#cube trainees

[briankang]

truly my most useless bank of knowledge is jype trainee timelines and lore of the (very late) 2nd and 3rd and 4th gens like that is absolutely not going to get me anywhere but a bitch has it lodged in her brain for fun little factoids

[ilhoonftw]

juhyeon started training in cube at the same time as shinwon and as much as they have a very nice relationship...... she was like ... 10 ??????? i just hope she didn't spent all those years living in a dorm 😬 she was the most senior trainee for years

[dvrk-moon]

ENHYPEN ; 엔하이픈

HAVING AN IDOL S/O

requested : yes!!!

genre : fluff, crack

pairing : enhypen ot7 x fem!reader

warnings : cursing, this is long asfk LOL

HEESEUNG ; 희승

so you two trained together

and you mutually liked each other while training but didn’t really talk much

you ended up leaving bighit in early 2018 and going to train at cube instead

so you lost contact

but you ended up debuting as the maknae of (g)i-dle

and since you debuted before enhypen, you were more well known than they were initially

you were one of the more famous members in the group in korea, so your face was pretty inescapable

so imagine heeseung’s reaction when he sees a birthday ad for you for the first time

mind literally blown

so he’s like looking you and your group up to see if it’s really you (it is)

and he’s like damn i gotta get in contact with her again

but he doesn’t have an opportunity because even from a friends standpoint, he didn’t really have time because he had to focus on training and eventually going through i-land

ok skip forward and he’s debuted yay!!!!!

so you had a promotion period that’d lined up around a year and a half later where you made a duo debut with your member shuhua while enha was promoting manifesto

and heeseung saw you backstage once

between him seeing you for the first time up until that point he’d literally been trying to find out how to talk to you again

and this was his opportunity!

so before you went to perform heeseung approached you randomly

and lowkey you’d forgotten about heeseung until you saw him again lol

and you’re like oh hey… so awkward because what do you genuinely say to someone you haven’t talked to in like four years

but when you remember that he’s the heeseung that you talked to during your trainee days (the same heeseung you had a thing for) you are more willing to talk to him

but then your conversation is cut short because you have to go perform your song

when you come back, he’s still waiting for you :((((

like that man is COMMITTED to getting to talk to you again

so then after like thirty minutes of talking (right before he has to go promote his song) he finally gets the courage to ask for your number

and you’re like shit yeah

so he texts you like every day

and during your overlapping promotions, he tries to meet up with you backstage as frequently as possible

so eventually you gain feelings for him again (and he obviously does for you) and you start hanging out

but then he goes on tour for a while

you miss him a lot

and he misses you a lot

so when he comes back, he impulsively like picked you up while hugging and you’re like um okay MARRY ME

one hangout he finally asks you out (as more than friends) and you’re so excited

so you quickly begin dating :)

dating him is definitely like dating your number one supporter

like he makes it a point to meet you backstage (even if you don’t have an overlapping promotion) and he makes you teach him your choreography

and you’re like “heeseung i can teach you this at your or my dorm” and he’s like “nope i need everyone here to know that you only teach me your dances”

you’re like “???” but don’t question it bc he’s just odd

he prefers you to go over to his dorms because of his solo room but he’s not opposed to making friends with your members even though they’re all older than him

just know if you go over to enha’s dorms though they will 100% try to be around you all the time

and don’t get heeseung wrong, he obviously wanted the members to like you, but he also wasn’t anticipating his own girlfriend being stolen from him

you almost get caught by dispatch a couple times

but dispatch fr fr catches him at MAMA

like this man was so protective of his idol image for so long and the he watched your performance and dispatch was like “WRITE THAT DOWN WRITE THAT DOWN”

does not gaf if you’re exposed tho bc he’s like “yup that’s my girlfriend suck it she’s MINE”

JAY ; 제이

so you debuted before him

by like a year and a half, so like january 2019

you were one of the members of itzy, which was the talk of the town for quite some time

and jay was actually a huge fan of your group since he was a trainee

your group had a few hit songs in korea but jay made it seem like every song of yours (yes this includes b sides)

you’d been his bias since your teaser dropped ofc

and he made it everyone’s problem to listen to your music during practice

even during i-land there were clips of him doing the shoulder move from ‘wannabe’

but i digress

so once his debut place is secured as of i-land episode 12 he was so excited that he might have the opportunity of meeting you

but like. he had to be normal about it

so he freaked out about you respectfully

but “respectfully” to him was mentioning you as his role model and ideal type

on like every variety program possible

like damn we get it!!!!

but your and his companies thought it would be just so silly and funny if they brought you out to meet him the next time he mentioned you

and so they did exactly that!!!

he was on weekly idol and all of a sudden you came out from where the staff were filming

he actually almost fainted on the spot

and you thought it was sooo cute that he was that flattered over meeting you

so you approached him and asked him for his number

cue him almost passing out pt 2

but you end up talking quite a bit

like u come visit him quite often and he comes to visit you

and he like is literally like the perfect talking stage

so it takes like zero time for you guys to actually start dating

but when he can’t visit you he’s texting you all the time

“your stage was so good how are you real”

always buying albums for each other for support

and he’s like $$ so he buys a ton of yours (and of his if you want some)

he gets so excited when he pulls your photocard and is so happy when you pull his because he thinks it’s fate

but the one time he caught riki’s photocard in the back of your phone he swapped it out for his almost immediately

he always jokes about his bias being yuna, and so you’ve started to make a point of saying your bias is jungwon and sunghoon

and because you did that you took a picture of you and jungwon once to send to him like “proof that my bias is jungwon”

that pic became his lock screen btw

you one time said that you were an enhypen fan and midzy and engene were freaking out

they were like “just date already smh”

little did they know that you already were!

JAKE ; 제이크

you were a year and a half their junior

and you debuted in kep1er

so the time that they were promoting blessed cursed you were promoting wa da da

and like you’d just debuted too

so you had just done a stage and were on your way to your groups van to go back to the dorms

and you go to enter the first black van you see with an open door

and instead of your members you’re met with jake sunghoon sunoo!

you turned red immediately and ran in the other direction to actually find your van where yujin, yeseo, chaehyun, and hiyyih were waiting for you

you told your members and they thought it was so funny

but jokes on them

because the very next week, jake had accidentally walked into your waiting room at mcountdown

who’s laughing now!!! (you are)

after the incident, he found you and came to apologize for walking in

and you were like “ohhh that’s so funny because i actually was the one who came into your van last week!”

but after the apologies were exchanged, you two ended up walking around backstage anyways and just talking about anything and everything

after you and your members had to go perform, jake just waited for you backstage

and once you were done performing you came back and talked to him more ! yay !

but then soon enha had to go on to perform b-c and by the time he came back, your group had already left :’(

it’s okay though because you left your phone number on a post-it that said “FOR JAKE” in their waiting room

enhypen teased him so hard but he was like whatever at least i got her number

so he texted you like almost immediately

soon after, you two texted like all the time and started meeting backstage whenever it was possible

jake asked you out for the first time right before you went on stage to perform and obviously you said yes

but when you went to perform, your voice was such a bright red color that it went viral amongst kep1ians (and later other fandoms)

after that stage, jake and you just sat and talked in the kep1er waiting room for sooooo long

he’s literally the biggest fan of your group

like he’s so open and genuine about how much he likes your group, and he always somehow has one of your songs on his recommendation playlists

and those songs will somehow always be sandwiched between the most beautiful love songs ever and it makes engenes go 🤨🤨

you also are open about being a fan of them

so basically your fans and his have already put two and two together very quickly

but the suspicions were confirmed when he posted a late-night river view picture on weverse and then you posted something extremely similar a couple days later

winning the idgaf war about people finding out though

like he’s like DONTTTT CAREEEEE <3 MY GF

he actually thinks it’d be better if people knew so that no one would try anything on you because you’re taken

SUNGHOON ; 성훈

you were the seventh member of ive, also known as wonyoung’s group

and like wonyoung is your bff

she knew you found sunghoon cute from all the times you’d asked her if you could come visit her on music bank days

so she wanted to play matchmaker!

(love me not reference?!?!)

anyways

she gets “sick” once and is like “hey y/n why don’t you stand in for me?”

and you’re like “yeah sure whatever idc it’s chill”

it’s not chill

for reference, sunghoon also thought it was going to be chill, because he had no idea that you were standing in for wonyoung

little did wonyoung know, sunghoon also found you very attractive

ofc he would’ve tried to get your number through wonyoung, but he was too introverted to even think about it

so when you get there, both of your faces are pretty red, but your cheeks at least cool down by the time you’re recording

his do not 😭

he’s like sneaking looks at you and shit

he thought he was being so subtle too about it like bye 😭😭

but fans love the interactions!!!!

and they’re sooooo stoked to have jungwon sunoo and sunghoon on the radio that you host after the fact

sunghoon fucking DRESSES for the occasion too like damn

and like you made a point to be like “nice outfit”

on the outside he was like “yeah it’s whatever” but on the inside he was shitting his pants

anyways

and so you asked him for his number because you wanted “fashion tips” (you’re a liar)

so the first time he asks you out he’s like “let me style u an outfit”

and then while doing that he’s like “let’s date!”

and you’re like “well alright”

(jk u were just as stoked)

and dating him is so relieving

because you don’t have to keep the relationship (at least beyond friends) a secret

fans love the interactions

and so when you guys actually announce the relationship everyone is so hyped

like they already expected it

but still

he never misses an opportunity to talk about you on live or on a variety show

the interviewer is like “so, sunghoon, what was your favorite part of this comeback?”

he thinks for a second. then all of a sudden, “well y/n-”

like bro we get it

he just does not even care tho bc he’s so down bad

SUNOO ; 선우

okay now so remember when sunoo was a radio dj?

yeah

so you debuted in billlie, and your song, gingamingayo had just been released

and sunoo had heard it quite a few times already on his dj show

and he’s like “ok damn i get it let me look up the song”

he became a fan so quickly

like learned the choreo and everything

so the following week on the radio show he’s like “oh have you guys heard this song it’s so good actually i’m a fan of this group”

and then BOOM next week you’re on the show he radio djs for

chemistry between u guys went CRAZY

and then you filmed a tiktok together

and posted it like a week after the radio episode had gone viral

engenes and belllie’ves went crazy

you guys had already exchanged numbers at that point too

so getting to laugh about your fans freaking out was super fun to you two

you started visiting him at radio show schedules in secret after the fact

so he ends up asking you out about a month later

and ofc you say yes

so once you started dating, he would visit you at your schedules a lot

you would often pretend to be a staff member at the radio show so you could be there without raising much question

but then one time you were a “special guest” on the radio show again, and you filmed another tiktok, but this time it wasn’t like one of your group’s dance challenges

it was like a cute trend

so once you got the okay to post it, you did

this confirmed to engenes and belllie’ves that you were friends at the very least

he always finds a way to sing your songs on live

doesn’t ever sing when it’s your part though 🤨🤨🤨 it’s almost like he wants to hear your voice

one time he came to one of your fansigns “anonymously”

people found out it was him so quickly 😭

he’s so shameless about people knowing though

after that, fans basically already know you’re dating even if you don’t outright say anything

nobody actually cares though

they’re just waiting for that third y/noo tiktok 🙏

JUNGWON ; 정원

you debuted in illit, as a result of the belift survival show “r u next?”

you came in first place, just like jungwon did on i-land

so naturally, under the same sublabel, illit and enhypen passed each other quite frequently

you’ve actually interacted quite a bit with the other members

but for some reason, their leader was a bit standoffish to you

and you had absolutely no idea why he would be

you thought that maybe it was because you’d also come in first place on your respective survival show, so maybe he had one sided beef with you?

it didn’t make sense but that’s just what you assumed

actually ☝️🤓 jungwon had a big fat crush on you

and had no idea what to do about it

like he secretly supported you on r u next? and everything

so eventually, belift decides to make a variety show for illit and enha

as the first place winners, you two are paired together, along with your japanese maknaes, ni-ki and iroha

iroha and ni-ki were already acquainted, so iroha told ni-ki about how funny it was that you and jungwon were in the same group, given that jungwon hated you

and ni-ki’s like ?!

so he like goes up to jungwon and is like “she thinks you hate her bro”

he’s so embarrassed to find out that you thought he hated you

ni-ki teases him so hard about it

so eventually jungwon admits to you (off-camera) that he doesn’t hate you, and in fact he’s quite fond of you

it lifts the biggest weight off his chest when you also admit that you’re fond of him, and that he was your role model ever since you’d joined r u next?

after filming, you two exchange numbers

he’s such a baby like seriously how could you think he hated you

it doesn’t take long AT ALL for you to start dating

in fact hybe/belift encourages it because they think it’ll be good exposure for both groups

and it highkey is

in korea, you guys gain the title of “first place couple” and omgggg knetz eat that up

you’re invited on a ton of variety shows together

jungwon is sooooo so supportive and is lowkey a stan of your group

he like sends you your fancams and is like “teach me this dance pls”

when your two groups pass each other in the hallways, enha and illit always make it a point to tease you two

you guys don’t mind though because at least you have each other ☝️☝️

RIKI ; 니키

you debuted as the maknae of loona

so you’d been in the industry a few years longer than enhypen had

so riki knew of you, but you weren’t super familiar with them

but the both of you were invited onto a variety program for foreign idols

you ended up becoming more familiar with them after being paired together with riki for a couple challenges

one interaction you had made you two go completely viral after executing a twice choreography together extremely well

both bbc and belift saw this as an opportunity to make some money, so they kinda forced you and riki to get close

little did they know that’s what you both wanted anyways lol

so like you’ll have a live with him

or you’ll film a tiktok together

or you’ll post something together

etc

somewhere along the lines you two start dating in secret

namely after you two filmed a live together

and he saw one of the comments that said “y/n please do perfect idol challenge” and you started doing the perfect idol dance on live

you started giggling because you started to forget the dance because you were embarrassed and he was smiling like a fucking maniac and then he realized he really really liked you more than a friend

and so soon after he didn’t wanna waste any more time and he just confessed that he liked you

and you were like “no way me too!!!!”

(everyone could tell)

it wasn’t super in secret though

because belift/bbc had that “bffs for life” image for you two

so you could interact freely

it just took every bone in riki’s body to not grab your hand and pull you into his arms during a dance live

but then womp womp

dispatch exposes you guys like four months into the relationship

no one cares though (except delulu fans)

so when you terminate your contract with bbc for the mistreatment, engenes beg you to audition for hybe/belift because they’re afraid if you go somewhere else you won’t be able to interact freely with him anymore and they love your interactions

you end up joining ctd, which is the company of one of the post-loona acts, along with five of your ex-members

luckily ctd is a good company so they let you and riki still stay together and still have your lives

one time riki was doing a weverse live and you showed up

and fans absolutely LOVED it

ctd is an unknown company so they unexpectedly got a lot more sales with this relationship

they were like DAMN OK

anyways

you guys teach each other your choreos A LOT

like a lot

riki eats them up so bad like fans start saying he’s the seventh member of your group 😭

a/n : had to include illit in this somehow i love them they’re so cute. sorry for the lack of posts i am sooooooo fucking busy and this was in the drafts for forever

[emperordinozenmon]

Celebration

A little something for y'all

Cube’s end-of-the-year party was a bizarre event shrouded in mystery, a legend whispered about in hushed voices among trainees and industry insiders. No one outside its invite list had ever confirmed what went on inside, but that didn’t stop the rumors from spreading like wildfire.

