoughtfully before asking: “When do you have time to make these things? The rice seems really fresh, so obviously these weren’t made yesterday.”

“We usually keep some ingredients on-hand for staff in case they get hungry. I make them right before we leave…you’re usually on the phone when I do.”

Kyungsoo let out a big sigh, massaging his temples. 

“It’s my agent, Nina. She lives in New York, so there’s a bit of a time difference.”

“How do you do it all?” you wondered aloud. “Balance running a restaurant and a television career at the same time?” 

Kyungsoo chuckled, but the smile didn't reach his eyes. 

“Truth is, I don’t. It’s always one or the other. If I’m filming a show, I’m gone from work for weeks or months at a time. My agent is always pushing me to do more shows and appearances, but if I do, it takes me away from being in the kitchen. Even now she’s pushing me to judge some big competition show in Europe.”

It was surprising to hear this from him. He seemed like such a natural on television, born to be on screen. You would have never guessed he felt any other way, but here he was, wanting the simple basics of cheffing. 

“...but you’ve worked at some of the best restaurants in the world…all those Michelin stars…”

“But are they truly mine?” he mused. “Someone else’s vision…someone else’s kitchen…not mine…”

Getting a Michelin star always seemed like a pipe dream, so much so you never gave them more than a passing thought. But pondering it now, you realized he was right: Michelin stars were given out to restaurants with outstanding cooking, in terms of ingredients, flavor, technique and consistency over time. While the chef might be the vehicle to gaining those stars, the stars stayed, even if the chef moved on to other places.

 “Well, technically this place is yours now, right?” you said, trying to lighten the mood. 

Kyungsoo smiled softly. “Yeah…I guess you’re right. A place of my own to finally do as I wish….”

Though you’d slowly come to accept the reality of working under Kyungsoo, your chest still tightened at his words. A place of my own. 

“...and what about you?” he continued. “You must have a dream too.”

When you sheepishly admitted to having a similar dream, understanding lit his eyes. 

“Ah, so that’s why you’ve been so morose about the menus lately.”

“I have not been morose”, you grumbled as Kyungsoo shot you a look of mock disbelief. “I haven’t! Disappointed is the word I would use.”

Kyungsoo scratched his chin thoughtfully. “Have you ever thought about working somewhere else? There’s got to be hundreds of places that would see the value in your skills.”

“I mean, sure, I’ve thought about it here and there, but the Ink & Pepper was the place I first got my start and the people there are like family. I’m not sure I could leave. It just feels right, you know?”

Kyungsoo nodded in understanding, at the same time knowing opportunities would be more ripe if you looked beyond the small boutique hotel restaurant. Plenty of talented chefs never made it further than being someone else’s underling and he didn’t want that to happen to you. Kyungsoo knew many of the top people in the industry and if he put a word in with the right people, maybe you’d…

Taemin chose that moment to interrupt, saying the bar was closing, and checking your watch, you realized you and Kyungsoo had never stayed this late before. You meandered down the sidewalk, silently making your way towards the bus stop, together but alone in your thoughts. Kyungsoo dropped you off at your stop and you watched his back as he slowly walked away.

“Are you going to do it?” 

You were loud enough that Kyungsoo turned back, his brows furrowed in confusion. 

“The show, I mean. Are you going to do it?”

Kyungsoo’s eyes filled with understanding, as he came to a stop a few feet from you. 

“I’m not sure,” he admitted. “Why? Just waiting for me to go so you can take back your crown?”

“Hardly.” you huffed, scowling at the mischief you saw in his eyes.

“Then you’ll miss me?” he asked, wiggling his eyebrows suggestively. 

You rolled your eyes. “Again, hardly.” 

He stepped closer. “That’s a shame, because I’d miss you, ___”, he said quietly.

You turned towards him, ready to deliver another biting comeback, when you saw he was serious. 

“You what?”

“You heard me. I said I’d miss you.” 

Dazed, you sucked in a breath, trying to process what you just heard. It was quiet around you, and you realized Kyungsoo was waiting for you to speak.  Words needed to be formulated into sentences, but unfortunately your brain was jumbled up like a plate of scrambled eggs. 

Kyungsoo stepped closer, and all you could see were his eyes, jet-black against the night sky. He lifted his hand to your face, running his thumb across your cheek in a gentle caress. You opened your mouth to speak, but no words came out, as though your brain was unable to process anything but the ripples of electricity running through your body and the warmth of his skin against yours in the cool night air. 

In your peripheral, you heard the squeal of the bus as it angled into your stop. The doors hummed as they opened and several people got off, no doubt ready to hit the town. You needed to get on that bus, but to do that, you’d have to break away. 

Kyungsoo reached up to clasp your face with both hands, drawing your gaze back to him, no doubt sensing your imminent withdrawal.

“I have my car here, ____.” Kyungsoo murmured, his deep voice making you feel tingly. “Let me take you home.” 

With the bus driver looking your way, you only had a few seconds to make a choice. You knew what you should do–get on the bus and go home to your apartment alone–but here you were, contemplating being alone with a man–your boss you might add! — a man you’d never thought about in a romantic way until now…

Are you sure? a voice inside you countered. You’ve never thought of him in any other way? Never fantasized about him caging you against the door of the walk-in? Not once imagined what was under the tight, black chef’s coat he wears everyday? 

You sucked in a breath as your brain acknowledged what your heart had known for a while now. Kyungsoo occupied your thoughts during the day (and night) more than you’d like to admit, and before you could remind yourself this was a bad idea, you found yourself blushing and nodding. 

You took the arm he offered, and soon you were cruising through the city street. Leaning back against the expensive leather seats, you could feel a deep tiredness settle into your bones. You fought to stay awake, but as the car’s warmth drifted over you and soft jazz filled your ears, you were soon lulled into dreamland, as Kyungsoo’s car sped towards your destination. 

~*~

Kyungsoo eased to a stop in front of your apartment, happy you had agreed to let him take you home. This was too far from the hotel for you to travel alone. He’d definitely be dropping you off on a regular basis, now that he knew. Not only would it satisfy his concern for your safety, but selfishly, it would also fill his need for you. 

Looking over, he smiled to see you dozing next to him. Turned towards him in sleep, he admired your features in the soft glow of the streetlights. It was so different to see this side of you, so relaxed and serene–a stark contrast to the fast-paced, tenacious dynamite you were in the kitchen. 

You murmured in your sleep and his gaze was drawn to your lips and he wondered what they felt like. His hand hovered inches over lips and he longed to run his thumb across your cupid’s bow. 

His plan was foiled by the blare of a car alarm two blocks down, causing you to startle awake. 

“Kyungsoo! How long have we been sitting here? Why didn’t you wake me?” you admonished, playfully swatting him on the shoulder. 

Truthfully, he’d enjoyed watching you sleep, just being near you was enough to make his heart flutter. But as usual, Kyungsoo played things closer to the vest, not wanting you to know how much you affected him. 

“Should I have carried you up the stairs then, like a gallant knight aiding a fair lady?”

You made a retching sound in your throat. “No, absolutely not. Besides–” you say, your gaze flickering up and down his body, “I have doubts that you’d even be able to get me to the door.” 

Kyungsoo knew it was a joke, but it didn’t stop him from bristling at your words. 

“Ah, that’s where you’d be wrong, ____. You see I lift.”

You quirked a brow in his direction, amusement sparkling in your eyes. “Yeah, lift pans, maybe.” 

“Try me,” he challenged. 

“Okay, you’re on. A piggyback ride all the way up to my apartment. Oh and did I mention I live on the 4th floor?” you added, bursting with glee. 

Looking out the window at your tall apartment building, Kyungsoo found himself regretting his rash words just a bit. He did go to the gym, he hadn’t been lying about that, it was a necessity in his line of work to keep his stamina up. However, he’d never carried an adult human more than a couple of yards at any given time. Puffing up his chest, he knew he’d make it even if it killed him, he had a lady to impress, afterall. 

When Kyungsoo bent down and ushered you on, you hesitantly stepped forward to get into position, sliding your arms around his neck. Up close, the pleasing scent of forest teased your senses and you had to stop yourself from pressing your face into his neck and inhaling the musky scent.

Kyungsoo lifted you with surprising ease, wasting no time before starting the long ascent up the winding staircase.  As he climbed and climbed, Kyungsoo’s breathing quickened and you could tell he was getting winded. His palms were scalding through your pants and you could feel the warmth of him seeping into your skin. When you finally reached your apartment door, Kyungsoo sounded like he was running a marathon. 

“Alright. Here. We Are. I Win.” Kyungsoo said, taking a long breath between each word. 

You held your hands up in defeat. “Okay, okay, I surrender. I was wrong.” 

Being wrong had never, ever felt so right. 

Kyungsoo gently set you back on your feet, before turning to face you. 

“So what’s my prize?”

“Your what?”

“My prize, ____. You challenged me, I won, therefore it’s only fair to receive appropriate compensation.” 

“And what’s your idea of ‘appropriate compensation’?” 

You knew what you wanted him to say, what you wanted him to do. The moment at the bus stop had teased your senses, and now, all you could think about is what it would feel like to have his lips against yours, his strong arms pressing you tight against his body. 

Kyungsoo detected the hint of flirtation in your voice and it chafed against his conscience. Up until now, he’d been able to keep up the light-hearted conversation, continue to play the game, both now and at work, while burning on the inside. The angel on his shoulder told him this was a bad idea, that no good could come from kissing an employee, but the devil on his other whispered about how good it would feel to finally have your lips against his own.

Before he knew it, his body made the choice for him, wanting satisfaction and tired of this constant state of denial. His arms shot out, encircling your waist and pulling you tight against his body. Your eyes widened, narrowing on his lips, and he took that as an invitation to seal his mouth against yours. 

Sinking into Kyungsoo’s warmth, your hands wound around his neck to secure him closer. You sighed into his mouth, tilting your head to the side, squealing at the feel of his tongue teasing your lower lip. Your hands found their way into Kyungsoo’s silky hair, and you tugged him closer, groaning as he sucked your tongue between his lips. The sound of heavy breathing filled the quiet hallway and you wanted nothing more than for him to slide you up the wall and take you out of your misery. 

Kyungsoo’s attention drifted to your neck, allowing you a moment of reprieve to catch your breath. Soft lips moved from your collarbone to just below your ear, alternating between gentle kisses and soft flicks of tongue. Kyungsoo paused to blow lightly on your skin, still wet from his previous care. You shivered at the sudden hot-cold sensation, clutching Kyungsoo’s head closer in a silent bid for more. 

Footsteps echoed in the hallway and the sound of male voices drew closer. You knew those voices: Hyun-min and his posse on the way back from a wild night out.

Forced from your lust-induced haze, you regrettably tore away from Kyungsoo’s lips. Kyungsoo’s stark look of confusion quickly faded as he realized the situation you were about to be in. Shoving the key into the lock, you pushed open the door, pulling Kyungsoo inside in the nick of time. 

As the voices outside faded, you breathed a sigh of relief. The last thing you needed was Hyun-min finding you pressed up against your boss as he sucked on your neck. Not because he’d object, but simply because he’d never let you live it down. 

In the darkened apartment, it was quiet, save for the sounds of late-night traffic drifting through the window and Kyungsoo breathing beside you. Pins and needles ran up and down your spine, your entire body titillated by the sounds of Kyungsoo’s movements in the darkness. Wanting more.

Kyungsoo whispered your name. Yes or no? he silently asked.

When you didn’t respond, he slid his hand along the wall, fumbling for the lightswitch, as if that would bring the answers he sought. 

You had only seconds to make a decision. 

Yes or no? 

A split second decision. You clapped your hand over his, preventing him from flipping the switch. In the darkness, the sweet spell remained, unbroken by obtrusive light. And in the dark, consequences be damned. 

Reaching out, you grabbed Kyungsoo’s hand, softly tugging him further into your apartment.

~*~

Fuck. Chop. Fuck. Chop. Fuck. Fuck. Fuck. Chop. Chop. Chop. 

Kyungsoo dropped the knife, running his fingers through his hair. Getting on the line usually helped clear his thoughts, but not today. No matter what he tried, his thoughts drifted back to you. It’d been dark when he woke in your bed, so dark his eyelids had practically begged for more sleep. It had been so tempting to wrap you tightly in his arms and remain.

But he had left. 

It wasn’t his style to leave without a word, but he’d been unsure of where you stood. He felt regret with how things had ended–you deserved to wake to a frittata and fresh coffee in bed, not to cold sheets and an empty apartment. 

The back of his neck heated in shame. He’d slept with an employee. This was basic work ethics 101–do not engage in sexual relations with staff members. Cocky it would never happen, he’d let his guard down around you. How could he–

“Something bothering you, Chef?” Hyun-min asked, startling Kyungsoo from his thoughts. 

Kyungoo attempted nonchalance. “No. Why would you think that?”

“Maybe because you’re practically pulverizing the vegetables,” Hyun-min said gesturing knowingly to the cutting board. “Unless gazpacho is now on the menu?” 

Kyungsoo looked down to see finely diced tomatoes, cucumbers, and onions, cut too small for the fresh salad he’d intended to make. 

Hyun-min loaded the remaining vegetables on a tray, carting them away before any further damage could be done. “I swear, you and _____ have it out for my station,” he muttered as he walked away. 

Cut off from his distraction, he was grateful for once when his phone rang. 

“Hello, Nina,” he greeted, closing himself into his office for what would no doubt be a lengthy conversation. 

“Hey, doll. How are ya?” 

“Well, actually Nina–”

“Great, glad to hear it. Listen–Nina came through for you, love. You’re out.”

Kyungsoo frowned. “What do you mean, Nina?”

Nina sighed, talking slowly as if she were explaining it to a toddler. “I mean you’re out of that little restaurant, babe. The network called and the competition show in Europe is a ‘go’. They want you there in two days.” 

Kyungsoo sucked in a breath, trying to digest what he’d just heard. Two days? Nowhere near enough time to tie up loose ends–both with the restaurant and with you. 

“Two days, Nina? That’s–”

“I know, love. It’s an eternity, but what can I do? You have a flight to London tonight, so pack a bag and head to the airport.  I’m sending the tickets to your email now.” 

“Thank you, Nina, but I–”

“No problem, kiddo. Nina’s here for you. Oops, Bobby’s here, gotta run. Talk soon, mwah!”

Before he could get a word in edgewise, the call dropped and she was gone. Kyungsoo vowed to himself that he’d get a new agent when this was all over, someone who actually let him finish sentences once in a while. Or let him have a vacation. Do anything that wasn’t on a schedule. 

By the time he’d packed up his office, the rest of the staff had filtered in, prepping for the long day ahead. A soft knock sounded at the door, drawing his attention. You slipped inside, shutting the door behind you, a look of determination on your face. You turned, walking to stand in front of him with your arms crossed. 

“I have something I want to talk to you about, Chef Do.” you announced, the use of his formal title not lost on him. 

He gestured for you to sit, but you remained firmly where you were. 

“Why did you leave like that?” you whispered, voice low in the off chance anyone was listening outside. “You just left..no note..no text…no nothing. Did it not mean anything to you?”

Your voice cracked at the end, betraying the hurt you’d promised to keep hidden. 

Kyungsoo sighed, running his hands over his face. “No, ____, of course not. But I’m your boss. I crossed a line last night–”

“We crossed a line last night,” you corrected, hurt turning into anger at the insinuation he’d somehow taken advantage of you. “I remember being very much in control last night, Kyungsoo.”  

Watching the hurt blossom in your eyes, Kyungsoo wanted nothing more than to take you in his arms, assure you that last night had been special, a night he’d never forget. 

His phone dinged and he looked down to see an email from his agent, with the tickets for his flight. He had a flight out of here to London tonight and the timing couldn’t have been worse. 

Fuming with righteous indignation, you looked around Kyungsoo’s office, for the first time noting its emptiness. Where pages and pages of notes had dominated its walls, now stood bare. Stacks of cookbooks were packed neatly into brown boxes sitting on the floor. Your heart squeezed at the realization: he was leaving. But why? Surely it couldn’t be because of last night…

“So…that’s it? You’re leaving…just like that?” you said in disbelief. “Was it because of last night?”

Kyungsoo flinched, not liking the hurt in your voice. “No…no absolutely not. My agent called me this morning…the show is on, _____. They’re expecting me in London the day after tomorrow…I have a flight out tonight.”

A roaring noise filled your ears and a tightness filled your chest. What did you say to that? “Congratulations”? “Don’t go”? “What about us”? It all seemed lame in the moment. One thing was sure, however: you wouldn’t be that girl. The girl who simped over a celebrity one-night stand, who expected more when it was never anything beyond casual. 

“Congratulations, Kyungsoo,” you said, a wistful smile on your face. “I’m sure it’ll be amazing.”

“____, about us, I–”

Your eyes started to feel hot. “No, Kyungsoo, don’t worry about it. I know we were just caught up in the moment last night.”

“But I really–”

You shook your head to keep the tears at bay, backing towards the door. “You don’t owe me any kind of explanation, Kyungsoo, I get it. Waking up alone was enough of a clue, so you don’t have to say anything else.”

“Wait–”

“Goodbye, Kyungsoo. I hope you get everything you wanted.” 

You slipped quickly out of the office, not stopping at Kyungsoo’s continued protests. You didn’t want to hear what he had to say. No, it would gut you to hear you were just some hook-up. Better to avoid and save your heart the pain.

Your feet carried through the kitchen and out the door just as tears started to fall. The scent of starch and detergent fumes engulfed you as you fled to the laundry room, the best place at the Crimson Aurora for some good old-fashioned privacy. You stayed there, hidden, not brave enough to face him at the very end. The loud whir of the industrial laundry machines washed out the sound of your tears and then and there you vowed to cleanse your heart of him, like removing a stain from a white sheet. 

~*~

Three months later. 

It still felt weird. Sitting in the office, that is. Your new office. It almost didn’t seem real–so much so you had to pinch yourself to prove it wasn’t a dream. But there it was, written on a shiny, gold desk plate: _____ ________, Head Chef.

You looked out into the bustling kitchen, filled with activity as the staff–your staff–worked hard during dinner rush. Making your dishes. In your kitchen. You still couldn’t believe you were here. Thinking back to that day three months ago, you’d never have guessed what life could bring. 

After hiding out in the laundry as long as humanly possible, you had trudged back to the land of the living, hoping to make it through dinner service so you could go home and have a good old-fashioned ice-cream cry. 

Hyun-min had practically jumped on you when you walked through the kitchen doors, peppering you with questions. Where was Chef Do going? Why were you crying? So many questions it made your head spin. The phone had rung, and you’d been relieved, for once, to be summoned to Manager Kim’s office. 

Being the amazing friend that he was, Hyun-min had insisted you celebrate after hearing the news.  You’d gone out with the kitchen staff that night, dressed to the nines, but without your heart really in it. You felt conflicted–you finally had it, the dream job you always wanted, but it came at the expense of losing something–or someone. 

Kyungsoo’s new television show had started airing, but you couldn’t bring yourself to watch, not willing to be tortured by what you couldn’t have. Luckily, your work kept you busy, at least during the day. It was nights that were harder. You couldn’t escape him, even in your own damn apartment. The stairs, the door, the bed–all reminders of that one unforgettable night before the rug was pulled out from under you. 

A knock on the door disturbed your thoughts and you looked up to see Hyun-min hovering in the doorway, a peculiar expression on  his face. 

“Um, boss? There’s a customer out front who’d like to speak to you…something about overcooked lamb chops…”

“You offered to re-make it, I’m assuming?”

Hyun-min nodded. “Yeah, but they said they wanted to talk to you specifically.”

Telling him you’d be right there, you reluctantly got up from your chair and donned your starched, white chef’s coat. Dealing with a picky customer wasn’t out of the ordinary, but your threshold for dealing with complaints today was at an all-time low. 

“Table 4”, Hyun-min called as you headed through the kitchen and out the doors into the dining room. 

Walking through the busy dining room, you dodged waitstaff and waded through customers, fresh from a matinee musical performance. You approached Table 4 from behind, where a lone male figure was seated. 

Taking a deep breath and pasting your “the customer is always right” smile on your face, you prayed a little sweet talking and a comped glass of wine would be enough to smooth this situation over. 

“Excuse me–” 

Dark brown eyes turned toward you, full lips that you were intimately familiar with parted into a smile.

Kyungsoo. 

You rubbed your eyes, making sure you weren’t just seeing things, that he was really there. What was he doing here? It didn’t make sense. He’d blown into your life, set it on fire, then breezed out, never to be heard from again. In the three months he’d been gone, you hadn’t heard from him once. 

“_____,” he breathed. “I heard you got the head chef job, so I came as soon as I got back from London. I missed you–”

Hearing his voice, your resolve wavered. You cleared your throat, striving to take control of the situation. You were a professional, the chef in charge now, and you wouldn’t let your feelings get the better of you, gosh darn it!

“Hello, sir, I heard from my kitchen staff that you were unhappy with a dish we prepared for you. May I ask what the issue is?”

Kyungsoo’s smile slipped from his face, as though he was surprised, almost disappointed at your reaction. 

Kyungsoo leaned forward, making sure no one could hear him but you. “Can we talk…privately?” 

As Kyungsoo led you into an empty office, he felt a hint of unease. He’d pictured your reunion much differently. In his imaginings, you were overjoyed at the surprise of seeing him, smiling widely before pulling him close for an embrace–the embrace he’d imagined everyday during those long, lonely weeks in Europe. He understood, but it stung all the same. 

Once inside, he walked towards the window, stopping to look out into the bright moonlight, trying to gather his thoughts. You stayed a respectful distance away, looking wary, as though you were about to bolt out the door. 

You waited for Kyungsoo to speak…and waited…but he only continued to look out the window. “Look, Kyungsoo, what is it? I’ve got to head back to work soon.” 

Kyungsoo turned towards you, silhouetted in moonlight, his eyes dark as the sky behind him. 

“I missed you,____. So much. Everyday.”

You snorted. “Sure, Kyungsoo. You missed me. So much so you called me all of zero times. Or did I just miss all those calls and texts you sent me?” 

Kyungsoo shifted between his feet. “I know I messed up, _____. I shouldn’t have just left like that, you deserved better than that.” 

“Yeah, you’re right, Kyungsoo. I did deserve better. You just left without any explanation.” 

Kyungsoo started to speak, but you kept going. 

“I’m not talking about leaving for Europe, Kyungsoo. I understood that part, you had an opportunity and took it. But that morning, you just left my apartment, no note, no explanation, nothing, after we–” you cut off, not wanting to say it aloud. 

Crossing to you, Kyungsoo gripped your shoulders. “I’m sorry, _____. That morning, it killed me to leave. I wanted to make it so good for you, but I was scared.”

You watched as Kyungsoo worried his lower lip. “Scared of what?” you breathed.

“Us. What we did. I was your boss, ____. No matter how much I wanted you, I was disappointed in myself. Then, when I was in Europe, I wondered if you’d even want to hear from me. I was your boss and I took advantage of you, I worried you felt you had no choice–” 

You put your pointer finger against his lips, cutting him off before he could finish what he was going to say. 

“Kyungsoo, I appreciate the concern, but I’m not a baby. I chose to invite you in, I chose to let you kiss me. For god’s sake, we were stone cold sober, so it’s not like we can even blame the alcohol. You didn’t force me to do anything, okay?”

He nodded and you removed your finger from his lips. 

“For what it’s worth, I thought you deserved a frittata. If I could do that night over, I’d have made you the most delicious breakfast you’d ever had and served it to you in bed.” 

“Well…I guess next time, I’ll be holding you to that, then.” 

Kyungsoo looked up, his mouth forming an “o”. “Next time?” he whispered. 

“Yeah, next time,” you said, a small smile lighting up your face. 

Kyungsoo slid his hands from your shoulders to cup your cheeks. “So…you forgive me?” he said, hopefully. 

“Yeah, I forgive you. You made some dumb decisions, but hey, at least you’re still cute.”

Kyungsoo pinched your cheeks in revenge, immediately stroking the reddened skin to soothe the burn. 

“So, what are you going to do now that you’re back?” you asked, turning serious again. 

“I actually leased a restaurant just a few streets over,” he said sheepishly. “I finally did it, got my own place.”

“So…you were really here to check out the competition, eh?” you said, shooting him a grin. “What did you think?”

Moving his hands to your waist, Kyungsoo pulled you against him, your faces just inches apart. 

“The lamb chops were a little overdone,” he said with a wink. 

You scoffed. “Shut up, Kyungsoo. Don’t you have anything better to do with those lips? Like kissing me, perhaps?” 

“Much better,” he said, joining your mouths together at last. 

As your lips clashed, you soaked in the feeling of being in Kyungsoo’s arms again. You certainly hadn’t expected today to end this way. That Kyungso was here to stay was even more of a surprise, in a restaurant of his own not four blocks away. Once again, you were competitors, though this time on equal footing. 

As they said, “keep your friends close and enemies closer,” and this enemy, you’d enjoy keeping very, very close. 

~*~

Thank you so much for reading Flames of Attraction! I hope you enjoyed it and if you did, please re-blog for others to find! And please support the other amazing creators on the Crimson Aurora Hotel & Spa project. @myeoning-call @leewalberg @yourkeeperoftherunners @taem-min @ouvuo @dreamylittlesugarcube @jxstadaydreamer @xiubaek-13 @yourkeeperoftherunners @ninibears-erigom and @sojuri

XOXO, 

Emmy

[justwritedreams]

Hello

A headcanon of Kyungsoo realizing he has feelings for the reader

I'm enjoying that you're asking members that I haven't written yet CONTINUE!

KYUNGSOO REALIZING THAT HE HAS FEELINGS FOR YOU

Author: Maari

Warnings: minor errors probably because i wrote it in the break of work

So you and him have been friends for a long time

You have a lot in common

Enjoy having in-depth conversations on a variety of topics

You like to do the same things

And you are each other's excuse to get away from noisy and crowded places

And one day, you managed to escape from a club

How had you ended up there? Ask his extrovert friends

None of you wanted to go but it wasn't like you could say no

Thank you Chanyeol 🫡

So when you accepted his ride, you could finally breathe a sigh of relief as you got into the silent car

Both of your heads ached from the loud music

And you were so sleepy that you leaned against the car window even as he was driving

"I thought you couldn't get away from Baekhyun" he chuckled

And you, of course, laughed along, looking at him

He was so focused and so handsome

"I didn't remember he talked so much, I thought you were going to leave me there" you said and his laugh increased

"Don't think it didn't cross my mind"

And you were like 😲

Your plan had been simple:

The two would take a 5 minute break to go to the bathroom but actually you would run to the door and leave the place

But Baekhyun delayed you because he kept telling you how sad he was because his girlfriend had gone on a business trip

Although far away, you could see Kyungsoo's bored face in the middle of the crowd, waiting for you 🤣

But it wasn't like you were going to argue with him because

You would do the same lol

You just smiled and closed your eyes, too tired to talk

And he not only understood, he respected 🥺

And when he turned to face you real quick

Damn!

He never noticed before how you had a glow of your own

He frowned thinking it was some illusion in his head

Or that kind of intrusive thinking that no one has control

He dropped you off at home and you invited him in

And he was more worried about you because you had worked a lot during the week

And on Friday you looked like a zombie, you were so tired

So he accepted

He felt good in your house, it was quiet, it brought peace

You lay down on the couch and he helped you take off your shoes

As he already knew your house, he went to get a blanket so you wouldn't be cold during the night

And when he came back, you were already asleep

Sounds cliche, right?

But well, the time he put the cover on you

He couldn't help but push the hair that fell into your eyes

And it was only then, watching you sleep so serenely that he felt his heart warm

Anxiety in the stomach that wasn't bad at all

And an involuntary smile appeared on his face

And when he leaned in to kiss you

He was like oH 😳

He straightened up again but brought his hand to his mouth.

Not believing that he had almost done that because

Damn, was he in love with you?? Since when?

He was always very clear about what he felt, what he thought...

And he just now noticed that he likes you?

