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is-the-sky-blue · 10 months ago

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DIRTY LITTLE SECRETS (PT 1): GOJO SATORU & GETO SUGURU

Synopsis: When you have questions about physical intimacy Satoru and Suguru are quick to answer them.

Warnings: 18+, satosugu x fem!reader, lots of kissing, praise, teasing

>Part 1< Part 2 Part 3

The subject of physical intimacy never really felt like a taboo topic for you, especially when you were only discussing it with your two close friends and you were swimming in unanswered questions.

The very first time you brought it up was in elementary school when you watched Suguru's mother plant a peck onto his father's cheek. It was a strange sight for your young mind to comprehend as you sat on the floor squished between the two boys, backs leaning against the Geto family's pristine couch that your trio never really used, your fingers toying with tufts of the rug as Digimon played on the television.

"What was that?" you questioned with a tilt of you head, wide eyes parting as the scene dispersed, training your focus on the kid of the two lovers.

"A kiss?" he said confused, unsure on what your question was trying ask, "doesn't your mama do that for your papa too," he raised his brow, pudgy fingers plopping a gold fish cracker into his mouth as you shook your head.

"My mama only kisses my forehead," you tap the space above your brows, "I thought your mama and papa are only supposed to kiss you, not each other," and Suguru stares at you quizzically.

"My mama and papa kiss all the time though," he states before turning to Satoru, "do your parents kiss," he asks, waving his hands in front of the young Gojo's face to pry his blue eyes from the tv.

"What!" he exclaims, glaring at the boy on your other side, not catching the question Suguru threw at him before rudely interrupting his Digimon time.

"Do your mama and papa kiss?" you queried this time, watching as his eyebrows raised.

"Not in front of me but sometimes, yeah," he says, biting the head off a red sour path kid.

"Does that mean my mama and papa are kissing in secret," you wondered, the image of your non affectionate parents pressing kisses to each other's forehead out of view from your eyes seeming like a strange secret to keep from you, especially when they argue with each other in front of you all the time.

"Probably," Suguru nods and the three of you brush past it.

The second time you ask about kissing is in your first year of junior high, coddled in blankets as your head rested on Satoru's shoulder as he munched on the popcorn in a bowl he held in his lap, Suguru on his opposite side. The heater rumbled in the corner as snowflakes fell from the night sky. The three of you sat peacefully on the couch, finally transitioning to sitting on the plush cushions of Suguru's sofa as you watched a cheesy Christmas rom-com movie.

"Doesn't that feel funny," you pipe up, watching as the main characters fell into each other's embrace, lips slipping against one another, and you finally realized why this sappy holiday movie was rated PG-13, as between their pressed lips you could see peeks of their tongue pushing into each other's mouths, holding their bodies close to one another as the camera panned around, showing different views of their searing and long awaited kiss that their impalpable chemistry yearned for.

"Funny?" Suguru mumbles, "why would it feel funny."

"They are putting their tongues in each other's mouth," you state bluntly, watching as their lips part as they pant only for the romantic music to persist as they leaned in once more, "wouldn't that feel... slimy?"

"Maybe," Satoru chimes, highly uninterested in the film you insisted on watching in the name of festivity, claiming it had to be good after seeing so many trailers and teasers for the film, "they are swapping spit"

"It sounds gross when you say it that way," Suguru gagged, the scene in front of him now making him cringe.

"But it's the truth," Satoru huffs loading his mouth with butter covered kernels as you nodded your head.

"Then why do they do it if it feels weird," you furrow your brows.

"It must feel nice or something," Satoru concludes as though it was obvious, "love interests always talk about how their heart skips a beat whenever kissing is mentioned, but I feel like they might just be sick."

"It's supposed to be romantic," Suguru scrunched his nose and you had to admit the borderline make out scene on the television did seem pretty loving.

"Is feeling funny romantic," you question, confused.

"Well they say that you feel butterflies in your stomach when you like someone," the dark haired boy states, recalling the cliche line that seemed to satisfy your curiosities.

But that was until Satoru asked, "You wanna try it."

HUH!!!!

To say you were shocked would be an understatement with the way you physically flinched at the question. Try it, try kissing, kissing who, kissing them? You could feel yourself grow slightly warmer but as Suguru merely shrugged with a simple "sure," that appeared nonchalant but the blush on his face betrayed him, your mind caught up with your body which you found was already nodding.

Kissing, you were going to kiss them, your first kiss would be with one of them, but with who? It appeared the two boys also had the same internal monologue as Satoru hummed with furrowed brows, "should we just play rock paper scissors," he questioned, "and whoever is holding the same sign kiss first." Your first kiss would be decided by a game of rock paper scissors... you had to admit that this was pretty on brand for your trio.

Soon enough all three of your fists were shaking as the murmured, "rock paper scissors," was said until three sets of scissors appeared on each of your fingers, "again?" Satoru asked but you merely shook your head with a coy little grin.

"The fates have already spoken," you teased, "we all have to kiss."

"How?" Satoru mumbled watching as suddenly the gears began to turn in Suguru's head as his foot reached out to grab the coffee table and pulled it closer to the couch.

"Sit," he merely commanded, eyes on you as he gestured towards the structure and you quickly oblige, finding yourself eager to be apart of his newly formed plan as you peeled yourself from the bundle of blankets, shivering slightly at the feeling of the cool material seeping into the pant legs of your fuzzy pajamas, staring at the two boys who now sat in front of you.

"What now," you ask, staring at Suguru as he merely shook his head.

"I'm not really sure," he grinned bashfully, "but if we all lean it should work."

"What a plan," Satoru scoffed, earning a light punch to the shoulder.

"What else should we do," Suguru retorted, "if we share each others first kiss then there is less stress," the dark haired boy grumbled, "it's hard to decide who I would want to kiss first," it was said quietly, barely above a whisper but you caught it, a gentle smile crossing your lips as you pressed a hand to his knee.