Your friend group had spent years speculating, each person pitching their own wildly different theory. You leaned toward the idea that it was some kind of exclusive, over-the-top karaoke party where idols got blackout drunk and embarrassed themselves in front of their seniors. Nathan suggested a big aphrodisiac induced orgy where idols and staff let off steam and fucked rapaciously. Danny swore up and down that it was a cosplay event, where the biggest names in K-pop dressed up as anime characters and took part in elaborate skits. And Q—well, Q liked to claim it was an annual ritual sacrifice, though whether he actually believed that or was just being Q was anyone’s guess.

It had always been harmless fun, something to gossip about late at night when you were all exhausted from work and just hanging out and needed a distraction. Until now.

The door burst open, and Nate strode in, looking equal parts exhilarated and overwhelmed. He ran a hand through his hair as he shut the door behind him, as if he needed to physically close himself off from whatever whirlwind had just hit him.

“Guys,” he started, breathless, his eyes flicking between you. “You’ll never believe what I got invites for.”

Q scoffed, kicking his feet up onto the coffee table. “What, the Cube end-of-the-year party?” he said, grinning. “Nice try, Nate.”

The air in the room shifted when Nate didn’t immediately laugh or roll his eyes. Instead, his face went completely still, his hands tightening around the strap of his bag.

“Wait…” he said slowly, voice deadly serious. “How did you know?”

A silence settled over the room, thick and unnatural. You felt your pulse pick up as you and the others exchanged glances.

Dani leaned forward. “Nate,” she said carefully, as if afraid of spooking him, “you’re joking, right?”

But he wasn’t. You could see it in his face.

He swallowed hard. “No,” he said. “I got us invites. All of us.”

The words sat heavy in the air. For years, the Cube party had been nothing more than an untouchable myth, a fun mystery to poke at from a safe distance. But now, the distance was gone.

“How did you nail that?” you ask.

Nathan blushed and said, “well there's been thig girl I have been Nailing,” he stammered before he said. “Her name is Nayoung.” the name reminds you of something buy you can't place why. Regardless you were excited to go.

Here’s an expanded version of your scene, adding more detail, atmosphere, and character moments:

Over the next few days, Nate drip-fed information about the party to the rest of you, each new detail adding another layer to the mystery. The most surprising revelation came from Nayoung—apparently, the party was both costume and karaoke-themed. That, at least, explained the secrecy. If a single photo of top idols drunkenly belting out power ballads while dressed in ridiculous outfits got out, it would be chaos.

With that in mind, you and Dani wasted no time in deciding on your costumes: Persona protagonists. The moment Q heard, he took it upon himself to make sure your outfits were perfect.

“Alright, if we’re doing this, we’re doing it right,” he declared, cracking his knuckles like a man preparing for battle.

You hadn’t expected him to be so skilled at costuming, but over the next few days, he guided you and Dani through every step of the process—choosing fabrics, cutting out patterns, even distressing certain parts to make them look more authentic. Watching him work, you realized he had a real talent for it.

“You’re scarily good at this, Q,” Dani said one evening, watching as he sewed intricate silver buttons onto your jacket with precise, practiced hands.

Q shrugged, eyes focused on his work. “I used to help my sister with cosplay when we were younger. And, y’know, I have to live vicariously through you two since my costume options are limited.”

Neither of you missed the way his tone dipped slightly at the end. It was an unspoken reality—Q’s darker complexion and broad frame meant that many of the characters he admired weren’t ones he could easily portray, at least not without running into criticism. But instead of letting it get to him, he poured his enthusiasm into helping you and Dani.

By the time the night of the party arrived, you, Dani, Nate, and Eraqus were ready.

The four of you stood outside the venue, a sleek, high-end building that didn’t look like the kind of place where chaotic karaoke and costumed idols would be running around. You adjusted your jacket, trying to shake off the nerves, while Dani smoothed down her gloves. Nate was already bouncing on his heels, the anticipation buzzing off him in waves, while Eraqus stood a little more stiffly, scanning the entrance like he half-expected security to turn you all away.

Then, the doors swung open, and a tiny blonde woman stepped out. You barely had time to process her sharp eyes and confident stance before she grabbed Nate by the collar and kissed him, right there in front of all of you.

Your jaw dropped. “Oh.”

It all made sense in an instant.

When she finally pulled away, Nayoung turned her attention to the rest of you, a smirk playing on her lips. “You guys look great,” she said, giving you all a quick once-over. “Now get in. Before someone sees you.”

She stepped aside, motioning for you to follow, and just like that, the four of you were stepping into the legendary Cube end-of-the-year party—where, for better or worse, the mystery was about to unravel.

The party was already in full swing by the time you stepped inside. The air buzzed with energy—idols in elaborate costumes laughing over drinks, half-shouted conversations competing with the pounding bass of a remix that someone had taken too seriously. Neon lights flickered in hypnotic patterns against the walls, casting shifting shadows over the chaotic mix of people.

Eraqus (Q) quickly found himself enmeshed between a couple of well known idols praising his zombie costume.

“Wow those exposed ribs are so good how did you do that?” Chowon from Lightsum asked asked.

“How did you find glowing contacts?” Sakura of le Sserafim asked.

“Ah well you know…” Eraqus stammered not used to all the attention. While this was going on you couldn't sense the encroaching presence behind you

You barely had time to take it all in before someone appeared beside you, slipping into your personal space so smoothly you almost didn’t notice until she spoke.

“You clean up well.”

You turned your head and found yourself face-to-face with Karina.

She looked effortlessly cool, dressed in a sleek, all-black ensemble that could have been a costume or just an excuse to look devastatingly good. The sharp contrast of dark fabric against her fair skin made her seem even more striking under the shifting lights.

You blinked, caught off guard. “Uh—”

Her lips quirked up at the corner, amused at your hesitation. “Yu Narakami the Persona protagonist, right?” She reached out, barely brushing the lapel of your jacket between her fingers before letting go. “Nice choice. Thought I was the only one who cared about good taste.”

Your brain scrambled to keep up. You had never really spoken to her before—at most, you’d been in the same rooms during fan events, maybe exchanged a polite nod in passing. But now, here she was, looking at you like you were the only person worth talking to in the room.

“Thanks,” you finally managed, fighting to sound casual. “Didn’t think anyone here would notice.”

Karina hummed, tilting her head slightly. “Oh, I notice a lot of things.”

Before you could figure out what that meant, she took a step closer, her voice dropping just enough to send a shiver down your spine. “How about you ditch your friends for a bit?”

You hesitated, glancing over your shoulder where Dani and Ersque were deep in conversation, completely oblivious. Nate was off somewhere with Nayoung. No one was paying attention to you.

Karina smirked, reading your hesitation like an open book. She leaned in, just close enough that you could smell the faint trace of perfume clinging to her skin.

“Come on,” she murmured, eyes gleaming with mischief. “Let’s have some real fun.”

Then, before you even had a chance to agree—or process what was happening—she took your hand, lacing her fingers through yours, and tugged you deeper into the party.

And just like that, you were gone.

Here’s an expanded version of your scene, adding more emotion, tension, and atmosphere:

Karina led you through the maze of hallways until she found an empty practice room, slipping inside without hesitation. The moment the door shut behind you, the noise of the party outside became a distant hum, leaving just the two of you in the dimly lit space.

She turned to face you, her expression unreadable for a moment, before a small, playful smile tugged at the corners of her lips.

“So,” she said, leaning against the mirror with her arms crossed, studying you with open curiosity. “Which Persona is your favorite?”

Her eyes gleamed, pupils slightly dilated—not just from intrigue but something deeper, something hungrier.

You hesitated for half a second before answering, “Persona 4. I had a similar experience when I was younger.”

Karina arched a perfectly shaped brow. “Oh? You fought demons and gods in a shadow world?” she teased, tilting her head slightly.

You huffed out a small laugh, shaking your head. “That’s not what I meant… I had to spend a full school year with extended family because my parents were having issues.”

Her teasing expression softened, her gaze turning more thoughtful. “Where at?”

You shrugged, answering offhandedly, “Oh, [redacted].”

The reaction was immediate. Karina’s eyes went wide—wider than before, not with curiosity but with something bordering on shock. Her posture stiffened, her body leaning forward slightly, as if she needed to be closer to confirm what she was hearing.

“No way,” she breathed, searching your face with sudden urgency. “I went to [redacted] too. What year?”

Your brows furrowed, a flicker of confusion passing over you. “Uh… 20XX.”

Karina gasped, her hand flying to her mouth. “Wait—” Her voice caught, her breath hitching as realization dawned in her expression. “Ace?”

Your entire body locked up. Your pulse pounded in your ears as your brain scrambled to catch up.

She knew.

She knew.

Your eyes widened, the breath stolen from your lungs as everything snapped into place.

“Yu???”

The name tumbled from your lips before you could stop it, the childhood memory flooding back in full force.

The long afternoons spent wandering the quiet town, the laughter shared over convenience store snacks, the whispered conversations about dreams and fears, the silent understanding that had always existed between you—until life had pulled you apart.

Karina—Yu—stood there, her face a perfect mix of shock, nostalgia, and something even deeper, something raw.

Neither of you moved for a moment. The air in the room was thick with tension, an electric charge crackling between you like a live wire.

Then, before you could second-guess yourself, you reached for her.

She met you halfway, surging forward as your lips crashed together in a desperate, almost frantic kiss. Karina made a soft, breathy noise against your mouth, her hands gripping the front of your jacket as if she was afraid you might disappear again.

You felt her hunger, her longing, the years of separation dissolving in the heat between you.

“I missed you so much,” she whimpered against your lips, her voice trembling with emotion.

You pulled back just enough to look at her, your forehead resting against hers, trying to ground yourself in the reality of the moment.

“Holy hell, Yu,” you murmured, your hands cupping her face, your thumbs brushing against her flushed cheeks. “I thought I’d never see you again.”

She swallowed hard, her fingers tightening against you as if she was afraid to let go.

Here’s an expanded version with more romance, affection, and warmth:

“Well,” she whispered, her breath fanning against your lips, her voice barely above a murmur, “you found me.”

Her eyes shimmered with something between teasing amusement and deep, unfiltered joy. The kind of joy that only came from reconnecting with someone who had once been your whole world. Her fingers traced light, ghosting touches along your jaw, as if she were memorizing the feel of you all over again.

A slow smile spread across your face before you leaned in, capturing her lips once more. The second kiss was softer, more intentional—less of a desperate reunion and more of a lingering promise. Her lips felt just as you remembered, warm and inviting, but now there was a sweetness to them that hadn’t been there before. Maybe it was her lipstick, or maybe it was just her.

Emboldened, you gently nipped at her bottom lip, earning a surprised, breathy laugh against your mouth.

“Okay,” she murmured, her forehead resting against yours, “as much as I love this, I gotta ask… what are you doing now?”

You exhaled a small chuckle, still a little lost in her touch, before pulling back slightly. “I’m a stuntman and stunt coordinator now. Director too, for some projects. The last one we worked on was Train to Busan III.”

Karina’s eyes widened so much you were worried they might pop out of her skull.

“No way!” she gasped, pushing against your chest lightly as if to confirm you were real. “You—what?! That’s amazing!”

Her excitement was contagious, and you felt heat creep up your neck at the way she looked at you—like she was genuinely proud.

“I remember how obsessed you were with Taekwondo when we were kids,” she continued, her fingers now absentmindedly tracing patterns on your sleeve. “You were always practicing, always trying to perfect your form… and now you’re actually doing something huge with it. I love that.”

You shrugged, trying to play it off, but her enthusiasm made your chest feel light.

Then, with a cheeky glint in her eye, she smirked and nudged you. “So, think you could get me a role as an action heroine? I am a rocket puncher, after all.”

You laughed, shaking your head. “I don’t know, Yu… I haven’t seen you in six years. Might be a little rusty.”

Karina let out an exaggerated gasp, her hand flying to her chest as if you had wounded her. “Wow. Abandon me for six years and then insult my skills? Unbelievable.”

Her pout was devastating, and you immediately felt bad—not that you weren’t enjoying the way she was hamming it up.

You sighed dramatically, then softened. “Alright, alright. I might be able to pull some strings,” you conceded, and she grinned victoriously.

“But enough about me,” you added, giving her a look. “You’re, like, a world-famous idol now. That’s insane.”

Karina smirked, tossing her hair over her shoulder in mock arrogance. “Yeah, I’m pretty savage, right?”

You rolled your eyes but couldn’t help the smile that tugged at your lips. Without thinking, you leaned in and kissed her nose.

Karina blinked, stunned for half a second before a warm, slightly bashful smile took over her features. Her hands curled against your chest as she tilted her head, gazing up at you.

“So…” she murmured, quieter now, her voice holding something a little more vulnerable. “Are you back forever? Or is this just a visit?”

The weight of her question settled between you, the unspoken hope lingering in her eyes.

You reached up, gently tucking a strand of hair behind her ear, your thumb brushing against her cheek.

“I don’t know yet,” you admitted honestly, watching as something flickered across her expression.

Karina studied you for a moment before exhaling softly, then resting her head against your chest. “Well… I hope you stay,” she whispered.

You wrapped your arms around her, holding her close, breathing her in.

“Me too,” you murmured, meaning every word.

While you and Karina were lost in your own world, elsewhere in the building, Eraqus was being dragged through the dimly lit hallways by none other than Magenta from QWER, whose mischievous grin practically glowed in the dark.

“Magenta,” Eraqus hissed, glancing around as they weaved between corners, avoiding wandering partygoers. “Why are we sneaking? You do realize you’re famous, right? You literally can just walk places.”

Magenta turned, still moving backward like some kind of rogue in a heist film. “Shhh, Eraqus, you’ve gotta commit to the bit.”

“What bit?”

“The vibe of sneaking! It makes things more exciting.”

Eraqus pinched the bridge of his nose but followed anyway, resigned to the fact that Magenta operated on a wavelength no one else did.

“Why are we even looking for a practice room?” he asked.

Magenta shrugged. “To talk.”

“You dragged me through this whole building like we’re infiltrating a government facility just to talk?”

“Exactly,” Magenta replied, completely unbothered.

Eventually, they stopped in front of a practice room door, and Magenta leaned in dramatically, pressing an ear against the wood. Eraqus, arms crossed, raised an eyebrow.

“Magenta, I swear if someone is in there—”

Ignoring him, Magenta slowly—oh-so-slowly—turned the doorknob and peeked inside. Then, with all the grace of a cartoon character, Magenta took a single step in, turned to Eraqus, and whispered, “Oh, yeah, someone’s in there.”

Eraqus groaned. “I told you—”

Before he could finish, Karina’s sharp voice cut through the room.

“…Are you two gonna stand there and gawk, or do you wanna come in?”

Eraqus grimaced and finally stepped into the room to see Karina still nestled comfortably against you, both of you staring at the intruders with varying degrees of amusement.

Magenta blinked, then grinned. “Ohhh, we totally interrupted something, huh?”

Karina sighed dramatically but didn’t move from your side. “A little, yeah.”

“We’re so sorry,” Magenta continued, not looking sorry at all. “Should we leave? I feel like we should leave. Eraqus, should we leave?”

