#Evergreen Lee | Explore Tumblr posts and blogs

jaeyunluvbot · 2 days ago

Text

a forest

genre/tags 𝟅𝟈 vampire au, haechan x reader, lee donghyuck x reader, vampire!haechan x human!reader

word count 𝟅𝟈 19.9k

NOT PROOFREAD

⊹₊ ˚‧︵‿₊୨୧₊‿︵‧ ˚ ₊⊹

You didn’t think you’d ever end up back here.

The worn "Welcome to Evergreen" sign on the edge of town had greeted you as you drove into your hometown for the first time in years. As you lugged another box up the narrow staircase of your parents’ house, the familiar creak of the third step reminded you just how little this place had changed.

Your room was the same, too. The soft pink walls you’d painted in middle school were still covered with faded posters of bands you barely remembered liking. The bed was smaller than you remembered, and the air smelled faintly of something stale and pine-scented cleaner.

“Never thought I’d see the day,” your mom called from downstairs. Her voice was teasing, but it carried a hint of relief, like she was secretly glad to have you back under her roof.

You dropped the box on the floor with a dull thud and sighed, wiping a bead of sweat from your forehead. “Yeah, me neither.”

“Well, I’m glad to have you back anyways,” she said, though her tone suggested she didn’t entirely believe you. She backed out of your room, sensing your bad mood, and closed the door behind her.

You sat on the edge of your bed, surveying the unpacked boxes that were currently making their home on your bedroom floor. Coming back after school wasn’t part of the plan. You’d pictured yourself thriving in a big city, with a fancy adult job and a bustling social life. Instead, you were here, in a town so small you could drive from one end to the other in ten minutes, working as a nurse practitioner at the local hospital while you figured out your next move.

A soft knock at your door pulled you from your thoughts. Your dad stepped inside, holding a tray with a glass of iced tea and a sandwich. “Thought you could use a break,” he said, setting it down on your old desk.

“Thanks,” you murmured, picking up the glass.

He hesitated by the door, like he wanted to say something but wasn’t sure how. “You know, it’s not so boring here. Things have been... interesting lately.”

You raised an eyebrow. “Interesting how?”

“Just... new faces in town,” he said vaguely. “You’ll see.”

Before you could press him for details, he gave you a small smile and disappeared down the hall.

You sighed again, staring out the window. The late afternoon sun bathed the neighborhood in golden light, but instead of feeling comforting, it only made you feel restless. Your dad’s words lingered in your mind.

New faces? In Evergreen? You didn’t need much to know that didn’t happen often.

Still, you brushed it off and grabbed the sandwich, forcing yourself to eat. Whatever “interesting” meant, it wasn’t your problem. Not yet, anyway.

You spent the rest of the afternoon trying to cram all your newly acquired belongings into your already cramped bedroom, you’d have to talk to your parents about moving some of your old stuff up to the attic, but for now, you’d have to make do.

The next morning, you decided to head into town. It wasn’t like you had much of a choice—your mom had politely hinted that the fridge was running low, and since you were “new in town,” the errand fell on you. You had scoffed at this, sure that the town hadn’t changed that much in the time you’d been gone, but agreed to go anyway, thinking it would be nice to get out of the house.

The main street looked the same as it always had, with its little shops and small cafes that seemed perpetually frozen in time. The little grocery store was exactly as you remembered: narrow aisles, dim lighting, and the faint scent of lemons and floor cleaner.

You pushed a cart lazily through the store, tossing in the essentials—milk, bread, a few fresh vegetables. It wasn’t exciting, but it was familiar, and for a moment, you felt yourself relax.

That was, until you saw them.

At first, you didn’t realize why they caught your attention. They were standing by the refrigerated section, talking quietly amongst themselves. Six guys, all around your age, dressed more stylishly than anyone in Evergreen ever bothered to be.

One of them leaned casually against the freezer door, his bleach-blond hair practically glowing under the fluorescent lights. Another was crouched down, peering at something on the bottom shelf, while the rest stood nearby, their conversation punctuated by soft laughter.

They didn’t look like they belonged here.

You slowed your cart, trying not to be obvious as you stared. They were all... ridiculously good-looking, in a way that made your brain momentarily short-circuit. It wasn’t just their features—it was the way they carried themselves, confident and magnetic. Like they knew they stood out but didn’t care.

“Y/N?”

You turned to see Giselle standing behind the counter, a teasing grin on her face. Her hair was pulled into a messy ponytail, and she wore the store’s signature green apron, slightly crumpled as if she’d tugged it on in a rush.

“Giselle!” you exclaimed, your mood instantly lifting.

She came around the counter and pulled you into a quick hug. “It’s been way too long! What’s it been, like four years? You didn’t even come home for Christmas last year, traitor.”

“College, work, life,” you said with a shrug, though guilt tugged at you. “I know. I suck.”

“Yeah, you do,” she said, but her grin softened. “I missed you, though.”

“I missed you too.”

The two of you chatted for a while, catching up as she rang up a few customers. Giselle hadn’t left town after high school, choosing to attend the community college instead. She was still figuring out what she wanted to do with her life, but she seemed happy enough for now.

“So,” she said, leaning her elbows on the counter once the store emptied out again. “How’s it feel being back?”

“Honestly? Weird,” you admitted

. “I didn’t think I’d end up here again. But here I am.”

She nodded knowingly. “It’s not so bad anymore, a little more lively. And hey, at least you’ve got me to keep you sane.”

You laughed. “True.”

Giselle straightened up suddenly, her eyes narrowing as she looked past you. “Speaking of weird...”

You turned to see a group of six guys walking into the store. They didn’t look like they belonged in Evergreen at all—stylish clothes, perfectly tousled hair, and an aura that practically screamed big city.

They moved through the aisles in a loose cluster, talking quietly amongst themselves. One of them, a blond with a jawline sharp enough to cut glass, caught your eye briefly before looking away.

“Who are they?” you asked Giselle under your breath.

“They moved here a few months ago,” she said, lowering her voice as well. “Renting that creepy old house on Maple Street. No one really knows much about them, though.”

“They’re... not from around here, obviously.”

“Obviously,” she echoed, her tone amused. “I mean, look at them. What are they even doing here?”

As if on cue, one of them—tall, dark-haired, and absurdly good-looking—glanced in your direction. His gaze lingered for a moment too long, and you quickly turned back to Giselle, feeling oddly self-conscious.

“They don’t even shop like normal people,” Giselle added with a smirk. “Last week, one of them came in and bought like, ten cartons of eggs and nothing else. Who does that?”

You stifled a laugh, though your curiosity about the group only deepened.

“Anyway,” Giselle said, straightening up as one of the guys approached the counter. “Better get your shopping done before they buy out the whole store.”

You nod and turn away from the counter, pushing your cart toward the produce section. But even as you tried to focus on picking out the best of the minimal options, you couldn’t shake the feeling that something about them was... off.

Back home, the afternoon sun filtered through the kitchen windows as you unpacked your haul, having snuck in a few of your favorite snacks, assuming your parents probably lived on old people food without you. The rhythmic sound of your mom chopping vegetables for dinner mixed with the low hum of the news playing in the background.

“Did you get everything we needed?” your mom asked, glancing up briefly.

“Yep, even remembered the oat milk you like,” you said, setting the carton into the fridge.

“Thanks, honey. It’s nice having you back, even if I know you’re probably itching to leave again.”

You smiled faintly, but your thoughts were elsewhere. The image of the group from the grocery store lingered in your mind—sharp features, cool demeanor, borderline inhuman beauty that almost made you uncomfortable.

“Hey, Mom,” you started, leaning against the counter. “Do you know anything about those guys who moved into the old house on Maple Street?”

Your mom paused mid-chop, pursing her lips slightly. “Oh, them. They’re quite the talk of the town, aren’t they?”

“I guess? I saw them at the store earlier. They definitely don’t seem like locals.”

“They’re not,” she confirmed. “Your dad and I talked about them when they first moved in. Apparently, they came from the city. No one really knows why they picked Evergreen, of all places.”

“Hmm,” you said noncommittally, though your curiosity only grew. “They don’t seem that bad though…” You say carefully, probing your mom for answers.

Your mom looked at you with a raised eyebrow. “They’re strangers in a small town. That alone makes people suspicious. And then there’s the fact that they’ve been keeping to themselves, never really talking to anyone. That’s not normal, Y/N. People who move to places like this usually want to blend in. Not act like they’re hiding something.”

You frowned, taking a seat at the kitchen table. “But they haven’t done anything wrong, right?”

“Not yet,” she replied, her voice curt. “But you know how this town is. We’ve seen it before. People move here with secrets, and the next thing you know, something bad happens.”

You let that sink in as your mom continued preparing dinner. Just then, your dad walked in, tossing his briefcase on the floor of the entryway as he removed his coat. He worked as the town’s lawyer, the only lawyer in Evergreen. He was the one people came to when they needed advice or representation, and with that, he got to hear a lot of the gossip that ran through the town.

“What are we talking about?” he asked, looking between you and your mom.

“Those new guys,” your mom said, her voice pensive. “Y/N saw them at the store. She was asking about them.”

Your dad sighed, taking a seat at the table. “Yeah, I’ve heard the gossip. They paid for the house in cash, a whole year upfront. Weird, right?”

“Seriously? That’s a little... suspicious, don’t you think?” you said, surprised at the amount of concern in your voice.

“They don’t talk to anyone,” your dad continued, rubbing his chin thoughtfully. “They don’t seem to have any real connections in town, and nobody knows where they came from. That’s not normal. I’ve had some clients asking about them, too—people want to know who they really are. And I don’t like it when people start acting like this in a town like ours.”

You felt a chill run down your spine. Your dad wasn’t the type to get involved in small-town rumors, but when it came to newcomers—especially ones that paid cash for a house without a word about their past—he was taking note.

“Do you think they’re dangerous?” you asked, trying to keep your voice steady.

He met your gaze with a serious expression. “I don’t know. But something doesn’t add up. People like that don’t just show up in quiet places like this without a reason.”

You felt your stomach turn, a mixture of unease and curiosity gnawing at you. You hadn’t expected your parents to be so wary, but it made sense, considering your dad’s profession. He knew who was who in town, and he’d probably heard more than most.

“I don’t want you getting involved with them, okay?” Your mom’s voice brought you back to the present. “We don’t need more trouble around here.”

You nodded, swallowing the unease that had settled in your chest. “Yeah, of course.”

As you helped your mom set the table, you couldn’t shake the feeling that something was off about those new arrivals. You had no idea what they were hiding, but you were starting to get the sense that your parents’ suspicions weren’t without reason.

As you slip into bed that night, the boys’ faces flash through your mind, each one the picture of beauty. All strikingly different looking, but with the same harsh look on their faces. They continued to haunt you until you fell asleep, alarm set for early the next morning, your first official day of work.

You woke up to the sound of the aforementioned alarm blaring in your ear, the sunlight barely streaming through the curtains as the sun was rising. You rubbed your eyes, taking in the familiar comfort of being back in your childhood room. It was strange, yet reassuring.

You made a quick breakfast, pulling on your scrubs, and heading out the door, feeling the weight of the day ahead. The thought of your first shift at the Evergreen Community Hospital made you both nervous and excited. The town was small, the hospital even smaller, and you couldn’t help but wonder what kind of cases you’d deal with.

The drive to work was quick, your beat up car easily navigating the familiar roads that wound through the outskirts of Evergreen, lined with quaint houses and large swaths of farmland. The hospital sat at the edge of town, easily visible from the main road. It was nothing like the big hospitals you had imagined working at, but there was something reassuring about the comfort of small-town life, even if it was starting to feel a little stifling.

As you entered the hospital, you were greeted by the familiar faces of the nurses and doctors. Everyone seemed busy, but they offered you friendly smiles as you walked in, and you immediately fell into the easy routine of the hospital’s quiet rhythm. It was a far cry from your hectic days interning in a hospital in the city, close to your school.

After a brief orientation and introductions to your coworkers, you found yourself in the emergency room, helping patients with all sorts of complaints—mostly minor cuts, sprains, and routine checkups. But as the hours passed, you couldn’t shake the feeling that something was off.

It started with a patient—a middle-aged man who had come in with complaints of aching muscles and lightheadedness. As you examined him, you noticed surefire signs of blood loss, clammy skin, excessive sweating, and shortness of breath.

Frowning, you remove your hands from his body, turning to make note of his symptoms. When you finish charting his information, you turn back around to face the man.

“Have you had any major incidents lately, or experienced significant blood loss?”

The man frowns, “Not that I know of, I think I’d notice if I was bleeding out.”

You shake your head, pursing your lips and glancing back over to the computer, “Well, whatever happened, you’re exhibiting symptoms of blood loss, I’d like to run a few more tests and have a doctor check you out.”

The man groans and asks how much longer he’ll be here, with you offering a small bit of comfort before the doctor enters the room.

The next few patients were similar. Blood loss beyond what should’ve been normal, cuts that healed unusually fast, and complaints that didn’t quite add up. It was unsettling, but you didn’t have time to dwell on it. The night shift was getting busier, and there were patients waiting to be seen.

Around late evening, as you were taking a break in the break room, you found yourself scrolling through your phone. You had decided to check in with Giselle, who had been texting you all day. She had been asking how your first shift was going and if you had run into any “interesting people” at work. You smirked as you replied, telling her about the strange blood cases you had been seeing.

Just as you put your phone down, the hospital doors opened with a soft chime, and a group of people entered. You glanced up and immediately froze.

It was the strange group of men from the store. But this time, there was one more.

He didn’t stand out at first. At least not in the way you expected. He wasn’t as tall as the others, nor as imposing, but something about him made you pause. His hair was tousled, just the right amount of messy, like he’d tried to look casual but still came out effortlessly cool. His eyes—dark, yet somehow shimmering—caught yours the moment he walked through the door, and there was an unmistakable familiarity to the way he looked at you.

The moment your gazes locked, you felt your breath catch. He didn’t smile, but there was something in the way he stood, in the way he held himself—like he knew exactly what he was doing. The magnetic pull of his presence was almost suffocating. You couldn’t look away, and that unsettled you more than you’d care to admit.

He was different. While the other guys seemed to carry an almost intimidating aura, this one… he wasn’t threatening, but you felt oddly compelled. And it wasn’t just the way he looked at you—it was the way he seemed to slip into your mind, uninvited, like he had always been there. It was as though the moment he entered the room, the space had shifted.

You tried to focus, trying to ignore the way your pulse seemed to quicken when he casually glanced at you again, a slight smirk tugging at the corner of his lips. The other members of the group, noticing the attention he was getting from you, didn’t seem fazed. But you could’ve sworn there was a flicker of amusement in their eyes.

You quickly looked away, pulling yourself together. It was just one of those things, you told yourself. He was attractive, sure, but that was it. There was no reason to dwell on it.

Still, as you walked back to your station, you couldn’t shake the feeling that his presence was different from the others. There was something familiar, yet foreign about him. Something about the way he moved, the way he stood in that room. It was like he was meant to be there… or maybe he was always meant to be there. And that thought unsettled you more than anything.

As the night went on, you found yourself picturing the strange man in your mind, feeling a sort of magnetic pull towards him, one you couldn’t seem to make sense of. It wasn’t like this with the other members of the group. No, with them, you simply felt a quiet curiosity, but with him there was an undeniable attraction that was tugging at something deep inside of you.

When your shift finally ended, you felt an odd mixture of relief and frustration. You tried not to think about the man who had inexplicably captured your attention, but as you walked out of the hospital doors into the cool night air, you couldn’t stop your mind from wandering back to him. Why did he stand out so much?

It was as if something was drawing you toward him, but you didn’t know why—and you didn’t know if you wanted to find out.

You make the exhausting drive home and hop in the shower, hoping to wash away the confusion and strangeness of your day.

You don’t know when you fell asleep, but you do know that you’re not in your room anymore.

You’re standing outside, the moon high above, casting an eerie silver glow over a darkened street. The town feels different, the air thicker, heavier, as if it's holding its breath. You glance around, but everything’s too still, too quiet.

And then, you see him.

The guy from the hospital. The one who made you feel like you couldn’t breathe, the one you can’t stop thinking about. His back is turned to you, but the second you step forward, he turns around, as if he’s been waiting for you the entire time. You freeze, heart hammering in your chest. His eyes—dark, almost black—pierce through you with an intensity that makes you feel like you're standing in front of a flame. There's something... predatory in the way he watches you, like he’s a hunter, and you’re the prey.

"You're not supposed to be here," he says, and his voice is so smooth, it sends chills down your spine. It’s like he’s speaking directly into your soul, not your ears.

You open your mouth to respond, but nothing comes out. The words are stuck, tangled in your throat. His lips twitch into a smirk, almost as if he knows exactly what you’re feeling.

Suddenly, he steps closer, so close that you can feel the heat from his body, the dangerous magnetism of him drawing you in.

"You’re curious, aren’t you?" His breath brushes your skin as he speaks, and you can’t look away from his eyes. You don’t want to. But you’re also terrified.

Before you can say anything, he reaches out and gently touches your face. It’s too gentle for someone who’s staring at you like he wants to devour you whole. And just as his fingers graze your skin, you feel... something.

A jolt. Like a live wire running through your veins, making your heart race even faster.

And then, just as quickly, it’s gone. The heat, the tension, the undeniable pull between you and him—vanishes like it never existed.

You gasp for air, feeling dizzy, and suddenly, you’re back in your room. You’re breathing hard, your sheets tangled around your legs, the faint morning light creeping through your window.

What the hell was that?

Your pulse is still erratic, your mind a mess of confusion. You didn’t even get his name. Why does he feel so familiar? Why does your heart keep pounding like it’s still trapped in that dream?

You roll over and groan into your pillow, trying to shake the image of his smirk, his dark eyes, the feeling of his touch. You’ve had weird dreams before, but this one... this one was different.

Shaking your head, you try to push the thoughts out of your mind. But no matter how much you try to ignore it, you can’t get him out of your head. You’ve never even talked to him.

So why is it that when you close your eyes, all you can see are his eyes—those dark, mesmerizing eyes?

The next day had been one of those long days at the hospital—the kind where the fluorescent lights seem to bore into your skull and every step feels heavier than the last. You had thought about going straight home, but a nagging headache and the idea of another haunting dream convinced you otherwise. A quick stop for some caffeine at the local coffee shop felt like the natural choice.

The small bell above the door jingles softly as you step inside. It’s quiet, save for the low hum of an espresso machine and the soft chatter of a barista with the only other customer in the shop.

And then you see him.

At first, you’re not sure it’s him. His back is to you, dressed in an oversized black hoodie and sweats, leaning casually against the counter. But there’s something so distinct about his presence, the easy confidence in the way he moves. He turns slightly to glance at the pastries on display, and your breath catches. It’s him—the guy from the group of strangers you saw at the store. Only, he’s even more striking up close.

The barista hands him a drink, and he steps to the side, giving you a clear view of his face. His features are sharp yet soft, the kind that draw your attention and refuse to let it go. His eyes briefly meet yours, and for a fleeting second, it feels like he knows something about you that you don’t.

You quickly avert your gaze, stepping up to the counter to place your order.

“Just a latte, please,” you say, fumbling with your wallet.

“You’re working late, huh?” a voice pipes up beside you. You glance over, and sure enough, he’s still there, holding his drink, leaning casually against the counter.

You blink. “What?”

He gestures to the ID badge still clipped to your scrubs. “You’re a nurse, right? Those shifts are brutal.”

“Nurse practitioner, but yeah, they can be,” you reply cautiously.

“I respect that. Saving lives and all,” he says with a smile that’s just a little too perfect, a little too practiced.

You narrow your eyes slightly. “I don’t think I saw you at the hospital today.”

His grin widens, almost as if he’s amused by your speculation. “Nope. Not a patient, promise. I’d remember if I was.”

There’s something playful in his tone that makes your guard falter, if only for a moment. “Do you just hang out in coffee shops at night and chat people up, or am I special?” you ask, your voice laced with sarcasm.

He laughs, a light, melodic sound that catches you off guard. “You’re definitely special.”

Before you can respond, your drink is ready, and you quickly grab it, grateful for the excuse to leave the conversation. But as you turn to leave, he steps slightly closer—not enough to invade your space, but enough to make you notice.

“I’m Haechan, by the way,” he says, his voice dropping just a fraction lower.

You hesitate. There’s something about him that’s simultaneously disarming and unnerving, like he’s trying to charm you but isn’t quite hiding the fact that there’s more to him. “Nice to meet you,” you reply stiffly, not offering your name.

His smile doesn’t waver. “See you around, Y/N.”

Your eyes widen at his comment, quickly turning and leaving the coffee shop, willing yourself not to think about how he could possibly know your name.

