#nct christmas au

[ning2lilac]

Take My Breath - Jaemin

Christmas Melodies - 01

series masterlist

pairing: jaemin x fem!reader

tags: fluff, christmas themed (yeah, this late), high school

words: around 7.3k words

note: Christmas was ages ago and this is just the first story, so let's just pretend it was always supposed to be "winter" melodies ig...

I walk this cold street with you, as if we were lovers . Yeah, what should I do? I’m awkwardly frozen. My checks turn red, ayy

YN and Jaemin hated each other, or that’s what YN though. Somehow, both ended up sharing the same groups of friends. When all planned to spend their last Christmas holidays together before university, things didn’t turn out how YN expected. Yeah, YN was forced to get along with Jaemin during all the holidays— or was she really forced?

Chapter 0: It's severe when I stand in front of you.

15th of December

“Forget about it, I won’t go,” YN replied while drinking her strawberry juice and shaking her head. Both Yunjin and her were sitting in the school’s cafeteria on the 15th of December, the last day of classes before going on Holidays.

“You can’t say no; you are our friend, and you are coming; that’s it!” Yunjin replied while stabbing her dessert. “Also, this is Yizhuo’s first Christmas since she moved here, so you should try.” Yizhuo moved from China just a couple of months ago with her family due to her father’s new job, and Yunjin always tried to use it as an excuse to drag YN everywhere. All this discussion started when her friend told her excitedly about all the plans they could do together and that their other group of friends, a couple of guys from the boys’ school in their same town, would tag along. YN was fine with it, and she almost agreed, until Yizhuo mistakenly told her which guys they were (Yunjin tried to keep it a secret from her).

“All I’m saying is, why do we have to spend almost all of our time with them?” Yunjin and Yizhuo were more than enough, she didn’t need to spend the Christmas Holidays with a random group of guys (although they weren’t exactly “random” if YN was being honest with herself). “I thought we were better alone, Yunjin, or that’s exactly what you said last year when I asked you if Lee Yewon from class B could come with us to the Christmas Market”.

“That was different, Yewon is a total bitch!” Yunjin screamed while getting the attention of some people in the cafeteria. “And by the way, your problem is not with them, it is only with one of them. And you will have to deal with that”.

And to be honest, Yunjin was completely right; YN didn’t really hate them; in fact, almost all of them were nice to her, and all of them were their age. Renjun was a nice guy who also moved from China (the only thing is he did it when he was only five years old), and they often talked about TV shows together and even discussed the episodes of Single’s Inferno. Haechan was hilarious, YN at first thought he was going to be the worst one, and bonus points, he would always get on Yunjin’s nerves (she definitely has a crush on him but will always deny it), which was really fun to watch. Jeno was surprisingly nice, he looked a bit tough the first time she met him but turned out to be a total cutie pie. And then there was…him…

“Excuse me, but Jaemin hates me as much as I hate him,” YN answered, trying to defend herself. “It is a mutual relationship of pure hatred. It’s not my fault he acts like a total angel with all of you, he is the devil.”

“Yeah, sure, but I don’t care”, Yunjin replied while both started picking up their trays since the school’s bell signalling the start of the second period just rang. “I love you with all my heart, YN. But I would really like us to do all these things together. It’s our last Christmas before graduation, so we should have fun”. YN was about to defend herself when Yunjin threw her a glance. “And I don’t want to hear anything from you again”.

“What’s the point of going to an all-girls’ school if I will end up hanging out with men? Geez”, YN whispered to herself while taking her backpack and following Yunjin to the corridors.

“Girls!” They both turned their heads to meet Yizhuo, who was running excitedly towards them. “Look what I saw! The boys’ school is organising a mini-Christmas market this afternoon, and everyone is invited! Isn’t this great?” The nightmare was starting sooner than YN expected, but with Yizhuo looking at her with those big doe eyes and pure happiness, she couldn’t tell her no, so she simply nodded. Yunjin smiled after seeing YN’s compliance and took Yizhuo’s arm, not after giving YN a last glance.

“Maybe this is the year in which you finally give each other a chance,” and after saying that, the three of them parted ways.

“Of course that bitch, Lee Yewon, came,” Yunjin huffed after noticing the girl. “I never saw such a pick me girl”. She said this while putting on her gloves and grabbing YN’s arm in case she thought about running away. She was exactly thinking about doing that.

“What happened to defending women’s rights and wrongs?” YN answered while brushing her hair with her fingers, they couldn’t even go home to change after class, so they had to go with their uniforms and backpacks. Which also meant YN couldn’t fix her bangs at home, she hated to have messy ones.

“The exception is that girl, I’m sorry” The taller one, YN was definitely the smallest one out of the three, replied after throwing one last glance to the girl she hated so much. “Did Renjun tell you where they were?” Yunjin asked Yizhuo who was checking her phone.

“Yes! He just replied, they are next to the stairs”. The market turned out to be a small one, only a couple of booths with food and others with games so students could compete to get prizes, nothing too special, but Yizhuo was excited since it was her first year. YN could differentiate the four guys sitting on the stairs of their school’s main door.

There were lots of things YN hated about Jaemin. In fact, one day she made a whole list, the same one she was repeating at that moment in her head.

��1. He hated strawberries. YN loved them, not only the fruit, but all types of desserts with strawberry flavour or even decorations (her favourite jacket was one with strawberries).

2. He was irresponsible, to the point where it looked impossible. Out of all the years she has known him, she has never seeing him turn up on time or be organised, something she detested.  

3. He got along with everyone (except her), why was he so “nice” with everyone? His behaviour always ended up annoying her, it looked so easy for him to befriend people, while she sometimes struggled. She considers herself to be friends with everyone, or at least she tries. The problem is that he doesn’t need to try, and she hates that.

4. His brother was friends with her brother, the main reason she knows him. Her younger brother and his both play football on the kid’s team from their town.

5. His smile

6. The fact that she couldn’t deny he was handsome, and she will always hate herself for this. But it was a fact, he was attractive.

 7. He hated her, and YN hates not liking people. He was never nice to her.  

And she also hated how good he looked that day. YN never got to see him in his uniform before. She reminded herself to add that to her list, is not like she has it written on her diary…well, perhaps she does. It’s okay, she thought, she just had to ignore him for the whole season. No one was going to ruin her last winter in high school, not even Na Jaemin.

“Hi girls, I’m so glad you came. Renjun started talking about some stupid TV show, and I was close to killing myself,” Haechan exclaimed as soon as the girls got close enough. Soon, the seven of them started walking through the booths, although no one paid attention to that.

“It’s not a stupid TV show, it’s literally the best sitcom known to earth. How come you don’t know The Office?” Renjun defended himself after greeting everyone with a big smile. “YN tell him how great it is.”

“I actually never watched it.” She smiled shyly and quickly started excusing herself as soon as she saw the disappointment in his eyes. “But I definitely will start it as soon as I get home, don’t worry.” It’s not her fault, she couldn’t dare to make anyone feel a bit bad; she hated to disappoint people, especially if they were as adorable as Renjun.

“Of course,” Jaemin replied with a mocking smile. That stupid smile. What does he even mean by that? But she decided to just ignore him and try to focus on staying warm.

“Did you forget your gloves again?” Yizhuo asked after noticing how the shortest one was trying to warm her hands, putting them in her pockets. YN felt a bit shy when everyone diverted their attention to her. She just nodded. “You always do, I will have to glue them to your hands at one point.”

“Hey, maybe over there is not as cold,” Haechan joked, referring to her height, fist bumping with Jeno, who found it funny.

“Come here, I suddenly feel the urge to touch your ugly face with my freezing hands.” She joked while trying to get closer to him. She almost tripped on the slippery floor, but one hand kept her still, Jaemin.

“Sorry, sorry, I will never do it again, ma’am. Forgive me.” Haechan jokingly begged when he saw her trying to approach. He furrowed his brows when he noticed a light blush on her face. “YN, are you red?”

“It’s because of the cold!” she tried to explain herself when she noticed Yunjin’s suspicious glance. She would never admit it, but it was definitely not because of the cold.

The group of teenagers continued engaging in some small talk and sharing everything that happened in their last weeks of classes. YN was having more fun than expected, although she couldn’t completely ignore his presence, which sometimes threw glances at her.

“By the way!” Yunjin screamed after noticing how everyone went quiet on the way home. They spent around two hours at the school until they decided it was time for them to go home and have dinner. “I heard someone in class talking about it, and I thought it could be a great idea to go to the city for two days or so!”

“It will be Yizhuo’s first Christmas here, so we have to celebrate it.” Haechan mimicked her before she even got time to repeat that same phrase. “Yeah, we know.”

“That would be a great idea, I saw that this year’s Christmas market is much better,” Renjun replied, ignoring the bickering between the two of them. All of them nodded, including YN.

“My brother lives there, and he just came back for Christmas. Maybe I can ask him if we can spend the night there,” Jeno suggested.

“Jeno, you know I love you, right?” Haechan answered after sending him a kiss. “Would everyone’s family be okay with that, though?”

“The hardest one might be YN’s mom, but we will figure it out, right YN?” Yunjin replied while looking at YN, who just raised her shoulders dubiously.

“I’m not sure about that, I still have to study.”

“Common, you will have enough time.”

“It’s not because of that; it’s because she hates the idea of being near me for more than two hours.” Jaemin suddenly spoke after being quiet for almost all the journey home. He was talking with Jeno before the topic came up.

“That’s not true, don’t say that.” Renjun tried to excuse YN before she even had time, since she was just looking at Jaemin getting pissed off. Her bad temper got worse when she saw how the corners of his mouth turned up.

“Well, maybe if you weren’t that annoying, I wouldn’t mind spending time with you.”

“I never did anything, although…” He hesitated now, smiling, knowing that he had succeeded in getting her mad. “Perhaps it is because I don’t immediately adore you like you want everyone to do?”

The group stayed silent, watching the two of them bicker, throwing glances at each other, and trying to decide if they should stop both of them. YN was about to reply until Yizhuo noticed. They had to split up.

“Well…this is where we part ways.” Each one went their own way except for Renjun, Jaemin and YN. Sadly, their houses were in the same part of the town, so the three of them were forced to stay together.

The way home wasn’t as bad as expected. Renjun and Jaemin were talking about some essays they had to do for their literature class, so YN could spend some time thinking about the things she had to do the next day. Soon, Renjun said bye since they had arrived at his house, which was on the way. As soon as both of them saw him enter his house, Jaemin looked at her with his lips pressed together.

“You never notice, right?” And then he left her there, speechless. She thought about replying and asking him what he meant, but when she woke up from the surprise, he was already changing streets.

Chapter 1: When I see your black eyes looking at me, I freeze all over

16th of December

“Good morning!” She greeted her mother and her younger brother, who were in the kitchen having breakfast. It was a Saturday morning at nine o'clock, but she wanted to use the day to get organised and study. She wanted to enter university and study medicine, and for that, she needed to try hard to get high marks.

Her brother smiled sweetly after she ruffled his hair. He just turned nine and was the cutest fluffy ball she ever knew.  Her brother had always been super affectionate, partly something she and he had inherited from their parents. One day, she would be as affectionate with her partner as her parents were with each other. But her smile faded away after his brother started talking.

“Tomorrow morning, I will go with Jaesung to play football in the park, Jaemin will take us.” He spoke excitedly to her sister; YN knew he loved to tell her everything. “YN, did you know that he is super good at playing football? He's also going to take us out for hot dogs if we're good.” YN just nodded her head while she prepared a glass of strawberry milk for breakfast, trying not to show she was affected by hearing his name.

“Don't you think it's great that he is going to take the kids to do things, even on holidays? He's a wonderful kid.” Her mother told her, and she just nodded. “I am not surprised that his mother is delighted with him, maybe you can join them. This way, you spend time with your brother.”

“No, I can’t, I should study for the exams.”

“Jaemin must have to study too, just go and distract yourself for a little. You also need to enjoy your last days in high school.”

“Jaemin this, Jaemin that, why is everyone talking about him these days?” She murmured before drinking milk. “But I really can’t, maybe some other day.” She spoke louder. “By the way! My friends are talking about going to spend a couple of days in the city to see all the Christmas decorations and all. Yunjin told me that I absolutely have to go.”

“I’m not sure about that, honey.” Her mother replied, a bit worried. YN smiled internally; it was just what she wanted to hear.

“It would be the girls and a couple of guys.” Her mother was definitely not going to allow her to go, the best thing ever for her.

“Which guys?”

“Oh, some guys from the boys’ school, you know, Jeno, Haechan and Renjun.”

“Oh, so Jaemin is going too?” Her mother asked, stopping doing what she was doing.

“I suppose”

“Well, you can go, don’t worry.” YN furrowed her brows, confused.

“How come you are immediately convinced because of that? It makes no sense. “You should tell me I can’t go, mom.”

“It would be great if both of you got along.” That’s all she said for her reasoning, and she just continued with her morning routine, leaving YN more confused.

Yn: my mom said yes to the trip

Yunjin: yay, I know you are not excited

Yunjin: but we will have soo much funnn

Yunjin: and who knows

Yunjin: maybe you find your soulmate there, there’s nothing as romantic as Christmas

Yn: sure…

Yunjin: btw wanna come have lunch with me? Haechan and I are going to the place close to my house

Yn: no! have fun on your little date. I will spend the day studying for our first exam.

Yunjin: not a date lmao

Yn: yeah stay delusional

Yunjin: you are the delusional one when you say you don’t want your lips and his lips to meet

Yn: I don’t, I literally hate him

Yunjin: sure

“Sure?” She scoffed while reading the last message, what does she even mean by that. Yunjin was the delusional one. She turned off her phone and tried focusing on the notes she had in front of her, but she couldn’t help but go back to the same conversation.

 

17th of December

Yizhuo added you to a group chat called “It’s Christmas”

Yizhuo: we are going ice skating at 5pm! We are meeting next to the flower shop.

Haechan: I got the tickets, so everyone has no other choice but to come. Also pay me please

Haechan: my mom got mad at me for using her credit card

Yn: do any of us even know how to skate?

Jeno: Jaemin only I think, he used to take lessons

Yn: great

Jaemin: :)

“I’ll be going ice skating later at 5pm with my friends,” YN said while she was with her family eating. Her mother nodded, not surprised by the new information.

“Yeah, Jaemin told us when he came to drop your brother off,” her mother smiled. “They had so much fun, perhaps next week you can go.”

“Such a nice kid,” her father intervened. “Are you sure you aren’t interested in him?”

“Oh, not again.” YN sighed, knowing where it was going to lead. The good thing is that her mother never complained when it came to him. “What happened to not be able to get a boyfriend until I graduate from university?”

“I mean, if is Jaemin I wouldn’t mind.” She scoffed, what was with everyone these days.

“You look beautiful, but what’s with that face?” Yizhuo asked her when YN got out of her house. She went to pick her up, in fear that YN might decide not to go in the end.

“You don’t want to know,” she replied while putting on her scarf, she noticed she had forgotten her gloves again, but was too lazy to go back to pick them up. After seeing Yizhuo’s worry gaze, she immediately started talking again. “My family is acting a bit weird, but everything is okay.”

“How’s the studying going? You really shouldn’t stress too much,” Yizhuo answered, a bit worried, knowing her friend.

“I’m honestly quite okay, perhaps more okay than I should,” she honestly replied. Maybe she had been spending a lot of her time complaining that she wasn’t paying enough attention to the important things, but who knows. Both spend the ten minutes’ walk talking about some gossips they heard in class and about their plans after graduation.

“How’s Christmas at the moment?” YN asked when both of them arrived at the meeting point, they were the first ones.

“It just started, so who knows, but I’m quite excited.” She answered, smiling again and picking up her phone to message the other guys. “By the way,” while putting her phone back in her purse. “I hope you are really okay with all we are doing, seeing Jaemin all days, I mean.”

“I’ll be okay, don’t worry.”

“I never understood what you two have going on to be honest, for a long time I thought it was just you two denying what you feel for each other, but maybe I was wrong.” She said while saying hi with her hand to Renjun, Haechan and Yunjin who were just arriving.

“Jeno and Jaemin will meet us at the ice ring, Jaemin had to stop to buy something.” Yizhuo nodded, but YN was too preoccupied thinking about what Yizhuo had just said.

“Have you ever tried ice skating?” Renjun asked YN while everyone was putting on their ice skates.

“No, I never tried it,” she replied with a smile that soon faded away when Jaemin scoffed because of her answer.

“That’s a lie” Jaemin intervened, still not looking up and still focusing on tying up his skates. YN furrowed her brows. Renjun was smiling, a bit amused by the conversation taking place.

“Yeah, and how do you know?” Jaemin finally raised his head to look at her with a teasing smile.

“Your brother told me you once took him two years ago, and you did terrible,” he said, which made YN’s smile fade, why did he have to tell him? “If I don’t remember wrongly, he also said something about having to go to the hospital.” He wasn’t wrong though, she fell so terribly that she and her family had to rush to the hospital to get stitches at the back of her right ear, if you looked carefully, you could still see the mark.

“Oh, true, I sometimes forget you know each other for a long time.” Renjun joked, ignoring the side eye from YN. “Well, leave this fight for the rink, you lovers.” He replied while getting up and leaving her dumbfounded next to Jaemin.

“Common guys! You will miss Haechan falling all the time,” Yunjin screamed, catching their attention and making them enter the ice rink.

“You’ll see, I’m the best one out of all of you.” And, as soon as he said that, he fell down.

Luckily, Haechan was as bad as her, so she didn’t look that dumb. Both spent most of the time together, looking jealousy at the others, specially at Jaemin. Jeno didn’t lie, he was indeed good, YN couldn’t take her eyes away from him, enjoying it.

“C’mon YN, it is time to be brave together,” Haechan talked after an eternity of them trying to remain by their feet and YN trying to warm her hands since she forgot her gloves. He took her arm and tried to skate, dragging her, resulting in both of them falling.

Yunjin hurriedly went to pick her up, but not before slapping Haechan’s arm affectionately. After the fall, she couldn’t feel her hands any more due to the cold.

“Here,” Jaemin appeared next to her out of nowhere while handing her some gloves he had on his pocket. She looked at him confused until he furrowed his eyebrows and showed her the gloves again, making her understand what he meant.

“Oh, it’s okay,” she replied with a lower tone than she had intended to, did he notice it all the time? She felt a little embarrassed, “You can use them instead.”

“Can’t you see I have my gloves on already? Don’t be dumb and take them.” He said again while taking her hand and forcing her to grab them.

“Thank you,” she replied, trying to hide her blush. But the cute moment finished sooner than expected, Haechan showed up pushing her back to the ground, again.

That night, YN couldn’t sleep again while looking at the gloves. She tried to give them back to him after ice skating on the way home, but he just shrugged his shoulders and ignored her. It was that night when she realised something, something she would hate herself so much for. She realised that she might have been developing feelings for Jaemin for a long time. Maybe her mother was right, once again.

Chapter 2: I walk this cold street with you, as if we were lovers.

19th of December

Her worst nightmare was about to become real; it was the day of their short trip to the city. They lived in a small town of around 800 inhabitants, so, as expected, they didn’t have many things to do in there. A lot of weekends, YN and her family would go to the city closest to their home and go buy groceries or clothes.

She would never admit it, specially to Yunjin (she would spend five minutes laughing at her and saying “I told you”), but that day she tried to make herself look better. She even put on her favourite jumper with strawberries embroidered, just so Jaemin would notice. Furthermore, she was finishing brushing her hair and putting on her jacket when her mom screamed her name, asking her to go down.

“YN! Come down, a gentleman is waiting for you!” Huh? She thought, a gentleman? Renjun? But Renjun told her he was going with Yizhuo and meeting her at the train station.

“Jaemin? What are you doing here?” She asked confused when she saw him at her door with his backpack on and a big big smile.

“We are going to the city, remember?” He replied as if it was the most normal thing for him to pick her up.

“Yeah, I meant on my door, actually.” Her mother was behind, trying to spy on their conversation.

“To pick you up, c’mon,” he simply answered while maintaining his smile, probably because her mom was still looking.

“Oh Jaemin! You came to pick her up? That’s so nice of you, you’re such a gentleman.” Her mother said, interrupting both of them. Jaemin smiled even more, what a beautiful smile he had, she thought.

“Yes, I’ll get her back safe again, don’t worry,” he replied while taking her hand and getting her out of her house, her heart started beating like crazy, did it ever happen to her? Perhaps it is because she now knows what she really feels about him.

“Have fun, bye.”

YN couldn’t help but look at him confused on the way to the station. Jaemin kept quiet the whole journey, not speaking as soon as her mom closed the door, which made her feel a bit sad. But honestly, she couldn’t blame him, she kept giving him the cold shoulder for years. Wait, was she defending him?

“Did you pick me up for my mom to like you? I don’t know what type of spell you have on my family, but it worked so well.” She asked, genuinely confused, although starting to understand now what her family saw in him. “They can’t stop talking about you somehow.”