Eraqus, who was already turning to walk out, nodded. “Yeah, I think we should.”

Before they could escape, you waved them off. “Nah, it’s fine. You guys can stay.”

Eraqus hesitated. “…Are you sure? We really don’t wanna intrude.”

Karina rolled her eyes but smiled. “Just sit down before Magenta gets another idea to sneak into someone else’s room.”

Magenta gasped in mock offense. “I would never—okay, I would. But that’s beside the point.”

With that, the four of you settled onto the floor, forming a loose circle. There was a beat of silence before Magenta, ever the instigator, grinned and leaned forward.

“So… you two childhood lovers reunited by fate or something?”

Karina scoffed, but her cheeks warmed slightly. “Would you believe me if I said yes?”

Eraqus, who had taken one glance at the way you two had been sitting when they walked in, deadpanned, “Yes.”

You chuckled, wrapping an arm around Karina’s shoulders as she nestled in a little closer. “Yeah, turns out we knew each other as kids.”

Magenta gasped, hands clutched over their chest. “That’s adorable.”

For a moment, the conversation drifted, with Karina and Magenta comparing industry horror stories, Eraqus chiming in with his usual dry wit, and you just sitting there, enjoying the moment. The tension from earlier melted away, replaced by something lighter, easier.

Eventually, Magenta stretched dramatically, flopping against Eraqus, who let out a long-suffering sigh but didn’t push them off.

“This is kinda nice,” Magenta mused. “Just… sitting and talking.”

Karina hummed in agreement, her fingers lazily tracing patterns against your knee. “Yeah, it is.”

Eraqus, always the pragmatic one, muttered, “I still don’t know why we had to sneak here.”

Magenta cackled. “Because it made for a way better story, obviously.”

Everyone laughed, the room filled with an easy warmth. And for the first time that night, it felt like the world outside didn’t matter—just the four of you, lost in the comfort of old and new friendships, in a quiet little room where, for a moment, time didn’t exist.

As the conversation lulled, Eraqus stretched his arms over his head, letting out a dramatic sigh. “You know, for all the mystery and hype, this party is… kinda cute,” he mused. “I was fully expecting chanting, ritual sacrifices—maybe even a secret underground fight club or something.”

Magenta snorted. “Right? With the way people talk about it, I thought we’d at least have to swear an oath of secrecy.”

Karina, who had been lazily tracing circles on your knee, perked up at that, a mischievous glint in her eyes. “Oh no, that’s SM’s flow,” she said, her tone casual but far too knowing. “They bring in a bunch of boys for the female idols to pick from so they can blow off steam the whole night.”

Eraqus and Magenta froze.

A long, stunned silence filled the room as their expressions contorted into a mix of horror and disbelief. Magenta’s jaw practically hit the floor, while Eraqus blinked rapidly as if trying to reboot his entire thought process.

“…You’re joking,” Eraqus finally said, voice wary.

Karina held his gaze for a beat longer, face completely serious—then she cracked, bursting into laughter. “Oh my God, the look on your faces!” She clutched her stomach as she doubled over, shaking with laughter.

Magenta smacked Eraqus’s arm. “Dude, I believed her! My soul left my body for a second!”

Eraqus, still recovering, rubbed his face. “You can’t just say things like that, Karina!”

Watching them lose their minds, you couldn’t help but chuckle, shaking your head fondly before turning to Karina. “God, I missed you.”

She tilted her head up at you, her laughter softening into something more tender. Her fingers curled lightly around your wrist as she murmured, “Well, I missed you more.”

The teasing bickering between Magenta and Eraqus faded into the background for a moment as you and Karina just sat there, basking in the warmth of familiarity.

Eraqus, regaining his composure, finally exhaled. “Alright, I think I’ve had enough emotional whiplash for one night.”

Magenta, still fanning themselves dramatically, nodded. “Same. But I gotta admit, this is way better than a ritual sacrifice.”

Karina grinned. “Glad I could keep things entertaining.”

You squeezed her hand gently, meeting her gaze. “You always do.”

And just like that, the four of you fell back into easy conversation, laughter echoing through the practice room, turning what was supposed to be a legendary, mysterious party into something even better—something simple, warm, and unforgettable.

[kkuramyeons]

five times – idol!sakura miyawaki x idol!reader

⋆ four times the idol wanted to give you her number + the one time she did.

pairing: sakura miyawaki x gidle!reader

info: idol! x idol! au, reader is a 00’ liner, and has been down bad for sakura for years despite being known as a playgirl amongst the industry, sakura is also down bad but can’t seem to take the hint or make a move, pining, fluff, gay panic.

wordcount: 2.2k

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i.  the people are talking (let them talk)

“y/n-nnie! tell neverland what you’re most excited about attending the golden disk awards!” ushered minnie as she waved you over to where staff where recording a behind the scenes for your channel’s I-talk.

“aside from our $$$ perfomance and award nomination… i’m very excited to see if I can meet iz*one, i’m a big fan!” you excitedly replied as you sat down on the couch next to minnie.

“oh, is that so?” the older girl smirked as she watched you get flustered at her answer.

before you could reply, a booming voice came from the other side of the room, “yah! y/n-nnie is only excited because she has a huge crush on saku-“ yuqi started, but was cut off by soojin, who ushered her to stop teasing you.

“yah! stop teasing, unnie!” came your reply as your face flushed red, almost having your private business aired to the public.

the teasing continued in the background between you and yuqi while minnie, shuhua and soojin tried to distract the camera by answering more questions and making conversation.

⁂

flashes and shouts from the paparazzi filled the air as iz*one made their way towards the red carpet of the 33rd golden disk awards, excitement buzzing through the members as they posed for the cameras, directed by the mc.

after expressing their feelings on the rookie award nomination, and striking some more poses, the group made their way down the carpet and into the venue, as fans and more paparazzi shouted questions at them.

as sakura made her way behind hyewon, someone had asked her what she thought about g-idle’s performance the day before, to which she curtly replied that she loved it, mentioning your short rap as her favorite part of the performance.

finally, inside the venue, sakura sat down in her assigned seat, when chaeyeon asked if she knew you.

“eh?” came the reply from the japanese idol.

“i’m just saying, someone told me y/n unnie is fond of you. if you want to meet her, just let me know,” shrugged the blonde.

“are you guys talking about y/n?” came a hushed whisper from nako. “i heard she’s  already in a dating rumor with a trainee from jyp, you should be careful with a girl like that unnie.”

“i don’t even know her, she’s just interesting, that’s all” sakura replied, playing with the gem of her dress.

“well, she seems sweet. so, if you ever want to meet her, just let me know,” replied chaeyeon as the conversation switched topics.

“maybe I will,” mumbled sakura, switching her attention to the start of the award show, trying to pay no mind to the hushed whispers around her.

ii.  the puppy interview

after months of hard work and preparing for a comeback, calvin klein had contacted you to become a brand ambassador, with the opportunity to work alongside other idols and well-known photographers in the industry.

you had ambassador offers from gucci, fendi, and savage x fenti, to name a few. known for your visuals, rapping and producer skills (often called a mini soyeon because of this), you wanted something else to add to your list of things you brought to the table. when working with a label like cube, you had to be prepared to keep the lights on in the building, alongside your members, of course.

and that’s how you ended up doing some solo promotions in the states, as well as promoting your first english single and collaboration with calvin klein.

you sat in a blank set, sitting on the floor with a pastel pink backdrop in the back, trying to make sure every puppy in front of you was equally petted and cared for.

“ah! this is a good question, and believe it or not, I don’t think we get this one very often,” you said in an amused tone as you read it out loud to the cameras in front of you.

“who’s your celebrity crush?” smirking, you picked up one of the puppies and set it in your lap, while grabbing another to do the same.

“hm, I would have to say sakura from le sserafim. she recently changed her hair and I think it makes her look very beautiful. really brings out her eyes,” you mused, hands already busy with searching for another question from the bowl, excited to see how your members and fans would react to the answer.

⁂

the le sserafim members were all sat around a table, cameras pointed at them as they read some comments on live while eating several snacks.

“oh! kkura unnie!” exclaimed eunchae with a grin as she passed snacks to kazuha who accepted them with open arms.

“hm?” came the short reply from the oldest member.

“someone is asking how you reacted at y/n sunbaenim revealing that you were her celebrity crush!”

suddenly, four pair of eyes were on the oldest member, since everyone knew about sakura’s evident crush on you.

“eh?! oh… i was very flattered,” the oldest replied while seemingly trying to keep herself busy with some chips, as her face flushed from the sudden attention on her.

“you should exchange numb-“ yunjin’s loud reply from the other side of the table came, chaewon quickly cutting her off with reading another comment from the section, not really wanting any of her members in a dating scandal so early into their career as a group.

sakura spared a thankful glance at the leader, thinking that maybe, yunjin was right, and that she should remind herself to ask chaewon to give miyeon her number so she could pass it on to you.

iii.  run in at hybe

“they really had to leave me in the back of this building, damn” you grumbled as you made your way through the back corridors of the hybe building, in search of the studio where new jeans would be at, so you could help them record some songs for their upcoming album.

after walking around the same spot for a few minutes, you impatiently grabbed your phone from your pocket and started searching for the other producer’s number so you could ask for directions, seeing as your incredible sense of direction was getting you nowhere.

what you didn’t account for though, was literally bumping into what you thought was a wall while you made your way inside the building with your nose stuck in your phone.

“i’m so sorry for bumping into you like that!” exclaimed a voice, hand outstretched to help you up from the floor.

“oh! that’s …” you trailed off, staring up at big doe eyes while you got up from the floor.

regaining your composure and with both feet planted on the floor, you gave an amused grin to the woman in front you.

“it’s a pleasure to finally see you in person, sakura,” you greeted, bowing your head at the older idol.

flustered and with the tip of her ears turning red, the black-haired woman let out a weak chuckle before greeting you back, asking if you needed any directions or any help from her.

when you explained your visit’s purpose, sakura wasted no time in directing you to where new jeans would be at, making small talk on the way to the recording room.

the older woman dropped you off a few doors down from your destination, since her practice room was on the way, and she needed to get back to her training schedule.

watching as your figure entered the studio, she slowly started to enter her designated practice room, pausing when you winked at her before closing the door to the studio and making your way fully inside.

arriving back to practice all red and flustered, sakura slid inside the practice room and leaned against the nearest wall, sighing with her right hand on her chest, near her heart, trying to control her erratic heartbeat as she processed what had just happened, and how she didn’t get your number- again.

iv.  jennifer huh strikes again

“okay, hanni , could you sing that line again? I want it to sound more light, airy even.” you instructed the new jeans member from the other side of the recording booth, after volunteering to help produce one of your written songs and another track for the group’s debut album.

you received a thumbs up, which was a signal that the younger idol was ready to give it another go.

“meet me back in five if i matter… to you,” sang the idol, meeting your eyes after that last take.

“perfect! it’s exactly how i pictured it sounding in my head!” came your reply in the recording booth, as you all headed outside the booth for a much-needed break after a day of introductions and recordings. you made it clear to the team behind the album that you wanted the members involved in the process of creating their album, even offering them a chance to write and edit some of your drafts.

“i’ll get some coffee and i’ll be back in 15 to wrap up for today,” you said as you passed the younger idols, with everyone’s coffee orders in hand.

once you opened the door to leave, you were met with jet black hair and a tall female figure at the door.

“hello! y/n sunbaenim! my name is huh yunjin from le sserafim, and after hearing you were here today, I wanted to introduce myself and give you my number to see if you would be interested in helping me produce and record one of my songs,” said the idol with a deep bow.

“oh! hello yunjin. it’s something i might be interested in. since i’m in a rush today, let me give you my number and just text me the demos you have so far and I’ll listen when I can and get back to you, does that sound good?”

the younger girl rapidly nodded her head while shaky hands wrote down your contact information.

with a wave and a small smile, you made your way to the nearest cafe.

yunjin quickly texted the group chat, in disbelief that she actually succeeded her goal.

still a bit nervous from the interaction, yunjin giggled as sakura’s reply lit up her screen.

from: hot girl yunjin

to fearless idols

i’ve done in five minutes what sakura couldn’t do in three years.

from: gaymer kkura

to: fearless idols

i hope the label doesn’t mind having four members.

from: cutest maknae

to: fearless idols

no unnie don’t leave us! T.T

from: gaymer kkura

to: fearless idols

who said i was the one leaving?

v. eunchae’s star diary

after wrapping up the interview with shuhua, eunchae looked around to see if the staff were focused on the two maknaes, but since everyone was busy giving thank yous and

wrapping up, the black-haired girl moved towards her guest with a piece of paper in between her index finger and thumb.

“shuhua unnie! thank you so much for being on the show, I have something to give you before you leave!” the youngest of the two exclaimed as she walked the raven-haired girl outside the filming room.

“ah, eunchae-ssi, thank you for the invitation. that reminds me, I have something for you as well!” the oldest smiled, pulling a piece of crumbled paper out of her hoodie pocket.

eunchae’s eyes widened in anticipation, as she reminded herself of the task at hand, which was to get her oldest unnie a girlfriend (hopefully).

“this is from y/n-nnie, for sakura sunbae,” shuhua whispered as she handed the paper slip to eunchae.

“oh! this is from sakura unnie to y/n sunbaenim as well!” eunchae grinned as both maknaes exchanged paper slips.

“huh, who would’ve thought they had the guts to contact each other,” shuhua giggled as she looked at eunchae with a mischievous glint in her eyes.

“mhm, who wouldve thought. good for them though, right?” asked eunchae as she smirked at the oldest of the two.

“mhm. good for them…” shuhua trailed off, being waved over by her manager, signaling that it was time to leave.

“well! thank you again eunchae! you have my number if you need anything! i’m positive we succeeded this time! fighting!” trailed off shuhua as she made her way to the exit along the long corridor.

the youngest giggled at her antics and waved her off, delighted that her plan would surely succeed.

+1 bonus:

from: unknown

hey, it’s sakura. eunchae said shuhua gave me your number?

to: sakura the loml

we meet again, sakura-ssi. funny thing, shuhua said eunchae gave her your number to pass along to me. it’s interesting how things work out, huh?  

[malum-forev]

Have Had You and Lost You

I promise I'm uploading Dr.Bee pt 2 after this one, sorry to everyone who was expecting that one but I CANNOT GET OVER EX HUSBAND BUCKY.

"You'll find the juice boxes on the second shelf," You hurry around your kitchen, heels in one hand and your perfume in the other one. "He likes his juice decanted and he'll probably tell you he likes it room temperature but, Wells thinks room temperature means a little cold so you need to put one ice cube in his sippy cup."

Bucky nods, trying his hardest not to laugh. "Decant, room temperature. When did our five year old become a restaurant critic."

"Sometimes I'm afraid we made a mistake by letting him hang out at the Stark mansion." You laugh. "Every time I pick him up, he's learnt a new word and needs to use it at least three times in every sentence."

"Last time he was at my house he called Bluey exquisite." Bucky throws his head back with laughter. As soon as the sound hits your ears you truly feel, for a second, the world has stopped.

It's that same uninhibited laugh that made you fall in love with him all those years ago. You knew his years of torment had built a tall wall around his heart, and having him share these relaxed moments with you meant the world. That laugh was a special thing only the two of you shared.

