#EXCUSE ME MR CHOI SEUNGCHEOL

[lockburn-castle]

super

seventeen singapore "right here" world tour day 1

check out day 2 -> here

let me know if you want more content from the Singapore concert !

[bitchlessdino]

the one where the stranger you fake date turns out to be your childhood friend (m) Teaser

A Valentine collaboration hosted by @camandemstudios and their masterlist

Pairing: office manager!seungcheol x childhood friend!fem!reader Genre: romcom, smut, fluff, slight angst Teaser word count: 1.2k rating: R Summary: In a world where relationships mattered just as much as money or status did, Seungcheol found himself wrapped up with a person from twenty years ago. He didn't know how you remembered him, and frankly he didn't know how he remembered you, but the way you've reentered his life, like a gust of wind, he didn't think he'll ever forget you now.

The crowd of Seungcheol’s colleagues all started harmoniously greeting you, their eyes lighting up and genuine smiles forming for the first time since encountering their superior outside the office. You were quick to entertain them, never leaving Seungcheol’s side as his arm essentially became a leash, lugging the thirty-year-old man around like a purse dog, and being at the receiving end, he was too stunned to object.

“Hi, you must work with this guy right here,” you grinned, nudging into Seungcheol with the crown of your head.

“How do you know Mr. Choi, Miss…” Jihoon began to ask, curiosity radiating off of him as much as it did everyone else.

“Well,” you took Seungcheol’s hand out of his pocket, interlocking your fingers together, earning a bigger reaction than a simple thousand-yard stare from the office manager. “I’m Seungcheol’s girlfriend.”

Everyone involved in the conversation stared at you as if you had grown a second head and Seungcheol looked at you as if you had grown a third.

[…] It’s when he realized for once in his life he feared someone, and it was this smiley little creature that lied through their teeth as easily as they breathed.

“Okay looks like it's all good. Looks like we can finally be in business. What will be our first move, considering you are the first to have proposed the idea?”

“Yes, well, that will be the office party the company is hosting. Usually, everyone is required to attend, and I've skipped many events like it–”

“And you want me to come with you to make you look good for your team?”

“No, I want to make you an excuse so I don’t have to go.”

You furrowed your brows. “That’s counterproductive. Literally the opposite of what I’m here for.”

“But neither of us would have to go.”

Your fingers curled up into your palms, forming halfhearted fists before you unfurled them, trying to cherry-pick the right words to get through this tinman’s head. “You have to realize that simply having a girlfriend is not enough for people to like you. It’s about talking you up, showing off your redeeming qualities. Getting people to understand Seungcheol the person, not Seungcheol the boss.”

“Are you proposing I have no redeeming qualities?”

“You were trying to use me as an excuse to avoid going to a company party. What were you going to do with that time on your own?”

“That’s none of your concern.”

“This is exactly why you need my help, Cheol,” you reminded, feeling like you’re lecturing a cat about not scratching up the couch.

He gave a light grimace, “You don’t need to call me that childish abbreviation. I have a whole name.”

You leaned over from your seat, staring over at him wide eyes, fluttering your lashes and feigning a lovestruck grin. “I need to give you a nickname if we’re dating. What about Babe? Baby? Honey? Lover?”

“Seungcheol is just fine,” he answered, unaffected, not bothering to look past his laptop.

Your smile dropped in an exaggerated scowl as you pulled yourself back down, crossing your arms. “How have your other girlfriends dealt with you?”

Seungcheol suddenly had nothing else to say, his eyes started darting everywhere but you, leaning back against the booth and preoccupying his mouth with his scalding hot vanilla latte.

Your eyes narrowed at him suspiciously as the silence persisted and the click-clacking of his keyboard, “Seungcheol, you have dated before, right?”

His eyes flitted back to you like a flickering flame before it went out, directing themselves back to his laptop, typing away at something at a more urgent pace, or looking as if he did.

“Oh my god. You haven’t.”

“Silence,” he finally said.

“You…You haven’t been on a date with anyone? With a woman? Or even a man?”

He rolled his eyes, groaning under his breath. “Don’t make a scene.”

“It’s nothing to be ashamed of,” you reassured, “of course, I'm just very surprised…and confused. For 30 years of your life?”

“It was never something I prioritized.”

“Middle school. High school. College,” you began listing off.

“I went to an all boys school, and college does not leave much time for dating when you’re getting your Bachelor’s and Master’s.”

You waved your hands bizarrely. “So what? You worked your entire life?”

“Yes.”

“…Hmm.”

“What?”

Curiosity killed the cat, so the cat never came to know Seungcheol and apparently he never came to know the cat. “So if you’ve never been on a date, your intimate life…?”

He raised his brow, and sighed, realizing he was doing that a lot today. He closed his laptop, placing his hands neatly in his lap. “That goes without saying, but yes. I haven’t been intimate with anyone.”

“Right,” you responded, processing the information in real time.

“Are we done here? Is this game of 101 questions over with?”

“Just one more.”

“What?”

“What are you so big for then?”

“They’re watching…” He sang, eyes glazing over off in the distance.

You slightly turned your head to watch his view, seeing a few of your friends off in the distance, coming from the beach or slightly in view from the poolside, that could easily catch you in whatever act you and Seungcheol looked like you were up to. However, at this point, everyone seemed to be in their own world, talking, laughing, minding their own businesses. You weren’t sure if it mattered.

You snickered, resting your hands on his shoulders and readjusting your knees as they dug into the seat cushions. “You’re gonna go this far?”

“Yep. I have to look like a good boyfriend.”

You squinted at him suspiciously. “You had a lot to drink, didn’t you?”

“I don’t know?” He mumbled dumbly, his dimple indented extra deep.

You shook your head in disbelief, dipping your head forward and momentarily colliding with his in a headbutt. You reacted as expected, rubbing your forehead at the slight ache you caused, but from the lack of tact of the receiver, your assumptions were true. “You're so drunk right now.”

His hand rose to your hair, patting it down before finding your ear. As he thumbed over the curve of the helix, he could feel the heat bloom between his fingers. “You look so pretty right now.”

“Cheol,” you tried getting up, but he sat you back down, gripping you by your hips until they met his.

“Stay,” he quietly pleaded, his eyes glistening under the moonlight staring back at you with utter need that you have no choice but just melt right back in his touch.

You couldn’t believe the situation happening right now, and neither could your heart in your chest as it started beating at twice its usual rate. All you could focus on was his hands as they traveled up your body, skimming through the thin fabric of your shirt, following up your spine as he let out soft, ragged breaths.

You pressed the pads of your fingers a little deeper into the meat of his shoulders, “S-Seungcheol–”

“Do you know what will really convince them?” His voice is unrecognizable, deep and indulgent.

You made the ghost of a whimper as a finger travelled back down your body as you responded earnestly. “I don’t think we have to do much more convincing. I think they believe us when we say we’re a couple.”

“But you know what will really convince them though?”

You were scared to even ask, thinking a single word would burst this bubble you have no idea how you got caught in. “What?” you asked softly.

[thedensworld]

Sound Of Vengeance | C. Sc

Genre: action, angst, arranged marriage au!

Summary: after happily living an arranged marriage, he found out that his charismatic, flawless, and admirable wife has a secret hiding from him.

Warning: mention of violence, car accident, blood, knife stabbing, gunshot, stuff.

Seungcheol watched you from his position, his ears tuned to the men’s conversation, but his eyes were fixated on you, following your every move. He noted how your gaze lingered on the speaker’s lips, how your expression shifted subtly with every word. That smile—poised, eloquent, and effortlessly charming—spread across your face, leaving no one in the room unaffected. A sharp pang of jealousy coursed through him. His grip tightened around the glass in his hand, the cool surface grounding him against the rising heat in his chest. It was supposed to be his. His lips. His gaze. The attention you dared to lavish so intensely on anyone but him.

"How do you think, Seungcheol?"

His father's voice snapped him out of his thoughts. Seungcheol turned slightly, meeting the older man’s expectant eyes. The glass of wine in his father’s hand swirled lazily, a stark contrast to the tension in Seungcheol's.

"Don't pressure him, Mr. Choi," another man interjected with a chuckle. "The younger generation these days—they’re different. They won’t rush into having children immediately."

Seungcheol’s jaw tightened as he registered the conversation. Children. Family. An image of you flashed through his mind, your soft laughter echoing in a distant memory. His shoulders squared as he finally replied, his voice calm but carrying an unmistakable edge.

"We’re working on it," he said smoothly, casting a brief glance your way. "My wife and I want to have a child as soon as possible, but with business being so hectic, it’s been a challenge."

The men nodded in understanding, their attention shifting back to him. Seungcheol seized the opportunity to steer the conversation away.

"Speaking of challenges," he continued, his tone shifting effortlessly, "how’s the harbor, Mr. Kim? Has your son resolved the issues with the government yet?"

Mr. Kim let out a disgruntled sigh. "It’s been nothing but delays," he grumbled, shaking his head.

Seungcheol leaned in slightly, his presence commanding yet unassuming. "Delays can be costly," he remarked. "If you need additional support, let me know. I’ve had some success navigating similar situations."

As the conversation deepened into business matters, Seungcheol's gaze flickered back to you. You were laughing now, your head tilting slightly as you responded to someone. His chest tightened again, the earlier jealousy morphing into something deeper—something unspoken, buried under the weight of his responsibilities.

But for now, he played his role, the perfect husband in a room full of expectations.

Seungcheol excused himself from the group, his movements purposeful as he made a beeline toward where you were standing. You turned toward him, sensing his presence before he even spoke, and the corner of his lips twitched in satisfaction. Without hesitation, his hand found its place on your waist, a silent claim that did not go unnoticed.

“Choi Seungcheol, Ji Y/n’s husband,” he introduced himself to the man in front of you, his voice firm and polished.

The man extended a polite smile. “I’m Hong Jisoo. I attended your wedding a few months ago. Nice to meet you.”

Seungcheol nodded curtly, his sharp gaze scanning the man before replying, “From Hong Property, I presume?”

Jisoo chuckled softly, shaking his head. “That’s my father and brother. I work in a hospital,” he clarified, pulling out a business card and offering it.

Seungcheol accepted the card, his eyes briefly scanning the text. Dr. Hong Jisoo, Psychiatry Department. His lips curved slightly, though his grip on your waist tightened almost imperceptibly. When he glanced up, his gaze landed on you, noticing how your eyes flickered to his lips, lingering for a moment longer than necessary. Just like every day. Just like how it was supposed to be.

“I wasn’t aware my wife was acquainted with a psychiatrist,” he remarked, his tone casual yet laced with an underlying edge.

“Old friend,” you replied smoothly, your tone light as you cast a brief glance at Jisoo.

That glance didn’t sit well with Seungcheol.

His thumb gently brushed against your side, a subtle reminder of his presence, as he straightened slightly. “I’m sorry, but we have to leave,” he said, his voice firm yet polite. His attention shifted to you, softening just enough to mask the possessiveness simmering beneath the surface. “Love, should we go home?”

You nodded, offering Jisoo a polite smile. “It was nice catching up, Jisoo. Take care.”

“Likewise. Have a good evening,” Jisoo replied, his tone warm yet reserved.

Seungcheol didn’t wait for further pleasantries. With his hand firmly on your waist, he guided you toward the exit, his strides confident and unwavering. The air between you carried a tension he couldn’t quite articulate, but the quiet sense of satisfaction in reclaiming your focus was enough for now.

Seungcheol used to be just a man obsessed with his work, a relentless workaholic. His life revolved around business—expanding, negotiating, multiplying his family’s wealth tenfold. Relationships? They were an afterthought, a distraction. Blind dates came and went, each one predictable and forgettable.

That was, until his parents introduced him to you.

He approached the blind date with little expectation, assuming it would end like all the others: polite small talk, forced smiles, and no sparks. But with you, everything was different.

The moment your eyes fixated on him, he felt it—a current of electricity that surged through his entire being. The way your gaze roamed over him, studying him with quiet intensity, left him unnerved in the best way. You started with his eyes, then trailed downward, your focus lingering on his lips just a second too long. That moment branded itself into his memory, leaving him restless and preoccupied for a week.

He couldn't get you out of his mind. And that was how he agreed to an arranged marriage, a decision that surprised even himself.

Now, months later, he lay beside you in the dim morning light, the quiet intimacy of your shared space filling the air. As he felt you stir awake in his arms, he opened his eyes, his thoughts drifting to the night before. He had been a little rough, a little too consumed by the jealousy that burned in his chest when he caught you looking at someone else’s lips.

“Did I go too rough with you last night?” he murmured, his voice husky and low, thick with concern as he tightened his embrace around you.

You squirmed slightly, shifting to face him, your sleepy eyes meeting his. He searched your expression, his brow furrowing as silence stretched between you.

“Was I too rough? Are you okay, love?” he asked again, his worry evident now.

You shook your head slowly, your lips curving into a soft smile. Reaching up, your hand cupped his cheek, your thumb brushing against his skin as you pulled him closer. Without a word, your lips met his in a tender, reassuring kiss, melting away the tension in his chest.

When you pulled back, your voice was gentle, teasing. “Was something wrong last night? You seemed… different.”

Seungcheol hesitated, the tips of his ears flushing red as he avoided your gaze for a moment. How could he admit that the fire in him last night was born of jealousy? That the mere thought of your attention lingering on someone else’s lips had driven him to near madness?

Instead, he exhaled softly and shook his head, a sheepish smile tugging at his lips. “No,” he lied, his hand sliding up your back to rest between your shoulder blades. “I just can’t help myself around you.”

You laughed lightly, the sound warm and soothing. “Good,” you whispered, leaning in to kiss him again, your lips brushing against his like a promise. Because, as much as Seungcheol tried to play it cool, you already knew—you had him completely undone.

"We’re going to be late if we don’t start getting ready now," you told Seungcheol, glancing at the clock with mild urgency.

He chuckled, his deep voice laced with mischief as he leaned closer. “Five more minutes,” he murmured, his hand brushing yours before pulling you along with him toward the bathroom. A teasing grin spread across his face. “Together, of course.”

Later, as the two of you settled at the dining table, Seungcheol joined you with a fresh, clean look and a calm demeanor that betrayed none of his usual morning rush. “I’ll drive you,” he said casually, sipping his coffee.

You blinked, looking up from your plate in surprise. “What?”

“I’ll drive you,” he repeated, meeting your gaze. “And I’ll pick you up today.”

His firm tone left little room for debate, but the soft warmth in his expression made your heart flutter. You quickly nodded, taking the last bite of your sandwich with a smile tugging at your lips.

At the office, Seungcheol was all business. The moment he stepped through the door, his trusted right-hand man, Lee Jihoon, was already waiting with updates and a detailed briefing.

“Today’s schedule is packed,” Jihoon began, keeping pace with Seungcheol as he strode toward his desk. “The shipping updates are as follows: the cargo from Incheon has cleared customs, and the team is preparing the distribution reports. The Hong Kong shipment—”

“What’s the status on that?” Seungcheol interrupted, his sharp eyes flicking toward Jihoon.

“It’ll arrive tonight,” Jihoon replied promptly. “Do you want to oversee it yourself?”

Seungcheol shook his head as he sat down, loosening his tie slightly. “No need. I trust you to handle it. Just make sure everything is documented thoroughly.”

Jihoon nodded, jotting down a quick note. “Understood, sir.”

As Jihoon left to attend to the shipment, Seungcheol leaned back in his chair, glancing briefly at his watch. His thoughts wandered to you, wondering how your day was going and reminding himself to clear his evening to pick you up as promised. Balancing business and you wasn’t always easy, but for him, it was a priority he wouldn’t compromise.

*

There were a few strict rules in your office, and everyone at Ji Art Gallery knew to follow them without question.

Rule one: never speak to you with your back turned. Communication had to happen face-to-face, ensuring nothing was misunderstood.

Rule two: click the light switch whenever someone entered your office. You always had a mountain of tasks, and multitasking was not your forte. The light switch was an unspoken signal to gain your attention without disrupting your workflow.

Rule three: lunch hours were sacred. During this time, you watched the news alone. No one was allowed to enter, except for your family. It was an unbendable rule, one you wished could explain itself.

To everyone else, you were a perfectionist boss, firm but fair. What they didn’t know was that behind the rules lay a quieter truth—you are deaf, relying on observation and lip-reading to navigate the world.

It wasn’t perfectionism that demanded your routines. It was survival.

As you worked, engrossed in reviewing a painting’s exhibition proposal, the door to your office suddenly opened, and your mother stepped in unannounced. She clicked the blinds shut with a sharp movement before tossing a branded paper bag onto your desk.

"Here," she said brusquely. "Wear this for your next intercourse with Seungcheol."

You glanced at the bag, your expression calm despite the storm brewing inside. The name of an expensive lingerie brand was emblazoned across it in bold letters.

"I’ll send some herbal remedies to your house later,” she continued, her tone cold and matter-of-fact. “Make sure you get yourself pregnant within the next two months."

She flopped onto the couch in your office, crossing her legs elegantly as if she hadn’t just barged in to dictate your life. Her sharp eyes focused on you, scrutinizing every detail of your reaction—or lack thereof.

"Why don’t you say something? You’re deaf, not mute," she snapped, her words slicing through the air.

You sighed softly, your eyes fixed on her lips as you watched each word fall out of her mouth with precision and purpose.

"Yes, Mother," you replied, your voice measured, betraying none of the turmoil inside.

A smile curved on her lips—a smile that never reached her eyes. "Be a good girl for me and your stepfather, Y/n. You have a lot to repay. No one wants to raise a deaf child," she said cruelly, standing up with the air of someone who believed they were owed the world.

Her words were poison, but you stood stoically, refusing to let her see the cracks she left behind.

"But," she added, adjusting the hem of her designer jacket, "once you have the Choi family heir growing inside you, we’ll all be fine. So, make sure you do your job."

Without waiting for a response, she turned on her heels, the sound of her expensive shoes clicking against the floor echoing in your office. The door slammed shut behind her, leaving a suffocating silence in her wake.

You sat still, staring at the paper bag she had so carelessly thrown onto your desk. The weight of her expectations pressed against your chest, but you forced yourself to exhale, straightening your shoulders.

Every day, you practiced watching the news, focusing intently on the movement of lips to perfect your ability to read them. It was a quiet, relentless routine, your way of ensuring no one would ever discover your deafness. You wanted people to communicate with you comfortably, unaware of your secret.

It was a weakness you’d been forced to accept 15 years ago. The result of a tragic car accident that not only robbed you of your hearing but also took the life of your stepsister.

You still remembered waking up in the hospital, disoriented and frightened. The first thing you saw was your mother, her face twisted with rage as she screamed at you. Her mouth moved furiously, but you couldn’t hear a single word. You could only guess at her accusations, but you were certain of one thing—she wished it had been you who died instead of your stepsister.

That was the turning point.

From that moment on, you became the scapegoat of the Ji family, the one burdened with their collective frustrations and failures. Surviving that accident, instead of being a blessing, turned into a curse. They treated your survival as an inconvenience, a debt you were expected to repay with unwavering obedience.

“You survived, his daughter didn’t,” your mother’s lips had said once, her voice forever silent to you but still haunting in its clarity. “So make yourself useful.”

From then on, you learned to carry their expectations silently, shouldering the weight of their contempt while striving for perfection. You worked tirelessly, honing your skills, building your reputation, and hiding your deafness as if it were a crime.

Being the "goat" of the Ji family meant you were their sacrifice, their scapegoat, but it also fueled your determination. If survival was your punishment, you would ensure it wasn’t in vain. You would rise above their cruelty, even if it meant enduring the pain of their indifference and the burden of their demands.

You weren’t just surviving anymore—you were fighting. And every day you practiced, every lip you read, every rule you enforced in your life was proof of that.

Every moment of intimacy with Seungcheol was blissful, a haven where the world outside ceased to exist. Even though you couldn’t hear the sounds he made—the soft gasps, the whispered words you imagined he might say—you felt every touch, every movement, as if they spoke directly to your soul. But you always wondered if he felt the same way. Did he share the same satisfaction, the same warmth, the same euphoria at the peak of it all?

You wished you could hear him. Just him.

Seungcheol always looked at you with such tenderness, his gaze soft and unwavering. It made your heart ache with guilt. The guilt of knowing that you and your family had trapped him in this marriage. The guilt of hiding your secret from him—your deafness, the one part of you you couldn’t bring yourself to reveal. And the guilt of knowing your family was draining his wealth under the guise of a business arrangement.

Every time he smiled at you, every time he touched you like you were his world, the weight of your lies grew heavier.

How could you allow yourself to be happy in a marriage built on deception?

The warmth you felt with Seungcheol was tainted by the cold reality of your circumstances. He deserved honesty, love without strings, a partner who could give him everything. And yet here you were, bound to him by a contract you had never wanted but couldn’t escape.

Every night you lay beside him, listening to the silence that enveloped you, longing for a world where your love could be as pure as the way he looked at you.

*

Seungcheol was always amazed by how poised and graceful you carried yourself in public. As a Ji, it was expected, but being married to you had brought a constant stream of surprises he never anticipated.

One of those surprises came during a business meeting involving Wen Junhui, the son of a long-time Chinese producer Seungcheol had worked with for years. Since the business had been handed down to Junhui, negotiations hadn’t been as smooth as before. Seungcheol hoped that meeting in person during Junhui’s visit, accompanied by his wife, would be the perfect opportunity to revive their partnership.

But what Seungcheol didn’t expect was what happened next.

Junhui’s wife, Daisy, had been deaf since birth. It was something Seungcheol had learned in passing but hadn’t given much thought to—until now. As he turned to look for you, he saw you standing with Daisy, engaging her effortlessly in sign language.

His breath hitched. You moved your hands with such confidence and fluidity, your expression lighting up as Daisy responded with equal enthusiasm. Neither Junhui nor Seungcheol could hide their surprise.

“Your wife is incredible. I didn’t expect this,” Junhui said, clinking his glass lightly against Seungcheol’s. “Daisy rarely gets to meet someone who can sign fluently. Thank you for bringing her; she’s finally relaxed for the first time in a long while.”

Seungcheol offered a polite smile, but inwardly, he was stunned. “Thank you,” he said simply, his eyes drifting back to you.

Junhui glanced at his wife before turning back to Seungcheol. “I heard you wanted to negotiate the pricing of our products.”

Seungcheol’s attention snapped back to the conversation. He nodded eagerly. “Yes. We haven’t found a supplier with the same quality as yours. I’d like to propose that we continue the terms we had before. Would you have time tomorrow? I’ll bring the paperwork.”

Junhui thought for a moment before nodding. “Sure. But how about bringing your wife as well? Daisy seems comfortable around her, and it would be nice for her to have someone to talk to while we discuss business.”

“Of course,” Seungcheol agreed, still taken aback by what he’d just witnessed. “I’ll speak to her about it.”

As Junhui moved to speak with someone else, Seungcheol found his gaze lingering on you. He had never known you knew sign language, let alone that you were so fluent. Seeing you connect with Daisy in a way so few others could made him feel something deeper—a mixture of awe, pride, and a touch of guilt for underestimating just how remarkable you truly were.

As Seungcheol mingled with a group of businessmen, his mind was suddenly pulled elsewhere when he realized he couldn’t spot you anywhere. A twinge of unease crept in, but he brushed it off—until his phone vibrated in his pocket. Glancing at the screen, he was surprised to see your caller ID.

You never called.

In fact, you hated calling, even in emergencies. It was a well-known rule that anyone needing to contact you had to text or call your secretary, Seo Myungho. For you to call directly was entirely out of character.

Seungcheol excused himself from the lively conversation, weaving through the crowd toward a quieter area. Pressing the answer button, he brought the phone to his ear.

“What’s wrong, love? Where are you?” His voice softened, filled with concern.

The voice that responded wasn’t yours. It was sharp and unfamiliar, carrying a sinister undertone that sent a chill down his spine.

“‘Love?’ Very funny, Choi Seungcheol. Didn’t your father ever teach you not to care too much? Makes you weak, vulnerable.”

Seungcheol froze, his jaw tightening. The words hit like a taunt, a deliberate jab meant to rattle him.

“Who is this?” he asked, his voice dropping to a cold, controlled tone.

“Relax. I’m just a fan of your wife. She looks stunning in black tonight. I’d love to—”

“Where is she? Why do you have her phone?” Seungcheol snapped, his composure slipping as his eyes darted across the ballroom.

A low laugh came through the receiver. “You know, secrets can be dangerous, Seungcheol. Especially the ones your lovely wife is keeping from you.”

“Stop playing games! Tell me where she is!” His voice was edged with desperation now.

The call ended abruptly, leaving Seungcheol gripping the phone tightly, his knuckles turning white. His heart pounded as he scanned the room again, his mind racing.

“Ji Y/n!” he called out, his voice booming across the corridor.

There was no sign of you. The air felt heavier with each passing second, the tension clawing at his chest. He dialed your number again, but the call went straight to voicemail.

Just as he rounded a corner, his hurried steps brought him face-to-face with someone. Relief flooded through him when he realized it was you.

“Cheol?” you asked, startled by his sudden embrace. His arms wrapped around you tightly, his breath uneven as though he’d been holding it in.

“Thank God,” he whispered, burying his face into your shoulder for a moment.

“What’s going on?” you asked, confused by his reaction.

He pulled back slightly, his eyes scanning you as if to ensure you were unharmed. “Where were you? Where’s your phone?”

You blinked, frowning at his intensity. “I don’t know. I can’t find it,” you admitted, rummaging through your clutch only to find it empty.

Seungcheol’s expression darkened. Without another word, he pulled out his phone and called Jihoon. “Get the car ready. We’re leaving now.”

The ride home was tense and silent, the weight of his unspoken thoughts filling the space between you. You glanced at him repeatedly, but his stern expression gave nothing away. His grip on your hand was firm, almost as if he feared letting go.

Once home, Seungcheol ensured you were safely tucked into bed. “Get some rest. I’ll handle this,” he murmured, his lips brushing your forehead.

After he left, you stared at the closed door, unease creeping into your chest. Something was wrong, but you knew better than to press him when he was in this mood.

Meanwhile, Seungcheol retreated to his office, his hands trembling slightly as he poured himself a glass of whiskey. The liquid swirled in the glass, much like the chaos in his mind.

He dialed Jihoon again. “Trace her phone immediately. Whoever has it was at the event. Secure the guest list and cross-check everyone.”

Jihoon hesitated. “That’s going to take time, sir. We’ll need to involve third parties.”

“I don’t care how long it takes. I want answers,” Seungcheol growled, his voice low but seething with authority.

After ending the call, he sank into his chair, his mind running over every possible angle. His fingers tapped rhythmically against the armrest as he stared at the glowing city skyline through his office window.

“Who are you?” he muttered under his breath. The question gnawed at him, the weight of it pressing heavily on his chest.

And more importantly, why would anyone dare to use the person he loved most to threaten him?

*

Seungcheol jolted awake, his breath hitching when his hand reached out to find the other side of the bed cold and empty. A sense of dread gripped him as the events of last night resurfaced in his mind. The mysterious phone call and its ominous implications lingered like a heavy shadow, refusing to let him rest. He’d only managed to get some sleep because you had come into his office and practically dragged him to bed. But even now, his thoughts raced—who was the caller? What secret could they possibly be referring to?

His heart pounded as he sat up, scanning the room for any sign of you. Then, a faint sound from the bathroom caught his attention. He was out of bed in an instant, his strides purposeful as he approached the door.

“Y/n?” he called, his voice laced with concern as he pushed the door open.

There you were, crouched in front of the toilet bowl, your body wracked with discomfort as you emptied the contents of your stomach. The sight made his chest tighten.

