Syncing Dream [Aespa x M!Reader]
11. Gym-selle life
Note: Enjoy the fluff!
It was a rare, calm afternoon at SM’s gym, and Y/n found himself with some unexpected free time. After that incident, he decided that his small frame wasn't cut it for this line of work. So, he started hitting the gym.
And it was always best to do a workout on a free day.
No schedules, no urgent texts from the group, and no chaotic last-minute changes—just peace. But peace didn’t seem to last long, not with Giselle around.
“Hey, boss baby,” Giselle’s voice rang out as she walked into the gym, a sly grin plastered on her face. She was dressed in her workout gear, hair tied up in a messy bun. “I heard you were looking for someone to train with.”
Y/n, who had been lazily scrolling through his phone while sitting on a bench, raised an eyebrow. “…Was I?”
“Well, you are now,” she declared, grabbing a mat and plopping it down next to him. “Come on, let’s do a workout together. I’ve got some steam to blow off, and you could use the exercise.”
Y/n snorted. “I do exercise, Aeri”
“You walk us from the van to the stage. That doesn’t count.”
“Hey, there’s a lot more to my job than that,” Y/n shot back, standing up to stretch. “Besides, I’m not that out of shape.”
Giselle crossed her arms and eyed him suspiciously. “Really? Because I’m pretty sure the last time you ran, you were dead after a flight of stairs.”
Y/n’s mouth opened, ready to argue, but he couldn’t exactly deny the truth. “Okay, fine. But that doesn’t mean I can’t keep up.”
“Prove it then,” she said with a challenging glint in her eyes. “Let’s do some cardio, weights, and maybe a bit of core. Think you can handle it?”
“Oh, don’t test me, Uchinaga” Y/n said, rolling up his sleeves and drove both of them to the gym.
-
The first few sets went as expected.
Y/n kept up with Giselle through the warm-up—jumping jacks, a bit of light jogging, and stretches. He felt confident. Too confident.
But as soon as Giselle cranked up the intensity with high-knees and burpees, Y/n quickly realised he might have bitten off more than he could chew.
“Fcking hell, you... do this... often?” Y/n panted, trying to catch his breath between sets. His legs were already feeling the burn, and they hadn’t even started with the weights yet.
Giselle, barely breaking a sweat, looked over at him with a smirk. “I’m fine, Y/n. You good?”
“Never better,” Y/n grunted, wiping the sweat from his brow and forcing himself to keep up. He wasn’t about to let Giselle think he couldn’t handle it.
The next part of the workout involved weights, and Y/n felt slightly more confident. He had done some weight training before—how hard could it be?
The answer: very.
Giselle lifted with ease, moving through reps with the kind of strength that made Y/n wonder if she had secretly been training for a boxing match. Meanwhile, he was struggling to maintain his form without collapsing under the weight.
“Come on, Y/n, you got this!” Giselle teased, watching him wobble as he tried to do a squat with a barbell. “You’re not gonna let me out-lift you, are you?”
Y/n gritted his teeth, determined to push through the pain. “Hell no.”
But by the time they got to the core workout—planks, sit-ups, and leg raises—Y/n was just about ready to tap out. He collapsed onto the mat, staring up at the ceiling as his abs screamed in protest.
Giselle, still full of energy, laughed and nudged him with her foot. “Tired already?”
“Damn…right I….am..,” Y/n wheezed, still flat on the ground. “Just... Gonna catch my breath.”
“Sure,” she chuckled, rolling her eyes. “Let’s cool down, then.”
-
After finishing up the workout, Giselle led Y/n through some stretches, and thankfully, they were much more manageable than the burpees. The two of them stretched in comfortable silence for a while, the intensity of the workout replaced by a relaxed atmosphere.
“I gotta admit,” Y/n said, still a bit breathless, “you’re in way better shape than I thought.”
“You expected me to be weak or something?” Giselle asked, raising an eyebrow.
“Not at all,” Y/n replied quickly. “It’s just... I didn’t expect you to be that strong. I’m impressed.”
“Well, we do have to keep up with choreography and performances,” she pointed out, grinning. “Plus, I like staying fit. Makes me feel good.”
“I can see why,” Y/n mumbled, rubbing his sore arms. “You almost killed me out there.”
Giselle laughed. “You’re just out of practice. But don’t worry, I’ll whip you into shape in no time. You’re gonna be running laps around the rest of us soon.”
Y/n raised an eyebrow. “You sound like you’re planning to make this a regular thing.”
“Of course I am,” Giselle said, as if it were the most obvious thing in the world. “You’re officially my new workout buddy. So, no more slacking off.”
Y/n groaned but couldn’t help smiling. “Great. I’m doomed.”
Giselle just grinned, clearly pleased with herself. “You’ll thank me later.”
“Sureeeee” Y/n remained sceptical, but complied nonetheless.
-
After their workout, the two of them decided to reward themselves with a cheat meal. They headed to a nearby café, ordering some well-deserved food to replenish their energy.
As they dug into their sandwiches, Y/n leaned back in his chair, finally feeling the soreness in his muscles set in. “I’m not gonna be able to move tomorrow, am I?”
“Probably not,” Giselle replied nonchalantly. “But that’s how you know it’s working.”
Y/n rolled his eyes, though he couldn’t help but smile. “You’re evil, you know that?”
“Hey, you agreed to this.”
“Regretting it already,” Y/n muttered, taking a bite of his sandwich. “But thanks, Aeri. I do need to train after that happened.”
"I should say thanks instead, Y/n" Giselle smiled. "You looked surprisingly cool back there."
"No it wasn't. But at least it drives me to hit the gym" He chowed down his well-deserved burger.
She waved him off. “No problem. It was fun.”
