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velvetvisionsaurora · 12 days ago

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Alpha ATEEZ x Assistant Omega Reader

Warnings: omega reader, alpha ateez, scenting, heats, ruts, slow burn, eventual smut, forced command, more to come!

When Y/n accepts a position as assistant to alpha K-pop group ATEEZ, she's prepared with professional skills and scent blockers to hide her omega status. What she's not prepared for is the immediate, inexplicable connection she feels with all eight members—a resonance that defies her careful boundaries.

As Y/n becomes eerily attuned to their needs, her suppressed omega nature begins to emerge: purring for the first time in years, responding to alpha growls, feeling safe in ways she never has before. When a protective incident reveals the depth of the members' attachment to her, Y/n must confront the possibility that what binds them together is something ancient and profound.

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Masterlist

Chapter 1: New Beginnings

Your heart hammered against your chest as you stood outside the imposing glass building. KQ Entertainment loomed above you, reflecting the morning sunlight in a way that seemed almost intimidating. You reached up to touch the scent blocker patch behind your ear—a nervous habit you'd developed since starting to wear them. The familiar smooth texture beneath your fingertips provided a small measure of comfort.

"Just breathe, Y/n," you whispered to yourself, adjusting the strap of your shoulder bag. "It's just an interview."

But it wasn't just any interview. This was for a position as an assistant to ATEEZ—one of the most successful alpha idol groups in the industry. As an omega, you knew the challenges of working in this alpha-dominated field, which was precisely why the scent blocker had become such an essential part of your daily routine. In this world, being an omega often meant facing prejudice or unwanted attention, especially in the entertainment industry.

You squared your shoulders and pushed through the revolving doors.

---

Hongjoong tapped his pen against the desk, reviewing the resume one more time before the next candidate arrived. Park Minwoo, their manager, sat beside him, scrolling through his tablet.

"This one looks promising," Minwoo commented, adjusting his glasses. "Bachelor's degree in Business Administration, internship experience with another entertainment company, fluent in English."

Hongjoong nodded, but his mind was elsewhere. The pack house had been chaotic lately—eight alphas living together without proper administrative support was proving to be more challenging than anticipated. Their previous assistant had left abruptly to pursue his own music career, leaving them with a mountain of unorganized schedules and paperwork.

"We need someone organized," Hongjoong said, running a hand through his blue-tinted hair. "Someone who can handle the chaos of eight different personalities and still maintain their sanity."

Minwoo chuckled. "That's asking a lot."

A knock on the door interrupted their conversation. Both men looked up as the door opened and the receptionist peeked in.

"Ms. Y/n L/n is here for her interview," she announced.

Hongjoong straightened in his chair, adjusting his posture to project the confident alpha leader image that came naturally to him. "Please send her in."

---

You stepped into the meeting room, your hands clasped tightly together to hide their slight trembling. The space was modern and minimalist—all clean lines and neutral tones. Your eyes immediately fell on the two men seated at the table.

The one on the left you recognized instantly: Kim Hongjoong, ATEEZ's leader. In person, his presence was even more commanding than on screen. His piercing gaze assessed you with quiet intensity, and though you couldn't detect his scent due to your blocker, there was an undeniable aura of alpha authority that surrounded him.

"Ms. L/n, thank you for coming in today," the older man said, rising to greet you. "I'm Park Minwoo, ATEEZ's manager, and this is Kim Hongjoong, the group's leader."

"It's a pleasure to meet you both," you replied, your voice steadier than you expected. "Thank you for considering my application."

Hongjoong gestured to the empty chair across from them. "Please, have a seat."

You settled into the chair, placing your portfolio on the table. As you arranged your documents, you could feel Hongjoong's eyes on you. There was something in his gaze that made you feel both scrutinized and... something else you couldn't quite identify.

---

Hongjoong couldn't explain the strange sensation that washed over him the moment you entered the room. There was something about your presence that immediately captured his attention. Despite your obvious nervousness—which you were trying admirably to conceal—you carried yourself with a quiet dignity that he found intriguing.

What puzzled him most was that he couldn't detect your scent. Most people, especially those who weren't idols, didn't bother with scent blockers. The absence of this crucial piece of information made his alpha instincts strangely alert, as if trying to solve a puzzle.

"So, Ms. L/n," Minwoo began, "your resume is quite impressive. Could you tell us a bit about your experience at JYP Entertainment?"

Hongjoong watched as you launched into your answer, noting the way your eyes lit up when you spoke about your previous work. There was a genuine passion there that resonated with him. He found himself leaning forward slightly, drawn inexplicably toward your energy.

"I primarily assisted with scheduling and coordination for trainee evaluations," you were explaining. "It taught me a lot about juggling multiple priorities while maintaining attention to detail."

"That's certainly a valuable skill for this position," Hongjoong commented, finding himself wanting to hear more of your voice. "Working with ATEEZ would involve managing eight very different schedules, personalities, and needs."

You nodded, trying not to be distracted by the way Hongjoong was looking at you. There was an intensity in his gaze that made your skin tingle, even though you knew he couldn't detect your omega status through the blocker.

"I understand that would be challenging," you responded, "but I believe my organization skills and adaptability would be assets in that environment. I've always thrived in dynamic workplaces where no two days are the same."

Minwoo nodded approvingly. "That's good to hear. This role would definitely provide that variety. Could you elaborate on your experience with international communications? The group frequently works with overseas partners."

As you detailed your language skills and previous international coordination experience, you couldn't help but notice that Hongjoong seemed particularly attentive. Unlike many alpha leaders you'd encountered who dominated conversations, he listened thoughtfully, his head tilted slightly as if absorbing every word.

"Your English proficiency would be particularly valuable," he commented when you finished. "We're expanding our international activities next quarter.

Hongjoong found himself increasingly impressed as the interview progressed. Your responses were thoughtful and demonstrated both competence and a genuine interest in the position. But beyond your qualifications, there was something about your presence that felt... right. He couldn't explain it, but his alpha instincts—usually razor-sharp when it came to assessing people—were practically humming with approval.

When you smiled in response to one of Minwoo's questions, Hongjoong felt an unexpected warmth spread through his chest. He found himself wondering what your natural scent might be, then immediately questioned why he was so curious about it.

"The position also includes accommodation," Minwoo explained, turning to a new page in his notes. "We have a small guesthouse on the property where the members live. It's separate from the main house but conveniently located for the assistant role. Would that arrangement work for you?"

Hongjoong watched your reaction carefully. Living in such close proximity to eight alphas wasn't something everyone would be comfortable with, though the separate guesthouse offered appropriate privacy.

Your heart skipped a beat at the mention of on-site accommodation. You hadn't expected that part of the job description.

"A guesthouse on the property?" you asked, trying to keep your voice neutral despite your surprise.

"Yes," Minwoo confirmed. "It's more like a pool house—one bedroom, bathroom, small kitchen, and living area. Completely private, but close enough that you'd be available when needed. Given the often unpredictable schedule of idol life, having the assistant nearby has proven most efficient."

You considered this information carefully. Living so close to eight alpha idols would be... intense, to say the least. Even with your scent blockers, the proximity would require vigilance. But the arrangement also solved your current housing concerns—your lease was ending soon, and Seoul's rental market was brutal.

"Could I ask about the expectations regarding availability?" you inquired. "Would I be on call 24/7, or would there be defined working hours?"

Hongjoong appreciated your practical question. It showed you were thinking seriously about the position and its implications.

"We respect work-life balance," he assured you. "There would be standard working hours, typically 9 to 6, though flexibility would be needed for special events or comeback preparations. Emergencies might occasionally require off-hours assistance, but those are compensated with time off. The guesthouse is meant for convenience, not to have you at our beck and call around the clock."

Something in him wanted to reassure you, to make you feel comfortable with the arrangement. The idea of having you nearby stirred something protective in his alpha nature that he didn't fully understand.

Minwoo nodded in agreement. "We've structured the position to be demanding but reasonable. The previous assistant found the living arrangement quite convenient, especially on busy days when early starts or late finishes were necessary."

You nodded, relieved by their response. The arrangement actually sounded ideal—a private living space with reduced commute time and presumably reduced rent, given it was part of the compensation package.

"That sounds reasonable," you said with a small smile. "I appreciate the clarity."

The interview continued for another twenty minutes, covering everything from your technical skills to your ability to handle stress. Throughout it all, you couldn't help but notice how Hongjoong's gaze kept returning to you, curious and assessing.

"One last question," Minwoo said, "Why ATEEZ specifically? There are many idol groups seeking administrative support."

Hongjoong leaned forward slightly, genuinely curious about your answer. He watched as you took a moment to consider your response, appreciating that you didn't launch into a rehearsed answer.

You took a deep breath, deciding honesty was the best approach.

"I admire ATEEZ's work ethic and creativity," you began. "I've followed your career since debut, and what stands out to me is how the group has maintained authenticity while growing in popularity. That kind of integrity is rare in this industry, and it creates an environment I'd be proud to contribute to."

You paused, then added, "Plus, I think there's something special about supporting artists who are pushing boundaries and creating their own path. It would be meaningful work, not just a job."

Your answer resonated deeply with Hongjoong. The values you highlighted—authenticity, integrity, creativity—were precisely what he and the others strived for. The fact that you recognized and valued those qualities spoke volumes.

A strange sensation tugged at him, something primal and instinctive. Despite not being able to detect your scent, his alpha senses were responding to you in a way he'd never experienced before. There was an inexplicable rightness about your presence that his rational mind couldn't explain.

"Well said," he commented, exchanging a quick glance with Minwoo. The manager gave a subtle nod, and Hongjoong felt a surge of satisfaction.

Minwoo closed his tablet case, signaling the end of the interview. "Thank you for your time today, Ms. L/n. Your qualifications are impressive, and we appreciate your thoughtful responses."

You gathered your portfolio, heart still racing. "Thank you for the opportunity. It was a pleasure meeting you both."

"Before you go," Hongjoong said suddenly, "would you be available to see the guesthouse today? It might help you better understand the living arrangement we've discussed."

Minwoo looked slightly surprised at Hongjoong's suggestion—showing the accommodation usually came after an offer was made—but he quickly adapted. "That's a good idea. If you have time, of course."

Hongjoong wasn't sure what had prompted him to make the suggestion. It was unconventional to show candidates the living quarters before making a hiring decision. But something in him was reluctant to let you walk away just yet. He wanted—needed—to see how you would fit into their space, their world.

The way your eyes lit up at his suggestion sent an unexpected wave of satisfaction through him.

"I would appreciate that," you replied, trying to contain your excitement. Being invited to see the accommodation felt promising—surely they wouldn't show you if they weren't seriously considering you for the position?

"Excellent," Minwoo said, standing. "I have another meeting to attend, but Hongjoong can show you the property if that's acceptable?"

You nodded, suddenly very aware that you'd be alone with the alpha leader. "That would be fine, thank you."

Hongjoong rose from his chair, and you couldn't help but notice the graceful confidence in his movements—the mark of an alpha comfortable in his authority. "My car is in the basement garage. Shall we?"

---

The drive to the ATEEZ residence was surprisingly comfortable. Hongjoong had expected to feel that same strange tension that had permeated the interview room, but instead, a natural ease settled between them. He found himself sharing anecdotes about the group's daily chaos—Wooyoung's notorious prank wars, San's habit of misplacing important items, Seonghwa's desperate attempts to maintain order.

"It sounds like a handful," you commented with a laugh that made something warm unfurl in Hongjoong's chest.

"That's putting it mildly," he replied with a smile. "Eight alphas under one roof is exactly as chaotic as you'd imagine. Seonghwa and I try to maintain some semblance of order, but it's a losing battle most days."

As they turned into a gated community on the outskirts of Seoul, Hongjoong found himself curious about your living situation. "Do you currently live with roommates?" he asked, trying to frame the question casually.

"I share an apartment with two betas," you answered, gazing out at the upscale neighborhood they were entering. "They're both graduate students, so it's a fairly quiet living arrangement."

You didn't mention that as the only omega in the apartment, you were always conscious of maintaining your blockers and keeping your status private. It wasn't that you were ashamed of being an omega—far from it—but you'd learned early on that in professional settings, being known as an omega often led to being underestimated or, worse, inappropriately pursued.

The car turned into a private driveway, and your eyes widened at the sight of the house—or rather, mansion—that came into view. The main building was a modern architectural marvel of glass, wood, and stone, sprawling elegantly across manicured grounds.

"This is where ATEEZ lives?" you asked, unable to hide your awe.

Hongjoong smiled at your reaction, feeling a strange pride at being able to impress you. "Home sweet home," he confirmed, parking in front of the main entrance. "The company arranged it when our second album went platinum. The guesthouse is around back, near the pool area."

He led you along a stone path that curved around the side of the main house, noticing how you took everything in with wide, appreciative eyes. The landscaping was immaculate—a requirement from Seonghwa, who insisted that their surroundings influence their creative energy.

"It's beautiful," you murmured, and Hongjoong found himself watching your profile instead of the familiar grounds.

They rounded the corner to reveal a gleaming infinity pool that overlooked the city below. Adjacent to it stood a smaller structure that echoed the main house's architectural style—the guesthouse.

"Here we are," Hongjoong said, retrieving a key card from his wallet. "The previous assistant left two weeks ago, so it's been cleaned and prepared for whoever takes the position."

Your stomach fluttered with nervous excitement as Hongjoong held the door open for you. Stepping inside, you were immediately struck by how lovely the space was—far nicer than your current apartment.

The guesthouse opened into an airy living area with floor-to-ceiling windows overlooking the pool and the Seoul skyline beyond. A small but well-equipped kitchen occupied one corner, with a dining nook beside it. Modern, comfortable-looking furniture filled the space without making it feel cramped.

"This is gorgeous," you said honestly, running your hand along the back of a plush sofa. "Much nicer than I expected."

"The bedroom and bathroom are through here," Hongjoong indicated, gesturing toward a hallway but respectfully remaining where he stood to give you space to explore on your own.

Hongjoong watched as you moved through the space, taking in your reactions. There was something deeply satisfying about seeing you in this environment—as if you belonged here. The strange pull he'd felt in the interview room persisted, even strengthened, as he observed you exploring what could potentially become your home.

He stayed in the main living area, giving you privacy to check the bedroom and bathroom. Your delighted exclamation upon discovering the luxurious shower made him smile.

