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breakyeol · 4 years ago

Text

Give Him a Show

Pairing: Sehun x Reader

Genre: college au, friends to lovers au, suggestive, tiny pinch of angst

Word Count: 4k

Warnings: strong language, fuckboy!chanyeol being an complete asshole, !!! themes of harassment (not with malicious intent but it’s still not okay) !!! , mentions of drinking and marijuana use, mild groping, heavy making out

A/N ; hey guys. I feel like there is a slightly more serious topic addressed in this one shot. never let a man or woman or anyone treat you the way Chanyeol treats reader in this. don’t be afraid to put your foot down and tell them to fuck off. and if you don’t feel comfortable doing it then ask a friend or family member or anyone you trust for help. please be safe and don’t be afraid to say no ♡ also! this one shot in NO WAY portrays Chanyeol’s true character!! we all know that he is a respectful gentleman in real life thank you and goodnight

It was too often that you found yourself in places like this, surrounded by people like them.

Places like this being an entirely too crowded apartment, the scent of weed and sweat intertwining in the air, the deep bass of a song pulsing from unseen speakers causing the floor to vibrate beneath your sneaker clad feet.

People like them being your so called ‘friends’ who partied every weekend and got shit faced or cross faded every time an opportunity presented itself.

Don’t get it wrong, you knew how to get down and dirty with the worst of them. But tonight had been one of those nights— one of those nights that all you wanted was to sprawl yourself out in your bed and binge watch Scream for the gazillionth time while stuffing your face full of all your favorite snack foods. It hadn’t been the best day in the world, and just being able to sit back and unwind seemed like the most ideal use of your free time.

Unfortunately, that plan was abruptly negated when your friends got the brilliant idea of partying until their legs gave out. They found it of the utmost importance to drag you along as well, claiming dramatically it had been forever since you last hung out with them.

Since the beginning of the night, you had been tucked into the corner of the room on one of the unoccupied couches, pretending to nurse the cup of god knows what kind of alcohol, and wearing your best resting bitch face in hopes that everyone would just stay the fuck away. Thus far, the strategy had been successful. If someone started coming in your direction, all you had to do was shoot them an icy glare and they’d immediately spin around and walk in the opposite direction.

Though, there was one particular person that seemed to be completely oblivious to your blatant disinterest in being here.

“Y/n!”

You grimaced at the familiar booming voice, reluctantly tearing your eyes off of the window where you’d been counting the lights of passing cars on the street bellow. The one and only Park Chanyeol stood before you, signature lopsided smirk plastered across his face.

You’d known Chanyeol since high school, but you really only knew each other because of your mutual friends. In all honesty, you didn’t consider him much more than a good acquaintance. He was a sweet guy, funny and bright and very outgoing.

But, he was also one of the biggest fuck boys you’d ever met. And he was not shy in displaying the fact that he had wanted to hook up with you, to the point where you couldn’t even pretend that it was just your ego. Not-so-subtly eye fucking you whenever you walked into the room, constantly pressing you about your ideal man or what kind of guy you were interested in, finding any and every excuse to be near you or touch you in one way or another. It was all a bit excessive, especially considering that you just weren’t interested in him like that. Unfortunately, he couldn’t seem to get the hint— or, he just didn’t care.

All his indirect advances made it a bit uncomfortable for you to be around him. That was another reason you’d been subtly avoiding hanging out with the big group of friends, because he was always there. And every time you weren’t, he’d text or call you about it and you’d have to make up an excuse as to why you didn’t show.

It wasn’t even like he actually liked you, either. All that he wanted was to snag a quick fuck.

You’d told him straight up on several occasions that you just were not interested, when his advances got too much for you to put up with. He’d lay off for the rest of the night, and if you were lucky the rest of the next day. But by the next, he’d be right back to his flirting and excessive touching. The dude was relentless.

And it was honestly getting a bit exhausting.

But for tonight, you smile politely and just deal.

“Hey, Chanyeol.”

“I’m surprised you came!” He said, voice louder than usual, falling onto the couch beside you like it was where he belonged. You tensed at the feeling of his thigh pressing firmly against yours, and attempted to scoot away from him, only to be stopped by the arm rest digging into your side.

Shit. Did he not know about personal space? More than likely he did, but just didn’t give a fuck.

You only offered a mild nod of your head in response, lips tight, body rigid. He should have been able to feel it with how tightly he’d pressed himself up against you, should’ve felt the tension in your muscles, the uneasiness rolling off of you thick, heavy waves. But he didn’t even flinch, tossing a nonchalant arm over the back of the couch behind your head. You curled in on yourself as his fingers feathered over your shoulder, the corner of your lip lifting in an uncontainable grimace.

“Yeah, me too.”

For whatever reason, the stiff, grumbled response coaxed a round of guffawing belly laughter from the boy squeezed against you. Personally, you didn’t think it was all that funny.

“Well, I, for one, am very glad you came. But why are you over here all by yourself?”

You shrugged, sinking your teeth into the inside of your lip and turning away from him, opting to give your attention to the lack of stars visible in the light polluted night sky. “Just... not in the mood for all this, I guess.” The empty reply was intended to cut this one sided conversation short as soon as possible.

“Then... do you wanna get out of here?” He whispered the question against the shell of your ear, and you couldn’t help the way you lurched away from him. His breath reeked of vodka, the scent so strong that you couldn’t help the way your nose wrinkled in disgust. One thorough look at him was all it took to confirm your suspicions. His cheeks were flushed a deep red, his hooded eyes unfocused and bloodshot.

“You’re wasted, Chanyeol.” You deadpanned, arms folding over your chest.

“What?! N– no I’m not!” You could clearly hear the faint slur of his words now, only solidifying your point further. He was thoroughly shit faced. And if you weren’t too off base, you thought you caught a whiff of weed clinging to his plaid button up. “I’m fine, y/n!” He insisted, apparently lucid enough to catch the look of disbelief that flashed across your face. A sober Chanyeol was one thing, but dealing with him while he was cross faded? That was above your qualifications as an acquaintance.

“Listen, let’s just go somewhere, yeah?” He hiccuped and you almost hissed as one of his hands fell on your knee, and quickly pushed it away. A faint downward twitch of his lips was the only indication he even noticed it had happened, before he was covering it up with a wide grin and leaning in closer. “I know this great pancake place, open 24/7, most delicious milkshakes you’ve ever had in your life. Then maybe afterward we could... chill at my place. What do you say?”

You knew damn well that just ‘chilling’ was nowhere near being on this man’s mind.

“I say you’re drunk and need to lay down and drink some water.”

“Come on, y/n~” He whined at your blunt reply, and your brows furrowed in distaste as he tugged you closer, only to leap into your hairline when you caught his hazy gaze slip down to your mouth. He bit his lip, eyes fluttering. Fuck. Fuck. Was he going to kiss you? Shit. You couldn’t let this happen. But as you pulled away, he pushed further, and all at once you found yourself trapped against the wall. Fuck!

“I—!”

“Chanyeol.” Both yours and Chanyeol’s head turned, surprised by the sudden interruption. A soft breath of relief escaped your lips, though you also felt the familiar tug of embarrassment in the pit of your stomach.

“Sehun?” He mumbled, blinking in confusion.

“You’re fucked up, Chanyeol. Go drink some water.” The younger boy huffed, rolling his eyes.

“But I—”

“Seriously go, Chanyeol. Before you do something you regret when you sober up.” The exasperation in his voice brought a faint glower across Chanyeol’s face, but, to your relief, he pulled away. You watched with pursed lips as he stood on shaky legs and stumbled past his younger friend, roughly bumping his shoulder as he went.

“Fuck.” You cursed once he was out of ear shot, rubbing your palms over your face, frustration peeking.

When you looked up, Sehun was still standing there in his stupid leather jacket and ripped back jeans with his stupid black hair that fell perfectly over his annoyingly handsome face, pretty eyes narrowed into slits and focused sharply on you. You hated it when he looked like you like that. Hated the way your skin burned and your heart sped up in your chest. Hated the way your stomach stirred with butterflies. You hated it. But at the same time…

“What?” You sighed, grimacing at the faint quiver in your voice.

Sehun folded his arms over his chest. “You don’t have to put up with it, you know.”

“What?”

“It’s so obvious that you’re uncomfortable. Why don’t you just tell him to fuck off?” He asked, shifting his weight onto one hip.

“I have.” You groaned. “I’ve told him I’m not interested. He lets up for a bit but then he goes right back to pulling his usual shit.” You tried to explain, face twisting in irritation.

“Have you told him to go fuck himself?”

“Not in those words, exactly.” You admitted, rubbing at the back of your neck.

“Why not?”

“Isn’t it a bit mean? He’s an asshole but I don’t want to hurt his feelings or something...”

“Why the fuck should you care about his feelings when he refuses to consider yours?”

He wasn’t wrong.

Then again, Sehun is rarely wrong when it came down to things like that.

Even though he was the youngest, he always seemed to carry this strange sort of wisdom. He saw and understood things in ways your other friends, in ways most people just didn’t. He took the time to try and see deeper than most cared to look. You had always respected that about him.

While your other friends egged Chanyeol on, pushing you to get with him, Sehun saw past the fake smiles and forced laughter. He saw just how uncomfortable you really were. And he spoke up about it when he saw it going a bit too far. When Chanyeol got too touchy or too bold, he was usually the one to smack him upside the head and tell him to back off or pull you away. He was good like that. And it was nice to know that someone knew and was actually on your side.

Sehun had been a fixture in your friend group since high school. You hadn’t been very close to him at first because he was more on the quiet side and didn’t go out of his way to talk to you. Not to mention, the kid was intimidating as hell with all his leather jackets and ripped jeans and sharp, penetrating eyes.

Put bluntly, he scared the shit out of you the first time you met him. But then you saw him smile for the first time, saw the sweet blush that coated his cheeks when the older boys teased him, heard that goofy, high pitched laugh that rang like the loveliest bells in your ears, felt that unfamiliar fluttering in your chest. And you knew that you were done for.

The two of you hung out a lot in your freshman year of college, going on late night drives and blasting music and just living. For a while you thought that maybe— just maybe there was something there. A spark. A chance.

But he never made a move, and neither did you. Then there was Chanyeol and his flirting and annoyingly persistent determination to fuck you. Things got complicated and nothing ever ended up happening between the two of you. You thought you’d at least keep up the same momentum in your relationship, but Sehun started pulling away from you. His late night visits became less frequent, his texts dwindling to almost nonexistent, and his presence in your life becoming less and less every day. It hurt. But what the hell were you going to do about it? It was frustrating at first, but you got over it.

... kind of.

... not really.

That’s besides the point.

When you didn’t answer, Sehun sighed, taking a few tentative steps before dropping onto the couch beside you. You weren’t too sure how to feel about the space he left between you. It almost felt representative of the distance that had grown between the two of you in the past year. You didn’t like it.

“It’s not cool what he’s doing to you, you know that, right?” He asked, tilting his head at you. Concern shone through his gentle eyes, uncertainty. You couldn’t ignore the way your chest warmed at the thought that he cared. He cared about you, about your feelings. He cared, and you couldn’t begin to describe the immense joy that ignited inside of you. But you bit your lip to keep from smiling, to keep from sighing blissfully and melting into the familiar comfort of his presence brought you. The seriousness in his gaze kept you upright and alert, the topic at hand pulling you down from the brief high and you nodded gently.

“Yeah. Yeah, I do.”

Sehun pursed his lips, a thoughtful candescence falling over his handsome features. “I’ve known Chanyeol for a long time. He’s not a bad guy, but he is a fucking idiot and doesn’t always realize when he’s being a fucking idiot so sometimes you just gotta slap him in the face and tell him straight up to get his shit together. And he will.”

Just then, you spotted Chanyeol sauntering out of the kitchen, a water bottle gripped in his hand, a hazy kind of smirk on his face. You watched him toss an arm around Minseok’s shoulder and whisper something in his ear, tipping his head in your direction.

“You want him to back off?” You flinched at the unexpected closeness of Sehun’s voice, and made the mistake of turning to face him. He was close. So close. Close enough to count his eyelashes if you wanted. Close enough to see the faded pink of the scar on his cheek. Close enough to smell the subtle wisp of his earthy cologne. Close enough to feel the heat radiating off his skin. Your heart began thundering violently in your chest, a blazing heat blossoming beneath your skin.

“Yeah.” The word came out as less than a breathless whisper. You didn’t miss the way his eyes flashed down to your lips, before quickly snapping back up to your eyes, searching them with a tenderness that made your heart throb.

“Do you trust me?”

“Yes.” There wasn’t a moment of hesitation, not the faintest hint of uncertainty. It was the truth. You trusted him.

He glanced out of the corner of his eye, and you followed his gaze to find Chanyeol standing across the room staring intently in your direction with brows furrowed. Gentle fingers pressing into the curve of your jaw drew your attention back to the man sitting in front of you. Ever so slightly, he tipped his face closer, his nose nudging against yours. Shallow, insufficient inhales swirled in your lungs as your eyes fluttered, utterly overwhelmed by the mere closeness of him.

“Then follow my lead.”

His lips met yours with a gentleness you weren’t entirely prepared for. They were light and cautious, waiting to see whether you’d push him off or pull him in. He let out a soft breath of relief at the feeling of your hand curling around the back of his neck, urging him closer. In an instant, he relinquished his restrains, melting into the warm pressure of your lips as you simultaneously melted into his.

You’ve experienced your fair share of kisses in the past. But something about this one — whether it was the slow, deep pace of it, or the lingering presence of ring clad fingers tracing the length of your throat, or the mere fact that it was with Oh Sehun, the boy that could set your heart ablaze with a single smile — there was just something about this kiss.

When he pulled away, you could still feel the phantom warmth, tingling on your skin. You refused to open your eyes, trying to keep the sensation alive as long as possible.

“Is that alright?”

Finally, you looked at him. And god, had you ever seen a man so beautiful? His cheeks were flushed a soft, endearing pink, deep chocolate eyes hooded and melting, lips just a touch darker in shade then they had been before. You were so awestruck by him that it took you an extra moment to realize that he’d asked you a question.

You nodded, tightening your hold around his neck in order to pull him closer and breathe the word into his open mouth before closing the distance completely, “Yes.”

Immediately following your consent, any and all of Sehun’s lingering reservations vanished. His hands dropped away from your neck, one coiling tightly around the curve of your waist and flattening against the small of your back, the other gripping your jean clad thigh and tugging it gentle over his lap. The new position ignited a dangerously familiar heat in the pit of your stomach, that quickly began to swell into something large and uncontainable, spurred by the delicious pressure of his fingers and skilled movements of his lips.

He groaned deeply as you tugged at his hair, silky tendrils clenched in a tight fist. The sound resonated through your body, vibrating in your chest and shooting straight down to your growing arousal.

“Fuck that was sexy.”

A low chuckle rumbled in his throat and you realized with an embarrassed flush that you’d said that out loud. But the buzz of nerve was quickly soothed when he mumbled breathlessly, “right back atcha.”

He emphasized his point by sinking his teeth into the sensitive flesh of your lower lip and tugging, eliciting a low, drawn out moan from the depths of your chest. Smooth flicks of his tongue soothed the afflicted skin, before he asked for permission to enter, not waiting a single moment to dive in when it was granted.

Feeling the burn of someone’s stare, your eyes flicked open for a moment, sliding lazily over to where Chanyeol still stood, seemingly rooted into the spot. His eyes were wide, lips gaping, cheeks flushed, though you couldn’t tell if it was from the alcoholic something else entirely. The grip he had on his water bottle had tightened substantial, and you couldn’t help the mild smugness that washed over you.

Without breaking to kiss, you kept your gaze on Chanyeol, making sure he was watching as you slid a hand around the front of Sehun’s throat, and captured his tongue between your lips, sucking gently. If possible, his mouth fell open even wider, eyes looking ready to pop out of his damn skull. Smirking to yourself, you cocked a brow at the gaping man. He visibly swallowed, before his eyes suddenly snapped down. You followed his gaze curiously and nearly scoffed in disbelief.

Of course he’d get a hard on from watching something like this. Nasty fucker.

“He still watching?” Sehun mumbled, detaching his mouth from yours only long enough to get the words out. You hummed softly in confirmation, shivering when you felt the slow upward curl of his lips. “Good. Let’s give him a show.”

In an instant, Sehun pulled you over to straddle his lap. Warm hands roamed over your body, though careful to keep a respectful distance from anything he thought you might not want him touching. You appreciated the sentiment, but with Sehun? You didn’t need respectful.

The younger boy faltered beneath you, chest swelling with a deep inhale when you reached around to grab hold of his wrists and slowly lowered them to the swells of your ass. He groaned roughly, fingers digging greedily into the jean clad flesh and pulling you flush against him.

You gasped when you felt him beneath you, hot and hard right between your hips. The rough friction made you clench and shudder, wetness spilling from your core and soaking through your panties. You probably should have been concerned about the heavy arousal seeping through the thick material of your jeans, but your mind was too far gone in the intoxicating warmth of his kiss that you couldn’t bring yourself to care.

“Fuck, Sehun.” You hissed, hips rolling hungrily over his.

“Baby.” He purred in response, and you swear you nearly had a fucking aneurism on the spot. Baby. Baby. Oh Sehun just called you baby. How long had you waited to hear him call you that? Too fucking long.

A desperate whimper pulsed from your throat, so entirely unlike you that it took even you by surprise. He didn’t seem to mind, pulling you so tightly against him that your ribs ached. But the pain was welcome, melting into a delicious cocktail with the fierce pleasure pulsing through your every cell.

“I don’t think he’s watching anymore.” Sehun breathed, glancing over your shoulder.

“I don’t care.”

You weren’t concerned about Chanyeol any more, far more focused on how Sehun’s lips tasted like mint and honey, and not like alcohol. The fact that he hadn’t drank made you feel even better, if that were possible.

Honest to god you probably would have fucked him right then and there on that couch in front of everyone (and felt damn good about it too) if not for the gentle pressure of Sehun’s fingers digging into your rolling hips, forcing their slow grinding to come to an abrupt halt. You pulled away from him then, completely out of breath and more turned on than you’d been in your entire life. Sehun was in a similar state, panting and flushed, damn near throbbing in the tight confines of his sexy ripped jeans.