"We can just try," you mused, "it's just the three of us anyways, no ones gonna tell."

"Guess so," Satoru huffed "am I supposed to count down or somethi-" but he cut himself off, watching the way you began to lean forward and quickly he followed suit.

It was strange to say the least, two pairs of lips on your own as the three of you kissed, a little triangle of mouths. Your eyes were screwed shut, focusing on the feeling, slightly scared what you'd see if you opened them. The kiss was short, quick, and kind of weird but the warming of your cheeks explained how oddly nice it felt as you pulled away.

You felt suddenly breathless as you pulled your hands into fists, staring wide eyed at the bright blushing boys in front of you.

You had just kissed them.

You had given your first kiss to Gojo Satoru and Geto Suguru.

You might be the only person to say that, say your first kiss was given to not only one person but two. The strange pride you felt in your chest was oddly satisfying.

"What now," Satoru was the first to break the silence and you couldn't keep yourself from staring at his lips as he spoke, mesmerized.

"You two kiss first," you mumble out, forcing yourself to make eye contact with him and you could feel the anticipation in your gut grow as they stared at each other with flushed faces.

"Us two," Suguru murmured, entranced by his friend's eyes before turning to you, "why?"

"I want to watch," you admit shamelessly, adjusting your position as you sat comfortably on the table, enjoying the sight of the two boys on the couch who grew warm at your confident words, but the way Suguru slid his hand to cup Satoru's cheeks had you growing warm.

His finger brushed over his pink skin, holding his head in both his hands, keeping him still as they stared at each other intently and you could see Satoru's adam's apple bob ever so slightly as Suguru took the initiative, head moving closer before their lips melded, and your eyes refused to blink, scared to miss a single second as you watched your best friends kiss each other gently.

It lasted a couple seconds and you drank up every second, their lips didn't move like in the film, tongues didn't dance and part of you wanted to speak up about it, mention how they were doing it incorrectly, but you couldn't, it didn't feel right to comment as you watched the way their chest heaved as they panted into each other's mouth as they pulled away.

Instead you merely queried, "did it feel good," and Suguru turned his hooded eyes to you, hand carefully making it's way to your face and you found anticipation begin to grow.

"Why don't you see for yourself."

Quickly you fell into him, eyes shutting as you let him kiss you and you could feel yourself understanding why they couldn't bring themselves to press their tongues inside like the actors had done in the movie, the rush of adrenaline and pure excitement his lips elicited had you clenching your fists as you leaned against him, you felt like a ball of nerves, scared to mess up but the small area where the two of you connected slowly began to soothe you.

God was your face hot.

You pulled away breathless, closed eyes opening to Suguru's smug smile as he tossed your question back at you, "did it feel good," and you felt a strange warmth in your belly as your post-kissed lips pursed.

"mhm," was all you could hum, tongue suddenly feeling numb in your mouth, you don't think you were going to kiss like the movie tonight but that didn't elicit any kind of disappointment, not when Satoru perked in his spot.

"My turn," was all he said before he began to lean in, hands tracing the spots where Suguru once placed his warm palms, his long fingers extending further that his counterpart as his somehow cold hands held you, pretty pink lips finding their way to yours as he quickly captured you.

For some reason you believed that kissing would always feel the same, sure there were different types of kisses but you thought that kissing Suguru would feel the same as kissing Satoru but quickly you were proven wrong, even if it was through a little closed mouth connection.

Suguru was light, lips pressing yours tenderly and with this all consuming warmth as his hot palms held your head lightly, holding you close whereas Satoru was a little bit rougher, lips pressing hard into yours as though he was trying to devour you, his slightly cold palms cupping your face gently but firmly as he pulled you into him.

They were each other's antithesis and yet despite their contrasting polarities you were undoubtedly attracted to both, finding yourself melting into both kisses with earnest as you found yourself just as breathless as Satoru pulled away, his fingers pinching the fat of your cheek one last time before letting them fall to his sides.

You felt like you were on a whole other plane of existence as your lungs tried to find air, your eyes finding pretty little grins that made you splay one on your own kiss fried lips.

Over the years the three of you had shared many secrets, from Satoru confessing to the two of you that it was indeed him that had broken the principal's window with a baseball, to Suguru confiding that he had practically run away from a girl who tried to give him a love letter.

Now the three of you had shared yet another secret, but this one was far from the rest, settling in it's own little category, hiding from prying eyes, it's content much more intimate than the others.

A dirty little secret had begun to fester and the three of you nurtured it with care.

The moment had marked the very first point in time in which you grew much more intimate.

Farewells were no longer only paired with hugs but kisses to the cheek or forehead as well. Cuddles on the couch oftentimes included a kiss to the lips. Innocent touches began to grow much more common as the three of you found yourself locked in Suguru's room, lips touching lips in the space, as unlike your home, in the Geto household the open door policy was not in effect.

So behind closed doors the three of you stole not only each other's first kiss, but your second, third, fourth, and many more after that.

It was in your second year of junior high when your kisses were born from less desire and more fun, a general domestic love beginning to blossom and snickers parted past your lips.

"Orange!"

"Strawberry."

They threw out their guesses, licking off the gloss coating their mouths. "Strawberry," you nod and Suguru pumped his fists as Satoru slumped.

"How is that strawberry," he fumed, leaning in for yet another taste of your chapstick covered lips only to grumble in annoyance, "Suguru what kind of lip glosses are you buying," he huffs, "they don't even taste right," and Suguru shrugged his shoulders, indulging in your taste once again before sighing.

"First of all these are chapsticks," the boy corrected, "second of all don't blame me because your tastebuds are all messed up."

"Are not!"

"Are too!"

Currently they were in a battle to see who could guess the most flavours correct after Suguru had given you a multi pack of chapsticks at the store his uncle ran, getting them for free after stocking a couple shelves, determined to place them in your care after an offhand comment you made about your lips being dry.