The two sat in comfortable silence for a while, the post-workout exhaustion settling in. It was moments like these—just relaxing and sharing a meal—that reminded Y/n how much he appreciated his job. Sure, it was chaotic and exhausting at times, but he wouldn’t trade it for anything.
As they finished their food, Giselle glanced over at him, a mischievous look in her eyes. “Same time next week?”
Y/n groaned, but the smile on his face gave him away. “Fine. But next time, I’m picking the workout.”
“Deal,” Giselle grinned, already looking forward to their next session.
-
A few months had passed since Y/n’s “death by burpees” workout with Giselle. He had committed to their regular gym sessions, despite his initial reluctance. Cardio, strength training, and core work had slowly started to pay off. His stamina improved, muscles grew, and even his posture became more confident. However, Y/n didn’t give much thought to his own progress. To him, it was just about keeping up with the girls and doing his job better.
But aespa had definitely noticed.
One afternoon, while Y/n was grabbing some water bottles for the group, Winter’s voice broke through the chatter.
“Wait—when did this happen?” she asked, her brow furrowed in confusion as she stared at Y/n.
“Happen? What?” Y/n responded, blinking in confusion.
“This!” Winter gestured dramatically towards him, like she was pointing out something obvious. “Idiot. You’re... like... buff now.”
Karina, who had been mid-stretch, stopped and glanced up. “Oh my God, she’s right.” She sat up straighter, her eyes scanning his form. “Wow, you’ve definitely been working out.”
Giselle, not one to miss a chance to brag, gave a smug grin from her spot by the mirrors. “Told you I’d get him in shape.”
Y/n shrugged awkwardly, not used to being the centre of attention. “It’s just a bit of working out,” he muttered, scratching the back of his neck. “Nothing crazy. Just training to get stronger, you know?”
Winter stood up, her eyes scrutinising him with exaggerated intensity. “No, seriously. When did you get all... strong? What are you eating?”
Ningning, having missed the start of the conversation, wandered over. “What’s going on?”
“Y/n’s been hitting the gym,” Karina explained with a chuckle. “And apparently, he’s swole now.”
Ningning raised an eyebrow, walking up to Y/n and poking his arm experimentally. “Whoa. You’ve been hiding this under all those hoodies?”
Y/n groaned, quickly becoming flustered. “It’s just some muscle, nothing worth—”
“Nope, this is big news,” Ningning interrupted, laughing as she continued to poke him. “You’re all buff now, which means you’re finally ready for me to set you up with someone.”
Y/n blinked, taken aback. “…Dafug? You what now?”
Ningning grinned mischievously. “You know, now that you’ve had a glow-up, I can totally help you get a date. I know tons of cute girls. Heck, we can set you up with Seulgi-unnie for the lols.”
Karina and Giselle burst into laughter, clearly entertained by Ningning’s playful matchmaking attempt.
“Oh, this is going to be good,” Karina teased, sitting back to watch the chaos unfold. “Let’s see who she has in mind.”
Y/n felt his face heat up, shaking his head vigorously. “Ok, please don—”
“Come on,” Ningning pressed, clearly enjoying his embarrassment. “I’ve got connections. You won’t have to stay single forever.”
Before Y/n could protest further, Winter, who had been watching the entire exchange with an unreadable expression, suddenly spoke up.
“He doesn’t need your help, Ning,” Winter said, crossing her arms and stepping forward. “He’s fine as he is.”
Everyone turned to look at her, the room going silent for a moment. Winter’s tone was oddly defensive, and it wasn’t long before Karina and Giselle exchanged knowing glances, their lips curving into mischievous grins.
“Oh?” Karina said, eyes glinting with amusement. “Minjeong-ssi, are you... jealous?”
Winter’s eyes widened in alarm. “What? No! I’m just saying—he doesn’t need her to—”
“Yeah, sure,” Giselle cut in, smirking. “That sounded totally platonic.”
Winter’s face turned pink as she struggled to find the right words. “I-I didn’t mean it like that!”
Ningning, ever the troublemaker, immediately pounced on the opportunity. “Ooooh, I see what’s happening here,” she teased, her grin widening. “Minjeong-unnie doesn’t want anyone else setting Y/n up because *she* wants to do it herself.”
“Stop twisting my words!” Winter protested, her blush deepening as she glared at Ningning.
Y/n, caught in the middle of the teasing, could only stand there, his eyes wide as the girls ganged up on Winter.
“Ya, this isn’t—” he started to say, but his words were drowned out by the escalating laughter.
“You’re blushing,” Karina pointed out, clearly enjoying the show. “It’s cute.”
“I am not!” Winter huffed, her arms tightening across her chest defensively. “You’re all ridiculous.”
The teasing only got worse from there.
“Don’t worry, unnie,” Ningning said with a wink. “If you want Y/n to stay single, all you have to do is ask.”
“I don’t want that!” Winter groaned, covering her face with her hands. “Can we just move on?”
Giselle, still laughing, patted Winter on the back. “Hey, no need to be shy. It’s okay to admit you care.”
“Ugh, you guys are the worst,” Winter muttered, her voice muffled behind her hands.
Y/n, meanwhile, was doing his best to keep his own blush under control. He had never seen Winter get this flustered before, and while he didn’t want to make things more awkward for her, the situation was undeniably hilarious.
After a few more minutes of relentless teasing, Karina finally took pity on Winter and waved her hands in surrender. “Alright, alright, let’s give her a break before she explodes.”
Winter peeked out from behind her hands, her face still red but visibly relieved. “Thank you.”
But Ningning wasn’t done just yet. “So, if Winter doesn’t want me to set Y/n up... does that mean she’s volunteering?”
