#(starter call going up in a min)

[general-kalani]

Like this post for a starter from Pagan Min!

{ Multimuses lmk who you want him to respond to! }

[the-physicality]

honestly despite some of the lows this season the merc really have spoiled me. on the after time out plays, on inbounding, on the post guard connections, the dt to bg connection

[antihcroes]

okay .. so i’m about to put out a starter call (even though yes i know i shouldn’t with how much i owe but i really need to get muse flowing bc i’ve been struggling & i think this will help), but i also realize callie nor raine’s bio’s are up yet. nor is my info for my mcu gwen, so i’m gonna list like the basics here so if people are interested in them they can have the info & yeah -

callie:

was raised by a single mother, but when she turns 19 she discovers her mother is not actually her biological mother & kidnapped her as a baby. after being justifiably upset by this, she leaves home & sets off to find her birth mother. as she does she ends up meeting a man who is significantly older than her - he … grooms her, & the two enter a relationship. when she finally gets to where her birth mother is supposed to be, she finds out she actually passed away a few years ago. the guy is very unsympathetic to her & it’s clear there’s only one thing on his mind even while she’s sitting there heartbroken, this kind of opens up her eyes to him & what he’s been doing to her. she leaves him behind & ends up moving in with a girl her age she meets at a cafe. nowadays she’s living in her own apartment a few down from the girl & making a living for herself with a job with the local newspaper & is lowkey working on autobiography. she’s kind of guarded, closed off, after everything she’s been through it feels easier to keep people at a distance. but behind that facade she’s vulnerable, smart, caring & a fantastic storyteller.

raine:

a girl who’s very much a happy-go-lucky type, friendly, optimistic, enthusiastic & fun-loving. but … this has kind of made her stand out, most people finding her personality a bit ‘off-putting’, as it seems like ‘too much’. even amongst her own family, her parents scoffing & rolling their eyes at her antics & her older sister making comments about wanting a ‘normal sister’. she can also be a bit reckless at times, especially with the fact that she actually discovered at a young age she has magical abilities (she tends to keep this a secret though, even from her family). raine appears as though she doesn’t care what others think, but words do hurt sometimes. & never having really fit anywhere isn’t a great feeling. nowadays though she lives away from her family, trying to find her place in the world & find people who don’t turn their noses at her, with a job as a cocktail waitress & a maltipoo called butterfly.

mcu gwen:

basically is in the grade above peter, was blipped. was on peter’s side from the sidelines when the mysterio stuff came out. her father passes away senior year & instead of going away to college ends up staying in nyc to help her mother take care of her brothers & just generally so they could still have each other, etc.

[ahundredtimesover]

I Want You to Stay (03) | JJK

Pairing: Jungkook x (f.) Reader

Genre/Tags: boss!JK x assistant!reader; idiot strangers to lovers; slow slow burn; k-drama feels; angst, drama, fluff, smut

Chapter (Series) Warnings: foul/explicit language; alcohol consumption & passing out, unhealthy coping mechanisms; family drama; minor injuries; power dynamics (JK starts off as a jerk); work-related anxiety, feelings of helplessness, insecurities; childhood traumatic experiences, nightmares; sexual harassment, prior incidence of domestic violence (PLS PLS BE CAREFUL WHEN READING); arts and business/property devt talk that’s probably inaccurate; commitment issues & emotionally constipated characters; cold and detached JK; explicit sexual content (specific warnings stated per chapter) (18+)

Chapter Word count: 14.8k

Series Masterlist

Status: Ongoing

Series summary: Working for Jungkook isn’t the same as working for Hoseok. For starters, Jungkook doesn’t smile, he doesn’t appreciate you, and he gives you too much work. It doesn’t help that he’s incredibly handsome and has women at his beck and call. But as the tension grows, it becomes impossible to resist him. You’ve dedicated yourself to your job for 8 years so when you finally decide to put yourself first, he asks you to reconsider. And while you know that leaving is difficult, you learn that when it comes to Jungkook, staying is always so much harder.

Playlist 🎶: on the way home

A/N: I've been thoroughly enjoying your asks and replies about this story (sorry I can’t get to each one!) I see that a lot can relate to what OC's going through and I'm sending you hugs! 🤗 Again, I appreciate your love and excitement. And uh... Golden JK in that white tank. YUP. 🤭 Hoping you enjoy this one!

And as always, my biggest thanks to @wonwoonlight  🥰

PS. If I can’t tag you, pls fix your settings!

The spring in your step tightens the closer you get to Jungkook’s penthouse the next Monday. Walking here to start another week, there’s a mix of emotions you’re carrying with you. 

You got to spend a proper weekend. On Friday, you made yourself some cold noodles and then watched a movie with Jimin and Soomin on video call, who’d said they’ll be visiting you in a week. You took the train to Daegu on Saturday, went to the park, then stayed in to enjoy Min-woo’s cooking and the girls’ stories about school and their youth clubs. You then buried yourself in your mother’s embrace as you told her about your week. You didn’t want to say too much, not wanting her to worry that her daughter isn’t being treated well at her job, but you suppose you said enough. 

“I wish I was strong enough to protect you from everything,” she’d told you softly. “All I can do is just give you hugs and say words of encouragement that might not even mean much.”

“And you still are, mom. I look forward to being with you because of those hugs. But more than that, you were strong enough to protect me from the bad guys,” you’d assured her. “Jungkook is many things but he’s not a terrible person. I can handle him.”

And you meant it. He may be hot-tempered sometimes but he’s not evil. But just because he made you go home early last Friday, it also doesn’t mean he’s suddenly redeemed in your mind. Sure, he didn’t email you at all over the weekend unlike last time, but he also still didn’t apologize to you nor show remorse. 

Perhaps that small nod after he called you telling you that you could go home was his way of saying sorry, or maybe it just isn’t in his vocabulary. You wonder if Hoseok had told him off but even then, it’s a pretty quick change, if you could call it that. 

Regardless, you felt like a human being again these past few days; you just wish Jungkook woke up on the right side of the bed this morning and doesn’t find a reason to complain about you. 

Unlocking the door, you’re surprised to hear silence - there are no grunts and deep breaths nor the sound of leather hitting leather from his morning workout. You scan the floor before walking around - a habit you’ve developed after finding that laced underwear last week - and then peep into the door on the right, only to find untouched equipment and no other traces of him. 

You’re in the living room when you hear another door close, prompting you to turn around and see a woman appearing from the hallway on the other side of the penthouse. Her hair’s a bit disheveled and she’s wearing one of Jungkook’s coats that you saw in his closet. 

“Uh, who are you?” The woman scoffs, her arms crossed and eyebrows raised now. 

Taken aback, you just stare at her, until you realize she’s not wearing anything underneath so you look away.

You try to make sense of who she is and how you could get out of this situation. You know for a fact that Jungkook doesn’t have a girlfriend, at least that’s what Lucas had told you, but who knows what Jungkook’s been up to since he got back? There was that red laced underwear from last week after all. Maybe he does sleep around like what Do-hyun said. Maybe this woman just doesn’t know Jungkook has a female assistant. Maybe he’s—

“Hey, I’m talking to you,” she says, sounding more annoyed now. 

“Oh. Uh, I’m Mr. Jeon’s—”

“She’s my assistant,” Jungkook answers, catching you off guard, given that you hadn’t noticed him walk in. 

He’s not in his usual workout attire, although him in a white tank top and gray sweatpants with mussed hair somehow seems more overwhelming than him in nothing but gym shorts. You glance at him as he stands next to the woman, whose face suddenly lights up. Not wanting to look at her, you shift your gaze towards the ceiling, trying hard not to look awkward as you’re rooted in place. 

The woman looks at you from head to toe and you feel her judging you, assessing you, while Jungkook stands there, yawning and combing his hair with his fingers.

“Just your assistant?” She asks, sounding incredulous. 

“Yeah. What else would she be?” Jungkook answers nonchalantly. Looking at you, he nods ever so slightly that you almost miss it, another hint of acknowledgement you’d seen last Friday. “Just eggs on toast. And coffee.”

“Yes, Mr. Jeon,” you say, exhaling the breath you were holding and then walking to the kitchen to start on his breakfast. 

“I don’t know, another one of your girls? I see you with a new one every time,” she huffs, sounding bitter, but Jungkook doesn’t sound amused.

“What are you still doing here?” He asks, walking to where you are then taking the glass of water you prepare for him. “I called a service for you last night.”

“I was too tired,” she says, and you don’t miss the sultry tone of her voice now. “You tired me out, Jungkook. I could barely get off the bed.”

“And why are you still here?” He asks, clearly not having it with her teasing. 

“Because I’m still tired,” she smirks, having followed him to the kitchen. 

You feel tense once more; you definitely don’t want to be part of this conversation in any way nor be privy to it, especially given what obviously happened between them last night. And especially not with Jungkook looking and sounding the way he does this early Monday morning.

“And I was thirsty,” she continues. 

He sets his glass down and opens the refrigerator and takes out a bottle of water that he hands over to her. 

“Ugh, how romantic,” she rolls her eyes, finishing it in a few gulps. 

“I have to go to work,” he tells her, frustrated that she’s being stubborn about not leaving when he no longer seems to want her around. 

“Actual work, or, you know, work?” She says, gesturing towards you.

You make the mistake of looking at her smug face, the insinuation not lost on you. It’s insane how she can just make claims like that, and you feel that just like you, Jungkook’s getting pissed.

“Can you just leave?” He says much more sternly now. “I can’t start my day with you still here.”

“Ooh, how rude,” she giggles. “Should’ve expected you’d be like that even outside of bed. I like that.”

She walks back to the room, leaving you and Jungkook on your own. You continue to work on his eggs while he stands by the counter, rubbing his temples. You’re unsure if it’s because of her or from last night’s alcohol, but you get aspirin and also a bottle of energy drink and set them in front of him before returning to preparing his meal. 

The woman comes back shortly in last night’s attire then walks towards Jungkook.

“I’m leaving,” she announces, tilting his chin so he would face her. “I’ll see you again, yeah?”

Jungkook turns away and does not respond, leaving her to laugh as if there’s a joke that only she’s in on.

“Going all quiet on me now, huh?” She says. “You weren’t like that last night. I can still hear your moans, actually. Fuck, they sounded so good and so loud.”

You almost hit your finger as you slice the apple, clearly not expecting for this stranger to say something so intimate, knowing there’s another person in the room with them. You don’t know if she wants to intimidate you for whatever reason or maybe just make you feel uncomfortable. Whatever it is, it’s working, as you’re unable to focus on the task at hand now. 

Jungkook still doesn’t say anything, and it’s what prompts her to finally say goodbye. 

“Fine, I’ll leave now,” she whines. “But that was an amazing first time. I hope it won’t be the last.”

Her giggle annoys you for some reason, even more when you mistakenly look her way. Her smug face unnerves you as she holds your gaze while she says, “I’ll see you again, okay? I’ll make sure you’ll scream my name next time,” the words obviously directed at Jungkook. 

She finally exits the penthouse but she doesn’t take the tension with her because in this large apartment with you and him, you feel a little too hot, a little too alert, yet somehow a little too curious.

Jungkook groans now as he finishes his energy drink, and he doesn’t know what he’s more frustrated about - the fact that the woman whose name he doesn’t remember didn’t go home, or that you’d found out about it in the most embarrassing way and he’d done nothing to stop her attempts at making you feel uncomfortable because that’s definitely what she was doing. 

He doesn’t know how it affected you but even he can tell that it wouldn’t have been good. Not that he’s ashamed of his lifestyle but it’s different when you, of all people, get to see what that looks like. You did see the laced underwear on his kitchen floor last week, and he knows you definitely tried to pretend you hadn’t. Perhaps the image of arrogant, playboy Jungkook just solidified in your head and the fact that maybe that’s what you think of him is making him feel uneasy. 

Not that he cares about what you think - he definitely does not - but he just doesn’t want that to affect how you would treat him in a professional sense, as if he’s some reckless man who works too hard and parties much harder, even if that’s kind of what he does. 

The hangover doesn’t help at all; he shouldn’t have chugged that wine while the woman was giving him head, which was amazing, he reminds himself. He just knows he won’t be seeing her again after this morning because she’d been stubborn and shameless, and definitely not because of how she spoke to you and the insinuations she made.

“Mr. Jeon, your breakfast is ready,” you inform him, breaking him out of his thoughts. 

He takes a seat on the table and you sit next to him, taking out your iPad to start your rundown of last Friday’s meeting and this week’s schedule. 

“So—”

“Wait, give me a minute,” he stops you, and he realizes just how little sleep he actually got and he’s gonna have to push through today’s busy schedule despite feeling physically out of it. 

“Okay, sir,” you say softly.

He munches on his toast with his eyes closed, and when he opens them, his gaze falls on you, sitting upright on the chair looking clean and proper in your blush blouse and beige skirt. You seem to be reviewing the reports from last week, your eyebrows scrunched as you scribble on the screen. He knows you took the hours-long trip to and from Daegu over the weekend; the visit, just like any, must have been tiring. Yet you come to his place everyday without fail, ready to do what he needs you to do, and he doesn’t even know if you’ve had anything to eat yet. 

“Have you had breakfast?” He asks.

“E-excuse me?”

“Breakfast. Have you had it?”

“O-oh. Yes, I had some crackers and fruit on the way. I ate on the bus,” you respond.

He remembers your address from your staff profile. You live about 40 minutes from him, almost double if you commute. You come at 6:30 everyday, so he can only imagine what it’s like for you every morning. 

“Why don’t you drive?”

“I don’t have a car, sir.”

“Shouldn’t that be part of your contract? Or a benefit of some sort?”

“It isn’t. I believe only the CEO’s assistant does,” you respond. 

“Bitna has a company car.”

“Ms. Jung requested that when she was still President.”

“Then I’ll request one for you. It's… it’s too early. And you can’t always be assured of public transportation. There could be delays. Or an emergency that would require you to drive.”

Of course, he’d want you to get a car so that you’re more accessible to him. Just when you thought there’s actually a bit of his heart working this time, he reminds you why there isn’t.

“That’s true, but nothing has happened so far. And there are other options should there be,” you say. “I also don’t know how to drive so there is no need, Mr. Jeon. I leave my apartment early enough to make sure I get here on time, and I’ll let you know if I will be late.”

Jungkook just hums, even if there’s more he wants to know. What about late nights? What if there’s a storm? Well, he does know - he did see you miss out on taxis and then just walk last Tuesday; he wonders how you got home then, and how many hours of sleep you had after all that. 

He lets it go; it’s too early to think about this.

“Good. We can run through the minutes now,” he says.

So you do, stating the points and confirming your actions for each one and then noting down his as well. You try to focus, and you’re able to for the most part, but it’s not easy when he sits just a few feet away from you, with his bare arms propped on the table that’s just hard to look away from. 

You’ve always liked tattoos on other people, and the art on his right arm looks so delicate and personal; you wonder what someone like him would value enough to ink permanently on his skin. Even his untouched arm is mesmerizing, toned like every other part of him, with beauty marks that you spot as well. It doesn’t help that his slightly long hair keeps falling over his eyes, prompting him to comb them with his fingers every time. 

What also doesn’t help are the woman’s words from earlier, as she’d managed to make you think of Jungkook in a very different way, given her descriptions of how he’d been last night. You don’t know what she intended by doing that, but you didn’t miss her insinuations about your relations with him, which are definitely far from the truth. Learning that he’s rough and loud in bed is also knowledge that you could’ve done without. Somehow, he sounds like how he looks - expressive of negative emotions, and the type to drain the other person. 

He also sounds like the guys you’ve slept with.

The thought alarms you. These are things you shouldn’t be thinking about your boss, about the man who pays you, about the one who makes you miss meals and buses and who makes you angry because of how he treats you. 

You try to dispel these ideas by coughing - the loud sound helps, and you also want to distract yourself from how distracted you are at your task because somehow he keeps getting more and more attractive after every glance. 

He stands up, and just when you thought he’d be angry after your disruption, he surprises you by placing a glass of water in front of you.

“You can drink, you know? You can make yourself a cup of coffee. You can even cook yourself breakfast if it’s just crackers you eat in the morning,” he says. 

Yes, you think to yourself. You’ve been wanting to try his coffee because of the fancy machine but breakfast sounds… too domestic. 

“Thank you, but I’m okay. I mean, the snacks fill me up just fine.”

“It’s not proper breakfast, though,” he argues. 

“With all due respect, sir, eating takes time away from all the things I have to do. I manage just fine.”

Expecting an annoyed expression from him because you did just imply that you do too much, you instead see the tiniest hint of guilt on his face, as if he actually feels bad that you’re unable to take care of yourself because of him. 

“You’re not a servant, Ms. Cho. You’re not disallowed to do basic things just because of your job.”

“You have standards, Mr. Jeon,” you say, throwing his words back at him. You don’t expect to see his face fall a little, and you’re surprised that you seem to care. “I need to meet them, and I’m still familiarizing myself with how you want things done, and that takes time. I don’t mean to imply that you treat me like a servant because you don’t. I just… I want to be able to do things right and I’m still learning.”

The words hit Jungkook. He knows he’d been too critical during these first weeks, and that’s more because he’s unable to manage the initial attraction that he’s trying so hard to temper. He could’ve gone on correcting you constructively, with no need for harshness the way he did with Lucas when he started. 

You’ve also been doing this for a few years. You’ve been working for the VP’s office longer than he has - you know the people and the processes more, yet you’re the one claiming you need to learn and do things right. Even he thinks his father, whom he never thought was the best at looking out for his people, wouldn’t be angry at those below him for irrational reasons. Somehow he thinks he’s worse than his old man now. 

But the word sorry isn’t in his vocabulary. He’d rarely ever said it, and the only reason he’d heard it a lot growing up was because people caused his inconvenience, and not because they’d hurt his feelings. He doesn’t know what that’s like - forgiving and wanting to be forgiven. They’re foreign to him, but somehow those are what you’re making him want to know. 

“I—”

“Can we move on, Mr. Jeon?” You interrupt him. “You have a scheduled check-in with your father before the 8:30 team meeting.”

“Right, that’s today,” Jungkook says, letting go of any form of apology he could muster. 

He nods then stands up to head to his bathroom, and you follow shortly after to arrange his outfits for the week. You clean up in the kitchen after and wait for him to come out, with you reflexively walking up to him to fix his tie and make sure all the creases on his clothes are fixed. 

Jungkook tries to remain still as you, like everyday, make sure he looks proper. It always took him a long time to get ready because he used to do all this on his own, but with you taking on the unofficial stylist role - which he admits you do a great job at - he’s relieved of that added stress of looking the part of a Vice President. It just also means that every morning, he has to look unaffected as you stand close to him like this, with you tightening his tie and your fingers grazing his clothed chest.

You smell like roses. It feels warm and nostalgic, like it’s familiar but also something new. It’s refreshing on you, and it wafts through his nose and paralyzes him a little. He tries to hold his breath like always, only briefly glancing at your focused eyes as you make sure he looks impeccable. 

He’s caught off guard when you look up and meet his gaze. He doesn’t react, but he does linger and surprisingly, so do you. He wants to apologize but he doesn’t know how to. He just hopes you feel it somehow with how he looks at you; he’d like to think you do, as you gently bow and step back, taking your things to go down. 

You go through his schedule while in the car, noting his dinner meetings and that the food tasting for next month’s event with the art industry professionals that you’re both organizing has been moved to next week, freeing up his Thursday lunch hour.

“I’ll schedule my visit at Taehyung’s tailor shop that day then,” Jungkook states. “I’ll have a few suits done.”

“Noted, Mr. Jeon,” you reply, adjusting his calendar. 

He doesn’t say anything after. He takes his leather notebook and sketches like he often does, looking out his window only a few times as he’s engrossed in his drawings. Even with all that he is, you can’t deny Jungkook’s talent. You only know he took an architecture course but you don’t know if he actually practices it. 

