#23 Enigma

[danskjavlarna]

Source details and larger version.

You might flip: vintage magazine covers.

[occultrill]

NOAH23 - 23 PROBLEMS (JAY-Z REMIX)

[sspacegodd]

1) We have 23 chromosomes in our DNA .

2) Shakespeare's birthday is April 23.

3) In the movie, Airport '77, the Mad Bomber sat in seat #23.

4) 23 skidoo is an American slang phrase popularized during the early 20th century.

5) It's also an avant-funk, industrial, post-punk, experimental electronic band whose first album from the early 80s -- it was a musical rendering of some of Aleister Crowley's invocations.

6) Aleister Crowley in The Book of Lies (ca. 1912–13) titled Chapter 23 "Skidoo." "23" and "Skidoo" are American words meaning "Get out".

7) The youngest golfer to win the Masters, Jack Nicklaus, did so at the age of 23.

8) The most well-known Christian psalm is Psalm 23.

9) It takes around 23 seconds for blood to circulate the body on average.

10) On May 23rd 1785, Benjamin Franklin announced his invention of the Bifocals. On March 23rd 1836, the coin press was created, and on September 23rd 1879 the Audiophone, an early hearing aid, was invented.

11) When he was assassinated, Caesar was stabbed a staggering 23 times.

12) Pliny the Elder, the “scientist” and author of numerous scientific literature, was born in 23 A.D.

13) The 23rd element, Vanadium, has an insane melting point of 3470 °F (1910 °C).

14) The 23 Enigma is what they call obsessing about 23's.

I first heard of it from Robert Anton Wilson, who says he first heard it from William S. Burroughs.

Of course, it could just be an example of apophenia --- selection bias.

I choose to believe.

[zengroove]

[Melodic Groove Metal] - Flowers of Evil

Done listening to ya bs. We on our own way and CLEAR IT flowers of evil wilt can't get near it DEATH IN THE AIR, I'll C YA APATHY WITH I NO FUCCING CARE. Who is u? Somebody inside ya mind, watching thousands leave u behind.Treat ya Teammates better before someone shank u n leave u deader. LOOK AT U AND U SHOULD BE IN A GYM NOT BEHIND A COMPUTER SCREEN TRYING TO FUCC WITH ME all day everyday when that whore was Gonna leave u anyway u mad I was 1 of the 20 dudes she been with since she left u telling Truth, u don't even want that bacc dude. Keep on when I see u in real life, nobody else will. Dumbass internet clown trying to push that stone uphill. I Gotta flamethrower for ya flower of evil and u will Genuflect or u will be nothing but ash True. Fucc u internet dude. In real life u weak. U ain't street network bitch. N u not hearing me voice again til u wise up, Cause I'm not wasting me spit, on ya rigged bs. U can eat a ducc when u step on this land mine ya legs gone from ankle up, to knee u flimsy n pHony stucc in jealousy, I'm STRUCC THAT 1 OF YA GIRL DON'T KNOW ME YET SHE WANNA BLOW ME FLOWERS OF EVIL GIVE ME HEAD FLOWERS OF EVIL GIVE ME HEAD FLOWERS OF EVIL GIVE ME HEAD

[noah23]

NOAH23 - DESTINY

[havok777]

Massesect - 23 Enigma - Strange Dark-POP Song written by A.I.about The 2...

[zengroove]

Took me a walk down some country roads. Fresh air with hint of mesquite, warmth to warm me Soul. I feel good yo. All I needed was to get laid so I go too long without I get fuccing cranky walking down that road where everything look the same the South is me flame wraps her arms around me flowing n the left lane. Times have changed pot holes n tags a past stain wiped away by Southern rain. Dice still ROLL not roll over this country still owes the soldier without whom we wouldn't have shit. A candle wic unlit. Echoes of amber shadows of darkness. A long road for the cold hearted. I channel the Aether before this I started, inspire her on this journey before we embarked it see drunks run over the embankment so I gets a designated so no go thru window onto pavement is called thinking ahead real knowledge make sure u no misled. Walking down the road just flowing, I don't give a fucc where me career is going and that's where the best Art comes from knowing, to let go n harness inner emotional explosion learn to know it Southside country roads lead me home no folding

country roads … | uwhe-arts

[ouroborosorder]

reblog to scare a void stranger fan

[yog-sothoth-official]

this one goes out to all the combination linwood barclay fans/discordians out there

found this thing recently

the trilogy it concludes is very grounded detective thriller. no shady government organisations, drugs, or questioning of reality to be seen. no-one fucks an apple. the murderer is just a guy. aside from the obvious, relatively un-discordian tone. they keep calling it 'the 23 conundrum'. over 1,000 written reviews on goodreads and not a single one even contains the word 'enigma'. NO-ONE HAS MENTIONED THIS ONLINE. did some Investigative Journalism

shit's fucked boys

(the enigma strikes again, i guess)