"Did you taste the flavours before giving them to her like some weirdo pervert," Satoru accused as you wiped off the previous flavour, secretly spreading a different balm over your lips, "are you into licking chapsticks and then giving them to girls!"

"You were there when she opened the package."

"You could've resealed it."

"Stop being a sore loser," Suguru complained before training his attention on you, watching as you laugh in jest, clearly enjoying their banter before stealing your focus, your eyes instinctively falling closed as he cupped your face, thumb trailing over the apple of your cheek as he pressed a chaste kiss to your lips, your shoulders decompressing as you eagerly melted into him before he was rudely pulled off.

"Stop hogging her, you are going to lick off the taste," Satoru is quick to state before leaning in, capturing your lips before you could even open your eyes again. You can hear a thwack as Suguru smacks the boys back, the jolt lightly jostling your own head.

"I'm not licking off anything," he grumbles, rolling his eyes as the snowy haired boy finally reeled himself away, or rather you pushed him off, hand coming up to his mouth to keep him from going in again as you laughed, trying to catch your stolen breath as Satoru licked his lips.

"You have your guesses," you muse at the two boys, their heads nodding before you count down.

"Vanilla!"

"Vanilla."

You have to bite your lips to keep a giggle at bay, the way they look at each other is filled with so much irritation.

"You stole my answer!" Satoru claims with an accusatory finger.

"Why would I steal your answer if you've been wrong for the past five rounds!" and before you let their bickering continue, you cut them off.

"Well regardless you both are wrong," you confess, openly snickering at their widened eyes before reaching behind you to grab the container, flashing the label.

"Snowstorm..." Suguru trails off.

"ARE YOU KIDDING ME," Satoru exclaims, brows shooting to his forehead before he's on you, tackling you onto Suguru's mattress, cupping the back of your head to make sure you don't hit the sheets too hard before he's sitting on your torso, staring down at you. "What the hell does a snowstorm taste like," he scrunches his face, faux anger directed towards you as though you were the one to manufacture the labels.

"Vanilla apparently," you laugh, his fingers merely gripping your shoulders tighter before kissing you once more, mumbling, 'snowstorm my ass,' as he tastes it again, or rather you again.

Until then the dirty little secret the three of you shared wasn't all that dirty, you merely pressed closed mouth kisses to each other's lips, tiny little pecks at best onto your faces in the confines of a bedroom, hands never trailing below the shoulders, never taking the time to explore the intricacies of each others bodies, tongues never taking the time to explore each other's mouths.

Well that was until the holidays rolled around once more, the three of your perched on Suguru's couch as junior high third years, the very same movie playing on the screen.

"Do you still think it feels funny," Satoru chimes smugly, elbowing your side as he sits in the middles, squished between you and Suguru much like a couple years prior as he held the bowl of popcorn in his hands.

"I dunno," you murmur, the scene that sparked the question that day playing on the television as the actor's slipped inside each other's mouths.

"What do you mean you don't know," he huffs, leaning his head on your shoulder as you focus on the screen.

"Well we only really give each other, pecks..." you try, "while they are french kissing," the terms felt quite foreign on your tongue, the only reason they were added to your dictionary because of a youtube video you watched. You weren't signed into your account so the generic algorithm, yet to be fed with your likes presented an array of miscellaneous content, one of which titled 'How to French Kiss' that caught your attention quickly, and despite your brain telling you it was stupid and weird thing to watch you still clicked on it, watching mesmerized as two people went through different types of kisses, ranging from the chaste kisses you were familiar with to ones full of tongue that you had only witnessed in films.

"Isn't french kissing the one where they kiss each other's cheeks," Satoru furrows his brows.

"That is French," Suguru notes, "but a french kiss is like the one they're doing," he gestures to the movie.

"It's the one where they shove their tongues in their mouths," you add and Satoru cringed much like how he did last year when you stated the same words and he sighs before collecting himself.

"You wanna try," and you could feel a strange sense of deja vu as the events began to play out once more. Suguru's foot grabbed the table and you found your seat, as instead of playing rock paper scissors this time you urged the two boy's to kiss first and they quickly obliged your request, never ones to ever really deny you.

"You sure you don't wanna all touch tongues first," Satoru hums, teasingly eying you as Suguru carefully grasped his face, listening to your laugh before lips splayed onto his.

You stared intently as the scene unfolded similarly to years prior, and the longer you watched the more you realized that this was far too similar to years prior. Their tongues not dancing and instead of biting back your words you blurt them out, "you are supposed to use your tongue," you state and you can hear Suguru hum as he pulls away.

"I was getting there," he grumbles, eying your captivated figure before an all too smug smirk graced his lips that soon captured Satoru once more. You were glued to the scene, a muffled gasp playing into your ears as Suguru finally parted their sealed lips, mouths moving in tandem as between their newly angled heads, pretty peeks of pink tongues were spotted. You watched as though they were a film, two teenage boys holding each other tightly, Suguru's hands cupping Satoru's face gingerly while he threaded his fingers through dark locks, their faces illuminated by the tv screen behind you, painting reddened cheeks with a frosty blue glow as they moved their eager mouths.

They were an oil painting, a beauty that you felt unworthy to bare witness to as they displayed themselves to you, vulnerable and full of desire as they slid against one another, hands beginning to wander as Suguru slid from Satoru's warmed cheeks to his shoulders before planting on his hips, the hands threaded in his hair yanking and you licked your watering mouth, their eyes closed in bliss as hums of contentment rang through your ears, audio of the movie that once played ignored as the only music you wanted to listen to was them, the only art you wanted to consume was them.

It was delicate in the way the two finally pulled away, kiss bitten lips finally experiencing what it was to kiss, what it was to love, to pour yourself into a single part of yourself, to share that love with a partner despite the labels placed on one another being friends, they experienced a yearning for more and that yearning included you.

"Does it feel nice," you muse, the nostalgic words bringing Suguru's love drunk hooded eyes towards you, hair that was once neatly tied in a pretty black bun falling in rivulets as they framed his face.