“You okay, baby?” Seungcheol took a step closer, but you weakly waved a hand, signaling for him to stay back.

“Don’t… I’m fine,” you muttered between breaths, your voice strained.

Ignoring your protests, Seungcheol was by your side in seconds. He knelt beside you, his large hand gently soothing the back of your neck while his other gathered your hair to keep it out of the way.

“Shh, it’s okay,” he murmured softly, his concern palpable.

When you were finally done, he helped you to your feet, steadying you as you rinsed your mouth at the sink. His hand remained firm on your waist, his protective instincts in full swing.

“Talk to me,” he said gently, guiding you back to the bed. “What’s wrong? Do you want me to call the doctor?” His brows knitted in worry as he tucked you in, his hand brushing stray hairs from your damp forehead.

You shook your head weakly. “I think it’s just food poisoning from last night’s dinner,” you murmured, offering him a faint smile in an attempt to ease his concern.

Seungcheol let out a small chuckle, though the tension in his eyes didn’t fully dissipate. “Food poisoning or not, I’m calling Dr. Kim just to be safe. No arguments.”

You sighed but didn’t resist, too exhausted to protest further.

“And no work for you today,” he added firmly, sitting on the edge of the bed as he reached for his phone. “I’ll let them know you’re not feeling well. Just focus on resting, alright?”

You nodded, your eyes fluttering shut as his soothing presence eased some of the discomfort. As he dialed the doctor, his gaze lingered on you, the lines of worry deepening on his face.

Jihoon’s phone buzzed just as Seungcheol finished his meeting with a client. He glanced at the screen before answering the call from Dr. Kim, a slight frown crossing his face as he listened. Seungcheol, sitting across from him in the car, noticed the shift in Jihoon’s expression.

"Yes... she is? I see." Jihoon’s voice was calm, but Seungcheol's instincts told him something was off.

After a beat, Jihoon ended the call and turned to Seungcheol, his face betraying nothing but the weight of the news he was about to deliver.

"Your wife is pregnant, sir."

Seungcheol’s heart seemed to stop, his entire body going still as the words hit him like a cold wave. But it wasn’t just the pregnancy that unsettled him. The next words were the ones that sent a flicker of anger through his veins.

"But your wife is in the office now," Jihoon continued, his voice measured. "She has an important meeting with the curator that she couldn’t leave."

Seungcheol’s pulse quickened, the fury within him rising. The news of your pregnancy only added to the questions swirling in his mind, but the fact that you were in the office—at this very moment—was what pushed him over the edge.

"Drive me to her gallery," Seungcheol ordered, his voice dangerously cold.

Jihoon nodded, without a word, and signaled to the driver to make a sharp turn. Seungcheol’s thoughts raced as the car sped toward the gallery. His heart pounded with a mix of emotions—anger, confusion, and a deep, gnawing worry.

Seungcheol arrived at your office just in time to see your psychiatrist friend, Dr. Hong, leaving. His heart skipped a beat as he watched the man walk out, the realization settling uneasily in his chest. He turned to Myungho, your assistant, who had stepped forward to greet him.

"I heard she had a meeting with the curator. Is the curator... apparently also a psychiatrist?" Seungcheol asked, his words barely more than a murmur as his thoughts raced.

Myungho looked momentarily taken aback, his eyes widening before he answered, "Are you referring to Mr. Hong, sir?"

Seungcheol shook his head, frustration mounting as the weight of the situation pressed down on him. The events from last night, the shocking news of your pregnancy, and the fact that you had still gone to work this morning despite his request—everything was colliding in his mind, leaving him on edge.

"Is she free? Can I see her?" Seungcheol asked, his voice quiet but firm.

Myungho nodded without hesitation, immediately leading him to your office. He announced Seungcheol’s arrival before stepping out, leaving the two of you alone.

You looked up from your desk as Seungcheol entered, your gaze softening at the sight of him. "Seungcheol, you're here," you said gently as you stood up.

He approached you slowly, his fingers reaching to tuck a loose strand of hair behind your ear. His voice was softer than usual, a tenderness beneath the usual calm. "I told you not to work," he murmured, his gaze searching yours.

You met his eyes, guilt flickering across your face. You bit your lip slightly, feeling a pang of regret. "I'm sorry. But I had a meeting with a foreign curator earlier. I'm glad it went well," you said, offering him a small, reassuring smile.

Seungcheol’s expression softened as he leaned in and kissed your temple, his lips lingering for a moment longer than usual. "I heard about it," he said quietly, his smile widening. "We're going to be parents." The excitement in his voice was undeniable as he took your hands in his. He looked at you with a warmth that melted some of the tension in the air.

You smiled weakly, leaning into his embrace as your head rested against his chest. His comforting presence grounded you, even as the weight of the moment settled over you both.

"You’re going to be an amazing mother, love," Seungcheol whispered, his hands gently cradling you as you closed your eyes, basking in the sincerity of his words. The world outside the two of you seemed to disappear as the reality of your future together began to take root.

*

You stepped into your childhood home, the weight of the news you had to share pressing heavily on your chest. Your mother’s wide grin greeted you before you even crossed the threshold, her hands moving wildly as she signed with exaggerated enthusiasm. "Oh, look who’s finally here," she signed, her expression one of mock excitement. "What’s the good news, Y/n?"

You hesitated for a moment before signing, "I’m pregnant."

Her hands froze mid-air, her face flickering with surprise, but it didn’t take long for that emotion to morph into something much darker. She straightened up, her sharp gaze locking onto you. "Pregnant?" she signed, her movements quick and sharp. "Of course, you are. The Choi heir..."

You fought to steady your breath, trying to brace yourself for the storm you knew was coming. But your mother’s expression softened into something far too calculating. "This will fix everything, Y/n. You’ve done your part, finally. You’ve done something right," she signed, her eyes now gleaming with something almost predatory, like she was already envisioning what this could do for her.

The sting of her words was familiar, yet still sharp. You looked away briefly, trying to gather your thoughts before signing back, "This isn’t what I wanted."

Her laughter was sharp and cruel. "Oh, please," she signed, her tone dismissive, as if your words had no weight at all. "What else could you possibly want, Y/n? You’ve got the Choi family wrapped around your finger. You’re carrying the heir. " Her hands moved with exaggerated flourishes, her gestures mocking the sincerity of your feelings. "You should be thanking us."

You could feel the bile rising in your throat, but you bit your lip, refusing to let her see how much her words stung. "I didn’t ask for this," you signed again, more forcefully this time.

She shook her head, her expression almost pitiful. "Of course, you didn’t," she signed, her tone dripping with sarcasm. "Who would, right? A girl like you—deaf, unremarkable, never good enough for anything more than a marriage of convenience. But look at you now. You’ve done it. You’ve secured your place."

You bit your tongue, trying not to let the tears sting at your eyes. She had always been this way, using your deafness to remind you of how little she thought of you.

Her next words were even sharper, and you could feel the coldness in every words as she signed, "You’ll never be anything more than a stepping stone for your husband's wealth and power. Look at you, finally fulfilling your role as a good little Choi wife."

You flinched at the bitterness in her words, but you held your ground, trying to keep the hurt from showing on your face. It was clear now that she wasn’t speaking to you as a daughter but as a means to an end. You were nothing more than a transaction in her eyes.

You crossed your arms tightly over your chest, signing with as much defiance as you could muster, "I’ll make my own future, with or without your help."

She rolled her eyes, signing back with a mocking smirk, "You think you’ll be anything without us, Y/n? The Choi family is your ticket. Don’t you see? You’ve got your future set, and this baby—this baby—is the final piece. You’ll be taken care of for the rest of your life, all thanks to us."

The words hit you like a slap to the face, but you didn’t react. You didn’t need to give her the satisfaction of seeing you break.

With a final glance at her, you signed, "I’ll make my own choices. You can’t control me anymore."

Your mother’s lips curled into a sardonic smile, her eyes never leaving yours. "Oh, sweetie," she signed, her tone dripping with mock sympathy. "You never did have any real choices, did you?"

The finality in her words hit you hard, but you turned your back on her before she could say more. It didn’t matter anymore. You had made your decision long ago. The Choi family may have given you a life of comfort, but at what cost?

You left her house feeling emptier than when you arrived, the weight of your family’s expectations a bitter reminder of the path you had been forced onto.

"You've been silent. You don’t like the food? I can ask the cook to make you something else," Seungcheol’s voice was soft but laced with concern as he noticed you staring blankly at your plate, barely touching the food. You shook your head, offering a weak smile in his direction, though it didn’t reach your eyes.

"It’s just... I don’t feel like eating," you mumbled, your voice barely a whisper as the weight of everything you were feeling pressed down on you.

Seungcheol sighed, his expression tinged with worry as he leaned forward, his eyes never leaving you. "Do you have anything in mind that you want to eat? You have to eat, love," he urged gently, his tone firm yet filled with care.

You shook your head once more, the knot in your throat tightening as you stood up from the dining table, your legs feeling heavier than usual. "I’m going to bed. My head hurts," you said, avoiding his gaze as you walked away, the words feeling suffocating in your chest.

Seungcheol didn’t push further, though his worry was palpable. He nodded quietly, watching you retreat to your shared bedroom. The soft click of the door closing behind you left an unsettling silence in the air, one that lingered in the room long after you were gone.

As soon as the door was shut, the weight of everything that had been building up inside you crashed over you. You let the tears fall, each one a painful reminder of the life you had been forced into, of the expectations you could never seem to escape. The facade you’d held up for so long finally crumbled, and you were left in the quiet emptiness of your own despair.

Till when do I have to endure this kind of life?

The question echoed in your mind, unanswered, as the tears continued to flow.

*

Seungcheol received a package that morning, its plain exterior offering no hint of the chaos it would bring. At first, there was nothing suspicious about it. But as he opened it, his stomach churned. Inside was a pair of women’s underwear, carefully folded, accompanied by a note that sent a cold shiver down his spine:

"Do you like it when she stares at your lips? I like it too."

Seungcheol crumpled the paper immediately, his fists tightening around it. His heart raced, not from surprise, but from the overwhelming disgust he felt. He knew exactly what the note was referring to—and he hated it. Hated that everyone found your gaze just as captivating as he did. It made him furious, this feeling of possessiveness creeping over him.

"Who sent this?" Seungcheol demanded, holding up the package to Jihoon.

Jihoon glanced at the contents, his brow furrowing with concern. Without hesitation, he dialed the security team. Moments later, he turned back to Seungcheol, his face tight with frustration.

“They said it was just a courier,” Jihoon informed him.

Seungcheol scoffed in disbelief, tossing the crumpled paper onto the desk. "A courier? That’s all they have? I want more than that."

"Can we track the sender?" Seungcheol pressed, his voice sharp with impatience.

Jihoon took the package from his hands, his eyes scanning it briefly. "I’ll get on it. I’ll let you know what I find," he assured him.

Seungcheol wasn’t satisfied, but he knew there was little else to do but wait. He ran a hand through his hair, the frustration building in his chest. There were still so many questions left unanswered.

“What about the person who took my wife’s phone? Have you found them?” Seungcheol asked, his voice hard.

Jihoon handed him a file, his tone quieter now. "The phone was found near the hotel the next day. Whoever took it must have gotten rid of it immediately. It’ll take some time to track the voice, though."

Seungcheol flipped through the file, his gaze hardening as he processed the information.

“Are you familiar with the voice?” Jihoon asked, sensing Seungcheol’s growing unease.

Seungcheol shook his head, frustration bubbling inside him. "No. I don’t think they’re from anyone around me. And as for the Jeon family… Haven’t heard from them since Wonwoo got married."

He said it with a bitterness that was hard to miss. The Jeon family, once a rival of the Choi family, had always been a thorn in his side when it came to business dealings. And now, with a situation like this unfolding, it didn’t feel like a coincidence. Seungcheol couldn’t shake the feeling that there was more to this than simple revenge or some random act.

"Whoever’s behind this is going to regret messing with my family," Seungcheol muttered under his breath.

The same threats arrived with relentless frequency—through emails, packages, and anonymous phone calls. But Seungcheol had long since stopped letting them consume him. None of it mattered as long as he knew you were safe with him. He’d doubled the security around your gallery and fortified the guards at his house. With his child growing inside you, his protective instincts had only intensified. You and the life you carried were his priority—his entire world.

For a while, that mantra kept him grounded. But by the fifth month of your pregnancy, as your belly began to show, the threats took a darker turn. They became more pointed, more unsettling. One email read, “Close her eyes and see what she heard.” Another note taunted, “She’ll never listen.” Each message seemed to inch closer to the secret they claimed to know.

He kept the weight of it all to himself. He couldn’t bear the thought of burdening you. You already endured enough—carrying his child, enduring the discomfort of pregnancy from morning until night. The last thing you needed was to shoulder his fears. No, this was his fight, and he was determined to keep it that way.

“As long as she’s safe.” That was the mantra he repeated to himself every day. It was his anchor, the thought that kept him moving forward despite the shadow looming over him.

“Do you think it could be someone from your past, sir?” Jihoon asked one evening, breaking the silence in Seungcheol’s office. He looked frustrated, just as perplexed as Seungcheol about the source of the threats. Ten years of working together still hadn’t prepared Jihoon for something like this.

Seungcheol leaned back in his chair, rubbing a hand over his face. “I don’t know. I’ve pissed off plenty of people, sure, but nothing to warrant this kind of obsession.”

Jihoon frowned, clearly unsatisfied with the answer. “It doesn’t make sense for this to be random. Someone claims to know her secret. Someone knows you.”

Seungcheol’s jaw tightened. That was the part he couldn’t wrap his head around. He’d always been someone who preferred moving forward rather than dwelling on the past. That was how he lived—how he thrived. But now, the threats weren’t just confusing; they were demanding something he didn’t know how to give.

“I’m not sure what they want. But they’re not getting her. They’ll have to go through me first,” Seungcheol said, his voice low and resolute.

Jihoon nodded, his expression grim. “We’ll figure this out, sir. But the longer it takes, the more dangerous it gets. These messages aren’t empty threats.”

“I know,” Seungcheol said quietly, his gaze hardening. He looked out the window, his hand instinctively resting on his phone in case you called. As long as she’s safe, he reminded himself. That was all that mattered. For now.

*

On your first anniversary, Seungcheol wanted to celebrate with an intimate dinner at home. He hired a renowned chef to curate a fine dining experience and had the house meticulously decorated with flowers and candles. It was meant to be a perfect evening, a celebration of your bond and the life you were building together. You were unaware of his plans, but a single photograph shattered the illusion.

The picture showed your home transformed into a romantic haven, the dining table adorned with delicate arrangements and warm, glowing lights. But as you stared at the photo, your surroundings brought a stark contrast. You were seated in a dim, suffocating room, the air damp and reeking of decay.

Jisoo stood before you, his face illuminated by the faint glow of his phone as he grinned. He closed the device with a soft click, his demeanor unsettlingly calm. You struggled to process the situation, piecing together fragments of memory.

Jisoo had offered to drive you home, assuring everyone—Myungho, the guards, and even yourself—that you were safe in his care. Yet here you were, trapped in a place you’d never seen, with a man you thought you trusted.

"Even like this, you still look pretty," Jisoo murmured, his voice gentle but laced with something sinister. He crouched down to meet your gaze, his hand brushing against your cheek in a mockery of tenderness.

It took a moment for the realization to sink in: Jisoo had kidnapped you. The man who had been your psychiatrist, your lifeline when you lost your hearing, had betrayed you. He wasn’t the kind and attentive figure you had thought; he had been paid by your parents to ensure you stayed functional, nothing more.

"It took me months to get to this point, Y/n, so you better cooperate," Jisoo said, his grin widening. "Or else I’ll reveal everything to Choi Seungcheol."

Your stomach churned as his words sank in.

"A pretty girl like you doesn’t deserve him, to be honest," he added, almost as if he were musing aloud. "But hear me out. You’ll leave him in a month. Come with me, or no one will be able to protect you."

"What are you talking about, Jisoo?" you asked, your voice trembling as your hands instinctively moved to shield your growing belly.

Jisoo chuckled, leaning back as though amused by your confusion. "Don’t act so innocent. I know you didn’t marry him for love. It was all for your family’s benefit."

You froze, his words striking a chord of truth that left you paralyzed.

"The investment the Choi family made into your family’s business—it saved them from ruin. But it wasn’t enough, was it? Your parents wanted more," Jisoo continued, his gaze dropping to your stomach with a flicker of disdain.

"No one wants this baby to disappear except for you and me, Y/n," he said, his tone softening into a chilling whisper. "I can give you the life you deserve, away from all of this."

His words sliced through you, leaving a gaping wound of betrayal. You had trusted Jisoo, confided in him during your most vulnerable moments. He had been there when no one else was, not even your mother. You had believed in his kindness, even supported him when he confided about the pain of losing someone he loved. But now, that same man was holding you hostage.

"You don’t understand, Y/n," Jisoo continued, his expression darkening. "All your secrets—your deafness, your marriage—they’ll all come out eventually. Seungcheol will find out everything. And when he does, he'll destroy you. But you don’t have to wait for that to happen. Leave him and run away with me."

"And if I don’t?" you whispered, your voice barely audible.

Jisoo’s grin faded, replaced by a cold, menacing stare. "Then you and the baby... will get hurt."

Your heart pounded as you sat frozen in the suffocating room, his words reverberating in your mind. The man you had trusted was a stranger, his obsession and bitterness now a threat to everything you held dear. Betrayal tightened its grip around you, suffocating and inescapable. This was not a situation you had ever imagined for yourself, and yet here you were, trapped in a nightmare.

"Happy anniversary, love." Seungcheol’s voice was warm as he leaned down to kiss your temple. You barely managed to stand in front of him, your legs shaky and your heart heavier than ever as Jisoo’s words echoed in your mind.

"Seungcheol will find out everything. And when he does, he’ll destroy you."

Your eyes wandered across the room, taking in the meticulously arranged decorations, the fragrant flowers, and the elegant dinner set for two. The sight should have filled you with joy, but instead, it suffocated you. This wasn’t a celebration. It was a cruel reminder of everything you had been hiding. Every affectionate gesture, every whispered “I love you,” all laced with deceit.

Your chest tightened as you looked at Seungcheol. He stood before you with a loving smile, holding a bouquet in his hands, radiating pure happiness. Yet all you could see was the weight of your betrayal pressing down on you.

"It was all for your family’s benefit." Jisoo’s voice rang in your head, relentless and unyielding. You tried to silence it, but it only grew louder, drowning out the world around you.

Every night, as you lay beside Seungcheol, watching his peaceful figure in the dim light, you were reminded of the lies. The way his chest rose and fell with steady breaths, his features soft in sleep, it made you ache. He was so innocent, so trusting, so undeserving of the darkness you had brought into his life.

"I love you," Seungcheol said, his voice steady and sincere. The three words you feared most hung in the air, piercing through your facade. They weren’t just words to him—they were a promise, a testament to how deeply he cared for you. And you had used that love as a weapon, a means to an end.

Your family’s plan had succeeded flawlessly. They had wanted him to fall for you, to depend on you, to bind him to your family with a child. And now, here you were, carrying his baby, living a life built on manipulation.

"You’ll leave him in a month. Leave him and run away with me." Jisoo’s words were a persistent shadow, haunting every step you took.

You wished you could hear Seungcheol’s voice in this moment, soothing and full of love, reassuring you that everything would be alright. But you couldn’t. The silence in your world was unrelenting, leaving you trapped with only your thoughts and regrets.

And you wished you could hear yourself. Maybe then you would know how broken your voice sounded as tears streamed down your face, how your words betrayed your trembling resolve.

"I’m happy," you whispered, a lie wrapped in fragile sincerity. You weren’t happy—not with this life, not with the choices forced upon you. But you had made your decision. You had chosen to stay, chosen to protect the baby growing inside you, chosen to shield Seungcheol from the pain of the truth.

Because despite the lies, despite the betrayal, you couldn’t bear to hurt him. Seungcheol was the first person to love you without condition, without ulterior motives. And you couldn’t bring yourself to destroy the one person who had shown you what real love could be.

*

Seungcheol came home with his heart pounding in his chest, his mind racing. Earlier that evening, Seo Myungho, your assistant, had paid him an unexpected visit at his office. It was past working hours, but the usually quiet and composed man had come with urgency etched across his face.

"I'm sorry for taking your time, but there's something you need to know," Myungho said, pulling out a photograph.

Seungcheol leaned forward, his eyes narrowing. Myungho placed the picture on the desk.

"I've worked for your wife for years, and my observations have never been wrong," Myungho began cautiously.

In the photograph, you were stepping out of a building with Jisoo, and the timestamp matched the day of your anniversary.

"I was supposed to drive her home that afternoon," Myungho continued, "but Mr. Hong insisted on taking her instead. I followed them. It took them two hours to get home, and this picture was taken while I was tailing his car."

Seungcheol's brows furrowed deeply. "Are you trying to say she's cheating on me?" he asked, his voice tight with disbelief.

Myungho hesitated, choosing his words carefully. "It's not something I can confirm, sir. But I will say this—she hasn’t been the same since that day. If they were involved in an affair, she wouldn’t have told me to stop letting Mr. Hong visit her gallery."

Seungcheol’s jaw clenched as he leaned back in his chair. "What exactly are you insinuating, Seo Myungho?"

After a pause, Myungho finally said what had been weighing on his conscience. "Your wife… I think she’s in danger."

The words hit Seungcheol like a thunderclap.

When he stepped into the house, his voice echoed through the empty halls. "Y/n!" he called. There was no answer. He hurriedly searched every room, his calls growing louder and more frantic.

"Y/n!"

Finally, he made his way to his home office. That’s when he noticed your phone lying on his desk, ringing in response to his calls. The top drawer of the desk, where he kept the bank books, was slightly ajar. His stomach twisted when he realized the bank book with your name was missing.

Unlocking your phone, Seungcheol’s blood ran cold. On the screen was a series of messages, the tone eerily similar to the threats he had been receiving over the past months.

"Leave the house now, or I’ll tell everything about your secret."

Seungcheol’s grip tightened around the phone as he immediately dialed Jihoon. His voice was steady but filled with urgency as he barked orders. "Mobilize everyone. Start searching for her now."

He scanned the phone again, another message flashing on the screen.

"I’ll wait for you at the park near the bank."

Seungcheol sent Jihoon the location before sprinting to his car. He had no doubt now—whoever had been threatening him was after you too.

"My boss… your wife…" Myungho’s earlier words echoed in his mind, the revelation twisting like a knife in his gut.

"She’s deaf," Myungho had said quietly. "She lost her hearing in a car accident. I overheard a conversation between her and her mother once."

Seungcheol pressed harder on the gas pedal, weaving through traffic as Myungho’s voice played on repeat in his head.

"Do you know how much your wife has suffered in this marriage? I thought she found solace in Mr. Hong at first. But then she told me to stop allowing him to visit, and that’s when I realized—he wasn’t helping her anymore."

Seungcheol gripped the wheel tighter, fury and dread clawing at his chest.

"Mr. Hong likes your wife, sir. And I believe he’s the one behind these threats."

The puzzle pieces clicked into place. Jisoo had been manipulating everything, orchestrating the threats, and now he had escalated to targeting you. Seungcheol’s heart raced as he sped toward the park, the weight of the truth pressing down on him.

"What is his deal?" Seungcheol muttered under his breath, frustration bubbling in his chest as he raced toward the park. His thoughts were interrupted by the sharp ring of his phone. Seeing Jun’s name on the screen, he immediately answered, his voice commanding, "Speak!"

"Sir, where are you?" Jun’s voice came through, laced with confusion. "Everyone is in front of Seoul Bank, but we don’t see you or Mr. Lee here."

Seungcheol’s grip on the steering wheel tightened as anger flared in his chest. "It’s the park near SK Bank, not Seoul Bank!" he snapped, his voice booming.

Jun hesitated for a moment, clearly taken aback, before replying, "But sir, Mr. Lee instructed us to gather at Seoul Bank."

Seungcheol’s jaw clenched, his knuckles turning white against the steering wheel. His mind raced as he processed the situation. Why had Jihoon sent his team to a different location? Was it a mistake, or was there something more sinister at play?

"Forget what Mr. Lee said and head to SK Bank immediately," Seungcheol barked.

"Understood, sir. We’re moving now," Jun replied before the line disconnected.

Seungcheol’s mind churned as he pushed the car to its limit. Was there something he was missing? Jihoon was one of his most trusted people, yet this discrepancy felt off. A sinking feeling settled in his chest, whispering that this was more than just a miscommunication.

Every second felt like an eternity as Seungcheol’s thoughts spiraled. Had Jihoon deliberately sent his team elsewhere to buy time? If so, why?

His gut told him the pieces of the puzzle weren’t adding up. If Jihoon was involved in this, there would be hell to pay. For now, all that mattered was finding you.

*

Seungcheol first met Jihoon during the interview for his secretary team recruitment. Even then, he could see the passion and fire in Jihoon’s eyes—a fighting spirit that convinced him this man could help navigate the treacherous waters of the dark business he was trying to expand. Back when Seungcheol left his position at his father’s company to build his own empire, Jihoon had been his first hire, his personal assistant. For the past ten years, they had been inseparable, working side by side through every challenge and victory. Jihoon wasn’t just an employee; he was someone Seungcheol trusted with his life.

But that trust was now hanging by a thread.

Seungcheol’s heart dropped when he saw Jihoon’s car parked by the curb. He hurried over, peering inside only to find it empty. His gaze darted around the area, but there was no sign of Jihoon—and more importantly, no sign of you.

Panic mixed with fury as emotions churned violently inside him. He clenched his fists, his breathing ragged, and immediately dialed Jun. His voice was sharp and commanding when Jun picked up.

“Track Jihoon’s location. Now. He’s missing,” Seungcheol ordered.

“Understood, sir,” Jun replied quickly, not daring to ask further questions.

Seungcheol ended the call, his mind racing. Jihoon had been the first person he’d confided in about the threats. He’d trusted Jihoon to investigate, to handle everything discreetly. But now, the puzzle pieces were falling into place. Jihoon had sent the team to the wrong location deliberately—to buy himself time.

And that could only mean one thing. Jihoon wasn’t just aware of the threats. He was one of them.

A cold realization settled over Seungcheol, chilling him to the core. The man he had trusted for a decade had betrayed him, and now you were in danger because of it.

Seungcheol gritted his teeth, gripping his phone tightly as he fought the urge to call the police. That wasn’t an option, not for him. He’d made the mistake of involving the police before and paid dearly for it. His hands weren’t clean, and he knew better than to invite unnecessary scrutiny into his life.

All he could do now was rely on his people, his resources, and his determination. He couldn’t afford to let emotions cloud his judgment. He had to focus on two things: finding you and finding Jihoon.

And when he did, Jihoon would have to answer for everything. For the lies, for the betrayal, and most of all, for putting you in harm’s way.

A phone call shattered the tense silence as Seungcheol sat in the living room of his parents' house. The air was heavy with shared worry and shock, each family member struggling to process the sudden revelation of Jihoon’s betrayal.

Seungcheol’s spine stiffened the moment he heard the voice on the other end of the line. It was unmistakable—Jihoon. The man who had been his closest confidant for ten years had finally revealed himself.

“Choi Seungcheol,” Jihoon’s voice came cold and calculated, carrying a chilling undertone.

Seungcheol sighed deeply, the weight of realization pressing down on him. “So it’s you,” he muttered, more to himself than anyone else.

A low, mocking laugh echoed through the line, and Jihoon’s voice followed, dripping with venom. “Hong Jisoo did a great job moving Y/n. He’s a better player than I expected.”