“So, you think about me all days?” Her mouth quickly fell open, wishing he didn’t notice how she was blushing.

“I never said that.” She quickly answered, flustered, making him cackle with laughter.

“But you didn’t deny it.” He answered.

“Can’t you stop fighting for five minutes?” YN asked a bit annoyed seeing how Haechan and Yunjin were bickering quite loud on the seats next to her. “I’m trying to study.”

“Why did you even bring that? This is a trip, you also have to enjoy the train ride,” Yunjin asked her while trying to suppress her smile, acting like she didn’t notice how YN acted when they had to choose seats. “Why don’t you talk with your seatmate?” Perhaps Yunjin was the one forcing Jaemin and YN to sit together, who knows.

“Why don’t you tell Haechan that thing you told me yesterday while crying?” She replied, making Yunjin lose her smile. “Something about liking…”

“Huh? Tell me what?”

“Okay, you win,” Yunjin screamed, flustered, “for now only.”

After leaving their things on the flat, it was already night, so all of them decided to go to the big Christmas market. For which, as YN could tell, Yizhuo was so excited, is not like she spent the whole journey talking about that… Which also made her studying impossible at one point.

“Omg did you see how beautiful the lights are?” Renjun asked, mesmerized by the sight, while picking up his phone to take a photo. Jeno chuckled, finding him cute.

“Yeah, we saw when you told us five minutes before,” he replied. Both of them and YN were behind the rest of the group, going more slowly since Renjun was busy appreciating the lights. “But let’s all be a bit careful, there’s a lot of people. Let’s not get lost.” YN nodded with her head while taking out the gloves she saved on her pocket and putting them on. Soon Jeno noticed surprised.

“Oh, those are the gloves Jaemin picked up for you,” he said. “I’m glad you liked them.” He replied while smiling. YN blushed, trying to hide it with her scarf.

“Gloves? YN not forgetting her gloves? And the gloves are from Jaemin,” Renjun said, forgetting about the lights when he noticed what was happening and smiling widely. “Wow, you must really like them then,” he paused while looking at Jeno with a smile, “or perhaps the person who gave them to you,” he suggested. What could YN do in this situation? Become defensive.

“What?” she screamed, getting the attention of the other group of friends and some families that were around them. After noticing, she blushed. “I don’t know what you mean,” she replied, whispering that part after, not without getting a questioning look from Jaemin and Yunjin.

The rest of the night went quite well, everyone had fun, specially Yunjin and Haechan, who kept flirting and giggling like kids (YN will tease her that night). It was when they finished eating some pancakes on one stand when she noticed they started acting weirdly, all of them.

“By the way, YN,” Jaemin suddenly appeared next to her with a teasing grin, she nodded letting him know that she was listening. “I couldn’t help but see how you are wearing gloves today,” he replied, completely grinning with a teasing smile.

“Oh, do you want them back?” she asked, totally oblivious of what he was trying to say, too busy looking at the floor (trying not to blush). “Huh?” YN said after looking around her trying to find her friends, “Jaemin, where is everyone?” Jaemin looked around, noticing that everyone suddenly disappeared, being just as confused as she was.

“No idea, they were next to me one second ago, there’s a lot of people now though.”

“Do you see them?” YN asked trying to find them between the crowd, but as he said, it was the busiest just at that time, 9pm.

“No,” he replied after he scanned the place, since he was taller than her, YN furrowed her brows confused.

“One moment they were here and suddenly all of them disappeared,” she mumbled to herself, trying to stay as close as possible to Jaemin to not get lost too. “What should we do? Yizhuo has my phone, she asked for it a moment ago.”

“Oh, I forgot my phone at the flat, so,” he said, “yeah, I guess we are alone then.” Great, she thought.

“It’s okay, let’s just finish the market and get out, maybe they are outside waiting for us,” she nodded.

“Do you want that teddy bear?” Jaemin asked teasingly while checking how YN was looking at the stand. She quickly denied it with her head. “It’s okay, I will get it for you.”

“No! Why would you?” she asked in a rush moving her hands trying to let him know that she didn’t need it, “you also gave me your gloves the other day, is okay.”

“And? I’m acting good for once” YN tried to stop him, but it was too late. “It’s okay,” but it wasn’t okay for her heart.

“It was not that bad,” she mumbled while walking to the exit holding the big teddy bear. Jaemin, who was in front of her, turned dramatically to look at her.

“Oh, am I hearing right? Is YN saying it wasn’t bad to spend time with me?” he replied while exaggerating his moves. “Who would have thought that? Crazy.”

“Hey, you are the one being annoying, it is not my fault,” she defended herself.

“Well, let’s get back home, I’ll put the GPS,” he answered while taking out his phone.

“I thought you left it at the flat?” she asked, confused.

“I didn’t? When did I say that?”

“This feels like you are trying to gaslight me, but I’ll let it pass ‘cause you bought me the teddy bear,” she answered, not completely sure and proceeding to follow him until her flat.  When they arrived, all of their friends were already there, and, as soon as they saw them, they faked to be worried. One can tell because they don’t know how to act. But YN just let it pass.

20th of December

“Oh, wait, I’ll go check that part, I’m looking for my mom’s present,” YN said after all of them stopped on one shop on the way back to the station to go back home, they spent the whole morning sightseeing, and after having food, they went back to pick up their things and go pick up the train. The rest nodded, going back to look for things they needed to buy.

She stopped on the jewellery section since they had some discounts, so she could afford something for her mother. She picked up one, she found one bracelet on the silver section and was looking at it when she heard a scoff.

“You really chose the ugliest one, YN.” He kept shaking his head, disapprovingly with what she had chosen. YN rolled her eyes.

“I didn’t ask for your opinion,” Jaemin smiled, finding her bickering cute. She went back to look at the others, putting it back. “Would this one be better?” She genuinely asked picking up another one.

“I’m more of a gold person, and I like necklaces more” he said while looking at the other things.

“Well, is for my mother, not you,” she replied while looking at other options, “she does like bracelets more, I do prefer necklaces too, to be honest.”

“This one,” he said while picking one up, one that had tiny stars and moons hanging from the bracelet, YN smiled please, her mom would like that.

“Oh, you liked it, I can tell,” he teased when he noticed how she was trying to suppress her smile. “I’ll buy you one necklace if you recognise it,” he teased again. YN shook her head, running away and going to pay, leaving Jaemin behind.

“I have a big problem,” YN announced as soon as she sat down next to the girls on the train station, the boys were busy buying some food. “I think, well, no, I’m sure I like Jaemin.”

“Yn, you have been liking him for years, do not laugh at our faces.” Yunjin said while braiding Yizhuo’s hair.

“You think so?” she genuinely asked, looking with big doe eyes at the two of them, who looked at each other and busted out laughing.

“Everyone knew, except for the two of you. At least you finally do.” Yizhuo replied with a big teasing smile. “When are you confessing, then?”

“I could ask the same about you and Haechan,” YN replied, trying to forget for a moment about what was she feeling. Yunjin busted out laughing again.

“YN, we have been dating for three days already,” she replied, YN gasped surprised.

“And why didn’t you tell me?” she asked, a bit offended; they always tell each other everything.

“I was going to, but then I decided it would be more fun to check how long it will take you to notice,” she replied, finishing Yizhuo’s hair at the same time, who just smiled at their interaction. “But turns out you were too busy ogling about Jaemin.”

“So, when’s the wedding?” Yizhuo asked.

24th of December

She spent the last four days on her room, studying and thinking. Not thinking about the exams, but about Jaemin. She was in her room getting ready for dinner. Her family always had dinner together with some of her parent’s friends on their living room, and that year wasn’t an exception. She picked up a box she had saved in her drawer and looked at it for the ninth time that day, but she put it back again where she saved it.

That night not only was her grandma going to her house, but Jaemin and his parents were also coming, her mother insisted on inviting them, and obviously they accepted. Leaving YN with no other choice but to confront her fears: Jaemin. After giving it another thought and looking at her drawer, she thought, fuck it, and took the box out, putting it on the pocket of her dress.

“YN come down! They arrived.” YN quickly went down the stairs, politely greeting everyone, trying not to fixate her sight on Jaemin, who was smiling. As soon as they arrived, everyone sat down on the table, not without getting a big hug from her grandma, literally everyone got the hug. Her brother and Jaemin’s sat down together, and YN had no other choice than to sit between Jaemin and her grandma.

“I remember when YN was a tiny girl,” her grandma started telling him, they were already almost done with dinner and Jaemin ended up becoming friends with her. “She was such a sweet girl, always wearing those big ribbons on her head.”

“She’s tiny now too,” Jaemin joked, making her grandma laugh and YN roll her eyes, but not in an annoying way.

“She is, that’s true.”

“Grandma!” she said, a bit embarrassed.

The rest of the dinner went incredibly well, and YN couldn’t help but picture Jaemin as her boyfriend, coming to spend time with her family. She was crazy, wasn’t she? She thought while mindlessly touching the pocket in her dress.

“Jaemin?” YN said when she saw Jaemin knocking on her room’s door.

“Your mother told me to come and say bye before I go, I hope I’m not intruding,” he said while looking at her room, he never got to go upstairs her house. YN shook her head.

“No, it is okay, you can come in,” YN smiled while he entered and sat next to her on her bed.

“I had fun,” he admitted with a smile, “isn’t it nice when we aren’t fighting each other? Also, your grandma is lovely, so nice.”

“Yeah, I guess,” she replied while touching again her pocket thinking whether she should do it or not, “and, yeah, she is super nice, although she enjoys teasing me I guess.”

“You’re so fun to tease, I get her,” he replied after emitting a chuckle. “I’ll go, I guess they are finishing saying bye to each other.”

“Wait, I want to give you something before you go,” she shyly said after getting a bit of courage. “It is not something too special though, but I got you something,” she added after seeing how Jaemin’s eyes lighted.

“A present?” he asked intriguing while getting closer to her and looking at the tiny box. “Oh, YN, but I didn’t get you anything,” he replied, feeling truly sorry, specially after seeing how excited she looked to open it.

“It’s okay, really,” YN was crying on the inside when Jaemin opened it, but, gladly, he immediately smiled, looking touched by the present.

“Oh, is a necklace,” he replied smiling and giving her a hug happily, YN blushed by the action.

“I know, it isn’t that crazy to be honest,” she said rambling, “and don’t think it was too expensive, believe me.”

 “Don’t lie, this is actually a big present, I told you I liked them,” he answered, still looking at the necklace with a smile. “I should have bought you something, it was dumb of me.”

“No, no, Jaemin, it’s okay.”

“Maybe I can make it up to you with a date,” he suggested, smiling, YN almost died from a heart attack.

“Huh?”

“Jaemin, we are going home!” his mom screamed from downstairs.

“I gotta go, but I’ll text you,” Jaemin rambled, not before giving her a last smile and taking his necklace. Another day without sleeping, she thought to herself.  

Chapter 3: I can't say anything except that I like you.

26th December

She spent all her 18th’s Christmas day thinking about Jaemin and waiting for his text. That morning she called Yunjin and Yizhuo to tell them everything about what happened, and all of them, and Haechan (who was next to Yunjin and overheard everything), started screaming. However, his message didn’t arrive until 7pm.

JM: Ynnnnn, I’m so sorryyyyy, my phone died forever

JM: had to search for my mom’s old one

JM: I’m picking you up tomorrow at 5pm ;)

“Again? Did you bring me here to laugh at me?” YN said when he smilingly gave her ice skaters. “I think everyone already saw how bad I am,” she said while putting them on without complaining.

“It’s okay,” Jaemin replied with a big smile, helping her put on her skaters. “We couldn’t do it properly last time,” he explained while helping her get up and guide her to the rink. “Also, I will teach you and I won’t leave your side.”

“I hope you won’t push me like Hyuck did,” she mindlessly joked while grabbing the rail when entering.

“Hyuck? Since when did you talk with nicknames, YN?” He asked, changing his smile for a pout, “and nothing for me.”

“Haechan uses nicknames with everyone,” she excused herself quickly.

“But you don’t,” he answered sulky, so cute, she thought. “Not that sure I want to help you now,” he replied while acting like he was leaving her alone, making her laugh.

“Jaemin, he’s dating my friend, remember?”

“Wait, they are dating?” Jaemin stopped skating and turned back to look at her.    

“Oh, you didn’t notice too? I’m glad to know I wasn’t the only one,” at that moment YN thought about what Yunjin told her. “Jaem, please,” she said, trying to get him to get close and take his arm. Jaemin approached her again to take her hand with a big smile.

“That’s what I wanted to hear, my Ynnie.”

27th of December

 “I’ve been thinking about making a nickname for you,” he said the next day while both were sitting on the small park next to his house eating the ice cream his mom bought for the two of them. When both of their moms discovered they went on a date, both went crazy and almost hugged each other happily. “YN is too basic; I have to use one only I can use.” YN smiled at him with curiosity while stroking his hand.

“You could be my kitty,” YN almost chocked with her ice cream when hearing his words.

“I’m leaving you here alone if you say that again,” she replied while giving him a side eye.

“Hey, I love kittens,” he excused himself while grinning. “Don’t worry, you would be my favourite kitty.”

“That’s it, have fun,”

“Sorry! Forgive me.”

1st of January

“You will do great, YN; I really think so,” he said the first day of the year when he was walking her home. Both came from meeting their friends to celebrate the new year. YN smiled brightly at him. “You’ll get the highest grades, and I will brag to the guys about my girl.”

“Your girl?” She jokingly asked, stopping in her tracks to look at him, who was smiling back. 

“But isn’t that great? We complement each other better,” she said, speaking from her heart.

“I really want to kiss your pouty lips.”

“That’s-That’s really bold to say.”

“Aw, you never went speechless when we fought, I like this side more,” he said after getting her close to him and giving her a big peck on her lips.

In the middle of winter, so the hasty spring comes just for the two of us. I'll stand by your side.

[littlecherryhuanlin]

The First Snow- Johnny Suh

This story is part of a special series for Christmas, you can follow the updates on the calendar, for more content feel free to check my masterlist.

Word Count: 0.62k

Warnings: fluff, a little bit of angst, established relationship, overwork (implicit), subtle mentions of relationship problems such as lack of quality time and miscommunication.

The smell of hot chocolate invaded Johnny's nostrils while YN placed two cups full of the warm liquid on the table in front of him, a shiver running through his body when his cold hands touched the hot object, the design on the mug making him smile unconsciously reminding him of Jisung, YN soon slipped into the boy's lap, quickly covering herself with a double blanket and picking up her Anna mug that matched his one.

It was relatively cold and any ordinary person would have been locked inside under warm blankets, but not them; Johnny had insisted that they should stay out in the yard waiting for the snow, the one he claimed was coming today. Johnny had checked as many meteorology channels as he could, and if he said he hadn't been over-enthusiastic with most of them agreeing that the snow should arrive that week in Seoul he would be lying.

- We're going to get sick - said the girl taking a sip of the brown liquid and turning around to get a marshmallow from her boyfriend's cup - and I still don't understand why.

- We won't get sick - he placed the cup on the table pulling his girlfriend's hood around, placing it where it should be, and leaving a light touch on her nose - if you dress appropriately for the occasion.

- Occasion? An event in our backyard that we don't even know if it will happen- She said retorting only to have her boyfriend pulling her close while sticking his head in her neck almost making her drop the cup in her hands while muttering what she deduced were contestations to her claims- I still don't understand why you're so obsessed with it, we can watch the snow together anytime.

-That's not true- he huffed pulling away from the girl, they both knew that anything between them had to be meticulously planned due to their schedules and that even simple moments like sitting together had been difficult lately, which led the couple to some disagreements- and it would be different... - YN studied his face carefully, Johnny was definitely worried and invested in the idea of watching the snow with her, slowly the woman leaned towards him as asking him to continue - the first snow is special, now be quiet and look straight ahead.

- Well- the girl let out a little giggle seeing her boyfriend who almost never got frustrated blushing violently and looking away, quickly turning around to check if she wasn't missing anything she turned back to him determined to get an explanation- different how, my love?

- Couples who watch the first snow together stay together- His answer took YN completely off guard, obviously, the girl had heard the saying before, however, she never thought that Johnny believed in it - And I don't want to be separated from you.

Without thinking twice, YN pulled Johnny to her sealing their lips in a tender and affectionate kiss, of course she was also worried about their current situation, but seeing her boyfriend openly trying his best to keep them together, even waiting in the excruciating cold, touched her deeply.

When they parted ways, YN couldn't help but appreciate his beautiful features until something caught her eye out of the corner: snowflakes.

- No worries then- Johnny opened his eyes with a confused expression, noticing the smile on his girlfriend's face he decided to follow her gaze only to find what he wanted so much, the first snow of the year, bright and warmer than he thought it would be, with his lover in his arms he couldn't help but smile- I think we're going to be together for a long time.

Please do not copy and translate this work without permission, all creative work is copyrighted and therefore plagiarism is a crime.

©littlecherryhuanlin 2022 - 2023

[haepii]

[7:45 PM, Christmas Eve] sfw. WC: 794. Secret Santa for @misakiise or @loeycity ! Merry Christmas!

The deep smell of pine, and tinsel filled your nostrils, as you began to sway to the jazz christmas music playing softly from the other room, mingled with laughs from the other room. The fireplace and Christmas tree lights casted you both in a warm glow. You could feel the soft cotton of Boyfriend!Jaehyun’s light blue button down shirt that was previously covered by his jacket.

You felt his hands roam up your back, and felt his hand bump the big red bow that was at the back of your dress. The dress itself was short, with a deep-v back and a high neckline in the front, with puff sleeves, and a straight-flair skirt with a big red bow at the back. You wore your black heels and tan thermal stockings to complete the look. Your hair is blown out and voluminous, which you’d topped off with a red lip. Jaehyun would be lying if he didn’t think you looked perfect.

Wine glass in one hand, his hand in your other, he raised his arm and spun you slightly to the slow and mellow beat of Michael Bublé’s iconic christmas album. You let out a short laugh, as he swayed with you against his chest, your wine glass pressed to your lips as you took a sip.

The song ended, and the Christmas music seemed to slow down, as did your swaying together, your back pressed to his chest as he took a sip of his own wine. “What do you think?”

“I think that your family is very christmas-orientated.” You let out a short chuckle, your eyes focusing on the different Christmas ornaments. In no way was their Christmas tree themed, or organised. It was a chaotic mess of different hues, and handmade ornaments from fine glass to… well, the ones a child would bring home from kindergarten. “Oh my God… did you make that?”

“Make what?” He asks, as he moves his wine glass from his lips and follows your gaze, as you point at it. He lets out a small chuckle as he finally catches on.

“That thing!” You exclaim with a short laugh, as you took ahold of the large, and somewhat homely ornament.

“Excuse me?” He feigned offence as you held up the Christmas ornament by the ribbon.

You turned to give him a look, as he looked at it and then at you like he was jokingly offended, moving his free hand from your hip to his heart. “You know what I’m talking about… it’s a demonic snowman!”

“It’s a show of my childhood craftsmanship.” He lets out, in a tone that sounded offended but based off of his facial expression it was clear he was holding in a laugh, as he looked at it. Now that he really thought about it, the ornament didn’t really look like a snowman. Ultimately it was just pieces of coloured pasta stuck to poorly painted cardboard with no real artistic vision in the first place.

“Totally… a demonic penne painting of a snowman on a ribbon is a true show of craftsmanship.” You nodded, holding in your own laugh, as you held it up for him to view, downing the rest of your wine in one go.

“Childhood craftsmanship, baby.” He hummed into your neck, planting kisses there to which you squirmed in his hold, as he took the ornament from your hands and placed it back on the tree before he spun you around to face him again. “That’s a very important detail.”

“Sure it is…” You giggled, as you jerked your head towards where it hung on the tree. “If it looks like that!”

“I’ll have you know, it was a standout in my kindergarten class.” He smirks with pride as the two of you danced to the Christmas jazz that had once again picked up the pace. You hadn’t realised where he was leading you to the doorway of the formal living room.

“I’m one-hundred percent sure it was.” You let out a small laugh as he placed his own empty wine glass on the mantle by the door, trapping you between the doorframe and himself. He held one hand on your hip, as he took your empty wine glass with the other hand, placing it next to his own on the mantle. “What…?”

You frowned slightly at his triumphant expression. He only smiled even wider like the Cheshire Cat and nudged his head upwards slightly. Your eyes followed to where he looked, finding the small sprig of green leaves and white blooms hung overhead. It was cast in the same warm glow of the room and you could swear your face turned as red as the wine you’d just gulped down. “Oh… Smooth, Jeong. Real smooth…”

[ohhmydyosfics]

(Markren) Mark Lee Gets Drunk At The Company Christmas Party

Renjun giggles, moving to face Mark, keeping an arm over his shoulder. “Come on, know your limits, babe. We have to stay vigilant for workplace hookups.”

Mark snorts. He pulls Renjun closer with the arm around his waist. “I mean, we went into the closet without hooking up. Maybe they’re just friends.”

