#chewing on her as an act of revenge as i type this

[dogboymortis]

my friend @ me just now: you know will toledo but have you met won't columbus?

[aihoshiino]

I can't wait for you analysis for chapter 161 :] Just finished reading through it and I'm just *feral bite like a small dog aggressively playing with their chew toy regarding Aqua*

Do you have any predictions regarding how the fallout of the chapter will go/the ending of the series?

I HOPE YOU ENJOYED IT WHEN IT WENT UP, ANON!!!

I keep saying I'm not gonna predict the ending of OnK because Aka could do licherally anything then my gears get turning lol. So here's some of my tinfoil hatting off the back of this chapter:

The imagery in Mephisto has me pretty certain Aqua will be going into the sea (he is Aqua'marine' after all……..) but I do also think there's a possibility that either or both of them won't go over. Building on Kamiki's declaration of 'doing something' for Ai, he could decide to push Aqua back as a final act of atonement to her, saving her son even at the cost of his life. They could be struggling at the fence, and Kamiki's very pointedly dropped cell phone still playing the B-Komachi concert could end up catching Aqua's attention and, as a representation of the future he wants to have, it causes him to finally give up on sacrificing himself.

HOWEVER, like I said, I do think Aqua will go into the sea and I think his doing so will be a metaphorical purification-by-water. It'll be the moment he finally lets go of all his pain and baggage and at last accepts that he, too, is deserving of the happy ending he wants to achieve for everyone else.

This is less speculation and more a wish, but I really hope he gets one of those like. 'conversation with a ghost' type moments with ai, where it's ambiguous whether or not he's just dreaming/hallucinating because i NEED aqua to call her mama at least once WHAT'S THE POINT OF THIS MANGA IF HE DOESN'T!!! BRO!!!!

Broadly speaking, I think Aqua will experience a sort of 'spiritual death' as his revenge-seeking self and emerge purified and ready to embrace his future. But probably also to go to the hospital AQUA YOUR STAB WOUND!!! 😭

I do also have a shot I'm not quite confident in calling definitively but I think would be cool; I think it's possible that 'Gorou' will die in Aqua's place, taking the weight of their past life with him and finally allowing Aqua at last to just live as 'Aqua Hoshino'. I think it'd be a cool resolution to what Gorou says in 150 of him being an old scar gradually fading and how Aqua needs to step down from being 'Gorou Amamiya'.

As for the overall resolution... not sure! I'm pretty sure volume 17 will be the last volume of Oshi no Ko (161 should be the second to last chapter of 16 for those keeping count) and between 161 and 150, it seems pretty clear to me we're getting an AquKana end and that we'll eventually see Ruby performing at the Dome, but apart from that, Akasaka could sling anything at us. I do think things are going to wrap up more sweet than bitter, though.

[hypergamiss]

A co worker of mine told me a story about her friend who was chewed up and spit out by this European woman who just wanted American citizenship. They dated for 3 years, he bought a house for her, planned a wedding in less than a month, and in 3 weeks she had him served at his job with divorce papers. I guess, he's not taking it well at all. He's a 40 year old veteran who already had a messed up psyche from ptsd and what she did to him was the icing on the cake. My co worker said that he disappeared after she humiliated him and he's been hard to keep track of since then.

The gold digger in me is in awe of that woman's savagery but at the same time I low-key feel bad for him because she used the hell out of him. I'm really on the fence about it and I've been asking myself if I have the balls to pull off such an elaborate stunt and destroy someone's mental health and reputation like that. This woman is now making like $300k a year and had time to make up this whole plan while she was working on her advanced degree. She didn't even have the decency to leave town afterwards, she just bought a different house and he decided to move because he was so bothered by her proximity lol. She won the IDGAF wars for real lol.

Honestly, men do much much worse to women all the time and I admire her for putting her feelings aside and going after what she wanted. I've always struggled with not getting caught up in the emotions of my relationships with men and end up losing sight of why I even started entertaining them in the first place. I feel like if I learn to be this level of calloused and cold, then I will it pay off ten fold. what do you think?

Girl, omg. I have several thoughts about this.

I don’t know what she looks like, but I’m willing to bet she’s very attractive and confident. Probably the type to max out her looks. Sometimes I think a man can avoid this by being realistic and dating at his level. But no, some of them will value looks over everything and that’s the trend I see with “passport bros.” They pass up perfectly amazing women because they don’t take into account personality and then end up resenting the person they chose.

I don’t think I could pull that off and be that cold to a man unless I knew for a fact he wasn’t a good person. I’ve never had to pull elaborate stunts like that one but I’ve had my fair share of leveling the playing field. Most of us don't have that ice-queen persona ready to go. Maybe there's more to her story, or he REALLY messed up to spark that level of revenge.

I do agree men tend to do much worse and for once she came out on top in this situation, she never let go of her ambition and goals. I don’t necessarily think you have to be “cold” to get good outcomes in your relationships. I think it’s more about being emotionally “strong” to keep your boundaries in place and not taking men so seriously until they’ve shown you that they lead with their actions, not words. So many times I hear women say something along the lines of “he said he’s going to buy me a house, he said he’s getting me a ring, he said he’s going to do this and that, etc” and actually believe a man based on just his words. Sometimes they even decide to give a man a child just because he said he would do a million things without having done a single one yet. Words are just, literally WORDS. I can look into your eyes and tell you that you’re the most beautiful person I’ve ever laid my eyes on without ever actually meaning any of it.

I suggest gatekeeping your time and energy until men follow through with everything they say they will do, including treating you right. When they act right, you slowly give them more access to you. If they don’t follow through with their actions, you start to pull away. That’s it. My favorite is when they don’t even speak about what they’re going to do, they just literally do it by surprise and sweep you off your feet.

[spacedlexi]

have you watched tlou? thoughts?

ive made a few posts about it if u search tlou on my blog but i never made a final thoughts or anything

this kinda turned into a final thoughts ramble (essay) so under the cut it goes

honestly it kinda peaked for me at ep 3 (which was a REALLY good ep so the bar was high and i was mostly enjoying the changes up through that point),, i still liked it but i feel like some of the changes they made altered the impact of the og ellie/joel relationship. theyre dedicated to rewriting ellie to have some "violence" problem to attempt to set her up better for part 2 but i just hate that they actively have chosen to do this to her character. they took a lot of her sweetness away which is a huge shame to me. theyre so weird about ellie honestly i dont like the way they talk about her half the time these days i had to stop watching the bts because the way they kept talking about "violence" made me ill sick even. like you can still have your character have a "descent into madness" type plot after experiencing an extremely traumatic event (after a lifetime of traumatic experiences) without being weird about how "violent" people are. they love to throw that word around but they dont like to investigate Why exactly people are being violent and to Who. its typically just violence and/or revenge=bad 😐 (<-and that i think kinda leads into other problems i have with the plots they write in general)

i had less problems with joel. my only real problem was that they really played up the old thing a little much like save it for part 2 lol also not enough accent i didnt hear a single "elleh". i wasnt a fan of how they decided to change joel and tommys convo about ellie, and while i can appreciate it more now knowing that they still committed to portraying joels actions in the final episode as the selfish acts they are, and seeing joel have fears of failure makes sense because im sure he feels he failed as a parent, im still not a fan of how maria doesnt get to chew him out for his selfishness (important character moment of reflection on selfish behavior and consequences of actions on people around him), and how it changes the atmosphere of his and ellies argument when half of the reason he doesnt want to take her is because he feels too old and slow to protect her. and Then when he Does decide to take her its like? werent you crying last night about being slow and deaf and the impact that has on your combat ability? did that change? i understand why they added the lines they added but i dont feel like it made sense with how they continued to play out the episode with line for line scenes from the game...like these are two different things now. similar, but different enough to introduce problems where there didnt used to be. and then hes stabbed and dying 10 mins later

the pacing in general was a little iffy to me. it was only 9 episodes and 2 of them are separate from the main plot. that, plus rewriting existing characters/plots, plus not being able to fit in the more softer personal moments between joel and ellie that would just happen throughout a map(i know its hard to make watching 2 people walk cross country interesting but we needed more of those moments), plus ellie being preemptively hardened so we see less of her soft side slowly cracking through joels tough shell really impacted the believability of their relationship for me. we're supposed to see ellie become more hardened over the game but honestly in the show she always feels at the same level to me :/ those soft moments Are still there but i wouldve liked to have seen more of them. especially felt the loss of the scene where ellie sees real fireflies for the first time

the reason why i love the original last of us so much is because i think it is an INCREDIBLE character piece. every single character plays a very important role in shaping the development of the main two protagonists relationship (the two of which are Also impacting each other) over the course of the story. while i loved bill and franks ep, i wish they would have introduced a new character to fill the role that og bill left. because og bill was very important for joel. he was like a ghost of christmas future showing the man he could become if he continued to push people away. and throughout bills segment joel frequently pushes back against his ideas and this usually lent to a little bonding moment between him and ellie. but this also showed us that joel was open to new connections. whether he would get over his fear of that or not to be solved at a later date (ie: the tommy incident that was altered for the show and my problem with it because joels choice to take ellie after their argument is EVERYTHING and the show muddied it a bit). but by the time they leave bill, joel and ellie have begun building a true connection

sam and henry also suffered from this imo. by writing in all the kathleen stuff, it takes the focus away from how sam and henrys familial relationship is the foundation from which joel and ellies closer familial bond is allowed to grow (which also becomes a source of division when ellie wants to talk about what happened to them but joel wants to move on, which leads into their conflict during tommys section which boils down to more "talk about it vs move on"). i also feel like the story is weaker for choosing not to include the story of kyle and ish. because although it happens mainly through notes, its a story about letting yourself learn to trust new people and the things you can do with a strong community, its a story about how even though good things may come to an end, the time we had together was important and meaningful and WORTH IT and i wouldnt have done it any other way. id much rather focus more in on that as a theme (compounds with the riley/left behind segment/plus joels final act of selfishness) than whatever tf was going on with kathleen and her revenge plot. plus i thought the first game was all about "love" so why not go harder into these "light in the darkness" themes? kathleens plot is just a watered down part 2 anyway i still dont think we needed that :/

all my grievances aside however they Did stick the landing and i was so relieved plus i enjoyed the added anna segment. as someone whos played tlou like at least 10 times over the last decade plus watched others play, it was going to be impossible for me to not constantly be comparing the two. to be fair i think one of the strongest points of the show was how they really nailed how it felt to actually BE the player in these scenes that i had already played a hundred times myself. im sure this show was great for someone whos never played the game since a lot of my problems come from how they decided to do certain things for the show. i hope the people who enjoyed the show but havent experienced the game go watch a clip comp or something because i definitely believe the og game is still the best way to experience this story. video games also deserve more respect as an art form but thats a whooooole other conversation

i wish my opinion was stronger than 'it was fine overall with a couple solid episodes' but welp....definitely couldve been worse tho so im glad its at least as good as it is. it is good!! but the game is very near and dear to me so...i am biased but i tried to at least give it as fair a shake as possible. i think it started pretty strong. peaked with bill and frank. then dipped a little lower than the first ep. then picked back up to first eps strength again for the final stretch. the bill and frank and left behind eps were my favorite parts of the season. its a bit of a shame that the 2 eps that are most removed from the plot are the strongest to me, but also i guess it makes sense

[pb-loves-owls]

I keep thinking about probable old hexside crew adventures

and like what would be explored in them

like obvs Raine and Eda’s development together. but I’d love a lot of individual Raine development where we see them excel in classes. I can see them turning into the mysterious and cool new kid who just becomes popular outta nowhere. I can imagine them coming from a very pro-coven family. Raine I feel is one of those naturally gifted types of students who just do really good in everything (yall know the ones) but really only give a shit about the one. super smart kid. but painfully clueless. can not take a hint and can not lie in very situations. they’re also super sweet to p much everyone.

but Eda knows that they can’t be underestimated. they are much like actual boiling rain and will mess you up if need be. and they’ll look cute doing it!

but they also talk to Darius like “Eda called me cute and said I’m special to her but that doesn’t mean she likes me. I’m sure she says that to all her friends” “I’ve literally only seen her talk to you and her sister there’s zero other friends. Except maybe Perry but no one talks to Perry either.”

Alador and Odalia are the very annoying on-again-off-again couple who fight in public. they’re also the reason for a million of the PDA rules in hexside.

Lilith and Darius start hanging out more when their closest friends (Eda and Alador) start hanging out with their respective crushes/partners. It’s mostly to study but they develop a close bond. She acts like his big sister in a way.

Perry makes his way into the mix on accident. He has a small crush on Lilith because she’s been nice to him. He, Darius, and Lilith start studying together too.

The first bit of hijinks that the crew gets in is to break in to Principal Fausts office to burn the detention that he put in Lilith’s files, mucking her perfect record. Lilith had a whole meltdown from it and Eda is not having it. Seeing it all go down even causes the owl beast in her to spike. Raine is really quick to calm her by going “focus on comforting your big sis, let me do the revenge planning”.

the B plot however is Odalia, Darius, and Alador sleeping over at the school over a rumor about Grom coming out at night and wandering the halls. they basically bet that whoever stays last wins and the losers have to do the winners homework for a month.

Lilith obvs finds out about Eda and Raine’s plot and follows them to make sure they don’t get hurt.

they all find out Faust is sleeping at the school for some reason and is also worshipping Grometheus and starting a cult. Eda and Raine are the first to find out and proceed to freak the fck out.

The two find Darius, Alador, and Odalia in the abomination class. they give them the run down and now theyre all hiding from Faust. Lilith eventually finds them (they’re now in the school auditorium) and let’s them know that the authorities are on the way. she also chews Eda out for doing this.

But she can’t stay mad because she knows they can’t expect to hide and stay safe that way. so she devises a plan to essentially trap the cult.

Idk the plan but Eda would be taught a bard spell by Raine via finger snap. Alador would be able to show off how fast he can think things up, with help fortifying his inventions by Darius. and then Odalia summoning a shadow spirit and pretending it to be Grom.

By the end of it, Bump would be the new principal. He’d still give them all a weeks worth of work and community services but no need for the detention pit. and no need for anything to go on record.

[agentmaxa]

No Warning (Uswnt x Reader)

Sorry for mistakes. Please enjoy.

Y/n wasn’t particularly new to the national team, but when people knew Y/n was 20 and on the uswnt it wasn’t uncommon for them to be impressed.

 Also helping keep the kids and babies of the team in line while making sure no one died did make it seem like Y/n was as parental as some of the veterans.

Sometimes that was easier said than done.

Y/n was also reserved often observing rather than partaking in the mischief but Y/n did like scaring the pants off of people sometimes. Somehow Y/n had managed to find a balance with almost every teammate but there was one thing Y/n was surprised no one knew.

And it would have stayed that way if a team knew when to stop.

-----

The US national team and the England national team were booked in the same hotel for their upcoming match. Now normally this wouldn’t be a problem but some of the England players were still holding a grudge against the US for their loss last time they played each other.

And this meant that some players of the England team wanted to get inside the heads of the US and play mind games with them. Unfortunately, some players were willing to strike lower blows than were necessary so driven by the need to have the upper hand.

Some, more than not, just walked by US players while saying something loud enough for the intended people to hear and that was that.

Nothing could really be done but it was a slightly different story when they openly spoke or attack them face to face.

-----

Ali, Ash, Sonnett, Y/n, and Kelley were all enjoying their breakfast at a small coffee shop before practice when they spotted a pair of familiar faces. And it wasn’t a good familiar.

The two England players had unfortunately noticed the group, as well, knowing exactly what to do.

The group all seemed to silently agree to stand their ground and not leave just because of who showed up, instead going on with their meal.

Y/n’s body was tenser and ready to spring for some reason when the two walked by doing... nothing? They all seemed to look at each other curiously, hoping the two weren’t interested in playing with them like a chew toy.

Y/n was wrong to relax so soon because when the two got their coffees Y/n had noticed there was a third one and didn’t exactly like it.

And she know why then one of the women “accidentally” lost her balanced and “tripped”. Her very hot coffee had spilled all over Y/n’s lap, some of it even getting on her side.

Y/n jumped out of the seat, clenching her jaw in an attempt to keep silent, not wanting to draw more attention than necessary. The group had noticed Y/n’s sudden movements and for a moment they were all shocked at the scene in front of them.

The other England player didn’t even bother to hide her snickering, while the other acted like she didn’t know how to lie to save her life. Y/n was trying to clean herself as best she could, while sending all of them a warning glare that they needed to stay out of this, especially Ash and Kelley.

“Oh no, I’m soooo sorry miss. I hope the coffee didn’t hurt too much. I didn’t inconvenience you in any way, did I?” Y/n was tempted to give the woman a piece of her mind, but bit her tongue.

“No not at all. After all it was an accident.” Y/n’s smile was showing too many teeth for it to be friendly.

Turning to her teammates she said, “I’ll head back to the hotel to change, I’ll see you all at practice.” And with that Y/n walked off, only hoping that the four women didn’t seek some type of revenge.

-----

Y/n had decided to take a quick shower as well to make sure the coffee was off of her. Though the coffee had been so hot that Y/n’s skin was almost raw because of it and she’d need to see Dawn.

Hopefully, it wasn’t bad.

Y/n walked to where Dawn was normally, already prepared for practice so she could just head to the bus after. Knocking on the door the woman Y/n was seeking opened it with a very curious look when she saw Y/n.

“Got anything for possible liquid burns for hot coffee?”

Dawn allowed the woman in, going into her things. When Dawn found what she needed she inspected Y/n’s thighs and Y/n would be lying if it wasn’t a bit funny to see a somewhat-surprised Dawn.

“Who was messing around this time?”

Y/n sighed, “Sadly, no one you can make run extra laps. England player came by and you know how that’s been.”

When all the staff and players figured out the game England was playing and a lot of them didn’t like it one bit. But we all agreed to be classier than them and also agreed they wouldn’t retaliate. Unfortunately.

-----

After being treated with some skin-ointment, Y/n made her way to the team bus. Rather quickly stopped by a group of women she’d rather not see right now.

Standing before her was the England national team, Y/n was too fed up with them to count to see if the whole team was there but Y/n had some suspicions.

Y/n had tried walking past them but two girls shoved her back someone else saying, “You’re not getting away that easily, L/n.”

She had another suspicion that the England team wasn’t too happy with her especially being the main reason for their defeat, helping with two assists and also scoring a goal herself.

Y/n tried to walk past them yet again, but instead of being shoved back, she was shoved into the wall.

“Have you gone daft, L/n?”

“Maybe but I’ll tell you and your so-called national team something. Never in my life had I been so disgusted by how a team acts off the field. Do you even know what class and manners are?”

“Says you, I can’t even count the number of times I’ve been repulsed by you and your team. The entire team needs to be replaced if you want to win against us this time. Because half of you don’t even deserve a spot, Americans just want diversity.”

Y/n wanted to lunge at the player, but she was still being held to the wall by the other two, “You are walking on very thin ice there.”

“Aww did I hurt your feelings?”

The England girls let out laughs but they were cut short by footsteps walking down the hall. Y/n looked over and saw a few of the US staff members including Coach and Dawn.

“Come on guys, she’s not worth it. Besides we have until the match.” And with, that the girls left.

Dawn had moved by the side of the player, who was currently scowling at the back of the group. “Did they do anything to you?”

Y/n turned her attention to Dawn and said, “No, tried to mess with me. It wasn’t anything I couldn’t handle.”

-----

Ashlyn, Kelley, Ali, and Sonnett were the first people to make sure Y/n was okay after the incident at the coffee shop, and Y/n had explained to them what happened.

Even what the England team did.

Now all they wanted to do was send England off the field tails between their legs at the match that wouldn’t be happening for another 72 hours. But today was just practice. And England’s day off.

Somehow they had gotten seats, to watch the US practice.

That didn’t bother them much but the England players grew more annoying by the moment, at least to Y/n they did.

Y/n held back on the field because she didn’t want the rival team to know all her new moves, she had prepared to really humiliate the players.

And when practice was done and over with the England players couldn’t wait to embarrass Y/n.

As she was about to enter the tunnel she looked back to see if any of her teammates were heading to the locker room when she felt something being dumped on her.

Looking up to see the England players holding an upside-down trash bin.

Y/n maintained a neutral expression, even as the arrogant people called out, “We just thought the garbage should all stay in one place.” Before running off.

The trash had all the normal things in it, uneaten food, wrappers, cups, and even some mysterious liquid that hopefully came from a beverage.

Y/n didn’t wait for anyone, leaving to the locker room to get a change of clothes and used one of the showers there.

Y/n came out of the shower and put on all her clothes, putting on her sweatshirt as she entered the locker room, everyone looking at her questioningly.

“Y/n... you wouldn’t happen to know why there is trash all over the tunnel would you?” Alex was the first to talk about the elephant in the room.

“No, but the England team might, they thought garbage should belong with garbage. And before you all say anything, no we are not going after them. We are going to be better than them and show them on the field who the best team is.”

All of her teammates were in silent agreement with her, some more reluctant to not retaliate.

-----

Y/n woke up at an early hour, getting ready for the last practice before the US goes up against England.

Getting ready for the day Y/n headed down to the cafeteria seeing Ali and Ash already eating, slightly surprised to see Harris who normally tries to sleep in as much as she can.

She didn’t let that bother her though as her thoughts were more focused on how to beat England. In the most humiliating way possible.

Y/n sat down with her food, noticing none of the young players were up yet.

“You know you get this look in your eyes when your thinking about your siblings, right?”

Y/n looked to her side almost startled by Krieger’s voice. “Pardon?”

“You look more serious than normal when you’re thinking about the other babies on the team.”

“I was the actually oldest growing up, can’t help but worry about them sometimes.”

And Becky who had joined them added to the conversation,

“And some of us veterans can’t help but worry about you, Y/n. After all, it seems like you’re getting the brunt of the Brits. Anything serious with the coffee yesterday?”

Y/n should have known someone would tell the team, that’s just how things worked around here.

“No, the skin was sensitive for a bit but it was just coffee.”

“Told ya she’d just brush it off, she’s a tough little cookie,” Ash told Ali as she put Y/n in a light headlock, messing with her hair. After all, they were her team moms.

-----

Y/n was right to not have a good feeling about the last practice. It was almost as if time froze when all of the veterans and herself walked into the locker room to see the England team surrounding the babies of the team.

No one liked that.

But before any of the vets could do anything Y/n stormed towards the group looking for one woman.

One woman whose face she was repulsed by seeing on almost every single poster or advertisement in Britain. One woman who was supposed to be above the rest.

The captain.

Y/n spotted her, making eye contact with the woman, and growled out, “You.”

Using brute force and anger to pick up the captain with both hands by her shirt pinning her to the closest wall. Making them the same height, the captain’s feet no longer touching the ground.

“You don’t deserve to wear that band, you repulse me. You have so little respect for the team you play for and against, it makes me wonder if you even care about this sport. And don’t even get me started on the line you crossed by messing with my team. If I find out you have hurt any of them, then I will shove your cleats so far up your ass a surgeon will need to remove them. So don’t mess with them. Again."

Y/n was too calm for the words being said, "Now when I let you go and your feet touch the ground again, run. Out of my sight. Do I make myself clear?”

The captain was almost shaking nodding her head. Y/n dropped her, on her feet. Y/n waiting for the fear-parallelized woman to move.

"Boo."

And then she scrambled out of the room. The other English women started moving the moment Y/n’s eyes started to look in their direction, seeing her deadly glare.

When everyone was out except for the US national team, Y/n turned to the babies of the team. The veterans were stunned the entire time, hence why they didn’t move to help.

Her expression softened, dropping her shoulders, and softening her voice.

“Are you all alright?”

Y/n was looking them over to make sure she didn’t need to track someone down.

“That... was... AWESOME!” Sonnett was jumping up and down like a kid who had gotten exactly what they wanted for Christmas. While Rose and Mal joined her seconds later they all hugged Y/n.

All the veterans looked shocked to some degree, some more than others. Kelley asked, “Did we teach her that?” Almost everyone shook their heads no in response.

“The look on her face was priceless!”

Ashlyn looked at the group of babies, smiling her ass off speaking to Ali, “They grow up fast.”

-----

The game was tied 1-1, everyone was tense and waiting to see if one team could score the goal to have the win under their name. England almost had the ball down the field, almost ready to get kicked towards the net, Alyssa Naeher getting ready.

Then the ball was passed to the Captain of the England team, who just had to go a few yards and kick it in when Y/n showed up. Right in front of her.

Literally.

Y/n L/n of the Uswnt was running backwards, right in front of the England captain.

Being as confident as ever Y/n said “hi” to the captain before kicking the ball away from her and then saying “bye” as she went after the ball, quickly taking control of it as she drove it towards her team’s goal.

The crowd erupted as Y/n cleared the field in less than a minute, lining up to kick. Brushing the goalkeeper’s gloves, sinking into the back of the net.

2 - 1, her teammates swarmed her. With less than 6 minutes on the clock, they were confident the game was theirs.

“But we taught Y/n that, right?”

“Nope.”

[adammilligan]

I think you brought this up in a previous post briefly, but how much of the ghoul do you think is Adam?

!!!! okay so long story short: i think the ghoul replicated a few of his mannerisms, but ABSOLUTELY not his personality.

i'll start with his personality. adam is, as proven by 5x18, VERY defensive over the idea that anyone can get to claim the title of "family" just because they're related to him. exhibit a:

GHOUL!ADAM: I've got brothers? [...] Well, you're my brothers. You're telling me the truth, right? [Yeah.] Then I believe you.

vs.

ADAM: So we may be blood, but we are not family. My mom is my family. And if I do my job, I get to see her again. So no offense, but she's the one I give a rat's ass about, not you.

another thing about his personality that the ghoul did not act out on is adam's complete and utter willingness to do the opposite of what people say:

SAM: I'm gonna teach you a few things.

GHOUL!ADAM: Uh, Dean said—

SAM: I know what Dean said. And I know what it's like to want revenge.

vs.

SAM: Going somewhere?

ADAM [after trying to walk out the door while no one was looking]: Out for a...beer.

^^^and like sam's line above in 4x19, here's another thing: as proven by 15x08, adam is not the revenge type.

GHOUL!ADAM: This thing killed my mom. If you're hunting it, I want in. [...] I'll do it. Whatever it takes, I’ll do it. I want to do it.

vs.

ADAM [after being abandoned in hell for centuries]: [There's nothing we can say to fix that.] How about, uh...I'm sorry?

more than that, the ghoul greatly exaggerated adam's fear levels when it comes to stressful situations:

GHOUL!ADAM: No, don't tell me to take it easy, okay? My house is a crime scene, my mom's probably dead, and you two—well, you tell me to call the cops, but you got to bail before they show? So, who are you really?

vs.

ADAM: So you lied...about everything. Oh, you son of a bitch. [stands up, ready to fight] Yeah, I'm not gonna let you do this.

ANOTHER topic that the ghoul falsified is the topic of john winchester:

GHOUL!ADAM: When I was twelve. My mom had one of his old numbers, and—and after I begged her—God, 24/7—she finally called him. God, when John heard he had a son, he raced to town. I mean, he dropped everything. He drove all night. He would swing by once a year or so. He taught me poker and pool and even bought me my first beer when I was fifteen. And, uh...he showed me how to drive. Dad, he had this beautiful 'sixty-seven Impala—

vs.

ADAM: No, John Winchester was some guy that took me to a baseball game once a year. I don't have a dad. [...] Do you know how full of crap you are?Really. You see, it was me and it was my mom. That's it. She worked the graveyard shift at the hospital. I cooked my own dinners. I put myself to bed. So you can say whatever you want about our dad, but the truth is, I would have taken anything.

while the ghoul portrays a sense of hero-worship (in its efforts to lure sam and dean into a false sense of security) the truth is that adam didn't like john. at all. he was extremely bitter at him for never being around to help pay the bills and ease all the stress his mom had to go through and he was bitter because he had to grow up too fast because his mom couldn't be around because she was trying to pay the bills.

now, onto mannerisms:

while there are some things that the ghoul exaggerated to make adam seem more like a naive little kid (the open usage of [dumb-looking] facial expressions around people he didn't know, the unconfident [slow tbh] gaze/walk compared to adam's confident posture, the way his mouth always fucking hung open for some reason, etc.) there were a couple things that i think actually fit adam's character:

one: the scene where ghoul!adam puts the napkin on his lap

adam (when he wasn't being surrounded by people he didn't like/didn't know) was typically very polite. think how he acted in 5x18 in the room with zachariah: hands folded, not taking up too much space, etc. out of everything the ghoul did, this is the action that didn't seem so out-of-character for a good kid who knows how to act polite in front of strangers when he wants.

another thing: the sort of bouncing movement that the ghoul does to represent nervousness

while adam didn't do this in either 5x18 or 15x08, it's proven in 15x08 that adam is really and truly expressive around people he trusts (more facial expressions, CONSTANT usage of talking with his hands, moving around a lot [head, limbs, etc]) so if the ghoul was trying to make the point that "adam" trusted sam and dean, something like this would be the way to do it.

but while i'm on this train, let me point out the biggest difference in mannerisms that the ghoul very specifically didn't do to get sam and dean to trust it: adam's reservedness.

i've said it a few times, but adam is not one to let anything show in front of people he doesn't trust. he's quiet(er), he's reserved, and he mostly keeps his emotions (and outbursts) on a metaphorical backburner until something really pokes him where he doesn't like it (i.e. being called family by two completely random strangers). even when he talked about john to sam, his face was cold and composed and didn't let anything show. we see that again in 15x08, where he lets himself express bitterness at the winchesters (but note again how quietly he did it and how composed he was when he did it) in front of michael, his friend of many years who he trusted.

there are a total of three times adam breaks composure: one, to chew out sam and dean for having the nerve to call him family in 5x18; two, when he was yelling for help when michael was descending in 5x18; and three, when he was trying not to cry after dean apologized in 15x08. even then, the only one where he even marginally raises his voice (aside from yelling for help: that doesn't count for obvious reasons) is when he's frustrated at sam and dean. and this is something that the ghoul doesn't follow through with: instead, it makes adam erratic, emotional, prone to outbursts; it made adam act like a stereotypical teenager instead of someone who grew up too fast and learned to mask his emotions like adam does.

overall, while the ghoul did get close to a couple of things about adam, it was ultimately about the furthest copy from adam that anyone could be. in the end, the goal was to bait sam and dean with the act so it and its sister could eat them⁠—and the plan worked. so yeah!

[existingispetty]

Hi! I hope you're doing okay and taking care of yourself❤️I have been wanting to ask you for a while now cuz I just love your writing so much and I was wondering, if it wouldn't be too much, if I could ask for a Tokyo revengers and Haikyuu (male) matchup?

My pronouns are she/her and my age range is 17-20

I'm a very colorful, funny and creative person and I've been told I stand out a lot. I'm definitely very drawn to life and people but I'm also an ambivert. I'm very energetic and loud and I really like to stick out in a crowd. I also find almost everything funny and I love making people smile.

A lot of the time I need personal space as well and I think it's very nice to have people around me who are good listeners.

I seek validation in a lot of things as well.

I can get very sarcastic and passive agressive if I don't like someone

I'm not the best at saying no to people

I'm a very emotional person, but I'm terrible at dealing with others emotions. I also very easily get very irritated at people and my attention span is quite short.

I sometimes take on a lot of responsibility for other people's happiness even if it isn't my job. I'm also a night owl and a huge procrastinator.

I really like theater, art, litterature, watching movies and cuddling, the rain, listening to and playing music, psychological thrillers, going on walks, cooking (even though I suck at it), museums, bustling nightlife, cats, making playlist, philosophy and fashion.

My dislikes include bacon, stupid people, chewing with open mouth, scary movies (I always get so scared but I can't stop watching them because I always think I can take it), having sticky hands, hot weather, being ignored and horses

My hobbies include acting, playing bass, writing poetry, reading books, creating art, going to art museums, learning new languages, vinyl collecting, going to music festivals and travelling.

I'm 5'6 and I have medium length dark brown hair with platinum blonde on the bottom and bangs. I have a hooked nose and chocolate brown down turned tired eyes and a full septum ring . I have fair skin and a few freckles and my body type is probably pretty regular but on the skinnier side. I also love gold jewelry.

I hope this was ok💕 And I really hope you have a great day. And if you don't feel like doing it just feel free to ignore☺️

Hello! Thank you so much for the ask and I apologize for the wait! I’m so happy to hear that you enjoy my writing :). I also wrote a little less then what you mentioned I’m tired and busy so I’m Trying to get everything down!  I do hope you enjoy, have a good day/ night!

+++++++++++++++++++++++++

Your matchups are…(insert is overdramatic drumroll*)

Ken Ryuguji/Draken

Your colorful personality far out shines Draken but that makes the pair all the more fun! Draken tries to be more  fun and less serious around you sometimes to a point where it’s funny. He loved being around you since he’s always forced to put on a scary persona but, your happy attitude really brightens his day.  Draken is also an ambivert because he grew up in many situations where he had to be a leader or to be social but, once his battery runs low he might be easily irritated.  Draken makes really bad jokes and shows you terrible memes a lot so be prepared because if you don’t laugh he’ll feel self conscious. 

Draken isn’t really the tutor to seek affection all that much so if you want personal space and time this man will truly bless you with it. Draken is far more into listening that talking. Draken has found that he’s quite good at comforting and giving advice to people when they need it. Draken will always tell you if you excel at something or just call compliment you in general.  I’d you ever get sarcastic or passive aggressive with Draken he will back off and attempt to either calm you or give you space. Draken is very good at reading the emotions of people after being in so many social situations so he’ll know if you truest want to say no to something and he has the confidence to say no for you.   

Draken is very logical so he can greatly balance out your emotional thinking with his own logical thinking, Draken isn’t one to feel that many emotions unless in a tragic or bizarre situation.Draken is actually a pretty quite dude so I don’t think he could irritate you much and even if he did he’s also easily annoyed so he is completely understanding. Since Draken is such a responsible guy he would really appreciate if you could share atleast a little of the burden with him. Draken doesn’t want you to stay up to late but if you give ur a half decent excuse he’ll leave you be.  Draken is also good at motivating people but he understands you need a break at times. 

Keiji Akaashi

No personality can outdo Bokutos lively persona. He thinks your lively persona is very endearing . Akaashi is more of an introvert. He doesn’t really seek out or enjoy conversations with strangers unless you strike his fancy. You sound like someone that Akaashi hangs out with on a daily basis. Akaashi isn’t really one to stick out but he takes pride in helping others shine. He laughs at absolutely nothing EXEPT he finds other peoples laughs funny. Akaashi is also quite skillful at reading emotions and he completely understands when someone needs a break or some personal space. 

Due to Bokuto Akaashi had come to compliment everyone he talks to A LOT. If you walk past him he’s probably coming up with something to boost your ego. If you get sarcastic or passive aggressive with Kenji he wouldn’t even be phased. Akaashi will say no for you before you can even think of saying no. 

Akaashi also focuses more on the logic side of his brain but, he does have moments where his emotions drive him to make choices. Akaashi is amazing at dealing with his own emotions so he doesn’t need others to help him. Akaashi has a short attention span aswell so you to can be ‘twinsies’. Akaashi isn’t the type to take other peoples burdens  although, he will try to support you the best he can. (Owl… huh) He will push you to get work done but if he would procrastinate while doing said work he won’t push you to do anything.

[jungcity]

bane of the devil. | ix

genre: romance, fantasy, erotica

pairings: vampire!jaehyun x college!female reader

words: 14k

warning: bane of the devil deals with themes of deaths, physical, mental, and sexual abuse as well as toxic relationships. which may be upsetting for some readers. you are advised not to continue if you feel uncomfortable to these types of plots.

sexual content: fingering, semi-public sex (phew), blowjob, slight degradation(?)

“As it has been said: Love and a cough cannot be concealed. Even a small cough. Even a small love.” — Anne Sexton

Lucas and Eva stepped inside Madame Juana’s chambers. The first thing the two noticed were the navy blue curtains pulled to the side to reveal the gigantic gothic windows that permit a large quantity of light to infiltrate the room. The redolent of burning incense filled their nostrils as they spotted the witch mixing different herbs and colorful vials in a mortar.

“What’s that for?” Eva asked, her right hand resting on her dagger fastened to her waists.

Juana fanned the smoke to her face, inhaling the scent of the potion she was working on. She let the mortar sit near the window, where the sun could glare at it, before facing her two visitors. “For Y/N,” she said.

Eva’s mood began to dwindle. The fight from earlier hasn’t died from her system yet. And the thought of Y/N’s audacity made her temple ticked in annoyance.

Lucas remained standing near the door as he observed Juana’s chamber as if it was his first time beholding the eccentric room.

