#i’ve never used tiktok and i had to ask my friend to explain to me where everything went

[pastabaguette]

not even canon at all, because he would not post this, but i still wanted to draw it. it’s funny.

i’d also like to bring to attention that i changed all the profile pictures. a minor thing, but i think it’s cool.

[daisyblog]

Behave Yourself

Young Love Masterlist Summary: Louis and YN find out Mia has been on dates ft Uncle Harry.

based on this request.

(Mia - 13, Tommy - 13, Noah - 8)

YN had noticed for a few weeks that Mia had been glued to her phone. At first she thought it may have been because she’s at that age where teenagers are attached to their devices, scrolling through endless amounts of TikTok’s.

But the way Mia typed fast and smiled childishly at her screen, and the little giggles that followed told YN that her not so little girl had a crush. As much as YN wanted Mia to remain her little baby girl, she knew she was growing up quickly and the day that someone else stole her heart was closer than she thought. But she knew Louis wouldn’t be so keen on the thought of Mia dating.

With Louis touring, YN decided to let Mia enjoy her small romance and what Louis didn’t know couldn’t hurt him.

But a few weeks had gone by and it was noticeably obvious that Mia was going on a few dates. She would come downstairs dressed to impress, makeup and hair done to perfection. She would tell her mum she was going out with friends but YN was a teenage once too, she knew all the tricks.

But the week leading up to YN, Mia and Noah going to see Harry’s LOT show at Wembley, she was surprised when she received a phone-call from Harry.

Quickly pressing the green button her phone to accept the call, she placed it next to her ear. “Hi darling! You alright?”.

“Hey YN! Sorry to bother you love…just wanted to check something”. Harry’s voice came through the phone, YN continued to stir the pan of pasta that sat on the hob. “Are you coming to the show on Saturday?”.

YN frowned slightly, confused as why Harry thought the plans had changed. “Yeah…it’ll just be me, Mia and Noah…Lou’s on tour”.

“It’s just Mia text me asking if she could have another ticket”. Harry explained, before continuing. “Which is fine, I’m assuming she wants a friend to come”.

“Oh she’s cheeky!”. YN let out a giggle, knowing how bold Mia was. “I’m sorry H…I didn’t know she asked you or was even wanting to bring someone”.

Harry’s smile could be heard through the phone. “Teenager ey?”.

“She’s keeping me on my toes that’s for sure…thirteen going on thirty”. YN couldn’t deny that Louis had stamped their daughter well, with his infectious and carefree personality.

“Can’t believe she’s a teenager already!”. The disbelief was strong in Harry’s sentence, he always saw Mia as that little baby he first met. “How little Noah? Can’t wait to see them both!”,

YN always loved how much the four boys loved Mia and Noah, despite not seeing Noah as much as they did Mia at his age, they still all made the effort to be apart of their lives.

“He’s good…loves football at the moment, in fact he’s kicking the ball around the garden as we speak”. YN glanced to the open door where Noah passed by kicking the ball with his boot covered feet.

“Oh that’s my boy!”. There was a sound of movement and muffled voices. “M’sorry love but I’ve got to to go…I’ll see you on Saturday though”.

“No worries my darling…see you soon H!”.

It was around 9pm, YN was enjoying five minutes to herself as Noah was asleep for the night. The tv playing in the background when Mia walked into the room.

“Hi Moo’s!”. Mia playfully rolled her eyes at the use of her mother’s nickname for her, but continued to sit next to her. “Have you spoken to Dad?”.

“Yeah…I miss him so much Mum!”. Mia had never coped with Louis going away on tour. YN could see the sadness on her face and as a mother it hurt her that she couldn’t do anything but be there.

YN moved her body so she was now fully facing her eldest child. “I know you do love…but we have a fun weekend planned don’t we?”. Mia nodded her head slightly, knowing her Mum was trying to cheer her up. “Uncle Harry actually phoned me earlier this afternoon”.

Mia tried to hide her nerves, knowing she had texted him to ask for another ticket. Her fingers were fidgeting with the bracelet that laid neatly on her wrist.

“Who’s the lucky friend?”. When Mia couldn’t look at YN, she continued. “Mi…if you think I wasn’t sneaking out at the weekends to meet up with a boy when I was around your age…then you’re very wrong”. YN gave Mia a wicked smile as she looked at her mother with curiosity.

“Who said anything about a boy?”. Mia bit back, a sassy grin wide on her face. YN raised her eyebrows in question. “His names Tommy, I like him…but we’re just friends…kind of”.

“Kind of?”. YN knew dating wasn’t as simple in terms of labelling relationships as it was when she and Louis were younger.

Mia looked up at her Mum for the first time since the conversation had began. She knew her mother wouldn’t judge, or have a strong negative opinion, that just wasn’t her. But openly talking about a secret she’s kept for a couple of weeks felt odd. “We talk and act like we’re more than friends…but then we haven’t said we are…so kind of”.

“Sounds like you’re both being mature about the whole thing,..which is good because you’re still both young”. YN complimented the pair, despite not knowing this Tommy that had her daughter in smiles and giggles. “So is Tommy coming to Uncle Harry’s show?”.

The shy smile on Mia’s mouth returned, and YN couldn’t deny how amusing this side of her daughter was. “Yeah…but he’s nervous…I think it’s because we get noticed at shows sometimes and then because he’ll meet you and Uncle Harry”.

YN could empathise. She was a young teenager once going to meet the boy she liked family. Luckily for her Louis’ family become her family and welcomed her with open arms.

“I get that sweetheart”. YN voice was calm because she knew how it felt to be misunderstood by the people you’d expect to be supportive. “Okay…how about we opt for sitting in the box?”. Mia’s eyes darted to her mother’s, full of curiosity and anticipation at where her mum was going with this. “Yeah? So we can have our space and maybe that’ll help with the nerves”.

“Really?”. When YN nodded in response, she was hit with Mia body as she wrapped her arms around her mum in a tight cuddle. “I love you Mum…you really are the best!”.

The words caught YN in the chest. She would never get tired of hearing how much both Mia and Noah loved her. She absolutely adored both her children and hearing them say it back, meant more to her than she could ever explain.

Being a mum herself, she could never understand how her own parents could have treated her the way that they have done. Her children are her world, and she’ll do anything to keep them safe and loved.

“I love you much more sweet girl!”. YN held her daughter close, enjoying the cuddle before she rushed back off to her bedroom.

---

“A what?”. Louis asked again through the FaceTime call, unsure if he had heard YN correctly. “You didn’t just say Mia is taking a boy to the show with her”.

YN knew Louis wouldn’t be so understanding about Mia and Tommy, but their little girl was growing up. “Oh relax Lou…she’s being honest with me about it all…plus I didn’t see you worrying about us being young when we were sneaking out to kiss down by the bridge behind your house”.

Louis but at his lip to try and conceal his grin as the hidden memory had come back to life in his mind. “Yeah alright…alright you’ve got me there…but I don’t like that she’s growing up this quick love”.

“I know babe…but these things were going to happen at some point…and I think we need to give her some space and trust that she’ll make the right decisions for herself”. YN knew Louis would find the transition of Mia becoming a teenager hard. She was always Daddy little girl and had Louis wrapped around her finger.

“I miss you all…how’s Noah? Hope he’s not growing up to quick!”. Louis’ smiled screamed sadness. Touring was bittersweet for him, he loved travelling and singing every night but he missed his little family more than anything.

YN could see how hard this tour was for Louis. When he toured with the band, she and Mia were with him every step of the way. But it was different now that they were older. “He’s good…scored a goal in football today…I think I managed to video it, I’ll send it to you”.

“Tell him I’m so proud of him…I can’t wait for you all to come and visit”. Louis felt the tears threaten to appear, but he kept it hidden, not wanting to upset YN.

“We miss you more!”.

---

Saturday had come around quicker than YN realised. Since Noah woke up, he had been excited to see Harry later that day. He’s had multiple times what time they were going to leave to head over to the stadium.

So when YN had decided that they would leave a little earlier than planned, Noah was jumping with joy as he wore his Love On Tour personalised sweatshirt that Harry had sent over for him. As much as Mia loved her merch too, she had made it clear that she was ‘too cool’ to wear it to the show. Not wanting to match her younger brother.

Instead Mia opted for loose pink jeans, a white t-shirt and pink feather boa to match. As they waited for Tommy to arrive, YN snapped several photos of Mia and Noah ready to send to Louis.

The sound of the doorbell, caused Mia to dart to the door ready to greet Tommy. YN could hear muffled voices as the pair walked closer to the living room.

Mia walked in first, looking shy as she glanced back to the boy who was following her closely. YN noticed the young lad behind her, nerves following him. His dark hair held some curl, and his eyes were a light shade of blue.

“Mum this is Tommy”. Mia broke the silence, a nervous smirk covering her face. “Tom…this is my mum and brother Noah”.

YN gave the young boy a welcoming smile as she still stood with Noah next to her. “Hi Tommy…it’s so lovely to meet you”.

“You too!”. Tommy smiled in return. “Thank you for letting me come today”.

The politeness was causing YN to melt inside. “You’re so welcome my love, although I hope Mia has prepared you for some of the chaos that we cause at these shows”. YN hoped the slight humour would break the ice, and loosen Mia and Tommy’s nerves.

Tommy glanced to Mia and they shared a smile. YN felt like she was watching herself and Louis about fifteen years ago. “Yeah she did”.

“Okay…how about we get on our way…Uncle Harry said we can go and see him after soundcheck”. YN explained as she reached for her bag.

“UNCLE HARRY!”. Noah’s excitement began again as he rushed towards the front door.

---

Mia and Tommy walked closely together, as they followed YN and Noah down the corridors of Wembley stadium.

“Your Mum seems nice”. Tommy spoke softly for only Mia to hear, their arms brushing slightly as they walked.

“She is…she’s the sweetest woman ever”. Mia glanced to her mum in front of her, smiling and greeting everyone they passed. “By the way…my Uncle Harry will probably act really protective and try and scare you…but he’s big softie really”.

Tommy laughed at Mia’s words, both of them trying to keep up with YN and Noah’s fast steps. “I’m not that worried about him…I’m already scared of your dad without meeting him”.

Mia turned to look at Tommy, to see that the fear was real in his eyes. “Oh he’s a big softie too…once he finds out you play guitar, love football and support man united…he’ll talk your ear off”.

Before they could continue their conversation, they were in a large room filled with different people. Some YN and Mia recognised and others they were not too sure of.

“Oh YN…over here!”. Anne’s voices echoed across the room. She was standing with her partner and Gemma.

They quickly walked over to Harry’s family, all greeting each other with hello’s and a big cuddles. YN introduced Tommy to the familiar faces and once they welcomed him with open arms, Mia noticed how relaxed he was.

As the group chatted and caught up with one and other due to not seeing each other for a while, a tall figure appeared behind them. “Well look who it is!”.

Noah was the first to notice Harry standing behind them. “UNCLE HARRY!”. He scooped the younger Tomlinson up into his arms. “I’ve missed you!”.

“‘ello lad…how’s my little man?”. Harry smiled brightly, his white teeth on show. “You look so much like your dad”.

“Everyone says that!”. Noah laughed into the air, his small blue eyes squinting as he did.

With Noah still wrapped in his arms, Harry gently brought YN in for a loving hug. “How are you my love?”. Harry and YN had always been close since Louis introduced them when the band got put together. YN was like a sister to him, and Harry was the brother she always wanted.

“I’m good…missing Lou but I’ve got my two cherubs to keep me busy”. YN gave Mia and Noah a motherly warm smile.

Harry gently placed Noah back down on his feet. He noticed Mia standing there, a shy grin covering her face and a nervous looking boy standing close. “So do I get a cuddle from you…or are you too cool for Uncle Harry now?”.

Mia rolled her eyes with sass, opening her arms to wrap around Harry’s taller frame. “I’ve always been too cool for you…but since it’s your show I’ll give you one!”. Harry chuckled at the banter Mia had picked up, despite having her mums looks, she was her father’s personality.

“So who’s your friend?”. Harry stood tall, pushing his shoulders back to increase his bulging muscles.

“This is Tommy”. Mia spoke quietly, aware that most eyes were on them.

“Nice to meet you Harry…thank you for the ticket to your show”.

Harry continued to stare hard into the young boys eyes, YN noticed that Tommy shifted on his feet with nerves. “Harry…stop teasing, you’re scaring the poor boy!”.

“Nice to meet you Tommy!”. Harry held his hand out for Tommy to shake. “I was only teasing…I’m not scary”. Tommy let out a laugh at his words, before his eyes widened as Harry added another joke. “But her dad…wow good luck!”.

YN playfully swotted Harry’s arm as Mia muttered for her uncle to shut up. “Don’t listen to him Tommy…Louis’ not scary…and is going to love having you around”.

“Me and Tom are going to get a drink”. Mia quickly grabbed Tommy’s hand pulled him in the direction of where the drinks were being offered.

“Mia’s got a boyfriend!”. Harry’s voice whisper shouted at YN in shock.

---

The last show in Wembley Stadium was in full swing. The fans were singing and dancing along, having a ball as they shared a night at Love On Tour with family and friends.

As they stood at the barrier of the box, Noah was singing along to every word with Harry. The young Louis was having the time of his life as he danced along to each song, waiting for a One Direction song to play.

Now they were slightly hidden away, YN could see Mia and Tommy were far more at ease and were enjoying the show. Mia knew every word to the songs, but it was obvious that Tommy wasn’t a Harry Styles fan so he opted to bobbing his head to the catchy beats instead.

Harry and the girls from his band, had made their way to the very front platform on the stage. All standing next to each other in a line in front of their designated microphones. As Harry adjusted his mic on the stand, he had a hard stare on his face that left the fans curious.

“I apologise if I seem a little distracted…my niece is on a date”. Harry began to move around, as he covered his eyes to look out at the sea of fans. “And I’m trying…I’m trying to keep an eye on it…they’re up there somewhere, so Mia behave yourself…or I’ll tell your dad!”.

The sound of Mia’s name told the fans he was referring to Louis’ daughter. But whilst Sarah and Elin shared a giggle at Harry’s attempt to embarrass the young pair, Mia shot her mother a look, before folding her arms with confidence.

“Uncle Niall is now my favourite!”.

miatomlinson

liked by louist91, tommybaker and 982,616 others

miatomlinson Love On Tour🍓🪩🎈🩷 View all 6,927 comments

tommybaker ❤️

louist91 Looks like you had fun!! Love you Mi!! X

yntomlinson the best night with my little family❤️

annetwist You looked beautiful Mia💖

gemmastyles Lovely to see you girlie💕

niallhoran How are you so grown up??🥺

lottietomlinson aw you look so cute🥹💞

the.daisytomlinson OMG LOVE YOUR OUTFIT🫶🏼😍

thephoebetomlinson cuties🩷

louisfan7 Louis family at Harry’s show🥹🥹🥹

harryfan4 harry calling mia out for being on a date🤦🏼‍♀️😂

1Dfan I feel so old! Mia was a baby when one direction was on the X factor!!😱😱

Taglist:

@ell0ra-br3kk3r @slaymybreathaway @wh0s-nadii @peterholland04 @lillisummers

[mywitchyblog]

Storytime : My hatred of shiftok

Hey everyone, I wanted to share a personal story that highlights why I’ve grown to strongly dislike Shiftok (the shifting community on TikTok).

This isn’t about throwing shade at the concept of shifting itself, because I’ve been part of the practice for years and found immense value in it.

However, my recent experience in an online shifting community vastly composed of younger members made me realize just how toxic and judgmental it can become.

I’m not here to stir up drama, but to share my story so that others who may have gone through similar situations can feel less alone. Sometimes, online communities, especially when comprised of younger members, can be less about support and more about mob mentality behacing like mindless sheep. And unfortunately, I found myself at the center of that.

Here’s what happened:

Around 6 months ago,I joined a Discord server dedicated to shifting (made by a shiftoker), but for the first few days, I didn’t really engage much. I’m the kind of person who likes to observe a bit before jumping in. After a while, I noticed they had a voice chat, so I figured I’d join in, thinking I could find some deep conversations and intelligent debate on shifting. I was wrong. Very wrong.

Their debate originally was about race changing, and since this is an extreamly controversial subejct on which the 3 of us in the groupchat agreed with, i though maybe age changing would be the case.

Very fucking foolish of me.Very.

I’ve been aware of shifting for about years, ever since I was 16. During that time, I wrote numerous scripts where I imagined dating my comfort characters, and though I haven’t successfully shifted yet, I’m still determined to experience that so i never gave up trying to shift there. Recently, I started questioning a particular aspect of shifting and decided to ask the community for guidance.

The dilemma? I wanted to know if it would be wrong to shift into a younger version of myself to experience the teenage romance I never had. Growing up, I missed out on those typical teenage expereinces, and I thought that shifting could allow me to relive that part of my life that was denied from me .

Thats is how i discivered shifting when i think about it . I was extreamly sour and bitter at the time seeing people my age going out, having a group of friends a romantic partner while i was sulking in my room still scarred by the years of bullying .i couldnt fucking stand it.

So is started shouting ,cussing, insulting, screaming at the universe that it owed me a debt for all the shit i put me through; that it owed me a debt that it can never pay back. And that i was here to collect that debt.

Next thing i know ? Shifting videos start appearing in my FYP and the rest i supposed if you discovered shifting in 2020 you know how it goes.

I asked the community: Since I’m now over 18, would it be unethical to age myself down and live through those scripted expereinces and relationships? My intentions were pure. It wasn’t about fetishizing youth —I just wanted to experience something I had missed out on. And also i made those DRs long ago so i do not want to give up after trying for years.

I explained that shifting is about exploring realities that differ from your current one, and to aslo expereince things that are impossible for you to do in your current so why not experience a teenage romance that I didn’t have?

I also emphasized that both me and the characters regardless of if i age myself down or i age them up we will have the same maturity so there is no power imbalances of any kind. I beleived that if I script myself as being 16, I would naturally have the mindset and maturity of a 16-year-old without having to script "i also have the maturity of my physical age".

(wich after further research and having shifted myself confirmed it to be true)

Some people were actually helpful, suggesting that I could just age the characters up to match my current age, that there was nothing wrong since your intention isnt "shifting for minors" but shifting for an experience and I thought that was a reasonable statement. However, as more teenagers (13 to 15-year-olds) started jumping into the chat, the conversation took a turn for the worse. Suddenly, they started accusing me of wanting to date minors, labeling me as a creep and even throwing around terms like "pedophile." They insisted I should go to jail, even though I hadn’t done anything inappropriate—just asked for advice.

Mind you, these were the same people who had desired realities where they were 50 something with kids 15 with a highschool sweetheart in another. It felt incredibly hypocritical that they were comfortable shifting to various ages, but when I wanted to explore an earlier phase of my own life in a healty wholesome manner, I was suddenly a villain.

As the accusations escalated, I even suggested aging the characters up, so they’d match my current age. But no matter what I said, they kept insisting I was still in the wrong. They claimed that because I had once found teenagers attractive when I was a teenager, I was somehow a predator now ("because something must have made you attracted to them when they were minors"). It was like they were twisting everything I said, refusing to understand my intentions.

It was infuriating. They accused me of things I wasn’t even thinking about. These were serious claims, and I couldn’t defend myself because they were so quick to misinterpret my words and take everything out of context. They were acting like I was trying to groom people in my desired reality (DR), even though I was merely exploring hypothetical scenarios.

The same people who preached that you could do anything you wanted in your desired reality, without limits,that you had all the time in the wormd to shift so no pressure were suddenly placing restrictions on me—telling me what was ethical and what wasn’t. They told me I was "grooming" the characters in my DR by aging them up, which is just ridiculous.

When I pointed out the inconsistency, suggesting they might technically be "grooming" people in their own current reality (CR) since they shift into different ages, or that their s/o from one of their adult DR is grooming them because in another reality there are a minor, they became defensive started blabbing "its not the same thing" and had no real arguments to back up their accusations.

At this point, it felt like I was being burned at the stake just for asking a question. I realized I wasn’t going to get a rational conversation out of this group, and the mob mentality was too strong. So, I left the server, and honestly, it was the best decision.

If there’s one piece of advice I can give from this experience, it’s this: if you find yourself in an online shifting community made up mostly of teenagers (13-16 years old), run. They can and WILL be quick to jump to conclusions, misinterpret your words, and label you unfairly.

In the end, I found better communities where the members are mature, thoughtful, and open to real discussions. If you’re facing similar issues, I encourage you to be cautious about the spaces you engage with. Make sure you find a community that values open, respectful conversations—where people don’t leap to judgments or throw around serious accusations without understanding your intentions.

Which is why i started making this page and publising these essays in the first place.Because no one provide a clear fucking answers in this types of question just saying "its bad", "because it is" without providing substantial arguments to back up their claims.

So i was "if no one is gonna do it, i will" and i did and it turns out these people are even more pathetic than i thought. Key exemple of that is instead of countering my arguments the only thing they have is accusing me of using Chat GPT.

So things to take from my story are :

-Leave shiftok for good its is not good for information or shifting knowledge. Shifting script templates and inspo ? yes. Information & knowledge ? RUNNNNNNNNNN.

-The most vehement critics within the community are the biggest hypocrites. They will call you a pedo for aging down but on the same vein will age up only to get fucked by they fav dilfs. Those against race changing will still race change just to diff species and races that are fictonal in this reality .

-Do what makes you feel good and do not lisen to these people, they are sour bitter and pathetic individuals its your journey you desired reality not theirs.

So i hope this story of mine will help people understand that you should feel bad about about wanting to shift to those DRs.That it will bring you wisdom and help to all the teenage shifters that are approching 18 and are scared that they are doing someting bad trust me you are not bad you are doing something pure and wholesome do not let them go to your head it will only slow you down in your journey.

Best of Luck in you shifitng Journey,

Alastor Luno.

[starless-planet]

Being terminally online but only on tumblr and youtube just makes it so you’re forced to go through accidental humiliation rituals irl. Absolute lose-lose situations.

Several months back I started my first ever big person job out of college. My coworkers’ (despite most of them being my peers) exposure to the internet largely stops at Tiktok and Facebook.

It was about one month in when I looked over at my coworker’s computer and see she’s looking at pictures of the onceler on google images.

Obviously my blood freezes in my veins but I go “Hey whatcha looking at over there?” And she explains to me she is planning on putting a photo of “The guy from The Lorax” in our coworker’s locker because he looks like him.

But as she keeps scrolling she’s… discovering. She’s having an experience I wish I could have shared with her instead of looking on like I’m seeing corpses strewn about a battlefield. She’s seeing the art. She’s baffled. “Why would people draw that? What’s going on?” she wonders. She is 24 years old. “People are weird.” I say. It’s all I can say. I’m new here and we are at what is essentially a help desk where guests can come up and talk to us at any time. I leave it be. She finally chooses a normal photo to print.

Later I’m having a conversation about it with another coworker and she goes “oh yeah. Well, apparently on Reddit it was a thing to like… you know… want that guy and the Lorax to kiss.”

I almost lost it, guys. I was screaming in my head. There was an entire 2 hour youtuber essay being held back because I was unwilling to expose myself. I had to just look her in the eye and go “yeah that’s crazy lol.” There was no discussion about the self-ship art. That went right over their heads I think.

A few months later and I’m making jokes to my other coworkers about which president they would marry and my friend pipes up “we should make a tumblr about really hot presidents, guys.” Now this time I only had a moment to suffer the weight of Hamilton Tumblr before she said “It’s too bad none of us have a tumblr and it’s dead.”

(Now before you go and think she’s just doing a bit I later confided in her I have multiple tumblr accounts and she was like “Oh. Good for you!” and promised me she didn’t have one. I believe her.)

Then we come to Columbo Night. Columbo Night is when we all get together and watch Columbo. I was doing a bit where I didn’t know what drugs were (well half of a bit, because I don’t actually know too much about them).

I mentioned learning about angel dust in DARE, but when everyone asked what that was I had to admit I didn’t know which specific drug it was slang for. So they looked it up on urban dictionary. They find this:

They lose their minds trying to figure out what was going on with this definition.

I kept my mouth glued shut.

They learn it’s from Hazbin Hotel. “I think Hazbin Hotel is a web comic?” someone pipes up.

I’m staring at the floor in front of me. The handful of youtube video essays I’ve watched on the show are playing out in front of me. I’m counting my blessings I’ve never actually watched it.

They’re having conflicting opinions about the art style. I’m gripping the edge of my seat.

And then, it’s time for Columbo, and it’s all over. Just as quickly as it started, it ended. Thank you Columbo.

[moonlightspencie]

isn’t it?

Description: Years after the battle at Hogwarts, reader runs into an unlikely old friend. A simple invitation to tea leads to much more.