[aicollider]

Rewriting One Hundred Years of Solitude (Gabriel García Márquez) as Biography in Mystery genre

Title: The Mystery of Macondo: Uncovering One Hundred Years of Solitude Chapter 1: The Enigma of Macondo’s Origins In the small town of Macondo, secrets lurked beneath the surface, weaving a tangled web of mystery and intrigue. Hidden away from the prying eyes of the outside world, the Buendía family had been the custodians of these enigmatic tales for generations. José Arcadio Buendía, the…

[chillinglyadventurous]

The Dungeon Master - Stanford Pines

This gives me the perfect excuse to use that the gif to a post.

Also, I apologize for this. It took me too long to do. I don’t know if any of the D&D stuff is accurate. I did a lot of research, but I’m still confused.

Tags: Shameless flirting, fluff, Dipper being grossed out

The sun had begun to set outside the window of the Mystery Shack, casting a warm orange glow over the living room. You, Dipper, and Ford were seated around the coffee table, character sheets, dice, and figurines spread out in front of you. Tonight was Dungeons, Dungeons, and More Dungeons night, with Ford acting as Dungeon Master. Dipper had his character all set, a cunning rogue with a knack for traps, while you had chosen a sorcerer, one with a lot of charisma.

Ford sat across from you, his sharp eyes glinting behind his glasses as he set up the next scene, his fingers drumming lightly against the Dungeon Master’s Guide. He played a mysterious wizard NPC, powerful, an enigma, the kind of character who kept their motives hidden, much like Ford himself sometimes did.

“You enter the ancient ruins,” Ford began, his deep voice slipping into that smooth, narrative tone. “The air is thick with the scent of damp moss and the lingering traces of forgotten magic. Your party is weary after days of travel, but the wizard with you is ever-watchful. His eyes follow your every move with an intensity that makes it hard to focus on anything else.”

Dipper was already leaning forward, ever the eager player. “I check for traps!”

“You find none. The way ahead appears clear, though the shadows move strangely as if they’re alive.” Ford nodded, rolling behind his screen.

Your turn. You leaned forward slightly, catching Ford’s eye. “I use my sorcery to detect any magical energy nearby.” You gave him a small smile, knowing exactly where you wanted this to go.

Ford raised an eyebrow, clearly picking up on your tone. “Clever. Roll for it.”

The dice clattered across the table and you couldn’t help but notice the way Ford watched you. His gaze was fixed on you, as if mesmerized by the way you moved, the way your face lit up when you rolled a 23. Success.

“You detect magic,” he said, his voice dropping slightly, “but not from the ruins. It’s coming from the wizard himself, the one who’s been by your side this whole time. He notices your gaze and smirks, clearly aware of your suspicions and, perhaps, something else.”

You smiled, fully leaning into the game and into whatever this was between you and Ford. “I step closer to him,” you said, your voice matching his low tone. “I ask him what he’s hiding.”

Ford’s eyes gleamed with mischief. “The wizard smirks back at you, his voice smooth. ‘You’re quite observant,’ he says, his eyes locking with yours, ‘but are you sure you want to know? Some things are best left to the imagination.’” There was a definite spark there, his words meant for more than just the game.

Dipper, less impressed with your banter, sighed. “I’m just going to keep searching for treasure while you two are busy whatever this is.” The boy rolled his eyes.

“My sorcerer isn’t afraid of a little danger,” you said, raising an eyebrow. “I tell him I’m ready for whatever truth he’s hiding.”

Ford’s smile widened, and he leaned forward slightly, drawing you in. “The wizard’s gaze intensifies, intrigued by your boldness. ‘Very well,’ he says, stepping closer, his eyes never leaving yours. ‘Be warned, once you know, there’s no going back.’ He reaches out and takes your hand. ‘Do you still want the truth?’”

There was no mistaking the heat between your characters or between you and Ford. Your face grew red, but you played it cool, refusing to break the moment. “I hold his hand,” you said, holding Ford’s gaze, “and I tell him I’m not afraid.”

Ford’s voice dropped to almost a whisper. “The wizard’s smirk fades into something more serious. ‘Then come closer,’ he says, his grip on your hand tightening slightly. ‘I think we’re just getting started.’”

