#have you ever fixated on hating a character
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OC creation musings + Juno retrospective
I was rewatching this video by Rea, and it struck me that this exact phenomenon happened to me in 2022, with the first inklings of Juno's design - back when I couldn't decide on whether or not her name would be "Juno" or "Kite", and desperately trying not to make her a scientist. She's obviously come such a long way since then, having now become a very well-known character in the fandom, but I often think of the fact that had she not become on of my artistic passions, I probably wouldn't be anywhere near where I am today.
Juno is absolutely everything to me. She is a representative of my passion for storytelling, and she connected me with so many of my now closest friends - one of which is currently living in my house! How crazy is that, man! All of which I can attribute to simply becoming so fixated on my own OC that I couldn't stop thinking about her, or drawing her.
Of course, that's come with some highs and lows. She's getting a professionally done cosplay, a 3D model and potentially a Battlefront mod - but she also has her own dedicated group of haters who think she represents the 'wrongs' of fandom, lol. I certainly have recieved my fair share of 'Juno hate' in my 3-4 years here, but the positivity and support make it well worth dealing with a few rotten apples. It's radiant and outpouring, like a warm ray of sun, and it keeps me going deep into the night.
Anyways. Total tangent. Want to see all her design iterations? Yea you do ;) Here's the first ever Juno ref!
I made this on my phone in 2022, at the tale end of watching TCW and back when TBB was just one season. You can definitely see that the idea was always there, just a bit disjointed in its application. That gas mask on her helmet ended up causing a lot of confusion, so I removed it in later iterations - but to this day, I think this one picture is what really captivated me. Something about the aura, man,, she scary lookin
Then, of course, I had to draw what her face would look like - if it hadn't been for a RP, I don't think I would have.
Woah - she's like a whole different person! And you can see the beginnings of her white hair streak, though back then, I wanted i to be really subtle. And I was soooo adamant about this lol. She also was almost beat for beat Ellen Ripley, and you can see me paint over a picture of Sigourney below with her OG faceclaim haha.
Then we have the Juno-ing... part two. Where I went darker!! Both in themes, and in her color scheme. This one still has so much personality, and I remember being obsessed with how I drew her eyes and face back then. Nowadays, I think it's hideous. xD This was also around the time I was phasing out her gauntlets and oxygen mask, but both still remained for practicality purposes, even if they didn't serve anything to the design. Oh, and the hair streak. Now it's a Thing :tm: but it isn't really flowing well with the design - not yet, anyways!
We finally get to a point where I, begrudingly, accept the fact that her white streak is going to be her facial focal point - and at this point I'm laughing about how much I tried to avoid it LOL. But here, we also see her get more and more refined. Her face is still a bit wonky, but the stern vibe and posture are starting to come together and tell more of a concrete story, even if the reference doesn't have as much color or personality as the last one. I also did this one for my senior year of college!
I even designed her some totally BS civvies - and I gave her a s2 paint job, which admittedly looks hideous LMAOOO but we ball regardless. The second design was scrapped anyways almost immediately. The civvies stayed!
And then, of course, THE FINALE! Her face went through so many iterations with her current ref, but thus far, it's been the longest standing and most accurate one. It atually started out just as me goofing off with a marker pen in CSP, that quickly changed to "hey... this could be something good." And I was right! This is the Juno that's currently circulating today, and I've been polishing and refining her as I go, since I still feel as though I could perfect things.
And then, of course, her various outfits, which I posted about a while back. Oh - and have you seen Baby Juno?
Well now you have. :)
I think it's so cool to see how someone can fixate on a character and pour so much love and thought into them, that this character becomes their entire brand. Juno inhabits every part of my brain space and is what I think about 24/7. I'm so proud of how far she comes, and she reminds me about how incredible fandom can be and continues to be! Something about her is just so intoxicating to me. I can't get enough of her, and I can't wait to keep developing her over the years to come.
Which then begs the question - what is your equivalent to this entire thread? Do you have an OC like Juno, who you're fixated on and who dominates your creative pursuits? Do they have multiple artistic iterations? Because if you do, share them!! I WANNA SEEEEEE.
Anyways, that's Wren's Ramblings for today ~ I got bored haha
SHARE YOUR OCS!!!! >:0
#the bad batch#star wars the bad batch#star wars#juno caheere#juntech#mandalorian oc#mandalorian#star wars character#star wars oc#original character#oc#fanart
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I'M TIRED,
Iâm tired of people pretending that Cassianâs behavior is anything close to love.
Cassian doesnât love Nesta; he loves the idea of having a mate. Thereâs this desperate need in him to fill a void, to belong to someone, but it has nothing to do with Nesta as a person. Heâs obsessed with the concept of a mate because it validates him in some way.
Itâs like he needs the label to feel whole, but he never actually shows any genuine love or respect for Nesta herself. If anything, he treats her like a project, something to âfix,â rather than a partner heâs committed to growing with.
Let���s start with the fact that he never once tells Nesta he loves her. For a character whoâs supposedly so passionate and driven by emotion, heâs shockingly silent when it comes to expressing any real feelings for her.
Sure, he tells her sheâs beautiful, that he wants her, but does he ever look at her as a person and say, âI love who you are?â No. Itâs always about her body, her physical presence. Heâs drawn to her in a purely primal way, but thereâs no depth to it. Itâs as if heâs fixated on the idea of her as his mate, this mystical concept, but he doesnât actually care about who she is beneath that label.
And then thereâs the way he talks about her, or rather, the way he doesnât. When he thinks of Nesta, itâs almost entirely about her body, about how she âtemptsâ him or âchallengesâ him. Thereâs nothing about her mind, her resilience, her intelligenceâqualities that, honestly, are the best parts of Nesta. And even worse, he never talks about Nesta with the kind of respect or fondness he has for Mor. Itâs actually kind of gross when you think about it.
Cassian is more emotionally open and reflective when heâs talking or thinking about Mor, his "sister" than he ever is about Nesta. With Mor, he shows this tender, protective side. But when it comes to Nesta? All he seems to care about is how âdifficultâ she is and how heâs somehow âsufferingâ through it, as if heâs some saint for putting up with her. Itâs like heâs comparing his love for Mor with this toxic âpassionâ heâs convinced himself he feels for Nesta, and itâs just⌠ick.
And letâs be real, he treats her like absolute trash. He constantly belittles her, invalidates her trauma, and gaslights her. Remember when he tells her that âeveryone hates herâ? Or when he controls what she eats and forces her into situations she clearly doesnât want? This isnât love; itâs control.
Cassian wants a mate who fits into his mold, who he can âfixâ so he can feel good about himself. He doesnât care about who Nesta is or what sheâs been through. He only sees her pain as an inconvenience, something he has to âdeal withâ because sheâs his mate. Love isnât supposed to be about changing someone, yet thatâs all he ever tries to do with Nesta.
Cassianâs fixation on Nestaâs body and their physical relationship just further highlights how shallow his âloveâ for her really is. Every intimate moment between them is tainted by this feeling that heâs more interested in her body than her heart or mind.
Heâs infatuated with the idea of claiming her, possessing her, but he doesnât actually care about supporting her, growing with her, or even understanding her. Itâs all surface-level attraction, with none of the depth or empathy that actual love requires.
In the end, Cassian doesnât love Nesta. Heâs infatuated with the idea of having a mate, but he doesnât respect her, he doesnât cherish her, and he definitely doesnât see her for who she really is. If he did, he would treat her with the dignity and compassion she deserves. Instead, we get a man who constantly invalidates her, objectifies her, and thinks heâs doing her a favor by sticking around. Thatâs not love. Thatâs ego. And Nesta deserves a hell of a lot better.
#i'm not delusional. you're delusional#anti cassian#anti inner circle#pro nesta archeron#anti nessian
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Response to your post (since I'm having a glitch on my side of Tumblr I can only ask, like, and reblog):
The crazy thing is, Sarcastic Chorus just goes from being a critic to defending Stolas/his "diehard ship" like nothing ever happened.
I'd also blame Cash Buckzo and the whole circus except for Tilla, Idk about Fizz since we don't have enough flashbacks to see him defend Blitz from the ringmaster, all we do get is Fizz being the golden goose, same with Barbie but it's implied Cash fed her more believable lies to keep her away from Blitz.
Why do both fans and critics not blame Cash enough?! ;-;
I get that what he did to Blitz "doesn't excuse" what he's doing to Moxie at the beginning of S1 but I pass it off as BAD WRITING from the crew, we all forget that Blitz is Brandon's self-insert, not his own character... and while Brandon is better than Viv or Adam, he can't save the show, the only way is to restart S2 entirely.
Yeah he has the same irrational obsessive attachment to a show-ruining âshipâ that he has criticised other people for having. He knows how shipping ruins entire franchises, but his fixation on this deeply creepy one, clouds his vision. Stolitz exists mostly for the purpose of đ˝ for women and wish fulfilment for lonely men who hate women and enjoy stories where they are uniquely wholly evil. Both of these things have a euphoric effect on the mind.
While the whole thing is sinking heâs the one saying itâs all fine because at least sad pretty boy got to kiss mean grouchy boy.
Cash and Stolas are both miserably greedy drunks who trade love and affection for favours in return from blitz. Nothing showcases that more than this scene:
blitz is the one who must be psychologically reevaluate himself however. And gaslight himself into thinking gift giving and grand gestures from stolas undermine all the pain and grief heâs constantly caused him.
Follow me and ravish me imp, what if we worked out an exchange- enticing favours for favours, I have a special request Iâll pay you, I have the book itty bitty imp so you have little choice but to join me at the festival, are you alright? Good because If you get in trouble I get in trouble we donât want that, my daughter isnât home today so we can get drunk, where am I supposed to find my daughter, I think you should come save me. Iâm giving you this gift because I want you to stay here with me because you want to, and I want you to look at me and think âwell youâre the only one I wantâ.
- who is making every last thing about transactions and fulfilling his own wants?
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The karma collection needs more
#manfred von karma#The lengths i will go for a bit#von karma#ace attorney#phoenix wright ace attorney#gyakuten saiban#turnabout goodbyes#HES MY TARGET PRACTICE#have you ever fixated on hating a character#its an experience
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ANYWHO goodnight tumblr i'll be back on the art grind tomorrow i think đ
#haunted ecosystem#i'll take a burst of creativity in a different form than usual than the burnout slump i've been in for a few months#<- part of why my fandom stuff has taken a smidge of a backseat#dont get me wrong i am still very excited about my fandoms im just having fun off in oc hell (affectionate)#its nice to just be able to create and not really worry about perception. and also i feel Less bad about just throwing ocs into the wringer#((blame the fact i've been REALLY interested in whump recently and i have been. fixated. on one of my characters.))#and ALSO i've been! rekindling my flame for wtds. i've been putting off thinking about it since that fic got.#nothing bad happened? but it was still very devastating that somebody who i considered a friend from that fic just. evaporated.#but i'm gonna finish that fic for him :) even if it takes a year. even if it's the one thing i finish ever. it'll be wtds.#for where its gotten me and the fact its what got me out of my shell and is the reason i trust that my writing is good!#i used to really hate rereading my work. i catch flaws that are obvious to me. but that fic. i just think about how *good* the story is#that story means. a lot to me? as a person? like the main character is not a good person. but people care about him anyway.#and there are so many little things. so many sentiments. so much that is a love letter to people who've done bad but learnt to do better#because. god knows i wasnt a good person even just a few years ago. and maybe i see myself in him a bit.#he came from a place of paranoia and fear and pain. and maybe its a good thing that i've found it difficult to write him recently.#because god. i've been HAPPY. even with the rough moments and bad days. i've been happy. i mean fuck.#my birthday's what. ten days away? god damn man. i'm going to be 18. that's an achievement.#i want to look the kid who thought it was over at half my age and tell him we fucking made it. and there are more years to come.#there's a life ahead. even if it's going to be a bitch. even if it's going to be tough. there's love in your heart and people who care and#you're going to fucking live and you're going to feel better one day. you have people to meet properly and thank and cherish.#because for every day it feel like the world's ending there are a dozen more where the sun shines just the right way through the rain#and you can't help but smile because it's just so god damn beautiful.#and fuck it. you're sick. your hands hurt and your legs don't work right. and it's tough sometimes. but you have people who understand.#you have people who honest to god love you for who you are and appreciate your company. and 18 is the first step.#you've spent half your life unlearning things and you've spent half your life relearning how to be what YOU want to be#and if you're a mediocre artist and passionate writer then you'll be fucking great at that. taking the time to learn when it strikes you.#and maybe this is for me. but its also for anybody reading it too. please god if there's one thing you take from this let it be that#somebody out there cares. *I* care. god i care. even if we've never spoken proper i care about you.#i practically have a list of everybody i see in my inbox. i love seeing familiar names show up. i.#i dont know how to neatly wrap up this tag ramble. but. i am so damn full of love it hurts sometimes. its scary to be happy but thats ok!
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"han yoohyun sucks as a younger brother" i have not said this phrase in years, like literally years, but how about you meet me in the fucking pit
#beso babbles#ANGER. RAGE.#EITHER THAT PERSON HAS ONLY READ LIKE HALF THE FIRST ARC OF THE SERIES AND HAS A STICK UP THEIR ASS THINKING THEYVE GOT IT ALL FIGURED OUT#OR THEY KNOW ENOUGH TO KNOW BETTER AND ARE BEYOND SAVING (AND DEFINITELY STILL HAVE A STICK UP THEIR ASS)#'yoohyun is a bad person' he never did anything wrong ever in his life actually#listen i know i also didnt have a favorable first impression of him but 1) that was legit years ago and im so much more fun about media now#2) him coming off as a willful crazy ass is like. that is the POINT *and* the APPEAL you need to fOLLOW THESE CHARACTERS ON THEIR JOURNEY#AND ACCEPT WHEN STUFF IS REVEALED THAT RECONTEXTUALIZES LITERALLY EVERYTHING ABOUT THEM#also even when i thought he was horrible 1) i didnt hate him 2) he was STILL one of the most compelling characters in the whole series#die mad about it hyh haters#EDIT: LMAO APPARENTLY THEY DROPPED THE SERIES 100 CHAPTERS IN NO WONDERRR they'll literally Never get it#tho imo 100 chapters is still enough for you to understand hyh is the most little brother ever if youre paying attention but :^) whatever#like. idk theres plenty to go off of to Know he's got more going on than some surface level fixation come on now#also bringing up if hes a 'good' little brother in a poll that is not about whether the younger sibling is a 'good' younger sibling or not.#Okay. *rolls eyes*#tbc im not faulting them for dropping the series its not for everyone im being a hater cause theyre acting like they know our boy smdh
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i know that it is truly not that deepâ˘
but like the people who hate mario as a character get on my nerves so much like. you either are.. not into mario games and just hating him based on whatever pre-conceived notions you have of him or you do play mario games and you still have no idea what the main character is like as a person.
especially if it's like BIG time luigi fan who hates mario with a passion like. luigi would not like you!!!!!! luigi loves his bro and his bro loves him!!! get over it!!!
#and DON'T get me wrong i adore luigi#i have been fixated on him multiple times (multiple times before the first time i fixated on mario)#i do not hold any hate or even the slightest amount of dislike for him#i love him so much it's just!!!!!!#why do you guys hate mario so much!!!!!#like i totally understand if he's just not you're personal favorite#or you're completely indifferent to him that's fine!!! idc!!!#but like every person i see who doesn't like mario just. absolutely HAAAAATES HIM and i don't get it#yes im aware im probably being a bit sensitive but i am. a little sick of one of my very favorite characters ever just being like.#ripped to shreds even within the fandom#ykno?#anyway sorry done ranting#for tonight anyway. i feel like tomorrow i may just. idk write up a big thing about marios mischaracterization but we'll see hahah
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i know probably none of my mutuals rp a.tsv at this point, but i was thinking about a scenario in which chiyo says âscrew thisâ and forsakes being apart of the spider society bc all the âcanon eventâ stuff leaves a horrible taste in her mouth and makes her feel powerless ( sheâs got a big thing about being in control of her own fate ). and then someone coming to see her anyway bc :( they miss her :( and she misses them :( and i got more thoughts but iâm a lil tipsy and doubt many if anyone would write this with me rn ;;
#oh to have a hyper fixation that few share with you#itâs making a comeback to the forefront of my mind and i refuse to try to re-enter that fandom bc everyone either hated#my manga character focus or the fact i was a multi or the fact i was oc-focused and i donât have the mental energy to waste on that mess#youâll have me at my cringiest oc antics if you ever want my best character arcs đŤ#ASDGFG anywayyyyy iâm having a lil snack and trying to wind down a bit#i had too much fun with my pals and now iâm mad i gotta be an anxious adult in the morning and start a new job ;;;;#get ready to ramble | ooc
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a reflection on MatPat's plagiarism
Hello, my name is Della, or micer2012, and 2 years ago Game Theory plagiarized three Tumblr posts of mine, making a video that now holds almost 6 million views.
My posts explaining his plagiarism made their rounds on Reddit, Tumblr and Twitter, but despite the Hermits and Pooka commenting on it (generally in support of me or saying they donât know enough details about the situation to say either way), MatPat and his team have never owned up to anything, and no mention of my name is present on the video. The one Reddit post they made denying it (which was made before my detailed takedown, which they have never responded to (though the mods on the r/GameTheorists Reddit were kind and made sure it stayed up)) didnât even mention me by name, just referring to me as âa tumblr userâ. (Though one of the screenshotted comments in the body of the post does say my name)
This experience was baffling, but itâs overall had a positive impact on my life. r/Hermitcraft gave me a Golden Apple Award (post of the year, 2021). My inbox was filled with excited fans, wanting to ask me questions or pose their own theories, far more than the hate I got. (Though the hate I got from Game Theory fans was VERY funny. I wondered why none of them gave me shit about saying âMatPat misgendered Evil Xisumaâ before realizing none of them read that far into the post.)
And getting on a more personal, and much more important note, I met most of my current online friends through this, including my partner. It helped me grow closer with my irl friends as well and gave me an entertaining story that I tell whenever I have the chance. It was one of the first things in my life that really made me feel like my talents, my autistic hyperfocusing and analyzing of things I love, could be valuable. Useful. Exploitable. It blew my mind that MatPat thought an autistic kidâs ramblings about a Minecraft Youtube joke character were good enough to steal. To put an audible sponsorship on. To get 6 million views off of.
And thatâs why Iâm writing this post, this update years later. As you mightâve been able to guess, Hbomberguyâs Youtube video on plagiarism reopened this wound. It was really hard for me to sit through, it took days of pausing and taking breaks, because I had experienced everything he was talking about firsthand.Â
In my 10 page long takedown post, I wrote about how his rewording of my sentences made him say things that were incorrect, just like Filip did. The content farm production style that made big companies like Cinemassacre take one creator (AVGN/MatPat) and turn him and his content into a brand, a voice that reads out scripts by other people with other opinions/theories, is a history shared with Game Theory. What really hit me was Harris talking about how big creators only do this to people they think they can get away with doing it to. How they view their victims as lesser, as not deserving of their words, repackaging them as their own to give to an audience that can gain from hearing them, but deserves better than to have to listen to the original victim.
Thatâs the thing, I 100% think a video version of my theory to expose to a bigger community than âEvil Xisuma Fans on Tumblrâ is a great idea!! Near the end of the video Harris talks about how video adaptations of things could be a great market, even an accessibility tool, and I completely feel that about my posts. I wrote them quickly assuming the reader was someone well versed on Evil Xisuma lore, after not even watching most of the CarnEvil series, and the diagrams I made to explain them are even less comprehensible. Harris makes a joke that I completely agree with,Â
âIâm sure some of my videos would do very well if someone translated them into English.â
I donât think I wouldâve ever made my posts if I didnât have autism, and a special fixation on Evil Xisuma and Hermitcraft. I made them because I felt the character was being done an injustice, and because I wanted to share with other superfans this theory that might explain it away. I do think that MatPat plagiarizing me was ableist. I used to wonder a lot if this wouldâve happened if my posts were articulated better, if they had been peer reviewed, if the posts themselves had been spread to a wider audience before MatPat made his video. At one point when the discourse was fresh (before I had the time to write out my 10 page rebuttal), a bigger YouTuber (100k subs at the time) messaged me and started talking on Discord, interested in possibly making a video on the discourse, but I think my style of typing and general enthusiasm drove him away. You can tell by a single look at my blog (or my original 3 posts!) that I donât usually type like this. This post youâre reading now has been peer reviewed and edited, and took me hours to format correctly. That video couldâve been huge, the entire outcome of this MatPat situation would probably be much different.