"Do you run on a script or something," the boy mused, glittering at the familiar words as he reached for you.

"Just following tradition," you hum, "after all isn't that a large part of the holidays," you smile as he begins to lean closer.

"I don't really like traditions," he sighs, "but if those traditions include you two, I'll follow them until the day I die," and he shifted closer before murmuring, "why don't you see for yourself," to appease you and just like that he was on you, leaving you no time to laugh at the sappy words as he pressed himself into you, and finally you began to understand why he placed a chaste kiss to Satoru first.

The nerves that jumbled beneath your skin at the thought of participating in a tongue driven dance melted as he consumed you, the familiar feeling of his lips that you've felt against yours for hours at a time gracing your mouth, nothing different, nothing new, your fear of the unknown now deceased as he gave you a comfort of the known, warm lips against yours as his warm hands pressed against your cheeks before he pulled away, letting you take in a breath of air before he stole it once more.

He grasped you in his spell once more, enchanting you to his whims as he angled his head in a way you've never felt before, his lips hitting yours as he urged you to open your mouth alongside him, gently guiding you in a waltz as you finally felt his warm tongue enter your mouth, the foreign intrusion not unwelcome as he helped, his roaming hands finding purchase on your hips with one on the back of your scalp, pushing you into him as you fisted the fabric of his shirt, scared to explore as you went dizzy as he drank you in, guiding you so gently as you kissed, lips glued as he moved you in sync.

It was heated, with a fuzzy feeling lighting up your brain as you focused on him and only him, his two hands that were on you, drinking in their warmth until that warmth multiplied to four and you immediately recognize his touch, his slightly colder hands running along the length of your waist, lithe fingers squeezing as they scaled every curve. You were being devoured, nibbled upon by gentle lips and groping touches as they both set off on an adventure, wandering around on the island of your body and you let them.

You couldn't help but whine when you felt the warm kiss break off, cold air rushing into your screaming lungs that you couldn't care less about, you wanted him, needed him but before you could even make an attempt for his pretty lips he sang those oh so familiar words, "did it feel good," and just like last time your fumbling mouth couldn't run, words stolen by him as you merely hummed.

"mhm," airy and light as you stared at him with desire, feeling your beating heart thrum in your ears as you felt the hands that traversed your waist pull you towards him, grabbing your attention with his beautiful blue eyes, pink lips awaiting your arrival as he grinned.

"My turn pretty," he didn't ask but rather commanded, and you couldn't give yourself time to dwell on the pet name that spilled from his lips, the name that didn't refer to you as pretty but the embodiment of the word itself, your warmed cheeks the only evidence of his effect as he pulled for you and you shut your eyes to wait, only to hear a soft, "Tilt your head Toru," and as you peeked them open you could see Suguru's large fingers guiding Satoru's mouth to yours, angling his face to the side and you could feel yourself burning, lips parting and then you could feel Satoru on you, lips finding purchase on your own and you reached for his face, hands cupping Suguru's who merely interlaced your fingertips upon Satoru's cheek.

Satoru was, much like with all the sweets he ate, eager, tongue delving into your mouth. He was Suguru's opposite in all forms as his sloppy, unpracticed lips took whatever you had to offer. It was a clash of teeth and tongue and while it was messy and far from the tender guiding kiss Suguru offered it still made your mind blast off fireworks.

He didn't guide you but dominated you much to your compliance as your melting lips put up no protest. His hands travelled high up your torso, barely brushing against the side of your boob before travelling back down, elated fingers brushing and squeezing as he kissed you, finally and truly kissed you.

The two of you separated against your own will but to your lungs relief, as your heaving chest gulped down air as soon as your connected mouth parted, but despite your detachment a single clear tether held your two mouths together, the thin bridge connecting you two slowly dissolved the further your head shifted away.

Suguru could feel himself gulp, the lewd saliva strand that stood between his two friend's mouths doing things to his body he couldn't quite understand, the very image something he wanted to burn into his memory, a picture he wanted to frame and as he watched the two of you pant he couldn't help the tug on his chest that filled him with lust.

He watched as your form straightened, bleary eyes blinking as you stared at Satoru, cloudy vision trained on his lips and as you opened your mouth to speak he expected to hear your sultry voice spill a praise that'd make his heart skip a beat, but he was quick to put that thought to rest.

"S-Satoru are you..." you pause, catching your breath, "eating sour gummies," you question, eyes wide with shock as Satoru flinched at your words.

"W- Wha, huh, N-No!" he stumbles, taken aback.

"You are," you gasp, "you totally are!" and you are pouncing forward, trying to pat around the couch to find where he hid the package as Suguru quickly removed the popcorn bowl from the vicinity, placing it on a side table as you and Satoru begin to wrestle, the white haired boy trying to fight you off as you peel away the blankets.

"Get off me you psycho!" he exclaims, "I don't have anything."

"Then why do you taste like blue raspberry!" you yell.

Soon enough your dirty little secret grew a little bit more filthier as instead of quick little kisses the three of you entered in contact that would be considered make outs. Bodies tightly wound as hands wandered from waists, to hips, to light brushes against chests and sliding over an occasional ass. Lips were more fervent in their approach with erotic sounds to match the pace as little whines and gasps graced the room.

Kisses were often given in more risky places eliciting slight protests as you hid between tall abandoned shelves in the library, pinned between bodies and books as they'd shush you. Kisses placed in the Gojo estates bathroom as you did your best to stay quiet as to not alert the wandering workers as they cleaned the manor.

Your kisses never escalated into anything more but the two boys always seemed to scratch the irritating itch at the back of your brain that blossomed every so often, the itch they clambered over to soothe. The kisses you shared were always heated, lasting for nearly hours as the time between each session was lingering near months as times like this came few and far between. Despite the fact that something like this should've signaled something more in your trio, should've alluded to the three of you taking the next step in your relationship, you all stayed at the title of friends, or best friends, if that made it any better.