Seungcheol gripped the phone tightly, his knuckles whitening. “What do you want, Jihoon? What dragged you into this madness?”

Another laugh escaped Jihoon’s lips, sharper and colder this time. “Beg, Choi Seungcheol,” he hissed. “At least suffer for a bit. That’s what you’re good at, isn’t it? Ruining lives and walking away.”

“Stop speaking in riddles!” Seungcheol barked, frustration and desperation mingling in his voice.

But Jihoon’s next words stopped him cold. “You killed my mother that night,” Jihoon spat, his voice trembling with years of suppressed rage. “Do you even remember? Or is it just another ghost buried under the weight of your family’s sins?”

Seungcheol froze, the accusation hitting him like a freight train. “I never killed anyone! Especially not a woman!” he shouted, his mind scrambling to make sense of Jihoon’s claim.

Jihoon let out a bitter laugh, his tone growing harsher. “Oh, maybe it wasn’t you. Maybe it was your father. Honestly, I don’t care anymore. Your entire family is a wreck!”

“Jihoon,” Seungcheol started, trying to piece it together. “What are you talking about? What happened to your mother?”

Jihoon’s voice cracked with raw emotion. “You could’ve saved her, Seungcheol. You were there. You saw her lying in the street after that accident. Instead of helping, you let your driver speed off. You left her—my mother—alone to die at the crossroad near Jongno.”

The memory stirred faintly in Seungcheol’s mind, a shadowy fragment from years ago. A car accident. A desperate night. Could it be true? Had his family been responsible? Was this all Jihoon’s revenge?

Seungcheol swallowed hard, his voice low and steady. “Jihoon, if what you’re saying is true, let’s talk about it. Let’s fix this.”

But Jihoon’s response was icy. “Fix it? You can’t fix what’s already broken, Choi Seungcheol. Your family destroyed mine, and now it’s my turn to take everything from you.”

There was a pause on the line, a dreadful silence that made Seungcheol’s heart race.

“Let’s see if your wife survives this,” Jihoon said, his voice eerily calm.

And then, a deafening gunshot rang through the phone.

“Jihoon!” Seungcheol yelled into the receiver, his voice cracking with panic. But the call had already ended, leaving him in a suffocating void of silence and dread.

*

"You promised not to hurt her!" Jisoo shouted, his voice trembling as he held up a gun, his eyes wide with panic. He had just witnessed Jihoon aiming the weapon at you, your unconscious form sprawled on the cold floor. At the last second, Jisoo lunged, shoving Jihoon’s hand away. The gun fired, the bullet ricocheting off the far wall, narrowly missing you.

Jihoon snarled in frustration, swinging his arm to shove Jisoo aside. Jisoo stumbled and fell hard onto the floor, the gun now pointed directly at him. Jihoon’s gaze burned with fury.

“This is your fault,” Jihoon hissed, his voice like ice. “You left her phone at Seungcheol’s house. Do you realize how close he came to finding us?”

Jisoo glared up at him, his expression a mixture of anger and betrayal. “This isn’t about her! What you want is Seungcheol! There’s no need to hurt her!”

Jihoon let out a cold, humorless chuckle. “Seungcheol made me lose someone I loved. Isn’t it only fair he loses his? Who told him to have a weakness in the first place?”

“You’re insane, Jihoon,” Jisoo spat, his voice rising with disbelief. “This was never the deal!”

“I make the deal,” Jihoon said with a cruel smirk. “I decide how it plays out.”

Jihoon had pieced everything together when he discovered who had called Seungcheol using your phone that fateful night. It was Hong Jisoo—your old friend and, ironically, your psychiatrist. Jihoon’s curiosity was piqued. Why would an old friend go so far as to threaten his friend's husband?

The answer came quickly: Jisoo was in love with you. He had been ever since you became his patient. Jihoon saw the truth in Jisoo’s eyes—the way he lingered on your name, the way he spoke about you with barely contained bitterness. Jisoo had been waiting patiently, hoping for his chance. But that chance never came. Your family, powerful and calculating, had arranged your marriage to the Choi family. To someone far wealthier, far more influential than Jisoo could ever be.

Jisoo felt betrayed. Everything he’d done for you, all the time he’d spent caring for you, meant nothing in the end. His motives became clear: he wanted to end your marriage at any cost. And when Jihoon offered an alliance, Jisoo jumped at the opportunity, even if it meant working with someone as dangerous as Jihoon.

The final piece of Jihoon’s plan clicked into place when he saw you. The day of your blind date with Seungcheol, Jihoon had been there, driving the car to pick up his boss. He noticed you speaking with someone in sign language, your hands moving fluidly as you signed, “I can sign because I’m deaf.”

It was a fleeting moment, but it struck Jihoon deeply. His mother had been deaf too, and in that instant, he saw the vulnerability Seungcheol had brought into his life. Jihoon began to watch closely, waiting for Seungcheol to fall for you, and when he did, Jihoon knew he had found the Choi family’s Achilles’ heel.

You.

Seungcheol’s love for you had turned you into his greatest weakness. Jihoon’s plan had been carefully orchestrated, each move designed to exploit that vulnerability and make Seungcheol pay for the sins of his family.

And now, standing over Jisoo with a gun in hand, Jihoon felt the culmination of his years of planning. The question was no longer whether Seungcheol would suffer—it was how much.

Jisoo’s hands trembled as he slowly pushed himself off the ground, his gaze locked on Jihoon, who stood menacingly with the gun aimed at him. The weight of betrayal, desperation, and fear swirled in Jisoo’s mind.

“I won’t let you do this,” Jisoo growled, his voice raw with emotion.

Jihoon cocked his head to the side, his smirk unwavering. “You won’t let me? What can you possibly do, Jisoo? You’ve already played your part. It’s over.”

But it wasn’t over—not for Jisoo. In one swift motion, he reached into his coat pocket and pulled out a knife, the blade gleaming under the dim light. Without hesitation, he lunged at Jihoon with all his strength, his movements driven by pure instinct and fury.

Jihoon’s eyes widened in surprise as Jisoo’s body collided with his. The gun went off, the sound of the shot reverberating through the air, but the bullet missed its mark, hitting the wall instead. Jihoon staggered back, his grip on the gun faltering as Jisoo shoved the knife into his side with brutal force.

A guttural cry of pain tore from Jihoon’s throat as he felt the blade sink into his flesh. Blood seeped through his shirt, staining the fabric crimson. Jihoon’s hand instinctively tightened around the gun, his vision blurring from the searing pain.

“You think this will stop me?” Jihoon hissed, his voice strained but laced with venom.

Jisoo didn’t respond, his breathing ragged as he pushed the knife deeper, his resolve unshaken. He could feel Jihoon weakening beneath his grip, but he underestimated just how dangerous Jihoon could be, even in his wounded state.

With a surge of adrenaline, Jihoon raised the gun and fired again, this time hitting Jisoo square in the shoulder. The force of the shot sent Jisoo stumbling backward, his grip on the knife loosening as he fell to the ground.

Both men were now gasping for air, their bodies trembling from the pain and exertion. Blood pooled on the floor between them, the room thick with the metallic scent of violence.

Jihoon clutched his side, his hand slick with blood as he leaned against the wall for support. His gaze flickered to Jisoo, who lay sprawled on the floor, clutching his bleeding shoulder and groaning in agony.

“You really thought you could outsmart me?” Jihoon sneered, though his voice was weaker now, his energy draining rapidly.

Jisoo coughed, his chest heaving as he glared at Jihoon through the haze of pain. “You’re no better than the people you claim to hate,” he spat. “You’ve become the monster you wanted to destroy.”

Jihoon’s expression darkened, his fingers tightening around the gun. “Maybe I am,” he admitted, his tone cold. “But at least I’ll have justice for my mother. You? You’re nothing but a coward, Jisoo. Hiding behind your obsession.”

Jisoo’s hand twitched, reaching for the knife still embedded in Jihoon’s side. But before he could grab it, Jihoon raised the gun again, aiming directly at Jisoo’s chest.

“I warned you,” Jihoon said, his voice icy and devoid of emotion. “Stay out of my way.”

The sound of another gunshot echoed through the room. Jisoo’s body went still, his eyes wide in shock before they slowly fluttered shut.

Jihoon let out a ragged, shaky breath, his knees giving way as he collapsed to the floor. His hand instinctively moved to the knife buried in his side, but he didn’t dare pull it out, knowing it would only hasten the flow of blood. Pain shot through him with every shallow breath he took, sharp and unrelenting, as if his body were punishing him for every choice that had led to this moment.

His vision blurred, the room tilting as the strength in his legs failed him completely. He pressed his back against the wall, trying to steady himself, but the cold surface only amplified the chill spreading through his body. Each heartbeat thudded loudly in his ears, a reminder of how quickly his time was slipping away.

As his gaze wandered across the room, it landed briefly on the lifeless form of Jisoo, crumpled a few feet away, his blood staining the floor in dark, viscous pools. The memory of the fight replayed in Jihoon's mind like a broken record—Jisoo’s desperate lunge, the glint of the blade, the deafening crack of the gun.

Jihoon’s breath hitched, his hand pressing harder against his wound in a futile attempt to stop the bleeding. The edges of his vision darkened, the world around him losing focus. His chest heaved as he tried to stay conscious, but the weight of his injuries was too much to bear.

The room felt eerily quiet now, the echoes of their struggle replaced by the faint, distant hum of the city beyond these walls. Jihoon tilted his head back, staring up at the ceiling as a bitter smile played on his lips.

*

Seungcheol’s heart hammered in his chest as he and his team stormed through the abandoned harbor. The old warehouse loomed ahead, a towering silhouette against the dark sky. Every breath felt heavier as he pushed forward, each step fraught with mounting dread. They had tracked Jihoon’s location down to this forsaken place—now, all he could think of was finding you, ensuring you were still alive.

The sound of his boots pounding against the cracked pavement echoed in the still night air as he reached the heavy doors of the warehouse. With one forceful push, they creaked open, revealing the cavernous interior dimly lit by flickering overhead lights. The air was thick with the smell of rust and dampness, the kind of place that whispered forgotten secrets.

But what greeted him inside was far worse than he’d imagined.

Blood. It was everywhere. Pools of dark crimson staining the cold concrete floor. A wave of nausea threatened to overtake him as his eyes darted across the scene. His team fanned out, but Seungcheol’s gaze was drawn to the lifeless body of Jisoo, sprawled across the floor in an unnatural position. The unmistakable evidence of a gunshot wound on his chest confirmed that he was beyond saving.

Seungcheol’s pulse quickened, a suffocating pressure forming in his chest. He couldn’t stop his legs from carrying him toward the body. His eyes briefly shut as the weight of the situation settled into his bones. Jisoo—dead.

But where were you?

His breath hitched as his gaze swept the warehouse. There was no sign of you. No trace of Jihoon. The blood led into a narrow corridor at the back of the warehouse. His pulse raced, the fear gnawing at him like a festering wound.

“Search the entire place. Don’t leave a single corner unchecked,” Seungcheol ordered, his voice tight with barely controlled panic.

His men scattered, checking every shadow, every room, but still, no sign of you. His heart sank with every passing second. The silence was deafening, broken only by the sound of their frantic searching.

Seungcheol moved toward the back, following the blood trail. It led to a door cracked slightly open, its edges stained with crimson. Without hesitation, he pushed it open, his eyes scanning the area for any clue, anything that could point him to you.

There were drag marks. Disturbingly faint, but they were there. Leading toward the docks.

His mind screamed at him to hurry. “Get to the docks! Block all exits!” Seungcheol barked. He could barely hear his own words over the rush of blood in his ears, his vision narrowing with each second.

He needed to find you. He would find you. No matter what it took, no matter the cost.

The water lapped softly against the shore, the only sound that seemed to break the tense stillness. Seungcheol stared out at the dark horizon, feeling the weight of the past few hours pressing on him. Was it too late?

“I’ll find you,” he whispered, barely audible to anyone but himself, as he squared his shoulders. “I swear I will.”

*

You ran, your heart pounding in your chest as the cold night air stung your skin. Your feet, bare and scraped from the rough pavement, barely registered the pain as you pushed your body to its limits. You could still hear the haunting memory of Jihoon’s voice in your head, feel the weight of Jisoo’s betrayal in your bones.

They wouldn't come back. They couldn't come back.

The thought of them finding you again, of them dragging you back into their nightmare, was enough to keep you moving even as exhaustion threatened to pull you under. Your breath came in shallow gasps, your throat dry and tight with thirst, but you didn’t stop. You couldn’t.

And then, just as you were beginning to feel your legs betray you, you saw them—a group of women, dressed in thick wetsuits, their movements confident and assured. They were divers, the kind who harvested abalone, their hands strong from years of working the sea. They noticed you before you could stagger past them, their trained eyes immediately scanning your bloodstained dress and the wild, frantic look in your eyes.

"Young woman? Are you okay?" One of them called out, her voice gentle but concerned.

You lifted a hand, weakly waving in their direction. You could feel your body weakening, the adrenaline finally starting to wear off. The ground beneath you tilted, and your knees nearly gave way. You knew you couldn’t keep running for much longer. Your vision blurred, but you forced the words out.

“I was kidnapped…” Your voice cracked, barely audible over the pounding of your heart. The truth hung in the air like a heavy weight. They could see it in your eyes—the terror, the exhaustion, the desperation.

The women exchanged quick glances, scanning your disheveled state, the blood on your dress that stained the night darker still. They didn’t question you. Instead, one of them stepped forward, her tone gentle but firm.

“Come with us,” she said. “You’re safe now.”

You didn’t have the energy to protest. Your legs wobbled beneath you as they carefully supported you, guiding you away from the dangers you’d just escaped.

With each step, you felt yourself slipping closer to unconsciousness. The dim lights of the village shimmered like a distant dream, and you clung to the hope that, maybe, for the first time in what felt like forever, you were finally safe.

*

"What happened that night?" Seungcheol demanded, his voice cold and heavy as he confronted his father. The room was dimly lit, the weight of the topic casting a suffocating shadow over them. The matter at hand was the death of a woman his father’s car had struck 15 years ago—a moment that had come back to haunt them both.

His father took a deep breath, leaning back in his chair. "She was a cleaner at our company. But before that, she was a witness to one of our transactions. She confronted the leaders and threatened to report everything to the police unless she got paid off." His tone was calm, detached, as though recounting a mundane business deal.

Seungcheol’s fists clenched. "And?"

"I gave her enough money to raise her children. More than enough. I even found her a job. She was deaf, Seungcheol, and no one was willing to hire someone like that back then."

Seungcheol’s jaw tightened as the pieces fell into place. Jihoon’s mother had been employed as a cleaner for several months before that fateful night. But it didn’t end there.

"She demanded more money," his father continued, voice devoid of remorse. "She wanted more, and I had no better option than to make her disappear."

Seungcheol felt a wave of nausea as his father’s words hit him. He nodded grimly, the memory of that night flashing in his mind. "That’s what I knew. She wanted more money," he muttered, almost to himself. "That’s why I left her that night. I thought she was just another extortionist."

There was silence between them until his father broke it. "And your wife? Has anyone found her?"

Seungcheol shook his head, his heart sinking further into despair. "No. Neither her nor Jihoon." His voice cracked slightly as he spoke. The thought of you out there—alive or worse—was unbearable. You were the first person he had ever truly loved, and now you were gone, all because of the vengeance Jihoon had carried for years.

His father frowned, his brows knitting together. "No body was found in the water either?"

Seungcheol exhaled heavily, running a hand through his hair. "No. But there was blood on the edge of the dock."

His father’s eyes darkened. "Do you think it was Jihoon’s?"

Seungcheol hesitated, biting his lip as his gaze met his father’s. "I wish it was. But..." He trailed off, unable to finish the thought.

His father studied him carefully before speaking. "There’s something else, isn’t there?"

Seungcheol’s throat tightened as he admitted quietly, "was it possible? She’s pregnant."

The weight of the revelation hung in the air. His father nodded in understanding, his expression grim. "We’ll send more people tomorrow," he said firmly, rising to his feet. He placed a hand on Seungcheol’s shoulder, his grip surprisingly steady. "We’ll find closure, one way or another."

Seungcheol didn’t respond, his thoughts spiraling. He didn’t want closure. He wanted you. And the uncertainty of whether you were alive or gone was a torment he wasn’t sure he could endure.

One week.

Two weeks.

A month.

Three months.

Time crawled by as the search for you carried on, only to come to a devastating halt. After three agonizing months, Seungcheol made the painful decision to officially call off the large-scale search. The slowdown in the business was affecting countless lives, and he couldn’t justify sacrificing so many for his own personal grief. Yet, in his heart, the search never truly stopped.

Every weekend, Seungcheol would find himself wandering from one village to another near the abandoned harbor, relentless in his quest. He’d strike up conversations with locals and ask questions.

“Do you have a picture of her?” a villager would ask.

Seungcheol would pull out the photograph, his fingers trembling slightly as he handed it over. You always looked beautiful to him, flawless in every way. Even now, with the ache of your absence, he could only see perfection in your face. The day he’d first laid eyes on you, he’d been captivated, unable to believe someone like you could exist.

The truth of your deafness, which your parents finally revealed to him on the night you disappeared, hadn’t changed his view of you at all. If anything, it made him ache more for what you had endured.

“It was my idea to hide the fact she is deaf! Please forgive me, Son-in-law,” your mother had pleaded, her voice cracking with guilt.

Seungcheol had stared at her, his chest tightening with anger and disbelief. “Tell me one reason why her deafness was a secret.”

“Because a woman’s obligation as a wife is to listen,” she replied, the words cutting through him like a knife.

His hands clenched at his sides. He couldn’t imagine the kind of torment you must have endured growing up in a household like this. The burden of expectations, the cruel standard you were forced to meet—it was suffocating to even think about.

Your mother continued, as if the words excused her actions. “We were relieved when we found out she was pregnant. At least she fulfilled one of her obligations. She lost so much after the accident...”

“Stop,” Seungcheol snapped, his voice laced with restrained fury. “Stop speaking about her in the past tense. She’s still with us. She has to be.”

But even as he confronted your mother’s callousness, doubt and fear gnawed at his heart. Every village he visited, every person he spoke to, left him with nothing but disappointment.

“We’ve never seen anyone like her,” a villager said, shaking their head. “She’s so beautiful. Is she your wife?”

Seungcheol nodded, a faint, hollow smile tugging at his lips. “Yes, she’s my wife.”

That evening, as he drove back home, the weight of his failure pressed down on him. The house, once filled with your warmth, now felt unbearably quiet. The memories of you lingered in every corner—the way you smiled, the way you turned your head to face him whenever he spoke, the way you stared at his lips, a habit he’d never fully understood until now.

It was during those lonely nights that everything started to make sense.

Your habit of always needing to face him when he spoke. The lack of phone calls. The way you’d tilt your head and say, “What?” if he wasn’t looking directly at you.

You couldn’t hear him.

And he’d never realized it.

He thought back to all the times Hong Jisoo had tried to hint at the truth through his cryptic threats. Jisoo had known, just as your parents had, that you had been forced into the marriage. Seungcheol clenched his fists, anger and regret churning inside him.

He felt like he had failed you—not just as a husband but as the man who should have protected you from all of this.

And now, you were gone.

His phone rang in the dead of night, breaking the heavy silence that had settled over the room. Seungcheol groggily reached for it, his heart sinking at the thought of more bad news. But when he saw the caller ID, his exhaustion was replaced by curiosity.

Seo Myungho.

Your former assistant had never called him again after that time, let alone at this hour.

Seungcheol answered, his voice hoarse, “Hello?”

“I found her.”

Three words. Just three words. But they hit him like a lightning bolt, sending him bolting upright from the bed.

“What did you say?” he asked, his voice sharp and desperate now, as if he couldn’t trust what he’d just heard.

“I found her, sir.”

*

Myungho’s search for you had been relentless, driven by a determination he couldn’t explain but refused to ignore. He carefully tracked your weeks, estimating your birthing date. His method was simple but meticulous—he regularly visited hospitals and clinics in the areas surrounding the harbor where you had last been seen. It was a grueling process, but last week, his persistence paid off.

He spotted you stepping out of a small clinic, your rounded stomach unmistakable. Myungho’s heart skipped a beat. If his calculations were correct, you were due any day now.

Discreetly, he followed you back to a modest village nestled along the coastline. There, he discovered an elderly woman had taken you under her wing, providing you with shelter and care during these past months. Myungho watched from a distance, observing how you seemed to have created a life for yourself despite everything. He saw you teaching local children sign language, your hands moving gracefully as the kids mirrored your gestures with bright, eager faces.

“What are you doing here, young man?” A gruff voice startled him one afternoon. He turned to see an elderly man approaching, his gaze sharp but curious. “You’re not from around here. Are you from the city?”

Caught off guard, Myungho scrambled for a believable response. “Uh, yes. I’m here looking for a great restaurant,” he said quickly. “The kind that serves abalone.”

The old man’s face brightened. “Well, you’re in luck! I’ve got the best abalone in the area. Come on, come on, I’ll serve you myself!”

With little choice but to follow, Myungho was soon seated at a modest table in the man’s small home. A steaming plate of abalone was placed in front of him, the rich aroma filling the air.

As the man chatted, he grew more animated. “You know, there was a big fuss a few months ago. A young woman came here—a deaf woman, staying at Mrs. Jeong’s house. They say she ran away from her husband. Nobody knows what really happened to her, though.”

“Enough, old man!” a woman’s voice scolded. Myungho turned to see the man’s wife slapping his arm lightly. “It’s supposed to be a secret!”

“I was just talking,” the old man grumbled, rubbing his arm.

The woman sighed and turned to Myungho apologetically. “Mrs. Jeong is a respected figure in this village, and she asked us to keep the young woman’s presence a secret. I hope you understand.”

Myungho nodded, hiding his relief. Mrs. Jeong. Now he had a name—a connection to you. He had finally found the key to bringing you back.

When the due was coming, the pain from the contractions gripped your body like a vice, leaving you breathless. The small clinic in the village had tried their best, but it quickly became clear they couldn’t handle the complications of your delivery. You needed a cesarean, and time was running out.

As you sat hunched on the clinic bench, clutching your swollen belly, Myungho appeared. His presence was unexpected, his expression calm but urgent.

“I’ll take her to the hospital,” he said firmly, addressing the worried midwife.

The midwife looked at you, hesitant. “It’s a long drive, and the baby could come anytime,” she said.

Myungho met your gaze. “We don’t have a choice. Let’s go.”

You blinked, stunned by his sudden appearance. “Why are you here?” you asked weakly, the pain stealing the strength from your voice.

He didn’t answer immediately, guiding you carefully toward his car. His hands were steady but firm as he helped you into the passenger seat. “I’ll explain later,” he said, closing the door and rushing to the driver’s side.

The contractions were coming faster now, each one making you grip the seat harder. The car sped down the uneven village roads, Myungho’s hands gripping the steering wheel tightly.

“Breathe,” he said, glancing at you. “Focus on breathing.”

You tried, but the pain was overwhelming. Sweat dripped down your temple, and your vision blurred. Between the waves of agony, your mind buzzed with questions. How did he find you? Why was he here?

The ride felt like an eternity, each second stretching into minutes. Myungho’s jaw was tight, his focus unwavering as he navigated the winding roads.

When the lights of the hospital came into view, a weak sigh of relief escaped your lips. Myungho pulled up to the emergency entrance and jumped out, shouting for help.

Within moments, a team of medical staff surrounded you, gently lifting you onto a gurney. Myungho stayed by your side until the doors to the operating room loomed ahead.

You reached out, grabbing his sleeve. “Why are you here?” you asked again, your voice trembling.

He paused, looking down at you with an intensity that made your heart ache. “Because someone had to protect you,” he said softly. “And I owe it to him.”

Before you could process his words, the doors swung open, and you were whisked away. As the bright lights of the operating room blurred your vision, one thought lingered in your mind—was he talking about Seungcheol?

*

Seungcheol stormed into the administration ward, his breath ragged as his frantic eyes scanned the room. When he spotted Myungho standing near the counter, clutching a pen and a clipboard, he closed the distance in long, hurried strides.

Without hesitation, Seungcheol grabbed Myungho’s arm, his grip firm but trembling. His voice was raw, almost pleading. “Tell me she’s alive.”

Myungho looked up, startled but composed. “Please calm down, sir,” he said, his tone steady yet empathetic. “I assure you, she’s fine. She’s in the operating room right now.”

Seungcheol’s eyes widened in shock, his voice dropping to a whisper. “The operating room? Why? What’s wrong?!” His chest tightened with dread as scenarios raced through his mind.

Setting the clipboard aside, Myungho placed a reassuring hand on Seungcheol’s shoulder and guided him toward the waiting lounge outside the operating room. “Today is her due date,” Myungho explained as they walked. “She’s giving birth to your child.”

The words hit Seungcheol like a tidal wave, rendering him momentarily speechless. He stopped in his tracks, his gaze fixed on Myungho as if needing confirmation that he’d heard correctly. “My… child?” he echoed, his voice laced with disbelief and a glimmer of hope.

Myungho nodded firmly. “Yes, sir. She went into labor earlier, but the clinic in the village couldn’t handle the delivery. It’s a cesarean operation. That’s why I brought her here.”

Seungcheol’s shoulders sagged, a mix of relief and anxiety washing over him. He pressed a hand over his mouth, his thoughts racing between fear for your safety and the realization that he was about to become a father.

“I need to see her,” he said, his voice cracking slightly as he tried to maintain his composure.

Myungho shook his head gently. “The doctors are doing everything they can. All we can do now is wait.”

As they reached the waiting lounge, Seungcheol sank into one of the chairs, his head falling into his hands. The sterile smell of the hospital and the faint hum of medical equipment filled the silence around him.

“She’s strong,” Myungho said softly, standing beside him. “She’s been through so much, but she’s strong. And she’s going to make it through this.”

Seungcheol nodded, his jaw clenched as he fought back tears. “I should’ve found her sooner,” he whispered, his voice heavy with regret. “I should’ve protected her.”

“You’re here now,” Myungho said firmly. “And that’s what matters.”

Time crawled by with agonizing slowness as Seungcheol remained in the waiting lounge. His gaze never left the double doors leading to the operating room. The fluorescent lights above cast a harsh glow on his anxious expression, emphasizing the deep lines of worry etched into his face.

He tapped his foot impatiently, his hands clasped tightly in his lap. Every passing second felt like an eternity, the weight of uncertainty pressing heavily on his chest. Myungho sat a few seats away, silent but observant, giving Seungcheol space while staying close in case he was needed.

Finally, the double doors swung open. A doctor stepped out, his surgical mask still in place, his face partially obscured but his eyes calm and professional. Seungcheol shot to his feet, his heart hammering against his ribcage.

“Doctor, how is she? Is she okay? And the baby?” he asked in a rush, his voice trembling.

The doctor gave a small, reassuring nod. “Both the mother and baby are safe. The operation went smoothly.”

Relief flooded through Seungcheol like a wave, his knees threatening to give out beneath him. He exhaled deeply, pressing a hand to his chest as if to steady his racing heart. “Thank God,” he whispered, his voice barely audible.

“The mother is resting now, but you can see her shortly,” the doctor continued. “The baby has been moved to the nursery for observation, but everything looks good.”

“Thank you,” Seungcheol said earnestly, his voice thick with emotion. He reached out and shook the doctor’s hand firmly, his gratitude evident in his grip.

Moments later, a nurse led Seungcheol to your recovery room. The sight of you lying in the hospital bed, pale but peaceful, made his chest tighten. He approached cautiously, his footsteps soft as if afraid to disturb you.

You stirred slightly, your eyelids fluttering open. When your gaze met his, a flicker of recognition crossed your tired face. “Seungcheol…” you murmured, your voice weak but laced with emotion.