But reality settled in once he asked the question you've been avoiding.

"So, who is he?"

Your bottom lip became trapped between your teeth as you thought how to answer his question. His blue eyes shifted all over your face, trying to read any expression you gave him.

Maybe you should have told him the truth but, you had been finally getting along after a long and tiresome divorce. So, you decided on a happy medium, no answer at all.

"Hmm," Bucky scratches the stubble on his chin. "You don't want to tell me his name."

"I never said that." You point out, feeling the vein on your temple throb.

"Your tell is a traitor," Bucky hums, running the back of his finger on your temple. "Maybe you don't want to tell me because I know him."

"He's no one." You turned away from him.

"You were never a good liar," Bucky says with a dry laugh. "So, I do know him."

"It's hard for you to not know someone in town, Buck."

"He's someone from around here, then." Bucky's eyebrows shot up.

He has to give it to the mystery man, never in his life did he think someone would have the balls to ask his ex wife on a date. Especially not someone who works in the compound.

Bucky and you had decided it would be best if you and Wells kept living close to him, so the change wouldn't affect your son too much. You'd decided on the town closest to the compound. A sleepy town, a couple of thousand habitants, mostly ex SHEILD agents and their families.

"You're really not going to tell me anything about the guy?"

You slip your heels on, keeping your lips shut.

"Is he a doctor? A nurse?" You roll your eyes.

He continues. "Is he in tech?"

"Better yet!" Bucky snaps his fingers like he's just had the idea of the century. "He's a trainee and I'm his direct superior. That would be the cherry on top."

"We've been on a couple of dates," You finally say something. "Three to be exact."

Bucky raises his eyebrows. "The coveted fourth date."

"Don't." You roll your eyes. "It's not like that."

"I'm not judging," He raises his arms in defense. "I understand you need to get your fix, we're all human, doll."

You groan.

"What?" Bucky comes closer, a sly smile playing on his lips. "You can talk about your sex life with me, darling. I'm not the jealous type."

"Bucky," You say, your tone warning. "you can't be the jealous type."

"There isn't anything here," You wave your finger between the two of you. "To be jealous of."

As you look back up at him, his smile seems forced. Bucky tries to keep his cool attitude up but, you know him too well to believe it.

"I left some money on the countertop so you can order pizza." You change the subject, feeling the air become tense.

"Don't treat me like I'm the sitter." Bucky scoffs. "Wells is my son too, and I can most certainly pay for a pizza."

"I- I" You stuttered. Trying to rack your brain for an apology, maybe explain that you didn't mean it like that but it was cut short by two honks coming from your driveway.

"He can't even ring the fucking doorbell," He scoffs again. "What a catch."

You turn and leave without speaking another word to your ex husband.

As hard as you tried, you couldn't get Bucky's words out of your head. It wasn't helping that your date was more interested in talking about himself and his recent promotion than even asking how your day went.

When had life become this way?

Once upon a time you were a woman who wouldn't settle for less than perfection and respect when looking for a man. You'd even walked out on a fair share of "New York's Elite", which usually meant men working in the finance district who think their dick is holy.

Which is why, when the ever so charming and chivalrous James Buchanan Barnes came into your life, you swore off stupid and unappreciative men.

Now, you're ordering your third glass of wine just so you can bare listening to the man you've accepted a fourth date from.

The dish you've ordered is now cold, and you're in no mood to listen to another word.

And just like that, your guardian angel answers your prayers.

Your phone lights up with a text from Bucky.

Bucky: Wells is fine, fed and asleep. Answer the call if you need to get out of the date.

Not even a few seconds later, your phone rings.

You barely have any time to decide whether you should do this or not. But your body reacts faster than your brain.

"Hello?" You answer shakily, holding a finger up to your date.

"Is he a field agent or a computers guy." Is the first thing Bucky says.

"Wells has a fever? Is he okay?" You say.

"That bad of a date, huh?" Bucky says through the receiver.

Bad date was an understatement. Your date couldn't care less that your son was feeling under the weather, he was too preoccupied looking over the dessert menu. But not even if hell froze over would you tell Bucky that!

"I think it's best if I come back home." You tell your date, getting up from your chair with your bag and coat in hand.

"Wait! One last guess!" Bucky says on the phone. "He's the guy who's in charge of sharpening my knives."

"I'll be there in fifteen minutes." You mutter, hanging up the phone and leaving your date behind.

By the time you're back home, Bucky's leaning on the door frame holding two glasses of wine, waiting for you.

You shut the taxi's door and walk past your ex husband and into your house.

"Not a single word." You warn as you pass by Bucky, taking both glasses. You down the first one and get started on the second one.

"Should I keep guessing who the mystery man is or..."

"He's part of Banner's research team," You groan throwing your head back. "There, happy?"

"Happy that the mother of my child is dating some loser who can't even come to the door for her?" Bucky raises his eyebrow. "Of course I'm not happy."

"Well not everyone has the 40's mentality Buck." You sigh, looking down at piece of pizza Bucky heated up for you.

"You're worth it." Bucky's eyes look crystal as they look at you. "All the roses and the dates and the opening of car doors, everything I did for you was because you're amazing and you're worth it."

Words escape your mind.

"I was too much of an idiot to let you go." Bucky looks down at the floor. "But please don't let anyone who won't take the time to cherish you, have you."

"Because to have had you, and lost you, is a pain only those who've truly love you have."

Comments, reblogs and likes are greatly appreciated! Would love to hear your feedback. K thankssss BRB writing Dr.Bee pt 2 as we speak.

[minhypen]

01. THE UGLY BROWN CUBE AND ITS WACKASS RULES

𝐏𝐑𝐄𝐂𝐈𝐒 𝖩𝗎𝗌𝗍 𝗍𝗐𝗈 𝗁𝗈𝗎𝗋𝗌 𝗂𝗇𝗍𝗈 𝗍𝗁𝖾 𝖨-𝖫𝖺𝗇𝖽, 𝖬𝗂𝗇𝗒𝗈𝗎𝗇𝗀 𝖼𝗈𝗆𝖾𝗌 𝗍𝗈 𝖻𝖾𝗅𝗂𝖾𝗏𝖾 𝗍𝗁𝖺𝗍 𝗍𝗁𝖾 𝗉𝖾𝗈𝗉𝗅𝖾 𝗐𝗁𝗈 𝖼𝗋𝖾𝖺𝗍𝖾𝖽 𝗍𝗁𝖾 𝗋𝗎𝗅𝖾 𝗌𝗒𝗌𝗍𝖾𝗆 𝖿𝗈𝗋 𝗍𝗁𝖾 𝗌𝗁𝗈𝗐 𝗁𝖺𝖽 𝗍𝗈 𝖾𝗂𝗍𝗁𝖾𝗋 𝖻𝖾 𝖺 𝗆𝖾𝗍𝗁𝗈𝖽𝗂𝖼𝖺𝗅 𝗀𝖾𝗇𝗂𝗎𝗌, 𝗈𝗋 𝗃𝗎𝗌𝗍 𝖺 𝗋𝖾𝖺𝗅𝗅𝗒 𝖼𝗋𝖺𝗓𝗒 𝗌𝖺𝖽𝗂𝗌𝗍

📄𓏧 3.2k 𝐂𝐖 ⦂ cursing in the narration ⸝⸝　repost with a new layout

𝗗𝗜𝗔𝗟𝗢𝗚𝗨𝗘 ⠷ Kr En Jp Sys

MINYOUNG DIDN’T KNOW WHAT SHE EXPECTED WHEN SHE ENTERED THE I-LAND, BUT IT CERTAINLY WASN’T THIS. Looking around as she stepped down the small stairs, she took in the sight around her.

The “Gate” led to a spacious area with seats arranged in a semicircle, and right above it was a display with flag-like icons showing blank profiles. Behind the seats was a practice room which seemed larger than any of the ones Minyoung had stepped foot in, and next to it were smaller practice rooms, probably for individual practices.

The sleek finish and sophisticated look of the interior starkly contrasted with the ruggedness of its exterior, because the second Minyoung saw the cube, she'd deemed it unworthy to look at more than once. It looked like the villain's headquarters from a dystopian movie, if Minyoung were to put it kindly.

Slightly menacing, and just plain ugly. Compared to that, the interior was a welcome contrast.

But of course, the inside had to reflect the outside in some way, which explained the questionable decor of rocks scattered randomly, and the huge egg she just walked out of.

The tastelessness of the designer was the least of Minyoung's concerns though, because the rules of the survival show seemed just as questionable, if not even more.

Who deemed it a clever concept to make the contestants (literal kids, except for a few, mind you) judge each other and decide the entry candidates for I-Land?

Everyone (including herself) was as clueless as she had expected them to be, and it reflected in the results of the entrance test.

Trainees who performed first got in easily even if their performances were mediocre, whereas the standard got higher as the end approached. Trainees who Minyoung had thought would get in, didn't make it simply because there were less available spots in I-Land.

It almost made her question if the main reason for her and her unit-mate's entry into I-Land was owed to Minyoung's luck in Rock-Paper-Scissors rather than their performance and skills.

Minyoung deemed it unfair because the voting process had been harsher on the latter trainees.

Even worse, the system voice (or Robot-nim, as she liked to call it) implied that all of the tests moving forth would require such voting to determine the results, including the upcoming “test” to remove five trainees and satisfy I-Land’s capacity.

It was rather cruel, Minyoung thought as she watched Robot-nim list the facilities I-Land held, no one would want to leave after seeing all this.

You may all go explore the I-Land.

“Amazing,” a male voice spoke from beside Minyoung, at the same time an arm looped around hers with a cheery ‘Hello!’ being thrown her way. Kang Mirae and Kim Sunoo, Minyoung recalled. Both of the newcomers burst out in giggles at their sync, making Minyoung chuckle.

“Well, hello to you too, friends,” Minyoung said in a posh tone, “how may I help you on this fine evening?”

“I was going to ask if you wanted to go look around with me…” Sunoo hovered an arm around her shoulder, properly side-hugging her when he saw Minyoung nod slightly and pulled her away from Mirae’s hands, “...alone.” The implied ‘go away’ in Sunoo’s tone and actions made Mirae frown.

“Hey now, we can talk to her together,” Mirae gripped the younger girl’s arm and tugged Minyoung closer. “Don’t hog,” she glared playfully at Sunoo.

Minyoung raised an eyebrow at how casually they were conversing, pulling away from both of them with a squirm to face them. “Do you guys know each other already?” 

“Yeah,” “Uh-huh,” came the simultaneous replies as both of them reached out for her again, not giving her time to question how they got to know each other.

Laughing at their eagerness, Minyoung wrapped an arm around Mirae and moved closer to Sunoo. “Let’s just go together, I need company, too.”

Mirae held her waist, nodding at her words, “we’re sitting together when we get back here.” Just as Minyoung was about to nod, Sunoo tugged the girl away by the sleeve of her off-white hoodie. 

“Let’s go explore!”

“Hey, what about me?” Mirae whined as she ran to catch up with them. Minyoung laughed at the annoyed expression Sunoo displayed at Mirae’s insistence to join them, finding it amusing that her two new “friends” were already fighting over her.

Not that Minyoung was complaining.

Being the textbook definition of an extrovert, Minyoung was always open to making new friends. But she was even more thankful for Sunoo and Mirae’s initiative at that moment because her two Japanese friends seemed nowhere in sight, and with one Kim Taeyong not making it to I-Land and Choi Saebyeok leaving to join her own group of friends, Minyoung was left searching for some company.

She didn’t blame Saebyeok though. The older girl wasn’t obligated to stay by her side no matter how close they’d gotten in the time they spent training together. She’d been told stories about Saebyeok’s training period by the girl herself, and certain names were frequently mentioned in them.

Lee Heeseung, Jay and Park Sunghoon were three of them that Minyoung got to meet before the Entrance test due to their seating arrangement. Though Minyoung had experienced the feeling of being a third wheel for the first time by accidentally sitting between Heeseung and Saebyeok, she could feel the close friendship they shared just from their short conversation and warm eye contact.

Looking back down from the top of the stairs, Minyoung found Saebyeok laughing at something with Heeseung and Kim Soojin as she had an arm looped through Sunghoon’s. Smiling at the sight, Minyoung let herself be dragged by Mirae up the remaining steps.

And there it was—the I-Land house in all its glory.

The living space was huge, with a plush couch and a glass opening right in the middle and there were hallways leading to what Minyoung assumed were the different rooms. 

Like pieces of iron drawn to a magnet, the curious crowd moved toward the dining area because of the smell of food, all while marveling at whatever part of their temporary home they could see.

"This place is no joke," Sunoo whispered close to Minyoung's ear as if he wasn't allowed to express his opinions out loud, "I just can't believe we made it in only to immediately participate in another voting."

Eyes doing an exploration of their own, Minyoung smiled at the pout evident in his voice. "Let's get a good look around first." She drew closer to the boy in hopes of providing comfort, pulling Mirae along by her hand. "Hopefully the three of us will get to stay."

"I just don't—" Sunoo cut himself off with a gasp at the sight of various dishes arranged on the kitchen island. Similar gasps were heard all around as the trainees quickly surrounded the food, hands already busy grabbing at whatever they could find and stuffing their face with it. Some of them didn't even bother grabbing a plate before digging in.

Minyoung scrunched her nose at the haste, but she understood. No one knew for sure if they'd get to stay in this heaven at the end of the two hours, so everyone was trying to make the most out of the little time they had in I-Land.

Letting go of the two, Minyoung grabbed a small plate to stack some of the grilled meat (were those pork ribs?) and chicken drumsticks, and moved away from the crowd. Finding herself a comfortable spot, she munched on the chicken as she observed the trainees.

The other girls were busy looking around as they ate, while Jay and Daniel tried to find someone who knew how to make ramen without burning the kitchen down. 

Soojin and Saebyeok seemed to hold a mini competition to find out who could feed Yang Jungwon more, judging by the way Saebyeok was trying to hand feed him a piece of pork rib and Soojin kept piling his plate with more and more food. 

The poor boy was visibly in pain with how full Minyoung could guess he was, but he didn’t protest when Saebyeok fed him another piece.

As she watched the amusing scene in front of her, Minyoung realized how unusual her behavior was—observing silently from a corner instead of mingling around and making friends.

Since she needed to know what the others thought of her, Minyoung felt like she couldn't approach anyone without a strategy, especially the other girls who were her direct competition. She needed to make sure everyone saw her as an equal despite her short training period. And more than that, she wanted to be someone who the participants wouldn't think of voting out.

And for that, she needed to make a good impression on the contestants, so she chose to observe the interactions around her to learn their mindset.

Minyoung nibbled on her pork rib as she watched Seon going around praising and sweet-talking the contestants, a typical chameleon way of making sure he stayed in I-Land. She scoffed under her breath in amusement as she heard him praise Sungchul's vocals.

If Minyoung was going to stay in I-Land, it would be purely out of her talent. She just needed to find a way to present herself as someone essential for the team.

She usually wasn't this way—plotting ways to appeal her skills to her peers. Minyoung preferred to let the results speak for themselves. But as it was, and unfortunately for her, her fate rested in the hands of the other contestants instead of the producers who'd seen her progress, and she had to survive somehow.

Finishing her last drumstick, Minyoung moved to the sink to wash her plate.

