#a prequel changed the show
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today's keiji is: keiji n sara if they were designed by me...... 2!! the sequel
#i actually drew the lines for this one months before the 'original' drawing but i. didn't like the way it looked for some reason........#but i remembered its existence today and thought it actually looked Alright so i colored it :) more of a prequel than a sequel#i like sara's bow. why'd i scrap that in the other drawing#your turn to die#yttd#keiji shinogi#sara chidouin#man the me from a few months ago REALLY wanted keiji to show more cleavage huh. well not like that's really changed#my art#daily keiji
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Me watching the prequel movies: "Padme's alright, but she's kind of boring and I don't care for her that much."
Me watching Clone Wars: "Padme Amidala could dropkick me, step on my neck, and spit in my face, and I would thank her. She is so cool and smart and I want to be her and also maybe be her assistant. She's a savvy politician who believes in peace but is not afraid to shoot a bitch if needed. Revenge of the Sith Anakin doesn't deserve her."
#star wars#star wars prequels#star wars the clone wars#sw tcw#padme amidala#sw prequels#sw padme#literally did not give a shit about her while watching the movies#then i watched the show and oh my god she is amazing#every time there was a padme episode i absolutely loved it and had an amazing time#actual girlboss#also now i can actually understand why she was so loyal to anakin even when he became a trainwreck#their relationship was imperfect but actually really sweet and i saw the chemistry#they felt like a power couple sometimes and really balanced each other out#and while anakin always had some aggressive tendencies#i understand how padme would be caught off guard and still love him/think she can change him#she's seen him at some of his low points and he bounced back so how is this different and why is he acting different?#it's actually really sad#i didn't care when she died while watching the prequels#but when i watched the show i'd suddenly feel really upset because i'd remember what's going to eventually happen to her#this strong and amazing woman would die of grief while giving birth after her husband betrayed her and that was heartbreaking#and then years later her planet would be destroyed by that very husband she had once loved so dearly#god damn it now i'm sad
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Let it stand alone
Saw "Wonka" with the nieces way too late, because I thought it was a cash grab franchise milking faux nostalgic manipulation move, and I guess it was, and I still had a good time.
Now, if I were Roald Dahl, I'd likely object to this sweetheart of a Wonka. Wonka's a mad borderline dangerous maverick in Charlie. But this isn't the book, it's an adaption. If you don't know Wonka isn't a sweetheart, him being one doesn't ring false in the film. And books get adapted all the time - various adaptions aren't necessarily a commentary on one another.
So why tie this so deliberately to the Gene Wilder version? It isn't the same Wonka, and that's OK! It isn't Dahl's Wonka, and that's OK! It's another take on Wonka that works fine for what it is. Do they really think audiences would not have gone to watch a lovely romp about a sweet chocolatier anyway? That Oompa Loompas aren't fun without green hair? Look, this setup could have worked as "The Corruption of Willy Wonka" too, but that isn't what it wanted to be. Tying it too closely to another film for the parents' sake is the only thing that suddenly creates plotholes and ooc moments when there weren't any before.
#wonka 2023#Which again shows how bad many professional writers are at writing fanfic#If you write a prequel to something you have to take into account what was written before character wise#Otherwise just call it an adaption#So many franchises write characters with established backstories as if those didn't happen#I don't care if your story works better if Spock were completely Vulcan#But he isn't. If you want that make up a new Vulcan#Or make it a plot point#If you want Morticia Addams to care about her daughter fitting in with a peer group#Explain in story what made her change that way. Because Morticia Addams feels there is no need for that at all her children are perfect#Don't change the character because you want Wednesday Addams in boarding school and the Addamses we know wouldn't do that#Otherwise base an OC on Wednesday Addams and send that character to a school for freaks#The way The Nanny is The Sound of Music set in the 90's#That's fine#That's rather obvious if you think about it#But no one is claiming that Maria was Jewish all along
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I guess ultimately, my issue with the way some people emphasize that the Jedi code works and that the Jedi were doing really good and that they really didn't fail Anakin in any way (or at least not any way that can really lie in their fault), and the way the Order does things in the Prequels era is excellent and good overall is that -
In the Prequels, the Republic is broken. Republics don't collapse out of nowhere. Institutions don't just implode like the Republic's did for no reason. The Republic's fall was the result of generations of complacency, corruption, stultification, ossification, cutting short term deals, overreach, underaction - there's a reason so many people were onboard with the idea of an Empire at first, and it wasn't all just bribery, xenophobia and fear.
And I guess - I just can't accept that the Jedi were just humming along fine this whole time, without also turning inward too much, without also ossifying and becoming complacent. Because the Jedi were too bound up with the Republic for that to not be the case.
#Musings#Star Wars#This isn't hate for the Jedi this is just -#In the Old EU the Jedi were shown as being very different in the thousands of years before the Prequels Era#such that they needed the Ruusan Reformations to explain the change#And the way they had before was honestly pretty good overall - the Reformations were genuinely a mistake IMO#But mistakes get made and the Jedi had good reasons for those choices they made sense at the time#but I just can't look at the Jedi Order as of the Prequels era and see a fully 100% functioning at peak efficiency organization when other#material shows they could have been and *were* different and still did their job fine#I just don't like the idea that the Republic ossified so much and there was nothing similar happening with the Jedi#Kylia Writes a Novel in the tags
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Main thoughts on The Acolyte based on the first 5 episodes.
Seeing a different era of the Republic and Jedi has been neat.
Sol asked Mae pretending to be Osha where her sister was. That and other little things about how heâs behaving with her and looking at her make me suspect he either suspects she may in fact be Mae, or outright know sheâs Mae and is playing along to try to get her to the ship easier and maybe get more info, possibly even gain some trust or something with her.
Not to brag too much. But when Qimir first showed up I thought he'd be doing some drunken master shit or something. And I feel I wasnât far off. Also. Gotta be honest he did look great doing all his crimes.
The force witch coven was cool.
Im really curious where the Qimir stuff goes. He says he has no name but the Jedi would call him sith. Now that can be interpreted a couple ways. Personally? It could be a lie for a few reasons, but considering how confident he was and his stated desire -freedom- Iâm inclined to believe him. I admit though, I think itâs more interesting if heâs not Sith but instead just something else or something new.
âŚspeaking of which. I do like digging into more of the Jedi beliefs and potential misdeed. Thereâs layers of complexity to their practices for sure, but theyâve always been a little bit pushy about their beliefs and practices. They are the only -or maybe one of very few- recognized force using organizations in the Republic, and I think that has some ramifications that are being explored here. They are light users, quasi-monastics, and still a religious organization with political ties. When you look at it together, Anakin being the balance of the force makes sense, even all the main movies show the force is dark and light and both will always exist. The Jedi try to reject the dark completely oftentimes, which is not balanced. The Jedi often act as absolutist and for lack of a better word supremacistic, and certainly it seems like this is a period where that is in full force. I mean, we will see what happened exactly with the witches -which may not have been officially sanctioned but still indicates the presence of a certain attitude towards force users other than jedi.
Also related to above -tbh we needed a paragraph break. Qimir brings up a good point about freedom -even if heâs also probably evil, again weâll see I guess. However again my point: limiting the force strictly is never going to work long term.
That said. I really enjoy Star Wars when it is willing to interrogate the idea that the dark side is always evil. And this series has, poked at it a little. Iâd love to see it poke more. (Tbh the oppositional duelism of the force is a bit simplistic, and I find the ideas that the force is just the force, an undivided energy that has been dogmatically perceived through a dualistic lens for millennia by most of the galaxy but isnât actually more interesting.)
#star wars the acolyte#long post#i kinda got rambly there. Oops#Also. Iâve always liked the idea of so many force orders#And also after their fall so many ânew/secretly survivingâ Jedi orders arising#Like. They are gone. What they were is gone bc all things end. Maybe this is just going to let progress and change happen#After so long of tbh stagnation#Thatâs imho what the prequels show. The republic is in a state that things must change bc for too long they havent#I think this show is the beginning of that decline. The bubble is starting to burst itâs just going to take a couple centuries#The og deals with the immediate fallout of the bubble bursting#The sequels are trying to just rebuild and grapple with how to move forward#âŚwhich the plot being at war with itself over what the future should be is ironically further driving that point across#Huh. Anyway tags are an extra bonus tonight I guess
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So, episode 4 of The Acolyte was pretty great (love the lighting in this episode, oh and the cliffhanger!!!)
still don't get why the internet hates it.
#don't tell me because the show âbreaksâ canon#because it doesn´t#don't tell me because the writing & pacing is bad because it isn´t#don't tell me because its âwokeâ because I noticed only two things I would change but the rest is absolutely fine#still think the people hating on this are the same ones who hated the prequels#the acolyte#tv shows#things i like#star wars
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Chapters: 1/1
Fandom: The Fast Show
Rating: Teen And Up AudiencesÂ
Warnings: No Archive Warnings ApplyÂ
Relationships: Ralph Mayhew/TedÂ
Characters: Ralph Mayhew, Ted (Fast Show)Â
Additional Tags: Screenplay/Script Format, not terribly accurate screenplay format but what can you do, Unrequited Love, at this stage anyway. since ralph is still young. tedâs feelings will come years later, but he of course cares deeply for ralph nevertheless, Mental Health Issues, Suicide Attempt, Comfort, title and fic inspired by âAlkali Underachieverâ by Kairiki Bear, or: this song gives me unstoppable ted and ralph brainwormsÂ
Summary:
Ralph said that Ted visited him in the mental hospital when he was in college. This is that visit.
~
i truly am just writing fanfic about anything at this point
#red writing#the fast show#ted and ralph#pretty sure someone's already covered this scene in fanfic before but i Did Not Know That when i wrote it#so i supposed i'd have a go#had to change it after watching the prequel special when i discovered that ralph's family was even worse than i'd previously assumed#god... i just want to hold ralph close to my chest...#at least ted will do that for him someday...
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3, 4 and 7 for the ask x
thanks for the ask!đ
3. Whatâs something you read recently and wanted to argue with (either with the book or the author or the fans)?
buckle up for a good ol' book rant!
so the dreamhealers series - a cozy slice of life scifantasy story about two neurodivergent individuals forming a queerplatonic partnership - is, it turns out, the origin story of the characters which the author mca hogarth has conceived a long time before as side characters in a completely different arc in her peltedverse. i assume she started developing said arc when she was a teen and wrote the dreamhealers when she was already an adult. the result is two stories that tonally and structurally couldn't be more different but that both feature these two characters which naturally resulted in characterization consistency problems. you can't take a weird lil guy from a pastoral novel where everyone just vibes and put him into a high stakes high fantasy plot without it taking a toll on their personality. now, this is not a problem if you finish the dreamhealers and just stop after book 4, however comma goodreads shows that there's this novella following the last book and you assume it's gonna be some sort of cute epilogue and you pick it up and it turns out it's not that but rather a short backstory of the characters mca hogarth wrote for her high stakes arc BEFORE she wrote the full version of their backstory aka the dreamhealers. are you still following? anyways i read the novella and was appalled at how jarring the difference is between jahir and vasiht'h in the series and this novella which, if you read in the order i'm reading in, basically serves as a link between the dreamhealers and prince's game. on the one hand, it's cool to see how much mca hogarth grew as a writer and how much more nuanced and relatable she made her characters in the course of their development. but on the other, it made me have unpleasant ruminations about what is canon and what isn't. this novella feels like a retcon designed to make jahir and vasiht'h fit a new narrative. however, it was written before the dreamhealers - does that then make dreamhealers a retcon and not as canon? both things can't be canon bc jahir and vasiht'h in the series would never do things they do in the novella. which makes it feel like a fanfic written by someone who doesn't understand the source material.
phew did it feel good to get all of this off my chest! tl dr please read the dreamhealers but under no circumstances read "family"
4. What are your top 3 comfort reads?
to be completely honest i don't typically re-read books for comfort purposes. that's what fanfics are for!⨠the top 3 i used to re-read the most (but not in quite a while tho) are lessons (aftg), astray (captive prince) and this unfinished theseus/the minotaur fic which i believe was called asterius und which, as i was distraught to discover, had been privated by the authorđ such tasteful monsterfucking literature i have never known before or since
7. What book do you love but usually not recommend because itâs weird or intense, etc?
i love aftg but i will rather bleach my soul by reading that fandom's discourse again than recommend it to anyone. and to be clear, it's not bc i think the seires is weird or poorly written or not good enough for general audiences - it's bc no one is worthy of studying the sacred texts except for me and a couple other initiated intellectuals
book ask
#book tag#with comfort reads i need instant gratification that only my fave fanfics can provide#the family novella is wrong on many levels but ngl the aroace qpp stuff felt the most heinous to me#and i can't even be mad cause ik it's not bc the author suddenly changed her mind about them#on the contrary it's bc she wrote the prequel series later in her life#when she had better understanding of what aroaceness and qpp can look like#i was specifically irritated by them calling each other brother - and she improved on that too#vasiht'h says in dreamhearth they're the very best of friends closer than any brother or lover#and in dreamstorm he calls jahir my forever-friend#so she clearly gave some thought to more appropriate nomenclature lol#and jahir's thing with his cousin who he never mentions throughout the dreamhealers books is just. major ew vibes#and she improved on that too!#in the piano short story she found a very elegant way to make a point of him not really being aroace without being gross about it#but does all that improvement really matter if she published the other stuff and it's canon too?#at least make this novella not show as part of dreamhealers so that people aren't left with a sour taste in their mouth#all of this is aggravated by the novella's high rating bc i assume most people read it long ago#when the dreamhealers didn't exist yet and they had nothing to compare it to#but even so i think i would've disliked it#it just does feel like it was conceived by a teenager#who has like. weird kinks and notions#so i will probably not try prince's game any time soon#since it's tainted by bad!jahir and wrong!vasiht'h#but i do want to see an eldritch who fucks so ig my next stop in the peltedverse is earthrise
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watching rise of the pink ladies makes riverdale season seven look so fucking dogshit in comparison i almost want to stop watching it so i can at least try to pretend riverdale doesnât suck now. unfortunately i love grease and i need to watch this. but iâll have you all know iâm mad about how good it is.
#you guys wonât get what iâm about to say because youâre losers who wonât watch the grease prequel show.#but archie loses like. all of his appeal once you realize that in s7 heâs just buddy from rotpl. who is annoying.#like wow the white boy believes in equality. should we give him a medal. should we throw a party should we invite taylor swift.#buddyâs character is specifically written that way to contrast jane and how he essentially has the same morals as her and is a good person#like her but he wonât DO anything to fundamentally change things like she will#heâll befriend the black girl and tell his buddies to be nice to her but he wonât abandon them for her.#and then he gets to be popular and play romeo in the play and everybody loves him and forgives him#and nobody cares about jane.#and that is all. within the text. thatâs the point of the show.#but riverdale has chronic There Is A White Man In Charge Of This disease and iâve always said this would be its downfall#anyway. i wish my beautiful wife riverdale would return from the war and be fun again.#in the meantime can you losers watch the grease prequel show. goddamn#rotpl lb#riverdale haters dni. just because i donât like s7 of my show doesnât make this a safe space for you
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felix and dorothy novel is so back, been writing little bits of it and also realised just now the one major backstory thing that i love so much but thought iâd have to cut because it came from the original backstory of them living in a physical gated cult (putting it that way because they still grew up in a cult itâs called christian fundamentalism LOL but we have moved on from the girls by emma cline inspo) can actually stay if i work it right OMFG. when i figure out a new title + find some good litfic about co-destructive co-dependent siblings even better if twins (still so annoyed the novel abt twins that promised to be that was not really that anyway) we are so back
#the only part I donât know is the new consequence of this backstory#which I would Like to change purely bc currently it doesnât work tonally w everything else itâs too dark#I would keep it if this were a standalone but they arenât the main characters anymore LOL#like itâs still probably one of if not the main Novel alongside lover boy + the secret prequel#itâs still a major important part of the timeline and series bc itâs where bobby dies which to me is the biggest thread connecting#everything LOL he stole the show. but itâs also just their moment and now I see the different wips as#different characters in the same story getting their moment#anyway time to find litfic where the protagonist(s) stalk a man đ
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Russian Roulette | The Salesman
Pairing: The Salesman x fem!reader
Summary: After doing everything in your power to find the salesman who got you and Gi-hun into all this mess, he unexpectedly shows up in your motel room.
Warning/s: SPOILERS FOR SEASON 2!!, angst, unspoken feelings (until now), guns, playing Russian Roulette, threatening, mocking, blood, character death, cursing (maybe, idk), tears, talk about the games, tension, reader gives off femme fatale energy, also reader has longer hair to fit into a braid but if you don't just ignore it please, possible grammar and spelling mistakes
Author's note: I just watched the first few episodes, and for a little while, I got out of the writers block. NO SPOILERS, PLEASE!
Prequel to this fic here!

Rain was pouring down like crazy, wind blowing around as I drove my black car with full speed as I tried to get to the Pink Motel that Gi-hun and I co-owned as fast as I possibly could after today's events. Gun that was placed on the seat next to me was jumping slightly as I drow down the road every time I hit a bump or such. My left hand gripped the steering wheel til my knuckles turned pure white as my right hand gripped the phone to the same extent.
"I found bloodstains there!" I practically shouted into my phone as I came to a stop, the images of blood seeping down the trash bags and the knife thrown on the ground never really leaving my mind. "Gi-hun is still looking, I'm sure they didn't get far from that alley."
"What do we do, miss?"
"Check all the CCTV and dashcam footage you can collect from the area and keep asking around." I continued to practically shout for him to hear me over the rain on the street, my braid swinging over on my left shoulder as I got out of the car, running towards the entrance to the Pink Motel.
"I'll join you soon." And with that, I ended the call, quickly putting my phone in the left pocket of my jacket.
I roughly pulled loose threads of hair that fell on my eyes as I quickly took out the key. However, I came to a sudden stop. Something wasn't right. I found myself freezing as I slowly moved my head to look around. That's when I noticed. The sign of the Pink Motel was lit up.
Someone is here, and they want me to know that.
I stood there in the rain for a little while before I decided to take a deep breath before entering. I walked up all the way to the fourth floor before entering, the light going on as I did. I walked into my bedroom as quietly as I could. But even before I could prepare myself for what I was about to see, just as I walked to the end of the first corner, I saw him.
After three years of endlessly, tirelessly trying to find him, he was here. Right in front of me. He was standing in front of my wall, a shining black gun in his hand, looking at the calendar on which I crossed the dates with red marker every single day for three years. Next to in was a map of the underground, every single route mapped out, drawn on, and my handwriting shone on it to.
"It's been a long time, Miss."
For a while, I said nothing. I was just standing there, soaking wet, the rain that I took with me inside dripping on the floor. I was staking in his appearance for a moment. He was just as tall as I remember, standing there in his suit. For a moment, it seemed like he didn't change one bit, like nothing changed from the moment that I fist saw him on the train station three years ago.
But it did.
His hair was longer, I won the games alongside Gi-hun, we weren't on the train station, but in my Motel room, he wasn't holding a briefcase, he was holding a gun and I didn't.
But his voice was the same, he was still as tall as I remember, I suppose his smile was the same, too. And maybe, just maybe, he was feeling the same feelings he did three years ago before I gained and lost it all.
I just sighed and moved towards the table I ate. There was a towel that I threw last night. I started to pat my hair, trying to dry it off as I looked around for some dry clothes.
"You should've gotten on that plane that day." He said, looking over at me as I paused.
"I changed my mind when I saw you there." I said before continuing to dry myself.
The moment of quiet continued as I put the towel away. He tapped the map with his gun before he started to speak again. I truly didn't know how to feel. After I wasted three years trying to find him, he just shows up at my motel room. Funny.
"It looks like you've been trying hard to find me, darling." I could just hear that ignorant smirk in his voice. Motherfucker.
"Don't let it get to your head." I told him slowly, my voice completely calm. "I just wanted to thank you." I said as I took off my wet jacket, throwing it in the corner.
"Thank me?" He asked as he sat down on one of the sofas by the table next to my bed. I turned to look at him slowly, a dry jacket in my hand. That's when I noticed blood on the collar of his suit and his face. Motherfucker.
"For inviting me to the game." I said as I approached him, his eyes on me as I sat down, opposite him. "I won and took a bloody fortune with me."
He kept quiet, listening to me, his dark eyes flickering all over my face as I spoke.
"So the decent thing of me to do would be to thank you for it."
"I'm just a messenger who delivers invitations." He smirked, but before he could say more, I continued, all off my anger resurfacing.
"And just who had you deliver those invitations, handsome?" I spoke, venom infecting my every word. "Let me meet him. I have something to say to him."
"Give me the message, and I'll pass it along." He continued, giving me a smile at the end. It appears that I was right. His smile is the same.
"Oh, dear." I mockingly pouted as I crossed my legs. "I'm afraid that it's not something I can discuss with an underling like you."
His smile quivered as he raised his eyebrow. Waiting on me to continue.
"You prey on people who are hanging by a thread and corner them at subway stations." I could feel myself slowly starting to shake from anger and despair. "Someone like you wouldn't be able to understand what I'm trying to say, of course."
For a while, there was silence yet again. We were just looking at each other. Our eyes never leaving each other's.
"You know what the funniest thing was?"
"What, miss?"
"For a moment, when I was hunting you down, I was just delusional enough to think that we could actually team up. You know? Take down the games and whoever was behind them. I liked you. And I liked to think that. But now I realize just how wrong I was." I whispered, turning away from him as I spoke. Yet I still felt his eyes on me. "And boy was I wrong. You will never change. You like the monstrous things that you are doing."
"How do you think I got to where I am now?"
"I don't fucking care." I spat at him as I turned to look at him again, his expression unreadable. "I don't care how you became their dog. I just want you to bring me your master."
He looked down, sighing as he cracked his neck, gun still in his hold. After a while he spoke again.
"I used to work in the games when I was younger. I removed and burned the bodies of countless people like you."
He was the pink guard once.
"'These things aren't human. They're just trash utterly useless in this world.' I kept telling myself that and worked hard for a few years." He spoke, suddenly smiling again. "Then they gave me a gun."
The triangle guard.
"It felt pretty good." He said as he lifted up his gun, examining it. "Like my existence was acknowledged for the first time in my life. I don't know which year it was, but one day, I was about to shoot a man who had lost a game. The guy seemed familiar. Guess who it was."
I kept quiet.
"My dad." He finally said. "My dad was suddenly standing in front of me. He was in tears, desperately begging me to spare his life."
He suddenly moved his hand, placing the gun in front of my forehead, but his suddenly, quick movement did not startle me one bit. I was used to it.
"I shot him right in the middle of his forehead, and realized, 'Ah. I'm cut out for this job.'"
He was looking straight at me, his dark eyes mad. I narrowed mine at him. Was I supposed to feel sorry for him? Maybe, but I didn't. Not only did he enjoy it, but he also has no idea how it was like for me. All the things Gi-hun and I went through. All of people we lost along the way... Ali... Sae-byeok... Sang-woo...
"Whether you shoot people in there or con them outside, it doesn't change anything." I said, slowly leaning over towards him. "You have always been nothing more than their dog."
He clicked his gun, putting his finger on the trigger, his expression darkening.
"Miss." He started, his hand shaking slightly as I kept completely still. "Do you think you're special because you won the game?"
I said nothing. My expectation still as I leaned forward just a bit more, pressing my forehead directly on his gun. His dark expression broke into one of shock.
"Someone like you could never know or understand how I made it out of there alive. And how it feels to play the games."
Suddenly, he pulled the trigger, but nothing happened. My expression barely changed, yet I could he on his face that my eyes old him every. Shock, disappointment and sadness.
He sighed before leaning over to me on the table that until now kept us at a distance. He was quiet for a while. I suppose he has always been that way.
"Let's play a game." He smiled at me.
