#but ye i have to say. giving they gave one of the colleges they’re discussing just got a new building

[lovevalley45]

rn my university is debating combining colleges n shit and people are. not happy about it so i’m reading the report abt it

and i have to say. it’s not great for the sciences (both soft and hard) but i was looking at my lil hfa left alone like ‘well at least my english department chair won’t have to worry abt digging trenches’

[spadesolace]

childish antics: wil! minji x fem!reader

they say, you know they’re the one if they support your childish antics. minji just so happens to be the same person who wants to stay at home and build legos with you.

warning/s: none, established relationship, not proofread

spade speaks: you can read this as stand alone, no need to read what is love first

as childish as it may seem, you managed to persuade minji into buying lego sets.

college life has been hectic, within the first three months at Korea University, the amount of papers and experiments you and minji have done just led to burnout. providing a solution to it was playing with legos, at first minji was hesitant because shouldn’t you two be saving money to pay for your necessities?

“well… yeah but i have enough money saved up to at least buy two lego sets.”

“save it, yn. who knows when we might need those funds.”

hanni was right, you two do act like an old married couple. considering you now both live together, do weekly hangouts with your friends and treat them as your children, and discuss things that only married couples do. that’s probably due to the fact you’ve been friends since elementary.

“please, we can just get those small ones and not those big sets.” minji was already planning on buying a set for your 8th month anniversary but then again, this is one of the rare occurrences of your professors being chill.

“fine, we’ll just buy the small ones.”

“this is why i love you.”

looking around the big lego store that was near their place, minji slowly regretted agreeing to buying the small sets. the small ones were something you could finish on your own right away, while the big sets, specifically the one you’re eyeing, is perfect for the budget and an activity of you two. those puppy dog eyes that usually don’t work easily on minji suddenly paid off as she saw you holding the starry night set. she deeply regrets saying yes to the small sets, now that she sees the way you’re jumping up and down after paying.

before you could actually leave the store, you noticed the make your own character, pulling minji back in and telling her your genius plan of making one for the both of you and the last one being a complete mess of a character.

“I’ll pay for it, i promise.” you’ve always been true to your words and minji could only nod but explained she wanted to build you as a lego, while you make her character. simple, but not a lot of pieces have that specific wow factor that made you think of minji. 

after 10 minutes of making your own minifigure, deciding to surprise each other, only ended up with the two of you laughing.

“WHY’D YOU GIVE ME A RAT AS AN ACCESSORY?!”

“DON’T ACT ALL INNOCENT, YOU GAVE ME A COKE ZERO!”

you continued teasing her about that one song she wrote on the whim about coke zero, it was catchy but it felt out of place at the same time. the way minji just laughs at your antics catches you off guard on how you manage to be her girlfriend. you spent years pining for her and finally you’re together still acting like best friends who kiss each other and are staying under the same roof. as minji’s laugh died down, she could only stare back at you with confusion, a small smile on your face and seeing as your minifigures are holding each other’s hand.

“what?”

“nothing, i’m just- in awe.” you kissed minji on the cheek, pulling away you started looking for pieces for the last minifigure.

“don’t give it an afro.” as childish it may seem, when you’re with minji, you don’t care anymore. she’s definitely the one you want to spend the rest of your life with, someone who supports your childish antics and lets you have fun when things get rough.

“the last one surely looks like it got my style and your looks, darling.”

“maybe that’s something we’ll see in the near future.”

gosh, you really love kim minji.

[robinhobiii]

buttons | professor! j. ww

summery : y/n failed a few classes and now the college needs to speak with a guardian.

Warning: kinda suggestive

Y/n was stressed. The results of all the exams come out today and she’s dreading to pick up the paper. She knows she failed chemistry. She had no clue what she did during a the labs or what she did on the final exam. She’s been slacking for the two months going out and about and not studying. There’s no way she got above a C on the other exams too. What’s worse is the fact that her husband, Jeon Wonwoo, worked at her university as a history and philosophy professor. It was an arranged marriage and she only said yes because she thought he would go easy on the school work load. However, he’s more strict than her father! Always wanting straight A’s and less than 5 absences. However, no one knows about this. He didn’t tell anyone because he didn’t want people to think he was favoring her because she was his wife.

He’s a cold man, but he cares about her. She seen on multiple occasions that he did. Like when it was close to midnight and she’d ask for help on certain questions. Or when it’s that time of the month and he goes out and buys whatever she craves. They’ve been married for almost two years and she’s feels as though they’re almost at the finish line to be lovers. But she’s not too sure on how he’ll react to the report.

Her thoughts were interrupted by her phone ringing. Strange.

It’s was the student center.

“Hello?” She said cautiously.

“Ah yes, good evening Ms. L/n, this is your advisor speaking. I’m going to need you to come to my office right now please. We need to discuss the sudden drop in your grades.”

“. . .”

“Ms. L/n, are you there?”

“Ah! Yes, I’ll be there as soon as I can.”

. . .

“Ms. L/n, your GPA dropped from a 3.9 to a 2.9 in a matter of two weeks. From what I can see, your grades went down during the last few weeks of this semester. You are an excellent student because I can see that before you had a A and B average. However, this severe drop can really cause problems for graduation.”

She said as the advisor looked at her. She had no words to say because honestly she did this to herself. Y/n knew that she was failing but not to the point where it’ll cause her problems to graduate.

“What can I do? I’ll do anything to fix it!” Y/n exclaimed.

The advisor sighed and said “Well, since you’re in danger of not graduating, this is what has to be done. We need to have a meeting with a guardian to make sure that you stay on track and they push you towards graduation. We know you’re a good student, so we’re giving you this chance to redeem yourself. Once we can come to a compromise with you, the guardian, and I, we’ll allow you to retake the classes online.”

“Um, w-when is it a good time to come by? ”

”Hmm, what’s today . . Oh! Thursday. I’ll set aside time for Friday, 4:30 pm, okay? Does that sound fair. “

Ooh, Y/n, you idiot! You’re done tonight.

“Thank you so much for the second opportunity!”

. . .

She’s fucked.

She stared at the paper the advisor gave. She needs to give it to Wonwoo so he can look it over so he has an idea of what meeting will be about. However, she doesn’t have it in her to do so. It’s was close to 9:30 pm and Wonwoo just pulled into the drive way. She gasped and shoved the paper in her pack back. Y/n made her way to the kitchen and waited for him to come in.

He shut the door rather roughly.

Yup, she’ll have to tell him later. He’s not in a good mood and her telling him about the meeting is not a good idea.

“You okay? ” she said softly as she watched him hang his long coat. He merely grunted and made his way to the bathroom. It was one of those days for him. Mondays and Thursday’s were the most difficult for him. Monday’s . . Well they’re just Monday’s. But Thursday’s are difficult because it’s the day before Friday and he just wants the week over.

She nervously plated his food and waited for him. She was too nervous to eat the right now and just wanted him to go to sleep so she can think of a plan. After his shower, he sits down and starts to eat. She looked at his beautiful face and the way his wet hair effortlessly made him look even more gorgeous. He quirked his eyebrow and looked at her. “Why aren’t you eating?” His deep voice sending chills down her back.

”m’not hungry” she said timidly.

He squinted his eyes and looked up and down at her, trying to read her. “Why?”

“Oh! It’s nothing. I just had a big snack earlier, that’s all. ” she said softly.

He hummed and continued to eat.

“How were your exams?”

She couldn’t think of what to say. She was silent and Wonwoo stopped eating and looked straight at her. “Y/n, I asked you something.” His hooded eyes looked into hers and she got way too nervous and looked away. Before he could say anything else, his phone rang. Y/n quickly got up and got it for him and zoomed to the bedroom.

She doesn’t know how or when she fell asleep, but she woke up at 6:32 am. Wonwoo already left as he needs to be there by 6:00 am. She was panicking on what to do since the meetings is at 4:30 and she still didn’t tell him. Maybe she could text him? No, then he’ll be in a bad mood all day and no one deserve that.

Ugh! Y/n you had one job and couldn’t even do that right.

. . .

It was 4:05 pm and she still hadn’t told him. And the meeting was in 25 minutes.

Sigh. It’s now or never.

Y/n walked in to his office and sat down in front of him. His eyes bore into hers, trying to read them. She quickly looked away and sighed for the millionth time. “Wonwoo, I’m g-going to tell you something, but you can’t get m-mad.” She said nervously as she played with his fingers.

“Enlighten me, princess.”

“I-I, uh, well, um, okay. Are you busy in about 20 minutes?”

He raised an eyebrow. “No”

“I need you to come to a meeting with me.”

He looked confused. Why would he get mad at that?

“May I ask what the meeting is for?” He said as he intertwined their hands.

Her heart fluttered but she’s not sure if it’s because he’s holding her hand or if she’s too nervous to answer him. She remained silent for a bit.

“Y/n? You okay, darling? ”

Her heart was beating out of her chest and she couldn’t formulate a sentence.

“Princess. ” He said more firmly.

She straightened up and his hooded eyes looked at her intently. “I asked why? You know I don’t like repeating myself.” Her cheeks flushed pink as she pulled away her hands and looked at the white digital clock behind him.

4:24.

Where did the time go?!

She quickly pulled out the paper from yesterday from her back pack and quickly handed to Wonwoo.

Wonwoo’s eyes skimmed through the paper and boy did he not look too happy. “You failed two of your classes?” He asked way to calmly. “And three D’s. You must’ve not learned your lesson from last time.” She was shaking slightly as the memories from that night resurfaced in her mind and she quickly shook her head no. “W-wonwoo, I-I can explain-”

He stood up and went around the desk to be in front of her. He leaned forward toward her face and lifted her chin up. “What time is the meeting?” His minty breath fanned her lips.

“4:30. ”

He looked at the clock and it read 4:27.

“You’re really in it for tonight, princess.” His deep voice said as he leaned closer.

“Let’s go”

. . .

“So, you both have been married for almost two years?!” The adviser said shocked.

Wonwoo only nodded as he look at Y/n but she was avoided any eye contact from him.

“Well in that case, I know that she’ll have no trouble to get back on track to graduate. ” He chuckled as Wonwoo let out a small laugh.

“I’m just so shocked that a professor’s wife would slack off so much to the point where her gpa drops and she’s in danger of not graduating.” The advisor laughs. Wonwoo clenched his jaw as he glanced at Y/n and she again was avoiding his eyes.

After talking for a few more minutes, the meeting was done and she would restart those class on Monday. To say Wonwoo was furious would be an understatement. The whole car ride home was silent. She saw how hard he was gripping the steering wheel and she was so scared for what will unfold at home.

As soon as he pulls into the driveway, she practically jumps out of the passenger side and quickly makes it to the front door. She opens the door, kicks her shoes off, and makes her way to the bedroom. Just as she goes the lock the door, Wonwoo stops her. He roughly pushes the door open and both of them are in a stand-off position. Wonwoo slowly walks forward and she slowly walks backward.

“Do you know how embarrassing that was, princess? Hmm? Hearing him say that a professor’s wife is slacking off? What will my students think? That my wife can’t even do well even though she has all the resources to do so? You really didn’t learn your lesson last time, did you?”

She shuddered as she remembers the last time they were there before. She gulped. “W-Wonwoo, I’m sor-”

“Uh uh. You’re not. You just love pushing my buttons, don’t you. I thought you were my good girl? Hmm? ”

Her legs finally hit the edge of the bed. Wonwoo places his hand on her chest and pushes her down roughly. He hovers above her.

“I hope you’re ready because after this, I’ll make sure you never ever have an F again.”

[sunlightandsuffering]

Mikasa omits telling their mothers the part where she always gives in to the asshole who texts at 2 in the morning because the dick is just that good🤭

“So Mikasa,” Her mom begins tentatively, curious now that Eren isn’t here to witness the conversation, having been dragged off by his dad to help unload something from the car.

Mikasa glances up over the rim of her tea cup, “Yes Mom?”

Carla is practically bouncing in her seat, vibrating with excitement before she answers the question for her mom, “Tell us the truth, any boyfriends? You said the boy you were seeing wasn’t being that nice, but that still means you’re seeing someone!”

Mikasa winces, shit she gave too much away trying to shade Eren, damn it!

“It’s nothing, he’s just some asshole in one of my courses.”

“Oh Mikasa, you say that now darling but you know I met Grisha in college, and that’s when your mom and I became friends, university is an important time.”

“He could be the love of your life,” Her mother tells her dramatically, “I bet he’s handsome too, what does he look like?”

“Umm,” Mikasa trails off nervously, because what is she supposed to say, how is she supposed to tell them it’s literally Eren and he’s handsome because he inherited his mother’s genes and somehow made them more attractive on a boy.

“He’s no one, we’re not, we don’t—“ Mikasa struggles for words, and Eren as usual chooses the greatest possible time to interrupt, appearing in the archway of the dining room, “Sorry Ma, Mrs. Ackerman, unloading Dad’s new gear took longer than I thought.”

Mikasa’s mom’s eyes practically light up at the sight of her arch nemesis, a bright smile overtaking her face, the sun rises and sets with Eren Yeager to her.

“Nonsense, you’re not a problem at all.”

“Of course darling don’t worry, we waited to pour your tea so it wouldn’t get cold,” Carla tells him with a smile, gesturing for him to take the seat next to Mikasa again.

“Actually, Eren, maybe you could help us out, do you know Mikasa’s mystery man? The one she was discussing earlier, she won’t tell us any more!”

At this, Eren turns to her, that irritatingly handsome smile on his face, dripping with smugness, all teeth as he looks her over.

“Oh really, so Mika is afraid to tell you about her man?”

“Her man!” Her mother gasps in indignation, “They’re dating?”

“No!” Mikasa denies but Eren’s voice cuts over hers, “Well they might as well be, she’s over at his place so often,” he glances at her, jades eyes filled with mirth.

Now her mother looks as if she’s going to have a heart attack, her delicate values overtaken by Eren’s admission, “And she’s always wearing these pretty little outfits for him,” He fingers at the hem of her dress, a flowy white sundress that swishes around her thighs, “I’d say it’s love, never seen her get so dressed up for another boy before.”

Mikas fumes as their mother’s rejoice, because Eren isn’t wrong, has hit the nail on the head, noticed all the extra time and effort she puts in to look nice for him.

And it pisses her off because she’d gone to special effort to make sure it was decidedly NOT noticeable but also noticeable enough that he noticed, god fucking damn it she hates men, fucking Eren Yeager.

Mikasa smacks his arm, “I am not! Did you hear what I said earlier mom, he’s a raging sexist asshole, and he’s constantly texting me for booty calls at 2 am, what kind of boy would do that? One who doesn’t respect women that’s who! I can never be with him, it would undermine everything I stand for, women’s rights, what was it all for? What did the suffragettes protest for, were their sacrifices in vein, what was—“

Eren slaps a hand over her mouth, his other tapping at the edge of his now full tea cup, evil smile on his face as he turns to face their moms, checkmating her, “I think the better question Miki, is whether or not you answer those 2 am texts, hmmm? I’ve seen her an awful lot around the frat house at late hours Mrs. A, why just last night she was there at—“

Mikasa lunges at him, tea be damned and the afternoon ends in spilled tea, a lot of yelling and Mikasa threatening bodily harm.

All in all, not the worst ending for their visit, at least they hadn’t cracked her mom’s new tea pot this time.

And the end of the day ends like it always does, with that same sexist frat bro texting her at 2 am on the dot.

At the very least Eren lets her ride him in his car, telling her with a wicked smile as he looks up at her, a hand placed firmly on her hip, the other cupping the full curve of her ass, “I’ll let you ride me tonight Mika, you’ve earned that, women’s rights and all.”

She’ll fucking kill him.

[staytheb]

Just A Little Bit; Falling For You - Chapter Three: valentine’s day

Word Count: 6,774 Summary: The cousins make chocolate with their friends telling them to give it to someone they like. The four then ended up having dinner with friends and their Love Interests. There’s another college party later before the spring term starts. previous chapter || next chapter

updated: 6.1.24

The cousins, Sujin, and Woojoo decided to make attend a class to make chocolates on Valentine's Day while their other friends had other plans for the so-called holiday as well. Honestly, the four didn't really care what they did on this commercial holiday, but were persuaded by the other two since the quartet weren't around in Seoul for Valentine's Day either as they would usually either returned during the fourth week of February. Woojoo and Sujin confessed to the cousins that they had boyfriends and wanted to make them chocolates instead of store bought ones. The pair roped in the other four to join them and so they went early in the morning and just got done not that long ago.

"Can we go eat now?" Serena suggested once they left the place, making a face.

"I missed breakfast, chocolate making took too long only because everyone wanted to perfect their chocolates, and it's way past lunch time."

She frowned, rubbing her stomach.

