#Nabi can confirm

[snoos-tattoos]

@jongside is spitting facts

[itzynabi]

You should’ve known | Don’t Forget Your Breakfast 2 EP.10

posted: 13 feb 2024

word count: 2.5k

warnings: mention of food

an: this variety show is my newest obsession tbh. words in [] are captions. feedback and reblogs are much appreciated 💐

nabi’s masterlist

Sungkyu rubbed his hands against each other, breathing onto them to warm up. “Are we always going to film at five in the morning?” He complained, looking at the camera crew. “The episode with Yena was also shot this early… Why?” Slightly shivering, he put his hands in the pockets of his coat.

“But, I think today’s guest is worth the early working time. It’s Eve!” He announced. “She’s releasing a new album until spring… even though it’s still winter.

[Support the new release, until spring]

“She’s one of the most in demand idols right now, right? I asked some colleagues about her, and they all only had nice things to say,” he explained. “I wonder what she’ll be like in the morning.” He chuckled deviously. “I heard she moved to a new apartment, so here we are in Yeoui-dong. Let’s call her manager to ask some questions.”

Ari walked into frame, bowing politely to Sungkyu. “Hello,” she greeted, shaking his offered hand. “I’m Jeon Ari.”

“Yes, hello. First of all,” Sungkyu began, “do you know how big the apartment is? In terms of pyeong, how much are we looking at?”

Ari shook her head. “I’m not sure, I wasn’t with her when she bought the apartment.”

“Ah, you weren’t?”

“She went with her brother and members to look at apartments,” she told him, squeezing a heat pack between her fingers.

“And do you know anything about the market price?” He asked, chuckling lightly.

[He’s persistent]

“No, I don’t.”

“Ah… I’ll just ask her,” he decided with a definitive nod. “Is there anything we should know before going in?”

“Yes. She’s currently watching her brother’s dogs.”

“Key-ssi?”

“Yes, Commes des and Garçon,” Ari confirmed. “I don’t think they’ll wake her up because she’s a very deep sleeper.”

Sungkyu nodded slowly. “Yes… I wonder if they know how many pyeongs it is?” He wondered aloud.

The scene cut and they were just outside of Nabi’s apartment door. Ari entered the passcode, opening the door to let everyone in.

Sungkyu gasped softly. “The walls are so white,” he whispered in amazement as he walked past the entry-way, turning right to fully enter the apartment. He gasped again, seeing a slightly ajar door to his immediate left. “Is that her room?” He asked Ari.

Ari shook her head. “It’s a guest bedroom.”

“Ah, there are guest bedrooms?”

“Yes. These two rooms are guest bedrooms.” She pointed at the rooms across from each other.

“Let me get a look at them, then,” he whispered, pushing the door more open. He turned on the lights, seeing a bed frame surrounded by a bunch of boxes of furniture. “Ah, she’s not done decorating yet,” he noted as he exited the room. “There are still a lot of boxes.” He continued walking forward as Ari stood in the living room. He looked around the living area, his eyes landing on two princess dog houses. “But… where are the dogs?”

“They’re sleeping in her bed so she can make sure they’re warm,” Ari told him.

He looked at her incredulously. “But they have fur.”

“You can try to tell her that. Her room is that one,” she said, pointing at the door that was between the kitchen and living room.

“This one?” He walked to the closed door, opening it as quietly as possible. One of the staff passed him a microphone as he walked into the room. As Sungkyu neared Nabi’s bed, he noticed the two dogs that were under the covers, their heads sticking out from the blankets, while only Nabi’s hair could be seen. Taking a deep breath to steel his nerves, Sungkyu started singing antifragile into the microphone as the staff turned on the lights, cheering every so often when he forgot the lyrics. As he finished the chorus, he looked down at the bed, noticing that Nabi had not moved, but Commes des and Garçon stirred awake and were staring at him. “Is she not waking up?” He asked, the microphone giving his voice an echo effect.

He scratched his head as he watched the idol continue to sleep. “What should I do?”

The two dogs in Nabi’s bed began to walk out of the covers, sitting on the pillow. Garçon tilted his head as Commes des started growling at Sungkyu, who took a step back. He looked at the camera in fear. “They’re not going to attack me, right?”

“She’s waking up,” one of the staff members said as the camera zoomed in on Nabi’s hand leaving the covers to gently pat Commes des. The dog slowly stopped growling, instead lying down and staring at Sungkyu.

Sungkyu stared at the scene in front of him in amazement, gasping. “Wah… She’s not awake, though,” he expressed his shock, speaking into the microphone. “Manager-nim,” he called for Ari, who appeared a second later, “what should I do?”

“Uh… you might get hurt if you do it, so I’ll do it,” she said, walking around the cameras to the other side of Nabi’s bed. She picked up the two dogs, moving them further down the bed as she placed her knee on the mattress, leaning forward. She gently tapped Nabi’s cheek, catching the hand that flew out in her direction. Holding onto the younger girl’s hand, she continued to tap her until she heard Nabi groan.

Sungkyu took a deep breath before singing the chorus of antifragile into the microphone, causing Nabi to flinch at the loudness of his voice. The dogs rushed to her side immediately, Garçon pushing his paws into her face through the covers.

“... Why?” She groaned, gently pushing the grey dog off of her head. She peeled back the covers to stare at Sungkyu through squinted eyes as he finished singing.

“Good morning, Eve-ssi,” he greeted enthusiastically into the microphone. “What exactly were you dreaming about that you were fighting your manager?”

“I wasn’t dreaming about anything,” Nabi answered after a few seconds of trying to fully open her eyes, rubbing the tiredness from them.

“Is that just how you react to being woken up?”

“Yeah, I guess.” She said, still fighting to open her eyes. “Why are you here so early?” She complained, twisting herself in her blankets.

Sungkyu chuckled. “I don’t know, either.” He looked down at Nabi’s bed, noticing something. “Just how many blankets do you have there?”

“I have the sheet, the blanket, the duvet– Get off of my head.” She pushed Garçon off of her once more, before returning to her sentence, “And the other blankets.”

“You sleep with four blankets?” He expressed his shock.

“Well, yeah. It’s winter.” Nabi rolled off of her side, instead going onto her stomach. Lifting her head, her hair framed her face.

Sungkyu stared at Nabi’s face. “Are you wearing makeup?”

“What crazy person wears makeup to bed?” She stretched her back out in the seal position, a few of her bones clicking in response.

“How old are you that your body is already making those noises?” Sungkyu gasped. “That isn’t normal. Anyway, we’ll give you time to yourself so you can fully wake up,” he told her, watching her look around the room aimlessly, “and I’ll get started on breakfast.”

Commes des moved to sit by Nabi’s hands as his brother barked enthusiastically. Sungkyu left the room, going to the kitchen.

The scene cut and Sungkyu was sitting by the couch in the living room. “Breakfast is ready, Eve-ssi,” he called out, placing two glasses of water on the coffee table.

Nabi emerged from her room shortly after, the two dogs following her. Around Nabi’s shoulders was a yellow throw blanket to keep her warm. She plopped herself on the floor, her back facing the TV. On the table were two platters, one with kimchi dumplings and the other with beef kimbap. There were two bowls of rice for the two of them, another two bowls having beef stew.

“It looks tasty,” Nabi breathed out.

“I think this is the most simple breakfast we’ve ever had,” Sungkyu complimented.

“You’re welcome.”

Everybody laughed at how nonchalant Nabi’s tone was, the idol just yawning. Sungkyu scooped up some rice on his spoon, dipping it in the stew.

“As is customary on this show, I’ll feed you your first bite,” Sungkyu said as he raised his spoon to Nabi’s mouth. She ate the food, nodding in approval.

“Tasty,” she said before yawning.

Sungkyu stifled a laugh as he watched Nabi blink tiredly, looking around the room. “What time did you go to sleep that you’re so tired?” He asked.

“Uh… What?” Nabi rubbed her eye. “I slept at, like, some time in the morning. I think it was three fifty or something,” she mumbled, stumbling over some of her words.

“Ah, then it’s understandable that you’re so tired,” he commented.

Nabi nodded wordlessly, picking up a dumpling with her chopsticks. “Of course.” She ate the food, her body slowly swaying side to side.

Everyone in the room laughed lightly at her behaviour, not used to seeing her so drained of energy.

“This apartment… How many pyeongs is it?” He asked in between chewing a mouthful of rice and beef stew.

Keeping her eyes down, she thought. “I think it’s seventy…” she dragged out the last syllable as she tried to remember. “Somewhere in the seventies.”

“Wow,” he gasped.

“I always had the thought that my first apartment would be a studio apartment or something like that, not anything big by any means,” Nabi said, “but when the people I’m close to found out that I was getting an apartment, they started sending me money.”

“Money?”

Nabi nodded. “They would send me money and tell me to use it for the down payment, utility bills, or furniture. I was given strict instructions not to buy a cheap apartment.”

“Wah… Can you give me the numbers of those people?”

“No.” She shook her head. “If you don’t have their phone numbers, let’s keep it that way.”

“What’s your MBTI?”

“Uh, ENFP.”

“Are you sure you’re F?”

“This is just what I’m like when I’m tired. You’re not special to see this side of me.”

As she spoke, she unconsciously furrowed her eyebrows, her gaze changing from lazy to a glare.

“So, it’s like–” Sungkyu cut himself off when he noticed Nabi’s facial expression.

She continued to stare at him, oblivious to the fact that she looked pissed off.

“Nabi-yah,” Ari called out from behind the cameras, causing the idol to look in her direction. “Your facial expression.”

“My what?”

“Fix your facial expression,” she said.

Nabi blinked. Then again. And again. “My facial expression is fine, though,” she argued.

“You look like you’re angry at me,” Sungkyu told her.

Nabi just shrugged. “There’s nothing I can do about that. This is just what my face looks like.”

“Ah.” He nodded in understanding. His gaze moved to the two princess dog houses sitting in front of the TV console. “The dogs… Aren’t they male?” He asked.

Nabi turned her head to look at the dogs that were resting on the carpet, her facial expression smoothing out. “I need to give them breakfast,” she remembered with a sigh, not noticing Sungkyu’s shocked expression.

[Unique guest]

Nabi quickly put some premade dog food in their bowls, adding fresh water as well. She returned to her seat soon after. “What was your question, again?”

Sungkyu swallowed a laugh. “Are your dogs male?”

“Yes, they are,” she said.

“Then why do they have princess houses?” He pointed at the dog houses.

She scratched her neck as she ate a spoonful of beef stew. “Since they’re male, am I supposed to make them sleep on the balcony?” The phrasing of her question made everyone laugh. “Where do you think real life princes sleep? In the bushes? Like a man? No, dude. They sleep in princess castles, in princess pyjamas, on their princess beds.” She accentuated her last sentence by tapping the table.

“How could I not know?” Sungkyu asked. “I should’ve known.”

“Right.”

An unexpected silence overtook the room as they both focused on their food.

[...]

“Have you had anything like a housewarming party?” He suddenly asked, breaking the silence.

She shook her head. “I haven’t. I’m not done decorating yet, so I haven’t had one.”

“When you’re done decorating…”

“Then I’ll have one.”

He nodded as he thought of his next question. “By any chance, will you invite me?”

“We’re not friends,” Nabi quickly answered.

[Boundary has been set.]

The camera crew laughed as Sungkyu laughed awkwardly. “Why are you laughing?” He asked one of the cameramen. “What’s funny?”

[This situation]

“So, has anybody visited your apartment?” He asked, changing the subject.

“My members have. They ordered my bed frame for me when I bought this apartment, and when I got the keys, we put the mattress on the floor and slept here. We slept here for maybe a week and then my bed frame came, so we assembled it. And my brother’s been here as well.”

“Key-ssi?”

“Yes.” She nodded. “He helped me assemble most of my furniture.”

“That must be nice.”

“It is.” Her voice unintentionally sounded teasing.

The scene cut and Sungkyu clapped his hands. “You’re coming back with until spring.”

“Yes, it’s my first full album.”

“Ah, is it a full album?” He asked, his eyes widening. “That’s a big step.”

“The company decided…” Her voice trailed off.

“Why is it called until spring when it’s still winter?”

Nabi popped a kimbap into her mouth. “It’s called until spring because the title track, misty dreams, talks about a relationship that has a time limit — a relationship that’s going to inevitably end. And for me, spring is a season of rebirth, just like how flowers bloom. So it’s until spring because I’m letting go of relationships that suck.”

“Ah, it’s until spring because you’re keeping these things until then, and then letting them go.”

“Yes. Some of them might take longer to let go of, but that’s the goal.”

“And the title track is…”

“misty dreams,” she finished for him. “I wrote it with imsuho-nim and IU sunbaenim, and I produced it with N!KO-nim and Dr. JO-nim,” she said. “It’s actually a double title album, but misty dreams is the main one.”

“What’s the other one?” He asked, having a spoonful of rice and kimbap.

“The other title track is called dun dun dance. Seo Jieun-nim and Anna Timgren-nim wrote it, and Ryan S. Jhun-nim and Scott Stoddart-nim produced it.”

“Wah… You’re working with very good people. I think,” he added as an afterthought, making Nabi laugh. “I don’t really know how good they are. Can you sing a bit of the songs?”

“Yes! I’ll sing dun dun dance first.” She sang the chorus of the song, swaying along to the beat. Everyone clapped for her when she was done.

“Did you eat a CD for breakfast?” Sungkyu asked, amazed by how good her voice sounded.

“I ate this.” Nabi pointed at the table.

“She’s still too tired for me to use metaphors and similes,” he noted. “Can you sing misty dreams now?”

“Yes!” She cleared her throat before singing the chorus of the song. “That’s the song,” she said when she was done.

“When this video is out, the album will have already been released, but for us, this is a teaser,” he commented. “They’re both really nice songs and–”

He was cut off by Commes des barking, his brother joining soon after. Nabi nodded as they continued to bark before shushing them.

“People are sleeping,” she told them.

[End!]

tagging: @seolboba // @ateezivy // @ateezjuliet // @cafemilk-tea // @smh-anon // @alixnsuperstxr // @cosmicwintr // @girlzwfun // @txt-yaomi // @moongrlz // @novwonia

©️ kim nabi

[lgcmedia]

             FUTURE DREAMS AND THE GIRLS ARE BACK !

in 2019, LEGACY ENTERTAINMENT begun a new chapter by launching FUTURE DREAMS SEASON 1. almost four years later, the popular survival show's 6TH SEASON is beginning today, MARCH 3.

CEO PARK JEONGAN, revealed the 6TH SEASON will aim to debut a NEW GIRLGROUP. although it was confirmed that familiar faces of SEASON 5 will be a part of the competition, the company also promised that the format of SEASON 6 has never been done in previous seasons. concerning the male trainees who competed in the previous season, the ceo remained quite vague on the subject, but assured that there will be opportunities to see them in the future.

the new MCs of the shows were revealed to be actress LEE HANBYUL and model HAN JISOO. additionally, fans and viewers will also get to see the two MCs of FUTURE DREAM's new after show 'BEHIND THE DREAM', co-hosted by previous future dreams winner, SON NABI.

with promises of a new concept and the introduction of an after show, make sure to not miss the premiere of FUTURE DREAMS SEASON 6 and BEHIND THE DREAM tonight, MARCH 3.

[ + / - ] son nabi is getting her own after show?? YEEEEEES!! Will she be on future dreams though? I'd both hate it if she's on the show and if she isn't LOL. She doesn't need another competition, she just needs a permanent position. I still don't get why they didn't let her on season 4, she was already complete back then. Pls CEO Park, just tell us where nabi belongs so we can properly support her!!! [ + / - ] future dreams 5 girls, let's debut!! 'starlight' was such a good song and the 5 girls sounded so good together! i hope the future group keeps doing music like this! [ + / - ] blerg, another girl group? do we really need that lmao? just focus on your current groups and stop with this future dreams nonsense. 6 seasons is just too much ㅋㅋㅋ

#LGCENT #FUTUREDREAMS

[taestefully-in-luv]

Our time chapter 4 (The sheer amount of times I’ve had to scream into my pillow to make it through this chapter is kind of ridiculous tbh, but it’s fine. Pure enjoyment 😭🫶🏻):

“You don’t know what it’s uh, what it’s like to live with me so we should probably not jump into that yet.”

I think the above quote confirms my suspicions 😭😭 I don’t even remember that line from my first read through but that’s probably just bc my un-observant reader-brain was like “huh okay *forgets it two seconds later*”. I believe he’s talking about his alcoholism (I’m not saying it’s confirmed bc miss Brinny doesn’t confirm it in the warnings for chapter 6, but yeah)? My guess it that this was the biggest reason why they were rocky even before Nabi or Haru’s kidnapping

Jungkook said something about them (he & Y/N) being together, which further proves that he and his and OC’s parents are hoping they’ll get back together.

Jungkook’s hesitation to get with Y/N physically despite how bad they both want to, makes a lot more sense now, as well. We can assume that he’s more against it because of the fact that they’re divorced and technically not together (plus they haven’t been talking), and not only because he’s worried she’ll get overwhelmed, though I’m sure it’s a factor. I wonder if Jungkook assumed she was overwhelmed about their marriage because he suspected she remembered something relating back to his drinking? Or something along those lines.

