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lovelyjuju · 3 months ago

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𝐬𝐭𝐚𝐫𝐬𝐭𝐫𝐮𝐜𝐤 – 𝐛𝐲𝐮𝐧 𝐞𝐮𝐢𝐣𝐨𝐨

euijoo x fem!reader

genre: love at first sight – college au!, fluff

warnings: a little angst here and there, curse words, alcohol consumption, euijoo is literally just so in love it hurts

word count: 6.5k

•☽────✧˖°˖☆˖°˖✧────☾•

euijoo was never the type to receive a lot of attention from others. he wasn't disliked, he just went unnoticed – overlooked, despite his height. but he didn't mind. he liked it that way; being in his own little bubble that consisted of classes, late night study sessions, his favourite books, and weekends spent gaming with his best friend nicholas. it was peaceful like that and he wouldn't have wanted it any other way.

until he met you.

euijoo was weaving through the crowded college hallways, lost in thought about the upcoming exam period, and mentally organizing how to spread out all the study materials over the next two weeks, when a bright, unfamiliar laugh pierced through the haze of his thoughts.

almost instantly, his eyes found the source of the sound – and he swore he could feel his heart sink. for a moment, he stood frozen, completely taken aback. it wasn’t just your appearance that left him breathless, but something more – a kind of effortless energy that seemed to fill the space around you. he couldn’t believe he had never noticed you before. had you always been there, just beyond the edge of his awareness, waiting to catch him off guard?

the easygoing, yet warm smile you wore, made his heart flutter in a way he'd never experienced before – it captivated him, leaving his eyes fixed on you, unable to look away.

it wasn’t until a dull ache in his shoulder brought him back to reality that he finally gathered his thoughts. "how about not standing in the middle of the hallway," he heard an irritated student mutter as they brushed past him. euijoo quickly stepped aside, clearing his throat before mumbling a half-hearted apology.

when he looked back at you, you were gone, the spot that had held your presence just moments ago now empty, yet somehow, your warmth still seemed to linger in the air. he shook his head as if it could clear his mind that suddenly seemed to only have space for you – exams long forgotten.

as he continued his way to the cafeteria, he tried his best to quiet his thoughts, but to no avail. it was almost ridiculous, he thought, how just twenty seconds of seeing you could completely take over his mind. hell, he didn't even know your name, and until two minutes ago, he hadn’t known you existed at all.

he tightened his grip on the straps of his backpack and exhaled deeply before stepping into the cafeteria, scanning the room for nicholas, determined not to let anything show.

"juju! everything okay?" nicholas greeted him once the younger found him sitting at a table.

"yes," he replied, almost a little too quickly. "why wouldn't everything be okay?"

nicholas furrowed his brows, leaning back in his chair a bit, and scanned his best friend's face carefully. "you know," he started, "i usually ask. but honestly, today you're being weird about it." nicholas crossed his arms in front of his chest. "so, what's up?"

euijoo quickly looked down, knowing damn well he couldn’t lie to nicholas face-to-face, and silently cursed himself for trying too hard to hide how he really felt. he'd always been too awkward when trying to play it cool, and nicholas was too much of a good friend to not notice.

"nothing," he mumbled after a while, "i'm just stressing over exams, i guess."

nicholas sighed slightly. "you know you'll ace it, you always do. why do you have to panic first?"

euijoo just offered a slight shrug as he picked up his chopsticks to eat his lunch, attempting to focus on nicholas’s ramble about finding healthy ways to relieve stress – attempting not to let his thoughts drift back to you once again.

┈┈・୨ ✦ ୧・┈┈

even days later, euijoo couldn’t shake the moment from his mind. your laughter, your presence – it all replayed in his head, tugging at him in a way that was unfamiliar. he found himself scanning the hallways more often, hoping to catch even a glimpse of you. but whenever he did spot you, his heart would pound in his chest, his feet frozen, leaving him unable to approach. instead, he’d linger from a distance, admiring in silence, and hoping you wouldn’t notice.

nicholas was quick to catch on. the two were sitting on the lawn near campus after some hours of studying together in the library. it was evident that both were a little exhausted, but euijoo seemed quieter than usual, distracted.

"you’ve been acting weird lately," nicholas said after some moments of silence, a hint of concern coating his words. "what's going on? is it really just exams?"

euijoo tried to brush it off, shaking his head. "it's nothing, just a lot on my mind."

nicholas raised an eyebrow, clearly unconvinced. just as he was about to respond, he noticed euijoo's eyes slightly widen at something. he followed his friend's gaze, realizing that it wasn’t something after all, but rather someone. euijoo wondered how you always somehow managed to be exactly where he was. so close, yet just so out of reach. he found himself watching you a moment longer than he intended, and nicholas, ever the attentive friend, understood immediately.

"a lot on your mind, huh? or someone on your mind? spill, who is she?"

after a long pause, euijoo sighed. "just–... actually, i don't know." he felt a heat rise to his cheeks just saying it.

nicholas's eyes lit up at euijoo's blushed cheeks, a grin spreading across his face. "you don't know? let me guess, you’ve never talked to her?"

euijoo frowned. "it’s not that easy. i don’t even know where to start. 'hi, i've been secretly watching you for a while now cause you're the prettiest girl i've ever seen?' will surely go well," he said sarcastically.

