#nct dream renjun ff | Explore Tumblr posts and blogs

starillusion13 · 9 months ago

Text

Poisoned Love

Pairing: bff! Renjun x f!reader x bff! Haechan

W.C: 10.5k

Genre: Yandere, Friends to lovers, SMUT

Warnings: Pervert! Hyuckren, Dom! Haechan, Dom! Renjun, manhandling, toxic ex, possessive, restraining acts, obsession, anonymous messages, calls, texts, gifts, threats, crying, scared, privacy invasion, gaslighting(?), pwp (don't do it sillies), oral(f. Rec.), fingering, nipply play, cum as lube, praising, sucking, biting, double-penetration, lots of kissing, anal sex, finger sucking, multiple sex scene, forgot to add anything? maybe

HAPPY BIRTHDAY TO MY LOVE @renjunnnaaa

Network: @kvanity-main

MINORS DONT INTERACT UNDER THE POST 🔞

"I told you not to put those choco chips now. Those were supposed to be the last step." The older boy grumbled and placed the bottles on the countertop, before glaring at the younger one who started laughing all of a sudden.

"you think I have put those in the mixture?" the younger one smirked and took away a bottle from the row. The other one cursed him in his head for disturbing him at every step.

The younger leaned against the counter and pulled out his phone with a smile. He seemed too excited about what he was about to do. The older one hit his bicep and glared, "then where is it?"

"in my tummy." He said but didn't glance at the furious boy who was about to kill him with the knife beside him.

He stared at him in disbelief, "seriously?" The younger one nodded and smiled at the small screen in his hand and this made the boy beside him to snatch away his phone and was about to throw it away when they heard their house bell ringing.

It was not like usual but someone was desperately pressing the switch as if they got attacked by someone or being chased by a mad dog. Haechan, who was near the kitchen door, quickly stepped towards the grand living room and then walked towards the door. He didn't hesitate to waste any time to open the door because if the person outside was a possible threat, then the guard must have informed him about it but without any commotion from anyone, he opened the door.

Two arms wrapped around him and someone's face was pressed against his chest. The familiar touch and the soft voice calling out his name, "Haechan...." was enough to make him realize the person who was hugging him. He raised a hand and stroked her hairs while the other hand pulled her inside the door, before locking it behind him.

Renjun was standing in a distance from both of them and when he noticed the figure in his hold, his eyes went wide and quickly stepped forward, "what happened?" he patted her back and caressed her to calm her down because she was too scared of something and clutching the younger male's shirt tightly in her hold.

"y/n...tell me what happened?" Haechan whispered the words, not wanting to raise his voice higher than that volume. You didn't pull apart when he tried to look at your face so he guided you to the sofa and made you sit with him. Renjun stood in front of you with folded hands. When he noticed a maid passing by the stairs, he called her and asked her to prepare the cake from where they had left. She obligingly nodded and went towards the kitchen and his attention was again brought back to you when you spoke up.

Pulling yourself away from Haechan, you took deep breaths and bit your lip. He brushed your hairs back and pulled your face up by your chin and noticed your tear strained cheek and red eyes with red plump lips because of your habit of biting lips in nervousness, "tell me, y/n. Is it the same reason?"

He knew. Both of them knew. Renjun scoffed as soon as you nodded. The way you were scared and nervous, they were more furious. It's getting too much. They can't let you live like this with the same thing repeating without any trace of stop from the other end of causing this mishap.

"Heachan, we need to stop this. She has already been through so much and now..." the younger one nodded at his words and smiled at you while patting your head, "how about you freshen up? You look like a mess. You already have so many things, even a room for yourself so go upstairs. We will be there soon."

Renjun extended his palm for you to grab and you did it. Looking at his face, he was smiling all the way when you stood up and turned towards Haechan and exchanged soft smiling goodbyes, just to leave for your supposed room. Renjun was holding your hand as if you were the fragile doll, well to him you were, his precious angel. He always reminds you that even if your status doesn't match with his and Haechan, you will always be their bestfriend, his angel.

Leaving you inside the room, he jogged to where Haechan was.

Looking around the room, you felt like you were at home. Well, you feel safer here than being at your apartment all alone. They have asked you to move in with them so many times but your common phrase that you don't want to be a burden to them makes them irritated. Well, not really. They appreciate your choices and decisions but not when you are living out there scared of the shit going on in your life recently.

Taking the necessary things from the drawer for a shower and then when you opened the closet, you were surprised. There were a lot of dresses, each of them being your favorites but there were only a few last time. It must be because they bought all of these because of your nearing birthday. You shook your head, chuckled and stepped inside the bathroom.

Meanwhile, the two boys were preparing everything to take along with them to your room. For the dinner, they opt to have it with you in your room and their maids arrange it in the way to their liking.

Renjun didn't allow anyone to enter your room so he took the trays and entered the door. Haechan was carrying other necessary stuff like extra pillows and water bottles.

"Hey! Are you fine?" He greeted you with a warm hug after putting all the stuff on the couch. Renjun placed the tray on the center table and turned towards you two. "So, what should we do now? What about movies?"

You pulled apart from the hug to reply to the standing male beside the table, "um...I don't want to bother you two if you have something to do but......thanks for letting me come here."

"y/n, we have said this before. You are our best-friend and it's natural for you to come here. Even we asked you to stay here to move in but you are the one not listening to us." Renjun stepped towards you before saying those words and cupped your face to plant a kiss on your forehead. "Come on. Hop on the bed."

"Let's have our time, forgetting all those negativities. Just let it be how you are feeling with us." Haechan said and brought a spoonful of cake to your lips.

"I can eat." You chuckled but he shook his head and urged you to open your mouth, "no, tell me how is the cake? I made it for you."

"you knew I was coming?" you were surprised.

Renjun shook his head, "No. we would have sent you the cake as a surprise and I made the batter for the whole process and he had just put it in the microwave without choco chips."

Haechan glared at him when he continued spilling what the younger one was doing since evening. Your laughter filled the room with their giggles while moving from one topic to another.

For a moment, you forgot what was the reason you came knocking at their door.

Their actions were too sweet. Always, they treat you tenderly. As if you are a porcelain doll to them, making you feel like one of the sophisticated items from their household. Skinship is very normal between you three, not in a weird way but hugging, cuddling with each other or kissing the other one for reassurance regarding a thing is common. Mainly, you are the one who receives kisses from both of them a lot. You are the one who kisses when you are joking with them a lot and also, they are missing your funny side when you are so quiet today.

Scooting towards the bed frame, you sit in between them and notice the double toned hair boy to place the tray in front of you. Haechan pulled you to his side when he noticed you zoning out and rubbed your arms, "do you want to talk about it?"

You blinked and turned towards him, "why is he doing this?"

He hummed and nodded to himself, "knew he was crazy for you. You thought of him as the perfect boyfriend but look when you found out his real intention, he is pulling off this shit." He hugged you and kissed the side of your head, "but it's okay. We are here to keep you safe."

"I know. You are here, both of you but what if he does something more? What if he tries to harm both of you." You clutched his wrist which was around your collarbone.

Renjun sat in his place beside you and smiled while patting your legs, "he won't. you know, no one can do anything to us, so stop thinking about that shithead and let's enjoy our time."

Yeah. Why are you still thinking about him? it's just going to make you feel more stressed and then scared to be alone. Well, should you say something that's been bugging your mind since afternoon. You wanted to say this for the last few days but your hesitation and what if... you don't know what to think more but you just want to stay closer to someone who feels like family.

"I want to move in with you here."

>>>><<<<

You once had a family, a nice one but the sudden storm in your life snatched everything from you. Your teenage life and your happiness, everything was gone but these two met you at the park in the colony changed your life. Of course, it was nowhere near your mediocre environment but that day after having your part time job, you were strolling around the streets when you stumbled to the grand exposure to the park with a huge garden. The place belongs to all the luxurious apartments and their wealthy owners.

You were just crying to yourself when a boy extended a handkerchief towards you. "Haechan." That was the only introduction he had with you. When you hesitated and tried to stand up and look away, the one named Renjun pushed you down lightly and held your hands, "hey...what happened?"

Their soothing voices, warm lingering touches and soft smiles made you let your heart out to them. Since that day, you somehow bumped into each other a lot. Them arriving at your café, or pulling up in front of the university in a luxury car. Everything was surprising to you. You didn't want so much attention on you or never wanted to live like a wealthy person but you wanted to stay with people who will be close to you.

Honestly, the apartment where you stay is the one these two helped you to buy so that you don't have to stay in that previous old and rusted area. You were so happy that, with an affordable rent and two friends supporting you was enough to motivate you to move forward. They were literally a blessing in your life and your gloomy days were soon turning into the bright ones.

Not long enough after having those happy days with your two new best friends, comes your school crush, rather your childhood best friend, Wooyoung. The way your eyes went wide when you noticed him standing at your university gate with Bouquet of red roses and him dressed up in a black leather fit. You instantly ran up to him and hugged around his neck whispering, "I missed you, woo."

"I missed you too, baby."

And then you shared your whole life story with each other at a restaurant where he invited you for his success. He finally got his father's business position and now moving to this new city, he got to know about you from a common friend.

The daily meetups and the reunion of the friendship blooms into a new stage of bonding. The kindle of love. He was the first one to approach you with the proposal and to both of your surprises, you accepted it quickly. Why not? He was always the one to care for you, to be there for you and now, to love you. You are more than blessed to have three of them with you in your life.

But, as we know, the happy days don't last long enough. It's been six months you were dating Wooyoung, and once, Renjun suddenly told you that your boyfriend seems a bit unusual to him. you let him be assured that you know your boyfriend for too long and he can't be bad. He just nodded and smiled at you.

It was early in the morning that you woke up, all smiles and in a terribly good mood. You didn't have your university classes to attain so it was not a big deal to spend your day as a lazy one. You were in the middle of making yourself lunch when the doorbell rang. You quickly rinsed your hands and wiped them on your apron before going to open the door.

There was no one but when you were about to close it, there was a gift box and a rose Bouquet with a letter attached to it. You were hesitating to pick it up and noticed your name written on the red card with a silver glittery ink. Closing the door behind you, you placed yourself on the sofa with the gifts.

'Dear y/n,

You seem so happy and lively every day. Is it because of me? I think so. Well, I am sure it must be the reason. Who else is going to keep you happy like me?

Let's not talk about this surprise when we meet. I want to see you blushing while remembering my gifts. You can do this for me, right?

I love you so much.

From unknown (your love)'

"Unknown? Wooyoung is really weird sometimes and I love you too." You kissed the letter before sliding it on the table top and inhaled the sweet smell which was already spreading across your room from the flowers in your hold. Deciding a nice place for them, you picked it up and put it in the vase. The gift box had a ring inside it with one more letter telling you how perfect and beautiful you would look with it.

As he told you, you kept it a secret from him. Every day, you received many gifts from him and never for once, you raised the topic about the gifts.

. .

One day when you were holding hands and returning to your apartment, you suddenly blurted out, "Thank you, Woo."

he was surprised, "for what?"

oh, you almost mentioned the gifts, "for...for everything, Woo. Thank you."

He turned you around to face him and kissed your lips, "Thanks to you too for accepting my love."

Who knew after that day, your life was about to change.

He texted you the next day that he was going for some business programs with his dad to a different country and he won't be able to meet you for how long he doesn't know and even though you were sad, you texted him back with enthusiasm and being a supportive girlfriend, you appreciated his work.

It was afternoon and you knew the timing, his gifts. But he was not there, then?

You opened the door, greeting with a teddy bear and chocolates.

'Sorry, y/n. I know you are missing me but for the compensation. Here, a gift for you.'

You smiled while happily taking the teddy bear to your room.

But later in the day, you got more letters and more flowers and these ones were not the usual ones like other days. Now, everyday your excitement for the gifts were turning into a nightmare. It was about pure obsession.

The letters were all about questions related to why you were wearing the dress to the restaurant, why you are not going to the university or why you are still in your bed and not eating properly. How the hell does he know about this? You were scared and the closest person to share this was your two best friends.

"Are you sure, that's him?" Renjun asked you the question for the third time and exchanged looks with Haechan who was equally stressed like you. They were so annoyed with the fact that someone or rather your boyfriend was invading your privacy. Even when you were throwing away some letters without reading, he dared to threaten you. He even sent pictures of you doing your chores in your apartment.

"Who else would do that? It's clear that he is the one who knows everything about me. He is my boyfriend and it clearly mentions that whatever the person is telling or doing is for the lover. In some he even mentioned himself as my boyfriend and who else will know that he is out of town?"

Haechan patted your back, "it's okay, y/n. calm down for me. we will find a solution to it. We won't allow him to do anything anymore."

"I'm scared...what if he tries to do something more."

"You should break up." You looked up quickly towards Renjun hearing his words. He was staring at you as if he expected your sudden gaze on him. He raised a brow at you and you felt defeated when you didn't know what to reply to him. you should break up then what else is holding you back.

Well, the idea of breaking up was the only option that seemed right when after a few days, you got a call from Wooyoung, "y/n! have you received my gift?"

Gift. The word was so endearing and loving from his mouth but to you it was a curse. You nodded as if he could see you, well all those pictures, then he might see you right? You have searched for the hidden cameras and all with your best friends, but nothing you could find, then how?

"I want words, y/n. don't just nod."

Your eyes went wide and quickly you cut the call and threw it on the bed. How?

He called you again and again but you didn't pick up, you kept staring at the phone.

A message popped up in your phone,

'hey! I didn't mean to scare you. I thought you were nodding because I got the mail it had delivered.'

'I'm sorry, love.'

'Please tell me. Do you like it?'

Didn't mean to scare you......

You stared at the gift box in front of you. Didn't bother to open it but you texted him like usual 'yes' with emojis. He was too happy because of the way his next messages were flooding in your inbox.

It started to feel suffocated and exposed in your own apartment and your two best friends repeatedly inviting you to stay at their place. Yes, you gladly accepted it and started to spend most of the days at their house. Sometimes, having sleepovers and movie nights or you all going together for short trips for half of the day. Renjun showed you his recent paintings dedicated to you. You couldn't really decipher the meanings behind each of his paintings but still you liked it because his hard work behind it was showing.

Haechan learned some new recipes to cook for you and honestly, most of the time, he made a mess of them. Still, the love for you was showing in the work.

These two were actively keeping your mind off from the incidents happening back at your apartment.

Renjun was driving you to your apartment when he offered you again, "why don't you move in with us? It will be safe and easier for you."

"no. I don't want to be a bother. I should talk with him. Why is he doing this with me? Hope, it can solve the problem." you looked down on your lap.

"and you think he will? Will he leave you after that? He is obsessed with you. His obsessions are clearly showing. A healthy relationship is not like this. when there's still time. Come out of it."

He pulled the car in front of your apartment and you nodded, "I will think about this. Thank you, Jun."

He nodded and patted your head, planting a kiss to the side, "take care and be safe. Call me or Haechan if it's too much."

You exited his car with a smile but your smile soon disappeared when you reached your doorstep. Again, those flowers and letters.

And this time a message popped up in your phone from an unknown id,

'How was the trip, love? Did you enjoy it? Are you missing me?'

You were so scared that you quickly dialed Renjun's number and he was quick enough to reach your location and engulfed you in a hug.

"It's okay. I am here. Don't be scared."

When he asked you for the keys, you shook your head. You didn't want to enter the door and whispered to him to take you somewhere else. And he did. He listened to your pleading, he himself didn't want to leave you there alone. So, he drove you to a cliff where you love the most to spend time talking about your life. This is the place where only three of you come often.

When you reached the place, you were surprised to see Haechan with a white leather jacket and Black jeans standing, leaning against his bike and you exited the car, only to run towards him, "Haechan..."

"Baby...are you okay?" his voice was soothing just like other times. His tone becomes sweeter when he speaks to you. He really treats you like a baby.

And the next day how you ended up at their doorstep, finally having too much of the threats and scared that he might pull up something more crazy.

They blocked his number and shifted all your things from the apartment to their house. Even, they managed to change your university classes to online. Haechan even bought you a new phone with a new number so that you don't have to feel scared of him texting you again.

Was it all over? Or something more crazy was supposed to happen?

>>>><<<<

It's been over six months, you are staying with them in their house, which they make you feel assured to think of yours too. But something, you did notice. Their skinship with you. The tension between you when either of them is too close to you. Why? You have a boyfriend. Well, maybe you had.

Then, what's this they are trying to show you? Trying to make you feel.

You were standing beside Haechan who was beside you cutting vegetables because last night, he decided to learn to make you a new meal which a lover should try to impress their crush.

"So, am I your crush?" you asked him and raised your brow when he blushed and turned away.

He shook his head while washing the knife, "keep quiet. I am doing something important. Don't distract me."

"So, am I your distraction?" you neared him and stepped beside him, leaning against the counter. "Tell me."

He glanced at you before placing the knife to the side and with a quick move, he caged you between his arms, trapping you between the counter and his body.

"Haechan..." you gasped because of his sudden action.

"Ask me the question again." his breath was near you, fanning your lips. His soft voice yet a tone of demanding was enough to make your breaths heavy. You averted your eyes away when he grabbed your jaw, "look at me and ask the question."

His lips were almost touching yours and the only thing that was crossing your mind was to kiss him. Why? You don't know. But you wanted to.

"Kiss me." you whispered the words, your mind going blank and your hands clutching the marble edge of the counter, nails colliding against the slippery surface and you bit your lower lip.

"Fuck, I would've never thought you wanted me in the same way I wanted you," he took your hand and pulled you towards him so your bodies were pressed together more. "So you are attracted to me too?" He whispers low in your ear, making your breath hitch.

"Well, I guess-"

"A direct one word answer is what I want." he cut you off, nibbling on your earlobe. "Are you enjoying this, y/n?"

"Yes," you answered him, finally relaxing in his arms. you held onto his shoulder to prevent yourself from collapsing, your knees feeling weak at his touch. "I love you."

He continued peppering your neck with soft wet kisses, his breaths fanning over it. You tilted your head to allow him more access. You placed a hand on his chest, then began to untuck his black shirt, both hands starting to roam under it.

His lips pulled your lips into a kiss, a soft sensual one. Never in a while, you thought to be like this with him and even going further into it.

At the same time, he was busy moving his hands up and down your sides, still moving his lips with the rhythm of yours. He grunted when your soft hands met his bare skin, his heart beating erratically. Tongues intertwining and hands roaming each other's bodies. You tugged his shirt eagerly and he helped you to take it off before throwing it away, he stopped you when you were pulling your shirt.

He wanted to do it on his own. He wanted to see you on his own.

He separated his mouth for a few seconds so he could take your shirt off. You admired his bare tanned chest and abs, not being able to keep your hands off him. He went to pull your pants off.

"Fuck...you are driving me crazy." He smirked and you were nervously looking at the door to see if anyone would accidentally see you in that position with him."don't worry, no one is at home. Not even Renjun."

Before you could say a word, he again dominated your mouth once again, making your mind go blank. His hands traveled to your ass, squeezing it. You moaned into the kiss, grinding against his still clothed hard-on. "Fuck, you're so hot," he grunted, gripping your ass harder. "He had this all to himself. Lucky bastard."

"I didn't fuck him." You whispered.

"Then am I the first one?" He smirked and held your chin upward. You nodded and shyly looked at him. "Words y/n.." he pecked your lips.

"Yes, Haechan. You are the first one. Please do something."

He lifted you by your thighs and placed you on the counter. You gasped when your lower half came in contact with the cold surface. He crouched down to kiss your belly. Your chest heaved up and down in anticipation as you felt his touch, trailing kisses starting from your ankle and going higher. you began squirming when the soft lingering touch of his lips reached your inner thigh. "Hae-Haechan..." your breathing labored.

He poked his tongue out to trace the edges of your underwear, dangerously close to your heat, but avoided the spot on purpose just to tease you a little longer. He is a tease and he is even proving it to you in this situation.

your hand grabs at his hair, the other gripping the edge of the counter. "please, stop teasing me," you whined, getting more and more frustrated.

He removed your panties with his teeth, staring up at your face, twisted in frustration. "God, I can't get enough of your look. You are perfect, y/n."

Your knuckles start hurting from the tight grip you had on the counter but it's the only thing that's keeping your grip strong because your grip on all other senses has been lost completely. Is it right to do this with your best-friend? But your body betrays you with the excitement building inside. You feel yourself attracted to him but...

You were distracted when you didn't notice that he parted your heated lips and inserted his index finger inside your lips, making you let out a choked up moan. It glided in easily, emitting a squelching sound as wetness surrounds it.

"Haechan, we should stop this. This is not right." you breathed out, sounding almost as if you were in pain.

Haechan, too preoccupied with his task, didn't even acknowledge your plea; he adds a second finger, watching how they get swallowed up by your heat. He began a scissoring motion, feeling your walls pulse around them.

" Fuck, Haechan...that- that's...more please" you cried out when you felt his thumb press on your sensitive clit. you breathe heavily, your skin sticky with sweat, legs shaking and fingers going numb from the grip on the marbled counter-top.

"I will give you more, baby." he kissed your belly and nuzzled his face, his breath tingling against your hot skin. "Let's have the fun. I will give you everything, I promise."

When he couldn't take the insistent throbbing of his cock anymore, he stood and made quick work of lowering his pants and boxers. you whimpered at the loss of his fingers. He held your thigh with one hand and grabbed his length with the other, rubbing the tip against your wetness. "Tell me how much you want it, baby," he demanded and slid his cock against your clit.

"Want it so bad, need it, Haechan, please fill me up," you panted, swerving your hips.

"I want you too. So bad. My filthy girl. My princess is going to be mine." he unclasped your bra and quickly plopped a nipple in his mouth. You moaned out his name and grabbed his hair, his grunts vibrating against your skin. When he heard your plea to stop again, he chuckled against your chest while still licking and sucking your nipples, "don't fight yourself, princess. You know you want this. I know you want this. He couldn't have given you this like me." he bit your skin near the collarbone, "fuck...he should not have come into our life. I would have gotten you sooner."

your back arched off the countertop when the tip slipped in and he simultaneously groaned in delight. He pushed the rest in slowly, filling you up as promised. He leaned over your body to press his lips to your neck and leave wet kisses.

Both of your hands were buried into his hair, making it messier than it already was. He pulled away and pulled you a little closer to the edge by your thighs. you gasped and grabbed at the edge again to stabilize yourself. He pulled you in for a passionate kiss and he moaned into the kiss feeling you clenching around him. Your tears strained your face and this time, it made him smile because you were not crying because of that shit and his threats but because of him and his sweet tortures on your sensitive parts.

He gave you no warning before he pulled out, only leaving the tip in, and pushing back in.

he grunted, feeling the squeeze of those tight warm walls around him. "Shit," he swore, staring at your figure. His hands went up to squeeze your breasts and fickle your nipples, igniting your senses and making your body react to his touches more.

"You," Haechan praised, pushing in, "are...so...sexy" Each word was punctured with a powerful thrust, knocking the breath out of you beneath him.

His movements gradually started to get faster, his hands gripping your hips. He slowed down to put your legs over his shoulders and held on to your thighs instead, thrusting harder, reaching deep inside your warmth. "Haechan!" you clawed at his back, letting out lewd moans that mix with the sound of skin slapping on skin. he pecked your lips and smirked.

"Ah- Yeah, baby, scream my name! Let me hear you who's fucking you this good," He said in between thrusts.

"Haechan, yes, fuck me!" you repeated his name insistently, overcome with ecstasy.

he rolled his hips, grunting in pleasure each time. His tongue glided across his lower lip as he watched you with hooded eyes. Haechan moaned when your walls clamped down on his cock, pulsing around him, tightening and squeezing."Fuck!"

"y/n, so, so good, you are doing so good I'm so close, fuck!" your vision went white as you hit your high, body spasming with aftershocks and toes curling while your hips keep moving against his.

your orgasm along with your blissful facial expression triggered his own, causing him to release hot, sticky spurts of cum. He pulls out and jerks off over you, more coming out to paint your lower stomach.

he pressed an affectionate kiss on your leg that was still over his shoulder. "God, that was awesome," he breathed, running a hand through his sweaty black hair.

He helped you sit up comfortably before pulling you in for a heated kiss, your arms going around his broad shoulders. you sighed in satisfaction, softly dragging your nails down his naked back.

He bit your bottom lip in return, hands roaming your thighs. "Good?" Haechan asked you after pulling away. you nod in agreement, "all good."

He pulled his pants back up and stepped back to collect your disposed dress. He carefully dressed you back in your clothes, leaving the inner wears still on the floor. You didn't bother to wear it as you were going to shower anyways.

He kissed your cheek and you blushed, "I can't believe we just did that on my kitchen counter..." you hid your face in the crook of his neck. "but..I...it feels so wrong."

"Why?" He hugged your body and kissed your head. You murmured against his bare skin, "we are best friends and this feels so wrong...we are not even dating..."

"Will you let me be your boyfriend?" he pulled back to look at your face. Your surprised expression earned a chuckle and a kiss on your tip of the nose from him. You asked him softly, "are you serious?"

He nodded and pressed his forehead to yours, "yes. I am. Will you?"

"Y-yes. I can try."

He pressed his lips to you and whispered, "I promise I will treat you better than him. I love you."

."I love you too, Haechan."

The sun shone brightly on the two figures lying comfortably in bed. Haechan blinked his eyes open and stretched, accidentally waking you up. you gently placed your hand on his cheek, caressing it slowly. You were still in disbelief after the last event.

"Good morning," he greeted in a gruff sleepy voice. The sound of his low voice made your cheeks heat up slightly as you smiled back at him with a greet. you both giggled and cuddled closer; your activities from the last evening had you both glowing in happiness and excitement.