Pingsu. Pingsu, Pingsu, Pingsu. This cat is important, for whatever reason. I think, anyway, since he(?)’s one of the only things OC remembers from before the amnesia. Maybe something happened around this time (relating to JK and Y/N’s marriage? Since JK said they had only been married a few years at that point) after JK’s mom got Pingsu that engrained his presence into her mind? That or her brain was like “yeah you love this cat he isn’t a threat all good”, idk.

I wonder if the shadow she (the OC) remembered seeing/ saw by the window in this chapter was the person who kidnapped Haru? Like maybe they scouted out the area before kidnapping him and Y/N remembers something like that? Or, whoever this person was, he was after either JK or Y/N, because of Jungkook’s case. I’m not entirely sure.

I forgot to mention this, but in I think it’s chapter 2, Jungkook mentions how one of Y/N’s favorite animals is the koala, and I’m pretty sure that had something to do with Haru, as well. Maybe his favorite animal was a koala, or he was clingy and that reminded her of koalas.

Pretty much sums up my thoughts this chapter. I have the inkling suspicion I missed something, tbh. I’ve been doing these right after each other, so I might be mushing chapters together in my brain, or I might just miss things because I forgot about them by the end of the chapter.

Again; bad memory lol.

P.s: I really love the way you write your dialogue especially, I don’t think I’ve mentioned it, but you really know how to insert emotion into dialogue and it’s wonderful!

🤍🤍🤍

chapter 4:

1. so that line has multiple purposes :) yes it can be used solely for his fear that she will know he has a problem with drinking and his whole home life is a mess but also, him being nervous because it’s also a lie—because she does know what it’s like she just doesn’t remember

2. yn’s and jungkooks parents (we will meet them soon) all want them together because they hate seeing they’re children cope with the possible death of their own child suffer all by themselves:/ instead of at least leaning on one another

3. yes jungkook is very against doing anything physical with her because of the current circumstances. he struggled and felt weak giving in to her so easily (in his eyes) because he does love her but he also knows how wrong it would be

4. pingu was used to show she does have her memories tucked away in there and how she could remember a cat but not her son—that’ll get touched on more too later

5. the shadow, another mystery like the lake and the boat. unfortunately yn isn’t sure if the shadow was her imagination, a memory or if it happened in that moment

6. it’ll get confirmed later but a pretty good guess so yes 🥰 she will make that realization herself soon too

thank you!!!! dialogue is my favorite part to write so 🥺 <3

[ikkaku-of-heart]

@umbrx​ asked: 📃

If you slip in a little  📃 I will discuss one scenario that had been living in my head rent free (Still Accepting!)

Well, Nabi, since it’s you, I don’t have to fear talking about this scenario since you seem to like my obsessed!Hawkins BS and I know you love Bad Times, here’s a scenario that has been living in my head rent-free:

(CW for below the cut - nothing explicit but references to torture, sexual assault, and abuse)

Hawkins manages to capture Ikkaku on Wano about the same time Law turned himself over to save Shachi, Penguin, and Bepo. Hawkins, knowing his fated end is near unless he can get her to his side, keeps Ikkaku locked in his quarters. He makes her dress as the High Priestess, reads her cards and speaks of her past and present with shocking accuracy (talks about her dead twin, Law murdering Ushi, the Light Keeper stuff, etc), and basically tries his damnedest to make her believe in his fantasy that she’s destined to be at his side.

Ikkaku, of course, isn’t easily swayed, though she does find herself wavering a bit when he talks about how her belief in her captain made him powerful enough to kill eldritch gods, because how does he know that? But that’s still not enough to make a loyal, feisty gal like Ikkaku drink Hawkins' Kool-Aid, as it were, so she continues to defy him.

As a result, Hawkins snaps further. If he can’t get her to believe in him out of love, he’ll get that belief out of fear. He’ll make her believe he’s too powerful to die, even if he has to break her to do so. So the coercion turns to abuse. He beats her up, pins her down, gropes her, assaults her, probably even forces himself on her. Of course Ikkaku fights back at first, but there’s one problem - he’d anticipated potential harm, and thus had linked his life to Law using his Life Minus technique. So any harm Ikkaku tries to inflict on him to defend herself will be transferred to Law. This allows Hawkins to do as he wishes, because he knows Ikkaku could never hurt her captain, especially when she knows he’s already getting tortured in the prisons.

Later, when Hawkins goes back down to interrogate Law about the alliance’s plans in Wano, that’s when Law takes Hawkins out as in canon, though he isn’t aware of what Hawkins has done to his engineer. He was at least informed by Drake of her location though. Law gets to Hawkins’ room to find a bloody and beaten Ikkaku in the white High Priestess robes, though she’s instantly relieved to see Law. Law of course demands to know what Hawkins did to her, but Ikkaku, seeing Law’s own battered state and scared that Hawkins might manage to kill him or use her to hurt him, insists that it’s more important that they focus on escaping. They limp out together, Law already having strong suspicions of what happened but Ikkaku refusing to confirm anything until they’re far away because everything is too fresh and she’s too frightened and she just wants to go home to the Tang and feel safe again. Law absolutely wants to go back and actually kill Hawkins instead of just leaving him in pieces, but unfortunately the attack on Onigashima must take priority.

Later, during Killer’s fight with Hawkins, Ikkaku does briefly believe Hawkins can’t be killed because of his technique, and for a split second, he nearly gets what he wanted. That Light Keeper’s belief that could give Law the power to kill gods is in his grasp. His plans to avert fate and have his High Priestess’ powers fueling his quest to godhood are in his grasp.

But then Killer continues to fight for the sake of Kid, and he cuts off Hawkins’ arm, pointing out the flaw in the Life Minus technique. In this moment, Ikkaku is no longer in Hawkins’ thrall, because she 100% believes that the Massacre Soldier can kill Hawkins, especially when his captain’s life is on the line. Any power Hawkins might have gained due to her fear fizzles out, and Killer is victorious.

And THAT is how I weave this Hawkins obsession for Ikkaku bullshit into the canon story. *bows*

[lgcmanager]

LEGACY PROJECT: FUTURE DREAMS S006 P1 ( DREAMERS TEAM )

SCHEDULE TYPE: TRIMESTER SCHEDULE RESTRICTIONS: Cannot be paired with another trimester schedule, unless stated otherwise

on JANUARY 16 morning, the DREAMERS TEAM is guided to a meeting room where most coaches, KIM HYUNCHEOL and SEO YOUNGJAE are already waiting for them. once everybody's seated, KIM HYUNCHEOL is the first to speak: "we're happy to announce that starting tomorrow, filming for FUTURE DREAMS 6 will begin.

right after this meeting, you'll get to return to your dorms to pack your bags, as you'll be moving to the DREAMERS HOUSE tomorrow!" not bothered by the girls' reactions to this sudden announcement, hyuncheol continues unimpeded: "since there are cameras almost everywhere around the house, we count on you to be on your best behavior. also, since it seems to not be clear enough; no guests are allowed in the dorms!" this time, he makes sure to look at all the girls before continuing on. "for the first several days, due to SEOLLAL HOLIDAYS ( JANUARY 21 to JANUARY 24 ), the coaches will only be giving you regular lessons and workshops. training hours will last from 9AM to 4PM, with a one hour break for lunch. from 5PM to 7PM you'll also be watching various LEGACY ARTISTS concerts as study material for stage performance. of course, to avoid any leaks, during your time in the house, you'll have limited access to your phone and only be allowed one 30 minute call per day. you'll receive your first official task on JANUARY 30, on the official FUTURE DREAMS SEASON 6 SET."

DREAMERS HOUSE

early morning on JANUARY 17, the DREAMERS TEAM is taken to their new lodgings. they enter one by one, at 10 minute intervals, for their reactions to be properly captured. while most cameras are fixed, and in various corners of the house, the crew will also be there to film different angles.

the front door of two story house opens to a large hall from which an even larger training room can be seen. the second floor boasts a large living room, a training room and a fully furnished kitchen with any ( healthy ) food the girls can dream of. there are also THREE BEDROOMS with 2 beds and ONE BEDROOM with 3 beds. each room has a bathroom connected to it. however, the most striking feature of the floor is the CLOTHING ROOM. at least once a week, the girls can expect either GIFTED CLOTHES or STAGE OUTFITS to appear overnight. currently sets of PINK AND GRAY TRAINING CLOTHES are displayed and waiting to be picked by the girls. 

FUTURE DREAMS SET

EARLY MORNING on JANUARY 30, the girls are taken to CJ ENM for their first time on the FUTURE DREAMS SET. the set has been used every season, and as always, boasts a new set up this season: on a large white stage, situated slightly to the left, are seven white chairs - one for each DREAMERS - lined up next to each other. at short distance from those, a lavishly decorated glass and silver chair is on the right side, next to a pastel pink heavy curtain.

during the first several hours, hair and makeup artists are present to get the DREAMERS camera ready. SON NABI also joins the girls as they get ready. during that time, they also get to meet the official hosts of this season: HAN JISOO and LEE HANBYUL.

around 1PM, tapping of the show officially begins, starting with a show introduction by HAN JISOO AND LEE HANBYUL. the DREAMERS TEAM then makes their entrance and are introduced by the hosts. during broadcast of the show, snippets of the AUDITION MISSION, DEBUT BOOTCAMP and PREVIOUS SEASON OF FUTURE DREAMS ( when applicable ) will be added for a more detailed introduction of each girl. after the girls are seated, the hosts explain that the decorated chairs are for confirmed members of the group. the group will be constituted of:

CENTER x 1

LEADER x 1

CHARISMA or PERSONALITY or VISUAL x 2

VOCAL x ?

DANCER x ?

the possible positions appear on a large display screen behind the currently still empty chair. the hosts explain that each of the 4 first positions will also have a VOCAL or DANCER position. the number of VOCAL and DANCERS will remain a secret until the end. after they are done with their additional explanation, the screen changes again and the words CENTER and DANCER become highlighted; this is when SON NABI enters the stage from behind the curtain, introduced by the hosts as the first confirmed member of the currently unnamed new girl group. NABI is given the time for a speech to share her feelings towards debuting.

once she's done, before the hosts can continue on the curtain drops to reveal the CHALLENGERS TEAM who, right away, get into their INTRODUCTORY PERFORMANCE. once their performance is over, five black chairs are brought on stage so they can sit, facing the DREAMERS TEAM. during the broadcast, similarly to the DREAMERS TEAM, the CHALLENGERS TEAM members will be introduced through snippets of their AUDITION TASK and PREVIOUS SEASON OF FUTURE DREAMS ( when applicable ).

hence, the hosts reveal the first plot twist of this season; there are additional competitors and contestant results as groups and individuals will be taken in consideration to debut. if the contestants are wondering when the next plot twist is coming, they don't have to wait long; the display screen changes again and a "-1" appears next to CENTER and DANCER. furthermore a line strikes the CENTER position, indicating it as not available anymore. the hosts announce that anybody who ONLY picked CENTER as their desired position is currently in danger of elimination. during broadcast, the camera will pan to HAN CHORONG.

finally, the hosts reveal the FIRST TWO CHALLENGES of this season. first is ACTING CHALLENGE, during which the girls will need to adapt quickly to different sets. second, is the group challenge where DREAMERS and CHALLENGERS have a DEBUT SONG CHALLENGE face-off. the DREAMERS TEAM will be performing IVE's debut song 'ELEVEN', while the CHALLENGERS TEAM will be performing NMIXX's debut song 'O.O'. they are given 2 weeks to prepare, with performances set to be evaluated on FEBRUARY 15. 

ooc note: unbeknownst to the participants, the higher representatives, KIM HYUNCHEOL, head manager of the trainees; PARK JEONGAN, current CEO; and LEE ISEUL, head creative director will be the judges on FEBRUARY 15. COACHES who will have worked with the girls and SON NABI, will also be backstage to monitor the performances. naturally, HAN JISOO and LEE HANBYUL will also be present for their mc duties.

ACTING CHALLENGE

on JANUARY 31, both the DREAMERS TEAM and the CHALLENGERS TEAM are brought together to a DRAMA STUDIO. while in the waiting room, the producer explains that the girls are to go in the studio one by one. once they are done with their challenge, they will be bought to another waiting room to avoid any spoiler. the task is simple; in the studio, there are 4 drama sets connected to one another ( check example HERE ), they have to walk through each set while acting a story out accordingly to the set surrounding them. each room is about 20 feet across. the challenge is one take only. 

SET 1: a lush forest, clear sky above, with a clear trail ( that leads to the next room )

SET 2: a cozy living room, from the window, a gray and rainy sky can be seen

SET 3: a dark, abandoned and trashed restaurant kitchen

SET 4: a regular high school classroom 

DEBUT SONG CHALLENGE

the lyrics sheet is available HERE. you will quickly notice that there's no distribution and only detailed qualifiers for each line. for those who picked LEADER, this is your first position related challenge. therefore, for part 1, KIM NAYOUNG AND NOH AREUM will be in charge of lyrics distribution for the DREAMERS TEAM, while LIU YIXI AND SEO MINSEO will be doing the same for the CHALLENGERS TEAM. the distribution being done by those muses will also be considered canon ic and not just ooc. it is strongly advised that everyone who is participating in this season should have their points sheets up to date so that the leaders can properly distribute the lyrics. also, do not fret, admin cloud will be assisting the DREAMERS TEAM and admin el the CHALLENGERS TEAM.

finally, don't worry if you have picked leader and aren't chosen here, there's still a part two ;) 

special note: as we needed to wait for everybody's solo and audition results, the lyric distribution for 'POP! POP?' and 'ROLEX' aren't available yet. they will be made so with part 2. thank you for your understanding. 

REQUIREMENTS

CHALLENGERS TEAM INTERVIEW: write a 300+ word solo about your muse’s reaction to the reveal of the CHALLENGERS TEAM as well as the events of JANUARY 30 as a whole. this interview portion, this will be filmed right AFTER the taping with the MCs ( september 30 ). please be mindful that these interviews are FILMED and that certain quotes from the solos might be used for either potential news articles or in the aired episodes. completing this will reward you with +4 POINTS TO DISTRIBUTE ANYWHERE and +4 NOTORIETY !

ACTING CHALLENGE: write a 300+ word solo about your muse going through the 4 sets, their reaction and the way they acted in each set. certain quotes from the solos might be used for either potential news articles or in the aired episodes. completing this will reward you with +7 POINTS TO DISTRIBUTE ANYWHERE and +3 NOTORIETY !

DEBUT SONG LEADERS only: completing the line distribution will award you +4 POINTS TO DISTRIBUTE ANYWHERE and +6 NOTORIETY !

FD S6 THREADS (not applicable to debut song leaders): write 4 replies (minimum 8 lines) thread with any fd trainee about anything related to the above ( ex. rehearsing, hanging out at the dorm, waiting for their turn during the acting challenge). do note that for this thread, anything that is written will most likely be aired! completing this will reward you +6 POINTS TO DISTRIBUTE ANYWHERE and +4 NOTORIETY !

make sure to use the hashtag lgc:futuredreams for your threads and solo. you have until FEBRUARY 18, 2023 at 11:59PM EDT to complete the requirements and validate your points. please submit the following form ONCE on the points blog.  

 MUSE NAME ∙ FUTURE DREAMS S6 PART 1 ( DREAMERS ) - CHALLENGERS TEAM INTERVIEW: +4 ( skill points distribution ), +6 notoriety [ LINK ] - ACTING CHALLENGE: +7 ( skill points distribution ), +3 notoriety [ LINK ]  - DEBUT SONG LEADER: +4 ( skill points distribution ), +6 notoriety [ LINK ] OR - FD6 THREAD: +6 ( skill points distribution ), +4 notoriety [ LINK ]

[angakinglagi]

07-13-2024

Writing the last open letter for Jin. :)

Hi, Irven. Hi, Jin.

First, I just wanted to say that I miss you so much. I want to collect all the thoughts I have, say it here and give this tumblr link to you para mabasa mo.

Jin, first of all. You came into my life the least I expected and when I needed someone the most.

You were that perfect, kind, God-loving, flawless, older than me, knows what to say, man I met. Lagi akong nasa-shock on how you speak to me on your replies. It was overwhelming but it's a type where I am super happy. You know that you had me at softness of your appearance. Kasi alam ko lang, ayoko sa matatakot ako tingnan. And mas you had me to trust you and give it a chance no matter how doubtful I am when we have started talking.

After N years, someone finally sees me beyond my physical appearance, someone reassures me when I am dying due to my anxieties, my fears and flaws. Someone chooses me.

Until, I have to do all the work. I have to first ask you if we could talk in another messaging app kasi nahihiya ako na sa bumble pa rin. How I wish na ikaw nagta-tanong ng mga personal social media accounts ko, but NO. It was always me even on facebook. I have to ask kasi you wouldn't ask me. That was one of the first na naisip kong you're not really interested but I gave a benefit of the doubt, of course.

