#i thought i was going to hang out with my friend- jk i knew something would come up but thats a different can of worms

[brights-place]

Jeff The Killer with an Mute! S/O

Pairings: Jeff the killer X Reader

Warnings: Fluff, Mentions of gore, Dating headcannons

A/N: Jeff the killer dating an mute reader that me and my friends were talking long and hard about how each creepypasta would date an S/O who is mute :>>

- When you were first introduced he tried to annoy you and get you to talk smack back to him caus he wanted to fight someone since Jane was on an mission and Jeff itched for an fight

- He’s suspicious of you at first when you don't reply - Even more so that you don’t talk. But if you prove you’re  not a threat in other ways, he doesn’t actually mind it all that much... JK HE DOES MIND LIKE WHY AIN'T YOU FIGHTING OR YELLING AT HIM!

- He complains and cruses you out as you just stared at him - Jeff is annoyed how you hangout with Smile dog who makes sure to make you feel comfy which makes Jeff confused since well... Smile wasn't nice to people actually nobody really was I mean they were Creepypastas they were creatures and beings that could kill

- When he tried to fight Liu since well that's whats siblings do you smacked him up top the head as liu cackled at how Jeff was flabbergasted as you stared him down

- He gets annoyed by everybody and since your silent he comes out of nowhere and hangs out with you as he says "Shut up" when not knowing you were mute cause he never knew you were mute

- Ends up going on tangents or rants about the others while you just sit there and kind of annoyed yet staring down at him making sure he is comfortable - He knows it can get annoying to just have to listen but he’s extremely grateful for the outlet. - he can bitch about his day only to turn around and find you still there, listening intently. 

- Sooner or later he watches you do sign language talking to EJ, Toby, and Nina as you just nodded shook your head or just did sign language which he connected the dots quickly finding out that you were mute

- most of the time he is translating for those who can't understand you when you use sign language when Jeff can't is when he's on his missions and off to kill some people

- Other then that he would be by your side making sure your safe and are alright When he speaks he forgets that he's doing sign language while speaking whenever your near and people point it out he rolls his eyes

- He gets used to your silence and can't help but when he feels pissy just walks towards were you are in your room or in the kitchen kick open the door and grab you and lay his head on your shoulder

- He didn't understand sign language so he just focused on when you're looking at something or someone in a certain way, how your eyebrows furrow. how you squint your eyes, the way your lips curve up or downwards with something he likes and dislikes.

- He could read your thoughts and what you want to say but can't at all but try to explain in sign language to you and say's fuck it and just speaks to you as you nod your head listening. - He switches from checking to verbal confirmation to physical confirmation - When you two are out at night not doing missions you take an stroll before jeff then goes on an rampage out of boredom - You were making sure that jeff was careful when you noticed an couple watching them afar since you knew that they had an child but also knew that why you two killed the two parents cause they were Junkies and quiet emotionally abusive towards their own child so of course you had to kill the two so you brought Jeff!

- When he is on an mission his knife digging into the skin of an 30 year old couple while their daughter was fast asleep in her room not knowing about what was happening downstairs.

- You couldn't help but watch Jeff ripping the parents skin with his knife carving an smile as he turns towards you when you stomped your foot lightly two times on the floor is what you two used to say its time to go since he well he and you have your own secret language

reblogs + comments are appreciated ⸜(｡˃ ᵕ ˂ )⸝♡

©brights-place 2023 — do not repost on another platform, copy, translate or edit my works! if you fit my DNI list please don't interact

[clownprincehoeshi]

PARALLEL HEARTS- CHAPTER 8

Synopsis: Never in your wildest dreams you imagined that you’ll meet your ult bias. But it seems that the universe really loves you this time. Will Jeon Jungkook notice you?

Pairing: fem reader x ?idol

Genre: Fluff, Smut, Angst

Warnings: for all chapters-Kissing-Nudity-Sex 18+-Stalking-Harrassment-Cheating-Death mentions Minors don’t interact!

Word count: 4704

Previous chapter

Masterlist

Don't forget rebloging is important and much apreciated! <3

Of course headache was your best friend the next day

Y/N: Fucking hell, I drank so much. Why did you let me do it? Some friends I have.

Hana: But it was really funny watching you drunk. And you’re a good drunk, fun, friendly, funny, clingy. Just like someone else I know.

Y/N: Shut uuup! I need water and pills.

Hana: Let’s get out of bed first, drink water, take something for the headache and get ready. We’re having breakfast out. I know a new cute place that opened.

Y/N: Damn, are you like a city tour guide but for places you can eat and hang out? I never ever in my life had went out this much as I have since I met you.

Hana: You love it though, even if you’re such an introvert.

Y/N: Hehe, you caught me.

You two were out in no time, holding hands and walking quietly towards the breakfast place.

When you got there, everything was in shades of pink and white. Really cute, you thought. You ordered some delicious sandwiches and pancakes, along with some cocoa-milk.

Y/N: Am I in heaven now? What is going on, how did I die?

Hana: It’s so good, right?

Y/N: Huh! Yah-huh. It’s so ridiculous. I need to bring the guys here.

Hana: You know, I was thinking that I miss the ’97 crew get together and we all know what happened and how we kind of stopped doing our regular dinners. I really miss hanging out with my cousin like that and it’s the only time when I get to see him, with him being so busy. SO..

Y/H: Babe, you can meet them if you want, I don’t mind.

Hana: What if JK or Mingyu are there? I really don’t want to speak to them, especially fucking Jungkook.

Y/N: Well, I don’t know. I guess you can just ignore him? And you can be friendly with Gyu, he’s not horrible. And the rest of the guys are all right.

Hana: You think JK and Mingyu talk?

Y/N: Not sure. Last time I saw them, they were not on good terms, and Gyu thinks JK is my stalker. But you never know, they were really good friends before I showed up.

Hana: Yeah, I guess you’re right. We’ll see, I will come with gossip though.

Y/N: Come on, let’s head home. Tomorrow we’ll have a really busy day at work with all those meetings and planning.

Hana: I really think they’ll announce we got the Seventeen project.

Y/N: I don’t know if I’m excited about it.

Next day comes around and it was like Hana said. Your company got the new Seventeen project. You’ll be working close with them for their new album and world tour. One whole year of touring all over the world, wow. They gotten really big.

Hana: Look, they have a bunch of concerts in Europe. We should definitely go to some. We might need to be there with the staff anyways for the stage, settings and styling. That would be fun, wouldn’t it?

Y/N: I mean… I guess. I would see him too much for my liking, but things maybe will be better by then. The company will sure send a team to some of the venues for sure.

This was unexpected. You knew how things worked in this business. If you worked with an artist and they had concerts, your company needed to send people there. At least I’ll travel.

Weeks of intensive work followed. Planning and preparations, filming, shootings. Mingyu came back from his hiatus and when you met on the set or in meetings you kept it short and civilised.

They had their comeback now and album promotions. Some tv shows here and there, some live performances. You were there with your team for most of them. Tour was right around the corner and you felt pretty excited.

You, Hana and 3 other people from your company were supposed to be with the group in most of the locations. You never travelled so much and you couldn’t wait for it. All those cities, all that culture and history. You were always fascinated by it.

The day of the departure was here. You woke up at 2 am to get ready. You had 2 big suitcases filled with clothes and personal stuff. You made yourself look pretty and presentable, you will be flying together with the members and some of the staff.

Most of the other staff were already at the location. First stop, L.A. You’ve never been to the US and you were shitting your pants right now.

The airport was crazy, filled with fans, photographs, journalists, staff, suitcases on top of suitcases. This was crazy.

The company finally got a private plane for the boys, they became too successful now and they really need privacy more than ever. No more crazy fans stalking them into their flights wherever they went.

Plane took off and in no time the crew brought breakfast for everyone. You sat next to Hana and in front of you were Jun and Minghao.

Jun: Well this is going to be a long ass flight, so we should eat and sleep.

Minghao: You’re always sleeping.

Y/N: He’s a cat, of course he sleeps a lot.

Minghao: BTW, Y/N, I am really happy to have you with us on this tour.

Y/N: Oh? Why?

Minghao: You’re the only one that doesn’t get shy when I flirt with them.

Y/N: You don’t know that, maybe I get shy but I hide it really well.

Minghao: Naaahh, I know you. Not even a small blush on your cheeks and you never fluster, you always have a comeback. I like you.

Jun: Whoah, what the hell man? You trying to seduce my bestie right in front of my croissant?

You all started my laugh at Jun’s face, he was stuffing his mouth with croissants, barely able to form coherent words, crumbs falling in the air.

You could see Mingyu over Jun’s shoulder, looking your way. He was smiling, but his eyes were sad. You thought your feelings for him were not as strong. You were even sure you were not in love with him anymore, you were not feeling sad when you saw him now. You were not feeling that punch in your stomach, knowing he was not yours anymore.

Finally, things felt normal. And you thought Jungkook moved on too, since the stalking ended. No weird messages or phone calls in the middle of the night, no more dark shadows following you. Things were good.

Things were really good.

Minghao: So how’s your love life lately, Y/N?

Y/N: You trying to make me choke on my food?

Minghao: Why? That bad?

Y/N: Let’s say I am content with being single for the rest of my life.

Jun: See what I mean? She acts like an old fart and she’s not even 30 yet. I keep telling her that love will hit her in the face so hard she won’t be able to say no.

Minghao: Come ooon Y/N! Why are you being so stubborn?

Y/N: Why Hao. Might you have a proposal for me? You like me, like me? You wanna wine and dine me?

Minghao: I would if I were single.

Y/N: You have a girlfriend?

Minghao: Yeah, it’s recent. We’re trying to see if we’re compatible, not rushing anything.

Y/N: Awww, that’s sweet, I’m happy for you, really.

Minghao: And here I thought you wanted to date me.

Hana: Hahaha, no. She loves to flirt, plus she likes someone else.

All 3 of you looked at her in shock, as if you saw a ghost.

Jun: What did you just say?

Y/N: How much did you drink already?

Out of nowhere, Seungkwan appeared.

Seungkwan: Who likes who? I need to know.

Jun: I can’t believe you have been keeping a crush secret from me? You bestie?

Hana: She won’t admit it. But I know. I see everything.

Seungkwan: Y/N! Please, you need to tell us. Do we know the guy? Is he cute?

You rolled your eyes at all of this. Everyone curious, asking questions. DK came too, also curious about your crush. You could also see Vernon looking at you, waiting to hear a name.

But most of all, you could see Mingyu looking right into your soul. He looked so disappointed, no more smile on his face, just all seriousness.

You felt small and ashamed. If you liked someone, it shouldn’t be anyone else’s business. And your ex should not be present at this conversation.

In fact, you don’t even know if you like that person or not. You promised yourself you won’t fall in love again, that you’re done with men.

You don’t know what you feel and you surely don’t want to talk about it.

Scoups: What’s going on, why all the fuss there?

DK: Y/N has a crush and she won’t say his name!!!

You saw Mingyu standing up, heading towards the restrooms. And while walking he said: Come on, guys, you’re being annoying. If she wants to tell you who it is, she will. Now leave her be!

You covered your face with both hands, making yourself small in your chair. Thank heavens for Kim Mingyu who rescued you once again. You start to think he might be an angel.

Minghao: Mingyu is right, we’re making her uncomfortable.

Hana: Oh! My bad, I thought it will be funny.

And she wraps her arms around you to apologise. Yup, she’s drunk, you can feel the soju from a mile.

Jun: Let’s go, Y/N, finish your food. You barely touched it. And we’ll talk later, ok?

He takes your hand and gives it a squeeze, along with a bright smile.

Y/N: You always know what to say, Juni.

You get back to your eggs and avocado and while lifting your glass to drink some water, you slowly move your head to your left and you see a very zoned out Hoshi looking at you.

You choke on the water straight away and start coughing. Hana part you on the back and asks if you’re ok, which you nod yes.

After everyone finished with their food, was time to sleep. All lights were turned off, seats reclined. You grabbed your blanket and tried to get some rest. Whenever you heard noises or people walking by, you opened your eyes. And every time you did that, you could see Mingyu looking at you.

Why is he doing this? Just go to sleep, let me be. I don’t want to remember stuff and don’t want to feel something for him again. I know that look, I know what he’s doing.

So your turn on your side to not have him in your line of vision anymore. But now you’re faced with a really adorable human hamster that’s asleep. Those puffy cheeks and that pretty pout makes you smile.

Mingyu catches that and it makes him sad, seeing he’s not the one that makes you smile like that. You’re a fool, Kim Mingyu. Someone will take her from you for good, and that might happen faster than you think.

This flight felt like a week. You couldn’t wait to get to your destination and get to work, to get your mind away from…stuff.

After the landing, the staff got out first, and went towards the exit and the company cars that were waiting. The members got out last and received a mini bus for their ride to the hotel.

The company had rented a few floors of the hotel and brough extra security. No strangers were allowed to get to the floor where you were all staying.

The rest of the day was for a quick meeting with everyone to let them know the schedule for tomorrow, then free time. Jun texted you after the meeting.

Jun: Hey, pookie! Let’s have some takeout in Hoshi’s room in one hour. He’ll order some Japanese and Italian, we’ll have plenty of food. Bring Hana too. Room 504.

Y/N: Ok, Juni.

Y/H: Wife, we’re having dinner with the guys in one hour.

Hana: Ok, I’ll get out from the shower in 10.

Ou rush to pick some cute comfy clothes to wear. Hana come out of the shower and sees you’re trying to pick an outfit. You already have a pair or sweatpants and a t shirt.

Hana: Girl, no! You want to be sexy too, not just homeless. Keep the pants, take this deep neck top. He’ll drool.

Y/N: Who?

Hana stops and looks at you straight in the eyes.

Hana: Drop the act. I know and you know who I’m talking about. You like him.

Y/N: No I don’t!

Hana: Just wear this and shut up. And if you don’t wanna tell me right now fine, but you will speak soon.

You try to drop the conversation, you really just wanna focus on work while on this tour, not on boys.

One hour later you’re in Hoshi’s room. There’s also Jun, Hao, Wonu and Joshua.

Hoshi: We have cola, soju and beer. What do you girls want?

Hana: We’ll have soju and beer.

You sit at the big table that they moved in the middle of the room and grab a plate. Jun tells you to try some pasta, because it seems it’s delicious and you love pasta.

When you take your look away from Jun and look at your plate, Hoshi is putting some pasta on it, along with some sushi.

Y/N: Oh..thanks.

He lifts his face and gives you a bright smile, smiling with his whole face.

The food is really good and the soju goes smoothly with it. You feel a little tipsy. You see Joshua with red cheeks, he must be a bit drunk already. Hana is getting there too.

Hana leans in to whisper into your ear: Damn, how are all these guys so freaking hot? How do you do it? Now falling for one of them each day.

Y/N: Keep your voice down, silly, and stop perving.

Hana: OK, but I only promise I won’t perv over your man.

You pinch her thigh and she squeaks loud, making you laugh at the funny sound.

Joshua: What are you girls whispering there? Are you talking about boys?

Hana: In fact, yes. We are.

Joshua: Uuuhh, do tell. I love me some boys gossip from my girls.

Y/N: Hana, stop it, they don’t need to know every thought that’s going trough your mind when you’re drunk, and btw, have you been drunk all day?

Joshua: I know! Let’s play a game!

Hana: Yeeeeeesss!

Wonu: What game, Shua?

Joshua: Ok, it’s important we keep it real and honest, ok? So we take turns, I will ask the person on my right a question. They can answer or they need to take a shot.

Wonu: Ok, let’s do it. I have nothing to hide.

Hoshi: Sure, why not.

Joshua: Ok, I will start then. Hao, are you in love with your girlfriend?

Hao: Umm…not yet. But getting there, me thinks. Wonu, what’s the most annoying thing your roommate Mingyu did in your apartment?

Wonu: Ugh, don’t get me started. He’s always so clumsy, but one time he dropped my phone inside his soup bowl.

Josua: Ok, we’re on a good track here, but let’s keep it interesting, yeah? Wonu, your turn.

Wonu: Hoshi, when are you going to tell your crush you like her?

All it can be heard is “whaat” and “uh”.

Minghao: Well now this is news. Since when and why didn’t I know?

Hoshi: Guys, it’s nothing. Wonu is exaggerating.

Wonu: But answer the question though!

Hoshi looks at his hands, then yells all of a sudden: I don’t know, ok?

Joshua: Omg, my little brother likes a girl. I’m happy, Hosh, about time. It’s been so long since…you know.

Hoshi: Yeah yeah, let’s move on. Jun, have you ever thought about being more than friends with Y/N?

Jun looks at him scandalised, opens his mouth in the shape of O and puts his hand over his chest.

Jun: My God, that’s so inappropriate to think about my sister. My bestie. Nooo. Buuut, we made a pact that if when we’re 40 and single, we’ll just marry each other. Now my dear friend Y/N, light of my eyes, kimchi in my rice. I have a really really important question for you.Do I know your crush?

Y/N: Why is everyone so obsessed about my love life?

Minghao: You have a love life?

Y/N: No.

Jun: Come on, bestie, tell me. Or you wanna drink?

Joshua: Let me voice my opinion here. After much thinking, I came to the conclusion that if you drink, it means Jun knows your crush. So either way, it’s better to answer.

Y/N: What a nice guy are you, Josh.

Joshua gives the biggest closed mouth smile ever, he knows he caught you.

Y/N: Ok, Jun. You know the guy. Happy now?

Jun: Yes and no, because now I am fucking curious.

Hana: Let’s continue the game, I wanna play too.

Y/N: Hana, do you like any guy from this room?

Hana: Fuck, am I allowed to say I like all of them?

Joshua: You say what you want, boo.

Hana: Awww Joshua called me boo. Now Josh, are you maybe looking for a girlfriend?

Everyone started laughing at how obviously flirty Hana was with Josh.

Wonu: What about the rest of us, Hana? You forgot us so fast?

Hana: Oh, sorry, Wonu. I can have more than one boyfriend. Nobody is left behind.

You get up on your feet and announce you feel sleepy and will head out to your room and you probably need to drag Hana with you, since she’s too drunk.

Also, you’re afraid of more of these questions that you don’t want to answer and also you don’t want to drink yourself under the table.

You said good night to the guys and headed to your room you shared with Hana. You decided you’re both to drunk to shower, so you changed into pj’s and got into bed. You’ll shower in the morning.

Next day you had breakfast in the room and then you were ready for work.

You needed to be at the stadium where they will perform for 2 days in a row. The set needed to be perfect. Meanwhile, the boys have the net 2 days packed with shootings and live shows and interviews.

2 shows down, 4 more to go in the US, then off to Brazil and Argentina. Days were passing really fast, since work meant around 10 hours a day. You got to spend time with the guys rarely, everyone was tired at the end of the day and wanted to just relax in bed and sleep.

You had a little break once in Europe. You arrived in Spain first and most of the members and staff decided to spend their one week break here. The weather was perfect and you had beach.

It was your first time in this country and you just wanted to see the architecture, the art, taste the food and visit some national parks and wildlife.

You were with Jun the night when you arrived in Barcelona and you were trying to decide your week plan, while taking a walk to the beach that was close to the hotel.

Jun: I think we should stick together. At least the two of us and probably Hana won’t want to leave you and go with someone else.

Y/N: True. But who else will join us?

Jun: I think Hao will chose to stay in the city and do nothing, he wants to chill. Jeonghan probably the same. Dk and Wonu I am sure they said they wanna visit the city and take photos. Mingyu might join them, don’t know. Woozi will probably stay inside most of the time, he’s really tired. Vernon for sure will come with us, he likes to learn new stuff. Are you brother and sister?

Y/N: We might be. Ok, so we are 4 so far.

Jun: I’ll ask the others tonight and will let the managers know how many we will be for the little excursion, because we will need a van or minibus. Take some clothes with you and stuff you need for a few days.

In the morning, you take your little suitcase and rush for the elevator. Hana is already in the minibus in front of the hotel. When you enter the bus, all the chairs are filled, except one in the back.

Hoshi: Here, I saved the seat for you!

He gets up to help you with your luggage and then you sit down. Today you’re going to a remote beach in a small village. You’ll visit wineries, olive trees and will rent a house on the beach and spend the next 2 days there.

You see Hoshi barely keeping his eyes open, he must be very tired.

Y/N: Here, use my pillow and you can lay down here, our seats are wide enough. I’ll put the pillow in my lap, ok?

Hoshi: Really? Would you do that for me?

Y/N: Of course, why wouldn’t I?

He just shrugs and puts his head on the pillow in your lap and tried to sleep. The drive will take around 2 hours.

He falls asleep quite fast. Meanwhile, you don’t know what to do with your hands. Should you put them over his shoulder? You look at his face and he looks so peaceful and so pretty and your right hand goes to move a strand of hair off his face. Then you keep it over his head, petting him gently.

Your left arm goes over his shoulder, kind of like keeping him safe. It feels nice, you admit to yourself. You see Jun turning his face over his shoulder to look at you and his eyes go big at the scene.

He looks at you for a few moments and then he nods with a serious look on his face. What does he mean with that? This guy is weird, I swear.

You had fallen asleep too, you can just sleep anywhere, anytime and in any position. When you wake up, your arm is wrapped around Hoshi’s torso, he’s laying on his back now. His both hands are holding onto your arm for dear life.

You decide to wake him up since you heard the other say you’re going to arrive in 10 minutes.

Y/N: Soonyoungie!

You whisper softly close to his face.

He whines a little, not wanting to wake up.

Y/N: Come on, Soony, it’s time to wake up. We are almost there.

He pouts, eyes still closed.

Hoshi: But it’s so nice here.

Y/N: Yeah, that’s why you need to wake up to admire the view.

Hoshi: Here. It’s nice here.

He says, as he pulls on your arm tighter around him.

Oh.

Is he saying it’s nice here with me? Like this?

Then he opens his eyes and looks at you, smiling so adorably. In seconds, he lifts himself from your lap, thanking for letting him sleep and taking care of him.

He really left you speechless, and this is not something that ever happened with him. You don’t know what to say, it’s like the cat got your tongue. You just stare at him.

Hoshi: What? Do I have sleep marks on my face?

Y/N: NO, it’s nothing.

You really needed to move your eyes away from that adorable face so you opted to look over the windows and admire the scenery outside.

You reached a small road between olive trees and you could see a white house at the end. You got off the car, took your suitcases and went inside.

Driver: This is a family house we rent to tourists. Has 4 bedrooms, 3 bathrooms, pool in the backyard, garden, a big grill, everything you need. You reach the beach with 10 steps. The sunrise is really beautiful here. See you in 2 days!

It was easy to reach anywhere in the village, it was small and you would just walk for a few minutes.

Seungkwan: Let’s choose the rooms. We are 7, and we have 4 rooms. One person will sleep alone. Any takers?

Jun: Yes, please!

Seungkwan: I guess the girls will have one room and they can choose first. The boys will play rock paper scissors like usual. I’ll share a room with Vernoni

Joshua: And that leaves me and my bro Hosh. Nice!

You and Hana choose the pretties room that has a beach view. You go to inspect the property and you see they even have some gym equipment, a big ass tv in the living room, and outside they have a veggie garden.

You open the gate that takes you to the beach and start walking towards it. It’s been a while since you’ve had your feet in the sand.

You think it’s beautiful and you think Hao would have loved it here, for his meditation and tea ceremony.

You hear steps behind and Jun’s voice.

Jun: There you are. Wow, isn’t this place paradise? It’s just your style.

Y/N: You’re right, it’s how I would live forever. I feel so happy now that I could cry.

You sit there on the sand for a few minutes, listening to the waves and the birds.

Jun: He’s the best guy I know.

You look at him confused, trying to figure out who is he talking about. But then you know.

Y/N: Why are you telling me this?

Jun: You know why. You have doubts. Maybe it’s nothing, maybe it’s something. But it’s better to let it be something than to regret it after it can’t be anything. You don’t need to push yourself to feel or to act on it. Just let it happen. If it will happen. But. He really is the best, in case you had doubts about that. He’s genuine, honest, kind and passionate. If something is to happen, know that he has a lot of love to give. Maybe too much, and it can overwhelm the wrong person. He's been trough some shit with his ex, since then he just shut himself just like you. But I see something there.

You look at Jun and he can see your eyes are glassy. He just leans over and hugs you.

Jun: It’s going to be ok, you’ll see.

Y/N: What if it’s not?

Jun: Then I’ll still be here for you to help you get up. That’s what we do, always try.

Y/N: I love you, you’re the best!

Jun: Love you too! Let’s go inside, they started cooking, I think it might even be ready by now.

Reaching the house, everyone is doing something to help with the cooking or setting up the table.

Y/N: Where is Vernon?

Joshua: He might be sleeping.

Seungkwan: Yeah, he went upstairs to the bedroom.

Y/N: What are you guys making?

Johua: We are making some kimchi fried rice and we also have some pork belly.

Y/N: Ok, I’ll make some salad.

You go into the garden to pick up some veggies for your salad. On your way there you bump into Hoshi and he stops and looks at you suspiciously.

Hoshi: Have you been crying?

Y/N: Why?

Hoshi: Your eyes are red and glassy. Are you ok?

Y/N: I’m fine, just had a chat with Jun at the beach.

Hoshi: Did he say something to upset you?

Y/N: Nooo. Do you know Jun? ha!

He comes closer and hugs you. He hugs you so tight that it feels like you’ll stick like that forever. It’s like he knew what you needed. A hug.

And you wrap your arms around him and hug him back. You stay there for a minute, until you realise where you are and what you’re doing and you pull away.

Hoshi: Where were you going?

Y/N: To pick up veggies from the garden.

Hoshi: Ok, I am in charge of the grill. You’ll be ok, yeah?

You nod and you walk towards the garden with your heart beating 1000 miles/hour.

[foxymoxynoona]

the way i would killl for a cute little scene between amended jk and lily when she was 4/5 doing something sweet like him teaching her something, or helping her in any way🥺🥺 I always imagined jk with a lil soft spot for her mini princess and i hope he does have it because lily is just the cutesttt!

I hope you enjoy this! <3

Story: Amended Characters: Jungkook and Lily Length: 2406 CW: Some soft cursing, mentions of blood, that's it

“Elbow pads,” Jungkook said and Lily held her arms out for him to check the straps, even though he’d only fastened them a minute ago.

“Check!” she said.

“Wrist guards,” he said and held his hands out for her to slap with the guards in place.

“Check!” she said.

“Knee pads.”

“Check!” 

“Helmet.”