"I'm hungry, but I dunno what I want to eat though."

"Oh yeah, let's eat. I'm hungry, too." Kierra agreed.

"One of y'all choose because I dunno what I want to eat either."

"Okay, so, where should we eat then?" Linna asked while looking between her friends.

"Well that depends." Melanie said, glancing from one to the other.

"What is everyone craving or want to check out?"

The friends discussed where they wanted to eat until Woojoo asked about their chocolates.

"Who are y'all gonna give your chocolates to?"

"No one." The cousins responded as Woojoo glanced between Melanie and Linna.

"Y'all should give them to Jake and Sunghoon, respectively."

Sujin grinned, pointing at Kierra.

"And you could give your chocolates to Jay."

Kierra whipped her head to glare at her.

"Why would I do that, Kim Woojoo?"

Her eyes narrowed at the other three, already knowing that her sister and cousins thought so, too.

"Y'all think I like him or something?"

"Well," Sujin began with a nervous laugh, "The two of you do banter like y'all are close despite you saying that you aren't."

"No, we don't and I do not, Yang Sujin."

"Yeah you do." Her cousins and sister countered and Kierra rolled her eyes.

"Whatever."

The others laughed as Woojoo focused her attention back onto Linna and Melanie.

"But no, for real. I think this is a great opportunity for you two to confess as it didn't work out on the last day of the year."

Melanie and Linna shook their heads as Woojoo gave up and focused her attention onto Serena instead.

"Minseo just needs to give her chocolate to whoever she likes."

Serena burst out laughing at her friend's wild thoughts.

"I don't like anyone, Woojoo."

Woojoo shook her head.

"Lies! I know you have someone you like, Minseo."

Before Serena could respond, her cousins and sister answered instead.

"Oh, she does!"

"Yes, she does!"

"It's someone we all know!"

"What? Who? When?" Sujin and Woojoo jumped in, wanting to know.

"Who is he?"

Serena eyed the other three as they giggled, but cast her friends with a serious look.

"It's no one. I don't like anyone."

"There's no way that's true when Hayoun, Youngseo, and Jiyeon said something just now." Woojoo argued as Serena shrugged.

"They're not the one being questioned."

"But who is this person anyway?" Sujin asked a second later, chuckling.

"Is he a part of our friend circle."

"It's no one." Serena insisted while shooting her sister and cousins a narrowed look as the trio chuckled, but didn't respond.

"Oh, c'mon." Woojoo exclaimed.

"You must like someone after all of this time since your last serious boyfriend."

"I don't and believe whatever you wanna believe as I already know the truth." Serena repeated with a nonchalant look.

"So, just leave it be."

Woojoo grumbled as the others laughed. However, Serena gave Woojin a look, wanting to tease her friend now.

"By the way, what's the name of your boyfriend and do we know him?"

"I dunno if you do or not." Woojoo answered with a sheepish laugh.

"As for his name, he still wants to keep our relationship hidden."

"Is that a good thing though?" Kierra inquired, puzzled.

"I mean, how long have you guys been dating?"

"Not that long."

"Yeah, not that long." Sujin chimed in, thinking.

"Our boyfriends are friends though, but we don't mind keeping it hidden for the time being either."

"Well, I hope the two of them are good guys and we get to meet them one day." Melanie said, shooting her friends a smile.

"That's all that matters."

"Yeah." Linna agreed, chuckling.

"As long as they treat y'all well, we don't mind, but worry about your own boyfriends and not about our love life."

"But it's fun." Woojoo argued.

Before the cousins could countered, Sujin intervene.

"Anyway," Sujin interjected, "Woojoo and I got a date with our boyfriends, so we'll see y'all later."

"Oh my goodness. I totally forgot about that."

Woojoo giggled as held her chocolates cutely.

"I can't wait to give this to him."

"Ooh la la." The cousins cooed as the pair giggled with giddy expressions.

The friends parted with the pair going on a Valentine's Day date with their boyfriends while the cousins figured out where to eat on this couple holiday.

"By the way, this is from all of us as a service and for helping us earlier." Eunchan informed the quartet.

He placed a large bowl of cheese rabokki for all of them to share as the cousins assisted their friends at work when it got super busy all of a sudden, deciding to try the Valentine's Day special.

"Added a bit of extra service for y'all, too."

The cafe got overwhelmed with various couples in wanting the same special, too while there were only five workers on the floor to handle it all. The quartet also ended up giving their co-worker friends the chocolates they had made for dealing with this as the owners and their other co-workers had requested the day off, leaving the five to work it instead.

"And these, too!"

"We hope you like it!"

Two other workers placed two freshly baked cakes with white frosting and icing and in the shape of an obscure animal.

"Thanks, Hanyoung and Junyoung." The four thanked the males as two others joined them.

"We hope you like them and enjoy it." Seohoo beamed brightly.

He and Chanran each set a special dessert drink in front of them.

"This is the extra pieces from the cake along with the Valentine's Day Special." Chanran informed them.

"Thank you!"

Despite how the items looked, it was delicious and the cousins were appreciative of their co-worker friends in caring for them like that. They also made a mental note in gifting them something next time for their consideration and putting up with all the couples that had came into day and probably later tonight as well.

"Okay, so we got the five work boys gift certificates to shop wherever they wanna shop at." Melanie said as she handed the envelopes to Serena.

"What?"

Serena looked at her sister, but not taking the envelopes.

"Hold on to these because your bag is bigger than everyone's."

"Wow."

Nevertheless, Serena took the gift certificates and placed them inside her tote bag. Once leaving Simplistic, the cousins ended up in Hongdae to shop for their family and friends back home and for their co-worker friends as well. Luckily, it was more of window shopping than actual shopping as they figured they could just send them stuff later on, but now it was reaching evening time and so that meant dinner time.

"So, what do y'all wanna eat for dinner now?" Kierra asked once they were back on the streets.

"It's getting a little late and if not, then should we buy and make food at the house?"

"Either works." Linna replied with a shrug before suggesting a few spots.

"Unless we go to Seogyo Bap House, Meal Plan B, or even Amando that's around here."

She pointed to a few spots around them.

"Whichever works although i don't feel like cooking tonight either though."

The four continued to walk along the sidewalk as they debated on what to do about dinner.

"Oh, yeah, me, too. I don't feel like cooking tonight either." Mealnie said, deciding on a spot within the vicinity.

"However, I'm so down for Seogyo Bap House. Let's go there."

"Okay, cool." The other three agreed.

"Sounds good."

The cousins walked down the streets to get to the restaurant and when they arrived, they happened to noticed kids and friends once they entered the restaurant and three of the four wanted to backtrack immediately.

"Nevermind. I change my mind. Let's go to Meal Plan B instead. I want a burrito." Melanie said as Linna nodded.

"Yeah, let's head over there. Besides the burrito, I've been craving their hotdogs, too."

"Don't worry about it. I'm pretty sure they won't notice us."

Serena brushed off their concerns with a a nonchalant attitude.

"Besides, there's other places to sit and they're already eating, too."

Serena spoke too soon as Ni-Ki, Jungwon, and Sunoo noticed them in the distance and actually waved them over.

"Right. Wouldn't noticed us, huh." Kierra remarked saracastically as Serena shrugged indifferently with a chuckle.

"It is what it is."

However, she cast them all with an amused look.

"Fate just happened to work in mysterious ways."

Kierra eyed her, grinning as well.

"So does the invisible string theory and the red string of fate, too."

Serena frowned, knowing what her cousin was hinting at.

"Whatever."

At that moment, Jake, Sunghoon, Heeseung, and Jay focused their attention onto them with the cousins slightly waving out of politeness.

"Should we stay though?" Melanie inquired a second later as Linna shook her head.

"Nah. I think we should just go."

"I second that." Kierra chimed in, nodding.

"Honestly, this would be like a Valentine's date of sorts if we ended up being seated near them and they try to have us join them." Serena mused a moment later.

However, the trio shot her a not-so-nice look.

"My bad, my bad." 

Serena chuckled as Melanie looked at her sister and cousins.

"We should just leave."

"Honestly, this place is somewhat packed. Let's go." Linna chimed in soon afterwards.

"Yeah, I actually agree with these two." Kierra followed along as Serena chuckled.

"Fine. If that's what y'all want, then let's go, but y'all need to figure out another place because I'm not feeling Meal B though."

Just as the four were about to turn around and leave, a staff came up to them.

"Good evening, ladies. If you would follow me, please."

The staff motioned with their head towards the group of seven as the quartet gave each other knowing looks.

"It's just dinner. Let's just eat and we can dip afterwards." Serena assured as the other three glared at her.

"Of course you're not bothered by this."

"When is that wishful thinking gonna happen?"

"I hope sooner than later because it's annoying that she's not getting affected at all."

Serena just rolled her eyes, but the trio still eyed her with displeasure at their current circumstance.

"Just treat it as an outing with friends and we'll be fine." Serena reasoned with a shrug although a hint of a smile graced her features.

"I mean, it's not like y'all will be seating beside your crush or person of interest either."

The trio still didn't like the idea, but they were hungry and the wait wouldn't be that long as it would've been.

"Fine."

"Okay, cool."

The four followed the staff as they sat the four of them next to the seven male's table and left after getting their orders.

"Hi!" The seven greeted as the four flashed them all smiles, doing the same.

"Hi!"

"Anyway, no date for a couple night out?" Ni-Ki teased as the cousins eyed him.

"No, but what about you?"

"Yeah, no dinner date either?"

The six males laughed as Ni-Ki rolled his eyes, but continued speaking.

"I thought the four of you would join the rest of our friends for an amusement park and dinner date thing that they had planned."

"Nah." The quartet dismissed, causing the other four to discreetly feel relieve upon hearing that.

"Anyway," Serena looked over at the males with a small smile, "We're just chilling."

"Hey, do you know what happened with my sister?" Jungwon suddenly asked.

"She said she was with y'all earlier along with Sunoo's sister."

"Oh yeah, did something happened to them? They wouldn't tell us and were being all secretive." Sunoo added as the four shrugged, nonchalantly.

"Girl stuff."

"They're fine."

"Why do you wanna know?" 

"Don't worry about it."

Jungwon and Sunoo made a face as the others laughed.

"They'll let you know when they're ready." Melanie added, giving them something than nothing.

"So, just chill until then."

Soon casual conversation flowed between both parties throughout the rest of dinner. Even though three of the four cousins were tense at first, overthinking things whenever a particiular someone directed minor attention onto them. Serena had no issues, conversing with them all, but became aware of the other three's vibes and so didn't tease them and even directed the attention elsewhere if they felt uncomfortable. However, she did notice a particular someone paying a little more attention to her and so she dismissed that idea, not wanting to read too much into it or think that the trio's new year wish was about to be granted.

"Let's go to the nearest noraebong."

Once dinner ended and they were all leaving the restaurant, the subject of coin karaoke came up and the seven invited the four to come join them with the 'more the merrier' motto attached to it.

"Ooh, yeah, let's go singing!" Sunoo cheered, latching his arms with Linna.

"Jiyeon owes me a duet or two."

"Shoot." Linna tsked.

"I thought you forgot about it."

Sunoo eyed her as she giggled.

"What, Kim Sunoo?"

"You know what, Jung Jiyeon, and no way I would forget that. " He responded.

"You owe me from last, but because of that, it's doubled now."

"But I don't want to." Linna declined, whining a bit.

"Can't you do a duet with Youngseo?"

"I can, but..." He trailed off.

"But what?"

"It's because of me." Jungwon interjected, laughing.

"Since Sunoo claimed you as his partner, then that means Youngseo owes me a duet from last time, too."

He grinned at Melanie.

"But it'll be two now."

"I never said that and why should I give you another one." Melanie denied with a nonchalant look.

"Where's your proof, Yang Jungwon?"

Jungwon shot her a look.

"Your spoken promise was proof."

"I don't promise anything though."

"Yeah, you did and you're not getting out of it."

"Why don't you just sing with Minseo though?" Melanie suggested.

"She owes you like twenty songs."

"Oh, right."

Jungwon recalled, nodding.

"She does and Hayoun, too."

He tsked.

"They keep saying later and I never claim their laters."

Sunoo recalled that, too.

"Oh, yeah true. I have so many duets to do with them."

He and Jungwon shared a look.

"Why do they keep getting out of owing them to us?" Sunoo asked to no one in particular with a shake of his head.

"Because they're good at that." Jungwon remarked with a disbelief laugh.

He and Sunoo turned to find their friends while calling out their names.

"Minseo?"

"Hayoun?"

It became a questioning tone when neither of them didn't spot the two amongst the others.

"Where did they go?"

The others turned their focus on locating the two when they noticed another person was missing from their group of eleven. A few seconds later they heard Kierra and Serena yelling at Ni-Ki in the distance in the middle of the night with the latter laughing sheepishly at the pair's misfortune.

"Yah! Nishimura Riki!"

Ni-Ki had tried scaring Serena and Kierra while sneaking up on them upon their escape a while ago. However, he ended up distracting them instead whereby the pair tried to hit him and in the process the two tripped over themselves, slightly causing their ankles to ache at the moment. Melanie and Linna refrained from laughing at their sisters' misfortune, but knew this was the results of their own actions though.

"You dumb brat."

"Ugh, I hate you, Ni-Ki!"

Came Kierra and Serena's angry yells as they tendered to their feet and legs to make sure nothing was actually broken or seriously injured and were just minor aches instead. Then again, they, too, were at fault as it wouldn't have turned out like this if they had just stayed put.

"You're so dead!"

"Ah, my bad."

Ni-Ki somewhat apologize with a sheepish laugh.

"Didn't think it would turn out like that."

"Liar."

"So dumb."

Kierra and Serena glared at Ni-Ki until their attention went elsewhere.

"Can you stand up, Hayoun?"

"Can you stand up, Minseo?"

Both Jay and Heeseung asked as they looked at the pair, respectively while rushing over to them upon hearing their cries.

"Probably." Kierra and Serena responded, ignoring the two's concerns.

"But I'm good."

Just as they were about to lift themselves up, a hand appeared in front of their faces, and the two reluctantly accepted the two's help.

"Thanks, Jay."

"Thanks, Heeseung."

"Welcome, but can you walk."

"Yeah."

Serena and Kierra made the attempt to walk a few steps, but winced upon the slight pain and limped upon doing so. So, Heeseung and Jay placed their other hands on their shoulders out of respect instead of their mid-back to keep them upright and steady, respectively, while each pair continued to hold hands, too.

"Um, thanks."

"I can see that you can be nice, Hayoun." Jay commented as Kierra eyed him.

"I am nice, Jay."

"Not to me at times."

"I don't know what you're talking about."

Kierra dismissed the male as she tried to shoo him away.

"I should be fine now."

"Oh, okay."

Jay reluctantly let Kierra go as she was able to stand on her own without much pain, but he continued to observe her. Meanwhile, Serena politely patted Heeseung's right hand with her left to let him know that she wanted him to release her, even though she felt suddenly awkward of their interactions once again.

"I should be good, Heeseung."

"Oh, yeah, right."

He immediately removed his arms from around Serena as she stood upright on her own without wincing or wobbling too much.

"Thanks again."

"Yeah, Minseo, welcome."

However, Melanie and Linna watched the scene with mischievous looks as they leaned towards one another.

"Hmm, maybe there is something between my sister and Jay." Linna whispered as Melanie nodded.

"Yeah, I can see that, but too bad that my older cousin keeps denying that."

Linna nodded.

"Oh yeah, me too. If she wasn't so mean to him, then the two could be quite adorable with one another."

"Mmhmm."

"Anyway, besides those two, I'm just more surprised about your sister and Heeseung though."

"Oh, yeah, I know right. Even though we all wanted something like this to happen to her for so long."

Melanie and Linna chuckled.

"Oh, I know, but this could be the start of a beautiful 'what goes around, comes around' aspect."

"Oh, yeah, for sure. She deserves it."

"Yes, our wishful thinking from the first day of the year is coming true even though it took a while to get here."

"I know right. Better late than never though."

"Oh, yeah, definitely."

The two giggled until they were softly nudged by Sunghoon and Jake, respectively, as Linna and Melanie's attention focused on them while wondering when these two stood beside them when it was supposed to be Sunoo and Jungwon.

"What's so funny, Jiyeon?"

"What's so funny, Youngseo?"

"Nothing, Sunghoon."

"Nothing, Jake."

She flashed him a smile, but each cousin had a different reaction after saying those words. Linna suddenly turned shy upon seeing the way Sunghoon looked at her just now and she turned away, stepping closer to Melanie. She couldn't recall when he started being this close and interactive with her all of a sudden. As for Melanie, the awareness of Jake was becoming a little too much at the moment and she slightly shied away from him, too, also stepping closer to Linna. However, a slow smile graced the two males' faces, but remained silent.

