#hugs and kisses to all muah | Explore Tumblr posts and blogs

yaniluvs · 3 days ago

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okay this means so much to me you don’t understand :(((( i love being a tumblr author, thank you so much for your love and the kind words !!

i really try my best to involve all emotions and descriptions, thank you for noticing !!

im happy you liked this long fic heh >< xoxo

over matcha lattes ୨୧ to something more?

[ 승민‎ ] ✷ ‎ . . 𝗐𝗁𝖾𝗇 𝗍𝗁𝖾 𝗉𝗈𝗉𝗎𝗅𝖺𝗋 𝗀𝗂𝗋𝗅 𝗆𝖾𝖾𝗍𝗌 𝗍𝗁𝖾 𝖺𝖼𝖺𝖽𝖾𝗆𝗂𝖼 𝖺𝖼𝖾 — 𝗀𝖾𝗍𝗌 𝖺𝗌𝗌𝗂𝗀𝗇𝖾𝖽 𝖺 𝗉𝗋𝗈𝗃𝖾𝖼𝗍 𝗍𝗈𝗀𝖾𝗍𝗁𝖾𝗋, 𝗐𝗁𝗂𝖼𝗁 𝗅𝖾𝖺𝖽𝗌 𝗍𝗈 𝗌𝗁𝖺𝗋𝖾𝖽 𝗆𝖺𝗍𝖼𝗁𝖺 𝗅𝖺𝗍𝗍𝖾𝗌 and puppies. . ?

⟡ read the sequel here ⟡

۫ 𖨂 𓈒 𝑛erdy!seungmin ₊ ‎ ‎ 𝑓em!reader g. fluff , humour , uni!au , classmates to lovers, skz ensemble. II,3OOw. ⎯⎯⎯ L𝒾BRARY . 𓋜 . cw. bantering , jokes , intimacy. ✦ requested. ! ࿐

yani's note ! ✿ 600 followers aaaa !!!!! also new fic layout, yes, very cutesy very demure. thank you to anon for the lovely request !! >< answering more requested fics soon <3 this might have a sequel, (which is requested by another anon, again.) !! when yn and seungmo are already dating heheheheh. hope you all like it !!! comments, likes, req/asks and reblogs are always appreciated ! send in a reply or an ask if you want to be in my mastertag, or my individual series' taglists. happy reading <3

y/n had always been a walking ray of sunshine. the way she bounded into the university cafeteria every morning, beaming like she had a personal spotlight, made her an unmissable presence. today was no different. with her hair loosely tied into a messy ponytail and a bright yellow cardigan that made her look like spring personified, she wove through the crowd, waving at familiar faces and exchanging cheerful hellos.

"felix!" she called out, spotting her blond-haired best friend at their usual table. felix turned around with an amused grin, holding a tray piled precariously with food.

"you look like you're auditioning for a yogurt commercial,"

"and you'd be the overworked single dad in the background trying to keep me away from sugary snacks," she shot back, grabbing one of the croissants from his tray.

behind them, hyunjin sauntered in, looking like he had just stepped off the cover of a fashion magazine. he rolled his eyes at their banter, brushing his long hair out of his face. "can you two stop flirting for two seconds? some of us are trying to exist without getting cavities."

felix and y/n gasped in mock offense simultaneously.

"hyun, i'm wounded," y/n said, clutching her chest. "this is friendship, okay? try it sometime."

"not when it looks like a rom-com b-plot," hyunjin deadpanned, sliding into his seat.

as rina and aeri joined the group, the table quickly became a hub of laughter and noise, with jokes flying left and right.

across the room, someone, was watching.

well, watching was a strong word. more like…occasionally glancing up from his laptop. he had a prime spot at the far end of the cafeteria, where he could quietly work on his assignments. most of the time, the noise didn’t bother him. but y/n’s voice had a way of cutting through every other sound—bright, melodic, and so unapologetically full of life.

"you're staring again."

jisung’s teasing voice broke through seungmin’s thoughts. he looked up to see his friend grinning at him from across the table.

"i’m not staring," seungmin said flatly, returning to his notes.

"you’re staring," jeongin chimed in, smirking as he leaned over to snag one of jisung’s fries. "it’s okay, though. we all know you have a soft spot for the sunshine girl."

seungmin shot them both a withering look. "she’s loud. that’s all."

"loud and cute," jisung added. "don’t worry, man. it’s endearing."

before seungmin could retort, y/n’s voice rang out across the cafeteria again, this time much closer.

"seungmin!"

he froze. sure enough, there she was, skipping toward their table like she had all the time in the world.

"why do you guys always sit here by yourselves?" she asked, plopping down in the seat next to him before he could say a word. her friends trailed behind her, chatting amongst themselves but clearly amused by her antics.

"because it’s quiet," seungmin replied, his tone clipped.

"not anymore," jisung whispered, earning a glare from seungmin.

y/n didn’t seem to notice the tension. she leaned over, peering at his laptop screen. "what are you working on?"

"a paper."

"what’s it about?"

seungmin sighed. "you wouldn’t understand."

"oh, come on! try me," she said, resting her chin on her hand and giving him her full attention.

"it’s about the correlation between music theory applications and cognitive development," he said, hoping to scare her off with the overly academic phrasing.

y/n blinked. then she grinned. "that’s so cool! do you think it’s true? like, do people who understand music better think differently?"

seungmin blinked, caught off guard by her genuine curiosity. "well…yes," he admitted. "there’s some evidence that it improves problem-solving skills."

"see? you can explain it in normal-person language," y/n teased, nudging his arm.

the table erupted into laughter, and seungmin fought the urge to roll his eyes. but when he glanced at y/n, her smile was so warm and sincere that he felt his annoyance melt away just a little.

maybe she wasn’t so bad.

"careful, seungmin," jisung whispered. "you might actually start enjoying her company."

"shut it."

it was an overcast morning, the kind where the sky seemed to hold its breath, and the world below carried on in muted anticipation. y/n strolled into her economics lecture, her wavy black hair bouncing slightly as she adjusted the strap of her tote bag. her signature energy had dimmed slightly today; the clouds seemed to tug at her mood, though she masked it well with her usual bright smile.

the lecture hall was buzzing with the chatter of students, most of whom were busy complaining about their upcoming projects. y/n spotted felix waving at her from their usual spot near the back, and she hurried over, plopping into the seat beside him.

“late night again?” felix teased, nudging her with his shoulder.

“guilty,” y/n admitted, stifling a yawn. “i was helping rina practice her speech. you know how she gets—everything has to be perfect.”

felix chuckled. “you’re too nice for your own good.”

before y/n could respond, the professor—a middle-aged man with a perpetually frazzled look—strode into the room, carrying a stack of papers. he set them down with a heavy sigh, silencing the room.

“all right, everyone, settle down. as you know, your mid-semester project accounts for 30% of your grade.”

groans rippled through the room, but y/n straightened in her seat, already scribbling notes.

“i’ll be assigning you partners,” the professor continued, his tone leaving no room for negotiation. “the goal is to analyze a real-world economic issue and present a comprehensive report. you’ll have three weeks to complete it.”

y/n exchanged a quick glance with felix, who smirked. “bet you’ll get stuck with someone boring,” he whispered.

“or worse,” y/n whispered back, “someone who doesn’t do their share of the work.”

the professor began calling out names, pairing students at random. y/n listened intently, silently hoping she’d be paired with someone easygoing.

“…kim seungmin and y/n l/n.”

well that wasn't surprising.

her head snapped up.

“seungmin?” she repeated under her breath, her eyes darting toward the other side of the lecture hall.

sure enough, there he was, seated near the front with his usual straight-backed posture and composed expression. he didn’t even look her way, just calmly noted down her name in his notebook.

felix snickered. “good luck. maybe you’ll finally break through his ice-cold demeanor.”

y/n gave him a playful glare before gathering her things and heading down the steps toward seungmin.

as she approached, he glanced up, his dark eyes meeting hers with the faintest hint of surprise.