“Okay, that’s it,” Winter groaned, grabbing a pillow from the nearby couch and tossing it at Ningning’s face. “We’re done talking about this!”
Laughter erupted once again as Ningning dodged the pillow, her grin as wide as ever. “Fine, fine! But just know, I’m always available for matchmaking if you change your mind, Y/n.”
Y/n let out a sigh, shaking his head with a chuckle. “I think I’ll pass.”
-
After the chaos of teasing finally died down and everyone had settled back into their routines, Y/n found himself replaying the conversation in his head.
He knew the girls liked to mess around, but the way Winter had reacted earlier... it left him with a strange, fluttery feeling in his chest. He wasn’t sure what to make of it. Was it just the usual banter, or was there something more behind her defensiveness?
As he helped pack up the practice room for the day, Winter approached him, her expression noticeably less flustered now that the teasing had subsided.
“Sorry about earlier,” she said quietly, glancing away. “They can be a bit... annoying sometimes.”
Y/n smiled softly. “Ehhh… I’m used to it by now. Got that every day.”
Winter nodded, her gaze still avoiding his. “I just didn’t want them making things weird for you. Ningning has a habit of taking things too far.”
“Don’t worry about it,” he reassured her. “Thanks for stepping in.”
She glanced up at him then, a small smile tugging at her lips. “Anytime.”
For a brief moment, the two stood there in comfortable silence, the noise of the others packing up in the background. And while neither of them said anything more, there was an unspoken understanding between them—one that Y/n couldn’t quite put into words but felt all the same.
As they left the practice room that evening, Y/n couldn’t help but wonder if things between him and Winter were changing.
Maybe. Just maybe.
And if they were? Well... he wasn’t entirely against it.
-
The next workout session was supposed to be business as usual—just Y/n and Giselle hitting the gym like they had been doing for months. It had become a routine, something Y/n had grown to not only accept but almost look forward to, despite the occasional grumbling when Giselle pushed him a bit too hard.
But today, something was different. Or someone was.
As Y/n and Giselle entered the company gym, stretching and preparing for another gruelling session, a familiar face strolled in behind them—Winter.
“Wait,” Y/n blinked, watching as Winter tossed her bag down by the mats. “Jeong, what are you doing here?”
Winter shrugged, acting nonchalant, though there was an unmistakable determination in her eyes. “What? Can’t I join you guys? I don’t always want to be the homebody, you know.”
Giselle smirked, clearly entertained. “You? Winter? At the gym? Voluntarily?”
Winter rolled her eyes but smiled, crossing her arms. “Don’t sound so surprised. I’ve worked out before.”
“Yeah,” Giselle teased, “but your ‘workout’ is walking to the kitchen for snacks.”
“She’s right, you know?” Y/n chuckled, stretching his arms behind his head. “I’ve never seen you step foot in the gym before.”
“Well,” Winter huffed, glancing between the two of them, “today’s a new day. I figured I should at least see what all the fuss is about since you two keep talking about it.”
Giselle raised an eyebrow, amused by Winter’s sudden enthusiasm. “Uh-huh. And this doesn’t have anything to do with the fact that everyone was teasing you about Y/n yesterday, right?”
Winter’s eyes widened, her face flushing as she shook her head. “No! It has nothing to do with that! I just... wanted to try it, okay?”
Y/n bit back a grin, not wanting to embarrass Winter any further. “Well, if you’re serious about joining us, uhhh welcome.”
“Great,” Winter said, a little too quickly, as she avoided eye contact. “Let’s do this.”
-
“Why do I feel like I’m dying?” Winter panted, clutching her side as she bent over, trying to catch her breath.
“That’s because you are.” Y/n deadpanned.
“Shut…up, Jung Y/n.”
Giselle, barely breaking a sweat, glanced down at Winter with a smirk. “Told you it wasn’t going to be easy. Welcome to gym life.”
Y/n tried to suppress his laugh as he wiped his forehead with a towel. Winter had gamely joined in on their usual warm-up routine, but it was clear she wasn’t used to this kind of intense exercise. While she might have been an idol, used to dancing and rehearsing for hours, the focused, relentless pace of their workout had caught her off guard.
Winter shot him a look, narrowing her eyes. “You think this is funny?”
Y/n raised his hands in mock surrender, still smiling. “Damn right, it is.”
“You’re such a piece of bull,” she muttered, straightening up and stretching her arms over her head. “I thought I was in good shape... but this is torture.”
Giselle grinned, tapping her on the shoulder. “Don’t worry, you’ll get used to it. Besides, it’s good to switch things up every now and then.”
Winter groaned but nodded. “I guess.”
Y/n couldn’t help but admire her determination. Despite her complaints, she hadn’t given up, and in a way, it reminded him of his own early days at the gym—awkward, out of breath, but still pushing through.
“Alright, let’s get back to it,” Giselle said, clapping her hands together. “Next up, we’ve got some core work. You ready, Winter?”
Winter hesitated, glancing at Y/n. “Do I have a choice?”
“Nope,” Y/n said with a grin, grabbing his water bottle. “You’re stuck with us now.”
-
After a gruelling session that left even Y/n feeling the burn, the three of them finally headed back to the dorm. Winter had survived—barely—and while she complained the entire walk back, Y/n could tell she was secretly proud of herself for sticking it out.
As they reached the dorm entrance, Winter paused, stretching her arms again. “I’m never doing that again.”
“Oh, come on,” Giselle teased, unlocking the door. “You loved it.”
Winter shot her a glare. “My body says otherwise.”
As they stepped inside, they were greeted by Karina and Ningning lounging on the couch, looking far too comfortable for Y/n’s liking.