You start to wonder if Jungkook wanted that to be his profession but couldn’t pursue it because he’s expected to manage the company with his cousin. You wonder if he’d always been into drawing and the arts, if it was an outlet the way reading picture books was for you; you’d wanted to become an illustrator but your mother couldn’t afford drawing classes and that profession just didn’t seem like it could sustain you financially. You wonder what Jungkook thinks when he sketches and what his subjects are, if he feels at peace the way he looks, if he hopes he could just spend his days doing this. 

The seeming warmth in your thoughts about this man concerns you, prompting you to turn away from his direction and stare out the window instead. You remind yourself that this is the same person who’d made the past two weeks miserable for you; he doesn’t deserve warmth from you in any form, even if, for the briefest moment earlier after you fixed his tie, that’s what you gave him. You learned that he’s quite mesmerizing when he doesn’t talk or when he isn’t scowling. You also learned you’re quite quick to fall into it when you let your guard down a little. 

You groan internally. There’s a lot you don’t know about him and you don’t really care to know more; what you know is enough to put you off anyway. And so these moments of weakness - of curiosity, of concern -  should not happen again. 

Except, they do happen, over an hour later after Jungkook returns to his room from his check-in with his father. He sits on his chair, his eyes closed and jaws clenched, unmoving for a good few minutes, and you watch from your seat, wondering what transpired that’s got him this disturbed. 

It happens again an hour later. He moved the team meeting to the afternoon and he’s now furiously typing on his desktop, making calls, sketching, making calls again, then sitting still with his eyes closed once more. Hoseok walks in, merely nodding at you, then enters the room and speaks with the younger man. Jungkook closes the blinds, and you’re left to wonder what’s going on behind closed doors and what’s got him angry and frustrated.

You take your chance at finding out when Hoseok emerges, asking him if everything’s okay, if Jungkook is okay.

“Yeah, he’s fine,” Hoseok says, a half smile on display, something you’re only a tad familiar with. “He’ll manage.”

He rushes out, saying he has a meeting to get to, and you nod, glancing at the closed door and blocked window, wondering what troubles Jungkook is handling on his own. If it’s personal, it’s clearly not your business. But if it’s work-related, then it is. You’re there to make things easier for him, after all. You also don’t want to be surprised and be bombarded by new tasks just in case, so it’s better to know if there’s something you can help in resolving things as well.

You walk in his room then place the ginger lemon tea on his desk, a common home remedy for hangovers, just in case last night’s events are still affecting him. You inform him that you’ve sent the reports already for his sign-off, and he responds that he’ll get to them tomorrow.

Glancing at his drink, he halts his typing to look at you. 

“Do I look hungover to you?” He asks pointedly.

It’s clearly not what you meant, but you suppose the insinuation isn’t what he needs right now. You want to be swallowed by the ground. He was already calm towards you, civil even, and now there’s another reason for him to be upset at you. You wanted to avoid any possibility of that as much as possible, and now you’re here, at the verge of being told off again, just because your stupid brain decided to care the tiniest bit.

“I, uh, no, Mr. Jeon,” you stutter. “I just…”

You don’t have a reason. Clearly, you can’t tell him that he hasn’t seemed okay all morning - whatever that means - and that just in case it’s last night’s alcohol affecting him, there’s a cure. You stare back at him with worry, but instead of challenging or questioning you, he just sits back with his eyes closed again and dismisses you. 

“You may leave,” he instructs. 

“What about lunch, sir?” You ask. 

You’d never cared before, why the change now? 

“I’m fine,” he responds. “Call me when the meeting’s about to start.”

Your stubborn self takes the box of biscuits from the coffee table and places it in front of him. You’re pushing it, you think, but there’s a meeting he’ll be leading and he can’t be unfocused; when he is, it’s all the worse for you. 

He doesn’t react and you walk out. When you enter an hour later to call him, you spot the empty cup and the crumbs on the saucer, and you can’t help the tiny smile that you make internally.

It’s short-lived though, as that whole afternoon, he acts unusually - he barely makes comments at updates, he doesn’t make eye contact, and doesn’t ask further questions. He just nods when you say you’re heading out at 6PM, giving you no added tasks to keep you from leaving.

You enter his penthouse the next morning to the banging of leather hitting leather, prompting you to jerk from the loud sounds. He’s grunting and panting heavily, and you just know that whatever it was that transpired yesterday, he’s releasing all his emotions right now, through this. 

He exits the gym and walks to the counter where you are, finishing the water you laid for him in three gulps. 

“Do you need that tended to?” You ask. 

He looks surprised. You gesture towards his hands and he looks at his bruised knuckles; he really let it all out this morning, it seems. 

“I’m fine,” he shrugs. 

You didn’t think those two words from him would ever make you feel discouraged, but one thing you’ve come to learn about Jungkook is that he easily expresses his anger and frustration towards other people. It’s when he keeps things in that they seem more serious, and you wonder what words he heard yesterday that might have made him this closed off, this quiet, this much more distant.

But fortunately, your feeling of worry fades with each day that passes, as he slowly returns to his normal self after - the focus, the perpetually serious look, the attention to detail, the sketching on his notebook. Perhaps Jungkook just needed a particular kind of release and he’s maybe handling things better now. 

For his sake and yours, you wish the issue has been resolved, otherwise another blow up might happen and that wouldn’t be good for your newfound dynamic that’s a lot more civil than anything. 

It’s Thursday when you get a call at 5 in the morning, just as you’ve woken up to get ready for work, and Mr. Ri’s voice greets you on the other end.

“Hi, ___. How are you this morning?”

“Hi, Mr. Ri,” you yawn, curious as to why he’s checking up on you this early. “Is everything okay?”

“Yes,” he hums. “I was instructed by Mr. Jeon to pick you up today.”

“Why would CEO Jeon ask that?” You wonder, as you sleepily walk to the bathroom to wash up.

“He didn’t. Jungkook did.”

You stop on your tracks. You don’t recall being informed about this, nor do you know of any particular reason why you should be at his place so soon.

“Oh, uhm, okay. I should be ready in–”

“I’ll be there in about 50 minutes,” Mr. Ri interjects. “Sleep in a bit more and have some breakfast. I’ll see you shortly.”

You try not to think about what prompted Jungkook to have you picked up, so you focus on getting ready and then whipping yourself some fried rice using the leftover seafood from last night. You won’t lie, it tastes delicious. It might be that you just haven’t had proper weekday breakfast in a while, but it could also be that you’re energized enough and not pressed for time that you’re able to make this as good as it is. 

You decide to bring some to Jungkook’s place just in case you get there late. Sure, Mr. Ri will be driving you, but you don’t know how the traffic is at this time, and this change in schedule is somewhat making you anxious. But then again, there’s always bread or cereal for him to eat; you just think that a little act of thanks wouldn’t be so bad.

Mr. Ri arrives exactly 50 minutes later and he assures you that he’ll get you to the penthouse in half an hour. You trust him of course; he’s been with the Jeons for decades and he knows these streets like the back of his hand. Seated in the passenger seat, you try to figure out what about today has got your boss a little kinder than usual. 

“I arrived five minutes late yesterday,” you wonder out loud. “Is that why? He has a meeting with a local artist in the morning and he doesn’t want me to be late. That should be it. Ugh, stupid,” you groan. “I should’ve taken the first bus I saw, but it was so full and–”

“___,” Mr. Ri stops you. “Five minutes isn’t much. Plus, you always arrive 10 minutes before 6:30 and then just wait at the lobby. I don’t know why you do, you could always just go up to the penthouse when you get there, you know?”

“No, I don’t. Mr. Jeon has boundaries and clearly likes keeping his distance. Going to his penthouse before I’m supposed to be there feels like I’m intruding,” you argue.

“You’re literally his assistant, and you go to his bedroom and his closet, fix his things, prepare his meals… there’s no intrusion happening,” Mr. Ri counters. “I know the man. He’ll probably just look at you curiously then go about his routine.”

“Well, since you know him so well, then why did he have me picked up this morning?”

There’s a brief silence before the man next to you responds.

“He did note that you were late for the first time, but that wasn’t his issue,” Mr. Ri says, appeasing you before you react negatively and think that your tardiness was a big deal. “He asked if I knew how you got to Hoseok’s place before and I said you would just take the bus; it was closer to your place so it was fine. They have someone to make his breakfast, too, so you didn’t need to come early; plus, you only went every Monday.”

“What a change, huh?” You attempt to poke fun at yourself and the new arrangement you’re in. 

Not that you’re complaining; you know of other executive assistants who do much more for their bosses and what you have with Jungkook isn’t even that bad. But it is quite the shift compared to what you did for Hoseok. You’ve figured out your own routine, though. And the commute isn’t always terrible, for as long as you’re not one of the unlucky ones, given the recent incidents. 

“It’s quite the change. I don’t think he realized that until yesterday. He also asked me if I know if you eat properly in the morning. Maybe he thinks you don’t?”

“I’ve skipped meals…” you trail. “And well, I told him that I just eat crackers on the bus. Maybe he thinks I’m losing focus some days.”

“Maybe he’s just concerned.”

You snort at the absurdity of the statement. 

Mr. Ri sighs. He knows that Jungkook hasn’t been his best self since he arrived in Seoul, and especially towards you. He’s noticed the young man’s indifference, the occasional passive remark, the frustrated looks, and the tension every morning. He’s noticed your faraway eyes, too, your constant anxiety, and unusual lack of confidence in your usual tasks, given that you look to be second-guessing everything you do. 

As someone who’s worked for the Jeons for so long and who’d watched Jungkook grow up, he’s used to the detachment, but it was always because the young man often lived in his own head. There are always lots of thoughts and ideas, and lots of feelings he keeps bottled in. 

But he’s also seen Jungkook’s kindness that he doesn’t always show, the guilt and anger that restrain him from expressing his emotions, and the care that he seems to put a brake on when he shows too much of it to someone, and so it isn’t much of a surprise to him to him when the young man gave this specific instruction to pick you up, not just today but everyday moving forward.

“The news on the radio reported on the robberies and complaints of sexual harassment against female commuters last night,” Mr. Ri continues. “They attack at any hour now. I’m sure that’s why. He wants me to drive you home everyday, too.”

“Mr. Ri, that’s too much,” you protest. “That’s not part of my contract and it isn’t his responsibility.”

“Maybe, precisely why I think he’s concerned. It isn’t about making sure you’re not late to work or anything. He’s worried that something might happen to you. And I agree. It isn’t safe, ___.”

“It’s not safe for me anywhere. I just… it’s too much,” you sigh. “I don’t need this kind of service. I’m not entitled to it.”

“He’ll insist though. Will you argue with him over your own security? I mean, it’s either this or he’ll pay for your driving lessons and then request for a car for you to use.”

You sigh, knowing he has a point. You don’t think you deserve it but you also can’t deny that the concern makes you feel a certain kind of way for him; gratitude, for one, and something else you can’t exactly name. 

“Okay,” you say softly. 

“Good. It’s about time he makes it up to you,” he chuckles. “Boy’s been a brat these past weeks. I wanted to just knock some sense into him.”

“Hmm, not like I expected any less,” you huff. “He just looked grumpy or disinterested during the times I’ve seen him before. Unhappy people like that aren’t always the kindest. Has he always been that way?”

“I wouldn’t say he has. I mean, he just wasn’t joyful or expressive, not like his brother. Jungkook liked to keep to himself; Hoseok often tried to push him out of his comfort zone but the boy wouldn’t really budge. I think as he grew up, that just amplified. People who prefer being alone have their reasons, don’t they?”

They do. You know this just like anyone, perhaps as much as Jungkook. It’s comfortable being alone; there’s no one to hurt you and no one you could hurt. You wonder if his reason is the same, and if, like you, he feels the loneliness creep in every once in a while. 

You nod in silence and the conversation doesn’t continue until you arrive at Jungkook’s building. You have five minutes to get to his unit and you get there in three. When you enter, you hear grunting from the gym, and it’s shortly after when he exits and drinks the glass of water on the counter.

“What’s that?” He gestures at the plastic container next to you.

“It’s fried rice. I made it this morning because I had time to eat breakfast at home,” you say, softly smiling and then bowing at him to show your gratitude. Whatever his reason is, the act was appreciated. 

“And you’re gonna eat again?”

“I was actually–”

You stop midway. You actually meant to serve it to him in case you arrived late, which you realize is pretty ridiculous. 

“Actually what?” He asks, leaning forward on the counter now, with his bare arms from his tank top blinding you a little. 

“I didn’t know what time I was gonna get here so I thought as a last resort, I’ll bring this to heat up and serve to you but then I realized that that’s pretty stupid because it’s leftovers and definitely not high-quality ingredients and it’s… just silly. Plus, you don’t eat rice in the morning.”

With his scrunched brows, he asks, “is it good?”

“It’s pretty delicious,” you say. “I mean, I liked it. I don’t know how sophisticated your palate is… Mr. Jeon.”

You smack yourself internally for rambling. 

“What’s that got to do with anything? If it’s good, then it’s good.”

“I’m an ordinary person, Mr. Jeon. I have normal people’s taste buds.”

“So that makes me, what? Abnormal?”

“No… I–” you unknowingly pout. You shouldn’t have brought this in the first place. 

Jungkook is disarmed again at the sight of your pouty face. If this is your way of thanking him for this morning, he’ll take it. The fact that you’d brought something you cooked from your own place to feed to him is already enough to make him feel hazy, which is why he needs to get away from you right away.

“Just heat it up. I’ll have that. There’s not much food in here anyway,” he says, walking away, leaving you no room to resist.

You do as you’re told, not wanting to overthink and change anything. You do check the cupboard and see a stashed pantry, and you wonder if he’d wanted to find something to criticize about your cooking, too. 

He walks in and lets you fix his tie again, and for some reason, you feel more nervous than you normally do today. You sit and busy yourself with responding to emails as he eats his breakfast, careful not to look at him while he does.

“It’s good, a little better than how I do mine,” he says, surprising you.

“You cook?” You ask too quickly.

“Of course,” he frowns, looking a little offended. “I lived on my own for years. How do you think I survived?”

“Hiring people to do it for you,” you shrug. 

Peeking at him once again, you see that he’s almost finished with the dish, and you can’t help the little smile on your face at the thought that he might actually enjoy it. It’s just fried rice, but you let yourself feel the shallow happiness from this. He’s at least not berating you or anything.

He finishes his meal as you go through yesterday’s meetings. There’s not much about the Arts Center he says, just like yesterday and the day before, and you start to wonder if the issue with his father has anything to do with that. 

You let it go, opting to just follow his pace and let him talk about it when he’s ready, if he ever will be. 

The morning goes by smoothly. Jungkook meets with Yoongi in his office then reviews the reports you’d sent last Monday. He sends you an email, saying that they’ve been approved and for you to attach his signature for sign-off and dissemination, leaving you perplexed at the lack of any other comments again. 

He goes for a quick lunch at the dining hall while you eat a sandwich at the pantry, and not long after, you’re back in the car to head to Jungkook’s appointment with his best friend.

Kim Taehyung’s tailor shop boasts of classic European design. It’s elegant in all the ways that he is, as he stands by the desk in his working space, a smaller room on the mezzanine floor with an exquisite couch and displays of his work. He’s donned in an orange suit that you think only he can pull off, while his brother, Seokjin, sits on a chair in an impeccable black 3-piece. 

You know as much that Jungkook grew up with both men, but while the brothers are often a hot topic on the news because of their wealth, their successful businesses, and colorful dating lives, you now wonder how Jungkook managed to stay out of the spotlight despite being a lot of the things that they are. 

You bow at them after Jungkook introduces you as his assistant, and you’re surprised when Seokjin reaches out his hand to shake yours, bowing as well and offering you a kind smile. Taehyung does the same, and you can’t help but feel the warmth on your cheeks. They’re clearly incredibly handsome men with amazing styles, just like your boss, but they’re obviously respectful and gentle, unlike him. 

“Nice to meet you, Ms. Cho,” Taehyung smiles. “So, what events do I need to dress my best friend for?”

He looks warm, friendly, and you can’t help but mirror his smile as he offers you a seat and some tea. You take out your calendar and enumerate at least three big events in the next months, which would require standout designs. Jungkook also wants four additional everyday classic suits, and Taehyung starts sketching on his pad as you speak. 

“Make one for my event, too,” Seokjin says. “I’m launching my traditional alcohol brand in Singapore in September. It’ll be a big thing so Jungkook needs a fancy piece for that as well.”

“That soon?” Jungkook asks.

“Yeah, it got pushed early,” Seokjin replies.

Jungkook asks you to check his calendar for any activities in the Singapore office, and you state that there’s nothing scheduled during that time. 

“There’s a landscape designer I want to meet while I’m there. Schedule one with her later,” Jungkook instructs you, and you make a note to coordinate with Lucas, who will continue to serve as the assigned assistant for the Vice President’s Southeast Asia trips. 

Taehyung finishes the rough designs quickly, given that he’s already familiar with the style his client wants. He’s done a lot of Jungkook’s suits, which you know from all the weeks of preparing his clothes, and you do admit that he looks best in these custom-made pieces.

As Taehyung takes Jungkook’s measurements - given that, as per his words, Jungkook has gotten wider since the last time - he asks if you have something to wear for those big events, too. 

“Uh, yes,” you say. 

“Are they from company events from before?” Taehyung asks.

You nod shyly. It’s not like you’re paid enough to afford a new one every time nor can you wear them anywhere else; there aren’t exactly regular fancy dinners and social occasions you get invited to.

“Have new ones made, then,” Jungkook says, his back turned to you.

“Uh, there’s no need, Mr. Jeon. The gowns still look new and they’re well-made,” you insist.

“Store-bought?” Taehyung asks, his eyebrow cocked.

“Uh, yes, Mr. Kim.”

“Nothing beats custom-designed ones though. And I must say, I’m kinda good at them.”

“I, uh… it’s really not necessary,” you stutter, feeling a little too shy and definitely undeserving. It’s Kim Taehyung; his name is the brand.

“I believe it is,” Jungkook says now, turning to you. “They’re big events and we’re organizing one with the arts professionals. Some dignitaries will be coming, too, including the culture minister. I’d prefer if you looked the part of working for the Vice President, Ms. Cho. You represent me in that way.”

“I… uh, okay,” you sigh, knowing you don’t seem to be in a position to turn him down. 

“Great. Start thinking of designs, then!” Taehyung beams.

It’s some minutes later when Jungkook’s measurements have been taken and Taehyung calls for you. You sit on the chair facing his desk not far away while Jungkook and Seokjin talk about sports and this new club that opened in Gangnam. 

Seated in front of you, Taehyung takes his sketch pad and starts asking what design you want.

“Something simple and comfortable since I’ll be moving around,” you say softly. “And nothing form-fitting or revealing since, uh…”

“I understand,” Taehyung smiles, revealing a gentle side of him that the paparazzi and tabloids clearly don’t capture. 

He starts drawing your silhouette, glancing at you then at Jungkook before speaking.

“So, he’s been in this role for a few weeks now. Has he been nice?”

“Define ‘nice,’” you respond, earning you a chuckle. 

“I guess that’s my answer, then.”

“I don’t mean to say he isn’t,” you backtrack. “Mr. Jeon just has a different leadership style as Mr. Jung’s, that’s all.”

“I suppose that’s quite a difficult adjustment for you, huh?”

You purse your lips and Taehyung laughs, the soft way he does it is something new and refreshing to you. You didn’t realize how deprived you are of such gentleness, of such acts or sights as simple as a smile. Hoseok is no longer your source. Your team hasn’t been as jolly these past weeks. The only other person you talk to regularly at work is Yoongi, and while he’s definitely been smiling more, it’s a lot more teasing than it is comforting. You’ve been missing your best friends more because of that, you think - Soomin’s smile is blinding, Jimin’s is sweet and infectious. Perhaps it’s why you haven’t been smiling much yourself. 