“hey, partner,” she said cheerfully, trying to ignore the slight knot in her stomach. “looks like we’re stuck together for this one.”

“seems so,” he replied, his tone neutral.

his face, as always, was unreadable. his neatly styled hair and pressed shirt made him look effortlessly put-together, a stark contrast to y/n’s cozy cardigan and slightly scuffed sneakers.

“do you have time to discuss this today?” she asked. “there’s this cafe near campus where—”

“i know the one,” he interrupted. “it’s fine. let’s meet there at two.”

“great!” y/n said, her smile unwavering. “i’ll see you then.”

as the economics lecture had ended, seungmin packed up his belongings with his usual efficiency, slinging his bag over his shoulder. as he stepped out into the corridor, he was immediately intercepted by jisung, who was grinning like he’d just discovered the world’s funniest secret.

“so…” jisung began, falling into step beside him.

seungmin raised an eyebrow. “so what?”

“you’re partnered with her,” jisung said, practically vibrating with glee.

“who’s her?” jeongin chimed in, suddenly appearing at seungmin’s other side.

“y/n,” jisung answered, dragging out her name dramatically.

jeongin’s eyes widened, his lips curling into a knowing smirk. “the sunshine girl? the one who makes it her life’s mission to befriend everyone?”

“that’s the one,” jisung confirmed, nudging seungmin with his elbow. “how does it feel to be the chosen one?”

seungmin rolled his eyes, exhaling sharply. “it’s just a project. we’ll get it done, and that’s it.”

ryujin and yuna joined the group then, ryujin immediately catching onto the conversation. “what’s this about?” she asked, her sharp gaze darting between them.

“seungmin got paired with y/n for the econ project,” jeongin supplied, clearly enjoying the situation.

ryujin’s eyebrows shot up. “y/n? oh, this is going to be good.”

“why?” seungmin asked, his tone exasperated.

“because she’s basically your polar opposite,” yuna said, her voice light with amusement. “you avoid people; she attracts them. you’re all about efficiency; she probably spends half her time doodling in her notebooks.”

“you’re underestimating her,” yeji chimed in, catching up to the group. “she’s actually really smart. i’ve seen her in class—she’s not just about the bubbly personality.”

seungmin shot her a look of mild surprise but said nothing.

“still,” jisung said, grinning, “i can’t wait to see how this goes. who knows? maybe she’ll finally melt that ice-cold heart of yours.”

seungmin sighed. “can you all find something else to talk about?”

“not a chance,” jeongin said, and the group dissolved into laughter as they walked toward the campus courtyard.

meanwhile, y/n practically skipped out of the lecture hall, her usual energy returning in full force. she immediately spotted felix, hyunjin, rina, and aeri waiting for her near the lockers.

“well?” felix asked as soon as she approached. “who’s the lucky partner?”

“seungmin,” y/n announced, pulling her bag strap higher on her shoulder.

the group collectively froze.

“seungmin? kim seungmin?” hyunjin said, his voice dripping with disbelief.

“yup,” y/n replied, popping the “p” as she leaned against the locker.

“oh my god,” rina said, covering her mouth with her hand. “the seungmin like the class ace?”

“mr. perfectly composed,” aeri added, folding her arms. “how did that happen?”

y/n shrugged, a playful smile tugging at her lips. “guess the universe thought it’d be fun to put a sunshine and a storm cloud together.”

“do you think he’s annoyed?” felix asked, tilting his head thoughtfully.

“probably,” y/n said with a laugh. “but it’s not like i’m going to let that stop me.”

“i can already picture it,” hyunjin said, his tone dripping with melodrama. “you’ll be all smiles and rainbows, and he’ll sit there glaring at you like you’re the bane of his existence.”

“that’s probably accurate,” y/n admitted, giggling.

“you’re going to have to work hard to get through to him,” rina said. “he’s not exactly the easiest person to talk to.”

“challenge accepted,” y/n declared, holding up a fist in mock determination.

“just don’t overwhelm him,” aeri said, though her smile was teasing. “you have a tendency to… how do i put this… shine a little too brightly sometimes.”

“me? overwhelm someone?” y/n asked, feigning innocence.

“you’re very adamant.”

“but in the best way,” rina added.

“exactly,” y/n said, flashing them a grin. “now, if you’ll excuse me, i have a coffee date with mr. storm cloud.”

“good luck,” hyunjin called after her as she walked away.

“you’re going to need it!” felix added, laughing.

the air in the cafe was warm and inviting, a stark contrast to the dreary gray of the day outside. golden light spilled through the large glass windows, painting soft highlights on the oak furniture and the framed watercolor prints lining the walls. the hum of a coffee machine harmonized with the low murmur of conversations and the occasional clink of ceramic cups.

seungmin sat near the window, his usual spot, with his arms folded and a faintly bored expression on his face. the green hue of his matcha latte swirled lazily in the mug in front of him, its foam dusted with a delicate sprinkle of matcha powder. his laptop was open, the screen already filled with meticulously organized notes for their project.

he glanced at his watch, exhaling quietly. she was late.

by two minutes.

before he could think too much about it, the cafe door opened with a cheerful chime, letting in a rush of cool air and the familiar sound of her voice.

“there you are!” y/n called, her energy somehow brighter than the café’s lighting. she waved at him, her tote bag bouncing against her side as she weaved through the tables to reach him.

“you’re late,” seungmin said flatly as she slid into the seat across from him.

“by like, two minutes,” she countered, flashing him a grin that could disarm a storm.

y/n dropped her tote bag onto the floor and leaned forward, her gaze falling on the mug in front of him. “is that a matcha latte?”

“...yes?”

her eyes widened, and she clasped her hands together dramatically. “i did not peg you as a matcha person. you just became ten times more interesting.”

seungmin raised an eyebrow, his fingers drumming lightly against the table. “and what exactly did you peg me as?”

“black coffee,” she said instantly, as if it were obvious. “you know, something bitter and unapproachable.”

“i don’t know whether to be offended or impressed by how specific that was,” he said dryly.

“take it as a compliment,” she said, waving her hand. “anyway, i’m getting one too. be right back!”

before seungmin could respond, she was already bouncing toward the counter, her black, wavy hair swishing behind her. he watched as she gestured animatedly while ordering, her voice carrying faintly over the café’s soft playlist.

when she returned, she was balancing a matcha latte in one hand and a plate of cookies in the other. she set them down with a flourish, her eyes sparkling.

“now we match,” she said, nodding at their identical drinks.

seungmin stared at her for a moment, then shook his head. “do you ever run out of energy?”

“nope!” she chirped, taking a sip of her latte. “i thrive on optimism, caffeine, and sheer determination.”

he gave her a look that bordered on disbelief. “that explains a lot.”

“what’s that supposed to mean?” she asked, leaning forward with mock offense.

“it means,” he began, leaning back in his chair, “that you’re probably the kind of person who volunteers for everything, stays up too late, and takes on way more than you can handle.”

y/n blinked at him, caught off guard by how accurate he was.

“before you ask, let’s just say you’re not exactly subtle,”

“well,” she said, recovering quickly, “you’re not exactly a mystery, either.”

“oh?” he said, crossing his arms. “do tell.”

“you’re the guy who avoids people but secretly observes everything,” she said, counting off on her fingers. “you’re the top of our class, duh—overachiever, for sure—but you act like you don’t care about grades. and you definitely judge people silently.”

he stared at her, one corner of his mouth twitching. “not bad.”

“see? i’m not subtle, but i’m perceptive,” she said triumphantly, taking another sip of her latte.

seungmin sighed, shaking his head. “this is going to be a long three weeks.”

“oh, come on,” she said, grinning. “admit it. you’re at least a little glad we’re working together.”

“i’d rather drink bitter, unapproachable black coffee for three weeks straight,” he deadpanned.

y/n burst out laughing, drawing a few amused glances from the other tables. “you’re funny when you’re grumpy, you know that?”