Ningning was the first to notice their return, her eyes lighting up with mischief as she sat up. “Well, well, well. Look who’s finally joining the fitness squad.”
Karina raised an eyebrow. “Minjeong, you? At the gym?”
Winter groaned, flopping onto the couch beside her. “Yes, and I regret every second of it.”
Giselle snickered, tossing her bag aside. “She did pretty well, considering she’s not used to it.”
“Used to what?” Ningning asked, looking between them.
“Working out with us,” Y/n explained, grabbing a seat in the nearby armchair. “Minjeong joined our gym session today.”
Karina blinked in surprise, then smirked. “And lived to tell the tale?”
“Barely,” Winter muttered, slumping against the cushions. “I don’t know how you guys do that every week.”
Ningning’s eyes lit up again, clearly not about to let this opportunity pass. “You’re just trying to keep up with Y/n, aren’t you?”
Winter immediately sat up, glaring at Ningning. “No! I just... wanted to try something different.”
Ningning’s grin only widened. “Suuuure. You weren’t worried about someone else setting him up with a date or anything, right?”
Winter’s face turned red as she scrambled for a response, but before she could defend herself, Karina and Giselle burst out laughing, joining in on the teasing.
“Not this again,” Winter groaned, burying her face in her hands. “I’m never going to hear the end of this, am I?”
“Nope,” Ningning said cheerfully, patting her on the back. “But hey, at least you survived the workout.”
Y/n, watching the chaos unfold, couldn’t help but smile. It was good to see Winter come out of her comfort zone, even if it was for something as simple as a workout. And despite all the teasing, there was a warmth to the way the girls interacted—an unspoken understanding that they were all in this together, through thick and thin.
As the laughter died down and everyone settled into their usual spots, Y/n found himself glancing over at Winter. She caught his eye for a brief moment, and though her cheeks were still pink from the teasing, she offered him a small smile.
Maybe she wouldn’t become a gym regular like Giselle, but the fact that she had joined them—even if just for a day—was enough.
“Next time,” Y/n said, raising his water bottle, “I’ll go easy on you.”
Winter groaned again but smiled. “You better.”
“Actually. Nah. It’s funnier seeing you suffer.”
“YA-“
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Drunk Kisses | Mark Imagine #8
Title: Drunk Kisses
Genre: College AU, friends to lovers
Warnings: mentions of alcohol, drinking, making out
Word Count: ~2.6k
Author's Note: I am very sorry for how long it's been since I've last posted something. Lately, I've just been very uninspired to the point that I think my career of writing fanfic is coming to an end. Anyhow, I hope you guys enjoy this. I'm sorry if it's not that good. Thank you for reading ^ ^
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Anyone who knew you even a little was well aware that you were not a party person. You were the type of college student who attended all your classes, got all your homework done before the due date, and spent your weekends stowed away in a library or your dorm room.
In your world, going to college parties was strictly off-limits. Frankly, you’ve done a good job of avoiding them your entire freshman year. A few of your friends insisted that you were missing out on fun. But the idea of loud music, sweaty crowds, and the smell of spilled beer didn’t sound like much fun to you.
But that all changed your sophomore year when your roommate, Jooyoung, finally convinced you to come to a homecoming party. She knew how much you hated any sort of social event, and respected your wishes. Now that you were in your second year, she was a little less forgiving.
“Come on, (Y/n). It’s just one party. You can’t just spend all your time in our dorm!” Jooyoung whined, half-dressed in her outfit for the night.
Glancing up from your laptop, you sighed. “You know I hate parties.”
Unfazed by your weak excuse, Jooyoung rummaged through her closet in search of something for you to wear. She didn’t even bother to look through yours, knowing you didn’t own anything remotely party-appropriate.
“You’re coming, and you’re going to look cute,” Jooyoung insisted. “Just give it a chance! You might even have fun for once.”
You opened your mouth to argue that you had plenty of fun without frat parties being involved. But before you could say anything, Jooyoung tossed a sleek black dress on your bed. It was a simple yet elegant dress, with thin straps and a figure-hugging silhouette.
“Here put this on. Trust me, you’ll look amazing,” she urged, flashing you a grin.
Amazing wasn’t the word you’d choose when you reluctantly got up from your desk and changed into the dress. But before you could back out, Jooyoung was dragging you out of the dorms. As soon as you stepped outside with her, you regretted agreeing. You could already hear the sound of thumping music from blocks away, causing your stomach to knot as you approached the house.
It was even worse than you imagined once you got inside. The air smelled like alcohol and sweat, the bass from the music rattled your ribs, and people were packed together tightly, shouting over the noise.
Jooyoung’s eyes widened when she recognized someone she knew in the crowd. “I’ll be back!” she yelled over the music.
“Wait—” you began to protest, but she had already vanished into the sea of people.
Swallowing hard, you weaved through the crowd to follow after her. Just as you were about to give up hope, you felt a tap on the shoulder. Turning around, you were met with a familiar face. Lee Donghyuck.
“What are you doing here? I thought you weren’t the party type,” the boy teased, clearly surprised to see you in this type of setting.
You rolled your eyes and crossed your arms, feeling a bit self-conscious. “I’m not. Jooyoung made me come.”
“Hm, I see,” Donghyuck nodded with a smirk. “Want a drink?”
You eyed the plastic red cup he offered, raising an eyebrow. “You know I’m not twenty-one yet, right?”
“Yeah, like that’s ever stopped anyone from drinking underage,” he chuckled.
Wanting to stick with your rules, you shook your head. “I’m not drinking, Donghyuck.”
“Why not? You scared?” Donghyuck cocked his head, knowing exactly how to push your buttons.