“I don’t know why, Madame,” Eva began, gathering the full attention of the witch as well as her comrade’s. The hunter stood rigid, chin held up high as she spoke, “Don’t you think I’m much more capable than her in killing Alena?”

Lucas shot up in alarm. Eva had no business discussing the matter with the witch. Juana had strictly commanded the both of them to remain silent about the matter. Especially around Y/N, who has no idea that the hunters knew her reasons for joining the Academy and the mission Juana bestowed upon her.

Juana walks with her hands behind her towards the fireplace. She poured tea in her pint pot before sitting on one of the soft couches, one leg over the other. After sipping from her cup, Juana cleaves her tongue to her upper lip, licking the excess tea.

“Do you think I don’t know that?” the witch asked while raising a perfect brow.

Lucas takes two strides to stand beside Eva. He gently wrapped his hand around her arm, but she wiggled herself free, refusing to lose her composure.

“Eva,” Lucas breathed in warning.

Whatever the hunter has in her mind, it’s better to let it go. No amount of disrespect would be tolerated inside the Academy.

Eva merely glanced his way before focusing her eyes on the sitting witch. “Then why?” she insisted.

Juana refused to look anywhere but at the fireplace. A small fire dances in it, casting a bit of an orange hue to the rather porcelain skin of the witch. Lucas would never understand the need of a fire in this sweltering weather.

Juana snapped her head towards the still-standing hunters. It was something that she didn’t invite them to sit. Then she asked, “Do you know what I’ve promised Diego before he breathed his last?”

Eva exchanged looks with Lucas. Voice laced with utter curiosity, the woman asked, “What?”

Juana smoothed out her skirt. “I won’t let his hunters do my dirty work.”

With that, Eva blinked. Confused and out of focus, she stated the first words that slipped past her lips, “But we were born for that type of life. Alena killed Sicheng—”

“Eva!” Lucas hissed. They were forbidden to speak his name. Now Lucas feels utterly enraged by the woman’s audacity. Juana wouldn’t let this past without ramifications.

“My son.” Juana pinned the words with warning. “Is alive.”

Eva shifted to where she stands, barely noticeable because of her forced confidence. “Yes. But she killed his humanity nonetheless.” She took a step towards the witch. “I want to help you, Juana. Let me avenge your son.”

Lucas would’ve been moved by the determination in Eva’s eyes, if not for her grip on Juana’s hands. This side of her, he didn’t know how to process. He admires her bravery and need for revenge. But it doesn’t sit well with him, and he doesn’t think it will be.

“I made up my mind, Eva. I won’t risk any of your lives. I need you alive.”

The statement ticked something inside Lucas. They are hunters: born and bred to fight off vampires. He knows how to use almost every weapon in the armory. But Y/N… she still has a lot to go, despite of her steadfastness. It took Lucas years to master the hunter life. By his own experience, he doesn’t think three months are enough for Y/N.

“Forgive me but I don’t understand any of this,” Lucas chimed in, garnering the attention of the women. “Eva is right, Juana. She’s more capable than Y/N. Let’s give her that credit. But you still insist to send Y/N off to the ball to kill Alena— the vampire primus in this town— and refuse to vouch on us to accomplish this mission instead.” Lucas’s brows were furrowed all throughout his sentence. “It doesn’t correlate.”

With a certain edge to her voice, Juana countered Lucas almost immediately, “Y/N is a collateral damage. And she needs me.”

“Collateral damage?” Lucas and Eva asked at the same time. But the difference between their tones was staggering: Lucas’s disbelief was evident in his voice, whilst pure mockery laced Eva’s.

“Yes. Collateral damage. She’s nothing but that. And as I’ve said, she needs me.”

Eva smirked. “And you took advantage of her.”

Lucas, on the other hand, didn’t know what to say. Words won’t come out of his mouth.

“Exactly. So let’s end this discussion before I turn you both into frogs,” Juana chuckled.

Eva’s mirthful laugh echoed through the whole room. But Lucas remained unmoving, fisting his hands behind him. This is not right. This is not what I’ve vowed to do.

“Lucas?” Juana called.

Lucas shook his head out of his trance. “Yes?”

“Juana asked if you’d join us to dinner?” Eva pronounced instead.

Dinner? Lucas’s appetite went downhill by the conversation that has transpired inside this room. He doesn’t think he could bite and swallow down food.

He shook his head as he refused. The two women shrugged before Eva linked her arm around Juana’s and guided her out of the room, leaving Lucas with his thoughts.

—

“What happened to your nose?” Rhianon asked as you seated yourself across from her in the cafeteria.

Irritation washed through you by the memory of what happened back in the woods. You would’ve felt better if not for the red tinge which adorned your nose yet again.

“I fought with Eva,” you mumbled while forking the green something on your plate.

“What?!”

Heads turned as Rhianon exclaimed. But she seems unperturbed by the stares as she reaches for your hand over the table. Then she speaks again, “Are you alright? What did she do to you?”

The catfight between you and Eva ended with glares and threats. It’s painful to recall, yet you don’t think you will forget it any time sooner.

After the fight, you anticipated a summon from Madame. But as the day continued on, you failed to see her and vice versa.

Unsurprisingly, Eva taunted you as you sparred with Lucas. Every now and then, she would tell how weak your stance was, or how frail your bones were. Lucas encouraged you to ignore her as best you could. But when she hit the back of your leg with her stick, you stood up and faced her. The both of your faces were mere inches away as you sized each other up. If Eva moved an inch then, you would’ve slapped the teeth off her gums. Lucas held her firmly and guided her away towards somewhere you couldn’t be bothered to ask before she could attack you.

“She just taunted me.” You shrugged. As if the fight didn’t leave a hollow feeling inside your chest. You would be lying if you’d truly shrug it off and tell everyone that it was only a part of your training and Eva must’ve been acting earlier for additional emotions. But it wasn’t. She was truly irritated with you.

Rhianon sighed, “It’s not the first time she’d done that.”

The statement piqued your interest. You looked up to see a frowning Rhianon. “What do you mean?”

“I mean… that’s what she did to me in my first day of training. I couldn’t show it to you through this uniform but I’ve attained a keloid here…” She twisted her arms a little to show the location of her keloid right in her biceps, “...when we sparred using daggers.”

“Using daggers?” You gasped in disbelief. First day of training… and with daggers?

“Yeah. Before entering the Academy, they would ask you about your skills. I told them my expertise was using daggers—” A pause, then her eyebrows knitted. “Did they not ask you about your skill?”

You blinked and slumped back to your seat. “I— they didn’t.” You wanted to tell her how you got in the Academy without the process of being ask in any interviews about your skills and whatnot. But the small, scared part of you refused to sound privileged to Rhianon.

“Well, that’s a first,” she commented, “They would normally ask about your skill in weapons before you could enroll. And if you don’t have any, they would advise you to return once you’ve mastered at least one weapon.” Then she chewed up the leafy vegetables with a scowl.

“I’ve never heard of that,” you admitted.

Rhianon did her best to hide her surprise, but you have already seen the glint of it through her eyes. It made you feel odd. All of the students who enrolled here had gone through thorough trainings on their own before entering the Academy. Do they know that you didn’t go through the same hardship? Is that why they look at you as if they are disgusted by your weakness?

“I… think that’s alright? I mean, Eva went easy on you because of that.” Rhianon once again reached for your hand and squeezed. “Don’t fret, Y/N. I know to myself that you’re going to be an adroit hunter.”

Yes, you believe that too. But all of the trainings you would go through would be for naught if until the ball you’d remain inadequate.

A vampire almost killed you. A hunter vowed to hurt you. And there’s a witch who’s withholding information from you.

In the vast expanse of this Academy, you only have three people you could trust. Two of them, you are still hesitant to confide in. That leaves you to one person only.

Jaehyun.

—

Jaehyun decided to return to his own room after the tenuous scene back in the woods. One hunter was more than enough for him to bear. Two would be the death of him. Albeit he’s half-dead already.

He must admit that you made him proud earlier. And he didn’t anticipate such fire in your heart and grace in your movements. If you’d continue to take your training by the heart, you’d absolutely chop off every vampire’s head without sweating.

The thought bothers Jaehyun until now. One way or another, you would he his enemy. And if you declined to be his enemy, you would be his prey. Being a hunter gives you some perks as a human being. As a hunter, you are still vulnerable to vampire attacks, but you would have a chance of surviving. Whilst being a human, the ordinary human, you’d remain ajar and weak for any vampire to prey on. Jaehyun forces himself to think that it’s for your best. But the pathetic part of him wants to drag you out of this Academy. Right now.

Both of you didn’t start off as friends. Hell, who, in their right minds, would offer friendship to someone who bled his stomach out on your doorstep and admits that he was a vampire on your first encounter? Despite of that fact, Jaehyun still couldn’t grasp the idea of you, killing his compeers.

However, why the fuck does he care? It’s your life. You could do anything with it. And it wasn’t as if he couldn’t protect himself from you.

On his way to his own chamber, Jaehyun drew in a halt upon noticing that Juana’s door was slightly ajar. Everything went louder as Jaehyun intensified his sense of hearing: the muffled chatterings of students from afar, the birds singing as they perched on a tree, the crackling of fire in Juana’s fireplace… and the conversation between her and her two hunters.

Someone’s forgetting that there’s a vampire prowling this Academy’s vicinity.

For a moment, Jaehyun debated whether to listen to his own room that was across from Juana. But he couldn’t risk being spotted. Over the years, the hunters have developed a keen sense of hearing. Courtesy of Juana’s magic, no doubt.

The hallway provided no space for Jaehyun to hide as it was in a straight line. He had no choice but to press himself to the wall. Exactly three meters away from Juana’s door.

Lucas’s voice had a crisp edge to it because of Jaehyun’s vampire hearing. “Eva is right, Juana. She’s more capable than Y/N. Let’s give her that credit. But you still insist to send Y/N off to the ball to kill Alena— the vampire primus in this town— and refuse to vouch on us to accomplish this mission instead.”

Jaehyun’s jaw clenched by the mention of Alena’s name. Once, he had worshipped that name. No more.

Mixed feelings swirled up inside Jaehyun by Lucas’s statement. He was right. Jaehyun has been wondering about how it doesn’t make any sense either. Y/N has the spirit, but she won’t stand a chance against a vampire primus if she’d only train for two or three months.

Jaehyun hates Lucas. But he must admit that he does have a point.

“It doesn’t correlate,” Lucas added.

Jaehyun then heard Juana’s sultry voice. “Y/N is a collateral damage. And she needs me.”

For a moment, and despite his sharp sense of hearing, Jaehyun doubted the words he heard. Y/N… a collateral damage? How could someone say that as if a person’s life is nothing but a toy you’d be so willing to throw once it served you enough entertainment?

“Collateral damage?” The two hunters asked. Lucas was appalled. Yet Eva didn’t share the same reaction. She was curious. Curious and mocking.

Red suddenly filled Jaehyun’s vision. The silhouette of gothic windows became a darker shade of crimson. Everywhere he looked, red dominated. It took Jaehyun all his willpower not to barge inside and snap Juana and Eva’s necks.

“Yes. Collateral damage. She’s nothing but that. And as I’ve said, she needs me.” Juana spoke as if she was talking about a fly and not a person.

Jaehyun tried to close his eyes to get rid of his red visions. But the anger inside him refused to subside. He walked towards the door with the grace of a panther, but before he could push open the wood, a force pulled him away. He took a step back to his own accord. No. Jaehyun won’t be able to protect you if he’s going to murder the women behind this huge door.

He pivoted on his heels and grabbed his doorknob instead. Without making any sound, Jaehyun entered his chamber. Dark brown once again coated his pupils as he shut the door behind him.

Heavy and velvet curtains refused to allow any light from infiltrating Jaehyun’s chambers. At least, that bitch witch had the notion that she was catering to a vampire.

What a fucking joke, Jaehyun mumbled. If you are a five-hundred year old witch or a veteran vampire hunter, you’d be careful to converse— even in the comforts of your chamber— to anyone about your wicked plans using your imbecilic minds especially when there’s literally a vampire on the loose.

Jaehyun had given enough credit for the students and hunters in this Academy that he’d forgotten how vapid their likes could be.

What now? he asked himself as he let his back fall to his mattress, his arm propped up on his forehead.

He’d been right all along. Juana is indeed hiding something from Y/N. Jaehyun’s head was full of scattered plans but his fury remained undeterred. He needs to plan something— anything. If it was his life on the line, he wouldn’t think twice about killing the witch and that hunter Eva. But it’s you. And somehow, that makes it more frustrating.

You need this. For your murdered parents. You have been waiting for this chance all your life. Jaehyun would kill himself before ruining this opportunity for you. If he could only do something about Hubert, to make him fucking talk, Jaehyun knows that he would go to the ends of the world to do it— for you.

And when did he start thinking this way? When did his chest start aching by the sight of you? As if you are the one star in his rather dark skies, and that he couldn’t reach you no matter hard he tries.  

Jaehyun bolted upright as swiftly as a cat, then ran a hand through his hair. He wouldn’t be able to think straight if he keeps thinking about you. With a frown, Jaehyun grabbed his cigarette pack on his drawer and lit one. Blowing smoke from his mouth, Jaehyun sat back on one of the soft couches and started to dwell in his other thoughts instead.

—

The day had worn you out to frazzle that all you could think about was to lay on your bed and get cozy in the sheets. Drying your hair with a towel, you walked and sat on your mattress, while Rhianon once again focused herself on reading her Book of Enchantments and Magic.

The golden embossing of the title against the velvety crimson cover never failed to entice you. You weren’t one for magic, but by the luring looks of the cover, you wanted to ask Rhianon about the words written on it.

“What’s your favorite enchantment, Rhianon?” you asked out-of-the-blue.

She seemed surprised by your question that she accidentally closed the book all of a sudden. “Oh, I… well… this might freak you out— but I like the enchantment where you could put back a missing part of a person’s body.”

Something inside you clicked. But you couldn’t put a finger to what it was. You furrowed your brows in scrutiny. “That’s so cool. Have you ever tried it?”

Rhianon sighed, “Uh… no. They said it is reckless. Especially when the person is already dead.” Then her face lit up as she looked at you. “But I wanna try it someday. You know… just to see the extent of my abilities.”

“Your abilities?” you asked. What abilities?

Rhianon blinked, clearly surprised by her own sentence.

Uncertainty creeped up in your chest. You weren’t dumb to wave off her statement. There is something she’s not telling you. Gods, is everyone in this Academy has their own secrets that they don’t tell anyone?

“I… I mean— oh! There’s someone knocking!” She threw the book to her bed before standing and bolting towards the door.

You stared at her back, your own thoughts suddenly disheveled. Then her little squeal broke you out from your trance.

“Your vampire boy’s here!” she exclaimed, opening the door wider for you to see Jaehyun standing on the doorway.

Your chest started to shrink on its own by the sight of him. Suddenly, you felt as if you were back in the woods and sparing with Jaehyun again. His unearthly scent weaving its way through your nostrils as if it left a permanent mark in there because of the proximity you shared with each other earlier.

“Uh, Y/N? He’s waiting?” Rhianon voiced out while nervously looking at the standing vampire.

“Oh, yes,” you mirthlessly chuckled. Pinching your arm to get a grip of your thoughts, you sauntered up to the door to face the leaning vampire on the doorframe.

You shot up a brow. “What are you doing here?”

“What’s with that expression?” He reached out to tangle the edges of your hair with his fingers. “Didn’t you miss me?”

Rhianon let out a suppressed scream behind you. You turned to face and glare at her. She straightened before scurrying back to her own bed.

Jaehyun was still playing with your hair when you swatted his hand away with a frown. “I told you, boys aren’t allowed here,” you said with a sigh.

“Let’s not pretend that you’re not enthralled to see me here.”

“I am not.”

Jaehyun grinned before wrapping his hand around your wrist gently. “Liar,” he said before pressing a kiss on the top of your head.

Heat crept up to your cheeks, you were glad for the darkness as it had successfully hidden your crimson cheek. With a last look at the reading Rhianon, you closed the door behind you.

You cleared your throat. “Okay, what’s this?”

“We’re going to train,” he simply stated. As if the moon wasn’t on its full glory in the heavens, and as if the students’ curfew won’t ring anytime sooner.

“Jaehyun,” you sighed, coaxing whatever patience you have inside you, “It’s nine p.m., please let me rest.”

“Do you want to be the greatest hunter of all?” he asked while wiggling his brows. His current expression has extremely juxtaposed his aura, that you would’ve chuckled if not for the fatigue sticking to your bones.

You deadpanned, “To be honest? I don’t. I just went here in hopes that I could—”

“Do you want to learn how to punch Eva straight in her—”

“Yes.”

Jaehyun chuckled, “That’s my girl.” Jaehyun took advantage of your astonished and blushing face and successfully guided you towards the railings. He leaned closer to your ear, arm still wrapped around you. “First lesson, learn how to jump.”

By looking at the ground below you, you wiggled yourself free from his grasp. “Are you nuts?”

Once again, a deep throaty chuckle resonated with him. “I’m kidding, of course. Just ride me— I mean, ride on my back.”

Ride me. You weren’t so sure if you’d survive this night without your lungs giving out.

“Don’t act so surprised, Y/N. There’s a process to that.”

“To what?”

“To ride me.”

“You’re disgusting.” You turned on your heel and walked away. But Jaehyun grabbed your arm once again.

“Please, kitten, don’t blush.” Jaehyun quickly placed her arm on your back, while his other scooped you up in a bridal style.

“What—! Jaehyun! Let me go!”

He shook his head, “I don’t think I could do that.”

You have no idea how he did it while carrying you, but Jaehyun had managed to climb on the cemented railings. You craned your neck and saw the strands of his hair brushing the roof of the floor.

Without any warnings, Jaehyun jumped. You wrapped your arms around his neck while screwing your eyes shut. The scream forced its way to your throat, but you refused to make any sound and have Jaehyun to tease you after you land.

It took him seconds to land on the hard ground. His body bounced slightly by the impact of his toes on the earth. Then he guided you to stand up on your feet.

Catching a gulp of air for your decrepit lungs, you slapped Jaehyun’s arm. “What was that?” you gasped.

Jaehyun rubbed his chest with a painful expression. “Damn, you are strong.”

You snorted, “Why are we here? I swear Jaehyun, if the guards see us, I’m gonna kill you.”

Jaehyun walked in front of you, purposely waving his hands for more dramatics. “As I’ve said, we’re here to practice your legs and your emotions.”

“Emotions and… legs?” you dubiously asked. “This is not what I am thinking, right?”

His playful façade swiftly turned into that of a predator as he stared at your face. “Why? What are you thinking?”

Jaehyun’s face was clouded in darkness as he stood under the moon. All his ludic emotions vanished instantly, replaced by the mystery that was inside his bones until kingdom comes.

You were reminded then that you wouldn’t understand Jaehyun no matter how hard you try. Both of you are different creatures pretending to co-exist in a cruel world. A world that forbids intimacy between a human and a vampire.

“Torture,” you answered with a nervous chuckle. “I meant you could torture my emotions and my legs, you know.”

“Why would I torture you?” he rasped. Little emotions adorned his voice. It was almost indecipherable, but it was there.

“I was just kidding! Let’s get this over with now, shall we?” You started to walk ahead of him. Agitation filled your chest without any reason at all. Jaehyun silently trailed behind you, until you reached the edge of the woods.

Crickets sang in the darkness. And the hooting owls were obscured by the lush fronds of trees. A shiver ran through you as the crisp wind caressed your body. It whispered to the branches, making them bend and elicit sounds as if they were snapping.

“Alright,” Jaehyun spoke behind you. “When I tell you to run, run as fast as you can Y/N.”

“What do you—” Your voice was cut off by the animalistic snarl he echoed. You pivoted on your heel to witness Jaehyun as he elongated his fangs, the red tinge on his pupils stark against the night. Like the embers of a cigarette.

“Run.”

With your heart in your throat, you whirled and ran towards the woods and into its danger. As the fallen branches snapped underneath your feet, you chanced a look at Jaehyun. His stature was turning smaller as you ran farther away from him. But he remained standing there, watching you disappear into the maze of trees.

All of a sudden, Jaehyun ran towards you. Your eyes widened in mortification. You could hear your heart pounding in your chest as you run and run deeper into the heart of the forest. The thought of a vampire chasing you kindled your adrenaline. It forced out a strength from your legs you didn’t know you possessed.

Jaehyun was near. You could feel him. Perspiration drenched your clothes. The fear inside your chest is raging like a wild animal. As the sweats dripped down your lashes, blurring your line of sight, you failed to notice the rock protruding from the ground. You hit its hard surface with your toes then you went tumbling down the earth.

For three times, your body rolled off the soil. You only closed your eyes, waiting for something to hit your head and kill you afterwards. But all you could feel was the dust and the dried leaves sticking to your sweaty skin.

“Oh, fuck,” you cried. Literal tears streamed down your face as you felt the defeat and the aching of your bones.

You remained lying on the ground while covering your face with your palms. You failed to see Jaehyun as he crouched beside you.

“Get up,” he said while nudging your shoulders.

That simple gesture was enough to irate you. You sat up despite the pain in your bones and glared at Jaehyun. “What was that for?” you sniffed.

“I needed to see if you could outrun a vampire,” he explained. He stood up and offered you a hand. You gave it a hard look before standing up on your own.

“That’s madness, Jaehyun.” And I was so scared, you wanted to add. But the stubborn part of you refused to acknowledge that. You had enough of Eva reminding you the same thing for hours, you didn’t need any reminder now.

“To you. But if you’re running for your life, and there’s a vampire trailing behind you, what would you do? Would you stumble on your feet and cry on the ground like what you did just now?”

You padded the dusty part of your skin and clothes. The dust from the ground has turned muddy already. It took all your willpower not to dash Jaehyun’s head because of it. You shouldn’t have said yes to this folly.

While watching you as you dust off yourself, Jaehyun added, “And you’re scared.”

“I am not,” you lied.

“You are. I could still taste your fear in the air.”

You rolled your eyes in exasperation. “Whatever. I want to go back.” Your statement was followed by a hiss, as you felt a sharp pain on your elbow. You folded your arms to see a large scrape of wound on the skin.

Jaehyun took your arm softly, while he reached for his back pocket to reveal a kerchief. In all his hard edges, you didn’t expect the softness of the way he dabbed the fabric to clean your skin around the wound. “Alright, I’m sorry for this. I shouldn’t have scared you like that.”

Your heart did its unusual thudding as you stared at his face while he leaned closer to inspect your wound. His pallid features was illuminated by the moonlight, making him more eccentric than he already was. The blood pigment of his lips was ever the only color in his rather dead-looking face. But how is he so beautiful being half-dead like that?

You immediately looked away when Jaehyun looked up to you.

“I have something to tell you,” he said.

Trepidation quickly settled in your chest like a boulder. “What is it?”

Jaehyun kept the kerchief to his back pocket before guiding the small of your back towards a clearing. You have a hard time seeing the path now that your nerves had calmed down. Then you saw it. It was a space of green bermuda grass at the other side of the woods. It provides enough privacy and tranquility to whatever Jaehyun has in his pockets to say to you.

Unfortunately, there were no stars twinkling in the skies when you looked up. Only the moon and the thick clouds could be seen in the heavens.

“It’s about the witch, and her hunters,” he began as he sat on the grass.

You did the same. “What about them?”

“I heard them talking earlier. About you.”

“What did they say about me?”

He gave you a look that pierced right to your soul. “She has no plans to help you, Y/N. To really help you. She thinks of you as a collateral damage.” Then he furrowed his brows. “Have you told anyone of your true intentions for joining this Academy?”

Your throat suddenly felt dry. “Lucas and Madame knows, of course.”

Jaehyun cursed as he ran a hand through his face. “I should’ve— fuck— she knows, then. Eva.”

How did she know? No, it was obvious who told her. But why would Madame tell her about it? When it was confidentially between you, Lucas, Jaehyun, and her only?

“That’s why she’s bitching. She knows she’s better and more capable than me,” you scorned, “And what about the collateral damage?”

“Eva wanted to finish the job for herself. But Juana refused and told her she needed Eva alive.”

You frowned. “But she’s willing to sacrifice my life.” You couldn’t believe it. There wasn’t a trace of sadness in you. Somehow, you have anticipated for this to happen ever since Jaehyun talked to you yesternight. Oh, how easily things are lining up. “They don’t believe in me,” you stated through clenched jaw.

You feel more insulted than hurt. What are you? What does your life means to them? Not because they are witches and hunters doesn’t mean your life is worthless than theirs.

You let out a deep breath, “We need plan B.”

“The plan B is that I’m getting you out of here, Y/N,” Jaehyun stated with a spirit that blew you out of proportion.

As much as the offer was enticing, you couldn’t will yourself to assent. “No.”

Jaehyun quirked a brow. “No?”

“No. I’m not leaving.”

Jaehyun worked his jaw then he moved his body closer to yours. “Listen, Y/N, those fuckers think of you as a bait. No more, no less. I’ve heard them myself—”

You reached for his hands. “I need to train myself.”

“I could teach you. You know I’m better than most of them anyways.”

By that, you chuckled, “Yes. But I need Juana’s protection.”

“Thank fuck I could protect you myself,” he countered.

You hated to say it, you truly do. But if you don’t, Jaehyun would only insist on getting you out of the Academy. “Not from Alena,” you smiled bitterly.

Realization dawned on Jaehyun’s face. His determined expression turned lax. But he knows it, too. However hell-bent he could be on protecting you from anyone else, he won’t be able to guard you against the vampire primus who turned him. He is a vampire now. And he must abide to their law if he doesn’t wish to be dead.

You tightened your grip on his hands. “But it’s alright. I understand. I truly do.” Blowing out a shuddering breath, you chuckled tonelessly, “Just… let me do this. This is the only way.”

Jaehyun’s hand strayed to your cheek. The intimacy of his touch blurring all your senses. “Alright. I know you’re doing this for your parents. In the meantime, we’ll pretend that we know nothing. We’ll find a way to make Hubert talk.”

You heedlessly leaned in to his touch. His hand was cold, but it warmed your body nonetheless. Gods, since when did your body started reacting this way around Jaehyun? “You said… Hubert has no tongue…” you began. Jaehyun nodded. “Where is his tongue, then?”

Jaehyun’s hand fell to his side as he let the memories swept his focus on the real world. “Well, there is a rumor going on back then. That he purposely cut his tongue out. But I don’t believe it. I think someone cut it to withhold anyone from knowing informations from Hubert.”

“Wait… so, let’s say someone cut off his tongue. How could Juana make him talk, then?”

“Through magic, perhaps. Or…” Jaehyun’s lips turned into a frown, “She could put his tongue back.”

She could put his tongue back. You furrowed your brows. You were certain that you have heard about body parts being put together by an enchantment— Rhianon!

As if a thousand ants crawled to your back as you shivered at the realization. Your eyes widen, then you took Jaehyun’s face with your hands. “I— my roommate! Jaehyun, she knows how to do that!”

Jaehyun’s face didn’t share the same excitement. “Only witches could do that, Y/N. Are you saying that your roommate is a witch?”

Your body felt leaden as you leaned back, losing your hold on his face. “No. She… she’s just really interested in magic. But perhaps she could help?”

“If the both of you are willing. You said you don’t want anyone else knowing your true reasons for coming here.”

A heavy sigh. “Yes. And I don’t think I could trust her just yet.”

This time, it’s Jaehyun who took your face with his hands as he searched for your eyes. “C’mon, don’t frown. We’ll find a way. Together.”

The rawness of his emotions moved you. It’s unbelievable to think that the same man who stood bloodied on your doorstep currently looks at you like that. You could almost tell the stories hidden underneath his eyes by how bold he lays himself tonight with you.

“Reading faces?” you chuckled to ease the swirling of your stomach.

Jaehyun didn’t let go of your face as he spoke, “Only yours.” Then his eyes cascaded down your lips.

Vampires do not breathe. So you didn’t feel his breath before his lips collided with yours. You let your eyes fall shut as you kissed him back. This isn’t your first kiss. But everytime his lips would touch yours, the feeling of being kissed for the first time always washes through you. It’s always anew. As if something didn’t want you to get used to it.

Jaehyun’s lips moved with ease against yours. As if he has already memorized the plains and bumps of your lips. He kisses you as if he has been doing it all his life. His tongue slid inside your mouth, tasting the crevices of the flesh inside.

Under the moon, the both of you fought for dominance. The wind billowed, sweeping a cold touch to the burning kiss you shared. Yet no amount of distraction could stop Jaehyun from tasting you.

You would destroy him, and he would let you.

To hell with the ramifications. And to hell with the forbidden love this intimacy would bear. Not even the death that reeks inside him could stop him from wanting you.

Jaehyun’s hands strayed inside your clothes. His every touch burns your skin, leaving your teat tingling and puckering. As if he could feel the desire between the both of you, he easily unhooked your bra and caught your right breast with his left hand.

Jaehyun circled your teat with his thumb, earning a gasp from you against the kiss. He chuckled before trailing kisses down your jaw, all while playing with the hardened teat.

A slick and thick liquid threatens to slide from your sex by his penetration. As if his vampire instinct could sense every bit of arousal from your body, Jaehyun leaned in to your ear and spoke, “Is that for me?”

You groaned. It was silly, because it was obvious. But the desire you were feeling couldn’t help but double by the question.

Tonight, he would own you. And you would let him.

He laid you down the soppy grass, his lips never leaving yours, his hands still leaving permanent marks in your soul.

Jaehyun, with both his swiftness and strength, he had managed to pull down your pajamas to your knees, revealing the lace underwear you were wearing.

You should cover yourself again. You should put an end to this folly. You should cut the feelings before it could bloom into something you won’t be able to control. But as the chill of the night crawled to your exposed skin, you let Jaehyun marvel at your body.

Jaehyun pulled away, then he slowly opened his eyes. Whatever blood he has in his body, they crept up in his lips as it turned swollen.

Your body was lucid and blurry from the desire. However, you refused to pounce on him like a wild animal. Somehow, you wanted to taste every bit of the moment.

His own desire mirrored in his eyes. Without any warning, Jaehyun swiftly pulled your underwear to the side and plunged a finger inside you. The gasp you emitted was too breathy, for a moment you were afraid for your lungs.

Carnality dances in his eyes as he slowly moves his fingers inside you. Your slickness is undeniable because of his penetration.

You shut your eyes. “Jaehyun.”

His hand rested above your head while he caressed strands of your hair. “Open your eyes and look at me,” he commanded. The virility of his voice made you open your eyes, so languidly as if to taunt his arousal even more.

You tried to hold his stare as he curled his fingers and deepened his reach. As if he wants to acquire something inside your flesh. Your stomach caved in as his fingers went faster. You writhe and you thrash when he pressed his thumb on your clitoris. A wave of signals tighten your lower abdomen, your arousal screaming for release.

He plunged his finger deeper, all while circulating your clitoris with his thumb. Jaehyun curled his finger inside you. “Jae— Jaehyun!” you whined against the woods behind you, and the stretch of grass in front. There were no stars in the skies, but you were certain you saw white lights bursting as you felt the climax washing through you like some sort of a wave.

Satisfaction was in the eyes of the vampire as your body went lax on the grass. He trailed open-mouthed kisses around your cheek and the sides of your face.

“Let’s stand up,” he offered.

A different person replaced you as your forehead creased in confusion. “We’re not… we’re not doing it?”

If he could blink from astonishment, he would.  What did you just say? Crimson painted your cheeks as his face softened. “Do you want us to?”

The wanting overcame all your senses. And you found out that you really do want to do it with him. As your clitoris once again pulsated from the notion, you nodded sheepishly. “Yes,” you breathed.

A tinge of red flashed in his eyes then it was gone in an instant as he shuffled his pants off. The reality of being in an open field, half-naked and waiting for a vampire to fuck you senseless somewhat obliterated the humanness inside you. You reached for Jaehyun as he lined himself up to your entrance and gave him a sloppy kiss. The head of his length touched your inner thighs, you jolted through the kiss from the contact.

A throaty laugh echoed through him as he lined himself once again to enter your sex. Jaehyun pulled away, an inch from your face. “How do you wanna be fucked?”

Your breath hitched as the desire drove a velvety punch in your gut. “Hard,” you answered. Jaehyun made a noise, somewhat between a groan and a guttural sound, before he entered you with smoothness and with ease.

Both of your mouths turned into o’s by the friction. Jaehyun placed your legs on his shoulder as he began to thrust in and out of you slowly.

“What… what is it?” you asked as you noticed the way his brows were furrowed.

Jaehyun looked at your eyes while he tried to thrust deeper. “You… fuck, you’re so tight.” Your mouth opened up to say something, but Jaehyun moved his hips to fully own your sex. Instead of a word, a cry sounded from you as he hit something sensitive inside.

It was indeed an uncomfortable position: with your pajama covering his lips. But Jaehyun tolerated no distraction as he mercilessly moved his hips in and out of your sex. You fisted a handful of grass with your palms, nails grating on the soil. Gods, you wanted to shout.

You bounced as Jaehyun continued to fuck you, balls-deep against the grass. His own throat emanating throaty moans, which added to the climax building up to your abdomen.

The night was unforgiving. So is he.

His pupils dilated, then it turned red as he pulled his length from your sex and spilled all his semen on your stomach. The warm liquid soaked your thin t-shirt, sticking to the fabric like a thick wax of white substance.

Jaehyun forced his mind to think again. But he was shrouded with absolute pleasure upon seeing how your clothes sipped his semen.

You did it. With him. Under the moon. And on the stretch of grass as far as the eyes could see.

You were only a girl, in a little town, with your scattered dreams and unrealistic goal in life. But tonight, you had sex with a vampire. You didn’t know how to process such mind-sweeping reality.

Jaehyun took care of you. He gently helped you put on your undergarments before he settled himself. After a few minutes of steadying the rhythm of your heart, with Jaehyun placing back the strands of hair behind your ear, you sat on the grass in silence.

“What do you feel?” you decided to ask.

Jaehyun is a vampire, yes. But he had been human once. You didn’t want to presume anything about his human life before, but with that kind of beauty for sure comes a great deal of girls behind him. He certainly knew how to please you, how to make sure he owned every inch of you. And that’s not something a beginner knows how to do.

“That was amazing,” he grinned. “It’s not something I’ve ever felt before.”

Without asking the question, he already knew the answer. A small and proud part of you wanted to know whether being with you, and being inside you illuminated something new to him. And it’s fulfilling to know that you did.

“But I am wondering,” he chuckled lowly, “I don’t know if this is my arousal getting a hold of all my vampire instincts, but, I couldn’t read your mind.”

The world stilled. And you have found out that you couldn’t answer. The dryness of your throat intensified.

“I…” you stutter.

Jaehyun raised a brow. “You, what?”

“I… I told Madame to block you off from infiltrating my mind.” Then you bit your lower lip in shame. You shouldn’t feel this way, right? It’s only right to take precautions. And he was not allowed to read your thoughts.

Jaehyun’s face grew vacant but it spoke volumes to you. “Don’t you trust me enough for your thoughts?”

You quickly waved your hand in defense. “No, it’s not like that— I just don’t want you to invade my mind.”

His expression remained eerie and impassive as he looked at you. “I didn’t invade your mind, Y/N. Not once.”

What? You knitted your brows. “But… what about the times—”

“Your thoughts were too loud. I heard them as if you were speaking to me with your own voice. Never once did I infiltrate your privacy and forced my way to your head.” He stood up and padded his breaches. “Come, let’s get you back to your room.”

Unable to process words, you remained sitting. The warmth from the intercourse you shared was now replaced by the coldness. But the wind didn’t provide such cold. It was in you, from you.

“Jaehyun,” you called out to him. But he didn’t turn as he entered the woods.

—

Rhianon turned the page of her book, but she found out that she couldn’t process the words printed out on the parchment. The memory of you as you carefully inquired questions and with Rhianon almost spilling her true self failed to vanished in her mind.

She still didn’t know your intention for being here in this Academy, but she would, soon. She needed to know if you could be trusted. She needs to make sure that you are not one of Juana’s tentacles.

She fastened the book shut as three knocks resonated from the door. Glancing at the wallclock hanging on your side of the wall that read as eleven fifteen p.m., she sauntered up to the door.

She veered the doorknob and swung the door widely. “Welcome bac—” Rhianon’s words died as she took in the face of the man in front of him. Tears easily seared the back of her eyes as she jumped and hugged the man. “Sicheng!”

Sicheng chuckled and hugged her back. “How are you?” he asked in her hair.

Rhianon pulled away and wiped the tears from her cheeks before answering, “Worse.”

“Let’s get inside,” Sicheng stated while looking at his left and right.

They both entered the room. Then Sicheng halted as he saw the other bed as pillows and blanket occupied it. “Who’s with you?”

“She’s not here,” Rhianon sniffed.