You walk out into the night, your heart pounding for reasons you can’t quite explain. The dream from the night before flashes in your mind, and for a split second, you wonder if he somehow knows.

But that’s ridiculous...right?

You’re beginning to see a pattern, though you wish you weren’t. The blood loss patients all share the same eerie story—waking up dazed, no memory of what could’ve caused their symptoms. They come from all walks of life: a college student, a local farmer, even a retired teacher. No clear connection. No logical explanation.

You jot down your observations in a small notebook you keep tucked away in your bag, trying not to let the unease get to you. It’s just...strange. But there’s nothing you can do about it yet, so you try to go about life as normally as possible, even if your nights are haunted by dreams of him.

The dreams always feel too vivid. Haechan’s piercing eyes, his crooked smirk, the way his presence sets your nerves on fire. You wake up most mornings confused and on edge, unable to shake the way his voice echoes in your mind like he’s right there with you.

You’re trying not to think about him when Giselle drags you to the town’s outdoor shopping market. She’s determined to make you forget about work for a while, even if it means forcing you to eat fried dumplings at her favorite stall.

It’s working—at least until you see them.

Haechan and another guy you vaguely recognize, Jaemin, are leaning casually against a bench on the other side of the street. They’re dressed too well for the casual market atmosphere, their dark clothes and sharp features making them stand out against the pastel storefronts and strolling families. But it’s not just how they look—it’s the way they’re both staring.

At you.

“Uh, Y/N?” Giselle nudges your arm with her elbow, her voice low. “Why are those guys looking at you like that?”

“I have no idea,” you mutter, your pulse quickening.

Before you can even think about walking away, the two of them start heading toward you. You tense instinctively, clutching your shopping bag tighter as Giselle frowns beside you.

“Hey,” Haechan greets, his smile disarmingly warm. His eyes, however, are locked on you, glinting with something unreadable.

Jaemin nods in acknowledgment, his expression more neutral but still sharp, like he’s analyzing every move you make.

“Hi,” you manage, your voice steady despite the way your heart is hammering.

“You’re new in town,” Haechan states, tilting his head slightly. “Well, not new, exactly. You grew up here, didn’t you?”

“Yeah,” you reply cautiously, unsure how he knows that.

He smiles again, wider this time. “It’s funny how things come full circle, isn’t it? Leaving just to end up back where you started.”

You blink, taken aback. His words feel loaded with meaning you can’t quite grasp, like he’s speaking in some kind of code.

“And you’re...” Jaemin glances at Giselle, raising an eyebrow. “Not from around here?”

“Uh, no, I am,” Giselle answers, her tone clipped. She shifts closer to you, clearly not loving the attention. “Lived here my whole life.”

“Interesting,” Jaemin replies, though it’s unclear what he actually finds interesting.

Haechan’s gaze doesn’t waver from you, and you feel like you’re standing under a microscope. “It’s a nice place,” he says, almost absentmindedly. “Quiet. But I guess every town has its secrets, doesn’t it?”

“Okay,” Giselle cuts in, her voice sharp as she grabs your arm. “Well, it was great meeting you guys, but we have to go.”

Haechan chuckles softly, a low sound that sends a shiver down your spine. “Of course. Enjoy the rest of your day.”

You barely manage to nod before Giselle pulls you away, her grip firm as she steers you down the street.

“That was so weird,” she mutters once you’re out of earshot. “What’s their deal? And why were they staring at you like that?”

You shake your head, still trying to calm the fluttering in your chest. “I don’t know,” you admit. But even as you say it, Haechan’s cryptic smile lingers in your mind, as if daring you to figure it out.

A few weeks later, you’re on your way home after a late shift. The quiet hum of the countryside at night wraps around you like a heavy blanket. The air is crisp, carrying the faint smell of wet grass, and the silence is almost eerie.

The drive is the same as every other time you’ve done it before, but this time, your car starts to stall, making all kinds of weird noise and jerking to a stop.

Your car sputters one final time before the engine gives out completely. Groaning, you slam your hand against the steering wheel.

“Fuck me,” you mutter under your breath, flipping on your hazards and stepping out. The gravel crunches under your shoes as you inspect the car, but honestly, what are you even looking for? You don’t know the first thing about fixing an engine.

Grabbing your phone from your pocket, you glance at the screen. One bar of service. Perfect.

You shiver as a faint breeze picks up, tugging at your jacket. The road stretches on endlessly in both directions, illuminated only by the weak beam of your hazards. No other cars. No streetlights. Just you, your useless car, and the creeping unease you’ve been trying to ignore since your car broke down.

Then you see it—two headlights approaching from the distance, growing brighter as they near. You squint against the light, shielding your eyes with your hand. The car slows, its sleek, dark shape pulling up beside you.

The passenger window rolls down, and you’re greeted by a familiar voice.

“Need a hand?”

Your heart jolts as you recognize Haechan sitting in the driver’s seat, his elbow casually resting on the edge of the window. His hair is slightly tousled, and he’s dressed in all black, which only adds to the air of mystery around him. His smile is easy, but there’s something unsettling in the way his eyes seem to take in every detail of you. You also notice that his skin is unusually dull, almost dead-looking.

“Haechan?” you say, surprised. “What are you doing out here?”

“Could ask you the same thing,” he replies smoothly, his gaze flickering to your car. “Late night joyride?”

You fumble for words, feeling slightly exposed under his unwavering attention. “No. My car broke down. I was on my way back from work.”

He hums, stepping out of his own car. You notice how quiet the night becomes in his presence, the air seeming to thrum with something unspoken.

“Let me take a look,” he offers, walking toward your car with a confidence that makes you feel like he knows exactly what he’s doing.

You trail behind him, hugging your arms to your chest as he pops the hood. He peers into the engine, his face partially obscured by shadows.

“How do you even know how to fix this?” you ask skeptically.

Haechan straightens, wiping his hands on his pants as he turns to face you. “Let’s just say I’ve had my fair share of car troubles,” he says, his smile playful but not entirely reassuring.

Before you can press further, the sound of another car approaching pulls your attention. You glance back to see faint headlights in the distance. When you turn back to Haechan, you catch the briefest flicker of something—unease?—cross his expression. It’s gone in an instant, replaced by his usual charm.

“Good news,” he says, closing the hood with a decisive thud. “It’s nothing serious. You should be good to go now.”

You blink at him. “That’s it?”

“That’s it.”

You glance at the car, then back at him. Something about the way he showed up so conveniently, so effortlessly, gnaws at you.

“Thanks,” you mumble, feeling a little dazed. “I guess I’ll get going then.”

“Drive safe,” Haechan replies, his tone light, but his eyes linger on you for a beat too long.

As you get back into your car, the engine rumbles to life as if nothing had ever happened in the first place. You glance in the rearview mirror, but Haechan is already climbing back into his own car. His headlights flash as he pulls away, disappearing into the night like he was never there at all.

The whole encounter leaves your stomach churning, and as you drive off, the thought won’t leave your mind—what was he even doing out here? Why did his previously luminous skin look so dull?

You wake up to the smell of coffee and the low hum of voices drifting from the kitchen. Sunlight streams through the curtains, and for a moment, you consider staying in bed a little longer, but the memory of last night pushes you up. After a quick shower and throwing on some sweats, you make your way downstairs.

Your mom is at the stove, flipping pancakes, while your dad sits at the table, his laptop open beside his plate. They both glance up as you enter.

“Morning, honey,” your mom says brightly. “Pancakes will be ready in a minute.”

“Morning,” you mumble, grabbing a mug and pouring yourself some coffee. You sit at the table across from your dad, who’s already eyeing you curiously.

“You got in pretty late last night,” he says, his tone casual but laced with concern.

“Yeah,” you reply, blowing on your coffee. “The car broke down.”

Your mom turns sharply from the stove. “What? Are you okay?”

“I’m fine,” you assure her quickly. “It was on that long stretch of road just outside town. Nobody was around.”

Your dad’s brow furrows, his lawyer instincts kicking in. “And you stayed out there by yourself?”

“No, I didn’t,” you say, cutting him off before he can worry too much. “Haechan showed up and helped me.”

Both of them pause, exchanging a glance that makes you feel like you’d said something wrong.

“One of those boys?” your mom asks, her tone teetering between disbelief and unease.

“Yeah,” you say cautiously, knowing exactly where this is going.

Your dad leans back in his chair, folding his arms. “What was he doing out there at that hour?”

“I don’t know,” you admit. “But he fixed the car. It was fine after that.”

“Hmm,” your dad mutters, clearly not buying it.

“He’s weird,” your mom says, flipping the last pancake onto a plate. “I’ve seen him around town with those other boys. They’re… I don’t know. There’s something off about them.”

You sigh, setting your mug down. “They’re just new to town. You’re making it a bigger deal than it is.”

“Maybe,” your dad says, but his skeptical tone suggests otherwise. “Still, this isn’t the first time your car’s acted up, is it? I think it’s time we get you something reliable.”

Your heart sinks. “I don’t need a new car. It’s fine.”

“It broke down on an empty road in the middle of the night,” your mom points out. “What if Haechan hadn’t shown up? What if no one had?”

“I just… I don’t want to get rid of it,” you say, your voice quieter now.

Your dad softens, reaching over to squeeze your hand. “I get it. You’ve had that car for years. But it’s not safe anymore. We’ll help you get something newer, something you can count on.”

You bite your lip, feeling conflicted. The car holds so many memories—your first drive to college, late-night trips with friends, the sense of independence it gave you. Letting it go feels like letting go of a piece of yourself. But the thought of being stranded again, of the creeping unease from last night, convinces you.

“Okay,” you say finally. “But I’ll pay for half of it.”

Your dad chuckles. “We’ll see about that.”

Your mom sets a plate of pancakes in front of you, giving you a sympathetic smile. “It’s for the best, sweetie.”

You nod, trying to focus on the food instead of the ache in your chest.

“So,” your dad says after a beat, his tone shifting back to skepticism, “did Haechan say why he was out there?”

“No,” you admit. “He just showed up, fixed the car, and left.”

“Strange,” your mom says, sitting down beside your dad. “You be careful around him, okay? I don’t want you getting too involved with those boys.”

You don’t respond, cutting into your pancake and chewing slowly. The truth is, you’re not sure what to think. About the car. About Haechan. About any of it.

It feels almost fake, the way you keep running into him. First at the hospital, then on the side of the road, and now here—again—at the small café you frequent on your days off. He’s leaning casually against the counter, scrolling through his phone, as if he belongs there.

You try to tell yourself it’s nothing. Small towns are like that. People cross paths all the time. But when he looks up and catches your gaze, his lips curve into a knowing smile, like he’s been expecting you.

“Thanks again for helping me out the other night,” you blurt, stepping closer. “I didn’t get a chance to properly thank you.”

He tilts his head, pretending to think it over. “It was no big deal, I promise.”

“Well... let me do something to make it up to you. Can I buy you a drink?” you offer, feeling a little self-conscious under his gaze.

Something flickers in his dark eyes, and for a second, you think he’s going to say no. But then he shrugs. “Sure. Why not?”

You lead the way to the small bar just down the street. It’s quiet for a weeknight, a few scattered regulars nursing their beers while soft music hums from the jukebox. You settle into a booth near the back, and a waiter comes by to take your order.

“I’ll have a gin and tonic,” you say, glancing at Haechan.

He raises an eyebrow. “Make that two.”

The drinks arrive quickly, but as you take a sip of yours, you notice Haechan barely touches his. Instead, he leans back against the booth, watching you with a lazy sort of curiosity.

“So, what’s it like working at the hospital?” he asks, the corner of his mouth twitching like he’s suppressing a grin.

“It’s... busy,” you say carefully. “You meet all kinds of people. See a lot of weird things.”

“Weird, huh?” He swirls the drink in his hand, the ice clinking against the glass.

You nod, not wanting to elaborate. But the way he’s looking at you—like you’re the most fascinating thing in the room—makes your pulse quicken.

“You smell really good, by the way,” he says suddenly, his voice soft but deliberate.

Your hand freezes halfway to your drink. “Oh... uh, thanks?”

“It’s... unique,” he adds, tilting his head like he’s studying you. “Like vanilla, maybe? Something sweeter.”

You can feel your cheeks flush. “Okay, well, that’s... kind of an odd thing to say.”

He laughs, the sound warm and rich, and for a moment, you almost forget how unsettling the comment was. “Sorry, I didn’t mean to make it weird. Just... making an observation.”

You sip your drink, the chill of the gin soothing the heat creeping up your neck from Haechan’s strange comment. The bar is quiet, the low murmur of conversation blending with the soft music in the background. You shift in your seat, Haechan’s still watching you, his gaze intense in a way that makes you feel like he's dissecting everything about you, but you try to ignore it.

“So, uh…” You bite your lip, trying to steer the conversation somewhere safer. “I shouldn’t really be talking about this, but I’ve had some weird cases lately at the hospital. Like... blood loss cases.”

Haechan leans forward just slightly, his eyes lighting up at the mention of it. “Blood loss? Like, what kind of blood loss?”

You frown. It’s hard to explain, but the way he’s asking makes you feel like he’s almost too interested. Too curious.

“I don’t know,” you mutter, shrugging it off. “It’s not like... they’re missing any blood or anything obvious. But a lot of patients are coming in, saying they woke up feeling off, but they don’t remember how they got hurt. And there’s this weird pattern with it.”

Haechan tilts his head slightly, his expression unreadable. “That’s... weird. What do you think it is?” He leans even closer, his voice a little too smooth.

You hesitate, unsure why you’re even talking about this with him, but you keep going. "I don’t know. At first, I thought it was just... coincidence. But it’s happening too often, and none of them have any injuries to show for it."

“Hmm,” he hums, tapping his fingers on the rim of his glass. “That sounds pretty crazy. You ever think maybe it’s something... supernatural?”

You freeze for a moment, caught off guard by his suggestion. It’s such a random thing to say, especially from someone you’ve just met. You chuckle, though it doesn’t reach your eyes. “Supernatural? Really? I’m a nurse, not some kind of paranormal investigator.”

Haechan smirks, his gaze never leaving you. “I’m just saying… Sometimes things aren’t always as they seem.”

You narrow your eyes at him, your mind racing. He’s definitely not taking you seriously, but why does it feel like he knows something more than he’s letting on?

“I shouldn’t even be telling you all this,” you mutter, shifting uncomfortably in your seat. “It’s just... strange. And no one’s really been able to explain it.”

But Haechan leans in a little closer, his smile now playful, but there’s an underlying intensity in his voice. “Oh come on, I’m not gonna bite. You can tell me. What do you think’s going on with all these people?”

His eyes are focused, almost too focused, and it feels like he’s reading you, waiting for you to spill your suspicions. Something about the way he’s prying is starting to make you uneasy.

“I don’t know. It’s probably just some weird coincidence,” you say, though you’re not even convinced of that yourself. You’re starting to feel like you’re playing into his game.

“You sure about that?” Haechan asks, his voice lower now, almost as if he’s coaxing you into revealing more. “I mean, there’s gotta be more to it, right? All these patients... No injuries but still blood loss? That’s gotta be something worth looking into.”

You shake your head, feeling the unease settle in your stomach. “I think... I think it’s just a weird coincidence. You’re probably right, though. I’m probably overthinking it.”

Haechan gives you a sly grin, clearly satisfied with your answer, though you’re not sure why. “Yeah, you’re probably right. Or maybe you’re just not seeing the bigger picture yet.”

“Maybe,” you mutter, more to yourself than to him. You can’t shake the feeling that he knows something—or that he’s trying to get you to talk about something you’re not ready to acknowledge.

The silence stretches for a moment as you both sip your drinks, the tension lingering in the air. But as you sit there, you can’t help but feel like you’re being drawn into something much bigger than just a simple conversation about weird hospital cases.

And when the night ends, and you drive home alone under the dim streetlights, you realize you never once saw him drink from his glass.

The night air was cool, and the shadows cast long and quiet around them. The group of friends had gathered in the usual spot—an old, dilapidated barn just outside of town, away from the prying eyes of anyone who might ask questions. It was one of the few places they could talk freely, and tonight, they needed to.

Haechan leaned against the rotting wooden beams, his hands stuffed into his pockets as he stared off into the distance, his thoughts miles away. Jaemin, Chenle, and Jeno were all present, but none of them spoke right away. They were all waiting for him to break the silence, to say something about what was bothering him.

Jaemin caved, and spoke, his tone casual but laced with concern. “You’re acting weird, man,” he said, running a hand through his hair. “What’s going on with you and that girl?”

Haechan’s jaw tightened at the mention of you, and he instinctively glanced down at the dirt beneath his feet, avoiding their gaze. “It’s nothing,” he muttered. “Just... it’s nothing.”

But the others weren’t buying it. Chenle’s sharp gaze flicked over to him, a smirk on his lips, though it didn’t quite reach his eyes. “You’re not fooling anyone. You’ve been obsessed with her ever since the other night. We can see it. You can’t keep going down this road, Haechan.”

Jeno, who had been quiet until now, finally spoke, his voice low but serious. “You’re making this complicated. You’ve got enough problems as it is. Don’t let it get worse.”

Haechan rubbed the back of his neck, frustration bubbling up inside him. “I know,” he admitted quietly. “I just... she’s different. I don’t know why, but she feels different from everyone else. I can’t stop thinking about her. She makes me feel... I don’t know. Normal.”

Jaemin clicked his tongue, an exasperated expression crossing his face. “That’s exactly what you need to avoid. Normality doesn’t work for us, Haechan. You can’t afford to get attached. She’s a human. You’re not. I don’t even need to tell you what happens when you get too close to one of them. You know the risks.”

Chenle chimed in, his voice suddenly serious, all trace of teasing gone. “And let’s not forget about the blood thing,” he added, his eyes narrowing. “You’re still drinking human blood. You know Mark’s not going to let that slide if he finds out.”

Haechan’s stomach churned at the mention of Mark. The older vampire was their leader, the one who kept everyone in check. He was the one who insisted on sticking to the "cruelty-free" lifestyle—drinking only animal blood to stay under the radar of the humans. It was a rule, one that everyone else followed, but Haechan had been struggling to adhere to it since he was turned.

“I... I don’t know what to do anymore,” Haechan admitted, running a hand through his hair. “I keep telling myself I’ll stop, but every time I see her, it’s like I lose control.”

Jeno crossed his arms, his voice firm but sympathetic. “Look, Haechan, you can’t keep doing this. Mark’s already on edge about everything, and if he finds out you’ve been breaking the rules, it’s not just your neck on the line—it’s all of ours.”

Jaemin leaned against the barn wall, his eyes sharp. “Exactly. We’re already walking a tightrope here, you can’t afford to make it worse.”

Haechan’s gaze dropped to the ground, guilt and frustration swirling inside him. He’d always been a bit of a rule-breaker, but this? This was different. He was walking a dangerous path, and he knew it.

“I’m not trying to mess things up,” he said quietly, his voice tinged with resignation. “I don’t want to lose everything... I don’t want Mark to find out, but it’s hard.”

Chenle took a step forward, his voice a little softer now. “We get it. We really do. But you’ve gotta think about the bigger picture here. If Mark finds out, it’s not just your secret on the line. It’s all of ours. The last thing we need is him going off on us.”

Jaemin nodded, his expression serious. “Yeah, and you know Mark’s not going to let this slide. He’s got a lot on his plate, but if he finds out about this... it’s gonna get ugly.”

Haechan closed his eyes for a moment, taking a deep breath. “I’ll stop,” he promised, his voice barely above a whisper. “I’ll try. I just don’t know how long I can keep this up. Every time I see her, it’s like... everything else fades away. I can’t stop thinking about her.”

Jeno softened, the sharp edge in his voice melting away as he placed a hand on Haechan’s shoulder. “We’re just trying to look out for you, man. You’ve gotta keep it together. For your sake, and for all of us.”

Jaemin, always the one to lighten the mood, flashed a grin. “Just stop drinking people’s blood, and maybe we won’t have to worry about you getting caught.”

Haechan gave a small, wry smile at that, but it didn’t quite reach his eyes. He didn’t want to admit it, but his friends were right. He had to stop. He had to get a grip before things got out of hand.

As they all fell into a heavy silence, Haechan couldn’t shake the feeling that the choices he made in the coming days would determine everything—not just for him, but for everyone he cared about.

You didn’t expect to see him again so soon, but when you walk into the only restaurant in town one night, there he is, sitting at a corner table, his eyes looking distant, his shoulders slouched in a way that’s uncharacteristic of him. His usual energy is absent, replaced with an almost palpable exhaustion. The sight makes your heart tighten in your chest.