“Oh, come on! Are we ever getting to the treasure room, or is this just going to turn into some weird romance novel?” Dipper groaned, louder this time, pulling you both out of the moment.

Ford chuckled, finally breaking character, though there was still that spark in his eyes. “Patience, Dipper,” he said, glancing at you with a soft smile. “Sometimes the best rewards aren’t found in treasure chests.”

You returned his smile, the air between you charged with something unspoken, something you both felt. Whatever this game was, it was clear now that the flirtation between your characters wasn’t just part of the story. It was real and it was building toward something you were both more than ready to explore and, tonight, it felt like this story was only just beginning.

The sun was now dipping lower beyond the horizon, casting longer shadows through the windows of the Mystery Shack. Dipper, growing increasingly impatient with your and Ford’s subtle and not-so-subtle flirting, shuffled his character sheet around with a sigh.

“You know what,” Dipper said with an exasperated sigh, I’ll just keep looking around while you two finish whatever it is this is.”

Ford gave a small, amused grin, clearly enjoying Dipper’s discomfort and rolled for Dipper’s action. “You find a concealed passage behind one of the moss-covered columns leading deeper into the ruins,” he narrated. “The air coming from it is colder and you can hear faint whispers, but you can’t make out the words.”

“Perfect,” Dipper hooped, eager to move the adventure forward. “I lead the way.”

You, however, weren’t done with Ford’s wizard just yet. “Before we follow,” you interrupted, eyes flicking back to Ford, “I turn to the wizard again. There’s more I want to know.”

Ford’s attention shifted back to you, and it was clear he was still in character. “The wizard arches an eyebrow, intrigued by your persistence. ‘You are a curious one,’ he says and steps closer to you. ‘What more could you possibly want to know from me?’”

You didn’t miss a beat. “I tell him, ‘I want to know your true intentions. You’ve been guiding us this whole time, but I can’t shake the feeling you’ve been withholding something important. Why help us at all?’” Your voice took on the weight of your character’s curiosity, but you were also digging a little deeper, probing at the unspoken connection between you and Ford.

Ford leaned back slightly, clearly thinking through his response, but the gleam in his eyes suggested he was enjoying this just as much as you. “The wizard’s expression softens before he smiles again, a touch of something almost affectionate in his voice. ‘Ah, you see through me more than I expected. My intentions aren’t entirely selfless, but let’s just say that helping you may benefit us both.’”

He paused, letting his words hang between you. You couldn’t help but feel like the conversation was more than just about your characters. It felt personal, like Ford was saying more than what was on the surface.

“While you two have your deep conversation, I head down the passage.” Dipper cleared his throat dramatically, breaking the moment.

Ford turned his attention to Dipper, rolling for the rogue’s stealth. “You move quietly through the narrow passage,” his voice returned to the narrative, but his eyes still flicked back to you occasionally. “The walls are covered in faint, glowing runes, but, as you proceed, you notice that the air is getting colder and the whispers are growing louder.”

“I press on, keeping my dagger ready.” Dipper nodded, focused now.

Ford’s tone shifted back into his more intense Dungeon Master mode. “As you reach the end of the passage, you come to a circular chamber. In the center, there’s an old stone pedestal and resting on it is an orb glowing with a blue light. The whispers are coming from it. You feel a strange pull like it’s calling to you.”

Dipper’s eyes lit up. “Okay, now we’re talking! I approach the orb, but I’m careful not to touch it just yet.”

Ford nodded, keeping the tension alive. “As you get closer, the pull becomes stronger. You sense great power, but also great danger.”

“I follow into the chamber,” you said, your sorcerer now on high alert. “Seeing the orb, I cast magic detection to sense any hidden dangers.”

Ford glanced at his notes, rolling behind the screen. “You detect an incredibly strong magical presence, something ancient and far beyond what you’ve encountered before. The orb seems to be connected to the very fabric of reality itself and tampering with it could have unpredictable consequences.”

Dipper, always the bold adventurer, grinned. “I’m still going to touch it.”

“Wait!” You reached across the table as if trying to stop him, but it was too late.

Ford grinned mischievously, clearly enjoying this moment. “The moment your hand touches the orb, everything shifts. The room around you begins to warp. The stone walls twist and spiral like they’re being pulled into another dimension. You feel your body being lifted off the ground, and the voices in your head grow louder.”

“Uh oh.”

“Then,” Ford continued, “a sudden force yanks you back, pulling you away from the orb. You stumble backward. When you look up, it’s the wizard standing there, his hand raised, having cast a spell to protect you.”