A hand opened the faucet just as she reached for it and held a plate under the running water. Jerking back slightly to avoid colliding with the person, Minyoung looked up to see K smiling down at her. The 16-year-old returned the smile with a small bow—he was the oldest after all—and leaned on the counter once more.

"I enjoyed your performance a lot," K kept his eyes on her, gently smiling as he washed his plate, "you're a really good dancer." Minyoung didn't expect the compliment from K of all people (everyone knew he was the best dancer out of all the participants), but she appreciated it.

She just hoped he wouldn’t notice her cheeks heating up. She wasn’t used to compliments from guys, alright? Her only proper male interactions were with her brother and father, and she went to an all-girls school, so any slight positive attention from boys her age (and maybe a bit older) made her feel slightly fuzzy in the head.

But that was not important right now.

Shaking her head slightly and thanking him for both his words and the space he left for her to wash her own plate, Minyoung decided to take this chance to ask him about his opinion on the voting. Being more experienced than her, he’d definitely have some pointers that Minyoung would find useful.

That, and she figured living in her head without talking to the contestants would not help her win the favor of anyone.

She turned to face the older boy—er, man? As she opened her mouth, K interrupted her with his own question. “Any ideas about who you’re voting for?”

“Not yet,” she pouted. “Do you have—" 

“Can we all gather in the living room?” Seon called out, interrupting her again. Damn, why won’t people let her talk?

Minyoung sighed as K smiled apologetically. It was okay, she’d talk to him later.

Four pairs of eyes turned to the 16-year-old as she entered the blue room. Faltering in her steps at the sudden silence that overtook the room at her arrival, Minyoung let out a sheepish laugh. “Sorry, I thought you heard me knocking…”

“No problem, come in,” K smiled warmly at her. The three other boys, Ni-ki, Ta-ki and Nicholas greeted her politely as she sat down next to Nicholas. “I wanted to talk to you before the voting anyways,” K grabbed her attention again.

“I don’t know what to do, Oppa…” Minyoung sighed, before suddenly straightening up. “Oh! Is it okay if I call you Oppa? Or would you prefer K-san?”

“K-san?” The three Japanese trainees chorused in surprise. Nicholas chuckled at her overly-polite address (how he knew who ‘san’ was used for was beyond her) as he shook his head.

“I don’t think you have to be that polite.”

Cheeks burning at his gaze, Minyoung averted her eyes only to find K staring at her with the same soft eyes and a smile, “Oppa is fine.”

“Alright,” Minyoung nodded, slightly ducking her head to cover her face with her hair. God, please, not again…

“Noona dances so well,” her attention was grabbed by the cute compliment from a cute Ta-ki. Minyoung didn’t know if he was talking about her unit performance or the freestyle she did when everyone was showing off their skills after their little meeting, but she smiled sweetly at the comment, thanking the boy.

“Is Ta-ki the youngest here?” Minyoung tilted her head, looking between him and the other boy who—even though he didn’t look the part—could possibly be younger than Ta-ki since she didn’t know their birthdays.

“No, I’m younger,” Ni-ki shook his head confirming her guess, smiling widely at her.

The unfamiliarity of his voice made Minyoung realize that they were speaking for the first time ever in the ten months they’d known each other. 

(Well, know would be an overstatement, the most they’d done was exchange bows on the first day of Minyoung’s training and wave at each other when they’d cross paths at the company, but Minyoung considered him a friend regardless.)

Though the familiarity in his eyes and smile unconsciously brought a fond smile to the girl’s face, and she nodded at his answer. “Have you thought about how you’re going to decide the elimination candidates?” Minyoung started the conversation she’d been waiting forever to start, not noticing the oldest’s curious eyes on her.

“I have a little idea, but—” Ni-ki’s answer got cut off by Robot-nim calling out the boy’s name, asking him to head to the voting room.

It seemed God wanted Minyoung to decide who to vote for on her own, ‘cuz this was the fifth freaking time in two hours that she’d been interrupted from getting opinions from the other trainees.

Well, alright then. 

“I just decided who to vote for,” Ni-ki announced hurriedly before closing the door behind him. A rush of anxiety hit the remaining trainees in the blue room as they collectively groaned at the prospect of possibly leaving the state-of-art I-Land building to some cheap downgrade called ‘Ground’.

Now, Minyoung hadn’t seen the place yet, but even the name was incredibly ugly. So ugly, that she’d admit that the 'ugly brown cube' was a hundred times better. Eugh. 

Just then the door opened to reveal a head of short brown hair peeking inside. The newcomers’ eyes lit up at finding her target as she strode in to grab Minyoung by her shoulders.

“There you are,” Yamazaki Hana exclaimed, looking relieved like she’d just found her lost child. 

She was in no way lost, but she could accept being referred to as the older girl’s child. Ever since Hana had been introduced to Minyoung as her assigned ‘friend’ by BigHit, the older girl had basically adopted her. Hana, along with Minyoung’s older sister Minji, made sure she felt the least homesick one could be when they were so far away from home, something the girl was extremely thankful for.

Quickly greeting the three boys, the ‘00 liner turned to Minyoung again, “Let’s head to the lobby, everyone’s gathering there.”

The boys expressed their agreement, all three of them throwing Minyoung a smile as they moved past her. "Time for elimination," Nicholas heaved a sigh.

“Okay,” Minyoung followed after Hana with a feigned calmness, trying her best to ignore her loudass inner voice that kept repeating the same thing like a broken record.

This was not going to end well.

And well, it didn’t. 

Kim-fucking-Sunoo was eliminated for whatever fucking reason and Minyoung could swear she saw red the moment his name was announced to be the most voted. But since the time and place was not appropriate to express her anger and frustration, she held it in. 

But then, as if the universe wanted to test her patience, Hana was announced as the next eliminated candidate.

Yamazaki Hana, who was literally one of the top female dancers in I-Land, got fucking eliminated. If the I-Landers couldn’t see her skills, they were probably blind.

For a few seconds, the young girl sat with her eyes closed in her place on Hana’s lap, as she tried to calm her breathing. The eliminated candidates were decided. There was nothing she could do except hope they came back up. Anger was not the answer.

Inhale, exhale. 

Opening her eyes and standing up, she was met with a smiling Sunoo walking towards her. 

“How in the world are you smiling right now?” Minyoung whispered in disbelief as Sunoo chuckled. Taking her hands in his, he ignored her question in favor of pulling her close.

“Can I hug you?” 

Minyoung sighed shakily, moving closer to wrap her arms around his shoulders, making sure to maintain a small distance so that their chests were not touching. She could feel the boy’s arms loosely wrap around her waist as his warm exhale fanned over her neck. 

“I’ll be back,” was the only thing he said before parting with a smile, moving on to say his (hopefully temporary) goodbye to Daniel. 

Turning around, Minyoung rushed into Hana’s arms. This time, the hug was a tight tangle of arms as the girls held each other close as if that was enough to keep Hana in I-Land. Pulling back slightly to look at the older girl’s face, Minyoung ducked back to bury her face into Hana’s shoulder when she felt tears stinging her eyes.

This was so not fair.

Saying goodbye to the first batch of dropouts was hard enough. Minyoung still remembered the look of lost hope on Taeyong's face as he bid her goodbye, and she didn't think she could handle seeing it again on anyone else's.

Letting go of the older girl, Minyoung watched the five trainees trudge towards the rotating egg, eyes incredibly blurry with tears.

How Hana and Sunoo got eliminated was beyond her when I-Landers like Sophie and Seon were right there. No offense to anyone, but if there were anyone in I-Land whose skills needed the competitive environment Ground promised, it was those two. 

But then again, it wasn’t like Minyoung expected any better than the Entrance Test.

She wondered if the voting process was all part of a grand scheme to help the talented but underestimated trainees prove themselves to the other contestants and the viewers, so that no one would question their competence upon their debut. Or more specifically, she desperately hoped that was the case and that the voting was not a cruel joke played by the producers.

That would be a little too cruel, even for a survival show.

As she watched the five contestants leave through the egg with silent tears streaking down her flushed cheeks, Minyoung could only think about one thing. Whatever the producers’ plan was, Minyoung was gonna have to survive through it all if she wanted to debut. 

No matter what.

🏷️ 𝐓𝐀𝐆𝐋𝐈𝐒𝐓 ( 𝒐𝒑𝒆𝒏 ) @queenriki7 ; @kangseulgithegreat ; @terryfiedgyu ; @d-dilemma ; @enhaslxt ; @loveyjisu ; @pinknjm

INSPIRED + BETA READ BY @enmi-land && SLOW UPDATES

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© 𝐌𝐈𝐍𝐇𝐘𝐏𝐄𝐍 　　(　　𝖺𝗅𝗅 𝗋𝗂𝗀𝗁𝗍𝗌 𝗋𝖾𝗌𝖾𝗋𝗏𝖾𝖽　　) 𝗄𝗂𝗇𝖽𝗅𝗒 𝗋𝖾𝖺𝖽 𝗍𝗁𝖾 𝗋𝗎𝗅𝖾𝗌 𝖻𝖾𝖿𝗈𝗋𝖾 𝗂𝗇𝗍𝖾𝗋𝖺𝖼𝗍𝗂𝗇𝗀

[whoreiorcats]

Dylan the family man. Everything changes once he knows he has a family out there, all he wants is to be able to see them, to know them. He theoretically was the most ideal candidate to overtime for the escape plan because he was essentially guaranteed to have people who he could trust, while every other macrodat was a mystery.

Helly offers to do it in his stead, he absolutely refuses. He says it’s because it’s “only fair” but idk. He’s a father and Helly is for all intents and purposes a baby. A trainee that he had a big hand in raising who just met quota and was genuinely kind of happy about it/proud of herself, and they were proud of her.

The fact that his special request for being three-time refiner of the quarter is a crystal cube of the department which he keeps with him in the security room in a “don’t forget you’re here forever/do it for her” kind of gesture.

UGH idk im hoping we see some protective or paternal Dylan. I know they’re trying to drive a wedge between him and the rest of MDR but he’s not going to stop caring about his team.

[oracle-of-dream]

Honest is the best policy

And Matthew really shows it. He speaks his mind often and doesn't care as much if he gets in trouble but Matthew tries not to be problematic. It shows he was a Cube trainee with how much their idols speak honestly about their experiences with the company.

From casual cursing to flirting with fans, I can't tell where his personality ends and the K-pop "character" starts. Most idols use portions of their real personalities, especially in this era, but companies still try to contain some people in certain tropes. But the muscular goofball is a favorite trope anyway...

Matthew is unapologetically him, and I admire him for that. It's not something everyone could do, especially with so many people watching.

[perfectsunlight]

03 ━━━ TOLERATE IT

warnings: angst, overworking, loneliness, strained marriage

word count: 3.1k

synopsis: your ex-wife receives an invite to your wedding, but will she let you say "i do" for a second time?

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marriage is difficult. it has its ups and downs. it demands patience, understanding, and unwavering commitment.

unfortunately, soyeon didn’t understand any of that.

after they married, y/n retired from the idol industry completely, choosing to mainly be involved in being a public figure instead of on the stage. 

soyeon's rise to becoming ceo of cube entertainment was meteoric. her creative genius, combined with a strategic vision, pulled the company out of the trenches it was in and sent it soaring to new heights. 

before long, soyeon became the face of the newly branded company and was working directly with new trainees and a new staff dedicated to the success of both the future groups and the company.

however, her relentless dedication to work became a double-edged sword in her marriage to her wife.

as ceo, soyeon's days were consumed by meetings, negotiations, and endless responsibilities. y/n, understanding the demands of soyeon's job, tried to be patient and supportive. 

initially, it was a compromise they both seemed willing to make – soyeon's absence during the weekdays was justified as a sacrifice for the greater good of their future together. 

y/n spent her days engaged in public appearances, supporting causes she believed in, and occasionally filling the void by catching up with friends. 

the only time the two women saw each other was in the mornings when they woke up and then at dinner time.

i sit and watch you reading with your

head low

y/n swallowed a bite of her food as she glanced across the table at her wife. soyeon’s head was down as she read through a few pages of her notes, her dinner sitting untouched beside her.

“your food is getting cold, darling.” the taller girl said softly, eyes remaining on her wife’s hunched figure. she watched as soyeon continued to pore over the papers, her untouched dinner growing colder by the minute.

"it's alright. i just want you to eat," y/n replied, her soft voice laced with concern. she was well aware of her wife’s current diet consisting of coffee and convenience store snacks.

y/n had grown accustomed to these moments of solitude, where the only presence she felt was her own. she missed the shared laughter, the easy conversations, and the simple pleasure of spending uninterrupted time together.

but soyeon was a ceo now, and she knew that their marriage had to share the burden of that title as well.

the shorter girl finally looked up, noticing the cold plate in front of her. she sighed softly, a flicker of regret passing through her eyes. “i didn't mean to neglect dinner again. i'll try to finish up quickly, baby.”

“it's alright,” y/n's words held a hint of sadness, but it was not enough to be noticed by the woman across from her. “take your time.”

she understood the gravity of her wife’s responsibilities, but it didn't ease the ache of loneliness that lingered in their home.

as soyeon resumed her work, y/n's thoughts drifted to the days when their meals were shared moments of intimacy, where they discussed dreams, aspirations, and silly anecdotes from their day. 

now, the dining table had become a silent witness to the first cracks in the glass.

the clock ticked away, marking the passage of time as y/n sat in silent contemplation. when dinner ended, y/n cleared the table while soyeon excused herself to attend to an urgent call. alone in the kitchen, y/n couldn't shake off the feeling that this was going to become the new normal. 

unfortunately, she was right.

i wake and watch you breathing with your

eyes closed

shortly after, the only time y/n was able to see soyeon was when she came to bed.

unfortunately, the ceo was too exhausted to mumble even more than a quick “goodnight” before climbing into bed after a quick shower.

y/n always stayed up to make sure her wife got home safe and sound. there were numerous nights where she’d be on the verge of falling asleep, but she’d fight it off just until she heard the familiar sound of the front door opening.

but it was on nights like this where she’d spend what felt like hours just staring at her sleeping wife.

the exhaustion etched onto soyeon's face was unmistakable. her usually vibrant persona had dimmed under the weight of ceaseless responsibilities, leaving behind a weary visage. 

y/n's heart ached at the sight.

she traced the gentle contours of her wife’s face with her eyes, longing for the fleeting moments of tenderness they once shared. the distant memories of stolen kisses and whispered sweet nothings seemed like fragments from another lifetime.

the silence in the room mirrored the silence in their relationship. she battled the urge to shake soyeon awake, to plead for just a mere moment of connection, but she knew it would be futile against the depths of her wife’s exhaustion.

she would listen to the soft rhythm of soyeon's breathing, the only semblance of solace in the stillness of the night. it was the only proof that her wife was still there.

but with a heavy heart, the younger girl would eventually fall asleep beside her wife, enveloped in the bittersweet ache of being physically close yet emotionally distant. 

i sit and watch you

and notice everything you do or don't do

it started out as missed calls and texts, things that y/n partially expected to be the new normal.

but then it turned into soyeon forgetting to say “i love you” when she left in the mornings.

y/n often stood by the doorway, watching her wife rush out already in the middle of a phone call or rushing to a meeting. the silence that followed soyeon's departure echoed louder than anything y/n had ever heard.

the weight of those unspoken three words lingered in the air, a palpable absence that left a hollow ache in y/n's chest. she longed for the reassurance and the comfort of any simple affirmation of love, but they had become dreams that were distant and elusive.

the younger girl found her heart breaking at the memories of the prior times where soyeon refused to leave the house without saying “i love you.”

as soyeon hurriedly prepared for bed one night, her mind already racing with tomorrow's responsibilities, y/n decided it was time to voice the growing void in their marriage. with a heavy heart, she took a deep breath, mustering the courage to broach the subject that had been gnawing at her for far too long.