“Juana gave you a roommate?” Sicheng raised a brow as Rhianon led him towards her own bed.

Rhianon shrugged. “Still asking myself why. But why are you here? It’s dangerous.”

“Alena—” Sicheng chuckled by the look Rhianon gave her, but he continued on, “She commanded me to find someone. And I’ve decided to start here so I could visit you. How have you been?”

She knew not to ask about the mission. Sicheng would tell her nothing. Rhianon slumped herself back on her bed, while Sicheng sat beside her. “I don’t know. Juana still refused teach me anything.”

By her statement, Sicheng’s own expression hardened. Rhianon never fails to be astounded by the pale features of the man beside her. It’s been years— too many years— but the bleached face of Sicheng and his too-red lips still leaves her in wonder. Why do vampires look like that?

“You know why,” Sicheng answered.

Rhianon frowned. “Enough talking about me—”

“We didn’t even talk about you, Rhi,” Sicheng deadpanned. “Tell me about your roommate.”

Rhianon gathered her forgotten book on the mattress and played with its embossing while thinking of proper words to answer. “Well, she’s kind and nice. But I’m still skeptical about her. I’ve been alone in this room for years— then Juana barged in and told me to clean up because apparently, there’s someone coming.”

“It’s only right for you to be skeptical. Be wary of Juana and her plans. You know how cunning that woman could be.”

Rhianon punched Sicheng’s arm lightly. “You talk as if she’s not your mother.”

Impassiveness laced Sicheng’s following words, “She’s not. Tell me, does she still insist to avenge me?”

The woman sighed, “I think so.”

Sicheng let out a curse. “You must talk and tell her to fuck off already.”

“And be casted out from here? I don’t think so,” Rhianon snorted. “I need her guidance to become a witch.”

“You are a witch. You inherited her blood.”

Rhianon knew that if she spoke the same words to Sicheng, he would only brush it off like it was some kind of a dirty statement he wished not to hear again. But for Sicheng to say that to Rhianon, it was… heart-warming.  

“I am. But I know next to nothing. I have never even casted a spell yet.”

Sicheng reached out and took her hand. “I believe in you. You know that, right?”

Rhianon breathed. It’s been a while since she heard those words. When it comes to boosting her spirit, Sicheng remained unparalleled. “I know. And I think you’re the only one who does.”

“As long as I live, I will vouch for you.” Sicheng suddenly shifted, as if the air whispered on his vampiric ears. Rhianon sat upright, suddenly nervous of what did the man pick up. “Someone’s coming,” he hissed.

“Oh my, it’s my roommate.” She bolted to her feet, Sicheng copying her movement.

“I must go,” he pronounced, “While they’re still climbing the stairs.”

“Alright, come,” Rhianon stated as she pulled Sicheng’s wrist towards the door. “You could sprint away from here since you’re a vampire.”

Sicheng opened the door and pressed his lips to Rhianon’s head. “Take care of yourself. I’ll visit whenever I can.”

Rhianon nodded. “I will. You too, brother.”

When she blinked, Sicheng was gone.

—

Silence dominated the walk back to the dorms. Jaehyun was four paces ahead of you, and you didn’t bother to run after him. If he needed time to think, you would give it to him.

But you must admit, how things went downhill in the blink of an eye left a painful throbbing in your heart. Mere minutes ago, you were making love with him. And now both of you act as if you didn’t know each other’s name. Somehow, it had leached your bones to utter exhaustion.

You didn’t even notice that you were already climbing the stairs up to your room when you almost tripped over one of the steps. Gripping the railings tight, while your heart jumped in your chest, you glanced at Jaehyun who was already on his way to the fourth stair. Stubbornness made its way to your brain, whispering things such as: Why is he angry? It’s just right to block someone from infiltrating your mind. It’s called privacy! But you must also admit that you’d feel and act the same if you were on his shoes.

You stood straight and walked with forced dignity until you reached your doorstep. “Thank you, for tonight—”

But he already pressed his palm on the cemented railings and jumped.

So frustrating! You tugged on your hair before entering your room. Rhianon was splayed on her bed and snoring loudly when you entered. You shook your head while chuckling lightly, guessing that the question you have for her could wait until tomorrow.

A sigh went past your lips as you felt the tiredness seeping in your system. You badly wanted to sleep. But the sweat and the scent of sex still lingers on your skin. You turned on your heel and decided to shower instead.

As the cool water cascaded down your body, you couldn’t help but blush as you remembered Jaehyun’s hands. The way he kissed your lips, and the way he played with your teat. The memory made your clitoris throb in arousal.

Underneath his touch, you felt powerful. Like there wasn’t anything in this world who could take the power from you. He made you feel something— someone who isn’t exactly you. You gripped both your breasts as you felt the phantom of his hard length pushing in inside you. And you weren’t certain whether the liquid that has cascaded down your legs was from the shower or your sex.

“Fuck,” you muttered as you shook your body like a dog that has emerged from the water. This is weird, you whispered.

Jaehyun is a vampire. You are a human. There isn’t a happy ending to this story. But why do you dare to think that there might be?

—

Jaehyun couldn’t take it anymore. The reek of this vampire trailing behind him was too much for his sensitive sense of smell. So he snapped his head towards the shadow and bared his fangs. “Show yourself, boy.”

From the shadows emerged someone Jaehyun had learned how to trust when he became a vampire. “Sicheng? What the fuck are you doing here?”

“Nice to see you too, Jung.” The other vampire saluted lightly, before reaching out his hand to Jaehyun. The latter took his hand and then clapped his back. “Didn’t expect to see you here.”

Jaehyun kept his hands to his pockets. “Me, neither. Why are you here?”

“Alena sent me to find you.”

Jaehyun turned his back towards his friend. He never wanted to hear that name, now that his irritation could reach the roof of this Academy. “Tell her to fuck off.”

Sicheng snorted, but he trailed behind his friend nonetheless. “Why are you here?”

Jaehyun shrugged, as if the answer to that question could be spotted in his body language alone. “Protecting someone here.”

“Protecting?” Sicheng dubiously asked, “A hunter?”

“Get it over with, Sicheng. What do you want?” Jaehyun whirled on his comrade again when they reached the pathway through the building where his bedroom was located.

“She wants you to escort her to the coming ball. You know how it is. Everyone knows you’re engaged.”

He worked his jaw before placing a hand on Sicheng’s shoulder. “I’m not marrying her. So for the last time, tell her to fuck off because I don’t want the marriage.” Then he turned on his heel, but before he could walk away, Sicheng voiced out something which drew Jaehyun in a halt.

“I could smell her in you, Jung.”

Jaehyun felt his muscles tensed. Without facing his friend, he asked, “Who?”

“A girl. She’s here. As much as I want to, you know I couldn’t withhold information from Alena.”

Of course. Jaehyun knew that. It was Alena who turned Sicheng. She had her hand wrapped around his throat, and he was spinning on her fingers.

Jaehyun has no idea about Sicheng’s life when he was a human, but he somewhat understood what he must be feeling— being controlled against your will.

He ran a hand through his face. “I would kill for her, Sicheng.” Aghast by the truth of his own words, Jaehyun felt as if he was struck by lightning. He was truly willing to defy all odds— to defy Alena— for you. And if it comes to that, he knows he is willing to die for you, too.

“And Alena would kill her for you.”

Jaehyun wanted to shout. He wanted to throw and break things. But he willed himself to stay calm, because no hunter in this Academy would be able to stop his wrath if he succumbed to it. Yet he didn’t want to beg. He didn’t want to beg for Sicheng to keep the reality of you away from his Primus. From Jaehyun’s Primus and fiancée.

“Let it go, Jung. If you think you could protect her by staying at her side, you know you’re mistaken,” Sicheng added, “The best way to keep her safe is to leave her alone.”

With that, Jaehyun spun so fast— hands clenched into fist— and attempted to punch Sicheng in the face. But the vampire was gone before he could do exactly just that. With a clenched fist, Jaehyun stared at the miniscule tornado in the sand from where Sicheng once stood.

—

Your eyelids were heavy with something wet— wet and thick and coppery to the smell. What is that? You whispered as you slowly opened your eyes. The first thing you saw was the ceiling of plain white above you.

Where am I? Your body felt dense. Wet. Cold. It took you a moment to realize that you were in a bathtub. What? Questions filled your mind as you roamed your eyes around you. The walls are white. The ceiling is white. The tub you were in was white. You failed to see the furnitures and Rhianon’s bed wherever you look.

Your lower body was deep in the water. Your hair was soaked with something sticky that doesn’t feel like water. Then you tried to stand up. But your body was glued to the tub with an invisible adhesive.

All of this doesn’t make any sense. You could still recall the way you dried your hair before climbing on your bed and falling into oblivion the moment you closed your eyes.

How did you end up here?

Someone whispered. You craned your neck to see no one behind you. It was painful to tug your hands from the tub, as if your skin is peeling off as you pull.

“Help, help us,” they whispered. “Please, help us.” They sounded as if they were choking.

Your eyes grew frantic as someone— no, two bodies— emerged from nowhere. Their faces were obscured by how distant they were from you. But they slowly drew closer and closer.

You fought the urge to scream when you recognized their faces. They were your parents. With their necks slit open and blood gushing down from it.

“Help us.” They reached out their bloodied fingers to you.

A phantom hand wrapped itself around your neck. It was so hard to breathe.

“Mom, Dad,” you choked. “I— I’m trying my best— I—”

Then their faces crumpled. Their mouths widened as they scream at you. “You can’t save us!”

“I can! Mom! Dad! I can!”

You felt someone leaning closer to your ear. Then a whisper, “You can’t save them.”

As if someone drop an ink to the water, it slowly turned red. You could perceive the way the crimson color crawled and occupied the once crystal clear surface of the water. Then you were soaked in blood. Everywhere you look, there is blood.

“You can’t even save yourself,” the voice whispered again.

No. It wasn’t someone. Because when you turn your head to the side to face the voice, the bloodied face of Jaehyun greeted you.

“Jaehyun?”

You jolted awake the same time the rooster cackled. The first thing you did was to look around you frantically. Rhianon was there, snoring loudly. Then you touched your eyelids, there wasn’t blood. You are here, you are alive.

But that gave you little to no comfort.

Nightmares once dominated your every sleep when you were a kid. It was predominant in the year your parents had died. But it’s been years since you have had them. What business do they have to be showing up now?

From the darkness that covered the skies, you realized that it was still gloaming. You debated whether to go back to sleep, but you were afraid of the possibility of another nightmare. The look on your parents’ face, as if they were in absolute agony, pierced your heart with a hundred needles the size of your arm. You won’t survive to witness it the second time.

Instead of lying back to the bed, you grabbed your phone from the bedside table and tried to occupy your brain of different posts from the internet.

Haechan posted a picture together with Mark on his bedroom, with a caption that says: Y/N’s probably fuming that she couldn’t be with us tonight.

He was mistaken. You aren’t fuming. You are crying. Warm tears slid down your face as you looked at their picture. They are the only thing that tethers you to the real world. And that world feels as if it is slowly fading away like thin smoke.

You left a comment and decided to send your brother a simple message about your day. Wherever you are, Johnny, I hope you’re fine. Because I am not.

It’s been… what? Three days? Not even a week that you have been here and you felt as if the goal to discover the vampire who murdered your parents was too impossible to attain.

No. You cannot simply falter now. You have to keep making yourself stronger to attain Juana’s protection. And the thing about Hubert… you need to talk to Rhianon and convince her to help you. In all of this chaos, your goal to kill Alena remains undeterred.

You sat back on the bed and stared at Rhianon’s sleeping frame. What are you hiding from me, Rhi? Her book of enchantments silently lies beside her. It is her favorite book, no doubt. For a moment, you wanted to reach out and pick and read it. But it felt wrong somehow— as if the action would intrude on her privacy.

As you have no idea on what to do, and you refused to dwell on the memories of Jaehyun, you sat your back on the mattress while staring at the canopy, thinking about your nightmare and abour everything that you need to think. Until Rhianon shifted and sat on her bed.

She was wide-eyed while taking in your awoken state. “Didn’t know you’re a morning person,” she said as she stretched her limbs.

“I am not. I just had an awful nightmare and couldn’t go back to sleep because of it,” you sheepishly stated before sitting upright on your bed, back resting on the headboard.

“That sucks. And I’m afraid the breakfast would also suck. This Academy doesn’t even allow us to eat sausages,” she grimaced, “Breakfast, lunch, and dinner— it’s all the same and I’m so tired of—”

You cut her off, “Rhianon, I have something to ask you.”

She was still stretching her limbs when you cut her off, causing her arms to froze midair. “What is it?” She must have seen the gravity in your eyes for the first sliver of earnestness slipped past her lips.

“Are you a witch?” You felt awful asking the question. It was as if concluding a person’s sexuality. And that’s offensive. But you truly couldn’t waste time. Apologies would go after Rhianon’s answer.

“Why do you ask?”

“Well… your books, things—” You screw your lips shut as Jaehyun’s voice whispered in your ear.  

If the both of you are willing, he said. Are you? Are you prepared to strip naked all your secrets?

Before continuing, you gulped, “Because I need a witch’s help.”

Rhianon’s eyes bore into yours, scrutinizing your façade, as if she would find the answer by looking at you alone. “Juana is a witch. You’re here because you need her help,” she concluded, “Knowing her, she won’t give what you want that easily. And you must’ve realized that she’s not willing to help you at all— that’s why you’re searching for alternatives.”

Words slipped out of your system. You felt as if the alphabet was nothing but jumbled lines of letters in your mind. “I,” you cleared your throat, “Well, that’s correct. Most of it are.”

Moments of taciturnity, then Rhianon leaned closer. “Why did you let her fool you?”

“I didn’t. She’s still willing to help me, but she’s also sacrificing me in the sense. I mean—” you groaned. The words won’t simply come out.

“Y/N, tell me everything. So I know if I could help you,” she uttered.

While rolling your lip with your teeth, you ran a hand through your hair. “My parents were killed by a vampire. I need to know who killed them. Then I met Jaehyun— who is a vampire— and he’s helping me to discover what really happened to my parents. We arrived at Juana’s gathering, and asked for her help. She’s willing— but I must kill Alena, first.”

It’s Rhianon’s turn to gape at you. Then her expression hardened. “That’s insane, Y/N. I understand it now. You’re here because she said you must train. For Alena—” Then a heavy, painful sigh, “It’s impossible. That Primus is almost untouchable. Even Lucas— who’s the best vampire hunter to ever exist after Diego— is nothing compared to Alena.”

“What should I do? It’s the only choice left. I must kill her so Juana would help me enchant Hubert.”

Her brows furrowed. “Who is Hubert?”

“He’s a ghost. A gravedigger of some sorts. Jaehyun and I visited him, to ask about the fate of my parents. Apparently, he knows everything about vampires and their victims especially when it happened in the cemetery,” you explained, catching your breath after, “But he has no tongue. So he couldn’t talk.”

Something spark in Rhianon’s eyes. Interest, you could tell. “Where’s his tongue?”

“I have no idea. But you said… you said you’re interested on how to put back body parts right?”

“I am interested, Y/N. But I didn’t say I could do it.”

“Please, Rhi. I need this.”

She sighed, “Y/N. What did you discover to change plans like this?”

“Jaehyun heard them talking. Juana, Eva, and Lucas. They were talking about me. Juana said I am only a collateral damage— probably a tester to know how powerful Alena is. Before she would dispatch Eva or Lucas to kill her.”

Her knuckles turned white as she gripped the bedsheets. “Of course. She would do that. And why does she want you to kill Alena?”

“To avenge her son, she says, whom Alena turned into a vampire.”

Rhianon ran her hand through her face. “Fuck.”

“Why? Why, Rhianon?”

She shook her head at you. “Nothing,” she sighed, “This is complicated, Y/N. And I don’t know if I could help you. But… but I will try.”

Happiness and gratitude swelled inside your heart. Everything is lining up according to your plan, at last. “Thank you, Rhianon.”

—

It’s been a week since you shared your secrets with Rhianon and until now, she didn’t know what to do with them. You have repleted her too much information that she has no idea how to jumble in her mind. Her brother is right— she should really talk to Juana.

It has been years since Sicheng was turned. He had accepted his fate with the whole of his heart. Rhianon found it hard to swallow either— the turning of her brother. It made her angry, it made her want to tear Alena herself, too. But as the saying goes that blood is thicker than water, Rhianon found herself embracing the new life his brother decided for himself.

Sicheng was born as a male witch. For the witches, it is an atrocity to give birth to a male. A male witch is nothing: no magic, no abilities. Sicheng bore no supernatural instincts in his system. That’s why the remaining witches tried to cast him out. Rhianon would never forget the blood coming out from Sicheng’s hundred wounds when the witches tried to kill him. With his mother standing in the sidelines, watching the torture of her own son.

Rhianon and her grandmother helped Sicheng escaped, but they didn’t anticipate him to run to the vampire Primus of Detritius clan. When Rhianon forced herself to ponder the reason of her brother’s action, she knew to her heart that she would’ve done the same to survive.

What is the point of all this? Is it really the unbelievable motherly affection in Juana’s heart? That’s why she insists to kill Alena for allegedly turning her son into a vampire? Or is it the shattered pride? Because her mortal enemy has her son?

Rhianon soothed her nerves before pushing the doors of Juana’s chamber open. The first thing she noticed was the stark white hair of Lucas, as he leaned closer to Juana, obviously talking to her about something. Yet Lucas’s mouth shut abruptly by the sound of the door swinging open.

“Rhianon,” he stated.

At normal times, Rhianon would’ve blushed and squeal to herself that Lucas called her name. But this isn’t normal times. And she needs to talk to Juana.

“Leave us, Lucas,” Juana commanded.

Lucas pressed a fist to his heart before departing the room, casting a lingering stare at Rhianon’s face.

“What do you want?” Juana leaned to her table, reading documents Rhianon knew made no sense to her at all.

Rhianon willed strength to her bones, authority in her voice. “Sicheng wants you to stop whatever you are doing to get him back.” There’s no point for segue-ways.

“Don’t talk to me about Sicheng.”

Rhianon remained standing to where she was. “Aren’t you tired? You need to stop this folly! He doesn’t want to come back!”

The wooden chair of Juana grated the floors as she forcefully stood up. “Get out.”

She walked towards the witch with her chin held up high. “Stop ruining other people’s lives for Sicheng. You failed him. Years ago.”

“He is my son! How dare you say that to me?!”

The fire from the fireplace ignited brighter by Juana’s rage. Rhianon should run and shut the door behind her before Juana does something both of them would regret. But she couldn’t move a finger. Running felt horrid somehow.

“He is your son no more! He stopped being your son when you let the witches torture him to death—!” A palm to the cheek. Again. Rhianon bit her lip, tongue catching the swell of blood from the side of her mouth.

Juana’s fury enveloped the room with a darkness that wasn’t perceived by the eyes, but rather felt in the marrow of the bones. “Watch where you’re going, Rhianon. If you don’t want me to send you back to where you belong.”

Her shoulders vibrated by the petulant chortle she echoed. “Go on. Send me back to the woods. As much as I can remember, you’re the one who’s responsible for my being here. Grandma’s dead, so you don’t have any choice but to take care of me— your only daughter.” The word taste bitter on her tongue, as if it was acid scorching her flesh. “Perplexing, isn’t it? I am the one who inherited your witch blood. But you refused to acknowledge that— over and over— because what? And why? Why do you torture me like this, mother?”

All the neglect, Rhianon swallowed. But some wounds truly couldn’t heal without a touch of the right medicine. The patches in her heart yearns for a mother’s touch. And her own mother doesn’t want to tend to that.

Juana flinched by the word ‘mother’. Rhianon saw it with her own eyes. She flinched because she’s failed doing that responsibility again and again. “Because I hate your face. You remind me of your worthless father. I hate looking at you—”

“No, mother.” Rhianon gritted her teeth. “You hate looking at me not because of my father: you hate looking at me because you see a witch so powerful she rivaled your abilities.”

With that, Juana laughed her witch laugh. Mocking. Sarcastic. “Come again, Rhianon? You? Rivaling my power?”

Rhianon fisted her hands. “Yes. You know it. There’s no one who would inherit the magic in your bones but me. And I could feel it running in my veins.” Her mother’s nostril flared, but Rhianon continued, “You refused to admit it yet, but your powers are dwindling. And I am becoming stronger. Know this mother,” Rhianon pinned the words, “I will be better than you.”

Juana’s knuckles turned white. Her words clipped with warning, “Get. Out.”

Rhianon pressed a fist to her heart. Before she could bow, Juana sweeped all the things off her table.

“GET OUT!” she roared.

A triumphant smile spread out on Rhianon’s lips. She’s forgotten all respects, she’s forgotten the defeat, as she smiled and pivoted on her heels— turning her back on her mother.

—

A week has gone by. The days were occupied by you swinging your fist and your feet, drawing a bowstring or throwing daggers at a straw man target. The progress was slow, but it was there. Lucas had made sure that you appreciate yourself at the every end of the day. And you did, despite Eva’s unending glares and insults.

Rhianon provided you another comfort in the strict and lonely atmosphere of the Academy. Every now and then, if the both of you weren’t tired to the bones, you would talk about your plans. She seemed open about the discussion, but she still didn’t give away too much information about herself.

You knew she’s a witch. She hasn’t denied it yet, and she hasn’t confirmed it either. The question is still there, hanging between the both of you.

As much as you wanted to read through her books, you forced yourself to calm down since you would never want to rush her. Or make her feel as if you are rushing her. There’s still time until the gathering. All you need to do is ground yourself until then.

And Jaehyun… well, he remained conspicuous in the comforts of his chamber. The nights that he didn’t visit you had become the loneliest nights of your life so far.

There was an ache whenever you would turn around because you thought he was following you. You had become used to his presence that it was as if he left something in the corner of your eyes— a phantom— for you to miss him even more than you could.

It was maddening: this stage of developing feelings. The first are always the butterflies in the stomach and the need to see that person everytime. And when there’s a quarrel, you won’t know what to do. Because at the end of the day… there isn’t a knot of relationship tying the both of you.

You wrapped your hand aroud the neck of your beer before taking a swig from the bottle.

The nights were turning cold, so your roommate has decided to sneak in liquor to your dorm and drown yourself until you pass out. Rhianon seemed to be doing exactly the same.

“Where’s your vampire?” she slurred.

You watched as her eyes turned droopy with a small chuckle echoing through you. “He’s hibernating.” You wish. For all you know, he’s debating whether to help or abandon you now. The thought tied your stomach in knots.

“I’m sorry if I’m not doing anything yet to help you,” Rhianon shies.

“No. I understand. You’re giving me hope, Rhi. Please don’t put yourself down.”

Against the light of the room, a pinkish tinge adorned Rhianon’s gold skin. “I will try my best, Y/N. That, I could assure you.”

“Thank you.”

Rhianon tossed her bottle to the air, while laughing her heart out. There was something both ecstatic and sad in the way that she carried her expression that made you doubtful of the laugh that she was echoing. But you were never one to stick your nose to other people’s business, so you let it go and watched her in awe instead. You have been finding that same energy in you for weeks now.

She talks about her life, yet still careful of the words that comes out her mouth even though it is obvious that she is already intoxicated. Upon hours of swigging on her bottle and talking with slurred words, Rhianon finally started to snore as she reclined her head to the side of her bed.

You chuckled and helped her to lay down. You weren’t much of a drinker but you must admit that the beers had warmed up your body— too much for what you had expected.

Beer bottles littered on the floor, with chips and other wrappers that you have no idea how she sneaked in the dorms. You picked up the first bottle when a knock stopped your movements.

It’s eleven p.m.. Who could that be? Oh, no. It’s not the guards, right? With clammy fingers, you sauntered up to the door and swung it open.

“Hey,” he garbled.

There it was again: the thudding of your heart. Jaehyun stood on the doorway clad in his pajamas. He was looking at you with hooded eyes: like how a predator stares at its prey.

You gulped. “What are you doing here—”

Preventing you from finishing your words, Jaehyun pulled you closer, boxing you into a tight hug. Unable to form words nor move a muscle, you stood frozen and let him sniff on your hair like it was his favorite flower.

“I miss you,” he mumbled against your hair. “I miss you so much it hurts.”

His words and this feeling inside your chest. There was pain, there was suffering. But behind the hurt, you couldn’t help but fall.

“Jaehyun—”

“I can’t,” he whispered, “I can’t let you go.”

He pulled away and took your face with his hands. Those tantalizing eyes of him never failed to pierce right into the fiber of your very being. You shuddered by the intensity of his expression. “What do you mean?”

His lips were inches from yours. With the right push, those luscious lips would collide with yours undoubtedly. “You’re so beautiful,” he stated instead.

Jaehyun placed his hand to the small of your back before capturing your lips with a lazy kiss. You heedlessly wrapped your arms around his neck and guided him inside your room. You shut the door by pressing your back behind the wooden surface.

The hollow feelings that had been eating up on you of those days that he didn’t show himself were slowly closing in with the passion of the kiss. You have never thought that you could be this weak for a boy.

You and Jaehyun were like the sun and the moon— always chasing each other. But no matter how you run, you’d never sate the fervent wanting inside your souls for one another.

Jaehyun’s kisses moved downwards until he was sucking on your neck and eliciting moans from your lips. Perhaps the sound drove him mad, for he fumbled on your clothes and tried to get them off of your body. But you grasped his wrists to stop him.

Wide-eyed and with his mouth swollen because of the kiss, Jaehyun stared at you. “Why?”

“Let me,” you whispered before licking his lips. An echo of a throaty moan moved past his lips before you sunk on your knees and pulled his pajamas down his knees.

Jaehyun’s look hardened as his throbbing cock displayed himself in front of you. You gulped by the sight of him— in all his glory— then took his length by your hands.

“Suck me good, angel.”

You inspired upon hearing that same virility, that same wanting. And you did as you were told. With your sex aching by the arousal, you took Jaehyun’s cock in your mouth. His scent whiffed your nose, making you move your tongue along the veiny length of his cock as you swallowed him up and down.

Mouth hollowing by the burning desire and greedy need to make him come for you, you took the root of his penis and pumped while you sucked the crown of his cock. Jaehyun seized a handful of your hair when his hips jolted forward. The movement drove you wild, that you double-fisted the other half of his cock while you sucked his head down the length your mouth allowed you to swallow. Your eyes fluttered upwards and saw Jaehyun grit his teeth as he did his best not to make any sound.

The thought of Rhianon waking up kindled the lust a little bit brighter. Then you sucked Jaehyun until your jaw ached. The restraint and his grip on your hair making you delirious that you took his whole length until his cock hit your throat.

Jaehyun straightened as his hips stilled. Warm and thick spurts of semen filled your mouth you struggled to swallow. You whined against his cock, the taste of his semen overwhelming your tongue, your throat and every flesh inside your mouth.

“Swallow it. All,” Jaehyun commanded. You whimpered and did as you were told with diligence and tears searing the back of your eyes.

With one last gulp, you stood and faced Jaehyun. His cock was still hanging and rock-hard when he wiped your lips harshly with his thumb, painting your lips with the last bit of semen still on your gums. Then he captured your lips, tasting his own self.

You whimpered by the animalistic penetration he did inside your mouth. During the kiss, he fumbled on your pajama strings and pulled your panties down with it. You gasped as he inserted a finger inside your dripping sex abruptly. Jaehyun lifted your one leg as he dipped another finger. When your mouth opened, he looked at you in warning.

“You can’t really shout, can you?” Then he curled his fingers, stretching your flesh with carnal desire in his eyes.

“Jaehyun—” You whined as you grabbed his shoulders for support.

“What? What, angel? Tell me what you want.”

“I’m— I’m coming—” you struggled to breathe and say the words because of the pace he was fingering you in. “Jaehyun!” you cried when he released his fingers.

Without another word, Jaehyun pulled your body towards the space between your bed and Rhianon’s. She was snoring softly, oblivious of what’s happening around her.

“Jaehyun— she might wake up—” you breathed.

Jaehyun seemed as if he didn’t hear a word because he pressed his lips to your ear, licking your earlobe before whispering hoarsely. “Get in all fours, angel.”

Your eyes widened as you glanced at Rhianon, who had her body turned sideways. If she would open her eyes, she would see your naked lower body. But the lust was blurring all your senses, and the insatiable need to have Jaehyun inside you was a physical ache cursing through your swollen clit.

You gulped before bending over the cold hard floors. Palms and knees pressed on the tiles, your body inches away from your sleeping roommate.

“Wider, angel,” the devil whispered before spreading your legs with his.

You swallowed a gasp when the air caressed your sex. “This is a bad idea.”

“Why? You’re afraid of being caught?” Jaehyun leaned towards you, the skin of his cock pressing on your sex, making you giddy with pleasure. “Don’t tell me you don’t want this, angel. I could smell the lust in your pretty little cunt.”

You bit back a cry when Jaehyun inserted himself inside you. With his hand pushing your upper body down the tiled floor, and his other pulling your ass to the air, Jaehyun started to fuck you from behind.

Your cheek was pressed against the cold hard floor, while his balls slapped against your buttocks by every thrust. A whimper escaped your lips, intensifying the adrenaline coursing through your veins. The slap of skin to skin was so intense you were clearly baffled that Rhianon continued to drool and snore on her bed.

Jaehyun willed your body to bend while he wrapped an arm around your neck, still fucking you with the same pace that hit all the right spots in your sex. “Jesus, fuck,” he muttered while ravaging your tight cunt.

His outburst made you lose your mind as you let the pleasure pull you underneath its grasp. Your knees hurt and your back aches but Jaehyun kept you in that position, fucking you restlessly and fervently as if it was blood— as if it was his lifeline.

“Jaehyun—!” you whimpered when he reached for your clit and rubbed it harshly, building your climax right in your lower abdomen.

“Right,” he uttered, “Scream my name and let all the hunters know how filthy you are for a vampire.”

Your sex tightened by the dirty words, and Jaehyun felt it too. For he released your clit and let it throbbed in anticipation for a climax that was put off. “Jaehyun,” you cried, “let me come.”

“Soon, angel.” Then he let you fall back to the floors as he pulled himself out.

Your legs were still shaking when Jaehyun climbed in on your bed and sat. He tapped his lap while jacking off his cock.

“Ride my cock,” he commanded once again.

You shuddered by the command. As you remained sitting on the floor, with Jaehyun masturbating on your bed and Rhianon snoring behind you, you decided to touch your clit and get it over with. The climax you have been anticipating since earlier was hanging on a loose thread, ready to burst and drive you mad.

“Don’t even dare,” Jaehyun warned before you could rub your swollen clit. The danger in his eyes made you halt, and with a whine you climbed up on your bed and sat on his lap. “Be a good girl and ride me.”

Jaehyun was… huge. It was your first time to realize as his cock reached the skin a few centimeters up your navel. His cock would destroy you. And you would let it.

Placing your hands on Jaehyun’s knees, you sank your sex down his length. He gritted his teeth, fangs slowly elongating. You arched your back and dragged your sex along the rigid length of his cock. Jaehyun placed a thumb on your clit and started to draw lazy circles that made you shiver in pleasure.

Rhianon was meters away from the both of you as you fucked the brains out of each other. Whenever you think of being caught, your desire would double up. You continued to drag your sex down his length, buttocks slapping against his lap by every arch and fall your body makes.

His brows knitted together as you vacillate your hips. By every pump of your hips, your lower abdomen and core tightens. Jaehyun’s business rubbing your clit like that didn’t help— it was maddening.

One last stroke of his thumb and you would explode from the pleasure of it all.

As if he heard the animalistic roar of your body language, Jaehyun leaned and grabbed the back of your head, holding your eyes with his red pupils as your cunt quivered and your stomach caved in. You bit back a cry when your climax finally washed through you. Jaehyun grinned when you started to shake, his cock still inside you. He pulled you closer and let your forehead sit on his shoulder while your lower body still shivered from the pleasure.

“Goddamn it,” he muttered before pushing you away from him. His semen spurted out from his cock and to his thighs, to your own mattress.

You languorously watched his jaw clenched. All the strength from your body was sapped, but you forced yourself to sit and lick the semen off his legs. Jaehyun cursed as he watched you. Then he grabbed your chin and planted a savage kiss on your lips.

“So fucking dirty for me,” he whispered as he fisted a handful of your hair. You gaped, feeling the salacity in his voice down to your very core.

Jaehyun planted open-mouthed kisses on your shoulders, neck, jaw, and cheek as he laid you down on your mattress, covering both your bodies with the sheets.

Your mind was hazy and your eyes were heavy from pleasure. You let the tingling feeling to spin inside your stomach as Jaehyun continued to pepper you with soft kisses.

“Are you sleepy?” he whispered while scooping you closer to his frame.

Finding words to say and failing in the process, you only nodded.

“Sleep, angel,” he mumbled.

But before you could close your eyes, you stared at him and tried to memorize the plains of his face to join you to dreamland. “You hid yourself from me for a week.”

Jaehyun let out a throaty and full chuckle before placing kisses on each of your fingers. “I did. Because I needed the time to think.”

You hummed, trying to raise one brow in inquisition.

“I needed the time to think because I was afraid.”

“Of?”

“Of everything regarding you, angel.”

You hugged his waist, burying your face to his chest and inhaling that unnatural yet enthralling scent from him. “What do you mean?”

“Never mind what I mean. Just…” Then he began to caress your cheek, sweeping strands of your hair away from your eyes. “... trust me. Believe in me.”

“I believe in you.”

“Then I am thankful,” Jaehyun whispered once again. With one last kiss on your cheek, you drifted fully to oblivion, the dreamlands pulling you under.

[tcm]

Island in the Sun: ‘One Drop’ in the Ocean By Theresa Brown

Let’s face it – America was not ready for Dorothy Dandridge.

Her beauty is undeniable. And, as Janet Jackson notes in her TCM tribute to Dandridge, Dorothy was a ‘triple threat’ with singing, dancing and acting in her repertoire. She just needed a chance to shine. Daughter of character actress Ruby Dandridge, Dorothy appeared in soundies and small uncredited parts throughout the 1940s. In BRIGHT ROAD (‘53) she plays a schoolteacher offering G-rated maternal love and understanding to her students in a rural school district. She really comes into prominence with Otto Preminger’s 1954 film CARMEN JONES. Sexy, sassy, fiery...dangerous, Dandridge swaggers like a gunslinger and sets the screen ablaze as the tempestuous Carmen. Her BRIGHT ROAD co-star, Harry Belafonte, is the hapless handsome soldier who tragically tangles with her. Dandridge was nominated for an Academy Award for Best Actress in a Leading Role for her performance.

I rather enjoyed her next movie coming three years after CARMEN JONES, ISLAND IN THE SUN (’57). It’s sort of a PEYTON PLACE in the Caribbean with different storylines of politics, family secrets, murder and miscegenation weaving and wending their way around coconut trees and sugar cane plantations. May I offer one sticky wicket of a caveat? You’ll probably have to leave your 21st century racial perspective at home when you visit. The movie is 63 years old and does give a nod to all those antiquated racial tropes. My jaw dropped a coupla times.

Let me map out the scorecard for you. A Caribbean country is about to undergo the changeover from colony to independence. Pivotal in that change is union leader Harry Belafonte. Pre-dating Malcolm and Martin and today’s ‘social justice’ warriors, Belafonte’s character is interested in uplifting his people on the island. He has a casual relationship with Dandridge that doesn’t have enough fire to toast a marshmallow. What’s wrong with THAT picture? In the movie, he has history on the island with Joan Fontaine. There’s a tentative attempt to explore where they can go, but class and color are a bumpy road for them to hurdle (perhaps the script’s “convenient” way to keep them apart?). He’s more interested in power than romance. Gee, all that handsomeness gone to waste. I don’t know that Belafonte quite has any chemistry with Fontaine once you see Dandridge on his arm – or am I the only one blinded here? But Belafonte steps up his acting game opposite Academy Award-winner Fontaine.

Also in the cast, we have Stephen Boyd, ripe for the picking as the current governor’s son whose return to the island after months stationed in Egypt—without a woman in sight—is pointedly noted. He’s back on the island until he jets off to London. It’s said of him:

“A male, young, white, unmarried, titled and comparatively rich. Good heavens, what else do you think the girls would talk about.”

Boyd spots virginal-in-white Joan Collins at the Governor’s ball. Yes, you read that right – I said virginal and Joan Collins in the same sentence, and he’s interested. So is she. They start a slow-building romance. They don’t make themselves part of the island’s life. They’re into each other. Don’t worry, a freak-out lays ahead for them. Her brother is played by James Mason. They are heirs to the largest sugar cane plantation on the island and Mason’s a weakling. You know the type: the second son...ever second best...insecure...lots to prove. He has contempt for the islanders; suspects his wife of having an affair with the dashing, accomplished Michael Rennie; and decides to run as a political opponent to the popular Belafonte. Belafonte’s response:

“Wouldn’t it be fair to say the only reason you seek election is to revenge yourself upon the whites whom you now think despise you?”