I also used to stress a lot about âbeing the one who ruined Evil Xisumaâs storyâ. If you didnât know, to me S8 Evil Xisumaâs story got wrapped up pretty quickly and unsatisfying (in my personal autistic opinion). (though this mightâve been due to s8 being experimental and ending early with moon big) There was no real culmination of the plot points and arcs going on, and I donât want to blame myself, but when Xisuma said on stream (when the MatPat thing was first going on) that he didnât want to focus on the discourse or draw more attention to it, it makes a lot of sense to me that he just wanted to wrap it all up as quickly as possible. For a while I beat myself up about it, of ruining the story of this character I love, but itâs not my fault. If anyoneâs, itâs MatPats, but I donât think itâs useful to just blame someone else. Thatâs how the story ended up going, and thatâs fine. This is Evil Xisuma weâre talking about, their inconsistent lore is what made them such an interesting character. And notably, Pooka made an animation with an awesome culmination of Jeff, the Dreamer, Evil Xisuma, and his own sonaâs story, and it makes me so happy to watch. Whatever Pooka does is of course his own choice, but Iâm glad he got to give this personal story his own ending (if it is an ending, and not just the start of a new chapter!).Â
Typing this all out and getting it off my chest has made me feel a lot better. For a while I wanted to make my OWN video essay about Evil Xisumaâs lore and CarnEvilâs lore, actually going episode by episode to explain it instead of just assuming you knew as much about Evil Xisuma as I did. That idea is still not off the table, but MCYT isnât something Iâm that into right now. Maybe if something else comes out about Evil Xisuma Iâll get back on it, but for now Iâm fine with letting that go. But I want to make other videos, share other theories and analysis⌠if I have the freetime Iâd love to make YouTube videos, and if I donât have the time Iâll continue posting to my tumblr and infodumping to my friends. Apparently my infodumping is valuable enough âcontentâ to steal! Writing this out has made me feel a lot better though, Iâm really glad I got it out.
If anyone ever wants to talk to me about the things Iâm obsessed with, or reach out to me as a source in a bigger discussion about Game Theory or other channels, my inbox is more than welcome :] Thank you for reading!Â
Sincerely, a tumblr user.
#exiavojtmmc#hermitcraft#matpat#gt#game theory#hc#mcyt#evil xisuma#hbomberguy#plagiarism#james somerton#jeff the minion#mine#micer2012#hcs9
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hi lovely ! you asked for kny requests and i've just finished my kny volume 22 re-read, so thats perfect timing đ
I was wondering if you could write something with Yoriichi â (tw for potential child loss)
Maybe a hurt/comfort fic where his pregnant wife actually survives the demon attack while he's away (but maybe she gets quite badly injured and their unborn child doesn't make it, if you want to add a little extra angst to it. If not then that's totally fine, this man deserves a happy ending after all đĽş)
Of course, you're the writer â feel free to take any creative direction you'd like or ignore this request if you're not comfortable with it. Have a lovely day/night! <3
Again, I'm beyond sorry you were forced to wait for this so long! But here you go honey, let me know what you think <3
Yoriichi saving his pregnant wife and unborn child just in time
Pairing: Yoriichi x pregnant!wife!reader
Word Count: 4,2k
Synopsis: You never expected to face a demon ever again, especially not when you are about to deliver your child while your beloved husband Yoriichi is in search for a midwife. Will you and your child be alright? Will your husband make it back on time?
Warnings: injury, horror, child birth, tortue, description of death, extreme angst to fluff, last part is not proofread
Notes: Since the first Yoriichi fic I wrote, I'm so deeply in love with his character that I adore writing him so much! Since this fic took a while, I would totally appreciate your support through liking, commenting and reblogging this fic - thank's a lot babes <3
He canât get enough from simply looking at you. You with your head in the clouds, you with your hand mindlessly roaming around the soft grass underneath, the other one caressing your heavy pregnant belly, you when you give him those surprised eyes as soon as you notice his presence.
âOh, I wasnât aware that youâre already hereâ, you say in a small panicky voice.
You didnât expect your beloved husband back this soon. If you would have known that heâll be here by know you would have cleaned the whole house, made him something to eat and-
âI can only imagine what is going on inside your head again.â
His soft but at the same time rough hand touches your cheek gently, the loving gleam in his fuchsia eyes making you blush in an instant. All the voices in your head stop right in their track when heâs around.
Yoriichi Tsugikuni. Your savior, your best friend. And most importantly, your husband and father of your future child.
âHow are you feeling, love? Did you enjoy your afternoon?â, he questions, eyes wandering down your body to your swollen belly.
It was hard leaving you alone in a state like this, but he wasnât able to resist the urgent call from last night. He might be nothing but another simple man holding a sword, but it is his responsibility to save those who are in need. What else is he able to give to this world?
His hand lands on your belly, feels the tiniest kick of his unborn child against the palm of his hand. At least he was able to create a smaller version of you. Is it a boy, a girl maybe?
âI hope our child is a reflection of youâ, he finally mutters into the silence, a small but somehow sad smile forming itself on his lips.
You suddenly forget how to breathe, glossy eyes fixated on his captivating sight. Oh, oh much you hate the stinging fact that your husband thinks so negatively about himself. Why canât he see all the heroic things he has done so far, how respected he is in the demon slayer corps? Why canât he see that every inch of his body is flawless? Out of instinct, you let your head rest against his broad chest, breathe in his strong scent. If you could only stay like this here forever, his hand resting against your body while the sun tickles your skin-
A violent moan escapes your lips when a sharp pain runs through your stomach. A kick. A really rough kick, to be exact.
âAre you alright, love? Did something hurt you? Is it the baby?â, your husband asks feverishly, his usual neutral face garbled by worry lines on his forehead.
âJust a kickâ, you press out, still fighting to regain your composure.
âI will search for a mid-wife, (y/n).â
His words make your eyes widen in an instant, a wave of fear crushing down on you. Is it really time already? You look down at your swollen belly, so big that you arenât even able to sit down properly anymore. This has to be the ninth month of your pregnancy.
Your heart sinks. The ninth month. If the books youâve read are accurate, it really is time.
âI canât do this, Yoriichi.â
Thick panic runs through your veins, forces your heart almost out of your chest. You arenât ready to deliver a child, let alone to be a mother. All the things you havenât read yet, the things youâve probably never heard ofâŚWhat if you mess it up? Until you met Yoriichi, all you were able to do was trying to survive. Your mother never had the chance to tell you about those things, isnât here anymore to stay by your side.
You areâŚon your own.
âLook at me, (y/n). I will go out and search for a mid-wife and Iâll be back at sunset, you hear me? Just stay inside the house and nothing will happen. I promise to return as early as possible.â
Fuchsia eyes that radiate through your soul immediately. An angelic voice that calms down your tingling nerves with only four sentences. Strong arms that lift you off the ground and lead you back into the warmth of your home.
But know, itâs not the wooden cabin that feels like home. Your eyes wander to the neutral expression he wears on his face, only betrayed by a worried glow in his orbs. Itâs him, your beloved husband.
âAre you feeling alright, love?â
You take a deep breath in, a deep breath out. Eyes focused exclusively on him until your mind finally silences. Itâs just you and him. You and your beloved husband, the man you would trust with your life without battling an eyelid, the man who made you the person you are today.
âI doâ, you breathe out.
Your heartbeat tames down as well as the kicks of your unborn baby, Yoriichiâs hands keeping you from falling over.
âPromise me to lock the doors and wait in bed until I return, (y/n).â
A seriousness you only know from him when he is forced to leave at night veils his calm eyes.
âButâŚyou will be back before the sun sinks, right?â
He gifts you a small smile, hand caressing your cheek so gently that you almost forget about the worry lines decorating his face. The truth is that the next midwife lives miles away. Even if he gets to the village as soon as possible, the sun will be about to set when he returns. Yoriichi canât help but clench his other hand into a fist next to your stomach. The sheer thought of not making it in time, that youâll be defenceless.
âDonât worry, love. Rest your eyes and be assured that Iâll return as soon as possible.â
But he cannot allow himself to fail you, to leave you alone in those oh so merciless nights. He will return, no matter what it costs.
He presses a soft kiss against your forehead before grabbing his sword tightly.
This. This is his fate, his family. You are his whole life.
And heâll do everything to protect you.
-later that evening-
You are exhausted. Over the last few hours, your body was haunted by waves of pain coming and going like the seasons. Again, you dig your nail into the wooden floor, your heavy breaths hanging in the thick air. You definitely donât need a midwife to tell you itâs time. Yes, your baby is on its way.
And your husband didnât return yet.
Your glossy eyes dart towards the window, witness how the sky outside turns bright red in the down-going sun. Is Yoriichi alright? You know how cruel life can be. Maybe he met a person who needed to be saved on his way, maybe the midwife is too old to rush to your side in time.
âRest your eyes and be assured that Iâll return as soon as possible.â
Those words. Even though heâs not yet by your side, you are able to feel his powerful presence around you, how he calms down your aching heart.
âEverything will turn out alrightâ, you mutter to yourself while caressing your tummy.
âEverything will be alightâŚâ
You allow your lids to rest, body relaxing for the first time since your husband left. You will get through this, you will deliver your wonderful child tonight. A tiny bundle of joy, an image of its father. Is it a boy, a girl? As long as your child is healthy, you couldnât care less.
Carefully, you curl up on your futon, snuggle yourself into the blanket that still holds his scent. Maybe youâll be able to catch a few hours of sleep until he finally comes back. Sleep sure does sound very appealing at the moment.
But just when your breath begins to steady, a violent scratch forces you to sit straight up. It came from outside, without a doubt. Is it an animal, is itâŚ
Your throat gets tight immediately, glossy eyes staring at the closed window in sheer horror. The trees bend back and forth peacefully in what looks like a tender night. But that scratch, it sounded exactly like claws digging into hard wood, sent shivers down your spine immediately. You know that sound all too well, experienced what it means to get slaughtered by a demon before. Just before your whole family died violently, this was exactly what youâve heard.
Out of instinct, you bury yourself into the corner of the room, the blanket that holds Yoriichiâs scent still pressed against your now shivering body tightly. Please, let it be nothing but a wild animal, let your husband come back home soon. Maybe this is nothing but a nightmare and youâll wake up any given minute-
A violent pain runs through your body so suddenly that a shriek escapes your lips. Suddenly all air escapes your lungs, the way your belly cramps making you see start. No, you know exactly what this means, that this is not the right time to deliver a baby. Isnât there anything you can do to stop this? You still need to wait for your husband, the midwife, for this gut-turning feeling to vanish. Your breath gets stuck in your throat, sharp and fast breaths hanging in the thick atmosphere.
But it doesnât stop there. As if this wasnât enough already, you can only stare at the door that gets opened painfully slow, claws digging into the wooden frame.
Without any doubt, this is a demon.
You press your sweaty palm against your mouth, force yourself to stop screaming, to stop breathing.
âI know youâre here, human. You smell like aâŚwoman.â
Itâs like all life is drained from the dead shell of your body, widened orbs staring at the frightful creature that makes its way into your home. Get up, fight, defend yourself like you saw Yoriichi do countless times, use the knowledge you gained from him.
But you donât move an inch, donât dare to look away. For a brief moment, time seems to stand still. Out of all the nights youâve spent together with your husband, this is the first away from him, the first without his protection. Is all of this a dream, a hallucination to test your nerves?
The second the monsterâs deadly red orbs meet yours, you get hit by reality. No, this isnât a dream.
This will be your death.
âI knew you were here, lady. Let me help you up, okay?â
âN-no. Please d-donâtâ, you whimper under your breath.
Your coward of a body doesnât even fight back when he lifts you off the ground with ease, his nails digging into your soft flesh.
âOh, youâre expecting a baby, donât you? Well, does this count as a double kill, then?â
Your baby getting killed? If that thing ends your life, it means your unborn child will never experience dawn, will never get to see the face of its father, will never take in his scent. Your glossy eyes widen in sheer horror, tears now streaming down your face like waterfalls when a single frown form on your forehead.
You couldnât care less about your own life. After all, you were lucky that Yoriichi saved you back then, didnât even deserve to survive when your whole family had to die before you. But that oh so innocent child that might have the eyes of its father, the blessing of your life right after your husband. That innocent life cannot be taken. Â
There is no way you will let this creature lay hands on it.
Your body reacts faster than your mind. With a surprisingly well-placed kick, you free yourself out of the monsterâs casual grip. You need to get out of the house, out where you are able to find shelter, to run away. Your lungs feel like bursting any given minute, legs trembling underneath the weight of yourself and the unborn baby you still carry right under your heart. Even if it means youâll die in vain, even if you wonât be able to see Yoriichiâs tender eyes ever again, you have to make sure your child is safe.
âI underestimated you, stupid woman. As it seems you didnât give up on life yetâ, the creature purrs what feels like right next to you.
A new nauseous wave of panic rises up your veins, makes you sprint even faster through the thick woods that surround your house. This has always been your favorite place to be. The calm trees waving back and forth in a soft breeze, your husband right by your side-
Your husband. Just the thought of never getting to see him again makes your heart ache. You didnât even get the chance to thank him one last time, to let him know how much he truly means to you, that heâs way more than the man who saved your life back then.
Heâs everything you ever wanted, everything you ever needed.
A sharp pain that radiates through your lower body sends you straight onto the ground immediately, figure cramping so violently that you canât catch your breath. No, this is not the time labor, not when a demon is this close.
âOh, there you are. Did you really think you can run away like that? You, a little human? You made me so man that I will kill you as painfully slow as possible.â
You try to lift your trembling figure off the ground, try to get back onto your feet, to sprint down the forest you know so well. But just when youâre about to get back onto your knees, a stinging pain in your right thigh paired with a contraction sends you straight back.
A violent scream escapes your lips.
Red. Everything around you is discoloured red. Is this your blood? Did this thing kill you already, are you going to die? Despite the way your guts start to turn when you follow the trail of blood, you canât look away. And there it is indeed, a gaping hole in your leg, throbbing and bleeding.
All color that is left now drains from your face. With an injured leg, your chance to escape this demonâs claws is non-existent. Which meansâŚ
Your heart skips a beat, threatens to fail you any given second. What about your unborn child? A violent storm of anger and determination clouds your mind, makes all logical thoughts vanish into thin air.
âYou canât kill meâ, you press out.
Since the day you first laid eyes on a demon, you accepted your own death. Your life is worthless anyway, compared to great warriors like your husband himself. But that oh so innocent child, that tiny life you were given to. You ball your hands into fists so tight your knuckles stand out white and lift your throbbing self off the ground. You cannot allow a demon to take the life of that unborn baby.
âI wonât allow you to touch me.â
You realize the stupidity of your words after they spill out of your mouth in rage. You, not allowing a demon to touch your puny figure? Another contraction makes your guts turn and vision almost go black.
As expected the frightful creature draws closer, its unpromising pair of razor-sharp teeth glittering in the dim moonlight. You never expected to see a demon this close again. Oh, how much you hoped youâd never find yourself in that situation again. But you have to get through this, have to make sure you will survive long enough for the mid wife to deliver your child to this world.
His child.
âIâm sorry Yoriichi. I never planned on leaving you alone like thisâ, you mumble to yourself, shaky lips tinted in salty tears.
âBut this all Iâm able to do.â
-Yoriichiâs POV-
Something seems off. Is it the way the trees bent back and forth in the soft breeze of the already set sun? Is it that distant smell that hangs in the air, the one that reminds him of fresh blood and lavender?
âWe must make haste. I can sense that danger is ahead of usâ, he speaks out with firm voice.
He promised you that heâll be back before the sun goes down, that he will make it on time before demon are able to roam around freely. Are you feeling alright? Is the pain unbearable at this point? Do you still hold trust for him in your heart? His footsteps pick up instinctively, eyes set on the visibly stressed man behind him. In contrary to most people, Yoriichi doesnât fear the night or the demons it brings. The only thing he fears at the moment is what you have to endure without your husband by your side.
With every he takes forward, the stinging smell of blood mixed with lavender becomes more urgent in his nose.
Lavender.
He always wondered how you did it. Even after washing, all your clothes kept that calming scent that surrounded you as if you were standing in a lavender bush. A smell so sweet that it caught his interest back then before he caught a glimpse of your fascinating orbs, a smell that always reminds him of home. Yoriichiâs home will always be where you are, where the sensation of lavender is the strongest.
Lavender, the stinging smell of blood that hangs in the air. His eyes widen when his mind starts to race. The smell, it radiates from the direction of your shared home, from the direction that usually fills him with excitement. Can it be�
His heart starts racing uncontrollably while he dashes forward and draws his sword. Let it be nothing but coincidence, a cruel joke his thoughts play on him. But the stinging fragrance of lavender mixed with iron fills his heart with dread, makes his mind go numb. What if you got attacked by a demon, what if you are in great danger? All because he didnât live up to his promise, because he didnât make it on time. His eyes roam around the dark area, desperately searching for a sign.
And then his eyes find you.
Yoriichiâs heart stops.
There you lay, leaning against a nearby tree with a puddle of blood surrounding you, widened eyes starring straight into the face of a demon who hollers above you.
âNo one is coming to save you, stupid girl.â
He doesnât waste another second. With a swift motion of his sharp blade, Yoriichi beheads the demon on top of you while a toe-curling scream escapes your lips. Just one look at your sliced-up kimono reveals countless injuries, especially a gaping hole in your thigh. You hold onto your swollen belly for what looks like dear life, eyes still widened in nothing but shock.
â(y/n)â, he gently speaks out while letting himself fall down next to you.
You have to blink a few times. The demon, it was just about to dig its sharp teeth into your sensitive skin, to take the life of your unborn child in front of your eyes.
Maroon.
But those arenât the deadly red orbs. No, those oh so gorgeous eyes look so familiar that your heart tames down in an instant. Could it really be, is it possible that itâsâŚhim?
âYoriichi.â
You breathe his name into the night like a prayer.
Maybe this is nothing but an illusion, a cruel trick your own brain plays on you.
âWords canât express how sorry I am for arriving too late. I will never forgive myself for leaving you alone this long, for causing this to happenâ, his oh so familiar voice blurts out.
Yoriichiâs usual so composed face twists in sheer agony, eyes filling with salty tears. All of this is his fault. He should have arrived sooner, he should have made hurry, he-
âWe didnât come this far to worry now. Please, help be delivering this child, let it all make senseâ, you press out while grabbing his hand tightly.
It doesnât matter that youâre severely injured, it doesnât matter that your beloved husband took longer than expected to come back to you. All that matters now are you, him and your unborn child that waits to be delivered.
âAllow me to assist you.â
A foreign man suddenly speaks out with sweat dripping from his forehead in waterfalls. Just when another wave of nauseous pain hits you with full force, as if you got kicked into your stomach by a horse. You fail to breathe for a second, hands holding onto your husband for dear life.
âYou are already close, it wonât be long nowâ, the man reassures you while gently opening your legs.
âYou can do it, (y/n). After all the things you had to endure today, you will be able to get through this. With me by your side. I love you more than any words could ever say, darling.â
One more push.
One more wave of pain before your body goes numb, before you lose the ability to feel anything except for sweet nothingness.
Until a loud shriek finds its way to your ear.
A violent scream, almost frustrating. When you open your eyes again, you are greeted by a crying but alive bundle of joy, carefully wrapped into a white cloth and placed onto the arm of its father.
Those eyes.
âI prayed every night that he would have your eyesâ, you whimper with tears running down your cheek uncontrollably.
You did it. You saved your beloved child who looks just like its father, you managed to somehow stay alive.
âSheâ, the midwife corrects you gently.
âSheâŚâ, you mumble with a small smile.
The last thing you see are the troubled maroon eyes of your husband before your world goes dark.
-the next day-
A foreign but still so familiar laughter fills the atmosphere around you with joy while you see nothing but black. When your stubborn lids finally open, you are greeted by the wooden ceiling you know so well. This is your home, without any doubt.
The home a demon invaded.
The home where you feared for your life while your husband rushed to the midwife in order to deliver your child.
Your child.
You get up way too quickly, glossy eyes darting around the room without a real aim. Is your baby okay? What happened after the delivery? All you can remember are those familiar maroon eyes that looked so much like the orbs of your beloved husband. Your husbandâŚWhere is Yoriichi?
âDonât move too quickly, love. The doctor strictly forbids you to be in a hasteâ, his gentle voice speaks out next to you.
Just a few moments later, you get invited by the warmth of his arms swallowing you whole. Out of instinct, you let yourself fall against him, press your very own body into his despite the scorching pain that immediately takes over your whole self.
Right, you were attacked by a demon the night you gave birth. How did you manage to escape? Are your injuries critical.
But most important: How is your baby?
âLook what you have accomplished. A little wonder. Just like you, my loveâ, your husband murmurs, carefully lifting a little bundle off a blanket nearby.
Your heart nearly stops when you catch a glimpse of her. Those maroon eyes are the last thing you remember before everything goes black. With shaky hands, you start caressing her puffy cheek. This. This is what you fought for, what makes it all worth it in the end.
âShe has your eyesâ, you hush, tears now streaming down your face in waterfalls.