"soyeon, can we talk?" y/n's voice held a hint of vulnerability as she gazed at her wife, hoping for a moment of connection amid the silence that had enveloped them.

the ceo, absorbed in sorting through the work notes on the nightstand, glanced up briefly. "sure, what's up?"

y/n's words were carefully chosen, trying to articulate the emotional turmoil without accusing or blaming. she slowly sat up from the bed, hugging her knees to her chest as she kept her eyes on the back of her wife’s figure.

“you haven’t said “i love you” in a while.”

soyeon paused, her movements faltering for a moment before continuing to organize her papers. had she truly forgotten to say something so important for so long?

“i'm sorry, baby. it's just been really hectic lately and it slipped my mind. you know how much is on my plate right now.”

the former idol felt a pang of disappointment at the response, but she persisted, her voice quivering slightly. “i understand your work is important, i know it is. but you never forget your phone, or your work bag, or your keys.”

y/n paused before continuing, trying to ignore the way her heart broke in her chest. “you used to never forget to say it before you left.”

soyeon's shoulders tensed imperceptibly at the mention of her forgetfulness, a faint flicker of realization crossing her features. she turned to face her wife fully, her expression a blend of remorse and regret.

“i didn't mean to, i promise. i've just been so busy with everything at work," she began, her words laced with a hint of sincerity. "but you're right. i used to make sure i said it every day."

y/n felt a bittersweet ache in her chest, the memories of their once-cherished rituals flooding back. the tender moments of shared affection which were now distant echoes in the backdrop of their strained relationship.

“i miss it, soyeon," y/n confessed softly, her eyes brimming with unspoken emotions. “i miss feeling that connection, that assurance of our love for each other. it's not just about the words; it's about what they mean.”

you're so much older and wiser and i

i wait by the door like i'm just a kid

soyeon's expression softened, a pang of guilt tugging at her conscience. "i'll try to do better, y/n. i promise."

the sincerity in soyeon's voice was palpable, but y/n couldn't shake off the lingering uncertainty. the distance that had crept into their relationship seemed daunting, leaving y/n yearning for a sense of closeness that seemed elusive amidst the chaos of their lives.

"i love you, baby," soyeon said, reaching out to grasp y/n's hand gently. "i'll make an effort to show it more, i promise."

“let’s go somewhere tomorrow. just drive to the ocean and back, just the two of us.” the younger girl whispered as she rested her head against her wife’s shoulder.

soyeon sighed, a hint of sadness creeping into her voice. “i wish i could. i'm trying my best to balance everything. but i promise i'll make it up to you when things settle down."

"but when will that be?" y/n's voice trembled with slight frustration.  "i miss us. i miss feeling close to you. i miss knowing that we're in this together."

the room was filled with a heavy silence hanging thick in the air. the young ceo seemed torn between her commitment to her work and the yearning in her wife’s eyes for a happier marriage.

"i can't keep feeling like i'm coming second to your job," y/n finally whispered, her voice barely audible, her heart breaking with each passing moment of disconnection.

soyeon turned to face y/n, her expression a mix of remorse and helplessness. "right now, my work demands so much from me. i'm doing this for us, for our future."

y/n's eyes glistened with unshed tears as she nodded, feeling the weight of their conversation settle heavily upon her shoulders

“can we spend the weekend together, baby? it's been so long since we had quality time,” y/n pleaded, her voice tinged with a blend of longing and frustration.

“i wish i could, love. but there's a company event i need to attend. it's crucial for our upcoming projects,” soyeon responded, her tone carrying a hint of regret. “but i’ll make it up to you next time i’m off.”

y/n nodded on the other end of the line, trying to mask the disappointment that washed over her. their weekends, once a chance to reconnect, began resembling weekdays – solitary and devoid of the shared moments that used to define their relationship.

the routine became monotonous. waking up to an empty bed, meals eaten alone, and nights spent in silence. y/n found herself reminiscing about the times when her wife’s laughter filled their home, when conversations flowed effortlessly, and their love felt the same way it did the night of their wedding.

the strain in their relationship became evident in the fleeting moments they managed to share. when soyeon was home, she seemed mentally elsewhere, preoccupied with emails, calls, and the weight of her responsibilities. y/n, desperate for connection, tried to engage in conversations, but they often fizzled into superficial exchanges, leaving a bitter taste of unfulfillment.

the promises of 'making it up' or 'finding time soon' became a hollow echo in their conversations. y/n's attempts to bridge the growing gap in their marriage seemed futile against the relentless tide of soyeon's professional obligations.

as weeks turned into months, their once-vibrant home felt like an empty shell, haunted by the remnants of a love that struggled to survive amidst the unyielding demands of soyeon's new career.

but as months turned into over a year, y/n couldn't shake the feeling of loneliness that crept in.

"can you come home early today, soyeon?" y/n's voice held a trace of longing as she spoke through the phone. it was a request y/n had made countless times, hoping for a few moments together, but soyeon's commitments always took precedence.

"i'm sorry, love. there's a project i need to oversee. i'll try to wrap it up as soon as possible," soyeon replied, her tone apologetic yet distracted.

y/n sighed softly, suppressing her disappointment. she understood soyeon's dedication to her work, but the constant absence was taking its toll on their relationship. there were nights when y/n would wait up, hoping for soyeon's arrival, only to fall asleep alone.

use my best colors for your portrait

lay the table with the fancy shit

y/n brushed the sweat from her brow after she gently set down the box of fine china on the table. she took a quick glance at the wall clock, mentally triple checking the list she had made for the anniversary dinner.

soyeon would be home early tonight, she had promised she would be.

as the evening drew closer, she meticulously arranged the dining room, adorning the table with delicate lace tablecloths and exquisite floral centerpieces. the soft glow of the candles casted a warm ambiance, setting the stage for what was supposed to be an intimate anniversary dinner.

it had only been 3 years since the two had gotten married, but it felt like a decade with the amount of strain that had been put on the relationship.

the anticipation bubbled within y/n's chest as she occasionally checked the clock periodically, doubt nipping at the corners of her mind but she reminded herself over and over again; soyeon would be home for dinner. 

she promised.

minutes stretched into an hour, and the hour trickled into the late evening. the once hopeful anticipation gradually morphed into concern, her gaze fixated between the clock and the front door.

and watch you tolerate it

the aroma of the carefully prepared dinner wafted through the air, filling the otherwise empty house with its scents. the former idol had spent all morning at the farmers market, wanting to pick only the freshest items for tonight. she also spent the past few months picking up a painting hobby, and she finally had something to show for it.

y/n had painted a portrait of her wife from their wedding day, with soyeon’s back facing the ocean and her silhouette outlined by the sun. it was a picture she had taken the night they morning of the wedding, when y/n had dragged the smaller girl to jump into the water with her just hours before the ceremony.

it was a beautiful memory etched into y/n’s heart and she had spent months using the best colors to recreate a memory that meant everything to her.

y/n sat in the living room, the familiar warmth of the space now tinged with a palpable sense of longing. she stole glances at the wrapped gift beside soyeon's favorite chair, the beige wrapping paper adorned with a simple ribbon.

the room continued to echo with a profound silence, the unopened gift almost a mocking symbol of unfulfilled expectations. she did her best to keep a positive mindset, to give the woman she loved the benefit of the doubt.

but as the hours continued to slip away, and with the candlesticks becoming shorter by the mere minute, y/n could feel her high hopes beginning to fall.

. 

the black of night peered through the opened windows of the apartment, and for a brief moment y/n debated just going to bed at this point.

but she couldn't shake off the lingering hope that soyeon would walk through the door, flowers in hand and ready to celebrate their special day together.

yet, with every passing minute, the silence grew louder.

if it's all in my head tell me now

tell me i've got it wrong somehow

she tried to push away the growing unease, reminding herself of her wife’s demanding job and the unpredictability that often accompanied it. 

soyeon was a busy woman, and taking over cube was a big responsibility, especially since the ceo wanted to change everything about the company from her time there. y/n knew how much was on her wife’s plate. she knew that when the smaller girl put her mind to something, she wouldn’t stop until she was done.

it was one of the many reasons why she loved jeon soyeon, but she loved the woman years before she ever became a ceo.

y/n glanced at her phone, her fingers tapping anxiously against the table as she sent yet another quick text to soyeon, inquiring about her whereabouts. 

but the minutes passed without a response, adding to the mounting worry that gnawed at y/n's resolve.

despite her efforts to stay composed, a tinge of disappointment crept into y/n's heart, accompanied by a feeling of sadness. 

i know my love should be celebrated

when the clock hit 3 am, y/n fought against the tears that threatened to spill, deep feelings of hurt pooling within her as she accepted the fact that her wife was not coming home for dinner.

dinner was cold and untouched. the gift was unopened. the chair was empty.

but nothing was more obvious than the sounds of y/n’s sobs against her hands. 

the absence of her wife carved a hollow space within their home, but now that hollowness bled into her own heart. y/n's tears had left trails on her cheeks, a physical manifestation of the anguish she was experiencing. 

as she retreated to their bedroom, the once comforting space now felt desolate. the sheets held no trace of soyeon's warmth, the pillow beside hers a painful reminder of the void that had settled between them. y/n lay there, curled up in the vast expanse of their bed, clutching soyeon's pillow tightly to her chest. 

her eyes, red and swollen from the acid rain shed in solitude, gazed at the empty space beside her. the weight of loneliness pressed upon her, suffocating her in a way that made her feel like she couldn’t breathe properly.

as the rest of the night wore on, sleep finally claimed her when the clock hit 4 am, but it offered no respite from the ache in her heart. dreams twisted into fragmented illusions, mirroring the shattered reality she faced.

even in slumber, she yearned for the familiar comfort of soyeon's presence.

y/n woke the next day greeted not by her wife, but the sun casting its blinding rays into the room. the former idol stirred, her eyes heavy with remnants of sorrow as she reached for her phone to check the time.

and there it was – a message from soyeon. but the relief that surged through her was short-lived as she read the words:

FROM: WIFE

fell asleep at work, i didn’t see your text. did you need something?

not only did she not come home last night, but soyeon didn’t even remember her own anniversary.

perhaps that was when the glass finally shattered and y/n realized she couldn’t do this anymore. 

but you tolerate it

[atzjuyeon]

JUYEON’S BESTIES .ᐟ

SOYEON ⚡︎ (G) I-DLE

soyeon was the first person juyeon met when she joined cube entertainment, seeing as they both joined the same year. she was her closest friend in the company. juyeon always thought soyeon was cool and saw her as one of the top trainees in the company. they regularly practiced together and went on late night walks.

juyeon was apart of cube’s debut team, which ended up being (g) i-dle, so she grew close with the rest of the members. she remembers soyeon always pushing her during practice, but it’s because soyeon knew that she was talented and had a lot of faith in her.

it felt like a huge loss when juyeon left the company and assumingly gave up on being an idol. soyeon checked in with her every now and then but they ultimately fell out of contact. it wasn’t until ateez debuted five months after idle that they reconnected. fans can always expect interactions between juyeon and soyeon when idle and ateez have shared schedules.

SOOJIN ⚡︎ SOLOIST

while juyeon is close with all of the idle members, it’s always been soojin and soyeon who she’s closest to. juyeon can proudly vouch for the other idle members when they say that soojin is like a mom. she took care of her as trainees. juyeon is very expressive and that helps soojin determine what she needs. whether it be help with a task, comfort, someone to talk to, space; soojin was always there and juyeon heavily appreciates that.

even after the incident, juyeon made sure to keep in touch, checking in on soojin and offering to be there whenever the older girl needed, just as she did for her.

fans were delighted to know that the two were still close after juyeon recommended soojin’s solo debut to atiny on fromm. she even sang tyty, bloodredroses, and rizz me up during a livestream and said that soojin makes pretty music.

SIYEON ⚡︎ DREAMCATCHER

siyeon is someone jueyon admires as an idol and as a friend. their friendship actually started off as a big fat crush on juyeon’s part. she had been a fan of dreamcatcher since they debuted and siyeon has always been her bias. she admired her voice and her stage presence.

they met through ollounder, who produces music for both ateez and dreamcatcher. at first, juyeon begged him for her number, assuming he had it since they work together. he didn’t. but luckily for juyeon she had a plan b: make him give siyeon her number. he refused at first, but with a lot of convincing (aka her begging during the entire studio session) he gave in.

siyeon texted her two months later which resulted in them meeting for lunch. they bonded really well and ended up as close friends. juyeon would not shut up about it, fangirling to atiny on live about their newly formed friendship. the girls try to hang out often, when their schedules allow it. they’ll either go out somewhere or spend time at one of their places either watching movies or listening to music.

YEONJUN ⚡︎ TXT

juyeon met yeonjun through wooyoung. she actually ended up crashing one of their hangouts. it wasn’t for any reason, juyeon was bored as asked wooyoung if she could come with him when he told her they were meeting up.

things were awkward for about five minutes before the ice was broken. yeonjun was a little caught off guard by juyeon’s chaotic bluntness, but was encouraged by wooyoung to be comfortable. the entire hangout consisted of the trio talking about their shared interest, joking around, and being so loud that they received complaints from other customers.

yeonjun and juyeon don’t really meet up without wooyoung, but they text each other often enough to be considered close. the two enjoy the same type of music and have a similar style. yeonjun and juyeon both have that cool it boy/it girl energy; they were basically bound to be friends.