Renjun rolls his eyes. “Who’s the unfun one now?”

https://archiveofourown.org/works/43743694

[bluebirds-in-the-spring]

23/12

Entre todas as coisas que você mais amava sobre estar viva, provavelmente a que mais fazia seu coração errar as batidas devido à emoção eram as plantas. A forma de vida mais incrível dentre toda a diversidade do planeta Terra. Você deve grande parte de tudo o que tem hoje à elas, e a gratidão pela existência delas ultrapassa barreiras tangíveis: suas duas tattoos dedicadas à plantas (uma sendo um girassol próximo à sua clavícula, e outra sendo uma pequena cenoura em seu tornozelo) e o fato de elas terem mudado sua vida para sempre através da sua profissão.

Desde criança, sua paixão pela Ciência e por compreender como tudo funciona no planeta sempre fizeram com que você fizesse questionamentos complexos demais para a maioria dos adultos, e alucinantes demais para que as outras crianças acompanhassem seu raciocínio conforme você crescia. Porém, nada disso foi capaz de te fazer desanimar de continuar. O jardim de sua avó foi seu primeiro laboratório botânico, e durante seus anos de escola, você aprimorou ainda mais seus conhecimentos sobre todas as áreas dentro da botânica, desde os processos microscópicos que acontecem dentro de cada uma delas até como era possível alimentar toda uma comunidade através do cultivo delas.

E no meio de toda essa trajetória estava Mark Lee. Seu melhor amigo desde os 5 anos de idade, ele sempre esteve ao seu lado durante sua jornada como pessoa-e-cientista, te apoiando e ajudando com o que fosse possível. E ele estava prestes à retornar a New York, depois de 10 anos sem mal se comunicar por meio de mensagens com você e todos seus demais amigos.

— Y/N! O Mark me ligou...agora há pouco...ele está chegando! — Chenle anunciou, tentando recuperar o fôlego depois de entrar de correndo em seu espaço de trabalho.

— Mas já? — você retrucou, checando o horário em seu celular. — Infelizmente estou no meio da oficina de compostagem orgânica com as crianças, Chenle. Você pode ir buscá-lo na linha Astoria da estação aqui do Queens, por favor?

— Eu iria, mas ele deve estar maluco para te ver depois de tanto tempo, então acho que as chances de ele me dar uma surra seriam bem altas. — ele respondeu, e as crianças o olharam com certa surpresa e curiosidade. — Ah, desculpem crianças. Eu posso ficar com elas, Y/N. Afinal, você já me ensinou muita coisa sobre compostagem.

— Tudo bem...mas chamarei o Doyoung para te ajudar. — você disse, e olhou para as crianças com um sorriso. — Pessoal, eu volto já. Enquanto isso, tio Chenle e tio Doyoung estarão aqui para ajudá-los. Colaborem com eles, combinado?

— Combinado, tia Y/N! — elas responderam, em uníssono.

Doyoung tomava pacificamente uma xícara de café coado enquanto conversava com Jungwoo, quando você se aproximou dos dois e prometeu um pagamento extra à ele para que ajudasse Chenle. No fim das contas, não apenas Doyoung mas também Jungwoo aceitou a proposta, e você sussurrou um "muito obrigada" aos dois antes de sair correndo pelas ruas do Queens. As pessoas te cumprimentavam rapidamente pelas ruas, e você apenas acenava rapidamente em resposta, mas todos compreendiam você muito bem: não era segredo para ninguém que você estava sempre correndo.

— Y/N, seu avental! — alguém gritou em certo ponto, quando você estava na metade do caminho.

— Ah, obrigada Victoria! — você respondeu, retirando seu avental às pressas e o segurando com força com uma das mãos.

Ao finalmente chegar à linha Astoria, sua respiração estava ofegante e suas pernas e pés doíam. Enquanto você respirava fundo, encarando o teto desgastado da estação, uma mão repousou sobre um de seus ombros, e você se virou rapidamente na defensiva.

— Sou eu! Não se preocupe, Y/N! — Mark disse, e você não conseguiu evitar sorrir ao vê-lo parado em sua frente, ainda com uma das mãos em seu ombro, enquanto a outra segurava uma grande mala preta de rodinhas.

— Mark Lee...quem diria. — você disse, o puxando para um abraço. — É tão bom te ter de volta! Temos tantas fofocas para colocar em dia...

— Posso imaginar que aconteceram muitas coisas além do que eu fiquei sabendo. — ele disse, e abriu um sorriso. — Quero saber de todos os detalhes!

— E você irá saber de tudo! Onde estão suas malas?

— Eu trouxe só o essencial. E não comprei muitas coisas enquanto estive fora.

— Isso é algo tão Mark...não sei por quê me surpreendo.

— Você meio que me influenciou muito com esses papos eco-friendly e tudo o mais...foi inevitável. — ele respondeu, e você riu. — Tem algum ônibus que passa aqui perto?

— Claro! Inclusive, ele deve passar em 5 minutos. — você respondeu, e segurou uma das mãos de Mark. — Venha comigo.

Você não pôde deixar de se surpreender com o fato de Mark achar o ônibus elétrico tão rápido e eficiente, o que rendeu uma conversa breve sobre transporte público de qualidade e suas diferenças entre o continente americano e o continente asiático. Ao desembarcarem em um ponto de ônibus próximo ao seu espaço de trabalho, você e Mark foram caminhando até chegar ao seu local de trabalho, do qual você era dona. Apesar de não seguir rótulos sobre que tipo de estabelecimento era, as pessoas se referiam ao "espaço encantado da Y/N", que abrangia uma grande horta experimental, uma floricultura e um café-sebo de livros usados.

Ao perceber que Mark havia parado na porta de entrada, você o encarou com curiosidade. Seu melhor amigo parecia absolutamente impressionado, ainda mais pelo fato de o estabelecimento ser o único nas redondezas que possuía fila para entrar, mesmo sendo bastante espaçoso. Quando saiu do transe de surpresa, ele te encarou com um sorriso largo, e você notou que seus olhos brilhavam.

— Y/N, você realmente é uma superestrela! Olhe só para tudo isso! Parece um conto de fadas.

— E é um, posso te garantir. — você respondeu, e ele riu. — Entre, vou providenciar algo para você comer. Me dê sua mala, irei guardá-la na despensa por enquanto.

Enquanto Mark revia os amigos que estavam no local (Chenle, Doyoung, Jaehyun (que havia chegado enquanto você estava fora) e Jungwoo) e tomava um smoothie de melancia acompanhado de uma fatia de bolo de baunilha, você havia voltado à oficina com as crianças, e mal podia imaginar que o principal assunto entre eles era você. Mark parecia não estar interessado em nada que não dissesse respeito à você naquele momento. Apenas com o decorrer da conversa, ele demonstrou certo interesse em outros assuntos.

— Ora ora, vejam só quem está aqui. — Jaehyun disse, quando você se aproximou da mesa em que os garotos estavam, depois de dispensar as crianças.

— Preciso que você me explique melhor essa história sobre o Prêmio Nobel depois! — Mark exclamou, e você sorriu, assentindo. — Os meninos estavam destacando os pontos mais importantes sobre os últimos ocorridos aqui no Queens.

— Bom, são 10 anos de ocorridos diversos, então vamos precisar de muito mais tempo de conversa. — Jungwoo disse, e Mark riu. — Y/N, você precisa de ajuda com mais alguma coisa?

— Não Jungwoo, muito obrigada. Ellen e Rachel já chegaram, então agora podemos dar conta do recado por aqui. E também não tenho mais aulas por hoje. — você respondeu, e encarou novos clientes que haviam chegado. — Bom, preciso ir agora. Mark, quando precisar de sua mala, pode avisar à mim ou à algum outro funcionário. Até mais, meninos!

No decorrer do dia, Mark saiu para caminhar pelo Queens com os garotos, e infelizmente você teve que recusar o convite tentador de ir junto deles e esquecer de suas responsabilidades por algum tempo. Além do movimento intenso em seu estabelecimento naquele dia, você ainda recebeu uma grande encomenda da distribuidora no final do dia que foi o suficiente para terminar de drenar sua bateria social.

— Y/N, acho que já vou pegar minhas coisas e ir para o hostel. — Mark disse quando te viu voltando à recepção, e você assentiu prontamente. — Não quero te atrapalhar, então pode apenas me indicar onde devo ir para pegar minhas coisas.

— Não se preocupe Markie, você não atrapalha. Venha comigo. — você respondeu, e ele sorriu feito um bobo ao ouvir seu apelido de infância sendo mencionado em voz alta, depois de tantos anos.

— Você combinou de jantar com os garotos essa noite? — você perguntou, enquanto ele pegava suas coisas.

— Não combinamos nada para hoje, pelo menos por enquanto...então acho que irei jantar aqui por perto mesmo.

— O que você acha de jantarmos na minha casa? — você sugere, e ele parece surpreso. — Se você não estiver muito cansado, é claro. É que minha mãe e minha irmã já estão sabendo que você está aqui, e obviamente já estão me enchendo de mensagens sobre quando você irá visitá-las.

— Você não precisa me convidar duas vezes. — ele respondeu, e você sorriu. — Não recuso a companhia de vocês por nada!

Seu estabelecimento permanecia aberto durante à noite, porém seu turno terminava junto ao entardecer. Assim, você se despediu dos demais funcionários e fez menção para que Mark te seguisse até o apartamento em que você morava com sua mãe e sua irmã mais nova, localizado na rua atrás de seu estabelecimento. Vocês conversaram sobre as lojas e restaurantes que encontravam no caminho, e Mark parecia vislumbrado com o aumento das árvores nas ruas e o trabalho e equipe comumente visto entre as pessoas do bairro.

— Boa noite, Y/N! — Louis, o porteiro de seu prédio, disse. — Temos um convidado hoje?

— Oi Louis! Sim, temos. Esse é Mark Lee, meu melhor amigo de infância. — você respondeu, apontando para Mark.

— Muito prazer, senhor. — ele disse, e Louis sorriu ao apertar sua mão.

A mente de Mark encarou uma série de déja vus nos momentos seguintes. Apesar de não ser o mesmo lugar que você e sua família moravam há anos atrás, o fato de estar te seguindo despertava em Mark o conforto e a segurança que ele não sentia há muito tempo. Pela primeira vez em 10 anos, ele se sentia em casa.

— Mãe, Julie, cheguei! — você anunciou, fechando a porta e indicando um local para Mark deixar seus pertences. — E temos visita.

— Ah, céus! Mamãe, Mark está aqui! — Julie exclamou, abraçando Mark com entusiasmo. — Como você está, Mark?

— Muito bem, Julie. Como é bom te ver! E como você está?

— Ótima, obrigada. Só muito atarefada, assim como a minha irmã. — ela respondeu, e olhou para você, que sorriu em resposta. — Parece que fazem sei lá, séculos que a gente não se vê. Se bem que eu realmente só tinha 8 anos quando você foi embora do país, então faz sentido. Venham, mamãe está na cozinha.

O apartamento das três era exatamente como Mark havia projetado em sua imaginação: a maioria das luzes eram amarelas, e criavam um ambiente aconchegante em conjunto às pequenas plantas e pinturas coloridas distribuídas pela sala e cozinha. E as moradoras daquele lugar eram exatamente assim: alegres e calorosas.

— Mark Lee! Você demorou muito para retornar, meu garoto. — sua mãe disse, em tom de reprova, e Mark sorriu. — Só não irei te abraçar ainda porque não posso deixar essas panelas desassistidas.

— Não se preocupe com isso, eu entendo perfeitamente!

— Podemos ajudar com alguma coisa, mamãe?

— Claro, Y/N. Podem terminar de arrumar a mesa, por favor querida.

Enquanto jantavam a variedade de saladas e massas que sua mãe havia preparado, a conversa fluiu de forma natural durante todo o tempo. Mark contou sobre seus estudos em Linguística na Universidade Nacional de Seul e sobre as dificuldades enfrentadas durante a mudança forçada de país. Com a proibição do contato entre os Estados Unidos e demais países, vocês haviam passado 10 anos sem trocarem sequer uma mensagem, então havia muito a se conversar.

Ao final da refeição, Mark se ofereceu para lavar a louça e você ficou junto dele para ajudá-lo com a arrumação, enquanto sua mãe e Julie contavam sobre como a rotina de vocês havia mudado durante o mesmo período do outro lado do mundo.

— Mark, você precisava ver como Y/N foi corajosa em liderar o movimento de mudança no sistema alimentar e ambiental do país! — Julie disse, e sua mãe concordou.

— Eu tive muito apoio desde o início...e foi um trabalho em equipe! — você reforçou, sentindo seu rosto corar.

— Tenho certeza de que ela só está sendo modesta. Se eu bem a conheço, ela com certeza foi uma ótima líder. — Mark retrucou, olhando para você. — Eu queria muito estar aqui para ver e ajudar...

— Não se culpe por isso, querido. — sua mãe respondeu, e abriu um sorriso. — Sabemos bem que você e sua família estavam torcendo e fazendo o possível para nos ajudar, mesmo de longe.

— Você foi de grande ajuda para ajudar o sistema de políticas anti-imigrantes a ser extinto, Markie. Graças a você, os meninos puderam voltar para o país sãos e salvos. — você disse, e ele sorriu. — Mas eu gostaria que você tivesse voltado na mesma época que eles. O que aconteceu para você ter demorado tanto?

— Eu...tive algumas questões para resolver que me tomaram mais tempo do que eu gostaria. Mas isso eu posso explicar em outro momento.

— Queridos, a conversa realmente está ótima, mas preciso ir dormir agora. Amanhã tenho um ciclo de palestras importante para ministrar e Julie irá me acompanhar. — sua mãe disse, e abraçou você e Mark. — Boa noite, crianças. Até amanhã! E não suma, Mark.

— Pode deixar, não irei sumir. Bom descanso, meninas.

— Boa noite, queridas. — você disse, enviando um beijo aéreo para as duas, enquanto seguiam para seus quartos.

— Acho que é a nossa deixa para colocar a fofoca em dia. — você disse, e Mark arregalou os olhos.

— Mas você não precisa ir dormir também? Os meninos disseram que seu dia vai ser intenso amanhã. — ele retrucou, e você sorriu.

— É verdade...mas estou ansiosa para saber mais detalhes sobre os anos em que ficamos sem nos falar! Você não faz ideia do quão curiosa eu estou. — você respondeu, e ele assentiu. — Venha, podemos nos acomodar na sala. Lá fora é ótimo, mas está muito frio, infelizmente.

Assim, Mark e você se acomodaram, um de cada lado do sofá esverdeado da sala. E então, ele respirou fundo e olhou para você, com o olhar que ele costumava ter quando vocês ainda eram vizinhos, colegas de turma e melhores amigos: com genuinidade e carinho.

— Eu pensei que iria chegar aqui só depois do Natal, para ser sincero. Ter chegado mais cedo me traz muitas lembranças sobre as nossas ceias compartilhadas...eram bons tempos.

— Definitivamente eram. — você concordou, e ele sorriu. — Os Natais mudaram muito de uns anos para cá, principalmente depois da revolução que fizemos. Mas as ceias continuam sendo compartilhadas, e conseguimos prepará-la com tudo o que produzimos em cada horta e área de criação de animais livres.

— É sério? Que incrível! Que bom que irei participar nesse ano. Acho que no fim das contas, foi bom eu ter voltado mais cedo.

— É claro que foi! Será amanhã, no meu estabelecimento, por sinal. — você respondeu, e ele fez uma reverência exagerada. — Qual é, Markie! Não é tão fantástico assim. Você sabe que esse sempre foi o meu maior sonho: conseguir mudar a vida das pessoas para melhor. O café-sebo-horta compartilhada foi só uma consequência de tudo.

— Eu entendo que você não ache que seja um grande motivo para comemorar, mas para mim é. — ele disse, e você assentiu. — Quando as notícias de que vocês haviam organizado um movimento global em prol da segurança alimentar, da produção de alimento sustentável e da melhoria na qualidade de vida das pessoas, todas as pessoas ficaram em êxtase na Coreia do Sul. Lá foi um dos últimos países a aderir ao movimento oficialmente, e isso não faz nem dois anos...durante todo esse tempo, eu não conseguia dormir sem pensar em como você e os garotos estavam por aqui, porque eu estava tentando conviver com a angústia e a incerteza sobre como seria o dia seguinte. Por isso eu fico tão feliz de tudo ter dado certo, para você e para mim.

— Desculpe se eu fizer pouco caso de algumas coisas que aconteceram. É difícil para mim reconhecer que vencemos mais esse caos.

— Não se preocupe, eu entendo que é difícil. — ele respondeu, e abriu um sorriso. — Mas saiba que se tem alguém que merece tudo isso, esse alguém é você. Você e a pequena Y/N que sonhava em mudar o sistema cruel em que vivíamos.

— Você está me fazendo querer chorar Markie, e esse não era o meu objetivo hoje. — você rebateu, e ele riu. — Enfim, eu irei levar essa questão para a terapia, pode deixar. Mas agora, eu gostaria de te fazer uma pergunta.

— Claro, vá em frente.

— Eu li as 2 obras que você publicou e fiquei simplesmente encantada. A sua escrita ficou ainda mais fabulosa, como você consegue ser tão bom assim com as palavras?

— Bom...ah, que droga, você me pegou desprevenido. — ele respondeu, e você notou que as orelhas dele estavam vermelhas. — Eu não sabia que você havia lido...mas fico feliz por você ter gostado.

— É claro que eu gostei! Sempre achei incrível você me mostrar suas criações antes de revelá-las ao mundo, e senti muita falta disso. Quando os garotos me mostraram suas obras, eu fiquei muito orgulhosa, de verdade. Eu sempre soube que você seria um escritor reconhecido internacionalmente.

— Você sempre prevendo o futuro, Y/N.

— É verdade. Aliás, me identifiquei muito com as protagonistas de "Uma dose de caos" e "Sombras do amanhã"...elas são peculiares para protagonistas de romances, mesmo que ambos sejam puxados para a ficção-científica. E eu gostei muito disso.

— Que bom, porque elas foram inspiradas em você. — ele respondeu, e abriu um sorriso tímido, enquanto você tentava assimilar o que ele havia recém dito.

[sehunniepotwrites]

RISK IT ALL | L.HC

SYNOPSIS. In theory, playing a card game called Risk It or Drink It during your holiday kickback sounded fun. In reality, it was your group’s wild plot scheme for you and your close friend, Donghyuck, to finally get yourselves together in more ways than one. 

PAIRING. Lee Donghyuck x fem!Reader WORD COUNT. 14.4k GENRE. Friends-to-Lovers!AU, Holiday!AU, Christmas!AU, Party!AU, mutual pining, smut (minors dni!), comedy/humor, a tiny bit of fluff

WARNINGS. language (crude sexual jokes, talks about sex positions, and profanities), alcohol and food consumption, adult drinking games with dares, haechan is heavy on consent, body shots, brief vouyerism, explicit content (needy!haechan, possessive!haechan, fingering, oral–male and female receiving, nipple play, praise kink, penetrative, missionary, etc.), nicknames (hers: princess, baby | his: baby)

PLAYLIST. Up to You - PRETTYMUCH feat. NCT Dream | Look at Me - George | A Nonsesne Christmas - Sabrina Carpenter | santa doesn’t know you like i do - Sabrina Carpenter | Yours (Live feat. Winter and Mark) - Chanyeol and Raiden

DISCLAIMER. This is work of fiction. I do not own the people/characters or concepts I have written about. You cannot translate or copy my work. © sehunniepotwrites, 2023

As people say, Saturday nights are for the boys. 

To you, the boys refer to your group of best friends formed early in your college years. The bond strengthened even after graduation. Two years after leaving your university adventures behind, your Saturday nights still belonged to your small close knit group. What started as dressing up in your best clothes and club hopping hours into the night turned into wearing comfy clothes and hosting weekly kickbacks in your respective apartments. You exchanged drunkenly shouting over loud music with drunkenly shouting over party games. Sometimes, you drink and others, you abstain from consuming alcohol to just bask in your hilarious company.

As you grew older, the clubbing and party scene seemed too exhausting with your nine-to-fives taking up most of your energy. Why would you want to socialize with stupid drunk strangers in a crowded room when you could just do that with your tight circle of friends?

Donghyuck and Mark hosted the kickback at their place this week–this one a little fancier than others due to it being the Saturday before Christmas. You loved it when they did. It gave you the excuse to drink to your heart’s content, knowing you could just crash in Donghyuck’s bed at the end of the night. You never did drink past your limit though–too afraid of your darkest secrets slipping through your loose lips–secrets only Jaemin and his girlfriend Ari knew. 

Ari was a great secret keeper. She never revealed your secret crush on Donghyuck to her lover. You did that yourself one semester when you bursted into her room, complaining about how attractive your best friend looked in his leather jacket to the point of wanting to kiss his pretty confident smirk off his face.  Jaemin heard it all while waiting for his girlfriend to get out of the shower. But as loyal as a friend could be, he kept the slip to your tiny little trio. That, however, did not stop the occasional teasing that happened here and there in full group settings. 