You were just a couple of pals who made out once and a while and went out together all the time, some would say you were dating but the thought never really crossed your mind, mainly because you didn't dare think about it. Especially since the kisses you shared weren't given on the regular, even quick pecks hidden from the public's eyes, it was because these were your dirty little secrets.

#satosugu x reader #satosugu x y/n #satosugu x you #jjk smut #jujustsu kaisen x reader #jjk x reader #satoru x reader x suguru #gojo x reader x geto #jjk #jujutsu kaisen

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yoonia · 1 year ago

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Ever A Never After: Act 1

⟶ Chapter Summary | It feels like a dream come true. Prince Charming comes to the rescue, and then he is suddenly proclaiming his love to you. The promise of your happily ever after is suddenly within arm’s reach. Yet sinister ploys are at play, coming in the way of your happy ending just when you are merely a step away from reaching it

⟶ Title | Ever a Never After (adaptation from Enchanted movie) ⟶ Pairings | Jungkook x female reader; Seokjin x female reader ⟶ Genre | Strangers to lovers!au, Fairy tale retelling!au, Rom-com ⟶ Word count | 19,688 words ⟶ Ratings & Warnings | PG-13, +18 / M for future chapters; slow burn, black magic, curses, fantasy beasts/monsters, fantasy violence, fantasy weapons, mentions of (possible) characters death, blood, self inflicted injury (pretty harmless, no weapons are involved in this part), sudden wedding proposals, coercion, hypnotism, betrayal. ⟶ Special thanks to my beta readers, @downbad4yoongi, @theodea

⟶ Story Masterlist: Ever A Never After | next chapter ⇢

⟶ Main Masterlist | Mailbox | Feedback | Ko-fi | Music companion

⟶ Special Taglist: Ever A Never After

Once upon a time, in a magical kingdom known as Andalasia…

A place where each story ends with happily ever afters and a dream can become reality with one simple wish. Ruled by the powerful Sorceress Queen Rosalyn, who reigns the kingdom with her iron fist, steel heart, and enchanting spells, the kingdom prospers with riches and an abundance of good fortune.

Magic exists in this place as the main core that holds the entire kingdom together.

It protects the people of the kingdom from the evil forces lying in wait within the shadows. Magic also brings light and joy to the people of the kingdom, opulence and prosperity to the land, allowing Andalasia to bloom magnificently for the past century among other magical kingdoms within the realm.

With magic, the people of the kingdom—even those who aren’t mages or sorcerers—are able to have a strong connection with the surrounding nature. The blessings of magic spreads through the land, providing crops and provisions for the people throughout the year. It also spreads through the waters flowing from the mountains and all the way to the open sea, enriching the land, the towns and the vast farmlands within the kingdom’s territories.

The blessings of magic also allows the humans and the creatures of the wild—the animals and fairies—to speak in the same language. Allowing all part of the kingdom to live in harmony and peace under the same sky.

But just like two sides of a coin, magic has another face that the people despises the most; dark magic, with its evil spells and curses, which often draws in malicious forces and lures the beasts and monsters that would pose a threat to the kingdom.

For years, the mighty Sorceress, Queen Rosalyn, has managed to protect the people by using her powers. Yet dark magic has always been powerful. Enough to continue existing in the darkest places of the kingdom, hiding in the shadows, waiting in the crevices of the land for anyone who would be strong enough to wield and harness it.

There is only one kind of magic in Andalasia that is strong enough to defeat these dark spells.

Stronger than the magic that the Queen possesses and casts to rule the kingdom and its people. The most powerful magic that everyone holds out their hopes, dreams, and wishes for. The one that everyone most desperately seeks, no matter what risk they would take to find it. Even the animals and wild creatures of the woods would sing praises about it between the breezing wind, while people within the kingdom would write fables to commemorate its existence.

It is the magic mostly known as the true love’s kiss.

Ever since you were just a little girl, you have heard many stories about it. From the tales that had been written in the books and scribes about the magical moments that are shared by those who have embraced their happily ever afters with their true love’s kiss.

Once you become old enough to understand all there is to know about the magic made possible with true love’s kiss, you begin to feel a deep sense of yearning growing within you. A desire so profound to find your own happily ever after, and to find someone that you could share your true love’s kiss with. This desire has filled your thoughts and dreams, always keeping you wishing and praying for the opportunity to look out to the world so you can find it for yourself.

And last night, after a seemingly long wait, fate itself has decided to answer your prayers by sending you a wonderful dream. A dream filled with signs telling you that your wish may soon come true.

What you saw in your dream was everything that you had always pictured to happen. It got you feeling elated, hopeful, and it had woken you up with the strong desire to immortalise it while you had the chance to.

The sun was barely up when you first opened your eyes, yet there was no way you could remain idle, no matter how comfortable it would have been to stay in bed. Your energy was already high, pushing you to start working on bringing the key piece of your dream into reality while it is still fresh in your memories.

An hour or so has passed since, and you have been moving around your quaint bedroom, bringing with you scraps of fabrics, ribbons, and various other raw materials that you managed to gather from the garden before the sky grew bright. The rapid thrum of your heartbeat becomes the music you hum to while you carefully combine the materials, pinning each piece onto the wooden mannequin standing in the center of your bedroom—the same mannequin you would normally use to create your pretty dresses.

Except instead of displaying a dress, the wooden mannequin has been set up to display your newest creation. These beautiful scraps of fabric that you have collected and formed together aren’t meant to be any piece of clothing that you might be wearing later once the season changes, but to bring the object of your dream—the object of your deepest desire—to come alive.

As your creation is slowly forming into its final shape right before your eyes, you feel a rush of enthusiasm and joy brewing inside your chest. A feeling that you share with your busy little helpers that have been moving in tune with you from every corner of the room.

Their presence has become another reason why you are so full of energy this morning. They are the true blessing that had come from the forest, lured by the sound of your voice as you were singing the wistful tune of your aspiration the moment you woke up from your deep slumber.