[sharksupermacy]

k. (pt2.)

k. (pt2.) - jihyo x idol! reader

synopsis: part 2 of k.

genre: angst?, communications actually????, yes ik your response would never fly in asia, mentions of soojin (DO NOT THROW HATE ON HER), swearing, 1.1k words pt1. pt.3

the reason was simple. you had gotten a good enough score on your CSAT to be able to go to any university you desired. So you had set your heart on attending Seoul National University for a M.D. of psychiatry. Maybe it was your desire to know why jihyo had made the decision to break up with you without your approval, or maybe you just wanted to find another way to make people smile. whatever the case, you still got accepted to SNU program in psychiatry.

psychiatry was fun aside from the endless nights of studying, writing papers, and consuming energy drinks. it was still your first year when you started selling some of your songs to JYP for money and when cube entertainment reached out to you.

the email that changed your future again read as follows:

dear y/l/n y/n,

we hope this email finds you well. we were wondering if you were willing to participate in our new upcoming girl group project. although we cannot tell you the names of other members at this time, we can confirm that this will be a seven-member girl group. we heard wonderful things about you from other trainees and entertainment, and we would love to have you on board this project. If you wish to know further details about this group, please come in soon, as this is a limited-time offer.

futher thanks,

cube entertainment staff

you had a dilemma. as much as you wanted to live a normal life as a psychiatrist helping people, something inside you was yearning to take this opportunity to debut. after all, it was what you had trained for over 4 years at JYP for. two hours later, you had reached your final decision. taking up your laptop, you typed out a simple response to the cube team, forever changing the future you had laid out for yourself.

when is the closest available appointment

sincerely,

y/l/n y/n

sent.

time skip (abt a year)

you weren't going to lie that the past years had been brutual being put through evaluation after evaluation, but hey. you had six awesome girls to rely on, and better yet, you had a name to call all of yourselves. (G)I-dle. man, what a name soyeon came up with, and better yet it fit all seven of you very well. it was worth every ache to just debut with this group... i wonder if this is what jihyo felt when she made her debut. you and soyeon even made a song together that ended up on the album, which was kinda cool. 

as soon as you knew it MAMA's rolled around, and you knew that your group excitement couldn't be contained when your arms started hurting from being smacked on the arm so many times by yuqi who was beside you when the news came. as the leader and soojin tried to calm the two youngers down, you were with minnie, and miyeon where a question that threw you off so much was asked innocently by miyeon, "do you think twice will be there?" 

she looked at you, knowing that you were a JYP entertainment trainee who probably knew the most, if twice were going to be there. after all, you guys must have been friends. you responded, scratching the back of your neck a little, and tried to say in a nonchalant way "i'm not sure, but they probably will be there since it's MAMA's."

the older nodded and went back on her phone; however, minnie looked at you for a second, taking note of your unusual response to miyeon. then going back onto her phone, you, on the other hand, were sweating buckets, thinking of maybe seeing your ex at the award show. you still haven't unblocked her number, or any of twice for that matter... but then the thought hit you. 

you haven't unblocked any of twice yet... maybe you should unblock one. you felt bad for dragging all of your and her friends into the messy part of your relationship. debating between the latter, you ended up unblocking one person, mina. you weren't exactly close with her, but you saw the text kept ringing one by one. 216 messages. 125 missed calls. HOLY FUCK- you thought. you didn't even talk to the girl that much, and the last one was on your debut date, May 2 2018.

peguin minguin: happy debut date! hope you're will do well!!! i'm cheering you on!! fighting!!

you bit your lip, trying to hold back your tears from reading the message, before excusing yourself to the bathroom. typing the response to mina. 

traingle goof: thanks mina! I hope your yes and yes promotions are going well!!! i'll be cheering from the sidelines for you!! fighting!!!

returning back to your room after sending that message, trying to help soyeon and soojin calm the youngers down.

mina pov: 

it was another tireless day of promotion, and with our schedule being so packed by JYP, i was ready to just straight out pass out on to the bed.  a thought passed by me to check my phone just in case anything important happened or someone texted me. while scrolling through the notifications quickly, something caught my eye, traingle goof , no way. i screamed causing jeongyeon and nayeon to run quickly to me. jeongyeon gave me the good look up and down and nayeon well she was tired and asking what i was screaming about. i showed them the text. "no fucking way," nayeon says while being hit by jeonyeon who didn't see. 

however, the face on jeongyeon face when she saw the message was priceless; her jaw dropped wide open. she grumbled out a reply, "i don't understand why she would contact you out of all people. she wasn't really that close to you."

i understood her logic for thinking that way, and sure, we weren't really close, but we still understood each other. hell, they were closer than i ever was. i walked over to sana, who seemed to have almost just slept, until i shook her a bit and showed her the messages. she shot up almost immediately, asking me in japanese if the message i showed her was fake. she started texting y/n again, asking if she had unblocked her again. no response. then she turned back to me, asking if i could text her. so i typed out a simple response to y/n

penguin menguin: thank you! are you and your group going to MAMA this year? maybe the j-line and 2yeon could meet up with you guys!

a response was sent. now all she had to do was wait. little does she know that a figure saw a flash of mina screen when walking by.

a/n ok why is this actually like taking more than 2 parts than i thought it would be i promise it will be 3 chapters manifesting it will be. anyways yea MISAMO STREAM IK THEY'RE PROMTIONS PERIOD IS OVER BUT LIKE PLS THIER ALBUM IS LITTERALLY SO PERFECT

[zombiipcps]

( layout ib : @/stcpidcupid )

⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀ ˙ ˖ ✘ . . . MEET THE MEMBERS OF ZOMBIE POP !

Are you a new Survivalist who wants to learn the Zombie Pop members? Are you trying to pick a bias? Well, you're in luck! Here is where you can learn about the prettiest brainless boys of STARBORN CREATIVE and CULT CREATIVE!

⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀ ˙ ˖ ✘ . . . ETHAN LEE, known professionally as ETHAN, was born as the oldest of three brothers on January 14th, 1997. Growing up, he and his younger brothers developed a love of music through his parents, who were both music historians at a public university in Boston, Massachusetts. In 2014, when he was seventeen, his family moved back to South Korea after his mother was invited to be a guest speaker for a music course at a university in Seoul, giving him and his brothers a chance to audition for entertainment companies, and they were accepted by STARBORN CREATIVE in 2016. Ethan trained for two years before he debuted in Zombie Pop as the main rapper of the group.

STAGE NAME › Ethan

FULL NAME › Ethan Lee

KOREAN NAME › Lee Woosung

BIRTHDAY › January 14th, 1997

BIRTHPLACE › Boston, Massachusetts, USA

NATIONALITY › Korean-American

ETHNICITY › Korean

TRAINING PERIOD › Two years

POSITION ›  Main Rapper

FACE CLAIM › Kim Hosung / Lou (VAV)

⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀ ˙ ˖ ✘ . . . KIM SEUL-KI, known professionally as SEULKI, was born September 2, 1997 as an only child in Busan, South Korea. Growing up, Seulki was influenced by his father’s intense love for music, something always playing in their home.

With his parent’s support, Seulk started his trainee career at Cult Creative Records in 2014. He was added and removed from serval group line ups throughout his time as a trainee, he was added to his final lineup in 2017 — debuting in 2018 as a main dancer and sub vocalist of the co-managed boy group ZOMBIE POP.

STAGE NAME › Seulki

FULL NAME › Kim Seul-ki

BIRTHDAY › September 2nd, 1997

BIRTHPLACE ›  Busan, South Korea

NATIONALITY ›  Korean

ETHNICITY › Korean 

TRAINING PERIOD ›  Four Years

POSITION › Main Dancer, Sub Vocalist

FACE CLAIM › Yoo Taeyang (SF9)

⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀ ˙ ˖ ✘    . . .    NATTHAWUT SANGSINGKEO, known professionally as DEAN, was born as an only child on January 8th, 1998. He grew up in a small town, where everyone knew everyone and everyone in the town was deeply religious. Growing up, he had traditional religious beliefs shoved down his throat since he could walk and talk, which did not hinder his love for songwriting. Despite his parents' protests, in 2016, as soon as he turned eighteen, he traveled to South Korea by himself, having been inspired to start his songwriting career thanks to watching BTS and EXO content. He was quickly picked up by STARBORN CREATIVE, and trained to become an idol for two years before debuting in Zombie Pop. 

STAGE NAME  ›  Dean 

FULL NAME  ›  Natthawut Sangsingkeo

BIRTHDAY  ›  January 8th, 1998 

BIRTHPLACE  ›  Phuket, Thailand 

NATIONALITY  ›  Thai 

ETHNICITY  ›  Thai 

TRAINING PERIOD  ›  Two years

POSITION  ›  Main Vocalist, Composer 

FACE CLAIM  ›  Boun Noppanut (actor)

⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀ ˙ ˖ ✘ . . . HONG INSEO, known professionally as INSEO, was born March 23rd in 1998, as the youngest and only boy of four. Inseo grew up around the arts; his sisters all taking part of some form of dance, while his father taught piano. It was his mother who pushed him to become a singer, she’d signed him up for vocal lessons at an early age. It, too, was her idea for him audition for music labels.

After a short stint at Cube Entertainment in 2016, he began training at Cult Creative in 2017; debuting not long after he joined. Inseo debuted as a sub rapper and composer of the Cult Creative and STARBORN CREATIVE boy group ZOMBIE POP in 2018.

STAGE NAME › Inseo

FULL NAME › Hong Inseo

BIRTHDAY › March 23rd, 1998

BIRTHPLACE › Seoul, South Korea

NATIONALITY › South Korean

ETHNICITY › Korean

TRAINING PERIOD › Six months

POSITION › Sub Rapper, Composer

FACE CLAIM › Ji Changmin / Q (The Boyz)

⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀ ˙ ˖ ✘ . . . CHA DONGYOON, known professionally as ECHO, was born as the middle child of three siblings on April 18th, 1999. Growing up, he didn't see his parents often, as they focused more on work and relied on babysitters and relatives to raise their children as they went to work long hours, leaving him and his older brother and younger sister to rely on everyone but them. He grew up as a shy kid, finding solace in music — more specifically, the orchestra. He quickly developed a love for the violin while in school, eventually moving to Seoul with his aunt and siblings and busking with his siblings in the streets of the city with the violin he received as a birthday gift from his paternal grandparents. They were eventually scouted by STARBORN CREATIVE in 2016, and Dongyoon trained for two years before debuting as the lead vocalist and dancer of Zombie Pop.

STAGE NAME › Echo

FULL NAME › Cha Dongyoon

BIRTHDAY › April 18th, 1999

BIRTHPLACE › Gumi, North Gyeongsang, South Korea

NATIONALITY › Korean

ETHNICITY › Korean

TRAINING PERIOD › Two years

POSITION › Lead Vocalist, Lead Dancer

FACE CLAIM › Kang Yeosang (ATEEZ)

( tw. mentions of drugs + alcohol, implied child abandonment + abuse )

⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀ ˙ ˖ ✘ . . . YANG HYUNWOO, known professionally as NOIR, was born as the middle child of three brothers on September 15th, 1999. When he was four years old, his father walked out on their family, leaving him to fend for himself as his mother had become addicted to hard drugs and alcoholism and did nothing to care for her three young sons, going as far as to taking out her anger on them daily.

In 2017, Hyunwoo was accepted into STARBORN CREATIVE after he and his younger brother Hyunjae applied in secret. Both were accepted, and Hyunwoo trained for one year before debuting in Zombie Pop.

STAGE NAME › Noir

FULL NAME › Yang Hyunwoo

BIRTHDAY › September 15th, 1999

BIRTHPLACE › Daejeon, South Korea

NATIONALITY › Korean

ETHNICITY › Korean

TRAINING PERIOD › One year

POSITION › Main Dancer, Lead Vocalist

FACE CLAIM › Yeo Hwanwoong (ONEUS)

⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀ ˙ ˖ ✘ . . . HARANO AKIRA, known professionally as AKIRA, was born on August 8th, 2000. Growing up, he was a lonely child, relying only on his mother for everything, and vice versa. His only solace throughout life was music, as he picked up piano, cello, and violin, among other instruments. He also took up songwriting, oftentimes writing more song lyrics than notes in school. In 2016, he and his mother moved to South Korea, and he went to live with some of his friends who ran away and had reunited with him. There, they all shared an apartment together as they looked for jobs, and Akira ended up auditioning for STARBORN CREATIVE to be a composer. The company was more interested in his ability to dance, however, and was accepted as a trainee. He trained for a year before debuting as Zombie Pop's maknae.

STAGE NAME › Akira

FULL NAME › Harano Akira

BIRTHDAY › August 8th, 2000

BIRTHPLACE › Sapporo, Japan

NATIONALITY › Japanese

ETHNICITY › Japanese

TRAINING PERIOD › One year

POSITION › Maknae, Lead Dancer

FACE CLAIM › Hamada Asahi (TREASURE)

[czeeracha]

the where-is-rendog post where ren is at the inkigayo stage made me think about kpop idol!treebark

note : this was in fact written back in june during the great treebark drought and im only bringing it back from my drafts now

so martyn used to be in a (2nd-gen)group called "y.cast" in a different company than the one hes currently in, but when his contract ended he decided not to renew it, and left to his present company. hes still technically part of the group but bc his old company sucks they barely get to make any comebacks, so hes mostly focused on his soloist activities as "ITLW".

meanwhile, ren is in a (3rd-gen)group called "hct" as "RD"(hct is similar to nct, has a lot of members and lots of little sub-units), rens currently in a sub-unit called "hct nbh" and a duo called "octagon", hes the main-vocalist in both, and hes also an actor(id like to think that hes a bit like jongho from ateez, in that he likes to practice acting in the groups dorms, even back when he was still a trainee, and also bc main-vocal).

they had met each other before while promoting, but got really close when they were filming a K-drama together called "3rd Life" the first part of the life series, where they played "The King"(ren) and "The Hand"(martyn).

Martyn on Bubble 🫧 (Eng trans)

ITLW : ah, 3rd life

ITLW : it was fun!

ITLW : did you enjoy watching it?

ITLW : i got really close to ren while filming

ITLW : our company buildings are quite near

fan : / asking about them hanging out together(?) /

ITLW : ㅋㅋ

ITLW : maybe

[ITLV, In The Little V-log : EP.07 (feat. a guest...)] 🔴

Comments 193

InTheLittleStan

OMG RD FROM HCT??? the king and the hand reunion

StreamG.O.A.T.

here for RD!!!! hes so pretty in this clip 💗✨

they never had any other public interactions, except martyn does talk about ren on bubble sometimes, and they both have a picture they took together on the back of their phone cases(similar to what wooyoung, changbin, and yeonjun did)

Martyn on Bubble 🫧 (Eng trans)

ITLW : today's tmi?

ITLW : i watched ren on immortal songs while having lunch today!

Ren on Bubble 🫧 (Eng trans)

RD : the back of my phone case?

RD : its a picture of me and martyn!

RD : martyn has one too i think ㅎㅎ

but after 3rd life was over, they would almost promote on the same week but would barely miss each other

like if ren had a comeback and promoted for about 2 weeks, then martyn would have a comeback immediately after ren had already finished promoting, so they never got to film any challenges together, and had the fans begging their companies to have them publicly interact at least once.

somehow this got quite long, so if anyone read the whole thing then i appreciate you :D

note : im open to name suggestions cause i dont think the group names are that good

BUT "hct" could stand for either "HermitCrafTers" or just "Hermit Culture Technology" like nct, and its funny to think of each hermitcraft season as smth similar to nct2020 like hct06

AND "octagon" could be like pentagon or we could go the nct route and name them "rendoc" instead so its kinda like dojaejung

i really didnt have any ideas for yogcast so i went with "y.cast", but if hct is an nct equivalent, then i think y.cast is sort of like btob(y.cast has cube or fnc group vibes, idk why, but i had btob and n.flying in mind when i was thinking about y.cast)

[roseypwark]

Prologue |

ENHYPEN Eighth Member : 지유 JIYU / 지유나 Ji Yuna

Table of Contents

//

The walk through the woods is unremarkable.

There is a freshly laid gravel path, only walked on by those trainees who entered before. The sun is out. The air is warm. It's a nice day. But the walk to the great concrete cube of I-Land is nothing of note to Yuna.

The door is interesting. A giant, automated revolving thing made of steel. She eyes it on her approach, standing back until it spins itself open to allow her access.

She takes a breath, then, before venturing further inside.

She was given the briefing. She knows she'll be inside without contact with the outside world for approximately three months. She knows she will be the only female contestant and her fate will depend solely on how likable she is.