“i’m not grumpy,” he said, though his tone suggested otherwise.

“sure you’re not,” she teased, pulling out her notebook and flipping it open. “okay, mr. matcha-latte-is-my-personality, let’s get to work.”

for the next hour, they hashed out ideas for their project, their conversation an entertaining mix of intellectual debate and playful banter. y/n’s colorful pens danced across the pages of her notebook, while seungmin’s precise typing filled the spaces in between.

“wait,” y/n said suddenly, tapping her pen against her chin. “what if we include a survey? like, ask people why they prefer local coffee shops over big chains?”

seungmin looked at her, slightly impressed despite himself. “that’s actually… a good idea.”

“see?” she said, beaming. “teamwork makes the dream work.”

he rolled his eyes but didn’t disagree.

as they packed up their things, y/n looked at him thoughtfully. “you know, you’re not as scary as people think.”

“and you’re more tolerable than i expected,” he replied, slinging his bag over his shoulder.

“aw, was that a compliment?” she teased, walking beside him toward the door.

“don’t push your luck,” he said, holding the door open for her.

such a gentleman.

the next day, seungmin found himself back at the same corner table of the cafe, his laptop open, and his fingers resting lightly on the keyboard. he had arrived early again, and his usual matcha latte sat in its familiar spot, the faint green foam already starting to lose its swirl.

he glanced at his watch, fully expecting her to be a few minutes late again. sure enough, the door chimed exactly three minutes past the hour, and there she was.

“three minutes late,” seungmin remarked without looking up from his screen.

“consistent, aren’t i?” y/n chirped, setting her bag down with a thud and sliding into her seat across from him. her hair was loosely tied back today, a few stray curls framing her face.

seungmin’s lips twitched, almost imperceptibly. “consistently late isn’t something to be proud of.”

“agree to disagree,” she replied, pulling out her notebook and a handful of pens that were, unsurprisingly, color-coded.

her latte arrived shortly after, along with a croissant she ordered, and she immediately broke off a piece, offering it to him. “want some?”

“no.”

“suit yourself,” she said, popping the piece into her mouth and chewing thoughtfully. “so, where were we?”

“market analysis,” seungmin said, his tone all business as he turned his laptop to show her the data he had compiled.

the next hour passed in a surprisingly productive rhythm: y/n sketching out ideas with colorful diagrams and annotations, and seungmin structuring their findings into coherent sections. but, as always, their conversation veered off course every now and then.

“why are you so into matcha, anyway?” y/n asked at one point, leaning her chin on her hand.

seungmin paused, his fingers hovering over his keyboard. “it’s subtle. balanced. not overly sweet.”

“so, basically the opposite of me,” she quipped with a grin.

“exactly,” he said without missing a beat.

y/n laughed, the sound light and contagious. “you know, you’re a lot funnier than people give you credit for.”

“maybe people just don’t pay attention,” he replied, smirking slightly.

“or maybe you’re secretly a comedian and no one’s cracked the code yet,” she said, scribbling something in her notebook.

seungmin glanced at her notebook. “are you doodling again?”

“it’s brainstorming,” she said defensively, holding up the page. it was covered in little clouds and stars alongside bullet points about their project.

he sighed, though there was no real annoyance in it. “i don’t know how your brain works.”

“and yet,” she said with a wink, “here we are. perfectly balanced, like your precious matcha.”

the cafe became their unofficial meeting spot, the hum of the espresso machines and the chatter of students forming a familiar backdrop to their study sessions.

each day followed a similar pattern. seungmin would arrive early, his notes already meticulously organized. y/n would burst in a few minutes late, full of energy and carrying an ever-changing assortment of pastries.

their conversations became less about the project and more about each other as the days passed.

“you were in the debate club in high school?” y/n asked one day, wide-eyed.

“briefly,” seungmin admitted, not looking up from his laptop.

“i can totally see it,” she said, nodding. “all calm and logical, probably tearing your opponents apart with facts and wit.”

“is that your way of saying i’m argumentative?” he asked, raising an eyebrow.

“no, it’s my way of saying you’re scary smart,” she said, grinning.

he didn’t respond, but she noticed the faintest hint of color rise to his cheeks.

another day, y/n told him about her childhood. “i used to write letters to random people in the neighborhood,” she said, laughing at the memory. “just little notes, you know? telling them to have a great day or sharing a joke. my mom thought i was nuts.”

“that tracks,” seungmin said dryly, though there was a soft smile tugging at his lips.

by the end of the first week, their dynamic had settled into an easy rhythm. y/n’s chatter filled the spaces seungmin left, and his quick, witty remarks kept her on her toes.

one evening, as the cafe began to empty out, y/n looked at him thoughtfully. “you know, i think we’re not as different as we seem.”

seungmin glanced up, curious. “how so?”

“you act all cold and distant, but you’re actually super thoughtful,” she said, pointing her pen at him. “and i might seem like i’m all over the place, but i actually work really hard to make things perfect.”

he considered her words for a moment, then nodded. “maybe you’re right.”

“of course i am,” she said, smiling.

the usual morning buzz of the café wrapped around y/n as she entered, her tote bag slung over her shoulder. the golden glow of the hanging lights reflected off her black curls as she scanned the room, finding their usual spot by the window empty. for once, she had beaten seungmin here.

sliding into the seat that was unofficially hers now, she set her things down and strolled to the counter. today, she had a plan.

“i’ll have a caramel macchiato,” she said brightly to the barista, “and—oh, a matcha latte as well. to go with it.”

the barista smiled, tapping the order into the screen. y/n hummed along with the soft café music as she waited, glancing toward the door every now and then. the matcha latte wasn’t for her—it was for him.

the drinks arrived quickly, and y/n carried them back to the table, placing the matcha latte on his side of the table with a satisfied nod. she had barely taken a sip of her macchiato when the café door chimed, and seungmin walked in.

he paused when he saw her sitting there, looking unusually early, sipping her drink and doodling in the margins of her notebook. his gaze flickered to the matcha latte already waiting on the table.

“you’re early,” he said as he approached, his voice as calm and measured as always.

“surprise,” she said cheerfully, lifting her drink in a mock toast. “and i got you this.” she nodded toward the matcha latte.

seungmin blinked, momentarily thrown off. he stared at the latte, then back at her. “you got me a matcha latte?”

“yep. extra foam, no sugar. that’s how you like it, right?” she said, her tone breezy.

his lips parted slightly in surprise, and for a split second, she thought he might actually smile. “you noticed that?”

y/n shrugged, trying to play it cool despite the rush of pride she felt. “well, we’ve been meeting here for over a week. i’d have to be pretty oblivious not to notice.”

seungmin slid into his seat, his expression carefully neutral. but the faintest trace of warmth flickered in his eyes as he picked up the cup. “thanks.”

“you’re welcome,” she said, grinning. “see? i can be thoughtful too.”

he rolled his eyes but took a sip, the familiar flavor calming him more than he cared to admit. “don’t let it go to your head.”

“too late,” she teased, leaning her chin on her hand.

they had just begun discussing their final outline when the café door opened again, letting in a gust of cool air and a burst of familiar voices.

“hey, isn’t that y/n?” ryujin’s voice rang out, loud enough to turn a few heads. she was flanked by yuna and yeji, with jisung and jeongin trailing behind. minho followed at a leisurely pace, his hands shoved into his pockets.

y/n waved them over, her face lighting up. “guys!”

seungmin groaned under his breath, already bracing himself for the chaos about to ensue.

ryujin reached the table first, her sharp eyes immediately landing on seungmin. “well, well. didn’t expect to see you here with y/n.”

“we’re working on a project,” seungmin said flatly, glancing at her with mild annoyance.

“sure you are,” ryujin said, smirking as she slid into the seat beside y/n.

yuna and yeji sat down on the other side of y/n, while jisung and jeongin squeezed into the remaining space. minho stayed standing, leaning casually against the back of seungmin’s chair.