"it’s not rocket science," nicholas said with a laugh. "you don’t have to confess that you’re hopelessly in love with someone you barely know, juju. you just go up and say hi. you do know how to say hi, right?"

euijoo groaned, sinking deeper into the lawn. "i’m not like you, nicholas. i don’t know how to just... talk to people like that."

nicholas leaned in, a mischievous glint in his eye. "then we’re gonna fix that."

over the next few days, nicholas kept pushing him. whenever they passed you in the hallway, nicholas would nudge euijoo's shoulder and whisper, "now’s your chance," but every time, euijoo’s nerves would get the best of him. his heart would race, his hands would get all sweaty, and the words he wanted to say would evaporate before he could speak.

it became a routine – nicholas encouraging, euijoo hesitating. no matter how much he wanted to approach you, the thought of saying something and making a fool of himself kept holding him back.

nicholas, ever persistent, wouldn’t let up. "look, euijoo," he said one afternoon, pulling him aside after class, "if you don’t do something soon, someone else will. you don’t want to regret not taking your shot, do you?"

euijoo knew nicholas was right, but every time he tried to gather the courage, he felt like he was standing at the edge of a cliff, too afraid to jump.

┈┈・୨ ✦ ୧・┈┈

one afternoon, in the final week of lectures before exam season would hit with full force, euijoo found himself sitting in the cafeteria, eating his lunch with nicholas while grumbling about the little time they had between lectures and exams, which left them hardly any opportunity to study in peace.

"euijoo," nicholas interrupted his best friend's rant, when he spotted you at a table. usually, you'd sit with your friends, but this time, you were all by yourself. he titled his head in your direction, instructing euijoo to look your way.

"she's alone, that's your chance," he encouraged him yet another time to approach you. the younger opened his mouth to object, but nothing came out – you weren't surrounded by your friends, you weren't rushing to your next class; he didn't have any excuses this time.

"what's the worst that can happen?" nicholas pressed.

the worst that can happen? him making a total fool of himself? you rejecting him? maybe even making fun of him? or worse, ignoring him?

despite the doubts swirling in his mind, he pushed his chair back, stood up on slightly wobbly knees, and walked over to your table. he didn't understand where his confidence came from, but as quickly as it did, it fled his body again, when someone else approached you first.

he stopped dead in his tracks, watching as kei, known as one of the best athletes on the college's team, sat down next to you, greeted you with a gentle kiss on your cheek, and wrapped his arm around your waist to pull you just a little closer.

euijoo's heart dropped. he felt stupid. so, so stupid. of course you had a boyfriend. why would a girl like you not have a boyfriend?

he turned around, hoping that the way he had stood there, as usual, just went unnoticed by everyone. he slowly went back to the table he shared with nicholas and sank down in his chair, shoulders slumped and eyes stuck to his still half-full plate.

a hint of worry washed over nicholas's face as he saw euijoo's expression. he intentionally hadn’t observed the approach, wanting to spare euijoo from feeling scrutinized, but now he couldn’t help but feel a pang of guilt for not knowing if he could have jumped in to help. "what happened?" he asked softly, not sure if he'd even get a reply.

euijoo just shook his head, not lifting his gaze. "nothing. she's with kei," he replied silently.

nicholas slightly bit his bottom lip, watching as his best friend picked up his chopsticks again to pick at his food. "shit... i'm sorry, i had no idea," he mumbled, although knowing it wouldn't help anyhow.

again, euijoo shook his head slightly. "it's fine. it was delusional to think she'd be single anyways."

┈┈・୨ ✦ ୧・┈┈

for the first time since he'd started college, euijoo felt genuinely thankful for the stress that came with exam season. he'd get to spend his time studying, sometimes until late at night, and whenever he finally closed his books, he was too exhausted to think about how he felt.

although nicholas tried his best to convince euijoo to take more breaks, the younger thrived on the distraction that studying brought about. it was a little ridiculous anyway, he tried to convince himself. he couldn't seriously be upset that his hallway crush had a boyfriend. after all, he didn't even know you, and now he was sure it would stay that way. so why be upset about it?

still, euijoo was happy when the last exam was done, a wave of relief washing over him. he knew he'd head back to his home country to spend the summer break with his family, and he was certain that by the time he'd return to college, he'd be fully unbothered by you.

during the summer break, euijoo found comfort in returning home, where life felt familiar and calm. being surrounded by family and catching up with old friends brought a sense of ease, and he could finally relax and clear his head.

each day that passed, the thought of you slipped further from his mind. it felt ridiculous, really – how a brief, one-sided crush had thrown him off so much. by the time summer neared its end, euijoo felt lighter. the idea of going back to campus no longer felt stressful.

he’d be fine; that's what he told himself. if he saw you again, so be it. but this time, he'd be walking back onto campus in control of his emotions.

his resolve lasted exactly one day.

he had almost made it throughout the first day of classes without running into you. one last class and he'd head to finally meet up with nicholas to catch up about the summer.

he found a spot near the middle of the room and settled in, pulling out his notebook and glancing around casually as the rest of the students trickled in. just as he was about to pull out his phone, the door opened again, and a familiar laugh echoed through the room.

his heart stopped for a moment, his hand freezing halfway to his pocket.

he didn’t even have to look to know it was you. that laugh – it was the same one that had derailed his focus for weeks last semester. and against his better judgment, he glanced up. there you were, walking in with a friend, that warm energy surrounding you like a halo. euijoo’s breath caught in his throat. you hadn’t noticed him, but he sure as hell noticed you. all the progress he thought he’d made over the summer crumbled in an instant.

he quickly looked down at his notebook, gripping his pen tighter than necessary, mentally scolding himself for how easily his resolve had vanished. stay calm, he told himself. it’s just one class. you’ll survive.

the professor began speaking, announcing the outline for the semester and the project that would take up the majority of their time, continuing with a speech on the importance of teamwork, but euijoo barely listened. had you gotten more beautiful over summer? was that even possible?