You looked at Ford, eyebrow raised, clearly impressed. “I turn to the wizard and say, ‘I think I owe you my thanks, again.’”

Ford, still in character, gave you a sly grin. “‘I told you I was here to help,’ the wizard says, ‘but I can’t always protect you from the consequences of your actions.’” He leaned in slightly, his gaze locking with yours. “I seem to have a special interest in keeping you safe.”

The flirting was unmistakable now. Dipper’s groan was equally loud as he slumped back in his chair. “I can’t believe this is happening in the middle of an adventure! Are we adventurers or what?”

You laughed, but your focus stayed on Ford. “What can I say? My sorcerer has a thing for mysterious wizards.”

Ford’s smile deepened. “It seems the feeling is mutual.”

[zengroove]

Groove Metal - Stacking Stones (Instrumental)

A whisper to a walk ALL GLOVES OFF NO ESCAPE BREAK WHAT'S IN YA WAY Hold to ya own code to that's what u owe like water that flow OVER LOST OVERTIME LAND OF DYING OVERDRIVE THis is how I survive Deathmetal AND CLOODSHOT EYES I will not be ya sacrifice I AM NOT CHRIST. Just staccin stones in a mf FLASHTRANCE CHAOS THE AMBIENCE Death is what we all know eventually staccin up ETERNITY Neutral Balanced OVERDRIVE OVERLOAD LET IT AALLLL GO!

[noah23]

NOAH23- PLASTIC SURGERY

[batty-pham]

Daily fic rec master post!

BatPham/DPxDC

October

Oct 1 - But I Want to Be Let In, Not Out

Oct 2 - Robin's Egg

Oct 3 - Shadow of a Bat

Oct 4 - Life, Death, and In Between

Oct 5 - One Fall, Two Rise

Oct 6 - Barely Surviving in a World Antithetical to My Existence

Oct 7 - Stalking Astronauts: Gotham's Latest Social Media Craze!

Oct 8 - There! That's the Ghost Who's Been Stealing My Shit

Oct 9 - I'm King Boo

Oct 10 - A Second Life

Oct 11 - Phantom Children: Redux

Oct 12 - Have you heard of Danny Wayne

Oct 13 - Hollow

Oct 14 - Danny's New Batty Family

Oct 15 - The Curious Case of D. Grayson

Oct 16 - Breaking news!

Oct 17 - The Kings Coffin

Oct 18 - Ah, Sunflower

Oct 19 - Contractual Obligations

Oct 20 - Close enough to be whole again

Oct 21 - Raise Hell

Oct 22 - Three Vigilantes and a Pile of Parenting Books

Oct 23 - Adoption Runs in the Family

Oct 24 - thirty-odd days of chasing an enigma

Oct 25 - Ghost Kings and Gotham Bats

Oct 26 - A King in Arkham

Oct 27 - TWINcognito mode

Oct 28 - A Little overshadowing never hurt anyone

Oct 29 - Vertical Limit

Oct 30 - Deja Vu

Oct 31 - Rigor Mortis

[city-of-ladies]

Japan’s fifth empress regnant, Genshō (680-748), ruled after her mother, Empress Genmei. Like her mother, she was a protector of culture and a reformer.

From Mother to Daughter

When Empress Genmei abdicated in 715, she passed the throne to her daughter instead of her sickly and too-young grandson. This created a unique case in Japanese history, marking the Nara period as the pinnacle of female monarchy in Japan. Unlike previous female sovereigns, Genshō had never been married before.

Her reign marked the height of the Nara state. One of her major achievements was the compilation of the Yōrō code in 718, a faithful copy of the earlier Taihō code. It was widely distributed throughout the country, ensuring effective central administration. This code became the legal basis of government for the next two centuries.

Cultural Contributions

Like her mother, Genshō made significant cultural contributions. In 720, the Nihon Shoki, a work aiming to produce a national history of Japan and the imperial family, was completed and officially sanctioned. Using diverse sources such as Chinese and Korean documents, government records, and house journals, it covered a longer period than the earlier Kojiki, including the reign of Empress Jitō, in a scholarly tone.

Interestingly, the two chronicles linking the imperial family to the sun goddess Amaterasu were sanctioned and promoted by female rulers.

Retired Empress

Genshō spent nine years on the throne. She stepped down in 724 to make way for her 23-year-old nephew, Emperor Shōmu (701-756). Unlike her mother, Genshō did not become a nun. She assumed the title of Daijō Tennō (or "retired emperor") and remained active for another 24 years.