It seemed like Jaemin and Ari always had something up their sleeves when you found yourselves hanging out with them and Donghyuck. They would find tiny little ways to get you and your crush in positions where you had no choice but to be near him. For example, setting up days where the hang outs seemed more like double dates and then pretending to get lost just to guarantee you some alone time with him. Their plans, though obvious to you, worked in many ways. Jaemin and Ari often returned to you with matching grins on their pretty faces when they saw your hands linked together or with Donghyuck’s arm comfortably draped around your shoulder, his free hand carrying your purse. 

You honestly weren’t sure how Donghyuck never caught on to their schemes. 

Maybe he did but refused to say anything on the topic. 

Nevertheless, the devil worked hard but Ari and Jaemin worked even harder.

Although you asked the two to stop fueling the delusions floating in your mind, they insisted Donghyuck liked you too. “His feelings for you were undeniable,” they said,  “just look at the way he treated you versus everyone else.” 

Your best friend—with his gentle touches, sweet smiles, and teasing tones—dropped anything for you. He’d walk you to class even if his classes were on the other side of campus, protect you from creeps that gave you the ick, and have food delivered to your job when you had a rough day. When your dates with men went awry, Donghyuck arrived in seconds. According to the couple, the possibilities were endless for Donghyuck but only when it came to you. And tonight, apparently, was going to show you how endless the possibilities were. 

You were a bit sad Mark was missing out on this round of drinking at his place but as Jaemin slammed the box of cards down on the dining table, maybe it was for the best that the eldest of the group missed it. He’d miss the chaos happening at his apartment but at least, he’d earn money while doing it. 

Stealing a quick glance at Donghyuck, he looked so cute in his oversized knit sweater. The Santa hat resting on top of his long, wavy hair made him appear cozier than usual. Your outfits coincidentally matched–your sweaters in a similar shade and a Santa hat headband resting on top of your scalp. 

“Alright, bitches,” Jaemin smirked while opening the box, “tonight’s game is called Risk It or Drink It. You better not be pussies now.” You missed the gamemaster giving Donghyuck a pointed look as you handed out Ari’s soju cocktails to all the people in attendance. Donghyuck stealthily flipped him off. 

“He means you, babes,” Ari nudged you as she poured the two of you a shot. “We’re doing this for you.”

You grabbed it, the liquid spilling from the top, as you raised it for a toast. “No shit, Sherlock.”

Ari striked her glass with yours, “Well, Watson. Bottom’s up.” 

“Merry fucking Christmas!” The two of you downed the shot, not wincing in the slightest. The dangerous thing about flavored soju was that it tasted sweet, didn’t burn, and snuck up on you when you least expected it.

Everyone gathered around the kitchen island, some choosing to stand or lean against the countertop, while others took a seat on the barstools. You all watched as Jaemin set the game up with ease, placing a thick stack of cards in the middle of the table. 

“The rules are simple. We all take turns getting a card, reading it out loud, and doing what the card says, which is either doing a dare or answering a question. If you can do it, you earn the points at the bottom of the card and keep the card. If you can’t, take a shot or a swig of your drink. First to ten points wins. The player with the least point drinks out of”–the gamemaster pointed to a disgusting concoction next to the cards–“finishes the king’s cup. Got it?”

A chorus of agreement circled around the room and so the game began.

The first round was an easy one. You suspected the deck wasn’t shuffled well enough.

 Jeno’s card asked him to show off how much money was in his account, causing Yeri to jokingly ask him if he needed a sugar baby. He retaliated by telling her to ask Mark when he came home, making her take a big swig of her cocktail to draw attention away from her reddening face. Giselle had to name the worst dressed in the room, which led to Renjun’s cute outburst. Jaemin faked a proposal to his girlfriend and had to chug his drink when she said “no.” 

It was all fun and games until it came to you. That was when the party truly began.

You drew your card, skimmed through the words silently with a puzzled look, and then made a face. On your right, Donghyuck threw his arm over your shoulder to pull you closer to his side. He looked at the card as well, his face slightly dropping as he processed the task. 

“What does it say?” Karina yelled from the other side of the circle. 

Clearing your throat, you read aloud, “Lick the person on your left’s earlobe for five seconds or drink.” 

Jaemin was to the left of you and as much as you thought your friend was attractive, no amount of drinks in the world would result in you doing that.

“Damn, if only it said person to your right,” Jaemin whistled, reaching over to pat Donghyuck’s knee. Then, a mischievous glint in his eye appeared. “Hey, Donghyuck! Wanna switch sides for this card?”

“Jaem, what the fuck?!”

Donghyuck immediately shot up and the rest of the group hollered at the suggestion, urging him to move. Shoving Jaemin aside, your best friend beamed at you. He made a show out of it, pretending to tuck strands of his hair behind his ear. “Ready when you are, Princess.” 

You shoved his side at his flirty tactics, quickly looking away from the pair of eyes you couldn’t resist. “You would be the type to like this shit,” you attempted to play off, ignoring the increasing heartbeats the more he looked at you. 

“I’m into anything as long as you’re the one doing it,” he threw back, quickly placing a kiss right next to your earlobe. You inhaled sharply at the touch. You could almost feel the smirk spreading across his lips as he pulled away.

The screams that followed that line reminded you that you were not alone–you were in a room filled with people that you loved and were now watching you grow even more flustered than you already were. Heaven knows you were not drunk enough for this. Shaking your head out of the thoughts that followed Donghyuck’s words, you reached for your glass and said, “I’m drinking.”

Vocalized disappointment circled around the room and you ignored it, taking three large gulps of your cocktail. You slammed the glass down and felt the alcohol run through your body. If the dares were anything like that one, it would take you a lot more to actually do something. 

Donghyuck didn’t vocalize anything after your choice was made but you did catch his smirk drop the second your lips touched the rim of your glass. The large hand he had around your waist acted as a sign for you to put your drink down. Without words, he placed an opened water bottle in front of you and gestured to it with his chin–he wanted you to take a sip. You did as you were told as the second round of dares continued.

You all had trouble holding in your laughter when Karina called a friend, put them on speakerphone, and asked them to pick her up from the station after being detained for having car sex in a public area. The cackles were harder to contain when the friend pressed for details instead of immediately coming to her aid. When the insistence failed to cease, Karina spit out the first name that came to her head and ended up unmasking the flame she carried for Jeno. You grinned at the unfolding, taking note of how Jeno’s body perked up the minute Karina’s friend screamed, “Finally!” 

Ari confidently revealed her body count, Yeri had to endure being tickled by everyone for thirty seconds, and Renjun took two shots instead of calling his ex-girlfriend.

“List three sex positions in ten seconds or drink,” Donghyuck read his card aloud. Before he could even process the task, the group started counting down, adding pressure onto the boy. “Oh shit! Umm, missionary, doggy–oh what the fuck, what else is there?!”

His time was up before he could think of a third and Giselle shoved a shot in his hand. “You better drink, Hyuck!” 

Donghyuck accepted his fate, groaning after he took the shot. As he nuzzled his head into your neck, you could tell he was disappointed at his failure.

“Aww, baby, couldn’t think fast enough with your little pea brain?” you teased, running your fingers through his messy hair. 

He looked up at you with a playful sneer and pursed his lips. “Like you could do any better in ten seconds.”

Looking Donghyuck dead in the eye, you listed three off the bat with a deadpan face, “Cowgirl, 69, doggy. It’s not that hard, Hyuckie.”

With no other context, your best friend dropped his head back into place and said, “You will be the death of me one day, you know that, right?” His plush lips, now wet with the remnants of alcohol, brushed against the junction of your neck and exposed shoulder. The sudden touch made you shiver.

“And why’s that?”

Donghyuk breathed out, the air making  goosebumps appear on your skin, and deflected the question. “It’s your turn. Draw.”

The moment you pulled the card, Donghyuck shifted his head to read the card with you. His body began to shake with laughter as the rest of your crew rushed you to reveal the dare. 

God, you were not drunk enough for this. He grabbed the paper out of your fingers and took the liberties of saying the dare, “Hold a piece of food in your mouth and have the person on your right,” he paused, grazing his soft fingers on your bare knee, “that’s me, princess—”

“Yes, I know my rights from lefts, Hyuck.”

“—and have them take it from you.”

“I’m picking the piece of food you use and don’t you dare complain!” Ari yelled before anyone else could claim the job. 

Everyone watched as she stifled through a plate of French fries. Her playful grin expanded across her pretty face when she found the perfect fry—a thin, crispy piece that was around an inch long. The group exploded with excitement as she held it up. 

“That,” you pointed to the fry in your friend’s hand, “cannot be legal. That has to be against the rules!”

Jaemin pretended to examine the fry his girlfriend was holding. “Hmm, looks fine to me.”

“You’re a menace, Jaem,” you hissed at him.

Jaemin came right back, “Just doing what has to be done to take us out of our misery.”

“What misery?!”

With everything already set, you resigned to your friend’s wishes and begrudgingly accepted the dare. Ari handed you the tiny piece of food. You sighed dramatically before placing it between your teeth. It barely extended past your top and bottom lip. Shooting Donghyuck a widened look, you told him to hurry. If you were to prolong this dare any longer, you were afraid of the fry breaking before he’d get to it. 

You stood still as Donghyuck approached with a smug look. It disappeared as soon as his eyes dropped to the french fry you held, lingering at the sight of your parted mouth. When he looked back up at you, there was a sort of look in the brown irises you were so attracted to. Hunger. Anticipation. 

“Lean in,” someone shouted but your body froze in its place.

Swallowing back your nervousness, his two warm hands touched your face, both molding to your cheeks. Shutting your eyes as he grew closer, the last thing you saw was his handsome face tilting to get a better angle. Donghyuck’s actions were lightning quick and sudden, making your heart beat skyrocket towards the moon. 

His breath tickled your skin and then, his lips brushed ever so gently against yours. It didn’t last too long; after all, his goal was to retrieve the french fry. You did your best to focus on that, remembering not to bite down to break the crunchy strip of food–the task at hand was hard but not impossible.

Then, there was a slight pressure, the plushness of his lips pushing into you as Donghyuck bit, tugging the food out of your mouth. 

Still frozen in your spot, you sensed Donghyuck pulling back. You exhaled through your nostrils and slowly opened your eyes. Your best friend was right in front of you, wearing a smirk as he chewed on the fry. He licked around his mouth, gathering the tiny dusts of salt before humming. 

“Salty,” was all he said while everyone surrounding  you laughed at his antics.

Ignoring the hammering of your heart as he continued to stare at your lips, you cleared your throat. As much as you tried to shove all feelings of attraction aside, Donghyuck kept his sultry gaze fixated on you. You watched as it dipped back down to your lips again, his fingers coming up to brush away the little specks of salt that stuck your mouth. 

Everything was too much for you–the warmth of his touch, the intensity of his stare, the looks the others were giving you–it was time to direct everyone’s attention elsewhere.

 “Next dare,” you called out, facing away from Donghyuck.

 You did the honors of drawing the card for the next person, reading it out loud and keeping the game going. Despite everyone else’s attention following your distraction, you could still detect your crush’s unwavering stare from your side. You were hyper-aware of his arm circling your waist, tugging you closer to his body heat, and the way his palm curved so perfectly into your side. It sent tingles down your spine, goosebumps forming in your flesh, and heat rising up from the tips of your extremities to the middle of your body.

Looking at the depleting stack as the game continued, you thought it couldn’t get any worse than this. Turns out, you were dead wrong.

Donghyuck plucked the next card at the top of the deck, read it to himself, and let out a low chuckle. Squeezing your side, fingers tickling the sliver of exposed skin, he said, “Looks like it’s you and me again, Princess.”

 The  reaction kept the group of friends on the edge of their seats, curiosity getting the better of them. “Read it!” Giselle yelled from the other side of the island bar. 

Hating the way Donghyuck dragged things out, it was time to take matters into your own hands. Snatching the card out of his hand, you relayed the message aloud, “Hold a staring contest for thirty seconds with the person on your left or drink. The two participants must be within two inches of each other.”

Oh shit. 

If there was one thing that made you weak, it was the way Donghyuck stared at you. You barely survived him stealing the fry. There was a mission to complete despite his impenetrable gaze, which kept your center of interest. But for this particular dare, nothing would be in the way but the air you both breathed. Could you be able to maintain your cool or would you fold the minute your eyes locked with his?

“Oh, this is going to be good,” Jeno whispered to Karina, the two now seemingly closer after the phone call scandal. She giggled, turning her head towards him to hide her laugh. Traitors, you thought to yourself, the both of them. 

Faking nonchalance, you shifted towards an eager looking Donghyuck. “Thirty seconds is nothing. Let’s get this over with.”

“Whatever you say, princess,” he replied, swiveling in his chair to face you. 

The arm holding you close to him slid down your shoulder to rest on your waist, his hand making its way under your sweater and palm now resting on the small of your back. Your body arched at his touch before you fully processed what happened, your grip instantly shooting to his take hold of his upper arms to maintain balance. You ignored the way his muscles flexed under your palms. 

Donghyuck chuckled again, “We didn’t even start and you’re already like this. How cute.”

Despite how his words and tone made you melt on the inside, how they made you sink a little more into his touch, the snark came bubbling out of your mouth. “Shut up.”

Donghyuck did the exact opposite of what you demanded. “Why don’t you make me?”

“Oh my god, Donghyuck,” you groaned.

“Is the timer ready?” he asked no one in particular while keeping you in his line of sight. It never wavered even as someone in the crowd announced they had pulled one up and were waiting for his cue. 

“Start it,” your best friend commanded and then began the longest thirty seconds of your life.

With Donghyuck barely two inches away from your face, his brown eyes dug deep into your soul. Unable to look away, you took note of how his pupils dilated as Donghyuck continued to stare. The way he looked at you was breathtaking, so focused, like you were the only thing that mattered in the moment. 

The boy’s stare, although flattering, was almost too intimidating for you to take. The intensity of it all made you want to withdraw, the upper half of your body drawing away from him. No matter how much you wanted to escape, he didn’t let you. Every time you pulled back, he pushed forward until the tip of your nose grazed against his. The hand underneath your sweater found its way up to support your upper back, his other arm extending out to grip the counter top. Donghyuck now had you pinned in between the island bar and his body and it was too damn hot in the room for this. 

Just as Donghyuck broke the connection to steal a glance at your lips for the second (or third time) that night, the timer alarmed to signal the end of your dare. You lightly shoved your hands against your crush’s chest, ignoring how firm the muscles below you were, to make more room. Once you deemed him far enough, you reached for your cocktail and took a long swig to cool your overheating body down.

Everyone had their own reactions to the stunt: Giselle and Yeri giggling in the corner, Renjun scrolling through the pictures he snuck of the interaction, Jeno and Karina whispering to another about what just transpired. While downing your drink, you made eye contact with Jaemin, who wiggled his eyebrows annoyingly. You were so close to using his pretty face as your punching bag. Ari simply winked at you. You flipped her off in reply.

Even as everyone else moved on, Donghyuck was still stuck on the dare that occurred. 

While taking one too many sips of your drink, you spilled a bit of it, liquid sticking to part of your skin. With no hesitation, Donghyuck used a part of his sleeve to wipe it away. The fingers still tucked into your knit sweater rose up to graze the back of your neck. You shuddered as he pulled his hand away, the warmth leaving with him. Just when you thought it was over, his nimble fingers reached out to fix the Santa headband that was slipping. Your breath hitched  and your crush promptly picked up on it. 

“Do I make you nervous?” he whispered, tacking your name to the end of his question. His voice was lower than usual, the cheerful and bright cadence long gone. The difference in his tone caused your heart to drop to the floor, as if it was free falling from an amusement park’s drop tower at the highest speed. There was no way to pick it back up.

“You wish.”

Donghyuck had the honors of having the last word this time. “I really do.”

No matter how hard you denied it, your best friend did make you nervous. It was apparent when he took the french fry from your mouth and when you had a staring contest. It was even more evident during your next turn, when you were tasked to spin a bottle and kiss whoever it landed on. 

There was no point in even spinning the bottle; you knew your mischievous friends would make you re-spin until you landed on the person they (i.e. you) wanted. You twirled the bottle a total of three times. The first time, it landed in between Jaemin and Ari and the next, it pointed to Renjun who quickly shifted from its path. On the last try, it stopped in the middle of you and Donghyuck. 

Ari’s manicured hand quickly flicked the bottle just enough so the opened end was aimed right at your best friend. “Well, would you look at that?” she giggled. “It landed on Hyuckie.” 

That girl was a devil in disguise, just like her damned partner.

You rolled your eyes. Sarcasm dripped through your words,“Who would’ve thought?” 

“Damn. Is the thought of kissing me that dreadful to you?” Donghyuck asked, lifting his Santa hat to run through his hair. His long fingers pushed back the curled bangs covering his eyes, holding them in place as he awaited your reply. 

The thought was far from dreadful. Nerve wracking was a far better word to describe how you were feeling. Thrilling was another one you could throw into your word bank. 

You ignored the question, too busy handling the butterflies hovering about in your stomach. One almost got caught in your throat when he swiveled your bar stool to face him. You gulped, shoving it back down. 

 “Is it?” Donghyuck insisted you answer him. You couldn’t lie so you abstained from replying. “Oh, you want me to kiss you so bad, don’t you, princess?”

Avoiding his eyes, you muttered, “Let’s get this over with.” 

“Gladly.” 

The next thing you knew, Donghyuck’s rough hands found their way back to your cheeks and tugged you closer. Seizing the opportunity, your best friend closed the distance with no hesitation. His plush lips crashed against yours and the years of tension between the two of  you ultimately snapped. 

As soon as he felt you kiss him back, your body melting right into his grasp, Donghyuck circled an arm around your waist to lock you in his hold. His other hand sneakily traced a path up your arm, creating gooseflesh on your skin, until finding purchase at the back of your head. He cupped your neck to keep you in place and went back for seconds. The first kiss ended and you parted for a mere moment to catch the tiniest breath before you went back at it. 

Donghyuck didn’t care about the crowd and quite frankly, you forgot about the audience. He kissed you hard and you couldn’t stop reciprocating even if you tried. The taste of him was addicting, it was impossible to break away.  

It was official; you were drunk on him within the first kiss. When Donghyuck tightened his grip, you let out a quiet yet pleasured sound. You latched onto his wavy, brown locks only to tug on them. If you went on for any longer, you were sure to have found your way onto his spread out thighs but you were stopped before you could carry on.

Renjun whistled, pulling your attention from Donghyuck’s kiss and back to the real world. 

You slowly opened your eyes, dazed for a moment in time, until you realized what just occurred. Withdrawing the hands tangled in your crush’s hair, you took in your best friend’s appearance–lips red and swollen, hair messy, and eyes half-lidded and completely fixated on your mouth. His chest rose and fell with each breath he took and once his gaze met yours, you swore his pupils grew in size. 

“God damn,” Jeno coughed, clearly flustered by the public display of affection. “Hyuck, you need a moment or?”

“Hmmm?” Donghyuck hummed, his stare unfaltering. He tracked every minuscule move you made, from the way you drew yourself back to create some much needed distance to how your mouth let out little pants to slow down your heart rate. He watched you press the back of your hands against your burning cheeks in a failed attempt to cool down. “No, no, I think I’m good.”

“I honestly think they both need a moment,” Yeri muttered under her breath. 

“Under the mistletoe maybe,” Ari whispered back. 

“The bedroom’s more like it. The card said kiss, not make out for the whole fucking world to see,” Renjun scolded, rubbing his eyes to erase the vision. You probably scarred the poor boy for life. He was most likely debating on whether or not he had to burn his eyes. 

“I think that looked hot,” Jaemin commented, giving you a wink. The heat in your cheeks turned up a notch. “Enjoyed it a little too much, yeah?”

“Of course, you enjoyed it, Jaem. You’re a freak,” Giselle said.

“Hey, no kink shaming here! This is a safe space! I’m going to make you take a shot for that!”

Only then did Donghyuck snap out of whatever trance you had him under. He gave you this enchanting smile that looked even prettier with his puffy lips. You did that to him. A swell of pride coursed through you–you ruined him even if it was just for a moment.

One of his hands dropped to your mid thigh while the side arguments continued. It traced a path to your knee, his thumb stroking your skin back and forth. “Was that okay?”

It was more than okay. Fantastic. Exciting. Stimulating even, judging by the damp feeling in your underwear. Worthy enough for an encore performance. “Yes.”

“Good,” Donghyuck gulped, suddenly shy and less confident than he usually is. “Are we okay?”

The look of a siren took over your features, your eyes flickering to his lips for a short second. Chin pointed down, your eyes then widened when rising up to meet his stare. Your hand settled on top of his, grounding it on your bare thigh. He squeezed your flesh as you answered with a breathless, “yeah.” 

“It wasn’t too much?” Donghyuck asked, leaning into you. 