"Sleep well, baby?" Haechan, stroking your hair. "hm, best sleep I've had in a while." you offered a small smile but he frowned. "What do you mean 'in a while'? Have you not been sleeping well?" He asked, concerned.

"It's not that... I just slept better since you were next to me," you buried your face in his chest in order to hide your embarrassment.

Well that was not the end, even though you started dating Haechan. You could see Renjun was in a bit of a sour mood recently. Snapping at Haechan every now and then and sometimes, he even glares at you for no reason.

"Y/n...are you busy?" Renjun was standing at your doorstep, you plugged out your earphones and sat up properly and patted the place beside you. You shook your head and smiled, "no. I'm just chilling. Haechan said he will be coming home late. Why, do you need something?"

He stepped forward and locked the door behind him. Your eyes went wide in surprise, "Renjun?"

He chuckled and noticed a photo frame on a shelf beside him, you and Haechan smiling brightly at the camera. He himself clicked that picture for you two. He had also clicked a picture with you but why not he is there as well? Oh, beside it there is another picture but all three of you smiling, you in between staring at the camera and them staring at you.

"How are you and Haechan doing?" His slow steps made your heart beat fast. Your breath heaving with his low voice and chuckles in between his questions. You gulped and scooted towards the bed frame.

You managed to smile, "we are fine."

He placed himself beside you and scanned your body, in shorts and a short tee. You are really a tease. He thought to himself and his gaze darkened with the thought that you are dating his step-brother. You tried to move away from him when he held your wrist and pulled you in front, "where are you going?"

"no..I'm not going anywhere."

"Am I not good for you?" his dark voice and the tight grip on your wrist didn't let you avert your eyes away. He curled a lock of yours between his fingers and traced your face, "speak...angel. I know you can use your words." he kissed the tip of your nose and smiled.

"Yes, you are good." you breathed out the words. He pulled your ankles and wrist together towards him, a slow tug upwards made you sit on his thigh. Your legs folded by your knees and resting on either side of his leg.

"You know, haechan is not the only one who loves you in the way you are attracted to him." he leaned and whispered in your ears, "you don't know how bad I want you angel. I want to ruin the innocence of you." his breath tickling your earlobe and his teeth grazing over your back of the ears, where he pressed a kiss and trails down wet and sloppy kiss downwards to your neck and throat.

"R-Renjun...stop.."

He darkly chuckled in your ears and pulled apart to stare at your scared face, the look he is used to seeing because of the past incident of your obsessive boyfriend. He grabbed your wrist to bring your hand to his chest and leaned forward, "you didn't tell him to stop. And, look, do you feel the heart? That's beating for you my love."

"What do you mean?"

"I love you, y/n...please...I love you so much."

he pulled down the straps of your red tee, slipping them off your shoulders, unclipping the bra with one swift click and kissing the skin there. He moved lower to nip at your collarbones and you curled your hands above his chest, arching forward. He helped you slip your arms out, then proceeded to pull the fabric low enough along with your bra to expose your breasts. His head descended down to take a nipple into his mouth, making it harden as he swirled his tongue around it, gently toying with the other between two fingers. you squirmed, your chest rising and falling with every breath you took.

"Renjun, please..."

"It doesn't take much to have you begging, huh?" He teases, making you whine in response, "I'll have you begging even more in a minute, love."

Renjun kissed his way down your stomach, using his hands to pull down your shorts to reveal your panties. He pushed your knees apart, causing you to gasp in surprise. He pushed you down on the bed, your head hitting softly against the mattress. He traced his lips at the edge of your underwear, staring up at you with desire in his eyes; your reactions will never cease to entrance him. Them.

Your hands tightened in his hair, tugging at it softly as Renjun continued to tease you, softly nibbling at your thighs near the edges of your panties. he hooked his fingers through it and pulled it down your legs, taking it off and dropping it to the floor, leaving you bare apart for the tee bunched up at your waist.

your hands slipped out of his hair as Renjun scooted further down the bed, placing your legs over his shoulders. He kissed your inner thighs, tracing his tongue along your sweet skin before going even lower. you let out a loud gasp and your fingers twisted into the sheets when he licked at your heat. legs trembling with every contact of his tongue made with your clit. He held tightly onto your thighs, pressing his pointed tongue against your swollen clit in a teasing manner and flicking the little bud.

You were practically crying when Renjun pressed his tongue inside of you, slightly parting your walls. He looked up, seeing your face twisted in pleasure, panting and moaning as he thrusted his tongue inside your heat. He used one of his hands to rub your clit with his thumb and you whined loudly, trying to push your hips back against him.

"I want to cum," you stutter out, thrashing your head from side to side.

Renjun stopped all his movements to look up at you, "What's the magic word, baby?"

"Please," you begged, your hands pushing his head down. you couldn't take it anymore. you were so fucking close to the edge, you barely needed a push to reach your peak.

"You are so perfect, y/n."

He chuckled before diving back down to accomplish his task: he slurped and licked vigorously, swirling his tongue and flicking your most sensitive nerve. He pinned your hips to the bed to keep you from moving too much as he worked closer to orgasm. Renjun knew you wanted to cum before it even happened: the legs on his shoulders tighten around him and shake with the force of your climax, sending you crashing down.you pulled hard at his duo toned hair.

Soon after, your body turns slack, as if melted into a puddle. He kissed your inner thigh then your belly button and continued all the way up to your chest. He didn't waste any time removing the pant, throwing it to the side, he slowly pulled up his shirt above his head and your eyes locked at his chest, Renjun softly nips at the soft and supple skin of your neck, tasting the sweetness of it, inhaling the scent.

your hands held onto his broad shoulders and your nails dragged down his back when he finally pushed inside you, burying himself in your tight heat. He rolled his hips gently, enjoying the burning pleasure you brought to him.

"Y/n." He moaned in a low voice. you held onto him tighter, pushing back against him, trying to meet his gentle movements.

Renjun's hands roamed your body, caressing every curve of your form, leaving goosebumps in their wake. your breathing was erratic, heartbeat beating fast and loud in your own ears.

you could barely handle the way he was holding you close and making those erotic sounds right next to your ear. sweat slick bodies move in harmony, pushing and pulling, biting and scratching, lost in a flame of passion.

Renjun nipped softly at your throat then at your chin and finally your lips. He rubs your noses together affectionately and giggle at the sweet gesture.

No words were exchanged as you stared into each other's eyes, in the middle of your own little world, the only important thing being one another.

Renjun lowered your legs to around his waist and accelerated the cadence of his movements, already sensing you were close by the way you were gripping him even tighter.

The rhythm turned sloppy as you both chased pleasure, rocking against each other, holding on before finally letting go, flying high before spiraling down together and drowning in pure bliss. The heavy breathing fills the otherwise silent room and sweet kisses were exchanged along with soft touches.

Renjun hid his flushed face in the crook of your neck, breathing in your scent and letting his body relax but not resting his weight on you. He couldn't get his heart to slow down; the proximity and your delicate touch were almost too much for him to handle.

"Angel," he called breathlessly, snuggling into you underneath him, "I love you," he finally said. Laying on his side, he traced your face with his index finger, from your closed eyelids to your cheek to the bridge of your nose, admiring every detail of your angelic face.

The only response he got was your soft breathing.

Renjun smiled to himself, closing his eyes and drifting into a deep sleep beside you, holding onto you tightly in his embrace.

>>>><<<<

"I'm sorry, Haechan." you were practically crying while hugging the boy in front of you and no matter how many times he did ask you about the reason, you were just clinging onto him and crying because of what you did last night.

He pulled you on his lap and rocked you in his embrace, "shh...baby tell me, what happened?" he kissed your head, "did he contact you again?" you shook your head and buried your head into his chest. "Then is it about, Renjun?"

You quickly looked up to him. Does he know what you did last night? He really answered your question as if he could read your mind.

"I know what happened yesterday." he combed your hair back and traced the purple and red marks on your skin around the neck and the exposed body parts. "If you are thinking, I'm angry with you. No, I'm not."

"Haechan?"

He smiled and pressed his lips to your temple, "I love you, princess. He loves you too. We both know our weakness for you. Because of this, we decided to have you as ours. But we were doubtful about you. How you will react and after yesterday. I'm sure you don't have a problem accepting him." he pecked your lips, and whispered into it, "Do you have a problem with this?"

"But this is wrong."

He chuckled and grabbed your neck softly, yanking your head back soft enough not to hurt you, his gaze darkened but quickly vanished with a smile appearing on his face, "you are doing no wrong, baby. This is what you want."

You were staring at his face. His words and his actions were more dominant than other days. As if he was punishing you for your deeds with his brother but also, holding back himself because that's the thing he wanted too. Or rather agreed to.

"I promised you. I would keep you safe and would protect you from everything then, why are you so afraid?" he leaned to your ear and said in a low voice, "Be brave, be strong, but take it easy. No rush baby. I know you got this."

"I love you, Haechan." you murmured and he kissed your earlobe, humming in satisfaction before returning to your lips. " You know I love you so much, right princess?" he pressed his lips to you and pulled your hair back to kiss your throat and left behind sucking on the spots.

You nodded and he asked you softly, "you will let Renjun join now?" you nodded and your mind was going blank under his sweet tortures of his mouth and hands roaming around your body. Your groans when he was pulling your hair earned chuckles from him.

He took his time teasing you, biting and nibbling and licking every sensitive part of your body, teasing you relentlessly until you were a hot whimpering mess.

You heard the door creaked open and noticed Renjun walking in, his eyes filled with lust and hunger for you. His each slow and cautious step made you squirm under Haechan's hold. He reached near the bed and pulled his belt around from the waist and tied your hands together to prevent you from moving them. your hands were by the top of your head.

"Renjun...why?" your voice was not recognisable, whether you were asking or pleading to him. He leaned forward, placing his palm on the mattress and smirked, "I haven't touched you yet but still you are begging."

Haechan pushed your top upwards revealing your body bare underneath. He quickly leaned down to trail wet kisses on your stomach, chest and flicking the nipples with his fingers and swirling the other one with tongue. Most of your body was already littered in little dark marks left by him. you squirmed as he continued his slow tortures, claiming you with love bites.

"I want you to do exactly as I say. Got it?" Haechan said in between kisses, looking at you expectantly afterwards. You nodded and when you tried to bring your hands down, Renjun caught them and glared, "did I tell you to move them?"

You shook your head frantically and whined, "No." Renjun discarded his pants and shirt, only in his boxers placed himself on the other side of you to claim your lips, holding your tied up wrist in place and other hand twirling the hardened nipples.

Haechan sat on his knees and palmed himself over the sweatpants and stared at you both. "Good girl. Now, spread your legs for me."

You did as told, spreading your legs with little resistance. He bit his lip at the sight, getting turned on. "Damn, that's hot," he gets on top of you, pressing himself against you. Your breathing stopped for a split second when both of them were right in front of you.

"You are ours, y/n. No one can take you away from us." Renjun said and kissed your cheek.

Haechan placed a light kiss on your nose, cheek then chin before descending lower.

"Please..." Upon hearing you beg, Haechan wasted no more time before diving into your heat, slipping in one finger and then followed by another. He made sure you were enjoying yourself by watching your facial expressions, grinding against the mattress at the same time to relieve his erection.

Your fingers clenched, twisting and crumpling the sheets when Renjun suddenly intertwined your pinned hands with his, your thighs squeezing around Haechan's hand involuntarily, the pleasure driving you almost wild. your breathing comes out in little gasps and your chest heaves up and down as Renjun continues flicking your most sensitive bud in hard circles, his tongue gliding easily across it. you could feel the familiar fire in the pit of your lower stomach blazing up. Just as it's about to explode, Haechan comes to an abrupt stop.

"Why?" you managed to whine through your heavy breathing.

"I like teasing you, baby. I like seeing you desperate and begging for my touch. Princess, you look so hot tied up like this, under my control. God, I wish you could see yourself from my eyes." you rubbed and squeezed your thighs together to ease the throbbing between the legs.

Haechan's dirty words, Renjun's manhandling, their rough voices and the animalistic looks in their eyes were making you feel things you never felt before. They were going crazy for you. The girl they dreamt of having for themselves was under their watch, their control, squirming and begging for them.

"I could just watch you all day." Renjun said and inhaled your scent from the crook of your neck and Haechan pulled down his boxers and took his erection in his hand, staring at you as he slowly moved his hand along his length.

Renjun continued whispering to you, he was enjoying watching you squirm and beg under his hold, "yes, angel. You are doing so good for us."

"Please, I can't! Make me cum..." you could hear the sound of him jerking off and making you even more desperate; they were free to do whatever they wanted while you had to take whatever they gave you.

"Aww, is my baby getting impatient?" The male above you smirked as he sees this and intentionally lets out loud groans, "Fuck..." He could hear you whining and the face you made looked like you were in pain. Renjun starts thrusting into his tight first, dangerously close to the edge. He bit his lower lip and forced himself to stop.

"Tell him what you want, angel."

"Fuck me. Ruin me, make me cum," you begged. you had never been more desperate in your entire life than in this very moment.

Haechan leaned over your body to leave more hickeys on your neck. "Mmh, baby is so wet for me," he said, running his fingers through your folds. He aligned himself with your heat and rubbed his length on your clit. You trembled at the sensation, trying to get him closer to you by wrapping your legs around his waist.

Haechan held onto your thighs to bring you closer and easily inserted himself inside your heat. You both moaned in unison as he pushed in slowly and dragged his cock back out before pushing back in and repeating. "Fuck."

None of your senses seemed to be working as you continued whining loudly and thrashing your head with your eyes closed, paying no attention to the almost crazed look on their faces.

"Baby, so good. Fuck, You are a poison to my mind. A sweet poison." He pronounced every word with a hard thrust, making it difficult for you to speak; you couldn't focus on anything around you, too overwhelmed by all the different sensations taking over your body. you pulled at the leather belt, nails digging into the palms of Renjun's hands.

The said man cursed in your ear, he quickly held himself up and spread his cum on your chest.

The man above you slowed down to a complete stop, making your eyes shot open. "Stop doing that, damn it!" you yell out in frustration.

you suddenly gasped in surprise when Haechan spanked your asscheek. "I'm in control here so I do as I please. Disrespect me again and I will leave you on the edge." With wide eyes, you nod frantically at the seriousness in his voice. "Answer me."

You swallow hard, flustered, "Yes."

"Behave, y/n." Renjun said beside you and pulled you in a deep kiss, muffling your noises. Haechan slowly starts thrusting again, making you choke on a moan. "God, that feels so good."

"Good. keep making those noises while I fuck you." Haechan didn't waste any time before he resumed thrusting inside at a fast pace, making you let out loud surprised moans. your hips clashed as he pounds into your wet heat, orgasms drawing closer.

" yes" you chant, followed by a series of moans. The noises made him lose control, letting out deep growls as he held onto your thighs for support and rams into you without mercy.

The bed squeaks in time with his rhythm, the sound being accompanied by the labored breathing, moans and grunts. Haechan slowed his pace but went deeper, one hand going to rub your clit to finish you off.

He grinds against you as your walls pulse around him, triggering his own climax. He quickly pulls out and releases his thick load all over your lower belly.

"Mhm, fuck yeah," Haechan leaned forward to kiss you shoulders, sticking his chest to you and nuzzling into the nape of your neck. When you try to speak something, he pulls you in for a kiss. The slow, lazy and affectionate kiss and you smiled in between.

Haechan pulled away from you, leaving your body feeling slightly cold under the touch of his brother, "Lay on the bed and spread those beautiful legs for me," Renjun ordered, licking his lips.

you, as always, followed the orders given to you but not without feeling a little embarrassed; Renjun liked the way you were complying to his orders and he smirked seeing your movements under his control.

As soon as you were lying comfortably on the bed, he went to situate himself between your legs at the foot of the bed and pulled you closer by thighs, kneading them. "Look at me," he continued giving orders, the authority in his voice making you shiver.

you lifted your upper body with the support of Haechan in order to see him, Haechan untied the belt from the wrists and your eyes widened as you watched him lift his middle and ring finger to his mouth, coating them thoroughly in saliva. your chest rises and falls rapidly as you keep watching him, while he just stares back at you with that wild hunger in his eyes, moving his tongue teasingly. He then pushes the two slick digits inside you, easing them into your wet entrance. you gasp and throw your head back into Haechan's chest, unable to control your body's response, and Renjun stops halfway, "Keep watching."

Haechan laughed and his laugh vibrated on your back. He held you down on your place, pinning your body against his chest, his length poking behind your lower back and the pleasure in front was driving you crazy. "She will be gone soon. My baby is loving this." Haechan said and laughed at your weak body in his hold.

Forcing yourself to not succumb to the pleasure Renjun was making you feel, you look at him again, licking your suddenly dry lips. Renjun's eyes flicker downwards to watch his fingers get sucked up all the way to the knuckles, his dick throbbing in want. He starts moving them in and out, scissoring them and stretching the tight walls.

you watch with hooded eyes the way his tongue pokes out from in between his teeth as he concentrates on his task, fingering her expertly.

"I want you to hold it in if you are near. Think you can do that?" you nod with furrowed eyebrows, whimpering in pleasure as his long fingers continue working their magic; they glide easily thanks to how wet you were, aroused by his dominant behavior. Haechan was trailing kisses along your neck and throat, often turning your mouth to kiss your lips.

Once your thighs start squeezing around him and you buck your hips, Renjun knew you were close to the edge. He moved his hand to replace it with his length and started to move a little faster, his warm breath hitting close to your nipples, when he sucked on them afterwards.

His hand left your thigh to go towards his mouth and he sucked on his fingers to taste you, tongue swirling around it before pulling it out and pressing it against your neglected clit. You were so into it that you didn't notice Haechan collected some of your arousal and started spreading it to your hole from the back and when you whined, he pushed himself from behind you. Renjun holding your body close to him and caressing your back. "Shh...that's it. You are doing so good for us."

Haechan groaned and held you still, the other male also stopping a bit to make you adjust, "relax. You are taking us so well. Good, baby." He caressed your sides. He planted a kiss on your shoulder and the other one who was still holding you close, kissed on your crown of the head. They started moving again, each cautiously looking at your expression, alert for your discomfort and they will stop. Haechan grabbed your breasts and squeezed them and Renjun grabbed your hips, you were clutching onto both of them for dear life.

your arms give out simultaneously as your legs begin to shake almost violently, white flashing behind your tightly closed eyelids, a loud and obscene moan leaving your lips. your back arches off the chest behind you as you are brought to the highway to heaven., tears spilling from her eyes and hands gripping him, nails digging into his skin.

"Please!" you cried out, whining loudly afterwards. your body wanted to scoot away and get closer at the same time, torn between the two. you panted in exhaustion and your body relaxes once they had stopped. they placed soft kisses all over your body, pulling out slowly.

They lay you down between them and Haechan's hands comb through your hair while you stare at the ceiling absentmindedly, catching your breath. He whispered, "Happy birthday, Princess. I love you the most."

Before you could reply to him, Renjun turned your face towards him and kissed your lips, "Happy Birthday, Angel. I love you so much."

You glanced at the clock and it was 12' o clock, your birthday. "Thank you. I love both of you" you smiled sweetly at both of them.

"So, how was that? Feel good?" Haechan asks, a cocky smirk on his face.

"Of course it did... but " you trail off, making Haechan's smile fade into worry, "But?"

"But is it okay for us three to be together?" you asked, your face becoming warmer as you confess.

you had never done anything like this before, so you felt as if you were doing something wrong or must have gone crazy that you were liking all these things

."Don't worry, y/n, we'll be perfect with each other, promise. we'll show you all kinds of things in the future," Renjun reassured, squeezing her thigh, and giving her a sweet kiss before getting up, leaving you with Haechan.

"I'm gonna shower now. Haechan, can you freshen her up?" He asks and you whine, "don't leave me with him. Let's shower together. It's my birthday and you both have to listen to me now."

Before you could complain even more, Renjun scooped you in arms and laughed, "whatever you order, maam." you hit his chest playfully, his laugh becoming louder followed by Haechan who even started teasing you how heavy you look in his arms. Both of you glared at him and entered the bathroom.

You are glad that you are no longer in the past relationship with Wooyoung. You are out of his obsession and listened to your two best friends who stayed by your side, protected you and loved you. You are out of the toxic love. You are in a pure and innocent love.

Are you really, though?

Before Haechan could enter the bathroom, he heard a notification pop up on your phone. He stepped towards the table and unlocked to see it. He smirked at the screen, placing it back on the table top and he jogged towards the bathroom when Renjun called out his name.

'Happy Birthday, y/n!'

-Unknown (your love)

Love is poisoned by your innocence.

Note: please I want to thanks to people for reading and reblogging. Reviews are always appreciated. Spread love not hate. If my favoritism is showing with any of the members then please try to understand coz Hyuck is my twin🎀

Taglist: @mymoodwriting @justhere4kpop @anyamaris @yeoobin @icchyi @jwnghyuns @piratequeen-queenofgames @dinonuguaegi @oreharuuu @hwanring @sanwifesstuff @kiwiisnthereoops @kiwiraccoon @hyuukah @kazscara @aceofspadesbiofalltrades @nvdhrzn @meowmeeps @vtyb23 @haechansbbg

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idkanymark · 22 days ago

Text

[Enemies?]

chenle x f!reader | enemies to lovers | frenemies

INTRO: You and Chenle had always been at odds. Whether it was in the classroom, at parties, or just the brief encounters in between, the two of you couldn't stand each other. Your banter, sharp as it was, became a defining part of your interactions—a mixture of insults, challenges, and the occasional (and frustrating) competitive streak. What no one expected was the night that changed everything. A wild party, fueled by too many drinks and too much tension, led to something neither of you could have predicted. One moment you were arguing, the next you were tangled up in something far more complicated than either of you was ready for.

wc. Around 5k

NOTE: This is not really my style but I tried

-----

He definitely was going crazy.

Otherwise, how do you explain waking up naked next to you—his worst enemy?

Chenle stared at the ceiling, his thoughts racing, desperately trying to piece together the fragments of the night before. The weight of your arm draped across his chest was the last straw. He shoved it off, his face burning, just as you groaned and stirred beside him.

Your eyes fluttered open, and the moment your gaze landed on him, you froze. Then, as if the absurdity of the situation finally registered, you let out an exasperated sigh.

“Damn, was I that horny?” you muttered, slapping a hand against your forehead.

“Shut up” Chenle snapped, his tone sharper than he intended.

You sat up, pulling the blanket around yourself like a shield, your expression shifting from confusion to irritation. “How the hell did we even end up in this situation?” you asked, your hand massaging your temples as if that could ward off the impending migraine.

“I don’t remember” Chenle lied too quickly. His words were defensive, clipped, but oh, he remembered—just not how it all started.

“Great” you groaned, swinging your legs off the bed and scanning the room for your clothes. “I’m leaving”

Chenle leaned back, crossing his arms as he watched you shuffle around the room. A smirk tugged at the corners of his lips when you picked up what was left of your panties, holding them up with an incredulous expression.

“Did you really rip my panties?” you asked, your voice filled with equal parts disbelief and annoyance.

“Maybe you ripped them yourself” he shot back with a scoff, though he couldn’t help but feel a little smug.

You turned to glare at him, and despite your disheveled appearance, you still had that fiery look that drove him insane—in more ways than one. “I swear, I hope the memories don’t come back. I don’t want to know how bad you are in bed” you spat, shivering as if the thought physically repulsed you.

Chenle chuckled, leaning lazily against the headboard. “Opposite, really. You might not stay away from me if they do come back.”

Your glare deepened, but you didn’t respond. You put on your jeans after that you grabbed the rest of your clothes and stormed out, slamming the door behind you.

Chenle exhaled, running a hand through his messy hair. As much as he hated to admit it, your reaction stung more than it should have.

When the room finally fell silent, the memories started creeping back.

He remembered the heated argument—your voices echoing louder than the music at the party. He remembered the sharp sting of tequila burning down his throat as the two of you challenged each other shot after shot. Somewhere in between the taunts and the drunken laughter, the line between hatred and attraction had blurred.

Kissing you on the balcony, your lips tasting like alcohol and defiance. Dragging you into the room, his hands gripping your waist, your nails digging into his back.

And then—

Chenle shook his head, a ghost of a smile playing on his lips. He couldn’t deny it now. Even if he wanted to, last night wasn’t just good. It was one of the best nights of his life.

And it terrified him

----

The aftermath of the night should have been easy to ignore. It wasn’t.

Chenle couldn’t stop thinking about it, about you. Every time he closed his eyes, the images came rushing back—your hands on him, the sound of your voice, the way you laughed in that drunken haze when he challenged you to another shot, the way you begged him, the way you moaned his name.

It was distracting. And annoying.

Especially when he saw you again the day after.

The campus cafeteria buzzed with noise—friends chatting, trays clattering, the faint hum of a vending machine in the corner. You walked in with your tray, scanning for your usual table. As much as you hated most people at this school, your little circle of mutual acquaintances made the hellscape tolerable.

Unfortunately, one of those acquaintances happened to be Chenle.

He was already seated, casually leaning back in his chair like he owned the place, his obnoxiously perfect laugh cutting through the room. You clenched your teeth and made your way to the table.

“Morning, Y/N!” Jisung greeted cheerfully as you sat down across from him.

You groaned in response, plopping your tray down and stabbing at your salad.

“Someone’s grumpy” Renjun teased

“I have a headache” you replied

“Still hungover from the party?” Jeno asked, raising an eyebrow. “I didn’t even see you drinking that much.”

Before you could answer, Chenle chimed in, his voice annoyingly loud. “Oh, Y/N definitely drank. Trust me.”