“What is it?” You asked, still panting.

He shot you a lopsided grin. “As much as I would love to fuck your brains out in front of all these self centered assholes...” a hand drifted up the line of your body, delicate fingers following the cut of your jaw to trace over the seam of your bottom lip. “I think I’d prefer our first time together to be somewhere a bit more… private? Intimate? Somewhere I can treat you how you deserve to be treated.”

Your heart fluttered in your chest, warmth spreading through your body in thick, invigorating waves.

“What’d you have in mind?” You asked softly, feathering your lips over his. He smiled.

“I know this great pancake place that’s open 24/7, best milkshakes you’ve ever had. Then maybe afterward we could... chill at my place. What do you say?” Laughter bubbled at your lips as he mimicked the same line Chanyeol had used on you earlier with a cheesy grin.

And yet, the feeling was entirely different.

Sucking your lips into your mouth, you nodded shyly, arms going slack over his broad shoulders.

“Only if you’re paying.” You hummed playfully.

“Fine,” he sighed dramatically, “I’ll make an exception to my ‘seniors always pay rule’ just this once. Only for you.”

Only for you.

You could definitely get used to that.

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chuffyfan87 · 5 years ago

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Hiding. Part 29b

He placed his hand against her cheek and stroked it. “I love you. I’m sorry if I’ve been a bit... off.”

"Is everything OK?" She asked as she wrapped her arms around his shoulders.

“Erm... yes.” He moved his hands to rest against her hips.

"I'm sure no-one will miss us..." She whispered, pressing herself up against him.

He walked her up to the wall. “Hmm, no I’m sure they won’t.”

She giggled as she felt his hands creep under the hem of her dress.

He suddenly paused and stopped.

"Charlie?"

“One minute.” He took a deep breath again.

"You're not going off me are you?" She chewed her lip.

“What? No, no of course not! You’re incredibly gorgeous. I... I don’t feel too good.” He admitted.

"What do you mean 'not good'?" She asked.

“My chest.” He paused to take a breath. “It hurts.”

"Charlie! Why didn't you say something sooner?"

“Because I didn’t want to ruin the day. I still don’t.”

"We should get you checked over!" She insisted as she pulled her dress hem back down.

“It’s probably nothing.” He replied, “Indigestion or something.”

"Charlie!"

“Fine, ok.” He took her hand and squeezed it.

"Stay here and I'll be back in a moment."

He nodded and did as he was told, staying exactly where he was.

A few minutes later Duffy arrived back outside with Max in tow. "Tell Max exactly what's wrong."

He sighed. “My chest hurts.”

"Where exactly? Describe the type of pain." Max requested.

“Left hand side. Crushing pain, feels like someone’s sat on me.” He answered. “Had it for a few hours. Tried going for a nap, woke up clammy. Being sick a few times whilst here. Still feel warm.”

Duffy began to panic as her nursing training went to work on the symptoms.

“Will you please stop panicking?” Charlie said to Duffy as he reached for her hand.

She tried to summon her professional facade but couldn't and instead burst into tears. "Max you've got to do something!" She begged.

“Baby, please don’t cry. I’ll be ok, won’t I, Max?” Charlie reassured her.

Max was too busy concentrating on checking Charlie's pulse to offer a verbal reply.

“Duffy?” Charlie spoke quietly.

Duffy looked up at him.

“I love you gorgeous.”

"I love you too."

“Charlie, you need to go to hospital. Get checked out properly.” Max explained.

Charlie groaned, “Really? What about the party?”

"Sod the party Charlie!" Duffy remarked.

“But you’ve put so much effort into this!”

"I'd much rather make sure you're OK."

He nodded. Reluctantly, Charlie agreed to go to the hospital for further tests although he hated the fact he’d ruined the party.

Duffy quickly organised for the boys and Emily to go home with her mum and took the twins with her. She told Josh and Megan to tell anyone that asked that she'd whisked Charlie away for a surprise just the two of them and that everyone was to continue to enjoy the party.

“You should’ve stayed and enjoyed the party.” Charlie whispered on his way to the hospital.

"Wherever you go I follow." She insisted.

“Hmm that’s very true.” He kissed her cheek. “What you said earlier... Do you think that? That... I’m going off you?”

"Well, you haven't seemed interested in me in that way. Not since the twins were born."

“It’s not because I don’t find you attractive.” He replied, “I think you’re beautiful, I love your body. You and your curves are hot. It’s just...” he sighed.

"What? What is it?"

“I’m scared of making love to you without contraception.”

"I had condoms in my handbag!" She giggled.

He laughed gently and blushed. “Oh..”

She grabbed her bag off the floor and opened it. "See?" She smirked.

“Sorry.” He blushed bright red. “I.. um, as much as I like you being pregnant, I... I was worried about getting you pregnant, again.”

"Oh my doctor really would lose all patience with us if we let that happen again!"

“Exactly!” He kissed her tenderly, “If it wasn’t for this pain in my chest right now, I'd have had you against that wall, multiple times.”

"That's what I was anticipating." She grinned. "And anyway who do you think gave them to me at my last check up along with a strongly worded lecture?"

“Your doctor?” He smiled as she nodded. “Duffy once I'm better you just try stopping me from fucking you. I only have one request?” He whispered.

"What's that?"

“That you always put the condom on me?” He grinned.

"Sure, why not, Mr lazy!" She teased.

“Not lazy. I just find it hot when a woman does it.” He smiled.

She was about the reply when they pulled up outside the hospital.

“Just where I wanted to be today.” He remarked, referring to A&E.

"Stop complaining! I just wish you'd said something earlier."

“I didn’t want to make a fuss.” He got out and held her hand.

She sighed as they made their way inside.

It took a while for all the checks to be done but finally the doctor came to speak to them. “Mr Fairhead, you are very lucky. Our checks have shown that you have had a heart attack although you’re fortunate it was only mild. I’d like to keep you in overnight for observation reasons.”

Charlie sighed, “Is that necessary?”

"Charlie! You'll do as you're told!" Duffy was trying her best not to panic again at the doctor's words.

“But I’m feeling fine. I am fine.” He protested with a small pout.

"How about we stay for a while in Charlie's office so we can monitor things without taking up a cubicle?" She suggested as a compromise.

Charlie nodded and smiled slightly, “I’ll accept the compromise if you will, Duffy?”

"Fine by me. What do you think doctor?"

The doctor nodded. “If it’s the only way to get Charlie to stay for observation than I’m happy.”

About 10 minutes later they let themselves into Charlie's office. Duffy had grabbed some linen from the supplies cupboard to create a makeshift bed for the twins as she didn't want them sleeping all night in their car seats.

Despite Duffy’s protests, Charlie helped Duffy make up the makeshift bed for the twins. He looked at his desk. “We have many memories in this office.”

"We won't be making any more like that tonight!" She replied pointedly.

“Of course not.” He chuckled softly.

Once the twins were settled Duffy flopped down into one of the chairs with a sigh.

“We are a right pair.” He sat on the desk.

"You're telling me!" She noticed that his eye line was drifting. She followed it, rolling her eyes as she tried to tug down the hem of her dress.

“Leave it.” He replied, “I’m only looking.” He grinned.

"Looking leads to touching leads to..." She mused.

“Fucking.” He answered.

"Exactly!"

“Hmm...” Charlie smirked. “I don’t think the doctor would agree with that.”

"No. One heart attack is quite enough for today!"

“Who says I’d have a second?”

She got up and dramatically started looking through his desk.

“You’re so nosey.” He replied as he watched her.

"Sorry, I was just looking for proof of that nursing qualification you claim to have!"

“Why? Do you think I’m a fake?” He smirked.

"Who says I'd have a second?" She repeated mockingly. "You're actually an idiot sometimes!"

He gasped, “Did you just call me an idiot?”

"Yes! Do you have any idea how much you scared me earlier? Any idea at all?!"

“I can imagine, I scared you a lot. I didn’t mean too.”

"Why did you hide it from me?"

“Because I didn’t want to worry you.”

"So you chose to scare the bloody living daylights out of me later on instead?"

“I’m sorry sweetheart, I didn’t mean to scare you either.”

She began to pace the office. "Stop hiding things thinking that you're protecting me somehow. I'm not a little girl!"

“That’s not why I didn’t tell you.” He sighed.

"Then why?"

“Because I didn’t want to spoil things.”

Duffy sighed and sat back down in the chair she'd recently vacated. "You're more important to me than any of that."

“I know.” He reached for her hand. “I’m sorry.”

She squeezed his hand and stood up once more. Letting go of his hand she sat down on the floor next to the twins. She kicked off her shoes and grabbed one of the spare blankets that hadn't been used to wrap around herself. Catching Charlie's eye she patted the carpet next to her.

He smiled and moved from his desk, sitting down beside Duffy.

Intwining her fingers with his she rested her head on his shoulder. "Its been a while since we sat like this together."

“Too long.” He whispered in reply.

"So many hours. Long conversations distracting us from the fact that we were gradually losing increasing feeling in our legs..!"

“Conversations about everything and anything.” He added.

"Putting the world to rights one night at a time!" She giggled.

“Definitely.” He laughed softly.

"We were so naive!" She sighed.

“Do you think?”

"To think we could take on the world single-handedly? Probably."

“Maybe not single-handedly but we can definitely take it on together. You and me...”

"Against the world!" She giggled as she completed his thought.

“Certainly.” He kissed her tenderly.

A comfortable silence settled over them for a few moments. "If you could go back to the start and tell your younger self one thing... What would it be?" She asked.

He thought for a minute, “To be honest about my feelings from the start. Don’t be afraid of saying them out loud.”

She smiled and squeezed his hand.

“What about you?” He asked, tracing his thumb over the back of her hand.

"You mean besides 'don't take shortcuts down dark alleyways'?" She sighed.

“You know I don’t agree with you on that one.”

#chuffy #charlie and duffy #charlie fairhead #lisa duffin

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stedes-black-bonnet · 6 years ago

Text

My Baby Does Me: Chapter 28

POV: John Deacon x Reader

Notes: We have three things: masterlist, tag list, and fun. We also take requests.

Warnings: Angst, argumentation, grave mistakes, tears, swearing?

Abstract: Synchronize your minds and see the beast within him rise…

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Roger dashed from the restaurant, shockingly embarrassed, desperately self-loathing, and tremendously regretful. What have I done? What the fuck have I done? He kept thinking this one thought over and over, on repeat, a skipping record: What have I done? His cheek was pulsing red and burning hot, but the stinging jabs in his mangled and muddled heart were far worse than the cold, well-deserved slap he had received. Or had it been a punch? He couldn’t remember. Roger knew he had finally gone too far. He had done it now. Gone all the way. It wasn't the “what in bloody hell is she doing here” opening line that had sealed his fate; rather, it was what he had said directly after that had fucked him over and fucked everything right to hell. He knew those next and final four words had changed everything. Maybe forever. At the time, he had wanted to say them, at the time, he had wanted to hurt someone. Now, though...well, now: What have I done? What have I done? What have I done?

Everything was blacks, whites, and greys in the bustling streets, and he wanted to vomit again because of it. He couldn’t tell if it was night or day; he felt sensory-deprived and excruciatingly confused because nothing was as it should be, and it was all his fault. He heard rushing footsteps pursuing him at a run; he was afraid who it would be, frightened about which one of them would come after him. Roger turned, panting, and saw Jim Hutton behind him. Overwhelmed emotionally and distraught in his mind, Roger stopped running, waiting for Jim to catch up to him. He had given up. He had given up on everything. What have I done? Better to just give in, he thought.

“Roger!” Jim shouted at him; it was a tired yelp, equal parts galled and resentful.

“I can’t Jim.” Roger responded, exasperatedly. “Everything is falling apart. Nothing makes sense. Just leave me alone. All of you just leave me alone.”

“You villain!” Jim yelled, angry tears in his eyes. “You villain. I’ve always wanted to deck you Roger Taylor, and now you’ve given me all the reason I need to fulfill that particular dream.”

“Just get it over with.” Roger pleaded, throwing his hands up in the air. “I won’t fight you.” He wanted to be beaten up; and it had nothing to do with his sexual proclivities. It was atonement for which he was looking. Maybe it would bring her back? Maybe it would bring the colors back? What have I done?

Jim wasn’t listening to him, maybe he wasn’t really seeing him either; all Jim could see was his loyalty to Johnny, and what needed to be done; if he had been really looking, however, he would have seen the considerable torment Roger was experiencing; self-caused though it may be, Jim wouldn’t have been heartless to anyone’s suffering--even Roger Taylor’s. “You should be ashamed of what you said to that poor man.”

“I am.”

“How could you? After everything you did for him?”

“I know.”

“When you stepped up after she died, when you gave everything to him, I saw you, Roger.” Jim said, fighting back tears from old wounds and ancient grudges. “I saw you for the first time, and I knew you had a heart buried inside you somewhere. I saw you, Roger. I knew you were a good man. A man I wanted to know. A man I was proud to know.”

“I’m nothing, Jim; you put your faith in the wrong person.”

“I didn’t; you loved him.”

“I do love him.”

“You have a funny way of showing it.” Jim spat at him. “What you did in there. What you said--!”

“What have I done?”

“You should hate yourself.” Jim was quiet, now.

“I do.” Roger had started crying. Publicly. In the streets. He didn’t care anymore. Colors didn’t exist. What have I done? He’d never deserve Lydia; she was too good for him. What have I done? And to top it all off, now he had ruined the most important friendship of his entire life. Full stop. No qualifications. He had ruined his chances with Lydia deliberately, and he had ruined John with intent. Then, as if by magic, he saw something that made him wish he was dead.

He saw a car.

He saw her car.

Veronica’s car.

“You do?” Jim questioned; though Roger was no longer paying attention to him, which annoyed him. He finally and carefully took in the pathetic sight before him.

Roger was leaning on a lamppost, barely able to stand. He wasn’t staring at Jim, though. He had seen the car, and he couldn’t take his eyes off of it. He was staring at Deacy’s blue Mercedes-Benz. And he couldn’t take his eyes off it; it was blue. What have I done? Actually blue. Nothing else had color. But Veronica’s car was light blue, like it always had been. He could see it. He could see it. And all he could think about because of it, the only image that flashed through his whirling mind was her body under the white sheet. Perhaps that had been his ultimate sacrifice; perhaps that had been love. And he saw Lydia, then, too. Perfect Lydia. His Goddess in Red.

“He’s driving her car?” Roger whispered, finally tearing his eyes away from the blue car. He was trying to confirm the answer to his question in the lines of Jim’s pale, worried face. Jim nodded in response, and that was when Roger’s tears turned into violent, rocking sobs.

“He’s driving her car.” He repeated, sliding down the lamppost to sit in the street. He bawled, head in his hands. What have I done?

Jim Hutton wasn’t a man who was surprised by much; he had seen a lot of things that had broken a lot of people. Seeing Roger Meddows Taylor sobbing over a car in the heart of London, sitting in the dirty streets, however, had rendered him speechless. Something was very wrong here, and it had nothing to do with the assembled company inside the restaurant.

You were standing, shaking, staring at Roger’s retreating back, waiting for someone to say something. No one was breathing, everything was loudly quiet. Abrasively silent. Someone needed to say something, but no one was. You were too afraid to turn around and look at everyone. Your brave outburst had been the biggest spectacle you had ever caused. You knew you needed to apologize, but you couldn’t find the words. You needed to apologize to Deacy. But, before you could organize your thoughts, Jim Hutton had stood back up, shaking off Freddie’s arm from his; he had stood up so fast his chair had fallen over; he commenced to sprint out of the restaurant after Roger. He didn’t explain what he was doing or why; he had just left, like Roger before him.

Behind you, you heard Miami Beach speaking with brisk authority and unexpected humorous charm. Something about rock-stars being so temperamental. You turned and saw Miami had placed a kind hand on the waiter’s shoulder. The waiter was covered in some red sauce and several glasses of wine. Miami was apologizing to him about his tray toppling over during the fight; he wanted to personally pay for the meal, whoever’s it had been, and plead forgiveness from the chefs for them having to remake it. That was when a very frazzled man came over; he was the restaurant's manager; Jim asked if there if was somewhere they could talk privately. Miami retreated further back into the restaurant with the manager, already pulling a money clip from his designer blazer.

You risked looking at the rest of the table, then. Brian May was still sitting, though he looked stuck; as if he wasn’t sure where he wanted to be: chasing after Roger, or here with everyone else.

Freddie Mercury finished standing up, finally being the next one of you to move. He carefully walked over to you, and put a hand on your shoulder.

“Y/N, are you alright?” He asked, lightly and as non-threateningly as he could.

But you had eyes only for Deacy. You had finally forced yourself to look at the man you were falling in love with, and this was an entirely new side of him you had never before witnessed.

John Deacon was still breathing heavily; each breath crashed into him like a wave too strong for his body to withstand; it was taking all his self-control to stay on his feet. His fists were bright pink and balled tightly at his side, so tightly, you were sure, his fingernails were digging into his skin, maybe even drawing blood. What was most alarming, however, was that he couldn’t or wouldn’t meet your eyes.

You couldn’t decide which was worse: What you had said and done, or that John couldn’t look at you.

“How did you know?” He asked, too quietly, but you heard every word; it was terrifying he could hold so much power and speak so softly. You had never heard his voice sound like this before; it was the hidden caves of a marsh, it was the sound of a sandstorm raging to change the landscape, it was the sound of cancer.

“How did you know?” He repeated, voice barely above a whisper.

You swallowed hard, “Deacy,” you started.

“Who told you?” He said, not looking at you, not looking at any of them.

No one responded.

John banged a fist on the table suddenly and with great force. “Which one of you told her about Veronica?”

Freddie’s hand slipped down from your shoulder to take your hand. He squeezed it, and it was his way of saying let me handle this.

“John,” Freddie said softly, “look where we are. We don’t need to do this here, love.” Their table had been somewhat secluded, near the back, but it hadn’t shielded them from prying eyes, and concerned looks after the ordeal that had transpired.

“We are doing this now, Fred.” John said. It was said with so much command and surety, Freddie wasn’t sure they’d be able to convince him otherwise; it didn’t help the two people who were best at reasoning with Deacy were currently running down the streets of London, doing who knows what.