"i don't want any bickering on who's working with who, so i'll call out pairs. i expect everyone to work together efficiently," the professor continued, "raise your hand when your name is called so your partner can find you."

euijoo zoned out, still trying to push you from his mind, repeating a mantra to himself that everything was fine, that this would all blow over soon.

"byun euijoo and–" the professor called out, snapping him back to attention, "– y/l/n y/n."

euijoo scanned the room while hesitantly raising his hand.

his heart dropped. he could almost feel the air leave the room.

you had raised your hand. for a second, you seemed to look around, processing the pairing before your gaze settled on him.

slowly, as if in a daze, he looked up, meeting your eyes for the first time. it felt like time had slowed down, like every sound in the lecture hall faded away except for the quiet hum of his own heartbeat in his ears. he could feel the heat rushing to his face, his head starting to spin, but he couldn’t tear his eyes away.

you smiled – a soft, polite smile, the kind you give someone you don’t really know but are about to work with for an entire semester. it wasn't much, but oh god, euijoo swore the world stopped for a second.

when you turned back toward the front of the class, he didn't even know if he'd returned the smile, if he'd nodded in acknowledgement, or if he'd done absolutely nothing.

throughout the entire class, it became increasingly obvious for euijoo that the weeks of distance had done nothing to change the way he felt about you. he found himself zoning out, replaying the tiny interaction between you again and again, or looking back to your seat for just a second before he forced himself to look away.

as the professor ended class, he started packing up his things, and took a deep breath. he knew he'd had to talk to you now. and although techincally, he had prepared for that moment so long during the last semester, he felt himself hesitating yet again.

he tried to remind himself that it was just for the project and that there was no way he could ridicule himself now.

euijoo took a deep breath, trying to steady himself as the class began to filter out. his palms felt sweaty, and his heart raced faster with every step that brought him closer to where you were gathering your things. his mind raced with a thousand ways to approach the conversation, yet none of them seemed right.

as if sensing his approach, you glanced up from your bag, your eyes meeting his for the second time that day. that soft smile appeared again – this time with a hint of curiosity, and euijoo nearly forgot what he had planned to say. for a moment, the world felt too quiet, his nerves too loud.

"hi, euijoo, right?" you said, breaking the silence with an easy warmth. your voice was gentle, and somehow it felt like a small bit of relief to hear his name spoken so softly.

euijoo swallowed hard, blinking as if snapping out of a daze. "uh, yeah. that’s me." he managed a small, awkward laugh. "looks like we’re project partners."

you nodded, still smiling as you stood up. "looks like it. should we maybe set up a time to meet and figure out a plan?"

it was such a simple question, and yet euijoo’s heart felt like it was racing a marathon. he quickly nodded, trying not to let his nerves show. "yeah, sure. uh... maybe at the library? it’s usually quieter there." he didn't know how the hell he'd managed to sound so calm, but he felt a short pang of pride rush through him.

"perfect," you said, slinging your bag over your shoulder. "how about tomorrow afternoon?"

"tomorrow sounds good," euijoo replied, his mind scrambling for something else to say – something that wasn’t awkward or strange. his fingers fidgeted with the straps of his own backpack as he added, "uh, we can exchange numbers too? you know, to coordinate."

you smiled again, and euijoo could almost feel the tension melting away, though his pulse was still thrumming in his ears. "sure yes. just type in your number."

you handed him your phone, almost brushing his fingers with yours in the process, and he just hoped you didn't hear how his breath hitched. he quickly typed his number in and handed it back to you with a sheepish grin. "there you go."

"great! i’ll text you so we can figure out the details. see you tomorrow, euijoo."

with one last smile, you turned and headed toward the door, leaving euijoo standing there, his mind still trying to process the fact that not only had you smiled at him – twice – but now you had his number. sure, it was only for a project, and his chest still felt tight, his knees were still slightly shaky, but a strange sense of accomplishment settled over him.

"what took you so long?" nicholas frowned at his best friend as he finally approached their usual spot at the lawn.

euijoo plopped himself down next to him, hoping that the blush on his cheeks had faded by now, but nicholas was already eyeing him suspiciously.

“uh… nothing,” euijoo said, scratching the back of his neck. but the smile that kept creeping onto his face as his mind went back to the reason of his delay gave him away completely.

nicholas narrowed his eyes. “that is not a ‘nothing’ face. what happened?”

euijoo let out a long sigh, leaning back on his hands. “you remember that girl… the one from last semester?” he started, feeling his face flush slightly as he spoke.

"the one you swore you were over?" nicholas chimed in, an amused tone lacing his voice and a smirk tugging at his lips.

euijoo sighed, scratching the back of his neck. “i never swore anything,” he mumbled.

nicholas’s smirk only widened. “right. so what happened? did you see her?”

euijoo took a deep breath, feeling almost embarrassed at how easily he’d been caught. “she’s… in my class."

nicholas’s eyes lit up. “wait, her? she’s in your class?”

the younger nodded, his voice a little quieter now. “actually... we’re partnered up for the semester project.”

nicholas’s jaw dropped in exaggerated surprise, his smirk growing into a full grin. “no way. the girl you were practically obsessed with is now your project partner?”