Your stomach twisted, more out of pride than anything else— because you weren’t scared. You just didn’t want to end up like the sloppy drunk partygoers who got absolutely wasted. But Donghyuck’s taunting words and the smirk at you struck a nerve, and something inside you snapped.
With a determined expression, you snatched the cup out of his hand. “I’m not scared,” you said, before downing the drink in one go.
The burn of the alcohol burned your throat immediately, causing you to pull away in a grimace. Donghyuck’s eyes widened in surprise, clearly not expecting you to go through with it.
“That’s the spirit!” he laughed, slinging an arm around you. “Come on, let’s get you another shot.”
One shot turned into two, then three. You weren’t sure when you lost count, but the edges of the room soon started to blur, and the music didn’t sound so painfully loud anymore. Your body felt light, and everything seemed warmer. Fuzzier. You stumbled through the crowd in search of Jooyoung but instead bumped into someone else.
“(Y/n)?” The sound of his voice instantly made your heart stop for a second.
It was Mark Lee, a junior you knew from InterVarsity. He was someone you’ve admired from afar for quite some time now. The kind of guy everyone liked, always smiling and joking around with his friends. You’ve been crushing on Mark since last year when you saw him perform on the worship team. But you hadn’t dared to pursue anything beyond friendship.
“I didn’t expect to see you here,” he said approaching you, his words slightly slurred.
He hadn't had too much to drink, having come as the designated driver for his friends. But it was tough to resist joining in with all the pressure around him.
“I didn’t expect to be here either,” you replied with a giggle, feeling more at ease than usual.
Mark’s expression shifted to slight concern as he noticed your flushed cheeks. “Are you…?”
“Donghyuck may have given me a few drinks,” you explained, swaying slightly on your feet.
At the mention of your mischievous friend’s name, Mark let out an exasperated sigh and shook his head.
“Of course he did,” he muttered under his breath. “Come on, let’s go outside.”
He grabbed your hand gently, and the contact sent a jolt through you. With his guidance, the two of you pushed through the crowd together, stepping out onto the porch. The cool air outside felt wonderful compared to the stuffy house you were just in. You smiled, closing your eyes and leaning against the railing.
“You okay?” Mark asked, a hint of concern in his voice as he contemplated whether he should get you some water.
You opened your eyes to look at him, suddenly feeling bolder. Maybe it was the alcohol, or maybe it was the fact that you two were alone in a quiet space. You’ve never been this close to him before. But now that you were, you could see all the features of his that you admired. His dark messy hair, the way his lips curled into a soft smile, the way his eyes glinted under the dim porch light.
“You have really pretty eyes, you know that?” you blurted without thinking.
He blinked, taken aback by your compliment. “Uh…thanks?”
“No, like they’re so pretty,” you continued, stepping closer to brush your fingers over his cheek. “I could get lost in them.”
His eyes widened at your touch, but he didn’t take your hand away. “Is that so?” he asked, a slow smile spreading across his face.
By now, you heart was pounding erratically in your chest. But before your brain could override your desires, your hands found their way to his shoulders and pulled him down toward you. Mark was frozen when your lips met his, as even the tipsy version of him hadn’t anticipated this boldness from you. But once he processed that you were kissing him, a switch went off in his brain and something shifted.
Mark’s hands found your waist, pulling you closer as the passion seeped into the kiss. His lips were warm and firm against yours, and the taste of alcohol lingered between you. Your fingers quickly became tangled in his hair, and you pressed yourself against him, feeling the heat of his body through his shirt. Mark groaned softly into your mouth, his hands sliding up your back, one hand cupping the back of your neck as he tilted his head to kiss you more deeply.
Your lips moved like a dance, slow and rhythmic, but growing faster with each passing second. At some point, you felt the soft brush of his tongue against your lower lip, and you opened your mouth for him. The kiss was intoxicating, and the most exhilarating sensation you had ever experienced. You could feel his breath mixing with yours, your lips only parting for brief seconds before crashing back together, more urgently each time.
“I’ve been wanting to do that for so long,” Mark whispered against your mouth when the two of you finally pulled away for good.
Your hand remained on his neck as you gazed into his eyes. Even in your drunken state, you could see the intensity in them. “Me too,” you said softly, resting your forehead against his.
The rest of the night was a complete blur to you. You woke up in bed the next morning with a splitting headache, and the sunlight streaming through the window shades only made it worse. As someone who had never had a hangover before, you had never felt so miserable.
Groaning, you lay back in bed and tried to recall what happened last night. You vaguely remembered the party, and Jooyoung running off, then Donghyuck pouring shots for you. Your stomach twisted at the thought. Why did I let him talk me into drinking?
Rolling over, you grabbed your phone from your nightstand, trying to ignore the fact that it felt like someone was pounding your head with a hammer. The screen instantly lit up with a few notifications, mostly emails. But one in particular made your heart stop.
Mark: Hey, how are you feeling? You okay?
Your breath hitched as you read the text over and over again to make sure you weren’t dreaming. Slowly, the memories from last night began flooding back, and a rush of panic accompanied them.
“Oh my gosh,” you muttered under your breath.
The two of you kissed last night. It wasn’t just one kiss either. It was so many times that it was almost neverending. Clasping a hand over your mouth in mortification, the realization hit you. You made out with Mark Lee, the guy you’ve barely been able to hold a conversation without stuttering since the day you’ve met him. This couldn’t be real.
You sat up quickly, causing your head to throb even more. Knowing you couldn’t just leave Mark hanging, you typed a response with wobbly fingers.
You: I think I’m okay, thanks. You?
As you were mentally kicking yourself over and over, your phone buzzed again. Sighing to yourself, you picked up the device again to see what he said.
Mark: I’m good, don’t worry. Want to grab some coffee?