"So, what should we do?"

Sunoo's voice caught everyone's attention as they all faced him.

"Are we calling this a night or are we still going to a coin noraebong?"

"Nah. I can't walk anymore." Serena declined while pointing at Ni-Ki.

"Blame it on Ni-Ki."

"What?" Ni-Ki exclaimed, bewildered.

"I barely did anything to you, Minseo."

He eyed her, making another face as Serena shrugged indifferently.

"Don't care. I can't go now."

Serena ended up backing away just fine without much hinderance to her steps and Ni-Ki and the others noticed.

"I thought you couldn't walk, Park Minseo?" Ni-Ki called her out as Serena laughed sheepishly.

"Honestly, I just don't want to sing with you, Nishimura Riki."

He rolled his eyes, but didn't comment.

"Then you can sing with me!" Sunoo suggested as Serena shook her head.

"Yeah, Sunoo, no thanks. I don't wanna sing at all."

"No way, Minseo. You're coming with us." Jungwon announced as he walked towards her.

However, Serena wanted to be difficult like always as she cast Jungwon with a playful look.

"Fine, but I'll only go if you can catch me. Bye!"

Serena dashed off with Jungwon giving chase.

"Yah, Park Minseo, get back here! I'm going to get you like I did last time."

"Why does she always do this even though I would've done the same, but I know my limits?" Kierra mumbled to herself with a shake of her head.

"She knows that something always happens when she gets like this."

Jay glanced over at her with a small smile, but worry still etched in his face.

"How are you doing?"

"With what?" 

She momentarily forgot that she was hurting earlier as well.

"Your foot."

"Oh, that. It's fine now."

She rotated her ankle to show him that she was fine.

"Good to know."

"Mmhmm."

"Hey!" Jungwon called for the attention upon returning with Serena a moment later.

He securely held her by her bag's strap to prevent her from running away a third time.

"We're all going to the coin karaoke." He announced as Serena made a face, but spoke.

"But we need to go to the convenience store first."

Everyone cast her with a curious look as she continued speaking.

"I got hurt again."

She held up her skinned hands as a mischievous look graced her features.

"Jungwon pushed me down earlier."

Jungwon eyed her with a sheepish laugh.

"No I did not."

"Yeah, you did." She countered, grinning.

"You pushed me too hard."

He scoffed with a roll of his eyes.

"I was trying to grab you by your bag's strap, but caught your hoodie instead."

"Same difference. Yang Jungwon."

Serena tried to tug her strap from out of Jungwon's grip, but he held her tightly and even moved his hand from her bag's strap to hooking arms with her instead.

"I'm not gonna run away again."

She eyed him when Jungwon did that.

"Sheesh, you're so violent, Yang Jungwon."

Jungwon scoffed, still holding onto her tightly.

"I'm pretty sure you're the one that's violent, Park Minseo."

"Touche."

However, neither noticed a particular someone watching their interaction curiously with slight envy.

"Whatever, let's go!" Sunoo exclaimed, urging his friends to move to their next activity.

"Let's sing as many songs as we can before it gets too late."

The group of eleven hung out for another two hours with Sunoo and Jungwon claiming all their duets with the cousins. Suprisingly, the quartet didn't mind at all about the nightly hang out of coin karaoke and being around the seven males. Surprisingly, the females ended having at least one duet with a particular person, but treated it like a normal thing and tried not to make nothing out of something either. Still, they all had fun and just went with the flow as they wouldn't know when they would hang out like this again once school started up again and would take up a majority of their time again.

"So, where to next?" Serena asked as the four left the tea drink shop, Gong Cha, with drinks and snacks in hands.

School started in less than a week and the four went out school shopping for supplies and stopped by the bubble tea place for their fix.

"Should we go back home or actually get something to eat?" She continued, looking at the others.

Before the trio could suggest other places to go to, the cousins heard their names being called in the distance.

"Do you hear that?" Kierra asked while looking at the trio.

They paused while trying to focus on hearing better.

"Ah, fuck."

Came Serena's muttered response as she tried to move out of the way upon recognizing the voice belonging to the person running towards them, especially headed in her direction. Just as the three turned around to see who it was, they witnessed Serena being glomped by Seohoo's older brother, Hanjun, and was unable to move out of the way in time.

"PARK MINSEO!"

The pair went crashing onto the sidewalk as the trio avoided getting splashed by Serena's drink. The three refrained from laughing at the incident, but burst into a fit of laughter a second later anyway. Serena cast her sister and cousins an annoyed look.

"Baek Hanjun." She scolded in a firm tone as her eyes fixated on her friend.

"Oops."

The playful look disappeared from his face as he immediately stood up.

"My bad."

Hanjun cast Serena with a sheepish smile as he offered a hand.

"Psh. Yeah, right." She scoffed.

"I know you did that on purpose."

She reluctantly took it with a sour face.

"Why couldn't you have done this to Youngseo, Hayoun, or Jiyeon?"

"You were closer."

"Wow. You're a jerk."

"That's you."

"True." Serena chuckled as the two nudged one another playfully.

"So, no more service for you at Simplistic."

"Oh, c'mon. It wasn't that bad." Hanjun dismissed in a nonchalant tone.

"You're still fine."

"Whatever."

"Oh, hey." Another voice greeted.

"Now I know why Hanjun ran off just now."

The other person was the eldest brother, Taeyoung, another friend of theirs.

"Yeah, I'm sure." Serena commented as she nudged Hanjun as he just smiled at her.

"Always, Minseo."

Linna soon noticed the bags Taeyoung carried.

"Oh, are you having a party or doing something tonight or maybe later?"

"Yeah, we are actually." Taeyoung confirmed with an easy-going smile.

"It's just a small gathering before the new school term starts."

However it turned into confusion.

"Seohoo didn't tell y'all?"

Taeyoung and Hanjun attended a different university, Seoul University, which was their rival university, than Seohoo and the cousins.

"No." The quartet answered.

"Although we wouldn't mind not attending since it's y'all's friends from your school." Kierra added, chuckling.

However, Hanjun then cast them with a bright smile.

"Nah, you definitely gotta come." He exclaimed.

"It's been a while since we hung out and y'all stayed behind instead of going back home too."

His face brightened even more.

"Also, it'll be great to have you join us as Minhee will be there, too, and he misses the four of you just as much as we do."

"Of course he does since he acts just like the three of you." Melanie remarked with a laugh.

Kang Minhee was another friend and the son of Eunmi's long-term boyfriend, Kang Minwoo. He also attended the same university as Taeyoung and Hanjun.

"Sorry, we can't. We got work later today." Kierra declined, making up a lie.

"No you don't." Hanjun called her bluff.

"Yeah, we do."

Serena intervened, staring at Hanjun.

"Anyway, why does it matter to you if we come or not, Hanjun?"

"Because you owe me cookies, Minseo."

"You're the one that owes me cookies, Baek Hanjun."

"Oh, right. I do."

He recalled with a sheepish laugh.

"I stole your stash and never replaced them."

Hanjun dismissed it.

"Whatever. Forget about it. Just come. It'll be fun."

Linna and Melanie answered for them.

"We'll be there."

They flashed their sisters a mischievous smile as the older pair just ignored it.

"Alright, cool. I'll send you the address." Taeyoung said as he faced Serena with a small smile.

"Don't worry, Minseo. There will be others that Hanjun can annoy at the party."

Hanjun poked her cheek.

"Don't forget to bring me my cookies."

He ran away laughing with Taeyoung following him shortly afterward as Serena rolled her eyes.

"I'ma burn those cookies."

"I can't believe you've been hiding here the whole time." Kierra huffed as she joined Serena at the side of the house, away from the party.

"Psh, yeah right." Serena scoffed.

The party was held at the Baek brothers' friends' house where Seohoo and Minhee had shown the four around before they got separated by their friends to do various activities. Serena shot her cousin with a tired look.

"I just got away from some people asking if I was either Minhee, Seohoo, Taeyoung, or Hanjun's girlfriend due to the photos we took during Seollal." Serena explained.

"I dunno why they even care as I hardly know them, but I guess the boys' love life is something special or whatever."

"Oh yeah, me, too. Honestly, they're just guys being guys."

Kierra nodded, annoyed.

"Anyway, I mean, nothing against Auntie Eunmi, but her sons are so unlike her."

"I don't know how such troublemakers were born from such a lovely woman as Auntie Eunmi."

"I know, right. Minhee isn't bad either, but some of his so-called fangirls are kinda obsessive. Thank goodness we attend different schols."

"Oh, yeah, like for real."

Serena cast Kierra another tired look.

"Anyway, where have you been?"

Kierra joined Serena on the cemented parking space and leaned against the side of the house, tiredly with a laugh. There were no other people around them and she took in the emptiness of it.

"Hanjun found me and basically dragged me all over to play some games and I ended up playing as his partner for a majority of them."

The two shared a laugh as Kierra continued speaking.

"Anyway, I just told him and the others I needed to use the bathroom, but now I'm here."

The pair giggled as they sat like that for a moment longer in the comforting silence.

"Let's ditch our sisters and go back home first."

This time around, Serena suggested the option with Kierra scoffing.

"Oh, so now you wanna ditch them when I wanted to ditch them last Christmas."

Kierra shot her cousin a miffed look as Serena chuckled with a nod.

"Yeah. Why not?"

"Okay, I'm down. Let's go." Kierra agreed immediately as the pair laugh while standing back on to their feet.

"Let's hurried before we get find out."

 The pair turned around upon hearing footsteps coming from behind them to see their sisters looking panicked.

"Hey, what's up?" Serena asked in concern, all thoughts of escaping disappearing.

"Did someone do something?"

She eyed one to the other.

"Or did something happen instead?"

"No, no." The younger pair replied before clarifying.

"Sunghoon is here."

"Jake is here."

"Oh."

Was all that came out of Serena's mouth while Kierra's eyes widened at the realization a second later.

"Oh, shit. Is Jay here, too?"

Linna and Melanie nodded while Serena rolled her eyes with a good-nature smile as she mused on the idea of her sister and cousins interacting with the three guys at this party if they didn't go home. Melanie and Linna knew their sisters were here as it was a quiet spot and away from the other party-goers, surprisingly. The other thing was that hte pair also hoped to make an escape going this route instead of the normal way.

"What if we stay now?" Serena suggested as the trio protested.

"Hell no!"

Serena laughed and backed off when they brought up Heeseung.

"Heeseung's here, too." Melanie and Linna chimed, shooting her a knowing look.

"Okay, okay."

She scowled.

"I'l back off."

"Serves you right." Kierra remarked as Serena nodded.

"Yeah, yeah."

She waved off her cousin's teasing.

"Anyway, we still have to go through the front door as I already tried leaving through this way." Serena explained, chuckling.

"So, yeah, there's no exit this way."

"Wow."

Kierra eyed Serena.

"So, there was a reason you stayed there."

"Yeah, basically."

Serena let out another laugh as she glanced from one to the other.

"Anyway, let's go."

The four soon made their way back to the party. Before they could round the corner of the house, their path was unfortunately blocked by four unfamiliar males.

"Good evening, ladies."

Ignoring them, the cousins tried to make their way around them, but the males blocked their path once more.

"Aww, we just wanted to chat a little longer. I'm Park Jinwoong." Jinwoong said while he introduced the others.

"And this is Ahn Sunyong, Kwon Jaehyuk, and Song Hyoram."

The quartet just stared at them in boredrom upon introductions, but Kierra and Linna recognized one of them. They cast each other a look.

"Hey, isn't he familiar to you?" Kierra asked her sister as Linna nodded, making a face.

"Unfortunately, yeah, he is."

The one they recognized was Sunyong and couldn't believe he was still trying to hit on them despite clearly having a significant other.

"What's up?" The other two asked, as they quickly and quietly explained the situation.

"Oh, wow."

"Yeah, let's go."

The cousins once again ignored them and tried to maneuvered around them once more, but the males blocked their paths again.

"Oh, ladies, don't play so hard to get." Sunyong said in a tone to be smooth and charismatic.

The sisters ignored them once again and continued to walk around them, but the males were quite persistent and blocked their path a fifth time.

"Hey, we just wanted to talk." Jaehyuk explained although his tone didn't seem friendly now.

Serena and Kierra shot them looks, standing in front of the their sisters to keep a distance between them and the two males.

"Well, we don't."

"And have been trying to ignore y'all."

"Don't be like." Hyoram said with a sickening smile.

"Yeah, no thanks." Kierra and Serena declined.

"Is everything alright?" Another male voice suddenly spoke from behind the two males.

"No." The cousins responded, seeing Taeyoung and Minhee.

Taeyoung was the one that had spoken and immediately stepped in.

"May I asked who invited y'all here?"

"We're friends of a friend that has a friend that lives here." Jinwoong answered.

"Well, so do we, but I've never seen y'all's faces before." Minhee state in a matter-of-fact tone with a dark look.

"Which I would suggest for the four of you to leave our four friends alone over there." Taeyoung chimed in, not amused.

Minhee moved forward as the four males looked at one another and begrudgingly left on their own accord, grumbling. Once they were out of sight, the cousins faced their friends thankfully.

"Thanks for helping us out."

"No problem."

Soon, miscievous smile graced their faces a second later.

"Let's go play some beer pong."

"Y'all cheated."

"No, we didn't."

An argument erupted between one of the beer pong tables as the cousins and their partners glanced at the said table. However, the cousins had caught each others' eyes and knew what the other was trying to say without mentioning it out loud.

"Sorry, Taeyoung, but I'm done for tonight."

Serena cast the male with an apologetic look.

"I'll buy you something Pochacco related to make up for it."

"What about my cookies though?" Hanjun suddenly asked, overhearing what Serena promised his older brother.

"You didn't bring me my cookies."

"Yeah, how come I don't get free food from you, too?" Seohoo asked, also sulking with Minhee doing the same.

"Yeah, you said you would get me something last time and I still haven't received that 'something', Park Minseo."

"I'm working on it." Serena lied.

Serena totally forgot about that and now she definitely had to work on that before they start pestering her. Kierra, Linna, and Melanie laughed as they knew something like this would happen as it was a habit of Serena to do so.

"I want the biggest Pochacco doll you can get." Taeyoung smiled as he told Serena as she rolled her eyes.

"Ugh, fine."

The friends bid goodbyes as the cousins made their way towards the inside of the house to leave through the front entrance. On their way out, they realized how late it was already and debated if they wanted to ask the Baek brothers to spend the night as they lived nearby with their mom. They turned back to ask the trio and Seohoo was the only one ready to go as the other two wanted to stay and were already spending the night here.

"Yeah, let me grab my things." Seohoo informed them.

"Wait for me outside."

The quartet gave him the 'OK' sign as Seohoo went to grab his things so that they could go home together. The quartet made their way out of the house and when the cousins exited the front door and lingered around in the front of the house, they happened to see four familiar faces as several of the party-goers were chilling around up front.

"Oh, hey." Heeseung, Jay, Jake, and Sunghoon greeted the quartet with surprised looks.

"Uh, hi." The cousins greeted back, equally surprised as they had totally forgotten about them.

The pair of sisters didn't recognized the other people within the group that the four men were hanging out with as they didn't see Sunoo, Jungwon, Ni-Ki or their other mutual friends amongst them either. They each wondered who they knew to be at the same party, too. Still, the quartet figured that by now the four males would've had left by now or somehow missed them while on their way home.

"Leaving already?" Jay asked, but his gaze focused more on Kierra than the other three.

"Um, yeah." Kierra answered with a slight nod.

"It's getting pretty late and we have work tomorrow."

Well, Kierra did as the others had it off, but she used the royally 'we' to feel comfortable.

"We could walk you to the bus stop if you want out of safety." Jake offered as his gaze landed on Melanie after saying it.

"Or to the nearest train station if needed." Sunghoon suggested as a small smile graced his face before meeting eyes with Linna.

"Um, I think we're good." Both Melanie and Linna responded with a thankful smile.

"Thank you though for offering."

Serena caught eyes with Heeseung a moment later and the two cast each other with polite smiles. Although she felt awkward about it as she soon had a realization that all the years of teasing her sister and cousins was about to make it's way back to her sooner than later because of that guy. She wasn't sure why she was feeling like this all of a sudden, but tried not to think too much about. However, lately, it's been hard as it presented itself a lot lately since the new year started. So, yeah, maybe the three's words from earlier this year was about to come back at her sooner than later.

"Um, anyway," Serena interjected to get themselves away from the group.

She felt all of a sudden weirded out by that eye-contact a moment ago and wasn't sure how to feel about it. Still, she dismissed the thought and focus on the situation at hand and needed to make an escape alongside the other three.

"We're fine and just waiting on another friend of ours to head home."