“I won’t tell, don’t worry,” Taehyung assures you. “I just wanted to check on him. This whole move has been tough but he doesn’t say much. I’m guessing he doesn’t tell you, either, but he’ll definitely show it.”

“He has, actually,” you say softly, knowing now that even with his closest friends, Jungkook tends to keep things to himself. “He’s pretty stressed most days, always working and stuff. He’s been a little hard on me but I guess that’s a natural reaction for some.”

“That’s not an excuse though.”

“It isn’t, but… it’s okay. I can handle it.”

It’s not as much of a lie anymore as it used to be. Jungkook hasn’t been overly critical about things as he was just last week. He rarely makes comments on your minutes now, doesn’t correct the reports you reviewed, doesn’t talk over you or doesn’t yell. There’s been a change, definitely, and you wonder what triggered it. 

“He doesn’t really smile, does he?” You ask, your curiosity getting the better of you.

Taehyung’s laughter is one of disbelief and pure amusement, catching the attention of the other two men but he waves them off. 

“He still does, just not as much,” he responds. “It kinda stopped after the breakup with Chaerin but I guess that’s what heartbreak does, right?”

“I… wouldn’t know. I’ve never experienced it,” you shrug.

“Lucky,” he hums. “I don’t wish it on anyone.”

You glance at Jungkook, briefly letting yourself imagine a version of him that’s a lot more carefree, relaxed, perhaps happy. Maybe it’s the loneliness and that you’d understand; that, you’ve experienced. It’s both liberating and isolating. You wonder if that’s how he’s been feeling all these years since then.

“I’m done,” Taehyung announces, showing you three designs that are exactly what you asked for. 

“These look nice. And way out of my price range,” you laugh.

“Perks of having a rich boss,” he winks. “I don’t want you to worry about anything, okay? You’re my client and I want you to wear these with confidence. Now, if you’re okay with all this, I’ll get one of my female assistants to get your measurements.”

You nod in response. There’s absolutely nothing you would change about those designs. And if you’re being honest, you now can’t wait for those events just so you could wear them. Hoseok had obviously paid for the gowns you had to wear for the big events, but those were store-bought that A-yeong helped you choose. Some were your own purchases, but this is the first time that you’re getting measured for custom-made clothing designed by Kim Taehyung. 

You walk towards the fitting room at the corner where one of his staff meets you. She’s meticulous, which is why it takes longer than usual just to get this done. With her silence, however, you’re able to hear the conversation happening outside, with the brothers now asking Jungkook about the same thing you’ve been wondering about.

“By the way, what was up with you last Monday?” Seokjin asks. “I thought that was gonna be night 4 of you going home with a new woman. But you passed out before you could even ask. And that was just 9PM.”

“Four nights isn’t much, though,” Taehyung laughs. “Didn’t he do that with seven women on seven straight nights when he was in Singapore? That was wild. Was it that stressful there? Or were there just so many to choose from?”

“Shut up. I’m not proud of that,” Jungkook groans. “And that was one time. It never happened again.”

“It never happened seven times straight again,” Seokjin corrects. “You were really living your life out there, huh? Stressful job, a rooftop bar in your apartment building, chauffeur and butler services 24/7, women from all over the world begging to sleep with you…”

“It’s called the post-break up stage,” Taehyung says. 

“For six years?!” Seokjin asks incredulously. “It’s either you loved Chaerin that much, you blamed yourself too much, or you just really sucked at moving on.”

“I vote all of the above,” Taehyung states.

“Me, too,” Seokjin claims.

“Fuck you both,” Jungkook groans again. 

“I think he also just missed us too much,” Seokjin adds. “Lucas was cleaning up your messes every time, not snapping you out of it. But we’re here now so I guess three straight nights is as far as you’ll go.”

“Two, if you stopped me last Sunday,” Jungkook points out. “You both always insisted that Sundays are a no-no. You were too busy with your own women.”

“May we remind you that you didn’t even make it to our table. You stepped foot in the bar then left five minutes later,” Taehyung says. “But really, what was it about Monday? You seemed angrier than usual.”

“Just… a bunch of things my father said,” Jungkook huffs.

“Did he tell you off again?”

“Not really, surprisingly. He just delivered a message basically, about what the board members were saying about me and my project. Bullshit stuff, you know? I just wanted to forget about it.”

“Did you?”

“Sorta,” Jungkook says. “I still don’t want to talk about it.”

“But it’s still happening, right?” Taehyung asks worriedly. “The Arts Center, I mean. You’ve been wanting to work on that since the building was abandoned five years ago.”

“I don’t know,” Jungkook responds. “I guess. We already put money into it. I’ll just have to make concessions if my father doesn’t side with me on this. I hate to think he’s buying into what those old folks are saying.”

“Ms. Cho, we’re all done,” the staff member tells you, muffling the conversation outside that you couldn’t help but hear. 

It felt quite intrusive, hearing how life was like for Jungkook in Singapore, but then again, his personal life seemed to be the topic in the office comfort rooms, and you don’t know how to feel about getting confirmation about those rumors. It felt sad more than anything though, living that kind of life away from friends and family. You wouldn’t know what moving on from a breakup feels like, but you suppose people grieve a lost love in their own ways; you can’t blame them for how they choose to repair the parts of them that broke. 

But the bit about his conversation with his father is what bothers you. You’d hate to think that there’s a possibility that Jungkook’s plans won’t be fully realized, and whatever the reasons for that are, you hope they didn’t break his spirit too much. You know the plans now like the back of your hand and the more you learn, the more you believe in it. You hope Jungkook continues to believe in it, too.

You exit the fitting room, catching the end of a conversation where Seokjin suggests a wholesome weekend for the three men of just dinner and drinks. The two other men agree, and they all turn to you once you make your presence felt.

“All good?” Taehyung asks you.

“Yes,” you bow in thanks. 

“Great. The gowns will be ready at the same time as Jungkook’s suits will be. I’ll just let you guys know, okay?

“Sure,” Jungkook says. “But anyway, we have to get back to work. Thanks again.”

The brothers bid you and Jungkook goodbye, and you head back to the office with not much words said. Jungkook seems less frustrated, but the worry you feel suddenly returns. It’s the thought that maybe he doesn’t feel supported, that maybe what he’s doing isn’t enough, and that more than that, it's him choosing to deal with all this on his own, not even looking to his friends to comfort him.

Jimin and Soomin meet you for lunch at a restaurant that Saturday afternoon. The drive from Busan took longer than expected, they said, but you say you don’t mind. They’re visiting you like they always do every month, regardless of how busy they are back in their hometown, which was your home for a few years, too.

You were in the same class; your mom worked at the school, which was the only reason why you were able to attend a prestigious one in the first place. Even when you moved back to Daegu, you remained in touch with them. Despite the distance, none of you wanted to just let the friendship fade, and even when they had to stay back and you made a life out here in Seoul, they made sure to visit you as much as they could.

They’re why you were excited for the weekend to come and now, you’ll be enjoying a hearty meal, getting your nails done after, lounging at your apartment, and then heading to a club for a night out, which you only do whenever they’re around. 

“So, has the boss situation improved?” Soomin asks, her eyes soft and laced with worry “Or should I storm the jerk’s house and give him a piece of my mind?”

“It has,” you chuckle. “So no need to call him names or fight anyone. I’m okay.”

“Well, you did call him a grumpy old grinch with nice hair the other week,” Jimin points out. “So… did he get a haircut?”

“No,” you laugh again. “And that was in the heat of the moment. I… I mean, he’s still grumpy but he’s not… as grumpy or unbearable. He’s been—”

“Oh hun, please don’t say he’s been kind and then give him a pass for how he’s been to you,” Soomin reprimands. “Mean people don’t just become nice all of a sudden. And if they do, that’s a controlling tactic - they want you to think they’re capable of change so you’ll soften up to them and then give them a pass every time they do asshole-y things again.”

“You watch too many shows,” you frown, although knowing her statement isn’t wrong; it’s just not something you can relate with Jungkook.

Sure, he hasn’t been the nicest, but he also hasn’t been the meanest. He’s just been… him, you suppose - a bit in the middle; frustrated at worst, quiet at best, stoic on most days. He does seem to live in his head a lot, and while you won’t go so far as characterizing him as kind, he definitely hasn’t been insufferable these past few days. 

“I’ve just dealt with too many assholes, ___,” Soomin corrects. “They’re all the same. Men are shit.”

“Except for Jimin,” you correct.

“Except for Jimin,” she concurs. 

“I accept the honor,” he bows. “But seriously, ___. How has it been? You… you seemed really sad last week and I would’ve driven here then if we didn’t have that work emergency.”

“I’m okay, I mean it. I’ve experienced worse,” you try to assure them.

“You do know that having experienced something worse doesn’t mean it’s fine for you to experience something bad again, right?” Soomin points out.

“I know, but it also means that I know my threshold for bad behavior,” you say. “Jungkook was in a lot of stress and I did mess up. But I think he’s making up for that.”

“By apologizing, you mean?” Soomin cocks an eyebrow.

Your sigh tells her that’s definitely not what Jungkook has done. 

“Well, he approves my minutes and reviewed reports much quicker,” you reason. “And he doesn’t comment as much. But actually, I think he just pities me. And that’s worse.”

“Why would he pity you?” She asks.

“I don’t know. Maybe because I said that a tree fell on our roof and that mom got injured the weekend before my mishap,” you explain. “And then he found out how early I start my day just so I can get to him on time. He’s made adjustments after those and I… I think he’s guilty or something. And he’s just not being his usual angry self around me to make it up to me.”

“So in short, he’s still kind of an asshole,” Soomin says, prompting Jimin to snort and you to pout. “He could always just apologize if he’s guilty and realized he should treat you better.”

“Some things aren’t easy for other people to say, you know?” You say softly. 

“That’s not an excuse,” she points out.

“It’s an explanation,” you counter. “Or one of them, I guess. I don’t know him well enough, but it’s better to think that he’s a decent person who just struggles with emotions than someone who willingly makes people’s lives difficult. I mean, that’s easier to manage and accept.”

“If that helps you deal and he’s indeed improving, then maybe I won’t have to storm his place then,” she smiles, taking your hand and kissing it as she likes to do. 

She knows your habit of pressing your nails onto your skin, and she always said she likes to remind you that you deserve gentleness, too; she’ll give it if you can’t give it to yourself. 

The rest of the afternoon goes as you planned, with all the banter you’d expect from your best friends amid the pampering and then the chick flick in the background as you get ready in your tiny apartment. 

You smile at your reflection in the mirror. The high-waist trousers and sleeveless top ensemble is a refreshing sight for you, as you only really dress up like this for a night out. You’re in your usual pencil skirts and blouses otherwise, and in jeans and tops or oversized jumpers on a normal day. 

Soomin’s done your makeup and Jimin compliments you as he looks on, and soon enough, they’re ready as well to head out. 

“Where’re we going?” You ask from the passenger seat as Jimin navigates the busy streets of Seoul on a Saturday night. 

“Some new restaurant the guys discovered,” Soomin responds. “I think it’s not far from here.”

“Okay, good. Hajoon’s been texting, asking what time we’ll get there,” you tell them. 

“Geez, you were already with him last night. Tell him to be patient,” Jimin rolls his eyes. 

Soomin laughs from the backseat as she teases that he’s just being jealous, to which he points out that he just hasn’t seen you in a while so the man can wait. And you assure Jimin that you’d gladly skip a night with Hajoon to be with your best friends, no questions asked. 

You get there eventually, and you immediately spot the group because of the laughter coming from their table. There are four men; the two women are Soomin’s friends, which is how you got involved with Hajoon in the first place. You met some time last year and you’ve been hanging out with him since then - among other things - and you’ve been enjoying it, given the simplicity and lack of drama when he’s not being moody. He’s a warm body who knows how to use it and you’re a good type of relief, as he’d said; there’s really not much more you need as you just try to survive through life and make something out of yourself in however way you can. 

Hajoon waves at you from his seat, gesturing to his left to say he’s saved that spot for you. You head there after greeting your other friends, with Jimin and Soomin following you. 

Right as you sit down and greet the man next to you, you’re caught by surprise when he kisses your cheek and snakes his arm around your waist. 

“Hey, I missed you today,” Hajoon hums, smiling at you the way he did last night and this morning; it definitely wasn’t this sweet when he left for a work trip last month.  

“I… saw you today,” you frown, earning you a chuckle. 

“I know; I was still thinking about you, though,” he says. 

You give a smile - as genuine as you can make it - and then turn towards your friends to your left who are trying to hold in their laughter. 

You order a beer after he offers you a glass of wine, and then go for the pork belly when he says the salmon here is good. 

“Just craving for meat, that’s all,” you tell him. 

“Is there anything else you want? Just let me know, okay?”

You hum your yes and then turn back to your friends after Hajoon makes jokes with his.

“Since when was he this sweet to you?” Soomin whispers with wide, curious eyes. 

“Since never,” you reply. “I mean, we’ve never been affectionate outside of bed…”

“Is anything else different?” Jimin wonders, careful not to bring attention to your conversation.

You look back at how things were before Hajoon left and how it was when he was away. Nothing seemed different. You hung out at his place before he flew out, then you messaged each other every now and then during the one month he was abroad. He was more interested to talk, but given the time difference and the pressure and stress you’ve been under the past weeks, you didn’t bother much, neither did he. 

But you also think back to last night - how he picked you up from your apartment, which he’s never done before, and how he prepared a luxurious dinner. He made you breakfast this morning, too, whereas you both usually just sleep in in tangled limbs and then separate once you wake up.

“He cooked me fancy stuff but I just thought he wanted to show off what he learned during his cooking masterclass,” you shrug. “And well… he seemed sweeter than normal.”

“Maybe he hooked up with someone while he was away and he’s guilty about it,” Jimin suggests.

“He didn’t say anything about it and he knows I wouldn’t mind,” you say. “We’re not exclusive, even if I don’t hang out with other guys.”

“Maybe he’s over the fucking and wants to do the loving bit now,” Soomin offers. “I mean, he always seemed more into you than you were into him.”

“He’s hot and decent when he’s in a good mood; that’s all I need,” you admit. 

“But honestly, that’s probably it,” Soomin continues. “I think he’s hinting that he wants to be more.”

“But I don’t want to,” you whine. “I’m not ready.”

“You’re 30! When are you ever gonna be ready?” Soomin whisper-yells.

“Never!” You pout now. “I mean… Not with him.”

“Well, you’re gonna have to tell him soon, then,” Jimin sighs. “Before it gets messy. And you hate messy.”

“What if men just don’t have feelings?” Soomin wonders out loud. “That way, you can’t hurt them.”

“So that way, they can hurt you?” Jimin points out. “No. I’m not letting any men hurt either one of you, okay? I love you both too much.”

“We know,” you and Soomin say at the same time. 

“But I agree with Jimin, ___. You’re gonna have to let that man next to you, who’s thankfully deaf, go. And then just find another person who can give you what you need,” Soomin continues. “Like, uh…” 

She looks around the semi-packed restaurant to find some random man to just point to, her eyes widening in awe as she spots a table close by with the type of men she was just thinking about. 

“Like them.” 

You laugh at her, not taking her seriously, but still, you look towards the direction of her cocked head, only to feel your throat dry up and your heartbeat speed up. Your eyes widen in reflex as they meet the piercing gaze of the man who’d given you a headache for weeks. He also happens to look unfairly handsome in his white top and slicked back hair. 

“Shit, I would totally go for them,” Soomin adds, “and I only even like men a quarter of the time.”

Your best friends look at you as they wait for a response, only to see a nervous look on your face, as if you’re seeing a ghost or something, and the way you turn to them and stutter almost seems like you are.

From the other table, Jungkook pants quietly. You finally looked his way, and he didn’t know what to expect your reaction to be - maybe a bit of shock, but definitely not this worried. Granted, you’re out with your friends at a restaurant that he and his friends frequent. It’s not the type of place they’d normally go for - this is a lot simpler, less private, and more accommodating than the exclusive restaurants and hotels they go to for dinners before heading to a club. But Jungkook loves their pork belly; he orders it every week, and tonight, he was craving for this specifically before going to a private party of one of Taehyung’s clients. 

Jungkook had seen you when you sat down, and he’d been taken aback when the guy to your right immediately kissed your cheek; it seems he’s barely let go of your waist since then, too. Perhaps the man is your boyfriend - and Jungkook doesn’t know what made him think you wouldn’t have one - but it also seems that the one to your left is into you, too, at least based on how he smiles at you sweetly but rolls his eyes at the affectionate guy to your other side. 

But other than the embarrassing obvious affection that both of them are directing at you, what made him lose his senses is how you look, and you’re even more beautiful than he imagined. Your hair is styled, your makeup is bolder than usual, and he won’t even start with how you’re dressed. It’s a lot more skin than he’s used to - you’re out, after all, and if he’ll go by what your companions are wearing, he supposes this is your stop before heading to some club to party, too. Whereas when you’re at work, you have the skirt and long-sleeved blouse ensemble that you wear everyday - still pretty, perhaps just a lot more reserved than what he’s seeing now. 

He can’t take his eyes off you, even as you entertain your suppose-boyfriend, even when you engage in hushed conversation with the man and woman to your left, and even when you stare back at him, the initial shock now wearing down to a look of curiosity. Perhaps you’re wondering why he keeps glancing at you, too.

“I told you he’s got it bad,” Taehyung laughs from the other side of the table. 

He’s noticed how his friend hasn’t said much in the last 10 minutes, his gaze directed at the loud table close by. One glance and Taehyung knew why. 

“Well, we told him,” Seokjin corrects. “He only ever acts out when he’s threatened and he’s apparently threatened by his pretty assistant.”

“I’m not acting out,” Jungkook scowls, finally breaking the staring contest with you.

“You’ve never been this much of a jerk,” Seokjin says. “So yes, you’re acting out.”

Jungkook ignores them, his eyes turning back to you, and finds you downing two shots of tequila consecutively, then using the beer as your chaser. His knuckles unconsciously clench when your suppose-boyfriend scoots closer, whispering something in your ear, his lips grazing your skin. 

Jungkook exhales deeply, trying to get a grip of himself. He’s acting foolishly. You obviously have a life outside of work, and it obviously includes going out for dinner and drinks with friends, having a boyfriend, and enjoying your youth the way he is. There’s a world outside of the routine you’ve both created, of the silence you both share, and the time you spend together, unknowingly learning about each other without meaning to, without wanting to.

“___,” Soomin calls your name one more time. 

“Huh?” You answer, finally tearing your eyes away from Jungkook, who’d unfortunately captured your attention after you noticed he was there. 

You’ve been used to his impeccable looks in his fancy suits; you’ve even gotten used to his tank top and sweatpants post-workout outfits every morning, and while you’re still not immune to that look, his night out wear fit for a party leaves you more choked up than normal. 

Maybe it’s the black jeans that you spot as he sits on the edge of the couch, or the white button-up top with the rolled sleeves up to his elbow, or his haircut that makes him look a little more mature. Maybe it’s all that and the way he’s gazing at you, the look in his eyes something you can’t quite read. Perhaps like you, he’s surprised to see you here the way you’re shocked that he’d chosen this place to eat; it’s not exactly a fancy restaurant you know he likes eating at. 

But he’s here, and so are you, and suddenly you feel exposed, as if the world outside of work that you’ve kept to yourself is baring open to the man who stands at the center of what you do everyday. And you’re not sure how you feel about that.

“I was just saying… those men are pretty hot and they look interested, too,” Soomin wiggles her eyebrows. “ I mean, they keep looking here.”

“One of them is my boss,” you finally say. “Guy on the right. That’s… uh, that’s Jungkook.”