Pairing: Draco Malfoy x fem!Reader

Warnings: alcohol consumption, slow burn babyyy, draco talking about traumatic events in the hp series, me being an american writing about folks in the UK (do not come for me),

Word Count: 10k

A/N: im a draco apologist, what about it. anyways, he gets a redemption arc in this. they’re like 20-23 in this. also had to make my own gif cause most malfoy girlies are 14 year olds from tiktok & don’t appreciate tom in his 20s. logging off forever now

check out the playlist!

Winter was one of my least favorite times of the year because of how horrifically frigid it got. I was never a fan of the cold months. At least not when it was so cold that my fingers would be numb from standing outside for a couple of minutes.

But, it could also one of my most favorite times for the days like this one.

I stepped into the bookstore, glancing around in the soft lighting at all of the cheery decor. They hadn’t yet taken down their Christmas decorations, so twinkling lights were still wrapped around the bookshelves. Snow fell gently outside, making the warmth inside that much more cozy.

I walked around the small shop, looking up and down various shelves until I found the section I was looking for. I started sorting through the various history books, picking out a few that piqued my interest. I slid down a little further, stopping only when I saw that I was encroaching on a stranger’s space.

I turned my head, making sure I hadn’t already gotten too close, when I saw a familiar, bright, blonde head of hair.

“Malfoy,” I breathed out.

His head turned quickly, wide eyes searching for the person who had accidentally called his name. They somehow widened even more when he recognized me and muttered my name, more to himself rather than as a greeting. I found myself walking towards him almost on instinct.

The last time we’d seen each other was years prior. His father had called his name from across the ruins of Hogwarts to join them. He’d stood still and unmoving, up until the point his mother’s voice finally convinced him. He glanced at me briefly before he walked away from the rest of us, and I had assumed I’d never see him again.

We always had a complicated relationship. Even more, it seemed Draco had very complicated feelings about me.

We were friends, for all intents and purposes, but it was a secretive kind of friendship. He was a Slytherin, from a very prejudiced family, and was quite frankly a bully much of the time. I was a Gryffindor, friends with Potter, and though I was a half-blood, I didn’t care for the idea that blood purity had any say in the value of a wizard. That had caused some tension early in our friendship before I knocked a little sense into him. Though, it still caused some problems for us. Especially after his parents heartily disapproved of me in our fifth year.

We’d been friends for nearly a year at that point. He had, rather foolishly, decided to introduce me to his parents over holiday, assuming they would also be willing to love me despite my disdain for blood-purity ideals. We’d left in uncomfortable silence, and, soon after, Draco had explained that his father had instructed him to stay away from me.

Of course, he hadn’t listened.

We still spent time together when we could, even when I’d begun to notice his increasingly tired eyes and gaunt state of being in sixth year. He never let me find out what the matter was until it was too late, however.

I hadn’t seen him after the night Dumbledore was killed until the battle at Hogwarts. Now, I was seeing him in a bookshop in London. A muggle bookshop.

“What…” I started, unsure what to say now. “Wow. It’s good to see you.”

He was silent, staring back at me in shock.

“I’m sorry, um, how’ve you been?” I asked.

He cleared his throat. “I’ve, uh— Fine. I’m fine.”

“What are you doing here? In London, I mean?”

“Searching for something to read,” he said, the ghost of a chuckle leaving him.

“In a muggle shop?”

“Uh, yeah. Yeah, I know, it’s probably strange to see me here.”

“It’s strange to see you anywhere. It’s been…”

“… A long time.”

I nodded in agreement. He looked down at the books in my hands.

“I see you’re still interested in muggle affairs.”

“Yeah,” I agreed, looking at my books. “After leaving Hogwarts I wasn’t really interested in becoming an auror anymore, so I started writing. I do a lot of writing for wizards interested in muggle history. I generally write a lot of magazine pieces, and I’m working on a book now.”

“Wow,” he said with brows raised. “That’s incredible.”

“Thanks. Are you doing anything… I don’t know. Like, for a job?”

“No. That was never really on the table for me, anyways, with my family’s—“ he sighed. “You know. All of that.”

“Right,” I nodded with half a smile. He’d always been raised with the idea that he’d be living off of the generational wealth. “What are you looking at here?”

“I still need hobbies, so I’ve taken up a lot of reading. Muggle fiction books have been particularly interesting to me lately.”

“Huh. Never expected that to come out of your mouth.”

He raised his brows quickly, nodding along slowly. He looked back to the book in his hands.

“They tend to think that witches are evil, mythical creatures. They also don’t believe that giants or dragons or werewolves exist. They’re all viewed as freaks to the muggles,” he said, looking back at me. “Most of the time, we’re all seen as the villain in their stories.”

I shrugged. “Yeah. Everyone sees things differently. Usually the hatred comes in when they don’t care to learn about people who aren’t like them.”

He swallowed, looking down once again.

“I’m beginning to realize that much more, now.”

We both went quiet for a few seconds as a question was formulating in my head.

“Would you like to come over to mine for some tea?”

His eyes snapped to mine. He furrowed his brow, obviously not expecting the invitation.

“Really?”

I nodded. “Of course.”

He just stood there, unmoving like I was going to burst out laughing at him at any moment. He watched me with wary eyes, not responding.

“If you want to,” I added at last. “I don’t want to pressure you.”

“Uh, that would be nice. Yes.”

“Okay. Um, I’m going to go buy these now.”

I held up my books, then turned for the register. I finished after a few minutes, lingering near the door until he followed after with his own bag.

“So, where you do you live?” he asked as we walked out into the cold.

“Guildford. In Surrey.”

“How do you usually—“

“Take my hand,” I said, holding out my free hand.

He switched his bag over to the opposite hand, putting his cold one in mine. In a flash we were on my street. He looked up at the street lamps that were starting to turn on as the sky dimmed slowly. I let him take in his surroundings for a moment.

“Ready?” I asked after a beat.

He looked at me, snow sticking to his eyelashes.

“Ready,” he confirmed.

We started forward on the sidewalk, heading in the direction of my building.

“Are you still in Wiltshire with your parents?”

He nodded. “Yes. Though, I don’t see them much anymore. I’m usually out for most of the day if I can help it.”

“You don’t get along much anymore?”

He shrugged. “They disagree with a lot of my choices.”

“I see.”

We stepped into the foyer of my building, walking up to the third floor and wandering through the hall until we got to the door of my flat. I suddenly turned, his brows raising slightly as I looked at him.

“I feel like I need to tell you that I don’t live anywhere particularly… Special.”

“I don’t mind,” he shrugged.

I nodded, a small smile on my face as I unlocked the door.

It felt strange to have anyone in my flat, let alone someone I hadn’t seen for years after they’d betrayed my friends and myself. Usually, I only had over a few very close friends every few weeks. I wasn’t exactly prepared for company, and I felt that it showed as I pulled down two mismatched mugs. He lingered in the kitchen with me, looking entirely uncomfortable, his hands repeatedly clenching and releasing as if it would relieve whatever anxieties he was facing. I gave him a soft smile after setting the mugs on the counter near him.

“This cabinet here,” I started, pointing at the one next to the oven, “has all the teas. You can choose whichever one you’d like.”

He nodded, moving forward towards the cabinet as I filled the kettle with water. I set it on the stovetop, turning it on. He nervously looked through the various tea flavors for a few more seconds, then turned to me.

“Which one would you like?”

I looked at him, noticing that he hadn’t picked for himself yet.

“Are you asking in earnest, or do you need a recommendation?”

His cheeks flushed slightly as he gave me a small smile.

“Both.”

“I’d love an earl grey. I’ve got one that has some lavender in it as well, and it is delightful.”

He nodded quickly, pulling down two tea bags.

“That sounds nice.”

I smiled to myself, a little out of sorts at how polite he’d become. We waited in a strange kind of silence until I heard the water beginning to bubble in the kettle. I pulled it off the heat, filling the mugs Draco had popped the bags into earlier. He looked at me curiously.

“You know,” he began, pulling my attention to his amused face, “you’re supposed to wait until the kettle whistles.”

I shrugged. “I prefer to get to it before it starts up. I’m almost never too busy to have to listen to that horrible whistling.”

He laughed softly, nodding his head in understanding. I led him to the small table in my kitchen, and much to my surprise, he took the seat next to me rather than across the way. It was quiet for a minute or two, neither of us really sure what we were doing in my kitchen together.

“Can I ask something?” he blurted out.

“Sure,” I replied with a nod.

“Why did you invite me here?”

I shrugged. “I thought it might be nice to talk. It’s been a long time.”

“But I haven’t spoken to you since… You know. What’s the use in trying to talk to me now?”

“You agreed, didn’t you?”

He smirked, but it was a more gentle kind than what he would usually pull back in the day. Not full of cocky disdain for others, and more a way to tell me that I’d bested him with the simple phrase. It was nice.

We sat quietly for a few more minutes, each sipping our tea. I suddenly realized, only after inviting him into my home, that I had no clue what to talk to him about. I let out a soft breath, looking at him to find him already looking in my direction. I gave him a soft smile that he returned. Though, it quickly fell, and the both of us tilted our heads down again.

“I’m sorry,” he said suddenly, “for leaving that day. When my mother called me over.”

I looked at him in surprise, staring up from my teacup.

He continued, “I should’ve stayed with you. With all of you. I was just in so deep at that point, and I couldn’t say no to her. And I know that isn’t an excuse, but I didn’t know what to do anymore. I was sure that the second something went sideways again, after all that I’d done, I would probably be the first one to die. I don’t know why nobody killed me in the meantime before V-Voldemort and the others came back with Potter.”

“Where did you go? After the room of requirement was set on fire?”

“I hid,” he mumbled, looking down at his tea. “I’ve always been a coward. I think I’ve deserved everything that’s happened to me after all of that.”

We sat after that, sipping our tea like nothing had been said to begin with. I looked back at him. He’d changed so much in the few years he’d been gone, and yet he was so different. He looked practically the same. Maybe a little healthier. He acted like a new person, though. All of that youthful bravado was gone, and what was left was quiet and remorseful and entirely not like the Draco I’d known in school. It shocked me more and more the longer we sat.

I sighed softly. “Draco?”

He looked at me with wide eyes.

“You haven’t called me that in forever.”

“I haven’t seen you in as long.”

He nodded. “I know.”

“Can I tell you something?”

“Yeah. I suppose so.”

I took in a breath, watching him a few seconds longer before I spoke.

“You know it’s never too late to change things, right? I know that you and your mother both made some decisions we never would’ve expected you to at the end, there. Harry told me.”

“That means nothing. I’ve always despised Potter. I was cruel to him every day, but he still saved my life. You all fought. You were all brave. Not giving him up one time was nothing compared to what all of the rest of you did.”

“You can still change things now, Draco.”

He shook his head.

“It’ll never be enough. I walked away from all of you when we thought Potter had died. I know you saw me doing it, too, and I know you were disappointed in me for it. Probably hated me,” he said, a humorless chuckle leaving him for a moment. “You were standing there by Granger and Weasley, and I looked at you right before I started across the courtyard, and you were already looking back at me. Looked like you could’ve killed me yourself.”

I swallowed, not taking my eyes off of him the entire time he spoke.

“I wanted better for you. I’d always hoped you would really, sincerely change for the better at some point, and it just never seemed to come,” I mentioned with a half-hearted shrug. “When I saw you walking out just in front of Luna, I hoped it meant you would stay with us. That you’d changed sides after Harry had gotten you out of the fire. Watching you leave after that…”

“I know. I’m shocked you even spoke to me in the bookshop.”

“I was shocked to see you at all. Especially in a muggle bookstore. I know you’d gotten off the hook after the war because of what you did for Harry, but honestly, I never thought you’d change. Not really, anyways.”

He nodded, looking away from me again. He only glanced back up once I continued speaking.

“But you have, now. That much is clear. You’re kinder now.”

“I don’t think I am.”

“You agreed to have tea with me. You willingly had a conversation with me in that bookstore rather than walking away from me. I thought for sure that you would when I saw you there.”

He shook his head. “I might have if it was anyone else. I wouldn’t do that to you, though. You were the only person who was kind to me in school. You’re the only one who really cared or noticed something was wrong in sixth year.”

“Do you really not see it?” I asked, laughing incredulously.

He furrowed his brow. “What?”

“You never would have told me any of this before. Draco, I know that you had done some horrible things, but it’s not too late to be different. And you’re already so different.”

He merely stared for a moment or two.

“I think I should go,” he said quietly. “Thank you for inviting me.”

He stood abruptly, walking off towards the kitchen door. I followed after him, just barely reaching him as we reached my entry way. I reached out, grabbing his wrist. His eyes were wide as he turned his head towards me, casting his gaze towards where my hand held him from going any further.

“Just…” I sighed, putting on a smile. “Don’t be afraid to send an owl sometime.”

He nodded, his voice small, “Okay.”

I finally let him go, watching him take his coat and bag of of books, and walk out the door.

A few weeks later I sat at my desk at home, unable to get past a terrible bout of writer’s block. I hadn’t considered when writing a book that it wasn’t simply writing a long article. I had to craft each chapter in a meaningful way, and unfortunately, that meant that I had to get anything at all on paper. I sighed hard, needing an outlet for my dramatics. Suddenly, an unfamiliar owl was at my window. I opened it up, and the owl dropped a letter right on my window, staring almost curiously at me.

You requested that I send an owl sometime. I hope that you meant it, otherwise you can feel free to ignore this letter. Assuming you did mean it, I’d like to invite you to lunch on the thirteenth of February. I hope you’re well.

Draco

I looked up at the owl on my windowsill.

“Just a moment,” I said to it.

It chirped lightly in response. I quickly picked up some new parchment and a quill, scribbling out a response before I folded it and put it in an envelope. I reached into my bottom desk drawer, giving the owl a treat before handing off the letter.

“Thank you. Go home, now.”

The owl flew off into the sky, leaving me with a smile and an even emptier brain.

The date he’d suggested was less than a week out from when he’d sent his letter, and it arrived much sooner than I was expecting. He’d sent another letter soon after mine had arrived, telling me the time and location, and soon enough I was pulling on my shoes in order to leave.

I showed up outside of the café. Surprisingly, another muggle location. I walked inside, being greeted by a hostess.

“Hi, I’m supposed to be meeting someone here, um…”

“She’s with me,” Draco said, coming up near the hostess stand.

I smiled at him gratefully, my demeanor obviously edging on discomfort. He led me back to our table, pulling out my seat for me.

“Thank you,” I said, scooting in a little closer. “So, why this place?”

“Easier to make reservations and avoid judgements eating at muggle restaurants. They’re not exactly familiar with the Malfoy name.”

“Ah,” I nodded in understanding. “Makes sense. Well, it’s nice here.”

“It is. They have great soup.”

I laughed, looking down at the menu.

“What?” he asked with a smile.

“It’s just weird. Being here with you, and… talking about soup.”

“We could talk about sandwiches if you’d like.”

I laughed again, finding him doing the same. The afternoon ended up delightfully strange. We finished our food, and found ourselves on a walk around town, chatting about what we’d been doing in the years since we’d last seen one another.

In the final moments, I’d convinced him to visit another bookstore with me the following week.

It started to become a bit of a habit, really. We’d keep finding new places to bring one another to, and, for me, new excuses to keep seeing him. I didn’t necessarily have feelings for him, but I couldn’t deny that I found myself enjoying his company much more than I had as a teenager.

One chilly night in March, I’d come home from dinner with a friend absolutely wiped. I was more than ready to head off to bed after sitting around on my couch for a rerun of an old favorite show.

Though, halfway through the episode, there was a knock on my door. I walked over the front door, wand in hand as I wasn’t expecting any visitors at night. I looked through the peephole, hiding away the wand when I recognized the face outside the door. I opened it right afterwards.

“Hey,” he greeted, standing just outside my door.

My brows raised on instinct as he looked a little inebriated.

“Hi,” I said mindlessly. “What are you doing here?”

He looked down to the floor, shrugging a little. He rubbed at his face before he looked back at me.

“I might’ve been at the pub down the street. I thought about you there,” he swallowed. “Thought it might be nice to see you.”

“Do you want to come in?”

He nodded silently, stepping past me into my apartment. I shut and locked the door, turning to see him looking around the space. He looked back at me after a moment, a confused pout coming across his face as his eyes dropped to my outfit.

“Were you busy?”

I shook my head. “No, I just got home a bit ago.”

“Where’d you go?” he asked, toeing his shoes off to leave them near mine.

“Got dinner with Luna Lovegood.”

“Oh,” he nodded. “She still… Herself?”

“Draco,” I scolded.

“Sorry.”

I helped him take his coat off as he started struggling with the sleeves.

“Luna’s still an absolute sweetheart, as she’s always been,” I mentioned as I draped his jacket on a coat hook.

He wore a sage green sweater under the jacket, and it brought the slightest smile to my face that he still preferred his house colors when he wasn’t decked out in all black. He started wandering into my flat, looking around the living room.

“I like your home,” he said at last.

“Thank you,” I replied with a small laugh. “I’m going to go get you some water. Probably some ibuprofen too. It might help prevent a massive headache tomorrow.”

He nodded, not quite paying attention as he started walking around again. Once I gathered the cup of water and the medicine, I was at a loss. He’d escaped the living room. I walked around, checking the bathroom first, before finding my bedroom lamp on. I stepped into the room, finding him plopped down on my bed. This time, I couldn’t help but laugh fully.

He lifted his head with a quirked brow.

“What?”

“You. Laying there like you’ve just had your very first drink.”

“You’ve got a comfortable bed.”

“I’m aware,” I nodded, kneeling on the mattress next to him. “Come and drink some water, now.”

He sat up with a groan, accepting the ibuprofen and the cup from me. He drank down the water quickly, letting out a sigh as he handed back the empty cup.

“Thank you,” he mumbled, dropping back down.

He was quiet for a few seconds as I set down the empty cup on my nightstand, just staring at the ceiling.

“Is it okay that I came here?”

I furrowed my brow, laying on my back next to him.

“I’m happy you showed up here rather than going and causing trouble someplace else.”

“You’ve always been a good person,” he said with a sigh. “Why were you ever friends with me? I was awful.”

“Seemed like you needed someone good in your life. You were surrounded by some truly terrible people,” I mentioned with a chuckle. “When we ended up seated next to one another in potions and you actually laughed at jokes I made that weren’t at the expense of another person, I realized you might not be totally hopeless.”

He laughed. No— he giggled, covering his face with his hands.

“You know, my other friends hated you,” he said, voice muffled.

I reached over, pulling his hands away from his face. He smiled softly as I did, watching me as he continued talking.

“They all thought I went crazy for being friends with you. Blaise told me I was going to get kicked out of Slytherin if I kept it up, and Parkinson was really upset because she wasn’t the only girl around me anymore.”

“I always thought she had a crush on you.”

He hummed. “Yeah, I think so. It was kind of annoying, to be honest. At first I liked the attention, but it got old very quickly.”

“I can imagine.”

“You know what I always thought?”

I shrugged. “No clue.”

“I thought for forever that Potter had it bad for you. Up until he started crushing on the Weasley girl, I was convinced.”

“Really?”

“Mhm,” he nodded, looking back at the ceiling. “Either him or Longbottom. They were always around you.”

“Because we were friends,” I said with a laugh. “I still see them sometimes, you know?”

“You do?”

“Yeah.”

“Wow. I haven’t seen my school friends since, well, everything happened.”

“You’ve seen me, at least.”

He smiled a little.

“That’s true. Nobody else, though. Maybe that’s a good thing.”

“I think it probably is.”

A silence fell over us for a few moments. I stared at the sheets in between us, brushing my fingers across them.

“Why are you so nice to me?” he asked, voice just above a whisper.

“Why would I be cruel?”

He sighed dejectedly. “I deserve it. I was— I’ve done terrible things.”

I sighed softly. “I know what you’ve done, Draco. I was kind of there for much of it.”

A smile tugged at his lips, though he shoved it away just as quickly as it appeared.

“There’s still a lot you don’t know,” he said at last. “You wouldn’t stick around if you did.”

“I would.”

“No, you wouldn’t.”

I fell silent again for a minute or so, milling over what to say next in my head. I heard him let out a soft breath, and turned my eyes to watch him. His hair was messier than usual, with his natural waves sneaking their way out of the gelled constraints they were usually stuck in. His skin glowed in the soft lighting of my bedroom, especially now that the constant dark circles he’d worn for the past few years were gradually fading away with time.

He called my name in question. I hummed in response, turning my body to face him, listening as he started speaking again.

“I just,” he sighed, taking a moment. “I wonder if things would’ve been different if I told you back then. Or anyone.”

“It might have changed things a little, but at that point, do you think you would’ve been able to avoid what you had to do?”

He shook his head. “No. It just might have been nice for someone to know.“

“I think you would be too stubborn to tell anyone, though,” I said with half a smile.

He smiled back, looking down at the mattress as he nodded.

“I definitely would’ve been. That’s part of the reason I never told you in the first place.”

I raised a brow. “What was the other part?”

He swallowed, looking at me again.

“I was worried you might put yourself in danger.”

“How?”

He snorted a laugh. “If you think I was stubborn, you have got to know that you were much worse. You probably would’ve tried helping me at the worst possible moment and gotten yourself killed.”

I scoffed. “I’m not that dumb.”

“You could act like it sometimes.”

My eyes widened as he hid a smile.

“Oh, so you do still like to make fun of me, huh?”

“Old habits are hard to beat.”

“You still secretly like dancing?”

His smile fell a bit as he thought it over.

“I haven’t really had a reason to since… Everything.”

Whatever came over me in that moment to drive my actions could possibly be instinct to comfort an old friend. It could’ve been the need to reach out to someone clearly in pain. It could’ve just been that I wanted to touch him. I scooted closer, resting my head on his chest. My hand rested on his stomach, and I felt him sigh softly through it. He didn’t say anything, but I did feel him go a bit rigid.

I lifted my head up when I noticed the stiffness in his body.

“I-I’m sorry, I should’ve asked first,” I rushed out, “Is this okay?”

His cheeks turned slowly pink as he stared back at me, nodding.

“I, um,” he let out a quick breath, “Yes. I just don’t really ever—“

Understanding dawned on me. “Oh. Well, it’s just like a hug.”

He stared back once again, unmoving for a few moments. I furrowed my brow in question as he looked away from my face.

“The only person, um, who ever really hugs me is… mum.”

I watched him quietly, unsure what to say. It had always been evident that he never had a shot at a normal childhood, but I hadn’t considered how much of that normalcy was completely stripped from his life. He closed his eyes.

“I don’t know why I said that,” he said quietly. “That’s so humiliating.”

“No, no,” I said, brushing some of his hair from his face before quickly pulling away. “Not at all. That isn’t your fault.”

“If I wasn’t such a horrible child…”

“It may have helped to make real friends, but you were raised in an echo chamber of hatred. For the longest time you didn’t know how to be anything but mean. Clearly, if your own father didn’t even hug you as a child.”

He bit the inside of his cheek, nodding slowly.

“Plus,” I added, “things are so different now. I saw you starting to change a little back then. I wasn’t the only one to notice either, you should’ve seen my friends’ faces when you smiled at me in passing on the way to classes the first time. Since then, things have changed tenfold. Why not lean into that?”

He nodded again, giving me the faintest smile imaginable. I settled back against his chest, finally feeling his arms carefully wrapping around me. They just barely rested over top of me, not dissimilar to how an adult would try to hug a toddler. I let one arm stretch across his torso, holding him tightly, and, eventually, he held me just as tight.

I opened my eyes to sun-washed sheets, and a breathing pillow under my head. I tilted my head up, seeing him still absolutely passed out. His breathing came soft and steady, and he looked utterly at peace. I only looked away from his sleeping form when he started stirring. He let out a soft little groan, his arms tightening around me slightly. Only after he gave a sigh did I have the nerve to look back at his face.

“Good morning,” I said.

He smiled softly. “Morning. M’sorry, I didn’t mean to fall asleep here.”

“That’s okay. I don’t mind,” I looked down at our clothes. “Just a bit unfortunate we fell asleep in these clothes. Not the most comfortable.”

He laughed. “Yes. Maybe next time it would be better not to be wearing trousers. I think I’d personally prefer some flannel pajamas.”

“I’m partial to sleep shorts.”

He let out another small laugh, as did I. His cheeks were tinged pink as he looked back at me, though I can’t say I didn’t feel the heat rising in my face as well.

“How are you feeling?”

He shrugged lightly. “Surprisingly fine. Thanks for taking care of me last night.”

“Any time, Malfoy.”

I reluctantly pulled myself out of his arms, sitting up in the bed. I stretched out my arms above my head, then turned to him once again to announce I’d be back in a moment. I found myself doing my usual bathroom duties in a kind of haze. There was a smile stuck to my face that I couldn’t quite get rid of. I chose not to look into it too much, especially as I reentered the bedroom to find him rubbing at his sleep-ridden eyes.