He always did this–made sure that you were comfortable when put in awkward or unusual situations. Even when he stole your breath away with a kiss or two, the first thing he thought of was you. 

The only response you could give was a shake of your head, causing the headband to fall back yet again. With his light touch, Donghyuck fixed it right up and combed back the stray hairs stuck to your face.

“Good,” he repeated with a satisfied nod. 

He pressed against your thigh once more and you squeezed his hand back. When your hand refused to move, Donghyuck took it as a sign to keep it there for as long as you accepted his touch. As the game went on and the dares entertained the rest of the crowd, you kept yourself amused by running your fingers against his knuckles. It tickled your crush to no end, his hand squirming underneath yours, trying to break free from your crutches but you didn’t let up. 

To prevent it any further, Donghyuck swiftly turned his hand around and tangled his fingers with yours. He kept you in a tight but not squeezing grasp and it took your attention away from your friend group’s shenanigans. 

You missed Giselle refusing to take another shot and reluctantly taking off Renjun’s sweater vest with her mouth, then Yeri answering a “fuck, marry, kill” question, all because of how Donghyuck’s hand molded so perfectly with yours. Your eyes were glued to your intertwined fingers under the countertop, hidden from everyone else’s sight, but so crystal clear for yours. 

Your heart was going crazy, even crazier than when he kissed you in front of everyone. Those were all done for the public but this little moment was meant for you alone. Donghyuck didn’t have to hold your hand. He stood next to you now, his own seat long forgotten, just to be closer to you. You tested something, trying to pull away but his grip around your hand strengthened, as if he never wanted to let you go. 

With a smile on your face, you allowed yourself to lean against him, your arm pressing against his. As you did this, Donghyuck released the hand he held, only to sling over your shoulder. He shifted to hug you from behind, his back bent slightly so he could reach back down to connect your hands again. 

You looked up at him. “Comfortable?”

Donghyuck’s melodic voice hummed in reply and you leaned into his chest as he held you tighter. You held your breath as you felt a bit of his strengthened chest pressing into your upper back. 

When you stood to refill your cup ten minutes later, Donghyuck still held you with his arms circling your waist as you bent and reached across the countertop. Something hard grazed against your butt as you wiggled in his embrace, stretching your fingers to grab onto the half-emptied soju bottle. He emitted the quietest groan and gripped your sides to keep you still. Heat rushed throughout your entire body when the realization hit and a wave of arousal crashed against you.

“Please stop moving,” he said, desperation oozed out of his gentle command. 

The boy couldn’t move you himself, needing you to shield the erection that he was desperately trying to hide. He simply let you out of his hold, long enough to pour yourself another drink, before his arms encompassed you once more. His chin dropped to your shoulder as you sipped on your drink. 

“Sorry, can’t help it,” Donghyuck mumbled into your ear, his lips grazing against your earlobe. The slightest brush sent shivers down your spine and you were sure he felt it. It reminded you of the dare card you received earlier and you wondered if your crush would have the same reaction if the roles were reversed.

“It’s ‘kay,” you hushed back. 

“Is it though?” Donghyuck pushed. “I don’t want you to feel uncomfortable.”

“I would push you away if I was,” you reassured him before offering him a sip of your drink. 

If you turned back, you would’ve caught his eyes widening at your reply. It was a little spark of hope for the boy but then, he couldn’t be too sure. He refused the cocktail, saying that he should stop drinking for the night. He stressed that he needed to be sober by the end of the get-together to make sure you were alright. 

A call of your name brought you back to the game. The card you drew was a relatively easy one: post a picture with someone or something to your Instagram feed without editing with the caption, “you are the love of my life.” Patting Donghyuck’s sweater-covered arm, you requested his help, “Take a picture with me?”

“Am I the love of your life now?” He threw back, not denying the request. 

You handed your phone to the group’s respective Instagram boyfriend, Jaemin, and giggled. Maybe you shouldn’t have taken that last sip. You were far from drunk but a little past buzzed. “Why? You like the sound of that?”

“I like being called yours,” he flirted back.

“Shut up,” you scrunched your nose at him before turning your attention to the camera aimed at you. 

Jaemin, as expected, took a cute picture of the two of you. 

Donghuck was still draped over you, hugging you waist from behind with his chin resting on your shoulder. While you grinned happily for the camera, your hands covering his larger ones resting on your belly, your friend kept his soft stare on you. He wore a tender smile, honey dripping from his lips and his eyes. It looked like the perfect print for a couple’s Christmas card instead of a drunken dare and you knew this was a picture you wanted to keep on your feed, dare or not. You could always edit the caption at a later time.

Donghyuck continued to hover over you, watching your fast fingers type out the text. You waited together in silence as you hit post, waiting for the picture to upload. When the photo appeared on your feed, you turned your phone around to show the onlookers. Like the hype crowd they were, all your friends pulled out their own phones to like and comment on the post–the girls writing unhinged comments on your beauty or how Donghyuck stole you away from them while the guys drew attention to how long it took you to get together. You were sure the people who weren’t a part of your usual crowd would believe the caption on your post–after all, many often commented on how cute you looked as a couple. Without context, you were sure Mark would be pissed about how you didn’t tell him shit. 

“Alright, alright. It’s your turn, Hyuck,” you said.

“Let me run to the bathroom real quick and then I’ll draw.” 

Donghyuck finally let you out of his warm embrace, heading down the hallway of his apartment, leaving you with the rest of your friends. As soon as they heard the door shut, the group turned their heads towards you. They looked like predators, ready to pounce on their prey.

“Y’all really went at it,” Ari said, “you didn’t even come up for a breath.”

“I felt like I needed to leave the room,” Yeri added on.

“And I felt like I needed to gouge my eyes out,” Renjun dramatically rolled his eyes. “I wasn’t drunk enough for that.”

“You want to drink more?” Giselle perked up, already reaching for his shot glass. 

“Sit your ass down,” Renjun scolded while reaching for food,“I’m driving you home tonight so I’m tapping out.”

“Party pooper,” she argued.

“I mean I could drink more and we could crash here but do you want to stay with Y/N and Hyuck with all this sexually charged energy in the air?”

“Excuse me, what?” you spat out your drink, eyes enlarged as you processed Renjun’s words.

“You heard what I said,” Renjun snapped before turning back to Giselle, “if you’re fine with that, you’re on your own kid ‘cause I’m going home.”

Giselle gave you a once-over and then a sheepish smile. “Yeah, on second thought, maybe not.”

Not over what Renjun said, you whisper-shouted, “Sexually charged energy?”

“Oh please, if we didn’t stop you, you’d probably end up on Hyuck’s lap,” Karina said as she sat at the dinner table across from the island bar. You glared at her, taking in her current position. She shouldn’t even be the one talking; her bare legs rested on Jeno’s lap, her flesh covered by the fabric of his hoodie. You eyed the slight movement of Jeno’s large hand under the hoodie, how it caressed Karina’s thigh.

“Is he a good kisser?” Jaemin wiggled his eyebrows at you.

“You’re such a gossip,” you rolled your eyes.

“Well, is he?” Ari pushed, ganging up on you with her boyfriend.

Thinking back to the hot kiss you shared made you bite your lip. “No comment.”

“She didn’t deny it so that’s a yes!” Yeri stood up, pointing a finger at you. 

You fought the urge to bite it as a small rebellious act. Jeno tugged the end of Yeri’s sweater dress and yanked her back down to her seat. 

“He so wants you!”

“You say that like it’s new.”

What?  Where they implying that your best friend actually had feelings for you? “What do you mea–”

It was then Donghyuck returned from the bathroom. Your group went quiet as he approached, making the lot of you appear suspicious. “Were you dumb asses talking about me?”

“The world doesn’t revolve around you, Donghyuck,” you said while taking your oversized sweater off. 

Being in the hot seat while he was away got you all fired up–you had to find some way to cool you down. Finishing the game in your cropped bra top and skirt would be just fine. 

“Ouch,” the boy clutched his knit sweater right above his heart, the slight tug lifting the material. You caught a sliver of his gorgeous tanned skin and realized he wasn’t wearing a shirt underneath. You swiftly reverted your eyes to the thin deck of cards on the countertop. 

When Donghyuck returned back to his position of hugging you from behind, you froze in your spot. His arms fell over your shoulders, fingertips grazing the flesh of your upper thigh and you did your best to keep it together. 

“Can you draw my card for me?” he asked you, his low voice directly in your ear. 

His warm breath and long hair tickled your neck and you shut your eyes closed. “Huh?”

“It’s too far and I don’t want to reach over you,” Donghyuck whined, his hands sliding up your arms to massage your shoulders. 

You gave into his wishes and reached for a new card. Donghyuck’s grip skimmed your sides, fingers digging into your hips to keep you steady while you leaned forward. His thumbs rubbed little circles on your back as you read the card aloud. “Take a body shot with a person of your choice or finish your drink,” you projected to the awaiting crowd. Fuck. 

Jaemin and Ari’s lips formed twin smirks, satisfied with their front row seats while you slowly piece together that particular dare. Donghyuck refused to let you out of his sight or grip. All partner tasks he had were done with you. Therefore, you would be his person of choice for this dare as well. Could your heart even take this?

Like clockwork, Donghyuck swiveled your chair to ask for your consent. His brown eyes dug deep into yours to check in on you. “You okay with this, princess?”

You gestured to the strong cocktail Ari made him. “Would you rather finish that strong concoction or take a shot? I know you said you wanted to stop drinking tonight.”

Donghyuck shook his head, his luscious hair flopping along with his movement. “Don’t do this because of what I said. That’s not what I asked. Are you okay with this–yes or no?” 

“I–” You were shy but you weren’t unwilling. This game had gotten you physically closer than any other attempts that were made. It gave you a little confidence when it came to Donghyuck’s physical touch. 

When Jaemin and Ari mentioned they had something up their sleeves, you didn’t think a little card game would get you this far. You couldn’t deny the rising tension between you and Donghyuck, especially how it skyrocketed during the many rounds of dares. Neither could you deny the gentler moments sprinkled in the middle of the more intense scenes of the wild night. If all of those moments were leading up to this, why run away from it? 

“Yeah.”

That was not what Donghyuck was expecting to hear. “Yeah?”

“Let’s do it,” you nodded bashfully. You turned to face your friends, feigning confidence, “We don’t have tequila so hand me some sugar and the apple mango soju.”

Sweet drinks weren’t really Donghyuck’s thing. He was more of a plain soju and beer person but while you were both out at a barbeque place earlier in the year, he mentioned that he liked the taste of apple mango flavor in passing. Months later and you remembered that little fact. Donghyuck bit back a grin. 

He reached out a hand towards you and you carefully placed your hand in his. Donghyuck helped you off your high stool, looking for a place to set you down. The island bar was filled with the food, drinks, and the card game so that wasn’t in the running. The dining table had all the white elephant gifts piled on top, so that wasn’t a choice either. 

His eyes landed on the low coffee table in front of the couch and led you to it, your hand clasped tightly with his. Your free hand held the bottle of soju, the sugar, and the shot glass. When no one was looking, you took a quick swig before seating yourself on the cold, glass surface. Donghyuck kneeled in front of you, wedged between your thighs. 

Your friends followed, jittery with excitement over what was going to unfold. They planted themselves behind the couch, keeping their distance. 

Handing him the sugar shaker, you braced yourself as his tongue licked a spot on your neck.  Fingers and toes curling at the sensation, you cocked your head to the side while he sprinkled a bit of sugar on your skin. You didn’t dare open your eyes until you felt him more than a breath away. Avoiding any sort of eye contact with your friends, you fixed your gaze on the person in front of you, pouring the alcohol into the glass. When Donghyuck finished, he looked up at you with parted lips and a glazed over stare. 

“Ready?”

Unable to spit out words, you felt your head move up and down. With your approval, Donghyuck placed one hand on your upper back, the other on your thigh, as he guided you down. You winced when the freezing glass met your skin. A gasp followed when the bottom of the shot glass rested on your bare stomach. 

The room was silent as Donghyuck placed his arms behind his back. You stared at the ceiling as he descended. Struggling to keep your inhales shallow to keep the shot glass upright, you dug your nails into the heel of your palm. Panic and arousal flooded your brain when you snuck a peek of his head in between your legs. First came the tickle of his long hair, then the puff of his breath. The sensations they caused ignited the fire within you and a wetness to leak into fabric, the one that was fueled by another person’s touch.

Donghyuck paused for a moment, peering up at you. Eyes locked onto his target, he kept a steady gaze as his mouth wrapped around the rim of the glass. The sight of him was too sensual, too debauched for your heart to take, you broke the connection and rested your head back on the glass table. A bit of the soju spilled on your stomach when he threw his head back to take the shot. You wanted to wipe the cold liquid with the hem of your skirt; however, Donghyuck beat you to it, his wet lips thoroughly slurping up the remainder. 

To end the dare, your best friend trapped you under him, his arms planted on either side of you. You instantly turned your head to give him more access. One of Donghyuck’s strong hands cupped your jaw to keep you in place as his tongue thoroughly traced the stripe of sugar until it was all gone. He started from where your shoulder met your neck, ghosting all the way up until his nose nudged your earlobe. Donghyuck caught the sharp gasp that escaped you, felt how your hand left crescent moons on his wrist.

One, two, three beats passed until Donghyuck retreated, the scent of his strong cologne whiffing past you as he pulled back. You released a trapped breath and grabbed hold of the hand he offered. Using his strength to bring you back up, your widened eyes met his. 

Unbeknownst to the two of you, your friends had already moved on from the dare and deemed their roles as matchmakers a job well done. They moved from their spots behind the couch and began clean up duty. Renjun placed all the used kitchenware and rinsed them in the sink. Giselle and Yeri threw away all the trash and clutter around the kitchen and dining room area. Jeno and Karina moved like two peas in a pod, working together to put away all the leftovers in the fridge. Jaemin and Ari gathered all the cards, disregarding the points earned, and placed them back in the box. No matter who earned the most points, it was clear who the winners were–you and Donghuck won the game and your prizes were each other. 

Even with the hustle and bustle happening throughout Donghyuck’s apartment, neither of you noticed, too entranced by each other. Donghyuck was completely under a spellbinding haze–the glazed over expression on your face, paired with your heavy breaths and your parted lips–that he just couldn’t help himself. Hidden by the back of your couch, no one witnessed how your crush broke himself out of his trance just to kiss you one more time. 

His lips, still damp with the alcohol that spilled from his messy drinking method, connected with yours. This kiss was slower than the one that took place earlier in the night. Slower but needier. You tasted the sweet soju as your tongues converged. Even with others in the room, who could catch you at any second, Donghyuck never increased the pace. He kept you there with him, warm hands holding your face, thumbs caressing your cheek and the back of your neck, as he lightly bit your bottom lip. 

Unable to control yourself, a quiet sigh broke free when his touch ran up to grab a handful of your hair. You instantly felt Donghyuck react to it. With that boost in confidence, his mouth formed a smirk and let out a breathless chuckle that left you desiring more of him. His hips rocked forward just once, something hard swiftly brushing against your privates, and it was enough for you to release a high-pitched mewl at the contact. When Donghyuck pulled away, his deep gaze was still locked on your puffy lips, now swollen from all the damage he’d done to you. Drawing back again, he took in the whole sight of you from his current spot, kneeling in between your spread legs. 

You were so breathless, chest heaving and body flushed with warmth. The stain on your lips was almost completely gone, what was left of it messily blotched around your mouth. Even if you reapplied it thirty minutes prior,  Donghyuck was almost one hundred percent sure it disappeared because it was smudged on him.

So breathless. So taken. So ruined. 

That was the word. You looked ruined and it was all thanks to him. 

Lee Donghyuck did that to you and he was damned proud of it. Even if nothing else stemmed from whatever this moment–this night–was, Donghyuck would take the overwhelming pride he felt to his grave. No other kiss, no other makeout session, and whatever followed would ever top this exact moment for him. 

You released a quiet giggle and swiped your thumb against his lips. He kissed it as you continued your ministrations, attempting to clean off the bright color that now painted his face. 

Would it be so bad of him if he told you to stop? Would it be okay for him to keep those stains, those little specks of you, on his skin? Was it shameless of him to ask? If it was too brazen, he’d do it anyway–Donghyuck would do anything to be at your mercy. 

“Hey, lovebirds, we’re heading out!” Jaemin called from behind the couch with Ari snuggled up at his side.

The two of you spun towards them and spotted all your friends gathered by the door. Yeri and Giselle were slipping on their shoes, using Renjun as balance as they stood on one foot. Jeno held Karina’s coat, fighting the blush that warmed his face while the girl of his dreams clung onto his arm. If you were in your right mindset, you would’ve commented on that but you were far from it. You were far from sober, too intoxicated not by the many drinks you consumed, but by all the kisses Donghyuck gave you. They were addicting in their own type of way–with his little suckles, licks, and nips. 

“You’re sleeping over, right?” Ari asked, “No need for us to take you home?”

In normal circumstances, you would sleep over with no other questions asked. It was an unspoken rule that you had every time Donghyuck and Mark hosted but this was different than the other times. You just kissed your best friend–the one you usually share a bed with–on multiple occasions throughout the night and there was some sort of invisible string drawing you back to him every single time you pulled away. Ari, as a faithful girl’s girl, was giving you a way out, an option if you didn’t want to take it any further. 

As you debated the choice that was given, Donghyuck continued to breathe you in. Although he had a certain look to him, with all the flirtatious methods he had under his belt, the boy was a one girl sort of guy and that girl would always be you. You didn’t know it but he was saving himself for you. 

To him, you were not another girl he could have a one-night stand with. You were the person he wanted to wine and dine, to take care of at the end of a long day. He wanted to shower you with his love, undying devotion, and kisses so sweet that could rival the taste of your favorite dessert. And yes, this was a risk–possibly the biggest one in his short lifetime–but out of all the risks he took tonight, this was the one Donghyuck was most willing to take. 

You faced Donghyuck, a silent inquiry in your features, as you thought it through. He cocked his head at you, “It’s up to you, princess. It’s okay if you don’t want to sleep over this time.” There was a sense of finality in his low tone, ready to accept whatever answer you were willing to give. 

There was the Donghyuck you knew and loved–always putting your comfort before his own. Even when his hardened state was centimeters away from the place it craved the most, Donghyuck maintained his distance out of respect for you. That alone made you want to stay with him, to explore where else the night could take you. 

You leaned forward and pressed your body against his. Resting your chin on his shoulder, you leaned your head on his and Donghyuck immediately coiled his arms around your exposed waist. 

“I’m gonna stay,” you notified the crowd. Turning so that your lips brushed against his sensitive ear, you whispered just for him to hear, “that’s okay, yeah?”

Donghyuck slammed his eyes shut at your whisper, tightening his limbs that settled around your middle. With his body still in between your legs, you locked him in place by crossing your calves against his back. Your core was now in direct contact with the cold metal of his belt and you shuddered. You sensed the contrasting warmth right below it as you shifted. “Yeah, yeah, it’s okay.”

You could barely maintain eye contact as your friends made their way out the door, “Get home safe, you guys! Text the chat when you get home!”

“Why should we? You’ll be too preoccupied to check,” Yeri yelled back as the front door flung shut.

“You think they’ll finally do it?” Giselle laughed as they all bolted down the stairs.

Karina turned back to face her friend, “Do what–fuck? Yeah.”

“Thank fucking God,” Renjun sighed, “I’m tired of seeing them look at each other like lovesick puppies.”

“They better get together after this or all our hard work was for nothing,” Jaemin scoffed. Ari, still stitched to his side as they stepped outside the complex, nodded in agreement.

“I just feel sorry for Mark,” Yeri winced as they made their way to their respective cars. She pulled out her phone to text the group chat—Mark wouldn’t see it until after his shift at the bar but at least it would act as fair warning. 

“Same,” Jeno agreed. He opened the door for Karina, allowing the girl to slide inside the passenger seat before shutting the door and making his way to the driver’s side. 

“He’ll live,” Jaemin laughed with no remorse whatsoever,“see y’all later.”

With their friends gone, they were truly alone. No one was left to bother them and the only thing to fill the silence was the Christmas playlist in the background. Donghyuck released out a deep exhale and nuzzled his way into the crook of your neck. His hands were splayed against your thighs, caressing all the bare skin he had direct access to. The feeling of his warmth was contradicting–it heightened your mood but also made you feel so incredibly safe. 

Deep in your heart, you knew that Donghyuck would accept whatever you had to offer. If that meant taking things one step further, then he would pursue the heartracing chase that has been going on all night, running you down with kisses and ministrations that would leave you weak in his clutches. But on the other hand, if it meant that you changed your pretty little mind and didn’t want anything to occur, he would take it like a champ and accept that too. 

Donghyuck’s subtle touches were light and sensual but never broke the barrier. He just held you, his touch sliding up from your knees to the top of your thighs, fingers skirting around the seams of your bottoms to the curve of your ass. His caress didn’t break through any layers, they just lingered as he continued to keep you in his hold. 