My Ko-Fi

Further reading 

Shillony Ben-Ami, Enigma of the Emperors Sacred Subservience in Japanese History

Tsurumi Patricia E., “Japan’s early female emperors”

Aoki Michiko Y., “Jitō Tennō, the female sovereign”,in: Mulhern Chieko Irie (ed.), Heroic with grace legendary women of Japan

[honeymark]

𝐎𝐔𝐑 𝐒𝐓𝐎𝐑𝐘 | 이동혁

Every relationship comes with a story. This is ours.

𝐄𝐏𝐈𝐒𝐎𝐃𝐄 𝟎𝟓 ; in which you & Haechan tell your respective sides of your love story.

# 𝑫𝑼𝑹𝑨𝑻𝑰𝑶𝑵 :: 17 minutes (~3.3k words)

# 𝑾𝑨𝑹𝑵𝑰𝑵𝑮𝑺 :: dark thoughts, insecurities

『 The video opens with a shot of Haechan walking into the studio and holding the door open for Y/N. As she walks into the studio, Haechan takes her hand and leads her to the set. The set is white, with two white chairs seated across from each other, a white table, a set of white earbuds, and a set of white noise-cancelling headphones. Haechan takes a seat in the chair to the right, while Y/N sits in the chair across from him. 』

“Can you introduce yourselves?”

Y/N: “Hi, my name is Y/N, I’m 23 years old, and I'm a grad student studying social work.”

Haechan: “I’m Haechan, also 23 years old, and I make music.”

“How long have you been together?”

Y/N: “For almost 8 years now.”

Haechan: “And we’ve been engaged for 1.” (smiles)

“How did the two of you meet?”

Y/N: “We met our first year of high school, right?”

Haechan: (nods) “In the storage room on the 3rd floor.” (smiles) “Y/N was the class president, and I was the crazy delinquent that always caused her trouble.”

Y/N: (chuckles lightly, then shakes her head) “Stop telling everyone you were a delinquent. Someone’s gonna make up a weird rumor or something. The most you did was show up late to class.” 

『 Haechan shrugs. 』

“What was your first impression of each other?”

『 The video cuts to Haechan putting in the earbuds, then sliding the noise-cancelling headphones on over his ears. 』

《 HER SIDE 》

Y/N: “My first impression of Donghyuck...was that he broke a lot of rules.” (chuckles) “Back then, our high school had a really strict dress code; we had to wear our uniforms a certain way, and we weren’t allowed to wear makeup or dye our hair or get any piercings or use any accessories...but he never wore his uniform properly. He got his ears pierced, and he was always dyeing his hair different colors. Red, brown, blonde, silver...doing all of that left a bad impression on the teachers, but he didn’t care, and that was something I really didn’t understand. I also didn’t understand why he showed up late to class every day, or why he disappeared during lunch, or why he never stayed after to help with clean up duty. There were a lot of things that I didn’t know about him.” (pauses) “But I can confidently say that I know him the best, now.” (smiles) “The reality is that Donghyuck is the kindest, funniest, most hardworking and considerate person that I know. I wish I knew that about him sooner.”

『 The video cuts to Y/N putting in the earbuds, then sliding the noise-cancelling headphones on over her ears. 』

《 HIS SIDE 》

Haechan: “Y/N was...like an earthquake. Literally.” (smiles, softly) “Other than the fact that she was our class president, I didn’t know anything about her. We never talked in class, which, like, why would she talk to someone like me in the first place, you know? Like, we're a walking juxtaposition. But anyways, the first time I ever met Y/N was in the storage room on the 3rd floor of our main school building. It wasn’t being used anymore, so it ended up becoming my napping place during our lunch break. I didn’t think anyone else knew about it...so I almost screamed when I woke up to Y/N shaking my shoulders.” (chuckles) “I thought I was in serious trouble, but she didn’t seem fazed at all when I woke up. She just...she said that class had started...and then walked out. Nothing else.” (laughs) “She changed my world after that. Completely.”

《 BOTH SIDES 》

Haechan: “What’d you think of me?”

Y/N: “You were an enigma.”

Haechan: (smiles) “How so?”

Y/N: (shrugs) “You just...went out of your way to break the rules, even though you knew it left a bad impression on everyone. I didn’t get why you did those things. Well, I do know, but back then, I didn’t.”

Haechan: “Did it leave a bad impression on you, too?”

Y/N: “No, the opposite, to be honest. I thought you were fascinating.” (smiles) “What did you think about me?”