Mason’s got a lot on his plate. (And it ain’t conch chowder).

When Dandridge first appears in the movie, she and Belafonte make a stunning couple entering the governor’s party. She immediately lets Belafonte know she has a mind of her own. She’s confident, truthful, tries to do herself some good pitching for a job in the governor’s office. She fits right into the tony setting with no apology...and wearing no maid’s uniform. She carries herself with quiet sophistication. She just is. She’s noticed by the governor’s military attaché (John Justin), and he immediately falls head over heels. I like Justin and Dandridge together. He’s not trying to keep their relationship secret. He might have one twinge of jealousy or discomfort, but all in all they’re fine together. You might think this interracial romance would be problematic as well but it’s not, compared to Belafonte and Fontaine. What’s the difference? Food for thought. But I think we all know why.

Justin: “Somewhere someone once said there’s always a point in the beginning of a love affair where a man can draw back. Where he’s still safe.”

Dandridge: “Is that what you want, to be safe?” 

Justin: “I’ve been in love. Funny, I don’t know anything about you.” Dandridge: “What would you like to know?” 

Justin: “All about you. Everything.” 

There is a moment with this couple I really like; it’s provocative in a non-provocative way. (No Spoiler!) Dandridge is lying fully clothed on Justin’s bed, reading his manuscript...with no shoes on. Big deal, right? I think it speaks tremendously to their level of intimacy. She’s at home in his space. When have you ever seen THAT in movies of the 50s...or 40s or 30s for that matter?

I like this Daryl Zanuck-production. It’s a colorful, lush, melodramatic production with racial and sexual tension, sexual restraint and good-looking people. Dorothy Dandridge is very easy to watch on film. Yes, she’s easy on the eyes, but she’s also not chewing the scenery and has a very natural presence on screen. You never see her act. I wish she’d done more. She’s not exotic. She’s just a woman...a human. She had many facets she could tap into to express different characters. I’m so glad TCM, with the guidance of acclaimed author Donald Bogle, spotlighted her career. This gets a wider audience to get to know her. No, America was not ready for Dorothy Dandridge.

But she wasn’t going to spend her time waiting for us.

[suga-honey-icedtea]

Lost and Found | Irene

a/n: this was a request from this anon and it took me a while i’m so sorry! school really took a lot out of me and so i wasn’t able to do much of anything. but i tried to do this justice and i hope you enjoy it still! i know it’s short and i’m sorry for that, jumping back into writing longer pieces might take a bit but i’ll try!

leave your thoughts: here

my other writing: here

word count: 1,999 words

TW: MENTIONS OF BLOOD AND GUNS

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 Irene’s eyebrows were knitted together as the sun peeked through her curtains and reached across her carpeted floor toward her door. Which, she noted, had not been opened at any point during the night. At least, not that she was aware of but surely she would have heard it open and heard the shuffling of a certain person. The covers hadn’t been lifted, either, and the other side of the bed remained colder than usual. The worry began to smack into Irene like waves coming onto shore at a beach as she carefully got up and quickly dressed for the day.

 She was distracted, so much so that even her subordinates were noticing her dazed expressions and half-baked orders. Irene was lost and no one could figure out why until Seulgi asked a fateful question that set Irene off. “Hey, Bae, have you seen Y/N? She didn’t hand in the data from the most recent trades done with Loona and I need those so I can get--” It was a simple question, a harmless one in theory, and Seulgi wasn’t the one being targeted with Irene’s mounting fury and concern. She just wasn’t looking at logistics here when it came to blame.

 “Of course I haven’t seen her! I don’t know where she is, it seems no one really gives a shit, either!” Irene seethes and several bodies flinch at the sound her fists make slamming into the conference table currently in the room. Seulgi frowned, looking at Joy and Wendy for some kind of answer, but both girls shrugged as they watched their boss begin to pace. “It wasn’t that big of a disagreement, she wouldn’t leave me over something so small, would she?”

 “Did you and Y/N fight, or something?” Wendy tried, shrinking back slightly when Irene’s furious glare landed on her frame. It was only for a few seconds, Wendy’s eyes locking onto her leader’s until the latter broke eye contact with a sigh. She slumped into her chair, finally, and with a wave of her hand, the lower rung people scattered out of the conference room. They would rather be far away from Irene if she was about to explode.

 “We had a disagreement.” Irene finally clarified when the door clicked closed after the last person left the room. Opening her eyes, Irene looked far younger with the pout gracing her features than she had with the glare a few moments prior. “Y/N was upset that I was insisting her take a bodyguard with her when she goes out. She kept talking about wanting freedom and I kept arguing about recent issues with the GOT7 mafia and how I just wanted to make sure she was safe. Eventually, after yelling for so long, Y/N decided to go out for a drive and she never came back last night.”

 The room was silent when Irene slumped onto the table, her hair splaying across the countless papers scattered over the surface. The other girls looked at one another, confused on how to approach this without upsetting Irene further. They didn’t think it was her fault, necessarily, but they didn’t want to accidentally insinuate it to their boss, either.

 “Do you think the GOT7 mafia took her as some kind of revenge, then?” Joy suggested, wincing a little when Irene sat back up in her seat and slammed her fists onto the table once more.

 “They probably kidnapped her! Took her and locked her up somewhere for information on us. Not that she has any, but that would mean she could be killed!” Irene shrieked, looking at her members in fear before locking eyes with their youngest, Yeri. “Yeri, I need you to track her phone. She had it with her and she always leaves it on!”

 Without a word, Yeri nodded once and began to type furiously on her laptop. Turning her attention, Irene found Joy next across the table from Yeri. “Joy, I need you to start gathering the best people we have to infiltrate GOT7’s base. There’s no guarantee that Y/N will be there, but we can just capture their leaders and have a little chat with them if we can’t find her there.”

 Joy quickly got up with a nod, leaving the room with a speed that eased Irene’s worries a little bit. With Yeri promising to send whatever she could find, Irene left with Wendy and Seulgi to gather some last-minute supplies at the mansion. 

 The whole drive to the Red Velvet mansion had Irene on edge, staring out the window wondering if her girlfriend was really safe or not. The world that Irene was apart of, the dirty secretive world that she knew Y/N didn’t want a part of, was dangerous and didn’t care about morals or who wasn’t okay to attack. With the recent tensions with other mafia groups as well, Irene had no idea what could happen. Without Y/N, Irene was surely going to go crazy.

 Wendy stopped the car outside the mansion, the trio quickly entering through the front doors. Breaking off to go their respective ways until they met again, Irene headed straight for her room to change first. If they were going to do a recon mission to rescue the love of her life, she wanted to be the best prepared she could be for any situation.

 Irene approached her door only to freeze outside of it when she heard a thump and muffled swearing coming from the other side. Her brain wracked for a mode of action she could take, her fingers dancing across the handle for the gun she kept in her back pocket. If she pulled it out and rushed the person, she could quietly apprehend them and could eliminate them faster. 

 But what if they attacked her first? Irene cringed at the thought, deciding to just shoot and ask questions later. If she aimed for a spot that wouldn’t cause immediate death, then they could question the intruder more easily that way. Irene nodded as her brain rationalized this plan, letting out a breath before she reached for the doorknob.

 Before she could open the door, however, it swung open quickly and the person ran right into Irene. Irene only squeaked, not paying attention to who it really was as she aimed at their knee cap and pulled the trigger.

 “Holy shit!” They gasped loudly, Irene’s eyes wide as she realized who it really was. Y/N crumpled onto the floor, fingers shakily coming to stop the blood that was cascading from her very shattered knee. “What the fuck, Irene?!”

 “I thought you were some intruder!” Irene shouted back at Y/N as she fell to her knees, pulling off her jacket to wrap around Y/N’s very bloody knee. Y/N whimpered as Irene jostled it around, first aid definitely not being her strong suit. “I’m sorry, baby. I was scared and acting on impulse.”

 “Remind me to leave and enter every room loudly announcing myself, then!” Y/N snapped back before Wendy poked her head around the threshold of the door. Her eyes widened and without hesitating, she pushed Irene out of the way and began doing what she could.

 “Go call someone to help.” Wendy instructed Irene and without protesting, Irene was off to call for their medical personal. Irene wasn’t allowed anywhere near the infirmary area for a long time, partly due to Wendy’s own instruction and partly because Y/N was still very upset that Irene shot her.

 It wasn’t until a week passed, Irene sitting at her windows and watching the moon in the sky above, that Y/N slowly shuffled through the door. “It’s me, Y/N.” She whispered loudly, just to be sure Irene knew of her presence. Irene turned away from the window, the bags under her eyes weighing heavily as she watched the other shuffle into the room and toward the bed. Irene wanted to help her, but thought against it. Y/N wouldn’t let her into her room for a week, Irene doubted she really wanted her help anymore.

 “You’re out of your room.” Irene noted, her voice bland and void of any life. Y/N nodded, frowning as she finally took in Irene’s appearance. She looked disheveled beyond recognition, almost like she hadn’t showered in days. Y/N knew that Irene hadn’t left her room in a long time, opting to just stare out the windows instead. Seulgi told her when she visited two days ago and Y/N laughed it off like it wasn’t real.

 It didn’t sound like her girlfriend, though Irene shooting her knee cap didn’t sound like her girlfriend, either. Y/N shifted on the edge of the bed under Irene’s dead gaze, chewing on her lip as she fought against whether she should say something or just drag Irene to the shower.

 “You know, it was an accident. You shouldn’t beat yourself up over it.” Y/N finally whispered, and she watched as Irene’s shoulders sagged under the imaginary weight that Y/N knew she was putting onto herself. Irene’s head slowly shook from side to side, dead eyes finally lifting to look into her own again.

 “I should’ve thought more instead of blindly shooting like some rookie. I was so preoccupied with what happened to you and where you were that I didn’t think through what I was doing more.” Irene’s voice cracked, stray tears trickling down her cheeks as she spoke. She didn’t bother to wipe them away, though Y/N wasn’t sure if it was because she was tired or just didn’t care. “I haven’t been able to sleep or eat for days because of how much I fucked up with you.”

 “You didn’t fuck up, though. Listen to me, Irene.” Y/N grumbled a little as she stood, shuffling over to Irene the best she could before taking her face into both her hands gently. “Yeah, you shot my knee, but I’m not mad at you anymore. You didn’t know that my car broke down the night before, and I had no way to tell you I was back since my phone died.”

 “I shouldn’t have blown up like I did, though. You’re a person who should be allowed to go out and not come back like a teenager with a curfew.” Irene scoffed at herself, thinking back to the argument that sparked it all. “And I shouldn’t just blindly start shooting at people. That’s how I end up hurting the ones I love, you most of all.”

 Y/N pouted at Irene before carefully leaning down, letting her lips brush against Irene’s lips. Irene closed the distance herself after a few seconds of holding her breath, almost crumpling in relief when Y/N didn’t pull away. When she did, though, there was a soft smile gracing her face and Irene’s chest felt warmer than it had all week.

 “Couples fight all the time. While they might not shoot each other, I know you didn’t do it on purpose. Besides, I’m alive and my knee is going to heal just fine.” Y/N tried to assure Irene and hummed happily when Irene finally nodded with a pout. Tugging on her hand after a few seconds of staring into each other’s eyes, Y/N managed to pull Irene up onto her feet. “Let’s sleep, okay? We can shower in the morning.”

 Irene smiled as she helped Y/N shuffle back to the bed, getting comfy and making sure she didn’t hit her girlfriend’s knee as she pulled Y/N close to her. When her eyes closed, sleep instantly found her and for the first time in a week, Irene was able to sleep without nightmares of losing Y/N to something more sinister. Y/N smiled as she watched Irene sleep, her fingers carding through her girlfriend’s hair, and she decided this was where she always wanted to be, no matter what happened in the future.

[vanaera]

The Heart Holiday | Act 2 (2/2) | myg

Synopsis: Valentine’s Day is declared as an official holiday. However, private companies’ standards dictate it’s only for the people who are currently in a relationship. Unluckily for Y/N, she doesn’t have this year’s PRS’ (Proof of Relationship Status) “in a relationship” box ticked – the only ticket out she can have to enjoy one paid week of holiday leave away from her hellish job. And more unfortunately for Y/N, everyone around her is oh so conveniently currently committed in a relationship. Except for one person: Min Yoongi, Y/N’s biggest critic in every pitch meeting, the picky guy who always picks on her, and the most annoying jerk of the century. Desperate for that holiday leave, Y/N strikes Yoongi up with an offer: Fake date each other two weeks before February 14, just enough time for the Department of Relationship Management (DRM) to consider processing their PRSs. After Valentine’s Day, they will go back to their own ways and never speak about whatever that may happen during the plan. Good, plain, and simple. That is until, Yoongi uncharacteristically oh so enthusiastically agrees to Y/N’s offer, leaving her thinking that she may have bitten something too much more than she can chew.

Characters: Yoongi x Female Reader AU/ Trope: Office AU (Creatives Staff!myg x PA!reader), enemies to lovers, fake dating Genre: fluff, angst, comedy (the triple t(h)reat) Wordcount: 24.5k Warnings: None (PG-15 Rating). There’s a mention of drunken sex but it’s just one sentence. There’s also less cursing now.

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DAY 4 – January 29; Wednesday

               If yesterday had Yoongi weirdly avoiding her like she’s got a highly contagious virus, today’s Yoongi is a hell of a nutcase. This is even far from an understatement. Ever since Y/N set foot in the office, Yoongi is already on her face. “You got my message last night, sweetheart?” He winks as he walks by her side towards the Creatives’ office. When Y/N plops down on her seat, Yoongi’s eyes are already set dead onto her. He’s not sending her his usual ‘I will end you and you know I can’ look. He’s cupping his face and stares at her with wide, big eyes, lips pulled into a small smile. He even goes as far as to wink at her and send her a fucking finger heart. As if it’s not enough, he has spammed her phone with weird shit.

               Mean Yoongi >:( : Good morning, pretty girl.  (8:19 A.M.)

               Mean Yoongi >:( : Did I call you pretty? Oops, I mean little girl AHAHAHHAHAH (9:11 A.M.)

               Mean Yoongi >:( : Don’t ignore me now. I know you’re staring at me 😉 (9:31 A.M.)

               Mean Yoongi >:( : Who wouldn’t when I’m so handsome? (9:32 A.M.)

               Mean Yoongi >:( : You don’t have to tell me. I already know 😉😉😉 (9:35 A.M.)

               Mean Yoongi >:( : Y/Niiiiiiieeeeeeeee (10:16 A.M.)

               It seems like a virus has gotten into Yoongi’s head and tampered with his brain.

               Y/N’s thoughts halt when Dana passes by her cubicle at 11 A.M. She retrieves the folder she gave her yesterday and glosses over the paper where Y/N typed her final picks. “Endmatter, Extreme Cut, Malachite Adventure? And you want to make a hybrid out of them?” Dana glances up at her.

               Y/N nervously clasps her hands together, “Well, I know these templates are usually used for feature articles. So I thought, why not make them appropriate for profile pages, too? No one di-dictated them to be just for features, right? Endmatter has a wonderful layout for pictures. Extreme Cut is good for setting focus on the text blocks. Malachite Adventure has a space-efficient layout for sequencing. If we can combine these three, we could provide something new,” Y/N bites her lip. “Nancy likes new and clean for generic pages like the profiles. So…I guess, why not combine these three templates known for having a clean-cut design?”

               Dana stares at her. Y/N gnaws on her lips. The blonde breaks into a grin. “My, you do research well.”

               Y/N shyly looks down onto the notebook on her desk. She doesn’t do much work other than gathering reports anyway. It’s only logical she spent five hours learning about templates yesterday than not doing anything. She mutters, “I just really put my all when I’m given a job.” 

                “And you did,” Dana smiles, “I think this is even brilliant. I’ll make sure to tweak these three to what you suggested.”

                “Y-you will?” Y/N’s eyes grow big. She could feel her heart hammering loud in her ears.

                “Yeah, why not?” Dana shrugs, “This is new so I’m excited, myself, to try this. And because you know what Nancy likes from all the time you spent with her probably overhearing her roast us all to hell and back, I can at least be assured she won’t be too disappointed with this as our previous submission.”

                “Yeah,” Y/N smiles. Heat spreads onto her ears and warmth settles on her chest. The feeling feels too foreign and surreal but she guesses it’s probably just because It’s been a while since she’s been praised for doing a good job. 

               “Guess you and Yoongi made up, huh?”

               The spreading warmth freezes cold. Y/N looks up at Dana in surprise. 

                “I saw you two earlier being chummy with each other. It even looked like you two have fucking heart eyes,” Dana smiles expectantly.

                “N-no, we’re—” Y/N cuts herself. Right, we’re supposed to be a couple. We should have already started convincing everyone we’re dating each other the moment we agreed on the deal. Y/N gulps, “Umm, uh, yeah?”

               Dana giggles, “You don’t have to be so nervous, you know? I know you two have a thing. For a long time now.” Y/N’s brows meet together. Dana doesn’t dwell on it, gathering the folder back onto her arms, “Thank you for this again, Y/N. See ya later.”

               Dana leaves for the break room and Y/N’s left staring at her back. Her stupor is broken when Yoongi enters her field of vision again, hands occupied with papers.  When he passes by her cubicle, he makes sure to flash her another mischievous wink.

               Y/N groans and slumps her head onto her desk.

                “He’s got my number now, Mina, and to make matters worse, he’s being a winking machine ever since this day started!”

               Mina nods. However, Y/N could tell something is up. Her bestfriend’s eyes are switching from her face and onto her radio and her hands were shaking in her clasp. It’s as if she’s restaining herself. 

               Y/N pauses. She pulls her seat closer to her friend, “Did something happen, Mina?”

               Biting her lips, Mina pins her with a look, “Y/N, promise me you won’t be too surprised.”

               “Why?” Y/N’s eyes grow bigger, “So something really happened? Tell me, Mina.”

                No,” Mina shakes her head. She closes her eyes, “Just promise me you won’t overreact.”

               Y/N’s lips twitch. “Okay.”

               Mina sighs. She turns to her computer and scrolls through her Facebook account. “So yesterday, I’ve been talking with our high school batchmates. They were planning a reunion next month. A big one. They said they’re trying to get ahold of the whole batch. And something caught my eye.” Mina zooms a post on the screen.

               It was a post of Suho Lee, the former Student Council President of their batch in National East Science High School. He took a picture of him and his former members of the council, announcing they’re indeed planning a huge reunion since it’s been a while they’ve seen each other. The post has over a thousand likes by now because Suho made sure to tag almost everyone in the batch. Of course, he’s Suho. Suho knows everybody. Y/N could even see Mina’s name among the tags. But what made her jaw drop is one aberrant name she never expected to be there.

               Min Yoongi.

               Y/N turns to Mina, eyes blown wide, “Mina, what the hell is this?”

               Mina nods, “I’m also shocked, Y/N. I didn’t know he studied in the same high school as us. He’s even our fucking batchmate. I didn’t know—wait, Y/N, where are you going?!”

               Y/N exits the Accounting Department and scrolls through her own Facebook account. She walks in fast strides and heads to where she only knows Min Yoongi will be during lunch: the break room. When she swings open the door, she’s right in her speculation.

               Y/N walks toward the man who’s washing his utensils in the sink.

               “Min.”

               Yoongi pauses and looks to his side, “Oh, sweetheart, you’re here.”

                “Don’t call me sweetheart,” Y/N spits. She flashes her phone to Yoongi. “What’s the meaning of this?”

               Yoongi squints. “It’s a reunion announcement.”

                “Obviously,” Y/N rolls her eyes, “I know how to read, Min. And because of that, I know you’ve been tagged here. So, tell me, why is your name here?”

               Yoongi places his washed utensils in the dishrack. “Obviously, I’ll be tagged because I studied at NES High,” He looks at Y/N, leaning his hips against the counter, “Why are you making such a big deal out of a reunion announcement?”

                “Because I studied here too!”

                It’s time for Yoongi to have his eyes bulge out, “Y-you did?”

                “Of course, I did! This is where Mina and I first met!”

                “But I thought you two were just college buddies?”

                “We are! But we belong in the same friend circle in high school first before we got closer in college—this is not the point,” Y/N exasperates, “Why did you not tell me you studied in the same high school?!”

               Yoongi opens his mouth but Y/N cuts him short, “Oh, I know. This is probably the reason why you’re tormenting me ever since you got into Travel Loca.”

               “What?”

               Y/N crosses her arms. “You’re out here to take your revenge on me.”

               The furrows on Yoongi’s forehead deepen.

               “Hello?” Y/N deadpans, waving her hands as if it can shake up Yoongi’s memory, “You’re probably one of the names I removed on some group work we had because you’re a freeloader. No wonder you’re so lazy and such a slack-off when you used to co-P.A. with me.” Y/N holds her head high, “And now, you’re here to take revenge.”

               Yoongi releases a half-scoff, half-laugh, “What?”

               Y/N frustratedly blows a sigh, “In case you did not know, I’m well-known in the batch for removing names of freeloaders in group works. I haven’t kept track of how many names I’ve already removed because they’re that many. And now, you’re here taking your revenge. You don’t have to be petty, Yoongi, you know? If you had unresolved feelings—which I think you don’t have any right to have in the first place because it’s your fault for being lazy and you dug out your own grave—you could have just talked with me like a goddamn adult instead of doing all the shit you did—”

               Yoongi’s guffaw cuts you short.

               Y/N scowls, “Why are you laughing, Yoongi? This is not funny.”

               “Oh, it is!” Yoongi lets out, in-between breaths, “This is hilarious! Revenge? What will I avenge against you when I don’t even know you studied in the same high school?”

               Y/N stops. “Y-you don’t know me? But I’m the valedictorian of our batch!”

              “Not everyone cares to know that, you know?”

               Y/N’s scowl deepens, “Just because you didn’t get any awards in your whole life doesn’t mean you get to demean and undervalue other’s people achievements.”

               “I’m not undervaluing it,” Yoongi takes a step closer to her, “I’m just saying no one spends too much time remembering their batch’s valedictorian. I don’t even remember the summa cum laude of my own batch in college.” Yoongi takes a step closer to Y/N, trapping her back on the counter. He leans forward, closing the space between their faces so small only a hair’s breadth separates their noses from brushing against each other. Y/N lets out an inaudible gasp. Yoongi smirks, “What makes you so different, sweetheart?”

               Y/N places her hands on his shoulders, “Don’t get too proud of yourself, Yoongi.” But before she can push him away, the door swings loudly against the wall and a woman exclaims.

               “Oh my God, I’m so sorry for interrupting!”

               Ms. Teddy. Y/N’s mouth falls open. She weakly hits Yoongi’s chest to back away and pay respect to their temporary boss but Yoongi only holds her fists and gives her a sickening, sweet smile. He turns around to face Ms. Teddy, but not enough to let out Y/N from her position. Yoongi smiles at the general supervisor, “Oh don’t worry Ms. Teddy, you’re not interrupting anything.”

              “Are you sure?” the 45-year-old woman asks. Her wary tone doesn’t match the small blush forming on her cheeks though.

              “I’m sure,” Yoongi replies, facing Y/N, “I’m just trying to ask my sweetheart for a date.” Yoongi turns back to Ms. Teddy, smiling, “Nothing biggie. She just said ‘yes.’”

               Y/N gapes “What—"

               “Oh!” Ms. Teddy perks up, “You two are so sweet! I didn’t know you’re actually a couple! I mean, who would have known? You two always fight with each other. But I guess the movies are right. ‘The more you hate, the more you love.’”

               Y/N tries not to cringe too hard.

               Ms. Teddy chuckles, “What Y/N said before must be true then. Calling you a ‘mean, inconsiderate, self-absorbed jerk’ must be her own unique term of endearment—”

               Y/N raises her brows. How did Ms. Teddy know? Only Steven knows about the mug-chipping incident—” 

                “—I mean, I even used to call my ex-boyfriend ‘stupid asshole,’” Ms. Teddy chuckles. She suddenly releases a frustrated sigh, “God, I still hate him so much.”

               Y/N doesn’t know how to react to that. And so seems Yoongi.

               “Anyway, don’t mind me,” Ms. Teddy waves, a sweet smile plastered on her face again. She walks towards the ref to retrieve a green Tupperware. “I’m just here to grab my cheesecake.” The way her eyes refuse to tear away from the “couple” seems to say otherwise.

              “O-okay,” Y/N says as she looks at Yoongi. It’s a good thing Yoongi is blocking her body from Ms. Teddy. ‘What do we do?’ she mouths at the man.

               Yoongi thinks for a millisecond, then mouths at her, ‘Just follow my lead.’

               Before Y/N can mouth ‘okay,’ Yoongi has closed the gap between them and pressed a quick peck on her forehead. He smiles at her, tucking a stray strand behind her ear, “All right, I’ll see you later then, sweetheart.”

               “A-alright,” Y/N stutters. Yoongi steps away and she quickly makes her way to the door.

               Y/N only notices her hands were tingling when she reaches her P.A. station. And that searing warmth has settled itself on her chest. She plops down on her seat and lets out a tired breath. When she glances at her small mirror, she realizes her face is as red as a strawberry.

               What the hell just happened there?

               Y/N doesn’t get much time to think about it because her phone vibrates next to her leg.

               Mean Yoongi >:( : Let’s meet at The Café Bistro after work. Let’s talk about everything. (1:11 P.M.)

               Y/N doesn’t see much of Yoongi for the rest of the day. He’s probably holed up in the meeting room again just like yesterday. The Creatives were much in a rush since yesterday, probably after receiving the work Yoongi has disseminated. Everyone is hunched over their computers. Some have buried their heads in previous issues and design brochures. While a few were chattering about what design is better for their chosen template than the other.

               And there is one who’s on Y/N’s tail.

               “Oh, Myungsoo, I didn’t see you there,” Y/N glances up from the pile of papers on her desk. 

               Myungsoo doesn’t return the greetings. He leans over her desk and picks one paper to inspect it. “Why do you have this?”

               “Umm,” Y/N looks around the papers strewn around, refusing to look at the frowning man, “Ms. Park gave them to me. She wanted to, uh, have me check them and give some inputs about it.” A smile plays on Y/N’s lips. Dana Lee must have told Yoona about her recent arrangement that’s why Yoona came to her after lunch to ask for advice and critique on what she and her concept team have prepared. It’s quite overwhelming as Ms. Park is one of the respected team leaders in the Creatives. 

              “Ms. Yoona gave you this?” Myungsoo scoffs. Y/N’s smile immediately falls. “Why would she give you this? You don’t know anything about the work we do. You’re just Nancy’s P.A.”

               Y/N internally sighs. Myungsoo has always been wary of her ever since she got in the Creatives but she never knew he will be this hostile. Still, she doesn’t want to cause any unnecessary tension so Y/N tries to placate him. She pulls a polite smile on her face, “That’s why Ms. Yoona came to me. She said since I’m with Nancy for almost 24/7, I must probably know a thing or two about what she likes to see.”

              “But do you?” Myungsoo raises an eyebrow.

              Y/N looks down on the papers, “Y-yeah. Somehow.”

               Myungsoo sighs and drops the paper back onto the pile. “Anyway, I’m here to tell you I’m rejecting your letter of permission to get access to our cover page drafts.”

               Y/N’s head shoots up, “W-what? But Yoongi—”

                “I know what Mr. Min told us this week,” Myungsoo informs. “Yes, we’re tasked to walk you through the activities of our department. However, there are still protocols in our authoritative freedom and I, as a team leader, cannot just give you the drafts of our cover page. We still need more time to work on it and I cannot embarrass myself in front of Ms. Nancy about a work that has not fully taken shape yet.”

                “But didn’t you hear what Yoongi said?” Y/N reasons, “I’m here to help you and I need to give updates to Nancy about everything at every end of the week. Especially now when the department is in full motion.” Y/N cannot give Nancy nothing especially now that Nancy has just emailed her that their issue’s deadline has been moved to February 17. It’s just around the corner. In fact, it’s only a matter of weeks!

                “Well that’s your problem,” Myungsoo retorts, “I’m not the P.A. What I can only give you for your update reports are our initial proposed ideas.”

               But they’re not enough. Y/N closes her eyes, “Look, Myungsoo. I understand that you may be feeling I’m intruding on a space I’m not supposed to. But remember, we’re working together for one company, not for ourselves.” Myungsoo looks like he’s about to bite back but Y/N cuts him to it, “I understand you may feel wary about submitting your concepts for the cover page when they’re still raw. Especially to someone like me who may not completely understand the value you place in your work. However, I cannot just give Nancy undeveloped ideas. So, how about we make a compromise? I’m not gonna push you to walk me through your cover page processing. Or argue more about your raw concepts you’re drafting as of now. But, can you give me at least the plans you made for the undeveloped ideas you’ve chosen your working concept from? So I can still, in a way, report to Nancy the plan your team is trying to execute?”

               Myungsoo stares daggers into her before he mutters a clipped, “Fine. Expect to receive them by the end of the week.”

                “But I have to report them at the end of the week—”

               “End of the week or nothing at all?” Myungsoo sneers, “I can’t rush my artists to finish their concept-making just to take the load off your own job.”

               But I’m not demanding you to make my job easier, can’t you just cooperate like an adult?!—Y/N closes her eyes and sighs, “Okay, understood, Mr. Kim.”      Fighting with him won’t help anything in the pressure the department is facing.

               Myungsoo turns around and wordlessly walks away. YN releases a tired sigh as she goes back onto Yoona’s papers. 

               Hours pass with Y/N finishing her inputs in a document file. Mina has popped by to tell her she’s leaving early to go on a date with Mark. She said she’d probably be home late so they’ll have to continue their conversation earlier tomorrow. However, that was two hours ago and now, it’s already five and almost everyone in the staff has already left the office. She only gets to realize this when a shadow peers over her cubicle.

               “Hey, work’s already over now.”

               Y/N looks up and sees Yoongi smiling at her. His hair was messy as always, probably from pushing them back and carding through them throughout the day. His tie is askew and his button-down is folded messily to his forearms. And his smile felt so gentle. She doesn’t know why but she lets out a relieved sigh.

                “Let’s go to the Café Bistro now, yeah?”

                “Okay,” Y/N smiles back.

               “So…you’re the most hated person in your class for removing names of slackers off group works?”

               Y/N rolls her eyes, “Didn’t you hear what I told you earlier?”

               “Of course, I heard,” Yoongi chortles, scooping a spoonful of his rice bowl, “I just didn’t expect you’ll go for info-dumping in two minutes straight. You really do love to ramble a lot, no?”

               Y/N looks away and stuffs her mouth with a spoonful of her own rice bowl. When she swallows down, she pins Yoongi with a glare, “You can say shit all about how I talk but just so you know, that skill got me so far to where I used to be. I wouldn’t graduate cum laude if I didn’t ace all my speech classes.”

               “I’m not shitting on it. I’m admiring it.” Y/N freezes in her seat to look at the man. Yoongi chuckles. “I’m serious. You don’t have to be constantly on your guard around me, you know? Aren’t we already friends?”

                “F-friends?” Y/N scoffs, “Where the hell did you get that?”

               Yoongi tilts his head, “But I already got your number.”

                “You forced your way to get my number.”

                “I did not force you. You willingly told me your number in a game of 20 Questions.”

               “You covertly formatted your questions to get me to spill my number. I did not willingly tell you my number. You coerced me.”

               “I didn’t. I got your number fair and square,” Yoongi waves his phone.

               “But that doesn’t—”

               “And you already put a name on my number in your contacts,” Yoongi grins, “You even have an emoji next to it.”

                “How did you know?”

                “You opened your phone earlier on the train. And in case you don’t know, the train isn’t one of the most spacious places in the world. We’re practically side by side, look” Yoongi points to the damp patch on his shoulder, “You slept on my shoulder and even got drool on it.” Y/N looks away and stuffs her mouth with another spoon. Yoongi continues, “And with you leaving your phone open for the world to see your messaging app, it doesn’t take two years to see that someone has named you with some obnoxious contact name.” Yoongi opens his phone, “It’s okay though because I also named you this,” he flashes the phone to Y/N.

                >:( Evil Peachy Pie Y/N >:(

               Y/N squints at him. “Fine, a name for a name.”

               “See? That’s why we’re now friends.”

               Y/N scoffs, “How come?”

               “Because you got me a nickname. And I got you one, sweetheart,” Yoongi winks.

               Y/N’s jaw drops, “What the—you know what, go do you and go off to whatever your delusion is feeding you.”

               “Yay! Y/N and I are friends!”

               Y/N gawks at him. Yoongi shrugs with a smile and digs into his food.        

               Chatters fill the bistro. Y/N thinks it’s absurd to combine “café” and “bistro” for the name of an establishment. “It’s as if it can’t choose what type of business it really wants,” she argued earlier to Yoongi on the train. But now that she’s inside, she finally understands why. The interior design of the restaurant is covered in warm orange. The walls and the floor were in mahogany wood. The tables and chairs were metal black with curvilinear gildings, making them look like they’re supposed to be garden furniture in the first place. The plates and bowls were faux wood as well, save for the metal utensils and their glasses that came as mason jars.  And the overhead lights are gorgeous. The faux candles hung up in circular mini chandeliers above the wooden ceiling give off the aesthetic of a gothic palace. Meanwhile, the bar on the center of the shop was of high-quality polished wood. A lot of people are dining like them on the tables but there are also numerous patrons who were in stools, holding different kinds of liquors in their glasses. There’s a free space in front of the bar where Y/N could see couples slow-dancing to the live jazz band playing in the corner. And with the separate menu for alcoholic drinks the waiter had given them earlier, Y/N could finally see why this cafe is also a bistro.

                “So, whose names did you slash off from your group works?”

               Y/N whips her head back to Yoongi, “Why are you so insistent about this?”

               Yoongi pushes his empty bowl to the side. “You said everyone knows you for that. I’m just curious about the slackers who free-rode on you back then. I might even know them since I studied in the same school.” He leans back and places his arms behind his head, “You could totally help me avoid some leeches in life.”

                “First of all,” Y/N points her spoon at him, “You’re the first leech you should know. You slacked off when you were my co-P.A. You slept, you didn’t take calls. You even served me raw for Nancy to roast.”

                “I’m sorry.”

               Y/N’s brows shoot up. “W-what?”

               Yoongi leans forward and clasps his hands together. He looks at the woman in the eye, “I’m sorry about that, Y/N. Sincerely. I admit I was too much of an asshole back then. I tried to justify it by thinking you’re annoying so you deserve some annoyance in life, too. But in the end, I know I’m still wrong. You being annoying or not, what I did was still wrong. I’m sorry.”

               Y/N’s jaw drops as she leans slowly back in her seat. Did Yoongi just apologize to her? Again? And for three consecutive times tonight? What is up with him?

                “You don’t have to forgive me, you know? Nor am I telling you these just to get the guilt off my back. I’m sincerely sorry. I want to apologize to you.”

                “W-what are you suddenly on about?” Y/N tries to laugh but the sound is weird in her ears. “You got so serious, I thought I’m suddenly talking with a stranger.” Y/N tries out a chuckle again. It sounds more convincing to her this time. She waves her hand dismissively, “Anyway, I didn’t actually answer your question. You’re talking about high school so here it goes.” She looks up at the ceiling, “Well, I’ve got Johnny Lee, Byun Baekhyun, Park Mirae, Lee Jieun, Mark Peters” Y/N cups her jaw, “What’s more? Oh! How could I forget—Jennie Kim, Im Nayeon, Daewon Lee—”

                “Wait, Daewon Lee?” Yoongi sits up, “You mean Daewon the quarterback? And Jennie Kim and Im Nayeon, the cheerleaders?”

                “Why?” Y/N leans forward, “You know them personally?”

                “God, yes,” Yoongi laughs, “They’re awful.”

                “Tell me about it,” Y/N’s eyes sparkle in interest.

                “Well,” Yoongi starts, “we had this class project where we have to recreate a scene from a well-known play or movie. Our class was assigned to do Hairspray. And Jennie Kim was our class president so of course, she was horrible. She re-proved this fact when she decided to go dictator and exercise penalties on anyone who would be late for the rehearsals. She freaking imposed that we have to pay $2 for every minute we were late. All is fine if she didn’t assign her own home as the practice place and there’s a lot in the class who lives a good two miles away. And it didn’t help almost everyone just agreed with it because no one decided to contest it in fear of turning the majority against them. It was horrible. All the late fees were put in our class fund. It accumulated to about $100 at the end of the day and that’s very unfitting when NES High is a fucking public school. 