You were the one who crashed through the walls that were made. You were the one who called his name, making him turn his chin to face you. You were the one who looked at him so intensely before dipping down to steal another taste of his addicting mouth. And Donghyuck, with all his might, matched  your level of desire perfectly.

When your limbs encased him in your embrace, arms around his broad shoulders and legs locking around his hips, Donghyuck let out a miniscule noise and you took the chance to lick around his split lips. Your tongue snaked its way in, stroking the tip of his for a second, before teasingly pulling away. He prevented you from completely ending the kiss, his hand firmly gripping the back of your head. 

You sighed out his name, falling more and more into him, and that was it for Donghyuck. He stood up and carried you down the hall. When he stopped kissing you in the middle of the hallway, your brows furrowed and you pulled back in confusion. He wore a sneaky smile on his face as he gestured up with his eyes. 

“Mistletoe,” he chuckled.

“You’re impossible,” you said, turning away to smile. He was so impossibly cute. 

“What’s so wrong about wanting to kiss you under the mistletoe?” Donghyuck asked, cocking his head to meet your gaze again.

“Nothing.”

“Well then, if it’s nothing, then give me another kiss.”

The sweet and light touch quickly turned into something heavier, doused with all the longing you kept locked up deep in your heart. Donghyuck, with the same degree of desperation to love you, matched your intensity. Your back roughly hit the wall as he raised his knee to apply pressure on your center. The slight pain and the definite pleasure blended so well, you moaned loudly. He lifted his knee again to rip another noise out of you and your whimpers were almost too much for him to process.

“Hyuck?”

“Hmmm?” he hummed as he suckled at your neck.

You were practically sinking down the wall, immersing yourself in his kisses. “Room.”

“What?”

You pried him away from your bruising skin from all his nips and kisses to say, “Your room.” Dropping a kiss to his lips, you begged, “Please.”

Completely in sync, you reached for each other again for another round of urgent kisses. It was the blind leading the blind as Donghyuck stumbled through the narrow walkway to find his room. It would have been easier just to let up for a minute or two but the act of kissing him while desperately searching for his space was so incredibly hot. You were sure it was every girl’s dream to be so carnally wanted by someone to the point of never letting go. You were still processing that you were truly wanted this way by the guy who took up permanent residence in your brain.

You faintly heard the door open and close before you were dropped onto his mattress. You let out a surprise squeal at the unexpected action and he laughed as he slowly crawled over you.

Donghyuck always left his LED lights on even when he was out of the room. You scolded him each time he did it, lecturing him about saving energy, but this was the one time you didn’t. You were glad he left his purple lights on because now you were able to see how truly taken he was by you. 

The lights created a halo around his body and yours. Each of you took a moment to soak up your appearances–Donghyuck with purple lights outlining his lean body, light shadows not enough to hide the affection written all over his face and you with your hair spread across his bedsheets, chest heaving in anticipation, and dilated eyes looking up at him.

Your hands snaked up to the hem of his sweater, tugging at it. It was an unspoken question and Donghyuck answered it instantly, stripping himself of the one layer he had on. Unable to resist, your fingers danced across his bare skin, tracing the lines of his lean muscles. You’d seen him shirtless many times before but never like this. You never had him hovering over you with the feeling of desire coursing through your bloodstream.

Sliding your hands up, you tugged at his long hair to bring him closer to you and his arms faltered for a second. Donghyuck collapsed, dropping so that he rested on his knees and arms. The strands that you played with dangled across your forehead and you reached up to close the distance. 

“I’m going to ask you one more time before I can’t stop myself anymore,” Donghyuck whispered against your lips. “Do you want this?”

No hesitation. “Yes.”

He kissed your breath away, his hands resting against your ribs. Dogghyuck squeezed hushed sounds out of you as he stripped you of your crop top and bra all at once. His hands grasped your breasts, fondled them, while the open-mouthed kisses continued. They drifted from your mouth, his lips marking a path down your neck to your cleavage. Donghyuck teased your nipples with his hand and tongue, watching you writhe with each action he made. Your manicured nails scratched at his back as his licks and pinches quickened.

“God, you’re so–” Donghyuck lost his train of thought when your palm added pressure to the growing need in his pants. 

You struggled to get his belt off in between all his distractions. As soon as you did, your nimble fingers unbuttoned his pants and began to shove his tight jeans down his meaty thighs.

Donghyuck reluctantly ripped himself away from you to do the rest of the work. He did a sloppy job of it all, hopping here and there to wiggle out of his jeans but you didn’t care. You kept your eyes on him, your gaze raking from his head all the way down to the apparent tent in his boxer briefs. Crawling your way to the edge of the bed, you looked up at him while you tugged on the waistband of his last remaining layer.

“Don’t look at me like that, princess,” he groaned while you pulled him back towards you. Donghyuck was beyond ready to risk it all for you, no matter the consequences. Logic and friendship be damned.

“Like what?” You blinked slowly.

His hands went to your hair, tugging you up until you were at eye level with each other. The other arm coiled around your waist and pressed your bare, heaving chests together.“God, do you want to be kissed until you can’t breathe?” 

“By you? Please,” you pleaded again. Donghyuck gave in to you, protecting your head as the two of you fell back. He kissed you as your back hit the bed a second time, his tongue passing over every crevice in your mouth. He met his need to be closer to you by grinding his hips, an action you promptly followed. His hands and yours were in absolute synchronization as they tugged the remaining layers off. 

It seemed like all Donghyuck wanted to do was shower your entire body with his undying devotion, to show you how much he loved you. His lips skipped over the apex between your legs, kissed down your extremities, until he was off the bed with your garments in hand and haphazardly tossed them to the side. 

His hand wrapped around your ankle and dragged your body to the end of the bed. Your heavy breathing increased when you realized exactly what Donghyuck was up to. He shot you an animalistic grin as he dived in with a long lick to your velvet skin.

“Hyuck, oh my god,” you cried.

He sucked on one of your lips and then the other with the same amount of pressure. “Again.”

“What?”

“Say my name again.” This time, he swirled his tongue around your clit then added pressure with the tip. 

It pushed another winded call of his name out of you and you felt him smirk against you. Donghyuck traced your folds with one finger with a featherlight touch before it ventured inside your aching need. His digit slid right in and out, showing just how much you craved him. His eyes tracked how they eased into you, the sight never boring him in the slightest. 

Adding another finger made you even more vocal, as did his tongue playing with your clit. Donghyuck never let up. Even when your fingers tugged a little too tightly on his hair, or when you trapped his head in between your legs, he refused to surrender. Not when your sugary sweet voice kept calling for him. 

You grew hot, sweat forming on your skin, as he continued to drive three fingers into you with a speed and depth you could never replicate. The noises you made became more incoherent with each second that passed, Donghyuck couldn’t even process that you were calling his name. He was too into you, eyes rolled to the back of his head, moans buried into your skin. 

“Wait, wait–” you screamed, forcefully tugging his head away from you, even though you were teetering the edge.

Donghyuck was dazed, lips and chin drenched by your juices, as you commanded his attention. “D’you want to stop?”

Tears gathered around your waterline, threatening to fall, as you gathered yourself. “N-no but,” you gleaned at the clock on his wall, “Mark–”

Donghyuck possessively growled when his roommate’s name left your lips. He didn’t want to hear anyone else’s name when you looked so disheveled except his. “What about him?”

“He’s coming home soon. He can’t–” Hear us was what you wanted to say. 

Donghyuck, however, did not give you time to finish that statement. 

Shoving his three fingers back into you with determination, you heard the embarrassingly loud squelching noises over your whimpers. Donghyuck seemed into it, a madden and driven expression taking over his face, as he snarled back, “I’ve waited too fucking long to have you like this. I don’t care if he hears you–let him hear you. I don’t care as long as you’re mine.”

His fingers combined with his god-send of a tongue worked endlessly, never faltering, as they brought you higher and higher. Worries worlds away, all you could center on was the immense pleasure coursing through your entire being. Fingers curled around his hair and played with your breast while Donghyuck coerced more noises out of you. Your insistent jerking at his hair and squirming alerted him that you were almost there, you just needed a little more encouragement.

“Be a good girl and cum for me, baby,” he said before his tongue flicked tirelessly. 

The soft order mixed with the new nicknames and his brazen desire to make you come undone was too overwhelming, you had no chance of warning before it all came crashing down. Stars in your eyes, cries bubbling out of your mouth, and hands gripping onto anything within your reach, your whole body reaction was good but not enough to satisfy the greed Donghyuck had in him.

“You sound so pretty, so so pretty,” he whispered as he kissed your pulsing bundle. He stroked himself with a painstakingly slow pace, feasting on the way you lost yourself.

When you came to, you rushed to stake your claim on him. If he had his way with you, then you needed your time and space to do the same. Leading him onto the bed, you positioned him to lean against the bedrest and seated yourself on his thighs. His fingers sank into your ass, kneading your flesh until you rocked in time with his movements. And just when he thought it couldn’t get any better than that, your fingers gripped his lengthening cock and began to move. 

Paired with the hickeys you planted on his chest and neck, Donghyuck was at your complete and absolute mercy. When your tongue circled a nipple, he released a weak noise. Picking up on how much he liked it, you repeated the action on the neglected partner then kissed your way down to his hardened cock. When you held his gaze captive with your siren eyes, you descended, tongue running along the side of him. Your lips ghosted against the area, never engulfing him, to prolong the teasing. 

“Want you to sound pretty, too,” you said as you licked the cum off his tip. “Can you do that for me? Sound pretty?”

Donghyuck let out a small noise that you struggled to hear. 

Withdrawing your mouth, you allowed your hands to do the work. They bobbed up and down at a slow, menacing pace, twisting at the right times. When he grew louder, more desperate, you nosed and smirked against his length before giving him what he wanted. Hollowing your cheeks, you sucked lightly on the end before deep-throating him. Saliva dripped from your lips as you relax your jaw, his tip hitting the back of your throat.

The action shocked Donghyuck, overloading his nerves, heart, and brain that he almost lost all sense of self. The strong charisma he held while taking care of you disappeared, reduced to pathetic little moans and uncoordinated jerks of his hips. 

You heard through the grapevine that he was a verbal lover but you didn’t think he was that noisy. You didn’t mind it though, you took his whimpers and babbles as incoherent praises. Desperate mumbles of your name fired out of his lips and his hands yanked you away before he finished.  

“Sorry, sorry,” he said when his hands tugged harshly on your hair. His eyes were still closed as his lips covered yours. He lapped at your mouth, tasting himself, as he placed you on your back again. He nibbled at your earlobe, so near that he could hear your strained puffs. “Dreamed about this for years, waited too damn long. Can’t end like that.”’

“For years, baby?” You scratched his scalp.

His brown eyes rolled back. “Fuck, I love it when you call me that.”

“Baby?”

“Yeah,” Donghyuck exhaled. “Again?”

A begging and pliant Donghyuck was a rare sight, you wondered how hard you could push.

“No,” you said firmly, a hint of a smile breaking through when you caught onto his frustration. 

When he bucked his hips, you clenched and resisted the urge to grind back. “Why not?”

“You’re cute when you beg.”

Donghyuck let out the loudest whine, grinding again. You coiled your legs around his hips, tightening them to lock him in place. Desperation leaking out of him, he continued his actions.  The friction caused by his cock rubbing against your folds was so delicious, you almost gave in. 

“You’re a tease,” he groaned deeply.

“No, that’s you.”

“Please,” Donghyuck’s voice sounded so strained. “I want to hear it again.”

Positioning your lips right by his ear, you gave into his request. “Baby.”

Donghyuck showed you just how much he loved that name by bringing your lips back together. His lower body pressed you against the mattress, hasty ruts making his cock slide against your folds. He blindly reached for his drawers, hand crashing against every surface to search for a condom. In his rush, things scattered about, making the task much harder than it should’ve been. He unwillingly separated from you to retrieve the wanted package and slid it on his fully hardened state.

Hushed, nervous giggles took over when Donghyuck inched towards you. He brushed your loose strands sticking to your cheeks away just so he could see your whole face, all flushed because of him. Placing a gentle peck on your lips, he positioned himself and pushed past the barrier of your folds. Donghyuck took his sweet, sweet time sinking deeper into you and your annoyance grew faster than his pacing.

“Hyuck,” you whined, your mind and body obsessing over the way he felt. His cock was girthy, definitely thicker than his three fingers, but just as long. Just one little thrust by him and he’d hit your spot and you were positive it would feel like heaven. You dug your heels into his back and he keeled. 

“Yeah?” He stilled when he was fully sheathed, breathing heavily at how your body clung onto him.

“Move,” you harshly whispered, pressing your heels again. The stretch he caused wasn’t an overbearing one, it was one you were more than ready to handle. You needed Donghyuck in all definitions of the word but he wasn’t budging. 

“I can’t,” Donghyuck choked when you clenched. You were so tight, affecting him too strongly with the tiniest movements, his mind was conflicted on what to do. A part of him wanted to linger and soak it all in, while the other wanted to lose all sense of control. “You feel so good.”

When you clenched around him again, Donghyuck folded. He never had a chance when it came to resisting you. In the past, he struggled whenever you batted your eyelashes at him or gave him the devilishly innocent puppy dog eyes. How was he supposed to resist your requests when he filled you up to the brim, skin pressed against skin, lips just breaths away from each other? He was at your beck-and-call to the greatest degree and this was the ideal situation to prove it to you. 

His first thrust was sudden, interrupting another request spilling out of your mouth. You choked out an elongated groan and it died in your mouth as he moved again. His pacing may have been slow but it was purposeful. You truly felt every little thing–from the way he drew back to the way your body sucked him back in. A part of you wished to get rid of the condom, so you could make out how the ridges and veins swept your walls, but you knew this was the safer, more logical option. (Plus, there was always the next time.)

Your matched rhythm increased as time passed, sounds of skin slapping and pathetic whines echoing within his room’s four walls. His deep plunges hit the target every-time, his cock directly adding a divine pressure to your g-spot and in response, your nails created dents and scratches on his beautifully tanned skin. Your hands explored every crevice of his body, dragging trails down his chest, arms, and abs. His lips traversed the expanse of your neck and collarbone, before coming back to capture yours in messy kisses.

And when you broke away from his kisses to let out neverending whimpers, Donghyuck knew that you were close. His hand lifted one of your legs over his broad shoulder and that new angle alone made you grip and thrash around the sheets. Your motions were frantic at this point, his hips operating at a relentless pace that you could barely chase. His hands on your hips alleviated you of most of the work, your body too spent in the blaring white, starry-eyed high he was providing. 

His fingers reaching down to pinch your pulsing clit was the final move before you came crashing down. Ecstasy rippled through you and once again, he milked out your cum until your body trembled with aftershocks. He pulled out then, his large hand rushing to finish himself off. 

As you were slowly descending from your high, your one thought was to return the generous favor. Donghyuck jerking himself off to completion didn’t sit right with you. Hazingly, you crawled over to him and swatted his hands aside. The boy was lost in confusion at your actions but it all became crystal clear to him when your face plummeted to his now bare cock, the condom disregarded somewhere on his bed. 

Donghyuck’s tip quickly hit the back of your throat as your hands fondled whatever could not fit. He didn’t last much longer, his groans reaching new heights in volume and his once flourished moves turning into an uncoordinated state of frenzy. Donghyuck, with his tight grip loosening through your hair, said your name once more. His mouth slackened and the long-awaited bliss ultimately reached its peak. 

A familiar room welcomed you as you opened your eyes the following morning. You blinked away the sleepiness, adjusting to the light that peeked through the blinds. The clock on the wall read eight thirty in the morning, otherwise known as too early to be awake after drinking the night away. Slumber was calling your name but so was your stupid bladder. You unwillingly wiggled out of his embrace, watching and giggling as his body adjusted to the empty space beside him. 

You muttered complaints about the cold in your head as you trudged to the bathroom, picking up Donghyuck’s knit sweater as another layer of heat on the way. While you were up, you took care of your usual morning routine–washing your face with Donghyuck’s skin care products, drying your skin with the towel set he always left for you, and brushing your teeth with the toothbrush that stood right next to his. 

The domesticity of it hit differently the morning after you were intimate with your best friend. Something in the air had changed and you hoped it was for the better. A small part of your heart, the one that was so incredibly smitten with him,  worried Donghyuck would view their night together as a one-time thing. Another part of you, however, believed the words he uttered last night. After all, he said he waited too damn long for this. That had to mean something, right? 

You quickly nestled back into the sheets, shifting until the blankets were up to your shoulders. The shirt Donghyuck dressed you in was big and comfortable but the thin fabric wasn’t enough to keep warm throughout the night. Neither was the sweater you threw on. Your preferred source of heat was inches away, his body scorching despite being shirtless. 

Donghyuck groaned as you attempted to make yourself comfortable. His arms snaked around your middle, spooning you just like he did the night before. His face dug into the back of your neck, his nose prodding the sliver of skin not covered by your bedridden hair. His low morning voice, the complete opposite of the higher pitch he used around the group, made your heart plummet.“Why did you leave me?” 

“I was gone for five minutes.”

“Five minutes too long, princess,” he whined, his fingers skimming up and down your thighs.

“You’re so needy.”

This touch rose at a snail’s pace. He brushed your underwear then moved underneath your clothes to rest his palms on your stomach. “No, I just missed you.”

“Yeah, needy,” you retorted playfully, turning to face him. 

The fond smile on your face matched the expression on his and you kissed him softly. He gave you a second kiss and then a third that allowed you to get lost in him. You noticed and enjoyed every little thing he did–his hands dragging your hips to meet him, the sound caught in his throat when your leg wraps around his middle, his tongue lovingly caressing yours. 

Donghyuck reluctantly broke away from you, trying to create some distance. He grew a little self-conscious upon tasting the fresh mint on your lips. Covering his mouth, he said, “Wait, shit. Morning breath. Let me just—”

“Don’t care,” you muttered, straddling him so he couldn’t escape your clutches. You pulled him back in, smothering your best friend with all the kisses he deserved. You left one on each of his eyes, the pretty beauty marks sprinkled across his face, and over the hickeys you littered across his golden skin. 

He chuckled in between kisses, “Who’s the needy one now?”

“Shut up, you loser,” you rolled your eyes with fake annoyance.

“I thought I was your baaaaaby,” he teased, palms running up and down your sides. You paused at that and Donghyuck noticed. “Hey, what is it? Did I say something wrong?”

“No, it’s just–” 

You released a drawn out breath. 

“You’re thinking a little loud,” Donghyuck’s voice let up, his concern slipping through his words. He cupped your cheek and your eyes met. “But not loud enough for me to hear your thoughts. Wanna let me into that pretty mind of yours?” 

You basked in the way his thumb strokes your cheek so gently and the stars that were shining in his eyes. Lee Donghyuck was many things—a hard worker, a flirt, intelligent, caring, hilarious, a pain-in-the-ass, a brave soul. The list went on and on. He wore many crowns and carried many titles but the one title he did not claim was being yours. 

Donghyuck was your best friend but he wasn’t officially yours. And you wanted him to be. 

In your bright and rose-colored eyes, Donghyuck was a risk-taker. He took the risks he wanted to last night to get you in his bed. But was that all there was to it? The part of your heart that doubted his actions and feelings took over your thoughts, the questions picking at you with no avail.

If Donghyuck could take risks, then why couldn’t you? Channeling the confidence your best friend usually carried, you asked, “Do you need me the way I need you, Hyuck?” 

You reached for the hand resting on your cheek and brought it back down to his bare chest. Fingers interlacing, the back of your hand picked up on his heart pulsating rapidly against his chest. 

As if sensing the doubt in your head, he tasked himself to send the negative musings away. Donghyuck didn’t answer your question directly but the words spilling out of his mouth were more than enough for you. “You are the only dream that fills my head—nothing else but you.” He said your name so tenderly, your heart grew three times—no, a million times—too big. At this point, the muscle and the smile that you wore bursted at the seams. 

Donghyuck laid out his cards in this game of love and it was time to reveal your hand. You squeezed his hand tightly as an act of courage and then took the leap of faith. “I like you,” you blurted out, “so much. Sometimes too much that it hurts.” 

Amused and overjoyed by your confession, Donghyuck rushed up to kiss you. His lips pressing against you so suddenly caught you off guard, you lost your balance in the act. “You are so fucking cute, I don’t know what to do with you,” he muttered in between pecks that made you laugh aloud. 

“Date me?” you suggested with a shy smile. 

“Princess, I’m going to date the hell out of you, just you wait.” 

His kisses eventually subdued and you found yourselves laying on your sides facing each other. No words were exchanged as your heads rested on their respective pillows. You were happy when his words never stopped flowing and when you stared in silence with matching grins. 

You watched Donghyuck’s face contort into one of concentration, his fingers rising above his head to count something, before he turned back to you. “We’ve spent seven Christmases together—”

“Oh yeah?”

“—and this one is definitely my favorite.” 