I didn't say anything. He pulled out his phone and placed it on the table, letting a song play.
Time to say goodbye.
He leaned back against the seat as he lifted up his gun.
"I'm sure you've seen this in the movies." He started to explain, never breaking eye contact with me. "It's called Russian Roulette."
Motherfucker.
"Usually, you place one bullet in the gun, spin the cylinder, and pull the trigger." He said, clicking the gun in its place before pulling the trigger, explaining the game as he showed me what to do. "And before the next round, you spin the cylinder again. It rests the odds back to 1 in 6."
"I know." I mumbled and he smiled.
"But I'd like to make this game a little more serious." He smirked. "Because you're truly special, love."
"Cut to the chase." I glared at him and his stupid antics. He blinked at me and continued.
"We'll take turns pulling the trigger without spinning the cylinder again. The bullet will be fired within six attempts, and the game will be over." He paused. "What do you say?"
"Spin the gun." I frowned.
He smirked before gently placing the gun on the table. This could end badly on both sides, but for a moment, I found myself being selfish. Maybe, just maybe, if I lost this game after everything I went through, I could die and find peace with the people I lost. I could join them and leave with the feelings I have for him, that he possibly realized, unsaid. I could finally end it all. The night terrors, the time I spent searching for him, my cigarette addiction, mourning what I lost and what I couldn't have, yet at the same time not enjoying the money I got form the games. Who could enjoy that? Who could possibly enjoy living the life that I live.
He spinned the gun, and its tip pointed at me. Without a second thought, I took the gun and placed it by the side of my head. A few seconds later, not looking away from him, I pulled the trigger. Noting happened. That chamber was empty.
I put the gun on the table. I barely had time to move my hand before he took the gun, placed it by his head just like I did and pulled the trigger. Nothing happened. He sighed in content as he placed the gun back on the table, smiling at me almost lovingly. I knew.
I took the gun and placed it by my head again, but before I could just pull the trigger he spoke up.
"I've always wondered how you made it out of there alive." He smiled before he laughed a little. "For, one thing, you were even terrible at ddakji."
I said nothing, glaring at him. I pulled the trigger. Nothing happened once again.
He looked at me, impressed by my luck so far. I looked him straight in the eyes as I threw the gun on the table. It slid over on the other side, right in front of me.
He took the gun after he took a moment to just look at me. Not breaking eye contact, he took the gun. Leaned over to me until he was basically touching me, pointing the gun at me. Then he did something that I did not expect at all. He put the gun in his mouth.
Motherfucker.
He pulled the trigger. I winced a little. Nothing again. He laughed at my expression as I tried my hardest to keep myself composed. He slowly took the gun out of his mouth before sitting back, putting the gun back on the table.
I took the gun and as I was about to place it by my head he spoke up again.
"What's the matter?" He asked me, raising his eyebrows. "Is your mind starting to race?"
I scoffed slightly.
Motherfucker.
"Now your odds of death are 1 in 2." He nodded. "That's pretty high indeed. I'm sure you're afraid, darling. Lots going through your mind."
I said nothing.
"Let me guess what you're thinking right now." Motherfucker. "'The gun is in my hand. Screw the rules. Pull the trigger once or twice, and I can blow his face off.' Isn't that right?"
I kept looking at him, glaring as I did. All while he spoke. "If you and Gi-hun want to meet the person you mentioned earlier, the key is in my pocket." At that I allowed my eyes to travel all over him. "You can simply shoot me with that gun and take it. But I'll have you admit one thing."
He took a moment to pause, my hand still holding the gun by my head. He leaned over once again.
"That you're a piece of trash, just like Gi-hun, just like everyone else that was in the games." He leaned over more closely, our lips practically touching as he spoke. "A piece of trash who got lucky and made it out of the dumpster."
He laughed as I pressed the gun against my head, our lips barely an inch away from each other's. This was it, I thought to myself. This round will determine if I live or die. I tightened the grip on the gun, my knuckles turning white again. I pulled the trigger.
Nothing happened.
He looked at me, then at the gun and then back at me. I started to chuckle lowly, like a maniac. Perhaps I was one. I watched his face closely as I pulled the gun away from my head. The grip on the gun still tight as I pointed it at his chin before slowly opening up my palm, waiting on him to take the final, real shot.
His hand touched mine. I felt him and myself freeze at the contact as he took the gun from my hand. I pulled my hand away as he looked at the gun.
"What's the matter?" I taunted him, my face mirroring the smirk that he always wears. "Is your mind starting to race?"
He said nothing as I spoke to him.
"That's right. Screw the rules. Now, with a single pull of the trigger, you could kill me." He looked pale at my words. "But... before you leave me forever this time. I'll have you admit two things."
He looked at me as I brought my hand at his cheek, wiping a little bit of blood on his face.
"You put a mask on your face and do whatever your master says. You run, bark, and wave your tail for them. You're nothing more than their dog." I told him before my voice became gentle.
He waited on me, his eyes soft.
"And regarding this." I said as I waved my hand slightly between the two of us. "You really are a dog. A dog that loves me. And... perhaps I am a fool, too. Because I love a dog that could've made it all work out for us but was too much of a coward to do so."
I leaned over to him, my hand landing under his chin, holding him.
"Admit it." I whispered as we looked each other in the eyes. "Admit that you love me, that you did ever since you gave me that fucking card."
For a moment, there was silence. His tortured eyes, looking at me. I knew. I always did. He closed his eyes, taking a deep breath, for a moment. This would be the last time that I spoke to him, that I could look into his eyes.
"I love you." He whispered.
All of a sudden, there was a loud sound followed by blood spraying my face as his body fell backward.
I stood up and walked over to him. I don't know how long I stood there, but after a while, I felt a tear sliding down my cheek. My hand touched my cheek as I whipped it away.
Motherfucker.
#Spotify#squid game#squid game season 2#squid game s2#squid game spoilers#squid game salesman#the salesman#the salesman x reader#salesman x reader#the salesman x fem!reader#gong yoo#gong yoo x reader#x reader#x fem!reader#x female reader#angst#hurt/angst
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Gravity Falls Thirty More Years AU and Art Masterlist
Here's all the pages of the comic in order plus some of the other GF stuff I've made. I'll keep updating this list to make it easy on y'all.
Edit: I have a new tagging system! All asks will be tagged #thirtymoreyearsau without spaces, and all comics and fic updates will be tagged #thirty more years au with spaces. If you want the whole story together, then you can filter using this tag on my account! Filtered link here.
If you like the comic and would like to support it, hereâs my tip jar! Donations also appreciated for this family's fundraiser!
Thirty More Years AU Comic:
Page 1
Pages 2 and 3
Page 4
Page 5
Page 6
Page 7
Pages 8 and 9
Page 10
Pages 11 and 12
Pages 13 and 14
Prequel Multiverse Mini Comic
Epistolary Prequel Companion/ Dipper's Diary Entries:
"Dear Mabel, I Miss You"
Answers to Common Questions:
What is the Thirty Years AU?
A Gravity Falls fan story and comic about what would happen if Mabel and Ford both fall into a leftover multiverse rift at the end of summer. They experience a week of silly adventures but return to a world where 30 years have passed and Dipper + co have aged without them. Told as both a comic and a companion fic.
2. How old are the characters?
Answer
3. When does the story take place relative to the show?
Answer
4. Where's Bill?
Answer
5. Where else can I read the comic? Will you distribute it on a site?
Releasing it on my Instagram (but Tumblr gets the pages earlier cause y'all are special). As for releasing it on a site, answer here.
6. How many pages/ how long will the comic approximately be?
Subject to change, but here's my answer for now.
7. How often will you post/ when will you post again?
Here's my answer for now, but if there's delays between posts please don't spam me with questions on when I'll post again. The updates will come when they come and I'm trying to keep this flexible.
8. Is this Drifting Stars AU/ Other Similar AU?
Answer
9. Someone's reposting on TikTok/ Other social media! Are you okay with this?
No, and please report them if you can. Answer here.
11. Will you tag me/ make a tag list?
Answer
12. Why haven't you answered my question?
Answer
13. What art program/ brushes do you use?
Answer
Other Fanart
Twin Glare^2
Kitten Sweater
Pines Pines Pines
Happy Birthday Twins
Gravity Falls The Odyssey AU
Sona Shenanigans
Fiddleford to the rescue
mystery trio eizouken
twins in time mini comic
F-fiddlestanâŚđĽş
Stan Pines Mini Character Analysis Essays
Apparently I do this a lot, so collecting them in one place:
Poll thots
Rough and tumble little Stanley
Stan Appreciation
that magic 8 ball manâŚ
off topic Billford thots
off topic Fiddleford thots
off topic Fiddlestan thots
off topic Emma May thots
#gravity falls#thirtymoreyearsau#gravity falls fanart#gravity falls au#gravity falls comic#gravity falls fic#yujateaasks#yujateaandpi
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me when I express my interests to literally nobody in particular
#me when a post flops and i think i should delete my entire online presence#cal.txt#r/196#i guess#tumblr tags#shitpost#hashtag relatable#i will gladly tell you any of my interests except supernatural and jack kline#thatâs some shameful shit#like ewwwww yea you know that one show with the white guys that are really sad and gay yeaa that one#itâs soioo bad it totally didnât change my life in ways I canât get back yea no itâs a regular bad media totes for sure#I totally am not autistic and specially interested in the character that exists solely within the final four seasons and prequel cameo#yeah heâs like hardly in the show but he means everything to me and more and itâs like this whole thing sorry#yeah Iâll stop#autism moment#special interests#hyperfixations
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Let Me In
Smoke X Black/WoC Reader X Stack (đđŽâđ¨đĽľ)
A night at the speakeasy that changes yâall lives forever
warnings: uh angst? and twin Mikeâs lol (I wish there was smut but maybe once I see the movie idk)
( SONG FROM SOUNDTRACK BY MY FAV MUST LISTEN đ
so I just had to come back here and update with a song by TanrĂŠlle for the soundtrack!! I just heard it and it soooo the soundtrack for this scene I wrote OMG I CANT DEAL )
side note: not sure if I even wrote that out correctly but the twins share reader there is no incest in the pairing. I thought about this late at night after seeing the trailer that just dropped and yea lol I havenât been in Mikeâs fanfic section in a while and all my Killmonger fics I never post so funny enough without the movie even being out this is my first fic for Mike ever posted.
I may follow up and do more after the movie drops and I see more of their personalities only time will tell. Iâm def playing around with something a little prequel just to show their dynamic a bit but again time will tell đĽľ
itâs so early on idk what to even tag this đ is anyone even reading this now or are we waiting on the movie to drop??
â¤ď¸đ
Smoke stood there yelling trying to calm down the group of hysterical night goers who now found themselves in an impossible situation. A situation that shouldnât be a reality but let the old tales tell it, it was just as true.Â
And now your small group of survivors is finding that out.Â
The lively party under the moon light quickly taking a turn after unwanted guests arrived odd and full of smiles.Â
It started with that Mary woman who had flirted her way in. She was out of place here and maybe thatâs why Stack seemed so intrigued. He never could turn down a mystery, your wild boy.
Now there was no way out that any of you could see just yet but you knew Smoke would think of something, he always did.
Pearl wailed in front of everybody, her body shaking uncontrollably as the other women rushed surrounding her, trying to give some comfort.
You seen Delta take that moment to approach Smoke who was deep in thought, closer to the front door than anyone else. That far away look on his face when he was racking his brain for a solution.Â
The realization that Stack had become a night creature, a vampire from the folklore of time immortal, from tales stretching across the world in different cultures, different languages was unfathomable. He had become whatever they were and it was settling into the group with dread.Â
But none more devastated than Smoke and you.Â
Now while Smoke was thinking of this with the rationality of surviving you just couldnât accept this.Â
âSmoke what we gonâ do without Stack?â Delta tried to whisper. He was unsuccessful because you could still hear him even with the group of women between yâall.Â
You feel the room spinning again and you just need a moment. Hearing him speaking of Stack in that way had the air rushing from your lungs. No not Stack. You thought. Not like this.Â
You know Smoke said for everyone to stay together and away from the walls, the doors, the windows any part of the foundation but you just need a moment because you feel like you canât fucking breathe.Â
Everyone is occupied when you slip away silent in your kitten heels you had choose for the night, your careful to not make noise with your form fitting dress thatâs decorated with beadwork at the hem. All night the dress had swayed and shinned in the low lit speakeasy. You had danced all night your dress adding its own sound to the lively music with the heavy beadwork while switching between the strong arms of your boys during every song when the other wasnât busy.Â
Stack danced with you and Smoke would just hold you and kinda sway as you danced on him. Ever the serious one.Â
You find yourself in the smaller back room thatâs used for storage with a back entrance. Even though you needed a moment the small space was quickly becoming suffocating causing your grief and disbelief to swell within you. It choked you. Now you felt like you were standing out in the fields on a hottest summer Mississippi day. You felt like you were dying.
You quickly realized you were hyperventilating. You needed air.Â
Over your deep breathing you hear softly yet unmistakably beyond the door âItâs ok babyâ. Your blood goes cold and your body freezes.Â
âStack?â You question softly as your eyes start to water while staring straight ahead of you.Â
âYea, itâs me babyâ He says in his familiar thick accent.Â
âHo-how?â You stutter in disbelief. Howâd he know you were back here? Out of everyone it could have been howâd he know it was you? Was he alone? So many questions ran through your head without ever making it to your lips.
âBaby I knew it was you. Donât cry babygirl just open the door foâ meâ He cooâs softly.Â
âI-I canâtâ you replied sounding even unconvinced to your own ears. It feels wrong to deny him.Â
âWhy? Baby I donât wanna be out here no more all alone. let me in so I can get away from these crazy crackersâ He mutters a little bit impatiently. That bit wasnât your Stack. Stack out of the both of them always was patient with you, it was almost sickening how he caved for you.Â
His patienceâs with you gave people the false hood of a saint when his reality was he could flip in a moment. Just like Smokes quietness and how gentle he was with you gave people a false impression of calm man. They were both ticking time bombs on any given day, at any moment.Â
âAnd itâs really you Stack?â You ask again begging your mind to believe what your heart does. That heâs still in there somewhere.Â
Itâs quiet for a moment before he's able to muster an almost forced reply. âOf course-â
âThe hell you doing?â You hear barked behind you in that deep Mississippi drawl.Â
Itâs not even seconds later when you feel his presence behind you and his large hand gripping your arm yanking you slightly back.
âItâs Stack! We have to help him! Let him in! Please Smoke!â You beg facing the other half of your heart, staring up into Smokes eyes. You seen the anger and the hurt swirling in the deep brown. Â
âIt ainât him!â He yells down at you as he towers above you. His handsome face menacing as always.Â
Youâre not sure if everyone had come back with Smoke or if theyâre just getting there but you feel everyoneâs eyes on you. You know they must think you crazy. You seen what everyone else outside the speakeasy did to eachother yet here you are begging for Smoke to find a way to save Stack, bring him back to you.
âOh come on now no fighting with our babygirl, just open up foâ me twinâ Stack taunts from the other side of the door.Â
The sound of his voice has you staring at the door with your conviction growing before Smoke is pulling your attention back to him.Â
âAye. Hey baby look at me thatâs not Stack. Not no moreâ He tries again with concern flickering in his eyes. Heâs not sure what will happen if he canât get you to accept it. His stomach turns with the thoughts of all the possibilities. He canât loose you too. Not now not never.Â
âPlease! Please I canât-I canât leave him out there!! Heâs not safeâ You begged staring up at him. Your eyes pleading with him to understand.Â
But that flicker of concern is quickly extinguished by the anger that replaces it in his brown eyes. Heâs shaking you as he turns you to face him. He needs you to understand.
He yells your name full of anger. âYouâre not safe if you let him in! Heâll kill you and everyone else in this fucking place!â He roars at you.Â
Itâs starting to dawn on Smoke he may have to take more precautions if you donât show him youâve accepted what has happened to Stack.
Youâre not sure why he allows it or if youâve just caught him off guard but you yank your arm away and move near the door.Â
You can feel the tension in the room at your sudden proximity to the door. Thereâs a small opening in the door just about your eye level in your short heels. Itâs about the length of your middle finger and horizontal.Â
âStack pl-please baby please tell me itâs really you. Youâre still my Stack, right?â You beg softly as you stare at Stackâs throat that you can see through the opening. Your fingers inching up to right below the hole. Heâs some how closer and your pointer finger ventures outside just barely to run along his full bottom lip. You shudder at the feel of his skin and how itâs something between hot and cool but not warm. It was odd and unsettling.
Thereâs a long pause and you can feel Smoke slowly move closer to you.Â
The silence is deafening to you as your heart starts to pick back up.Â
You see him shift a bit and when you crane you neck your able to see his eyes. You couldnât see Stacks eyes before, not this close anyway since he changed.
Theyâre grey almost sliver and mostly lifeless, the brown warmth from them missing. But the guilt that flickers across them fans the embers of your hope.Â
What is said next is so soft you almost donât hear it if it wasnât for the view you also had of his lips with the way heâs tilted his eyes to look down at you.Â
But the rasp of his voice is unmistakable when he whispers âI love youâÂ
Your heart canât take it and even if his eyes are different your Stack is still in there somewhere. Your hand rushes the door handle.Â
Itâs not Smokes booming voice behind you yelling âNO!â that startles you, itâs the earth shaking bang on the door in-front of you when you can do longer see Stackâs eyes that freezes your movements. Your hand inches from the handle.
The bang comes again as Stack yells âLet me in!â. Your body feels like you were just dumped into the Mississippi during winter. The cold realization settles over you. No heâs not your Stack, not fully at least.
Had he not banged on the door startling you, you would have surly opened it and thrown yourself into his arms. This was his way of showing you, your Stack that was still in there was trying to get through to you over the force that was consuming his body. He was trying to scare you.
The next bang is just as loud and aggressive and it causes you to stumble, falling back, your hands breaking the fall and scraping against the wooden floor as your bottom takes most of the impact.Â
Your heart is racing faster than you thought possible as you stare up wide eyed at the door Stack continues to bang againstÂ
âLET ME IN!âÂ
You feel Smokes rough hands wrap around your waist pulling you up. His arms wrap around you as you snob in your hands. His full soft lips at your neck shhing and comforting you.
âItâs ok baby, gonna be ok, you safe with meâ Smoke whispers softly against you.Â
They always had their different ways of dealing with you and it just worked having both of them. It wasnât unusual for Smoke to be so soft with you but it didnât happen as often as it did with Stack. Smoke was definitely your grumpy one, hardly if ever smiling if it wasnât for you.Â
They both came in your life at the same time sweeping you off your feet without even trying, They both pulled you in in their own way true to their own personalities. When you realize that you couldnât choose you decided you would walk away, and they refused to let you go. They decided it was only right to share you with boundaries in place over loosing you. It was by far nothing any of you had experienced before or would have been willing with anyone else. But here the three of you were years later. You never looked back.Â
âYou and your man could be together and even better if you come out or let us in little ladyâ Itâs another voice the room full of people hear, his voice, the white man who brought this hell to their little speakeasy paradise.
âSuch a pretty pretty thing, weâd make you a queenâ he continues with a groan almost like he was thinking of how your blood would taste or maybe even more sexual thoughts. Either way it caused you to shudder in Smokes arms pressing more into him.Â
You know you arenât mistaken when you hear a familiar growl. Itâs not him itâs Stack. The sound causes your stomach to turn a bit knowing thatâs the part of him thatâs still Stack. He was always so jealous it was a wonder he was able to handle the relationship of 3. Even turning didnât seem to change that in him. It was a sound you heard many many times before. A man any man would be beat within an inch of his life for disrespecting Stack or Smoke by gazing upon you for a moment too long.Â
Youâre not sure if you should be happy or devastated by the realization. Apart of you wants to be with him, be whatever he is now. Stay by his side like he had always been by hers.Â
But then you feel the warm squeeze of Smokeâs arms behind you and his hands turning you into his chest as the tears you didnât notice start again keep falling.Â
Smokeâs large hands grab your face softly and his thumbs wipes the tears away. You couldnât give up, not when you still had your Smoke. You had to fight for him even if that meant letting go of Stack or whatever Stack had become.Â
His face is close to yours making you hold eye contact.Â
âShh baby mâ here, you safe. Just stay here with meâ He says watching you, you nod finally giving him some relief youâre starting to accept this night and the twisted turn of fate. âIf that was still Stack heâd want you safe baby. We both know that. Heâd want you safe and with me.â
You shake your head in understanding but it doesnât stop the tears. He leans in to softly kiss them away.Â
âWe gonâ be good. Ight baby? I got you.â He promises holding your eyes in place with the conviction in his.Â
And you believe him. Not matter how impossible the situation seemed you believed him to always come through for you.Â
âDid yâall hear that? Whereâs that coming fromâ Delta panics leaving the room to search for the source.Â
You steal a glance back and notice that Stack is still staring through the opening as Smoke pulls you away.Â
âI love youâ you whisper back with a finale look before turing into Smokeâs embrace as he leads you safely away from the temptation of his twin.Â
Smoke knows that Stack is still in there somewhere but his bloodlust seems to be his main controller and  he canât let you hold out on hope and get yourself killed or worse turned trying to prove your love. Trying to prove Stack is still in there.Â
So he keeps you close as possible as they enter the main room following the rest of the group.Â
âI love you Smokeâ you say softly as you stop and look up at him.Â
Smoke knows you do just as much as you love Stack, youâve never shown favorites. He loves you more than heâll ever be able to say, you both know that. After tonight though he might have to work on being able to tell you just how much he does.Â
Smoke doesnât care what happens tonight as long as he gets you safely away from this. Not only for himself but for Stack too.Â
â¤ď¸đ
#michael b jordan#mbj#michael bae jordan#Michael b Jordan fanfic#michael b jordan x black reader#Michael b Jordan x you#sinners#sinners 2025#sinners smoke#sinners stack#ughwrites#ughmike#Michael b Jordan imange#Michael b Jordan x reader
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love jones

pairing: photographer!haechan x (f) reader
genre/warnings: smut, angst, strangers to lovers, hollywood!au, photographer!haechan, model!reader, unprotected sex (donât be silly wr- [gets hit by a car])
summary: After breaking off your engagement to your fiance, you move to Los Angeles to pursue a modeling career. There in the fairytale land where stars go to shine you meet Haechan, an aspiring photographer with a penchant for mischief and flirtation.
word count: 12.4k (/25.5k)
a/n: inspired by love jones; the song by leon thomas featuring ty dolla $ign and the movie by theodore witcher. this is a repost of an old fic that i will be publishing in 2 installments; it is also the prequel to supermodel, which you do not have to read. installment two will be linked here when posted. as always, feedback is appreciated!
The air was different in California.Â
âThe land of make-believe,â you sighed, holding the cold metal bar in your hands. This was your new home. Sine die.Â
Better than New York City, you muttered crankily to yourself. Everything there reminded you of him. Every street, every scent. You would rather not think of the asshole that cheated on you with another woman while you gave him everything. California, on the other hand, was a brand new slate. Free of assholes that showed other girls their penises while being months away from vowing forever to you. You had let out a massive sigh of relief when your doctor confirmed that you didnât have any infections.