“is that a matcha latte?” jisung asked, pointing at seungmin’s cup.

seungmin raised an eyebrow. “yes. is that a problem?”

“not at all,” jisung said with a grin. “just didn’t think you’d be into something so…trendy.”

“trendy?” seungmin repeated, his tone incredulous.

“leave him alone,” y/n interjected, swatting jisung lightly on the arm. “matcha is great, and seungmin has good taste.”

seungmin glanced at her, surprised by her defense. “thanks…i guess.”

the group erupted into teasing laughter, and seungmin groaned again, this time louder. “this is exactly why i don’t hang out with you people.”

“oh, come on, seungmin,” ryujin said, nudging his shoulder. “you secretly love us.”

“i really don’t,” he said, deadpan.

but even as the banter continued, y/n noticed the faintest smile tugging at the corners of his lips. it was fleeting, barely there—but it was enough.

as the conversation swirled around them, y/n leaned closer to him, her voice low enough for only him to hear. “see? it’s not so bad having company.”

he shot her a sideways glance, his expression unreadable. “you’re exhausting.”

“and yet, here you are,” she said with a wink.

seungmin didn’t reply, but he took another sip of his matcha latte, the warmth of the drink matching the faint warmth in his chest. maybe, just maybe, this wasn’t so bad after all.

the study session had gone by surprisingly smoothly, the usual mix of bickering and banter lightening the load of the project. the rest of their friends had left the café an hour ago, leaving y/n and seungmin to finish up the last few points of their outline in relative peace.

“so,” y/n began, stretching her arms over her head, “are we done for today?”

seungmin glanced at his notes, then at her. “i think so. unless you want to go over the market strategy again.”

“i’d rather not,” she said with a laugh, leaning back in her chair.

he closed his laptop with a soft click and stood up, slinging his bag over one shoulder. “then we’re done.”

as they stepped out of the café, the late afternoon sunlight cast a warm, golden glow over the campus. the air was crisp, carrying the faint scent of autumn leaves, and the streets were alive with the chatter of students heading to their next destination.

“wanna take a walk?” y/n asked suddenly, looking up at him.

seungmin hesitated for a moment before nodding. “sure.”

they strolled along the tree-lined paths, the leaves crunching softly under their shoes. y/n swung her bag idly by her side, her energy a little more subdued than usual.

seungmin noticed her glancing at her phone every few minutes, her brows furrowing slightly each time. he didn’t say anything at first, but as the minutes ticked by, her unease became harder to ignore.

“you’ve been checking your phone a lot,” he said finally, his tone casual but pointed.

y/n looked up, startled. “oh, it’s nothing.”

“doesn’t look like nothing,” he said, studying her carefully.

she hesitated, biting her lip. “it’s really not a big deal. just… a thing.”

seungmin raised an eyebrow but didn’t press further. instead, he changed the subject. “you know, for someone who’s always so cheery, you’re not great at hiding when something’s bothering you.”

y/n let out a small laugh, though it didn’t quite reach her eyes. “guess i’m not as subtle as i thought.”

“nope,” he said, smirking slightly.

they continued walking, the conversation drifting to lighter topics. y/n told him about the time she tried to bake cookies and accidentally used salt instead of sugar, while seungmin recounted the disastrous group project he’d been part of in high school.

at one point, they stopped by a small fountain in the center of campus, the water sparkling in the golden light. y/n leaned against the edge, her face tilted up toward the sky.

“you ever think about how weird life is?” she said suddenly, her voice soft.

seungmin looked at her, surprised by the shift in her tone. “weird how?”

“like…how people come and go. how things change so fast, and you don’t even realize it until it’s already happened,” she said, her fingers trailing absently along the edge of the fountain.

he didn’t respond immediately, letting her words hang in the air. “yeah,” he said finally. “but that’s just how it is. you can’t control it.”

“i know,” she said, sighing. “it’s just…sometimes i wish things could stay the same, you know?”

seungmin watched her for a moment, the soft sunlight catching in her hair, turning it into a halo of dark curls. he didn’t know what was going on in her head, but for some reason, he found himself wanting to figure it out.

“you’re not as complicated as you think you are,” he said, breaking the silence.

y/n turned to him, blinking. “what’s that supposed to mean?”

he shrugged. “you’re easy to read. you care too much, you worry too much, and you’re too nice for your own good.”

she stared at him for a moment, then smiled. “is that supposed to be a compliment?”

“take it however you want,” he said, smirking.

as the evening wore on, they found themselves back near the café, the warm glow of the windows spilling onto the sidewalk.

“thanks for hanging out,” y/n said as they stopped outside.

“didn’t have much of a choice,” seungmin replied, though there was no edge to his tone.

y/n laughed, the sound light and genuine. “you’re not as grumpy as you pretend to be, you know.”

“don’t push your luck,” he said, but his lips quirked up in the faintest of smiles.

as they parted ways, y/n glanced at her phone one last time, her smile faltering slightly. seungmin noticed, his chest tightening with a feeling he didn’t quite understand.

he didn’t ask, not yet. but something about her quiet moments of worry lingered in his mind long after she was gone.

the morning sun cast a soft glow over the campus, but y/n barely noticed it. her fingers twitched against her phone screen, unlocking it for the hundredth time that morning. nothing. no updates.

she exhaled, locking it again, stuffing it into her coat pocket as her legs carried her to the usual meeting spot—a bench under the giant oak tree near the university fountain. felix, hyunjin, rina, and aeri were already there, their laughter blending into the murmur of passing students.

“hey, superstar,” felix greeted, his dimpled smile in place. “finally decided to grace us with your presence?”

y/n forced a smile, but hyunjin narrowed his eyes immediately. “you didn’t sleep well, did you?”

she waved him off. “i’m fine.”

aeri crossed her arms. “liar. you’ve been checking your phone like your life depends on it.”

rina sighed, her voice gentler. “still no news?”

y/n shook her head, biting the inside of her cheek. “i just.. i just hope things work out.”

felix leaned forward, resting his arms on his thighs. “you should stop worrying so much. it’s not like you can do anything more.”

“i could,” y/n mumbled, picking at her sleeve.

hyunjin clicked his tongue. “y/n. you did everything you could. more than anyone else would.”

“but that doesn’t mean it’s enough.” her voice was quiet, yet it carried the weight of something much heavier.

aeri’s expression softened. “we know how much this means to you. but stressing yourself out isn’t going to change anything.”

y/n stayed silent, staring at her shoes.

the group lapsed into silence for a moment, the usual morning energy dimmed by the unspoken understanding hanging between them.

then, suddenly—

“okay, enough doom and gloom,” felix announced, standing up dramatically. “we have classes to suffer through, and y/n, you have a reputation to maintain as our radiant ball of sunshine.”

y/n rolled her eyes but couldn’t help the tiny laugh that escaped her.

hyunjin threw an arm around her shoulder, squeezing lightly. “see? there’s the smile. let’s keep it that way, yeah?”

she hummed noncommittally, but as they all walked to class together, her fingers still itched to check her phone again.

meanwhile.

seungmin had barely sat down at their usual cafeteria table when jisung slid into the seat beside him with all the grace of an overly excited squirrel.

“so,” jisung started, grinning. “how’s your little study buddy?”

seungmin exhaled sharply through his nose, already regretting every life choice that had led him here. “no.”

jeongin, sitting across from them, leaned forward, clearly entertained. “what do you mean, ‘no’? we didn’t even say anything yet.”

“you don’t have to,” seungmin deadpanned, stabbing at his rice with his chopsticks.

ryujin, yuna, and yeji all exchanged looks before turning to him in unison. ryujin smirked. “so. how’s y/n?”

seungmin chewed slowly, staring blankly at his tray like the answers to life’s problems were hidden somewhere between his kimchi and his soup. “fine.”

jisung gasped, placing a dramatic hand on his chest. “fine? that’s all we get? kim seungmin, the master of unnecessary detail and sarcasm, is suddenly giving us fine?”

yeji leaned in. “what’s she like when she studies? still yapping?”