“Can we all please sit down?” Brain asked, politely yet sternly. “Deacy, we can talk here, but please--sit. Y/N, would you please sit too, down here, with us?”

Freddie held his other hand out to you, and led you Roger’s seat. You sat next to Brain, who was a great calming presence. Deacy reluctantly sat next to Freddie. Across from you, Deacy’s eyes were the color of storm clouds, the color of death.

His eyes still would not meet yours.

“John?” Freddie said, trying to get his attention. “Jimmy told her.”

Deacy looked at Freddie, and shock was splashed across his dark eyes.

“Roger?” Jim Hutton asked the Blond God.

“Jim, leave me alone.” Roger tried, and failed, to crawl away from Jim towards the blue car. Jim was standing on the hem of Roger’s blazer.

“Roger, you’re not getting away from me. I won’t leave you here. I won’t leave you alone.”

“You should. I’m worthless.”

“Maybe,” Jim agreed, sitting down next to Roger. “But I still care about you; you’re making it really hard to, though, almost like you’re doing it on purpose.”

“You shouldn’t care about me.”

“I’d care about even my worst enemy, Roger; don’t tell me who I can care about.”

“What I said back there...”

“Oh, I think we all know what you said back there; I don’t need to hear it again. Don’t you dare repeat it. Not to me. Not ever.”

“I feel sick.”

“You should.”

“No, not because of that--not just because of that. Something’s wrong, Jim.”

Jim sighed loudly, moving closer to Roger, lighting a cigarette, “I’m listening.”

“If I tell you, you’ll think I’m mad.”

“I do already, Rog.” Jim said, passing him the cigarette. “So no love lost there.”

“I fell in love.” Roger said, simply.

Jim turned to look at Roger like he had just confessed to being Jack the Ripper; it was impossible because Rog could never kill anyone, and, well, because Brian hadn’t yet figured out time travel. This was a statement he hadn’t expected to ever hear from the man sitting next to him.

“You fell in love?”

“Yes, and now my entire world is fucked. Right fucking fucked.”

“What do you mean? You’re not making sense.”

“Yeah, and I haven’t even gotten to the half of it yet.” Wiping tears from his face, he continued, “The only reason I can tell this car from any other Mercedes is because I can see it’s blue.”

“Okay…” Jim said, waiting for more.

“And if I didn’t know your eyes were brown, I wouldn’t know it now just from looking at you. And the only reason I know my shoes are purple is because they’re sentimental meaning has made them distinguishable in my mind above all others; they’re my favorite pair, and I’d know them anywhere. But I can’t tell you what color those flowers are, or the color of your shirt, or anything else. It’s all gone.”

“Wait--slow down. What’s gone?”

“The colors. Everything is gone. I fell in love, and now I can’t see them.”

“You fell in love, and now you can’t see colors?”

“Yes.”

Jim didn’t say anything, he just stared at Roger trying to tell if he was pulling his leg. He lit another cigarette.

“I told you, if I told you, I would sound crazy.”

“You did warn me, yes.” Jim said, slowly.

“I’m not crazy, Jim.”

“I know you’re not, Roger.” Jim was trying to believe him. He did for the most part; he wasn’t a medical professional, but he didn’t think Roger was insane; maybe he had experienced some kind of a mental break, but that didn’t mean he was certifiable. “Okay, Roger; I believe you, but you’re going to need to tell me everything that happened, and everything about this color business. Okay?”

Roger nodded, afraid, and still sobbing. “Please, just get me away from her car.”

“Jim told her. Jim told you?” Deacy’s eyes finally met yours, and it caused you a brief sense of sharp relief.

“Yes, he did.” You said quite quickly.

John took a breath to steady his nerves. It wasn’t the kind of breath to calm good nerves, not the kind of gentle inhale before a first kiss, or walking out on stage; no, it was a very different kind of breath. John took a breath again. John didn’t want to do one thing, and he was afraid he was doing just that; he didn’t want to scare you. He didn’t want to make you feel unsafe, he didn’t want to scare you away. So, he kept taking breaths, trying to center himself. Trying to sieve off some of his vastly expanding rage, shame, and that dark, dark sorrow that had so governed him these past three years.

You could tell he was worried about whatever it was you were feeling; which was oddly sweet, but not necessary; you had done what you did because of his feelings. Somehow, for some reason, you had wanted to protect him, and you had. You could tell he cared very much about you, and despite how traumatic this night had been for him, he didn’t want you to be afraid of him and the feelings he was currently experiencing. You could hardly blame him, though, for feeling how he did; you all had heard what Roger had said.

“Why did he tell you about her?” Deacy asked, as lightly as he could manage; it wasn’t very light, it wasn’t very steady, but he was trying his best. His fists were still tight; you wished he’d unfurl them, but you had the distinct feeling he did not want to be touched right now.

“He said he was protecting you.”

Deacy nodded once. It was a cold nod, a detached nod. “That sounds like him, yes.” He said, more to himself than to anyone else at the table.

He sat in silence, closing his eyes, and breathing slowly--or trying to. You could tell he was dangerously, incandescently wrathful, and that he was, maybe more than anything else, lost. He opened his mouth, then closed it again. He couldn’t find the words.

Very slowly, he said, “I wanted to tell you myself. Eventually.” His grey eyes met yours, and you knew he was trying to not cry. A screw turned in your heart. God, you had felt pain before, at least you had thought you had; looking at Deacy now, however, you knew he had known real suffering beyond anything anyone should be able to endure. And yet, here he was, alive despite that pain. Maybe in spite of it, even; you admired that about him.

“I believe you.” You said. You decided to risk it; you took his hand.

You were two hands holding.

He looked at your hands, taking a deep, shuddering breath. And he began to cry.

“I have believed everything you’ve told me since we met. I wish I had someone looking out for me the way Jim does for you. Don’t blame him for telling me.”

“For you, I won’t.” Deacy said, holding your hand back, squeezing it a little too tightly. “What I don’t understand,” he said, “is why Roger…” he couldn’t get the words out; you realized that was what was hurting him most. It wasn’t what you had said or done, but what Roger had.

“Did you drive here?” Jim Hutton asked Roger.

“Yes,” Roger said, fishing for his keys in his pocket; he scooted Jim off his blazer to wrangle them out. He tossed them to Jim.

“Good catch,” Roger smirked.

“The gays can catch things, you know.” Jim said, standing and helping Roger to his feet. “Where did you park?”

“I don’t know.”

“You don’t know?” Jim looked at Roger incredulously.

“No, Jim. I can’t see her anymore.” He shouted dramatically, arms wide, throwing his glasses to the ground and stomping on them. “I can’t see my Goddess, I can’t see the color Red. I can’t see any of them.”

Humoring Roger, Jim nodded at him, smiling. He needed to get him out of here and back to Garden Lodge. Freddie would be able to find them there, at least. It is the first place his husband would check. Jim scanned the area growing more and more concerned with each passing second. It took him a few moments, but he spotted Roger’s Alfa Romeo one block down. “She’s on this next street.”

“Lydia?”

“What?” Jim said, voice high, taken aback. “No--your car.”

Roger looked up and down the block. Once. Twice. Again. What have I done?

And as he kept looking past his own car, the more times he did it, the more Jim felt himself believing Roger; he wasn’t making it up; he wasn’t trying to get out of what he had said. Of what he had done.

“Here,” Jim said, taking Roger’s hand. “I’ll lead the way.”

Deacy couldn’t understand why Roger had lashed out, none of them could. It had happened mere moments ago, but you kept playing it over and over in your mind, trying to make sense of what he had said and why.

“What in bloody hell is she doing here?” Roger had yelled, staring daggers at you..

“She’s here with me.” Deacy said, taking your hand proudly and protectively. He raised a perfectly sculpted eyebrow at his best friend. Deacy could tell he hadn’t dressed himself; and Roger could tell Deacy had dressed to attack.

“Well, well, well,” Roger said slowly, savoring each word. “My, my, my, you move faster than even I do.”

“Come off it, Rog.” Deacy said, laughing. He wasn’t in on the joke.

Roger stood, smiling sweetly, and said, voice dripping with venom, “Replacing Veronica already, mate?”

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Tag List: @phantom-fangirl-stuff @triggeredpossum @obsessedwithrogertaylor @groupiie-love @partydulce@richiethotzierz@sophierobisonartfoundationblr@psychostarkid@teathymewithben@smittyjaws@just-ladyme@botinstqueen @mydogisthebest@little-welsh-wonder@maxjesty@deakysdiscos@yourealegendroger@marvellouspengwing@molethemollie@deakysgirl@arrowswithwifi@tardisgrump

#john deacon x reader #john deacon #joe mazzello #roger taylor #ben hardy #jim hutton #aaron mccusker #freddie mercury #rami malek #brian may #gwilym lee #bohemian rhapsody #queen x reader

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just-come-baek · 7 years ago

Text

force of attraction

Pairing: Taehyung x Reader

Themes: smut | ghostbusters!au | ex lovers!au

Word count: 14.1k

Summary: Taehyung is a brilliant nut job, and along with Hoseok and Jin, these scaredy-cats, we bust ghost.

Warnings: a bit jealous and slightly possessive Taehyung, mentions of ghosts but not in a scary way, humor sprinkled with lame retorts, unprotected sex, literally a single smack, oral!receiving

Glossary: P.K.E. meter – a device designed specifically to locate Psychokinetic Energy in an area. CDI System – a way to set categories to types of supernatural phenomenon. Proton Pack – a weapon used to attack and confine ghosts.

Masterlist

“You wished to see us, dean?” Taehyung asked as he plopped down in the chair in front of the dean’s desk, his legs up on the top of the mahogany wooden surface, Jin and Hoseok trailing behind him, yet not daring to display such nonchalant and rude behavior toward their employer. Unlike Taehyung, they knew how to respect their boss. If it came to rules and regulations or even proper work etiquette, Taehyung perceived it more like clues, and not exactly like principles.

“Yeah, thanks for arriving at such short notice,” dean started, as he put down his fancy fountain pen, and entwined his fingers, staring at the doctors in front of him, “I am very sorry to announce that, but the university no longer can fund your scientific activities. The faculty council has decided to shut down your department, and move the funds over to the faculty of medicine.”

“Nah, you can’t be serious, Namjoon,” Taehyung spoke with the audacity to address the dean by his first name. “You can’t do this, not now, not when we’ve almost finished the prototype of the Proton Pack! It’s gonna be a breakthrough in our field. You can’t cancel our funds.”

“It doesn’t matter, you don’t have students, and we’re adjusting the programme to our students’ interests. You have no attendance.” Dean announced, and Hoseok and Jin exchanged meaningful glances.

“Recently, the attendance is remarkably high, sir,” Hoseok answered with utter respect, grinning sheepishly only for his smile to fade away as soon as Namjoon shot him a doubtful glare. As the dean, he knew the statistics, and he wasn’t the one to be fooled. Particularly not by these nut jobs. “My last lecture on cannibalistic rites of ancient New Guinea tribesmen was viewed by two students. And I may proudly add, no one slept through it.”

“Believe me, Hoseok; I’ve heard about such an occurrence,” Namjoon admitted truthfully, and Hoseok beamed brightly at his superior, “however, because of your passionate lecture I’m dealing with a lawsuit, do you want to talk about that in great detail?”

“It’s not my fault that some students are weak wusses,” Hoseok commented under his breath, and smiled at Namjoon who tried to decipher Hoseok’s remark.

“Namjoon, listen, you don’t want to do this,” Taehyung started, as he changed his previous position, now leaning forward, resting his upper body on his elbow, staring at the dean as if trying to intimidate him. In vain, though. Taehyung had been working for the university for two years now, and at this point, Namjoon knew how to deal with him. “We’re two, maybe three days away from the biggest discovery of the century. You can’t just sack us!”

“It has already been decided, sorry, but my hands are tied,” Namjoon said, sounding as cold as an automatic secretary, as he arranged documents on his desk.

“We’re not gonna give up,” Taehyung threatened before he and his co-workers exited the dean’s office.

“What are we going to do now?” Jin asked, as soon as Taehyung closed the doors. Amongst the three of them, Jin was the one who handled the issue the worst; it was the very first time when he didn’t have everything under control. How could Taehyung and Hoseok be so fucking calm? Jin was a nervous wreck; his pulse was rapid, his hands shaking. Fifteen minutes ago, he was an academic teacher and a parapsychological researcher at a prestigious university, and now, he was an unemployed scientist with a useless diploma.

The parapsychological field was a bitch when it came to employment; either you’re a respected scientist or a looked-down-to diviner who struggles to get by every month.

“Don’t worry boys, everything will be alright,” Taehyung assured them, although no one, not even Taehyung himself, was convinced. “Maybe it’s about time to take matters into our own hands? The Proton Pack is almost ready; we don’t need the university’s money, only our big heads. How difficult can it be?”

“For you? Probably insurmountably,” Jin snorted as he remembered how many times during their college days Taehyung had failed economics. In any other field, Taehyung was a genius; however, when he had been about to take the economics exam, he had been daft as a brush. When he had been a student, he had mastered parapsychology, psychology, physics, metallurgy, and whatnot! Only economics had managed to beat him for some reason.

“Spare me the attitude,” Taehyung barked back, not even trying to disguise his annoyance. He was just a human being; human beings are famous for their imperfections, and Taehyung’s only flaw seemed to be the incapability to learn basics of the economy.

“I guess we can try,” Hoseok spoke, and Taehyung and Jin looked at him as if they just realized Hoseok was a part of the conversation as well. “We’ve just got fired. I mean… it can’t get any worse, right?” He added, and his friends just couldn’t disagree.

“Okay, but he,” Jin pointed at Taehyung, “can’t go anywhere near the management. Leave it all up to me,” he added, and everyone silently approved.

“I don’t think a mortgage was a good idea,” Hoseok commented, as the three of them exited the bank.

“Don’t worry, nowadays everybody has at least three credits,” Taehyung spoke with a shrug, his eyes focused on the screen of his phone, as he scrolled through property offers, seeking for the most suitable location for their new company. “Once we commercialize our services, you’ll pay it back in a blink of an eye.”

“With twenty percent of interest rate? I may not be an expert, but it’s a total rip-off!” Hoseok asked and looked at Jin, hoping he would back up Taehyung’s statement. Unfortunately, Jin didn’t seem nearly as optimistic as Taehyung.

“If my calculations are right, after two years the interest rate alone will cost you over a fifty thousand.” Jin quietly muttered to himself, yet Hoseok managed to catch what interested him the most. Why the hell had he agreed to that? Why had he listened to Taehyung? Nothing good ever happens when he does, so why this time should be any different? Not only had he been sacked, but right now, he had a bank credit with a high chance of being unable to pay it back.

Fantastic!

“Don’t listen to him, everything will be alright,” Taehyung added, as he stopped in his tracks in the middle of the pedestrian crossing. “Guys, I think I found us a place, it’s the firehouse like three blocks away from here. Should I call the real estate agent?” Taehyung announced, showing them the picture of the spacious place that would be undoubtedly perfect for them, undeniably large enough to accommodate all of their private stuff and allow them to run as many experiments as they wished.

“Isn’t it too soon?” Hoseok asked, yet Taehyung already walked away, dialing the number of the real estate agency. They had no time to waste; if they wished to have an income, they had to start working as soon as it was possible. Even Taehyung knew that, and his sense of business was quite limited (if not retarded).

“Nonsense,” Taehyung replied nonchalantly, as he strolled down the pavement. “Once we get the place, we’ll be needing a secretary and a car. Any volunteers?”

“I’ll take care of the process of recruitment,” Jin chipped in with a smile on his face, “what? It has always fascinated me how people react to problematical questions; it’s a fine opportunity to run a small experiment.”

“Okay, fine, just don’t be too weird, starting a business with a lawsuit is not quite promising,” Taehyung warned Jin as if it wasn’t the first time such a situation was about to occur. “So, Hoseok, why don’t you take care of a vehicle?”

“I’ll check if we can lease one, it will be cheaper,” Hoseok replied, and Taehyung nodded his head, although he had no clue what Hoseok meant by that.

“Then I think we’re all set,” Taehyung admitted, rubbing his hands together. They had lots of work ahead of them, and Taehyung just couldn’t wait to start working. Funnily enough, just right after they all had got sacked, he felt a newfound source of energy that he could only burn through hard work. The first breeze of freedom was so energizing and refreshing that Taehyung, although in the past hadn’t complained, finally felt alive, so at this point, he wondered why they hadn’t left the university sooner.

Apparently, the job hunt is a long and complicated process, my friend warned me. If you want somebody to reply to your application, you should at least send out twenty curriculum vitae, she preached, and I only rolled my eyes at her, brushing the pessimistic thought away.

Although I lacked experience being fresh off college, my qualifications weren’t that bad.

That’s precisely why I wasn’t that astonished when I got a reply the next morning, considering I had only applied for one position and at this point, it was about time to prove her wrong.

The aforementioned reply was short and simple; my potential employer wanted to meet up for an interview, writing down the address where I could find the company and the time when he was available for the meeting.

Three academic professors sought for a secretary slash accountant for their newfound business, and although the job proposition seemed as if they had no clue how to recruit employees, the monthly payment was quite handsome when compared to the other offers on the market.

Instead of thinking further, I opened the window to write a short reply in which I mentioned the estimated hour of my arrival and a note showing my gratitude for the chance they had given me.

The most challenging part of the recruitment was already behind me, and the job was almost mine. All I had to was to dress up and chill; going to the job interview fidgety was the worst thing a candidate could do. I was confident about my skills, and I wasn’t afraid to show my future boss the best side of my character.

Quickly, I ran around my studio apartment looking for my daintiest clothes. Whoever claimed the looks don’t matter during the job interview had to be a complete idiot; the first good impression is the key to success, and right now, I was determined to triumph.

By half past three in the afternoon I showed up. At first, I thought I was erroneous but then I checked the address for the second time, and there could be no mistake. The office was a part of the old firehouse, and I wondered how on Earth it hadn’t collapsed yet.

There was no doorbell–not a surprise!