He sank into the chair beside your bed, his hands trembling as he reached for yours. “I’m here,” he said softly, his voice thick with unshed tears. “I’m so sorry for everything. For not finding you sooner, for everything you’ve been through…”

You managed a faint smile, your fingers curling weakly around his. “It’s okay,” you whispered. “You’re here now.”

Seungcheol leaned down, pressing a gentle kiss to your forehead. “And I’m never leaving again,” he vowed.

The nurse returned moments later, wheeling in a small bassinet. Inside, a tiny bundle of life stirred, letting out a soft cry. Seungcheol stood, his breath catching as he saw the baby for the first time. The nurse carefully lifted the infant and placed them in your arms.

You both gazed down at the child, a mix of emotions reflected in your tired but radiant faces. “It’s a boy,” the nurse said with a smile before quietly stepping out to give you privacy.

Seungcheol leaned over, his hand resting gently on the baby’s tiny head. “He’s perfect,” he whispered, his voice filled with wonder.

For the first time in months, the weight on Seungcheol’s heart lifted as he held onto the two people who now meant everything to him.

*

"We don't have to talk about anything yet. Your recovery is my priority now," Seungcheol said softly, his voice steady but filled with emotion. He gently tucked the blanket around you, his touch as careful as if you might break. Leaning in, he placed a tender kiss on your temple, the warmth of his lips lingering like a silent promise.

"Choi Doahn," you whispered, the name slipping from your lips as you cradled your baby for the first time. It was barely audible, but Seungcheol caught it. The way you spoke the name—so full of love and meaning—etched itself into his heart. From that moment, he began calling the baby Doahn.

Doahn now rested peacefully in the small crib beside your bed, his tiny chest rising and falling in rhythm with his soft breaths. Seungcheol couldn’t take his eyes off him. The baby was so small, so delicate, yet he already held a monumental presence in Seungcheol’s life. He crouched beside the crib, his hand hovering over Doahn as if afraid his touch might disturb the baby's perfect tranquility.

Seungcheol’s heart ached with a bittersweet mix of love and regret. How much of this had he missed? The small kicks, the first signs of life, the moments you must have longed to share with him during your pregnancy—he hadn’t been there. He had failed to protect you both when you needed him most.

When the nurse handed Doahn to him for skin-to-skin bonding, Seungcheol felt his breath hitch. The baby stirred slightly in his arms, a soft murmur escaping his tiny lips before settling again. As Seungcheol cradled him against his chest, the warmth of Doahn’s fragile body against his skin unleashed a flood of emotions he had held back for too long.

Tears streamed down Seungcheol’s face, unbidden and unstoppable. They weren’t just tears of relief, but also of guilt, sorrow, and overwhelming love. He pressed a gentle kiss to the top of Doahn’s head, his lips trembling as he whispered, "I’m so sorry I wasn’t there. But I’m here now, and I’ll never leave you or your mother again. I promise, Doahn."

You watched from the bed, your heart full despite your exhaustion. Seeing Seungcheol with your baby, the tenderness in his touch, and the raw emotion on his face reminded you of the man you fell in love with—the man who always cared so deeply, even if he didn’t always know how to show it.

Seungcheol turned to you, his tear-streaked face breaking into a soft, grateful smile. "Thank you," he said, his voice breaking slightly. "Thank you for giving me him… for fighting through everything. I don’t deserve either of you, but I’ll spend the rest of my life making sure you both feel loved and safe."

In that quiet room, the three of you found a moment of peace amidst the chaos that had brought you here. It wasn’t the end of the journey, but it was the beginning of a new one—a chance to heal, to grow, and to finally be a family.

It was late afternoon when Seungcheol finally broached the subject. The soft glow of the sun streamed through the hospital room window, casting a warm light over you as you rested in bed. Doahn was asleep in the crib beside you, his small form wrapped in a blanket. Seungcheol sat on the edge of your bed, his hands clasped tightly together, as though gathering the courage to speak.

"I think we need to talk now," he said gently, his voice low so as not to wake the baby. He searched your face, his eyes brimming with unspoken emotions.

You nodded, your fingers fidgeting with the blanket draped over your lap. You had been waiting for this moment, dreading it but knowing it was inevitable. "Where do we start?" you asked softly, your voice carrying both hesitation and resolve.

Seungcheol took a deep breath, running a hand through his hair. "I want to start with an apology," he said, his tone steady but thick with emotion. "I failed you, love. I should’ve protected you, been there for you when you needed me most. Instead, you had to face all of this alone." His voice cracked slightly, and he paused, looking down at his hands. "I’m so sorry for everything you’ve been through. And I’m sorry for not realizing sooner… about your hearing. I should’ve known."

You swallowed hard, feeling a lump rise in your throat. "It wasn’t your fault," you said after a moment, your voice barely above a whisper. "I kept it a secret because I was scared. My parents…" You hesitated, the memories of their harsh words and expectations still painful. "They told me I wouldn’t be good enough for anyone if people knew. I didn’t want to burden you with it."

Seungcheol’s heart clenched at your words. "Y/n, you’re not a burden. You never were, and you never will be. I hate that they made you feel that way." He reached out, his hand covering yours. "You’re perfect to me, just the way you are."

Tears welled up in your eyes as you met his gaze. "I was so scared, Seungcheol," you admitted, your voice trembling. "When Jihoon took me, when I was alone in that village… I thought I’d never see you again. I thought you’d given up on me."

"I never gave up," Seungcheol said firmly, his grip on your hand tightening. "Not for a second. I searched for you every day. Even when the official search ended, I couldn’t stop. I knew you were out there, and I had to find you."

You nodded, the sincerity in his words soothing some of the pain you had carried. "I know now," you said softly. "And I’m grateful. For everything you’ve done for me and for Doahn."

Seungcheol’s eyes softened as he looked at you. "We’ve both been through so much," he said. "But I want us to move forward together. As a family. No more secrets, no more fear. Just us, starting fresh."

Seungcheol had been watching you with quiet anticipation, his gaze filled with patience and love. You took a deep breath, meeting his eyes with a resolve you hadn’t felt in years.

"If.." you began, your voice steady but laced with emotion. "If we’re going to move forward, I need you to know there are things I can’t compromise on anymore."

Seungcheol’s brows furrowed slightly, his concern evident, but he nodded. "I’m listening," he said softly, leaning closer.

You hesitated, your heart pounding in your chest. "I want my freedom," you said firmly, your voice carrying a weight that left no room for doubt. "I want to be free from my parents’ control. They’ve dictated so much of my life—how I should live, how I should act, even who I should marry. I can’t go back to that."

Seungcheol nodded slowly, his expression serious. "You won’t have to," he assured you. "I’ll make sure they understand that you’re your own person now. Whatever it takes, I’ll stand by you."

Tears pricked at your eyes, but you pressed on. "And also...," you said, your voice faltering for a moment. "I… I want to hear. I want to try to get my hearing back."

Seungcheol’s eyes widened slightly, a flicker of surprise crossing his face. "You mean… surgery?"

You nodded, swallowing hard. "I’ve been thinking about it for a while," you admitted. "Living in that village, teaching sign language to those kids… it made me realize how much I’ve missed out on. But more than that…" You paused, your voice breaking as tears rolled down your cheeks. "I want to hear you, Seungcheol. And I want to hear Doahn."

The raw emotion in your voice made Seungcheol’s chest tighten. He reached out, taking your hands in his. "Love," he said softly, his voice steady and full of warmth, "if that’s what you want, then we’ll make it happen. Whatever the cost, whatever the process, I’ll be with you every step of the way."

You let out a shaky breath, relief washing over you at his unwavering support. "Thank you," you whispered, your fingers clutching his as though he was your lifeline.

Seungcheol smiled faintly, his thumb brushing over your knuckles. "You don’t have to thank me," he said. "This is your life, your choice. And I’ll do everything in my power to help you live it the way you want."

In that moment, you felt a surge of hope—hope for a future where you could finally take control of your own life, where you could experience the world in ways you’d only dreamed of. And with Seungcheol by your side, you knew you wouldn’t have to face it alone.

*

Months passed, and the promise of a new beginning grew stronger with each passing day. With Seungcheol’s unwavering support, you underwent the delicate surgery to restore your hearing—a decision that filled you with equal parts hope and fear. The process wasn’t easy; it was marked by long days of recovery, uncertainty, and moments of self-doubt. Yet, every time you felt like faltering, Seungcheol was there, holding your hand, his quiet reassurance anchoring you to the dream of what could be.

When the moment finally came, when you heard Doahn’s soft, melodic coos for the very first time and Seungcheol’s deep, steady voice calling your name, it was as if the world had burst into vibrant color. A rush of emotions overwhelmed you, tears spilling down your cheeks as you clutched Doahn close to your chest, his tiny hands gripping your shirt.

"He sounds… perfect," you whispered, your voice trembling with wonder, every syllable carrying the weight of a thousand unspoken emotions.

Seungcheol knelt beside you, his gaze filled with warmth and relief. Resting his hand gently on your shoulder, he whispered, "Just like his mother." His voice, rich and tender, was the sweetest sound you’d ever heard.

With your hearing restored, the world transformed into a symphony of wonders. Every sound was a discovery—the rustling of leaves in the breeze, the rhythmic crash of waves against the shore, the laughter of children playing. Even the hum of the city streets, once distant and imagined, felt alive and vibrant. But nothing compared to the sound of Seungcheol’s laughter. The way his voice softened when he spoke your name made your heart swell, reminding you of how far you’d come together.

Seungcheol honored his promise to give you the freedom you craved. The chains of old expectations were broken, and you stepped into a new chapter of your life with a renewed sense of purpose. You found joy in teaching sign language, helping others rediscover their voices, and advocating for those who had been silenced by circumstance. Doahn grew up surrounded by unconditional love and support, his first words—soft and innocent—brought tears to everyone’s eyes, especially Seungcheol’s.

Though the scars of your past lingered, they no longer defined you. Instead, they became a testament to your resilience. Seungcheol, too, carried the weight of his guilt but turned it into strength. He made it his mission to make up for lost time, pouring his love into every moment he shared with you and Doahn.

One quiet evening, the three of you sat by the ocean, the setting sun painting the sky in hues of gold and amber. Doahn toddled between you and Seungcheol, his giggles echoing like music against the gentle waves. You leaned into Seungcheol, resting your head on his shoulder as a soft sigh escaped your lips.

"This is freedom," you murmured, your voice barely above a whisper, yet filled with certainty and peace.

Seungcheol turned to you, his lips brushing your temple in a kiss as tender as his words. "And it’s just the beginning," he replied, his voice brimming with quiet determination and love.

In that moment, you knew that despite everything—the pain, the struggles, the loss—you had finally found your place in the world. A place where love, freedom, and hope could coexist, and where the future stretched out before you like the endless horizon.

*

The moon was about to cast its pale light on the quiet dock as you dragged Jihoon's limp, injured body toward the water. His breathing was shallow, labored, and each step you took felt heavier than the last. Blood seeped through his torn shirt, staining your hands as you struggled to pull him closer to the edge. He groaned, a faint sound of resistance, his body twitching in pain as he fought to stay conscious.

"Stop..." Jihoon rasped, his voice weak but filled with defiance. His head lolled to the side, his eyes flickering open to meet yours.

You crouched beside him, your breath coming in shallow pants. For a moment, you simply stared at him, the man whose vengeance had cost you so much. Despite his condition, Jihoon’s gaze burned with stubborn determination.

But you didn’t speak. Instead, you raised your hands, signing slowly and deliberately so he could follow your words.

“눈에는 눈, 이는 이로는 세상은 눈먼 자들로 가득 찰 것이다.” (An eye for an eye will leave the whole world blind.)

Jihoon’s brows furrowed as he struggled to focus on your hands, on the message you were conveying. His lips twitched, forming the faintest shadow of a bitter smile.

“Do you think…” he coughed, blood specking his lips, “… that this will change anything?”

You didn’t answer with words. Instead, you signed again, your hands moving with precision, your expression unwavering.

“복수는 또 다른 상처를 남길 뿐이다. 넌 네 복수의 무게를 견딜 수 있겠어?” (Revenge only leaves another wound. Can you bear the weight of your vengeance?)

Jihoon’s head sank back, his strength waning as he closed his eyes. You could see the conflict in him—the doubt creeping into the cracks of his resolve. His chest heaved with shallow breaths, and for a moment, silence enveloped the dock, broken only by the gentle lapping of the water against the wood.

“You… don’t understand,” he whispered, his voice trembling. “It wasn’t just revenge… It was justice.”

You shook your head, your hands signing one final phrase, your movements deliberate and steady.

“정의는 희생으로부터 나와야 한다, 증오가 아니라.” (Justice must come from sacrifice, not hatred.)

Jihoon’s eyes opened, tears brimming at the corners as he gazed at you, his face a mixture of pain and regret. The weight of your words—or perhaps the truth in them—seemed to settle on him like a crushing tide.

You stared down at him, your heart pounding. For a fleeting moment, your resolve wavered. Memories of the good times—of his laughter, his loyalty—flashed through your mind. But those moments were gone, drowned beneath the weight of his betrayal.

“Goodbye, Jihoon,” you signed slowly, the finality in your movements echoing in the air between you.

Then, with a steady breath, you placed your hands on his shoulders and shoved.

Jihoon’s body slid across the wooden planks, his weak protests lost to the flow. The splash as he hit the water shattered the stillness, ripples spreading out in every direction.

You stood at the edge, watching as he sank beneath the surface. For a moment, there was nothing but the sound of the water settling, the ripples fading into stillness once more.

Your hands curled into fists at your sides as you turned away, the weight of your actions sinking in. You didn’t look back. You couldn’t.

The dock felt endless as you walked away, the stars overhead offering no solace. Whether Jihoon would rise from the water or disappear into its depths was no longer your concern.

This was the end of the path you had both walked together—and the beginning of a new one, without him.

The end.

[saythenametotheworld]

Heartbreak Hotel | prologue.

“Every single day is dreadfully boring when working at a hotel in the middle of nowhere. That is until an enigmatic guest arrives, seeking not a room nor directions, but to hear stories about your past relationships.”

one | two | three | four | five

Genre: anthology, romance, smut Pairing: SEVENTEEN Hip-hop Unit x Reader Warnings: mature themes Notes: 2k words. 1 of 4 parts. Listening to Heartbreak Hotel by Tiffany Young. This is a work of fiction. I do not know them personally and do not claim they would ever behave like they were portrayed in this story.

“This place is the worst,” you muttered for what felt like the hundredth time today, releasing a long sigh. Complaining wouldn’t change anything, but it became a habit—one that had kept you going for the past six months. Every month, you swore you’d quit after getting your paycheck. And yet, here you were, still stuck at this hotel in the middle of nowhere.

No one asked you to take this job. In fact, your friends and family had tried to talk you out of it. But you’d accepted the promotion to concierge after four long years of work, eager for the new title, even if it meant moving away from everything you knew. At first, you thought the distance wouldn’t matter. A month in, you were already regretting it.

If it wasn’t for Elena—the 58-year-old branch manager who’d smugly told you that you’d quit like everyone else—you might’ve walked out weeks ago. But you had your pride, and leaving now would feel like admitting defeat.

Your eyes drifted to the tall grandfather clock in the hall, and you felt a small flicker of relief. Your shift was almost over. Though you didn’t have much to look forward to in your quarters—maybe a movie on your laptop or some mindless scrolling through your phone—anything was better than sitting in the dead silence of the lobby.

Another sigh escaped as you leaned your head into your hand, eyes drifting shut. Just as you started to relax, the sharp sound of knuckles rapping against the wooden counter made you jolt upright.

“Yes!” you stammered, straightening your posture as you met Elena’s stern gaze. “I wasn’t sleeping. I was just… resting.”

Elena’s disapproving sigh said it all. “You’ve got two more hours left in your shift. Get it together. Someone’s coming.”

“Yes, ma’am,” you replied, forcing a smile you didn’t feel.

As if on cue, the front doors swung open, and in walked a man in a sharp navy-blue suit. He glanced around, squinting slightly as he adjusted to the dim lighting of the lobby. The sun had just set, casting the room in shadows. Behind him, the bellboy followed with his luggage.

The man’s gaze fell on you so suddenly it caught you off guard. You quickly straightened up, flashing a polite smile. He raised an eyebrow in acknowledgment as he approached the desk.

He placed a hand over the wooden counter, looking not at you but at your nameplate. When his gaze flitted back to you, he said your name with an inquiring tone.

“Yes, that’s me,” you replied, still smiling. “Would you like to book a room for the night, Mr…?”

“Choi Seungcheol,” he finished, his voice smooth but distant. “And no, I’m not here for a room. I’m here to ask how much it would cost to book your services for the evening.”

You blinked, caught completely off guard. “Excuse me?” you managed, the words coming out sharper than you intended. You fought to keep your composure, waiting for him to explain himself.

“I apologize,” he said quickly, holding up a hand in a gesture of peace. “I didn’t mean to offend you. I can see why that sounded inappropriate.”

You raised an eyebrow, giving him a chance to clarify.

“This might sound unusual, but I’m in need of company for the evening,” he said carefully, as if searching for the right words.

You rolled your eyes, dropping any pretense of politeness. Crossing your arms, you responded coolly, “You’re in the wrong place, sir. We don’t offer that kind of service. But if you drive about half a mile north, I’m sure you’ll find plenty of places that do.”

“It’s not what you think,” he said, his tone steady but firm. He reached into his coat and pulled out a card, sliding it across the counter toward you. “I’m not asking for anything inappropriate. I just need someone to talk to. We wouldn’t be in a room—just here in the lobby, or perhaps the bar, if you prefer. And I’ll pay you by the hour. Just tell me the rate.”

You eyed the card but didn’t pick it up. “Why me? And what exactly do you want to talk about?”

“I’ll explain everything once you accept my offer,” he said, his eyes steady on yours.

“We’re done here,” you told him, pushing the card back to him. He was some CEO of a company you’d heard of but unfamiliar with.

“Fair enough,” Seungcheol replied, pocketing the card and pulling out a different one—this time, a credit card. “I’d like a suite please.”

You took the card, checking him in quietly. After handing him over to the bellboy, he left with a polite nod. “Thank you,” he said, his tone once again reserved, before disappearing down the hall.

The rest of your shift passed in a blur. After clocking out, you went to your quarters for a quick shower and a nap. When you woke, it was 9 p.m., and your stomach growled, reminding you that you still hadn’t eaten.

You threw on a sweater and left your quarters, heading toward the employee pantry by the hotel restaurant. You ate with two other staff, talking quietly and laughing at some jokes.

“Here comes Leo!” said one of your coworkers, nodding at the pantry door where the hotel chef just walked in with a tray.

“Anyone in the mood for seafood pasta?” Leo grinned, setting the tray on the table.

“Cooking up the hotel’s stock again, Leo?” you teased lightly.

“Not at all,” he defended with a playful shrug. “A guest ordered some, so I made a little extra.”

You chuckled. “Right. Does Elena know?”

Leo waved his hands in mock horror. “I don’t do this all the time!”

“Relax, Leo. She’s just teasing,” another coworker said, laughing.

“Yeah, don’t sweat it,” you added, standing to clear your plate. “I’m heading back. Enjoy the pasta.”

“Leaving already? Sure you don’t want some?”

“I’m good, thanks,” you replied with a wave as you left.

The halls were quiet, as always, the soft hum of the air conditioning the only thing breaking the silence. As you made your way downstairs, you found yourself thinking about Seungcheol. His strange request lingered in your mind, replaying like a bad dream.

Why would a guy like him be asking for company? Doesn’t he have friends?

You shook your head, dismissing the thought. Just another eccentric rich guy who thought money could buy him anything. But even as you told yourself that, the way he'd said it kept bothering you. He hadn’t seemed sleazy or inappropriate. Polite, even. There was something else to it, but you couldn’t put your finger on it.

When you reached the lobby, you paused at the sight of Seungcheol sitting on one of the plush armchairs near the large bay windows. He wasn't looking at his phone or a book. Instead, he stared out at the dimly lit hotel grounds, hands folded, deep in thought. His navy blue suit from earlier had been traded for a more relaxed outfit—a simple gray sweater and slacks. He looked different. Less intimidating. Maybe even…lonely?

You frowned, realizing you had slowed your pace to a near stop, watching him from the shadows. Should’ve gone to a therapist, not here, you thought, reaching the bottom of the stairs.

You were half tempted to just ignore him and go on with your night, but something kept you rooted to the spot. What does he even want to talk about that he’d pay a stranger for it?

Your thoughts drifted back to your earlier frustrations—six months stuck in this place, no real connection to anyone, no escape from the monotony. Maybe that was why his request bothered you so much. You had your own share of unspoken things too.

Before you could change your mind, you took a deep breath and approached him. Seungcheol must have sensed your presence because he glanced up just as you stepped into view. His expression shifted slightly—surprise, maybe?—but he didn’t say anything, waiting for you to speak first.

“So,” you began, folding your arms across your chest defensively. “About your earlier request…”

Seungcheol raised an eyebrow, but his posture remained relaxed. “Yes?”

You shifted your weight, hesitating. “Look, I don’t know what kind of game you’re playing here, but what exactly do you want to talk about? You said it wasn’t anything inappropriate, so mind explaining it to me?”

He studied you for a moment, as if weighing his words carefully. Then, with a slight nod, he gestured to the seat across from him. “I understand your hesitation. Please, sit.”

You hesitated for a moment before sitting down, making sure to leave some space between the two of you.

Seungcheol leaned forward slightly, folding his hands together. “It’s really quite simple,” he began, his tone calm and measured. “I need someone to talk to. Not just anyone, but someone who doesn’t know me, who has no preconceptions. I’ve found that… strangers have a way of seeing things differently. Offering perspectives you wouldn’t get from friends or family. I thought you might be that person.”

You frowned, trying to understand. “Why me, though? I’m just some hotel concierge.”

He smiled faintly. “That’s exactly why. You’re just a concierge of a faraway hotel. You’re disconnected from my life, from my world. You don’t have an agenda.”

His explanation made sense, in a way. “And what exactly do you want to talk about?”

Seungcheol paused, his eyes flickering with a hint of something deeper. “Relationships,” he said quietly. “Your past relationships, to be exact.”

You felt your body tense. “Why? What does that have to do with anything?”

He sighed softly, leaning back in his chair. “I’ve been doing a lot of thinking lately—about life, about love, about the choices we make. I’m not looking for answers, just… perspectives. I thought you might be able to offer that.”

You stared at him for a long moment, trying to decide if you should just walk away. But something about his sincerity, the way he spoke about it, made you pause. 

“Alright,” you said at last, feeling equally nervous and curious. “I’ll tell you. But I’ve got questions too.”

Seungcheol’s expression softened. “Ask away.”

You crossed your legs, leaning back in your chair as you studied him. “What do you get out of this? Why go to all this trouble just to hear about someone else’s love life?”

He smiled slightly, though there was no humor in it. “Let’s just say I’m trying to understand something I can’t quite figure out. And sometimes, the best way to understand yourself is through someone else’s story.”

His words struck a chord with you, though you weren’t entirely sure why. You nodded slowly, still unsure where this conversation would lead but feeling oddly compelled to continue.

“Fine,” you said, exhaling. “I’ll bite. Where do you want me to start?”

Seungcheol leaned forward again, his eyes meeting yours with an intensity that made your heart skip a beat. “Start with the one you think about the most.”

You tilted your head a little, thinking. You’d had your fair share of relationships, but when he said that, the first name that came to mind was…

You glanced back at him. What exactly did this guy want to hear? Why were you even considering sharing something so personal with a stranger? Yet there was something about his calm patience, the way he wasn’t pushing—just waiting—that made you want to say more.

“Will I be hearing opinions and judgments from you or are you just gonna sit and listen?” you questioned, suddenly hesitating at the thought of being judged by a stranger.

“Unless you ask for an opinion, I’m just gonna sit and listen.”

You hummed. “Alright then. Do you know someone called Kim Mingyu?” You hadn’t said that name out loud in a long time, but suddenly, there it was, slipping through your lips like it had never left.

Seungcheol shrugged. “Doesn’t ring a bell.”

“Good, because he’s the kind of jerk who never knew what he wanted.”

To be continued in [Backburner]

[mymoodwriting]

Request for @shlbyholo (yandere Seungcheol) 3.6k, ceo!Seungcheol, yandere behavior, manipulation, non-con, dub-con, female penetration, creampie, possessive behavior, alcohol, manipulation (@starillusion13)

“You asked to see me, sir.”

“Yes. I’m gonna be in a long meeting and wanted some refreshments. Can you get me an iced americano, please? From my favorite cafe.”

“Yes, sir.”

“I’ll take a mocha la-”

“No.”

As far as you could tell this meeting was only between Seungcheol and another gentleman, but obviously both parties had lawyers and other associates present. Seungcheol interrupted his guest, an amused smirk on his face.

“This is my secretary, not yours.” Seungcheol looked back at you with a childish smile. “One iced americano please, and get yourself whatever you want.”

“Yes, sir.” 

You bowed and were stepping back when Seungcheol cleared his throat. You immediately froze, looking up when he spoke your name.

“Y/n.” Seungcheol held up a black card. “You’ll need this.”

“Ah, yes, thank you, sir.”

You took the card from Seungcheol and then made your exit. Once the door shut behind you a breath escaped your lips. He would always keep you on edge, even if he didn’t mean to, but maybe he did. You took the card and stepped out of the office to fulfill his request. You knew where his favorite cafe was, and it was a quick little trip. Even though he told you to get something too you couldn’t bring yourself to spend his money. Upon returning you knocked on the conference room door and let yourself in.

There were papers all over the table, and one of the others present was doing some presentation. You paid it no mind and went over to your boss. You placed the coffee within his view and reach, placing a pastry next to it as well. Seungcheol didn’t really eat breakfast, and he shouldn’t be having coffee on an empty stomach either. He glanced back at you with a smile, gesturing for you to come closer. He whispered in your ear, thanking you for the melon bread and asking you to lock the door on your way out. You dismissed yourself and did as you were asked. It wasn’t anything new after all.

As Seungcheol said the meeting was gonna be a few hours, and the last thing he wanted were unnecessary interruptions. If anyone needed anything from him they could go to you and you’d decide whether it was worth bothering him or not. The conference room wasn’t far from the boss’ office, therefore your desk wasn’t that far either. You took your seat, drinking from your water bottle and going over emails, marking what was important, and answering whichever you could. A while later your phone buzzed, Seungcheol asking you to come clean up after him. You did as he asked, once again knocking before letting yourself in.

A few of the others glanced at you, but you paid them no attention. You took the empty cup and wrapper, throwing them in the nearby trash. There was a table set out for refreshments as this was an important meeting after all. You grabbed a glass and poured some water into it, setting it down for Seungcheol and then excusing yourself. At least today was simple and quiet, which made it easier to get through. When the meeting ended you were at the door and greeted everyone as they headed out. Although someone stopped to greet you back, Mr. Choi’s guest.

“Apologies about earlier. I was unaware Mr. Choi was particular about his secretary’s duties.” The man held his hand out to you. “Yoo Minhyun.”

“Nice to meet you, Mr. Yoo. I’m sorry I was unable to assist you before.”

“It’s understandable. Perhaps I could buy you a coffee sometime.” Mr. Yoo held his card out to you. “If you wouldn’t mind.”

“I do mind.” Seungcheol exited the conference room, taking the card and crushing it in his hands. “We’ll be in touch Mr. Yoo, have a good evening.”

Mr. Yoo didn’t say anything more and excused himself. Once he was gone Seungcheol grabbed your arm and pulled you into the conference room.