“obsessed is a strong word,” euijoo protested, though he couldn’t deny that it wasn’t too far from the truth.

the older leaned in, eyes gleaming with mischief. "you do realize that this is the chance you've been waiting for, right?"

euijoo groaned, although he'd lie if he said he didn't allow himself to entertain that thought for a second. "it's not a chance, nico. she's taken, remember? i'm not going to try anything."

nicholas raised an eyebrow, clearly unconvinced. "you cannot know that. maybe they broke up," he said, to which euijoo just shot him a pointed look that told him this was the end of their conversation.

┈┈・୨ ✦ ୧・┈┈

in the following weeks, you and euijoo met regularly to work on the project. though the workload was tiring, the way your minds seemed to complement each other perfectly made the process surprisingly smooth. it seemed like you could finish all of his thoughts when he struggled, and he had all the answers to your questions.

it should have been a relief for euijoo, knowing the project wasn't going to be impossible to handle, but instead, it only made things more complicated for him. your sharp insights and ideas left him even more captivated, as he realized that beyond your pretty face that still left him breathless, and the energy you carried, you were also incredibly smart. it felt almost too much to handle.

during the time you spent together, he couldn't help but notice little things about you that he hadn't seen from the distance. like the way your brows furrowed slightly when you were concentrated, or the way you tapped your pen on your chin when you were thinking. all of these things, no matter how simple or seemingly meaningless, somehow only carved the place he had reserved for you in his heart a little deeper. it felt like every new thing he learned about you warmed his chest more.

he'd catch himself smiling whenever he'd watch you just a little too long while you were busy typing on your laptop, and he got used to quickly looking down or pretending to search something in his backpack every time he felt the all too familiar heat rushing to his cheeks.

it was a miracle, really, how you hadn't caught on yet. at least that's what nicholas said – that everyone could clearly see the way euijoo was so obviously, helplessly in love.

"you got it bad, huh?" he had asked one time he met euijoo after your scheduled study session at the library. but the younger had just quickly shrugged it off with a mumbled, "shut up."

of course, working with you didn't only bring warmth and nervouseness that had by now grown to feel almost comfortable. it also brought hard, almost cruel, reminders of the one-sidedness of his feelings. of how you weren't his.

there was that pretty necklace you wore – one with a small gem – that he was certain kei had gifted to you. it hung around your neck like a constant reminder that you belonged to someone else.

there was kei who'd come to pick you up from the library when you finished whatever you had planned for that day, so you wouldn't have to go home alone. euijoo was glad to know there was someone who made sure you got home safely, but hell, he would be that someone too.

every time he saw you smiling at your boyfriend's arrival, the brightness in your eyes sent a flutter through euijoo's heart, only to be swiftly replaced by the reminder of how happy you were with him. it felt like a punch to the gut, and he’d quickly look away, embarrassed by the way his heart ached.

the confidence kei radiated made euijoo feel almost small. kei seemed to be everything he was not, and even the thought of ever standing a chance felt ridiculous.

sometimes, while working on the project, you would receive a text from your boyfriend, and euijoo couldn’t help but glance at your phone. he’d see the photo of the two of you together as your lock screen, and it would make his chest tighten uncomfortably.

whenever you’d smile at your phone while typing a quick reply, it was like a dagger in his heart; you were so genuinely happy, and he felt foolish for still liking you when he knew damn well that you were taken. he felt stupid for even letting himself dream about what it would be like to be the one making you smile like that.

┈┈・୨ ✦ ୧・┈┈

one afternoon when euijoo arrived to the library, he found you at your usual spot, already immersed in the book in front of you and taking notes here and there. he pulled out his phone, slight panic washing over him. was he late? no. 4:30pm – he wasn't late.

"hey," he greeted gently after approaching the table, careful to not startle you. you looked up from the book and your eyes met his for a second. he didn't know how many times you had held eye-contact with him already, but it still made his knees wobble like it was the first.

"hey," you greeted back with a soft smile, and he swore his heart skipped a beat or two.

"i'm not late, am i?" euijoo asked after sitting down across from you, taking out his supplies but never leaving your gaze.

"no, no, don't worry," you shook your head, "i just uh... had nothing to do, so i figured i could start already. here look," you handed him your paper of notes and, yet again, reading your ideas and understandings of the text almost stunned him.

you continued working together until you reached the goal you had set for the day. when euijoo packed up his things, he tried to mentally prepare himself to see kei, his stomach filling with nervous premonition. but he didn't catch any sight of him.

he watched as you finished packing your bag, and he swore your eyes scanned the library too – just for a second, before you quickly glanced down to your phone, biting your bottom lip just the tiniest bit.

"isn't uh... isn't kei coming?" euijoo asked, his tone careful, almost shy.

he saw a hint of something flash through your eyes – something he couldn't quite name, but it vanished as quickly as it came. you shook your head. "i'm going alone today," you responded, offering a slight smile.

euijoo couldn't help but feel that something was up. he would have loved to be there to listen if his intuition was right, but he knew he wasn't in the position to ask.

"i can walk you home," he blurted out the offer before his brain could even finish processing the thought. he mentally cursed himself, when he saw your slight smile. it looked different from your usual bright, friendly smiles – it looked more forced, not really reaching your eyes.

"sorry, that was a stupid idea," he added, his voice a little quieter now. his mind started racing. had he made you uncomfortable? was it weird for him to suggest keeping you company outside of the project?