I firmly knocked, but no one replied within two minutes, so I placed my hand on the knob and pushed the doors open since they weren’t locked. It wasn’t a surprise, either. The building looked like a ruin; even the worst burglar wouldn’t try to break into it.

“Hello? Is anyone here?” I hollered but my echo was the only reply I heard. Hesitantly, I entered the building, my eyes roaming around the hall. Dust covered every surface inside, a thick layer of grime lying on every item. “I’m here for the job interview!” I cleared my throat, speaking up a notch.

Just when I was about to turn around and leave, a man emerged from another room, a few binders in his hand, white, cotton coat thrown over his shoulders. Though he looked exhausted with huge bags under his eyes and messy hair, he was still incredibly handsome; he was tall and lean, and everything else a woman could want in a man.

“Who are you?” he asked, confused. Instantly, he turned to look at me, his eyebrow cocked up in a questioning manner, as he didn’t expect me here. “Wait, what time is it? Is it already three thirty? Oh shit, I’m sorry. I didn’t think you would come,” the guy spoke in a single breath, and I barely understood him. “I mean… hi, I’ve been expecting you,” he corrected himself, put the binders away and stretched his arm, offering me a handshake.

“Nice to meet you… Seokjin,” I smiled at him, as I read the nametag that was attached to his coat.

“Everybody calls me Jin, actually,” he announced, and I nodded in comprehension. “So you’re here for the job interview,” he trailed off, looking around the room as if seeking something. “Why don’t we sit there and you tell me why you want to work here, hmm?” he mentioned, showing me the way to the room which was also dirty but compared to the main hall, it was remotely cleaner.

“Of course,” I replied as I followed behind him.

Once we sat down, Jin placed his hands on a desk, entwining his fingers together, his eyes focused on my frame in front of him. With a gentle smile on his face, he studied my features almost as if he was going to recruit me based on my reactions and not my replies.

“So why do you want to work for us? Do you have any experience?” Jin asked, and I smiled at him, almost excited to answer his easy questions. Why do I want to have a job? Must be because I don’t like to live on the streets. Do I have any experience? Not really, but how difficult that job can be?

The moment when I was about to open my mouth and make up a reasonable response, someone came through the doors, making the both of us lose our focus. “Jin, I’m almost finished with the P.K.E. meter prototype. Can you have a look at it? I don’t understand why it shows 350 when I go upstairs.”

“Be careful with that!” Jin reprimanded the other guy, as he stood up and approached him, yanking the device out of the latter’s hands. “You know it’s fragile!” he added, and I bit my bottom lip, patiently waiting for them to finish so Jin and I could continue our interview. “Hmm… thanks, interesting, it looks fine. Have you run other tests?”

“Yeah, I looked around wearing Ecto-Goggles but in vain. Do you think we’re dealing with our first target here? What are the odds?” the man asked excitedly, finally realizing my presence. “Oh, I had no idea you had a guest.”

“We’re actually in the middle of the job interview,” Jin explained, and I nodded, confirming his words.

“Really? A job interview? But we had only one application,” the guy spoke, and Jin quickly elbowed his side to shut him up. Oh, so I was their only candidate… it was quite assuring. “I mean… I wish you luck on your job interview.”

“What was that about?” I asked pointing at the doors through which the intruder walked out.

“It was Hoseok, but don’t worry that pretty head of yours. Everything is alright; it’s just a small bump in the road, no biggie.” Jin explained, and although he tried to look sincere, I wasn’t buying it. He seemed stiff, and he was stamping his foot on the floor as if he wanted to dash out to help Hoseok whatever the problem was. “Okay, so where were we?” Jin asked as he already forgot what we had been talking about.

“I haven’t got a chance to say anything before he barged in,” I stated truthfully, and Jin sent me an apologetic look for being so unprofessional about the job interview. “But to answer your previous questions, no, I don’t have any experience but I’m a business graduate, and I can get my mind wrapped around everything you want me to. Picking up the phone, accountancy, you name it!”

“Okay, you’re hired!” Jin hollered enthusiastically, “be here tomorrow by four o’clock. I’ll acquaint you with everything. I better go help Hoseok before he blows the whole place up.”

“You wanted to see me?” my friend asked as she walked inside of my studio apartment. “Oh, what’s the occasion?” she inquired with a cocked eyebrow the moment she noticed a bottle of cheap champagne in my hands.

“What can I say? I got the job,” I announced calmly, smiling at her in a victory. “In your face!” I screamed, fighting with the bottle, striving to open it.

“Really? I’m so happy for you,” Jennie cheered before she hugged me. “Okay, so tell me everything,” she urged as we sat down on the couch, pouring the champagne to slim glasses. “What is your boss like? Is he handsome?”

“Well… I don’t exactly know who’s the boss but I met two guys, and the both of them were ridiculously good-looking. The one who I had the job interview with was so my style; he was lean, and his shoulders were so broad. The other one was also attractive, he had such a warm smile, and I bet it can cure diseases!”

“Oh wow,” Jennie mused, downing her glass in one go, “but you’re not gonna date any of them, right? I mean… they’re your bosses; it’s kinda inappropriate.”

“I know, don’t worry,” I quickly agreed with her. Dating superiors or even co-workers wasn’t really my style. I had always thought that nothing good could stem from mixing private and business lives, so dating either of whom was obviously out of the question. “It’s not the way I roll anyway.”

“Yeah, I know,” Jennie nodded in understanding, “and now, tell me what their company does; their ad was pretty vague if you ask me.”

“Hmm… they are just as disorganized as the ad they posted online,” I stated truthfully, remembering the small incident which had happened during the job interview. “If they want to start making money, they really need my help.”

“That’s what happens when you start to run a business without knowing how to do that,” she commented, and I nodded in agreement. Having seen them, I knew that Jin and Hoseok had no clue how to wrap their minds around their business. Thankfully, they hired me, and I could show them how it’s done.

“Yeah, I’ll teach them a thing or two, but as for now, let’s celebrate!” I spoke as I refilled our glasses with more champagne. My shift didn’t start until four o’clock anyway.

As soon as I walked through the doors, I was met by Jin and Hoseok who were wearing worried expressions on their faces. “Hello?” I asked hesitantly and only smiled at me almost as if they were relieved about something.

“Hi, how are you feeling?” Jin asked me right away, while Hoseok stared at me, analyzing even the tiniest change in my behavior. “Have you been feeling nauseous or dizzy?” I shook my head firmly. “Or have you witnessed sudden changes in temperature or anything out of the ordinary?”

“No?” I answered unsurely, as I scrutinized their facial expressions with squinted eyes. What the hell was that about? Had they done something to me without me knowing? “Why?”

“Hmm… you see, we’ve been studying psychokinetic energy, and yesterday Hoseok discovered a faint trail of spook here but when he double-checked it was gone. And since psychokinetic energy doesn’t just disappear, we assumed it followed you.” Jin explained, but truthfully I didn’t understand anything what he tried to tell me. What psychokinetic energy?

“Okay… and now explain it to me, so I could comprehend it,” I asked, and Hoseok sighed.

“Jin is trying to say that there could be a ghost that right now is somehow attached to you,” Hoseok spoke, and the color of my face changed to a lighter shade even though I wasn’t the one to believe in ghosts. “And that’s weird because ghosts usually get attached to objects and not people.”

“What is it? Is it some kind of test that you want me to pass before you hire me because, trust me, it’s not funny.” I replied, not letting them fool me.

“Unfortunately not,” Jin spoke with a guilty smile, “do you mind if we run a couple control tests before we proceed with the initiation process? You know, just to be sure there isn’t any supernatural creature feeding off you.”

“And before you say anything,” Hoseok interjected, “ghosts are real.”

“Yeah, that’s true, and we’re literally this close to proving it to the rest of the world,” Jin added matter-of-factly, and I rolled my eyes, still unconvinced. “We’re like two days away from the breakthrough of the century.”

“I’m still skeptical about it, but I guess you can run a couple of tests if they’re not painful,” I replied, wanting to get this over with the quickest it was possible. Frankly, they were as freaky as they were good-looking, and I wouldn’t be surprised if they rejected my candidature because I refused to get examined.

“Oh no, they aren’t painful,” Hoseok reassured me, and Jin led me into another room where a lot of strange objects were scattered all over the wide wooden table. “Don’t worry it’ll take thirty minutes tops.”

“Yeah, and in the meantime, I’ll explain what we do here,” Jin added as he placed a helmet on my head. It was light and made of a thousand wires.

“I’m all ears,” I sighed, as I stole a glimpse of their computer that flared with colorful lights. Was it a good thing that it kept blinking like that?

“Okay, so we’re all parapsychology doctors, and a few days ago, our dean canceled our funds.” Jin started, and I nodded, registering the new information. I would never peg them for geniuses. “We’ve done some remarkable work regarding psychokinetic and nuclear energy, and after we got sacked, we decided to finish the work by ourselves.”

“According to our math, we’re a few days away from the greatest discovery of the century. If we’re right, we can actually find ghosts and capture them!” Hoseok finished, as he glued something to my temples.

“Hmm… so that’s what you do when I’m away,” a third voice chimed in, and I recognized it right away. It was low and raspy, and it could make every woman weak. It had definitely worked on me back in my college days.

Taehyung.

Hesitantly, I turned around, a bit afraid to look into his chocolate brown eyes. It was sudden and accidental, and judging by Taehyung’s expression, it was too soon. I had got over him, but he still seemed to loathe me with every fiber of his existence.

“What is she doing here?” Taehyung asked, and Jin and Hoseok exchanged confused looks, as they had no idea what had happened between Taehyung and I. It was understandable, our past ‘relationship’ wasn’t something I would brag either.

“What do you mean?” Jin asked, scratching his temple, trying to determine why Taehyung hated me so much. “She’s gonna work with us. Hopefully, with her help, we’ll make some profit,” he added, and if only a stare could kill, the three of us would already get burnt to ashes.

“I don’t think it’s a good idea,” Taehyung complained, trying to disguise the real reason why he didn’t want me there. I couldn’t blame him, though. I’d probably do the same thing. “She doesn’t match our style.”

“It doesn’t really matter, she was the only candidate,” Jin spoke matter-of-factly, and Taehyung bit his bottom lip before he spun on his heel and walked away.

“What was that about?” Hoseok inquired, curious about mine history with Taehyung.

“I think it’s a topic for another conversation,” I answered, hoping they would understand that I didn’t want to talk about it now. Taehyung was still sensitive, and I didn’t want to anger him any further by conceding everything to Jin and Hoseok. “Are you done with the tests?” I asked, changing the subject.

“Yeah, I think we are,” Hoseok spoke, his eyes focused on the computer, as he read the data that was unreadable to me. “But I think one of us should check your apartment. The P.K.E. meter is reading very close to 303, and it can mean a ghost is trailing behind you. It’s better to be safe than sorry, am I right?”

“Okay, whatever,” I replied with a shrug, relieved that the examination was finally over. “So what are we going to do now? Can we draw a contract?”

“Naturally,” Jin smiled at me, probably glad that everything I had witnessed didn’t scare me away by now. Though it was a bit odd, people do worse for money. I was only working as a secretary for three nut jobs.

“Show her around, and I will be waiting here,” Hoseok added politely, eager to analyze every piece of information he had managed to collect from the examination.

“Do you want to tell us what has happened between you and our new secretary?” Hoseok asked casually, trying to make him talk.

“There isn’t much to talk about,” Taehyung shrugged, trying not to show any sign of anger which was evident nonetheless. “We were dating back in college, but it didn’t work out.”

“It doesn’t sound like it,” Hoseok commented, having a hunch that Taehyung wasn’t telling him the entire truth. However, he knew it wasn’t the right time to push him further. Taehyung would concede when he was ready, and Hoseok could wait a bit more. “Is she the reason why you avoided every economic subject you could?”

“Maybe,” he answered shortly, more than unwilling to have that conversation. “Hoseok, do we really need her here? I can do the secretary work until we find someone else, it can’t be that difficult,” he offered, but Hoseok firmly shook his head.

“Nah, she’s great,” he spoke casually, “besides she’s already involved. Yesterday, when she came for the job interview, I detected P.K.E. that was gone when she left. Right now, we have a theory the ghost got attached to her. One of us has to check her apartment; do you want to do that?”

“Why would I want to do that?” Taehyung spat, folding his arms across his chest.

“You could try to put your differences aside and make this cooperation work,” Hoseok proposed, hoping it was possible despite their history. “It looks like she has got over you, so why can’t you do the same, huh?”

“It’s not like that,” Taehyung trailed off, trying to choose right words to describe his feelings. “I am over her, but I still hate her for what she did.”

“Okay, I can check her apartment if you don’t want to.”

“I’ve never said that,” Taehyung remarked, and Hoseok smirked, raising the employment contract. “Just give me that, you and Jin must finish the Proton Pack anyway.”

It was seven o’clock when I heard loud knocking on my doors. Regardless of whom it was, undoubtedly deserved some nagging for waking me up at such unholy hour. Hoseok had warned me that one of them would pay me a visit, but I didn’t expect it to happen to at least noon.

Rubbing my eyes, I got up and lazily approached the doors.

“Oh, it’s you, I didn’t expect you to come,” I spoke when I opened the doors and saw Taehyung in front of me. He still looked handsome, but definitely more mature than I remembered him.

“I always show up when there is a damsel in distress,” he said nonchalantly, as he waltzed into my apartment, not even waiting for me to invite him inside. Confidently, he strolled around the room, studying the interior. “Hmm… you haven’t changed that much. You’ve always hated tidying,” he chimed in, as he looked around my apartment.

“You haven’t changed, either. Barging in here like you own the place,” I snickered, as I folded my arms across my chest, leaning against the doorframe, watching his every move. “And though it’s too early to argue; who’s a damsel in distress? It’s obviously not me. I don’t need your saving.” I carried on, but Taehyung ignored me, not even humming in response. “I’ve already told Jin that no paranormal activity was present here.”

“You may want to take that back, sweetheart,” Taehyung said cockily, as he pulled out that blinking device and started to roam around the apartment. “You won’t be saying that when a ghost tries to eat that cute butt of yours,” he added, and I just rolled my eyes at his stupid remark; he had always loved my butt. “Hmm… it seems that Hoseok and Jin were right after all. I think you’ve got yourself a class V ghost over here.”

“Doubt it. Don’t you think I’d know if there was a ghost at my place, huh?” I replied, still not convinced. “Seriously, you guys have to chill,” I added, thinking they would drop the topic if I repeated it a couple of times more.

“Do you think we’re joking?” Taehyung asked rhetorically, and I once again rolled my eyes because it was impossible to reason with him. “We don’t. Class V ghosts are very hard to get rid of, and as long as we haven’t finished the Proton Pack, we can’t help you. It would be the best if you could stay at our HQ. We could prepare a room in which you could stay. Don’t get me wrong but if the ghost got attached to you, it could as well get attached to someone else.”

“So you’re trying to tell me that ghosts are something like paranormal STDs? Sorry, but I’m not buying that, Taehyung.” I concluded, and Taehyung didn’t seem the tiniest bit amused by my reasoning. “Thanks for your concern, but I think I’ll just stay here,” I repeated myself, and Taehyung pinched the bridge of his nose, almost as if he tried to refrain himself from snapping.

“Can you stop being so stubborn for once and listen to me? I’m serious,” Taehyung spoke in a raised voice, as he looked at me. His stare was intense, drilling holes in my head. Damn, he really meant that. “Have you noticed anything strange?”

“Define strange.”

“Well… anything out of the ordinary.” Taehyung stated vaguely, and I didn’t say anything, waiting for him to elaborate. “Hmm… that could be, for example, sudden surges of cold, extraordinary cravings, unwanted sinister presence, moving or levitating objects, strange odor, unexplainable electricity cuts, or anything of sorts?”

“Hmm… you’re the only unwanted sinister presence here,” I retorted, but once again he didn’t find it funny. “Sorry,” I apologized when my laughter died down a bit, “but seriously; nothing strange is happening here.”

“Then how are you going to explain this?” Taehyung spoke angrily, as he shoved the blinking device right in front of my face. “The P.K.E. meter is going crazy!”

“Okay, fine, I guess I can stay at Jennie’s for a few days,” I mumbled, being mad at myself for giving in; they were probably having the time of their lives seeing me comply with their crazy request. “For your peace of mind, not because I believe you.”

“You’ll thanks us later,” Taehyung admitted confidently, smirking at me.

“Once again, doubt it,” I repeated myself, hoping that my statement would brush that cocky smirk off his beautiful face. Unfortunately, none of this happened, his stance was still as nonchalant and confident.

“So… you’re seeing anybody?” Taehyung asked casually and plopped down on the couch, turning his head sideways as if he tried to spot any sign of man presence.

“I don’t see how any of it is your business,” I smiled warmly, trying to be as polite as I could master. It was a sensitive topic to me, and frankly, Taehyung was the last person I wanted to discuss that with.

“It’s called a friendly chit-chat,” Taehyung explained, and I rolled my eyes. “So… have you already found your Mr. Right?”

“You’re being a dick right now,” I said instead of answering his question. Despite our history, he was my boss now, and that kind of inquiry was inappropriate and should remain unanswered.

Unexpectedly, guys happened to be right about the ghost issue at my apartment; three days after Taehyung’s visit they showed up with ready Proton Packs, or whatever they call it, and got rid of the unwanted creature. Of course, I insisted on accompanying them, and they unwillingly complied with my request. I was glad they did because when I saw the ghost with my own eyes, I realized how thick-skinned I was to disbelieve them.

However, the fact that I believed them didn’t change much, as people still deceived us as con-artists. The first month was rough although I busted my ass off building the company image. They’re brilliant people, but they had no idea how to run a business.

Within that month I got promoted from the secretary position to being their full-time manager who also had one-fourth of the company shares, and since the business was partially mine, I couldn’t let it sink before it even got to sail.

Thanks to my knowledge and connections, I had almost got everything covered: an official website, local advertisement channels, and even the uniforms. None of these helped as much as our first task which happened to be a turning point for the business.

A famous four-star hotel’s manager called us saying they had an issue in the restaurant zone. Our reaction was fast; within an hour guys packed their equipment and drove there, wanting to examine the situation.

After successfully busting the ghost, our business bloomed.