“Were you flirting with him?”

“No, sir. I was just apologizing for earlier.”

“Earlier? You mean the coffee?” Seungcheol scoffed. “A guy like that can get his own secretary. You didn’t need to apologize for anything.”

“I’ll keep that in mind going forward, sir. Did the meeting go as planned?”

“Don’t change the subject.”

Seungcheol came up to you and took your head in his hands. He brushed his thumbs along your cheek, and you couldn’t do anything but meet his eyes. You could see worry and annoyance in there, his emotions mixed together but both weren’t directed at you. A soft smile appeared on his lips before he leaned in to kiss you. It was soft and gentle, like always.

“You know I hate it when other guys talk to you, especially when they’re not my employees.”

“I’m sorry, sir.”

“I told you to use my name when we’re alone.”

“I can’t do that.”

“Yes you can.” Seungcheol remarked. “Now say it.”

“Seungcheol…”

“Good. You must be hungry, it’s almost lunch time. Let’s go get some food. You can fill me in on my emails.”

“Yes, sir.”

“Tsk.”

“Yes, Seungcheol.”

This certainly wasn’t what you imagined a secretary job to be, no one did, but this was way more complicated. You accompanied Seungcheol to lunch at one of his favorite places, going over his schedule for the evening and tomorrow, while also bringing up the important papers and emails he needed to go over. Afterwards you returned to the office, preparing yourself for what came next. You didn’t get to go home until Seungcheol did, and that varied day by day. Sometimes you didn’t sleep much, but the job always kept you alert and ready for anything.

🖤

“Let’s have lunch in the office today.” Seungcheol suggested. “We can order from your favorite place and-”

“Sir!”

You had been out with Seungcheol in the morning for a business meeting and were returning to the office. One of the managers from the marketing department rushed over in a frenzy once you were in the lobby, holding some papers.

“Sir. You need to look over these proposals immediately. We need an answer by noon.”

“Oh?” Seungcheol looked over the papers. “And why wasn’t this on my desk in the morning?”

“Your secretary was asked to pick up the papers in the morning and deliver them to you.”

“What?”

“Your secretary was-”

“Who asked her?”

“I did. She should have-”

“So you asked my secretary to give me some important papers this morning?”

“Yes.”

“And where were you in the morning? Why couldn’t you deliver this yourself? Or have someone from your department do it?”

“Well, your secretary seemed like-”

“My secretary only does what I tell her, understand?”

“Sir-”

“This isn’t a debate.” Seungcheol reached into his jacket pocket and threw a folded up piece of paper at the manager. “That is a copy of my secretary’s contract. You’ll see it states she only does what I ask of her, and doesn’t take on any other tasks from anyone else in my company.”

“I…”

“Y/n, could you take these papers to the marketing department and let them know I’ll be by after lunch to sign proposal number two, and that they may proceed with it in the meantime.”

“Yes, sir.”

You took the paperwork and excused yourself, grateful you didn’t have to be present for what came next. Either Seungcheol would chew out the manager in front of everyone or fire him on the spot, all cause of you. Truth was, that copy of your contract Seungcheol threw wasn’t what you signed at all. After university you had been bouncing from one interview to another, hoping to land a good job. When you were offered a position at Choi Inc. you were overjoyed. You read the contract front to make multiple times from excitement, happy to sign. On your first day you were eager to meet your boss, but when you saw who it was your heart sank a bit.

You had met Seungcheol back in uni, and he was a jerk. He and his little crew used to pick on the other students in class, and he seemed to like messing with you in particular. You didn’t even know his name back then, only what his friends called him, Scoups. You were lucky he was a year above you, so after he graduated your last year was way more peaceful. At first you thought maybe he didn’t recognize you so this was all just some coincidence, but you soon realized that wasn’t the case.

The moment he was alone with you he mentioned your university days, and how he missed you once he graduated. You acted friendly, he was your boss after all, and you hoped he wouldn’t bring up his behavior, but of course he did. He told you how cute it was to make you squirm, knowing it was all because of him. He asked how often you dreamed about him, but you didn’t answer. You didn’t remember university with him as a good time. Honestly now that you thought about it you weren’t even sure how he graduated. Still, you weren’t sure how you felt about this so you had to ask.

“Sir, may I ask a question?”

“You can call me Seungcheol when we’re alone.”

“Right…” You took a moment. “Did you hire me based on my qualifications, or because you knew me?”

“Ah, you don’t think you’re good enough for the role?”

“I made it past the first two interviews, which I’m sure you had nothing to do with, but surely before making a final decision you recognized me. So I can’t help but wonder if I-”

“Does it matter? As my secretary you know I’ll pay you well, and you know your chances of getting another job like this if you quit.”

“Excuse me?”

“Oh, don’t play coy. You know who I am now, and the power I hold. By all means quit. I can stop by whatever convenience store or gas station you work at after this everyday.”

“…”

“You really can’t be picky about a job like this. It’s your dream, isn’t it?”

“… why… why me? Why are you-”

“It’s the same reason as back then. Don’t you know the saying, guys always pick on the girls they like the most. We’ve both grown past that now. So then, are you gonna quit?”

“… no, sir…”

“At a girl. You were always special to me, and now I can protect you properly. Come on, busy day today.”

You wanted to believe his words were true, that what happened in university was in the past. He had been more of an annoyance than a bully, and he claimed to like you, but that didn’t sit well with you at all. Still, perhaps the job wouldn’t be that bad. As a secretary you wouldn’t do much for him besides be a mediator, so you thought there wouldn’t be excessive interaction, but you were wrong. You were always at Seungcheol’s side, and made sure to isolate you from the rest of the company. Many thought you were sleeping with him, rumors going around behind your back, but what could you do.

It wasn’t until Seungcheol caught one of his employees reprimanding you for messing something up that he brought out that copy of your contract. That’s when you knew he really had you in the palm of his hand. You looked into Seungcheol’s claims, finding a very different contract with your signature on it. You couldn’t let this slide so you confronted Seungcheol about it, and all he did was laugh.

“Didn’t you read your contract?”

“I fucken did! I know what I read and this isn’t it! This is basically a fucken slave contract!”

“You’re my secretary and nothing more. No one else should be giving you orders in my company. What’s the problem?”

“Everyone is already talking shit behind my back and then you pull a stunt like this? What do you think they’re gonna say now? I’m basically your escort on payroll.”

“Ya! Don’t talk about yourself like that.”

“I quit! I’ll have my resignation on your desk before the end of the day.”

“I won’t accept it.”

“That’s your problem.”

“No, it isn’t. You’re not leaving.”

Before you could exit the office Seungcheol had caught up to you, pulling you away from the door and locking it. He stared you down, starting to chip away at your courage.

“I let you focus on your studies senior year, holding myself back from seeing you. When your resume appeared on my desk it was fate. You were meant to be here and work for me, so I’m not just gonna let you leave now.”

“You think I want to be here? You’re making my life difficult.”

“And is it all over the news? No, cause I am taking care of it, taking care of you. The people here can talk all they want but they don’t know anything. It’s just me and you balancing our lives and work.”

“This isn’t fair to me. I get no say in-”

“I know you want me. That’s how I knew who you were. I caught you staring at me from time to time, such curiosity and desire in those eyes. If I started paying you attention I figured things would develop on their own, but I underestimated how good of a girl you were. You never raised your voice or gave me anything to work with, just focused on school. I admired that, so I let you be, knowing our time would come. So here we are now.” Seungcheol took your hand in his, giving it a kiss. “I’m not gonna let you go when you came right to me. Do you understand?”

“… sir…”

“Seungcheol.”

“… what if I quit…”

Seungcheol chuckled. “You think I’m gonna let you go that easily? You’re here for me, you work for me, you’re mine. Just be happy and let me take care of you. Cause you’re not going anywhere. Understood?”

“… yes…”

“Good. And I don’t want to hear this kinda talk again.”

“…”

“Answer me.”

“Understood.”

“Tsk.”

“Yes, Seungcheol.”

“That’s my girl.”

There really wasn’t a way out for you. If you wanted to leave you should have done that the second you found out who your boss was, but by staying you gave him the wrong idea, you let him sink his fangs in, so trying to escape now meant death. You couldn’t even fathom what he could do, but you were certain he could do anything. So you held your head high and continued on. He never hurt you, never insulted you, never did anything to make people think he was an asshole to you. He was so professional at work, but it was only behind closed doors that he was something else.

You don’t know when he really started being affectionate, but at some point he gained the courage. He’d give you longing looks, flirt with you on the down low, then he started placing kisses whenever you had a moment alone. You never said anything, what could you say, or do to stop him. In his mind you were certain he thought of you two as a couple, a hidden office romance, whereas you were just trying to survive. It got easier overtime. You didn’t socialize with coworkers, and Seungcheol wasn’t an ass. Despite the unwanted undertones, life was bearable, and you’d get caught up in everything too, forgetting what was so bad about work.

🖤

“Coming.”

You were getting ready for bed when you heard a knock at your door. You weren’t really expecting anyone this late, but you knew you had a few packages that were supposed to be delivered. With that in mind you went to open the door without question, surprised by what you found on the other side.

“Sir? What are you-”

“There aren’t any guys here, are there?”

“Uh…”

“You’re not allowed to bring men over to your place.”

Seungcheol pushed his way into your apartment, taking his shoes off and looking around. The smell of alcohol suddenly hit you and you realized what was going on.

“Sir-”

“Tsk. How many times do I have to tell you to use my name?”

“What are you doing here Seungcheol? I smell alcohol so you must be drunk, did you drive here?”

“No, no, I didn’t want to go home so I told my driver to bring me here. This place is pretty nice. How come you haven’t invited me over before?”

“I can drive you home. I don’t mind at all.”

“Don’t be silly, I came here for a reason.”

Seungcheol found your room, immediately laying on your bed and burying his face in your pillow. He seemed so content.

“I like this. We should spend more time here.”

“Why are you here?”

“I wanted to see you. I wanted to surprise you.”

“This is unnecessary.”

“You know, you’re such a mystery to me sometimes.” Seungcheol got up and walked over to you. “I’m every girl’s wet dream. Handsome, rich, powerful, and yet you deny me over and over.”

“…” 

“I just want to be your dream. I want to be yours.”

“…”

“Tell me, honestly, do you not want me?”

Seungcheol grabbed your chin and forced you to meet his eyes. It was hard to hold his gaze, especially when you weren’t at work. His eyes shined, and in moments like this you could remember why you had a crush on him back in the day. You couldn’t respond to Seungcheol though, and your silence was an answer itself. He leaned forward and pressed his lips to yours, wrapping an arm around your waist. You didn’t want to kiss back, but something else took hold in the moment. Perhaps the alcohol on his lips were having an effect.

“Good girl.”

Seungcheol brought you over to your bed and laid you down, kissing you hard and stripping you out of your clothes. Since you had been getting ready for bed and were in your pajamas you didn’t have a bra, which brought a smile to Seungcheol’s face. He massaged your breasts, getting a moan out of you. He kissed you again, and this time you placed your hands on his chest, pushing him back.

“You’re drunk.”

“I only had a few, but I assure you I want to do this. Of course if you want me to stop, I will.”

“…”

“That’s what I thought.”

Seungcheol took off his shirt, letting you feel him up. You hadn’t been this close to him before, starting to wonder if maybe you were the drunk one here. He went back to kissing at your neck, letting your hands go wherever they wanted. Although he didn’t have much patience for your naive act. He pulled down his pants before slipping his hand between your legs, rubbing you through your panties. You whimpered, grabbing his hand but not really stopping him. He started whispering in your ears, telling you to be a good girl and let him take control.

Next thing you knew he pushed your panties aside, his cold fingers against your folds. You tensed up a bit but he told you to relax, pushing your legs apart. From there his fingers could reach deeper and without warning he pushed one into you. He loved watching you squirm, seeing how just one of his fingers was making you dance. He wanted to prep you well, taking his time to work you over to three fingers, seeing just how much you liked it. He had been patient up till now, wanting to claim what was his. He distracted you with another kiss as he pushed your legs apart a bit more, making himself comfortable.

Your eyes went wide as you felt something poking you between your legs, but before you could say something Seungcheol captured your lips again, getting you to moan into his mouth as he stretched you open. He had to admit you took him so well, whimpering and squirming and adjusting to his size, but not one complaint came from your mouth. He couldn’t sit still, feeling how you squeezed him in made him move, catching you off guard once more. Perhaps he had experience, or it was just luck, but every thrust hit your sweet spot, making you see white and whimper from the overwhelming feeling.

“Seungcheol…”

“Now you say my name, huh? You sound really pretty.”

Your eyes rolled to the back of your head as Seungcheol did his thing, wanting to keep your moans to a minimum, but he wanted to hear every little sound. You could tell when you were close, feeling this burning sensation down below, trying to let Seungcheol know but all that came out of you was nonsense. He understood though, well on his way to climax as well, getting slowly and rougher with his movements. You fell over the edge first, squeezing him tightly which pushed him to climax. The warm feeling between your legs was new, but not unwelcomed. Seungcheol kept moving his hips erratically, trying to make this feeling last for as long as possible before collapsing on top of you. His hot breath was against your ear, making you quiver all the more. He stayed inside you, wanting to remain like this for a while longer.

“You did so good, baby.” Seungcheol mumbled. “We should do this more often.”

“Hm…”

“Ya, could I put a baby in you? Maybe you won’t be so mean when you’re a mom.”

“Don’t say shit like that…”

“It would make you all the more mine.”

“Just be quiet…”

“Hm, you’re right, gotta go to work tomorrow. Sleep well, love.”

“Yeah, yeah, sleep well…”

“I definitely will.”

[hanniology]

no one gets away with it | csc

synopsis: just seungcheol being sulk. genre: FLUFF, crack. warning: SULKY CHEOL, mention of alcohol, mention of poop. word count: 847. pairing: choi seungcheol x gn!reader. note: also I used mx which is a gender neutral term for miss/mr to keep this all gender neutral. Also this is a repost from that i deleted from my other blog

Stepping into the boys dorms, closing the door behind you. You just came back from grocery shopping with your wonderful boyfriend Seungcheol. That said boyfriend is now currently sulking on the couch on something that had happened early today at the store.

The two of you went out shopping for food because Minghao and Jun were coming back from their trip to China. So obviously because of that they were going to want to host some really big welcome back party, which meant a lot of food. And the thirteen boys weren’t going to survive with the amount of food they had in their fridge. 

You decided to come along and help after hearing Seungcheol go on a rant about how he (unfairly) lost in a game of rock paper scissors, which was deciding who’s going to go out and buy all the food and ingredients. Apparently just in the first round he was the only one to be holding a pair of scissors and everybody was holding rock. Feeling bad you decided to join him on the trip to the grocery store.

Everything was completely normal, just like your typical trips to the store. Cheol pushing the cart, you trying to put in a bunch of unnecessary things, trying your best to convince him that you guys would need it, and a bunch of questionable stares from customers due to the large amount of soju in your cart. 

So what exactly happens to have your boyfriend currently sitting on the living room couch all sulky.

Well, when the two of you finally agreed you have enough food, you head over to the cashier. Cheol was placing all the already scanned items into the cart again from the conveyor, while you had over Mingyu’s card (which Cheol totally didn’t steal when he wasn’t looking out of revenge from them cheating in the game).

The cashier man seemed nice and probably didn’t mean any harm when he told you, “You look good today, mx.”

Poor guy didn’t see the look on Seungcheol’s face when he said that, he was too busy printing out the receipt. About to give that said receipt to you, but instead got it grabbed from his hand by Seungcheol.

On the way back to the dorms he didn’t say anything, just grumply and sulkily walked next to you on the way there. You kept trying to tell him it wasn't that much of a big deal, but he didn’t listen.

So that should be enough explaining why your boyfriend is sitting on the couch with both elbows on his legs, with arched eyebrows, pouty lips and clicking a pen, right?

Chuckling softly at the scene, “Cheol,” picking up one of the bags on the floor and bringing them to the kitchen, “you look like you're trying very hard to push out a poop.”

He rolls his eyes at your comment and continues to click the pen in his hand.

Coming back from the kitchen to grab another bag, “You know if you are really having a hard time pushing it out, an easier way is to lift your legs.”

“Yn this is a serious matter- wait really?- that’s besides the point,” 

You go through a giggling fit, almost dropping the bag when he changed the subject for a little, “Yes, it really does work.”

“Urg, why won’t you take this seriously?” He goes to write something on the paper on the coffee table.

When you finished putting all the stuff away, the front door unlocks, entering Mingyu, who’s here to cook the food for the welcome back party (or some excuse to get drunk idk).

“What’s up with coups?” He asks as he watches the older boy continue to write on the paper.

“Oh, someone told me I looked good whilst we were at the store and now he’s plotting their death.” 

A confused look grows on Mingyu’s face. “Isn’t that a complement?”

“All they said was good,” Cheol says, “They forgot all the other words that perfectly describe them. Perfect… Gorgeous… and any other positive word in the dictionary.” He grabs the paper filled with more compliments and starts waving it in the air.

“No one gets away with that. No one.”

[ bonus]

A week later.

You were in the boys dorms once again, reading a book on the same couch, Cheol wrote that list of nice things to you.

“Does anyone know where my card is?” Mingyu walks in the living room asking you and the other members that are in as well. 

Sinking deeper into the couch, lifting the book higher so it can hide the smug smile on your face. You almost exposed yourself with the giggles about to come out of your mouth.

But luckily saved by a Cheol running to you from the bathroom, “Yn, you were right, if you lift your legs while sitting on the toilet, it’s much easier to get it out.” 

“I’m sorry-WHAT?!” Mingyu exclaims.

Which was a good thing so now you don’t have to hide your laughter that escaped your mouth.

[inneedofsupervision]

Masterlist (2)

Masterlist for all non-tickle fanfics I have written under the cut.

Marvel

An Enemy? A Friend? No, just your friendly neighborhood Spiderman.

Chapter: 1, 2, 3, 4, 5

Summary:

"Come on, Parker, say something. But don't make it embarrassing," thinks Peter. "Those are your childhood heroes, and they want something from you. Just say hi like a normal person." "Good evening, Mr. Barton, Sir. Mr. Wilson, Sir." "How do you know our names," asks Clint, sounding genuinely curious. "You have a Wikipedia page!" blurts Peter out before wincing inwardly. There goes his plan for a non-embarrassing first impression. "You've read our Wikipedia pages?" asks Sam slowly, as if saying the words slowly would let them make more sense. "Twice, actually." ________________________________ Are the Avengers a Team? Yes. Are they on good terms? Not necessarily. Has the public caught up on that? Maybe a little. When Fury sends the team on the mission to investigate the identity of New York's favorite vigilante, they have to learn to work as a team and not damage their already battered image. Or, the story of how the Avengers have to earn the public's trust back with the help of a certain crime fighting Spider.

(Read on Ao3)

I didn't ask, did I?

Chapter: 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10

Summary:

Happy begrudgingly steps aside and walks after Tony into the diner. The billionaire skillfully ignores the gasps of surprise and the poor attempt to take pictures of him secretly as he strides straight up to the counter. "Two cheeseburgers and a large fry. To go." "Please get in line and wait for your turn, Sir." "Excuse me?" Tony slowly pulls his sunglasses down and glances at the skinny teen behind the register. "Bad hearing comes with age, huh?" mutters the teen under his breath. Happy makes a choking sound behind him. ___________________ Or, how Tony Stark gets sassed by some high schooler working part-time and makes it his mission to figure out what he did to make this kid he'd never seen hate him. If that means annoying the hell out of said high schooler, that's not his problem.

Read on Ao3

Seventeen (Kpop)

Intoxicated

One Shot

Summary:

There Jihoon goes, throwing over his rules for the year, to go with Soonyoung's whim and go drinking only to get a hangover. But worse than the hangover were these weird dreams he had that night. Who would believe that he met that guy out of a math lecture on his way home, inviting him over to "eat ramen" at his place, only for the dude to turn out to be a vampire and get his blood sucked?

Read on Ao3

Starstruck

Summary:

Waking up in a stranger's bed after one hell of a party was not how Chan had expected his morning to go. With only scrappy memories of last night, Chan tries to make sense of what had happened, unaware of the attention his actions of last night have gained him. (The GyuChanCheol fanfic nobody asked for but everyone wants)

Seventeen Fanfic - Pairing: Choi Seungcheol (S.Coups) / Kim Mingyu / Lee Chan (Dino)

College Life AU

Chapter: 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7

Read on Ao3

In a World full of Color, We only see Black and White

Summary:

Being homeschooled until now, Chan stands two days after turning sixteen in front of an actual school for the first time in his life. Chan's plan; keep low and get this done without causing himself trouble. But that's easier said than done when you only pretend to be human. In a society where people split into those who can use magic and those who are not, demons have nearly hit extinction. They are beasts accepted but still frowned upon by society and thus live with their true nature hidden. To this day, demons almost started becoming a myth. Chan is one of them.

Seventeen fanfic; High School AU, Fantasy AU, Demons and Humans AU

Chapter: 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13, 14, 15

Read on Ao3

Attacca

Summary:

Minghao would do everything for his brothers. He doesn't care if they aren't related by blood. Jun, Soonyoung, and Chan are his family and he would fight to keep it this way. Meanwhile, Hansol lives after the motto me, myself, and I. Others see a young man walking aimlessly, but Hansol sees himself enjoying his life in the best company. Himself. Two different worlds clash, when Chew Hansol gets involved in the business of Attacca, one of Seoul's most dangerous mafia gangs, led by his dead father's friend, Choi Seungcheol. Having no other choice but to get on a mission for Attacca, the young man stumbles right into the world of Seoul's inner circle of criminals, only to get missing.

Seventeen Mafia AU

Chapter: Prologue, 1,

Read on Ao3

[horangkwon]

⭐ Veinte: Praying to the gods of broke college students.

wc: 950

ㅤ

ㅤ

—I don’t know what’s scarier… the debt, or the fact that we are blindly following Y/N—.

—Shut up, Seungkwan—.

Your hand hesitated before reaching for the knob, but you told yourself that things could not get worse than they already were… unless you got arrested. “No!” you thought to yourself “It’s not the time to be negative, if the police come we can just send them to meditate with Vernon and… Right, the door” you opened it and entered the manager’s office with quivering steps.

Nothing could have prepared you for whatever was waiting for you and your friends inside.

—Why is it so dark in here? Did the manager leave already?— Jiwon asked, completely ignoring Chan’s complaints about Jisun stepping on his foot.

Her question was answered when the lights suddenly lit up and the chair on the opposite side of the desk turned around to reveal a man wearing sunglasses and petting… a rock with a cowboy hat?

—This was definitely not on my bingo list for this vacation— Seungkwan whispered, to which you elbowed him before taking a step closer to the unknown man. Something about him seemed familiar to you, but you were not entirely sure what it was.

—Excuse me, Mr…— you squeezed your eyes to read his nametag —Choi, I’m here to discuss this— you carefully placed the ticket on the desk for him to see.

—Ah, yes, my staff warned me about this and told me that you might show up at my office— he said, not sparing a single look at the ticket but rather taking turns to analyze you and your friends from head to toe —I’m assuming that you are not here to pay what you owe us, and instead you want to convince me that this was all a big misunderstanding, or a mistake you made while being incredibly drunk…— he placed the rock on the desk, crossed his arms and looked at you, or at least you assumed so since you could not clearly see his eyes.

—I have to correct you there, Mr. manager— you said, earning confused looks from your friends who had started to believe that your plan was to beg on your knees for forgiveness. —I was planning on requesting an alternative way of payment…—.

—Are we gonna strip for money now— Chan said before getting his foot brutally stepped on once more by Jisun.

You closed your eyes a few seconds and took a deep breath to stop yourself from hitting your friend with the rock —If you let me, I can work here for as long as needed in order to pay off my debt—.

Silence.

You and the alleged manager Choi Seungcheol stared at each other, you could feel Jiwon burning holes into the side of your skull, but it was fine, there was no other way you could get out of this particular situation while keeping your name clean. —Fine— he finally said —Work diligently for six months here and you’re free to go—.

—Excuse me?!— Chan meddled again, and you were starting to regret letting him accompany you —How low does the salary have to be for Y/N to need six whole months of work?—. Well, he had a point. The rest of your group started murmuring in agreement, not fully believing their ears.

—Can all of you shut up?— Jiwon spoke, her cold and merciless tone making everyone, including the manager, go silent on the spot and look at her —Isn’t it obvious?— she pointed at the manager with her chin —He wants all of us to work for a month to help Y/N, that’s why he specifically said six—. You swore that you saw the man’s eyes shake for a second behind the glasses.

—You’re right— Seungkwan added —Also, his voice sounds exactly like the one that announced the party that night— the atmosphere was starting to get tense by the second; you could tell Vernon was craving some popcorn to watch the drama at a safe distance.

—Indeed, that was me, but I don’t see any problem with that— the manager said —I mean, it’s a part of my job to be in charge of announcements, and the reason we announced the party so late is that I accidentally messed up the schedule, but we could not let the food go to waste so we took a risk— he explained, effectively calming down some of your friends; needless to say, Seungkwan and Jiwon were still staring at him like angry mothers defending their kids from a tired McDonald’s employee who had added pickles to all the burgers. At some point, your team leader had even placed a hand on your shoulder in a protective manner.

—The reason why all of you should work for a month here instead of letting your friend take all the responsibility…— the man continued, completely unfazed by all the negative attention that was directed his way —...Is because I heard from one of my staff members that you guys are working on a project together—.

—Mr. TikTok star, that snitch…— Jisun mumbled under her breath.

—So I offer your team a place to stay together for a whole month, and also working only the morning or night shift, at your choice, so that you guys have time to do your project— he turned to Seungkwan with a smug smirk adorning his face and crossed his arms —Does it still look like I’m the bad guy here?—.

You glanced at your teammates for moral support, but all of them were completely speechless. —Fine— you said, praying to the Gods of Broke College Students so that you would not regret this later —We have a deal—.

ㅤ

❝⭐Five Dollars and a Dream.❞

Soonyoung's plan was perfect: get a degree in contemporary dance, upload covers on YouTube, perform on the streets, ???, become rich, and live in a gigantic mansion with a family of tigers. Well, there might be flaws in his logic, but his passion (and a lucky encounter) will push him to make his dreams a reality.

Previous ⭐ Masterlist ⭐ Next

A/N: Today I offer yall a chapter after almost a whole month🙏 med is hard i wish i was bukkeu and could make a living out of barking at seungkwan everyday

⭐ Taglist: @mitchieki @rubberduckieyourtheone @winterwallacehenderson @brook0310 @merapehlapyaarwaapasaagaya (Send and ask to be added<3)

[ava-achlys]

Excuse me Mr Choi Seungcheol but...

what the fuck

[whattodowithkpop]

Watch Your Step (S. Coups)

Title: Watch Your Step

Pairing: S. Coups x Reader

Genre: Fluff

Word Count: 1,221 words

Writer: Whattodowithkpop [Lio]

Summary: He catches her from falling down the stairwell and from having to deal with an annoying young businessman. They end up working closer in the corporate field, amongst working closer in other ways.

*****

It was a late night at a rooftop party. Big name executives gathered in this space as they talked amongst themselves about business. They all had smiles on their faces and talked in pleasent conversation, however it was clear to anyone at this party it was all a front to get business partners.

I wasn't a big name executive, however I was the daughter of one. I worked in my father's company which required me to attend these types of events alongside him. I put on my fake smile, a smile you could see on all their faces, however, mine was plastered because I the people that surrounded me were these types of men and woman, ones that exuded dishonesty.