When you emerged from exploring the bedroom, your eyes were bright with enthusiasm. "This is amazing. The whole place is beautiful."

"So you could see yourself being comfortable here?" Hongjoong asked, surprised by how much he wanted your answer to be yes.

"Absolutely," you replied without hesitation. "It's perfect—private but accessible." You gazed around once more, already imagining how your belongings would fit into the space. The thought of living here, so close to ATEEZ, sent both excitement and nervousness coursing through you.

A sudden realization made you pause. "I just realized—you haven't shown me my actual workspace yet. Where would I be working most days?"

Hongjoong seemed pleased by your question. "There's an office in the main house that would be your primary workspace, though you'd have flexibility to work from here when appropriate. Would you like to see it?"

You nodded eagerly. "Yes, please."

As they walked back toward the main house, Hongjoong found himself unusually aware of your presence beside him. There was something about your energy that felt complementary to his own—a calming counterbalance to his intense focus. The alpha in him responded to this balance in ways he couldn't articulate.

"Fair warning," he said as they approached the main entrance, "some of the members might be home. They're not expecting us, so..."

"So be prepared for chaos?" you finished with a knowing smile.

Hongjoong laughed. "Exactly."

He swiped his key card, and the front door unlocked with a soft click. As they stepped into the spacious foyer, the sound of bickering voices drifted from somewhere deeper in the house.

"Right on cue," Hongjoong muttered with a mixture of exasperation and fondness.

You followed Hongjoong into a stunning open-concept living area where two of the ATEEZ members—Wooyoung and San, you recognized—were engaged in what appeared to be an intense debate about a video game controller.

"I had it first!" Wooyoung was insisting, reaching for the device in San's hands.

"But I called dibs yesterday," San countered, holding it out of reach.

Neither had noticed your arrival yet, and you bit back a smile at their playful argument. This glimpse into their real lives, away from cameras and stages, was endearing and humanizing.

Hongjoong cleared his throat loudly. "We have a guest," he announced, his voice taking on a subtle but unmistakable alpha authority that immediately caught the other two's attention.

Both heads turned simultaneously, and you felt yourself being assessed by two pairs of curious eyes.

San froze mid-motion, the controller momentarily forgotten in his hand. A strange sensation washed over him the moment he laid eyes on you—like recognition, though he was certain he'd never met you before. Despite not being able to detect a scent from you (likely due to blockers, which many wore in professional settings), something about your presence immediately captured his full attention.

"Hello," he said, his voice coming out softer than intended. He straightened, a smile spreading across his face as he stepped forward. "I'm San."

Beside him, Wooyoung seemed similarly affected, his previous argument completely abandoned as he moved closer with undisguised interest.

"Wooyoung," he introduced himself with a charming smile, his eyes never leaving your face. "Are you our new assistant?"

"This is Y/n L/n," Hongjoong interjected before you could answer, noticing the immediate interest his packmates were showing. "She's interviewing for the position. I'm showing her the office and facilities."

Something protective flashed briefly in Hongjoong's expression as he observed the way both San and Wooyoung were looking at you. He couldn't explain the sudden territorial feeling that surged through him—it made no logical sense, yet his alpha instincts were unmistakably activated.

"Nice to meet you both," you said with a polite bow, seemingly unaware of the subtle shift in dynamics.

"The pleasure is ours," Wooyoung replied, his tone notably warm. "We've been drowning in scheduling chaos since Minhyuk left. Please tell me you're organized and capable of herding cats?"

You laughed at Wooyoung's question, feeling surprisingly at ease despite being surrounded by three alpha idols. "I've been told I have a talent for creating order from chaos. Though I can't claim any specific experience with cat herding."

San's eyes crinkled with amusement. "That's basically what managing our schedules is like. Especially with this one," he nudged Wooyoung, who feigned offense.

"I'm perfectly cooperative," Wooyoung protested, then winked at you. "Most of the time."

You found yourself charmed by their dynamic and the way they so easily included you in their banter. There was something about their energy that felt welcoming rather than intimidating, despite their alpha status.

"The office is this way," Hongjoong said, gesturing down a hallway. Was it your imagination, or did his hand briefly hover near the small of your back as he guided you forward?

San watched as Hongjoong led you away, noticing the subtle protectiveness in their leader's body language. It was unusual—Hongjoong was typically more reserved with new people, especially potential staff members. Yet there was an unmistakable attentiveness in the way he oriented himself toward you.

"She seems nice," Wooyoung commented once you were out of earshot, his tone casual but his eyes still fixed on the hallway where you'd disappeared.

San nodded, feeling a strange reluctance to see you go. "Yeah." He paused, trying to identify the odd sensation that had come over him when you entered the room. "There's something about her..."

Wooyoung met his gaze, an understanding passing between them. "I felt it too."

---

Hongjoong showed you to a well-organized office with a large desk, multiple monitors, and a wall of filing cabinets. Large windows provided natural light and a view of the garden.

"This would be your main workspace," he explained. "The previous assistant kept everything meticulously labeled, so the transition should be relatively smooth."

You moved around the space, taking in the organized chaos of schedules pinned to a massive corkboard and color-coded folders labeled for each member.

"It looks like a good setup," you commented, already envisioning yourself working here. Something about the space, and the house itself, felt inexplicably right. "I appreciate you taking the time to show me all of this."

Hongjoong watched you examine the office, feeling increasingly certain that you were exactly what the team needed. Your questions were thoughtful, your manner professional yet warm. The strange pull he felt toward you remained, but he made a conscious effort to focus on the professional aspects of the potential working relationship.

"Do you have any other questions about the position or living arrangements?" he asked.

You considered for a moment. "Just one—when would you need the person you hire to start? My current lease ends at the end of the month, but I could potentially arrange things sooner if needed."

"The position is available immediately," Hongjoong replied. "But end of month would work well for transition purposes. We're between comeback preparations right now, so it's a relatively good time to train someone new."

You nodded, trying not to let your excitement show too obviously. Everything about this opportunity—the role itself, the living arrangement, even the brief interactions with the members—felt promising.

"Well, I think I've seen everything I need to," you said. "Thank you again for the tour."

As Hongjoong drove you back to the KQ building where your interview had begun, he found himself already thinking of you as their new assistant. The decision wasn't technically his alone—Minwoo and the company would have input—but his alpha instincts were rarely wrong about people, and they were practically shouting that you belonged with them.

"We'll be in touch very soon," he promised as he pulled up to the building entrance. "Likely within the next couple of days."

"I look forward to hearing from you," you replied, gathering your bag. "Regardless of the outcome, it was a pleasure meeting you and seeing the facilities."

As you stepped out of the car, Hongjoong rolled down the window. "Y/n," he called, using your first name for the first time. "For what it's worth, I think you'd fit in well with us."

The warmth in his voice sent a flutter through your chest. "Thank you," you responded sincerely. "I think so too."

You watched his car pull away, your heart racing with anticipation. Something about the entire experience felt significant—as if you'd just taken the first step on a journey that would change your life completely.

Little did you know just how prophetic that feeling would prove to be.

Next>>

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orphiclovers · 3 months ago

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I've been thinking about 15 year old kim dokja and I can picture so clearly the kind of quintessential chunni he was

classmates making snarky little comments over his head like "oooh watch out for kim dokja, don't bother him too much, he'll go crazy like his mother and kill you" "that wimp could not fucking touch me haha" "if you sit next to him you'll catch his crazy" stupid kid shit and he stays silent and doesn't raise his head, doesn't give them the satisfaction of a reaction but under the surface he is boiling, he's clenching his fists and bitting his lip, trembling with helpless anger at the wicked unfairness of it all.

when no one is looking, he stared through his bangs at the back of song minwoo's head, thinking "what if I did? what if I stabbed you right now? that would show you" spiteful dark revenge fantasies every sad kid who hates school has, an emotional attempt at self-comfort that doesn't really mean anything

but they're right about him, aren't they. kim dokja DOES have it in him to snap and kill if pushed too far but he has repressed that instinct so deep he doesn't even let himself remember it. so instead he sighs and shakes his head cause it's useless to think about that stuff, just ignore it, don't let him get to you, kim dokja

#my posts #orv #omniscient reader's viewpoint #kim dokja #orv spoilers

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oimitocat · 5 months ago

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TSWCP — CHAP 3

lee minho x m!reader

chapter summary; you just can’t live with the silence. you can’t bear it. this time, you prove minho you really will risk it all for him. will he take it or leave you with your heart bleeding in your hands?

content warning; subtle internalized homophobia + subtle insecurity + tension + constant change of pov (mainly minho’s) + crying + makeout session

content genre; idol au + actor au + fluff + angst + 9th member! reader

word count — 6.4k | m.list | a/n; this sucks btw ;(

it’s cold. frozen and heavy.

that’s how you could describe your heart after what had happened days ago. your mind? static. looking for signal. waiting on connection.

concert tours are coming up. your management had managed to sort something out with the executive directors of the drama so that once you come back from tour with the group, shooting wouldn’t be delayed or a hassle. the thought of it is dreadful. you still have to pull off a few conferences and amidst your tour dates some photo shootings have been crushed into your schedule.

as much as it pisses you off, it also can’t be helped.

“what’s your favorite scene?” an interviewer asks.

you blink, having zoned out. gayoung’s soft touch on your knee brings you back to your current position.

“me personally,” gayoung says with her fluent english. “i really loved the scene where i had to ride a horse.”

you stare at her before smiling. the other actor, another close friend of yours on set is minwoo, he laughs.

“i had to help her five times to climb on that thing because she kept slipping.”

“ah, the cons of being a gnome,” you tease automatically.

everyone busts laughing while gayoung gives you an offended expression. she starts an argument, you feed it.

minho clutches his phone as he watches the interaction from his screen. the video had been posted not so long ago now. he can’t help it, seeing you from a screen and aching. why had he been so stupid? kissing you? confessing?

you two could never be as perfect as you and gayoung are. your chemistry is absolutely beautiful. it’s so natural. how could he ever compare to something like that. much less now? he ruined what he had with you. was a kiss really worth it? absolutely not. not after the rift he created with you became unmendable.

“y/n, since the drama is based on a book, it has been said that the first few episodes on the next season you’ll have to portray heartbreak, betrayal and desperation. will that be hard for you?”

he watches how you shake your head immediately, that joyful expression you had dropped “i have to display a raw emotion, most of the time we as actors have to study how to display something we’ve never experienced but in this case, i’ve actually experienced heartbreak and desperation.”

minho’s eyes widened a bit. are you insane? how could you say that with your girlfriend right next to you?

“could you maybe give us some insight on that?”

“well,” you look up at the ceiling for a moment. then you look back at the screen but for some reason it feels like you’re looking at him. as if you knew he was watching. “as an idol and actor you need to let go of many things you end up carrying, i think everyone does and everyone has someone to seek out and trust enough to simply rant and be yourself with. yet, things kind of change when you grow in the industry… maybe the fans don’t know this about me but i cherish those who i’m close with and will always find a way to keep our bonds, despite how i seem like i’ll let people come and go- it’s nothing like that. filming this drama took a lot out of me…”

“it not only took away my sleep but it took something else away. i loved shooting it, but if i had to do everything all over again…” you pause, sighing, “i think i would… but i’d change a lot of things and work hard not just to keep my career going but to keep those around me too. yeah, maybe we can’t stop people from leaving when they decided they will no matter what but it doesn’t change how horrible that feeling is.’

“you have gayoung though, as a couple i’m sure you share your burdens with her now, right?”

bitterness flashes across your features for a moment. no one has caught that, no one will. only minho.

because as much as it hurts… he’s the only one that knows you more than you know yourself.

“of couse,” you smile. bitter. “just shows that when someone won’t be there for you, someone else will.” you pause, “and be better.”

ouch. minho turns off his phone, he covers his face into his hands and breathes wetly. he really is the worst, isn’t he?

fans have started to notice the distance between the two of you. bubble messages flood in every now and then saying they hope you and he are doing okay. he sees the comments questioning the silence that has been built between you two. the members know.

well, they don’t know you two had kissed or that he is inevitably in love with you.

but they know you two are not in good terms.

chan had questioned you about it and when you didn’t give him a believable answer he had seeked minho out. all minho said was — “y/n is just too busy to keep what we have, i made sure he focuses on his career.” which in turns absolutely outed the fact minho caused all of this. the look of disappointment chan gave him is the same one he gives himself after crying and looking in the mirror.

even crying feels illegal.

the worst part is you and jisung share the dorm with him. he hears jisung question you about your distance. he hears you talk to people— to gayoung — over the phone. he bumps into you on the way to the laundry, to the bathroom, in the kitchen.

he works with you.

he lives with you.

he misses you.

yet, you’re not his to seek out anymore. you’re his coworker now.

nothing more…

“where’s y/n? we’re about to board the plane,” jeongin says with a pout.

minho unconsciously looks around, equally wondering where you are. they had driven to the airport at around 10 and you weren’t in the dorms. through check ins, you still hadn’t popped up.

later, however, the video of you running through the airport with your bodyguard and manager blows up. minho finds that out in the van after landing in tokyo. he had wondered why you were so disheveled when you entered the plane.

“we have four concerts here in japan,” seungmin mumbles to himself, “we have one day to roam around, one morning left and then we’re off to the states.”

“doesn’t y/n hyung have a private conference in the states?” jisung asks.

“what?” minho frowns.

chan sighs, “he really needs to take a break. this whole year is going to be packed.” he rests his head back on the seat, “he barely managed to pull off the concerts in korea.”

“well we do have a few free days in between our concerts,” seungmin offers, “he’ll have some sort of rest.”

minho swallows. are you really that busy?

he still doesn’t get to see much of you. he’s had to hear hyunjin recap how you have 2 interviews a day before flying with them to japan. how you had to pull an all nighter to review a script for a morning commercial schedule. it’s crazy, he thinks. how are you alive.

when all of you come to the venue to rehearse, he sees you thrudge in after chan, who seemingly had to drag you here. your hair is everywhere, your face puffy from sleep, your large hoodie and baggy joggers make you look small. minho forces himself to look away, his heart clenching at your adorable sight.

practice goes alright, minho thinks. sound check goes well, jisung and changbin goofed off with the autotune. they had tried to pull you into their fun scheme but minho noticed how you grimly looked at them. it didn’t change how you still went along with it, always willing to entertain the guys. they’re your family just as much as they’re his. still, everyone is tense around you two.

because they know.

they know their favorite hyungs are in weird terms. they don’t ask, they don’t have to. it’s visibly written in the air.