“she never stops talking,” seungmin muttered, rubbing his temple.

yuna giggled. “sounds like you had so much fun.”

“ecstatic.”

jeongin raised an eyebrow. “but you keep showing up.”

seungmin clicked his tongue, irritated. “because we have a project. unlike you clowns, i care about my grades.”

jisung dramatically wiped a fake tear. “we’re clowns, but you chose to sit here.”

minho, who had been silently eating until now, finally spoke up. “so, you actually like hanging out with her, huh?”

the entire table went silent.

seungmin paused mid-bite, his jaw tightening ever so slightly. “i tolerate her.”

jeongin snorted. “that’s seungmin for i-actually-enjoy-her-company.”

“i do not—”

“oh my god, guys,” jisung gasped, eyes widening as if he had just discovered the meaning of life. “what if he is the one who talks more when they’re together? what if he’s the one who yaps?”

the table erupted into laughter while seungmin sat there, unimpressed, arms crossed.

“be serious,” seungmin said flatly. “me? talkative?”

ryujin leaned her chin on her hand, grinning. “well, y/n does have a way of getting people to open up.”

seungmin scoffed, looking back down at his food. “yeah, well. doesn’t mean anything.”

jisung wiggled his eyebrows. “sure, sure. but if you ever start writing your songs about her, let us know.”

minho smirked. “or if you suddenly develop a taste for matcha lattes.”

seungmin groaned, dropping his chopsticks onto his tray. “i hate all of you.”

but even as his friends laughed and teased, he couldn’t stop the brief thought that flickered in his mind—

y/n had ordered a matcha latte for him yesterday.

and, annoyingly enough, it had tasted just a little bit better than usual.

the golden glow of the setting sun stretched across the city, painting the sky in hues of orange and pink. the air was crisp, carrying the scent of autumn leaves, freshly brewed coffee from nearby shops, and the faintest whiff of something sweet—perhaps a bakery down the street, or maybe just the anticipation curling in y/n’s stomach.

she adjusted the tote bag slung over her shoulder, her fingers tightening around the straps as she, hyunjin, and felix approached the same, familiar place.

the soft jingling of the bell above the glass door greeted them as they stepped inside, the warmth of the small space wrapping around them like a hug.

the scent of pet shampoo and fresh kibble mixed with the quiet murmurs of staff and the occasional soft barks from the kennels. y/n immediately scanned the room, her heart squeezing as her eyes landed on a familiar golden figure curled up in the corner.

“star,” she breathed, a gentle smile tugging at her lips.

the golden retriever perked up at the sound of her voice, his deep brown eyes lighting up as he scrambled to his feet, tail thumping wildly against the floor. his scarred eyebrow lifted slightly, his head tilting as if in disbelief before he rushed toward the gate of his enclosure, whining softly.

felix chuckled beside her. “that’s one hell of a welcome.”

hyunjin smirked. “almost makes me jealous.”

y/n shot them a look before crouching down, slipping her fingers through the gaps in the bars to brush against the soft fur of star’s head. “hi, baby,” she cooed, her voice dropping into that sweet, affectionate tone she only ever used for him. “did you miss me?”

star pressed his nose against her fingers, letting out a low, contented whimper as his tail wagged even harder.

a familiar voice spoke up from behind the counter. “you know, i think he waits for you every day.”

y/n looked up to see hana, one of the adoption center staff, smiling at her from behind the desk. she was leaning against it, arms crossed, watching the scene unfold with knowing eyes.

y/n straightened up, brushing her hands on her jeans. “any news?”

hana’s smile faded slightly, and she sighed, shaking her head. “not yet. a few people came in, but they were looking for younger pups. star's still waiting.”

y/n bit her lip, glancing down at the dog who was still pressed against the gate, big brown eyes watching her intently.

her chest ached.

felix noticed, nudging her shoulder. “hey, it’s only been a little while. he’s gonna find the perfect home.”

y/n nodded, but she didn’t respond. instead, she reached into her tote bag, pulling out a small packet of homemade dog treats wrapped neatly in brown paper. she unwrapped it carefully and slipped one through the bars, watching as star took it gently from her fingers.

“you made him more treats?” hyunjin asked, amused.

she gave him a look. “of course. he deserves them.”

hana chuckled. “you’re probably spoiling him more than his future owner will.”

y/n only smiled, watching star nibble on the treat, his tail wagging slower now, more content than excited. she reached forward again, scratching behind his ears, her fingers brushing lightly against the scar above his eye.

she hated that scar. hated the reminder of what he had been through before he ended up here. hated that someone had hurt him enough to leave marks on his body.

star suddenly licked her fingers, snapping her out of her thoughts. she blinked, then let out a soft laugh.

“thanks, baby,” she murmured, rubbing his head. “guess i needed that.”

felix and hyunjin exchanged a glance but said nothing.

after a moment, y/n sighed, straightening up. “i’ll come back tomorrow.”

hana smiled. “i’m sure he’ll be waiting.”

y/n looked back down at star one last time before stepping away. but as she turned toward the door, she felt it—that nagging, sinking feeling that sat deep in her chest, whispering words she didn’t want to hear.

what if no one ever comes for him?

the streetlights flickered on as the sun dipped lower, washing the city in gold and deepening shades of blue. cars rumbled past, the occasional honk slicing through the air, but to y/n, everything felt muted—like a muffled symphony playing in the background of her mind.

she walked between the two, her steps a little slower than usual, her hands tucked into the sleeves of her oversized cardigan. she wasn’t talking as much, and that was rare.

felix noticed first. “you’re quiet,” he murmured, glancing at her from the side.

y/n hummed, eyes fixed on the pavement. “just thinking.”

hyunjin sighed. “about star.”

she didn’t answer right away. instead, she kicked a small pebble on the sidewalk, watching as it bounced ahead of them before rolling to a stop. then, softly—“he’s been there for so long.”

felix’s lips pressed into a thin line. “he’ll find a home.”

y/n exhaled slowly, hugging herself. “what if he doesn’t?”

hyunjin nudged her shoulder. “you don’t know that.”

“i don’t not know that either.”

the three of them fell silent for a few beats, the sounds of the city filling the space between them. a warm breeze tousled y/n’s hair, but it did little to chase away the weight settling in her chest.

“he’s such a good pup,” she murmured. “so kind, so sweet. and he’s still waiting for someone.”

hyunjin ran a hand through his hair, exhaling. “yeah, because the right person hasn’t come yet.”

y/n swallowed, shaking her head. “i wish i could take him back.”

felix reached over, squeezing her arm gently. “we know.”

her throat tightened, but she forced a smile. “why am i like this? why do i care so much?”

“because you’re you,” felix said simply. “you love things deeply. it’s who you are.”

hyunjin smirked. “it’s a little pathetic, honestly.”

y/n scoffed, shoving his arm.

but the teasing had done its job—her shoulders had relaxed just a little.

they turned a corner, nearing the familiar street where the café sat. the warm glow of its windows spilled onto the pavement, the sight usually filling y/n with comfort. but today, it only reminded her that she was late.

“crap,” she muttered, checking her phone. “seungmin’s probably gonna be pissed.”

felix snorted. “when is he not pissed?”