“I got a call from Australia; they’re holding a seminar, and they want you to give a lecture on your recent development,” I told Jin as soon as he slid down the fire pole. “Are you going to participate or not?”

“You’re for real?” Jin asked, as he brushed the dust off his coat and approached my desk. Smiling, I nodded, and Jin looked at the counter as if trying to see the papers, making sure I wasn’t pulling a prank on him. “But if we go, then who will take care of the city? We get more calls every day.”

“We can split,” I proposed, and Jin glanced at me curiously. “You can teach me how to use the gear, and I will stay behind with someone, or I can go to Australia with one of you. I’m a part of the team, after all.”

“Hmm… I don’t know… it’s gonna be difficult to convince them to stay behind because I’m certainly going.” Jin spoke, and I giggled at his honest response. I couldn’t blame him, though. How could one reject a free Australia trip offer?

“Discuss it with the guys, and let me know what you’ve come up with,” I replied sincerely, as I gazed at Jin. I admit it’d be great to go on a free trip. However, I wasn’t going to intrude if they wanted to go. After all, the scientists from all over the world wanted to meet with them because of their breakthrough in the parapsychological field.

“What are you two plotting?” Taehyung walked inside through the main doors, catching me and Jin off guard. Immediately, Jin leaned back, and spun on his heel, greeting Taehyung with a broad smile which he often used when he did something he shouldn’t have. It was strange because we didn’t do anything inappropriate.

“Nothing,” Jin answered dismissively and smiled at me, letting Taehyung know right away that we were up to something. “We were just talking, but I have a surprise for you and Hoseok,” he announced, and Taehyung cocked his eyebrow suspiciously.

“What’s going on?”

“I’ll explain everything later.”

“Okay, so tell us…what happened between you and Taehyung?” Hoseok asked straightforwardly, taking advantage of Taehyung’s absence. Taehyung was out to take care of some business that none of us dared to question, while the three of us was sitting around the table, unpacking the Styrofoam boxes full of palatable, steaming, Italian food.

“Yeah, what exactly happened? Taehyung mentioned that you two were dating, but he didn’t go into details.” Jin added matter-of-factly, as he distributed the napkins and plastic cutlery among us. “So…do you mind to elaborate?”

“There’s nothing to tell,” I stated casually, being focused on the box in front of me, my mouth watering when the delicious smell hit my nostrils. “We fooled around in college, but I wouldn’t call it dating. We were more like friends with benefits rather than lovers.”

“And I’m assuming you were the one to break things off. Am I right?” Jin guessed, and I heaved a sigh since the matter was much more difficult. It was safe to say that the blame had been lying on both sides of the conflict.

“You seem way cooler than Taehyung about it, so you had to be the one to break up with him.” Hoseok agreed with Jin, giving him a high-five.

“We weren’t an item, so it’s quite difficult to talk about a break-up.” I started before I stuffed my mouth with food. “I was going abroad for one semester, and Taehyung wasn’t happy about it. He didn’t want me to go, but I didn’t listen to him. And when I returned Taehyung had already graduated, so we never had a chance to talk about it. I thought he’s moved on, but apparently, I was wrong.”

My sincere confession got them speechless; neither of whom knew how to react to it, and I couldn’t blame them for the awkwardness that stemmed from it.

“Okay, so changing the subject; have you guys figured out what you want to do about that seminar? As far as I recall, I have to give them a reply by next Friday.” I said, knowing that it was the only way to dodge the unpleasant topic.

“You have no idea how much we fought about it,” Hoseok started with a cheeky smile, stabbing his food with a plastic knife, being probably already full.

“But we’ve come to an agreement,” Jin continued, pushing his half-empty box aside, giving me his undivided attention. “Generally, all of us want to go, and among of us Taehyung is the best public speaker,” Jin announced, and I nodded, understanding their way of thinking.

“But then again, he doesn’t trust either one of us to stay here with you alone,” Hoseok interjected, making me roll my eyes. It’s so typical of Taehyung; getting jealous without any cogent reason to. “Whatever that means.”

“Yeah, and furthermore, he doesn’t want to train you saying it would be too dangerous for you to deal with all the equipment which is complete bullshit because it’s not that difficult.”

“Jin’s right; you have to remember five ground rules and everything should be fine,” Hoseok added, backing up Jin’s statement. “I have no idea what’s happening under Taehyung’s skull, but I’ve never seen him being so overprotective.”

“Okay, stop. You’re confusing me. Can you just tell me who is going and who is staying here?” I asked, growing annoyed, as they didn’t let me get a word in the edgeways.

“Hoseok and I are going, but don’t worry; we’re gonna bring you a lot of gifts.” Jin declared quickly, and I sighed in relief. Drowning in uncertainty was the worst option; I’d rather know now, so I could mentally brace myself to spend the weekend with Taehyung.

“Actually, we already have a gift for you, just finish your dinner,” Hoseok added enthusiastically, smiling at me in a way that if I didn’t know him, I’d consider creepy.

“I think I’m done,” I quickly replied, as I pushed my box aside. I was already full, and I didn’t want to force myself to finish it, although it was absolutely delectable. I’d probably heat it up for supper. “Where is my gift?” I inquired when I wiped my mouth.

“She’s gonna love it,” Jin said casually, and Hoseok nodded his head, agreeing with the former. At this point, I had no idea what they were getting me, and I wasn’t sure whether I should be ecstatic or terrified.

“Just wait here, I’ll get it,” Hoseok proposed, and marched out of the room.

“What is it?” I questioned further in anticipation; it had to be something special if they were so excited about my reaction. Unfortunately, Jin’s lips were sealed, and no matter what I tried to open them, they remained airtight, spilling no secrets. “You’re no fun.”

“Oh, shut up!” Jin whined loudly, and I giggled because the look on his face was priceless.

Before I managed to anger Jin any further, Hoseok returned with a medium-sized, pink box in his hands. Now, I was intrigued. It definitely wasn’t an envelope with a plane ticket.

Carefully, Hoseok placed the box on my lap, urging me to unwrap the present, “come on, open up!” Smiling, they stared at me, almost giving me chills.

Slowly, I untied the ribbon, whereas Hoseok tapped his foot impatiently.

“Jesus Christ, hurry up,” Jin chipped in, prompting me to hasten.

Shaking my head, I opened the box and looked inside, its content getting me speechless. It was one of the Ghostbusters uniforms, only one shade more pink with my name written on the badge with silver and hot pink threads. I knew they considered me a part of the team, but right now, I was holding the evidence of membership in my hands.

“Guys, I love it,” I admitted from the bottom of my heart before I jumped off the chair and hugged them tightly. “Do you want me to try it on?” I asked once I broke the embrace.

“Naturally, but don’t be too eager, we also have a Proton Pack for you, and that damn thing is pretty weighty,” Hoseok warned me, but I just shrugged; they run around with Proton Packs all the time, it couldn’t be that bad as they wanted me to believe.

“You’re officially one of us,” Jin stated matter-of-factly, as he ruffled my hair, making me glare at him. That’s going too far! We were friends, but touching my hair was way too much.

“Don’t fuck it up.” Hoseok threatened me with his finger, sounding like a completely different person. “Taehyung is gonna kill us if anything happens to you.”

“If you know how to operate the machines, it’s obvious I can do that, too.” I snickered playfully, and Jin and Hoseok frowned, not finding it the tiniest bit funny.

The next day after Jin and Hoseok’s departure was peaceful compared to our standards; we only had three customers, while typically we were handling at least half a dozen. The first mission wasn’t scheduled until 4 p.m., yet I decided to show up at the office a bit early in hopes of catching up with the paperwork.

As always, it was dull, but no one would do it for me, so I had to suck it up.

“Hmm…I didn’t expect you to be here so early,” a voice mused from behind my back, and I quickly turned around in shock. “Oh, have you forgotten to put on a skirt?” Taehyung sneered, as he glanced at me from head to toe.

“Excuse you, but my skirt is where it should be. It’s pretty modest if you ask me.” I couldn’t let his comments get to me. At this point, I could consider his snarky remarks as sexual harassment; we were in the confines of work, and there was an ethic that he ought to follow. “And what are you doing here? I thought I wouldn’t see you until the first appointment.”

“You seriously think I’m gonna let you out there without proper training?!” Taehyung gasped, and I rolled my eyes. Jin and Hoseok had already shown me what I should know, so Taehyung’s additional guidance was superfluous. “You’re not leaving the firehouse until I tell you, you’re ready,” he added, as he took a few, slow steps towards me.

“Why are you doing this?” I inquired quietly, and Taehyung just smirked at me, as if he was surprised that I didn’t know his motive.

“Isn’t it obvious? I care about you; I don’t want you to get hurt.” Taehyung spoke in a firm tone, so unlike him. His eyes gleamed with sincerity, making it unable to tear my gaze away. With one single look, he had me enchanted. Only a few sweet words came out of his mouth, and I held my breath, my heart skipping a beat.

Right now, when we were alone, and no one could disturb us, he didn’t act like a brat. I felt as if we were back in college, carefree and so saccharine. He no longer was a man who tried to make me feel bad about my past choices, but he actually cared about my well-being.

It was a delightful change after countless arguments we had over the previous month.

“What? You look like as if you’ve seen a ghost. Is my care so surprising?” Taehyung joked, and I almost burst out laughing at his lame pun. Thankfully, I refrained myself from doing so.

“As a matter of fact, yes.” Yesterday, he had acted as if he wished for my ass to get eaten by a ghost, so what was different today? “I thought you hated me.”

“I could never,” Taehyung quickly admitted, smiling sheepishly.

Okay, what the hell is happening?

His sudden confession got me speechless. I didn’t expect him to concede to me. Who the hell was he, and where did the real Taehyung go?

“Well…if that’s what you really feel, I gotta admit you’re sending mixed signals.” I spoke truthfully, making Taehyung roll his eyes on me. Perhaps, I was nitpicking, but Taehyung was unbearable for the past month, and I couldn’t let it slide after a couple of sweet words. No, I remembered how coldly he had treated me, and if he wanted me to change my mind about him, he had to work hard for it.

“I admit I have never been good at romance,” said Taehyung, and I giggled when his words rang in my ears. Was he serious? Did he just call it ‘romance’? What romance?

“You can’t be serious,” I replied, pinching the bridge of my nose. So what now? Did he want to start over? With me? It didn’t make any sense! We had never even been a couple! “Okay, let’s get back to some real problems. What do I have to do to convince you that I’m ready to be one of the Ghostbusters?”

“Stubborn as always,” Taehyung commented under his breath, as he strolled toward me, sitting at the edge of my desk, holding my dangling hand. His grip was gentle, his skin was smooth, and at first, I wanted to yank my hand back. He was trying to mess with my head, but I was ready to prove that he didn’t have the effect that had used to work on me. I was stronger and smarter, and he couldn’t charm me as easily.

“So what is it that I have to know?” I urged him, and he slowly looked into my eyes, biting his bottom lip, swaying our entwined hands from side to side.

Whatever he had in mind to use on me was bound to fail. Right now, I focused on my career, and boyfriend drama (if he even sought a relationship) was the least of my worries.

“Where should I begin?”

Having sat through a two-hour long lecture (which pretty much helped me realize why they had got fired from the university and doubled everything Jin and Hoseok had told me before their departure), Taehyung let me pick up the equipment what I did with a roll of my eyes. Taehyung thought I had no clue how to operate the gear, but he was wrong; Jin and Hoseok had already shown me everything that I should have known.

Hesitantly, Taehyung let me tag along with him.

First two assignments happened to be false alarms; we arrived, and then Taehyung diagnosed the situation with the P.K.E. meter and Ecto-Goggles. I was relieved our customers weren’t in danger, but on the other hand, we weren’t earning money, and we were barely making both ends meet with the regular service. (The diagnosis fee constituted about 5% of actual ghost-busting service, and we probably wouldn’t live off it.)

“Thank God, you’re finally here,” a middle-aged woman ran out of the building and threw herself in Taehyung’s arm like a damsel in distress, even though he didn’t perceive her as one. “I was so scared,” she added, as she rubbed her cheek against Taehyung’s chest. He didn’t seem pleased with her behavior, but he was too well-bred that he didn’t try to push her off him right away.

“Calm down, what’s going on?” Taehyung asked worriedly, as he placed his large hands on her shoulders, making her face him. She looked terrified. “Everything’s under control now, but you have to tell us what’s going on,” Taehyung explained, and looked at me, the woman only noticing my presence when she followed Taehyung’s gaze.

“There’s a ghost on the tenth floor!” She shouted, turning around, raising her arm, pointing at the hotel behind her. “I’ve seen it! It was green, and it almost ate the cleaning trolley!” Taehyung furrowed his eyebrows, and I knew that something was up.

“Okay, please, stay here, and we’ll look around,” Taehyung spoke calmly.

Having sighed, I walked inside right after Taehyung.

“What was that look about?” I inquired, once we were climbing the stairs. The elevator was out of order, and we had to take the stairs. The Proton Pack felt twice as heavy, almost making me fall backward.

“What look?” Without turning to me, Taehyung asked, pretending to be clueless. Did he forget that we’ve known each other inside out, and I could tell straight away that something was off? Maybe, he could fool that woman, but not me.

“Don’t play coy,” I stated, as I took a short break to catch my breath. “Is there something you’re not telling me?”

Abruptly, Taehyung stopped, and I was thankful that I wasn’t standing right behind him.

“It’s about what she said.” He started vaguely, and I didn’t say anything, waiting for him to elaborate. I knew how to use the equipment, but I had no idea how to identify the threat. Were we to deal with a powerful being? Was he scared? What was going on?

“And what did she say exactly?”

“I just have a bad feeling, okay?” Taehyung continued, though hesitantly. “But whatever happens there, I want you to stay behind, and leave everything to me. I can handle it myself.”

“Sure,” I replied, even when I didn’t really mean it. If Taehyung needed my help, I’d intervene in a heartbeat. It was foolish of him if he really thought I’d listen to him.

When we reached the tenth floor, my legs almost gave in under the gravity and the weight of the Proton Pack. I placed my hands on my knees and leaned in, trying to catch a breath. If we had to go any higher, I’d probably faint. Taehyung seemed in a better condition than I, but I still could hear him panting.

Pushing his fringe off his eyes, Taehyung pulled out the P.K.E. meter, and I looked at the device, trying to peek what kind of ghost we were to deal with.

“What does it mean?” I asked, when the P.K.E. meter showed 432, and I had no idea how to interpret the reading. Slowly, Taehyung turned toward me, his face a shade paler.

“It’s not as bad as it could get, but it could be easier,” Taehyung started, and I exhaled in relief. Before he spoke, I had no idea I was holding my breath. “We’re not dealing with a Biblical Proportions here, but I think it’s a class V apparition, and if there’s anything you should know, ghosts with a reading like this should not be easy to get rid of.”

“Okay…” I whispered, now doubting my qualifications. Not that I’d like to return to my desk and answer phone calls, but it would be better if my first real ghost-busting mission was simple.

“Get ready, the ghost can attack us anytime,” Taehyung mentioned, and I nodded my head, placing my hand on the Particle Thrower. “And remember what I’ve told you, never ever cross the streams.”

“How could I forget it? You guys use that line literally every day,” I muttered under my breath, and rolled my eyes, slightly lightening up the situation. Humor always works when there’s thick and uncomfortable tension, so why this time should be any different? “Maybe you should get it tattooed?”

“Ha-ha, very funny,” Taehyung laughed dryly, his eyes roaming around the corridor, being ready for the ghost to appear. Frankly, he looked handsome, so focused and professional.

“Can you tell me more about class V ghosts? Is it as bad as you make it look like?” I asked curiously, and Taehyung looked over his shoulder as if he was shocked I didn’t read Jin’s book about ghost classification system, CDI system for short.

“Maybe, you should wait in the car,” Taehyung stated, as he shook his head in disbelief that he actually let a newbie work with him. “I can handle it myself.”

“Don’t tell me if you don’t want to. Geez!” I retorted, and sighed, looking around, pretending I didn’t ask him that question. Maybe I should listen to him and let him do everything by himself if he really didn’t want my help.

“Class V ghosts are Ectoplasmic manifestations of definite but non-human form. They are formed from emotionally-charged events or as side effects from ritual summoning. And we need a shit tone of proton pack implementation to eradicate it.” Taehyung recited, and I nodded in comprehension, as I tried to remember as much information as I could.

“Do you hear that?” I asked when I heard a strange sound, familiar to chewing. The hotel’s owner had said that people had got evacuated, so what the hell was that?

“Stay back,” Taehyung mentioned before he moved forward, following the odd noise. Slowly, I copied his movements, the Particle Thrower in my grip. “Oh shit,” Taehyung cursed, as he looked around the corner, spotting the ghosts. Taehyung seemed scared, so I peeked, curiosity getting the better of me.

Behind the corner was a green, levitating ghost who was in the middle of its meal; with big, yellow teeth it was eating a cake, the chewed bites falling onto the ground, making the mess around it. Slowly, its fetor hit my nostrils, and I immediately covered my face in disgust.

“Ew! What the hell is that?” I asked, and Taehyung chuckled at my reaction.

“A ghost, really nasty one at that,” Taehyung mused, but I didn’t find it funny. “And apparently, it eats anything that’s not nailed down or on fire,” he added, when he took a glimpse of the green creature, which right now was consuming the metal tray where the cake used to be.

“Okay, so what’s the plan? A penny for your thoughts,” I questioned, waiting for him to explain our next move. We couldn’t just jump from behind the corner and shoot the ghost with the Particle Thrower.

Casually, Taehyung pulled out his phone and snapped a photo. Strangely enough, the ghost got caught on the snapshot, which was a rare occurrence. We stared attentively at the picture on Taehyung’s phone, not recognizing the moment when the ghost stopped chewing the cake. When I mentioned that fact, the green cloud of electrons, neutrons, and ectoplasm seeped through the wall and my body, leaving a very unpleasant taste on my tongue. The feeling was eerie, and I was on the verge of vomiting.

“Are you alright?” Taehyung asked me, although his eyes focused on the ghost behind me. I nodded my head, though it wasn’t an entire truth. “On the count of three, you’ll drop to your knees, okay?” He ordered as he reached for the Particle Thrower, ready to attack.