You freeze for a moment, hesitating. Haechan has always been lively, the kind of guy who never seemed to take anything too seriously, always throwing out a joke or a playful comment. But today, his face is pale, his hair messier than usual, and his eyes—those eyes that usually spark with mischief—are dull, almost sunken.

You approach cautiously, unsure of what to say. You know you shouldn’t pry, but something inside you nags at you.

“Hey,” you say, trying to sound casual, but the concern slips into your voice. “You okay? You look... I don’t know, you look kinda rough today.”

Haechan doesn’t look up immediately. He fiddles with the cup in front of him, the steam rising from it, though you notice he doesn’t drink out of it.

“I’m fine,” he mutters, almost too quickly, his voice lacking its usual playful tone. He forces a small smile, but it doesn’t reach his eyes. “Just, uh... didn’t sleep well last night.”

You don’t buy it. There’s something off, and it’s more than just lack of sleep. The way his hands tremble slightly as he adjusts the cup. The fact that his usual playful demeanor has been replaced with a quiet, almost hollow version of himself. You sit down across from him, unable to help yourself.

You approach cautiously, unsure of what to say. You know you shouldn’t pry, but something inside you nags at you.

“Hey,” you say, trying to sound casual, but the concern slips into your voice. “You okay? You look... I don’t know, you look kinda rough today.”

Haechan doesn’t look up immediately. He fiddles with the cup in front of him, the steam rising from it, though you notice he doesn’t take a sip.

“I’m fine,” he mutters, almost too quickly, his voice lacking its usual playful tone. He forces a small smile, but it doesn’t reach his eyes. “Just, uh... didn’t sleep well last night.”

Haechan stands up abruptly, and for a moment, you think he’s going to leave. But then, he glances at you, an unreadable expression on his face, and asks, “Hey, do you want to see something?”

You pause, a little surprised by the sudden offer. You’d been expecting him to just slink away like every other time you’d spoken, but now he’s offering you something entirely different. Something you can’t quite put your finger on. The thought that he’s acting strange nags at the back of your mind, but something about his tone makes you feel like this could be important—like he needs you to come along, even if he’s not saying it outright.

“Uh... sure,” you say, your voice unsure, but you can’t stop yourself from agreeing. You can tell he’s not okay, and maybe, just maybe, this could be the thing that makes him feel better. He’s not the type to open up easily, so you’re willing to follow him if it’ll help.

Haechan gives you a small, almost wistful smile as if he’s relieved by your answer. Without saying much more, he leads you out of the café and toward the familiar black car parked by the curb.

“Get in,” he says, his voice quieter now, almost coaxing.

You hesitate, your eyes flicking to your own car parked further down the street. “Are you sure this is—?”

He cuts you off with a soft chuckle. “It’s fine. Just trust me.”

You’re not sure why, but you say nothing, sliding into the passenger seat. There’s a strange sense of calm that washes over you, a strange trust you’ve never felt before.

He turns the key in the ignition, and the car hums to life. The sound of the engine fills the quiet, but the unease in your stomach doesn’t go away. Your mind races—this isn’t something you should be doing, not with someone you barely know, and certainly not at this hour. If your parents knew...

But you don’t say anything. Maybe it’s because you want to help him, or maybe it’s because part of you feels drawn to him in a way you can’t explain.

The car rumbles through the empty streets as you leave the small town behind. The houses grow fewer and farther apart, and the night seems to stretch on forever. The moonlight casts long shadows on the dirt roads, and everything feels eerily quiet.

“Where are we going?” you finally ask, breaking the silence.

“Don’t ask questions,” Haechan replies with a smile, though it’s softer this time, like he’s actually trying to ease your nerves. “Just trust I’ll take you somewhere nice.”

You don’t ask any more questions as you drive further into the night, your thoughts swirling. You can’t help but wonder what he’s up to, why he’s so different tonight, why he’s asking for your trust so earnestly. But you also don’t want to let him down. Maybe it’s the fact that he’s been so closed off, and the little cracks you’ve started to see that make you want to understand him more.

After what feels like an eternity, Haechan pulls the car into a dirt road that leads to a vast patch of farmland. The land is empty, the crops long gone, the farmhouse standing abandoned and dilapidated, a shadow of its former self.

He stops the car and turns off the engine, the sudden silence feeling even heavier.

“This is it,” Haechan says, his voice softer now, almost distant. “I come out here sometimes. It helps clear my head.”

You look around at the forgotten farmland, the tall grass swaying gently in the breeze. It’s so quiet out here, the only sounds the distant rustling of the trees and the occasional chirp of crickets. You get out of the car, feeling the cool night air hit your face, and step beside him, unsure of what you’re doing here, but too curious to leave.

He glances over at you with a small smile, his eyes a little brighter in the dark, like the stars overhead. “You ever just look up and feel small? Like the world’s so big, and you’re just a tiny part of it?”

You can’t help but nod. “Yeah, I get that sometimes.”

Haechan takes a deep breath, his shoulders relaxing as he looks up at the night sky, his expression unreadable.

“You make me feel normal, Y/N,” he says, his voice almost a whisper. His eyes flick to you, his lips curling up slightly. “Like maybe I don’t have to be so... different all the time.”

You feel a flicker of something in your chest at his words. There’s an undertone there, something you can’t quite place. The way he looks at you... it’s not just a casual glance. It’s like he’s seeing something in you that you don’t quite understand yet.

“Different?” you ask, your voice unsure, but you feel the need to ask. It’s been a question on your mind since you first met him, since you first noticed how... unusual he is.

He chuckles softly, a sound that doesn’t quite match the heaviness in his eyes. “Yeah, I guess you could say that.”

You try to meet his gaze, but there’s a wall there, something he’s not letting you into. The thought lingers in the back of your mind, and for the first time, you wonder just what it is he’s hiding.

But instead of pressing, you just nod, turning your gaze back to the stars. The silence between you stretches, but it’s not uncomfortable. In fact, it feels strangely intimate, like you’re both floating in the same stillness, sharing something neither of you can fully name.

Eventually, Haechan sighs, and the weight of the moment seems to shift.

“Thanks for coming out here with me,” he says quietly, breaking the silence. “I don’t know why, but it helps. Being around people who make me feel... not freakish.”

You smile softly, unsure of what else to say. He’s said enough for now, and maybe, for the first time, you realize that the pieces of him that have been hidden behind walls are starting to crack just a little. Maybe soon, he’ll let you in. But for now, this is enough.

You glance up at the stars again, feeling a strange sense of calm.

“Yeah,” you reply, almost to yourself. “I get it.”

The night lingers on, and you both stay there, staring up at the stars, with the unspoken words between you both hanging in the cool air.

Haechan can’t shake the feeling that he’s dying.

It’s not dramatic, but it’s close enough. His body aches, his mind feels foggy, and no matter how much he tries to sleep or eat—nothing helps. He’s been cutting himself off from the blood, trying to prove that he can do this, trying to fight it. The cravings are there, gnawing at the back of his throat, but he’s trying—trying—to ignore them.

He doesn’t want to hurt anyone. Doesn’t want to fall back into old habits.

But the hunger is relentless. It claws at him when he’s alone, when he’s trying to focus, when he’s near you.

Being around you is the only thing that makes him feel normal, the only thing that pushes away the hunger for just a moment. The more he sees you, the more he needs to see you. It’s like a fix, a quiet peace that settles over him when the two of you are together.

“Dude, you okay?” Jaemin’s voice cuts through the haze, a sharp note of concern in it that Haechan can’t ignore.

He looks up to see the group’s concerned faces staring back at him. Jeno and Chenle are also watching him, arms crossed, silent.

“Yeah, I’m fine,” Haechan says, but his voice is strained. It’s the same thing he’s been saying for days. He’s not fine. His body feels like it’s burning from the inside, and no amount of water or food can quell it.

Jaemin doesn’t buy it. He walks over, looking him up and down. “You don’t look fine. You look like you haven’t slept in days.”

Haechan rubs his eyes, trying to clear the exhaustion. “I’ve been busy, okay? Just haven’t had time to rest.”

Jaemin raises an eyebrow, but doesn’t push. “It’s not just that, though. You’ve been acting weird. You keep disappearing. And every time you come back, you smell… different.” He leans closer, sniffing the air dramatically, earning a roll of the eyes from Haechan.

“Cut it out, Jaemin,” he mutters, swatting at his friend’s hand.

Jeno, who’s been unusually quiet, finally speaks up. “Look, we all know you’ve been… trying to stop. But you can’t just cut off the blood supply like that and expect to feel good. You’re messing with your system, Haechan. You need it.”

“I don’t want it anymore,” Haechan snaps, the words coming out sharper than he intends. He exhales, trying to calm himself. “I don’t want to be like that. I don’t want to hurt anyone.”

He pauses, looking at his friends, feeling the weight of their gazes. “It’s just… It’s hard, okay? Especially when I’m around her.”

Jaemin, ever the curious one, raises an eyebrow. “Who? Y/N?”

Haechan’s heart skips, just a little, at the mention of youe name. He’s never admitted it aloud, not even to himself. But the truth is, you are the only thing that makes it all feel bearable. You’re the reason he’s still standing, still breathing, even if it's just in fragments.

“I don’t know what it is,” he mutters, his voice quiet now. “She’s just… different. Every time I see her, I feel like I’m finally able to breathe again. And I know that’s messed up, but it’s true.” He laughs bitterly. “I can’t explain it. It’s just… something about her pulls me in. I just… need to be near her.”

Jeno and Chenle exchange a glance.

“I still don’t get it,” Chenle says, shaking his head. “What’s so special about her? I mean, she’s just a human.”

Haechan’s jaw tightens. “She’s not just a human.” His voice softens, almost wistful. “She makes me feel normal. Not like... this.”

Jaemin claps his hands together, leaning in, trying to lighten the mood. “Look, man. Just don’t go overboard. Mark’s been asking about you. He knows something’s up.”

Haechan’s stomach drops at the mention of Mark. Mark has always been the level-headed one, taking care of them whenever they needed it and trusting them implicitly. If he finds out what’s going on with Haechan, it’s all over.

“I’m not doing anything crazy, alright?” Haechan says, quickly. He stands up and brushes himself off, trying to hide the nerves that flood through him. “I’m just... keeping my distance, okay?”

Jaemin’s grin is sly. “Well, if you don’t want Mark to find out, you better chill with all the Y/N stuff. It’s obvious you’re way into her.”

Haechan looks at him, trying to ignore the sudden flutter in his chest at the thought. He’s not into her. Not in the way Jaemin means. But he’s still drawn to her, more than he’s ever been to anyone. And that’s the problem.

“I’m not into her,” Haechan mutters, though even he knows it’s a lie.

Jaemin just shrugs. “Whatever, dude. Just don’t let it get out of hand.”

As Haechan walks out of the room, he can’t help but think about his friends’ words. They’re right, in a way. But when it comes to you, everything feels different. And he can’t seem to stop himself from wanting more.

You’re starting to get used to it—the rides, the late-night drives, the feeling that Haechan is always around. It’s no longer as weird as it once was, almost making you feel safe, and maybe that’s what gets to you the most. The strangeness you’d once felt when you first met him has been replaced with something… comforting. You can’t put your finger on it, but there’s something about him that makes you feel like things are just a little bit easier.

The first time he offers to drive you to work, you’re reluctant. You hate being dependent on others, let alone someone you barely know. But your car’s practically falling apart, and the idea of breaking down again isn’t exactly appealing, so you give in.

And just like that, he starts picking you up every morning. It’s like an unspoken routine, and after a few days, it’s almost like you’ve always had this. He’s always there at the same time, always with that casual smile and a way of making even the silence feel comfortable.

“You really don’t have to do this, Haechan,” you say one morning, standing at your front door and looking at your car. “I’ll be fine.”

He looks at your car with a smirk, raising an eyebrow. “Yeah, I don’t think that’s gonna last long.”

You huff a little, but it’s not a serious protest. In truth, you’re kind of relieved. Your car is definitely on its last legs. He’s there every day now, picking you up, and it becomes a sort of comfort. Something you look forward to as you climb into the passenger seat, the world outside your window slowly passing by as you talk.

You talk about work, about random things. It’s easy to get lost in conversation with him. And somehow, the more you talk, the more you feel like you’re peeling away the layers, getting to know him. Even if you’re not asking direct questions, it’s like you’re discovering the little things that make him tick.

But then there are your parents.

They start to notice, of course. They’re always watching, always concerned, and you can tell when the questions start. You’d think they’d be relieved you weren’t driving around in your old car anymore, but they’re more skeptical than anything.

“You’ve been spending a lot of time with that boy lately,” your mom says, casually, but you can see the look in her eyes. The concern. She doesn’t have to say much for you to know what she’s thinking.

“He’s just helping me out with my car, Mom,” you respond quickly, brushing it off.

“Are you sure that’s all?” she presses, narrowing her eyes in that way she does when she’s trying to get to the truth. “You don’t really know him, do you?”

You roll your eyes, but you can’t hide the flicker of doubt in your chest. “He’s just a friend, Mom. Really.”

Your dad doesn’t even try to hide his disapproval when the topic comes up over dinner. “So, now you have a personal chauffeur?” he says, his tone sharp and skeptical. “What’s he after?”

You feel your cheeks flush. “Nothing, Dad. He’s just a friend.”

But the concern doesn’t fade. If anything, it makes it worse. Your dad watches your every move when you leave the house, and you can feel the tension between him and Haechan the first time they meet. It’s like a silent standoff, and you’re not sure what’s making your dad so antsy, but it’s there. And that only makes you feel more conflicted.

“Be careful, alright?” your mom says quietly, her eyes following you as you walk out the door. “You don’t know who his friends are. Or what he’s really like.”

You don’t respond, but the unease lingers. It gnaws at you, even though you try to push it away. You tell yourself it’s nothing. Your parents are just overprotective.

The truth is, you don’t know what to make of Haechan. You’re still figuring him out, and as you spend more time with him, you start to see sides of him that make you think maybe your parents are right to be worried. Sometimes he says things that don’t make sense, or acts in ways that are just a little too charming, too… perfect. It’s like he knows exactly how to make you feel comfortable, exactly how to make you feel like the world’s a little less complicated when he’s around.

You don’t know why you’re so drawn to him, but you are. And that’s the scariest part.

One night after work, Haechan pulls up to your house as usual. You’re tired, your legs aching from standing all day, and you can’t wait to get inside and collapse into bed. But when you see him sitting in the car, looking at you with that familiar, almost concerned look, you feel a tug at your chest.

“You okay?” he asks, his voice softer than usual. “You look kind of wiped.”

“I’m fine,” you reply, trying to brush it off. “Just a long day.”

But he doesn’t seem convinced. “You sure?”

You nod, but he’s still looking at you with that too-knowing gaze. It’s like he sees right through the walls you’ve built up.

“Alright, well… get some rest, okay?” he says, a little too carefully.

You smile and nod, but as you turn to open the door, you can’t shake the feeling that he’s watching you a little too closely. It’s not unsettling, though. In a strange way, it makes you feel… seen.

The next morning, it’s the same routine. The same car, the same comforting silence between you two. You slip into the passenger seat, already feeling like this is your new normal. The world outside is a blur, and for a while, it’s just the two of you, the road, and the easy conversation that flows between you.

Maybe your parents are right to worry. Maybe Haechan isn’t exactly what he seems.

But right now, none of that matters. Right now, it’s just you and him. And for the first time in a long time, that’s enough.

You’re working your usual shift at the hospital, dreading returning home, since the house was empty, your parents having gone on a weekend trip to the coast. Something about having the house to yourself felt wrong, as if you weren’t supposed to be there. You were checking on patients and trying to stay on top of your never-ending to-do list. The night is quiet, almost eerily so, when suddenly you get a call for a new patient who’s been brought in after a car accident. You rush to the emergency room to help.

The whole thing happens so fast. A small fender-bender turns into chaos when the injured man starts bleeding uncontrollably, and the pressure to get him stabilized is on. The room’s filled with frantic activity, the beeping of machines, the distant sounds of nurses and doctors hustling around. You’re running on autopilot, focused on getting everything right, keeping your head in the game.

Then, as you step back, you trip on one of the many cords snaking around the patient, losing your footing and crashing into a nearby medical cart. You hit your head against the metal shelf hard enough for a sharp pain to shoot through your skull. The force leaves you dazed for a moment, and you stumble, but manage to catch yourself before you hit the ground.

You’re stunned, disoriented, but you quickly shake it off. It’s just a small bump. Nothing serious. You finish helping with the patient’s stabilization, and the team moves the man into the intensive care unit. Still, your head throbs, and when you bring your hand up to it, you feel the sticky warmth of blood.

The rest of the night is a blur of patients and responsibilities. You try to stay focused, but every time you move, the pain in your head intensifies. By the time your shift ends, you’re exhausted and ready to head home.

Today had been one of the rare days you were able to convince Haechan not to pick you up, he had seemed sick and you quickly assured him you’d be able to make it to and from work in one piece.

The drive home is silent, your head still pounding. You pull up to your house, your neck aching, your vision blurry. You’re halfway to the door when your phone buzzes with a message from Haechan.

Haechan: “How are you? You okay?”

You smile despite yourself, not realizing how much you’ve come to look forward to his messages. He’s always checking in, and you appreciate it. But you’re also annoyed with yourself for not letting him know how much you need him around more often.

You text back: “Long shift. Bumped my head pretty bad, but it’s nothing. Just a little dizzy and tired”

It’s only a few minutes after you send this text when you hear a car pulling up in front of your house. You step out to check, and to your surprise, Haechan’s car pulls up right in front of your house. He looks frantic, eyes wide, hands gripping the wheel tight. When he sees you, his face softens, but the panic doesn’t fade from his eyes.

“Haechan? What—”

Before you can finish the sentence, he’s out of the car and at your side, looking you up and down. His gaze settles on your head, and you realize you’ve got a thin trickle of blood running down the side of your face. His breathing quickens as he reaches for your head, his hand trembling slightly as he touches it, almost as though he’s afraid of hurting you more.

“Y/N… what happened?” His voice is strained, like he’s struggling to stay calm. You’d never seen him like this before.

“I’m fine,” you insist, swatting his hand away gently. “Really, it’s just a little bump. I’ve had worse.”

But he’s not hearing you. His eyes flicker to your neck, his gaze darkening as though something inside him is fighting to stay under control. You notice the strange way his chest rises and falls, his jaw clenched so tightly that his teeth are grinding. His usual charm and ease have disappeared. He’s nothing like the confident, carefree guy you’ve come to know. In this moment, he looks almost… afraid.

“I can’t… I can’t be around when you’re like this,” he mutters, voice low, just above a whisper. He takes a step back, his eyes darting all over you as though he’s trying to pull himself together.

Before you can ask him what the hell is going on, he grabs your arm and pulls you gently but firmly towards his car.

“Come on,” he says, his voice now forceful, but not in the usual playful way. “We need to get you somewhere safe.”

You don’t protest. Part of you wonders if you should, but you don’t. There’s something in his eyes—something raw, desperate—and you know, deep down, that he’s not just being dramatic.

As he drives, you can feel the tension in his movements, like he’s doing everything to keep himself in check. The car ride is silent, the only noise being the hum of the engine and the occasional deep breath from Haechan.

He pulls up to the familiar spot—an empty field, the stars overhead. He cuts the engine but doesn’t get out, staring at the dashboard, his fingers gripping the wheel again. You’re unsure if you should break the silence or let him speak first, but before you can make up your mind, he turns to you.

“I… I can’t lose you,” he says quietly, his voice cracking as though it’s something he’s been holding in for a long time. “I don’t care how crazy it sounds, but I can’t.” He pauses, his eyes shifting away from yours. “I know what I am. I know I’m dangerous.”

He takes a shaky breath. “And I’m sorry. But you can’t get hurt, not like this.”

You don’t say anything right away. What do you say to that? You’re still reeling from the intensity of the situation, your head throbbing from the bump and the tension in the air.

But there’s something in his eyes that keeps you from running. You know, deep down, that whatever this is—it’s not just some passing thing. There’s more to it. And despite the fear, you want to understand.

"I don’t know what you're talking about," you say quietly, your voice barely above a whisper.

Haechan’s eyes flicker to yours, his gaze softening just a fraction. “I know… but I’m going to do everything I can to protect you. I won’t let anything happen to you. I promise.”

And for the first time, you wonder if you should be scared. Or if, somehow, you’ve already let yourself fall too far into this strange world Haechan is dragging you into.

The car ride is tense, Haechan’s grip on the steering wheel so tight his knuckles are white. His eyes dart from the road to you, his jaw clenching as if he’s fighting an internal battle. You’re too shaken to speak, and the headache from your injury is dull but persistent. You try to ignore it, but the silence between you feels suffocating.