I can bring you some aspirin if you need it :)
A small laugh escaped you at his kind offer, as you replied with a simple “Sure.” Even though a part of you was nervous, you knew that you needed to talk to him. Nibbling on your lower lip, you anxiously waited for him to reply. Your heart jumped when he responded so fast.
Mark: Great! Meet me outside in 10?
With a sigh, you got up from bed. Your gaze flickered to the empty bed across from you— Jooyoung wasn’t there. You wondered if she came home at all last night. But knowing her, she couldn’t have gotten into too much trouble.
Pulling yourself together, you washed up in the bathroom across the hall. Once you returned to your room, you slipped on some jeans and the first sweater you could find. Anxiety churned in your stomach as you walked outside.
Mark was already waiting outside your residence hall, his hands shoved his pockets as his shoes tapped rhythmically against the pavement. His face lit up with a smile when he spotted you, somehow making you even more nervous. He greeted you with a soft wave which you returned with a small smile.
“Hey, you sure you’re okay?” he asked, noticing you squinting against the sunlight.
You gave him a light nod. “Aside from feeling like someone is pounding a hammer in my head, yeah I’m good.”
He chuckled in response, and a brief silence followed. Swallowing hard, you cleared your throat.
“Um…about last night, you began, feeling your cheeks heat up. “I-I’m really sorry. I didn’t mean to get so drunk, and I don’t usually act like that. I’m sorry if I made things awkward or—”
Mark’s expression softened as he stepped closer, gently placing his hands on your shoulders to steady you, cutting off your rambling. “It’s okay, (Y/n),” he reassured.
You blinked, surprised. “It is?”
He nodded, his gaze locked on yours. “Yeah. I’m not gonna lie, I was surprised to see you at that party, but…I don’t regret anything that happened last night.”
His words made your heart skip a beat. A part of you had worried that Mark only kissed you because of the alcohol, but from the look in his eyes, it didn’t seem like just a hazy memory to him.
“Did you…regret it?” Mark then asked, his eyes searching yours with a hint of uncertainty. He was pretty sure that his feelings for you were mutual. But he wanted to be sure that it wasn’t just the alcohol talking last night.
You hesitated for a moment before answering. “If I’m being honest, no, I don’t regret it. I just wish it didn’t take my getting drunk to finally express how I felt about you.”
Mark’s shoulders relaxed slightly at this, and a small smile tugged at the corner of his lips.
“I’m so glad to hear that…because I’ve felt the same way for awhile now,” he paused, softening his voice. “I just wasn’t sure if you liked me back.”
Your breath caught in your throat as his words sank in. “Wow…I had no idea. I mean, I’ve liked you for so long, but I was always too nervous to say anything.”
You watched his smile grow wider and his eyes brighten up. His expression was a mixture of relief and anticipation.
“Well, now that’s all out of the way,” he said, slowly taking your hand. “Will you be my girlfriend?”
You felt your cheeks flush again, but this time, it wasn’t from embarrassment—it was from the sudden rush of hope that maybe, just maybe, things between you two were finally falling into place.
“I…I’d really like that,” you breathed, your voice trembling with excitement and disbelief.
Mark’s grin grew wider, and he squeezed your hand gently. “Good,” he said, his tone full of warmth and sincerity. Then, with a playful smirk, he added, “So, uh… can I kiss you again?”
Your stomach fluttered. This time, you weren’t drunk. This time, you were fully aware of what she was doing, and the idea of kissing him—sober—made her feel nervous in a different way. But you smiled, stepping closer until you were right in front of him. When you gave him the yes, Mark’s lips were on yours again.
His lips were warm, and they moved gently against yours, sweet and careful. You felt your heart race as you kissed him back, your hands resting lightly on his chest. His thumb stroked your cheek as your lips pressed together, and this time, you could feel everything—the softness of his lips, the way his breath mingled with yours, the way his heart beat steadily under your palms.
When you finally pulled apart, the both of you were smiling, your foreheads resting against each other like the night before. Although you still weren’t a party person, your dislike for them lessened just a bit now.
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16 . . . alfons main story (with letter)
꒰ ִ ֺ ⊹ @ notice ⊹ ֺ ִ ꒱ this translation may not be 100% accurate or contain creative liberties due to characterization or narrative flow purposes. if you enjoy, please consider reblogging, but don’t repost these or claim these as your own!
— by the way, if you want “alfons’ side” of this chapter, i would recommend giving the ecb story from roger’s past records a read! i copied and pasted some lines from there in this chapter as well.
— cw: mentions of child labor or abuse.
Roger: Even after getting hurt by that villain of a man, you just never learn, do you, lil lady?
Roger’s face was right there before me, so close I could feel his breath.
He was honestly a wonderful person, and I was sure if we had met at the bar, without knowing the circumstances, I would have happily gone along with his slightly rough invitation.
(But...)
Kate: I’m really sorry... but right now I’m not in a headspace where I can humor your jokes...
K: Besides, I thought you mentioned you choose your partners?
Thankfully, Roger withdrew his hand from my shoulders, albeit not without a wry laugh.
Roger: You’re right, I did mention that, but I would absolutely take a woman like you any day.
(Could it be he came here to cheer me up?)
My heart, having felt cold and hollow, now felt a tad bit of warmth.
(Oh, come to think of it...)
Kate: ...If I remember, you are doing research on the Cursed ones, right?
Roger: That I am, but what of it?
Kate: If it’s not too much trouble, could you tell me what Alfons’ tragic fate is...?
When I asked Roger what had been occupying my mind since before he came, he shrugged his shoulders, his movements stiff.
Roger: If he knew I was the one to tell you, he’d hate me more than he already does.
Kate: Then whatever you say here will stay between the two of us.