“There’s an extra toothbrush I left in the bathroom for you. It should be the yellow one next to mine,” I mentioned.

He gave me a small smile, nodding his head.

“Thanks.”

I hummed in response. “I’ll be in the kitchen. Tea and toast sound okay?”

“You don’t have to do that,” he said, standing up.

I merely raised a brow at him as he drew closer. He silently conceded, following me out of the bedroom in order for each of us to get to what we needed to. I filled the kettle, put the bread in the toaster, and somehow managed to spill my entire cup of water all over the floor after setting out the mugs. I grumbled to myself, getting down with a towel to clean up my mess.

“Clumsy one, aren’t you?” he asked with a laugh as he found me crouched down on the floor.

I looked up to where he stood near the sink, feigning annoyance at his cheery state. I stood up, crossing over to wring the towel out.

“Wait,” he exclaimed, though too late.

I stepped forward, not seeing the bit of spilled water I hadn’t cleaned up. I slipped and, in an attempt not to tumble to the floor, grabbed onto his arms. He laughed at me as I regained my balance, earning him a furrowed brow and a hidden smile of my own.

“Don’t laugh at me.”

“It was funny,” he defended. “You should’ve seen your face.”

I squeezed his forearms briefly before beginning to drop my hands. Though, the way his face dropped as I did so kept me from completely breaking contact.

“Are you okay?”

He swallowed. “Yeah, I’m— It’s fine.”

I quirked a brow, unbelieving.

“I’m not buying that. What’s wrong?”

He looked down, his eyes quickly darting to where my hand was placed on his left arm. I took in a breath.

“Oh,” I said quietly. “Do you… It’s still there, isn’t it?”

He nodded slowly. “Yes.”

I firmed my hold on his arms again, gently rubbing my thumbs against the fabric of his sweater.

“I’m sorry.”

“It’s my own fault.”

“I’m still sorry. I’ve never thought about the fact you’d always have to hide it.”

He breathed out slowly, shakily, still looking down.

“Is there any way to rid yourself of it?” I asked after a beat.

“No,” he shook his head. “There are some charms I can use temporarily to hide it if I need to, but nothing permanent works. It’s forever.”

I nodded, looking back at his face until he met my eye. He cleared his throat, pulling his arms from out of my grasp.

“Sorry. I didn’t mean to ruin the mood.”

“I’m used to it. I haven’t forgotten your little attitude every time you spotted me with Harry or one of the others.”

I reached down to grab the towel I had dropped.

He rolled his eyes playfully. “I couldn’t help it. You were so likable, and they were just...”

“My friends. So watch it, Malfoy,” I scolded with a smirk.

“Right,” he nodded, fighting a smile himself. “Everyone has their flaws.”

I scoffed out a laugh, lightly slapping his shoulder with the back of my hand. He laughed, leaning against the counter.

“Right then, you can pour your own tea,” I noted as I wrung out the towel.

“You’ll still get the toast though?”

I furrowed my brow as I tossed the towel down, turning to him.

“Only because you don’t know where I keep the plates or else you’d be on your own.”

He gave me a knowing smirk, taking the kettle just before it began whistling to fill both of our mugs. I took down the plates, setting the toast on each of them before getting the butter and jam set out. We set to work, side by side, on preparing our breakfast. It felt oddly normally as we went about our business, putting everything away before we sat at the kitchen table.

We found ourselves laughing over nothing in particular before we knew it, and, eventually, it was dark outside once again. The surprise on his face told me all that I needed to know as he looked out the window and declared that he should probably be going on his way. I walked him to the door, watching as he gathered his things again, and as he apparated away.

Our owls were sent back and forth over the next few weeks, and though we saw each other frequently, I couldn’t help but let my mind wander on the days we didn’t have much communication. Frankly, it wandered a great deal even when we were together. Usually to his eyes. The way he’d look at me when we’d stop talking. Or the way he’d smile when we did some silly activity together. Or his laugh when I’d make a stupid jokes. Or his hands.

May came quickly, and with it came warmer weather. It was nice to have my windows open whenever it wasn’t raining, and it was absolutely wonderful to have lakeside picnics or nighttime strolls through the nearby park as the month bled into June. Those little outdoor escapades started to become a habit. A way of being out in the world together with nobody else around.

Not that alone time was necessarily important to us. It certainly didn’t make my cheeks flush with heat every time we sat completely by ourselves on a picnic blanket with favorite snacks of mine that he’d somehow remembered and brought along when he showed up at my door. I most definitely hadn’t made a habit to lie to myself about the entire ordeal.

“Walk?” he asked after we’d finished playing a game of wizard chess.

I nodded. “Of course. It’s a gorgeous night, we may as well enjoy it, right?”

He smiled, standing and taking my hands to help me off the ground near my coffee table. We pulled on our shoes, and headed out. It was warm, and the most gentle breeze went through the new leaves on the trees as we passed them. He made silly conversation with me as we kept on, so much so that we’d lost track of the time. I could only tell it had been a while when my legs started growing a bit tired.

We sat on a bench nearby after our walk through the park, relishing in the warm night air of the summertime.

“The moon looks beautiful tonight,” I commented.

He hummed in agreement.

“It does,” he said, suddenly putting on a small smile. “That’s one benefit to me staying out all hours of the night with you.”

I laughed. “Oh dear. You may just have to stay over again. How horrible. It’s not like you can apparate home at any moment.”

“This is your fault, you know? You just have to live so far away,” he said in feigned annoyance, ignoring the last sentence I’d spoken. “Maybe I should just make friends elsewhere.”

“Yet, you still accept every time I suggest some kind of activity for us to do rather than finding new friends. Why’s that?”

“You’re… Different,” he whispered, like it was some miraculous secret.

“How?”

He sighed softly. “People back home, what I grew up with— It’s nothing like this. Everyone is cold. They all care so much about the wrong things.”

“You think I care about the right things?”

He smiled softly. “You care about me. That’s enough.”

“Who would’ve guessed Malfoy would become such a softie,” I mentioned with a smirk. “Oh, how things change.”

“Some things don’t,” he said with a shrug. “You still somehow choose to be my friend.”

“All that childhood bullying and teenage depression captivated me.”

He furrowed his brows, an unbelieving laugh passing his lips. We sat in a comfortable silence for a few minutes, looking around at the park as it was washed in moonlight. I felt his fingers brush against my hand, and I willingly opened my palm to him. He slid his hand into mine, lacing our fingers together and giving a gentle squeeze.

“Look up,” he said quietly, and I obliged. He pointed up at the stars in the clear sky. “There’s a constellation there. Just between the… It’s right by ursa major, the plough constellation.”

“Mhm,” I hummed along.

“Right along here,” he traced a line of stars in my vision. “Do you know what that constellation is called?”

“Can’t say that I do, no.”

“Draco. It was called that because it kind of resembles a dragon. I don’t know for sure if my parents named me because of the constellation, but I like to think so.”

I smiled, glancing at him rather than the stars. He looked at peace as he stared up into the sky, his thumb gently rubbing against my hand. He looked at me out of the corner of his eye after a minute, at which point I looked back into the night. The stars really were beautiful that night. They looked brighter than normal, and the constellation patters I did recognize were easy to spot. Now, there was a new one I wouldn’t soon forget.

I heard him sigh next to me after a few minutes, and turned my head slightly to find he was already looking at me. This time, neither of us looked away.

“You’re my best friend,” he said, almost too quietly to hear.

Unsure of what to say in that moment, and wanting to do more than offer a smile, I leaned my head against his shoulder. He let out another soft breath, dropping his head against mine. I brought our connected hands up, pressing a soft kiss to the back of his.

“When was the last time you were in Hogsmeade?” I asked quietly.

He gave a soft chuckle to that.

We walked down the street the next day in the afternoon, everything looking quite different now that the weather was quite warm.

“It’s strange not being here in the wintertime,” I noted.

He nodded. “It is. I haven’t been in years.”

We walked up to a familiar building, and I reached out to him. I grabbed his hand, pulling him into the pub. We were offered a seat, but not before receiving several stares.

“You might not want to be holding my hand in front of everyone here,” Draco leaned in to whisper.

“I’m not terribly worried about being seen with you, you know?” I whispered back in reply. “Anyone who knows me is already aware that we used to be friends.”

We sat at the table, placed our orders, and were left alone once again. He let out a breath, looking a bit uncomfortable.

“Seriously, don’t worry about all of them,” I said, leaning on the table. “Half of everyone in here were secretly on the wrong side anyways. They just fly under the radar because they don’t come from a powerful family.”

“Still. I don’t want to drag you down with me.”

“You aren’t. Besides, I’m used to people judging me for being around you.”

He deadpanned. “That doesn’t make me feel better.”

“My point is that I don’t care about being seen with you. Okay?”

He swallowed, sighing softly.

“You make it terribly difficult to try and protect you.”

“Probably because I don’t need to be protected. Stop worrying about me so much,” I stated with a laugh.

“Can’t help it,” he replied, a small smirk on his face.

Our drinks were brought to the table, along with some assorted appetizers.

“Just don’t tell your parents that we’re friends this time,” I joked, hoping that wouldn’t strike a chord.

He snorted. “I already have.”

I straightened in surprise, looking at him with curious eyes. He glanced at me, a partial smile on his face when he saw my shock.

“And you’re still allowed to live with them?”

“It’s been a long time since they’ve tried to make decisions for me like that. After practically forcing me to become a, uh—“

“Yep.”

He nodded, thankful he didn’t have to say it.

“After that happened, my father laid off. Mother still worries for me, but she knows now that at least I’m safe. That’s all that’s ever really mattered to her.”

“They still hate me, though?”

“Pretty much,” he said with a curt nod.

I smiled to myself, sipping at my drink. He shook his head.

“You look pleased with yourself.”

“I’m sorry to say, but I don’t really feel too terrible that they don’t like me.”

“I know,” he said.

I looked back up to see a small smile on his face as well.

“Also, most of that smile is because I haven’t had a butterbeer in a terribly long time.”

Two months flew by after our visit to Hogsmeade. Though, it was filled with almost daily visits with one another. Usually, he’d just show up and keep me company as I wrote. Sometimes, he’d even give input when I asked for it, or let me read him chapters to see how it sounded. His sleepovers even became more frequent, and part of me had to wonder what on earth anyone would think of it if they knew.

I’d told my friends bits and pieces of what had been taking up so much of my time over the last eight months, but not quite the whole story. Luckily, they hadn’t been too angry with me for it. Most of them were rather indifferent, especially after I’d told them about how he’d changed. I never expected them to forgive him, though. I wouldn’t believe how different things had become if I hadn’t seen how he’d changed for myself.

But he truly did. And it was incredible.

During the breaks I’d take from writing, he was usually excited to tell me about the muggle books he’d been reading. Sometimes out of surprise at the content, and sometimes just because he appreciated the writing.

The icing on top was being with him and running into Ron and Hermione. The looks on their faces when he was gentle and kind in their interaction was absolutely priceless. She’d written me days later to ask if I’d found his long-lost twin, not quite believing that he was capable of being anything but who he used to be. But, as I’d repeatedly told Draco himself: it’s not only possible for people to change for the good, it’s probable for those who care to.

So, our days passed comfortably. He only became more kind and, frankly, affectionate, as time went on.

It was on a beautiful August evening when he knocked on my door, our plans already set in place.

I tugged the door open at the sound and took him in, my brows raised slightly. He was in a white button-down and a black sweater vest. There was a messenger back slung across his chest, one hand with a silver ring adorning it held the strap. His cheeks were slightly pink from the weather outside, and he practically glowed. For lack of a better word, he just looked pretty.

He furrowed his brow, looking back at me.

“Everything alright?”

I nodded fast. “Yeah. You just look really nice today.”

“Oh,” he replied, cheeks suddenly flushed. “You also look nice. I like your blouse.”

“Thanks.”

“I brought something,” he said, giving me a shy smile.

“Okay,” I said curiously. “Are you going to at least take off your shoes?”

He shook his head. “No. In fact, you should probably put yours on.”

I furrowed my brow, though I listened anyways. I started pulling on my shoes.

“I thought we were going to have dinner here first, and then go to the cinema.”

“Change of plans,” he shrugged.

“Alright,” I laughed, still unsure.

He pulled a small object out of the bag he carried, unfolding the cloth around it to reveal a small stone statue. I quirked a brow, looking down at the little object.

“What’s this?”

“Do you trust me?”

“Of course.”

“On the count of three, reach out to it and hold on.”

“Draco, is this a portkey?”

“One…”

“Is this one even legal?”

“Two…”

“You’re insane.”

“Three.”

We both held onto the small statue, and in an instant we were in some alleyway. I took in a sudden breath, feeling out of sorts from the transport.

“Where did you get that?”

“My family has had it forever,” he said, wrapping it back up and tucking it into his bag.

“Where are we?”

He smiled at me, taking my hand. I followed him along blindly, until he lead me into a building. I looked around at the tall ceilings and the beautiful chandelier that hung in the middle.

“Wow,” I said, mostly to myself.

He walked us up to the front desk, greeting the clerk in French. My eyes widened as they continued a conversation, ending only when he took a key from her. He then began leading me towards the elevator, still not loosening his grip on my hand.

“I didn’t know you spoke French.”

He smirked as he pressed the elevator button.

“I brought a few things with in my bag, but I didn’t bring any clothes. I thought we could get whatever else we needed here.”

I quirked a brow as we stepped into the elevator. He hit the button for the right floor.

“How long were you planning on staying?” I asked with a laugh.

“Just tonight and daytime tomorrow. We could stay longer if you want to?”

“No, that’s plenty,” I replied, a smile stuck to my face. “This is crazy.”

“Is it?”

“Practically clinically insane.”

He laughed, pulling me out into the hall. He walked us down the hallway, opening the right door when we arrived, and letting me walk in ahead of him. The room was huge. It had a beautiful sitting area, and judging by the height of the curtains, I was sure the windows would be gorgeous. He called me over as he entered the bedroom through large double doors, and I took it all in. He dropped his bag and flopped down onto the huge mattress.

“Whoa,” I said finally, shaking my head. “I don’t know what else to say.”

I fell down next to him on the bed, smiling over at him when he turned his head to me.

“You like it?”

“This is too much, Draco. Really,” I began. “But, it’s amazing.”

“I have one more thing to show you before we get dinner.”

“What else could there possibly be?”

“You’ve seen the eiffel tower before?”

I shook my head. “Only in pictures.”

He stood quickly, and I sat, watching him circle the bed. He grabbed the tall curtains, pulling them apart with force. I stilled before scrambling to my feet and meeting him at the window. I looked out the practically-floor-to-ceiling windows to see the tower glittering against the night sky. I sighed, absolutely wonderstruck.

“Beautiful, isn’t it? One thing I’m sure the muggles got right.”

I laughed, unbelieving, turning to throw my arms around his middle. He held me against him, resting his head on top of mine as we looked out the window again.

“We’ll have all night to stare out the window if you’d like to, but I don’t think the restaurant we’re eating at will wait as long.”

I looked at him, a smile still stuck to my face. He smiled back, just as gently, tucking some hair behind my ear. I felt my heart beat a little faster then, especially as he didn’t look away from me this time. Usually at this point, one of us would have come up with some clever distraction from whatever tension laid between us. It was silent, but not uncomfortable. There was almost a whisper of ‘tell the truth’ floating there, but I couldn’t quite bring myself to open my mouth to speak. He moved forward the slightest bit, though before anything could happen, he did speak.

“We really should go,” he said as a whisper. “Our reservation is in five minutes, and I’d feel horrible if we missed it.”

He gave a boyish smile, one that I couldn’t help but to return, even if I’d secretly hoped for a different outcome. I nodded silently, accepting his hand again once we walked to the door. We apparated near a relatively quiet street, stepping out onto the sidewalk in order to integrate into the other pedestrians. We walked into a small restaurant hidden through a wall. I hadn’t expected him to take me to a wizards-only restaurant, but especially not one that had me forcefully closing my jaw after it had involuntarily dropped.

“Dray, this is incredible, but it might be a little above my pay grade,” I mentioned, leaning in a bit to speak quietly.

He hummed. “That’s why instead of splitting the bill how you like, I’m just going to pay for it.”

I rolled my eyes. “That’s not fair.”

“Just let me be nice,” he said, turning the tables to scold me for once.

“Are you sure I’m not underdressed?”

“You look beautiful. Quit worrying.”

I attempted to drop my hand from his as he spoke with the hostess, though his grip only tightened a bit. I felt my cheeks flush a little when he flashed me a knowing smirk and the raise of a brow. We started walking back into the restaurant behind the waitress after a moment.

I spoke quietly as we went, “What, are you trying to romance me now, Malfoy?”

He gave my hand a gentle squeeze.

“Maybe I am. Are you opposed?”

I hid a smile. “No.”

“Thank Merlin for that,” he muttered under his breath, earning a laugh from me.

Dinner was beautiful, and wildly delicious. It definitely helped that I wasn’t terribly worried about the bill. I also can’t say I hated the idea of his family’s money going towards the meal of a wizard who was against practically everything they stood for. It felt like a small victory. Though, it was a bit strange to be surrounded by wizards who weren’t preoccupied with staring at us.

We stepped out of the restaurant, and rather than zipping someplace else, he was determined to walk to our next destination. He held my hand in his like he was afraid he’d lose me if he didn’t, swinging our arms along without a care.

“You seem happy,” I commented.

“I am,” he affirmed, bumping into me slightly. “I’m with you, for one. Plus, we haven’t received a single sideways glance from anyone around here. It’s nice that you’re the only person who knows me.”

I smiled to myself at that, letting him start swinging our arms again. He grinned over at me as we walked past crowds of people that grew increasingly larger. We probably looked ridiculous, but I certainly didn’t care. Not when I’d never seen him happier.

“So, I’ve got a question for you,” I said.

“Go on, then.”

“Why did you bring me to Paris?”

He glanced at me again, eyes a little wider. I raised one brow in question. He cleared his throat.

“Uh, I don’t know if you remember, but we were in some class. I don’t know which one, I think it was in second or third year,” he shrugged with a slight laugh.

“Oh,” I said, drawing his attention away.

We both looked up, suddenly seeing the peak of the tower come over a building. He made a decision to table my question, instead opting to tug me along as he started running ahead. We bolted forward, avoiding tons of people as we came up on the glittering structure, out of breath from both the run and the laughter at how silly we’d become over a hunk of metal. We walked the rest of the way until we were close enough to really look up at it. I held onto his arm with my free hand, resting my head against his shoulder.

“Wow.”

He let out a heavy breath. “Yeah.”

We stood quietly for a few moments, just to take it all in. The only thing I could really hear was the beat of my own heart and indecipherable conversation being had by the other people nearby. I finally looked back at him, and somehow he was still more gorgeous than everything else I’d seen that night.

He looked at me, a glimmer in his eye as that same old sweet smile showed on his face.

“So, what was the rest of that story?” I asked.

“Ah,” he said with a curt nod. “Well, in that class, someone had asked about portkeys. But before the professor had started to explain it, they called on you to pick anywhere in the world you’d like to go. I guess to demonstrate that a portkey could be enchanted in order to get to that place. You said you’d want to go to Paris and see the Eiffel tower.”

“You remembered that?”

He merely nodded. I tilted my head.

“How did you possibly keep that in mind after all this time?” I asked.

He shrugged. “I don’t know. I’ve… I just remember when it comes to you.”

“That’s crazy,” I laughed. “I don’t understand how you could remember something that happened in a class almost ten years ago. We weren’t even friends then.”

“Well, I,” he began, eyes going starry and somehow prettier than they’d ever been, “I suppose I’ve always loved you.”

I fell completely quiet, about one billion thoughts speeding through my head. Only one rose above the others: I love you. But I still wasn’t saying it. Why wasn’t I saying it? Why wasn’t I saying anything at all?

“Sorry, that was too much to—”

I interrupted what would surely be a lively rambling session from him, and threw myself at him, our lips finally connecting for the first time. As soon as the shock wore off for him, he kissed me back. His lips were soft and careful against mine, his arms wrapping around my middle to pull me in closer, and my hands pressed against his chest. I smiled into the kiss, leaving a few lingering pecks against his lips before we broke apart.

I looked at him, taking in everything that I could about that moment. I sighed.

“You’re so pretty,” I said softly.

That definitely wasn’t what I meant to say.

He laughed. “Yeah?”

“Sorry,” I groaned with a laugh of my own, leaning my forehead against his chest.

He lifted my face with one hand under my chin, pressing one more soft kiss to my lips.

“I love you, is what I meant to say,” I noted.

“I knew this trip was a good idea.”

“So this was the plan from the start, hm?”

He smirked. “Not the plan. Just a hope.”

We went back the hotel room, thought not without my genius idea to grab a cheap bottle of wine first.

It felt more fitting than champagne given that we’d spend the rest of the night staring out of the window and laying lazy kisses on one another.

We found ourselves back at my flat a week later, almost as if nothing had changed. But really, everything had changed. Completely and totally.

We sat on my couch, our tea cold from sitting without any attention on the coffee table in front of us. He talked to me about nothing for hours, and there’s nothing else I’d wanted to be doing than wasting away the day with him. It had quickly become my favorite activity.

“You know,” he started, “inviting me over for tea that day after I’d made quite the reputation for myself was probably a stupid idea.”

“But?” I prodded.

“But,” he said, pressing a kiss to my lips before continuing, “I am utterly thankful you did.”

“Aww. My pretty boy,” I cooed, earning a groan from him.

“You can’t keep calling me that.”

He grabbed my hand as I reached to pinch at his cheeks, kissing my knuckles softly.

“Yes, I can. You secretly love it.”

He blushed. “I love you. There’s a difference.”

I sighed, cuddling into his side. “Does this mean you’re going to take me home and introduce me to your parents as your girlfriend, now?”

“I’m pretty certain I’ll have to.”

“Why’s that?”

“Well, I’m going to inherit the manor one day.”

“And?” I questioned, laughing.

He kissed me again, speaking quietly against my lips.

“You won’t be my girlfriend forever,” he said with a smirk. “Gotta make sure you’ll like the place.”

[olderthannetfic]

https://www.tumblr.com/olderthannetfic/753405110589259776/note-spoilers-on-this-ask-for-anyone-who-hasnt

I’m this anon, and using your anon box to reply to a bad take in the reblogs of it lol.

1. aO3 treats the show and book series as separate fandoms for Bridgerton. My friend’s genderbend fic though is based on the books — thought I made that clear here. And yes book fans were being genuinely homophobic in her comments, not just her interpreting them not shipping it as “homophobia.” It was full of “get out of OUR tag” and claiming just writing a female character in a male version or shipping her male love interest with a guy was “misogyny,” exactly as I said. It’s a huge problem in the fandom. The main Reddit sub is so full of homophobia that queer fans had to spin out a separate inclusive sub called r/bridgertonlgbt. I’ve heard of people on TikTok being called “bourgeois degenerate” and “groomer” just for questioning why it’s supposedly such a dramatic and horrible change to make Michael into Michaela in the show.

2. Can we finally fucking retire the really tired, knee jerk “book is always better” attitude that has never been universally true anyway lol. The books Bridgerton are based on are pretty middling het histrom that repeat plots so much between them that that’s one of the big changes the show has had to make — just not have seasons 1 and 2 follow the same plot beats like books 1 and 2 did. The show has had to make a lot of changes just because it has a bigger audience than your average het histrom reader and while I haven’t loved every shift, it is overall better for it. Or just like, focusing on more than just each season’s main couple like the books only do — also better! The subplots are some of the most fun parts of that show, but also, it makes sense that people are going to continue to want to follow their favs from season to season and not just zero in on each couple. Yes I’ve read all the books. They simply are just not that great, TV is a different medium than books anyway and so certain changes are necessary, and frankly most of the loudest parts of the “book fandom” online who complain about the changes are people who read the books because of the show anyway. They’re all wildly inconsistent in what they consider acceptable changes: they’re largely on board with making the universally white books more racially diverse, but not adding queerness and gender diversity. Why is one ok but not another? Especially when a lot of them are ok with sad or bittersweet queer stories in subplots like Brimsley’s but not happy stories for main characters. Why is that, I wonder? A lot of people are pretending to be “book snobs” as a mask for bigotry, or just have bad taste, but regardless I think we need to get over the idea that stalwart defense of some mediocre and overly tropey romance novels is more elevated or intellectual and like the show isn’t an improvement in being less lazy about the cliches of that genre than the original author. (Seriously, I read a lot of romance novels, so this is not a knock on the genre as a whole or its readers — but the Bridgerton books are SO lazy and SO repetitive. Honestly I think a lot of the book defenders need to read more histrom themselves. Then maybe they’d see how weak and lazy those books can be compared to what else is out there.)