I was already exhausted from all of the chatter and all I wanted to do was peel this dress off my neck so I could breathe, I hid my irritation and discomfort, however my facade was beginning to break. I needed to step away for a moment to catch a breather and compose myself.

I excuse myself from the conversation, making a quick exit to the door that lead to the stairwell. Before I could reach it, however, a large hand encasing around my bicep, making me turn with the momentum, coming face to face with the son of a big name in the restaurant industry.

"Hey." He smirks at me, his bright white teeth shining against the darkness of the night sky.

I roll my eyes as I pull my arm from his hand, stepping away from him to give myself some space.

"I have to go retrieve something for my father." I lie as I begin towards the exit before I'm stopped again.

This wasn't something new to me, as this wasn't the first time this man had halted me in my tracks. He was the son of a business man that often worked with my father. My father would love for me to accept this business mogul's son's advancements, however he always came across creepy and he continued to persist despite my obvious rejections.

"Let me go with you." He requests as he follows me towards the staircase that lead to the rest of the skyscraper.

"It's classified." I tell him with a fake smile.

"We don't have to tell anyone." He smirks at me.

I smirk back at him, resting my hands on his shoulders leaning into his ear to whisper.

"If you follow me, I will not hesitate to throw you down the stairs and I will make it look like an accident."

I pull away from him to see a shocked, blushing face.

"Oh my god, did that turn you on?" I glare at him.

His silence answers my question, making me sneer as I walk to the staircase door. I am relieved when he doesn't follow me. I make a quick descent down the stairs, making it a point to continue checking the stairs above me to make sure he didn't follow me. As I approach the last steps, I take one last look above me and see him racing down the steps making me groan as I speed up. When I add this speed in combination with my thin heel, it causes me to miss the last step, tripping me and causing me fall forward.

Before I hit the ground an arm loops around my stomach, stopping me from falling down the rest of the steps. I look up seeing a familiar face that I had seen business meetings between some of the bigger corporations. His dark hair falls over his forehead, his big, doe eyes trained towards the stairs as his arm stayed around my stomach to keep me stabled.

I follow his eyes, seeing the man I had tried so hard to get away from. He stared at the young man and I, trying to make sense of the situation he found us in before his eyes widen making a retreat back up the stairs. When I turn back to the man who held me up, I see his eyes in a fiery glare at the retreating form before her turns his attention back to me to help me stand.

"Thank you." I bow to him, meeting his eyes after.

“Was he chasing you?” He asks, his eyes boring into mine.

“Oh him.” I gesture up the stairs. “He follows me around. Nothing I can’t handle.”

I knew who he was. His father was the owner of an electronics company. He was a big part of his fathers business and did a lot of the social aspects for his father. He was never in the news for scandals and he was always respectable. This was the first time I had spoken to him and I felt surprised to see him here since his father usually didn’t attends these types of things, the party scene wasn't his businesses cup of tea.

“I don’t think it’s safe for you to go through the staircases alone...” He trails off.

I smile at his genuine worry. “I appreciate your concern. But I’m just stepping out for a breather.”

“Would it be okay... If I joined you?” He asks, his soft eyes meeting my shocked ones.

“If you’d like.” I smile, however my shock still runs through my body.

~

That was the night I met Mr. Seungcheol Choi. Him and I enjoyed the rest of the evening by ourselves away from the party. We became quick friends due to the fact we were both heavily involved with our father’s business but we both shared the disinterest of taking them over.

Our closeness soon became realized by our fathers who took it as a business advancement. They were quick to partner us up on a business deal, deciding to come together for a technological advancement. Seungcheol and I paired together to work on the advertising and basics of the project.

“One of us is going to have to talk to the press.” I say as Seungcheol and I sit next to each other.

“You have a face for tv.” Seungcheol smirks at me, making me roll my eyes.

“Your father’s business is bigger.” I tell him as I rest my head on my hands and lean on the table towards Seungcheol.

“I think the public would like to see a pretty girl for the face of this project.” Seungcheol strikes back, mirroring my stance.

“So you think I’m pretty?” I smirk at him.

“Maybe.”

The flirting between us wasn’t new. It was something that had continued to escalate the closer we got. However, Seungcheol leaning closer to me was something new, his head inched closer to mine and I found myself leaning in closer as well.

My hands grip the table as I feel his breath fan over my lips, my heart rate picking up. I close my eyes and wait for his lips to touch mine.

A sudden slam of the door jolts us apart. My head jerks to the newly opened door where Seungcheol’s dad stood in the archway, his face wearing a frown, however I could see he wasn’t truly irritated at this possible development.

“Father, we were just-“

Seungcheol's dad cut him off, holding up a hand. “Please, continue.” He turns to leave, saying one last thing before his departure.

“Just make sure you at least get the proposal done.”

SEVENTEEN MASTERLIST

[haosthetics]

Kabilang Buhay

Seungkwan was lost not until he met Hansol, Hansol was the one who save him from his step father’s cruelty the world became unfair for Seungkwan his dad died when he was 7 and his mom met his step father when he was 9 years old walang ginawang iba si Seungkwan kundi sundin ang nais ng kanyang amahin and he always wish that his dad was there to protect him he felt so tired being hurt Seungkwan ace his class but he was always treated low in their own house until he met Hansol he witness Seungkwan’s downfall he witness how his step father hurt him how his hands hit Seungkwan and how much he beg him to stop suddenly Hansol became his constant man he was there for Seungkwan he was the one who help Seungkwan tatlong taon they became couple Hansol’s parent and older brother Choi Seungcheol welcomes him to the family for the first time naramdaman niya na welcome siya sa pamilya na meron siyang tahanan na uuwian at ligtas siya Hansol’s dad was the one who filed an case against his step father and he was so thankful that he met Hansol and his family.

Everything was perfect Seungkwan went home early he was quite sick he was now an CEO and he was planning to prepare dinner for Hansol and his family it was their 7th anniversary and every anniversary Seungkwan was making sure that he was the one who will cook their dinner.

“Ang aga mo ata Seungkwan?” Seungcheol ask while getting a pitcher of water

“Ah oo kuya masama pakiramdam ko ewan ko I felt something big will happen today di naman sa OA lang ako pero medyo kinakabahan ako kuya Cheol” Seungkwan mumbles and Seungcheol receive an call he drop the pitcher and Seungkwan was shock

“Kwan it’s Vernon”

“Ha? Bakit kuya?”

“He was in the hospital tara papunta na sila mom and dad don” Seungcheol replied Seungkwan felt weak he was getting weak no this couldn’t be His Hansol

“Kuya pwede bilisan mo ng konti?” Seungkwan ask he was crying hard now gladly Jeonghan is right next to him trying his best to calm the younger one

The last time he felt someone’s on verge of dying was when it comes to his mom who got into car accident too

After couple of minutes Vernon’s parents are outside the operating room his mom was just crying and his dad was just hugging his wife the doctor came his expression same expression as what he saw when his mom was declared dead

“Mr. Choi Hansol Vernon’s family?”

“Yes kami kamusta ang anak ko?” His mom ask and the doctor shake his head and Seungkwan’s knees are getting weak gladly Jeonghan and Seungcheol was there for him right now

“I am sorry but Mister Choi was declared dead as of 3:30PM excuse me” the doctor mumbles and Seungkwan cried how could he left like that Vernon he was the only person who fight for Seungkwan siya lang ang aasahan ni Seungkwan siya nalang ang meron kay Seungkwan.

Vernon’s parents hug Seungkwan he cried more knowing that there is no reason for them to hug Seungkwan they lost Hansol too

“Puntahan na natin siya Kwan” His mom calmly told him Seungkwan didn’t knew that this will be the last time he will see Hansol’s beautiful smile, that would be the last morning he will receive from Hansol, That would be the last I love you he will receive if he could just go back in time he will be there for Hansol even it will took his life too he just wished that he hug Hansol tighter he will do that

“Happy 7th anniversary bub you promise me na di mo ko iiwan bat mo naman kami sinopresa ng ganto bub di ko alam paano pa ko gigising sa umaga na alam ko na wala ka na sa tabi ko hindi ko na maririnig yung I love you mo and happy anniversary mo bub bakit? ang daya mo naman ihahanda ko palang yung dinner diba mag ce-celebrate pa tayo 7years na sol tsaka ka naman umalis pangako mo next year we are getting married ready na ko sol tsaka ka naman nawala sakin ang daya naman ni lord ang unfair ng mundo ako nalang sol ako nalang tumayo ka jan Hansol Vernon Choi dali na di ako magagalit di na ko mag tatampo sayo bub”

“Kwan”

“Tita Ma paano na ko si Vernon nalang meron ako” Seungkwan mumbles and Vernon’s parents hugs him tighter

“Nandito kami we won’t leave you behind Hansol definitely in good hands now remember when he started playing his favorite song sabi niya Ma even in my second life I will pick you and papa as my parents, I will pick Seungcheol hyung as my brother and definitely even in my second life I will pick Seungkwan as my other half kapag di ako pinayagan ni lord na hindi kayo ang parents ko at di si Kuya ang kuya ko at hindi si Seungkwan ang magiging boyfriend ko gagawan ko pa rin ng paraan mahal ko kayo ni papa tsaka kuya mahal ko rin si Seungkwan” His mom mumbles and a tears started falling from her eyes

“Hi Sol nak kami na bahala kay Seungkwan rest well anak you really did well alam mo naman mahal ka namin mahal na mahal” His dad said and Seungkwan hug his Hansol

“Bub look for me in your second life hintayin mo ko matatagalan I will be better soon bub pahinga ka maigi mahal na mahal na mahal kita” Seungkwan said and they been heading out of the morgue

“You can stay with us Kwan Hansol’s room can be yours or you can use the guess room”

“Salamat po Tito pa”

“We are family hindi namin hahayaan na masaktan ka mag isa do not forget that Kwannie please” Hansol’s mom said and there Seungkwan hug her tightly

“Salamat tita ma tsaka tito pa for being my second family for being my savior and for always taking care of me”

“Ano ka ba you’ve taken care of Hansol kaya enough na samin how much you’ve change hansol hindi pa enough yung tulong namin sayo” His dad said and Seungkwan smile at Hansol’s parents

They are just talking when the police interrupted them

“Mr. and Mrs. Choi the truck was found pero yung driver we are currently looking for him anyways we found this on Mr. Hansol’s car it seems for you Seungkwan anyways that’s our update for today we will update you once the suspect is found already” The police mumbles Seungkwan click the stuff toy and it was a talking stuff toy with Hansol’s voice

“Happy anniversary bub it’s been 7years since I’ve started dating the most beautiful and amazing boyfriend ang swerte ko that you keep loving me for 7years and I hope you won’t get tired of me mahal na mahal kita Kwannie you can use this kapag na mimiss mo ko ah Kwan I hope you know that even on my second life I will choose you I will pick you up kaya sana ganun ka rin I love you” Hansol’s voice seems so cracky he seems crying after the note.

“Mahal kita Sol mahal na mahal kita”

[seaside-stan]

Summary: Champion!S.Coups gets lost from his group and is rescued by a local gym leader. [Bug Gym leader! Male Reader x Champion!S.Coups] Word Count: 1046

Trigger Warning: Talks about anxiety Author’s Note: Yooo so this is my first reader story so. Forgive me. I also just published this after writing it so forgive my errors. Minor SwSh spoilers just involving pokemon not shown in the trailers. Here is a list for the pokemon au I made for the svt boys. 

The golden fields around Turffield was mostly quiet. The sound of the river covered the chatter of Meowth or Diglett that spotted the countryside. For the time being Route 4 was a perfect place for an afternoon nap. In the shade of the yellow wheat fields surrounding the valley town rested Y/N. With his hate over his face he had tried to catch a quick nap before returning to the town. But the brief chance of sleep was startled when their Butterfree fluttered over chirping to get their attention. Lifting their source of shade the trainer looked up at their pokemon. “Is something the matter?”

The pokemon chirp and pointed up the hill behind him. With the pokemon guiding him Y/N heard calls coming. “Stop. Wait! I just wanted to hug you!”

Y/N looked up and noticed a trainer and their Yamper running after a Wooloo who was rolling away from the two. Getting up the once napping trainer had gotten up to race to the pathway. He stood in the road where the Wooloo was coming down and dug into his bag to pull a pecha berry. Holding the fruit out the normal type came to a rolling stop in front of him. 

As the Wooloo bounced around trying to get to Y/N’s snack. The trainer with their Yamper managed to catch up. The other man tried to catch his breath as he walked up to the trainer distracting the pokemon. “Yamper are often used to help herd Wooloo around her. Next time I would return your partner before trying to go up to these little ones.” 

“Thank you.” He said, walking up to pet the now relaxing Wooloo snacking on the pecha berry.  Y/N couldn’t place his accent but was happy to help the stranger. “I am uh. Y/N. Nice to meet you.” 

The stranger nodded and looked back towards the soft pokemon before him. “I’m cha…trainer Seungcheol.”

Y/N looked at the stranger trainer, at the pokemon, and then back at him. Most people in Galar were all over the gym leaders when they could. But he thought even someone new to the region would have at least heard of him.  “I shouldn’t be there surprised.” Y/N sighed before leaning back against the fence of the pathway. “I am getting out shown by some of the other gym leaders.”

Without Y/N noticing the trainer had walked up and taken their hand. “You helped me out just now. So that alone means you are doing a good enough job.” 

Y/N’s face got red as the man complimented him. The two stood there for a moment as the wind gently blew around them. The only thing that cut the moment between them was the gluten Wooloo rolling away down the hill, causing the nervousness of Y/N to be replaced with laughter. “You are a strange one Mr. Seungcheol.”

The trainer laughed along with him as his Yamper barked at their feet. “I think I should be finding my group soon.” He said picking the barking pokemon up.  “I’ll join you. I have a few gym appointments coming up.” Y/N added.  The two walked down the path towards Turffield. Seungcheol looked down from the road to the Yamper in his arms, playing with the pokemon’s snout. “I’m here on vacation and I still caused problems for people.” 

The look on his face was a bit dark and glum. his hand trying to preoccupy his mind with playing with the pokemon. Y/N stood in the Seungchoel’s way just as he had done with the Wooloo. “Do you have a party of pokemon?” Y/N asked “Excuse me?” “Do you have other pokemon?”  Seungchoel shifted on his feet. “Most of them weren’t allowed when I came to Galar. But yes.”  “And do they like you?”  “Yes?”  “And you have a group of friends you need to find.” 

“They are more like family.” Seungchoel said, getting annoyed with Y/N’s questions. “Then you are doing just fine.” Y/N said “You can’t tell me to relax when you are making yourself upset.” 

Seungchoel had stood there more a moment and ponder over the trainer’s words. He put his Yamper down and started laughing. “Yeah. I guess you are right.” 

Y/N sighed and pulled out a pokeball and called out his Orbeetle. “I’ll make sure to help you find your friends.”  While Y/N was talking to his pokemon, Seungchoel dabbed the couple of tears he had from his eyes on his sleeve. “Thank you.” 

A group of people were hurdled outside the Turffield stadium when Y/N and Seungchoel arrived. “You really do have a punch of people in your group.” Y/N said still in disbelief.  The members called out his name and rushed over and surrounded the two of them. “Thank you for bringing him back.” one of them said as the others were making sure he and his pokemon were okay. 

“It was nothing.” Y/N said as he called back his Butterfree and Orbeetle who had helped search for the group.  Y/N reached into their bag and pulled out a card. He held it out to Seungchoel who took it and looked it over. “It’s the rarer version of my league card. Its a common practice around here.”  “Coups-hyung,” One of the members began “We really should be going to our next stop.” 

Seungchoel nodded and put the league card into a pocket of his bag before pulling out a piece of paper. He signed the bottom of it and handed it over to the gym leader. “If you ever visit out home be sure to come say hello.” 

Y/N stood behind at the stadium as the group of thirteen people walked off towards Route 5. They had vanished into the town before Y/N opened up the letter he had been given.  “Y/N is invited to a private match against Champion S.Coups upon his request.” The letter was signed with Champion Choi ‘S.coups’ Seungchoel. In disbelief Y/N’s hands fell to their sides and looked at the direction the trainer who couldn’t handle a Wooloo and his party had vanished to. “He was a champion!” 

[svtmatokis]

Jihoon Office AUP6

-Lets out a big breath- I’m not sure what to write here...it’s been so long that I posted that I’m worried you guy’s have forgotten about me hehe...I’m still here but with December comes lots of family responsibilities, work responsibilities and getting really sick...I tried to keep up with myself but in the end I think I kinda of run my self over so with that, I’m sorry >< Please enjoy the latest edition of the Jihoon Office AU! 

Plot: You and Seungcheol have been best friends forever and as a favor, you agree to be temporary assistant of the one Lee Jihoon

Pairing: Reader x Jihoon

Words: 3279

1 - 2 - 3 - 4 - 5 -

“Where are we going?” you asked looking out at the nice houses that lined the seaside.

Jihoon had disappeared early that morning to attend to some business with his father before returning with coffee and breakfast from your favorite cafe. He then told you to get ready and to put on something nice since he had a whole day planned but first, he had some business to settle on behalf of his father which was where you were currently headed. 

“I just have to meet with one of my fathers business associates at his house for a while and then we’re going to have lunch at that cafe you’ve always wanted to try near here.” he said squeezing your hand that rested in your lap while the other held the steering wheel. “It won’t be long, I promise.” 

Not too long later, he pulled up to a mansion which looked slightly familiar to you and you gasped when you saw the surname on the front.

“Ji…” you said turning to look at your boyfriend and he only gave you a reassuring smile.

“Trust me okay? I know what I’m doing” he said while grabbing a file from the backseat and you nodded slowly. “Do you want to stay in the car or come down with me?”

“I guess I can come down with you…” you said slowly, “It would only be polite after all…” 

“Okay.” he said getting out of his car and going to your side to open the door before offering his hand for you to get out.

Hand in hand, the two of you approached the security booth and Jihoon gave his name before the two of you were lead to the front door where distinct yelling could be heard.

The two of you shared a look with each other but before either of you could knock, the door swung open and a man in his mid fifties stormed out before stopping half way once he noticed those present and you froze the moment you made eye contact.

“Ah, if it isn’t Y/N.” he said with a slight sneer, “My son did tell me you were back in town. It was hard to believe since you ran out on him all those years ago. I’m looking forward to having you as my daughter in-law in the next few months.” He then eyed Jihoon and instantly recognized him too. “And with the youngest son of Lee Financial I see...I can only assume that it’s all work and no pleasure.” 

“Mr. Min.” you stated in your business voice but before you could continue, Jihoon cut you off.

“Mr. Min, it’s a pleasure seeing you again considering you couldn’t make our last meeting and sent your son in your stead.” he said with a slight smirk, “I hope your heart recovery is going better, Yoongi did tell me that it had taken a lot out of you, though I am surprised to see you out and about so soon after.” 

The man obviously looked taken aback from Jihoon discreet but obvious call out but hid it just as quick as it showed.

“Yes, well my heart is doing better and I was just dropping by to see an old friend.” he answered quickly, “I must be going now but Y/N, I suppose I’ll see you at the wedding, your grandfather is most excited.” 

“There will be no wedding if I can help it.” you said with your fakest smile and decided to dig further, “If your son had been able to keep it in his pants all those years ago then maybe we could’ve considered but just the sight of your family makes me sick. Now if you will excuse me.” 

Turning around, you walked into the house and handed the maid your coat, being around your grandfather was much better than being around Yoongi’s father, that was for sure.

Watching you from behind, Jihoon gave Mr. Min his fakest business smile before shuffling the contents of the file he had in his hands around and proceeded to follow you into the house leaving the man to stare after the two of you with a slight glare.

As the two of you were lead into your grandfathers dining room, Jihoon pulled you back slightly to whisper in your ear.

“I’m not sure where that confidence came from, but it was extremely sexy.” 

His comment lead you to blushing slightly and you smacked his arm.

“Would you have let him touch me?” you asked innocently and he shook his head.

“Of course not, had he laid a hand on you, I would’ve laid my fist on him.” Jihoon responded cracking his knuckles, “He should know his place in this circle. If he doesn’t, I would love to teach him.” 

“Wow, you are nothing like your older brother...are you sure he’s the actual heir?” you asked right as the maid announced your presence which you took as your que to enter the room. 

At the head of the table sat a man who looked to be in his late fifties, looking through various paper work in front of him and with a cup of coffee to the side. The look of stress was evident on his face but when the maid announced the new guests, he quickly straightened his back. He looked towards the entrance and a look of surprise took over him.

“Y-Y/N.” he said as he stood up quickly as you entered the room with Jihoon.

The air was tense, the two of you never had the greatest relationship since he had been trying to marry you off for most of your life but it was as if having Jihoon next to you made you feel more confident. You were no longer that naive little girl who was a student anymore. Instead, you were an established business woman who was working for one of Asia’s biggest corporations and in a relationship with the youngest son of one of Korea’s most elite families. 

“Grandfather.” you said with a nod before looking at Jihoon who was holding a straight face but the air of confidence surrounded him. 

“What are you doing here?” he asked, “If I recall, you always tried your hardest to avoid this place in the past.” 

“I’m actually here with Jihoon. He said he had some business to take care of and asked me to accompany him.” you responded nudging your head at said man.

As if he was just noticing him now, your grandfather cleared his throat, “Ah, thats right. Jihoon, it’s nice to see you again. Please have a seat.

“Likewise sir.” Jihoon said shaking the older mans hand, “I apologize that my father couldn’t make it today... He just thought that I would be best suited to settle this instead.” he took out the file he was holding, “I assure you that everything has been signed accordingly and the numbers have not been effected.” 

Jihoon slid the folder over to your grandfather who began to look through it, “As well...there are a few other things I’d like to discuss…” he gave you a side glance and caught your eye, making you raise your eyebrows. “Regarding your granddaughter.”

This caught his attention quickly as well as yours and you could feel Jihoon squeeze your hand under the table as if telling you to trust him. 

“What about her?” your grandfather asked automatically, as far as his sources had told him, you and Jihoon were simply co workers who worked for Choi Industries and had maintained a professional relationship. But little did he know, Jihoon was about to kill those assumptions. 

“It has come to my attention that you have been trying to marry her off to the highest bidder with the promise of a fine dowry.” Jihoon started as your grandfathers eyes widened, “As you know, it’s really no secret in our circles that the Mins have been trying to merge your families for quite sometime now and there are other families who also have an eye on that dowry, am I correct?” 

Your grandfather nodded as he shot you a look but you avoided his gaze, you had a hunch as to what Jihoon was getting at and you didn’t want to say anything. You had promised Jihoon before that you would stay with him no matter what and this must’ve been his way of getting a point across.

“As you recall, my brother is set to take over Lee Financial once my father decides to retire...on top of that, I will eventually take over the CFO position of Choi Industries at some point on so it’s safe to say that my family has established themselves quiet well over the years don’t you think?”

Your grandfather nodded wondering where Jihoon was going with this. That was until he saw the one piece of paper under all the financial reports that Jihoon’s father had taken care of for him and his eyes widened at the two signatures at the bottom.

“You want to marry Y/N?” he asked with a slight gasp as Jihoon simply nodded. 

“I’ve discussed with my father and brother as a matter of fact and they both agree that Y/N would make a great asset to the family. She attended a prestigious  university, graduated top of her class and has worked with a few of the biggest corporations in Europe. On top of that, she’s now a manager with Choi Industries.”  Jihoon explained, “As you can see, both my brother and father have signed the contract with their blessing.” 

Your grandfather skimmed the document silently as Jihoon kept his cool demeanor. He leaned forward to look between the two of you and eyed you specifically.

“And what makes you think that I would approve of you?” he asked, though his eyes remained on you. He wanted to see how you would react to this whole thing and he was slightly shocked to see that you were calm throughout this process though you really had Jihoon to thank for that. His presence alone assured that you were going to be alright and that you had nothing to worry about “For all I know, this could be another set up like with the Chois.” 

“Considering the fact that I saved your granddaughter from the Min’s attack upon her return to Korea, she has also been under my protection since then and as you know, outside of financials, our family also has a high influence within the securities sector worldwide. Truth be told, it is because of our family and not that Choi’s, that your daughter and son-in law have yet to be found my the Mins.” Jihoon answered and you gasped, turning to look at him with wide eyes. Jihoons family was actually the ones who were looking after your parents and not Seungcheols? Is this why the Min’s have yet to catch up to your parents, wherever they were?

The statement seemed to catch your grandfather off guard as well since his eyes widened at the mention of his daughter whom he hadn’t seen in years.

“Min Yoongi is currently in the States looking for them himself since your little contract stated that as long as Y/N’s parents sign the contract, she maybe wed to whomever.” Jihoon grinned as he leaned forward, letting go of your hand so he could fold his hands in front of him, “Unfortunately for him, I have no intentions of letting your daughter do such thing. I know about the relationship that Y/N had with Yoongi once upon a time and I know that he has proof to make them believe that he and Y/N are together. Unfortunately, I can’t let that happen. To make it simple, I have every intention of keeping Y/N to myself.” 

“And how do you plan on doing that?” he asked suddenly, though you were here with Jihoon today, it did not look like anything more than a business gathering and he was interested to see how Jihoon would respond. 

“I’ve been courting Y/N since her return to Korea without anyones knowledge” Jihoon stated bluntly and you felt the blush creep up your cheeks and it got worse when Jihoon continued on, “And as of two weeks ago, she and I have been in an established relationship. I also have every intention of making her my wife.”

“How can I believe that?” your grandfather asked with a slight chuckle, “I’ve had my men follow Y/N throughout her time here and no one has brought up the fact that she is in a relationship.” 

“You are aware sir, that the men you have employed belong to my family. Of course they wouldn’t report about their bosses son.” Jihoon smirked, “Since Y/N was attacked, she’s been living with me.” 

If they could, your grandfathers eyes widened even more. “Is this true Y/N?” he asked wondering how his men could let something like this slip.

“What he says is true Grandfather.” you confirmed, “Jihoon has been the perfect gentleman upon my return and if it weren’t for him, I may not be in this state I’m in right now.” 

“And do you love him?” he asked skeptically as you shrugged your shoulders.

“It’s only been two weeks since we’ve established our relationship. I could very well love him and not know it yet.” you let out a sigh, “I’m not that unconfident child you think I am anymore, Grandfather. With all due respect...I’d like to choose the man I marry and not base it off on an inheritance that almost every upper class family is after.” 

Looking at you carefully, your Grandfather leaned back in his chair with crossed arms and let out a small huff. Your posture didn’t falter after your statement and he could see that Jihoon was completely unaffected by your statement so it was obvious he wasn’t after the dowry, if anything he seemed to give off a more confident energy. 

“Very well.” he said after a small silence, “When Jihoon purposes to you, then I will sign the contract and make the official announcement.” 

“I would rather have the contract between our family’s done now.” Jihoon stated pushing the document forward before giving you a small smile, “Afterall, it’s not a matter of when I propose...its a matter of how.”

“It will also get the Min’s off your back.” you said finally understanding Jihoons purpose in all this once you got to skim the contract since you had to sign it as well. 

There were a few amendments to it done by the Lee’s lawyer and you could see the signature marks where they were acknowledged and they were mainly under the financials and security sections.

“Once the contract is signed, everything will be able to take effect. The Min’s have been trying to up their name in our society for years and using untasteful tactics including blackmailing your family.” Jihoon stated making your Grandfather gasp.

“You know about that?” he asked, sitting up straighter.

Jihoon nodded, “Of course, we do help you with your financials and we can see why your numbers have been in slight decline as of late, so we asked our team to dig further. Those reports have been included in the file that I’ve brought with me today. If you’d like, you can take the time to reread the reports today and you can sign the contracts when you’re ready, I’m sure Y/N would be okay with signing them today.” 