“minho can you go check on y/n,” chan asks him the morning of the official concert.

everyone went through the same checks and passed. everything is ready. minho hadn’t really seen you today regardless, despite dancing and singing beside you. he truly does not recall you being around other than on stage, not even during lunch break.

“why me?” he asks without thinking, it even comes out bitterly.

chan stares at him for a moment. no one is around, just him and minho. “are you really going to drag this out?” he asks, tone evidently showing how angry he is, “everyone else is checking up on him except you. what are you two doing?”

minho looks away, fists clenching at his sides. “we’re just… not in a good spot-“

“and how long will that last? huh? y/n isn’t prideful like you are, so who is dragging it out?”

that was like a slap in the face.

“minho, don’t shut me out.”

yet minho closed the door and never dared get near it. you never begged again. verbally. he took notice of your sad eyes after the fight. he felt your presence begging to call for him. yet you didn’t. because you knew the door that was slammed in your face would never open again.

“i’ll check up on him before we get on stage,” he says softly.

chan sighs, “i’ll take it.”

backstage, as he’s getting in his outfit, he sees you thrudge around. on your phone. clearly you’re talking to gayoung. he sees you smile for a second before walking out. he can’t help but follow you out discreetly. you step behind a wall, he stays around the corner.

“i’m screwed,” you whisper. “so fucking screwed, you have no idea.”

minho steps back. well you’re alive and that’s all that matters. why would he check up on you? you don’t need him. you have the guys. you have gayoung. that’s clearly who you’re talking to.

he doesn’t need to overstep. your life isn’t something he’s involved in.

“minho! y/n!”

minho whips his head around, his heart pounding. does hyunjin have to be so fucking loud!? outing him like this!? he should leave before you realize he was right behind you- he makes the mistake of turning around again and coming face to face with you.

he’s caught.

he swallows and stares up at you. your dark eyes boring into him. you’re all ready to get on stage. he couldn’t even speak if he wanted to. there’s nothing to say.

the way you walk past him makes his heart drop.

the act was unfamiliar until 2 months ago. that’s how long he’s been dragging it out. that’s how long it’s been when he hurt your feelings and smashed his along. it felt like so little time but it felt like an eternity ago.

an eternity that is burned into his skull and haunts him.

not even the roar of the fans when they come on stage silences the thousands of thoughts in his head.

he’s on the stage feeling like a puppet. except his strings tangle with yours. the amount of times you bumped into him from stumbling were too many to count. he hates it.

and he hates how much he worries.

above all, he hates that he can’t near you.

and it’s his fault.

it’s probably the fourth concert day, the last concert in japan. they’ll be here for a day or so before flying back to korea.

your chest feels tight.

you get nauseous a lot. you can’t really stomach much. at most a soup you get at the hotel you’re all staying at but even that leaves you with an upset stomach.

you had filmed a commercial in japan, gayoung had been flown out here. it frustrated you, didn’t matter where you went, gayoung had to be involved somehow. the girl isn’t at fault, it’s the company, you know that.

“oppa are you sure you’re okay?” she asks.

you raise your head and look at your phone. the video call started thirty minutes ago when she finally landed and finished going through security. you don’t hate her, she’s a good friend. you haven’t kissed her, both of you strictly left that for the scenes only. you hug her, you cuddle her, you carry her but she’s not who you love. maybe as a friend. not as a lover.

“you look like shit ever since we finished the drama, i didn’t want to point it out,” she says, there’s a bit of a teasing tone but she’s also dead serious.

“a pretty girl like you shouldn’t curse,” you say with a sigh.

she stares at you before starting a string pf curses. you chuckle softly, shaking your head. you groan, your migraine returning. she immediately pauses.

“oppa, i’m worried for you. joking aside, you really do look like shit.”

you grunt, looking around the room, “i think i’ll feel better when i’m back in korea…”

she puts the phone close to her face, as if she could see you more clearly that way. “i hope so or we’ll have to shoot a ‘taking care of my boyfriend’ blog.”

“ugh no,” you whine.

she laughs, “just kidding, the company is going to make me show my concern though if something happens.”

you give her a face, “nothing is gonna happen gayoung, i’m fine. just not a hundred percent.”

“well as long as you get back home safely,” she says softly, “i care for you y/n.”

all formality is out the window. it always has been with her, you see her as a little sibling from how long you two have worked together for. almost a whole year and a half. you had known her before the drama but contact wasn’t fully established until then.

“i have to get going to the venue,” you finalize, dread expressed on your features.

“okay~,” she sing songs as she gets inside her van, “don’t push yourself, okay? see ya!”

“bye,” you throw a peace sign and she quickly mimics you before hanging up.

you drop your phone on your bed before scrubbing your face with your hands. sometimes you’re thankful that you’re dating a friend instead of someone you don’t know, you’ve heard companies do that so this isn’t bad. yet, it isn’t good either.

you’ve been like a zombie these last few weeks. taking all sorts of pills and gummies that would give you energy and help you get through concerts with a smile. you know the guys are worried about you, but you’re not the only one feeling overworked. still, you’re the one with the worst of it.

“let’s put on our best show,” chan says as he pats everyone’s backs. he pauses when he comes to you, “let me know if you need a break-“

“hyung, seriously,” you grimace. “you make me feel like i don’t belong sometimes.”

he frowns, realizing he overstepped. “shit, no. y/n that’s not what i meant- i just- you know that i know.”

you stare at him, almost mortified. “uh-“

“please get to the stage quickly!” a staff member says.

chan gives you a once over before heading out, you follow suit. your migraine hasn’t stopped. the roaring of the fans feels like a hammer being pounded on your skull from the inside. you genuinely contemplate taking up chan’s offer, especially when you zone out and step on minho’s shoe accidentally.

“my bad,” you say automatically, stepping away like you had been burned.

and maybe you were, with the way he looks at you annoyingly. when did you feel so left out like this?

you execute the choreography perfectly, smiling at hyunjin whenever he comes across you on a part. fans fawn over each and every one of you. yet, when your part comes during the bridge, you stop mid verse when something oozes out of your nose onto your upper lip. immediately, you look away from the camera and wipe it with your sleeve. the worst part is minho was behind you for the formation, his brows furrowed when you immediately stumbled when walking to the next formation.

“are you bleeding?” jisung asks ushered as jeongin sings.

you walk past all of them, jogging to the backstage. the bleeding won’t stop, normally you can just wipe it away and it’s unnoticeable but you knew this isn’t as easy. you’re hyper aware of your physical status.

“oh, here let me,” a staff member says as they guide you to a chair.

the fans are worried, chan clarifying that you’ll be fine makes it worse. how weak could you be?

“the bleeding stopped,” you say as you look at the clean tissue you pull away from your nose.

“ah, are you sure you want to go-“

“thank you for your care, if anything comes up i’ll let you know,” you bow low before heading back out after the second song.

there’s a moment where the members speak and chat, you anxiously return to the stage as jisung speaks to stay. you could stand beside anyone, they’re all dear to you and have been with you during tough times. yet, you unconsciously went to minho’s side, awkwardly standing there when you realize you shouldn’t have chosen him.

even now, does he really give you comfort? why are you lying to yourself like this?

“oh! hyung! are you okay?” hyunjin asks out loud on the mic.

you swallow before looking down at your mic, “minho hit me with his mic when i went to formation.”

what.

minho spins and looks at you. you clearly lost your mind.

“i’m good though hyung, no need to apologize.”

everyone on stage is looking at you like you really have lost it. minho’s eyes are like saucers. he hesitates before bringing his mic up to speak, looking away and nervously fidgeting with his inear.

“uh, my mistake, i didn’t realize you were that close when we turned.”

“hyung doesn’t realize his strength either,” hyunjin jokes nervously.

there’s no way to verify or deny that fact. in the formation you and minho are pretty hidden, so in the end, it’s a possibility no matter how slim.

“the fuck was that,” minho grits when all of you are backstage for an outfit change.

“hey, don’t fight,” changbin huffs.

you stand there stiffly, changbin between the two of you. everyone has run off, not wanting to get caught up in it. chan comes up to you two. minho glares at you before stepping back.

“i didn’t mean to hurt you,” he says, like he really did hurt you on the stage.

“but you did.” you say automatically.

“hey, hey, what matters is that you’re okay,” chan says, believing the words that came out of your mouths.

neither chan or changbin know that minho’s apology and your accusations are not from what happened minutes ago, but from what happened two months ago. you look away, turning to change.

now, things are worse. the anger you had from what minho did dwindled down into your suppressed sadness. you meant everything you said- you’d leave anything and everything to keep him. yet, why didn’t he want you?

you cover your face before your stylist fixes your makeup, you ask for a few moments and she goes on standby. your head is killing you, you want to cry from frustration, you absolutely want minho.

he always knew how to make you feel better.

how come the last time you fought him he kissed you? isn’t he hurting too? why is this so difficult?

by the time you’re back on stage with the other members, you can’t really stay focused. you trail behind anyone and everyone down the stage when some of the songs are free reign across the stage. you stick to jisung, the second closest member to you… well, maybe the first one now that minho wants nothing to do with you.

you watch him across the stage.

during the song there’s a beat pause. everyone looks at each other playfully, but minho’s eyes latch onto your gaze.

you smile at him, painful but yearning.

he at least has the decency to wave back.

and the flame of hope ignites in your heart again.

your life feels suffocating.

you can’t remember how many times you’ve been seen only as gayoung’s boyfriend. the idol with an outed relationship that bloomed from a drama. you get back to korea. you fly out for concerts. you fly out for interviews.

it’s constant movement.

everyone found out your nosebleeds come from stress and your lack of sleep. chan knows the most of it, he does lack sleep too. still, your life is busy even with not scenes to shoot.

minho isn’t handling that well. he hasn’t exactly stepped up to confront you about the situation between the two of you. nor has he approached you on terms outside of fan service. it’s not even as often as before, it’s crumbs of what the two of you used to do. ever since you started a relationship there’s constant war between fans when a member is too touchy with you.

you’re not an object, you don’t belong to gayoung. if only they knew the relationship was strictly a job on top of all your jobs. you were called in for modeling, for drink commercials, a cafe wanted to have a theme with the drama and you and gayoung had to sponsor their promotions for a week. the drinks were okay.

the food was okay.

nothing could beat minho’s cooking. sadly, you don’t think you’ll ever get the chance to eat it ever again. you and minho’s situation hasn’t gotten better nor worse. it’s just.. still.

you often stare at your ceiling at night when you have the luxury to be home early to rest. it’s not often but when you do… your mind drifts.

to how soft minho’s lips are. to the hunger you two had demonstrated. the way his soft breathes ignited a fire in your stomach. he took that chance and built a wall between the two of you.

“yah,” a voice calls out.

you jump, sitting up and whipping around to face your door.

“i made dinner.”

you look at the door as if minho opened it and stared at you. he’s behind the wooden pallet. he’s talking to you. your body twitches before you stiffen.

no.

you can’t.

you’ve waited all these months for this but you just can’t. something won’t let you. is it your self restraint? you don’t want to fight again. if you tried to bring up the topic he’d run away. he’ll somehow blame you. he’ll do everything possible to keep you at a miles distance.

he’s just being a coworker.

he’s obligated to show interest and care.

“i know you’re awake,” minho says.

is his voice trembling?

“i’m good.” you say softly, staring at the bottom of the door to see his shadow. it’s loud enough for him to hear.

if you accepted, two things could happen. you argue and make things worse. or you lose all control and take the riskiest bet of them all.

neither is good.

you don’t particularly care for your fame. you have enough in your bank to survive if you get fired or blacklisted. you have backup plans. yet, you’re not ready for it yet. you’re just waiting on minho to accept that he’s the one at fault, even if it’s indirectly.

when that will happen? you don’t know. maybe him wanting to eat a cooked meal was it. yet, your instincts tell you not now.

so you lay back down, hearing minho huff and stomp away.

he definitely thinks you hate him. you love him, but you want him to feel a little sting. it’s nothing compared to the scalding he gave you months ago, but giving him a little taste of his medicine won’t hurt.

at least you don’t hope so.

he has to reach out the right way.

and… you close your eyes and toss and turns…. and if he doesn’t do it before you finally decide, then you’ll have no choice to make the move.

just a little longer…

you hope your heart handles it.

he doesn’t near you. you’re used to it now, despite how much it hurts you.

it’s the end of the year and all of you are preparing for the award shows. you have many to attend— mma , mama, the baeksang arts awards. probably some more.

the biggest is mama. it’s one of the ones at the end of the year. the acting award is in may, or so you heard. thing is you’re a nominee and they’ll announce that further on, right now your main focus is the award shows of the month of december. it’s a stressful time, but not as stressful as when you were fresh of the drama.

since last month, you’ve had more time to breathe. to sleep too.

you do have the obligation to keep going on dates with gayoung. instead of being home alone with minho when jisung is stuck in the studio you choose to hang out with her. unknown to you- that hurts minho. well, maybe you do know.

“sound check done, thank you!”

all of you bow.

“hyung!” changbin runs to you, “i’m hungry!”

“yeah! me too!” seungmin yells.

you smile, adoring how cute changbin looks as he clings to your side. “and what do you want to eat? we have to start getting ready for our performance tonight.”

“crab!” changbin pouts.

“i want something else,” hyunjin argues.

you laugh, “just order what you want… you know where my card is…” everyone screams happily, “and remember to watch your intake, i don’t need anyone with an upset stomach during or after performance. also!” you point at them, “just buy food, i don’t want to recieve a bill of some video game purchase.” you eye felix who whistles.

minho simply watches you from afar. these past few months weren’t easy. still, he can’t bring himself to face you yet. why would he? your life is as perfect as it gets— you have a successful acting and idol career. you have a beautiful girlfriend. you have millions of doting fans. what would he speak to you for? his feelings? those are worth nothing for you, it’s destroy your image.

assuming you really did mean what you said all those months ago, what benefit would you get? he can’t do that to you. he can’t bear to think that you’d leave everything you worked so hard to build just for him… if he had ever said yes.

but he knows better.

and he knows his spot is exactly where he’s in- watching you from afar. seeing you work as an idol beside him.