âAnd your hairâ, Yoriichi replies with a soft smile towards you.
â(y/n), I promise Iâll do anything in my power to protect you and her from something like this. I promise I will stand by your side no matter what. And I hope that someday, you will be able to forgive me for not being there for you when you needed me the most.â
The second your husbandâs voice cracks, you canât hold onto yourself any longer. You wrap your arms around him and your daughter longingly, take in the scent who gave you strength that night.
âThere is nothing to forgive and nothing to feel sorry about. You did your very best and that is all that matters. I love you, Yoriichi. And I have to thank you for saving both of us just in time.â
âYou are my greatest treasure on earthâ, he mumbles against your lips while giving you a passionate kiss.
What a plot twist, what a happy end after all. Yesterday you were sure your life is over, that you wonât live onto the next day. And now youâre lying in your house, holding your giggling daughter while pressing your heavy head against your husbandâs broad chest.
âWell, I fear I will have to share this special place by nowâ, you comment while gazing at your perfect little daughter.
âThis might be true, love.â
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Guilty Pleasures ŕź jjk, kth (m) | chapter v
â Summary: Three years of being Seoul's power couple earns you nothing but a big fat divorce settlement and your face plaster on every gossip column around town. You're angry, hurt, and desperately want to move on, but worst of all? You're still in love with the man who started the whole mess, even though the most he can ever see you as is a friend. The renowned actor you've hired to be your company's new endorser seems to have a soft spot for you though. He's easy on the eyes, you'll admit, but who actually wants a divorcee like yourself? It's unrealistic really.
pairing: ex-husband ceo!jungkook x ceo!reader, actor!taehyung x ceo!reader
genre/AU: angst, smut, fluff, loverstoexesto ?, coworkers2?, unrequited love
Word count: 14k+
Warnings: oc and jk are both 30, Taehyung is 32, swearing, tornado of emotions, morally grey characters, mentions of toxic relationships, mentions of broken home/families, mean relatives, mentions of therapy, struggles of self-blame, regret, guilt, denial, self-deprecating in some areas etc., mentions of alcohol consumption, mentions of sexism in the media and business world, there is one scene depicting some physical violence (tame) , finally some fluff!, and I won't spoil any more
playlist: Unkiss Me, Apologize, Hate That I Love You, etc.
a/n: OMG....ignore the fact that this is releasing a month after ch. 4. đŤ i'm sorry. On the bright side, I'm VERY excited to share this with you AND this actually isnât the last chapter. Thereâs one more after! I hope you enjoy 𼰠ALSO, this is GP!Taehyung in this chapter (....đŽâđ¨)
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"This can't be right," you mutter to yourself for the umpteenth time, eyes heavily fixated on your laptop screen. You've been scrolling through the latest press releases all morning, a cup of tea growing cold beside you.
Ever since Jiminâs text last week, rumors about your ex-husband stepping down from his position at JeonX practically spread like wildfire, with nearly every journalist adding their individual spin on the matterâsome suggest personal issues, while others hint at possible disagreements within the company.
Despite the influx of information, however, it all remains too vague and inconclusive. An official statement from the company directly would help clear up speculations, but itâs been crickets. Their silence only makes you consider the validity of the rumors even more.
Why would they make such a critical leadership change right after their newest product launch though?
This question, among others, continuously swirl in the back of your mind and you find the entire predicament ironic. You used to be one of the first to know the ins and outs of the company, easily able to distinguish the truth. Now, you're left in the dark like everyone else, dependent on the media for answers.
Before your eyes have time to skim the next group of articles on your screen, your phone rings.
It's Taehyung.
âHey,â you answer casually, momentarily forgetting the significance of the call.
âMorning!â His voice is gravelly yet carries a cheerful tone. He seems quite upbeat for a foggy Saturday at 8 a.m. âAre you still okay to carpool to my parents' place today? Tan and I are on our way over.â
Dammit. Of course, this isnât just any old Saturdayâitâs the day of Taehyungâs family gathering. It had slipped your mind that you asked to ride together a few days prior. Given that it would be a five-hour long commute, driving separately seemed less convenient and enjoyable. Besides, youâd miss out on having Tan on your lap, his head poking out of the passenger-side window.
âYeah, Iâm good to go,â you reply, trying to sound more confident than you feel. âIâll be ready when you get here.â
âGreat! See you soon.â Taehyung hangs up, and you put your phone down with a deep breath.
To be blunt, you're still extremely nervous about the affair. Surely his family knows who you are and has seen their fair share of articles about you. So how will they react when you show up next to Taehyung at their family function? He says theyâll like you, but it's hard to accept.
Nonetheless, you know how important this family gathering is to him and how much he wants you to be there. Not only is it a family event, but itâs also a celebration of his recovery from a motorcycle accident that couldâve been much worse.
As you pour your cold cup of tea down the sink, you try to push away the unsettling mix of thoughts, focusing instead on the next task at handâ how you should dress. Prior conversations with Taehyung advise you that something polished would be ideal for the occasion, as his family appreciates a touch of elegance, yet your mind blanks on a tangible option. Surely, thereâs something in the back of your closet that would do the trick. Right?
WellâŚyouâre right-ish.
Upon searching through rows of hangers, arms growing tired, you finally find a somewhat suitable sundress. Youâre hoping it wonât look too casual, but you donât seem to have a better alternative with your closet currently overtaken by work clothes.
Wasting no further time, you quickly slip the dress over your head and observe how it fits in the mirror. Not bad, you think, before deciding on a few complimentary jewelry pieces. The saving grace of this choice of clothing is that it can easily be dolled up, which is exactly whatâs needed today.
Soon, you hear the muffling of an engine and when you peek through your bedroom window, youâre unsurprised to see Taehyungâs car pull into the driveway with a very excited Tan poking his head out from the backseat. A small smile forms on your lips at the sight.
Sparing one final look in the mirror, you slide into your shoes, toss your bag over a shoulder, and head outside to meet them.
âHey!â Per usual, you're met with a warm smile as you hop into Taehyung's car but before you can return the greeting, Tan bounds onto your lap, tail wagging eagerly. âGod, Iâm so sorry about him,â Taehyung reaches for his dog, but you quickly reassure him itâs alright.
âIâm happy to see you too, Tan,â you laugh, petting him affectionately. Your focus then shifts over to Taehyung, "Thanks for coming to get me."
âOf course,â he replies, smile widening as he watches Tan settle into your lap. âIâm really glad youâre coming with me," he continues, pulling away from the curb. "My parents are looking forward to meeting you.â
You nod, trying to calm your fluttering nerves. âIâm looking forward to meeting them too.â This time, when you glance his way, you take in his attireâa crisp white button-up shirt, sleeves rolled to the elbows, and black dress pants. Itâs a classic look, yet it seems oddly refreshing on him. It's not like you expected Taehyung to look bad or anything; far from it, but did he always have to look this good? A queasy feeling soon settles in the pit of your stomach...maybe you should have worn something else.
Before you're able to fully turn away from him, Taehyung speaks up. âYou look really nice today,â he says softly, eyes lingering over your face and down your body before shyly refocusing on the road. âThat dress is beautiful on youâit really suits you.â
âOh, thank you,â you reply with a shy smile of your own, unexpectant of his comment. âYou donât look half bad yourself.â
Something about the subtle exchange of compliments stirs a bundle of nerves in both of you and even with averted eyes, neither of you finds it entirely unpleasant.
The rest of the drive is long, but luckily, soon fills with lighthearted conversation and laughter. It's become easier and easier to be around Taehyung, you think.
After more than a few bathroom breaksâmostly due to Tanâs persistent whiningâyou finally catch sight of Taehyungâs parentâs house.
Itâs even more picturesque than you imagined, with its charming architecture and well-tended garden. In the distance, the ocean glimmers, tying the scene perfectly together.
âI meant to mention earlier, but my parents have an oceanfront view,â Taehyung says casually, pulling up to the house. âWe can go down there later if youâd like. Itâs private access.â
âReally?â You glance over at him with anticipation, your excitement clear. You can already taste the saltiness of the water. âIf itâs really okay, Iâd love that.â
âItâs more than okay,â he assures with a smile. âIn fact, itâs a done deal. The best time to go is in the evening. We can even use the excuse that we need to take Tan for a little stroll if necessary. Family bonding can get a bit overwhelming without a few breaks.â He lets out a chuckle but stops when he notices your slightly demure expression.
âHey,â he turns to you with gentle eyes. âEverything okay?â
You blink, momentarily pulled from your thoughts. âOh, yeah, sorry. I was just thinking itâs been a while since Iâve gone to any kind of family affair. They know Iâm coming, right?â
Understanding your apprehension, Taehyung shifts the gear into park and places a light hand on your arm. âAbsolutely, and please believe me when I say theyâre more than ready and excited to meet you. Theyâve asked about you so many timesâIâm pretty sure Iâve lost count. Iâm really happy youâre here with me too, so I hope you donât feel like youâre intruding because I promise youâre not at all. And if at any point you need a moment to yourself, take it. I want you to feel as comfortable as possible, and Iâm confident my family will want the same.â
With his hand on your arm, you find yourself wrapping yourself in the comfort of the gesture, nerves slowly easing in the process. âThanks, Tae,â you reply, feeling a tad lighter than before.
âAre you ready?â
You nod, signaling him to remove his hand to take the key out of the ignition. As his hand leaves your arm however, you feel a subtle, unexpected shiftâwishing the warmth of his touch could linger just a moment longer.
But hold up.
Since when did he affect you like this?
Dwelling on it further proves to be futile because before you can blink, the houseâs front door swings wide open, revealing an older, petite woman with a kind and inviting smile. You both step out of the car immediately, Tan happily trotting around the yard confidently.
The woman pulls Taehyung into a big hug once close enough, and itâs all the evidence you need to deduce that she must be his mother.
âWe were wondering where you were!â she starts. âEveryoneâs here except you.â Itâs a light scold, not that Taehyung minds from the giant grin spreading across his face.
âForgive me, Mom. I guess weâre fashionably late,â he replies.
Mrs. Kim looks up and down her son with adoration, hands still gripping his arms. âLook at you,â she coos, as if proud. âMy son is so handsome. Iâm so happy to see you here, healthy and well.â
âMom, this is __.â
Her eyes then shift to you, standing somewhat awkwardly beside them. If possible, her warm expression brightens even more, taking you by surprise.
âMy goodness, Iâm being so rude," she says, stepping toward you. "Itâs wonderful to finally meet you, honey. Are you okay with hugs?â
âSure.â You offer a sincere smile and embrace her. When you do, you feel a sense of peacefulness that you hadnât ever before, soothing any lingering tension. You canât help but assume that many of Taehyungâs qualities must come from her.
âIâm so pleased that my son brought you today,â she says, pulling back from the hug. She takes in your clothing as well. âYou're absolutely lovely, my dear. Doesn't this color work wonderfully on her?â She glances at Taehyung, who merely nods in agreement.
âYouâre the one who looks beautiful, Mrs. Kim,â you return the compliment, feeling a tad embarrassed by all the praise. âI love your earrings by the way. Are they jade?â
She nods, pleasantly. âThank you for noticing. Theyâre indeed jade. My husband gifted them to me for our anniversary last year. I told him he didnât need to get me anything, but that man is so persistent. Speaking of which, you should come inside and meet him.â She turns around at once and ushers you and Taehyung into the house. He allows you to go first.
As you follow Mrs. Kim up the steps, Tan bounds ahead excitedly. The aroma of delicious food fills the air the further you walk, and soon youâre greeted by a cozy, homey atmosphere.
Finally, you find Taehyungâs father in the kitchen, washing his hands at the sink. âHoney, Taehyungâs here and he brought __ with him.â Upon hearing your name, the man quickly dries his hands on a towel and extends a friendly hand your way, eyes twinkling.
âHello, __! Iâm glad you could come today. Weâve heard so much about you.â
âLikewise,â you reply, âThank you for welcoming me into your home. Itâs gorgeous in here.â
âWell, we have our son to thank.â He directs his attention to Taehyung, reaching out and patting his son on the back with a proud smile. âHe bought this house for us after all. Heâs a good son.â
What?
You glance at Taehyung in surprise, intrigued to learn more about this new bit of information. However, seemingly flustered by the comment, you decide itâs better to save it for another time. His mother is quick to step in.
âTaehyung, dear, why donât you show __ around and introduce her to everyone?â she suggests smoothly. âTheyâre all in the living room. Weâll gather everyone to have lunch soon.â
Taehyung nods at the suggestion and begins leading you through the house, until you reach the living room at the end of the hall. The room is even larger than you anticipated upon entering, its high ceilings finished with a delicate glass chandelier. A grand piano sits in the far corner as well where a number of children huddle together, each taking turns playing a few notes.
One by one, Taehyung starts introducing you to his relatives and despite your initial apprehension, each person you meet greets you with nothing but warmth and kindness. Not even a single person shows discomfort towards you or makes a dig into your personal life (though youâre certain theyâre well aware of who you are). Itâs no wonder Taehyung boasts about his family so oftenâthey truly are a close-knit and respectable group of people.
At least, thatâs what you think until Taehyung asks, âWhere's Auntie and Uncle? I havenât seen them yet.â
One of Taehyungâs cousins looks a bit hesitant before replying, âOh, Tae, Iâm sorry, but we havenât heard anything from them so they might not be coming today. Maybe they had last-minute plans. Itâs a bit of a shame, really.â
An odd silence settles over the room at this, conversations lower in volume, and a few knowing glances are exchanged among relatives. The abrupt shift seems to throw a wrench into your previous statement of closeness since, evidently, the absence of Taehyungâs aunt and uncle casts a dark shadow over the cheerful gathering.
Sensing an awkward lull, Taehyung tries to lighten the mood with a bright smile. âWell, Iâm sure weâll still have a great time. Iâm just happy to see everyone here.â He gently redirects the conversation to something more upbeat, attempting to remedy the unusual tension.
Just then, a small figure bursts into the room, capturing everyoneâs attention.
A little girl, no more than six or seven years old, runs straight toward Taehyung with arms outstretched. âTaetae!â she shouts, using the affectionate nickname as she latches herself around his legs.
Taehyung's face breaks into possibly the happiest grin youâve seen in response as he kneels to lift her up effortlessly, holding her close as she giggles. âHey, sweetheart! I missed you!â His voice is filled with affection, though thereâs a hint of shock as well.
Eagerly, the little girl secures her arms around his neck. âI missed you too! Mommy and Daddy said we might not be able to come, but here we are!â
âWell, I'm so glad! Have you been a good girl for your parents?â he asks with a playful tone.
The little girl nods vigorously. âYes! Iâve been helping Mommy with so much lately.â
âGood job!â Taehyung says, giving her a high five.
Youâre unsure exactly how the two relate, but the longer you watch the interaction unfold, the more evident it becomes that Taehyungâs a natural at connecting with children. His playful demeanor and patience make it clear that he has a special way with them. Itâs heartwarming to see, quite honestly.
âTaetae, whoâs she?â the little girl asks suddenly, her big, curious eyes setting on you.
Taehyung smiles and gestures for you to come closer. âThis is __. Sheâs my friend.â He looks at you and adds, âThis is my little cousin Eun-ha. Weâre quite close.â
âHi, Eun-ha,â you greet with a soft smile. âItâs so nice to meet you.â
She doesnât return your greeting, but rather leans into Taehyungâs ear and whispers something you canât quite hear.
Taehyung chuckles softly, though it does little to conceal your curiosity. âNo, Eun-ha,â he says, shaking his head. âWe donât kiss like in my movies. But yes, she's very pretty.â
Though you wish otherwise, your surprise is barely hidden as you process the revelation.
âWhy not?â Eun-ha asks, puzzled. âYou kiss lots of pretty people in the movies.â
Flustered, Taehyung clears his throat. âWhoâs letting you watch my shows? Youâre a little young for those I think.â
âShe likes to watch them when she canât see you,â a new voice interjects.
Following the voice, you see two adults entering the roomâ Taehyungâs aunt and uncle. Their expressions are clearly stiff and somewhat distant, a stark contrast to the warmth of the rest of the family.
âWell, I guess itâs okay then,â Taehyung responds, maintaining his usual beaming smile. âAuntie, Uncle, itâs good to see you.â
His aunt and uncle offer polite but somewhat curt greetings.
âGlad to see youâre alright, Taehyung,â his aunt says, her tone lacking warmth.
âHello,â his uncle adds, his expression neutral. âI see youâve brought a guest.â He nods toward you.
âYes, this is __,â Taehyung introduces you, âSheâs a friend of mine and a colleague as well.â
The pair glance at you briefly, their eyes betraying a lack of interest.
âNice to meet you,â his aunt says, though the thickness in her tone suggests otherwise.
âLikewise,â you respond, trying to match their formality with a friendly smile.
âYou know, when I heard my nephew was bringing a guest, I wasnât quite sure what to expect,â she continues, though the implication is unclear.
âIâm sorry?â you ask, trying to grasp her meaning.
âMy apologies. I work as an editor for a journalism outlet, so Iâve come across your name before,â she explains. âItâs always interesting to see people in person after reading about them. I canât say I ever imagined having the opportunity today.â
âOh,â you say, trying to keep your composure. âI hope the coverage has been accurate.â You know they havenât been, aside from a couple of progressive news outlets. Based on her rigid stare, you donât think she belongs to either of them.
âTheyâre accurate most of the time,â she replies, her eyes narrowing slightly. âAlthough, there are alwaysâŚdifferent perspectives on such matters.â
You offer a polite, tight-lipped smile in response. Despite your best efforts to remain composed, however, your hands unconsciously clench into fists at your sides, indicating your bubbling discomfort.
âWell, Iâm sure those articles are just one side of the coin,â Taehyung chimes in, attempting to smooth over the conversation. âIâm of the mindset that you really donât know a person until you spend time with them. And I can assure you, those overpriced tabloids have it all wrong.â He shoots you a reassuring look.
In the midst of it all, Taehyungâs father steps into the room, oblivious to the tension. âAlright everyone, itâs time to eat!â he announces, his voice carrying a cheerful note. âLetâs gather around now.â
Neither you nor Taehyungâs aunt speak another word to each other as you follow his father into the dining room. You take a deep breath along the way, an attempt to steady yourself.
As lunch begins, Taehyungâs father stands at the head of the table, a broad smile on his face as he raises a glass.
âWe want to thank everyone for being here today to celebrate Taehyungâs recovery,â he begins, his voice filled with heartfelt sincerity. âWeâre grateful for this family and for the love and support that has carried us through. To Taehyung!â
âTo Taehyung!â everyone echoes, lifting their glasses in a unified cheer.
From then on, the meal progresses smoothly, with conversation gradually returning to pleasant topics. Dishes are passed around, and laughter helps lighten the mood. Taehyungâs parents share stories of their journey together, their voices rich with wisdom and nostalgia. As you listen, you get a glimpse of the morals that have shaped their family. Itâs so different from your own upbringing, and you feel honored to be a part of it today.
Yet it's still difficult to ignore the lingering heaviness in your chest from your earlier interaction with Taehyungâs aunt. Even now, her sour expression is directed your way, though she seems to withhold her remarks, perhaps due to Mr. and Mrs. Kimâs presence.
Donât take this personally, you repeat in your head. Thereâs likely some underlying history or traditional views being projected onto you. This isnât really about youâŚdon't take it personally.
Midway through the meal, Taehyungâs mother intrigues everyone by pulling out a collection of old photographs. She begins sharing the backstories of various childhood photos of Taehyung, the corners of her eyes crinkling with joy and amusement as she recounts each memory. Taehyung, visibly flustered, tries to hide his blush as his family teases him.
âOh, look at this one!â his mother exclaims, holding up a particularly old photo of a much younger Taehyung with a hilariously exaggerated hairstyle. âHe was so determined to be a rock star!â
The room bursts into laughter, and Taehyung grins sheepishly, his cheeks rosy. âIs this really necessary? I mean __âs hereâŚâ
âCome on, Tae, itâs cute!â you say with a smile, giving his arm a playful shove. As you do, Taehyungâs auntâs eyes widen slightly. Her gaze shifts sharply between you two, and a flicker of disapproval crosses her face. You stop your playfulness upon first notice, finding it hard to ignore.
âItâs embarrassing,â Taehyung retorts, unaware of his auntâs reaction.
âOh hush,â his mother replies with a warm smile. âLet a mother indulge in the memories of her children. Youâre all grown up now, and with your busy schedule, I hardly see you anymore.â
âAlright, fair point,â Taehyung concedes. âCarry on.â
When the meal winds down, Taehyungâs aunt clears her throat and speaks up. âIs everyone ready for dessert? Iâve baked a homemade cake,â she announces, tone carrying a hint of forced cheerfulness. Turning to you, she adds, âWould you mind assisting me in the kitchen, __? I could use an extra hand.â
Taehyung immediately offers to help, but his aunt insists on speaking with you alone, masking it as an opportunity to get to know you better.