                “$100?” Y/N gawks.

                “Yeah.  Moreover, it’s unfair, because we all know at the end of the school year, the class fund will be divided among each student. With the late fees being implemented, it looks like people who are Jennie and those who live near her will benefit for free from these late fees. Luckily, someone was brave enough to stand up and talked it out with them. And of course, with Jennie being Jennie, she flipped out so the whistleblower eventually had to go to the headteacher of the event to settle the issue. I’m kinda ashamed about this incident. I’m one of the many who just went with the majority because,” Yoongi frustratedly cards through his hair, “I was a bit of a pushover back then.”

               Y/N gapes, “Y-you? A pushover? Oh my god, you’re like the stereotypical nerd in movies who does a 180 to seek revenge!”

               Yoongi squints at her, “Will you stop with the revenge plot you’ve been pushing since this morning?”

                “Okay,” Y/N says but her face looks otherwise with her trying hard to hold in her chuckles.

               Yoongi breaks into a chuckle as well, “God, you look ridiculous.”

                “So are you,” Y/N laughs. When the snickers die down, she waves at Yoongi, “Go on with the story.”

                “Okay,” Yoongi breathes out, “So that was the first strike for this dumb shit squad. The second was worse for it affected the whole batch. It was when the school coordinators tasked each class with a specific dance genre to perform. And Jennie, being the unnecessarily extra bitch that she was, decided to fuck up the arrangement by forcing another class to exchange their assigned piece with ours. Of course, this sparked chaos because when other classes have heard about this, they wanted to exchange, too. And soon, everyone was arguing how they want to exchange or keep their assigned pieces. It’s so messy that the teachers had to hold a batch-wide meeting with all the class officers to settle things out. Luckily, there was someone who stood up and outright pointed out it was Jennie who started it all because she did not ask for the other classes’ consent in the first place—” 

                “Wait, are you talking about me?” Y/N cuts him, eyes wide. “I’m the one who first called out Jennie in the meeting!” Y/N exclaims, “I can’t hold myself back that day because I’m so sick of everyone just willingly and silently enduring her bullshits! All of this wouldn’t happen in the first place if she wasn’t such a shitty, entitled person. I even remember Jennie staring daggers at me as if doing so can reverse what happened when the teacher told her off in front of the whole batch.” Y/N’s brows meet together, “How did you know about this though? Even if it was supposed to be a batch-wide meeting, not everyone was present. The teachers didn’t make the meeting compulsory especially for the students who feel uncomfortable going against another student.”

                “Everyone kind of knows. News about Jennie being roasted by the teacher after a student doused her with the realest true as fuck accusation is enough of a big deal to go around the school.” Yoongi tilts his head, “I just didn’t catch wind it was you.” 

                “Yeah, but,” Y/N self-consciously rubs her nape, “I just did what I felt was right. I don’t like it when people just stay silent when wrongdoings are deliberately happening in their faces.”

                “You’re right,” Yoongi smiles, “and because of that, I’m thinking I’m starting to admire you.” Y/N immediately freezes the heat on her chest back again. She feels it starting to spread up onto her face.

               Yoongi, either unaware of her reaction or plainly indifferent about it, just smirks and continues. “Now, that I finished my story with these terrible fucks, it’s your turn. What did they do that you striked these three names off?”

               Y/N lets a small smile grow on her lips as she crosses her arms. “It was Daewon who I striked first. As early as 7th grade, mind that. We were groupmates for our Bio experimental case study and he didn’t do a SINGLE thing. Very first year in high school and he’s already letting everyone know he’s a shitty groupmate. So end result? A slashed-off name and an immature ‘pity me’ cryfest in front of the professor.”

                “Who’s the professor, if you don’t mind me asking?”

               Y/N grins, “Mr. Ascott.”

                “Oh shit, Mr. Ascott?!” Yoongi chokes a laugh, “Oh my god, and he dared to cry and ask for pity! Of all people, to the prof who detests freeloading the most?!”

                “Yeah,” Y/N snickers, “That’s why it’s so hilarious! Imagine the what-the-fuck face Mr. Ascott has when this spoiled boy tried to cry his way out of his mistake. He looked like he’s about to blast harder than Mauna Kea!”

               Yoongi laughs, waving a hand over. “Who’s next?”

               Y/N blows out a sigh to die down her giggles, “The next one was Nayeon. 11th grade. We’re a pair this time and we’re tasked to make a research about the communication systems of a business. Whenever I tell her we need to meet up, write the paper, or even talk online for the planning at least, Nayeon kept on coming up with ridiculous excuses like how she’s come down with a fever because she ate a lot of rice or she can’t walk because of a motherfucking aching toenail. She even stood me up in the café I told her to go to, to finally get things done. Talking normally with her is impossible. So yeah, I passed the research with just my name on it.” 

               Y/N tilts her head, “And last but not the least, Jennie Kim. 12th grade. We had to make a lab report for Chemistry as a group. She said she’s sorry she won’t be able to contribute anything because she needs to be home soon as her mother is deeply sick in the hospital. We understood and told her it’s okay. Only for us to see in her Snapchat later she’s partying hard in a bar,” Y/N rolls her eyes, “But what irritates me most were ironically, not these.”

              “Did something more happen?”

              “Yes! These three didn’t see any of these as their faults! They saw it as me just being a bitch and picking on them! And because they have such loud mouths, news about me as a ‘name-remover bossy bitch’ traveled fast. Every first day in class per year, a lot of students are already looking at me funny. Throughout the school year, they go as far as ignoring and avoiding me.” YN crosses her arms and directs her eyes onto her empty bowl. “But I’m alright. I don’t care shit about what others have to say about me when I know I’m in the right. I don’t need lots of friends in the first place anyway.”

               “But it must have been hard to be alone.”

               Y/N’s head shoots up, “What do you mean?”

                “To be hated by almost everyone in the class,” Yoongi pulls a sad smile. “It must have been painful in a way. To be treated as an outcast when you didn’t even do anything wrong.”

               “I-I wouldn’t call myself an outcast during that time, you know?” Y/N picks up her glass to drink, looking away.

               “Well, if you say so. I just thought it would have been…difficult to be alone most of the time. To feel as if everyone hates you. Personally, I don’t care when people talk shit about me. But this feeling that everyone just…doesn’t want to be with you hits me quite hard. I don’t know if you’ve felt this. I just know I will feel like this if I was in your position.”

               Y/N, with eyes still trained away from Yoongi, just hums, “…Yeah.” 

               An awkward silence was starting to settle again until Yoongi breaks it with a sigh, “From all of this, I’m realizing our high school didn’t do a great job in giving us a wonderful experience.”

               Y/N turns back to him. She pours water in her glass and mutters, “You’re right. High school is shit.” She leans back in her chair, glass in her hand as she looks at him. “Do you have more bitter stories to tell?”

               Yoongi fiddles with his fingers. “Well, there’s one. I mean, there’s a lot because high school wasn’t that kind to people like me back then. But this one really stuck with me. I’ve been…friends with a lot of toxic people throughout high school. At first, I didn’t notice it. How they lowkey downgrade me whenever we hangout. How they always make me the butt of their jokes. How they always leave me out in any of their fun plans for getaways. I even tried justifying their actions, telling myself it’s probably I’m not yet too cool for them. That I still need to fit more with them. And when I finally realized the wrongness in this during one summer, I cut them all out in my life. Only to end up in another friend circle that turned out to be also toxic. Though it’s less toxic than my first one, it’s still toxic. They made me feel bad for doing my best in school, calling me such a conformist to the education system as if it’s so wrong. They made me feel horrible for just studying and preparing too much for quizzes and exams, telling me I’m just investing a lot of time on something I wouldn’t even use when I work. And for the second time, I justified my ‘friends.’ I thought maybe they’re right. I have to listen to them because maybe they’ll leave me and I will have no one else who’d be willing to be friends with me. I only got the wake-up call when my grades all fell down and I had to repeat 10th grade.”

               Y/N’s eyes grow large, “B-but, you said it was because of Thesis Writing?”

                “Yeah. Thesis Writing was the one that maimed me bad. But what led me to fail it so terribly was because of these second group of friends…Rina, Johnson, and Fei—

               Y/N immediately holds up her hands, “Wait, I-I-you don’t have to tell me their names if you don’t want to, Yoongi. You—I don’t know, maybe the memories come back and trigger you—I-I’m not that eager to know their names, you know? I just want to listen to you.”

               Yoongi chuckles and Y/N’s eyes only grow more. “I’m telling you their names because I already got over it, Y/N,” Yoongi informs. “I already feel comfortable telling this to you, sweetheart. Though I have to admit I’m loving what you said a little too much.”

               Y/N frowns, “Wh-why do you have to say stupid shit like this? Can’t you just continue your story?”

                “I have to say these because you’re being cute.” Y/N only frowns more. Yoongi chuckles, “Okay, okay, I’ll go back to my story.” He heaves out a sigh, “So, these Rina, Johnson, and Fei—well, they made me feel the efforts I put into studying will be pointless. That the dreams I have will be unattainable anyway because the world will never let them come true for people like me—not rich, not talented, not smart enough. And because of this mentality discouraging me whenever I try too hard, coupled with the messed-up confidence I had because of my first friendship circle, I turned out to be a…horrible speaker. But I think I shouldn’t blame them for this. I also have faults in this because after all, this is my life. Maybe I’m too easily swayed, easily discouraged, and too dependent on other’s company back then.”

                “You’re right on that,” Y/N says, “but I think the people who have affected you to be what you were back then are rightfully justified to be blamed for. Or even deserve the greater blame. We’re teenagers and we do stupid things. And during our teenage years where we feel so confused about just everything, what mattered the most was the feeling of belongingness. The feeling of belonging to someone or something. This feeling gives us a way to identify ourselves and our purpose. Erik Erikson’s Stages of Psychosocial Development even say so. Yeah, we also have faults in ourselves that are worth blaming for and working on, but people are social beings. And most of the time, we become who we are because of other’s words, actions, and influence,” Y/N pulls her lips in an attempt to send him a comforting smile, “You don’t have to beat up yourself too much.”

                “Whoa,” Yoongi gapes, “Just…wow.” He shakes his head, “I don’t even know what to say…And this is weird because I always know what to say,” Yoongi chuckles and Y/N follows suit. “I mean,” Yoongi tongues his cheek, “How did you come up with these?”

               “Because I also experienced having friends like you had.”

               You did?” It’s Yoongi’s turn to gawk at her.

               “Yeah,” Y/N purses her lips. “It was in high school too. Even if I was lucky I skipped 8th and 9th grade, I wasn’t immune to toxic people. The friends I had in my first year, honestly…scar me until now. They downed me too many times, too, telling me I’m not that good, or I’m too intimidating for people would like to be with. They even called me annoying,” Y/N cackles. But her laugh soon dies down when she looks at Yoongi’s unamused look. “U-um,” She ducks her head down and fiddles with the seams of her blazer, “That’s not really funny, I’m sorry.”

                “They’re not,” Yoongi deadpans, “Especially when it’s deprecating the person you should first and foremost care: You.”

               Y/N’s head shoots up.

               Yoongi lets a small smile grace over his face. “Go on with your story.”

               “U-uh, yeah,” Y/N opts to play with her fingers this time, “So yeah, I ended up…downing myself, too. Berating and insulting myself even worse than those toxic people did. I even discouraged myself from even trying. I stopped myself before I even get to start at something that induces passion within me—dance, art, singing, whatever. I halt myself first before anyone can. Other’s words against me hurt me more than my own words. The only silver lining I had was when I got to 10th grade and met Mina,” Y/N grins. “Even if I still get reminded of the scars I got from my ex-friends, I’m grateful I also learned what’s it really like to have a friend for the first time.” Y/N turns to Yoongi, “What about you? Did you find at least…one friend before high school ended?”

                “More than one actually,” Yoongi smiles. “I met three in 11th grade. Namjoon, Taehyung, and Jimin. Even if Namjoon graduated earlier, we three eventually met each other again in college. God, ever since I befriended those three, I never knew again what it’s like to be a loner. I know it’s kinda late that I get to enjoy high school but I had the most fun I could ever have in those last two years. Though college is still god-tier. That’s when I was really the happiest” Yoongi chuckles. He leans back in his chair and sighs, “Even if the majority of the memories our high school gave us were shit, I think it still tried its best to give everyone a memorable experience.” Yoongi smiles, “What’s a memorable experience you could thank the school for?”

               Y/N opens her mouth but Yoongi quickly cuts her short, “And no, don’t say it’s meeting real friends. Other than that, any memorable experiences you had?”

               Y/N looks to her right, brows scrunched, “Hmm…it had to be…Oh! The science expo held in our gym in our last year!”

                “The expo?  The one they held as our ‘field trip’—in our very last year of high school at that—because they ‘lack’ funds for an actual one?”

                “Yeah,” Y/N smiles wide, “I actually enjoyed it a lot. There’s a large model of the Megalodon jaws wide open that you have to step into to enter the expo. Its teeth are so big and gosh, I love sharks. I love the documentaries about them. And oh, there’s also a bus that’s remodeled to have lab tables instead of seats. We get to look at microscopes magnifying different microorganisms and micro-things. It’s like a running test in chem but fun! And my favorite one had to be the astronomy tent-dome. I call it that because it’s a humongous black sheet of a tent that’s shaped to look like a dome. We had to crawl inside to get in. It reminded me of how I loved to play pillow forts in my room when I was a kid. And then inside, there’s someone there who actually works at NASA that plays the videos of constellations on the dome above us. And he’s amazing because he knows all the stars in the Milky Way! He even broke the myth concerning your birth month and Zodiac sign. The constellations of your Zodiac sign don’t usually appear during your ‘zodiac month’!”

               “They don’t?”

               “Yeah! I’m an Aries and yet the constellation most apparent in the sky during my month is Libra instead. I’ve never seen the Aries constellation before on my birthday. It’s always Libra. Okay, don’t look at me like I’m a hoe for Astrology—I’m not. I just fell in love with Astronomy after that expo and I ended up memorizing a lot of constellations and trying to point them out in the sky and—

               “I’m not looking at you like you’re a ‘hoe for Astrology,’” Yoongi quotes, chuckling. “I’m looking at you because honestly, I’m amazed by you. Really. I never enjoyed that expo, because honestly, I like learning the actual stuff in real-time. But to have you spouting such mindblowing trivia and how you just talk so animatedly about it makes me want to time travel to that day and re-experience it. Really, you amaze me.

               Y/N coughs into her hand, an attempt to out-volume the thrumming tinnitus she feels between her lungs. She pulls a tight smile and looks up at Yoongi, “What about you? What memorable experience did you have to thank high school for?”

               “The prom,” Yoongi grins. “It’s my first time to be in such a glamorous setting that I instantly thought it would be my last time I could ever experience such pizzaz. Everyone looked so regal. There are ball gowns, luxurious suits, glittering decors, and lush carpeting I could spend years standing on just because it feels so pillowy soft beneath my feet. The venue had gothic pillars and renaissance paintings and rose-gold gilded chandeliers that hang above, looking like it hooked all the stars in the galaxy beneath its dangling diamonds. The food was great, too. I honestly couldn’t believe a public high school could afford this—well, there’s actually a lot of upper-middle-class families who pitched in some money but I only found out about this two weeks after the prom. Although we had a grad ball, it still couldn’t top 10th-grade prom. Sure, there’s a lot of people mingling and I’m too much of an introvert to enjoy socializing. But when I just sat and watch the party go, the picture in front of me looked so similar to the Yule Ball shown in the Harry Potter and the Goblet of Fire movie and it’s just so fascinating. And—wait, why are you looking like that?”

                “N-nothing,” Y/N shakes her head. She also hopes to shake away the utter wonder that must be obvious in her face. Mina always said she shows excitement so easily on her face.

               And too bad Yoongi pushes her buttons so well that he could easily read her. “What ‘nothing’? You look so amazed as if you’ve never been to a prom—wait, you’ve never been to prom, haven’t you?” 

              There’s no point to lie otherwise. Y/N looks down at her lap and admits, “You’re right. I’ve never been to prom. Or even the grad ball.”

              “Why?”

              “Because I find them a waste of money. Hundreds of money for a dress you’ll never wear again and spend a couple more for the admission when you’re just gonna sit at the table for the whole time. The grad ball was an inconvenience because it’s set on the day before my birthday and of course, my birthday is worth celebrating more than the grad ball.” Yoongi chuckles at that and a small smile forms on Y/N’s lips. However, it quickly dissolves into a straight line as she continues, “And I didn’t go to prom because it’s stupid. The admission fee you have to pay is honestly over-priced. Of course, all of the payment won’t go to the rented place because the school is still gonna get a percentage from it. Then everyone is just gonna dance around and get wasted and you’ll just have to seat throughout the whole meltdown because you’re responsible and aside from that,” Y/N heaves out a huge sigh, “there’s a high probability you’ll bump into a horrible boy.”

              “Oh!” Yoongi claps loudly, “A boy problem—!”

               “I’m not gonna tell you his name,” Y/N points a finger at him. “It’s all in the past and, I’m just,” Y/N sighs, “well, over it.”

               “What did he do?” Yoongi asks, tone soft, a lot less bombastic as his previous exclamation. “What did he do to—I don’t know, give up prom to avoid him?” He sits up straight and holds up his hands, “If you don’t mind me asking and if you feel okay to answer it, of course. If not, it’s also totally okay, and—” 

               “He gave me false hope,” Y/N deadpans, swirling the water in her glass. “I thought there’s something developing between us because he does an awful lot of sweet things for me like letting me lay my head on his shoulder whenever I need to catch on some sleep in our school service. He even helps me carry my things and walk me to class. Only for me to find out he actually likes another girl in our school service. I felt used. Like a ploy to get the girl he likes to be jealous of us.” Y/N sets her jaw on her palm. “And so, I didn’t go to prom. Because I know that girl will reject him when he asked for her first dance ‘cus she already got a mutual thing going on with her classmate. And I don’t want to be a second choice, a back-up plan someone will opt for when their first choice didn’t work out. I’m not going to be a reserve part for something someone built with a different part in mind.” Y/N takes a sip on her glass. She places it back on the table, “I still feel aggravation for him so I don’t want to hear his name again. But I’m over him now, so you don’t have to look at me like that.”

               “L-like what?” Yoongi asks, pulling on the collar of his gray button-down.

               “Like you’re angry for me. We’re not yet close to be feeling this way.”

               “But we’re friends.”

               “You’re the only one who decided on that label.”

               “We are friends.”

               “Whatever satisfies you of your delusions—”

               “And because we’re friends, I could tell you wished you experienced prom.”

               “W-what?” Y/N’s jaw drops.

               Yoongi smiles at her, “You don’t have to hide it Y/N. I know you.” He stands up from his seat and offers a hand to her, “Now, let’s go.”

               “Where are we going?” Y/N asks, still seated.

               “We’ll dance.” Yoongi’s smile widens. “The Café Bistro has a wonderful live band playing and as you can see, there’s also a lot of people dancing to the lovely songs they’re playing…This is the closest setting we can have to a prom.”

               Y/N gulps down a nervous breath as she looks up at Yoongi’s eyes. She takes his hand.

               Yoongi leads her to the center of the slow-dancing throng of people. The live band plays in front of them, a group of wonderful men and women wearing elegant black gowns and suits, playing classical instruments to the music of popular love songs. Everything looks pleasant even if nothing about this set-up is grand. The couples are just in casual clothes but watching them have fun slow-dancing to the music feels like they’re actually in a ball. And the faux candles that hung above the Café Bistro doesn’t look like chandeliers in a Gothic palace anymore. They’re bright and glittering as if the café fished all the stars from the night sky to hang onto their own makeshift sky. Yoongi’s right. This indeed looks like a prom.

               “Hmm, am I right now?”

               Y/N turns to him and playfully pokes his shoulder, “Shut up.” A second no longer need to pass by when a huge smile makes its way onto Y/N’s face.

               Y/N and Yoongi had their hands interlocked as they move to the rhythm. Yoongi initially proposed to have their hands and feet positioned for waltz only for Y/N to bump her head on his shoulder to get him to shut up. Yoongi only ends up cackling obnoxiously. 

              Stepping side to side, arms swaying by their sides, they look like two adult penguins waddling towards each other. When Y/N pointed this out, Yoongi bursts into another set of cackles.

               However, when the song changes and A Thousand Years by Christina Perri starts to play, Yoongi’s chuckles instantly die down and a mindboggling statement escapes from his lips.

               “Put your hands around my neck.”

               “What? Are you fucking crazy?”

               “Hey, the song is romantic.”

              “So?” Y/N raises a brow, “What does it logically have to do with putting my arms around your neck? And also, this song is one hell of a cliché. A love song bulldozered and abused over and over again in every debut, wedding, and prom—”

              “It’s played over and over again because a lot of people relate to it. Who wouldn’t? It talks about love.”

              “Well, I wouldn’t.”

              Yoongi sighs, “Look, all the couples here are slow dancing to this song and since we’re already posing as one, might as well copy them.”

              “Well, I don’t wanna.”

              “If you’re thinking this will be a revolutionary moment between us, I’m already informing you it won’t be. It’s just slow dancing,” Yoongi shrugs, “We did this in prom. It’s not that special, to be honest. I’m tryna offer you the prom experience, remember?”

              Y/N focuses her eyes on the seams of her blazer, a petty frown on her face. “I’m positively sure we’ll look stupid if we slow dance so I’d rather not. In case you don’t know, I hate embarrassing myself.”

               “Hey, you don’t get to sound so sure with your prediction when you haven’t tried it out yet. I’m just asking you if you would feel okay to slow dance with me. But if not, I will totally understand—” 

               Y/N loops her arms around Yoongi’s neck. “There,” she hisses, “Satisfied?”

              “Very,” Yoongi grins, looping his arms around her frame, gently placing his hands on the back of her waist.

              “Now shut up,” Y/N turns her face away from him. She could feel Yoongi so close. She could feel the breath he lets out comb past her hair. She could feel the warmth from his neck seemingly transfer onto her hands. His chest is just an inch apart from hers for him to discover the rapid beating reverberating there ever since this day started. Y/N closes her eyes and sighs. She doesn’t understand why she’s feeling this way. She chucks it down to the theory that it’s just been a long day. She’s astounded to learn Yoongi was her high school batchmate, then Myungsoo turned up and made her frustrated, and now she’s practically having fun because Yoongi offered an entire 180 from her previous emotional state. 

              But maybe it’s also because it’s been so long since Y/N received physical intimacy. It’s been ages she felt a warmth from another person’s touch. She couldn’t even remember being so enthralled just because someone platonically wanted to dance with her. But then, it could just be her desire to get over these ten dates required by DRM speaking for her body. The sooner the better they say and as of now, she’s nailing down their third date document.

              Y/N knows this must be the answer when the night deepens and the band plays the last song for the night. After receiving a pale pink envelope from the sweet manager, the night dwindles fast to where she is now: walking home, side by side with Yoongi. She thought there was a reason Yoongi picked a date site that would require them to take a train first. She just didn’t expect she will get the answer to this when Yoongi offered to walk her home. ‘It just a ten-minute walk from here,’ Yoongi insisted. And right now, it looks like he’s right because it’s only a matter of time until they reach the entrance of the Village Estates.

               “So, we’re here now,” Yoongi says, sliding his hands into his coat pockets. 

               “Yeah,” Y/N smiles back. Then she perks up, suddenly remembering something, “By the way, how come did you know about Café Bistro?”

               Yoongi leans toward her, face leveling hers. “We work for a travel magazine, Y/N. Of course, we should know about this stuff. Our Writing Department even did a feature about it.” Y/N’s brows shoot up. Yoongi leans back, putting space between them again, “I’ve been wondering ever since we got in as to why you looked so amazed at the Bistro as if it’s your first time seeing something like that. And now I know why. It is indeed your first time. You’ve never been to a lot of tourist spots before, much less even those near you.”

               “No. I’ve been to a lot, actually,” Y/N lies through her mouth.

               “I don’t think so,” Yoongi quips. Y/N frowns. Yoongi’s smile widens, “Don’t worry, sweetheart, I’ll take you to places you’ve never been before.”

               His gaze on her was not teasing, nor was it mischievous. And Y/N decides she doesn’t like it when she can’t tell the look in his eyes. She takes a step back and clears her throat. “Goodnight, Yoongi,” she bids, and then she starts for the entrance.

               Just when the peace of the night is about to settle on her, Yoongi, of course, decides to break it one last time.

               “I had fun tonight, girlfriend! Or should I say girl-friend?”

               Y/N continues with her steps, raising a middle finger in his direction. Yoongi laughs and that’s the last sound Y/N hears for the night as she enters her empty flat. 

              A text from Mina says she’s going home in an hour. After preparing her bestfriend a midnight snack just in case she’s still hungry, Y/N turns on the lights on their hallway and resigns herself in her room. Picking the date document from her bag and the other two on her counter, Y/N plops onto her bed, holding up the pale pink envelopes above her face. It’s been a while since she had fun collecting these pretty envelopes. When she first encountered these date documents five years ago, she thought they were silly. But as she twirls them under the light of her room, she thinks they’re actually genius. After all, attention and quality time spent together are good measures to see if a couple is really dating.

              “We just need seven more,” Y/N whispers, closing her eyes. As the starless night grows darker outside her window, the coffee-stained scent of today’s pale pink envelope lulls Y/N to sleep with a smile on her face.

DAY 5 — January 30; Thursday

               Y/N is at her wit’s end. It’s already 12 in the noon and nothing terrible has happened yet. It’s Thursday. Thursdays are supposed to already have it bad for her the moment the day starts. But Y/N woke up feeling nice from a good night’s sleep. It was early so she had a fun breakfast with her bestfriend where they spent an extra half-hour talking about each other’s dates. Though it sounded more like Mina’s the only one who went to an actual date because Y/N spent the majority of her turn to speak ranting about Yoongi’s smugness and whatnot. The train wasn’t crowded when she commuted to work. She and Mina even managed to get seats at seven. And in the office, nothing unwanted has happened yet. Well, of course, there’s Yoongi who still won’t stop sending her weird texts and occasional winks.  Everything is okay and normal as usual until—

               “Hey, Y/N, wanna have lunch with us?”

               Y/N turns in her swivel chair and there standing by the Accounting’s glass door were three people. Dana Lee, Jeff Anderson, and Ahn Seojoon.

               Dana continues, smiling at her, “If you didn’t have lunch yet, of course.”

               Y/N whirls to face Mina before turning around back to Dana, forehead furrowed, “I’m sorry, Dana, Mina and I already have—” 

               “No, Y/N hasn’t lunched yet!”

               Y/N whips her head to her bestfriend. Mina smiles at her, “Y/N, you should go ahead.”

              Y/N sighs, “But Mina, you would be alone today. We always eat lunch together. And aren’t you supposed to tell me more of what happened in the show you’re watching?”

              Mina claps her friend’s shoulder, “Y/N, it’s alright. We see each other in and outside the office every day. We can just talk later when you get home. Or tomorrow if you end up having another date tonight with Yoongi. After all, you told me before you want to have more friends in the office. Well, here is the chance!”

              “What chance are you talking about? And when the hell did I say I want more friends—”

              “Dana,” Mina hollers, “Y/N said she’ll go!” 

              This chance, however, was not what Y/N expected it to be. Because now, Y/N finds herself in some Mexican restaurant with three pairs of curious eyes focused on her and an unexpected guest sitting beside her.

               Y/N crosses her arms. “You didn’t tell me Yoongi would be here.”                “Well, surprise?” Jeff shrugs.

               “We figured since you and Mr. Min are…really close, why not invite him?” Seojoon explains. 

              “So,” Dana twirls her straw around her smoothie, “what’s the thing between you and Yoongi?”

               Y/N perks up in her seat. Jeff gawks at Dana. “Why did you have to be so straightforward about it?”

               “So we can finally get the answers we’ve all been waiting for,” Dana says matter-of-factly. “For one year these two are like oil and water. And then this week they’ve become chummy-chummy. I always knew there’s something going on between you two but I can never point it out. And now that you two decided to come out in the open, I guess I can also finally get my answers.” She turns back to Y/N, “So, what are you two really?”

               “Yoongi’s my, um, special friend—” 

               “Y/N’s my girlfriend—”

               Dana’s brows twitch. Yoongi quickly reaches over to pinch Y/N’s cheeks, “Oh sweetheart, you don’t need to feel so shy anymore. We’re no longer special friends so start feeling comfy to call yourself my girlfriend.”

               Seojoon coughs into his hand. Dana and Jeff slowly nod. Jeff leans forward, “So…how did you two meet?”

              “In high school. We’re kinda friends—” 

              “In the office. It’s love at first sight—” 

               Y/N eyes Yoongi. Yoongi grins. Y/N looks back at Jeff, but not without pinching Yoongi’s leg to stop him from spouting any more bullshit. Y/N smiles, “Yoongi and I met back in high school. We were batchmates.”

               “Oh, high school sweethearts!” Seojoon claps, grinning.

               “Not necessarily,” Y/N says, “We just kinda knew each other back then. And then we met each other again in Travel Loca.”

               “I see,” Dana holds her chin, as if in thought, “You two sure looked like you’ve known each other for so long…You know each other so well that you get to hit each other’s flaws so accurately whenever you bicker. Right?” Dana looks at Y/N.

               “Right,” Y/N grins. She unconsciously gulps down a nervous chuckle. “I-it wouldn’t make sense if we insult each other so well when we don’t know each other for a long time right? More even, fall in love?”

               From the corner of her eye, Y/N could see Yoongi’s head tilt, lips pursed together. It’s his face when he’s about to voice disagreement. She pinches his leg again to get him back to his senses.

               “Ye-yeah,” Yoongi stutters, “You must know a person for a long time before you can insult them well. Or love them.”

               Dana and Jeff nod their heads slowly, looking convinced. Except for Seojoon. The intern shakes his head, “I think not. You don’t need to know a person for a long time to fall in love. Or to even insult them. Hate or love—it just happens.”

               “Yeah,” Jeff agrees. “I think this felt more right. It doesn’t really require you long to hate another person for some unexplainable reason. Or fall in love with them.”

               “How did you know about this?” Y/N asks, clicking her tongue.

               Jeff looks unbothered by the questioning look on Y/N’s face. He leans back in his seat with a smile, “Because that’s how my girlfriend and I got together. We only knew each other for three weeks and it didn’t take me a day longer to know I’m whipped for her. In those three weeks, we even spent the first week really hating each other bad,” Jeff chuckles, “We used to scream at each other for hours across the windows of our apartments.”

               The furrows in Y/N’s forehead deepen, “B-but, how did you love her when you just hated her a week ago?”

               “Because love and hate have a lot of similarities,” Jeff says. “I think there’s a fine line between such differing emotions. People say it’s an end-to-end spectrum but I think that spectrum may not be as long as people make it out to be. I think they’re just two ends that sit opposite to each other. Anyone can cross from one to another and vice versa so easily. Kinda explains why you can love someone while also hating them a bit. And why you can hate or love something for so long and not consider changing your stance. Even if love is just a bridge away, its whole argument opposes the argument of hate. That’s why it feels the spectrum of love is a very long road to take—a wall too high to reach, making it hard for transitioning from one end to another. But, I don’t know,” Jeff shrugs, grinning. “Life is complex. Sometimes love and hate…just happens.”

               Seojoon and Dana nod slowly. However, Y/N feels otherwise. ‘Easy and hard to cross’? ‘It just happens’? What kind of nonsense is this—Y/N opens her mouth to argue—If not for Yoongi clasping a hand around her shoulders and urging her to stand up from her seat, “I’ll think we’ll order more tacos for us. My treat. We’ll be real quick.”

               Yoongi drags Y/N to the line forming in front of the cashier. When they’re a couple of steps away from the group, Y/N shrugs his arms away from her shoulders. She glares at him, “What do you think are you doing?”

               Yoongi tongues his cheek, “I should be the one asking you that! What do you think are you doing there? Trying to argue with my friends about something so trivial like Jeff’s perception of love? It’s his views, let him be!”

               Y/N crosses her arms, “Jeff is spouting nonsense. I just felt the need to correct him.”

               “How would you know Jeff is spouting nonsense? You’re not the one who fell in love with his neighbor he used to scream at across his flat.”

               Y/N looks down at her shoes, “Okay…I’m sorry. I know, I know, I’m being a bitch again.”

               Yoongi gapes at her, “W-wait, are you apologizing? You? The great Y/N L/N?”

               Y/N whips her head to him, pinning him with a glare, “Why? You think I’m incapable of apologizing?”

               “Nope,” Yoongi quips, smiling, “I’m just thinking how fast you grew. It was just two days ago you’re struggling so hard to apologize. Now, you just easily admitted to your mistake. I’m proud of you.”

               Y/N’s jaw goes slack. “Are you saying I’m an unapologetic bastard to everyone before?”

               “To me actually,” Yoongi corrects. “But that was back then. You’re quite…more okay now.”

               Y/N gawks at him in disbelief. But before she could utter another counter-statement, Yoongi’s already in front of the cashier, ordering for another platter of tacos. When they got back to their seats, the past conversation seems to have already dissipated. Yoongi starts the conversation this time about what they used to do in high school and college and soon enough, their table is erupting with giggles and high-pitched ‘Oh no you didn’t!” Y/N learned Jeff used to study in an art school. Seojoon used to join competitive pep squad rallies in college. And, Dana chose Travel Loca from a lot of tempting job offers because like Y/N, Dana likes Nancy’s vision for travel journalism as a travel-enthusiast like herself. Likewise, the three were enthusiastic in knowing Y/N—how she managed to skip two years of high school, her one-sided love for music because she cannot, for the life of her, play even a single instrument, and how she has so many random facts about the flower language, color theories, cooking techniques—hell even some trivia about the praying mantis—all because of reading a lot of books. Yoongi even chipped in of how great she can turn scenarios in a completely different one just because of her creative way of seeing things, to which Y/N blushes. The memory of their fast food drive-in date oddly makes her insides queasy.

              It’s been a while since Y/N felt she belonged to a group that values her skills and preferences. Moreover, to have Yoongi be so generous in hyping her up whenever it’s her turn to speak makes her feel a blanket of warmth is surrounding her. A warmth much heart-fluttering than the one provided by his arm embracing her shoulder and his occasional hand-holding. When she first felt his pinky reaching for hers, Y/N’s first instinct was to move away. But the tingling heat creeping onto her cheeks oddly makes her not want to let go. Moreso when Yoongi finally envelops her whole hand with his larger one.

               Y/N doesn’t know how long they last like that but when Yoongi moves to disentangle himself from her, Y/N feels the warmth in her chest fade too fast than she liked. She turns to him curious, before her eyes glance at the wall clock of the restaurant in the corner. It’s already one forty-five. She didn’t know the time has passed so fast. Yoongi gets up from his seat, “You can go ahead outside. I’ll just get something from the cashier.”

               Y/N looks at him with a questioning gaze. Nevertheless, she turns back to her seat and wordlessly follows Dana, Jeff, and Seojoon as they exit the restaurant. Once outside, Dana suddenly turns toward her.

               “You and Mr. Min look like you’re still newbies in dating.”

               Y/N’s eyes widen, “U-uh, how did you say so?”

               “Because you two look like you’re still tiptoeing around each other whenever one initiates some skinship,” Dana shrugs. “Don’t worry. It’s always like that at the start of a relationship.”

               “Yeah. You two might want to start transferring the intensity in your eyes to some physical touchy-touching,” Seojoon suggests, only to get playfully hit on the head by Jeff. Seojoon rubs the sore spot, “What? I’m just saying the truth! It’s normal to crave physical intimacy. Touching and being near someone you love is an inherent need!”

               “Yeah, but they’re just starting, Seojoon,” Jeff reiterates. He turns to Y/N, “Why don’t you try going to a bar?”

               “A bar?” Y/N asks, eyes wide.

               “Yeah, a bar. There’s a nice one along 11th Avenue. Neo-Cloud 9. Great place and drinks, cheap price. Oh, and amazing music. Their DJs don’t play the typical LSD-inducing club music. You two need to loosen up, you know? It’s not good to always hole yourselves at work. And also,” a Cheshire smile grows on Jeff’s lips, “Yoongi loves to drink alcohol after a long day. He just seems like the bar-type of a guy.”

               Before Y/N can ask what he means, the door of the restaurant swings open. Yoongi grins at them, “Let’s get going now.” The three nod and walk ahead, Jeff and Seojoon laughing about something again with Dana playfully hitting them to tell them to shut up. 

              Yoongi walks ahead of Y/N to turn around and walk backward on the pavement, facing the girl. Y/N raises a brow at him. 