“Holy fuck, hun,” Soomin chokes on her drink. “Why did you leave out the part about your rude boss being a fucking god?”

“Does it matter?” Jimin scowls. “He’s still rude.”

“It’s different when the guy’s hot. It makes the anger more intense, you know?” Soomin says. “Attractive people elicit more passionate feelings sometimes.”

“Excuse me, that’s not why I was angry,” you pout. “He was really being unfair.”

“Well, he was. But I think my point also applies,” Soomin argues. “I’d just like to warn you that workplace hotties are a menace. Except for Yoongi - he was heaven sent. ”

“Ah, the man who could’ve been,” Jimin sighs. “We at least knew he wouldn’t hurt you. He didn’t seem like the type.”

“Yeah, this dude over here is hot but he’s mean. And that’s your type,” Soomin smirks.

“Can we… not talk about this while he’s there? And while this other dude is right next to me?” You glare at your friends, especially at Soomin whose insinuation wasn’t lost on you. “It’s so… weird.”

“Hey, we’re here for you, okay?” Jimin softens as he looks at you. “Just let us know if one of them makes you feel uncomfortable. We can always just stay at your place and watch horror movies until morning and you and Soomin can lose your voices from screaming and then I’ll lose my hearing because of it.”

His words make you laugh. There’s a tenderness in Jimin that you’ve never heard from anyone else before. Even when he’s telling you to stop yelling because you live for the thrill of a jumpscare, he says it so tenderly while laughing before pulling you both in his embrace. 

“I’m okay. I’m just… I don’t know, probably just not used to seeing him somewhere that isn’t the office or his home,” you reason. “And I feel a bit exposed, I guess. This is my world and his is… right there.”

You wrap your arms around your body subconsciously, realizing only you’d done it when Jimin asks if you’re cold, offering his jacket then taking it back because Hajoon might smack him or something.

You turn it down, knowing you actually feel hot more than anything. You’re dressed up and definitely dressed in less, and somehow having Jungkook see you like this is oddly making you shy, perhaps a little too conscious.

“Just don’t mind him,” Soomin advises. “It’s a restaurant. You obviously have a social life and he can’t fault you for it, nor make you feel weird about it. Just focus on us, okay? Or on Hajoon, if that’ll happen.”

You follow her words and try to block out Jungkook. You do slightly nod at him, as well as at Taehyung and Seokjin just to acknowledge their presence, but you continue on with your meal, as the dishes arrive soon after. 

The pork belly is a winner; you’ll probably come back here for that alone. You do manage to dodge Hajoon’s attempts at feeding you, and your other friends engage with the three of you at the other end of the table. It’s going well for the most part, until Hajoon starts to act a little wary, a little tense.

“Hey,” he says, leaning close to you. “The guy on the other table has been looking at you all night. It’s kinda annoying.”

You glance at Jungkook’s table and he looks away when you do. “Oh, just don’t mind him,” you wave Hajoon off. “Maybe I remind him of someone or something.”

There’s a beat of silence, and you feel him tense even more, as you look up and see that he’s staring down the man on the other side. Hajoon’s had a bit to drink, and you know he tends to be cocky and irrational when he is. You groan once he shakes his head, saying he’s gonna give “that stranger” a piece of his mind because “he can’t be looking at my girl like that.”

The initial annoyance you feel turns into panic once he stands from his seat and storms to the other table. You follow him, with your friends just looking in worry. His friends are more encouraging of what he wants to do though. 

“What the fuck is your problem staring at my girl like that?” Hajoon mumbles, acting all tough when he’s never threatened nor confronted anyone like this, even when he’s drunk. 

Jungkook seems taken aback. Perhaps it’s the aggression he didn’t expect, or maybe it’s finally having to acknowledge your presence in the restaurant, just in an unfortunate way. 

“Your girl?” He scoffs. 

The way the man is speaking to him is quite annoying, but he also knows your boyfriend is slightly drunk, so he dismisses him because Jungkook doesn’t need this drama tonight, especially not in front of you. 

Hajoon hates the way this stranger is looking at him and not taking him seriously. He’d seen how he kept glancing at you, perhaps trying to get your attention away from him, and he’s really had enough. His words are slurring but this is the courage he needs to stand up for you. You’ve said before how unwanted attention makes you uncomfortable, and he’s gonna do something about it before the man gets to try anything with you. 

“Yeah, my girl. You seem to have a problem with that, don’t you?” Hajoon grunts. 

“My only problem is you making a scene right now,” Jungkook shakes his head. “You’re drunk and insecure and you’re embarrassing yourself in front of your girl.”

Not that you expected him to back off, but you didn’t actually think that Jungkook would further press Hajoon’s buttons. The man is drunk and insecure and indeed embarrassing, but getting told so is a blow to the ego, especially in your presence. And so you’re not surprised that this just makes him angrier, and since you’ve never dealt with this version of him before, you don’t know how to pacify him.

You didn’t actually think that Hajoon had a daring bone in his body despite being the way he is, but when he attempts to lunge at Jungkook, you’re left in disbelief. You’re quick enough to pull Hajoon back before he lands a fist on the other man’s face, but he’d been worked up enough that he hits the glass of wine on the table, knocking it over and causing the drink to spill on Jungkook’s thin white top. 

“Mr. Jeon!” You shriek, pulling Hajoon back more forcefully before pushing him to the side so you can get ahead. 

You take the napkin from the table and wipe Jungkook’s wet clothed torso, slowing down immediately as you realize what exactly it is you’re doing. 

“I… uh,” you stutter, standing straight up and mirroring his questioning eyes. 

It was a reflex for you, considering that you constantly make sure that he’s dressed impeccably. 

“You know him?!” Hajoon asks in disbelief, tugging on your hand now so you’ll turn to him.

“He’s my boss, you idiot!” smacking him on the chest as you glare at him. “And you just put my job in jeopardy and for what?”

“Well, what can he do?” Hajoon challenges. “Get you fired because of me? Does he own the company and shit?”

“My father does,” Jungkook responds. “And I’m the Vice President.”

Hajoon just rolls his eyes but you aren’t amused. You glance at your table and gesture for one of his friends to take him, so one of them does. He stands up and pulls Hajoon away before he can do or say anything else.

“I’m so, so sorry, Mr. Jeon,” you say, your head bowed down as you apologize. “I…” 

The mess on his outfit is too much; the red has stained the white top and you know he feels sticky. He looks like he has somewhere to go after this and that makes it worse.

“I– I can call Mr. Ri to get the car in here. I can get extra clothes from your travel bag,” you say, knowing that Jungkook always has a bag filled with clothes for emergency flights or check-ins. 

You get your phone and make a call, telling Jungkook that his chauffeur will be here soon. You glance towards your friends who are still pacifying a drunk Hajoon, and you decide that they can handle all that. Right now, your priority is Jungkook.

You walk out towards the car that’s on hazard mode outside the restaurant and pick out the top that’s most appropriate for a night out, which happens to be a semi-loose black button-up. You head back inside, with Taehyung and Seokjin informing you that Jungkook has gone to the washroom, so you scurry towards there and knock at the door.

“Mr. Jeon, I have your black long sleeves here,” you say as your knuckles tap on the wood. “Just tell me–” 

You’re interrupted by the sudden opening of the door, the sight of Jungkook in his jeans hanging by his waist and his unbuttoned white top catching you by surprise. His hair’s a bit damp and so is his bare torso, as you see that he’s tried to clean the wine off his body. 

You catch yourself looking longer than you should, and you immediately look away as you hand him over what he needs. 

“Please let me know what else you need, sir,” you say, your eyes glued to the pretty wallpaper as you awkwardly stand outside the washroom. 

“Jungkook,” he says, earning him a curious look. “I mean, you don’t need to be formal. We’re not at work.”

You nod, realizing it does sound weird to address him as such in a casual setting. 

“Okay… Jungkook,” you mumble, but even the way it rolls off your tongue is a bit odd. You’re not used to it, and you hope you won’t ever be. 

He closes the door and you take this time to calm yourself down. You’ve been so worried since you saw the glass tip over and mess up his outfit, and given his hot-headedness, you’re a little surprised that he didn’t fight back. He does have a reputation to uphold but even then, stopping himself from punching Hajoon must’ve taken a lot. 

The door opens and you sigh in relief; his outfit still looks good and he’s fully clothed, so there’s no lingering looks this time anymore. You take the top that he gives you, and you take the chance to apologize.

“I’m so sorry,” you start. “I don’t know why he— I mean, he’s a bit drunk and he’s not usually like this.”

“You’re not the one who should apologize so don’t,” he responds. 

“Well, he won’t apologize so I will.”

“You didn’t spill the drink and you didn’t come at me. That was him,” he counters. 

You just shrug, choosing to just concede. “I’ll just return this to Mr. Ri.”

He calls your name before you turn around to leave. 

“I didn’t mean to cause a rift between you and your boyfriend,” he says, much too low and too gentle than you’re used to. “I hope I didn’t ruin anything.”

“He’s not my boyfriend,” you answer softly. “We just, uh, we just hang out.”

You don’t know why you feel the need to correct this misinformation. Maybe you just want to remind yourself because you’re not anyone’s anything; hearing Hajoon claim you as yours made you want to just create that distance even more.

Jungkook wants to push it, to ask more. The man clearly acts like he’s your lover, given the physical affection and the way he tried to stand up for you. But there’s a bit of shame as you state that you and the man “just hang out,” and there’s that wonder he feels - how can you be with someone without being with them, and if turning away people who are clearly into you is a tendency you have. There’s Min Yoongi, after all, who’d liked you enough to remain as your friend when you needed one despite how he felt.  

“Okay then,” Jungkook nods. “And your job’s not in jeopardy. Don’t take responsibility for a stupid act you didn’t do.”

You bow in thanks, not much used to this side of him that’s understanding and even calm. You suppose he’d seen you worry about your job, had seen you look embarrassed over something that you didn’t even do, and perhaps he saw the discomfort over how Hajoon was talking about you. 

You’re about to walk out of the hallway when his call of your name stops you again, prompting you to turn around.

“About earlier… did I… did I make you feel uncomfortable?” He asks, the worry in his voice surprising you. 

You debate over playing it down or telling the truth, but you go with the latter. 

“A… a little,” you admit, looking away. 

You hear him sigh, and there’s a look of guilt in his eyes as you turn to him. 

“I’m so—”

The footsteps of another diner in the hallway disrupts him, and you both make way so he can use the washroom, too. Perhaps you and Jungkook had taken so long, and you don’t want others to conspire about what’s happening, so you walk out and tell him again that you’ll just return his clothing to Mr. Ri. 

From your table, Soomin and Jimin watch the awkwardness of your parting of ways, with you scurrying out the door and Jungkook returning to his seat with a deep sigh before glaring at Hajoon.

“He does sound and look like an asshole, aside from being hot,” Soomin observes. “That’s totally ___’s type.”

“Are you saying she likes her boss?” Jimin asks incredulously. 

“I’m just saying that’s her type, not that she likes him,” Soomin corrects. “There’s a difference. I still hate him for making things hard for her. I wish he would stop treating her like that. You and I know she won’t quit anytime soon. Especially because he’s a Jeon.”

“I know,” Jimin sighs. “I wish we could protect her from all this, too. But she’s always done what she wanted to do. And we wait for her to tell us when things are hard; we just hold her hand whenever it is.”

“That’s all we can do, I guess,” Soomin responds. “Sometimes though I wish she’d just… let someone else do more than just hold her hand, you know? It could’ve been Yoongi, or even Hajoon before all this mess. It could’ve been you.”

“You know that’ll never happen,” Jimin laughs bitterly, with Soomin knowing exactly what he means. “You’re only ever just her friend or her lover; you can’t be both.”

Soomin hums in agreement, as she’d seen you draw the line with the men you’d come across with. You’d make it clear if friendship is all you want; you’d be straightforward if it’s just sex you’re seeking. You give either just your heart or your body and you’re always careful not to give both. There are parts of you that you don’t want to share, that you don’t want to expose to them; there’s a kind of hurt that you don’t want to experience. 

They watch you walk back inside and then head to their table, where you sit next to a buzzed Hajoon who still has half a mind to look at you guiltily. 

“I think I’ll head back home after this,” you tell the group. “Kinda not in a partying mood anymore.”

Your other friends apologize on Hajoon’s behalf, proceeding to ask you if that was really your boss and if he’d threatened your job because of it, remarking that it would be such an asshole move of him to do that or to even get mad at you for something you didn’t do. 

You come to Jungkook’s defense; he didn’t say anything to that effect at all. Perhaps you’d been the unfair one who assumed that he would - that he’d demand that you apologize, that he’d use this against you. 

“He’s… not like that,” you say, meaning it. You turn to your best friends who have disagreeing looks. “He… he tried to apologize for making me feel uncomfortable,” you say softly. “No one’s ever done that before.”

“Look, ___,” Hajoon starts, but you cut him off. 

“I don’t really wanna talk about it,” you sigh. “I’ll just pay my bill and head out.”

You, Soomin, and Jimin all pay accordingly and then leave the restaurant, with you turning to Jungkook and his friends, bowing as a form of goodbye.

“Hey, why don’t we buy desserts at a convenience store and have our own party at your place?” Jimin suggests as you all settle in his car. 

“That would be nice,” you hum. “This outfit wouldn’t be such a waste then.”

So that’s what you do, as your best friends treat you to all the snacks you love - a usual occurrence, really, as they used to do that back in Busan to cheer you up during the days when you were feeling sad. It’s one of the things that you allow them to spoil you with and they take advantage of that, as you go home with weeks’ worth of goods for you to enjoy.

You also picked up some drinks on the way, so you play some music and dance around with your wine glasses and take shots in between. It’s too early to be drunk but 11PM might as well be 3AM. You’re all seated snugly in your tiny couch as you watch some variety show on mute, laughing at the hosts' antics even if you can’t hear anything. 

“Tonight wasn’t so bad,” you huff, leaning on Soomin’s shoulder as you doze off. “Both of you are all I need. Thank you for never disappointing me.”

They know you don’t always let yourself be this sentimental. They also know that when you do, all you want is for them to listen and to hold you. And that’s what they do, as you eventually clean up and fall asleep on the mattress with them, the events from earlier slowly fading away.

Series Masterlist

Permanent Taglist: @sherlynxx @di0rgguk @thequeen-kat​ @fan-ati--c  @cravingforhotchocolate​ @adoraminie​ @helenazbmrskai @weasleyswizarding-wheezes @gukssunshine​ @kookxin​ @petuliii @yoursthv​ @libra04​ @fancycollectormoon​ @twixxxpie @ignoretheskies @ohmydarlin-g @bids97 @minyoongiboongi @main-bangtansmauyeondan @bora-bae7 @investedreader @petalsofink @jvngkooker @stopeatread

Series Taglist: @xhazmania @ash07128 @rinkud @junniesoleilkth @junecat18 @peachytokki @baechugff @coralmusicblaze @jalexad @pamzn @hoseoksluv89 @familiarlikemymirror3 @kookies-n-spice @hyuneyeon @thisartemisnevermisses @jk97bam @nadzzzblog @xyarinx @megnugget98 @shameless-army @jkslvsnella @lvr2seok @nayashalouiseburrows @peterstarkchrishiddleston

[leaderwonim]

꒰ 사랑𝐒𝐀𝐑𝐀𝐍𝐆: 𝐩𝐚𝐫𝐤 𝐬𝐮𝐧𝐠𝐡𝐨𝐨𝐧. 🫀

002: she fell in front of her sunbaenim 🤓

It wasn’t until a week later that you met the other actors and actresses in the film.

Your manager, Hongseok, had cleared pretty much your entire schedule so the rest of PRISM was out promoting while you were waiting awkwardly at the film studio, straightening out your white skirt and thinking of what to say to Sunghoon.

After all, you did kind of audition for Belift as a joke. You were really into Enhypen and Newjeans, so you sent in your singing and dancing tape thinking you weren’t going to get picked anyway. You did, though.

“Hi, sorry I’m late!” The all too familiar Australian accent pops out of nowhere, and your breathing is 10 times rapid knowing exactly who it belonged to. Pham Hanni from Newjeans.

“No worries!” You say, almost choking on the piece of bread you were taking a bite out of. “Greetings sunbaenim!”

You bow but Hanni shakes her head quickly, “ah.. no need. I read your profile, you’re a year older than me, so if anything, I should be the one saying the formalities.”

You don’t get to say anything else before the Park Sunghoon and Kim Gyuvin walk in.

Oh my God. You internally think. You almost have to hold back from fainting because how the hell are you in the presence of Hanni, Gyuvin, and Sunghoon at the same time?!

“This is our main cast,” the director says, who your manager has told you to refer to as Director Jung. “We have a few more idols but they’ll be in and out between episodes.”

The four of you nod, you suddenly feeling so small when in the same room as your talented sunbaenims.

“Today is just introduction and get to know each other day since I know this was probably brought up upon you guys suddenly and it can seem overwhelming and uncomfortable.” Director Jung smiles, showing off his bright white teeth.

“The drama is a romance one, kind of like an American coming to age except Korean, you know? It’s called Parallel Love. The main character, Baek Yunhee is played by Yoon Y/N as you all know.” He then points towards your direction, making the other 3 idols all turn their attention to you. “Yunhee’s love interest is Min Suho, played by Park Sunghoon. The reason I chose the two of you was because you were exactly how I pictured Yunhee and Suho visually and I feel like you would astound me and the viewers with your acting.”

Your eyes subtly peek at Sunghoon, who looks absolutely glorious despite his messy hair and tired eyes. The engene inside of you screamed, but you masked it by biting the inside of your cheek.

“Now, the main female antagonist is Choi Sanghee, which will be played by Pham Hanni. The main male antagonist is Park Wooseok, played by Kim Gyuvin. Sanghee and Wooseok are somewhat love interests, but they’re also Yunhee and Suho’s biggest rivals.”

The rest of Director Jung’s words went from one of your ear and out another as he kept speaking, your vision instead focused on Park Sunghoon.

“Alright, that’s all I have to say! Any questions?”

There’s a few murmurs but no one says anything, so Director Jung hands the four of you individual scripts that were so thick you could slap a person with it.

“It’s time to take the poster photos so let’s get to work guys. Don’t disappoint me.”

Way to not pressure an idol who’s life is already hectic, you think.

synopsis. you’re a newly debuted girl group under belift, and in order for your group to gain more popularity, your ceo offered you the lead role in a new romance kdrama. this all seems great, so what’s the problem? well, for starters, your co star is your senior, park sunghoon from enhypen, and he doesn’t seem too happy about being in a romance drama. especially when your fans have started to ship the two of you!

masterlist | previous | next

taglist ( is open ) @isawritesss @rodygr @wonifullove @mrchweeee @nyfwyeonjun @yizhoutv @cupkiki @rikizm @jiaant11 @woninluv @brachioanton @seunnimg @jongseongslvr @luvswonyoung @laylasmother @akuspic @haechansbbg @haerinsii @mnxnii

[1moreff-creator]

If Min had lived past CH1, where do you think her character could potentially go?

What do you mean if? /j

That depends a lot on the context of her survival, frankly. Does she still see Xander's attempt to murder Teruko and just... survive somehow? Does something else save Teruko and Xander dies without Min being the blackened? Does Xander die before the attempt? Or are the CH1 victim and killers completely swapped? If so, who are the new ones? All of these lead to pretty different possibilities for Min's character. But there's still a couple of things that could have been interesting to see.

Yay an excuse to ramble about Min! :,D

For starters, my guess is that she'd be decent enough in trials; at the very least, she'd act as third brain cell alongside Teruko and Charles. She'd definitely have joined Charles and Levi in talking about how strong jockeys are, for example. Also my heart says she'd have been in the Teruko Teaher CG in some way, such as an teacher's assistant.