Once youâre in the kitchen and away from prying eyes and ears, Taehyungâs auntâs demeanor shifts abruptly. She returns to her previous blunt and unreserved nature. âI need to be honest with you,â she begins, her voice low and steely. âI donât think you should be here.â
Her words sting, yet a part of you canât help but wonder if thereâs some merit to them.
âI know this is a family event, and Iâm sorry if it seems like Iâm intruding. Taehyung invited me.â
âNo, thatâs not what I meant,â she dismisses, venom lacing her tone. âI mean, you shouldnât be here with Taehyung.â
âIâm not sure what youâre referring toââ
âOh please, donât pretend I donât have eyes, Ms. __,â she interjects sharply. The use of your formal name sends a chill down your spine. âYou may be friends now, but I can see thereâs more going on beneath the surface. Unlike the rest of my family, I wonât just stand by and let it happen. So, if you think you can charm your way into my nephewâs life just like you did with that ex-husband of yours, then youâre mistaken. I wonât allow you to ruin his life.â
Ruin his life? You ruined Jungkookâs life and now you are about to ruin Taehyungâs? Confused and hurt, you finally realize the root of the matterâshe's convinced youâre a gold digger.
Youâre stunned by the accusation, struggling to find words as she continues. âThereâs nothing you can say to change my mind either. Even if the articles arenât exactly true, you still have a past, and Taehyung deserves betterâsomeone without all these complications. Donât you agree? Maybe if you hadnât been married before and were ten years younger, things might be different. But honestly? A woman your age should already have a family of her own.â
Silence falls heavily in the kitchen after her final words, the only sound being your labored breaths. Your throat goes dry and your hands clammy as some of your deepest insecurities take root, striking right at your core.
Itâs trueâyouâre 30 years old, divorced, and without children. Itâs a stark contrast to your peers.
Youâd always imagined your life turning out differently, but here you are, alone and without any kind of companionship. You werenât expecting to be reminded of it all today.
âI think youâve made yourself clear about how you feel,â a voice speaks up, and you think itâs yours, until you realize itâs much too deep.
Taehyungâs aunt looks momentarily stunned to see her nephew standing in the doorway, his expression a mixture of shock and anger. But she quickly regains her composure. âTaehyung, I was justââ
âPlease donât,â he interrupts, voice firm. âIf I had known you were going to be this cruel towards someone I deeply care about, then Iâm sorry I invited you.â
He steps closer, his gaze unwavering. âYou have no right to judge someone you donât know based on rumors and assumptions.â
His auntâs face softens, though her disapproval remains. âIâm only looking out for you. I donât want you to get hurt.â
âI donât need you to protect me from my own choices,â Taehyung replies, his voice calmer. âIâve made my own decisions, and __ is a part of that. If you canât respect that, then maybe you should reconsider how you approach these situations.â
Taehyungâs aunt stands silent for a moment, her gaze shifting between Taehyung and you. She seems to weigh his words before finally nodding and turning back towards the dining room, her displeasure still evident.
Taehyung turns to you, his face etched with worry. âAre you alright?â
You hesitate, unable to give a clear response. âI⌠I think I need some air,â you finally say.
âMaybe itâs time we take that walk down to the beach,â he suggests gently. âWhat do you think? Of course, if youâd prefer to go solo, thatâs completely your call too. Iâll understand either way.â
You nod, appreciating the idea. âIâd like you to come with me.â
âLet me grab Tan and we can head down,â Taehyung says with a reassuring smile.
The sound of the waves grows louder as you approach the ocean, providing a soothing backdrop to your racing thoughts. It's even more beautiful up close, you think, observing how the sun reflects off the water.
As you walk along the shore, Tan runs ahead, chasing the waves and barking playfully. The sight of him brings a small smile to your face, easing some of the heaviness in your chest.
Taehyung walks beside you, his presence peaceful, though neither of you are quick to speak.
Finally, after a few minutes pass, he breaks the silence.
âIâm really sorry about what happened back there," he says quietly. "My aunt's always had more traditional perspectives, but I didnât know how rigid theyâd gotten. Regardless of how she might've made you feel, I want you to know that youâre very important to me and I couldn't care less about what the public says. The rest of my family seems to love you too so far."
You take a deep breath, the salty air filling your lungs. âItâs not your fault, Taehyung. But thank you.â You pause, your face visibly conflicted. âTo be honest, Iâve heard variations of it before from other people. I just didnât expect her to be so⌠direct.â
He nods, turning to you with sincerity. âI know it was hurtful, and even though I didnât hear everything she said, you didnât deserve it. It's not true, either.â
You manage a small, tight-lipped smile, but it hardly matches how you feel inside. âWell,â you begin, continuing your walk, âsome of it's true, I think.â Taehyung looks at you with concern, though you struggle to hold his gaze.
âWanna sit?â he suggests lightly, gesturing to a spot on the beach with a clear view of the waves ahead. "Tan'll be fine to roam around on his own."
You nod slowly in reply, a gentle breeze caressing your face and feathering against your legs as you move.
Once you reach the area, you tuck the skirt of your dress beneath your thighs and take a seat on the soft sand. Taehyung sits down beside you.
âSo,â he starts again, his eyes never leaving your face, âwhatâs true?"
You take a moment, watching the waves crash against the shore before forming a response. âItâs justâŚâ Your voice falters as you search for the right words. âIâm 30 years old. The natural course for someone my age is to have a family, a couple of kids, and of course, be married. Or at the very least, have a reliable romantic partner.â
âInstead,â you take a short breath, âit feels like Iâm living in a completely different reality from everyone else. Divorced from a big shot CEO, without children, and painted as some kind of spinster or gold digger for the media to exploit. Being a woman, there's really no in-between which makes it that much harder to overcome."
Upon finishing your thought, an unmistakable nervousness bubbles up within you. Had you just overshared? Were you too honest? Although unsettled, everything in you hopes that you didn't just overstep your boundaries with Taehyung, as the two of you hadn't had this deep of a conversation before. You find yourself holding your breath as he replies.
"To have all that unnecessary pressure placed on you is unfair,â he says quietly. âI canât imagine how tough it must be to feel disregarded and reduced to so little. I'm so sorry, __. I'm sorry that we gets so fixated on image and whatâs deemed proper that we often forget the real meaning behind things. I know it might be hard to believe, but thereâs more to your story than what others see or say. More than even you might think, too."
As if inevitable, your vision goes misty and a tear spills down your cheek upon hearing his words, though you're quick to wipe it away. It's not that the words themselves are monumental, but rather, they confirm the closeness of your relationship. Few people have ever understood or cared to understand you, so you had stopped expecting it altogether, especially after your divorce. Yet somehow, Taehyung always surprises you, being one of the few who truly does.
Feeling a bit more comfortable, you admit, "I know it's probably an overstatement, but I can't help but feel like I'm alone in ways that are hard to escape. Some days I just don't know what to do with it all. Does that make sense?"
âSweetheart,â Taehyung says softly, taking the hand you used to wipe your tears and lacing his fingers with yours. The warmth of his touch sends a comforting spark through you. Heâs never called you that before, and it feels unexpectedly intimateâalmost domestic, if you didnât know better.
âIt makes complete sense, especially given what you've gone through and still are. You donât ever have to feel alone anymore though,â he continues. âIâm here for you. You have Jimin and Namjoon too. And the three of us? Weâll always have your back.â
Your eyes soften as you meet his gaze. Heâs looking at you with such warmth and innocence, yet he hasnât fully grasped the weight of your words.
âI appreciate it,â you say gratefully. âItâs not all one-dimensional, though. When I say I feel alone, I mean relationally as well because, given my age and marital status, it's unlikely I'll find any real companionship. Iâm just considered âused goods' after all.â
âUsed goods? Who the hell said you're used?â Taehyungâs voice rises, not in anger but in genuine offense. Amid his reaction, his hand slips from yours.
âOur entire society?â you retort, raising your voice before lowering it again, realizing he means well. You pull your legs up to your chin and hug them. âIâm divorced, Tae. Iâm no beauty queen. Just used goods, as I said.â
You both stare out into the distance, falling into a brief silence.
âWell, I for one think youâre very gorgeous,â he says softly, still gazing ahead. âSo please, donât call yourself used. Youâre definitely not.â
âTaeââ
âDo you wish you were still married?â he interjects gently, eyes returning to yours, searching for the truth. He wants to add, To Jungkook? but keeps it to himself, not deeming it his business.
You take a moment to process his question before responding.
âSome days I do,â you admit. âNot just with anyone, though. Iâve already learned my lesson the hard way. Jimin tried setting me up with a few of his coworkers a while back, but I declined. Theyâre so far away that I doubt anything would work out. Plus, not to be harsh but who in their right mind would risk it with me anyway?â
âI mean...I would,â he replies almost immediately, insistence in his voice. There's no trace of bluff at all and for a moment, your heart feels like it's doing about a hundred somersaults in your chest. Taehyung's seriousness makes it seem like he means it in a deeper way, but it can't beâheâs merely speaking figuratively because of your closeness.
âOf course you would,â you reply, grabbing his hand again and smiling gratefully. âBecause you love me, right?â
You pose the question playfully, feeling your mood lift slightly, but Taehyungâs expression turns stunned, like a deer caught in headlights.
âI do,â he finally murmurs, deep and meaningful, a soft glimmer in his eyes. âI really do.â
"Hu-" you choke on your words, still trying to process his. You never finish, though, as Taehyung suddenly moves to stand up, a newfound cheekiness taking precedence over his face.
âCome on,â he says, âon a warm day like this, we should find a way to enjoy ourselves. Dance with me.â
âWhat?â you ask, though to be honest, you're not surprised by his spontaneity. âDancing is a no, Tae. You know I have zero rhythm.â
He doesnât reply to your argument but instead draws his phone from his pocket, tapping around until light jazz music starts playing. He turns up the volume as loud as he can before placing it on the ground beside you.
âWhat are you doing?â you watch as he begins swaying his body from side to side, snapping his fingers when the beat feels right.
âIâm dancing by myself since you refuse to get up.â
You laugh, âI happen to like it this way. You can be my source of entertainment.â You adjust yourself so your legs are stretched out in front of you, feet crossed as you lean back on your arms.
He chuckles and continues dancing in small circles. You feel a little guilty the longer you watch. But then...
â__,â he calls your name, low and raspy. He steps over towards you and leans down until he's face to face with you. You like the way the sun glows down on his face, and the thought crosses your mindâhe looks incredibly handsome. â__,â he calls your name again, and you realize you've been staring a little too long.
âSorry,â you reply. âSunâs making me dazed.â
He gives his usual boxy smile, and damn, why are you feeling so affected by him today? Itâs not usually this much.
âWill you please dance with me? I donât mind dancing by myself, but I prefer a partner.â He pouts and you know youâre done for.
âIâm not going to be good though,â you reply, reluctantly rising from your comfortable seated position. Taehyung pulls you into his hold the moment youâre on your feet. It's a little rougher than he meant, and your bodies accidentally collide in the process.
âShit, my bad,â he says, taking a small step back.
âItâs fine," you assure, doing the same but not before catching a whiff of his cologne. You can't quite place the scent, but itâs nice...really, really nice.
As the music continues to play, you both sway gently to the rhythm. Taehyungâs touch is warm and steady as he guides you through each simple step. You feel a strange sense of comfort and safety in his arms, and for a moment, it feels like the rest of the world fades away.
âI didnât realize you were such a good dancer,â you start. âYouâve been keeping secrets from me.â
He spins you gently, and you let out a surprised laugh, the sound mingling with the soft notes of the jazz music. âI had to take ballroom dancing lessons for a role I played years ago,â he replies smoothly, âbut I enjoyed it, so I kept it up.â When you come back to him, he holds you a little tighter, and the closeness feels more intimate and special than you anticipated.
âYouâre doing great, by the way,â he whispers, his breath warm against your ear. "Even with barely any practice."
âAll thanks to you,â you reply, a shy smile tugging at your lips. âI guess itâs kinda fun.â
âSee? Not so bad,â he says with a triumphant grin.
You glance towards the ocean, feeling a rush of spontaneity yourself. âThe water looks so inviting. We should go in.â
He quirks a brow, taking in both of your more formal attire. âDressed like this?â he asks.
You donât answer. Instead, you slide out of his hold and run towards the water, laughing and splashing him once heâs close enough behind you.
âHey! This was expensive!â he shouts, but there's no threat in his voice, only amusement.
âWell, you shouldnât have worn it around me then!â you tease, splashing him again.
Now nearly drenched, Taehyung huffs and bends down to scoop water into his palm. âYouâre gonna get itâŚâ You back away quickly, but he follows after you. âCome here, I have a very special gift for you __,â he says mischievously, water spilling from his hand as he chases you.
You both end up playing in the water for the next ten minutes, splashing and laughing until you find yourself regaining confidence. At some point, Taehyung unexpectedly tackles you from behind, his arms wrapping so tightly around your waist that no amount of movement would free you.
You find yourselves too lost in amusement to notice your closeness until small droplets of water begin falling from above.
"Was that rain?" You stop all movement, but his grip doesnât loosen. "Tae?" You call his name when it seems he doesnât register your question, twisting your head over your shoulder to peer at him.
âOhâŚum, sorry,â he finally stammers, a faint blush rising to his cheeks as he realizes the tight hold he has on you. His body flushes against your back.
âNo, itâs okayâŚâ you struggle to conceal a blush of your own, the warmth of his embrace a little overpowering. "So, I think we should head back. I'm pretty sure it's raining."
He nods and slowly unwraps his arms from around you. "I agree, but where's Tan?" His eyes frantically scan around the beach. "Tan!" he calls, and soon, two fluffy, slightly damp ears pop out from behind a rock.
"Aww," you exclaim, bending down to pick up the little dog when he trots over. "Look at him. We neglected the baby."
Taehyung snorts at your remark. "He'll be okay. It barely started."
You pretend to cover Tan's ears and shoot Taehyung a faux alarmed expression. "He can hear you, you know."
Taehyung chuckles and gently cups Tanâs face while he nestles in your arms, planting a soft kiss on the top of his head. âSorry, buddy,â he says with a grin. As he looks up, he catches a prolonged gaze in your eyes and raises an eyebrow. âWhat? You want one too?â
âOh, uhm, no,â you laugh, a bit nervously, shaking your head. âItâs just nice to see you so endearing.â You think back to how Taehyung had interacted so sweetly with his younger cousin, Eun-ha, earlier. Itâs a side of him you're finding increasingly appealing.
Taehyung's gaze softens as he replies, âI like to take care of those I love.â
Love, you repeat quietly to yourself. It sounds so different when he says it.
You smile and, side by side, head back to the house.
The faint drizzle of rain quickly turns into a downpour, with a flash of lightning illuminating the sky and thunder rumbling in the distance. Despite the potential inconvenience, Taehyungâs parents insist that it would be better for both of you to wait until morning to drive back.
"It isn't safe," his mom advises, fluffing a pillow in the guest bedroom. "The two of you can stay here for the night. Iâd offer the living room sofa too, but some of your cousins are staying over as well."
"Thanks, Mom," Taehyung replies, and when she leaves the room he casts a brief glance your way. âIâll sleep on the floor.â
âWhat? No, you can sleep in the bed with Tan." You pause, eyes scanning the room for an alternative spot. âThis chair looks pretty comfortable. Iâll grab a blanket and make do.â
"Okay no, Iâm not letting you sleep on that old, dusty chair and risk waking up with a giant kink in your neck.â Taehyung places his hands on his hips, his tone firm. âWhy donât we just sleep in the bed together? For some inexplicable reason, my parents chose to put a California King in here so there should be plenty of room. Iâll even sleep on top of the covers.â
âNo, it's fine. Tan needs his space."
âSweetheart." There it is again, that same petname from earlier. Why do you not seem to hate it? "Tan is so tiny heâll literally curl between us," he argues, though it does little to convince you.
âTae, I told you itâsââ
âAlright, Iâll take the chair then-â Taehyung starts to move toward it, but stubbornly, you block his path. There's no way he's sleeping on a chair when you're the guest here.
âYou will do no such thing!" Naturally, you place your hands on your hips. âThis is your homeâwell, your parent's home and I won't be subjecting you to sleep on something that small. Seriously Tae, I'd fit much better on it than you would given our height differences.â
A small, frustrated sigh escapes him as he counters, âI'd really rather you be comfortable, especially in an unfamiliar environment. So can we please stop arguing about this? Itâs really unnecessary. Either I take the chair or we both find a way to share the bed. You canât tell me you and Jimin never shared a bed before, and heâs your friend too!"
âYes, but thatâs different,â you insist. âJimin and I have been friends for years! Thereâs a strong trust built between us.â
âWhat do you mean by that? You donât trust me?â His face mirrors that of a sad, puppy-dog.
âTae, itâs not that at all,â you say softly, trying to sound reassuring. âI do trust you. Itâs just⌠I guess I just meant that Jimin and I have a long history together. Weâve grown very comfortable with each other in ways you and I havenât yet.â
Taehyungâs brows furrow in concern. âWhat are you really worried about, __?â
You shrug, feeling a bit flustered. âNothingâŚâ
Your mind immediately drifts back to the beachâhow he listened, held your hand gently, the way his eyes crinkled when he laughed, and what it felt like to be held so close under the rain. Everything felt so genuine, warm, and openly vulnerable.
You share similar feelings with Jimin, but they have limits as you are definitely only friends⌠best friends, to be precise. With Taehyung, you figured it would be the same; however, after today, you're realizing more and more how unsure you are of where the limits are (or where you want them to be), and it startles you.
But itâs not this alone that fuels your apprehension tonightâ thereâs something else.
âYou know I wonât do anything right?â Taehyung asks, his voice earnest. âI sleep with five pillows!â
You raise an eyebrow, a faint smile tugging at your lips despite yourself. âFive? What the hell, Tae? Are you a princess?â
âYes,â Taehyung says, more nonchalantly than expected, âbut stop deflecting. It sounds weird and a bit kinky, but why wonât you sleep in the bed with me?â
Should you tell him?
Your expression grows serious as you explain, âBecause it can be very intimate,â you murmur softly. âMaybe I'm overthinking it all, but the last time I shared a bed with someone it...uhm...it wasâŚâ
â...with your ex-husband,â Taehyung finishes for you, his tone gentle with understanding. His eyes soften as he looks at you.
âYesâŚâ you admit, your voice barely above a whisper. âItâs silly, but I havenât done it in a long time. Even Jimin and I havenât shared a bed in years.â
âIâm sorryâŚâ Taehyung says, his voice filled with genuine regret.
âTae, you donât have to be sorry,â you say, shaking your head. âItâs my own issue. Iâll just sleep on the chair, alright? Itâs only one night.â
âNot happening, youâll take the bed with Tan.â
âSeriously,â you start to protest, but heâs already moving toward the foot of the bed with determination in his eyes. He grabs the blanket from the end and rushes over to the chair with haste. You run after him, pulling at his arm, and both of you end up laughing, the tension gradually breaking.
âIt's been a very long day and I'm quite tired, __. How about turning off the lights, please?â He spreads out the blanket and settles into the chair with a satisfied sigh. Then, thereâs a loud creak followed by a distinct cracking sound.
âFuckââ Taehyung swears as the chair suddenly collapses under his weight. He rises from his seat, grimacing at the broken chair. âI knew it was old, but damn, I didnât think it was that old.â
âShit, please tell me this wasn't a family heirloom or something.â
âUh⌠I donât think so?â Taehyung scratches his head, looking sheepish. âIâll let my mom know in the morning. Itâll be fine, okay? No worries. But, um, Iâll sleep on the floor instead.â Taehyung then grabs a couple pillows and a blanket and starts forming a makeshift bed on the floor. While you watch him, your heart softens despite your exhaustion.
âAlright, enough,â you sigh, exasperated. âIf we keep this up, weâll just be going in circles all night. Letâs just share the bed, Tae. Itâs not worth you being uncomfortable.â
Taehyung looks up, concern written over his face. âAre you sure? I donât want you feeling uncomfortable either. Iâm happy toââ
âIâm sure,â you cut him off, doing your best not to overthink it. âYou're the one who'll be driving for five hours tomorrow anyway, so letâs just get some decent rest. It's okay, really.â
After a good long pause, you both end up climbing into the bed, each taking your own side as Tan curls himself at the foot of the bed. Taehyung reaches over to turn off the light, but despite the calmness of the room, you find yourself unable to sleep right away. Youâre unaware he feels similarly until he unexpectedly breaks the silence.
âAre you warm enough?â he asks quietly. âWe have more blankets if you need them.â
You turn slightly toward him. âIâm okay for now, but thanks for checking.â
He gives a soft, reassuring smile. âAlright. Just let me know if you need anything. Sleep well.â
âThanks, Tae.â You roll back onto your side and close your eyes. âYou too.â
As the night deepens, the storm outside continues its relentless drumming against the windows. At some point, Taehyung jolts awake to a faint but unmistakable sound.