Still, you fondled the engagement band on your finger.Â
âI know youâre not out here thinking about he who shall not be named,â Chaewon chided in disapproval, hands on her hips.Â
You turned around. You hadnât heard the door open. When she came beside you, you turned around again, facing the busy street just below of you.Â
âNo. Iâm not thinking about him,â you lied through your teeth. âIâm just brooding.â
âSame damn thing.â
You rolled your eyes.Â
Chaewon back-hugged you and wrapped her arms around your waist snugly, making you giggle. âI forbid you from thinking about that asshole any longer. The whole point of you coming here was to forget about him.â
âAnd the new opportunities,â you added.Â
âExactly. He was holding you back. He wanted to be the man and bring home the bacon, and couldnât stand the thought of you being a successful independent woman perfectly capable of taking care of her damn self,â Chaewon said without taking a single breath.Â
You mulled it over. That was a little too true. Your ex-boyfriend always talked about having kids and taking care of you and them, but you hated to think that your independence mightâve driven him away. âBut you donât just forget about the life and broken promises of the future you made,â you whispered sadly.Â
Chaewon let out a little sigh. She was sad for you. Her heart, too.Â
Then, she backed off and said, âYou know what? Weâre going to the club.â
You gawked and did a one-eighty. Full speed. âWhat?â
âYou heard me. And put that ring up, girl. Youâre not gonna get any dick if a man sees that on your finger. I donât know why you havenât given it back to him yet. Better yet, you should throw it off a mountain. We have plenty.â
âOh, please,â you replied boredly. âI know these Los Angeles boys donât give a damn. They would fuck the hole between the ring if their dicks were small enough.â
âOh, donât bring your Manhattan bullshit over here. The boys I know have decorum,â Chaewon replied matter-of-factly.Â
âIâm sure,â you deadpanned.Â
Chaewon cocked her head at you and planted her hands on her hips. âWhen youâre done being a drama queen, you need to go change into something risquĂŠ. Iâll be back in an hour to pick you up.â
âYes, Mother,â you said coolly, in spite of not being even the least bit inclined to bump and grind at a club tonight.Â
âIâm serious. If that ringâs not off your finger by the time I get back, Iâm kicking some ass.â Then, she went back inside. You shook your head. Los Angeles, you thought. What am I going to do with you?
The club was packed with people, which was to be expected given that it was a Friday night. You paid them no attention, sticking close to Chaewon like a toddler kept close to their motherâs bosom.Â
âAnd I told her, âbut that doesnât make any sense. Gladys Presley popped Elvis Presley out of her coochie eighty-six years ago. Thereâs no way you could be his mother.ââ
The group laughed at Jeno.Â
Jaemin hurled back a shot of vodka and added, âGladys Presley didnât look happy in a single picture Iâve seen of her.â
âShit. If my son was Elvis Presley, I wouldnât exactly be exhilarated either,â Ryujin quipped.Â
Mark covered her mouth. âLower your voice. You cannot say that too loud out here.â
Ryujin shoved him off. âGet your hands off me, freak,â she hissed, narrowing her eyes at him.Â
The group laughed again. Except for Mark.Â
And Haechan.Â
Winter casted a glance at Haechan. âWhatâs up with the sun man?â
Jaemin, who was to the left of Haechan, nudged him and asked, âWhatâs wrong, my man?â
Haechan didnât even blink. He was too busy staring past the tables. Something had evidently caught his eye.Â
Jeno followed his gaze and snickered. He spotted you, sitting at the bar with Chaewon. âI know whatâs got my boyâs attention.â
Everyone glanced where Jeno was looking. There you were, obliviously laughing and chattering with your best friend. You were wearing a flimsy black dress now in lieu of the dolphin shorts youâd worn while moving the last of your stuff inside your new condo.Â
âDamn, sheâs bad,â Jaemin murmured under his breath.Â
Winter angrily hit him.Â
Jaemin immediately stammered, âI mean, youâre badder. Sheâs nothing compared to you. Iâm just saying sheâs a little cute. For someone like Haechan, maybe.â
The table erupted in laughter.Â
âMm-hm,â Winter hummed doubtfully, crossing her arms.Â
âCome on, baby. You know Iâve only got eyes for you,â Jaemin said, giving Winter a smooch to the cheek. âBillions of girls in the world and I still choose you. Youâre the only one I want.â
Mark deadpanned, âHeâs so smooth.âÂ
âHe must get it from you,â Ryujin shot, voice dripping with sarcasm.Â
Mark shot her a glare.Â
Jeno draped an arm around Haechanâs shoulder. âCome on, man. You just gonna sit and stare at her or what? You gotta make a move.â
Ryujin quipped, âAnd what do you know about making moves?âÂ
âAugust twelfth, two years ago.âÂ
Ryujin narrowed her eyes at him. âOnly losers who get little play remember the exact date they fucked somebody.â
âWell, that says a lot more about you than it does about me, doesnât it? I could have been talking about anything,â Jeno quipped, smirking.Â
The boys, especially Mark, laughed. Winter fought a chuckle in female solidarity.Â
âI pieced it together,â Ryujin mumbled.Â
âItâs okay to admit youâre a little lonely, Ryujin. I mean, after Sunwoo fled to Chicago, I can only imagine itâs been a long minute since youâve gotten any attention downstairs,â Mark crooned like potent venom.Â
There were a couple of âoohâs from the boys.Â
âYou guys are annoying,â Haechan finally said after having not spoken for the past few minutes. Which was unusual for someone like him. âIâm going to go get her number. Watch this.â
The table whooped and hollered, cheering him on. Meanwhile, he approached you stealthily, popping a stick of gum.Â
Haechan sat at the available seat to your left (because Chaewon was to your right) and greeted, âHello, ladies.â
Chaewon took one glance at the handsome stranger to your left and had raging heart eyes. You, on the other hand, were wishing you would have ignored her and brought your ring to deter any unwanted visitors. The one thing he was good for, you grumbled to yourself. But if you were being honest with yourself, the stranger was pretty cute. Pretty brown eyes, like your ex-fiancĂŠ. Smooth skin. And he had the cutest, most kissable lips. If you hadnât already written him off as bad news, you would have let yourself be interested.Â
âHi, handsome,â Chaewon flirted, giggling like an idiot. You stiffened. You knew your way around men, but you werenât in the mood.Â
Haechan smiled, but he was all eyes for you. Ironically, you were wishing he would disappear. He asked, âCan I have your name?â
âYou havenât done anything to deserve it,â you replied with complete disinterest.Â
âHard to get. I fuck with it,â Haechan noted. âWhat do you want me to do?â
You pretended to be in thought. âYou can start by removing yourself from my vicinity. Please and thank you.â
Chaewon winced and told him your name.
âChae,â you groaned. Â
Haechan repeated after her. âA beautiful name for a beautiful girl.â
âOh, could you be any more original?â you deadpanned. âBy the way, Iâm engaged.â
Haechan laughed. âYou are definitely not engaged. I know that and I know nothing about you.â
You narrowed your eyes at him. âAnd how would you know that?âÂ
âBecause engaged people have engaged people vibes. You have painfully strong âI hate anything that has to do with love and romanceâ vibes,â Haechan answered slickly, then leaned close to sing for only your ears, âAnd I donât see an engagement ring on your finger.â
Chaewon was having a laugh at your expense. Meanwhile, this stranger pulled back and smirked at you, reading your thoughts. You wanted to be mad that he was right, but you kind of liked his voice in your ear.
âSheâs single,â Chaewon added, as if it were necessary. âMaybe not ready to mingle though.â
You were fighting the most irritated groan at this point.Â
Haechan raised his hands and backed off, taking the mean scowl on your face as a firm ânoâ and the rejection coolly. âThatâs cool. Look, Iâll leave you ladies alone. Have a good night.â
âYou, too,â Chaewon said, waving him goodbye as he stepped off the barstool.Â
When he was finally gone, you let out a breath of relief.Â
Chaewon gave you a look. âHeâs so into you. Iâm not even mad. You fumbled so bad. Heâs fine as hell.â
âYouâre forgetting that I didnât ask to be dragged to this club in the first place. I donât want to get dicked down by some dude whose name I donât even know,â you grumbled, finishing what was left in your cup.Â
âIâm sure he would have given it to you if you asked,â she replied teasingly.Â
You rolled your eyes. âHe can keep it to himself. I donât want to fuck and forget.â
âUgh, lame,â Chaewon groaned. âFuck and forget is every young modelâs motto.â
âWell, not mine,â you huffed, vexed. With a smidge of attitude.Â
Chaewon noticed your tone and frowned. âOkay, timeout. Babe, listen. Iâm not trying to pressure you into doing anything you donât wanna do. If you donât wanna fuck around then donât. I was just suggesting it might be nice to get to know somebody else. See where it goes.â
âI know,â you sighed, squeezing her hand. âTonightâs just not a good night.â
Chaewon bobbed her head. âI understand. Take your time. Youâll know when youâre ready.â
You gave her a weak smile.
Meanwhile, Haechan was doing something adjacent to the walk of shame as he approached his cliqueâs table, empty-handed.
Jeno immediately taunted, âWhat a snag, man.â
âShut the fuck up, Jeno,â Haechan hissed, throwing Jeno his middle finger.Â
Mark gave Haechan a compassionate look. âYou get an âEâ for effort, dude.â
âL for loss,â Jeno murmured under his breath none too quietly.
âShe looked like she wanted to kill you with her bare hands,â Jaemin retorted, holding Winterâs hand under the table.
Winter snickered. âAnd how would you know what that looks like?â
âBecause I see Ryujin look at Mark like that everyday,â Jaemin quipped, earning a couple laughs around the table.Â
âWhatever,â Haechan said, feigning nonchalance. âYou win some, you lose some.â
Jaemin braced his hand on Haechanâs shoulder. âThis is just the trials and tribulations, buddy. Youâll get her next time.â
Haechan downed a shot of liquor. âWeâll see.â
When Tuesday morning arrived, you were up bright and early. You slipped on a minimalist outfit and got a taxi to the record store.Â
Ryujin was working the cash register when you walked inside. You didnât recognize her, but she recognized you, smirking in amusement. âGood morning. Can I help you with anything?â
âYeah, Iâm looking for a Michael Jackson vinyl,â you replied, holding your purse.Â
âVinyls are back that way,â Ryujin said, pointing her finger. âGood luck. He still sells fast.â
You thanked her and headed straight for the back shelves. Your record collection was a vinyl away from being finished after a number of years spent putting it together and you were desperately on the hunt for the finishing piece. Not a second later, Haechan meandered inside clad in denim jeans and black leather. He looked like nothing short of any parentâs worst nightmare.Â
Ryujin beckoned him over and whispered, âArenât you the king of good timing? Your girlâs in the back.â
Haechan furrowed his brows. âMyââŹÂŚâ Then, he faced the back of the store and saw you carefully sifting through records, trying your absolute hardest to find the one you were looking for. From the looks of it, however, your efforts were in vain.Â
Haechan glanced back at Ryujin in shock. âShit. Should I shoot my shot?â
âI mean, the last time you shot your shot, you missed,â Ryujin replied, propping her pretty face up on the counter. âLike Michael Jordan against the Toronto Raptors in 2002 missed.â
âAnd he still won. So, watch it,â Haechan shot back.Â
Ryujin rolled her eyes. âWhatever. But donât make me get the buff Johnny guy from next door to escort you out of the building. The cute one thatâs pretty tall.â
âEveryone knows who Johnny is, Ryu,â Haechan muttered, making his way towards you. Again.Â
You didnât even give Haechan the chance to speak when you noticed him. Your face scrunched up and you droned, âYou again.â
Haechan lifted his hands. âYou know, most people usually greet others with a âheyâ or a âgood morning.ââ
âNot in New York City.â
Haechan gave you a curious stare. âYouâre from New York City?â
You grimaced. You didnât mean to let that slip. âIâve already said too much.â
âYouâve said just enough, girl,â Haechan replied with a smirk. âWhatchu looking for?â
âA Michael Jackson Thriller vinyl. Itâs for my record collection,â you answered absentmindedly, ransacking the shelves for the record to no avail. Which was irritating. Itâs like his most popular album, you grumbled to yourself. Â
That certainly got Haechanâs attention. âOh,â he said, sticking his hands in his pockets. âI have a signed Thriller vinyl at my crib.â
You scoffed. âPlease. As if.â
âIâm deadass,â Haechan insisted, but the untamed twinkle in his eyes made him hard to believe.Â
âRight,â you droned. âAnd Iâm guessing this is the part where you invite me back to your crib and try to persuade me to hook up with you.â
âHey, Iâm not that type of guy. Scoutâs honor,â Haechan said, though sensing your raging skepticism, he called out, âLook. Hey, Ryu! Donât I have a signed Michael Jackson vinyl?â
âItâs like you wonât let us forget,â Ryujin shouted back, annoyed. Then, she leaned over the counter, noticing the reluctance all over your face. âYeah, heâs got one. Itâs legit. Iâd tell you if this punk was bullshitting.â
For whatever reason, Ryujinâs words of confirmation finally pushed you to believe him. You badgered, âHow in the hell did you get your hands on a signed Michael Jackson vinyl? He couldnât have given it to you. You were how old when he died?â
âLegends never die, baby,â was Haechanâs witty reply.Â
You almost rolled your eyes, but settled for stubbornly folding your arms instead. âOkay. What do I have to do for it?â
âGo out on a date with me.â
That didnât surprise you at all. Haechan had been trying to ask you out from the get-go. He was nothing if not persistent as ever. âA date,â you repeated with a smidge of boredom.Â
Haechan bobbed his head. âI mean, it doesnât have to be a date-date. My friends and I are having this get-together tomorrow night. You should come. Ryujin has been bitching about how thereâs an uneven boy-to-girl ratio.â
You arched a brow. âAnd you want me to even things out?â
âWell, with you weâd have four boys to three girls, but if you find me worthwhile you can start bringing your friend and then weâll be as even as a figure eight.â
You mulled it over. One date wouldnât be so bad, you contemplated. It wasnât as if you would be alone with this boy. There would be five other people in the room with you. Not to mention Haechan truly didnât seem that bad. And if you were being honest, under better circumstances, you probably wouldâve already taken him to bed.Â
Besides, after spending most of your dating life with a cheating bastard, you definitely deserved to move on. Something fresh. If you decided that you didnât like Haechan after this date, you could cut him off. Matter of fact, you could cut him off afterwards whether you liked him or not. Anything for the vinyl.Â
Haechan watched your lip tuck out in thought and thought it was the cutest thing ever. He could tell you were really mulling it over. The gears in your brain were spinning quicker than ever before.Â
âFine,â you finally said after a while. âIâll go on a date with you.â
In his head, Haechan was doing a very, very strange victory dance. But instead, he played it cool, and said, âSweet.â
âCool.â
Haechan pointed to the vinyls behind him with his thumb. âCan I play you something?â
You shrugged. âSure.â
Haechan did a smooth one-eighty and grabbed a Michael Jackson Bad vinyl before popping it into the record player beside you. You watched him skillfully set the needle, as if he had done it a thousand times before. A song you knew very well started to play.Â
âI just canât stop loving you,â you exhaled, noting the song name. You knew every word.Â
Haechan nodded and smiled at you. Then, he stretched out his hand. âMay I have a dance?â
You giggled and took his hand in yours, putting your other behind his shoulder as he wrapped his around your waist. You wanted to be mad that you liked how his hands felt on your body. Ironically, you couldnât remember the last time you had felt the touch of a man.Â
In little to no time, you were slow dancing in the back of a record store with a stranger. A very handsome stranger at that. You locked eyes and it was enough to make you hold your breath.Â
Neither of you took your eyes off of each other afterwards. You were just swaying to the rhythm, breathing in the sweet, titillating scent of him. Sharing the warmth of your bodies as they touched.Â
It was almost romantic. Then, a thought struck you. âI never got your name.â
âMy friends call me Haechan,â he replied, flashing a smile. âBut you can call me âbaby.ââ
âHaechan,â you said, tasting his name on your tongue. And ignoring his attempts at flirting.
Haechanâs face faltered for half a second, but he was quick to recover. âBecause I like the way it rolls off your tongue, Iâll let it slide.â
You snickered.Â
That sound was music to his ears. âSo,â Haechan started. âIâll pick you up tomorrow night at seven. Sound good?â
âSounds great,â you chirped. âIâll give you my number.â
âI hope you like motorcycles,â Haechan replied with a chuckle.Â
âYou drive a motorcycle?â
Haechan pointed to the entrance with his shoulder. âParked right outside. Sheâs my baby.â
You stared over his shoulder and right through the glass window, spotting his motorcycle parked directly out front. It was a sleek, black motorbike that coupled perfectly with his mischievous attire.Â
Oh, boy.Â
For an entire hour, you carefully planned your date night outfit with Chaewon (who after loudly celebrating your secured date agreed to assist with the wardrobe assembling prep) over FaceTime.Â
Not that it was a fancy date. Which was exactly why you were conflicted. You wanted to dress to impress, but you also didnât want to seem like a try-hard. Like hell you were trying to impress Haechan, but you knew men like him perceived the slightest things as sexual advances.
You went for jeans and a crop top with a cute puffer jacket in the end, and called it a night. Just in case it got chilly, which was unpredictable in bitter Los Angeles evenings. Over the night and throughout your day, you caught yourself thinking about the handsome stranger that liked motorcycles.Â
The slow dancing in the record store. The eye contact. The warmth of his body beside yours and his perfect scent throttling you. And you found yourself smiling. When Chaewon asked you how the dance was after you confided in her about the little event at the back of the record store, youâd replied, âIt was magical.â
You were standing on the fence. Haechan was cute and could be an excellent distraction from your mess of a love life. But you werenât exactly ready to risk getting your heart broken again.Â
So, you decided you wouldnât be getting your heart involved. Haechan was harmless fun.  Â
But you were still counting down the hours until he arrived at your front door.Â
Haechan arrived punctually at your front door with two minutes left to spare. You grabbed your phone off the charger and dropped it in your purse before racing to open the front door. âHi,â you said.Â
Haechan waved. ââSup, baby.â
âYouâre on time,â you commented, maybe slightly surprised.
Haechan chuckled at that. Seemingly not offended. âYeah, I am.â He cocked his head. âShould I have stood you up?â
A part of you somewhat expected him to and you would be lying if you said it hadnât. Sue you for being cynical. After all, your last relationship had taught you to be a little more careful with your heart. Deciding you wouldnât be answering that question, you gave him a quick scan and concluded that you liked what you saw. âYou clean up nice.â
âIs that your way of saying Iâm handsome?â
âIt means you dress up well. Take the compliment before I retract it,â you replied, crossing your arms.Â
âYou already said it. No take-backs,â Haechan teased, grinning all smug-like. âYou look pretty. But youâre always gorgeous.â
His flirting was going to be the death of you. âYouâve seen me three times and not once without makeup.â
âTake the compliment before I retract it,â Haechan mocked, giving an impersonation of however your voice sounded in his head.Â
You gawked. âI do not sound like that!âÂ
Haechan snickered and grabbed your hand, shutting the door behind you with his other. âListen, baby,â he started. âWhile I would love to get on your nerves, weâre going to be late.â
Realizing he was right, you dropped it. For now. âOkay,â you sighed. âWell, letâs go.â
Haechan led you outside to where his motorcycle was parked, making small talk with you along the way to fill the silence in the air. You didnât talk about anything special - most of it turned into him being endearingly aggravating - but you noted that you liked his voice.Â
When you got there, Haechan passed you a pretty pink helmet and told you, âI bought this for you. I hope you like pink. You gave me a pink girl vibe.â
âBecause youâre just so good at knowing what vibes I give off,â you deadpanned, realizing this was the second time he had told you what vibes you gave him. And had been correct.Â
Haechan didn't do shit but smirk. âWell?â
You sighed. âI love pink,â you admitted, attempting to put it on.Â
Your confession made him grin even broader, but instead of teasing you, Haechan opted to help you put the helmet on correctly. âYou a virgin?â
The use of that word made you shudder a little bit in surprise, but you quickly realized what he meant.Â
Your faltering didnât go unnoticed by Haechan, no matter how brief. âI meant a motorcycle virgin,â he added.
âI know,â you replied, chuckling. âAnd yup. Nobody has ever taken me for a spin on a daredevil before.â
âIâm glad to have taken your motorcycle virginity,â replied Haechan, stepping back after clasping your helmet. âReady, babe?â
Your voice wavered, âSort of.â
Haechan mounted his bike and gestured for you to mimic him. When you were straddling the seat, he gently steered your hands around his waist. âDonât be scared. Youâll be fine as long as you hold onto me really, really tight.â
You narrowed your eyes. âAnd you liking me touching you has nothing to do with it?â
âThose are the pros.â
âAnd what else are the pros?â
âOn a motorcycle, we get to dodge all the traffic,â Haechan replied with a grin, securing his own helmet. âNow, like I said, hold on tight.â
You did as told, tightly clasping your arms around his waist and holding on for dear life when you felt the motorcycle jerk alive underneath your shared weight.Â
And it was exhilarating, flying past the city lights at the speed of light itself and watching splashes of color bleed into each other. You could feel the wind on your face and whip through your hair. You found yourself laughing as Haechan quite literally took you on the ride of your life.Â
He weaved in and out of lanes adroitly, avoiding stationary cars with a technique only years of training could upskill. Which was reassuring. You werenât sitting on the back of the bike of a total amateur.Â
Hearing your noises of excitement made Haechan crack a broad smile. She likes it, he thought smugly. It was a step up from the night he met you and he would gladly take any tiny accomplishment. He couldnât wait to see the look on the boys faces when he popped up with you in tow. No one believed him when he said heâd scored a date with you.Â
Well, of course Ryujin did, because she saw the whole thing go down. But she wouldnât support him nor deny that he had snagged you. So it would be a huge surprise.Â
With some minutes of driving out of the way, you and Haechan finally dismounted his bike, arriving just shy of Jaeminâs house. You both caught your breath for a second, leaving your helmets behind. When you knocked on the door, a man you obviously had never seen before answered, a cup in hand. He saw you and his features instantly twisted with surprise. âWell, Iâll be damned,â he muttered under his breath.Â
âI told you so,â were the first words to leave Haechanâs mouth.Â
Jeno stepped aside, making room for you. And ignoring his friend. âCome on in, beautiful. The partyâs just getting started.â
You werenât wooed by the pet name, which made Haechan snicker as he walked inside the party, arm locked with yours.Â
The look of surprise on everyoneâs faces did not go unnoticed by you and you quickly turned to Haechan, asking, âDid you not tell your friends I was coming?â
âOh, he wouldnât shut up about it. We just didnât believe him,â Jaemin answered for your date, shock promptly fading into amusement. He held out his hand for you to shake. âIâm Jaemin. The host of this shitshow.â
You kindly shook hands with him and told him your name. âNice to meet you.â
Haechan took over from there and pointed to his friends in the order that they appeared on the couch as he introduced, âWinter, Ryujin, Mark. And I guess the fuckward that opened the door for you is Jeno.â
Jeno lifted his middle finger. âOh, fuck you, Haechan.â
âLove you too, man,â Haechan replied smugly, ushering you to the couch.Â
In little to no time, you were socializing with Haechanâs clique as if youâd been good friends for ages. None of them made you feel like an imposter, which you appreciated. Jaemin and his girlfriend Winter, who was sitting squarely on his lap, encouraged you to get comfortable. You felt right at home, laughing at their shenanigans. Many of which were Haechanâs, who was quite the shit-stirrer and troublemaker. You werenât at all surprised. He screamed chaos.Â
His friends had a noteworthy amount of individuality and magnetism too. Jeno was everything you thought Haechan would be, but hilarious. Maybe even charming depending on who you asked. He liked taking turns hurling insults with Haechan. They were like brothers.Â
Jaemin and Winter were absolutely smitten with each other and were insufferable when apart, but grossly cute together. She was glued to his lap most of the time, but added a unique sense of humor to the conversation in between kisses.Â
Ryujin and Mark were mortal enemies and couldnât go a half second without bickering and endless banter, but they were a killer Spades duo and gave you and Haechan a run for your money. Their similarities to an old married couple were reminiscent of your grandparents and you made a mental note to check on your grandmother later.