This time, ako parin nag-open neto: I initially doesn't want calls or videocalls nung first month mainly because nabi-bilisan ako. But 2 months na, still you can't be ready for a calls or vc. I wanted that especially on times when I am alone and I needed you. But ofcourse, who am I too push you to do those things when you're not yet ready. And that time, I know na you're still hesitant on us and I am just the one who's so sure.

We had fight then I thought it's going okay, I even received a sign from God na baka ikaw na yung inaantay ko. That my waiting is done. Nung sinabi mong after 2 years ka pa magiging ready kasi dun ka palang hindi magiging busy, I became hesitant. Ang nagets ko kasi that time, you would want me to wait on you for 2 long years hanggang hindi ka na busy. But what about me na busy rin but would make time for you kasi for me you're worth the risk and making time. But I choose to put that thought aside kasi nga gusto kita antayin, gusto kita bigyan ng chance. Kasi baka ikaw na nga diba?

Still ako parin nagopen ng topic about meeting each other.

And days go on, you're so busy, then batelec always steals our time. I miss you so much every single day. Na hindi ko nga maintindihan na u want to talk to me, make time na aabot lang ng 1 hour-2 hour. Can go on 15-30 minutes long lang. It was too short hindi ko na alam kung okay pa ako. But I keep on understanding kasi nga super busy ka and tired. Ako rin, Jin. Ako rin busy.

I don't even understand how someone could miss you, have a crush on you, speak sweet words, sing you assuring songs but can't get the confidence to see me. I really wanted to see you kasi un na lang need ko to know and confirm to myself kung malalim na talaga nararamdaman ko sayo.

Am i rushing you? No, I just felt like Im the one taking the risk ksi I'm believing and trusting you sa mga pangako mo for the future. I told you, nag-dating app ako knowing what I am going to expect, the dating, meet-ups etc. na parang I think, hindi ka naging ready. Parang kausap lang talaga but I happened. Napressure ka na. I think.

Lagi ko na naiisp na if we meet ba, bigla kang lalayo after? Bigla mong marealize na ayaw mo sakin. Na pag mas makilala mo ako, lalayo ka.

Kung kailan andami na natin nainvest. And still for you masyado paring maaga. Sakin rin naman pero you want me to wait for ber months to meet you? Ang tagal, ang daming pwedeng mangyari. And all I could think of is baka nga you don't want me that much. Kasi ako, I have fears and anxiety but with you, I'm willing to face it all and took all the small steps to show you that you're worth the risk for me. But I still, I can wait for you kasi nga I am choosing you.

And the dreaded day came, we talked about flaws of me. denying that I am independent when the truth is I am. Kasi pag naging tayo, I don't want to be independent anymore, I want someone I can depend on.

That I am full of many things I don't know and have yet to learn, pero ayaw mo pala ng ganun. I don't fit your standard pala. :(

Then you go on a day not talking to me, napakasakit kasi ayan ka na naman. Sabi ko sayo noon pa, let me know if u need time to think, don't leave me on deliver. Nangako ka na himdi mo na gagawin sakin yun. Kung hindi pa kita tinulungan to realize and make up your mind after my message, hindi ka pa magre-reply.

You replied in the morning, Monday while I am working in the office, you have messaged me saying your farewell. That hurt me, I breakdown at our cr. Everyone was concerned why I look so sick, that go on for days.

I just want you to fight for us. To consider me kahit I have flaws, to assure me na hindi yun dealbreaker mo, na If I gave up you won't. I thought wrong.

I am crying for days mula nun. It's so hard for me to function. To eat, to live, I can't sleep. My head hurts a lot. All because of my flaws which is just human of you naman kasi nga we all have standards and it's okay. It should be okay. But I felt horrible of myself. But i'm not mad at you, I never am. Kasi I have so much love for you. I just can't get mad or angry for you. You're too precious for me. I'd be willing to work on whatever I'll know pa sana about you and took chances that maybe we'll work. It's all in prayers, God knows. I can only pray for us.

I said i miss u and u want time. Pero may hini-hintay pa ba ako? Wala na ata. Wala na nu? Magtigil na ako nu? Kasi for u, for sure, wala na naman ako isang salita and self-discipline.

I am too less for you. And too much rin at the same time.

Since this is the last, I would also like to be super honest. I might have fallen in love for u. But I am too hurt which is funny kasi kahit super akong nasasaktan, I still want us to work, I want to give this another chance kasi I value you so much kahit u don't feel the same because of your hesitations on how imperfect I am. Kahit you won't take the risk to meet me and my parents, to pursue me. To love me. And it's all okay. No matter how painful it is, i'll respect your decision.

I like you, treasure you and have always been praying for u.

Jin, Irven. I'll be able to accept our fate. That it is the end of a chapter for us. I'll be praying for you. I hope you forgive me for the pain I gave you. But I hope you remember how happy we were in all those days and nights of talking, singing, those funny pictures, all the kulitan, the deep talks, all of that, yun lang rin aalalahanin ko. I know you're going to be a great father and a husband to your future. Go live healthy, pursue your dreams.

And I pray for your gentle mama too. For her good health and I'm thankful for your parents, pinalaki ka nilang napakabuti at maka-Diyos.

I am forever grateful to God that I have known you. I promise myself to only remember all the happiness I've felt when you have happened to me. ✨🤍 You have always been an inspiration and source of my calmness and happiness noon, I want it to stay that way in my heart and memory. 💐🤍🥰🤗

To my sweet, short-lived bumble match, ang aking lagi, my Jin, my BINI bloom buddy, always pray. God loves you so much! Always be positive.

With so much love,

Maeryl "Ryl" Grace Pialago.

God bless you, Irven! 💙🤍

Ps. I'll be deleting this tumblr page sometime this year.

Here are the songs I listened the whole time were talking.

https://open.spotify.com/playlist/2a2t0PZw84GboX8EN1gUMY?si=Ug4A1kSuQl-DxO0OYoUHxw&pi=dbIEZ0YHR5aTE

And most especially., the song "Nang Tahimik by Geiko"

[greenfated]

the confirmation that this person had indeed worked at jvyeon when the 'incident' went down brought about an unexpected reaction in jinam. rather than show anger or even apathy towards her, the faintest hint of a smile appeared on his face. there was even a small chuckle that escaped him, something he couldn't help considering what a ridiculous circumstance it was. "it's okay, really. sunset jail wasn't that bad — pretty much just a room with a couch, a tv and a vending machine," he explains, shaking his head. "besides, i got that landscaping job done before the deadline, so no harm done," he concluded, easily able to put himself in her shoes.

if some guy came into the store he was working at trying to purchase an ax, a shovel, tarps and large trash bags with an awkwardly silent disposition, he'd have been rather put off too. he may have even done what she did and called for help before running away. regardless, it was pretty easy for him to brush off the situation as a misunderstanding, and he hoped she was able to do the same.

"i actually work here now ... well, at the hotel more specifically," he informed her, his feet shuffling with restlessness. "which is why i'm here actually. the rabbits i wanna protect are the ones visiting the gardens at midlight, but of course they bring the foxes around. i wanna make sure they're safe but can also come and go as they please, if that makes sense," he rambles, clearly not used to this much conversation in one setting. still, it was worth the discomfort if he could reach some sort of solution, and he had faith that nabi could help him find it.

nabi's taking over for yulhee today at the front of johwa's products, out from behind their grooming station. it's a different world out here, but she's got a balancing array of odd jobs from her many summers at the mall, and working sales is just two flaps of a butterfly's wings to her! her smile is bright and cheerful with each customer, no different when their newest one approaches her with a question.

"oh, yeah! we've got fox repellent, and uh, chicken wire if you wanna build a fence to keep your animal friends safe," she rattles off, nodding her head. nabi pops out from behind the counter to show where to find the items to their new patron, passing by the guy and stopping when the sight of him stirs a memory from summer last. her eyes turn round and big, clearly remembering the call she'd once made... to the 911 of sunset galleria. she's channeling the best of nineties' scream queens when she points at him in surprise, gasp on her lips, "it's you!"

the ax murderer ( not-murderer )! and he's killing foxes this time!

well—he did ask for something that wouldn't hurt them, so maybe he's not all bad. her pointed finger withdraws sheepishly, nabi frowning the smallest amount. "we met, uh, i worked at jvyeon last summer..." she says, her drawl thickening as she gets flustered, admission coming clean from nabi in broken up pieces. "and! ah..." she's pretty sure the security told her that she'd gotten it wrong, though by that time she'd run back to nara's place, screaming down the way. and of course, the other guy was free from sunset jail by the time she returned to apologise. "if you remember anything happening then... that's me... yup." it's fine, she's owning up to her mistakes! nabi groans a little, embarrassed. "sorry about that..."

[hinaaspanda]

test me! | j.s

pairing: soccer player! Jake Sim x nerd, fem! reader

warnings: swearing

genre: fluff, angst, crack, childhood friends to lovers, sports

wc: 8,785

Jake Sim knew that Choi Yeonjun, the soccer team's bad boy, was bad news. So naturally, he felt uneasy the moment you revealed your crush on him to your friends. Jake never knew why, but something in him was telling him to stop you, to save you from him. So, what was this almighty, unfailing plan? Pretending to fail at math just so you could tutor him, of course!

a/n; hi again! i'm back with my second enhypen member fic! i'll try my best to regulate my writing schedule in some way but school's starting soon so that plan might just backfire at me hsndhsgja anyways enjoy!

...

Was it so weird to have a crush?

You swear, just two minutes ago, that having a crush wasn’t groundbreaking news. The concept of having feelings for someone wouldn’t stir up an explosion of gasps and illicit noises. Crushes were mundane in your young adult, college life. They never summoned a stupefied face, or a mouth gaping open in shock. 

So why was it so much different for you?

“You have a crush on Choi Yeonjun!?” The 4 friends surrounding your frame all leap forward from the couch, scanning your face. Trying to confirm if you were, in fact, not lying. The buzz of the TV static echoed in Jay’s basement, the TV program growing dry and bland in contrast to the juicy new information. Sunghoon and Nabi—the most eye roll inducing couple in the world—stole repeated glances at you, then at each other, like the audience of a ping pong game watching the ball soar through the air.

Jay, meanwhile, couldn’t feel his eyes pop out of their sockets, the shock stunning his nerves too much. You sat in the middle of the dim lit basement, your shoulders hunching forward at the spotlight you were so hastily thrust upon. How would you have known about the literal shockwaves of feedback from sharing something with your beloved friends. Your brows furrow, throwing up your hands in defense. “Yeah? What’s so wrong with that?”

“Nothing, it’s just…” A hand lifted to Jay’s temple. The silence had scared you shitless as you waited for him to continue. “This is Choi Yeonjun we’re talking about. Don’t you think it’s a little risky?”

You bite at your lip, fingers fumbling with each other as you keep an eye on the ground. You grew silent. Jay definitely wasn’t lying. Choi Yeonjun was an untouchable on your college campus—his entire friend group was. Him and his five friends stood under the spotlight even before you and your friends enrolled two years later. Girls toppled over one another, tripped on their own faces just to get one chance with him. You could admit that falling for Yeonjun was a bit of a reckless move. Your head hung low as you felt an arm wrap around your shoulders. 

“I guess–”

“Don’t worry guys! Y/n can take care of herself just fine!” Nabi chirped, finally ripping herself away from her boyfriend's side, just to latch onto you. She looks at you with a smile. “I got your full support, and I’ll fight anyone who doesn’t!” She stuck her tongue out at Jay’s direction. 

A smile bloomed on your lips, at least someone was supportive. However, that smile quickly faded as you noticed something odd about the room. Jake Sim, the last of the friend group who was oddly quiet, was sitting off to the side, alone. 

You knew Jake Sim. Probably longer than anyone else in the room did. Jake Sim was your best friend, characterized best by his cheerful, loud demeanor. His bright nature and even brighter smile could light up a sea of darkness. Not to mention, his talkative habit could uncover him in a crowd in mere seconds. It reminded you of a golden retriever of sorts.  

Which made this current Jake all the more confusing. 

Jake sat a few spaces away from your spot on the couch, his back resting on the plump leather arm rest and feet sprawled across the surface. A lamp dimly lit on top of him, the almost orange glow casting onto his figure, highlighting his features. The snack bowl, which once resided on the communal coffee table, rested in the middle of his lap as he haphazardly popped chips into his mouth. You assumed he quickly snatched it whilst the rest of your friends went into cardiac arrest after you mentioned your apparently controversial crush. That was what confused you the most: the lack of a reaction from him. 

Jake Sim was quiet for the rest of the night. Odd, considering how much more normal he had been when you guys first started the night. It was as if his voice was snatched away from him. Held captive against his will. Your eyes tried to search for his as the commotion between your three other friends began to rise again. His eyes finally meet yours, but ripped away from your grasp in mere seconds. Your brows furrowed, stomach growing queasy. 

Was Jake that mad about it?

You wanted to get Jake’s attention, but Sunghoon beat you to the punch. “Hey Jake? You good man?”

All eyes were on the golden retriever, who sat spaced out. He jolted back to reality, throwing on his iconic big grin almost instantly. He shrugged, sending another chip flying into his lips. “Yeah! Why wouldn’t I be?” 

Sunghoon sent a playful nudge to Jake’s shoulder, and the rest of the group finally let their guards down. You let yourself calm down, too. With your mission for the night being relatively successful. Hungry for more snacks, you scanned the living room for the snack bowl that had just vanished from the coffee table, your eyes meeting something much more confusing. 

Jake was looking at you. 

He didn’t look away this time, his eyes were planted on you. Burning through your skin. Your shoulders hunch over once again, eyes looking back at him. The noisy friends, the world around you, it all faded away, leaving the two of you alone. You gulped, a part of you not able to even glance away.

What was going on in Jake’s mind? 

You cock your head to the snack bowl sitting on his lap, and he regains consciousness once again. Jolting, he nods, handing you the snack bowl before rising up from his seat on the couch. Your eyes follow his escaping figure as he slides past your boisterous friends, who moved onto a completely different topic of conversation. You huff one last sigh before turning your attention back to your friends. Though, you still couldn’t help but glance back at the kitchen—where Jake disappeared— every now and then.

That was weird. 

…

The sky was painted pitch black as you drove home from Jay’s house that night. You had only two light sources available; the street lamps you sped past, and the blue light of the radio in Jake Sim’s car.

It was a normal occurrence for Jake to drive you home on most nights. It was one of the many perks with being best friends with the golden retriever. You’ve known him for all of your life, it was only natural. It saved gas, money, time and energy. It was a convenient option, and you wouldn’t have it any other way.

Well, except this time.

The air between you and your driver was stark dry. You felt as if you couldn’t move a limb under the pressure of the silence. Your breaths grew shallow as you tried to focus on the flying streetlights. Key word: trying.

Jake was still fairly quiet, mumbling a few words here and there about the weather and how pretty the sky looked. However, this current Jake was nothing like the one you knew and loved. There was something different. Something odd about him. Frankly, you didn’t really enjoy this new, quiet version of Jake Sim. 

“Be honest.” You huffed, catching your driver’s attention. “You hate him, don’t you?”

“Hate who?” He chirped back, cocking an eyebrow.

“Yeonjun! The guy I like.”

You took notice of his initial pause. Gulping, you look back out the window of the passenger seat. A bus drives by your view, and you’ve never wanted to hop on the back of one so bad in your life. 

“I don’t hate Yeonjun, what are you talking about? Yeonjun and I are chill, though I’ve only talked to him a few times at practice.” His voice peaked behind you, his tone returning to his cheeky, upbeat default. You felt your chest deflate in relief. However, your brows still furrowed as you shot back with another question. “So why were you acting so weird tonight? You were, like, oddly quiet. It wasn’t like you.”

“Oh…” Jake trailed off. With one hand on the steering wheel, he placed his free arm on the ledge of the window, his hand lifting up to his lips. You watched his neck bob up and down in a gulp. “I was probably just surprised, you know? I never thought you’d go for someone like him.”

You dip your head down, flustered. 

Jake glanced back at you, eyebrows raised as he shines a playful grin. “Yeonjun’s a bit of a bad boy, y/n. You think you can handle it?”

“Piss off!” You whined.

His teasing words earned himself a punch to the shoulder, courtesy of your fist. Jake whined like a child before making eye contact with you again. The two of you throw yourselves into a fit of laughter. You smile. You were glad to have your golden retriever back. 

The two of you fall back into silence as he pulls up to your driveway. Although it wasn’t a tense silence, but rather a comfortable cloud, where the two of you could enjoy your midnight ride without any words. It was the type of silence you had been praying for since the car ride from Jay’s house started. You couldn’t help but smile. Jake parks the car and you latch your fingers onto the door handle, but Jake’s voice stops you frozen. 

“Wait, I have an idea!”

You slowly plop back into your position on the car seat, turning your head to listen to him. You tilt your head to the side, as Jake throws his hands in the air in excitement. 

“What if I help you get with Yeonjun, if you help tutor me for my math exam?”

You froze, confusion lacing your body. Since when did Jake Sim of all people need help with a math exam? You knew him for all 20 years of his life, and not once did he need help in school. Jake had always been at the top of his class, scoring perfect marks and doing so without so much as breaking a sweat. Even as you moved into high school—and later on in college—despite balancing school and his beloved soccer team, Jake never got caught with anything lower than a B+ on his exam paper.