He blinks groggily at first, adjusting to the dim light filtering through the curtains. Then he notices your restless movements and hears you murmuring softly in your sleep, a note of distress in your voice.
"__?" he asks quietly, still half-asleep. "Are you okay?"
When you donât respond, he shifts closer, concerned by the unease on your face. Seeing your share of the blankets has slipped off, he gently tugs them back over you, making sure they cover you comfortably.
Amid the movement, a muddled groan escapes your lipsâsomething between a whimper and a sigh, "Mmm⌠noâŚ"
It doesn't take a genius to figure out you must be having a nightmare of some sort. âItâs just a dream,â he whispers soothingly, brushing a stray hair from your face. âYouâre safe here with me.â
He gently takes your slightly trembling hand and holds it gently in his. âIâm right here, __,â he sighs softly. âNo matter what happens, Iâll always be here.â
Taehyung isnât sure how much time passes before your restlessness stops, but he stays awake, hand clutching yours until it does. Eventually, assuming youâve finally entered a more peaceful sleep, he releases your hand and rolls onto his side.
What he doesn't expect is for you to unconsciously follow him over, your body snuggling against his back. The warmth of your body against his is comforting, but he knows he can't let you stay there and risk any awkwardness in the morning. So with the utmost care, he rolls over to face you and gently adjusts your body until you're lying comfortably on your back again.
"I hope you'll be able to sleep better now," he whispers, his voice barely audible above the storm. "Goodnight."
Following the reunion, you and Taehyung part ways with mutual thank-yous and promises to see each other soon.
Time seems to vanish afterward as you find yourself increasingly buried under an endless pile of work projects. Apparently, over the weekend, a notable investor reached out to your company with hopes of setting up a meeting.
Namjoon is nearly tripping over his words when he relays the message to you.
"Can you believe it?" Your secretary stands within a foot from your desk, excitement evident in his voice. "They want to meet with us! This could be huge for our company."
You share his enthusiasm but your need to remain holistic in the matter tempers your ability to feel overly zealous. Meetings with investors always carry significant opportunities; however, there's no guarantee a deal will be struck. Truthfully, it depends on a number of factors, their level of interest outweighing them all.
Plus, every meeting requires extensive preparationâlate nights where you tirelessly hunch over your computer, perfecting every detail of the pitch and this one promises to be no different.
"Did they happen to mention a time or date for further discussion?" you ask, matter-of-factly. Namjoon nods, pulling out his phone.
"Yes, they suggested next Wednesday at 10 AM.â
You weigh the proposal in your mind. âThat should give us enough time to get everything in order, then,â you conclude. âPlease put it in our calendar and let them know weâll be ready to meet on that day.â
From then on, the remainder of your week unfolds exactly as you anticipateârelentless preparation, long nights, and meticulous planning until the small of your back aches for relief. One might say it's an exaggeration, but the only breaks you can afford are for primal necessities like eating, sleeping, and using the bathroom.
Even your weekend is spent within the walls of your home office, a far cry from previous weekends when you used to visit the book cafĂŠ or meet up with Taehyung.
Speaking of which, you havenât really gotten to see each other since his family gathering and though it was only a week ago, the lack of his presence leaves you feeling a bit disheartened. He replied to your text yesterday, but even so, it was briefâsomething about a new project or talk show interview was keeping him busy as well.
By the time Wednesday arrives, your neck is so riddled with the stress of the upcoming investor meeting that you can barely focus on your proposal notes. Everything in you hopes that the investors will be impressed enough to partner with you, but thinking about it does nothing except heighten your nervousness.
In search of some kind of solace, your mind wanders to Taehyung instead. The memory of the small dance you shared with him on the beach is once again vivid, as if it happened just moments agoâthe soft sand beneath your feet, the sound of the waves, and the way his gentle hands gripped around your waist.
But why does this memory, out of all the possibilities, feel so soothing?
You've been struggling to come to a plausible conclusion since the day it happened, yet deep down, you know itâs not as trivial as it seems. You miss it, your subconscious hums, you miss him.
Just then, Namjoon pokes his head into your office, signaling that the investors have arrived in the conference room. You send a curt nod in reply and gather your notes, refocusing your mind on the task at hand; everything else will have to wait.
Turns out, you might have been a bit too pessimistic about the investor meeting. Theyâre surprisingly pleased with your plans and proposals, nodding along to each of your points. However, their request for a day or two to reach a final decision catches you a tad off guard.
Rather than grapple with the uncertainty though, you decide to mentally prepare for whatever comes next... starting by decompressing at the bar downtown, a glass of their strongest alcohol in hand.
At first, finding a seat proves to be a challenge as you navigate through a sea of sweaty bodies. But luck, seemingly on your side, provides you with an empty chair at the far end of the bar. While you sit and order your drink, you can't help but wonder what Taehyung might be doing tonight. Should you text him to see if heâd join you, even if only for fifteen minutes?
Slipping your phone from the side pocket of your bag, you curse silently at your apparent haste. Your subconscious was rightâyou really have missed him, damn.
All at once, your thoughts are put to an abrupt stop when you take a quick glance around the bar, your gaze unprepared to land on two familiar silhouettes at the opposite endâNamjoon, with Taehyung next to him, drinks in hand. You donât know how you failed to notice them before. Theyâre laughing, clearly enjoying each otherâs company, and for a moment, your face lifts into a smile.
But that smile quickly fades when you catch sight of two women sauntering over to join them. Your initial joy is swiftly replaced by a sharp sting of jealousy and you chastise yourself for the feeling. Who are you to react this way? Taehyung can do whatever he wantsâwhy should you care who heâs out with?
Forcing yourself to shake off the feeling, you take a sip of your drink, but your gaze keeps drifting back to the group. Itâs obvious that the taller of the two women, arguably as stunning as Taehyung, is laser-focused on him, her hand brushing his arm lightly as she laughs at whatever joke heâs just told. Probably a dumb one, you think bitterly; it's obvious she's not just there for the humor and booze. It's strange to witness, as you've only known Taehyung to allow a few, select women to touch him so openlyâhis mother, his onscreen cast members, and you.
Okay __, stop, you scold yourself. This is a bad idea; youâre getting too involved for your own good. Hastily, you finish your drink and head out of the bar, the cool night air brushing against your skin. If Taehyung goes home with her, itâs none of your business.
You're barely a few feet outside the bar's door when you hear commotion echo from a nearby alley. Alarmed, you whip towards the noise, your eyes widening in disbelief. There, in the dim light, you see your ex-husband doubled over, clutching his stomach, while a shadowy figure stands in front of him, fist clenched.
Youâre not sure where the courage comes from, but within seconds, you're springing to action, racing towards the scene with a surge of adrenaline. âHey!â you shout as loudly as you can. The attacker glances back, frazzled, then bolts into the night, leaving Jungkook hunched against the alley wall.
âOh my god, are you okay?â you ask frantically, rushing to his side and helping him to his feet. He flinches away from your touch initially, his face a mix of panic and agony. âItâs me, Jungkook. It's __. Can you hear me? Itâs okay, Iâm here,â you reassure him the best you can, hoping to ease him.
Jungkook takes a few shaky breaths, body still weak as he struggles to hold himself up against the wall. His eyes are glazed, and he seems disoriented. âI⌠I didnât expect you,â he mutters, his voice strained.
Offering him an arm, you help him steady himself. âLetâs get you out of here, okay?â He nods weakly, and as you guide him towards the parking lot and into the light, you ask, "What happened back there? Do you need me to take you to the hospital?"
Jungkook sighs, wincing slightly. âNo, itâs... Iâm fine. He was just a kidâno more than 21. Angry, probably a little drunk, and accused me of being the reason his father got fired. At first, I was confused, but then I vaguely recognized him as being one of our employeeâs sons. Pretty sure it was my dad who fired hisâI was probably just an easier target."
You both fall into a contemplative silence as you continue walking. Of course Jungkook's father, the chairman of the company, would be behind this, you think. Previous times spent with him had shown you how ruthless he could be when it came to the "well-being" of his company. Whoever the kid was, he probably had a right to be angry, but physically taking it out on Jungkook wasnât justifiable by any means.
âYou sure you donât need a doctor?â you ask, glancing at him with concern.
He shakes his head dismissively, "Don't worry about me," he replies. "A couple of punches to the gut won't kill me. I think it's about time I head home though."
You nod in agreement. âWhere did you park?â
He points to a spot on the far left side of the parking lot, and you nearly groan at the sight. âDid you have to bring your bike tonight?â you ask, a hint of exasperation in your voice.
Jungkook gives a weak smile, understanding the inconvenience of the situation. âThought Iâd ride it in case I needed to get somewhere fast,â he replies, his voice strained but with a touch of humor.
"Come on," you say, walking him toward your car instead. "We might not be married anymore, but thereâs no way in hell I'm letting you ride your bike home in this condition. You can pick it up tomorrow."
Jungkook chuckles weakly. âDamn, and to think we were about to ride it together for old timesâ sake. You used to be pretty good with my motorcycle back when you were my girlfriend, __." You roll your eyes, patience thinning. If this is another one of his sexual advances, youâre long over it.
"Yeah, well, that was before Taehyungâs accident scared me half to death," you retort. "And for the record, I was never your girlfriend. We went from work partners straight to I do." You open the passenger door and help him into the seat, giving him a gentle shove. "Now sit tight and no more motorcycle talk."
Jungkook leans back and raises an eyebrow with a playful smirk. âWell, what are we gonna talk about then? Itâs a twenty-minute drive to my place.â
You slide into the driverâs seat and start the engine, giving him the go-ahead to enter his address into your carâs GPS. âAre you really whining already?â
As Jungkook taps away on the GPS, youâre suddenly reminded of a series of past car trips you shared with him. Itâs almost like dĂŠjĂ vu.
âSeriously, __,â he starts, allowing his playful demeanor to fade. âThank you for doing this for me. I know we⌠well, we arenât exactly on the best terms.â
From the corner of your eye, you observe the way he aimlessly stares out the window, unsure whether to meet your gaze.
"We may not be in the best place, but that doesnât mean Iâd just leave you there," you sigh, gripping the steering wheel tighter. A long pause follows afterward until the question that's been gnawing at you finally slips from your lips. "How's everything with the company?"
Seemingly unfazed, as if heâd been anticipating the question, Jungkook replies, âIâm guessing youâve heard the rumors.â
âHard not to,â you say, keeping your eyes on the road.
He takes a deep breath before continuing, "Well, it's um... it's a sabbatical. I know it's probably a shock, right? My father isnât too thrilled about it, so heâs delayed the official announcement until we reach a final consensus. But things have been... complicated. Our newest product launched recently, and itâs doing well, but now I think I need some time for myself. To take a step back.â
Well, shit.
Even with all the rumors, you never would have guessed in a million years that the truth of the matter was an impending sabbatical. Jungkook has always been the type to work himself until his hands bleed, so this is the last reason you expected to hear.
âIâm glad to hear youâre finally letting yourself have a break, but honestly, it doesnât sound like you at all. Feel free not to share, but what do you mean by âcomplicatedâ?â The way he frames it sounds almost ominous.
âYou really want to know?â He finally glances at you for the first time since getting into the car, his eyes carrying a hint of vulnerability.
âOnly if you want to share,â you reply cautiously.
He looks down at his hands, gathering his thoughts. âSo, remember when we last saw each other a few months back? Well, Iâve been reflecting a lot on our relationship since then. I know I wasnât fair to you, __, and I really wish I could take it all back. You never deserved any of it. I was incredibly selfish and Iâm truly sorry.â
You remain silent, thrown off by how quickly everything circles back to your fragile past together. Still, you allow him to speak.
"Before we parted ways, you suggested I see a professional, and⌠I thought I'd finally take your advice for once. Itâs strange because Iâd never gone before, butâŚâ
He pauses, searching for the right words. âIâm starting to understand a lot about myselfâwhy I react the way I do and how I handle things. Itâs been tough, but Iâm trying. I guess Iâm taking this sabbatical because I need to figure myself out, away from work, so I can be better and stop hurting people around me."
For the first time in a long time, as you listen to your ex-husband, you realize he's beginning to sound genuinely mature. If it's true that he's been seeing a therapist and taking a sabbatical to prioritize his well-being, then you're extremely proud of him.
Yet, a small part of you remains stubborn, wishing he had made these changes earlierâimagine where you might be now if he had.
âThank you for being open enough to share this with me," you respond slowly, careful not to misspeak. "Though Iâm still a little surprised, I have to say Iâm really proud of you for seeking help. Iâve been seeing someone as well, and it took me some time to settle in too, but I suppose thatâs part of the healing processâbeing uncomfortable to an extent. Weâve had our share of challenges with one another, but despite everything, Iâll always wish the best for you, Jungkookâincluding your health and mental well-being.â
As you pull into the driveway of his house, parking the car near the front door, Jungkook takes a deep breath and turns to you, visibly affected. "It means a lot that you'd say that, __," he starts hesitantly, hands fidgeting in his lap. "I know I've made a lot of mistakes, and I understand if you can't forgive me completely. But I want you to know that I am sorry. I wasnât fair to you and I'm not proud of my behavior at all."
You nod in response, a small, tight-lipped smile forming. His remorse for the past is finally sincere, yet even now, as he looks at you with those hopeful eyesâthe same ones you carried for months on endâyou know he's searching for more than just your forgiveness.
But this time, you donât think you can offer him more than that.
Because while you grew fond of him during your marriage, you've come to realize how unearned and misplaced that affection was. He broke your heart not once, but twice. And although you can never hate him, deep down, you can't ignore the lingering sting you feel when you're around him.
It's both sobering and eye-opening.
So, rather than reversing into old emotions, you simply say, "I believe you, Jungkook, and I think with time I'll be able to forgive you. If thereâs ever a time when youâre in dire need of help, like tonight, Iâll do my best to be there. Iâm afraid thatâs as far as we can go, though."
Itâs written all over his face that itâs not what he was hoping to hear, but respectfully, he doesnât press further.
"I understand," he says, fingers reaching to for the passenger door handle. "Thank you again for being there for me tonight, and for driving me home. Please feel free to reach out if you ever need me as well. I hope for the best for you too, however and with whoever you choose."
The two of you exchange a brief look of gratitude before he finally pulls the door open and steps out of the car, making his way to his front door.
"Have a good night, and rest up," you call out to him. He smiles, gives a wave, and heads inside.
As you slowly back out of the driveway, you sigh, leaving only one person ruminating in your mind: Taehyung.
Then, inevitably, images of the stunning woman at the bar with him intrude your thoughts, stirring a deep, unsettling emotion within you.
Does it really matter that much who he's out with?
Are you really that jealous about it?
Mentally, you go back and forth as if plucking petals from a large sunflower⌠Yes. No. Yes. No. UntilâSilence.
You can't seem to give a straight answer. It's like the closer you and Taehyung grow, the more undefinable and knotted your feelings become. Yet, the further apart you are, the more unnatural it feels...
Well, your indecisiveness doesnât get any better by Friday because, finally, after what feels like an eternity, you and Taehyung have plans.
Youâre heading out for dinner at a restaurant of his choosing tonight, as he insisted you go somewhere new. Where could it be? You have no clue, and while surprises arenât usually your thing, his enthusiasm when you confirmed plans earlier has left you intrigued. Thereâs also this faint, inexplicably giddy feeling in your stomach that wonât go away, coinciding with a slight nervousness.
With such a seemingly important occasion, you find yourself in front of your bedroom mirror, twisting from side to side in whatâs probably the fifth outfit youâve tried on. But nothing seems to fit quite right. Youâre feeling especially frustrated to be frank, as something that usually takes you twenty minutes is turning into a whole hour.
You end up tossing one final dress over your headâa bit more elegant for the occasion, but itâs one of the few items you own that accentuates your body down to the last detail. The dress hugs around your waist and falls just above your knees, its rich color perfectly complementing your skin tone. But isnât it a little revealing? The neckline dips down further than you remember.
Crapâthe alarm on your phone suddenly chimes, reminding you that Taehyung's arriving in ten minutes. You're running out of time.
"Youâre being ridiculous. Itâll be fine,â you reassure yourself, smoothing down the skirt of the dress. âYou're just friends. He wonât care.â
âFriendsâ stings more than you anticipated, leaving a bitter aftertaste and a deflated feeling in your chest.
Nevertheless, you give yourself one last look in the mirror, apply a quick swipe of lipstick, and head downstairs. Just as you finish slipping on your shoes and grabbing your purse from the coat rack, the doorbell rings, causing your heart to leap from your chest.
Deciding to rip it off like a band-aid, you toss open the door, and there he isâstanding on your doorstep with his signature boxy grin and gently tousled raven hair. Taehyung's dressed in a tailored blazer and matching slacks over a crisp white t-shirt, and you find yourself at a complete loss for words as if youâve forgotten what itâs like to be around him.
Maybe itâs something in the air, but he appears equally stunned, looking you up and down with wide eyes. His gaze soon softens into admiration as he takes in your entire appearance. âWow,â he chokes, clearly impressed. âYou look amazing.â
You feel a rush of warmth at his compliment and muster all your strength to keep from looking away flustered. âThank you,â your voice wavers slightly. âYou look pretty great yourself.â
Tongue in cheek, he replies with a playful smirk, âI was hoping youâd say that,â which prompts you to lightly punch him in the arm.
âDon't be arrogant.â
He chuckles, rubbing his arm with a grin. âShall we head out?â
You nod and step outside, locking the door behind you.
The drive to the restaurant is a brief one, and you're immediately struck by the charm of its exterior when you arriveâstone walls, covered with vines of ivy and warm glowing lanterns. Inside is even more beautiful, with wooden shelves lined with old books and bottles of fine wine wrapping around the room. You're starting to understand why Taehyung was so insistent on bringing you here; the place perfectly reflects his taste and, unexpectedly, yours as well.
One of the hosts leads you to a deep mahogany table after confirming your reservation. The closer you get to it, the more you notice the crisp white linens and small tealight candles that sit on top, setting a romantic scene. If you had to describe the feeling, it would be as though youâve been transported straight to a quaint corner of France.
"So, what do you think?â Seated across from you, Taehyung looks at you with bated breath. His fingers fidget with the edge of the table, nervously anticipating your verdict.
âHonestly? Itâs so charming,â you reply, glancing around in awe. âI didnât even realize we had a place like this around.â
At this, his demeanor relaxes, and a pleased smile spreads across his face. âItâs a bit hidden, but once I found it, it quickly became one of my favorite spots.â He pauses, then adds, âThis is actually the same restaurant I wanted to take you to months ago, before my accident.â
âWhat? Youâre serious?â you blink in shock as the realization slowly sinks in. You take another look around the restaurantâthe rows of books, the bottles of wine, the elegant dining atmosphereâand suddenly, it all makes sense. How did you miss it before? âIâm sorry we didnât come sooner,â you say softly, regretful of having turned down his offer before.
âItâs okay,â Taehyung's quick to reassure you, reaching out to lightly touch your hand. âWhat matters is that weâre here now. And honestly, Iâm just happy to finally share it with you.â He gives you a warm smile, and immediately, you feel a small lump form in the back of your throat.
âThank you for bringing us here tonight,â you say, âItâs wonderful, and Iâm really glad we could make it up.â
âOf course,â he replies, âI thought it was a place weâd both enjoy.â
Everything about his responses seems to carry a heightened level of endearment and attentiveness, as if thereâs more hidden beneath them.
Perhaps selfishly, you also sense thereâs something uniquely special about this nightâsomething you believe only exists between the two of you. So, when Taehyung retracts his hand, you feel a fleeting instinct to reach out and grasp it again, but you stop yourself short.
What are you thinking? This isnât a date.
Needing a distraction, you grab the menu and start scanning the options.
Taehyung sees the way your gaze drifts and tilts his head, a concerned expression on his face. âEverything alright?â he asks gently.
You nod, forcing a smile. âYeah,â you reply, trying to sound casual. âI'm just getting pretty hungry with all the food I smell.â
He chuckles, "Same here," then picks up a menu of his own.
The two of you sit in silence for the next few minutes, fixated on the food and wine list. You find yourself stealing glances at him from time to time, and unbeknownst to you, he does the same.
After the waiter takes your orders, Taehyung leans forward, resting his chin on his palm. âHowâs everything at work been? Iâve been meaning to ask.â
Your face lights up at this. âHighs and lows," you reply, voice brightening, "but we got some exciting news today. I met with a potential investor earlier this week, and theyâve agreed to partner with the company. Itâs a big win for us!â
Sharing your enthusiasm, Taehyung raises his wine glass, implicating you to follow suit. âThis calls for a toast,â he says. âI know it must have meant long nights for you, but Iâm so glad they recognized the value of you and your work. Seriously, __, you should be incredibly proud of this!"