âTalking to yourself is not weird,â Mark whined some hours later.Â
Ryujin shot, âMaybe on whatever planet you come from.â
The pack (and you admittedly) let out a laugh at poor Markâs expense.Â
Jaemin set down his drink and took a hit from the joint you had all started to pass around not too long ago. Everybody was at least a little buzzed by now except for Haechan, which surprised you. You didnât expect him to be responsible. âOkay, okay. Chill. Every man deserves to give himself a good pep talk in the mirror.â
âOkay, so are we talking pep talks or having full-blown conversations with yourself?â asked Jeno.Â
Winter turned to Jaemin and asked, âYou give yourself pep talks?â
Jaemin bobbed his head. âSometimes,â he said. âLike when I asked you out. I gave myself a long speech of encouragement.â
Ryujin furrowed her brows. âDidnât she say ânoâ the first time you asked her out?â
Everybody laughed.Â
Haechan turned to you and explained, âJaemin asked Winter out in our freshman year of college in the courtyard. He pulled out all the stops - flowers, chocolates, the whole nine. She rejected him and the whole campus talked about it for weeks.â
âI thought he was so weird!â Winter exclaimed.Â
âShe thought Jaemin was weird. Jaemin talked to himself. Iâm connecting the dots,â quipped Ryujin, passing the joint. Â
Mark hissed, âYou didnât connect shit.â
âIâm connecting them.â
Jeno pointed to you with his drink. âWhat about you? Do you talk to yourself?â
âSometimes,â you admitted.Â
Mark leapt up and exclaimed, âYes!â
âBut only when Iâm self-deprecating.â
âOh,â Mark replied darkly. Ryujin had to tug him back down.Â
Haechan grabbed your hand and said sweetly, âNever talk to yourself.â
You rolled your eyes. He was such a flirt. Maybe you were starting to like it.Â
Some more colorful banter later, Haechan decided to connect his phone to Jaeminâs bluetooth speaker and everybody got up to bust a move to his wonderful music selection. He volunteered his hand and you took it gladly, in a world of your own as you each danced.Â
Haechan quickly became talented at making you laugh. He shimmied his hips in a very, very unattractive way and you almost snorted. âYou know,â Haechan started a couple minutes later, your bodies much closer. âI canât shake the feeling that youâre really familiar. Like Iâve seen you before.â
You shrugged. âMaybe. I do modeling.â
âReally?â
âMm-hm,â you hummed. Your faces were dangerously close. One wrong move and your lips would be touching. âMainly in New York, but Iâve decided to come here for a fresh start.â
Surprise was Haechanâs initial reaction, but he quickly responded, âThat checks out. You are breathtaking, after all.â
You groaned. âItâs like you have some compulsion to flirt with me.â
âI do,â Haechan replied with a grin. âIâll keel over and die if I donât flirt with you.â
That checks out, you were tempted to mock, but instead you mimicked monotonously, âMust flirt. Will self-destruct if I donât flirt.â
Haechan laughed loudly and you smiled at the sound of him. As the night carried on, you were finding less and less to dislike about him. He also only got even handsomer at this range. You could see every little detail on his pretty boy face.Â
Needless to say, Haechan was also hyper aware of the lack of distance between your faces and bodies. His eyes kept flitting to your plump lips and all he could think about was how kissable they were. âI think itâs really interesting that youâre a model,â he began.Â
You casted him a glance. âWhy?â
âBecause Iâm a photographer.â
âReally?â you asked, somewhat shocked.Â
Haechan bobbed his head. âMm-hm. My whole life kinda. Itâs my passion.â
âInteresting,â you replied, though it wasnât a lie. You were thinking over his admission. He was splurging your assumptions of him, dime by fucking dime. Haechan screamed spoiled rich kid at first glance and youâd doubted that he even had a job.Â
âTell me something else about you,â Haechan said, locking eyes with you and doing his best to keep them there. You tested the limits of his self-control and he didnât know whether he liked it or not.Â
âLike what?â
Haechan shrugged. âAnything.â
You thought long and hard about it. His weighty stare didnât help in the slightest. After a minute you confessed, âI like cheesy movies.â
His eyes flickered with surprise. âSeriously?â
You smiled coyly and replied, âYes. Itâs a character flaw, I know.â
âWow,â he said, shaking his head. âThe model with an attitude that collects vinyls as a hobby likes cheesy movies. You amaze me, you know.â
You gasped. âI do not have an attitude!â
âYou have lots of attitude, baby. Snark for days. And I love every minute of it,â flirted Haechan for the umpteenth time this night alone.Â
You were tempted to roll your eyes, but you kept them on his face, realizing again how good-looking he was. His lips were calling your name and you wondered if they were as soft as they looked. âRelax,â you said, feeling your hold on the reins slacken. You didnât like it not one bit. âIâm only going out with you because I want that Michael vinyl.â
Haechan seemingly didnât take offense to that and replied, âI know, but I thought that maybe if we went out on a date you would realize thereâs actually a lot to like about me.â
You had already reached that conclusion on your own, feeling yourself become attracted to Haechan the longer you spent time with him, but your heart had intricate security and you were in no way inclined to let your guard down.Â
âLike what?â
Haechan didnât waste a second on hesitation. âWe have similar music tastes. We both like cheesy movies. Iâm a photographer. Youâre a model. I mean, come on. We go together like pancakes and syrup, baby.â
Him likening you both to pancakes and syrup made you snort. âIs that the best analogy you could come up with?â you asked.Â
âCut me some slack,â Haechan groaned. âThe last time I ate was ten this morning. Iâm starving.â
You laughed.Â
He squeezed your hand affectionately and said, âSpeaking of which, thereâs a diner down the block that serves really good pancakes. I can vouch. Wanna go grab some?â
You pretended to mull it over and eventually replied, âI would like that.â
Haechan sported a victorious grin before disclosing to his clique that the two of you would be seeing yourselves out. Ryujin bid you goodnight and Winter pouted, asking when she would see you again. You and your date barely managed to escape the party, slipping outside into the cold after a solid five minutes.Â
The sky looked a little darker now, the city a little brighter. Time really did fly by when you were having fun. Among other things. âCâmon,â Haechan said, grabbing your hand. And you both held hands as he walked you to his parked bike.Â
The diner was bare, given the early hour as the clock transcended past midnight, but the food was delightful as promised. Only a pair of employees were working their shifts, but you and Haechan tried to keep it down as you talked over an early breakfast in the booth.Â
Which failed tremendously. Haechan was just so hilarious. Your laughter rang out through the breakfast joint in spite of how much you constantly reminded yourself to be quiet. You werenât even paying attention to the pair of co-workers increasingly losing the will to live. You and Haechan talked about everything under the sun. The city and its shallow. Work and speeding vehicles. The best spots in the entire city. Your heart sped like how it did when you were speeding on his bike.Â
âYour friends are cool,â you told him after a while.Â
âBut Iâm cooler, right?â Haechan asked jokingly, earning a roll of your eyes.Â
You picked up your coffee and droned, âVery.â
Haechan laughed playfully but sobered a little to confess, âIâm glad I met them. Itâs kill or be killed in this city. Itâs hard to find people that donât share the same three superficial personalities.â
âOh?â
He bobbed his head. âYeah. Itâs brutal.â
âTell me about them.â
âShit, where do I even start?â Haechan said, chuckling a little, but soon finding the answer to his question. âJaemin is a complete geek. Donât be fooled by his looks. Thereâs a reason Winter turned him down the first time, but heâs a chill dude that doesnât bother anybody. Heâs studying to be an engineer.â
That surprised you and tempted you to laugh. âReally?â
âYup. Ironically, heâs probably the most regular person out of all of us. He doesnât like to draw attention to himself,â Haechan ranted, pausing to sip from his drink. âWinter is the complete opposite. Sheâs a model, like you. Been in Vogue. When sheâs not feeling up Jaemin, she loves to tend to her garden.â
So that explained the abundance of flowers in their front yard. It was vibrant plant galore. They looked nurtured, obviously a lot of love was being put into taking care of them and keeping them healthy.Â
Haechan continued, âRyujin is a unique blend of art kid and debate club survivor. She works part-time at the record store obviously, but she has big hopes for her paintings. Sheâs really talented.â
You were genuinely intrigued. âWow. I would love to see her art.â
âThat painting in Jaemin and Winterâs living room is hers. It was a housewarming gift when they moved in together,â Haechan told you like he was giving you the inside scoop. âMark is a single pringle with way too much time on his hands, but he makes great music. He wants to be a famous rapper.â
âMark and Ryujin arenât boning?â
Haechan snickered loudly, shaking his head. âNope. Theyâre like brother and sister. Ryujin has a boyfriend, but theyâre dating long distance. He lives in Chicago or something like that.â
You made a face. âCommitment. Thatâs impressive. I respect it.â
âYeah, same. I couldnât handle it. I need too much stimulation for that shit,â Haechan said.Â
âHypothetically, you wouldnât be willing to make it work for me?â
Haechan thought over his answer, chewing over his words. âI would at least try,â he told you admittedly. âBut I canât say for sure I could make it work.â
You admired his bluntness. His ability to be straightforward was something you genuinely respected. You knew he wanted to impress you, but on top of all that and his acute need for humor, Haechan was incredibly honest. Unlike somebody you knew.Â
Curiously, you cocked your head, realizing you were missing somebody. âWhat about Jeno?â you asked.Â
âWhat about him?â
You cocked a brow. âYou were telling me about your friends?â
Haechan made a face of remembrance. âOh, right. Jeno is single, but Giacomo Casanova reincarnated. He could have been written by Shakespeare. Another aspiring model.â
Why arenât you a model? You took one good goddamn look at Haechan and not very subtly licked your lips until they were dry. He was so breathtaking. You couldnât believe he was the man behind the camera. âYouâre kinda handsome, you know,â you admitted.Â
Haechan snickered. He hadnât expected those words to come out of your mouth, but with how you were unabashedly checking him out, it was no secret you found him attractive. âIs that what you gathered from what I said?â
âNo. I gathered that youâre fine enough to be a model and yet you are not. I think you even have the charisma,â you told him blatantly. âWhy stand behind the camera?â
Haechan shrugged. Feigning nonchalance. âThatâs just who I am,â he said.Â
âDo you like it?â
âI love it,â he replied with zero hesitation.Â
You shot him a smile. âThen, I guess thatâs all that matters.â
Haechan nodded in agreement. He wouldnât trade his job for the world. He liked being able to do his favorite hobby for a living. Not everybody had that luxury. You were the same way, but damn it you couldnât take it off your mind how Haechan looked straight out of a magazine. You had seen hundreds of handsome men in your lifetime, far and up close, but he took the cake.
It was hard to believe Haechan was anything but a casanova himself, considering your first impression of him was that he was a player trying to get into your pants. Which was fair because he was, and he couldnât deny that. But in spite of his good looks, magnetic personality and charisma, Haechan had some admirable personality traits.Â
You narrowed your eyes at him, accusing, and asked, âWhat do you think about debauchery?â
There you went with the random statements and questions again. Haechan snorted, leaned back in his seat, and replied silkily, âI am quite the debaucher.âÂ
âYou mean debauchee,â you corrected.Â
Haechan groaned, âWho gives a fuck? I love pussy.â
You snorted back a laugh. Again, honesty. Noted.Â
Haechan finished what was left of his pancakes in one final bite and chewed without any particular rush. âListen, if youâre asking me this because you think Iâm a player, youâve got the wrong guy,â he said eventually.
Your mind was racing. You were plagued by doubts. âDo I?â
âYou do.â Haechan dropped his fork, reaching for a napkin. Then, he added, âI fuck. I fool around. Iâm not gonna lie and act like Iâm a fucking prude. But when Iâm tied down, I get tunnel vision.â
âSomething tells me youâre not tied down often,â you remarked, never taking your eyes off of him.Â
Haechan met your stare and shot back, âSomething tells me you donât like being tied down.â
He caught you there. You wanted to be upset, but you couldnât. Not when he was so right about you already. âI donât mind being in a relationship butââŹÂŚ I donât like it when men act as if a woman being in a relationship should deprive her of her individuality. I want to be independent.â
âThen, weâre the same in that regard,â he replied, grinning at you. âI would never try to control you or anything like that. Youâre a grown ass woman and Iâm a grown ass man. I just hate feeling stagnant and I need constant stimulation. Hypothetically, could you handle that?â
You pretended to mull it over. âYeah.â You nodded your head. âI could.â
Haechan grinned wildly. He was liking where this was going. And he definitely wanted to see you again. Little did he know, you felt the exact same way.
Haechan checked his watch and frowned. âItâs late. I should take you back home.â
You quipped, âWhat kind of grown ass man has a curfew?â
Haechan snickered and started to tidy up his things.Â
You left the diner a couple minutes later, hopping back on Haechanâs sexy motorbike. He drove you through the city, besotted with how your arms felt wrapped so tightly around his waist as he sped through the night.Â
When he dropped you off at your doorstep, fingers laced through yours the entire trip there, something bittersweet came over you. You didnât want the night to be over. Haechan had won you over in just one night alone.Â
âI guess this is goodbye,â you said when youâd reached your door.Â
âGoodbye for now,â Haechan corrected you, smirking. He could hear the sadness in your tone you tried to veil. âBy the way, Iâm free tomorrow. You can swing by my place to pick up the vinyl. Iâll text you my address.â
Confusion twisted your features for the briefest second before you remembered the reason youâd even agreed to go out on a date with him in the first place. You had forgotten all about your record collection. âSounds great,â you chirped, reluctantly taking your keys from your purse. You were glad you would finally get your hands on the vinyl, though still crestfallen that he had to leave.Â
Haechan didnât want to leave until he was certain you were safely inside your condo and he heard the door lock, but you surprised him when you unlocked your door and turned around to say, âI had a really great time tonight.â
He shoved his hands in his pockets. âIâm glad.â
You pointed inside your place with your thumb. âDo youââŹÂŚ wanna come inside?â
It was no secret what that meant. You wanted to fool around with him, there was no doubt. âI shouldnât,â Haechan said.Â
Not that he didnât want to. But it was the first date and he didnât want to seem like he was only after one thing.
The disappointment on your face was noticeable, but you forced a smile. âRight. You probably shouldnât.â
Something told Haechan to bid you goodnight and leave it at that, but then he thought, Who the fuck am I kidding? And with all his self-restraint parked squarely beside his bike, he smashed his lips against yours.Â
Your first instinct was to be surprised, but then you kissed him back just as hard. Fuck, you had been resisting the urge the whole evening. It was so satisfying to finally know what his lips felt like pressed to yours like a mold. You lost your mind a little at how romantic his kisses were. They were hard, but slow. You met him halfway, feeling something shift in your body as the kiss steadily grew more and more heated. And you couldnât fight the heat that wafted over you as his hands kneaded your hips.Â
Fuck. Fuck, fuck, fuck. Heâs a great kisser, you screamed internally. It drove you mad. It made you crazy with burning ache.Â
Naturally, Haechan ultimately ended up slipping past your doorway, locking it shut behind him and kissing you through the hallways. âBedroom?â he asked between kisses.Â
You pointed, although you were losing your sense of direction as you became drunk with the taste of him. You panted, âOver there.â
Each of you were both half-naked by the time you charged through your bedroom door. You were reduced to your underwear, your clothes scattered across the hallway in your wake. Haechan pulled you towards your bed, collapsing over you as your lips synced messily.Â
His warmth made you moan, little noises escaping you at the meeting of your bodies, skin to skin. Then, his lips attached to your throat, sinking lower and lower until you could feel his breath at your abdomen. âCan I taste this wet fucking pussy?â Haechan growled while flitting his gaze to your eyes.Â
One look at him between your thighs and you were tightening around nothing. There was no reason that should have been as attractive as it was. Please, your body begged. âAre you any good?â you asked.Â
Haechan cocked a brow at you and chuckled, reaching for some pillows to hand over to you. âGet comfortable,â were his only words.Â
You tucked the pillows he passed you underneath your elbows obediently and lifted your hips. Haechan started to slip your panties off, pulling them right down your ankles before they were tossed into oblivion. All it took was a single glance at your bare cunt for Haechan to dive between your legs. He gripped your thighs, spreading them apart and holding them in place. Your thighs were plush and it was no doubt he liked the way they fit in his palms.Â
Haechan spent a moment wandering, just getting a feel for what made you tick. Not a bunch of time was wasted idly and he caught on quickly, reducing you to moans and squirming quicker than anybody before him. It was infuriating. His hold on your thighs tightened, keeping you rooted and still. You bit your lip, trying to smother the sound of your soft sounds in an endeavor to wipe the smug look off his wet lips, but to no avail.
Haechan was eating you out like he just couldnât get enough of you. Which wasnât far from the truth at all. Your moans were pornographic and made him crazy with a burning, all-consuming flavor of lust. You covered your mouth flat with your palm, tense when he sucked your clit, moaning, âFuck,â into your own hand.Â
You were already unbelievably sensitive. Maybe because it had been a while since youâd had sex. Iâm so busy, you thought. Work had taken priority in your life. In between being pursued by Haechan, you were also becoming high-demand in shoots. None of that changed the fact youâd been maybe subconsciously hoping that this would happen though. You even shaved in the shower just before throwing on your clothes.Â
Your whole body was unstill. You clenched your hands into fists, over and over again, before finally letting yourself run your fingers through his dark hair. His lips felt so good, tracing the skin around your thigh. He was disarming you. Slowly but surely. Or maybe not that slowly at all.Â
âHaechan, shit. Fuck,â you cursed, your tongue tied in knots. Nothing could articulate how he was making you feel, how the walls of ice around you were collapsing in on themselves.
Haechan merely groaned against your cunt with a mouthful of pussy and the noise was powerful enough to kill you. You were already seeing god.Â
Your back arched off the mattress, your hips driving into his face. You couldnât get enough either. He was making you greedy and you didnât even understand what for. All you knew was that you wanted him and the attraction was so fervent it was undeniable now. The boy between your thighs had a mutual thought. The room was a hundred degrees hotter than it had been before, but he didnât care. He couldnât feel the heat from the outside, too engrossed with how besotted and hot for you he was internally.
He was going to get you to climax even if it was the last thing he did, not that you were far from finishing. And when you thought things couldnât possibly get any better, he stuffed a pair of fingers inside your pussy.Â
The bedroom was too hot to breathe in. You kept panting, kept crying out Haechanâs name, pulling at his locks of hair as you pleased. And he let you. Your body was so indecisive, arching into him but flexing away involuntarily, as if it couldnât decide what it wanted.Â
âDonât stop. Please,â you cried out.Â
Your body only knew him right now, on the verge of going numb because of how sensitive and swollen your clit was. Haechan did the opposite of slow down. He was undeterred and absolutely nothing would stop him from bringing you to climax while he went down on you like a madman. You could feel the heat gathering in your thigh, like it would consume you at any given moment.Â
It was practically over for you when he continued to finger your sweet spot, dragging his fingers in and out of your perfect cunt. You were a whirlwind of excitement, less and less able to keep still the longer he sucked and fucked, and touched on you. You could feel sweat on your back and chest. âIâm gonna cum,â you warned.Â
âCum,â Haechan told you, voice a little deeper. âI want you to cum, baby.â
The pressure was building. And it kept coming. There were no peaks, no limits. Like steady rainfall in the forest.Â
You cried out his name one last time before your orgasm got the best of you, making you shudder and shake, and tangle your fingers deeper into his head of hair. The whole world stopped for a second. But Haechan kept tasting you through your climax, not stopping until it was over. You arched off the bed, too many sensations hitting you at once.Â
When the last of your high faded your back hit the mattress with a thud. You were completely out of breath, a couple of tears forming a shroud in your eyes while they gathered at your lashes. You were finally broken.Â
But with your permission, Haechan went down on you one final time after that. For safe measure. Haechan finally pulled back once youâd cum for a second time, meeting your stare, but the eye contact only lasted for a couple of seconds because you couldnât take yours off of his slick lips. He licked your release nonchalantly and something primal took over you. You were feeling less and less like a woman. More like a beast.
Haechan, grinning to himself as he took notice of how defeated you looked, cocked his brow at you expectantly. âSo?âÂ
Ah. You had asked him if he was any good. âMind numb,â you panted. âCanât think.â
Haechan laughed. Feeling a little less lethargic than before, you clambered over to him, tugging at his boxers. You could see the print of his hard dick against it.Â
âSomeoneâs impatient,â Haechan teased.Â
âSomeoneâs not moving fast enough,â you shot back, pulling them down for him to step out of. You gawked, licking your lips at the sight. Fuck, he was huge. You shouldâve known.Â
You glanced up at him with a little glimmer in your eyes, asking, âCan I suck you off?âÂ
âYou donât have to.â
âI want to,â you replied, your lips dry from how much your tongue passed over them. He was just so fucking mouth-watering. You wanted a taste badly.Â
There was no way Haechan could tell you no when you looked at him with that sexy gleam in your eyes. Plus he wasnât at all against feeling your mouth on his dick. âAlright,â he said, playing nonchalant.Â
Haechan moved to sit on your bed and you crept between his thighs, sitting on your knees. You spat in your hand and grabbed his dick, only pumping him in your fist for the meanwhile.Â
Then, you slowly transitioned into swirling your tongue around his dick, though not yet drawing him inside your mouth. You were toying with him, trying to see how much he could take, and Haechan realized very quickly that you were pushing his buttons. Which was strange. That was his thing. But he kinda liked it.Â
A high-pitched moan left him when you finally - fucking finally - started to take him past your lips, hollowing your cheeks, and he fisted your hair behind you. Giving you a full scan, Haechan realized how sexy you looked sucking him off, kneeled between his legs with that sexy ass stare in your eyes gazing up at him. You must have known it was his kryptonite.Â
And you did. Meeting his stare, you could read him just by looking at his handsome face. It was your time to be a smug little bitch. You wanted to break him, just like he had broken you. âFuck, baby. Like that,â Haechan grunted, throwing his head back. Which meant you must have been doing something right.
You were feeling benevolent and took him deeper inside your mouth while wrapping your fist around whatever was still available. There were many sensations on his dick and it was doing something inexplicably unhinged to his brain.Â
One look at his face made you feel extremely accomplished. His features were tensed and his lips were parted. Iâll suck the soul outta that dick any day to see that face, you thought very amusedly to yourself, resisting a chuckle.Â
You pried yourself away for a while, still looking into his eyes, and taunted, âToo much for you, baby boy?â
âNever,â Haechan retorted, voice airy and light. Like he was on some fucking cloud.Â
You lifted a brow, amused, though in that case, decided it was time to up the stakes. You sucked him a little faster, taking him a little further until he hit the back of your throat. Very eager and deliberate.Â
Haechan was losing whatever was left of his goddamn mind. His thighs trembled, cock twitching inside your mouth. You were doing unspeakable things to him right now and he was absolutely obsessed. Your tongue touched the base of his dick and your free hand squeezed his bare thigh. God-fucking-damn, was all Haechan could think. Literally. His mind was numb, thanks to you. In a matter of minutes, his legs would probably be as well. Â
A couple of tears gathered in your eyes, but you willed yourself to power through. You couldnât be finished until he was finished. You were way too resolved to make him unravel. At the sensation of your warm mouth, Haechan whimpered, âFuck,â grabbing and using your hair.Â
His sounds were just so fucking hot. You wanted to record them so that you could put them on loop. Arousal seeped between your thighs, but you ignored it, just for his sake.Â
Some time had passed since your last blowjob. It was good to know that your mouth was still spectacular, if his sensitive movements and high-pitched moans were any indicator. You squeezed your thighs together. There was throbbing between your legs. Mutual chaos. Mutual destruction. The two of you were a very, very unlikely duo.
Haechan was warm to the touch everywhere you touched him, blood circulating through him swiftly like a Shanghai maglev. You traced your fingers up and down his thighs, giving them a little pinch, and were surprised to find he was incredibly pliant. You little freak, you thought teasingly. You jotted down a mental note to playfully scold him later, too concentrated on stringing him to climax.Â
The male before you looked a total of seconds away from malfunctioning altogether. You were making short work of him like no other girl and it was giving him much to think about.