Roger: I mean, sure, but I’m pretty sure he’d still catch on even if you didn’t say a word.
R: Well, despite what I said, I’m more than convinced he couldn’t hate me any more at this point, so I don’t really mind.
(Now that we’re on this topic...)
I remembered I couldn’t help but feel the way Alfons acted toward Roger made me a bit uncomfortable.
[1] So you two go way back. (+4 / +4)
[2] Does he hate you?
[3] Which one of you is older?
Kate: So, I take it you two go way back?
Roger: And what makes you think that?
Kate: Well, I guess when you two were speaking, it looked like you weren’t pulling any punches on each other, so to speak... but also I felt you two were a bit distant...
K: So I thought something might’ve happened that made it that way, perhaps.
Roger: Well well? Look at you and your keen eye. But as for the reason he holds some deep-seated grudges against me——
R: ...It was because the one who had told him what his ‘tragic fate’ was so casually, was none other than me.
R: His life had always been a bit twisted, so to speak, but then I came in and wrung it more.
(Wha...)
Roger: You want in on it?
(If I nod here...)
The story that Roger was about to tell——
Surely, it would cover a part of Alfons that he would never let me so much as step in.
(...I wonder, will knowing more about him really do much?)
(Perhaps, knowing would actually make it harder to forget.)
I bit my lip slightly.
(But, even so——)
Even if it was just a tiny fragment, I wanted to grasp at his true form, however much of a mirage he may be.
Kate: ...Yes, please tell me more.
—— Flashback ——
The story I’m about to tell is neither a dream nor illusion.
It is nothing but the ‘truth’ that one can’t escape from——
Once, there was a boy who bore ashy gray eyes: an orphan from the East End.
And ever since the time he was aware of what was going on around him, he had been subjected to harsh labor at the orphanage.
The work environment was poor at best, and even a slightest mistake would result in corporal punishment.
However, this boy held a certain skill as well.
He knew the art of escaping from the reality that dealt him with hardships and rendered him famished and in pain by dreaming.
‘This isn’t me’——such were the chants of the boy who looked into his own reflection in the muddied water.
Whenever he did this, his consciousness would distance itself from him, going somewhere outside. And so, even if he was being punished, he felt nothing.
Not to mention, there were countless children who died as well.
...Children whose names he could no longer remember. And when the time came, it would surely be the same for him as well.
——But even so, there was but a single thing he had held dear in his heart.
Gray-eyed boy: Come here, won’t you?
Out in the alleyway, there was a trembling kitten.
He never had much bread in the first place, but nonetheless he split it with the kitten; he would fall asleep while hugging it to his chest on colder days; and he would pet it on the back of its neck.
Whenever he did so, his heart would calm down.
(That’s right, I’m different from those adults. Because unlike them, I have love in me.)
(And I’m different from those nameless kids too, because I’ve got this fella here.)
(This cat knows me, if no one else. It remembers me too.)
Thinking this helped keep his sense of self.
Gray-eyed boy: I love you... so that’s why, if no one else, you have to remember me, okay?
The kitten’s warmth, the feeling of its soft fur, and the small meows...
Surrounded by bricks that were on the verge of falling apart, that very place was the ‘reality’ he lived in.
—— End flashback ——
—— Flashback ——
Roger: Huh. A cat...
One fateful day, the young boy met another named Roger in the East End.
Roger appeared slightly older than the boy who was polishing shoes out on the streets.
And judging from his attire, he was probably not a noble, but more likely than not he had come from a relatively more well-to-do family.
‘I heard some rumors about the orphanage, so here I am,’ Roger had said, wanting in on the boy’s story, almost to an excessive extent for some odd reason.
Roger: So? What’s that cat doing now? After all, the fact you’re polishing shoes out here now is because you got kicked out from the orphanage, right?
When talking about the cat, the boy’s ashy gray eyes seemed to soften ever so slightly.
Gray-eyed boy: That fella’s still at the orphanage. Someone there’s probably looking after it, maybe?
Roger: .........And you? What’s your name?
His name——that young boy had an inkling that he had forgotten he even had such a thing in the first place.
Gray-eyed boy: ...Alfons, I think.
Roger: You think?
Alfons: Well, I heard it was written on the box I was in.
That alone was enough to hit home the fact that he had been abandoned the moment he was born.
He had no memory of the time before he found himself at the orphanage.
And that orphanage was the very one he had been recently driven out of.
Roger: Do you really not know the reason you were kicked out of the orphanage?
Alfons: How could I? It was so sudden, so...
—— End flashback ——
When the needle on the clocks overlapped, I found myself back in the present time.
Roger: I had heard a certain rumor circulating around at the time, so that’s why I tried to get in touch with him.
Kate: A rumor...?
Roger: Yeah. A rumor where ‘the director of the orphanage was made into a cat.’
(Did he just say... he was ‘made into a cat’...?)
Kate: What in the world does that mean...?
Roger: At the time, I already knew I was Cursed, and I had already begun researching about Curses at that point.
R: Through my father, who was a town doctor, I searched around for any documents about patients who could possibly be Cursed.
R: And it was among those I found something particularly strange, that being rumors of a person who could ‘overwrite other people’s perceptions’——
R: And there were strange cases of amnesia where that came from.
(Am...nesia...)
When I thought of Alfons’ face, I stifled a breath.
Roger: White could be perceived as black, and vice versa——there are a great many who experienced that firsthand, thinking such things were reality.
R: But interestingly enough, none of them could remember who had made it that way. Their name, what they looked like, where they lived, everything.
R: And when I checked the registry of that area and any records... I was confident there was some unnatural ‘white space’ there.
R: It was clear as night and day that there was a single person who had just up and disappeared to thin air from both memories and records. ...Strange, isn’t it?