"it wasn't," you replied equally quiet, yet you cut through the thoughts that had started clouding his mind. "i'll be fine, but i appreciate it... thanks, euijoo." the volume of your voice decreased until all that was left was another, almost shy but this time more genuine smile from you.

euijoo lingered for a moment, his bagpack slung over his shoulder, still standing at the table as you looked back down at your phone. he gave a small nod, even though you weren't looking, and quietly left the library, his mind replaying the brief conversation over and over.

the following week, you canceled the study session last minute. it was the first time you had done so, and euijoo felt an odd twinge of concern. he didn't pry, didn't want to dig deeper, but he couldn't shake the feeling that something wasn't quite right.

when you rescheduled for the week after, euijoo's intuition only grew stronger; he could clearly sense something was off. you seemed quieter, more in thought than usual. during the session, your eyes occasionally drifted away from the book, your notes, and even from him, as if you were miles away.

it wasn’t until euijoo noticed the absence of your necklace that a deeper worry settled into him. you had absentmindedly reached for it, your fingers grazing your collarbone, but when they found nothing, you quickly pulled your hand away.

“hey,” he asked softly, “is everything okay?”

your eyes met his, surprised by his question, but you gave a small shrug, your lips pressing into a thin line. "yeah, it's fine."

euijoo knew better than that by now, and he wanted to help, but he also didn’t want to push too hard. he hesitated for a moment before softly offering, “you know... if you ever want to talk... i’m here.”

you gave him a longer look this time, something unreadable in your eyes. and then, after a brief pause, you exhaled, leaning back in your chair. “i broke up with kei.”

euijoo felt his breath catch in his throat. what? he hadn't expected you to tell him. not so quickly, and not this. the name hit the air between you both, hanging there for a moment.

"i... i'm sorry," was all he managed to say. he wasn't sure how to choose his words, but he wanted to comfort you. "that... must be hard."

you nodded slightly, looking down at your hands, your voice soft. "it’s been coming for a while, i guess. he’s been distant, and i should’ve known, but... yeah." euijoo could feel his heart crack at the hint of sadness in your voice.

he felt the urge to reach across the table, maybe take your hand or offer some kind of physical comfort, but he stopped himself. he knew the boundaries well, and he didn't want to overstep. instead, he gave you a warm smile, hoping that would soothe your pain – that it would somehow be enough.

“thanks for telling me,” he said gently. he wanted to say more, to be a better source of comfort. but he sensed that he shouldn't press further, that you didn't want to talk about it now. "if you need anything… i’m here.”

you didn’t say anything for a moment, but then you gave a small, genuine smile – one that felt more like you. "thanks, euijoo."

in the following weeks, the two of you returned to your routine of project work. you both focused on your work, talking when necessary but mostly just working comfortably in each other’s presence.

euijoo began bringing you your usual coffee, not making a big deal out of it, just setting it down next to your books with a small remark like, "i thought that might help to cheer you up a little."

and while you thanked him casually each time, those gestures began to tug at something inside you. you found yourself looking forward to seeing him, not because of the free coffee but because of him – the way he always seemed to know when you needed a break, the quiet understanding he brought with him. his presence felt like a comforting anchor in the storm that had been your breakup.

one time, you looked up to thank him, your eyes meeting his, and for a second, you held the gaze. for the first time, you noticed how his brown hair fell slightly over his eyes, how his smile reached them in a way that felt warm, inviting. your heart gave a tiny flutter that you immediately brushed off. euijoo sat down, pulling out his notebook, but you could feel his presence in a way that felt more heightened than usual.

as time passed, you started seeing things you'd never noticed before, like the way his eyes lit up when he was explaining something he seemed passionate about, or the way he'd always look down for a second when he smiled shyly. you tried to focus on the project, but your mind wandered – drifting back to the small moments where you found yourself lingering on him. you began to notice how his kindness, patience, and quiet support filled you with a gentle warmth that spread through you in a comforting way.

yet, each time you felt that warmth in your chest, you quickly dismissed it. it was too soon. you had just started getting over kei; the last thing you needed was to rush into something else.

but euijoo made it so easy. you were falling for him, you knew it. and he made that fall feel so effortless, almost natural – filled with a mixture of comfort and anticipation.

┈┈・୨ ✦ ୧・┈┈

"please, euijoo," you begged, pouting your lips slightly, hoping that this would help you succeed in your attempt to persuade euijoo to join a party that a fellow student hosted to celebrate the end of the semester.

he opened his mouth to object, but, oh god, you were just too adorable to resist. he actually felt like he'd combust if you didn't stop pouting anytime soon, so he gave in. "fine, but only for two hours."

you smiled brightly, still catching euijoo off guard like the very first time he saw you smile. oh how he wished he could tell you just how much that smile meant to him.

throughout the second half of the semester, you two had somehow bonded, feeling a little less awkward and a little more comfortable around each other – conversations flowing with ease, even for euijoo. but despite nicholas's (unsuccessful) attempts to encourage euijoo to finally tell you about his feelings, the latter didn't want to ruin the comfort you had just found in each other. if that was the closest he could get to you, then he'd settle for that.

when you arrived to the party hours later that day, people were already gathering in the small place, chatting and drinking, and some even danced. you felt embraced by the warmth of euijoo's body next to you, although the two of you didn't touch. but it felt comfortable, somewhat safe.

you grabbed some drinks from the kitchen before pushing through the growing crowd of people, euijoo's hand softly staying on the small of your back as if to not lose you. your skin buzzed in the spot where his hand rested, but you tried to shrug the feeling off.

you spent your evening reminiscing about the past semester, laughing here and there at funny stories either of you had to tell.