Your head snapped up, eyes narrowing at him. You felt your heart in your throat.

“And what exactly do you know about it?” Jeno asked

Your eyes met, he was enjoying how stressed you looked

Chenle shrugged, his smirk practically dripping with smugness. “Let’s just say she were very… talkative that night.”

Your stomach dropped, but you forced yourself to keep your expression neutral. “What the hell is that supposed to mean?”

“It means” he drawled, “you were just as annoying drunk as you are sober.”

The table erupted into laughter, and you gritted your teeth, gripping your fork like it might actually be a weapon.

“Can you two not fight for five minutes?” Jaemin sighed dramatically, shaking his head.

“Doubt it” Renjun muttered under his breath.

“Whatever” you snapped, shoving a piece of lettuce into your mouth. You could feel Chenle’s gaze on you, and it made your skin crawl. Or maybe it made your skin heat up—you weren’t sure, and that annoyed you even more.

For the rest of lunch, you avoided looking at him, though you could hear him making snarky comments here and there. You fired back when necessary, but mostly, you were focused on one thing: acting normal.

Because you couldn’t let him know you didn’t remember what happened after the drinking game.

Later that day, you found yourself cornered by Chenle near the library. He leaned against the wall, arms crossed, that infuriating smirk still plastered across his face.

“Do you need something?” you asked, crossing your arms defensively.

“Yeah" he said, stepping closer. “For you to admit how amazing I am in bed”

You scoffed “What are you talking about?”

“Oh, come on, Y/N” he said, his voice low but teasing. “I can see it all over your face. You’re trying to piece it together, but the memory’s just not there, is it?And you desperately want to remember”

You stared at him, your heart pounding. “You’re delusional.”

“Am I?” He leaned in, his voice dropping to a near whisper. “Because I remember everything. And trust me, you’d want to forget if you knew what you said to me that night.”

Your eyes widened despite yourself. “What did I say?”

He laughed, leaning back like he’d won some kind of game. “Not telling. But it’s good. Really good.”

“Chenle” you warned, stepping closer, frustration bubbling up. “We were drunk, get over it and forget what happened.”

“Why?” he asked, his smirk softening into something almost serious. “Do you want me to pretend it didn’t mean anything?”

You froze, your breath hitching. For a second, his eyes locked on yours, and the air between you felt… different.

But then he stepped back, his smirk returning. “Don’t worry, Y/N. I’m sure it’ll come back to you eventually.”

And with that, he walked away, leaving you standing there, more confused than ever.

----

The next day, you were determined to avoid Chenle at all costs. You took different routes to class, skipped your usual coffee stop, and even left lunch early to dodge him. But somehow, no matter where you went, he always seemed to show up.

It was like he had a radar for your misery.

You sighed heavily as you walked into the library that evening, hoping for a little peace and quiet. It had been a long day, and the last thing you needed was another confrontation.

But, of course, there he was.

Chenle was sitting at a table near the back, spinning a pen between his fingers like he didn’t have a care in the world. When he spotted you, his face lit up like he’d been waiting for this moment all day.

“Y/N!” he called out, loud enough to earn a few glares from nearby students.

You froze, debating whether to ignore him, but it was too late. He was already on his feet, making his way toward you.

“What do you want, Chenle?” you asked, keeping your voice low.

“Just thought I’d say hi” he said, leaning casually against the bookshelf next to you. “You’ve been avoiding me. That’s not very nice.”

At least I’m the only sane one between us, you thought

“Maybe I’m just busy" you muttered, turning your attention to the books in front of you.

“Busy doing what? Trying to piece together the night you can’t remember?” he teased, a smug grin plastered on his face.

You stiffened but refused to look at him. “I told you, I don’t know what you’re talking about.”

“Sure, you don’t” he said, leaning closer. “But if you’re curious, I could help you remember.”

That made you pause. You turned to him, narrowing your eyes. “What do you mean?”

Chenle shrugged, but there was a mischievous glint in his eyes. “I mean, I could jog your memory. Walk you through the night step by step. You know, fill in the blanks.”

You crossed your arms, skeptical. “And why would you do that?”

“Because” he said, his voice dropping to a mock-serious tone, “I’m a good person, Y/N. It’s my duty to help you remember the night were you begged me to make you feel good.”

You rolled your eyes, but your curiosity was piqued. “Fine. What do you remember?”

Chenle grinned, clearly pleased with himself. “Well, for starters, you were the one who suggested the drinking game.”

“Liar” you said immediately, though a small part of you wasn’t sure.

“Not lying” he said, holding up his hands in mock innocence. “You were all fired up about proving me wrong about something. Honestly, I don’t even remember what the argument was about. But I do remember you saying, ‘Let’s settle this like adults.’”

“That does not sound like me” you muttered, shaking your head.

“Oh, it was definitely you” he said, his grin widening. “Then there was the dancing.”

You blinked, taken aback. “Dancing?”

“Yeah. You insisted you were better at it than me. Which, by the way, you’re not.”

You opened your mouth to argue, but he cut you off.

“Then, we needed some air…” he continued, his voice dropping to a more playful tone, “then we went to the balcony.”

Your stomach flipped, and you suddenly felt like you were in over your head. “The balcony?”

“And the best part?” he said, leaning in slightly, his eyes locking with yours. “You kissed me, Y/N.”

“I did not” you said, your voice louder than you intended. A nearby student shushed you, and you glared at them before turning back to Chenle.

“You absolutely did” he said, clearly enjoying this. “And you didn’t stop there. You—”

“Stop,” you said quickly, holding up a hand. “I don’t need to hear any more.”

“Are you sure?” he asked, tilting his head. “Because I can give you all the details. Every single one.”

You stared at him, your mind racing. Did you really kiss him? Did you really…?

Chenle smirked, clearly reveling in your discomfort. “If you want my help, just let me know” he said, turning to walk away. “But for now, I’ll let you stew on it.”

And with that, he was gone, leaving you standing there, torn between frustration and the nagging curiosity of what you might have done.

For the rest of the evening, you couldn’t shake Chenle’s words.

The balcony.

You kissed me.

It echoed in your head, taunting you like a song you couldn’t get out of your mind.

As much as you didn’t want to believe it, the idea of it being true made your stomach churn. Had you really been that drunk? Had you actually kissed Chenle of all people?

But when you got home and lay in bed staring at the ceiling, flashes of something—something more—started to creep into your mind.

The faint memory of the balcony came first. The cool night air brushing against your skin. The blurry sound of music and laughter drifting up from the party below. You’d been leaning against the railing, angry about something, though you couldn’t quite place what.

Then there was Chenle. His stupid, smug face, smirking at you like he always did.

“You’re impossible” you’d said, your words slurring slightly.

“And you’re cute when you’re mad” he’d replied without missing a beat, stepping closer.

You sat up abruptly, heat rushing to your face. No way.

But the memory was there, piecing itself together despite your best efforts to shove it back into the void.

You remembered arguing with him, as usual, your voices sharp but somehow playful. And then—his expression had shifted. His smirk had softened, and for a moment, he just… looked at you.

“You’re staring” you’d said, crossing your arms.

“Can’t help it” he’d replied, his voice quieter now. “You look good tonight.”

The next memory hit you like a freight train.

Chenle stepping even closer, his hand brushing against yours as he leaned in. You’d been frozen, caught off guard, and before you could say anything, his lips were on yours.

Your eyes widened, and you covered your face with your hands as if that could erase the memory.

No, no, no. That didn’t happen.

But it had.

He’d kissed you.

And worse, you’d kissed him back.

And worst of all, he made you think you were the one who kissed him.

----

You wanted to get back at him, even if you were still embarrassed about that night.

Memory started to flow back an he’d been right. That night had been amazing, and the more you thought about it, the more you realized why. The sharp edge of your constant arguments, the heat of your mutual disdain—it had fueled something electric between you two.

You’d never admit it, of course, but Chenle had been… incredible. Confident, teasing, and far better at reading you than you cared to acknowledge. The fact that you’d enjoyed it so much only made your frustration burn hotter.

You couldn’t let him have the upper hand.

You looked for him everywhere but he was nowhere to be found. After checking the usual spots on campus, you finally met Jisung.

“Where’s Chenle?” you demanded.

Jisung blinked, startled by your intensity. “Uh… his classes got canceled. He’s at home.”

Perfect.

With that, you marched to his dorm, the determination in your stride masking the nervous flutter in your chest. If Chenle wanted to mess with your head, you were going to make sure you gave him something to think about.

If he wanted to play

You were definitely going to play

When he opened the door, he wasn’t prepared for you.

Shirtless, his hair a mess, he looked like he’d just rolled out of bed. His eyes widened in surprise, darting from your face to the determined set of your shoulders.

“Y/N?” he asked, his voice low and confused.

You didn’t answer, pushing past him into the room without so much as a glance. He scoffed behind you, closing the door.

“Well, come on in” he said sarcastically. “Not like you need an invitation or anything.”

You ignored him, striding straight into his room and perching yourself on the edge of his bed. He followed, he stood in front of you with his arms crossed, his expression shifting from confusion to suspicion.

“Okay, what’s this about?” he asked, his tone cautious

You stood up slowly, locking eyes with him as you closed the distance between you. He didn’t move at first, but when you kept advancing, he instinctively stepped back until his thighs hit the edge of his desk, forcing him to half-sit on it for balance.

Your hand reached up, tracing the sharp line of his jaw before sliding down to his chest. He tensed under your touch, his breath hitching as your fingers lazily wandered.

“You know..." you started, your voice low and teasing

“Y/N” he said again, his voice softer now. “What are you doing?”

“You're a terrible liar” you murmured, your fingers tracing lazy patterns across his skin

His Adam’s apple bobbed as he swallowed, his gaze flicking between your eyes and your lips. “What are you talking about?”

You leaned in closer, the heat between you palpable. “I’m talking about that night.”

He stiffened, and you saw the flicker of panic in his eyes.

“You keep saying I kissed you” you continued, your voice low and dangerous. “But I remember now, Chenle. You kissed me.”

For a moment, he didn’t say anything, his silence speaking volumes. His usual confidence seemed to falter, and you couldn’t help but smirk.

“Nice try, though” you added, stepping back abruptly and breaking the tension. “Trying to get inside my head like that.”

“Wait” he said quickly, pushing off the desk as you turned toward the door. “Where are you going?”

“Home” you replied casually, as if nothing had happened.

He scoffed, gesturing toward the very obvious problem he was now dealing with. “You’re seriously going to leave me like this?” he looked at his pants, he has a very big problem

You paused at the door, glancing over your shoulder with a smirk that only deepened when you saw the frustration on his face.

“Oh, I think you’ll manage just fine, Chenle. You’re good at playing games by yourself, aren’t you?”

And with that, you walked out, your heart racing as you left him standing there, shirtless and undeniably flustered.

Chenle stood there for a long moment after you left, running a hand through his messy hair and letting out a low, frustrated groan.

She’s impossible, he thought, though he couldn’t ignore the way his heart raced every time you challenged him. He hated that you got under his skin so easily—and he hated even more that you knew it.

But he wasn’t going to let you win.

Later that evening, you were back in your dorm, feeling smug about your little stunt. You could still picture the dumbfounded look on Chenle’s face when you’d walked out, and it brought a small, satisfied smile to your lips.

Serves him right, you thought, though your mind kept wandering back to the way his breath had hitched when you touched him.

He looked so good

The knock on your door startled you.

Frowning, you got up to answer it, only to find Chenle leaning casually against the doorframe, a shirt now on and a cocky smirk firmly in place.

“Missed me?” he asked, his tone dripping with amusement.

You rolled your eyes and started to close the door, but he stuck his foot in the gap.

“Not so fast” he said, pushing the door open slightly. “We need to talk.”

“About what?” you asked, crossing your arms.

“About how you can dish it out but can’t take it” he said, stepping into your room like he owned the place.

You glared at him, but before you could retort, he added, “Oh, and about that night. Since you’re suddenly remembering things, I thought I’d fill in a few blanks for you.”

“I don’t need your help remembering” you snapped, though your cheeks burned at the thought of him recounting any details.

“Don’t you?” he teased with a lazy grin. “Because I remember everything, Y/N. Every little detail.”

You froze, your heart pounding as he closed the distance between you.

“For instance” he continued, his voice dropping to a low murmur, “I remember the way you looked at me on the balcony. Like you were daring me to do something about how mad you were.”

“I wasn’t—” you started, but he cut you off.

“You were,” he said firmly, stepping closer. “And when I kissed you? You didn’t push me away. You kissed me back. Hard.”

You swallowed, trying to ignore the heat creeping up your neck. “What’s your point?”

“My point” he said, leaning down so his face was inches from yours, “is that you can keep pretending to hate me all you want, but that night? You wanted me just as much as I wanted you.”

Your breath hitched, and for a moment, neither of you moved. The tension crackled in the air between you, your pulse racing as his eyes searched yours.

But then you snapped out of it, stepping back quickly and putting distance between you. “Get over yourself, Chenle” you said, though your voice lacked its usual bite.

His smirk widened, clearly noticing your hesitation. “Whatever you say, Y/N” he said, heading for the door. But before he left, he glanced back, his expression smug.

“Let me know when you’re ready to accept and embrace what happened” he said, and with that, he was gone.

----

You spent the entire week avoiding each other. Barely speaking, barely acknowledging the other’s presence. You both tried to come to terms with what had happened, but it was impossible to ignore the lingering tension. After all, you still hated each other—or at least, you told yourselves you did.

But soon enough, you had to face each other again. With shared friends and overlapping lives, it was only a matter of time.

It was Friday, and, as usual, there was another party.

You swore you’d stay sober tonight. You really did. But every time your gaze drifted to Chenle—how good he looked, how infuriatingly attractive he was—you found yourself reaching for another drink.

Chenle wasn’t faring any better. From across the room, he admired the way you downed each glass, your confidence mixed with a carefree attitude that made his chest tighten. It was maddening. And then there was the guy next to you, leaning in too close, making you laugh in a way that set Chenle’s nerves on fire.

He wanted to cross the room, grab your hand, and drag you somewhere private. He wanted to kiss you until you stopped arguing with him—until you admitted you wanted him as much as he wanted you.

Renjun’s voice broke through his spiraling thoughts. “Why are you glaring at her like that?”

But Chenle didn’t respond.

“Did something happen between you and Y/N?” Renjun asked, his sharp eyes narrowing in suspicion.

Chenle hesitated but decided there was no point in hiding the truth. “We slept together.”

Renjun choked on his drink, coughing as he tried to process what he’d just heard. “I thought you were going to say you had feelings for her or something, but this? Oh my god, Chenle.”

Chenle wanted to retort, but his attention snapped back to you when the guy beside you left, only for someone else to swoop in. You were swaying slightly, clearly drunk, and as you stumbled, Chenle was already moving.

You didn’t even notice Chenle until he was right in front of you. You stumbled, and his arms shot out to catch you.

“Are you okay?” he asked, his voice gentle despite his racing heart.

You looked up at him, a lazy smile spreading across your face. “Chenle?” you asked, giggling as your hands clumsily reached for his face. You poked at his cheeks, then squished it, laughing softly and he couldn’t even be mad. You were too cute like this.

“How much did you drink?”

“Just a tiny bit” you replied, holding up your fingers to indicate an impossibly small amount.

Chenle sighed, his chest tightening at the sight of you. “I’m taking you home.”

“Oh, you want me all to yourself?” you teased, laughing like you’d uncovered some great secret.

“Yes, Y/N" he replied, exasperated but smiling despite himself. “Now let’s go.”

----

After helping you punch in the code to your apartment, he guided you inside and got you settled in bed. Just as he was about to leave, your hand shot out, grabbing his wrist.

“Stay” you murmured. “I really liked sleeping in your arms.”

His heart skipped a beat, he didn’t know what to do. Then he nodded, slipping under the covers beside you.

You curled into him, resting your head on his chest “You know” you murmured, your words soft and unguarded “You were right… that night was incredible.”

His breath hitched “yeah” he admitted “It was”

You laughed lightly before your expression turned contemplative. “But aren’t we supposed to hate each other?”

“I thought so too” he admitted. “But either way with you, nothing feels the way it’s supposed to”

Your fingers curled into his shirt “what will happen in the morning?”

“I don’t know” he admitted, his voice quiet

“Probably I’ll mock you and say this was nothing” you murmured,more to yourself than to him

“Do you want it to be nothing?” He asked

You were silent for a long moment. Then, in a voice so soft he almost missed it, you admitted “I wish we could put our egos aside and figure things out together.”

His chest tightened at your words. He knew you were drunk, but he also knew you meant them. And he knew what he needed to do.

“Goodnight, Y/N” he said softly.

“Goodnight, Chenle” you replied, already drifting off.

----

Morning came too quickly, and with it, the realization of what had happened—again.

You paced your room, running your hands through your hair. “I can’t believe I let this happen again,” you muttered to yourself. “What is wrong with me?”

“Y/N” Chenle said, trying to get your attention.

You ignored him, your frustration bubbling over.

“Y/N” he said again, his voice firmer this time. When you didn’t stop, he grabbed your shoulders, forcing you to look at him.

“Please” he said, his voice raw, “just listen to me.”

You froze, your heart pounding as you met his gaze.

“I think I like you” he said, his words tumbling out in a rush. “I don’t know how it happened. I don’t know how to make sense of it. But I can’t stop thinking about you. And I don’t want to keep pretending this is nothing.”

You stared at him, your mind racing.

“So please” he continued, his voice softer now, “stop running away. Let’s figure this out together.”

You stared at him, his words sinking in. He was right—you’d been petty and defensive, too afraid to face the possibility of what you could have.

Taking a deep breath, you nodded. “Okay. Let’s give us a chance. But if you act like a jerk, I swear I’m kicking your ass.”

He laughed, relief washing over his face as he pulled you into a hug. “Deal.”

“And for the record” you added, pulling back just enough to meet his eyes, “I think I like you too.”

His smile was blinding, and before you could second-guess yourself, he leaned down, pressing his lips to yours in a kiss that was soft, sweet, and filled with every unspoken word between you.

When you finally pulled away, you couldn’t help but smile.

“Guess we’re figuring this out together” you said.

“Together” he agreed, his eyes shining with something you could only describe as hope.

For the first time, the tension between you eased, replaced by something softer, something real. Whatever came next, you were both ready to face it—together.

118 notes · View notes

nesepte · 1 month ago

Text

Half Pink Half You :: l.dh

pairing: lee donghyuck x female oc

Description: Locked in an endless prank war, Donghyuck and Haewon only had one goal— outsmart the other by pulling a cleverer trick. But when one of Donghyuck’s pranks goes horribly wrong, the two might come face to face with their true feelings. As emotions run high and tension deepens, can the two survive a test of their hearts?

Tags: enemies(?) to lovers, pining (lots of it), angst, more pining Content: prank war, enemies to idiots to lovers (they pine for each other a lot), hospitalization, near-death experience, near-drowning, and once again, lots of angst a/n: seriously, don't read this if you don't like angst

Word count: 8.8k words

Happy Reading!

It was only 9 am and Donghyuck had made Haewon curse seven times already. Eight, if you count the finger she had just given him after he had made a retching sound at the picture she clicked of the sky.

‘Did I ask?’ she gritted out, turning away from him.

But Donghyuck caught up to her. There wasn’t much room to escape on a bus filled with 40 other students anyway.

He clicked his tongue, pulling his bag over his shoulder. ‘You should appreciate the free advice, princess. You clearly need it.’

Haewon bit her tongue, deciding to swallow the protest at the nickname he had just used for her and settle for a roll of her eyes instead. She found an empty seat a few rows from the end and settled down on the window side only to sigh immediately as Donghyuck plopped down beside her.

‘Can’t you sit anywhere else?’ she complained, shoving him out to the aisle.

Donghyuck barely caught himself before bumping into another student.

‘Tch tch, where are your manners?’ He pulled himself up and dusted his jacket, slumping down next to her again.

‘What do you want?’ she asked, knowing the answer was to annoy her.

But Donghyuck went quiet.

Haewon looked up at him, curious when she received no reply. But all Donghyuck did was stare at her, his signature devil-may-care smirk plastered on his face and for a moment she could swear that she saw his eyes glint.

‘What?’

He narrowed his eyes at her, slightly amused. ‘Did you really forget what day it is today?’

Haewon knew what day it was. It was a Saturday. They were sitting on a bus that was going to take them away from the city to the mountains for their Photography Club field trip. It was the beginning of their mid-semester break and… and…

She rummaged through her mind trying to find the meaning behind Donghyuck’s mischievous smirk that was only growing wider by the second.

And then, like a bolt of lightning, the memory shot to the front of her mind, her eyes widening at the realization. Suddenly, it all made sense– his grin, his tone, the way Donghyuck was clinging to her today and why he was acting so smug since morning. She was sure now that the glint she saw in his eyes earlier was very much real.

Haewon gulped the rising anxiety, shocked at how quickly it took form inside her.

‘So, you remember,’ he said, tilting his head to the side, his tone haughty and amused in equal measure.

She wanted to curse at herself for forgetting the day but her desire to slap the smirk off Donghyuck’s face took precedence making her curse at him instead.

‘I am so hurt,’ he said, rounding his lips into a fake pout enough to rile her up and Haewon had to stop herself from rolling her eyes for the nth time today.

‘What are you planning to do?’ she asked, hating how hoarse her voice sounded.

‘Hm…’ He leaned back in his seat, crossing his hands behind his head and sighed as if reminiscing a fond memory. ‘Just a little fun thing for you.’

Haewon raised an eyebrow. ‘For me or for you?’

‘For you,’ he insisted. ‘Oh, don’t be so scared.’ He nudged her arm.

‘Please,’ she scoffed, hoping her voice wouldn’t betray her this time. ‘The last prank you pulled on me was so pathetic.’

The smile on his face dropped. He ran his fingers through his hair, his tongue poking the inside of his cheek. It was quite unoriginal to hide the keys to her locker for a day but he wasn’t going to admit that here.

‘Don’t worry, I came prepared this time.’

‘Fine.’ She shrugged. ‘Bring it on, then.’

‘Oh, careful with it,’ he said, the smirk returning to his face. ‘You will land yourself in trouble this time, princess.’

‘Go die, will you?’

‘Classy,’ he remarked and got up from the seat, pulling his bag up his shoulder. ‘See you later.’ He winked.

Renjun found Haewon a minute later. Mark, the President of the Photography club, had just finished taking the attendance and they were waiting for the bus driver.

‘Damn, what got you so worked up this early in the morning?’ Renjun asked.

Haewon was seething, a permanent frown on her face. ‘What do you think?’ She crossed her arms and made space for him beside her.

Depositing his bag in the overhead compartment, he sat himself down once the bus started to move.

‘The field trip hasn’t even started yet and you both are fighting already,’ he pointed out.

‘Is it my fault that he is so annoying?’

Renjun shook his head, exhausted. Being Haewon’s best friend wasn’t easy. Not that he didn’t like spending time with her, but there was only so much rant one could hear about a supposed ‘enemy’ before wanting to pull their hair off.

‘Seriously, when will you both end this prank war?’ he asked.

‘He started it!’

‘It’s been two years, Haewon…’

Had it really been that long, she wondered. Haewon could clearly recall the day she joined the Photography Club. It was Renjun who had introduced her to Mark, who was the Vice-President at the time. She had showed her photographs to him and the next day Mark had given her the form to the club.

But she took her time.

The club was infamous for its all-boys members and more so notorious for how the seniors treated the girls who wanted to join. It wasn’t until her junior year, after Mark’s several reassurances and Renjun’s insistence that she joined the club. Even then, she kept to herself, talking to no one except Renjun until she visited the common room one evening after her classes and ran into Donghyuck.

He was too loud— that was the first thing she had noticed about him. He liked attention, that was the second thing she had realized.

Sprawled in the middle of the common room with his photographs on display, he was inviting everyone to take a look, irritated by anyone who didn’t take an interest in them. Donghyuck even had the seniors lining up to see his latest collection.

‘Do you like it that much?’ was the first thing he spoke to her. Haewon hadn’t realized she had been staring at a picture that was tucked away in a corner. She was also the only one who had stopped in front of it. The picture wasn’t anything extraordinary. The camera angle was basic and the scenery was plain— a lake between a thick cover of forest. But what had caught her attention was a boy standing right at the edge of the lake. He was dressed in all white; his hair was messy and his clothes were too loose for him.

‘It’s the only picture with someone in it,’ she said, still looking at the photograph.

She heard Donghyuck chuckle beside her. ‘It’s also the only picture nobody has noticed.’

She looked up at him. He was already looking at her, his eyes focused on her face.

‘I did,’ she said.

Donghyuck was silent for a moment. He wanted to say something, she could tell. The words were right there on his lips but he smiled instead and nodded.

‘You did,’ he agreed.

Haewon never figured out why Donghyuck did what he did next.

A week after that encounter, she had received an email from the college administration regarding her ‘community work credits.’ Haewon had apparently signed up to volunteer at the cafeteria’s kitchen for a month, more specifically for the onion chopping duty.

She had tried explaining to them several times that she had never signed up for such a thing and that there had been a mistake. But the duty was already assigned and withdrawing wasn’t an option, not without a disciplinary action against her.

So, Haewon had to turn up to college at 6 am every day for a month and chop barrels full of onions till her eyes were red and her nose had turned pink. She did get her credits but at the cost of smelling like onions for a month.

It was not until her last day that she had learned who had actually signed her up for the duty. She had overheard the seniors from the photography club congratulate Donghyuck for pulling a successful prank on the new girl. Haewon had never felt so angry and humiliated.