“alright guys, let’s go show them what we’re made of,” chan says with a whoop.

minho simply won’t intervene.

despite how much rest you’ve had compared to a few months back, you still don’t feel your best. still, your performance is full of energy and charisma. the whole performance is full of crazy moves and entrances. the acts hyunjin and you pulled were the highlights of the whole stage.

by the second act, your place was to do a flip between two dancers, so that they would soon do a dance break with you. you’d have to wait for a few moments until felix finishes his line and everyone files to the side for you to do your part.

you’ve rehearsed this plenty of times, you know when to enter and when to wait. you know how many steps to take and when to turn. when to breathe and when to blink.

yet, you take the wrong step and fall six feet off the platform stage. bodyguards run to you as you groan, your trembling arms helping you push yourself off the ground. jeongin’s worried eyes are on you, he’s hidden from the amount of dancers before him.

“are you okay!?” a staff asks as they help you get to your feet.

you had fallen on your hands and knees. the impact was rough but the adrenaline makes it feel like you’re fine. your hand hurts bad though, or is it your wrist? you just stare down at your shaking hands, scratched and getting red. you wobble, your knees almost giving out. you need to get back on stage-

the dance break starts.

“help me get up!” you yell, panting.

“if you’re injured we have to-“

“you have to walk all the way around-“

“y/n-ssi you need to get checked-“

everyone is talking but not moving. you growl, grabbing a bodyguard and your stare was enough for everyone to get the gist. they hunch over and hook their hands to give you leverage, your foot wobbles from weak balance as you boost yourself up with their help. clearly everyone is confused and worried, yet you crawl onto the stage and quickly get on your feet.

the impact is starting to reveal where you’re hurt. your ankle is probably sprained, each step is killing you. your shoulder aches, your elbows sting.

still, you run and when your backup dancer catch you on their peripheral vision, they immediately step back to sync with you when you backflip and spin to the floor in a breakdance pattern. it’s the final steps of the formation you were supposed to perform, yet it still blew everyone away and regained the attention of everyone.

going through the rest of the choreography was killing you. it took everything in you to not wobble as you did your lines and performed with the rest of the members.

the worst part? was that after forcing yourself to stand still for approximately one minute as the performance comes to an end for the cameras to stop rolling, you lose your balance when going down the stairs and once more, you fall from the three foot high staircase that lead to the backstage.

“hyung!” jeongin cries out, catching everyone’s attention.

medical staff already surround you as you lay on the floor, groaning and grunting.

“what’s going on?” minho asks, eyes wide and his heart pounding.

“hyung fell off the stairs!” changbin exclaims.

“he also fell off the stage,” jeongin sobs, “and he still hopped on and kept going-“

“hey, hey, let’s let them work,” chan says, gathering the kids away despite his anxiety skyrocketing.

minho doesn’t budge at first, his glassy eyes fixated on your body as the medics put you on a stretcher when you say how much it hurts to move. he’s worried sick, you really pushed yourself that bad? he can’t wonder if you’re insane or passionate. no one really enjoys the rest of the ceremony. during the speech chan mentions how passionate they are for their dream, even mentioning how y/n pushed himself to give the best performance even when he shouldn’t have.

back in the dorms chan texts the chat, saying you had dislocated your left shoulder and wrist. you’re bruised on your elbows and knees, the height would have fractured them but you had placed all your weight in the impact in your hands, causing one wrist to suffer more. two to three months until you’re fully recovered.

they still have to perform. minho can’t help but cry, he knows very well the company will make you keep going through promotions and schedules no matter how hurt you are.

and he’s nervous. how will he put aside his actions in order to care for you? you live right next to his room, how could he feign interest when you’ll be in need of assistance for a while? hyunjin was the same, so how could he not intervene?

his biggest fear is this— what if you don’t let him?

he’d deserve it of course. you have every right to refuse his help and care.

it gnaws at him for the three days straight that you’re in the hospital. it was per your request to stay for a little longer. how will he face you? is now the right time? no. yes?

he isn’t sure if he’s crying from guilt, self hatred or anxiety anymore. so when he hears your familiar footsteps inside the dorm he freezes. jisung is with chan and changbin again, coincidentally saying he’ll be home extremely late, he enters a frenzy.

he hears your gruttal sigh as you walk inside your room, your door closes.

well. it’s now or never.

you either reject him all together — reject what? he doesn’t know. he has no idea what he’s going to say, no idea if he’ll ask to console you or to apologize for what happened or what. something has to be done, though, and if you never let him get close to you again then he’ll understand that it’s the consequences of his actions.

he takes a deep breath as he heads out of his room. he swallows the knot in his throat when he stands before your door.

“leave me alone, minho,” you say before his fist even makes contact with your door to knock.

he stares at the door as if it was it that spoke to you that way. “y/n… i-“

“just leave me alone they way you said you would. you don’t need me so i don’t need you either.”

minho breathes shallow, “y-you don’t mean that-“

“the fuck do you want?” you groan, “what? i get hurt and now you decide to speak to me?”

your voice cracks at the end of your grievance. it breaks minho.

“i’m sorry,” he sobs, “i shouldn’t have been selfish! i shouldn’t have hurt you like that! shouldn’t have shut you out!”

he hiccups and takes a step back when you open the door. through blurry sight, he looks at you. you stare down at him, why are your eyes so tender?

“but you did…”

“i just knew if i didn’t i’d have no restraint,” he sniffles, “i love you.” he whispers, looking down at the floor, “seeing you with her hurt so much. knowing you smell like her made me nauseous. knowing she was your new focus made me feel like i didn’t belong in your life anymore-“

“minho,” you grab his chin with your free hand, tilting his face up. “why does it take me getting hurt for you to speak to me again?”

minho shakes his head, “i just can’t come between you and gayoung-“

“me and gayoung are dating by contract, not because i love her.” you confess, finally letting that out. “you think i want to be with her?”

minho pushes your hand away, hot tears streaming down his face again. “what will the company think? we won’t work! you have so much to lose and-“

“you think i give a damn about all of this!?” you push him forward until he’s trapped between you and the wall. “i love you, lee minho.” you stare at his mortified expression, “i stand by what i said. for you, and only you, i’d give up everything.”

“your career-“

“none of this means nothing if you’re not in it!” you grab his chin again, “you don’t have to love me back, you don’t have to accept my feelings! just, just talk to me again, please,” you beg, your own eyes glassing over, “don’t just be my coworker, be my friend again. be my safe place again. i-i’ll put away my feelings for you, we can forget that i love you but don’t shut me out again.”

“y/n…” he stares at you, realizing how truly broken you’ve been since that day.

“that’s what i meant that day… none of this is worth it if the one person that made me feel like i belonged isn’t with me.”

“oh, y/n…” his bottom lip trembles, “have we really been that blind?”

you close your eyes and sigh, “i understand you’re scared of the public eye…”

“i am…” he whimpers.

“but i’d walk through fire if it meant i’d have you as mine for the rest of my life.”

he locks eyes with you, drowning in the warmth of your orbs. his heart hammers in his chest again, would he do the same? what is he really scared of? loving you and risking his career?

no, he concludes.

“y/n….” he says shallowly before leaning in to kiss you.

he’s scared of losing you and realizing everything he has isn’t worth that.

you kiss him with passion. his soft lips syncing with yours, saliva mixing with yours as your tongue grazes his. your hands grab his waist and pull him flush against you.

“ngh- y-your wrist-“ he tries to say as you eat his mouth.

“don’t care,” you grumble as you attack his lips without remorse.

the pesty sting in your bone doesn’t matter when he’s finally in your arms. his whimpers and moans make you want more. you know he’ll sound even more beautiful beneath you in the sheets, taking all you have to offer.

just the thought accelerates your heart rate. the beautiful man you’ve always wanted is finaly before you. the kiss means more than a confession. you place your hands behind his thighs, he makes a noise when you lift him up.

“ah- your shoulder-!”

“it’s okay baby, what you make me feel is bigger than the pain,” you tease as you carry him to your bed.

he can’t scold you or complain because you attack his mouth again. you grin into the kiss as you sit on the edge of the bed with him on your lap. it’s probably the hottest thing minho will ever experience. he straddles your waist for more comfort in this position, hands running through your hair as you kiss along his jawline. when you kiss a certain spot, he twitches and whines.

with a lazy smile, you pull away and look at him.

“let me take you,” you beg softly, panting.

he swallows, looking down at the tent in your shorts. “but gayoung-“

“can you stop mentioning her?” you growl, pulling him down by the hips so that your boner pokes him through his joggers. “she will never have me the way you can.” you kiss his ear, making him shiver, “the way you will.”

“i’m scared,” he voices out. he wraps his arms around your neck, “i-i want to say yes but… there will be no going back, y/n…”

“it was never a choice,” you say.

and he lets you push him down onto the bed.

🏷️ TAG LIST — @f1ln4dr3cl16mv33 @gnusihcom @minholover1 @lucianidealz @desafortuno @missvanjii @lisaswifey @yongbokkk

©OIMITOCAT

©VICTORBUTNOTREALLY

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wanderlust-in-my-soul · 11 months ago

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Favorite Kiss Tag Game

I was tagged by @he-is-lightning-in-a-bottle 🥰 Thank you so much!

Rules: create a poll with five of your all time favorite onscreen kisses, setting any standard for qualification you choose. Then tag more friends to join in!

Okay, I am a big fan of kisses in all shapes and forms. We have the first kiss, the rain-kiss, the high emotional kiss, the last kiss, the drunk kiss, the fish kiss, the passionate kiss and so many more. I don't have a specific category for this poll, because I just went with the first kisses that came to mind as part of my favorite kisses. And there are a lot! So breaking it down to five is cruel!

Love Class 2 - Minwoo x Maru

The Day I Loved You - Nikko x Eli

History 3: Make Our Days Count - Boxiang x Zhigang

Love For Love's Sake - Myungha x Yeowoon

Perfect Propose - Hiro x Kai

I just wanted to let the kisses work their magic on you, so no explanation why I choose them.

And I am not going to tag people, because I have the feeling everybody else has already done this 😅 I am just really late to the game. But if you haven't played and you want to do this, call yourself tagged 🤗

#tag game #kiss poll #love class 2 #the day I loved you #history 3: make our days count #love for love's sake #perfect propose #bl drama #bl series #poll #kiss

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lionhanie · 11 months ago

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beautiful stranger (park sungho)

a beautiful stranger has come to save the day!

sungho x gn!reader (college au)

word count: 4.5k

genre + warnings: one (1) pinch of angst, cursing, written in all lowercase, a really really really bad date (it’s a random dude dw), sungho is pining badddd!

a/n: biggest sungho brainrot in the woooorrrrld!!!!!shoutout my babygirl jas for giving me the inspo for this <3 (and beta reading as always :3) this was heavily based on beautiful stranger by laufey! i'd suggest listening to it before/while reading ^_^

dating felt like a hassle. it wasn’t that you weren’t looking for a relationship– if anything, you were more of a hopeless romantic than anything else. pinterest boards full of couple poses you only dreamt of remaking with your partner when you finally had the opportunity to, a page in your notes app dedicated to sweet date ideas, countless playlists full of love songs you’d want to be posted to one day. instead, each failed date chipped away the hope you once held about being in love.

it was hard to blame yourself for the disappointment you felt every time you had to restart the cycle of getting to know a potential love interest. how many times could you talk about trivial matters you’ve discussed with people who ultimately end up leaving your life? what’s your favorite color? do you have any pets? did you play any sports in high school? it was repetitive, redundant, and utterly boring, to say the least.

living in a college town didn’t help either. college students seemed to thrive on the idea of a temporary fling– something “casual” is what they liked to call it. you, on the other hand, could not fathom the idea of love being “casual”. relationships seemed to work backwards; it was nothing like what you grew up seeing in the movies. hooking up amidst a drunken haze, waking up the next morning with fuzzy memories of the person you shared an intimate night with. only then do people decide whether or not their one-night-stands are “worth” getting to know properly. everything was so… wrong.

coming to university made you realize that trying to perpetuate your idea of romance would be difficult, especially when nobody seemed to take anything seriously anymore. but the hopeless romantic in you would never back down– you were determined to experience something at least remotely similar to the type of love you saw on TV in your last years as a student. so here you were, all dolled up, waiting to meet a guy you’ve been talking to for the past two weeks.

you met on a dating app, having swiped right after laughing at one of his prompts. sometimes, you were ashamed to admit you even bothered making a profile, but it felt like your last resort at this point. his name was minwoo, a graphic design major just one year above you. strictly based on his profile, he seemed sweet. unlike many others you’ve seen on the app, his pictures weren’t too flashy. almost too normal, even. your conversations were surprisingly more mentally stimulating than you’d expected from a dating app, which gave you some hope. at least he was capable of talking to someone like a normal human being, right?

minwoo asked you on a date soon after you first exchanged numbers, but schedule conflicts on both ends kept pushing it further and further away. despite all the obstacles, he still seemed interested. this was uncommon amongst the men you met on there, finding that most of them would ghost you if you weren’t willing to come see them merely days after matching. probably just losers looking for a quick hook-up. maybe this time, the dating-app gods decided it was time to give you someone good.

you agreed to meeting him only after making sure it would take place in the middle of the day in a public location on campus, where you knew it’d be safe. minwoo didn’t seem to mind, rather going along with whatever you said without complaint. you suggested a bakery that you frequented– the location was popular among students for their cheap drinks and cozy atmosphere that made a perfect spot to settle down and study for hours. being a regular there meant you were familiar with the workers, which gave you comfort knowing you had a familiar face nearby in case the date went south.

you’re pleased to see other familiar faces when you first walk through the bakery’s entrance– finding strangers you’ve seen before doing work on their laptops or enjoying an afternoon pastry. you got there 10 minutes earlier than your set meeting time, in an attempt to avoid an awkward meeting outside. first dates always make you nervous; not to mention the fact that this was a stranger you found on a dating app. what if you’re nothing like your pictures? will the conversations flow as well as they do through text? hell, what if you got catfished?

you push away your thoughts, regaining your composure as you take out a compact mirror from your bag to retouch your makeup. each time the chime above the door jingled, you found yourself turning to see if it was minwoo. it was now 2:13pm, almost fifteen minutes after you agreed to meet. you place your hands neatly in your lap, observing your surroundings briefly.

you share a fleeting moment of eye contact with a man by himself at a table by the wall, holding his page in the novel he was holding. you recognized him as another regular, having seen him occasionally when you’d stop by for a coffee. he was wearing a denim baseball hat, which covered most of his face. he gives you a small smile, but you pull your gaze away quickly. you couldn’t help but feel a bit embarrassed at the fact that you were sitting alone in the middle of the store, sitting at an empty table because you refrained from ordering something before minwoo got there.

truthfully, sungho had seen you there before. to him, you were nothing more than a beautiful stranger, one he had the pleasure of seeing more often than not when he would show up to his local bakery. he’d be lying if he said he didn’t look forward to the chance of seeing you every time he came in, sometimes even going as far to dress a little better if he felt like you’d be there that day. he was a bit shy to admit that he’d memorized your order with how often you showed up, hearing the baristas call out the drink and watching you pick it up. even he thought it was a little creepy, but it’s not like he’d ever act on his attraction, right?

hm, maybe they’re waiting for someone? sungho thinks to himself, completely forgetting about the book he was previously reading. makes sense for someone as breathtaking as you to be in a relationship. he finds himself a bit disappointed as he sinks into his seat slightly. he’s brought out of his thoughts as the familiar bells above the door ring again, signaling a new customer. a sleazy looking guy walks in, and he watches as you perk up at the sight. that’s the guy you’re meeting? sungho’s annoyed at the way your date is dressed in sweatpants and a worn out band tee when your hair is done to perfection to match the cute outfit you had on.

you promptly stand up as minwoo looks around the bakery for where you were, motioning for him to come over to your table. you feel a bit overdressed now that you see what he’s wearing. once he sees you, he smiles as he gives you an awkward side hug. first dates are always awkward like this, you shouldn’t mark it off as a disaster just yet.