Your nails found purchase in his thigh, dragging your nails down the flesh and leaving little red lines, just before you brought one of your hands to his cock again. Youâd been pulling out all the stops to chase him closer to the finish. Every other thought on your mind vanished as you fixed all of your attention on making him cum. Haechan had the same thought, involuntarily bucking his hips as he tried to fuck your mouth.
You let him control the pace, let him do whatever he needed to finish. You moaned around his shaft again, sending vibrations that shook him. A little longer and he wouldnât last.Â
âIâm coming. Shit, babe. Keep goingââŹÂŚ,â he mumbled, winding his fingers through your scalp again. His pace was erratic. It was all you could do not to choke, giving him permission to use you to get himself off. And it was too fucking hot. You were in disbelief.Â
Haechan tried to be careful, not wanting to trouble you, but you knew what you were doing and he couldnât exactly control his impulses. His impulses controlled him. You sucked and swallowed, all good and pliant.Â
Seconds later, Haechan was orgasming, painting the back of your throat with cum. His thighs shook and you could physically feel his dick twitch inside your mouth as he released. He moaned your name loud enough to wake the neighbors.Â
You took as much of his load as you could fit inside your mouth, but as it turned out, Haechan came a lot. Some dripped from your chin and you wiped it with the back of your hand. When he let go of your hair, you pulled back, just watching your handiwork smugly. You mocked, âSo?â
Haechan blinked, like it would clear the invisible haze. He was barely handling the stimulation. You were undoubtedly one of the best heâd ever had and he was officially sprung with you. âHigh fucking hell,â he groaned.Â
You giggled. That was answer enough.Â
For an uncertain amount of hours (nobody was counting), you and Haechan took turns finishing each other, even sixty-nining once or twice till you needed a break.Â
âOkay, timeout. I canât feel my dick,â Haechan sighed after a while, surprising himself. Usually, he wore other people out. Not the other way around, but the two of you were in a competition to see who could exhaust the other first. Haechan realized then and there that you were matching his energy and it shocked the hell out of him, because that was a first. He was even more interested in you now.Â
You chortled and collapsed on the bed. You were also having some revelations, but you kept them to yourself. He hasnât even asked to put his dick in me, you realized after a moment. He was definitely a pussy fiend, but he hadnât even fucked you and itâd been ages.Â
That was a first.Â
You held your chin in your face while staring at him. âAre you busy tomorrow?â
Haechan looked high as hell and he hadnât done a single drug in your presence. âNot as we speak,â he replied quietly. âOther than playing pool with Jaemin later and giving you that vinyl, I donât exactly have plans.â
âYou should still rest,â you told him assertively. âDo you wanna stay the night?â
âYeah. Sure.â
You smiled, resisting a squeal to contain your excitement. You patted the spot beside you, gesturing for him to come over. Which he did. âGoodnight,â you whispered.
âGoodnight, beautiful,â Haechan said, blowing a kiss your way.
You rolled your eyes, but quickly devolved into giggles and tangled yourself in his arms.Â
Sleep came easy for you that night and had you not forgotten to turn off your alarm, you would have slept past noon. You could feel the sunlight on your face and flipped over, desperate to escape its brightness.Â
That was when the memories of last night slammed into you like an eighteen-wheeler. Haechanâs fingers tangled in your hair and his mouth between your legs. Sleep had sobered you, the inebriety of lust distant, save for the ache that lingered in your thigh. Your heart fluttered for a second, but it was gone the second you noticed the man youâd spent all night with had disappeared, his arms no longer thrown around your waist.Â
You started to worry then. There was no note on your nightstand. You immediately grabbed your phone from your bedside table, hopeful of finding some sort of message, but Haechan didnât even have the courtesy to leave a text or voicemail. Bitterness seeped into your chest as you assumed the worst. Heâs had his fun and now heâs done, you thought disdainfully. Why you expected him to be any different was beyond you.Â
You threw on your robe and slipped on your slippers before stomping downstairs, full of attitude in large quantities. Maybe it was for the better that you didnât exactly let him hit. But you still felt stupid, because you would have. If he would have asked.Â
But he didnât.Â
Thoughts of hunger broke your reverie when you smelled eggs from the kitchen, which was strange, because you were certain that nobody was there. You grabbed a vase off a nearby table and approached the kitchen with slow, cautious strides.Â
A part of you hoped it was only Haechan, but surely enough, you were taken aback when you got an amazing view of his back while he faced your stove.Â
Haechan is here - and heâs cooking?Â
You shook your head. This man was full of surprises.Â
Haechan was none the wiser, humming to himself, and didnât even realize you were present until he turned around to grab something from the island. âGood morning,â he said sweetly. He pointed to the vase in your hands. âThought I was a killer?â
âYou scared the shit out of me,â you sighed, walking over to the island and sitting the vase down.Â
Haechan grinned. âWhy - you didnât think I was gonna still be here?â
You didnât have to answer that question. And you wouldnât be. You didnât like that he saw through you so clearly, it made you feel transparent. Changing the topic, you asked, âWhat you cooking?â
âOmelets,â he replied nonchalantly, fixed to the stove again. âI know we technically had breakfast not too long ago, but I saw how much you liked omelets.â
Something fluttered in your chest. It was sweet, dare you say.Â
âThatâs really thoughtful of you,â you whispered, getting comfortable at the island.Â
âIâm a thoughtful guy.â
âThat you are.â
Comfortable silence enveloped you in its wholeness. For the first time since you met him, if it was worth noting. Neither of you liked the quiet very much - silence gave too much room for thinking - but you didnât mind it right now.
Haechan slipped a steaming omelet from the pan to your plate masterfully, handing you a knife and fork. You opened your mouth to thank him, but he beat you, finally starting, âSpeaking of thinking, I been, well, thinking. And I need you to not go ghost on me after this.â
Your eyes flickered, but you glanced at your plate to hide your surprise, cutting off a morsel. âWhy would I do that?â you asked.Â
Haechan shrugged his shoulders, but ranted, âI just hate when you think shit tight with a girl, and then after you hook up, they donât wanna keep in touch anymore.â
âHuh,â you mumbled. âFunny. I feel the same way.â
Haechan took the seat beside you. His eyes met yours, something sober in them. âI say all of this to say that I like where this is going and I want to see you again. But if youâre not on the same page, let me know right now.â
âIâm on the same page.â
He pressed, âAre you sure?â
âYes, Haechan,â you replied, setting down your knife. âIf I didnât want to keep seeing you after this, I would tell you in no uncertain terms. Iâm having fun.â
Haechan nodded. âOkay.â
âOkay,â you repeated. âThis is really, really good, by the way. Whereâd you learn to cook?â
The boyish smile was back on Haechanâs handsome face. âEverything I know I owe to my parents,â he said. âThis particularly to my mother.â
You taunted, âAh. You a Mommaâs boy?â
Haechan chuckled. âSomething like that, yeah.â
Almost endearing. You got a mental picture of a tiny Haechan peaking around the corner, watching his mother cook, and it brought a smile to your lips.Â
Both of you talked over breakfast. You got orange juice out of the fridge for you to drink and spent what was left of the morning chattering incessantly. You finally accepted that you liked Haechan. Maybe unconsciously, youâd been fighting it because of your ex.Â
As of now, you were playing tug-of-war with your heart. On the one hand, there was a part of you that lingered over him and it still felt forbidden to be interested in other men. But one swift reminder that he was interested in other girls while apparently being interested in you, and all the feelings you had for him dissolved into resentment.Â
Plus you werenât exactly ready for another relationship, nor did you completely trust Haechan yet, but on the other hand, he made you forget all about the bastard that hurt you. And how it felt to be hurt.Â
Needless to say, you would be seeing him again. Haechan made you feel something you hadnât felt in a long, long time.Â
You were sad when he had to leave, picking up his clothes that were scattered across your entire condo and redressing himself, but gladly kissed him goodbye. On the cheek. For various reasons.
Besides, you would be seeing him later on that day anyways. You both had things to take care of.Â
Chaewon was sporting the biggest smile youâd ever seen when you climbed into the back of the taxi with her. You expected a stern reprimanding, given that you hadnât returned any of her calls or texts since last night, but somehow this was worse.
âDonât even,â was the first thing you said when you entered the backseat.Â
Chaewon grinned mischievously, singing, âYouâre glowing.â
âYes. Thereâs this cool thing called a skin care routine. You may have heard of it,â you deadpanned.Â
Chaewon wriggled her eyebrows. âDoes this skin care routine consist of Lee Haechanâs semen?â
You grimaced. âGross.â
âYou guys totally boned, didnât you?â she asked. Though it was less of a question and more of a declaration. You hoped the driver was tuning both of you out.
âJesus, Chae. Good morning to you, too,â you replied boredly.Â
âGood morning, bestie. Now did you or did not you bone Haechan?â
You just rolled your eyes. She was relentless. âOkay, fine,â you started, sighing out a little. âWe hooked up.â
âI fucking knew it,â Chaewon exclaimed.Â
You added sharply, âBut we didnât have sex. It was strictly head.â
Chaewon gave you a look. âGirl, seriously? How was it?â
You pretended to think about it. Memories of last night plagued you. You couldnât get the image of Haechan strumming you to climax out of your head. You admitted quietly, âHe made me see a star or two. Maybe a galaxy. Maybe another universe.â
Chaewon clasped her hands together and made a squealing noise of excitement.Â
All you could do was shake your head. But you couldnât deny that all of your doubts and hesitations about Haechan had been converted into an inexplicable will to see him again. You had an impulse to smile and faced the window so that she couldnât see.Â
âYouâre smiling,â Chaewon teased, watching your reflection.Â
âIâm not.â
Chaewon nudged you with her elbow. âCome on, girl. You deserve this. You deserve to be happy.â
âI am happy. And I donât need a man to be happy,â you quickly replied.Â
Chaewon frowned. âYou know thatâs not what I meant. Youâve obviously been down in the dumps since you called off the engagement and I think itâs a good thing youâre letting yourself be a little more lax.â
You let out a disgruntled groan.
Chaewon slipped her fingers through yours and continued, âNo oneâs saying that youâve gotta jump the broom. With how hard youâve worked all these years, you deserve to play.â
âI know, and thatâs all he is. Weâre just playing around,â you assured her in spite of the fact that nobody questioned it in the first place. âWeâre just kickinâ it.â
Chaewon squeezed your hand.Â
Meanwhile, Haechan was across town with a friend of his own.Â
âIâve got a question for you, man,â Haechan started after a total of three minutes of silence.Â
Jaemin slung his head back and whined, âOh, brother.â
He had seen it coming from a mile away. Haechan treated silence like the black plague and when he wasnât chatting his friends ears off for every second of every minute, he was thinking. Of course, Jaemin knew his friend well enough, so it was no doubt he had a question.Â
Truth be told, Haechan hadnât stopped thinking about you since he left your condo. The endless hours of chatter, you dancing in his arms, the sex. All of it was giving him a lot of shit to ponder.Â
âItâs been weighing on my mind for a while,â he continued, choosing his words carefully. âDo you think youâre with the someone youâre meant to be with?â
âYou mean like my soulmate?â
Haechan gave him a nod, although Jaemin was too busy resting the cue between his fingers. âYeah, like your other half or some shit like that. The one youâll live for and die with.â
Sparing his friend a couple seconds worth of a glance, Jaemin paused his endeavors and mulled the question over. âYou know, not everybody wants to be in love. But everybody wants to be loved,â he began. âPeople who get in relationships solely to feel loved donât know what love is.â
âWhatâs that gotta do with my question?â
Jaemin shrugged his shoulders. âI wouldnât trade the love Winter and I share with each other for the world, but what nobody tells you about love is that it has its fair share of ups and downs. Thereâs bad days and disagreements. Not everybody wants to deal with that.â
âThatâs some profound shit, brother,â Haechan teased.Â
âWhatever, man. Iâm just saying that the idea that love has no bounds is false. Iâd give my life for Winter and I wanna marry her someday, but weâve both got boundaries because love is mutual respect.â
Haechanâs mind was adrift again. He was thinking.
Jaemin connected the dots, blocking the corner pocket with his hand. âNow wait just a second. Donât tell me this is about that girl.â
Haechan groaned, âWhat are you doing, man? Can I get my shot?â
âNo, no, no. This is about that girl you brought over last night, isnât it?â Jaemin asked.Â
Now, Haechan was officially caught. He heaved a breath, stood to his full height, and said, âYou just donât get it, man. We were talking for hours and she could actually keep up with my bullshit. Not only that, but she understood. Then, I get her in the sheets, and man.â
Jaemin snickered. âIâm guessing it was good?â
âUnderstatement of the year,â Haechan sighed loudly. âI mean, we didnât even fuck. She volunteered to suck me off. She left me mind-blown, you hear me? Mind-blown. I can still feel my thighs shaking.â
Jaemin whistled. âGoddamn. So, you think sheâs your soulmate?â
âNah, man,â Haechan replied nonchalantly, setting his cue back on the table. âSheâs impressive. Thatâs all. Weâre just kickinâ it. You know I donât do the whole love thing anymore.â
Jaemin could sniff bullshit from a mile away but shifted his hand. âAlright, man. But when those jones come down,â he started, blunt. âItâs a motherfucker.â
Haechanâs eyes flickered.
#haechan smut#nct 127 smut#nct dream smut#nct smut#haechan x reader#nct imagines#haechan imagines#lee haechan smut#nct x reader#nct#nct scenarios
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Where Roses Bloom, Love Shall Blossom

Nana x Male Reader
length: 18k words
tags: fluff, smut, creampie, little bit of ass-play, L-bomb
A/N: This is my first ever smut or even fanfic, and I know there is a lot of room to improve, but I hope you enjoy reading it as much as I enjoyed writing it! I may have used a few too many references/memes, so sorry in advance if it throws you off. Itâs just kind of my style. I also self-inserted on occasion (like the whole premise of the story that came to me after watching this video), but I hope itâs not too disruptive. If you have any suggestions, critiques, or requests, my DMs and Asks are open. Other than that, happy birthday to Best Girl Nana, and thanks for reading or even sharing!
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[It's mid-April]
- We are all done, Sir! - Your makeup artist announces, after putting on the finishing touches.
- Thank you!
From the mirror in front, a more handsome version of you is staring back. He is the new favourite variety show host of the nation, who can make any of his guests laugh to tears, improvise in an instant when his partner slips up, and even outside set, is usually the heart of the party thanks to his easygoing and sensitive nature. He is the perfect media personality. So much so, that even you like to watch him from time to time.
But actually being him? It does get a bit overwhelming. The busy schedules, having to always be on your toes so you don't miss an opportunity to crack a joke, which is even harder, since you are still not completely fluent in Korean, and the constant smiling, even to guests you would rather not have. It's just a bit much. But obviously, you wouldn't change any of it. Itâs a dream come true, really, getting to meet all these fantastic people in the industry.
- Is everything all right Sir?
The woman asks worriedly when she sees you lost in thought, fearing she messed something up.
- Of course! I'm just always surprised how you girls always manage to turn me actually handsome. I swear this isn't even a mirror, just a recording of me with filters on. You reply with a warm smile, waving her worries away.
- Hehe! Of course it's not Sir. And I didn't even add much makeup at all. Just a touch up really.
- In any way, you did a fantastic job. Thank you!
- Thank you Sir, and you're welcome.
You stand up, and read some news while you wait for further instructions. You haven't checked any of the previous episodes of this show, because you wanted to make your appearance authentic. You also wanted to figure out your partner during the chat, without narrowing the possibilities down.
The only prep you had to do was choosing a nickname (truly a gamer's worst nightmare), and getting a picture of yourself as a kid. It took mere hours to find a name that could lead your partner into guessing who you are without immediately giving it away, or even the fact that they are talking to a foreigner: The Little Prince.
After a bit, the director finally calls for you. As discussed, you put in the noise-cancelling earphones, queue up some of your latest favourite songs, and take a seat on the left side of the set. The playlist consists mostly of K-pop songs, since it's highly likely that your partner is an idol, and the songs might help you figure out their identity, if their song comes up at a good time.
They tell you to scan the QR code on the table in front of you, which opens the chat room. Your partner enters right after, and you read their name: Judy.
*First clue. They are most likely a girl. In which case, I should take the initiative.*
Having worked with over a hundred idols, you start to wonder whether you've met them already
Hello there!
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Hello
*Second clue: probably doesnât know prequel memes.*
Should we drop the honorifics?
Oh, so suddenly? Sure
*Third clue: presumably Korean.*
How are you?
I'm great! You?
Me too
*Maybe I should have prepared some questions at least. Not particularly in the mood to improvise.*
Thankfully you don't have to think much, as you see three little dots pop up, indicating that the person on the other end is typing.
I was wondering What's your favourite season?
You don't even need to think about this. Spring for sure Not even close
OMO Mine too The weather has been so nice lately
YES!!! And the colours And the smells And the bees And the birds I love it so much
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I see I feel the same way I already think we will be good friends
I hope we will bee Sorry I had to sneak in at least one pun
Don't apologise for being funny!
Heh, thanks How about sunsets?
I love sunsets! Half my gallery is filled with pictures of sunsets
Saaame One day, I saw the sunset fortyâfour times! You knowââ one loves the sunset, when one is so sad...
Oh But How?
Oh, that's just a quote From The Little Prince
Aaaah Your name! Have you read it many times?
Once every year for the past few years I like to see how much more I understand every time I read it With that I know how much I've changed since last year
Hmm Very sentimental Maybe But back to spring and sunsets I have a great place I visit in late spring It's a bit far out from the city, but the flowers and sunsets are more than worth it I can show you one time, if you're down
Sounds great! I also have a place I visit when I'm free I can take you there in return
Nice
*Should I also reveal my birthday? Eh, why the hell not.*
Maybe you can take me there for my birthday It's coming next month
I can But only if you take me to your place on my birthday
Sure When is that?
This month
I see Another spring child No wonder we're on the same wavelength
That's what I was about to say!
The conversation dies off for a bit, but before you have come up with a new topic, the tablet in front of you comes to the rescue.
"Send each other your screenshot of your homepage"
You first check your screen to make sure there isn't anything on it that's scandalous, or would give you away. After not finding anything needing to be removed, you send 'Judy' the picture. Hers arrives shortly after that. At first glance, it's nothing special. Solid black background, neatly ordered folders with english names that all end with a blue heart emoji.
*Maybe she likes blue?*
You have similar folders, all in English too, but there are some extras. Notably meditation and gaming. The background is different though, as it's a picture of your beloved furry companion.
I see you have Netflix downloaded What have you been watching lately?
Ah, yes Mostly American teen movies so I can improve my English Nice
*Yeah, def Korean.*
But I also watch a lot of animations and YouTube
Like what?
Mukbang, and Jangbbijju Also this (ë¤ę° ëš ě§ ě¸ęł - fall for you)
She sends you the thumbnail of an unfamiliar show
Never seen this Maybe I will watch it later You should! The fantasy genre is interesting And the heroine is really pretty
*Judy is a girl, all right*
Yeah, Nana is really pretty
Right? You know her?
I do But I know every idol I've never met her though Have you?
No, but I'd love to She seems fun
Right, she does
There is short of silence before Judy sends a message
Is that your dog in the background? It's really cute
Yes he is! He's my best friend He's turning 10 this year
Oh, he's getting quite old
Yeah, but he's just as youthful as a puppy
Awww Good to hear And I see you meditate?
Yes My days can get pretty hectic It helps me stay relaxed and focused
Maybe I should try it
You should Itâs pretty easy I can teach you the basics if you want
Thanks ^^ Are you an idol? Is that why you do it?
Noooo I can't dance at all And I sound like an untuned violin played by a 4 year old
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There are some prodigies who can play well at that age
Sure, but not this one
And the gaming folder? You got games on your phone? đ
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I have a few to pass the time I mostly game on PC But certainly not as much as I used to
And what do you play?
Some League and Overwatch with friends I also picked up the new Zelda game recently
I love Nintendo games!
Yeah, they rarely miss The company's shit though Super greedy
*That's gonna get cut from the video*
O.O Are they?
Uhh yeah But let's not get into that What music have you been listening to?
She sends you a picture of her Spotify queue
Interesting Much less Korean than I thought And I only know a few of them
Send me yours
One sex *sec!!! I meant sec!
*Good grief...*
Hmmm I don't know any of these
Yeah I thought you wouldn't Not the genre a 'Judy' would listen to
*hmph* I'll let you know, my music taste is very diverse I bet not even the viewers know these songs
I'll take that bet What do I win?
A kiss
HUH?
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Just kidding I'm not sure yet
Okay... How about you buy me some tteokbokki if I win?
Deal And if I win, you'll get me dakbal!
Deal Let's shake on it
Okay But don't look!
Fine, I wont
You get up from your armchair, head to the edge of the wall, and put your hand past the corner. After waiting for a few seconds, you don't feel anything, and moving your hand around a bit doesnât yield any success either. Then it hits, that your partner is probably Korean and female, so she is likely much shorter than you. Carefully lowering your hand, it finally finds hers. The hand jolts a little at the first contact, but grabs your hand quickly after.
It feels delicate: Small and smooth with fingers you can only describe as elegant. It's not just their shape and how they feel in your comparably larger hands, but also the amount of rings decorating them. On top of that, you bet her manicure matches the lavishness. The handshake barely lasts a second or two, then you get back to your seats.
Okay I know exactly who you are
How?
You're a princess!
Won't lie I feel quite fancy right now
Knew it! Extremely generous of you to let me touch your hand Your Highness
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Do our 'dates' still stand, Princess? Can you set aside time from your schedule to meet a lowly peasant like myself?
Aahhh, well Princesses need to relax too And your proposition seems suitable So yes, we shall go on these 'dates'
You honour me Princess
Okay, okay that's enough But do you really know who I am?
I have some guesses You're def a female idol And I'm pretty sure we haven't met yet Which I can't say about too many people Do you have any guesses about me?
If you didn't lie about not being an idol Then I have a few But I don't know which one of them have met a lot of idols So I'm not sure at all
Well, I never lie Just keep thinking You might not eve know me But that's fine
Whit that last message sent, the screen on the table lights up once again
âSend your childhood picture to your partnerâ
*Oh, right. The picture. If she knows me, this will help her a lot.*
This should help you a bit
Aaaah, cute Wait Are you a foreigner? Here's mine
Maybe... Awww That's really cute too
The screen instructs you again: âDraw each other in one minuteâ
*One minute? Not like it matters. I can't draw for shit.*
The 60 seconds go by like a minute in Africa, and your masterpiece is done. Kind of.
Sorry, I tried my best.
It's good! Much better than mine, that's for sure
You look at the picture for a bit, and download it before the connection is severed and you're kicked from the chat room. That signals the end of this section, so now all thatâs left is to stand up, and meet this âJudyâ.
*Okay, who is it?*
You stop the music, take out your earphones, and wait for the director's signal. When it arrives, you slowly, but confidently walk towards your partner's part of the studio. Once past the corner, you dramatically turn a 90 degree angle, and find yourself face to face with an angel. Or maybe it's a fairy? Or a nymph? Whatever she may be, it is not exactly human.
Her flawless fair skin is glistening in the studio's brilliant light, creating a picturesque contrast with her silky dark hair. It's neatly styled in a typical way: behind her ears, running down on her back one side, and on the other, resting on her front, bumping over her modest breasts. Your gaze moves further down, checking out her fuzzy two part dress, coloured in white and blue.
*Yep, blue is her favourite colour.*
The top stops just high enough over her pencil skirt, so that you can make out the tiniest bit of her midriff. You follow along her smooth legs, all the way to her feet, then quickly look back up. Her eyes meet yours, but not before catching a slightly mischievous smile form on her glossy lips.