“Check!” Lily laughed and swatted at him as he drummed lightly on the hot pink shell protecting her blonde head from the sort of thing he would not want to have to explain to Isabella later. Isabella and Ezra were at a birthday party, one Lily was too young to participate in, which had led to many tears from the six year old who considered all of Ezra’s friends her friends too. 

There were few things Jungkook disliked more than Lily’s tears of disappointment, so he’d decided to make good on a promise he’d been given more than a year ago.

“Lesson one, how to carry the board,” he said, pulling the shortboard off the wall in the garage where he’d fitted hangings for his skateboards. Eomma had been about to throw them out when she and Appa were cleaning out their garage, and then Isabella had been skeptical why he’d want them seeing as he wasn’t seventeen anymore, but one smooth (ok, a little wobbly) ride home on the longboard had reminded him how much he enjoyed it. And he’d ridden since high school! Not in a few years, but now he’d do a few runs of the driveway on them, if Ezra and Lily had them out to play. They thought he looked cool. Isabella said he looked like a hospital visit but then she’d kiss his cheek affectionately so he thought she just didn’t want to admit that her little high school heart still thumped for him riding. He was sure of it. 

“I want to ride the big one,” Lily frowned and pointed.

“No let’s start with this one. That one will be harder for you to steer.”

She made a face but it quickly dissolved into a smile as he handed her the shortboard with its bright blue and yellow geometric design on the bottom. When she balanced it on her head, he showed her how to carry it under her arm instead.

“It’s scratchy,” she giggled. “I always scratch my butt on it.”

“That scratchy is really important, it’s going to help your shoes stay in place.”

“Like glue?!”

“Not quite but sort of.”

They walked together to the end of the long driveway, where many times before she would perch her butt or tummy on the skateboard and scoot down the slight incline. Jungkook had a terror of her rolling over her fingers so at least she knew to keep her hands up, but she’d definitely fallen off a few times even so. Usually when she veered into the grass and rolled off.

“Ok for starters, you’re going to just stand and I’ll help you go. I want you to get a feel for how moving your body changes where you go. Are you left footed or right footed.”

“I have both feet,” she assured him, looking up with wide-eyed innocence.

“Yes but which is your– nevermind. Start walking towards me?”

“Why?” she asked, taking several steps in his direction, left foot first.

“Ah! You’re goofy!”

“You’re goofy,” she glared and giggled and stuck her tongue out.

“No, we call it goofy-footed, I think your left foot is your dominant foot.”

“What does dah-mint mean?”

“Never mind. Here, you’re going to stand like this on the board,” Jungkook said, taking up a demonstrative stance beside her. He waited for her to mimic his foot position, then took a moment to adjust her weight and shoulders, told her to bend her knees, hands out for now. She bounced up and down to make a game of it, giggling. Little girl energy was very different from teenage boy energy, when he’d learned to board from YouTube videos and hid in the garage until he wouldn’t embarrass himself.

“Great. Now let’s give it a go on the board. Up you go,” he said. She stepped up only to immediately yelp as it slid out from under her. Fortunately he caught her but they had to chase the board down.

“Easy does it, try again.”

“It’s like getting on a nervous horse,” she giggled.

“Have… you ever ridden a horse?”

“No like in Barbie, duh.”

“Duh,” he repeated, eyes wide, shaking his head at her sass. “Ok, easy like you’re getting on a nervous horse.”

He let her try again and then the third time decided to more actively help her find her balance. She had her legs straight which would have sent her sailing onto her bum when the board when flying if Jungkook hadn’t been right there to catch her under the armpits. So he held her tight as she stepped onto the board the third time, and made her bend her knees, and then maneuvered her to help her find the right balance.

“Steady, steadyyyy,” he teased, slowly letting go of her.

Lily made a horse whinnying noise and promptly fell off. He didn’t manage to catch her this time. For a brief moment he watched her waver between whether she thought this was funny or not, but she decided it was ok and popped back up. 

They tried it again and this time Lily could hold steady enough that he gave her a little nudge to get her rolling.

“Knees bent! Knees bent!” he encouraged, hands hovering around her as she wobbled. He hadn’t pushed the skateboard hard though and when it abruptly lost steam against a crack in the sidewalk, Lily pitched forward and he barely managed to catch her.

“Again!” Lily cheered as she spun her around and toed the skateboard back into place. Of course she thought flying was fun! Jungkook smiled and ignored the burning starting in his muscles at being so consistently tensed so as to keep her from eating shit.

They tried the routine several more times, each time Jungkook pushing her a little further and faster as she did her best to maintain balance. Gradually he moved his hands away from her, trusting her to hold steady.

“Shit,” he choked as that came back to bite him in the ass: Lily took a forward tumble, shooting the board back into his shins, which hurt like shit and also kept him from catching her in time. Knee pads and wrist guards clattered against the driveway as Lily let out an anguished cry. He scooped her up, checking for any major injuries as big tears rolled down her face, blue eyes the size of dinner plates.

“Anything hurt? Anything broken?” he demanded, looking her over. She sniffled and shook her head. “You didn’t bite your tongue or break a tooth or anything?”

“It was scary!” she sobbed and threw her arms around his neck.

“Ok. I know. Ok we don’t have to keep going, you did really well today. You were doing it!”

But Lily sobbed, “I want to do it all the way.”

“All the way what?”

“I want to do tricks!” she cried. “I want to go up the house.”

“Up the house?”

“Up the house and I do a flip.”

“No no,” he laughed. “Today we just go down the driveway. You have to skate a while before you can do tricks and not up the side of the house! We’d need to go to a skate park.”

“When?”

“Not today, Lilybear. We can be done now. Let’s go inside and–”

“But I only went this far!” she sobbed and held up her fingers an inch apart. 

“You… want to keep going?” It seemed untrue considering she was still crying, but she nodded and held her hand high to be lifted. So he picked her up to her feet. “Ok, well, high five! Let’s try again then!”

She was very brave with her little sniffles, wiping her face off and then complaining about the velcro that scratched her cheek. Jungkook got the skateboard set up again, helped her on, and then did it all again. Now that she’d had one fall, she was tense at first, but after a few minutes began to relax again and she started riding further. And further. And further until she reached more of the incline of their long driveway and gained speed. Jungkook had to jog to keep up and she shrieked with laughter, knees bent, hands out to catch herself.

“Go!” he shouted as he realized she was stable and might be able to ride the whole length. “Go go! You got this! Go!” He cheered in the distance as she rolled onwards, gaining speed but not wavering.

Only to scream, “HOW DO I STOP?!”

“Shit–”

He set off at a sprint and just barely managed to catch her off the board around the waist before she slammed into the garage door like a bird at the window.

“I did it!!” Lily shrieked as Jungkook spun her around, his own cheers bubbling around hers, “You did it! You did it!” He was proud of her, yes, especially for getting back onto the skateboard after falling so many times, but also he was relieved as all fuck that she had suffered no major injuries. 

“Ah, watching you is really inspiring,” he told her through a double high-five. “You want to go again?”

“Nope! I’m all done,” she beamed at him.

“For today? Or forever?”

“I don’t know.”

“Ok,” he laughed, and scratched the back of his neck. “Well… I’m going to do one lap up and back, watching you board was so inspiring.”

“I know,” she grinned, though he suspected she didn’t know what that meant. But helping her for so long left him desperate for a cool, smooth ride. And maybe to show off a little too, convince her that it was cool and she should practice it more. He thought having a skateboarder daughter would be pretty cool.

He got a running start and tossed the board down, stepping onto it with ease, a muscle memory still in his balance and legs. The breeze through his hair was nice as he stretched his arms and rode up the long driveway, occasionally pushing off to get more speed through the slight incline. At the top he tried to do a little jump to spin around but he was rusty and just stepped heavily off the board but Lily couldn’t see him fuck it up from the far end of the driveway so that was ok.

He set off again, a little faster this time, gliding smoothly side to side, arms raised in a victorious pose as she cheered for him from the front door where she’d already stripped her guards off. 

Unfortunately, she opened the door. And Gidget, who had been kept inside so as not to “helpfully” knock Lily over during her lesson came sprinting directly towards Jungkook. He zipped to the side to avoid running over her, but he had miscalculated how close to the edge of the driveway he was. 

The right wheels sank into the narrow space between concrete and grass and Jungkook pitched forward, frantically lowering his arms to catch himself. He landed hard on his left side, barely biting back a curse as Gidget leapt over him as if trying to smother him and finish the job.

He rolled onto his back and hissed at the burning sensation on his leg and arm, scowling and ordering, “Get off, Gidget. Down girl, stop!”

“Daddy!” Lily’s scream hadn’t registered with Jungkook as he ate shit but now her voice cut through as she sprinted over to him. He held Gidget’s collar with one hand and gingerly inspected his arm and knee with the other.

“Oh no you scraped your knee!” Lily gasped. His elbow too, both scratched raw like he hadn’t done in probably a decade, not since he played soccer. Honestly, maybe not this bad since he was a kid. He felt exactly like a six-year-old as Lily, now the adult, crouched over him and grimaced in sympathy.

“Dad.”

“Yeah, Lil?”

“You’re supposed to wear a helmet! What if you hit your head? You got hurt so bad! Where are your knee pads?!”

Jungkook made a face and sighed, “I don’t even own kneepads… I thought I’d be ok…”

“Safety first! Are you even wearing sunscreen?!”

Jungkook’s scowl grew all the way into a pout as he looked to the side and let Gidget go and sighed, “... No.”

“I know just what to do. We need our first aid kit. I’m not allowed to touch it but it’s under the sink so you can get it and um… I’ll hold your hand while you put a bandaid on it because I don’t think I’m allowed to touch blood and I don’t want to look at it anymore,” she said, full transparency, her gaze repeatedly jerking away from the bloody scrapes. “Maybe we should call Mom. I don’t ever want to look at your owie again.”

“We don’t need to call Mom.”

“It’s a lot of blood.”

It hurt, but her concern made him chuckle as he assured her, “It’s not as bad as it looks. Come on, help me walk into the house.”

“Did you break your bones?! Maybe you’re too old to skateboard!”

“Lily! I’m not that old!”

“No more skateboarding unless you have all the pads.”

“But–”

“It’s the rule,” she reminded him, exactly what he had said to her that morning when she had first complained that the elbow and wrist pads were uncomfortable. Damnit. 

“Ok ok. I won’t argue with you right now. Let’s get me cleaned up… but I looked pretty cool before I crashed, right? You saw?”

“I saw you rolling.”

“It’s called boarding.”

“Did you do a trick? I was taking my pads off.”

“No, I didn’t do a trick, I just… boarded good…” 

Lily just blinked at him. Jungkook let out a noisy sigh and lay back in the grass, surrendering to Gidget’s licks around his neck and chin.

“You boarded good! Now you need a bandaid and I need a snack,” Lily assured him. Jungkook heaved himself to his feet, wincing at the sting of the scrapes, and the two skaters called it a day and went for juice and cookies and a whole lotta Frozen bandaids.

[naneun-no]

Hi! So... Am I the only one who thinks Jikook haven't been living under the same roof for quite a while now? I feel like some people, esp Jikookers, don't even want to see it as a possibility, but if we don't want to start acting like a cult we need to start developing some critical thinking (which I think is healthy and needs to be done) Also, I've seen a lot of people say "JK is having a hard time, imagine not spending every second with your partner like you used to bc of his crazy schedule" and tbh, I was thinking just like that at first, but now? Jimin is busy, yes of course, but he clearly has time to hang out with Hobi or even going to visit Jin (which was so nice to see btw, not complaining) I honestly don't think JK and Jimin are hanging out much, actually, I dont even think they see each other often, since JK seems to be living his best introverted life and quite isolated from the rest of the boys (except Tae, which Im kind of glad, at least he is getting out of the house and having a good time) Maybe we should start considering the possibility of them just not sharing time bc they simply chose to and not bc Jimin is busy with his album. I now what they chose to share with us is just a small part of their lives, and there could be a million other possible scenarios, Im not saying Im right or wrong, just what's been on my mind lately. Im not coming here as an insecure Jikooker to seek for aproval, or with bad intentions, Im just sharing my thoughts and genuinely curious to know if anyone else thinks on a similar way. Thank you for taking the time to read💜

Hey! I appreciate the kind way you phrased all of this. In short, if you’ve ever read anything I’ve posted you know what I’m gonna say next: maybe that’s true and feel free to think that 🤷‍♀️

I still don’t get why the idea that they’ve chosen not to spend any time together (which we have no evidence of except for a lack of evidence the other way) is more compelling than the idea that they do in fact spend plenty of time together and just don’t share it (which we also have no evidence of except for the way they treat each other when we do see them). Both have a dearth of evidence, except one seems out of character.

Does that make sense? Like it’s perfectly possible they don’t hang. But also, they were like magnets on all the final Run BTS episodes. Not just magnets but affectionate, touchy, best-friend-or-more type magnets. But also, Jung Kook asked Jimin to come over during a recent live, while being all giggly and cheesy and excited to see him. It didn’t seem like a “it’s been so long, I’m saying this just out of an awkward sense of duty,” to me — it seemed like something that probably happens often. Jimin said something to the effect of “I’ll come after work” or something close, right? (He said many other things too but that was the only one that correlated directly to hanging out other than the one where he expressed desire to tie back JK’s hair which could be innocuous or could be something he does when they hang out, who knows?). But also, JK told his boxing instructor that JM would come soon, but also JM talked to that same instructor like he knew him well, and likely has gone with JK to lessons in the past. But also, it really hasn’t been that long since JK’s weirdly sexual/teasing birthday video for Jimin and now several members have had birthdays pass and nobody else got that treatment. But also… the list goes on, I’m sure there’s more but my coffee’s getting cold.

So, I can’t speak for all Jikookers because we are in fact not a cult, so there aren’t established patterns of belief that we all must adhere to. You think maybe they’ve stopped hanging out cause they haven’t shared it with you. Cool. Many others, myself included, think it’s unlikely that you would abruptly stop hanging out with someone who clearly means so much to you while still continuing to treat said person in a loving, flirty, domestic manner. They don’t act like exes, not even a little bit, so we have no reason to think they are. I think it seems much more in character for them to be preserving the final shreds of privacy they have to protect the relationship that means more to them than the other ones; or at least means something different.

Idk, but if you actually believed them to be dating at any point, or even just as close of friends as they appear, regardless of dating, think of how that would look if they suddenly stopped speaking.

Remember when Tae and JK did kinda stop hanging out? Remember how it was kind of obvious through their interactions that they weren’t as close, and then they full on addressed it in that conversation and talked about how they needed to put more effort into their friendship (which kudos to them, like you said, seems like they are). If anything, Jimin and JK’s relationship over the years has seemed even more close and symbiotic than almost any other friendship in the group except maybe vmin. So I would think if that was crumbling away, we’d see a lot more in their interactions than giggly, sweet, heart eyes and “eat well my baby” comments.

Feel free to disagree!

[mimikoolover]

https://www.tumblr.com/mimikoolover/747133685011300352/funny-of-yall-to-cry-about-this-but-not-the

I guess my mom and dad are not married because i cannot tell you how many times my dad or mom have left church without telling the other person if one of them was wasting time after a long ass church service chatting with friends. My dad will just drive off and we have my mom coming to say “oh did he leave?” And no one loves each other as much as my parents so maybe this is why i am not understanding the fuzz about Jk leaving a concert without telling Jimin and how it is supposedly proof that they are not dating💀.

Some people’s idea of what couples should do or how they should behave is really funny to me because it almost seems like some of y’all don’t understand human relationships with their complexity and layers.

Don’t even get me started with this person who thinks that Tae leaving Jk alone at a ski resort is better that Jk leaving a concert premises without telling Jimin. After the members finish their concerts, do you see them going to each other to say they are leaving? Nope! They just drive off in their respective cars whether the others see them or not. Isn’t this the same thing? During PTD in Vegas didn’t Jk leave with jimin on all 4 nights while Tae left alone? For u tkkrs in lurking, do u think Jk ran to tell Tae he was leaving all those times? I’m sure Jm was just surprised they had left because he was probably somewhere else and didn’t expect that he will come out have all left and not because he was really expecting them to say bye b4 leaving.

I wonder why jimin will choose to enlist with a shitty person like Jungkook and say he relies on him when Jk is shitty enough to leave a concert without telling him. Sacre bleau!!!!

honestly! I can also see a scenario where jimin probably had to do something work-related with staff before/after the concert. taekook agreed to go to the concert together but jimin told them he can't go in the same car/at the same time cause of work. they 100% would have asked him to join them otherwise. so it was probably a situation where taekook went together and technically jimin went separately because of work so taekook wasn't expecting to leave together in the first place. people hang onto this because it's the first time ever that there's no 'proof' jikook 'knew' where the other was because otherwise they always know where the other is at/what they're doing. and technically they knew at this time too. plus it's very very likely that their destination was the same aka the restaurant they all went to after the concert. literally the only thing that happened was that jikook didn't leave in the same car at the same time. there is no way they would just dip without jimin if they thought he would be joining them in the car. it's such a nothing burger that it's so funny😆there are people that have it in their heads that jungkook is cruel to jimin and that's honestly just awful. jimin isn't a pushover, he got rid of friends because they were disrespectful to bts/bts members. if jungkook wasn't treating him right he would not be enlisting with him.

[hadesforpreswrites]

somewhere in neverland, pt. 1

a/n: after much deliberation with myself, i decided to continue "emotional support boyscouts" with a jk fic where the reader battles bipolar (type ii) disorder. again this is something that i deal with and this is similar to what happens to me. everyone's experience with mental illnesses is different and i understand that.

there is no romance in this particular part but there will be a part two, so bear with me. i didn't want it to feel forced and i think i've laid a decently solid groundwork for a strangers-to-friends-to-lovers story.

as always, please let me know if you like this and maybe even what you'd like to see in a part two so i can keep that in mind when i write it. 🥰 AND if i missed any tags you think should be in the warnings, let me know!

banner made by yours truly

pairing: jeon jungkook x reader

genre: hurt/comfort

warnings: bipolar (type ii) disorder, mental health issues, playfully light bullying of one kim namjoon, jungkook gets attached to reader quickly

word count: 2,733

summary: jungkook hasn't left his house in days and barely answers texts, namjoon has a friend who does something similar - so he introduces them

jungkook lets out a groan as he hears a knock at the door. bam is already waiting expectantly for the visitor to enter. when he doesn’t immediately answer, he hears the door open to reveal namjoon carrying bags of takeout. 

“hey, bam,” namjoon cooed at the doberman. “where’s your dad?”

“in here,” jungkook’s voice came muffled from the couch in the living room.

after removing his shoes, namjoon padded into the room and set the food on the coffee table in front of the couch. “we haven’t heard from you in a few days. i was getting worried.”

“so you break into my house?”

“not breaking in if i have a key, kook.”

jungkook huffed. “i’ve responded to group chat messages.”

“using emojis and one word responses.”

“still responses,” he mumbled.

“right, sure,” namjoon replied, getting the food out of the bags and placing them on the coffee table. “come on, eat.”

the two men ate in silence for a few minutes until namjoon could no longer take it. “man, when was the last time you left this house?”

jungkook looked up at him with wide eyes and noodles hanging out of his mouth and shrugged.

in truth, it had been a couple weeks since he properly left his house. he hadn’t been feeling up to doing much lately so he hasn’t been. he didn’t realize it was a big deal until namjoon showed up.

“you haven’t left the house in a while and you’re answers to texts leave a lot to be desired,” namjoon then sighed. “we’re worried about you. i’m worried about you.”

namjoon knew that coming from him, jungkook would listen. he knew that he had somewhat gotten through to him when the younger put his bowl and chopsticks down with a sigh. 

“i don’t know, hyung. i just don’t have it in me right now.”

“i think i understand,” namjoon thought for a moment. “let me take you somewhere.”

“where?”

“it’s a surprise. finish your food and go get dressed.”

jungkook knew that it would be in vain to try to argue with the older man now so he ate and dressed.

while he was getting dressed, namjoon called for a ride. when the ride arrived the two were on there way to whatever namjoon had planned.

after about half an hour, the car pulled up in front of a cozy-looking bookstore. “hyung, why are we here? i don’t even read that much.”

“a habit that should be changed, but that’s not the only reason we’re here. i want you to meet someone.”

jungkook sighed. “i’m not really in the headspace to meet anyone new.”

“which is why you’re going to. besides, i think you’ll enjoy her company.”

“please tell me you’re not trying to set me up.”

“please, i know better. besides, i don’t want to lose her as a friend because of you,” namjoon teased, bumping his shoulder into the younger man’s.

“first of all, i’m not the worst one in our group and you know it. secondly — actually i don’t have a second thing. let’s just go.”

a small bell above the door jingled as they entered the small building. “friendly reminder that cameras are not permitted in this establishment,” said a feminine voice from behind the counter, the woman it belonged to not even looking up from her book. 

“wow, not even a ‘hello, how are you, joon?’” namjoon teased the girl.

“nope. you’re not special,” she jabbed, sticking a bookmark in her place and looking up with a bright smile.

“well, you are,” namjoon winked as the two men approached the counter.

“nice try, kid.”

“kid?! i’m like two years older than you,” namjoon whined, causing her to laugh.

it was a laugh that jungkook would not soon forget; it sounded magical to his ears.

“this must be jungkook,” she said and oh god she’d said his name and suddenly he didn’t want anyone else to say it again.

“i seem to be at a disadvantage.” it was something jimin was more likely to say than himself. “you know my name but i don’t know yours.”

“y/n. i must not be that special if joon hasn’t even told you about me.”

y/n, he thought to himself. beautiful name for the beautiful girl standing in front of him.

“how did this turn into a kim namjoon roast? you know what? don’t answer that, i’m going to browse to make myself feel better,” namjoon huffed, playfully.

“for what it’s worth, i do think hyung told me about you. i just haven’t been great at retaining information lately,” jungkook blushed, trying to make amends for his friend.

she smiled at him, making his heart race and his blush deepen. “you must be the one he’s worried about. don’t worry he didn’t tell me specifics, didn’t even tell me which band member it was. i’m glad he was able to get you out of the house. though, i didn’t doubt he could. he’s very persuasive.”

jungkook breathed out a small laugh in agreement. “yes he is. he broke in with food.”

she gasped, feigning fear. “what a scary burglar.”

a moment passed. “you know,” she started. “he’s done that to me before too.”

jungkook looked up at her, stunned. for all he knew the two had only met recently, but as he said: he hasn’t been retaining much information.

“well, not exactly. he doesn’t have a key or anything,” she clarified. “but he did show up unannounced with food and drug me here.”

“he made you come to work?”

she let out a small laugh of her own. “believe it or not: this is my happy place. my mom bought this place when i was in my teens. she won’t admit to it but i know it’s because of how much i’ve always enjoyed reading and just being around books. she let me make little reading nooks out of thrifted furniture in various spots around the bookshelves. before i started working here full-time, and sometimes while i’m on the clock, you could find me curled up in one of the oversized chairs.”

he looked over at one of the old, large leather chairs and imagined her curled up with a blanket, book, and cup of tea. it was an image that somehow brought even him peace. to know that somewhere there was someone who wasn’t burdened by the weight of the world, at least in these little moments, made him feel a little better. 

“why’d he feel the need to do that?” jungkook asked before he could stop himself.

“because my mom asked him to…and he’s a good friend,” she gazed over at the older man who had taken a place in another chair with his nose in a book. 

he was looking at her. for the first time in their short meeting he noticed a sadness in her eyes, worry on her brow.

“i hadn’t left my apartment in weeks, had honestly barely come out of my room. barely ate anything. couldn’t be bothered to answer texts let alone calls. all i could get myself to do was sleep.”

it was sounding all too familiar to jungkook.

“i hadn’t even showered in a week by the time namjoon made it over. i opened the door with greasy hair, a sweatshirt and shorts that i’d been wearing all week, and a headache. he didn’t judge me, just ushered me back inside. told me to get in the shower while he laid out our food, he even did my dishes. after we ate he said it was time to get out of my cave and brought me here. it was the first time i’d smiled in weeks.”

he felt a pang in his heart at the hurt in her voice. he saw a tear fall from her eye and reached over to wipe it from her cheek. he swore he felt her lean into his touch. 

“sorry,” she said when he pulled away. “i so didn’t mean to unload on you the day we first meet. you must think i trauma dump on everyone.”

“i think you’re brave for being able to talk about it. even to a relative stranger.”

~a few weeks later~

jungkook found himself occupying space at the bookstore at least once or twice a week now. he and y/n found themselves growing close, becoming friends. he still couldn’t shake his listless feeling but coming to hang out with her while she worked, or read, helped. he started being more active in his group chat with the boys and started working out again.

“there’s someone i want you to meet,” he said one day out of the blue.

“oooh, do i finally get to meet jimin?” she teased.

“i mean i could arrange that. but no, that’s not who i was talking about,” he said, unsure of why his chest tightened and why he suddenly felt a pang of resentment toward his friend. “i think bam would really like you.”

he reveled in the way her eyes brightened. “oh my gosh. i would love to meet bam.”

“can i bring him here? he could use a day out.”

“absolutely. bring him here. i’ll read all the books to him and make him love me,” she said, causing him to laugh.

he didn’t know that every time he smiled or laughed when she at something she said or did, she felt a little lighter.

“excellent,” he said. “i’ll bring him tomorrow.”

and he did. he was right, bam did like her a lot. he commanded almost all of her attention. jungkook found himself smiling just watching the two interact. 

“i think i like him more than i like you,” she told him. 

“well, he is objectively better than me.”

~

she had quickly become one of his favorite people. which is why when about two weeks later when he walked into the bookstore and saw it was closed he began to worry. he pulled out his phone and called namjoon.

“is it weird for the store to be closed randomly?” was the first thing out of his mouth when the older man answered, not a greeting.

“well, hello to you too.”

jungkook sighed. “sorry, hyung. hello, how are you? is it weird for the store to be closed randomly?”

“y/n’s store?”

“yeah.”

“maybe she had appointments or something. is there a sign on the door?”

“no.”

“shit. hold on, let me call you back.” with that namjoon hung up quickly.

jungkook paced in front of the store, worry growing in his chest as he sent her a quick text, not wanting to pry too much in case she really was busy.

“where is she?” he mumbled to himself. he didn’t realize how important this new routine had become to him until this moment. he answered his phone immediately when it rang.

“she’s at her apartment. her mom said she hasn’t left since the last time you were at the store.”