“it’s nice to finally meet you, yunjin!” what?

“ah, it’s Y/N, actually.” you awkwardly laugh, hoping he was just making an off- putting joke. surely he wouldn’t get your name wrong.

“pfft, yeah i was just kidding! yunjin’s my mom’s name.” you raise your eyebrow at the comment, finding it weird to think that he’d go on a date with someone with the same name as his mother. “is this place any good?”

“yeah! i go here a lot, actually. they make all the pastries in the back, so you know they’re gonna be tasty.” minwoo merely nods at your comment, walking over to the counter to order. you follow behind him, looking at all the cake slices on display once you get there.

you smile at the person behind the register. they give you a quizzical look, side-eyeing the guy next to you. you were normally alone, so it was odd to see someone with you this time around. you shrug nonchalantly and hold in a giggle, glad that minwoo was too busy looking at the menu to see your interaction.

“i’ll have an iced coffee… and get me one of those croissants over there.” minwoo orders rudely, speaking too fast for the worker to tap in the order on the screen. you watch as they frantically press buttons on the screen, waiting for them to finish before you say your regular order.

once the barista looks up at you, you open your mouth to speak, only to be cut off. “and for you, a small caramel macchiato, right?” you beam back at them, finding it sweet to think they know your order by heart.

“you got it! i think that’ll be it for us today, thank you!” the total shows up on the small screen in front of you, card reader lighting up as it waits for payment. you turn to look at your date, expecting him to pull out his wallet to pay, but his hands are resting firmly in his pockets as he looks around the rest of the bakery. you send a sorry look to the worker for the hold-up before you take your card from your purse and tapping it on the reader. it’s not that you cared much about who paid, but rather the fact that he didn’t even try to do so rubbed you the wrong way.

“thank you! we’ll bring it to you once it’s done.” minwoo’s already on his way back to the table before the receipt is printed. your lips pursed as you take the piece of paper and shove it into your purse, thanking the worker once more.

sungho can’t help but notice the way you look defeated as you walk back to the table alone. maybe it isn’t your boyfriend. what kind of man makes you pay on a date? he scoots his chair a bit closer to your table, glad he was sitting somewhat close to yours. a little eavesdropping wouldn’t hurt anyone. he was just curious, that’s all.

“sorry, i left my wallet at my dorm.” minwoo explains to you sheepishly. first, he shows up late without apology or explanation. next, you’re called the wrong name. then, he makes you pay for his order. it can only get better from here, right?

“ah, it’s no worries!” you lie– everything he’s done so far has done nothing but raise red flags in your head, but you remain optimistic. you place your hands on the table, waiting for him to start up the conversation… except, he doesn’t. instead, he’s on his phone tapping away, presumably texting someone. it must be urgent if he needs to reply right then and there, right in front of you.

you clear your throat, which makes him look up from his screen. “so, you’re in graphic design right?” it’s a topic you didn’t discuss much in your texts, so you felt like it would be a good way to break the ice.

“eh, yeah. honestly, it’s kind of a joke major,” he comments dryly. his attention is entirely on his phone.

“what made you pick it then?” you’re desperately trying to keep up the topic.

“well, my friend said it was easy. plus, i play a lot of video games so i thought it’d be pretty cool.” he picked his major… because it was easy? minwoo continues texting away, when suddenly he scoffs at what he’s reading. “gosh, this bitch…”

you’re completely flabbergasted at this point. “excuse me?” is he talking to you? sungho’s equally as shocked at his words, letting out a gasp when he hears what minwoo said.

“sorry, my sister’s just asking me to pick up something on my way home.”

“oh, i see.” now would be a good time for your drinks to arrive– you weren’t sure what to say anymore. if anything, you weren’t sure if you wanted to keep up a conversation with someone who spoke about his family in such a way. “...i thought you said you lived in the dorms, though?”

“ah, did i? i live at home with my family.” you tilt your head at him in confusion. you were certain he said he lived in the dorms just seconds ago. it was a weird thing to lie about. why bluff about something so trivial?

“here are your drinks!” a different worker from before comes up to your table with a tray, placing your order in the middle of the table. minwoo immediately reaches for his own, drinking from the straw before gagging at the taste.

“hey, this is so bitter. is this how you guys normally make it?” the boy is clearly flustered, looking back and forth between you two. “there’s no way this place takes that long to make an iced coffee if it tastes like this!” you notice the way he’s struggling to answer minwoo’s outburst.

sungho rolls his eyes. he hasn’t looked at his book in ages, finding your date far more interesting. has this douche never been to a coffee shop before?

“it’s supposed to be like that, yeah. we have sugar in the corner for customers to adjust the sweetness themselves.” the worker explains calmly, motioning to the coffee station by the garbage. he was one of the newer hires, but he resolved the situation well.

minwoo takes his drink, clearly annoyed as he goes to add sugar. you quickly apologize for his behavior once he’s gone, and the worker gives you a face of understanding before taking the tray back to the kitchen.

you take a sip from your own drink, finding it made to perfection, as usual. even when you first tried their iced coffee, you can’t recall it being that bad. at least, not gross enough to make a scene. glancing at your watch, you noticed it’s only been twenty minutes since minwoo arrived. it felt like you were there for hours– in the worst way possible.

minwoo returns to his seat, seemingly satisfied with his coffee now. “i can’t believe they sell shit like this. what’s the point of buying it if i have to make it myself?” he was so… pretentious. it was annoying.

“i mean, not everyone likes their drinks sweet, so i think it makes sense-”

minwoo puts his hand in front of your face to shut you up. “well, i do. they should just do it right the first time.”

you lean back, shocked at the way he nearly hit you with his movements. “it’s not like they know how your preferences.”

“jesus Y/N, you sound like my ex right now!”

“...your ex?” maybe you weren’t the most well-versed when it came to dating, but you knew better than to mention other people to the person you were currently talking to.

“yeah, my ex was like, batshit crazy. she would always be on my ass about how often i’d go out to the bars with my friends, it was ridiculous! a guy just needs to have fun sometimes, right?” there wasn’t anything explicitly wrong with wanting to go party with your friends, but why did he need to do all that if he was in a relationship? to you, it felt like a valid thing to be angry about. if it was something severe enough for her to lash out on him like that, it must’ve been serious. you can’t find it in you to blame the poor girl, especially if she had to put up with his immaturity all the time.

you don’t have anything to say as you swirl the drink around in your cup, watching as the foam on top melts into the rest of it. this was a disaster. you should’ve known something was wrong with the way minwoo felt like an entirely different person upon meeting. he was nothing like the seemingly kind boy you were texting for the past two weeks.

suddenly, his phone vibrates on the table. he quickly picks it up before you can see who’s calling, already out of his chair. “sorry, i need to answer this– it’s my sister. i’ll be right back.” minwoo unlocks his phone to answer, his tone much sweeter than it was when he was speaking to you.

you watch as he walks out the door to take the call outside. suspicion brewed in your gut as you think about what just happened. earlier, he was cursing out his sister, but now he’s smiling on the phone with her? something told you it wasn’t actually his sister calling.

sungho doesn’t know what gets into him when he finds himself springing to his feet, heading over to your table. in a time like this, he’s grateful that he managed to pick up on your name thanks to the workers. “Y/N, right? this probably isn’t my place, but are you dating that guy?”

you immediately shake your head no, almost disgusted at the thought of being in a relationship with someone like minwoo.

“i don’t know if you’ve noticed, but he’s obnoxiously loud. if the music was any quieter, everyone could hear the way he’s acting like an asshole.” your cheeks heat up in embarrassment, thankful that most of the people in there were too focused with their own business to listen in on your horrendous date.

“yeah, he’s definitely… something. it’s my first time meeting this guy, sorry to bother you over there.” you bow your head slightly, flustered to think that you were burdening one of the regulars by bringing your no-good-date to your favorite bakery.

“it’s your first time meeting and he’s like that?” the stranger lets out a huff of disbelief. “you’re free to say no, but… do you need help? i can pretend to be your friend or something so we can get out of here.” his eyes are full of concern. you’re taken aback at the stranger’s act of kindness, but thankful nonetheless.

“i’m alright, i think. he was a lot nicer over text, so maybe he just needs to warm up to me or something?”

the man’s displeased with your response; he would’ve rather you walk out on the date right there. “...okay. i’m sungho, by the way. my seat’s just over there, so just give me a look if you need saving.” sungho returns to his table, looking at you before he picks up his book again and pretends to read.

“listen, she really wants me to come home soon, so i might have to leave in an hour or so.” one more hour spent with this weirdo. you don’t think you could last another ten minutes.

“that’s fine, i understand it’s something important!” you’re unsure how you maintain such a cheerful act when it feels like your date lied about who he was on the phone with just moments ago.

“so, are you doing anything later?” he places his phone face down on the table before leaning back in his chair. this was the first time his attention is entirely on you, but after everything you’ve seen, you’re immediately turned off.

“probably going to work on some papers i have coming up, i’m pretty swamped right now when it comes to my assignments.” you didn’t actually have anything urgent you needed to work on, but you didn’t want to make yourself available for whatever he was about to propose.

“that’s a shame. i was planning on going out to the new club that opened a couple streets down,” minwoo pouts at you, making you groan in disgust internally. “you’re nice and all, but i can’t help thinking about what you’d really be like once you got some alcohol in ya!”

“oh… what’s wrong with the way i’m acting now?”

“well, not that there’s anything bad about you, you just seem a bit… uptight! i was just saying you need to loosen up bit. maybe all that coursework has you pent up, if you know what i mean.” you shiver at his implications. minwoo places his sweaty fingers atop yours, rubbing his thumb against the back of your hand. you try to pull away, but he keeps his grip firm as he smirks at you.

you quickly glance over to sungho, finding that he was already looking at you, waiting for your signal of help. you bite your lip slightly before giving him a small nod. sungho takes his hat off, finally giving you a proper look at him as he runs his hand into his hair. he’s quick to close his book and tuck it under his arm, making his way over to your table in a few long strides.

“Y/N? what are the chances i run into you here!” he sounds genuinely happy to see an old friend, placing his palm on your shoulder reassuringly as he takes his place beside you. sungho’s so good at the bit, you’re convinced he might be an acting major. “actually, leehan said he found your lab report in the library just now. didn’t we need to turn that in yesterday?” his words are urgent as he shows you random messages on his phone. it was leehan who he was texting, but the contents of their messages weren’t remotely related to his made-up story.

“fuck, i totally forgot about that,” you place your hand on your forehead, feigning stress over your fake lost assignment. “minwoo, it’s been really nice meeting you, but my entire grade relies on getting that report in, so i might have to leave earlier than expected…”

“oh, really? i haven’t turned in any of my assignments in weeks!” you hold yourself back from rolling your eyes; of course he was a shitty student to top it all off. he was probably on the verge of getting kicked out for his bad habits.

“Y/N, leehan just said he needs to go to class soon, we might want to go now before he has to leave.”

“shit, actually?” sungho nods eagerly, making it seem like you urgently need to leave. “i’m so sorry about this minwoo, i should get going.”

“okay, i’ll text you later then?” you hum in response, grabbing your belongings as sungho is practically pushing you away from the table and towards the exit. he holds the door open for you as you step outside, heading in the opposite direction of the store.

“are you really going to text him later?” sungho’s walking beside you as you count the cracks in the sidewalk.

you let out a pitiful laugh at the silly question. “god, no. there’s no way i’m going to be in contact with that freak any time soon.”

“good. anyone could see he was a piece of shit.” his words stung a bit; you felt humiliated. to think that you genuinely thought minwoo might be your chance at a college romance, yet you needed to be saved by a stranger. your judge of character might be worse than you think.

you find yourself at a nearby park far away from the bakery, sitting idly at the swingset. your savior is still with you, an empty swing between you as he kicks the pebbles on the ground. you’re not sure why he’s still there, but you’re comforted by his company in the aftermath.

why is dating so hard? you curse yourself for not seeing this outcome sooner. there really wasn’t any way you could’ve predicted minwoo would act like that– in a way, it feels like your fault. maybe you weren’t the type of person people would want to date. maybe there was no chance of you finding someone good to settle down with before you graduated. did it have to do with you? maybe it wasn’t the dating culture holding you back. you don’t know why your eyes begin to well up, but you stifle back your sniffles as a tear falls into your lap.

sungho immediately picks up on your emotions. he doesn’t normally know what to do in situations like this, but he’s sure he wants to comfort you. “hey, hey… are you crying?” he moves to kneel down in front of you.

he pulls a handkerchief out of his pocket, offering it out to you. you quickly take it, looking away as you dab at your eyes. “fuck, this is so embarrassing.” you force out a laugh, trying to make light of the situation.