as the evening wore on, the party around you grew louder, drawing you a little closer to each other, leaning in a bit more whenever the other said something. you hadn’t touched since euijoo’s hand had briefly rested on your back earlier, but you could still feel the ghost of it. now, so close to him, the thought kept drifting to the back of your mind, no matter how much you tried to focus on the conversation.

when you couldn't hear each other anymore, not even after leaning in unnervingly close, you exchanged a look, a silent understanding passing between you. without a word, you both quietly slipped out to the balcony.

the sudden quiet was soothing. you both leaned against the railing, the city lights glowing softly below, the distant sounds of the streets below grounding the moment.

neither of you spoke for a while, but the silence wasn’t uncomfortable. it felt more like a necessary pause. you could feel the weight of euijoo’s presence next to you, close enough that his arm almost brushed yours, but not quite.

after a few more beats of silence, euijoo shifted slightly, his hand brushing against the railing, fingers curling around it before he turned to you. his eyes found yours, and he didn't know if that was what pushed him, or if it was the alcohol in his blood that made his head buzz softly.

“you know,” he started, “i’ve been meaning to tell you something.”

you blinked, the soft buzz in your own head making his words seem like they were suspended in the air, slow to sink in. “yeah?” you asked, feeling your heart pick up pace. now or never, your intoxicated mind told yourself, "me too."

euijoo blinked, a bit taken aback, and the confidence he had brought up from god knows where suddenly vanished. he swallowed, tightening his grip about the railing. "what is it?" he asked quietly, too scared to say what had been on his mind now that he didn't know what was on yours.

you slightly shook your head. "no, you go first."

he hesitated, the silence stretching between you to a point it started to feel almost unbearable. he wouldn't go first, you thought, so you opened your mouth to beat him to it. but just when you uttered those three words, he did the same.

"i like you," you both said in unison, the words hanging in the air between you, leaving an almost tangible shock in their wake.

for a split second, you both froze, wide-eyed. then, simultaneously:

"what?"

again, the word echoed in both of your voices. you could feel your cheeks warming, and before you could help it, a small, nervous laugh escaped you.

euijoo blinked, stunned for a heartbeat, before the tension broke and he chuckled too, his laughter soft but genuine. the sound of it sent a wave of warmth through you, easing the fluttering in your chest.

"i–" he started, still smiling but a little more serious now. he took a breath, steadying himself, before his eyes found yours again. "i've been wanting to say that for a while. longer than i probably should have."

his confession was soft, but it felt heavy with sincerity. his eyes searched yours for a reaction, and you felt your heart flutter again.

you smiled, taking a step closer, feeling that familiar comfort in his presence. “i realized it recently,” you admitted quietly, “but… i can’t deny it anymore, either. being with you, it’s just… it feels... good."

euijoo’s gaze softened, and you could see the relief wash over his face, like the tension he’d been carrying for so long had finally lifted.

the space between you felt smaller now, filled with the weight of what had just been said.

for a moment, neither of you spoke. you just stood there, the city lights twinkling below. and then, as if it were the most natural thing in the world, euijoo took a small step forward, his hand reaching up gently, hesitantly, to brush a strand of hair away from your face.

your breath hitched as his hand lingered near your cheek, his touch light and careful, like he was waiting for permission. and with a small nod, you allowed him to close the distance that had always been between you – to finally kiss the lips that, with that laugh long ago, had captured him completely. <3

see my other works here | join my taglist here

#&team #&team x reader #andteam #luné #&team fluff #andteam x reader #byun euijoo #ej x reader #ej fluff #euijoo x reader #euijoo fluff

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slytherinshua · 25 days ago

Text

🏀　HOW TO APPROACH YOU　( 변의주 )

genre fluff , mutual pining , highschool au , euijoo x fem!reader cw i mean... property theft (reader steals ej's jersey) , ej is rly rly shy and oblivious tbh wc 1043 request @fae-renjun for euijoo + stolen jersey for the 3k event note tbh i didnt' know how to feel about this after i finished writing it. i was gonna rewrite it completely to be est rs instead but after rereading it this morning i was like eh its not that bad?? but i still don't know lol it is what it is ig net @lune-net @kstrucknet

Euijoo liked you. You were aware of this fact. You also liked Euijoo. Euijoo was not aware of this fact.

He was on the basketball team, and you showed up to every game just to watch him. Mesmerized by the way he moved on the court, guiding the ball to the net with ease, scoring dozens of points for his team without breaking a sweat. He was the MVP. You were his biggest fan.

Euijoo never tried to talk to you, despite your attempts to approach him. You would take your chances sometimes after games, sometimes before class, and on rare occasions, during lunch when Euijoo wasn’t in the gym shooting hoops. He was too nervous to talk to you, and even more blushy when you talked to him. His friends teased him about it, but you just found it cute.

The only thing that bothered you was how oblivious he was to your feelings. Weren’t you being obvious enough that you liked him? You wanted to wait until he asked you out, but the more you waited, the more you felt like he had absolutely no guts to do it. At least, not without a push.

Given your propensity for impatience, you weren’t willing to give the boy of your dreams all the time in the world to become yours, so you came up with a plan. There weren’t many things that could force Euijoo to talk to you. However there was one item that you realized would perfectly force the boy to approach you. His lucky team jersey.

You needed to somehow acquire it, though, which is where Nicholas came to your rescue. Another player on the basketball team and Euijoo’s best friend. He knew how much Euijoo liked you, and upon hearing of your plan, he was more than happy to assist.