“hyung, that was like a week ago. can you tell me where her apartment is?”

namjoon gave him his address, not thinking of the potential consequences because they were both worried.

jungkook walked quickly back to his car and tried his best not to speed to her apartment building. traffic was not on his side today as he hit every red light and there were many vehicles on the road, more than he remembered when he was on his way to the store to begin with.

besides their first meeting, they never really spoke about the time namjoon pulled her out of a dark place. he didn’t know what to expect when he pulled into a parking space in front of the tall building. he pushed the button to the elevator and bounced on his feet. it was taking too long. he let his eyes flit back and forth between the door for the stairs and the elevator (that still wasn’t here). he shook his head and kicked the door open.

not once did it cross his mind until later as to why he opted to run up twelve flights of stairs for a girl he wasn’t dating and/or sleeping with - a girl he’d only known a matter of weeks. adrenaline must have kept him going because he ran all the way to her door and knocked. after his frantic knocking, he doubled over, hands on his knees, breathing hard.

it took a couple of minutes but soon the door began to open slowly. jungkook lifted his head, peering through his hair, and saw that the door was only opened slightly and there was no light but he could make out the rough shape of a human.

he stood up to his full height. “i wasn’t sure you’d open the door,” he said, hoping to lighten the mood.

“couldn’t see anyone through the peephole. thought it might be a child.”

“half right. can i come in?” he asked, smiling big at the girl.

“i don’t know, jungkook. it’s kind of a mess in here and-”

“i could not care less about the state of your apartment. i only care that you’re breathing and if you’ll let me in so we can talk.”

she let out a shaky breath, “okay.”

the door opened wider and she shuffled back, giving him space to enter. once he was in her apartment and the door was shut again, he searched for a lamp or some form of light. 

does she have blackout curtains up in the living room? he asked himself.

once he located a lamp by the couch, he made himself comfortable. it was her effect on him, when she was around he felt at ease, even when she was in this state.

she sat down on the opposite side of the couch, facing him, legs bent in front of her, like a shield. “did my mom call namjoon again?”

“no, i think he called her actually. i went to the store and it was closed so i called him.”

“and then you pulled a namjoon and showed up? but without food?”

“he’s more nurturing than i am. plus, i was in a bit of a rush.”

“why? i was just sleeping.”

“for a whole week?”

“maybe.”

“y/n…” he sighed.

he didn’t know what to say to make this situation better. so he opted to ask the question that had been on his mind since the day they met.

“why? why does this happen?”

she looked down at her hands, picking at her cuticles. “i-” she sniffled.

“hey,” he said quietly, moving closer to her and taking her hands in his. “whatever you’re going to say, doesn’t change anything. let me in. please.”

she didn’t look up at him when she said, “i’m type two bipolar. and when i’m on my medication i feel fine. but the pharmacy is having some issues getting it this time so i haven’t been able to take it.”

“i’m not gonna try to pretend to know what that’s like but i’m so sorry it’s happening.”

“thanks,” she mumbled. “most of the time, i’m fine. or i can pretend. but sometimes when i’m off my meds, before the mania can set in, i end up sleeping. a lot.”

“what happens when the mania sets in?” he wanted to be prepared for what she might need from him. he wasn’t prepared this time and for that he’ll always feel a little disappointed in himself.

“it changes every time. one time i decided i was going to grow my own vegetables and bought all the things, including soil, to do that.”

“how’d that go?”

“it didn’t.”

they sat in silence for a few minutes before he broke it. “i’m sorry.”

“you don’t have to apologize for something that’s not your fault. my brain just doesn’t behave right without help. it’s no one’s fault,” she smiled sadly at him.

before he could stop himself, he pulled her to him in an awkward, tight hug. “okay but promise me one thing.”

“what’s that?”

“you’ll let me know when it gets like this again. i don’t want you sitting here alone.”

“i can’t promise that, jungkook.”

“what if we set up a simple code? like you send a not very used emoji. like that one that has smoke covering its face.”

“what is that one even for?”

“it’s for this, obviously.”

“okay, i promise.”

“good.”

[loveisnotovertae]

Love is Not Over

Love Is Not Over

✏️Taehyung x OFC ✏️Friends to Lover AU 🛑 Rated 18+ 📖WC: 2153 ⚠️Mentally abusive and controlling ex, stalking, mention of anxiety cheating, COVID, drinking, drunk hookup, masturbation, oral, accidental marriage, accidental pregnancy⚠️

Mae always wanted to go to South Korea and visit all the places her Aunt and Uncle used to tell her stories about. So after catching her fiancè cheating, she did just that. Her two month trip turned into a permanent stay thanks to covid lockdown. A friendly neighbor turned best friend, who just so happened to be part of the biggest music group in the world. A drunken night that changed her life forever.

Chapter 6

“According to Twitter, the guys are leaving for the States, at the same time we’re heading back.” D said, looking at her phone.

“That would explain why I haven’t heard much from Jimin,” Mae said, adjusting herself in the seat.

The women were on their way back from a hike to one of the volcanoes. They’d been on the island for almost a week now and spent the majority of the time away from the house and out exploring. Jeju was a beautiful island with so much to see and do. They’d gone hiking, visited The Haenyeo women, and even explored some lava tubes. Pretty much every tourist attraction they could. Next week they planned to take things easier. Staying closer to town and the house.

“Here I thought you just snuck away to talk to him so that I wouldn’t steal your phone.” Veronica laughed from the front seat.

“Nope, he said he was busy, and when he did text it was super late. Does it say what they’re doing?” Mae leaned over to look at D’s phone.

“An award show and preparing for their concert next month.” D looked at Mae. “Don’t they tell you these things?”

“Not unless I ask. If they want me to know something they’ll tell me. I usually find out at the same time everyone else does.”

“And that doesn’t bother you?”

“No, I knew they had a show and concert coming up. But that’s next month. I wonder if they are doing something else and that’s why they are leaving earlier.” Mae replied.

The women stopped at a restaurant to eat and then went to their final stop, LoveLand, before heading back to the house. Although Mae was a little apprehensive about it, she was excited to see what the “amusement park for adults” had.

Just as they were getting ready to leave the park, Mae’s phone went off.

“How’s my favorite person in Seoul?” Mae asked.

“Bored. How’s Jeju? Did you guys do anything interesting today?” a curious Jimin asked from the other end of the phone.

“We went for a hike to one of the volcanoes. We’re just finishing up at LoveLand right now before we head back.”

“You went to the sex park?” Jimin shouted, causing Mae to hold the phone from her ear.

“Jesus, I heard him clear over here.” Kimberleigh laughed.

“Yes,” Mae said, putting the phone back to her ear.

“I don’t believe you.” Mae’s face scrunched in confusion at Taehyung's voice.

“Jimin, do you have me on speaker phone?”

“Yes, I figured I’d give you a call while we were eating.”

“How many people are there?” Mae asked.

“Just me, Tae, and Jungkook.”

“Hi, Mae.” Jungkook's amused voice came through the phone.

“Hello, JK.” 

“Mae, are you really at LoveLand?”

“Yes we are. Hang on a second and I’ll put you on video.” Mae pulled the phone away from her ear and pressed the video chat option. She laughed when Jimin, Taehyung, and Jungkook's faces showed up on screen. Judging by the angle, Jimin obviously had his phone laying on the table.

“Hi, Veronica.” Jimin said when Mae flipped the camera around just as Veronica stopped to look at one of the statues.

“Hey, Jimin.” She said with a flirty tone and waved.

The women continued the walk through the park with the three men on the phone. The guys ate their food while the women passed around the phone and told them about each thing they stopped at. 

“Too bad you guys are so busy getting ready to leave.” Veronica said as they piled back into their vehicle. “We were hoping that we’d get to at least meet you in person. I mean, you have been taking care of Mae for three years.”

“You just want Jimin here so you can flirt with him in person.” D said, causing everyone to laugh.

“Do you blame me? Look at him.”  Veronica lifted up the phone for her to see it better in the back seat.

“Veronica is making Jimin blush.” Jungkook giggled.

“Speaking of good looks.” D shifted in the seat so that she was closer to the phone. “Do any of you happen to know which one of you Mae’s been having sex dreams about?”

“That’s enough of that!” Mae yanked D back in her seat and took the phone away from Veronica. “We’ll talk to you guys later. Bye!”

“Wait, you’ve dreamt about sex with one of us?” an amused Jimin asked quickly.

“Nope, not having this conversation with you. Bye!” Flustered Mae hung up the phone before anyone could say anything else.

Mae sent death glares to her friends who were laughing as she put her phone away. She couldn’t be mad at them, she would have done the same thing if roles were reversed. But she could give them the cold shoulder while she calmed down.

┗━•❃°•°❀°•°❃•━┛

The women spent the remainder of the afternoon relaxing around the house. But by early evening, the four of them started to go stir crazy and decided to get a head start on some of the photo shoots they had planned since it was a nice evening.

“You’ve got your wish, Veronica.” Mae said, gently tossing her phone onto the kitchen island.

Veronica looked up from the camera and asked, “Which wish is that, Giant? I have a lot of wishes.”

“Jimin will be here tomorrow so that you guys can meet him.” 

“He’s what?” Veronica yelled, causing D and Kimberleigh to run from the other room where they were getting the outfits ready.

“What the hell is happening? Is everything ok?” A frightened Kimberliegh asked.

“No, everything is not ok!” 

Mae watched in amusement as Veronica started to panic. “Park Jimin is coming here! Park Jimin in the flesh in front of me! How could you do this to me?” she asked, looking at a laughing Mae.

“It’s what you wanted! What do you mean by ‘How could I do this to you?’ it’s not like he’s already outside the front door.”

“She does have a point, Ronnie.” D added before going back to the other room.

“Don’t you take her side!” Veronica yelled after her.

“We aren’t taking anyone's side, Ronnie. You wanted him here and now he’s coming. At least they gave you a warning.” Kimberleigh shrugged. “Now why don't you two go get your first outfit on.” She picked up the camera that was in front of Veronica.

“Get your ass back here, Giant!” 

Mae ran through the house laughing while Veronica chased after her.

Mae looked at herself in the mirror one last time before going back outside. She’d gained some weight since the last photoshoot they did together. But it was a good weight, she looked a lot healthier than she did while she was with Tyler. He was very particular about how the two of them looked; she only ate the things he deemed healthy.

“Holy tits and ass.” Kimberleigh said when Mae stepped out onto the patio.

“I think this bikini might be a little too small.” She mumbled adjusting the top trying to cover herself as much as she could.

“Nonsense.”

“You don’t think it shows too much?”

“It’s a bikini, Mae. It’s supposed to show what you have.” D said, moving one of the lounge chairs.

“How do you feel about it? Because we all think you look sexy as hell.” Veronica stood beside her and assessed the outfit, “If you aren’t comfortable we can skip it or you can put the cover up on. It’s see-through so it won't hide everything.”

“I feel amazing. It just feels a little strange having so little on in public. I haven’t worn a bikini outside since I left the States.” Mae admitted.

“Here, put this on for now.” Kimberleigh said, handing her the cover up. “You can always take it off.”

Mae put on the light fabric and looked at herself in the full length mirror they’d taken from one of the bedrooms and placed on the patio.  Veronica was right, the black knitted clothing didn’t cover everything, the front was open and she could still see the purple bikini through the back, but it covered enough until she was comfortable.

“Alright, where do you want me?”

“Over here next to the pool.” D pointed at the lounge chair she’d moved.

“DJ, drop that beat!” Veronica picked up the camera and yelled to Kimberleigh.

“BTS? Really?” Mae asked with a laugh.

“They have good songs.” Kimberleigh shrugged and mouthed the lyrics ‘Am I Wrong’.

The next hour and a half was filled with chaos as the women sang, danced, and took pictures. It was hectic and the women were having the time of their lives. It was just like old times, before Tyler.

“The food should be here in a few minutes,” Kimberleigh said, turning down the music. “I’m going to go wait out front. Mae don’t fall!” She shouted before entering the house.

“Geez, she says that like I’m clumsy or something.” Mae put her hand on D’s shoulder to steady herself while she stood on the lounge chair.

“That’s because you are.” D laughed.

“Oh that’s going to look beautiful with the color of the sunset in the sky.” Veronica stood in front of them. “I thought you were a giant before,” she laughed looking up at Mae.

“Be careful, Ant. I can squish you with my big toe.” she laughed, lifting one foot.

“Put your damn foot down, woman!” D said, grabbing a hold of Mae when she started to wobble. “I’m going to go help Kimberleigh and get our drinks. You two are going to give me a heart attack.”

“There’s a slight breeze up here. Do you think I should put the cover up back on and let it flow?” 

“Is there enough to make it?” Veronica asked, handing her back the fabric she discarded not too long ago.

“Wouldn’t hurt to try.” Mae shrugged.

Veronica stepped back and waited for Mae to get situated again while she found her perfect angle. The sun was getting ready to set, causing the sky to be a mixture of pastels. The colors blended beautifully with Mae’s swimsuit. So the idea was to get her as high up as possible. Mae started out the last shoot with her back towards the ocean so that Veronica could get a few shots of her front with and without the cover up.

“Alright, let's get you turned around so that I can get some shots of your back.”

“Come help. I don’t have D and don’t want to fall in the pool.”  Mae said, waving her hand at Veronica.

“What in the world is taking them so long?” She asked, taking Mae’s extended hand and helping her turn.

“Maybe the food is taking a little longer.”

“Food’s here, ladies.” Kimberleigh said, stepping out onto the patio.

“What the hell took you so long?” Mae asked, not looking Kimberleigh’s way as she watched Veronica get the cover up from the railing.

“I’ll fuck you senseless.” Veronica said softly, frozen in place and looking towards the house behind Mae.

“You’ll do what?”

“It’s nice to finally see you too, Veronica.” Mae’s eyes widened at the sound of Jimin’s voice.

“Ronnie, tell me that isn’t Jimin. Please tell me we’ve been in the heat too long and are hallucinating.”

“If it is, I'm not complaining.”

Not taking her eyes off the man from her dreams, Veronica shoved the cover up towards Mae, causing her to lose her balance on the cushion top lounge chair. Everyone went wide-eyed with panic when they heard Mae scream as she fell back into the cool water.

“Ronnie, I’m going to kill you!” Mae yelled once she’d resurfaced.

“I am so sorry, Giant. I was so focused on the gorgeous man I completely forgot you were on the lounge chair.”

“Well your lack of focus nearly got me killed.” Mae said swimming across the pool. “Your ass is just lucky it was the deep end.”

Mae adjusted her suit that had shifted from the impact before standing up in the shallow end and walking up the three steps to exit.

“Would you like a towel?” Mae looked up in shock to find Taehyung standing in front of her. “You hit the water pretty hard, are you ok?” Mae, unable to speak, just nodded. “By the way,” he said, unfolding the towel and leaning in closer, “You look good in that suit but I prefer the forest green lace number from three years ago.” Taehyung whispered in her ear as he put the towel around her shoulders.

Mae leaned away from him when she realized he was talking about the lingerie she’d worn for their last shoot in Colorado. Taehyung smirked when her wide eyes met his. He gave her a playful wink before walking back towards the group.

[dearweirdme]

I don’t know if you have answered this question before but what do you think of that interview in 2014 or 2015 where bts were at a radio station and Jimin was asked why he likes Jk so much and Tae said “I think he likes men” and after that, there was a fansign where Jimin asked Jk to come sit by him and Tae told Jimin he had a mental problem (cuz in south korea gay people are considered to have mental problems) and Jimin told Tae “I’m not like that with you”. This is something that always confused me because if we are being honest, that was Tae literally outing Jimin for liking men and Jk in particular since he made this statement twice and when Jimin and Jk were involved. I understand that Tae might have been battling internalized homophobia of something but from the way he sounded back then it seems like he clearly knew that Jimin liked guys and that Jk was the guy Jimin liked and Jimin’s responses both times too could actually cement this thought. The first time, Jimin responded with “I don’t like you” and the second time Jimin said “ I’m not like that with you” or “I don’t feel that way for you”. Not once did Jimin try to get defensive and deny liking men lol. The only thing he could say at that point was “I don’t like you”. So don’t u think that Jimin might have at some point really had feelings for Jk? Cuz watching older content will make u see that Jimin was almost annoyingly obsessed with Jk and even though on camera it seemed like Jk wasn’t up for it at all, it seemed like behind the cameras it was a completely different story cuz we got Jimin saying that Jk would go to him when he thought he was sleeping and say “i’m sorry for bullying you on camera hyung, I Love you” and Jimin also mentioned that Jk usually hugs him to sleep. Plus during festa 2014, we had Rm and Jin telling us Jk went to sleep in Jimin’s bed, plus Jk saying he and Jimin were all nighter friends who spent most of their nights together. Watching Jk’s reaction to Jimin infront of the camera back then, anyone would have thought Jk couldn’t stand Jimin but everytime we had some information of how they behaved when the cameras weren’t rolling, it seemed like those two were actually so glued to each other. I also remember that Live Tae did in 2015 where he and Jimin were sharing a hotel room and he mentioned that the three of them had to do a live together but Jimin and Jk were hanging out.

So my question is, if Jimin had feelings for Jk (which I believe he did) how do u think this whole thing would have worked with Taekook being together and Jimin still being so close to them?

Hi anon!

I can’t really answer this can I, cause you are basically asking me to answer this while taking your perspective of Jimin having feelings for Jk.. which I personally don’t believe in. So I would have to do a huge hypothetical here, while somehow also inserting my believe in Taekook. I just can’t.

I have talked about those moments before and yes, i do think Tae possibly had internalized homophobia.. which is super sad for himself. I think it’s obvious that Tae has grown into a beautiful, caring, considerate man. Him and Jimin are friends, have always been friends, I absolutely don’t think Tae outed Jimin there. Tae is not the only one having said comments like that, somewhere along the lines comments about members being a ‘pair’ or ‘couple’ (also not only reserved for Jimin and Jk) have changed in shippers views from being offensive to being proof.

Members tell each other all sort of things, everyone calls each other handsome and cute and whatnot. That is the fanservice anon. Sure they might also think of each other as handsome and cute and whatnot.. but the way they all throw it around.. that’s for us (except Jk stuttering out the Taehyungyhung is very handsome 😁, you are on a Tkk blog you know).

I think a lot is enlarged is fandom. You say glued together, I say they are best friends. I don’t think there was ever a time Jk couldn’t stand Jimin, I do think there was a time Jk didn’t like Jimin acting as a hyung too much (not for Jkk reasons, for being a teenager reasons).

Jimin and Jk have formed a lovely friendship along the years. They’re super close, they have gone through a lot together as bandmates and friends. They know what each other’s troubles have been (both having insecurities, dealing with pressure, etc). Their closeness is reflected a lot in banter, but also physically in easily given comforting actions. Jimin is quick to touch (everyone) and Jk being one of his best friends and his junior means he is often the recipient of those touches. I get a lot of ‘but if Tae is Jk’s boyfriend why would Jimin and Jk be so disrespectful in front of him’. Well, Tae does not always like that and it shows! But there’s also moments he doesn’t care, why? Because those men know each other. The have lived in real close quarters together, they have gone through hardships together, they work together on a physical level (sportsculture hi) which breaks certain boundaries as well. Tae knows Jimin isn’t going to steal Jk from him.

Not sure if this is what you were looking for, but here you go.

[aajjks]

TPOL!JK

“well…i’ve been looking at some internships for my major. there’s this internship in LA that’s pretty good but i’m still deciding on what i’m going to do. other than that, nothing special has been happening. how about you, eh? anything special happening with you?” you keep it vague which isn’t lying exactly but he was hoping you’d bring up that kai-boy.

the one that walks you to class and who you seem to be very fond of but instead, you bring up an internship in LA that you seem to be considering.

jungkook is aware of just how much your career means to you, hell, he’s funding your career but he can’t stand the thought of you being away from him for too long. even this is killing him. you not in the penthouse and talking as “friends” is killing him because after this, you both will have to go your separate ways.

so imagine how he’ll feel when you journey to LA? there’s no way in hell he’ll allow it and if he has to, he’ll do everything he can to prevent it but because he loves you, he plays along for now.

the ride to the restaurant jungkook mentions isn’t as uncomfortable this time and you both talk to each other like genuine friends. asking how the two of you are doing, what the both of you plan to do, and it wouldn’t be a real “friendship date” if he didn’t ask if you missed him or not.

you sigh… “i guess i miss you. just a little bit. my mom is the one who misses you the most but you know how she is” you shrug and it gives jungkook a little hope that there’s still something there for him to work with but you’re obviously unsure.

he’s going to fix everything, he swears he will.

when the two of you arrive at the restaurant, because jungkook is a famous figure, he easily gets a table for the two of you and the menu is pretty simple. nothing too fancy. you order a simple strawberry lemonade, jungkook orders a water and you both just converse the whole night.

yeah, you both are talking, joking around, laughing with each other, you both look like a couple and the people who pass by are a little shocked concerning jungkook is a more famous figure with you being a plain-everyday girl.

“you know, i don’t think you told me about your exe. what was your exe like? was she pretty? extroverted? i’m sure she was this gorgeous model or was she just like me? was she the problem or were YOU the problem because i feel like you might’ve ran her off”

whew, if only you knew about his exes that he “dated” then dumped without a care…

He shrugs when you mention his exes.

They’re not even worthy of being called his exes. They were just a pastime, but how is he supposed to explain that to you? He doesn’t want you to think less of him, but it is true that.. he just discarded them when he was tired of them.

“My exes? Umm.. let’s talk about my most recent one.” he gives you a mischievous smile. “ you know she was gorgeous she was everything I ever wanted but I fucked up and then she broke up with me. I miss her every day so much I want to be with her every second. day and night I see her face whenever I go to sleep…. I wish she would be mine again. I would do anything to have her back.” He says without wasting a breath.

It is so good to see you blush like that, he misses everything about you so much and he is really enjoying this night, oh, how he wishes that the time would just stop when you guys could hang out forever.

“ she’s the only one that’s ever mattered to me.” he completes. he hopes that he won’t get uncomfortable, but he cannot lie too. It’s hard for him to be your friend when he wants to be so much more than just a friend of yours.

And he’s not exactly known for his patience, but he knows he has to thread slowly, girls like you are very rare. everyone would die to be in your shoes to be with him, but he is dying to be with you once again.

“Yn… you know I miss you a lot.. even the penthouse feels so lonely without you.” he says, as he takes a sip of his water.

Never taking his eyes off of you.

[wlw-venting-blog]

Ok I truly hope nobody I know personally finds this and - preface this is going to be a bit long and I don’t really know if this is the kind of ask you’re looking for but I needed to get my feelings out and maybe advice/nf but don’t feel pressured

I made friends with this ‘girl’ let’s call them S, around 5/6 years ago at a summer camp, we clicked instantly and for a while they where my only friend, we would go on walks together, go places, have sleep overs, play video games online together - we were inseparable, we unfortunately didn’t go to the same school but that didn’t stop us, we would hang out ever weekend basically

My parents are / where split, my dad was. Shit garbage, but that’s a long story- but I had broke down crying in front of them because something my father had done, the only friend I’ve cried infront of, I trusted them deeply, but I had contact with them (we where young - ish) through my father, so when I ended up with my mother I lost contact but they eventually found me again

We got back to talking our friendship stronger then ever! It was amazing! They still where my only friend other then a group of school friends.. one of which I had a crush on- and I talked to S about this crush and we joked about it and she was there cheering me on over text when I confessed to this girl. Who turned me down. Then said “oh wait actually! I like you and have had a crush on you for a while” then was like “jk I’m straight the rest of the group dared me to do it when I told them”- S and I got closer after that, they comforted me, we both tried to laugh about it and- slightly teasing me for having bad taste,

I had moved since we were in contact when we where younger(ish) to this place that was really safe to walk around, places to walk, things to do etc, so they were over basically every weekend, and once it was summer all the time, it was like they lived there, we would walk at night, listen to music together, joke around, probably annoy the neighbors, look at the stars and discuss our shared love for art, or writing or whatever we where interested in at the time

Eventually I fell for them, and it was different then my little crush with school friends.. they really meant something to me, looking back they were.. a bit disrespectful but I thought they were the coolest, most amazing person ever, being around them gave me butterflies, I didn’t want to mess up our friendship, but part of me hoped they felt the same, so I dropped hints and was an idiot about it - eventually doubling down and just confessing. In the most dumb stupid idiot way ever of texting them an image that was like, a text post of “hey I like you I think you’re super cool here’s why and like I don’t wanna ruin anything and aaa” and they sent like?? A meme back- and ignored it,

I never got over this crush on them, when I was going through shit I lived to see them every weekend, like I said, we did everything together, and sure they had red flags but I didn’t see them… once I kinda forgot the 1/2 confession I fell back into obsessing over them, they where my only friend, they knew that, and they started saying things like, “we should move in together when we’re older” “we should be roommates when we’re in college” “we could have… these pets together :D” [ar this point we where both out as sapphic / lesbian] and oh that made my crush so much worse- I started to believe they liked me back, and I kept this idea of a future in my heart for like, nearly a year, and they would say things- describing their ideal partner and it would sound an awful lot like me and my brain hung onto these things

As I moved again, we grew apart, I was no longer somewhere close to them or somewhere walkable, but we still tried, and I tried to get over my crush on them with the distance (physically) we had now- I even like? Tried to get crushes on other people like force myself to distract from it and it worked for awhile, I was even in a qpr for a little, but I just could stop thinking of them,, so I broke the qpr off and went back to them being my only friend

Moved again, year later ish, (to where I am now) and we got closer again, again. Still my only friend, the summer was great though, they seemed to enjoy our time together.. less, always having to be doing something or on their phone or watching something when we where together, my mental health started to depend on if they were present or not, they always made me feel unsure if they where going to show up for big event things/plans when they knew if they didn’t I would be alone, we kept playing games online and when they vented to me I would listen and tell them they where a great person and deserved the best - leaving out that for some reason I was still in love with them

I finally told my mom about this crush, she was supportive, she walked me through it, what to do, how to deal with my feelings - as I had been made to feel ashamed for liking anyone by my other parental figure, and she helped me build up the confidence to give them a little, nice gesture, a hand made bouquet of sewn flowers - that I would give THEM on MY birthday lol, and they showed up for my birthday. They didn’t say thank you for the flowers. They where on their phone the whole time, they where short with me, they ignored me, bossed me around, made fun of my favorite movie I was trying to show them. They stayed the night and we went to the town I grew up in for lunch. They sat across the table and ignored me, on their phone, they where rude to the waiters and made me order for them. They didn’t speak to me for 1/2 an hour, and only did when I offered to start heading home, the fucking effort it took not to cry around them- my parent picked us up (I don’t drive) they where silent, avoided eyecontact the whole drive. We got home, refused to do like the cutting cake thing with us, then left, went home

i cried. I yelled I sobbed- my mom was angry at them for hurting me, I was sad they where upset with me and ignored me, they sent some mean petty messages afterwards, with fake apologizes and FAR to many emojis for a sincere reply

Time passed we didn’t talk I didn’t know what to do with myself, I tried to reach out a couple times.. just to clear my mind I sent a long message to an account I knew they most likely wouldn’t have checked, basically admitted I had liked them, that I still liked them - they didn’t see it - more time passed - I tried to reach out because I didn’t want to loose my best friend of 6 years, even if I didn’t do anything wrong, they ignored me

But recently I guess they read the message. 3 months later then I sent it they read it, at like- 3am they responded, a lot response full of sorrow and guilt and kindness that sounded like the sweet caring person I knew, then… they said “I liked you. I thought I did. I still don’t know” and that they saw a future with me, unclear platonic or otherwise and I died/hyp I saw that as a chance as a confirmation that I wasn’t crazy that they had liked me, I get back into contact with them, we stay up talking 3 nights in a row over text… avoiding anything sent in the long, heartfelt message, they said “they weren’t ready to talk about it” like that’s something they get to decide, then they’re starting to go back to.. unresponsive, short awnsers and they still won’t bring up anything they said before, when all I want is to address some of the things they said - and I don’t know what to do, because I still love them, I would drop anything to have a future with them - and as we talk I realize how much they’ve moved on, that they admitted to having crushes on people well we weren’t talking which is like - obviously not a problem but hurt a littl yk? And I really like them and I feel like I shouldn’t cause of what they did and I d

~ emm, thank you for your time, 🤍/p have a good day! I’m a dumb lesbian sob sob

Girl, this was a rollacoster of emotions.