“it’s not embarrassing,” sungho pauses for a moment as he thinks about what to say. “sometimes people don’t turn out to be how you think they are.” sungho wants to slap himself for struggling to find the words he wants to tell you.

“i guess, but i’m sitting here crying in front of a stranger.” you look down at him, feeling small despite the fact that he was on the ground in front of you now.

“i’d like for us to be friends, at least.” you giggle at his comment, giving him a nod of agreement.

“maybe this is a sign for me to give up.” your words are full of defeat.

sungho’s confused from the lack of context. “give up?”

“give up on love. i don’t know why i thought i could find something on a dating app, for god’s sake. i guess it’s just not for me.” sungho knows whats he wants to say now. he wants to tell you you’re beautiful. he wants to tell you that you deserve to be treated well. he wants to tell you that anyone would be stupid to give up the opportunity to love you.

he knows he shouldn’t say all that, at least not now. “would you give it one more chance? y’know, if the opportunity ever showed up.”

“yeah, if that ever happened. i’m starting to feel like a lost cause here, sungho.” you scoff. after so many failed encounters with love, you felt like it was time for you to take a break. “you’re acting like the right person is going to magically show up in front of me.”

there’s silence in the air between you as the leaves rustle the trees above. “this might be the worst possible time to do this, but would you let me take you out on a date, Y/N?”

...part two? (i have ideas for it already. Plz lmk if u guys GAF.)

taglist: @onedoornet @minwrlds @serejae @loserlvrss @gluion

#ᯓᡣ𐭩 my writing #onedoornet #boynextdoor #boynextdoor fic #sungho #boynextdoor sungho #sungho x reader #boynextdoor sungho x reader #x reader #kpop writing #kpop fic #park sungho

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teamunee · 2 months ago

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THIS IS NOT A JOKE!! 😭😭😭

Suddenly able to see the supernatural, college student Minwoo Ha unexpectedly finds himself working for a small teahouse, where the residents are all just a little odd.

My webtoon G[host] debuts on April 1st on webtoon canvas and tapas!!! Keep an eye out!!!!

#webtoon #webtoon canvas

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lambify · 1 year ago

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“ Darling, you tell me every time but you always come back. ” He doesn't look up from his phone when Yejun enters, scrolling a blank messaging app for the umpteenth time in hopes that a message from a stranger would pop up. Dejected, once again, he finally drops his phone on the couch beside him, gathers paperwork and pulls up his legs to make a little space, should Yejun want to join him.

Thanks to Kitty's recent habit of actually showing up for work, ( thank you Sungyeol, maybe? ) he's only behind the bar tonight. “ I think you like checking on me. ” His moods a far improvement from the day before, so much so that he can barely hide a smile as his phone buzzes with another notification. “ I could always swing by your place ~ ” He trails off mid sentence, reading the notification: “ ~ get the - sorry what was I saying? ”

[ unknown number: ] Hello, it's Jiwon! Did you get home alright?

@wingached <3

yejun has spent a lot of time in clubs in his life. he's used to the heat, the bright lights, the bumping bodies, the smell of alcohol and perfume that permeates in the air. it's familiar to him, comforting, in a way.

and yet, whenever he enters velvet, his skin crawls.

it is luxurious to the untrained eye, but with the knowledge of the depravity that goes on, he has a hard time ever feeling truly comfortable in the establishment.

it's early in the night when he enters. only a few of the most dedicated regulars are in the building -- it's mostly other staff he passes by on his way to the back, garment bags slung over his shoulder. still, he feels eyes on him. he quickens his step until he's shoving a thick velvet curtain to the side and makes his way to the male dancer's change room.

minwoo is there as he'd expected, sitting demurely on the couch. yejun sighs a breath of relief.

❝ have i ever told you how much i fucking hate coming in here? ❞ he crosses the room to the clothes rack, hanging up the garment bags before he sits himself down on one of the makeup chairs. his face twists in a repulsed expression. ❝ seriously. i don't know how you do this every night. ❞

#are they lovers? NO. WORSE. besties.#i KNOW we might have to retcon some of this #* . 　 ♡ . ˚ ic minwoo ˗ˏˋ you can’t tell pain from love ˎˊ˗#bendhell #poor guy has NEVER flirted over text in an innocent way #hes in LOVE

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wonryllis · 1 year ago

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Give your moots tropes they suit!

、ㅤ🎬 ⋆ ࣪ 午 MOOTS AS TROPES ᵎᵎ

so i already did this with a few of my mutuals HERE, and hence i'll only do those who i haven't done and those who i have talked to at least a couple of times. ( MUTUALS )

@jaylaxies co workers to lovers au like a chem prof and eng prof having beef that the entire college knows of and suddenly they start seeing each other differently and and appreciating their differences (like their personality and style of teaching and the way they think etc yk) students are flabbergasted when they announce their relationship AFTER being accidentally discovered by someone lol.

@alvojake college au with a project partners to friends to lovers trope where they both think the other is boring but quickly are proven wrong when enjoy the time together more than expected and then going on 'hangouts' after the project is over, just the two of them and then denying feelings for the longest time sigh.

@sserasin crushing on crush's crush and then getting successful trope if that's a thing. like going to a hangout with a bunch of friends at an amusement park or something very active and coming across her crush's crush and totally getting why and then finding it hard not to fall but at the end of the day her crush is changed and now it's like a competition.

@pockettwinzz legit like legit stalker x celeb, i married my anti fan au but reverse like i married my die hard fan? hazel being famous for supporting the celeb but like not in a creepy way and loving them while heartedly and then suddenly something happens and the celeb has to work with hazel's company for something and the celeb requests to be assisted by hazel for everything and that's how the story starts!!

@hooniehon classic airport crush turned fling you never seen again but boom you find them in your vacay hotel and they work as the bartender there. claire going to some exotic place, alone, for a work trip(surprisingly) returning to the hotel early evening after a meeting and then going out to the bar near the pool and finding that same airport crush bartending and then they talk the entire night and—

@pprodsuga idk if this because of the jay lawyer au but .. lawyer x lawyer and add a whole lot of comedy because they're kinda frenemies, basically eawyw choi suyeon and kwon minwoo ahhh!!! rivalry as coworkers and denying feelings because no way you like that person and then getting drunk and confessing josie pie is so suyeon and minwoo coded it's insane!

@koishua i did this for you on my previous account but this now my perspective has changed.. ahem ahem so found family in a romantic love setting au like just finding your person, your home and everything you have ever wanted to have to feel alive in your lover. fluffy little moments that means so much and evoke a range of emotions vie never expected.

@eeunoia popular girl with her nerd bestfriend turned fake date turned real lover trope. psyche tried of all the fans hovering around her and asking to go out with her, begs the bestfriend to fake date her for a few months, pda in the corridors and the cafeteria and uni festival and just everywhere anyone is that they don't even realize when it's not longer an act anymore.

@leaderwon classic classmates to lovers trope, but like new classmates yk. staring at each other on the very first day and being like oh they're good-looking! and taking more notice of each other as the days pass by and they talk between classes and sit together during lunch but it's slow burn and then high school comes to an end and they part ways but hit it off after a reunion years later.

@tyunni ta x student trope (they're same age!!) can totally see may being a worldclass genius, top of her class, loved by profs and then in comes the love interest who's just changed classes and can't for the love of god get a single thing inside their head. so every tuesday and thursday may gives lessons and they slowly fall in love..

@jjunae childhood best friend but then turned enemies and then fling .. things happen and like no matter how hard they try something just keeps coming in the way and like by the time they are together they're too old kinda the 'love rosie' movie.

@lheebra a coming of age au with a summer fling somewhere in europe, a 'float' movie au like dani taking a break from lawschool and going on a month long trip to somewhere small and cozy and then falling for this cute guy in the town who shows her around and everything.

@fakeuwus kinda like an "if i stay" au. period. nic getting into an accident and falling into coma where her soul is having an out of body experience and everyone around just wants her to stay but she does not feel like it until, that person that makes her see things differently that makes her want to live and that makes her want to try. crying.

@lilyuwon chaebol heir with the hardworking intern at their family's company. i can also imagine yev as the hardworking intern always scolding the heir about not trying anything because everything will eventually be given to them. and also yev being a bratty nepo baby heir who annoys the hell out of the intern because she's bored.

@sainns college au but sports rivals. captain of two different teams and always bickering about and everything. always fighting in the corridors about who's the better one and throwing glares before getting on their bus for the tournament but texting each other encouraging messages the night before the match and even going to support secretly.

@stwrjvke this is everything, maid of honor x best man trope. you can't tell me it's not ash like them both preparing for the wedding while bickering their asses off and then on the wedding day they bawl their eyes out watching their friends get married and then after the marriage is over part ways albeit with feelings grown and then meet years later somewhere and hit it off.

@intromortal new clumsy secretary with a supernatural being boss? like nia getting a job at a fashion editorial or something and the boss turns out to be a vampire or like a demon or incubus or something and nia accidentally finds it out and now she can't be allowed to quit because she knows and that secret brings them closer and closer ..

@glitterjay omg omg listen basketball captain x cheerleader au. absolutely can see sea being that pretty cheerleader that rolls her eyes at the captain and that's what makes her so attractive and worth chasing. and they have this thing of fooling around the lockers and the bleachers before and after match but the commitment.. ?

@kareyuns this is absolutely not because you live i hawaii .. actually it is so like love triangle between tour guide and her friend and the tourist. mimi taking up a summer job as a tour guide and being assigned to a backpacker who randomly chose the place and showing them around and her friend getting jealous by the amount of time she spends away because that's basically dates. and then the backpacker decides to stay longer and the rivalry for mimi omg.

@theyluvvaubery idk why but like a royal au, but set in modern day with her being the next in line to the throne and the love interest being someone of a lower rank and they struggle to be together. sneaking around at first and then being separated and then eloping away.

#✦ && M—GAMES ◜ᴗ◝#sorry if i missed anyone

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hanhonymous · 20 days ago

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Strongberry's first episode of "Sweetheart Service" is delightfully lighthearted, setting up my most beloved of tropes: fake dating. Easygoing Yooha (Kim Hunseo) needs money and works multiple gigs via a Strawberry (Strongberry??) app that is similar to Taskrabbit. Whether it's unclogging a toilet or posing as a nude art model, no job is beneath him.

He takes the job of pretending to be a fake boyfriend to a woman to blow up her blind date with the deliciously bespectacled tech bro Minwoo (Lee Jaehyeop), who can't be bothered to make a good impression either. We learn later that of course he's the eldest grandson of a wealthy muck-a-muck and thus has the burden of marrying in order to carry on yadda-yadda patriarchal bloodline garbage.

Before Minwoo hits upon the idea of hiring his own fake boyfriend to hold off his family, however, he decides to drink away his sorrows at a local watering hole run by dishy bartender Taeha (Jung Myeongcheol). As one does when full of alcohol and faced with a guy in a waistcoat wiping down a bar with forearms exposed, Minwoo asks for advice: Is marriage or dating worth it?

What follows is a the exchange that I hope will be an ongoing theme, which is using cocktails as metaphor.

Taeha:

"Drinks like water or soda are simple. You just drink them as they are -- no need to mix -- clean and efficient. But cocktails are different. Different ingredients mix and blend. Sometimes they clash, creating a story in each sip.

"I think dating and marriage are similar. When people who don't seem to match collide, mix and blend, they create a unique flavor just for them.

"Sometimes it's too bitter, sometimes too sweet. But when you find the perfect combination, you can't forget the taste."

The drink he's mixing is a grapefruit cocktail known as Salty Dog -- which also happens to be the title of the episode.

What I really appreciate about this is that when it comes to BL as a genre, I think sometimes overly saccharine storytelling -- with TikTok-worthy fanedit moments -- tries to pass as romance. But the stories that acknowledge the imperfections in both people and still results in a relationship are the ones that resonate with me the most. As I've grown older, my literal palate has also changed; now I have a taste for bitter (Fernet!)

Sometimes I don't need a metaphor to be belabored. Make it simple, straightforward and tasty.

건배!!

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velvetvisionsaurora · 10 days ago

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Alpha ATEEZ x Assistant Omega Reader

Warnings: omega reader, alpha ateez, scenting, heats, ruts, slow burn, eventual smut, forced command, more to come!

Authors note: 😳 You all blew up the fic, lol. I’m glad everyone loves it! Unfortunately though the Taglist is currently closed! I’m so sorry everyone! Thank you for all the reposts and love! Keep leaving comment on your thoughts! I love reading them. 💜

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Masterlist

Chapter 3: First Day

The two weeks following your job acceptance passed in a whirlwind of activity. Between giving notice at your previous job, packing up your belongings, and saying goodbye to your roommates, you'd barely had time to process the magnitude of the change you were about to undertake. Manager Minwoo had been in constant contact, sending over contracts, employee handbooks, and preliminary schedules to help you prepare.

Now, as you stood beside the small moving truck that contained your life's possessions, staring up at the ATEEZ residence, reality finally hit you. This was happening. Today, you were officially starting as their assistant, and this beautiful property was about to become your home.

You reached up to check your scent blocker patch, a gesture that had become almost ritualistic in its frequency over the past two weeks. Working and living in such close proximity to eight alpha idols meant you couldn't afford even a moment's lapse in concealing your omega status.

Taking a deep breath, you picked up the small box containing your immediate essentials and approached the front gate. Before you could even press the intercom button, the gate swung open, revealing Kim Hongjoong waiting on the other side.

"I saw the truck pull up," he explained with a warm smile that made your heart skip. "Welcome to your new home, Y/n."

Hongjoong had been watching the driveway periodically all morning, trying not to seem overeager about your arrival. When he finally spotted the moving truck turning into their street, he'd immediately headed downstairs, ignoring Wooyoung's knowing smirk and San's amused comment about "eager alphas."

Now, seeing you standing there with a box in your arms and nervous anticipation written across your face, Hongjoong felt that same inexplicable pull he'd experienced during your interview. There was something about your presence that resonated with him on a deeply instinctive level—something his alpha senses recognized even without being able to detect your scent.

"Let me help you with that," he offered, reaching for the box in your arms.