Her secret would have also been a hell of a time. Assuming the two CH1 deaths still had each others' secrets, someone must have had Min's, which would have certainly been... honestly indescribable. It just depends too much on who exactly gets it.

However, "You always treated the competition with ruthlessness, but poisoning them to win was a bit far, wasn't it?" would have certainly been an excuse to bring the XF-Ture backstory to light, and combined with MonoTV's own XF-Ture comment, I'm pretty sure hell would have followed. Just complete pandemonium; the poisoner has ties to the same company that seems to be connected to the killing game, yeah everyone's gonna start calling mastermind and shit's gonna hit the fan.

I could see a world where the cast in CH3 becomes completely divided over the Extremely Suspicious Min, with Eden for example being one of the ones to stick up for her (baking squad I will always miss you). I could also see Rose doing it (baking squad I will always miss you), because they could bond over the companies ruling over their respective lives, so Rose would trust that Min had nothing to do with the other shit XF-Ture had going on. Hell, since I'm talking about it, Min would have probably also tried to cheer Rose up about the tape thing, because of her whole "mistakes are to be corrected" thing (BAKING SQUAD-)

And all that means Min would have quite an interesting reaction to Eden or Rose dying, and vice versa. No ship shall remain undoomed in DRDT, after all!

On the other hand, holy shit the beef between her and David. The guy that's always defending the son of a bitch who tried to kill Teruko? Xander, the one Min always disliked anyways? It would be basically on the same level as Teruko's beef with David, which would be a sight to see. Throw in Xander surviving too, and you have the ultimate Yaoi vs Yuri throw down on your hands.

But a lot of this is character interactions, what about Min herself? Well, I imagine she'd grow into reaching similar conclusions to Bonus Episode 1, about what she'd like to do in the future and being a teacher, especially since I imagine the trials would be made in a way that her talent would help so she'd gain more confidence in her abilities. Obviously all of this development would happen right before she dies, or right before the final trial if she's a survivor.

Yes, even though I'm immensely biased when I say this, I think Min could have worked as a survivor. In a very similar way I think Rose could be a survivor now; experience horrors beyond imagination, and slowly get better until the point they're willing to fight their fates (aka company contracts) by the time they leave the killing game, paralleling Teruko's own growth. For Min, those horrors wouldn't be photographic memory, getting betrayed and (presumably at some point) watching close friends like Eden die. Rather, they would be losing everyone's trust between the poison secret and the XF-Ture thing, having some breakdown over mistakes in trials (again similar to Rose), worrying that she'd die before her life really began, and... watching Eden die. In case it isn't obvious, I really miss the damn baking squad T_T

Also, the poison secret (god this post's structure is a mess). I haven't been talking much about it because we're actually missing quite a few details. I've talked before about how I imagine she likely non-lethally poisoned people after the Ultimate Contest for Eminent Students (or asked someone from XF-Ture to do it for her), but obviously that's speculation. That's important because, for example, I don't know how much the actual lethality of the situation would affect the way Miss Anti-Murder Preacher J would react to it, even though I imagine she'd be pretty pissed no matter what. Veronika would be all over Min for the details though.

Her reaction to Levi and Arturo's secrets would have been cool to see. Arturo doing anything for a better life would probably get her to feel sympathy for him, at least, and again depending the lethality of her poisoning, she probably wouldn't be able to really hold it against him without hypocrisy.

Speaking of Arturo, do we think Min would make a good doctor's assistant? She was reading an anatomy textbook in her introduction. Maybe helping Arturo take care of Levi after Trial 2 would be the start of her becoming more confident in her abilities.

Also she'd be real good friends with Charles. No elaboration on this, I just know it in my heart to be true.

One dynamic I'd like to see is with Hu. If Hu learns about Min's past, and Min's desire to leave it all behind (as per the pinned comment in Bonus Episode 1, Min is "Someone who wants to move on from the past"), I could see her reaching out as someone who also has a past she'd rather pretend doesn't exist. There would certainly be a good deal of character development for both of them, just in time for one of them to die of course. Incidentally, the whole "moving on from the past" thing could rope in Veronika as well..

And I could probably ramble about this forever. To be extremely fair, all DRDT characters have so much depth and there's so many interconnected themes all over the place that I could do this for any of them; go on ad infinitum about all the possibilities for growth and exploration that their interactions with the cast and the motives could provide. So I'll cut myself off there.

(I will also add as an observation that (because I'm predictable) I have considered writing a "Min survives CH1" canon divergence fanfic before. Don't count on it happening, just know it can)

Thanks for the ask! Always happy to have an excuse to ramble about my girl :,)

[days-until-burnout]

Day 65 -

Characters - Etho & Joel Words - 802 Time - 30 mins Content - Pokemon AU

"Eefo, Eefo, Eefo."

The boy looked up as his name was called, unsurprised to see his neighbor, the boy he basically grew up beside, running to him. His brown hair was a mess, the same Starly nested on his head.

Etho rolled his eyes as Joel stopped in front of him, Starly rearranging on his head, "Hi, Joel."

Joel tilted his head, Starly tilting too, even sliding down a little. "What's that?"

Etho looked at him, then down at the pokemon he was on a walk with—or, well, currently taking a break on the grass with. He smiled, placing a hand on its little head, reassuring it of the 'stranger'.

"Happiny. It hatched this morning."

Joel crouched down, pouting as he crossed his arms with a little huff. "Why didn't you call me over? I wanted to see."

"You wouldn't have woken up anyways."

"I would have if I had known!"

Happiny let out a little cry at the raised voice, hurriedly running behind Etho, holding onto his shirt as it trembled. Etho gave Joel an unimpressed look, and the other boy replied with a sheepish look. Joel sat down and Starly flapped down, landing in between them, carefully tucking its wings close as it trilled.

"Hi, Starly," Etho greeted as the little bird walked over, stretching its neck to meet his hand. He noticed its feathers were a little messy, but looking over at a disheveled Joel soothed his worries. "Training?"

"Hm?" Joel startled, almost surprised to be acknowledged again, which did make Etho laugh at his expense. That made Joel fluster, a little annoyed now.

"I asked if you went training."

He shook his head, "Just played a bit in the forest."

"I don't think your parents would be happy to hear."

"And you won't tell them, of course," Joel said, with such vindication Etho almost went to agree. Except Etho did not, and Joel continued. "Not like we fought any pokemon. We saw some, though."

At that, Joel hurriedly got up to sit beside him, now shoulder to shoulder as he pulled his camera out of his pocket. He clicked it on then began showing the photos he had taken. They were from different angles—some from bushes, at the base of trees, looking up, looking down, distantly in the river, all the spots they knew like the back of their hands.

"Is that a Kakuna?" Etho asked, pushing into Joel's side at one particular photo. Joel pressed the back button, zooming in a little.

"Yeah. It was empty."

"How do you know it was empty?"

Joel looked sheepish again as Starly chirped, something proud that gave Joel away. Etho looked at him unamused again, watching Joel look down, a light pink growing on his cheeks. He rolled his eyes, then they hunkered down to look at more photos until they reached ones they had taken together.

In the meantime, Happiny had relaxed a little, now that the only loud thing was their laughter and occasional bickering, enough that it got the courage to walk around, climbing onto Etho's lap. Starly did the same once Joel put the camera down, nesting in his crossed legs as it began to groom itself.

"One more year," Joel blurted suddenly.

It took a couple seconds, then Etho grinned when it clicked. He looked up, blue skies and white clouds, the sun bright as ever.

"One more year," he repeated.

Joel was practically buzzing with excitement beside him. And Etho could not lie, he was just as excited. In a year's time, they would both wake up and rush to the Professor's lab, pushing each other and giggling all the way there. They would pick their starters, get their very own Pokedex, and soon enough, their adventure would begin. All across the region, visiting countless places and encountering new people and new pokemon.

They could not wait.

Though they had to.

"I'm going to be stronger than you," Joel claimed, an air of certainty and confidence in his voice. Starly chirped after him, determination in its little body too.

"You wish," Etho huffed.

He watched him watching the clouds for a moment, then dropped his gaze to Happiny. The newborn looked up at him, then smiled. Bright and warm, and that only reignited the fire in him. Blazing—

Starly flapped its wings as Joel got up, settling in his head once again. Etho got up too, cradling Happiny in his arms.

"That's settled, then," Joel stated, giving him a fiery look with a familiar smile.

"What is?" Etho question, raising a brow in confusion.

Joel smiled wider. "We will be rivals."

Etho's eyes went wide for a second, then he returned that same look. Rivalry. Competition in their eyes.

They had their goal, now they just needed to wait a while longer.

_____

[Happiny on left, Starly on right] fun fact, i went on a pokemon random generator, and spent a good 10 mins rotating options because nothing sparked joy. took a while xD

first of, this has nothing to do with the prev pokemon au second of, uh, we back in business ig. well, depends if my brain decides to kick back into motion, but it should. unsurprisingly, doing reqs should be easier, since i dont have to think, but i find reqs more finnicky. either way, what will i offer tomorrow? original ideas? reqs? more pokemon au? who knows!

[farfromsugafanfic]

Rebound | Chapter One: Cherry Picking

Genre: College AU, Basketball Captain!Yoongi, Basketball Captain!Reader, Idiots to Lovers, slight Rivals to Lovers, Hurt/Comfort

Pairing: Yoongi/Reader

Rating: M

Chapter Warnings: break up, implied cheating, cursing/sexual language

Synopsis: You and Yoongi always catch each other on the rebound. Notes: The first chapter! Enjoy x

Series Masterlist | Next

vVv

You hated the days where the girl's basketball team was forced to practice with the boys. It meant that you'd have to deal with the smell of boy sweat, being blatantly checked out, and many of the guys making fools of themselves as they tried to show off. Not to mention, you didn't like giving away your plays to the boy's team. Sure, you all played for the same university, but with an even amount of championship wins, this year, the competition was between the boys and the girls and who would be able to bring home another title that year.

And, you'd caught the boy's captain, Min Yoongi watching you as you ran through plays with your team. However, it wasn't the glances like you were used to from the rest of his team, the ones that lingered over your body and left you feeling like you needed a shower. No, Yoongi was watching each step of your foot, each time you faked a pass, or threw a basket. He was learning from you, and that was completely unacceptable.

You and Yoongi has been playing together since you were in high school. Now, as seniors in college, it was both of yours last chance to earn a championship for your respective teams. You both had previous championship wins, but the boys and girls never won a championship in the same year. And, this year, it was going to be yours.

"Yah, Min Yoongi! Why don't you come down here and show off your own strategy instead of stealing mine?!"

"I wasn't stealing," he said. "I was admiring." A smirk crossed his face quickly, fading so quickly you weren't sure it had even been there at all. "But, fine. Come on boys, let's play some defense."

Yoongi called over his team and instructed his starters to get into their respective defensive positions. His eyebrow arched as he got into position in front of you, his stance low and his arms out. Yoongi was known for his defense, in fact, it had turned many games. If your offense could beat Min Yoongi, it could beat anybody.

"Captain on Captain," he said, his momentary smirk returning. "Let's make this interesting. Whoever loses has to stay and clean up. Both locker rooms."

You shrugged, you often stayed for hours after practice anyway, but the thought of having to clean the boy's locker room made you want to throw up. However, you agreed—not willing to back down—and waited for the coach to blow the whistle, signaling for you to begin.

You began dribbling the ball and headed towards the basket. Yoongi was right there with you, his chest less than an inch from you. You stopped and passed the ball to a teammate before booking it over to the side of the basket where she passed it back to you.

It was a fairly simple play--the ball only being passed between you two--unless for some reason either of you was otherwise occupied. It depended on your teammates moving around to keep their defenders busy while the two of you used the free space to your advantage.

Yoongi attempted to catch the pass, his fingertips connecting with the ball, but you managed to catch it and throw it up at the basket before he could get a grip. The ball bounced off the basket and rebounded in your direction.

Yoongi managed to catch the rebound and started dribbling down the court. You defended him, but he was faster than he looked. You managed to get in his face just as he shot the ball up towards the basket, but it didn't faze him and the ball sunk into the basket.

You cursed under your breath. You turned--attempting to retrieve the ball--and your ass rubbed against Yoongi's thigh and you could practically hear the smirk break out across his face.

The game continued fairly uneventfully. The boys were two points ahead due to a lucky three point shot. It was the last half of the final quarter and you had to do something. You carefully signaled to your team to do a play that involved passing the ball excessively before one of your teammates finally passes it back to you and you go for the three point shot. You could think of nothing sweeter than winning by one point.

The play went smoothly with the ball coming back to you. Yoongi had only left your side for a moment in an attempt to catch the pass back to you, but as he quickly discovered what you were planning, he lunged towards you. Attempting to stop the ball from its ascent, he had too much momentum and smacked right into you. The ball's ascent becoming much sharper and landing far short of the basket.

You--on the other hand--had fallen straight backwards. Luckily, your butt broke your fall and you rolled onto your side and curled into a ball, out of breath from the shock. You heard the whistle blown--indicating that Yoongi fouled you--and it brought you back to reality.

Everyone seemed to be asking if you were okay, in a flurry of questions that only made you feel dizzy. You simply offered a quick nod and made your way to the free throw line. You easily made the two free shots, tying up the game.

The whistle sounded. "Games over," the coach said. "Looks like the teams are pretty evenly matched." He nodded at you and Yoongi. He dismissed practice and you turned to look at Yoongi.

"So, I guess the bet's off? Since we tied? We'll each just clean our own?"

Yoongi shrugged. "I don't mind doing both. I didn't mean to hurt you."

You laughed. "I'm fine, Yoongi. You've seen me take worse falls."

"I know, it's just--I caused this one--"

"Well, if you really want to clean the girl's locker room, it's fine. Just text me first or something so I can make sure everyone's out."

vVv

You didn't register Yoongi's text as you sat underneath your office desk. Your legs pulled into your chest as you tried to steady your breaths. He had to have known you were in your office by now. He'd been at practice and was probably changing when he sent the simple text.

"I'm breaking up with you, Y/N."

You knew your now--ex-boyfriend had probably left already--probably already had another date lined up. God, you hoped it wasn't with one of the other girls on your team. Partially because of the awkwardness, but also, because every girl on your team deserved better than a boy who would break up through text.

You heard a hesitant knock on the door. You huddled down closer underneath your desk, hoping that if you could keep your sobs quiet enough, whoever it was would just go away.

"Anyone still in here?" you heard Yoongi ask, as he peeked into the empty locker in room. Your office was connected to the locker room, but the blinds on your window were closed and your door was closed. You pulled your legs as close as they could possibly get to your body and pressed your head into your knees, hoping Yoongi would clean and leave thinking simply that you'd left already.

You heard as he shuffled around the locker room picking up half drank water bottles and making sure all the locks were secure. Your sobs were building up in your chest and you feared you couldn't hold them back. You inhaled sharply, but the exhale came out shaky. You whimpered, trying to hold the tears back.

The nearly completely concrete room carried sound better than some music rooms and it was only a moment later the shuffling paused.

"Y/N?"

You stayed quiet, even forgetting to breath for a few moments. You weren't sure how he immediately knew it was you. Maybe it was because you were always known to stay after practice and do your homework or work on strategy, often not leaving until it was dark. Or, maybe you two had simply played long enough together he could tell you from the others on the team.

You phone vibrated, somehow reverberating off the walls. It was simply reminding you of Yoongi's unread text and you muttered a silent curse as you heard the shuffling stop once again.

"Y/N?" he asked again, this time approaching the door to your office.

You closed your eyes and tried not to notice how the light was suddenly blinding you, even with your eyes shut.

"Y/N, what are you doing down there?" he asked. "Wait, what happened?"

You opened your eyes and looked up at the boy who was crouched down in front of your desk and examining you with his frustratingly puppy like eyes.

"It's nothing," you said, crawling out from underneath your desk and leaning against it and crossing your arms. Yoongi followed you, standing up, but not leaving the room.

"It's not nothing," he said. "I haven't seen you cry this much since you broke your wrist at championships Freshman year."

"At least I made the shot though," you said, smiling for half a second before it faded.

"I-I didn't hurt you earlier, did I?"

You shook your head. "No, really, Yoongi, I'm fine. It's stupid."

Yoongi stood in silence, waiting for you to explain. He wasn't going to leave without an explanation or a fight, and you were too exhausted to argue with the boy. Normally, when you were grumpy, he was the first person you picked a fight with, but you hated him seeing you in your weakened state. And, you knew he would see through your attempts at trying to argue for what they were--trying to annoy him into leaving.

"Isn't Ji-yoo waiting for you?" you asked, your attempt at stalling causing him to sigh and release the tension in his shoulders. You knew mentioning his girlfriend was a sure fire way to piss him off, but the girl was sweet and a decent player. You honestly didn't want her to have to wait on your problems.

"Y/N, just tell me what happened. We've known each long enough. I'm not gonna tell any of the boys about this."

Your eyes shifted away from him and your hands gripped the desk, your knuckles turning white. You held back another sob that has built up during the conversation, feeling more pathetic than ever.

"Chan-woo broke up with me," you said. "He texted me a little before you did." The sob came out and you hid your face in your hands.

You felt Yoongi's body envelope yours. You immediately fell into his warmth, your face hiding in his black T-shirt. You could still smell his body wash and a small hint of a musky cologne. He'd obviously showered just after practice and you couldn't be more thankful as you took in his scent and you felt yourself relax against him and the desk.

"I'm sorry," he said, his voice soft and deep. It was the voice he used when he pitied you. His arm tightened around your back and you propped your chin on the center of his chest. He looked down at you, his free hand coming up to carefully brush some of your still damp hair from your face. "I know we're not really friends, but I don't like to see you upset. What happened to the Y/N from high school? You were the one breaking hearts then."

You scoffed and rolled your eyes playfully. "Like yours? Remember when you asked me to homecoming and I said no?" You dragged your fingertip over his chest and felt his gaze harden. Not maliciously, but enough to make you pause.

Your body tensed again under his gaze. His dark eyes looking at you in a way you couldn't describe. His gaze felt warm, but it was like sitting too close to a fire, the sparks began to burn.

"Yes," he said. "Yes, I do remember. I also remember driving you home after you got stood up that night."

You pulled away, losing his warmth was nearly painful, but you wiped your eyes, the tears having stopped spilling. The sobs were no longer in your throat, but you could still feel where they sat.

"Oh yeah," you said. "I, uh, forgot about that."

"I know you're upset, but you deserve better. You know that, right?"

"No, its okay. I know. He was a jerk, anyway, and I really should've seen this coming. I always saw the way he looked at the other girls on the team. I don't really know why I'm so upset about it. I know I shouldn't be cause he was probably cheating on me anyway, but--"

Yoongi's lips cut yours off. It caught you off guard, but your hands seemed to naturally gravitate towards his freshly washed and still half damp hair and your legs spread allowing him to come closer. His hands anchored to the desk on either side of your hips. The kiss was short, but heated, and when he pulled away you felt yourself yearning for him to come back.

"Stop talking about him," Yoongi said. "It'll make you feel worse."

"Yoongi, what was that?"

"You were rambling."

You couldn't help but let out a girlish giggle at his excuse. Yoongi's eyes seemed to soften when you laughed, but his posture was still tense, his hands still resting on either side of you, and his body still so much closer than you two got outside of the court.

"I never liked the way he talked about you in the locker room," he said, his head lowering slightly. His gaze falling from yours.

"Mmm, is that right? How'd he talk about me?"

Yoongi seemed surprised at your response, but his gaze shot back to yours. It had darkened though, from a look of concern to one of need.

"All the things he wanted to do to you," he said, his voice becoming raspy and breathless. You noticed his gaze slipping downward, although you had no idea where.

"Like what?"

Yoongi's right hand moved from the desk and onto your thigh, pushing up your basketball shorts slightly. His fingertips brushed the edge of your panties, but he didn't attempt to go any further.

"He wanted to fuck you on the court. Right at half court."