Poor baby left your house so confused he couldn't even remember where he had put his car keys 🤣🤣

But he wouldn't be the only one confused

Because good luck if you think he's going to leave things the way they were

Expect a very sincere confession 👀

[peachysooxo]

The Kingdom of Us

Chapter 6

pairing: Kyungsoo x OFC genre: Royal!AU, nonidol!soo, crownprince!kyungsoo, romance, drama theme: arranged marriage, modern royalty, enemies to lovers, war, betrayal, eventual smut word count: 5,277 description: the Engagement Ball has finally arrived, so has Alina’s best friend Lisette. Drama unfolds as soon as the Royal Wedding date is announced, and Kyungsoo warms up to the idea of loving Alina. warnings: none (:

author’s note: hello, dear reader! We’re already at chapter 6! I loved this chapter, it’s so cute. We start to see Kyungsoo and Alina get out of their awkward stage. No warnings for this chapter, photos are not mine, dividers by @saradika-graphics . Happy reading!

KYUNGSOO

I watch Alina as she sleeps on my chest. I didn’t sleep at all last night. I was too busy making sure Alina stayed asleep. She didn’t wake up screaming for safety, if I noticed her hands gripping me, I’d soothe her by stroking her hair and whispering sweet nothings until her muscles relax and her head rests back on my chest. With the hours that passed, my mind was set on how I could make that piece of trash Daniel pay for every single second of pain he made Alina endure. 

The moment that Alina broke down and told me what that coward did to her, rage flared through me. Everything started to make sense. How she was apprehensive to be alone with me, the nightmares, the distance she created between us and how she’d tense up every time I touched her. My feelings for her shifted, I needed to make her feel safe. She never felt safe before, not even in her own palace. 

My heart flutters as Alina stirs. She cuddles into me with her lips pouted. I trace circles on her bare shoulder, admiring how her glowing golden skin was as smooth as porcelain and warmed my fingertips. I barely know the surface of Alina and now she makes me want to learn so much more about her so I can be so much better for her. Alina’s eyes slowly flutter open and I feel my heart stop when her gaze falls onto me. 

“Good morning. How did you sleep, darling?” I smile down at her. A look of apprehension crosses her face. I can’t pretend that this is a comfortable situation, but in times like these, faking it until you make it is the only option. 

“I don’t remember falling asleep,” Alina yawns. She rests her head on my shoulder. “I guess that means I slept well. What time is it?”

“Eight in the morning.” I reply, stifling a yawn myself. Alina frantically sits up, her hand reaching for my face and lands softly on my cheek. 

“Kyungsoo, you look exhausted! Did you sleep at all? Please tell me you slept.” Alina asks anxiously.

“I did… At some points in the night,” I shrug, “I meant it when I said I’d keep you safe. But that isn’t something you should worry about. I requested your favorite foods be prepared for you to enjoy in bed. Don’t look at me like that, darling. I’ll be fine.”

“Breakfast in bed? Kyungsoo, you should’ve been more worried about sleeping.”

“I’ll sleep tonight, I promise. Breakfast in bed is mandatory for special days like this. It’s our Ball tonight. This is just a glimpse of what your life will be like. All you have to do is show up next week at the altar.” I laugh. There’s a knock at the door and Alina rushes to get it, grabbing a robe that’s hanging on a rack near her bed. Her curves take my attention until she’s out of sight, her sleepy voice greeting a servant. She returns pushing a food cart, I jump out of bed and take over. 

“Sit down, darling. I’ll serve you today.” I kiss her hand and guide her back to the bed, she sits with her back against the headboard and I serve her breakfast, a traditional meal from Valencia. Plantains, cream, eggs and beans. In my crash courses of Alina, I learned that this is her favorite. I take my portion and sit across from her, leaving the fresh brewed coffee next to her. 

“Kyungsoo,” she beams, “this… I’ve missed this. How did you know this is my favorite?”

“I did my research.” I smirk. We eat and share small conversation about the meal itself, and her eyes glitter with excitement. She’s coming to life right before my eyes, Baekhyun was absolutely right. Treating Alina kindly is much better than what I have been doing. In all my hours of carefully watching over her, I came up with a plan to hopefully make her feel stronger and protect herself if and when I’m sent to the battlefield. “I’ve been thinking of something Princess.”

“Oh? What have you been thinking about?” She replies, wiping the corner of her mouth with a napkin. 

“I’m going to train you how to handle a sword. I may not always be here to protect you, and you deserve to feel powerful.” I tell her. 

“Sword lessons? Kyungsoo…” Alina groans. “Believe me, my brothers tried to teach me but it always ended badly. I’ve seen you during your drills, there’s absolutely no way I can learn the things that you can do.”

“Well, that was your brothers. I’ll be the one teaching you this time. We don’t know what’s going to happen, but I want you to be prepared for anything.” I add. She nods her head slowly in agreement. She finishes her meal and kisses my cheek, my skin ignites under the pressure of her lips. She really is changing me if I’m blushing like a little kid.

“Don’t say I didn’t warn you, I’m horrible with weapons. Now, if you don’t mind, Kyungsoo, my best friend and seamstress is arriving today. I need to get ready.” Alina replies. I smirk and lean back, crossing my leg. “Kyungsoo!”

“What? I can’t sit here and finish my breakfast?” 

“You already did!” 

“Fair, but I still have to make sure you’re safe and I can’t do that from another room.” I jokingly barter. Alina shakes her head with an accompanying eye roll and journeys to her walk-in closet, picking out clothes to wear for the day. Without a word, she just looks me, smiles and shuts the door to her bathroom. 

At least she’s this comfortable with me now. 

ALINA

“Announcing Miss Lisette Villanueva, Royal Seamstress and Designer of the Kingdom of Valencia.” A Royal Guard announces Lisette’s entrance. We try to keep our composure, but we yelp when we see each other. 

“Amiga!”  

“Finally, we meet again!” Lisette beams. “I’ve missed you!”

“I’ve missed you, too, Lissy.” I grab her hands. 

Lisette and I have known each other for years. Her mother, Eva, is the owner of a dress shop called Luna Rosa Designs that became my favorite place to get all of my dresses and gowns for events. The designer labels from around the world are beautifully made, I admire the couture houses in Europe as much as the next person. There was a certain quality of Eva’s designs and dresses that captivated me. 

I’ve been wearing her dresses ever since I was a little girl. I only wanted Eva to design my formal wear as I got older. Unfortunately, as time went on Eva became ill and couldn’t work as she did before. Lisette took over the business and created not only my formal gowns for nights like this, but my wedding gown. 

I of course had friends, but Lisette was the closest one I had. We grew up together, played together and I got to live vicariously through her because she got to go to regular school and have a regular life. We had our differences but that’s what made our friendship so special. When she had her first heartbreak, we watched romantic comedies and ate junk food until we were laughing at the sappy storylines. When my brothers were sent off to war, she cried with me. When she sold her first couture gown, we celebrated by traveling to the beach for a weekend and exploring the coast of Valencia. I want her to be my lady in waiting, the highest position she could have, because I can’t imagine anyone else being in the position but my best friend.

“Come, come, let me show you to your room.”

We try to update each other as quickly as we can as we turn into the first-floor suite that’s the largest on the floor. Lisette giddily sets her bag down on the bed and peered out of the window at Kyungsoo and the Dukes having a drink in the garden. Everyone started arriving little by little since this morning, the Castle was being prepped for the Ball slowly but surely. Kyungsoo glances over at us and gives us a small smile, Lisette eagerly turns to me with glee in her eyes while maids bring in the rest of her luggage. “Oh… My… God… He’s even more beautiful in person… Well, through a window.”

Kyungsoo’s eyes lock with mine and my heart breaks at the sight of the dark circles under his eyes. I can’t believe he didn’t sleep at all last night. “He is a beautiful man, there’s no denying that.”

“I’m so jealous, he looks at you like you’re his world… Alina, aren’t you so excited to marry a man that’s so perfect?” If only she knew the half of it. 

“He’s not perfect, but he definitely makes me feel special.” I blush, waving softly at my betrothed. She smiles and Duke Yixing captures his attention back to their conversation. 

“Whoa… Who is that?” Lisette’s gaze is set on someone but I can’t see who until a familiar tall figure walks across the edge of the lawn. He’s been acting strangely and avoiding Kyungsoo. I hope I didn’t cause this from the whole garden fiasco. 

“Him? That’s Duke Chanyeol.” I nod, crossing my arms. I peer over at my best friend and the look in her eyes is like she fell in love. 

“Is it hot in here? Or is it just me?” Lisette clasps her hands in front of her chest. 

“Ya, Amiga!” I push her arm playfully. “He’s a playboy! Don’t get too close to him.”

“Princess, it’s time for the final dress rehearsal for the dance tonight.” A maid appears in the doorway with a giddy smile. “Please come with me.”

“I’m sorry, Lissy. I’ll be back to see you soon, this shouldn’t take long.”

“Take all the time you need, Amiga! I’m sorry, I mean, Princess.” Lisette giggles, bowing to me. “Make sure to kiss those scrumptious lips your fiancé has as much as you can… Amiga, he is gorgeous.”

“Who’s gorgeous?” Duke Chanyeol says from behind us. His lip is slightly bruised, I don’t even want to know what happened to him. 

“Duke Chanyeol… Are you alright?” I ask in a hushed tone.

“Oh, this?” He smiles, pointing to his wound. “Your dear fiancé and I had a little boxing match. He has a mean right hook.”

“When did that…”

“Hi, I believe we haven’t met yet. I’m Duke Chanyeol.” He turns his attention to Lisette, kissing her hand. There’s something about the men in the Doh Dynasty and kissing the hands of women. They know exactly how effective it is. Lisette is frozen in the moment and I cover my mouth to stifle my giggles. Chanyeol looks at her differently than he’s looked at his paramours, or even at me. He has stars in his already bright eyes, and Lisette’s gaze matches his.  

“Pleasure to make your acquaintance, Chanyeol. I’m Lisette Villanueva, Princess Alina’s seamstress.” Lisette politely bows and Chanyeol nods, not taking his eyes off of her. I smile to myself as Chanyeol and Lisette start a conversation, if anyone is qualified to handle someone like Chanyeol it’s Lisette. They’re completely enamored with how their eyes locked on each other. 

“Well, I’ll leave you two to talk. I’ll see you later!” I know they can’t hear me, I chuckle to myself and make my way to the makeshift practice area so Kyungsoo and I can do one final dance before the real thing. I open the door and Kyungsoo is waiting with his hands in his pocket. “Crown Prince.”

“Princess.” He smirks. He holds his hand out and spins me toward him. “Ready, darling?”

“Of course, Crown Prince.” Once we start gliding across the floor, my guard slips down. I wish it didn’t, because I could’ve used it for what was going to happen tonight.

“My goodness, Princess, you are a vision.” Lisette gushes. Maids gather and gawk at me, their attention makes me uncomfortable. 

“Thank you, Amiga.” I reply. The Engagement Ball commenced an hour ago. All of Seoul’s high society and influencers were in attendance, awaiting to see what I would be wearing. It’s superficial at best, but a job hazard nonetheless. I do love getting dressed up for Balls and special events, but I had never been as nervous as I am tonight. Rumors circulated on everything from the color of my gown to the designer, and if I would live up to Seoul’s biggest standards of the future wife of the Beloved Crown Prince. 

My appreciation for Lisette’s designs increased as I looked in the mirror, admiring the ball gown that fit like a glove. Butterflies and flowers make up the bodice of the dress and off the shoulder sleeves, embellished butterflies circle the waist and skim down to the bottom of the skirt. I chose to wear my hair half and half down in loose curls with my Valencian tiara sitting atop my head.

“Is it almost…”

“Excuse me, may I have a word with the Princess?” I turn my head to see Samira at the door. Great. My maids and Lisette turn toward me and I nod, careful not to show the irritation on my face. They file out of the room and Samira closes the door. “Alina! I’m so glad that you invited me. You look so stunning, the Crown Prince isn’t gonna want to wait to rip this gown off of you later!”

I narrow my brow, confusion filling my mind. “… Thank you?”

“That’s not the reason I’m here. I am here to give a word of advice to you, Alina.” Samira explains, crossing her arms.

“What advice must you give to me right now, Samira?” I ask carefully, knowing ears and eyes are all around waiting for me to slip up in the slightest. 

“Princess, don’t get too close to Kyungsoo. I hate to tell you this on our big day but Kyungsoo and I... We’ve been secretly dating. Him and I are much closer than you might have thought. He asked me to meet him tonight after the Ball, and he is a very needy man. I’m surprised he’s still asking me for favors when he finally has you. Then again, you don’t seem like the rule breaking type. You’re nothing but the formality on his way to the Crown.”

“I see.” Fury blazes underneath my skin. It angered me that I couldn’t show it or tell Samira exactly how I felt about her and the fact that she slept with my fiancé.

“Oh, sweetie, you had to have seen this coming. It wasn’t obvious we were together when I was constantly talking about the guy I was seeing? I’m just saving you the heartache of finding out that I’ll be the one in his bed, giving him what he really wants.”

“Samira, I don’t have time or energy for this. I have to go dance with my fiancé. The same fiancé that called you a one-off thing. It’s amazing how you backstab me and have the guts to attend our engagement ball. Now if you’ll excuse me, Crown Prince Kyungsoo is waiting for me.” I snap with hot cheeks. I’m not one to be so bold but I have to be now. 

I silently bow to the fuming Princess and walk past her, internally crumbling with each step I took to the large double doors to the ballroom entrance. What is it that Samira thinks she knows? I wondered if there was any truth to what she said, because it’s unheard of for another Princess to be a concubine. I think of how oddly kind he’s been to me lately, there has to be a reason behind it. Was it to introduce Samira as his real love? Nausea choked my body until I heard my name from the other side of the walls. 

The doors to the ballroom open and all eyes are on me, gasps and murmurs could be heard bouncing from all over the room. Slowly, my eyes meet my Kyungsoo. He looks beyond handsome in his formal military uniform, a regal design with tassels on his shoulders and a sash with Seoul’s royal colors and insignia sewn across it. His badges and medals of honor adorn the space above his heart, chains swoop from his right shoulder to his lapel on the other. His hair is slicked back and out of his face with his crown sitting neatly on his head, his mouth slightly ajar. Kyungsoo’s gaze causes my cheeks to flush, he bows before me and kisses my hand. I bow to my fiancé, a new type of smile appearing on his face. 

“You look so beautiful, Princess,” Kyungsoo whispers in my hair as he holds me for the waltz. The orchestra plays the soft, romantic melody we’ve rehearsed to and I nervously stiffen in his embrace. “Don’t be nervous. Remember, darling, follow me. On three, step back. One, two, three…”

We start to glide across the floor, our eyes set on each other. Uncertainty began to creep into my chest as Kyungsoo’s eyes beg me to trust him. I notice his demeanor is much different, it’s less guarded. It’s in his gaze, there’s a warmth that has been kindling over the last few days. Once my guard starts to drop, I make eye contact with Samira from across the ballroom. Of course, she’s standing right next to Boram. She smirks as she holds her phone in front of her, recording this moment. They whisper to each other and instantly my confidence fades as quickly as it came. 

Is something going to happen now? What if he is in on this? What do I do? 

My thoughts cause me to lose focus and stumble, the stress of ruining a beautiful, historical moment forcing adrenaline through my veins. Right on time to the music, Kyungsoo lifts me in his arms and smiles up at me. He gradually slides me down and my feet touch the ground, his arms securely around my waist until his hand grabs mine again. He twirls me and the entire ballroom erupts in applause. 

“You need to put some trust in me. I told you that I would never let you fall, Princess.” He whispers in my ear.  

I smile at Kyungsoo with gratitude and relief. I can feel his heart racing against my chest, dumbfounded at the thought that the Crown Prince is just as nervous as I am. The worst thing about this is that I am undoubtedly wonderstruck by him. 

“I’m starting to believe you.” I reply lowly. Kyungsoo’s smile gets bigger, and he holds me closer, his words falling onto me like a refreshing rain.

“You belong in my arms, Princess.” Kyungsoo dreamily breathes. He twirls me at the tail end of the dance, bringing me back to his embrace. He leans forward and dips me down like he did in rehearsal, cradling me closely toward his chest. I close my eyes to ward off the dizzy feeling in my head, the same feeling he gives me every time he’s close like this. His lips linger centimeters above mine, any closer and they’d brush together. They land on my cheek; leaving a feathery, chaste kiss. 

“This will have to do now, I fear if I kiss your lips now, I’ll never be able to stop.” Kyungsoo’s breath fans across my neck. I relax and can’t help but smile up at my fiancé.  Kyungsoo bows politely to me, touching my face with his free hand as he stands up straight. I catch the eyes of Samira burning into me again. Kyungsoo and I bow to our guests and he requests for everyone to quiet down.

“Welcome, esteemed guests.” Kyungsoo bows and I follow suit. “We are so happy you came to our special day. We also would like to announce that the Royal Wedding will be taking place October 12th, next week. The Princess and I are in love and simply couldn’t wait any longer. Please forgive us if this causes any time constraints or hinderance in your schedules.” 

That is the biggest lie I’ve ever heard come from Kyungsoo’s mouth, and it’s the first lie that I’m grateful for. Our guests cheer and applaud us on our “love”. The chatter begins along with the camera shutters. We smile and play it up for the cameras, and every person in this room believes it. Boram and Samira scowl in corners and whisper at each other to just get under my skin but I pay them no mind. The rest of the night is a blur of conversations, dancing and photo ops. Kyungsoo’s arm stays locked around me and he holds me close when we dance throughout the night. His eyes are soft and gentle when he looks down at me, his words are like silk as he whispers sweet nothings when we get chances to capture moments on our own. This feels so natural. So good. 

Too good. 

Midnight comes and the guests start to stumble out of the ballroom, bellies full of the finest wine and the best food imported from other kingdoms. Kyungsoo disappeared at some point and I figured I would see him later. On my way back to my chambers, I spot Lisette and Chanyeol in the garden. They’re casually talking and it looks like they’re getting along well, I make a mental note to ask her about this when we get back to the palace. I pass through the castle and see a sight that I partially expected. 

“Kyungsoo! Stooop!” Her giggly voice is like nails on a chalkboard with her stupid giggles and whines. I stop behind a pillar and watch the scene play out in front of me. 

Kyungsoo and Samira. 

She giggles and slaps his shoulder, a small smile erupting on his face. Fire burned under my skin at the mere sight of a smile on his face because of her. 

“Spend the night with me, babe. Just like we used to, remember? Come on, we can leave now!” This bitch. 

“No, Samira. What we had is over. I’m with Alina now.” Kyungsoo sighs in monotone. It’s so rehearsed, but I don’t expect anything less from him. If I could shoot lasers out of my eyes, I’d aim at the both of them.

“Babe, come on. You and I both know you don’t want this. You would tell me over and over how much you hated that girl and didn’t want her! Why are you forcing this relationship so much?” Samira leans into Kyungsoo and he steps away. 

“You’re a tease.” He laughs. My eyes fill with tears and I run, not caring if my footsteps echo. I don’t even care that Kyungsoo is calling out for me. I slam my door to my chambers. I made a mistake with letting this man in. I made a bigger mistake with telling him what happened to me. I curse myself for being so stupid in thinking that Kyungsoo meant his words. I refuse to cry over him, wipe my eyes and sit on my bed with my head in my hands. In my fit of anger, I didn’t check if the door was locked. As it swings open, I shuffle back, Kyungsoo standing there still in his uniform. 

“We need to talk.”

“No, we don’t.” I snap. Kyungsoo closes the door to my room and steps closer to the bed, taking my hand in his. 

“Yes. We. Do.”

“What do you want to talk about, Kyungsoo? The fact that you were with your friend with benefits?” I scoff. 

“It’s not what you think it was, Alina.” Kyungsoo pleads. How pathetic. 

“She was all over you!” I exclaim. 

“Samira was not all over me.” Kyungsoo rolls his eyes. 

“Yes she was! I saw it! And you weren’t even mad about it.” 

“You know, you’re cute when you’re jealous.” Kyungsoo smirks. 

“Don’t do that. Don’t chastise me.” I warn. 

Kyungsoo combs his hand through my hair and rests his hand on the nape of my neck. He doesn’t break eye contact and all I want is to be out from under his stupid spell. He smiles and caresses my face with his thumb. “I’m not chastising you. I told you before, Samira and I broke it off before you came here. She means nothing to me, darling. I just want you, is that so hard to believe?”

“Don’t give me that.” I hiss, forcing myself to break the invisible lock that his gaze has on me. Kyungsoo stands beside me and sighs lowly. “I saw you flirting with her! Laughing with her. You really have some nerve.” 

“Some nerve? Alina… I don’t want Samira. I want you.”

“No, Kyungsoo. Do you think I’m stupid? Do you think…”

“Damn it, Alina! Listen to me! Do you think that I wanted all of this to happen? I never thought you and I would be in this position!” Kyungsoo raises his voice. “It just happened. I can’t stop thinking about you. You’re on my mind all of the time. I barely know you, all you did was walk into the Throne Room and have driven me mad ever since. I dream of kissing you. Now the best part of my day is holding you through the night. I need you. I crave you. I want to learn every little bit of you until there’s nothing left to learn. I want to love you for the rest of my life and that alone is scaring the hell out of me. You’re the first woman I’ve felt all of this for… All of these things all at once. I need you.”

“You really must think I’m stupid to believe I’m the first and only woman you felt all this before when obviously you felt things for Samira. She came to me before the ball saying she was going to be the one in your bed. That you had a plan, Kyungsoo.”

Kyungsoo’s deep, thunderous laugh leaves his mouth. He wasn’t amused, he was irritated. Our gazes lock and the intensity of his eyes knocks me down a few pegs. “A plan? What plan? Darling… My only plan was to announce our wedding. We’re getting married. You and I. She was never part of my plans, and she will neverbe the woman in my bed. The only woman that will ever have the spot next to me is you. Haven’t I been proving that the last 48 hours?”

“You know that doesn’t mean anything. 48 hours? Are you serious?” I gaze back up at the moon and of course, Kyungsoo demands my attention again. “I don’t believe you.”

“Let’s settle something right now, Alina. Princess Samira will not be on my mind if you’re the one lying beside me. You must not understand the depths of my want for you if you think Samira can distract me from you. My mind is constantly on your lips that are so pouty when you don’t get what you want yet control me when they’re on mine. Your beautifully crafted body lying in my arms every single night is enough for me to forget about that woman and any other woman before you. Your face is the last thing I see before I sleep and my first thought in the morning. Your existence consumes me, darling.” Kyungsoo’s shaky, throaty tone catches me off guard just as much as his sentiments do. His charming grin blooms on his face as if he knows the thoughts that appeared in my head, and the sensations flooding and confusing my body.

I swallow my words under curious eyes and crimson cheeks. Kyungsoo so effortlessly bathes in the moonlight, his words hang in the air with each step he takes to close the gap between us. Once his arms enclose me in his orbit, I know I’m done for. “My God, Alina. How do you so effortlessly give the moon its glow? The stars in the sky are envious of the ones that flicker in your eyes… No woman could ever compare to you in my eyes. You’re breathtaking.”

Kyungsoo’s hands guide themselves to the back of my neck, thumbs on my cheeks. He brings his thick, plump lips to mine. This kiss was different than the one we shared before. There was no more curiosity, it was passionate. It was fiery. It was everything I needed. 

“You’re stunning.” I start falling deeper into him.

“You’re gorgeous.” I’m drowning in him.

“You’re divine.” There’s no going back. 

Kyungsoo indulges in my lips over and over, calling me sweet names in between each breath-stealing kiss. He kissed me so much that I lost count of each time he whispered how beautiful I was under his breath. He picks me up in his arms and sets me on the dresser, standing in between my legs. He leans into me and rest his hands on my thighs. I fall for the desire to fulfill every single need Kyungsoo has. My arms wrap around his neck, our breath heavy as his hands travel up my legs and settle on my waist. We part, I press my forehead against his with shallow breaths. 

“Darling, any woman could try to get my attention, but I’m completely and utterly focused on you. My mind has been made up. No one can change that, Alina.” He lowly assures me. 

“Kyungsoo…”

The strap of my nightgown falls off my shoulder. Kyungsoo eyes it and slides his finger underneath the thin strap, kissing my exposed skin before returning the strap back where it was. “Alina… Let me in, please.”

“One condition.” I say lowly. He squeezes me tighter in his arms. “Show me who you really are underneath the façade you’ve given. If I let you in, you have to let me in, too. We’re going to be married really soon and to give this a fair shot, we have to trust each other.” 

“I’ll do whatever you ask of me.” He says on my lips with pleading eyes. I chase his lips, needing to fill a piece of me that I didn’t know was empty until he came along. 

“Please don’t ever see Samira ever again.” I plead in his mouth. 

“I don’t need to see her. I have you, darling.” Kyungsoo replies between mouthy kisses. “I only need you.”

The coolness of the wall startles my skin as Kyungsoo pushes me on it, slowly kissing along my collarbone. I crumble with how he looks up at me with begging, desperate eyes. I put my hands on either side of his face and bring him back to my lips. I’m taking control of what I want, and my desire is filled with him. His kisses soothe open wounds in me. His touch mends the broken parts that others left behind. He’s slowly healing me and my heart is allowing it. We’re lost together in a whirlwind of feelings we didn’t expect to have for each other and it’s a thrill I’ll gladly chase. We break apart and Kyungsoo holds my chin with his fingers. 

“Is this what falling in love feels like?” I gasp. 

“I hope so, because I’ve been waiting to catch you, Princess.” 

“I thought we were leaving titles out of our private conversations.” I smirk, wrapping my arms around his strong shoulders. 

“We are, but you’re my princess. My darling. Mine.” Kyungsoo breathes, leaving soft kisses on my cheeks. 

“And you…” I reply between kisses, “are mine.”

[thedeviousdo]

Didn't think when my girlfriend asked to hear some of Soo's songs, that she'd end up singing one to me while we slow danced

[kpopimagi]

A Flower Under The Rain [Part 12]

Characters: Baekhyun, Kyungsoo and Kang Gyuri (OC) Genre: Angst, Romance Au: Hanahaki!Au  Type: Series  Word count: 2,120

It all began with a cough and then, a subtle sting in her chest. Kang Gyuri cried, knowing that in a matter of months, she would be another figure in the death toll of the most dangerous and cruelest outbreak in human history.

Part 1 | Part 2 | Part 3 | Part 4 | Part 5 | Part 6 | Part 7 | Part 8-1 | Part 8-2 | Part 9 | Part 10-1 | Part 10-2 | Part 11-1 | Part 11-2

Baekhyun was running.

Something within him made his body move so fast as if the world might end if he didn't, but the moment he turned around a corner and found Gyuri’s parents sitting on a bench, he froze. As if the sight of them clutching at each other was a wrench thrown in the corks of his entire being, Baekhyun found himself voiceless and unable to move.

“Omma,” Baekhyun called her in a painful squeak. “What's going on? Where's Gyuri?”

At that moment, they all heard a clash of metal and a scream, followed by the foulest of curses. A nurse staggered out of the room, pulling her blood-dripping surgical mask off to reveal her face, looking as pale as a ghost.

“Today’s a very bad day.” Gyuri’s mother said it absently.

The nurse pulled the surgical gown off as if it were on fire and cursed her way to the office. More metal clashing came from the room, but they all stayed in their spots, frozen in surprise and shock, and yet Baekhyun forced himself to move.

“She told us not to tell you.” Her mother whispered, her eyes lost somewhere far away, as a painful cry erupted through the atmosphere.

“Not tell me what?” Baekhyun asked, slowly getting closer, “What happened?”

“She’s sick.” Her father said from his seat, wincing as another scream filled the hallway. “She caught the curse.”

“Was it me?” Baekhyun asked.

And that was all that came out of his mouth.

That was all he could think of.

All he was strong enough to say.

Suddenly, several alarms went off, making everyone flinch, and a group of young doctors rushed into the hallway as the nurse explained what happened. Baekhyun and Gyuri’s parents watched them prepare, dressing up in surgical gowns, when another painful scream teared the tension in the place and everyone reacted. Baekhyun was the first to reach for the door when a male nurse got in the way and an impossibly handsome doctor zeroed his full attention down on him, making him back off.

“Dr. Kim, why don’t you give Baekhyunie a moment?” Her father said,

Finally getting up from his seat, he stood in the middle of the hallway, slowly but deliberately standing between the doctors and the newly arrived. Baekhyun noticed the endearment in his voice and faltered under the sudden attention and recognition glimmering in everyone’s eyes. They all seemed to know him when he had no idea who anyone was.