"Oh, thank you," you replied, relinquishing it with a grateful smile. "It's not too heavy, just some essentials I wanted to keep with me."

Hongjoong noticed the way you unconsciously touched the spot behind your ear—where a scent blocker patch would typically be placed. He understood the precaution; many industry professionals, regardless of their status, wore blockers to maintain privacy and professionalism. Still, he couldn't help but feel a twinge of curiosity about what your natural scent might be.

"The others are inside," he said, leading you toward the house. "Fair warning: they're a bit excited about your arrival."

Your stomach fluttered with nervous energy at Hongjoong's words. During your interview, you'd only met three of the eight members. The prospect of meeting the remaining five—all alphas with strong personalities according to everything you'd read and watched about them—was both exciting and intimidating.

"I'm looking forward to meeting everyone," you said, trying to project confidence despite your nerves. "I hope I can live up to expectations."

Hongjoong glanced at you, his expression softening. "Just be yourself. That's what impressed us in the first place."

Before you could respond, the front door of the main house flew open, and Wooyoung burst out, his face lit up with enthusiasm.

"She's here!" he called over his shoulder before bounding down the steps toward you. "Welcome, Y/n! We've been counting down the days!"

You couldn't help but laugh at his exuberance. "Thank you. It's good to see you again, Wooyoung-ssi."

"Just Wooyoung, please," he insisted, falling into step beside you. "We're going to be seeing way too much of each other for formalities."

Inside the house, the remaining members had gathered in the living room, curiosity drawing them together to meet the new assistant who had made such an impression on Hongjoong, San, and Wooyoung. Seonghwa had insisted on cleaning the entire common area that morning, despite their housekeeper having done so just the day before.

"You're fussing," Yeosang had commented quietly, watching Seonghwa rearrange the throw pillows for the third time.

"I'm ensuring we make a good first impression," Seonghwa corrected him, though he couldn't fully explain the strange sense of anticipation he felt. The way Hongjoong and the others had described their immediate connection to you had piqued his interest. Such reactions were typically scent-driven for alphas, yet they'd been clear that you wore blockers.

Now, hearing Wooyoung's excited exclamation from outside, Seonghwa straightened, smoothing down his sweater and assuming the composed posture that had earned him the nickname of "pack mom" among the members.

The front door opened, and all eyes turned to see Hongjoong enter, carrying a box, with you and Wooyoung close behind.

You stepped into the living room and immediately felt the weight of seven pairs of eyes focused intently on you. Despite having seen each of these men countless times in videos and photos, being in their presence was an entirely different experience. The collective alpha energy in the room was palpable, creating an atmosphere that would have been overwhelming if not for the genuine warmth in their expressions.

"Everyone," Hongjoong said, placing your box on a nearby table, "this is Y/n L/n, our new assistant. Y/n, you've already met San and Wooyoung, but let me introduce you to the rest of the team."

One by one, he indicated each member. "Seonghwa, our eldest." A tall, strikingly handsome man with gentle eyes nodded politely. "Yunho." A sunshine smile from the tallest member. "Yeosang." A slight nod from a man with delicate features that belied his alpha status. "Mingi." An enthusiastic wave from a member with a deep voice. "And Jongho, our youngest." The final member, compact but radiating strength, offered a respectful bow.

"It's an honor to meet all of you," you said, bowing formally despite Wooyoung's earlier dismissal of formalities. "I'm looking forward to working with you and supporting your schedules and activities."

Seonghwa found himself unable to look away from you. The moment you'd walked into the room, something had shifted in the atmosphere—a subtle change that his alpha senses detected immediately. Despite not being able to catch your scent through the blockers you wore, he felt an inexplicable draw toward your presence. It was unlike anything he'd experienced before, a strange mixture of protectiveness and recognition that made no logical sense.

Beside him, he could sense similar reactions from the other members who hadn't met you yet. Yunho was practically vibrating with friendly energy, while even the typically reserved Yeosang seemed unusually attentive. Jongho's posture had subtly straightened, his eyes tracking your movements with curious intensity.

"We're glad to have you join us," Seonghwa said, stepping forward to properly welcome you. "I hope the guys didn't overwhelm you during your interview."

"Not at all," you replied with a warm smile that sent an unexpected wave of satisfaction through him. "Everyone has been very welcoming."

There was something in your voice, a gentle confidence that immediately put him at ease while simultaneously intriguing him. Now he understood what Hongjoong had tried to explain—there was indeed something special about your presence that transcended typical first impressions.

You found yourself particularly drawn to Seonghwa's calm, composed aura. Where Wooyoung radiated chaotic energy and Hongjoong exuded leadership, Seonghwa projected a nurturing stability that immediately made you feel at ease despite the intimidating circumstances.

"We've prepared a welcome lunch," Seonghwa continued, gesturing toward what you assumed was the direction of the kitchen. "But perhaps you'd like to see the guesthouse first and get settled a bit?"

"That's very thoughtful, thank you," you replied gratefully. The prospect of having a moment to collect yourself before diving into social interaction was appealing. "I would appreciate a few minutes to bring in some essentials."

Yunho immediately stepped forward. "We can help with your moving truck," he offered with an easy smile. "Between the eight of us, we should make quick work of it."

"Oh, you really don't have to—" you began, but were quickly interrupted by multiple voices insisting they wanted to help.

"Consider it part of our welcome," Jongho said, speaking for the first time. His voice was unexpectedly gentle coming from someone with such a strong physical presence.

"Eight alphas with nothing better to do on a Sunday," Mingi added with a grin. "Either we help you move, or Wooyoung convinces us to try another one of his 'genius' prank ideas."

"Hey!" Wooyoung protested, though there was no real offense in his tone.

You couldn't help but laugh, already feeling the tension in your shoulders beginning to ease. "Well, when you put it that way, I'd be grateful for the help."

The next hour passed in a flurry of activity as all eight ATEEZ members helped transport your belongings from the truck to the guesthouse. What should have been a simple moving process quickly evolved into something resembling organized chaos, with good-natured bickering over who would carry what and Seonghwa's increasingly exasperated attempts to direct traffic.

San found himself volunteering for multiple trips, drawn by the opportunity to learn more about you through your possessions. The small collection of books—a mix of business references, fantasy novels, and memoirs—spoke of a curious, multifaceted mind. The carefully packed box of houseplants suggested nurturing tendencies. Each item offered a glimpse into who you were beyond the professional facade.

"You have good taste in music," he commented, noticing your vinyl collection as he placed it carefully on the shelf you'd indicated. "I love this album too."

"Really?" you replied, lighting up with genuine pleasure at the shared interest. "It's one of my favorites. The composition is so layered—you discover something new every time you listen."

San felt a warm satisfaction at having found this connection with you. "Exactly! That's what I always tell Wooyoung, but he doesn't have the patience to listen to anything more than twice."

Your laugh in response sent an unexpected wave of pleasure through him—a reaction so visceral it momentarily caught him off guard.

You were both surprised and touched by how thoughtfully the members handled your belongings. Jongho carefully carried your boxes marked "fragile" as if they contained priceless artifacts rather than simply kitchen dishes. Yeosang, despite his quiet demeanor, took charge of organizing your books and music collection with surprising attention to detail. Mingi enthusiastically placed your plants around the living area, declaring they "improved the energy" of the space.

Even more surprising was how quickly you felt at ease in their presence. Despite being surrounded by eight alpha idols, you found yourself laughing at Wooyoung and San's playful banter, gratefully accepting Seonghwa's practical suggestions for furniture arrangement, and appreciating Hongjoong's careful respect of your space and preferences.

"Where would you like this?" Hongjoong asked, holding up a framed photo of you with who he assumed were your parents.

"On the side table, please," you replied, watching as he placed it carefully on the surface, angling it slightly before stepping back.

"Your parents?" he inquired with gentle curiosity.

You nodded, a fond smile crossing your face. "Yes. They live in Busan now. They're both teachers."

There was something warm in Hongjoong's expression as he regarded the photo. "You have your mother's smile."

The personal observation, delivered with such quiet sincerity, sent an unexpected flutter through your chest. "Thank you. That's what everyone says."

By early afternoon, the moving truck was empty, and your belongings were distributed throughout the guesthouse. What would have taken you the entire day to accomplish on your own had been completed in just over an hour with the enthusiastic help of all eight members.

"I can't thank you all enough," you said sincerely, looking around at your new space, already beginning to feel like home. "You've made this so much easier than I expected."

"That's what pack—I mean, that's what teammates do," Yunho quickly corrected himself, though the slip didn't go unnoticed by the others. There was a moment of awkward silence before Seonghwa smoothly changed the subject.

"The welcome lunch should be ready now," he said. "Unless you'd prefer some time alone to settle in?"

You considered the offer. While part of you did want to begin unpacking and organizing your new space, the genuine warmth and welcome you'd received made you reluctant to cut short this initial bonding time. "Lunch sounds wonderful, thank you."

"Excellent," Seonghwa said with a satisfied smile. "I prepared japchae and bulgogi—I hope that's alright?"

"You cooked?" you asked, both surprised and touched by the gesture.

"Seonghwa-hyung always cooks for special occasions," Jongho explained with a hint of pride in his voice. "And new pack members definitely qualify as special."

"Team members," Hongjoong corrected firmly, giving Jongho a pointed look that made you wonder about the significance of the distinction.

The main house's dining area was impressive—a large table that comfortably seated ten, with expansive windows overlooking the garden. As you took your seat between Yunho and Yeosang, you couldn't help but feel a surreal sense of displacement. Just two weeks ago, you'd been having ramen in your tiny apartment with your roommates. Now, you were sitting at a table with ATEEZ, about to share a meal that Seonghwa had prepared specially to welcome you.

"I should warn you," Yunho said in a conspiratorial whisper, leaning slightly toward you, "once you taste Seonghwa-hyung's cooking, the company cafeteria will never satisfy you again."

You laughed softly. "I'll consider myself warned."

As Seonghwa and Hongjoong brought out the food—far more dishes than you'd expected—the atmosphere around the table was relaxed and welcoming. The members fell into a natural rhythm of conversation, effortlessly including you without making you feel put on the spot.

"So, Y/n," Mingi asked as he passed you a dish, "what made you want to work in the entertainment industry? Specifically with idols?"

Hongjoong found himself particularly interested in your answer to Mingi's question. He'd reviewed your resume thoroughly, noted your previous experience, but the "why" behind your career choices hadn't been something they'd explored deeply in the interview.

He watched as you considered the question thoughtfully before answering, struck by how naturally you fit at their table despite having just met most of them today.

"I've always been drawn to creative environments," you explained, accepting the dish from Mingi with a grateful nod. "There's an energy in the entertainment industry that you don't find anywhere else—this blend of artistic expression and structured business that creates something meaningful."

You paused, wondering how much to reveal. "As for working with idols specifically... I admire the dedication it takes to succeed in this industry. The training, the performances, the constant growth and reinvention. Being able to support that process, even in an administrative capacity, feels fulfilling to me."

Yeosang, who had been quietly observant until now, spoke up. "That's a thoughtful answer. Most people just say they want to be close to celebrities."

You laughed softly. "Well, I won't pretend the opportunity to work with artists I respect isn't exciting. But it's the behind-the-scenes work that actually interests me the most—helping create the structure that allows creativity to flourish."

Hongjoong nodded, a look of approval crossing his face. "That's exactly what we need—someone who understands both sides of the equation."

As the meal progressed, you found yourself relaxing more and more in their company. Despite being surrounded by alpha idols, you felt neither intimidated nor out of place. There was something about their dynamic—the way they interacted with each other and with you—that created a sense of belonging you hadn't anticipated feeling so quickly.

Wooyoung kept you laughing with dramatic stories of their trainee days. Yunho shared his enthusiasm for an online game you also happened to enjoy. Jongho impressed you with his thoughtful questions about your previous work experience. Even the quieter Yeosang offered occasional comments that revealed a sharp wit beneath his reserved exterior.

Throughout it all, you were acutely aware of Hongjoong's attentive presence at the head of the table. Though he didn't dominate the conversation, his subtle guidance of the discussion and the way the others naturally deferred to him in certain moments spoke volumes about his leadership style.

Seonghwa, too, commanded your attention in a different way—his nurturing energy evident in how he ensured everyone's plates and glasses were filled, how he gently steered the conversation when it veered toward topics that might make you uncomfortable as a newcomer.

Seonghwa couldn't explain the satisfaction he felt watching you enjoy the food he'd prepared. Each appreciative comment or pleased expression sent a wave of alpha contentment through him—a primal response to providing for... for what? You weren't pack, weren't family, weren't anything beyond their new employee. And yet, his instincts were responding as if you were something more.

He caught Hongjoong's eye across the table and recognized the same confusing mix of emotions reflected there. Something unspoken passed between them—an acknowledgment that whatever this strange pull was, they both felt it.

"I hope the guesthouse has everything you need," Seonghwa said, turning his attention back to you. "If there's anything missing or anything you'd like changed, please don't hesitate to let us know."

"It's perfect," you assured him with a warm smile that sent another inexplicable wave of pleasure through him. "More than perfect, actually. I still can't believe I get to live there."

"You even have a good view of the pool," San commented with a grin. "You should see how the sunlight hits the water in the late afternoon—it's beautiful."

"Maybe we should have a welcome pool party," Wooyoung suggested enthusiastically.

"We’re in the middle of preparing for a comeback and tour," Jongho pointed out. "Plus it’s barley summer.”

"Details, details," Wooyoung dismissed with a wave of his hand. "We have a heater for it."

You laughed, the sound light and melodic. "That sounds lovely Wooyoung. I’m not much of a swimmer though, more of a sunbather.”

"I could teach you," both San and Wooyoung offered simultaneously, then turned to glare at each other as Seonghwa rolled his eyes.

---

After lunch, Hongjoong suggested showing you the office where you'd be primarily working. The others dispersed to various parts of the house, though not without Wooyoung extracting a promise that you'd join them for movie night later if you weren't too tired from moving.

"Don't feel obligated," Hongjoong told you quietly as he led you toward the office. "Wooyoung can be... enthusiastic. But everyone understands if you need time to settle in."

"I appreciate that," you replied, touched by his consideration. "But I think I'd like to join, if that's alright. It seems like a good way to get to know everyone better."

Hongjoong smiled, a glint of approval in his eyes. "It is. Just be prepared—movie selection can get competitive around here."