Haechan: “I thought you were an angel.” (chuckles) 

Y/N: “You did? But you keep telling everyone that you thought you were in an earthquake when we first met.”

Haechan: (laughs) “Because it’s true! You don’t know how scared I was when you woke me up!”

Y/N: “Then why’d you think I was an angel?”

Haechan: “Because you’re that beautiful.”

『 The entire studio falls silent. Y/N stares at Haechan, then turns to the PD. 』

Y/N: “Next question, please.”

『 Haechan laughs. 』

“How did you become friends?”

《 HER SIDE 》

Y/N: “On that particular day, when we met for the first time, our teacher had asked me to look for something in one of the unused storage rooms, but the only thing I’d found was Donghyuck taking a nap in the corner. I didn’t think much of it; I just thought that he was tired. I got what I needed and headed back to class, but even after class had started, he still wasn’t back. I thought that he might’ve been asleep, so I went back to wake him up then returned to class.”

Y/N: “I guess he must’ve been really alarmed when I woke him up because he came up to me after class that day, which I thought was weird since he usually didn’t stay around after classes finished. He asked me to keep it a secret ㅡ the fact that he took naps during our lunch break. I didn’t really know why it was a big deal, but I knew it was probably an important secret to keep, so I didn’t tell anyone about it. I just continued waking him up after our lunch break was over.”

Y/N: “One day, when I went back to wake him up, he was already awake. I was going to go back to class, but we ended up talking for a little bit, instead. It wasn’t a real conversation or anything ㅡ it was more like small talk ㅡ but then that became a regular thing. Instead of coming to wake him up, I’d meet him in the storage room, and we’d eat lunch together. Sometimes he’d take a nap afterwards, but I’d just study and then wake him up whenever class was about to start.” (smiles) “It became our little rendezvous.”

《 HIS SIDE 》

Haechan: “I...don’t really know. It just kind of...happened. Ever since she found me in the storage room that day, she’d come by right before our break ended to wake me up. We wouldn’t even really say anything to each other, she’d just come in, shake me awake, tell me that class was starting, then leave. Like, every day.” (laughs) “I guess my body got used to it, because I’d start waking up before she’d even stop by. One time, I was already wide awake by the time she came back, so we just...talked a little bit. I asked her how she was, she said she was good, and that was pretty much it.” (smiles) “It became a regular thing. She started coming earlier and earlier, and eventually we’d just spend the entire lunch break together.” 

Haechan: “She was completely different than how I’d imagined her to be. I expected her to be really boring and straight-laced, since she was our class president, but she wasn’t. At all. She asked me so many questions, almost in a childish way. She asked if my piercings hurt and what color I was going to dye my hair next and why I wore such uncomfortable-looking shoes.” (chuckles) “It was...nice. She didn’t treat me like some sort of problem child, and she didn’t judge me, even though I was so different from her. She listened to me and respected my decisions and even brought an extra lunch for me, since I didn’t have one to bring with me. She was the first person in our entire high school to treat me like a regular human being.”

《 BOTH SIDES 》

Haechan: “What made you keep coming back to the storage room after that day?”

Y/N: (shrugs) “You always showed up late to class after our lunch break, and I kind of figured that it was because you were oversleeping, so I felt like I needed to go back and wake you up.”

Haechan: (claps) “Wow, as expected of our class president. What an admirable sense of responsibility.”

Y/N: (smiles) “Of course I took that responsibility seriously. It gave me a reason to see you.”

Haechan: (gasps, exaggeratedly) “You had a crush on me? Oh my god! You had a crush on me!”

Y/N: “We’re literally engaged, Hyuck.”

Haechan: “Still, though! How embarrassiㅡ”

Y/N: “Next question, please.”

『 Laughter can be heard around the studio. 』

“When did you know that you’d fallen for your partner?”

《 HER SIDE 》

Y/N: “I didn’t realize my feelings for him until after he stopped talking to me altogether. He didn’t look at me when I greeted him that morning, and he didn’t show up to the storage room, either. It was like I didn’t exist in his world anymore. He just...stopped acknowledging me.” (pauses) “You know, I’m socially aware enough to know not to talk to someone if they stop talking to me first, but there was just something about the whole situation that felt...off. Maybe it was how heartbroken I felt, or maybe it was how heartbroken he looked whenever he ignored me. Either way...I knew that I couldn’t just leave things as they were. I think that’s when I really realized that I’d fallen for him. I wouldn’t have felt so compelled to run after him if I hadn’t fallen for him, right?”