              Yoongi grins and pulls out a pale pink envelope before falling back into step with her. “I thought of asking for a date document since we’re quite being handsy in there. Good thing the cashier saw it, too. Even said we’re cute for being shy in holding each other’s hands.” Yoongi wiggles his brows, smirking. “Didn’t know we’re being cute, sweetheart.”  

              “…Yeah,” Y/N looks away, lips pursed.

               “Are you sure you want to date here?”

               The street is bustling alive. Neon signs hang from all walls and awnings. Street arts bask in matte or glow-in-the-dark spray paint. The smell of alcohol, cigarette stench, and the delicious smell of sizzling plates compound together and yet it isn’t acrid to the nose; it’s oddly alluring. All the stars in the sky seem to have fallen down on the streets because all sorts of lights try to illuminate every inch of the pavement. It’s 11th Avenue. The place with different people from all sorts of places. Foreigners and locals piling in different corners. There are people who look newly-legal, celebrating their privilege in reaching 21. And there are some dressed over-the-top, ready to spend the whole night getting wasted. Bands of friends also jump into the mix, hoping to have fun clubbing and drinking and maybe meeting someone new. And there are also people who look like they’ve just gotten off from work. Like them.

               Y/N turns to Yoongi, unbuckling her seat belt. “Yeah, I’m sure.”

               The interior of Neo-Cloud 9 is far from its name. Y/N expected to have all sorts of pleasure-in-bottles lined up like the perfect temptation, a pit filled with heavenly decors and people, a place you wouldn’t want to get out of. But what she only gets is a classic bar and club, walls painted in grey softened by the bright moving lights. A marble-black bar stands in the right corner containing all sorts of imaginable liquor. The floor is carpeted in starry black, and the seats and booths are covered in lush-looking leather. There are people in dressy suits seated comfy in their faux silver tables in one corner, and there are some moving to the beat on the dance floor. But the bar doesn’t look wild or something that could scream fantastical luxury, much less ‘Cloud 9.’ Jeff must be right. This looks like a good place with good drinks, all for a cheap price. 

               It doesn’t take long for Y/N to find themselves seated in a booth, a footed pilsner of mojito in front of her a shot glass and a bottle of tequila in front of Yoongi. 

               Y/N takes small sips of her drink. Yoongi downs a shot. He picks up the lime on the plate and chews on it. When he’s finished a piece of his chaser, he looks at Y/N. “Why did you want to go here?”

               “Well…I’ve never been to a bar before.”

               “You’ve never been to a bar?” Yoongi gawks, placing his glass down on the table. “Like, ever?”

               “Nope.” Y/N places her glass on the table and looks at Yoongi, “And I’ve never drunk any alcohol before.”

               “This is your first time?”

               “Yup. My parents told me not to drink while I’m studying. And coincidentally, I’ve never liked the concept of drinking so…good for them. I’ve never liked parties and places like this.”

               “Then why did we go here?”

               “Because Jeff told me you like to drink.”

               “I do like drinking,” Yoongi nods, “but I wouldn’t insist to go here if you never liked places like this.”

               “Yeah, I don’t like places like this. But it doesn’t hurt to get at least experience from it, right?” Y/N raises her brows and sips on her glass.

               Silence fills the space between them. Y/N orders another glass of mojito. And another. Yoongi warns her she might get drunk too fast. /N disagrees and the stable tone in her voice supports her argument. Meanwhile, Yoongi had already tried raising a conversation topic about five times now. “Another person to rant about in high school?” “Any memories of childhood?” “What got you into loving writing?”—hell, he even tried to pick a fight by bringing up Y/N’s predicament under Nancy, but all of them ended in conversational dead-ends. Either Y/N answers in replies designed for the finality of a conversation, or she switches the topic to a trivial one, such as what he thinks of Kylie Jenner’s plastic surgeries. What only seems to pass through were shallow one-worded answer questions.

               “Uno or Monopoly?”

               “Uno.”

               It’s even fortunate if Yoongi could get Y/N to expand her answer.

               “Would you rather be a…book or a car?”

               “What does that even mean?” Y/N cackles.

               “Just answer!”

               “Okay, a book!”

               But it’s fine for him. It’s better than having nothing.

               “Okay, do you dislike…being sweaty?”

               “Nope. You?”

               “Also no,” Yoongi chuckles. He crosses his arms on the table, “Do you like to play crane games in arcades?”

               “Hmm, yes…But only if someone will win it for me. I suck at it. And it’s a waste of money, too,” Y/N bites on a chip. “What about you? Do you like playing it?”

               “Not if I’m alone. If I had somebody with me, I sure like it. I love feeling somebody getting thrilled with me.”

              Y/N looks down at her glass. She traces its rim with a finger, “We’ve already got four date documents.”

               “Yeah,” Yoongi brings up his glass to his mouth. “But why are you suddenly bringing it up?”

              “Just clarifying what we’re here for.”

              Yoongi’s hand stills.

              Y/N sighs, “We have to keep our eyes on the goal, okay? After all, we’re just doing this stuff to get approved for the PRS-change.” Y/N focuses her eyes on her hands, “We’re doing okay with the date documents. But we need to worry about the accounts of our relationship witnesses. I’ve only got Mina and of course, Ms. Teddy. But that’s only two. We need eight more—”

              “We only need five more,” Yoongi places down his glass on the table, “We’ve already got Dana, Jeff, and Seojoon roped in, too. Actually, four more, because Ms. Yoona already believes we’re into each other the day I re-introduced you. We already have six.”

              “How are you sure about that?”

              “Didn’t Ms. Yoona bid you good luck with me?”

              Y/N’s jaw falls slack. “H-how did you know that? I-I thought you only heard Jeff and Seojoon that night?”

              “I was already standing near the door. Of course, I heard everything. That’s why I know you’re denying we’re into each other. Put us up to fail,” Yoongi meets her eyes, “Again.”

              Y/N stares at him.

              “We’ve already got Dana, Seojoon, and Jeff for sure. Dana was asking me earlier about the intimacy in the break room yesterday. Seojoon and Jeff eat up any gossip Dana feeds them. Plus, those three are my friends. So if we’ll need to be desperate, I can put up an act and request them to write for us.”  Yoongi looks away and downs a shot, “But I think what we did in the restaurant was already enough. I don’t know what other act could be more convincing than that.” 

              Y/N hums. After that, silence again. It doesn’t last long though, not until her 5th order of mojito is placed on their table. But instead of uttering a word, Y/N makes a move to snatch the shot glass of tequila in front of Yoongi. 

              “What are you doing?” Yoongi raises a brow, placing his glass farther away from her reach.

              Y/N only continues to make grabby hands at him. “I’ve only been drinking cocktails this whole night. Wanna taste some hard liquor, too, y’know?”

              “Y/N,” Yoongi sighs, “You’re gonna get drunk. Your house is far from here.”

              “So?” Y/N tilts her head. “You borrowed Steven’s car tonight. You’re gonna drive me home anyway. Drunk or not.”

              “Yeah, but you told me earlier Mina is gonna sleep over at Mark’s. And I cannot carry you up to your apartment—should you get drunk— because if you’re wasted, you cannot confirm to your security you actually know me if I were to help you get in your flat. And that  won’t ever happen because not in a million years will I carry your fat ass in any possible chance—” 

              “Yaddah, yaddah, blah, blah, blah,” Y/N leans forward on the table. “You always have something to say, no, Yoongi?”

              Yoongi clicks his tongue. “As if you’re not also like that.”

              “You don’t need to worry,” Y/N waves off. “Surprisingly, I’m not yet drunk. See?”

              Yoongi gulps. It’s hard to argue otherwise if Y/N knows she indeed looks and sounds very sober.

              “So,” Y/N reaches for his shot glass again, “why can’t you just let me have a taste of tequila? It’s my first time after all. I just wanna experience what I’ve missed on during high school and college.”

              That’s all it takes for Yoongi to sigh and finally relent. Soon enough, Y/N is almost bouncing on her seat as she triumphantly places the tequila-filled shot glass in front of her. With a grin, Y/N picks a lime on the saucer and hovers it above her drink and—

               Yoongi catches her elbow. “That’s not how you do it.” He scoots across the booth to sit next to her. He gets the lime from her hands, “You don’t drop the lime in your drink like you’re trying to make lime water. You dip your hand in salt first and suck it.” He pushes the plate of salt towards her. 

              Y/N looks at him funny. Yoongi rolls his eyes. “You said this is your first time drinking. I’m just trying to teach you how it’s supposed to go so it would taste better. Look,” Yoongi points to her shot glass, “the tequila is distilled so it has a high percentage of alcohol. It’s a hard liquor and will definitely make a different burn in your throat than your mojitos. The salt is gonna lessen that burn. Now, just dip a finger in the salt and suck it.”

              Y/N gives him one more suspicious look but follows nevertheless. 

              “Now, take a shot of your tequila.”

              Y/N smiles, placing the rim of the glass on her lips. She closes her eyes and tilts her head back, downing the drink in one go. When she looks back at Yoongi, indeed, a different burn is lining down her throat. It felt like someone lit a match inside her esophagus and let the flame lick the muscles and nerves of her neck. 

              Before Y/N could let her jaw drop and ask Yoongi what the fuck did she just take in, Yoongi places the slice of lime next to her lips. “Bite on the lime.” She looks at him. Yoongi’s shoulder is brushing next to hers. He’s leaning close to her, face hovering hers. Just an inch more and her nose will graze the tip of his nose. He’s also got his hand close on her face. She could feel his thumb almost brush her lips as he holds the lime in front of her. And his eyes—Y/N tears her gaze from him. She snatches the lime from his hand and bites on it.

               Yoongi pulls away, chuckling, “See? It tasted much better now. The sourness of lime balances and enhances the flavor of tequila.”

               Y/N only nods.

               They spend the rest of the night with Yoongi teaching her different terms in drinking, and her trying out sips of the drinks Yoongi orders for himself. It was all okay. Y/N’s having fun, learning and enjoying the drinks. It’s a wonder she’s still sober considering it’s her first time drinking and she’s already got a couple of drinks down her system. Her eyes are still steady, her posture stable. Heck, her voice even sounds as if it a minute has only passed since they entered Neo-Cloud 9. 

               “C’mon, Yoongi, let’s dance.”

               Yoongi should have not been over-confident in his perceptions. The moment Y/N steps out from her side, she stumbles toward him, almost completely faceplanting on his chest.

               “Y/N,” Yoongi pushes her up, “You’re drunk. Fuck, I told you you’re gonna get drunk. I think we should head home now—” 

               “No! Wanna dance, Min Yoongi!” Y/N suddenly stands upright, almost tripping on her shoes. She grins, “Let’s just do one song and after that Imma go home. Please, Yoongi?”

               “Y/N—”

               “Please, Yoongiiiii?” Y/N clasps her hands together, “Pleassseee?” 

               “Y/N—”

               “Just one song! Or else I would call you mean Yoongi from now on,” she crosses her arms, “Just one is all I’m asking. Wanna experience that party feel for the very first time. We don’t even have to do a rave dance. We can just slow dance if you like!”

               This is the reason why Yoongi finds himself dancing something akin to waltz to a song about partying as if it’s 2012. It’s not that bad, though. Not when he’s not alone dancing un-synced to the song with Y/N almost completely hanging on his limbs like a sloth. Some occasional seconds, she even gets the audacity to place her head on his chest. Yoongi cannot help but pull a small smile on his lips.

               The lights above the dance floor are in the colors of sunset and dawn and they move and merge like cells undergoing mitosis. It feels simultaneously alienating and comforting and Y/N isn’t really sure if she likes it or not. She just feels warm all over. Warm in her toes. Warm in her belly. Warm in her throat. Warm in her hands. Warm in her chest. Just…warm. Too comfortingly warm and she doesn’t know if it’s all just thanks to the alcohol. 

               “Hey, Y/N, the song is about to end now.”

               “Just one more,” Y/N mutters. She places her head against his shoulder.

               Yoongi hums. The song finally changes. A few beats in and Y/N stops in her tracks.  It’s The Louvre by Lorde.

              But lover, you’re the one to blame, all that you’re doing

              Can you hear the violence?

              Megaphone to my chest.

               Y/N looks up. Yoongi’s face is above her, almost hovering hers. The warm sunset-colored lights pass over his features, highlighting the seeming stylishness of his unkempt hair, the small existent ridges on his plump cheeks, and the soft-looking curve of his lips that’s more often than not pulled to the side to tease her. But tonight, he’s just smiling, and his lips look so soft under the pink light. His hand covering hers felt so big and yet unnervingly un-foreign. It’s only calming. His eyes are soft, gentle, dare she say warm even. 

              And for one second, it didn’t seem the calming warmth she was feeling was because of the alcohol. Because the warmth she feels is akin to the soothing radiance of early mornings. Warm like the heat between hand-held mugs shared over a small table with knees bumping next to each other. Warm like the tepid comfort a thick blanket provides to counter the thunderstorm incessantly knocking on the window panes. Warm like the lukewarm water of a hot tub one prepares after coming home from a long day at work. It’s hot, but not too hot to immediately withdraw a finger from.

              It wasn’t the alcohol anymore because the warmth she feels comes from Yoongi. She knows for sure because when her hand withdraws from his skin, the calming warmth that has surrounded her immediately dissipates. 

              The realization dawns on her and suddenly, Y/N feels her throat is being laced up close. A choked out sob, and Y/N is hunching over, form minimizing on the floor as she tries to wheeze out a sharp breath.

              “Y/N! What’s wrong? Are you okay?!” Yoongi panics. He holds her close to him, arms looping around her figure to keep her upright next to him. But Y/N shakily pushes him away.

              Arms-width away from him, hands clutching tightly on his shoulders, Y/N looks up at him. “Yoongi, you have to stop being like this.”

              “L-like what? Holding you to not let you fall over?”

              “No,” Y/N shakes her head. “You have to stop trying to get so close to me.”

              Yoongi stops. 

              Y/N lets out a staggered breath. “Just, please don’t, Yoongi.”

              “Y/N—”

              A tear slips from her eyes. “I can’t fall one more time, Yoongi. I’ve had enough already. I can’t…I can’t take another one. So please…don’t cross anymore of the space I put between us. Or even let me do the same. You can insult me whatever you want, just,” Y/N lets out a broken sigh, “don’t do this to me. Please.”

              No words are exchanged after that. Y/N lets herself in the car. Yoongi follows suit. The night goes on devoid of any sound save for the revving of the engine. When they pull out from the colorful streets of 11th Avenue, the distant pink lights of Neo-Cloud 9 become Y/N’s last memory as she slumps her head against the car window. Soon enough, the world goes black. Her breaths finally even out.

DAY 6 – January 31; Friday

               When Y/N peels her eyes open, a rounded moon-looking light fixture set on a powder blue ceiling is the first thing she sees. The second thing that enters her vision is the white bedside table on her left. She’s never seen these things before. Y/N sits up in a jolt. White wooden cabinets, a metal gray desk, black office swivel chair, light grey faux wooden tiles—these are definitely not in her room. She instantly looks down on her body. A white and blue striped pajama. Panic starts to rise in her stomach.  Where the fuck am I—

               The door bursts open and a head of a male she’s never seen before pops up. He smiles at her. “Oh, you’re finally awake. You can take a shower now. Yoongi’s just finished showering. Your clothes are already on the hangers in the bathroom. Mom’s got them washed and pressed already.” The man walks away only to come back as if he’s forgotten something. “Oh yeah, we’re also having breakfast so…come join us when you’re done?” The furrows on Y/N’s forehead deepen. The man beams, “O-oh, and I’m Yoongi’s brother, Jeongguk.”

               Yoongi? Jeongguk? Why is Yoongi’s brother inviting her for breakfast when she hasn’t even heard of him before—Y/N freezes. The answer finally dawns upon her and Y/N could only internally pull all the hair off her head. Oh my god, what the hell am I doing in Yoongi’s home?!

               Twenty minutes later and Y/N finds herself in a circular table with the very question in her head the first thing uttered out when she sits on her chair.

              “So Y/N,” Yoongi’s father smiles at her, “How did you end up here?”

               “Um—”

               “Dad, I thought already told you yesterday?” Yoongi interrupts. Y/N looks at the man across her. He looks like he didn’t dry himself well. The ends of his hair are still wet. There’s also a damp spot on the chest area of the white crew-neck shirt he’s wearing under his navy blazer. Y/N gulps. She should not let her eyes linger on that damp spot for too long.

               “Yeah, son, I know,” Yoongi’s father chuckles as he slices into his scrambled eggs. He turns to Y/N. “I’m just messing with you, dear.”

               “Y-yeah. I totally understand, Mr. Min,” Y/N tries to chuckle.

               “Oh, don’t call me that. Just call me ‘dad.’ We’re gonna get close anyway.”

               Yoongi’s eyes bulge out. “What the hell—Dad!”

               Mr. Min laughs. “I’m just joking! Call me Yoonhyuk.”

               Y/N smiles politely, “Okay…Yoonhyuk.”

               “My, Yoongi,” Yoongi’s mother claps a hand on her son’s shoulder, “You seem really tense. You’re reverting back into your old high school self.”

               “Mom!”

               “Excuse my son,” Yoongi’s mother smiles at Y/N. “He used to be really tense and timid all over. Habits do really die hard. Anyway, just call me Ji-an, too. Oh, and I’m the one who changed your clothes last night so no need to worry. I just thought letting you sleep in your work clothes may be too uncomfortable. You looked like you really needed a good rest last night.”

               “It’s alright. Thank you so much, Ms. Mi—Ji-an,” Y/N smiles. Ms. Min returns a bigger charming smile. Y/N figures Yoongi’s smile must have taken after his mother’s.

               Breakfast continues on as if it was just another breakfast in the Min family. Having Yoongi’s past already brought up, Mr. Min continues on with a story of an awkward fourteen-year-old Yoongi sweating over just practicing how to give their plate of chow mien to their neighbor. Jeongguk even pitched in of how his older brother was such a wimp way back when they were kids. He said it was a wonder how Yoongi always manages to win every game when he’s always the one running like a ‘waddling duck.’ Until a year later they found out it was all thanks to the cheats Yoongi has collected. Everyone erupts into laughter. Even Yoongi who’s sulking the whole time finally breaks into cackles. 

              Y/N can’t remember the last time she had breakfast this lively. Well, she and Mina do share fun breakfasts too. But with the two of them rarely having enough time to cook meals in the morning, table breakfasts are reserved for special days. Their breakfasts usually come through sandwiches they munch on quickly at a small, cheap café near the office. Now, she’s having breakfast with people she’s never met before, and yet, a comfortable warmth settles over her, making her feel las if she’s meeting people she had long been friends with.  The feeling is strange, but Y/N decides she’s more than welcome to entertain it.

              The breakfast ends sooner than Y/N would like to admit and it isn’t by long she bids her goodbyes to the Min family after she finishes helping Ms. Min clean up. She expresses her gratitude once more to Mr. and Mrs. Min before following Yoongi to the car.

              When they pull away from the driveway, Yoongi finally says his first words of the day to her. “I’m sorry you may have been shocked this morning. I drove you to your apartment but I wasn’t able to get you into your flat because you don’t have your keys. The security stationed doesn’t know alternative access and the admin’s office was long closed. So, I have no other option but to drive you home with me. Well, you were actually the one who insisted to drive you to my home, so yeah, here we are.” 

              “I…insisted to go to your home?”

              Yoongi looks at her, “You don’t remember?”

“Yah, Y/N, stop messing with my hair,” Yoongi huffs as he tries to balance the girl latched onto his back while rummaging through her bag for her keys.

“I’m not messing it up. I’m styling it!” Y/N grabs two handfuls of hair. Yoongi nearly topples onto the floor from the hard tug on his scalp. Y/N only squeals, “See? You look like Garu now! Not Pucca. You only smile when you’re smug!”

“Y/N, stop messing with me,” Yoongi grits, hands frantically turning all the items in the woman’s bag over and over again. “Fuck, there’s no keys. Y/N, where the hell did you put your keys?”

“I don’t knoooow.”

Y/N starts to slip on his back. Before he could hoist her up though, the girl locks her elbows around his neck, knocking the wind out of his windpipe. Yoongi didn’t know what getting strangled really feels like until now. Y/N giggles, “Oh, I know now! I slipped it in in my pouch! The one with my ballpens. I think I must have left it in the office because I’m not yet done with my report when we went off…”

Yoongi drags a hand over his face, “Fuck. What the hell will I do with you now?”

Y/N props her head on his shoulder and grins, “Take me home to your home?”

               Yoongi gapes at Y/N. “You seriously don’t remember?”

               Y/N slowly shakes her head, “I don’t.”

Yoongi plops Y/N back onto the passenger’s seat before he sits himself back into the driver’s seat. The moment Yoongi drives away from the 27th street, Y/N decides it’s a brilliant idea to latch herself onto the man’s arm.

“Y/N, what the hell are you doing?” Yoongi tries to gently pull his arm away from her. Y/N only keeps her grip on him and decides to put her head on his shoulder. Yoongi sighs in defeat.

“I’m being happy!” Y/N grins, “You and I are gonna have a sleepover!”

“This is not a sleepover,” Yoongi gives her a pointed look, “You’re drunk and I’m just being a Good Samaritan letting you stay over in my house because your poor ass got nowhere to go.”

“Doesn’t matter. It’s still a sleepover because we’ll sleep in your room.”

“I am NOT letting you sleep in my room. You’re gonna sleep on the couch.”

Y/N’s eyes grow wide, “No! We’re gonna sleep in your room! Friends sleep in one room during sleepovers.”

“So now, you’re finally admitting we’re friends?” Yoongi smirks. He doesn’t know why he’s letting this pointless conversation go on when the person he’s speaking to is just running on autopilot. But when Y/N looks at him in complete focus and opens her mouth, Yoongi can’t help but anticipate for what she has to say.

“Why?” Y/N tilts her head, “Aren’t we already friends? Weren’t you the one who kept bugging me about it?”

Yoongi looks away and keeps his eyes ahead, “Well…yeah.”

“Then why won’t you let me sleep in your room?”

Yoongi clicks his tongue, “Just because.”

“Is it because you hate me?”

“No, it’s not because of that.”

“Then, is it because I annoyed you today?”

“Well, you did annoy me. A lot.” Yoongi sighs, “Okay, a bit. A teeny, tiny bit. But, it’s also not because of that.”

“Then what is it?” Y/N whines.

Yoongi doesn’t answer.

“Is it because I’m supposed to actually rat on any mistake of your team to Nancy?”

Still silence.

“Then…is it because I’m ugly?”

Yoongi whips his head toward her, “What?”

Y/N looks down at her lap, “People say no one wants to be with me because no one likes my face. They say it’s too intimidating. That I’m too intimidating and no one wants to be with someone like that.” Y/N glances at the side mirror, “Didn’t help that everyone practically hates me because of how firm I stand with my values. High school was enough proof of that.”

“Well, it’s not everyone. You got Mina—”

“Of course, I got Mina. She’s always by my side. So, she’s out of the question.”

“I’m not yet done,” Yoongi chuckles, “You do love getting ahead of everybody, no?”

Y/N pouts and faces straight ahead, crossing her arms.

“As I was saying, you got Mina and me.”

It’s Y/N’s turn to snap back towards him, eyes wide. “What do you mean?”

“You said before I’m not just anybody,” Yoongi shrugs. “Might as well live up to that.”

The quiet air settles over again. Only the sounds of the city zooming past them and Y/N’s occasional snores fill the gaps of silence. But it doesn’t last long as they finally reached 12th street, West Drive—Yoongi’s home—because Y/N wakes up again and starts blabbering if she could tie up his hair Garu-style. Yoongi thinks the utter shock in his mother’s face when she opened the door for him and the utterly inebriated girl on his back is something he will never forget. And probably Y/N’s face, too, which brightened up when Yoongi told her she can have his room.

“Are you serious?” Y/N squeals, already on her knees on his mattress, ready to jump around. She looks like a five-year-old and it doesn’t help that his striped blue and white pajamas make her look, dare he say, cute.

“Yes, I am,” Yoongi replies. He closes the door for a second to see his mother in the hallway.

Ji-an places Y/N’s clothes on their hamper before addressing him. “Been a while since you brought a friend over.”

“Yeah,” Yoongi nervously smiles as he rubs his nape. “Sorry this was unannounced, mom. I drove her to her place but she forgot her keys at work and her flatmate’s also gone for the night. I don’t know what to do so I just brought her here.”

“Hey, it’s okay. I don’t mind,” Ji-an smiles. “I was just surprised. I didn’t know Thursday nights are now a drinking night.”

“Mom!” Yoongi playfully claps his mother’s shoulder. Ji-an only laughs. When her chuckles die down, she fondly looks at her son, “I was just curious what made you drink out on a Thursday night. I thought friend’s night-outs are for Fridays.”

“Today was just a special case. Y/N wanted to try drinking for the first time. She dragged me to teach her what she’s missed out on college and high school.” Yoongi looks at his closed door, a warm smile forming on his face. “I didn’t know someone at 25 has not yet been to a bar before.” 

“Then, I’m glad you’ve accompanied her.”

Yoongi looks at his mother, brows furrowed, “What do you mean?”

“It’s also been a while since I’ve seen you smile like that,” Ji-an pulls her lips into a knowing smile. “You smile a lot with us. But it’s been ages since I saw that smile again. It makes me happy it’s back.”

“What…smile, mom?”

“Oh, you know it already,” Ji-an pats his shoulder. “By the way, where are you gonna sleep?”

“I’ll make camp in the living room. I have your fluffy pillows and blanket with me…Thanks, mom.” Yoongi gives her an appreciative smile. 

“Okay then,” Ji-an returns his smile, “Goodnight, son.” Yoongi kisses her cheek goodnight and then she resigns back into their room. 

Yoongi plops himself on the floor beside his bed. Y/N rolls over to poke at his shoulder, “What took you so long outside? I thought this is a sleepover. Also, what are you doing with that?” she points to the binder the man is holding.

Yoongi continues flipping through the pages. It’s an album of his days back in high school. He always pulls it out whenever he gets the sudden urge to feel nostalgic. Most often than not, the fuzzy feeling after drinking gives that urge. Yoongi mutters, “I’m looking through it so you’ll get bored of messing with me and finally sleep.”

“You know, Yoongi…if I didn’t hate you, I would love to kiss you.”

Yoongi freezes in his position, “W-what?”

But it seems the alcohol took its final toll on Y/N when she rolls over to her side and bids him with a yawn, “Goodnight, Yoongi.”

Yoongi makes sure he hears her snore before he returns, “…Goodnight, too, sweetheart.”

               “You really don’t remember anything?”

               “No…?”

               Yoongi focuses back on the road. “What’s your last memory yesterday?”

               “Well, we took shots. Then after that, we danced, and—nothing. Well, you drove me here and let me sleepover so yeah,” Y/N looks down on her interlocked hands. “Thank you for that, Yoongi.”

               “You’re welcome. But do you really not remember anything? As in, anything at all?”

               “I told you I do not, okay?” Y/N throws up her hands, “How many times do I have to tell you that?!”

               Yoongi glances at her, “Not even what you said while we’re dancing at the bar?”

               “No,” Y/N sighs. “Look, I don’t remember anything from the night before, save for what I already told you. What did I even say while we’re dancing at the bar?”

               “Nothing,” Yoongi looks back at the road. “You just said you wanna stuff your nose full with mojito because you love it so much.”

               Y/N massages her temple, “Okay, that’s embarrassing. But dismissible. It’s just a stupid statement. Did something else happen?”

               “Something,” Yoongi scoffs, “Oh hell yeah, something definitely happened.”

               Y/N’s brows shot up and she screeches, “Did something happen between us?!” Yoongi almost drives the car out of their lane.

               “Jesus Christ, Y/N, do you plan on busting my ears off?” Yoongi holds a hand over his ears. “And for God’s sake, how did you even come up to that? What do you think of me? Someone who takes advantage of a drunk woman?!”

              “I didn’t say that! Okay,” Y/N reels back and sighs, “I’m sorry I implied it and for possibly offending you. I just thought maybe you got drunk, too, yesterday and we got handsy-handsy on each other. Maybe. The movies show it’s possible. And they already run a good enough forecast system for drunken mistakes.”

              “Are you seriously using movies now as a reliable reference?”

              Y/N looks away. “It wouldn’t hurt, okay. Movies reflect real life.”

              “Look, Y/N,” Yoongi looks at her with a serious face, “nothing sexual happened between us. If something actually happened between us, I wouldn’t be here in the first place. I’d probably be at a church tryna convince the priest if I could take a bath using their holy water.” 

               Y/N scowls at him, “You say that as if I’m the most horrible person in the world. Well, if you’d been a different person, you’d know I’m not so bad.”

               “Are you implying you want to have sex with me?”

               “Oh my god—NO! How the fuck did you even think about such abomination?!” 

              Yoongi wiggles his brows at her. Y/N resists the urge to slap his face. They’re currently driving. She cannot risk her life no matter how much she wants to end the man beside her.

              “But seriously speaking,” Yoongi rounds a street, “something else did happen.”

              “What is it?”

              “You actually insisted to go to my house because you wanna have a sleepover. You reasoned it’s because we’re friends.” Yoongi glances at her, “And you told me you wanted to kiss me.”

              Y/N’s jaw falls wide open, “Oh my god, your imagination cannot be any weirder than it already is, huh? ‘Friends’? ‘Kiss you’? Never in a million years would I want that!” Y/N scoffs, “Even if I’m drunk, I know I wouldn’t say that! Your delusions are getting worse, Yoongi.”

              “Say all that you want. Still doesn’t negate what transpired yesterday,” Yoongi sing-songs.

              “Look,” Y/N shifts in her seat to turn to Yoongi, “I’m grateful you had me in your home and welcomed me so warmly. And I know I’m enjoying a lot of favors right now. But one more wouldn’t hurt, okay?” Y/N sighs and closes her eyes, “Can we just forget whatever happened yesterday?”

              “Nope.”

              “What do you mean ‘nope’?!”

              “Nope, as in, we cannot forget what we know happened. It’s impossible, biologically and realistically speaking. Our brains are not designed with an undo button. Unless we already have early onset of Alzheimer’s. Though I think I wouldn’t worry about that because I’m young and happy. You’re the one who should actually worry because you look old and that’s because you didn’t enjoy life—”

              “Okay, I get you! It’s impossible to forget! But can we just never speak about what happened yesterday?!” 

              Yoongi shrugs, “Depends.”

              Y/N’s brows scrunch together, “What do you mean ‘depends’?”

              “If it would be non-advantageous for me, sure, I won’t speak about it. But right now, it’s definitely advantageous for me because I can use it as blackmail material to finally convince you you wanted to be friends, and that in fact, we are indeed already friends.”

              “Min Yoongi—!”

              A ringtone bursts loud in the car. It’s a Japanese song. And it sounds very much like an opening OST for a shounen action anime.

              “Are you fricking serious—”

              “Ssh!”  Y/N holds up an index to Yoongi’s lips. She breaks into a smile, “Oh hello, Ms. Nancy. I-I mean,” Y/N glances at her watch and does quick math, “good afternoon!” Fuck time differences.

               The person on the other end of the line doesn’t sound too pleased with the greeting though. “Where the hell are you now, Y/N?”

               “Oh, I’m at,” Y/N looks outside of the window in search of the nearest post with a street name, “uh, 1st Avenue. We’re just a couple of blocks from Rockfort now.”

               “Don’t come into the office today. I have a list of errands for you to do instead.”

               “O-okay—”

               “They’re a lot so I’m gonna e-mail them to you now. When you receive it, I hope you start on it ASAP.”

               “Of course, ma’am,” Y/N smiles. A beep at the other end serves as her reply. A ‘ding’ soon sounds in her phone and Y/N immediately checks on her notifications.

               Ms. Nancy Kim (7:45 A.M.)

Go to my house on 27th Avenue. I left some legal papers I need by 8:20 and I want you to scan them and email them to me. Use my personal computer. 

Head to the VanTae Main Office by 8:45 A.M. They’re hosting a meeting with the businesses they’ve partnered with for an interactive fashion event they’re hosting. I forgot to inform them beforehand that I’ve gone abroad but I’ve already e-mailed the CEO today that our spokesperson, Mr. Junhyung Choi, will stand for me. Help out Mr. Choi with whatever he needs, especially his presentation. 

Go to RTW Advertising’s Headquarters by 11 A.M with Mr. Choi. They need to discuss something about their future project with us. I’m gonna send you the references you’ll need to help Mr. Choi—

               Y/N immediately tucks her phone into her pocket. She’ll just read the rest on the train. She turns to the man beside her, “Yoongi park on the sidewalk.”

                “Why? But we’re going to the office—”

               “Just go to the nearest parking spot and drop me off.” Y/N smiles, “Please?”

               Yoongi sighs but nevertheless, he follows her directions and pulls up the car in front of a bicycle stand.

               Y/N gathers her bag, “Sorry this is a rush. I’m not going to the office. I need to catch the 8 A.M. train.” Y/N turns to her side to tug free her seatbelt but it won’t budge. She hears a sigh and then suddenly, there’s a hand hovering above hers, pulling more of the seatbelt from her shoulder to lessen the tension of the belt on the lock. When Y/N looks up, Yoongi’s face is so near hers that one simple movement could let her nose brush the side of his cheek. She could practically feel Yoongi’s breath sweep over her lips as he releases a sigh.

               Then Yoongi looks straight into her eyes. “Is it Nancy?”

               The lock clicks and it releases the belt. Y/N presses herself still into the corner of the car. She doesn’t know she’s holding her breath as she nods, “Y-yeah.”

               Yoongi leans back in his seat. “You sure you want to take the train? I can drive you to where you need to go. I can just hit up Ms. Yoona and tell her to take my place for the day.”

               “N-no. This is my work. I don’t want to bother you. I’ve got a list of things to do and it will keep you away from what you really needed to do.” Y/N pushes the handle and opens the door to let herself hop out. “Thanks for offering though.”

               Yoongi tilts his head and smiles. “Date you later, then?”

               Y/N’s brows meet together.

               Yoongi shrugs, “Well, we’ll see each other later and hopefully date y’know? We still need a few date documents to get. For the Heart Holiday. So yeah, date you later?”

               “Okay…date you later, too.” Y/N smiles back and then she closes the door. When she turns around, she tries to convince herself the heat on her cheeks was because of the pollution outside. Not because of Yoongi’s warm smile as she sent him off.

               Y/N wishes she’s never said anything too early.

               The future is a concept that can hardly be determined no matter how open and flexible the patterns people have made to make sense of it. Y/N knows this and yet she still chooses to defy it. It‘s human nature anyway to try and figure out life and see how long you could last with a blueprint belief. If it turns out to be wrong, improve the belief or let it go and find a better one. But this is always easier said than done. It’s an inherent quality of dealing with things and concepts no one has complete control over. And Y/N has completely no control even on her unfortunate scenarios she has pre-determined in her head.

              All of her Thursdays have been cursed ever since her first goddamn story proposal was foiled by Min Yoongi one year ago. And suddenly, yesterday was spot-free of any unfortunate events Y/N was sober enough to fully experience. And by some unexpected discrepancy in a long-established, working pattern, everything that has to go wrong in Thursday, happened today—Friday.

               When Y/N entered the train station, a mechanical error occurred on the 8 A.M. train that caused a thirty-minute delay before a working cart could come and accommodate commuters. This fucked up Y/N’s schedule big time because she had to sprint to Nancy’s house and speed-scan the legal documents she needed in just five minutes to reach the 8:20 deadline. Of course, it didn’t work according to her plan because computers do their thing when you needed something to be rushed, they pick that exact time to not cooperate with you. Nevertheless, Y/N manages to finish the task. But all the tinge of achievement written on her face from accomplishing something was immediately slashed off when she realizes she sent the documents five minutes past the deadline. Nancy made sure she knew this when she rings her to berate her of her noncompliance with set deadlines.

               Y/N thought she could make up for her mistake by doing her best in her presentation with Mr. Choi at VanTae. But that, too, proves to be a long shot to make because before she could even try, life shuts her down. Nancy forgot to inform her VanTae was expecting themed cohesive presentations from their partners. It is with great shame she sat behind the podium where Mr. Choi is standing, flipping through each slide that was obviously embarrassingly sub-par to the other business partners in the room. And, Mr. Choi didn’t let go of the opportunity to befall the blame of today’s unimpressive performance completely on Y/N. Who wouldn’t when she’s the one in charge of making the entire presentation?

               But that wasn’t the end of it. At RTW, Mr. Choi just asked for Y/N to bring him and the manager cups of coffee. She doesn’t have to stand by his side anymore. But the heavens seem to hate her because when she enters the conference room and nears the manager, the secretary who’s placing the folders suddenly turned, bumping into Y/N. It would have been okay if the coffee spilled all over on her shirt. But No. Y/N trips on her foot and the hot, newly brewed coffee had to spill on the shirt of RTW’s manager. 