‘It’s a tradition of the club,’ he had told her, when she had confronted him.

Haewon wasn’t sure if she was waiting for an apology or an explanation other than ‘it was a tradition’, but she was sure of one thing— she wanted revenge.

For the next month, she left cut up pieces of onions in Donghyuck’s locker, bag, desk, and practically anything of his that she could get her hands on.

Donghyuck could have left it there. A prank for a prank and call it even. But he was not one to sit silent, specially not when she had managed to replace his mouth freshener with onion juice.

And that’s how it began, a never-ending prank war.

‘Why don’t you tell him to stop?’ she replied to Renjun.

He wanted to remind her that Donghyuck wasn’t particularly the kind to listen to other people but she knew that already. So, instead, he reminded her of a simple solution.

‘You can just end it,’ he said. ‘Let his prank be the last one.’

‘And admit defeat? Seriously, whose side are you really on?’

Renjun could already feel an incoming throbbing in his head. He shut his eyes and pressed two fingers between his eyebrows.

‘Do you have a headache?’

‘Not yet,’ he sighed and turned to her. But her attention had already been stolen away. He followed her eyes to find her gaze on Donghyuck sitting at the front of the bus.

‘You know…’ Renjun started, a knowing smile on his face, ‘sometimes, people who have trouble expressing their true emotions resort to other means to convey them.’

‘What?’

‘Well… you both spend an awful lot of time together,’ he said, crossing his arms. ‘And the rest, staring at each other.’

This definitely caught Haewon’s attention. ‘Who are you talking about?’

‘The one you have been staring at.’

Renjun was crazy. He had gone insane, she thought.

‘You are absolutely mental,’ Haewon spat, a little too loudly, her voice a pitch higher than usual.

He shrugged and leaned back in his seat, satisfied at the reaction he got from her.

‘I have to keep an eye on him,’ she protested, unable to bring her voice down to her normal pitch.

‘Right…’ he said, grinning proudly. ‘What about yesterday then?’

‘What about yesterday?’

‘In the library.’

‘You saw that?’

Renjun had to control himself from laughing.

It wasn’t that Haewon hadn’t caught herself staring at Donghyuck before but it was because he was everywhere she went. How could she not look when she would run into him at every turn.

‘He was checking out the book I wanted.’

‘Mhm…’ Renjun closed his eyes again. ‘I didn’t know you were changing your major to Math.’

‘It was a math book?’ she whispered to herself. All she could recall was how small the book looked in his hands. The way his long fingers tapped along the edges as he pulled himself to get another book from the top shelf. How he had to fold the sleeves of his shirt up to his elbows after it got hot inside. Was it even hot inside?

‘No!’ She shook herself awake from the memory. ‘I do not like Lee Donghyuck!’ she said more to herself than to Renjun, who was no longer listening to her rambling.

‘I am not…’ she mumbled and dragged her gaze back to Donghyuck only to catch him already staring at her. The moment their eyes met, he winked at her, a smirk spreading on his lips. Usually, she would have rolled her eyes, but Haewon kept staring, studying his face, wondering why a frown had suddenly appeared on his forehead. He looked concerned for a moment. He jerked his chin up at her but she shook her head, making him scoff and turn away.

Renjun’s words had scared her. Haewon couldn’t sit still for the rest of the journey. She tried reading the book she had brought with her, tried listening to the playlist she had made for the ride, even tried falling asleep like Renjun had but she couldn’t shake Donghyuck out of her mind.

She replayed all their conversations in her head like a movie reel, going over every word they had spoken to each other, every prank they played on each other in the last two years, surprised at how vividly she remembered every memory related to him.

Was Renjun right?

And what if he was? What then? What was she supposed to do? Tell the guy who she swore was her enemy that she likes him?

She could imagine Donghyuck laughing at her. But what terrified her wasn’t the thought of his mockery or his teasing, but the smile that she felt forming on her lips imagining him telling her that he liked her too.

‘What got you blushing?’ Donghyuck asked, creeping up behind her.

Haewon was standing at the edge of the pier, staring at the lake in front of her. They had reached two hours ago, and while the others were surveying the place for getting the best shots, she found herself stationary in front of the lake.

She hadn’t realized that she was blushing. But apparently this is what she did now— blush whenever she thought of Donghyuck.

‘Are you wondering why I haven’t done anything yet?’ he asked.

‘Hm?’ She looked up at him.

‘The prank,’ he reminded her, then paused and narrowed his eyes. ‘Seriously, what are you thinking about?’

‘Nothing,’ she said, pulling herself out of her thoughts. ‘And no, I wasn’t wondering about that. I don’t keep thinking about you, just so you know.’

There it was, the twinkle in his eyes, followed by his smirk and the slight jerk he gave to his chin whenever he wanted to emphasize how proud he was of himself.

‘Lies,’ he said, leaning forward, his arms behind his back. ‘I know you think about me.’

For the first time, Haewon was silent. She had no answer. Donghyuck was so close to her, she could feel his breath on her face.

‘You have moles,’ she said, the words falling out of her mouth on their own. ‘On your cheek.’ Her eyes dazed yet focused on them. How had she never noticed before, and now that she had, her fingers twitched, suddenly wanting to touch them.

But Donghyuck snapped his fingers in front of her face. ‘What’s the matter with you today?’

‘Just an observation,’ she said, quickly turning away from him.

‘The sunset is beautiful, isn’t it?’ he said, breaking the momentary silence.

‘You are here for making small talk?’

‘Just an observation.’ He shrugged innocently.

‘Oh, shut up.’ She rolled her eyes at him.

‘The lake is getting darker too,’ he remarked.

‘Another observation?’

He nodded. ‘I have swum in a river after dark once,’ he began.

‘Okay, and?’ She crossed her arms over her chest, ready to hear another nonsensical thing come out of his mouth.

But Donghyuck’s grin widened, a hint of mischief creeping up in his eyes. ‘It’s terrifying,’ he told her. ‘You can’t see a thing and even a few feet seem like kilometres.’

Haewon froze. Her arms felt heavy and her legs felt stuck in place. She was suddenly too aware of the wooden pier beneath her feet, where it ended and how close she was standing to the edge. This was it. His prank. This was what he had intended to do.

‘Donghyuck, I can’t—’

But before she could even complete, he pushed her into the lake.

The water hit Haewon like a brick, and the last thing she saw was Donghyuck laughing, clapping his hands on the pier before darkness engulfed her. The sound of the splash rang through her ears. For a single, horrible moment she thought that her ear drums would burst and then there was complete silence.

Her hands flailed about her, trying to grab onto something, anything as the water pulled her in. She came up with the initial inertia of the fall but as her legs gave out below her, trying to mimic a swimmer, she realized how futile the attempt really was. She could not see, could not breathe. Her arms were not trained and her body could not float. The sun that appeared just within her reach moments ago, seemed far beyond her as it sunk below the horizon and all that was left around her was darkness.

She swallowed mouthfuls of water with every attempt to come up to the surface, unable to tell which way was up anymore. Her body swayed with the ripples she had created around her and after she had gulped enough water, she stopped struggling. Haewon sunk to the depths as the lake carried her to it and suddenly, she realized how weightless she really was, how easy it was to drown as she allowed the water to swallow her.

On the surface, Donghyuck had stopped laughing. All the jabs had died on his tongue when a minute had passed and Haewon had still not come up to the surface.

He lowered his camera and realized how dark it had really gotten. Panic rose inside him like bile that made his throat feel raw. He tried to gulp but the air refused to enter him. His clammy hands trembled and he felt his face getting warmer and colder at the same time.

‘What’s going on?’ Renjun came up behind him along with Mark, who wanted to set up his camera at the pier.

‘I—’ Donghyuck was lost, unable to comprehend his words. It was just a prank, he told himself. Just a prank, he repeated.

‘Donghyuck…’ Renjun placed a hand on his back, worried.

‘Haewon…’ Donghyuck mumbled and the expression on Renjun’s face was enough to tell him what Haewon had wanted to say before he had pushed her into the water.

Donghyuck, I can’t… swim.

Suddenly, all panic drained out of his body replaced with adrenaline. He removed his jacket and jumped into the lake, dropping his phone and camera into the water with him.

Renjun had gathered a crowd, the students running up to the pier in panic.

Donghyuck shouted her name above the surface but it was pitch black now and the flashlights that the others held up did nothing. He dived deeper into the lake, his fingers reaching out for her. Her hair, her shirt, her arm, anything. But it was of no use.

He reached the depth and felt the soil beneath his feet but Haewon was nowhere. He wanted to cry, to thrash, to yell out her name but the water swallowed his screams. The darkness pressed heavy on him, heavier than the water itself. Even he couldn’t find his way around the lake and he had pushed her into this terrible nightmare.

Where is she? How long had it been?

Forgetting to come up for breath, Donghyuck found himself floating in his own delirium now. Time shifted, working slower as he let the water take over him.

He was drowning but he didn’t know how to stop it anymore.

Haewon, he repeated like a chant in his mind, praying for a miracle he knew he didn’t deserve.

Is this what she felt? Did she call out my name when the depths called to her?

The water made his eyes hurt so he shut them, not that it mattered anyway— the darkness did not differentiate this far below.

But just as he was about to give up, not on her but on himself, he felt someone grab him by his collar and pull. The weight returned first and he felt his limbs heavier than usual, the water scraping against them as he was being dragged out of his own death.

With a gasp, he breathed his first breath as he broke the surface and felt all his senses return to him at once.

‘H-Haewon…’ Donghyuck spit out a mouthful of water, his voice barely a rasp. All he could see were bright lights flashing in his face as he felt two men carry him to the pier. It was not until his back met the wooden surface, that he realized that they were first responders.

‘N-No.’ He tried pushing them aside as the men held him down to check his vitals. ‘Where— Haewon…’ He choked out more water from his nose.

‘Haewon…’ Donghyuck looked about himself, trying to spot her in the crowd. ‘The girl—’ he asked the men, but they weren’t listening to him.

‘Raise his neck,’ one of the EMTs was shouting orders at the others around, while fixing an oxygen mask around Donghyuck’s mouth. ‘Wipe his face.’

Donghyuck hadn’t realized that he was crying. There were tears streaming down his face but no sound other than her name on his lips. Gathering whatever strength remained in him, he pulled himself up and pushed away the blanket the EMT was trying to wrap around his body.

‘Haewon,’ he cried out, vomiting out more water as he stumbled through the crowd without direction, his own clothes dragging him down, till someone yanked him forward by the arm and he fell to his knees.

The crowd parted for him and the sight froze him.

At the edge of the pier, lay Haewon, wrapped in a thick blanket, unresponsive. An EMT was giving her mouth-to-mouth resuscitation while another was administering CPR on her.

‘Rub her feet!’ one of them shouted between breaths and Renjun leaped to action, pulling her shoes off and rubbing the soles of her feet.

‘We have to get her to the hospital,’ the other one yelled.

It had been 5 minutes and Haewon hadn’t woken up.

Donghyuck had to crawl on his arms to reach her. Her face was pale as though she had been bled dry and her arms were a luminescent white, glistening like porcelain under the flashlights.

‘H–Haewon.’ He tapped her cheek but shuddered when his fingers met her ice-cold skin.

‘Get away from her!’ Renjun rasped and the voice cut through Donghyuck’s body like a blade sawing him in half. His throat choked itself and he felt himself submerged under water again, the noises drowning out as he felt a weight press on him.

He looked down at his hands, shivering under his own gaze.

‘I—’ He shook his head, unsure what he wanted to say and to whom. There were fresh tears in his eyes, burning his cheeks on their way down.

Then suddenly, they were taking her away. The EMTs laid her out on the stretcher in front of him and were carrying her away from the pier. Donghyuck followed only to realize a moment later that the EMTs were there for him too.

‘Let me…’ He fell unconscious, his body giving up on him.

Donghyuck woke up in a hospital bed, his eyes blinking wide open the moment he realized where he was. There was an IV drip attached to his arm and a thick blanket covering him.

Mark was beside him the moment he stirred.

‘How are you feeling?’ Mark asked but quickly realized that he wasn’t going to get an answer from Donghyuck. He did not try to reason nor stop him when Donghyuck pulled the drip out of his arm and jumped out of bed. Instead, he showed him the way to Haewon’s ward.

Down the long, deserted corridor was Renjun, sitting with his head between his palms. At the sound of the hurried footsteps, he looked up.

‘Renjun, no!’ Mark had to throw himself in front of Donghyuck as Renjun charged at him.

‘You—’ Renjun’s face was red in a matter of seconds and despite Mark’s pleas, he held Donghyuck by the collar, ready to punch him.

‘Not here.’ Mark held him back. ‘Not in the hospital, please.’

Had it not been for Mark, Renjun would have bashed Donghyuck’s head against the wall. It wasn’t like Donghyuck was fighting back anyway. He had his head bowed the entire time, ready to take whatever punishment.

Renjun shoved him aside. ‘You better stay away from her now!’ he warned before walking away.

Donghyuck picked himself up and staggered towards the ward but his feet stopped him right at the door. He had no intention of going in, not anymore. Slowly, pushing away the gnawing guilt and fear, he peered his head to peek inside the ward through the small glass window in the door.

In the middle of the room was Haewon, still unconscious. Her mouth was intubated for oxygen while a nurse was monitoring her pulse. There was a defibrator on the side and another nurse preparing a machine Donghyuck couldn’t recognize.

‘They are going to shift her to the ventilator,’ he heard Renjun tell Mark behind him.

‘It’s only for one night,’ Mark appeased. ‘To give her lungs a rest.’

There was a pause and he heard a scuffle behind him. He didn’t have to turn around to know that Mark had held Renjun back again.

All Donghyuck did, all he could do was watch. He stood by the little window to her ward and watched her, mute, his chest rising and falling in the same rhythm as hers. There were a thousand thoughts running through his head yet all he could hear was a ringing silence in his ears.

An hour passed or two, he couldn’t tell anymore, when he felt a hand press against his shoulder. Mark was saying something to him and he knew he had to respond but he couldn’t understand the words.

The sun had come up outside when Donghyuck agreed to move, giving way to the doctor.

‘Are you a relative?’ The doctor asked him but words escaped him.

He shook his head.

‘Are you alright?’ was the next thing the doctor asked. Donghyuck’s eyes had sunk into their sockets and his face was ashen white.

‘He is the other drowning patient, doctor,’ the nurse chimed in.

‘Check his pulse,’ the doctor ordered, ‘and administer him an IV.’

‘H-Haewon?’ Donghyuck managed to mumble out, pointing at her ward.

‘She is under sedation,’ the doctor informed him. ‘She will wake up in a few hours.’

Donghyuck nodded and stepped out of the way for the doctor. The door closed on him and a nurse came up behind him to escort him to his own ward but he did not budge, not even an inch. He could hear Mark mutter something to the nurse as he watched them take Haewon off the ventilator.

‘Donghyuck?’

He felt someone shake his shoulders and turned around to see Mark, who had been calling his name for the last minute.

Mark paused before speaking, a sigh escaping him. ‘You need rest. You don’t look well.’

Donghyuck blinked at him, annoyed that Mark had tried to take his attention away from Haewon.

‘Donghyuck?’ He tried again. ‘Are you listening to me?’

Just then, the door to the ward slid open and a nurse peeked her head out. ‘She’s awake,’ she informed them.

Renjun immediately rushed past them to the ward.

Mark waited and held the door open for Donghyuck but he stood frozen in place, his legs refusing to move. He looked down at his feet and shook his head.

‘Hey…’ Mark whispered, leaning down to his eyes level.

But Donghyuck turned his back to him, silent. He did not turn around till he heard Mark step inside and close the door shut.

Haewon was awake, talking. Renjun was sitting next to her bed, his hands holding hers. Mark was talking to the doctor, and the nurse was checking her vitals. When she laughed at something Renjun had whispered to her, Donghyuck felt his own lips curve into a smile.

Then, her eyes fell on him and Donghyuck suddenly felt himself transported to the bottom of that lake again, drowning. Shame rose inside him, hot and suffocating. He felt embarrassed, undeserving to be even standing there but he couldn’t look away. A tear rolled down his cheek and he knew she could see it but he just couldn’t look away, not yet.

That was three months ago and the last time that Donghyuck had looked at Haewon.

He had disappeared from her life.

Haewon wasn’t sure what she had expected from him, but his silence was not it. The doctors kept her in the hospital for another week to treat her for pneumonia. She had Mark and Renjun by her side throughout the treatment but she never saw Donghyuck peek his head through the door again.

She wanted to ask Renjun about him. But his silence made her angry, and then, worried. On the day of her discharge, she mentioned his name and saw Renjun visibly stiffen.

‘He is gone,’ Renjun told her. ‘He got himself discharged the day you woke up.’

‘Is he alright?’ she asked, not knowing what else to say.

‘I haven’t spoken to him if that’s what you want to know.’ Renjun was being cruel but Donghyuck had almost killed his best friend and he couldn’t get past that.

A week later, Haewon returned to college only to learn that Donghyuck had withdrawn his name from the Photography club. He stopped showing up to their shared classes; started eating his lunch elsewhere. His locker had been emptied and all his photographs from the common room were gone. She knew he was around, but Haewon never ran into Donghyuck again.

The Photography Club Exhibition had to be cancelled and Mark had to deal with the Student Council because of the accident during the field trip. Haewon had wished that Mark would allow her to attend the meetings. She was sure Donghyuck was there but Mark had insisted on keeping her away from the trouble.

She had considered calling him, several times. But what would she have said? Donghyuck wasn’t particularly a friend. He was… what was he to her? The only time she had texted him was four months ago and it was to lure him into the Dean’s office for a prank.

She didn’t want him to apologize. All she wanted was him… around.

The first time Haewon saw Donghyuck again was on the day of their first final year exam. He came in late and left early. His eyes were swollen and his face seemed dull. He had lost weight.

Her own anger surprised her that day. He knew she was sitting in the same class. Her eager eyes were set on him, following his every movement, yet he never looked up to find her, not once. Two years, two fucking years they had known each other and not once did he bother to speak to her.

Perhaps it was her fault, Haewon thought, to assume that she had a place in Donghyuck’s life.

The exams got over and their results were out. They were going to graduate from college.

It was the eve of their convocation, and Haewon was sitting on the couch of an unknown house between people she wished weren’t there and sipping on whiskey she couldn’t swallow.

Renjun was dancing in the distance, occasionally singing farewell songs with his friends. He had tried to call her to the dance floor at every song change.

‘Are you going to sit there the entire night?’ he yelled at her. ‘It’s our farewell party!’

‘I am not feeling too well,’ she lied and slipped away from the loud music, setting her glass aside. Her head was throbbing from the beat anyway and the number of drunk people increasing by the second.

She finally found some quiet on the second floor of the house but the moment she turned down the hallway, Haewon froze.

It was dark and she could barely see two feet ahead of her but she could recognize Donghyuck’s silhouette even with her eyes closed.

Haewon couldn’t tell how long they stood facing each other in silence. Donghyuck was the first to move, walking into the light. For some unexpected reason, she wished he would have his usual smirk on his fae, the smug grin that had made her roll her eyes a hundred times in the past. But Donghyuck looked tired. Somehow, the three months had aged him and she felt strange in his presence.

‘Haewon,’ he whispered in greeting but his voice echoed in her ears as though it had travelled the length of an ocean to reach her.

‘Keeping well?’ she asked, her own voice strange to her.

He shrugged.

‘How was your result?’ She could see the effort it took him to reply.

‘It was alright,’ he said, sighing immediately after.

Haewon nodded, not knowing what to say or do with herself. Donghyuck was finally looking at her but they were not the same eyes that she had perfected to read. They had been in each other’s presence for more than five minutes and he had not tried to annoy her, not try to irritate her nor make her curse. There were no sarcastic remarks on his lips and no mischievous twinkle behind his eyes.

He stood in front of her like a wretched mirror, and Haewon couldn’t tell if she was hoping to find him or spot her own reflection in him.

‘Do—'

‘I am leaving,’ he cut her off, stepping closer. ‘Tomorrow morning… I am leaving for US to continue my study.’

Suddenly, the music wasn’t too loud and the noise was barely a whisper in her ears. She stared at him, silent, and he did not shy away from her gaze this time.

‘You are leaving?’ she asked.

He nodded his head. ‘I won’t come back,’ he said and paused.

‘You won’t stay for the convocation?’

Unexpectedly, Donghyuck scoffed, but he looked defeated, hurt somehow. He pulled his gaze down to the floor. ‘No, I won’t stay for the convocation.’

‘Right…’

‘I have to go,’ he said but did not move.

‘Of course, packing?’

‘Packing,’ he echoed and did not wait to hear her goodbye or say his own. He walked past her, leaving her in the hallway.

Haewon waited till she heard him climb down the steps then walked down the hallway and found her way to the roof. The cold air relaxed her senses and she sat herself down on the ledge, her feet dangling off the side.

She turned around when she heard the door open. It was Mark and strangely she was grateful that it was only him.

‘Beer?’ he asked, raising the two pints in his hands. He sat beside her on the ledge and passed one of the bottles to her.

‘Not a huge fan of beer,’ she said, but took the pint from his hand.

‘Try this one,’ Mark urged her. His own bottle was half empty and he took another sip. ‘Don’t like dancing?’

‘The music is too loud,’ she made an excuse.

‘It is,’ he agreed.

‘Sorry for the exhibition by the way,’ she said. ‘I know you were looking forward to it.’

But Mark waved a hand at her. ‘Don’t worry about it. It wasn’t your fault.’

Haewon wanted to disagree. The cancellation was a result of a prank war that she was as much a part of as Donghyuck was. But she nodded nonetheless, taking a sip of the beer.

‘So, what are your plans after college?’ he sighed, leaning back on his palms.

‘Uh… I don’t know,’ she replied. ‘I have been just trying to…’

‘…stay alive?’

This made her laugh. ‘Right. Just trying to stay alive these days.’

‘Donghyuck has it figured out,’ she mumbled after a pause.

Mark raised an eyebrow.

‘He is leaving for US,’ she told him. ‘Tomorrow.’

‘Ah,’ he exclaimed. ‘I heard. Pretty impressive, don’t you think?’

Haewon feigned a smile. Mark was watching her closely. ‘It is. I am happy for him.’

‘Are you?’

The question hung in the air and Haewon stared at it, speechless. ‘I don’t know what you mean,’ she said and Mark let it go.

The wind caught her hair and Haewon found herself chugging the pint. It was much easier to gulp after the whiskey she had been sipping since evening.

‘Did he ever tell you?’ Mark asked once she had set the empty bottle between them. He smiled upon seeing her confused eyes. ‘Really? He never told you?’ he asked, shaking his head at the realization.

‘What are you talking about?’

He downed his own bottle before turning to her. ‘Do you remember how it started?’ he asked her. ‘The pranks between you two.’

Of course, she remembered. She remembered it like it was just yesterday.

‘He had signed me up for cutting onion!’ Haewon yelled, groaning at the memory. ‘I smelled like onions for a whole month. A whole month!’ Her voice had returned with fervour. ‘I did what I had to— take revenge. I left pieces of onion in his locker for the next month. It was hilarious. You should have seen how annoyed he got every time. But he could have left it at that. Call it even. But you know how he is. So stubborn. So annoying.’ She groaned again and folded her arms across her chest.

Mark sighed, his grin more amused than earlier. ‘Didn’t you ever wonder why Donghyuck did what he did?’

Haewon had wondered that before. In fact, she had spent countless hours wondering just about that.

‘It was a club tradition?’ she ventured. ‘That’s what he told me. Besides, it’s because he is… him. He is Donghyuck. He plays pranks on people, right?’

‘That’s true,’ Mark replied. ‘But have you ever seen him play a prank on anybody else in the last two years?’

‘Uh—’ Haewon was ready to argue and was certain that an instance would just come to her lips. But she couldn’t recall any. She stared at him, blankly. Mark was right. Donghyuck had not played a single prank on anyone except her since the start of their prank war.

‘When you joined the club,’ Mark began, ‘the seniors had a bet on making you cry.’

‘What?’

‘It was a tradition among them. We all went through the hazing. They did not stop till they made us freshmen cry. Yes,’ he added, seeing Haewon’s incredulous expression. ‘I was made to clean every leaf on the campus ground. I was exhausted by the end of the day and cried by nightfall. Donghyuck was smart. He faked his tears in the first minute of cleaning the toilets and they let him off the hook.’

‘Renjun never told me,’ she said.

‘He joined later, like you, and was spared because of his father,’ Mark told her. ‘I’m sure he doesn’t know about it either, or the extent of it. But then you joined. Donghyuck knew what was going to happen. I still remember that day. He had stormed into the club committee meeting. I had never seen him that serious.

‘The deal was to make you cry. The seniors wouldn’t have backed down unless they saw tears in your eyes. He convinced them that he would take care of it and made them promise not to meddle if he succeeded. That’s why he signed you up for cutting onions in the kitchen.

A memory surged forward in Haewon’s mind— Donghyuck had visited the kitchen every day for the first week of her duty with the seniors lingering behind him.

She tumbled the memory in her head, trying to recall a certain detail.

‘You cried eight days into it,’ Mark helped her.

And suddenly all the pieces fit together. It was a Monday and it was raining. The humidity had rendered the ventilation useless in the kitchen. The smell was unbearable and nothing helped, not the open windows, nor the scarf she had wrapped around her mouth and nose. That was the day. She had tears in her eyes from cutting up onions.

Donghyuck did not visit the kitchen again nor did she see any of the seniors around. She had cried. His part of the deal had been completed, saving her from who knows what the seniors were planning for her.