He was what everyone dreamed of being: the perfect student. 

So what was he doing here, asking you for help with math?

“You want my help?”

“I’ve… uh, been out of my game lately. I think it’s from practice, Coach is going way too hard on us.” Jake scratched the nape of his neck. He glances back at you, who hasn’t stopped shooting confused glances at him since.  

“Trust me, you’re my best bet, y/n. You’re smart, probably the smartest one out of all of us. Jay and Sunghoon are kinda hopeless with this kind of stuff. Plus, I can tell you all about Yeonjun during our sessions! Sounds like a sweet deal, right?”

You lean back in the car seat, pursing your lips in thought. Jake was correct about everything. As much as you loved the other two, they were useless when it came to their studies. And, if Jake was right about his claim, his deal didn’t seem that bad at all. Your stomach flips in itself in excitement as you watch Jake hold out a hand. 

“Deal?”

You latch your hand onto his, shaking it firmly. 

“Alright, fine.”

…

Jake Sim, you absolute idiot.

That’s what he told himself, over and over again the minute he got back from driving you home. 

He laid down in the dim blue light of his room, his back seeping into the surface of the mattress as he tossed the soccer ball in the air. He watched mindlessly as the ball floated for a second, before soaring back down to the palm of his hand. All without a thought in his mind, due to the fact that his mind was overwhelmed with the thought of you.

Why did you have to start liking Choi Yeonjun of all people? Everyone, especially the guys on his soccer team knew he—and the rest of his group—were nothing but a bunch of players. Were you just slow to the news? Or did the fact that Yeonjun was a little more suave than the others, pique your interest? It didn’t matter. Either way, you were bound to wind up with a broken heart. And the thought of that happening made Jake’s chest rumble. He never wanted that to happen to his best friend. 

Even so, why did he have to lose his cool? 

His mind wandered back to Jay’s kitchen, where him and the man of the house stood before the sink. 

Jay gulped down the last bit of his glass, worry laced in his face. Jake tapped his fingers on the glass, teeth nipping at his lips. 

“How are we gonna convince her that Yeonjun isn’t the right guy?” Jake only hummed, irritation popping on his skin at the mention of his senior’s name. It was weird. He never had a problem with the guy before. So why was tonight any different?

Was it because of you?

“You think you could come up with something?” Jay’s voice chirped in Jake’s ears. He huffed as Jake touched his glass to his lips. “I don’t think she’s going to listen to me, but she might listen to you.”

“I’ll try.” He kept his words to a minimum, nodding before the two of them joined the main group back in the living room.

And what was this all powerful, altruistic plan? Asking you to help him with a subject he needed no assistance in, all while giving you the false promise of dating the guy you needed to avoid. 

Talk about progress. 

It wasn’t all bad news, though. At least with all time the two of you spend together, Jake could try and convince you that Yeonjun wasn’t a guy you wanted to mess with. Jake stopped tossing the soccer ball in the air, plopping it on the carpet floor before shooting out of the bed. He trudged to his bathroom towel, picking it up and throwing it over his shoulder, all while scratching his head. 

Why did Yeonjun’s name leave such an ugly taste in his mouth?

Especially when it had to do with you?

Jake heaved a sigh. He could do this. He could survive his mission for the next few weeks. 

Right?

…

“Why can’t we just study at your place?” The golden retriever groaned as you took his hand and yanked him into the vast space of the college library. You hastily dragged him towards one of the room's large tables, plopping your school bag on the seat beside you. “‘Cause it’s harder to focus when you study at your own place. Too many distractions. Now sit.”

Jake picked up your bag, discarding it on the floor before claiming its former spot—right beside you. Your eyes roll in disappointment, bending down to get your notebooks. You purse your lips. “And besides… we might run into him.”

“Bruh,” Jake became dumbfounded by your actual reason for staying at the campus after class. It wasn’t to strengthen his actual academic potential, no. It was so you could see stupid Choi Yeonjun. He cocked a judging eyebrow at you. “Yeah, you’re sounding real focused right now.”

A punch was sent to the poor man’s shoulder. “Shut up!”

“What!? You’re the one being totally shameless right now!” Jake snorts. 

Your face crinkles in irritation. You hated how he was right. “Let’s just get this over with, god.”

After a bit more bickering, the two of you fall swiftly into your study session. The two of you took and rewrote notes together, you threw questions his way, and he always bounced back with the answers. This study session was growing quite successful.

Hours flew by, and you finally granted your eyes a well deserved break as you leaned back on the chair. Like magic, a handful of chip bags plopped onto the surface before you. All of them, your favorite flavours, too. You were in heaven. Your eyes glistened in excitement, hands flying to the pile like opposite ends of a magnet. Jake huffs proudly, sinking into his seat with a puffed up chest. “You’re welcome, by the way. I got those just for you.”

You hum. So that was why he was gone on his bathroom break for so long. Your fingers rip open the flimsy plastic, shoving a few down the bag and fishing for your first catch of the day. Mouth full of puffed up oil, potatoes and flavouring, you turn your head to him. “How’d you know what flavours I like?”

A big grin pulls at his cheeks. He sends a finger to your forehead, placing a small flick on the center. 

“I’ve known you for all my life, y/n. I think I would know your favourite chip flavours, dummy.”

Your eyes lingered on his dumb, big smile a little more than you’d like to admit. 

You blink, shoving more chips into your mouth. For a split second, you could feel your heart flutter at Jake’s words and soothing voice. Your wandering eyes couldn’t help but gawk at him. His sharpened jaw line, his sculpted features- he had definitely changed since your days at highschool. Your eyes reach up to his: have they always been so bright? A gulp shoots down your throat. You almost forgot about the fact that he had just flicked your forehead. You bite the inside of your cheek, throwing yourself back to reality. What’s wrong with you?

“Well, thanks.” You clear your throat, straightening your spine as you turn away from the puppy you dubbed your best friend. You were probably just going mental, right? Like ‘someone please throw her into a hospital, ASAP’ type of insane. Get those thoughts out of your head!

You throw your frame before your books, burying your nose between the pages of your notes. Anything to distract yourself. To pull yourself out of Jake’s mesmerizing stare. 

“Okay then–”

“Wait, you got a little something–”

Suddenly, the pads of Jake’s thumb grazed ever so gently against your chin. His touch reaches up to the corner of your lips, catching you off guard; throwing your sanity off the edge. Your eyes widen, your breath stuck in your throat. Shivers shoot down your spine, your eyes watching as Jake inches closer to your face. Your skin grows hot, the area of your cheeks specifically bursting into flames. In two swift movements, Jake’s thumb sweeps across your lips. After what felt like an eternity, however, his touch pulled away from your skin. His thumb carried with it a few crumbs which had been stuck on the corner of your mouth. You gulp. Since when was his touch so warm?

“There we go,” Jake huffed, stifling a chuckle. “You’ve got crumbs all over your mouth.” 

Your heartbeat was drumming in your ears, ringing in your head. You bit your lip, the skin there turning white. You muttered a poor excuse for a response before turning back to your notes. Your saving grace. 

Just then, a confusing series of shuffling and noise perks in your ears, catching your and Jake’s attention. Two towering figures emerge from thin air: two boys. One was loud and, frankly, annoying. The other had the innate ability to make your heart stop. After looking at each other, you and Jake glance up. Standing before you were two of the five hotshots of the campus: Choi Beomgyu and Choi Yeonjun. 

You choked on a potato chip. 

…

“Jakeyyyyy!!” The shorter, relatively at least, of the two yells out. These two were both giants—one, Beomgyu, yelled in a voice most definitely inappropriate for a library. It earned more than a few irked glares. Beomgyu skipped towards the boy, ruffling his hair in a swift, but tormenting noogie, all while holding down Jake’s squirming figure with a tense arm. “Whatcha’ doing over here!?”

As the two fall into a rabbit hole of squabbling, Yeonjun inches closer to you, and all hell breaks loose in your mind. You froze, anxiety shooting down your spine like the end of a roller coaster. A mountain of butterflies erupt from the pit of your stomach as Yeonjun dips his head down, shining a smile at you. 

Beomgyu’s booming voice shoots at your ears once again. “And who might this be?”

“I’m–”

“Her name’s y/n,” Yeonjun interrupted, his eyes never leaving yours. “Did I get that right?”

Your head was spinning. “Uh… yeah!”

“Glad we could finally meet! Jakey’s only told me nice things about you!” 

Beomgyu extends a hand to you, and you take it timidly. As chic as a model on a runway, Yeonjun combed a hand through his hair, and you felt your cheeks flush in heat. At least Jake held up his part of the bargain. 

After greeting you with a simple smile and nod, Beomgyu tilts his head, visibly confused. “You two studying together?”

“I’m actually tutoring him,” You barely managed to stutter out. You jolt, realizing you had been staring off into space—or Yeonjun—for a little longer than you would’ve liked to admit. “We’re preparing for an exam next week.”

“Woah, so you’re like, smart smart!” Beomgyu gawked. “Jakey’s like the smartest on the soccer team!”

A figure suddenly ghosted behind your back, shooting chills down your spine. You froze like a deer in headlights. Under his breath, Yeonjun was reading your notes out loud before blinding you with another eye smile. “Looks like you really know your stuff! Maybe you can tutor me sometime?”

His tone made your stomach flutter. Did Yeonjun have this effect on everyone?

“Hey guys? Sorry to interrupt, but y/n and I are kinda busy right now.” After a century of silence, Jake’s voice peaked in your ears. You look back to see that he’s been much more than quiet since his to senior’s came to visit. A glint of bitterness switched in his eyes, and his jaw looked tense. His grip looked rather firm, too. The force milking the colour away from his knuckles. You could practically feel the steam puffing from his ears. “Could you maybe bug us later?”

Beomgyu looked stunned, throwing up his hands in defense. “Oh, yeah, of course. Sorry to bother you, little man. We’ll, uh, see you later.” His words faltered towards the end as he and Yeonjun inched away from the table. 

“See you around, y/n!” Yeonjun waved before turning back to follow his teammate.

You flip back to face your desk partner, a million questions running through your mind. However, those questions would be left unsolved due to that desk partner shooting out of his seat, with minimal eye contact towards you. 

“I, uh, bathroom.”

You couldn’t utter a word before he disappeared from your sight.

What was going on with Jake Sim?

…

The rush of the water clouded Jake’s ears as he gazed upon his reflection on the mirror. He did everything he could; slap himself back to reality, splash his face with water so cold it almost burned. Nevertheless, it was no use. He couldn’t get rid of that ugly feeling crawling beneath his skin. 

He knew what his job was. He knew he had to protect you from Yeonjun, from his dangerous reputation. He knew he had to keep you safe as your best friend. 

But why did it feel so wrong seeing you so close to him? 

A groan escapes Jake’s lips. He leans forwards, sending all of his weight onto the bathroom counter. The breath of his anguish was so dense, it clouded the washroom mirror. Another image of you clouding your mind in the same way. 

Jake Sim was going crazy. 

…

If your brain wasn’t already fried, it certainly was now. It had to be, with the 20 different directions it split itself into that morning. It juggled multiple things at once; how you were going to have breakfast—since your fridge was as barren as a dessert; to what outfit you were going to wear today. However, your brain was overwhelmingly focused on the events of yesterday. The very confusing events of the college library. 

Jake Sim sent your heart on a rollercoaster. His actions ripped your heart out of your chest, shaking it like theres no tomorrow. You thought about the little stunt he pulled; wiping your face with his thumb. You thought about how much it tourmented your being, how much it stained your mind. You thought back to Jake’s smile.

His dumb, big smile. 

Thinking about him almost made you forget about Yeonjun entirely. You slapped yourself in the face. What the hell was going on with your mind? 

Currently, you stood before an ocean of clothes; the unfortunate result of your efforts to find an outfit for the day. You couldn’t pintpoint why you were so stressed, but you had a feeling Jake Sim had something to do with it. You were going over to his place to study after all.

With her hair tousled and still dawning her pyjamas, your roommate Nabi attempts, and fails to stifle a yawn. “So you need an outfit just for Jake’s place?” 

You wiggled your head out of a shirt neckline. “Yeah, and none of these outfits are working!”

After just two seconds of glancing at the mirror, you rip off the shirt in anguish. It wasn’t anywhere near what you were looking for. You slip on another outfit—a pair of shorts with a simple t-shirt. It didn’t fit right. You ripped it off, too. Again and again, you slipped on and ripped off clothes. Your hands worked like clockwork, the pile of clothes behind you growing up to your hip. You almost lost all hope until your hands grazed over some eye catching floral print. You threw the maxi skirt on in seconds, matching it with a cute top before spinning around to face your resident outfit inspector. Nabi’s expression lightened, a smile clinging on her previously tired face. 

“Woah! Someone’s looking cute!”

A sigh of relief huffs from your chest, a weight lifting from your shoulders. Thank god you found an outfit that made you look halfway decent. You shuffled over to your desk, picking up various accessories to decorate your outfit with. You watched Nabi through the mirror, tilting her head to the side. 

“Why are you getting all dressed up, though? It’s just Jake.”

Your heart dropped. Right. You were so wrapped up in your stress you barely even realized why you were getting dressed. All you were doing was going over to Jake’s house. It was something you’ve done a million times before. And every other time, you weren’t so roped up in an ocean of stress. 

What made this time so much different? 

Nabi stifles a grin, pulling you by the shoulders and sending you out the door with your things. “You wouldn’t wanna be late now, right? Have fun!”

…

“I still don’t get it,” Sunghoon’s eyebrows squished together in confusion. He hastily threw on a shirt, covering his once bare back after drying off from his after-practice shower. Jake was already miles ahead; fully clothed and drying off his dripping wet hair with a small towel. Sunghoon’s voice shot through the practically empty “You don’t even need y/n’s help with math, so why bother?”

Swinging open his locker, Jake pursed his lips. Ever since Sunghoon and Jay decided that the topic for today’s locker room conversation was Jake’s study sessions with you, Jake didn’t have a clue on what to say. After all, not much thought went into this stupid idea. Rustles from the shower rooms echoed through the hall, revealing a freshly washed Jay Park; hair drenched and a towel hanging from his hips. After chucking his belongings into his gym bag and zipping it up without a care in the world, Jake turned to the other two. 

“I’m not actually getting tutored,” Jake’s eyes wandered the shower room walls. “Think of it as like—a cover up, yeah.”

Jay and Sunghoon look at each other, and then back at Jake. 

“I’m asking her to tutor me so she can spend less time thinking about Yeonjun, make her forget about him” Jake eyes glossed over his friend’s before meeting the ground in defeat. “It, uh, made more sense in my head.”

“I guess I could see it working?” Hesitation lined Jay’s voice as he finally threw his shirt on. He wiggled through the cut out. “Why not just tell her, though? I figured she’d listen to you more than me, that’s why I passed it onto you.”

Jake cleared his throat. Tell you about Yeonjun. Why didn’t he just do that? Why was he so set on seeing you all the time?

A ping! jumps from Jake’s phone. Your name spreads across the top of the device’s screen, and a bolt of energy serges through Jake’s veins. 

    y/n, the big fat nerd /j [4:47pm]: i’m here at the parking lot!

With this newfound energy, Jake gathers up his things and slams his locker shut; all at the speed of light. He couldn’t quite pinpoint it—hell, he couldn’t pinpoint anything these days—but he grew quite energetic at the thought of you. Like a child moments before a rollercoaster ride, he almost felt ecstatic. He told himself it was just for the plan. 

As he reached his own locker, Sunghoon kept his eyes on the golden retriever so full of energy. A smirk lined his lips. “Someone looks excited to see her.”

“Piss off!” Jake defended before dashing out of the locker room. 

Maybe Sunghoon was right. 

…

Jake Sim’s heart was racing.

Odd, considering he gauged himself to be fairly fit in the physical department, being a college athlete and all. A quick jog from the campus doors to the campus parking lot shouldn’t have been that physically draining for him. And yet, here he was, with his heart beating out of his chest as he stood in front of you. 

He couldn’t keep his eyes off of you as you rambled on and on about being late. Jake didn’t seem to notice what it was you exactly said, not with his head practically spinning at the sight of you. You in your floral maxi skirt and mini cardigan. Hair pinned up and dawning those glasses Jake always nagged you to wear more often. The golden retriever also took much notice of the makeup you wore today; the cherry red lip gloss staining an image in his mind for longer than he anticipated. 

You looked stunning.

“—Are you even listening?” Your words finally managed to peak in his ear drums. Jake cleared his throat, panic rising in him. Adjusting his backpack straps, he caught a glimpse of your frustrated pout, his chest pounding with a feeling he couldn’t quite describe. What was going on with him?

“If we just agreed to meet before my practice, I wouldn’t be late!” Jake retorted playfully. A feeling his heart wasn’t quite reciprocating. 

You inched forward, the gap between your two figures closing. You crossed your arms, face squishing in as you shot him an accusatory glare. Jake however, wasn’t scared of the faces you were making, but rather the effect you had on him. The very strong effect, nonetheless.

“Don’t give me that, I know you just wanna get out of practice!” Your eyes dipped to the ground, your tone shifting to more of a timid hue. “And besides, getting ready took longer than I thought. I’m not used to getting all dressed up.”