The office, which you'd briefly seen during your interview, had been thoroughly prepared for your arrival. Someone had placed a small vase of fresh flowers beside the computer.

"Seonghwa's touch," Hongjoong explained, noticing your gaze on the flowers. "He thought it would make the space feel more welcoming."

"That was very thoughtful of him," you said, genuinely moved by the gesture.

Hongjoong showed you the filing system, the scheduling software, and the various communication channels used by the team. Though you'd received preliminary information from Manager Minwoo, having Hongjoong walk you through everything personally made the overwhelming amount of information seem more manageable.

"Your first official day is tomorrow," he reminded you. "Today is just for getting settled. But I thought you might want to see where everything is located."

"I appreciate that," you said gratefully. "It helps to get oriented before diving in."

Hongjoong hesitated, then added, "I've scheduled the first few days to be more training than execution. You'll shadow Manager Minwoo tomorrow, and then gradually take over responsibilities as you become comfortable with them."

The consideration in his planning touched you. "Thank you. That sounds perfect."

---

As evening approached, you took some time alone in the guesthouse to unpack essentials and freshen up before the movie night. You'd just finished arranging your toiletries in the bathroom when there was a knock at your door.

Opening it, you found Seonghwa standing there with a small basket in his hands.

"I thought you might not have had time to go grocery shopping yet," he explained, holding out the basket which contained fresh fruit, some snacks, a carton of milk, and a few other breakfast essentials. "Just to tide you over until you can stock your kitchen properly."

The thoughtful gesture caught you off guard. "That's so kind of you, Seonghwa-ssi. Thank you."

"Just Seonghwa is fine," he said with a gentle smile. "And it's no trouble. I remember how chaotic my first day moving in was."

As you accepted the basket, your fingers briefly brushed against his. Despite the scent blocker preventing any pheromone detection, you felt a strange electric sensation at the contact—a momentary connection that seemed to surprise Seonghwa as much as it did you, judging by the slight widening of his eyes.

He recovered quickly, however. "Movie night starts in about thirty minutes in the main living room, if you're still planning to join us."

"I'll be there," you promised, still feeling slightly off-balance from whatever had just passed between you.

With a polite nod, Seonghwa turned to leave, then paused. "Y/n," he said, turning back slightly. "I'm glad you're here. I think you're going to be good for the team."

Before you could respond, he continued on his way, leaving you standing in the doorway with the basket in your hands and a strange warmth spreading through your chest.

The main living room had been transformed for movie night. The large sectional sofa was now covered in blankets and pillows, with additional cushions arranged on the floor. The impressive entertainment system was queued up, and various snacks and drinks covered the coffee table.

"Y/nnie!" Wooyoung exclaimed when you entered, patting the space beside him. "We saved you a seat."

"Don't feel obligated," Yeosang said quietly from a nearby armchair. "There are other options if you prefer."

You smiled at the consideration, opting for a spot on the sofa between Yunho and Hongjoong—close enough to be sociable but not directly next to the exuberant Wooyoung, who pouted briefly before bouncing back.

"We're still debating the movie," Hongjoong explained as you settled in. "It's between an action thriller Mingi wants to see and a new fantasy film Yunho's been recommending."

"What about you?" San asked, genuinely curious about your preference. "Any vote to break the tie?"

You considered for a moment. "I'm fine with either, but I do enjoy fantasy if it's well done."

Yunho pumped his fist in victory while Mingi groaned dramatically. "Next time, we're watching my pick," he insisted, though there was no real frustration in his tone.

As the movie began, you couldn't help but marvel at how quickly you'd been included in their ritual, as if you'd always been a part of it. The easy camaraderie, the playful bickering over snacks, the comfortable silence that fell as everyone became engrossed in the story—it all felt surprisingly natural.

Halfway through the film, you became aware of a subtle warmth beside you. Hongjoong had shifted slightly closer, though still maintaining a respectful distance. There was something comforting about his proximity—a sense of security that made you sink a little deeper into the couch, your tension from the busy day finally beginning to dissipate.

Across the room, Seonghwa watched this development with thoughtful eyes, noting the way Hongjoong's typically alert posture had relaxed in your presence. Something was definitely happening here—something none of them fully understood yet, but that all of them seemed to be feeling in their own ways.

As the movie reached its climax, you stifled a yawn, the exhaustion of moving day finally catching up with you. Hongjoong noticed immediately.

"You've had a long day," he said quietly, his voice pitched so only you could hear. "Feel free to head back to the guesthouse whenever you need to. No one will be offended."

The consideration in his words warmed you. "Thank you. I think I'll stay until the end, though. I'm enjoying the film."

What you didn't say was that you were also enjoying the company—this unexpected sense of belonging that had developed over the course of a single day. Despite the challenges that surely lay ahead—maintaining professional boundaries, keeping your omega status concealed, navigating the complex dynamics of eight alpha personalities—in this moment, you felt that you'd made the right decision in accepting this position.

As the credits rolled on the movie, you stifled another yawn, the exhaustion of moving day finally catching up with you. Though you were enjoying the company, your eyelids had grown increasingly heavy throughout the last thirty minutes of the film.

"I think I should call it a night," you said, reluctantly rising from your comfortable spot on the sofa. "Thank you all for such a warm welcome today. I really appreciate everything you've done to help me settle in."

"It was our pleasure," Seonghwa responded with a gentle smile. "Get some rest. Tomorrow will be a busy day."

"Do you want someone to walk you back to the guesthouse?" San offered immediately, already half-rising from his seat.

You smiled but shook your head. "That's very kind, but it's just across the garden. I'll be fine."

"The path lights are on a timer," Hongjoong informed you. "They should stay lit until you're inside. If you need anything at all during the night, don't hesitate to call or text any of us."

The protectiveness in his tone sent a small flutter through your chest. "Thank you. Goodnight, everyone."

A chorus of "goodnight" and "sleep well" followed you as you made your way to the door. You could feel multiple pairs of eyes on your back as you departed, but it didn't feel uncomfortable—just attentive in a way you weren't quite used to yet.

The night air was cool against your skin as you walked the short path back to the guesthouse. True to Hongjoong's word, the garden lights illuminated your way, casting a gentle glow that transformed the landscape into something almost magical. In the distance, the Seoul skyline twinkled, a reminder of the city beyond this peaceful oasis.

Once inside your new home, you went through your nighttime routine on autopilot, too tired to unpack anything beyond the essentials. As you carefully removed your scent blocker patch and cleaned the area behind your ear, you couldn't help but reflect on the day's events.

Eight alphas had welcomed you into their space with a warmth and ease that defied your expectations. Despite your precautions, despite your carefully maintained professional boundaries, something about being with them had felt inexplicably right. There was a connection there that you couldn't explain—something that went beyond the typical dynamics of a workplace relationship.

"Don't read too much into it," you murmured to yourself as you applied a fresh blocker patch. "They're just being nice to their new assistant."

But as you finally slipped into bed, your last conscious thought was that there seemed to be something more at play—something neither you nor they fully understood yet.

---

Back in the main house, the eight members of ATEEZ remained in the living room long after you had departed. An unusual silence had fallen over the group, each lost in their own thoughts about the newest addition to their household.

Hongjoong was the first to speak, his voice thoughtful. "So... what does everyone think of Y/n?"

The question hung in the air for a moment before Wooyoung broke into a wide grin. "I told you all she was special! Did you see how quickly she fit in? It's like she's always been here."

San nodded in agreement. "There's something about her... I can't explain it. When she's in the room, I just feel more... I don't know, centered?"

"I noticed that too," Yunho admitted, looking slightly confused by his own reaction. "I only met her today, but I already feel this weird need to make sure she's comfortable and happy. Is that strange?"

Jongho, typically the most reserved of the group when it came to expressing feelings, shifted in his seat. "It's not just you. I felt it too. There's something... familiar about her presence."

Yeosang, who had been quietly observing as usual, leaned forward. "It's unusual for all of us to have such a similar reaction to someone, especially when we can't detect her scent through the blockers." His brow furrowed slightly. "Has anyone else noticed that we're responding to her almost as if..."

"As if she's pack," Seonghwa finished for him, voicing what several of them had been thinking but hesitant to say aloud. "Even though she's just our assistant."

Hongjoong ran a hand through his hair, processing the implications of what they were all describing. "I felt it during her interview. That's why I was so certain she was the right choice, even beyond her qualifications. Something about her just... resonates."

"I'm in love," Mingi declared dramatically, flopping backward onto the couch and throwing an arm over his face. "I'm completely, utterly in love."

Wooyoung pointed at him triumphantly. "See! That's exactly what I said two weeks ago! And you all thought I was exaggerating!"

Seonghwa rolled his eyes, though there was no real annoyance in the gesture. "You're both being ridiculous. You barely know her."

"And yet," Mingi countered, sitting up to look at Seonghwa directly, "you can't deny you feel it too. I saw how attentive you were at dinner, hyung. You barely took your eyes off her."

A faint flush colored Seonghwa's cheeks. "I was being a good host," he defended, though his tone lacked conviction. After a moment, he sighed. "Fine. Yes, there's... something. I don't know what it is, but I felt it the moment she walked in."

"Do you think she's an omega?" Jongho suggested thoughtfully. "Maybe her blockers aren't completely effective, and we're picking up subtle cues?"

San shook his head. "Those high-grade blockers are pretty effective. Besides, we've been around plenty of omegas before and never had this kind of collective response."

"What about a beta?" Yunho offered.

"Same issue," Hongjoong said, his brow furrowed in concentration. "We've never reacted this way to anyone, regardless of their status."

Yeosang, who had been quietly contemplative, finally spoke up. "There's another theory...fated mate to the pack."

The room fell silent, all eyes turning to him.

"Fated mates..to the pack? That’s just stories," Wooyoung objected, though he seemed more intrigued than dismissive. "Fairy tales parents tell pups."

"Most legends have some basis in reality," Yeosang countered.

"But fated mates are rare," Jongho pointed out. "And usually, it's between two people, not... eight and one."

Seonghwa's expression became thoughtful. "There are some historical accounts of pack fated mates—one individual destined to bond with an entire pack rather than a single alpha or omega."

Hongjoong's eyes widened slightly before he shook his head dismissively. "Let's not get carried away here. Pack fated mate? We just met her. This is just the excitement of meeting someone new who happens to be competent, professional, and..." he hesitated, "...beautiful."

"Ooooooh," Wooyoung immediately pounced, a mischievous grin spreading across his face. "You think our new assistant is beautiful? How scandalous, Captain!"

Hongjoong glared at him, though a hint of color rose in his cheeks. "Go to bed, Wooyoung."

"But it's only—"

"Now," Hongjoong insisted, pointing dramatically toward the hallway, though there was no real heat behind the command.

Wooyoung's grin only widened. "You didn't deny it."

Hongjoong rolled his eyes. "She is objectively attractive. That's not the point. The point is that we're all getting ahead of ourselves with these fated mate theories when the simplest explanation is that we've found an assistant who fits well with our team dynamics."

"Then why did we all feel it so strongly?" San asked, genuinely curious. "I've never had that kind of immediate connection with anyone before."

"Nor have I," Yeosang added quietly.

Hongjoong sighed, running a hand through his hair. "Look, I felt it too. I'm not denying that there's... something. I just think we need to be rational about this. Fated mate to a pack is the stuff of legends, and we're talking about real life here."

Yunho frowned slightly. "Should we ask her if she is feeling the same thing?"

"Absolutely not," Hongjoong said firmly, shifting into his leader role. "First of all, we don't know what this is exactly. And second, she just started working with us today. The last thing she needs is eight alphas overwhelming her with intense feelings based on a connection we can't even properly explain ourselves."

Seonghwa nodded in agreement. "Hongjoong's right. Whatever this is, we need to proceed carefully. Y/n is here as our assistant. We need to respect that professional relationship first and foremost."

"So what do we do?" Wooyoung asked, looking uncharacteristically serious. "Just pretend we don't feel anything unusual?"

"No," Hongjoong replied after a moment of consideration. "We acknowledge that there's something special about her presence in our pack—"

"Team," Seonghwa corrected gently. "She's part of our team, not officially pack. Not yet, anyway."

Hongjoong nodded, accepting the correction. "In our team. But we don't pressure her or make her uncomfortable. We give her space to settle into her role, and we observe. There's no need to rush anything."

"What if she doesn't feel it?" Jongho asked quietly, voicing the concern that had begun to form in several of their minds. "What if it's just us?"

Seonghwa's expression softened. "Then we accept that and continue to value her as our assistant and hopefully, our friend. Connection or not, Y/n deserves to be treated with respect and given the freedom to choose her own path."

The others nodded in agreement, though there was a noticeable tension in the air—a mixture of excitement at the possibility and anxiety about the uncertainty.

"For now," Hongjoong concluded, "we focus on making her comfortable in her new role. We support her, we welcome her, but we don't overwhelm her. Agreed?"

Murmurs of agreement came from around the room, though Wooyoung couldn't resist adding, "But I still get to be friendly, right? That's just who I am."

Seonghwa rolled his eyes fondly. "Yes, Wooyoung, you can be friendly. Just don't be... too Wooyoung."

"I don't know what that means, but I'm choosing to be offended," Wooyoung replied with a dramatic pout that quickly dissolved into a grin.

The tension broken, conversation gradually shifted to other topics, though thoughts of you remained at the forefront of each member's mind. Whatever this connection was—whether fated mate bond or simply an unusual team dynamic—it was clear that your arrival had shifted something fundamental in the ATEEZ household.

---

In the guesthouse, you stirred in your sleep, turning onto your side as a strange dream played through your mind:

With purple eyes, you purred as you made a nest in your room made up of hoodies, blankets and pillows. Eight distinct scents surrounded you—sandalwood and ocean breeze, vanilla and cedarwood, citrus and clean linen, light musk and cherry blossoms, cinnamon and dark chocolate, earthy soil and pine, bergamot and ginger, fresh apples and mint—creating a harmonious blend that felt like... home.

Your eyes shot open as you woke up, your hand immediately going to touch the blocker patch behind your ear to confirm it was still in its place.

You haven’t made a nest or fully purred in years. And you definitely have never had omega eyes as you did it.

Shaking the dream from your mind, you lay back down to sleep, tomorrow would bring your first official day as ATEEZ's assistant, with all the professional challenges that entailed.

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