Her thoughts took her back to the first time she had met him, to the photograph tucked away in the corner of the common room, to the boy in that picture. That was the Donghyuck she had met and that was the same Donghyuck that she had known for the last two years too.

Haewon spent the night stuck in time on the roof. Somewhere in the middle, Mark had left and Renjun had found her, though he did not stay, not for long at least. The sky had started to change colours behind her, the light of the sun pushing its way to her. She closed her eyes to feel its warmth, a slow smile spreading across her face when its first ray touched her. She turned around, suddenly grateful at how easily she could hold the sun in her eyes.

It was time. She had to start getting ready for her convocation in an hour. But instead of taking the bus back to her dorm, she hailed a cab to the airport.

‘Can you drive a little faster?’ Haewon urged the cab driver, her fingers fidgeting over Donghyuck’s contact in her phone. She had called him seven times already but he had his phone turned off. ‘How much longer?’ she asked, groaning seeing the time.

There was only flight leaving for US that day and it was leaving in thirty minutes.

‘Almost there, madam,’ the driver told her, which did little to calm her down.

Haewon hurried out of the cab the moment it stopped, paying more cash than the bill. She waded through the sea of people, searching for an empty gate and settling on the least crowded one. It didn’t matter anyway because she sneaked past the queue amidst the curses from the people lined up. An elderly couple eventually relented and let her cut.

‘Thank you.’ She bowed to them and presented the dummy ticket she had bought in the cab earlier to the security officer.

She was in. But this was the easy part. Haewon glanced at the clock. She had about fifteen minutes to make it to Donghyuck before his flight. Her desperate eyes raked the area, frantically trying to locate the security check but gasped seeing the longest line she had ever witnessed. All the counter were full with queues looping around each other.

There was no way she could make it to him in time if she waited her turn. There was only one option— make a run for it.

Without thinking, she sprinted across the airport lobby to the checkpoint and jumped over the first barricade, picking up pace as she heard the alarms go off behind her.

An officer whistled to alert the others as she whizzed past the line and broke through the automatic doors, ducking just in time to avoid the baton that the inspector had swung at her head.

‘Stop right there!’ She heard him yell.

But Haewon didn’t have the time to look back.

‘Move!’ she shrieked at the people, who leaped out of her way.

Jumping over the sea of security tape stands, she reached the front and squeezed herself through the gap between two body scanners, shoving a security personnel in the process and almost injuring a passenger.

‘I am sorry,’ she yelled out but came to a sudden halt just a few metres away. Across the lounge were at least twenty uniformed men with their batons in their hands.

‘Don’t move!’ she heard the officers shout behind her.

She squeezed the side of her stomach to ease the stabbing pain and looked up at the board, catching her breath for a moment. Gate no. 27, she read. It was on the other side, past the wall of officers, who had slowly begun to close in on her from all directions.

‘Get to the ground!’ An officer slowly stepped forward.

Unexpectedly, Haewon grinned. She had to hand it to them on how quickly they gathered forces, how swift they were to surround her. But unfortunately for them, she knew exactly how to get out of this situation. In fact, she even had practice.

A year ago, Mark had arranged a gallery visit for the photography club. At the end of the evening, Donghyuck had come up to her with a painting in his hand.

‘This is for you,’ he had said, tossing the portrait to her.

‘What is this?’ she had asked.

‘I got it from the back room.’

‘The back room?’

She had held it out, turning it over in her hands only to realize it was the centre piece that had been slated for auction starting at 90 million won.

‘Oh?’ Donghyuck had slapped a hand to his face, theatrically, feigning innocence. ‘Should I not have told the security that I saw a girl with your description carrying it out?’

‘You what?!’

She had to run down the street for thirteen blocks with the security chasing after her even after she had hurled the painting back at them.

Haewon closed her eyes and breathed in deeply. It is just like that time, she told herself, making sure to curse Donghyuck.

‘Put your hands behind your head,’ the officer ordered, approaching her with a gun in his hand.

But Haewon shot her eyes open and let out a guttural scream, flailing her arms around her and reaching into her pocket mimicking the motion of pulling out a weapon.

‘Everyone down!’ the officer yelled immediately and she jumped over them as they flung themselves to the floor.

Laughing, Haewon ran away, her hair flying behind her. There were sirens going off in the distance and caddies chasing after her yet all she could hear was Donghyuck’s laughter in her ears imagining how he would react after she tells him what she did.

25, 26… Gate no. 27, she spotted.

But the moment she reached the gate, the smile on her face disappeared. It was empty, not a soul in sight except a lady at the counter. The gasp caught in her throat and she shook her head, checking the number again.

Gate no. 27, she confirmed, confusion pricking at her.

‘The flight to the US…’ Haewon stumbled to the counter.

‘Flight 78291?’ the lady asked in her perfect voice. ‘I’m sorry but you missed it, ma’am.’

Blood drained out of her face, her knees close to buckling. She nodded quickly, trying to regain control of herself but it was taking everything in her to not cry right there at the counter.

The lady was offering alternatives, connecting flights and reservations but all Haewon did was thank her.

The airport security finally caught up to her. She did not protest, nor struggle as the officers handcuffed her wrists behind her back. They detained her in the holding cell at the airport before she was transferred to the local police station in the evening, where she was questioned and searched thoroughly.

Renjun had to leave the convocation to bail her out and it was past midnight before she was allowed to leave but not without a hefty fine and a warning.

She followed him back to his car, grateful that he had kept his thoughts and his scolding to himself. It was going come, she knew that much but not tonight.

He drove her back to her dorm, offering to stay the night but Haewon could not take any more favours from him.

‘I’ll be fine,’ she told him, her eyes half drooping. ‘Thank you.’

‘Go on in,’ he said. ‘Get some sleep, alright?’

She dragged herself to the staircase and climbed the steps one at a time till she reached the third floor. Donghyuck was gone. Sure, she could call him, message him but he was gone. What a fucking day, she sighed to herself but her mind was still alert, pulling her to their last conversation, to a particular moment after he had told her that he was leaving. The pause after his words, his expectant eyes and the defeated look hearing her reply.

Should she have said something then, she tried to reason. Was that the chance Donghyuck had given her, testing her heart.

She shook the feeling away, too tired to form coherent thoughts anymore but the moment she turned the corner, her feet suddenly stilled as her eyes landed on the door to her apartment.

Under the flickering light bulb, curled up on the floor beside three suitcases, was Donghyuck.

Haewon scoffed at the sight of him sleeping peacefully against her door. And she had every right to be angry too. Annoyed, irritated, wanting to kick him in the shins before cursing at him and maybe pushing him away. She had been awake for more than 24 hours, had missed her convocations, was almost shot and had started her own criminal record, and there he was, sleeping like a baby.

But Haewon found herself smiling and wasn’t surprised.

Hearing her footsteps, Donghyuck stirred, quickly rising to his feet. He stared at her and she waited. His lip quivered and he gulped, stalking forward, a frown on his forehead.

‘Why didn’t you ask me to stay?’ he cried out. A tear rolled down his cheek and in the light Haewon could see that he hadn’t slept the night too.

‘You were never going to see me again.’ His voice was hoarse, each word grating his throat. ‘And you were fine with that?!’

She wanted to laugh at his accusation and perhaps she did too because Donghyuck fumbled, his expression growing incredulous.

‘Is this funny to you?’ he rasped. ‘After everything we have been through—’

‘Ugh,’ Haewon groaned and closed the distance between them, slapping him on his shoulder.

He stumbled backwards, almost tripping over the suitcases. ‘What was that for?’

‘Who do you think you are, huh?’ she yelled, smacking him in the chest this time.

‘Ow, that hurt!’

‘Good, it should,’ she gritted out. ‘You deserve it.’

‘Wh— what did I do?’

She scoffed in disbelief. ‘I’ll tell you what you did!’ she spat, her finger pointed right at him. ‘First you push me into the lake, almost killing me, then disappear from my life like nothing happened.’ She pushed him again, hitting the same spot. ‘I don’t see you for three months. Three fucking months, and when you do see me, you tell me that you’re leaving forever. Then, I have to learn from Mark out of all people about your deal with the seniors two years ago?’

Donghyuck bowed his head at this but caught her wrist just in time before receiving another shove. ‘Haewon…’

‘Don’t you dare ‘Haewon’ me. Why is your phone off, huh? I called you so many times!’

‘I—’ He was scrambling for words.

‘You what?!’

‘I—you called me?’ There they were again, his expectant eyes.

‘Oh, I did more than just call you, Lee Donghyuck,’ she groaned again, struggling in his grip but he held her close. ‘You wanted to leave, right? Leave. Go.’ She pushed him. ‘Leave. Why are you here?’

Her arms were hitting his chest, his shoulder, anything they could grab onto but Donghyuck was stronger and Haewon was exhausted.

‘Haewon…’ he almost had to yell out, trying to placate her and finally as her body gave out and she broke down crying, he pressed her to his chest, engulfing her in his arms.

‘I’m sorry,’ he whispered, tightening his grip around her. ‘I am sorry.’

‘How could you?!’ She gave one last fight before melting into him.

‘I know… I am sorry.’ He soothed her back for her, swallowing back his own tears. Slowly, he pulled away, holding her face in his hands. ‘I was… I don’t know… I wasn’t thinking. I thought I had lost you, Haewon. You don’t know… I couldn’t bear to look at you after what I had done,’ he choked out, wiping the tears from her cheeks.

‘I thought I had lost you too,’ she whispered back, pressing her forehead against his.

Donghyuck let her cry, his own tears mixing with hers.

‘Do you still want to leave?’ she asked, her fingers still clutching his shirt.

It was his turn to laugh. He pulled away, shaking his head and when he saw her smile, he leaned down to press his lips to hers.

THE END

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luvyeni · 1 year ago

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ˏˋ°•*⁀➷ GIVING YOU THE PRINCESS TREATMENT — NCT DREAM ꒱

— cw. none

authors note. i just had to do a nct dream version !

©️LUVYENI

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viasdreams · 4 days ago

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.𖥔 ݁ ˖

tweets from nct dream’s personal accounts !!

read pt.1 here !!

a/n: plz dont take the mlp assignments seriously guys >_<

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ohmygs-blog · 9 months ago

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finding out the dreamies texted their ex.

(had a request for some angsty texts & this has been sitting in my drafts for awhile now!!! so i hope you guys like <3 )

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ivelleciel · 8 months ago

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IRIS BENEATH THE SUN

Chapter One: Betrayal Genre: Mafia!Haechan, Mafia!NCT, Biker Haechan, Step on me Haechan, Haechan Dom

Pairings: Haechan x Reader (Iris)

Warning: Smut, Violence, Vulgar Language, Mention of blood, MDNI

Intro: Where a girl finds herself trapped within her brother's protection. One would find it a blessing but for Iris, it's suffocation- and she's someone who would often like the thought of being choked, but simply not like this. Raised within thick walls inside the perimeters of their mansion, She finds herself treasuring every opportunity she gets whenever she is given volunteer work for the people in need outside the city of glass she was born in. Fun and Exciting is how she always saw these trips, it was until darkened windows of SUVs blocked their way from going any further in the middle of the desert. It was the only land of nothing dividing the city and the suburbs and yet they were stopped by armed men, six- seven? she couldn't count as she was too in shock, scared even much more so when her side of the vehicle opened and a pair of gloved hands pulled her away from your handmaiden's side. "Giselle!" Iris cried and a bag was hovered over her head and the last thing she remembered was Giselle's screams, Men simultaneously giving orders to her bodyguards and a gun going off. Then there was black.

"Ha ha. So funny. What then? Bore myself to death by my room's window? waiting for prince charming to save me? No thank you. Give me twenty more of these tasks and consider me the happiest sister ever." Mumbling her last words as she fix her hair to a half-do with a claw clip. Iris saw Johnny's sad gaze through her mirror before he could mask it with a stoic smile. She sighed and faced her brother, leaning in to hug herself tight on his chest.

"Stop babying me.. It's only for a few hours. What's the worst that could happen?"

"I heard there are many forest spiders in the village. Thousands." Johnny exaggerated, trying to coax her with her teasing by blabbering stupid things and then he sighed when Iris only hummed her soft chuckle, unconvinced. "... you're just the only family I have left."

"And so are you to me." Iris sighed, looking up to her brother with an exhausted expression. "But mom and dad would have wanted us to live life with more meaning than in fear.."

"I know.." Johnny sighed, tapping the cap Iris had on before marching to her room's door. "Well chop chop city girl. They're not gonna feed themselves." Chuckling as they make their way downstairs, Iris gave one last look at the frame by her bed. Her late mother, late father, Johnny and herself. Smiling by the lake that held many memories for her and Johnny, some of which they didn't know would end in a tragedy.

Iris saw Giselle, one of her many good friends, packing extra necessities for Iris and the trip. Back hugging the petite frame, Giselle squealed, too focused on her task in hand to even notice Iris before glaring at the girl. "Silly! What if I dropped your anxiety pills?" she heard Gigi clicked her tongue, Iris resumed with a bratty smile to where Yuta was by their white van. "Everything settled Yuta?" Yuta, clasped his armed weapon on his belt and smiled at Iris, an unspoken answer to which Iris nodded to before getting up inside the van. Settling on the middle seat, between the window spot and the collapsing chair, she earned a perfect view of Mark.

A container in one hand and the other with what looks like an ammunition box, being stored inside another case. "Put the Magazine under the compartment along with out other containers yeah?" Iris could hear him order Jeno in which the latter obeyed to. She couldn't help but gape at Mark and his focused stance. If Iris was a completely eye-roller at Johnny's protectiveness then with Mark it was all heart eyes and red cheeks. Who wouldn't if the male holds glory to the uniform Johnny assigned them to. Camo pants and Army green fitted shirt is one of the fun treats Iris would look forward to with these programs, along with the nurturing feeling of helping other people.

She heard a throat clearing beside her and Iris just continued gawking. "Can a man get any more handsome?" Iris sighed, pouting her lips when Mark left her view to head inside, presumably to bid farewell to Johnny and reassure him that He and Jaehyun would take good care of you and the task in hands. "I wouldn't know, I'm not the one drooling a pool over here." Iris bit her lips, side eyeing her friend with a snort. "Oh please, as if I don't notice how you look at Yuta?" Giselle smacked Iris arm for that playfully before scooting herself on the window seat. "House Rules. We can't date co workers, but nobody said that about drooling over them." Giselle tossed her hair to tease Iris before being silence by the large frame towering by the sliding door. "Everyone ready?" Johnny mused, eyeing all the equipments and bags in the back seat before giving one last stern look at Iris.

"You behave-" Iris groaned when she saw Yuta, Mark and Jeno exchange smiles behind. "I will! It's not like I won't come straight home. Please stop." Iris whined further before she let Johnny ruffle her hair, backing away from the door to close it himself. Yuta and Jeno positioned in their seats in front. She only got lucky twice that she get to have Mark accompany her in the van.

Two vehicles were to transmit from their mansion. One where Jaehyun and Mark would carry with weapons and their tents and boxes of goods, And one where she's on with Giselle, Yuta and Jeno. It was always four guards with too many weapons. Johnny sees it as not enough but Iris claimed it was more than enough given that it was only her in the vehicle and nothing really ever happened to her despite Johnny's protectiveness.

Somewhere along their trip, Iris was sitting comfy by the window of the collapsing chair with Giselle passed out and a pillow on her lap. She just woke up from her nap and noticed that they were far from near the town they were heading to and yet also too far from home. She checked back as she pushed an air bud in her ear, the van Mark and Jeno are in behind them with safe distance. She played a soft song, ready to day dream about Mark and what would it be like if he was in their van instead of Jeno- that is until she saw a motorcycle beaming his headlights, asking to pass through and overtake. A male in all black sits on the Kawasaki Ninja H2R. Black skinny jeans, black boots, chains for necklace if she knew any better and a black shirt underneath his leather jacket.

His gloves switched the lever of his bike causing it to roar as he zooms pass them, earning a scoff at Yuta. "Cocky motherfucker." he muttered before she hears Jeno chuckle. She could have sworn that the rider could see her through their tinted glass, staring right back at her but that would be silly because again their vans were tinted, to its most darkest available shade at that. Shaking the silly thought away, she went back to staring out her window and enjoying the scenery as they drove through the desert.

"Target: Flower is in position. 800 meters away from the bullseye."

Static was heard from the other end before he heard the stern voice call back at him.

"We are ready to engage."

Haechan responded with a 'Copy.' before speeding away from the white vans. Certain that he was out of view, he parked behind a boulder , big enough to hide his motorcycle and himself as he positioned a chain of spikes across the road, plan B in place in case "Plan A: ambush" failed- to which it often doesn't, the cocky side of him crediting himself to the lack of mission failing when he's part of it. All he has to do now is wait and upon calculating he has enough time left for a quick smoke. Sitting his helmet on his bike and pulling out the Marlboro stick from his jacket's pocket he lit it up and waited as he leans on the boulder.

Puffing a few smoke, He heard screeches of tires and screams came after that.

Haechan made his way to the scene, stepping on Yuta's back as he tackled on the ground by Jaemin and Jeno wounded by Chenle on the leg.

"Boss said to spare them and just take the girl." Jaemin said as Renjun struggled to open the van's door. "She's won't let me open it-"

"Don't make another move!" Mark was able to free himself from Xiao Jun's grasp, wounded and bleeding on the side when Mark kicked him off but Mark was far from okay as well, with a gash on his lip and an open wound on his arm. Mark aimed the gun on his hand to Haechan, making the tanned skin male chuckle.

"You must be Mark." Mark unfazed by how Haechan knew he his name remained in position. "Don't worry. We won't hurt your princess, lover boy." Mark was then knocked out by Jaehyun from behind. One last look of betrayal from Mark and he was passed out on the ground.

Haechan nudged Renjun away and pulled the door open. Iris yelled and kicked when Renjun tried to manhandle her out to which he succeeded and Giselle screamed behind her before she was knocked out as well by a cloth to their mouths and nose.

Haechan watched as Iris gaze lands on his. Flicking the cigar away before leaning on her with a smirk. Her eyes beamed light brown as she tried to make out what Haechan looked like as he towers over her in front of the sun. 'Familiar' is what her last thoughts were before everything went black.

note: visit @Ivelle_Ciel on ao3 for faster updates ˆ̑՝̮ˆ̑❤︎

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saythenametotheworld · 2 months ago

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Foolish One | h.rj

A chance encounter with Renjun at the campus library turns into late-night study sessions and stolen moments. He's everything you're looking for—thoughtful, kind, intelligent. But is this the start of something real, or just a story you’re telling yourself?

ONE | two | three | four | five

Genre: crush-at-first-sight, college AU Pairing: Huang Renjun x afab!Reader Warnings: mature themes, language, the plot is dragged out a bit lol Notes: 17k words. Part 1 of the Campus Confessions series, but it can be read as a standalone fic. Listening to Foolish One by Taylor Swift. Genuinely, let me know what you guys think of this. I am very open-minded to constructive criticism. Disclaimer: This is a work of fiction. I do not know them personally and do not claim they would ever behave like they were portrayed in this story.

Playlist: 1 2 3 by NCT DREAM, Risk by Gracie Abrams, Jump Then Fall by Taylor Swift, Foolish One by Taylor Swift

“Wishful thoughts forgot to mention when something's really not right”

The campus library was quieter than you expected for a Tuesday afternoon during exam week, the kind of silence that made your every move feel amplified and noticeable. You were feeling self-conscious, wondering if everyone was noticing you standing awkwardly at the front desk while the librarian refused to check out the book you wanted to borrow. But the embarrassment didn’t bother you as much as the growing panic in your chest. You really needed this book right now so you could do a last minute study before your exam in thirty minutes.

Clutching a notebook against your chest, you gave the librarian a pleading look. “Please? Just this once?”

“I’m sorry, but I really can’t do that without your student ID,” the librarian said, her tone polite but firm. “You know how it works right? We need it for the record.”

You gave a tight smile, shifting your weight from one foot to the other. “Isn’t there any way to bypass that? I mean, don’t you have librarian privileges, something like that? Please, it would take at least fifteen minutes to get to my apartment for my ID, and another fifteen to come back here.”

The librarian sighed, taking her glasses off and setting it down on her desk. She gave you a stern look. “I know you’re desperate, but I can’t just bend the rules even if I want to. Especially not for a student who’s negligent enough to forget her ID at home when you should be carrying it on your person at all times.”

You were about to protest when a smooth and calm voice spoke from behind you. “Here use mine.”

You turned to see a boy holding out his ID card. Silvery blond hair brushed lightly across his eyes, and his pale skin seemed to glow faintly under the library lights. The thin-framed glasses resting on his nose didn’t hide the sharp clarity in his gaze—calm, observant, and entirely unbothered by the chaos you were exuding. His expression was calm as if lending his card to a stranger was the most natural thing in the world. Somehow, that made you even more flustered.

“Oh,” you said, blinking at him. “That’s really nice of you. Thank you.”

He shrugged, a small smile tugging at the corners of his lips. “You looked like you’re about to cry.”

Letting out a sheepish laugh, you took the card and handed it to the librarian. “I mean, I was just about to, actually,” you quipped.

It didn’t even take two minutes for the librarian to check out the book. You returned his ID, your gaze catching his name—Huang Renjun—before handing it back.

“Here. And, uh, thanks again.”

“No problem,” he said, smiling before taking his turn to check out his books. “Good luck with your exam.”

“Thanks. You too,” you replied. As he went to talk to the librarian, you stood there for a moment, hesitating, wanting to say more, or to ask him something—anything—but you had stuff to do. The exam wasn’t going to study itself.

You rushed out of the library, muttering his name under your breath and telling yourself not to forget about the cute boy with the silvery blond hair and an ID he didn’t hesitate to lend.

It’s your second semester as a freshman, and so far, you could say you weren’t the type of student to get caught up in the grind of academics. You took up Liberal Arts out of necessity instead of passion. After highschool, you didn’t have a clear-cut direction or dream job in mind, but you knew you had to go to college so you picked something that left the options open, hoping that eventually, you’d figure it out.

When it comes to academics, you do just enough to get by. Your grades are respectable but nothing extraordinary. You’re not taking things for granted—you just didn’t see the point in staying up all night studying or stressing over perfect grades. Even with average grades, as long as you passed, that was good enough for you. While you respected those who worked hard to excel in their academics, you didn’t feel the need to compete with them. You weren’t interested in pushing yourself that far.

Your friends often teased you about it, calling you laid-back or lazy, but they understood. You didn’t need to be at the top of the class to feel content. You just gave enough to get by, balancing school and the rest of your life without too much strain. You figured most people probably felt the same way—just doing enough, hoping things would eventually fall into place.

“How are you feeling?” Karina asked Giselle, her eyes full of concern. The two of them sat beside you on the mat you’d spread out on the grass in the quad.

They were your housemates—your friends, too—living in the big apartment you all shared. You’d met them at the start of the school year, and sharing a space together had made it easy to grow close.

Giselle sighed, leaning her head against your shoulder. “Not any better. I think the medicine’s not doing anything.”

You rubbed her back gently, trying to comfort her. “Just give it some time. If it gets worse, you can rest at home. I’ll make you some healthy soup.”

Giselle raised an eyebrow, a teasing glint in her eyes. “You can’t cook.”

You laughed, shrugging casually. “How hard can it be? I’m a fast learner.”

Jaemin, who had been sitting across from you, snickered. “Shut up. You can’t even tell the difference between a cucumber and a zucchini.”

You gasped dramatically, scooting away from him, glaring. “You shut up! You used to follow me around like a puppy when we were kids. Stop acting like you’re the smart one.”

Jaemin rolled his eyes. “We were fourteen, not kids.”

You smirked. “Doesn’t change the fact that you followed me around like a lost puppy.”

Jaemin crossed his arms, sighing heavily. “I’m just making things clear because I don’t want to sit here and watch you rewrite the facts in front of your friends. And just for the record, I was lost at the time.”

Karina turned to Giselle. “How does anyone confuse zucchini with cucumber?”

Giselle just shrugged, unimpressed.

You shot them both a look. “In my defense, they look exactly the same!”

The two stared at you, shaking their heads in perfect unison. It was almost comical. “No, they don’t,” Giselle said flatly.

“They really don’t,” Karina agreed.

You were about to fire back when something—or rather, someone—caught your eye. That unmistakable side profile, the silvery hair catching the sunlight just right. “Huang Renjun,” you blurted out, your voice almost dreamy as your gaze followed him.

“Huang who?” Giselle asked, turning to follow your line of sight. Her eyes lit up. “Oh, the guy from the library?”

“Yes!” you gasped, clasping your hands over your mouth like you’d just seen a celebrity. “See? I told you he’s cute.”

“You’re right, he totally is,” Karina chimed in, sharing the same gleeful smile as you and Giselle.

“What’s going on? Who’s that?” Jaemin leaned closer, his curiosity piqued.

You grinned, leaning toward him like you were about to spill the juiciest secret. “He’s the guy who saved my ass yesterday.”

All eyes shifted back to Renjun, who stood by the library talking to a group of students. From this distance, you could see the bright smile on his face as he laughed at something his friend said. He looked so effortlessly friendly, so unbothered—and something about that gave you butterflies.

Giselle nudged your arm, eyes glinting with mischief. “Go say ‘hi’!”

“No way!” you hissed, snapping your head toward her. “He probably doesn’t even remember me.”

You stayed rooted to your spot, feeling your friends’ teasing remarks rain down on you like playful jabs. They nudged and prodded, daring you to make a move, but you could only keep your eyes on Renjun. He lingered outside the library for a few minutes before finally stepping inside, disappearing through the double doors. Before you could think too much, your body moved on autopilot.