Fandom please learn basic things about how adaptation between different mediums works 2k24 also stop assuming that consuming a story in text form over another is an inherently intellectual activity

--

A pretentious friend of mine who loves Shonda Rhimes was going on at me a while ago about how she ~always reads the book first~ and then waiting for applause as if that's unusual!

She then tried to launch into how shocked she was by the books being... well, lowbrow trash, but she had some complex and boring way of explaining this.

I was like "Honey, you do know what a regency romance novel is, right? Right?!"

I mean, there are adaptations that are nearly exactly like the middle tier of romance novels. They're movie length and they air on Lifetime. This was a change not only of medium but of overall target audience and vibe.

[annknnwa]

I’ve known Ona for years now, have been best friends since we were kids. Well to her at least, i was always in love with this girl. Always the bright sunshine of my life. But I was just her best friend, her bro, her platonic friend.

When she dating guys, I decided to turn to other things to distract myself. The hole I had in my heart that had been filled with love for her had to be filled instead with lust for others. I was constantly on tiktok watching thirst traps, trying to forget her.

Ona had started maturing into herself, being more confident, and well “growing” in other areas.

She started dressing less like the girl I loved and more like the girsl I lusted for.

Guy came and went, but the last one would be the storm that would finally break her. Her last boyfriend had cheated and she found out, they had broken up.

When I asked if she was okay, she sounded devastated, like her world was crashing down.

“Why does this keep happening? Is it me? Is something wrong with me?”

Remembering my unrequited love and my place as the best friend, I had to console her

“I’d never cheat on you if i were him, he was crazy to go for another woman, you’re so h-”

Caught myself before possibly turning my friendship weird. No way i could call her hot, how could I? Id have to explain that I was attracted to her, not as her best friend but more.

“i’m so what? Don’t be the next guy to lie to me too, You’re all I have left”

“You’re so… hot…”

Didn’t realise those words would send her spiralling, but in a different way

Only minutes later, I get a video of Ona, dancing just like the girls she knew I liked

“You always watch thirst traps right? on tiktok?”

“yeah but why did yo-“

“Am I hot? Hotter than the girls you always watch?”

I didn’t realise how much this meant to her

“I’ll be yours, just don’t look at anyone else, I don’t want it to happen again”

“Lets meet”

I don’t think we said more than 5 words. We drowned in each others pleasure. Skin to skin, body to body. We shared sweat, saliva, fluids more than we did words. We had known each other for forever, we didn’t need words to know what we wanted.

Every thrust, every pump filled Ona with what she thought was lust. Position after position, round after round, condom after condom. Then there was no more

“we ran out of condoms, maybe we should stop”

But she put me back inside of her

“Keep going, don’t stop, show me”

She wanted to be loved, but she’ll settle for lust, he had broken her, and I was all she had to fill that emptiness

“Please don’t stop”

But I loved her, I always have, and the thought that another person had hurt her this way, broke my heart.

“Wait if we keep going, ill-”

But it was too late, loving Ona, and being inside her, makes you a different person. It’s Ona after all, who could resist her.

“I’m- I’m gon- Im gonna cu”

Her walls clenched around me, encouraging me to fill her. Who am I to deny that? Her legs wrapping around me was the last straw. Missionary, no escape, no turning back. This was my chance to prove to her it wasn’t lust, it was years and years of love.

With one last thrust, I released it. Ropes painted her walls, filling her with my seed. Neither of us moved, filled with ecstasy. All that was moving was me still filling her up, her still clenching as she came harder as if my cum was a drug keeping her from calming down and our breathing.

“I’m sorry, I was just lonely and you were always so nice to me and”

Ona went on and on, same old same old, always spiralling after an event

I leaned in and kissed her on the lips. A soft one, not one out of lust but out of love.

“Stop, if I didn’t already like you, I wouldn’t stick by every bad decision you made”

That night was years ago now.

I had deleted tiktok, no more need for thirst traps

Ona stopped spiralling, she had me to keep her steady

and we stopped being best friends, instead we had become lovers. Active lovers. All it takes now is for Ona to send a video of her dancing to one of the trends on tiktok, for me to head to our nearest 7-11 to get a few protection items and we relive that night, over and over.

Although, we have been using condoms less and less, maybe we should look into baby items. Eh who cares, nothing a married couple can’t handle :)

My First actually story post! Thanks for reading! Little different from my usual reblogs and more immoral stuff. A wholesome one for a wholesome girl :)

Thanks to @ayyitsona for the request, pics and video are from her too. Check her out, you won’t be disappointed.

Story is purely fiction and only for fun. Send in your requests if you want one too! Dms open :)

[acourtofwhatthefuck]

Hi, i just saw your post. Tiktok is banned in my country and I am very curious about that video now. So I was wondering if you could summarize or just explain it, if thats not too much to ask.

Hi, darling. Of course, I’ve transcribed it for you 🫶🏻 👇🏻

“After literal years of avoiding reading ACOTAR because of all the bad things I'd heard about it, I decided I would give it a go if for no other reason than to at least know what everybody else is talking about.

What surprised me upon reading it though was how much the books actually appear to reference Israel and Palestine. Maybe this shouldn't be surprising because it turns out that the author Sarah J Maas is indeed a Zionist.

She hails from the Jewish community in New York and has spoken previously about how much happiness she felt whenattending a birthright trip to Israel, as well as the pride she feels at her family's ties to the IDF. Her grandmother still volunteers at an army base while she's in her 80s.

I didn't know about this until I was halfway through the series and at that point I decided to finish it just to be able to see if her politics manifest in the novels, and unsurprisingly they do, especially in books two and three which have the most Israeli Zionist politics.

But before we get into the Zionism that's evident in the series, let's just take a step back and note some of the Jewish influences in the novel.

There are lots of references to the Torah, and the novel also uses Hebrew words, but the most overt Jewish references come in the forms of the characters Miriam and Amren.

Miriam is a legendary figure who is half human, half fae, and was born when humans were enslaved in the Black Lands. She was given as a gift to Prince Drakon, who she escapes, but later falls in love with when he allies with humans.

The two lead her people across a desert to a sea, which Prince Drakon splits in half to lead them to safety before it crashes down upon their enemies. And this lore is obviously an adaptation of the story of Moses and the enslaved Israelites.

Amren’s situation also references Moses. She's a primordial being, godlike in her powers, and there's a scene where the people of Velaris leave lamb's blood outside their doors while she prowls the streets at night, as a sign of respect for her.

If this sounds familiar, it's because Amren represents the Angel of Death, who God sent down to kill firstborn sons in Egypt in the Passover story. Believers were told to mark lamb’s blood above their doors so that the Angel of Death would pass by without taking from them. Obviously, these references are not problematic, and in fact I kind of love it when Abrahamic religions are woven into fantasy worlds, especially when they are subversive and center women.

But where this all becomes a problem is when the Zionist elements come through, which is very clear with the city of Velaris and its underground counterpart, the Hewn city. When you introduce them and contrast them, they are very clearly representative of Israel and Palestine.

In the books, Velaris is a secret city described as a safe haven for the marginalized, particularly queer folk and women. It's considered more advanced than the surrounding cities, especially when it comes to art, and its depiction to me is very reminiscent of Israel's claims that it's the only democracy in the Middle East.

Velaris is contrasted heavily with the Hewn City, also part of the Night Court, which is portrayed as conservative, misogynistic, and homophobic.

Mor, beloved best friend to Feyre, was princess of the city; however, when she had premarital sex, she was brutalized by her family and nearly honour-killed until Rhysand stepped in and saved her.

The Hewn city is considered primitive, and its people live under a mountain. Occupants are not allowed to leave; they do not enjoy the same freedoms as those in Velaris. Apparently, because they were all brutish and backwards, and they just don't deserve them. Never mind that Mor is from the city, and it's proof that the entire population must not share these values. We as readers are expected to believe everybody in the city is homophobic, a woman abuser, and they all deserve to be trapped in what you could call an open-air prison. When Mor is the exception because she is feminist and queer.

As war looms, Rhysand is forced to request the Hewn city’s military assistance. The condition, their leader, who is Mor’s father, requests in exchange, is access to Valaris.

Mor’s father says his people want the freedom of movement that those in Valaris enjoy, which is immediately shot down and then framed by the book as a dangerous thing to grant. And like…not acceptable.

Feyre believes Mor’s father doesn't even want freedom and he's only asking for it to spite her, and for some reason this makes trapping his entire city under the Mountain okay?

This was when I realized how evil the politics of the book actually are. It does not at all question the fairness of generalising the Hewn City’s population as backwards, and it finds the thought of giving the people the same rights as those in Velaris laughable. The craziest part is that Rhysand, our hero, meets the Hewn City's demands by way of introducing what I think is a blockade. It allows them access to Velaris in limited numbers through strict checkpoints and then tells all the shopkeepers in Velaris not to serve visitors from the Hewn City, essentially creating an apartheid state to maintain these people’s status as second-class citizens.

I'm truly baffled at how Sarah J. Maas wrote about this and didn't see anything wrong with it.

Rhysand’s Inner Circle spouts similar rhetoric that Zionists use against Palestinians, and it's pretty clear that Velaris, a city of art and a safe haven for queer people, represents Israel, and the Hewn City a, blockaded territory full of a population that sees women as cattle and hates gay people, represents Palestine

This reductive positioning of Israel as kind of the West and liberatory, and then Palestine as backwards, sexist, misogynistic, homophobic is not new, and it's something we're seeing a lot right now, especially post October 7.

So I think if you are thinking about reading ACOTAR and you've been on the fence because of all the bad things you've heard about it maybe reconsider, maybe reconsider reading it, because we could also talk all day about the feminist issues and the bodily autonomy issues in it but now it’s racist, too.”

[1d1195]

Committed III

Read Part I and Part II

One thing about me is if I can write a love confession monologue, I’m going to write it.

Don't forget to listen to this TikTok while reading.

“What is wrong with you!?” She shouted.

“I’m sorry,” he said quietly. The quite thrum of the club music behind the walls of the room didn’t drown out his words, fortunately. He really was sorry; he didn’t mean to upset her or her date. The guy was truly fine. There was nothing wrong with him.

Except Harry wanted to be him.

She wasn’t thinking much of the airport arrival when the plane got delayed a million hours. All she wanted was her own bed and to see her best friend in person. Her mom was supposed to be waiting for her. There was no way she wasn’t. After what seemed like ten separate delays, she knew her mom was probably hunkered down in the airport somewhere. But instead, she was there at baggage claim, alone and confused trying to figure out where her mom had gone off to. Right as she pulled her phone out to call her mom for her whereabouts, Harry’s name and picture illuminated her screen. “Hey!” She smiled. “What are you doing awake?” She asked.

“Oh...I wanted t’make sure y’got in okay,” he had a smile in his voice. “And I couldn’t wait t’see you,” he admitted shyly.

She smiled to herself resting her arm on the top of her suitcase’s pull handle. She was grinning like an idiot in the middle of the quiet airport in the dead of night, her eyes droopy, as she wished she could just teleport to Harry. Being delayed so many times by weather and poorly put together aircraft had her sleepy and longing for her bed. “M’in,” she said with a yawn. “Can’t find my mom,” she sighed. “Think I may just sleep here if I can’t find her.”

“Oh, don’t be silly, love. I wouldn’t leave y’here. I can drive y’back,” he chuckled. Her brain was sleep deprived, jet lagged, and just overall exhausted. It took her a moment to realize that it was Harry directly in front of her, phone pressed to his ear as he gazed at her. Even as he stared at her with his lopsided grin, her eyes just blinked at him, like he was dream. “Y’okay, kitten?” He asked gently.

Shaking her head, she felt tears blur her vision nearly the same way they did a year ago in the very same spot. All at once her senses finally snapped together. Harry was in front of her. In the flesh. And he was there to take her home to her warm perfect bed. “Oh my God!” She said excitedly tossing her arms around his neck and squeezing him as tightly as she could. He wrapped his arms around her waist and tucked his face against her neck and he sighed with relief.

“Don’t leave again, if y’can help it,” he mumbled into her ear.

“No way,” she sighed. “Least not without you,” she promised.

They were silent for a few moments. She was getting more tired by the second, finally feeling at ease and peace in Harry’s arms. “Can I sleep at yours?” He asked quietly. “I want t’spend the whole day with y’tomorrow,” he explained pulling from the embrace. She swiped the stray tears from her cheeks, and she nodded as Harry took the suitcase from her fingers as he grabbed her hand with the other one.

“Yeah, I’ve been dying for your waffles,” she told him.

“That was m’plan the whole time,” he chuckled at her.

“Is Sarah at Mitch’s?”

“I think,” he shrugged. “I’ll make her waffles, too. I don’t really care,” he smirked down at her. “Jus’ wanna be around m’best friend.”

Smiling, she squeezed his hand. She thought about when he came back home and the woman who commented on how devoted they appeared to one another from a stranger. Quickly she shook her head of the thought. No use in dreaming of what could never be.

Even if it felt like pure magic lacing her fingers between Harry’s.

*

She had been back for two weeks when Harry arrived at her place prior to their show. Sarah was curling her hair and playing with her makeup in front of the bathroom mirror when Harry entered. “Hey Harry,” Sarah said smiling into the mirror. “What do you think of her hair?” She asked holding the curling wand from her face.

Harry smirked at the mirror. “Y’look lovely, kitten. Gotta date?” He joked.

She felt her face warm at his joke and her eyes darted from his gaze in the reflection. “Yes!” Sarah nearly cheered. “The guy that wanted to buy her a drink a year ago. He saw her the last time we played, texted her again, asking if she’d be open to a drink tonight.”

Harry wasn’t sure what he wanted the answer to be when the question he said as a joke left his lips. Well, of course he knew—he wanted her to say something cheesy (but no less true) like, “only with you, Harry,” and he wanted to kiss her until Sarah begged them to stop. He never anticipated the guy from over a year ago to be the one she was seeing tonight. It didn’t help that he lied about how she looked. Lovely didn’t do her justice. In fact, lovely seemed downright insulting in comparison to the beauty she nearly shined.

“Oh...s’nice,” he murmured.

She was staring at him in the mirror. “I was going to tell you before the show,” she promised.

“Oh yeah,” Sarah nodded in agreement. “She was just saying she was really nervous about it,” she explained on her behalf. “A lot of jitters t’talk about it. I only found out about an hour ago,” Sarah said looking at Harry pointedly so he would stop moping.

“Nothing t’be nervous ‘bout, love,” Harry gently smiled at her. “M’sure you’ll have him wrapped around y’finger by the end of the night.”

She smiled. “Thank you, Harry. I told him last time I saw him I don’t take drinks from strangers without you around...so I’ll introduce you before the show, if you want.”

“Whatever y’want, kitten,” he nodded and left the bathroom before he cried thinking about how much he adored that beautiful girl that was getting ready for someone else.

*

Harry could see her as he peered from backstage toward the bar. She was smiling happily and sitting with the guy that Harry completely forgot about ages and ages ago. Harry hated him, naturally. He imagined him falling off his barstool and tragically hitting his head so hard he forgot why he was there and forgot all about his pretty best friend.

She laughed at whatever he said, and Harry wanted to die. He didn’t want him to be funny. Harry didn’t want him to do anything that caused a positive reaction to come from her. Sarah watched Harry with a pointed expression. “You okay, there?” She asked.

Harry jerked away from his creepy stance and turned to Sarah. She looked at him with a smirk. “What?” He grumbled and pushed past her toward the makeshift room they used to get ready.

“Do you like her?” Sarah asked.

He rolled his eyes. “Of course, I like her, Sarah. She’s my best friend.”

“That’s not what I meant, you idiot.” Harry flopped onto the couch and turned toward Sarah. He didn’t say anything. He just looked at her without a word. Harry glanced away from Sarah and it was so quiet in the room, the emotion he felt of seeing his friend with someone else made him want to throw up.

“Why would y’help her be with someone else?” He grumbled to her.

“You two are the stupidest people I know.”

Harry shook his head. “Sarah.”

“Harry.” Harry thought he would start crying any second and Sarah just continued to look at him as if she was going to will the tears out of him; any reaction to get him to do something would be useful. “Just...tell her.”

“I don’t think she feels the same way, Sarah. We’ve never—”

“Sarah, Niall’s gonna move your drums!” Mitch shouted from down the hall followed by the cackling laughter from Niall.

“Just tell her, Harry,” Sarah said and ran off to stop Niall.

*

“Hey mate, you’re really good,” he said shaking Harry’s hand. He was polite. There was nothing wrong with him. He bought all three of them a drink. He was kind and he looked at her the way she deserved: she put the air in his lungs, and she lit up the room like she was the sun even when it was dark. “It’s nice to meet you,” he smiled.

“Same,” Harry said perfunctorily. He didn’t mean it though. In fact, he would have loved if the ground opened and swallowed this man whole, never to be seen again. And he didn’t deserve Harry’s piss-poor attitude. He was very nice.

“When do you go on?”

“About an hour, I’ll probably go back there to make sure everything’s in order,” she smiled sweetly.

“That’s cool,” he said smiling at her again.

“You could come back and check it out,” she said.

“Band only,” Harry muttered.

“Pardon?” He asked.

Her head snapped toward Harry, and she looked at him as if he had suddenly gone insane. There were no rules. Anyone could technically go back there if they had permission. “Band only,” he repeated with a shrug.

“Well,” she laughed awkwardly trying to save the conversation. “Guess I won’t be going back then,” she said. “M’not in the band.”

Harry rolled his eyes. “Obviously s’not what I meant.”

She plastered a fake smile on her face in Harry’s direction and he saw a flash of annoyance in her eye as she turned her attention back to her date. Her smile to him was much kinder. “Um...sorry,” she said with another breathy laugh and Harry sipped his drink before he rocked back on his heels. He felt like a jerk because he knew it was rude. “We were talking about going to this coffee shop after—the one with the late-night lattes that I like,” she explained.

“We have plans,” Harry said stiffly.

Turning back to outrightly glare at Harry she mouthed what the fuck to him and then said, “No we don’t,” again, a smile so forced Harry thought her cheeks would burst.

“We’re watching a movie tonight,” he said. “You promised.”

Her eyes were wild now. She hadn’t promised Harry anything about a movie and she wanted to kill him in that moment. Even if he didn’t like the guys she dated, he was always polite and made and effort. Usually it was the guys she had to convince that Harry wasn’t a threat. Except now he was acting like one. The only thing saving her was the crowd and music making enough noise to save the awkwardness that would have ensued in any other environment. “Harry—”

“It’s alright,” the guy said putting a hand on her back. “It’s cool, mate. You have your traditions and things, it’s fine. We can go another night,” he said sweetly and the grin he had for her was also so very kind that Harry wanted to scream. It wasn’t fair and it wasn’t anyone’s fault but his own.

Harry’s eyes were glued to his hand on her body. “Don’t touch her,” he said simply.

His hand dropped from her back immediately. “O...kay.”

“Harry,” she said, not hiding her annoyance any longer. “What are you doing?” She snapped through gritted teeth.

Harry didn’t have an exit strategy. He never thought of doing anything like this in his entire life. He didn’t even feel like he had to do it right now. But all he wanted was to yank this man’s arm off his body, throw her over his shoulder, and take her as far away from this club as possible. “Y’seem like a decent guy, but we’re gonna go,” Harry said and pulled her toward him.

“Wait a second,” he said shaking his head with a surprised smirk. “Is this a joke?” He asked.

“Harry,” she said pulling herself against Harry’s grip on her hand.

“Nope,” Harry said nearly popping his lips on the syllable.

“I am so sorry,” she said in his direction and Harry pulled her again. “Harry, I swear to God,” she snapped.

“Harry, mate. M’not gonna steal her from you—”

“I’d honestly like to see you try,” he said finally with an eye roll.

“Oh my God,” she said her face turning bright red. “I will call you later,” she said and shoved Harry as hard as she could in the direction of the back where they clearly needed to have a conversation in private.

“Actually, she won’t.”

“Shut. Up.” She hissed and Harry didn’t even spare a backwards glance in his direction. He merely walked toward the back feeling the anger dissipating the further he got from the guy that was clearly good enough to steal her away from him.

*

In the privacy of the dressing room, Harry realized what he did. It was entirely out of character and his behavior was downright deplorable. “WHAT was that!?” She shouted at him slamming the door shut. “Are you that insanely protective about me you don’t think I can make smart decisions about the people in my life?” She was beyond mad. Harry hadn’t ever really seen her like that before...especially not directed at him.

He felt shame creep up further from his knotted stomach, through his heavy-felt chest, and settle on his face making him feel brighter red than he could fathom. But he didn’t regret his actions. He would do it again for her in a heartbeat. “Of course, y’can make your own decisions,” he rolled his eyes.

She looked shocked and still pissed. She started shaking her head and nearly waving her hands as she tangled her fingers in her hair trying to calm all her nerves from the interaction that just happened. “Are you sure? Because you certainly made it seem like you didn’t trust me to do so!”

She was so frustrated. Harry could see it all over her face, she was near tears and her heart was breaking and Harry never wanted to see her like this. It broke him over and over and over again. Yet, it was his fault this time. “I’m so mad at you and I’ve never been mad at you, I don’t even know what to do. I could strangle you! I can’t believe you did that! I’ve never done anything like that to any girl you’ve ever talked to or dated or...” she was fuming so badly she started to pace. She paced a lot when she didn’t know how to handle a situation and this was clearly uncharted territory. “What is wrong with you!?” She shouted.

“I’m sorry,” he said quietly. The quite thrum of the club music behind the walls of the room didn’t drown out his words, fortunately. He really was sorry; he didn’t mean to upset her or her date. The guy was truly fine. There was nothing wrong with him.

Except Harry wanted to be him.

“You’re sorry?!” She gasped and continued pacing. “Well then, that’s perfectly fine if you’re sorry. What the fuck, Harry,” she said covering her hand over her face. “You embarrassed me! I don’t know how I’m ever going to call him or apologize or...” Harry couldn’t do anything but look at the floor that she paced, his eyes entirely focused on her feet but thinking about everything she was saying as she ranted. “Harry, you’ve never acted like that before I don’t even know what to say or do, I’m lost—”

“I don’t want you t’date someone that isn’t me,” he said finally. He rushed it out and he watched as she stopped pacing mid-step and her breath caught in her throat as she stopped speaking, too. He slowly blinked and then looked back toward her face. Her lips parted open in shock, her head tilted at the slightest angle, and he could see the confusion all over her face.

“What...what did you say?” She asked. Her tone wasn’t as volatile as it was moments ago. Surely, she misheard him.

Harry licked his lips and looked toward the floor for a second again. He brought a hand to his lip and nipped at the skin around his thumb. Harry didn’t really get nervous. He stood on stage and sang vulnerable songs and felt vulnerable to criticism a lot as a performer. But at that moment he was. But he had never openly admitted his feelings about her to anyone. Especially not her. “M’sorry. I shouldn’t have...” he shook his head and inhaled deeply. He had to go on stage in ten minutes or less and here he was having the most terrifying conversation of his life. “He’s really nice,” Harry admitted. “And m’jealous. Because he’s nice and he made it very clear he likes you. And...I haven’t done that.”

“Jealous?” She repeated, still confused by the change in subject. The rapid change in her demeanor made her heart rate drop immensely but it was working it’s way back up to a frantic speed similar to how angry she was but now for an entirely different reason.

Harry nodded silently, looking back at the floor. “I really like you...actually...” He looked back up once more as he said his next sentence because he meant every word of it. “I think s’quite obvious I love you,” the words felt so comfortable in his mouth. He had said them a thousand times before but of course he meant it in a romantic way that made him feel warm and scared all at once. His gaze dropped back to the floor. “I shouldn’t have acted the way I did. Not seeing you for s’long. Knowing someone else wanted t’make y’happy the way I want t’make y’happy...I didn’t like it,” he explained. “So...I was an ass,” he murmured quietly avoiding her eyes until finally he had no choice to understand why she was being so silent. She stared at him silently, her eyes no longer annoyed, just utterly confused. “Kitten,” he said softly. “Please say something.”

There was another beat of silence. “I accept your apology,” she said softly.

“I...I don’t really care ‘bout that, kitten,” he swallowed the nervousness caught in his throat. If she didn’t love him back, if Sarah was wrong, he would die. He would ruin everything about their friendship, and he could not lose her; he would gladly spend forever silently pining for her as long as he could be in her life. As long as he could be there beside her—even if it wasn’t the way he wanted it to be. He was glad he wasn’t holding anything because his hands were shaking, and he had to tuck them into his pants’ pockets so she wouldn’t see. “I said a lot of other stuff that I think is a bit more pressing.”