When you arrive, it’s not where you expected. It’s not the familiar abandoned farm or some quiet spot you can retreat to. No, this place is sleek, almost eerie—like it’s frozen in time, hidden away from the rest of the world. The house looms in front of you, dark windows reflecting the dim light of the street lamps.

He doesn’t say a word, but when you hesitate, his eyes lock onto yours, almost desperate.

“Please. Just come inside. I just... I just need you to let me take care of you.”

You blink in confusion, but something in his gaze makes you step out of the car and follow him to the door. You can’t explain it, but you trust him. Even though you know something’s off, something about him is different. And right now, you don’t know what else to do.

The door opens before he even knocks, revealing a dimly lit hallway and a sense of discomfort that hits you instantly. The air smells faintly of something... metallic, almost. The atmosphere is heavy, like something is watching you from the shadows.

Before you can even ask where you are, Haechan’s hand grips your wrist tightly, pulling you inside, and the door slams shut behind you.

A few guys are already there—Jaemin, Jeno, and Chenle—sitting on the couches, their expressions sharp as they see you. They glance between you and Haechan, and you can practically feel the tension rise. There’s something about their eyes, the way they’re looking at you, that makes you uncomfortable.

“Hyuck, what the hell are you doing?” Jaemin asks, his voice cold but laced with concern. “What’s going on?”

Haechan is a mess—sweat dripping down his forehead, his body trembling like he can’t control it. His hands are shaking as he pulls at his shirt, his eyes wild. “Can you just help her?” His voice cracks, and you can feel the desperation pouring off him. "Just help me."

The other guys exchange glances, but they don’t argue. Instead, Jaemin stands and walks toward you, his demeanor softening.

“You’re hurt. You need to sit down,” Jaemin says calmly, taking your arm gently. “Don’t worry, okay? We’ll make sure you’re taken care of.”

You feel like you’re floating as he gently guides you to sit on the sofa.

The room feels too small. The air is thick with tension, and you can’t help but watch as Haechan paces back and forth, his hands trembling at his sides. You’ve never seen him like this before. He looks... wrecked. There’s something unsettling about the way his eyes dart around, as if he’s on edge, like he’s trying to hold something back.

Jaemin is standing near the window, his brows furrowed as he watches Haechan closely. His hand hovers near his phone, as if he's debating calling someone, but before he can make a move, the door creaks open. Mark steps in, his presence immediately calming the room. He glances at you first, his eyes soft but guarded. Then, his attention shifts to Haechan, who freezes at the sight of him.

“Mark,” Jaemin says, his voice tight. “He’s not—he’s not good right now. It’s... it’s bad.”

Mark doesn’t respond immediately. Instead, he steps further into the room, his eyes flicking between you and Haechan. The look on his face is unreadable, and he moves with an air of authority that quiets the room. He’s in charge here, even without saying a word.

Haechan’s breathing is shallow, and his eyes lock on Mark as if the mere sight of him is grounding him, just a little bit. But the frantic energy is still there, visible in the way he’s gripping the edges of the nearest table. “Help me, Mark,” he mutters, voice rough, like the words are clawing their way out of his chest. “I can’t—she’s so close, I can’t—I need her, I need to—”

“Hyuck, shut up,” Mark interrupts, his voice low but firm. He walks over to Haechan and places a hand on his shoulder, steering him away from the table. “You’re making her uncomfortable.”

Haechan freezes, the words hitting him like a slap. He looks at you for a split second—his eyes wild, confused, desperate. But Mark is there, pulling him away before he can get any closer. You’re not sure what to think, or what’s really going on, but you feel a knot tighten in your stomach.

Jaemin steps closer to you, his gaze softening. “You don’t have to worry,” he says quietly, though there’s an underlying tension in his voice. “We’re just trying to help him. He’s... been going through something, and he’s not himself right now.”

You want to ask what’s really happening, but before you can, Mark cuts in. He doesn’t want to give anything away, and you can see it in the way he’s controlling the situation. “We’ll take care of him,” he says, his voice as calm as he can make it. “You don’t need to get involved.”

Haechan looks like he’s about to lose it again, his eyes flashing with something you can’t quite name. He seems so... torn. There’s a part of him that’s trying to fight whatever is inside him, but it’s so clear now that he’s struggling. And you can’t shake the feeling that whatever is going on, it’s something more than you’re seeing.

“I can’t... I can’t go back to how it was,” Haechan whispers, his voice almost lost in the room. He doesn’t seem to be speaking to anyone, just to himself. “I can’t.” He repeats, as if trying to soothe himself.

Mark doesn’t respond right away. Instead, he nods, as though trying to keep his own emotions in check. “We’ll figure it out. But you need to pull it together before you hurt her,” he says, his voice stern.

Then, he turns to Jaemin and you, his expression hardening. “Take her to another room,” he orders, voice calm but firm. “I need to keep him away from her until we get this under control.”

Jaemin doesn’t argue. He gently takes your arm, guiding you toward the door without another word. You glance back at Haechan one last time, and something in his eyes pulls at you, but you don’t have the chance to react. Jaemin shuts the door behind you.

Inside the room, you can hear Haechan’s frantic breathing getting louder, mixed with Mark’s calm but firm instructions. It’s clear they’re trying to hide something from you—and you can’t shake the feeling that it’s not just about Haechan’s emotional state. But whatever it is, they’re not letting you in on it.

You want to know what’s really going on. You want to understand what’s happening to him. But you’re starting to realize that, no matter how much you care about him, there are some things you’re never going to know.

You sit quietly in the car, the weight of the situation still settling over you like a thick fog. Jeno is driving, Jaemin sitting in the passenger seat. The silence between you all is thick and uncomfortable. You’re still trying to process everything that happened back at the house—Haechan’s erratic behavior, his trembling hands, the frantic way he kept looking at you as if he couldn’t control himself. You’ve never seen anyone like that before, and it unsettles you more than you can put into words.

Jaemin glances back at you, his voice soft but trying to reassure you. “He’s just... going through a tough time,” he says, his words careful, as though he’s trying to convince himself just as much as you. “It’s not like he’s always like that. He’s been under a lot of pressure lately.”

You nod slowly, though your mind is racing. You can’t stop thinking about the way Haechan looked at you, the desperate, almost tormented look in his eyes. What was going on with him? Why did he act like that? And why were they trying so hard to hide whatever was really happening?

You don’t speak again during the ride. You’re too lost in your own thoughts, and the unsettling feelings swirling inside of you only grow stronger as you get closer to home. You can feel your heart pounding in your chest, and the anxiety is starting to eat at you.

When they pull up to your house, Jaemin turns to you. “We’ll talk more later, okay?” he says, his voice calm, trying to soothe you, but it’s not enough. You’re too shaken to feel comforted right now.

You just nod again, muttering a quiet “Thanks,” before getting out of the car. You can still feel the strange weight of the night in your chest, and as you step inside your house, the sense of unease doesn’t leave.

You spend the rest of the night in your room, trying to distract yourself, but the thoughts of Haechan and his strange behavior keep resurfacing. Every time you close your eyes, you see his face—wild, desperate, almost unrecognizable in his struggle. It’s hard to shake the feeling that something isn’t right, and your heart sinks as you realize that whatever’s going on with him, you don’t know if you can handle it.

That night, sleep comes, albeit it fitfully. It’s filled with a nightmare that feels too real. You’re standing in a dark, empty room. It’s cold, and the walls feel like they’re closing in on you. And then you hear him—Haechan’s voice, low and almost... threatening.

You turn, but before you can move, he’s there. His eyes are wide, bloodshot, but it’s not him. Not the Haechan you know. He’s angry, wild, and you feel his hands on your arms, gripping you with a strength that’s too much, too much for you to break free from. His grip tightens, and you scream, but he doesn’t let go. The fear you feel in the dream is real, too real, and you wake up with a start, your breath shallow, heart racing in your chest.

You sit up in bed, your skin cold with sweat. The room is dark, and everything feels wrong. You can still hear his voice in your ears, feel the pressure of his hands on your skin, and you shiver. The nightmare lingers, the fear still gripping your chest, making it hard to breathe.

The morning after everything happened, you drive yourself to work. The ride is quiet, but your mind is a storm of thoughts. You can’t shake the image of Haechan’s face—the way he looked at you last night, desperate and frantic. The nightmare lingers like a shadow in the back of your mind, and you’re not sure which is worse: the vision of his hands on your arms in your dream or the fact that you don’t know what’s real anymore.

You turn the key in the ignition and start your car, the engine humming to life, but it feels like everything around you is in slow motion. You still can’t seem to shake the feeling of being watched, like Haechan’s presence is hovering just behind you, pulling you into his orbit. Your hands grip the steering wheel tightly, and you try to focus on the road ahead, pushing away the feelings of dread.

The hum of the engine is almost soothing, but it doesn’t stop the nervous tension in your chest or the pounding. As you drive, you think back to your parents, how they didn’t miss the change in your mood. You can feel their worried glances from the moment they saw you this morning, having arrived home late in the night, after you had already surrendered to sleep. They know something’s wrong, and it’s only a matter of time before they ask.

When you pull into your driveway after work, you’re relieved to be home. But as you step inside, your mother’s voice calls out from the kitchen.

“You’re home late,” she says, sounding concerned. “And you look... shaken up. What happened, honey?”

You swallow hard, trying to hide the unease still lingering inside you. “Nothing, Mom. Just a long day,” you lie, but your voice is too tight for her not to notice.

She walks over, setting a hand on your shoulder, looking you up and down like she’s trying to see through the mask you’re wearing. “Are you sure you’re alright?” she asks, her voice soft but insistent. “You look like you’ve seen a ghost.”

You shake your head, forcing a small smile. “I’m fine, really. Just tired, that’s all.”

Your dad walks into the room then, his eyes narrowing as he takes in the scene. “You look pale,” he observes. “Like something’s bothering you. Did something happen at work? Or... is it about that boy? Haechan, right?”

Your heart skips a beat at the mention of his name. You can’t look them in the eye. “I’m fine, Dad. It’s just... I’m not feeling too great.”

They exchange a look, one you can’t quite place, but you know they’re worried. And it’s not just because of your sudden change in mood. They’re worried about something else.

“Has he been bothering you?” your dad asks, his voice low but laced with concern. “That boy... Haechan. He’s always been nice, but you’ve been spending a lot of time with him. Has he done anything that made you uncomfortable?”

You freeze, your heart pounding in your chest. The last thing you want to do is talk about what happened, but you can’t lie to them either. You’re so tired of pretending like everything is fine. But you also can’t bring yourself to tell them the truth—not the whole truth. Not yet.

“I... I don’t know,” you admit, your voice shaking. “He just... he’s been acting weird. I don’t know what’s going on with him, but something’s off. Last night, I—” You stop, biting your lip, trying to hold it together. “I don’t know what’s happening anymore.”

Your mom pulls you into a hug, her arms wrapping around you tightly. “We’re here for you, sweetheart,” she says, her voice gentle. “But if you feel like something’s wrong, you need to let us know. You don’t have to keep it to yourself.”

You nod against her shoulder, unable to speak. You want to tell them everything—the truth about Haechan, what happened the night before, how terrified you felt in that moment. But you don’t. You don’t know how.

Later that night, you can feel your parents’ eyes on you as they discuss what’s going on. You hear bits and pieces of their conversation from your room—how they don’t trust Haechan, how worried they are about you being around him, and how they think you should stay away from him for your own safety.

You lie in bed, staring at the ceiling, feeling more isolated than ever. You should have been scared, but the truth is, you don’t know what you feel anymore. You’re confused, lost, and you just want to forget it all.

Your phone buzzes on the nightstand, a message from Haechan. It’s a simple, “Hey, are you okay? I’m sorry about earlier.”

But you don’t answer. You don’t know what to say. You don’t know how to explain that you’re scared of him, and that you’re not sure why.

You feel your heart heavy with the weight of everything left unsaid.

You’ve been avoiding him.

It’s hard to do, considering how often you bump into him when you leave work, when you’re at the store, when you’re just out trying to live your life. But you’re doing it. For your own sanity, you’re keeping distance, and it’s making you anxious too. You can’t escape the nightmares and the visions of him in pain—and the overwhelming urge to help him. But something’s off. You can feel it in your bones.

The more you avoid him, the more anxious you become. But every time you see a message from him, your heart drops. What is it? Why is it that, despite being scared of him, you can’t seem to stop missing him?

Little do you know, he’s just as anxious without you around.

Every night, he finds himself staring at his phone, waiting for a message that doesn’t come. The loneliness gnaws at him like a hunger, and it’s not a hunger he can satisfy. He knows something’s wrong with him, but he can’t quite put it into words. He’s starting to lose control of his thoughts—his need for you growing sharper with each passing day. There’s no explanation for it. No reason why he feels this empty. But the truth is, he can’t stand being apart from you.

One evening, as Haechan paces around the house, restless, Mark notices.

“You’re a mess,” Mark comments, leaning against the doorframe of the room where Haechan is pacing back and forth. “If you keep this up, you’re going to crack.”

Haechan glances up, the exhaustion and anxiety clear in his eyes. “I can’t stop thinking about her,” he admits, the words falling from his lips like they’ve been waiting to be said for far too long.

Mark stays quiet for a moment, taking in Haechan’s state. “You’re obsessed,” he mutters.

“I’m not obsessed,” Haechan snaps back. “I—I need her, Mark. I can’t keep pretending like this isn’t—” He cuts himself off, his voice breaking. “I think she’s my mate. She’s... the one.”

Mark’s eyes widen slightly, but his expression doesn’t change. He’s heard of this before—vampires finding their mates, that one person who becomes everything to them. It’s rare, but it happens. And when it does, it’s all-consuming.

“You’ve gotta be kidding,” Mark says, though there’s no malice in his voice—just disbelief. “You’re saying you think she’s... the one? Like, the one-one?”

Haechan nods, his chest tightening. “I’ve never felt anything like this before. It’s... it’s different. I know it doesn’t make sense, but she’s... I’m empty without her.”

Mark rubs his temples, his own frustration evident. “This is a mess, Haechan. You’re scaring her. And if she finds out you’re keeping tabs on her, she’s going to run from you for good. You need to talk to her.”

“But what if—what if she doesn’t feel the same way?” Haechan’s voice cracks. “I can’t lose her. I—” He swallows, his hands shaking slightly. “I need to see her. I need to talk to her. I have to make her understand.”

Mark steps forward, placing a hand on Haechan’s shoulder, his grip firm but supportive. “Then go talk to her. But you have to do it right. No more creeping around in the shadows. No more avoiding her. If she’s your mate, you have to let her decide, too. But you have to be honest with her. No more hiding.”

Haechan nods, a weight settling in his chest. He knows Mark is right, but the thought of facing you, of telling you everything, terrifies him. He’s never felt this vulnerable in his life.

“I don’t want to scare her,” he admits, his voice barely above a whisper.

“I get it,” Mark says, his expression softening. “But you can’t keep running from it. If she’s really the one... you can’t hide from her forever.”

The next day, Haechan finally decides to take Mark’s advice.

He drives to the cafe you’re always at after work. He parks across the street, watching you through the window, trying to steady his nerves. His hands are sweaty on the wheel, his heart hammering in his chest. What if you don’t understand? What if you don’t feel the same way?

He watches you for a long while, and then, as if on cue, you glance up and meet his gaze through the glass. Your eyes widen in surprise, but before he can wave or approach, you look away, clearly uncomfortable.

He feels a sharp pang in his chest, the space between them growing ever wider. No more running.

Taking a deep breath, he steps out of the car and walks across the street, determination pushing him forward. He reaches the door to the cafe and pauses just before entering. He looks at you again, and this time, when your eyes meet, there’s no hesitation.

You stand up from your seat, and for a moment, neither of you speaks. The air between you is thick with unspoken words.

“I... I need to talk to you,” Haechan finally says, his voice rough but steady.

You blink, looking at him in confusion, but you nod. “Okay,” you say softly, not sure what to expect.

Haechan swallows, gathering every last bit of courage. “I’ve been... avoiding you. And I know you’ve been avoiding me, too. But I can’t keep pretending I don’t feel this way about you. You... You’re not just anyone to me.”

Your heart skips a beat as you watch his expression soften, his vulnerability clear in his eyes. “I need you, more than you know,” he says, and even though it sounds insane, he means it with everything in him.

You stare at him, too stunned to speak, trying to process what he just said. You don’t know what to say, how to respond.

You’re lost in the chaos of your thoughts when he speaks again, softer this time, almost pleading. “Please, just listen to me. I’ve never felt like this before, not with anyone. You’re... everything to me.”

You search his eyes, looking for some sign that this is some cruel prank. “We barely know each other, Haechan, you sound crazy.”

Haechan’s face falls at your words, but he doesn’t retreat. His eyes are full of emotion—vulnerability, desperation, and a deep sense of yearning that you can’t ignore. He steps closer, his voice trembling with sincerity. “I know how it sounds. But I swear, I’m not joking. I’ve never been more serious in my life.”

You back away slightly, heart racing. This doesn’t feel real. You’ve known him for only a short time, and yet, here he is, spilling his soul in front of you, and you’re left trying to understand what he means.

“I get that this is... overwhelming,” Haechan continues, his voice raw. “But I need you to understand—I’ve been running from this. From you. Because I was scared. Scared of how much you mean to me, scared that you might think I’m some kind of monster. But I can’t run anymore.”

You blink, trying to process everything. “Monster? What are you—”

“I’m a vampire,” he cuts in quickly, his words coming out in a rush. “And so are the others—the ones you met. I didn’t want you to find out like this, but I can’t keep lying to you. You have to know the truth.”

Your mouth goes dry. A vampire? You think it’s some kind of twisted joke, your mind scrambling to come up with a response. But when you look into his eyes, there’s no trace of humor, no playful glint. He’s serious. He’s telling you the truth.

“No way,” you whisper, shaking your head. “That’s... that’s impossible.”

“I know,” he murmurs, taking a hesitant step closer. “It sounds insane. But everything about this, about us, is real. The pull you’ve felt, the connection—it’s not in your head. It’s because you’re... you’re my mate.”

You freeze at his words, your mind going blank. Mate. It’s a word that doesn’t belong in your reality. How could it? How could he be saying this to you? How could you be his?

“I don’t... I don’t understand,” you whisper, the words barely leaving your mouth. “Why didn’t you tell me before?”

“I didn’t want you to hate me,” he says quietly. “I didn’t want you to be scared of me, but hiding it from you, keeping this from you... it’s been tearing me apart. I need you to understand. You’re not just anyone to me. You’re everything.”

You can’t think straight, your heart beating erratically in your chest. You want to run. You want to scream. You want to slam the door in his face and pretend none of this ever happened. But something—something—keeps you standing there, frozen, listening.

“Is it true?” you ask, barely able to keep your voice steady. “What you said about being your mate... do you really mean that?”

Haechan nods slowly, the rawness in his eyes never leaving. “Yes. I do. And... I know this is crazy, but I feel like I’ve been waiting for you my whole life. You’re the one I’m meant to be with. And I know it’s all happening too fast, but I couldn’t live with myself if I didn’t tell you.”

You swallow, feeling your throat tighten. You want to push him away, but the truth is—you can’t. You feel it too. That strange pull. That undeniable connection. Even though everything in you is screaming to run, to walk away from him and everything he’s telling you, a small part of you wants to stay.

“But... what does that mean?” you whisper. “What does it mean for us?”

Haechan takes another step closer, his gaze never leaving yours. “It means that I need you. And I know this is a lot for you to take in. But you feel it too, don’t you? You’ve felt the pull. You’ve felt what’s between us. I can’t pretend anymore. You’re my mate, and that’s something I can’t deny.”

You feel your heart race at his words, but your mind refuses to catch up. You’re still trying to grasp what he’s telling you. “I don’t know what to do with this, Haechan. I don’t know how to... handle this.”

“I understand,” he says softly. “I didn’t expect you to just accept it. I’m not asking you to decide right now, but please... don’t shut me out. Please, don’t make me lose you.”

You stand there in silence, the weight of his words sinking in. Your heart aches, your mind spinning. You want to believe him, you want to make sense of everything he’s saying, but the truth is, you feel like you’re drowning.

“I... I need time,” you whisper, your voice trembling. “I need to think about everything. I can’t just... I can’t just jump into this.”

Haechan’s face falls, his eyes filled with a mixture of sadness and understanding. “I’ll give you all the time you need. Just... don’t forget that I’m here. I’ll wait for you, no matter what.”

You nod slowly, your chest tight with the weight of everything. The space between you feels suffocating, yet you can’t bring yourself to walk away.