“I'll be back,” you mumbled to your friends, brushing off their teasing ‘oooh’s as you hurried across the quad. They exchanged knowing looks, grinning like they’d already won some secret bet, but you ignored them and followed him.

Inside the library, the cool, quiet air made you pause. You spotted Renjun by the window just as he was sitting down at a vacant desk. Summoning every ounce of courage you had, you approached him.

“Hi,” you said softly, feeling your voice wobble just enough to make you cringe.

Renjun turned, his expression neutral at first before recognition lit up his eyes. “Oh, hey,” he said with a small smile. “What’s up?”

“I, uh…” You cleared your throat, clutching the book in your hands like it was a lifeline. “I was going to return this today, so I’m gonna have to bother you again with your ID to check it in.” You laughed nervously, hoping the self-deprecation would make up for how awkward you felt.

Renjun’s smile widened just slightly. “Sure, don’t worry about it. It would’ve been worse if you didn’t.” he teased lightly. Before you could answer, he reached into his pocket, pulling out his own card. “Here.”

“Didn’t want a loaned book to hold your GPA back at the end of the semester, right?” you quipped, taking the card from his hand. Renjun chuckled as he nodded. “I’ll be back in a jiffy,” you added before turning to head to the front desk.

After the book was returned, you skipped over to Renjun’s desk and thanked him for his help. He seemed busy with something, so he just told you you were welcome before returning to his task. Meanwhile, you found yourself lingering. The rational part of your brain was telling you to leave and not push your luck, but the louder part was convincing you to stay.

You spotted a vacant desk next to Renjun’s, so you slid into a seat, pulling out your laptop and the notes for a class paper you were gonna start. The paper wasn’t due until next week, but you needed an excuse—a reason to stay within Renjun’s orbit. So you started typing, glancing at your screen for a few seconds before inevitably stealing a look at him. He was sitting a few tables away, scribbling in a notebook, his expression focused. He looked extra cute by the window, a soft beam of sunlight catching his hair and his flawless skin as he worked. The way his brows furrowed in concentration, the absentminded way he twirled his pen—it was like he didn’t even realize how distractingly handsome he was. Then again, maybe it was just in your eyes because there was no denying the fact that you were immensely infatuated by him.

You were mid-sentence in your essay when you stole another glance. But he glanced up just as your gaze lingered a second too long. Your eyes darted back to your screen so fast it was a miracle you didn’t get whiplash. Too late, you’d been caught red-handed already. Still, you couldn’t help yourself from doing it again, making sure to be more subtle this time—only to fail at it.

The second time he caught you looking, he held your gaze for a second longer, one eyebrow lifting in silent amusement. By the third or fourth time, he set his pen down, leaned back slightly, and called out softly, “Am I distracting you from your work?”

You froze, heat rushing to your cheeks. “What? No, I wasn’t—” You fumbled, searching for an excuse. “I was just… looking around. Yes. I’m looking around as I think.”

Renjun chuckled, the sound low and warm. “I see. I thought I had something on my head,” he said, gesturing over his head.

You huffed, flustered, and busied yourself with your notes, hoping to regain your composure. To your surprise, Renjun didn’t let the moment hang awkwardly. Instead, he asked casually, “What are you working on?”

“Oh,” you said, grateful for the topic shift. “It’s an essay for a philosophy class.”

He tilted his head, curious. “Which one?”

You named the subject, and his expression brightened. “I took that last semester,” he said. “Professor Lee, right?”

“Yeah, that’s her,” you confirmed.

Renjun nodded thoughtfully. ““Well, then you don’t need to worry much. She’s really chill. She’s not the kind of professor who’ll mark you down for having a different opinion, so you can pretty much write how you actually feel about the topic.”

His words surprised you. “Really?”

“Really,” he said with a nod. “She actually encourages it. Just make sure you explain your points well. She likes a good argument.”

You found yourself smiling, his advice easing some of the stress you hadn’t realized you were carrying about the essay. “Thanks. That’s actually very helpful.”

“No problem.” He picked up his pen again, flashing you one last smile before returning to his notes.

And just like that, you had one more reason to stay a little longer. You continued writing your paper, making sure you did it well and explained your points clearly. Occasionally, you would glance up at him, grinning to yourself at how attractive he looked when he was focusing. You didn’t need to talk after that. You wanted to, but you couldn’t find the right timing nor the right topic. By the time your phone alarm went off for your next class, you were already halfway through your essay.

Standing up to gather your things, you gave Renjun another glance, debating whether to say goodbye. The idea of walking off without a word felt odd, but you worried a goodbye might seem too eager, too obvious. So you hesitated—just long enough for him to notice.

“Done already?” Renjun asked, tilting his head slightly.

““No! Not yet.” Your response came faster than you intended. “I mean, I have to go to class, so… I’ll finish later.”

He nodded, a faint smile tugging at the corners of his lips. “If you need help with that paper, let me know. Maybe I can offer some pointers.”

The offer caught you off guard, and for a second, all you could do was blink at him.

Renjun seemed to realize how it sounded, and his hand darted up to rub the back of his neck. “Wait, that came out wrong. I didn’t mean it like—uh—it wasn’t supposed to sound—” He let out a nervous chuckle. “That was kind of arrogant, wasn’t it?”

“No! Not at all!” you said quickly, shaking your head with more enthusiasm than you intended. “I mean, I would definitely let you know if I needed help.”

His laughter softened, and he ducked his head slightly, as though embarrassed. “Well, now it sounds like I think I’m a genius or something.”

“Renjun, stop. You’re fine,” you assured him, a smile creeping onto your face. And you meant it. There was something unexpectedly charming about his fumbling attempt to explain himself.

He hesitated, then asked, almost shyly, “What’s your name?”

You blinked again. “Sorry?”

“I just realized… you know my name, but I don’t know yours,” he explained, the tips of his ears noticeably pink.

“Oh!” You told him your name, watching as he repeated it under his breath—not once, but twice, as though memorizing every syllable.

When he looked up at you, his smile was soft, almost boyish. “Nice to meet you. You should get to class before you’re late.”

“Right. Yeah. Um, see you around,” you said, clutching your bag tightly and walking out before you said something embarrassingly incoherent.

As soon as you were out of sight, you let the grin you’d been holding back take over. It was silly, how a few awkward exchanges could make your heart race like this. For the first time in a long while, it felt less like fleeting, hormone-driven infatuation and more like a genuinely innocent crush.

For the next few days, the library became your favorite spot, and it definitely wasn’t just because of your paper. Whether it was morning or late afternoon, you found yourself there, trying to catch glimpses of Renjun. Sometimes he was already settled in when you arrived, headphones on and pen tapping rhythmically against his notebook. Other times, you got there first and watched the door with anticipation.

You made it a point to sit near him whenever you could. If the spot next to him was taken, you’d find a table within view. Eventually, you started interacting a bit more, small moments that shouldn’t have felt significant but somehow they did.

Like the time you dropped your pen and Renjun leaned down to retrieve it, handing it to you with a quiet, “Here you go.”

His fingers brushed yours briefly, and though it lasted less than a second, it was enough to make your heart skip a beat. Another time, while unpacking your bag, your water bottle rolled off the table. Renjun caught it mid-fall and handed it back with an amused smile. “Careful, your bag is out for sabotage today,” he joked.

You smiled, shaking your head. “Not when you’re here to save the day,” you retorted, feeling proud of your quick and witty response.

Then there was the time you walked past him on your way to the shelves, and he looked up, offering a small nod of acknowledgment. It wasn’t much—just a polite gesture—but it left you grinning like an idiot as you pretended to browse the books, replaying the moment in your head.

One morning, Renjun sneezed, and you instinctively murmured, “Bless you.” He glanced at you, surprised but touched.

“Thanks,” he said softly, his smile warm enough to make you forget where you were.

Each interaction, however small, only made you more drawn to him. One day, Giselle decided to tag along, claiming she needed to ‘see this Renjun guy’ for herself. The two of you walked into the library, and sure enough, he was already there, engrossed in his notes. Giselle wasted no time making her move, striding right up to him with her trademark confidence.

“Hi! You’re Renjun, right?” she asked, her tone friendly but direct.

Renjun looked up, startled but polite. “Uh, yeah. Do I know you?”

“No, but I think we have a mutual friend. Ningning?”

Renjun’s expression softened at the mention of Ningning, a small smile tugging at his lips. “Oh, yeah, Ningning.”

“How is she? I haven’t seen her since last semester.”

You watched the exchange from a few steps away, nervous and embarrassed at the same time. Giselle was handling the conversation so effortlessly, but you couldn’t help but worry about how this would make you look.

After chatting for a minute, Giselle turned to you and grinned. “Nice to meet you, we’ll leave you to it. Or, actually,” she gestured to the empty seat across from Renjun, “do you mind if we sit here?”

Renjun shook his head. “No. Go ahead.”

Giselle gave you a pointed look as the two of you sat down, clearly proud of herself for setting this up. That day, you ended up sitting with Renjun without needing an excuse. Giselle paved the way with her easy conversation, dropping Ningning’s name enough times to turn the awkward encounter into something comfortable. She only stayed for about twenty minutes before leaving, claiming she had other things to do.

“Good luck with your paper!” she called out, leaving you alone with Renjun. You chatted a lot more than usual then, and you were giddy and smiling the whole time.

The moment that truly melted you, though, happened on a particularly busy day. The library was unusually crowded, and you could not find a vacant seat. You were about to leave for the day when you spotted a hand waving in the air. It took you a second to realize it was Renjun, beckoning you over to the seat next to him.

The sight made your stomach flutter, sending a wholesome kind of warmth through you. You didn’t even hesitate, smiling as you walked through the maze of desks and sat down next to him. “Hi! This place is full full.”

“I know. It’s not even exam week,” he replied while you were setting your stuff down. Then he gestured to the side of the table where his books were sprawled. “Do you need more space? I can move these.”

“Oh no, it’s fine,” you said quickly, but the gesture made your chest flutter all the same.

It was almost the deadline for your paper, and while you were hoping you could use that as an excuse to sit with him that day, it seemed unnecessary now. Still, you thought it would be best to ask for his help while you were there.

“I’m taking you up on that offer today,” you began, hoping your cheerfulness would mask the nervousness you were feeling.

“Finally,” he quipped back, closing his book as he watched you open your laptop beside him. “I was starting to feel embarrassed about that offer. I was thinking you never really needed help and I was being arrogant.”

“Oh, stop it,” you huffed, toggling to the paper in your device. “Here. Would you mind taking a look at my draft? Just to see if it makes sense?”

Instead of tugging the laptop toward him, as you normally would, Renjun scooted closer, his shoulder brushing against yours as he leaned over your screen. He read it as it was, eyes scanning your words with quiet focus. Probably too focused to even notice you holding your breath beside him, heart racing in your chest at the sudden proximity.

“This is good,” he said after a moment, his voice low and thoughtful. “But here, maybe you could elaborate more on this point. And this—” he gestured to another part, “—is strong, but you could link it back to this statement more clearly.”

You nodded, though most of his advice went over your head because your brain was too busy short-circuiting over how close he was. The scent of his cologne, the way his lips moved as he explained something you didn’t catch—all of it was impossibly distracting.

When he leaned back, you snapped out of your daze enough to say, “Thanks. That was really helpful.”

“It’s nothing,” he said, flashing a small smile. “If you need help again, just let me know—so long as it’s something I actually know.”

And then he added, almost offhandedly, “It’s nice studying with someone.”

Your heart skipped a beat, and you didn’t hesitate to seize the moment. “Maybe we could be study buddies?” you offered, trying to sound as casual as you could.

Renjun looked at you for a second, then nodded. “You know what? Maybe we should be study buddies.”

Ever since you moved away for college, you’d grown to enjoy three things: first, the independence of doing things on your own time without having to consider family members; second, experiencing a city so different from the hometown where you’d spent most of your life; and lastly, going to parties without a curfew.

These might sound shallow to some people, and honestly, you thought so too. Then again, you’d happily admit that you weren’t a profound kind of girl. Growing up, you’d always been easy to please—and just as easy to disappoint. You wore your heart on your sleeve, never bothering to bottle up your feelings or hide your opinions. It helped that you were outgoing, the kind of person who cared more about your own well being than having beef with other people, so you never really had to fight anyone.

That being said, you liked to keep your circle small, only making friends with people you like and keeping a civil relationship with everyone else. With your small circle of friends—only Giselle, Karina, and Jaemin—it was easy to just tell them everything about you.

But tonight, even that small circle couldn’t make this party feel less exhausting.

“Girl, you did not come here just to stay invisible in a corner,” Karina sighed, towering over you on the lumpy corner couch while you sipped from a red plastic cup.

“What?” you asked, genuinely puzzled. “What else am I supposed to do?”

“I don’t know, be normal? You’re more fun than this,” she retorted, squeezing herself into the seat next to you. “Don’t make me sound like your mom, but it’s like you’re not even trying tonight. You’re usually the one dragging me into something embarrassing.”

“Yeah, but this is kinda boring, don’t you think?” you said, gesturing vaguely at the chaos around you.

Music blared from the speakers, with strobe lights dancing in the ceilings and the floors all around you. Blending with the music were the sounds of people chatting and laughing animatedly. Students were either drunk or high, dancing in circles or hanging off each other. Even the air felt too heavy, thick with the smell of sweat, booze, and something you were pretty sure wasn’t tobacco.

Karina’s eyes widened like you’d just said something ridiculous. “Boring? This?” she scoffed, throwing her hands up at the lively crowd.

You grinned at her over the rim of your cup. “Just saying.”

She rolled her eyes, but you noticed the corner of her lips twitching like she was trying not to smile. The two of you must have looked ridiculous, crammed onto the tiny couch while the rest of the party swirled around you.

“Where’s Gigi, anyway?” Karina asked, scanning the crowd.

You leaned to the side, spotting Giselle at the bar. She was laughing with a guy who was practically draped over her, his lips close to her ear as he whispered something that made her toss her hair back and giggle.

“She’s having fun,” you said, nodding toward her.

“At least one of us is,” Karina grumbled.

“Hey, I didn’t ask you to sit here and look lonely with me. I was doing a good enough job of it by myself,” you teased, nudging her shoulder.

Before she could retort, Jaemin appeared between the two of you, crouching slightly so he could speak right into your ears. “Long faces at a party? You two are ruining the vibe.”

“Go away,” Karina grumbled, shoving Jaemin’s face with her palm.

Undeterred, Jaemin grabbed her hand, intertwining their fingers with a devilish grin. “I know why you’re sulking. Forget about him; he’s not coming.”

“You little—” Karina tried to yank her hand back, but Jaemin held on, wagging his head as if scolding her.

Turning his attention to you, he asked, “And you? What’s your excuse? Hungry? Sleepy? Time of the month? Which is it?”

“What are you even talking about?” you replied, raising an eyebrow.

Jaemin narrowed his eyes like he’d caught you in a lie. “You do know that it’s weirder to see you idle at a party than when you’re throwing it back on the dance floor, right?”

You shrugged, taking another sip from your cup. “Can’t a girl take a break from all that?”

Karina, finally prying her hand free, leaned back with a smirk. “Shouldn’t you be happy about this? Less activity from her means less work for you.”

Jaemin stood upright like he’d just had a light bulb moment. It was also then that Giselle came bounding over excitedly. “Jeno. Jeno. Jeno,” she chanted, pointing toward the staircase.

Your ears perked up as you followed her gaze. There he was—Lee Jeno—locked in a steamy makeout session with a pretty girl you’d seen around before.

Karina gave you a sidelong glance, her voice cautious. “Are you seeing that right now?”

“I am,” you chuckled, rolling your eyes. “What a fuckboy.”

Giselle raised an eyebrow, nudging your arm. “Yet you still like him, don’t you?”

“Of course, I do,” you admitted with a chuckle. “Him being a fuckboy doesn’t change the fact that he’s hot.”

Karina cringed dramatically. “Your judgment is so questionable.”

Jaemin snapped his fingers in front of your face. “Hold up. What’s going on? Do you have a thing for Lee Jeno too?” When you grinned instead of answering, he groaned, shaking his head. “Just how many crushes do you have, woman?”

Honestly, only two—Jeno and Renjun. But these days, Renjun had the edge. Jeno might’ve been the one who flirted with you last semester, but lately, you couldn’t help but swoon over Renjun’s quieter, more thoughtful charm.

“I like Renjun more,” you confessed. “He’s just the complete opposite of Jeno. I kinda wish he were here. Though I know this isn’t really his scene.”

“Girl, doesn’t it bother you that you like two completely different types of guys at the same time?” Karina asked, genuinely curious.

You scoffed, throwing your hands up in mock exasperation. “Girl, does it matter?”

For a while, you stayed in the corner, sipping your drink and chatting with your friends. But as the minutes ticked by, the infectious energy of the crowd started pulling you in. Soon you were getting up from the couch and joining the thrumming crowd, Karina trailing behind you.

Giselle and Jaemin quickly found their own adventures—Giselle gravitating back toward the bar, her giggles disappearing into the noise, and Jaemin vanishing somewhere toward the dance floor. That left you and Karina sticking close, both of you weaving through the chaos as you searched for the makeshift minibar.

That’s when Donghyuck appeared.

The first thing he did when he saw you was flirt. “Hi, gorgeous. Are you going home with me after this, or should we just skip the formalities and head back to my place now?”

You gave him a deadpan look. “Pass.”

He smirked, completely unfazed. “The bathroom’s closer if my place is too far for you.”

“Isn’t your place Mark Lee’s place?” you shot back. “Hard pass.”

Donghyuck’s grin widened like he’d been waiting for you to say that. “Aw, still sore about getting rejected by Mark?”

“I wasn’t rejected,” you snapped, turning to face him fully. “It was a misunderstanding.”

“Sure it was,” he drawled, leaning in closer. “But lucky for you, Mark’s not coming home tonight. Think of it as a golden opportunity.”

“Dude, she’s just not that into you,” Karina cut in, her tone flat as she rolled her eyes.

Donghyuck turned to her with a theatrical gasp. “I don’t know about that,” he replied, looking back at you and winking playfully.

You felt a chill run down your spine—not the kind caused by fear or disgust, but the kind that made your skin tingle and sent heat between your thighs. It was infuriating how easily Lee Donghyuck could pull that off, and even more infuriating that your body had the nerve to respond.

But you’d sooner gouge your own eyes out than admit that to him. “Go away, Hyuck,” you said, shoving him lightly with your free hand.

He laughed, stepping back just enough to give you space but staying close enough to remain a nuisance. “See you later, then.”

As he walked off, Karina gave you a side-eye. “You’re not hanging out with that guy, are you?”

“No, I’m not,” you lied, taking another sip of your drink and avoiding her gaze.

“Good. That guy is nothing but trouble,” she replied, glancing back at Donghyuck who had now found another girl to bother.

The next morning, you woke up to the sharp ring of your alarm blaring in your ears. Disoriented, you reached out blindly to silence it, only for your hand to slap the cold, hard floor. Floor? You groaned, peeling your cheek off the surface and wincing at the sticky residue clinging to your skin. Why were you on the floor?

Your head pounded mercilessly, a dull ache that only grew worse as you sat up and tried to piece together what had happened the night before. Your phone buzzed on the table, and when you reached for it, you caught a glimpse of your reflection in the black screen: mascara smudged, hair in complete disarray, and a faint red mark on your forehead where you must have hit something.

“Crap,” you muttered, staring at the time. You had twenty minutes to make it to your study session with Renjun!

Scrambling to your feet, you almost tripped over your own feet on your way to the bathroom. No matter how tight your schedule was, you must not skip taking a shower before going out today because you stink. So you stepped under the shower head, using cold water on purpose in hopes that the freezing water would jolt you into wakefulness. You scrubbed your face like it would erase the remnants of last night’s chaos.

What even was last night’s chaos?

Snippets of loud music, flashing lights, and Donghyuck’s smirk popped into your mind, but you shoved them aside. You could recall every bit of last night if you tried hard enough, but there was no time to dwell on your questionable life choices. You threw on a hoodie and jeans, grabbed your bag, and sprinted out the door, hair still damp and heart pounding.

When you reached the library, you were breathing hard, and the cold air made your headache even worse. The library was almost deserted. Pulling out your phone, you texted Renjun to let him know you’d made it, only for his reply to make you cringe.

Renjun: Love your enthusiasm, but aren’t you an hour too early? 😀

The realization came with shame: you were way too eager. There was no other way to spin it. You sat down at a random table, trying to blend into the background despite the fact that the library was far from crowded. You spent the next few minutes scrolling through your phone, distracting yourself from the embarrassment you were feeling inside.

Ten minutes later, Renjun walked in, his usual calm demeanor intact. When he spotted you, he smiled and quickened his pace. “Hi,” he greeted, setting his bag down across from you.

“Hi,” you greeted back, moving your bag out of the desk. “Aren’t we supposed to meet later?”

“Yeah, but you’re already here, so might as well,” he replied, shrugging. “This works better for me, actually, since I have errands later.”

“We could always reschedule, you know?” you suggested, though that was far from what you were feeling inside. “And did you rush here? You look out of breath.”

“Ah.” Renjun chuckled as he grabbed his water bottle and took a huge sip. “I didn’t want you to wait too long, so I rushed out,” he said after a drink.

His words caught you off guard. He looked so nonchalant about it, like it wasn’t a big deal, but the thought of him rushing because of you warmed your chest.

From that day on, Renjun always sat with you during your study sessions. It wasn’t something you planned, but it became an unspoken agreement between the two of you, a rhythm that settled into place without either of you needing to say a word.

Small gestures like him offering his pen when yours ran out of ink felt special, no matter how much you tried to convince yourself otherwise. It was just convenience, you told yourself, but the way his hand lingered a second too long or the faint smile he’d flash before going back to his notes made it impossible not to wonder.

He’d text you ahead of time if the library was packed, letting you know he’d saved you a seat or that you should just reschedule. You’d thank him, trying to sound casual, but your chest always felt lighter seeing his name light up your screen.

Over time, your study sessions became less about the textbooks and more about getting to know the little things that made Renjun… Renjun. He was a linguistics student who could explain the quirks of syntax or the history of a word with an enthusiasm that made you want to listen, even when you weren’t entirely interested. He liked sci-fi movies—ones with confusing plots and bizarre visuals—and he’d binge them whenever he wasn’t drowning in assignments.

You noticed he had a birthmark on the back of his hand—grayish with a hint of purple, like a bruise that never faded. The first time you commented on it, asking if he’d hurt himself, he chuckled and said, “It’s been there since I was a kid.”

Sometimes, when he was particularly focused, his brows would furrow and his lips would press into a pout that you found annoyingly endearing. You’d have to stop yourself from staring too long, afraid he’d catch you.

Renjun had this habit of quietly humming under his breath while writing notes. It was so soft you almost missed it, but once you noticed, you couldn’t unhear it. When you teased him about it one day, he laughed, embarrassed, but the sound of his laughter stuck with you long after the session ended.

It was in these in-between moments that you realized how much you looked forward to spending time with him—not just as a study buddy, but as someone who made the world feel a little less ordinary.

One afternoon, you caught him sketching in the margins of his notebook while you took notes. His pencil moved with a quiet confidence, tracing lines and curves that turned into an intricate little doodle.

“Is that what you do when you’re bored?” you asked, leaning over to get a better look.

Renjun quickly covered the drawing with his hand, chuckling nervously. “It’s nothing. Just a habit.”

You tilted your head, smiling. “A habit? You’re pretty good.”

He gave you a small smile but didn’t seem convinced by your words.

“I mean it,” you insisted, giving him a sincere look.

He hesitated before glancing down at his notebook. “Thanks,” he said softly, opening his notebook again. “Do you wanna see it?”

“Are you kidding me? Yes!” you giggled, leaning closer to take a look. “I love visual arts. It’s like something I wish I could do but since I don’t have the talent for it, I just settle with appreciating it.”

“Well, I don’t have the talent either. It’s just a hobby,” he replied while you were flipping through the pages of his notebook, admiring the small doodles on the margins.

“You’re too modest,” you chimed, impressed by the effortless beauty of his cute, almost cartoonish art. “I think you’re really good at this.”

Encouraged by your sincerity, he opened up a little. “I liked drawing as a kid. I used to think I’d pursue it as a career, but, you know, priorities. I have a vision of an ideal future which seemed difficult to achieve if I chose art.”

You frowned. “That’s kinda sad.”

He quickly shook his head, his tone light. “I don’t feel that way about it, though. It’s not like I’m completely banned from making art. I’m just putting it on hold for now.”

You watched him closely, noting the way his expression shifted between wistfulness and acceptance. The way he brushed it off so easily tugged at something in you. “Well,” you said after a moment, “for what it’s worth, I think you should keep doing it. Even if it’s just for yourself.”

Renjun looked at you, his lips quirking into a soft smile that lingered a little too long. “Thanks,” he said again, and this time, he sounded like he meant it.

“I think he likes you,” Karina said, sprawled across the couch, hugging a throw pillow with a dreamy grin on her face. “You’ve been spending so much time together lately. I wouldn’t be surprised if he asks you out soon.”

“Agreed,” Giselle added, flipping through a magazine that was clearly not as interesting as this topic. “He really should do it soon.”

You plopped down on the floor with a loud sigh, dramatically draping an arm over your eyes. “You think so?”

“Don’t let it go to your head,” Jaemin muttered from his spot on the carpet, tossing popcorn into the air and catching it with his mouth. “You’ve barely seen each other outside the library. For all you know, he’s just being nice.”

“Oh, come on,” you shot back, lifting your arm to squint at him. “You don’t see the way he looks at me with this little smile, like…” You mimicked an exaggerated dreamy face.