"Hey, ready?" Seohoo appeared as he interrupted Heeseung, Sunghoon, Jay, and Jake from asking something further in time.

"Yeah!" The quartet answered hurriedly before casting one last look at the males.

"Maybe see you around the campus though. Bye!"

Kierra, Melanie, and Linna ran ahead out of urgency with giggles while leaving Serena to pull Seohoo along with her just as he bid goodbye to his friends within that said group while the four men watched all five retreating figures. Curiously, wondering how close the four were to this Seohoo and why they felt uneasy, too.

[mellphone]

The WIRED video was fascinating, as it discusses a topic that many who study tech/product design are exposed to- the ethics of manipulation. In the past I have taken 247B- Designing for Behavioral Change, where the quarter-long project was to create an app designed to, well, change a person’s behavior.

It was interesting, as there were so many ethical discussions and readings we had in the course, with the professor constantly emphasizing to not create a maliciously or secretively manipulative product- I.e. do not gamify, do not dopamine hit, etc. etc.

Now, I’m taking CS 147, where the quarter-long project is to create any app that follows a theme. Everything is allowed. In fact, in class we’re being taught what design principles would keep a person’s engagement, and to incorporate that into our apps. It’s a bit scary to think about how this generation of future tech builders are being taught how to manipulate using human biology.

For my contributed example, I wanted to show a quiz that my middle school made me take when I was 11- yes, really. Our school was paying for a program called Naviance, which is meant to prepare students for college and the future from a grossly young age.

One of the first things we did, newly fresh-eyed and bushy-tailed into middle school, was to take a quiz about our personality and interests. From this, the quiz then gave us our top three personality qualities, and fields that we should consider going into that would best suite us based on our personalities.

Looking back, we just thought of it as a fun little quiz, and said “hey, I’m gonna be a (blank)!” “What are you going to be?” With us comparing our results. I remember being jealous that someone got a cooler career than mine. We would then also look up the salaries of the careers we were given to compare, and I remember us saying stuff like “oh, so you’re gonna make x amount, while I’m gonna make x amount.”

Absolutely ludicrous to give this quiz to developing minds and telling them this is what they should be with their pre-pubescent personalities.

What’s even more ludicrous to consider- is what if they’re right? What if my inherent values and traits that make me, me do best align with these options? Actually, why am I studying Product Design and CS? If there wasn’t so much social pressure and a need to make money, what realistically would I have picked? Definitely TAP and Psychology. Which, fascinatingly enough, are encapsulated in my results from over over a decade ago.

Terrifying.

To be fair, I am very aware that my choice to study CS was extremely hacked by me going to Stanford. 50% of undergraduates to something (major, minor, etc.) in CS. 50%! Isn’t that a wild statistic?

With that, you hear a lot of talk around the magic of CS, its applicability, its desirability in the job market. You can’t help but feel FOMO to not study CS in the CS mecha of the world. Reflectively, if I didn’t go to Stanford, I probably would not be studying CS. Definitely still product design though.

[oneshot-wxnderland]

Lab Partners With Benefits Pt. 3 | Percy Jackson

Summary: Another week, another lab and Y/n and Percy are feeling a different kind of tension this time.

Category: fluff 

Part 1 | Part 2

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          Percy had been kicking himself all week. He had forgotten to ask you for your number before you left his place and now you probably thought he was just some asshole looking for a one-time hookup. And he didn’t want that. And he hoped you didn’t want that either. But he wasn’t really sure what he wanted. 

         It’d been a hot minute since Percy was in any kind of relationship and he wasn’t sure if he was even the relationship kind. Even if he did want to be, his life just didn’t lend itself to dating mortals. There was always some monster popping up that he’d have to fight, or quest he’d have to go on, or emergency at camp he’d have to run off to, and Percy was a shit liar. It’s what messed up the last time he’d tried to date somebody. He was constantly blowing off dates and rain-checking everything because the gods are needy attention seekers. 

          He’d seen superhero movies before and related a lot to when they had similar issues. Percy’s not saying he’s Spiderman or anything, but he does live in New York and save it from constant peril – so yeah, he’s Spiderman. 

          This time, however, he was really considering trying again. Trying with you. And Percy had a plan. 

          Sliding into his seat when there were only a few other people in the room yet, Percy felt pumped up. He woke up early, showered, had a FaceTime with the boys to discuss the game plan, and got to class ahead of you so that he was ready to give you his number the first chance he got before he lost his nerve. That was part of Jason’s advice: offer his number to you instead of asking for yours. He claimed it would make Percy come off more vulnerable and less pushy. Leo mostly just spouted different cheesy lines that Percy would never use. Frank didn’t say much but Hazel piped in every now and then when she took the phone from him. 

          “So, you’re lab partners,” Hazel started. “Do you talk outside of your lab?”

          “No, that’s why I need her number.”

          “But you said you did homework together at your place right? So how’d that go? Did she seem interested?”

          Percy paused. 

          “Yeah, it went... fine.”

          Hazel was blissfully unaware of the blush that was creeping up his neck but Jason didn’t miss it. Or the way he suddenly needed to roll up his sleeves and fiddle with them. 

          “Did you just do the homework?” Jason asked suspiciously. 

          “We uh... kissed...” 

          “Niiiiiicee, Percy!” Leo hollered. “That’s my boy!”

          Frank retook the phone from Hazel and hastily gave an excuse to go before leaving the call and cutting off Hazel’s confused protests.

          “I don’t know what to tell you, man,” Jason shook his head. “This is way beyond my level now. Piper and Annabeth are nearby I’ll go get them-.”

          “No!” Percy cut him off. That’s the last thing he wanted. The girl’s won’t know or care what to do so they’d ask Piper’s siblings and then the entirety of camp would know. “It doesn’t really change anything. I’m going to give her my number and then the ball’s in her court and I don’t have to worry about it.”

          “But your balls were in her court, weren’t they Percy.” 

          “Leo I am going to kill you when I get back to camp and that is a threat.”

          Leo left the call.

          “I’m sure it’ll be fine, just don’t do your game-time face because it’ll scare her off,” Jason tried to get the conversation back on track.

          “What face? I don’t have a scary face?” Percy added another item to the list of things to not do when he saw her.

          “Yes you do. It’s when you’re charging into battle but this isn’t battle is it Percy?” 

          “You’re lucky,” Percy lamented while he grabbed his backpack. “You just woke up and were already with Piper. All the hard work done for you.” 

          “You got this man, just be yourself.” 

          Percy decided to throw that particular bit of garbage advice away. 

          Now he was sitting in his seat, got there early, and he was even wearing his nice t-shirt, so what could go wrong.

          As soon as you walked in the door all of his carefully curated bravado deflated inside of him. You walked towards your shared table and he had to expel childish nerves he hadn’t felt in years. He’s in college now, for Hades’ sake. He was a man.

          “Hey,” you greeted as you sat down.

          “Hi.” That was stupid. Men don’t say ‘hi’. He should’ve said ‘hey’ back.

          “You’re here early,” you commented and Percy just nodded like an idiot. 

          The plan was to giver you his number as soon as he saw you, but he couldn’t just blurt that out of nowhere. 

          “How’ve you been?” 

          There. Establishing a conversation and definitely not stalling.

          “I’ve been good.” The small amused smile on your face calmed him down a little. He’s got this.

          Class started before he could slip his number in casually but Percy wasn’t deterred. He wasn’t going to let geology get in his way.

                    While you were reading the data you had to chart on the graph, you noticed Percy’s usual fidgeting get even worse. Glancing at him from the corner of your eye, you saw him concentrating intensely on the paper and trying to contain his frustration. You recognized the signs since one of your friends has dyslexia, but you knew he wouldn’t ask for help.

          “So we have to plot the points on the graph and then draw the elevation lines, right?” You asked casually, looking over to him for confirmation. He nodded his head, but still continued to squint at the numbers which all were very small print and close to each other.

         Muttering the numbers as if to yourself but loud enough for him to hear, you got to work. 

          Percy sat back and smiled a little, knowing what you were doing. He looked over at you, from your furrowed brow to your crossed legs bouncing with your tapping foot. With a contented sigh, he recalled what it felt like to be in between those legs. Having them wrapped around his hips while you moaned his name. 

          His eyes trailed up your body, memories that were attached to each part flooding through him like a highlight reel of his deepest fantasies. Then he got to your bare arms and the goosebumps on the skin shook him out of it.

          “Cold?” he asked, interrupting you trying to help him which he really should have been listening to. 

          “Yeah, a little.” 

          “Here.” Percy shrugged off his hoodie and held it out to you before pausing (and slightly panicking.)

          Hold up, is this weird? Am I being weird right now? Should giving her my hoodie come before or after we exchange numbers? I guess doing it before could be a good test of whether she would be interested in exchanging numbers. But this is couple stuff. Her wearing my hoodie. That usually comes after numbers. But she’s cold now and I can’t seem like an asshole withholding warmth unless she accepts or declines my number. 

           Luckily, you didn’t seem to notice his panic as you took the hoodie from him without hesitation and put it on. “Thanks.”

          He calmed down as he watched you roll up the sleeves so that your hands were free to work and he felt a different kind of warmth spread through him. He liked the way you looked in his hoodie. 

          You caught him watching you and it threw you off. This wasn’t the heated gaze that had made you melt before, this was... softer. But the moment was ruined when you glanced down and saw that he hadn’t drawn a single point yet.

          “Hey,” you tapped your pencil on his paper. “Focus.”

          “Sorry.”

          You worked well together for a while. The rhythm of plotting points distracted Percy from his nerves. That is until he felt your hand on his forearm.

          “What’s this?” You asked, finger tracing the SPQR of his tattoo and making him shiver.

          “Oh, it’s a band.” 

          “What band?”

          “The Super Popular... Cool Rockers.”

          “They spell Cool with a Q?”

          “That’s what makes it cool.”

          “Ah.”

          Percy went back to the worksheet, congratulating himself on his quick thinking when he saw you pull out your phone. 

          “What are you doing?” he asked, totally nonchalant. 

          “Looking up the Super Popular Qool Rockers.”

          Percy snatched your phone. 

          “Oh, you won’t find them.” He dodged your attempts to grab it. “They’re really underground.”

          “You’ll be really underground if you don’t give me my phone back.” Percy hastily returned your phone, as if the threat scared him. You tried to glare at him, but found it too hard to suppress your smile once his broke out. “Thank you. Now will you tell me what it really means?”

          “Maybe one day.” People started packing their things and leaving since class had flown by faster than Percy liked. Sensing his window of opportunity closing he decided to Hades with it. “Depends if you go on a date with me.”

          You took your time standing up and gathering your things while pretending to mull it over in your head. Which Percy really did not appreciate. 

          “Maybe one day,” you answered him with a coquettish smile and took a few steps towards the door. “Well, aren’t you coming?”

          Percy was too concentrated on restraining a fist pump to puzzle out your meaning. 

          “We didn’t get much work done today, so we better finish what we started at your place.” You winked at him and strided out the door.

          With a mischievous grin, Percy was quick to follow. 

[kristiewritings]

hey there, i saw that you have a kazuha pfp so maybe you r a kazuha simp?? also if it’s ok, could i ask a kazuha college au where he’s your partner in a project and then u fall inlove with him??

hehe hi there anon! yes indeed i am a kazuha simp BUT i also simp for childe 😩

daw anon your request will be done leave it to me (wtf am i doing?? 😔)

character: kazuha

word count: 648

tw: the teacher ships 😌😌but none rlly

kazuha, oh kazuha. he was always the quiet kid who would be mumbling to himself about something. no one really talks to him except for yoimiya and a few others.

you never really noticed him but if you look at his notebooks, they’re filled with poems or scenarios about you. he adored you. every night before he goes to sleep, he thinks about how it would be to sleep with you in his arms.

one day, your teacher announced that the class would be having a new project. “class. today we’ll be having a project. it will be due in a week so please prepare your projects and your presentation speech as well.”

since the teacher thought the topic was hard for some students, she decided to give out partners.

you were just hoping to be done with it all. “kazuha, go over to [name]” the teacher said as she walked by. kazuha was a mess inside but managed to get himself together and sit with you. (SIMP)

you gave him a friendly smile before introducing yourself. “hey, I’m [name].” he replied with a faint “kaedehara kazuha”. you thought he was just being shy but you just ignored that.

“soo let’s get started?” you broke the silence between you two awkwardly. kazuha nodded and started discussing with you the things that you two would do for the project.

after the bell rang, the teacher dismissed the class and you all packed your stuff. you saw kazuha at a table during lunch and decided you’d sit with him.

“hey, do you mind if i sit here kazuha?” you asked him. he shook his head no and you sat down infront of him. you talked to him about whatever and he listened to you, nodding and responding every once in a while.

before your lunch ended, you told him “let’s meet outside after school’s done. let’s finish the project at my place.” you smiled at him before leaving.

kazuha was stuck there. you were ACTUALLY inviting him to go to your house! he tried to calm down and managed to do it (after failing for 5 minutes).

_________________________

once school was done, he went outside the school and waited for you. not so long after, kazuha saw you walking out with a few people. you waved goodbye to them before going to kazuha.

"hey, let's go!" you held his hand and dragged him to your house. you failed to notice the blush slowly spreading on his face. as you reached your house, you took off your shoes and went in. kazuha followed. (yes i am asian, don't step in my house with shoes on or i will literally spank you).

he then followed you to your room, where you two would finish the project. you got a chair and started working with him on the project.

(skips the thing 'cause im lazy but dw i have some scenes)

after you two do what you planned for the project today, you cleaned up the area. as you were doing so, you remembered some moments with him

* flashbacks*

the way his hand brushes against yours every once in a while had your insides moving. his soft voice speaking to say some things he wishes to improve about the project had you screaming in your pillow.

you don't understand. why did you suddenly feel this way after he came over? why did you suddenly feel like you're inlove? what's happening? those were the questions in your head.

you just ignored it for now and went to the table for dinner. you forgot about it for a while as you ate.

when it was time for bed, you couldn't sleep. all you could think about was kazuha. you walked around for a while but you still couldn't sleep.

guess you'll have to tell him soon.....

hi hi anon!! heres ur request i hope yall like it

[weeb-writor]

Bittersweet Arguments

Heyo! Today I have a Cove x Reader! He is from a visual novel called Our Life: Beginning and always. Its available on Steam and itch.io for free! But I do encourage you all to get the dlc is it is more than worth it. It is inclusive of all race, sexual orientation and pronouns/gender. Also all the characters are just amazing and loveable. I could go on and on about this game but let me shut up so you all can read^^

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

Cove Holden x GN!Reader

You and cove get into a bad argument and picking up the pieces is hard.

Word Count: 2.4k(not beta read)

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

“Cove hasn't talked to you…yeah I’m just worried, they haven't gone more than a week without speaking since they met. They’re going on week 3 soon… yeah I know… yeah… alright I let you know what I can find out.” Ma said, hanging up with a sigh. You rounded the corner glancing at her as you plopped down on the sofa.

“We're not 8 any more, you don't have to call Cliff anytime we get in a fight.” you said with a chuckle.

“Honey, that's the thing, you and cove have never fought. We called about Lizzie plenty of times but you… it's just parents being parents. We're just worried.” She said stroking your hair. You grasped her hand and gave it a squeeze before you got up.

“Don’t be.” You said as you went up to your room. Well you were packing so really it was just a room with a bed. You plopped down face first into it. You just laid there mind racing a mile a minute. The fight, the disagreements, the tears played over and over again. It was simple at first and then it wasn't. Then it was yelling, arms flailing, and angry tears. What would happen next? It was a fear you thought that was already put to rest but it came again, and again, and again. Each time it was more and more muddled. What would happen to you both? How would long distance work? Were you supposed to tell your parents about your engagement? Who would come visit who? How often? No matter what question it was, the answer always resulted in more questions. 

To you it was like Cove didn't trust you, like he didn't believe you loved him enough to do anything to make it work. For Cove you were… well you don't know. He was silent about the issue of the future. It was like you were discussing it with yourself as if there isn't another person in the relationship. It was frustrating, it made you angry at him and at yourself for being angry at him. You grabbed your pillow which had become a bucket for your tears and you cried and screamed into it. Over time your tears and screams died down and you drifted into not a peaceful sleep but a painful one. When you woke up you stumbled down stairs in a trance and nearly rounded the corner before you heard it. You stopped in your tracks immediately and sunk to the floor. It was him, your love, the neighborhood boy, Cove Holden.

“How are they?” He spoke quietly.

“I can't lie to you and say they're fine but they are resting right now.” Mom said with a sigh.

“Tha… T-That’s fine but what about eating, drinking, packing, and leaving the house?” He stuttered nervously. You wanted to laugh. It was so Cove to still be nervous talking to someone he knew essentially his whole life.