I know nothing about this friend of yours, so take my opinion with a grain of salt, but they sound toxic and I think you should try to distance yourself from them. I know it's super hard to do that when they're your only friend, but I still think you should. Maybe join a club or smth that'll let you be exposed to new people who will treat you better.

And feel free to dm me if you need to talk

[storyofshasa]

[05-08-2023]

I'm writing this not because I'm sad, but probably because it's the acceptance phase where I realize and consciously say that I need to let this feelings go.

My memory was crystal clear, remembering the end of 2021, we were casually discussing a few things. I was amazed by how assertive you are, but still kind enough for asking what was my obstacle to fulfilling your request. I know that actually, it's a bare minimum, but I was in awe just because it's something that many people don't do :)))

We (used to) talked a lot. Our conversation flowed just like that, from books, movies, anime (tbh I was not into anime, but surprisingly I enjoyed it??), investment--or more like 101 adulting?? lol. At that time, I was thinking that you were (or probably, still) my kind of person, someone who I am comfortable talking about (if not everything) many things.

I also love how you motivated me to be better, in terms of work sih, hahaha. Those articles that you found, and (probably) thought would be useful for me, to be honest, they motivated me to stay hungry and stay foolish when it comes to learning. I even subscribed to the HBR because the articles you sent me made me realize that I still have sooo much to learn.

But, you were so kind, to everyone. IT'S A GOOD THING ACTUALLY HAHAHA jk that's not the thing, I guess I just don't know whether you're just being kind, and it is part of your kindness, or you were having a specific interest in me--and I assume the first one so I guess my feelings were unrequited.

I honestly forgot exactly when or why, our communications weren't as intense as previously. Long story short (hehe tbh I'm too lazy to reminisce about this part because it was...pretty hurtful from my pov) until I found out that you 'were' in a special relationship with a person who used to be my closest one on my team.

That's okay actually, hahaha. I'm actually used to this kind of unrequited things and I always keep in mind that this is something beyond my control so there's nothing that I can do. Even until I knew that you broke up with her, honestly I had veryyyy little expectation when we get to hang out together, twice. I KNOWWWWW you were just asking me to wfc together and usually it meant nothing whenever I worked together with my friends in a cafe. But it was different because it's you, lol.

But later, I found out that you liked somebody else, lol. I know this sounds stupid or how I act like a clown after all this time.

Anyway, I'm really okay wkwkwk no matter how extroverted I am, having a crush on someone is probably not my forte. I definitely have no idea what I am supposed to do to show that I have a specific interest in someone--especially with my bubbly personality, it's pretty hard to differentiate whether I'm just being cheerful or I'm really interested to talk to you wkwkwk.

It's been more than a year, oh actually, and a half. So I guess, it's better for me to keep some distance or communication with you (well, I guess it's already happening for these past weeks, lol).

There was no regret from my side, it's not a waste. Moving on from a traumatic relationship, you made me realize what kind of quality in a person I want. Actually, you set my bar pretty high when it comes to criteria. Since a long time ago, whenever my friends ask me what kind of must-have quality I like from a man, I always say that I want to be with a person who can inspire me to grow and be a better person. Knowing you somehow validate my own answer, and I'm really grateful for that :)

Honestly, like a line in one of my fav songs, this part perfectly describes my current condition and feelings for you

"bila kau tak menjadi milikku, aku takkan menyesal telah jatuh hati"

This thought comes to my mind, maybe, one day, when I have the chance to leave this place, I'm going to tell you about my feelings (or probably it would be 'past feelings'), not to confess, but just to make you realize that a person like you deserves a good person too.

I (accidentally) know a few things about you, and it amazed me how you managed to survive and stay sane despite all the craziness that happened in your life. I adore you, a lot.

I wish you nothing, but all the best. You probably still need to learn about so many things in life (aren't we all?!), but I know with your personality combined with your willingness to learn, you'll be okay.

The road ahead might be not easy, but pretty sure you can survive well.

Thank you for inspiring me to be a better person, motivating me to stay hungry when it comes to learning, teaching me what kind of leadership I aspire to be, and most importantly, realizing what kind of must-have-quality I need from (whoever to be) my future spouse. Glad and grateful that this universe made our paths crossed!

Wow, this sounds like a very hopeless romantic letter but trust me, I write this while laughing at most of the part wkwkw.

[mushroom-winners-proof]

seeing people reblog my posts and then put every last one of my tags in their rb’s tags is very quickly becoming a lesson in me needing to shut the fuck up sometimes

[borahaerhy]

HII I SAW UR REQUESTS ARE OPEN I LITERALLY YELLED$;@/! Do u think u can write jk x reader where he’s oc’s brothers best friend. One day while they go watch jk’s game oc’s brother leaves early for some random reason but oc wants to stay. When the games over jk and oc have all this sexual tension (especially w a sweaty jk in front of her🫠🫠) and decide its time to do something abt it and it just ends in smut and fluff in the locker rooms!?!?! (if u can could u please make jk give oc his team shirt and oc is wearing nothing but that) 🤭🤭

Of course :))

If Anyone Asks

Genre: SMUT, Fluff, best friends brother AU

Warnings: Y/n's brother is oblivious, Jungkook is not very good at hiding his feelings, a lot of sexual tension, smut, oral (f. receiving), fingering, unprotected sex (absolutely not), locker room sex, slight (unintentional) edging, these two are fucking desperate, some more implied sex at the end.

Word count: 3K

Note: not proofread, we die like men (I'll fix it tomorrow)

“You wanna come to Jungkook’s game with me tonight?” You looked up at your brother, who was half leaned into your room. You plastered a scowl onto your face as you turned your attention back to your laptop. 

“Why would I want to hang out with you at your lame friends football game?” This is a bluff, there is nothing you want more than to have an excuse to go to your brother's lame friends football game. He sighed, taking his hand off the door and sliding it in his pocket, his head hung low before he looked back up at you. 

“Because my girlfriend had something come up and can’t go with me,” You sat idly, knowing you just had to stick it out a little bit longer- “I’ll pay for your ticket and get you dinner on the way home.” 

A smile spread across your face as you closed your laptop and slid it off your lap. “I’ll be ready in twenty minutes.” 

He stepped out of your room, closing the door behind him as you stood up to get ready. 

You had been looking for the perfect excuse to go to tonight's game, as it was the last one of the season; and just when you thought all hope was lost, your brother comes barging in and pays you to do it. Gotta love siblings. 

Jungkook and your brother had been best friends since they started high school, when you were still a year behind them in middle school. You were really good at finding excuses for hanging out with them when you were younger: your friends ditched you, you were bored and your gameboy was dead, your mom told you to - just about anything believable to be able to spend time with Jungkook. 

Even in middle school, everyone knew who he was and would talk about him constantly; the pretty boy with endless talent that was still somehow a perfect gentleman. He was the perfect guy on paper, and in person, he was even better. 

As the years went on, he got more and more attractive, and caught on to more and more of your excuses. After a while, he started making up his own to get to hang out with you, and a few times, to get to hang out with you without your brother. 

One time, you walked into your brothers room when he was over to get help with your homework. It was an innocent enough request, and you truly did need help with your homework, but Jungkook practically jumped out of his seat to come help you while your brother thanked him, glad to not have to be burdened by you. 

The two of you sat at the kitchen table way closer than two people studying should have been. Your legs were practically sprawled across his lap as you both leaned over the same paper, his voice low as he tried explaining advanced calculus to you, but neither of you were paying attention to a word he said. 

By the time your parents walked in and you both jumped up to avoid getting caught, you were centimeters away from sticking your tongue down his throat. 

This wasn’t the only occasion of its kind; you’d almost jumped each other dozens of times, but always either stopped yourselves out of fear of your brother finding out, or straight up almost been caught in the act. 

“Two students, please,” You shoved your hands deeper into your pockets as your brother bought the tickets, already regretting the decision to just wear a hoodie over your thin crop top and ripped jeans. 

You both walked over to the bleachers where everyone was already seated as the players were about to come out of the locker rooms. You sat up in the front row, only a few meters away from the field, the cold metal of the bleachers making it almost impossible to pay attention to the players pouring out onto the field only moments after you sat down. 

The game started and the crowd cheered, parents and friends of the players yelling so loud the band right in front of you could barely be heard. You got up and yelled when everyone else did, but if you were being honest, you had no idea what was going on. You usually spent most of these games just looking for Jungkook, which wasn’t hard considering he had a giant number one plastered on his jersey. 

Before you knew it, it was halftime. All the players rushed back into the locker rooms, and you and Taehyung both pulled out your phones to pass time before the game resumed. 

“Shit,” You looked over to your brother, who was looking at the messages his girlfriend had sent him over the last hour that the game had been going on. 

“Something happen?” He ignored you, instead typing on his phone faster than you thought humanly possible. Soon he was standing and rushing out of the bleachers right as the door of the locker room opened and Jungkook stepped out, his helmet off and wet hair slicked back, eyebrows furrowed as he met your brother at the base of the bleachers. 

You continued to look over at them as they spoke quickly. Jungkook simply nodded at whatever he said before returning back to the locker room, and your brother ran back over to you from the outside of the bleachers. You kneeled down so that you were eye level with him as he made his way over to you. 

“What’s going on?” 

“I have to go, girlfriend texted, so, Jungkook’s gonna take you home after the game, cool?” Before you could even respond, he was giving you a thumbs up as he ran off. 

You didn’t know whether to be annoyed or excited to have to get a ride with Jungkook, but one thing was for sure; by the time the game was over, it was almost pure anxiety. 

This is the first time you and Jungkook would be alone, truly alone, since you’d met him. If anything was going to happen, it would probably happen tonight, especially after the steep victory his team just had. 

You wanted until most of the people left the bleachers in a rush before you stood and made your way over to the locker room doors. A few people stood around them, waiting for their friends to come out so they could go off and celebrate their victory. It didn’t take long for everyone to come out. Everyone except Jungkook, that is.

Everyone else had left, minus a few stragglers and people still packing up their things from the stands. You stood with your arms wrapped tightly around you, foot tapping to try to warm yourself up from the freezing temperature. You were so focused on the cold, you hadn’t really noticed your phone vibrating in your pocket. 

“Y/n,” You quickly looked over to the door, where Jungkook’s head was peeking out. He nodded his head in the direction of the inside, asking you to follow him back in. You moved quickly, mostly just thinking about how warm it probably was in there, not the fact that Jungkook just invited you into the now very empty locker rooms with him. 

“Sorry, I know it’s really cold out there, I sent you a text-” 

“Oh, sorry, I must not have heard it,” He shook his head, dismissing your apology with a wave as he walked further into the room, rounding a corner to where his bag was set on a bench. 

“It’s fine, I just can’t find my keys, thought you might be more comfortable waiting in here, that hoodie definitely isn’t warm enough for this weather,” He almost immediately started rifling through his bag again, and only then did you realize that he wasn’t wearing a shirt. 

He had probably just gotten done taking a shower, his hair wet and his jeans hung low on his hips, his uniform being pulled from his bag and tossed aside as he dug through it. You cleared your throat slightly as you straightened yourself up, averting your gaze from the muscles bulging from Jungkook’s shoulders. 

“My jacket’s plenty warm, thank you very much,” You spoke very matter-of-factly, though it was a complete lie, as you had been freezing for most of the evening. Jungkook chuckled as he continued emptying his bag. 

“No,” he paused, shaking his head as he looked up, his eyes peeking through the thick strands of hair that hung in his face. “It isn’t,” You furrowed your eyebrows, looking down at the jacket that had been your brothers, wondering how in the fuck he would know how warm it was. 

“How do you know-” 

“It’s my jacket,” The smile on his face from his previous chuckle had morphed into a slight smirk as he tried to keep himself from getting turned on by the fact that you had been wearing his jacket for the entire damn game. 

“It’s my brothers-” You were cut off by Jungkook shaking his head, now standing fully upright as he pushed his hair back out of his eyes. 

“I left it at your house a few months ago and just never got it back,” He shrugged as he looked down at the hoodie before looking back up at your face. Without really thinking much, you unzipped the jacket and began to take it off, completely forgetting that the shirt you were wearing under it was a tank top that revealed the entirety of your stomach, and was practically see-through. 

“Here, I’m sorry, I didn’t realize-” Jungkook quickly stepped toward you, grabbing the sides of the hoodie and pulling them back together. You had already slid it off your shoulders, so closing the front of the jacket didn’t do much to cover up your cleavage that he was now having a much harder time ignoring. 

“Keep it,” His voice was soft and deep as he tried his best to control himself, but that was seemingly impossible with how close to you he was right now. “It looks better on you,” You swallowed thickly as you both tried to keep your eyes from traveling south on the others body.

Thankfully, you both happened to fail at the same time. 

“You know,” Jungkook’s breathing hitched as he spoke, his eyes lingering at your chest for a second longer than you, his words bringing your attention back up to his eyes. “It was really hard for me to focus on the game, with you sitting up there in the front row, wearing my hoodie, yelling my name every time I got my hands on the ball,” his eyes scanned your face as his hands moved from the hoodie to you, gently sliding down your body until he reached your hips, moving the fabric of his jacket up as he moved. 

“You seemed to do fine anyways,” Your voice came out barely above a whisper, the smirk slowly returning to his face as he took notice to all the ways he affected you. You were very responsive to his touch. 

“I would’ve done better if I wasn’t constantly looking up to see if you were still there, to see if you were still watching me,” Your hands met his biceps as he gently pulled you into him, the heat radiating of his body affecting you much more than you’d like to admit. 

“Then next time I just won’t come, if I’m such a distraction,” His smirk returned as he almost completely eliminated any space left between you, your back now pressed firmly against the wall. 

“We can’t have that,” All the tension that had been built up had finally began to diminish as his lips found yours, his movements soft and gentle as one of his hands raised to your face, cupping you cheek gently as you leaned into him. “I’ll just have to get used to you being there,” You broke away for only a second before you were back on each other, much more desperate this time as you pressed yourselves firmly against one another, hands tangling in whatever they could get to. 

The jacket was pushed from your arms and fell to the floor, pooling around your feet before Jungkook hooked his hands under your thighs, lifting your legs to wrap around his waist as he pressed you further into the wall, his hands gripping onto you as tight as he could while still being careful not to hurt you. 

A small whine fell from your lips as he unintentionally ground his hips to yours, the sound only encouraging him to press further into you. Your thin top and bra soon met the jacket on the floor as you drank in each other's heat, every bit of your torsos touching the other’s as possible as your arms covered his neck and back. 

Jungkook gently lowered your legs before his hands hastily unbuttoned and pulled down your jeans, your black lacy thong not lasting long after as he kneeled down in front of you, your knee hooked over his shoulder as he nibbled at your inner thigh. You moaned lightly, biting down on your lip as you instinctively moved your hips towards his face. 

He chuckled against your thigh before his left met your clit, sucking softly as you pushed you back against the wall. You arched your back, one hand moving up to your mouth as the other tangled in his hair, pulling him further into you as his tongue gently traced around your aching nub. 

His movements began to speed up as one of his lengthy fingers slid into you, your arousal allowing him to glide in easily. He pumped himself gently into you, letting his lips and tongue do most of the worst as he peered up at you from between strands of hair. He so easily brought you so close to your orgasm, but before you could finish, he pulled away from you, standing up so quickly that his lips were on yours before you could protest. 

You both worked to remove his jeans, and soon they landed amongst the pile of your clothes along with his boxers, and his cock was between your thighs, gathering your slick as he thrust himself against you; his tip rutting against your clit with perfect precision. 

“Y/n, fuck, are you sure-” 

“Just get inside me, Jungkook,” He quickly obliged, changing his angle slightly before he picked up your leg, wrapping it around him as he pushed into you, your cunt fitting around him perfectly. 

“Oh my fuck, Y/n,” he kissed you roughly, his fingers digging into the skin of your thigh as he thrust roughly into you. “You’re so good, baby,” Jungkook’s words came out in more of a growl as his thrusts quickly got harsher. You both moaned aggressively, never wanting to stop now that you’ve started. 

Your orgasm quickly built itself back up, your walls clenching around him harshly as you tried desperately not to let yourself cum yet, but Jungkook’s ruthless pace made that harder and harder to do by the second. 

“Fuck,” You moaned out loudly as your high crashed into you, Jungkook helping you stay upright as your legs buckled with the pleasure that moved through you. He lifted your other leg and wrapped it around his waist along with the other one, holding you up as you leaned back against the wall. 

His speed only increased as you came, and even as you came down, you found yourself already biting back another one as you watched him fuck into you, every muscle in his arms and torso flexed gorgeously. 

“Mm gonna cum baby,” He moved back into you, dropping one of your legs as he moved you both closer to the wall. “Fuck, I’m gonna cum,” He pulls himself out of you, his forhead pressed against yours as he finishes on the wall behind you, moans ripping through both of you. 

You silently come down from what was probably the most intense sexual encounter of your life, the only sound filling the room is your heavy breathing as you hold each other. 

“So, you’re my girlfriend now, right?” Jungkook’s brows are furrowed as he questions you, eyes flicking back and forth between yours with a very serious intensity to them. You chuckled lightly as you adjusted your posture, trying to bring yourself to stand straight up as you nod your head gently. 

“Sure, Kookie; as long as you’re the one to tell my brother,” Jungkook hung his head, letting it rest on your chest for a few seconds before he brought himself back up, both of you with stupid grins plastered on your faces. 

“Fine, I’ll tell him tomorrow when we hang out. But,” Jungkook holds up one of his fingers as he backs up and turns around, riffling through his bag once again for a second before he holds up his jersey. “You have to wear this,” You cock a brow at him, but he doesn’t leave much room for protest as he slips it on over your head. 

You roll your eyes, but slip your arms through the holes and pull it the rest of the way down, it going down past your ass and being significantly baggier than you had anticipated. Jungkook takes a step back, eyeing you up and down as he gently bites his lip. Your face starts to heat up with his eyes on you, but he soon pulls you into him, lips crashing to yours as his hands travel up the jersey. 

“Fuck it, if anyone asks,” He pushes his bag from the bench, it landing on the ground and its contents spilling everywhere, the sound of keys rattling against the floor meeting your ears as he lays you down on the bench, the tip of his hardening dick rubbing against your still sensitive clit. “The game ran long.”

[mono-moonchilds]

LOVE ME │JJK

⤑ series: smutty song series (smutty little scenarios based around smutty songs)

⤑ pairing: idol!jungkook x femblack!reader

⤑ genre: smut!!

⤑ rating: explicit (18+)

⤑ word count: 1.7K

⤑ summary: Girl, I fuck who I want and fuck who I don’t. Got that A1 credit and that fillet mignon. She said, “I never wanna make you mad I just wanna make you proud.” I said, “Baby just make me cum, Then don’t make a sound.”

⤑ warnings: mean!junkook, shy/innocent!y/n, OC kinda dumb highkey lowkey, riding, creampie, jungkook is manipulative, player!jk, overstimulation, post nut clarity, producerdaugther!y/n

⤑ Song:  Love Me ft. Drake, Future

⤑ A/N: I feel like every time I write jk on the blog he is an asshole lmao. IDK why I just love writing asshole/mean jk, it's actually a problem. hope you guys enjoy it! and that it matches the song well enough. i was writing one thing and then it turned into something else. oh well  ¯\_(ツ)_/¯ I'm not gonna think too much about it just glad to be back writing on this account

“Don’t even think about it.”

Was the first thing Namjoon said to Jungkook as they walked out of the room. He didn’t ask what he thought about the opportunity, didn’t even ask if he was excited. With a serious glare, he just turned to him and lowly told him, making sure to repeat it a second time just for good measure.

“Don’t think about what?” Jungkook questioned playing dumb. He knew precisely what Namjoon meant. Jungkook had known what the older was gonna say to him from the moment you’d introduced yourself.

“I’m Y/n,” You spoke softly, your hand stuck out for each of them to shake. You kept your head down, fidgeting nervously with your jacket. 

“This is my daughter.” 

From the way the man smiled brightly as he looked over at you it didn’t take much for anyone to come to the conclusion you were the man's pride and joy. From the expensive things you wore to the pricey handbag clutched tightly in your hand it was quite obvious you were a daddy’s girl. You kept close to your father's side, barely even sparing a glance up and when you did, you were quick to put your eyes back to the floor. 

You were shy. Jungkook couldn’t help but smile to himself. 

Cute. 

“Jungkook,” Namjoon groaned. “This is a big deal. He’s a big deal. He came all the way from America just to help us with producing this next album. Don’t fuck this up because you can’t keep your dick in your pants. No amount of sorry’s will fix it this time if you do.”

“I’m joking. The girl’s off limits. I promise.” 

And Jungkook had intended to keep that promise. He really did. He didn’t want to piss off Namjoon or potentially ruin an opportunity for the rest of his bandmates but saying no was always a task that was much easier said than done. 

You always looked so lonely, preferring to keep to yourself and stay by your father's side. You never really spoke unless spoken to. Jungkook could count on one hand the number of times he actually heard you talk. After a while, his perverted interest in you died down and a more innocent one came to play. It was obvious you needed a friend and Jungkook was going to be that for you. 

A friend. Was what Jungkook told himself and at the time he had truly meant it. When he first started asking you to hang out with him it was with the purest of intentions. Hell, he rarely would even hit on you when the two of you went places. Of course, he didn’t never hit on you because he was still him but it wasn’t with the goal of fucking you it was just because Jungkook was a flirt and couldn’t help it. 

So how the two of you ended up like this was beyond him. 

Him seated on his sofa while you sat on his lap working his cock with everything you had in you. Your neon pink nails dug into his skin as soft whimpers left your plump lips. 

“Suh-so…so big.” You deliriously whispered. With his head leaned back against the couch Jungkook watched you with low eyes, a smirk resting on his lips. You were so pathetic it was cute. Your body shaking like a leaf as you grinded down on his cock. At this point, he’d lost count of how many times you’d come, and by the way your eyes went crossed every few seconds he was sure you had too.

 “No..no,” You shook your head pushing his hand away. “I got it.”

“You’re doing so good, baby.” Jungkook encouraged not missing the lazy smile that spread across your face. “Lift up your shirt for me,” Jungkook ordered. “Play with your tits.” 

Following his directions, you did as you were told squeezing and rolling each of the brown pebbles between your fingers. “Fuck…” Jungkook panted softly. 

“Mmm…am I-am I…doing good right Kookie?” You questioned softly. Jungkook nodded his head rolling his hips up into yours pushing his cock deeper into your wet cunt. 

“Please don’t ever be mad at me again.” You whimpered. Tears streamed down your cheeks as you looked at him with those big glossed-over eyes. “Don’t ever want to make you mad. Just want to make you happy. Be your guh-good girl.”

Your voice hitched at the last word, thighs shaking, as another orgasm ripped through your body. Your body fell forward convulsing against his chest, a loud moan falling from your lips. The way you looked was pornographic. Skirt bunched up against your hips with the signature dark eyeliner you always had on smudged down your face. 

“Just want to make you happy.” You repeated with a cry. “Want you to be proud.”

“Shush, shush.” Jungkook hushed. “Make me come. You don’t want to be selfish do you?” 

You shook your head. “Shit…” You swore beginning to move your hips again. “So much.”

“That’s right. You're doing good.” Jungkook encouraged. You shook your head again, another loud whine falling from your mouth. 

“Can’t…too much.” 

Jungkook rolled his eyes in fake annoyance. He could take over any moment easily flip you over and fuck you into the couch for as long as he wanted but he didn’t want that and that wasn’t what you’d promised. 

“Jungkook please,” You begged, following him around his apartment like a lost puppy. “It’s been two weeks. I said I was sorry. Stop being mad at me.”

In all honesty, Jungkook had no reason to be mad and he knew that. The two of you were just friends and he’d never really shown any interest in being anything more than that. Of course, he did but he was trying to follow the rules. The stupid rules that Namjoon had put in place that apparently only applied to him. 

“It’s just…Taehyung? You want to be with him.” Taehyung was just as bad as him. He fucked anything with a pretty face.

“No-I just…” You shrugged. “He’s been nice to me and we’ve been talking.”

“He’s been nice to you?” Jungkook repeated in disbelief. “Are you fucking stupid Y/n? He’s nice to you so send him your nudes? The whole company has been nothing but nice to you does that mean you’re going to fuck them too? Wish I would’ve known how much of a slut you were.” 

That last part was too much and as soon as he said it Jungkook regretted the words coming out of his mouth. He expected you to go off on him and finally react properly in the way you should have all along. But instead, your head just dropped in shame. 