R: I was more than sure that person who held such an ability was a ‘Cursed one.’
At that moment, I had a bad feeling.
But nonetheless, I simply swallowed my breath and continued to listen.
Roger: So when I first heard the rumor that there was a ‘human who had turned into a cat,’ I thought he would be Cursed.
R: And at the time, I was hoping to find a Cursed one aside from myself in earnest.
R: ...That’s why I ended up doing something rash.
—— Flashback ——
Roger: You’ve got some strange ability, don’t you?
All of a sudden, Roger had asked this with a serious expression, causing Alfons to back away with slow steps.
Alfons: What do you mean, ‘strange ability’...?
Roger: You know, like by touching somewhere and whatnot, you can make people think any lie as the truth. Something like that.
Alfons: ...Any lie... as the truth...
Roger figured that since Alfons hadn’t asked what he was talking about, he probably was at least somewhat in the know.
Believing this without question, Roger took a step back before spreading both his arms.
Roger: So try something on me, won’t you? Anything’s fine.
Alfons: ...
After staring at Roger closely for a while...
Alfons: ...If you pay me, I could do it.
He made a proposal to the well-dressed Roger.
And from there, the two did this and that to test his ‘ability.’
After all, Alfons himself didn’t know how to activate it.
Roger: Looks like just throwing words out won’t do it.
Alfons: So then I’d have to touch you somewhere too or something?
And then, Alfons held Roger’s hand, touched his forehead and whatnot, and after a lot of trial and error——
Alfons: “This isn’t shoe polish, but your most favorite food.”
—— End flashback ——
Roger: When he touched the back of my neck, his ability activated.
Kate: ...And how did you know that?
Roger: Well, by the time I came to, I realized I was eating shoe polish, and he was there on the side laughing and pointing his finger at me.
(Gosh...)
Roger, laughing it off, continued the story.
—— Flashback ——
Roger: I knew it, you really are Cursed.
Alfons: Cursed?
A: What in the world are you saying, mister [1]? Just hurry up and pay me, will you?
Alfons’ eyes grew cold, and he extended his head, waving it.
And Roger grabbed both of his shoulders.
Roger: You have the ability to distort the minds of other people. You saw it yourself before, didn’t you?
R: And those who are Cursed will have to face a tragic fate as a price for their abilities.
Alfons: Wh... what’re getting all excited for?
There are those who were cast with a Curse since the moment they were born——such people are known as ‘Cursed ones.’
And at this point in time, Alfons still didn’t grasp such a meaning.
Roger: I mean the Cursed ones are born “to commit sins and meet a tragic fate.”
Alfons: ...Are you sure you shouldn’t go to a hospital, mister? There can’t be such a thing as a tragic fate and all.
Roger: I know it sounds like a lie, but it really is true! And I think in your case, it would probably be——“to die without leaving your mark on anyone’s memories.”
R: That’s the fate you bear.
Alfons: ——!
In exchange for an ability a normal person could never have, they were dealt the hands of a ‘tragic fate.’
Roger: But, I’m sure these fates can be changed. In fact, I’ll do just that.
R: After all, I was finally able to meet someone other than myself who’s Cursed! Hey, do you——
Alfons: .........get out.
All of a sudden, Alfons pushed Roger on his chest. Hard.
Roger: ...? What’s up with you? Looking pale as a sheet like that.
Alfons: Whatever, just get out of my sight!
Pushing Roger so hard he was almost sent flying, Alfons ran away——
never to return there again.
—— End flashback ——
Roger: ...And then a little while after that,
R: I heard a rumor around that ‘there was a kid who could show weird illusions over at the slums.’
I was reminded of how I had seen Alfons in the warehouse that had long become ruins, showing illusions to the people there.
—— Flashback ——
Alfons: I have been doing these things even prior to joining Crown, you see.
A: So I see no reason to stop, simply because I’ve been told to, or it’s a supposed ‘national secret’ and what have you.
—— End flashback ——
Roger: At the time, I was hoping he could work with me on my research...
R: But if I had to say, I got too caught up in talking about his fate, and as a result I had ended up pushing on him a reality he could never go back from again.
Just like that, I felt as though a hole had opened up beneath my feet.
The past I didn’t know of,
the day I had first understood what his ability entailed, and... the ‘Curse’ his body had ended up bearing.
(“To die without leaving his mark on anyone’s memories”——such was Alfons’ tragic fate.)
to be continued…
Acceptance is important, you know
Good day to you. How have you been faring?
...So I do ask, though I couldn’t really care less, if I had to be honest. But even so, do make sure to eat and sleep properly, alright?
After all, would you not agree that destroying your body and suffering because you had been pulled by the whims of some irresponsible hedonist is nothing short of a ludicrous tale?
The quickest way to overcome a lost love would be liquor and food, along with the discovery of your next love. Such is usually the case.
If you indulge in a delicious liquor, I imagine you will come to realize this love was naught but some silly affair. In fact, I’m more than certain of it.
Should you seek out a pleasure no deeper than the surface, then I will be more than happy to play together with you once more.
Well then, until next time.
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NOTES:
[1] Here, Alfons refers to Roger as [お兄さん] (onī-san), which literally means “big brother,” and it could be used to refer to someone else’s older brother, but here it’s used more in the context that Roger is a guy a little older than Alfons, so it’s just like a casual way to call someone you’re not super close with or don’t know the name of, not because they are blood-related in any way. Think of it kinda like “bro” in modern terms maybe?
꒰ ִ ֺ ⊹ @ tags🏷️ ⊹ ֺ ִ ꒱ @drachonia @.comment, send an ask off anon, or dm to be added or removed!
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