As Haechan turns to leave, you feel the sting of something you can’t name. You don’t know where this will go, or if you even want it to, but part of you knows—no matter how much you try to push it away, this thing between you two isn’t something you can ignore forever.

Haechan had never felt so isolated.

The moment you told him you needed space, a crack formed in his chest, widening with every minute that passed without you. He tried to pretend it didn't bother him, tried to convince himself that it was for the best. He didn't deserve you—not after everything he’d kept hidden, not after he’d shown you the truth of what he was. But it didn’t stop the hurt.

So, he did what he always did when things got too hard: he locked himself in his room, away from the world, away from the other guys. He could feel the tension in his bones, a gnawing hunger in the pit of his stomach, but it wasn’t the kind that could be filled with food. It was you. He wanted you more than he wanted anything else.

For days, he didn't leave. He didn’t eat. His thoughts were consumed by you—by the way you’d looked at him when you said you needed space, the mix of fear, confusion, and something else. You didn’t understand him, not really, and it hurt more than anything. He could still see the way you’d looked at him when he confessed. He had been so sure. But now, sitting in his dimly lit room, he wasn't so certain anymore.

Meanwhile, you weren't faring much better.

You missed him. That was the truth of it. You hated how much you missed him. Every night, you lay awake, the silence of your room pressing in on you, as your mind replayed the last time you saw him. You wanted to hate him for what he’d done, for the secrets, for everything, but you couldn’t. You still felt that pull toward him, that inexplicable attraction that gnawed at you when you were awake and haunted your dreams when you slept.

The dreams had taken a turn, and you couldn't quite explain it. You would dream of Haechan—only this time, he wasn’t the monster you feared he was. Instead, he was tender, soft in a way you hadn’t expected. He would hold you, his arms wrapping around you in a way that made you feel safe, loved even. In the dreams, he wasn’t hiding anything from you. He laid himself bare in front of you, the words spilling out of his mouth in whispered confessions of how much he cared for you, how much he needed you.

You woke from those dreams more than once, your chest tight, your heart pounding, and your mind spinning with thoughts of him. How could you move forward after everything he’d said? You couldn't just pretend like things were normal again. But at the same time, you missed him more than you cared to admit.

Then one night, as you were finishing your shift, you spotted them.

The guys. Standing outside the hospital, looking like they were waiting for something, or someone. Your heart skipped a beat, and the air felt heavier. You couldn’t stop yourself from walking over to the door and pushing it open, a quiet curiosity drawing you toward them.

They looked at you with a mixture of urgency and hesitation, but it was Jeno who stepped forward, his expression serious.

“You need to come with us,” Jeno said, his voice a little softer than usual. “Haechan’s been... he’s been falling apart. He won’t talk to anyone, and he can’t stop thinking about you. He needs you, Y/N. Please. He’s suffering.”

You could feel the heat rush to your face, your heart clenching. Haechan had been suffering? The thought of him like that twisted something deep in your chest. It was clear he wasn’t handling everything well, and as much as you hated to admit it, neither were you.

“I don’t know...” You swallowed thickly, trying to keep your voice steady. “I don’t know if I can just—”

“Please,” Jeno interrupted, his gaze softening. “He’s in a bad place, and he won’t get better unless you see him. We’re not asking you to fix everything. We just want you to see him, to talk to him. He needs you more than you know.”

You closed your eyes for a moment, the weight of it all pressing down on you. You wanted to say no. You wanted to keep your distance, to protect yourself from whatever hurt might be waiting for you. But the truth was, you couldn't bear the thought of him being alone in his pain, not after everything he’d shared with you.

“Okay,” you finally said, your voice barely above a whisper. “I’ll go.”

The drive to his place felt like it took forever.

You stared out the window, your thoughts a jumbled mess of uncertainty, confusion, and the remnants of something that might have been affection. The other guys didn't say much as they drove, their presence quiet but comforting in its own way. You could feel the tension radiating off of them, but they didn't push you, didn't ask anything more than what they had already said.

When you finally arrived at the house, your heart pounded in your chest. You hesitated for a moment before stepping out of the car, your legs shaky. As you walked inside, you found yourself wondering if you were making the right choice.

You cautiously made your way up the stairs towards the room Mark had pointed out to you. Once you reach it, you stand perfectly still, debating on if you should even knock.

And then the door opened.

Haechan stood in the doorway, his usual cocky smile nowhere to be found. He looked different—drained, like he hadn’t been sleeping or eating. His eyes were tired, and he wore the kind of expression that made your heart ache in a way you couldn’t explain.

“You came,” he said, his voice hoarse.

You nodded, not trusting yourself to speak. It felt like a lifetime ago that you had last seen him, and now, standing in front of him, you didn’t know what to say. Your heart was beating wildly in your chest, your emotions at war with each other. He looked at you, his eyes searching, as if trying to read you, to figure out what you were feeling.

“I’m sorry,” he whispered, his voice cracking. “I never should’ve kept this from you. I... I didn’t want to scare you. I don’t know what I was thinking.”

You shook your head, your chest tight. “You scared me, Haechan,” you admitted, your voice barely audible. “I didn’t know what to believe.”

“I know,” he said softly. “But I need you to know... I never wanted to hurt you. I just... I didn’t know how to handle this, how to explain what I am.”

You stared at him for a moment, trying to process everything. “You’re a vampire,” you said, the words tasting strange on your tongue. “How am I supposed to handle that? How do I trust you after everything?”

“I know I don’t deserve it,” he said, his voice full of guilt. “But I need you to understand something... You’re not just anyone to me. You’re... everything. I’ve never felt this way about anyone.”

You could feel the tears pricking at the corners of your eyes, the weight of his words hitting you harder than you expected. You had wanted to hate him, wanted to push him away, but something in the way he looked at you, something in the way he sounded, made it impossible to deny that there was something real between you.

“You’re my mate,” he whispered, his eyes shining with a mixture of hope and fear.

You took a shaky breath, your heart racing. "You... You think I’m your mate?"

“I know you feel it too,” he said, stepping closer. “I don’t expect you to understand all at once, but I can’t deny it anymore. You’re the one I’ve been waiting for. I don’t want to lose you.”

You closed your eyes, feeling a flood of emotions, a mixture of confusion, fear, and something else—something that you couldn't ignore. You didn’t know how to move forward, but you knew one thing: you couldn’t stay away from him anymore.

“I’m scared,” you whispered.

Haechan nodded, his expression softening. “I know. I’m scared too. But we’ll figure it out. Together.”

Tentatively, you stepped into his arms, your body pressing against his cold, hard frame. The relief that washed over him was almost palpable, and for a brief moment, he almost crumpled under the weight of it.

But then, something shifted in him. The scent of you, so close, was intoxicating, and your proximity was making everything more intense. He suddenly became hyper-aware of how long it had been since he’d eaten. His hunger had never felt sharper.

You felt the change in him immediately. His body stiffened, his breathing shallow as he pulled away slightly, his eyes flickering with something unreadable.

“What’s wrong?” you asked, voice soft but filled with concern. You studied his face, your fingers grazing over his features in a gentle search for answers.

His face flushed, and he quickly looked away. “Nothing,” he said quickly, but his voice was strained, almost panicked. “It’s just... I’m just happy I can finally hold you.”

But you weren’t convinced. Your brow furrowed, a mix of concern and frustration crossing your face. “When was the last time you ate? Or—drank, I guess.”

There was a pause, a moment where he weighed his options, wondering if he could lie to you. But when he saw the genuine worry on your face, the possibility of keeping the truth from you vanished.

His shoulders slumped in defeat, and he buried his face in the crook of your neck, his words muffled but heavy. “The night before I last saw you,” he mumbled, as though he was ashamed.

Your heart skipped a beat, and you pushed him gently away, a frown tugging at your lips. “That was almost a week ago! Haechan, why haven’t you eaten?”

He lowered his gaze, looking almost childlike, as if trying to make himself as small as possible. “I thought you were rejecting me,” he confessed quietly, the words laced with vulnerability. “I didn’t think I deserved to... I didn’t want to take anything from you.”

You sighed, exasperation mixed with tenderness. “You starved yourself for a week over this? You’re crazy,” you said with a soft laugh. “I’m flattered, I guess, but seriously, you need to take care of yourself.”

He didn’t respond immediately, his hands tightening around you, pulling you closer. “Just a little longer... Please, I just need to be with you. I need to hold you.”

Your heart ached for him, and you gently ran your fingers through his hair, soothing him as best as you could. “Haechan...”

A hesitant silence hung between you, and then, almost in a whisper, you asked, “Would—would it help if you drank from me?”

You cringed slightly as the words left your mouth, your cheeks flushing with embarrassment at the awkwardness of the request.

You felt him smile against your skin, his breath warm against your neck as he chuckled softly. “Are you serious? You really don’t have to... I can get it somewhere else,” he teased, his voice low and gentle, but there was an underlying note of something else in it—gratitude, longing.

But still, your heart pounded in your chest, unsure of what to do next.

You hesitated for only a moment before finding the courage to speak again, your voice softer this time, filled with a quiet resolve. “If we’re together, you can drink from me. I trust you.”

Haechan’s body tensed at your words, his heart racing in his chest. He lifted his head slightly, his gaze searching yours for any trace of doubt. When he saw none, he slowly nodded, his lips curving into a soft, almost sad smile.

He adjusted you carefully, his hands gentle as he tilted your head slightly to the side, exposing the sensitive pulse point at your neck. His breath tickled your skin, and you could feel the heat of his body, the tension in him as he hovered, his mouth dangerously close to your skin.

You could hear him whispering softly, but the words were too faint to make out, lost in the hum of your own heartbeat. The sound of him so close, so intimate, made you shiver with anticipation and a strange sense of comfort.

Then, as if to steady himself, Haechan pressed a soft kiss to the spot where your pulse beat the strongest. The tenderness of the gesture made your breath catch in your throat. And without warning, his lips parted, and you felt the sharp sting as his fangs pierced your skin.

For a brief second, there was only pain, but it was fleeting, quickly replaced by an overwhelming wave of warmth that spread throughout your body. It was as though the world shifted, your senses heightened in a way you never thought possible. A pleasant tingling ran down your spine, making you feel lightheaded, and yet... anchored at the same time.

Haechan’s grip on you tightened slightly, but his touch remained gentle, as if trying to soothe you through the intensity of the moment. His mouth moved with slow, careful precision, drawing from you in quiet, almost reverent pulls. Each motion sent another surge of warmth flooding through you, and despite the strange circumstances, despite everything, you felt connected to him in a way you couldn't explain.

As his fangs withdrew, there was an ache, but it was nothing compared to the sensation that had built up within you. He licked at the small wound, his touch soft and tender, as though apologizing for the intrusion.

When he finally pulled away, his eyes were darker than before, but there was a new softness in his gaze, an emotion you couldn't quite place. He caressed your cheek, his touch lingering as he whispered, “Thank you... I’ll never hurt you, I promise.”

You closed your eyes, the warmth of his words wrapping around you just as much as the warmth still blooming in your veins. “I know,” you murmured, your voice shaky but certain. “I trust you, Haechan.”

And in that moment, despite all the fear, all the uncertainty, there was something undeniably real between you both. Something that neither of you could deny.

⊹₊ ˚‧︵‿₊୨୧₊‿︵‧ ˚ ₊⊹

author's note 𝟅𝟈 wow omg this one is so long. its also so bad but i rewatched twilight and had to write this. might write a continuation later on, possibly smut

masterlist.

#jaeyunluvbot #kpop #nct 127 #nct dream #y/n #haechan x y/n #lee haechan #haechan x reader #lee donghyuck #lee donghyuck x reader #haechan vampire #vampire nct dream #vampire #kpop vampire au

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velvetwyrms · 5 months ago

Note

Please gaalee. Please <3333

hey, did you remember that Lee comforted Gaara when Naruto got married? do you know that, following this, Gaara realised who had been in front of him this whole time? do you ever think about how Lee has been madly in love with Gaara for years and didn't realise it until he tucked him close and realised that he never wanted to let him go again?

They're also married now, by the way.

[Song: Evergreen. Please do not repost, reblogging stops my hours of work from dying in your likes, lets others enjoy this too and spreads the word of my work. I'm also in the process of opening a Sand family askblog ft gaalee <3]

#here have some angst and a spoonful of honey too #gaalee #gaara #rock lee #naruto fanart #naruto #nart #nart fanart #fanart request

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fic-recs-for-readers · 8 months ago

Text

Stray Kids

Tumblr - Recommendations

Bang Chan

Beyond The Lense (Mulit-Part Series) by @jonespicy [18+ SMAU]

Bang Chan is very much Chris in this 🥵 Great little series to binge! [Includes SMUT so MDNI]

Safe Haven (Multi-Part Series) by @therhythmafterthesummer [18+]

If you’re into sci-fi, then this is a series for you! Even if you’re not I still recommend it!!! This was a brilliantly written piece of work! I had such a good time reading it and could hardly put it down! [Includes SMUT so MDNI]

The Heart Of The Sea by @comet-falls

Siren Reader helps Chan after the sinking of his ship, a great story to binge! So fluffy!!

Nothing But You/Evergreen by @violetsiren90 [18+]

Part One | Part Two

A lovely little story of understanding and romance, include a supernatural element and I’m gonna eat that shit up! [MDNI]

Dimple by @forlix [18+]

Chan surprised his friends, falling in love was something he definitely didn't do... a cute lil' one-shot that I'm sure you'll love! [Implied SMUT so MDNI]

Lee Know

Hello Stranger (SMAU) by @mintquokka

Y/N moves into her new place, the previous tenent hasn't moved on... This was a great series 😁 Couldn't get enough!!

Lost In Translation by @moonjxsung [18+]

An unexpected guy enters your life… the older brother of the kid you babysit! Follow the story of adoration and love… [Includes SMUT so MDNI]

Enchanted To Meet You (SMAU) by @f9clementine

This is a 25-part masterpiece! I loved the magical element and as a cat lover the fact that Lee Know is a cat for part of it is the funniest thing! Honestly I loved this story and could'nt get enough of it! [It has written parts as well which really fleshes out the story!]

Body Language by @moonlightndaydreams [18+]

Reader has some physical disabilities, Minho is a very attentive person. They find a spark, even through a language barrier! This story felt so personal and was written so well; I loved it so much! [Includes SMUT so MDNI]

Changbin

Promise Not To Tell by @cbini [18+]

Prince!Changbin just can't keep his hands off of you, even in a moving carriage where his staff can here you both... This fic was great to read, and so, so funny! [Includes SMUT so MDNI]

Hyunjin

Sunrise by @leggomylino

When I tell you this was so beautifully written, I mean I almost cried. The ambiguous ending was a surprise but very well done!

Two Types Of Fireworks by @chanluster

A retelling of Tangled, a Flynn Rider inspired Hyunjin along with apperences of all our favourite boys! The little details was very endering and an overall great read 😁

Worn Out Jackets (2-Part Series) by @scxrlettwxtches

One // Two

Hyunjin has a bad boy persona but seems to surprise reader with a little show of brains! 😘 Very Fluffy!

Cam Star by @baby-yongbok [18+]

Hyunjin and Reader decide to go live together... 🥵 [SMUT so MDNI]

The Strange Man Of Monterrey Manor by @quokkacore [18+]

One // Two // Three

Forced to marry a strange man, Reader has to decide whether she's going to push herself into his life or leave it... 🤩 This was a great read, so well written! [Includes SMUT so MDNI]

Riptide by @xxkissesforchanniexx [18+]

Forbidden romance + supernatural characters = a beautifully written story! Honestly couldn’t get enough of this! [Includes SMUT so MDNI]

My Favourite Princess by @valkyriexo

Dad!Hyunjin, I mean what else do I have to say to catch your attention?! This is fluffy as all hell 🤩 Hyunjin (and friends) come to save the day after a small mishap at his daughters birthday party...

Han

Let's Fall In Love, IRL ... (SMAU) by @feelbokkie

Han is a sweetheart and Reader learns to let him in! A great little series to read, I thoroughly enjoyed this 🥰

Felix

Bodyguard by @skzdarlings [18+]

Part 1 // Part 2 // Part 3 // Part 4 // Part 5 // Part 6 // Part 7 // Part 8 // Part 9 // Part 10 (Finale) // A03 Link

A cute series about acceptance and love, reader is the daughter of an awful man. Felix is her bodygaurd. They have to survive, thats their only goal... I honestly loved this series, its written really well! [Includes SMUT so MDNI]

Seungmin

coming soon...

I.N

4U (SMAU) by @minniesmutt

This was such a great multipart SMAU, I was literally waiting for the next part every step of the way! I.N and Reader go on a great little rollercoaster ride, which results in the cutest little friend! [Includes SMUT so MDNI]

Multiple

WereRoomies (Multi-Part Series) by @therhythmafterthesummer [18+]

This is a cute little A/B/O au! 🐺🐺 Very sweet stories! {OT8} [Includes SMUT so MDNI]

Soft Launch (Multi-Part Series) by @mnwrld

A small series of soft launching your 'boyfriend', very cute! {OT8}

Uninvited (Multi-Part Series) by @jinxhallows [18+]

What do you get if you mix a Witch, two Vampires and a Hybrid? A fucking great time! This series is brilliant, I was honestly hooked from the start and I can't wait to read the sequel! You just know I'm gonna love it if it has supernatural themes! [Includes SMUT so MDNI] {Bang Chan, Hyunjin & Felix}

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oddinarylani · 1 year ago

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epilogues to 'i just wish you cared about me'

pt 1: chan, lee know, changbin, hyunjin

a/n: part twos to continue off of the original post, i'll work on maknae line soon.

𝓫𝓪𝓷𝓰 𝓬𝓱𝓪𝓷.↴

there was a sea of green surrounding you. mountains covered in a wash of evergreens intermingled with low hanging clouds and misty fog surrounded the house. the air smelled different there, the humidity nearly smelling sweet - it was fresh and green and freeing. chan had chosen the vacation spot himself and surprised you with the trip, asking you to pack your things and not ask any questions until you arrived. funny enough, when you both arrived, you were too breathless to speak, instead leaning your cheek into his shoulder with awe, your arm wrapped around his waist as your eyes feasted on the display before you. black detailing accentuated the house against the greenery of the forest, it stood out proudly - strong. nearly every wall was lined with floor to ceiling windows, and a waterfall cascaded on a cliff side just across the second floor balcony.

“chris…” you turned to him, still sleepy and jet lagged from the flight over, a hat sitting low on your brow. “you-you didn’t have to do this.” he grasps your hand, luggage in the other, and lead you to the front door where he keyed in a code to enter. “of course i did.” he chuckles cheekily, smiling as he pulled you inside and left your bags by the front door.

inside was just as beautiful as the outside of the house, similar black detailing with dark wood accents. your lips remain permanently parted, eyes wide and agape with awe. “i think i might cry, honestly.” you laugh a bit, your hand coming to cover a small bit of your mouth as your eyes watered with happiness.

you wouldn’t have guessed that seven months into your relationship with chris that you’d be smitten, head over heels, and everything in between. “no noooo, don’t cry.” he grabs you by the waist to pull you into his arms, swinging you from side to side as giggles fill the room. “this is crazy, no one’s ever done something like this for me before.” you laugh more when you feel the water building in your eyes, feeling beyond happy.

“well i’ll just have to be the first, hm? you deserve it!” his sweater clad hands find your face and your cheeks squish together a bit as he does so. he’s bare faced and so adorable it makes your heart wrench - everytime he smiles it shows in his eyes and the corners of his mouth smoothly wrinkle. it didn’t matter what he did, what he wore, or how he looked - your heart would soar with adoration every time you looked at him.

“this is- i can’t- how long are we staying?” you ask, hands still resting around his waist.

“fourteen days.” it’s followed by an attempt to wipe the smug smile from his face, but the house fills with his laughter anyway when he sees your reaction.

“christopher! oh my gosh!” you bury your hands in your face as you feel the tears will actually spill any moment now.

“it’s okay, baby, it’s okay. i got off work for youuu and i pushed my deadlines baaack, it’s all good!” he wraps you in his big arms again and you quickly follow, burying your face in his chest.

seven days on your trip, halfway through, and you never wanted it to end. your home was beautiful but this was different. every morning you woke to rain and the sound of the waterfall on the opposite mountainside waking you from slumber with kisses to your ears. coffee was shared with chris on the balcony, he’d wear a jacket with nothing underneath and shorts and it wasn’t the first time you admired him, no, absolutely not, but this trip brought something different out in him.

he was effortlessly gorgeous. the milky bathe of his skin against his clothes always made him look the prettiest. in reality, he didn’t have to do much to look beautiful. he just was. it made you want to scream, but also made you long to just stare at him a moment longer. the heart shaped curve of his lips, the darkness of his hair, the spread of his collarbones and chest, the column of his neck - you could go on.

sleep still weighed on your eyes, but you looked over to him one morning with your head resting on the chair you sat on. mist wafted through the crisp air - you wore only his shirt and underwear so the morning breeze kissed your legs and brought goosebumps in it’s wake. “hey, look at me.” you had said. “hm?” he raises his head and looks at you, really looks at you, and feels a bit of flush creeping up his cheeks at just the sight of you looking at him.