Basically, she knows she has no shot at debuting.

Ji Yuna isn't the kind of girl that people like quickly. Her mom says she’s an acquired taste, a taste not even her mother ever got accustomed to before packing up Yuna’s half-siblings and following her American stepdad to the US.

Yuna was left behind. So, she is here.

She breathes out and walks into I-Land with her chin level. Here's to getting enough publicity to debut in HYBE's first girl group in a few years.

//

지유나 (16세)

국가/지역 | 한국

준비 기간 | 1년

특이사항 | TXT의 새 앨범 제작을 도왔습니다

ㅡㅡㅡ

Ji Yuna (16 (14 Int. Age))

Country/Region | Korea

Training Period | 1 year

Special Note | helped produce TXT's new album

//

The Americans are the only ones Yuna likes in this place.

Jake's okay, too. Everyone else is just... meh.

The foreigners not from Asia don't treat her like a kid. She's always hated that. She's been taking care of herself since she was 9. She doesn't need a too-loud gaggle of boys she half-knows falling over themselves to get their few seconds of screen time for being chivalrous or whatever.

That's the worst part of this whole thing. Yuna can't know when someone is being truthful or not because the cameras are always on. There's nowhere to hide. Every interaction she has may be used against her in the final cut. The same goes for every other contestant. There's no one she can truly trust here.

But if she had to choose, she likes the Americans and Jake. Jay, not as much, but Daniel she likes for sure. He's the only one that's young enough to use honorifics with her.

Her siblings weren't old enough to know how to call her noona before the family moved away. It's kind of nice. Plus, there are enough "doting hyungs" for nothing to actually be expected of her.

Ji Yuna has always been at the top of the vocal ranks amongst trainees. She knows she's lacking in dance but her lyrical and melodic talents carry her farther than those idol-seekers who just don't have the voice for it. That sounds mean but it's the truth and you'll get nowhere by ignoring the harsh reality.

There's nothing behind her to go back to. All that's left is now, and the future that Yuna is hellbent on making for herself. She'll rip it from the ground and mold it with her bare hands if she has to.

//

Ep. 1 | eliminated to the Ground via not recieving enough contestant votes

Ep. 3 | moved to the I-Land via I-Lander dropouts/global voting

Ep. 4 | eliminated to the Ground via contestant votes

Ep. 5 | moved to the I-Land via winning the Grounder Vocal Unit battle

Ep. 6 | retained in the I-Land, continued to Final 12

//

Trying to shift your sleep schedule to match the time you're allotted to practice is the only way Yuna has found to make this barbaric system work for her. She understands better than most the concept of failing and facing the consequences but jeez. If she could stop being moved from Ground to I-Land and back again that'd be great.

The longer the competition continues, the more paranoid Yuna has found herself becoming. She didn't expect to make it to the final anything.

She's a gimmick. She knows that. A way to draw in viewership by giving all the female fans someone to project their fantasies onto.

Yuna knew that coming in. And she was okay with it because it was basically free publicity. She just didn't expect to be in the half of contestants retained onto the second half of the show.

The biggest shock was actually several weeks ago. Being voted into the I-Land by viewers. When the other contestants didn't vote her in after her entry performance, she expected much of the same until she was inevitably voted out at the first opportunity.

But no. Instead, she's being forced to continue playing nice, entertaining herself, longing for her instruments and hoping she'll not be made out as a fool for manically scribbling lyrics at inoppurtune times and humming to herself constantly like a madwoman.

//

Ep. 7 | rank 10 via producer scoring

Ep. 8 | rank 11 via producer scoring

Ep. 10 | rank 3 via global voting

Ep. 11 | rank 5 via producer scoring

Ep. 12 | rank 3 via global voting

//

There are a few select words that Yuna wishes to use to describe how she's feeling after being announced as a member of the final lineup. Most wouldn't go over well with the Korean TV industry, so she keeps her mouth shut as she stumbles over her own feet on her way downstage.

What the fuck.

What the fuck what the fuck what the fuck.

This wasn't the plan. This was her debut to the public eye, meant to be just the beginning. Ji Yuna takes time to grow on people, time to be tolerated much less wanted or supported by hundreds of thousands of strangers.

They haven't even heard her music, yet. Literally what is going on?

It's fine. She's fine.

Close your mouth, girl, you look like an idiot.

Yuna look across at the audience of idols and producers. TXT, Rain, BTS, Bang PD. Whatever. The person she’s looking for already has eyes on her. Hyowon smiles and she does her best to return it. She's still just so confused.

Suddenly, there's a microphone in her hand and everything is quiet. Is she supposed to say something? What is happening?

She falls into a deep bow. Above all else, be thankful. Even if you have no idea what is going on.

"Thank you," she says. "I really wasn't expecting to be chosen as a finalist. I definitely was not expecting to be chosen to debut. But here I am. Wow. I don't know what to say."

Why did she say that? She's just rambling, has no idea where she's trying to go with her words. Stupid stupid stupid. Say something smart.

"Hopefully, I can bring much to the debut group in songwriting and production and with my singing. Hopefully, the other members can help me in places I am lacking, the same way I will hope to do so for them."

She's talking out of her ass now. It doesn't look like the producers and idols watching her notice, all nodding along politely. If she has any kind of luck, maybe the viewers won't pick her apart and be able to tell she's fronting.

"Thank you so much for this oppurtunity. I won't waste it."

//

<< PREV // NEXT >>

[bp-zb1fics]

hi! i love how you write bp trainee!reader fics and i was like ‘omg imagine jay x g group trainee!reader’ so i came here to request something. i wanted to request jay chang confessing to g group!reader during the boys planet finale, or something a long the lines of that. i wanted to see your take on how he would confess to someone, you can always switch up the plot or even ignore this ask if you don’t want to write it! <3

If this was a movie

pairing: jay x g group reader

genre: canon, fluff

tw/tags: lots of pining, confessions, a kiss or two, some swears, jay kinda dramatic and very in denial, kamden, matthew, ricky best wingmen, a lil hui vs jay action but not really 

wc: 1731

summary: it’s the sleepover night before the finale and jay has something to tell you.

a/n Hi! First of all thank you so much for this lovely request, it was an utter pleasure to write and I really enjoyed it and I hope you will too! I'm always a sucker for canon fics because it's so fun to take the show we all know and love and hate sometimes bc mnet kinda shady and write about it. I've lifted lines directly from the sleepover segment from episode 12, just be citing my sources. I definitely would have included reader/ mc/ y/n's pov but ended up keeping it to jay's pov for some reason, idk maybe it's like writer brain. If anyone wants a "your pov" version, do let me know~ that would be a fun part 2

Check my pinned for more fics~

Italics mean it’s spoken in English.

Jay tips his head back and exaggerates his cringe, laughing along with everyone at Gunwook stealing Junhyeon’s aegyo. Only he can’t help but let his eyes linger back to you giggling quietly from where you’re leaning against Hoetaek, the elder playing with your hair. 

And even if he knows that Hoetaek is a little more familiar with the former Cube trainees like you and Matthew and Sung Hanbin, he can’t help but feel the smallest twinge of jealousy. He wanted to be close to you like that, to mess with your hair until you pout at him and he can’t help but-

“By all means, keep staring, we might as well get a neon sign that says I LIKE YOU and put it on your head.”

Kamden mumbles from beside him, effectively snapping him out of his maladaptive daydreaming. 

“Oh my god dude, shut up.”

He hisses, still keeping one eye on you as you lean into Hoetaek’s touch. Think positive, Jay. Even if you're also a fellow English speaker, at least you’re far away enough that you probably won’t overhear them. Ricky snickers from his other side.

“You’re so subtle, man.”

He levels them a look. It’s their last night, can’t he get a break?

“It’s our last night Jay, you know, you should tell them.”

Apparently not. 

He looks up and Kamden manages to look even more unimpressed than he usually does, head tilting a little more than 45° for emphasis.

“Nah, it’s cool, besides, they’re definitely not into me.”

Jay deflects, ignoring the sinking feeling that begins to take hold. 

“You don’t know that.”

“I’m pretty sure I do.”

“Just try.”

“You’re being very persistent today, Kam, I dunno, it’s kinda sus.”

Before Kamden can fire back, the whole conversation about memorable first impressions turns around and bites Jay in the ass because the universe loves messing with him.

“So who was your best first impression, Jay-ah?” 

Suddenly everyone’s looking at him expectantly. Kamden and Ricky look like they already know and Jay knows that they know that the answer sitting at the tip of his tongue is just across the room, Hoetaek’s arm around their shoulder. Still, Jay hesitates.

He’s had a crush on you ever since the Star Level test. You had immediately caught his attention walking in. Sure, there were perfect visuals like Jiwoong and Hanbin but you were the most attractive person he’s ever seen. And you were talented, Jay could swear your performance was one of the best but Kamden’s convinced that he’s just biased.

But even though you’re both from G-group, you’ve always ended up in different teams, leaving Jay with not that many opportunities to talk with you. When he does end up around you, he just can’t, defaulting to his usual over the top expressions for laughs. While he’s always thought of himself as a confident person, he just finds himself fumbling around you. It doesn’t help that you seem to stick to Hoetaek or Sung Hanbin or one of your team members. You’re friendly with each other, sure, but nothing more than that. 

Right, back to the question.

“The person I remember the most is Yujin.”

He immediately feels the collective disappointment that emanates from his corner of the room as the rest of the trainees react, Matthew even sitting up to hit him with some bombastic side-eye. He pretends he doesn’t hear Kamden sighs, doing an impression of Yujin which looks more like a possession honestly. The others laugh. Jongwoo’s comment is the crutch he needs to limp away as he holds Yujin in check as competition.

Of course, it wouldn’t be that easy.

“For me, as soon as I heard Jay sing, I felt like I was in trouble.” 

Hoetaek speaks up and Jay forces himself into another exaggerated look of surprise and shoves down the ugly feeling that jumps out at the way you hug one of Hoetaek’s arms. 

“Your competitor?” One of them jokes.

Not just in singing, Jay thinks.

“But you did watch Love Me Right, hyung?” Jongwoo asks. Jay really wants this conversation to move on.

“It was so hard to watch Love Me Right.” He watches as Hoetaek shifts so that you can lean more comfortably.

“That’s not the only thing that’s hard to watch right now.” Ricky breathes out. Now Kamden and Matthew are snickering.

Just smile, Jay. 

“Honestly, I wanted to give up when I saw you, hyung.” He manages to grit out without giving himself away, hopefully. 

Everyone laughs and Jay desperately sends a prayer to the universe to let his pain end. Ironically, it’s Kamden and Matthew who come to his rescue.

“Actually, I’m curious about something. Did I give off an American vibe?”

The conversation swerves towards Matthew’s imitation of Kamden, the apparently routine mispronunciation of Jiwoong’s name and Kamden’s impressive first impression of Ricky’s hair.

By the time they move on to Keita’s first meeting with Zhang Hao, Jay thinks he’s in the clear.

He's not.

Kamden proceeds to smack his arm and he meets eyes with Matthew whose usual bright smile was beginning to border on shit-eating grin territory.

“If you didn’t notice, they’ve been looking at you the whole time we were talking.” Kamden says lowly, Matthew nodding in agreement.

“Nah, you’re capping.”

“No, for real, Kam and I were literally right here giving some top-tier content and all they could see was you.” Matthew insisted.

“That doesn’t mean anything.”

“It definitely means something.” Ricky counters because he was apparently listening in on them the whole time while everyone else watched Jiwoong wax poetry over Hao’s violin playing. Jay shakes his head.

“It really doesn’t.”

Kamden looks like he wants to jump on him and start shaking some sense in. Matthew sighs. Ricky just shrugs and lies back down.

“Ah well, we’ll have to see then. I didn’t let Kam slander my hair and my catchphrase for nothing.”

After having to spectate the absolute trainwreck of awkwardness that is Zhang Hao and Kum Junhyeon, there’s the slightest chill that goes down Jay’s spine that he ignores, figuring it must be the weather.

It was definitely not the weather. He should have run while he still had a chance.

“Actually, there’s another pair I want to see.” Matthew speaks up. Suddenly he feels Kamden and Ricky both watching him like hawks as if he’s going to bolt any second now.

After Matthew names you and him, Jay actually wants to bolt. Kamden and Ricky are extremely helpful in explaining to the others the minimal interactions you two have had as the “least close trainees in G-group.” You look like a deer in headlights as Hoetaek gently shoves you towards the middle of the room, whispering something to you before he goes back to his spot. 

“Wah they’re both so red.” Jay becomes acutely aware of how much his cheeks are burning as he sits across you. You don’t seem to be any better, making eye contact before looking literally anywhere else.

Well, might as well get over it so he can go back and die of embarrassment.

“Uh, the first time I saw you was during the Star Level test. I thought you were very talented.”

Damn, when did Korean become so hard? Maybe it was the way your hands were holding his, can you feel how fast his pulse is racing? Okay Jay, you can do this, just speedrun it.

“And I really liked the song you performed, it really fit your voice. Your stage outfit was also very pr- very noticeable, it made you stand out. And I really wanted to get to know you more but we were in different groups all the time which really sucked and you don’t know how many times I wished you chose Home so we could perform together or the Star Creators would put us both in Over me and I understand, you’re really perfect for the concepts of your songs and it’s crazy how much I like you, seriously so crazy.”

Pin-drop silence. Three things, in order, that Jay realises.

Speedrunning this might not have been the best idea.

Switching to English midway through the conversation is a skill that he didn’t know he was capable of considering his level of Korean would definitely be more byelingual than actual, intelligent multilingual like Matthew.

He might have confessed his feelings to you. No actually, he did. Fuck, now would be a great time to get on the next plane and fly off to the States and cry to Beomhan for a month. Forget debuting, he’d settle for a nice normal life without the evil editing and the screen time robbing and the utter stress of eliminations.

But before Jay can actually bolt, you speak up.

“Uh- uhm…” You look so unsure that it freezes him there, seated in front of you, holding your hands like it’s his last lifeline.

“I really like you too.”

Everyone gasps and begins murmuring quietly.

“Wait, my English is bad, what are they saying?”

“Finally, they’ve confessed, I knew it.”

“Wait who confessed?”

“That was like an American romance movie, wow.”

Then the clapping starts. Jay tears his eyes away from you for one second to look at Kamden in utter disbelief. His co-conspirators don’t miss a beat.

“Congratulations, you finally did it! Thank fuck.”

“Be happy together, you two!”

And because Ricky apparently wasn’t satisfied with the slander he had put himself through.

“Now kiss.”

Which turned into a chant because even the trainees who didn’t speak English fluently knew what they were talking about. Someone even helpfully throws a blanket over Yujin to protect his eyes.

Jay turns back and finds you giggling. While it looks like embarrassment, now he could feel the way your fingers interlocked with his, your eyes flitting to his lips. The chanting becomes background noise as he leans in, pressing his lips against yours firmly.

Fireworks explode in the background as you pull away.

Everyone applauds with the occasional whistling, oohing as Jay tugs you to sit between his legs, Ricky graciously scooting over to make space.

Kamden claps him on the back and Matthew flashes both of you a thumbs up.

God, he loves hates these guys.

As the conversation settles back down and everyone decides to actually sleep, you sneak another kiss before cuddling up to his side.

Jay smiles. Maybe this is a movie.