Curiosity switched in the golden boy’s brain. “You tried dressing up for me?”

Your face displayed about four different facial expressions before balling up a fist to send straight to Jake’s shoulder. “As if! I dressed up for myself, thank you very much!”

Jake stood frozen, nipping at his lips. He still couldn’t stop staring at you, now could he? 

“What? What’s so wrong with trying something new?”

Only then did Jake Sim notice that his heart was still racing the same way it did when he first ran to the parking lot. 

“Nothing.” He uttered casually before walking over to his driver’s side of the car.

You look amazing, he thought to himself, maybe not so casually. 

…

“You want me to go to the soccer game?” A pencil spun effortlessly between your fingers as you looked behind your shoulder. It was the only way to face the golden retriever, who was currently laying down on his bed, completely giving up on your study session for the day. You huff a sigh. You might as well give up, too. Your eyes needed the break, anyway. You shot from Jake’s desk seat, gesturing for Jake to make room for you on his bed. “Scoot over.”

“Yeah, I figured since you don’t have as many exams this year, you’d have time to actually come for once.” Jake tilted his head as you sat beside him. 

Your chest cringed with guilt. Jake was right. As much as you wanted to attend his home games, they always managed to line right up with your schedule for exams; everyone knew better than to bother you during exam week, so Jake never tried asking you to watch. However, this year seemed to be a lucky one; your final exam for the term just a day before the game. Which meant one thing; you were finally free to go. You whipped out your phone, swiping over to the calendar app. 

“I’ll check if I’m—”

“Oh no you don’t.”

As fast as a strike of lightning, your phone leaps out of your hands. Currently, it swung over your head. Just above your measly, small reach. The culprit? None other than Jake Sim, acting childish as ever. You watch him smirk above you, his reach growing further and further from yours. “You don’t get a choice this time, dummy. You’re going to that game!” 

“Hey! Give that back, asshole!”

His arm reached further and you climbed up to your knees. Like a fish out of water, you leaped up to snatch your phone out of his hands, but it was no use. Your precious device was still out of your reach. You prop a hand on his shoulder, your face mere centimeters before his. Jake flashes another grin, making your blood boil. 

“Not a chance, sweets. You’re only getting this back once you say you can go.”

You gulp at the new nickname. Where'd he learn how to talk like that? Heat began to creep up onto your cheeks. You clear your throat. “You’re serious?”

“When am I not?”

“Jake Sim, I am going to kill you.”

You groan, latching onto his shoulder once again. You weren’t the type to give in without a fight. You were going to get your phone back. Your eyes grew dark as you shot up to the stars, finally closing in on his stubborn hand—the kidnapper to your poor, innocent phone. You jumped again, the sheets below your two figures shifting. However, you couldn’t care less about the world around you at that moment; the only thing that mattered was getting your phone back. 

“Wait—y/n!”

Thud. That was the noise Jake’s head made as it plummeted through the feathers of his pillow. It was also the noise that electrified through your jaw as you pounded onto the rather tense surface of his chest. You felt a pair of hands snake and latch onto the sides of your waist, their grip laced with all the worry in the world. With all your might, you propped yourself up, maybe about a pinky worth space hanging between yours and Jake Sim’s.

Your panicked eyes finally lock onto his, and the two of you lay frozen on his bed. You were terrified to make a wrong move. Yet, there was this voice inside of you, telling you to do anything but move, to just stay right where you are. Instinctively, your eyes trail down, examining the rest of his face—seeing him this close definitely wasn’t an everyday occurrence, and a part of you felt the need to take advantage of that. Only now—with only a couple of centimeters dancing between you—did you notice Jake’s honey skin; unblunted jaw. Eyelashes that could fan a forrestfire to sleep. Not once did you ever look at Jake like this. So why on earth couldn’t you stop?

This needed to stop. You like Yeonjun, you reminded yourself.

Your eyes trail down further. The way he licked his lips, the way his adam’s apple bobbed up and down. Why couldn’t you look away?

You like Yeonjun. Not Jake. 

“You okay?” Jake finally spoke, shaking you to your core. His playful demeanour was thrown out the window; a suitable reaction to almost falling to your death via his stupid prank. While you were okay in a physical sense, your heart couldn’t stop racing. Ever since you face planted on his stupidly buff chest, the pounds of your heartbeat had grown rampant, unbearable. Your stomach was fluttering, turning in on itself. Nothing made sense anymore. You had to run. 

You pushed yourself from Jake’s chest, bolting from his bed. Lightspeed, you bundled all of your things in your hands and zoomed through the door, making sure to hide your flushed face from the golden retriever in the room. The only golden retriever who could turn your world upside down, apparently. 

You didn’t like Jake. 

Right?

…

“You’re paying me back. Big time.” You grumbled as Nabi hopped out of the passenger’s seat. A big grin lining her face, she dashed to your side of the car before enveloping you in a big hug. “I know, I know, thank you, really!”

What was this big favour Nabi had asked you for? And what was the sole reason for your sour mood? Being forced to attend the college soccer game, of course!

You see, after that absurd moment back at Jake’s house, you visibly panic at the thought of him. Jake Sim has staked his claim on your mind, and your life as you knew it was starting to distort slowly into madness. You only knew one solution to this problem; run away. You couldn’t develop feelings for your best friend, are you mad? It all needed to end. Now. So after your final exam of the season, you decided to stay home with warm coffee and a book, instead of attending the soccer game. After all, it was best to avoid Jake Sim at all costs. 

You wouldn’t know how much your heart could handle, otherwise. 

But alas, your best friend, Nabi, had different plans. Due to a slip up in her and Sunghoon’s schedules, Nabi was left without a ride. Not to mention, she miraculously forgot to return one of the two tickets to the soccer game. Safe to say, you weren’t exactly thrilled when you opened your bedroom door, only to find Nabi dawning a nervous smile, two tickets in her hand. 

You and Nabi make your way to the bleachers while you physically strain yourself to not look in the golden retriever’s direction. Through your peripheral vision you were already able to spot his team, running small laps around their half of the field. Warming up for the big event. Sitting down, you close your eyes. No. You were not going to try and find Jake. You will not cave in. 

Slowly, your eyes open up to the world once again. There he was, dawning a sweatband and jogging with all of his might. Mr. #5. You hated how easily you remembered his number.

Replays of the past few days reel back through your mind. Why couldn’t you forget them already? What was Jake doing to you?

“y/n?” A voice peaked in your ears. A familiar one. You glance up to see Choi Yeonjun in his sports uniform, a towel hanging from his neck. “What are you doing here?”

Sure, you were shocked to see him, but something had changed. Changed since the last time you ran into him—back at the library. There was a lack of a spark popping on your skin, a lack of flutters emitting from your stomach. Everything in your body stood flat, dormant. Yeonjun shined a smile at you, and you mirrored him. “Oh, just watching.”

“That’s good, that’s good.” A twinge of stiffness lined his voice, a hint of awkwardness. Yeonjun shoots a wink. “Make sure to cheer for me from the stands, yeah?”

Still dormant. No stomachs fluttering or faces flushing. You fake a giggle, eyes wandering. “We’ll see!”

You didn’t even notice when Yeonjun left. 

Boy, did your eyes ever wander. They wandered right into the figure of Jake Sim. Your eyes watched as Jake continued to practice, effortlessly sending the ball into the air with a swift kick, his knackered appearance catching you off guard. Your body shot from its dormant state, firing up at the sight of your best friend. Your stomach fluttering; your heart racing. All of the reactions you should’ve been having with Yeonjun, were all happening in the presence of Jake Sim. 

You had a crush on Jake Sim. Your best friend. 

…

The golden boy should’ve been happy when he saw you walk through the bleachers, claiming a seat amidst the audience waiting to watch the soccer game. Jake was sure you were going to ditch his invitation entirely, especially after the incident in his bedroom. Hell, he wasn’t even sure if you’d speak to him ever again, not with the way you stormed out of the house. He let himself get carried away with you, it only seemed fair. Jake stole one last glance at you before resuming his warm up. The athlete ran up to the ball, sending the inflated prop flying with a swift kick before running back to the end of the line. 

Jake Sim should’ve been happy to see you. So why was he so ticked off?

Choi Yeonjun. That’s why. 

The beloved captain was slacking off and ditching team warm ups. All in an effort to talk to you. Jake couldn’t help but stare at the two of you, your figure now conveniently hidden behind Yeonjun’s ginormous one. The boy felt his skin light in flames, the blood just beneath boiling hot. His knuckles popped white as he tightened his fists. His jaw tightened, a vein appearing on his neck. He watched as you and Yeonjun laughed along to some stupid joke Yeonjun must’ve said. 

Why the hell were you up there, and not with him. 

Jake slaps both of his cheeks with his hands; a call back to reality. Who was he kidding? You probably wanted nothing to do with him anymore. The events of that afternoon said it all. Jake stood no chance with you. 

After what felt like an eternity, the beloved captain finally made his way down to the field. The team coach only grumbles at the sight of this slacking captain, rolling his eyes at the behavior he's seen countless times before. In an (very poor) effort to lighten the somber mood, Yeonjun only boasts a laugh, throwing an (unwanted) arm around Jake’s shoulders. “Why the sour mood?”

“Where the hell have you been? We’ve been waiting for almost an hour!” Jake grits. 

“Okay, chill out, man! I was just talking to some friends.” Yeonjun waved his hand in defense. Crossing his arms, Jake’s jaw tightened more as Yeonjun (regretfully) continued to talk. “Jesus, what’s gotten you so worked up, little man?”

Jake gritted his teeth. He never liked that nickname. Instinctively, Jake’s eyes trail up to you, sitting beside Nabi on the bleachers, paying no mind to him. Yeonjun’s curious eyes follow, an epiphany dropping onto him. “Oh I get it, you’re pissed that I made a move on y/n before you.”

Steam puffed from Jake’s ears. “Buzz off, Yeonjun.”

“So you wouldn’t mind if I just… asked y/n out after the game, right?”

The bomb finally ticked off. Within seconds, Jake grasped the soccer player by the collar, his knuckles whitening from the pressure. Jake stared Yeonjun down, a fire glinting in his eyes. A fire he’s never felt before, until it was about you. Jake practically hissed as he spoke to his senior. “Don’t even think about asking her out, asshole.”

“Oh yeah? And why should I?”

Jake couldn’t even process the whistle blowing; the indication to start the game. 

“‘Cause I’m in love with her.”

…

I need to find him. 

That’s what replayed in your brain as you ran down the campus hallway. Thankfully, the building was mainly empty—time had passed from the end of the game and most people had left by now, but you never saw Jake Sim leave as you waited from the stands. A quick glance through the school parking lot confirmed your suspicions too; Jake’s car was the only one still parked in its usual spot. And while you weren’t any different from most people, you were unique in the sense that you witnessed your ex-crush and current crush almost fight to the death before the game. You didn't want to jump to any conclusions, but one thing was for sure; you needed to know if Jake Sim was okay. 

You run up to the boy’s locker room, finally stopping to catch your breath. Almost immediately, you hear the rush of water; the only thing uttering a sound within a 10 meter radius. You hesitate, but remember that, with Jake’s car being the only one in the barren parking lot, you were at high odds of finding him. Still, fear lines each of your steps as you tippy-toe into the tiled floor. 

Fully emerging yourself into the room, your ears que into the rush of water finally stopping. After a series of rustles, with a few pauses here and there, you hear the metal clanks of a curtain being pushed. You freeze, fear churning in your core. This was anything but a good idea. Quickly, you turn around, opting to text him instead. 

“y/n?”

Fuck. 

You turn around, gulping at the sight of a certain shirtless figure. A towel draped over his head and a pair of joggers hugged his waist. He lifted a hand and tossed the towel around, drying his hair as he trudged to his locker. You couldn’t help but stare like a deer in headlights. Jake Sim sure knew how to make an entrance.

“Are you even allowed to be here?”

“Uh… no one caught me?”

Silence befell the two of you as Jake threw a shirt on, calming your heart down just a little bit. You clear your throat. “I, uh, saw what happened down there. Before the game.”

Jake shined a somber grin. “Yeah, figured everyone did.”

“Are you okay?”

Jake refused to look you in the eyes. “Yeah, don’t worry about it.” The athlete gathered his belongings, throwing his bag over his shoulders. “And good luck with Yeonjun. I tried my best.”

“What are you talking about?”

Jake pursed his lips. He paused before huffing a sigh, his silence holding your attention firm in its grasp. “I, uh—for the past few weeks, I’ve been trying to make you avoid him. Distract you from him so you’d lose feelings. But apparently he likes you back, so I’ll just back off. Sorry for lying to you all this time.”

You gape at the golden retriever. It all made sense now. Tutoring for math class was just a cover up. As you reach your epiphany, you notice Jake was already halfway out of the locker room, and your body dashes towards him. It was as if Jake was your puppet master, and you were a puppet pulled by his string. “Wait! Jake!” 

Jake turned his head back to you, sadness pulling his frame further and further into the ground. 

“I don’t like Yeonjun anymore!” You blurt out, a rush squabbling your mind. You weren’t tired from your run anymore, but you noticed how fast your heart was beating. How shallow your breaths became. How hot your skin felt, despite the cloudy weather. Only Jake Sim made you feel this way. “I-I actually like someone else, now.”

Jake cocked an eyebrow. “Who?”

“Well…” You inch forward, the gap between the two of you shrinking. You fiddle with your fingers, heat rising to your cheeks. Your stomach began to flutter the closer you got to him. “He’s very good at soccer, pretends he’s bad at math, and has the dumbest smile, ever.”

Jake’s jaw was practically grazing the ground. His limbs; frozen beyond repair. It was as if you were speaking French to him, he couldn’t believe what he was hearing. You dipped your head, eyes meeting the floor. “I like you, Jake.”

The cruel hit of reality crushed your shoulders; you sounded insane. Your eyes spilled from their sockets, your airways collapsing before you could take a breath. Why on earth did you say that!? Your heartbeat was pounding in your ears, your head spinning. Fear shot down your spine as your temple sweated bullets. Instinctively, you throw up your hands and wave around like a maniac. Fanning away your lunacy as if it were smoke from a charred grill. You wince, not even bearing to watch Jake’s most definite disgusted reaction. 

“Fuck—wait—did I say that out loud? I didn’t mean it in that way—or I did but—okay, uh, just pretend I didn’t say anything—”

“Shut up, dummy.”

3 words. Only 3 words were said before Jake kissed you. 

It was swift; the act of slinging your figure closer to him, an arm cupping your waist tightly. Jake used his other hand to cup your face, his eyebrows furrowing in a sense of impatience. He leaned into your figure, practically dipping you like two dancers in the night. Your stomach was flipping in on itself, turning inside out each second of that breathtaking kiss. With your body practically stunned to its core, all you could do was grab onto the collar of his shirt. And did you ever grip; your knuckles growing white from the pressure. Your heart was beating rampantly, you could practically see stars spinning above you. Were you dreaming?

“I-I like you, too.” Jake barely reached a whisper as the two of you finally pulled away. It was funny, it was as if he didn’t just kiss your brain into pieces. His head dipped down, turning red and timid. “I think I liked you for a while now, I just too dumb to admit it.”

You send him a swift peck on the cheek, your grin never leaving your face. “I guess we’re just a couple of dummies, huh.”

Jake kisses you back, his grin now growing bigger and bigger. It was good to have your golden retriever back. “I guess so.”

…

“y/n I swear to god,” Jake mutters through his teeth as he stands before you, and the glaring elephant in the room; you were wearing his soccer jersey, and he had a game in T-minus 4 hours. The very stressed athlete rubbed his temples as he watched you, doing everything in your power to not give it back. Jake was swimming in a sea of frustration, and it certainly didn’t help that you looked absolutely adorable in the oversized article of clothing. “Please, just give it back?”

Like a stubborn child, you ran behind the couch, keeping your distance from your stressed boyfriend. You hugged your chest, sticking your tongue out at him before running off again. “You’re gonna have to come and get it yourself, big boy!”

“You’re really gonna test me?” Jake laid a hand on his hip, watching you run off into the kitchen. 

“Come and catch me!!” You taunted him, not ready for what your boyfriend had in store. 

Jake chased you further into the kitchen, cornering you between the two sides of the kitchen counter. You froze in fear, the only thing you were capable of doing was hug your chest further; hiding the jersey from Jake’s grasp. But it was no use. Jake pried open your shield in a matter of seconds, enveloping you in a tight—maybe too tight—hug. Jake snuggled into you, his face delving deep into the crevice of your neck. You were helpless, defeated. Jake sighe, the warmth of his breath clouding on the skin of your neck.

“What am I gonna do with you, sweets?”

…

[itzynabi]

that’s so evie episode 4

posted: 10 march 2023

word count: 1.9k

warnings: none that i can think of

an: another week, another episode of thats so evie. episode 2 will come out when it comes out, dont even worry, just give me time. idk anything about pottery, i watched this video. the challenge can be found here. words in [] are captions. feedback and reblogs are much appreciated 💘

eve's masterlist // that’s so evie

“Hello and welcome back to another episode of That’s So Evie!” Eve greeted from inside a pottery studio. “Today, we are at Pottery workshop Yoho. It’s my first time coming here, so I’m very excited!” She shook her hands excitedly. “Today’s guest is… unworldly? Yes, that’s the right word for him. Please come out!”