“you’re the most beautiful person i’ve ever seen.”

and maybe it was the lack of filter you faced in the mornings or it was just the swell of your heart in your chest, but either way you were left with a flustered chris in your hands - his cheeks and ears red and his eyes looking elsewhere. “stop,” he draws out, face in his hands. “i should be telling you that.”

“oh we can make this a battle, i’ll win for sure.” you’re confident, the rain picks up a little.

“you think so, huh? bring it on.”

cue you proving effortlessly that he was prettier - though he argued back easily (still red in the face though) it ended in a draw. the decision never made, and chan now truly puddy in your hands.

the rain yet again woke you from slumber, your eyes remained closed for a moment more as it bring you from sleep in the quiet haze of your bedroom. chan laid next to you, sprawled though his hand remained on your waist, the other tucked up under his pillow. his hair was curled and sweet and he looked so peaceful. peaceful like you’d never seen him before. he wakes a moment later and you’re already reaching for your camera.

“noooo, don’t take pictures yet. let me put on makeup or something.” he chuckles, burying his face into his pillow as his bare back was now exposed to you.

“let me, please? you look so pretty right now, i have to.”

he let you, only after coffee and when he’d woken up some more. you returned him to the bed with his hand in your own, and you told him to just sit.

he gets himself comfortable, shaking out his hair some more before covering his legs in the covers and looking at your lense. “there, like that.” you kneel one knee into the bed and snap a photo at the perfect angle. you take some more of him sitting up, a few as he stretched and the light hit his ripple of muscle adoringly. his body was perfect to photograph, all that hard work showed in his muscle pattern, the depth and reaches of his skin as it naturally contoured.

you order him to lay down now, which he does so on his side with his hand supporting his head. “hey,” he nods his head. “how you doin?” of course, since it’s chris, he can’t finish it without laughing. “you’re a dork.” you smile behind the camera, still snapping one in his ridiculous pose.

you snap more until you have him lay with his head on the pillows and you swing a leg around to straddle his waist. one hand naturally comes to rest on your hip, the other tucks into the pillow behind his head. “so handsome.” you smile, snapping some before he pauses, smiling softly to himself. you lower your camera a bit as his hand comes to rest on your cheek, his thumb stroking your soft skin.

“i love you.” he says, suddenly. your cheeks flush, but you have the perfect idea. you bring your camera back up with his hand steady on your face still, and snap a picture.

“i love you more, baby.” you kiss his palm, sitting back on his lap as he leans back up, now resting on his palms as you look over the last few you’ve snapped. his hand reaches perfectly just out of frame, and you admire the shine of love in his gaze that you’ve managed to capture.

“you look so sweet here,” you frown, showing him the photo.

he groans, ever his own worst critic. “show that to no one, please.” you lean forward, pressing a kiss to the side of his face.

“oh it’s gonna be my lockscreen for sure.”

𝓵𝓮𝓮 𝓴𝓷𝓸𝔀.↴

bathed in warmth, heart pumping, blood rushing, washing over your cheeks with a warm flush - putting pinks in your skin, keeping you warm - minho’s careful sweet gaze flutters over your face with admiration of your existence. you were alive. wildly so. it shows in the cuts in your cuticles, the bruises underneath your skin, the redness under your eyes when you were tired, your need to eat - to bathe - to sleep. minho’s gaze turns somber, looking over your face as if he was thinking (he always was)

he’s positive the last of his humanity has left him. he can’t remember.

how your hair curled around the pillow, looking up at him like he hung the moon and stars in the sky. “what’s wrong?” you ask, noticing the stained pink corner of his mouth, and running your thumb over it. he takes your hand before you can pull it from him, turns it over smoothly to kiss your knuckles. “nothing.” it’s simple, sealed with a smile, and he leans back into his palm to look over you in your bed.

“you’re thinking.” you note simply, holding onto his hand to feel the ripple of chill off his skin. “i’m always thinking.” his brow raises, ever smug as minho typically was.

your eyes roll lightheartedly. “that i know.. what i don’t know, is what troubles you.”

his lips tug to the side, you could see his brain working now, wondering if he should tell you or not, pondering over the possibilities. his brow furrows again, this time he looks over your hand, admiring the shine of gold on your finger, reminding you of your love forever awaiting.

“what you said, a few nights ago. about wanting to be changed. that’s what troubles me.”

you frown softly, wishing to wipe the concern from his handsome face - worry didn’t suit the gold gleam of his eyes, you liked it better when he was smiling. you push yourself to your elbow, matching his gaze now. “i know it does… but it’s a wish i have to stay by your side.”

“you can live out the rest of your days by my side, grow old and i’d still love you.” he assures.

even just at the sound your heart breaks. “but i want to live centuries with you, i won’t be beautiful when i’m old.”

his hands smooth over your cheeks, fingers parting when they meet your ears, and he raises your gaze to look at him. “i’ll always want you, even when you age.”

you smile softly, leaning forward to press your lips to his own just once before parting. “i still wished to be turned. i think it would be cool.”

“cool? my centuries of torment were cool?” he chuckles, laying beside you now. “i didn’t mean it like that! but we’d be a cool power couple.”

minho yet again is left with the tangle of his feelings, unable to make up his mind, feeling as though he wouldn’t please you no matter the outcome. the reality of becoming a vampire was a death beyond comprehension, he wouldn’t wish it on anyone. yet, the idea of ever having to leave you behind tortures him as well.

“i wish you saw the value in your life.” his voice is soft, a level of sentimental you rarely saw in him. he always kept composure, always quick with a comeback - fast with wit. but to see him melt in the face of your request, leaves your chest aching a bit.

you shuffle closer to him, cupping the back of his head to let him roll to rest on your chest. “i do have value, i promise you. but i’ll always want you.” your fingers stroke through his hair.

“this-” he grabs your hand, admiring the heat coming from your body. “this heat. your heart-” his hand falls to your chest, feeling the beat steady. “blood. and warmth. is what i admire. what i miss.” every bit of you is warm, minho could melt to this heat every time he touched you.

“there is one thing you’ll want more than me when you become one.”

your head quirks, looking down to him on your chest until his golden gaze meets yours. “blood.”

you came to an agreement over the following weeks - you’d decided long ago your love for minho, and remained firm in your request. the change would be a few feverish days until your heart would stop and you’d eventually turn, he prepared the castle in that time, and stood by your side from the very moment his fangs sank into your neck.

the fever was unbearable, a few hours of writhing between sleep which you could barely catch. minho would come in with soft words and glasses of blood to soothe the ache in your bones.

everything stopped when your heart did, and the fever melted away in a few hours. you stood from the bed in your night dress, hair falling over your neck where your bite seemed to stop throbbing. upon trudging to a mirror - you see the shine of gold in your eyes, the stretch of fangs in your mouth, and the beauty in your frozen complexion.

“m-minho-” you call weakly on wobbly legs, moving to the door where you nearly collapse into it’s frame.

he’s there in the blink of an eye, catching you before you can fall. “did you-” when you look up at him, he freezes in the gaze of your eyes, his chest aching in a way he hadn’t felt in years.

“my god,” his hands find your cheeks, he brings you in, firmly kissing you. “you’re so beautiful, so so beautiful,” he chuckles, wrapping his arms around you before you both melt to the floor.

he told you endlessly of your beauty when you were human, but every time he said it you still felt the flutter of butterflies in your chest. maybe it was the phenomenon of vampiric attraction, but you felt like the bond between you was getting stronger by the second - almost leaving you light headed as he cradled you on the red carpet.

“that was… really hard. glad it’s over.” he sees the lethargic energy of your limbs, the slow blink of your eyes, and he smooths his hands over your hair, leaning in to kiss you once more.

“i know, my love. but all is well, you thirsty?”

“like you could never believe.”

𝓬𝓱𝓪𝓷𝓰𝓫𝓲𝓷.↴

changbin had left earlier in the day for a family meeting, and you’d decided to surprise him for your date tonight. your few friends you had in the business had let you know that they were busy, so you were taking off alone with enough savings that a little surge of excitement shot up in your stomach at the thought of your plan. you grabbed a coffee before walking in, pushing your sunglasses up into your hairline, greeting the associate that welcomed you and asked for your card to hold on the back counter.

“dressing area four is open, an associate will help you with your fitting shortly.” the man had nodded his head in quick thanks as he walked your card to the check out counter. a glass of champagne was offered to you as you sat, waiting for the assistant to bring out a few selections.

your marriage was changbin was ever impressive in your mind. of course, neglecting the analytical side of you, the one you perfected for your line of work - it was nothing short of a miracle. but he changed. did you ever think it possible? maybe. in some hopeful section of your heart, you longed for the best in him. months and months had gone by since your accident, your wounds turned to scars, your sourness blossomed into something much more beautiful - it was a testament of your own growth. you loved him. truly and terribly. and you wanted nothing more than to continue this journey of life, to see where it would take you. the thought of him made giddiness arise in you, and you weren’t like that. not with anyone. besides him.

“i’m looking for a nice dress to wear to a date tonight with my husband, i really want to surprise him.” you explained, tucking your hands into your thighs. they asked a few more questions about color, fabric, style, and length of your preferred vision before walking off to bring other suggestions.

“this is tom ford, spring collection of twenty-nineteen.” the assistant explains, handling the dress with gloves as he holds it by the hanger, giving it a wide birth to feast your gaze upon. your eyes dance over the stretch of fabric, an off-the-shoulder and black velvet masterpiece.

“i’ll try that.” you nod, feeling your phone vibrate in your pocket - quick to pull it out to see your husband’s name across the front.

“hey!” you say cheerfully, changbin chuckles. “hey, babe. what’re you doing?”

the assistant hangs the dress in the fitting room, you disappear behind it’s curtain after thanking him, putting your phone between your shoulder and cheek to shimmy it off the hanger. “oh nothing, what about you?”

“hmm, i don’t know, sounds like you’re up to something.” he hums, behind the sound of his voice it sounds like he might be in a car - wind rustling and a faint honk in the distance.

“nothing for you to worry about until our date, now tell me what you’re up to.” he can hear the smile in your voice, completely contagious he catches himself smiling as well, gripping the steering wheel as he weaves through city traffic.

“ah, i see. i’m on my way to the second meeting, just wanted to call and see what you were up to.”

you start pulling on the dress past your legs, feeding an arm through with your phone still expertly wedged with your cheek. “ah, how was the first one?” you wonder.

he tells you the first meeting was terribly boring, as the both of you expected. a few updated trials for members who’d been caught, he’d even seen your parents. quite a few operations were changing, and the second meeting was for more exclusive members of the family. you’d finished putting on the dress, even zipping yourself up before walking out of the fitting room, saying your goodbyes and wishing him a well afternoon.

the assistant has nothing but amazing things to say about the fit of the dress and the way the mid-section compliments the waist accentuation - with that you were sold. all you had to do was go home and prepare for the rest of the date, high on the feeling of your short phone call, anticipating the look on his face when you stepped out in the dress.

you wore his favorite perfume, the one he always complimented when you wore it, and styled your hair in a loose kind of fashion. “i’m home!” he calls from the entryway, the sound of the closing door behind him alerts you as you finish up on your hair, adding finishing touches to your makeup. “i’m getting ready!” you call back. “the restaurant called, making sure we were good for our reservation.”

you separately got ready for the date for a moment, music playing quietly from the speaker near your vanity, when changbin stepped out of the shower to dress, you’d slipped into the closet to find your dress, shimmying it on, and stepping out a moment later.

since the neckline cut pretty low, you wore a simple necklace and other dainty type jewelry, your heel was low - changbin was standing in front of the full length mirror in the corner of your bedroom, fixing the collar of his button down before he catches glimpse of you behind him and he turns around, hands still fixated on his collar.

“baby, you look so beautiful.” he’s all smiles, coming up to you to grasp both of your hands. he’s dumbstruck, completely in awe - and holds your hands out to get a good look at you. “prettiest girl in the whole world.” he beams. there’s never been a moment he’s felt quite like this - at nearly every opportunity he looks at you he can’t help but smile. even when it’s five am and he wakes you up accidentally for a job. even when you’re standing in the kitchen with glasses on and your pjs are still on and it’s three pm. he’s never been so sure of something, so sure of you. how lucky he was, and how he’d never stop fighting to remind you you were loved.

your heart swells with the sweetness in his words and eyes, you let him twirl you when he raises your conjoined hands, and you chuckle at his antics. “i was actually trying this on when you called,” your arms come to circle his shoulders, his own resting at your waist, eyes still dancing over the sight of you. “i knew you were up to something.” he says so positively.

“finish getting ready, love.” you pat his shoulder, but not before he leans in - his lips pressed to your own for a brief moment before he continues getting ready. your heart beats wildly in your chest at the familiar fiery feeling of his lips, only smiling wider as he parts and walks back to the mirror.

“how’d i get so lucky?” he turns around, fixing a thin bracelet to his wrist. in his eyes in a kind of mischievous glint, you can only guess what he’d say next with a look like that in his eyes.

“with what?” you ask, legs crossed on the bed, ever awaiting what would come out of his mouth.

“with you.”

he’d surely be the death of you.

𝓱𝔂𝓾𝓷𝓳𝓲𝓷.↴

“i wish to paint you.” his voice left his throat, with it came the soft muffle as not to be heard from others. he was sat on his throne next to your own - his father and mother before him, draped in precarious colors and wraps of fabric, a scepter beside his father’s left hand, his mother’s hands folded curiously in her lap.

your gaze bats to the sight of his face, how did he look when he said this? you wondered. so you looked. he was focused forward still, as if the sound never left his lips. “you wish to paint me?” you asked, cheeks terribly pink and hands beginning to fidget in your lap.

“would you let me?” he angles his mouth only a fraction in your direction - the words were in fact spoken to you. you think for a moment, in the quiet of the chamber of the king, in the stillness of your own brain. he watches you blink, once, then twice, before you fully turn to him.

“if it pleases you, of course.”

you received what you’d been longing for - a loving husband. there was no one else in the world that you could share the kinds of conversation you could with hyunjin. he was always listening, always there, a promise he’d yet to break. it stole the breath from your lungs, the day and night change he was able to achieve. he’d proven himself time and time again that he did in fact love you - and you only hoped your love could show just as strong.

in the mornings now, as you awoke from the maids, they’d learn to part after they had ensured the both of you were awake - as now you would dress for the day together. you’d slide his shirts over his shoulders, dressing him only after he had dressed you - that he made a point to do every morning. you button him with a tenderness only you could, drape his shoulder pieces - a half cape only meant to cover his left arm, and tentatively bring his long hair back into a half-up half-down style. this was all after he would slide your stocking’s up your legs, kissing just above your knee as he always did, loosely tying your corset to ensure your comfort, and slide his hands down your shoulders when he was finished, asking if you felt comfortable.

routine with hyunjin wasn’t just routine or existence, it felt like living. like any moment was one where the excitement of what was to come next was ever waiting. he began contributing more to the communities in the kingdom that needed attention, you both taking time from your schedules to volunteer for those in need, working in the government of the kingdom to ensure everyone had equal opportunity to thrive. he’d also began opening up to you about his love for art - how it was something he’d done since he was young.

frequently you’d find him on the stair steps of the art school, with children peering over the shoulders of their prince as he’d paint and sketch, teaching the young ones of art.

“a-ah, hyunjin. is this appropriate?” you asked, your hands quickly darting to push up a loose strap-like sleeve of your corset, pulling down your frilled shorts in fear of them riding up your legs.

he’s discarded his proper attire, instead wearing a relaxed white button down and brown trousers rolled at the ankle. his fingers carefully set a primed canvas on a stand just before his low sitting stool, his brow is gently lifted at the sound of your worried voice, and he walks to you, sitting down just before you to adjust the straps so that they laid off your shoulders, exposing your decolletage beautifully.

“you look beautiful.” he promises gently, moving to grasp your hands in his chilly ones. slowly he presses forward to plant a kiss between your brow, and your face warms at the feeling, some of your anxieties soothed. “but are you uncomfortable? do you wish to change?” his thumb strokes over the back side of your hands.

“no, it’s okay. you wanted this outfit, and no one will see it?” the suppleness of your skin is only amplified by the gentle press of your corset, and though he is indeed your husband, and seen much if not all of your skin, the roundness of your legs extended from the shorts makes his heart swell with the sweetness.

“you’re mine, i am yours,” he promises, his fingers tapping the underside of your chin. “you have only my gaze, no one else's.”

he asks for you to lay on the bed, the palms of your hands holding up your upper half as to accentuate the natural curve of your chest, the bone and muscle that lays beneath it - the softness of your legs, and the intimate draw of your clothing.

“beautiful,” he says passively, fixing the sheets on the bed to ripple before he sits down to begin painting.

“i’ll get the outline at least, to not have you sitting there so long. then i can do detail later.”

“mm.” you nod, looking away as he begins to paint.

ten or so minutes into painting, the soft draw of the paintbrush on the canvas the only sound in the room, he speaks. “would you look at me, love?” he asks. and how were you to deny his request when he asked so sweetly.

“since you asked so nicely.” you smile, turning to face him.

he smiles, chuckling shortly as he continues. now every time his gaze darts to your form on the bed, your eyes meet. a certain kind of adoration fills you - a love that causes your heart to swell fervently. to be painted by the hands of the man you loved so dearly, the idea itself melts you further to the mattress.

“wait-” he calls, sitting into his spine, looking over his work, then back to you only to get lost in thought.

“what is it, darling?” you ask.

“i have an idea.”

he nears you then, the palette of his paints on his hand - smeared, dried, clumped together from previous projects. only the finest of splatters of blue have tainted his shirt, he sits before you, drawing out his brush.

“can i paint on you? just a bit.”

you nod, “of course.”

he steadies his first stroke, pinky resting on the skin of your thigh before he paints a long white stripe down the side of your thigh, smooth and straight. the paint is cold, his hands have warmed, he closely focuses, incorporating a swirl of green, and a tiny design of flowers around the white stripe and now what is a vine. you smile as he works, remaining still as ever as he does so.

next, he leans forward, creating a similar design on the stretch of your neck where muscle runs up your shoulder to the column of your throat - there he paints a similar design. if you were still before, you were ice now, truly frozen as he worked strokes to his idea.

when he finishes, he leans back and smiles, moving to kiss the side of your head before he moves back to the canvas. “there we go.”

you smile as he sits. “hey,”

his head lifts, looking at you expectedly.

“i love you.”

shout out to bon iver for this one.

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instruth · 5 months ago

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DAYS OF DRAGONS SLAYING

Today I kneel, praying at the front pew

Recalling everything I’d thought I knew

Visiting places, events more than a few

Of joyful days in my childhood as I grew

Plain as the new grass, purer than dew

Innocent, flexible, as the evergreen yew

Naive, fearless of danger with a hew

Dreamed of fiery dragons that I slew

Down molten lava from a volcanic spew

With the friendlies that can only mew

Times transformed me from a shrew

To a genius fresh out from the stew

Sharply and cunningly as to the brew

Ate, swallowed anything I could chew

Dug to discover, into the deep sinew

To control and rule by the skill I drew

And turned men into a slaving crew

Build an empire day and night - phew!

High up, away into the heavens I flew

I puffed as the dragon, its breath I blew

Till I collapsed among everything I threw

To patch up pieces of soul with a neat sew

Picking up the ruins and starting life anew

As the day I was born, green horn as new

Searching to find myself, simply to renew

19 June 2024

A Gogyoshiren Poem (25)

Photo Credit J. P. Lee

#poetryportal #writerscreeds #smittenbypoetry #spilledwords #writingthestorm #poeticstories #inkstainsandheartbeats #writtenconsiderstions

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gummilutt · 27 days ago

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Happy Halloween!

I don't usually post stuff from my game on here, but I posed out a little themed scene this week and I wanted to share it :) I promise I will try to bring some treats as we head into the final two months of this year, I got a lot of things that are done I just need to buckle down and get to it. But in the meantime, enjoy some pictures from my 14-year old custom hood Evergreen! :)

Trick or treat! 🎃👀💀The Sawyer-family kids are enjoying their newfound freedom to do fun things by dressing up and going out and asking for candy 🍭🍪

Lulu Belle volunteered to chaperone her younger siblings, which surprised everyone, but it really shouldn't considering the Sernman-Nilsson house was among the destinations. They are finally here and Lulu is excited!