“Hand me the pen.” you said with a small grin as Jihoon did just that and within seconds, your name was on the contract. Pushing it forward towards your grandfather, you gave him a small smile. “You can sign it whenever you want...take as much time as you need..” 

“Jihoon, do you mind if I have a word with my Granddaughter in private? It won’t take long.” he promised as Jihoon nodded.

“Of course.” Jihoon answered standing up and leaned down to kiss the crown of your head before whispering, “I’ll be right outside if you need me.” 

You looked up at him with a smile as he nuzzled his nose against yours, “Okay.” 

Once Jihoon was out of the room, your Grandfather couldn’t help but see the happiness radiating off of you and he couldn’t believe it.

“You’ve really changed throughout the years Y/N.” he said with a soft smile, “I was surprised to see that you decided to return to Korea so suddenly.” 

“Yoongi runs most of his family State side corporations and it was only a matter of time till he tried to reach out. I figured it would be easier to face my demons head on instead of hiding.” you explained, “I didn’t even reach out to Seungcheol till I returned and settled in.” 

“Ah yes...your ex-fiance. How is he?” he asked and you shrugged your shoulders.

“Same old, same old. He’s set to take over his father once he retires in about five years. After that, he will find himself a suitable bride.” you responded, “But this obviously isn’t about him now is it?” 

“No, it’s about you…” your grandfather said with a small nod, “Are you happy with Mr. Lee?” 

“I wouldn’t be with him if I wasn’t. Fortunately, I am capable of finding my own happiness.” you responded with a soft smile, “I wouldn’t want to be betrothed to anyone else.” 

“And what if I were to say no and agree to marry you off to the Mins?” he questioned and you were completely expecting this question. 

“I would rebel and if Jihoon loves me the way I think he does, he would use all his power to fight against it as well.” you responded automatically, “Nothing you say will leave Jihoon. Your condition was that I be married to an established family by the time I turn twenty-five and I think the Lees fit that criteria. Another one of your conditions is that whomever signs the contract first has priority. It’s obvious that the Mins are old fashioned and won’t sign the contract till Yoongi proposes to me which I will reject over and over again.” 

“And what if this turn’s out to be a farce?” your grandfather challenged and you resisted the urge to roll your eyes. 

“All these what if’s.” you said in an almost frustrated voice, “Listen, I will marry Jihoon whether you sign the contract or not. The amendments in the contract state that no one can mess with the family once Jihoon and I are betrothed and that includes the Mins and it will take effect once it’s filed with our lawyers. But if you don’t sign it, I will marry Jihoon and the Min’s will continuously harass YOUR family because of what they lost.” 

You got up and picked up your bag, “I feel like I don’t have to explain this further so if you need me, feel free to contact me through the Choi office but Jihoon and I do have plans today so I must get going.” 

With your last statement, you quickly left the dining room in a frustrated manner, right past Jihoon and out the front door leaving both him and your grandfather to stare after you in shock. 

With an awkward bow through the crack of the door to your grandfather, Jihoon got your coats from the maid and made his way out the front door where he saw you leaning against the passenger side of his car with a frustrated look on your face.

[hannie-dul-set]

(thirteen times) i love you— 03

— wherein y/n (a hopeless romantic) seems to fall in love with nearly ever guy she meets. so, she writes letters for them to compensate. these letters weren't meant for them to read, but what happens when they all end up receiving them?

03 // dumb excuse

word count: 2.3k

a/n: hello hello, part three is here!! lmk what you think hehheheh 👀✨

part 4 will be on July 16th, 8:00 PM EST!

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masterlist

"Wait, so you're saying, Choi Seungcheol, aka Mr. Boy I Loved # 12, volunteered to help you retrieve your letters back?" Jiyeon asked in disbelief before taking a sip on her carton of milk.

"I know right! God, I don't know what went inside his head for him to decide to help me," you groaned, "What if he's just doing it to make fun of me?" With a whine, you buried your face in your arms.

"I doubt it," you heard Hyerim respond from behind you. Tray in hand, she makes her way towards Jiyeon and takes a seat beside her, "I think he's gonna expose you to his friends first, before making fun of you."

You threw your crumpled trash at her and shot her a glare, "I hate you," once again, you let yourself drown in your arms.

"I'm only joking," Hyerim laughs, "Besides, Seungcheol really is a nice guy. I'm sure he's genuine in trying to help you," you could hear Jiyeon hum in agreement.

You let out a huff, "I hope you're right— I have to meet up with him in a while," you took a glance at your watch— ten minutes until you and Seungcheol had to meet. He agreed to give you back your letter, and afterwards, the both of you were to formulate a plan on how to retrieve the rest.

"Uh oh, you better head out then," Jiyeon remarked, "I could see one of your ex obsessions breaching the perimeter," she nudged her head at one of the cafeteria tables. You slowly turned your head towards the direction, letting out a groan upon seeing your editor-in-chief, Jeon Wonwoo. If he won't confront me about the letter, then he's definitely gonna kill me for not heading to the clubroom yesterday— none of which I'd like to experience just yet.

You grabbed your bag in a rush and stood up, "I'll see you guys later," you bid your friends farewell before briskly walking towards the cafeteria's exit, hoping that the male didn't see you.

You let out a sigh of relief once you reached the hallway. You heard a buzz coming from you pocket and you assumed that was Seungcheol.

[seungcheol: hey im at the tables outside. where are you]

[you: im omw, had to deal with sth just now]

You finally arrived at your destination. You scanned the area for any sight of the male, and you managed to spot him sitting on one of the tables at the far end, tapping away on his phone.

[you: im here]

Immediately, he looked up from his phone. A large smile appeared on his face upon meeting your eyes. He waved his hand, beckoning you to come over, and you followed. You could feel a slight tinge of nervousness as you neared closer to the male.

"Hey," Seungcheol greeted you, a grin on his face and you offered him a tight lipped smile in response. His happy expression morphed into a frown, "What? You still don't trust me?" He pouted.

"It's— It's not that," you bit your lip, looking away from the male, "I'm just embarrassed— that's all," you heard him chuckle at your explanation, causing you to glare at him. He patted his hand on the chair beside him, urging you to take a seat. The glare on your face was still present as you sat down.

"No need to be embarrassed, Y/N, it's all in the past," Seungcheol opened his bag, his hand reaching in for something. In one swift motion, he pulls out your letter, "Here," he smiles at you, "I'm sure you've been wanting to get your hands on this."

Letting out a small shriek, you snatch the object from his grasp, "Oh my god, my baby—" you bring the letter to your chest, a relieved sigh escaping your lips. You stay in that position for a while, not paying any attention to the male that's been looking at you with a small smile on his face the entire time.

"Damn, I knew it was important to you , but I didn't know it meant that much," Seungcheol's voice interrupts your mini-episode. You sneered, "Of course, you wouldn't know," you stayed silent for a moment before facing the male, "But, thank you."

The gentle smile on Seungcheol's face never falters, "No problem," he adjusts his seating position before speaking up once again, "So, what are you planning on next?"

You rested your chin on your palm, your free hand twiddling with the letter, "I don't know, " You sighed, "But as much as possible, I'd like to avoid facing my disaster head-on, thank you very much."

A disapproving sound escaped Seungcheol's lips, "Tsk, that won't do," He scolded you, "You won't be able to accomplish anything if you do that,"

"What else can I do?" You groaned, "I don't exactly have the guts of steel, Mr. Choi Seungcheol."

"That's why I'm here, Y/N," he sent a wink at your direction. God, you really wanted to smack him, but he was right. You won't be able to go anywhere if you don't confront them— that is unless you consider sneaking around and taking the the letters without their knowledge, which you're totally up for, by the way.

Your meeting with Seungcheol sadly got cut short by the bell ringing. The both of you stood up and started to gather your things. You slipped the letter into one of your notebooks— you'll place it in a safe box later when you get home. One down, twelve more to go.

The both of you head inside the school building in silence. Seungcheol tapped your shoulder, causing you stop your legs. You face the male, raising your brow at him as you wait for what he has to say.

"I'll talk to you later, yeah? Tell me if anything happens," he smiled. You gave him a quick nod before the both of you finally parted ways.

Surprisingly, you managed to trek down the hallway without having to hide yourself in another locker or having to run another god forsaken marathon. You hadn't ran into any of the boys yet which is definitely good on your part since you weren't mentally prepared to face any of them yet (Seungcheol was an exemption).

You entered class, and lo and behold, Seungkwan was sitting on the desk right beside the door. You let out a yelp, loud enough for half of the class to hear, and you quickly slapped your palm onto your lips. Luckily, the professor wasn't around yet— with yesterday's events, he probably wouldn't let this one slide.

You timidly shuffled around the classroom and decided to sit down at the very back— not your preferred seat, but you wanted to avoid the male as much as possible. While taking out your things, you heard the screech of a chair from beside you, followed by the sound of someone sitting down. You turn your head to see who had decided to sit next to you, and the moment you saw the person— you paled, eyes widening and choking on literally nothing in the process.

"Don't think you could run away just like last time, Y/N— you have some explaining to do," Seungkwan warned you before giving his attention to your professor that had just made his arrival.

Okay, that was unexpected. You only anticipated three things to happen whenever any of the boys decide to confront you— they'll either reject you (obviously), make fun of your cheesy writing, or profess their love for you in return (highly unlikely). You clearly didn't expect a threat.

For the rest of the class, you could only think about Seungkwan's words. You yourself know that you obviously had to explain things, but how did he know? You mentally cursed at yourself. Focus on class, Y/N, think about this shit later. You weren't gonna lie, this entire situation was really giving off a negative impact on your studies— well, your whole life, in general— but all you could do was suck it up, the educational system doesn't give a fuck about the students' well being, anyways.

The bell rang, signalling the end of your class and the beginning of your ruin.

You raced towards the door, hoping to evade the male's confrontation, but for some reason, the path to the door seemed way longer than it was supposed to be (plus the fact there's literally a large mass of students trying to get out, as well). You had no choice but to accept your dreaded fate.

Seungkwan appeared beside you, holding a tight grip on your wrist in case you try to run away (a good idea on his part). You furrowed your brows. It confused you as to why he was so adamant about having you to explain the reason for the letter. Maybe it could be something else? If so, then it must be really really bad for Seungkwan to act like this. At that thought, your nerves started to surface even harder than before.

Upon reaching the hallway, Seungkwan wordlessly dragged you to a corner. The students that were around gave the both of you questioning looks as you passed them by. The male decided to stop, and without even giving you much time to think, he uttered out,

"What the fuck?"

Your features morphed into a mix of confusion and alarm. What? The male probably noticed your expression, and he let out a heavy sigh.

"Look, Y/N, I don't know what kind of game you're playing, but it's not fucking funny," Seungkwan glared at you, causing you to flinch. "Vernon approached me yesterday after school, saying he received a letter from you— a love letter, to be more specific," the male's glare doesn't leave his features.

"Sounds familiar, doesn't it?"

You bit your lip, trying to think of the proper words to say, "I—I can explain, Seungkwan—"

"You better," he snapped. "I honestly do not understand you, Y/N. We used to be friends— hell, Vernon even considered you to be his best friend, years ago. I know it may have already been six years, but do you think it's okay to try and lead two people on?"

You stayed silent. You wanted to wait for him to finish before reasoning yourself out.

"Not to mention that one of the two literally used to be the closest with you, Y/N." Seungkwan's tone started to become softer, "He may have left that day, Y/N, but Vernon doesn't deserve the shit that you're trying to pull."

Seungkwan looked at you, waiting for what you have to say. You breathed in, hoping that the male would understand you explanation.

"That was never my intention, Seungkwan, " he scoffed but didn't say anything, "Actually, those— those letters weren't supposed to be sent in the first place."

Seungkwan eyed you in disbelief, "I thought you were smart, Y/N, but that's got to be the dumbest excuse I've ever heard."

"I'm telling the truth, Seungkwan. You were never meant to read that— those letters were written for myself," You explained. It's clear that the male still doesn't believe you, but you persist, "I wrote Hansol's letter after he left for America, I wrote your letter when you rose me up while I was absolutely devastated that he left. Everything inside those letters were true— I really did love the both of you."

Seungkwan didn't say anything, but his eyes remained on you.

"And you were never meant to find out."

It was quiet— the only sound that emanated from the both of you was the sound of your heavy breathing. Seungkwan didn't look at you, his eyes were focused on the ground beneath him. You pressed your lips together, afraid if the male believed your words or not. A sigh escaped Seungkwan's lips, he raised his head and looked at you in the eye.

"Alright," he breathed, "I believe you."

It felt as if a heavy weight was lifted from your shoulders. You were about to collapse onto the floor out of relief (and you really couldn't face him anymore after all of that), but Seungkwan wasn't finished.

"But, that doesn't mean I'm still not mad at you," Your face dropped. What else does he want? Your mouth formed into a frown. The window seemed really tempting right now.

"I'll be honest with you, Y/N. I was actually really pleased upon receiving your letter, but Vernon wasn't," Seungkwan stated, distress evident in his voice and features, "To put it in simple terms— he feels like shit."

You furrowed your brows, "Wait, why?" Seungkwan let out a sigh, his hands started to fidget.

"I don't know what exactly you wrote in his letter, but he says he feels really bad for leaving you," he explained, "I mean, he felt bad even before, obviously, but he feels like absolute shit for breaking your heart without knowing."

Oh no. Your heart fell. You didn't want anyone— especially Vernon— to feel that way because of you. It wasn't his decision to leave in the first place. If anyone were to blame, that was you for literally having zero control over your feelings.

"Listen, Y/N," Seungkwan's stern tone interrupted your turbulent thoughts, "I'm not returning your letter unless you talk to Vernon."

"I was planning on talking to him, anyways! God, I can't just let him beat himself up for that," Your voice ended up being louder than expected, eliciting a flinch from the male before you. You mumbled out a quiet 'sorry' before speaking out again.

"But," You sighed, not looking at the male, "I don't think I'm ready to talk to him yet."

"I'll be keeping your letter for the meantime, then," Seungkwan remarked, "As his best friend, I can't stand seeing him like that, Y/N. But he won't listen to anything I say— he'd only listen if it comes from you."

Your eyes were stuck to the floor as you heard Seungkwan making his leave. You stood there in silence, reflecting on what the male had just said. Closing your eyes, you let out a sigh.

You'll talk to Vernon sooner or later, but for now, you have other problems to deal with.

[svtntntn]

on the rocks;)

bartender!seungcheol

HAPPY BIRTHDAY TO OUR LEADER!!

so let's get down to business

seungcheol first got into bartending when he was deemed the bartender at parties, pouring drinks for everyone in the kitchen as to keep an eye out for who was drinking too much and needed to stopped

basically mr. responsible

he decided to look up actual cocktails and mixed drinks and tried doing it at home, that's when he decided to go to bartending school and actually be a licensed bartender

works at this place called ‘the underground’

seungcheol usually wears a black t-shirt with plain black slacks and nonslip shoes behind the counter

sometimes he'll break out his black button-up with one and two buttons undone at the top and slick his hair back;)

he usually works on the same nights as hansol, wonwoo and mingyu, as wonwoo and hansol are v quick and detail-oriented when making drinks, and mingyu’s great at spotting customers who need drinks as well as getting their attention

flirts with customers from time to time, but only bites his lips and sends them a couple winks if they're into him—nothing more

seungcheol works his night shifts until the morning, choosing to be the last person to leave to make sure everything is cleaned up and locked up at the end of the night

lowkey has the respect of a manager but is still on the same level as everyone aka mr. de facto leader:)

you first see him across the room when your friends wheein and yongsun leave to get the first round of drinks, watching them talk briefly before he prepares their order

seungcheol's eyes catch yours across the room, but he focuses on making drinks instead

bc he's on duty and you're probably with your s/o or your friends and you probably just want a night to relax

you don't need some bartender like making googly eyes at you the whole night

but you're doing exactly that to him

hyejin notices you staring at the bartender the whole night, "(y/n), you should go flirt with the bartender"

"wHAT? me?" you shake your head, pulling your gaze from the handsome man, "no no no no no" 

"do it! here, I'll help you!" hyejin pulls you to your feet and to the bar counter, smiling at the cute bartender while twirling her hair around her finger, "hi! could we get a couple drinks?"

"of course, what can I get for you ladies?" under the lights, his smile twinkles, like actually sHINES

your eyes dart over his chest for a name tag, but there's none to be found and when you look back up at the bartender's eyes, he winks at you

"my friend, (y/n), actually wanted—what did you want again?" hyejin turns to you to answer, but you're drawing a blank, "one, uh—water please?"

hyejin’s jaw slackens in disbelief as the cute bartender chuckles and nods, "one water for the beautiful lady then"

just as he leaves, hyejin slaps your arm, "(y/n)! what was that! water? you could have asked for any other drink on the planet!"

"but-" you're about to mention how the cute bartender did call you 'beautiful' but hyejin mumbles something about needing her drink and goes back to the table when seungcheol appears with said water for you

"one water for the beautiful lady, (y/n) was it?"

"yes, and thank you so much! uh I was—" you're about to say something else when someone pushes by you and snaps their fingers at the cute bartender, barking out a list of drinks to him 

seungcheol holds in his anger at the insensitive customer and politely excuses himself to fix their drinks

you tap on the shoulder of the rude man, "excuse me, you don't have to snap at the bartenders like a dog. they're fixing your drinks, so be kind and patient with them, will you?"

you leave with your water before the man can say anything else and avoid looking back at the bar 

when hyejin raises her eyebrow at you, you shake your head and join in on the conversation with moonbyul and yongsun, momentarily forgetting about the handsome bartender and the rude customer

towards the end of the night, one of the taller bartenders rings the metal bell positioned over the center of the bar, saying something about last call for drinks 

your friends mention they're about to leave after the large crowd of ppl do when the bell is run again but with a different announcement, "would someone by the name of (y/n) come to the bar! your wallet is with one of the bartenders! thank you!"

you're confused bc you do have your wallet on you? 

you pull it out as moonbyul and wheein all stare at you while yongsun and hyejin push you towards the bar

this had to be a misunderstanding, right?

you wait by the bar counter for a bartender to come by and the one with light brown hair stops by you, "oh you're (y/n)? seungcheol has your wallet, let me get him"

"wait, no! that's the thing, I do have my wallet" you hold up your own as proof

"oh," hansol scratches his head bc seungcheol just told him he had a customer's wallet, but you seem to have it so okay then, "oh sorry about that, enjoy the rest of your night! sorry for the misunderstanding"

"it's all good! you too" you end up leaving the bar without the cute bartender's name or number:(((((

guess you gotta come back:')))

meanwhile seungcheol is cleaning up around the bar and in the backroom when everyone strolls in after locking the front

"hey hansol, did anyone named (y/n) come to the counter?"

hansol's grabbing his headphones from his bag, "(y/n)? oh yeah, she did!"

"wait—she did? what, why didn't you tell me!" seungcheol groans and slumps over into a pillow on the backroom's couch

"she told me she had her wallet, so she left… am I missing something?"

seungcheol runs a hand over his face, "I wanted to get her number before she left, that's why I said I had her wallet"

"but you didn't... oH!" hansol makes an apologetic face, "sorry"

"it's okay, she'll probably come back" seungcheol remains hopeful and guess what??

you do come back!! albeit a couple weeks later, but you come back!! 

but this time, it's for a blind date ripppp

wheein and hyejin had an idea of setting you up with a colleague of theirs from work for awhile and they set you up to meet this guy at the underground club/bar

so you're dressed to kill in a hot outfit with your hair all done up and when you walk into building, no one can take their eyes off you

you take an empty seat at the bar counter and there's tons of ppl asking to buy you a drink, but you shake your head and tell them you're waiting for your date

and when seungcheol overhears this, he gets kinda pouty bc he’s lost his chance with you:(((

but it doesn't mean he can't talk to you or serve you

you're warding off another stranger trying to buy you a drink when seungcheol swoops in, "excuse me miss, is this man bothering you?"

"oh no, I was just asking him to leave, thank you" you give the stranger a pointed look and he gets the message, putting his hands up innocently and obeying your wishes

"thank you for helping me" you're a blushing mess bc the cute bartender is back and you're suddenly v conscious about how you look

"nope, that was all you" he fiddles with his clean rag on his side of the bar, "(y/n), right?"

"you remember me?"

"well yeah," seungcheol shrugs, "you looked really really pretty then and you look really really pretty now, how could I forget?" 

seungcheol's surprised he managed to get the words out as you blush and look down at your hands

"plus you defended me when that one guy snapped at me, not many people do that"

you and seungcheol end up talking more and more and he just wants to be with you one-on-one and not at work, but wonwoo and mingyu call him out on being distracted by you

"seungcheol, could you help out with some orders? I get you want to talk to the pretty woman, but we are on-duty here"

seungcheol sheepishly smiles and winks at you, "sorry guys, lemme make her a drink real quick"

he makes you his favorite drink but before he leaves he slides over a napkin with his number, "I forgot to introduce myself, I'm choi seungcheol"

your smile is as wide as can be and you decide to act a bit more confident once you see the number on the napkin, "perfect, I can finally stop calling you 'the cute bartender' in my head"

"I wouldn't mind if you continued calling me that" seungcheol has this satisfied smirk and he's biting his lip and—

"seUNGCHEOL" 

it's wonwoo who calls him this time

"sorry sorryyyy" he's caught by the guys again and he excuses himself to help other customers at the counter

you grin to yourself as you hold the napkin bc you finally have the cute bartender—seungcheol's number

you fold the napkin to put in your purse when there's a tap on your shoulder and there's the guy you're supposed to be set up with aka your blind date, "excuse me, but are you (y/n)?"

you stand up to greet your date, "yes I am, you must be hyunwoo? you work with wheein and hyejin?"

"I do, yes! sorry to keep you waiting, it took me awhile to find this place, I don't really go out to clubs and bars much" 

hyunwoo's super sweet to you and he seems like a genuinely nice and amazing guy the more you talk to him, but you're just not feeling him?

maybe bc your heart's already taken by the cute bartender

and hyunwoo thinks the same of you—super kind and wonderful in every which way, but you two just don't click together romantically

and that's okay!!

hyunwoo and you both recognize that and part on amicable terms, wishing each other a good night and luck in the future 

you smile wistfully at hyunwoo's departing figure when seungcheol meekly walks to your side of the bar, "(y/n)? are you okay?"

seungcheol's been staring at you and hyunwoo the whole time he's been on his shift, only interrupting to ask if you or him needed a refill but other than that, he's been staying a respectable distance from your date

"huh? yes, I'm fine! thank you seungcheol," you're swishing your drink in the glass and seungcheol is confused by what just happened bc you and him were smiling and stuff so...

"bad date?" he’s really confused and he just looks so damn adorable when he’s confused

"oh no! no, he's a good guy, we just didn't click well"

seungcheol's awkward as he doesn't know how to change the conversation, "sorry about that"

"no it's alright, this night isn't a complete failure" you hum positively, just when seungcheol asks why is that

you pretend to think for a moment before answering, "well, the cute bartender I've been thinking about for weeks remembered me from the first time I came in here, and he told me his name finally, and he made me a really good drink, and he gave me his number, and he really wants to take me out for breakfast or coffee when his shift is over"

seungcheol finally catches on and he grins, "he does?" 

"I don't know," you playfully ask, "does he?"

he really does;)

. 

[bostianesposts]

JOSHUA X MINGYU

Where Mingyu is the CEO of a big company and Joshua is his smitten assistant. Featuring Mingyu’s slightly suspect friends, Boo Seungkwan, Wen Jun, and Choi Seungcheol

Words: 6.318

Joshua sat at his desk with his earphones in. The music in his ears was calm, to help him concentrate. He had been answering emails and scheduling appointments all day.

His boss Kim Mingyu was a great boss… most of the time. Something was just slightly off about him, something Joshua just couldn’t make sense of. Joshua understood that Mingyu demanded to be spoken to as Sir. None of Joshua’s former employers had asked him to do that, but Mingyu was the CEO of his own firm, so this was very different. 

Joshua had found it weird when Mingyu had bought him four expensive suits. “I won’t have my assistant walking around in some cheap suit. I have an image to uphold.” Mingyu had said when giving the suits to Joshua. He understood the donating of proper clothes part, the thing Joshua didn’t understand was why Mingyu had gone to buy them himself, and taken the time to pick them out. 

Joshua’s favourite of the suits was the red one. The pants and jacket had a beautiful deep wine red colour and the shirt was delicate lavender. It was the suit he was wearing today. It was hot in the office, but Joshua was afraid Mingyu would be mad if he took of his jacket so instead he had unbuttoned his shirt slightly exposing the top of his chest. Even though this one was his favourite of the suits it was the first time he wore it at work. He had figured it was too risqué for a normal work day and that Mingyu had intended it for more special occasions like various dinners or possible travels. 

 Then this past Friday Mingyu had stopped Joshua just as he was about to leave. “I haven’t seen you in the red suit yet,” Mingyu paused like he was awaiting an answer. Joshua didn’t know what to reply so he remained silent. “You should wear it Monday” Mingyu finally said and made it sound more like an order than a suggestion. “Of course Sir, will do.” Joshua said hurriedly and took off. Mingyu’s piercing stare could easily intimidate Joshua and make him speechless. 

Despite this the weirdest thing about Mingyu was how he kept Joshua in the dark. It made Joshua’s job a lot harder when there were certain things Mingyu wouldn’t tell Joshua. Sometimes a nagging thought told Joshua it was because not everything in Mingyu’s business was legitimate. Joshua always pushed the thought away and continued his work as normal as possible. 

Joshua’s job would be easier if Mingyu wasn’t so damn captivating. Sometimes just being in the presence of him made Joshua’s mind cloudy. It was something Joshua had to suppress every single day to be able to have somewhat of a clear mind. 

“Will you come in here please?” Mingyu’s voice ripped Joshua away from the music and his computer. “Yes Sir.” Joshua closed his open tabs on the computer as he pushed his chair back. He got up and followed Mingyu into the office.

 “Close the door after you,” Mingyu ordered. Joshua obliged and stepped further into the office. Mingyu’s lean body was sat on the edge of his desk. His suit jacket was flung over the chair normally used for visitors. Mingyu’s shirt was dark navy and unbuttoned further down than Joshua’s. It exposed the toned chest of Mingyu. He was broad over the shoulders and for a fleeting moment Joshua imagined Mingyu in a well fitted t-shirt showing of his broad shoulders and muscular arms. He pushed the image away almost as quickly as it had appeared. 

“My schedule for the next week is completely cramped. What do you expect of me?”

Mingyu said seriously. 

“I’m sorry Sir. You have a lot of people who want to have your attention. I’ll move things around,”

“Please do,” and for a second Joshua thought he saw the hint of a smile in Mingyu’s eyes. “Also I need you to clear out my weekend completely I have some things…” he paused to choose his next words. “That need to be seen to.” 

“Anything I should put in your calendar Sir?” 

“No, not this.”

The two young men fell into silence, they stood like this in what, for Joshua felt like forever. Joshua was just about the excuse himself when Mingyu spoke. 

“The suit looks good on you, but the next time I’ll have you see my tailor.” Mingyu slowly slid off the table as he spoke to Joshua and walked closer to him. Joshua’s heart skipped a beat. There was less than ten inches between him and Mingyu and Mingyu still inched closer.

“Thank you very much Sir.” Joshua’s voice escaped his lips as a whisper and Joshua instantly felt embarrassed.

“Do I make you nervous Joshua?” Mingyu said very slowly, like he was tasting every single word. The way Mingyu said Joshua’s name made his heart race so badly he was afraid Mingyu could hear. 