It was silent again and he saw tears well in her eyes and Harry thought if she cried he would lose his mind. He couldn’t believe Sarah was wrong. Harry always, always hoped she felt the same way and now it was obvious she didn’t. She was going to hate Harry for ruining their friendship, for making the band have to pick sides and essentially ruining any plan they ever made all because he couldn’t keep his feelings to himself and because—

“Harry, wouldn’t you want to date someone skinnier than me or prettier than me or someone who doesn’t—I don’t know...someone who’s better than me?”

The thrum of the music outside the room seemed to stop. It was so quiet. All that existed was the sound of her breath and Harry’s.

Of all the things she could have said in that moment. “Love, what did y’say?” He asked shaking his head in surprise. “Y’said...m’sorry, what?” He surely imagined that. The words that fell from her lips were suddenly in another language.

She frowned, her eyebrows pinched together, and her cheeks turned a shade pinker. “I want more for you,” she whispered. “More than I am.”

So he didn’t hear incorrectly. The tears weren’t because Harry ruined their friendship. They were tears of inadequacy. “Kitten...” he whispered taking a few steps toward her and his heart snapped in half when she took a step back trying to distance herself from her best friend. A shield to protect herself from all the emotion that was thickly laid in the room. “You’re the only one that exists for me.”

She looked away for a moment, her lips rolled into her mouth, and she started to twist her fingers together nervously. Standing before Harry, her heart was breaking by the second. Simultaneously, she broke Harry’s heart. Anytime she put herself down, it broke him. All he wanted was to ease all her worries and make her feel like she was the best and only thing that mattered to him—because she was. She started to shake her head, refusing to believe the words that left his mouth. “Harry, you sing to hundreds and hundreds of girls. I’m not like them! They’re beautiful and they already adore you—”

Harry shook his head while she spoke, his hands dragging over his face because he didn’t want to pronounce his love for her in the back of a club with alcohol sticking to the bottoms of their shoes and the sticky floor. He wanted there to be flowers, gentle music that she liked playing quietly behind them while he told her that he always adored her, and he never wanted to see another girl as long as he lived if she wasn’t his.

Instead, it was going to be here, with tears in her eyes, the music seeming to get louder outside the room, and all the while Harry smelled like stale sweat from his sound check earlier in the day. “Love, I sing in front of hundreds and hundreds of girls. I only sing to one person,” he whispered. “Every song I write is ‘bout you. Every song I sing is dedicated to you. When you’re not here, m’still singing to you. I have loved you since the moment I saw y’get on the bus and every moment after. I loved you when y’were dating someone else and I loved you when y’were s’heartbroken you didn’t want t’get out of bed but y’did anyway. There isn’t anyone else for me. You are beautiful and intelligent. You make me laugh and you are the most loving person I know. I don’t want anyone but you. M'so committed t'being with you...nothing else matters t'me. So, no. I don’t want someone else if they’re not you. If there’s more than you, I don’t want it.” he was out of breath and he scuffed his foot against the floor as he looked up at the ceiling to keep the tears from fogging his own vision. He didn’t want to cry in front of her.

She stared at him as if she was seeing him for the first time.

She thought about the day she got on the bus with no one to sit next to. Her parents had packed their whole lives up and flew across an ocean a week before school started. She didn’t know any kids her age and she had never been to school before in her short little life. Her mom gave her a hug and encouraged her to get on the bus, but she was scared and wracked with nerves. At the ripe old age of five-year-old she thought she would go out of her mind at that moment and never go to school. Never be successful like Mommy and Daddy and never be able to do anything.

However, that moment sent her an angel as she walked up the aisle of the bus in the form of a mop of brown curly hair and green eyes that smiled at her. He patted the seat beside him. “Y’can sit here,” he told her. “M’Harry,” he told her. “S’my first day of school!” He said excitedly.

Breathlessly she sat herself down beside the kind boy and she smiled nervously at him as she introduced herself. “It’s my first day too,” she said quietly. “I’m really nervous.”

“Me too,” he admitted. “We can do it together though,” he said. “We can be nervous together!”

Her little body released a relieved breath and she nodded. “Thanks, Harry.”

“S’what best friends are for,” he said with a grin.

After that, she never thought about being scared because Harry was always by her side. Presently, she was scared. But Harry was there. So how could she even imagine being scared if he was still there telling her that he loved her, and it would all be okay?

“Harry,” she whispered softly.

He shook his head, stepping away from her this time to create more distance between them in the small room. She was going to break his heart. He ruined the whole evening, and the show would be miserable if she rejected him. She had every right to reject him; still, it didn’t matter. All he wanted was her happiness. But right now, all he wanted was to get away from her so she couldn’t break him into a thousand pieces. “Love, I swear if you’re jus’ going t’say no, we can stay friends—pretend this didn’t happen. I can’t lose you—” he choked off.

“No,” she shook her head quickly, stepping close to him so there was little space between them. “Harry,” she whispered and brought her hands to his shoulders. It felt like fire, and it was going to shatter him in the next ten seconds when she told him no and he knew that she would say it was okay, that they could stay friends. She would probably do a great job at comforting him through this heartbreak despite ruining their friendship anyway. He turned his head to the side as he closed his eyes trying to hide the tears that were threatening their way out of his eyes.

“Please kiss me,” she whispered.

His gaze whipped back to her, and she had one lip pinched between her teeth drawing his eyes to her beautiful face. Harry never thought...not in a million years...

It was like seeing her for the first time. He would never get sick of seeing her. He would never ever get over the rush he got from seeing her beautiful eyes and the way her lips and nose just looked so cute and everything about her exuded this air of prettiness that Harry wished he could bottle and keep with him just as a reminder for the moments he wasn’t at her hip.

But right now, this moment was new, the first time he saw her as something other than a best friend—but not really. The first time they considered something other than friendship between themselves. “Yes, m’love,” he hummed. Within seconds his fingers were tangled in her hair by her ears. She shivered at the feeling of Harry touching her like that. Nothing compared, however, to the way his lips felt on hers. Her arms went around his neck, and he leaned down toward her body to make it easier on her reach. Harry thought he would die if she found out he loved her. He thought he would still die for an entirely different reason now while he cradled her to his body as closely as possible. He never wanted to let her go, never wanted to stop kissing her.

Fortunately, the door banged open against the wall and the music rushed in loudly.

“Finally!” Niall sighed with an eyeroll. They pulled from their kiss awkwardly and she pressed a hand to her lips as she tried to hide her blushing smirk from Niall. Harry couldn’t have cared at all that Niall entered the room. He couldn’t stop staring at her.

“Hi Niall,” she said softly.

“I’ll stall for five but then we have to go on stage,” he said, pulling the door shut behind him.

Harry chuckled. “Thanks, Niall,” he called before gently pushing her against the door so he could tether his lips back to hers.

Harry always thought she felt like home—he thought part of him died when she left for the year. When she returned that feeling of home came back too. But nothing could have prepared him for the relaxed and easy feeling of kissing her as if he had been kissing her for all his life.

--

@tiaamberxx

[ae-cow]

Ms Yu, Miss You

Warning: Some of you will hate this but SHIP, Angst, fluff, suggestive, OCs as exes, accidents which cause major/minor injuries, Possible spelling errors and I think that’s all, do tell. This is a work of fiction with nothing to do with the idol's actual life. I do like some feedback. If you ever feel like "Hey this is very offensive." do tell me.

Pairing: Jeno of NCT, NCT Dream x Karina of aespa

Summary: Jimin interrupts Jeno’s wedding to Soojin after discovering that Soojin had been cheating on Jeno with Jimin's cheating ex, Minki. Jeno and Jimin’s lives become intertwined. As fate somehow always brings them together

Word Count: 12k

A/N: @/hi_imtyyy, this pic is amazing, found it on TikTok. The fact that Karina wanted to be an air stewardess! I’ll be using Karina’s real name Jimin. Like damn, I love this shit just saying probably one of my best-written ones but not sure if it will gain the attraction and yes I did study. Exams tmr!!

Written: 25 August 2024

Masterlist © ae-cow. Do not claim, steal or repost. All rights reserved

“YOU DARE GET MARRIED WHILE CHEATING?!” Jimin burst through the wedding doors, her voice echoing through the hall.

Jeno’s eyes widened in shock as he turned to Soojin. “Soojin, do you know her?”

Soojin’s face paled, but she shook her head, trying to maintain her composure.

“YAH, Soojin! Your soon-to-be wife is a cheater!” Jimin shouted, her voice trembling with anger. “She’s been cheating on you with MY FIANCÉ!” She tells the husband and everyone who attended the wedding

The doors swung open again, and Minki stepped into the room, his face a mixture of guilt and desperation. “Jimin-ah, let me explain—”

Jimin cut him off, her voice cold and relentless. “Oh, hell no. I’ve already gotten all the wedding money back.”

“Don’t you dare come back,” Jimin said, glaring at Minki.

She turned to Soojin, her voice cold and accusatory. “And how could you sleep in the same bed as your fiance while you have been with someone else?”

Jimin’s gaze softened slightly as she looked at Jeno. “And you, you should leave this place and never look back. You deserve someone who truly loves you, not someone who’s been cheating,” She told him before walking away

Jeno looked at Soojin, then turned to his family seated in the front row by the altar. Their faces were streaked with tears, and his heart ached as he saw the sorrow in their eyes. Beside them, Soojin’s family was also in tears, watching helplessly as their daughter’s betrayal was laid bare.

Jeno, silent and conflicted, walked out of the hall. He found Jimin sitting alone on the floor, wiping her tears with a trembling hand.

“Hey,” he said softly, his voice carrying a note of regret.

“Thanks… for telling me,” Jeno said, his voice heavy with emotion. “If you hadn’t, we would have gone through with the vows, and who knows when I’d have found out.”

He paused, sitting down next to her. “We had plans—kids, a house, this whole wedding and now, it all comes crashing down.”

“How could I have been so stupid?” Jeno said, his voice cracking with despair. “All those nights she claimed she had to work overtime because of a sick patient or a lack of staff…”

Jimin looked at him, her expression sympathetic. “I get it. She’s a nurse, and those excuses would be easy to believe. I’m a victim of being cheated on myself.”

“…How did you find out?” Jeno asked quietly.

Jimin sighed, her gaze distant. “My friends saw him with Soojin at an exclusive restaurant I’d wanted to go to for ages. He always said he had a friend who could get a reservation, but he never managed to get one for me. Seeing him with her there was the first clue.”

She paused, her voice heavy with pain. “After that, I dug deeper. I noticed he’d be awake at 2 AM, phone in hand, smiling. He’d use his favourite perfume and come home late. It hurts, but he’s no longer in my life.”

“And I’m happy to be out of it,” Jimin said, her voice firm.

“You’re better than me though,” She said

“Why?” he asked, tilting his head.

Jimin shrugged, a wry smile on her lips. “You’ve spent so much money, and you don’t seem as affected by it.”

She continued, “Once I found out, I started reclaiming what I could. Some money couldn’t be retrieved because it was too close to the wedding date, but I managed to get some back. I bought this dress—like Princess Diana’s revenge dress.”

Jimin laughed, a genuine sound of relief. “We should hang out from time to time—vent about our exes, complain about their smelly breath, and just get some of this trauma out.”

“Yeah, we definitely should,” Jeno agreed with a smile. “Well, I should get going, time to my money back,” Said as he stood up

Jimin chuckled. “Sounds good.”

Jeno extended a hand, lending her help and Jimin took it with a grateful smile.

They shared a brief, understanding glance before parting ways, each feeling a little lighter.

-

Jimin spotted Jeno walking out of a real estate agency, his frustration evident. “Hey, Jeno!” she called out.

He looked up and made his way toward her. “Hey there.”

Jimin glanced at the agency behind him. “Real estate, huh? Must be the place you and Soojin were planning to buy.”

“Yeah,” Jeno said with a sigh. “You want it?”

Jimin raised an eyebrow. “What? No, I don’t.”

“The payment’s done and I can’t get it back,” Jeno explained. “I paid for most of it so I told Soojin to leave.”

Jimin nodded sympathetically. “What about you? Where are you staying?”

“I used to live with Minki, but I moved out. I’m staying at a friend’s place for now.”

Jeno hesitated for a moment, then offered, “Well, if you’re looking for a place, you could stay with me.”

Jimin’s eyes widened in surprise. “Really?”

“Yeah,” Jeno confirmed with a nod. “It might be nice to have some company and pay rent.”

Jeno chuckled, a wry smile on his face. “Since I paid for most of it, I’m all set to move in. But now that I’m single, I need a roommate. And wow, look at that—my ex-fiancé’s boyfriend’s ex is currently staying at her friend’s place.”

She laughs “Uh hmm would I stay with my best friend or a man I met at a wedding I crashed? Hard to choose huh?”

Jeno smiles “Here take your time,” He passes her his business card

“A pilot huh?”

-

Ms. Yu, your video of the wedding crash is going viral,” the principal said. “No offence, but only students who graduate may glimpse your private life, but current students should be primarily focused on studying. It’s your role as a teacher to maintain a professional boundary.”

“I know… it’s just—”

“Yes, what he did was horrible, but couldn’t you have kept it private?”

Jimin scoffed. “It was a private wedding. Someone filmed it, and the ex-fiance and his family needed to know the truth.”

“Jimin, I’m sorry, but I’ll have to suspend you for a week,” The principal said

“A week? Won’t the students start speculating?”

“Think of it as a vacation, if that helps, I don’t know what else to suggest.

-

“Should I be happy that I have a vacation?” Jimin said as she looks at her plane ticket to France

Walking down the aisle, checking her seat number “Let’s see… 23B.”

Jeno notices her as he makes his way to the cockpit “Jimin? What a coincidence!”

She looked up, surprised “Jeno! You’re the Captain?”

“Yep, that’s me. I didn’t expect to see you here. Going to France huh?” His brows furrow

“Well crashing the wedding caused me a week of vacation, my boss thinks I go for a week so that the students in my school would stop the rumours and I’m trying to clear my head. What about you?”

“Flying this plane and if you don’t mind, I’d like to make your flight a bit more special. How about a seat upgrade to First Class?” Jeno offers

Her mouth falls agape “Seriously? That’s so kind of you!”

“It’s the least I can do, Let me take care of it. Follow me.”

-

Jimin is now settled comfortably in the First Class cabin, enjoying the extra amenities.

Jimin is relaxing in her upgraded seat “Wow, this is amazing, I didn’t expect this kind of luxury.”

Jeno pops into First Class briefly “I’m glad you’re enjoying it, If you need anything, just let the crew know, It’s a pleasure to have you on board.”

Jimin smiles “Thank you, Jeno. It’s a nice surprise and a great start to my vacation.”

“I hope the rest of your trip is just as enjoyable. If you ever want a tour of the cockpit, just let me know,” He said

“I’d love that. I’m excited about this trip now,” She said

Jimin visits the cockpit during a brief break. Jeno shows her the controls and talks about the flight experience.

“Welcome to the cockpit, Jimin. Ready for a quick tour?”

Her eyes are wide with excitement “Absolutely! I’ve never been in one before.”

He gestured to the control panel “Alright, so this is where all the magic happens. Here’s the autopilot control. We use it to maintain the plane’s course and altitude.”

She leans in, fascinated “That’s incredible. I didn’t realise how much technology is involved.”

He points to a display “This screen shows our current flight path and weather conditions. It helps us navigate and make adjustments if needed.”

“It’s like you’re in control of a whole world up here.”

He chuckles “In a way, yes. Every decision affects the flight, from altitude changes to route adjustments.”

Her hand brushes against Jeno’s as she reaches for a control “So, what’s this button do?”

He gently guides her hand “That’s for adjusting the cabin pressure, It’s important for passenger comfort.”

He notes Jimin’s curiosity “Would you like to try it yourself?”

Nodding eagerly “Can I? They're passengers here,” She asked

“It's on autopilot right now, so it's fine.”

Jeno steps back slightly, allowing Jimin to take control. He watches her with a mix of admiration and affection as she carefully adjusts the settings.

“You’re a natural at this.”

She blushes slightly “Thanks. I’m just fascinated by how it all works.”

“It’s all about practice and attention to detail. You seem to have a good eye for it.”

“When did you decide to be captain?” She asked

“I always had a fascination about planes and it just follows me until now, I had to learn a lot of stuff though, and do Lasik.”

“Woah Lasik?”

“Yup” He laughs

Jimin’s gaze lingers on Jeno, and their eyes meet. Jeno shows her how to read the navigation charts.

“I didn’t expect to learn so much on this flight. It’s been eye-opening,” Jimin says

“I’m glad you think so. Flying is a passion of mine, and it’s nice to share it with someone who appreciates it.”

She smiles back “I appreciate it more than you know.”

They share a moment of silence, their proximity a little too close for someone whose wedding you crash. Jeno’s hand brushes against Jimin’s as he reaches to adjust a dial, causing a spark of electricity between them.

Jeno clears his throat “Well, I should get back to the controls. But feel free to come back here anytime during the flight.”

“I might just take you up on that offer. It’s been nice spending this time with you.”

“I’m glad. It’s been great having you here.”

“Thank you for everything, Jeno.”

“Anytime, Jimin.”

As Jimin exits the cockpit, she glances back at Jeno, who watches her with a soft smile. There’s an unspoken promise in the air as she returns to her seat, both of them feeling the beginnings of a deeper connection.

“So, you and that girl huh?” His co-captain Jaemin asked

“I came in and so all that happened,” Jaemin said

“Jimin? I'm just doing her a favour, she's the reason why I found out my ex-fiance was cheating, without her I would be in an unfaithful marriage.”

“How are you holding up?” Jaemin asked

“Oh, is it bad I don't feel- feel sad?”

“Different people, different outlooks on life and who knows maybe destiny decided to bring fate on your wedding day?” Jeno turns to look at Jaemin

Jaemin shrugs

-

They had landed in Paris, France

“How was the flight? I hope the upgrade made a difference,” Jeno asked

“It was fantastic. I appreciate it, Jeno. It made the journey much more enjoyable.”

“I’m glad to hear that. Safe travels for the rest of your vacation. If you need any recommendations for your destination, just give me a text.”

“I will. Thanks again for everything. See you around?” She said

“Definitely, Take care, Jimin.”

-

A beautiful evening on the Seine River. The city lights of Paris reflect on the water, and couples and tourists are enjoying the scenic views.

After settling into her hotel, Jimin decides to take a Seine River cruise to see the city’s famous landmarks. It’s a chance for her to clear her head and enjoy the city’s romance.

Jeno has some time off from flying and decides to explore Paris himself. He books a spot on the same Seine River cruise that Jimin is on, wanting to enjoy the city’s sights before heading back to work.

Jimin arrives at the dock, looking at the city lights she is in awe.

“Jimin? What a coincidence!” Jimin turns around, surprised “Jeno! What are you doing here?”

“I had some free time and thought I’d check out the city, it looks like we’re on the same cruise.”

“It seems so. It’s a nice surprise,” She said

They board the boat and find themselves seated near each other. “So, why Paris?”

“Might’ve been the hundredth time you heard this from me but the feeling of loneliness was hard,” Jimin explains

Jeno chuckled “So going to the city of Love is where you got to??”

“Everywhere is the city of love, it's even more romantic if you know the language of love,”

Jeno’s eyes furrowed “and what might that be.”

“Music,” She starts

“No matter the language, music brings a lot of people together, Fur Elise was written despite Beethoven being deaf, it was because he could read the musical notes.”

“We’ll be stopping here for a few minutes to allow everyone to take pictures.”

As the boat suddenly slows and shifts position, Jimin loses her balance, stumbling slightly. Jeno, quick to react, reaches out and wraps his arm around her waist to steady her.

Jimin startled, her hand instinctively on his chest “Oh!”

He held her securely, his face close to hers “Whoa.”

Jimin looks at him, her heart racing “Thank you. That was unexpected.”

He gazes into her eyes, his arm still around her “Are you alright?”

Jimin nodded, her cheeks flushed “Yes, I’m fine. I didn’t expect that thanks again.”

His hand was resting gently on her back “Yeah, no problem.”

They both pause, their eyes locking as they stand close together. The boat’s motion and the Parisian skyline add a magical backdrop.

Suddenly the sound of a camera makes the two turn in the direction of the person who took the pic.

“That would be 2 dollars,” He said, Jimin quickly stood up properly

“Oh uh, here?” Flustered she passes him the note

“Thank you!” Jimin laughs “He just took a picture of us,” She turns to look at Jeno was looking away, ears pinkish

“Would you… like to keep this picture?” She slowly asked

“Um no you keep it,” He takes it and takes a picture of it

He cleared his throat “Ehrm see you around?” he said

“Yeah.”

-

In his hotel room, Jeno sat on the edge of the bed, the soft glow of the evening city lights filtering through the curtains. He took out his phone and carefully looked at the picture the stranger had taken of him and Jimin on the Seine River cruise.

The photo captured a moment of unexpected intimacy—Jeno with his arm around Jimin, her hand resting on his chest, both of them caught in a genuine, candid moment. The backdrop of the Parisian skyline and the soft, blurred lights added to the photograph’s charm. Jeno's gaze lingered on the image, a small smile playing on his lips.

“Hey Jaemin,” He called his fellow hotel mate and co-pilot

“Yeah?”

“I think you're right about the fate bringing me on my wedding day.”

“Oh yeah? What make you think of that,” Curious

“If it weren't for the wedding, I wouldn't have met Jimin and our whole encounter till now feels like it was meant to happen,” He said, still looking at the photo

“You sound smitten, cap”

Jeno chuckled at Jaemin's comment. “Maybe a little,�� he admitted, his smile widening. “It’s surprising how quickly things can change. I didn’t expect to feel this way, especially after everything that happened.”

-

They both had flown back to Korea, on different flights, unfortunately.

Jimin returned to teaching with renewed energy, her week off having provided much-needed clarity and peace. The viral incident had quieted down, and she had managed to focus on her students again.

Jimin and Giselle were sitting together in the living room, Jimin told her plans on what she’d eat in school. Giselle had been visibly stressed, and Jimin sensed that something was weighing on her friend.

“Jimin, I need to talk to you about something,” Giselle began, looking concerned.

“Sure, what’s up?” Jimin replied.

Giselle took a deep breath. “My parents are planning to move in with me. They’re having some issues with their current place, and they need to stay here for a while. I know it’s short notice, but I wanted to let you know.”

Jimin’s expression shifted to one of concern. “Oh, I see. That must be a lot for you to handle.”

“Yeah, it is,” Giselle said, nodding. “But since my flat has three rooms, there’s space for you to stay. I don’t want you to have to move out just because of this, I'm just letting you know.”

Jimin hesitated for a moment before responding. “I appreciate the offer, Giselle. But I think it might be uncomfortable for your parents if I stay. It’s a big adjustment for them, and I wouldn’t want to add to their stress.”

Giselle looked understanding but disappointed. “I see what you mean but I've talked about you and they seem to like you, if you’re sure…”

Jimin nodded. “Yeah, I think it’s best if I start looking for a new place and you've done more than enough for me.”

Giselle gave her a supportive smile. “Okay, if you need any help with the search or anything else, just let me know.”

Jimin was making a cup of coffee in her office pantry.

Jimin was conflicted, Giselle had offered to help her find a place but she has helped enough and doesn't want to bother the girl.

Suddenly the loud sound of an aeroplane flew by “Ah!” 💡

“What's wrong?” a fellow teacher asked

“Oh no no I just thought of something.”

Jimin quickly sat down with her cup of coffee and texted Jeno.

Jimin: Hey Jeno

It's been a few days since we last spoke

I think I should take that offer up

Jeno: What offer?

She did not expect such a fast reply

Jimin: Oh um being roommates? You still don't anyone right?

Jeno: Oh yeah still looking

Wanna be roommates?

-

“So uh I left him on read…” She told Minjeong, a friend/co-worker

“Why? You texted him.”

“I would love to be roommates but the thing is he's a guy, a really attractive guy I might add and we both got out of a relationship, he was at the altar when I met him.”

“Do you feel bad knowing it's been a week since that happened?” Minjeong asked

“I was but now I'm not…”

“That guy cheated on you, you shouldn't feel guilty at all, who knows? Maybe that guy could be your new lover?”

“How can it be leaving with a guy,” Minjeong said

Well Jimin used to live with Minki and one of the many things she hated about him was how he does not put back the iron when he's done. Or how sometimes he would leave the toilet unflushed.

Based on how Jeno acts in front of her, she truly hopes he does not turn 180 on her.

Jimin: Yes I would love to

When Jeno received Jimin’s text, he was at home packing for his next flight.

Jeno: Great! I’m looking forward to it. It’ll be nice to have a friendly face around. Let’s chat more about the details when we meet on Wednesday.

Jimin considered that Jeno’s job as a pilot meant she’d be at home most of the time.