“Jongdae, gear him up.” The handsome doctor in the front ordered, still observing him.

Everything happened so fast that Baekhyun followed every instruction without making a sound. He just let the nurse wrap him up in a similar blue gown, a hat, gloves, and cover his face with a face mask, then pulled a transparent face shield over his head.

“I’ll be right behind you.” The nurse said, letting him through the door.

Baekhyun stiffened, unsure of what to do. His first instinct brought him there, but once inside, all that confidence was long gone. He didn’t even know what he was supposed to find there, much less any clue as to what to do. He gave a hesitant step when the realization of the dreadfulness in front of him started to sink in.

The place looked like a scene straight out of a horror movie. Baekhyun saw several metal carts with all of their surgical instruments spread across the floor. The nurse behind him reached for the closest cart, tipping it straight, and started to get the contents back in place. Baekhyun kept going further into the room and stopped at the sight of a hospital bed covered in red. A few steps further in, and he found a trail on the floor that he couldn’t figure out if the reddish color of the substance spreading across the floor was blood or something else. An overwhelming sweetness filled the air, making him gag, and he cursed when he tried to cover his mouth, only to bump his hand into the face shield. The sudden movement made his entire head spin while panic rose in him, knowing that he could pinpoint that smell right away and associate it straight with Gyuri, but there was nothing he could do to stop it from reaching his nose. He could smell it, even through the layers of gear, and his stomach churned in disgust. It was Gyuri’s scent amplified to a thousand, and his entire body reacted against it. Baekhyun ignored it all—discomfort and nausea—and followed the trail of flower petals, blood, and stomach juices till another door, where he finally could hear the faint sound of her sobbing.

“Gyuri…” He said, his voice steadier than he expected, even behind the layers of gear. “It’s me, Baekhyun.”

He didn’t get an answer, but the wailing that he heard through the door made his throat twist in a knot. He could feel the pain in her voice, and the desperation in her cries was almost palpable. He stood by the door, stricken by shock, when a loud thud on the other side burst him out of his stupor. In that same surge of instinct and emotion, he slammed his shoulder against the door, which gave little to no resistance. 

He stumbled into a bathroom, but there was nothing that could have prepared him for what he found there. A sterile and open washroom. The white, cold floor was stained with bright red blood and flower petals that pooled slowly yet nonstop across the tiles.

The thick red trail that Baekhyun had followed from the bed meandered through the room to a corner behind the blurry screen of the shower, and he could see the small figure cowering in the corner. He called her name, taking a hesitant step closer, and the shade behind the screen squirmed.

“Go away," she begged. 

“I’m coming closer.” He said, giving another step.

“No!”

“Gyuri, it’s me.” He whispered, almost begging.

“No,” Gyuri cried. "Please don’t.”

“Why not?”

“I don’t want you to see me like this.”

Baekhyun came closer. He was close enough to look around the blurry screen, and he found her there, shuddering against a corner. He just stood still, but nothing in him registered that it was Gyuri herself. It couldn’t be her. He refused to believe that the wounded body belonged to her.

It was trembling too much.

It was thin.

Too thin. 

Too fragile. 

It was not her.

It couldn’t be her.

It had been only a few days since he last saw her. She was fine. Looking a bit off, but fine. He remembered the fire in her eyes. Her strong voice and the resolution in her words. She was angry. She was furious at him. And she was alive. Gyuri was alive.

There was none of that fire left now. 

All that was left of her was the weakness in her whimpers and the pain in her voice as she cried. The flimsy hospital gown she wore barely managed to cover her body and the damage the curse inflicted. Spike-like things protruded from her back, splitting it open, as the blood trickled down her skin with every tremor. The tips of her delicate fingers and toes were bruised with the darkness of the disease that ran through her veins, slowly taking over her flesh.

Gyuri looked over her shoulder, and when she found him there, she recoiled even more into herself as a new spasm contracted her body into a painful fit. She wailed, desperately trying to cover her head with her arms. She was begging him to leave. The horrible, dark, and twisted mass growing in her back, whatever it was, started to twitch with every breath, making her scream. And still, even in her pain, she kept begging him to leave. She cried for him to save himself when she was breaking apart.

“Fuck this.” Baekhyun mumbled, pulling the face mask off.

If it bothered him, he didn’t show it as he moved again, possessed by something raw and unstoppable. He removed every piece of gear from his head and reached for her. He cursed the instant he touched her cold skin, and when he tried to pick her up, Gyuri fought back. She tried to push him away, but there was no strength left in her bleeding hands. She wriggled in his hold, and Baekhyun whispered to her everything that came to his mind to calm her down, but the more he tried, the more she twisted.

“Hey, it’s me.” He said, throwing all the caution aside to wrap his arms around her in a hug, “It’s alright, I’m here now.”

He hugged her tight as she cried harder and harder. All the while, he never stopped talking to her, and for the longest time, he thought it would never stop. After a while, Gyuri finally started to calm down. She had stopped fighting back. Her small hands held into his shirt in a tight fist, and her small and broken body wasn't trembling anymore.

For a moment, Baekhyun was scared to move, afraid that if he did, she might start fighting again. However, he felt her body relax, and her cries mellowed to the tiniest of sounds. It wasn’t until her fingers uncurled from her hold that he dared himself to loosen up and cradle her mangled figure with the utmost care. Yet again, he was not ready for how light and fragile she was, and a chill ran down his spine when her head lolled back and he could finally see her face.   

It wasn’t Gyuri. 

But it was Gyuri. 

She looked like her, but at the same time, she didn’t. Her eyes were so bloodshot they were almost black in their entirety, and the same bruised lines that had spread through her fingers were now stretching across her jaw. Her features were different; her cheekbones were higher and her lips were so chapped, they were bleeding, or maybe it was all the red juices dripping down her chin. He couldn’t tell anymore. All he could see was a small smile spreading across her face.  

“I love you, Baekhyun.”

Her confession came out softly. It was merely a whisper. Yet it was so definitive and final that it was loud enough for the curse to react. Her body twisted in his arms, and for a split second, Baekhyun thought something pulled her heart deeper, making her curl into a ball. He held her close to his body, struggling to let the fit pass without panic taking over. He felt so powerless while her entire face scrunched up in pain, and all he could do was watch. Thankfully, as soon as the spasm started, it ended.

“You silly genius,” he chuckled, because that was the only way he could find to stop himself from breaking apart. “I love you too.”

Gyuri went still. Her impossibly black eyes looked at him, and despite all that, he could still see the warmth glimmering in them and a whole mix of conflicting emotions going across her expression. She was confused and taken aback, as if she could not believe him. 

“I thought you knew that already," he said, smiling and pushing her hair off her face.

Baekhyun wished he could say more—that he meant it and was sorry, that he should have seen the signs and been more careful. There were so many things he wanted to say. So many things he wanted her to know, but no matter how much he tried, no words came out of him. Even less when she reached out to touch his face. Her fragile hand touched his cheek, only for him to realize he had been crying all along, and despite it all, she tried to dry up his tears. The gesture overwhelmed him. He brought her closer, pressing a soft kiss on her forehead before apologizing, but the coldness of her touch was gone. Her hand had dropped, and her eyes were now closed.

“No,” he said, patting her cheek to wake her up. “Gyuri, don’t do this. Don’t die on me. Not yet.”

Her eyes stayed closed.

“Gyuri, you can’t go.” He said, bringing her body closer to his, “Not when I’m here. Not when I love you.”

Gyuri didn’t move.

He tried to stir her awake, to make her open her eyes, but only the black swirling roots of the curse responded. He watched the darkness spreading across her skin, stoppable and brutal, and he found himself screaming his head off for help. He just screamed for someone to help. For someone to help her.

For someone to do what he couldn’t do.

To save Gyuri.

Angst Pure angst with this one. Short but painful. Sorry, not sorry but we're reaching the final stretch of this story. What are your bets on Gyuri and Baekhyun? I would like to hear your theories about what will happen so leave your comments. I'd love to hear your thoughts. And once again. Thank you so much for taking the time to read this painful story. Bye

[blueberryjam1201]

Unexpected

Chapter 4

Genre: Drama, Romance

Summary: How the one week in separation will change their life?

This story wasn't suppose to be sweet and heartwarming from the first place...

Dear reader, are you ready for a new ark filled with sadness? But remember, after every rain the sun is shining. Will Kyungsoo find his sunshine in this storm?

"Was I always this vulnerable?

Was you my only strength?

Sharing with you my desires,

Telling you about my misery,

Like you are the best medicine,

...

Does it have a side effect?

Or Did I overdose?

The season has changed...

Why I'm still here?"

Kyungsoo breathed heavily while leaning on a desk in his office room at home. All the books were scattered under the shelves. Ripped pages next to them. The abandoned guitar's unfortunate place under the wall on the right side of the room was telling stories about the hysteria from a not long time ago. There was this unbearable lament bouncing off the walls...

In silence...

Chapter under the cut❤️

It was a sunny morning, past 6 a.m. This airport was living its own life like it was Saturday afternoon in the city center. Many flights landed. The light brown color of the floor tiles reflected the sunlight, jumping inside the building by the glass walls from the exit side. Kyungsoo was sitting on one of the bench seats inside. 

He wore a light brown jacket and black trousers. While holding a mobile phone in his hand he smiled gently. It was YiSeul messaging about having fun the next couple of days without her.

"It's a work trip, how can it be fun?" He thought, and the phone started ringing. 

- Chanyeol-ah! - Kyungsoo answered while looking around.

- Kyungsoo-yah!- laughed while imitating his friend - I'll be there in a second, just going to the toilet and grabbing a coffee, you're ok? You can wait near the entrance, I'll find you - 

- Ok, hurry up - said Kyungsoo, and hung up. He then grabbed a grey backpack, wore it on his arms, and bucked his waist-belt. After that grabbed a large, black suitcase on wheels and casually proceeded to the exit. 

Outside were small (compared to inside) crowds of arrived travelers. This was a street where many cars were parked to collect those travelers, and opposite the exit, a little further down, was a small park with trees and benches. He looked up in the sky. Even the noise around couldn't disturb his peaceful mind. "..ah...it's only one week...I hope she won't be bored alone....". These thoughts were swirling around his head, how great is to have her by his side...

Suddenly, he jumped to the side, barely staying on his feet, and raised his head to see who just pushed him so hard.... realizing he unconsciously caught this person, so she didn't fall on the ground...

It was a young woman. He thought: "Maybe 25, maybe 28, it's difficult to predict as girls these days are using many amazing cosmetics and ..."

She jumped back from his hands, waking him up from his internal analysis. Panicked, brushed her long dark brown hair with her fingers, shouted "Apologies!", grabbed her large, black suitcase, and ran away leaving him speechless. It was a long few seconds when he was watching her disappear. 

- Kyungsoo! - Chanyeol jumped on him, scaring him slightly, so he swung clenched fist at his friend's stomach, but just touched to scare Chanyeol back in revenge.  

- You done? - asked

- Yeah, let's go. Your coffee - Chanyeol handed the warm drink to KyungSoo and they headed to the nearest taxi. 

The hotel where KyungSoo and Chanyeol were staying was in a classic 1970s style. Although the windows were modern, and looked a little bit out of context, in general, the view was pleasant, and looking at the interest in this place, none of the guests probably minded the mix of styles. 

They checked-in in reception and hurried to their booked rooms to change clothes and prepare for a meeting. 

Kyungsoo entered his room which was studio apartment size. From the small anteroom, he could enter all the rest of rooms which was: the toilet on the left, the kitchen opposite, and the bedroom on the right. Funny how the bedroom was connected to the kitchen from the inside. "This could have been just one room, what is the point in those walls separating the anteroom?" He smirked, after creating a reconstruction plan in his head. His mind is always absorbed by analyzing new experiences and places like it would change anything. But he can't fight with this part of his personality.  

He went to the bedroom first and placed his backpack on the small brown bedside cabinet under the white wall. All the walls were white, and the carpet covered the floor on every inch, excluding the toilet where the white tiles were placed. 

Then he put his suitcase on the bed and opened it to take some stuff important for the meeting...

"What is that...?" He stiffened and all the waters in his body started to boil from shock, out of fright, or all kinds of panic emotions you can feel at this kind of moment. His mind went blank. He tried to remember what happened before he arrived at the hotel..." That girl..." he whispered with a pale face. Hopefully, his laptop was in the backpack together with all the documents. He tried to calm down, took a deep breath a few times, sat on the bed and after long seconds of consideration he created a plan for a meeting. That was the most important now. 

Then he looked into her suitcase and found a name tag, similar to the one that parents are sewing or just hang on their kid's clothes or bags when they go to primary school. 

The message on the tag was as follows:

If found alone

Call Rose

01937xxxx

He was gazing at this tag for a long time in silence. It wasn't certain to him if his messed up state of mind was caused by this situation in general, the fact she swapped the suitcases by mistake or...that she was keeping this tag in her suitcase because it's probably the last thing that adult would think of before going on a trip alone...

He called the number. 

The signal was on but no answer. Then tried again, 4 times to be precise. 

After looking at the time on the phone, he hurried up and started preparing for a meeting. 

The meeting place was a boardroom in one of the JJ ENTERTAINMENTS buildings. This spacious room had only the most important furniture which was a long, polished wood table and 11 stylish spinning chairs for all board members. The walls were in magnolia color, the floor was covered by navy, fluffy carpet. Doors were at the top of the left side, and the wall on the right was made from stone mosaic wall tiles in a light gray color, with the exception in the center where there was a place for a 90" size TV. Also, at the bottom of the wall, under the TV was a small chiller for drinks, filled with only water and a few cans of Coca-Cola, probably ordered by the members beforehand. 

It was 9 a.m. when 11 attendees started gardening, including Manager Kim. Each one of them was in an expensive suit, mostly grey and black. Besides men, 5 women came, also in suits of the same colors. Then Kyungsoo was wearing the same clothes as before, which were a light brown jacket, and Chayeol in a retro-styled hooded jacket. They both sat just at the beginning of the table under the TV. 

The man in his probably 60s sat just at the end of the table and patiently waited till everyone was settled down. He was the CEO of JJ Entertainment.

At some point, he said:

- Good morning, I hope everyone had a comfortable journey. We are here today to discuss the anniversary concert next 3 or 4 weeks. The date still hasn't been settled up, but we will get there eventually....- and waited for any reaction from other members. His facial expression reminded the one of the governor in prison. He smiled like an angel, but his gaze was a thread. He didn't have to say a word, his stare was creating a law that everyone had to obey without discussion. 

- Let's begin, shall we? - and the angelic smile just appeared, bringing insecurity even to prepared for these meeting members....except two friends at the end. Kyungsoo was typing lyrics on his mobile and sending them to his email address while Chanyeol was absorbed by staring at the least favorite board members and laughing quietly at their frightened behavior. 

The meeting was going smoothly. Each one of the employers was sharing their theories or presentations. Kim was sitting quietly until his time came. 

- Woo Shik, what have you prepared for Creams? - the silence appeared in the room. Woo Shik was a young man, age max 30. Black curly hair cut short in the back, but fluffy bangs were almost covering his eyes. Long face, small eyes, and slightly damaged lips from biting. 

-...um...- he started, but had difficulties to construct the sentences - they will be performing 5 songs...so I was thinking, we can choose the most popular 5 ...- he paused for a moment to look at their reactions, which were none so he continued- and...um...we can make the "candy" appearance, fans loves it....- he paused again. This time it looks like he ran out of ideas, so the pause was like a begging for someone else to speak up. Kim slowly looked at Kyungsoo who was still working on his phone hidden under the table. 

- Doh, anything you wish to add? - ...silence. Kyungsoo raised his head and needed a few seconds to understand the situation. Then he leaned on his chair comfortably and said:

- I would use 4 of the most popular songs, 2 from the debut and two from the second album. Then I would give them 5 minutes to interact with the audience announce a new single, and sing the highlight from it. It would build excitement amongst fans. Also...- he looked at Woo Shik - I don't think the "CANDY" theme is the best. First of all, they are not newbies anymore, and together with the last scandals about them dating seems not in place. I would choose FAITH as the 4th song to emphasize that they are no longer children. That would help to make the audience understand that they are also human beings and will calm down the media a little... - he finished. 

The silence in the room was shouting about admiration. Then suddenly, the silent applause could be heard. That was the CEO who was entertained with KyungSoo's speech. 

- Manager Kim, what's your decision? - Kim needed a long second to answer: 

- I'll go with KyungSoo's idea...- it seems his plan to embarrass Kyungsoo has failed. Was it this plan? Or maybe there was a different reason? 

The meeting was carried out as planned till the end, and no one realized that KyungSoo's presentation was mostly created on a mobile phone while going by taxi and during the meeting itself. 

Later in another room, there was a presentation again, this time led by one person for the audience consisting of employees. Large area, fully in white colors, hundreds of chairs, and a scene with a mini cinema screen behind. The presentation was about the stadium where the concert will take place and all the important details in this matter. 

Kyungsoo was sitting with Chanyeol somewhere in the middle of the right side of the audience. 

- How's our naughty YiSeul? - Chanyeol joked after looking at Kyungsoo scrolling the phone. 

- Alright, I think. Stop talking like she's your girlfriend too - 

- I always wanted to ask you this, because sometimes when speaking, she has this weird accent, where is she from? - 

....

KyungSoo's eyes widened in a second.

Time has stopped, why is his mind blank suddenly? Where is she from? He was replaying all his memories in his head like an opened family photobook, like an archive in the basement or the attic. He was in every corner of his memory...where is she from? 

- Oi! - Chanyeol woke him up from his trance - Don't tell me you don't know! - covered his laughing face to not make any loud sound - KyungSoo-yah, that's not good? Ask her, and let me know ok? - 

Kyungsoo was barely hearing his friend as his mind just created another investigation in his head. What does he know about her past? They meet one year ago, he was always telling stories from his life, he complained to her about his dilemmas, she was supportive...was she? She was always there, right? But was he supportive? Has she ever told him about her difficulties? 

This year passed so fast that he wasn't paying attention to many significant points. What does he know about her? 

After another important presentation, the working day was finally over. 

Kyungsoo came back to his room, looked at the phone, and threw it on the bed, then went to take a shower. 

*buzz buzz*

The phone was ringing. 

When he came back from the shower, while drying his hair with a towel, he grabbed the phone and stiffened.... 4 missed calls and one text message. He rushed to open it:

- Do you have my suitcase?! -

He breathed a sigh of relief and started typing:

- Yes, can we meet tomorrow morning? I need the equipment from inside ASAP -

Two seconds passed:

- OK then, tomorrow at 6 am at the airport, same place as today. See you! - 

He opened his round eyes widely but smirked with satisfaction that everything was sorted. Now, only time for a dream after this long day. 

YiSeul hasn't texted him, she's probably busy. "Good night" he typed with a heart emoticon at the end. 

Good night, KyungSoo-yah...

The next day, same time as yesterday, Kyungsoo arrived at the airport. He was waiting at the entrance for women who swapped their identical suitcases. He still couldn't believe this story, but he accepted that, and told himself that many unexpected stories can happen, like his and YiSeul's example. He waited. "I think I came too early," he thought, but after looking at the phone, it was exactly 6 a.m., as agreed. He wore the same jacket, so she would recognize him. All of a sudden, he felt shivers, sometimes you feel this when someone is watching you, so he raised his head to look for the source of this unpleasant feeling. 

Just opposite him was standing a short girl, with dark brown long hair lying on her arms. Her pale skin color and dark, upturned eyes together had something unique, fascinating, Kyungsoo couldn't explain it in words. Maybe it's that red lipstick? She was wearing a blue sweater and a long, white dress, almost hiding her feet. 

Slowly, she came nearer to him while not losing an eye contact. 

- Is that you? Do you have my suitcase? -

KyungSoo's chest flattened as the uncertainty was forcing him to be prepared for any defense if it wasn't her, if he just had long eye contact with a random person who would approach him without any reason. He smirked and said:

- I have no idea how we swapped our suitcases, but hopefully, you had this name tag. Are you always keeping it inside?- he couldn't wait to ask that question which had intrigued him since yesterday. She then grabbed her suitcase and left his next to him. Then she smiled gently, raised her head, and explained:

- I get what you mean, that's unbelievable, right? I can't believe it myself, but what happened is I was late for my meeting, hopefully, I had all the documents on my phone so just printed them off on site. I was running and looking at my phone, so it's my bad, apologies for running into you - the way she spoke made Kyungsoo surprised as she answered all his questions in one go, and for some reason, he was not even bothered anymore. What happened, happened. Hopefully, everything will be back to normal from now on. 

- What's your name? - she was looking at her phone while asking. Kyungsoo, amazed by this question said:

- Doh Kyungsoo, but why are you asking? -

- No reason, I'm Rose. Nice to meet you. Apologies, but I need to check in, my flight is soon - then she moved to the entrance, raised her hand, and waved - See you, maybe someday! - 

- Remove! my num..m..ber...- The last word he whispered slowly as she was gone already. 

For some reason, this situation was fascinating for him and he smiled while turning around and headed to the first taxi. 

He spoke with YiSeul later. She was in the hospital with her mom. Her health was not getting any better, and that made Kyungsoo upset but he needed to focus because today he had another busy day...and all week was the same. He was waking up and going to the JJ ENMT building, planning, writing, arranging, listening, recording, and planning again. He spoke with YiSeul every evening, In the daytime she was absorbed by work and her mom's condition. 

He then arrived in Yeonhui.

"Finally at home," he thought. It was evening, so the skies were covered in dark ink, and because of a rainy time, the clouds were covering all the stars. 

His fence and grass were in the same condition as he left. "She took care of this place". Then he opened the door, not even thinking about taking off his shoes, he just wanted to see her first. 

She was in the kitchen wearing an apron, a little dirty after cooking but that didn't matter. Nothing matters, as far as she's here. Her hair was tied in a top knot. The only makeup on her face was probably mascara. She lifted her soiled in sweet cake icing finger and licked it while raising her eyes to look at him. 

- Hey! - he ran to her and hugged her like he just found his long-lost treasure. 

- How's the flight? - she asked while hugging him back and patting his arm. 

- Easy, it's a short flight so I didn't even realize when we landed. How are things? All ok? How's mom? Sorry, that is the most important, is she feeling better? 

YiSeul looked into his eyes, it seemed she was constructing the best sentence to describe the situation. 

- She's back at home, it seems she just overworked, and her back is not standing this kind of pressure anymore -

Kyungsoo was speechless for a second. 

- So it's not life-threatening? -

- No, she fell down the stairs while doing housework. It's OK now - 

He asked himself, what was the reason for him to create the life-threatening sickness, was it something she said? Or he just added this part by himself, which is hard to accept, but now he can't remember what exactly she said about her mother's condition. Mom - hospital - bad well-being - this generated a story in his mind? Sounds like an absurd. Maybe he is just too sensitive, maybe he was asking for a situation where he can support YiSeul, the same as she was supporting him up until now? If that's the case, that is very selfish of him.But he still couldn't accept this possibily....

- I'm happy everything is fine now, was worried about your mom - 

YiSeul smiled slightly, took his hand, and led him to the set table, filled with tasty dishes and a big cake in turquoise color. 

- Wait! - he gave an order and ran straight to the shelf just above the sink, grabbed a red wine, and came back to the table with two wine glasses.

- Addition to the delicious food you have prepared - he hasn't tried it yet, obviously, but he missed her, and whatever she prepared he will appreciate. Then he gave her a kiss...going deeper as his deep feeling of longing. She put her hand on his back for a second, then suddenly she cut this precious moment with words: " Let's eat first, shall we? - smiled and sat down. 

"What's that? " he thought while standing still and watching her. "What is this feeling?" 

Why does her lips seems so unfamiliar today?

[iinterludia]

Doh Kyungsoo e o Alto Rei Elfo

Sinopse: Após um acidente que o dispensou do exército, Kyungsoo decide recomeçar sua vida em outro país, buscando escapar de seu passado e encontrar alguma normalidade. No entanto, sua rotina é abruptamente interrompida quando ele se depara com um homem misterioso, alto e vestido de maneira estranha, que o observa intensamente antes de desmaiar. Chanyeol, o rei elfo, foi transportado para um mundo diferente do seu durante um ataque ao seu reino. E após 600 anos de busca, finalmente reencontra Kyungsoo. Sem saber como retornar ao seu reino, Chanyeol é acolhido pelo ex-militar, mesmo este duvidando da sanidade do rei elfo. Kyungsoo, surpreendentemente, se sente bem ao lado dele e aquele vazio que ele sempre sentiu, estranhamente diminui. Por estar em um lugar onde a natureza élfica nunca existiu, o rei corre perigo, por isso Kyungsoo precisa decidir entre cortar a comunicação com a realeza élfica e deixá-lo ir, ou embarcar junto para a Terra média sem a possibilidade de voltar para sua casa.

TÍTULO:  Doh Kyungsoo e o Alto Rei Elfo AUTOR(ES): Interludia CATEGORIA:EXO  COUPLE: CHANSOO (CHANYEOL & KYUNGSOO) GÊNERO: ROMANCE, FANTASIA TAGS: chansoo, soulmates, elfos, terra média ONDE LER: Spirit Fanfiction ◈ AO3 ◈ Wattpad ◈ +Fiction ◈ Nyah Fanfiction

Oiê, o post de hoje é uma divulgação! Yaay!

Como puderam ver pela capa, sinopse e detalhes da fic, essa chansoo lindinha é minha baby de reestreia depois de 12 anos sem escrever uma fic.

A verdade, maninhos, é que eu tenho uns plots e outros que vão surgindo do nada. Às vezes fico pensando se o que vem na minha cabeça já não é uma das fics que eu li e acho que é um plot novo kk.

Vamos ao que interessa:

Doh Kyungsoo e o Alto Rei Elfo, apelidado carinhosamente de DKARE, conta a história de como o rei elfo, Chanyeol, reencontra seu amado após 600 anos. Adivinha quem é o mô dele? Isso mesmo, o ex-piloto da aeronáutica, Doh Kyungsoo. 

Mas como eles se reencontram se eles fazem parte de diferentes mundos? Kyungsoo vive sua pacata vida com uma estranha e interminável sensação de vazio e Chanyeol detém o título de maior autoridade élfica na Terra Média, mas está definhando de tristeza, qual a probabilidade de Kyungsoo ser a pessoa que Chanyeol procura? E qual a probabilidade do Kyung acreditar no cara maluco que apareceu no seu terreno às seis da manhã?

Para os amantes de EXO e do Universo Tolkien, descubra acompanhando DKARE, toda quarta-feira nas seguintes plataformas de fanfics: 

Spirit Fanfiction ◈ AO3 ◈ Wattpad ◈ +Fiction ◈ Nyah Fanfiction

Sim, eu joguei em todos os lugares que eu tinha conta. 

XOXO, Interludia.

[deathlywounded]

"Would you make room for my love in the mess of your heart?"

Disclaimer: I wanted to use this scene of "Swing kids" to illustrate a specific feeling, so please don't take the phrase too much to heart, it is mine.

Based on a deliciously achieved frame of "Swing kids", directed by Kang Hyeong-cheol.

[cherryeol04]

Blooming Love

➻ Pairings: ChanBaekSoo, Chanyeol x Baekhyun x Kyungsoo

➻ Genre: Romance, Fluff, humor

➻ Additional: Feelings realized, polyamorous negotiations

➻ Word Count: 4.3K

➻ Warnings: N/A

➻ Author’s notes: This story is crossposted on multiple sites under the same username!

Kyungsoo watched the Chanbaek couple at a distance, with envious eyes. The two had been together since he could remember, all the way since debut.  Fans loved them together because their personalities meshed so well. It was amazing at how easily Chanyeol and Baekhyun got along. They were both loud and playful; smiles always on their faces. Sometimes those smiles could be so contagious that everyone couldn’t help but be happy as well. They were the “power” couple of EXO and the interesting part was that they really were a couple. What fans thought was fanservice was actually the two just showing their love for each other. It was both cute and annoying to Kyungsoo. His own fanservice was mostly done with Kai. The younger male was adorable and close with him, but to be honest, the fan service was usually forced on Kyungsoo’s part. Not that he didn’t want to be close with Kai, or express his admiration and friendly affection for the other. It was just...he wanted to save a lot of that affection for someone he really cared about.