“you should walk in and act like nothing happened, just to see his reaction.”

y/n rolled her eyes but couldn’t help the small chuckle that slipped out.

felix gave her one last reassuring squeeze before they reached the café. “you gonna be okay?”

y/n nodded, inhaling deeply before flashing them a grin—one that didn’t quite reach her eyes. “yeah. go home before you guys start acting like overprotective mums.”

hyunjin gave her a look. “too late.”

she laughed softly, waving them off before stepping into the café.

but even as the bell jingled overhead, announcing her arrival, and the scent of roasted coffee beans wrapped around her like a familiar embrace—

her heart was still with a golden-furred boy, waiting for a home.

the café was warm, a stark contrast to the cool night air outside. the scent of espresso and vanilla swirled around y/n as she stepped inside, but tonight, the usual coziness of the place did little to lift the weight pressing down on her shoulders.

the space buzzed with quiet conversations, the occasional scrape of a chair against the wooden floor, and the low hum of indie music filtering through the speakers. a couple of students sat by the windows, heads buried in textbooks, while others scrolled through laptops, half-empty cups of coffee beside them.

and there, by their usual table in the corner—was seungmin.

he sat with his arms crossed, a glass of water in front of him, its ice long since melted and glass covered with tiny droplets. his phone rested on the table, face-down, but the second he heard the door’s bell chime, his head lifted. his gaze found hers almost immediately.

a sharp glance. then, a slow raise of his brows.

y/n gulped. oh boy.

she hurried over, pulling the chair out with a quiet scrape and plopping down with an apologetic smile. “hey—”

“you’re late.”

the two words were flat, unimpressed, dripping with that classic seungmin deadpan tone.

y/n winced. “i know, i know—i’m so sorry. i lost track of time.”

seungmin exhaled sharply, shaking his head. “you always lose track of time.”

y/n bit her lip, fingers toying with the hem of her sleeve. usually, she’d fire back with some kind of playful retort. usually, she’d tease him about how he was so dramatic. usually, she’d flash a grin and brush it off.

but tonight, she just muttered a quiet, “yeah… i guess i do.”

seungmin blinked, caught slightly off guard. he had been expecting her usual antics, not this quiet, subdued version of her. his gaze flickered over her face—she wasn’t meeting his eyes, instead staring at the table, her fingers still fidgeting.

something was off.

he leaned back in his chair, arms still crossed. “alright. spill it.”

y/n finally looked up. “huh?”

“you’re too quiet,” seungmin said simply. “it’s weird. i don’t like it.”

y/n huffed a soft laugh, shaking her head. “you’re acting like me not talking is a crime.”

“it is,” seungmin deadpanned. “you talk so much that i’m convinced if you ever stop, the universe will collapse in on itself.”

y/n let out a soft chuckle. “well, lucky for the universe, i’m still here.”

seungmin narrowed his eyes, scanning her expression. the laugh had been small, but it wasn’t real. and that wasn’t lucky for the universe—it was concerning.

something was definitely wrong.

but seungmin wasn’t the type to pry. at least, not directly.

instead, he reached for his matcha latte, taking a slow sip before saying, “you’re late by twenty-five minutes, by the way.”

y/n groaned, slumping against the table. “i know. i already said sorry.”

seungmin hummed. “i had to sit here. alone. staring at the wall. like some abandoned, unloved creature.”

y/n peeked up at him. “so you feel loved in my company?”

“i ordered water, alone, y/n.” seungmin shook his head, sighing. “do you understand how humiliating that was? the barista asked, ‘are you waiting for someone?’ and i had to say, ‘yeah, but she’s twenty-five minutes late and probably forgot i exist.’”

y/n groaned again, burying her face in her arms. “stop making me feel worse.”

“oh, i’m just getting started.” seungmin leaned in. “twenty-five minutes of my life that i will never get back.”

y/n lifted her head just enough to glare at him. “i should’ve been later.”

seungmin smirked. “you wouldn’t dare.”

she let out a breathy chuckle, shaking her head. “why, is it because you'll miss me so much?”

“here we are.” seungmin gestured between them. “trapped in this academic partnership of doom.”

y/n rolled her eyes, finally sitting up straight. “fine. i’m making it up to you.”

“oh?”

y/n lifted her hand, signaling the passing barista. “two matcha lattes, please.”

the barista nodded, jotting it down. “same as always?”

y/n glanced at seungmin’s half-empty water before nodding. “yeah. same.”

seungmin stared at her for a second longer, something unreadable flickering in his gaze.

he looked away, suddenly very focused on the condensation on his cup. “you’re still late.”

y/n grinned, finally—finally—looking a little like herself again. “yeah, but you’re not mad anymore.”

seungmin scoffed. “i was never mad.”

“even better.”

the matcha latte arrived a few minutes later, and y/n pushed it toward him with a triumphant look. “peace offering.”

seungmin rolled his eyes but took the cup anyway, sipping it slowly. the warmth spread through him, though he wasn’t sure if it was just from the drink anymore.

he glanced at y/n again. she still seemed a little distant—her fingers tapping idly against the table, her eyes unfocused at times. but she was trying. she was here.

and for now, that was enough.

the dorm was warm, buzzing with laughter and the easy comfort of friends who had long since learned how to exist in each other’s spaces. the soft hum of music played in the background, barely audible over the sound of hyunjin dramatically retelling some ridiculous story from his dance class, complete with exaggerated gestures and poorly executed sound effects.

"i swear, i almost died," hyunjin declared, sprawled across y/n’s bed like a lifeless corpse.

felix snorted, shoving a handful of popcorn into his mouth. "you tripped over your own foot, dude."

"it was sabotage!" hyunjin shot up, jabbing a finger in the air. "jeongin pushed me!"

rina, lying upside down on the couch, waved a dismissive hand. "jeongin literally isn't even in dance."

"then it was minho," hyunjin insisted, brows furrowed like he was solving the biggest mystery of his life. "he has it out for me."

aeri rolled her eyes. "everyone has it out for you because you’re annoying."

hyunjin gasped, clutching his chest. "how dare—"

"she’s not wrong," felix muttered under his breath.

"okay, okay," y/n giggled, lying comfortably on the floor with her legs propped up against the couch. "next story before hyunjin starts fake crying again."

felix grinned, eyes twinkling mischievously. "oh, i have one—"

but before he could even begin, y/n’s phone buzzed.

a single text.

from hana.

her heart stuttered. for a second, she just stared at the screen, her brain struggling to process what she was reading.

hey, y/n!just a heads up—there’s someone interested in star! they’re about 90% sure about adopting him, and they’ll be coming back tomorrow to make a final decision! :)

y/n’s breath caught.

the words blurred together, her brain tripping over itself to comprehend them. someone was interested. someone wanted star. he could actually, finally, hopefully have a home.

her fingers trembled as they hovered over the screen.

this was good. this was amazing.

so why did it feel like her heart had suddenly stopped?

"uh… y/n?"

she blinked.

four pairs of eyes were locked on her, concern etched across their faces.

"what happened?" felix asked, sitting up.

"you just froze,"

"dude, you looked like you saw a ghost."

y/n opened her mouth. then closed it. then opened it again—only to stay silent.

hyunjin waved a hand in front of her face. "did she get cursed or something?"

and just like that, it hit her.

excitement, relief, joy—everything crashed into her all at once.

her face lit up, and she jumped to her feet so suddenly that she almost knocked over the coffee table. "oh my god."

hyunjin flinched. "jesus—"

"what?!" aeri demanded, grabbing her wrist.

y/n practically bounced on her feet, barely able to contain herself. "someone’s interested in star!!"

the room fell silent for half a second—then erupted.

"no way!" felix shot up, eyes wide.

"are you serious?" hyunjin nearly knocked over a pillow in his excitement.

y/n nodded wildly, hands shaking with pure, unfiltered joy. "yes—yes—yes—hana just texted me! they’re not fully sure yet, but they’re 90% sure!!"

rina gasped. "that’s so close—"

"and precise.."

aeri covered her mouth. "oh my god, y/n!"

and then, suddenly, it was all too much.

tears pricked at the corners of her eyes before she could stop them, her vision going blurry as she let out a half-laugh, half-sob. "i—i'm just—so happy—"

felix reached over, wrapping her in a tight hug. "oh, y/n," he murmured. "that’s amazing."

aeri and rina piled in next, squishing her between them, and before she knew it, hyunjin tackled the group too, his arms nearly choking the life out of all of them.

"group hug!" hyunjin declared.