“Shit Y/n…I’m sorry. I should’ve never-”

“I’ll make it up to you.” You cut him off. 

“How?”

“I’ll show you how good I am. I can show you that I won’t ever do it again.”

“Okay…” Jungkook’s voice trailed off. “But how?”

“Whatever you want. Just want you to forgive me Kookie.”

It was sick how quickly the idea popped up in his head. A sly smile filled his features as his eyes looked your figure up and down. 

“I’ve been nothing but nice to you too. I’m the one who started making sure you had someone to hang out with but Taehyung is the only one who gets rewarded?” 

For once the light bulb clicked in your head almost immediately. Your face grew flustered as you fidgeted around nervously. He almost expected you to say no but then your hands went up to your shirt slowly beginning to pop open the buttons. Within seconds your lacy white bra was on display.

“Didn’t think you liked me that way.” You said a shy smile filling your face.

 Despite being the one who initiated everything Jungkook couldn’t even make the first move. Too much in shock that it was actually happening he just stood there. He could hear Namjoon’s voice telling him not to do it but once your body was pushed up against his he quickly ignored it.

“I want to make it up to you. I want to be good for you.” Jungkook mocked you with a whiney voice. “You can’t even do that right.” 

“No, I’m sorry.” You apologized. “I can do it I promise.” 

With newfound energy, you slammed your hips down onto his cock. Your tiny pussy clenched tightly around his cock as you worked yourself through the overstimulation. Jungkook didn’t think you could get any louder, but you did, loudly moaning and repeating how sorry you were begging him to forgive you and promising that you wouldn’t talk to Taehyung again.

“I’m yours only yours.” You cried out. 

“Shit..shit.” Jungkook groaned. At your words, he could feel the tightness in his balls swelling up. “Say it again.” He demanded. 

“I’m yours Jungkook. I’m always going to be yours.” 

With that Jungkook came with a loud moan. This time it's his body that's shaking as the pleasure wracks through his bones as his brain goes black. By the time he comes too your body is laying slack against the couch. His lower stomach was soaked wet, something he would’ve just attributed to sweat until he saw an equally as big wet spot on the front bottom of your pleated skirt. 

“Shit,” Jungkook swore to himself. He hated that he missed that. 

A smile filled your tired face as you looked at him. Jungkook knows he should’ve felt the exact opposite as he looked at you right now but he couldn’t help the feeling of regret that began to settle deeply into his chest. Whenever you looked at him your eyes were always full of stars. Usually, it made him feel good, made him feel like he was important, but this time it only reminded him of what Namjoon had told him not to do. 

If it was any other girl Jungkook wouldn’t have cared. He got what he wanted and that was all that mattered.  But this was you and your dad was your dad. 

Clueless you reached over grabbing his hand and pressing your lips to his knuckles. “Think I love you.” You giggle tiredly.

[kimtaesss]

I LOVED YOU | JK.2

Summary: being friends for 10 years means nothing, especially when he betrays your trust so easily.

Pairings: Jungkook x reader ; Taehyung x reader

Genre: angst, fluff, friends to (?)

Warnings: Taehyung + oc intimidate moments (somewhat); Confused Taehyung; Oc being a mess and indecisive; JUNGKOOK!!!

Authors note: I feel like this might be too short…

masterlist | 01 | 02 | tba

“I can’t believe that- that jerk!” You spit out in disgust. Your body from head to toes, was filled with anger and disillusionment. He hasn’t changed, will he ever?

“Well believe it” Taehyung continues on from your rant. He had the right to feel frustrated. But it wasn’t about the little shove that Jungkook had given him. Rather it was the fact that Jungkook hurt you. He hurt you with his words, and actions. He had hurt you, when you were most vulnerable. And Taehyung didn’t prevent that from happening either.

“I’m sorry” Taehyung’s voice cracks, while shifting on the couch. He covers his face by pulling down his hoodie. He couldn’t bear the idea of you being in any state that wasn’t happy. He knew you were in pain, and yet here you were trying to console him.

“What- what’s wrong?”

“It’s nothing” He responds.

But if everything was alright, why was he sniffing? And why did his voice crack? He also wasn’t showing his face. Everything was just not alright. So, why couldn't he be honest? Maybe you were just a horrible friend to everyone, so they don’t trust you enough to be vulnerable. After all that’s what Jungkook does to you, he pushes you aside.

“I understand if you don’t want to talk or need space. But just know that I’m here for you, always and forever”

“Always and forever?” Taehyung pulls the hoodie away, so you can get a clearer view of him, and vice versa. His eyes were the first thing you noticed. They were puffy, and red. He looked disappointed and tired? Maybe it wasn’t that but that’s what you got from the first glance.

“Yes, of course” your eyebrows furrow, while you hold his hand. They were freezing cold. It felt as if he was stuck in a freezer or had just taken a bath with only ice in the tub. It instantly made you feel chills over your body.

“I think I have something to keep you warm”

You frantically search up and down, left and right all over your small apartment and try to find anything to make him warmer.

He notices the lines above your eyebrows, and the way you run around in circles, sometimes hitting yourself, just to find him something and he gently smiles. He sees you’re worried about him, and he understands it’s because you feel guilty, but he’s just going to pretend it’s because you care about him. At least in the way he cares about you.

“I can’t find anything!” You toss the socks you had just picked up a second ago, when you thought it was a good idea to use socks as gloves.

“Why don’t you just hold my hand?” Taehyung partially jokes. But to his surprise, he doesn’t see you refuse his proposal, in fact he sees you shrug, and stare towards him.

“I-I was just- you know, joking” he trips over his words, and he sees you softly laugh. Instantly he feels more relieved and excited.

“Well what if I actually wanted to do it”

Your large innocent-looking eyes reeled him in. His jaw was hanging low, as salvia was about to come out.

“I would gladly accept that offer” he cleared his throat, while making space for you. He patted the spot for you to continue walking towards him. He was beginning to look stiff and awkward. He was sitting up straight, and kept looking in front of him.

“Are you always this nervous?” you giggled, while staring at his sitting position.

He looked like he was in trouble, or in detention. It was quite a funny scene for you. But you caught a glimpse of his elbow, and you were back to feeling a heavy amount of guilt on your chest.

“Does it hurt” You softly place your hand on his arm, and leave enough space to not touch the scraped area.

He looks up to you, and swears he could feel his heartbeat in his head. You looked beautiful, has he mentioned that today? Maybe he hasn’t, especially since it’s been hectic but still he should have. Because you did, look beautiful that is.

“No. Not as much anymore”

You immediately felt butterflies, they were all flying around in your stomach. There was no other explanation for feeling the way you were now. He looked really good, but his soft plump lips made you want to get closer. You kept glancing at him and then his lips. You weren’t sure if you were being obvious, but you couldn’t hide it either.

“I- I’m glad” you managed to answer, staring at this perfect man in front of you.

“Yeah me too”

It was his turn to bounce from staring at you, and then your lips. They looked soft and homely. They kept telling him ‘kiss me’ without having said a single word.

He wasn’t sure of doing what he wanted to do, so instead he decided to take things at a slower pace. “Hey, I know this sounds ridiculous after the night we had but do you want to go eat something?”

What he had initially wanted to say was, ‘would you like to go on a date with me’ but it’s clear to him, or frankly anyone that he isn’t Jungkook, that you were madly and utterly in love with him. Why? Well, he wasn’t so sure of it himself. Jungkook was an ass so why did you fall for him and not Taehyung?

“I would love nothing more” you blushed before, during and after you replied.

Taehyung tucked his lower lip behind his upper lip, and nodded his head before getting up, reaching out his hand to not only lift you up, but to make sure you have the best day of your life. This was the only opportunity he’s had to just be you and him, and he was planning to use it.

“I can’t believe you let me walk out of my apartment looking like this?”

You had a crop top that said ‘bite me’ and some Christmas pjs. Thankfully Taehyung gave you his sweater, so now you could at least zip it up, and cover at least one uncomfortable and ugly clothing.

“I don’t know what you’re talking about! You look better than anyone else here” he compliments while pushing your chair back and then forwards, allowing you to smoothly sit an inch closer to the table without having moved a muscle.

“Okay, now you’re being too nice” you slouch to cover your flattered self.

He shakes his head as a no. “You’re just not seeing what I am”

“Well what do you see?” you respond, while fixing your posture feeling uneducated, compared to him and the other people in that restaurant.

“Hmm… I see” he points at myself, emphasizing that it’s his own opinion.  “I see a drop-dead gorgeous, head-turning, strong, and alluring woman”

When he said all those beautiful things to describe you and the manner he said it, it made you want to cry. You felt noticed and it sounds stupid but you haven’t received that since, well ever. It’s these exact words that made you even more confused.

But then again, he is your friend. So, he’s probably saying all this because you’re clearly upset about everything that went down and how it went down.

“You’re only saying that cause you’re my friend” you emphasize in your gloomy state. You don’t even pick up your fry, you play with it and you’re aware of how you’re looking right now, but you don’t have the energy to hide how you feel.

“Well I don’t lie to my friends. Especially if they mean to me a lot like.. you” he holds an intense gaze, while admiring the freckle beside your nose. He always called it your beauty mark.

He couldn’t grasp how vulnerable you were being right now, he was afraid of breaking or hurting you even more. He didn’t want to push you, but he also didn’t want to make you feel unnoticed. He knew you’d like the extra attention, but not in a superficial way. It was more of a ‘can you see me for me’ way.

He wanted to reach over and give you the biggest hug or shoulder rub. But he just knew deep down, you’d hate that because you’d break down that instant and you hated nothing more than to be the center of attention.

“I really do appreciate you Taehyung” you couldn’t smile nor show it on your face, just truly how grateful you were. But you had hoped that he understood where you were coming from.

He simply sends you an endearing smile, and it felt like he sent a hug your way, the way it embraced you and made you feel better.

You eventually decide that it’s time for you to suck it up, and eat the damn fry that’s beginning to get cold. You even lift it up and place it in front of Taehyung’s mouth so he could take a bite. But before he could take a bite, you move it and eat it instead.

“Hey! You tricked me!”

You laugh and snort altogether. He really had this spark and talent to make you feel comfortable. That’s what you loved about him, whenever you were in his presence, your mood was automatically lifted, whether you realized it or not.

“Okay but you complained your outfit when I’m literally in swim trunks”

You both laughed along your silly, dumb jokes. You never realized how truly comforting Taehyung’s presence was until today. He instantly lifted up your bad spirit, and you could not ever repay him for making you feel loved and important.

“At least you look handsome” you comment, while shifting your head towards the other side.

“ You think so?” He scoffs, while reexamining his outfit. His pink swim trunk shorts, with a yellow baggy t-shirt.

“Yes!” You answer, but it sounded more like you were questioning him. In a way you were, how could he not know all these things about him.

He began covering his face with the napkin that was once placed on the table. But you could still see the red tint on his cheeks, and that shortly led you to also have the same or darker red cheeks.

This was perfect. He was perfect. You couldn’t have imagined any other way to end your night, especially after the day you had. You were glad to have accepted Taehyung’s offer to come out and eat. You stare at him, and try to fight the smile that wants to sprout.

It wasn’t until you heard a familiar deep voice shout, that you realized that happiness is only limited.

“Just great! I have the traitor and loser right in front of me”

“Jungkook?!”

You see him walking away. You look back at Taehyung, he nods his head and points towards him. He knew you wanted nothing more than to go after him and who was he to stop you? No one. He wasn’t important to you. Or not like Jungkook was.

“I’ll call you, okay?”

Again he nods his head, and glances around for a waiter, to ask for a to go box. He even packed your things, in case your talk with Jungkook ended horribly.

He knew it would hurt. But he also knew you were worth the pain.

The tears and cries that have been wanting to escape your very drained eyes, were beginning to be released. You had kept them under lock and key, by blinking every single one away when it started to feel wetter than usual. That was the thing about Jungkook, he always pushed you to tears.

“Jungkook! Wait up!” You utter a loud, piercing cry.

You run after him and in the process of doing so, you wonder why you were foolishly running after someone who does not want to be caught. Instead of staying beside someone who will only ever run towards you.

But it was too late now. The damage was done, so you had no other choice but to keep chasing after Jungkook. And when you have the slight advantage of being close enough to grab him arm, you do. However, once you do. He immediately pulls away, and slightly pushes you in the process.

“What do you want?” he growls, as his ice-cold eyes look directly into your very skull.

You were afraid. Afraid of being open to him, and instantly being shut down. But you had no other choice, you were going to finally be honest and how he took it was not your fault.

“You to listen to me”

You stood your ground. You forbid yourself from allowing him to see you in the state he has left you, broken.

“Why don’t you go back to him. He’s clearly the one for you” he begins screaming like some insane person and it didn’t make sense to you.

“What are you talking about?! He’s a great friend of mine, and because of me he’s hurt”

“Don’t. I’m the one who shoved him not you” he says it in a gentler tone, and you know it was his way to reassure you, that you were in fact not at fault.

Deep down you know it’s not your fault, but there is also a part of you that continually blames you for involving Taehyung. If you had kept your mouth shut, if you had just stopped being a baby, Taehyung would not have been hurt. So maybe you are at fault. The more you think about it you realize you’re the problem.

“Yeah but he got shoved because he was trying to protect me”

“Protect you?! From what, me?!”

You didn’t respond verbally, but you looked away. He immediately knew the answer to his question. It was your tell, when someone asked something, and you looked away, you were either hiding something, or afraid to speak up.

Jungkook’s nostrils flared as he stared at you. He couldn’t believe you’d think even for a second that he would hurt you. Your heart raced in your chest as you looked at Jungkook and took a step backwards.

“You think I'd hurt you? like really hurt you?” he whispers.

His voice cracked, and you felt like you needed to look up into his eyes. They were glossy, and you knew he was sad. You were stupid, you should have kept your mouth shut. You should have just dealt with the pain yourself. Or maybe you should have approached things differently. It was too late now, but then again you had finally voiced all those doubts and feelings. It wasn’t fair for you to deal with pain all alone. You don’t know, this is all messed up.

He begins to slowly walk towards you, and you feel like you have to stay in place. He places his hands on your ears, to get a better grip of you. He reaches down and connects your foreheads, your nose is pressed against each other, and your lips slightly touch. You both were breathing heavily, and it felt like you hadn’t seen each other, it felt like you were separated for years. You needed to feel his lips, you wanted to know what it felt like kissing him. He wanted that too, he really did. But then you said something, something that shattered him into the smallest of pieces.

“I don’t know”

You attempt to kiss him, but once you do, he pushes you away.

“Don’t. Please don’t”

And with that he walked away. You saw his figure getting smaller, and further away. It could also be the tears that built up the minute he moved away from you. You were close, you were about to kiss and you had to ruin it. You ruin everything. But maybe it’s better that way, afterall why would you kiss someone that doesn’t love you back. Why would you want someone who chooses to leave? Why would you kiss someone that hurts you?

Tag list: @mwitsmejk @bambamsthings @belovedsthings @jamlessstars @bjoriis @jeonzll @oxzie @whipwhoops @driftapart @taeriffic @laylasbunbunny @ellesalazar @boredcatto @bunbunbunnykoo @taeees-world @rainfprest @sparklingprimrose @jossabelle88 @bloodline1632 @neg-l3ct @bbtsficrecs @bloopkook @petalsofink @bliss-1111 @linours @crissteetee67 @starbtslove @laurynne5 @hollyweird0 @fragmentof-indifference @kooliv @halesandy @bloodline1632 @sukunasrealgf @bnagtanx1306

[foxymoxynoona]

Tell Me What Changed (Pt. 1)

Banner and lines by the talented @awrkive

Summary: Alex and Jungkook have been best friends since childhood --actual best friends. She is NOT in love with him, for real, and wishes people would stop assuming that. Why does no one question if he's in love with her? Huh? But it might have to do with his successful fuckboy status, while Alex is very much... not that. Which is fine and doesn't matter! Until Jimin's impending wedding leaves her eager for a date and willing to put herself out there, and Jungkook can't believe what happens next.

Fuckboy Best Friend JK x OC

CW and tags: fuckboy behavior, jealousy, pining, heartbreak, angst, language, sex, sexy photos, alcohol, f2l, who knows what else

Ch. 1 word count 18,561

Read on AO3 here or below

MASTERLIST | NEXT

Alex flopped onto the sofa next to Rebekah, a plate in each hand and the bag of chips held between her teeth. Rebekah laughed at her and took the chips seconds before they fell, demanding,

“Why did you carry them like that? You weirdo.”

“I’d already picked up the sandwiches, obviously.”

“Obviously. Where are the pickles?”

“Babe, you think I’d leave the pickles off? They’re on the sandwich!”

“Yeah but we want more than that, don’t we? No, you sit, I’ll get them, I know where they are.”

“You just want me for my pickles,” Alex sighed as Rebekah disappeared around the corner to the kitchen and returned a moment later with several jars and a fork. Pickles were about the only gourmet food Alex kept stocked because she loved them and also because you could just buy a jar of them for not very much money. Even gourmet ones weren’t that expensive. It wasn’t like she made the pickles herself. Actually she was a very good cook, but lazy, and not very interested in cooking just for herself, so maybe she’d cook something if Jungkook was home but he’d been “busy” lately.

Speak of the devil, Jungkook stumbled out of his bedroom as if her mere thoughts had unfortunately summoned him. He never exited the bedroom quietly; he groaned and snorted like he had the world’s biggest loogie to hock. His feet were like sandpaper shuffling across the hardwood floor in his low-hanging sweatpants as he scratched his stomach and dug the sleep out of his eye. If he found anything, it was tossed to the floor.

“Gross, put your eye boogers in the trash,” Alex complained. “Rebekah doesn’t want to see that.”

The transformation was instant. Jungkook cleared his throat and straightened. A second ago his eyes were barely opened like a fresh kitten but now he blinked and smiled and ran his hand through his hair, ruffling the recently trimmed locks. 

He turned and gave Rebekah his most charming crooked smile and waved and said with a low, gravely voice, “Morning, Rebekah.”

“Afternoon, Jungkook.”

Alex rolled her eyes –both at the Jungkook’s performance for her friend and at Rebeka’s willing participation in it– and decided to burst that bubble, “Hey fucker, your hookup the other night left a dog-sized wad of hair in the shower.”

“Bullshit– Sorry, Rebekah. But that’s your damn hair, Alex.”

“Yeah, my blonde curly hair?”

“Well–”

“Yeah and I saw it was still there this morning so go see for yourself.”

“You left it?”

“Uh, not my job to clean up after your fucks? But I think this one’s diseased, that’s a lot of hair she left behind.”

It worked; Jungkook was annoyed about the teasing before he’d had anything to eat and sighed,

“Fine, whatever, I’ll clean it out. I’m so sorry to subject you to the body horrors of your own species.”

“Wha!” Alex cried. “And what are you, if not human?”

“You aren’t going to comment about me calling you a female?”

“How the fuck do you get laid so much if you refer to women as ‘females’? That’s like a primary red flag.”

He came close and flicked her ear, teasing, “I don’t refer to women as ‘females,’ only you, slug bug.”

“Don’t call me slug bug,” she complained, slapping at him, trying to hit him in the dick. He knew and laughed as he easily evaded it. 

“Sorry for being crude around you, Rebekah,” he beamed at her, all charm again. “Alex brings out the gremlin in us all….”

“Fuck off…”

Rebekah just waved her hand, “Don’t worry about it…” She looked, of course, dazzled by Jungkook’s smile aimed in her direction. Women often were. How Rebekah still carried that torch though was baffling to Alex because she got to see the real Jungkook more than most other women did, since she occasionally came into the turd monster’s inner sanctum –ie, the apartment Jungkook and Alex had shared for three years now. Jungkook was nothing like the type of man Rebekah actually went for, and yet his suave charm worked on her even to smooth over the glimpses of his true bratty personality that peeked through while she was around. Only Alex got to see the real thing though, the whole thing, the foul-mouthed, sore loser, gaming-obsessed, Cheeto-chomping, trash-TV-loving asshole. Ok, sure, the muscle-y hottie with the dimpled smile and big shiny eyes, who’d graduated with Honors back in the day and was now doing disgustingly well at his sales job wasn’t fake , exactly. That was all stupidly true too, just not the whole picture. She’d seen Jungkook fasting before a party and lying about his hobbies to pretty women and leaving the remains of his manscaping around the toilet seat too many times not to think it was all really fucking stupid. But the lies worked. Jungkook was successful in everything from gaming to work commission to the revolving door of his bedroom.

“You got a little something there,” Jungkook said, pointing to his own chin. Alex wiped at her face with the back of her hand. “No, it’s…” He sighed deeply and licked his thumb and wiped the mustard off her chin himself then grimaced after putting the remnant into his own mouth, “It’s too early for mustard…”

“It’s almost one!”

“Time is relative…” He trailed off, heading towards the kitchen. Rebekah stared at Alex for a moment with unabashed envy. 

Alex sighed, “Oh come on, don’t buy into his whole thing too…”

“What?” Rebekah gave her a blank smile. Alex sighed again. And Again. 

And reached for her sandwich, motioning, “Eat your damn food, traitor.”

“What? Traitor?” Rebekah craned her neck, apparently searching to see if Jungkook was still in sight. When he wasn’t, she asked quietly, “Ok, but does it really not bother you?”

“Does what not bother me?”

“Living with… him ?”

“Oh yeah he bothers me tons,” Alex snorted. “Can’t put his fucking socks in the hamper. Leaves the jelly jar on the counter. Doesn’t make me food automatically when he’s in there making his own. And–”

“But I mean with all the… he brings a lot of women home, doesn’t he? He’s got a bit of a reputation…”

Alex went very still. She’d known Rebekah a long time, and considered a close friend, even though she’d only recently moved back to the city. But if there was one thing she wouldn’t tolerate, it was any of her friends saying shit about Jungkook. That was her job, and her job only.

“Define a lot… what about his reputation…”

“No, I just mean he’s popular with women, right? Like actually popular. He always has the attention of the most gorgeous woman in the room and– I just mean, aren’t you in love with him?”

Alex instantly choked on her sandwich. She really thought she might be going to die or puke as Rebekah pounded her on the back to dislodge the oversized bite. Once it was down, her eyes watered and she had to sip water before crying,

“Don’t say something dumb like that! Of course I’m not! Why does everyone always think I’m in love with him?”

“Well… have you seen him…”

“Yes, I’ve seen him.”

“Oh really? Like seen him, seen him? And was he–”

“I’m not impressed and you’re being gross.”

“Sorry,” Rebekah mumbled and grabbed her sandwich.

“How come no one ever asks him if he’s in love with me? It’s bullshit! I can’t tell you how many times a woman has come out of his room, seen me, and been like, ‘aw, he lives with his little sister? That’s so sweet.’ His sister! I’m not even fucking Korean! Do all Asian people just look the same to white people?!”

“As a Jew I can’t really speak for all white people–”

“Just once I’d like to hear someone ask, ‘Jungkook, how do you possibly live in the same space as that goddess and not just fall head over heels for her?’”

“Ok, but do you want him to….? That’s what I mean. You really don’t have any feelings for him? It doesn’t bother you at all to see him parade through all these gorgeous women?”

“Uh, no,” Alex rolled her eyes. “It’s somewhere on the spectrum between funny and gross –as long as he cleans the damn shower!” she added, hearing his footsteps down the hall. He walked like he had steel-toed boots on even when just wearing those weirdo toe socks he loved so much. Women hated those. She noticed he appeared to have removed his socks in the kitchen and used water to push the hair back from his face. He had a bowl of yogurt and granola and a mug of coffee but for some reason had his tongue bulging in his cheek –not food, because the bump disappeared. He knew women liked that thing he did too. He’d made such a careful study. He was observant about that kind of thing, which made him a very good fuckboy. Or, uh, bad, however you were supposed to say it. Successful.

“I’ll scrub the shower as soon as I finish my breakfast, promise,” he said with a megawatt grin. For Rebekah’s sake. Probably he’d heard everything she’d just said and was going to gloat about it later. Alex had previously insisted Rebekah was uninterested. Three years ago she had been!

“With tub cleaner, not your body wash!”

“I know how to clean a bath tub!” he called, disappearing down the hall.

“He doesn’t,” Alex snickered. “He definitely moved in with me thinking I’d be his wife. Joke’s on him! I’m as much a goblin as he is.”

“He’s… a goblin?” Rebekah asked, eyebrows raising. And Alex sighed, because of course Rebekah didn’t see it. No one ever saw it because around everyone else Jungkook was this star child. He glowed like the sun, he charmed, he seduced. She saw it, even if she didn’t get hooked the same way everyone else with a pussy did. But also like… he was her funny, scumbag friend who stayed up all night playing video games with her and doing Taco Bell runs at one in the morning and went to opening night of every Star Wars and Lord of the Rings movie with her and bought her a body pillow that said Pippin’s Girl over Billy Boyd’s character –literally the only birthday present he’d ever given her. 

But there was no point trying to explain these things to Rebekah, and in a way, it would feel like a betrayal of Jungkook. He worked hard to keep that charming pretense up! And Rebekah wouldn’t be able to see even if she did talk about what it was actually like living with him. She’d sound bitter. She’d sound like she was in love with him and denying it. She’d been told that before. Boring take. Two people had never been more platonically friends than they were.

So instead she shrugged, “Whatever. But sorry, we have a strict ‘no sleeping with my friends’ rule and he won’t break it.”

“Oh, yeah no, of course not,” Rebekah quickly insisted. “I wasn’t– I was just curious about, you know, what it’s like to live with a guy. We’re friends and I would never… I really value our friendship. Chicks before– you get the idea.”

More than you want to fuck Jungkook? Who are you trying to convince here?

Alex sulked into her sandwich and tried to think of a way to change the subject away her dumb best friend. No, living with him wasn’t a problem at all, but living in his shadow could get really annoying.

Alex did her best to hold still as she applied eyeliner, leaned over the bathroom mirror. Eyeshadow baffled her, but she’d mastered a fierce cat eyeliner over the years. It was funny to think back to college now, when Jungkook had sprawled across her bed, watching the same makeup videos and trying to help her get it just right because he insisted he could do it better. He could. Damn his steady hands. The capstone of that study had been them both rocking pretty sweet looks to the Rocky Horror live viewing party that year. Jungkook in fishnets and a bustier had looked every bit the fuckboy he hadn’t even fully evolved into yet; now he wouldn’t be caught dead in such an ensemble.