That person, sadly, was Chanyeol. The tall male had such a beautiful soul that Kyungsoo honestly couldn’t help but fall in love with him. Chanyeol was, besides handsome, very talented. He was gifted in rapping, composing, as well as playing instruments. He was also one of the more famous members, with a larger fanbase. Yet, despite his talent, good looks, and fame, he never let it got to his head. He didn’t have an ego and he never acted arrogantly. He took everything in stride and was extremely modest, always down playing the compliments he was given or being extremely thankful for the praises he would receive. And much like he w as teased, he was the happy virus and made it his mission to make anyone and everyone he met happy. In essence, he was the picture of purity and that’s what had initially drawn Kyungsoo in and led him down the winding road of love. A love that was very much one sided.

Kyungsoo didn’t hate Baekhyun, nor did he wish to be Baekhyun (that was just stupid). He was actually very good friends with the fellow vocalists. Some people normally thought they hated each other, but that was never the case. Kyungsoo liked to tease and Baekhyun always took it with a light heart and open mind. Even when he complained on shows, it was always teasing, which Kyungsoo liked. Kyungsoo never voiced his attraction for Chanyeol, especially not to Baekhyun. He wasn’t someone who wrecked relationships. He believed that if love was meant to happen, then he would be in a relationship with that person. To him, it was obvious that chanyeol was not that person. So he stayed silent and instead was a good friend to Baekhyun, letting the older man use his ears when he needed to vent about Chanyeol or a problem that they were having within their relationship. 

Kyungsoo had never been in a relationship before, so he was never too sure if he managed to be of any help to Baekhyun. He relied mostly on common sense and what he believed a relationship should be when giving advice. It seemed to work, so that was a good thing. Did he wish, for just a moment, he could be with Chanyeol? Of course, but he did have more respect than that to want something he couldn’t have. So he did what any good friend would do. He pressed his feelings, burying them as deep down inside himself as he could and continued on with his life, working as much as possible to keep himself busy and his mind from wondering.

~*~

“Hey shorty.” Kyungsoo grunted as he found a large hand resting on his head. Lifting his gaze, he stared up at Chanyeol, the giant smiling down at him brightly. Kyungsoo could feel his heart skip a beat before beating faster in his chest. He had to scold himself mentally for such a reaction and calm himself while giving Chanyeol a soft smile in return. 

“Hey Chanyeol.” Kyungsoo greeted. “What’s up?”

“Practice, duh.” Chanyeol laughed as he looked around the dance room they were in. They had just taken a ten minute break after spending the last hour going over their relatively new moves for their recent comeback. The members were scattered, with most of them out to use the restroom. A few were still in the room, sitting about and drinking water, like Kyungsoo. The male was still sweaty, but slowly calming down.

“No! You’re kidding me.” Kyungsoo teased with a light laugh, Chanyeol following suite. “I thought we were all taking a nap.”

“Damn, I wish.” Chanyeol chuckled, letting out a soft break before turning to glance at the room. “Actually…” he started and turned back to face Kyungsoo. Do you a schedule for practice?” he asked.

Kyungsoo blinked and rubbed his chin. What was his schedule for the rest of the day. He didn’t remember off hand, but he knew the shooting for his movie had been completed and he wasn’t needed for the drama for another three weeks. So...was he free? He was thinking his schedule was free for the time being. “No. Not that I know of. I believe I’m free.” he told him with a smile.

“Yeah? Awesome! So do you wanna go out afterwards?” Chanyeol asked. Kyungsoo raised a brow and Chanyeol chuckled. “I mean after we get back and shower and changed.” He clarified and Kyungsoo nodded, chuckling.

“Sure. Any place in particular or just what ever place we come across?” Kyungsoo asked curiously. It wasn’t everyday that Chanyeol wanted to go somewhere with him. He was usually going out with Baekhyun, so he had to admit, he liked this change. It had been a while since he had some quality time with Chanyeol. He actually missed it and was looking for to it now.

“No, not really. We could go down to the river. Or go out and see a movie?” Chanyeol suggested. “Just not somewhere that’s going to be overly crowded. Is that okay?” Chanyeol asked.

“A trip to the river sounds nice. I haven’t been down there in a while.”

“Then we’ll go there!” Chanyeol said happily. “I’ll meet you at my car when we’re changed and ready.”