You clink your glass with his, a light chuckle escaping you. There's something uniquely satisfying about sharing even the smallest things with him.
The conversation flows more comfortably from there, with Taehyung eagerly asking about the details of your new partnership. You reciprocate by asking about his current work projects, and soon, you both get lost in discussion, naturally causing your conversation to grow increasingly spontaneous. By the time your food arrives, the two of you must have easily covered fifty topics.
With the evening gradually becoming one of the most enjoyable youâve had, the initial butterflies you felt at the start almost fade away... almost. That is, until you near the end of the meal and Taehyung looks at you with a seriousness in his eyes.
âIâm really glad we could do this tonight," he says, "Weâve both been so caught up with work lately that we havenât had much time to spend together⌠Iâve missed it."
"Missed..." The simple six-letter word echoes in the back of your mind in a hushed murmur. It feels nice knowing you arenât the only one affected by the recent distance.
âMe too,â you reply, more breathy than intended. Before you can fully process your words, you find yourself adding, âIâve missed you a lot myself.â
A flush of embarrassment twists in your stomach the moment the words leave your mouth. You shouldnât have said it like thatâit almost sounded like⌠pining? God, you canât even blame it on the alcohol at this point; you barely had one full glass of wine. Contrary to what you'd expect, Taehyung looks at you with a hint of shyness.
âYou know,â he begins, briefly eyeing your dress, âyou really do look great tonight. Iâve been a bit worried these past couple of weeks, seeing how much you work and how little sleep you get. But now⌠I'm relieved to see you looking so well.â
You blush. If only he saw you before tonightâgreasy hair, bloodshot eyes, and oversized sweats on, you think. Evidently, tonight was an exception.
"I guess I've been worried about you too if Iâm being honest,â you admit, shifting slightly in your seat. "The last time we saw each other was at your family reunion. It feels like it was ages ago for some odd reason."
âI know what you mean,â he says softly, gaze lingering on yours a moment longer than usual. âItâs strange going so long without seeing each other. It feelsâŚunnatural.â
All at once, you pause, unsure if you heard right. Did Taehyung really say "unnatural"? Itâs exactly how youâve felt about the distance this entire time, but you hadnât expected him to feel the same. Your mind struggles to process the sheer coincidence and its possible implicationsâwas there something more to your relationship than you had realized?
While you try to make sense of it all, Taehyungâs raspy voice pulls you back to the present. âWell, uh, we should probably head out,â he suggests lightly, breaking the silence. You nod in agreement, though it does little to deter you from your thoughts.
You find yourself fidgeting with the hem of your dress the entire drive back, occasionally glancing at Taehyung in silence. His hands grip the steering wheel tightly, eyes focused on the road, yet you couldâve sworn his mouth parted at one point as if he was about to say something. But then, he held back. You wonder what he mightâve wanted to say, but youâre no betterâhesitant to breathe a word yourself.
Why are neither of you speaking all of a sudden? It feels tense and unfamiliar.
In what feels like a blink of an eye, you're standing at your front door again, Taehyung close beside you. The space between you feels smaller this time, with unspoken words still lingering, but itâs clear that despite having your keys in hand, neither of you are ready to part ways just yet.
â__?â He speaks first, voice barely above a whisper.
âYes?â You respond, turning to face him fully.
Taehyung takes a deep breath when you do, his usual warmth replaced by a heavy, unreadable expression. âThere- there's something thatâs been on my mind,â he begins, voice trembling slightly. âI've been going back and forth tonight on whether or not to tell you."
âOkay, what is it?â you ask, pulse quickening.
âItâs about us..." He hesitates, gnawing on his bottom lip slightly before continuing. "Earlier tonight, when I said I've missed being able to see you, I wasnât lying. If anything, it was likely an understatement because, no matter how busy I was, I kept thinking about youâour time at my parents' place, and how you always came to visit me when I was in the hospital."
He pauses, his fist clenching nervously.
"Iâve realized since then that maybe the reason why is because somehowâŚyou've always been more than a friend to me,â he confesses softly.
Searching your face for a reaction, Taehyung mistakes your blank expression for discomfort. Little does he know, however, that your stillness is merely due to shock, as every nerve in your body threatens to awaken. It feels surreal, you think. Sure, you had a small inkling that tonight felt different and Taehyung was sweeter than usual, but eighty percent of you chalked it up as nothing more than overthinking or projection.
Now, you realize how short-sighted youâve been, convincing yourself that you could only ever be friends and denying the rest when it's been quite the opposite.
âIâm sorry," he adds sheepishly. "It must be a lot to take in. I donât want to lose you or our friendship, but with my feelings growing, I think Iâll always want more. I thought it would be better for you to know.â
You see the sincerity in his eyes as he speaks, and though he patiently waits for your response, youâre unsure where to start. Itâs not that you question Taehyungâs genuineness or intentions, or that you donât reciprocate his feelingsâyou havenât shared such a deep connection with someone in a long time, if ever.
Rather, itâs the years of a mostly apathetic marriage that leave you feeling wary.
What would a relationship with Taehyung be like?
Would you truly love each other?
For how long?
What startles you most is the possibility that if you and Taehyung really do this and it doesnât work out, youâll be left even more devastated than before.
When you finally speak, your voice wavers slightly. âTo tell you the truth, a big part of me is relieved that you told me all of this,â you admit slowly, your hands clammy. âI thought I sensed a shift between us at your parents' and again this evening. But I also thought I was reading too much into things, convinced it was just us getting closer as friends do."
"I guess what Iâm trying to say is that I was wrong because I've been wanting more with you too," you continue. "It's like the further away we are, the worse I seem to feel, and I can't help but wonder what it would look like if we were more than friends. The thought scares me as much as it excites me, thoughâŚfor reasons I'm sure you already know."
You're uneasy about how he'll react until, all at once, his eyes fill with warmth and his hands gently reach for yours, thumbs rubbing soothing circles on the backs.
âDo you remember when we were at the beach and you asked whoâd risk it for you?â Taehyung asks. You nod, recalling the exact moment. âYou also asked if I loved you, and I agreed to both that day. I didnât realize how much those words would come full circle, but I meant it then, and I mean it now. I will love you, __, in the way you've always meant to be. I'm pretty sure I'm at least halfway in love with you already, and not just because we're friends."
Wordless, you stand facing each other, your hands still held in his, eyes steady in the brisk night air. His gaze then drifts from your eyes to your lips and back again. The movement is subtle, but in that brief moment, you let your eyes fall to his lips as well.
Taehyungâs waiting for your answer, but you canât stop thinking of what would happen if you justâŚ
Adrenaline takes over from there, and before you fully process it, youâre leaning in to close the distance between you, pressing your lips to his. The sudden touch catches Taehyung off guard, but he quickly responds with gentle, tender kisses. A soft smile tugs at his lips as he deepens the embrace, one hand finding its way to your face while the other rests on your back, pulling you closer.
Sooner than you realize, he begins deepening the kiss as well, eliciting small, breathy moans. At this point, you can feel the tent forming in his trousers, but he makes no move to grind into you yet. Rather, the hands that grip around you tighten, not enough to hurt, but enough that your body pushes further against his firmer chest. You suspect your back will meet the hard surface of your front door within the next three seconds, allowing your entire neighborhood a show, but before then, you're interrupted by a subtle stirring in the pit of your stomach.
"Wait, I'm sorry-" you suddenly break the kiss, a rush of nerves returning. Itâs been a long time since youâve shared such meaningful kisses with someone, and the intensity of it has you feeling overwhelmed. "I'm so sorry," you repeat.
When Taehyung sees you arenât backing away but rather standing completely still, he settles his hands around your waist, gently drawing you further into a soft embrace. "You don't need to apologize," he assures. "I'm the one who took it further than I should've when I want this to be comfortable for both of us.â
You take a small breath, "You didn't do anything wrong, Tae, I'm just a little nervous due the newness of everything. I think Iâd be best if we wait before going any further tonightâŚ.but Iâm also not ready for you to leave yet. Is there any way you could maybe come in for a bit? To lounge?â
Taehyung nods, âI completely understand wanting to wait. The last thing I want to do is rush anything.â Concerned about possibly pressuring you, he adds, "Are you sure about me coming in though? It's getting late and I don't want to keep you up."
"Please," you murmur, "just for a little while, if you can.â
âOkay," he agrees, thumbs brushing lightly against your sides, "I can stay."
a/n: ajdfhg, TYSM for reading!! Love you all đĽ°
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#jungkook angst#jungkook smut#jungkook x reader#jungkook fanfic#jungkook x you#jungkook imagines#taehyung smut#taehyung angst#bts smut#bts angst#bts au#bts imagines#bts x reader#bts fanfic#fic:guiltypleasures#kookslastbutton
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Hey random writing suggestion: If you ever find yourself worrying whether you've accidentally written two characters to be too similar to each other, and you can't edit one of them out by fusing them into being just one character, you don't necessarily have to shoehorn some Distinctive Trait to either of them to set them apart. You can just put them in the same room and make them hate each other.
Even if they just look like two variations of the exact same character at a first glance, both to the audience and to the other characters, they will see the differences between each other in shrimp colours. If they have the same occupation and the same tendency to be fixated on little things, make them bicker about which one of them dots their i:s wrong. Make someone point out how similar they are and have both of them be offended by that - how dare you see any similarity between them and someone who does This Very Oddly Specific Thing That Nobody Else Even Does completely wrong!
Bonus points if you can make it a love-hate relationship - extra bonus if one feature that they share is hating themselves. Make them both stare into the void which is each other like "why am I drawn to someone as obviously repulsive as you. I'm not thinking about kissing you, you're the one who's doing that because you're gross."
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Hello can I request a part 5 for the inexperienced reader where they finally do the deed? Thank you and I really love all your writings. Youâre amazing!
â§âââ
ââ playboy geto x inexperienced female reader (part 4) âââ
âââ§
wc: 7,712
ÂˇË ŕźâ¡ ÍÍÍÍę° previous parts: 1/2/3/4
minors / ageless blogs / blank blogs - do not interact.
notes: hi, nonnie! I haven't posted the official part 4 for playboy geto x reader, so here is an update! part 5 is the final part of this mini series and I am still figuring out the scenario for the big moment. I had this idea in my head and really wanted to write out. I hope you enjoy the update!
ËË°â˘*â⡠tags: other jjk characters are mentioned, virgin reader; lovesick geto & reader; hurt/comfort; the first fight; making up; smut; oral (f receiving); nipple play; overstimulation; fingering; practice makes perfect *wink wink*
Thereâs a downpour outside - a peaceful shower trapping you in a cocoon of stillness. Grey clouds collide, orchestrating a rumble of thunder to disperse across the horizon. You squeeze the glass of tea in your hand and breathe out a heavy sigh as you continue observing the waves crashing onto the shore in the distance.
Standing in pensive thought, you find yourself contemplating why the sky isnât a saturated blue, and why you are not wiping away grains of sand between your toes while tasting the salt in the air and getting kissed by the sun in the red bikini that you are wearing.
This is your first weekend away with Suguru and it was supposed to be perfectâŚmagical even, butâŚ
You havenât exchanged more than a few of sentences with him in two whole days.
The truth forms as a discomforting lump in your throat. At this point youâre convinced that the turbulent events of this week is what conjured up such a dreadful storm to hijack your mini vacation, and youâve been a bundle of nerves ever since because youâve never had a fight with him before.
Not a real one, anyway.
Whenever a situation got remotely tense, your boyfriend would be the first person to jump in to talk things out. Suguru hated having petty arguments and always relied on strong communication to put out any fires before they set everything ablaze. You know itâs entirely unfair to put that expectation on him but, the truth is, youâve grown used to him mediating, and depended on him to squash potential disagreements without question.
What you werenât expecting was for things to escalate between you two because itâs never happened before, and now you arenât sure how to proceed.
What if he leaves me?
The nauseating thought of a potential break up twists your gut, but you brush off your anxiety as you lift the cup to your lips and take another sip of soothing chamomile.
Couples fight, you think, itâs normal to fight.
Your fingers pinch the ceramic so hard, you feel it might crack from the pressure. Youâve tried to reach out since then, but Suguru remained unresponsive to your little gestures of peace.
Why is he still ignoring me?
You lean your head against the window and exhale, eyes fixated on the stormâs dramatic performance. A bolt of lighting crackles across the sky, channeling you back to the night on Suguruâs sofa just two weeks prior.
His fingers were trailing the outline of your thigh, keeping your body tucked perfectly into his frame. You were twirling a strand of his onyx hair between your fingers, listening to him proposition the idea of the weekend trip away.
âYuki is one of my oldest friends. She lives in a beach house, so thatâs where we will all stayâŚâ he casually stated. âWe visit her a couple of times a year, and I know she would love to meet you.â
You said yes without hesitation.
At the time, there was no need for you to question who Yuki was or how Suguru knew her. There was no need for you to pry deeper into the memories of his past because you were just living in the bubble of present happiness.
âWe used to spend every summer at her beach house while I was in university,â Suguru informed you a few days later, slipping in that tidbit of information right after describing all the places he was excited to take you to. âI love that her beach house is so far away from the city. Plus, they have the best soba in the village. Youâll love it, I just know you willâŚâ
This deep infatuation you shared for Suguru had your heart swelling up more often around him. Your valves were arrows to a compass that always spun directly towards him, your shining North Star. Your eyes were glazed over in a rosy shine of deep romance, making it hard for you to blink away the hue of its affection, but you should have taken a breath to catch yourself.
Maybe then you wouldnât have reacted so harshly later on.
The âproblemâ, as Suguru dubs it, happened two days before the trip.
Shoko invited you to join her and Utahime on a shopping date to pick up some new swim suits for the occasion. However, you werenât expecting to see Mei Mei upon arrival. Your friendship with Shoko made it easier for you to blend in with the rest of Suguruâs group, but Mei always kept you at an armâs length. For the most part, you approached any interactions with her with caution. You made sure you were nice and didnât try to pursue anything beyond cordial conversations. Despite your attempts at playing cool, Mei continued making snide remarks about you being âSuguruâs Girlâ and enjoyed addressing you condescendingly.
Truthfully, she treated you as if you were simply a stranger with one foot out the door and not the person who was in a committed relationship with her friend.
Your eyes, powdered with pink infatuation, had you feeling indifferent about her sharp tongue on this particular outing, and it made you loosely speak up about how excited you were to go on this trip with your boyfriend.
Your walls were completely down when Mei went in with a new attack while you were all having dinner together.
âItâs adorable how excited you are. Besides, I think itâs about time that you met KikiâŚâ she giggled, earning a glare from both Shoko and Utahime.
âKiki?â you replied like a naive child, all wide eyed with an innocent pinch between your brow.
âSuguru didnât tell you?â Mei coos as she proceeds to take a sip of her milkshake. âThatâs his special nickname for Yuki. The two of them used to spend their summers together getting high and fucking. She was his first, you knowâŚâ
Your cheeks were stinging with embarrassment. You glanced over to both Shoko and Utahime, praying that one of them would denounce Meiâs confession.
Instead, Shoko shook her head with disapproval and simply added, âwe all know that it wasnât seriousâŚâ
âWasnât serious?â Mei interjected, her cruel eyes fixed on you. âSuguru was in love with herâŚâ
âHe wasnât in love with her,â Shoko sternly answered. âThey were friends. Donât make up stories in your headâ
Mei swirled her straw around her vanilla milkshake. âWe are his friends too but that didnât stop him from hooking up with us either. The only difference is that Yuki is the one who broke his heart afterwards. Suguru didnât speak to her for an entire year...â
âHow about you donât stir up problems for no reason, Mei.â Utahime bit back, and Mei responded by rolling her eyes with mild disinterest.
âIâm not saying anything that isnât true. Everyone at this table, except Shoko, hooked up with Suguru at one point,â she let out a pretty laugh, one laced with wicked intent. âMaybe this is something we can all bond over at the beach house. Compare notes and what notâŚâ
âHow about we dial back the bitchy attitude and put the subject to restâ Shoko interjected, and Mei merely huffed before sipping her milkshake with nonchalance.
Hot, heavy jealousy coiled around your skin, and you used every ounce of restraint not to pick up Meiâs drink and toss it right in her face. By the time your brain was able to connect the dots to formulate even a single sentence, the conversation swiftly moved onto another subject.
You reached for your soda, slurping the icy beverage in an attempt to cool yourself off.
This isnât the first time that Suguruâs friends have made teasing comments about his past, but Mei took it too far.
The worst part about that god-awful interaction is that it was working out in her favor.
Why didnât Suguru tell you?
The question sat in your head up until you returned home. You were in a bitter state, choosing to curb Suguruâs calls and ignore Shokoâs messages.
She still called you the next morning with a heartfelt apology.
âWeâve all known Mei for years so we put up with her attitude,â Shoko explained, âBut you owe her no allegiance and what she did was uncalled for. Iâm really sorry about thatâŚâ
âItâs fine, ShokoâŚâ you insisted, but your tone was hard and defensive because it wasnât fine and you barely got any sleep thinking about what she said.
âI had a long conversation with her last night, and sheâll be backing off from now on,â Shoko consoled.
âGreat,â you answered through gritted teeth, trying your best not to hurl the phone at the wall.
âLook,â Shoko added on with a sigh, âI know Suguru doesnât have the best track record and I know we all give him shit for it, but we also all know that weâve been too hard on him. He really, really cares about you.â
Tears pricked your eyes. You wished those words were enough to sway you back but they felt just as empty as the space in your chest.
Why didnât he tell me?
You couldn't stop wondering why.
The day before you left for the getaway, you were giving Suguru the coldest shoulder. He had come over to help you pack your things, but instead was left puzzled by your behavior.
You leaned away from his kisses, always tilting so he aimed for your cheek. You shrugged off his touch, pretending to busy yourself with searching through your closet and picking your outfits. You could feel his piercing stare from over your shoulder, those dark eyes dissecting the softest parts of you to get to the root of the problem. You tried to focus on the music from gently playing through the speakers, but as you walked over to your bag to pack another dress, Suguru quickly reached for your hips to drag you onto his lap.
âWhatâs wrong?â he asked seriously, his voice the tip of a sharp blade pressing into your heart.
You shook your head, caressing the fabric between your fingers. âNothing, I have a headache,â you repeated firmly, sticking to the same excuse that you had given him earlier.
âSweetheart,â he replied tenderly, your body stiffening when he brushed his lips over your shoulder to leave a contemplative kiss. âWhatâs actually wrong?â
You froze, your anger scalding your insides as it bubbled to the surface. You squeeze the dress between your hands, creasing the smooth surface. Suguru rests his chin on your shoulder, patiently waiting for you to at least acknowledge him.
âIs it true that you were involved with âyour friendâ Yuki?â
You hid your hurt with sarcasm, her name rolling off your tongue with a hint of disgust.
Suguru lifted his head from your chin, his fingers pinching against the fat of your hip while his other hand moved to reach for your jaw. He angled your face towards him, a pained expression masking over his breathtaking features.
âWho told you?â
âMei,â you answered sharply, âapparently Shoko and Utahime know all about it tooâŚâ
âLook,â Suguru sighed, âitâsâŚitâs not what you thinkâŚâ
âDid you to spend your summers getting high and fucking?â you interrupted harshly, mimicking the cruelty in Meiâs voice as you posed your question.
Suguru closed his eyes. âYes.â
âIs it true that she was your first?â you asked, your voice wavering slightly this time.
âYes, butâŚâ
You rolled your tear soaked eyes as you stood up on your feet, tossing the dress into your bag as you folded your arms across your chest to give Suguru your back.
You werenât sure what hurt more. The fact that Mei had all the ammunition in the world to hurt your feelings, or that she knew that your doting boyfriend would keep this from you.
Suguru stood up, carefully approaching you from behind as he extended his hand out to find your waist once more.
âMeiâs a gossip,â he contended, âI told you that when we first metâŚâ
You spun on your heel to meet his anxious stare, drilling your fury right into him.
âThatâs not the point,â you argued. âThe point is that you lied to me! The point is that you spent weeks going on and on about âyour friendâ without even warning me that you were both intimately involvedâŚâ
âWe put that shit behind us years ago. I didnât want to bring it up, and I didnât think I had to. Mei shouldnât have said anything.â
âDidnât think you had to?â you repeated with confusion.
âThere was no reason to,â he replied with annoyance, his fingers digging into your waist. âBecause you and I are supposed to trust each other, and considering how things have been going between us, I thought we did.â
Your heart raced at the fact that Suguru was still keeping his mouth tight lipped over what happened with Yuki, which did little to help your own dramatized theories on their relationship.
If he was being secretive about something as serious as this, then who knows what other tales he might have been spinning with that honeyed mouth of his.
The knot thatâs wrung itself around your mind finally snapped.