“No Sir.” Joshua tried to sound confident and unaffected, but he failed.

“It’s okay if I do,” Mingyu smirked. Joshua seemed incapable of collecting himself. He opened his mouth not yet knowing what to say. Mingyu slowly and elegantly raised his hand and covered Joshua’s mouth. “I have great plans for you Joshua.” 

Joshua didn’t know what to do, but somehow, deep inside of him he found the courage to lock eyes with Mingyu. 

Mingyu was the one to break eye contact. He leaned in slowly and softly kissed Joshua’s jaw. Waves of heat shot through Joshua and Mingyu’s touch made him close his eyes, his body shivering. 

“You should come with me this weekend.” Mingyu said, and this time it sounded more like a suggestion than an order. 

Joshua nodded as Mingyu removed his hand. 

“You’re dismissed.”

“Thank you Sir.” Joshua said and turned around to leave the office. He couldn’t hide his smile as he fell into his chair. 

Joshua felt something pulling in his stomach for the next days when Mingyu acted like nothing had happened. 

“You have four suits, wear them,” Mingyu said without even looking at Joshua the following day. He was still wearing the red suit because he thought Mingyu liked that one the best. “Yes Sir.” Joshua said with his eyes glued to Mingyu, but Mingyu didn’t notice. 

Joshua’s mind was completely occupied with the weekend, the thought of going away with Mingyu made Joshua’s heart flutter. But before the week was over a sinking feel had grown in Joshua because Mingyu hadn’t mentioned anything at all. All Mingyu had done for most of the week was complain, about the suits, about his schedule, his lunch, the other employes. The list went on, Mingyu didn’t seem to be in a good mood. So by Friday Joshua had come to terms with the fact that he wouldn’t be going with Mingyu for the weekend. 

Joshua had tried to come up with an explanation for Mingyu’s  behavior in the beginning of the week, and the only conclusion that made sense to Joshua was that Mingyu must have been drunk or high. 

By Friday noon Joshua was planning on spending some of the weekend with his church friends. He was just about to write them when Mingyu stepped out of his office. 

“My car will pick you up at seven. You can leave early today so you can be ready in time.” Joshua was completely thrown off and unable to provide a satisfying answer right away because of his surprise. 

Finally he just said, “Yes Sir. Thank You.”

“Just make sure Mr. Lee is up to date with the new strategy before you leave. Otherwise I won’t be needing you for the rest of the day.”

“Yes Sir. I’m looking forward to tonight,”

Mr. Kim smirked and returned to his office with Joshua left as confused as ever. 

While Mr. Kim had said he only needed to speak to Mr. Lee, Joshua knew that if he didn’t finish all of the things he wes doing, Monday would be literal hell. 

So it took Joshua an hour and a half before he was ready to walk across the office space to talk to Mr. Lee. 

“Joshua!” Mr. Lee jumped up as soon as he saw Joshua. 

“Mr. Lee!” A smile spread across Joshua’s lips. 

“I know that you’re still new and that with Mingyu it’s always Mr. Kim, Sir, Mr. Lee but please call me Chan,”

“I’m sorry, I’ll try.”

“Don’t sweat it Joshua.”

Joshua handed Chan a stack of papers. “Mr. Kim wanted to make sure you had the new strategy. There aren’t that many changes, it’s mostly in the social media department.”

“ Thanks man.”

“No problem, see you Monday.”

When Joshua arrived home he quickly packed his weekend bag for every possible scenario, Mingyu hadn’t told him anything about what they were doing and Joshua wanted to be sure he wouldn’t come up short. 

Joshua figured he might as well eat, since he wasn’t sure if he would be eating with Mingyu. So Joshua cooked himself a meal he ate in front of the television while waiting for Mingyu to pick him up. 

Joshua was surprised to hear a knock on his door already at six. Joshua instantly went to his door and opened to see a good looking man taller than Joshua stood in the door. He had a nice, handsome face and black hair covering his forehead. 

“Hello, I’m Jeon Wonwoo.” Joshua and Wonwoo shook hands, “I’m here to pick you up, are you ready?”

“Yes, I’ll just grab my bag,” Joshua grabbed his bag and locked the door to the apartment. Wonwoo insisted on carrying his bag as they walked down to the car. Joshua was surprised to see Mingyu sitting in the front seat, so Joshua placed himself in the backseat alone. 

Mingyu didn’t even greet Joshua before handing him an IPad and began barking orders. 

“I want everything to be ready for when we arrive so we don’t have to think about work this weekend. Answer all my e-mails and make sure that people know I will be back Monday. Also make sure everything is ready for the brief Monday. Also…” Mingyu handed Joshua his wallet, “Also can you pay my bills, also I think I have a few tickets, take those on my company account.” Mr. Kim then went in to conversation with the driver leaving Joshua feeling alone and isolated in the back of the car. 

Joshua didn’t notice anything weird at first. It wasn’t unlike Mingyu to do stuff like this, and actually Joshua didn’t mind doing the work in the car instead of doing it at the office. Joshua really didn’t mind until he noticed how the conversation between Mingyu and Jeon Wonwoo didn’t seem to cease. It stung in Joshua at first but his logical senses quickly kicked in and he figured the two of them must be good friends. 

Joshua only believed that explanation briefly. Mingyu was asking Jeon Wonwoo a lot of first date like questions. It was incredibly distracting to Joshua and the stinging sensation came back and spread through Joshua’s entire body. 

Joshua quickly learned that he loved Mingyu’s laugh, a sound before unfamiliar to him, but he hated that it was this stranger’s bad jokes which were the reasons for Mingyu’s laughs. He tried to focus really hard on the e-mails he was sitting with, but the conversation in the front seat made it really hard to concentrate. 

Joshua was somewhat successful in suppressing the stinging sensation until he saw Mingyu’s hand gracing the knee of Jeon Wonwoo. The unfamiliar feeling turned into a heavy stone in Joshua’s chest. Joshua knew he had to work through the awful feeling which soon had spread to his entire body, and so he did his job doing his best to ignore the laughter and conversation from the front seat. 

It felt like hours before they finally arrived and Joshua could escape the personal hell he was in.

Mingyu and Joshua stood in the lobby of the hotel before checking in. 

“So we’re meeting with some of the secret investors tomorrow. It will be casual, I have known them for a really long time and it’s really just to make sure they’re satisfied, they invest a lot.”

 A wave of unfamiliar courage suddenly flooded over Joshua, maybe it was the jealousy making him defiant. 

“Is it those secret investors that make my job a pain and close to impossible?” Mingyu smirked and didn’t as much as shift his gaze from Joshua. 

“Yes, those exactly. They are very important for the company and they value their privacy.” And apparently Joshua didn’t value his job because he continued, 

“Well then why did you bring me? I’ve only been here for a few months.”

Mr. Kim shook his head and put a hand on Joshua’s shoulder. Electricity shot through all of Joshua’s body. MIngyu’s touch made him weak in the knees. “I like you Joshua, and I trust you.”

‘I like You’ the words lingered in Joshua’s mind and made it impossible to focus on anything but Mingyu’s lips. Joshua didn’t say anything he couldn’t say anything even he if he wanted to. Mingyu removed his hand from Joshua’s shoulder and he smiled, not a grin or a smirk but a genuine smile. “I’ll get us checked in,”

Mingyu soon returned with two keycards. “I got us a suite. I figured it would be easier if I had you close. You’ll get your own room in the suite of course.” Joshua took the card and put it in his back pocket. He reached for his own and Mingyu’s bags. 

“No, leave them. Have you never been to a hotel before?” 

Joshua couldn’t quite figure out if Mingyu was kidding or not. 

The suite was huge with a full kitchen, living room and multiple other rooms. The room Mingyu told Joshua to stay in was bigger than all of his apartment. He had a gorgeous view of the city from the floor to ceiling windows. A kingsize bed with beautiful extravagant bedding filled the room. A television as big as the one he had spotted in the living space filled the wall opposite of the bed. The bedroom also had a large sofa-group, a bar and its own ensuite. Joshua had unpacked his suitcase and was slowly getting ready for bed when Mingyu knocked on the open door. 

Joshua opened and was slightly put off by seeing Mingyu in pajama pants and a white t-shirt. Mingyu’s arms looked just as magnificent as he had imagined they would. Joshua was too struck by the sight to form proper words in response to Mingyu’s knock. Only an unrecognizable sound escaped Joshua’s lips. Mingyu grinned slightly, “I’m gonna go to bed, but if you’re hungry just order room service,” Mingyu pushed himself away from the doorframe he was leaning against just as Joshua said 

“Thank you sir,” 

Mingyu had already turned to leave, but he remembered something and turned back to face Joshua again, “Could you make sure there’s breakfast ready up here at nine? Enough for both of us.”

“Of course Sir, I’ll take care of it. Sleep well.”

“Thank you Joshua, goodnight.”

Mingyu turned and this time left the room for good. Joshua admired Mingyu’s broad shoulders and the hint of a muscular back underneath the fabric of his t-shirt. 

For breakfast Joshua ordered one of everything to make sure that there was something Mingyu would like. It was already set up on the table by 8.50. Joshua had also made sure there was apple, pineapple, and orange juice so it would be impossible for Mingyu to miss anything. 

Mingyu had said it would be casual with the investors so Joshua had dressed in jeans and one of his blue dress-shirts. 

Joshua was surprised to see Mingyu emerge from his room in blue swimming trunks and another white t-shirt. Mr. Kim’s brows frowned when he saw Joshua. 

“Why are you wearing that?” 

Mingyu strode past Joshua, barely looking at him, before he dumped down in a chair. He instantly began eating and pouring juice for himself. 

“With all due respect Sir. you didn’t tell me what we are doing.”

Mingyu didn’t even look up from his food, “Did you bring pool clothes?” Joshua sat down across from Mingyu and considered his question. He had in fact brought his trunks just to be safe. 

“I did, but you didn’t tell me to.” 

Mingyu still didn’t look up from his food.

“I’m sorry about that, I really hadn’t decided on a set plan before you left yesterday,” 

Mingyu halted for just a second before he continued, “Just sit and eat, I’ll be right back.” Mringyu said and went out of his way to avoid eye contact. For the first time Mingyu seemed small, and not his magnificent self to Joshua. 

Mingyu left and Joshua was finally comfortable enough to eat now that Mingyu wasn’t there to watch him. 

Alas Joshua didn’t get much in him before Mingyu returned with three Gucci boxes in his hands. 

“I got you these, I didn’t tell you to bring anything because I don’t want you walking around in cheap shorts.” Mingyu said and placed the boxes on the table in front of Joshua, 

“Min… Sir.,” Joshua quickly corrected himself, “thank you.”

He was about to protest but thought better of it. He knew that when Mingyu had made a decision there was no point in trying to change his mind. 

“You have an assistant for a reason. You really should let me take care of stuff like this Sir.”

Mr. Kim was already busy eating again, and the doubts Joshua had had about ordering too much food vanished. 

“I told you, I didn’t decide on exactly what we would be doing before you already left.” 

Mr. Kim was back to his posed self, even with a mouth full of food. 

“Sir.  You could just have let me plan from the beginning, that is what you pay me to do.” 

“Maybe next time Joshua. Now go change, I got you a whole outfit, I have learned I can’t really trust you regarding style,” 

Joshua wasn’t even offended by Mingyu’s remark since he was right. Even though Joshua had barely eaten he took Mingyu’s words as the order they were and took the boxes with him to his room. 

He opened them to find a red pair of swimming shorts, a cream colored t-shirt with heavy soft fabric, and a pair of white slides with the iconic red and green gucci stripes. Joshua was hesitant to change at first. The articles in front of him weren’t cheap, there probably was for more than he made in a few weeks. 

The suits were one thing, but this seemed unnecessary, still Joshua wanted to please his boss and so he changed into the new clothes. The shoes were incredibly uncomfortable, but Joshua figured he’d better keep them on. 

Joshua returned to find Mingyu lounged across one of the couches in front of the TV, a music show was playing on the large flat screen. Joshua quietly sat down at the table and ate from what was left after Mingyu’s meal. He also began cleaning up after the two of them. 

“Don’t bother cleaning up, we’ll be leaving soon anyway.” Mr. Kim said without looking away from the television. Joshua finished cleaning up anyway.

Thirty minutes later the two young men left for the pool area. They had barely gotten outside before a young woman came running up to them. “Mr. Kim welcome! We have everything ready for you, and some of your guests have already arrived,” she spoke in a pitchy sweet tone, she sounded professional, but Joshua noticed the hungry look in her eyes when she looked at Mingyu. 

The three of them walked together to a large cabana by the poolside. Sun beds were out front, inside there was couches, a television, a bar, and a dining table already filled with fruits and snacks. Two men slightly older than Joshua himself, but about the same age as Mingyu were already sitting in the cabana with drinks in their hands. 

Mingyu thanked the girl who had led them on the right path and instantly went to greet the secret investors. The men hugged and they were instantly smiling and laughing clearly ecstatic to see each other. As Joshua watched he could see Mingyu as a real person and not the overbuying Joshua had elevated him to be. 

Mingyu waved Joshua ahead to greet them them. 

“This is my assistant Joshua,” 

Mingyu presented Joshua to the investors and Joshua proceeded to shake hands with both of them. The taller of them, the one of them who looked like a model with his high cheekbones and perfect hair introduced himself as Wen Jun. 

The other one, a man with a cute face and bleached hair introduced himself as Boo Seungkwan. The introductions were short and both of the investors attentions instantly went to Mingyu again. “This is very unlike you, bringing company,” Jun the taller of them said. Mingyu looked to Joshua and then back to Jun. Joshua noticed how Mingyu had gone completely out of business mode, and for once didn’t know what to say. Joshua’s perception of Mingyu changed a bit on that moment, but his fascination hadn’t lessened at all. 

“Well I don’t want my employees to quit, meeting the three of you isn’t exactly an easy task,”

Mingyu said with a deadpan expression painted over his face. 

Jun laughed and placed his gaze on Joshua, “Well this obviously isn’t Lisa so he must be a new one. What’s different about him?” 

Jun was speaking solely to Mingyu, and it made Joshua slightly uncomfortable, the way they were talking about him like he wasn’t standing right in front of them. 

“Joshua has been with me for a few months and I know he won’t tell on you when you get drunk and start talking shit,” 

Mingyu’s voice was light and teasing, only with a hint of seriousness. 

“It’s true sir, I ain’t no snitch.” Joshua said with a smirk to get himself into the conversation. Jun burst out in laughter once again. 

“He has you calling him sir?” Mingyu you’re so full of yourself.”

Seungkwan rolled his eyes but a smile still graced his round face, 

“I get my employees to call me Sir too, it’s just because you’re a man of the people Jun.”

“One, you don’t have any employees cause you don’t have a real job. Two, I’m not better just because I’m rich Boo.”

Seungkwan was about to say something, but it seemed that when he noticed Joshua was there he decided to stay silent, instead he downed his drink. “I’m gonna jump in the pool. Will Cheol be here soon you think?”

“It should be within the next hour, I’ll come with you.” Jun replied and the two men jumped in the pool with a big splash leaving Mingyu and Joshua alone. 

Mingyu went to pour himself a drink. It was barely ten in the morning and the drinks were already flowing.

Joshua knew he should be grabbing on to the chance to speak to Mingyu. Joshua knew that this was once in a life time. It wasn’t often Mingyu let his guards down. Unfortunately Joshua was nervous, and he didn’t know what to say, so instead of actually speaking Joshua glued his eyes to the television to distract himself. 

Joshua couldn’t quite figure out exactly when he started feeling this awkward with Mingyu. Was it that day in the office? Even though it wasn’t even a week ago it felt like a million years had passed. Maybe it was in the days after, being almost invisible to Mingyu had been awful. But maybe it was the feeling of being so incredibly jealous that it hurt which had changed something in Joshua.

Mingyu ended Joshua’s train of thought, “Do you want one too?” he asked Joshua while trying to seek out eye contact.  Joshua fell for it first but quickly looked away, Mingyu’s soft eyes made him confused. 

“No thank you, I’m fine.” Joshua was for a moment  distracted by a shriek coming from outside the cabana. Jun had just thrown Seungkwan across the pool. 

“So why are these guys secret? Is it just so you can have a day like this once in a while  and have the company pay for it?” Joshua said kiddingly, still avoiding Mingyu’s eyes. “While we enjoy these days, they do have special interests in the company, so that’s why they’re secret. Also none of them play golf, that’s what we do with the other investors.”

“So… Sir, what special interests do they have?” Joshua said figuring it was the right time to ask. 

“I would tell you, but actually I’m under a non-disclosure agreement so I can’t.” 

Joshua was puzzled by all the secrets, “but it probably will come up later, and hopefully they won’t ask you to leave when it does” Mingyu laughed shortly and sat down next to Joshua. 

“You don’t have to call me Sir today. We’re out of the office and it’s a fun day today.” Joshua figured Jun’s comments had effected Mingyu. Also the word fun sounded very strange coming from Mingyu’s lips. 

“Okay… Mingyu.” The name was very familiar in Joshua’s mind, but he hadn’t spoken it out loud very often, the name felt unfamiliar in Joshua’s mouth. 

Mingyu’s expression also changed, like he had just taken a bite out a lemon after hearing his name spoken like that. “Should I call you Kim Mingyu instead?” Joshua said jokingly but not even a hint of a smile showed on Mingyu’s face. “No Mingyu’s fine, but we’re back to Sir on Monday.”

“Of course,”

Jun and Seungkwan returned from the pool, they grabbed white fluffy towels from a table in the corner and joined Mingyu and Joshua. 

Suddenly both Jun and Seungkwan were very interested in Joshua and bombarded him with questions, some about work, some about everything but.

“Do you have a girlfriend Joshua?” Jun asked with a smirk. Maybe it was something Joshua imagined, but he could swear he saw Mingyu suddenly looking more interested in the conversation. “Nah, don’t have a girlfriend.”

“Excuse our friend’s manners, he is so heteronormative” Seungkwan said and then asked, “Do you have a boyfriend?” Joshua must have blushed because Seungkwan began to reassure Joshua, 

“It’s okay if you do, we don’t judge. I’m gay.” 

This time Joshua wasn’t imagining it. Mingyu had set his drink on the table and was looking at them with the exact look he had on his face when he was focused during an important meeting. 

“I don’t have a boyfriend. I did have one, Jeonghan but we broke up when I moved to work for Mingyu. Do you have a boyfriend?” Joshua asked Seungkwan politely. Both Jun and Mingyu’s eyes grew big. 

“Please don’t ask him that.” Jun quickly said, almost pleadingly. 

“He’ll never shut up,” Jun added. Seungkwan ignored Jun completely, 

“He’s my fiancé, we’re getting married next summer.” Jun interrupted Seungkwan immediately. 

“He’s actually my fiancé, Vernon’s so hot, my fiancé is a rapper. He’s so sweet. Vernon cooked for me yesterday. Vernon and I cuddled for hours.” Jun badly imitated Seungkwan. “I don’t talk about him that much, and it’s only fair if I do we’re getting married.” Seungkwan defended himself. 

Jun was probably going to continue mocking Seungkwan but the last of the investors arrived. He was a good looking guy walking with confidence.

“How does it feel being a divorcee?” Jun said as the first thing when the last investor was within range. 

“It feels great. Just got the beach house sold so new Maserati for me,”

He nonchalantly dumped down next to Mingyu without noticing Joshua at all. 

     “I can’t believe you pulled it off, you fooled a whole courtroom.” 

The guy who Joshua assumed to be Cheol, smirked. 

“Easy, very rich, very unstable girl, and then you just bribe the fuck out of her lawyers.”

“It shouldn’t be allowed  to be that easy,” Seungkwan remarked.

“All you do is move your dad’s money into off-shore accounts Boo, just because you say you’re a CFO it doesn't make you one.” Cheol quickly fired back. Seungkwan moped and suddenly seemed very interested in his drink. 

“Sorry for being so rude. I’m Seungcheol. You must be the new assistant?” Seungcheol reached out to shake hands with Joshua 

“I am, Joshua.”

“Nice to meet you Joshua. You must be special for Mingyu to bring you along.” Joshua hesitated he didn’t know what to answer, especially with Mingyu listening. Before Joshua could think of an answer Mingyu replied for him, “he is.” 

Joshua’s heart stopped. He wasn’t sure he heard correctly. Joshua had been desperate for validation from Mingyu since that day in his office. Was this it? The moment lingered in Joshua, but everything else moved on, and soon Joshua began to feel out of place and awkward in the company. 

Joshua excused himself and went back to the suite, he grabbed his phone, a book and his head phones. He felt awkward and out of place with the investors, or in reality they were just Mingyu’s friends. Joshua figured it would be best to remove himself a bit, so they would be able to talk actual business without Joshua there. 

Joshua returned and laid on one of the sun beds, he put his headphones in. His curiosity won over his common sense so he didn’t start the music, he figured he could listen in to the conversation just so he could figure out what was going on. 

Mingyu was a completely different person when he talked with them. He was giggly and fun, and sounded much younger than usual. 

In the time Joshua laid listening his fascination with Mingyu tuned in the something else, resembling maybe admiration. 

Every time Mingyu laughed Joshua’s heart fluttered so bad it hurt. 

Every time he could hear a smile in Mingyu’s voice he felt a bigger need to be the reason for the smile. 

He was so distracted about everything he could hear Mingyu doing that he almost didn't notice all of the weird things that were going on with the others, almost. 

Joshua only heard small breaks of conversation that could add to the theory of what the deal with them was.

 It wasn’t hard to figure out what was going on after Jun exclaimed, “Boo, you’re not a CFO, your dad is a mobster boss and you handle his finances!” Followed by a laugh and Seungkwan answering in a deadpan tone, 

“Well at least I don’t kill people, did you know that heroin kills?”. 

The thing that Joshua didn't understand yet was why they needed Mingyu, and why Mingyu needed them. 

Joshua hadn’t been able to read a single sentence, but he didn’t notice before a shirtless Mingyu was hovering above him. “Wanna jump in with me?” A smirking Mingyu said. Joshua hesitantly pulled out his earphones, 

“I don’t know Mingyu…” Mingyu just laughed his answer off, he took the book out of Joshua’s hand and threw it to the ground.

 “C’mon,” Mingyu forced Joshua out of the chair by dragging him out of it. 

“Mingyu!” 

Joshua shrieked and fell into a fit of giggle. Before he knew it he fell and was emerged in water. When Joshua broke the surface of the water and took in a big breath of air he was so surprised to feel Mingyu’s arms around him. They quickly disappeared again and Joshua couldn’t help but feel disappointed. 

“I’m sorry Joshua, I didn’t mean to…” 

Mingyu said but he laughed so much he couldn’t finish his sentence, Joshua too was laughing so hard he could barely keep himself above water. 

When they both finally stopped laughing they fell into silence, their only communication being the contact their eyes shared. Joshua didn’t know what to say, he just knew he wanted to stay like that forever. 

Alas nothing ever lasts and their moment was interrupted by Jun jumping in the pool, followed by both Seungkwan and Seungcheol. 

Joshua felt great being a part of their silly games in the water and being part of the fun. 

They all went back to the cabana and sat on the couches with their towels wrapped around them. The investors were all fun, especially Jun who Joshua figured out was a lot like Joshua himself, they shared the same sense of humor and could laugh at things the others didn’t understand at all. The hours passed and Joshua realized that he didn’t care that all of Mingyu’s investor friends were criminals , because they were fun guys, and they brought out this side of Mingyu. Joshua couldn’t remember feeling this way, being completely blown away by a person and everything that person is. He hadn’t ever felt like this with Jeonghan, as hard as that was to admit to himself. Joshua let himself sit surrounded by these strangers and let himself fall more and more in love with Mingyu. 

Mingyu and the investors wanted to go out to dinner. Joshua excused himself and stayed back in the suite after Mingyu had changed into a suit and left to meet with his friends again. Joshua was glad to be alone. He liked Mingyu’s friends, and he did want to be with Mingyu, but they were all quite the characters and they had all gotten incredibly drunk during the day, Joshua needed a bit of calm and silence. 

Besides that he was sure that his heart might actually burst and he would die if he heard Mingyu laugh one more time. 

This side of Mingyu, kind and carefree, fun and caring, it was amazing but Joshua needed a break to process everything he had experienced. 

Joshua ordered food to the room and finally got to read his book. 

He was already half fallen asleep when he was jolted completely awake by a knock on the door. Joshua rolled out of the bed unaware of the fact that he was only wearing boxers and the t-shirt that Mingyu had given him. 

Mingyu stood out side the door with his tie loosened and his white shirt unbuttoned halfway down his chest. 

“Are you sleeping in the 400 dollar Gucci shirt I got you?” 

Mingyu asked with a furrowed brow, but he didn’t seem mad, he just seemed perplexed. “Yeah I feel asleep while I was reading,” 

Joshua felt Mingyu’s eyes seizing him in such an aggressive manner that Joshua took a step back, because he felt to overwhelmed. 

“I just wanted to apologize, I shouldn't have brought you here, it was too early.” 

Mingyu said sincerely. 

“No I’m glad you brought me. I got to get to know you a bit better.” 

Joshua saw the hint of a smile travel across Mingyu’s face. 

“You deserve to know what’s going on, and I know you already figured some of it out, you’re a clever guy. Their money funded me in the beginning, without them I wouldn’t have a company, and they still invest in me and get their profit by the end of the year,” 

The pieces began to fall into place to Joshua. 

“I understand if you want to quit Joshua, I do. I’ll help you find something else.” 

It was Joshua’s turn to be the perplexed one, how could Mingyu think that he would ever quit? 

“No Sir, not at all. Your investors money could come from war trade, I don’t care, I just like working for you.”  

Joshua reassured Mingyu. 

“Joshua, you can call me Mingyu,”

“Till Monday morning right?” 

Joshua said with a faint smile. 

“No, Mingyu is fine, I think we’re past Sir.” 

Joshua was confused and it must have shown on his face. 

“I like you Joshua, Sir is very professional and usually after people figure out that all my friends are criminals and my company is built on money made by criminals, I don’t get them to call me Sir anymore.” 

Mingyu said it with a big smile, and a slight laugh, and his lightness surprised Joshua. I like you Joshua. Joshua didn’t quite know how to interpret that it but he knew it was significant. “Yeah me too,”

Mingyu laughed, which made Joshua laugh too, because he loved being the reason for Mingyu’s laugh. The silence between them was only short after the laughter had died down, Mingyu took a deep breath and again turned serious. 

“Joshua I’m sorry about what happened Monday. I was out of line,” 

Mingyu didn’t only sound serious, he also sounded nervous. 

“I just, I don't know how to act around you Joshua.” 

Mingyu took a step toward Joshua and closed most of the space between them. 

“Just be you Mingyu, I like you when you’re all serious and business like, and I like you when you’re laughing at your friend’s bad jokes and make sure that everyone has enough to drink.” 

Mingyu smiled softly and Joshua think he detected a blush in Mingyu’s cheeks. Joshua was caught by surprise when Mingyu grabbed the hem of his shirt and pulled Joshua closer, eliminating the remaining space between them. 

“Is it okay if I kiss you Joshua?” 

Joshua froze with anticipation, he couldn’t believe what was happening, still he managed to nod. 

Mingyu leaned in and placed his lips on Joshua’s. Mingyu’s lips were soft and careful on Joshua’s. Joshua put his hand on Mingyu’s neck in a desperate attempt to get him even closer, but before the tingling sensation Joshua was feeling had spread his entire body Mingyu pulled away. 

“Goodnight Joshua,” 

Mingyu left the room and closed the door behind him, leaving Joshua alone and stunned.