[Kpop’s Prince Charming with master class acting. Making his long awaited solo debut, Minhyun!]

The staff cheered as Minhyun walked into the frame.

Covering her mouth, Eve laughed. “Why are you cheering so loud? You don’t normally cheer this loud.”

“Do they not normally cheer?” Minhyun asked as he stood next to Eve.

“No, they do, but… they’re not usually so energetic. Do you have a crush on today’s guest?” She asked the camera director, who shook her head and waved her hand. “Then why are you so excited?”

“Because he’s pretty,” one of the technical staff answered, causing Minhyun to blush.

Eve slowly shook her head in thought. “Have you never seen a pretty person before?”

[Butterfly princess struggles to understand the staff’s excitement]

Eve eyed the staff one more time. “Anyways, today’s guest is Minhyun. Please introduce yourself to the viewers.”

Minhyun bowed. “Hello, I’m Hwang Minhyun. Thank you for having me!”

“Thank you for coming,” Eve said. “How are you feeling today?”

Minhyun put his hand over his chest. “To be honest, I’m a bit nervous,” he said with a laugh. “I’m not really sure what we’re doing today, so I don’t know if I’ll be good.”

“Since you have been described by many as a ‘living statue’,” Eve began, snorting when Minhyun cringed. “I thought we should make pottery since it will be a statue of some sort. Is that okay?”

Minhyun nodded. “Yes. I think I’ll be good with that.”

“Good! And because I have no idea how to make pottery, we are going to need some guidance. Can our teacher come out please?”

A man walked into frame and the staff cheered for him.

“Why aren’t you cheering loudly? You don’t think he’s handsome?” Eve asked, causing the staff to cheer louder.

“Aigo, you’re very mischievous, aren’t you?” The teacher asked as he stood in between the two idols.

Eve smirked.

“She is,” Minhyun answered with a nod of his head.

[Minhyun already knows Eve so well]

“Please introduce yourself,” Eve requested.

The teacher cleared his throat. “Hello, viewers. My name is Park Insoo and I will be guiding Minhyun-ssi and Eve-ssi today.”

“One of my friends is named Insoo,” Minhyun said.

[Minhyun worked with Yoo Insoo on Alchemy of Souls. Park Danggu, we miss you!]

“How good do you think we’ll do?” Eve asked.

Insoo thought for a second. “Not that good, if I’m being honest.”

[Reality check]

“But that’s fine because it’s your first time doing this. You’re allowed to make mistakes.”

Eve nodded. “Also, one of the main points of the show is to just catch up with people as if you’re friends, so just address me casually.”

“Me too,” Minhyun added.

“Okay,” Insoo said. “Nabi-yah and Minhyun-ah. Got it.”

The group of three moved to a long table that had all their equipment.

“The first thing we want to do is knead the clay.” Insoo picked up his clay, Eve and Minhyun copied him. “We’re working with air dry clay and we’ll be making trays.”

“Trays?” Eve clarified.

“Yes,” he confirmed. “You can put your jewellery on it, or you can put vases on it– it’s up to you. The first thing we need to do is knead it to get rid of air bubbles. Let’s get started on kneading our clay. If it’s a bit hard to knead, then just add a few drops of water.”

The three got to working on their clay, kneading it very attentively.

“Minhyun, can you tell us about your album?” Eve asked, adding water to her clay to make it easier to knead.

“Yes. I’m making my solo debut with Truth or Lie and the title track Hidden Side. The title track is about how there’s many sides to me, but what you see is the real me,” Minhyun explained, smoothing out his clay.

She nodded appreciatively. “Sounds interesting. Which side of you would you say is your real side, though? Because you said what I, as an onlooker or a fan, see is the real you, but what is the real you.” She turned to look at him over Insoo. “Who is the real Hwang Minhyun?” She asked in a news reporter voice.

Insoo snorted. “She’s really good.”

Eve blushed, trying to use her fringe to hide her face.

“That’s a really good question,” Minhyun gushed, standing still. “Who is the real me?” He thought for a second. “I think… I don’t know,” he finished flatly, giving up on answering. He laughed, shrugging his shoulders. “I don’t know. I just sing the song. But that’s a very good question.”

“Right?” Insoo agreed. “Very professional.”

“This show is going to be very successful if you keep asking such amazing questions.”

Eve scrunched her face up. “Please stop complimenting me. I’m begging you.”

“Do you not like getting complimented?”

She shrugged. “It’s not that I don’t like getting complimented, it’s just I don’t know how to react and I end up feeling uncomfortable. That’s all.”

He nodded. “I understand.”

“Now,” Insoo started once he had checked Eve and Minhyun’s clay, “we’re going to use a rolling pin to roll the clay flat. Be careful not to make it too flat.”

After rolling out their clay, they cut off the extra pieces on the side. They rolled the clay once more, making it thinner and smoother.

“Trace out the shape you want your tray to be,” Insoo instructed, drawing a circle on his clay with his finger. Eve drew a water puddle shape and Minhyun drew a rectangle. After tracing the shape, they cut it out with a knife.

“What do we do with the extra clay?” Minhyun asked, holding the excess clay in his hand.

Insoo answered, “We’re going to use it now. We’ll roll it into a cylinder shape.”

“Like this?” Eve asked, rolling her clay.

Insoo nodded. “That’s perfect.”

“How long have you been making pottery?”

“Um, about thirty years.”

Eve gasped. “That’s older than Minhyun and I. You must be really old.”

Insoo laughed. “Nobody’s ever said that to my face.”

“I’m sorry,” she apologised, bowing her head.

[Baby chick who has no filter]

When they had all rolled their clay, Insoo cut it in half down the middle for them. They then applied water to the edge of their tray clay and put half of the rolled up clay on the water area, creating a barrier. They used a wooden stick to smooth it down, creating a seamless connection between the two clays and used their fingers to make it smooth.

“I’m doing better than I thought I would,” Minhyun said, inspecting his clay. “I really thought I was going to do bad, but I’m doing okay.”

“You’re both doing good,” Insoo complimented. “I’m impressed. Now, take your sponge, dip it in the water and ring it out. Then wipe it along your tray.”

“Are we washing it?” Eve asked.

“Kind of.” After doing that, Insoo clapped his hands. “That was really good. Now, they need to air dry.”

Eve scratched her nose and put her hands back on the table.

“You got clay on your face,” Insoo told her.

“Really?” She tried wiping it off, spreading more clay on her face. “Is it gone?”

“It’s on your hands, so the more you touch your face..”

She groaned. “Making pottery… it’s not easy. Just imagine if I tried to touch my hair. That would be the end!”

[7 days later…]

“We’re back everybody!” Eve shouted.

“How do you have so much energy?” Minhyun asked. “Even the other day, you were dancing after finishing each step.”

She shrugged. “I’m young. It’s in my nature to have energy.”

“Are you calling me old?” He asked, surprised. He looked to the staff behind the camera in shock before looking back at Eve. “How could you call me old? I’m your guest!”

“You’re so dramatic, no wonder you’re an actor,” she said, causing everyone to laugh. “Insoo, please direct us once again.”

“Yes.” He walked to a drawer and fetched their trays, putting them on the table. “As you can see, the trays have changed colour. That’s because it was fully dried.” Minhyun and Eve nodded. “Now, it’s time for the fun part: painting!”

“This is what I was looking forward to the most,” Eve admitted, holding her tray.

“Choose what colour paint you would like,” he said.

“Since you’re the guest, you should choose first,” Eve told Minhyun.

“Okay.” Minhyun picked black and white. “I googled some ideas yesterday, so I know what I want to do.”

“I don’t know what I’m going to do,” she admitted with a laugh. She picked pink, yellow and orange.

“I’m sure you’ll think of something,” Insoo said, picking purple and blue for his tray.

The three got to painting their trays.

“Minhyun, how do you feel about being known as a top visual?” Eve asked.

“What do you mean?”

She looked up at him. “A lot of attention is put on your visuals more than anything else. Do you wish more people paid attention to you singing, dancing and acting? Or even just to you as a person?”

He stared at her. “You’re really good at this,” he said with a laugh, shaking his head. “Wah, really… wah. I–I don’t even remember the question.”

[Minhyun is amazed by Eve’s interviewing skills]

Insoo repeated the question as Eve was too busy hiding behind the counter.

Minhyun nodded. “Yes. But my visuals are what sucks people in and then they later come to know about my personality and my talents and things like that. There are times I wish people paid more attention to my work than my face, but it helps. Because I get more acting opportunities.”

Eve hummed, having stood up when Minhyun answered the question. “So basically, your face is what people see, and everything else about you is your hidden side?”

“You’re a real pro!” He exclaimed.

“I’m so impressed,” Insoo commented.

Eve shook her head. “No, it’s just basic interviewing!”

“It seems very advanced to me.”

“Aigo, no!”

They continued painting their trays until they were finished.

“Now, we let it dry and then tomorrow, we can do the final step,” Insoo said.

“This is such a long process,” Minhyun commented.

“Right,” Eve agreed. She addressed the main camera, “See you tomorrow.”

[The next day…]

“Okay, everyone, it’s our last day of working on our trays. How has it been for you?” Eve asked her two guests.

“It was so much fun, I really enjoyed myself,” Minhyun answered. “Even though it’s taken more than a week, it feels as if it happened really quickly.”

“You two are the best beginners I’ve ever taught,” Insoo said, causing the staff to cheer. “I’m really impressed by how well you did everything.”

“Thank you, thank you,” Eve thanked. “Should we finish up now?”

“Yes.” Insoo fetched their trays and put them on the table. “As you can see, the trays have been painted, but they look dull. So we’re going to add a layer of varnish to the trays to add a glossy look. Just dip your paint brush into the varnish and apply a thin layer onto the top and then the bottom. You can add another layer if you think you need to, but I don’t think we’ll need to.”

The three applied the layer of varnish to their trays, talking as they finished up their pottery. Once they finished applying it, they showed them off to the camera, Minhyun first, Insoo second and Eve last.

“Thank you for coming on the show, Minhyun and thank you for being a good teacher, Insoo,” Eve said. “Please remember to support Hidden Side a lot. See you soon, bye!”

#reactions!!

tagging: @seolboba // @ateezivy // @ateezjuliet // @cafemilk-tea // @smh-anon

©️ kim nabi

[neowritingsnet]

NEOWRITINGSNET is super excited to announce the newest members of the network for September! Join us in welcoming the following amazing writers:

Flower / @nczennie

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Nabi / @sixzeroes

Mia / @ohmytyong​

Congratulations and thank you for applying! Here are your next steps:

Use #neowritingsnet within the first five tags of your work or tag the network via @neowritingsnet​​.

Add a link on your blog that leads to the network (this helps us keep track of who is a member when sudden URL changes happen).

Notify the admins when you change your URL or go on hiatus! This can be done through a private message, an ask or in the Discord server.

Make sure you know what the network reblogs in terms of content and themes. If you need a refresher, this information can be found in our rules.

If you noted on your application that you have a Discord account, one of our admins will message you privately with a link to join. In order to remain a member within NEOWRITINGSNET, you must post at least one NCT-related work within the span of a year. If six months go by and we haven’t heard from you, we will be sending a check-in message to confirm your blog status.

The next set of new members will be announced on October 31st. Remember, applications are always open for NEOWRITINGSNET!

Any questions regarding membership can be sent through the network’s inbox and our admins will gladly assist you!

[lgcmedia]

LGC Family’s Concert in Seoul was truly full of surprises from the first number lol. like BLAZing8??? I truly didn’t expect that, but next year is 15th anniversary, so maybe they are preparing us for more content.

anyway, that topic has been talked about a thousand times already. instead i've been gathering information on the unknown trainees that appeared on stage during the concert. for those who don’t know, three previously not introduced trainees joined the concert. their names are HAN NOEUL, KIM YUJIN and LEE HAYUN. the three of them were back dancers during ‘Summer Taste’, then NOEUL danced with V&A during 'Rock with You’, while YUJIN and HAYUN joined FABULA and CRYSTALLIS during ‘Labyrinth’. they also all took part in the trainees showcases.

since they are newly revealed, i couldn’t find much except when their age, joining date and rumored speciality! since lgc started posting the new trainees profiles, some of the information has been confirmed. YUJIN is oldest, born in 2000, joined legacy in 2019 and dancing and vocals seem to be her speciality. NOEUL also joined in 2019 and was born in 2001, he’s a rapper. HAYUN is a 00er like YUJIN and joined in 2020, her speciality is dancing but she can also sing.

[ + / – ] is lgc already moving on from the FD5 trainees? introducing new faces and making them perform with the debuted groups must be such a blow to the current trainees on future dreams ㅠㅠ i feel so bad for them. especially Nabi who has been in limbo for so long... arg, i hope i’m just reading too much into it [ + / – ] no but am i the only one weirded out by the fact that most of them didn’t train LGC Boys and Girls members? even if Yujin and Noeul joined in 2019, I highly doubt they trained much with the likes of V&A’s AJ, JIho and Haru. it’s like we’re already moving on to a new generation... [ + / – ] I’m so happy that lgc is introducing possibly the next generation of idols! as much as I loved seeing the current ones we have, it’s nice to be able to see some of these trainees experience a bit of attention! while we don’t know whether they will debut as idols in the end, it’s good to know that legacy has some more surprises and hidden gems in store for us!

▷ load next 15 comments?

(  A/N: this article is curated by the lgc team !  for completing their requirements HAN NOEUL, KIM YUJIN and LEE HAYUN are  awarded +3 NOTORIETY and can include this post in their points pages for reference ! )

[taestefully-in-luv]

Our time chapter 3!!:

I feel like I’m repeating myself a lot smh but anyway— the drinking. Misuk being all “of course,” about the fact that Jungkook took OC out for drinks to celebrate. My guess is that, after they (he & Misuk) got together, his drinking was a lot more obvious, for whatever reason. Idk if they moved in together? Or if it’s just because they spent more time together, but it must’ve happened a lot for her to mention it so much. Plus, whatever Jungkook was like drunk (I honestly can’t tell how much worse it gets, from the snippet we saw in chapter 6), I don’t think it was pretty because it rarely is.

Sexual tension, of course. I also wanna say that maybe, because Y/N is so sure she missed Jungkook as well (I can’t remember if it’s in this chapter or chapter 2), I assume that even 33 y/o Y/N with all her memories misses him, despite everything. (That’s what I’d like to believe anyway.)

Idk if you’d call it a motif, but I’m calling Jungkook’s hammering of wanting, needing Y/N to trust him, a motif. In the last chapter, he cries when she (Y/N) says she trusts him. This chapter, he makes her promise and then also says that she’ll probably break that promise. This 100% has something to do with Nabi and how that had an influence over what happened to baby Haru.

Also, JK mentions how the only time Jimin smiled was when Y/N popped by the office. Idk if this has any significance, but I also believe that any detail mentioned is deliberate, so I wonder if that means that Jimin has a soft spot for Y/N? Maybe he liked her? He obviously knows about Jungkook’s drinking because he warned him it was going to fuck over his relationships (ch.6), so maybe he was bitter about the fact that Jungkook got the girl? Idk, that’s a theory pulled out of my ass but whatever 😭✋🏻

I still don’t know if the case they’re (JK & JM) working on is about Haru’s disappearance? But that’s what I assume it’s about, because I think it’d make sense, if we consider how Jungkook might feel guilty about Haru’s kidnapping. I also wonder if the reason JK keeps hammering on the trust is because he maybe expects Nabi, or Nabi was close to the case and that’s why he kept seeing her? And, because it’s part of the case, he can’t tell Y/N about it? But then again, I can’t remember if Y/N states in later chapters that she positively 100% saw them tangoing? Or if she just suspects it because she found evidence of them seeing each other behind her back? Idk. As I mentioned before, my memory is ass </3

Once again, believe that’s all.

Much love<3

🤍🤍🤍

chapter 3:

1. yes there’s little hints for sure from other characters especially misuk since she doesn’t currently approve of jk!

but to clear up any possible confusion: jk didn’t have a drinking problem in college when he and misuk first dated! so when she refers or hints at anything that she has a problem with, it’s most likely going to be about the 9 years time that yn doesn’t remember!