*I guess she figured out who I was*
This all goes down in a mere second. It does have some benefits to have your brain running at FTL speed. After finishing the survey, you take a theatrical bow.
- Princess Nana.
She cracks up. Her laugh is just as magical as her whole being. You have heard it a handful times before, but never in person.
And boy, does it hit like a baseball bat live. You have had countless groups come to your variety show, but you can only gather up a single other idol with such a delightful laugh (Miss Song Yuqi).
*Man, I could listen to both of them for the rest of my life.*
You straighten back up, and take a step closer, at the same time as Nana. Your assumption of her height during the handshake was correct: she barely reaches up to your chin, but it plays to her advantage; makes her look even more adorable.
Her smile never faded, and now that she is right in front of you, you can see a glint of happiness and recognition in the vast, dark ocean of her eyes.
- It's you!
- It sure is.
- I knew it the moment I saw your baby picture.
- Ah yes, that was a dead giveaway.
- But I thought of you beforehand too.
- Oh, really?
- Yeah! I watched every episode of your show, and you did seem like we had a lot in common. Our conversation proves that.
- Yes, and thank you. - Feeling her boundless energy, and seeing her cute, perky personality, you can't help but smile along with her. - I can't believe this is the first time we meet in person.
- Right? I guess our schedules never aligned. But I'm really happy to meet you!
- As am I. - you cross your hands suddenly - But you lied to me!
- Huh? When?
- You said you've never met Nana.
She scratches the back of her head with an embarrassed chuckle. - Oh, right. Well I could argue that it's not a lie in a literal sense.
- Hmmm. I'll let it slide this time. But I have to warn you, I don't invite liars onto my show.
She gasps in a fake shock, and bows as she apologises. - I promise not to lie anymore! Please invite us to your show!
You laugh at her playfulness. - How could I say no to a princess? I'll make sure to have an episode set aside for you during your next comeback.
- Yay, thank you!
Her cuteness is almost overwhelming. The way she looks at you with those doe eyes, like you are her favourite person on this planet (which in reverse, might be true at this point). Her radiant smile, that emits such precious laughter, the sound of is more wondrous than Beethoven's Moonlight Sonata. Or the way she seems to cling onto your every word, as if you were Jesus preaching on the Mount of Beatitudes, and how she parrots your thoughts, just coated in that honeyed voice.
The director cuts into the meeting, and asks Nana to give them an interview about your chat. Yours will follow after. When you're both done, they tell you to take a selfie for the show. You oblige, but ask Nana to take it. The height difference doesn't even seem to be a problem. Rather she turns it into an advantage, and snaps a few nice pics. As the shooting comes to an end, you thank each other and the crew for everything, and before Nana could disappear into her room, you call out for her.
- Sorry, I don't intend to hold you up for long, I'm sure you have better things to do.
- Oh no, it's fine. What do you want?
- I just thought we could exchange numbers. Not for my show, that'll be done through our managers, but for our bet. Not sure how serious you were about it, but either way, I wouldn't mind taking you out for dinner. And I still need to take you to that spot on your birthday.
- Absolutely! And I'm completely serious about the bet. I don't just shake hands for nothing. My schedule is going to be hectic in March, but I'm sure I will be able to create some free time.
- Oh, if it's bothersome, we can go later too. Or earlier. Whatever works for you. I can get busy myself, but I always ask the groups to clear their schedules for the day before and after, so we all have some room if anything comes up.
- That's smart. Maybe I'll live with the opportunity.
- You totally should.Â
She hands you her phone, and you dial yours. She saves your contact as 'The Little Prince', while you save her as 'Princess Nana'.
- I guess that's all. Again, it was really nice to finally meet you. Hope to see you soon.
- You too! Can't wait for my free chicken feet!
You chuckle, and bow to say goodbye, which she politely returns. Before she could get out of sight, you decide to look behind your back to catch one final peek of this angel. She walks with such grace, but you can still see that playful attitude hidden beneath. Maybe it's the way she sways her hips. Or that cute little butt.
*I wonder if it's more like a soft pillow, or firm and fit from all the workout.*
You slap yourself softly, and turn your head back around.
*IdiotâŚ*
Unbeknownst to you, just after you do this, Nana also looks above her shoulders, searching for you. She barely catches the last moment of your little act, but she knows. She knows, but she is doing the same, so she can't really judge you for it.
Your heart still pounds noticeably faster than usual after you've changed back into your comfy clothes. The little cramp in your stomach is not letting its presence be forgotten either.
*Fuckinâ hell. What am I, fourteen? *
You take a deep breath, drink a cup of water, and focus. Within a few minutes, your body finally listens to the brain, and settles down. You sigh in relief.
- That's better. ⌠- But I need a drink.
You take your stuff, and head outside. On the street, you catch Nana one last time. You wave and smile at each other as her manager helps her get in their car. Yours is already waiting for you on the passenger side, tapping away on his phone, since you almost always drive yourself. You shove your things in the trunk, then hop into the driver seat.
- Took you long enough. - your manager blurts out without looking up.
- Yeah, sorry. Upset stomach.
He acknowledges your excuse with a grunt.
- Back to your place?
- Yeah. But I wanna stop at a convenience store for some alcohol.
- Huh? Was it that bad? You seemed to be having fun. - He finally looks up at you, with the smallest hint of concern on his face.
- Yeah, I may have enjoyed it a little too much.
- Hmm. I see. So that upset stomach?
He doesn't even need to say it, you both know what he means.
- Yerp. Fucking butterflies.
Again, he just scoffs. Your manager is the best you could ask for. Professionally. But as much as he helps you in your work, he helps as little with personal stuff. You know it's better that way. You're not paying him to be your therapist, but you would like him to lend you an ear from time to time.
- Whatever. I'll get drunk tonight, and lose some ranks in League with the boys.
- Hmm. Just don't get too drunk.
You fasten your seatbelt, start up the car, and zoom through the city to your first destination. You grab a few (more than a few) bottles of different flavoured soju, and some instant ramen. The cashier is a young dude, probably a uni student working part-time. He realises who you are, so you chat for a bit. When he finally scans your items, you pay by cash, and leave him a hefty bonus, which he thanks profusely. You get back in the car, and drive to your manager's place to drop him off. From there, itâs only a few-minute drive to home.
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You struggle with the lock long enough that you hear your dog making a fuss inside.
- One second bud. Iâm an alcoholic.
As soon as you open the door, he starts jumping up and down in excitement.
- Hello, you little rascal! - you greet him in a high pitched voice. - Have you been a good boy? - A rhetorical question to which the answer is (almost) always yes. You scratch behind his ears, and give him a treat, which he gobbles up in the blink of an eye.
- You will never guess who I've met today. - You start as you take off your shoes, and walk towards the kitchen to put the purchased beverages into the fridge. - It was my future wife! - you announce, posing with the exaggerated swagger of a black teen.
Bingley tilts his head in confusion.
- Yeah, I know. Iâm cringe. But! I haven't felt like this since high school. And that was a whiiiile ago.
You step into the living room and settle on the sofa. Bingley waits for the signal of invitation before he joins you, and licks your hand to ask for pats which you happily provide.
- Honestly, I don't know how I should go about it. We hit it off well, and she seemed interested too. I mean she agreed to meet two more times. Plus once for my show, but that's different⌠For the first one, I will take her to our favourite place.
As you mention that, your companion perks up.
- Oh, sorry. I think you're going to have to stay behind. I want it to be just her and me.
Bingleyâs head falls on your lap in defeat with a sad whine.
- Don't worry, I will take you there next week.
You take out your phone, and send tonight's plan to your friends. To pass the time, you decide to put on that new (well it was new like 3 months ago) Netflix show you haven't started yet for whatever reason. That, along with some takeout, is engaging enough to keep your mind off of today's events, all the way 'til the alarm rings in reminder for the games.
You gulp down a whole bottle of soju during your first game, and the next ones follow quickly after. The alcohol kicks in right as you're queueing up for the third game of the night. Senses dulled, reflexes slowed, vision blurry. Palms are sweaty, knees weak, arms are heavy. Your teammates have been keeping up the pace with various types of spirits, turning every game from here on out into a clown fiesta. Muscle memory at least keeps them somewhat competitive, but no one really cares about winning. It's all about forgetting about the everyday struggles. The shitty bosses, the annoying exes, an unlucky puncture on the way to work, your baby puking on your favourite shirt, burnt food, the seemingly never ending house choresâ falling head over heels for a girl you've only talked to for half an hour, of which only a few minutes were in person. Whatever. Everyone has their reasons. Meditating can only do so much. And it's nowhere near as fun as this.
The hours fly by, and it's regrettably time already to end the therapy session. Not all your pals have such flexible schedules as you, so they have to call it before midnight. Barely being able to walk straight, you conclude brushing your teeth and pouring a glass of water for tomorrow morning is more than enough exercise before bed.
Waking up is obviously the biggest disadvantage of these endeavours, but you take a pill with the prepared water, then a cup of coffee, and the headache is soon gone. You don't have the stomach for a proper breakfast, but you still force down a slice of toast. You let Bingley out, and sit on the porch, soaking in the morning sun, listening to the sound of nature, and enjoying the smell of the blooming tulips and violets in your garden. - Spring is fucking awesomeâŚ
_______________________________________________________
The next few weeks go by without much happening. The blind chat episode drops on YouTube, and surprisingly, dozens upon dozens of people comment, shipping the two of you. Itâs endearing, really; a nice reassurance that what you felt during and after the show, was not exclusively in your head, as others seem to have noticed the connection and matching vibes (hopefully not just the parasocial delulu fans, who name themselves after funny videos, and would go on to write fanfictions about it).
You exchange a few texts with Nana during these days, but she seems busier than expected. It could be because of an upcoming comeback, but they came back with Rollercoaster only a few months ago. So you try not to give it too much meaning, but in the back of your head, a devilish voice insists âshe doesnât like you broâ. Your worries are lifted when they announce âQueendom Puzzleâ, and all its participants in the following days. Hey! I see youâll be on Queendom Puzzle, congrats! Iâm sure you will crush it! Hiya! Thanks I hope so I have been practicing a lot for this
Yeah, I figured The competition seems strong But I would bet on you making it into the group Iâm a bit worried But your confidence in me means a lotđ An ace like you should have nothing to fear! Youâre right đ¸ If the crowd sees the effort I have been putting into my craft They will have to vote for me âŚright?
Of course! You were meant to be on top
*of me, hehe*
Yeah! Iâm gonna be a star! Thatâs the spirit A few seconds go by with Nana seemingly typing out an essay. I wanted to ask you for something
Your pulse quickens, and you sit up straight on your couch. With dilated eyes, and gently shaking fingers, you type back. Iâm all ears
I hope itâs not too much of a bother But could you take me to that place you talked about?
Of course! That was always the plan, no?
Yeah but I mean like This weekend
You have to check your schedule to make sure youâre free, not that cancelling every plan and recording would be a tall order, or a big price to pay to spend time with her. Sure, I can make it Great! I just know I wonât have much time until Queendom ends And if I do end up on the team It will take even longer before I can take a break
There is no âifâ! But I get your point Both days work for me, so you choose I checked the weather, and Saturday will be warmer So we could watch the sunset too if you wanna
*How the fuck would I not?* Sounds perfect
Nice How about we meet up at 4? You could show me around the place And we could have a picnic
Even more perfect Iâll be there Great And thank you đ
My pleasure
The chat dies off, but it doesnât bother you. The high of finally meeting Nana lingers for the rest of the night, giving you one of the best sleeps since you moved to Korea.
_______________________________________________________
As the planned outing approaches, you remember something from your first encounter: her birthday is in spring. Even after remembering it was in March, you still decide to get her something. Surfing the internet for half an hour, you find a few decent ideas, but none of them strike you as THE perfect gift.
*Maybe I should read about her, see what she likes.*
As you press search, the first few results are about another celebrity, who shares her stage name: Im Jinah.
You quickly add âwooahâ to the query to get the desired outcome. Reading through her wiki, an uneasy feeling slowly creeps up on you.
- Well, this is just weird. I feel like I'm stalking her.
Even though you have done this for every idol who has appeared on your show, it's just not the same. You're not gathering information to create the best possible games and scenarios for entertainment, but to wow her. With that thought, you close the tab, and start to think.
- Okay, let's just not. I can work with what I know already. She likes Nintendo games, the colour blue, animation, and spring. And dakbal! She most likely has a Switch already, and there is no way of knowing what games she has or wants without snooping around. I could take a gamble with the animation, and get her a plushie, a shirt, or something of Doraemon. He's blue too, so that's nice. But that is lacking in the âpersonalâ department. So spring, huh? What can I do with that?
You spend the whole day deciding on what to buy, and instead of one big present, you end up with a few smaller ones. You pick all of them up in the coming days, and get the groceries for the picnic on the day before.
The 'date' is set two days after the recording with Cravity, who made their comeback with Groovy last week. You feared that the upcoming meeting with Nana might get in your head, and ruin the show's quality, but it all worked out perfectly. You spend most of the following day going on a big hike with Bingley, and continuing the Netflix show you started. After that itâs time for bed, as tomorrow's going to be busy. The trek tired you out, yet sleep doesnât come easily. You lay awake until it actually gets annoying, and opt for a sleeping pill. The drug does its magic, and you wander off to dreamland in no time.
_______________________________________________________
The alarm rings at 7 AM sharp, and you blindly search for the phone to shut it up.
- Mmmm⌠Just five more minutesâŚ
But as soon as you pull the blanket over your head to block the rising sun, the reason for the alarm registers. Your eyes pop open, and the drowsiness is gone in an instant. After hurriedly finishing the usual morning routine, including your obligations to Bingley, itâs time to go through the checklist for today's tasks.
First on the agenda is preparing the food, 'cause if you mess it up, you will have time to try again. Thankfully, apart from a wasted egg, some spilled milk, and a fierce battle with the sizzling oil, everything goes fine. Second is wrapping the gifts. Usually a bag would do, but not today. Not for Nana. Or rather, Princess Nana. You waste a lot of time and wrapping paper figuring out what's the best way to go about it, but the end result is more than acceptable. Third is packing up - food in the basket, gifts hidden in a bag, and a blanket to sit on. Next up is lunch. You don't have neither the time nor the willingness to cook more right now, so some takeout will have to do. Then itâs time to take out the dog. For a walk, Jimmy... That's number five, check. The last thing to be done is texting Nana the rendezvous point, which you do while you eat the ordered pizza.
Although you'll only have to leave in an hour, you decide to dress up now in today's carefully picked outfit: a floral linen shirt, dark blue shorts, and a few accessories. Nothing too fancy. A few (hundred) TikToks help pass the remaining time, before you pack everything in the trunk of the KIA. After making sure for the third time that everything is in order, you lock the house and get in the car. The V6 engine of the K8 eagerly purrs to life, as if it felt and shared your anticipation for todayâs events. You type the destination into the GPS - not that it was needed; you have been there countably infinite times already, and could drive there with a blindfold on. But as they say: better safe than sorry.
Some music and sunshine keeps you company during the fortunately eventless half hour drive. Once you arrive and park in the shade of a huge oak tree, a notification pops up from Nana: âI'll be there in a few!â Not even 5 minutes later, another KIA pulls into the parking lot. The passenger-side door swings open, and the angel you have been waiting for steps out with the same gorgeous smile on her face she last said goodbye with.
You take a few steps closer, and bow. - Hello! I hope it wasn't too hard to find the place.
- Oh, not at all. - She bows, and says hello too, then looks around to admire the greenery, and the sunshine seeping through the leaves, illuminating everything in sight. It arguably does a worse job than her smile, but the Sun does give you that vitamin D, whereas Nana only gives your D vitamin. And your soul with the cute outfit she is sporting: itâs a red, floral patterned sleeveless top tucked into a tight blue skirt with a very similar motif. As the colour scheme would suggest, itâs downright magnetic. You find yourself unable to look away from her, until a light breeze, paired with the rattling of leaves knocks you out of your daze. When you look up and lock eyes with Nana, you notice her cheeks have copied the colour of her shirt. *I may have stared for too long. *

- Almost didnât notice you there with the camouflage. - you jest, trying to play it off.
Nana giggles, and spins around to give you a full view. In any other circumstance, your eyes would have probably shifted downwards, but her hair steals away your attention, dancing in the air graciously like she does on stage.
- Looks cute, doesnât it? - I think we all know what he thinks about it. - her manager speaks up from behind. She hands Nana a bag, most likely filled with food for the picnic. Before turning away, she gives you a stern look. - Call me when you are done, Nana, and Iâll come back for you as discussed.
She drives off, leaving the two of you alone in a serene, only slightly awkward silence. You grab your stuff from the car, and lead Nana up the path, towards the field. On the short walk there, she keeps looking around in awe, amazed by the scenery. Gotta give it to her, it looks like it was taken from a painting. Birds singing from the blooming trees, butterflies chasing one-another above the lazily swaying, lush grass, and bees hauling their fat fluffy butts from flower to flower.
- Itâs perfect! - she squeals with joy as she bends down to touch the silky grass.
- I knew you would like it.
- I love it!
You walk past Nana, who seems completely mesmerized by the clearing, and a pair of Barn Swallows, as they scurry across the sky, most likely hunting for food. She smiles at them, then catches up with you and helps with the picnic blanket, for which you have already found the perfect spot. Itâs on a slightly more elevated piece of ground, from where you can see above the city, and across the green sea. While you unpack, Nana goes on about how glad she is to be out here in the sun, with you, how pretty the place is, and how excited she is for Queendom Puzzle.
- Itâs an interesting changeup, isnât it? - she asks with sparkling eyes.
- For sure! Definitely interesting for the fans, and even more so for the contestants.
- I know! I canât wait to meet all of them. I havenât even talked to some of them before.
- Well, you could call them now, because we might have overdone it with the food.
You share a laugh, then take a look at the feast you two whipped up. Even without plating the desserts, itâs still enough for at least one other pair of lovebirds. Your schnitzel sandwiches look ârusticâ at best next to Nanaâs three different types of home-made kimbaps, but you wanted to bring something that you would bring at home too.Â
- The one with the omelette strips has a pinch of honey in it. I thought it would be your style. - she explains with a never fading smile.
You take a slice, and push the whole thing into your mouth. Sure enough, she hit it right on the nail. The basic, but undefeated blend of omelette, avocado and tuna is freshened up by the pickled radish, and brought together by the subtle, yet lingering sweetness of the honey. You let out a satisfied hum, and swallow before praising her.
- You are right on the money with this one. Itâs phenomenal!
She giggles triumphantly, and takes a roll too.
- Mmmmh, itâs so good! I never thought about adding honey to a kimbap before. But when I was getting the ingredients, I thought about you, and the bees, and I knew I had to do it.
- Itâs for sure the best kimbap I have eaten so far. Good job! - you raise your hand for a high-five, which she happily accepts.
- Thanks! Now, letâs see what you cooked up.
- Well, I know it doesnât look as fancy as yours, but I promise it tastes great. - you hand her a sandwich, and take one for yourself too. - Itâs kind of a timeless classic in my country. Whenever we go to a beach, on a road trip, or a hike, itâs the go-to snack. Itâs just fried chicken breast, some veggies, and your choice of sauce in a bun, but thatâs the point. Itâs simple, but effective. You can never go wrong with these ingredients, and it never disappoints.
She takes a bite, after you downplayed and hyped up the sandwich at the same time. She munches on it for a few seconds, nodding understandingly.
- I see what you mean. Itâs just really nice. I could see how it would be sort of a comfort food.
- Right? - you light up from her words of appreciation, and take a bite of home. - I donât think I could ever get tired of this.
An endearing smile paints Nanaâs face, which you donât even notice at first, too caught up in the nostalgic dish.
Being the first proper one-on-one talk between you two, the conversation starts off with the usual topics: work, hobbies, friends, family, pets, etc. Still, with how engaged and honestly curious she is, it doesnât feel like the typical, going-through-the-motions, getting-the-mandatory-stuff-out-of-the-way kind of chat. And unsurprisingly, her enthusiasm rubs off on you. You find yourself nodding or laughing along with all her stories, aww-ing at pictures from her childhood or of her family dog, and taking mental notes of every little titbit she shares about her life. Itâs all so easy, so natural. Sure, you are still cracking some jokes, but itâs not the same as if you were in front of the cameras. There is no preparation, no script, just chemistry. When you reach into your basket for a second bottle of soda, you grab onto something else by accident. Itâs one of Nanaâs presents. You have completely forgotten about it, too engaged in the chatter. You take the two small boxes out, and hide them behind your back while your partner is pouring herself a drink.
- Nana?
- Hmm? - she doesnât look up just yet, preoccupied with choosing the next kimbap to devour.
- I know your birthday was like- two months ago.
- Yeah? - now she lifts her gaze, and notices the jewellery box in your hand, coated in deep blue velvet. - Oh, Y/N! - her voice is laced with surprise and appreciation, which also reflects on her face. - You really didnât have to.
- Of course I did!
- Now I feel bad, because I didnât bring you anything. - she pouts, but her frown is immediately turned upside down when she flips the top open. - Wait, is this..?
She holds onto the medallion with one hand, letting the golden chain dangle freely in the warm wind.
- Yeah. A Triforce necklace.
- Itâs so pretty! Quick, help me put this on.
Nana turns around and sits closer to you, so you can secure the clasp on the back of her neck. She stays like that, admiring the metallic trinket, until she leans back against you. Your mind freezes for a second, but your body reacts to her, and your arms wrap around her waist.
- Thank youâŚ
Her words jump-start your mind, and you squeeze her tighter.
- Donât thank me just yet. - you untangle one arm, and reach backwards for another smaller container, neatly wrapped in pink paper. She handles it with care after feeling the weight of it.
- Another one?
She rips off the wrapping, and gasps when she recognises the baby pink coloured box.
- You know, I almost bought this when I last went shopping.
She removes the plastic, then takes out the rose-scented perfume to try it out. She sighs in satisfaction when the smell envelopes the air around you, dulling out the flowers nearby.
- Mmmm~ This bottle wonât last long, I can tell you that much!
Your chuckle is cut short by her lips on your cheeks, a smile, and her nuzzling into your embrace again.
- Thank you Y/N~
- You are very much welcome Nana.
She stays in your arms, letting the minutes pass by, until the dryness in your throat becomes annoying, and you have to let go of her for a drink. She gives you a playful pout before standing up to stretch, as you have been sitting on the ground for quite some time now. Thatâs when a familiar, raspy voice calls out to you from close by.
- Y/N? I thought you would come here today. And with a girl, to boot! You turn around with a curious look, and stand up to greet the elderly woman and her husband.
- Of course Iâm here! Would have been a crime to stay inside in this weather.
- Ainât that the truth. - the man concurs with a subtle nod, then turns to Nana. - And who is this pretty lass you brought along? Wonât you introduce your girlfriend to us? - Oh, weâre not⌠- you try to deny in such a hurry, that even catches Nana off guard. You look at her in hopes of reassuring her, and her beaming smile greets you, though you notice there is something sombre about it compared to usual. - We are just⌠colleagues, kind of. Itâs only the second time weâve met.
The pair looks at each other with a suspicious, knowing look. You can almost hear a whole conversation play out between their gazes. Itâs just one of those things that come with years, or in their case, decades of love and partnership.
- I see. - the woman says without much conviction once she looks back at you. - So itâs not a date? We heard you two laughing from a mile away. Her question throws you for a loop, and while you try to figure out how to word it so you donât possibly hurt Nana more, she answers before you could come up with the proper phrasing.
- No, it is a date. - she states with unshaken confidence, which pleases the couple. - Iâm Nana by the way.
They bow with a sincere smile, and introduce themselves as Mr and Mrs Kim.
- I see you werenât dropped on your head, missy! - the man titters.