At the right party, Alex would! She loved a good costume. But tonight was the run of the mill, regular beer bash at Namjoon’s place because his divorce had finalized. That’s right, Namjoon had married and divorced before Alex had even been in a real relationship. 

Her phone buzzed with a notification. Perched on the edge of the counter, it was just enough vibration to pitch over the edge and bounce right off her toe.

“Fuck!” she cried, dropping and grabbing her poor toes, squeezing through the pain. At least it had kept her phone from breaking but fucking shit, it hurt!

“You ok?” Jungkook’s voice drifted from the kitchen.

“Yeah, phone fell on my toe!”

He didn’t say anything back but at least he’d asked. She grabbed her phone, feeling her pain transfer to anger at whoever had messaged her. 

But it wasn’t even a message to her! Apparently her phone thought it really important that she know Jungkook had posted a snapchat. She didn’t even use Snapchat, it was just on her phone because Taehyung’s girlfriend Sabina had made her download it, insisting it was a useful tool for meeting guys. She was wrong . Maybe if you looked like Sabina. 

She opened the app, ready to see what was so important.

“A meal before the buffet at nj’s 🌶🌶🌶 hungry?”

The caption was pasted over a photo looking down Jungkook’s bare muscular stomach to the kitchen counter, the cutting board on the left with red and green peppers and broccoli, and a frying pan on the right where the sausages were sizzling –the dinner he was making for them to eat before they headed out to Namjoon’s party. There wasn’t food at the party. Certainly no buffet. 

But all of that was beside the point because the photo was centered on Jungkook’s package on the kitchen counter. Sure, still wearing his gray basketball shorts, but they left very little to the imagination. He did not appear to be wearing boxers. 

“Jungkook!” she shouted, stomping out of the bathroom. “Get your dick off the kitchen counter!” Nevermind that she was certain he would have had to stand on his tiptoes and flex to pull off that photo, which was funny as shit. She wasn’t mad about the dick on the counter, per se.

But he gave her such a dumb look as she stormed in, saying only, “Huh?”

“Your latest thirst trap is a bit much, don’t you think?”

“What…”

“I can see tip! What the fuck is wrong with you?!”

“What?!” he yelped and grabbed his phone. “That was supposed to be private…”

“Are you serious?! I just got a notification! Snapchat wanted to make sure I can see you got yourself all chubbed up in the kitchen while you’re making my dinner!”

“Ewwww,” he frowned, but he was frantically opening his phone.

“Yeah, ewww is right! Keep your sausage away from my sausages! And you’re letting them burn!”

“I am not…”

But he was distracted. She shoved him out of the way and fanned the smoke away from her face as she flipped them over. Jungkook’s phone buzzed so steadily in his hand that she thought he had an alarm going off. He sauntered down a bit and leaned against the counter, surrendering the cooking to her without a word. He was smiling.

“What are you smiling like an idiot about?” she demanded.

“Seems like it’s a pretty popular picture,” he grinned, flashing the phone screen at her. It was the Snapchat message page but she couldn’t read that far away and probably didn’t want to. “Getting a lot of messages about it…”

“Saying ‘Hey cheap manwhore, keep your junk away from hot oil?”

“I’m not cheap. Those peppers are organic!”

“No, are they? Why?! That’s so much more expensive, you idiot!”

But he was ignoring her again, typing on his phone. 

Look, she’d gotten used to his thirst trap insta a long time ago. What had started as an account mostly focused on him trying to perform cool dangerous stunts on his skateboard had found better traction once he started adding gym selfies. Somewhere along the line, scrawny little Jungkook had figured out a way to add some bulk to his frame. Not much –he still looked small next to Namjoon, something he lamented every time he drank too much in a pretty unchanging and homoerotic monologue– but enough to fill in the definition of his muscles. And the ladies on social media liked that. A lot of men too, actually, and while Jungkook wasn’t looking for male attention, he did seem flattered by it nonetheless. So his content grew to include pool selfies. Party selfies. Outfit of the day selfies. Just bought coffee selfies. And a whole lot of shirtless domestic selfies –in fact, there was a good chance that if he’d done a chore around the house, it was so he could post a photo of himself doing it shirtless. 

Whatever, it got the chores done.

He had almost 10,000 Instagram followers, and who knew how many on Snapchat and TikTok and whatever other dark web places he spent his time these days.

Alex had an instagram and a Twitter. Her instagram was mostly pictures of cats she found when she went for walks and funny things her friends did. She never posted on Twitter but just kept the account so she could read the entire thread from funny Tweet compilations on Buzzfeed. 

“Eh, I’ll leave it up,” he shrugged, brushing past her to grab the peppers, only to see she’d already tossed them into the pan. 

“Are you serious?”

“Why not?”

“ Tip , Jungkook.”

“Will you stop saying that to me?”

“I can see your tip,” she said again slowly. “I don’t want to see your tip.”

“Then don’t look!”

“You blasted it to my phone!”

“Well, it turns out you’re in the minority, so–”

“Next stop, OnlyFans? Ooooh hey I bet you could buy us a PS5…”

“Alex! Don’t whore me out–”

“You whore yourself out, I’m just capitalizing. Let me know if you need help.”

“Are you offering to hold the camera?” he asked, arching his eyebrow. Blatantly flirting to mock her. 

She punched him in the stomach, then removed the pan from the heat before he could retaliate in any way. His ‘ oof’ was so satisfying.

“I’ve seen your little pepper, I was not impressed–”

“Hey! Hey, ok that was– I was– we were fifteen and it was on accident! You shouldn’t have walked into my room without knocking!”

“Yeah, lesson learned!”

He sighed, “You caught me before I’d even started… I’m a grower, not a–”

“Shut up ,” she groaned. “Stop talking to me about your dick.”

“I wouldn’t be telling you to shut up if you wanted to tell me about–” But he broke off before she could even kick him, laughing and unable to keep up the farce himself. She wasn’t his type and he wasn’t hers and this was all like seeing her brother’s dick show up on her phone. Gross. 

“I’m going to finish getting dressed. Are you wearing that?” she teased, pointing to his bare torso.

“With all the messages I’m getting? Nah, I’ll look good.”

“Good luck pulling that off.”

“Whatever, shrimpy.” She shoved her knuckle into his ribs as she passed and he flinched, but as a final peace offering called after her, “Your eyeliner looks good though!”

“I know!”

Namjoon’s party was everything she had actually missed from college. Alex wasn’t a big partier ever, not really, but if the timing was right and she could be just drunk enough while her friends were also just drunk enough, she could let loose for an evening. And all her friends were here, and all just the right amount of drunk, and In’am was killing it on playlist management. Sure, there were dozens of people she didn’t know, and that tended to annoy and exhaust her. She and Jungkook were complete opposites in that way –but she had plenty of friends besides him to act as a buffer. Jimin, Taehyung, and Namjoon had sheltered her from many unwanted social encounters over the years. The additions of Jimin’s In’am years ago had been a breath of fresh air in her male-heavy friend group, and Sabina more recently had this god-given talent for diverting a conversation with literally anyone once it started to get tedious. 

Which was perfect because Taehyung and Jimin were blunt as shit and Namjoon meant well but sometimes didn’t pick up on cues and said exactly what you didn’t want to hear. Especially when he was drunk.

“This is Alex Song,” he said, introducing her to someone whose name stood no chance of sticking in her brain. “Like the Thong Song but with an ‘s’.”

“What the fuck?” she complained and hit him in the stomach, only to yank her hand back, “Ow.” She cradled it against her chest.

“I love that song!” the guy said.

“Ironically or unironically?” she asked him, predicting the answer.

“It’s great!” Yep, there it was. 

But suddenly Sabina was there, sliding her arm around Alex’s shoulder as she said, “We’re going to dance, goodbye.”

“Where?” Namjoon asked with interest.

“On your table probably?”

“No!”

“Yes!” Taehyung argued for them as they walked past. 

Alex didn’t actually want to dance on the table, and at the last moment ducked away. It left her torn between harassing Jimin during his pool game or joining some older acquaintances piled around the TV playing Mario Kart. The range of activities was lovely. She ought to tell Namjoon he was a good host, but then recalled he’d associated her with the Thong Song. Wildly uncomfortable underwear. Was she a wildly uncomfortable person?

“You look lost,” In’am mused, sidling up to her. 

“Too many things, I don’t know where to go…”

In’am grinned and suggested, “We could go in the backyard–”

“How did Namjoon already afford a house like this?” she interrupted with a sigh, even though she knew the answer. Wealthy parents. Lucky. He had a yard . She was going to be stuck rooming with Jungkook forever. At least his fuckboy ways meant he was unlikely to ever get married and leave her. With Jimin and In’am engaged now, and Taehyung and Sabina maybe not far away, it was down to her, Namjoon, and Jungkook. And Namjoon would be on the look again soon probably now that the divorce was behind him and he was great even if he was a dumbass sometimes, so that probably wouldn’t take too long. And Jungkook would always have his bed warm. So it would be just her. Just lonely her all alone, tagging along, watching rom-coms and wondering why it seemed so impossible that she would ever have that kind of a thing. How could she even meet someone? There was no one at this entire party she wanted anything to do with like that–

“Alex,” In’am called, grabbing and squishing her face. “You need to sit down?”

“Am I going to be alone forever?

In’am laughed, “Girl! What? No! I thought you just weren’t looking!”

“I’m not but…”

“I can introduce you to some people if you want–”

“No,” Alex suddenly panicked and pulled away. Dating? Yuck. Getting to know someone? Horrible. Finding someone she could have the kind of intimacy and closeness and fluffy romance she saw in the movies with and craved? It just didn’t look right for her in real life! Even she couldn’t see herself in something like that! “I’m just hungry and I need another drink.”

“You didn’t eat Jungkook’s sausage?”

“ What ?”

In’am had meant the joke though and laughed, “That fool boy sent that out– I have never deleted an app from my phone so goddamn fast. Last thing I need is my fiance’s friends sending that crap to my phone…”

“Right? It’s crap!”

“I mean, power to him to post whatever he wants, and he’s catching the fish he wants with that kind of hook but I don’t need that in my head when he’s like my little brother.”

“Yeah, same. Very little.”

He had not looked very little in the photo. In fact Alex knew he wasn’t very little because it wasn’t her fucking fault he wore sweatpants around the house all the time. She didn’t check him out but she existed and he had not needed to tell her he was a grower because she knew that. Just like she knew many obnoxious stories about that dick of his, inconvenient boner times, the kinds of porn he liked, whatever. Granted, she didn’t know how much of the things he told her were truth or jokes, but since there was a zero-female-awareness thing going on between them, he was perfectly comfortable telling her the bro-y sordid details. Not that he was any kind of special guy to her either, other than being her dearest idiot friend, so it wasn’t a big deal, but sometimes it would be nice if he’d stop thrusting his manness into every aspect of their lives. Sometimes she kind of missed the pre-fuckboy days when Jungkook had also believed no one would ever look at him twice and they’d cried at romantic movies together and played video games all night and challenged each other to disgusting food concoction competitions.

Jimin was motioning them over and Alex was happy to go. A game of Kings was getting organized and Alex was happy to slide into place. She loved this kind of game! Even drunk, she nailed the mental challenges of remembering the rules, and always did great at naming states or presidents of animals or whatever challenge came up. 

“Where’s Jungkook? He’ll want to play,” Taehyung said, sitting next to Alex and tugging Sabina down next to him. 

“I don’t know where he is. Am I my brother’s keeper?” she scoffed. But her gaze naturally flitted around the living room and dining room and kitchen, all visible from her seat. She got that weird, kind of sad feeling again. Like ok, maybe he’ll come play this game and we’ll all have a blast together and later we can laugh about the fact all our friends are finding love while we eat fries in my bed and fall asleep, happily single.

He was in the kitchen, most of him blocked by the girl he was making out with. Alex happened to spot him at the same time he whispered something in the girl’s ear that made her laugh. He led her out of the kitchen, his smug smile not noticeable to the woman behind him. Apparently his sausage picture had let him cut right to the chase; it wasn’t even 11 yet and he was already out.

“Oh, there he goes…” Jimin snickered, shaking his head. “That kid.”

“Can’t wait to meet my new mom!” Alex joked. She nudged Namjoon, “Guess I’m sleeping here tonight. You got a poolhouse I can have?”

“You know I don’t have a poolhouse and cabs still work if you’re single…”

The defensive groans and complaints from their friends were enough. Namjoon backtracked, insisting he was joking, of course Alex could crash here, probably lots of people would. 

They decided Alex could make the first rule. But what kind of sucked is that she could think of so many rules that would be super funny to Jungkook, or at least the Jungkook who hung out and was chill and had more thoughts in his head than where he could stick his dick, and he wasn’t even here to hear them.

Maybe that was unfair… They still did lots of stuff together! Maybe his teasing went too far sometimes lately but hers kind of did too, right? It was hard to tell. He seemed invincible lately. He was living the life he wanted and in a way, that meant leaving Alex behind–

“Earth to Alex!”

“Ok, my challenge is: name states that don’t have an A in them! If you fuck it up, drink it up! Mississippi.”

“Idaho,” Taehyung beamed at her . After a beat, a roar of laughter. He’d already fucked it up just to make a joke. How Taehyung. 

Her friends were great. Who even needed Jungkook around right now? He could do whatever and they could just be roommates and that was fine. Everything was fine, she was just the wrong kind of drunk, but she could snap out of it. Hopefully he’d go to the girl’s place and she could have the apartment to herself for her hangover! That was good since she always felt overheated and nauseated when she drank too much and wanted to wear as little clothing as possible, but Jungkook teased her about her short legs like an asshole. What did women keep seeing in him anyway? But then, they fucked and were gone before they had to deal with the teasing, so that was the answer. 

“Famous painters,” Taehyung declared for his turn.

“The topics for Kings have sure changed a lot since we were in college,” Jimin laughed. “What happened to Spongebob characters and types of sex toys?

“Wait for your turn, asshole!”

But yeah, things were changing. That was all. Nothing wrong with that! Alex was glad when it was her turn to drink.

On Thursdays the arcade did Ladies’ Nights where girls got unlimited game cards for the machines. Alex and Jungkook had been going to this long enough to remember when it was only a $50 card, but it hadn’t brought in enough women, so they’d expanded the benefit. Jungkook’s bitterness had risen, but not so much that he would miss out, and while they didn’t go every week, it was a pretty common place to find them on a Thursday night.

“I just don’t know why they keep running the offer if it’s not working for them,” Jungkook complained, plastic machine gun wedged against his shoulder. Beside him, similar stance but over a foot shorter, Alex fired her red version at the screen with much less careful aim. 

“But it obviously is working for them.”

“What obviously?” Jungkook asked, motioning around the relatively quiet arcade. “No hot girls.”

“The fuck are you talking about?” she argued, motioning up and down her own body. “I’m here all the time.”

“Yeah, like I said, it’s not working–” He grunted as she spun and kicked the back of his knee, but he’d been prepared for it and unfortunately didn’t go down. She contemplated stealing his beanie and throwing it onto the Mortal Kombat AR stage so he’d have to show off his smashed greasy hair until the match finished and he could retrieve it, but settled for pointing out his character had died and she won. 

“I meant you’re here all the time already. You’d be here even if they didn’t do that thing. The only girls who show up are like that–”

“Wow. Woooow , Kook, you’re really going for asshole today, huh?”

He rolled his eyes and leaned against the machine console, not even bothering to watch her play out the remainder of her lives because she’d just kicked his ass at this game, “I mean that the only girls who give a shit about unlimited game cards at the arcade are…”

She aimed the machine gun at him and made her own sound effects on top of the game. 

He rolled his eyes, “I’m shredded and my muscles are made of Vibranium so that’s just bouncing off me–”

“How do you manage to hide what a loser you are from so many women ?” she cried. Her turn wasn’t over but she was bored of the game now and slid the gun back into the holster. It didn’t matter anyway since her game card was unlimited. “And why are you being so sulky tonight? Are you shriveling up from lack of pussy juice? Is that the problem?”

“No,” he glared. “I’m just bored. We haven’t done anything new lately. I need to meet new people.”

“Ah, fresh blood.”

“Virgins? Fine–”

“Oh is that the secret to your hairless baby face?” she asked, reaching up to slap her hand along his jaw. He hated references to his lack of facial hair. Ever since Taehyung had grown a hot little brush and gotten so much attention for it, Jungkook had complained about it. Only Alex had gotten to see him try twice to grow something and it was so patchy and uneven and yuck looking that she’d taken to calling him Pedo –and accidentally in front of his parents. Oops. “All that virginal pussy juice–”

“Virgins don’t usually let you put your face there,” he corrected. 

“You can’t just talk about virgins like they’re some monolithic group,” Alex argued. “Literally all of us are born virgins.”

Jungkook let out a deep sigh and threw his arm around her shoulder, “But only some of you are so blessed to also die one.”

“I’m not a virgin you dick,” she growled and tried to kick him again but since his arm was around her, it gave him too much warning and he ducked away laughing. Of course he knew she wasn’t a virgin though. He, unfortunately, knew pretty much every sordid detail of her previous sexual encounters –one a first awkward boyfriend who’d lasted two months and the other a second date mistake. Mistake! It had been a mistake. Maybe if she hadn’t done it she would have gotten a third date but Jungkook had confidently assured her it was doomed either way. Cool. He insisted he meant that to be reassuring.

Just as easily conversation slid away from sex and Jungkook’s complaints that their dating pool was growing stagnant and instead to shit-talking each other about whether to do basketball or air hockey next. 

“I don’t think you’re ready for air hockey yet,” she told him. “Let’s start with basketball.”

“But I always kick your ass at basketball and then you get all lame and sulky.”

“I do not!”

“Yeah you do and it’s wildly unappealing,” he taunted. “Why do you even challenge me? You’re like three feet tall, obviously you will never beat me at basketball.”

“Uh, Jimin is shorter than you and left you in the dust at basketball,” she pointed out.

Jungkook rolled his eyes, “He fucking did not, he just got lucky that one time and he played on a team as a kid. I didn’t.”

“You were too busy skateboarding,” she snickered. “So cool.”

“Uh, I was super cool.”

“No. You weren’t.”

“Uh, you need me to start listing off girls who think it’s cool?”

“I’m well aware a lot of my gender has glitter glue for brains and gets easily blinded by dimples and a flat stomach–”

“Abs,” he interrupted. “I have abs .”

“For a couple of days you did– but hey, baby ,” she teased him, “I like you better fed anyway. You know that’s the one thing my mom and I agree on. ‘You are too skinny!’” she cried, mimicking the way her mom said it every time Jungkook was in the vicinity, usually moments before plying him with food he could simply not refuse. Not that he ever did refuse. But at twenty-five, he was already complaining that he was growing out of the metabolism needed to survive her mom’s cooking –noodles, buns, lots of sauces, rice, every Chinese delicacy she could think of to fatten Jungkook up. This had been going on since they’d become friends like fifteen years ago. “And also you’re an asshole when you’re hangry.” She reached down to tap her card against the slot to join as Player Two.

“Girls think it’s cool I skate,” he said, gaze fixed on the flashing lights as they counted down to the start of the competition.

“To fuck, not to date or, god forbid, marry.”

He flashed her his most charming smile, “Good thing I don’t want to marry them either.”

“Yeah, regular intimacy with someone who cares about your pleasure and sees you as more than a sex toy that squirts, what a nightmare!”

He shrugged, “It’s different for guys. It’s hard to get a girl off if you don’t know what she likes but I’m getting off no matter what so… regular intimacy not needed.”

“Do you seriously–” The buzzer to begin was painfully loud. Jungkook had already sunk a basket by the time she got a ball in hand. 

The game went exactly as he had predicted, unfortunately. It was true, Alex had never come close to beating him at basketball and probably never would. She had played on a team for two years in middle school and still tried to insist that meant she could compete with him, because he’d never played! But he’d just like learned shooting skills by proximity. In junior high he’d come over and they’d shoot hoops and it was pretty even. But she quit when sports got serious at school, and he played tennis to avoid team sports, and somehow those two facts meant his shooting skills zoomed up from hers as much as his height did. 

“Did you really just try to pretend you squirt? There’s no way you squirt.”

“ What ?!”

“You said you’re more than a fuck toy that–”

“What the fuck, dude? I meant you! You squirt out… stuff– Only difference between you and a dildo–”

“Stuff!” he repeated, howling with laughter. “My sperm is not just any stuff .”

“Please don’t scream that word in the middle of the arcade–”

“Well I just kicked your ass as basketball so I think now you have to buy me a slice of pizza–”

“Uh, I beat your ass at the shooting game before this and you didn’t buy me shit.”

“Aleeeeex,” he whined. “I’m hungry. Feed me.”

“Fuck no. You didn’t state your terms before basketball. But I’m happy to take you up on that challenge now with some hockey–”

“Ya! Last time you went right for my balls!”

“I don’t aim for your balls,” Alex huffed. “You’re just bad at defending them. Which is insane considering how much you talk and think about them.”

“I’m really attached to them–”

“Eww, gross, get a better sense of humor.”

“Too hot to bother with that.”

She laughed and shoved his arm. It sucked that Jungkook actually was the funniest guy she’d ever known. It really wasn’t fair to have grown up into looking like that and be able to charm your way through basically any social encounter with a woman and be able to chill and impress most men too and be really funny. Really poked a hole in the whole God doesn’t have favorites idea because Jungkook was clearly one of them. But she couldn’t quit him because there was no one in the world who appreciated her own humor the way he did. The two of them were too fucking funny to ever break up. Besides, if she got a new roommate it would probably be a girl and they probably wouldn’t buy such oversized shirts that were so easy to just steal and wear and then panic because she got food stains on them and then enlist her sister’s help to fix them and then sneak them back into the laundry. That panic was basically her cardio every week!

“Tell you what… I’ll go easy on you,” she offered as they settled at opposite ends of the air hockey table.

“I’m going to fucking kill you,” he mumbled, veering instantly into that overcompetitive space where he failed to realize the things he said were terrible to anyone else. Of course Alex knew that was just his pre-injured pride talking. Because even if she went easy on him, she was going to crush him. That was true most of the time, certainly enough to give her the confidence to do a pre-victory dance, wriggling her arms and crouching down and swaying side to side to intimidate him.

“Not at air hockey though,” she taunted.

The thing about air hockey though was that it was very important to them. It played a part in their history a lot. They’d actually gotten banned playing it at another place because they were so aggressive. Jungkook had also met an early hookup once when the puck had hit a girl on the shoulder and he’d insisted he buy her a drink to apologize –that had been lame because they’d been in the middle of a game and Alex wound up having to take the train home on her own. Sometimes his addiction to women was a little annoying…

But they hadn’t gotten kicked out from here! Yet! 

“How the hell do you do that?” he complained as the puck managed to ricochet from his mallet to the wall and into his own goal before he could even twitch. 

“You’re too jumpy,” she told him. “You try to overmuscle it. It’s an air hockey puck. You have to be gentle . Caress. Be one with the puck.”

“Puck you.”

“God your humor is rancid tonight!” she laughed. “Aren’t you embarrassed?”

“Nah, saving my good humor for –fuck!” he cried and spun away from the table, clutching his cheek where the puck had just flipped up.

“That wasn’t my fault!” Alex immediately defended. 

“You hit that thing like 50 miles per hour!”

“With these dumpling arms?!”

“Yeah how the hell?”

“Oh my god though did it seriously break your face? It’s your fault! You pinched it against the wall! I’ve told you that’s not a valid defense move!”

He kept whining so she went around the table, motioning, “Ok, bend down, beanpole, let me see.”

He leaned down just a little as she reached for his face –only to yank away just as she touched his cheek, grab the puck, and shoot it straight across the table.

“Motherfucker!”

“Mother fucker !” he yelled too because the puck hadn’t gone in, even unguarded. She collapsed against the table laughing, sliding her way back to her space as he cursed the universe and the gods. 

“Yeah serves you right for cheating, asshole!”

“I would never cheat! You hit me in the face! Abusive!”

“Your own muscles betrayed you, that was your own damn fault.”

“Bullshit!”

The game was a foregone conclusion from that point. Even Alex stopped playing as well just because they were too busy laughing. Jungkook had gotten himself too worked up and wound up knocking the puck into his own goal twice. To taunt him, Alex gave him another chance for a free goal, lifted her arms up, and he actually made it that time, but it was too late. Alex had won, fair and square, even with his attempts to cheat.

“I think you broke my cheek,” he complained as they walked away to find something else to play.

“Shit, no! Did I really? You’re fucked! Your personality is way too shitty to survive as an uggo!”

“Alex,” he complained and backhanded her directly in the boob.

“My tit!”

“No, my face! No one cares about your tits!”

They laughed and stumbled along for a moment, bumping into each other in the direction of more of the regular machines, ignoring and ignored by other arcade go-ers on a Thursday night. 

But Alex got the prickles on the back of her neck that someone was watching them and whirled around, ready to tell off whoever was being weird.

Except it was Hoseok.

She nearly tripped over her feet and fell ass over head to the floor but caught herself on Jungkook’s arm, performing a weird twisting maneuver that might possibly have won her gold at a free skate. Confused, Jungkook thankfully dragged her back the right way on her feet. Unfortunately the klutzery was still all witnessed by Hoseok, without a doubt, because he gave a bright smile as he walked over –though first Alex did glance over her shoulder, certain Hoseok must actually be smiling like the sun at someone else.

“Alex Song,” he greeted, removing most of the doubt that he had noticed and approached her. 

“Hi, Hoseok Jung.” Fuck, that was awkward. He’d used her full name so she’d used his too but it sounded awkward when she did it. He sounded hot and playful. To cover it, she added, “Your cheekbones look especially sharp today.”

Fuck! That was not how you spoke to someone in corporate!! Even a cool someone in corporate!

Hoseok laughed and touched his face as though checking for himself, as if he wasn’t born with the opportunity to feel up his own face every morning. God, what Alex wouldn’t give to be able to feel up his face every morning.

“That was an intense game of air hockey,” he said, smooth as butter in covering her shitty socialization skills. 

“Oh! You um, saw that… hey I didn’t know you like arcades…” She looked around wildly, reassuring herself she was in fact still in the arcade and trying not to totally melt into panic at the fact that not only was Hoseok here, he had seen her juvenile, taunting game of air hockey with Jungkook. At least she’d won, but–

“Ah I’m not great at games but I’m here with my–

Girlfriend , he was obviously going to say. 

“Your girlfriend? She must be nice.”

“My sister,” he corrected, motioning over his shoulder. “She’s terrible at games too but she’s an influencer and they wanted her to take photos on Instagram and…” Alex’s gaze followed his gesture to see two young women, one leaning dramatically against a pinball machine while the other took her photo. 