“Sounds good to me. I’ll see ya then.” Kyungsoo nodded, smiling as Chanyeol left his side then. Alone again, Kyungsoo turned to face the mirror and started practicing the steps once more.

~~~

Chanyeol stepped out of the practice room, smiling as he spotted Baekhyun leaning against the wall a few feet away. Walking over, he wrapped his arms around the other, leaning down to kiss him gently.

“Mmm.” Baekhyun hummed into the kiss, returning it lightly before pulling back from the kiss. “How did it go?” he asked, raising a brow.

“Good!.” Chanyeol told him, pecking his lips gently. “We’re going to head to the Han River. You sure you want this love?” Chanyeol asked, eyes searching Baekhyun’s for reassurance.

“Yes. I know about his feelings for you. And you know, why not? You like him, I like him.” Baekhyun smiled. “Why not try?” 

“True. But what if he doesn’t want this? What if he only wants me?” Chanyeol asked.

“Well, we need to find out right? So we’ll do this. And however it goes, it goes.” Baekhyun told him with a smile. He leaned up and kissed him softly, arms winding around his waist. “I love you baby.” he cooed.

“You’re crazy, you know that?” Chanyeol asked and chuckled. “I love you too, baby. Let’s head back in and finish practice.” Baekhyun nodded and took Chanyeol’s hand, walking back into the practice room as their break came to and end.

~*~

Kyungsoo let out a soft sigh as he exited the car parked at the Han River. Well it was really the grassy park, they still had a walk to actually get down to the water. The cool summer night air washed over him and it was like all worries and stress was just washed away. He would never admit to it the others,  but he was a nature lover. There was something about being outside that he just found so relaxing. Maybe it was the lovely scenery or maybe it was the fresh air. Whatever it was, he absolutely loved it.

“It’s beautiful out tonight.” Chanyeol commented next to Kyungsoo, startling the other out of his thoughts. Smiling softly, Kyungsoo looked at Chanyeol and nodded his head.

“It is.” he said. “I like it here.” he said gently, eyes scanning the area. “Let’s head down okay?” he asked and smiled at Chanyeol. Nodding, Chanyeol took Kyungsoo’s hand and tugged him towards the path that would lead them down to the river. They walked in a comfortable silence, neither one feeling the need to talk. That’s what Kyungsoo liked about Chanyeol the taller male made him feel so comfortable and relaxed. He didn’t feel the need to fill the silence with noise, like he did with some of the others. He also didn’t feel like he was giving off a mean or unapproachable vibe. Being with Chanyeol just felt so natural. Reaching the water, they walked down the small incline to the edge and stopped.

“It’s cooler here.” Chanyeol mused as he took a seat on the concrete, legs folded neatly in front of him.

“It feels nice.” Kyungsoo muttered as he took a seat next to the other. ‘It’s been way too hot lately. The cool air is a nice change.” 

“True. And at least it isn’t as cold as it normally is in the winter time.” Chanyeol chuckled and leaned back, hands braced on the ground behind him. “And it’s romantic out here. You can bring a special someone out here and just have a quiet day down at the river.”

“Sounds so nice.” Kyungsoo whispered, and wistful look in his eyes. “You should bring Baekhyun down one day.” he said with a soft chuckle. “He’d like it here.”

“Maybe.” Chanyeol mused, head turning ot face Kyungsoo. The younger male was staring out at the water, eyes sparkling from the lights of the buildings across the way. Chanyeol had to admit, the other was very handsome just like that; face neutral of most emotions, seemingly lost in his thoughts. Of course Chanyeol thought Kyungsoo was absolutely breathtaking when he smiled or sung. There was just this glow about him that surrounded his body and made him seem so angelic. Baekhyun had the same glow about him as well. But Baekhyun tended to be more cute than anything else, but that was just his personality. The other wasn’t afraid to make an idiot of himself and be just as childish as Chanyeol could be. What made Kyungsoo different from Baekhyun is that the other was more mature. He didn’t usually act silly, but there were rare occasions where Kyungsoo opened up and acted just as silly as the rest of them. And that’s why Chanyeol found himself falling for the other, because  he needed that maturity and seriousness in his life. That’s probably why Baekhyun found himself also pinning over the short penguin-looking male. Kyungsoo was just...Kyungsoo and that’s all he could describe him as and that’s really the way he needed to be described. 

“Kyungsoo, is there anyone that has caught your attention?” Chanyeol asked, wanting to make as much of a casual conversation that he could without letting on to his true intention. Kyungsoo looked over at him and raised a brow before shaking his head some.

“No not really.” he said. “I haven’t had enough time to stop and let myself find love.” It was an obvious lie to Kyungsoo, but he wasn’t aware that Chanyeol knew it was a lie as well.

“Really? What’s your ideal type?” Chanyeol asked curiously.

“Someone I can be myself around. Someone who I don’t feel pressured to impress and will accept me for who I am.” Kyungsoo paused for a moment, thinking over some other attributes he wanted in his ideal type to have. “Someone who can make me laugh. Someone with a good soul and values family and love and work ethic.” he said and hummed softly, nodding his head.

“You mentioned nothing about looks.” Chanyeol laughed. “Tall, short? PRetty? Actress?” he pressed.

“I don’t care.” Kyungsoo gave a soft smile. “I fall for personality, not looks. If the person has the type of personality I like and we mesh well, I will automatically find them attractive.” he explained. Chanyeol nodded as he listened and chuckled.

“You have such a pure soul Soo. I like it.” Chanyeol chuckled.

“Thank you.” Kyungsoo replied and smiled. There was a small hint of a blush on Kyungsoo’s cheeks. He could feel it and he wanted so desperately to cover it. His crush just complimented him, and while it may not be a big deal to Chanyeol, it was a huge deal to Kyungsoo. It was a moment he wasn’t going ot forget anytime soon. He looked over and noticed Chanyeol checking his phone and it prompted Kyungsoo to pull out his own and check it. He was just making sure that he hadn’t missed any calls from their manager or any of the members. Seeing none, he placed his phone on the ground next to him, near Chanyeol’s own cell phone. They sat there for a moment in silence, before Chanyeol got up and stretched. 

“Hey Soo.” the older called, Kyungsoo’s attention being drawn to the other. And before the male could answer, Chanyeol grabbed his arms and hauled him up onto his feet. With a very cheeky grin that left Kyungsoo momentarily confused, Chanyeol tugged them a few feet forward, jumping into the river Kyungsoo following. And the moment the cold water of the river hit his body, Kyungsoo was very glad that they both could swim. Then again, he was sure that was the only reason Chanyeol pulled such a bold stunt, because they both could swim and most likely wouldn’t drown. Surfacing, Kyungsoo spat out water, arms and legs kicking to keep himself afloat, a glare sent to the smiling Chanyeol.

“Why?”

“Why not?” Chanyeol countered with a laugh, which somehow managed to pull a smile from Kyungsoo, who shook his head.

“It’s official, you’re crazy!” Kyungsoo laughed as he turned and started swimming towards the wall to pull himself out. He heard the splashing behind him and assumed Chanyeol was going ot swim up next to him to get out as well. Instead, an arm slipped around his waist and he found himself pressed against the wall. Shortly after, he was turned and a pair of dry, cracked lips pressed against his in an almost urgent kiss. It was weird, to him, being kissed. He had fantasized many times about kissing Chanyeol and even though he had a few kissing scenes, they never gave him the accuracy of feeling what a kiss was, which was two lips pressed against another set of lips. They were pressing, almost as if in a shoving war and it was starting to get uncomfortable for Kyungsoo, but then Chanyeol’s head tilted slightly and the pressure changed. 

Kyungsoo found his top lip slipping between Chanyeol’s as Chanyeol’s bottom lip slipped between his lips. And he honestly couldn’t say he hated it. In fact, he really liked it. Especially as Chanyeol’s lips started moving slowly over his. So Kyungsoo mirrored his actions, taking cues from the more experienced male. He was getting lost in the kiss and the sensations and he never wanted it to end. And in the back of his mind, he vaguely realized that he was kissing Chanyeol, a man he had been pining after for long, yet refused to make any sort of move because he was taken. He was kissing a taken man and he loved it.

They pulled back from the kiss slowly, and  only when  the need for air became too great. Even then, they didn’t pull that far away, lips still brushing against each other as they panted softly, trying to calm racing hearts. It amazed Kyungsoo how such a simple action such as kissing could get him so worked up that his heart felt like it was going to pound right out of his chest. All this was so new him and it both excited and scared him. And with good reason it scared him.

“Baekhyun?” It was just a name, but an important name. As much as Kyungsoo wanted to celebrate his achievement of kissing Chanyeol, he had promised himself long ago that he wouldn’t ruin anyone’s relationship and he didn’t want to start now. Despite how wonderful Chanyeol’s lips felt against his. His eyes turned to stare at Chanyeol’s eyes which were scanning his, as if Kyungsoo already held the answer to that question. Did he? Was Chanyeol finally done with Baekhyun and now he was looking for someone else? Was he just a rebound? Or was Chanyeol doing the unthinkable and cheating on his boyfriend? So many questions were running through his head and he hated that. “Chanyeol.” he whispered.

“It’s not what you think.” Chanyeol said gently, head tilting to brush their lips together once more. And Kyungsoo wanted to give in so easily. He wanted to get lost in Chanyeol’s kiss once more, but he had to stop himself, pulling back.

“Then what is this?” he asked, chewing on his lower lip lightly. Chanyeol pulled back further and smiled softly at him as he raised his hand from out of the water to stroke Kyungsoo’s cheek gently.

“So much more. But maybe we should get out before we talk?” he suggested and Kyungsoo had to agree. It would be better if they were out of the water before they started discussing the kiss and what Chanyeol wanted for the future. The taller male pulled back from Kyungsoo, and the wide eyed male turned and heaved himself out of the water, Chanyeol following suite. They sat on the edge of the concrete wall, feet dangling and water still dripping from their bodies. While the silence that settled between them wasn’t awkward, it was heavy as it loomed over them, each trying to anticipate the other’s next move and reaction. “I know about your feelings.” Chanyeol finally said, shocking Kyungsoo as the other stared at him, mouth slightly open.

“What?”

“I know. I mean I didn’t know until recently. Baek mentioned your favoritism towards me and I started watching you.” Chanyeol explained. “You like me. It’s okay to admit it, so please be honest with me.” he told him.

Kyungsoo was quiet for a moment before he let out a deep sigh. “I didn’t want to say anything. I don’t want to be a relationship wrecker. You and Baekhyun are so cute together. Perfect. And I just want you two to be happy, regardless of my wants.” Chanyeol listened to him quietly, taking in all of Kyungsoo’s words carefully as he formulated his reply.

“I understand and I thank you for being so considerate of us Kyungsoo. But I have to say...I love you.” he said gently. “I don’t really know when, but I do know feelings have developed for you.”

“But...Baekhyun?”

“Let me finish.” Chanyeol said as he pressed his finger to Kyungsoo’s lips to silence the other. “I’ve talked to Baek when I came to the realization that I want more than friendship with you. He was more than understanding when I talked to him and even confessed having similar emotions.”

“Chanyeol?” Kyungsoo whispered confused.

“What I’m saying is that Baek and I both like you and we really would like for you to come into our relationship, if you’re willing.”

Kyungsoo honestly couldn’t believe this. Was Chanyeol honestly proposing a threesome between Baekhyun, Chanyeol and himself. Though he didn’t really have strong feelings for Baekhyun, the other was very attractive and his best friend. It wouldn’t be such a bad thing to be with him as well. He just found it all so strange that he spent so much time trying to keep his feelings for Chanyeol at bay. And suddenly he was going to have his deepest desire become reality with an additional bonus of having Baekhyun. His heart was on such a rollercoaster ride. “I don’t really know what to say.” he said gently. “Besides yes. But this is so sudden and almost confusing. I feel lost and hopeful.” Kyungsoo looked away then and sighed. “Are you sure this is okay? “ 

Chanyeol reached out and grabbed Kyungsoo’s cheeks gently in his hands, forcing the other to look at him. ‘I am one hundred percent sure.” he told him with such confidence that it made Kyungsoo’s heart flutter. “And Baek is as well. It was actually his idea, that I take you out so we could discuss this, since your feelings were for me and not him. Are you sure you want to do this? With Baekhyun included?” Chanyeol asked once more. He needed to make sure that this was what Kyungsoo really wanted. The last thing he wanted was for Kyungsoo to agree and then regret the decision.

“I’m sure. I...won’t lie. It may be awkward at first, but I want to give this a try.” Kyungsoo nodded at him. ‘ISo I want to do this, and be with you and Baekhyun. I don’t know how things will go for us, but I will work hard to make it work for us.”

“We will too, Soo. We will make this work.” Chanyeol smiled widely and leaned in, connecting their lips once more into a soft kiss. Kyungsoo leaned into the kissin, running slim fingers through Chanyeol’s damp hair, stroking it gently as he once more started to get lost in the kis.s He wanted it to last forever, especially when Chanyeol’s arm wrapped around him and pulled him close. A soft gasp left him as his wed body was pressed against Chanyeol’s equally wet and cold body. The momentary shock of the wetness had Kyungsoo’s lips parting and Chanyeol used it to his advantage, slipping his tongue into Kyungsoo’s waiting mouth. A moan left Kyungsoo as Chanyeol licked at his tongue. It was a strange sensation but not unpleasant. So Kyungsoo wanted more. He dared to move his own tongue, letting it slide smoothly over Chanyeol’s. Their lips moved against each other as heads tilted in opposite directions to deepen the kiss further. Kyungsoo let Chanyeol’s tongue move within his mouth, licking at the roof of his mouth which caused him to shudder so violently. Chanyeol pulled back from the kiss with a light chuckle and smiled at him, lickig his lips.

“Wow.” Kyungsoo whispered with a soft smile. “That was...intense.” 

“It can be even more intense if you give it a chance.” Chanyeol grinned.

“I don’t know if I’ll be able to handle that. But I can’t wait.” Chanyeol let out a chuckle as he climbed to his feed before helping Kyungsoo up to his.

“Let’s head back to the dorm and get changed.” Chanyeol suggested as he grabbed their phones and took Kyungsoo’s hand and led him back to the jeep. The right back to the dorm was made in a comfortable silence, hands held over the center console, eyes focused on the long road ahead of them. By the time they arrived home, they were nearly dry, but still chilled to the bone. They made their way upstairs, punching in the code and walking inside. They were greeted with the quiet drone of some sort of TV program playing in the living room, but otherwise it was quite. Then again, it was pretty late at night, most members were probably asleep. Walking into the living room, the two glanced at the empty seats and Kyungsoo sighed. Walking over to the coffee table, he grabbed the remote and turned off the TV before turning and facing Chanyeol.

“Let’s go to my room.” It was a suggestion that Kyungsoo easily agreed to. Taking Chanyeol’s outstretched hand, he held it and gave it a gentle squeeze before heading down the hall of the bedrooms, stopping briefly so Chanyeol could open his door before walking in. They were greeted with the sight of Baekhyun reclining on the bed, playing with phone. The sound of them entering the room drew his attention away from the device momentarily as he looked up at them.

“Oh.” Baekhyun said and grinned at them. ‘You guys are home so soon. Did everything go okay?” he asked, eyes moving down to stare at their joined hands before lifting once more to start at the two.

“It went good. Really good.” Chanyeol said with a grin and looked over at Kyungsoo who nodded his head in agreement. ‘He has agreed, but he wants to take it slow.”

“Slow?” Baekhyun asked.

“Yeah.” Kyungsoo nodded and chewed on his bottom lip. “I like Chanyeol. And I’m not opposed to this threesome idea, it's just I’ve never looked at you in that light before.” he confessed. He wasn’t afraid to admit that he hadn’t liked Baekhyun in that way and he still didn’t. But that didn’t mean he would never like Baekhyun like that. In fact he was hoping to fall for Baekhyun. IT would make this relationship work better and that's what he wanted, for everything to work better. 

“Ah, I see.” Baekhyun chuckled. “Alright then. We’ll take this slow. How about we start with some late night cuddling?” he asked.

“Sure. But after a shower. We went swimming and now we need to get cleaned.” Chanyeol laughed.

“Okay! Shower well.” Baekhyun smiled at them.

“We will babe.”

And as Chanyeol tugged Kyungsoo out of the room, he couldn’t help but smile. They were all going to work on this relationship and he couldn’t wait to see the good things it brought in the future.

[dks-smut]

Somebody… Part 1

Part 2, Part 3, Part 4

Pairing: Kyungsoo x female reader

Rating: Mature, Explicit af

Word Count: 9,290 (I edited it down)

Genre: Smut, Romance, Slow Burn, Strangers to Lovers

Warnings: Too many to name. Alcohol, name calling, fucking, choking.

________

Wanting to give in to temptation; your self-control ran out the back door under the flickering exit sign. Your thoughts are fuzzy as you throw your head back drinking in another abysmally overpriced whiskey sour.

At first, you only came out to listen to a new jazz collective that was stopping by your city. Then, as your tab reaches new heights, a mysterious man comes up to the bar and orders a vodka soda. You roll your eyes as you spot the serious and dark figure turn around and glance at his watch.

The bartender places a napkin down and gently sets his order on the splintered oak counter. He never flinches and purposely turns and clasps his slender fingers around the already dripping glass. Your head starts to get fuzzier as you secretly watch from your periphery, this mysterious figure glancing at his watch yet again.

You huff out at how ridiculous this man looks in this shithole of a bar in the bad part of town. He definitely stuck out like a sore thumb, but in this instance, he too seemed to have a darker wanton side.

He grabs onto your wrist as you set your glass down. Your eyes meet when his other hand, after placing his glass down, lightly traces up your thigh. He smirks, his head tilting low. His eyes release a yearning hunger. His fingertips then travel higher to where you are throbbing and his chest deflates letting out a deep but barely there moan.

You try your hardest to stand and pull your wrist from this mysteriously handsome stranger. His dark fitted suit matching his hair that was pushed back reveals his brown almond-shaped eyes. You twist your torso to try and gain momentum to pull your wrist back again. He pulls harder and you spin back around facing him, his large dark eyes making your thighs press together.

As you stand paralyzed, he leans into your neck; his plump wet lips meet your earlobe. You’re weak and drunk from the night’s previous events which had you getting ditched by coworkers going to see a different local band at another bar nearby. You preferred the quiet and this bar was just that. And yet the stranger whose hand was still up your skirt was the complete opposite, loud. Loud in your head, loud to your eyes, and loud to your pussy.

He whispers, “I bet I can make you come with just my hands.” He wraps his other arm around your nape, his fingers sliding through your hair. Goosebumps form on your arms and scalp; you shiver.

He sees your reaction even under dim lighting. The bartender tries not to notice how close you two have become even though you haven’t spoken a word to each other until seconds prior. You’re strangers, and now his hand slides up farther, barely touching his fingertips to your inner thigh. And higher he goes. His fingers meet your underwear and he ghosts a fingertip over your slit.

He brings his face closer to you, maybe for a kiss but then moves closer to your ear and relishes in seeing the way your breath has been stolen from your lungs. His hand moves out from under your skirt. Your eyes roll back and you blink. You feel as if you could fall into his deep dark eyes. He whispers again, in his baritone voice, “I told you.”

He never backs away from you until the bar starts getting crowded. The table closest to you was vacant, but is now seating six people. You’re feeling exposed now, still standing by the stools at the bar. You are obviously unable to move with his hand still on your nape and his mouth close to your ear.

You hear the patrons pulling out their metal chairs which are scrapped across the uneven planks below. Voices started to rise and the din got louder. And now the bar was no longer quiet, neither was your mind.

The abruptness of the noise startled you causing you jump which in turn caused his hand to lose his grip on your neck. You’re shaking, your knees are weak, and yes, your pussy is dripping. Finally falling into his deep eyes, you grab his wrist toward the exit sign. He moves away from his barstool, grabbing your arm and interlocking it with his. He steps slowly out of the bar and onto the sidewalk. It was now raining, but neither of you had an umbrella.

/////

You both walk quickly down the block until you find an awning in front of a hardware store. There is an awkward silence. You don’t know where this is going, but right now, you couldn’t go anywhere. The rain had you both trapped. Now was as good a time as any to ask his name. His serious, dour, and brooding features made you a little uneasy. The alcohol coursing through your body made you feel a bit safer but standing on a dark, wet street block with hardly any pedestrians next to a stranger was still perilous.

You glance over at him and at the same time his head turns towards you. The night has a slight chill and with the rain, you brush off the drops and shiver slightly. He stares you down and follows your every movement. He starts removing his suit jacket and silently places it around your shoulders. You nod politely and then hesitantly say, “Thank you, sir.” His plump lips turn to a smirk and he says, “Call me Kyungsoo. And it’s a pleasure.”

You’re unable to tell if he can see the pink tint spread across your cheeks. He’s still smirking and staring you in the face as you turn to look down at the sidewalk in embarrassment. It wasn’t just from now knowing his name, a beautiful name, but how his voice rang out deeply afterwards … It's a pleasure.

To shake the feeling you grasp at your purse out of nervousness and shuffle around inside for your cigarettes. You take out the pack, open the flap and take a cigarette from it. While closing it, you hold up the pack towards Kyungsoo and ask, “I know it’s an awful habit. Would you like one?” Smoking while drunk is one of the best feelings other than smoking after a meal or having sex. He nods and expertly grabs one from your pack. While placing the cigarette pack inside your purse, you start rummaging around for a lighter. Kyungsoo notices your frustration and places his hand in his pocket retrieving his lighter. He flips the zippo top and flicks it, the spark igniting into a flame. This noise surprises you and you look toward him with the cigarette dangling from your lips. You lean in while he holds his lighter closer and it’s successfully lit after two drags. He does the same for himself.

You speak after finally inhaling the nicotine, letting the stillness and calm overtake you, “I guess this is where I tell you my name.” Kyungsoo’s eyes grow wide then hooded. He tilts his head back and exhales smoke with his strong jaw jutting out. You're transported back to the reverie of what happened at the bar. You wonder if those thoughts are swimming around in his head as well.

Breaking free of self-consciousness, you tell him your name. His head turns and starts to smile, making a heart shape. He then licks his plump lips to say, “Do you want to go somewhere?” At that moment the rain finally lets up, not completely but enough to see where this night leads.

Still drunk and not sure of how to reply to his question, you stumble against the hardware store window, slipping a bit. The streetlights start to blur creating beautiful patterns that look like fireworks. You almost collapse to the sidewalk. Kyungsoo immediately places his hand above your elbow saving you from ruining your skirt on the dirty sidewalk. He backs away from you while still holding your arm and asks, “Are you all right?” His eyes are tracing you up and down just to be sure you’re not going to tumble forward.

You eventually balance yourself and take another heavy drag from your cigarette. You throw the rest into the gutter on the street. You sigh and reply, “Yes, I am fine. Still a bit drunk. Wanna grab a bite? Maybe to help sober up?” His face is delighted. His eyes turn bright and wide. Again, you both link arms with him taking the lead. Not sure of where he had in mind to eat.

He ends up stepping to the curb and with his free hand, waves to hail a cab. Within a handful of seconds, you see a yellow taxi pull up and stop. Kyungsoo opens the door for you and you step forward and duck into the backseat. He goes around to the other side and slips in next to you. He speaks to the driver in his deep tone expelling a name and address that you didn’t recognize. He slips back into the seat and the car takes off.

You look out your window feeling nervous. You’re not sure why you’ve become so trusting of a complete stranger. Again, not completely strange since he had touched your most intimate area. You’ve maybe spoken a couple dozen words to each at this point, but you felt a longing and a need to be longed for. There was a mysteriousness within Kyungsoo, and you could only presume you were alike and needed companionship. Or just to be in the same space as another human being.

You finally speak up, taking your gaze away from the passing traffic lights that were still blurry due to your drunkenness and the raindrops dotting the window, “Where are we headed?” He peeks over at you, but it’s hard to tell how he takes your question since the car’s interior is quite dark. He slowly lets out, “A diner just not too far away.” It’s barely loud enough to hear even while sitting so close to him.

He then rests his hand on the empty space between you two, and you can slightly feel his fingertips make contact with your thigh. The ride is bumpy, so you are unsure if this is intentional or not. You feel warm and gutsy, so you place your hand on your thigh and slide it down to meet the top of his hand. Such games were usually reserved for nervous teens, but you did not care one bit. You wanted to get closer, closer to him, closer so you could smell him.

/////

Finally arriving at said diner, you both hop out opposite sides of the cab. He places his hand on your lower back to usher you towards the entrance. You both scan the diner; it’s quite empty, but the atmosphere is perfect and intimate. You find a table for two, and take a seat. You have your back to the entrance, while his back is facing a wall. The server comes to greet you two, and asks for drink orders. “Water and coffee, please,” you say out loud while he looks up from the menu and says, “I’ll have the same.” The server nods and says, “Coming right up,” and she walks away.

Alone again, you gaze intently into his eyes trying so hard to understand what he sees in you, a drunken stranger. He matches your gaze until he finally speaks, “Your eyes are the most vivid green I have ever seen. Has anyone told you that?” He never looks away, still with his sharp, round eyes piercing into you. “Is this what you tell all of the women whose skirts are short enough to get your hand under?” You ask him, breaking your stare to see the server walk up to your table with the drinks.

Once the server places your drinks down, she takes your food order. Once she disappears again, he replies to your question, “Really, I don’t normally act this way. I am not the type of person you think I am.” This is the most words he has spoken to you all at once since meeting. You are just falling more and more for him.

His chesty, deep tone is such a turn on and it helps that the voice does not seem to belong to him just by his looks. “So what type are you then?” you ask him in your quiet, but honest tone. “Just a lonely person trying not to feel lonely anymore. Honestly, when I saw you sitting at the bar alone, I wanted to buy you a drink, but that seemed too forward and a bit cliche.”

Your eyes grow large at this confession and you say in reply, “And sticking your hand up my skirt wasn’t too forward? What made you think that was okay and not offering to buy me a drink?” He responds without hesitation, “That’s not what I meant. Really. I’m sorry if I came off too strong and assaulted you. I know you’re a person with feelings and not an object to feel up.” You sit back and in your chair while sipping your coffee. Once you swallow you say, “Thank you. I accept your apology. And by thank you, I mean for doing what you did to me. This has never happened to me before, and to be frank, I really liked it.” A smirk adorns his face almost instantly once he hears your reply.

“So, since you’re still here, sitting with me and having dinner at 1:30am, I am going to say that you like me.”

“Well, that is quite presumptuous.” you say with an air of disgust. “And I assume the feeling is mutual?” you say to qualify your previous statement as not to come off as too angry.

“It is. I like being with you,” he simply replies while taking a sip of coffee. “I’m glad you’re here, and I’m glad you’re still here.” You smile and start to blush. You wipe your mouth and place the napkin on the table and say, “Me too. Excuse me, I need to use the bathroom. Be right back.”

He nods and continues eating. He wantonly watches as you walk toward the bathroom and notices the way your skirt sways in opposition to your hips. Oh god, I am enamored by this woman. I can’t help but think of what her breathy moans sound like, especially in ecstasy. I want to hear her say my name in between whines and exhales, thinking to himself.

He clears his throat and takes a sip of coffee to shake his thoughts. He didn’t want you to come back and see him this way.

As you reach the bathroom, you shut the door and lock it. You rest your hands on the counter and look at yourself in the mirror, trying to catch your breath. I can’t believe this is happening. He chose me. How is this happening? you think while splashing cool water on your cheeks. I wonder why he kept glancing at his watch. Did he get stood up and think I was the next best thing to get his dick wet on? You dry your hands and shake those thoughts, straighten your outfit, and walk out.

Just in time, he straightens himself out and starts to unbutton his cuffs to roll his sleeves up, you saunter back to your seat. You notice his precise movement; his sinewy arms make you force your thighs together. You had just finished freshening up, but the sight of his bare forearms will cause another mess to clean up.

You perk up and say to him, “Something on your mind?” he responds with just a nod, so you press further, “Well, you wanna share?” He repeats the same question back to you which causes you to lean forward, resting your elbows on the table. “Maybe there is. I’m not sure how to say this. It's quite embarrassing.” you say, careful so other patrons cannot hear. “Try me,” he stated. His eyes never budged from your stare. “I am completely turned on by you. I’ve always wanted somebody…” you trailed off. “Somebody who?” he responds, waiting for you to continue your thought. You are unable to finish and just asked, “You ready? I’m full and feeling sleepy now.”

He nods and says, “Sure. Let’s go. Where do you live?”

“Very close actually. I’m surprised I never noticed this diner before. I have to be at work pretty early. I can walk,” you hinted. “Would you like for me to walk you home?” he offers with concern in his eyes, not ready for this night to end. “Please, that would be wonderful.” you reply, eyes sparkling. He smiles his beautiful smile, his lips shifting into a heart.

/////

You both make your way down the damp sidewalk toward your apartment. You offer his suit jacket back, and he says, “No, please keep it. I hope to get it back when I see you again,” smirking again. Nearing closer and closer to your building, you sigh, which he notices immediately. “God, it’s been such a long yet surprising night,” you mumble as you search for your keys.

“It’s been a night to remember,” he concurred. He follows you up the stairs to the lobby door. You turn away from him and start to enter the passcode when he suddenly places his hand over yours to bring it to his chest. You spin around suddenly facing him. He brings your hand up to his full, plump lips to place a kiss on your palm. You are swooning and step closer to him.

He releases your hand, but you don’t want this to end. You fill the empty space between you two and just stare into his beautiful eyes. He leans in closer and places his lips onto your cheek, then lower onto your neck. You gasp from his surprising movement, and a moan escapes your throat. You can then feel his lips turn to a smile moving lower from your neck to your collarbone. He is definitely enjoying this, and you’d be lying if you said you weren’t.

You separate and he takes his phone out then asks for yours. You trade phones, and type your number into his. You name your contact with just a heart emoji. You swap phones and see he names his contact in your phone as, ‘Somebody…’.

“I hope we can see each other soon,” you blurt out and quickly enter your passcode and disappear behind the double doors. You try your hardest not to look back as you wait for the elevator.

/////

Once you enter your dark and quiet apartment, you collapse against the wall adjoining your bedroom. You think to yourself, how is this possible? Who was this man? I cannot believe this just happened. How can I know this is real?

After a shower, you fall into bed ready for your dreams to overtake you. You remember his suit jacket, and go and grab it from the kitchen counter where you threw your purse. You place it on your face and inhale deeply. God, he smells so good. Just as you are about to actually fall asleep, hugging his jacket, you hear your phone vibrate. A text from Kyungsoo reads, “I hope you sleep well,” then another text with just a heart emoji.

You awake the next morning and before climbing out of bed, you suddenly remember the past night’s events, thinking it was all a dream. You go about your daily routine at work. Not a moment goes by without thoughts of his beautiful round eyes, plump lips, and amazing smile. You take a peek at his text to you from last night. Each time, a smile forms and you become lost in a reverie.

You think to send a text back at that moment saying, “I hope you’re having a lovely day.” You press send, then start typing another message, “I cannot stop thinking about last night.” Once you send that text, you immediately see that he is typing a response. You anxiously await while tapping your foot on the ground. Finally, you read it, “Likewise. I cannot wait until my lips are back on you.” You look up from your phone and blush, hoping your coworkers don’t notice.

You see him typing another message, “Can we see each other tonight?” Just then your boss comes over to ask about an assignment, you quickly place your phone face down on your desk. The day gets away from you since it has been pretty hectic at work. You realize you never responded to Kyungsoo. While walking out at the end of the work day, you hurriedly type a reply to his question, “I am so sorry, work was crazy today. Yes, please. Let’s meet up tonight. My place? Nine o’clock?” You press send.

Once you get to your place, you start to feel nervous but excited. You remember the way he smells just then and your knees get weak. You snap out of it, yet again, and let the warm water of your shower wash over you. Your mind starts to churn with all the thoughts of what tonight may hold.

You’re twiddling your thumbs, sitting on your couch, when your phone buzzes. You see it’s Kyungsoo calling. You take a deep breath and answer, “Hey you.” Your tone is bright, but not too bright. You don’t want to seem too excited or eager. He responds with a bass laden voice, “Hey you, too. Is it okay if I come by soon? And I really wanted to hear your voice.”

A huge smile covers your face, “Please do. I love hearing your voice too. It’s so fucking hot.” Thinking you said too much he chuckles and it deeply resonates, going straight to your throbbing pussy. “I’m glad you think so. Be there soon, sweetie.” He hangs up and you place your phone down. His using a term of endearment furthers your anxiousness.

Now slightly drunk on thoughts of him, you decide to pour yourself a glass of red wine. You grab another glass in preparation for his arrival. When is ‘soon’? I hope it’s sooner than now.

After taking a couple of sips from your glass, sitting in the silence of your apartment, you hear a ding from the intercom system. You buzz him up. You start to pace around, from your couch to the front door and back.

You hear three knocks on your door. You take a deep breath and open it. He’s wearing something more casual than yesterday, a pair of jeans and a black t-shirt. He looks delicious. Black is definitely his color, it matches his tan skin tone so well. The outline of his pecs through his shirt is something to behold as he steps inside.

“Miss me?” he chuckles while walking toward your couch. You point to the empty glass sitting on the coffee table. He nods and you sidle between the coffee table and couch to sit next to him. You pop the cork off the bottle while he holds up the glass for you to start pouring.

“It would be a lie if I said I didn’t,” you say cautiously while bringing the glass to your lips. You place your knees to your chest and rest your feet on the couch, getting quite comfortable and facing his direction, an empty space between you two. Kyungsoo turns his torso to match your direction. He sips his wine and his lips turn burgundy. He sets the glass down on the table and says shyly, “I definitely missed you even though it hasn’t even been 24 hours since we first met. You have such a hold on me. Shall we get to know each other?”

“Yes, I would love that. What would you like to know?” you ask and then he abruptly speaks without room for silence, “I want you to finish the sentence you started last night at the diner. You know, when you said ‘somebody…’ and started to trail off. Please elaborate.”

“Well, I wanted to say what was on my mind but felt that since we were strangers, I had to have a bit of self preservation. I’m scared. Us meeting in the bar the way we did scares the hell out of me. I don’t want to get hurt and broken.”

“Why would you think I’d hurt you?” he asks quixotically.

“Every time I’ve put myself out there, I’ve been burned and had my heart smashed,” you say, “You must understand. Every heart that’s been loved has been broken in one way or another. I wanted to save myself from that,” you say, and guzzle the rest of your wine down.

“Please tell me. I’m here and I’m listening,” he quickly responds. He fills your glass up and tops his off.

“I’ve always wanted somebody to love me for me. With all of my faults, idiosyncrasies, and ugliness. Wanted isn’t the correct word. I need somebody. I am willing to do the same. I am looking for a missing puzzle piece, I suppose,” finally responding to the question that has apparently been eating at him since last night.

He closes in the distance between you two on the couch and his hand rests gently on your shoulder. Your head drops to the side nuzzling his hand and you’re finally touching. You have longed to be in his presence since departing last night, and your wish has come true. You feel safe and warm (not the wine talking) being near him. Now it’s time for you to ask him questions. “Tell me about yourself. I want to know every thought that went through your head when you first saw me in the bar.”