Each animal now present in the room are either having fun watching and cheering for you, or helping you with all the different tasks that they can handle. You enjoy watching your small friends following your instructions obediently while singing along with the cheerful tune you are humming while you continue to work.

The wild hummingbirds that are usually shy and diffident are now fluttering around the mannequin, securing the ribbons that you have specifically chosen for your project. The fluffy chinchillas keep running back and forth to bring in more scraps and little accessories from your drawers to add to your creation.

Once in a while, some more of your fluffy little fellows slip into your room. Always carrying with them the various items that they could find from the forest and the small patch of garden right outside of your cabin in case they would be useful.

Just like the pair of wild sparrows that are flying in through your window right this moment. The sound of their cheerful chirping fills the room, drawing your attention to their arrival. “Here are some more leaves and fresh straws that you can use for the hair, sweet Blossom.”

A smile is lifted on your face as they drop some autumn leaves and fresh-smelling straws from their beaks and talons into your open palms. “Why, thank you, sweethearts,” you gratefully say to them, “These should make the hair look all fluffy and soft.”

Soft flutters rise in your chest as you lean to give each sparrow a light peck on top of their heads. A gesture that you give not only because you are feeling grateful for their help, but also for the way they are calling you with your childhood nickname in such an endearing way.

Blossom.

Your mother had been the one who gave you the special name when you were born. It was said that the flowers seemed to blossom more beautifully the moment you came into this realm, and the nickname has stuck on you ever since. The name that is interchangeable with your birth name, and one that anyone who is close to you would often choose to call you with.

You begin humming to yourself again as you drift back to your mannequin, pinning the leaves into the crown of the mannequin’s head. You have yet to get everything done when you hear soft voices calling for you excitedly from below.

“How about these bronze quartz for the eyes?” A pair of white wild bunnies call out to you as they hop around your ankles. Clapping your hands with joy, you bend down to gracefully accept their gifts.

“Oh, yes!” you squeal as you lift the pair of bronze quartzes to your eyes, loving how they glow under the bright morning sunlight.

“How lovely, and they look perfectly similar to the eyes looking back at me in my dreams,” you delightfully exclaim to them as you attach the dark-coloured crystals to the mannequin’s face, giving it a pair of eyes that are glinting beautifully as if they are coming alive. “Those eyes looked as dark as the night sky but were glowing like twilight when I looked deeply into them in my dream, and these pretty quartz are reminding me of them.”

Ada, the gentle deer, prances over, bumping her head against your calves to draw your attention to her. “Then how about these are some goose feathers I found at the lake this morning? Would these help too?” she gently offers as she drops the delicate feathers by your feet.

With an astonished gasp, you bend down to your knees to retrieve it. You take a moment to marvel at them as a flutter of delirious giggle rises in your throat. “What beautiful feathers, perfect for a prince. I wonder where I should put this,” you ponder to yourself, tapping your chin as you admire the feathers’ colouring—its golden-brown gradient shade that looks luxurious, like pieces of expensive materials that you can only see adorning the fancy dresses or suits that the nobles wear to the Queen’s royal ball.

With a soft bubbling laughter, you twirl on your feet before pinning the feathers on its upper torso, and you can almost see it shimmer as the sunlight falls on them.

“Oh, how perfect!” you marvel at the mannequin standing right before you with a sigh. Stepping back from it, you take in the result of your hard work, making sure that you have followed every little detail that has been engraved in your memory.

“Just what exactly are you making so early in the morning? Keeping everyone busy before you even had your breakfast,” Poppy, the sassy squirrel who is also your most loyal companion, huffs curiously as she climbs over your shoulder, wanting to have a clear look at what you are creating.

“Oh, Poppy. My dear sweet Poppy.” A dreamy sigh escapes from your lips, which only draws more confusion on your little friend’s face. “I had a dream last night.”

“A dream?”

“Oh yes, Poppy. A wonderful dream.” You cannot help but giggle as a giddy feeling fills your chest. You also feel a sense of longing, an odd sensation which has been plaguing you ever since you woke up from this magical dream.

“Tell us about the dream, Blossom,” your friends chirp and sing from all around you, “Tell us!”

With a smile, you slowly drop down to the floor cushions at the corner of your bedroom, finding comfort as you begin to share your tale, “I dreamed of a prince. A very handsome, charming, and powerful prince.”

With your eyes on the wooden mannequin, you gesture your hand at your nearly finished work, “And he looks just like this.”

The statuette figure that stands before you, shaped by the decorated and fully-dressed wooden mannequin, appears like the prince of your dream. Standing tall enough that you have to lift your chin up to look at it properly even while you were on your feet, the replica of the prince seems to come alive. You may not have been able to see his face as clearly as you would have liked, with how hazy that dream now seems to your mind. Yet as you run your gaze over your creation, you have to admit that you may have come close to getting at least something about him right.

The upper frame of the mannequin is draped with a made-up attire that looks like a three-piece suit. While it doesn’t look as refined as the suit you pictured in your mind, it still looks intricate enough to resemble the fancy suits made for nobles.

The jacket, made from a piece of wool which you once used to craft yourself a winter coat, is fitted to show the figure’s broad shoulders and trim waist. You didn’t forget to add a long tail at the back of the jacket, giving it a more sophisticated look—which you can imagine would flow prettily should the ‘prince’ walks across the room to ask you for a dance. The royal blue hue of the fabric allows the suit to stand out under the bright morning sunlight penetrating into the room. You can almost imagine it, the person wearing this jacket shining among the other people in a massive ballroom, drawing everyone’s attention just as you are unable to look away from it now.

The golden-brown goose feathers that Ada had brought you look like golden embroideries adorning the lapels of the jacket. With a subtle sheen on them, the feathers are able to catch the sunlight perfectly as you try to look at them from different angles.