âEasy for you to say, you donât have an inventory of people I slept with to keep track ofâŚâ
Suguru winced, the involuntary grimace an unusual sign of hurt. Your apology shot to the tip of your tongue, and you were ready to jump right into his arms and plead for forgiveness. This brutish commentary was so unlike you, but you didnât know how to keep a handle on your own insecurities this time around.
âKeep track, huh?â he answered softly, the faintest hint of distress coming through and making you nip at your bottom lip out of guilt. âMust be hard having a boyfriend who is so used upâŚâ
âNo...you're not. That's not what I mean, IâmâŚIâm just saying that itâs different,â you retracted, easing your delivery to try and explain yourself. âYou just donât have to worry-â
âIs there a reason for you to worry?â he rebuked, quirking his brow in genuine surprise.
You scoffed, âYou told me about everyone else youâve been involved with but with her you are suddenly keeping quiet-â
âPlease, tell me youâre fucking joking right now-â
âYou canât-â you interjected, clearing the catch in your throat as your voice warbled uncomfortably. âYou canât just expect me to be okay with this, Suguru. I have to be able to trust you and thatâs only going to work if you are honest with me. Keeping something like this from me doesnât helpâŚâ
Suguru dropped his hand away from your waist, and folded them over his chest tightly. There was a twitch in his jaw, and the disappointment in his eyes spoke volumes. You both stood there in silence, studying the other in deep concentration.
âI thought you did trust me. You were practically naked in bed with me when you said it. So what is it then? Do you trust me or not?â
Your face grew increasingly hot recalling his birthday, the way you were soft, vulnerable and pliable sprawled out against his chest...
âI doâŚâ you replied with very little confidence. âSort ofâŚâ
You swallowed your regret to stare down at your feet shamefully, and allowing your pride to fight the battle for you. If you can waver his insecurity even a little then maybe you might find some equal footing with the discomfort.
âI canât change my past. I canât erase the people Iâve been involved with. Yes, we both had different opinions about how we viewed relationships, but we arenât going last long as a couple if Iâm the only one that has faith that this is going to work,â Suguru informed calmly, using his fingers to gesture between you both.
Hearing those words from your loverâs lips felt like surprise blow. You parted your mouth to exhale quietly, clenching your hands tightly by your side as you naively waited for him to attempt to turn things around.
âIâve given you everything. Iâm not going to force you to trust me,â Suguru adds on, his tone morphing into a cold, cruel note. âAnd if you fucking canât, then Iâm done.â
Your head shot up in surprise, the front of your brows upturning sorrowfully but Suguru had already turned on his heel to walk out of the room, slamming your bedroom door right behind him.
__________________ ××ૢŕźŕźŕż â â â . â â â ââ â . â â âË â§. â â â
The car ride to the beach house was terrible.
Neither you or Suguru said a single word to one another. He kept his focus on the road, while you kept replaying the words âIâm doneâ on repeat in your head.
It was disappointing to start off on such a sour note because Yukiâs beach house was the perfect getaway spot as Suguru described. The location was rural, and the building was quaint and cozy. The size is big enough to fit your entire group, but not to the point where it was gaudy. Suguru mentioned that the property belonged to Yukiâs mom, which she eventually inherited after she passed away.
Meeting Yuki took your breath away. From the moment you laid eyes on her you understood how a young Suguru would be infatuated. She was striking - tall, with long, golden hair that cascaded all the way down to her butt. Every part of her was perfect, from her toned tummy revealed by her short black cropped top, to her legs that seemed to go on forever which were covered in only a pair of loose denim shorts. She had a naturally cheeky grin, like there was something up her sleeve that no one could quite point out, and sharp brown eyes that were simply inviting.
She pulled Suguru in for a warm hug, and ruffled his hair like a sister would.
âSug! Your hairâs getting long! I like it!â she chirped with a big smile, while Suguru held an effortlessly casual stance to play off that the two of you havenât been ignoring each other this whole time. Yuki instantly turned to face you, âAnd you must be the girl that stole his heart! Iâm so glad to meet you! This guy never shuts up about youâŚâ
You felt small against her, and it wasnât just due to her height. You could feel yourself shrinking into your own shame hearing her talk about your lover. Whatever doubts that sparked due to Meiâs burning statements were quickly turned to ash.
Yuki gave you a house tour and explained that Shoko was sharing a room with Mei and Utahime, while Satoru and Nanami bunked in another.
âIf youâre comfortable you can stay in Suguruâs room. He kind of has his own bedroom from how often heâs stayed with me. If not, Iâve got a pull out sofa in my room,â Yuki informed, while you were trying your hardest to undo the tight knot in your belly.
Getting to know Yuki over the course of the two days only fed into your regret. You couldnât help but watch her interactions with Suguru, only to conclude it was no different than how he behaved with Satoru and Shoko.
Even when he addressed her as âKikiâ, it came out with a level of comfort that felt a familial familiarity. If it wasnât for Mei and her devious manipulation games, you would never have even have assumed that the pair were intimately involved with each other.
As your stubbornness started chipping away, you decided to at least try and make amends with your boyfriend.
On the first night, after getting ready for bed, you broke the long hours of silence by asking him where he was going after watching him get ready to leave the room that you both were supposed to be sharing.
âIâm staying with Satoru,â he curtly responded, and slammed the door behind him before you could get another word in.
Yesterday was painful to say the least. You attempted to sit down with him and Satoru for breakfast, but Suguru excused himself only a couple of minutes later. By mid-morning you texted to ask if he would like to join you and Shoko to walk around the village. You even brought up his favorite soba shop, but found yourself left on read.
His behavior was harsh and quite obvious. By lunchtime Shoko pulled you aside to ask if everything was okay.
âWeâre fine,â you answered breathlessly, your worry sending tingles to the tips of your fingers and toes. âWe got into a bit of an argument in the car, but weâll talk things overâ
Dinner last night was supposed to be a fun get together at one of the local omakase joints, but it turned into you and Suguru sitting on opposite sides of the table barely acknowledging each other.
You were trying to steal his glance, but he wouldnât stop avoiding yours. Afterwards while all of you were standing outside, you found the courage to reach for Suguruâs hand to grab his attention.
âHey,â you whispered low enough for only him to hear to avoid making it obvious to the others. Your heart fluttered when you noticed that Suguru didnât let go of your hand, but instead pressed the pads of his fingers lightly against your palm to return the gesture.
Almost like he was saying hello.
âDo you maybe want to go for a walk?â you asked, eyes hopeful and desperate. âItâs nice outside tonight, donât you think?â
You couldnât gauge what he was thinking, but you paid close attention to his reactions. Like the way his eyes dipped to your fingers slightly interlaced with his own, and how his digits were merely tracing yours in the most featherlight touch.
Did he miss you too?
âIâm going out with Yuki tonight,â he announced, his tone sharp and daring.
Your heart winced.
You werenât used to this side of Suguru at all.
You let go of his hand, and nodded your head to feign acceptance but your throat was tight and tears were glazing over your woeful irises.
âOh, okay!â you answered with as much confidence as you could muster up. âI guessâŚI guess Iâll see what Shoko is up to. And-â
Your voice cracked when Suguru let go of your hand. The emptiness a cold touch against your palm.
âI-I hope you guys have fun catching up tonight-â
Suguru nodded his head, taking your breath away for only a second when he leans forward to leave a chaste kiss on your brow. Not giving you a chance to finish your statement.
The gesture shatters you, because you know that it wasnât genuine.
He was simply putting on a show, keeping up appearances so that the others don't suspect that something is wrong.
You cry yourself to sleep all alone in bed, all the while holding onto the hope that he might just show up to remind you that everything is okay.
__________________ ××ૢŕźŕźŕż â â â . â â â ââ â . â â âË â§. â â â
Youâre still staring out the window, watching the droplets trickle down the glass. Lost in the peaceful moment, you barely hear Suguru enter the bedroom, which is why you jump in shock when you suddenly notice a large hand press firmly against the glass by your side.
âItâs pouring, huh?â
His voice, smooth like velvet and soft like storm clouds sent a tremor of desire in your belly. You steadied the cup in your hand, sensing your body trapped between the window and your boyfriend who was now standing prominently right behind you.
âYeah,â you whisper quietly, your chest rising and falling with anticipation.
You watch him tap his index finger against the glass, your gaze falling to the bracelet on his wrist. It was the other gift that you gave him on his birthday, and he hasnât taken it off since. The rain patters outside, the white noise your safety barrier against the awkward tension, but you can feel it brewing behind your spine as you steady your breathing.
âWhere did you stay last night?â you ask with a mousy voice, hoping that your tone wasnât coming across as accusatory but simply concerned for wanting to check in on Suguruâs whereabouts.
âYukiâs room, we were up late talkingâŚâ he responds gently, a hint of amusement in his voice but not one that was cruel. âShe told me I could sleep on her pull out only after admitting that Iâm acting like a little bitchâŚâ
Your mouth naturally ticked into a smile at his playful tone, and you sink your teeth into your lower lip with relief from the casual delivery.
He huffs out a small laugh, "in case you're wondering, I just so happen to agree with her."
âItâs not just you,â you acknowledge, finding the courage to slowly spin on your heel so you can face him. âI started all of thisâŚâ
âYeah, but youâve been trying to fix it and Iâve been difficult about itâŚâ
Your body crumples when your eyes met his, the power of his gaze forcing you to press your back against the window to stop yourself from buckling at the knees. His yearning matches yours, and the tension in your shoulders relaxes slightly when you note that he might have actually have been missing you too.
The ease in his expression is a white flag of surrender.
You place your tea cup on the table by your side. âI shouldnât have let Mei get to me,â you admit, âI was caught off guard, and I took my anger out on youâŚâ
âI shouldnât have put you in that position,â Suguru adds on, shaking his head in disbelief over his own decision. âI should have been upfront with you about Yuki from the star, I just-â He drops his hand away from the window to find yours, and takes both of them between his fingers. His thumb smooths over your knuckles, his grip firm and protective.
âI just didnât want to give another reason not to trust meâ
Your brows furrow with confusion, and Suguru sighs.
âMy family were in a bind financially. Even though I got a full scholarship to univerisity, there still wasnât enough money to put both Mimi and Nana through school. I've known Yuki since I was sixteen. She told me to spend the summers with her and hooked me up with well paying jobs ,â he explains solemnly, almost like he is ashamed by the situation entirely. âSo, thatâs what I did. Her mom never stayed during the summer break. And yeah, shit happened between us. Weâd get high, fuck around, drink, partyâŚbut it was justâŚa release. It didnât mean anything else. I swearâŚâ
âMei said that you loved her,â you fill in, piecing together parts of your own personal indignation. âI think thatâs what really got me. Especially when you didnât tell me yourself. I couldnât wrap my mind around the secrecyâŚâ
Suguru scoffs, âMei says that only because I went back summer after summer. I didnât let anyone else know the real reason why. They had no fucking clue what was going on with me and my last summer with Yuki is when we decided to stop but I-I fucked it upâŚâ
You could see the strain on Suguruâs face, and you squeezed his hand reassuringly to let him know that he could share whatever he needed to say.
âThere was this girl that Yuki liked. I mean, really liked. She wouldnât shut up about her. She was the reason why we stopped sleeping together. One night while we all went out, I gotâŚcarried away. I drank too much, I smoked too much, I wasnât fucking thinking. I donât even really remember what happened, but when I woke up the next morningâŚthe girl was in my bed. When Yuki found us, she wasâŚheartbroken. She didnât speak to me for a year, andâŚI was devastated because her friendship means everything to me. She was the only person who knew how bad things were, and I returned the favor byâŚwell, being myself, I guessâŚâ
âSuguru, donât say thatâŚâ you blurt out, your hands letting go of his as you eagerly clasp his jaw with equal protection. âI see you with your friends. Youâre so loyal, and would give them everything if they asked. For somebody whose always so put together, what you didâŚis so out of characterâŚâ
He winced, his eyes narrowing with humiliation but it only taps into your empathy.
You bring his face closer, press your forehead to his own and notice him flutter his eyes close.
âYou rarely talk about how hard it was with your family,â you mumble so close to his lips, keeping the conversation as private as possible even though itâs only the two of you in the room together. âI canât even imagine the kind of pressure you must have been feeling. If you and Yuki are as close as you say are you, Iâm sure she came around because she must have seen it tooâŚâ
His hands find your your bare waist. âShe was the only one who could see it. Satoru, ShokoâŚit went over their headsâŚâ
The quiet loops in right then, a rumble of thunder echoing in the distance. The hurt in Suguru's voice was loud and clear. The fact that he's always been there, but is so easily forgotten in the long run.
âI need to know,â Suguru confesses, his shoulders slumping in defeat. âI need to know what else itâs going to take to get you to trust me because the odds are stacked up against me, sweetheart. And if I canât make it happen, then I donât have a single fucking shot at making us happenâŚâ
The sting of regret burns your cheeks once more, and you extend your arms out to circle around your boyfriendâs neck. You want to kick yourself for making him doubt himself, especially after he working so incredibly hard to earn your favor.
âI swore I would never throw your past in your face. Iâm so sorry that I did. Youâre not the same guy that the people in your life paint you out to be, and I shouldnât have let them try to convince me otherwise,â
You seal your apology with a small kiss to the corner of his lip, goosebumps pebbling your skin from Suguruâs thumbs tracing tiny streaks up and down your belly. âFor whatever reason we donât seem to make sense to anyone around usâŚâ
When Suguru finds your eyes, you lose yourself into a dark abyss, sinking back into the depths of his soul.
âIs that how you feel too?â he questions seriously, âthat we donât make sense?â
You shake your head instantly to disregard the claim.
âBeing with you is the only thing that I seem to understand, and I think thatâs why Iâm so scared to let you in,â you admit, the past forty eight hours of desperation formulating the next statement on the tip of your tongue. âIâm falling in love with you, Suguru. And-And I canât seem to stop it from happeningâŚâ
Your breathless at the proclamation, your heart hammering so hard in your chest like itâs ready to burst out and bury itself into Suguruâs instead.
You watch your lover pull back slightly, his brows raise with astonishment.
âIn loveâŚâ he breathes, like he can't believe the words himself, âwith me?â
You nod your head, your hands roaming back to the front of his chest where you can feel his own stammering heart against your palm.
"Yeah, with you."
Suguru withers into your touch, his hand cradling your jaw as he dips in to press his mouth over yours. He parts his tongue to deepen the kiss, the weight of his body pushing yours into the surface, where behind you lightning bolts across the sky and grey clouds envelop you both in a shadowy cocoon.
__________________ ××ૢŕźŕźŕż â â â . â â â ââ â . â â âË â§. â â â
You freely unravel, your joy sparking from the tips of your toe as to the top of your head knowing that your lover has chosen not to abandon you, knowing that you both are desperately seeking forgiveness.
You swear to yourself that itâll never get this far again.
Suguru baptizes you with his kiss; it was a long reminder of your submission, of fully surrendering your feelings towards him. In between he moves your body, away from the glass and across the room, until you're pinned underneath him on the bed. He uses one hand to undo the wrap skirt around your waist, leaving you clad in your bikini to bathe under the light of his love instead.
His index finger loops around the string of your bikini top. He pulls away from the wet kiss, the tip of his nose lightly brushing your own, with the heat pooling in those dark irises enough to singe your skin.
âIâm not done with you,â he confirms, going back to the statement that ate away at you like a parasite. âTruthfully, I donât think Iâll ever beâŚâ
A lock of his hair brushes his brow, and you move it aside to kiss the space.
âEven if you were, Iâm not willing to let you go that easily,â you counter because you need him to hear it. You need him to understand that you see what heâs put into this relationship and that you are more than willing to return the effort.
He smiles, and itâs devastatingly perfect it makes you want to scream at the heavens for allowing someone to be this beautiful.
âStill think Iâm worth the trouble?â
Your fingers trace down the bridge of his nose, your heart gooey and soft in more ways than you can understand.
âIâm the luckiest girl in the world to have you, Sugu.â
His head tilts with curiosity, eyes drooping in contemplation. He doesnât say it but you can hear him asking âare you sure?â, but his doubt is enough for you to seal the truth with a kiss, and when Suguru returns it, youâre once again dissolving in his affection.
Your limbs tangle into one another, your bodies pressed so close that you can feel every hard muscle. The bed sheet rumples, is lifted away from the corners as it gathers messily. Suguruâs hand glides up your torso, over the swell of your breasts, and he hooks his fingers around your throat to tilt your neck to the side and allowing him the access to kiss the column.
You thoughtfully sigh, your eyes fluttering close at the sensation of him sucking on your delicate flesh. He leaves a trail in his wake, and you shiver when his hot breath fans your ear.
âCan I ask you something?â he questions in a hush tone, his voice dipping down an octave and sprinkled with desire.
You nod your head.
âCan I go down on you?â
Your body seizes, every single cell on fire. Thereâs a catch in your throat, and your thighs clench together nervously at the suggestion.
You tilt your head back to face him, your noses and lips bumping in the process. âI-I can do it for you-â
He interrupts you by shaking his head, his mouth carefully kissing your cupidâs bow. âYouâve gone down on me three times alreadyâŚâ
You can feel yourself soaking through your bottoms. A mixture of pleasure and shame heating your cheeks.
âBut...what if-what if you donât like it? I read somewhere that not all guys do...â
Suguru scoffs, baring his teeth as he gives you a full grin. He prods the tips of his nose onto yours, wiggling it teasingly from side to side.
âYouâre so fucking cute,â he confesses before adding, âI promise you, Iâll like itâ
Your heart is beating so fast you canât think, but your body speaks another language as your thighs naturally spread a little wider to invite him in.
âOkay, yeah-â you consent, âyeah, you canâŚâ
He smirks, his hands tracing to the strings of your bottoms. You lift your hips, watching him shimmy the fabric down your legs. He stuffs the material in his back pocket, his palms spreading your inner thighs apart.
You sit yourself up on your forearms to study your boyfriend with intrigue.
âGod, youâre so fucking prettyâŚâ he sighs, his attention focused on the triangle between your legs, and your belly flutters at the direct compliment.
He doesnât move for a second, his hands adding the slightest bit of pressure on the meat of your thighs. He licks his lips and breathes out once more, taking just a second to compose himself.
âItâll only feel good, no pain,â he informs, âbut if itâs too much for you, just tell me and Iâll stop, okay?â
Your hips relax further into the mattress, his assurance easing some of your apprehension. Your boyfriend knows how sensitive you are at this point, but you nod your in head in acknowledgement while gratefully appreciating that he regards you with such consideration.
He kisses up the apex of your thigh, carefully avoiding your sex to find a path to you hips. His tongue is sof and warm, tasting every part of your skin as it travels across your lower belly and further down your pubis. You gasp at the sensation of his breath so close to your cunt, your calf twitching when he finally places a gentle kiss on your lips.
And another kiss.
And another kiss.
And a fourth until your toes curl and he finally flattens his tongue along the slit.
âOh,â you coo, the sensation so delicate and delicious. Suguru drags his love between your folds, up and down, and side to decide, his mouth circling around each lip as he sucks on them in between returning to glide his tongue around.
Your legs clasp around his neck, your heels resting comfortably on his back. The sound of Suguru sucking and licking up your pussy reverberates along with the storm outside. He reaches one arm to find your hand, and you intertwine your fingers to hold him tightly. His other hand slithers up your torso, and slips underneath your bikini top. He pushes the fabric above your breast, his thumb and index finger finding your tender nipple which he massages steadily as his uses his mouth to pleasure you.
The sensation builds, filters throughout your body in waves that roll over and over again. You squeak when he sucks on your clit, your heels pressing into his back but the weight of his body holds you in place to keep you from wandering away.
Your brows furrow, little tremors shaking your collar bones and your belly. âSuguru,â you whine sweetly, a moan following after when he pinches your nipple and nibbles on your clit. He lets go of your hand, his touch traveling down to your legs. He spreads your pussy, giving himself more access to bury his soft tongue deeper, further, to taste more of your nectar as it dribbles down his chest like heâs biting into fruit.
He groans into your cunt.
He grazes his tongue over your weeping hole, and your body thrashes with anguish and rapture. Your eyes spark in white, glittering like the lightning as it bursts and recedes into the ceiling above you. The band in your core is a tight spring that finally unfurls quickly and quite suddenly, your orgasm unfolding throughout your stuttering body.
âOh, godâŚâ you cry out, your back arching as Suguru keeps his mouth over your cunt, his hand holding you down by your lower body.
You gasp, panting heavily trying to cope with the aftermath. You think that Suguru might stop, but instead you feel him paint kisses all over your sex, rolling your nipple between his finger and moving to suck on your throbbing clit.
âSugu?â you call out, your spine shuddering.
âHmm?â he answers, his tongue massaging across the bud.
âYouâre stillâŚâ you whimper, âyouâre still going?â
He releases you with a pop, blowing air over the swollen bud before smiling into another kiss.