“Yes, of course. We’ve made sure, nothing to worry about.” At that you heard a sigh of relief come from the green haired boy.

“Okay, okay good. Um could you just let me know if they need anything.” His voice was shaky like he wanted to cry.

“They need you, kid.” Your mom said slowly. There was a long silence at this. Was it actually long or were you just anxious you weren’t sure.

“...I need them more.” He said in a barely intelligible whisper. Goodbyes were said and stayed on the floor even as you heard mom coming your way. When she was in your sight her eyes widened but more in worry than surprised. You tilted your head at her and that’s when you felt it. Tears were cascading from your eyes. You wiped them away in surprise and rose to your feet.

“Im fine.” You said before jogging to your room where you curled into a ball as if to shield you from the impending doom. From this position you watched the sunset and the moon rise, almost unblinking. You felt tears soak your pillow, you had begun crying without realizing again.

This couldn't go on, you had to talk to Cove.

Muscle memory had kicked in from the one time you had snuck into Cove’s room and boom. You were sitting on his bedside stroking his hair as he slept. Just like you it seemed his sleep was anything but peaceful. His brow was creased and you couldn’t help but thumb along it prompting him to wake up. His eyes shot open and he blinked a while before he sighed. 

“Are you gonna be a dream or a nightmare.” he said softly.

“I'm in your nightmares?” You said glancing to the side. At this he shot up. Tears pulled in his eyes as he held his hand out to you. As soon as his fingers brushed your face he let out a quiet sob.

“So dream or nightmare then?” You said with watery eyes.

“An absolute dream.” He said with a firmness in him that was rare.

“Cove I don't want to talk about it right now, can we sleep...together.”

“Yes!” he shouted quietly, immediately making space for you under his blankets. You moved with equal amount of eagerness and soon for the first time in a while you felt truly at peace.

“Can...can I hold you.” You didn't say anything to his request, just moved closer and grabbed onto his nightshirt. Instantly you both fall into a deep peaceful sleep.

“Hey kid, I wanna talk…” Cliff trailed off awkwardly as he locked eyes with you. Cove was fast asleep, head in your lap and arms squeezing you. You smiled and put your finger to your lips. Cliff got the signal and walked out with a smile. Cove slept for 30 minutes more before his icy blue eyes met yours.

“Uh, wanna eat? I got all the ingredients for…” he didn’t need to finish the red flush of his face said enough. He was eating your favorite and you were eating his. You let off a quiet laugh.

“I’m feeling more peanut butter, honey, and banana sandwiches. Maybe some fruit.” You smiled down at him. His eyes lit up and you were dragged into the kitchen and now you both were about done making the sandwiches.

“What are you glaring at my sandwiches for?” You jokingly accused him.

“There isn’t enough honey on it, honey.” He said poking your forehead. You laughed and he laughed and then you both went to sit at the table. Mr. Holden was there too and made moves to get up but was stopped by the both of you shouting no. Awkwardly he sat back down.

“So, how’s packing coming? Coves been putting it off, so much.” He asked you gently.

“I’m pretty much done! Nothing in my room but a bed now.” You said with a smile.

“That’s great, still planning on leaving for college?” He asked with caution.

“Yeah, that’s the plan. I’m going to miss having you around.” You said with a small smile. The impromptu breakfast was over soon after this and you were left alone with cove again. Questions about the future loomed over you and this time you were going to get answers.

“Can... we talk?” You said staring at him with determination.

“Yes..” he trailed off

“No Cove, can we really talk? Like talk things out, like argue and come to a consensus.”

“Yes but I just don’t... want us to fight” he said playing with his hands.

“Arguments are normal cove, hell they’re healthy even. The unhealthy part is what you do during the argument and what you do after. Of course, we could try just talking first.” You smiled at him hoping to ease his nervousness.

“So you mean to say storming off to your son's room and pacing isn't a healthy way of closing an argument?” He said with a joking tone.

“Well if we ever get to the talk about the future, maybe one day you could see just how healthy it is…” You trailed off looking at him hopefully. Cove let out one of his cute squeaks as he flushed red. He raked his fingers through his hair before he grabbed your hand and pulled you to the sofa.

“Let's… talk then.” he said, glancing at you and then away.

“Alright, Cove, I'm going far away. What you are asking to do is impractical, I'm asking you not to do it.” You said seriously.

“It's 36 hours by car on the fastest route and 3 hours and 29 minutes by plane, it's not impractical, it's totally possible.” He said with unusually fierce eyes.

“Sure but you want to do it every two weeks, twice a month! It's not safe for you to drive that long. Think of the money it’ll cost to fly or put gas in your car. Also you'll have your own bills now, your own place. It's not all that possible.” You spoke firmly.

“Doesn't matter… i'll make it possible and safe. If I need to, I'll stay with my dad for a while. Moving out isn’t that big of a deal” He said not backing down

“No Cove, do you hear yourself? You’ve wanted to move out and be in your own place for a while. What happened to the boy who wanted to do everything the way he wanted without listening to set rules or a predetermined plan?”

“This isn't someone's predetermined plan for me, it's what I want.”

“What about what I want?” you said softly

“Is what you want… not to be around me? Or am I too.. too clingy for you? Cause if so I promise I won't intrude too much.. And I’ll give you space-”

“No! Its nothing like that! You are never gonna be too clingy for me, you could get clinger if you wanted. I just want you to be safe, okay?” You said cutting that thought off immediately

“I promise I will be then.” He said hesitantly.

“Baby, the whole action of it isn't safe physically or financially for either of us right now. I'm not saying you can't come but what about once every month or even better ill come back here every break I have. They aren't frequent but I'd be with you for a while.”

“It's not enough!” He said, raising his voice at you. It's the first time he’d ever done it but you didn't respond, you just blinked at him and waited for him to continue.

“I need to see you more than that.. I just have to.” He said, looking away from you.

“Why? We’ve spent weeks apart before. Every summer you leave and we come out of it fine, it's the same.”

“No its not the same, at all.” He spoke firmly as his eyes got misty but he pressed on. “When I went with my mom I knew where you were, what you were most likely doing. It was routine, sunset bird is our place. Even if something new comes along I'm never out of the loop… but when you leave you’ll be in a new place with different people and new things you can experience. You’ll be in a place with all four seasons, they get snow! I won't know what you're doing any more and we might not even be on the same wavelength any more. You’ll make new friends and meet people who won't be afraid to lay in bed with you or stutter a lot or make weird noises. You’ll be changing and I’ll still be the same 8 year old cry baby you met on the poppy hill… you’ll leave and then you’ll disappear.” He said scrubbing at his tears. You stared at him before you started to laugh. You laughed so hard you started to cry.

“Let me get this straight, you want to come visit me so often because you're afraid I'll become this social butterfly and find better people than you, Miranda, and Terri? Me?” You were overcome with laughter again and paused to catch your breath. “I’m overly honest, pushy, a little demanding, and have “strange” interests. When have you ever known me to be easy to make friends with or be sociable with any other than you? You know I knew I was gonna marry you from the moment I laid eyes on you at the ripe age of 8? I wish some dumb college kid would try to change my plans i’d kill them… nothing is gonna take me away from you and I will always come home. Home, cove holden, is wherever you are.” Cove was hugging you in a second crying into your neck.

“I quite like your squeaks and weird noises by the way.” You could feel his face heat up in your neck as he laughed.

“Every break?”

“Every break longer than 2 days.”

“At my place… the whole time?”

“Duh I said I was going home.”

“Alright then, we agree. I want to come spend a break with you though, want to see your place.” He said squeezing you tighter.

“Of course… Also one last thing we need to put to bed.” Cove let out a groan at your words.

“Nothing bad at all. Just this.” You reached into your back pocket and pulled out a black velvet box. You handed it to cove as his eyes watered again.

“I know I already proposed but I wanted to get you something regardless. Its also so all these single people keep their grubby little paws off my love.” He blushed at you and whispered your name the way he always did when he was feeling embarrassed or overwhelmed. He opened it as tears fell down his face.

“Theres two?” 

“Yeah look at the inside of the bands.” Each one was engraved with your respective nicknames for each other.

“Were engaged we minus well look the part. This way everybody at my college knows I managed to lockdown the most amazing guy to ever grace sunset bird.” You said kissing his nose. He wasted no time putting his on and handing you yours.

“I love you.” He said, eyes no longer misty.

“I love you so much, Cove.” You echoed his sentiment.

“Wanna go to our hill, we have a lot to make up for. I’ve missed you so much.” He said, grabbing your hand. You nodded and you both turned to leave. You both quickly made eye contact with Clifford Holden who was misty eyed. You gathered he had been there for a while.

“Sho...Should I pretend i didn't just see or hear that as well?” He said his hand on his neck.

[wavyhairedbabyy]

Idiots - Part 1

Karl Jacobs x gn!reader

tldr: They’ve both got a crush. Sucks, since they’re the only ones oblivious to it. (Slow Burn!)

CW: some swearing(not at each other), fluffy as a teddy bear.

a/n: I got a random influx of followers ;-; Tysm for enjoying my works and sharing them. I haven’t written in 6 years, in case it wasn’t obvious lmao, so even one is super meaningful to me :) this ended up being way longer than I intended it to be so I’m splitting it into 2 parts. 

edited yet: yes - let me know if I missed anything!

Part 1 - Part 2

Y/n and Karl met when Karl was still going to college in New York before dropping things to move to North Carolina. They met the fall of their sophomore year at the campus café when Karl was trying to shoot a piece of paper into a trash can. The problem was he couldn’t aim and it landed right in y/n’s mug of coffee, quickly dissolving into a paper coffee soup. For anyone else it would’ve been okay but being that coffee was y/n’s life line, especially during finals, it most definitely was not.

“You’re buying me another, right?” they asked, “I would highly recommend it or you might see a side of me you don’t want to see.”

Being the good guy he was, and the slight fear of their bad side, he did with no questions.

“So, since there’s a side of you I don’t want to see, and I bought you a new coffee, do I get to see the side of you that I do want to see?”

“Find me next semester and you might.”

And he did.

***

“Karl, if you don’t give me that sword, I’m going to hurt you!” Y/n screamed as they lunged toward him. It was y/n, Karl, and Chris hanging out at Karl’s place until it was time to leave for a Mr. Beast project. They sat in his living room, Karl with a foam sword that y/n was desperate to take from him.

“That’s the problem! If I give it to you, you will hurt me with it!” He yelled back, jumping out of their reach.

“Okay children, why don’t I just take the sword so we can end all of this?” Chris intervened in an attempt to stop the ruckus.

Both of them paused, looking at him in disbelief. They shook their head and in unison scoffed, “No!”

The two continued their play fighting, one holding on to the sword for a short period of time before the other pulled it from their grasp. This went on until it was time to leave the house.

While this was all going down, Chris watched Karl’s behavior. He noticed how he let y/n hold on to the sword a little longer, even when he could’ve easily reached out to grab it from their hands. He noticed how he was much more careful with his movements, almost scared to be too rough with them.

With anyone else, Chris knew Karl’s pride would have taken over in this situation. He thought back to any other time he had any of his SMP friends over. With Nick or Alex, he would have hogged the sword and brutally whacked either of them with it as much as he could. He would happily tacked them and pinned them to the ground. With y/n though... there was a gentleness with them, and Chris did not fail on picking that up.

“Okay lame-os, let’s get on over to the warehouse. Y/n, you coming?” Chris asked.

Y/n shook their head, “Nah. I’m gonna unpack my stuff and relax from the flight. Plus, word on the street says that tomorrow is when the cool stuff is happening so I’ll come then.” they replied.

“Well the street is right, but they’re still a dummy,” Chris looked at Karl for reference.

“Hey...” Karl faked a sad look before staring at y/n for defense.

Y/n giggle and just shrugged, waving goodbye to the both of them, “If you don’t bring me back Burger King fries, don’t bother coming back at all!”

***

Chris and Karl sat in the car, Chris driving and Karl in the passenger seat. With some music on in the background, the two were discussing the plan of action for what was going to be filmed for the day.

“Do you know how long it’s going to take?” Karl asked, “I feel bad leaving y/n by themselves so I want to try to get out as early as humanly possible.”

“I’m not really sure. I’m sure Jimmy wouldn’t mind you scootin’ out a little early,” Chris replied. He took the opportunity and leaned over to his friend, “Speakin’ of y/n, anything going on there? Y’know, anything special?”

“Uhh- whaddya mean special?” Karl haphazardly, “We’re best friends. I think that’s pretty special.”

“No, idiot. I mean is there anything there besides just being best friends,” Chris paused for a second, “I dunno. I just noticed you’re different with them, man. You know you would never treat Nick or Alex the way you treated them.”

Karl paused, trying to think of a response but failing. He sighed, “Yeah, there’s definitely something there on my end. I mean, I’ve been attracted to them since we first met. I just don’t think they reciprocate it.”

“You never know if you don’t try. What’s the worst that can happen?”

“I’d rather not think about it,” Karl sunk into his seat, thinking of all the bad endings that could happen if he told y/n his feelings.

***

Meanwhile this was happening, y/n was making themselves comfortable in Karl’s guest room. They planned on staying for a week and a half which meant packing a month’s worth of clothes. Before starting to unpack their things into the dresser, they FaceTimed their other best friend that was back in New York to keep them company.

“You’re calling me now? Your flight landed 4 hours ago! I was sure you crashed in the middle of the ocean - gone like that Malaysia flight,” y/bff answered.

“Hi to you too,” y/n responded as they started to place their clothes in the closet, “ You are so dramatic. My flight didn’t even go over the ocean. And don’t act like you weren’t tracking my flight. You knew damn well I was fine.”

“All this worrying and caring, and this is how I’m being treated?” Y/bff shook their head as the wiped their fake tears away “The disrespect.”

“Pft, the only disrespect I’m seeing here is the lack of questions about my day,” y/n said, “I had a great flight. I got those yummy blue chips and had a nice drive from the airport in a Tesla.”

Y/bff gasped, “What kind of Uber driver is driving around a Tesla? We need more of those people up here.”

“Dude, it was Karl,” y/n replied, “I was shocked. Last time I saw this kid he was driving a hunk of junk. One year down here and he’s driving around like he’s Elon Musk.”

“Well, I’ll tell you this now. If you don’t cuff him, I will!” Their laugh echoed through the phone

Y/n rolled their eyes, “Oh please, if he doesn’t like me like that then you’re in no good luck.”

“So you told him then?”

“No, not yet,” y/n paused, “I dunno. We’ve been friends for 3, almost 4, years now. If he liked me, he would’ve said something by now. Plus we live so far away from each other now. I just don’t wanna ruin a good thing, y’know?”

“Well, I still say do it. You can tell him and spend your life in peace knowing his answer, or keep it to you yourself and spend the rest of your life wondering ‘what if?’ And I’ll tell you now, the latter always ends with regret. With the first answer, you’ll at least have a chance of a happy ending.”

Y/n shrugged, putting away the last piece of clothing from their luggage, “I know, I know. I’ll think about it. Thanks for the chat, but I’m gonna go relax now before he gets back. I love and miss you already.”

They exchanged their goodbyes and hung up. Y/n flattened their luggage and slid it under the bed. Moving back to the dresser, they found some comfortable clothes to change into after a shower.

Y/n knew y/bff was right. They just couldn’t bring themselves to share their feelings. What if Karl didn’t feel the same way? Would it ruin their friendship? Would this be the last time they ever saw each other? No, y/n knew it wouldn’t end their friendship, but it would make it awkward for a little while. They moved to the bathroom. Maybe a shower would help them compose their thoughts.

***

“I’m back!” Karl shouted as he kicked the door shut behind him. The project took a few hours so the sun had set and nighttime was settling itself in North Carolina. There was no response. Karl continued, “And I have Burger King fries!”

“You should’ve started out with that! Coming!” Y/n yelled from down the hall. Karl rolled his eyes and walked over to the living room table. He started making room for the food when he heard fast footsteps coming toward him.

“Incoming!” Y/n yelled, tackling him to the floor with a hug. They were giggling as if they just pulled the best prank in the world.

“Hi to you too,” he groaned from his body hitting the floor. Y/n continued to chuckle as they got up, grabbing Karl’s hand to help him up too. They sat on the couch, looking at the food in front of them.

“A whole whopper meal? What did I do to get the honors, Mr. Jacobs?” Y/n remarked in a posh accent, popping a fry into their mouth.

“You existed,” Karl giggled out. Y/n smiled, but the butterflies in their stomach couldn’t feign their excitement. It was small shit like that that made y/n fall for Karl. He continued, “Plus I didn’t know if you ate or not so I thought better safer than sorry.”