2. i think we would all like to believe that too~

3. i would 100% agree with this. he is nervous. and it’s obvious. he wants to drill it into her head that she can trust him and he also wants that reassurance bc in his reality, she doesn’t trust him. and that breaks his heart and since he knows how things turned out the first time, he’s not extremely confident 🤷‍♀️ and well, as we see in later chapters, he had the right to not be confident (but he kinda did that to himself) (lmao i’m laughing for using the word “kinda” when he definitely did it to himself)

4. hahaha it’s not a bad theory! but i can’t confirm nor deny at this point in the story 🤧 jimin is an important character though because—*gun shots*

anyway

5. yn says she isn’t sure if her memories are from being in person, picture, video…she isn’t sure but she knows what she knows—she can see certain things but that’ll get explained more in the coming chapters

but also, there is so much more than we know and we will only now just get introduced to the true story of what’s going on! and these questions will have a more direct answer hehe

<3

[lgcmanager]

LEGACY PROJECT: FUTURE DREAMS S006 (SON NABI & DEBUT CAMP GIRLS)

SCHEDULE TYPE: WINTER TRIMESTER SCHEDULE RESTRICTIONS: Cannot be paired with another trimester schedule, unless stated otherwise

on DECEMBER 5, the company officially announces the SIXTH SEASON of FUTURE DREAMS. even if very little detail has been released public, it's already confirmed that this season is looking to debut a NEW GIRL GROUP.

the duration of this season will last throughout Q1 2023, but ic wise episodes will be released starting in MARCH.

besides SON NABI, ALL PARTICIPANTS will have to AUDITION to be on the show this season. therefore, participation is NOT guaranteed. the task below counts as the audition for the girls of the debut bootcamp !

SON NABI

on MONDAY, DECEMBER 12, SON NABI is invited to LGC CAFE by the Future Dreams' staff to film a short interview. aware of her busy schedule, and familiar with her by now, they decide to mix pleasure and business by paying her choice of pastry and beverage. during the almost casual meeting, she is asked the following question:

how do you feel about having your debut confirmed?

what kind of group do you wish it to be?

are there any trainees you look forward to see on the show? who are they and why?

any words for those who will audition?

DEBUT BOOTCAMP GIRLS

during the WEEK OF DECEMBER 26 - their last day at the bootcamp - the girls who wish to compete in the show will be contacted by the production team and lead to a specially prepared room. before entering, they are informed that the room is set up for Future Dreams 6 and called 'COSMOS ROOM'. although they are to go in alone, multiple cameras, covering all angles, will be filming them. all they will have to do is read the instructions on the teleprompter and do as requested.

upon entering, the girls will notice that while the room is quite dark, with splashes of shades of purple, yellow, pink and blue. however, small lights, all over the walls and ceiling, light it up quite well, giving it a magical atmosphere, reminiscent of the milky way galaxy. the room itself isn't very big with only two major features; a table, upon which what seems to be crafting tools are arranged, placed a few in front of the aforementioned teleprompter. as they come to stand in front of the table, right above a small x on the floor, words finally appear on the screen:

"hi trainee, what is your name, where are you from and how old are you?"

after the first prompt has been fully replied to, the words on the screen change to a longer message:

"welcome to the COSMOS ROOM, where wishes rest until they are realized. in front of you, on the table, is your PERSONAL WISHING BOTTLE. it's empty right now, but throughout this season, you will get opportunities to fill it. not until your jar is filled and completed that the wish to debut can be granted.

as you can see, there are jars containing ORIGAMI STARS. there are two categories of jars (position or speciality) and each jar is labelled with the meaning of its color. you are to pick TWO stars that represent your desires and abilities the best. note that only a SINGLE star can be picked in SPECIALITY. however, you are allowed to pick both of your stars in the position section if you so desire."

POSITION

pink = center

blue = dancer

red = leader

yellow = vocal

SPECIALITY

purple = charisma (acting)

green = entertainment (hosting)

orange = personality (variety)

white = visual (modeling)

after this task has been completed, the words change one last time:

"your wishes have been cast, you may now exit the COSMOS ROOM."

REQUIREMENTS

write a SOLO OF 300+ WORDS about your muse completing their scenario. make sure to answer everything asked in your prompt, or it will be declined ! REWARD: +4 SKILL POINTS and +3 NOTORIETY.

make sure to use the hashtag lgc:futuredreams for your solos ! to validate your audition, skill points and collect your notoriety, please submit the following form on the points blog before JANUARY 7, 2023 11:59 EST.

TITLE: MUSE NAME · FUTURE DREAMS PERFORMANCE AUDITION - SOLO: +4 SKILL POINTS DISTRIBUTION +3 NOTORIETY [ LINK ]

[hannie-dul-set]

US, AGAIN | four.

SUMMARY. they say history repeats itself, but you’d like to disagree. you had to disagree. history changes, even if you had to force it. but when all your attempts to twist fate were met by nothing but the flashing recurrences of the past, what were you supposed to do?

or, wherein you try everything in your power to have nothing to do with na jaemin, but na jaemin wants nothing but you.

PAIRING. na jaemin x female! reader GENRE. college! au, historical! au, soulmate! au, past lives, forbidden love stuff, reincarnation, romance, drama, humor, angst, fluff, looots of flashbacks, this is an entire kdrama, very loosely inspired by the webtoon “see you in my 19th life” WARNINGS. (for this chapter only) swearing, night terrors, hospital mentions, passing out, the works hgdhjasf WORD COUNT. 5.1k

NOTE. I’M SO SORRY THIS TOOK SO LONG <///3 but life is life thank god we only have to go through this once unlike our dearest mc HJGASDJSF anyway!! lots of jaemin fluff here!! you’ll want to punch him in the face!! hope u enjoy <3

CHAPTER FOUR: why the sun sets and rises

(Running.

Through the winding branches that cut into the air, the silver lake, the jagged ground, the clouds in the wind at each and every shallow pant, you were running—

A gunshot.

—running until your legs gave away.)

You woke up in a cold sweat.

God.

Looking around, you noticed that it was far too early for you to be awake— the hazy light that barely slipped through the thin curtains, the desolate silence that seemed to have consumed your room whole, and the bedside digital clock down below you that said 6:21AM in big bold letters, indicating that you should be fast asleep especially after staying up at ungodly hours in the morning finishing up an assignment. But even after burying your head in between two of your pillows, you couldn’t even suffocate yourself into unconsciousness.

You groaned and jumped off of the top bunk.

When your feet landed on the floor, you had expected to see Seungah’s ghost of a face lying sideways on the bottom bunk, but all that met you was a small, neon orange sticky note laying soundly on her smoothed out pillow. ‘Had to leave early to the diner! Eat the breakfast I made you or else xoxo’, it said. You sighed.

There was no point mulling over the past when you had an entire future to take care of.

“Oh my gosh.”

Hong Nabi was in shock with what she saw when she arrived at the benches by the garden to work on your group assignment today. It was shocking to the point that she dropped all her binders and papers onto the pavement.

You sighed, sliding out of your seat to help her. She spared you a few, quick glances as the both of you were slouched on the floor, and he couldn’t help but bite her bottom lip in worry. The Y/N that was usually so cool, so put together, and so unbothered looked like she was casket ready. That, or ready to star in a Tim Burton animation.

“Is it Halloween today..?”

“Let’s just get this thing started,” you groaned, finally finished cleaning things up and you were now back onto your seat. Nabi sat right in front of you, organizing her now jumbled up material. She wanted to ask if you were okay— but would that be offensive considering that you were very clearly not? Still, she opened her mouth to speak, but was scared into silence when you suddenly cursed out loud. “Since when did this become a paired project? Where the hell are they?”

Nabi pressed her lips together, looking around. “I’m not sure.”

You still had around two weeks more until the presentation, but that didn’t mean that they could slack off as much as they wanted. In a fit, you grabbed your phone from your sling bag, exasperatedly tapping on the fragile screen that Nabi was almost sure that you were going to break it, but before you managed to burst a vein, an incoming sound of noises and laughter approached your ears.

Boys will be boys, but you weren’t having any of that shit.

“Yah,” the moment Jeno, Renjun, and Donghyuck showed up at your table as if nothing was wrong, you decided to smack the nearest head with a rolled up sheet of stapled paper. “Didn’t we agree to start at nine?”

“Yah,” Donghyuck snatched the weapon from you, his other hand focused on caressing the spot on his head that you’d just every so gently smacked. “Don’t you ‘yah yah’ me, missy. Did you forget that you’re younger than us?”

If only he knew.

“Is that so? You should grow a sense of responsibility, then. It doesn’t take fifty fucking years.”

With that, you let out a huff and swung your laptop open.

The rest of the people occupying the table exchanged concerned glances as they shuffled to find seats of their own. They haven’t known you for long, but this type of temperament from you was arguably out of the ordinary. Even when Donghyuck would strike a chord too dangerously, you wouldn’t snap at him— today, you weren’t your usual self, and they all mutually agreed in silence that they were going to tread carefully if they still wanted their heads attached to their necks.

When the sounds of your fingers clicking against the keyboard stopped, they felt their hearts stopping, as well.

You looked up from the laptop screen, proceeding to look around, closed your eyes, and then breathed out. “Where’s Jaemin?”

At that moment they all flipped their phones open, scrolling, clicking, and typing before they can taste any more of your unraveled temper. You had to admit, you were feeling a little guilty for being such a bitch. A part of it was yes, sleep deprivation, shitty nightmares, and a whole truck load of stress can really take a toll on your sanity, but the other part was voluntary.

Jeno looked up, the first person who managed to pinpoint Jaemin’s whereabouts. “He just texted. He says he’s running— oh, there he is.”

There he was indeed, a couple of feet away from where you all were. Once you confirmed that he wasn’t absent, you turned back to continue working, but the rest of them continued to stare at Jaemin, who was barely hanging onto his dear life, sweating and panting. And as they all watched the poor boy breathlessly running towards the table, they all thought of the same thing with one mind, heart, and soul.

Na Jaemin was a dead man.

He pulled up right in front of you, hunched over breathless with his hands on his knees. He stood up and promptly apologized. “Ahh, so sorry for being late. I had to stop by somewhere and there was traffic. I’m really—”

“I didn’t ask about your personal business,” you hummed, not even looking at him. Everyone, not only Jaemin, flinched at your explicit coldness. “Did you get the files that we need?”

He looked at you. You weren’t looking at him, but you knew he was looking at you.

“...Yeah. Hold on.”

As if the mood wasn’t already shit earlier, it actually turned into absolute horse crap after Jaemin arrived. It wasn’t his fault, really, but circumstance after circumstance didn’t exactly paint the prettiest picture of him. When the clock finally struck eleven in the morning, everyone except you all released a synchronous sigh. “We’re done today, right?” Renjun asked, and you responded with a quick nod, noticeably a lot more mellow than earlier.

Nabi stood up and started fixing her things. “I’ll send everything later to you tonight, Y/N,” she smiled at you.

“Yeah, sure,”’ you hummed, nodding. “Thank you.”

The four boys froze. Why were you being nice to her? Of course, their complaints were verbalized into nothing more than silent whines, groans, and grumbles that easily flew above your ears, Jaemin being a lot more quiet about voicing his complaints than the rest despite taking most of your attacks.

Still, even if you were being particularly thorny to him, he thought it would be a good idea to speak out just as you were about to leave. “Do the both of you have any classes after this? We were planning on getting lunch together,” he said. “Would you like to join? My treat.”

You looked at him. There was a polite smile on your face. Evidently forced.

“No, thanks.”

Donghyuck let out a genuine gasp.

“Did she just—” he stammered, switching his sight back and forth from Jaemin to you. “Did she just turn down a free meal offer?”

“She did,” you sighed, rolling your eyes as he continued to gawk at you. You picked up your heavy bag from the bench seat. “I gotta get going. Have fun, you guys.”

And you let them just like that, with five pairs of eyes trained at the back of your head until they finally lost sight of you.

For someone like you, the bulletin boards at the bus stops were like a gold mine. A gold mine of part-time jobs just waiting to be filled. There were flyers haphazardly plastered onto the board, all in different colors and different fonts. You bit a chunk off of the granola bar that served as your lunch for today, eyes meticulously scanning the available offers, a few flyers already wedged in between your armpit.

“Hair salon assistant— can’t do that. Diner waitress— a hard maybe. Already have a restaurant job pending, my shifts might clash. Library assistant? Alright, I need to check it out further, though. What about a movie— oh!— oh my god, you scared me.”

“What are you doing here, Y/N?”

Sooah suddenly appeared beside you, looking up as she clutched her backpack straps. You let out a sigh of relief upon the realization that it was just her.

“Fancy seeing you here, cadet,” you hummed, folding the neatly folding the few flyers that you had and shoving into your sling bag along with the emptied granola bar wrapper. “Are your classes over?”

“Mhm! I’m waiting for my mom to pick me up.”

“Aren’t you honored to spend time with me as you wait?”

You let out a chuckle, sitting down on the wooden seat, patting down the empty spot beside you, and Sooah happily hopped to sit down right away. Peeling off one of the flyers stuck onto the board, you decided to fold it— once, twice, countless more times until the flat, square piece of paper was now shaped into a lotus flower. Sooah beamed in amazement.

“Y/N,” she started, and you dropped the little paper flower onto her tiny hands. She placed it on her lap before looking up to you, large eyes hinted with curiosity. “The story you told us last time— was it a true story?”

You suddenly felt a chill in the air.

“...Why do you ask?”

“Oh, well,” she mused. “My mommy is a Korean Literature teacher at my school, but she teaches a grade above me. Sometimes, I’d go through her stuff to read some stories that I haven’t read in my class, and the other day—”

Uh oh.

After living for twelve whole lifetimes and currently going through your thirteenth, there was always this feeling that haunted you all throughout, a feeling that you were all too familiar with. It was gnawing, grinding, and chewing up the bottom most part of your gut. A warning sign for something bad to come.

You were definitely feeling that right now.

“—I found the same story as the one you told us, big sis.”

Yep. It was never wrong, and it never will be. You bit down your bottom lip.

“And I found something interesting!” oh, how much more must anxiety drown you, but Sooah seemed so excited that you didn’t have the heart to stop her. You raised a brow, urging her, and she smiled brightly. “You said you don’t remember the girl’s name, right?”

“Yeah…”

“Y/N! She has the same name as you!”

Of fucking course.

“The last name is different, though—” she added as an afterthought. “She was Song Y/N, and you’re not. Still. Isn’t it really cool?”

Not cool at all. You wanted to scream, maybe cry a little and lose a generous chunk of your mind, because as far as you knew, there had never been an instance where you had heard of this story being shared to the public— to an entire class, nonetheless. It shouldn’t matter, right? It wasn’t your life anymore. Just an old, tragic tale passed on from mothers to their children as a bedtime story.

But somehow, it made you feel vulnerable.

How many more people knew about this?

“But, sis. You’re kind of a dummy, though. How could you forget someone’s name when it’s the same as yours?”

Sooah questioned, tilting her head, but it eventually washed pon her that you weren’t looking all too well. You had your lips splayed into an evident frown, worry creasing your forehead, which she could not at all get. Were you okay?

“Did you finish reading all of it?”

You asked after a bout of silence. Sooah shook her head in response. “No, not yet,” she huffed. “My mom caught me making a mess out of her things and scolded me.”

That’s good, you thought. At least she didn’t make it to the end— that would only complicate things. After a second of deliberation, you figured that this would be the best move if you played your cards right.

“Sooah,” you started. “Do you think your mom will let me borrow that story?”

The next day, your classes were all condensed into the afternoon— a deliberate decision to allow yourself to recharge in bed for the entire first half of the day.

But right now it was eight in the morning, yet you were already busying yourself inside the campus.

No, you didn’t have a group meeting today, neither did you have any prior commitments needed to be accomplished here in school, but you figured after not having a single fucking blink of sleep last night thanks to Sooah’s revelations yesterday, you might as well head to school early to apply for the part-time job at the library. Only one problem— where was the library?

It was eight in the morning. You had been here since seven-thirty. Not a single bookshelf in sight. You opted to just give up and mold yourself into the floor because you couldn’t even ask anyone for directions because no one was there.

Well. Almost no one.

You had just passed by a single living soul earlier as you were trudging around the bottom floor like a zombie, but you completely missed him. Na Jaemin caught your disheveled figure marching through the hallways earlier, evidently lost, as he left the faculty office with a steaming hot cup of coffee in his hands. He immediately brightened upon seeing you— as if his bloodstream was directly charged with caffeine, but he didn’t come around to approaching you until now. He couldn’t get the timing.

Even now, as he discreetly tailed behind you without your knowledge, he didn’t know when was the appropriate time to give you a simple ‘hello’. He pressed his lips together, taking in a sharp breath through his nose, and decided screw it— you wouldn’t even be happy to see him no matter the timing.

He picked up his pace and sounded from right behind you.

“Morning, group leader.”

You stopped, swiveling your heels around, and he was met with your grimacing face.

As expected. He gave you a blinding smile.

“How are you?”

“My morning is shit, thank you very much,” you spat. “Even more now, after seeing you.”

Ouch.

Jaemin knew that you weren’t exactly fond of him, and he’d spent too many hours wondering why. Maybe you just disliked him without bearing much of a reason. Some people were like that, but he didn’t hold it against you. He still pressed on with a smile.

And it irritated you.

(You believed that it was irritation, or made yourself believe. Yeah, let’s go with irritation.)

“Now, what do you want?” you crossed your arms, shifting your weight to one leg as you looked at him with exasperation. “You’re definitely not here to ask me about our assignment, right? I’m not sure if you’re aware, but I might as well say it to your face for your own good.”

You roughly shoved a finger to his chest, mustering up not a glare— but a plain look of disinterest.

“I don’t like you.”

Jaemin simply looked at you.

“You don’t like me.”