Karina giggled. “You’re so delusional. It’s cute, though.”

Giselle joined in. “Yeah, the way you’ve been acting lately is straight out of a high school drama. You, of all people, getting excited about study sessions? Who are you?”

“Hey, I’ve always been academically inclined!” you defended, sitting up.

Jaemin snorted. “Cramming at 3 a.m. doesn’t count as ‘academically inclined.’”

You threw a popcorn kernel at him, which he dodged with an annoyingly smug grin. “For your information,” you said, pointing at him with mock indignation, “I’ve been taking notes. Like, actual, color-coded, neat notes. With highlighters.”

“Oh no,” Giselle gasped, feigning horror. “The highlighters! It’s worse than we thought!”

“It’s called being responsible,” you huffed, crossing your arms with a proud smirk.

“It’s called being whipped,” Jaemin corrected, leaning back with a smirk. “You’re not fooling anyone. You’re basically studying because you’re hoping he’ll think you’re smart and fall for you.”

“First of all,” you said, holding up a finger, “Renjun already knows I’m smart.”

Jaemin snorted.

“Second of all,” you continued, ignoring him, “this newfound work ethic has nothing to do with him.”

“Right,” Giselle drawled, shooting Jaemin a look.

“Absolutely nothing,” you repeated with a grin, tossing popcorn into your own mouth.

“Guys, give her a break,” Karina chided softly, though she was grinning playfully too. “Isn’t it good that she’s motivated?”

Giselle snickered, giving you a mischievous side eye. “Anyone would be motivated if they’re being promised some di—”

You cut her off by shoving popcorn in her mouth. “I haven’t been promised anything.”

Giselle chewed her food quickly and started poking your sides. “You’re grinning so hard your face is gonna crack.”

You laughed, playfully swatting her hand away. “I just think it’s nice, okay? To have a study buddy who, like, actually cares if I pass my exams. Unlike some people.” You gave Jaemin a pointed look.

“Hey, I care,” he replied, holding up his hands defensively. “I just don’t think you should fool yourself into thinking it’s anything more than studying.”

Karina laughed. “Don’t listen to him. I think it’s sweet. It’s cute seeing you so motivated, even if it is…” she trailed off, glancing at Giselle.

“Dick-motivated,” she finished bluntly, popping another piece of popcorn into her mouth.

“You’re so gross,” you scoffed, narrowing your eyes at her.

“Hey, I call it like I see it,” Giselle shrugged.

“I will say this, though, if it’s making you study harder, maybe it’s not the worst thing. We’re freshmen, so you can still pave the way for yourself to graduate with flying colors,” Jaemin added, wiggling his eyebrows. “But you guys need to go out of that library first. Go to the quad for a change. Maybe get coffee together or something.”

“Jaemin,” you said, resting your chin on your hand with an exaggerated pout, “why would I need coffee when Renjun already gives me a caffeine rush by just existing?”

Giselle cackled. “Oh my god, you’re hopeless.”

“Hopelessly in love,” you declared dramatically, flopping back onto the floor with a hand over your heart.

Karina shook her head, laughing. “You’re so embarrassing.”

“You love me anyway.”

Jaemin groaned. “No, seriously. Stop living in your fantasy world and ask him to hang out. Outside. Of. The. Library.”

You peeked up at him with a mischievous grin. “But what if he’s waiting for the perfect moment to confess? What if he’s just as nervous as I am?”

“Then you’re both pathetic,” Giselle deadpanned, though her lips twitched like she was holding back a laugh.

“Don’t worry,” you said with mock seriousness. “When we finally get together, I’ll make sure to invite you to the wedding.”

Giselle and Jaemin groaned again, this time louder. “You’re insufferable when you’re like this,” Jaemin complained.

You just laughed, the giddy, teenage-like crush bubbling over until it spilled out of you in the form of exaggerated dramatics. Maybe your friends were right, and you should try to take things further, but for now, you were perfectly content basking in the joy of it all—even if your friends never let you live it down.

However, it seemed like your friends weren’t the only ones bothered about the slow development in your relationship with Renjun. The universe too, knew that it was time for you to leave the safe confines of the campus library.

It happened on a late Sunday afternoon. You walked into a café, expecting nothing more than a quiet moment with your usual overpriced latte. But then you spotted him—Renjun. He wore a soft expression that caught the golden light streaming through the window, his face almost glowing as he leaned over a notebook. He was sitting alone with a half-empty cup of coffee by his side, his pencil moving in quick, deliberate strokes.

You knew, logically, that Renjun didn’t spend every waking moment in the library. He had a life outside of it, of course. But seeing him in a place without the endless shelves of books and the soothing silence of the library around felt a little weird, in a good way. There was something oddly intimate about it, like you’d stumbled into a part of his life you had never seen before—and in a way, it really was something you hadn’t seen before.

You were still rooted to the spot, trying to decide whether to turn around and flee or walk over and say hi, when Renjun glanced up—and noticed you. His eyes widened slightly in surprise before his face broke into a small, easy smile. He lifted a hand in a casual wave, gesturing for you to come over.

Well, so much for running away, you thought to yourself as you waved back. You walked over, trying your best to seem like you weren’t overthinking every step.

“Hey,” he greeted, his smile widening as he closed his notebook and pushed it aside. “Fancy seeing you here.”

“You too,” you replied, hoping your voice sounded light and not as jittery as you felt. You glanced around, pretending to take in the café like it wasn’t the hundredth time you’d been there. “I was just gonna grab some coffee but I didn’t expect to run into you here. No offense but I thought your all-time favorite place is the library.”

Renjun chuckled. “Not really. I like coming here when the library gets too quiet.”

You nodded, though his words sent your mind spiraling. He’d been here all this time, escaping the quiet of the library, while you’d been basking in it, thinking it was your shared haven.

“I see, so you come here often?” you asked, cringing internally at how cliché you sounded.

Renjun nodded. “Not as often as I’d like. I get caught up in schoolwork most of the time. But when I do, this is my go-to spot.”

“Cool,” you replied, though you felt anything but. Your mind was screaming at you to think of something interesting to say but all you could do was nod.

“Do you want to join me?” he asked, gesturing to the chair across from him.

The question caught you off guard, and for a second, you just stared at him like he’d asked you to solve an equation without a calculator—and you sucked at Math!

“Yeah, sure,” you said finally, sliding into the seat. As you settled in, the reality of the situation hit you—this was your chance! No library distractions, no pretense of study sessions. Just you and Renjun, in a cozy café, with nothing but time and the faint buzz of espresso machines between you. And suddenly, your usual crush-induced dramatics didn’t seem so silly anymore.

Renjun had this ability to make the simplest moments feel meaningful. Like when he offered to buy you coffee, even remembering your favorite drink—something you’d mentioned in passing weeks ago. You couldn’t help but wonder if he paid this much attention to everyone or if you were, somehow, different—special, in a way. Maybe you were delusional. Maybe he was just polite. But maybe, just maybe, he actually cared.

The two of you talked about random things as the café buzzed quietly around you—favorite movies, weird study habits, how caffeine was both a blessing and a curse. Renjun listened intently, and just when you thought the conversation might drift into silence, he asked, “Why did you choose your major?”

The question caught you off guard, not because it was invasive but because of how thoughtful it was. It wasn’t something you expected to be asked over coffee. You paused, giving yourself a moment to consider your answer.

“I guess I just fell into it,” you admitted, twirling your straw. “It felt like the safe choice, you know? Like something I couldn’t go wrong with. But sometimes, I wonder if I should’ve picked something else. Something I’m actually passionate about.”

Renjun tilted his head, his expression thoughtful. “What would that be? If you could choose anything?”

You hesitated, surprised by his genuine interest. “I don’t know. I’m not really passionate about something in particular.”

“Well, you are interested in something though, right?” he asked, leaning forward slightly.

You shrugged, feeling a bit self-conscious under his gaze. “I’m interested in a lot of things, just not interested enough to pursue them.”

“Any hobbies?” he asked again, looking genuinely curious. “They said what you do in your free time says a lot about what you’re passionate about. Sometimes you don’t even realize it.”

“I don’t know if the things I do in my free time are considered hobbies.”

“That’s the general description of hobbies, isn’t it?” He chuckled lightly. “Things you do in your free time?”

You smiled sheepishly. “I know. I do have hobbies and I tried looking at them to see which one would be interesting enough to pursue. Couldn’t decide on one. Everything just seems so generic.”

Renjun’s lips quirked into a small smile, and he nodded like he understood. “I think a lot of people feel that way about the things they love. But it doesn’t mean you shouldn’t try.”

You weren’t sure what to say to that, so you simply smiled back, warmth blooming in your chest.

When you mentioned that you were on your way to the library to catch up on assignments, Renjun said he’d join you since he had nothing else to do. Your heart flipped at his casual offer, though your mind immediately began spiraling. Did he actually want to spend more time with you, or was it just convenient?

The evening passed in quiet companionship at the library. While you worked on your assignments, Renjun sketched in his notebook, the sound of his pencil scratching faintly against the paper. You stole glances at him, unable to help yourself. There was something peaceful about the way he was so focused, his hair falling into his eyes as he worked. At some point, you asked to discuss your assignment with him, hoping to get his opinions on your stance.

When it was time to leave, Renjun offered to walk you home. The offer sent your mind reeling again, but before you could respond, Jaemin showed up, his usual smirk firmly in place. “You guys going somewhere?” he drawled, the mischief in his eyes impossible to miss.

You blinked, barely processing his words, because all you could feel was a faint irritation bubbling up. Of course, Jaemin had to show up now, of all times. You trudged toward him with your brows furrowed. And in a low voice, you scolded him. “What are you doing here? You’re ruining my moment!”

“Karina sent me,” he explained, also lowering his voice. He looked irritated too. “She’s going cuckoo. Said you weren’t picking up your phone and it’s past ten o’clock now.”

You stole a glance at Renjun, who was watching the interaction quietly, his expression curious but unreadable. You cleared your throat. “This is Jaemin,” you said reluctantly, gesturing toward him. “He’s a friend.”

“Best friend. We’ve known each other since we were kids,” Jaemin corrected.

You elbowed him in the rib, making him wince in pain. “Teenagers. We’ve known each other since we were teenagers. He’s my mom’s friend’s son.”

Renjun’s gaze shifted to you briefly, as if silently asking for more context. The slight crease in his brow made your stomach flutter, and you felt the need to elaborate. “My roommate Karina made him come check on me.”

Jaemin raised an eyebrow, a smirk tugging at his lips. “And you must be Huang Renjun. I’ve heard so much about you,” he said, offering his hand for a shake.

Renjun took it. “You have?” he asked, his tone polite but clearly surprised.

“Yeah. She’s been talking about—ow!” Before Jaemin could finish, you elbowed him again.

“Thanks for today,” you chimed, smiling brightly at Renjun in an attempt to steer the conversation back to normalcy. “For, you know, the coffee and the help with my assignment.”

Renjun turned to you with an easy smile. “Anytime. Hopefully, I didn’t distract you from it too much.”

“Absolutely not,” you replied, shaking your head.

“That’s good then,” he said with a small nod. “I guess I’ll leave you to it. See you next time?”

The words were casual, but they echoed beautifully in your ears. See you next time? Did he mean that? Like, does he actually want to see you again? Or was it something polite people like him would say? You started overanalyzing right then and there, picking apart his tone, his word choice, the little upward curve of his lips when he said it.

“Yeah. See you next time,” you replied, waving a hand as he gave both of you one last look before exiting the double doors.

Your eyes followed him as he walked away, his silhouette framed by the glow of the library’s lights. It was like your crush had decided to script this scene for maximum drama. You wondered if he’d think about this moment later. Would he replay it in his head the way you would? Probably not.

As soon as the door closed behind Renjun, Jaemin leaned in, pulling you out of your musings. “You’re smiling like a total lovesick fool right now,” he sniggered. “It’s almost painful to watch. Almost.”

Your smile vanished as you shot him a glare, though your cheeks burned. “You’re literally the worst.”

“Maybe. But I’m also the reason Karina’s not hunting you down with a broom, so, you’re welcome.”

You rolled your eyes and started walking toward the exit, Jaemin falling into step beside you. Still, as much as you wanted to be annoyed, your thoughts kept drifting back to Renjun’s soft smile and the way he’d said, See you next time.

Karina and Giselle were at the apartment when you got back. Before Karina could preach about your agreement to let each other know if one of you would come home late, you told them about Renjun and the teasing started immediately.

“Did he say anything?” Giselle asked, practically bouncing with excitement.

You groaned, dropping onto the couch dramatically. “No, he didn’t say anything. But he wanted to walk me home, kind of.”

“Kind of?” Karina repeated with a laugh.

“He offered, but Jaemin showed up, so it didn’t really count,” you admitted.

“Well, at least he offered,” Giselle pointed out.

“Exactly,” Giselle said. “That’s practically a confession of love in boy language. Men are simple like that.”

“Hey!” Jaemin protested but no one paid any attention.

You rolled your eyes, but you couldn’t help the way your heart fluttered at the thought. Maybe they were exaggerating. Or maybe you were just hopelessly, blissfully delusional. Either way, you didn’t mind.

The smell of food greeted you as soon as you stepped out of your bedroom, and your stomach rumbled in approval. Following the aroma, you found Jaemin in the kitchen, busily moving around with your hot pink apron tied over his t-shirt.

“Guys, it’s my favorite person in the whole wide world!” you announced dramatically, taking a seat and marveling at the spread of dishes already on the table.

“Stop lying and eat,” Jaemin scolded, his tone sharp but his eyes amused. He carefully set a steaming clay pot in the center of the table, the savory aroma filling the room.

“Na Jaemin, you’re cooking up a feast!” Giselle exclaimed, appearing in the doorway and eyeing the food hungrily. “What’s the occasion?”

Karina came in last, casually pulling her hair into a bun. “I asked him to cook for us because everything in the fridge was about to go bad.”

“Really?” you asked, your spoonful of fried rice hovering mid-air. “All of it?” Without waiting for an answer, you stuffed the spoon into your mouth, letting out a satisfied hum at the flavor.

“Nearly all of it,” Karina confirmed as she sat down next to Giselle. “We haven’t been cooking much lately. The groceries have been untouched for over a week now.”

“Why do we even bother to buy groceries when all we do is order takeout,” Giselle asked, shrugging.

“Hey, don’t say that. We eat home cooked meals sometimes,” you chided, pouting because you were the cook in the house. “Although, I’ll have to admit, I haven’t been cooking much lately.”

“Good thing you have me,” Jaemin said smugly, wiping his hands on the apron. “Everybody say ‘Thank you, Jaemin.’”

“Thank you, Jaemin,” all three of you obliged.

As everyone dug in, Jaemin leaned back, watching you all enjoy the food with a satisfied expression. The sound of clinking utensils and satisfied hums filled the room, and for a moment, you thought this was just another one of Jaemin’s regular ‘save the kitchen’ moments. But then Jaemin reached into his backpack, slung over the back of a chair, and pulled out a small stack of flyers.

“Speaking of appreciating my genius,” he began, sliding one to each of you, “the fine arts department is hosting an exhibit this weekend. Photography, paintings, sketches—you name it. You guys should come.”

You glanced down at the flyer. The bold text read ‘Life Imitates Art: NCIT Student Art Exhibit’ accompanied by an artsy photo of a painted skyline.

“Oh, this looks cool!” Giselle said, holding up her flyer.

“Of course it does. My department made it,” Jaemin replied smugly. “And, I know someone who loves art and would definitely appreciate this.”

“Who could it be?” Karina muttered, smiling as she glanced at you.

You rolled your eyes at Jaemin’s theatrics, but you couldn’t deny the excitement bubbling in your chest. Art exhibits were totally your thing, and Jaemin knew it. However, the moment you looked back at the flyer, your thoughts drifted to a certain someone.

Would Renjun enjoy something like this? You remembered how he’d once shown you his drawings, shyly flipping through margins of his notebook filled with sketches and doodles of nature, cartoons, and people. The idea of walking through the gallery with him, admiring the art and sharing thoughts, made your heart skip a beat.

“Will our photos be there?” Giselle asked, pulling you back to reality. “You’ve taken enough pictures of us to fill a gallery.”

Jaemin snickered. “Nope. Freshmen aren’t allowed to participate.”

“What?” the three of you exclaimed in unison, outraged.

“Unfair,” Giselle muttered. “You’re better than half the juniors I know.”

“Exactly!” Karina added, frowning. “Who decided that rule anyway?”

Jaemin shrugged, unbothered. “Rules are rules. Besides, you think I want to deal with more critiques from professors? Hard pass.”

“That’s so lame,” you chimed in, frowning as well. “Your pictures of us deserve to be up there.”

“Flattery won’t change anything,” Jaemin replied with a grin. “But you will come to the exhibit, right?”

“Of course,” Karina answered immediately.

“Definitely,” Giselle said, nudging you. “Right?”

“Obviously,” you replied with a shrug, trying to sound nonchalant.

“Do we have to RSVP, or can we just show up?” Karina asked.

“Just show up. But get there early—it’ll be packed,” Jaemin said. Then he turned to you specifically, raising an eyebrow. “And don’t flake.”

“Who, me?” you said, feigning innocence. “I’d never miss a chance to see what the fine arts department cooked up. You know that.”

The conversation continued with Jaemin fielding questions about the exhibit, but you couldn’t stop thinking about how to casually bring it up with Renjun. Would it be weird to invite him? Would he even want to come?

By the time dinner was over, your mind was already racing with possible scenarios. One thing was clear: you needed to find a way to mention the exhibit to Renjun without sounding like you were asking him on a date. Even though that’s exactly what you were hoping for.

Three days later, you wondered how you managed to invite Renjun to the exhibit without fumbling over your words too much. The memory of your awkward phrasing made you cringe slightly every time it replayed in your head, but here you were—standing next to him in the middle of the gallery, surrounded by art.

He seemed genuinely interested in the pieces, his eyes darting from one frame to another with a quiet intensity. Every now and then, he’d point something out—a brushstroke technique in a painting or the composition of a photograph—and you’d nod along, pretending you weren’t hyper-focused on the way his lips curved as he spoke.

Normally, you’d be more proactive than this. You could talk about art and techniques for days. But at the time, you were more focused on spending the time with him that you could only listen to his thoughts. You offered some of your own comments, but not as much as you would when it was someone else there with you.

The exhibit didn’t lead to anything romantic, as you’d half-hoped. There were no magical moments, no grand gestures, no accidentally brushing hands that sent sparks flying. But somehow, that was okay. You were content just being there with him.

Dinner was a grander affair than the exhibit, to you, at least. It wasn’t anything fancy—just fast food at a brightly lit diner. You sat across from each other, unwrapping burgers and sipping on sodas, talking about this and that.

As you both ate, the conversation drifted to lighter topics—how the exhibit had surprised you both with its variety, how one of the paintings reminded him of a place he’d visited as a kid, and the sheer horror of seeing the price tags on some of the pieces.

“Five thousand dollars for that?” he exclaimed, gesturing vaguely as if the painting were still in front of him.

“Art is subjective,” you replied with a shrug.

Renjun shook his head, biting into a fry. “Subjective or not, I think my two-year-old cousin could’ve done that with finger paints.”

You laughed, nearly choking on your drink. “Okay, now you’re just being mean. But honestly, same.”

After a pause, he leaned forward slightly. “Do you like art? Like genuinely?”

You nodded, pushing your tray aside. “Yeah. I mean, I’m not an expert or anything, but I like looking at it. It’s relaxing, and sometimes it makes you think about stuff in a different way.”

“I see. Art can make people feel feelings.”

“What about you?” you asked, tilting your head cutely. “Do you just doodle on your notebooks or do you, like, genuinely want to pursue it?”

“I like sketching, but I’m more into digital arts,” he admitted, his voice quieter. “Like I said, it’s more of a hobby. I don’t think I’m good enough to call myself an artist or anything.”

“You do digital arts?” you asked, leaning forward with genuine interest. “That’s so cool! I thought you just sketch on the margins because you want your hands to not stop moving.”

Renjun chuckled heartily, looking a little sheepish. “I do like art a lot. And yeah, maybe I doodle on my notes because I don’t know what to do with my hands sometimes.”

“Can I see them?” you said firmly, leaning closer.

He blinked, surprised. “What?”

“Your digital arts. Can I see them?” you asked and Renjun shrugged. “Only if you wanna show them, of course.”

“Maybe,” he said, a small smile tugging at his lips. “If I ever think they’re worth showing.”

The conversation shifted naturally from there. You learned that Renjun liked savory food more than sweets, that he loved sci-fi movies and old-school animation, and that his favorite season was summer because it was warmer.

In return, you told him about your favorite books and the time you’d tried to paint but ended up with more paint on yourself than the canvas.

Renjun’s laugh came easily, and you found yourself wanting to hear it more. “Sounds like you’d be a hit at one of those paint-and-sip nights.”

“Only if the wine is good,” you replied, grinning.

At one point, he pointed at your tray. “You’re not going to finish that?”

You glanced at the fries you’d left untouched. “No, I’m stuffed. Why? You want them?”

“Waste not, want not,” he said, sliding the tray toward himself.

“Do you even like cold fries?”

“Food is food,” he replied simply, popping one into his mouth.

It was such a small thing, but the casual ease of the moment made your heart warm. You wanted to believe this connection, this closeness, was something meaningful—something real.

But doubt crept in, uninvited and persistent. Was this really going anywhere? Renjun was affecting you more than you’d expected—your mood, your energy, even your plans. You were falling so fast, yet he hadn’t even shown you anything to suggest he was on the same page. Every small gesture, every laugh, every lingering glance—you found yourself dissecting them, overthinking, convincing yourself they meant something when they might not.

Would you be okay if the spark you felt wasn’t mutual?

When dinner was over, the two of you stepped outside, only to find it raining. The kind of rain that drenched you in seconds if you stepped out without an umbrella. You both stood under the awning of the restaurant, staring out into the drizzle. The air was cold, and small splashes of water reached your feet, soaking through your shoes.

Renjun stood beside you, close enough that you could feel the warmth radiating from him even in the chilly air. Despite the miserable weather, you didn’t feel annoyed. If anything, the rain seemed to add a certain weight to the moment—a quiet intimacy that made your heart ache in a good way.

You wondered what he was thinking. Was he just as hyper-aware of the proximity between you as you were? Did he feel the way your shoulders nearly brushed every time one of you shifted your weight?

“I didn’t check the forecast,” he murmured, his voice cutting through the rhythmic sound of raindrops hitting the ground. “Guess we’re stuck here for a while.”

You nodded, your hands buried in your pockets. “Yeah. Bummer.”

It was a half-hearted reply, and you hoped he didn’t notice how your voice trembled, not from the cold but from the nervous energy bubbling in your chest.

“What should we do now?” he asked after a moment, turning slightly to look at you.

You shrugged, not trusting yourself to say anything coherent. “No idea,” you mumbled, keeping your gaze firmly on the rain.

Then, without warning, you felt his hands on your shoulders. The touch was light but firm enough to make your heart leap. Before you could even process it, Renjun had pulled you closer, draping his jacket over both your heads.

“Alright,” he said, his tone suddenly full of determination. “We’re making a run for it.”

“What?!” You looked up at him, wide-eyed, half-hidden under the shared shelter of his jacket.

“It’s just rain,” he said with a grin that sent your stomach into a flurry of butterflies. “If we don’t do this, we’ll be stuck here all night.”

You hesitated for a split second, but his enthusiasm was contagious. “Fine,” you relented, unable to suppress a small laugh.

“That’s the spirit,” he said, his smile widening. “Ready?”

“Not really,” you admitted, but before you could overthink it, Renjun tightened his hold on you, and the two of you darted out into the rain.

The world seemed to blur as you ran, your laughter mingling with his as water splashed up around your feet. The jacket did little to shield you, and soon, droplets of rain were sliding down your cheeks and soaking through your clothes. But you didn’t care—not when Renjun was pulling you along, his own laugh ringing like music in your ears.

When you finally reached the bus shed, you stumbled to a halt, breathless and soaked but grinning from ear to ear. Renjun let out a relieved sigh, shaking his wet hair like a puppy, which only made you laugh harder.

“We made it!” he announced, his voice tinged with mock heroics.

“Barely,” you shot back, pushing your damp hair out of your face. “I didn’t know you were the type to do something like that. You’re insane.”

“Insane or genius?” he countered, raising an eyebrow as he leaned against the metal pole of the shed.

You rolled your eyes but couldn’t suppress your smile. The rain continued to pour, the sound of it hitting the roof above you creating a soothing rhythm. You both stood there, catching your breath, the moment stretching into something quiet and tender.

“Thank you for today,” Renjun looked at you, his expression softening. “I’m really glad we did this.”

The way he said it made your heart flutter, but before you could dwell on it too long, he added with a teasing grin, “Even if I had to brave the rain for it.”

You laughed, shaking your head. “Totally worth it, though.”

“Totally,” he agreed, his gaze lingering on you just a little too long.

For a moment, you thought he might say something else—or that you might—but the sound of car horns broke through your silence, and you both turned to watch the busy streets. The road in front of you was alive with motion—cars speeding past, their headlights streaking through the rain-soaked night. Most of the taxis that passed were already occupied, and when Renjun checked the bus schedule on his phone, he sighed.

“Caught in traffic,” he said, showing you the GPS map with the slow-moving icon of your bus.

“I figured,” you replied, leaning against the metal pole of the waiting shed. But oddly enough, you didn’t mind. Despite being drenched and stranded, you were having fun.

“Well,” he said, giving the jacket a rueful look before glancing at you, “I’d offer you this, but it’s basically a sponge at this point.”