Slowly, Taehyung counted to three in a half-whisper, and I bent, sinking to my knees in front of Taehyung. When I was out of the stream range, Taehyung turned on the Proton Pack which immediately produced a bright, powerful stream of particles. He didn’t catch the ghost, though. It disappeared behind the wall.

“Get the Ghost Trap ready,” Taehyung mentioned, as he used the card key, and we entered the nearest room. “When I confine the ghost, you have to roll the trap under it, and stomp on the pedal, you got it?”

“Sure,” I confirmed, as I reached for the Ghost Trap.

“It’s fully charged, right?” Taehyung asked, and I nodded since I had made sure the battery was on 100% before we left the firehouse. Jin and Hoseok had told me the Ghost Trap could malfunction if not charged fully, and I wasn’t going to make that neophyte mistake. “And remember not to look into the trap. A glimpse can cause serious eye damage or even blindness, and we don’t want anything bad to happen to your pretty eyes.”

“Don’t worry, I know how to use it,” I replied, trying to ignore the weird compliment.

“Come out, Stinky!” Taehyung yelled as if he was some kind of ghosts-whisperer. “I have one delicious snack for you.” He shouted loudly to no one in particular, and I giggled, finding the scene happening in front of me ridiculous.

Taehyung and I exchanged glances, but he quickly ripped his gaze away when the similar fetor pervaded the room, boding the presence of a paranormal being. Once again, Taehyung turned on the Proton Pack, aiming at the source of the odor. Before the stream hit the ghost, the orange light burnt everything within its reach.

“What are you doing it? Catch him,” I urged Taehyung before he destroyed the room. The ghost was flying around the room, and he couldn’t capture him with the stream, looking like a newbie.

“I’m trying!” Taehyung defended himself, but I only rolled my eyes, and placed my hand on the Particle Thrower, wondering if I should help Taehyung. I was about to operate the Ghost Trap, but it’s pretty useless when the ghost’s on the loose.

Sighing, I pulled the Particle Thrower and aimed. For a brief second, Taehyung looked at me, fear visible in his eyes. He didn’t trust me with it, and I couldn’t blame him; it was a dangerous weapon, after all. Maybe it was reckless, but Taehyung wasn’t effective on his own, so I had to intervene.

When I pressed the button, the Proton-Gun generated raw nuclear energy which hit the ghost, making me stumble backward.

“What the fuck are you doing?!” Taehyung yelled at me when he turned off his Proton Pack. The consequence of crossing the streams is so great that he didn’t want to risk it, especially when such an inexperienced person as me was using it. “Turn it off!” he screamed, but I ignored him, since the ghost was already captured, almost nullified by now. He had to be joking.

“Get the Ghost Trap ready,” I mentioned, as I gently kicked it toward him. The ghost was trying to wiggle out of the lasso of a positronic ionized stream of proton energy, but I firmly clenched the Particle Thrower in my hands, using 100% of its power.

“This is the first and last time I let you tag along!” Taehyung shouted, but prepared the Ghost Trap nonetheless. Skillfully, he untangled the wires and rolled the small device toward the ghost. “When I turn it on you gotta shut the Proton Pack down, you got it?”

“Yep,” I nodded quickly.

“On the count of three,” Taehyung exclaimed, and I focused deeply, trying to synchronize with him. When the last syllable rolled off his tongue, I took my finger off the trigger. Panting, I stared at the ghost who was being slowly consumed by the electromagnetic field. “Don’t look into the trap!” He yelled, but I was too engrossed in the scene in front of me.

“What?” I asked, not tearing my gaze away. You could see the ghost getting drawn into the trap, piece by piece utilized inside the small Ecto Containment Unit.

“Don’t fucking look into the trap!” Taehyung yelled again, this time much louder, and when I didn’t listen to him right away, he yanked me toward him, letting me fall into his chest, as he placed his hand on the back of my head, pulling me closer, pressing me against his frame. “You must start listening. You could lose your sight.” Taehyung warmed me, but he didn’t sound mad. If anything, I detected care and relief.

“Sorry,” I spoke, when I looked up at him, admiring his face from up close. With his arms wrapped around me, I could feel warmth emitting from him. Being in his embrace felt comfortable and secure, and although we had never put much attention to none sexual type of affection, I realized how much we had missed out on. “I won’t do that again.”

“Of course, you don’t,” Taehyung replied coldly, taking a step backward as if he grasped our interaction was inappropriate. “It was the last time I brought you with me. Do you have any idea how reckless that was?”

“Sorry, I wasn’t thinking,” I admitted, and Taehyung rolled his eyes at me.

Taehyung was silent during our ride back to the headquarters; he was reading something on his phone, whereas I was listening to the news flash on the radio, maneuvering the vehicle. The night was tranquil; the sky was in a beautiful shade of navy, even a couple of stars seen over the horizon. The scenery was breathtaking, but I couldn’t enjoy it as much as I wished since the recent dispute with Taehyung kept surfacing when I tried to focus on something, anything else.

When I stopped upon seeing the red light, my phone rang. Quickly, I reached into the glove compartment and pulled out the Bluetooth earpiece, putting it into my right ear.

“Hello?” I asked as soon as I answered the call. On the other end of the line, I heard a lot of background noise before Jin’s soft voice greeted me excitedly. “Oh, hi, what’s up?” I inquired, wondering what he wanted from me. If I were on a seminar abroad, calling home would be the last position on my priorities’ list.

“I’m just checking up on you,” Jin casually stated, and I smiled at the thought of Jin and Hoseok calling me to find out if Taehyung and I had already jumped at each other’s throats. “How is work with Taehyung? Is he a pain in the ass?”

“Hmm…I’d say bearable,” I replied unsurely. Taehyung had been nice, but then I had done something he hadn’t wanted me to, and then everything had gone downhill. I could use Jin to vent about Taehyung, but they were on a trip, and I couldn’t ruin it for them. “And what about you? Are you having fun?” I asked, changing the subject. Our conversation would be way more enjoyable if we changed the direction it was going; I’d much rather discuss their trip than another round of a passionate dispute between Taehyung and I.

“It’s a paradise. You can check out Hoseok’s Instagram updates. It’s nothing compared to the real feel, though. I wished you were here with us.” Jin simply said, and I smiled again, imagining what I’m missing out on.

“I wished I was with you, too,” I confessed genuinely, realizing that Taehyung’s eyes were on me, as he tried to decipher whom I was talking to. “But it’s okay; we’ll have more opportunities in the future, right?”

“Obviously,” Jin agreed swiftly, “we’re handing out our business cards just like you told us to. I think we’ll soon make it big.” He added, and I smiled brightly, not even trying to disguise how proud I was. “I gotta go now. Hoseok’s coming with our drinks. Talk to you later.”

“Don’t have too much fun without me.” I chimed in playfully, “and try not to miss me.”

“Who was that?” Taehyung asked, as soon as I hung up. Hesitantly, I looked at him upon seeing his upset cast.

“Jin, obviously. Who else?” I spoke, rolling my eyes. “He wanted to say hi, that’s all. Why?”

“Are you two screwing?” Taehyung accused, and I chucked. How the hell did he come up with it? It was a casual conversation without even a slimmer of flirtation, so it was bizarre how he read into that. I shook my head in denial, but Taehyung didn’t seem convinced. “It didn’t sound like it.”

“I mean…Jin’s handsome, I agree. Don’t worry, I know better than dating my co-workers. It’s strictly business,” I explained, but once again, Taehyung didn’t seem pleased with my response. “We’re friends, of course, but nothing more.”

Taehyung didn’t reply. He just nodded in acknowledgment and looked away, focusing on his phone again. Whatever he was seeking, it was more important than telling me why he had thrown all his accusations toward me. I wasn’t dating Jin, but it was none of his business, so why bothered asking?

Thankfully, we were almost on our driveway. I couldn’t wait to exit the car, change out of the Ghostbusters uniform and come back home. I had spent way too much time with Taehyung today, and I wished I could relax somewhere far away from him.

Taehyung was the first one to get out of the vehicle, and I followed right behind him.

“Thank you, Tae,” I spoke, and Taehyung stopped in his trucks, yet not turning around to face me. Maybe it’d be easier for me to admit to my fault if I didn’t have to look into his sharp eyes. “I know you told me not to look, and I’m sorry for ignoring your warnings. You said it’s my last mission, and I’m gonna respect your decision. Today was fun by the way.” I voiced my thoughts from the bottom of my heart, and I hoped Taehyung could feel the genuineness in my words.

Once again, Taehyung remained silent, completely ignoring my veracity. I couldn’t blame him; he was still mad at me, and a couple of kind words didn’t have the power to outweigh the consequences of my previous actions. He felt wronged, and if I were in his shoes, I wouldn’t get over it so quickly, either.

Slowly, I strolled toward him.

“I have no idea what could happen to me if we crossed the streams or stared longer into the trap, but I’m glad you kept me safe,” I added with a bittersweet smile on my face. Taehyung hated me, yet he had proven to be a bigger person who helped me notwithstanding our past discord.

Taehyung turned around, staring down at me. He didn’t say a word, yet his eyes were drilling holes in mine, the conveyed message as lucid. Right now, his anger was agitated with ease and solicitude.

“I’m truly thankful,” I mentioned honestly, smiling weakly at him. In the heat of the moment, I got on my toes, leaning to place a chaste peck on his lips. The kiss lasted a second tops, and when I pulled back, Taehyung grabbed my arm and yanked me back.

“You can’t walk away after what you’ve just done,” Taehyung spoke quietly, his eyes sparkling, searching mine. “You’re annoying, reckless, and irresponsible. Do you know that?” He added, and when I opened my mouth to answer his rhetorical question, he beat me to it, pressing his soft lips against mine, initiating another simple kiss.

We shouldn’t be doing it, but when his lips were on mine, and his hands holding me close, I couldn’t think straight, let alone push him away. His body emitted the familiar warmth, and with each passing second, I was becoming cozier and cozier.

Gradually, he tilted his head to the side, deepening the kiss, sucking on my bottom lip excitedly until I let out a hushed moan. It had been a while since I made out with anyone, and God, how much had I missed affection. And the fact of Taehyung being an excellent kisser didn’t help my situation, at all.

I ought to have fought with the temptation, but after a minute in Taehyung’s arms, I didn’t even want to. Despite the loud protests of my consciousness, I gave into the fascination, as I wrapped my arms around his neck, pulling him closer. It didn’t make any sense, but I craved his intimacy.

“Did you mean it?” Taehyung asked as he withdrew a couple of centimeters to voice his doubts. His breath tickled my wet lips, as he waited for my reply. “You know…about dating your co-workers.”

“Yes,” I admitted, and when my response rang in his ears, Taehyung quickly dropped his hands, which were holding my cheeks. With a disappointed sigh, he looked down at his feet. “I’ve never treated you like a co-worker, though,” I stated firmly, entwining my fingers with his. “You’ve always been something more, Taehyung,” I confessed, and Taehyung immediately lit up, smashing his lips against mine, his hands landing on my bottom, as he jerked me toward him.

“That’s all I need to know,” Taehyung whispered, barely lifting his lips off of mine. “Baby, I missed you so much,” he confessed, as he squeezed my left ass-cheek playfully. “It was a torture to see you every day and being unable to do anything.”

“Shut the hell up,” I murmured with a wide smile on my face, as I brushed my nose against his fondly before I sealed our lips together in a gentle, synchronized smooch. “Haven’t you heard that actions speak louder than words?” I remarked, rubbing my body against him, catching him off guard.

“We shouldn’t,” Taehyung breathed out, as he rested his forehead on mine, his eyes shut close.

“We shouldn’t do a lot of stuff,” I agreed with him casually, a smirk decorating my face when I ran my hand across his chest and shoulders. “It has never stopped us before, though,” I added, as I nipped his earlobe mischievously.

“You can’t talk to me like that!” Taehyung spoke loudly, taking a small step backward before he pulled down my uniform’s zipper. “You haven’t had clothes underneath that the whole time?” he questioned, although he already knew the answer. “Tsk, tsk,” he shook his head, pushing the uniform off my shoulders, letting it pool around my feet.

“Don’t stare at me like that! You’re creeping me out right now,” I whined, as I kicked off my shoes and discarded the bothersome uniform. His lingering stare was flattering, but when he didn’t put those large hands in action, I felt a little under-pampered.

Standing almost bare in front of him, I trembled, what didn’t go unnoticed by Taehyung. Instantly, he wrapped his arms around my waist, the heat radiating off him. “Maybe we should talk first,” Taehyung proposed but gulped when I touched his groin. “Okay, I tried.”

Abruptly, Taehyung picked me up and carried me to the break room. We had no time to waste, and he lastly understood that too. During our work together, we had been playing cat and mouse, but it was about time to bury the hatchet. We’re finally on the same team after years of the matchup.

“I wonder if you’re as sweet as you used to be,” Taehyung spoke, as he gently placed me down and got on his knees. “Your pussy was as sweet as your mouth was bitter,” he added before his long, slender fingers tugged my panties to the side, allowing him to touch my bare folds.

“Taehyung–

I moaned his name, as I squeezed my legs together when he started to touch my slit, making him smirk. Gently, he leaned forward and pressed his lips on my skin, drawing a trail of delicate pecks across my left thigh.

“It’s been a while since anyone treasured you the way you deserve it,” Taehyung concluded, his breath tickling my skin. “Let me remind you,” he added, and I leaned my back against the wall, knowing my legs wouldn’t be able to support my weight if Taehyung was to keep his promise. He had always known how to make me weak, and right now, I was sure he didn’t forget his moves.

“Please,” I breathed out, tilting my head backward when Taehyung’s fingers massaged my folds, his mouth already on my pelvis, slowly kissing his way down to my clit. “Oh God,” I shuddered, quickly reaching out to hold myself onto something.

“I’m seriously concerned, it has always taken forever for you to come,” Taehyung commented playfully, looking up at me. “And look at you right now, almost squirting on my fingers,” he added, and I bit my bottom lip, too embarrassed to admit how long it had been.

“Tae, please,” I begged when Taehyung pushed his long finger inside of me, his tongue teasing my clit, making me hold my breath, my teeth clenched. “Fuck,” I moaned; he added another finger, as he pumped in and out mercilessly, his mouth now sucking my most sensitive nub.

“Do you like it?” Taehyung pulled away to ask, but I only ran my hand through his hair, forcing him to return to eating me out. “You’ve always been needy,” he commented, as his free hand groped my bottom, squeezing it, making me jerk my hips forward.

“And you’ve never let me come without me begging,” I made a remark, but Taehyung only smirked. Lazily, he flicked his tongue what induced my legs to shake when he found the right spot, allowing me to feel very first sparks of pleasure.

“You know me too well,” Taehyung teased, and I rolled my eyes, not expecting him to take me any other way. I didn’t mind it, though. He was a pain in the ass, but he had always put my needs above his, making sure I was the first one to reach the blissful peak. Moreover, sex with him had never been monotonous, as he had tended to come with something new each time we were intimate.

“Mmm…” I purred through clenched teeth, when Taehyung’s fingers pumped inside of me swiftly, stretching me before he fucks me properly with his cock. “Taehyung…” his name rolled off my tongue, and I knew how much my cries of excitement kept him going.

“What is it, baby?” he asked, as he looked at me. His eyes were shining with its unwavering spark, his reddened lips glistening with his saliva and my juices. “Do you want me to stop?” I looked at him, my eyes hooded, observing his infamous smirk of pride.

“What do you think?” I dismissed his question, breathing heavily. His ministrations turned me on, making me a complete mess under the power of his touch, though I wasn’t going to admit that and stroke his ego anymore. It was already big, and I barely could handle his cocky attitude.

“I don’t know, you tell me,” he spoke as he licked his lips, humming in delight. “God, you’re delicious, as always.”

“Please, Taehyung, touch me, I missed your fingers,” I whined much to Taehyung’s enjoyment. He knew how he made me feel, and he shamelessly used it to his advantage. “I bet you can make me come around them,” I challenged him, and his eyes brightened with confidence.

“If you keep talking like that, I may not be able to control myself any longer,” Taehyung confessed, and I realized he was aching for my affection too. He was on his knees, caressing me as if I was made of china, fulfilling my every wish, whereas I didn’t even touch him yet. Still, in his uniform, his cock was restrained underneath a thick layer of clothing.

“Let me take care of you, Tae,” I whispered when I brushed my hand against his cheek. Instantly, he looked me in the eyes, slowly standing up, his gaze focused on my lips. “Please,” I started when I reached to his zipper, pulling it down. Unlike me, he wore regular clothes under the uniform. It wasn’t problematic, though. With my help, we quickly got rid of the annoying fabric.

“Look what you do to me,” said Taehyung when I pulled down his boxers, releasing his hard cock. Gently, he grabbed his length and gave it a couple of strokes. I had seen him jerk off million times before, but when I observed him right now, it turned me on as much as when he had his fingers shoved inside of me. “Help me,” he whispered, as he reached out for my hand, guiding it to his cock.

Smirking, I grabbed his member around its base, caressing it annoyingly slowly, knowing he favored going fast. Usually, I wouldn’t tease him like that, but it was the payback, and he got what he deserved. My hand sensually rubbed the precum into his length, making him throw his head back and shut his eyes under my touch.

“Somebody’s excited,” I taunted him as soon as I felt him twitch in my hand. Taehyung couldn’t wait for more, and he didn’t even have to voice his needs; his body showed me exactly what he yearned.

Slowly, yet steadily picking up my pace, I blew my hair off my face and looked into Taehyung’s dark eyes as if trying to figure out what was going on inside his head.

“Tell me what you want, Tae,” I whispered, licking his earlobe. “And I may give you just that,” I added, letting my breath tickle his wet skin. Gently, I brushed my nose against his neck, waiting for his reply. His heart was beating rapidly, and I heard him swallowing hard before he could formulate his answer.

“I’ve got one hell of a list actually,” Taehyung said after a moment of thinking. He seriously seemed deep in his thoughts, and considering the playful smirk that appeared on his face, he meant it. “We won’t cross everything out at once, that’s for sure.”

“I don’t reckon it as a onetime thing,” I admitted, and Taehyung grinned at me in relief.