Removing his hand from your shoulder, he sits up, preparing to bare his inner thoughts. “I felt a connection before I even saw your face. There was a loneliness, like I said before, that I was feeling and could tell there was a somewhat hidden melancholy about you too,” he finally says. “I’m sorry if that doesn’t make sense, but it’s something I’ve never felt in another’s presence. I felt like we needed each other, to lean on, to talk to, to count on.” he says. He laid his soul bare, and likewise with yours. You start getting closer and closer to one another on the couch. You both tip your glasses back and finish off the rest of the wine; the bottle is empty.

You’re about to get up from the couch and ask if he’d like for you to open another bottle, but he puts a hand on your leg and shakes his head. “I want to remember everything.” he says in a hushed tone. His smooth yet husky tone rang in your ears. You coyly smirk at him and nod.

You gather your courage and reach over to him and place both arms around his neck, resting on his shoulders. “I do too,” you respond quietly. You’re both gazing into each other's eyes again, because god, his eyes are so clear, but dark, and wide, it’s so easy to get lost. You finally embrace passionately, lips meeting at long last. He starts to bite your lower lip which causes you to moan out, a little surprised but mostly turned on. He opens his eyes for a moment only for you to close the gap this time and press your lips to his, continuing at a fevered pace. Neither of you are able to contain the excitement, and his tongue swirls around your lips wanting to meet yours. You oblige and exhale a quiet whine which causes him to lower your back down on the couch.

Both of you break apart just long enough to catch your breath, and then he’s hovering over you again. His large, plush lips glide down your neck to your sternum. Your legs are pressing together to gain some friction in the area you need most. He is balancing himself on his hands with his legs on either side of yours. His lips are back on your neck and his hand reaches for your waist, and slides his fingertips beneath your shirt.

His slender fingers rest on your ribs and stop. His hot tongue pressing more passionately within your mouth while also groaning when you twitch from his hand going higher to meet your breast over your bra. Your arms wrap around his neck pulling him even closer. Then you drop your hands and reach behind his back to start lifting his black tee up. The air becomes stifling, the atmosphere suffocating.

He rises to his knees, and lifts his shirt up and off himself, throwing it on the floor. You’re still lying there, staring in awe at his physique, toned but not muscular. He’s honestly perfect. His eyes grow wide at you staring up at him. You love the expression on his face, half surprise and half mirth.

He kneels down toward your body again and places more and more soft kisses across your neck and back to your lips. While doing so you breathlessly ask, “Why did you keep looking at your watch last night? Were you expecting someone?” Your fingers are freely able to feel his warm, naked skin.

More moans escape your throat and he starts to grunt when your hips rise to meet his. Showing him how eager you are to continue, he lifts your shirt up which causes you two to disconnect from the fevered wet kisses. In the next moment, you’re back on each other like ravenous animals.

Feeling like your breath is being taken from you like drowning, you push up on his chest. He stops immediately and says, “Are you okay? Do you want to continue? Please tell me if I’m hurting you.” Thankful for his reaction, you pant, “Yes, I’m more than fine. I just need a minute to catch my breath. Please don’t worry. Will you answer my question?” You sit up which causes him to move farther upwards. He is still hovering over you, knees on either side of your legs. You feel bereft, wishing how you could do without oxygen if it meant being as close as possible to him.

He finally provides an answer to your question, “I was expecting my friend to show up, but he never did. I thought I was reading the time wrong. He always ditches me.” You frown, “I’m sorry, but luckily he did because we wouldn’t have met.” He smiles down at you with the loveliest gaze.

The break had lasted long enough, when you began to kiss his stomach, which was at your eye level. He twitches, then groans enthusiastically. His stern voice rattles, “You really have no idea what you’re doing to me, do you?” He then starts to grin and his thick dark eyebrows furrow; angry he’s not closer to you.

Your arms move around his waist as you leave wet trails down his stomach and closer to the top of his pants. You begin to unbutton his jeans, unzipping them as well. You slowly slide your hands down his hips into his pants to lower them. You are still kissing his toned stomach while he moans, causing you to smirk, hearing your effect on him.

Your eyes are staring at his bulge straining in his jeans. His eyes watch you watching him. He quietly asks, “What are you thinking about?” You perk up and lift your chin to make eye contact with him. Your gaze is heavy as you mutter, “I’m scared to say. It’s kind of embarrassing,” and look back down at the outline of his dick in his jeans.

“Come on. Tell me, please,” he begs while tilting your chin back up. “I’ll tell you if you tell me.” you move your legs from in between him and sit up. You walk over to your counter and grab another bottle of wine. When you return, you realize you’re only in a bra and sweatpants. You start to cover yourself with your arms, and sit back on the couch.

He has moved from kneeling to a sitting position, head tilted back on the sofa. He exhales and groans quietly to himself, maybe out of frustration. His pants are still unbuttoned and unzipped but just below his hips; you can see the band of his black boxer briefs. He moves his head up away from the back of the sofa, and runs his hand through his hair in the sexiest way you’ve ever seen. You watch him from your periphery while pouring you both another glass of wine. Your pussy starts to throb again so you chug your glass down and pour another. This is all starting to become too much but you want to continue but are so afraid at the same time.

You have real feelings for this man, but once you’ve fucked, he may disappear forever. You hate being stuck in between, almost as if after having sex, he’ll fall into a black hole and never return. What if you’re not good enough? Not sexy enough? Bad at sex? What if he hates your body or the way you laugh or pick through your food? Pondering these questions while your pussy leaks and throbs is difficult. It’s even more difficult as the room starts to spin with your drunkenness. How do you proceed? I guess you could answer his question by not saying the things you are thinking.

“Hey, easy there,” he says after you down another glass. “It’s okay. I want to remember this. And I want you to remember me. Remember us,” he continues. It’s all becoming so much that your eyes start to well up and a tear drips down your cheek toward the corner of your mouth. “I’ll tell you what I’m thinking,” you finally say without him trying to notice the words getting caught in your throat.

He sits up, lifts your chin so you’re looking at him. He leans in and presses a kiss to the corner of your mouth where your tear disappeared, tasting its saltiness. He kisses you with more passion while his thumb wipes the wetness from your cheek. Your hot tongues meet again and then a beautiful groan vibrates from his throat. You move your lips away from his as you grab his wrist that was stroking your face. “I want you to fuck me so hard but I’m afraid this will be the last time,” you whimpered. “I want to see you again. I want to know you. I want to taste you and feel you,” you say with more conviction thanks to the alcohol.

His eyes are intensely focused on you as you say this, pupils dilating. He speaks without breaking eye contact, “It won’t be the last time. I am so taken by you, your personality, your laughter, your face, the taste of your lips and your tears.” His other hand, the one you aren’t holding, reaches behind your neck to suddenly pull you closer to him until your foreheads meet. “I mean it. It’s not the alcohol talking or my dick. Even though you make me so hard,” he says as his deep voice cracks.

You place your other hand on his chest, feeling his heart beat erratically. Your heads separate and you both face forward toward the coffee table. You both take a few more sips from your glasses. Your thighs rub together, still feeling aroused. You’re staring off in the distance not knowing what to say or do next. He speaks up with a deeper tone this time, “I thought about you last night when we parted at your building; after I kissed your neck. I wanted to feel your lips on mine so badly but didn’t want to overstep.”

Your haziness is broken by his voice when you turn to face him, again you cover your chest, feeling exposed. “I wanted to call you and hear your voice before I went to sleep. You made me so fucking hard when I left. I jerked off thinking about how my name would sound coming from your lips. How you would look under me and how amazing your pussy would taste on my tongue. I’ve never had those thoughts about someone I’ve known for only a couple of hours. Then I had a wet dream about you moaning on top of me with my name on your lips. I can’t get you out of my mind.”

You jaw all but hits the floor while he’s still explaining in detail how he jerked off thinking about you. And then dreaming about you. What are you supposed to say in reply? Your head was still spinning but now from his words and less from the wine.

You slide towards him and whine out, “I wanted to kiss you so badly last night once you kissed my neck. Your lips looked so soft and irresistible. I couldn’t stop thinking about your hand up my thigh in the bar; my pussy has been aching ever since. I went to bed thinking about you and woke up, went to work still thinking about you. Your face, your voice, those plump lips on my skin. I thought about your fingers in my cunt. I was so wet when I woke up this morning. I want to kiss and suck your cock until you can’t breathe.” Now his mouth is agape and he’s aghast at you telling him your dark secrets. His head is tilted down but his eyes are up still looking at you, now with hunger.

He suddenly grabs you by both of your bare shoulders and kisses you hard, with fervor, with want. His kisses are electrifying and delicious. He forces his tongue into your mouth and saliva starts your drip from the corners of your mouth. He bites down on your bottom lip hard, pulls it, and goes back to devouring you. Your hands are around his neck and you reach up and tug his hair, running your nails through his scalp. At this, he shudders and groans. He unwillingly leaves your lips for your neck, and down to your collarbone again, which reminds you of last night’s goodbye. You whimper his name while gliding your hands down his shoulder blades, lighting scratching.

While continuing down your chest, he moves your left bra strap down your shoulder, exposing your breast. His wet, warm lips suck your nipple and he starts to bite and pull it, like your bottom lip. This makes you moan his name loud, louder than he’s ever heard you. “Fuck, that’s what I imagined you sounded like. You are so fucking hot,” he says after he releases your tit. Before he can say anything else, you grab his face and kiss him, pushing your weight into him.

As soon as his back falls onto the couch, you hear a boom of thunder and flashes of lightning outside your window. Rain starts to beat down, dripping down your window, like your pussy right now. The lights inside start to flicker, once, then twice, then out completely. The both of you stare out the window, then you fumble off of him in the darkness.

You feel around for your phone, and in the process your hand touches his dick straining through his jeans. He moans and grabs your hand as you reach away and places it back on his bulge. With your phone in your other hand, you can see his expression in the glow; wonton, with crazy and dark eyes that turns you on so much. “Please, I want to see you. Let me find some candles,” you plead. He huffs and helps you sit up.

You fix your bra strap and cover your breast and hop up carefully and go into the kitchen. You shine your phone light as you find a lighter and candles. You shakily light them, and thunder booms again outside. God, this storm and power outage has the worst timing, you say to yourself. You can feel wetness between your legs and you place the candles around, creating a romantic ambiance in your apartment. You can now see him in the flickering shadows still sitting on your couch, legs spread wide, looking very frustrated that you’re not next to him.

“That’s better,” you say as you sit down next to him. “Yes, it is. Fuck, come here. I need you. You’re so beautiful,” he whispers and grabs you. He forces you down onto your back and hovers over you once again. You spread your legs open which gives him room to settle in between. You lift your hips to grind onto his dick which makes him lose it. He presses himself into your center thrusting to meet your movements. With your eagerness showing, he starts leaving marks on your neck behind your ear and moves down, nipping at your skin and sucking.

You are so overwhelmed at this point and cannot take it anymore. You need him inside of you now. But again, your thoughts of him leaving after the deed is done swims in your mind. Contrary to what your body is telling him, you say, “Please go slow. I want this to last. I don’t want this to end.”

“Oh, baby, I will. I want this to last forever. I hope I can make it without coming in my pants first,” he stutters as he’s still kissing down your neck. He comes back up to devour your lips.

The shadows on the wall mirror your movements on the couch with him. The only noises are the rain pattering at your window, the thunder, his groans, and your whines. He smells so good. His hair, his clothes, everything. His scent turns you on even more and you start grinding into him again like before the power went out. He presses harder into your core and the feeling of his hard dick makes you see stars.

His hand goes back to your bra strap and forces it down and it snaps against your arm. You can tell he is getting more and more desperate by the deep grunts he’s making. “God, I need more,” you whimper. He takes that as a sign and places his hand behind your back and unclips your bra. He yanks it off your chest, down your arms and throws it into the darkness not illuminated by the candles.

He kneels and sits back on his heels in awe, in a daze. This makes your skin hot and your cheeks red. You ask him, “What is it? Are you okay?” His deep stare is not waning, eyes darting from your breasts up to your lips, then eyes, and back down again to your chest. When you reach out to touch his forearms, he shivers and says, “Oh my god, yes. You are so beautiful. I’m trying so hard not to come.”

Just then, he starts to touch your breasts and you smile up at him. He pinches and fondles both of your nipples while moving down toward you. His lips are on one nipple and his hand rubs the other. Each pinch and touch causes you to grind into him with more fervor. Your hands grab at his thick black hair and then slide down his back.

His tongue goes lower toward your navel then to the top of your sweatpants. You lift your hips and he grabs the elastic and pulls them off. Now you’re just in your black cotton underwear while he’s only wearing his unbuttoned and unzipped jeans. He places more kisses above the seam of your underwear and darts his tongue out. You yelp, “Please more! More! I’m so wet!” His dark eyes turn up at you quickly while still swirling his tongue around. “I can smell you, it’s so fucking hot,” he says in a deep whisper.

He sticks his fingers into the seam of your underwear on your hips and starts to slide them down. His movements are slow and calculated and his fingernails graze your thighs on the way down. Now, completely naked, he goes into his lost gaze again in awe of your body. You buck your hips up toward him letting him know you’re so eager for his hands and mouth to make contact with you again. He takes the hint and grabs the back of your knees and pushes them on your chest, open wide so he can see you properly.

He places soft kisses on your inner thigh very close to your core. Your legs go over his shoulders and he starts to rub your labia. He moans in your core, “You are so wet, holy shit. I love it. Fuuuck.” He finally places his tongue between your slit and you arch your back in ecstasy. Your muscles tense up and your thighs squeeze around his neck. He groans into your core in response and begins to suck on your clit. You completely lose it when he does this, finally where you want him, after all this build up.

Just then, the lights flicker on and then back off, then on again. The lights stay on now, just your lamp in the living room and the stove hood light are on. You look down on him in surprise at the sudden appearance of his features. He bends his head away from your pussy to look at you. His lips are swollen, his cheeks are flushed, and your wetness covers his mouth down to his chin.

“This is better, I can see all of you. Do you want to move to your room, or is this fine?” he asks while gasping for air. “I don’t want you to stop, please, I need you,” you whimper in reply. “Please do whatever you want to me. I just want to be close to you,” you add, then he nods and dives back into your pussy. Continuing to suck on your clit while pinching your nipples.

You arch up just enough to hold the sides of his face and gasp out, “Please, take off your pants. I want your cock.”

“Patience, babe. In time. I feel like I will come as soon as you touch my dick,” he says, eyes glazed over. You smirk, “Yeah, but we can fuck more.” He nods, consigned to what’s about to happen, inhaling hard. He takes your legs off him and starts to strip out of his pants and his underwear. His cock slaps up against his stomach and he moans. You can see his tip is swollen and wet.

“Holy shit, you are fucking sexy. So thick,” you whimper out. He breaks eye contact, embarrassed at the compliment, blushing. “You are so hot when you talk nasty like that. Are you a slut?” he asks, looking back up to you, an eyebrow flicking up, creating wrinkles in his forehead.

Your eyes widen in shock at his question. Then you smirk because you really are, but never felt comfortable enough to be dirty. “I am a slut. Just your slut. Fuck me hard until I can’t see. Please baby,” you whine to him, never breaking eye contact, hoping he can feel the weight behind your words.

“Shit, you are bad. I will do whatever you want me to,” he groans deeply exhaling loudly, obviously affecting him to the core.” Your head still spins from the alcohol but his stare is making you drunker. “I love when you call me baby,” he says and grabs your throat to pin you back down onto the couch. He feels your pulse, your blood coursing through your veins. “Oh my god, yes! Please more,” you yell out.

His grip on your throat is making your eyes roll back and close. You don’t think you’ve ever been this turned on in your life. You’ve only slept with one other person. He broke your heart. He cheated and you felt lost, deciding to never get this close to anyone again. That was years ago and since then you’ve longed for someone to take control of you, use you, doing whatever they pleased, whenever.

“Use me. Control me. Please,” you coo and plead. “Tell me if it’s too much. I don’t want to hurt you in any way,” he rasped, still unsure if he could hold his load any longer. While still pressing into your neck, he reaches down to stroke your clit. Then he takes his soaked fingers and wraps them around his engorged cock, lubricating it. He does this back and forth a few times while trying to control his breathing. Suddenly, he asks, “Do you want to use a condom?” You shake your head immediately, just saying, “I’m on the pill. Give it to me.”

He runs his tip up and down your slit, smirking because he gets to feel all of you. He smacks his dick against it a few times which causes a voracious moan to emit from your chest. Your nipples are hard, he’s choking you, all the while teasing you and himself. Your eyes shut tight, unsure of how painful this will be since it has been years since you’ve been fucked. He places his tip closer to your entrance and pauses, “Open your eyes. I want you to look at me while I fuck you.”

It takes a lot of strength to finally open your eyes. You meet his gaze and his hand releases a bit of pressure from your throat to rub your cheek. “That’s better,” he says and starts to press on your neck again. You can feel the head of his dick against you. He’s thick and you’re not sure if it will be a smooth fit. It will take some adjustments and patience.

He slowly presses his tip in and stops when he hears you squeal and sees your eyebrows furrow in pain. He slides out and asks, “Are you all right? Do you want me to stop?” Again, you shake your head then confess, “It’s been a long time since I’ve had sex. I’ve only been with one other person. It may take a bit to make it comfortable. Plus you’re very thick. It’s bigger than I’ve ever taken.” He cannot believe someone as beautiful and kind has only been with one other person sexually. “I will be careful. I’m sorry. How can men not want to fuck you?” He groans and lines up to try again.

Even though you are sopping wet, he tries eagerly to press back into you. His tip pops in again which makes you wince. Gathering yourself, you hold his arm and say, “Please it’s okay. It feels so good but go easy and slow.” You open your eyes to match his sultry gaze. He slips a bit more in but slowly removes his dick inhaling every time trying not to bust.

Working just the tip in back and forth, he bites his bottom lip and groans each time. It is the sexiest, deepest sound you’ve ever heard. He is wincing every time he enters you because you’re so tight on his cock. You finally say, “Fuck me! I don’t care if it hurts! Do it!” He hesitantly listens and fucks into your cunt all the way. He stops once he’s buried to the hilt. The feeling is overwhelming. A mix between pain and pleasure. You both moan at the same time, still deeply gazing into each other’s eyes. “Fuck you’re pussy is gripping me so tight!” he yells, and looks down to where his dick disappears into your cunt.

Holding your legs open and back to get a better view, he starts to thrust all the way out, then back in forcefully. You whine as he uses one hand to rub circles on your clit, still fucking you with urgency. You moan out, “Shit, I’m so close! You’re gonna make me come!” He exhales heavily and responds, “I am too. Can I come inside you?” You choke a ‘yes’ as you’re starting to hit your peak. You start shaking and grinding to meet his thrusts. You can feel his dick throb inside you, getting bigger. “I want to feel you come on my cock, please,” he mumbles out, his hair falling in his face. His words make you yell out, “I’m coming!” while repeating his name over and over as your pussy constricts around his dick.

You can tell he is very close and you’re shivering, sensitive from your climax. He never lets up fucking into you which prolongs your orgasm. He grunts and moans and empties himself into you. You can feel every spurt of his come as he’s still thrusting, giving you everything he has. His loud moans give way to quiet exhales as he’s still reeling. He leans down toward your lips and starts kissing you hard, still lightly thrusting, never wanting this to end. The feeling of your wet pussy, dripping with his come, is almost too much for him to continue being inside of you.

He ravenously swirls his tongue inside your mouth, dripping with saliva. He leans up again to look into your beautiful eyes. You cannot believe this happened and whimper, “You are amazing. That was so good.” He smiles wide and nods, “Your pussy was made for me. You feel so fucking amazing.” He’s still lightly thrusting into you, getting hard again. He finally pulls out completely and his cum drips down your ass and onto the couch. “Hang on, let me get a tissue.” He raises himself off of you and walks toward the kitchen. Your legs collapse down on the couch and you sigh, still breathing heavily.

He comes back in seconds and you can see his dick is still hard, standing at attention. At the sight, you moan and look from his cock up to his face. He smirks and furrows his brows, “You want me to fuck you again? I fucking need more. I cannot get enough.” You spread your legs as he's cleaning his come off of you and the couch. While doing so, you say, “I need a fucking cigarette. I’ve never come so hard and so long before in my life.”

You’re still naked as you walk toward your bedroom to grab your cigarettes. You smile as you see a joint you rolled days ago but never got around to smoking. An idea forms. Kyungsoo is still sitting stark naked on your couch, curious what’s taking you so long, he gets up and peeks around your door frame. He sees your plump ass bending down to your bedside table, he becomes insatiable. Just then, you turn around and ask, “Wanna share this joint with me? Do you smoke weed?”

“Yes, please. You turn me on more and more,” he responds. “How is this possible? That you’ve only ever been with one other man?” he adds, still in disbelief that you’re with him right now and no one else. You sit on your bed and light a cigarette and offer him one. He walks over to you to sit next to you on the edge of your bed. You’re trying hard not to stare at his hard cock as it starts to sway with each step toward you. Once the bed sinks with his weight, you light his cigarette. When doing so, the light flickers across your chest and you see him lose it at the sight of your small, perky tits, nipples hard. The red marks on your throat from him choking you and the little bruises he sucked onto your skin.

____

To be continued. Let me know if you’re horny enough for more.

[dreamylittlesugarcube]

The Hair Necessities

Genre: Canon, Fluff

Characters: You x Kyungsoo

Warnings: None

Word Count: 574

Summary: It’s your honeymoon, post the events of For Life and your soft bean husband, Kyungsoo wants to help you with your hair care routine. 

A/N: I received a request for a little side story following “For Life” and “Beautiful”. Welcome to FLUFF CITY!  Please consider liking, re-blogging, or commenting so that others can find this easier. 

*Please note: I do not own the above picture(s), so credit goes to the original owner(s)*

Read Part 1: Beautiful

Read Part 2: For Life

~*~

“Baby, I missed you so much,” Kyungsoo breathed in your ear. He put his arms around your waist, squeezing you close like you’d been gone for 20 years instead of just 20 minutes. 

Reaching back with your hand, you stroked his cheek, giggling in surprise when he abruptly turned his head to land a kiss on your palm. 

“Yeah? Was my 20 minutes in the shower too long for us to be apart? Was my sweet baby penguin lonely?” Even though it was your wedding night, you couldn’t help but tease Kyungsoo just a little bit. The man was just too good a target–and you took every chance you could get.

“Mmhhmm,” Kyungsoo affirmed, pressing distracting, slow kisses to the back of your neck in retaliation. “It’s our wedding night, it’s practically illegal for a wife to be spending so much time away from her husband.”

Kyungsoo playfully flicked your shoulder in retaliation, his dry wit in fine form tonight, and you could feel the ghost of his smile against your skin. 

“Well, I wouldn’t want to break any laws, especially today, the day of all days. Looks like next time you’ll just have to come with me.” You broke free from his grasp, turning to give him a wink before heading over to the dressing table. 

Settling down in front of the mirror, you shook out your wet hair from the towel. You took the time to arrange your space so that everything was in its place. 

“I’ll do it,” he murmured softly, lightly massaging your shoulder before sliding his hand to pluck the brush from between your fingers.

 As Kyungsoo worked to painstakingly detangle each and every strand of your hair, you gazed at his reflection in the mirror. His brows were furrowed in concentration, intent on his task, almost as if he was a surgeon performing an intricate surgery.

Without a word of encouragement from you, Kyungsoo applied heat protectant to your hair before starting up the blow dryer. You closed your eyes, listening to the rhythmic hum of the machine as warm air swirled around your head. By the time all the moisture had left your hair, you were swimming in languid relaxation, lids heavy. 

Bottles clinked as Kyungsoo made quick work of tidying up, never one to leave anything out of place. Feeling the presence of your husband behind you once again, you sighed at the introduction of his hands on your neck, tenderly massaging out the knots in measured circles. 

“Mmmm, baby, that feels so good,” you murmured gently. “I feel so spoiled–what did I do to deserve a hair stylist and personal masseuse for my husband?”

Kyungsoo chuckled softly behind you. “It doesn’t come cheap, you know. I don’t work for free,” he teased. 

“Oh yeah? Will a kiss do?” You lifted your face, warmth spreading through you when Kyungsoo’s lips connected with your own. 

“A very acceptable payment option, though I may have to put you on a payment plan” Kyungsoo breathed after a few seconds, nuzzling your cheek with his nose. 

“Then maybe I should request your services more often. You were very thorough in your care today.” You reached up to touch his face affectionately and watched as a blush suffused his cheeks, a bashful smile gracing his lips. 

“A good husband knows how to take care of his wife,” Kyungsoo responded, pulling you into his arms, “and my sweet wife deserves the world.”

~*~

Thank you for reading The Hair Necessities–a side story in the Beautiful/For Life universe. If you enjoyed what you read, please like, comment, or re-blog for others to enjoy. 

XOXO, 

Emmy

[jinmindeulle]

twenty one petals | do kyungsoo

𝒑𝒂𝒊𝒓𝒊𝒏𝒈 commoner!do kyungsoo x princess!reader

𝒘𝒐𝒓𝒅 𝒄𝒐𝒖𝒏𝒕 8.2 k

𝒈𝒆𝒏𝒓𝒆 angst, romance | love at first sight, forbidden love

𝒈𝒆𝒏𝒓𝒆 angsty, fluffy

𝒘𝒂𝒓𝒏𝒊𝒏𝒈𝒔 none

requested by @kyungseokie, thank you again! hope it's what you were looking for 🥰

＊*•̩̩͙✩•̩̩͙*˚ 　˚*•̩̩͙✩•̩̩͙*˚＊ ＊*•̩̩͙✩•̩̩͙*˚　 ˚*•̩̩͙✩•̩̩͙*˚＊ ＊*•̩̩͙✩•̩̩͙*˚ ˚ ＊*•̩̩͙✩•̩̩͙*˚ ˚ ＊*•̩̩͙✩•̩̩͙*˚ ˚

Twenty-one had always represented more than just a number to y/n.

She could finally obtain her freedom to go out of the Palace with only one guard, have her friends over more often, begin her self-defense classes, and learn more about the women she admired the most. Of course, y/n had always had history lessons for it was of utmost importance for a royal like her to be knowledgeable of her roots and ancestry. However, there was one particular Queen whom she had the most curiosity about. No teacher had dared to tell the story of Jeon Mindae, a royal who had vanished after eleven years of rule, and no one ever talked about what had happened to her.

As much as she was joyous about all those new possibilities, y/n was also terrified. Turning twenty-one had also meant that she was of age to finally get married, and the King was well aware of that. Her sister, barely a year older than her, had been married two months after her twenty-first birthday. Consequently, y/n was not expecting any other future for herself.

A week after her celebration, y/n found herself looking out of the window of her chambers, wondering how life went about for people whom she probably would never see ever again. She liked to contemplate all those various faces and create whole identities and characters, imagining stories, often romantic, for each person that called her attention.

Y/n envied them sometimes. Their lives could be different, more challenging, and less privileged, but at least they had certain freedoms to enjoy, even if they did not realize it. They could go out and about whenever, wherever, and with whoever they liked, they could lead an independent life, and above all, they could marry the person they loved. Those aspects of life were what y/n yearned the most, and ironically, was deprived of them. Her only alternative was her newly gained escapades. And she desperately needed to go out. 

Even though she had been able to leave the Palace for a couple of hours already, the guard who accompanied her was pretty annoying and watched her every step. He made sure people knew who she was and made her feel out of place, which was the opposite of what she had wanted. So, this time, she had asked the King to send another guard with her.

“Sir Sehun must accompany me this time, Your Highness”

“Why is that so, Princess?”

“I do not intend for people to recognize me when I leave the Palace. Sir Taehun was not fit for that role”

“For I trust Sir Sehun, I will assign him this duty. Await him by the gates”

“Thank you, Your Highness”

The woman could not help but smirk as she made her way out of the Crown room. Sehun was a dear friend of hers and she knew he was both, laidback and protective. She was the safest and most confident under his care. 

Y/n had to laugh when, after some minutes of impatient little walks around the gates, Sir Sehun approached her with his thick right eyebrow raised “Ma’am, may I ask why I was requested as your guard?”

“Well, Sir Sehun,” she interlaced her left arm with the soldier’s right one as he was offering, and began their walk out of the Palace “Taehun is a prick” she let out once they were out of sight, and a good distance from the nosy masses of the royal community.

“Nothing new. You just want me to let you live, then” he dropped off the formalities, as they usually did when together and in private — or at least away from those who could not live a life as anything else than aristocrats. 

“You know me so well”

The walk to the Cherry Blossom Market was quiet but pleasant. They both liked the silence and tranquility that the forest offered, and it was well known between them that it had to be savored each time, as opportunities like those were usually scarce. Upon reaching the first stalls, y/n sent a smile in Sehun’s way. That was her call for him to just let her go around but always under his careful watch, as she had promised. 

The beauty that y/n found there, she was sure could not be found anywhere else. Just the sight of people all dressed up in colorful yet comfortable ropes, some simple, some fancy, brought a new wave of giddiness to her body. The thought of being able to walk with them, passing as one more of the commoners, was what made her the most thrilled. She could pretend, just for a couple of hours, that she was one of the people she usually fantasized about through the glass of her window. 

A pair of the prettiest shoes caught her attention, and she had to stop to just admire them. Soft peachy colored silk embraced the pair, both adorned with delicate pink cherry blossom petals on each side. Sadly, she could not have them. The guards would snap them away from her the minute she went inside for the check-up. Commoner things stay with commoners. 

A light breeze took her out of her thoughts, and as she placed the shoes back where they belonged with a small bow to the stall owner, her eyes met a wooden bridge, which went over a quiet river. Cherry blossoms surrounded the area, their petals dancing their way to the ground, mimicking a snowy afternoon. After taking a look back to Sehun, who was well aware of her movements, she enthusiastically skipped to the beginning of the bridge, feeling the glee that the soft petals caressing her cheeks provided her with.      

The walk to the viaduct was calmer, yet never less eager. The middle of the bridge had a smaller number of people, so y/n decided that that was the right spot to rest a little and contemplate the delicateness of the running water, and how the pink petals bathed in it as if tired of hanging from a tree.

Although her hood was bothering her sightseeing, she knew people would recognize her out of paintings and written records, so she had the need to hide her face as much as she could. The risk was high enough with her hood up. 

Noticing how someone stopped right beside her and leaned their forearms on the railing, she took her gaze away from the river and to her other side, pretending to observe the cherry blossoms dancing to the rhythm of the wind. When the woman was about to walk away, she heard the person speak.

“Is it not incredible that there are over a hundred varieties of cherry blossom trees?” 

The deepness and smoothness of the voice that she now knew belonged to a man, had her stood still in her place. A shiver ran down her spine and she felt how her cheeks imitated the color of the most intense pink petals.

“It certainly is,” she replied, clearing her throat, still giving her back to the stranger. Though she was aware of the hazard that that man could represent, she physically could not move from her spot. It was as if the man’s voice had put a spell on her. 

“Are these your favorite?” he asked, and y/n could not help but crack a smile. 

“Fortunately, they are” 

Her body was moving without her taking notice, and suddenly she was no longer facing the trees but the very man who had interrupted her alone time, away from royalties, away from turmoil. And the sight in front of y/n had her sigh. 

A round face, giving him a youthful and friendly appearance, was complemented by brown almond-shaped eyes, which seemed captivating, warm, and inviting. His well-defined, thick eyebrows framed his eyes and added character to his face. The man sported a small, button-like nose that went well with his soft jawline. Though she tried to avoid looking at his lips, it had become an impossible task. Plump, well-defined, heart-shaped. Flawless. She last noticed that his dark brown hair was up in a topknot, all secured by a simple linen headband.

“Have you ever seen the Shirotae variety?” when his eyes met hers, y/n felt what she could only associate with what her romantic novels described as love at first sight. If it existed or not, she couldn't care less. For her, a man like him talking about her favorite tree and flower, looking at her in what seemed to be undivided attention and care, had to be hard to find — and that had her over the moon in just a couple of seconds.

“I have never left the Kingdom” she admitted, finally able to unglue her eyes from his. Overly conscious, she looked down at her feet, hiding her face as much as possible with the gray hood.

“Hwanggeum is known for having them all, though it is true that the Shirotaes are well beyond our borders. Are you from here, Agassi?”

It was the first time that someone had addressed her as a commoner, and rather than displeasing her, it encouraged her to keep talking to the man. He had not recognized her after all.

“I am, Seonsaengnim”

“So you are well acquainted with the Pink Shell” his faint smile had her melting right on the spot, but she somehow managed to conceal it. 

“It might also be the reason why they are my favorite. Though I have read about the other varieties, I have not had the chance to see them in person yet”

“Would you like to?”

If it meant that he could take her away and hold her hand for the rest of the afternoon, she would have yelled ‘Please!’. However, the sight of Sehun waiting for her by the end of the bridge, right behind the enticing man, had her come to her senses “I am afraid my father is not very keen on me going out often, especially out of the city”

“That was not my question, Agassi. Would you like to?”

“I would love to,” she nodded, and with all her might, bowed to say goodbye “It was pleasant to converse with you, Seonsaengnim. Have a good rest of your afternoon”

Walking past him, she tried to reach her guard friend as fast as possible. Her efforts, no matter how big, were cut short by a hand around her unclothed wrist. The warmth he transmitted was able to soothe her uncontrollable heart, just a little bit, for his hand over her skin, was not something her heart was expecting to feel.

“I still do not know your name” he recited, not letting go. “I am Kyungsoo. Do Kyungsoo”

“Pardon me Seonsaengnim, but I am not allowed to disclose my name” 

As if he sensed that that was all he was getting from her, the man she now knew to be named Do Kyungsoo let her hand go, and she was finally able to walk towards her guard. “Let’s go” she murmured over her breath, not stopping on her way back home. Sehun rapidly followed, not wanting to discuss what he had witnessed. 

─── ･ ｡ﾟ☆: .☽ . :☆ﾟ. ───

Do Kyungsoo stayed on her mind for the following two days, as if he had nowhere else to be. It was surprising how she could not just shoo him away. No matter how many classes she took, how many conversations she had or the piles of books she read, the man with warm eyes and plump lips would always come back. She was aware of the fact that the King would announce her inescapable marriage in the upcoming weeks, hopefully, months, and having met him, she did not want that day to come any time soon.

Three days had passed, and y/n could no longer bear it. She had to see Kyungsoo again, at least one last time.

“Indeed, Sir Sehun is available for you. Where are you heading to?” the King asked, and y/n raised her head.

“To the Cherry Blossom Market, Your Highness”

“Again?” With his eyebrows raised, he observed her every movement.

“I am truly in love with the cherry blossom trees, and these are the last days of their bloom. I yearn to admire them as long as I can”