"hyunjin—"

"can’t breathe—"

"worth it!"

laughter bubbled up between them, the warmth of their shared happiness filling every corner of the room.

y/n sniffled, wiping at her cheeks as she pulled back. "i just—" she took a deep breath, voice trembling with excitement. "i really hope it works out. i just want him to have a home."

felix squeezed her hand. "he will."

hyunjin nodded, a rare moment of sincerity in his usually dramatic demeanor. "and if it doesn’t, we’ll figure something out. together."

y/n’s heart swelled.

for a moment, she just looked at them—at felix’s soft, knowing smile, at hyunjin’s reassuring nod, at aeri and rina’s equally teary eyes.

her family.

her people.

the streets were alive with the kind of lazy energy only a weekend morning could bring—bustling yet unhurried, kissed by golden sunlight filtering through the trees. cafés spilled over with students nursing their first coffees of the day, a soft hum of chatter filling the air. the crisp autumn breeze carried the scent of freshly baked bread from a bakery down the street, mingling with the faint aroma of brewing coffee from their usual café.

but amidst it all, y/n’s voice was the loudest thing in the universe.

“i have to tell them everything about star,” she declared, walking ahead of the group with an urgency that made it look like she was on a life-or-death mission.

“i need to make sure they know his likes, dislikes—what makes him happy, what makes him sad—oh my god, what if they don’t get him the right treats—”

“are we sure she’s not the one being put up for adoption?”

“i heard that, felix.”

aeri chuckled, shoving her hands into the pockets of her oversized hoodie. “yeah, yeah. tell us, y/n. what else does star like?”

y/n didn’t even need to be asked twice.

“he loves belly rubs,” she continued, voice animated. “and he’s not very picky about food, but he does this little head tilt when he really likes something, and it’s the cutest thing ever—”

rina cooed. “that sounds so cute—”

“it is,” y/n stressed, turning to walk backward as she spoke, her arms flailing in exaggerated enthusiasm.

“and he’s so well-behaved. like, when i tell him to sit, he actually listens—unless he’s too excited, then he just kind of vibrates in place—”

hyunjin snorted. “so basically, he’s you.”

i do not vibrate in place!”

“you kinda do.”

“i mean,” aeri chimed in, barely holding back her laughter. “look at you right now.”

and okay, fine. maybe they had a point.

because if she were to take an honest look at herself, she was bouncing on her feet slightly, practically vibrating with excitement.

but in her defense, this was a big deal.

she turned back around with a huff. “whatever. the point is—he loves people. he’s such a good boy. but he hates loud noises—like thunder? oh my god, you should’ve seen him last time. i thought my heart was gonna break.”

the group collectively awed.

rina pouted. “poor baby.”

y/n nodded solemnly. “and he’s super smart! like, he knows when i’m sad, and he just leans against me like a little weighted blanket—”

felix grinned. “again. just like you.”

“i swear to god, lee felix—”

laughter erupted through the group, bouncing off the city walls as they continued down the street, the adoption center now coming into view.

hyunjin slung an arm around y/n’s shoulders, pulling her close for a second before dramatically ruffling her hair. “you’re really gonna cry, huh?”

y/n scoffed, but her lips twitched upward. “me? cry? never.”

aeri smirked. “uh-huh. sure.”

rina grinned. “we’ll see about that.”

y/n rolled her eyes, but truthfully?

she wasn’t so sure they were wrong.

the adoption center was just a few steps away now, its familiar glass doors reflecting the bright morning light. y/n’s feet slowed, just slightly, and for the first time since they left, her voice wavered.

“i’ll miss him.”

it was quiet—soft. almost lost in the weekend bustle of the city.

felix, walking beside her, immediately noticed. his teasing expression faded into something gentler, something understanding. “yeah,” he said, nudging her shoulder lightly. “i know.”

hyunjin sighed, running a hand through his hair. “you really love that dog, huh?”

y/n let out a small laugh, but it was thinner now, fragile. “of course,” she admitted.

aeri and rina exchanged a glance before moving closer, their presence warm, comforting. rina linked their arms together. “hey,” she said softly, “he’s gonna find a really good home.”

y/n nodded, swallowing. “i know.”

and she did know. she knew this was what she wanted—for star to be safe, to be happy. but still. the idea of walking into that adoption center today and possibly realizing that she’d seen him for the last time?

it hurt.

felix draped an arm over her shoulder, squeezing. “we’re here,” he murmured as they reached the doors. “ready?”

y/n inhaled, exhaled. then, she nodded.

“yeah.”

but the moment she stepped inside and saw him—his golden fur catching the sunlight, his tail wagging the second he saw her—she knew.

she was so not ready.

the adoption center was quiet—eerily so. it was one of those rare slow mornings, the usual chatter of visitors absent, leaving only the distant hum of traffic outside and the occasional bark from the kennels. the air smelled faintly of wood shavings and the subtle sweetness of pet shampoo, the kind that lingered in fur like a soft embrace.

but none of that mattered.

because the moment y/n stepped inside, he was all she could see.

“star!”

the golden retriever perked up instantly at the sound of her voice, his floppy ears twitching before he launched himself toward her with uncontainable excitement. his tail wagged wildly, his whole body practically vibrating as he reached her.

y/n barely had a second to prepare before she was tackled—star standing on his hind legs, paws pressed against her as he buried his face into her neck.

“oh my god—you menace—” y/n laughed, stumbling slightly but hugging him nonetheless, burying her face into his fur. he smelled warm, familiar, like something safe. “did you miss me? huh? did you miss me, baby?”

star whined, licking her cheek in rapid, enthusiastic swipes.

“i’ll take that as a yes.”

felix snickered from behind. “he’s actually insane about you.”

hyunjin nodded. “i mean, i get it. you do vibrate like he does.”

y/n shot them both a glare but was too busy giggling as star flopped onto his back, belly fully exposed. “ugh, fine,” she sighed dramatically, crouching down. “you win. belly rubs for you, your majesty.”

star's tail thumped against the floor excitedly as she ran her hands through his fur, tracing small patterns over his stomach. he exhaled happily, stretching his legs as if to demand 'more, human.'

“god,” aeri mused. “imagine being loved this much.”

rina smirked. “maybe if you rolled over and asked nicely—”

aeri shoved her.

“ooh, i ship!” hyunjin and felix said in unison.

meanwhile, hana leaned against the counter with a soft smile. “you got here just in time,” she said. “the guy who showed interest might be coming soon.”

y/n froze for half a second before she forced herself to keep scratching behind star's ears.

“oh,” she said, voice light, casual. “right. that’s—good.”

felix and hyunjin exchanged a glance.

“you okay?” hyunjin asked.

y/n smiled at star, watching as his eyes fluttered shut in pure bliss.

“i’m okay,” she murmured. “i just wanna enjoy this for a little longer.”

hyunjin and felix didn’t push. instead, they sat down nearby, letting her have her moment.

because even though she was smiling, they knew.

this was going to be really hard for her.

a little while later, the girl and the pup had retreated to the playroom. it was warm, filled with the scent of fresh pinewood shavings and soft blankets. the room was lined with plush beds, shelves of toys, and the occasional scratching post—even though star had zero interest in anything but y/n.

she sat cross-legged on the padded floor, giggling as the golden retriever nuzzled into her, his weight nearly knocking her over. “star, you clingy little baby,” she cooed, rubbing his ears as his tail wagged violently, his entire body practically humming with joy.

y/n flopped onto her back with a sigh, her fingers threading through his golden fur as he settled beside her, curling against her like he always did.

a small, selfish part of her wanted to keep him like this forever.

but that wasn’t fair, was it?

she exhaled, staring at the ceiling. “you’re gonna find a home today,” she murmured, her voice barely above a whisper. “i just know it.”

she smiled, squeezing his paw gently.