Jimin: I’ll help pay rent, don’t worry. Maybe even more since you’ll be out more than me 🧐

Jeno: That’s fine. I needed a roommate to share half the rent, so please don’t feel the need to do more.

-

“So… this is my home,” Jeno said

“I bought some furniture and necessities like plates and, a washing machine but as for the bedroom I did nothing, I wanted whoever to room with me to have their creativity,” Jimin nodded

“This is my bedroom,” It was probably the biggest room, it had a king-size bed, a bed fit for a bride and groom

The bed had a picture of Him and Soojin up, a big one at that. “Oh uh sorry Soojin and I had decorated this house if it makes you uncomfortable-”

“No it's fine, it's your house anyway and you don't have to remove the photos, I get it, is a hard process.”

This thing is Jeno had been wanting the remove the photos, he just had no time. By the time he comes home, he's burned out. On his offs he would be at home packing and doing nothing as he dwells on the fact that he has a flight.

“So do you like it?”

“This place is huge, will you need more roommates?”

“Considering it, I have 2 guest rooms and now I have at least 1 out of the 3 rooms occupied.”

-

It was Saturday and Jimin had loaned a car to move her things from Giselle’s to Jeno’s.

“I’m so glad you found a home, so quickly at that, is the guy trustworthy?”

“With everything that has happened, I'd say yes,”

“Whatever it is you can always come back, my parents wouldn't mind.”

“You sure you don't need help?”

“I can manage besides Jeno won't be there, he's overseas so I can lay down on the floor for all I care.

“Hmm alright then text me.”

“Will do.”

-

The door unlocked, and Jeno had given her the passcode.

The house had a pretty ambience, Soft natural light streamed through large windows, flowing the space in a warm, golden glow. The walls were painted in neutral tones, and the minimalistic decor added a touch of modern elegance.

“This place is so Jeno,” Jimin said but remembered that Soojin and he had decorated the place.

She feels out of place, imagining the happy moments he had with her. Probably laughing at how he was trying to piece together that chair by the window or how the smell of fresh paint was them painting together.

“What am I doing?! Snap out of it!” Jimin tells herself

Suddenly the sound of the keypad was heard.

She opens the door for him. “Hey J- Soojin?”

“You!?” Soojin said, angered

“What are you doing here?!”

“What are you doing here? Aren't you supposed to be out with Minki?” Jimin fakes a cute voice

“I'm here to take back my stuff, just because I stole your man doesn't mean you can.”

Jimin scoffs “Getting confident now are we?”

“He called off your wedding Soojin, no offence but I think even if I did steal him, I am allowed to cause you did it first and by the way I won't because at least I have a heart.”

The keypad was then again activated. Jeno opens the door, tired after a flight to and back from Taiwan.

A looks up to see Soojin and Jimin. “Soojin? Jimin? Um, would you like a cup of tea Jimin?”

“What? You didn't even ask her what she's doing here? Fact how did she even know your passcode?!”

“Soojin, what are you doing here? I said to never come back, live with Minki and leave me alone.”

“I left something,”

“It's in the main bedroom, I put it all in a box,” Jeno had already prepared to bring over to her door, never wanting to see her

Soojin shouts “You took down our photo?!”

Soojin left the door open, she was right, and he did take it down. It left a smile on Jimin’s face.

“Yeah Soojin, cause news flash you cheated on me,” Jeno said

“And you moved on to her? Minki ex?!” Soojin points to Jimin

“I don't have to explain things to you Soojin, I don't understand why you're so angry, I should be the one angry here, you came into my house unsaid,”

“I just wanted to take my things,”

“Well leave because everything of yours is in there and don't say anything 'cause I've already wired you all the money you paid for all this furniture.”

“Urgh but I am coming back,” Soojin grabs the box a leaves

“Remind me to change the passcode,” Jeno said as he smoothed out his hair

“Seems like she and Minki might have a fallout…Umm You know what I'll leave, you look like you need it.”

“No no it's fine, do you need help?”

“Oh no go ahead and rest you look tired, really tired,”

Jeno took a long-deserved shower. He takes note that he cannot be walking around shirtless anymore, knowing that Jimin is now his roommate.

Jeno, fresh out of the shower and still somewhat distracted, approached Jimin’s room. He knocked softly but got no response. He slowly opened the door and saw Jimin fast asleep on the floor with a blanket draped over her.

She had all her clothes in a box and a blanket on the floor for her to sleep in while she waited for her bed to arrive.

“Should've asked her to sleep on the couch instead,” He mumbles

Trying to be quiet, Jeno stepped into the room but tripped over the edge of the blanket. He lost his balance and stumbled forward, falling directly onto Jimin.

Jimin jolted awake, her eyes wide with shock as she found herself pinned beneath Jeno. “What—?” A strong smell emitted from Jeno after his shower

Wet hair, towel wrapped around his neck…

Jeno scrambled to get off her, his face red with embarrassment. “I’m so sorry! I only wanted to wake you up!”

Jimin blinked in surprise before letting out a soft laugh, flustered “It’s alright, just too tired, I cannot wait for my closet and bed to arrive.”

Jeno extended a hand to help her up, still apologetic. “I didn’t mean to intrude like that. Are you okay?”

Jimin nodded, still chuckling. “Yeah, I’m fine. Just a bit startled.”

Jeno gave a relieved smile. “I just wanted to tell you that you can sleep on the couch while you wait for your bed to arrive, it's better than sleeping with just your blanket”

“Uhm yeah actually that'd be great,” Jimin picks up her blanket

They settled back into their spaces, the unexpected encounter bringing a light-hearted moment to their evening.

-

Jeno had woken up from the smell of food. The last time be had that smell was in the family home.

He followed the delicious aroma to the kitchen, where he found Jimin cooking breakfast. The sight of her working diligently over the stove reminded him of home.

"Good morning," Jeno greeted, a smile tugging at his lips. "I didn't realise you were up so early."

Jimin turned, slightly startled but smiling warmly. "I thought breakfast, its the least I could do after you offered me a home."

Jeno took in the spread she was preparing, feeling a surge of appreciation. "You were the one I saw that my ex was a cheater so I can call it even,” He laughs lightly “This smells amazing, do you need help with anything?."

Jimin shook her head, still smiling. "I’ve got it covered, but thanks."

“Any plans today?” Jimin asked

“No, I plan on staying here, getting more sleep calls, changing my passcode and probably packing for my next flight, you?”

“Going out to buy some necessities, I wanna hang a picture board, get the car I loaned back.”

Jeno stood up and took the plates from the table, heading to the sink. “Jeno-” "Yeah, no worries. I’ve got this."

Jimin watched for a moment before nodding in appreciation. "Thanks."

As Jeno washed the dishes, the clinking of plates and the warm steam from the water filled the kitchen. Jimin, feeling more at ease, started tidying up the counter.

"By the way," Jeno said, "I’ve got to ask—how’s the couch? Better than the blanket, I hope?"

Jimin chuckled softly. "Much better, thank you for letting me use it, my bed is coming in a day or two.”

-

As Jimin wandered through the mall, she noticed couples around her, their conversations filled with affectionate teasing and loving gazes On her right, a couple was holding hands, laughing softly as they selected a frame together. In another, a pair was debating over the perfect colour for their new home, their shared excitement palpable.

They reminded her of the times she had shared similar moments in the past with Minki. The affectionate glances and the easy comfort of companionship were bittersweet reminders of relationships that had once been a central part of her life.

She paused for a moment, taking in the sights and sounds around her. “I have never been so annoyed by couples until today.”

-

“Got everything done?” Jeno asked as Jimin walked in, grabbing the stuff she held for her and placing it on the living room table

“Yep,” Jimin replied, “Now I just need to find a place for this and finish unpacking.”

Jeno nodded. “If you need any help with that, just let me know.”

“I might finally take you up on that, but I’m going to start decorating.”

Jimin began to find photos of her most cherished. A picture she has of her and her family, one with Minjeong and several with Aeri. Lastly, a picture a stranger had taken of Jeno and her having a moment.

The encounter made her blush

In the middle of the night, Jeno had gotten parched. He wanted to get a warm glass of water. He turned on the kitchen lights to see that Jimin was seated on the floor with her head on the couch from the living room.

On her lap was the picture frame. She and Jeno are at the side of the frame. Jeno smiles.

“Jimin-ah” He softly called, shifting the hair that was blocking her face

Her eyes fluttered open “Come on lie down properly, don't you have work tomorrow?”

She yawns and notices that he is holding onto her frame. She smiled “Im going to put that my by bedside.”

“Kind of weird not having Minki there but then again, I haven't been thinking much about him.”

“You have me as a new addition,” He said

Her head tilted slightly before she realised he meant their picture, she nodded

“Have you been thinking about her?”

“Yes sadly, I changed my passcode so that's nice, It's just she said she'll come back, which worries me.”

“That's understandable, you don't know what she'll do, it just makes you wonder what happened between those two.”

Jeno glanced at the picture of them both. “Karma that's what.”

“Thanks, Jeno,” Jimin said softly. “Thanks for everything up till now.”

Jeno smiled and gently touched her shoulder. “We're friends, aren't we? Now, let’s get you settled so you can get some rest.”

Jimin nodded and slowly got up, stretching a bit before heading toward the couch. Jeno helped her arrange the cushions so she could lie down comfortably. As he watched her settle in, he felt a sense of warmth and satisfaction.

“Goodnight, Jimin,” he said.

“Goodnight Jeno sweet dreams.”

-

Jeno and Jimin walked together along a path lined with softly glowing lanterns.

They stopped at a cosy nook with a small table set for two, surrounded by fairy lights and soft cushions. As they sat down, their proximity created a palpable sense of closeness. Jeno found himself drawn to Jimin, their knees almost touching under the table.

The conversation flowed so easily, they were now walking back home.

“Wait so you're telling me some lady on the plane asked you on a date?” Jimin laughed

“Yeah, I said no obviously, I just found it funny how she followed me to the cockpit, no one is allowed in there.”

“I was,” She said, making eye contact

“you’re different Jimin,” as they walked their fingers lingered, so close yet so far from being held

“How so…” Jimin looks at her hands and his, balled up as if he's trying to restrain himself

“Jeno are you-”

Jeno looked into Jimin’s eyes, his heart racing with the intensity of the moment.

“I'm fine…” Slowly, he leaned in, and Jimin’s eyes fluttered closed. Their lips met in a tender yet urgent kiss, filled with the tension and longing that had been building throughout the evening. The kiss was deep and passionate, a culmination of the night’s emotional charge.

As they finally broke apart, they remained close, their breaths mingling and their foreheads resting against each other. The dream left Jeno with a heightened sense of connection and a deeper understanding of his feelings for Jimin.

Jeno jolted awake, his heart pounding. "Why am I—what kind of dream was that?" he muttered to himself, trying to calm his racing thoughts. The intensity of the dream left him disoriented and a bit flustered. He ran a hand through his hair, attempting to shake off the vivid images that still lingered in his mind.

He lay there in the darkness, staring at the ceiling, his thoughts a whirlwind of confusion and curiosity. The dream had stirred emotions he hadn’t fully acknowledged before, leaving him unsettled yet intrigued. He wondered what it meant for his feelings towards Jimin and how he should handle them.

After a few deep breaths, Jeno tried to push the dream to the back of his mind. He knew he needed to focus on the present and the reality of his friendship with Jimin.

“My mind is just playing games,” he said quietly to himself, hoping that clarity would come with time. “I just need to get some rest and deal with this in the morning.”

With that, Jeno turned off his thoughts and tried to drift back to sleep.

-

“Jeno,” Jimin calls him

“Wha- huh?” Jeno wakes up

“Your alarm, it went off like 3 times,”

“Oh erm thanks,” He looks at the time, 10 minutes before his actual time to get ready. He notices her in her work attire

“Going to work?”

She nodded “I made scrambled eggs and coffee, I’ll be off now,” She said as she walked out of his room

He gets out of bed to brush his teeth and get ready for work. Right now he is in charge of flying to Japan.

3 days of being there meant taking his mind off Jimin.

He grabs his luggage and goes to the elevator.

“Jeno! Long time no see,” Jeno turns to his left to see his neighbour “Mr Son, Good morning,” He bows due to respect

“Officially moved in with your wife huh?” He said

Jeno didn't know what to say, does he explain that his fiance cheated on him and is living with his ex’s boyfriend’s ex?? Or just nod and smile.

He nodded “Yeah we had officially moved in, just had to get things settled,” Walked into the lift

“So any plans on children,” Jeno, flustered did not know what to say

“Aye don't be embarrassed, you two are newlyweds it's normal,” Mr Son said

“I have 3 beautiful children and 5 beautiful grandkids.”

Jeno nodded, trying to maintain composure despite the awkwardness of the conversation. "Oh, right. Well, we haven’t talked about it yet. We’re still settling into the new place and figuring things out."

Mr Son chuckled, clearly enjoying the exchange. "Ah, I see. Well, you two make a lovely couple. I’m sure you’ll figure it all out I haven't seen your wife before.”

“She's a teacher so she leaves pretty early for work,” Mr Son nodded

“Well then,” The elevator doors open and Mr Son steps out first “See you around Jeno,” He gives the younger a smile

Jeno steps out, grateful for the opportunity to escape the conversation. "Have a good day at work!" Mr Son waves

Jeno managed a final nod and a brief wave, taking a deep breath to steady himself. The encounter with Mr Son had been unexpected and slightly uncomfortable, but he was determined to focus on his upcoming trip to Japan.

Jeno heads towards his car. He mentally prepared himself for the busy days ahead and tried to push thoughts of Jimin and the dream to the back of his mind, focusing instead on the tasks at hand.

-

“Teachers gather around,” Teachers looked at each other confused

“We will have our annual seniors trip,” The principal said

“And this year by popular demand, we are going to…. Kyoto Japan!”

All the teachers cheered “Wait that's like probably our furthest destination yet,” Minjeong said

“Yeah, why the change? Usually, we go to a rural area in Korea like Jeju or Busan.”

“One of the kid's parents is loaded and they provide us money to go for their son,” The principal said

“We will have all the senior’s class advisors to attend so teachers, buckle up cause in a month you'll have 4 days of extracurriculars.”

“Ah Jimin aren't you lucky, you're A5 advisor,” A co-worker said

“Yes but that also means I have to pack,” She fake cries

-

Jimin: Hey Jeno you there

Jeno: Yeah

Jimin: How's the flight?

Jeno: Pretty good but my head hurts a little from jet lag

Jimin: You've been to Japan multiple times, right?

Give me some recommendations

My school arranged a senior trip to Kyoto and im a class advisor, so

Jeno: Hmmm, good thing I'm in Japan huh?

Jimin: Haha yeah

Jeno: Hmm, the Arashiyama Bamboo Grove? It's a bamboo forest or Café du Monde. It's pretty trendy, they have nice teas.

Don't forget the iconic Sakura Trees. It's at Kyoto

Jimin: Hmm alright thanks

-

Jimin is now walking back home.

Unlocking the keypad “Oh you must be Jeno’s wife,” a neighbour said

Jimin’s brows furrowed “I believe we haven't met, I’m Mr Son, your neighbour.”

“Oh, it's Yu Jimin,” she introduces herself,

“Jeno is-“

“Must be hard having a pilot as a husband huh?” He asked

Does she explain or not? “Umm yeah, it is, always going out of the country.”

“But a big bag of money huh?” Jimin laughs at his remark

“Jeno said you're a teacher, what school do teach at?”

“Oh, I teach at SM High, I'm a math teacher,”

“SM High? My granddaughter goes there, she's a freshman.”

Oop ����

“Well then Mr Son I’ll see you around?”

“Yeah and is he with you?”

“Oh no he's In Japan,” He nodded “I want to have dinner with the both of you one day, a knock on the door would be nice to tell me.”

Jimin smiled and nodded. She bows before entering the house.

“What do I tell Jeno?!”

Jimin: Hey um, Jeno? Jeno: Yeah? Jimin: Your neighbour asks if I'm your wife And I did not know what to say so I just smiled 🤦‍♀️ I am so sorry it’s just he’s an old man and explaining things will be hard yk?? Jeno: He asked me the same thing And ask if we planned on having children I got flustered by that Should we keep this act??

-

“Ms Yu.”

“Yeah?” A student she recognizes is “Son Seori.”

“My grandfather said you're married?”

“Huh?”

“I'm not though.” And she realised Mr Son, Son Seori is the granddaughter who studies here

“Oh, Seori-ah,” Jimin says

“Is he handsome?” The girl asked

“There's a reason why I married him huh? Now I will not say anything about my love life unless I want to, so that's all I'm going to say.”

“I also thought you were in that viral video of shouting at your ex-fiance?”

“Again Seori, no questions and no answers,” Jimin firmly stood

The student looks at her hand, no ring

“Okay Ms Yu,” She said before bowing

-

“Ms Yu, Did you marry that guy that cheated on you?” A student asked

“Of course not, that dingbat…” She realizes she's in class and not with her fellow teachers

She stands up from the teacher's table “Okay since you guys want to know,” She starts

The class pays attention, “Then continue 'because I'm not saying anything! Now on to chapter 11.” The students groan

-

“Ms Yu, why would you tell the grandfather of one of our students about your love life?” The Principal questioned

“He's my neighbour, why should I think?” Jimin said

“Well, now the video is getting resurfaced.”

“What am I getting another vacation,” She said

Her boss's eyes furrow “Okay I'm sorry, I'm very stressed out right now, I’m teaching seniors and all these questions are coming to me,” Jimin runs her fingers through her hair

“Just ignore them.”

-

Jimin: Hey Jeno This whole marriage is seriously getting out of hand Mr Son’s granddaughter studies at my school?! And rumours spread They don’t know who you are but I’m constantly getting asked if I married that hoe Urgh truly don’t know what to do

Jimin waits for his reply, nothing “He must be preparing a flight back.”

Lessons have ended and her work has ended “I am tired, I want to sleep!” She said as she touched her shoulders

“Ms Yu?” A fellow teacher called

She hummed “Is that your husband? The one I've been hearing about?”

“Urgh the students got to you huh?” Jimin asked

“My husband is in Japan.”

“Well, it's either you or Minjeong who has someone as handsome as him.”

She looks up to see Jeno, still in his attire “Jeno?”

“Jeno? That name is so fitting,” The teacher said

“I- I’ll see you around,” Jimin waves off, mouth agape

“Jeno!?! What are you doing here?!” Jimin said

“I didn't know what we did would cause this, I’m sorry,”

“And you drove here?!” Jimin scolds

“Jeno, You just- I have students and teachers still roaming around and you being here it's just-”

“Let them believe,” Jeno says with a smile, handing her a bouquet. “Or not.”

“Jeno, I appreciate the flowers, but—”

“I'm sorry for just coming here, I saw your message and felt bad,” Jeno looks around and sees tons of eyes on him

“I feel like a celebrity,” He laughed

Jimin sighs “I am at fault too… I shouldn't have told Mr Son about where I work, now most of them know what my husband looks like.”

“I am not even your wife! Yet this is getting out of hand.”

“They teenagers, im sure it will die down, now let's go home fake wife,” Jeno opens the car for her

She rolls her eyes “Okay fake husband.”

The drive home was honestly horrible for both of them. Jeno’s dream about Jimin never left and his feelings for the teacher are constantly growing. The fact that she is a teacher working with children makes his heart flutter at the fact that she is very good with her kids.

Mr Son’s words circled again, “When are you playing to have kids?” Jeno clears his throat

Jimin on the other is looking out the window, trying to ignore how good he looks and secretly looking at his reflection in the mirror. “Jimin,” He calls

“Yeah?” She turns to look at him

“We’re here,” He said

“Oh!” Jimin opens the door, forgetting that her seatbelt is still on

“Jimin-”

As Jimin tries to stand up, she forgets to unbuckle her seatbelt, and the sudden tension pulls her back down into the seat. Jeno, quick to react, reaches out and catches her before she can fully topple over.

“Careful! Your seatbelt is still on.”

Jimin, blushing from embarrassment and at the proximity, looks up at Jeno as he helps her with the seatbelt. “Oh god that is so embarrassing, I didn’t notice I still had the belt on,” She closes her eyes tightly

As she opens her eyes, she sees Jeno slowly moving away from her, the seatbelt now off her waist. The proximity lingers, and the awkward but intimate moment adds to the tension between them.

Jeno, smiling gently, trying to ease the awkwardness. “It happens. No worries.”

She sighs, still flustered. “Thanks for catching me. I guess I’m a bit of a mess today.”

“We all have those days. Let’s get inside,” He chuckles softly

As they step out of the car, the brief closeness serves as a subtle reminder of their growing connection.

-

The next Morning

“When is the trip?” Jeno asked as he set up the plates

“In two weeks,” she answers

“The house would be empty while we’re both gone,” She nodded

“What do you like about being a teacher?”

“I get to see all the children grow up, and seeing them graduate is rewarding, they might be very weird but weren't we all Teenagers?” Jimin said

Jeno nodded and chuckled “I wonder what Teenage Yu Jimin was like.”

“I was an Ulzzang.”

“You were?” Jimin nodded “I mean that’s understandable, you're gorgeous,” Jeno states

Jimin had stopped slurping on her noddle. They make eye contact.

She clears her throat “T-thank you.”

Suddenly there came a lock on the door. They both looked at each other, questioning if they had ordered anything but who would be here so early

“Mom? Dad, Noona,” Jeno had opened the door to see his family

Jimin’s eyes widen “His family’s here.”

“Hi Jeno, We came to see how you're doing,” His sister said

“My baby is doing alright, right?” His mother questioned

“Yeah, I have.”

“And who’s this?” His Dad questions

“She looks familiar…” Jeeun squints her eyes

“Oh! You're the lady who crashed my brother’s wedding!” Jimin winces at her comment

“Yeah, again I am so sorry.”

“What why? We hated her,” She said

Jeno looks at his sister “What? She cheated on you.”

“Anyways, what are you doing here?” His mother asked

“Oh um it's a little complicated, she’s my roommate now,” Jeno explains

“I moved out of my ex’s house and Jeno asked If I wanted to move in.”

“Yeah, It was Soojin and I and we both paid for the bills but now that we are no longer together, I thought having a roommate would be nice,” Jeno explains

His parents nodded, understanding. His sister however whispered, “Sure, roommates with someone of the opposite gender huh?’

His ears turned pinkish

The family and Jimin had dinner. Jimin had profusely apologised for not preparing something more decent than ramyeon.

“Jimin-ah it's okay, we did come here unexpectedly,” Ms Lee, his mother said

“Your mother came here to give you some homemade food, I’m sure all the hotel food you've been eating overseas is boring you,” His father says

“Oh thanks, Jimin here had been making food for us so that makes up for it, doesn't mean I don't miss your food though Mom,” Jeno gives his usual eye smile

His sister has been observing both her younger brother and Jimin.

She makes eye contact with Jimin, mouthing “You two, look good for each other.”

Jimin’s eyes widened, denying it.

“Jimin-ah next time I will bring more food for two people,” Jimin bows “Oh no no it's okay, Jeno’s place is just a temporary place for me to settle more money for a proper house.”

Jeno’s expression turns upside down. Jeeun notices “Uh Mom Dad we should go, quickly eat up, Jimin here has to go to work soon.”

Jeeun lightly pushed her parents out the door “Oh, okay we'll see you bye.”

-

Once they were out Jeno asked,

“Have you found a place?” Jeno asked as he closed the door

“Yeah actually, it's not as big as yours but it will be enough for a single woman like me,” She said

“Are you looking for one?”

“For what?”

“Someone? That special someone that will fill in that empty void in your heart that was once for Minki,” Jeno asked as he cleared the table, avoiding eye contact

“I found that someone, however, I’m not even sure if he even feels the same,” She looks at Jeno

“Oh…” He clears his throat “I-I clean the dishes.”

Jeno’s question lingered in the air, stirring a mix of emotions between them. As he focused on clearing the table and avoiding eye contact, Jimin revealed she had found someone but wasn’t sure if he felt the same.

Jimin’s gaze met Jeno’s briefly before she looked away, her uncertainty about his feelings echoing in the room. Jeno, flustered by the unexpected revelation, awkwardly shifted to cleaning the dishes, trying to process what had just been said.

-

As Jeno was flying the plane, Jaemin noticed his dilemma “What’s going on Jen?”

Jeno sighs “She found a place Jaemin, is it weird that I feel like she should have told me? I only found out when she talked with my family.“

Jeno sighs "We’re not even together, I don't think I have the right to feel this upset."

Jaemin raised an eyebrow, glancing at his friend with a mix of sympathy and understanding. “I get where you’re coming from, but just because you’re not together doesn’t mean your feelings aren’t valid. Emotions don’t always follow the rules we set for ourselves.”