You want to look back at Nana, but she is already by your side, hooking her arm into yours and pressing herself closer. At first, it feels a bit strange to call it that, but it only makes sense when you give it another thought. Itâs just a word that you have given too much meaning over the lonely years, and it messes with your head.
- Iâm sure he wasnât either. - she jokes, and bumps your side.
- You will soon learn of that, sweetheart. - the lady pipes up. - He is as sweet as honey, but denser than concrete at times.
They all laugh at that, and you join in after letting go of your now seemingly dumb worries.
- All right, young'uns. We will leave you to it. Gotta get back home before my back gives in.
- Just a second, Mr Kim. - you speak up, and excuse yourself from Nana. You take a few pieces of the layered cake, and stack them in a box. - Please take this. I baked it, but itâs not poisonous. I think.
The couple smiles warmly at you, and takes the box.
- See? Sweet as honey. - The madam echoes her own words with a sly wink aimed at your date.
After that, Nana gifts them some kimbap too, which they thank profusely, then go on their way.
- Oh my god, they were so nice! - Nana asserts as she sits back down.
- They are, yes. I meet them every time Iâm here. They visit this place almost every day in the warmer seasons.
âŚ
- So itâs a date, huh?Â
- Of course. What else would you call an afternoon like this? A one-on-one picnic in one of the most magical places in this city, with someone you like and want to get to know better. Wouldnât be fair to label it as âhanging outâ, or something simple like that.
- TrueâŚ
This time itâs you, who smiles first, but you are not alone for long. Your hand reaches out for hers as you scoot closer on the soft blanket, and she readily accepts the contact, placing her palm on top of yours. Itâs not the âelectric touch that sends a jolt of shiver down your spineâ, itâs just what it is: a touch. Warm and slick, but at the end of the day, nothing out of the ordinary. Itâs the circumstances, and the owner of the other hand, thatâs really special about it. The half-spoken admission of your feelings, a silent promise of more to come, and the most wonderful girl on this planet you share these with. The silence remains even while you eat the muffins, bar Nanaâs compliment for the chocolatey sweetness, and the birds singing in the background. You imagine they are watching this romantic scene unfold in front of them, witnessing love blossom on the field they call home. The little angel stays in your arms, although she feels more like a kitty right now as her warm and petite body lays against you soothingly. You can feel her breathing as her chest rises and falls in a slow rhythm, and you realize your pulse is matching hers when you hold her hand tighter.
Itâs probably a super corny display from the outside, when the Sun starts to near its resting place, painting the skies in the colour of the flowers in the surrounding field. And if not for a certain girl in your arms, it would have been the prettiest sight of the day. The other thing that the sunset loses in, is the warmth. The temperature drops surprisingly quickly on this cloudless night, and no matter how hot the woman is beside you (in all senses of the word), the chilling winds become a bit too harsh to ignore. So you pack up, dividing the leftovers equally while Nana speaks with her manager on the phone. Hand-in-hand, you walk back the path towards the parking place with Nana lighting the way with her phone. Her manager said she will arrive in 10 minutes, so you sit in the K8 to stay warm until that. Nana sits in the passenger seat, and sees something in the backseat that catches her eye.
- Aww! What a cute flower.
- Oh, right! - you reach back for the pot. - Itâs your last gift.
- Another one? For real? - she takes it from you, and admires the flowerless green plant.
- Of course! Itâs a Clitoria Ternatea, aka Butterfly Pea. It will bloom with gorgeous little blue flowers in the summer, and as the name suggests, you can even make tea out of it.
She looks at you with a playful squint and a smirk, the somewhat lewd Latin name of the flower not escaping her attention. You laugh it off, and she leans in for a hug to thank you. It lingers for long seconds, until she gets a text from her manager, stating she is almost there. You both sigh. Itâs a mixture of sadness and contentment. It was probably the best afternoon either of you have spent in a long time, and now that itâs come to an endâŚ
Thatâs not even the worst part. Itâs the fact that there is no way of knowing when there will be a chance to do this again. But if all goes well for Nana in Queendom Puzzle, itâs most likely months. She places her hand on top of yours, and looks you in the eye.
- Thank you for this day, Y/N. You canât even fathom how much it all meant to me. And I donât just mean the gifts, and the picnic. Iâm talking about spending time with you, laughing, talking, hugging⌠And I really want to do it more. To get to know you better, and see where this goes.
- I would love that. - you clutch onto her hand, and give it a small squeeze - Because I thinkâ I think this connection is something very special.
- I think so too.
Her grip on your hand tightens, and she moves her body closer. Itâs barely noticeable, but you see it. You see it, because you are doing the same. You see her lips parting, her eyes nervously glancing at yours, and it makes your heart pound out of your chest. And though Nana may seem timid from the outside, she pushes forward with zero hesitation. Unrelenting, unwavering. She wants this badly, and so do you. So even when her manager pulls up, you donât pull away. The headlights of her car shine right at you when your lips meet. And oh, what delicious, soft lips they are. It makes you forget to breathe, and doubles your heart rate, like a dose of a new designer drug that gets you addicted the moment you use it.
Neither of you break the kiss, and when you shift in your seat so your spine doesnât twist out of its place and move away from her slightly, she chases after you. She even reaches for your shirt with her free hand, so you donât pull away again until she has had her fill. It doesnât take too long, because the uninvited audience does start to make Nana somewhat self conscious now. When your lips separate, you let out the air you have been holding in for these past twenty-something seconds. Itâs hard to tell whether itâs this, or the power of the kiss that leaves you lightheaded, but one thing is for sure: you have fallen deeper than you thought, and so has Nana. She chuckles when she notices your reddened ears, breaking the tension.
- That was⌠- you start, but find it hard to say the right words. - Surreal but, um⌠but nice.
- Yeah. It was.
She gives one last gorgeous smile, and a sorrowed but reassuring goodbye before she leaves you on your own. The kiss replays in your mind repeatedly, and it makes you ache for more: more kisses, but also more than just kisses.
- âSurreal but niceâ? What was I thinking?
_______________________________________________________ The following few weeks after the start of Queendom Puzzle are just as sweet as that goodbye kiss. The late night chats with Nana, her random selfies from practice, during meals, or after recording, and occasional video calls. Naturally, you text her after every episode, praising her performance. She responds in kind, applauding your MC skills, and rambling about her experiences with the other participants. The relationship stays this vibrant and strong for a while, and the energy you get from it shows in your variety show, propelling its popularity into new heights. Which, sadly, means more interviews, ads, and what have you. All of that, paired with Nana having to practice more for the final few episodes, meant a little less time spent talking every day. It never dried out at least, but you wished you could actually see each other in person at times, and hoped she felt the same.
Then it finally arrives. Itâs the 15th of August, and the airing of the final episode of âQueendom Puzzleâ. Nana (obviously) made it into the last 14 with flying colours, raking up MVPs, and a solid spot in the rankings. Still, there was a chance, however slim, that she could falter at the last hurdle. You knew she wasnât the type to fall into a false sense of safety, but it still felt appropriate to give her the extra motivation she might have needed. So you asked her manager in secret for the place and time of the shooting. Without much reluctance, she hooked you up, but advised caution.
Getting past the security was a bit tricky, but still possible. With an iced americano in one hand, and a box of spicy chicken feet in the other, you make your way through the maze of corridors, full of purpose. Room 8 was your goal, and, as Murphy's law dictates, it was at the very back of the corridor. It doesnât matter. The only thing that actually does, is to meet Nana, and put a smile on her face. That ever radiant, healing smile. One can never get enough of it. To make sure that the surprise works, you arrive a solid 20 minutes before she does, so itâs time to catch up with the latest gossip. Nanaâs manager - now also your wingwoman - texts you as they get past security. Your heart skips a beat, and you jump from the chair you have been sitting on âtil now. After quickly hiding her presents, you fix your attire, and wait patiently. At least thatâs what you hope it looks like, but even a blind man could tell how eager you are. Your quickening pulse, fidgeting fingers, and deep, long breaths are a dead giveaway of your true feelings.
You can hear as Nana nears the room, her voice echoing down the hallway as she practices her lines for the show. The door handle pivots, and the awaited angel finally steps into the room. She stops dead in her tracks the moment she sees you. Her eyes widen, and her jaw hangs agape for a moment, but then⌠The change in her expression is like a slow motion study for AI training: her slightly open mouth shifts into a wide smile, showing off her pearly whites. Her eyes sparkle with an adoring glint, as if she just saw the cutest thing in the world. And, as usual of her when she gets this excited, she pushes her tongue out slightly, and bites down on it gently.

- Hello, princess. - you greet her with a bow. Nana loses it right then, and rushes up to you with a loud squeal. You plant a little kiss on her cheek, and hug her close. Or at least try to, but she starts to jump up and down giddily, making it hard to properly hold onto her. Before she pulls away, she returns the kiss. Holding hands, you stand there, mere inches separating you, just staring at each other for a few seconds. Your adoration reflects in her brown eyes, glistening like morning dew on the petals of a Chocolate Cosmos. The laughs and shouting of some other contestants from down the hallway kick you both out of your trance.
- Oh, right! - you spin around, and grab the iced americano. - I got you this.
Her eyes light up instantly.
- Oh my god! You are a lifesaver!
She pounces on you like a panther, and snatches the cold beverage before you could say âmeowâ. You watch with an adoring, cheeky smile as she swallows gulp after gulp, a bit of coffee even missing its mark, dripping down on her chin in the big hurry.
- Whew⌠I needed that. Would you believe that my manager - she points theatrically at the woman - forgot to buy me coffee? Today of all days?! - Uh⌠Thatâs on me. - you admit, scratching your head with unease. - I kind of asked her to⌠Nana crosses her arm, and squints at you suspiciously. She walks up to you with playfully angry stomps, which end up making her look adorable, rather than threatening, like a kid who didnât get the toy they wanted.
- You donât mess with a girlâs coffee! - she lashes out, reinforcing her point by tapping your chest with her index finger. Her faux outrage melts away after she sees how taken aback you are. She smiles at you sweetly then, and kisses your embarrassedly flushed cheek. - No need to plan stuff like this so you can swoop in like a saviour. - she stops mid-thought to take another sip. - I already like you, dummy.
You hear a scoff from her manager, and catch her rolling her eyes. You just smirk to yourself, knowing how cheesy it must seem from her POV.
- Sorry Nana! - you turn your back to her, snap up the bag with the dakbal, and offer it to her. A due prise for her winning the bet from the video, but it's also for motivation. - I hope this makes up for it somewhat.
With one eyebrow raised, she nabs the chicken feet tentatively. Or rather the box of chicken feet. Or rather the box of chicken feet inside a box. Or rather the box of chicken feet inside a box of chicken feet. Or rather the box of chicken feet inside a box of chicken feet inside a bag. Regardless, her face lights up for the third time today the moment she takes a whiff of her favourite delicacy. And thatâs the point of it all. Not just seeing that contagious smile, but also the knowledge that you made her day just a little better. The way she dashes to you again, screeching joyfully as if she just won the lottery, and hugs you so tight that she squeezes the air out of your lungs, tells you that it may have made it more than just a little better.
- You are already forgiven!
She breaks away in a hurry, scattering to the chair to indulge in her precious dakbal. She hums in satisfaction as the flavours fill her mouth, which elicits an even wider grin from you. From the corner of your eyes you catch as Nanaâs manager nods approvingly. Still, she has to be the responsible one when you are together: - Just donât eat too much. You still have to perform.
- Mhm! - Nana acknowledges half-heartedly, gorging down on one chicken foot after the other. Her manager shakes her head disapprovingly, but canât hold back a low chuckle.
- Whew⌠That should give me enough energy for a while. - she wipes her hand and mouth, and thanks you again with a kiss on your cheek. - Gotta go now though. Need to change and get my makeup done. Will you watch from here? - she asks with a hopeful tone.
- Of course! Will be cheering for you from here all the way âtil the end. And I will keep your manager company too. Whether she likes it or not. - you add with a wink aimed at said lady.
- Could be worse, I guess⌠- she shoots back with a barely visible smirk.
Nana gives her manager a hug too, and they exchange a few words in secret.Â
- Good luck, princess. Not that you need it.
The idol hugs you one last time, grabs her coffee, and waves the two of you goodbye before sauntering out the room.
- She is gonna kill it. - you break the few seconds of silence - You can just tell.
- Yeah. Especially with you here now. - the manager concurs, and nudges you in the side.
You watch the show with her, laughing, cheering, or crying along. After every performance is concluded, they invite the girls back on stage; itâs time to reveal the winners. Taeyeon calls them out from third place to sixth, and Nana is not amongst them. Of course, she was second during the previous vote, so it doesnât phase you. Too much. Then the anxiety starts to eat at you when Hwiseo takes first place. Still, not too surprising, considering she finished there during the last episode as well.
Then finally, she is announced as the sixth member to join EL7Z UP, placing second overall in the votes. By that time you chew down every single nail on your fingers despite being sure she would make it. The other idols still on stage gather around her, cheering her on while also calming her down. When she takes the mic, it seems like she isnât even crying anymore, but as soon as she tries to speak, her voice cracks in the cutest way possible, and itâs followed by an even cuter whimper. She gives her speech with a trembling voice, thanking everyone she can think of, and finally joins the other 5 girls on the pedestal. Her rightful place. You sob during it all, chuckling shakily during her most adorable moments. Even Nanaâs cool calm and collected manager wipes a tear from her eyes. - Never once doubted her. - you break the melancholically cheerful silence - But damn it feels good to see her win.
- No kiddingâŚ
After Yeeun is revealed as the final winner, and EL7Z UPâs line-up is complete, they celebrate on stage for a while. You chat with the manager about the ups and downs of the show, weighing in about the winners, the performances, and how amazing Taeyeon is. After a good half an hour, Nana finally returns, jumping into your arms. She lets out her remaining tension, soaking your shirt with her tears. You caress her back lovingly, whispering sweet little nothings to soothe her. The clock ticks by relentlessly, and Nana has to go again. She lets go of you with a long sigh, and wipes her face with a handkerchief her manager hands her. - I wish I could stay for longer. But I have to change, fix my makeup, talk to the girlsâ - Itâs fine, princess. - you cut in - I will see you later, yeah? - Yes! How about this Friday? - she perks up - I know itâs soon, but I wonât have much free time before our debut. And I want to show you my favourite place before it starts to get cold. - Sure. I will make time for you. Whatever it takes. - you agree without hesitation. - Great! - she plants a quick kiss on your cheek, and skips out of the room.
You breathe out slowly. Itâs finally over. Well, kind of. The stress of the survival show may be gone, but now comes the debut. The stakes might not be as high, but Nana will surely give her best, meaning you really wonât see her for the next few months. Again.
Why did I have to fall for an idol? - you ask yourself, but realise itâs no use to dwell on it. Such a fantastic girl is more than worth waiting for. Itâs not like you are not busy yourself, and she wonât be active all year long. Still, it feels like the whole industry is against you, hell-bent on preventing this relationship. And itâs not completely false. Her agency would most likely not allow for it: Nana was already their best asset, and now she became even more valuable. Who cares? As long as her manager is chill with it - which she most definitely is now - and you two are careful, it should be fine. Should be. Has to be.
_______________________________________________________
Her sanctuary, as she calls it, is a smaller penthouse on the outskirts of Seoul. Itâs a simple, cosy flat that feels perfect to come home to after a long day of work. It has everything you need, nothing less, nothing more. one bedroom with a queen size bed, a decently equipped kitchen, a bathroom with a freestanding tub, and a cutesy living room. Itâs just far away from the centre, so that the noises of the city can be faintly heard from inside, and just barely more from the balcony. And what a balcony it is. Itâs the part that really screams âNanaâ. Full of flowers and greenery, two blue lounge chairs with a glass table between them, and on it, a sight that melts your heart: the butterfly peas you bought her for her birthday. - Did you try making tea out of it? - you ask as you trace your fingers along the vibrant blue petals.
- No, not yet. I have barely been here since Queendom Puzzle started. I did have someone to water the plants though! They even cared for the plastic ones. - she adds with a melodic giggle.
- Wanna try now?
- Sure! Although⌠I would hate to pluck it when itâs still so beautifulâŚ
Nana admires the plant with a sombre look before you speak up.
- Well, they are about to lose the flowers soon anyways. The days are getting colder and shorter.
She lets out a long sigh before agreeing to it. She takes a handful of pictures before you pluck the flower heads ever so carefully and rinse them. While you boil the water, the 1 girl grabs 2 cups and a jar of honey to prepare them. You wait 5-10 minutes until the hot water brings out the flavours and colours of the petals, then you indulge yourselves in the heart-warming delicacy.
- Mmmmh~ Thatâs nice. - Nana remarks as she slowly sips on the blue tea.
- Tastes like spring, doesnât it?
Nana quickly nods in agreement.
- Now watch this. - you grab a wedge of lemon, and squeeze some of its juices into your cup. The liquid changes its deep blue hue to a glamorous purple within seconds as the acidic drops dissolve.
- Wow⌠Thatâs gorgeous! But I like mine blue.
- Iâm not surprised.
Compared to the first date, this feels even less tense. No preparations, no stakes, no nerves. Nana and you are already more than close friends, so there is no need to win her over. Now itâs really all about enjoying each otherâs company and talking about anything and everything. She tells all about her pre-debut activities, her school years, and the shenanigans she got up to as a child. You in turn recount anecdotes from the same times of your life, sprinkled in with the first few months after coming to Korea, and starting your own variety show as a foreigner. The tea is followed by a few bottles of soju, along with some takeout. âSomeâ. Itâs kind of a feast (again), but it all disappears eventually as the conversation goes on and on, delving more into your past adventures, your present passions, and your hopes and dreams for the future. The alcohol does its work in the meanwhile, smoothing out the already relaxed nerves even more, and colouring Nanaâs porcelain skin in that Asian flush, giving her an ethereal look as the Sun starts to dip below the horizon. Your hand finds hers, and the two of you sit in a tranquil silence, watching the sky and clouds dance in the colours of the setting star.
- You know⌠- Nana cuts into the quiet, giving you a warm, pensive look. - One can love the sunset, when one is happy, too.
It takes you a few seconds before it clicks, then your face lights up with a tender smile.
- You remembered?
- Of course! I havenât found time yet to read it, but I will.
- Because of that one line? - No. Because itâs important to you. Such a simple statement, yet so powerful. If anyone ever wondered how someone can confess their feelings without saying it outright, they would have found it right here. Just as the last rays of sunlight dim, you bring her hand to your lips, and plant a compassionate kiss on the back of her palm. After that, looking into her eyes, you both understand the depth and strength of this connection within a momentâs notice.
- And you are so much more important, princess.
The equally corny and touching response earns you Nanaâs signature smile, though it seems different from the usual: more sincere and less practiced. Something that merely a couple people have seen if you had to guess. And as many times before, your heart turns into mush, a sweet concoction of affection and adoration, with a pinch of lust.
While the night claims its domain, coating the skies above in pitch black, you clean up the remains of the feast, and grab two blankets. You stay out stargazing for a long while, searching for constellations, and admiring the waning Moon before you move back inside the apartment. Just as Nana is about to dive into her next story, a long yawn interrupts her. Itâs not that late yet, but the day was long. For her the whole summer was long.
- I guess itâs time I head home. You should rest while you can. - No! - she objects instantly, then sinks into the couch with a sheepish smile. - Would you stay for the night? Please? You chuckle faintly, and sit down right next to her.
- If thatâs what the princess wantsâŚ
She leans her head on your shoulder with a tired giggle. Your hand reaches around her, rubbing her side ever so slowly. The little incubus at the back of your head is screaming to lunge at her, but you kill the voice, knowing itâs not the time. Not yet. Maybe you wonât see her until her promotions end, but if you cross this bridge now, it might be even harder on the both of you, having to go without intimacy for months after a most likely wonderful night together. So you bide your time. It will be worth it in the end, even if holding back at the moment feels awful.
While Nana takes a shower and washes her face, you drive home for your pyjamas and a toothbrush. Once you are back, she is already lying on the bed, mindlessly scrolling on her phone. She flashes you a weak smile, though you barely catch it, as the view of her bare legs distract you. You grit your teeth, and head to the bathroom to change and wash up, cursing your luck. It should have been obvious that she would be wearing shorts to bed in the summer, but your mind was elsewhere when you agreed to sleep over.
You step back into the room, and join Nana under the covers. You decide itâs best not to poke the bear in your boxers, and stay on your side of the bed, but Nana has other plans. âShe needs cuddlesâ - she says. âIt helps her sleep better, and she missed it so bad.â - she explains. You canât say no to her pouting lips and puppy eyes, but what comes after is the true challenge. She nestles into you, not leaving any space between your bodies, not even in the most intimate places. Her round and firm backside assumes its position against your pelvis, pressing into you as if she didnât know it was one of the most seductive things a girl could do in this situation. You have to call upon every god in the sky, on Olympus, in Asgard, on Mount Meru, and in Takamagahara, to help you out in this seemingly unwinnable battle. Their combined might is indeed enough to suppress your desires, and you relax with her, hugging her close like a plushie. - Good night princess. - your voice is groggy as you place a kiss on the back of her head. - Good night Little Prince. - she is already fading away into sleep, but she holds onto your hand, intertwining her fingers with yours before she drifts off. You follow suit, her soft whimpers lulling you to rest in no time.
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One of the drawbacks of living on the top floor, is that the Sun disturbs the idyllic early mornings, totally unasked for. With eyes wide shut, you turn away from the celestial intruder, meeting face to back with an angel. Instead of wings, her chestnut locks spread out on the mattress before you. It obviously wouldnât be courteous to wake her, but itâs also a crime not to cosy up to a sleeping beauty in a moment like this. So you scoot closer, and ever so cautiously wrap an arm around her petite body. If it wasnât for the deities who helped you yesterday, you would be in an awkward situation again, but your little buddy decided not to give Nana a rude awakening.
- Hmmm~ I could get used to waking like this. - she mumbles as she finally wakes, and wiggles deeper into your embrace, snuggling up to your warmth like a cat.
- And I could get used to sleeping like this.
She lets out an amused sigh, and starts to run her fingers along your forearm, carefully scraping it with her nails.
- Too bad we canât stay here all day, huh?
- Yeah⌠too bad. Maybe if you werenât such a great performer, you wouldnât have made it into EL7Z UP, and you wouldnât have to go to practice and meetings today. - you tease her.
- Maybe⌠But sorry, I am not throwing that away for you.
- I would rather have you throw me out if I actually asked something so ridiculous of you.
- Good. Now shut up and kiss me! - she demands out of nowhere, and flips around in a flash.
You donât even have time to protest - as if you wanted to - before her lips press hungrily against yours. Your stale morning breaths take nothing away from the enjoyment and the beauty of the act. The chirps of birds and the early commotion of the waking city fade into the distance, replaced by Nanaâs barely audible moans, your heavy breaths, and the smacks of your lips. The make-out is just as sweet as it is urgent, but you refrain from using your tongues for the sake of keeping it PG - you know you wouldnât be able to hold back if she let you venture further. She is not so restrained though: her fingers run through your hair as she pulls you in deeper, and her soft little breasts squish against your chest, drawing blood to your nether region. But before things could get out of control, your rumbling stomach comes to the rescue. âIf only it didnât need to.â - you curse silently in your head. With flushed cheeks and short, shallow breaths, Nana pulls away.
- Breakfast?
- Breakfast⌠Do you have eggs and bacon?
- I should, yeah. Want me to make some?
- No thanks. I can do it. Do you want some too?
- Uhmm⌠Sure! I would like a proper breakfast while I can. But I wanna help!
- Youâre the boss, boss.
She steals one last cheeky kiss before jumping out of bed, and chassĂŠs out of the room. You follow her (butt) with your eyes, then join her in the kitchen.