Nicholas delivered the freshly washed jersey to you the following day. It was an orangey red with white bold letters spelling BYUN across the back. You put it on immediately, getting distracted by the lingering scent of Euijoo for a second (he smelled like oranges). This particular jersey was important to Euijoo. He wore it every time he won a game, and one could tell based on the slightly faded colour of it. Whenever he switched it out with a different jersey, he would lose. It was his good luck charm.

Now that you had it, the next phase of your plan— get Euijoo to notice you wearing your jersey— was a go.

Your hope was, after noticing that his jersey was missing and seeing you wearing the jersey, he would ask for it back. He needed it to play for practice and season finals. You were practically forcing him to talk to you, and hopefully, you could bait him into asking you out too.

But you had underestimated Euijoo’s shyness, as well as his non confrontational attitude. He saw you wearing the jersey to class, in the hallways, and at lunch. He didn’t just see, he stared. Eyes glued to your figure wherever you went.

You thought your plan was surely going successfully. He would approach you at any time and demand it back, and then you would hit him with a smooth not until you ask me out.

But… Euijoo was Euijoo. And he would not approach you.

He went to practice without the jersey, adorning another one with a much brighter orangey red colour. He played horribly, and got a few strict words about it from his coach. You watched it all happen, the missing jersey hidden under your hoodie. Euijoo spared you a few extra glances that day at practice. You only smiled at him.

The end of the season was quickly drawing near, and the most important game with it. A full month after you had pocketed Euijoo’s jersey. Still not a word about it from the boy. You knew he would have to ask you soon, though. He needed it for the game.

Thursday morning, one day before the game, he finally stopped you at your locker.

“Have you seen my jersey, Y/n?” he asked. He almost sounded too genuine and oblivious. You were confused. He knew you had his jersey. Why would he ask like that? You rolled with it, though.

“Is this what you’re looking for?” You pulled up your sweater, revealing the jersey you wore underneath, immediately recognizable by the number 8 on it. Heat crept up Euijoo’s neck.

“I… I kinda need it for tomorrow’s game.”

“Why? You have others just like it,” you said, hoping the work you put in would lead somewhere.

“It’s just that particular jersey is special—“

“—cause you always win games in it?” you completed for him, causing him to let out a breath of relief he didn’t know he was holding.

“Yeah. You get it. So, can I have it back?”

“Will it be okay? It smells like my perfume now,” you told him, smiling slightly as you watched him get flustered again at the thought. You really should have stopped teasing him ages ago, but he was just too cute not to. You fully intended to give it to him in the end, though. A few more minutes of seeing his cute flushed face wouldn’t hurt.

“It’ll be fine,” he promised. You nodded with a smile. Euijoo could feel his heart beating in his chest. He was so sure this was the fastest it had ever raced. No amount of adrenaline from basketball could get him this worked up. “Can I have it back now?”

“Only if you take me on a date,” you said smoothly. Euijoo’s eyes practically bulged out, trying to process if he had heard you right.

“A date? With me?”

“Yes. With you. You really haven’t caught on by now?”

“Huh?”

You couldn’t help but laugh at his obliviousness and how adorable his confused face was. Euijoo felt like he was floating on the clouds, no longer on this earth. Perhaps he was dreaming, and he would soon wake up to realize that this was all a figment of his imagination. There was just no way the girl he had been crushing on for so long was asking him for a date.

“I like you, stupid.”

&team taglist (bolded could not be tagged): @eternalgyu,, @kpoprhia,, @weird-bookworm,, @candewlsy,, @blossominghunnie,,

@seunghancore,, @sobun1est,, @bananabubble,, @talkingsaxy,, @talking-saxy,,

@nicholasluvbot,, @hursheys,, @loserlvrss,, @voikiraz

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3vergr3en · 8 months ago

Note

hi! I love your work! I noticed you've been a fan of eujoo lately... me too :,) if you have time or are interested, how do you think the andteam members would act when they have a crush? thank you!

❥ How &Team would react to having a crush on you

(🥐) PAIRING . OT9 x fem!reader

(🥞) A/N . ANON. I LOVE YOUUU. and thank you so much for requesting this !! and yesss, byun euijoo has all I've been thinking about (he's so cute that I'm getting pissed off.)

(🍮) ADDITIONAL INFO . everything below is just cutesy filth.

Koga Yudai - K

hes actually quite shy surprisingly.

you'd expect him to be all like, "I like you!!" when he first realized that he thought more of you than just a friend.

but he's actually quite sheepish when it comes to you.

one glance from you has his heart pounding in his chest.

or one 'hi, yudai!' has his knees buckling.

he tries to make himself look and act perfect when being around you, deathly afraid of any mishaps happening bc all he wants is for you to think that he's cool :(

but he's so busy trying to perfect himself, that he fails to do the part where you had to be yourself.

"Yudai. You didn't need to do all of that if you wanted to impress me. You could've just asked me out." You smile fondly, combing back his curtain bands with your hand.

"I messed up my chance, didn't I?"

"Not yet."

Murata Fuma - Fuma

honestly not surprised when realizing.

he loves having you around with him and the guys,

or when you ask him to come over to help with some appliances.

He doesn't mind fixing them bc not only does he get to see you more, but he also doesn't want your place collapsing on you <3

you're independent, funny, and super sweet to anyone around you.

who wouldn't like you?

When he decided to go tell you,

he's SUPER straightforward.

"Y/n, the reason why I asked you to come see me today was because.. I found myself having feelings for you than I would for just a friend."