A nod was the only permission she needed to perform a deep bow and leave the Crown room, looking for Sehun with her eyes. She spotted the guard standing next to the room’s entrance, already informed of his next duties. There was no need to say anything.

With her cloak on and hood already up, silence remained untouchable until they surpassed the main gates of the Palace. The discretion she continuously made sure to have had become sacred at that point. No one except Sehun could know about Do Kyungsoo. 

“Are you sure he is going to be there?”

“I am not, but this is the only way I can find out” she sighed, letting him walk by her side. 

“Why do you want to see him again?” he asked.

“Honestly, Sehun, I do not know,” the woman admitted “He has not left my mind ever since we met. The only certainty I have is that my heart is longing for him.”

“Do you like him?”

“It is hard to say. I have never felt this way, so I cannot compare it to anything other than what I read romantic in my novels”

“Not a great source, may I say” Sehun giggled, looking at her with small eyes. 

“I am sorry, Sir all-the-girls-love-me” her laugh synced with his, heading the conversation in a more relaxed direction. 

“Not only girls love me!”

Though tranquility had embraced her as they walked their way through the forest, the sight of the first market stalls made her heart race once again. He could be anywhere, but he was surely closer than before. 

When she felt Sehun squeeze her shoulder, she looked his way to find a comforting smile. She nodded. Words were not necessary between them.

Calculated but unconscious steps led her to the bridge where their heartwarming exchange had taken place. The trees were still there, now calmer than before. Petals were still falling, but their dance was more controlled and stable. The bridge itself had fewer people, and she thought that the stillness of the water could not be attractive enough for the masses. It was for her.

A deep breath was all she had to do to muster the courage and find the place where Kyungsoo had approached her. All she had to do was wait. But oh my! It was a true challenge. As she hummed a song that her sister had sung to her while she was little, y/n closed her eyes and let her mind wander around dangerous paths. His cute smile had popped up once again, and it was impossible for her not to smile back. The effect he had had on her in only a matter of minutes was incomprehensible. 

“Is it me that you are waiting for, Agassi?”

The feeling that her heart was about to jump out of her chest came back upon hearing his honeyed voice once again. Nothing could have prepared y/n for that moment, regardless of how many times she had imagined it.

“Yes,” she whispered, turning to him with rosy cheeks. Because she had expected to see his gentle smile, the seriousness of his expression took her aback “Oh… Is there something wrong, Seongsaengnim?”

“I now know why you did not want me to know your name, Your Grace”

Her surprise could not be veiled. How had that happened? Was she not careful enough? She would not have come back if she noticed any trace of recognition in his eyes. She could not risk her outings like that. 

“You are mistaking me for someone else” Her voice faltered, but her forehead was still up.

“I am not. You are Princess Y/n, daughter of King Younghee and sister of the future Queen, Princess Hara. I apologize for the boldness with which I addressed you the other day, Your Grace. It was only after our encounter that I realized who you were”

So that settled it. Her outings were over, her freedom was over. Seeing him was also over. She understood that good things only lasted for a short period, but she did not see the end coming so fast. 

“Why are you here?” y/n had to know at least that. Was he back to solely ask for forgiveness?

“I had wanted to see you again, Your Grace. I came back here the day following our meeting, but you were not here. That same evening, I traveled to the Grand Market to buy more merchandise to sell at the Market, and I saw the big portrait of your family at the entrance. How could I not know who you were?” the calmness with which he uttered his sentences had y/n in a trance. His eyes had not left hers, as if he had rehearsed for that exact instant together.  “After learning about your true identity, I knew I had to stop myself from expecting this encounter to happen again”

“But it happened” she murmured, feeling her chest expanding with a deep breath. 

“I genuinely tried, Your Grace” he shook his head, still not moving an inch from his spot “But it proved to be impossible.”

The silence that followed his statements permitted the woman to process her sentiments, one by one. There was nervousness. Uncertainty. Fear. But there was also expectancy. Excitement. Bliss. 

“We are not supposed to do this” he continued “A commoner can only dream of meeting a royal and give her the life she deserves. I know I am not able to do so. However, I am here. And you are here too, Your Grace”

“I needed to see you again,” she admitted, taking her hood away from her view. She had to see him in all his plenitude because it had to be the last time “only one more time. My mind was playing tricks and my duties could not be fulfilled if I had you in my head every hour”.

“I understand,” Kyungsoo nodded, and for the first time that afternoon, his fingers touched hers. Her lifetime seemed to pass right in front of her eyes as the caress of his warm skin against hers filled her senses. It was overwhelming, yet y/n wanted more. “I want you to have this. We cannot interact in person anymore, but I consider letters to be a very effective way to communicate. If that is what you want, Your Grace”

The eager nod she gave him made Kyungsoo show the first smile of the afternoon. His relief could be sensed, and that also gave her the reaffirmation she had been desperate for. With a discrete hand movement, she took the folded piece of paper, keeping it inside her cloak’s pocket. 

“I also know you will get married in the near future” his forehead furrowed, and y/n felt how her eyes welled up. That was a topic she was not ready to face, especially with him “Although that makes it even more dangerous and unfeasible, I am still willing to do this. Are you, Your Grace?”

Not following her heart was not an option. She would allow herself to be selfish this time.

“I am”

─── ･ ｡ﾟ☆: .☽ . :☆ﾟ. ───

Your Royal Highness,

I hope this letter finds you in good health and high spirits. I write to you with the utmost humility and respect, fully aware of the immeasurable distance that separates your world from mine.

Since the moment I first had the privilege of glimpsing your radiant presence from afar, my heart has embarked on a journey it had never before known. It is a journey filled with profound admiration, deep respect, and, dare I say, love that transcends all boundaries.

I am but a humble commoner, a mere speck in the grand tapestry of your Father’s noble kingdom. Yet, as I go about my daily toils, I find myself endlessly enchanted by thoughts of you. Your delicateness, your kindness, your voice—all of these qualities have illuminated my every waking moment from the second you answered my inquiry.

Please understand that I harbor no illusions of grandeur, nor do I seek to intrude on your world. My affection is a silent and solitary affair, a secret held close to my heart, and now to yours. It is a love that has to remain unspoken, for I am painfully aware that my place in society precludes any dreams of an impossible union.

I am content to serve my kingdom, my family, and my fellow commoners with all the devotion and diligence I can muster. In doing so, I hope to honor the same virtues that have earned you the admiration and adoration of all who have had the privilege of knowing you.

May your days be filled with happiness and prosperity.

With the utmost reverence and eternal devotion,

DKS.

His neat calligraphy imprinted in liquid ink had perfectly accompanied what he had expressed in that letter. Kyungsoo’s well-thought-out words had her heart leap in excitement and yearning. The man had probably spent an afternoon ardently writing, employing careful words and admiring sentences. 

In return, she had to let him know what he had done to her as well. The impossibility of their reunion could not make their days heavy with misery.  

My Dear Kyungsoo,

I wish nothing but good health and spirits for you in return. Your words have touched my heart, and I am deeply moved by the sincerity and humility with which you express your feelings.

Your admiration and respect have not gone unnoticed. I am grateful for your kind words and the sentiments you have shared with me. It is rare to encounter such genuine devotion and honor in this world, and your letter has brought warmth to my heart.

I must confess that your unwavering dedication to our kingdom and your fellow commoners resonates deeply with me. Your commitment to serving our people is a testament to the qualities that make our realm strong and resilient.

It is with a heavy heart that I must acknowledge the realities of our respective stations in life. The traditions and responsibilities that come with my position demand a life of duty and sacrifice, which I am still unable to come to terms with. Your affection is a gift I shall cherish in my heart, but I also have to understand the limitations that bind us.

I encourage you to continue your path with the same steadfast determination and honor that you have shown thus far. Your devotion to our kingdom is a treasure, and I have no doubt that your contributions will be felt and appreciated by many.

Please know that I hold your words and your spirit in high regard. 

With the deepest respect and warm regards,

y/n. 

─── ･ ｡ﾟ☆: .☽ . :☆ﾟ. ───

Weeks had passed, and letters had come and gone. What had first started as a timid and knowingly-impossible romance, was now a tragedy that only found its way to the surface through words of passion, endeavor, and selflessness. 

The only one who knew about their exchange was Sehun. Since he was made responsible for her outings, no matter where they were, he had soon suggested delivering the letters back and forth, as he had understood how hazardous their short encounters could be. Seeing each other from afar from time to time was not enough, but was the only thing they could do for their growing affection. 

When she did not go with Sehun, their letter exchange was not done over the bridge. The men had made up a system unknown to y/n, but extremely effective in turn. Despite knowing how she was putting herself at risk each time she hid her letter in Sehun’s sleeve, she trusted her guard. Because receiving Kyungsoo’s letter was the only time of the week she felt purposefully happy, she neither wanted to nor would stop.

But alas, as she had learned, everything came to an end. However, that was not the way she had wanted it to happen. 

“Kyungsoo was not there this morning” Sehun’s forehead creased, worrisome written all over his face.

“What?” she had to stop herself from actually yelling, and shielded her mouth with one of her hands “Not any trace?”

“None”

“He has never done this”

A knock on her chamber’s door startled both of them, and Sehun had to take a step back to allow her to reach the hatch next to him. She looked at him, puzzled, and with a deep breath opened the door. 

“Your Grace, Your Highness is requesting your presence in the Crown room”

“Is it urgent?”

“It is, Your Grace”

Thanking the maid, y/n closed the door behind her and hugged Sehun “I have a bad feeling about this”

Call it third eye, intuition, or merely understanding. The woman had not failed to see what was coming. 

“You are to get married next week, y/n. Everything has been settled, and I am glad to announce that your future husband is the best prospect I could find for you. You will meet him in three days when he comes to formally propose to you.”

When she squeezed her eyes shut, the tears that had shimmered them traveled down her pale cheeks. Y/n could only see Kyungsoo reciting his letters to her in his mellowed voice, promising her to find a way to be together, not caring about social boundaries anymore. She only wanted to hear his whispers, to feel his tender touch, and to experience what would be like to have his inviting lips caress her own.

But now, the King was taking that away from her. The possibility they had built through their letters had to remain impossible. 

“Why are you doing this to me, Dad?”

It was the first time in years that y/n had called the King dad. She had felt that he no longer deserved that title, no matter how painful it was to lack that figure in her life. After her mother’s passing, he changed. His anguish for his loss had duplicated hers and Hara’s. He had forgotten that he had two daughters who had lost a mother and had only started to care for his heartbreak. 

“You are more naive than I wished you were.” he declared, unmoved by her emotions “I could have waited some weeks, some months even. But your recent behavior was proof enough that you need someone to discipline you”

“What are you talking about?” a mess already, y/n felt how her future with Kyungsoo vanished little by little. The love they had both developed over months through words and glances from afar was coming to an end, and there was nothing she could do to prevent it from happening.  

“Twenty-one is the prime of your life, and albeit you are not becoming Queen, you have duties to fulfill. Disregarding that, you have been frequently meeting a commoner, y/n. Please, do not tell me that that is not accurate, because I have eyes all over my kingdom. The greatest way to get you back on track is to give your hand in marriage to someone who is well-versed in our world, and knows how to treat you”

“As a trophy? As garbage? As a scum?” 

“Has your sister protested like you are? How do you know you will be treated badly if you have not crossed glances with him?” his harsh tone would not scare her away.

“I do not have to do that to understand that he will make my life miserable. The one person who is able to make me happy is not him” Rage was getting into her quite rapidly. She had to fight for what she wanted. But how?

“The one person you are so sure about making you happy is no longer available. I am sorry, daughter, but this is your life.”

“What have you done to him?!” 

“Return to your chambers, y/n. That was all I had to say”

“Dad?! What have you done to him?!” 

The sorrow was unmeasurable. She had put Kyungsoo at risk, she had made him suffer the consequences of loving her. She had selfishly walked him to a dark place, which she did not even know what it looked like. Where was he? Was he even alive? 

The pressure that was building in her chest was somewhat relieved when Sehun went inside her room, with no knocking in between. He was the only one she had allowed to do that in case of an emergency. And God knows she was in need of what Sehun could provide to her, be it a hug or simple reassurance words. But luck was on her side — if one could say that after what she was about to go through — and he was there with more than just that.

“I know what happened” Taking her hands into his, he began to share the information he was able to gather “Taehun has been following us, and he was the one who told your father about Kyungsoo”

“That bastard!” y/n’s eyes flooded with tears as she squeezed Sehun’s hands harder.

“I have never liked him, but that just crossed the line” he admitted “The King sent his soldiers to capture Kyungsoo, and now they got him in the dungeons” “Oh my Goodness” the fear multiplied, and the sudden relief she had felt upon seeing her best friend disappeared to make room for that familiar pressure, this time coming back twice as bad.

“I have a plan” he nodded, placing his big hands on her shoulders “Jaemin is watching over him during the night shift… and he owes me”

Y/n could do nothing else than cry on his shoulder and thank him over and over again. She truly did not know what she would do without her loyal guard, without her Sehun.

—

With her fingers tightly gripping her dress sleeves, the princess followed the guard down the spooky stairs of the dungeons. Though not too far away from the Palace, they had to ride a horse to make it quicker — and she was not a fan of horses. However, this time, she did not really care. Kyungsoo was her only priority. 

“Why is this so smelly?” she whispered, coughing when the damp odor reached her nostrils.

“Do you think they would bother to clean this?” 

“Too busy standing next to the King, I guess.”

Just when the flight of stairs started to appear endless, y/n saw light coming from one of the corners, and she could finally breathe “He’s here, right?”

But the woman did not have to wait for Sehun’s response, because he was right there. Sitting with his back resting on one of the rusty cell bars, Kyungsoo looked drained. His face was pale and smeared with dirt and sweat. His clothes were ragged and mucky. Because his eyes were closed, she could only guess — and hope — that he was sleeping. 

“Stay back. I’ll talk to Jaemin first”

As Sehun walked towards the light, she could sense how the movement around him was slowly waking him up from his slumber. His eyes had lightened up when he recognized her best friend and a sense of easiness travelled down through y/n’s spine. 

“Come, y/n”

If Kyungsoo’s eyes had lightened up when he saw Sehun, the instant his gaze met hers he appeared to hold the stars and the moon altogether in his orbs. “You are here”

No time was wasted when the master key let him out of the cell. They embraced each other for the first time, and the relief that they both felt upon finally having their love in their arms was indescribable. Letters were incredible, but they lacked contact, they lacked tangible affection.

“I am so sorry” she cried, taking in the feeling of his arms around her waist, and how his left hand caressed the back of her head with soft strokes.

“None of this is your fault, my love” he whispered, and being able to hear his sweet voice calling her that endearment sent her heart jumping out of her ribcage “We were aware of the risks. And I am still delighted with the decision we made”

“How?” 

“Because I get to have you in my arms now” he let her go, only to place his hands on her cheeks, looking into her eyes as if they held the universe. “We will be fine”

“Why are you so confident about that?” y/n could not help but be hesitant about everything around her now. She had only questions in her mind, no clear answers in sight. 

“Because” he brushed her lower lip with his thumb, his eyes traveling down with it, and back to her orbs “what we have is not easily broken. They can try, but we fight back. And if it is not now, it will be then. We will be together, my love. Trust me”

And with that promise, Kyungsoo pressed his lips onto hers and sealed the deal. The initial surprise had her frozen, trying to figure out what was actually happening. But when everything was clear, y/n closed her eyes and let him in. His passionate way of kissing her was more telling of his love for her than any of his letters were, and that was a lot to say. He was an excellent writer. But when it came to kissing…

Their romantic moment was cut short when Sehun fake coughed in an attempt to get their attention. When their lips were mere centimeters away from each other, he was quick to intervene “I am really sorry to interrupt your… moment, but she cannot stay much longer”

“What do you mean stay?” the woman looked at her best friend, baffled by his statement “Is he not coming with us?”

It may have been a dumb question, but she did not see how they could not just let him go, at least to hide somewhere far away.

“That would be an overly bad idea” Kyungsoo uttered, interlacing his fingers with hers “That would get everyone killed. Me, Sehun, the other guard. We cannot risk it” he shook his head, and rapidly let her hands go to brush the tears running down her cheeks “We will find another way, my love”

“But…” she sobbed, suddenly feeling like a little kid in his arms “I do not want you to die, my darling” 

“I am not dying anytime soon. I have to become your prince first” he giggled, and that sent the butterflies in her stomach on a wild flight.

“Guys…”

“Sorry,” Kyungsoo apologized and pressed a kiss on her forehead “Go back to your chambers and wait for Sehun to tell you what to do next. Whether the plan takes a week, two months, or three years… we cannot know for sure. The only thing I know for a fact is that we are meeting again, and we will have our happily ever after. I promise you, my love”

y/n would recite those exact words for the following two years, be it aloud or in her mind. Kyungsoo’s vow was not to leave her soul anytime soon, and she decided to use it as a way to have him close to her heart every day. 

She had had to get married. She had had to share a room with someone she did not love. She had played the trophy wife role for too long for her liking. But Sehun had continuously reassured her that the plan was going smoothly, and if everything happened according to it, she would meet Kyungsoo in a short time.

“Hajoon wants me to become pregnant” she confessed, a halo of panic in her eyes “I cannot deal with this anymore” Her cheeks, very familiar with her tears by that point, wetted the beginning of her bluey sweetheart bodice.

“When are you heading to the tour around Hwanggeum?”

“In three days”

“Hold on for a week. We are getting there”

Do you know that feeling of time slowing down when what you only need is the wait to be over? That was what y/n was experiencing ever since she left Kyungsoo in that horrid dungeon, hoping that seeing him again would be a matter of days. Her heart was hopeful, but her mind was not so much so. She knew that rushing into what your feelings dictate never brings good results, but the urgency had become tangible as the months went by. 

He was in the back of her mind most of her days, but very much present when her husband pressed kisses on her forehead, and occasionally on her lips. Despite not liking him much, she had to admit that Hajoon was clearly not the worst. He had respected her boundaries and only touched her when she let him. She was suspiciously sure that he had a lover way before they had gotten married, and that was a strange relief for the woman. However…

“I truly wish things were different, y/n… but we have to produce an heir soon”

“It sounded like you really want that” she sarcastically replied.

“Your Father…”

“Of course” she nodded, putting her hairbrush away to look at him “I will tell him we are trying. A child is not part of my plans right now”

The only person in her plans was Kyungsoo, and the wait was becoming heavier on her. In order to relieve stress, she took the first book she could get from the history section of the library and headed out to the gardens. It was nice to just feel the breeze clash with her rosy cheeks, and just let it calm her nerves down. The copy she had blindly chosen was one she had never seen in the years and years she frequented the library, and that encouraged her to go through the yellowed pages before choosing a story. Y/n had to stop on page one hundred and thirty-six, one with its edge slightly folded. There, a sketched portrait of an elegant woman caught her attention. Her stern look was emphasized by a set of well-defined curls that framed her clear face, big eyes, and slim nose. Her lips were pressed in a soft line as if they had been like that for a long time.

Jeon Mindae.

The one and only secret that the royals were good at hiding, but could only conceal for so long. She had noticed how even after turning twenty-one, no one was mentioning her, not even to highlight the great advances that had happened during her short reign. But now, she was about to discover the truth.

In the annals of Hwanggeum's rich history, there exists a chapter of intrigue, love, and profound change that transcends the centuries. This is the tale of Queen Jeon Mindae, whose reign is forever etched in the hearts and minds of the people, for it was marked by an extraordinary love affair and a subsequent transformation of the kingdom's destiny.

Queen Mindae, known for her benevolence and wisdom, ascended to the throne during a time of prosperity and unity. Her rule was celebrated for the well-being and happiness it brought to her subjects. Nevertheless, behind the façade of a perfect queen lay a hidden love that would change the course of Hwanggeum's history.

Unbeknownst to her court and subjects, Queen Mindae had fallen deeply in love with Kim Beomseok, a commoner she had encountered during a secret exploration of her kingdom disguised as a humble citizen. Their love, while genuine, was forbidden, as royal protocol dictated that a queen must wed a nobleman from a neighboring kingdom.

For years, Queen Mindae and Beomseok carried on their love affair in the shadows, yearning to be together openly. The burden of the crown and the expectations of the kingdom stood as barriers between them.

The climax of this tale came during a grand ball in the palace, held to celebrate Hwanggeum's prosperity. On this fateful night, Queen Mindae mysteriously vanished, plunging the kingdom into a state of chaos and confusion. Wild rumors swirled about her fate, from kidnapping to assassination, as the people sought answers.

The official proclamation, issued by the royal council, declared that Queen Mindae had forsaken her throne to elope with Beomseok, her commoner lover, relinquishing her responsibilities. Her disappearance was thus presented as a voluntary act. Hwanggeum was left in the hands of Princess Miyoung, a distant cousin, who was chosen to rule in Mindae's absence.

Yet, the official narrative failed to quell the suspicions and doubts of the kingdom's citizens. In secret gatherings and hushed conversations, the people of Hwanggeum rejected the notion that their beloved queen would willingly abandon them.

The queen's true location was never found, and a network of loyalists worked tirelessly to erase Queen Mindae of Hwanggeum’s history. However, the people of Hwanggeum yearned for her return, not to rule, but to be a symbol of love and unity. 

To this day, the last of us are patiently waiting to get a glimpse of her once again, to see her next to her beloved Beomseok, and to thank her for her transparent and wealthy rule. Queens like her are not made any longer. 

She had to be more sensitive than usual because as she read each word, the tears were uncontrollably running down her face. It was like seeing herself in the mirror, but only seeing one difference: she had been unable to run away with her true love. 

How had been Jeon Mindae’s life after vanishing? Had she been happy?

She truly hoped she was. She knew the feeling of loving someone who you are not supposed to and fighting for it to be alive even after years of waiting. It was exhausting, yet worth it, if by the end of the line she got to see him again.

Y/n kept the book pressed against her chest to the third destination of their tour, as a way to keep Jeon Mindae’s story close to her heart. If what Sehun had promised a week before was true, she was about to see Do Kyungsoo after two desperate years of sharing a bed with a stranger, pretending not to die a little with each passing day. That was not the life she had wanted for herself, but what could she do? 

Just wait, said her best friend every day. So she did just that.

But now, seeing the premises of Gyulcheon, it was like the sun was finally shining for her. Its citizens were slowly gathering around their carriage, waving at her and Hajoon, who had sported the same fake smile for the last five days. 

The city center was prepared to receive them, and the line of people who had gifts for them kept on growing as they got closer to the Palace’s entrance.

Her husband leaving the carriage first, y/n waited for Sehun to open the door for her once it was safe to do so. High-end families and generals bowed at her as she walked all the way to the Palace’s porch, and she could only smile at them with faked enthusiasm. Hajoon, awaiting her at the first step of the staircase, took her by her elbow and led her to the seatings decorated with golden and ancient figures. For the next two hours, they met Gyulcheon’s citizens who had to welcome them with gifts and offerings, a long-held tradition which the princess found pointless. Why would rich people need presents from poor, unprivileged ones? How was that even fair?

“I have to apologize My Prince, but I was only able to afford an honorable gift for My Princess”

The voice she had longed to hear for so many days, months, and years, reached her ears in an unexpected place. Her gaze pinned to her lap slowly raised to meet the eyes she had yearned to see, and the knot she had had in her throat ever since that night in the dungeons, tightened. He was as beautiful as she remembered, like time had stopped as soon as they met. Fighting back the urge to throw her arms around him, she bowed at him with her head and took a deep breath.

“You do not have to worry. I am content if my wife is.” and with that, Hajoon turned to the next peasant, who was offering him a wrapped-up gift.

“Thank you, Seongsaengnim” In a murmur, she took the laced box from his hands, trying to at least brush his fingers with hers. The shiver that she felt traveling down her spine was a sign of how strong her love for him was, even after all those years.

“Please try them as soon as you can, Your Grace. I would be devastated if they did not fit you”

His low buzz had her dancing in a cloud of her own. However, the guard that was next to him made it clear that he had to move quickly. More people were waiting behind. 

“I will, Seongsaengnim. I thank you again. It was nice to meet you” Pressing the box to her chest, she bowed at him once more, Kyungsoo copying her with an even deeper one. When they slowly rose, it was as if they had already blended their thoughts. “I love you” was whispered from both ends and a soft smile graced their faces when the man departed. 

Later that day, and alone in the chambers she was offered for her stay, she quickly headed to the corner where all their offerings had been placed. Hajoon was in a meeting, so she had time to find the only one that mattered. The laced box was hidden under the hundred packed gifts, so she had to make a big effort to retrieve it once it was on her radar. Once in her hands, waiting was no longer an option. Not even taking her time to appreciate the decorations around it, she removed the cover and tore through the white tissue paper wrap. What she found took her back to that afternoon, the afternoon that had changed her life.

The pair of shoes she had caught sight of that day were in her hands. She would never forget that soft peach silk that embraced the pair, and how those pink cherry blossom petals adorned them so delicately. With a cheeky sigh, y/n concluded that he had seen her from the moment she had set foot in the Cherry Blossom Market, when she had run to the stall, too entranced by the shoes to even care who noticed her. 

His words from the morning popped up in her mind as she ran her fingers around the shoes, and she rapidly put them on the floor to try them on. She knew he had meant something with it — the plan had to be resumed. As soon as she put them on, a relieved giggle left her lips. They were about to be together, once and for all. 

─── ･ ｡ﾟ☆: .☽ . :☆ﾟ. ───

“All set?”

She nodded to her husband and took Sehun’s hand to step into the carriage. Once inside, her best friend winked at her, and she had to suppress the smirk she wanted to give him in return. Nothing could make her happier than seeing him ride his horse by her window, Hajoon too preoccupied with his book to even spare her a glance.

Their long conversation was interrupted when the carriage made an unexpected stop, and her husband looked out of the window for the first time in hours “What is happening?”

As Sehun yelled “Ambush!”, everything seemed to occur in slow motion. Half a dozen men all covered in black from head to toe surrounded the wagon, one of them violently opening its entrance door as the rest engaged in physical fights with the horsed soldiers, less in number and not so much prepared to respond to such a sudden attack.

The man who opened their door was quick to take her by the arm and shove her out, not even caring to check if her clumsy fall had caused any harm to her body. Indeed it had, but she was too busy screaming for help to even notice that her wrist had twisted under her weight in her landing. “Please!” she yelled as the stranger dragged her to his horse and effortlessly sat her on its saddle. 

“y/n!” She heard Hajoon’s voice muffled by all the swording around them. When she looked behind her, the stranger had already taken his own weapon out of his scabbard, waiting for her husband to get closer. However, he was never capable of doing so — another one of the ambushers had his blade pressed to his throat. 

“Do not move.”

“Hajoon!”

Her cry was followed by her kidnapper gracefully jumping on his horse, slightly adjusting his position in front of her. Triggering movement with his heel, the brownish animal began his race right into the woods, the carriage quickly disappearing from sight. 

It was only about half an hour into their ride that y/n let herself breathe in the fresh air. His addicting scent reached her nostrils in the process, and a chuckle escaped her lips as she strongly wrapped her arms around the man. 

“I missed you” she whispered to his ear, and he squeezed her hand in his. 

“I missed you too, my love”

[peachysooxo]

Coming Soon

The Last Time: A Kyungsoo AU Love Story

pairing: Doh Kyungsoo x Mila Rose Doh (OFC)

genre: romance, drama

theme: angst, solo!kyungsoo, EXO!AU

tropes: marriage in trouble, right person wrong time, elopement, jealous male lead, high school sweethearts

DESCRIPTION EDITED AS OF 04/21/2024

description: Mila Rose Park always believed in love and that there was someone out there just for her. Kyungsoo Doh never imagined he would fall in love so deep with a girl that was forbidden to him: his best friend Chanyeol’s little sister.

With the two young lovers decided to risk it all and elope when they were barely old enough to drink, they thought they knew much better than every voice telling them no in their lives. Even worse, they weren’t ready to handle the attention around their marriage because of who they were: international pop stars that both just so happened to be signed to Mila’s father’s record label, SPG Entertainment.

Mila couldn’t have possibly planned her marriage falling apart, especially because of the risk it took to get married in the first place. Being 25 and on the brink of divorce changed the trajectory of Mila’s life and her belief in love. To the public, Kyungsoo and Mila were music’s it couple. Behind the scenes, they began to avoid each other as much as possible. Kyungsoo was a workaholic, closed off, and had a jealousy issue that Mila overlooked for the sake of love.

Kyungsoo can’t imagine his life without Mila, he knew his possessive and apathetic ways were a problem but never fixed the issue. Any time the divorce petitions come in, Kyungsoo would outright deny them. Mila is a bright, bubbly and gorgeous woman but so stubborn and frustrating when it came to getting what she wanted. Kyungsoo lost sight of what he loved about her in the first place. Will Kyungsoo and Mila find their way back to where they started? How did they drift so far apart in the first place? Will they ever find themselves back in love, and not fake it for the cameras?

__

Welcome to the Romantic Universe - A series of 4 intertwined standalone stories featuring Kyungsoo, Chanyeol, Baekhyun and Jongin. Set in both New York and Los Angeles, this is an EXO alternate universe where EXO doesn’t exist as a group, but the members are all still close friends. Everything is a work of fiction and non canon. The only characters that I own are my original characters. In no way am I suggesting that the attitudes, characteristics and personalities depicted are how I see the EXO members. It is purely a work of fiction.

THIS IS IN NO WAY SUGGESTING THAT I WANT EXO TO DISBAND OR HAVE A PARTICULAR MEMBER TO LEAVE THE GROUP! This story is a work of fiction and is meant to be in an alternate universe. I hope you enjoy!

[kpopimagi]

A Flower Under The Rain [Part 1]

Characters: Baekhyun, Kyungsoo and Kang Gyuri (OC) Genre: Angst, Romance Au: Hanahaki!Au  Type: Series  Word count: 5,395

It all began with a cough and then, a subtle sting in her chest. Kang Gyuri cried, knowing that in a matter of months, she would be another figure in the death toll of the most dangerous and cruelest outbreak in human history.

Part 2 | Part 3 | Part 4 | Part 5 | Part 6 | Part 7 | Part 8-1

People talking, kids crying, people coughing and mothers begging, as distress and hopelessness filled up every heart, and there was nowhere else to go.

She looked around, feeling out of place. Her mother was by her side, stiff as a statue and eyeing everyone around her as if the smallest movement might attract the attention of a dangerous predator. Unknowingly, she caught herself mirroring her mother's actions when a soft vibration startled her. She was soon comforted that it was only her phone buzzing in her pocket and nothing more. Bringing it out, she read the new text, and the usual cheerfulness of her best friend, Baekhyun, welcomed her.

Get completely checked up and punch that nasty cough right in the face!

She didn't have a chance to write a response when another text came in.

Don't you dare stand me up today. We have a lot to catch up!

And I have a surprise for you ;)

That managed to bring a smile out of her because there was no need to catch up as he claimed. As hectic as their normal life was, Baekhyun forced her to meet at least once a week. He would pester her for days if they didn't.

She texted back, assuring him that she would be there as soon as she was done with her appointment. The thought brought her back to the real world, where everyone was patiently, or not so patiently, waiting for their turn to see a doctor.

Making the mistake of looking around the waiting area, the uneasiness took over her again and reminded her of all of the excuses she had to skip a doctor’s appointment. First of all, the unnerving crowd alone was scary enough to stay away from a hospital but this time, as much as she tried, there was no other choice.

The other reason was more complicated and delicate than just being uncomfortable in crowds because going to a hospital meant speaking with strangers and she avoided approaching people she didn’t know. She even struggled to talk to her family doctor that pretty much watched her grow. Maybe he wasn't even the right person to take her case but he knew her and she knew him. If someone knew about her particular discomfort and understood how to handle it, it was him.

However, her fear and condition couldn't outweigh the seriousness of her current state and the main reason why she was in the hospital in the first place. She'd been having an ongoing cough for several months and after using almost every remedy available, her parents finally managed to convince her to get a specialized check-up. The doctor ordered blood samples and a few days later, there she was, seated in the waiting room of the general hospital.

In an ideal scenario, she would’ve been doing this by herself as the responsible and capable adult she was but her anxiousness didn’t allow it. Her mother was there and even if she didn't need to guide their way throughout the sterile and monotone hallways of the hospital for something as simple as a doctor’s appointment, it was incredibly comforting to have her around.

“Kang Gyuri.” A nurse called out loud and her mother stood up like a sprint.

“That’s us.” She mumbled with sudden haste that couldn’t be anything else but desire to leave the place as soon as possible.

Gyuri followed her mother silently and the nurse proceeded to make the general checkup. She didn’t mind that part of the appointment. No speaking was required for that and she followed the nurse’s instructions carefully until she was seated at the doctor’s desk in a heavy silence and with her mother just as silent by her side.

The old man came in not long after and he greeted them with the same familiarity as he always did but Gyuri noticed the hesitation. She caught the few seconds of vacillation and effort it took him to raise his eyes and look at her. Quite discreetly, he managed to avert looking straight into her. 

“So Gyuri, now tell me how have you been feeling since your visit last week?” He asked, grabbing the expensive black and gold stricken pen her parents gave him as a present not that long ago and ready to write down whatever she was about to say. “Did the antibiotics and painkillers work?”

“I don’t know.” 

“How come?”

And that was what she hated the most out of the doctor’s appointment, the explaining. Gyuri found it almost painful to put her discomfort into words, to say them out loud and on top of that, to make absolute sense of the mess within her. She wasn’t even entirely sure if anyone was capable of covering all the complexities of what was happening inside her body. 

She started with the fact that she had been feeling almost the same except for the sharp chest pains weren't as bad as before and noticed as she said that, that Dr. Kim held the pen softly between the fingers of both of his hands and wondered why he wasn't scribbling down. That was odd. That wasn’t part of the process of a medical appointment.