Without thinking about it, she elbowed Jungkook in the ribs, “Influencers! See! They’re doing more than just ladies night!”

“Ow! I guess…”

Before she could say anything else, he held his hand out to Jungkook, introducing, “Sorry to be rude, I’m Hoseok Jung, I work with Alex–”

“He’s my brother,” Alex blurted out, grabbing Jungkook’s arm before he could shake Hoseok’s hand and shoving it away. This confused Hoseok; it flickered across his beautiful face before the smile returned.

“Ah. Her brother,” Jungkook agreed. His lips pursed into a line and Alex knew she was in for shit later. “We live together. We don’t really get along but we come here on Thursday nights to appease our overbearing parents who always dreamed of siblings who’d get along.”

“I see…” Hoseok said. Confusion returned. Fuck. Fuck, he was going to think they were dating. Wait, would it make him jealous– no, of course it wouldn’t make Hoseok Jung jealous.He had literally no concept of being jealous of Alex. 

“Hoseok works in corporate,” Alex quickly offered to continue to try to smooth out the steaming piles of horse shit being dumped onto her head right now. “He does training and–”

“Actually, I’m changing positions.”

Positions . She bet he knew lots of positions. She didn’t know any! Well, ok, like two…

“To what?” she asked, realizing this might mean he was moving away, or moving into a capacity where she wouldn’t ever see him. Right now the times he came by the store were equal parts joy for her and terror for everyone else, even though Hoseok was always nice and not really in a scary corporate position. It was still a visit from corporate, even if the corporate guy was hot and nice and funny and playful…

“We’re opening a new location over on Ash Boulevard. I’m transferring over to be the assistant store manager. I want to open my own someday.”

“Oh! Right, that’s opening soon, isn’t it?” This was baffling to her. Usually people wanted to move into corporate, not out . 

“Yeah! I’ve missed being in the stores. Corporate was great but I don’t think it’s where I’m happiest,” he continued, “so I'm really excited about it. Kind of scared too, though, it’ll be a lot of work but I hope I do well.”

“Obviously you’ll do well.” 

 “Well I need good staff and we’re still selecting so uh.. Don’t tell Dan I said this but if you want to transfer… I’ll put you at head of the line.” He smiled and winked. 

Alex laughed. Not a sexy cool laugh, not even a flattered laugh because that was actually really flattering for him to encourage her to change to his store –but not surprising if she was honest, because she was a fucking badass shift lead and she got shit done with a smile on her face even when she wanted to murder those around her! But she laughed because he’d winked at her and every nerve between her knees and her scalp shot off fireworks. Anyone else winking would have been creepy and wrong but a wink from Hoseok was just so friendly . So kind! So not sexually interested in her. Sob.

“Thanks, I’ll think about it…” If she transferred, she could see him all the time! If she transferred, she’d have to see him all the time, and those fantasies of him taking her in the stock room would be completely out of the realm of possibility because a shift lead and an assistant store manager at the same store was strictly not ok. As opposed to now when they were just 99.47% outside of the realm of possibility. There was always the possibility of a doomsday scenario where they were the last two people on earth and tasked with repopulating…

“Hm, Dan runs a good store, I see why you might not want to leave… who knows if I’ll be any good at it but… I think we’ll do great.”

“I think so too!” she said, matching his sunny tone. She didn’t have to look to know Jungkook was having a hard time controlling his facial expressions beside her. 

“Hobi!” his sister called and he turned before sighing, “I guess I better get back to her… Maybe next time I can challenge you to something in here that’s not as intense as air hockey.”

“She’s ruthless at all games, I should warn you,” Jungkook interjected. “Laugh and dance on the graves of her enemies kind of–”

“Shut up,” she hissed, elbowing him. It seemed unlikely Hoseok would find that kind of thing appealing.

He laughed, “Oh no, I probably won’t put up much of a challenge then…” She wanted to die. No, first she wanted to murder Jungkook and then die.

“We can see next time,” she offered. “We could do a co-op game like the Jurassic Park ride or something…”

“Yeah! You seem like a good person to be on a team with.” Flattering? Friendzone? Coworker zone? Subordinate employee zone? Alex basked in the pain of them all and nodded dumbly as Hoseok said goodbye and returned to his sister and her friend, both looking pretty bored to be there and eager to move on. His sister must have said something teasing because Hoseok shook his head and waved his hand at her before disappearing.

Alex didn’t even look at Jungkook, just tried to simultaneously shove her hand in his face and flee. She needed a moment without his taunting because an encounter with Hoseok Jung left you disoriented for at least a few hours. Discombobulated. Flustered. She was giddy when he focused any of his attention on her when he came by the store and now she’d actually spoken directly with him for a few minutes outside of work! Even better/worse, it had happened because he recognized and approached her! She wanted to live in this moment without Jungkook saying something stupid. And she needed Hoseok to leave the arcade before she murdered her best friend because that didn’t seem like Hosok’s vibe –although he’d probably be very useful in a body-disposal scenario.

But Jungkook followed her, bumping against her shoulder as he said, “Ok, as your brother I have a question–”

“Shhhh,” she held up her finger but missed covering his mouth and instead just jabbed him in the chin. “Please let me enjoy this for a moment before you ruin it–”

“Enjoy what ? Why is a superior winking at you? That seems like a really inappropriate–”

“ Shhhhhh ,” she shushed more harshly. Eyes closed. Picturing the two of them at one of the machines, her standing behind with her arms around him, teaching him how to hold the gun. Ok, she’d have to stand on a stool or something but… romantic… the sexual tension distacting them both from the game… Hoseok suddenly spinning and taking her into his arms and pressing her against the console… the lights and sounds of the arcade dimming because he just couldn’t resist her any longer and needed to take her now –

“Alex Xiuying Song what the fuck is going on in your head right now? You look like an overripe tomato–”

“I do not!” she shouted and the frustrated, embarrassed energy exploded into her punching his arm multiple times. It just made him laugh and twist her into a headlock that made her squawk and thrash until he pushed her towards a machine.

“So who the fuck is that guy? Hoseok? Sounds Korean but–”

“He is Korean,” she sniffed, lifting her nose, as if that made him better than Jungkook… who was also Korean.

“Then why is his hair blonde? The fuck he think he is, an idol or something?”

“He has blonde hair because he’s beautiful,” she glared at him, “and he can pull of literally any hair color in the world. Like there’s not a color on the planet that wouldn’t be blessed to adorn his head–”

Jungkook started to ugly laugh, “What the fuck are you saying right now?”

“Shut up, ok? Just shut up and let me… he’s…. Ahhhhhhh and he talked to me first!”

“Wait. Wait wait,” Jungkook said, stopping just before he’d tapped his card to the console of House of the Dead. “Are you saying you like that guy? Because that would explain all your weird squid behavior right now but–”

“I’m not a squid!”

“You just had like a full on weirdo meltdown in front of him and I thought you were just nervous because he’s a big shot at work but–”

“He is a big shot at work,” she sighed. “He’s so competent at his job and so sexy walking around with a clipboard and–”

“You’re kidding me.”

“Do I like him… Ha! HA! Did you see his perfect face? That elegant nose… those chiseled cheekbones… those perfectly manicured eyebrows.”

“I… you’re being serious right now?”

“Are you saying you didn’t notice those things?”

“No? He just looks like some guy to me and like… you’re serious right now? That’s your type?”

“What does that mean! That’s my type? Yeah that’s my type! He’s kind and funny and charming and stunning– why are you looking at me like that! What I’m saying is objectively true!”

“I…” His head tilted to the side like a puppy dog as he studied the carpet for a moment before pressing, “So you like… want to hold his hand? Or you want to fuck him?”

“Um, both , obviously? Why are you being so weird about this?”

“No! No, it’s just…” She was surprised now by the sincerity on his face. Sincere confusion. “Honestly I kind of thought you were asexual.”

“Huh?!”

“It’s fine if you are!” he quickly insisted, hands held up in defense. “Obviously. I mean I’ve thought all this time you are–”

“You know all about the times I’ve had sex!” Unfortunately.

“Yeah and you had a terrible time and didn’t enjoy it at all so– I thought you just felt pressured–”

“Well yeah but… but because I’m awkward and it was bad not because… I don’t like… want sex!” She dropped her voice at the last second as several kids ran by. “Just because I don’t live and die by where I can stick my dick today–”

“You don’t even go on about hot guys in movies or anything. I mean rarely–”

“That’s because Hollywood is trash and just chooses boring ass white boys for their leads all the time and I can barely tell them apart. But like the things I would let Richard Ayoade do on my face–”

“You’re crazy,” he laughed. “That guy? And Hoseok? Are you sure you’re not just like… desperately reaching for what society tells you that you need to be fulfilled– ‘cause look, I think sex is the bomb but it’s really not like emotionally fulfilling or I wouldn’t need to have it all the time–”

“Woah,” she gasped. “Are you… self-reflecting?! What’s that like for you? Is that scary? I’d be scared looking too closely at what’s in your brain–”

“Yeah and what’s in your brain?! All this time I thought…”

“Are you serious? You really thought I’m– I’m just awkward! Not ace! Not that there’s anything wrong with being ace but–”

“Yeah, that's what I'm saying. It’s totally cool if you are.”

“I can’t believe this though. You’re like my best friend and you thought I was… shit. Shit! No wonder I can't get any dick! Am I putting out ace vibes?! Fuck!”

“Yeah well… Or maybe lesbian? I mean you should probably just directly let that guy know you want to fuck him,” Jungkook snickered, finally tapping his card and motioning for her to do the same. 

“Yeah fucking right. I’m going to go to that guy and ask for– are you fucking insane?” 

“Actually I’m a little rattled right now. All this time I thought–”

“Trust me, I want to get spit-roasted by Manny Jacinto and–”

“Yeah ok, I get it.”

“Wait… are you going to be weird suddenly? All this time you thought–”

“No I’m not going to be weird I just think you should be careful about getting spit-roasted, you’re really little and not very flexible and you’ve got that overactive gag-reflex. Like how many times did you puke on your orthodontist–”

“I hate you!” she cried and kicked the back of his knee. Since his attention was on the screen, he had no warning and went down. It was glorious. 

Jimin’s engagement party was extravagant, crowded, and also incredibly awkward, considering the mixing of groups. Jimin’s and the bride’s parents, both well connected and with a large guestlist of their own, greeted and praised and cast derisive looks at Jimin’s and In’am’s friends. 

“We aren’t even doing anything wrong!” Alex huffed, elbowing Taehyung to get around him to the buffet table. “Is that… tul? Baba ganoush?

“That’s tabouleh,” In’am corrected, suddenly at her elbow, “And you’re a disgrace. I mean, sorry, I think that’s what my parents keep telling me so it’s just etched into my brain–”

“Inny no!” Alex frowned. “You aren’t a disgrace.” Part of her brain thought she ought to give In’am a hug, but considering the likely cost of the sparkly dress she was wearing and that Alex was not a big hugger, she decided against it. Only belatedly did she realize she was also holding a plate of food and likely would have dumped it right down the back of the bride-to-be.

“The shit I’m getting for having a buffet table instead of tailed waiters or a seated dinner…”

“You’re doing great,” Taehyung assured her, sliding his arm around her shoulder. He was always comfortable and easy and cool. Alex would take her former crush on him to the grave, especially now that she knew Jungkook had spent all this time thinking she didn’t have a sexual bone in her body. Fucking ouch . She almost blurted that out now, desperate for their disagreement, but thankfully stopped herself. Taehyung and In’am were too cool; if they agreed she would stab herself with a fork in the middle of this luncheon. Then Im’an’s and Jimin’s parents would really disapprove of their friends, though at least she’d be done away with…

“You’re slow,” Jungkook complained, kicking her ankle. “Is it because you’re wearing a skirt?”

“Um, I wear skirts and dresses,” she glared. He’d already bullied her that morning when she’d come out of the bedroom wearing this dress. It was a nice dress! Maybe not as pricey or nice as what In’am and her family were wearing but…

Jungkook was piling his plate high, so Alex hurried along, looking uncomfortably away when Jimin came over to retrieve In’am with a hand on her waist and a kiss to her neck. 

“You’re going to piss off your parents,” Jungkook snickered.

“That’s the point,” Jimin sang, and dragged In’am away. In’am didn’t look as pleased about his stance and Alex sympathized with her. As much as she might in theory want to piss off her parents, in practice she’d want their approval. Thank fuck her parents were pretty awesome for the most part. Like somehow her mom had said Jungkook’s eyebrow piercing was “charming”? The fuck? But not for her, there would definitely be daughtercide if she came home with a pierced eyebrow. Probably not any guy she brought home either. Jungkook just got to live in a blessed golden bubble for some reason. Jungkook’s own parents had not been happy about it.

“If their parents are paying for the wedding, they probably shouldn’t bait them,” Sabina mused. Her hand touched Taehyung’s back lightly as he showed her he had filled his plate for both of them. Disgusting. Love. Ugh. She could never.

She followed Jungkook’s also-single back to the table they had left their jackets and bags at earlier to claim. Rude? None of them cared, they just wanted this particular table which would let them watch all the drama without having to participate in anything. There were supposed to be speeches at one point and Jimin had asked Jungkook to make one and he’d agreed, to Alex’s shock. But then of course he’d made her help him write it and listen to him practice, because he hated public speaking like that. She still didn’t understand why he’d agreed to do it.

But it wasn’t speech time just yet, just eating and mingling. Alex didn’t want to mingle. She turned to Jungkook to make some joke about how he’d never have an engagement party when she saw someone who made her gasp and dive behind Jungkook.

“The fuck are you doing?”

“Fuck, he’s here.”

“Who’s here?”

“ Yoongi. ”

“Her ex,” Taehyung explained to Sabina.

Jungkook snorted, “Barely. If you count three weeks as an ex–”

“It was longer than that! Like two months!”

“You didn’t date him for two months, stop lying.”

“It was enough –”

“It’s an emotional decision,” Sabrina interrupted, waving her hand dismissively at Jungkook. “If she feels like they’re exes–”

“We’re exes. Shit, don’t let him see me.”

“He doesn’t care.”

“ I   care. Shit. I forgot he and Jimin are still friends…”

“How did you forget that?”

“Well our circles don’t cross!” Alex defended. “Fuck. Now I need a date to the wedding…”

Sabrina shook her head, “Uh uh, it doesn’t mean that. I mean you can get a date if you want but you are perfect even solo and you don’t need to change for any man.”

“Yeah. Plus I doubt Yoongi is going to pay any attention,” Taehyung added, earning a nod from Jungkook and a scathing glare from Alex.

“It’s not just about him though, it’s about…” She trailed off as Yoongi turned, a woman’s hand running up his arm and touching his chest, clearly intimate. The light caught a very large jewel on her finger. “He’s married ?! Fuck, now I really can’t go single–”

“It doesn’t matter–” Sabina tried to insist while Jungkook snickered, “You can’t change who you are, Turtle, don’t worry about it.”

“Don’t call me Turtle!”

“Yeah it’s not like you can get a fiance by the time of the wedding,” Taehyung agreed.

Sabina sighed, “Plus it doesn’t matter . You’re living your best life solo.”

“Yeah, it’s not about that, it’s about appearances. If I can’t even find a date to a wedding– oh!” She slapped Jungkook’s arm. “You can be my date!”

“No thanks.”

“Shut up, you’re going with me. It’s not like you have a girlfriend to bother taking.”

“Yeah, but Yoongi knows we’re just friends so that doesn’t prove anything to him. Besides, I’ll be making my own plans…”

“You don’t have a girlfriend,” Alex said again.

“Yeah, I don’t want a girl to take, I want a girl to leave with…”

“Oh come on, it’s your friends’ wedding,” Alex frowned. “Can’t you think about something else for one night?”

Jungkook gave her a baffled look and demanded, “Why? It’s a wedding . They’re notorious for one night stands. Jimin and In’am know a lot of hot single women–”

“Haven’t you slept with most of them by now?” she snapped. 

Now it was Jungkook’s turn to glare as he defended, “Most of them? No. And sorry if I don’t want to be your pity date–”

“You aren’t a pity date. I’m the pity date! I just don’t want to go to Jimin’s wedding alone. You can still meet someone else–”

“I’m a groomsman. It’s not the same look if I roll into the wedding with a date on my arm.”

Alex gave Taehyung and Sabina an incredulous look and held her hand out, begging for them to agree with her. She was getting flushed now, annoyed by Jungkook’s blunt rejection. She wasn’t asking him to be her fake boyfriend or anything, she just wanted someone to sit with and dance with. So they were friends, that was fine! But it would be a visual credibility to anyone –like Yoongi– who might look over and think Oh, she’s the kind of girl who can find a date to a wedding no problem, huh? Maybe I was wrong about her…

“You’re getting all pissy,” Jungkook laughed. “Why?”

“I’m just asking you for a favor–”

“A favor you don’t need. Yoongi probably doesn’t even remember you.”

She couldn’t help arguing, “Uh, the sex was bad enough he definitely remembers me.” She meant it as a joke. A joke to save her dignity from this rejection. It was the wrong kind of joke to save her dignity. No one even laughed, which made it worse.

“Let’s see,” Jungkook suggested, raising his hand to wave him over. Alex practically tackled him, and Jungkook laughed. “Chill out, Alex. It’s not a big deal.”

“It is to me!”

“If she wants a date, she should have a date,” Sabina tried.

“Sure. Why don’t you ask that Hoseok guy you like?”

Alex sighed, “Because a wedding isn’t a good first date? And I don’t know him that well? And I have no reason to believe he’d say yes?”

“You asked me knowing I wouldn’t say yes,” Jungkook pointed out. But his teasing smile was too much this time. He was being an asshole. She wasn’t asking for much. They were friends; couldn’t friends help each other out in a pinch? So what if he didn’t care, or Yoongi didn’t care, she cared! She’d feel better having fun with her friend at a wedding, though realized now Jungkook was being upfront that he’d be bailing on her anyway.

“I can’t believe you’re so obsessed with pussy you can’t even be a good friend,” she snapped, grabbing her plate up. “You can’t even turn it off for one night to have fun with friends at your friend’s wedding? That’s insane. You should get help.”

“What the fuck, Alex–”

She promptly stomped off, not interested in anything else he had to say. If his answer was really a no, he could have least been less of an idiot about it but… but why couldn’t it be a yes? Just for Jimin’s wedding? Could he really not cool his dick for one wedding to spend time with her?

But no, apparently not! Because as she stomped off fuming, she began to think about their friendship and how one-sided it was. Were they really friends at all? Or were they just roommates and he played along when it served him –like how she managed all the apartment bills and did most of the grocery shopping– and peaced out the second she actually asked him for anything? 

“He’s a bad friend!” she cried, slamming her plate down on an unoccupied table.

“You ok?”

FUCK Yoongi.

She’d recognize his voice until the day she died probably, as the only guy she had anything close to a real relationship with. Short but devastating. She hadn’t known shit about what she was doing and they weren’t well matched and it was just all a mistake, her fault. Definitely her fault.

“Hey,” she said, dragging the word out awkwardly as she turned.

“Hi, Alex.”

“Yoongi, hey.”

“How’s it going? I haven’t seen you in years. This is my fiance, Raquel.”

“Hi, Raquel.” Alex almost blurted out that she was an old… but what? God, if she said she was an old girlfriend and Yoongi corrected her, she’d explode in a cloud of dust and shame. 

“So nice to finally meet you, Alex,” Raquel said. To finally meet you . Suddenly Alex could tell she was painfully correct and Jungkook was wrong. Yoongi had told this pretty, sophisticated woman he was marrying all about the mortifying ordeal that had been Alex Song.

Yoongi smoothly added, “I told her about that music festival we went to–”

“Oh god,” Alex sighed, covering her face. The drugs she and Yoongi had done at that 2 day festival had objectively been what led to them even dating in the first place. They’d sat at the back of the field, eyes closed, swaying to the music. He’d taken her hand. He probably regretted that a lot later.

“Not ‘oh god,’ it was cool. Maybe we did a little too much recreational…” he admitted, trailing off and giving Raquel a sheepish smile as she arched her eyebrow. “But Alex saved our asses because none of us even knew how to put a tent up and no one brought sunscreen or food…”

That was not what she had expected he would tell Raquel…

“I was at a show in Austin one year,” Raquel told Alex. “Three day concert. Rained the whole time.  It was too muddy to put up tents. We bailed on day one but cars couldn’t even get down the road so we had to walk miles… now I can remember it fondly but also… youth, right?”

Yoongi laughed and nodded, “Yeah, I couldn’t put myself through that again. There are better ways to hear music that don’t leave me covered in bug bites and sunburned… but I’m glad I did those things when I was younger.” He paused and looked at Alex with what she felt like was a strange look before asking, “What have you been up to? I hear little things through Jimin but–”

“Oh, not much,” Alex insisted, instantly awkward. “Still working at the coffee shop. Still going to three-day music shows in the summer and stuff…” Even though you both are too old and boring for them now and probably a lot more in charge of your lives and, like, engaged to be married and stuff.

“Are you still rooming with Jungkook?”

“Yeah…”

“Did he ever learn to load the dishwasher?” Yoongi asked, then explained to Raquel, “I swear I showed him twice because Alex was the only one doing it, and her roommate Jungkook tried to say he did all the dishes…” Oops . Alex had made a point at the time of always loading the dishwasher when Yoongi was over to make it look like she was more competent than she was. She’d looked so good at the music festival, but it was just dumb luck that she was the only one of her friends who’d gone to that kind of thing before and knew the right things to bring. Jimin had brought Yoongi, who Alex had only met a couple times before, and she had somehow… impressed him? So obviously she had to keep the lie up…

“A good roommate is hard to find,” Raquel sympathized. “He’s going to have a hard time finding a girlfriend if he’s lazy like that.”

“Yeah, he’s, um, better now, I guess… you know, people change… I mean, not me much, I’m still pretty much the same as always!” she laughed awkwardly.

There was an awkward beat, and then Yoongi said, “That’s cool. Some things change, some stay the same.”

“Uh huh.”

“Nice to meet you, Alex. We can catch up more later, I’d love to hear any stories you have of Yoongi–”

“All right, bye,” Yoongi said, interrupting Raquel. He steered her away with an arm around her waist, and waved at Alex over her shoulder. It was smooth and cool, just like he’d always been. God. It was inevitable that wouldn’t have worked, but it made it all even more mortifying that she’d had a chance and just been so… bleh. Awkward. Uncomfortable. She had tried too hard and not tried hard enough simultaneously. It was kind of unbelievable to look at Yoongi walking off with this cool-looking fiance and believe she had dated him for like seven whole weeks. They’d had sex! Even though she was really bad at it! He’d been nice but obviously not impressed…

And now she was “same ol’ Alex” who Yoongi wasn’t even threatened telling his fiance about. Why would he be? She still worked at Starbucks. She still lived with Jungkook. The greatest things Yoongi knew about her were lies and luck. 

“Hey.”

She turned around again, annoyed this time because she’d shoved a spoonful of cold food into her mouth. Jungkook stood there, looking displeased.

“Just come back to the table with everyone, ok?”

“No, you’re being a dick.”

“Because I won’t go to the wedding with you? You can find another date, it’s not for months.”

She glared at him, “Yeah? Can I? You’re so sure?”

“Sure I’m sure. You’re great. Who wouldn’t want to go with you?”

“You, apparently.”

He let out a deep sigh, then said, “Look. It’s not like you asked me because you want to go with me, you just don’t want to go alone. I think you’ll be happier if you try to find a date you actually want to take.”

“Yeah that’s so easy–”

“I can help you. And if it doesn’t work, we can go as friends.”

She paused, because he’d basically just agreed to what she wanted and she didn’t trust that. Did he realize he had just agreed to what she wanted?

“What’s that look? You don’t believe me?”

“No I don’t believe you! You just gave me a whole spiel about how that’s a terrible idea because it could stand in the way of your holy grail–”

“Yeah, so I’ll be extra motivated to help you find a date.”

“A good date,” she clarified. “Not like–”

He actually sounded annoyed as he said, “Come on, Alex. I wouldn’t set you up with just anyone.”

“Hm.” That was kinda sweet and soothed her hurt ego. He rolled his eyes at her expression as she considered this. “Fine. You can help me find a better date, otherwise you’re my last resort.”

“Gee, thanks, but fine. Now come back.”

“Why, does Sabina think you were being an asshole?”

“Yeah, and I wouldn’t care but Taehyung thinks so too and then they told Jimin and In’am about it and In’am gave me that look ���”

“I would expect you were far more used to that kind of look by now.”

Jungkook picked her plate up for her to hurry her along and scoffed, “What are you talking about? Women think I’m adorable. I mean, the kind of women who want what I’m selling. In’am is not one of those women.”

“Taken?”

“I know which trees not to sniff up, and it’s one of many reasons I’m as successful as I am.”

“In pussy business.”

They’d been walking by some of In’am’s family, who spun and gave them a wild look.

“Fuck…”

“If you get us kicked out before I even get an intro to–”

“You already saw someone you’re interested in?!”

“I didn’t plan on it but it is a party,” Jungkook pointed out. “Oh come on…”

“Just make sure it’s not a bridesmaid you’re going to have to work with on wedding stuff for the next six months…”

It was a bridesmaid. That didn’t bother Jungkook, and he’d convinced her to sneak off before the end of the party. Which was fine, but sometimes it sucked getting left behind. Like couldn’t he not fuck someone for once? So she didn’t have to bum a ride off one of their other friends?

She definitely needed to find a better date than Jungkook for the wedding. 

“What about him?” 

Alex leaned over but shook her head and pulled away.

Jungkook sighed, “Ok, what about–”

“Nooo, stop showing me pictures,” she complained. She balled up the boxers she’d pulled from the basket and chucked them at his face. 

Usually he would retaliate by slingshotting a pair of her panties back at her, but that would require dropping his phone and losing his place in this “Follows” list. 

“So you want me to just… pick? Traditional but ok–”

“No, I don’t trust you to just pick for me!” she glared at him. “But why are we already talking about this? It’s too early.”

“It might take some time…”

“Asshole.”

“No!” he laughed. “I meant because you’re being so damn choosy!” He scrolled down, paused and clicked on Nick’s profile but… nah, he wasn’t right for Alex, even as a wedding date.

“Yeah because it’s my friend’s wedding! I don’t want to show up with some rando as my blind date.”