Y/N: “As the class president, I had the privilege of reading the school announcements in front of the entire class in the mornings. So I ㅡ (chuckles) ㅡ I basically brought the class together just to say, ‘Lee Donghyuck, if you don’t come to ‘The Room’ today, I’m going to be mad at you. Personally mad at you.’ And...he showed up.” (smiles) “Looking back on it now, I shouldn’t have put him on the spot like that, but I...wanted things to be okay again.” (pauses) “So we talked about it, cleared up some misunderstandings, said too many embarrassing things...and we’ve been inseparable since then.”

《 HIS SIDE 》

Haechan: “I think I always knew, as cringy as that sounds.” (smiles) “Back then...I was going through a lot. A lot of things happened with the family business, and it ended up falling through, so I ended up having to step up and help support my family.” (pauses) “It took a lot out of me. I was only 15. I was just entering high school. And I already knew that the teachers didn’t like me and that most of my classmates were afraid of talking to me. I mean, I couldn’t blame them, though. My part-time job started after school, so I had to leave right after classes ended. And I’d always have to take my younger siblings to their school, so I usually ended up being late to class.” (pauses, again) “Well, it doesn’t matter what my excuses were; I was never someone who followed the rules. I always wanted to stand out somehow, and I guess the teenage-Donghyuck thought that going against the grain was the best way to get that attention.”

Haechan: “But Y/N saw past all of that. At first, it was...scary. I knew that I liked her, but I also knew that being with her would be bad for her reputation, so I tried to distance myself from her. I ignored her at school, I stopped going to the storage room, I didn’t answer her texts...but no matter how hard I tried to distance myself from her, she always found a way back into my heart.” (pauses) “She said that she didn’t care about what other people thought and only cared about being with me. She asked me not to push her away anymore...so I stopped. Because I knew that I’d completely fallen for her, and that she was going to find some way to end up right by my side, right where I wanted her to be all along.”

『 Haechan smiles, then holds up his left hand. On the fourth finger sits a platinum band. 』

Haechan: “And now she’s going to be by my side forever. Kind of cool, right?”

『 Y/N glances at his elevated hand, then holds up hers as well. On her fourth finger sits a thin platinum band with a beautiful round diamond in the middle. An “aw!” can be heard off-camera. 』

《 BOTH SIDES 》

Haechan: “Wasn’t it troubling for you?”

Y/N: “Hm? What do you mean?”

Haechan: “I’m sure that the teachers started to, you know, treat you differently after we started going out.”

Y/N: (shrugs) “They said some really annoying things at first, but my grades didn’t change ㅡ actually, mine stayed the same, yours improved ㅡ so they stopped mentioning it to me.”

Haechan: “But you heard what everyone said about us, right?”

Y/N: “No? What’d they say?”

Haechan: “That I was bullying you into dating me.”

Y/N: “...People actually said that? How’d you know?”

Haechan: “How could you not know? They’d whisper to each other whenever we’d walk by.”

Y/N: (shrugs, again) “I was too focused on you to notice.”

『 Haechan pauses, then buries his face into his hands and lets out a short, high-pitched squeal before looking back up. 』

Haechan: “How’re you able to say something like that with such a straight face?”

Y/N: “Huh?”

『 Laughter can be heard from behind the camera. Haechan smiles, then shakes his head. 』

Haechan: “Nothing, baby. Please don’t ever change, Y/N.”

Y/N: “O-Okay, I’ll try not to.”

“What’s it been like watching your partner grow up?”

《 HER SIDE 》

Y/N: “Watching him grow ㅡ and also growing with him ㅡ has been so fun. He’s found the means to pursue what he really loves doing, and watching that side of him grow more and more present has been really rewarding and inspiring. He’s still a troublemaker, and sometimes he drives me crazy, but the way he approaches new challenges and navigates his problems and reaches out to other people for help is so...mature. Thinking about it even now makes me feel so proud...but it also makes me realize how far he’s come. And while I’m so, so happy for him...there’ve been a lot of moments where I had to stop myself from thinking really bad thoughts. Things like, ‘I don’t deserve to be by his side’ or ‘Maybe he’d be happier without me’...I thought about those things a lot. And it didn’t help that I was going through a slump, at the time.” 

Y/N: “Unlike Donghyuck, I didn’t know what I wanted to do with my life. I did well in school, not because I liked school, but because my parents wanted me to do well. I didn’t have any hobbies, I didn’t have any goals, I didn’t even really have any strong likes or dislikes. I just...this sounds really bad, but I felt like a waste of space. So that, in combination with all of the other insecurities I was feeling, made me feel really scared. I felt like I was being left behind.” (pauses) “But things have gotten better. I’ve switched to a major that I really like, I have a plan for the future, and I’m even engaged now.” (smiles) “I’m confident that things will turn out okay.”