You shook your head, smiling. “It’s fine. We’re already wet. What difference would it make?”

He shrugged, tucking the useless jacket under his arm. “Fair enough.”

The two of you spent the next few minutes chatting about anything and everything—jokes about how your shoes squelched when you moved, your terrible luck with rain, and a particularly embarrassing story Renjun shared about slipping on wet pavement once.

Then your gaze wandered to the poster on the wall of the waiting shed. It was an advertisement for some soft drink, with bright colors and cheerful models smiling down at you. Or at least, they had been cheerful—someone had scribbled on their faces with marker, adding mustaches and angry eyebrows.

You tilted your head, amused. “What are your thoughts on this piece?” you asked, the same way you’d asked him about the artworks in the gallery earlier that day.

Renjun followed your gaze and chuckled. Then he put on a serious face, as if he was seriously thinking about it. “It’s tasteful, yes. Based on the lines, I think the artist made this on the spot. A spontaneous piece. Overall, it’s top-tier art.”

You tilted your head at the poster, humming in disagreement. “I think it’s mid-tier at most.”

“Think you could do better?” he challenged.

“I’m not much of an artist.”

“Well, how about this?” he said, pulling a pen out of his pocket with a mischievous grin.

You raised an eyebrow. “What’s that for?”

“To write,” he replied matter-of-factly.

“Vandalism?”

He shrugged, as if it were the most obvious thing in the world. “They’re probably gonna change those posters soon anyway. Might as well leave our mark.”

You grinned, loving the gleam of mischief in his eyes that was too tempting to resist. “Alright,” you said, taking the pen from his hand.

You leaned toward the poster, careful not to smudge it too much with your damp sleeve, and drew the best fox drawing you could make, unsuccessfully, but you were content with it. Then you wrote in large, messy letters: CUTE LITTLE FOX, INJUN.

“That’s a fox?” Renjun asked, surprised. You nodded with a grin. “Looks more like a wet squirrel.”

“That’s fine. Art is subjective,” you scoffed, handing him the pen. “Your turn.”

He shook his head, laughing. Beneath your writing, he drew a cartoon girl who resembled you, and added: YOU’RE MUCH CUTER THAN THE FOX ^_^

The two of you stepped back to admire your masterpiece, grinning like a couple of kids who’d just gotten away with a prank. “Think it’ll make someone’s day?” you asked.

“Either that or they’ll roll their eyes and wonder what middle schoolers did this,” Renjun replied, pocketing the pen.

When the bus finally pulled up, its headlights cutting through the rain, you both boarded, still laughing. As you climbed the steps, you turned back for a moment and snapped a quick picture of your vandalism.

Renjun noticed and leaned closer to take a look at your screen. “What’s that for?”

“Evidence,” you said with a smirk. “Just in case the poster police comes after us.”

He rolled his eyes but couldn’t hide his smile as the two of you found seats near the back of the bus, the sound of rain and the hum of the engine accompanying your ride home.

That weekend, while your friends were out doing their own thing, you were in your bedroom, grinning at your phone. You spent the morning scrolling through the pictures you took with Renjun the day before—zooming into his face and admiring the features you’d grown so fond of in the last few weeks. The picture you took of the graffiti was posted in your stories, and you kept checking who’d seen it, hoping one of them would be Renjun himself.

You wished there was an excuse to go out and meet him, but there wasn’t any. Even if there was a valid excuse, you probably wouldn’t act on it because you were worried about being too obvious. Besides, anything you say to invite him outside would only seem like an eager attempt to see him. So you opted to wait till the next time you can hang out with him.

“It’s still Saturday morning?” you grumbled upon seeing the date and time on your phone. “Has the weekend always been this slow?”

As soon as Monday rolled in, you went to your classes with a bounce in your step, listening intently to the lectures and hoping time passed faster. When it was all over, you skipped to the library knowing Renjun would already be there.

And so it continued. The library was your sanctuary as usual, but after a few more days of hunching over the same cramped desks and flickering fluorescents, you suggested a change of scenery. Renjun wasn’t keen on the idea at first, but you managed to convince him to see the appeal of the wide open space and the green grass of the quad just outside the library.

You would spread a small blanket on the grass, and sprawl there with your books or laptops. There were times when your friends would join you but when they did, you’d spend the time chatting instead of studying, so you limited their participation.

Other times, you opted for the cozy cafe outside the campus, books spread across the table. That space was more intimate and somehow, private. You would read through notes and discuss theories over coffee and dessert. Sometimes, you’d just be talking about random things.

At a glance, it would seem like you spend every day with him without fail, but that wasn’t the case. You studied together once every two days, for only two to three hours max. But it was enough time to fall harder for Renjun. When you weren’t together, you’d be thinking of him. And when he was right before your eyes, your thoughts would still be filled with him. When you were out doing things you usually did with your friends, you wondered who he was hanging out with, or what he did when he wasn’t buried in books.

One day, Renjun suggested a detour after your study session. “There’s this little bookshop near campus,” he said. “It’s got a good vibe. You’ll like it.”

You followed him through winding streets until you reached a hole-in-the-wall shop with dusty windows and a bell that jingled as you entered. The air smelled like old paper and candles. Renjun drifted toward the art section, his fingers skimming the spines of books.

“Here,” he said, pulling one out and handing it to you. “This one’s good.”

You looked at the title, a collection of essays on creativity. A smile tugged at your lips as you were reminded of the time Renjun complimented a creative essay you once showed him. “Are you trying to inspire me?”

“Maybe,” he said with a shrug. “The piece you showed me last time was really good. You need to write more of those.”

You hummed, looking around the shop. Your eyes stopped at a shelf of vintage sketchbooks and canvasses. “Well, in that case, you should sketch more,” you told him, beaming as you led him toward said shelf so you could pick one.

Later, back at your apartment, you flipped through the book, pausing on a passage about capturing fleeting moments. You thought of Renjun—his laugh, the way his eyes crinkled when he smiled, the quiet intensity when he was focused on his work. Your chest tightened with both affection and frustration. Just how much longer could you go on without telling him how you felt?

As long as you could, it seemed. The days passed, and the feelings only grew stronger, but Renjun remained blissfully unaware. Sometimes you wondered if he truly didn’t know, or if he was just pretending not to. You’d catch little moments—a smile, a glance—but you dismissed them. Maybe it meant nothing. Maybe you were imagining it all.

You couldn’t bring yourself to make the first move. You were too shy, too scared of risking everything, too afraid that the warmth you thought you saw in his eyes was nothing more than your imagination. If you never confessed, you could never be rejected. And so, you kept quiet. It was easier this way. But even in the silence, you couldn’t stop wondering if he ever thought about you the same way.

And so it goes.

One day, you sprawled out on a blanket beneath the oak tree in the quad. Karina joined you, which was fine because she wasn’t as noisy as Giselle or Jaemin. Renjun was supposed to be studying, but he was sketching in his notebook instead, the soft scratch of pencil against paper the only sound you could hear from him.

You tried to focus on your notes, but your eyes kept drifting to him—how his brow furrowed in concentration, his lips pressed together in that adorable way that made your chest tighten. His focus was so intense, so effortless, and it made you wonder if he even knew how attractive it was.

“What are you drawing?” you asked, propping yourself up on your elbows.

“Just something,” Renjun replied, turning the sketchpad slightly toward you. “It’s not finished.”

“Oh, that’s cool,” you said, genuinely impressed by the details of his art. You glanced up at the oak tree, which was clearly the reference for his sketch. “How old do you think this tree is?”

Karina looked up from her tablet, following your gaze. “Probably a few decades old.”

“Seventy-three,” Renjun said, his eyes still on the tree. “They said it was planted by the founder of this school. It’s been here since.”

You smiled, looking back at the tree with new eyes. “Is that why it’s in such a weird spot on the school grounds? I always thought it looked out of place.”

“Hi, Jun!” she said, pulling your attention away. She was pretty, with an effortless kind of grace that immediately made you wonder who she was.

“Hi, Lia,” Renjun greeted back with a smile, and you couldn’t help but measure how much of a smile it was. Was it just friendly, or was there something more?

“Is that a sketchbook?” she asked, leaning down to peek over his shoulder.

“Uh, yeah,” Renjun said, closing it quickly, though not before she caught a glimpse of the pages.

“Wow,” she said, her smile widening. “You’re so talented. I didn’t know you could draw.”

Renjun laughed, scratching the back of his neck. “I can, though I’m not that good at it.”

You felt your jaw clench as she lingered, her gaze fixed on him. It wasn’t subtle—how she twirled her hair, leaned just a little too close, like she was trying to get his attention in the most obvious way. But Renjun seemed oblivious, like it was all just normal.

Beside you, Karina tugged at your sleeve. When you exchanged looks, you saw the same confusion in her eyes.

“Who’s that?” she mouthed, and you could only shrug, your stomach tightening with an unfamiliar knot.

After she left, you tried to play it cool, but Renjun noticed the shift in your mood. “Everything okay?” he asked, tilting his head in that endearing way.

“Yeah,” you said, forcing a smile that felt like a mask. “Why wouldn’t it be?”

It was hard to ignore the knot of frustration that settled in your stomach—jealousy, confusion, possessiveness. The way Lia had leaned in just a little too close, the way she smiled at him like she knew something you didn’t—it made your heart twist. You weren’t oblivious to it. She was clearly a competition. And you hated how much that thought stung.

But then, you reminded yourself: you were in no position to feel frustrated or jealous. You couldn’t expect him to cater to your feelings when you hadn’t done anything to express them. And even if he did know, he didn’t owe you anything. Just because you had feelings for him didn’t mean he was obligated to cater to whatever unspoken expectations you’d built in your head.

And so it goes. You stayed quiet, enjoying his company and hoping he’d one day confirm that he too had feelings for you. That all this time, he’d been keeping it to himself worried that it might ruin your friendship.

“Worried about your hair?” Renjun teased one day, while you were standing outside the cafe under the dull gray sky. It has started drizzling and you were wondering if you could make a run for it.

“No,” you shot back, laughing. “Are you worried about yours?”

“No, but just in case…” He reached into his bag and pulled out a bright yellow umbrella with cartoon characters. “I brought an umbrella.”

You stared at it, then at him. “Did you steal that from your little cousin or something?”

“It’s mine, actually,” he corrected nonchalantly. “I got it yesterday.”

“You’re walking around campus with that?” you snickered.

“Hey, Moomin is cool,” he said, unfazed. He popped the umbrella open. “And it’s functional.”

You giggled. “I’m just teasing you. I think it’s very cute.”

Renjun gave you a deadpan stare. “Ha-ha. Thanks,” he said sarcastically.

The two of you huddled under the umbrella, the sound of rain pattering against it. The closeness made your heart race, and you were hyper-aware of the way his shoulder brushed yours as you walked side by side. By the time you reached the library, your cheeks felt warm despite the chill of the rain.

Inside, you settled at a desk by the window. Renjun started sketching again, and you observed him quietly, wondering how much longer you could keep your feelings bottled up. You didn’t know how much longer you could stand being this close to him and not telling him everything.

You busied yourself with an assignment, racking your brain and going through your notes to come up with the best output. Anything to distract yourself from Renjun. And it worked for a while, until the appearance of a certain someone made it impossible to focus on anything at all.

“Renjun,” Lia said, appearing beside your desk with a hand on his shoulder. “Do you have a minute?”

“What’s up?” Renjun asked, setting his pencil down.

“There’s something I want to tell you.”

“Sure. What is it?”

Lia glanced at you with a glint of embarrassment in her eyes. “Can we talk there?”

“Alright.” Renjun nodded, rising to his feet. He gave you a small smile and a nod before following Lia.

You stayed at the table, your fingers fidgeting with the corner of your notebook. You tried to focus on the notes spread across the table, but your eyes kept darting toward the direction Renjun and Lia had gone. What could they possibly be talking about? A prickle of curiosity crept under your skin, impossible to ignore. The logical part of you insisted it was none of your business. But another part—a louder, restless part—was dying to know.

Your fingers tapped rhythmically against the notebook, and your knee was bouncing uncontrollably under the table. You glanced out at the rain, trying to convince yourself to stay put, to respect their privacy, but your thoughts were spinning out of control. What if she was confessing? What if he said yes?

You shook your head, banishing the thought. You didn’t even know what they were talking about. For all you knew, it could be about something entirely irrelevant to confessions and feelings. Still, your chest tightened at the idea of them sharing something you weren’t a part of. Once again, you tried to focus on your work, but your resolve crumbled with each passing second.

“Fuck this,” you muttered, and before you knew it, your legs were moving, carrying you toward the shelves where they had disappeared. Your heart thudded in your ears as you peeked around the corner. There they were, standing by the window, their voices low.

“I hope this doesn’t make things awkward between us,” Renjun said, his tone warm. “You’re an amazing friend, and I’d hate to lose that.”

“No, not at all,” Lia assured him. “I actually just wanted to get that off my chest. Thanks for being honest.”

You covered your mouth, stopping the gasp that almost escaped your lips. You were right after all. Lia was confessing her feelings for Renjun!

They continued chatting briefly, their tones light and unstrained. You couldn’t hear everything they said, but it was clear there was no animosity. Lia seemed to take it well, laughing softly at something Renjun said before they started walking back.

Panicking, you quickly ducked behind another shelf, snatching a random book. When they passed by, you waited a few more moments before returning to the table. You then sat down across from Renjun, and when he noticed you, he gave you that easy smile that always made your chest flutter.

“Where were you?” he asked, one hand flipping a page in his sketchpad.

“I just grabbed something from there,” you lied, showing him the book you took from the shelf. “Are you done talking?”

“Yeah, we’re good.”

Nice, you thought to yourself, smiling. I think I’m good too.

By the time the rain had stopped, you were done with your assignment and Renjun had packed his sketchpad away. These days, he had been drawing a lot, and it made you giddy each time you saw him take out the vintage sketchbook you got for him. Sometimes, you liked to think he was properly practicing his art because of you, but that was just something you told yourself. He didn’t really say or do anything to back it up.

As you glanced out the window, sunlight began to peek through the rain clouds, and you gestured toward it. “Looks like the weather is getting better. Should we head out?”

“Sure,” Renjun said, tucking his pencil into his bag. “We’ve been here long enough.”

The two of you walked side by side, the damp air cool against your skin. Renjun tugged on the sling of his bag, his gaze distant, as though he had something on his mind. You didn’t press him, though you were wondering what was bothering him. It was unusual to see him so conflicted—Renjun, who was always so calm and composed.

You let the silence stretch, looking around the campus grounds. There was nothing you could think of saying, and it didn’t seem like Renjun was in the headspace to talk about anything either. But then he let out a deep sigh, making you glance at him.

“What’s wrong?” you asked, peeking at his face.

“Nothing, just…” he trailed off, his voice low with a hint of uncertainty. “Have you ever had a friend confess their feelings for you?”

You blinked, caught off guard. “Uh, maybe? I mean, I think most of the people who confessed to me were my friends at first.”

In your mind, you were wondering if he was asking because of his conversation with Lia earlier.

His lips quirked in a faint smile, though his eyes stayed distant. “Yeah, I figured. It’s just... earlier, Lia said she liked me. Romantically.”

You knew that already. “Okay. What happened?”

“Apparently, she felt that we had a really good connection. She enjoyed hanging out with me and started liking me because I was nice and all that.”

You hummed, urging him to continue.

“It got me thinking, I should probably draw lines with friendship. As flattering as it was to be ‘liked’, I don’t really want to keep unintentionally leading people on,” he continued, tugging your jacket sleeves gently to veer you away from a puddle.

“That’s fine. You can do that,” you told him, your eyes lingering on his hand on your jacket. “But it’s not your fault if people get the wrong idea. There’s nothing wrong with you or your personality. That’s just how you are as a person.”

“You think so?”

You glanced up at him. “Yeah. But I do understand Lia though. It happens to some. Sometimes people catch feelings, even if they know they shouldn’t,” you chuckled, hoping Renjun wouldn’t notice you were literally talking about yourself.

“I don’t know,” he sighed, shrugging. “I wasn’t trying to make her like me like that. I’ve spent way more time with you than with her, but you don’t feel that way for me.”

You froze mid-step, your breath catching in your throat as a jolt of panic engulfed you. Your chest was tightening as if all the air was being sucked out of you. Renjun kept walking ahead, oblivious, until he realized you weren’t beside him

“What are you doing?” he asked and you couldn’t answer him, so you bit your lip nervously.

What should you do? Should you let his assumption slide? Or should you finally be honest and tell him what’s been bugging you all this time? What if you said something you couldn’t take back?

“Is something wrong?” he asked again, reaching for your shoulder.

“I-I…” you stammered, locking eyes with him. His gaze was steady, but your thoughts were a mess. You swallowed hard. “You’re wrong. I do feel that way.”

It was his turn to be stunned. His brows furrowed slightly, and his hand on your shoulder loosened as he looked at you with an unreadable expression.

“Actually, I have felt that way before we even became friends,” you continued. Your chest tightened further, but there was no turning back now. “It was just a crush at first, but I got to know you and I just fell harder. I have feelings for you, Renjun and I don’t know what to do with it. I just know I had to tell you about it.”

Renjun still didn’t say anything, flustered and confused by your sudden confession. In your mind, you were screaming, hoping you could fast forward and skip this part because it was making you cringe with embarrassment. But you couldn’t back out—not now that you’d spilled everything out.

The two of you continued to stare at each other, seemingly communicating with your eyes but not coming to an understanding. Your mind raced with questions and possibilities, all pointing at Renjun and begging for him to finally say something. Every brain cell in your head was rioting, a chaos that was the complete opposite of the weighted silence stretching between you and Renjun.

And when his hand slowly slipped away from your shoulder, you held your breath again, bracing yourself for what was about to come.

“I’m so sorry.”

Your heart sank to your stomach, and you released the breath you were holding. Those three words—though short and straightforward—were enough to sum up everything Renjun was about to say. You already knew what it meant, and despite the heavy weight settling on your chest at his words, you somehow hoped he’d surprise you with a plot twist.

“I swear I didn’t have any bad intentions,” he said, his voice quieter now. “I really just wanted to be friends with you. I didn’t realize…” He trailed off, letting out a heavy sigh.

You nodded, even though the words stung. He didn’t need to finish for you to understand. “It’s alright. I understand.”

He sighed your name out, shoulders sagging as if he couldn’t believe what was happening. You smiled, despite the turmoil in your head. It was hard to explain the mess of emotions swirling inside you—hurt, embarrassment, frustration—but you forced it down. You could handle this. You could take it like an adult.

“Renjun, it’s fineee,” you said, your voice a little lighter than you felt. You laughed softly, almost as if to convince yourself. “I said I wanted to tell you about it. I wasn’t asking you to reciprocate or anything.”

He still looked uncertain, his brows furrowed with that familiar concern you could never shake. But you didn’t want to drag this out any longer, didn’t want to let him see how much his words had hit you. It wasn’t his fault.

“Don’t worry about it, okay?” you added, giving him a small wave as if to dismiss the whole conversation. “We’re still friends. Nothing’s changed.”

Renjun hesitated for a moment, still looking at you like he wasn’t sure how to handle your response. You could tell he wasn’t completely convinced, and that made you want to reassure him more.

“Really,” you said with a shrug, “I’m fine. Let’s just go. I’m starving. I need to get home and make some food, otherwise I’d be eating takeout again for dinner.”

You both continued down the path, the sound of your footsteps against the wet pavement the only noise between you. Renjun didn’t say anything more, but you could feel his gaze on you, lingering with that worried expression. He was probably still processing everything. You could almost hear him overthinking it in his head, trying to figure out if he had somehow hurt you.

But for now, you were just grateful to keep moving. You had your pride, and you had your space. And for a moment, despite the mess of it all, you felt a small wave of relief.

You said you’d be fine, that nothing would change between you and Renjun. But as the last few days of the semester rolled around, you found yourself doing what any mature, emotionally stable woman would do—avoid him like the plague. You had a perfectly reasonable excuse—last-minute assignments and projects that seemed to always appear every end of semester. You were both swamped with coursework, so really, it wasn’t avoidance; it was just conveniently timed busyness. At least, that’s what you told yourself.

You also told yourself it was just temporary. You’d heal, bounce back, and return to being the friend who could sit across from Renjun without your stomach twisting into knots. After all, you were still friends. Nothing had changed, right?

Wrong. In the quiet moments, when there was nothing to distract you from your thoughts, the truth would play itself on a loop: it had changed. The ache that would creep in your chest was sharp and annoyingly persistent like a bad pop song stuck on repeat. No matter how hard you tried to bury it under denial, it kept rising to the surface, demanding to be felt.

When Renjun texted you, your responses were cheerful, using the same emojis and the same upbeat tone to mask the fact that your heart was broken. You couldn’t tell if he bought it, but since his replies sounded as casual as ever, you figured your performance deserved an Oscar. Or at least a participation trophy for effort.

Your roommates, Karina and Giselle, noticed it. They could tell something was off. You had always been the one who kept things light and bright, the one who filled the room with laughter and jokes. But now, they could see the small cracks. They could hear the silence that replaced your usual chatter, the way you kept to yourself more often. Even your jokes had gone from playful to suspiciously self-deprecating.

“Girl, you don't look okay. Like, at all!” Giselle had told you once.

“This is fine,” you’d said with a lopsided grin. “I’m just living my sad rom-com arc. All I need now is a montage of me crying in the rain, but the weather isn’t cooperating.”

It was even more obvious to Jaemin, who, instead of teasing you or trying to get under your skin, seemed to have adopted a strategy of quiet support. He didn’t press you to talk, didn’t try to fix things, and—bless him—didn’t say, “I told you so”. You appreciated the space, but you also hated the awkwardness that had replaced his usual antics. You didn’t like it when he walked on eggshells around you, and it only made you feel worse.

“You know you can talk to us, right?” Karina offered again one night, her voice full of concern. “You don’t have to keep it all in.”

“Thanks, but really, I’m fine,” you said, waving her off with a half-hearted laugh. “This is character development. Pain builds personality, or something like that.”

Giselle handed you a tub of ice cream. “Here, have a snack while your character is developing.”

No amount of jokes or distractions could fully numb your heartache. You kept telling yourself you’d get through it, that it would pass, but every time you were alone with your thoughts, the weight settled back onto your chest. You weren’t sure how long you could keep pretending to be okay, but for now, the show had to go on.

Then, by the time spring break was around the corner, the heaviness in your chest had started to lift. It wasn’t gone entirely but it wasn’t as sharp as it had been two weeks ago. You were finding your way back to yourself already. Giselle even pointed it out one evening while you were packing for the trip home.

“Hey, look at you, humming again,” she teased, flopping onto your bed. “I was starting to think Renjun broke you for good.”

You rolled your eyes but smiled at her. “Oh please. He wasn’t even a fling. Being rejected by a crush wouldn’t break me,” you said, folding another shirt into your bag. “Besides, it’s my first spring break. I can’t walk out of this campus brokenhearted.”

“Aha, I see you’ve found your lost vigor for real fun.” Giselle gave you an approving nod, like a coach satisfied with her team’s performance. “Progress. I’ll take it.”

The next day, as you walked across campus for one last errand before heading home, you spotted Renjun. He was walking toward the library, balancing a stack of books in one hand and holding his bag in the other. You hesitated for a moment, instinctively considering walking in the opposite direction, but the impulse passed as quickly as it came.

You reminded yourself you were okay now—or at least getting there. Avoiding him would only keep you stuck, and besides, the two of you were still friends. Nothing had changed. Right?

“Hey,” you called out, jogging up to him.

Renjun turned at the sound of your voice, a small smile forming when he saw you. “Oh, hey! I thought you left already.”

“Not yet. I’m heading out later today,” you said, nodding at the books in his hand. “Still cramming in some last-minute reading?”

“No, I’m returning these,” he said with a chuckle. “What about you? Got big plans for spring break?”

You grinned. “Are you kidding me? Of course, it’s our first one as college students. You?”

He shrugged, trying to keep his tone light. “Just going home. Last night, my mom sent me a whole list of chores waiting for me when I get back.”

You laughed, and for a moment, it felt easy between you two again, like the past few weeks hadn’t happened.

“Are you okay?” he asked suddenly, his tone softening. “Sorry. I’ve been meaning to ask, but I thought it would be wrong to bring it up when we’re not face-to-face.”

You blinked, caught off guard by his question. For a moment, you thought about brushing it off, but you realized you didn’t need to. Not anymore. “I wasn’t,” you admitted with a small smile. “But only for a bit. I’m okay now. Really.”

Renjun studied your face, his expression unreadable, before he nodded. “Good. I’m glad.”

A comfortable silence settled between you, and for once, it wasn’t suffocating. It didn’t feel like something was left unsaid or hanging in the air.

“Well,” he said, shifting his bag on his shoulder, “I should get going. Have fun doing… whatever it is you do during spring break.”

You rolled your eyes but grinned. “You have fun with your chores too.”

“I don’t know if I will, but I’ll make sure to try,” he replied, chuckling. “Text me if you need anything though, okay? Or if you're bored, I don't know. Just... Feel free to talk to me whenever you want."

“I will,” you promised, waving as you walked away.

As you made your way across campus, you fished your phone out of your pocket, remembering that Karina once told you about a confessions page on X. It was called NCIT Campus Confessions, and after skimming through the posts, you typed in a submission of your own:

To HRJ, Maybe I will finally learn my lesson. -xx

You felt lighter. Maybe not entirely free from the disappointment, but enough to know that you’d be okay. After all, it wouldn’t do to carry heartache with you to a place as vibrant and alive as Aruba.

[fin]

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