"Omigosh Karl, I didn't know you were going to be Danny this year! You look so cool!!" But of course, she knew 😉 No self-respecting teen girl will be unprepared for such an occasion! She overheard him discussing it with his buddies during lunch break, and her choice of dressing up as Sandy was most intentional. She is a smitten kitten and is just waiting for a sign that he feels the same 💘💝

"That's cool baby. You know how it is, just rockin' and rollin'."

Karl has been acting the goof ever since he grew up to a teen. Flexing, styling his hair… he thinks he's the coolest. No doubt Lulu's constant fan girling over him contributes to that belief. He's secretly pleased to see her costume matches him. Every Danny needs his Sandy, after all! 😎

Joe Bob is a little shy about this whole going around to people's houses thing, but when he's holding Anna Nicole's hand it's okay.

Her costume is his favorite, dragons are cool! And if that knight guy even thinks of coming for his dragon sister, like the knights in the stories his mother reads to him, he's going to show him what bears are made of! He can growl real scary, just you watch him! Rawr! 🐻

Tamie Lee bravely holds out her pumpkin to ask the lady in the dress for a treat. She's not sure what Halloween is but if it means she gets a bunch of candy, she's all for it! 🍭🍬🍫

Emma, the mother of this house, is very happy to see the Sawyer kids come by. She runs a play center for local kids that offers play-time for children that don't have space at home, or whose parents can't afford much toys. Karl who visited the Sawyer home once has told her how depressing the trailers these guys grew up in were, and she's been especially welcoming to the Sawyer kids ever since. These guys get extra candy rations! And an invitation to come to the play center real soon 🥰

Sigrid is pleased that her friend Junior stuck to their plan to dress up as Santa's Elves. She wishes she could go with him and his siblings on their rounds, but her parents already arranged for her to go with her cousins later. Dang parents! Maybe next year Sigrid! 🙂

#gummi evergreen #gummi posed pictures #sims 2 halloween #wcif friendly

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guppygiggles · 6 months ago

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Short little ✨thing✨ under the cut, because my brainrot over Avery is absolutely vicious at the moment, and I just had to spin a yarn over it. (Lee!Avery, foot tickling).

How would I tickle Avery? Oh, let me count the ways…

If I could entreat him to put his large, delicate feet in my lap… Imagine, if you can, the softness of soles that scarcely ever grace the ground, for their light-footed owner’s penchant for hovering… as often as not, the shoes were merely a formality. Cool like porcelain, yet flushed cornflower at the pads and toes, you’d seldom chance even a glimpse at their tender undersides.

Still, a sincere request would be dear enough to soften the sensitive cloud’s inhibitions; you’d need only ask, and he would stutteringly comply… even allowing you to remove his socks while he sat primly for you, submitting to whatever your designs might be.

I would not make him wait – starting at his heels, I’d drag my fingertips up the smooth length of his silky insteps, prompting a reflexive curl of his toes to accompany a bashful giggle. Dripping with sincerity, he’d be helpless but to titter out a “that tickles!” or “hey, wahahait!”, serving only to spur my hunger for his exquisite laughter.

My fingers would form gentle claws, beginning to scribble randomly along his pillowy skin, his feet wriggling in place with his effort to remain still. Shy giggles would yield to heartier laughter, his head tilting back as he filled the room with gleeful, unrestrained mirth. His knees would bend and twitch as he fought for control, hands curling into fists as they rested, trembling, on his thighs.

“Stay still for me, Avery…” I’d croon as I administered the playful torture, my spidery digits climbing up to his toes, skittering fiendishly into the soft valleys beneath. How he would howl, then… his body doubling forward as his arms moved to wrap around his torso, as if hugging himself would somehow assuage the tickly assault on his soles. With his ankles unfettered and heels resting on my leg, escape an evergreen option, the challenge would be self-imposed; how much could the compliant, shameless lee withstand?

“You’re not ticklish on your toes, by any chance… are you?” A rhetorical question he’d bristle to hear, his eyes widening as that wonderful blue shade danced across his face.

“C-Casper, now, wahahait, you already know they’re… ah…”

I’d wait out his speechless squirming with infinite patience, watching the question tickle him inside.

“They’re what…?”

“T-ticklish…” He’d squeak, punctuating his admission with a tight curl of his pretty round toes.

“Oh, are they… Would it make you laugh, then, if I did something like this?"

My smooth nails would spring to life, scritching the pads of his toes, sending him into renewed, ticklish hysterics. Then, the delicious begging would start.

“PLEHehehehease!” He’d whine, his feet squirming, shaking, and wiggling, one foot trying to shield the other, only to be doubly attacked with both sets of whirling fingertips. Then they would switch, the hidden foot dutifully taking its turn to endure the onslaught of affectionate torture.

“Please what?” I’d ask, knowing that sentence was one he’d never finish… and we both knew why.

“CAHAhahahasper!” Desperation would cling to his voice as he’d cry out his response, glistening tears forming in the corners of his half-moon eyes, a warm, resounding belly laugh echoing off the living room walls.

Heart soundly melted like a popsicle in the summer of his delight, I’d finally show mercy, massaging away the ticklish tingles from Avery’s obedient feet. A deep sigh would roll from him, endorphins mingling with relief as he’d lean into the arm of the couch, slipping into a heady state of bliss. I’d watch him relax, allowing him to enjoy my soothing ministrations for a while… before eventually, softly interrupting:

“Don’t get too comfortable, peach… after all… we haven’t even gotten to your other spots, yet.”

#ough...#lee!avery #brainrot #tickling #avery nimbus #fluffylore #two of hearts #neither of those two tags seem appropriate but I'm not sure what to tag this as #annnnnnd I'll probably write more of these... aheh...

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mybeingthere · 1 year ago

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Virginia Lee Burton (1909-1968) was one of the most significant and groundbreaking children’s book author/illustrators of the 20th Century. Her classic books have never been out of print and are currently embraced by a fourth generation of early readers. This is an extraordinary achievement in the world of children’s picture books. The importance of early reading experiences to a child’s development is profound and Burton’s contribution to a child’s love of reading and ongoing literacy is significant.

Burton was at the forefront of the developing American Picture Book. Her dynamic illustrations, use of colour, space, typeface and design were a dramatic departure from the European picture books that were prevalent in the United States in the early 20th Century. Similarly, her themes of overcoming obstacles, meeting challenges, environmental awareness and adapting to change while honouring the past are evergreen and have a particularly American energy and spirit.

She also founded and led The Folly Cove Designers, a group of designer-craftsmen living on and around Cape Ann, north of Boston MA, which operated from the late 1930’s through the late 1960’s, and achieved international renown for the excellence of its block-printed textiles and designs.

For more information about Virginia Lee Burton go to www.virginialeeburton.com

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cheezecakeee · 1 year ago

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stray kids as taylor swift's songs🫧 (angst ver.)

skz masterlist | main masterlist

───※ ·❆· ※───

✰Bang Chan : August

"but I can see us lost in the memory, august slipped away in a moment of time, 'cause it was never mine and I can see us twisted in bedsheets, august sipped away like a bottle of wine,'cause you were never mine." "back when we were still changin' for the better, wanting was enough for me it was enough. To live for the hope of it all, cancel plans in case you call, meet me behind the mall, so much for summer love and saying us 'cause you weren't mine to lose"

✰ Lee Know : Champagne Problems

"your midas touch on the chevy door, november flush and the flannel cure, "this dorm was once a madhouse" i made a joke, "well, it's made for me". How evergreen our group of friends, don't think we'll say that word again and soon they'll have the nerve to deck the hall that we once walked through. One for the money, two for the show, i never was ready so i watched you go" "and hold your hand while dancing, never leave you standing, crestfallen on the landing with champagne problems. Your mom's ring in your pocket, her picture in your wallet, you won't remember all my champagne problems"

✰ Changbin : Right where you left me

"you left me no choice but to stay here forever" "did you hear about the girl who got frozen? Time went on for everyone else, she won't know it. She's still 23 inside her fantasy, how it was supposed to be. Did you hear about the girl who lives in delusion? Breakups happen everyday, you don't have to lose it, she's still 23 in her fantasy and you're sitting in front of me" " 'Cause I'm right where. I cause no harm, mind my own business, if our love died young, I can't bear witness and it's been so long but if you ever thing you got it wrong, I'm right where you left me"

✰ Hyunjin : Hoax

"stood on the cliffside screaming, "give me a reason", your faithless love's the only hoax I believe in. Don't want no other shade of blue, but you no other sadness in the world would do" "You know I left a part of me back in New York You knew the hero died, so what's the movie for? You knew it still hurts underneath my scars from when they pulled me apart, you knew the password, so I let you in the door, you knew you won, so what's the point of keeping score? You knew it still hurts underneath my scars from when they pulled me apart but what you did was just as dark, darling, this was just as hard as when they pulled me apart"

✰ Han : Cardigan

"and when i felt like an old cardigan, under someone's bed, you put me on and said i was favourite" "to kiss in cars in downtown bars was all it needed, you drew stars around my scars but now I'm bleeding, 'Cause I knew you steppin' on the last train marked me like a bloodstain, I, I knew you tried to change the ending, peter losing wendy, I, I knew you leaving like a father, running like water" "but i knew you'd linger like a tattooed kiss, i knew you'd haunt all my what if's" "Cause I knew everything when i was young, i knew you'd miss me once the thrill expired and you'd be standing in my front porch light and I knew you'd come back to me"

✰ Felix : Back to December

"realized i loved you in fall and then the cold came, the dark days. When fear crept in my mind you gave me all your love, and all i gave you was goodbye" "So this is me swallowing my pride, standing in front of you saying sorry for that night and I go back to december all the time" "i miss your tan skin, you sweet smile, so good to me, so right and how you held be that september night, first time you ever saw me cry" "maybe this is wishful thinking, probably mindless dreaming. But if we loved again, I'd love you right, I'd go back in time and change it but i can't, so if the chain is on your door I understand."

✰ Seungmin : All too well

"we were always skipping town, and i was thinking on the drive down "any time now, he's gonna say it's love", you never called what it was, 'til we were dead and gone and buried. Check the pulse and come back swearin' it's all the same, after three months in the grave and then wondered where it went to as I reached for you but all I felt was shame and you held my lifeless frame" "and maybe we got lost in translation and maybe i asked for too much, and maybe this thing was a masterpiece 'til you tore it all up, running scared, I was there, I remember it all too well" "and you call me up again just to break me like a promise, so casually cruel in the nane if being honest, I'm a crumbled up piece of paper lyin' here, 'cause i remember it all"

✰ I.N : My tears ricochet

"even on my worst day, did i deserve it babe, all the hell you gave me? 'Cause I loved you, I swear I loved you 'til my dying day" "and if I'm dead to you, why are you at the wake? Cursing my name, wishing I stayed" "you know, I didn't want to haunt you but what a ghostly scene, you wear the same jewels i gave you as you bury me" "and you can aim for my heart, go for my blood, but yu would still miss me in your bones, and i talk to you when I'm screaming at the sky, and when you can't sleep at night you hear my stolen lullabies" "and you're tossing out blame, drunk on this pain crossing out the good years and you're cursing my name, wish I stayed, look at my tears ricochet"

───※ ·❆· ※───

70 notes · View notes

dreamyzhou · 7 months ago

Text

I Swear I’ll Never Leave Again | Lee Juyeon

Pairing: childhood friend!Lee Juyeon x historian!fem reader

Genre: Angst + Fluff slow-paced contemporary non-idol au

Words: 6,300+

Warnings: one NSFW joke, a corrupt working authority, fraud from a big institute, Y/N is a wreck who can’t deal with overwhelming big emotions, crying, mentions of food and sugar, betrayal i guess (?), just the fact that it’s a fic of two idiots having complicated feelings and here they are trying to solve it, jealousy (?), fighting (not physically), Juyeon’s mom is called Auntie Sora, kissing, pet names

Inspired by: I Swear I’ll Never Leave Again by Keshi.

Premise: For a career that started with an unnecessary sacrifice of a special relationship with a childhood best friend, everything was going well. Until it didn’t. But for once, being involved in your nation’s biggest fraud scandal gave you a chance to fix everything.

[July 2016, Graduation Day in Liberty High of Gwangju]

Finishing high school felt like the closing of your childhood and happiness. You felt like you were closing a chapter of a book you didn't want to put down.

That day was going to be a crumbled sandcastle before it was even built. Not only was the idea of being your own responsibility scared you, but the idea of leaving home was painful to you.

Leaving home was not leaving a familiar place or leaving a tearful, yet proud family behind for college. It was leaving Juyeon.

You and Juyeon were the school's loyal students for 12 years straight in your generation. You both knew each other even before both your moms placed you in the same school. A companion since childhood who had your heart and placed it in a warm place. All it took for you to feel at home again... was him.

Telling your best friend of 15 years that you were leaving, a day before you actually do, making him process the fact that you were moving in no time, was a mean move. Not only that, you broke the promise you both made as children; that what you both had would be everlasting. You both promised, more than the swear under tangled pinky fingers, that even if you decide to leave your past behind or change identities, the only person you'd still call back was supposed to be him and vice versa. You both each had a designated Nokia flip phone with a SIM card that had no contacts but each other’s. The phones and SIM cards were stolen with a plan by the both of you from a device store run by an old uncle in an underground market back when you were both 13.

You knew the day of graduation would go bad. What you didn't know was that you still have the ability to worsen it.

Not only did you decide to put an end to an evergreen friendship, one that contributed to who you are and your happiness, but the way you ended it was in the way you knew Juyeon would hate so much.

You ended it by not going to the graduation day and leaving the city as Juyeon waited for you to throw your graduation caps together.

[Early 2020 | Seoul]

You were pursuing your Master’s Degree finally. Bachelor's distorted the idea of time as luxury. You wished having no time was a good reason to state why you missed important assignments. You wished that having “no time to do assignments due to the importance of the assigned person's sanity being the number one priority" was a good enough reason to excuse yourself. Yet at the same time, you wished you had time. Because you did not even complete your assignments, despite sacrificing lunch, dinner, and sleeping hours just for them. One time, when you were in your finding-my-circle phase, you talked to a few senior girls at the bathroom sinks. They gave you useless tips (That was how you knew they were definitely not your circle).

"If he doesn't wanna give you an A, F him." you remembered the automatic grimace you made.

You wanted to make it up to yourself. So when you saw a brochure at the library's promotional corkboard, you stayed to read it all. An exciting title written by a named institute from back home with very professional graphic designing skills.

We are hiring: Future's Hope for Education!

The nation's leading learning institute is looking for students majoring in

1. Archaeology (Undergraduate and Graduate)

2. History (Undergraduate and Graduate)

3. Military History (Only accepting Graduates)

4. Art History (Only accepting Graduates. Hired as conservator-restorer)

We are building a historical museum, aiming to educate the youth the importance of the past war to teach them about their future. Undergraduates who major in archaeologists and historians are accepted as interns. Graduates are hired as the major's profession.

Please contact us for more information.

Another big day, another big anticipation, another thing you wished you could tell Juyeon, another reason you regretted leaving him. You wished you could’ve taken him with you. Auntie Sora would’ve let him go with you. This was also another day where you hated yourself for still lying with yourself. Maybe all you needed was a time to reorganize your feelings. Maybe at the time you developed an unfamiliar feeling with Juyeon and it scared you, because it could’ve harmed him, yourself, and what you both had. You wished you knew that it meant romantic attraction and you wished you knew how to repress it to save everything you had. Now, you lost all of them; him, yourself, and what you both had.

[Late 2020]

You were doing splendidly in your job. The boss had always said your findings were always the 'fanciest'. You caught him joking from time to time about how much money the artifacts you've found would cost. He would say the museum would make his fellow (probably rich CEO-esque) friends jealous.

You and a few of your college friends were starting to spot weird behaviors from the son of the CEO, who you all referred to as your boss. He would scream and throw ceramic mugs at his own bodyguards (of which you were always curious why he had almost five of them guarding his door and ten for the whole building).

One day, Kevin (your college friend who studied Art History and worked to restore paintings there) was called to the office. You, Changmin, and Chanhee wished him luck through facial expressions.

Kevin came out of the office with a pale face almost zombie-like. All three of you noticed him running to the bathroom. He came back to his workspace and wrote something on three Post-It notes.

He packed everything on his table and his bag. When Chanhee and Changmin were whispering "What happened?" and "Talk to us!" You spotted your boss getting out of his office, and talked to one of the bodyguards.

That bodyguard was approaching Kevin as soon as the boss was in his office once again. You looked at Kevin with brows furrowed. Kevin beated the uniformed, muscled man to the exit door.

The three of you looked at each other, only to notice each one of your desks had one yellow Post-It note.

[As Working Hour Ended That Day]

The three of you decided to call Kevin after work in a café due to the heavy policy of no phones in that building. But before that, you three had to read his Post-It notes first, since all of you had so much work to do and your boss wanted it done by today.

All of you received different messages from the artistic guy.

"There's a number 2 on the top with blue ink. Then, he wrote Dark Groceries written in black. On the bottom, it says I have the job of the General. He's scaring me..." You and Chanhee saw the note as described by Changmin.

"Mine has number 1. And a drawing of a guy painting and next to it are two letters S and T crossed and drawing of a... printer? Below it says I didn't enlist but have no ER. The bottom said Hey I just met you and it's not a maybe. Chanhee, what did you get?”

"3 on top. He wrote sick and a plus sign. He drew an eagle next to it. Bottom has a drawing of a spool of thread with a writing D-day turns into T-Minus.”

"Gee. Since when can he come up with cryptic messages?" Changmin looked at the three green-coloured notes.

"Whatever, I think we should call hi—"

"Wait... I figured it out." Chanhee's milky face washed out and somehow possessed the same horror that Kevin had.

[5 minutes later]

(The picture is just for easier visualization. It was created with few editing skills and a little help from AI)

"Put all your notes, according to his number from 1, 2, and 3." Chanhee placed your sticky note on the table first as yours had number 1, then Changmin's, and finally his own.

"Read Y/N's first. He drew an 'artist.' Take out the letter S and T from the word, you get arti. It won't make sense unless you add the drawing of a fax printer, which I believe he wanted us to use only the word fax. So arti plus fax, meaning artifacts. So far, is that clear?" You and Changmin nodded.

"I didn't enlist but I have no ER. Guess what they call a person who enlist."

"A troop? A soldier? I don't—" Changmin said the one thing that came to mind.

"Correct. The I is removed and it doesn't have E and R. Final equation, sold. It says Artifacts sold. The bottom one, I figured, was left to be read last but still in the numbered order."

"What does he mean artifacts sold?" You asked Chanhee.

"That's where number two comes in. Dark Groceries. Dark obviously means Black. Do you know where we go for groceries?"

"Holy hell..." that was when all of you knew how scary all of this was.

"Third, sick is the synonym for?"

"Ill... so with the eagle..." You looked at Chanhee, hoping what you pieced wasn't true, he only nodded while clenching his fist around his hair. Changmin reacted as if life turned 180 degrees on him, and to be fair, it did. Your body was so weak that your lungs forgot to do its automatic job.

"Illegal... What about the bottom texts?"

"Yours said Hey, I just met you and it's not a maybe. It might be referring to the song Call Me Maybe, but he doesn't want to say it with maybe. Changmin... I'm not sure what a general does, but I've seen Hollywood movies and as far as I know they're there to strategize, right? I don't know… Miss military historian, do you copy?"

"Affirmative, and you are right, this means Kevin has a strategy? Might as well meet him in his flat now! Let's go!"

"No. Stay. The third bottom text told you why you should call him instead."

"What is it?"

"A thread, D-day turns into T-minus? My best bet is that he meant the letter D in thread turns into T." You cursed in your head, feeling a little helpless.

[The call]

"Listen to me, the three of you, do not panic, okay? There are only 3 things you all need to do to quit without being threatened that they will watch you everywhere. One, play along and comply. Agree to whatever they say. Hell, act like you agree that artifacts should be sold. Two, each of you need to quit on different dates, each of you need to quit long enough not to make suspicion after the first one."

"Wait, I don't get the second one-"

"So say Changmin quit on February 2nd, Y/N will follow by quitting on February 20th. Chanhee, well that guy can stay all he likes—"

"Stay on track, man from maple-leaf land. Don't kid around with this stuff!"