“Aw, you’re the sweetest,” they gave him a tight hug before returning to the spot they were in on the couch, “So, what’s the plan, Stan?”

“I’m kind of tired from filming, I hope you don’t mind-”

“Actually, I completely mind” y/n replied sarcastically. Karl shook his head at them.

“So, I was thinking we could just watch a movie or watch a show,”

“Ah yes, head empty activities. I’m down. Can we watch a movie though? Not in the mood for a show right now,” y/n replied.

“Sure let’s scroll through and find something,” Karl switched on the TV and the two munched on their food while they decided what they were going to watch. After 20 minutes of scrolling, which really was 20 minutes of fighting over who had better taste in movies, they finally agreed on Wall-E.

Before the movie started, y/n looked over to Karl. Their hands were in the shape of finger guns, pointed to each other and the tips of their index fingers touching. They had a pout on their face when they asked, “Can we cuddle while we watch?”

“No,” Karl shook his head quickly, keeping a stoic, straight face. Y/n’s pout got bigger. He continued, “I absolutely hate physical touch.”

They both immediately broke out into giggles, y/n grabbing the nearest pillow and smacking him with it, “You are so lame.”

Karl continued with his fit of giggle, “The day I say that and mean it is the day hell freezes over.”

As the intro to the movie played, the two came closer, y/n’s legs tangling up with Karl’s. When they finished up their food, they moved closer with Karl’s arm around y/n’s shoulders and their head laying on his chest.

Y/n gave a playful scoff, reminiscing on their past memories together, “This reminds me of the time we had a Disney movie marathon before spring break.”

Karl laughed, “Yeah, and you made my old roommate cry beforehand because he wasn’t doing his dishes all semester.”

“In my defense, I gave him warnings. He didn’t wanna listen and there’s no way I was letting you live in a house with a sink full of fruit flies.”

“I’m not sure if you did that for me or because you practically lived with us.”

“Don’t get it mixed up, pretty boy. That was for you.” Karl smiled at those words, looking down at the person laying on their chest. He wanted to believe there was more than friendship behind those words. The warm feeling he would always get with them filled his chest as he turned his focus back to the movie.

“I really missed you.” He whispered.

“I really missed you too.”

***

Part 2

[kakaxhi]

Kotaro Bokuto | Us, Always

Pairing: Kotaro Bokuto x Fem!Reader (college au!)

Summary: when Bokuto finds out your ex is pestering you, his immediate response is to pretend to be your boyfriend

Warnings: mild language, creepy exes

Word Count: 1.9k

Your morning was already ruined before they showed up.

As hard as you tried to ignore your ex, they were insistent on talking to you despite you politely - and sometimes not-so-politely - told them to leave you alone. It was a messy break up and they couldn’t get the message that you wanted nothing to do with them.

“I know you have a few minutes before your next class. Let me say something, please?”

“I really don’t have anything to say to you, as I’ve said multiple times. Please just leave me alone.”

With a roll of your eyes, you turned around only to be stopped by their hand holding onto your wrist. The way their hand felt on your skin made you want to curl into yourself. Just before you could say something, another hand came into view.

“Hey, hey, hey! We got a problem here? Don’t bother lying, because I know for a fact [Y/N] has asked you to leave her alone.”

Your ex glared at Bokuto before taking off, but not before glancing at you once more. You let out a breath you didn’t realize you were holding before turning towards Bokuto. You bowed respectively as you thanked him.

“You really didn’t have to get involved though, they usually stray away after awhile.”

“I could see how uncomfortable you were. Ah, I hope I didn’t make you more nervous by knowing your name. We’re in the next class together and I’ve heard you with your friends. I’m Bokuto Kotaro.”

You smiled, a small laugh escaping you, “I know, I’ve been to a few games since one of my friends is on the team with you.”

Bokuto smiled, “Really? Well now I’ll be sure to look for a familiar face in the crowd.”

He motioned for you to follow him, walking with each other to your next class. The conversation continued before class started, Bokuto giving you a reassuring smile.

“Why don’t you meet me after classes are over? I’d love to get to know you better.”

-

“Is your ex still bothering you?”

You nodded, “Yeah, every time you’re not around.”

Bokuto frowned, playing with the hem of his shirt. Once the two of you got to know each other better, you gave him details here and there of your past relationship and your ex. With the more information he received, Bokuto liked your ex less and less. Something about them just irked him, adding onto the fact he hated how they treated you.

“Well, I have an idea. It’s up to you if you want to go through with it.”

“Well, let’s here it.”

“What if we went out?”

You sputtered on your drink, covering your mouth before the liquid went everywhere. Bokuto rushed to help, rubbing your back as he handed you some napkins.

“Sorry, sorry! Are you okay?”

“Yeah,” you coughed, “just didn’t expect that. What do you mean go out?”

Bokuto sat back down, “I meant like fake dating. You said your ex only stays away when I’m around, so maybe if they get the idea you’re with me they’ll leave you alone.”

“Oh, I don’t know. I don’t want to put you in an uncomfortable position or anything.”

“It was my idea. If anything, I’m tired of them making you uncomfortable. I wanna help.”

“How about I think about it?”

He nodded, “Sure, just know I’m always here. Whatever you need.”

You quickly shoved the butterflies in your stomach away.

-

It was at Bokuto’s next practice game where you agreed. Your ex had been pestering you more when you weren’t with Bokuto and the day just really got on your nerves. Walking into the gym, you found Bokuto and waited for him to notice you by the bleachers. He waved excitedly before excusing himself from the conversation he was having before coming over to meet you.

“Hey gorgeous, what are you doing here?”

You sighed, playing with your fingers nervously, “That plan we discussed the other day? Is that still an option?”

Bokuto pondered for a moment before nodding quickly, “Yeah, of course. Fuck, you look so stressed out. What happened?”

“It’s just been a really long and difficult day.”

He nodded in understanding before pulling you into his arms. Your own circled his middle, hiding your face in his chest. He smiled, giving you a quick squeeze before pulling away.

“Practice is going to start soon. Why don’t you stay and watch and then I’ll walk you back to your dorm? We can discuss things further.”

You nodded, “Sure. Thanks, Bokuto.”

He gave you a sweet smile, “Anything for you.”

He sent a wink your way before jogging back out to the gym floor. You sat on the bleachers, eyes widening every time he hit the ball. Even if you didn’t know the sport well, it was clear Bokuto would make it very far if went professional.

After practice, Bokuto came over to you. He wiped his brow with a small towel, grabbing his water bottle.

“I’m gonna take a fast shower and then we can leave. I can have one of the guys sit out here with you if you want.”

“No, it’s okay. They’re probably all tired. I’m fine, promise.”

He squeezed your hand as he stood, “If you’re sure. My phone’s in my bag if you need something. I’ll be as quick as I can.”

True to his word, Bokuto was out of the shower quickly, his hair still slightly wet when he came out to meet with you. You followed him out the door, laughter filling the air around you as he told you a story from his past.

“You’ll have to meet Akaashi sometime. I think you two would really get along.”

You smiled, “Yeah? Well, maybe we can arrange it. Oh, turn here. My building’s around the corner.”

Bokuto followed you up to your room, glancing around at the little things you had laying around. He stood in the doorway awkwardly as you moved some things around.

“You can sit wherever, my roommate spends most of her time at her boyfriend’s place so we have no interruptions.”

He nodded, placing his gym bag down and sitting besides you. It didn’t take long for the two of you to discuss the plan and whatever boundaries you wanted to have. Bokuto was an absolute sweetheart, as you’ve come to know, and wanted to make sure you were happy with everything.

“Maybe you could come to my games too? I mean, not just for this plan but I genuinely enjoyed having you there tonight.”

“I’ll be there.”

-

You didn’t miss the way people looked at you and Bokuto the next day. People were jealous of both you and it honestly was a bit overwhelming. Bokuto squeezed your hand, giving you a reassuring smile.

“Ignore them, they’re just mad. Whatever they’re saying or thinking means nothing.”

You leaned into him more, your free hand resting against his arm. A triumphant smile made its way to your lips when you spotted your ex looking at the two of you, and you knew the plan was working.

Bokuto stopped in front of your first class, thumb brushing against your cheek once you lifted off of him.

“I’ll see you later, okay baby?”

You nodded, smiling as he planted a kiss to your cheek. His hand slowly left your waist, a smile resting on his lips before going to his own class.

Once again, you pushed the butterflies away, reminding yourself this was all fake.

-

Your plan with Bokuto went on for another month before your ex confronted you both. Bokuto treated you to a date after a hard week of classes and practice. Fake or not, he wanted to treat you well. As the two of you were talking, Bokuto quickly got up from his seat once your ex started walking towards you.

“Seriously? This is getting out of-“

“You don’t shut up do you? I’m here to talk to [Y/N].”

You rolled your eyes, “What could you possibly want now?”

“You’re not actually dating him, are you?”

Your heart started racing, panic rising in your veins, “Uh, yes we are? Are you that dense?”

“Really? Then how come I’ve never once see you two kiss? Is this all a ruse to make me jealous or something?”

You exhaled sharply through your nose before standing, “I don’t know how many time I need to tell you, but I want nothing to do with you. Whether I’m with Kotaro or not is none of your business.”

Bokuto smiled at the mention of his first name, something he wanted to hear you say over and over. He maneuvered his arms around your waist, holding you as he glared at your ex.

“Fine, kiss him and I’ll believe you.”

“Or I could just knock you on your fucking ass and call it a day.”

You shook your head, knowing if he got into a fight he wouldn’t be able to play the big game coming up. Turning around, you face him with a sweet smile.

“It’s fine, Ko. If it’ll get them to leave us alone.”

Bokuto checked to see if there was any signs of you being uncomfortable before he leaned in. Your hands gripped onto his dress shirt as your lips pressed to his. His nose gently rubbed against your own before deepening the kiss. Teeth nipped at your bottom lip before he pulled away, chuckling at your ex’s retreating figure.

“Serves them right. So, are you okay after all that.”

You nodded, “Just glad to have you with me.”

-

Things changed between you and Bokuto after that. It was a few days later when he found himself outside your dorm. You had no afternoon classes that day and he didn’t want to wait until later to see you. He knocked on your door, a soft smiling pulling on his lips when he saw you.

“Hey, I need to talk to you about something.”

You welcomed him in, shutting the door behind you once he was settled. You could see the stress on his features, even as he tried to hide it.

“What’s wrong?”

“I’m sorry, but I can’t do this fake dating thing with you anymore.”

You nodded, “I figured as much. You’ve been avoiding me, I figured I did something to upset you.”

Bokuto stood, placing his fingers under your chin, “You did nothing wrong, I don’t think you understand me. I can’t do this fake dating, but I want to date you for real.”

“Scared me, thought you didn’t want to be around me anymore.”

He chuckled, his arms encircling you, “Sorry, you’re stuck with me. I mean, if you want me around that is.”

You nodded, “As long as you want me, I’m yours.”

Bokuto smiled, “So, does this mean I can take you on a proper date now? Make you mine?”

You chuckled, “Yes, of course.”

“Well that’s good,” Bokuto bent down to kiss you, “because you had my heart from the day I met you.”

The butterflies in your stomach told you, you felt the same way.

[thecarnivorousmuffinmeta]

If Bella was a boy (with Bella's gift. And he would be ​Edward's singer). What would change? What do you think?

So, I gave a fairly detailed response to this already. The long and short of it being that, depending if Beauford’s the right kind of guy, he and Edward will essentially end up in a romantic relationship neither realizes is romantic. Then Edward eats Beauford at some point.

But, since we’re here, I suppose we can enter imagination land and get into some more details.

Caveat that I haven’t read Life and Death and have no desire to, so we’re actually ignoring some strange alternate universe canon that never made much sense anyway. Shocking, I know, and very unlike this blog.

Beauford Swan and a Kid More Messed Up Than Even Bella Swan

In order for our love story to even start, Beauford has to be the kind of guy that Edward’s into (or can project that he’s into). Well, we know Edward’s into Carlisle (he projects pretty much an idealized version of Carlisle’s personality onto Bella and actively wants to look like Carlisle as to him Carlisle’s is the face of holy perfection while Edward looks like a demon) and given what he says he likes of Bella’s personality we can extrapolate from there.

Edward’s not going to be into an Emmett or anyone remotely resembling Mike Newton. He’s going to be into a quiet, kind, misunderstood, sensative, intellectual who probably looks some level of frail and in need of protection. Essentially, what he saw in Bella, subverting the Madonna complex he has for her a bit (Beauford will be a kind of Madonna, sort of, but not quite so blatant).

So, we have Beauford, who looks a lot like male!Bella and by that I mean he keeps her pale skin, her big dark eyes, and general look about her that she could break with the slightest contact. Basically, he’s a very pretty guy the likes of which typically comes from a shojou anime. He’s also likely still debilitatingly clumsy.

So, you have this guy who’s awful at sports, as in each time he tries he probably ends up in the ICU. Is an intellectual in that he reads old books, an odd amount of Jane Austen at that, but isn’t actually an artist or writer. In fact, other than reading, he has no real hobbies. Has a larger than life mother who constantly needs looking after. And has nothing in common with his peers.

As bad as Bella had it, I posit Beauford would have had it worse. He’s not going to get along with 90% of boys until... probably college. He’s always picked last in kickball, shares 0 interests with most other boys, and is probably ruthlessly bullied for all of this and more. Worse, being so pretty, he’s going to attract a lot of romantic attention, especially from preteen girls who are very into that look and Beauford’s sensitive artistic nature. This is going to get him so much shit from other guys.

Add on top of this Bella’s original difficulty socializing and I imagine Beauford is just as depressed if not more so.

Fast Forward to Forks

Beauford comes to Forks for a similar reasons to Bella, because he felt like a third-wheel in Renee and Phil’s relationship and that his mother was better off without him. I can also see him just not knowing how to act around Phil, who probably expects a stepson who’s more... sonnish. Beauford’s not going to play catch with dad in the yard and I can see Beauford wanting to avoid all of that entirely.

He enters Forks and has a vaguely similarish reception to Bella. Only, there are some key differences.

I imagine Mike, Tylor, and Eric quickly sour on Beauford as he goes from being potentially cool new bro to a guy that can pick up every girl in this school. He’s like the Cullens, but less incestuous and creepy and therefore a thousand times worse. They desperately don’t want Beauford sitting at their lunch table where he can potentially pick up all the babes. 

In other words, Mike is the new Lauren, and Beauford knows it. But it’s either eat with these guys or eat in the bathroom, and Beauford’s not at that level of desperation yet.

Jessica’s probably into him, having been into Edward (another pretty, sensitive, guy), but unlike Bella I imagine Beauford has a little better social intelligence in that he has seen this game before and he knows where it leads. So, he desperately, actively, doesn’t flirt with anyone. Which makes him a terrible conversationalist, and he just comes off as really weird.

Beauford, therefore, actually is a Cullen 2.0. You don’t want to be a Cullen 2.0 (Bella is the only one in that school who thinks the Cullens were in any way popular).

I imagine Edward notices this, plus Jessica’s interest, and gives a Nelson laugh from across the room. Now someone else can have the joys of Jessica Stanley’s lust. Though he does notice he can’t read Beauford’s thoughts, which is strange.

Like Bella, Edward undoubtedly thinks Beauford is at first highly overrated, just like all the other mindless teenagers in Forks, and rather plain (from his narration, Edward likes blondes and lighter eyes). 

The Rest

Biology happens, it’s a disaster, Beauford has no idea what he did to get Edward to loathe him so much but this time Mike isn’t in any way sympathetic. Instead, Mike just can’t believe he and Cullen seem to agree on something for once.

Edward flees to Alaska, decides he won’t lose to Hamburger, and comes back to do damage control. And we start mirroring canon a lot here. Edward has varying conversations with Beauford, is intoxicated by his very scent, and starts projecting an almost saint like personality onto him. Edward grows increasingly obsessed, starts creeping into Beauford’s room at night to protect him from spiders, etc.

The difference being that Edward is utterly convinced that what he and Beauford share is the highest platonic ideal of friendship. They are platonic soulmates, all other friendships pale in comparison to them, they are intellectual peers and artists.

This is even when they still go to the meadow, Edward kidnaps Beauford in Port Angeles for Italian dinner (despite Beaufrod not having been nearly raped without Edward’s intervention), Beauford is invited to the Cullen house, and more.

Beauford, being Bella levels of oblivious, also has no idea this is a romantic relationship. Likely, what he feels at first and is driven by is a strong sense of kinship with Edward. As Edward is also an intellectual outsider hated by the male half of the school. Beauford’s been there, bro. 

However, like Bella with Alice, he appreciates small details of Edward’s vampiric physical appearance, enjoys staring at Edward’s perfect face, and really digs that vampire smell.