              When Nancy caught wind of what happened through Mr. Choi, she immediately slashed off Y/N’s tasks that actually involved Travel Loca and reduced it to personal, trivial errands. It’s easy and fool-proof. They’re just errands like bring Nancy’s daughter’s hardcopy of her paper to her school and write up an apology for Nancy for the parties and events she got invited to but will be unable to attend. And by some undecipherable stretch of bad luck, doing these tasks, too, has also proven to be hard. Either the transportation system will delay her for half an hour, an electronic gadget will malfunction on her, or a person in the other end of the line will find something offending in her words and turn it all against her. Y/N barely made it on time to submit the hardcopy to the school. She wasn’t able to finish encoding Nancy’s personal expenses in the tax declaration software. And two of Nancy’s friends were not satisfied with her apologies and even insulted her. When Y/N calls for the nth time about finishing a task that ended not-so-well in her favor, she knows Nancy has already busted her patience of the day for her because she just sighs and started to give her cold one-worded replies.

              And before Y/N knew it, it’s already seven. Long past working hours. Y/N’s eyes widen. Yoongi. She pulls up her phone and types a message.

              Y/N : Hey, I think I’m gonna do a raincheck on our uh date. Sorry for the late notice. I just finished my job and I don’t think I have any energy left. (7:05 P.M.)

             Mean Yoongi >:( : Why? What happened? (7:06 P.M.)

             Mean Yoongi >:( : If you don’t mind me asking, I mean? (7:06 P.M.)

             Y/N : Nothing happened. Just tired (7:06 P.M.)

             Mean Yoongi >:( : Okay, that’s fine. Take a rest. Health is always the priority (7:07 P.M.)

             Y/N : Okay. Thank you :) (7:07 P.M.)

             Mean Yoongi >:( : Date you tomorrow then? (7:07 P.M.)

             Y/N purses her lips and shrugs. 

             Y/N : Sure. Date you tomorrow (7:07 P.M.) 

             Mean Yoongi >:( : Sweet. Goodnight, sweetheart  😉 (7:07 P.M.)

             A small smile traces its way on Y/N’s face. 

             Y/N : Goodnight, too, Yoongi (7:07 P.M.)  

             However, Y/N shouldn’t have thought about finally having a good night too early. Because the cherry on top of her day is yet to happen. 

            Y/N heads to Rockfort to retrieve her keys and finally end the day. It’s already nine in the evening and she just wants to go home, plop down on her bed, and maybe cry. Out of shame or anger or both, she isn’t sure. Probably anger to Mr. Choi and a bit to Nancy because they didn’t have to belittle her in front of her face the way they did. And most probably anger to herself because she wouldn’t receive such backlash from her superiors if she didn’t fuck up. The rational part of her believes Mr. Choi and Nancy didn’t have time to consider her feelings because they were doing damage control. But still, Y/N can’t help but feel she’s been ruthlessly disregarded. She tried her best but she knows she can’t force anyone to notice it. No one really cares much about the progress. Outcomes are what only matter. It is always the end that determines whether something is worth all the effort or it was all just for naught. 

              When Y/N starts on the steps on the complex, her phone rings. 

              It’s Nancy. Y/N takes a deep breath and closes her eyes. “He-hello?”

              “Y/N, what’s the progress of the Creatives for this week?”

              “O-oh, um—”

              “You forgot to send it to me earlier this day when I clearly told you before I went overseas to make sure you keep me up-to-date by the evening. Does it look like it’s still evening, now? It’s already midnight here.” Nancy sighs, “I’m the boss and yet I have to call my employee to ask her to simply do her job. Do you see how wrong that sounds?”

              “I-I’m sorry, Ms. Nancy—”

              “Stop with the apologies. I’ve had enough of that this day. Just tell me what I’m asking from you.”

              “O-okay,” Y/N rushes to the nearest bench. It’s the one sitting under the central mango tree and Y/N hopes if it could give her at least an ounce of luck just like it always does. With hands trembling, Y/N manages to get all the pages of her report from her bag in one piece.  She flips through the papers, “U-um, well, Steven and Yoongi came up with a unique design for our feature articles. It’s inspired by the DRM’s goals and the Heart Holiday because Valentines’ week is just around the corner. A-and then the concept team is collaborating well with our artists in doing the overall theme of our issue. I could send you an email later of the samples they’ve given me—” 

              “Okay, but do you have any updates on our cover page?”

              “The-the cover page?”

              “Yes, the cover page. Did you not hear what I said?”

              Y/N feels her throat dry up. The cover page. Kim Myungsoo. Y/N has reminded him of it yesterday and he said he’s going to see if he can email it by Friday. It’s already Friday and she still hasn’t received any email. She even texted Yoongi earlier while she’s at RTW’s meeting to personally check on Myungsoo and his team. What she only received is a dejected sigh from Yoongi as he told her the team leader has taken a leave and the team members are unable to give them the proposal she needs. Y/N remembers how flawed the bureaucratic system of Travel Loca is as Yoongi informs her company rules dictate access to the reports and documents are only granted by team leaders to ensure their legibility. And since Nancy didn’t give out a statement to override this rule today, Yoongi, himself, cannot do anything. Y/N now remembers why she actually dreaded this call to come.

              “U-um, yes, Ma’am, I heard what you said. But, the thing is, uh,” Y/N taps her foot, “I wasn’t…able to make a report because Myungsoo has taken a leave and he wasn’t able to send their report of progress to me. I-I’m sorry.”

              Silence greets her. For a second, Y/N thinks the line went dead.  She realizes it was wrong to speak beforehand because, after a beat, she feels her heart drop into her stomach.

              “You never run out of excuses, do you?”

              “W-what?”

              Nancy laughs. “Oh my god, I thought I wouldn’t be any more disappointed in you today. Guess I was wrong because you have a knack for breaking my expectations, Y/N. And right now, I’m not disappointed. I’m upset.”

              “Nancy, I’m sorry—”

              “All I’ve asked from you was to give me updates on the Creatives team. And yeah, you did but you left out the most important element we really need from them—the cover page. Give me a creatives team from a magazine company that doesn’t put the central focus on the fucking cover page? Of course, you’ll get none!”

              Y/N bites her lip.

               “What are you even doing this week in the office, then, Y/N?”

               Silence.

               “Answer me, Y/N.”

               Y/N bites back a sniffle. “I-I check on each team a-and I also helped with choosing the layouts and templates they use and—”

               “Why the hell are you helping them with that? You don’t know their work. What made you think you could actually help?” Nancy scoffs, “So instead of actually doing your job, you’ve been busying yourself with pointless things.”

               Y/N could only look down on her feet.

               “You know what, Y/N. When I hired you, I thought you were different. I thought you’re someone who could shine and finally get promoted to the team you wanted to be in. Because you know I’m picky with my P.A’s. Only those who I think have the potential to deserve a promotion into a nice position in my company, or at least deserve to get my recommendation that could get them access to many reputable magazines or news companies, get hired to be my P.A.’s. And when I met you, I thought you were like that. Strong, determined, intelligent, and hard-working. But now, you’re far from that, Y/N. You’ve become so far from what I’ve known you to be. You’ve become sloppy. You’ve become someone that makes excuses instead of really working. And you didn’t improve, Y/N. Not one bit. Because your work these days is far behind from what I expect from a well-educated person. And now, you’re making me think I made a mistake I even hired you.”

               Y/N presses a hand over her mouth. It’s only then she realizes a tear has already slipped from her eyes.

                Nancy sighs, “Thank you for…whatever you did today. I just hope you’ll make up for your mistakes when I come back. I don’t want to further regret I’ve taken you to my company. Goodbye.”

               The line goes dead. The hand that holds up her phone limply falls by her side. Her legs are shaking and so are her fingers. It’s cold but it doesn’t compare to the block of frigidness that has dropped on her chest when Nancy…said those words to her. Sure, Nancy’s always been a bit harsh and strict. She’s scolded Y/N for all the times she’s failed in her job before but they were all necessary reminders that have molded her to become more professional at work. She even told her once how proud she was of how Y/N grew in her company. But tonight, her words are far from that. Nancy was brutal and Y/N could only blame herself.

              Whenever Y/N makes a mistake, she always tries to look at them objectively and never let them get to her. She’s always been able to do this all throughout high school and until she’s started working. Until tonight, because Nancy’s words are vicious and they’re too heavy to shake off. People say wondering about the ‘what if’s’ is absurd as mulling over what may have happened won’t bring anything to anyone but torment. They are reminders of a now-unattainable future and dwelling on them won’t change anything. But right now, Y/N cannot help but wonder what if she’s sent the legal papers on time? What if she made a noteworthy presentation at the meeting? What if she didn’t spill coffee on the manager? What if she’s been more aggressive in convincing Myungsoo to give her the proposal? Would anything change then?

                Y/N raises a hand to wipe off the wetness that has trailed on her cheek. It immediately turns futile because the moment she presses a hand over her eyes, she lets out a sob and tear after tear slips through her fingers. Her mother has told her she’s always had shallow tears. Y/N has worked so long to prove her wrong. That she’s not weak. That she’s not easy to fall over when someone comes too close to knock her down. That she’s strong, that she could get by on her own and she could be someone no one could even attempt to hurt. But now, she’s reduced to this: a crying mess of a girl sitting on some bench for everyone to see. She doesn’t know what to do anymore and—

               “Hey, what are you still doing here?”

               Y/N looks up. Tears only seem to accumulate more on her eyes when she sees it’s—

               “Wait, why are you crying?”

               “Yoongi.” Y/N breaks into a sob and before another second passes, Yoongi’s already by her side, looping his arms around her shaking frame, her face pressed close to his chest. He cards his fingers through her hair as he coos at her, but that only seems to spur more sobs to fall from her lips.

               “I’m so-sorry I’m crying like this—”

               “Let it out.” Yoongi hugs her closer to him, “Just let it out. It’s okay.”

               That’s all it took for Y/N to let everything out. She cries against Yoongi’s chest, hands clutching tightly on his coat. Sobs rock upon her frame but Yoongi only holds her tight, swaying a bit as if to lull her from the suffocating toll of her cries. He doesn’t ask anything. He just stays by her side, whispering by her ear, “it’s alright,” “I’m here,” and “You’re not alone.” For the first time that day, all thoughts of ‘what ifs’ halt in her head.

               The night outside is getting colder by each second. Y/N could make out fogged up spots on the car window. When her finger meets the glass, she doesn’t jolt from the cold. The heater of the car is on. She draws a star. She thinks she’s lucky. She remembers she is when her eyes glance at the back, upon the paper bag containing empty, reusable take-out containers.

               “So…what happened today?”

               Y/N turns back to the front. Yoongi’s arms are firm on the wheel. He spares her a glance before focusing his eyes back on the road, “Of course, if you feel…more okay now to answer it.”

               Y/N bites her lip. It’s been an hour ago since they silently sat on the bench. And a half-hour after that, she and Yoongi shared dinner over something as trivial as listing the most annoying movies they’ve ever watched. And now, a couple of minutes have already passed in the car with them back in complete silence. Yoongi hasn’t said anything about what happened by the mango tree until now and so did Y/N. But she knows it’s an elephant weighing too big in the car not to address it. 

               Y/N sighs. “W-well, Nancy has given me a lot of errands to do. And…everything just didn’t go according to plan and I guess, it was just…the last straw for me.”

              “I see,” Yoongi hums, glancing at her before directing his eyes back on the road.

              Y/N wrings her hands together. She closes her eyes. “Okay, I got…scolded today by Nancy because I messed up with the things she asked me to do. Of course, she has every right to—”

              “What did she say to you?”

              Y/N looks up at him then she quickly returns her gaze on her hands. “N-nothing. She just…expressed her disappointment about me especially when she learned I cannot give her any updates about the cover page.”

              “So you got lashed out on for Myungsoo’s uncooperating ass?”

              Y/N whips her head to him, “No, I-I didn’t get lashed out—”

              “Y/N, stop lying to me.” Yoongi looks at her. “I know Nancy. I’ve been her P.A., too. And when she’s upset, she lashes out. And when she does, she goes way all over the line.” He looks back onto the street. “Why are you even trying to defend her when she obviously stepped over the line again? This is what I don’t like about—” Yoongi stops and sighs, “What are you going to do about Myungsoo?”

              “I’ll…e-mail him tomorrow and convince him to send the proposal to me.”

              “So you’re not even going to reprimand him for letting you unjustly receive backlash because of him?

              “N-no,” Y/N looks at him, brows scrunched. “I don’t want to make unnecessary enemies here and let my temper get the better of me—”

              “So you just don’t stand up against them? What does that make me, then? I’m your free estate for that pent-up anger?”

              Silence.

              Yoongi sighs, “Fuck, I’m sorry. That’s out of the line.”

              “It’s okay…I’m sorry, too. I’ve also been unfair to you.”

              “I’m just—I’m so frustrated why you can’t stand up for yourself around these people just like you do to me. You can’t always let them have their way, Y/N. Superior or not.”

              Y/N remains unmoving in her seat. Yoongi looks at her slumped figure in the seat and he decides to drop the subject. Silence takes hold of their car again. Yoongi tries to elevate the mood by talking about how he’s already on the 30th episode of Naruto. He said he didn’t expect he’ll find it to be that great “since the popular animes are usually overrated.” He even chipped in how he can’t find Sakura annoying even if a lot of fans hated her. Y/N didn’t say anything but a small smile starts to form on her lips. It’s more than enough for Yoongi to thank the heavens he didn’t totally ruin the night.

              When they round the 20th street, Y/N finally decides to speak.

              “S-sorry I wasn’t able to say thank you for earlier so—thank you, Yoongi. For the dinner and for the…thing you did on the bench.”

              “It’s okay,” Yoongi pulls a small smile. “It’s what friends do.”

               Y/N’s eyes shoot up to him and Yoongi only lets his smile grow. It’s that smile. That same smile he gave her when he’s offering to watch Naruto for her to watch Slam Dunk. That same smile he flashed her when he told her to put her arms around his neck as he let her experience her first dance she never had. That same smile that sent warmth spreading all over her chest and tingles running down to her toes.  Just like right now. Y/N swallows the nervousness building in her throat. 

              She turns around in her seat and takes it everything in herself to make her voice sound as beaming as it can be. “Hey, how about we go to that fast food and get one date document before the night ends? It looks so nice and I-I feel bad we didn’t do anything today and—”

               “No. I’m driving you to your home.”

               Y/N gapes at the man. “B-but you said we’ll date later—”

               “We could always get a date document any other time. You’re tired. You need to rest.”

               “But—”

               “Y/N, you should stop turning your back to things you should actually be facing,” Yoongi looks at her. “Right now, you should let yourself rest.”

               The rest of the ride was silent. As Y/N fiddles with the cuffs of her button-down, she cannot help but mull over what Nancy has said earlier. Should she give up her plan for the Heart Holiday to make up for her mistakes today? Of course, when Nancy hears about her absence at work when she goes back to the office, she’ll definitely be disappointed. She could even fire her. Y/N cannot bear to have that. She’s invested two years of her life in Travel Loca. She knows she’s having a hard time living in her current place—doing something she doesn’t love in the field she’s desired for how many years. But she will rather have it than start all over again, most likely work somewhere more comfortable but far from the thing she loves—writing.  It’s already hard to start on your desired field. Of course, it would be more heart-wrenching if you had to start from scratch again. 

               Y/N knows it’s sensible and rational to drop her plan now. She knows she’s leaning to this answer by the time Yoongi pulls in front of her apartment. But when she looks at him and bids him goodbye, his eyes crinkling as he tells her to “drink something warm” and “sleep well, sweetheart,” Y/N cannot figure out why the thought of giving up their ruse felt so…wrong.

DAY 7 – February 1; Saturday

               Y/N is awakened by the eye-burning late morning light streaming through her curtains. Her sleep never exceeds the eight-hour mark. It’s a wonder that for the first time, today she did. Y/N thinks it’s probably because Mina spoiled her with homemade post-dinner yesterday after flopping next to her on the couch and telling her everything that happened that day. Her bestfriend has lined up all her favorite comfort foods and even stayed up late watching movies with her, successfully distracting her from replaying whatever Nancy has said.  

              However, it could also be probably because she slept with her coat draped over her shoulders. Y/N doesn’t know why but her coat smelled so good last night and she just has to keep it beside her for the whole night. She only learns the answer to this when she wakes up to Yoongi’s scent filling her senses first thing in the morning. But even with this knowledge, Y/N can’t find it in herself to regret she ever did that. She hates to admit there’s something about that man that makes her feel safe even if he also makes her run constantly on her toes.

               Mina’s out to visit her parents and said she will be back for dinner. Y/N’s seated cross-legged on the couch, chomping on the brunch her bestfriend prepared while she watches Slam Dunk. It’s been two hours since she clicked on her USB containing the downloaded episodes of the anime and yet it feels only fifteen minutes have passed. She doesn’t want to say it aloud, but clearly, Yoongi has some good taste. She wouldn’t mind getting more recommendations from him.

               Just right then, her phone rings. Without tearing her eyes from the TV, she wipes on the screen and holds the phone next to her ear. Whoever decided it was a good time to interrupt her just when Sakuragi gets a moment with Haruko is as good as dead meat. She grits over the phone, “What do you want?”

               “What the—So early in the morning and you’re already so grumpy.”

               Y/N stops. She pulls her phone away from her face.

               Mean Yoongi >:( 

               Y/N sighs and rolls her eyes. However, she cannot resist the smile that immediately grows on her face. “It’s not ‘early in the morning’ anymore, mister. It’s already eleven. Now, what do you want?”

               “‘What do I want?’ Do I seriously type the opportunistic guy who only calls just because he wants something?” Yoongi scoffs but the sound of it tells Y/N the man was doing his weird laughing face again. 

               Y/N chuckles. Yoongi immediately follows suit. “But seriously,” Y/N manages in between giggles, “Why did you call?”

               “Just checkin’ up on you. How are you? Do you feel…better, now?”

               Y/N hums. She purses her lips, “A bit better now. So far, this day has been good to me. How ‘bout you?”

               “I’m good,” Yoongi quips, “Better actually. I cooked my family some breakfast and now I’m just chillin’ in my room. What are you doing?”

               “…watching Slam Dunk.”

               “No way!”

               Y/N could hear the clatter of things in the speaker. Yoongi must have sat up and knocked things over. What a clumsy idiot. She chuckles, “Oh yes way, Min. Now, you won’t be able to fight me on this because I’m in the 10th episode now.  How about you? How’s the other end of the deal doing over there?”

               “Just you wait, woman, I’m gonna watch Naruto now.” There’s a faint click in the speaker and then—

               “Please enter your disk.”

               “Oh my god, Yoongi, you bought a fucking CD of Naruto?!”

               “Why? This is me showing my respect for art by not ripping it off—wait, do you not buy CDs?”

               “…No.”

              “Do you not have Netflix?”

               “Do you have Netflix?” Y/N counters, “That’s rich coming from you considering you still buy Blu-ray Discs. We’re just both broke, struggling adults here who can’t afford additional bills to pay. No need to pull up your chair so high, mister.”

               “Answer my question, Y/N. Do you not have Netflix?”

              Y/N sighs, “No.”

              “Oh my god, I can’t believe I’m dating a pirate!”

               Y/N could feel her cheeks start to burn, “What the—! I’m not a pirate! I’m just—being practical, yeah! In case you don’t know, things stay free on the Internet for a reason and that is to accommodate broke people like me.”

               “Still doesn’t negate that you, mate, are in fact committing piracy.”

               “Hey, I’m not the one who created the pirated versions of Slam Dunk! I’m just downloading torrents. I’m just utilizing available means practically laid in front of me!”

               Laughter resounds on the other end of the line. It sounds weird—like a grandpa wheezing in front of an electric fan. But it also sounds endearingly cute. It doesn’t make sense why it even sounds cute. It’s not even cute! Y/N unknowingly smiles. One thing’s for sure. She wants to hear more of Yoongi’s laugh.

               “Jesus Christ, woman, I’m just messing with you!” Yoongi cackles. “You think I don’t watch pirated things, too? Most of the movies I claimed I’ve already watched are all thanks to torrent. I’m too broke to go to cinemas!”

               “But if you entertain pirated stuff,” Y/N shifts in her seat, “why did you even buy a CD of Naruto?”

               “I buy CDs only when I think they are worth it.”

               “You…already think Naruto is worth it?”

               “Yeah. You like it. So, it’s worth it. You said it’s great, so I trust you.”

               Y/N gulps. It’s weird. Her chest feels so warm and so do her cheeks. She’s just talking with someone over the phone.

               “You still there?”

               “Y-yeah,” Y/N fixes her clothes. Why the hell is she even fixing herself? It’s not as if Yoongi can see her.

               “Okay. I thought of something.”

               “Yeah?”

               “How ‘bout we watch our respective animes together through Discord Music Party so we can hear each other’s reactions live?”

               Y/N tilts her head, “How will I be able to watch properly then if I’m calling you at the same time?”

               “You can turn down my volume from time to time there, duh. It’s 2020 now, sweetheart.”

               Y/N flushes. “O-okay, we can do that. But I still don’t get why we have to check our reactions live.”

               “Did you ever feel you want so badly to gush out your annoyance or excitement about something you’re watching to someone? Because I do. And I want you to be on the other line to hear me lash and gush on something because you made me enter this battlefield. This is 500+ episodes, woman.”

               “Well, that’s not my fault. Who in the first place proposed this anime-watching exchange? You.”

               “Touche,” Yoongi chuckles. “Yeah, it’s me. I told you I’d watch Naruto just to get you to watch Slam Dunk for my sake. But actually, I’m just curious why you love that anime so much. So here’s me learning the heck out of it.”

               Naruto’s Season 1 opening OST starts to play in the background.

               Y/N clucks her tongue, “I thought we’d go to Discord first before we do our live reactions?”

               “Just give me five more minutes. I don’t want to end our call yet.”

               Five minutes easily turn into twenty and it takes one more of Yoongi’s ‘Just five more minutes’ to annoy Y/N and yell at him he’s wasting his mobile load. It takes Y/N three minutes to download the app, and after ten minutes of fumbling around it, they hear each other’s voices again and continue where they left off. 

               “Oh, you’re here again, captain!”

               “Shut up, Yoongi.”

               “How’s the loot?”

               Y/N sends an angry emoji in the chat. Yoongi’s laughter immediately booms through the speakers.

               The rest of the day just goes like this. Episode upon episode pass. There are occasional quick calls for a bathroom break. Of course, another argument happens, especially when Yoongi suddenly declared at episode 77 he ships Sakura with Naruto which Y/N cannot accept because “canon is canon for a reason.” Meanwhile, Yoongi was initially pleased to learn Y/N ships Haruko with Sakuragi and not with “Awful Kaede.” But that immediately changes when he learns Y/N only ships the two because she ships Kaede with herself.

              “I love me an ambitious, dream-driven man.”

              “You’re the one who’s getting too ambitious, missy.”

                Sometimes, inquiries of “You wanna pause and rant about Kaede?” or “What are you eating?” come across. But most of the time, what transpires in between are laughs, expressions like “that’s so cool,” and “whoa, I didn’t expect that,” and promises to keep watching together whenever they’re free. Y/N never knew watching a show could be this fun. Of course, it’s already fun watching an amazing show with great characters and conflicts. But watching together with another person, even if they’re not necessarily the same show, definitely amps up the experience.  Y/N doesn’t want to admit it but Yoongi’s right. Having someone by your side, even virtually, to gush or lash out with on something definitely feels good.

              Everything just felt so right and enjoyable that Y/N didn’t even notice the whole day passed with just her and Yoongi accompanying each other watching shows. Time has passed too quickly and now it’s five forty-five. Mina has already come home and she definitely sends Y/N a questioning look when she sees her chuckling on her phone. Y/N only flashes her a grin and mouths ‘just a bit more.’ Meanwhile, Yoongi has yet again started his “just five more minutes” hoax. Though that unexpectedly gets ended soon when Y/N hears Jeongguk’s voice pops up and asks Yoongi to come out and start preparing dinner. But just before Y/N could say goodbye and tell him one last time to “go hurry up and cook,” Yoongi interrupts her.

              “You know, this is my kinda type of a date.”

              “Thi-this is a date?”

              “Yeah. You’re spending time with me. I’m spending time with you. And we’re having a good time. So yeah, this is a date.”

              Y/N tries not to focus too much on what he said. “But how is this your type of a date? I thought you like bar dates?”

              Yoongi guffaws. “Where the hell did you get that?”  

              “Jeff. He said you’re a bar-type guy.”

              “Oooohhhh. So that’s why you suddenly wanted to have a date at Neo-Cloud 9 that day.”

              Y/N shyly looks down at her hands.

              “As much as I love alcohol, I don’t actually prefer drinking them in bars. They’re too noisy. Messy. And there’s a lot of people bumping into you.”

              “Then why did you agree to go to Neo-Cloud 9 when you also don’t like bars?”

              “Because you’re with me. You said it was your first time going in one, too, and I figured why not help you enjoy the experience.” Yoongi chuckles, “It’s not like I didn’t have fun with you anyway. In fact, I had so much fun. Especially at the part where you said you wanted to kiss me.”

              “Oh my god, Min.”

              “Don’t deny it anymore, sweetheart, I’ll—”

              Y/N ends the call though. But that seems pointless when her chat pops up with another message from the man.

              Min Yoongi  >;) (5:50 P.M.)

              “—make sure you’d remember it ‘til the die you die. I’ll live for as long as I can just to remind you of that.”

              Y/N (5:51 P.M.)

              “Sure. Whatever, Min.”

              Y/N closes her phone with a chuckle. When she turns around to finally gather her used utensils, she’s greeted by Mina’s curious stare.

              “You seem to be having fun with Yoongi these days.”

              Y/N opens her mouth but Mina immediately interrupts her, “Oh don’t you deny it. I’ve seen you smiling a lot these days. Even when you still rant about him, I could see you’re actually having fun.” 

              Y/N raises her hands, “Okay, I admit, I’m actually having fun. But I think it has to do with us agreeing to compromise for this 14-day deal. Not because of…him.”

              “But isn’t that good, though?” Mina asks, “This deal didn’t turn out as disastrous as I expected it to be. At least you’re trying to make the best out of it instead of busting each other’s heads off. Plus, a week has already passed. You only have seven days more. Everything will soon go back to normal.” Mina smiles, “Just a little more and you’ll soon get that benefit, Y/N.”

              Mina excuses herself and heads to the kitchen to start dinner. As Y/N plops back down on the sofa, she realizes she’s got her answer. It’s just seven more days. Just seven more days to fully enjoy this deal. After that, it will all go back to the way it used to and she’ll have her work all to herself again.  It wouldn’t hurt much if she chooses to turn down work for the first time and indulge in the last days of this ruse, right? The deal is bound to end soon anyway. It’s useless backing out now. She just has to make the best out of it.

              But why can’t Y/N find it in herself to be fully happy about this? 

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A/N| Hi hons! First of all, happy birthday to @wii-wii! I hope this post is not too late. I hope you had a wonderful day/night and may you always stay well and safe 💕

Thank you, hons, for waiting for the 2nd part of Act 2! Unfortunately, I don’t know when I’ll upload Act 3 as I’ll be prioritizing my fic first for @btswritingcafe​’s Map of The Soul Workshop. And after that, I’m going to write a short story I’ll have to submit for my university’s journal. After then will I be able to go back to my schedule for THH. Don’t worry though, I already prepared a detailed outline for the rest of the Acts of THH so I think I wouldn’t take too long fumbling what scenes to write. Anyway, if you wish to get updated when Act 3 finally drops, just PM me or send me an ask and I’ll add you to the taglist!

Update: Comment down below instead if you want to get added to the taglist! I think it will help me to track all of you hons once I post the update!

All Rights Reserved 2020 © Vanaera. Reposts, modifications, and translations of content are not allowed.

[thelastspeecher]

Best Revenge AU - Finally, Some Ford Content

Ford has been suspiciously absent from all of the ficlets I’ve posted thus far in this AU, and while I’ve talked a bit about his role, I haven’t gone too in depth.  So, here, for everyone craving some Best Revenge AU Ford, I’m here to satisfy that craving.  Finally, some Ford content.  Enjoy.

—————————————————————————————— 

              Ford slowly woke up.

              Shit.  I stayed the night, didn’t I?  He sat up. The man he’d slept with the night before was already up and getting dressed.

              “Mornin’.”

              “Good morning,” Ford said hesitantly, realizing to his horror that he couldn’t remember the man’s name.  “Um…”

              “I can make ya some breakfast ‘fore I send ya on yer way,” his one-night-stand said.  “I’ve got to check in on my sister first; she’s startin’ a new job today. You can find yer way to the kitchen and make yourself some coffee while I’m talkin’ to her.”

              “…Okay,” Ford mumbled.  The man finished dressing and left the room.  Ford hesitated for a moment before dressing as well.  He exited the bedroom.

              Which way is the kitchen?  Ford chewed on the inside of his cheek and turned left. He followed the hallway down to a living room.  One corner of the room had a colored rug, baby toys, and a playpen.  He said that he lived with his sister, right? Maybe she has a child.  Ford wandered into the adjacent kitchen.  His jaw dropped.  There was someone sitting at the kitchen table.  Someone he recognized.

              “Holy shit, Stan?!” Ford said.  Stan looked up with a frown.

              “Hey, keep it down around Junior.”  His eyes widened.  “Ford?!”

              “I- you-”  Ford’s gaze landed on the infant in Stan’s arms, greedily drinking from a bottle of milk.  “Is- is that your child?”

              “Yeah.”  Stan rubbed the back of his neck.  “…Sorta.”

              “What do you mean by-” Ford started.  He was interrupted by the arrival of his one-night-stand.

              “Oh, I see ya met my sister’s boyfriend,” he said. Stan groaned loudly.

              “Lute.  How dark was the nightclub where you found last night’s lay?”

              “Didn’t pick him up at a nightclub.  Found him at the library when I dropped off books fer Angie,” Lute said cheerfully.

              “Look at his face.”

              “Hmm?”  Lute looked at Ford.  He paled. “…Oh.”

              “You managed to hook up with my no-good twin,” Stan said.  The infant in his arms began to fuss.  “Aw, it’s okay Junior,” Stan cooed.  “I know, Uncle Ford is scary, especially his face.”  Ford crossed his arms.

              “We have the same face, Stanley.”

              “Since Lute didn’t realize we were related when he picked you up, I don’t agree,” Stan said tartly.  Ford sighed.  “You better get going before you make Junior even more upset.”

              “I’m not going anywhere until I find out what you’ve been up to and why you’re holding an infant that you said is ‘sort of’ yours,” Ford said firmly.  Stan scowled.

              “Lute, kick him out, will ya?”

              “No.”

              “Lute-”

              “I think it might be good fer the two of ya to reconnect,” Lute said.  “Don’t you think the lil bean would like an uncle from yer side?”

              “He won’t know what he’s missing.”

              “Okay, fine.”  Lute smirked.  “How do ya think Angie would want ya to act under this circumstance?”  Stan glared at him.  “You know full well that Angie would want ya to use this opportunity to reunite with yer twin.”

              “…Fine.”  Stan adjusted his hold on the infant.  “Why didn’t you come to the kitchen with Ford, Lute?”

              “I wanted to check in on Angie, but she’s still sleepin’.”

              “Yeah.  Since she’s starting her new job, I figured I’d feed Junior.”  Stan grinned down at the infant.  “He can’t be happy he’s getting his breakfast from a bottle instead of a boob.”  Lute rolled his eyes.

              “Crass, Stanley.”

              “Yeah, yeah, whatever.”

              “You catch up with yer twin while I whip up some eggs,” Lute instructed, already opening the fridge.  Ford walked over to the table and sat in the chair next to Stan. He peered closely at the infant.

              “So…”

              “So…” Stan parroted.

              “What’s his name?”

              “Stanley Junior,” Stan said.  He frowned.  “Well, he’s not really a Junior, since he’s got his mom’s last name instead of mine. But he’s named after me, so we call him Junior.”

              “Ah.  And, um, how old is he?”

              “Four months.”

              “Four months?  Are babies supposed to be that small at four months?”

              “Doc says he’s definitely smaller than average, but that he can probably catch up pretty quick,” Stan answered.  He removed the now empty bottle from Junior’s mouth, then burped him.  “He’s a good kid.”

              “Is he yours?” Ford asked.  Stan set the empty bottle on the table.  “You said he ‘sort of’ was.”

              “If you were anyone else, I woulda left that part out,” Stan muttered.  “I hate your guts, but I’m not used to lying to you.”

              “Pardon?”

              “Biologically, he’s not mine.  He’s my girlfriend’s ex-husband’s.  But with how bad things got between Angie and Max, she decided not to tell him about Junior.”

              That’s a strange coincidence.  Didn’t Max Hillcrest at work recently go through a divorce?  What was his wife’s name again?

              “I was dating Angie, so I stepped up,” Stan continued with a shrug.  “And Angie named her kid after me.  I’m the only dad this little bean’s ever known.  If things go well, I’ll be the only dad he ever knows.”

              “Little bean?”

              “That’s what Angie called him while she was pregnant with him.  It stuck.” Stan smiled fondly at Junior. “Isn’t that right, bud?”  Junior giggled.

              “You’re raising another man’s child as your own?” Ford asked, his brain desperately trying to catch up with all he’d been told.

              “Yep.”

              “Why?”

              “I love Angie.  I love Junior.  Why wouldn’t I?” Stan asked, a hint of a bite to his tone.  Junior settled in his arms, smacking his lips happily.

              “Fair enough,” Ford said, deciding to back off. Some tension left Stan’s shoulders. “Other than dating pregnant women and taking in their children, what have you been doing since we last spoke?”

              “You mean, since Pops kicked me outta the house and you didn’t say anything or use your power to summon me in secret at any point for years,” Stan said flatly.  Ford opened and closed his mouth a few times.

              “…Yes.”  Ford cleared his throat.  “When we were younger, I remember you wanting to follow in Mom’s footsteps.  I haven’t seen any pyro heroes around here, though.”

              “Hold up, what?” Lute asked.  The brothers looked over.  Lute stared at Stan in shock.  “Stanley, you wanted to be a hero when you were a kid?”

              “Most supers do.  And like Ford said, our mom was a hero.  I looked up to her.”  Lute was still staring at Stan.  Stan sighed. “Obviously I didn’t do that, Gucket.”

              “Yer mom is a hero?”

              “Retired.  What’s with the third degree?”

              “You understand why that information is important in our line of work, right?” Lute prompted.  “Does Angie know?”

              “Duh.”

              “Why don’t I?”

              “‘Cause I’m not sleeping with you,” Stan snapped. “Even though I’m apparently your type.” Lute turned red.

              “Wait.”  Ford held up his hands.  “Wait. Stanley, am I reading between the lines properly?  Are you- are you a villain?”

              “Maybe I am.  Maybe I’m not,” Stan said.  He met Ford’s eyes.  “But whether I am or not, you know better than to snitch.”  Footsteps sounded.  Stan looked over.  An exuberant smile broke across his face.  “Look who it is!  The hot new professor!”  Ford looked as well.  A young woman stood in the doorway, wearing athletic shorts and a T-shirt she was practically swimming in.

              Presumably, it’s one of Stan’s.  The woman smiled at Stan.

              “I don’t mind it much when ya say it, but I sure hope no one at work calls me that.”

              “If any creepy coworkers do, let me know,” Stan said.  “I’ll handle it.”  The woman grinned viciously.

              “Oh, darlin’, ya know I’m fully capable of handlin’ it myself.”  Stan grinned back.

              “Good point.”  He held up Junior.  “Junior, say hi to your mama.”

              “Aw, he’s too young to talk yet,” the woman cooed. She walked over to Stan, took Junior from him, and sat at the table.  “And I don’t know if his first word ‘ll be ‘hi’.”  She began to lift her T-shirt.

              “Whoa, hey, uh, Ang, you don’t need to whip your boobs out,” Stan said quickly, glancing at Ford in distress.  “I fed him while you were sleeping.”

              “Oh.”

              “Also, we have a guest.”

              “Hmm?”  The woman lowered her shirt and looked up.  “Oh, my apologies.”  She smiled at Ford.  “My name is Angie McGucket.”  Ford felt himself pale.

              McGucket?

              “Dr. Angie McGucket,” Stan corrected.  Angie chuckled.

              “Yes, I have a doctorate,” she said.  She cocked her head, her eyes boring into Ford. “I’m guessin’ yer Stan’s no-good twin I’ve heard so much about.”

              “I- uh-” Ford stammered, still reeling from hearing his ex’s last name dropped so casually.