Jeno ran a hand through his hair, clearly troubled. “I guess I just feel like I’m overstepping somehow.”

Jaemin leaned back in his seat, thoughtful. “You’re not overstepping. Sometimes, when you spend time with someone and share experiences, feelings can develop naturally. It’s okay to feel attached or even upset when things don’t go as you hoped, even if you didn’t plan for it.”

Jeno’s brow furrowed as he considered Jaemin’s words. “But what if I’m just complicating things? What if I’m not even sure where I stand with her?”

Jaemin reassured him, "Being honest with yourself means acknowledging your strong feelings, It's not about what's 'right' or 'wrong’ it's about what's true for you, If you want clarity, talking to her could help."

Jeno sighed, looking out at the endless expanse of sky. “You make it sound so simple, but I’m still worried about how she’ll react, I don’t want to make things awkward or push her away.”

Jaemin placed a hand on Jeno’s shoulder, "It's normal to be worried, but if you don't tell her how you feel, you might miss the chance to work things out or find out if she feels the same, being honest can help you understand each other better, and it's worth taking that chance."

Jeno nodded slowly, taking in Jaemin’s advice. “I guess you’re right, just need to be honest with her and see where things go from there.”

Jaemin smiled encouragingly. “Exactly! Whatever happens, at least you’ll know where you stand. And who knows? It might turn out to be a positive step for both of you.”

Jeno took a deep breath, feeling a bit more resolved. “Thanks, Jaem, I needed that.”

Jaemin grinned. “Anytime, Jeno. You’ve got this. Just be true to yourself, and everything will work out.”

-

A few days later. Soojin comes back knocking on their door.

Jeno looks at Jimin “Can I please ignore her?”

“I can hear you!” Soojin said

He opens the door “Soojin I would beg for you to never come back, what even happened to you and Minki.”

“He went to another girl,” Soojin said

Jimin scoffs “So as soon as I left and you became his main chick he decided to get another side, wow.”

“Soojin you left me, you cheated on me. What makes you think I would crawl back to you after what you've done?! I have a new life and a better one once you leave.”

“Don't you miss the memories we had? This was our house,” Soojin said

“No because those will be replaced with me and Jimin,” Jeno said

“Fine!” She leaves

The door slammed shut behind Soojin, leaving Jeno and Jimin in the quiet aftermath. The weight of the confrontation hung heavy in the air. Jeno took a deep breath, trying to shake off the lingering tension.

“Jeno.” Jimin’s voice cut through the silence, soft yet probing.

Jeno turned to face her, his expression weary. “Yeah?”

Jimin took a step closer, her gaze steady. “What did you mean when you said that your memories with Soojin will be replaced with the ones you’re making with us?”

Jeno hesitated for a brief moment, his heart pounding in his chest as if it were trying to escape. The unexpected words had left him spinning, and now the weight of his words was sinking in. "I... I didn't mean just us as in the two of us together, I meant... finding new meaning and value in what we’re building.”

Jimin’s eyes searched his face, sensing there was more he wanted to say. “And what does that mean for us, Jeno?”

Jeno took a deep breath, gathering his thoughts and feelings. “It means that being with you is becoming incredibly important to me. I never expected to feel this way, but... the more time we spend together, the more I realise how much you mean to me.”

Jimin’s eyes widened slightly, her emotions a mix of surprise and hope. “Jeno, are you saying...?”

Jeno nodded, his voice steady but filled with emotion. “Yeah, Jimin, what we have together, it’s something I want to hold onto. I want to build new memories with you and see where this goes.”

“I- Jeno,”

“I know I’m sorry, I guess in that moment, the truth comes out, I understand if you don't feel the-”

But Jimin didn’t let him finish. She stepped forward, closing the distance between them, and placed a gentle hand on the side of his face. Her eyes searched his, filled with sincerity and affection.

“Jeno,” she said softly, her voice barely a whisper.

Jeno’s breath caught, and he looked at her, his heart racing. He had been about to backpedal, but Jimin’s proximity, her gaze stopped him.

Without another word, Jimin leaned in, The kiss was soft at first, a gentle exploration that conveyed the depth of their emotions. Jimin’s lips were tender against his, her kiss lingering with a sweetness that spoke of both affection and longing.

Jeno’s response was immediate, his arms encircling her waist, drawing her closer. The kiss deepened, becoming more fervent as their feelings poured out through their touch. The world around them seemed to disappear, leaving only the sensation of their shared intimacy.

Jimin’s fingers threaded into Jeno’s hair, pulling him nearer as she pressed her lips more firmly against his. The kiss was now charged with a passionate intensity, it was a moment of pure connection, where their unspoken feelings and hopes were expressed through their embrace.

When they finally pulled away, both of them were breathless, their foreheads resting against each other’s. Jimin’s eyes were soft and reassuring. “I’ve been feeling the same way, Jeno. I just didn’t know how to say it either.”

Jeno’s gaze softened, his eyes searching Jimin’s with a mixture of vulnerability and earnestness. “I don’t want you to move out,” he said quietly, his voice carrying a weight of sincerity.

“A-and I’m sorry, I- I just want to be with you, be near you, Im so often out of the country that I don't know where else to find you besides here…”

“Of course, I can't force you, it is your decision and you said that you found a place, I overstepped.”

“Thanks for telling me,” Jimin says

“I have found a place, but I’ll tell them that someone else can have it,” She said

Jeno’s face lit up with a mix of relief and hope. “You mean you’ll stay?”

Jimin nodded, her eyes warm. “Yes, I want to stay. I realised that what we have here is something worth keeping. I’ll let them know I’ve changed my mind about the place.”

Jeno stepped closer, his voice full of gratitude. “Thank you, Jimin. I’m really glad.”

Jimin smiled, her gaze steady. “Let’s just take things one step at a time. We’ll figure this out together.”

Jeno’s smile widened, feeling more at ease. “Absolutely. I’m looking forward to it.”

-

Jeno drives Jimin to the airport, I mean that's where he works.

“I'll see you on Thursday?” Jeno said

“Yeah,”

“Text me once you reach,” Jeno said

“Will do,” Jimin hugs him before walking to her colleagues

“Oh god did you see Ms Yu with her husband!”

“Urgh yes!? Literally visuals AHH!” The students talk

Jimin overhears, laughing.

-

On their way to the Sakura trees, Jimin’s group of students finds themselves in a quaint park. While exploring, Yuri, one of Jimin’s students, trips and injures her ankle

As Jimin continues to assist, Yuri expresses her worry. She says, “I’m sorry, Ms Yu, I remember you telling us you wanted to see the Sakura trees.” The concern in her voice reflects her frustration that her teacher’s plans had been disrupted

Jimin, offering a reassuring smile, responds, “Hey, it’s okay. What matters is that you’re okay and safe.” Her calm demeanour and kind words help ease the girl’s anxiety

-

This is the last night of the Senior’s trip

Jimin decides to join her class campfire

“Hi everyone, enjoying yourself?” She asked, taking a seat next to a student

“Yup, totally I cannot believe today is the last night,” A student said

“Yeah after tomorrow I will have to start planning on what assignment I should give,” Jimin said

“Aw, Ms Yu!” The students protest

She laughs

“Ms. Yu, since you’re married—”

“I am not married,” Jimin interrupts. “I am pursuing someone.”

The students exchanged glances, and then looked back at their teacher. “Tell us the story or we won’t believe it.”

Jimin rolls her eyes and sighs. “The cat’s out of the bag anyway, so… me and this guy met at the altar.”

“AHH, SO IT’S THAT GUY!”

“Shh, quiet down. Yes, it is the guy I went viral with,” Jimin said

The students buzz with excitement, remembering the video of their teacher stopping a wedding. Jimin chuckles at their reactions and continues, “So, we had a bit of a dramatic start, but it’s been quite a journey since then.”

“We continue to meet at unexpected places; we even met overseas. So, kids, you might cringe at this, but fate does exist.”

“Are you guys dating?!” one student asks eagerly

“Please, please say you are!” another chimes in

“Nope,” Jimin replies, causing the students to groan. “We did confess our feelings, but this trip kind of put things on hold.”

“Ms. Yu, don’t blame it on this trip!” one of the students protests

Jimin laughs and shakes her head. “It’s not just the trip. We’re figuring things out, and right now, this is where we are.”

“I hope he asks you to be his ‘G word,’” one student says with a wink

“Well then, tell me your stories,” Ms. Yu pouts. “It’s a little unfair. And if you tell me who your crush is, I might just change the seat arrangements for next semester.”

Suddenly, the students start raising their hands, eager to share their secrets and stories.

Jimin laughs and starts calling on them, “Okay, okay, don’t get too excited. You’re all seniors, so you’d better be writing essays, not just love letters, alright?” Jimin says with a playful smile

The students laugh and nod, the mood light and cheerful as they start sharing their own stories and crushes.

Note: I love it when my lecturers talk about their significant other. How their eyes sparkle! Especially when they have kids too aww okay anyway.

-

Jimin: Hey Jen!

I'll be back tomorrow, you'll be overseas right?

Jeno: Yeah, Japan actually😅

Jimin: Oh? HAHAH

I didn’t get to see the Sakura trees, I had some stuff I had to deal with in my class🥲

Jeno: Aww I’m sorry about that Min

Jimin: But hey they’re safe, that’s what matters

Jeno: Hmm, I see you on Sunday then.

Jimin: Yeah

-

“Hey Jeno?”

“Yeah?”

“Wanna switch flights?” “Why?”

“It's been a long time since I went to Japan, I kinda want to go there.”

“Sorry man I have to collect some stuff, I've booked my timings.”

“Oh well okay, I- I'll see who else could.”

Jeno has planned on collecting some Sakura petals as a gesture knowing she missed the chance to see the Sakura trees, he presents her with a jar filled with delicate cherry blossom petals.

“I know you didn’t get to see the Sakurawhile you were in Japan,” Jeno says softly, holding out the jar. “So I wanted to bring a bit of that beauty to you.”

Jimin’s eyes light up as she takes the jar, touched by the thoughtful gesture. The petals inside are a soft pink, capturing the essence of the blossoms she missed.

Jeno then takes a deep breath and looks at her with a hopeful expression. “And I have one more question to ask. Will you be my girlfriend?”

That was what he had planned for

However,

As Jeno walks back to his hotel room in Japan, he’s carrying the jar of cherry blossom petals he’s collected for Jimin. The streets are bustling with activity, but something catches his attention—an enormous TV screen outside a nearby newsstand.

The screen flashes a breaking news alert: “Breaking News: There has been a serious accident involving a class of 40 students in Korea.”

Jeno’s heart drops as he reads the headline. His breath catches, and he instinctively stops, staring at the screen in shock. The broadcast continues with details about the accident and updates on the condition of the students, including Jimin.

Without hesitation, Jeno's thoughts race to Jimin. He quickly pulls out his phone, trying to get in touch with her and the hospital for more information.

Determined to be there for her, Jeno makes arrangements to return to Korea as soon as possible, his mind set on being by her side and ensuring she gets the support she needs.

As Jeno rushes through the airport, the jar of cherry blossom petals tightly clutched in his hand, he feels a growing sense of urgency and anxiety. At the security checkpoint, the jar attracts immediate attention.

The security personnel, eyeing the jar with suspicion, ask Jeno numerous questions. “What’s in the jar?” one of them inquires.

“These petals are from the Sakura tree,” Jeno explains. “I collected them for my girlfriend.”

The security team exchanges uncertain glances, deliberating over the request. “We have strict rules about organic materials,” one officer says

“Please just one petal,” He pleaded

After a brief discussion, they allow Jeno to keep just a single petal, while the rest of the petals are confiscated for further inspection. Jeno accepts the decision with a heavy heart, grateful to retain at least a small part of his carefully prepared gift.

With the single petal safely tucked away, Jeno proceeds to his gate, his thoughts focused on getting to Jimin as quickly as possible.

Jeno arrives back in Korea, his heart heavy with worry for Jimin.

He rushes to the hospital, using the information he gathered from the news articles to navigate his way through the busy corridors. The petal, wrapped delicately in tissue, feels like a fragile representation of his heart and his longing to be by her side.

When he reaches Jimin’s room, he finds her resting but awake. The sight of her, though injured, is a relief. Jeno approaches her bedside, holding out the wrapped petal with a tender expression.

“I’m so glad you’re okay,” he says softly. “I brought this from Japan. I wanted to bring you a whole jar of petals, but I could only keep this one. It’s wrapped in tissue.”

Jimin’s eyes well up as she takes in the gesture. “Thank you for coming, never thought I’d see you,” She said

She wipes the tears “And thank you for this, I'll keep it even if it dies.”

With a shaky voice, he says “Just focus on getting better,” He takes her hand, caressing it

“I’ll be here for you, no matter what.” Jeno that day had decided he could not do a confession, his heart broke seeing her in that state.

-

A month later

Jimin stands in front of her classroom, now decorated with colourful banners and heartfelt messages for Teachers' Day. The atmosphere is filled with a sense of celebration, but her thoughts are heavy.

She looks at her students, all now fully healed. The accident had left some with minor injuries and others with more serious ones. It had deeply troubled her, not only because she couldn’t protect them but also because of the looming fear of potential lawsuits from their parents.

“Students,” she begins, her voice steady but filled with emotion, “I’m so glad to be your teacher. Seeing all of you here today, healthy and strong, means the world to me.”

The students listen attentively, their expressions a mix of gratitude and admiration.

Jimin continues, “Let’s make the most of the next three months before your exams start. We’ll work hard together, support each other, and make sure you’re all prepared.”

Her words are met with enthusiastic nods and smiles. The students appreciate her dedication and the encouragement she offers, knowing that despite the challenges, she remains committed to their success.

-

“Jimin,” Jeno calls her name from outside

“Min,” His eyes soften when he sees her “What are you doing? Shouldn't you be asleep, that's what you always tell your students.”

“Yeah but, I'm not even a student but I'm stressed out for them,” Jeno kisses her something they've grown accustomed to

“And Jeno I've been wanting to” Jimin gets a call

“It's one of my students, they probably need help with a question,” Jimin’s question was left in the air

“I’ll be right back,” She said

As Jimin takes the call, Jeno walks out of the room, giving her space to handle the situation.

-

Today was the last day of the SATs, Jimin is left stressed but as she walked out of the school she sees Jeno

“Oh? Jeno?”

“Hi, I’ve prepared something as celebratory you’re finally free from stress!”

“Yeah agree, I hope next year I don’t get seniors,” She laughs as they get into his car

As Jeno and Jimin enter their house, the soft glow of the evening lights creates a warm and inviting atmosphere. The room is elegantly decorated, enhancing the romantic mood of their getaway.

Jeno closes the door behind them, his gaze locking onto Jimin's. He steps closer to her, his hands reaching out to gently push her back against the wall. The intimacy of the moment heightens as their bodies press close together.

"I've been waiting for this," Jeno murmurs, his voice low and filled with emotion. His hands begin to explore, tracing a delicate path from her jawline to her neck, and then down to her collarbone. Each touch is slow and deliberate, savouring the connection between them.

Jimin closes her eyes, her breath hitching slightly at the sensation of his touch. She leans into him, feeling the warmth of his hands against her skin. Her heart races, and she tilts her head slightly, offering him more of her neck as she enjoys the gentle caress.

Jeno's fingers continue their gentle exploration, his touch both tender and passionate. He leans in, brushing his lips against her skin with soft, lingering kisses.

Jeno kisses Jimin, almost trying to invite her to do more. Her dress cascades off her. He takes it in, admiring her, lust in his eyes.

This time, Jimin took the lead, her hands working skillfully on his tie and then his collared shirt.

Their breaths mingle as Jimin trails her fingers on his abs. He takes her hand, placing it around his neck, The kiss they share is deeper now, filled with the intensity of their feelings. They move together in a dance of intimacy his bed.

“I've been wanting this, but there's something which I wanted ever since you gave me your petals,” Jimin said, breaths heavy

Jeno stops “Can we be official Jeno? We kissed and now this, it just bothers me that we haven't put a label on us…”

“You beat me to it,” Jeno said as he leaned on the headboard

“I planned to ask you when I come back from Japan, but,” He caresses the scar she had on her leg from the plane accident

“I knew it was a bad time, what mattered was your recovery and then SATs came in, you were stressed for your students…”

He took a deep breath, looking into her eyes with a mixture of hope and resolve. “Will you be my girlfriend, Yu Jimin?”

Jimin’s eyes softened “Yeah…” she whispered, her voice filled with emotion. She kissed him again, more passionately this time. The act of placing a label on their relationship made it official, and both of them felt a profound sense of completeness.

-

The morning light gently filters through the curtains of Jeno’s room, casting a soft, golden hue over the space. Jeno and Jimin lie nestled together on his bed, their bodies intertwined beneath the crisp white sheets.

As the first rays of sunlight touch Jeno’s face, he stirs awake. He blinks a few times, taking in the serene sight of Jimin sleeping peacefully beside him. Her hair is splayed out on the pillow, and her expression is calm. He smiles, feeling a deep sense of happiness and gratitude.

Jeno gently brushes a strand of hair away from Jimin’s face. He leans in to press a soft kiss to her forehead, savouring the warmth and closeness of the moment.

Jimin stirs slightly, her eyes fluttering open. She meets Jeno’s gaze with a sleepy, yet joyful smile. “Good morning,” she murmurs, her voice still hushed from sleep.

“Good morning,” Jeno replies softly. “Did you sleep well?”

Jimin slowly stretches and then quickly covers herself with the blanket as she realizes that her bare chest is exposed and the sunlight is seeping through the blinds. "Don't tell me we did it with the blinds open?!" she exclaims with surprise.

Jeno chuckles softly. “I guess we did. I suppose we were a bit too excited, huh?”

Jimin laughs nervously. “I hope no one saw us.”

“They probably enjoyed it,” Jeno teases, earning a playful slap on the arm from Jimin.

“It was at night anyway,” She replies, shaking her head with a smile. “And we’re on the 24th floor.”

Jeno nods, a gentle smile playing on his lips. “I slept wonderfully. It’s hard not to when I wake up next to you.”

Jimin pushes him lightly

Jeno smiles, pulling her by her bare waist, closer into his embrace. “I’m glad. I’ve loved every moment of it too.”

They lie there for a few more minutes, simply enjoying each other’s presence. Jeno’s fingers gently trace patterns on Jimin’s back, and Jimin rests her head on his chest, listening to the steady beat of his heart.

He kisses her gently. “We should do this more often.”

Jimin playfully rolls her eyes. “I won’t be able to walk, and we both have jobs, babe.” She emphasises the word babe with a teasing grin.

Jeno chuckles softly, his arms tightening around her. “Fair point. But I’m definitely looking forward to our next.”

“Definitely not now,” Jimin says, picking up the pile of clothes scattered from last night. As she puts on her bra, she glances over at him.

“Oh, come on, Min,” Jeno says with a playful smirk. “I’ve seen you, no need to cover up.”

Jimin laughs, shaking her head. “You’re hopeless.”

Eventually, they get up, and Jimin heads to the kitchen to make breakfast. Jeno follows her, wrapping his arms around her from behind. He rests his chin on her shoulder, a contented sigh escaping him. “You smell so good,” he says, kissing her clothed shoulder.

As they sit together, Jeno reaches for Jimin’s hand. “You know,” he says, “this has been amazing, I’m really looking forward to all the adventures we’ll share in the future.”

Jimin squeezes his hand and smiles. “Me too, I’m excited about what’s to come.”

-

[girltalkcollectives]

The Barbie Scene That Had Us All Ugly Crying in the Theater (You Know the One)

I wasn’t prepared to have an existential crisis about womanhood while eating overpriced movie theater popcorn, but there I was, mascara running down my face, as America Ferrera started that speech in Barbie.

You know exactly which one I’m talking about.

“It is literally impossible to be a woman.”

And just like that, I felt seen in a way that hit differently than any feminist text or empowerment speech ever had. Because here was this regular mom, in a movie about a plastic doll, putting into words everything I’ve felt but couldn’t explain since I was old enough to understand what being a woman meant.

I glanced around the theater, and I swear you could feel it — this collective moment of recognition from every woman in the room. Like we were all simultaneously remembering every time we’d been too much and not enough, all at once.

The thing is, I didn’t walk into that theater expecting to confront every contradiction I’ve ever lived through. I was just there for the pink aesthetics and Margot Robbie’s outfits. But then Gloria started talking about how we’re supposed to be extraordinary but somehow always doing it wrong, and suddenly I was thinking about every time I’d dimmed my own light to make others comfortable.

“Always stand out and always be grateful.”

I felt that line in my soul. I remember a time last year when I got a 100 on a final exam for one of my college classes. I literally prefaced telling my friends with “It’s not really a big deal, but…” Why? Because I’d rather downplay my success than risk being seen as boastful.

The part about never admitting we’re doing any of it unless we want to be called difficult? I actually snorted in the theater (sorry to the people behind me). Because right before I went to see that movie, my roommate called me “high maintenance” for having basic boundaries about cleaning schedules. The bar is literally in hell.

Sitting there, watching this scene, I thought about every woman in my life who’s lived this impossible paradox. My mom, who was told she was “too aggressive” for asking for a raise after 15 years at her company. My best friend, who got called “difficult” for turning down a guy who wouldn’t take no for an answer. Me, being told I’m “too sensitive” for calling out sexist jokes while also being told “too cold” for not laughing at them.

You want to know the most ironic part? Some critics called this speech “too on the nose” or “heavy-handed.” And isn’t that exactly what Gloria was talking about? Even when we perfectly articulate the impossible standards we face, we get criticized for how we articulate them.

I left that theater feeling different. Not because anything had changed, really, but because finally, someone had named this thing we’ve all been feeling. In a summer blockbuster. In hot pink. In a movie about a literal plastic doll.

Sometimes I rewatch that scene on Tiktok when I need to remember I’m not crazy for feeling overwhelmed by these contradictions. When I need to remember that every woman I know is doing this impossible dance of being everything and nothing all at once.

To the woman who sat next to me in the theater and offered me a tissue during that scene without saying a word — thank you. To America Ferrera for delivering those lines like she was reading from my diary — thank you. To Greta Gerwig for sneaking this truth bomb into a movie about Barbie — thank you.

And to every woman reading this who’s ever felt like she’s failing at being a woman because the requirements are impossible — you're not alone. We’re all just trying to navigate this pink paradox together.

[foreverrandomwritings]

Controversially Young Girlfriend- Part 1

@sylviebell asks: A pride month celebration is such a good idea! I’ve got a headcanon request for you. I’ve seen several things about Rooster and Hangman with a controversially young girlfriend, but what are your thoughts on Phoenix with one?

(For some reason tumblr glitched and posted this yesterday so I deleted it and copied the ask from my google docs)

Pairing: Natasha "Phoenix" Trace x afab! unnamed OC type (CYG short for controversially young girlfriend because I was not typing that a bunch)

Warnings: Age gap and tooth rooting fluff.

Word count: 533

Masterlist M’s PMC Masterlist Series Masterlist

~ I absolutely love this idea.

~I think they'd have met in like sephora or ulta or something.

~Phoenix looked completely lost and this pretty young woman came wandering over to her.

~Asked her if she needed help with anything.

~Phoenix told her what she was having trouble with and the young woman helped her out quickly.

~Before walking away she turned to Phoenix handing over her phone.

~ “I think you're super attractive and would love to see you again sometime.”

~Phoenix was taken aback, she was used to men hitting on her but not women.

~Especially as cute and young as the one standing before her.

~She put her number in her phone and then they parted ways.

~They talked constantly after that.

~Literally talked about everything under the sun.

~When CYG told Phoenix how young she was, Phoenix was a tiny bit hesitant to pursue anything.

~CYG being like 19-21.

~Confided in Rooster who encouraged her to go for it.

~They exchanged snapchats and every time Phoenix would post a picture of her or of her and the guys, the CYG would be sliding up hyping her up.

~ Their first date consisted of coffee and thrift shopping.

~ They had a lot of fun and it was instant chemistry.

~There was barely a day after that they weren't together.

~It was a whirlwind of romance and they moved in together within months.

~CYG was constantly pulling Phoenix into tiktok trends.

~CYG having to explain new slang and trends to Phoenix.

~They got a cat together from a shelter and it is their little baby.

~CYG is a nanny and on her rare days off she goes and has lunch with Phoenix on base.

~One time she sees one of her friends dads there (Admiral Simpson) and it was a little awkward. (Will write this as a little blurb if anyone wants me to.)

~Also a college student majoring in Psychology.

~The family that CYG nannies for loves Phoenix and has approved of her coming over and spending time with CYG and the kids anytime she wants.

~Phoenix is so good with the kids and they love playing with her when she's over.

~CYG integrated into the Squad well.

~Got made fun of by Harvard and Yale for still being in college.

~Hangman was actually the first person she got along with.