I imagine, beyond what happened in Twilight things like the following occur: Edward constantly sketches Beauford in unintentionally (but secretly intentional) erotic positions with no clothes (this is art!), Edward leers at Beauford changing in his bedroom because “we’re both men”, Edward insists on discussing Beauford’s future bride with Beauford and imagines the most perfect woman in the world while also imagining smashing her head in like a melon.

But I imagine most of the Twilight plot points happen. The difference being that everyone is very confused on why these two can’t admit they’re dating. Rosalie probably bringing up very valid points of “Edward, if you want this guy to go date someone else then you can’t monopolize his life” and Edward telling her to stop being so petty and jealous of Beauford’s beauty. Aro, I imagine, just dies in New Moon and has no idea what to say when Beauford returns from the dead because it’s not, “Oh look, the lovers reunited! Ah, right, I forgot, they’re just friends. Yes...” 

The other difference being, as I strongly suspect that without Renesmee Edward would never have turned Bella (Renesmee really forces that issue as Bella actually dies before Edward turns her), that he would have eventually eaten Beauford as Alice predicted.

But he’d be so delicious.

[iamnotoriginalphil]

Yes! I'm so glad u watched mrs Fletcher it deserves more love tbh how about a mrs Fletcher x female reader where she's a classmate of hers in the creative writing course they go too and eve flirts with the reader whenever she catches reader checking her out lmao and reader gets all shy/flustered and they see each other again at some bar and hook up? If that's cool! You can write it smut or not whatever is cool with you but uhh it be hot ofc 👀💀

I loved this show so much! I really hope you like this.

She was doing it again. You could understand why schools forced girls to cover their shoulders when the large swaths of her skin were distracting you. You couldn’t keep track of the conversation. Every time you looked away, she was like a magnet, drawing your gaze back.

And each time you did there would be a small upwards curve to her lips.

Not that you were staring at her lips. Again. You flushed and looked back down to your notebook, spinning your pen with your fingers.

When you looked up Eve was twirling a strand of her hair around her finger, lower lip worrying between her teeth, eyes averting from you before they could meet yours.

Your eyes tripped over her body, pausing to admire her collarbone, the way her chest rose and fell, the pale skin leading to the edge of her shirt.

Your tongue darted out, wetting your lips. A sharp inhalation had you looking back at her, her eyes boring into yours. There was something in them that had you clenching your fists, a warm tingle spreading over your body.

You turned your attention to whatever bullshit was spilling from Barry’s mouth. You tried to hold back an eye roll but couldn’t quite manage it. Eve giggled, making your eyes snap to her again, along with everyone else’s in the room. She murmured an apology, ducking her head to remove the attention from herself. As discussion started up again she looked up, giving you a wink. Your face warmed up.

You let the rest of the class wash over you, your eyes darting up now and then to look at the brunette across the room from you. You didn’t realise the lesson had finished until the noise suddenly increased as one voice layered over another. You shook your head, gathering up your notebook, shoving it into your bag.

“Are you coming with us?”

You looked up, surprised to find Eve looking at you with expectancy on her face.

“Sorry?” you asked.

“To the bar? Are you coming?” she asked.

“Oh.” You looked over her shoulder to a couple of expectant faces watching you, “I wish I could.”

“But?” She gently tugged on a strand of your hair, sending butterflies fluttering in your stomach.

“But it’s my friend’s birthday and I promised I’d stop by,” you said.

She pouted and you had to suppress the urge to kiss it away. She tugged on the strand of your hair again, wrapping it around her finger.

“I was hoping you’d come,” she said.

“Sorry but a promise is a promise,” you said, trying to suppress your blush.

She chuckled and you ducked your head. She lifted it with a finger under your chin.

“You’re a wonderful friend,” she said, “although I’d like you to remember my disappointment when you’re having fun tonight.”

“From the sounds of it, you don’t need my presence to have fun of your own,” you replied.

“I have no idea what you’re talking about,” she said.

“I’m sure,” you replied, “have fun, Eve.”

You slipped out of the room with an apologetic smile. Your friend’s birthday was both a blessing and a curse. On the one hand, spending more time with Eve was everything you craved, but on the other you were terrified of making a fool of yourself in front of her. Better to avoid even the potential of it happening than to live through it.

The thought of what if made you a dull member of the party and when it was suggested it move to a local bar it made you a pang go through you. You couldn’t help but wonder which bar Eve was at, and what she might be doing. And with whom.

The group pushed through the doors of the bar, laughter and chatter loud, the cool breeze following you in. You were swept towards the bar without much thought. A cool beer was pressed into your hand. You wrinkled your nose, passing it on to one of the other girls.

“There’s some hot guys here,” one of the girls almost shouted in your ear. You giggled, flicking some hair over your shoulder, “reckon we should try and get the birthday girl laid?”

You looked in the direction she was gazing and froze. Julian was swaying in time with the music, a bottle of his own hanging loosely from his long fingers. If he was here then that meant…

Fingers pressed into her waist, turning you around. Sparkling blue eyes met yours and Eve lent forward, her lips brushing against your ear as she spoke.

“I thought you said you couldn’t come out tonight.”

“The party moved,” you replied.

“I guess this is my lucky day,” she said, “now are you going to order me a drink?”

She gave you a cheeky grin, tugging on the end of your ponytail. You felt butterflies erupt in your stomach, your eyes darting down to her lips then back up again. You gave a nervous laugh.

“What are you having?” you asked.

“White wine with ice,” she replied.

You turned away, slapping your hand down on the bar. You were immediately greeted with the smile of the bartender. You put in your order, ignoring the wink he shot your way. Your fingers brushed against hers as you passed over the cool glass. She threaded her fingers through yours and tugged you away, shooting a glare behind you.

You settled at a table, your knees pressed together, watching as she slung one leg over the other. You licked your lips, watching as her eyes focused in on them, darkening. Her own tongue darted out and you felt heat rise high on your cheeks.

“Your friends look like they’re having fun,” she said. You glanced over your shoulder at the dance floor. A few of your friends were dancing, the birthday girl grinding up on Julian who looked as if he didn’t know what he’d done to deserve it. You gave a dry chuckle, knowing he wouldn’t be able to handle her if she got another drink in her. You turned back around to find Eve staring at you.

“What?” you asked, shifting in your seat.

“You’re an incredibly beautiful young woman,” she said, “you know that, right?”

You chuckled, “thanks.”

She reached across to you, her fingers running over the back of yours. It sent a shot of arousal through you, the skin on skin contact and soft touch making you catch your breath. She curled her fingers around, turning your hand over until it was facing palm up.

“I feel special that you’re not joining in the fun to indulge me,” she said.

“You are special,” you said, then blinked. You hadn’t meant to say it. Even if it was true.

You were surprised by the flush on her skin and the way her eyes looked down at your hand, where her fingers were still tracing over the lines of your palm. You stood, shuffling around the table. She looked up at you. You pulled your hand out from beneath hers.

“I’m going to kiss you now,” you said, “so this is the time to tell me if you don’t want it.”

When she didn’t say anything you cupped her cheeks, tilting her face up. You pressed your lips to hers, soft and unsure of yourself. She wrapped her arms around your waist, pulling you a set forward. You almost unbalanced, falling against her body. You gasped and her tongue invaded your mouth.

One of her legs managed to slip between yours, keeping your body pressed against hers. You slid a hand into her hair, tangling your fingers in it until it pulled. She moaned into your mouth before nipping at your lower lip.

You couldn’t get enough of her. She was intoxicating, addictive, and all you wanted was to let her consume you. Her kisses were like fire and you were worried if she asked you, you’d let her take you right then and there on the table. She drew back from you.

“Well, that was...,” she trailed off, sounding as breathless as you felt.

You didn’t let her catch her breath before kissing her again. You couldn’t stop. She was the air you breathed, the only important thing left. You needed her the way you’d never needed anyone else.

A loud laugh had you breaking away. You looked over your shoulder again, finding a group of your friends waving at you. You rolled your eyes and turned back to Eve.

“Do you want to get out of here?” you asked.

“Yes.”

She stood up, leaving her half drunk glass of wine, the ice long since melted. She slipped her arm around your waist, and you couldn’t stop your own from grasping her hip. You nipped at her earlobe, feeling her shiver from where she was pressed against you.

She drove you back to her place, assuring you her son was away at college with no plans of returning any time soon. You stumbled as you tried to pull your shoes off as she pulled you into the house. She grabbed your face, kissing you deeply. She pushed you against the wall, hard enough for your breath to woosh out of you.

You grabbed her hips, hauling her up until her legs wrapped around your waist. Her fingers buried in your hair, tugging on it until you were moaning into her mouth. You spun, pushing her against the wall, feeling her arch towards you.

She directed you to her room. You threw her down on the bed, watching as she bounced, her mouth falling open in surprise. She crawled over her, settling yourself on her mouth while you kissed her again. Her hands slipped under your shirt, palms pressing to your spine. You were holding her chin while you kissed her with abandon. She trailed her lips down, pressing to your pulse point, teeth scraping against your skin. Your head fell back as she pulled your shirt from your body. You reached behind you, unclasping your bra and throwing it to the side.

Her hands kneaded your breasts, brushing against your hardening nipples. You arched forward, seeking her touch. Her mouth closed around one of your nipples, sucking on it until a curse fell from your lips. She chuckled against you, pinching at the other while she looked up at you with big eyes. You stared down at her, your fingers tangling in her hair, keeping her pressed to you.

She kissed back up your body, hovering close enough for your breaths to mingle. You surged forward, pressing yourself to her. You pawed at her, until you could pull her own shirt from her body. She fell back, pulling you with her until you were holding yourself above her. You couldn’t stop your eyes roving over her form, all pale skin and beauty. She left you breathless.

You kissed her with abandon, hoping you were making her feel even half of what you did. She groaned as you slid your hands down, tracing her skin, feeling how soft it was beneath your fingertips. She sighed as you tasted her skin, taking your time with her. You slid down her body, wondering if you could kiss every inch of her before the night was done.

You unbuttoned her jeans, watching her lean on her elbows to watch, her hair awry. You nipped at her hip bone as you passed, enjoying the way she thrust up towards you. She hummed as you pulled the jeans from her legs. She kicked them away.

You grasped her ankles, pinning them to the mattress. You pressed a kiss to her knee, working your way up until your lips were pressed to her inner thigh. Her eyes were smouldering where they met yours, her lower lip caught between her teeth. You dipped forward, blowing over her heat. Her legs twitched, as if the impulse to clamp her legs around your head was running through her.

Your mouth descended on her. A curse fell from her lips and her head fell back on the pillow. You grasped her thighs, parting them further, giving you more room as you devoured her. Her fingers clutched at you, pressing you to her as she ground against your face. You hummed, feeling her body stiffen.

She grasped your face, pulling until you climbed up her body, wiping your mouth on the back of your hand. She kissed you, her tongue plundering the depths of your mouth. Her fingers worked on the fastening of your own jeans, practically ripping them from your body. You groaned into her mouth as her fingers found your core, running through your folds. You shifted your hips, a featherlight touch over your bundle of nerves making you whine.

You pressed against her own heat, stroking her as her fingers did the same to you. You sat up on her, your hips moving insistently as she made pleasure tingle along your skin. Your own fingers were still, waiting at her entrance.

“Please,” she moaned.

You pressed one finger into her, waiting for the go ahead before you added another. Her own finger began to circle your clit. You made a breathy little moan, your fingers stuttering. She shifted beneath you until you began to curl your fingers within her, watching her mouth fall open. You lent forward to kiss her again, wanting to feel as close to her as possible.

She flipped the two of you, straddling your waist. Her teeth nipped at your lower lip, tugging on it. In retaliation you pressed the pad of your thumb down on her bundle of nerves. She made a strangled noise in the back of her throat. You gave her a cheeky grin that slipped as soon as you ground her palm against yours.

She was the first to fall apart, her fingers faltering as she threw her head back, her body tensing. You watched in fascination at the way her face contorted in pleasure. You watched her calm down, a smile taking over her face. She gave you a quick kiss before disappearing between your thighs.

You’d already been close but the sight of her down there, making eye contact with you, had you a panting mess. It wasn’t long before you were following her, wave after wave of pleasure crashing into you. You were crying out, gripping her too tightly as your legs shook.

She crawled back up your body, lying down beside you. You rolled onto your side, tucking some of her hair behind her ear. She smiled, pulling your forward into a soft kiss. You tangled your legs with hers, running your fingers along the bare skin of her back. She shivered, pressing closer to you.

“I’m glad you came to the bar,” she said.

“I’m glad we ended up at the one you were in,” you replied.

“We’re both very lucky then,” she said.

You hummed, leaning forward to kiss her again. She stopped you with a finger to your lips. You blinked, drawing back, the flush of shame filling you.

“I’d like to take you out to dinner tomorrow night,” she said, “if you’re free.”

“Oh,” you said, “yes, I’d like that.”

“Would you?”

You rolled over, straddling her waist and cupping her cheeks. She looked up at you. You kissed her again.

“You have no idea how much I’d like that.”

Permanent Tag List: @paulawand @delias-bitch-craft @sarahp-stan

[psychicdreamfriendoperator]

Going off from the free dating headcanon… how about some for Miguel and Agata? >.<

I’m so happy to see another blog writing for the shishigumi, they’re finally getting the character development they deserved

I'm happy to write for the lovable bastards, though it does seem like there's only 1 or 2 other blogs that write for all of the Shishigumi.

Speaking of blogs, @couldyouspeakmyname is a very nice one ü, please check them out if you haven't already!

I had to keep the word limit in mind (especially since there's 2 characters involved here), so, if this ask wasn't what you wanted, feel free to let me know and I can try again!

— Psychic

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General Dating Headcanons

Agata

Agata has had his fair share of partners. Society makes lions out to be good leaders, and so, many animals begin relationships with them. Agata's a darker-coloured lion, so this effect was multipled for him.

While he did have a “bad boy” phase, Agata is truly a nice person at heart.

That would have been more than enough for others to stay in a relationship with him, had he been born almost any other animal.

He was cheated on a lot by love interests who wanted to make a lion jealous, and by those who expected something . . . more passionate from a relationship with a lion.

As a result, Agata's very clingy, and mayhaps a bit bitter.

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Miguel

Miguel's relationships tend to last 6 months to 1 year, but never much longer than that. He doesn't have much of an interest in relationships, but he's open to love if it finds him first.

Previous lovers had a tendency to sexualise him— this is something that makes Miguel very uncomfortable.

He doesn't mind dirty jokes, etc, but more intimate actions have been partially ruined for him.

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Meeting Them

Agata

It's quite possible that you ran into him at a local community college.

I can imagine Agata taking a course there— perhaps it's related to technology?

It's also quite possible that the both of you shared the same, mandatory class.

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“oh shit oh shit oh shit . . .”

A noise that was more whisper than spoken word. You don't see it, but you can almost taste the anxiety that flows over from your colleague.

Your eyes moved involuntarily over to your left, where a dark-maned lion crawled on his hands and knees, as if searching for something.

You rest your head on your hand. “Looking for something?”

A muffled, “Dropped my pen . . .”

You fished about in your pencil case, pulling out one of your spares. It wasn't nearly as favoured as your gel pens, and, it also wasn't one you would miss if someone were to steal it.

“You can borrow this one . . . just give it back.”

You had never seen someone look so grateful; the expression was genuine, which filled your body with a cosy warmth.

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Miguel

Perhaps you met him at the gym.

Although Miguel had more than enough exercise equipment at the Mansion, he preferred to workout away from the Black Market.

It gave him the chance to organise his thoughts.

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“STAY FIT”— a simple, two word long mantra and a reminder of the New Year’s resolution you wanted to keep.

In order to achieve that goal, you signed yourself up for a gym— it was only a few blocks away on foot. Since it was so close, you were always the first one there . . .

Or rather, you were always the first one there, until recently.

“You must really love working out,” You struck up pleasant conversation whenever the both of you took your breaks. There wasn't anything else to do, really.

The feline, whose mane was tied up neatly behind him, took a swig of his bottled water. “I suppose you could say that.”

It was a curt response, yes, but it was also the start of a wonderful acquaintanceship.

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Growing Closer

Agata

over the course of several weeks, Agata racked up a fine collection of pens— all of them yours, of course.

Somehow, you didn't believe that you would get them back.

It didn't matter much though— you had more than enough to spare.

The pair of you studied together often; either on-campus or back at your place.

His notes were very neat, you noticed.

He divided his pages into three sections; one for definitions, one for summarisations of the text and one for miscellaneous notes.

When you expressed your interest, Agata is more than happy to explain the Cornell Method to you.

You were just pleased that all the pens you lent him hadn't gone to waste.

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Miguel

you actually had to put some effort in before Miguel felt comfortable enough instigating a conversation with you.