              “Geez, you make it sound like all I do is talk about Ford,” Stan said, rolling his eyes.  “That��s wrong.  All I do is talk about you and Junior.”  Angie laughed.

              Angie and Lute do appear to have the same nose as Fiddleford.  How could I have been so blind?

              “So, Stanford, what brings ya here?” Angie asked.

              “I brought him home last night,” Lute said.

              “Hmm, that seems out of character fer ya,” Angie said to Ford.  She shrugged. “Just goin’ off the stick-in-the-mud that Stan described to me.”

              “Why do you keep insulting me?” Ford asked. “This is the first time we’ve met.”

              “Maybe, but I also feel like I know ya pretty well,” Angie replied.  She bounced Junior in her arms.  “Stan took a while to start tellin’ me ‘bout ya, but once he did, he had a lot to say.” She smiled.  “Most of it was negative, sure, but some of it was positive.”

              “Angie, shouldn’t ya be gettin’ ready fer work?” Lute asked.  Angie groaned.  “I’ll make ya some nice breakfast while ya dress ‘n whatnot.”

              “Ugh.  Fine.” Angie handed Junior back to Stan, kissed his cheek, and left the room.  Ford coughed politely.

              “I, um, I should probably leave,” he said. Lute looked over.

              “Ya don’t want to stay fer breakfast?”

              “Your sister isn’t the only one who has a shift starting soon.”

              “Shift, huh?” Stan said, raising an eyebrow.  “Where’s the big shot genius working?”

              “Well, uh…”  Ford rubbed the back of his neck.  “I have been working on my own personal research, but to pay the bills, I’m currently employed as an executive assistant.”  Stan snickered.

              “Isn’t ‘executive assistant’ just a fancy word for ‘secretary’?” he asked.  Ford flushed. “You better get going, then.  Whatever doctor’s office you work for definitely needs you manning the front desk.”

              “Stanley,” Lute scolded.  Ford swallowed his retort.

              He’s been remarkably civil, let him be childish for one moment.

              “…See you later?” he suggested.  Stan froze.  “I mean, the fact that we were able to talk without fighting is, I think, a good sign that we can bury the hatchet.”

              “Ford.”  Stan met Ford’s eyes.  “Junior was here the whole time.  That’s why I didn’t shout or knock your block off.”

              “…Oh,” Ford said softly.

              “But…”  Stan sighed. “I’m not against making up.  Just know that the next time you and I are in the same room, it’s open season if Junior’s not there.”

              “Fair enough.”  Ford managed a smirk.  “I think you’d be surprised by how well I can hold my own now.”  Stan rolled his eyes.  “Goodbye, Stanley.”  Ford leaned over to smile at Junior.  Junior stared at him with wide eyes.  “Goodbye, Junior.”  Junior giggled.

              “Bye,” Stan grunted.  Ford waved goodbye to Lute and walked out of the house.  Beeping sounded from his pager.  He pulled it out of his pocket with a sigh.  The message made him sigh again.

              I swear, I’m the only person who can fix the wifi at work.  Everyone else either doesn’t know how or isn’t willing to do one of the secretary’s responsibilities.  Ford shook his head.  He put his pager away and began the long walk to work.  A building full of superheroes and not one of them can unplug a router.

[sweetchup]

Hi!! If your ask box is open, could I get a fluffy kurapika x reader? Just something very gentle and soft and maybe some cuddles bc kurapika deserves lots of loving!! Thank you so much!!

Wild Berry Pie

Type: Kurapika x Reader

Au?: None

Word Count: 2,300+

Warnings: None

“Hold on what?!?” You shout; surprise. Hold up, Why should you be surprised? This was Kurapika you were talking about. But seriously? You were going to scold your boyfriend so hard for only sleeping a total of 15 hours this whole week, getting himself injured (thankfully he could heal himself but still), working himself to death and, on top of that, this was all after recovering from a really bad sickness.

Melody hushes you as the other patrons of the cafe turn and glare at you. You let out a small squeak of an apology at them before returning to sipping on your drink, all the while mumbling, “Kurapika… what the heck were you thinking...”

“I’m sorry (y/n)-Chan. I didn’t mean to get you worked up, I just wanted to let you know.”

You look at Melody in front of you, the woman was looking down at her drink in shame. She knew it wasn’t her fault that Kurapika wasn’t taking care of himself but she felt bad for not telling one of her closest friends and Kurapika’s girlfriend, (y/n), sooner. You shake your head, giving a small smile. “Please It’s not your fault he’s acting this way. I’ve been gone for a while and I shouldn’t have left in the first place, I mean I kind of expected this. He’s practically been out of it since York New. Plus, on top of that, he has the amount of stress Nostrade is putting on him due to Neon losing her Nen.”

Melody gives a smile at the girl in front of her. No wonder Kurapika was in love with her. (Y/n) was not only pretty on the outside but also on the inside. Her voice was so soft and heartwarming, it could calm the harshest of storms and also act like a nice warm campfire on a cold bitter night. The smile (y/n) produced, even the smallest of ones, was practically contagious and definitely lit up a room. And her heart, oh her heart, produced such a loving melody. It sung with all her compassion for her comrades, friends and even the well-being of some strangers.

She practically was the light of hope in Kurapika’s life. The small thing that he knew could give him some purpose after all his revenge plans were done. Sure, it would be hard for him, very hard in fact, to figure something out when everything’s all done. But he knew that (y/n) would be there right next to him, never ever thinking of leaving him behind.

“Oh, (y/n)-Chan are you okay?” Melody says concerned as you suddenly stand up. You look at the women in the eyes, yours gleaming with determination.

“I know exactly what to do! Kurapika has an early shift tonight and a late one tomorrow so I’ll make him something special tonight. To get him to relax.”

Melody giggles. Oh how kind you were. “That would be perfect (y/n)-Chan.”

Ecstatic, (y/n) pays for their drinks, giving melody a small ‘thank you' and waves as she rushes out the door. Melody waves back before returning to her drink. Looking at the tea cup, she starts thinking back, back to York New, back to the Nostrade Mansion, Back to the hunter exam, back to that one tragic night and finally thinking of now, on how thankful she was of (y/n) and —

Melody is suddenly startled out of her thoughts as (y/n) slides to the table, almost slipping past her. The girl is clearly tired since she is sweaty and out of breath. Melody blinks a couple of times, unsure of what happened to (y/n).

“M-melody? Do you happen—happen to have the keys to the dorms-s”

Melody blinks some more before breaking out in laughter. Oh how silly (y/n) could be.

—————————

“And…. Done!”

You let out a sigh and stretch your back. It was hard work getting all this done but it was definitely worth it. Putting your hand on your hips you take in the living room in front of you. The Tv was on with a classic comedy movie, ready to be started. Part of the floor and coach was covered head to toe in different blankets, stuffed animals and pillows to lounge on. Then there was the coffee table, which held many sweets, snacks and drinks and finally the main course of it all….

“(Y-y/n)?” A voice says behind you. Spinning around you see Kurapika taking his shoes off with his bag dropped on the floor. He looked amazed as he looked at the set up in front of him.

“Surprise!” You shout, running up to your boyfriend and giving him a hug. Pulling away you boop his nose, “I thought you needed it especially after I heard you weren’t taking care of yourself. Hmph! How many times do I have to tell you to get a good amount of sleep?!”

Kurapika lets out a small smile at you. “Sorry I’ve been very bus—“

“No buts Mister kurapika” you say, poking his chest. “You're so stubborn sometimes. That’s why I have to come and make you chillax~.”

He lets out a small chuckle as you pull him towards the pile of pillows. Though he soon takes your hand off his arm before you can make him sit. “I’m sorry you had to go through so much trouble but I actually have to get some work done.”

“W-What? Did you not hear what I just said?!” You say. Kurapika looks away from you. This idiot. You bring your hands up to his face, forcing him to look at you. “Kurapika you need to rest. You—“

“(Y/n) I’m sorry I need to get this done.” He says in a firm voice, pulling your hands off his face as he walks away. He was longer playing around and you knew if you continued you could anger him. Clenching your teeth you raised your voice a little bit.

“Kurapika if this is about the spiders it can wait!”

He snaps his head around.

“Excuse me?” He says with a dangerous low voice.

“I said if this is about the spiders it can w—“

“What do you know? Huh?!” Kurapika says furious. He stalks towards you and backs you up against the wall. You choke up as you lock eyes with his scarlet ones, “You still have everything! Your family! Your childhood! Your best friend! I got mine all taken away. What do—“

“I DON’T!” You shout. Stopping him dead in his tracks as he sees a tear go down your face. He was so exhausted and out of it that he had taken his anger out on you. This wasn’t right and he knew he needed to calm down. Wiping the tears off your face you continue, “I don’t understand. I don’t think I ever will but I don’t want you to end up destroying yourself!”

“That’s not your job (y/n). It’s non—“

“It is because I love you. It’s my job as your girlfriend, your lover, to look after your well being Kurapika! I would be a horrible one if I didn’t ever try.”

Both of you are silent for a second after your final outburst. A thick awkward silence. You and Kurapika like to deal with your problems through discussions so this was quite rare for you two to have an argument. Even if this one was small, you didn’t know how to react or feel. When you gulped or took a breath too long you felt like you were adding to the tension by making too much noise. You go to apologize but Kurapika cuts you off by giving you a small kiss on the forehead. “I know you do. I just... you know it’s my goal to avenge them, you know?”

Wrapping his arms around you, Kurapika pulls you into a hug. The soft scent of cologne on him fills your senses, making you relax.

After a couple of minutes you two pull away and both give each other a small smile.

“We both lost our cool huh?” Kurapika says, rubbing the back of his neck.

“Yeah.” You say quietly, “Can you take a small break though? Just for tonight? I’m just concerned you’ll get hurt or sick again.”

Kurapika sighs and thinks for a second. He decides it was ok to take a break for just one night, he nods his head in affirmation. Smiling, you mischievously tackle him onto the coach. Kurapika groans as you land and peck his cheek.

“Ugh you are heavy. Get off” He says; jokingly.

Your mouth falls open in surprise. “Excuse me?!”

Determined to get back at him for the insult you cuddle him closer and attack his face with kisses. Kurapika, his face bright red, tries to move away from your barrage of affection. You let out a giggle as you pull away, you had completely forgotten you had put on a little lipstick so he had many stained kiss marks all over him. Even one smudge on the corner of his lips.

He raises an eyebrow as you use a phone and take a picture of him. Laughing you turn it around, showing him. Letting out a groan he covers his face, embarrassed.

“(Y/n)!” Kurapika whines, “Delete that!”

“No~~” You whine back, leaning yourself onto his chest.

For the next hour, you two enjoyed each other's presence. Laughing with mouths full of popcorn at the cheeky comedy. Creating small talk, well attempting, while chewing on some toffee. Sharing sweet small kisses and loving stares in between the movie scenes. It was a wonderful and perfect night.

Lightly, you groom your fingers through Kurapika’s soft golden locks as he lays asleep on your stomach. You felt relieved that the Kurta male is sleeping and will hopefully no longer be exhausted when he wakes up. Speaking of Kurta, you look at the covered dish in the center of the table. You didn’t reveal the main course of tonight to him. You sigh. Oh well, you can’t do much about it now.

“What’s wrong, habib albi?” Kurapika mumbles into your shirt.

“O-oh I thought you were asleep.” You say, blushing. You were a sucker for Kurapika talking in his native tongue, even though you only understood some of the simple things. It especially made you melt when it came to him calling you pet names or giving you small compliments. He once told you your pet name ‘habib albi’ roughly translated to ‘love of my heart’.

He hums and sits up. “Don’t change the subject.”

You sigh, standing up. Walking over to the coffee table. “Ok but don’t freak out, ok?”

Grabbing a hold of the cover, you lift it up. Revealing a pie underneath.

“(Y-y/n) is that-t?”

“I know you don’t like me looking through your stuff from your village but I remember you mentioning that your mother used to make you your favorite Wild Berry Pie whenever you were stressed. So I thought It counted as an exception.”

You suddenly feel Kurapika pull you into his lap. Looking up you see Kurapika with a small smile along with a couple of stray tears rolling down his face.

“K-kurapika I’m sorry! I didn’t mean for you to be upset.” You reach up and carefully wipe the tears off his face. He soon stops you.

“I’m not. Don’t worry habib albi, I’m not.” He squeezes you closer to him, “I’m actually happy. How did you do it though?”

“Oh! Umm I took one of the old dictionaries you had and looked through the Kurta recipe books until I found the Wild Berry Pie. It’s not exact since we don’t have the same ingredients as the Lukso Province but I got it as close as I could.”

“Ah I see. That sounds very hard to do.” Kurapika says chuckling.

“Yeah it was” You say, leaning over and sighing as you remember the grueling three hours it took to figure out and make. You suddenly sit up, “A-ah do you want me to grab you a slice?”

Kurapika nods his head and you excitedly get up and cut a slice. You had taken so much time in it you wanted it to be perfect. As you lifted it and put it on a plate you sighed, relieved. It had come out perfect. Due to the cover, the pie was still warm and fresh, the right time to eat it at. The crust was a perfect golden color and thankfully not soggy. The wild assortment of berries you added had started to ooze out onto the plate, leaving a nice purple-reddish trail and a pleasant aroma.

You felt proud of your accomplishment and sat back in kurapika’s lap. Now was the ultimate test. Handing him a fork, you watch in grueling anticipation as he takes a bite. Blankly he slowly chews and swallows, causing you to gulp. You messed it up didn’t you? He finally turns and looks at you. Finally, he gives you a wide smile, the first big smile in a while.

“My 'um would be proud.”

You let out a loud ‘yay’ in happiness and kurapika holds you close. You were beyond the moon in happiness that he had said his mom would be proud of your pie. Your pie!

“(Y/n)” You look towards Kurapika’s call to see a fork in front of your face, holding a piece of the pie, “Say ahh~”

You open your mouth and he feeds you the piece. Chewing, you moan at the taste. It was absolutely delicious. Each berry was exploding with a unique flavor. Which ends up creating a sweet blend with the right bit of tartness.

Looking up at Kurapika, you watch as he takes another bite. All the while still smiling. Tonight and every other date were amazing but nothing and you mean nothing was as perfect as seeing this. Kurapika with a wide smile on his face.

You would definitely have to make this pie again.

[maemi324]

Black Coffee

Hey there friends! It’s been a while hasn’t it? Today i come at you with a new piece for a new My Hero character! Well new to me writing him.  Here we have....Villain Deku! Inspired by this tiktok! https://vm.tiktok.com/ZMJUywn9t/ it just screamed Villain Deku to me. This is my first time writing him, so if he seems a little OOC, that’s probably it.  Here are some songs I listened to while writing this 1. headless waltz- Voltaire 2. Don’t go by the river- Voltaire 3.House of Myth, Such horrible things, Gorey Demise, Grave Robber, Greatest Show Unearthed, Aim for the head, Buried Alive- Creature Feature 4. Spooky Halloween Mashup, Syndicate: Underground- Cover by Peter Hollens. Warnings: Robbery, Guns, violence, let me know if theres more I need to tag please! Only edited by me, so I’ve probably missed some stuff! With that! Let’s get into it!

Dawning light streamed in through the windows, the scent of coffee heavy in the air, steam from the hot drink you made rising softly. Soft music flowed through the room, other employees taking the chairs off the tables and whipping them down. 

You sipped your drink, your eyes barely staying open as you leaned against the counter.  It was far too early to be awake. Pain flashed through your mouth as you reluctantly swallow, your tongue protesting not only being burned but the now cool air that touched it. 

It was too early for your own nonsense. 

As the sun rose in the sky customers began their daily migration to the bean and leaf juice they all craved. Thankfully it was still rather early, only a handful showing up, and even fewer deciding to take a seat and enjoy their purchases. 

“I can help whoever’s next?” you call out, closing the cash register and looking up to the new customer with a bright smile. 

Bright viridian eyes stared back into your (e/c) colored ones, ones that you hadn’t seen in a very long time, since middle school in fact, his green hair cementing just who he was. Recognition dawned in his eyes. 

“Y/N?” “Midoriya?” 

A surprised laugh bubbled up, catching you by surprise, “I haven’t seen you in months- years even!” a short glare from your manager got you ready to enter in his order. Taking a peek behind him you saw that the line had lengthened considerably. “Y-yeah, it has been quite a while hasn’t it?” He stated his order, as you typed it in and gave him the total amount. He must have been pretty tired still as he stared into your eyes. You waved a hand in front of him, snapping him out of his daze as his face flushed a deep red, frantically digging his hand into his pockets to fish out his wallet- where had the damn thing gone- oh it was in his hand already. 

Even after all these years, Midoriya was still just as much of a spaz as he’d always been. He moves to the drink pick up location, leaning against the counter as you made his drink. “I wish I had more time to talk, but with the line growing…” 

“Well What if I came back later today? Or tomorrow?”  You prepped the cup, adding a drizzle of caramel to the sides, offering him a kind smile

“Yeah, I’d like that,” 

You handed him his drink and sent him off with a wave. A disgruntled Karen decided to ring the service bell as you hadn’t jumped back to take her order. 

Why did it have to be a Karen?

Unfortunately you were unable to see him later on that day.

However, just as you turned the sign from closed to open that next morning, you were surprised to see those same bright eyes aimed at you. 

“Well, you’re here quite early” you teased, opening the door for him as you walked in. It would be a while yet before people came into the little shop. He rubbed the back of his neck, eyes looking tired with circles under his eyes, “It’s been a long night,” He laughed off your look of concern, “Just work, nothing too terrible! I just thought I’d swing by earlier before I had to get back to it” 

Your coworkers paid no mind as the two of you walked to the counter as you made him and yourself a drink, taking a seat at one of the tables. No one was here and wouldn’t be here for a good half an hour. 

“So tell me, how have things been? Is your mom alright?” 

“Huh? Oh! Yeah she’s doing fine, still at the same place! She’s retired now actually” “Oh, good for her! I hope she’s enjoying it” you sipped at your coffee, thanking just about everything that you didn’t burn your tongue in front of him. 

“But what about you Midoriya? Last I checked you were wanting to become a hero?” While it would have been hard to be a quirkless hero, It wasn’t impossible. It probably wouldn’t get you ranked in the top five or even the top twenty, but so long as you were a good hero, what did rank matter? 

His eyes shifted from contentment to something a bit more sad, a deep sadness that surprised you. Just as quickly as it appeared, it was gone, a hesitant laugh served as a cover. “Well, I did try, but eventually I just gave up. It just hit me that no matter how much I worked, I’d just be in the way of the pros. I could do some things sure, but...it’s not...it wasn’t enough. So I took a step back and found myself getting into computers, fixing them up, making sure they’re running properly. It’s...It’s nice” 

You place a hand over his, an overwhelming urge to comfort him raced down your bloodstream. His hand jolts at the sudden touch, but he doesn’t bat your hand away. “I always believed you’d make an incredible hero” it made you feel guilty that you hadn’t been there for him when he clearly needed someone, anyone even just to listen to as his one and only dream crashed around him. 

“I know you did, I appreciate it (Y/N),” he offers you a more content smile, “But I’m happy where I am now, really! Plus if I was a hero, I might not have met up with you again” 

You let go of his hand, though not before he gives it a gentle squeeze, picking up your drink and taking another sip. 

“I’m glad to see you're happy though, you said you were fixing computers?”

“Yeah! It’s not a big thing really, just a little repair shop. Clients bring me their various electronics, I clean them and fix them up! It can be really challenging sometimes, especially when it’s an older model! I swear I’ve seen some that I could have sworn were from the early nineties!” 

You listened as he rattled on about his clients, his eyes lit up, a subtle blush on his cheeks as he talked with his hands. More than once you had to back away from getting a straw to the eye, but you hardly minded. 

It became a regular thing, He’d come to the shop at various hours of the day, typically right at opening, on your break, or right as the last customer shifted out the door. You always had his favorite drink ready for him, though you had to fight him to keep him from paying. You didn’t mind after all, paying for his drink. He somehow always managed to sneak in the exact amount into your pockets or purse before he left, leaving you to discover it when he was far and unable to take it back.

The ass.

The more you met up the more open he became, you both talked about work and your grievances there. Now you were talking about anything and everything, TV shows you’d recently watched, movies you were excited to see, stupid stories about Karen's getting owned was a personal favorite. 

However His favorite happened to be the news. He was still hero obsessed as he’d always been. However, there was a more...critical insight into it. 

“Ugh” he huffed out, turning his attention from the TV, though muted, the subtitles were still on. It was currently showcasing Endeavor, how he rescued some civilians from a collapsing apartment building, from a disgruntled worker who had turned to villainy when kicked out of their apartment. They decided to take revenge on the landlord, though it quickly turned to chaos as the entire complex crumbled.

“What is it?” You paused from chewing on the straw to take a sip, “ is it Endeavor?” You knew damn well it was, but it was better to let him process through his words. “Yes! Look at him, smug as can be. He doesn’t even care about those people he rescued, He’s shown no comfort towards them, not even a glance to the children he’d saved. He acts as if he’s too good for them. A real hero would be reassuring, give a sense of calm to everyone involved in a rather tragic turn of events”  he sipped at his drink angrily, nearly choking on it as you patted his back.

“ You mean a hero like All Might?” you offered, knowing that the hero had a special place in his heart. 

Instead of the perky response you would have expected, his lips turned to a thin line, staring into a far off place beyond the TV.

“Yes....just like All Might” 

Figuring he was still going through the appalled emotions from Endeavor, you didn’t press the matter, turning to focus on something else, his latest client, or even a Karen you had encountered earlier that morning. He took your bait readily, eager to listen.

It took you awhile to notice, but during your lunch breaks, on the days he didn’t come in early, he would always be watching the news. He’d rip them to pieces with a barely concealed snarl. He’d rant and rave, while keeping in mind the other customers. He talked about the villains even, and how they were people as well, forced into unfortunate situations, where were the heroes then?

As much as you would have liked to stay in the hero worshiping normalcy, the more he went on the more you began to realize, heroes were actually rather corrupt. You could feel yourself becoming angry alongside him. Why did they do that? What about the people they were rescuing? What about these so-called villains?

You shook your head from your thoughts, looking down to see your next customer that afternoon, a young girl no more than ten years old just out of school and looking to buy a snack and a small drink. 

You sent her off on her merry way, happily sitting down at a table and munching on her snack. Checking your watch, you realized it was time to take your lunch. You sat down at your usual booth and waited for Izuku, sipping at your own drink.

The bell by the door went off, your eyes instinctively looking to see who had entered. Time slowed down as three men came in, guns at the ready and masks pulled over their faces. The first had a black mask, the second having a red one, and the third having a white one.

“Alright! Nobody moves, and no one gets hurt!” the first one shouted, as horrified shrieks went off in the small shop. “Put your hands up and go over there!” he motioned with his gun to collectively gather in a corner. You obeyed along with everyone else in the shop.

The second one aimed his gun steadily at the barista at the register, “No! Not you, you’re going to fill this with all the money you have!” He threw a bag over at the barista who shakily picked up the bag where it had landed, tears running down her cheeks. 

The third held out a bag to the gathered group, “ Put anything valuable in here! Watches, Jewelry, Money, Phones, all of it!” He shouted, an elderly woman shakily began taking off her earrings, another gentleman taking his wallet out. 

The young girl stared with wide eyes, tears falling rapidly down her cheeks, face red as she tried to be quiet, but her hiccups would not allow her. When red looked over at the little girl, her wails increased tenfold.

“Hey! Shut up before I give you a real reason to cry about. You don’t want that do you?!” he shouted, taking a step forward the girl took an extra step back as she put her arms out in front of her to protect herself.

“I said QUIET!” he raised his hand.

Your body moved on it’s own. 

You took the hit for the young girl, your cheek stinging from the impact. That didn’t matter, not over the safety of the little girl, the roar of your heartbeat thumping against your cheek.

“What the hell?!” “Just leave her alone! She’s a little girl, she’s just scared!” You held your arms out, effectively blocking her from view. The elderly woman took the girl to her side, watching for the slightest movement from the robbers.

“ So you want to take her punishment? Is that it brat? Fine,” He shoved you down to the ground easily, glancing over to the young girl, “Take this as an example of what happens when you disobey me!” 

You couldn’t hear anything, your sight blinded as well as his foot collided with your stomach, sending you rolling across the ground. He pinned you down as he punched you, over and over again, arms, stomach and your face, seeing stars as your head hit the ground.

Izuku...Izuku please....

You didn’t know what you wanted from him, whether it was to save you from the pain somehow, or to not show up at all in fear he’d try something heroic like you did. 

The shop doors burst open, a cloth or tape like substance shooting out from someone you couldn’t see, wrapping quickly around the robbers, dragging them to ram into one another, the shock of it making them let go of the guns they held so tightly onto. You faded in and out of consciousness, even though the sounds of battle continued on.

It was all a blur as you slowly came back into reality, sitting in an ambulance being checked over by a nurse. The other heroes who had arrived stood before you, scolding you for your actions.

“What were you thinking?! You put yourself and the girl at risk! They could have made you watch as they hurt her!” 

What was I supposed to do, let her be beaten?

“There were so many other things you could have done! Next time think through your actions before you do anything!”

What could I have done? You fail to mention what else I could exactly do. I didn’t even know what I was doing.

But you didn’t say that. You took the abuse as the nurse began to shoo them off, proclaiming that they’d made their point, nothing more could be said. It wasn’t long before the nurse gave you your results. You were a bit battered but otherwise alright, you’d bruise like hell but you amazingly didn’t have a concussion. Once you were home you were to Ice the bruising spots. With that they sent you with your things back home.

Upon entering your home you changed out of your clothes, something bubbling under your skin. It felt so up close and in your face you couldn’t decipher it. You changed into some incredibly soft shorts and tank top, wincing as you moved to change. 

The silence was too much in your apartment, with shaking fingers you called the only person you could.

“(Y/N)?” “Izuku..” something in you snapped as you heard his voice, a sharp gasp turning into a sob. “(Y/N)? What is it, what’s wrong?”  “I...Can...can you come over? Please? I...I don’t think I can over the phone”  “What? Yeah, Yeah of course, I’ll be right there!”  You gave him your address and hung up after that, flopping onto your couch and hugging a pillow.

It only took him twenty minutes to arrive, but it felt like forever and a second simultaneously. The swift knock at your door startled you out of your blank and racing thoughts. He was dressed in casual clothing, some jeans and some random white button up, a thin green vest over top. Your vision blurred as he stepped in at your allowance, going head first into his chest as you sobbed. He grunted from the impact, but wrapped his strong arms around you regardless. “ Shhh, shhh, it’s alright, I’m here. I’m here” he cooed softly into your ear, “ Here, let’s go to the couch alright?” You nodded but didn’t let go. You shuffled your way to sit on the couch with him, only parting to readjust his hold.

“There was an attempted robbery at the shop today,” you sniffed, resting your head on his shoulder, “ There was a little girl there...she was so scared, she was crying. The...one of the robbers got angry at her, which made her more scared. So I...I took the hit for her”

He lifted your face gently, examining the forming bruise. His frown showed his worry, but he didn’t comment on why you ran to this girls side, “ I was wondering about this black eye I see” You nodded, continuing your story, “Yeah...He didn’t like that I’d taken the hit for the girl...so as an example he beat me up. I don’t remember too much after the ‘heroes’ arrived.” you spat.

“But the heroes arrived and saved everyone, that’s good right?” he prodded. If you had been more aware, you would have heard the underlying tone in his voice. He didn’t really believe the heroes had done well, not with how you spat their name as if it was venom. 

“They told me i was stupid for putting myself in front of the girl, that I should have done something else! What else was I supposed to do? My body moved on it’s own! They could have tortured the girl to get a rise out of me, or hurt the both of us…” As you said those words, another sob tore from your core. “Maybe they were right, maybe I should have just...I don’t know. I’m so sorry I didn’t think of anything faster.”

Izuku cut you off gently cupping your face in his hands, thumbs softly brushing away stray tears. Your eyes refused to meet his.

“Oh darling, look at me,” hesitantly you looked into his eyes, filled with concern, determination and...something else you couldn’t quite place, but it was so soft...so powerful. “You’ve done nothing wrong, you are perfect darling. Without you, that girl could have ended up beaten, or worse!” 

The endearment was new, but not unwelcome, his words wrapping you in a soft blanket of safety.

“You did nothing wrong, you are perfect, everything about you, you’ve done nothing wrong. So please, don’t apologize” You leaned forward to hide in his chest as his words brought a fresh wave of tears. He gently rubbed your back, taking care if you so much as winced to move his comforting circles. 

“It isn’t right that they lectured you. You had just gone through a traumatic event, you needed reassurance, kindness. You aren’t trained to be a hero, you acted on instinct. An instinct that hardly anyone else in that room had. They acted so wrong to you” he whispered, “Those ‘heroes’ are what's wrong with the hero society as a whole. Things need to change”

“But I don’t know how to do that, or where to even start” you whined, your hiccups slowly dispersing. 

“Join me” 

Wait...what?

“Join you...I don’t...I don’t understand…” You look up at him, searching for any hint that it was a badly timed joke. You found none. 

“When I told you I worked with computers....I wasn’t lying, but only technically. You see, I work with this group, as a hacker. We’re going to show the world what these heroes really are, and the need to fix them. The roaches will have nowhere to hide, not from the public, and certainly not by the hero commission”

That was...quite a bit to process. He was a Villain?! All this time?! 

You were shocked, your heart sinking to your stomach. “Why...why didn’t you tell me?” You knew why the second you said the words...but you needed to hear if those were the same words he’d say back. 

“If I’m being honest darling...I was scared. You were always so kind, so soft hearted, to learn you were talking with a villain? Plus, it wasn’t like I could just...tell you in the shop right?” the corner of his mouth lifted up into a slight smirk, though it quickly vanished.

You thought back to today, how angry the heroes had made you. How many others did they tell the same thing when they were just trying to help? How many children paid the price? How many people? 

But the feeling of fists landing on you echoed back in your rapidly increasing heartbeat. You couldn’t do that again, not against a villain, not against heroes, not against anyone!

“I...I’m not cut out for villain work Izuku, you see what happened to me! I...I couldn’t go through that again...I don’t want to go through that again”

He pressed a soft kiss to your forehead, warmth blossoming from the spot. “You don’t have to, just...supporting me is enough, more than enough” he took your hands in his, gentle circles rubbed into them. “You wouldn’t have to quit your job, or move, or anything, just knowing you support me? It fires me up, I have to do this, for you, for everyone, to right the wrongs that have been done. What do you say?” his green eyes were lit up in hope.

Your hands squeezed his, “I do.”

[surveys-at-your-service]

Survey #480

“the doomsday clock was made by mankind”

Do you support PETA? No, because they are WAY too extreme. Have you ever lied about your gender? No. Have you ever had escargot? NOOOOOOOO. You couldn't pay me to try that shit. Have you played Breath of the Wild? No; Zelda games aren't my thing. I've watched Game Grumps play it, though. At what venue was the last concert you attended? Idr, somewhere in Raleigh. Who was playing at the last concert you attended? Alice Cooper. Maybe one day I'll have a new answer, lol. Do you have any anniversaries coming up? No. Would you try grapes on a pizza? Holy fuck, ew. Have you ever tried an oyster? How would you describe the experience? Oysters look fucking disgusting. Never. Has anyone ever specifically painted you a painting? Not a painting, no, but I've had drawings made for me. Would you ever want to try pole dancing? Nah. Have you ever had any sort of paranormal experience? Yes. Have you ever gotten something stuck in your skin? (ie: glass shard, gravel) Yeah, like splinters. And graphite. Do any of your grandparents live a nursing home? They're all deceased, but none did. Do you have a USB drive that is shaped like anything unique? No; mine is just a solid hot pink. What country would you like to visit most? South Africa. Whose birthday is closest to today’s date? (someone you know) Girt's birthday is the 10th! Do you know anyone in another country? I have Australian and European friends, yes. Have you ever wanted to be on a game show? Not seriously. Do you believe taking a picture of someone is taking a piece of their soul? Ha, this question makes me think of the quote from SOMA. Anyway, no. Do you have any friends with the same first name as you? No. How many states have you lived in? One. Pancakes or waffles? Waffles, so I can spread peanut butter on them. :') What is the saddest book you’ve ever read? Johnny Got His Gun. ZERO competition. What political cause are you most passionate about? Probably LGBTQ+ rights. Really just equality in general. Have you ever considered having children? The only time I've ever in my life thought I wanted kids was when I was with Jason. Hell, I wanted two or three. Now I'm just like... nah man no thank you. Have you ever considered acting? No. Who was the last person you slept next to? Sara. Do you think you can be in love and still cheat on your S.O.? Ha, no. What is the most embarrassing thing anyone has on video of you? I dunno. Did you ever get lost as a child? Once at the grocery store. A sweet old lady helped me find Mom. Do you know how to play any card games? The very basic ones, and Magic: The Gathering. What are you currently most looking forward to? Mom to feel better so Girt can come over. What is the best television show you’ve ever watched? Hm... Fullmetal Alchemist has a pretty bangin' story. What color are your parents’ eyes? Brown. Are you more dependent or independent? I've very dependent, honestly. Are there any stuffed animals in the room you’re in? Yeah, loads. I have a shelf full of my meerkat collection. Do you love animals? I adore them. I quite frankly don't like anyone who doesn't, because... how. How many people have you kissed in a car? One or two? Who made you mad last? My mom. She said something that just really hurt my feelings. How long was your last shower? It was longer than usual because standing, taking steps to turn, propping my legs up, etc. was fucking excruciating because my feet, ankles, and calves were so swollen. It's so fucking infuriating; in a previous survey I mentioned "oh it's because my body isn't used to getting up and down so much! it's improvement! :D", but no. The swelling was from sitting too long at the desk. My legs are so used to being propped up from being in bed that it caused edema when I was finally sitting. I went back to my fucking bed now because Mom mentioned that it could get extremely dangerous if the fluid buildup got too severe. And of course now that I'm back in bed, the swelling is receding. I can't fucking win. Have you ever had a really bad haircut? Looking back, I think the haircut I had before this current one was pretty bad, but at least it showed me I'd like short hair on myself. What’s your favorite DIY crafts YouTube channel? I don't watch DIY. What would be the best surprise you could receive right now? At this moment, just give me the magic answer to losing all this fucking weight and getting in shape and being happy. Do you usually forgive when someone hurts your or try to get revenge? I forgive too much. Were there any subjects in school that were really easy for you? English and most science. Did you ever skip a grade or get held back a grade? No. Was your first car used or new? I haven't had my own car yet. How often do you watch the news? Never. Do you have a fan in your room? I have two. Have you ever hatched an egg? In elementary school, as a class. It was a chick. :') I think it was in kindergarten? Would you like to go to a fortune teller? No, because I wouldn't support them spouting bullshit and lying to people. Do you chew gum on a daily basis? No. I've actually been craving gum for a long time now... For each person you’ve kissed, describe your feelings in one word: My feelings towards them? Jason: Remorseful. Tyler: Eye roll. Sara: thankful. Girt: love. Do you have “friends” that you actually hate? That's some juvenile shit. No. Would you rather get [another] tattoo or piercing? Gimme both, but if I had to pick, a tattoo. If you’re dating someone, how long has it been? It's been just shy of a month Feels a lot longer. If you’re a girl, have you ever had the urge shave your hair? Not shave my entire head, no. Do you live by a forest? Not anymore. :/ Do your parents drink? My dad is a recovered alcoholic, so he doesn't touch it anymore. Mom only drinks lightly for special occasions. Does downloading music without paying make you feel guilty? Yes, and yet I do it anyway. :x Does your house have air conditioning? Yes. What do you believe in more: Ghosts or demons? Ghosts. I don't believe in demons. Do you think they’re making too big of a deal over Michael Jackson’s death? Old survey is old, but no, not really. He was an absolute pop icon that was deeply loved by millions and millions and inspired the genre deeply. I wasn't even a big fan and yet I felt for those who were. French fries or onion rings? The former. I don't like onion rings. Favorite healthy snack? Um. I suppose apple slices w/ peanut butter, especially lately. Or strawberries. ]If you see a bee in your house... are you going to kill it? Bees honestly scare me, so I'm not touching it. Mom will have to get it, and I know she would kill it. Would you feel funny if you kissed somebody of the same sex? Done it before, and it didn't feel weird. If your best friend grabs your hand, what do you automatically do? I'd look at her and ask what's wrong. What’s something you can cook or bake like a pro? Nothing. Do you tend to flirt a lot, even when the person isn’t single? No, especially if the person is taken. Can grills be sexy on a guy? Grills are unattractive on everyone. Have you ever flown first class? Ha, yeah right. Are you the type of person who can shake insults off easily, or do they tend to stick around in your brain & bother you? They stick around for years upon years. Some I think I'll never forget.