His confession was beyond sweet, it’s honey dripping out of his mouth. Over the years, Donghyuck wiggled his way into your holiday traditions. There was a lot you’d done over the years, from ice skating to gingerbread houses to movie marathons and impromptu snowball fights. Many of those moments were core memories you kept dear to your heart. Donghyuck admitting this meant a great deal to you and the space your heart had for him increased tenfold. Your heart was now completely his. 

Although they drove you insane with their obvious scheme, you thanked the meddling kids you called friends and their stupid game in your head. After all, they were the ones who encouraged you to risk it all in an extremely unserious and unconventional way.

With that being said, the risks the game of life had to offer were terrifying. They were difficult. If you never took them, they would forever leave you pondering about the road not taken. But when you did take them, risks big or small, they were always worth it. 

Kissing Donghyuck sweetly on the lips, you replied, “It’s my favorite too.” 

(01:27) Yeri: i’m so sorry marky  (01:29) Jeno: ditto (01:29) Jeno: f’s in the chat for mark (01:30) Karina: f (01:30) Renjun: f (01:30) Yeri: f (01:30) Ari: f (01:31) Giselle: fffffff (01:32) Jaemin: shut up, he’ll be fine (01:45) Yeri: I’ll leave my extra key under my mat if you wanna crash somewhere else, just got home (01:50) Giselle: home, gnite everyone (01:51) Ari: we just got home too, night night <3 (01:55) Jeno: home, rina’s here too (01:56) Yeri: oh??? (01:56) Karina: shut up (02:35) Mark: wtf i just got home, why are you sorry (02:35) Mark: what happened (02:36) Mark: bro hold up i hear noises from hyuck’s room, who else did you invite?? (02:36) Mark: did y/n get sexiled??? where is she??  (02:36) Mark: she’s not in my room, i thought she was sleeping over?? (02:37) Mark: wait—OH MY GOD YOOOO WTF IS THAT Y/N IN HIS ROOM  (02:37) Mark: …oh my god that’s her let’s GOOOOOO (02:38) Mark: omf they’re so loudddddd dude wtfffff (02:38) Mark: fml yeri im coming over 

AUTHOR'S NOTE. I know it's past Christmas now but I hope you enjoy this holiday fic. It ended up being longer than I thought it was going to be but it's done! My first full fic in quite a bit. The games and hilarity that ensue in this fic are based on one of my drunk game nights with friends. Every time I hang out with this group, something inspires me--we're like sitcom worthy at times lol. Fic worthy even. I hope you all enjoy it and let me know what you think.

Happy Holidays and Happy 2024! <3

TAGLIST. @nctsworld @johtenrecs @emmybyeakitty @sokkigarden @hyuckworld @baekhyuns-lipchain @yutaholic-main @moonctzeny @suhnnyskiess @smileysuh @everloving-avenue @justalildumpling @tywritesstuff @mikalovesicecream @carelessshootanonymous @emvrd @taelme @fairyiene @dreamy-carat @smwhrinthehaze

© sehunniepotwrites, 2023

[bee-the-loser-recs]

~~~☼ My Jaehyun One-shot Fic Recs ☼~~

𖤓 Send in the clowns By @smileysuh 10.6k, Haechan|Mark|Jaehyun x reader, college au, frat boys NCT, best friend Jungwoo, friends to lovers, karaoke friends, smut, polyamory, slight fluff, Halloween parties, dressing up

𖤓 The V week spy By @smileysuh 20.1k, Jaehyun x reader (romantic) ft. Haechan | Yangyang | Jungwoo | Jeno, college au, frat house NCT, sorority member reader, stupid traditions, no strings attached situation, smut, slight fluff

𖤓 Racer By @smileysuh 6.7k, street racing au, brother's rival Jaehyun, Jonny is reader's brother, fluff, smut, slight angst, accidents, car crash, star crossed lovers, secret relationship

𖤓 Christmas Puppy By @smileysuh 11k, university au, fratboy Jaehyun, best friend's brother trope, boy next door, secret romance, holiday times, sneaking around together

𖤓 Sandwich By @smileysuh 11.6k, Jungwoo x reader x Jaehyun, frat au, established relationship between Jungwoo & reader, inviting Jaehyun to join, polyamory, basketball players Jungwoo & Jaehyun, reader is referred to as "Ducky"

𖤓 No guidance By @yutaholic 20k, pregnancy au, long term fwb/dating, struggling to commit to a relationship, child birth, smut, angst, fluff, heavily dialogue

𖤓 I'll always be here By @jaehyunsprincesspeach Comfort, reader has had a bad week, mentions of stress and burn out, fluff, slight sad vibes, cuddles, falling asleep together

𖤓 Rose bud By @hazyhae 9.2k, college au, non-idol au, stoner Jaehyun & reader, college parties, jealousy, smut, angst, slight fluff, fuckboy Jaehyun, misunderstandings & miscommunication, pining, borrowing clothes

𖤓 Ordinary By @markiemelon Drabble, fluff, Idol Jaehyun, coffee shop worker reader, Jaehyun slips her his number, cute

𖤓 Freaks I By @2jaeh 8k, college au, romantic interest, smut, slight fluff, art students, flirty relationship with friends Ten & Taeyong, poly themes, technically cheating as Jaehyun has a girlfriend, preppy!Jaehyun, badgirl reader

𖤓 Stars, moons & other celestial bodies By @kiachiako 26.7k, retro themed au, brother's friend trope, childhood crush, pining, Taeyong is reader's brother, coming of age, slight age gap, home for the summer, angst, fluff

𖤓 Trust me not By @starillusion13 9.1k, Boss unit x reader, mafia au, angst, slight fluff, keeping secrets, anniversary surprises, themes of betrayal, getting shot, open ending

𖤓 Foreign swaggers By @starillusion13 8k, Jonny | Jaehyun | Mark x reader, brother's best friend au, Taeyong is reader's brother, shared vacation, smut, fluff, polyamory, enemies to friends to lovers, drinking

𖤓 Strawberry Sunday By @babbymochiiii Non-specified au, DoJaeJung x reader, ice cream shop workers, flirting, polyamory situation, mutual crushes, smut, slight fluff, shy natured reader, inspired by the song "Strawberry Sunday"

𖤓 Quarantine Chronicles 1, part 2, part 3 By @domjaehyun 28.5k & 55.3k & 43k, Quarantine au, Jaemin | Jaehyun | Jungwoo | Johnny | Mark | (Jeno | Haechan in part 3 only) x reader, roommates (except Mark), friends with benefits situation, lots of tension & flirting, smut, slight fluff, crack, Jaehyun & Mark have actual feelings for reader

𖤓 Fiending By @domjaehyun 27.1k, Jaehyun x reader x Jeno, college au, fratboys NCT, smut, incubi Jaehyun & Jeno, alcohol, parties, long term "pining", potentially triggering, mild humour

𖤓 Hot girl bummer By @domjaehyun 6.2k, non-idol au, brother's best friend trope, smut, kind of enemies to lovers, sexual tension, strong feelings

𖤓 Make a mess out of you By @domjaehyun 5.8k, non-idol au, established relationship, reader is eating a popsicle, beach trip with 127, jealousy, smut, reader is rather innocent

𖤓 If you need a lover By @suhnshinehaos SMAU, university au, pure fluff, valentines day dates, mutual crushes, gift for Jaehyun's birthday, Instagram posts

𖤓 Love grows By @juyeoniemyhoney 2.1k, model Jaehyun, long time friends to lovers, head over heels Jaehyun, suggestive nature, fluff

𖤓 Romanée-conti By @yougotthatbilly 24k, sugar daddy!Jaehyun, slowburn, smut, development of feelings & attachment to one another, pet names, initially no sexual component to the relationship, slight fluff

𖤓 Coming of age By @gamerwoo 5.5k, soulmate au, body swap soulmark, accidentally "traumatising" friends, fluff, continuously missing each other, comedy, cute, running around campus to find one another

𖤓 Love galore By @kongjjen 1.3k, established relationship, non-specified au, cuties, wearing each other's clothes, a lot of domesticity, suggestive, a man in love

𖤓 When the fratboy falls By @gyeomsweetgyeom 8.9k, fratboy Jaehyun, college au, reader is tutoring Jaehyun, instant attraction, developing feelings, fluff, frat parties, flirty Haechan, pet names

𖤓 Your biggest fan By @gyeomsweetgyeom Established relationship, western popstar reader, idol Jaehyun, revelation of the relationship, photos taken of the two without their knowledge, fluff, positive reaction

𖤓 [8:46pm] By @gyeomsweetgyeom Establishing relationship, early stages of dating, reader is kind of inexperienced, fluff, sending flowers to one another, returning the energy, cute

𖤓 Just makes sense By @gyeomsweetgyeom Idol Jaehyun x idol reader, fans continuously shipping them, strong friendship to lovers, discussion of feelings, fluff, cute

𖤓 No clue By @xomakara 11.9k, college au, best friends to lovers, jealousy, frat parties, flirting with other to hide feelings, scheming friends, getting together, smut, slight fluff, pet names

𖤓 Sugar 1 & 2 By @lattaeyongs 4k & 14k, CEO Jaehyun, secretary reader, they've been working together for 8 years, single dad Jaehyun, fluff, smut, slight angst, reader feels guilt about her job

[jji-lee]

‧₊˚❀༉‧₊˚. blooming hearts

a new flower shop has opened up in front of your dorm housing and has been creating problem after problem for you. now you and shop owner, lee haechan have an ongoing feud that neither of you are willing to put to rest. as the weather cools and the flowers wither away maybe something else will begin to bloom between you two…

or alternatively, your battle against a ridiculously attractive flower shop owner (spoiler you lose)

flower-shop-owner!haechan x fem!reader

genre : humor , strangers to enemies to lovers, college au, maybe a little angst, fluff, slow burn, haechan and reader are oblivious and stubborn

warnings : profanity , death jokes , sex jokes , reader is kind of a stalker at first , idk shit about flowers guys....

notes : i finally did it someone pls lmk if it sucks so i can fall off the face of this earth im delusional when it comes to my writing, pls enjoy! (most of the formatting is inspired by @/lqfiles; you're so amazing)

playlist : pado , nct | 200 , mark | magnetic , illit | intro (end of the world) , ariana grande | linger , the cranberries | show me how , men i trust | kingston , faye webster |

status : completed

profiles (1) | profiles (2)

intro

1~ ring ring ring it's the police

2~ omg is it choi soobin?!

3~ knock knock who’s there…

4~ you’re not you when you’re hungry

5~ back to school!

6~ why is he hot...

7~ peace and quiet

8~ jaemin to the rescue

9~ ass flowers

10~ NOT THAT I CARE

11~ not penetrative sleeping

12~ chat am i cooked

13~ the girlies are fighting

14~ just like your mother

15~ IM MARRIED

16~ project ynhyuck

17~ W rizz

18~ profits, profits, profits

19~ wakey wakey eggs and bakey

20~ cutest and sweetest

21~ one last scheme

22~ operation 🌻

23~ there was cake?

end.

bonus :

1~ merry christmas

2~ match my freak

3~ very demure very mindful

end.

[captain-joongz]

fanfiction recommendations/my favourite reads in 2023

jeong yunho

♤ the drill by @byuntrash101

big dick!yunho, kinda fluffy and sweet

kang yeosang

◇ let's play a game by @anyamaris

yeosang x reader x soobin (txt), friends to lovers, primal play

choi san

♧ howling to your moon by @essenteez

established relationship, smut

☆ oh he's good by @yoongiseesawmp3

part of church boy series, bad boy (?) san kinda

♤ pornstar!san by @orgverse

camboy/camgirl au, live stream sex, hinted ateez x reader

◇ incubus: coming of age by @byuntrash101

incubus!san, kinda slowburn

♧ moll by @last-words-ofashootingstar

1920s mafia, corrupt police officer!san, dark, yandere, manipulation

song mingi

☆ roommate by @essenteez

roommates to lovers, horny mingi

♤ a taste of desire by @solfiera

college au, brother's best friend!mingi

jeong wooyoung

◇ not on my watch by @remedyx

christmas time, getting together thanks to mistletoe, fluffy

♧ 5 weeks by @setsugekka

idol!wooyoung x stylist!reader, coworkers to lovers, woo is an annoying little shit (affectionate)

ATEEZ rec list pt. 1 BTS, TxT, Stray Kids, Seventeen, NCT rec list

[gyeomsweetgyeom]

all nct 127 imagines can be found here personal favorites are marked with ☆

last updated August 28 , 2024

Johnny 

lovesick fool {college!au} posted November 21, 2020

Johnny is your work husband and feels fine with being just that until something someone makes him realize he wants more

☆ [5:58 pm] posted September 12, 2021

FaceTime with Johnny and a your mom joke, but really- you’re at his mom’s

[2:57 pm] posted February 26, 2022

Going out shopping with Johnny when someone calls his last name which also happens to be yours

[2:21 pm]  posted June 12, 2022

Johnny wants to get your attention after an argument by making you ask for help, but you find your own solution

[4:50 pm] posted November 13, 2022

CEO!Johnny has a few minutes to send something important but he doesn’t want to move so he uses you as a desk

☆ [12:07] posted May 6, 2023

Dad!Johnny and you take your daughter to the beach for the first time +BONUS fake instagram post

☆ [4:51 pm] posted October 22, 2023

CEO!Johnny’s employees have a bet going on for when the two of you will get together, but you already are??

[8:12 pm] posted December 22, 2023

You’re spending your first Christmas in Chicago with the Suh’s and Johnny’s mom is making sure to document it all 

[10:14 pm] posted May 4, 2024

you’re really hoping Best friend!Johnny comes over to tell you his date was horrible…

Taeyong

[1:16 pm] posted January 7, 2021

Taeyong does your nails

[7:05 pm] posted January 3, 2022

Taeyong still gets shy when you tell him you love him

[10:38 am] posted September 18, 2022

Parent!Taeyong just can’t say no even when you already have said no

[10:57 pm] posted August 5, 2023

idol!reader breaks up with Taeyong after the hate becomes too much when your relationship is revealed

Yuta

[7:34 pm] posted January 11, 2021

After a date with a little wine, Yuta doesn’t want to hold your hand

☆ [12:06 am] posted September 19, 2021

Yuta comes home drunk with something interesting to show

[3:19 pm] posted March 19, 2022

Yuta ruins his wedding band… again

☆[3:19 pm] posted March 19, 2022

Frat!Yuta can’t wait to get out of this stupid gala especially when you’re dressed this well

☆[1:12 am] posted January 8, 2023

Yuta’s coming home from tour! But do you know that?

[1:24 am] posted June 24, 2023

Frat!Yuta and you always find someway to sneak off and makeout when you drink, how has it become a problem for your friends?

[1:29 pm] posted February 3, 2024

Dad!Yuta and you have a leash kid

Doyoung

[8:32 pm] posted April 25, 2021

Doyoung brings home something surprising and quite frankly, unbelievable

☆[4:41 pm] posted November 14, 2021

You may be mad but you still love Doyoung

[2:19 pm] posted Auguest 14, 2021

Doyoung is an extremely nervous boyfriend- wait, boyfriend?

☆[4:41 pm] posted November 14, 2021

Sneaking around the office with SecretBF!Doyoung would be a lot easier if you didn’t wear lispstick and your secretaries weren’t so observant

[5:44 pm] posted June 3, 2023

Seeing your horrible ex boyfriend at the grocery store has you picking a random stranger, Doyoung, to be your fake boyfriend

[7:27 pm] posted December 21, 2023

CEO!Doyoung finally confesses his feelings for you at the company holiday party

[1:08 pm] posted April 6, 2024

surprisingly, the messiness of fatherhood isn’t something that bothers Doyoung

The Return of Superman- Doyoung posted August 9, 2024

Doyoung and his two kids go on The Return of Superman

Jaehyun

⋆⭒˚｡⋆fratboy!Jaehyun masterlist⋆⭒˚｡⋆

Pick me posted October 12, 2020

After getting engaged, Johnny and Taeyong keep fighting over who gets to be the best man

[5:42 pm] posted July 25, 2021

Jaehyun is uncharacteristically clingy  

☆ [9:33 am] posted December 18, 2021

(suggestive) Jaehyun can’t control himself this early in the morning after a simple kiss

[6:31 pm]

BestFriend!Jaehyun finally gives you your first bouquet of flowers ever

☆ [6:19 pm] posted December 17, 2022

Dad!Jaehyun talks to pregnant!reader’s belly 

☆ [7:41 am] posted January 29, 2023

Saturdays are supposed to be sleeping in but Dad!Jaehyun has other plans

☆[8:34pm] posted July 2, 2023

Brother’s Best Friend!Jaehyun comes to pick you up after a bad date and can’t help flirting and flustering you

[9:13 pm] posted September 2, 2023

Jaehyun can get a little jealous when a bartender is talking to you for too long

[10:13 pm] posted October 28, 2023

supposed situationship!Jaehyun hates that you’re watching tiktok edits of Pookie

[8:57 pm] posted November 5, 2023

You told Jaehyun you were going out for Halloween, but you didn’t tell him how sexy your costume was

[9:12 am] posted January 6, 2024 

Jaehyun makes the mistake of hanging out with a girl he knew from school, the only mistake being he didn’t tell you who… and he never came home

[8:59 pm] posted January 20, 2024

Jaehyun is just a little shocked to see what his contact name is in your phone

[11:04 pm] posted February 17, 2024

idol!reader and idol!Jaehyun get their relationship exposed at a Bruno Mars concert

[8:46 pm] posted February 24, 2024

you’ve never really dated anyone before so it really only makes sense that since he gets you flowers, you get him some in return right?

your biggest fan posted February 25, 2024

{western popstar!reader x idol!reader} in which the world discovers your relationship with Jaehyun and surprisingly… they love it

[3:21 pm] posted March 3, 2024

in relationships you have to make sacrifices, and for Jaehyun that means eating food he doesn’t really like since you love it

☆[12:11 pm] posted April 21, 2024

dad!Jaehyun isn’t going to say he’s jealous of his daughter and Uncle Johnny- but you can say it

[9:22 pm] posted May 25, 2024

AcademicRival!Jaehyun is the last person you’d expect to help you out after you get in a fight {enemies2lovers, college!au}

[10:14 am] posted May 26, 2024

if you weren’t 2 weeks overdue, Jaehyun being doting would be really sweet- but you are 2 weeks overdue and it’s not sweet

[12:07 pm] posted June 8, 2024

dad!Jaehyun doesn't have your talent of getting his baby girl to eat, or your common sense of keeping the food out of her grasp

[4:59 pm] posted June 22, 2024

Jaehyun watched the Bridgerton carriage scene with you and gets hooked on the show

☆[3:22 pm] posted July 6, 2024

Jaehyun is completely enamored by your pregnancy glow

[4:51 pm] posted July 13, 2024

you and dad!Jaehyun take your kids to the water park and the lazy river works some magic

showering Jaehyun's dimples with love posted August 15, 2024

[12:41 pm] posted August 16, 2024

pregnancy is hard enough as is, but now you're on bed rest? Thank God for Jaehyun (cw: pregnancy complications)

[3:11 pm] posted August 17, 2024

you and Jaehyun were supposed to be baby shopping but Smiskis and Sonny Angels caught your eye instead

just makes sense posted August 22, 2024

your and Jaehyun’s fans just really can’t believe that they two of you are just best friends

Jungwoo

☆ [8:04 pm] posted August 21, 2021

Jungwoo compares bellies with pregnant!reader

[3:54 am] posted January 29, 2022

You’re trying to fall asleep and feel weird… yeah because Jungwoo is staring at you

[3:48 pm] posted October 16, 2022

If there was any person to get mad over having food made for them it would be Jungwoo

☆ [6:33 am] posted September 9, 2023

Dad!Jungwoo loves his daughter don’t get him wrong, but he questions it the slightest bit when he gets woken up for food

[5:57 pm] posted April 20, 2024

Jungwoo is taking his childhood celebrity crush on a date only to find out you’re really sweet and down to earth

[1:18 pm] posted July 21, 2024

dad!Jungwoo gets sick but luckily he has you and your daughter to nurse him back to health

[8:25 pm] posted August 10, 2024

dad!Jungwoo is getting over being sick and wants your attention, too bad your daughter has gotten used to having it all to herself

Mark

☆ [10:58 am] posted April 11, 2021

Waking up the morning after and Mark is just a suggestive dork

[1:16 pm] posted June 11, 2021

Skater!Mark wants to teach you to skate but first he has to loosen your shoelaces

[9:29 pm] October 9, 2021

BasketballPlayer!Mark doesn’t know when to stop practicing

[11:54 am] posted June 25, 2022

Everything that could go wrong on your first date with Mark goes wrong

[2:25 am] posted December 10, 2022

Mark thinks you’re losing on purpose, but you’re just really not that good at Smash

☆ [2:13 pm] posted March 19, 2023

PART 1- Breakup!au, Mark is stressed with the pressure of college, lucky for him (and unluckily for you) he has some new frat brothers to tell him what to do

[5:48 pm] posted April 9, 2023

PART 2- Mark comes to apologize and tells you he wants you back but he’s made some changes which gives you hope

[12:23 pm] posted April 30, 2023

Mark hates when you kiss him with lipgloss, funny that he wants more after you stop

☆ [4:26 pm] posted July 28, 2023

Most couples use pet names for each other, some people would expect you and Mark to do the same, especially since you’re getting married

[6:14 pm] posted December 24, 2023

BestFriend!Mark comes to the holiday party only to get stuck with you outside and under mistletoe 

[2:17 pm] posted March 16, 2024

a quick trip to Ikea becomes an opportunity to play house

[2:57 pm] posted May 11, 2024

BestFriend!Mark accidentally comes across a picture of you in some sexy lingerie

[5:21 pm] posted June 2, 2024

your son starts calling you what Mark calls you and it would be cute if Mark had real term of endearment for you

The Return of Superman- Mark posted August 25, 2024

Mark and his son go on The Return of Superman

Haechan

my mom loves you posted December 23, 2020

Haechan’s family loves you almost (maybe more) than he does and he loves it (maybe first I love yous too? can be read as that I guess)

a family with the hyungs posted February 4, 2021

dating Hyuck apparently also kinda means dating Mark

[5:58 am] posted August 28, 2021

a soft, cozy morning with Haechan

[11:48 am] posted April 2, 2022

The group finds out College!Haechan tags you in some weird stuff on instagram

☆ [10:39 pm] posted October 29, 2022

Bestfriend!Frat!Haechan thinks you look so hot, when did that happen?

[6:07 pm] posted November 22, 2022

Haechan always says that his grandma is the best cook, so she must have been the one to cook this meal right? No, you did.

[6:17 pm] posted April 22, 2023

Meeting Haechan’s family for the first time should be stressful, so why aren’t you stressful? (kind of prequel to my mom loves you)

☆ [7:33 pm] posted July 15, 2023

being pregnant can be bad, it can get worse when Haechan makes it the slightest bit more uncomfortable for you

☆ [7:21 am] posted December 3, 2023

Haechan and your son are very alike, too alike especially when it comes to their love for you +BONUS fake instagram post

[4:28 pm] posted December 23, 2023

Haechan has to keep up the usual Christmas traditions despite being away from his family, too bad he can’t bake

[9:02 pm] posted March 10, 2024

Romeo!Haechan falls in love with Juliet!Reader at first sight {Romeo and Juliet au}

[2:14 pm] posted June 15, 2024

Haechan is so distracted by his videogames that he'll just agree to anything, and he does

[jishyucks]

True Love Gave to Me Masterlist

—  A Holiday Series of Short Oneshots

Ah~ the holiday season—a season of giving, of joy and laughter, of overflowing love… Why not spread this festive warmth with 12 short stories set during this time of year?

‣ featuring: hyung line of nct dream x reader, 00line of stray kids x reader, & 02z of enhypen x reader

‣  genre: all very fluffy! and holiday-themed (some are cliche but who hates cliches), specifics and warnings will be listed under each fic!

one.

‣ pairing: mark lee x reader ‣ genre: fluff, implied friends-to-lovers, classmates au

Sure, it was disheartening seeing everyone receive a holiday candy gram but you, especially when you’re the one in charge of selling them at lunch. But don't worry, yours is on the way. He’s just… running a bit late.

Received!

two.

‣ pairing: hwang hyunjin x reader ‣ genre: fluff, implied friends-to-lovers, rich-kid!au

You’ve quickly established that no one at this damn charity gala cares about the event’s purpose. They were just there to party. And you wanted nothing else but to leave; alternatively, in which Hyunjin saves you from your misery to see the city’s Christmas lights.

Received!

three.

‣ pairing: park jay x reader ‣ genre: fluff, coworkers-to-something more?, subtly hurt/comfort

Your ability to empathize was a blessing and curse. When you see your boss sitting alone in his office on Christmas Day, you can’t help but invite him to your family party. And when he actually says yes, you’re kind of stuck regretting the offer simply because you’re not sure how this is going to turn out.

Received!

four.

‣ pairing: huang renjun x reader ‣ genre: fluff, academic rivals to (implied) lovers, forced proximity

You don’t hate many things, but you could proudly say that you hate snow and Huang Renjun. And now that the universe has decided that it was a great idea to have you snowed in with the smartass himself, you’ll gladly add the universe to that list.

Received!

five.

‣ pairing: han jisung x reader ‣ genre: fluff, implied f2l/coworkers-to-lovers

In all honesty, you had no idea why you decided to take up the job of gift wrapping at your local mall. There are moms constantly yelling at you, your fingers are covered in papercuts, and the hours are long. Luckily, your coworker, Jisung, is there to make it more bearable.

Received!

six.

‣ pairing: jake sim x reader ‣ genre: fluff, meet-cute, implied strangers to something more

After months of being apart from your family, you finally get to fly back home for the holidays. On the flight there, you’re placed next to a cute stranger who has taken it upon himself to talk to you. What happens when the roads from the airport are closed overnight and you’re stuck with said stranger? You’re just hoping he doesn’t have any plans of kidnapping you.

Received!

seven.

‣ pairing: lee jeno x reader ‣ genre: fluff, implied f2l/coworkers-to-lovers, secret admirer au, office!au

When gifts start appearing on your work desk on December 1st, you have no choice but to hunt down the man who’s been planting them. And with only 7 men on the floor, this shouldn’t be difficult… Right?

Received!

eight.

‣ pairing: felix lee x reader ‣ genre: fluff, implied f2l, hurt/comfort

Spending Christmas sick and in bed wasn’t Felix’s ideal way of spending the holiday. Being the best friend that you are, you decide to take care of him. Who would have thought that Felix was clingy when he had the flu?

Received!

nine.

‣ pairing: park sunghoon x reader ‣ genre: fluff, friends-to-lovers

After weeks of stalling, you finally let Sunghoon take you skating—and with how close you two are, you hope he mistakes the beating of your heart for the beat of the music.

Received!

ten.

‣ pairing: lee donghyuck x reader ‣ genre: fluff, established relationship

They weren’t lying when they said that the holiday season was the busiest time of year. With finals rolling around, gift shopping for your family, and keeping yourself in check, you barely have time to give your boyfriend the attention he wants. Donghyuck, however, has a way to work around this; alternatively, in which Donghyuck just wants one kiss and you think it’ll be funny not to give it to him

Received!

eleven.

‣ pairing: kim seungmin x reader ‣ genre: fluff, frenemies to lovers

After cursing the city and their poor excuse of cleaning the streets, you eventually swallow your pride and call your friends to help you free your car from the snow. And out of all the people that could have come, it really had to be Seungmin…

Received!

twelve.

‣ pairing: na jaemin x reader ‣ genre: fluff, f2l/co'workers'-to-lovers

You have two weaknesses—Gojo and men with kids… and you guess, Jaemin. That would make it three, but he falls under that second category; alternatively, in which you weren’t really planning on developing feelings for Na Jaemin but seeing him work with kids all the time at the local community centre is making it damn hard not to.

Received!

‣ an: another episode of me being ambitious cause I have so many other WIPS, so we'll see if I'll manage to do these on time (if not, Christmas lasts until Jan 6,,, soo) but don't worry I am motivated to actually complete this!—anyways, I love Christmas and the holiday season so much that I had to do this,,, and I didn’t rly do anything for when I reached 1k so why not? I'm aware it's 'true love sent to me' but this fits the theme more,,, PLEASE ENJOY AND HAPPY HOLIDAYS!!—things might change as I go!

!! if anyone is interested in joining a tag list, please let me know! just indicate if you'd like to be tagged on all of them or certain groups/members!

[littlecherryhuanlin]

Late Christmas Shopping- Zhong Chenle

This story is part of a special series for Christmas, you can follow the updates on the calendar, for more content feel free to check my masterlist.

Word Count: 0.53k

Warnings: established relationship, mentions of food, crowded place, just full fluff content.

As YN hurriedly walked dragging Chenle along, the boy just clumsily followed as he held tightly to the girl's hand, the mall looked like a packed stadium, and just as his girlfriend had warned him they should definitely have done Christmas shopping early, not that it was entirely his fault, YN was as busy as he this time and inevitably the couple had no choice.

Finally having arrived at the shop they wanted, Chenle couldn't help but smile as he saw her enchanted with the decorations: artificial trees were scattered and an absurd amount of Christmas decorations were piled on high shelves along the corridors, the poor boy hadn't even sure of what some of those things were for, but he just trusted YN while the girl filled the shopping cart more and more, at the end of the tour at the “Christmas Workshop” –a very appropriate name in the couple eyes- 10 bags and a large tree were scheduled to be delivered to their home later that day.

Fortunately, the food court on the fourth floor was not so crowded, so both of them easily found a place to eat before continuing the search for the gifts they couldn't buy online.

- Why the hell does Renjun need so many paint kits?

- I don't know- the boy shrugged while devouring his burger- Jisung doesn't need a new helmet either, he barely knows how to ride a bike but you still bought him one.

- Hey- the girl said pretending to be offended- He's trying to get better- Chenle rolled his eyes with a teasing smile- Renjun will get three or even 4 identical gifts, at least Jisung shared what he wanted among everyone.

- Alright - the boy drank his tea while watching his girlfriend finish her snack - Don't forget that we need to get your parents gifts.

- We can get them when we go to get Shotaro's one- the girl replied getting up and so the couple headed to the stores again, in order to fulfill the list in their hands both visited the bookstore, the cycling shop, three different clothing stores and the large electronics shop in the center of the floor before they gathered all the bags and went to the lobby, however before they could leave the place the girl told him that she had to "do something" for her mother and went to the great hall of the airline she had contacted earlier.

- Hello, I'm here to pick up the tickets I ordered- the girl excitedly received the envelope after giving the attendant the necessary information and soon went to meet her boyfriend who was already waiting for her in the car.

- Did you get what you needed baby? – The girl nodded as she let him know that they could finally go home, the way had been calm with the boy humming melodies while she smiled watching the snow-covered streets and imagining how happy he will be when receiving the tickets to Shanghai; Chenle had been complaining for some time about the longing he felt for his parents and the girl couldn't wait to be able to tell him that they would be going to see them soon.

Please do not copy or translate any of my works, all creative work is copyrighted and therefore plagiarism is a crime.

©littlecherryhuanlin 2022 - 2023

[marvelous-llama]

NCT recs

<<original book

most of the mentioned works is 18+ NSFW, MINORS DNI

pls don´t hesitate to hmu, if any of mentioned links doesn´t work or you have suggestions for more fics... thank you so much for all the love and comments

one shots

Where Angels Fear To Tread by @lisired

Jaehyun x fem!reader (wc - 14.5k) fwb to lovers - fluff, implied smut, angst(ish) Three years ago, you had a summer fling with Jung Jaehyun, and what was simply sex turned into more after you caught feelings for him. Then, you find out he has a girlfriend, and decide to call it quits. Three years later, he’s back in town, trying to come back in your life, and most importantly trying to come back into your heart, but you’re a little hesitant to let him.

Arranged by @smileysuh

Jaehyun x fem!reader (wc - 3.5k) established relationship, arranged marriage, mafia AU - smut you give your arranged marriage to Jaehyun a chance

he fell first, and he fell harder by @taurusdaylight

Jaehyn x fem!reader (wc - 18.7k) childhood best friends to lovers, university AU, mutual pining, change of PoV - angst, fluff jeong jaehyun really loves basketball. but also, he’s terribly in love with his childhood best friend of seventeen years, you.

His Love In Her Force by @anashins

Jaehyun x fem!reader (wc - 28k) slowburn, detective!Jaehyun, ballerina!reader, fake marriage AU - angst, fluff, smut, romance, hurt/comfort Fleeing from a ruthless stalker, you are forced to participate in a witness protection program at the other side of the world, pretending to be the wife of a taciturn undercover detective from now on. Despite all differences, you slowly start to settle with your new life as a married couple - until your newfound happiness is stripped away from you all over again.

Snow in London by @anashins

Jaehyun x fem!reader (wc - 4.2k) idol!Jaehyun, escort!reader - fluff, smut, crack(ish), romance Jaehyun has to spend Christmas alone in London and figures that with money, you can buy anything - even company to make him feel less alone.

All the Pretty and Ugly Things by @anashins

Jaehyun x fem!reader (wc - 27.5k) idol!Jaehyun, established relationship, second chance - angst, fluff, smut, hurt/comfort, romance He stands in the spotlight, but the only one he's looking at is you. Until one day, the sparks in his eyes are gone and the Jaehyun you know privately is only a lifeless shell of the Jaehyun he pretends to be on stage. Crumbling under the pressure of being an idol, you try to share his baggage, but there is only so much a human can take.

wish i never by @lisired

Jaehyun x fem!reader (wc - 27.2k) forbidden love, slowburn - angst, fluff, smut Your brother, Johnny, hates Jaehyun and has never told you why. Although you intend on leaving it alone, unforeseen events thrust you into a forbidden love affair with Jaehyun. In between hookups and stolen kisses, you have to bury your feelings for Jaehyun around your overprotective older brother.

Strawberry Sunday by @babbymochiiii

Dojaejung x fem!reader (wc - 12.6k) friends to lovers - fluff, angst(ish), smut Doyoung, Jungwoo, and Jaehyun each have a crush on you, while you do like 'em as well, but in order to find out if your shy nature with them is because you also feel the same way, they take things to the next level, by themselves and together.

Spot! by @starryhyuck

Johnny x fem!reader x Jaehyun (wc - 3.5k) Challengers AU - smut johnny suh and jeong jaehyun are determined to prove their worth to you in this year’s tennis competition. you all end up receiving more than you expected.

mission: prom by @rosietaeyongswife

Jaehyun x fem!reader (wc - 7k) teenage romance - angst, fluff, hurt/comfort? what happenes when prom is in a month, and you haven't been asked out yet?

[9:22 pm] by @gyeomsweetgyeom

Jaehyun x fem!reader (wc - 1.3k) enemies to lovers, academic rivals, university AU - angst, fluff

just like magic by @starryhyuck

Jaehyun x fem!reader (wc - 4k) university AU - fluff, smut jung jaehyun’s body count is almost as high as yours. however, after yuta spreads a nasty rumor, you learn that jaehyun’s always imagined those girls to be you instead.

No Clue by @xomakara

Jaehyun x fem!reader (wc - 11.9k) best friends to lovers, mutual pining, university AU - fluff, angst, smut You're in love with Jaehyun, your best friend, but he has no clue. You have suffered in silence as you have watched him date countless of girls left and right. Graduation is coming up, and you are running out of time to tell him how you feel. Will he finally see that it should have been you all along, or will he break your heart forever?

series

[ohhmydyosfics]

(Nahyuck) have a cup of cheer

Jaemin goes on a romantic Christmas non-date with Donghyuck.

https://archiveofourown.org/works/8274313

[bluebirds-in-the-spring]

a christmas apocalypse.

— writer mark lee x botanical fem reader!

sinopse: Após 10 anos desde sua radical mudança de vida, Mark Lee finalmente está de volta à cidade a qual seu coração sempre pertenceu. Porém, encarar as mudanças que a vida de sua melhor amiga de infância sofreu irá fazê-lo sair da zona de conforto mais uma vez.

observações: o idioma é pt-br, não há conteúdo explícito e será uma au curta dividida em 3 capítulos.

capítulo 1 (23/12)

capítulo 2 (24/12)

capítulo 3 (25/12)

[bee-the-loser-recs]