In the beginning, you talked to yourself, more or less.

Miguel gave short, curt answers in reply.

You both took note of what subjects the other person was interested in, and then went from there.

Polite conversation made to pass the time became deep and insightful discussions.

Miguel kept a neutral expression when speaking to you, but after a while, his lips curved into a pleasant smile more and more often.

You liked his smile.

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Going Steady

Agata

You didn't notice the way Agata’s hands shook until much later, when you were both reminiscing on how he had asked you out the first time.

You did notice that the lion had a few bags’ worth of stationery with him, though.

“Finally decided to return those pens you borrowed?” You were teasing of course — your friendship with him was such that you didn't care about those trivial things anymore.

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“Let’s go see a movie tonight!”

You blinked once. Twice.

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Then, you cleared your throat. “Ah . . . sure—” You turned around, intending to fetch a jacket. “I’ll just get a coat and—”

“Y-you can borrow mine!”

Thought it was several sizes too large, Agata's jacket was indeed very comfortable.

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Miguel

It just sort of happened.

One thing led to another, really, and soon, the both of you were bouncing ideas back and forth.

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“You're weird,” You snorted, playful as always. With the gentle push of a button, the treadmill belt beneath you began to move.

You thought you saw Miguel smile. He slung his towel over one of the machine's handle bars. “Maybe so, but, aren't you going to answer? It's not hard, right?”

“Well . . .” You clicked your tongue, actually thinking. “I've always wanted to go cycling at the park with someone else.”

“Are you free Thursday?”

You eyed the lion suspiciously, but nodded, “Mhm . . .”

But then, it clicked, “Oh . . .”

It really clicked, and you broke out into a wide grin, nodding up and down quickly.

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Dating

Agata

he was very nervous at first, and very, very clingy.

He felt as if he had to keep impressing you, and giving you gifts just to keep you around.

You didn't think much of it at first, but you drew a line when he arranged for a limosuine to drop you off at your agreed rendezvous point.

Where did he even get the money for a limo, anyways?

You called the date off, in favour of talking it out with him.

Though a part of you wanted to let Agata have it, the more sensible part just wanted to know why.

As the both of you stood in the parking lot of the movie theater, you noticed that several pairs of eyes were on you.

You grabbed him by the hand and, after a short walk, came to a more secluded area.

You sighed, and told Agata exactly how you felt.

In turn, he explained his side of the issue.

It wasn't planned for, but you both enjoyed the impromptu heart-to-heart under the stars nonetheless.

It was enjoyed so much so, that neither of you saw the black car which drove away, its scar-faced driver satisfied that Agata could handle things from there.

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Miguel

dating Miguel feels as if you're hanging out with a dear friend — which you were, in a way.

Your dates are spent cycling around the district, dominating patronising the local basketball court and just enjoying the other’s company.

And then, you slept together.

It had been late, so, you told him that he could crash at your place until daylight.

Despite your insistence that he take the bed while you slept on the sofa, Miguel was adamant that it be the other way around.

You had shrugged your shoulders, and decided not to fight him on it further.

Come morning, you had successfully moved him into your bed— he looked mad uncomfortable on the couch, anyways.

To your surprise, Miguel awoke with a start, a hand over his chest and eyes wide.

He demanded to know whether or not the both of you had done anything the previous night.

You didn't know about his . . . fear at the time, but you knew that you had royally fucked up.

You promised not to do that sort of thing again, and the rest of the morning is spent in the other's arms.

[what-even-is-thiss]

Hi, I saw your post about literary journals and I was wondering if you could tell me more about how volunteering for one is like? What kind of things you do? It sounds interesting. Have a good day 😊

I'm an associate editor which means I'm at the bottom of the pecking order so I do what is known as "slush reading". I read through brand new submissions to the journal and mark them with whether or not I believe they should be considered by my presiding editor. All of this is done online through a website designed to do this. I do creative non fiction slush reading and the creative non fiction editor just wants us to mark the piece with a yes, no, or maybe and then give a brief explanation as to why. Our fiction and poetry editors have their readers rank pieces from zero to five and to write a few sentences about it. Fiction and non fiction slush readers read ten to fifteen pieces each week and poetry readers do fifteen to twenty.

The editors use these reviews to decide what they want to read to consider. If they find something they think has potential from the recommendations their slush readers gave them they send it out to all of us in an email and we vote on it and discuss it in our weekly meeting and the editors either reject it or put it in a "maybe" pile after taking everyone's opinions into account. The final decisions will be made in a few months when we're closer to the journal publish date because our journal is an annual so we have to be open to the idea that we're gonna come across something better in the next few months. They also might end up asking the writer to do some brief edits and then decide afterwards if they want to use it.

Also I say volunteering but really I'm doing it for college credit and to build up my resume but I'm not getting paid so if I view it as volunteering it makes me feel better about all the work I'm doing. Pretty soon I think they're also gonna put me on the events subcommittee which is gonna be even more work, but it'll be good experience so I'm not complaining.

[mxrcayong]

part of @nct-writers​’s cafe resonance collab!

genre: fluff, a more UK-based pov of university

summary: jisung, a college student now looking for a job, has decided to apply for a job at the local café. he thought being friends with the manager and its employees has it perks; from unlimited free coffee to whatever pastries haven’t been eaten by the end of the day. needless to say; the perks must end somewhere. 

word count: 2317 words

note: i didn’t make the divider!!

College students practically live by coffee shops. If university was a religion, the on-campus coffee shop would be the bible. Daily, college students’ breath in the coffee beans like oxygen, feel the permanent imprint of coffee mug or a ‘to go’ cup on their lips. They’re surrounded by the smells of different fruity pastries and savory snacks, and the sounds of students either chatting or typing away on their computers. 

It’s no wonder that the university coffee shop was practically a hub of activity. When you sit down to work at Café Resonance, it’s feels like you’re a part of a bigger and collective community, stressing for assessments or just taking a break from their hectic university schedules. It’s especially hectic when you’re a full-time student and work part time.   

“Do I really need to get a job?” Jisung sighed, scratching his head as he leant against the barista’s counter. His six closest friends were working behind the counter: using the coffee machines and decorating the pastries. “Can’t I just use your employee discount on everything?” 

Jaemin furrowed his eyebrows. “You know I want to, my little mouse.” He teased as he placed another order on his tray, “But I can only put the café employee discount on so many things.” He practically sung as he left, heading to a table to bring another set of students their own cups of their own ambrosia.     

From the cash register, Haechan had just finished taking the orders of the last bunch of the line and immediately replaced Jaemin’s place next to Jisung. “You can always just become a sugar baby.” He suggested, coming over to the display case to grab one of the pastries to heat up per the customer’s order. “Or a pole dancer… aren’t you a good dancer?” 

Jisung immediately protested. “Firstly, no. Secondly, is it even legal? I literally only became an adult this year.” 

“Actually…” Haechan started to counter, only to be interrupted by Mark approaching with a raised hand and a dirty mop. 

“Stop telling everyone to become a sugar baby.” Mark chided as he ducked to get back behind the counter, drudging the cleaning supplies with him. “You do realize that if someone does become a sugar baby, they aren’t entitled to paying for your shit either.” In response, Haechan grumbled under his breath as he gave the bewildered customer overhearing the odd conversation their fruity treat. 

Jisung has visited his closest friends enough to know that working at the café is like a beautifully choreographed dance. It moves like clockwork; with the six doing their roles diligently and without question. So, it’s not unusual for his friends to come and go during the conversation – all taking part whilst separating themselves at the same time. 

“Why don’t you just ask Chenle if you could work here?” Renjun suggested, coming out from the back room where he started baking some more pastries – obvious through his powdered apron. “We all work here already, and we can go through the ropes with you.” 

Jeno immediately stepped in and basically rejected the offer. “Do you remember the last time we hosted an event and Jisung wanted to help?” He prompted, before chuckling. “He tried to wash the food with dish soap…and he broke the broom when cleaning!” 

Almost as if the thought of teasing Jisung summons him, Chenle came out of seemingly nowhere. “Didn’t he leave the broken broom on the floor and just started playing video games?” Jeno, Haechan, and Renjun nodded – remembering the mess the 00-line apartment was that night.  

“Not the best party we hosted.” Jaemin commented, going around the counter to make his own drink now that the list of waiting customers is gone. “But, still, Jisung learns fast. I think he could work here.” 

Chenle let out an introspective hum, before leaning over to whisper to Haechan. With a questionable look on their faces, Chenle decided to call Jisung into the back room and in his makeshift ‘managers office’ (a perk of being family with the owner of the university café). “I’ll consider your application, but I can’t do any nepotism.” He started, “so, you must go through the whole application process.” He paused. “You must come up with your own recipe.” 

With a rule to not discuss recipes with his ‘potential future co-workers’ – which Chenle weirdly specified as everyone but Haechan, Jisung had to get straight to work. In all honesty, he had no baking experience nor ever made a drink without a guiding recipe.

While his six closest friends were out of the equation, he had another friend he could reach out to; Y/N. 

You were in his freshmen orientation group earlier this year. Not going to lie, you initially thought of each other as familiar faces who you’d occasionally wave at or nod in acknowledgement when you walk past each other. However, you later found yourself eating in the same hall cafeteria…and then the same hall pantry…and then, it clicked. You two lived only four doors away from each other in your university hall. 

Needless to say, you two ran midnight McDonald trips basically on a weekly basis. You became integral to Jisung’s daily routine; from waking each other up for breakfast to storming into each other rooms, armed with complaints and rants about the shitty professor who made you read 300 pages for one night. Even on your busiest days, you two would always pick each other up for the hall provided breakfasts and dinners. 

So here you were - Jisung was slouching down on your desk chair while you were resting on the bed, your back against the wall and a pillow in your lap as you tried to help Jisung solve his current problem. “Well…did Chenle give you a prompt or anything?” 

Jisung shook his head, groaning back. “It’s not like we have a kitchen to try and bake either! We only have fridges and a microwave and a….” He tried to recall what was on the floor pantry. 

“Just a fridge and a microwave.” You added. “That means pastries are off the table…how about a drink?” 

Jisung groaned again. “I have a hard time making pre-made coffee!” 

You couldn’t help but chuckle; you remembered that day. It was a scary time for you; your credit card company sent you a text about a fraudulent use of your student account. Not only did you end up stressing to the point of crying, but you also learned it was a false alarm. Luckily, while still reeling from the anxiety inducing news, you ran into Jisung as he was leaving his room. He then took you to the pantry to try and cheer you up with coffee…however, a fire alarm went off and practically deafened the whole university housing cohort for hours. 

And poor Jisung…Jisung was just an awkward little mouse, trying to look innocent as he saw his exhausted neighbors clamber out into the park due to his attempt of making pre-made coffee. 

“Well…you have me. This isn’t hopeless.” Climbing off the bed, you pretended to dust yourself off. “So, let’s go to the pantry? Another one of our…”

Jisung quickly furrowed his brows, interjecting while you still spoke “I don’t think this can be considered snacking…”

“Pantry-time dates.” You stuttered, obviously unsure of the title. Usually, you call them ‘cup noodle dates’ or ‘popcorn dates’; a joke that ran through your small group of friends as well as the resident advisors at the university hall. 

No one likes being in the pantry. Especially the second floor. For one, things always get stolen; from cutlery to a six pack of coke. Secondly, the few times people use the microwave to heat up their meals, they tend to leave the leftovers to rot on the windowsill. But you and Jisung sit there together; maybe because something about it feels open and comfortable, despite the terrible smell. Plus…the two of you placed bets on who could be the thief when people awkwardly clamber on by, and if on one of these ‘dates’ you catch the thief obviously taking something that isn’t theirs? Even better. 

But today… you two will have to be the forsaken thieves. 

“So someone put chocolate powder in the fridge…” You commented incredulously, especially as this fridge is known for freezing things into ice in minutes. “There’s some…expired milk.” Jisung watched as you searched through the fridge for any hidden treasures; feeling more and more unsure of himself as you listed more and more ingredients. “Oh, okay, some non-expired milk. That will be useful.” 

“We can make a latte?” Jisung offered, now on his phone searching up popular café drinks. 

“Yes!” You enthused, finally feeling like this trip to the pantry isn’t useless after all. “But…we should probably write an apology note to the people we’re stealing from.” 

It’s been almost five hours in the pantry. Countless of people came in (however, this time you tried not to place bets as you knew who the real thieves were tonight) and would just stare at the two of you, arguing over a kettle of milk. Even your neighbor Victor came in; having sat and watched you two for a good while (which made Jisung extra cautious; he’s had a theory about him being the forsaken pantry thief for a while). Victor, however, said you two should have a cooking show, to which you scoffed while Jisung basked in the compliment. This very same compliment crossed Victor off of Jisung’s “potential criminals” list. 

Eventually, you had a drink in front of you. A chocolate latte that Jisung insisted on putting salt in, as “Modern Family said it was a good idea”. Admittedly, the first ten versions of this drink were absolute failures; making you go to the bathroom numerous times to vomit out the thick and almost flour-like texture.  

So, for your final check, the two of you grabbed the non-eaten pastries Jisung brought home from the café. Hopefully, this will act as a palette cleanser; especially since tasting all of the failed drinks probably have messed with your taste buds and lowered all sorts of expectations. 

After taking bites into the Suh-ndwitch and Henpretzel, you two finally took sips of the drink you attempted to make since 10pm – with Jisung making far too many references to the Powerpuff Girls opening theme. 

Alas – the taste that flooded their senses wasn’t at all bad, no. Nor was it ‘a little bit of sugar and everything ice’, but it was something you’d expect from Starbucks. You two immediately squealed out of excitement, ignoring the fact that you probably woke the neighboring rooms up at three in the morning. Jisung immediately went over to hug your waist, spinning you around as fast as he could; before something unexpected happens. 

You felt his lips on yours; tasting like chocolate and leftover ingredients that were remnants from his palette cleanser of a sandwich. The feeling was foreign; you never expected to kiss Jisung. He was your best friend, your neighbour; but his lips were soft…and something about this felt right. 

But then the door slammed opened. A zombie-like RA came in and you two immediately jumped to different sides of the room. “I know you two always do your pantry dates, but…” The RA started, obviously sluggish from being woken up at 3am. “We got noise complaints.” 

Jisung awkwardly coughed, apologized, and ran away; leaving you confused in the corner of the pantry. 

Café Resonance were never busy Friday evenings. People were most likely out pubbing or preparing for their weekends of antics. So when Jisung stormed in with a recipe in hand, he wasn’t afraid to celebrate as loudly as if he had just won the Olympic World Cup. “I got the recipe! Can I please have the job?” He practically pleaded, dropping the piece of paper with messy handwriting and the sample drink you two whipped up again the night prior. On top of the page with chocolate colored stains were the words; “Hamji Choco Latte” with (served hot or cold)  at the bottom.

“A recipe?” Everyone but Haechan and Chenle looked confused; with the latter two smirking in the corner of the room. But as soon as Haechan cracked and let out a loud laugh, Mark turned around and immediately recognized the culprits of this misunderstanding. 

“Bruh,” Chenle let out throughout his charming ‘dolphin laugh’, “You had the job – I was just messing with you.” 

Haechan pouted, approaching Jisung to ruffle his hair. “My sweet, small, dumb idiot…how much I love you.” He placed a sloppy kiss at the corner of his head, making Jisung immediately try to scrub it off. 

Jisung scowled, upset he let himself get fooled by his best friends. “At least I got a girlfriend from it…” He mumbled, more to himself, but forgetful of how Jeno’s ears can pick up on anything. It was from my ASMR stint, Jeno would say. 

“WHAT!?” He exclaimed, as if Jisung getting a girlfriend would happen the day pigs would fly. 

“I sent you to make a café recipe, not a love potion!” Chenle cackled even more; while his fellow friends made him explain what happened. 

By the time the store closed, Jaemin gave Jisung the ‘talk’ and warned that although they spent nights in each other’s rooms before, Jisung and you must be ‘safe’ and ‘protected’. 

People always say the first people you become friends with at university don’t always stay friends for life. People tend to clash, find their hobbies, and go different ways. But Jisung was lucky. He met you; his best friend and now his other half. And despite the annoying prank Chenle made that wasted hours of your time, Chenle was right; the Hamji Choco Latte was basically a love potion as it brought the hidden infatuation you had for each other to light.  

Now, every time he picks you up from your lecture hall, he brings one extra-large chocolatey drink to share. 

“Email sent out to residents of NCU Hall: 

Dear residents of the second floor, 

The person who has been stealing cultlery and food has been identified. Victor Cho will be coming by to return any items that may have belonged to you.”

Jisung screamed at the top of his lungs when he got this email. “I TOLD YOU SO!”