“I don’t either,” Taehyung confirmed, planting a chaste kiss on my lips. “I’m so glad that we’re on the same page for once,” he added seductively, blowing at the wet spot on my neck where a hickey was slowly forming. How the hell am I going to explain that when Jin and Hoseok come back? “You know what? Fuck it; I can’t wait,” he spoke, turning me around, pushing me over the desk, which sat on the other side of the room.

“Ahh…” I moaned when Taehyung spanked me. “Taehyung–” I purred, as his large hand began massaging my butt before it even started to sting.

“What is it, baby?” Taehyung asked in concern, as he leaned forward, and I arched my back, meeting him halfway, playfully biting his bottom lip. “Do you like it like that?” Taehyung inquired when I released his lips. His length was poking me, and I barely could stand that.

“You know I do,” I answered through clenched teeth, as Taehyung grabbed his cock, teasing me with its tip sliding up and down my soaked folds. I was ready to take him, but he wouldn’t let me feel the pleasure yet. When it came to sex, Taehyung sometimes could be a sadist, especially when I did him wrong. “Please,” I howled, sticking up my butt, rubbing it against his erection.

“I can’t keep you waiting when you’re begging me like this,” Taehyung admitted, spinning me around, sitting me on the desk. Quickly, I spread my legs, letting Taehyung between them. “Do you have a condom?” he asked, and I shook my head. Lack of protection wouldn’t stop me now, though. I wanted it too much to stop in the middle.

“Just pull out when you think you’re close,” I replied, and Taehyung sighed. “You’ve always loved coming on my tits; that hasn’t changed, has it?” I teased him, and Taehyung agreed with a sly smirk.

“No, it hasn’t,” he confirmed, and I gasped when he pushed his cock inside of me without any warning. It didn’t hurt because he had stretched me well, but I still didn’t expect him to enter me so desperately. “You’re so warm,” he moaned, as he trusted his hips back and forth inside of me.

The melody of my hushed moans and Taehyung throaty gasps played in my ears, with each thrust my voice going louder. His hips moved swiftly, but his hands traveled across my skin agonizingly slowly, making me wrap my legs around him, pulling him close as it was possible.

“Tae–“ I cried out, biting my bottom lip. Taehyung was making me feel heavenly, and until now, I didn’t realize how sex-deprived I had been. Thankfully, the dry spell’s over. “Please, go faster,” I begged, as I propped myself on my right hand, rubbing my clit with the other one.

My orgasm was near, and I would be pissed if Taehyung denied me of it. (It had always been a kink of his, and I learned it the hard way.)

Exactly how I told him to, Taehyung quickened his pace, making me choke on air.

“Oh, baby,” he rasped in his low voice, as he leaned forward, his lips smashing against my neck, trailing wet kisses down to my collarbones, marking me again. I gulped in pleasure when his mouth sucked on my skin, and although I hated love marks, this time I didn’t mind them at all. “You’re mine, you’re mine,” Taehyung repeated desperately, and I just nodded, kissing in his confirmation.

“I’m yours,” I moaned, arching my back when he finally found the most sensitive bud. I was only a couple of strokes away from my high, and all I needed was Taehyung to maintain his pace. “I’m yours,” I hissed when my walls started to pulse and tighten around him.

“You better come soon. I’m close, too,” Taehyung warned me, and I rolled my eyes at him. He would have to be really stupid if he seriously thought I’d deny my orgasm.

“Yes, yes, yes, just like that,” I whispered, raking my fingertips across his back, scratching it. I was on the verge, and I needed something to hold on. “Taehyung, I’m almost there,” I closed my eyes, giving myself into the embrace of a sweet peak, flavored with Taehyung’s raspy voice and musky smell.

The second I felt the paradise, a faint noise of the landline filled the space, killing the mood. My walls squeezed around Taehyung’s throbbing cock, coating it with my juices.

“Fuck, Tae,” I screamed, as Taehyung kept pounding his hips, helping me ride out my orgasm.

“Whoever is on the line is fucking persistent,” Taehyung commented, shaking his head, as he couldn’t believe that anyone would call them at such unholy hour. “Shit, I want to come inside you so fucking much,” he announced, as he pulled out his cock. Quickly, he started to pump it up and down with his hand, and I just watched him with my legs spread, my teeth biting the bottom lip.

“I wouldn’t really mind if you did,” I replied, but it was too late. My words triggered him, and with a couple of strokes, he came all over my stomach and breasts.

“You’re fucking amazing,” he breathed out, as he looked at me from underneath his sticky fringe. Taehyung’s satisfied and exhausted demeanor looked handsome on him, and unless I sat on the desk, it would sweep me off my feet. “I mean it,” he added, leaning to place a pack on my lips.

Then the phone rang again.

Taehyung growled in annoyance, but walked toward the landline, and picked up the phone. “Ghostbusters; how can I help you?” Taehyung answered the call politely, but his gaze was still on me as if he was enchanted. And frankly, I felt the same way about him. I couldn’t wait for him to hang up and come back to me, so we could properly celebrate our ceasefire.

“Of course, I’m on my way,” he answered, and I shook my head since there was no way I would be joining him on another mission.

I’d rather stay in and warm up the bed for him, hoping that everything turns up easier this time around.

#taehyung smut #v smut #bts smut #bangtan smut #bts fluff #taehyung fluff #ghostbusters

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peckhampeculiar · 7 years ago

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Meet The Pexican

Professional pugilist Johnny Garton has been ranked fourth best welterweight in the country by Boxing Monthly. The Peckham fighter talks about growing up in SE15 and why there needs to be more stuff for kids to do in the area

Words: Luke G Williams; Photo: John Yabrifa

Boxer Johnny Garton disproves the notion that “they don’t make ’em like they used to”.

Modest and unassuming to a fault in a sport that often reeks with the stench of hype and overblown “trash talk”, Johnny is the type of throwback fighter known in the boxing trade as “a good honest pro”.

“I’m not one of those boxers who talks a lot and says, ‘I’m going to bash this person up’ or whatever,” the 30-year-old tells The Peckham Peculiar. “I’m quite modest really.”

Johnny is also an unashamed, dyed in the wool south London boy – in fact, cut him open and you’d probably find the word “Peckham” running through him like a stick of rock.

Born in Dulwich Hospital in 1987, Johnny grew up on the Clifton Estate. “I lived on the estate all my life, in the tower block on the first floor with my mum and my sister, while my nan lived next door,” he says, his voice as broad and warm a south London accent as you will ever find.

“I love Peckham. I’ve got great memories of growing up here. Apart from the last year or so I’ve lived here all my life. As a kid, Peckham was fantastic. On the estate there were two ends and on both ends of the estate you knew everyone and your parents knew everyone.

“My girlfriend Jemma is actually from the same estate as me. We knew each other when we were younger. When she got older she moved out and then later we met up again.

“We live up by Bluewater now but most of my friends are from round Peckham, I went to school round here. And my mum still lives in Peckham so I’m still around a lot.”

Despite his love of the area, Johnny feels that many of the improvements to SE15 in recent years have inadvertently alienated some long-term residents.

“I say to my girlfriend all the time that we’d move back here if we could tomorrow, but it’s got so expensive it’s ridiculous,” he explains. “I’m a prime example of a local being priced out. I’d love to move back but I can’t afford it. I do believe some of the locals are being pushed out.

“When I was growing up it was definitely quite a rough area and it needed to improve. Even now it’s a still a bit rough, but there’s also a lot of middle class people there as well; it’s a little bit weird because Peckham’s got a trendy side, but it’s also got its rough side.”

Johnny argues that in the rush to develop Peckham, local children, particularly those who live on council estates, have been overlooked.

“There’s not that much for kids to do today,” he points out. “I was walking around the estate the other day and there’s not really much for those kids to go and do. When I was growing up there was a leisure centre across the road and other bits and bobs to do. They used to let us in to play basketball or football. But that’s gone now. Some of the adventure playgrounds have gone too. There’s Peckham Pulse but that’s mainly just swimming.

“For the adults there’s loads – bars and restaurants opening everywhere. There’s the BMX track [in Burgess Park] which is doing quite well, but I think we need more stuff for kids.”

As a youngster Johnny admits he wasn’t particularly studious or academic. “I went to Peckham Park Primary School and then Hatcham Wood in Brockley. I didn’t really enjoy school much. I didn’t get great grades or anything like that. I just went because I had to.”

On leaving school, Johnny became a car mechanic, although he admits it was an occupation he fell into out of necessity rather than desire.

“It was a job that was offered to me after doing two weeks’ work experience at school at a garage,” he explains. “They sent me to college to get the mechanics’ qualification. I don’t really like cars, but I needed money so that’s what I did.”

What did ignite Johnny’s passion was boxing. When he was 18, he tagged along with a friend who was training at the famous Lynn AC club on Wells Way and soon found himself hooked on the sport.

In the amateur ranks, Johnny did well but was not considered a top prospect, winning around 35 fights and losing 10. He pinpoints a lack of self-belief and confidence for this record, as well as for his initial hesitance to take the plunge and turn professional.

“I always wanted to turn pro but I never thought I was good enough, to be honest,” he says. “In the end I thought I had nothing to lose, but also when I turned pro [in 2011] I never actually thought I’d get anywhere.”

In order to prepare him for the rigours of professional boxing, Johnny’s trainer Al Smith – of the well renowned iBox gym in Bromley – urged him to amend his previously all-out attacking fighting style.

“When sparring, if I was going forward too much, Al would stop the spar and make me go backwards. After about a year, it started to pay off. I’m still a bit ‘gun eager’ sometimes but now I think about my boxing a bit more. I’m not afraid to take a backwards step.

“When I turned pro I thought if I could challenge for a Southern Area title I could leave boxing quite happy. But I’ve gone well past that now.”

Indeed he has. Since winning the Southern Area welterweight (147lbs weight limit) title in 2014, Johnny has also added the English welter crown in 2016 and the IBF European title last December to his growing CV, which now reads 23 fights, with 21 wins, just one loss and one draw.

The influential Boxing Monthly magazine now ranks him as the fourth best welterweight in the country and a shot at the British title currently held by his iBox stablemate Bradley Skeete seems increasingly likely, with Skeete expected to move on to European and world honours later this year, leaving the title vacant for Johnny and another contender to tussle over.

Having recently signed with influential promoter Frank Warren, Johnny’s star is certainly in the ascendancy. His most recent contest in December against Moldovan Mihail Orlov took place at the Copper Box Arena in east London and was later televised in its entirety on the popular BoxNation cable TV channel, with Johnny being interviewed in the studio by popular boxing pundit Steve Bunce.

“It was nice fighting at the Copper Box,” Johnny reflects. “I wasn’t used to the big changing rooms and showers and all that! It was nice to be on a big show, although I boxed at Wembley Arena [in 2016] as well.

“The appearance on BoxNation was a massive boost for my profile. When I was talking to Steve Bunce afterwards he said that out of all the fighters on the show, my fight was one of the best.”

The life of a boxer can be a precarious one – both financially and in terms of the danger the sport’s participants subject themselves to – but Johnny freely admits he loves the sport and wouldn’t swap his existence for anything.

He also points out that he is now fighting to ensure the best possible future for his baby daughter Elsie.

“I don’t want to sound selfish but I’ve always boxed because it’s something I’ve wanted to do and something I love to do,” he says. “But obviously now I’ve had a baby I have to think of her first.

“Being a dad has changed my life massively, I love it. Luckily enough, after my fight against Tyler Goodjohn [in September 2016] I got a sponsor so I’m a full-time boxer now.

“Because of that I can spend as much time as possible with her [Elsie]. I’ll go for a run or something in the morning, or even do a bit of yoga, then I’ll spend most of the day with her and then I’ll go to the gym in the evening. So I get pretty much all day with her, which is great.”

Johnny’s growing band of fans have also bestowed upon him a rather wonderful nickname – “The Pexican”, in honour of his all-action style, which is reminiscent of the many famous boxers who have originated from Mexico.

It was Johnny’s friend Keaton Hutchings who first coined “The Pexican” moniker and it has stuck – so much so that the boxer now takes to the ring wearing shorts with “The Pexican” emblazoned on them in the traditional Mexican colours of green, white and red.

Like the majority of boxers across the country, Johnny’s livelihood is – to great extent – dependent on how many tickets he sells for his bouts.

“Ticket selling is hard,” he admits. “Particularly when you’re on non-TV shows, because then you have to sell tickets in order to get paid. It’s hard. Thankfully I’ve got a good bit of support.

“I’m a Millwall boy, I’ve followed them for as long as I can remember. My mum used to take me down there when I was a kid and the club and their fans have shown me a lot of support.

“I’ve also got a lot of family and friends, which helps, they get behind me, and people in Peckham are great too. They like the fact that someone from Peckham’s doing well and they really get behind me.”

................

Johnny is pictured at Peckham Levels.

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asekuwhale · 6 years ago

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I knkw how background checks work. I have stated that before. Domestic violence isnt a felony. Assault isnt a felony. Battery isnt a felony. (Unless with a deadly weapon.) Also, you can be Charged with a felony, but if you arent Convicted you can still purchase firearms. And I dont just mean being found innocent; but when charges are dropped or when you plea No contest, you are technically not a felon and therefore retain the right to firearms.

The FBI literally investigated the Pulse shooter, they did nothing. Don't try blamimg this on "citizens not wanting to be called bigots". That fell on the government. And you are ignoring the Numerous shooters who were just white guys.

For one thing this isnt Afghanistan. Also, how do you propose schools pay for private security? Also private security does not have all the legal powers that cops do. National Guard has a number of problems with it, but I'm just gonna day You try telling the current administration to pull troops from the southern border so they can attend to schools. And idfk what you think a desk cop is...you mean detectives? The only time most cops sit at a desk is do file reports, amd thats primarily done from their squad car computers now. Cops dont really sit around at desks anymore.

Sure Some teachers have permits. But not all do and not all want them. That really shouldn't be a qualification to be a teacher. Thats not solving an issue but just adding a little bit of gasoline and waiting for someone to light a match to see how it goes.

My high school had a firing range, it was also a gun free zone. Granted they were BB guns. The point was teaching how to shoot a target, without having deadly weapons that could be accessed by a determined student or whomever.

Doesnt really matter if you doubt my story, its still true. The guy is out already and isnt being charged.

You know, this is something that’s been sitting in the back of my mind for quite some time now, but I’m just going to say it.

We had a lock and secure/armed persons drill at my school about a week ago. It was a surprise drill, but we all did as we were told and ducked into the corner with the lights off.

The vice principal checked the bathrooms and found one of the students from my class in there, not hiding or anything. So she started to yell at him, telling him he should have gone to the nearest classroom ASAP, et cetra et cetra. My teacher ducks out to see what the issue is as the yelling gets louder, leaving the door open.

The class I was in is primarily juniors with myself and one other senior, whom I’ve been friends with for a while. As soon as the yelling started and the teacher was gone, the two of us made eye contact and immediately started whispering orders to the other kids, telling one to grab the tall lamp she was next to, so someone would have a weapon. I got up into a crouch, preparing to close the door, even if it meant getting right up into what would be a line of fire. We didn’t know it was fake, we thought it was real. And God, I thought I was going to die.

I’m 18. I’m going to be graduating in a few months. I have my whole life ahead of me. And yet, in that moment, I didn’t care if it would put my life at risk. If it would keep those other kids safe, I would do it.

Sure, everything turned out fine in the end. But what if it wasn’t? What if, what if, what if. I was shaken for the rest of the day, disturbed by my own thoughts.

Think about that next time you say we don’t need gun control. Ask yourself if you would be willing to die for a group of students because of someone else’s anger or instability.

And if you’re not willing to do so, if you don’t recognize the danger, the willingness of children to die for their classmates… Why are you even in this debate in the first place?

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unixcommerce · 5 years ago

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Nico Acosta of Twilio: Channels Are Converging to Improve Experiences Throughout the Customer Journey

Last month I had the opportunity to check out Twilio’s annual user conference, Signal. Twilio, a platform that allows developers to build communications-enabled (voice, text, chat, email), shared a few stats that really caught my attention:

Twilio sends 50 billion emails a month on behalf of their customers

They send 200 million SMS messages a day

53% of WhatsApp messages Twilio customers sent got a reply

With numbers like these it’s safe to say that Twilio has a pretty good pulse on how current and emerging communication channels are shaping customer engagement, experiences and journeys. And I had a chance to speak with Nico Acosta, Twilio’s Director of Product for AI/ML, to dig in a bit on what they’re seeing in terms of how voice, chat and other new channels are impacting the customer journey.

Below is an edited transcript of our conversation. To see the whole interview watch the video or click on the embedded SoundCloud below.

Looking at Customer Journey Channels

Brent Leary: I love this phrase that Jeff Lawson said around the customer journey is becoming the company’s brand. And what role does voice and AI play in that journey?

Nico Acosta: What we’re seeing a lot is all the channels are coming together. They’re converging in the same journey, not necessarily together in the same experience, but in the same journey and customers are interacting with businesses for different use cases through different channels.

One of the parts that we’re most excited about in voice is all the conversation of AI; where this goes hand in hand with what we do in the contact center. We believe that when you think about voice, and especially in the context of a contact center, there’s been this very deeply rooted tradeoff between customer experience and operational efficiency. And there’s always somebody inside of companies that has that knob for how many agents should I staff versus how tolerant am I or how long do I want our customers to wait on hold? And there’s always a decision to be made.

Twilio and AI Research

Brent Leary: There’s one.

Nico Acosta: And when we started looking at this at Twilio and doing all the AI research, we started questioning that. It’s like is that a tradeoff that we are going to have to live with forever or can we build a platform that enables a better customer experience with greater operational efficiency? This is a long journey, but we believe we are on that track where we can automate certain experiences that are well-defined, that are repeatable where customers actually prefer self-service and leverage the power of agents in the contact center when you need to.

Brent Leary: When they need it, yeah.

Nico Acosta: And I’ll give you a couple of examples. You think about three types of customer journeys. Booking an appointment. It’s a well-defined task. You can automate it. If you can, customers will prefer self-service.

Part Virtual Assistant, Part Human

Brent Leary: Right.