《 HIS SIDE 》

Haechan: “It’s been...crazy, to be completely honest.” (pauses) “I always knew that Y/N would succeed in whatever she wanted to do. Like, there was no space in my mind where I ever doubted that. And I guess it led to...some type of inferiority complex, I guess.” (sighs) “I know that she would never compare me to other people, but I compared myself to others all the time, and I think that insecurity started getting the better of me. I was scared, honestly. I wasn’t in college, I was barely making enough money to pay for my half of our rent, I was literally just making music out of our room all day. I wasn’t like the guys in her department. I couldn’t provide for her or take her anywhere nice. I just...” (sighs, again) “Her loving me meant everything to me. I didn’t need anything else, I just needed her. But the longer we were together, the less confident I felt about whether or not she felt the same way.”

Haechan: “Luckily, things got better after I signed with my agency and started making actual money. I didn’t feel as insecure or jealous about her guy friends, I wasn’t as scared of her leaving me...things became okay again, and I think it’s because I started learning to acknowledge myself first.” (smiles) 

《 BOTH SIDES 》

Y/N: “You’ve changed a lot since we were kids.”

Haechan: (smiles) “I hope that’s a good thing.”

Y/N: (nods) “It is. Even just looking at you like this reminds me of how much of a grown-up you’ve become.”

Haechan: “It’s not just me, though. You’ve changed ㅡ well, I think ‘evolved’ is a better word.”

Y/N: “Like a Pokémon?”

Haechan: (laughs) “Yeah, like a Pokémon.” (smiles) “I feel like you’re more confident in your identity now.”

Y/N: (nods) “I think so too. I at least feel like I have some sort of purpose now.”

Haechan: “I haven’t mentioned this to you before, but I think it’s really cool that we’ve gotten to grow together. Because it’s not just you-doing-you and me-doing-me, we’ve grown a lot just by being together.”

Y/N: (smiles) “I think so too. Sometimes it really felt like we only had each other, and I think being able to rely on each other like that really helped us mature into who we are right now.”

Haechan: “It’s not something that’s going to stop, either. You promised you’d stay with me for the rest of my life, remember?”

Y/N: (laughs) “I do remember. Please continue to take care of me.”

Haechan: (laughs) “Likewise.”

“What’s something that you want to say to your partner?”

《 HER SIDE 》

Y/N: “Lee Donghyuck. Haechan. My full sun. I...don’t even know where to start.” (chuckles, softly) “You are the best thing that’s ever happened to me. And I know that sometimes you worry about what other people think of our relationship, but just knowing that you love me already means more than enough to me.” (smiles) “When we first met, I felt like...I felt like nothing. I felt like a waste of space. But meeting you...my everything changed after meeting you. It’s like...my world became so colorful and beautiful after meeting you. And I can’t thank you enough for that.”

『 Y/N opens her mouth to speak again, but tightens her lips together before using her sleeves to wipe away at the tears flowing down her cheeks. Haechan scoots his chair closer to hers, then reaches over to take her hand in his. He offers a soft but comforting smile, which Y/N returns. 』

Y/N: “Thank you for loving me, Lee Donghyuck. Thank you for supporting me through my toughest days and for listening to my silly stories and for teaching me how to love the worst parts of myself. I love you. More than you’ll ever know.”

《 HIS SIDE 》

『 Haechan takes a moment to watch Y/N as she scrolls through her phone to choose a song. Y/N, realizing that Haechan is watching her, looks up. She sets her phone on top of the table and reaches out to hold his hand. Haechan smiles. 』

Haechan: “Y/N, I don’t think meeting you was a simple coincidence. You came into my life when I needed you the most, and you’ve changed my life in ways that I didn’t know were even possible for someone like me. To you, I must’ve been the biggest loser, but you saw past all of the ugly parts of my personality and accepted me for who I am. That meant everything to the me from back then. It still means everything to me, even now. The fact that you’ve continued to love me and somehow accepted my proposal...it means everything. I love you. I will make you happy for the rest of our lives.”

『 The interview ends. Y/N stands up first and helps Haechan out of his chair. Haechan pulls Y/N into a hug and nuzzles his face into the crook of Y/N’s neck. Y/N smiles softly and runs her fingers through his hair as she whispers something into his ear. The two share a sweet kiss before pulling away and bowing to the staff. They step off-camera and exit the studio. The video fades to black. 』