~~~☼ My Haechan One-shot Fic Recs ☼~~

𖤓 Drippin' By @ncteez 16.2k, NCT Dream 00' line x reader, non-specified au, close friends, birthday sex, smut, technically polyamorous, messy, slight fluff, comedy, teasing

𖤓 Send in the clowns By @smileysuh 10.6k, Haechan|Mark|Jaehyun x reader, college au, frat boys NCT, best friend Jungwoo, friends to lovers, karaoke friends, smut, polyamory, slight fluff, Halloween parties, dressing up

𖤓 Roommates By @smileysuh 8.3k, Mark x reader x Haechan, college au, frat house NCT, best friend Jungwoo, polyamory, smut, stoners, getting high together, slight fluff, mentions of Jeno having a crush on reader

𖤓 The V week spy By @smileysuh 20.1k, Jaehyun x reader (romantic) ft. Haechan | Yangyang | Jungwoo | Jeno, college au, frat house NCT, sorority member reader, stupid traditions, no strings attached situation, smut, slight fluff

𖤓 Energizer bunny By @smileysuh 19.1k, hybrid au, bunny reader, dragon Haechan, bartender reader, club owner Haechan, boss x employee relationship, genuine interest between the two, smut, slight fluff, Mark is reader's brother

𖤓 Carpe diem By @kiachiako 5.1k, college au, gamer!Haechan, coder!reader, mutual friends, slight fuckboy Haechan, genuine feelings for one another, fluff, angst

𖤓 Indica dreams By @hazyhae 11.7k, unspecified au, non-idol au, plug Haechan, reader gets high for the first time, one bad experience on edibles, fluff, slight angst, smut, best friend Jeno, reader has problems sleeping

𖤓 Us By @hazyhae 900, stoner!best friend!Haechan, high conversations together, confessions when high, mutual pining, anxieties about the future

𖤓 Cold By @rainbowhao 0.5k, established relationship, fluff, cuddling in their apartment, bribery, temperature being rather cold, clingy Haechan

𖤓 Sugar, butter & the royal crown By @haechwrites 17.1k, royal au, prince Donghyuck, baker's daughter reader, fluff, slight angst, unsupportive mother, pining, forbidden relationship, reconnecting after multiple years, pet names

𖤓 Sucks to be him By @loudstan Magic au, werewolf Haechan, witch reader, fluff, imprinting, slight angst, reader has a boyfriend at first, Haechan refuses to give up, reader is slightly older and owns a store

𖤓 Triple Lee; naughtier the better By @p4p1l0nn 9.1k, Mark | Haechan | Jeno x reader, non-idol au, stoner au, plug Haechan & Mark, stoner Jeno & reader, roommates, smut, slight fluff

𖤓 NCT dream exposes y/n's crush on Haechan in the gc By @wooyukh SMAU, non-specified au, meddling friends, exposing their friend's crushes, fluff, trying to hide their feelings, confessions, cute

𖤓 Quarantine chronicles 3 By @domjaehyun 43k, Jungwoo|Jaehyun|Johnny|Jaemin|Mark|Jeno|Haechan x reader, Quarantine au, roommates (except Mark, Jeno, Haechan), lots of tension & flirting, smut, slight fluff, friends with benefits situation, crack, part of a series

𖤓 Hush Hush By @domjaehyun 19.5k, Jeno|Jaemin|Haechan x reader, college au, friends to lovers??, sleepovers, smut, foursome, mentions of friends Mark & Renjun

𖤓 Surviving no nut November By @domjaehyun 28.8k, Haechan x reader x Mark, college au, friends to lovers, no nut November challenges, smut, trying to trip them up, teasing, slight fluff, weed consumption, pet names

𖤓 Pussy fiend [part 1] & [part 2] By @domjaehyun 28.2k & 40.7k, college au, enemies to fuck buddies to lovers, smut, humour, pissing each other off, cocky Haechan, denial of feelings

𖤓 Tangerine love [favourite] By @domjaehyun 21.8k, neighbours au, mutual attraction, smut, domestic behaviour between the two, fluff, light humours, mentions of a Christmas party

𖤓 Random texts with bf!Hyuck By @catboyieejeno SMAU, established relationship, menace Haechan, jealousy, suggestive comments, fluff

𖤓 Achromatopsia By @neoneversleeps 8.7k, Haechan has Achromatopsia (colour blindness), school au, meet cutes, relationship developments, fluff, angst, anger outbursts, making out

𖤓 Truth or dare By @irregular-idol-imagines 1.2k, friends to lovers, playing truth or dare, fluff, kissing on a dare, friendly teasing, alcohol

𖤓 'Manifesting Mayhem' [part 1], [part 2], & [part 3] By @suhnshinehaos SMAU, mini series, university au, mostly fluff, a little bit of angst, humour, Haechan has a crush on a classmate, reader runs a crystal shop, reader has a crush on Haechan, hidden identity

𖤓 Round & round By @hwaflms 6.1k, college au, weed use, stoners 00'line & reader, playing spin the bottle, wanting to kiss one another, bad luck, smut, slight fluff

𖤓 Hits different By @neowinestainedress 44.8k, college au, strangers to fwb to lovers, smut, angst, fluff, reader self destructs a lot, emotional support, best friend Jonny, past traumas, reasoning behind their actions, emotionally running away

𖤓 And they were roommates By @tyonfs 17k, college au, part of a one-shot series, reader is Haechan's "crushes" roommate, smut, friends to lovers, dumb Haechan, realising feelings, fluff [I suggest reading the prequel & other one-shots too, they're all so well written]

𖤓 Lucky strike By @heartseungs-archive 2.3k, arcade employee Haechan, high school au, Haechan has a crush on a reader, cute, fluff, asking them out