"Is that all?"

"Well, he was more specific, but I'll spare you the details."

Yoongi's face was dangerously close to your own, your foreheads nearly colliding.

"Don't guys talk about that stuff all the time?"

"Yeah, but it was different."

"Why?"

Yoongi knew you were baiting him, but as his fingers began to slowly massage the skin of your thigh, he seemed to care less.

"Cause it was about you."

"What makes me so different, Min Yoongi?"

He didn't answer the hair on his forehead tickling your skin.

"Is it cause you've known me so long I've become like a sister to you?"

"No," he said.

"Is it cause you have your own fantasies about me?"

Again, he didn't say anything, but he bit his lip and let out a shallow grunt that seemed to be in affirmation. "Just cause your glances are subtle, Yoongi, doesn't mean I don't notice."

His glance was less than subtle coming to rest at your lips and finally meeting your eyes full of something primal.

"What do you want to do to me, Yoongi?"

His lips brushed against the skin on your neck—testing the waters—and when your neck lulled back allowing him full access. He was eager and immediately his tongue came into contact with your skin and made you shiver.

"I want to fuck you on this desk," he said.

"Then, do it." One of your hands returned to his hair, while the other played with the hem of his T-shirt. "And, don't spare me any of the details."

Taglist:

@limiworld @wobblewobble822 @wmyoons @sarcasticsweetlara

Add yourself to the taglist

[fruitbasketball]

wnba recap 7/7

moment of silence for how good paige madison looked at that storm game bc ever since i seen that tennis chain i’ve been acting stupid

okay now time to lock in

atlanta dream vs connecticut sun

um exactly the outcome that is expected. didn’t even let them SNIFF a lead damn 😭 smoking them the whole game 💀

that being said - haley jones girl. 21 mins for 5 points and 3 pfs. baby. what would tara say??

bench production was okay. HENNY MINUTES don’t y’all dare play with her please bro 🙏🏽

omg db was ridiculously efficient btw. 7-11 fgp and 7-9 3pfg DAMNNNNN GIRL

also shoutout at for a slight little triple flirt - 7 points, 9 assists, 7 rebounds. LIV minutes bro 2-9 from the field is crazy liv bro please 😭😭 you too nai bro what the fuck is going on in connecticut

anyway uhhh good win! could’ve been better!

dallas wings vs. las vegas aces

aight we got a repeat of last year’s playoffs and it ended very similarly to last year’s playoffs! which is to say dallas got blown the fuck out.

this team is frustrating to watch. their post work is sloppy, and it’s clear that rike is overcompensating and chucking shots up MORE to make up for the fact that sa is out and maddy siegrist is out too.

that being said, natasha howard had a great game, and rike shot 4-11. lord i can’t do this anymore 💀

every single one of the vegas starters with a ridiculous +/- btw. +21, +26, +27, +22, +19 like hate the game not the player bc that’s a fun ass team to watch icl to y’all.

i only watched part of this game, and it was the part where dallas actually had the lead?? tf?? but then a’ja dropped a 28 point double on their heads and shit was wraps obviously. she also hit 3 three’s btw. if anyone was wondering. and she was 3-4. light work i guess 💀

good game kate martin - if anyone knows what that tech was for pls lmk!

chicago sky vs. seattle storm

LOLLLL admins were being sooooo messy about this 😭 “emphasis on you THOUGHT” good fucking bye

is it really a sky game if angel reese doesn’t get her double double??

yesss dana evans and diamond deshields give us nothingggg yesss!!!!

a double double for nneka, double double for ezi, and no minutes for nika muhl! none for nika muhl!

i kick my feet at everything jewell loyd does i love her so bad i could just faint but JORDAN HORSTON. call urself a lady vol one more time. 33 minutes without a single field goal made is ridiculous. do better.

phoenix mercury vs. los angeles sparks

TASH. CLOUD. 30 PIEEEEEEEECEEEE ‼️

KAHLEAH. COPPER. 25 PT DOUBLEEEEE ‼️

yeah nuff said about this game they were supposed to win (good game dearica) and they won does anyone know where dee went tho

god bless the phoenix mercury and their fine ass starters 😮‍💨

[thetombedspirit]

So, I just finished the main story of Avatar: Frontiers of Pandora - WARNING! SPOILERS AHEAD!

First off, I want to talk about the cons of the game before jumping into the pros, but to be honest with ya, the cons are few and far in between and were more about personal preference then the performance of the game itself.

For starters:

1. The Glitches - Like literally, during a few quests, there will be some dialogue, but it'll randomly cut out with the excuse that enemies are near by, when that is absolutely not the case. It was only so bad that I had to exit to the main menu and then get back on in order for it to fix, so this was minor in comparison to other glitches like falling through the map randomly (which happened to me once during my play through of Far Cry 4 :p)

2. The Language - This is just a little peeve of mine, but I wish that the Na'vi, at least when talking amongst themselves and to us, spoke in Na'vi. Like, if Ubisoft could record a whole 'nother language for Far Cry Primal, they could have done it here. And I also wish that the animals, especially the Palulukan, were referred to by it's Na'vi names rather then human names.

3. The Main Character's Name - This is minor really, but I don't like how we are not given a name. Like, I get that it's fun coming up with names for our original character, but it's a bit isolating to only be referred to as 'the Sarentu'.

Not only does it make it seem like our identity as a member of a respected clan matters more then our identity as our own complex individual, but it feels weird when you read notes and listen to audio logs about the other Sarentu kids and not one thing about us, especially when Alma talks about how they're acclimation to life in the Resistance. Like how we're developing doesn't matter at all in comparison to how Ri'nela is coming into the role of leader and Tsahìk.

Not even a mention of our relation to Aha'ri when she writes about her murder and how it could be affecting us.

Like, just a gender-neutral name to tie things in, like Dani in Far Cry 6, would go a long way to make our character feel like a part of the story and not just a nameless side character doing all the hard work, like the Rookie from Far Cry 5.

4. The Villain - This is more of a 'meh' thing for me. Like yeah, Mercer was an asshole, but again, pulling from Far Cry here, who had amazing, complex villains like Vaas Montenegro or Pagan Min, and what we get is... a entitled, racist narcissist whose barely there, and therefore we get zero from this guy. He was more annoying then anything, like literally every time he talk, my eyes rolled into the back of my skull.

Like, could you imagine if AFOP made Mercer like Pagan Min, the tyrant king of Kyrat who had a relationship with Ajay Ghale's mother to the point where he was sympathetic to the loss of his mother. Pagan Min would just randomly call Ajay on his radio like an eccentric father-figure, and in two endings of the game, he'll actually help you out, taking you to Lakshamana so that you can place your mother's ashes beside her, just like she wanted, which is very generous considering that in one of those endings, it's after you lead a massive rebellion right to his door-step, taking out his generals and so-on! (Pagan is my favourite Far Cry villain is you haven't figured that, Vaas is a close second)

If you gave Mercer that kind of depth, then maybe you can actually understand why Teylan would believe Mercer wouldn't hurt anybody when he gave the location of the Resistance Base away.

Harding as well was mediocre. Just a hard-as-nails general that's running a pouching operation on the side. Like, if you made her even a fraction of insane like you did Vaas, I could actually be into it.

So anyway, on to the pros!

1. The Gameplay - I know people moaned about the mechanics being too similar to Far Cry, but honestly, that was what drew me to it when I first saw the trailer for it! Far Cry is my favourite first-person shooter franchise (Far Cry 4 and Far Cry Primal being my favourites). The crafting of weapons, the hunting for food, skins and ingredients and the little things what made it unique was amazing to me,

The hunting was a pain, because half the time (for me anyway) I could almost never get a clean kill for the smaller or quick-moving animals, but I think it was done super well. When you hit an animal in the old Far Cry games, they either just drop dead or run away and bleed out quietly. But here, when it's an unclean kill, the animal squirms and writhes in pain before succumbing to it's wounds, really driving in the whole point of the Na'vi way of life (that's how I saw it anyway).

And the Memory Paintings, though tedious at most times, was another fun and unique mechanic to the game and felt very Na'vi to me and I enjoyed concentrating on them all and hearing the MC's interpretations of the Memory Paintings and the Sarentu Totems.

And the moments when you're flying on your Ikran or Pa'li made me feel like I was in an RPG, like Horizon, so that was a nice little touch. It was like they mashed two of my favorite games into one.

And in the end, it's not the gameplay that makes me play the game. It's the story.

2. The Harmful Effects of the RDA - There was not a minute within this story where it's quests and stories didn't resonate with me.

How the Kinglor of the Aranahe forest was displaced by the RDA's actions, giving us a Yellowstone situation where a key member of the ecosystem was being pushed out and it was causing all sorts of problems for the local flora and fauna.

The aforementioned poaching in Zeswa territory, where the Zakru were being hunted and killed for their tusks and how even their long deceased skeletons were being pilfered, very similar to elephant and rhino poaching, especially as Zakru are sacred animals to the Zeswa.

And then the Yavä, the green fog that brought sickness to the Kame'tire, something that happened, by the way, because the RDA disposed of the Sarentu's bodies by using caustic chemicals!!! (like, what the FUCK, Alma!) but anyway, is very reminiscent to the diseases that European settlers brought in to the native populace, who never had to build up immune systems for it and suffered because of it.

What I'm getting at here, is how big of a problem the RDA is, not just for going to war with Jake and the Omaticaya, but also by causing the exact same problems that people did on Earth and are still doing to Earth. In so many, seemingly innocuous way, the RDA are negatively effecting the ecosystem, the wildlife and the locals in their pursuit of a paycheck that, realistically, would never be able to use until they get off planet, and that is if they don't die on an alien moon because of all those problems.

3. The Efforts of the Resistance

Every time I got to talk with the Resistance members was a highlight for me. I truly do not understand how some people don't like Priya. I found her adorable, and she gave me Penelope Garcia vibes from Criminal Minds. And her budding romance with Resistance Pilot Anqa, whose history with incursion on her desert homeland inspired her to take action against the RDA.

Or Hajir's regrets for playing part in the Severeds origins, concluding how they are in a constant state of anger and sadness.

Or Billy, who break-dances as he's helping you escape imprisonment, before sacrificing himself to save what's left of the Resistance.

And then there's the Na'vi Clans that I just loved and each and every one of it's characters had me giddy. The playful old grandmother in Nefika and her immediate action to take us in and show us around the Hometree, the Zeswa sisters and their rightous anger over the poaching, the eccentricities of Okul and their faith in the Kame'tire's tradtions.

Honestly I could go on and on about every single character in this game. Nalin and her tentative offer to fill in the void of mother during the party, the Burden Carrier and the Milk Crafter who got drunk off their ass, saying the zakru can fly while we're trying to warn them of impending danger and Mosaka, who not only gave our clan's location away to the RDA, but used their deaths to manipulate his way into power and control over the clan by framing Anufi for their demise. (BTW, fuck you Mosaka)

That's all I got for now, but once the DLCs come in, I am defiantly playing through the whole game again and I may come back to this post with an update when that happens, along with my stance on said DLCs.

So, hope your all having a good day and buh-bye!

[miodinmio]

So I ended up picking a name.

I had a big list that ended up getting quite short fairly quickly as I asked for opinions from friends.

Memory to forever stick

Me: "What do you think of Rion or Orion?"

Friend 1: "It's cringe bro lmao"

As I was quite liking those names, I asked another friend about it and told them that someone else called "Orion" Cringe.

Friend 2: "To be fair, it is cringe."

Multiple Finnish names

As I am Finnish and Swedish, I can legally change my name to one of either origin. Now... I transferred between a lot of schools in my life, so I have had a ton of classmates.

My requirements for my new name was:

Cannot be a name of someone I knew.

Cannot be difficult to spell, I suffered from this a lot with my birthname.

Cannot have easily-mean-nicknames.

Cannot be cringe.

Not a cool or lame name.

I have had a ton of Swedish classmates with all common names for my age, so I decided to look for mainly Finnish names. I ended up finding a ton of names that I liked but had something negative related to it.

After a ton of back and forth, I decided to try with Matteo for starters. It isn't Swedish or Finnish, but a lot of boys in Sweden are named Matteo.

I ended up not vibing with it as it felt too cool for my standards, I can't really rock that name, it's a popular-kid-name.

Being nicknamed "double T" for two weeks was sick though.

How I picked my name

I decided to speedrun it, so I downloaded a bunch of free mini visual novels where you pick your own name. Having the characters actively call me by trial names made it a lot easier than trying it out for weeks before going onto the next one.

I am no longer a man without a name, for it is now Mio. Yes, Mio is a masculine name here in Sweden and Finland. Yes, Mio like "Mio min Mio" the story, which is why a lot of boys are named Mio around my age in Sweden. I recommend picking that book up, written by world famous author Astrid Lindgren.

Unexpected nicknames

Seeing as Mio is only three letters, I didn't expect it to be given a nickname by anybody other than potentially M or Em. Which is still not that far off in length.

So of course I have been given nicknames by my friend group whether I wanted it or not.

Fuckboy

Stingray

Twink

I didn't even have a nickname outside the family until I changed it to Mio. Now everyone won't stop calling me Stingray and Fuckboy.

Hopefully it won't last for several years. I can't walk around being called Fuckboy in front of new people, they will think I actually have charisma and moves.

[devilsupdates]

NJDevils  starters versus Leafs:

→ Tatar-Hischier-Mercer

→ Dillon-Hamilton

→ Markstrom

Max Pacioretty finds a small hole through traffic and it finds its way into the net. 1-0 leafs

Markstrom made a spectacular save just before but then chaos in front of the net.

The Hughes line responds with a quick rush up the ice. Bratt’s shot hits off the post.

2-0 Leafs.

Nico Hischier just got hit in the face with a puck. A direct hit. Was able to get off the ice on his own.

Nico back on the bench

3-0 Leafs

Dougie Hamilton is tripped annnnd no call.

On the other side of the ice, Hildeby makes a sprawling save on Jack Hughes.

#NJDevils  get the first power play of the game with Tavares going to the box for Toronto. Interference.

Hamilton's unit hops over the bench to begin the PP.

BRATTER! #NJDevils  are on the board.

PPG for Jesper Bratt!

End of one.

#NJDevils  have some work to do. Leafs leading 3-1.

✖️: Pacioretty (Holmberg, Timmins)

✖️:McMann (McCabe)

✖️:Lorentz (Kampf)

🚨: Bratt (J. Hughes)

Shots 11-all

Send period underway.

#NJDevils  chasing 3-1.

Dillon shaking his head on the way to the penalty box that he was called for a trip.

... that was.... a call?

The #NJDevils  penalty killers have been fantastic. A great 2-on-1 shorthanded chance for Lazar and Mercer and the Leafs haven't had an opportunity to set up.

Devils have been the first to every loose puck.

Looks like the #NJDevils  are going back to the man advantage.

Timmins to the box.

An appreciation post for Curtis Lazar:

I’ve been impressed with his play so far this game

Tough forechecks

A few big hits

Making plays

Not afraid to throw his weight around

Also not afraid to get into the grill of some Maple Leafs players

Playing the full sheet

Matthew Knies just ran through Dougie Hamilton.

No.7 is OK, however.

#NJDevils  PP expires, yet they're right to it. Benoit for tripping.

#NJDevils  back on the PP. avibg trouble generating anything at all. Still haven't mustered 10 shots 33 min in

The scouting report on Hildeby is clearly shoot high. The issue is the #NJDevils  are shooting too high. Like, over the net.

#NJDevils  had two open net chances and can't convert. Still 3-1 5:27 left in 2nd

4-1 Tavares (for fucks sake)

Tavares extends the lead. Second time tonight a #Leafsforever     player beat Mercer to a puck in the slot resulting in a goal

*penguins are playing better might turn to it or the bruins *

Dougie just took like 345 shots in a row. He was banging his stick on the ice and Dillon just kept feeding him the puck.

TIMO!!!! #NJDevils  cut the Leafs lead to 4-2!

5.3 seconds left in the second period.

End of two.

#NJDevils  trail Leafs 4-2.

1:✖️: Pacioretty (Holmberg, Timmins)

1:✖️:McMann (McCabe)

1:✖️: Lorentz (Kampf)

1:🚨: Bratt (J. Hughes)

2: ✖️ Tavares (Domi)

2:🚨: Meier (Kovacevic, Dillon)

Shots 17-all

Third period underway

Benoit tries to lure Meier in for a fight. He doesn't oblige.

#NJDevils  going to the PP.

Timo Meier just hit Matthew Knies with a big hit on the boards. And Sam Benoit didn't like it so he went after Timo.

Benoit takes a roughing penalty.

#NJDevils  now going to the PK.

Mercer for high sticking.

Bratt and Kovacevic just killed about 40 seconds of the Maple Leafs PK by themselves.

Timo Meier looks like a rejuvinated, healthy player. He has been all over the ice tonight and throwing his body around too. He's out-muscled several Leafs to keep posession of the puck... and has a goal.

Nylander ties up Jack Hughes. #NJDevils  going to a PP with 5:19 left.

Would be a good time to convert.

Narrator: "They did not."

Markstrom to the bench.

Devils lose

Devils vs. capitals Saturday at 7

10/14 Monday Utah vs devils are 1pm

10/15Tuesday canes vs devils 7pm

10/17 Thursday senators vs devils at 7pm

10/19 Saturday capitals vs devils at 7pm

[hanji-cafe]

Still Be Friends?

Hi! Due to a request, I'll also be posting it here on Tumblr. Please reblog and comment if you enjoy it.

If you so care to enjoy it on AO3: Still Be Friends?

Chapters: 1/? Fandom: Stray Kids (Band), K-pop Rating: Mature Warnings: Drinking, Mentions of sex,

“Really Ahmi, how many times do I have to tell you to get out more?” Minho scoffs before piling food into his mouth. Ahmi rolled her eyes as he talked with his mouthful. 

“You’re such a fucking pig,” Ahmi scoffed in disgust. 

“But I’m your pig,” he teased gently before his girlfriend was shoving him playfully. 

“I thought you were my piggy, Min!” 

Ahmi couldn’t help but smile at the couple, but she attempted to hide it by gagging.  

Minho and Itsumi were always glued to each other's side, and as Ahmi’s roommate, Itsumi was her obligatory best friend. So when she got Itsumi, she also got Minho. 

It must have been nice. Both of them were so outgoing, and Ahmi could swear that every time she was out in public with them, the couple said ‘hi’ to at least five people. She unfortunately couldn’t relate. No matter how hard she tried, she could never jump the hurtle. 

“But really, Ahmi… you should get out more. You don’t want to be stuck with me and Minho all year, do you?” Itsumi asked with a pout. 

“Maybe I do,” Ahmi shrugged. “I don’t mind hanging out with you guys!” 

“But there’s a whole world out there waiting for you to explore!” Itsumi smiled as she wiped Minho’s mouth. “You don’t want to miss out on all the fun.” 

“And I want to fuck my girlfriend once in a while!” 

“Ew…” Ahmi cringed. “I’m just not really into parties…” 

“Is it that you don’t like parties, or you’re just scared of putting yourself out of your comfort zone?” Itsumi asks. “Maybe it’s time to step out of your personal bubble!” 

“I don’t want to get out of my comfort zone.” 

Minho patted her on the back. “Come on, Ahmi. We’ll have you acting like a party pro in no time!” 

Ahmi glared. “I said I didn’t-” 

“I know,” Minho interrupted. 

“Come on, Ahmi. Don’t you want to have a little fun? It’s the beginning of the semester! You barely have any schoolwork.” 

“I guess,” Ahmi mumbled, feeling a bit anxious about the whole idea of going to a party and not knowing how to act or what to do. “But I don’t know how to party!” 

“Like Minho said, we’ll teach you!” 

“Maybe we can even get you laid,” Minho huffs. “Then you’ll leave us alone.” 