Gyuri continued nonetheless by explaining the difficulty she had to breathe every once in a while and when she mentioned that a new symptom had shown up, it was when she couldn’t ignore the doctor’s expression. He looked conflicted and somehow, distressed.

“What’s the new symptom?” He asked although he looked like he didn’t want to know.

“It feels like my senses are sharper, somehow.” She wondered out loud and not entirely sure if she was making any sense, “now I have a sweet tooth for food.”

With a nod, the doctor finally wrote something down but it was short. For a second, Gyuri thought she saw the word unsuccessful written down in her chart but the doctor brought another sheet out, this one with what she guessed was her blood results.

“I don't know how to say this,” he started, placing the pen reluctantly over his desk as if he was letting go some sort of lifeline. “We found some anomalies in your blood levels, Gyuri.”

“What kind of anomalies?” Her mother asked in a surprisingly steady tone.

“There are traces of chlorophyll in your bloodstream when you shouldn't have any and I'm so sorry to be the one to say this so bluntly...” The old man managed to say before his voice broke, “but you have the Hanahaki disease.”

The small consultation room was suddenly quiet just like everything else inside Gyuri. Her mind was completely blank in a split second when her mother’s seemed to be overrun by a sudden sense of guilt.

“This is my fault.” She said with a shaky voice.

“Don’t say that.” Dr. Kim added.

“This is all my fault.” Her mother said, now sobbing.

“That’s not how it works.” Dr. Kim affirmed and then looked at Gyuri.

“But no petals…” She muttered, her brain trying to come to life and make some sense of what was happening.

“The flower petals are only in the last stages of the disease.” The doctor explained. “You haven't shown any signs that the roots are that deep into your system yet.”

“What are my options?”

“Not many, you know that.” The doctor said with some difficulty, “As a doctor, I’d suggest getting you admitted, run some more tests and make you feel as comfortable as possible whereas as a family friend, I’d say, go home and live to the utmost while you can.”

“How long?” Gyuri asked, knowing she didn’t have to elaborate for the doctor to understand what she meant.

“If nothing abrupt happens, my guess is,” he paused, his brows furrowing, “6 months, at most.”

Gyuri nodded, aware of everything and nothing at the same time. Just as the doctor said, she knew her life was done for and suddenly flooded by a horrible feeling of devastation, the rest of the appointment went by as a blur.

She managed to get herself together when she was walking through the hospital’s parking lot. So far, she was moving by sheer instinct and being her mother’s quiet sobbing by her side, the only thing ringing loudly on her head.

“Mom, I'll be fine,” she said with a firm tone that took her by surprise.

Even though Gyuri didn't quite believe it herself, she had to make her mother stop crying for a moment and get her thoughts in order but her efforts of assurance only made her wail harder.

“Who is he?” She demanded, holding her by the shoulders. “Tell me who it is!”

Suddenly, Gyuri felt her body again. She felt the soft and ever-present buzzing in the center of her chest and the pain of her mother’s fingertips dipping into her flesh in absolute distress to find the truth and a culprit. Seeing her mother that desperate was unnerving.

“Who's the bastard that's breaking your heart!?” Her mother begged.

Gyuri smiled. 

Mother Nature seemed to have some wicked sense of humor. As twisted and creepy as it was to smile at that moment and to her mother’s absolute distress, she shook her up more but Gyuri couldn’t feel anything else but a sudden wave of relief coming over her. It wasn’t hard to conclude who it was. There wasn't anyone else that she could be that attached to to the point of getting heartbroken. She wanted to laugh at the prospect of her being that blind to not see this outcome. 

“Baekhyun, mom,” she said, almost fondly, “Who else but Baekhyun?”

And his name was a trigger. 

Gyuri winced as soon as she said his name and the relief she felt just an instant before was replaced by a sudden pain that coursed through the deepest parts of her system as if the acknowledgment of the genuine cause of her disease could set off something inside her body.

Her mother paled at the confession and Gyuri saw the anger taking over her expression. Now she knew who was responsible and it didn’t matter how many times she claimed in the past that she loved him like a son, from that moment on, Baekhyun was an enemy she needed to get rid of.

“Don't tell him anything about this,” Gyuri added before her mother could fall into hysterics. “It’s not his fault.”

“Not his fault?” Her mother scoffed, “He took advantage of your friendship...”

“And I want to be alone.” Gyuri interrupted, starting to feel lightheaded. “I’ll see you later.”

Her mother protested. Her body battled back as well, but she forced herself to walk to the bus stop, and with every step, Gyuri did her best to remember every breathing and grounding exercise she could. Eventually, she was almost running because if she didn’t leave that hospital as soon as possible, none of the exercises would help and she would end up collapsing right then and there.

As she waited in the line and memories flowed by her mind, Gyuri placed a hand over her chest expecting to feel her rapidly beating heart but now, she was particularly aware of the faint stinging that went from one side of her chest to the other like an anxious caged animal waiting to be released.

Never in her wildest dreams, she’d find herself brave enough to ride public transportation alone and almost a decade later, there she was, ready to take the bus as if it was nothing and it was all thanks to Baekhyun.

"Ay, you’re not a little girl anymore.” He nagged as they waited. “How have you been commuting to school all this time?"

"My parents drive me there.” She replied softly, looking around suddenly intimidated by what they were about to do.

"What about the dates?” He turned to her, looking genuinely concerned. “Your parents dropping you off makes it a child’s play date..."

“I don’t have them,” Gyuri mumbled back, annoyed at the unnecessary roast, “you know that.”

“You don’t have them because you don’t want to,” Baekhyun said as he pulled his wallet out, “You’re quite pretty.”

Gyuri found herself smiling as she remembered that day. She felt her heart fluttering all over again at the memory of how flustered she was when he said that and while she was getting on the bus, she felt the ghost of his steady hand holding hers as reassurance.

That simple memory was only the first of the many moments she treasured about her friendship with Baekhyun. Gyuri scurried her way into the back of the bus, finding a spot standing near the door. After a while, the bus came to an abrupt halt, making all the standing passengers stumble; one of them, a guy her age, dramatically fell into a girl on the nearest seat. The guy stood up as fast as he could, apologized to the girl, and nothing much happened after that, but her mind brought up a moment from way back then. 

Gyuri had been the girl in the seat many times before. Many times shoved and pushed around and was unable to speak up when she was uncomfortable. She recalled one particular day when the bus was full and getting jostle was unavoidable, even if she was on her seat. Whenever it happened, she would simply focus on the city passing by through the window and ignore the rest of the world around her. That day, however, a familiar voice broke her out of the stupor.

“Yah! You’re hitting her in the face with your backpack!” Baekhyun said out loud, shoving a guy away and taking his place right next to her seat, somehow guarding her.

Gyuri chuckled at the memory. She must have looked like an idiot, looking up at him from her seat, probably admiring him as if he was a knight in shining armor.

“Why didn’t you say anything?” Baekhyun mumbled under his breath without even looking at her, clearly upset. 

It was easy for him to say that but she was already riding the bus, confined in a small place with dozens of unknown people and fighting the urge to get out of there at the earliest opportunity. Raising her voice wasn’t necessary when she was already doing something miles away from her comfort zone. She was doing enough.

“People will stop pushing you around the moment you speak up, Gyuri,” Her friend added.

However, Kang Gyuri didn’t fall for his nagging and not even his outgoing and sometimes annoying personality. She fell for his comfort; for the little gestures, the softness in his voice whenever he addressed her, and the tenderness in which he touched her.

“I’m sorry.” He said, softly dropping an arm around her shoulders as they walked through the university entrance. “I said that harshly for no reason.”

Gyuri recalled what those words made her feel. She remembered how thrilling it was to feel his soft squeeze on her shoulder or the bright smile he gave her before dashing away to his friends. She finally acknowledged the unquestionable pang of sadness that was about to burst and barely paying any attention to her surroundings, Gyuri was surprised by her hastiness and found herself getting off the bus, gasping for fresh air. 

As she tried to walk away from the memories, her hand trembled as it went around the rim of her watch, making it difficult for her to follow the pace and control her breathing. She was fully aware that she had to stop walking for the exercise to be effective, but she needed to run away. She couldn’t even keep track of how many times her finger went around the clock and was on the brink of losing it for good that she forced herself to stop to focus all of her attention on her wristwatch. 

It hurt her chest to place her finger on the 12 and slowly go around the rest of the numbers. She was finding it too hard to settle her heavy breathing but the moment Gyuri noticed the familiar building of her favorite bookshop across the street, it was only then that she finally could grasp her bearings and hold her ground against the panic. 

With her eyes glued to the building, she managed to properly finish the first circle of digits after god knows how long and then the second and the third and so on until she calmed down.

She looked around, surprised that she was conveniently just a few blocks away from her meeting point with Baekhyun, and prompted with an impulse she didn't know where it was coming from, Gyuri walked to the bookshop. 

The three-floored bookshop was one of the only public places she visited frequently, and that never failed to make her feel like one with society. She was another common and ordinary person whenever she was in there, but for the first time, not that day and probably, not ever again. 

The moment Gyuri crossed the entrance door and stepped into the maze of bookshelves, she felt lonelier and more alienated than ever before. Suddenly, that place not only brought a wave of countless memories she shared with Baekhyun. It also shoved into her face, like a sarcastic joke, the crude reality of her fate.

It had been over eight years since the breakout. Eight years since the first person dropped dead in a pile of flower petals in the middle of the street, somewhere in Europe, and the first victim biography was still a bestseller. Eight years into it, and the sickness was still somehow a trending topic.

The news about the strange and tragic event spread out like fire around the globe, plaguing every television and every social media feed, and just a couple of days later, similar cases happened in other parts of the world. A couple of months and thousands of deaths later, it was discovered that a disease was the cause of all those casualties. 

A morbid fascination about it reached its peak when unreciprocated love was the only source of infection. If hundreds of thousands died of heartbreak, thousands more did out of the burden of being the cause; and in a matter of weeks, the suicide rates spiked, and soon after, the entire world fell into subdued chaos.

When most people were still debating if it was right to label the phenomenon that affected the entire world as an actual disease, the Japanese, who had the highest death toll, were the first ones that dared the rest of the world to address the problem head-on and gave it a name. That was how the Hanahaki disease was what everyone everywhere in the world ever talked about, and apparently, it had been like that for almost a decade.

Gyuri let out a resigned sigh as she walked away from the Hanahaki section, trying to find some comfort among the pages of a normal book but to no avail, she always found herself back to that section. Her mind reeled with all the information she had been fed up with the disease for years. She didn’t need to read more about it. She had lost count of the pile of books she read and the essays she wrote about it during her student years, and yet, the most haunting fun fact about the subject was that once diagnosed with Hanahaki, you were as good as dead.

The curse was essentially a death sentence, and it was scary to realize that all she could think of, no matter how hard she tried, was that after eight years since the outbreak, it was a disease without a cure, and so far, no one had ever survived. 

Except, for that one American woman. Gyuri grabbed her biography and wondered, just like the rest of the world, how in the world she survived. It was still a mystery, and as some claimed it was all a scam, some others believed she was some sort of prophet. As divided as the public opinion was about her, it gained her fame beyond any measure. The woman that somehow found a way to fight back the disease and win the battle against the impeccable flowers, became a celebrity overnight. Ironically, she was murdered in her penthouse a couple of years later because of a nasty affair.

Maybe that woman's life wasn't the best example of success, let alone the source of hope she needed, so Gyuri placed the book back in its place and found herself lost and clueless. For the first time in her life, she had no idea of what she wanted to read. Overwhelmed by the countless titles, a part of her wanted to buy them all so she could find an answer to her suffering. She sought for a small glint of hope that she might have the guts to fight the disease back, but the longer she kept on looking at the shelves of hundreds of books, all with the promises to save her life, the more miserable she felt.

There was one book, though. A book that didn’t mock her. A title that, for some reason, reflected quite perfectly what was going on inside her. As if pulled by an invisible string, Gyuri reached for the book.

“The Loneliest Flower.”

Just as in that known case, there were also urban legends of survivors but none as popular as the rumors about D.O. Even the gender was a mystery to the world, but the most common belief was that the writer was a male and his novel became a worldwide success in a matter of days. Gyuri remembered reading his book in class, and for some weird reason, she always felt a weird predilection over it. Decided and somehow defeated, she braced the book close to her chest and walked to the checkout.

Opening the door of that place was always a dreadful task. Most of the time, Baekhyun was by her side, and the first one to go in but some days, she had to do it herself. Gyuri breathed in, braced herself, and nudged the door open. Suddenly, as soon as she stepped into Baekhyun’s favorite restaurant, every scary thought seemed abruptly amplified by the thousands.

The sounds of countless chirping voices, loud waves of laughter, clattering cutlery, the smell of meats grilling, and fresh loaves of bread coming out of the ovens blasted against her senses and, invaded every single one of her thoughts.    

Gyuri hated the place. 

Baekhyun was always looking for new and trendy places to eat around the city, and while Gyuri found that particular restaurant too crowded for her liking, it turned out to be his favorite. The only reason she kept going there was their -four dishes and three beverages- long menu. The employees were also kind enough to respect her shyness. They even took the trouble to memorize her order and were always willing to help her speak the least possible.

She couldn't understand why Baekhyun liked it so much. The long shared tables were one of the details she hated more than anything. The layout forced her to ask if any empty chair was taken or sit shoulder to shoulder with a total stranger. Baekhyun seemed to be delighted by the prospect of being surrounded by people and quoting him, getting the chance to meet cute girls.

Checking her watch, Gyuri realized she was late just by a couple of minutes. When she looked around, Baekhyun was nowhere to be found. He was late as well, which only made the place buzz louder with voices and people moving. He not only was the cause of the ever aching scorch deep inside her chest but also left her all by herself in a place full of people.

She couldn't do stuff like that normally. People scared her. People were weird and loud, and she always struggled to cope well with socializing. That was why he was her friend; Baekhyun was her voice. He did all the talking. Not her. Never her; especially in places as busy as this, never her.

Gyuri bobbed her head to the beautiful girl with blonde bangs that always greeted her with a friendly smile and instantly headed towards the back of the place. The tables there were secluded and empty most of the time, and that day was no exception. Except for one guy and a bunch of college guys, giggling at the screen of one of their cellphones; there were enough spaces available for her and Baekhyun to eat comfortably. 

Ignoring the annoying and noisy group, she observed the lonely guy. He was focused on the food on his plate, not paying attention to the fuss on the other side of the table. His fingers gripped tightly at the ciabatta sandwich in his hands as his jaw moved rhythmically in every bite. The chairs around him were empty, and as absorbed as he seemed to be with his sandwich, she wasn't going to sit in front of him under any circumstances. That could only incite him to start a small talk she wasn’t willing to follow.

Not giving too much further thought to him, she made a beeline to the chosen empty chair but halted when the guy looked up and his eyes, his big brown eyes, found hers. Seemingly uninterested, he went back to his sandwich, and Gyuri approached the table only to find the guy, looking at her again; this time, he seemed to be observing her just as thoroughly. 

He bobbed his head at her, followed by a tiny twitch of his lips that Gyuri took as a weak attempt of a smile. He went back to his food without paying more attention to her, which was more than alright with her.

Silently, she sat down and waited for Baekhyun like she had been doing for years now. However, something was different. Now that she knew what that ache was, she could feel it everywhere. It was creeping swiftly in the most hidden parts of her body, taking over everything she was and painfully suffocating her ever so slowly.

She didn't want to believe that Baekhyun could be the cause of her pain. If anything, he would do anything to assure her safety. It had always been like that since they met on their first day in high school. Her heart fluttered, remembering every time he smiled at her, whenever he held her hand steadily and protected her from anything that scared her. 

Without any control, she found herself smiling at the memory of the many songs he sang to her just because he loved to sing. It was precisely the sound of his voice that moved the ground beneath her. His voice was so smooth and sweet that she could almost taste it in the back of her throat. Baekhyun's voice had such a strong timbre, and yet, it was so mellow and sweet; that it shifted her surroundings, distorted every sound, and made her insides churn and twist.

“Eat this.”

Gyuri snapped her eyes open. Taken aback to find herself breathing hard, she realized she was almost wheezing and leaning over the table as she gripped the edges so hard her hands hurt. The noisy group of guys next to her was silent, stealing nervous and pitiful glances at her. She sat up straight, beyond mortified, but the tenderness of the voice that spoke to her first attracted her attention once more.

“Here.” Gyuri heard that voice and looked up to a hand that pushed an opened small tin can closer to her.

The can was filled with squared and colorful candies. Confused, Gyuri looked at the owner of that hand, and she stared back dumbfounded. The man that not long ago was eating a ciabatta sandwich, was now looking at her with his big and dark eyes. At first, his stare seemed to be harsh, but the longer she kept on holding his gaze, the softer and understanding his expression turned, until the back of her eyes stung.

“It’s overwhelmingly sweet, right?” He whispered, and the way his heart-shaped and plump lips moved was pleasant to the eyes. “Right on the back of your tongue that you can actually taste it.”

Gyuri gulped instinctively, and just as he described it, a thick layer of something sweet coated the back of her throat. Unable to hide her shock at his guess, she found herself nodding and blinking rapidly to hold her tears back. It was comforting that the stranger did not seem to care about her falling into hysterics. He calmly nudged the can closer.

“You need sugar.” He added just as softly, “Eat them, and you will feel better.”

Gyuri moved as quickly as possible and took one candy straight into her mouth. She had never liked licorice candies before but now, as she closed her eyes and focused herself on controlling her breathing, she found the taste agreeable, almost soothing even. She could sense his attention on her, and when she dared to look at him, his thick brows were slowly easing up as she calmed down. 

“Better now?”

She nodded. With that, the man gave her a small smile and turned his attention back to his sandwich. She kept staring at him, quizzical and wondering how he knew exactly what she needed. 

“I know the feeling.” He said under his breath but without taking his eyes off the sandwich. “Something is growing inside you, eating you up, and drying every drop of life out of you and infesting everything in its curse.”

The burn behind her eyes intensified, getting almost unbearable when she realized how truly lonely she was. The certainty in his voice and the understanding in his every word made her see it more clearly. No one near her, not her parents or even the doctor, could ever fathom the feeling as he just did. They would never have a clue of how it felt like; yet, a lone stranger described the sensation with a few words.

But it wasn’t just his words that resonated within her. It was something in his voice; something that was just as soothing as the candies she kept rolling around her mouth. This stranger's voice had something different from all the voices around her.

Her parents were her parents; their voices made her feel at home. Their voices meant safety and comfort. Baekhyun’s voice was a whole different thing by itself. His voice was like thunder that resounded over everything disturbing and scary around her but this man's voice was special, and it was weirdly reassuring that she could find it so instantly necessary and precious even if she couldn't tell why.

The man stood up, and Gyuri closed the tin can, pushing it back towards him, grateful for the little piece of lifesaving help. He waved a hand with a timid smile that lighted up his face in a pleasant way, and she wondered just how much more handsome that stranger would look like fully smiling.

“Keep the candies.” He said, “you will need them.”

Gyuri tried to smile, touched by his generosity, and he stared at her longer than necessary before giving her another smile that didn't reach his eyes, and he was gone after that.

Slightly dazed and dumbfounded, Gyuri stayed in her seat, playing with the tin can in her hands, but there were no signs of Baekhyun. Not a single text and not even a call, and the uneasiness started to kick off again as she looked around the restaurant. She was alone in a noisy place, alone with her thoughts. She found herself alone with the ache and the longing, the confusion, fear, and the hopelessness. It almost felt like he purposely left her there to suffer. 

After what felt like an eternity later, and as if her entire body knew of his proximity, she looked at the restaurant's door. At that exact moment, she saw the man that stole her heart coming in, and she wasn't aware until then just how much relief his presence could bring. The sight alone of his beautiful face, of his white smile and sparkling eyes, should have been enough to ease the pain momentarily, but it didn’t. At least not entirely.

Baekhyun was there, but he wasn't alone.

[blueberryjam1201]

Unexpected

Chapter 7

Genre: Drama, Romance

"The part of my personality I hate the most is ...

I can't be apathetic,

I can't do things halfway...

that comes also to the love.

I wasn't aware of it until I met her, YiSeul.

I was naive to truly believe this would last forever.

I gave her my everything... ah...how can I get out from this void?"

The thunder fell silent as the morning sun has risen. The swang in the wind grass hummed the melody. A lullaby for a still sleeping souls. The doors weren't locked. In the kitchen and sitting room, only silence breathed, distracting attention from the sadness which was still lying on the floor together with scattered chips, food and a broken bottle...

Whiskey bottle...

His legs were hanging helplessly from the couch, and his arms were covering his face. That's where Kyungsoo fell asleep...there was no point in going upstairs. The bedding in the bedroom was reminding of her too much... Every corner in this house did.The void in his head created in the last few hours was keeping him sane, and at the same time cutting off the reality supply.

He moved one arm off his face, staying still in the same position. Dark circles under his wide-open eyes were telling about every second of the heartbreaking story he experienced. Red and swollen eyes were shouting about the litres of tears shedded.

...the scattered chips on the floor. Hopefully, he hadn't damaged the TV... Wet stain after throwing the glass with orange juice...it's probably sticky...needs to be washed properly... white food containers after take away were lying near the couch on the left side...oh...the pieces of food were still inside. Now they are covering part of the white carpet...it needs to be washed too...

He rose from the couch and moved slowly to the kitchen. The feeling of hangover was painted on his face, even though he wasn't drinking much. That was more of the damage made by overwhelming emotions. The silence wasn't only outside. The void created in his head was blocking any sounds from outside. There was no recollection or planning for the upcoming few minutes. Just silence. No existing thoughts.

His weak hands opened the fridge and grabbed a bottle of water just at the bottom. Then, after opening it and taking a sip he moved to the stairs. Climbing up was for some reason more difficult than usual. Every step seemed higher.

After reaching the top he moved to his bedroom on the left.

This corridor had two doors on the left wall leading to the bedroom and bathroom, and two on the right, a small recording mini studio and storage room. However, on that side in the middle was another corridor leading to another room. That was his library, office room or just a place dedicated to work. He opened the bedroom doors and walked inside. It was perfectly tidied, with no sign of the war. Still no sound in this void. Just an image of the white, printed bed cover. How many times has he confessed to her here? How many times did he touch her naked arms from behind to fall asleep while feeling her presence? Lost in the memories, he stood in silence for a few minutes.

Suddenly the phone started ringing in his pocket. No need to check who is calling. He ran to the bed, ripped the sheets off and threw them on the floor. Stripped the pillow case and duvet cover, ran to the wardrobe under the right wall, grabbed all the rest of the sheets from it, then ran to the stairs and threw it at the bottom... It gave him a little ease. Breathing heavily he was looking down on the abandoned sheets, and slowly the hate start to blooming in his mind.

It was a chaos in his void... It wasn't a void anymore, this became a prison. Cube filled with display screens playing that scene from the night before on loop, and many other scenes from their last year's history. Everything was becoming so clear now. He was naive. He was too absorbed by work and love he felt, that in his mind there was no possibility of doubting her. If not for her, he would probably live for work only anyway...

He moved to the storage room at the end on the left side of the stairs. This was just a simple small room, with white walls and wooden panels covering the floor. Two wardrobes on the left side, a shelving unit on the right and then a wooded glass door cabinet. Many pictures were standing behind the glass, his family, friends and ...YiSeul.

The one he was looking at was a simple couple picture... Was it? She was standing next to him in a summer dress, decorated with painted flowers, holding a small shopping bag in one hand while the other was grabbing his t-shirt sleeve for some reason. He was standing next to her...he just realised he never grabbed her hand. They never held hands randomly...

She was happy about the present. He bought an iPhone, the new model back then, with headphones on Bluetooth, and took her to the cinema to watch Pixar's new animation. She enjoyed it! ...or that's what he thought back then... he won't believe in anything anymore....

He opened the glass and grabbed all the pictures with her, then walked out of the room.

"Your hand was always near mine, I could grab it anytime... ...ah..." he looked at the floor while the teardrops appeared in his eyes corners. Then he thought:

"The sand, Collapsing under our wet steps, The long empty street...

....we didn't care about hurting our feet while running barefoot..." he suddenly took out the phone from his pocket and pressed record. There was a spark in his eyes for a second. The inspiration gave him an ease, idea for a song... He repeated everything and then added:

"The taste of this drink was different with you, I could drink from your lips until I fell..." he gritted his teeth due to sudden waves of sadness which came back again. He froze in one place and closed his eyes: "Because... I was certain... you would be there... Next to me in the morning..." He bent his back and kneeled on the floor while crying. The strong heart has broken...

That was the moment which he couldn't fight anymore... He wiped the tears, stood up and with still clenched teeth threw the picture he was looking at before to the wall, and the rest of them just over the stairs railing...

"I was certain you would be there... How naive was that..." whispered after the screams in the void had passed...

Later, he cleaned up all the mess downstairs and sat on the couch looking at the switched-off TV. The phone start to vibrate, that was Chanyeol. He looked at the screen, but there was no point in answering...he didn't want to speak or see anybody... Suddenly, the intercom bell rang. He rose and moved to the front doors.

"Hi, it's food delivery" he head after pressing the voice button. He then went outside to collect the food. It was raining...

He brought the takeaway inside, grabbed chopsticks and sat down on a couch to eat akisoba, the food he ordered. It was tasty, and the flavour wasn't as much as he expected, but considering he still hadn't eaten anything, hunger made him eat anything.

"You told me you hate akisoba" He suddenly heard her voice in his head, like in a dream, or reality if she'd be there.He stopped... Looked at the half-eaten food, left chopsticks next to it and stayed like this in silence.

"I never said I don't like it, there was always something more interesting on the menu..." he squeezed his head with his hands as if he wanted it to burst. Then grabbed food and hurried to the kitchen's bin to throw it away. Then he brought a big box from the small toilet behind the kitchen and boxed up all the items he had thrown over the stairs railing. Then, while holding the box he rushed to the door and when he was about to press the handle... He slowly backed up, turned to his coat hanging on the rack and put his left hand in the pocket. He took out a small box... That was an engagement ring he bought when he was on a trip... He planned to propose yesterday... Slowly he put it inside the box with all the sheets and the walked outside.

His household waste bins were standing in the garden next to a dumpster. It's not usual to keep a dumpster on house properties, but it was here already when he moved in, and it's useful so he kept it for large rubbish like equipment or furniture. He opened the dumpster and threw the box with the abandoned items. Then stand again in silence . Gazing and the dumpster without any move. Even his breathing has stopped...then the fire exploded inside, embracing the dumpster and creating a dark fog. Small burned pieces were flying around him, floating in the wind, touching his faces naked skin...but he hadn't felt anything... the void was still silent...

*bzzzz bzzz* the phone in his pocket rang. That woke him up from the nightmare which seemed to bring him a little piece of joy. The dumpster was still there, and the non-existing fire disappeared. He grabbed his phone without even looking at the screen, his gaze was still stuck in one place.

"Kyungsoo-yah, what's up? Why not answering my calls?" That was Chanyeol Kyungsoo needed a few seconds to sober.

"Chanyeol-ah..." he whispered

"What's up? Did you just woke up?"

"...YiSeul..."

"We need to get ready, the date is set up for next two weeks. Kim's going mad..."

"YiSeul..." Kyungsoo had to rise his voice slightly to interrupt his friend in full of excitement speech "YiSeul is gone...."

"No man, that's not good. Is it?"

"She left yesterday..."

"But why? Do you want to talk about it?" Kyungsoo lowered his head and grit his teeth, fighting with himself to not break apart. He sobered...

"Kyungsoo-yah, are you coming to work tomorrow?"

It took him few seconds to catch a breath between sobbing and holding and breath to not make any sounds.

"Tell them I feel ill...Chanyeol..." that was the moment when the tears fallen down and he couldn't hold it inside anymore. He crouched holding his stomach. "I don't know what should I do now...she said things I don't understand..." this time sobbing was more aggressive, he wanted to shout, to punch anything standing in his way..."She came back to her ex, never loved me. I was just a substitute...a support in her loneliness..."

"Kyungsoo, you need a break. I'll come by tomorrow...no, tomorrow work...I'll be there in the evening, ok? I'll definitely come..."

"No..."

"...you don't want to see anybody?"

"..."

This few seconds of silence was deafening.

"I understand, give me a call if you need anything. I'll speak with them tomorrow, so no worries. Take your time...see you" He hang up leaving Kyugsoo alone as he was told. On this dark evening, in the pitched black garden, still crouching.

Crying of sorrow...

He woke up in the morning on a bare mattress in the bedroom. In clothes. His mind was still in the void he created, hopefully any memories dissapeared.

He went to the toilet to take a shower, then grabbed a protein baton. No need for a breakfast, even though he is not going to work. His stomach wasn't feeling the hunger or any other need. He grabbed water and after getting dressed in a blue hooded tracksuit with white strips on side, he gone outside. The tracksuit hoodie was covering his head, he didn't want to show his face, nor looking at other people. Using a car was a first thought. His main point of going outside was to buy a new bedding and grocery. However, after grabbing the car doors handle, he changed his mind. He is not fully well to drive, his state of mind is not fully sane to do it, and a walk can help him collect his thoughts.

In the city center he made all the shopping as planned. The main street near his house seemed to calm him down. It's not center anymore, but all the most important shops are here...and life. Crowds of people, individuals, couples or families, all the residents are living their own life.

On This long street was a barber and next to it regular hairdresser, which looked like for women only. Funny how both of them were owned by a couple. Next, accountancy private office, a bar usually crowded by football fans, watching the match and making sure to let all the neighbours know about it. Then corner shop with limited grocery, random items and magazines. The Alley leading down to KyungSoo's place. Pharmacy. And so on... On the other side of the road, the one Kyungsoo was walking, there was a large shop dedicated for kids, electronic devices repair, jewellery shop where, except buying jewellery customers could use other jewellers services. And then KyungSoo's favourite florist's. He will look at the name today, it was bothering him for long time.

"I like this place, can't imagine to live somewhere else" the thought "Atmosphere here is like at home. We all know each other even if we never talked. All the shops were here from when I remember, it would be sad if any of them would disappear...I never showed this to YiSeul...she was always coming straight to my house, or meet in the city center...have I ever been walking with her on this street? Ah..for some reason being here is giving me a peace of mind. I should have walk more, not using car all the.." *BUM*

He jumped on side, barely stayed on his feed. Someone just bumped into him, so he impatiently start searching for the culprit...and opened eyes widely.

"I'm sorry, I'm in a hurry...woow!" This voice! It was her! The girl from the airport!

"How...how is that possible!?" They both shouted at once. She started to laugh, even though he was speechless and still tried to comprehend who is he looking at.

" Are you from here? That's unbelievable! I mean...meeting you!" She said while grabbing the sleeve of his tracksuit. "I really need to go, I hope we will meet again!" She shouted while already running forward " See you, hopefully soon!" And dissapeared...

He needed few more seconds to understand. How is this wicked girl here? He didn't even realised that left corner of his lips has raised. He smiled...? First time from two days...

He turned around and crossed the street, but after reaching other side he turned around to finally check the flower shop's name.

ROSE

...

"This is insane" he thought, and while again his one corner of lips raised slightly showing amusement, he walked down the alley leading to his house.

Back at home, he was using a new bedding sets to cover the sheets. Phone was lying on the table under the window. Vibrating. For long time. He picked it up after finishing.

11 missed calls.

Suddenly, it started to ring again. It was Kim. Kyungsoo haven't felt anything, no panic, nor fear, even though he very much knew what he will hear. He answered...

"Doh Kyungsoo, have you filled the sick leave form?"

...

"For what?"

"Exactly, I don't care about your personal life, and you shouldn't mix it with work too. Your job is important for the company, and if we won't have everything fully prepared before the event I will make sure that was Your last time. You were lucky back then, but..."

("Yeol is talking too much" he thought)

...

"That was many years ago, I always wanted to ask you, are you resending me for staying?" Kyungsoo asked. Silence...

Kim moved on his chair what was head in the mobiles speaker.

" You were THE child, and the reason why I'm mentioning it is because you are again using your personal problems"

"I believe that is a different situation, and I will be back to work...just..need few more da..."

"You need to come to work tomorrow, I don't care how heartbroken you are. I'm hanging up" and so he did...

The void suddenly became loud again. The screens showed moments of fear...when he wanted to hide, when he was running away. When he saw the thousands of eyes, heard the laughs. He covered his ears and crunched.

Suddenly the phone vibrated again, but it wasn't a call, just a text message. He slowly sat down on a bed and looked at the screen.

Message from unknown number...

"Was is Kyunggu or Kyungchu?"

Surprised, he looked up on a different messages from this number as a part of investigation, who is it?

"Do you have my suitcase?!"

Then he messed up his bangs by hand and made irritated facial expression. "It's her..."

The phone buzzed again, so he quickly looked at the screen.

"My real name is Go YoonJung, save it!"

His eyes widened suddenly.

"YoonJung?....why does it sound so familar...?"

[kaisooficrec]

Nini Planet Round 24 (Nini University)

If you can't guess it from the title, the theme for this round is: College AU.

Steal your heart

Genre: College AU, Roommates AU

Rating: PG-13

Length: 2,174 w

Summary: Jongin's roommate won't stop stealing his clothes and it's driving Jongin a little bit crazy because couldn't he at least ask first? And why does he look so good in them anyways?

let it breathe

Genre: Romance

Rating: NC-17

Length: 3,000 w

Summary: Kyungsoo has fallen in love.