"All right, you get my point. If they ask you why you leave, never act like you know anything about their selling stuff. On the other hand, if the man starts to promote you... That's when you're in a dangerous trap. Because at this point, he will start telling you about the dirty work and making you do them. Threatening you things such as if you tell anyone, they will come after you. Just say you'll consider it, but you won't answer now."

"This is wrong... I think all of us need to be whistleblowers..."

"You mean we should tangle ourselves a little bit to the danger just to gather evidence and submit them to the police. Next."

"I don't see why it's a bad idea. They're breaking a very big law." Changmin said.

[May 2021]

The Sentinel Post

A Nationally-Approved Conglomerate Illegally Sold Artifacts in Underground Auctions

The Citizen Speech

The Country's Biggest Institute of Learning Hide Behind the Education Facade to Gain Dirty Money

The International Paper

South Korea's President Demands Full Punishment on Those Responsible for The "Military Museum" Scandal

"Breaking news, coming from FOX News here, we are looking at probably the biggest fiery situation currently going on in South Korea. You know, Reggie, the other I just babysat my nieces who apparently listened to K-pop. I must say I'm impressed by the hype, they did it all with music and all of their culture is more interesting than those we have here in America, but now..."

"Hmmm, I don't know, Jeanette. The hype around the Asian country might be tanking soon with the museum scandal going on."

"These Americans are so fuc—"

"Chanhee, no swear words. We need to cool our heads down and getting triggered by them won't help."

"Y/N's right, Chanhee. Tomorrow's Supreme Court, we deserve to turn off the TV and drink beer tonight." Though, you know Changmin was also scared of what the media were saying.

Another scary day, another worry, another thing you wished you could tell Juyeon, another reason you regretted leaving him.

[Summer 2021]

With the four of you becoming the loved-hated people of the country with everybody recognizing you in the streets if you don't wear your masks, everything becomes overwhelming. Despite being thanked as whistleblowers and people who 'believed that justice needed to be served,' there are people who came up to the four of you, saying that you 'were too gullible' or 'too desperate for money that you had to fall for that.'

The four of you were hired by the government as "the nation's way to say gratitude" (A western article headline once said) to work in the National Museum owned by the government themselves. Interpol made a deal with the four of you, ensuring all of you safety wherever you go and money enough to cover each of you everything, even your retirement. As long as all of you work along with them to gain back every artifact sold.

Now all of you reunited and shared a flat that you all bought. The flat only had four floors. The ground floor is not much, just some stairs with locked security PIN and a door to a room for some police officer whose authority believe all of you are, and will always be, in danger. Anyone had to punch in the code to go up to the stairs and meet a wide wooden door enough for 3 people lined up to go through simultaneously. Inside would be a living room and a spacious kitchen with two doors leading to Chanhee's bedroom and Changmin's, and also another set of stairs leading to the third floor, which only had your room, Kevin's, and a guest. The top would be a balcony.

You thought about it everyday. How lucky that lot of people believed you are not a bad person. That the Supreme Court was right not to charge you or put you in jail for anything even for petty things like breaching company's secrecy and confidentiality or overall just being in the mess of the scandal. How you get to enjoy a big, yet enough apartment with the company of your brothers. Your parents told you everyday that you've become a 'big girl' now. You and your three loud friends told each other that it was not their fault (though, they may say otherwise to themselves too). However, as a historian who was once tasked by the now orange-suited boss to recover Korean soldier's belongings, you felt responsible. You thought about the things you recovered everyday. Love letters to their wives and kids, prized possessions, torn pictures, and marriage rings.

That was why you agreed to the Interpol deal.

You had to, so that you could forgive yourself.

[Winter 2022 | Unsent Love Letters no. 115]

From May 2021 until Fall 2022, the government had attained almost 500 collections that only Chanhee, Changmin, and you collected (Kevin had another job in the National museum). All that because the other 7 historians who were hired in the secretly-illegal project (those you don't know the names of anyway) weren't brave enough to involve themselves with authorities and help out after what happened. So the three of you had to clean up their mess too. Job opportunities went better for the three of you as the world heard that all of you had been involved with the government to gain back the things illegally put on sale. So one lesson you learned from the journey was that don't be cowardice, take your second chance to do the right thing, and if you have to, let the anger be the motivation to that.

Though, the good news was that 487 of those were all that were needed for the project to be finally done. However, 156 of them needed to be given back to whoever inherited them or needed to be asked for museum display consent.

"Y/N, come to my office."

You tailed your boss to his office, closing his creaky wooden door with the sticker 'Dr. Ryu's Workspace'.

"I'm sending you home to Gwangju."

You didn't even know what it meant yet, but the statement stunned you.

"I'm sorry, sir... Am I fired?" He gently chuckled, shook his head, then dropped his gaze to the wooden floor.

"No. I'm sending you there for three reasons. First, there is a bundle of unsent love letters, we numbered it Object 115. I need you to deliver it to the owner's widow. Second, I checked your records and history. You haven't left Seoul since 2016, never went home since then too. Why?" You were bewildered with the sudden detailed knowledge your boss gained. You didn't even know you've been staying in Seoul for 6 years.

"That's... personal."

"That's enough to tell me you need rest. I mean 6 years, tied to a scandal you didn't know would turn into a national drama, must've tired you out, no?"

"I mean, yeah, but—"

"And, three... Because there's a letter to me from someone from Gwangju, there was him in a photo you had together. He wanted to talk to you." Your brain was swirling in a whirlpool of suspicion and confusion.

"Well... who is it?"

"That's... personal."

"What the-"

"Not for me, but for the guy. He said he'll visit you there."

"Doc, I appreciate your concern regarding me, but I'm not going—"

"It's an order, not optional."

[3 days later, 2022 | Gwangju]

You took a taxi immediately to the address of Object 115's owner. With two suitcases packed for 3 months (mandatory) leave, you left the taxi in front of a suburban house with a wide green grass field, piled up with 5 cm thick of snow You walked with the gravity pulling your hand along with the suitcases, feeling your shoulders yearning to detach itself from the rest of your body. Who even thought a field of 15 meters in front of a house was beautiful enough to keep? Wouldn't it be inconvenient for the elderly woman owner of these love letters to bring monthly groceries inside? Look at the field, no one raked the snow in a while.

You placed your belongings beside you on the wooden porch, where you saw a golden retriever chained to the fence. The dog wagged its tail when it saw you, as if it knew you.

You thought the dog was familiar.

Juyeon had a dog when he was 17. A golden retriever puppy, named Robu. He asked you to name it and you said 'Love' but he thought you said 'Rob'.

The dog began whining at you, and sat up straight, looking at you with puppy sparkle eyes.

"Robu! What are you whining at? I—" a woman, maybe, around her sixties opened the door.

"Y/N?"

"Hi, Auntie Sora?”

[-.. --- -. .----. - / .-.. . .- ...- .]

"I think Juyeon could go home anytime with his grandma. Those letters belong to her husband." You took in the sight around the living room, while petting Robu who sat beside you on the sofa. They moved away from the street near your school to the outer area of the city.

"Oh... yeah... thanks." Auntie Sora was on the leather couch, sitting beside you looking at you with an unrecognizable feeling. Maybe it was because you didn't know how to feel either.

"What brings you back, Y/N?" There was a sympathetic smile, as her cheeks wrinkled, showing you that same love she still had back when she considered you the daughter she never had.

"Just... this letter I needed to give Mrs. Lee—"

"You would do that, but you wouldn't come back to Juyeon?" You could tell she was trying to understand you. She wasn't going Mom mode on you and being protective of Juyeon. You sighed, appreciating the effort it must've taken after hurting her son.

"I had to. I was told to go back to Gwangju on paid leave for 3 months, and I may not refuse. After everything, I mean this doesn't sound bad. At least that's what I thought, when I planned not to see Juyeon at all." The door opened and a wheelchaired woman pushed her wheels forward, as somebody was heard closing the door behind her.

"Sora! Darling! Juju and I bought groceries. Look at this boy, picking his old nan from daycare. Got all the nurses wanting him!" the elderly laughed coarsely.

"Granny!" groaned the boy behind her.

The moment they faced the living room from the foyer, everything turned into slow motion. The uncomfortable heat of embarrassment running in your veins. The guilt spasming your muscles. The way Auntie Sora's presence left your side. The sight of Juyeon freezing, turning pale as he tried to remember to breathe.

"Oh! Who is this nice-looking lass? Have you eaten, dear? I baked some cookies this morning with my daughter, Sora. It's Indonesian, I believe? It's called 'Snow Princess'. Juyeon, my grandson here, said to make it every month so that he can share it with his best friend back when he was in elementary school. Apparently, she loved it so much! I wished I could meet her—My grandson said she hated him now, so that's why she ran away from town. But Juyeon still loves it, though not as much ever since then!"

You tried to look at Juyeon's eyes, acting like you just acknowledged an unfamiliar guy in his family’s house. He just stared at the floor with lips shut. Arms folded as he leaned to the doorless entrance to the living room.

"I- Um- No- Uh- Thank you, Mrs. Lee, but I've eaten too much sugar today!"

"Oh, you know 'snow princess' cookies? Yeah, I believe sometimes the powdered sugar coating could be overwhelming. You’re very good at habit control, dear! It has been rare seeing those in people. I’d eat the cookies everyday and I would still annoy my endocrinologists." She pushed her wheels near you to talk to you more as her old soul laughed satisfyingly. She was about to initiate another topic, but you couldn't handle whatever was going on. So, you talked first.

"Mrs. Lee, I'm here to return your belated husband's letters."

She was startled with what you just said. You could tell from how her trembling wrinkly hands turned into a frosty statue. Then, she looked at you with relief in her eyes.

“You don’t know how long I’ve been waiting for someone to say that.”

[3 hours later]

“Thank you for coming and delivering these to me. He was always excited to name my daughter. I never met him again after he died when I was 7 months pregnant with Sora. We’ve always thought to name the child Sora if it turned out to be a girl or Juyeon if it was a boy. Turns out, I didn’t have the heart to remarry, so when Sora and her husband had a son, his name was Juyeon. It’s a big relief to know that I named our child based on an agreement that we couldn’t execute through any communication at all. Hell, he died before he even gotta tell me he wanted the name to be Sora. He died not knowing our child’s name was Sora.” She wiped her tears with more tissue sheets.

“My pleasure, Mrs. Lee…”

There was a heartwarming silence as you witnessed the hug that Mrs. Lee and Auntie Sora had. One that moved your heart. It was a silence that deafened your eyes from the noise of people’s opinions of your 6 years old historian career. You realized that for once, whatever you were doing, it didn’t only have an impact on you. It was people like this, who gave you a view of the importance of executing your job with the best manner.

“Mrs. Lee and um— Ms. Sora,” without even looking at her, you could tell the honorifics confused her. “I should go home for the night. Thank you so much for welcoming me. I hope you both have a good night.”

You bowed to both of them, then they offered you to bring food from their kitchen like their homemade kimchi and of course, ‘Snow Princess�� cookies.

“No, thanks… I had too much already.”

“I’ll walk you out.” That was the first time Juyeon tried to look at you with the biggest effort to lift his lip corners.

You walked to the foyer, alongside him. You wore your shoes quickly and took the two suitcases you left beside the shoe rack. He followed you behind, opening the door for you. As he closed it behind him, he took the suitcase you held in your right hand.

“Are you going to your parents’ house?” he looked at you, cracking a gentle smile.

“No. They sold it and moved to the other end of the city.”

“Oh no, I know that. What I meant is will you go to that house they’re currently in?” You looked at him, trying to hide every guilt and embarrassment.

“...No. I don’t really want them to know I’m here. I, uh, was about to check in on Four Seasons.” He looked back at his mom’s house, then to his car.

“I don’t mind taking you there. Our house is pretty far from the central area anyway.”

Oh, lord have mercy.

[Sunset | Red light intersection at near Liberty High of Gwangju]

There was an awkward silence in the car. The silence felt like an uncomfortable noise. You wanted to find the source and stop it. However, everything was the source. Whatever you do to stop this silence was not going to make it better. Act like everything was fine? Nothing was. Act like nothing is fine? Could’ve worsened it.

“You sent the letter to my higher-up, didn’t you?” He chuckled a little as you faced him.

“Glad you still know me well after six years…” The red light turned yellow. Then, green.

“What’s up? Is there something important to tell me?” You tried to speak gently, in a friendly manner.

“Yeah, I swear it’s important enough that you had to come back and hear it from me.” Okay, that hurts more than it should.

“Oh… Okay… what is it?”

“I’m getting married, Y/N. You’re invited.” He looked at your eyes for a second before going back to the road.

You looked at him, feeling whatever he said froze you colder than the snow. Then, something just tickled the inside walls of your stomach, generating this uncontrollable giggle.

“What’s so funny?”

“Nothing… Just…” You tried to control the tears with your convincing laughs, “Who is she?”

“You’ll know, eventually.” He smirked as his eyes stayed focused ahead.

“You’re not gonna tell me?” You scoffed, expressing half of the offense you’d taken. He shrugged, still not wanting to reciprocate the eye contact.

“Why should I, though?”

“Because I’m your best—”

“No, you’re not. You’re invited as an old high school acquaintance.”

He stepped on the brakes as another red light made an appearance, letting elementary kids from Liberty High of Gwangju cross the road tailing the school bus driver like little ducklings following their mama duck. That was when he looked at you with eyes you didn’t recognize. Eyes that didn’t feel like it belonged to Juyeon’s. Those eyes had a view of flames of anger disguised in the sea of calm.

“Oh…” Those icy eyes and inferno in the rest of his facial features was an unfamiliar look on him. “Okay…”

The car took a left turn. You knew it took just another kilometer to reach your hotel, but the tension in the car tightened your airways. You badly wanted to cry and you had no clue why.

“You can drop me off here. In front of the 7/11 store, I can just walk from there.” You pointed at the store 5 short buildings away from the car.

“No. It’s been a heavy snowfall lately. Besides, it’s quite a walk to the Four Seasons.” You faced him, coughing out a bitter laugh.

“You don’t mind an acquaintance’s request, don't you?” He looked at you. Clenching his jaw, intentionally showing the visible anger he never had the ability to show.

“You have no right not to let me marry another person. Not after I let you go, despite you not giving me a reason to move on. Do you understand me?” His voice lowered, almost generating a growl.

“This is not about whether or not I let you marry another girl, Juyeon.” You whispered.

He took a second to look at your tear-glazed eyes.

“Then… what?” He calmly asked as he stepped on the brakes in front of the fancy hotel.

He stopped his silver Hyundai Ioniq, gave his keys to the valet driver. You exited the car, opening the back of his car to take your suitcases, shutting it again. As the valet driver took off and did his job, you came back to Juyeon, ignoring the greetings the uniformed hotel staff gave you.

“I just…” You realized; you didn’t know what it was about, either. So, you lied. “I just want to know her name.”

He looked at your eyes, getting closer. Trying to search for something in those eyes that were trying its best not to burst and pour all her tears.

“You know… I only need you here not because I wanted to make you feel miserable or to rub it on your face that I’ve moved on from what we’ve had.” He paused before taking your suitcase from your left hand and placed it on the floor. He took the empty hand and looked at it before closing it into a fist.

“I just wanted to be in peace with you before another person eventually replaces your specialty. That’s what you wanted, right? Not to be special in my life anymore?”

[Midnight, 01:34 AM | Gwangju, but not home]

You were hurting, physically over an emotional moment that you had encountered. You were lucky the only person having a room on the floor you were at was you. You were hugging your knees looking at the Gwangju sky as your chest heaved for more oxygen, a downpour of tears on your cheeks.

The worst part? He was right.

You trapped him in a pit of pain, making him face everything alone. Leaving him for no reason. You had put him through hell and all that, because you had been in love with him.

Somehow, he managed to escape and made you fall in the same pit.

After gazing at the stars of the Gwangju sky, every tear representing each of them that appeared, you looked down at the brown suede suitcase you brought. You walked away from the bed, opening the suitcase, finding anything that had the ability to clean up the mess on your face.

Until, you saw a black Nokia 2720.

[03:21 AM | The hidden playground only the both of you knew about]

He was there already with his black hoodies and gray jeans. You walked to his side with your head hung low, looking at the rusty carousel he was focusing his sight on.

“Nothing in this town became lively as you left. Not this playground. Not the house you sold. Not me. Not even my mom who was worried about me.” He turned his head to the right, looking at you with serenity.

“You were not the only one who wanted to leave town and forget the other.” You took a breath until you inflated the lungs a bit too much, almost like a balloon on the verge of popping. It was the only method you know to make sure you got enough oxygen for your brain to think straight.

“Juyeon… The reason why I left you was because I thought my feelings would scare you.” He furrowed his eyebrows as his hands stayed in his pockets.

“I didn’t know how to tell someone that I was in love with my own best friend, because usually it would be you who knows everything about me first. Sometimes, I don’t even have to tell you and you know… How could I tell you I was in love with you without hurting everything we had?” The frown on your face started to cramp your cheeks, the tears burned your skin.

“We both had nobody but each other. I didn’t want to befriend someone just to talk about you as my crush.” His eyes softened.

“God, Juyeon, I could never hate you. If I do, I’d make you the one to leave the city.” You let out a sad chuckle.

“I didn’t even know the feeling I had back on Graduation Day was romantic attraction. Now, here I am. Will never be forgiven by you. Will never get the chance to love you the way I want to. Will never be special to you again. Will never be trustworthy. I changed you, but that was because you don’t know who I become anymore. And to be frank with you,” You choked on your cries along the words. “I don’t either.”

“I’m sorry, Lee Juyeon. I’m sorry that I ruined everything. I’m sorry I was scared. I'm sorry that I love you so much that the love I had for you scared me enough to run away from the person I was willing to give my love to. I forgot that it could've hurt you too."

You dried your tears with the right sleeve of your knitted cardigan. Then, you covered your mouth with it to reduce the sound of your cries.

“Y/N…” Juyeon brushed off your hand from your face, grabbing your face to get a clear look on you.

“You should’ve told me. I feel the same.” You still let the tears flow.

“Y/N, do you know why Dr. Ryu gave you three months?” You shook your head.

“I wanted that much time to make you give me a reason to move on. Deep down, I never moved on and I don’t want to. I still feel the same way and I still want you. But if you did let me go, then the only way to shut me out for good is for you to tell me a good enough reason why you quit on me… I never got down on one knee for anyone, Y/N. I only imagine it’d be you.”

[ January 15th 2023 | The ‘98 Flat, Seoul ]

“I’m confused though…” You smiled at him, wondering something as he sat down next to you on the sofa.

“What is it?” He asked you, looking at you full of adoration.

“Why not let me go? What I did was cruel…” He didn’t even take a second to think about the answer.

“You were the companion of my life for 15 years. I knew that when you left me, it didn’t mean you let me go easily either. I still know you, Y/N. You are never cruel.” You leaned your head on his shoulder.

“Cake’s ready!” Changmin yelled as he went to the dinner table with the cake he made.

“Happy birthday, Juyeon!” You sang along with your three friends. Kevin shut off the light, Chanhee lit the candles on the cake, then you called Robu to come along with you.

As Juyeon made his wish and Chanhee took some photos, you looked at him with all the joy in your heart that you never felt before. There was this satisfying feeling of recovering everything you lost, but also getting more than just that. You finally had the man who made you happy and he never failed to make you even happier than yesterday. He opened his eyes and he blew the candles. As the lights turned on again, you got closer to Juyeon.

“Happy birthday, love.” You smiled before your lips touched his. It was slow and warming like a lit candle was inside you, not burning the walls of your heart directly with the fire, but warm enough to give an impact.

“Thanks, honey.”

“Alright! Today a package came in the mail from Juyeon’s mom. Here it is!” Changmin took out a present from a red bag.

“Happy birthday, kiddo! Enjoy life with the boyz, Y/N, and Robu! Granny and I love you lots! Awww, it’s the cookies you like, honey!” You saw the ‘Snow Princess’ cookies with the heart-shaped packaging.

“We got you these expensive gifts, because you look like an expensive man. Prada belt from Changmin, Chanel perfume from me, and—wait, what is—Did Kevin just buy him riddles flashcards?” Chanhee screeched.

“Brother, ugh—”

“Wait, what’s wrong with—”

“BROTHER, UGH!”

“HELLO, SOMEONE EXPLAIN WHY—?”

“Military Museum scandal PTSD, here we go again!”

Juyeon had his eyes on you the entire time. His wish became true even before he even made it; That from then on, he would have you in his journey with hands held forever until you actually do have a good reason to let him go.

#the boyz #tbz #lee juyeon #tbz juyeon #juyeon angst #juyeon #juyeon fluff #dreamyzhou the boyz juyeon #dreamyzhou fic

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