âYou have no idea how long I can keep goingâ
Suguru only manages to keep his word by delivering another orgasm with his mouth buried against your cunt. You had tears in your eyes when you came, panting out âno moreâ with desperation because you couldnât handle the detachment you were feeling in your own skin.
It feels so fucking good, but all too much at the same time.
Suguru doesnât push. He wonât test his boundaries right now. Not when youâre just a vulnerable kitten in his eyes. No, the stamina will require time and patience, and for you to get used to him in the bedroom as well.
His disappointments sits between his brows when he pulls away, his hand smoothing over the curve of your pelvis as he kisses your hip and lower belly. He crawls over you like a panther, his shoulder blades rising with each calculative moment. You can smell yourself against his lips, savor your own arousal when he dips in for a kiss.
âTaste like heaven, baby girl,â he mumbles, his balmy words running over your skin like hot oil. âI could eat you out all nightâŚâ
He traces the column of your neck with his lips, and grins into your skin. Youâre too shy to say anything, and he knows it. He presses his mouth against your neck, pecking over the marks that heâs imprinted.
Your hands fumble to reach for his jeans, your body desperate to do something for him too but Suguru grabs your wrists and pins them to your side before standing upright and undoing his jeans himself.
âRelax,â he insists.
Your eyes fall to his large hands undoing the button, and then unzipping the front of his pants. His grey boxers have a noticeable wet spot, and your pupils dilate when he pulls his dick out for you to see.
You tuck your bottom lip between your teeth, waiting to see what heâll do next. He pumps his cock a few times, sighing heavily as his thumb runs over the slit. To your surprise he shifts his position, and adjusts himself until heâs perfectly aligned with you.
He taps the fat, mushroom head over your clit. âYou just open up for me, donât you?â he whispers deviously, âLetâs practiceâŚâ
He slides his dick back and forth over your slit, supports his movements by holding both your knees as he grinds his length against your cunt.
âSee how far Iâll stretch you out?â he mumbles, eyes hazy with hunger. âSee how deep Iâll go?â
He slides his hands up and down your thighs, rocking back and forth and using you for friction. Soft grunts and moans escape him, and in between he halts for only a second when your quivering hand finds his length. His hips stutter when you start to lightly jack him off, your thumb teasing over the head.
Your eyes fall close, imagine the burn of him spreading you apart, of him making love to your body as you mold into his frame. To feel him in all his glory, for your bodies to become.
The image is raw, vulnerable, and so, so perfect.
There is nobody else you would rather give yourself too.
Suguru is the one.
âI canât wait,â you beg dreamily, âNeed you inside me, I canât wait-â
His grip on you tightens out of surprise upon hearing your words, and he suddenly thrusts harshly as he curses out a broken âfuckâ. Ribbons of white spurt out of him, painting your belly and tainting parts of your chest.
The both of you freeze as you look down, caught off guard by what just happened.
__________________ ××ૢŕźŕźŕż â â â . â â â ââ â . â â âË â§. â â â
Suguru cleaned you up using a wet towel to wipe his cum off your belly and chest. You discarded your bikini top afterwards while he removed his jeans, with the two of you then choosing to snuggle up against one another under the sheet.
âThatâs never happened to me before,â Suguru confesses, finally breaking the silence. There was a slight blush tinting his cheek bones, and you giggle as you cradle his face in your palm and trace the shade of red.
âYouâre usually so in control,â you playfully remark, and Suguru simply rolls his eyes.
âNot with you, Iâm not,â he admits, his arm clenching around your waist as he closes the gap of space to tuck you into his chest.
You breathe in his scent, nuzzling your nose into the fabric of his tee.
"I'm glad we're okay now."
"I am too"
You curl your fingers around his shirt. âOn your birthday, and just nowâŚwe couldâveâŚjust gone all the way. You couldâve just-â
âNot here,â Suguru states seriously, the intensity in his voice prompting you to tilt your chin up and meet his stare. He plays with your ear, traces the shell thoughtfully before gently tugging on your lobe.
The butterflies flutter once again, your irises tinting in pink. You lean forward to kiss the sharp angle of his jaw.
âWhat was it like for you? Your first time?â
Suguru sighs, and purses his lips as he contemplates the memory. âYuki was good to me, and it was nice,â he admits, but youâre entranced with the way he holds your gaze. âI sure as hell wasnât as nervous as I am nowâŚâ
âIs that why you keep holding back?â you question innocently, apropping yourself on your elbow to rest your head on your hand. The bed sheet falling and exposing your chest.
Suguruâs eyes fall, his touch tracing the slope to outline the curve of your breast. âDo you want your first time to happen after a petty argument?â
You pout your lips with amusement. âDoes it matter?â
âYouâre not the only one who might be in love, sweetheart,â he responds, his words greeting the shining sun peeking through the clouds. âOf course it matters.â
__________________ ××ૢŕźŕźŕż â â â . â â â ââ â . â â âË â§. â â â
tags: @sellenite @kiwibao @allofffmypeaches @sugurussbby @kunigamisbaby @pandoraium @brownskinnedgirll
my works are available on tumblr and ao3 - any fics reposted on other platforms or other Tumblr blogs have been plagiarized. do not share my works on social media (tiktok etc.) Š peachsayshiÂ
#playboy geto x inexperienced reader#geto x reader#geto x y/n#geto x you#suguru geto x reader#suguru geto x you#suguru geto x y/n#geto smut#suguru geto smut#geto angst#suguru geto angst#hurt/comfort#jujutsu kaisen fan fictions
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megumi & mouth inspections
fuck guys u know how weird i am about my inspections/mouth kinks đđ
cw: aged up character, weird stuff, drool, gagging, mentions of yuuji x megumi (reader is just being a tease), implications of anal fingering, unedited bc i am lazy and have hw to do
"I didn't do anything, I swear!" the dark haired man bites, glaring at you from beneath his long eyelashes. You press his cheeks together, pinning his jaw in between your thumb and pointer finger. He wears a pink twinge on his face, humiliated by the position he is in. But you find it cute, so you dont release your hold, no matter how much he squirms.
You frown at your boyfriend, shaking your head. "You were gone all day; how am I to believe you? You're lucky I am not checking your other hole for any signs of abuse." He fumes a dark red at this, blinking owlishly at the lewd words and gripping at his pants.
You knew Megumi would never dare to find another, but he found himself aroused by you being possessive over him, so these type of things were common between the two of you.
"Open your mouth."
He pauses for a minute, looking away, before cringing when you press harder on his jaw, close to bruising his poor pale skin. Then ever so slightly, the man opens his mouth, barely glancing at you.
You dig two of your fingers into his mouth immediately, and his eyes fly open in shock, gagging from how quick you put them in. They trail along his teeth as if to count each of his molars, and you press your thumbs on his gums.
When you peer back at his face, your lover has tears in his eyes, a natural response to be prodded and poked at. They are glassy and big and he tries to scowl at you, hating the uncomfortable sensation, but he cant seem to do it correctly. And so, he just waits, gripping onto your forearm while you continue to play with his mouth. He prays he doesnt drool, too much at least.
Your two digits go deeper into his mouth, now focusing on the roof of it. He gags and is forced to follow your fingers as they tilt his chin upward.
"Thats it," you murmur, dramatically trying to peer into his mouth like you really could see if anything was amiss. His eyes hold a glaze to them, satified at having his small oral fixation fufilled. You dont miss the way he tries to badically suck on your fingers
When you grow bored of the top of his mouth, you move alon to press your now saliva coated fingers onto his tongue. Then, your eyes flicker to his dark ones. "You have kept your tongue to yourself, hmm?"
He always kissed with a little too much tongue when he gets desperate enough, and so at the implication he blushes and tries to shake his head, but it only makes him choke a cough. "Y-Yes, pwomise!"
"Good boy. Y'know I cant be too sure, especially with the way Itadori has been eyeing you..."
He whines, loud and dramatic, before trying once agains to shake his head. Drool begins to dribble down his chin and you eye it but make no move to wipe it off - he looks prettier when he is a mess. "Hes not!" Megumi warbles, being geniune. He didnt even know if his best friend even liked men in that way. You were just trying to get a rise out of him.
"Im not so sure," you sigh, finally pulling your fingers away. Megumi immediately begins to heave, finally getting his precious oxygen back. He wipes his tears, and then his mouth, before gulping and looking back at you.
You go silent for a moment, thinking about something, and the man begins to squirm. "I think I need to do a full body check."
The tips of his ear burns and he shakes his head. "N-No, I-I-. Your not going to...."
You grin at him, pressing your lips to his saliva coated ones before pulling away and saying, "Turn around Megumi."
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I hate the Noel Gruber transfemme headcanon SO muchhh.
Disclaimer: You can headcanon this all you want I just disagree!
Noel doesn't want to be A girl, he wants to be THAT fucked up girl. He invented a character that he romanticised and wanted to be. His monologue was about how he wanted 'bad love', quoting that those who have 'never felt the ecstasy of betrayal know nothing of ecstasy at all'. He wants to hurt, just to feel something.
Noel was bored, poor, and lonely. He longed for love. I think people miss the idea that Noel is a commentary on what under representation/misrepresentation of marginalised communities does to the people in those communities. He says that he was the only gay man in his school. Gay men are not properly represented in media, so the ones he saw in film/TV were probably oversexualised and sidelined. He believed that he had to move to another country to achieve his dreams of love (though he never explicitly states that as being why he was saving up to move to France, but given that he is 'the most romantic boy in town' and is very fixated on romance we can only assume).
To me, it seems like he internalised the idea that straight people get to have relationships whilst he stood by and watched, playing into the twink persona to be more digestible to the small town people that surrounded him. So, he wanted to be the girl that all the boys wanted. He wanted to be something more than the guy who works at the Taco Bell. He submerged himself in this world where he was fuckable (because he was a ruthlessly horny teenager) and attractive to men, and, to him, that was a woman whom they could use (a further implication towards Noel being intensely influenced by the media he consumed, since his monologue is, like, 50% about a movie he likes). He doesn't want to be a woman, he wants to be Monique Gibeau.
So, what I mean is that just saying he's a trans woman erases all of that and makes his character so shallow. He stops being the romanticist who longs for a love that he fears nobody will ever offer him, he just becomes a woman. This contradicts the fact that he clearly doesn't know the first thing about womanhood and the fact that he's a gay man who lacks the community and queer joy that other people who live in more urban areas have access to, being told by his mother that he should 'blend in' rather than feel pride.
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Oscar Isaac Boys with Period, Endo and PCOS Reader HCs
Pairing: Multiple Oscar Isaac characters (Steven Grant, Marc Spector, Jake Lockley, Abel Morales, Nathan Bateman, Cecil Dennis, Laurent LeClaire, Basil Stitt, Santiago Garcia, Anselm Vogelweide) x AFAB reader Word count: 2.2K Dividers by: @saradika-graphics Warnings: Periods, endometriosis, chronic pain, PCOS, non-specified shitty medical experiences, pretty much all fluff though douchebag Laurent mention sorry. No pronouns or body descriptions are used for reader. A/N: I hope you all enjoy this! It's just fluffy blainrot because the endo/post-lap hasn't been great. Reblogs and comments are encouraged and appreciated! 𫶠Tagging: @my-secret-shame-but-fanfiction
Steven Grant
Steven researches endometriosis, PCOS, adenomyosis and period pains. He learns about all of the different types of treatment plans. He learns about dietary changes that can help with inflammation and that other people diagnosed with these conditions have said have helped him. He goes down a rabbit hole of different PCOS recipes and dietary lifestyles, Steven ends up knowing of more PCOS blogs on every platform than you do by the end of that fixation.Â
Heâs so sweet, thereâs been many days where youâve come home at the end of the day and been greeted with an endearing âLove, I found this new recipe, I thought we could try it for dinner? It has the PCOS and the vegan stamps of approval!âÂ
Steven is also a great listener, itâs easy to tell him about how long it took to get a diagnosis, how much doctors donât seem to care and are keen to dismiss you, to tell you birth control is your only pain management option or that youâre anxious and itâs all in your head. Heâs horrified by this, he never judges or condescends and talking to him is always validating.Â
During your periods, heâll happily cuddle up with you and attentively watch all your comfort shows and films, especially the guilty pleasure ones. He loves it. Steven finds good books and podcasts for you on the days of your period when you just want to stay in bed. Heâll read to you as a distraction, you find it cute, especially when itâs a mythology or historical book, his passion and excitement drips through more when he reads those books to you. Heâs a sweetheart thatâs always there for you.
Abel Morales
Abel will have every appointment of yours in his calendar, written in pen, he attends with you for support and as an extra voice to advocate on your behalf. Which he absolutely does. He has no issue speaking up if doctors are ever dismissive, especially when youâre met with a cold one. Heâs spent his whole life trying to be taken seriously and to perfect his image. He knows how to use his eloquent words and charming people skills to get a doctor to do their job better and for you to have better healthcare. You both know that having him, a man in the room, makes it much easier for you and your pain to be taken seriously.Â
In the evenings during flare ups, Abel sits in bed and quietly holds you. Heâll press gentle and loving kisses to your forehead and the top of your head and rub your back in slow circles while you nap or are curled up on him in pain. He hates seeing you in pain but he knows being there is important for you and itâs also important for him as a partner. It never gets easier for him to see you in pain though but Abel will never complain about getting to spend more time cuddling you so tightly.
Nathan Bateman
When you first start dating you tell him you have endometriosis, itâs something thatâll come up eventually for any relationship that goes anywhere, even a casual one. You think itâs better to rip the band-aid off sooner than later. Nathan takes it in casually, like youâve just told him what your favourite condiment is. It surprises you to say the least.Â
Nathan spends the next day scouring through numerous medical journals in order to become a human encyclopaedia on endometriosis and everything relating to the uterus and other reproductive conditions. If youâve been medically cleared safe for a TENS machine, he doesnât even spend a full afternoon building you one and it is the best one youâve ever used, it becomes a regular essential in your pain management kit.Â
The highest ranking and most expensive medical practitioners in the field are flown out to the compound for every symptom and condition. The top pelvic physiotherapists come out, the gynaecologists. You want a dietician to try a diet to help with inflammation and bloating? Theyâre already on a helicopter. You want to try acupuncture? Again, theyâre already on a helicopter. A massage therapist? Again, theyâre already on a helicopter to the compound before you can even finish that request. Thereâs a room in the compound that he had modelled for you and these appointments to essentially be the fanciest hospital room youâve ever been in. Nathan has no issue throwing money and technological innovations at any issues your uterus might give you, itâs a way of showing he cares, heâs arrogant and he can be infuriating but he loves you and will use his brain and bank account to prove it.
Jake Lockley
Whenever you have a negative experience with a doctor he happily offers to go down and take out that practitioner, sometimes heâll make a scalpel joke even though he prefers a gun as a weapon. Youâre not always sure if heâsjoking or not⌠Maybe itâs better to not know, plausible deniability and all.Â
He absolutely pampers you, every time you have a period, whenever thereâs a cramp. Jake pampers you like youâre the most precious thing in the world, which is what you are to him. He makes you hot tea, soups, runs baths, puts on your favourite and comfort films. Jake offers to do things like brushing your hair for you and loves it. Jake pampers you! PAMPERS YOU!
Laurent LeClaire
Donât. Just donât. Sure, heâd be cute the first time you had your period and heâd happily offer period sex as a method of relief. But after the second period or flareup heâd attempt to gaslight you and say your symptoms or your pain being psychological. Then Jake Lockley would find a way to teach him a lesson.
Santiago Garcia
Santiâs long career has made him a master in observation and strategy, Santiago seemed to have a better understanding of your body than any period tracking app youâd tried to use, and not in a Tom Wamsgams baby-trap kind of way. More of a he was better at recognising the patterns, symptoms and remembering details than you were. Especially when the pain gave you brain fog. He picks up on the slightest details and after the first couple of months of dating you, he had a fine eye for pain. Whenever he spots the start of a flare up or painful period he goes straight into that mode, he checks in with you about pain meds, he gets heating pads ready for you and cuddles up with you on the couch or in bed while you curl yourself around one, runs baths and showers.Â
He has a plan in place for everything; when pain or a symptom is at a dreaded emergency department trip, when pain is flaring up. Thereâs a plan made for each appointment with symptoms that have been flaring up, objectives of what to get out of the appointment. Santiago learns what your boundaries and limits are, heâs big on pacing with you and not pushing yourself to do more than what you can handle or what will push you too far and lead to following pain days. He really encourages this for you, something he doesnât do so well for himself and his knees.Â
Whenever Santi tags along with you to an appointment heâs great at asking follow up questions, especially if a doctor is being a dick. Sometimes it can feel overwhelming when youâre in appointments, especially when a doctor is talking, itâs easy to forget whatâs been said as soon as you get home. Santiago always remembers every word thatâs been said if you ever forget or want to double check. Heâs an extremely practical partner and strong support.Â
Basil Stitt
Basil will have a panic attack, heâll quickly google âperiod symptomsâ, he doesnât remember if people get cravings on their periods too or if thatâs just pregnancy, or is it neither? Just something else heâs thinking of? No, heâs overthinking it.Â
During said panic attack, Basil will then do an uber eats order with several different types of chocolate and heâll run to the kitchen to see what teas he has as Google mentioned peppermint tea several times. After checking the kitchen and making a mess in the cupboard and on the countertop during his search, heâll order another box of it anyway just to be safe. Basil also is the guy who orders three different boxes of pads and tampons because heâs not sure what you prefer and he wants you to have options. Insert âWhatâs your pussy size, babe?â meme, thatâs Basil.Â
Anselm Vogelweide
All anxiety evaporates from his body when you just want to cuddle on the couch with him, watch some weird movies and order pizza and drink tea. He smiles and completely lights up when you tell him you like the flavour of the chocolate he ordered.Â
Going forward thereâs a cupboard under the basin in his bathroom filled with various boxes of pads, tampons, and he eventually gets to the stage where he confidently has your period orders down and preferences of products. Heâs quietly but goofily proud of the fact that he now knows your pussy size.
Anselm completely understands chronic pain from his own lived experience. You never have to apologise for a bad pain day, cancelling plans because your uterus is trying to kill you, when you need to spend all day in bed or in the bath to try and relieve pain and bloating. He completely gets that, he makes sure you have the softest and freshest pillows and blankets, bubbles, epsom salts, bath bombs etc. Whatever you could wish for to make you more comfortable. You no longer feel guilty for the things you used to before relating to having a chronic illness and terrible periods. Youâre understood, seen but also pampered beyond whatâs comprehensible.Â
Anselm immediately finds a team of the best professionals, new studies and treatments, both conventional and experimental, are quickly and quietly funded and greenlit. He offers you a world of treatment options youâd never considered or knew existed. Anselm always has his estate stocked with pain medication, all the drugs, drugs youâve never heard of, drugs a normal prescription definitely wouldnât get you. Thereâs medications and all the different options of treatment and pain management you could imagine available at the estate, hydrotherapy pools, massage chairs, massage therapists, sensory relaxation rooms, saunas, staff are there to cook all your favourite and comfort meals. Are you in pain and sad and needing cuddles with animals? Donât worry, Anselm has a room being turned into a barn and a third cousin twice removed bringing a petting zoo over for any cuteness needs you might have. They should be there in five minutes.Â
Marc Spector
And if there somehow isnât something there that you want, donât worry, you just need to ask if he doesnât read your mind first and then itâll be moments away because Anselm can afford anything and everything and he always knows a guy.
Marc knew periods werenât a walk in the park and were uncomfortable but it wasnât until dating you and being around somebody with endometriosis and chronic physical pain did he realise how bad it could be.Â
The first time you had an endo flare up, it had really woken him up to that reality. He couldnât help but grimace at seeing how you transformed from your usual self to being hurled over in pain. It freaked him out and his mind had panicked over the thought of this being your reality multiple times a year. It never gets easier for him to see you in pain or discomfort but he starts to find it easier to respond and be more present during flare ups.Â
Heâs extremely observant, especially when it comes to you. He quickly learns how your facial expressions shift when you have a migraine, he closes all the curtains and turns the lights off. When you curl over on yourself in pain heâs there with a heat pad within minutes. When you screw your face up and say youâre nauseous heâs immediately there with a bucket on the side of the bed. During one of your worst flares when youâd been throwing up, he hadnât even complained once. Heâd helped you feel clean afterwards, there were no comments that made you feel bad and he cleaned the bucket out so it wasnât something youâd have to worry about. Marc found it much easier to show up and do these acts than to be the verbally reassuring type, he shows up and these acts of service and care make you feel supported, loved and cared for.
Cecil Dennis
âBabe, do you wanna get high?âÂ
âI read about cannabis and chronic pain, thereâs honestly so many articles on the internet about it.âÂ
Gets just as upset as you do when you're in pain, quite possibly cries more than you do whenever a flare up is happening. He'll watch films with you and he buys a CBD ointment and offers to rub it on your abdomen while youâre cuddled up in bed.
Iâll stop there, Iâm sorry.
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