“There’s nothing wrong with that. It’s just a wedding date. This would be a lot easier if you’d just be chill–”

“If you tell me to be chill I will strangle you with your own fucking tube sock,” she threatened.

He just rolled his eyes, “Your puny little hands couldn’t tie that around my throat.”

“I’d stuff it down your throat.”

“I’d like to see you try.”

She launched herself forward, sock in hand, and did her best. Alex had weight to her but it definitely wasn’t enough to budge him when he was sitting on the ground. She tried to use her leg to keep his hand away but Jungkook had done too many years of martial arts to be even a little bothered. He just rolled forward, swept her legs to the side so she splatted on her back, and then pressed her arms down at her sides. 

“Now put the sock in your mouth.”

“Fuck no.”

“Put it in your mouth, I won.”

“I’m not putting your damn stinky sock in my mouth!”

He paused for a moment. Definitely a familiar position for him, but not exactly with Alex. She looked up at him with that challenging glare and he realized maybe he had been a little bossier than he should be with her… and in that position with him towering over like that… She was short. He wasn’t such an asshole that he didn’t know that could make small girls uncomfortable. 

This was, in fact, the most compromising position he’d ever had Alex in. They didn’t really wrestle, though poking, hitting, kicking, and pinching were all common. 

So he almost said a few things at once. “Do it now,” because that’s what he would say to a girl he was going to fuck and they were in the position. “You’re so small,” because she was and always whined and kicked him when he made fun of her for being so small because apparently she thought you could only be small if you were also skinny. She wasn’t skinny but she was short and that still equaled small. And “you’re lucky I’m not going to actually make you lick my sock, you turd,” because that’s what a good friend would say.

Instead what he said was, “Lucky,” and then pushed off of her. 

Of course she wouldn’t drop it and immediately demanded, “I’m lucky? Lucky for what? Lucky you just shattered my leg bones sitting on me like that? I think I need to go to the hospital–”

“Lucky you have me to help you find this date,” Jungkook said and picked up his phone again. Her hair stuck out every which way as she sat up and pushed her glasses back up her nose. He couldn’t help but laugh at the static and reached out to brush it down, but she punched his hand away and sulked at him.

“Ok, what about…” he said, returning to his scrolling. The truth was he didn’t have many male friends she didn’t already know. Their social circles had been nearly identical since middle school. Even when he had done something without her, they usually picked the only friends worth keeping around to add their their mutual group. Usually if Jungkook was going out, Alex was right there with him, unless it was a date. But he dated women, so that didn’t give him many male connections.

Besides, it wasn’t just about finding guys he knew but figuring out who would potentially be a decent enough match for Alex to go on enough dates with her for her to not be weird about the wedding. Because apparently she was being weird about the wedding. Maybe that shouldn’t surprise him. She’d dated so rarely ever, it must still seem like such a big deal to her. He really had thought maybe she just wasn’t interested in that, but now that he knew she was… it made it hard for him to really envision who would be good for her. She’d only had the one barely-boyfriend Yoongi Min and Jungkook had never understood how that even came about anyway. Everything about them seemed wrong together. 

Who might like Alex? It wasn’t that he thought she was hard to like! Actually completely the opposite, she was one of his favorite people in the world. She was great. Funny, smart but also dumb in endearing ways, sometimes cheerful, sometimes grumpy, good cook, loud about her (sometimes terrible) opinions on just about everything, up for a joke and a friendly competition, the same degree of sore loser as he was so she didn’t resent him for it when he was an ass about it. Non-judgmental except about the things it was funny to be judgmental about. Sincere except when she was sulking behind humor. There was no one’s opinion he trusted more or whose support meant more to him. 

But she just didn’t put herself out there like guys were looking for at this point. She wasn’t hot in a mainstream way, but plenty of guys didn’t care about that as long as she made it clear she was actually interested. She looked cute in pictures, she could make a funny dating profile and hook someone, he was sure of it! Even with as weird as she could be, someone would find it charming. The things she complained about herself –her glasses, her weight, her occasional acne, her gremlin nature– weren’t important and if she liked a guy for whom they were important, he was a dick anyway. It wasn’t that. But… she just still needed a special someone and he just didn’t know that kind of special someone for her, so he couldn’t really envision who that person was. But he definitely existed! Somewhere!

He showed her another picture, a guy who might like her, but she grimaced and shook her head.

“You don’t like anyone I’m showing you.”

“I don’t know, you’re only showing me a picture! I don’t know anything about any of them!”

“But do you think they’re hot?”

“Eh… not really,” she admitted.

“What’s your type?”

“Hoseok Jung,” she instantly answered with a sigh. 

“So like… long-faced 5s who wish they were kpop idols–”

“What?! How dare you?! He’s not a fucking five ! He’s at least a nine with blonde hair, definitely a 10 with his dark hair.”

“Uh huh, on a scale of–”

“You’re like a 6.”

“Six,” he repeated, leveling a look at her. “ Six . I am not a six .”

“Really? Because I’m looking at you and–”

“I’m at least an eight. If I was a little taller, nine, easy–”

“Ok that’s so funny though. Like you’re going to argue with my six but not even have the ego to say you’re a ten–”

“Well, if I could grow a beard maybe,” he mused, running his fingers along his skin. He hadn’t shaved in two days and barely had any stubble to show for it yet. “This baby face is a blessing and a curse–”

“Your baby face isn’t the problem, it’s the stupid abs you’re trying to convince the world you have. You’re just flat. Eat a fucking cheeseburger already.”

“So you’d rate me higher without abs…”

“Eh… no, probably not. Six seems right for you.”

“Ok, four.”

He’d meant it as a joke. A joke . Because she was saying he was a six! And she didn’t give a shit what he thought about her looks! But there was a moment before she responded, and in that moment he realized that maybe even Alex wouldn’t think a joke like that was funny.

“Four as in the number of items from these laundry baskets you’ve even touched?” she asked, kicking one towards him. “I’m not folding it all myself!”

“I was joking. You aren’t a four. Obviously you aren’t a four or–”

“God, if you feel like you have to clarify, that’s so much worse. I don’t need you trying to convince us both that I’m hot. I may not be like the girls you go after but someone else will find me hot. Someday.”

“Yeah! Wait, I mean–”

“Fold the fucking laundry, Jungkook.”

Now he felt like an asshole and tossed his phone aside to do that, but tried to make it better by asking, “Do you want me to tell you the things I think are pretty–”

“Jesus Christ, no I don’t. That would be weird for both of us. My feelings aren’t hurt you don’t think I’m hot… it’d be way weirder if you did.”

“Ok…”

“You’re not my type either so… damn, I hope Hoseok doesn’t think I’m just a four…”

Jungkook had no way to predict what Hoseok thought. He hadn’t really read much from his appearance at the arcade. He just seemed kind of bubbly and bland. Probably he’d be great as a Starbucks store manager because he seemed like the kind of person who got way too excited about organizing merchandise and recommending frappuccinos to people.

“Why don’t you ask him?” Jungkook suggested.

“Ask him… to rate my attractiveness–”

“No, ask him out,” he clarified. “You’re shitting on everyone I show you. You think he’s hot. Find out if he thinks you’re hot.”

“I can’t do that while he’s in corporate– and besides, it’d be mortifying when he says no and– and this is my career!”

“Yeah but what if he’s down for it?”

“The wedding is too far away. Even if he said yes, I can’t ask him to go to a wedding with me in six months. He’d get tired of me way before then.”

“Yeah but maybe he’d feel obligated if he’d already said yes–”

“Jungkook! God you’re such an asshole today after I loaned you quarters for the laundry–”

“I’m folding it, aren’t I?” he pointed out, adding another shirt of hers he’d folded to her pile. “Fine, keep him in mind as a backup then. If I don’t find you someone else by a few weeks out, then you can ask him.”

“How is he a back up if he’ll say no?”

“Maybe he won’t say no.”

“But then I’d need to not transfer to his store… I can’t ask him out if he’s literally my boss.”

“Hm… good point… guess it’s now or never?”

“Never. God I’m getting heartburn just talking about it like this. He’s so pretty… he’s definitely not thinking dirty things about me when he sees me…”

“It doesn’t have to be about looks. Your personality is ok–” He broke off as she threw his jeans in his face. He laughed.

“Besides, you’re my backup.”

“You can’t sabotage every suggestion I come up with though.”

“Yeah and you can’t just pawn me off on a piece of shit just so you don’t have to go with me–”

“Hey!” He gave her a sincerely offended look. “I wouldn’t just pawn you off on a piece of shit. That’s why this is harder! I mean, if you would just be casual about the wedding date, there are more guys I’d be ok setting you up with for that but if you want to date first and–”

“I mean I don’t need a boyfriend but yeah I’d like to go on like at least a date before. What if the guy is like an alcoholic and gets too drunk at the wedding? Or causes a scene? Or bails on me to go fuck a bridesmaid?”

“I told you I was going to do that one and you said–”

He wasn’t expecting her sigh, “I guess I was hoping you could just not be a fuckboy for our friend’s wedding. But whatever, that’s between you and Jimin–”

“Are you being… judgy right now?”

“That you care more about sex than celebrating our friends getting married? A little, yeah!”

“I don’t care about marriage, but yeah, Jimin and In’am are great. I’ll be celebrating their romance so many times between all the parties and the wedding and groomsman duties… he doesn’t give a shit if I fuck someone from his wedding as long as it’s not a family member.”

“Ok, whatever…”

“We all have our own ways of celebrating love.”

“Sex isn’t the same thing as love.”

“Sure it can be, even if it’s only for a night. You think I don’t treat the women I’m with well? They feel loved for a night.”

“Jesus Christ,” Alex scoffed and rolled her eyes. “Look, whatever, I didn’t expect you to get all defensive. Fuck whoever you want, I don’t care. I’ll find my own date to the wedding.”

“No, I promised I’d help.”

“I don’t need your help.”

“You kinda do.”

“Maybe I don’t,” she said, glaring. Her glare was so funny. Least threatening glare ever. Her mom had a terrifying glare and it seemed to have skipped Alex completely. 

“Really? You’re going to find a date without my help at all?”

“Yeah!”

“Yeah?”

“YEAH,” she said. “So don’t bother.”

Jungkook just put his phone away and went back to folding. She was doing her Big Alex Talking thing right now, but later she’d admit she didn’t actually know anyone. She didn’t do much. She didn’t meet people. He was way more social than she was. Sure, she’d have fun at parties with their friends. She was fun to do things with! Honestly, she was way more fun to do things with than any of their other friends, and he knew that. But she was a creature of habit. She didn’t know shit about dating or meeting people or relationships. 

He looked forward to her crawling back. He’d even be nice about it! Maybe he’d keep looking for ideas while he waited for her to eat crow…

Despite what Jungkook liked to tease her about, Alex actually did have friends he wasn’t a part of. Because Jungkook worked at the Verizon store in sales, he had no concept of fun coworkers. 

But Alex’s coworkers were (mostly) a dream. She loved the people at her store. There was a reason she had stayed in the same store for so long, because even the early shift could be fun if you worked with the right people, and most of the people she worked with were totally the right people. Whether that was singing pop songs through the headsets while on drive-through, or leaving funny notes at closing for the openers to see when they showed up at 4:30 am, or coming up with on-the-fly debates to enlist customer feedback on, or experimenting to make their own new favorite drinks. Alex’s absolute favorite –a soy peppermint white mocha frappuccino– had definitely added some inches to her waistline. But they were just that good, so she’d embraced the additional chub, that’s just the way it had to be. Well, she’d gone through an americano phase for a while to try and cut the calories but that much caffeine had basically turned her into a maniac, so she decided to be happy and docile and embrace the frappuccino padding.

Coworkers at the store did lots of things together –movies, cook outs, pool parties, cookie decorating in the winter, volleyball games. Some went camping together; others went clubbing. Alex didn’t go along to everything, but depending which of her coworkers were going, she’d tag along. They were her friends! Jungkook was far from her only friend! He was also strictly forbidden from sleeping with any of her coworkers, which he said he wasn’t tempted by anyway because everyone smelled like her work clothes. The social circles didn’t mix much anyway.

On this particular beautiful spring day, a handful of her coworkers were heading over to the park down the street from the store to play some volleyball. Alex dragged her feet throughout her shift, deciding whether to go or not, but Amy and Rob begged her to, and Milo said he would only go if she did, and it was really nice out… 

So she was convinced, and headed straight to the park with Milo once their shifts ended.

“Ugh, I feel like I should have gone home to shower first,” she complained. “But if I did, there’s no way I’d get my ass back out of my apartment.”

“We’ll all smell like cocoa powder and espresso, it doesn’t matter. I don’t even notice it anymore. I took this guy on a date the other day and as soon as he got in my car, he was like ‘Either you work at a coffee shop or you have a serious addiction.’”

Alex snickered, “Yeah? Well did the date go well after that?”

“No, totally bombed. He doesn’t even like coffee… So do we all just stink all the time?”

“Could be worse,” Alex pointed out. “I mean there are worse things to smell like.”

“Yeah, but there are better things to smell like too… at least we’ll be outside.”

“Yeah but the others didn’t work yet so they won’t smell like this yet.”

Milo suggested, “It’s probably in our blood by now. We all just sweat espresso. At least we all have each other.”

“You mean to comfort us until we die alone?”

“Yeah exactly. We’ll all get ground up for mulch for cacao plants…”

They reached the park to find the game of volleyball already kicking off, and hot dogs and hamburgers on the grill to the side.

“I hope you scrubbed that grill first!” Alex called, making a beeline for the grill while Milo went to bully his way into the game. She reached the couple of people gathered around it as Amy assured her,

“Yeah we did, are you kidding? We’re great at sanitation!” 

Beside her, who should turn around with a big smile on his face but Hoseok as he agreed, “Yeah, I was already in the groove from scrubbing the new store so I gave it a good once, twice over.”

“Oh. Hey.”

“Don’t look at me like that,” he laughed. “I can be here, I’m officially not corporate anymore!”

“You’re here sharking our employees, huh?” Alex teased.

Hoseok’s smile grew even bigger as he insisted, “No! No! Dan would kill me… everyone knows your group has the tightest staff. Maybe I just want to learn how to recreate that at my store.”

“Tight, huh?” Amy laughed –Amy and Hoseok had known each other since high school. But Amy had kids young and was a stay at home mom for a while and only worked part time now, while Hoseok had instead gone right into his career. 

Had Alex asked questions of Amy sometimes when they worked the early morning sleepy shift together? Just because she wanted to learn more about Hoseok? …. Maybe.

“Are you really going to complain? I bought the hot dogs!”

Beside them, Oliver snickered, “Yeah because you’re trying to lure us in.”

“I’m not! My intentions are pure! Amy invited me…”

Alex gave them a suspicious look now. Were they…? Amy was a single mom. They’d been friends forever. Amy was a shift lead like her, so she could date an assistant manager at another store…

But as if her thoughts had been read, within minutes Amy mentioned a recent date and Hoseok added that he’d enjoyed babysitting. 

“Ok first batch is done… I think,” Hoseok said, leaning closer to the grill. Alex gasped and grabbed his shoulder, pulling him back.

“Don’t put your face near the fire!”

He cried out, “I wasn’t even thinking about it!” He shook his head, “Ahh, you’ve got the common sense skills…”

“... To go work for you?” she laughed.

“I’m not trying to– why does everything think I’m trying to shark people? I thought I could still hang out even though I’m an assistant store manager–”

“You can hang out,” Oliver assured him. “You’re cool.”

“Are you going to play volleyball?” Alex asked him. “That’s where the true trial begins…”

Hoseok glanced at the sand pit nervously as he lifted hot dogs from the grill with tongs and set them on the plate Alex held out, “Ah, well… I’m not very good…”

“Most of us aren’t good,” she admitted.

Oliver glared at her, “Speak for yourself, I’m basically pro.”

“Then why are you hovering around the hot dogs instead of out there?”

“Uh because free food?”

More free food was showing up. Andrea brought a batch of brownies –confirmed free of both nuts and pot. Priyya brought an industrial-sized case of Jell-o cups because her parents had a Costco membership. Chesley produced a massive bag of baby carrots, “So y’all can get your veggies today and not live on carbs and coffee. I’m worried about everyone’s shits.”

Alex tried to not be pathetically obvious that she was hanging around Hoseok. She really did. She kept reminding herself that just because it kind of felt like he was hanging around her too didn’t mean anything. She was probably imagining it. He was just so nice and friendly and open with everyone!

He asked about her family as they ate because apparently he remembered that her brother had just moved to Italy –”not the brother I met at the arcade though,” he clarified, forcing her to facepalm and admit that wasn’t actually her brother, just her best PLATONIC friend. He smiled like he had known they weren’t siblings but wanted to be nice and she felt the need to insist again it was just a platonic friendship, and then admit her friend was a fuckboy and not into her.

“He’s so hot though,” Jayme sighed. 

Alex snorted, “Is he? Not my type at all.”

“Oh, what’s your type?” Hoseok asked, then clapped his hand to his mouth and laughed, “Sorry, maybe I shouldn’t ask that… I’m just caught up in the gossip!”

“Yeah, what is your type?” Amy asked, nudging her arm. “You like, outgoing…”

“Sure…”

“Hardworking.”

“Uh huh.”

“You look so uncomfortable,” Andrea laughed.

“Yeah, I don't know! None of you ever cared about my dating life before! Leave me alone!”

“Because there’s no dating life to discuss,” Oliver grinned at her.

“Hey I get enough of that shit at home. I’m not against dating, I’m just… picky I guess…”

“As you should be,” Hoseok insisted. “Don’t settle! You deserve to not waste your time with someone.”

“Yeah.” She took a massive bite of her hot dog and mumbled with a mouthful, “Thanks.”

People ate in waves, and once she’d finished, Alex thought she should probably give Hoseok space and not make obvious she was hovering. Besides, some people like Kacy might be shitty if they picked up on it; it wouldn’t be the first time she’d talked shit about Alex…

So Alex went to join the next round of volleyball, taking up position at the front of the net where she hoped most of the balls would go over her head anyway. 

But when the first ball sailed over the net, it came right for her. She flailed and managed to pop it back up into the air but couldn’t hit it again, so she dove out of the way. Hoseok was right there to hit it, barely tipping it over the net as everyone yelled.

“Oh!” She hadn’t even realized he’d come to play as well and it left her flustered when he held his hand out to help her up.

“Wait, your team has too many people!” Chesley pointed out.

Hoseok laughed, “Alex and me are only one person.”

“Yeah, they suck, let ‘em stay.”

“This is maligning the sanctity of–”

“I’ll malign your sanctity, just throw the ball!” Amy challenged and clapped her hands. 

So Chesley did. And Hoseok and Alex did not exactly make him regret it. She had a couple good saves, there was that in her favor at least! And Hoseok too kept the ball from being lost at least once. 

Afterwards Alex joked, “You’d never guess I played volleyball when I was a kid, huh?”

“You’re so fast!” Hoseok argued instead. “Wow, it was so impressive though! You dive right across the court!”

She flushed at what seemed like sincere flattery. God, he was just so nice . And hanging out, it was easy to remember that he was more than his job –previously in corporate and now an assistant store manager. 

“You know what I used to play?” he continued. “Tennis.”

“Oh, yeah?” Rich kid , she immediately thought, which was not what she had previously expected of him. It did not occur to her he might just have been lazy like Jungkook. Though he did dress nicely when he came by the store to say hi to Amy or Craig, who he also was pretty close with. He’d looked nice at the arcade. He looked nice in his social media profiles, though she was too shy to actually friend him and see anything other than his public posts, which weren’t many.

“I wanted to be a pro for a while in elementary school,” he continued as they walked together to get drinks. “I won bronze in a tournament.”

“Woah! Really!”

“There were four people,” he admitted, clapping his hands as he laughed at himself.

“So not last!”

“Ah, I knew you’d say that. You’re a funny person who’s also nice.”

A funny person who’s also nice. The death knell of romantic hope. Funny and nice. He might as well have just shoved her away from him as they walked. 

Sigh.

But it wasn’t like that was unusual. She knew that. She didn’t even know how much older he was, but at least a couple of years, and further along in his career. And beautiful. And nice and funny but also lots of other things too.

She had planned to go home by this time, since she’d worked all day, but found herself bullied into staying. Some were debating whether to go to the pool at Chesley’s apartment building. Some were debating a movie. Some weren’t thinking of leaving at all, just letting conversation take them wherever. An hour flitted away like that, and then Alex decided she really ought to head home.

“I know, but I open tomorrow!” she complained, pushing up from the grass where they’d stretched out. Her legs itched. She still needed to walk back to her car too, which she’d left up the street at work.

“Yeah, I need to head out too, my girls should be getting back from their dad’s,” Amy said. Apparently Hoseok had ridden with her, because he stood too and thanked everyone for letting him hang out and seemed genuinely pleased when they said he wasn’t so bad for an assistant manager.

As they started to walk, he sighed, “I know I won’t be able to hang out like this with the people in my store though, huh?”

“Depends who’s in your store,” Amy insisted. “Lots of managers I wouldn’t want to be around outside of work, but you’re one of the good ones.”

“I wouldn’t want to make anyone uncomfortable though…”

“How could you make anyone uncomfortable?” Alex demanded. 

“Ah well thanks…”

“Hey, do you two want to come over to my house for dinner?” Amy asked. “I’ve got space at the table.”

Embarrassed if Amy felt the need to invite her along, Alex quickly insisted, “I’m probably all set from those hot dogs–”

“Yeah, but what about tomorrow?”

“Amy,” Hoseok glared. Which confused Alex. She suddenly felt like something was happening she didn’t understand. 

Amy actually laughed, “Well? Do something then!”

“I don’t want to…”

“Yeah, no one ever wants to listen to me!” Amy sighed dramatically and then quickened her step to leave them behind.

Now thoroughly confused, Alex admitted, “I don’t know what she’s talking about. I just didn’t want to invite myself along– I know you two are friends and–”

“Yeah, we’re friends,” Hoseok agreed. “Sometimes she gets pushy. She’s just trying to help me but… well…”

“Help you what? Make friends? You really shouldn’t feel like it wasn’t ok for you to hang out with us. Even if it doesn’t feel right at your own store, it’s not a big deal with us. We all like you and you aren’t in charge of us.”

“You don’t mind?”

“Me? Of course not, why would I mind?”

“Ok, that’s good.”

They walked half a block in silence. And Alex just had that weird feeling like maybe she wasn’t weird for feeling like what had just happened was weird. Was Amy trying to help her spend more time with Hoseok?! Had she figured out from Alex’s vague and infrequent questions that she had a crush?! Shit! 

But… But Amy and Hoseok were friends. She wouldn’t nudge Alex towards something if there wasn’t the possibility it was welcome…

But how could it be welcomed? He was so…

“Hey, how old are you?” Alex asked impulsively. “I’m allowed to ask that, right?”

Hoseok laughed, “It’s only illegal if you’re hiring me.”

“ You’re the assistant store manager.”

“But not yours!”

“Yeah, are you going to grief me if I don’t come to your store?”

“You made up your mind already, huh? And I’m twenty-nine.”

Oh. That wasn’t as much older than her as she thought. 

“Don’t get me wrong, I think it would be a lot of fun to work with you,” she said. Was that flirty? Was she flirting? Was she doing this right?! God, she was insane, there was no way he wanted her to flirt with him… he was just looking for employees…

“Yeah, I think so too,” Hoseok said. “But I get it. You’re happy at your store and you’re doing really well. You like being a shift supervisor?”

“I do! Yeah.”

“So you’re definitely not coming to my store.”

Fuck. Was she really saying that? Well, she could say no and then always change her mind later… she doubted Hoseok would grief her if later she asked to transfer, though it might not be his call anyway. And probably he wouldn’t even be an asshole if she asked him out right now and it was totally unwarranted. It wasn’t like against company policy or anything though–

“Hey, can I ask you a hypothetical question?”

“Sure.”

“This is totally hypothetical, not about anyone you know,” she said. “But I didn’t know what to tell my friend and they’re worried they’ll get in trouble for asking.”

“Oh,” he said, looking very serious.

“Can a shift lead date a shift lead or even like a store manager at another store?”

Alex really felt like she might shit her pants. It wasn’t just her stupid feelings on the line right now, but also possibly her career. Maybe she’d have to leave Starbucks and go work at fucking Verizon with Jungkook. She would be surly and not good at it.

“Yes, that’s not against company policy,” he said. “Level differences in dating just can’t be in the same store, or in a store and corporate. Peer-relationships in a store have to be disclosed and ideally someone transfers to a different store. But at different stores, there’s no issue with it.”

“Oh ok, thanks. I figured you have the handbook memorized and everything.”

“Yeah.”

“I’m not going to your store,” she said. 

“Yeah, I get it, how many times do you need to reject me?” he joked.

“Do you want to get dinner tomorrow? Not with Amy though, just with me…”

FUCK! She was really asking this! 

He immediately laughed and she died, but just as quickly he assured her, “No, I can’t believe it. I was going to ask you that!”

“You were going to ask me out?”

“But I didn’t know if it was ok with you and if you were thinking about coming to my store I didn’t want to risk making you uncomfortable but–”

“Wait, really ?”

“No?”

“Sorry, I’m having a hard time processing this right now–”

“Your own question?” he laughed.

“I didn’t expect you to say yes!” she admitted. “I just expected to make you awkward and uncomfortable and I was already planning my resignation letter in my head–”

“From the whole company?!”

“Yes! Wait… wait did you say yes?”

His whole face lit up; he laughed with his whole body. He did not seem to think she was being a loser about all of this. He just looked amused and… happy.

“Yes, yeah,” he said. “Let’s get dinner tomorrow and uh… do you want to see a movie? Do you like movies?”

“I like movies.”

“What kind of movies?”

They’d reached the parking lot now though, where Amy was waiting in her car with the music up. They decided to trade numbers and discuss movies and dinner over text. She actually watched Hoseok type his number into her phone. She actually received a smile from Hoseok as he said bye and headed towards the call. She was actually going on a date with Hoseok.

She couldn’t wait to get home and lord it over Jungkook! He was never going to believe she’d been the one to ask him out!

She got into her car as Amy and Hoseok drove away. Her radio had been left on and blasted. She hurried to turn it off but actually the shock of a loud noise was welcome because it proved this wasn’t a dream. Had that really just happened? Had she asked Hoseok out? And he’d admitted he wanted to ask her out?! That couldn’t be true, right? She’d just hallucinated…

But she looked at her phone and saw his name and number, entered by his own finger.

“HOLY FUCK!”

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