~They became super close much to Phoenix's dismay.

~But he had defended their relationship and the fact that CYG was still in college.

~CYG's friends absolutely adore Phoenix and love the two of them together.

~Phoenix always feels out of touch with them though and normally just sits quietly confused.

~They occasionally got mistaken for siblings instead of girlfriends because of the age gap.

~Both of their families had questions and concerns over the relationship.

~Phoenix would occasionally get insecure that CYG wouldn't want to stay with her.

~CYG would reassure her constantly however and would never get upset with her insecurities.

~Would go to pride together and have the time of their lives.

~The first deployment was rough for the both of them. will be posting a oneshot of this soon)

~Overall they are both super head over heels for each other.

A/N: Thank you for this request Sylvia! I am completely fucking obsessed with this idea. No one better be surprised when I make a series around this. I also maybe already have the awkward Beau, CYG, Nat scene written up lol.

Tags(Open): @wkndwlff @eternallyvenus

@sillygooseses (you liked this yesterday when tumblr for some reason glitched out and posted it early)

[somewheric]

240711 THE BOYZ for Mini Magazine July 2024 Issue [Full Individual Interviews Translation]

(T/N: May contain inaccuracies! The Korean translation seems to be just a Papago translation from the original Japanese. And just as a note, they seem to be referring specifically to Japanese deobis in some of the answers here since this is a Japanese magazine.)

Something you would like to say to/about the other member?

Sangyeon -> Jacob: Whenever there are English lyrics I don’t know, he’s very kind explaining them to me, and he looks really cool always working so hard on his singing!

Jacob -> Younghoon: Lately we’ve been shopping and practicing TikToks together. Younghoon is the same age as me but he feels like a dongsaeng too. We help each other and he’s an existence I’m thankful for. Thank you always!

Younghoon -> Hyunjae: Recently, I filmed a content video with Hyunjae. We grilled meat and I made budaejjigae, and we ate so many delicious things; the meat Hyunjae grilled was delicious. Also, let’s cherish our friendship!

Hyunjae -> Juyeon: Juyeon suggested we make a video content so we filmed it when we went to the USA. I asked him when it was going to be uploaded but apparently he hasn’t edited it yet so I want to say to him [in Japanese] “Hurry up!”.

Juyeon -> Kevin: He’s an existence that always shows earnestness. I often joke around with Kevin and I’m thankful that he always receives it well.

Kevin -> New: During ASEA 2024, there was a direction for us to wear masks, and I was supposed to hand out the masks to the members. During rehearsal and practice it was fine, but in real time I was worried because I had to wear gloves and yet was able to deliver it to New right away, so I felt then what good teamwork is.

New -> Q: I want to tell him “You’re doing well, always. Let’s maintain our relationship as good friends the way it is now.” He’s a good friend who always listens well when I need advice for my worries.

Q -> Haknyeon: I’ve gotten into Nintendo (T/N: Switch, I’m assuming?) recently and Haknyeon got into it as well so I’m glad we can play together. This year, don’t get sick and don’t get hurt and let’s work hard doing our best while promoting. Please look after me!

Haknyeon -> Sunwoo: Sunwoo is working really hard right now. Fighting!

Sunwoo -> Eric: Stop joking around! And continue to be cute as you are now! That’s all!

Eric -> Sangyeon: A while ago I wanted to talk something serious with him so after a schedule I called him and he told me to come over to the dorm. I went and we ordered galbi and some other delicious food, drank beer, and had an earnest conversation, and that was a moment that put my emotions in order.

A place you recommend in South Korea?

Sangyeon: People visiting from Japan like to eat whole chicken stew when coming to Korea, so I would recommend a restaurant that specializes in that.

Jacob: If you have the time, it would be good if you visited Jeju. The weather is nice, it’s a good place to stay, and the samgyeopsal is delicious. If you go to Jeju, make sure to eat samgyeopsal. In our team, when it comes to Jeju, we have Ju Haknyeon. (laughs)

Younghoon: I want to recommend "Daehan Gobchang". The first time I ate there, the gobchang was so delicious that I couldn’t forget the taste. I hope deobis can experience that taste as well.

Hyunjae: Myeong-dong (Myeong neighborhood) has many people and you can eat street food or shop there, so I recommend it. Even though I’ve never been there. (laughs)

Juyeon: I recommend Samcheong-dong (Samcheong neighborhood)! There are Korean-esque streets and comfortable parks as well. It’s nice to go on walks on streets where you can feel the vibes of Korea. Go for a walk. Try it once, please.

Kevin: Seongsu-dong (Seongsu neighborhood) has pretty stores and cafes, and since there are many different stores lined up, I highly recommend it to people who want to do shopping too.

New: Try going to Han River at night and cooking and eating ramyeon. There are so many different types to choose from but I particularly recommend ramyeon with broth.

Q: There is a delicious dakgalbi place called “Dalkeuro Ga” (B&D Chicken Restaurant) on Rodeo Street in Apgujeong that we used to go to all the time. We tell deobis to go there if they come to Korea even if there might be deobis who already know about it. However, it is a bit spicy, so for those who can’t handle spicy food, please keep that in mind before going. (laughs)

Haknyeon: I recommend "Cheongdamgol". It’s the real flavor of Korea!

Sunwoo: Right next to Lotte World is Seokchon Lake. The lake is nice and it’s nice to go on a walk there. You can also do shopping at Lotte World so that’s really good.

Eric: I want to recommend Seongsu-dong (Seongsu neighborhood). There are many cafes with a good ambiance and delicious food, so I think it’s a good place to eat something with friends and enjoy some dessert.

Are you strict with your Instagram or do you follow your own rules?

Sangyeon: I post things from when I’m working or a type of singing content called #singSangsong where I can showcase my vocal colors.

Jacob: I post things thinking will deobis like this pic, or this one. I hope deobis like my content! (smiles)

Younghoon: Among the pics that came out well, I post the ones that will make the fans smile when they see it.

Hyunjae: More than pics from work, I think daily life pics make people happy so I’m consciously [choosing] things that will make the fans feel good when they see it.

Juyeon: Since there are different platforms where I can talk to fans, I’m making Instagram the place where I can express myself. I want to show different things like lifestyle and my cool sides. I’m adorning myself.

Kevin: I’m using it as a picture diary. It’s images filled with records.

New: When I want to post something, I just post it freely. If a pic comes out looking good, I post it.

Q: My rule is to wait until I’ve gathered a good number of pics I like before I post. It’s hard to explain what kind of pic I like but it can take some time until I gather the pics I like [before I get to post them].

Haknyeon: I’m the kind to post much more stories than pics to the feed. Because the stories are seen only by the people who follow you, right? So I do that to induce people to follow. (laughs)

Sunwoo: I’m not very strict and I don’t think too hard about it. When I first started [my account] I had many ideas but now I think if you do it without pressure, soon enough you’ll naturally be showing your own identity. It’s hard to act cool but I’m posting pics that come out pretty.

Eric: The first thing is that my face needs to come out pretty, and the second is that I want to post things that have a vibe or a mood. You can post up to 10 pictures on Instagram, right? But I personally think 10 is too many, so I’ve been aiming for 5. But then if there’s even one more that I want to show, I always end up posting 10. (laughs)

Something you won't lose at against the other members?

Sangyeon: Tenacity and stamina!

Jacob: Big smile!

Younghoon: Height.

Hyunjae: Gaming. The other members don’t play all that much but I play often so I’m good. I’ve been playing LoL for 10 years.

Juyeon: Hand size and shamelessness. (laughs)

Kevin: I can do well with an earnest workout routine. Except for the days where I really can’t do it, I workout every day without a fault. I do it when I’m in Japan too, but the hotel doesn’t have something like a gym open 24-hours and that’s very sad. (laughs)

New: Mental arithmetic. I learned it a long time ago but I often use it well when splitting the [restaurant] bill.

Q: Long neck! (everyone laughs)

Haknyeon: The perseverance to keep doing something.

Sunwoo: Uhm… (thinking) Big eyes…? (Jacob: You have good sense! Q: You’re skilled in TikTok! Juyeon: Thick lips!) Since I’ve been acknowledged as having TikTok skills, I’ll film a TikTok later. Please look forward to it! (laughs)

Eric: Energy, and passion. I’m full of passion!

Something cute about deobis?

Sangyeon: Seeing the fans work so hard trying to speak Korean is so cute and lovely and it makes me grateful.

Jacob: During the concert, if I go near deobis, they get really surprised and shy, and that’s cute.

Younghoon: When I send messages on Bubble sometimes saying “I love you”, “I miss you”, deobis of other nationalities will answer in different languages like “I miss you” (T/N: Probably said in Japanese), or “I miss you” (English). I think that’s so lovely and so cute.

Hyunjae: The vibe of foreign deobis speaking Korean a little awkwardly is [in Japanese] cute!!

Juyeon: I think their reaction when we do cool performances at the concert is cute. They get shy or embarrassed and make faces or cover their faces. I think they’re cute when I see that.

Kevin: Be it on stage or when we communicate on Bubble, seeing them making an effort to communicate in Korean or English is cute.

New: Whenever I see slogans or signs, or decorated lighsticks, I’m like “oh, you made that at home” and think it’s really so cute. I can see especially that Japanese fans always make those.

Q: When there is a sign asking “please fire at me!” and then I do and they react like “ahhh!” and pretend to fall down (laughs) that’s really cute.

Haknyeon: Recently during a fansign a young fan in the 5th grade of middle school called me “cute” and I thought that was so cute. (laughs)

Sunwoo: Be it at fanmeetings or concerts, everyone is always cute whenever we meet.

Eric: They’re always cute no matter when, no matter where! During concerts, deobis hold up signs asking “please make a heart”, or “please give a flying kiss”. When I do that or when our eyes meet, their reaction is so great that I find it very cute.

An episode of something that happened with deobis?

Sangyeon: When the pop-up store was open in Korea, I went to buy chicken breast after a workout near the company and as I was leaving the convenience store, I ran into three Japanese fans. I was in such a natural state (T/N: in terms of appearance, not dressed up) that I got embarrassed and only said hi and ran away. (laughs) I wanted to give them an autograph but I couldn’t and I’m sorry about that.

Jacob: One time a deobi got the Korean spelling wrong on a sign with Kevin’s name and wrote “Kebongie”, and because of that we called him “Kebongie” too. (laughs) I think deobis comments when we’re live are funny. A while ago Sunwoo went live and while taking screenshots deobis wrote in comments asking him to pose in a way that would make it look like his eyebrows were connected and I thought that was so hilarious.

Younghoon: I’ve posted so many pics of Bori, my dog, that one day my mom and my older brother were walking with Bori and someone recognized her and greeted my mom.

Hyunjae: Japanese deobis write our names in Korean for slogans but there has been times when they got it wrong. For example, “Hyunjae” written as “Hunjae”, “Hyunje”, and “Kevin” as “Kebongie”, and those things are so cute and fun, so I want to cheer them on.

Juyeon: During the encore concert, everyone sang [for the fan event], right? Deobis sang the main parts together so loudly but the parts of the lyrics that they didn’t know they just hummed or pretend to sing and that was so cute that it was funny. (laughs)

Kevin: The fans made signs with our faces spinning and seeing that shared through videos was fun. I came across the Japanese tour in many places.

New: All the fans we meet during concerts stay in my memory.

Q: There was one time when a fan’s sign read “Kebongie” instead of “Kevin”. Even Kevin liked it and went “As expected of someone who’s my fan, that’s cute”. (laughs) More than funny, deobis are cute. Also when we did a nationwide Japan tour, deobis would say to us “see you tomorrow~!” and that was fun. It’s cute to feel like you’re meeting neighborhood friends.

Haknyeon: I heard that when my mom attended our concert in the past, the fans told her “thank you for giving birth to Haknyeon”. (laughs)

Sunwoo: During a Japanese performance, one of Kevin’s fans was holding a sign with his name but it wasn’t “Kevin”, it was “Kebongie” and that was funny and cute. (everyone laughs) But even then, the things deobis do for us are all cute, so more than funny, everything is cute.

Eric: My mom went to the concert and the fans noticed that, so they gave her many slogans and handwritten letters. It was a bit special so it’s something I’m thankful for.

What does THE BOYZ think of their relationship with deobis?

Sangyeon: Deobis always listen to the new songs we release, right? I hope when they’re spending a good time with friends they can be happy with that song, since I believe that’s what it means to achieve success with our work. I hope they can find more happiness through us and that they can keep cheering us on.

Jacob: They are precious colleagues. I want to take care of them, make them happy, and I hope they’re always happy.

Younghoon: On weekdays, waking up, studying, and coming home is exhausting, right? So I hope we can be the kind of existence that will give deobis strength during those times, be it through our videos or our music. Actually, hearing “thanks to THE BOYZ, I felt strong” gives me strength too and [motivates me to] work even harder. I want our relationship to be one where we don’t get tired of each other and are able to work hard together.

Hyunjae: There are many people who get really nervous or can’t say everything they prepared to say when meeting us, but I hope you will think of us as oppas who are like your close friends. You don’t need to feel nervous, it's ok!

Juyeon: We will keep supporting and taking care of each other. I think of it as that kind of relationship.

Kevin: I hope we can become the kind of relationship where we support each other and even in hard circumstances can overcome it thanks to exch other’s existence.

New: I hope we can have a relationship where we can trust each other.

Q: Best friend! Sharing many things, laughing, crying, a colleague or a friend you can open your heart to. That’s how I think of our relationship.

Haknyeon: I think of it in terms of hoping that we can become an existence that is a source of strength when life gets hard.

Sunwoo: A mom. Family that takes care of you!

Eric: I really like our current relationship with deobis and I hope we can continue to keep it that way forever. And I hope deobis won’t neglect their own lives and will live healthily by studying and working diligently as well.

-

(JPN -> KOR translation/transcription: @ satowith126 / pic cr: @ daydream913hj)

[realthoughtsreal]

An ace finds an ace

This Monday, for the first time in my life, I met another ace.

At 22, in a small country, I had long accepted I’d never meet another ace here, nevermind people who respected it or even understood the meaning of the word.

I had gotten some kind of vibe from them, I knew we’d get along great, and I could tell they were queer somehow, but I didn’t really imagine them to be ace, you know? Because it’s always easier to picture someone as bi, pan, or gay, than it is to picture them as ace.

Do you know how few of us there are, compared to other sexualities? So few that meeting in the wild is a miracle.

I found out when we were chatting after class, they’re one of my classmates. A group of us were talking about some ‘hearmeout’ trend on Tiktok about attractive characters and we asked each other the ones we’d choose. My turn came and I shrugged awkwardly, saying “No idea. I’m, well, ace so. Yeah.”

To my great pleasure and surprise, the others didn’t bat an eye or ask me what ace was, they just asked “Oh, just ace or aro too?” Their gazes didn’t changed a bit, they were still just as kind and friendly.

I was shocked and sorta just mumbled “Well yeah? Sort of both? I mean I know I can feel romantic attraction for someone, but it has happened less than 3 times in my life. So. Yeah.”

“Oh I see.”

And then this classmate, that I had thought from the first day was cool as hell goes “Oh me too actually.”

And dudes. My guys. When I tell you my jaw didn’t drop but I immediately froze and got teary eyed. My eyes got all shiny and a wide, genuine smile spread over my cheeks. My chest quivered and suddenly I feared I’d start to cry. I got choked up and barely replied.

To think I’d finally meet another ace, a classmate at that, and one who I really get along with?!

I didn’t realize how desperate I was for connection and understanding from someone in the same position as me until that moment. We got talking and I kept choking up over my words, because we had the same experiences and issues in high school because of our aceness.

My heart was absolutely shaken, but I felt warm all over. Comfort like none other I had known before; the comfort of being known and understood.

This extremely cool person was like me.

I barely held back tears, but couldn’t push down my instinctual smiles and bright attitude after that.

I’ve kept the happy mood all week, and every time we see each other, we now chat and greet each other naturally. There’s a connection and mutual understanding between us, now that we know we are both ace, and we’re the first ace we’ve met to one another.

Aceness can be tough. It is tough. And isolating. But it being isolating from the rest of society and its way of life, doesn’t mean we have to be lonely.

We can find and choose friends and family to fill our lives. As ace/aro people, our lives will always look different from allos, but that’s okay.

I feel like this year, I’ve been learning to come to terms with that. I’m learning how to be a happy ace in this society. I have friends I hang out and talk with, I have family members who see me and accept me, have never made me feel like I need to explain my existence/come out, I go to class and have fun, I enjoy going to cafes, I can be happy for others without envy for their life styles.

We’re people too. Not abnormal freaks.

Maybe not everyone will respect us. Maybe not everyone will like us as people. Maybe some will always thinks of us as sick.

But you, ace person reading this, must know you are not sick. You are not a freak, and you are not alone. We’re out there. You just have to reach out.

And to the allo person reading this; inform yourself. Remember to treat everyone with kindness and patient understanding. Asexuality is not a sickness, that’s a common misconception. If you encounter an ace person in the wild, just treat them as you would everyone else: with kindness. Do not question their existence. They’ve had enough of that. Respect aroace people, do not force them into situations theymre uncomfortable with.

[cheylouwho]

i’ve been thinking about this a lot lately and i want to hear someone from SPHS’s thoughts.

i know you’ve noticed the “tiktok” fan base- the ones that only watch clips of the show and then say they’re fans. i read one of your posts talking about these types of fans and making blatantly incorrect headcanons. that’s something that bugs me, but another thing that bugs me is the fact i do not believe south park is tiktokable. i’ll use family guy as a comparison for my points.

first of all, compared to family guy, the humor is different, pretty much everything they explained in the cartoon wars two parter explains what i mean, m&t are not fans of interchangeable jokes and are able to give characters emotional progression throughout the episode. that’s one huge factor, i hope you get what i’m trying to imply with that. m&t are passionate about their story telling and it pays off in their episodes. i know not EVERY SINGLE joke follows this, but there are jokes made better by understanding the characters and the circumstance of the episode. the episodes work best in their entirety. (that was difficult to explain so i fear it can be misinterpreted easily)

the characters are another thing i want to mention. i watched the episode TSST with two friends awhile ago, one of which who had never seen an episode and didn’t understand cartmans character. she kept asking questions about him, or said how weird his hitler obsession was. the other friend hadn’t finished south park and said he hated cartmans character and it’s hes one of the bad pieces of the show. i believe even if you don’t like cartman as a personal preference thing, you should at least appreciate him as a character and his placement, it’s hard to understand him (despite us watching an episode that really dives into him, they still didn’t know much about him before). with family guy, one episode is enough to grasp the character, hell, even a single scene is i’d say, while m&t are very good at developing and fleshing out character personalities over time. it’s why they can pull off making sad episodes (like kenny dies and assburgers), heartwarming episodes (like tweek x craig and even bits of episodes like in raisins) all while still being a comedy show. they understand how to make the characters react in a way that can make you feel something while maintaining a good amount of jokes in the episode.

i dont know, theres more i could add but i’m just writing whatever comes to mind first so it might make no sense or it might be wrong. also, i’m by no means an old fan. i’ve rewatched the series quite a few times, watched commentaries, researched through wiki pages and am constantly trying to better my knowledge of the show, but i know i’m not quite there yet and could just be making a mistake GAHAH

No anon, I actually totally get this and agree 100%. SP as a show is not something that works well with out of context clips (and even then, the ones that do work are usually from very early in an episode before the plot fully gets established and stakes as drawn). Until pre s18 when they started soft continuity (and then s19-21s full continuity, after that is a whole other discussion entirely), the shows syndicated nature did make it easier to hop into any episode and watch it in its entirety and enjoy it without much prior knowledge of the show or it's characters. However, even then, you really needed to watch the *whole* episode to get the big picture of it's message.

And I get it, SP full length episodes are not as accessible as they once were. People these days don't know how or aren't willing to pirate things if they don't have the streaming service SP is hosted on, and beyond that, south park used to be free to watch on their website. Like, that's how I ended up catching up on the show when I finally decided to take it all in other than a handful of episodes and scenes I'd seen during my childhood back in 2013. It was all entirely available (save for Super Best Friends, 200 and 201, which I had to go track down on other websites) for free, with ads unless you used an ad blocker, right at your fingertips. And that's how M+T wanted SP to be consumed, because they explicitly noted that they didn't care about making money on streamed episodes, they cared about getting their show out there. (I will have to go find that interview, I know it's somewhere).

But still, regardless of that, you're right. SP is not something that you can consume short form as a brief tiktok video, and that's why I think we have newer fans with such big gaps in knowledge that seem like they would be easy to fill in. It's not that they're being willfully ignorant, they're just being fed a very piecemeal version of the show through social media, which is how we get people thinking Pip is a he//llpa//rk OC (augh!!! dont get me started) instead of realizing this dude was actually in the fucking show, or headcanons that are very easy to contradict with canon itself by watching like 3 episodes. That's not me knocking HCs btw, go wild and do whatever you want, but these people don't even know it's ooc, and that's a little troublesome. I've made some outlandish character decisions in the past but I at least KNEW they were not evidence based.

What that means for the fandom down the road I don't know, and its made a lot of discussion and analysis more shallow-- it's so hard outside of my SPHS friend group to find good breakdowns these days. I'm hoping maybe something will change, but who knows.

TLDR fuck tiktok and its watering down of media

[capturethechaos]

I’m currently stuck sitting in LAX waiting for my flight home, so now seems as good a time as any to write my sappy little piece about the tbagg/dig era coming to an end.

(Tw - mentions of depression, death, and suicide)

I discovered this band in September of 2021. I’ll be honest, I don’t remember much from this time, I was depressed, working at the same shitty job I’m still at, I had very few friends, and I felt stuck. Like absolutely, no chance at anything but what I was doing kind of stuck.

For the first little while of me listening to GVF I was alone, listening to their songs on repeat. I hadn’t was at a dead end with writing, nothing was giving me the inspiration I needed, and I felt like shit.

But one night I was listening to them, and I just had this feeling, this warmth that filled me that I hadn’t felt in a long time and it was the best thing I could have asked for. I hadn’t touched tumblr since I was like… fourteen, maybe fifteen. So I started writing on Wattpad cause that’s what I had been using for all my older writing. I had previously posted my work for other fandoms on my page, but I hadn’t really touched it for anything else, so when I decided to redownload the tumblr app and post my GVF work, I wasn’t expecting much.

I especially wasn’t expecting what would be what I think is the best thing I could have ever asked for. Because of this band, and through this app, I’ve met some of the most amazing people.

I was twenty when I found them, and within the first month of listening and writing for them, I had found a group of friends that I couldn’t be more thankful for. These wonderful people, along with the music from this band, got me through the experience of my uncle going missing, and soon after finding out he had killed himself.

Within days I was back home, turning twenty-one on the day of the Troubadour show, switching between choppy livestreams of the show with a group of people on discord, and soon after I was waiting impatiently in a presale queue for tickets to a show in a different country, making plans with people I had met over tumblr to see the boys in Wisconsin.

The shows were postponed/canceled…

But I was already in the US when it happened. I had taken my first flight ever, on my own, to a country I had only been in once, fourteen years prior, because a band gave me the courage to make my own path, to choose the road.

I never did get the chance to see them with the group I had met that week, but I’m thankful for every day that I got to spend with them, entertaining ourselves in Wisconsin.

I’ve seen them three times since then. Twice in my own province, having gotten the chance to see them with @amouratomique and two of my best friends from home. Once at the barricade, and once in the bowl, stoned with my friends as we experienced the music that changed my life.

I thought those would be my only chances to see them on the Dreams in Gold tour, but on the drive to the airport to send Alba back to California, she asked me if I would want to go to the Anaheim show with her… and of course I said yes.

So I booked a flight, bought my ticket, and impatiently waited for the chance to see the boys again.

Then the show got postponed… but it was alright. I got to spend a week in Cali with one of my best friends, and instead of saying goodbye, we got to say see you soon. Now I’m sitting in LAX, after seeing them one last time for the DIG tour, trying real hard not to cry as a think about the amazing I’ve met because of this band, and all the experiences I would never have had if I had ignored that stupid fucking TikTok.

So to anyone I have talked to since the beginning of my time here, and to those I haven’t had the chance to get to know yet, thank you for changing my life. I love you all so much, and I couldn’t imagine where I’d be now if I didn’t know you.

Edit: I explained this to Alba after the concert, but early this month, I lost my grandfather after he had a stroke, and on the day I got the call that he had passed, after saying goodbye to him for the final time, that any choice I made to travel, and to further myself for the sake of me, and no one else, would be in memory of him. Because I knew that he was proud of my choice to explore for the sake of exploring. So despite the fact that I was already aware that I was going to cry at the show in Anaheim, it felt incredibly special to be at the barricade when the boys played the new song, and I could feel him with me.