“and i hope they love you as much as i do.”

meanwhile, outside the playroom, hyunjin, felix, aeri, rina, and hana were hanging around the front desk when the adoption center’s door swung open. the bell chimed softly as two familiar figures strolled in—jisung, looking completely at home, and seungmin, his hands shoved in the pockets of his hoodie, looking his usual mildly unimpressed self.

felix blinked. “oh?”

hyunjin raised an eyebrow. “what are you guys doing here?”

jisung grinned. “oh, you know—just a casual weekend visit to an animal shelter. felt like staring at some cats.”

rina narrowed her eyes. “is that true, or did you just get dragged here by seungmin?”

jisung groaned. “fine, yeah, i got dragged here.” he sighed dramatically before jabbing a thumb toward his best friend. “he’s actually the one adopting today.”

felix and hyunjin’s heads tilted slightly. “oh?”

aeri’s eyes lit up. “wait—seungmin, you’re getting a pet?”

seungmin shrugged. “yeah.”

rina smirked. “let me guess. a cat.”

jisung snorted. “oh, no. this dude? a cat?” he shook his head. “nah, he’s adopting a dog.”

felix hummed. “nice. what kind?”

seungmin’s gaze flickered toward hana, who had started flipping through adoption papers. “golden retriever,” he said simply. “his name’s star. anyway, where's the staff lady?”

the moment the words left his mouth, a wave of silence crashed over the group.

hyunjin and felix both froze.

aeri and rina's jaws slightly dropped.

hana finally returned from the back, greeting seungmin with a smile, “ah, you're here! guys, he's the one who's adopting st-”

even jisung, oblivious to the shift in atmosphere, blinked in confusion.

“what?” he asked.

before anyone could answer, the door to the playroom creaked open.

and out stepped y/n, her arms wrapped around star—his golden fur glowing in the light, his tail wagging happily.

she took one step forward before her gaze landed on seungmin.

seungmin, who was already staring right back at her.

both of them squinted.

“…what are you doing here?” they asked at the same time.

jisung blinked, glancing between them. “okay, what’s happening right now—”

and then it clicked.

y/n’s eyes widened, flickering to her friends—felix, hyunjin, and rina watching the scene unfold with barely contained amusement.

“you—” she turned back to seungmin. “you’re adopting star?”

seungmin nodded, not entirely sure why she looked so shocked. “yeah?”

the room was silent for a beat.

then—

“oh my god,” y/n practically shrieked.

before seungmin could react, she launched herself at him, arms wrapping around his shoulders in a bone-crushing hug.

seungmin stiffened, eyes widening. “what the hell—”

but she was already bouncing, gripping his hoodie with sheer, uncontrollable joy.

“oh my god, oh my god, oh my god— seungmin.” she shook him, eyes shining. “you’re really adopting him??”

seungmin, still reeling, cleared his throat. “uh… yeah?”

“oh my god.”

y/n squealed, actually jumping up and down as she rapid-fired through a list of things—

“okay, okay, listen, he’s so good but sometimes he’s picky with food—he loves belly rubs but only in the morning—he doesn’t like loud noises but he loves music, i think he likes indie-rock?—oh and he’s so soft so you have to use this one dog shampoo, i’ll send you the link—oh my god, seungmin, if you forget to feed him i will end you—”

seungmin blinked, still trying to process what was happening.

meanwhile, felix and hyunjin were both howling with laughter.

“she’s so gone for that dog,” felix wheezed, wiping a tear.

“seungmin, she’s been obsessed with star,” hyunjin explained to him, still laughing. “she found him on the street months ago, brought him here herself, and has been visiting him every single day—”

“—which is why she’s been all moody lately,” rina added, grinning. “she was worried he wouldn’t find a home soon.”

seungmin slowly turned his gaze back to y/n, who was still yapping away, her hands gripping his sleeves like she was scared he’d disappear.

something inside him… softened.

she was so happy.

like—genuinely happy. practically glowing with excitement, her eyes bright, her entire body buzzing like an overcharged battery.

and it was because of him.

he cleared his throat. “okay, damn,” he muttered. “didn’t know i was winning a nobel prize for adopting a dog.”

y/n gasped. “it’s star, you ungrateful—”

jisung grinned, nudging seungmin’s shoulder. “looks like you did a good thing, min.”

seungmin exhaled, letting a small, amused smile slip.

yeah.

he had a feeling he really did.

hana leaned against the adoption center’s front desk, arms crossed, watching the chaos unfold before her.

seungmin stood beside her, hands shoved into his hoodie pockets, observing y/n bounce around like she had just won the lottery.

he was still processing it all.

she had really been this attached to this dog?

y/n was currently kneeling on the floor, hugging the golden retriever tightly, her fingers buried in his soft fur as she giggled, pressing kisses to the top of his head. star, for his part, was practically melting into her, his tail wagging violently, paws twitching in excitement.

hana let out a small chuckle. “she’s over the moon.”

seungmin huffed a small laugh, shifting his weight from one foot to the other. “yeah, no kidding.”

hana turned to him, her expression amused but also… grateful. “seriously, though. thanks for this, seungmin.”

he glanced at her. “for what?”

she smiled knowingly, tilting her head toward y/n. “for that.”

seungmin followed her gaze.

y/n was beaming, her entire body radiating happiness as she continued to hug star, her face buried in his fur.

it was a rare kind of joy. the kind that made people forget about everything else. the kind that made time slow down for just a little while.

and for some reason…

he kind of liked that he was partially the reason behind it.

hana’s voice pulled him out of his thoughts. “she was really worried, you know?”

seungmin frowned slightly. “about what?”

hana gave him a look. “star.”

he blinked.

“she’s been coming here every day after class,” hana continued, her voice soft but full of meaning. “bringing treats, playing with him, making sure he wasn’t lonely. she didn’t talk about it much, but we all knew. she was so scared he’d never find a home.”

seungmin’s lips parted slightly.

“she’s been checking her phone constantly the past few days, waiting for an update. i swear, she probably manifested you into this place.” hana smirked. “and now look at her.”

seungmin glanced at y/n again.

she was now rubbing star’s belly, grinning ear to ear, still completely lost in her own little world.

his fingers curled slightly in his pockets.

…had she really been worrying this much?

and he hadn’t even noticed much?

hana’s voice broke through his thoughts again, softer this time. “so yeah. thanks, seungmin. i don’t think you realize just how much this means to her.”

he swallowed, clearing his throat. “it’s just a dog,” he muttered.

hana raised an eyebrow. “maybe to you.”

seungmin exhaled, shaking his head. “you’re making it sound like i saved a life or something.”

hana just smiled knowingly. “maybe you did.”

meanwhile, a few feet away, y/n was bouncing on her heels, grinning so hard her cheeks hurt.

“seungmin, you’re the best,” she gushed, turning to him. “seriously. i don’t even know how to thank you.”

seungmin quirked an eyebrow. “you’ve already thanked me, like, ten times.”

she gasped. “not enough.”

she suddenly grabbed his hands, squeezing them tightly as she stared at him, eyes sparkling. “thank you, seungmin. i swear i could kiss you right now.”

the guy choked. “what?”

felix, who had been drinking from a soda can, almost spit it out.

y/n didn’t even realize what she had just said, too caught up in her own excitement.

“i mean—not literally— i mean, i could—i mean—you get it,” she flailed, laughing nervously.

seungmin just stared.

jisung grinned. “dude, this is the first time i’ve ever seen you speechless.”

“i hate all of you,” seungmin muttered, pulling his hands away as he rubbed the back of his neck, ears ever so slightly red.

but then—

y/n clapped her hands together. “wait.”

seungmin braced himself. “what now?”

her eyes shone as she grabbed his arm. “okay, listen—so star loves sleeping on soft blankets, so please buy him those, and oh my god, he loves head pats—especially before sleeping—”

seungmin sighed. “here we go again.”

felix snickered. “good luck, bro.”

hyunjin clapped his shoulder. “you signed up for this.”

aeri beamed. “welcome to the rest of your life, seungmin.”

and all seungmin could do was exhale as y/n continued to speak, her happiness so loud, so vibrant, so unbelievably contagious—

that, for once, he didn’t actually mind.

“is your little girlfriend going to come visit us and the pup daily now?” jisung had murmured.

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