Beneath the jacket, a waistcoat made of a matching fabric but in deep brown hugs the mannequin’s torso. Its snug fit creates an illusion of a broad and strong chest that would have filled its form perfectly as a powerful gentleman would. Various stones and crystals that you have pinned at the front of the waistcoat make up to replace the fancy buttons, and they all look almost like polished jewels against the dark backdrop as the sunlight falls on top of them.

A pair of trousers are set up to cover the lower part of the mannequin. Using a smooth fabric that looks almost like satin, the piece of clothing looks no different than what most royals or nobles would wear in the fancy parties that you had quite a few experiences attending to. The trousers seem to have added an illusion that looks captivating to your eyes; a silhouette of a pair of legs that are long and strong, with toned muscles hidden underneath and a sturdy foundation that would display class and elegance.

A crisp dress shirt in pristine white completes the entire ensemble. The light ruffles from the collar are peeking out from beneath the jacket, creating the illusion of the figure’s long neck. A silk tie is knotted around the throat, created from your silky scarf that has a spread of tiny blue flowers on a white background which seems like the perfect match to the dress shirt and the intricate looking jacket.

“Yes, this is all perfect. This is how he looked like in my dreams,” you muse with a contented sigh, grateful that you were able to bring the image of your prince to life only based on the memory of your lovely dream.

“But what did you see in this dream of yours, Blossom?” you hear the wild doves chittering from the windows, no doubt asking on behalf of your other animal friends who are present here, all silently swooning over your story, “What did you and the Prince do?”

“Oh,” you stutter as you remember the beautiful moments that you saw in your dream.

“It was so, so romantic. He was fighting this evil beast, a black dragon that was breathing out fire so hot it could burn down the entire magic forest—” you start by sharing the part of the dream that gave you a fright, drawing a collective sound of sharp gasps from everyone in the room as well as you talk about the fierce dragon who was fighting against your Prince from the top of a dark tower.

“—and then, once he won the battle and peace was reclaimed once more, he came to catch me as I was falling from height. We locked eyes with one another and had our moment, and that was when he chose to stay longer with me, ensuring my safety instead of returning to the castle. We talked for hours, walked through the forest, and he even took me on a ride in his glowing carriage. And when evening came, once the moonlight and the bright stars came to replace the sun, he finally asked me for a dance.”

A collective sound of dreamy sighs echo through the room, increasing the excitement you feel bubbling inside your chest. And you have yet to reach the best part of it.

“And then? What happened next, Blossom?” the fluffy and shy badger, Brew, asks you curiously from behind the curtains, where he had been hiding while watching you have fun with his friends.

With a happy giggle, you lean back against the cushions while keeping your eyes on your made-up Prince. “We danced, and danced, and danced all night, and right at the sound of the clock chiming at midnight, we shared one of the most magical moments ever”—you let out a long, deep sigh as you murmur softly—”with a true love’s kiss.”

“A true love’s kiss?” everyone gasps and sighs, sharing the elated feeling that is now surging through your chest.

“But how will you be able to have a true love’s kiss,” Poppy teases as she climbs over the right shoulder of your ‘dream prince.’ She bends and points at the empty space at the bottom of the face as she jokingly asks, “If this prince of yours doesn’t even have a pair of lips?”

Your eyes follow Poppy’s little fingers and an astonished laugh slips out of you. “Oh, dear me! We forgot the lips!” You quickly cover your mouth before the sound of your laughter reaches outside of your bedroom, realising too late that this is still early in the day. Yet your eyes remain on the mannequin’s expressionless face. “Oh, what should we place there as his lips? Does anyone have any idea?”

Almost immediately, your little friends begin to chirp and squeal and chitter with each of their own ideas.

“How about some fresh flower petals?”

“Red roses don’t bloom as much or as pretty in this time of year!”

“Berries?”

“How about red chilli peppers?”

The last response makes you laugh, joined by your delighted forest friends who seem to be enjoying their time with you, just as much as they seem to be enjoying the look on your face as you are filled with happiness and joy.

But before you can say anything to respond to their ideas, a gentle voice calls out to you from downstairs.

“________! Sweet Blossom, where are you?” the voice echoes through the small cabin, and your friends scatter to different places to take cover. Some remain, yet they choose to hide in small places, while others jump into safety right out the window. The voice continues, “I know you’re awake. I can hear you singing from all the way down here.”

“Oh, it’s Grandmother!” With a stifled laughter, you rise to your feet and rush to move. “Quick, help me hide this.”

Grabbing a blanket, you bring it to the mannequin, hoping that you would be able to cover it in case your grandmother ever decides to walk up to your bedroom. While it may not cause you any trouble should your grandmother ever finds out what you have been up to all morning, you know that she would only worry once she sees the ‘dream prince’ standing in your bedroom.

You don’t even want to try and imagine what your grandmother would say, or what kind of look that she would give you if she ever hears why you are using your working mannequin to create your own Prince Charming.

“Get your head out of the clouds, dear. We have other important things to worry about and focus on. It’s not good to be dreaming too much when you’re awake.”

That is what she would always say whenever you talk about your dreams of finding your happily ever after, or whenever you listen to your grandmother’s friends and customers about the most recent gossips and tales from the kingdom.

“Blossom, quick!” Poppy’s voice snaps you out of it, as she and the rest of your remaining forest friends begin to pull on the other side of the blanket to help you cover the mannequin.

Once it is perfectly hidden, you pull yourself together and turn away, only making one last glance at the now-covered ‘dream prince’ before making your way downstairs to see your grandmother before she starts calling for you again.

“I’m coming, Nana!”

The place that you call home is nothing more but a small wooden cabin located deep in the woods, right at the heart of the Amaranth Forest. Located quite a distance away from the Queen’s castle, your home serves as a place of solitude, away from the bright and bustling life of the kingdom.

This is where your sweet grandmother has raised you all on her own ever since you were a young child. You may have no recollection of your parents, being so young when they were gone. But everything in the cabin serves as the reminder of their existence. From the pictures that are being hanged on the walls and placed on the mantle above the fireplace, to the small trinkets that they left behind, each one holding pieces of their memories for you to remember them by.