Nico Acosta: But then, you might have experiences that are hybrid, that are part virtual assistant, part human. For example, buying life insurance. You might want to ask a series of qualification questions up front, use that intelligence to route intelligently, prioritize and cue to the right agent that has the right specialty and then continue the conversation with a human in a much more consultative way. So while you might have automated the questions of what state do you live, what’s your yearly income, do you smoke, how many children do you have?

Then, when you hand off to an agent and that is a prioritize, you can talk about much broader things of what are your life goals and where are you in your financial planning and all these things that are much more suitable for human conversation. So at Twilio, we believe that it’s really the combination of these two that are going to transform voice and that’s what we’re building with Auto Pilot and that’s what we’re building with Flex, really the conversational AI that works in consonance with the contact center.

Engaging Within Customer Journey Channels

Brent Leary: I think there was also a statement that conversations are eating app’s lunch. Is that part of what you just illustrated? Are these conversations, whether it’s voice or via text, they’re coming together over whatever channel it is, but it’s that opportunity to interact in real time, it’s changing the way customer engagement is done and changing the relationship that customers have in general with the vendors they’re talking to?

Nico Acosta: Yeah, when you look at the history of computing, we started with the command-line interface, which we actually shifted to the command-line interface (CLI) is kind of coming back full circle, which is awesome. We started with the CLI’s right, then the Gooey right, then probably could argue the next big user interface evolution was the Touch. But then it kind of hasn’t evolved much since then. The Gooey was invented …

The Power of Conversations

Brent Leary: Like 35-40 years ago.

Nico Acosta: Yeah, so like early 80s, we’re already seeing products with graphical user interfaces. What is powerful about conversations is that it’s a different paradigm to interact with systems. You’re talking to systems in natural language where that’s a virtual assistant or a bot or you’re just interacting with a routing layer that gets you to a right person inside a company. But just the idea of why don’t companies and systems and computers adapt to how we communicate? Not the opposite.

And conversational interfaces, again, whether it’s a bot or a human, they have this unique property that you don’t need to learn how you use them. You just talk, you just say, you just text. And it depends on the customer journey that you want to build. There might be some parts of that journey that are automated, there might be some parts that are handled by contacts and maybe some parts that are handled by a field worker who’s like the person actually delivering or … and that’s the beauty of the software, the intelligence, the channels and the software orchestration that we provide.

How Has Voice Changed Customer Engagement?

Brent Leary: So, what does voice in particular, what does that add or change aside from the other channels that we talked about that are more text based; where do you see voice changing customer engagement or adding something that’s not there in these other channels we’ve talked about?

Nico Acosta: Yeah, so it’s an interesting question. When I talk to a lot of developers all around the world and a lot of companies building all sorts of customer journeys. When I talk to the IVR developers, they’re excited about chat.

Brent Leary: Really?

Nico Acosta: And when I talk to chat bot developers, they’re excited about voice.

Your Channel’s Role in the Customer Journey

Brent Leary: Interesting.

Nico Acosta: It goes to the point of convergence and I think each of these channels will have a role in the customer journey. We truly believe that real-time channels whether it’s voice, whether it’s video, and then you can split voice into yet two other subcategories where it’s like real-time voice where you’re talking to somebody and a home assistant style voice, the Alexa system where in a sync or turn by turn voice.

Brent Leary: Oh, right.

Nico Acosta: And I think it has, if you take a customer journey, each channel has its spot. You might get car insurance via a text chat. And then you type all the information that is needed and it goes back and forth, back and forth. If you get into a car accident, you need help, you call and you do not want to talk to bot. You want to be connected to the emergency response team, you want somebody on the phone immediately and you want that customer empathy.

When you file the claim and then you’re like when am I going to get paid? That’s something pretty top of mind, right? You might use Alexa, say hey Alexa, what’s the status of my claim? It’s probably easier than doing anything.

Looking for the App

Brent Leary: Calling and yeah.

Nico Acosta: Easier than pulling your phone, looking for the app, right, it’s easier than anything. So, all these channels where it’s voice, where it’s messaging, will all have a spot in the customer journey.

Brent Leary: The last part of the keynote where the use case … it was a pretty funny use case, but where the guy is at the airport and he left something, he left a piece of his luggage and he’s trying to make his connecting flight and so he reaches out in one channel and the person on the other side needs to bring in somebody else [on a different channel], then they start bringing in the pilot [on another channel], they start bringing all … but it was a really fascinating use case of how you don’t need to know what channel somebody is on. You can reach them and you reach the right person at the right time to bring in the right information. How far away are we from that?

Nico Acosta: We’re doing that every day.

Comparing Customer Experience

Brent Leary: Really?

Nico Acosta: So take … compare the Uber experience that we power versus the taxi dispatcher. You want to talk to the Uber driver, you click a button, you talk … you want to know where your Uber is, click a button, you talk to the Uber driver. The Uber driver is the best person in the world to talk to at that point in time. They know where they are. They know if they’re hitting traffic, they know. And if you want to say hey no, on this corner versus on that corner, they’re the right person to talk to. You’re talking to the right person inside the organization.

Take the experience with before with taxi dispatchers. Like oh no, I’m going to call the taxi dispatcher to let them know that I’ll be on this side of the conference hall, not on that side and then they take the message, they try to radio down. So and we’re seeing the same use cases with multi-party where it’s a three-party transaction for example where there’s the food, the customer, the deliverer and it’s a reality today.

Brent Leary: I’m definitely looking forward to getting more of those experiences, having companies create more of those kinds of experiences.

This article, “Nico Acosta of Twilio: Channels Are Converging to Improve Experiences Throughout the Customer Journey” was first published on Small Business Trends

https://smallbiztrends.com/

The post Nico Acosta of Twilio: Channels Are Converging to Improve Experiences Throughout the Customer Journey appeared first on Unix Commerce.

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peterjburnsiii · 6 years ago

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Peter J. Burns III “Firehose Startups”

https://www.linkedin.com/pulse/fire-hose-start-ups-peter-j-burns-iii-peter-burns/

On Dec. 16, 2016, Peter J. Burns III, an accomplished Serial Start-up Entrepreneur, announced his Ready, Fire, Aim business model. This model leverages Peter’s 40+ years of entrepreneurial experience, during which time he started over 100 businesses. Combining his knowledge from those experiences with his guerrilla financing skills, Peter has developed and proven a unique model on how to make start-ups work. In the process he has become an expert at taking solid business ideas and turning them into profitable, sustainable ventures.

The idea for FireHose Start-Ups dates back to Peter’s illuminating experience while teaching a course that he developed in 2007 at Arizona State University. As an Adjunct Faculty Member in the Barrett Honors College, Peter had the chance to teach a Start-Up Entrepreneurship course that he created. For the first time in his life, and after having already started so many businesses, he was now, in a position to take a number of his creative start-up ideas, and have a whole team of entrepreneurial minded people implementing them.

He brought the students his own style of start-up entrepreneurship, and in so doing came to understand better than ever the challenges that are common to all start-ups. He was able to experience the excitement, the energy, and the momentum that builds when a big group of entrepreneurs are all in it together. A month after the class ended, four of the students’ business plans (that Peter is aware of) were on their way to being funded, and a number of successful businesses resulted directly from the knowledge the students came away from that course with.

Barrett Honors College was pleased with Peter the Professor, and with the student feedback they received about his course, as you can see in this testimonial letter from the University.

Since that experience, Peter has continued to think big and to take action. In 2006 he created Club Entrepreneur in Phoenix, AZ. Within 3 years, there were over 10,000 members of Club Entrepreneur in 3 states. Well known Entrepreneurs like Michael Gerber were a common sight on Club Entrepreneur’s stages.

With FireHose Start-Ups, Peter brings the next big opportunity to entrepreneurs. It is the logical next step following that ASU class, and Club Entrepreneur. It is the perfect solution for ambitious, motivated, and entrepreneurial minded individuals. It resonates with people who don’t just want to start a business, but they are determined to succeed, and they want it to happen with THIS business.

With success as an Entrepreneur come the 2 most significant, yet elusive benefits: control of money and time. With true control over money and time, you have true freedom. Freedom to give more of yourself. Freedom to help more people, to do more for yourself, for your family and for your friends… your choice!

That is what freedom is about, and is the “end game” for the Entrepreneurs who will be most attracted to the Fire Hose Start-Up Program.

How It All Evolved

Peter’s arsenal from his 40+ years as a Serial Start-Up Entrepreneur is a smartphone, a laptop, an internet connection (often at a favorite coffee shop) and his old fashioned Rolodex, which is filled with literally thousands of invaluable contacts. With these tools and his unique experience and expertise, Peter is in a position to help other “newbie” or less seasoned entrepreneurs by sharing his expertise and his network with them. As Peter thought more and more about his conversations with Bruce Blechman of Guerilla Financing fame, regarding the new unsecured credit line, he saw a way he could put all of this together and create something very powerful, essentially a start-up incubator, which has now evolved to FireHose Start-Ups.

Testing the waters, Peter began interviewing service providers, and putting together a list of preferred providers that he could refer to his start-ups once they get funded. He interviewed business plan writers, web and graphics designers, social media content creators, email marketing experts, SEO experts, direct mail experts, legal and accounting experts, etc. As he went through the interviewing process, Peter discovered a multitude of extremely talented resources out there that he could harness as he put his overall plan into action.

Peter explains how things evolved from there: “I fashioned a plan of action that combines my own litany of start-up ideas with the plans that entrepreneurs’ began bringing to me. The answer became clear as soon as I did my first guerrilla marketing test to gauge interest in this idea.” For business ideas that make sense, this new financing vehicle allows us to deliver that often elusive necessity: start-up capital. Once initial funding is in place, Peter brings together the right team of independent service providers to work with the Entrepreneur (and his/her team). They work together on defining a plan for implementing all of the elements of the business that are not part of the primary focus or core competency of that start-up.

Mixing all of this together properly, Peter realized that he could, in fact launch (and participate in) several ventures simultaneously while helping nascent entrepreneurs succeed. He helps mix the right ingredients, in the right proportions to allow motivated individuals to “bake their very own entrepreneurial cakes." The outline for FireHose Start-Ups was in place.

Key Differentiator: Providing Start-Up Money

Since cash is both necessary and often almost impossible for start-up entrepreneurs to find, Peter came up with a creative solution to this important problem. This solution allows anyone with a great idea and a credit score of 700+ to get up to $175,000 in unsecured credit for their new business. Now, to implement something like this takes much more than just an idea. It takes a lot of money and power to get the financial backing to introduce a new credit vehicle like this.

How Did Peter Come Up With This Start-Up Funding Model?

This start-up funding model was made for one reason, and one reason only: because of the relationship that Peter has with Bruce Blechman. Bruce is an icon in the world of guerrilla financing; in fact, he wrote the NY Times best selling book on this topic, he taught at the University of Chicago and he is still out there coming up with new and novel ways to leverage his expertise and to learn and share new guerrilla financing strategies.

In late 2016, Bruce and his team finished the development and approval of a novel, unsecured credit vehicle. As this product was nearing completion, Bruce reached out to his friend Peter to discuss marketing, branding and positioning ideas for the new financing product.

As Peter heard more about this new unsecured funding vehicle that Bruce was sharing with him, he knew there was something really big here. He spoke with Bruce about creating a customized version of the product, where this new credit vehicle could be used as a way to fund new startup businesses. Bruce was receptive, and soon the trickle of an idea turned into a stream, which has now widened to a river. Now, imagine all of the water in that river being funneled through a fire hose.

That is where we are today. And the FireHose Startups name evolved from there.

What Has Happened Since?

Within four days of announcing his plan for creating profitable businesses using this new approach, Peter had nine entrepreneurs pre-qualified for the up to $175,000 start-up cash. The resources are now in place, and the chess game has begun. Nine grew to 19 within days, and less than a week later there are 40 businesses that have started through the credit line application process. This means that committed capital in the amount of $4 million has been raised.

What if I Don’t Have A 700+ Credit Score?

Peter hasn’t left those with less than perfect credit behind, either. Rather, he has secured a unique credit enhancement vehicle that allows a person with less-than-perfect credit to piggyback (for a fee) enough trade line credit to increase their own credit, in a relatively short period of time, so as to qualify for the 700+ FICO score.

After getting Bruce’s buy-in, Peter packaged the unsecured credit line and his FireHose Startups idea into the Entrepreneur’s Credit Card. This is the first start-up funding vehicle of it’s kind - created for the sole purpose of funding good business ideas for people with good credit, specifically with credit scores of 700+.

See the video that explains all with immediate access to the "instant approval" algorithm to see how much you are qualified for:

www.entcreditcard.com/imagine

Since first conceiving this idea and putting the word out, using guerrilla marketing strategies of a simple blog on LinkedIn, and without any paid media at all, Peter has generated over 40 qualified applicants in just the past 2 weeks. Below you will find some of the businesses that are moving through the application process at this time:

FireHose Startups

Here are some of the businesses that have passed Peter’s preliminary qualification process, and are now awaiting the approval of up to their $175K in unsecured funding:

Portable Cryo Treatment Lab - based on a technology with measurable health benefits, resulting from 2-3 minute sessions using this device, at temperatures colder than -150 degrees.

The Principals of the business may become clients

The first two franchisees are applying for the card

Boutique Hotels in Urban Areas - This business is based on a unique way to acquire 40 year leaseholds on aging boutique hotels, located in urban areas and tripling their profitability through select improvements and smart yield management techniques.

Double-Wide Mobiles as Snowbird Winter Homes - This business purchases and modifies Mobile Homes in upscale, desirable mobile home parks. The mobile homes are then sold to Snow Birds, on contracts for deeds.

Portable Urgent Care Facilities - The first ever mobile urgent care facility, tethered to traditional facilities and creating the entirely new dynamic of going directly to where the clients are.

Tax Consultancy – Peter’s tax attorney who lives in Connecticut is opening up a tax consultancy firm in La Jolla, using The Entrepreneur Credit Card for the initial seed capital.

Synergy: Peter will refer his successful entrepreneur network to him as clients.

The Vetrepreneur Company – This venture will provide seed capital and entrepreneurial training and education for Military Vets who are serious about becoming Vetrepreneurs.

Marketing Company for 8760 App – This venture is focused on marketing the 8760 App, which combines luxury private jet travel with luxury entertainment into an exciting, revolutionary app and marketing opportunity.

Pet Transportation via Private Aviation - Employees being relocated sometimes have pets, and this company will provide the employees and their pets transportation, often paid for by their companies.

Peter has partnered with the 4th largest travel aggregator in the world, which services 1,000 companies with 120 million employee.

Some of these employees will need relocation

Some of these employees will be traveling far and have pets

This company will lower the price dramatically relative to what people are paying today

Niche Air Charter Business - This venture will focus on niches charters catering to groups like sports teams, music tours, group events worldwide.

This business will be run by a former employee of a large jet charter business

He has a powerful network that he knows will appreciate this service

Luxury Product Placement Program for Villas – This marketing agency will connect producers of luxury goods in over 1,000 luxury vacation villas that are already part of Peter’s network.

Ethiopian Imperial Coffee - This venture will market Ethiopian coffee, which when done effectively will position Ethiopian Imperial Coffee up there with the best available in the US - Jamaica Blue, Kona, etc.

Peter saw this opportunity when he went to do an NGO project in Ethiopia. While there, he learned that coffee was invented in Ethiopia thousands of years ago, and yet in their society, they have never branded their coffee. And this is in spite of the fact they have been selling this coffee to traders around the world.

Stem Cell Rejuvenation Treatment via Medical Tourism – This venture is focused on the leading edge of Stem Cell Rejuvenation Treatments. Using an individual’s own stem cells, a virtual ‘fountain of youth’ treatment plan has been discovered. This venture will fund medical protocols for qualified, selected treatment candidates, who will be given lodging during their treatment in one of the Villas controlled by Peter’s network.

Stem Cell Rejuvenation for Pets – This state-of-the-art treatment has been effective in healing animals and giving them the energy they had many years ago. This first ever stem cell therapy for pets was developed by a Chinese Medical doctor, and it is now being used to treat hip dysplasia in large dog breeds.

Incentive Group Luxury Travel App – Reward employees with high-end vacation trips to full service multi-million vacation villas, rather than 5 Star resort hotels

Cost Segregation - Villas and Hotels – We produce your Cost Segregation Study at no cost strictly adhering to the IRS Cost Segregation Audit Technique Guidelines. In return, you trade us for unused time in your Villa or Hotel which you know you can't fill anyway. Your CPA submits the study summary and the taxpayer can either offset future tax liabilities up to that amount over the next 5 years or receive a refund for overpaid taxes up-to that summary amount by amending tax returns up to three years back.

Cost Segregation - Charitable Fundraising – You can get a “double hit” with Cost Segregation combining it with an additional 501C-3 charitable deduction. The Cost Segregation Study will yield a refund of significant benefit to the property owner. If the property owner then decided to use an additional 501C-3 charitable deduction of all (or some) of these proceeds, which is 100% deductible, this effectively gives the donor a “double hit” with zero actual cost in hard dollars.

Cost Segregation - Estate Planning - Show qualified home and business owners how to minimize their tax liabilities.

Cost Segregation - Fractional Ownership – Apply the benefits of cost segregation to a limited partnership. This unique methodology delivers tax benefits at unusually high levels while decreasing your tax liability making your partnership remarkably profitable at levels above your competition.

Examples of the new start-ups that will probably qualify for Cost Segregation, increasing their long-term profitability:

Portable Urgent Care Center with LA-based Urgent Care Center owner – An M.D. with 10 traditional urgent care centers in the Los Angeles area has an active interest being the first portable urgent care provider In the US.

Luxury Home Exchange – This venture allows owners of luxury homes to trade the use of their homes for the ability to stay in other luxury homes. The homeowner will pay a listing and transaction fee to feature their home in the listings. Equivalent value home stays would cost nothing outside of a transaction fee. The listor of the home earns credits that allows him/her to stay in other luxury homes. The entire transaction would cost nothing but a transaction fee.

Please reach Peter at [email protected] for further information and to apply for his Program and $175k Entrepreneurs Credit Card.

See the video describing the offer and easy process to qualify at www.entcreditcard.com/imagine

#funding #startup #firehose startups #financing #peterjburnsiii #entrepreneur

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