- Can you grab the things please? - Nana asks as she turns on the stove, and pours the oil into a large pan.
- Sure thing.
Despite you telling her beforehand that you would do the cooking for both of you, she doesnât give you a chance. Wanting to be a good host, or so she says. You are not one to complain about a lack of work in the morning, so you at least have to pay her back somehow, right? And what better way than a playful bump of your hips against hers, an affectionate hug from behind, or a few delicate kisses on her neck and shoulders. Nana doesnât reject her payment, and you can feel her skin heat up under your touch. It could be from the fire of the stove, but her crimson ears let you know itâs your doing. When she is almost done, you set the table, and pour out two glasses of orange juice.
You eat in mostly quiet, watching the Sun climb higher on the cloudless sky, only occasionally speaking up. Exactly like on the first date though, itâs not an awkward silences, itâs just⌠comfortable. You will have many more times in the not so near future to discuss any hot topic, or whateverâs on your minds, but this serene morning needs none of that. It only needs the two of you, stolen glances, exchanged smiles, and some cold oj to flush down the tasty food.
She offers you coffee after youâre done; an offer you canât refuse, but state one condition in return: âIâm doing the dishes then.â She brings the soul warming beverage to the sofa, where the two of you cuddle up, watching some dumb morning show for entertainment. Your hand roams along her body dutifully through it all, earning you hums of delight. Sadly, the good times come to an end sooner than expected when Nana gets a call from her manager, informing her about a crucial, and certainly critical conference in the coming hour.
- Iâll let you get ready, then. - you tell her, slightly dejected, but not at all surprised.
- Yeah, thanks⌠You first do the dishes as promised, then head to the bathroom to dress up while she does the same in her bedroom. After a long kiss, you say your goodbyes.
- Iâll see you⌠whenever, I guess. - you say with a bitter smile.
- Iâll try to make time for you, but I canât promise anything. - her eyes cast down on the floor, trying not to face the inevitable.
You grab her chin, and bring her eyes up to meet yours briefly, before you give her one more peck on her lips. For the first time you have known her, they were slanting down, but you pour every bit of reassurance into the kiss, and though she doesnât exactly smile after you pull away, she at least looks less gloomy.
- You just focus on this group first, okay? Donât push yourself too hard, because I will wait for you, however long it takes.
She darts at you with a tight hug, not letting go of you until she has committed your scent and feel to memory.
- Thank you. I will do my best for you.
- I donât doubt that for a second. But do it for yourself.
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You knew what you signed up for, but that still doesnât console you. Working, and meeting up with your friends canât replace Nanaâs absence in your life. She puts most of her energy into preparing for her debut, understandably so, and the two of you barely even chat during her promotions. Meetings are almost completely out of the question, bar a few coffees, and a short walk with your dog here and there. The only positive thing about all of this is watching Nana shine on stage more than ever. Even during the rendezvous, she goes on about how much fun it is with the new members, how talented and kind they are, and how much she loves the songs, dances, and concepts. She canât hide her fatigue though, tainting the sweet times with a somewhat bitter undertone. They even travelled to Japan two times, once to France, and once to Saudi Arabia, and no matter how much you wanted to follow her, there was no way it was ever feasible or logical.
And of course, once the promotions for their first EP 7+UP ends, they almost immediately announce their next comeback in early 2024, threatening even more packed schedules for her, and even less dates for you. Fortunately or not, that somehow fizzles out, but of course, Nanaâs agency jumps on the opportunity, riding her newfound fame, striking while the iron is hot: they announce WOOAHâs single releasing in April. Between all this chaos and dickering, only one thing is for certain: you have to meet. You have both waited enough, sacrificed enough, now itâs time to reap in your rewards.
While her bosses deal with legal stuff between WOOAH an EL7Z UP, and set up for the release of BLUSH, you have a few weeks of freedom, and you use it to the fullest. You drink and dine out, go to karaoke and bowling with friends, and during all this, your love for Nana only grows. Finally being with her again, fully, and this frequently, reminds you why you fell for her in the first place: her carefree but never careless attitude, her kind words, her playful teasing, her precious smile and even more precious laughter, her perfect body in your arms, and those soft lips that taunt you to kiss her every time your gaze lands on them, even if there are people watching.
And naturally, it doesnât take long to give in to the desires you both have held back for God knows how long. After the first few dates, itâs time you cross this bridge. It wasnât exactly what you had in mind when you met up in the afternoon in early February for a BBQ with her friends, but it was always in the cards. Valentineâs day was just around the corner, and you could have waited to make it the most special day of all, but something about today just felt right. Maybe it was how she fed you while you cooked for the group, how she kept looking at you with those curious, adoring eyes, how she snuggled close whenever she could, how she leaned her head on your shoulder, how she clung onto your hand during your walk home, or most likely all of the above.
In any case, it led you here, to this exact moment. You are lying on your bed, and for the first time in many months, itâs not your dog you share it with. Nana is on top of you, her tongue pushing against your lips as you make out, impatiently searching for a way in, which you hastily surrender to her. You have never seen her this zealous, this hungry for you. âI guess she has had enough too.â Sensing her intentions, your hands creep down from her back, and land on her perky ass. Itâs time you shed the pretences, and go for what she is offering. Whatâs yours for the night, and most likely for the foreseeable future, but hopefully forever. You fondle the supple flesh and spread her cheeks apart as much as her jeans allow. She rewards you with moans you can only describe as lewd. Especially for such a gracious girl as her.
Her hands are holding either side of your neck, pulling you impossibly close, deepening the kiss, like she feared you would get away if she let go of you for a second. Her fingers then snake down on your chest, her fingertips tracing teasing circles around your nipple before feeling up your pecs and abs. She moans into the kiss again, but itâs this time more out of appreciation for your fit physique than from the heat thatâs building inside her. In the meantime, you reach under her top to rub along the smooth skin of her lower back. The feeling presumably ignites something within her, because she starts to grind against your growing bulge, eliciting a hushed groan from you this time.
Itâs a risky limbo of long suppressed lust and never-ending affection. One side of you simply wants to pin her down, and fuck her brains out until she is addicted to you, to your cock, but the more sentimental side yearns for her gentle touches, her sweet kisses, and her soft whimpers of satisfaction, were you to slowly make love to this princess on top of you. The way she quickly reaches for your groin, but stops at the edge of your pants in hesitation, lets you know she is battling with the same demons. And being the sensible man you are, you wonât force her into something she is not hundred percent comfortable with. Nevertheless, you lift your hips, seeking her touch, while also giving her the green light she might have needed.
She doesnât bite just yet though - except for your lower lips at times. Instead she matches the movement of your hands, and her digits sneak under your shirt to explore your tensing muscles. The arousal is literally palpable, even your clothes start to feel too hot now. As the restrictions start to crumble, Nana takes the first real step: in the blink of an eye she breaks the kiss, sits up, and pulls off her shirt in one move. You barely have a second to admire her athletic upper body, because as soon as she throws her top away, her lips are pressing against yours again. It doesnât take long for her to reach for your top after that; her fingers hook into the fabric, and you lift from the bed to help her remove it. This time she takes a few seconds to drink in your sight; that lets you enjoy her tantalizing fitness in return.
- Fuck⌠You are so-
You canât even finish the sentence, because with a wide grin, she lunges at you, continuing her oral assault where she left off. The sloppy sound of your make-out fills the room, along with heavy breaths and muffled whimpers of arousal. Her fair skin is like velvet under your fingertips as you brush them across her back with unrestrained need. The back of her bra gets in the way of the exploration, but she gives you a quick approval for you to unclasp it. She wiggles out of the pesky piece of fabric, and again, she gives you a mere glimpse of her pert tits before pressing them against your chest to resume with the smooches. Her lips slowly leave yours, and make their way down your jawline, across your neck, and onto your chest. A move you would have rather done to her yourself, but certainly arenât against to be on the receiving end of. Persistently, she moves further south, only stopping when she reaches your abdomen. She looks up at your flustered face, and with a sly grin, she unbuttons your pants, and unzips your fly. With the lowered resistance, your erection bursts forward, tenting your boxers, the last barrier between you and heaven. Nana tugs at your pants; doesnât even wait for you to raise your hips, she just yanks it off, but in doing so, your underwear comes off with them. Your cock springs free, and stands at attention proudly, twitching in anticipation. As your princess marvels at your manhood, you get to gawk at her modest, perky breasts. You swear you can see her pink nipples harden, and you give yourself all the credit, since the air in your room is more than warm at this point.
Nanaâs mouth hangs agape as she cautiously drops to her knees. You prop yourself up on your elbows to get a better look of her reaching for your pole. Her delicate fingers wrap around your girth tentatively, mapping your pulsing veins. Her clutched palm moves along your shaft in a measured fashion, her eyes locked onto her prize. - Such a nice cock⌠You look at her curiously, somewhat caught off guard by her statement, but before you could give it much thought, her lips are already hovering your leaking tip. She looks up at you with those innocent cocoa-hued eyes, though you canât find any trace of modesty in her gaze. Itâs filled with lust and hunger as she opens wide to take you inside. You hiss at first, when her hot breath hits your meat, then you let out the air in a shaky breath when she envelopes you in the slick and soppy embrace of her mouth. Your head cocks back for a second, but you regain composure, just so you can look into her eyes. She never breaks eye contact as she dutifully takes more and more of your length into her greedy mouth. She pushes her tongue out with practiced ease, making sure your main vein slides nicely alongside the rougher surface.
Your glans reach her uvula, but she doesnât gag, merely pauses for a second. Even thatâs just for show, because she grins (as much as you dick inside her mouth lets her), and in a heartbeat, she has swallowed you whole, leaving you dazed, reeling, about to break, but above all, impressed and extremely horny. Her eyes start to tear up after a few seconds, and only then she starts to remove your member in a leisurely manner. Her drool covers you from head to balls as she slowly jerks your cock, still looking into your widened eyes, spittle dripping down from her chin.
- Holy shit, Nana.
She flashes you a cheeky, victorious smile. - Not gonna lie, I didnât think I could take it all. I havenât been with a guy in quite some time, and none of them were packing like you. Her smirk fades, replaced by a sulking pout as she sees your confused expression. - Did you not like it?
You shake your head.
- No, I did! It felt fucking amazing. Itâs just unexpected, is all. I never imagined you to had this side.
- Itâs kind of new to me too, to be honest. But Iâm sooo horny right now. Have been for a long while, to be honest. You were just so nice today. To me, to my friends, even to the cashier at the shop. You always have been, and you donât even know what that's doing to me. I have never felt this attraction to anyone, and I⌠I canât help it. I want you. So fucking bad.
You reach for her blushing cheeks to caress her, which she welcomes with a satisfied sigh. - I want you too, Nana. But Iâm sure you know that.
You lean down, and bring her face to yours for a kiss. Itâs sweet and sensual, unlike the ones a few minutes ago. Those few words along with this romantic smooch is all she needed for reassurance. She steps away with a wink, and stares at you as she finally takes her pants off. Itâs slow and measured, challenging you to stand up and rip them off, but you are too focused on her slender legs, and the blue-striped panties to move even a muscle. When the jeans finally are off, she kicks them to the side, and with short, calculated steps, she makes her way back to you. With both hands on your shoulders, she pushes you onto your back so she can straddle your lap. The wetness of her core seeps through her underwear as she desperately grinds against your throbbing cock. When you reach for her ass again, you realize itâs not just any pair of panties: itâs a thong. When she sees your surprise, she just grins. - I need you in me right now.
To back up her words, she peels the thin, moist fabric to the side; she canât be bothered to waste another second to actually take them off. She drags her soaking folds across your spit-coated rod a few times, giving it another layer of her slick juices. You hold your breath to listen to the barely audible wet noises, but her quickening squeals of delight suppress the noise. After a few seconds, when she deems you well lubed enough, she lifts herself, and brings your tip to her entrance. Again, you barely have a second or two to take in the glorious sight before she moves. A sharp inhale, then she sinks down on you. Not slowly. Not carefully. And despite her incredible tightness, she manages to take all of you in a single, reckless motion.
- What the- Jesus! - she screams as you bottom out.
- T-take your time, princess. - you suggest, but itâs for your own good too, because the snugness of her raw pussy is almost unbearable. You donât even question the foregoing of condoms, you assume she knows best.
She doesnât even seem to have heard your words, too lost in need, too impatient, after having to wait months for you. Without warning, or any easing into it, she rises up, until only your tip remains inside her silken warmth, then slams down onto you. The sharp slap of your skins echoes through the room, but not for long; this wasnât a one time trick, or something to show off, just an appetizer. She repeats the motion again and again, harder and faster each time. Her legs can barely handle the brutal pace her body demands, so she fixes her position. With her feet planted firmly on either side of your hips, and her hands propped on your chest for support, she resumes pounding you. It might sound ironic, but there is no arguing about it: she is the one in control, she is the one doing all the work, practically using your pulsing heat as a living dildo to vent her pent up frustrations out with. - Fucking hell⌠Slow down! - you plead between short, ragged breaths as you hold onto her thighs for dear life, leaving red marks on her flawless skin. - I- I canât⌠I need this⌠I need YOU, damnit! I have waited long enoughâŚ
She looks you in the eye, and in it, you can see it all. The glints of almost obsessive adoration fuelled by months of longing and affection. The guilt of hidden desires and the fire of hardly concealed lust. Itâs all there, and you canât believe itâs all for you. You canât believe how lucky you are to have this angel turn into this insatiable succubus, drunk on your love, riding you into a world of pleasure that may have never been discovered by any other. And within those passion-darkened eyes, you see yourself: a perfect reflection of all her feelings. Itâs not like she was the only one who has been fighting back their urges for days on end.
- You understand, right? - she asks, still smashing her ass against your pelvis with unwavering cadence.
- Of course⌠- you admit between groans. - Let me prove it. You clutch onto her legs with force to keep her in place. She cocks her head in confusionâ then you thrust into her. She yelps. Her back arches. Her nails dig into your chest. And the erotic display is fuel to the fire, to your pistoning cock. The pace she has set before? You double it. That causes her voice to grow in volume two-fold too.
- Ah! Y/N! - she cries out, which spurs you on to fuck her even harder.
Now that you have taken the lead, and arenât just along the ride - though what a ride it was - you have the chance to examine her petite body. You start from the top with her face, or at least want to, but her head is still thrown back, moaning your name between obscenities as pleasure takes over her mind. Her reddened neck looks primed to leave hickeys on, albeit thatâs for another time. For an occasion when she doesnât have to cover it up with makeup from prying eyes. Below that, her small, perky tits bounce with your every stab into her needy cunt. You reach for them with both arms, and grope her soft mounds. She bites her lips from that, but then her jaw slacks open with a guttural howl when you pinch her aroused pink nipples, and roll them between your fingers. The reaction is exactly what you hoped for, so your digits stay on her itty-bitties to continue their work. Your eyes continue their work in the meanwhile. They land on her tummy. Her abs flex constantly as she tries to keep herself steady on top of you. Her skin is patterned by little drops of sweat, some of which give in to gravity and roll down in the crevice of her toned midriff. And the more you fuck her, the more her body glows with sweat. Not too far underneath her cute belly button, the sight of her completely shaved pussy greets you. Itâs arguably the most beautiful thing you have ever seen, even in its current state. Or maybe thatâs exactly what makes it so enticing. Itâs swollen and flushed, her folds already covered in grool, yet your pounding draws even more of the precious nectar out.
*What a shame I couldnât taste it. Yet. * - you think to yourself.
Nana finally gets a hold of herself, at least enough to look at you. The craving in her eyes is softened with an infatuation that makes you blush. She leans forward with a weak smile, her fingers brush along your cheekbones in a soothing way, raising goosebumps on your arms. The stark contrast between the gentle touch and the obscene slapping of flesh against flesh throws you off, but your hips are moving on their own at this point, unbothered by the sudden show of affection. Not that she intended for you to slow down anyways, just wanted to look at you, adore you, one last time before she comes undone.
Because after holding back for months, this first orgasm comes fast and hits hard, like a bullet train of pleasure. Her eyes are still on yours, but glassy and unfocused now. She bites down on her tongue, trying to hold back a moan, as if she was suddenly self-conscious about making so much noise (little does she know, there arenât any neighbours around to worry about). You give her taut ass a sharp whack, and thatâs enough to get her to scream and arch her back.
- Yes-yes-yes-yes-yes-yes!!!
You donât just let her savour the orgasm though. No. You fuck her through it. Overwhelming her senses to a degree she canât contain. You press your thumb onto her clitâ a few circles around her pearl is all it takes to turn her into a quivering mess. Her legs give out, and she drops onto your lap, practically impaling herself on your dick, preventing you from pounding her further. Her mouth is open, and you wait for a moan, a curse, a cry, but none of it ever comes. Nana doesnât even breathe. The only sign of life you get is her walls squeezing around you periodically, clamping down on your rock solid pole.
Itâs sort of a miracle you donât lose it right there. But you hold back because you want more. More of her moans. More of her tight, silky heat. More of her pretty face distorted with pleasure. More of her jiggling breasts. More of her firm ass. More of Nana.
- Holy fuck! - she finally speaks up amidst shallow breaths - That was incredible⌠I never⌠I never came so hard in my life.
- Yeah, that felt unreal. - you agree, lacing your fingers through hers. - You are fucking perfect.
- But⌠But you didnât finish yet. - she notes, slightly disappointed, but not discouraged, evident by her playful smirk. - Maybe a good look at my butt would help.
With your cock still inside her drenched slit, she spins around, and nestles into your lap. She tries to go fast right away, but her still sensitive pussy forces her to take a moment before she could properly ride you. At first, you grab onto the sheets, just watching as ripples tear through her glistening ass. But you canât go on like that for long. Not when such perfection is right in front of you, taunting you, begging to be played with. And so you reach out, take both her taut cheeks in your palms, and give them a nice squeeze.
- Mmmh~ I knew you would like it.
- I fuckinâ LOVE it. - you correct her. When she looks back at you over her shoulders, her hair cascades down on her back, sticking to her sweaty skin. Her lust-filled gaze finds yours, stuck to her cute little bottom, and to the puckered hole in its centre. A knowing smile tugs at her lips as she turns forward again, and she rides you even faster. You spread her cheeks to get a better look at her rear entrance; it twitches, daring you to make a move. And you donât need to be asked twice. After licking your thumb to lube it up, you inch closer and closer to her backdoor, and since Nana doesnât protest, you press forward. To your surprise, it gives way to you without much resistance, as if she was prepared for it, wishing for it even. And judging by her loud, almost deafening moan, thatâs exactly the case.
The added sensation makes her already tight cunt clench your dick even harder. She gasps, shuddering, but she doesnât stop. She canât. She wants to push you to your peak and past that. She wants you to cum for her, to show her how much you adore her, how much she turns you on, how good she feels. If only she knew.
- Come on Y/N⌠Cum for me! - she begs as she rolls her hips in a way only a practiced dancer like she can.
Your reply is a moan. A desperate, covetous wail, that gives away just how close you are to the edge. Teetering on the brink, facing the abyss⌠An abyss of pure bliss and overflowing emotions. Its pull is irresistible, as is Nana, and you feel the inferno in your abdomen building up, threatening to erupt at any time. And no matter how wet she is, how much she is leaking all over your lap and onto the bed sheets, it only feeds the fire more, along with your own unravelling. You are almost there, and Nana knows it too from the way your length twitches more and more inside her, and from your short, laboured breaths through gritted teeth.
- Please just fill me up already! Now thatâs just cheating. One that probably works eleven out of ten times. Your body locks up as you drown in the pleasure. You try to hold her still against your pelvis as you start to unload inside her welcoming little hole, but she slaps your trembling hands away, and rides you even faster.
Did you really think she wouldnât pay back for the âfavourâ of you overstimulating her when she came? You should have known better.
She fucks you, until youâre a shaking mess under herâ until her second orgasm hits. The way your combined moans fill the room (the whole house, really) along with the wet sounds of your mixing juices, as it sloshes around lewdly with Nanaâs every movement, is completely obscene. Itâs a beautifully filthy symphony, played by and for the two of you.
A/N: Your dog is in the garden, preoccupied with searching for a treat he buried a week ago, in case youâre wondering.
Nana rolls her hips slowly to ride out the last moments of her orgasm, while also milking your cock for every last drop of cum you have to offer. She purrs in delight as you fill her thirsty womb, then, once you have nothing left to give, she turns around and collapses on top of youâ entirely spent, and thoroughly satisfied. Her hot breath tickles your neck as she lies on your chest, but you barely register it. Your brain is locked onto the receptors in your nether region. Still, with how out of it you are, you manage to command your body to do one thing: hug Nana close.
The two of you stay in that sticky embrace, your chests heaving against the otherâs with each shallow breath while your spunk slowly drips out of her used slit. It takes a few minutes before either of you come down from the high, able to speak again.
- You are way too good at that. That had to be my biggest load yet.
- Thanks, handsome~ You are no slouch yourself. - she returns the flattery along with a small kiss, then looks at you. Her eyes sparkle with the afterglow of your ravenous lovemaking, but she has a slightly bashful expression on. - This- This was the first time anyone came inside me. I donât know what came over me, I was just so turned on, so horny, and I really wanted to know what it felt like, and I wanted it to be you, because I didnât know when we could do this again⌠And I donât want you to think Iâm the kind of girl, who just sleeps around for the heck of it, opening her legs for any-
You shut her yapper with a deep, passionate kiss, until she finally relaxes in your arms.
- You have nothing to explain, Nana. Not to me, not to yourself. - your fingers brush through her hair for further reassurance.
She stares back with adoration, then lays her head on your chest with a sigh. The stark contrast between the rough sex and the intimacy of this moment doesnât elude you, but you wouldnât have it any other way. Itâs not like you went all out because there was not even a trace of emotion between you; itâs the exact opposite. You were both so starved for physical affection, so head over heels for the other, that this was the best and only way to release everything thatâs been consuming you since your first kiss.
- I hate to be this responsible right now, - you disrupt the blissful peace - but I should take a piss. And I really need to hydrate.
- Sure⌠You go ahead and do that⌠Iâll just⌠wait for you hereâŚ
You steal a kiss before she rolls off of you, then you leave the room in your boxers. After you accomplish your mission and let Bingley inside, you return to Nana with two bottles of water.
- Here. You should drink too.
- Oh yeah, thanks.
- Want me to lend you a shirt for the night? - you ask after emptying half the bottle.
- Hmmm, no. I want to fall asleep cuddling like this.
- As you wish, princess.
You discard the soaked blankets for a clean one, take off your boxers, then lie behind Nana with your arms wrapped around her exhausted body. The strong scent of sex lingers in the room, only dampened by the sweetness of Nanaâs shampoo. She settles deeper into your calming embrace, her bare skin still warm and damp with exertion, and it feels sooo nice against your body. Like she was always meant to be right there. Right here. With you. The only sound disturbing the tranquil silence is the nestling from her thighs as they absentmindedly rub together at the delicious soreness you left in her. Until you remember something.
- Oh! Just one more thing.
- Mmm? - she groans, barely awake.
- I love you.
- I know. - she leaves the words hanging for a few, very uncomfortable seconds - I love you too.
Her breaths become silent purrs, and her pulse slows to a soothing thrum against your palm on her stomach. She threads her fingers through yours, content, loved, comfy, pleased.
- Good night princess.
- Mmm~
You stay awake for a while, drawing little circles on the back of her hand, replaying the events of today in your head. Especially this last half an hour. Would she have been like this if you went all the way earlier? Who knows? Who cares? Was it worth the wait regardless? Absolutely. Because all that matters is her, lying in your arms, naked, after the best sex of your life. So far! Because with Nana, you know you will have all the fun in the worldâ in and out of bed. And doubtless, she will prove that in the morning when she wakes up by your side. By her beloved Y/N.
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