“I'm surprised you and Hyune haven't done it,” Itsumi said. “I mean, wasn't he your first kiss?” 

“Cheeks don’t count, besides I think he’s gay.” 

“That man is definitely not gay,” Minho snorts. 

“Minho!” Itsumi scolds, hitting his head. He let out a dramatic howl. 

“ What?! ” Minho huffed, rubbing his head. “I'm just being honest. Ahmi, honey, you just need to step up your game a bit.” 

Ahmi rolled her eyes. “Oh, really? How so?” 

“Well, for starters,” Minho said before taking another bite of food, and Ahmi rolled his eyes as he began to talk with his mouth full. “You need to stop being so timid. When you do go out you’re always stumbling around, hiding in the corner, shoving your face in your phone… and you barely talk to anyone.” 

“Yeah, it’s called social anxiety!” 

“Whatever. Stop being so boring. Talk to someone. Anyone.” 

Itsumi nodded in agreement. “And you dress so conservatively all the time. You need to show a little more skin, Ahmi. Less sweatpants, more skirts! Or at least nice pants!” 

“But I don’t want to have my ass out…” Ahmi whined. “What if people stare!” 

“That’s the point,” Minho said, shaking his head. “Just show a little more skin. It’s not like you’re unattractive. The sweats look messy and hide how cute you are.” 

“Yeah, you’re actually pretty cute!” Itsumi added with a smile. 

Ahmi felt her cheeks grow warm, but she did feel a bit more confident. “Thanks guys…” she said shyly, not so used to this kind of attention. “What if they’re pink sweats…” 

Minho groaned in frustration and Itsumi cleared her throat. “You just need to loosen up with a few drinks. There’s a party tonight. Tell us you’re coming.” 

“So soon?” Ahmi asked with wide eyes, and Itsumi rolled her own. “It’s only the first Friday of the semester!

“Come on, Ahmi. We’ll start getting ready around 8 and we’ll get you all pretty for the boys there, yeah?” Itsumi asked eagerly. 

“But I don’t do any of that! Dancing and flirting with guys…” 

“Well it’s time you start! I’m coming into your room and we're getting ready, dammit! Time to change your sophomore year!” 

“Okay… fine…” Ahmi surrendered, waving her hands like a white flag. “Whatever you guys want if you’ll leave me alone after.” 

------------------------------------------------------------------------------

Hwang Hyunjin was a breath of fresh air that came seemingly out of nowhere on a hot summer day. He was caring and kind, and his eyes were soft enough to make any person’s walls crumble in seconds. He was Ahmi's weakness. He was the one who she clung to desperately. 

Ahmi would often hold onto him, burrowing her face in his neck and wonder how a man could feel so warm… so soft. He felt like home, like a roof over her head that no tornado or earthquake could take away from her and her dreams. And in a way, he was her home, them being best friends since they were young.

She had always felt this warmth since when they first met in kindergarten. The second both of them looked at each other, Ahmi knew that Hyunjin’s gentle eyes, and sweet voice would get her through anything. So here they were in Uni. 

Hyunjin sat across from her, the condensation from his iced americano soaked the napkin beneath it. Ahmi didn't have to say a word for Hyunjin to look at her intently, waiting for her to rattle off her worries so he could smother them to nothing. 

“Classes don't seem too bad this semester…” Ahmi hummed, flipping through her agenda. 

Hyunjin felt a wave of disappointment. It was always nice to take care of Ahmi's worries for her. It was as if making her feel better, listening to her worries, reassuring her, was the thing that gave him all the mana he needed. It gave him a sense of belonging; a purpose.

“You don't have any complaints?” 

Ahmi laughed softly, taking a sip of her latte. “Don't sound too excited. I'm sure things will change by next week.” 

“Maybe this will finally be your year,” he suggested. Ahmi shrugged, leaning back in her chair. At this point she was used to being the universe's punching bag. There wasn't anything that university could throw at her to make it sting more than it had the year before. 

When things got to their absolute worst, Ahmi would keep herself busy. Keep herself numb. As far as she could tell, things couldn't get much worse. 

“Hardly.” 

“I'm trying to be optimistic,” he laughed. 

Ahmi couldn't help but smile a bit. It was that fAhmiliar, soft but unusual laugh that warmed her insides and kept her coming back for more all these years. 

“Minho and Itsumi are annoying the hell out of me. They want me to go to some party tonight… at Sigma Kappa Zeta?” Ahmi scoffed, taking a sip of her own iced coffee. 

Hyunjin nodded. “That’s the frat that Minho is in. Makes sense. You don’t seem like you want to go.” 

“Of course I don’t want to go! You know me. I’m a sit at home and mind my own business kind of girl,” Ahmi said. “But… They said I need to put myself out there. Do you agree…?” 

“It wouldn’t hurt,” he shrugged. “But it’s your choice.” 

“Maybe I should go. Just to say I’ve been at one,” she thinks aloud. “But you have to go with me.” 

“Me?” he asked, his eyes widening. 

“Yeah, I need a social crutch…” 

“Oh, Itsumi isn’t enough?” Hyunjin laughed, his eyes closing into creasents as he threw his head back slightly. “Alright, only because that sounds hilarious.” 

“Great. I think the party is a 10. Sumi is driving.” 

“I’ll meet you at your apartment,” he nods. 

------------------------------------------------------------------------------

Itsumi bounced on Ahmi’s bed, a mad smile on her face as she held up a little black dress with a lingerie set to match. “Viola!” 

“I’m not wearing that!” Ahmi cried in horror. 

“Yes you are! Unless you want to die an overworked virgin!” 

Ahmi looked at the dress again and hesitated. “Don’t you think it’s a bit… much?” 

Itsumi laughed. “What do you mean, much? It’s a simple black dress.” 

“I’ve never worn something so tight…” 

“It’s a party, Ahmi. You want to look like the rest of the girls right? You don’t like standing out?” 

“I… guess…” she said before hesitantly accepting the dress and turning to put it on. “Never thought to look at it that way.”

“It’s called the art of manipulation, darling,” Itsumi purred, pulling a laugh from Ahmi’s mouth. 

She pulled down the skirt once she got it on, and looked at herself in the mirror. It was tight, and hugged every curve and insecurity that she could think of, but her doubts immediately evaporated as Itsumi squealed behind her. 

“Yes, girl! You look hot!” 

Ahmi blushed. “Thanks, Sumi…” 

“Now come here and let me turn you into a fashion model,” she smiled, pulling out her makeup bag. 

“Please don’t make me look like a clown… or a brats doll!” 

“Oh, please! Do you have no faith in me at all?” Itsumi pouted. 

Ahmi offered a weary look. “I have a very different skin tone than you…” 

Itsumi waved her hand. “Yeah, yeah… whatever. I’ll use your foundation after the eyes.” 

Itsumi grabbed her phone, turning on some music before starting to work on Ahmi’s face. Once Itsumi was done drawing in her eyebrows, and applying a nude lip and a pretty eyeliner wing, she stood back to admire her work. 

“I am good!” she nodded, holding up a mirror for Ahmi to see. 

“Wow…” Ahmi said, admiring herself. “I do look hot!” 

“See! I told you,” Itsumi smiled, glancing at the time on her phone. “We should leave soon… it’s already 10. Min will be wondering where we are!” 

Just as Itsumi said that, there was a knock on Ahmi’s apartment door. A second later, Hyunjin was seeing himself in. 

“You guys didn’t leave yet, right?” he called out, and Ahmi stepped out of her room to meet him as Itsumi chose a pair of shoes. 

“Nope, we were just about to,” Ahmi said. 

Hyunjin nodded, eyes glued to his phone. He finished sending a text before looking up, and when he caught sight of Ahmi, he nearly dropped his phone. 

“What?” Ahmi said, eyebrows furrowed as she glared. 

“Ahmi… you look hot!” 

“I do?” Ahmi blinked. Never, in the twelve years they’ve been friends, has Hyunjin ever called her hot. 

“Yeah! You look amazing! Is this a new dress?” 

Ahmi blushed, nodding. “It’s Itsumi’s…” she said, taking a little twirl in it. 

“It suits you,” Hyunjin complimented, still staring at her. 

“How about these shoes?” Itsumi asked, barging out of the room with a pair of black converse. “Oh… Hi… Hyunjin.” 

“Hey, Sumi,” he said passively, eyes still on Ahmi’s figure. When he glanced up at her eyes, she was staring right back at him.

“Anyway. Put these on, and let's go!” 

Ahmi forced herself to look away from his eyes. “Sneakers?” Ahmi asked. 

“Have you ever been to a frat party? The floors aren’t the nicest. Now let’s go!” 

------------------------------------------------------------------------------

Later in the night, Ahmi found herself standing outside the frat house door, Hyunjin’s arm thrown over her shoulder. Ahmi tried to psych herself up for the party. She could hear the music and the sound of people laughing and cheering, and she felt a mix of excitement and nerves.

She walked inside and was immediately hit with the smell of beer and sweat. The room was packed with people dancing, drinking, and socializing. Ahmi felt a bit overwhelmed, but then she felt Hyunjin squeeze her shoulder, as she spotted Minho waving at her from across the room.

"Ahmi! You made it!" he shouted over the music. “I thought you were going to pussy out like usual.” 

“I don’t pussy out,” Ahmi argued with a pout, but smiled when she saw the Frat’s president, Chris Bang. She has met him at a few organized events on campus that she has been dragged to- “to socialize” Itsumi would insist. Chan has always been one of the easiest people to talk to despite his nickname: Sir Bangs-a-lot. It was childish, but unfortunately stuck in the frat. 

“It’s always nice to see you, Ahmi,” he smiled, handing Ahmi a solo cup of punch. “Usually, I don’t see you at these things.” 

“Thanks,” she smiled, taking the cup and beginning to drink the fruity liquid. “Sumi dragged me. It’s already going strong- the party.” 

“I’m gonna go grab a beer,” Hyunjin yelled over the music, and Ahmi nodded turning back to Chan.

“This is my empire,” he bragged. “It is almost eleven. The party hasn’t even started,” he chuckled, grabbing himself another cup of beer. He checked her out, admiring her dress. “You look great by the way. Since you finally made it to one of these, I want to introduce you to some people.” 

“Sure,” Ahmi nodded, though she was feeling rather nervous. She had already known Seungmin Kim who was an Accounting and Finance major, but Chris insisted on introducing her to some new members. 

“This is Jeno and Jaemin. They’re basically inseparable,” Chris chuckled, and Ahmi waved hi. 

“Then we have Felix. You know Felix, don’t you?” Chris asked while Felix set up the flip cup table.

“We’ve met,” Ahmi nodded. “He’s friends with Karina.” 

“More than friends I’d say,” Chan snorted, taking another sip of his drink. 

“Hey, I’m going to go find Hyunjin,” Ahmi said, excusing herself. 

“Oh, he’s going to rush this semester right?” Chris asked. “We could always use new members.” 

“I mean, you’ll have to convince him, not me. Parties aren’t usually his thing though. I’m surprised today,” she laughed, looking around for him.

“You better talk him into it,” Chan laughed, and Ahmi nodded, walking off. 

“Sumi,” Ahmi hummed, sneaking up beside her best friend. 

“Hey! Party girl,” Minho laughed, throwing his arm around her shoulders. “Ever play strip poker?” 

“No way!” Ahmi laughs. 

“He’s joking,” Itsumi clarified with a giggle. “What’s up?” 

“Have you seen Hyunjin anywhere?” 

“Nope. He’s probably off with Felix somewhere.”

“Oh, alright. I’ll look for him-” 

Itusmi wrapped her arm around her friend's waist. “Ahmi come on. Just relax. Let’s dance!” 

“Sumi, have you been drinking?” Ahmi asked. 

“No! I’m just having fun. Like you should be. Come on, Ahmi…” her best friend whined, putting her hands up and dancing to the music. Ahmi laughed at her doing the same and letting loose. The alcohol definitely helped. 

As the night went on, the party grew more and more wild. Ahmi watched as people climbed on top of tables and started doing keg stands, and she couldn't help but laugh at the ridiculousness of it all. As long as they were the center of attention and she wasn’t, she was content.

At one point, Chris leaned in close to her and whispered, "Hey, Ahmi, I think someone drugged the punch."

Ahmi's eyes widened in shock. "What? Are you serious?"

"Nah, I'm just messing with you. Relax, have some fun." Chris grinned. “You look so tense. Have you even drank anything?” 

“I’ve had a little…” she smiled shyly. 

“Come on. We’re going to do a shot!” Chan said, pulling her. 

“What?!” she shrieked in surprise, allowing Chan to drag her. 

“You can’t be sober at a frat party!” he scolded. “Jello or Vodka.” 

“J-Jello…?” Ahmi answered cluelessly. Surely Jello had to be less alcoholic… right?

Chan gave Ahmi an amused grin, handing it to her. “You gotta finger it.” 

“I have to do what?” Ahmi screamed over the music, squinting her eyes. 

“Finger it! Like this:” Chan said, sticking his finger in the Jello, loosening the gel, and sucking the Jello into his mouth. “It’s more fun if you do it with your tongue though.” 

“Uh…” Ahmi stared at the Jello shot, popping the lid off. “Okay… finger it…?” she mumbled to herself. 

“Huh?” Chan yelled. 

“Ready?” Ahmi yelled back. 

“Yeah! No finger. Only tongue!” 

Ahmi laughed nervously before nodding, and she knocked her plastic cup to Chan’s before sticking her tongue in the Jello, rotating the cup, and sucking the Jello in. 

“Hey! That- was pretty good!” Chan encouraged. 

“Are we doing Jello shots?!” Minho asked, seemingly materializing out of nowhere, making Ahmi jolt slightly.

“Yeah! Want one?” Chan said, grabbing three from the table. “No finger.” 

“No finger!” Minho cheered, raising up the Jello. 

Ahmi nervously followed before consuming another one, suddenly starting to feel dizzy. Minho grabbed her arm to keep her from falling before leading her back to dance. “Come on, Ahmi!” 

Dodging through a few people shotgunning their beers, or dancing wildly Ahmi’s eyes eventually found Hyunjin, over by the flip cup table. “I wanna go this way!” she complained, and Minho lost grip of her. She made her way over to him, making herself evident.

“There you are, Mimi!” Hyunjin said, throwing his arm around her shoulder. “Want me to teach you how to play?” 

Ahmi looked around. Chris and a few other faces were playing. It seemed fun enough, and Ahmi nodded. “Alright, I'll try.”

“Great,” Hyunjin laughed. “We go down the line. When the person before you chugs their cup and then flips their cup correctly-” Hyunjin flipped his red solo cup with ease at just the flick of a finger, “you do the same.” 

“I think I've got it,” Ahmi agreed, warming up her fingers. “When did you learn this anyway?” 

“Eh, some party last year. Ready?” 

“I thought you didn’t go to parties?” she asked. Before Hyunjin could give a response, the game was starting and Hyunjin rushed to chug his drink before cleanly flipping his cup. Ahmi panicked, the beer in the cup spilling on her chest as she choked, but she took another gulp, this one clean and set the cup on the table. It was slightly dizzy, the additional alcohol making her a bit unsteady, but thankfully it only took a couple tries to flip the cup. 

The game went on for a while, and Ahmi found herself rather talented at the game. She was surprised, but it felt great winning most of the rounds, and she felt a sense of accomplishment when everyone would cheer for her. 

Hyunjin didn’t leave her side the entire time, cheering her on and offering her encouragement when she began to doubt herself. They were having a blast together, and Ahmi's heart started feeling rather warm for her best friend, warmer than she usually let herself admit. 

After a few extra drinks, Ahmi finally began to lose her self control. Hyunjin had moved to take away her drink and secretly replace it with water, but Chris and Minho were too focused on making sure she had fun. 

Hyunjin sighed, reaching for the cup in her hand. “Okay, Ahmi, maybe that’s enough punch-” 

“Hyune, stop!” Ahmi whined, yanking the cup back from his grip, the liquid sploshing out of the cup and onto the poor bypasser. 

“Shit!” the boy said, more out of shock than anything else. 

“Oh, fuck… I’m sorry,” Ahmi said, moving to try and rub out the liquid from the guy's t-shirt, unable to think of anything else to do.

He laughed, grabbing her wrist. “It’s okay,” he said. “I think that may actually be making it worse.” Ahmi finally looked up to see his face, and his lips were curled up in a gummy smile as he laughed, seemingly amused. Ahmi watched as his eyes sparkled with happiness. 

“I got you all sticky,” Ahmi mumbled, and the guy only seemed to laugh harder. 

“That’s why you don’t wear nice things to a frat party.” 

“Okay, we should go home,” Hyunjin said, tired of watching the scene play out. 

“Boo…” Ahmi whined, pushing back against Hyunjin, but her best friend was taller and stronger. 

“Come on, Ahmi…” he said, pulling her, and Ahmi frowned, waving goodbye at the pretty stranger. 

“Itsumi, Ahmi is making a mess,” he tattled like a little boy, and Ahmi whined. 

“I don’t want to go home…” Ahmi huffed, shoving the boy. 

“Okay, let me get my keys from Minho,” Itsumi nodded. Though she was glad that Ahmi was letting loose, maybe the boys had taken it too far. 

Ahmi reached to grab her best friend’s sleeve. “Sumi…” she whined. 

“It’s time to go home, cutie,” Itsumi said, squishing her cheeks. 

“Okay…” 

Itsumi laughed at her, noticing Hyunjin’s protective grip on her. “I'll be right back. Just have to find Minho.” 

Ahmi whined at Hyunjin’s grip. “You're hurting me,” she said, pulling at his wrist.

“Come on, Ahmi. I know you're going to run off if I take my hand off of you for one second,” Hyunjin said. 

Ahmi continued to pout before wrapping her arms around Hyunjin, hugging him. “I'm kind of tired…” 

He nodded, a small fond smile growing at her cuddly state. “I know. That's why we're going home, Mimi.” 

“Hyune,” Ahmi pout, looking up at him with big eyes. “Kiss me?” 

Hyunjin stiffened, his smile fading to nothing. Instead, Hyunjin looked shocked, almost confused, looking down at Ahmi before gently pushing her away. “Ahmi, you're really drunk right now.” 

“No, m’ not,” she whined, her arms looping around his neck. “I really want to kiss you.” 

“Ahmi. You’re really drunk right now, and I don’t think you know what you’re saying-” 

“Shush…” Ahmi cut him off. “Listen. I have to tell you something. I-” 

“I've got the keys!” Itsumi said, holding the keychain up in the air. Ahmi looked at Itsumi, almost betrayed, a whine leaving her lips. “Why are we waiting?” Itsumi asked. “Let's go.” 

Ahmi held onto Hyunjin tight, but he managed to get Ahmi outside and into Itsumi's car. Itsumi could feel the tension in the air, and as she watched Ahmi doze off she looked at Hyunjin in the passenger's seat. 

“What happened?” Itsumi asked. 

“Nothing happened.” 

“You seem in a pissy mood. Didn't you drink too? Shouldn't you be happy-go-lucky right now?” 

Hyunjin glared over. “I had to keep an eye on Ahmi since your happy-go-lucky boyfriend was getting her drunk.”

“It was a party, Hyunjin,” Itsumi laughed, “Why are you being so uptight?”

Hyunjin’s eyes grew wide. “I'm not uptight! I'm just looking out for her. It’s my job. Ahmi and I are best friends.” 

“Just best friends who are overbearing. Don't think I didn't notice you dragging her away from Han Jisung,” Itsumi pointed out. 

“She was feeling him all up, and he isn’t good for her. I could tell.”

“He seemed to be amused-”

“Oh, fine. Whatever! I don't have to explain myself to you.” Hyunjin crossed her arms, looking out the window. 

“Why do you have to be so childish,” Sumi tisked, pulling over in front of his apartment unit. “Ahmi has spent her whole life without barely even being kissed. I wonder why… maybe because her best friend acts like her father?” 