He knows what he wants, and he acts on it. he hates beating around the bush. (which is so attractive btw)

If he can have you as his now, why would he want to wait any longer?

"Oh! I.. wasn't expecting you to be so straightforward about it. Usually guys would just--"

"Well, I'm not like them." He chuckles, "I'm a man who knows how to treat a woman right."

Don't gotta say anymore, you're already planning a date with him.

(and possibly your guys's future together)

Wang Yixiang - Nicholas

he first realized he had a crush on you when the smallest things you'd usually do for him, start to have more of an effect on him.

like asking him if he had eaten yet, or grabbing an extra umbrella for him when it was going to rain.

YOU thought you were delusional-- no, HE'S delusional.

'she thought about me. omg, she wants me so bad, its embarrassing for her.'

NO. it's embarrassing for YOU, yixiang.

but he doesn't tell you right away, although his ways of showing that are teasing you even more than usual.

"no one wants to see you chowing down that, like calm down, no ones gonna take it from you." He snickers, finding joy in you glaring daggers at him.

"and no one wants to see that ugly face of yours, but hey, unfortunately, we all can't have what we want."

God. He's gonna marry you one day.

One day.

Byun Euijoo - Ej

SOOO shy whenever you walk into the room.

"Hi juju!" You greet happily, a bright smile over taking your face.

"Oh-! Uhm, hi.." He responds, a faint smile appearing on his lips.

HES SO AWKWARD THAT ITS CUTEEEE.

he's terrified that if the guys stopped talking, everyone, especially you, would hear his heartbeat drumming in his chest.

he truly finds you the most beautiful girl he's ever laid eyes on, and unfortunately, Nicholas has to hear all about his fanboy behavior.

"Euijoo, buddy." The older clears his throat as his hand grasps euijoo's shoulder, "If you won't tell her, I will."

"You wouldn't.." Euijoo trails off, a hint of betrayal was clear in his tone.

But the more he thought about it, the more he realized that nicholas may not be joking.

"wait-- no, I-I'll tell her, okay?"

and surprisingly, he did.

you found it adorable btw when he confessed his feelings.

he was fumbling over his words and unintentionally avoided direct eye contact the whole time.

he was just so nervous :((

"juju, you're so cute. you know that, right?"

"ah.. really? thank you then 😊"

Nakakita Yuma - Yuma

honestly, i feel like he would be in denial at first.

BUT NOT IN A BAD WAY.

just more of a, 'what if she doesn't like me back? I don't want to ruin our friendship' type of denial.

So, he tries to suppress them.

How did that turn out?

He barely lasted a couple hours before going out to your place for dinner.

and you greeted him with open arms and a warm smile.

It took him some time to process that newfound feeling.

With the help of responsible fuma and surprisingly taki (I know. but I think that boy has some good advice), he was convinced to tell you how he truly felt.

"You know, make sure you're clear, okay? Don't be vague or ambiguous." Fuma hums, patting the boy's shoulder.

"But like, also be mysterious too! Girls dig that." Taki chimes in.

(okay, perhaps I take that back.)

Asakura Jo - Jo

shy boi #2

he would want to spend more time with you, actually.

I mean yes, he is afraid to confess because he fears rejection.

but like, he cares about you too much to be distant.

so he just accepted it and opted to spend his last few times with you as a friend until you eventually let him off.

but it kept going for longer and longer.

he questioned why. maybe you were just oblivious to his obvious crush on you?

Nope. You weren't oblivious.

You knew right from the get-go that Jo might've felt a different way.

How?

His more frequent visits, asking questions about hypothetically dating a guy who so happens to perfectly fit the description of him.

He's so cute.

Shigeta Harua - Harua

shy boi #3

but he's the most composed out of all the members (besides fuma)

He hides it so well because he makes it look like nothing changed about him.

but even if he doesn't show, he feels it ALL internally.

and poor you, you don't even notice at all.

"Harua! Want to go to this restaurant that just opened recently?"

"Oh,, as in, like a uh.."

"Like in what?" You question, attention focused on your phone that holds the restaurant's website in.

"Ah, nothing. Let's go!" He smiles, watching you slip on your shoes.

I'll tell her one day.

Takayma Riki - Taki

HES SO PAINFULLY OBVIOUS, OML.

hes quite literally like a clingly puppy around you.

"Y/n! Where do you want to go today?" He'd question, eyes wide in anticipation.

"Oh, I was actually planning to stay home and just watch some TV-"

"I'll come accompany you!"

"Thanks.. Taki." You giggle, admiring his devotion to you.

"Should we get matching pj's for our sleepover?" Taki suggests.

"Oh, since when did I say you were sleeping over?"

But when you see that pout, you feel some heart strings being pulled.

"Okay, okay. Fine. Yes, you can stay the night-- but NO matching pajamas.. yet."

"THERE'S A YET?!"

Hirota Maus Riki - Maki

just like K, he tries to play it cool.

But he doesn't go all out like the other.

He's actually hidden it pretty well, just like Harua.

You guys already established a friendship that deals with a lot of skinship.

You guys pretty much act like a couple, just without the title.

It's no surprise that either one of you starts to form a crush.

It's so normal, it just felt right.

But to his surprise, you were the one to confess first--

completely taking him off guard.

"Wait- no! I was going to tell you first!"

"Well, you took too long."

"I was literally going to tell you 10 seconds ago."

"Yeah right."

"..."

"Want to go get some Ice cream?" Maki suggests, raising an eyebrow.

"Um, duh."

(all of the boys coo how cute you guys are <33)

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