“No matter what you try to do, that won’t ever—wait, what? What the fuck?” you had to double take, expression suddenly morphing into a comical confusion, which Jaemin found cute, but of course he couldn’t say that out loud. He settled with the same smile as earlier, which you found a little more irritating as much as it was conflicting this time around. Within a second of silence, you felt heat slowly rising and you felt it slowly getting to your head. “You’re just gonna take that...as that?”

He let out a hum, shrugging. “I can’t dictate how you feel, can I?”

You gawked at him.

“You’re not even gonna ask why? Not even gonna protest?”

“Do you want me to?” he leaned forward, face a little closer to yours, smile a little more irritating than before, the heat growing a little more prominent than ever, your grasp on your consciousness becoming a little more hard to hold than earlier. You felt yourself getting caught in a stammer. “I would, if you want me to.”

Fuck this shit and fuck it completely.

“Where are you going?”

“None of your business,” you stormed off before you could find yourself getting caught inside a heatwave, breathing out long, fervent breaths to calm yourself down, the dizzying heat slowly getting to your head making you woozy. It would be a bad idea to even turn around and look at him. “I’d appreciate it if you don't follow me.”

Jaemin frowned when he saw your back yet again. He felt like this was the only thing he’d seen from you— your back perpetually facing him without any hope of you even turning around to spare him a quick glance, but he didn’t want to go against your wishes. He wasn’t planning on following you. But when you suddenly collapse on the floor a few feet away from him—

Thud.

—what else was he supposed to do?

(“Your Highness.”

It was without question that he’d answer your call sparing not even a second to waste with those gentle eyes of his, and this time was no different. The only difference being the quirk of his lips— pursed, pouting. He stepped away from the bush of azaleas, and stepped closer to you.

“I thought I told you not to call me that anymore,” he huffed, languidly dropping beside you on the stone bench, taking your hands into his with an earnest glimmer. “Say it. I want to hear you. Please?”

It was impolite to laugh at the prince— a punishable crime by itself. You were fortunate that he liked you enough.

“Your Highness,” you hummed. His shoulders drooped down, visibly dampening, but he shook his head with a newfound resolve and instead lended all of his attention to you, instead. “It is without saying that the very breath you take is incomparable to any person on this land—”

Your gaze darted upwards, looking at him.

“—but why do you choose to come see me everyday in the garden? Even when I am not around?”

He was still for a moment, fazed and the littlest bit taken aback, but not a second too long for you to spare any worry. A newfound smile playing on his lips, he lifted up your hands that he was holding, pressing a tender kiss on your knuckles.

“Why does the sun rise in the east and set in the west every single day?”

He looked at you, continuing.

“Just because it was made that way.”)

“Daegang.”

The whisper that you sounded in your state of unconsciousness caught Jaemin’s ears as he carried you to a vacant room inside the campus hospital. He looked down at you, your voice as clear as day despite the hoarseness of it, peeling himself away from your closed eyes, lashes fluttering above your cheeks before he could stumble over his own feet.

When he gently dropped you on to the bed, the mattress sinking underneath your weight, his windpipes nearly closed, a choking noise escaping the moment he felt you tug him down by the sleeve of his shirt, but he maintained his composure. He dropped your sling bag onto the bedside table, taking notice on the colorful piece of paper peeking out of the bag’s zipper mouth, a huff of a smile when he closed it up. Even you can be a little disordered, sometimes, he wondered in amusement as he gazed down on you.

Jaemin let out a huff of breath, dropping down the chair placed beside your bed, and he pulled out his phone to send a few messages here and there. An hour passed. He noticed you stirring underneath the sheets.

“Ah, you’re awake!”

Maybe you were, maybe you weren’t. You couldn’t tell if the blurred out silhouette of the face you have grown to both hate and love was a mere figment of your memories, or if he was actually real. There was the temptation brought about by your disorientation— to stretch your arm out to his face just to make sure, but you were lucky that your flimsy consciousness came at just the right time before you were to do anything regretful.

“Ugh.”

“You’ve been out for over an hour. Maybe you should just skip your remaining classes today,” at that point you were sure he was real. Na Jaemin had worry laced all over his voice, expression, and posture. It wasn’t a sight welcome to your peace of mind when you had just woken up after passing the fuck out. “What happened? Did you not get enough sleep? Did you skip breakfast? I asked Jeno to buy some food just in case you wake up and I’m not here, but you were unconscious for longer than I expected.”

“I’m fine, I’ll just—”

A regretful action. You tried to stand up, but all that happened was you falling pathetically back onto the bed.

“...”

“Don’t push yourself, Y/N,” Jaemin sighed, tucking you back in and placing a hand on your forehead, and by god you could hear the alarm bells ringing in your ears. “I checked earlier. It doesn’t seem like you have a fever. Oh? You’re starting to heat up, maybe you actually do—”

“I don’t!”

Was it possible to voluntarily pass out?

You threw the blanket over your head.

It was fortunate that he didn’t decide to press on, and instead he just left you alone underneath your makeshift tent to calm the sudden blazing of your face. Did he know that you were embarrassed? Oh god, did he know that it was because of him? Not that it was, of course, but it wasn’t unlikely for him to assume that he was the cause of your sudden temperature rise. It would be much better for him to believe that you did have a fever. Fuck, you should have just told him that you were sick.

“Knock knock,” outside of your blanket shield, you felt something lightly pressed at the side of your head, prompting you to peek outside, just enough for your eyes to be exposed. When you turned around, you were met by a box of Orion Choco Pie, just one of the few snacks that he had brought for you. “Here, have this. Eat.”

You blankly stared at the red box.

“What are you waiting for?”

“Leave it. I’ll eat once you leave.”

“No can do, missy,” Jaemin clicked his tongue, and without your consent, grabbed your nearest hand and opened it into a palm, placing the far too large box on top of it. “I have to make sure that you actually finish it.”

He was resilient.

Much like someone else, you grumbled, opening the packaging and stealing one of the cakes nestled inside. He had a satisfied smile on his face— almost like a proud parent watching his four year old daughter writing her name for the first time. You wanted to throw the damned snack to his face, but voted against the act and took a bite from it instead. “Fine. But for your information, I might have passed out because I barely got any sleep last night, so stop wasting your worries.”

“That doesn’t make things any better,” he said. “How am I supposed to stop worrying after hearing that? You should take care of yourself, Y/N.”

“I can take care of myself, thank you very much.”

“I’m not buying it. I have to make sure that you’re getting enough sleep every day.”

“What the fuck? Do you think you’re my mom, or something?”

“No, what the hell? Don’t make things weird,” He grimaced, looking at you in disbelief. Holy fuck. You nearly broke out into a fit, if you were being honest. Na Jaemin who was usually all smiley and kind was looking at you with an expression that you were sure his facial muscles didn’t even have the knowledge to conjure. His next words were nothing more than a low grumble. “How can she think I want to be her mom when I like her? Jeez.”

The choco pie that you’d been eating threatened to climb back up your throat.

“Wh— What the fuck?”

“What?” Jaemin replied naively. “One more time? Should I repeat it? Y/N, I like—”

“Okay, okay, I got it the first time, please—!”

Dear lord, he was going to be the death of you. You took in a long, sharp, painful breath.

“I get it.”

Jaemin looked at you with a small smile. He didn’t seem like he was going to continue teasing, so you quickly scared down the remaining chocolate snake inside the box so that you could slip away from him as soon as possible. That wasn’t the best idea, though, because the choco pie almost ended up going down the wrong throat and the guy was sure to freak out over it. Luckily you managed to get away with forcing it down and having Jaemin only looking at you with a minimal amount of concern.

It was time to get the fuck out of here.

“Thank you for the food, Jaemin, but I need to get going,” he didn’t even get the chance to say anything, but you were already on your feet, ready to set out to the door. You looked back at his frozen stature before reaching out for the door handle. “I’ll pay you back some other time.”

You bowed politely. Jaemin had only gotten back to his senses once he’d realized that he couldn’t see your face anymore, only the back of your head— a sight that he’s used to seeing, a reminder of where he stood. He scrambled to his feet and took off after you.

“Wait, you should drink water first! And take these with you! Y/N—”

Shit. He didn’t want you to leave yet. Not when he’s finally had a proper conversation with you. The two of you were already out in the hallway, the glimpse of light from the heavily clouded sky leaking through the windows and coloring the white walls and floor with an out of place brightness and at one point the light stuck on you. It was difficult to match your pace— staying not too far behind, not right beside you, never ahead of you. He swallowed.

Jaemin felt bad about pulling this, but he couldn’t think of any other way to make you stay.

“Daegang.”

You froze on the spot.

There was a heavy weight anchoring Jaemin’s conscience, falling even heavier as you slowly turned around to face him. It fell to the bottom of his stomach the moment he caught your expression.

“How—” you stammered. “Where did you get that name?”

He pressed his lips together tightly, a considerable distance between the both of you as he averted his eyes. “You muttered it earlier while I was carrying you.”

“C—carrying?”

How else would he have hauled you over to the campus hospital? But an obvious fact such as that was still enough to dumb your IQ a couple of notches down. You would have been fine if he didn’t mention it and leave you in your blissful ignorance, but he just had to drill the existence of that fact that you were in his fucking arms when you had sworn to be a piece of shit to him.

The heat was rising to your head again just like earlier.

“Ah.”

You heard Jaemin utter a sound from a few steps in front of you— a light grumble, you’d assumed, but you weren’t entirely sure— and it was at that moment that you’d realized how freaking awkward the distance between the both of you was. Were you social distancing?

His hollow sigh and evident pout threw all of those meager thoughts out the window.

“Is he the reason why I can’t get close to you?

What the hell does he mean?

“An ex you can’t over?”

You broke into a coughing fit. Jaemin instantly ran over to you in panic, patting your back to help appease the violent coughs, but in reality he wasn’t of any help at all because his palm was barely touching you. “Holy fuck”—cough—“oh god. I guess— I guess you can say that...?”

“Sorry,” he mumbled from behind you. “I shouldn’t have brought it up. It must be a sensitive topic.”

“If you knew that it was touchy then why bring it up in the first place,” you shot him a glare, looking back, but it was less threatening and more questioning. You couldn’t bring yourself to get mad at him at this point. He stood there in blatant guilt, his expression, stature, and demeanor without any intention of hiding it all. This was why you couldn’t get mad at him. Jaemin was transparent.

You weren’t sure if it was just his nature or if it had something to do with you.

You wouldn’t know what to do if it was the latter.

His lips finally parted after a moment of silence to answer you— even if you hadn’t expected an answer in the first place.

“I didn’t know how else to make you talk to me a little longer.”

You didn’t know what to do, at all.

Jaemin’s cheeks were stained with a shade of pink and fuck— you could see in his eyes that were looking at you, trying not to look at you, that he was bearing all the sleeves of his heart to you without an ounce of regret, but a euphemism of the bright red color that he was trying to hide.

God.

Why did you have to meet him in this life?

“Why?” you voiced, quiet. “Why do you like me so much? You don’t even know me that well, and I’m not even in any way nice to you.”

He didn’t answer.

“So, why?”

For a moment, Jaemin kept quiet, as if waiting for the pink to fade from his cheeks before doing anything, but it never did. Even when his lips stretched into a closed smile, his eyes crinkling and showing the stars that weren’t in the sky, he was still tinged with that soft, powdery color.

He didn’t wait. He didn’t wait for you to speak when he left— when he left right after saying two words that stretched inside your mind until the sun set in the west and the skies turned pink.

“Just because.”

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© hannie-dul-set, 2021

[heythandi]

LET'S TALK ABOUT NABI | NEVERTHELESS [ 알고있지만 ]

So I must admit, I have been swept up by the tidal wave that is “Nevertheless” aka 알고있지만.

It’s a Coming of Age, South Korean drama that released a couple of weeks ago on Netflix. It follows this young art student named Yoo Nabi, who majors in sculpting. We meet her at a particular point in her life where she is coming to realise so many things about herself and about life.

We open with a beautifully shot scene of Nabi admiring the snow, with her comparing it to the love she feels for her current lover. She enters a gallery, ready to support her artist boyfriend who has an exhibit on display.

To her shock and disappointment, she finds a sculpture made by her lover. A sculpture that exploits her very most vulnerable moments with him. Simply because to him, she’s a muse.

It confirms everything I need to know about being a muse. On the surface, it’s supposed to be flattering, it’s supposed to show that someone cares. But in reality, being a muse is dehumanising.

It is taking out the parts of someone that the artist finds unworthy and unappealing, and using what he finds beautiful. It is saying that as an artist, “I will only honour the parts of you that are of use to me; the rest can be discarded.”

Nabi experiences this humiliation is such a pointed way, that as the audience, we cannot run away from it.

Han So Hee / 한소희 , the actor who plays Nabi expresses this so brilliantly and what she feels, so effortlessly. In her portrayal, we see Nabi’s vulnerability, her complete surrender to a situation that will - for a lack of a better word - completely destroy her.

I’m comforted, however, by the fact that Nabi finds the strength to see this man for who he is. She accepts her fate as the one who got devoured. And in her hidden strength, she dumps him.

I’ll only speak briefly about the ex lover, as it is clear that this is Nabi’s story.

In this 1st episode, we see that Nabi’s ex is man who is self-centered. He only prioritises himself. He is obsessed with how Nabi deifies him. He’s always testing her feelings for him, coercing her into sex, doing his best to make her submit to his will. He is man of many insecurities and he infects Nabi with them. She is young and impressionable. He knows this. This is why he chose her. He thinks he can strip her of her agency and make her dance only for him. Such an asshole.

Anyway, Nabi finds the courage to dump him after she catches him cheating, and this decision becomes a catalyst for everything else that follows.

That same night, she meets our male lead, Park Jae-Eon (played by Song Kang 송강). There is seemingly this instantaneous attraction. Park Jae-Eon leads as this flirty, smooth type who knows his way around women. At least that’s how we see it through Nabi’s eyes. We feel her caution. She knows he’s something dangerous to play with, so she protects herself the best way she knows how - she runs away.

This becomes a central theme in Nabi’s journey. She runs away a lot. She is tempted by Jae-Eon, attracted to him. But her feelings are chaotic and often don’t make sense. So she steps back from him a lot.

I won’t say he doesn’t fully deserve it. He’s shown himself to be uninterested in commitment, preferring to flirt and kiss other women. This makes Nabi uneasy. She’s been traumatised, as we have seen.

But as she explores this connection she has with Jae-Eon, she can’t help but fall for him. He’s observant, attentive and suave. In her mind, he’s cool and unbothered. But if you pay attention to him, this isn’t really true. He even defends Nabi’s honour against a student who tries to badmouth her. He’s just really good at concealing his emotions. But so is she.

This show takes us on a crazy rollercoaster ride as these two main leads navigate the struggle of falling in love with someone when they are not necessarily ready or willing to surrender in that way.

Nabi, through her own choice, indulges in this steamy, secret affair with Jae-Eon. She neglects to tell him that she’s growing feelings for him because he seems so non-committal. I won’t even fault her for that. This is how she protects herself. She tries to maintain emotional distance from him because she knows she won’t get what she wants from him. At least not in the beginning.

There are a couple of things that I love about Nabi.

She thinks critically about where she is in life. Even if her deductions are not accurate, she shows that she takes the time to evaluate herself.

She tells herself the truth, every time. Even if she doesn’t tell her the men in her life her feelings.

By the time we get to episode 8 (as of right now, 10 August, 2021), we’ve seen Nabi go back and forth about herself & Jae-Eon. She even uses this side character, Do-Hyeok, to distract herself from admitting that she likes Jae-Eon.

Nabi represents the young feminine archetype that initially finds herself unable to separate herself from her love interests or the opinions of her community. She’s so hard on herself. She puts so much pressure on herself. As a result, she projects her self hatred onto Jae-Eon. That’s easy because she’s positioned him as her enemy, in a way.

But what Nabi also represents is the evolving feminine archetype. If she can not only accept her heartbreak but also accept that she deserves better, Nabi can evolve. She can become the young feminine who finds her light in the darkness. She can empower herself, and find strength in her ability to choose.

If she can learn to trust herself, and really trust that she can protect herself if someone doesn’t have her best interest at heart, she’ll start to have an easier time in her dating experiences. And her art will continue to grow.

Ultimately, I love Nabi. She frustrates me to no end. But I also want to hug her as a sister and let her know there’s life beyond her pain.

I hope in watching “Nevertheless”, you can have empathy for her and for Jae-Eon. And see them as one aspect of this crazy life as millennials.

I trust the director Kim Garam 김 가람 and writer Jung Won 정원 in how they have taken the time to set up these characters. As torturous as it is, I believe we will get a finale that is worth the emotions, the time and energy we have invested in these characters.

At the end of the day, I want what's best for them. My heart wants them to choose each other but my mind tells me that this isn't the most logical choice.

Either way, thank you JTBC and NETFLIX for taking a chance on such a risk with this show. It's fresh. It's new. And it's something that we can all relate to in some way.

SHOW DETAILS: NEVERTHELESS / 알고있지만

Directed by: Kim Garam 김 가람

Written by: Jung Won 정원

Airing on: Netflix : Nevertheless, | Netflix Official Site

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