“You have Ahmi handled?” Hyunjin asks, ignoring Itsumi’s accusations. 

“I've got it,” she assured, waving the boy off. “Get going.” 

“Okay… I'll see you Monday,” Hyunjin said and Itsumi nodded. 

“See you Monday.” 

------------------------------------------------------------------------------

In their usual corner of the cafe, Itsumi and Minho sat across from each other. Minho knew the look in Itsumi’s eyes. She had a plan and she was about to get Minho involved. 

“What did you want to talk about?” 

“I have a plan!” Itsumi smiled deviously. “A plan for Ahmi.” 

Minho raised his eyebrows. “A prank?” 

Itsumi rolled her eyes. “You’re insufferable. No! We are going to get Ahmi a boyfriend. We need a foolproof plan to help Ahmi find her Prince Charming.” 

“Oh…” Minho said, seemingly no longer interested. “I thought she said she’s busy and all that…” 

“I was driving her and Hyunjin home last night and I had this moment of realization: Ahmi has never had a boyfriend because of Hyunjin.” 

“Seems like an Ahmi problem,” Minho said, his hand moving under Itsumi’s skirt, and she slapped his hand. 

“We’re in public,” she pouted. “Besides. I need your help with this.” 

“My help?” Minho pouted. 

“Yeah! Last night she started talking to Han before Hyunjin totally dragged her away. Didn’t you say he just broke up with his girlfriend before summer break?” 

“Yeah? But Chaewon is still obsessed  with him, and I think he’s just wanting to play around. Do you think Ahmi would be able to handle being played around with?” 

Itsumi pouted. “No…” 

“Look, as much as I rarely admit, I care about Ahmi. I don't want her to get hurt. Any attention is going to be like crack to her little virgin brain. She'd be dead by tomorrow if Jisung got involved.” 

“Jisung is nice.” 

“Jisung is a horny frat boy.” 

Itsumi rolled her eyes. “Well what then??” 

“Okay, okay, babe…” Minho said, raising his hands in surrender. “Let’s take a step back and think this through so we don’t hurt Ahmi.” 

Itsumi sulked in chair, pouting. “You’re right…” 

“So not Han. What are our other options?” 

“There is no way that Ahmi is going to willingly go on a blind date. We’re going to have to make it seem genuine.” 

“Should we pay someone?” 

“Minho!” Itsumi scolds. “That would break her heart even more if she ever found out.” 

“If who ever found out?” Ahmi said, sitting down at the table. 

Minho and Itsumi exchanged a quick glance, caught off guard by Ahmi's sudden appearance at their table. Itsumi's heart raced, but she managed to put on a casual smile. "Hey, Ahmi! We were just... uh, discussing some random stuff."

Ahmi raised an eyebrow, a suspicious look on her face. "Random stuff? You two looked pretty intense. And why did my name come up?"

Minho cleared his throat, his attempt at nonchalance coming off slightly awkward. "Well, you know, we were just thinking about how you've been so focused on your studies lately, and we thought you might need a little break."

“... The semester just started,” Ahmi said, raising her brow. 

“And you’re already working so hard!” Itsumi insisted. “How was your day?” 

Ahmi sighed, running a hand through her hair. "Busy, as always. But I managed to catch a break, so I thought I'd join you two for a little coffee break."

Minho glanced at Itsumi, silently conveying a question about whether they should mention their ongoing discussion. Itsumi responded with a subtle shake of her head, indicating they should wait until Ahmi was more relaxed.

"Sounds good," Itsumi said with a smile. "You deserve a break."

“Me and Hyune are having a movie tonight at his apartment so that will let me relax even more,” Ahmi said softly, taking a bite of the coffee cake she ordered. 

“Yeah, relax,” Minho said, making a motion before Itsumi was gasping, pushing his hands away. 

“You know it isn’t like that,” Ahmi complained. “Me and Hyunjin are just…” 

“Friends?” Minho scoffed. 

"Me and Hyunjin are just really close friends," Ahmi complained, her frustration evident in her tone. She leaned back in her chair, arms crossed defensively.

Itsumi and Minho exchanged a knowing glance, both suppressing amused smiles. It wasn't the first time Ahmi had downplayed her relationship with Hyunjin, and they knew better than to take her words at face value.

Something about Ahmi’s attitude made Itsumi’s smile fade though. Something was going on… She would have to wait and see. 

“What were you two even talking about last night? He seemed kind of grumpy.” 

“I can’t even remember. I think I split something on this really hot guy… or maybe that was a dream? That’s the last thing I remember.” 

“Huh,” Itsumi said. “Wonder what happened. Oh well, you guys have fun.” 

“Hopefully…” Ahmi pouted, she had a feeling she forgot something important, and she was scared it might come up tonight… 

------------------------------------------------------------------------------

The soft glow of Hyunjin’s small apartment TV lit up Ahmi’s face as she sat snuggled up on the couch. It was time for her and Hyunjin’s cherished movie night, but Ahmi couldn’t help but feel sick about tonight especially. Though the other night was rather fuzzy, Ahmi was sure that she would make everything clear tonight. The unknown of what exactly had happened the night before gnawed at her bones, but she toned it out. 

“Hey, Ahmi!” Hyunjin said, walking through the door and holding up grocery bags. “I’m back! I brought snacks!” 

“Aw, Hyunjin, I just made Popcorn,” Ahmi pouted, standing up from the couch as walking into the kitchen, her bare feel patting on the cold lAhminate floor.

Ahmi couldn’t deny the tension as Hyunjin looked up, his eyes making contact with hers. She wore short PJ shorts, and an oversized hoodie from the mens section. Hyunjin could smell her soft coconut shampoo from where he was standing as she pushed up her sleeves. 

“You brought my favorite chips!” Ahmi cheered cutely, tearing open the package of cheddar and sour cream crisps. 

“Mac and Cheese too,” he smiled gently. 

“Yes! I’ll get the water boiling,” Ahmi said, bending over to grab a pot from the cabinet. 

Hyunjin turned to lean back against the counter. “So what are we watching tonight?” 

“I was going to let you choose, you know, since I made you watch a barbie movie last time,” Ahmi giggled. 

“It was a good movie! I liked how sassy the love interest was. That polar bear was annoying as fuck though.” 

Ahmi laughed harder, as she placed the pot of water on the stovetop. “Yeah, Shiver was pretty annoying.” 

“Hmm, why don’t we watch- like… an action movie? Tokyo Drift?” he asked. 

“I think it just got put on Netflix,” she nodded. 

The two continued to make small talk as the noodles boiled, and before they knew it they were finishing up eating as they sat on the couch watching their movie, watching with anticipation, for Ahmi: a completely different reason. 

She gradually lost focus of the movie before she couldn’t keep up at all. Hyunjin watched closely as Ahmi reached for the remote. She pressed pause causing Hyunjin to gasp. 

“Ahmi, what the hell! This is the good part!” he whined before turning and seeing her worried face. “... Are you okay?” 

“I need to ask you something,” Ahmi said, a serious tone in her voice. “I mean it. Something really important.” 

Hyunjin stiffened, his memories from the day before worrying him. “Ahmi, I really think you should be resting right now. Just relax. It’s the weekend.” 

Ahmi shook her head, trying to get her thoughts in order. “No, I have to get this off my chest, Hyune. It’s been bothering me for a while now.” 

Please be something else. Please-

“I feel like I’m forgetting something last night… did I do something to upset you?” Ahmi asked cluelessly. 

“I have no idea what you’re talking about,” Hyunjin denied, reaching for the remote. “Now play the movie.” 

“No, seriously, Hyunjin. Did we… did we kiss?” Ahmi asked urgently. “Did I kiss someone else?” 

“No! No, we didn’t kiss!” Hyunjin denied immediately. “What the fuck , Ahmi.” 

“I don’t know…” she mumbled, shrinking into herself. “It felt something like that…” 

“We definitely didn’t kiss. You were way too drunk anyway,” Hyunjin scoffed, suddenly defensive. “It would have been weird for you to be kissing anyone.” 

Ahmi shook her head. “Wait a second… it would be weird if I kissed someone? What is that supposed to mean?” 

“Oh come on, Ahmi. I don’t mean it like that. You know what I mean, alcohol takes away consent and all that jazz,” he excused. “Can we get back to the movie now?” 

“You think it’s that absurd for me to be kissed? Really ?” Ahmi snapped. “Yeah, I’m so awf-” 

“Don’t you dare put words into my mouth, Ahmi,” Hyunjin said, beginning to grow irritated. “I never said that!” 

“No, but yet I’ve never been kissed, so obviously there is something wrong.”

“Maybe it's because you never leave my apartment. Ever thought of that?!” Hyunjin snapped. “You never even meet anyone to be kissed… ever! Jeez even I can’t go to parties with you around.” 

Ahmi gasped, her mouth falling open. She looked at Hyunjin betrayed. Where did this sudden resentment come from? They were friends… of course they would hang out. “You know, you could always say no, but yet you always accept. Whatever, go to all the parties you want,” she grumbled, getting off the couch. 

“Where are you going?” Hyunjin asked, turning to watch her scamper to the door. 

“Home! So you can go to your stupid fucking parties!” Ahmi snapped before slamming the door behind her. As she stormed down the hall, she heard Hyunjin’s door open. 

“Ahmi! Seriously? Don’t be dramatic!” he argued, yelling after her. 

Ahmi felt her lip quiver at his harsh tone. Ahmi couldn’t stand the thought of him hanging out with her out of pity… or obligation. If he didn’t want to be around her then she would just be alone! Like always… and if he really cared, he’d be running after her, but instead she made her way down the stairwell alone, and just like that, she was more lonely than ever. 

------------------------------------------------------------------------------

Ahmi’s cheeks were stained with tears as she shoved her keys in the door handle and turned the knob. When she walked in, she could barely see Itsumi and Minho making out on the couch through her tear-filled eyes. But it finally processed in her brain what they had been getting up to when Itsumi shot up, alarmed, to see who was at the door. 

“You guys are fucking nasty!” Ahmi cried, yet not able to see anything through the tears. The worst part of her best friend getting fucked on the couch was the fact that she just got basically rejected by her best friend. “I’m gonna die a virgin,” she sobbed, running off to her room. 

Itsumi gave Minho a look that only caused him to tighten his grip. “Can’t she wait?!” 

“No!” Itsumi snapped. “You don’t even have your pants down yet!” she scolded, pushing herself off Minho and rushing to Ahmi’s bedroom. Itsumi knocked at Ahmi’s door gently. “Mimi?” 

“You guys are deep cleaning the couch!’ Ahmi cried from inside the room. Itsumi rolled her eyes, pushing into the room. 

“You’ve sat on the couch without it being deep cleaned,” Itsumi teased, and Ahmi whined. 

“Ew!” she cried with a tear stained face as Itsumi adjusted Ahmi’s bedsheets.

“Besides, we were just kissing…So, are you going to tell me what happened, cutie?” Itsumi said, laying down beside Ahmi. 

“I asked Hyunjin,” I sniffled. “I messed up last night. I told him I felt like something happened that I couldn’t remember. I was drunk and wasn't thinking, b-but when I asked him-” Ahmi sobbed, gripping Itsumi tightly, “He said it was ridiculous that I would kiss anyone!” 

Itsumi rubbed Ahmi’s back gently, trying to soothe her. “Oh Ahmi…” 

“I told him that I was insecure about that kind of stuff, and he said ‘I never leave his apartment’ and that ‘he can’t go to parties because I’m always there’! What kind of fucking bullshit is that?! He’s the one that invites me over!” Ahmi wailed. Itsumi nodded, listening attentively. 

“I’m so sorry, Ahmi,” she said, squeezing her friend in a tight hug. “It must have just broken your heart. I’m sure he does like having you around.” 

“Y-yeah… it did. It was…” Ahmi let out a shaky breath. “I just didn’t even know he wanted to go to parties! And he made it seem like I wasn’t even wanted, you know?” 

Itsumi nodded. “I know. He’s such an ass for leading you on. Especially last night! The way he was looking at you the whole time was totally leading you on! He even told you how sexy you looked and then rejected you! How dare he!” 

“H-he was leading me on?” Ahmi hiccuped.

“Yes! Oh yes he was Ahmi,” Itsumi cooed, “Calling you hot and dragging you away from all those cute boys? No wonder you're always with him. He hogs you!” 

“Want me to strangle him for you?” Minho asked from the doorway, standing in boxers and a hoodie.

“Now is not the time, Min!” Itsumi snapped, and Minho raised his hands up in surrender, walking farther into the room. 

“All I’m saying is he took up what? Fourteen years of your life, chasing off boys and any eligible dates just to end up acting like he doesn’t want you around? He’s an ass.” 

Itsumi nodded. “He did pull you away from that guy last night. I thought maybe he was going to work up a confession, but I guess to him he wasn’t really interested in that. He is an ass!” 

“You guys are just saying that,” Ahmi mumbled from under the sheets. 

Itsumi nudged her. “Hey, if I was gay, you’d be just my type, Ahmi. You’re adorable!” 

“What does it matter if hyunjin doesn’t like me? I can’t even look back on our friendship without regret!” 

Minho raised his brows before nodding to Itsumi. He would think of something to cheer the younger girl up. Itsumi watched his leave before turning to Ahmi, pulling up the sheets. “Come on, cutie. We can watch a movie. Something cute like Ponyo?” 

“I am not sitting on that couch,” Ahmi pouted, making a face. 

“I told you we were just kissing!…” Itsumi laughed. “Come on cutie… you can sit on the chair.” 

Ahmi nodded, relaxing only a bit. 

“Should we drink? I have some Soju in the fridge!” Itsumi said enthusiastically. 

“No…” Ahmi sniffled, “I make big mistakes when I’m drunk…” 

“Hey,” Minho said, reappearing and knocking on the door. “I’m going out to the house. Let me know if you guys need anything.” 

Itsumi nodded, getting up and pecking his lips. “Thank you. Have fun!” 

[ravendas-xiv]

Forever Mine

Yes, it's time for a new pose...actually two, sort of!

But first...a little story (because I can do this here) of how this pose has kicked my ass for almost two years now....

I first came across the reference for this pose several years ago while playing SWTOR. I wanted to comm some fan art of my OC and her ship and thought it would be perfect for them. And so I did...and it became the very first fan art I ever commed (by AlstonNovak on Twitter)....

So...fast-forward to my FFXIV days. I'd just started playing around with CMT and decided that I wanted to try to make my own poses from scratch...and picked this one as a starter. Oh boy...big mistake.

I no longer have the pics of my attempts, but...probably a good thing because they were...not good. So fine, I set it aside for awhile. Fast-forward again to after I'd started using Anamnesis. Figured "Okay, this should make it a bit easier" and I gave it another go. And...again, It just never came out looking right.

Soo...this past weekend, I'm going through my Pinterest board of references, looking for some inspiration and come across a sheet that has that pose along with a bunch more. Oh no....it was calling to me again. After finishing up "Personal Space", I decided I might as well give it one more try.

Loaded up Khaishan and Jaya (because I couldn't bear to put Hyperia and Sanji through those horrors again), started fiddling and...within 15 minutes, I had an actually decent-looking pose (aside from having to float Jaya a bit because height differences are so much fun)!

And so today, I figured I might as well test it on my babes and, after a little tweaking, I had a second decent-looking pose! The monster has been defeated at last!

And so, without further ado (sorry this turned into one of those recipe posts where the author has to ramble for ten pages about their life experiences before actually getting to the recipe).....

Enjoy!

[lastweeksshirttonight]

Have you seen the new video of John discussing football? It's on Youtube, uploaded by the Men in Blazers channel. John comes in at about the hour and nineteen minute mark. Thought I'd share!

I wanted to wait until I actually watched this to respond!! I have now, and here's the link for everyone:

For starters, what an absolutely incredible introduction for him. (Starts around 1 hr. 18 min.) I was moved by that and I'm just an internet rando!!

This is an absolutely fantastic clip overall. I will not pretend to be the most knowledgeable person about football - I know how it's played and its ongoing cultural importance, but never really watched it too intensely. (Maybe I should, but no one is taking baseball from me and I'm afraid to lose that to another sport.) Starting with more personal anecdotes before moving into the subject of Qatar's human rights abuses and violence worked really well for me, and the interview has the same humour and insightful balance as my favorite bits of LWT.

This also reminded me that I was in New York during the World Cup in 2010. I was supposed to go see The Daily Show and our flight got delayed so late that we missed it (sob), but watching John and Jon Stewart straight up screaming at each other on our hotel room TV while my late aunt and I basically collapsed with laughter and my mom kept trying to hear the show over her hrair dryer is one of my all-time favorite memories. Also football was EVERYWHERE and it was such a fun atmosphere in the city. I know a lot of that is tainted now because of FIFA's bullshit, but it was an experience.

"A Fyre Festival of a World Cup" is a hell of a line. Same as "They are based in Switzerland, geographically and morally." Definitely shipping these two footballers they invented a homoerotic flirtation for, for no understandable reason.

Wild to hear John call someone ELSE out on self-hatred too, lol. John, you devote about half of your air time to shitting on your bangs, appearance, show concept, furry leanings, hobbies, and general being. I'm torn between saying "pot meet kettle" and "I guess you're the best judge of self-immolation".

And because no one asked, maroon is definitely John's color and he should wear it more. Him throwing his leg up on the table to show he has legs... fuck me.

[aeadventuretime]

13th June 2024.

First Wives Club v. Red Bull Zero Sugar

Today started out like most others, break days in the kitchen with whoever before Roman explored the grounds and pool again.

Today we had decided to split into 2, the first wives club (Angelique, Jahna and myself) and the Red Bull Zero Sugar (Ash,Luke and Annabel. These names came from our iMessage group chats, ours came from Ashley always calling me his first wife. Anyhoo. We found a beautiful restaurant/hotel called Castello Di Reschio that was 30-40 mins drive away. The first wives club would go out for lunch while the others would head out for dinner. We got a lil dressed up, coincidentally all deciding to wear white 🥸. Driving in, the place was incredible! It was beautifully landscaped grounds and rolling hills, terracotta coloured buildings everywhere, immaturely groomed gardens and trees. There was a horse arena with very medieval looking stands I guess for people to sit and watch. We rolled past stables and that’s when we clocked the hotel had horses and was a unique selling point for it. And yes we did eventually see some horses! And a deer!

The restaurant was stunning! Huge ceilings and a very appealing decor and vibe, palm trees and lamps scattered around the interior and large wooden tables with fire pits over looking the valley. It was freezing and we barely brought jumpers on this trip so we decided to sit inside first and then move our should we want. Omg. The food and drinks were incredible. The starter bread included like macadamia bark bread which when dipped into the olive oil was just like perfection. We each ordered a cocktail and they were all a hit and for food we shared some eggplant appetisers and cacio e Pepe pasta before we got our own mains. I got a blueberry tagliatelle. Purple pasta, delicious. We moved outside for a coffee and dessert and I got a pistachio tart which was strangely the bigger course out of the two and was so yummy but rich, and yet I ate it all. We loved the place so much we booked the others in for dinner. So after a small exploration of the restaurant and surrounding area we headed home to tag team with the others.

Well the house was the same as we had left it but with more empty beer cans littered around the place. The others left and straight away Roman smashed his head onto the fireplace step. Of course. I swear something always happens when Ash goes out. 🙃

But the others had a great night and were as in love with the restaurant as we were. And even got second dinner before their dessert.

Unfortunately Jahna was struggling with Ari. He was completely wired and did not want to sleep and after an hour of trying and some big screams she brought him down to join Angelique and I who were enjoying a wine together. You could tell Jahna was exhausted and done but Ari was being very cute. Obviously not important when you are the parent trying to get the kid down!

Finally the others came home, we all went to bed while Ari stayed up for most of the night.