Growing up without them, you barely felt the weight of their absence. To every void formed by the lack of their presence in your life, your grandmother fills it with her overflowing love and beautiful memories. Being under her care allows you to live with happiness and joy, as she continued to make sure that you could live your life to the fullest. She has also taught you to remain grounded, to be able to build your own life without losing your focus or getting lost in your dreams.

And there are also your friends from the forest, the wild animals that would often come to visit you whenever you are in need of company. They have kept you from feeling lonely, whether during the good days, but more so on your darkest days. The same way they are keeping you company right this moment, as you are trudging along the woods to finish the day’s errands which your grandmother had sent you out to do.

“I’m making breakfast for both of us before I will have to leave to the shop downtown,” she said once you joined her in the kitchen earlier when she called for you to come downstairs, “But I need help getting some ingredients from the gardens and the groves. I would go myself, but my knees have been bothering me. Will you be a dear and fetch them for me?”

There was no way you could have refused your grandmother’s request. Not when you saw the look on her face this morning when you first came down from your bedroom.

The dark pockets under her eyes have been more obvious as of late, so have the lines of age marring her skin. You cannot remember seeing your grandmother so tired and weary as she did today, but she has always known to hide her exhaustion well. Even if it means having to force a smile on her face just to stop you from worrying about her as she continues with her day.

Still, it doesn’t stop you from wondering if there is something for her to be wary about. The thought follows you as you are gathering all the ingredients needed—the wild mushrooms from the nearby woods and some fresh vegetables from the small patches of gardens that your grandmother has been tending to.

Perhaps your worries have been written so clearly on your face, because the moment you announced your leave after seeing your grandmother, your animal friends immediately insisted to come with you. And you are grateful for their company. Because despite having these worrying thoughts filling your mind, you still find yourself enjoying your time in the open with them around to entertain you.

It is also a blessing that the weather is nice this morning.

The sun feels warm on your skin, while the canopy of trees above your head are keeping you safe from the rising heat. Small birds are flying between the trees above you while accompanying your walk with their melodic tune. You also have Poppy joining you, as she is perched comfortably on your shoulder when she isn’t jumping around to help you plucking out fresh ingredients from the ground.

The wild bunnies and Brew the badger are also there, jumping all around you as they follow you through the woods. Even Ada is following you close, as she acts like a guide before she will be making her way to the river to continue her morning stroll.

After quite some time has passed, and almost all of the ingredients that you needed have been gathered, your friends begin to remind you of your ‘dream prince’ once again when their constant teasing continues.

“Now that we have everything that your Nana needed, shall we go around to look for the perfect lips to give your dream prince?” Poppy suggests as she places the last piece of the potatoes into your basket.

“Oh, my! I almost forgot!” You gasp, and immediately, all the delightful feeling you had earlier returns to you tenfold as you remember about your Prince Charming. “You’re right! Now that we’ve gotten everything, we should continue with our mission to find the Prince’s lips. We do have some time left before Nana has to go to open the shop for the day.”

After sharing a quick discussion between you and your friends, everyone decides to follow Ada to the nearby river where she always does her morning stroll. Arriving there, she leads you to the thick bushes where the wild berries always grow during the season. The luscious shade of crimson from the fresh berries looks perfect, just the shade that you were searching for, and it makes you feel even more enthusiastic about finishing your creation.

Seeing the look on your face, Poppy rolls her eyes and makes a tutting sound. “Oh, Blossom, do you think that your dream boy truly exists?” she wonders out loud.

“Oh, I’m sure of it,” you simply answer, feeling optimistic about it still as you carefully pluck the berries and slip them into your basket. “If he could come into my dreams, then he must be out there somewhere.”

“Where?” Poppy teasingly asks as she dramatically begins looking around, peering through the woods to find your prince.

Rolling your eyes back at her, you simply laugh at her antics. “He could be anywhere. He might be somewhere within these woods, getting lost between the thick trees while he is making his way to find me. Or he could be on the other side of the mountains, fighting off dragons and monsters to claim as his prize while proving himself worthy before winning my heart and sweeping me off of my feet.”

With a sigh, Poppy shakes her head at you. “Oh, _______. I think your grandmother was right when she said that you have your head up in the clouds. Remember to get back to the ground before you fly too high.”

You can only smile as you recall your grandmother saying the same thing; that you have always been dreaming even when you are awake, and that you always let your imagination run too far, when your mind is filled with all the wishful thinking you have about finding your happily ever after.

You can understand why she would feel so worried about you, wondering if one day you would find it hard to face reality with how much you keep dreaming about your happiness. Even though it had been your grandmother herself who made you believe in happily ever afters in the first place.

“Your parents had their happily ever after. That was how you came into this world, and why they are still together now. Wherever they may be,” you heard her speak one time while she was lost in thoughts, soon after she was done telling you all the tales about happy endings and finding true loves.

It wasn’t often for your grandmother to talk about your parents. Except for the rare occasions where she would tell their stories, about how they met and fell in love, and how their happily ever after made it possible for you to be born.

She would always wear a look of longing in her eyes whenever she talks about your parents. Although it would always be accompanied by sadness and hurt — the emotions that are constantly written so vividly in her face. It has always made you feel hesitant about bringing up your parents when you talk to her. But there is something in the way your grandmother tells what little tale she has about your parents’ love story and happily ever afters that continues to bring you hope. It makes you wish that the kind of love they had does exist, and that you may one day find it.

Sighing to yourself, you embrace the blissful feeling that you have each time you recall parts of your dream which makes your heart flutter. The more you think about the dream, the more you refuse to believe that your dream had meant nothing at all.

Andalasia is a land filled with magic, after all. A place where dreams come true. And you believe that the dream had been a sign telling you that your happily ever after is near.

“I’m not going to fly off to the clouds just to find him, Poppy. Not when he might be somewhere close by,” you simply tell your friend as you finish up your hunt for the perfect lips that you are giving your made-up Prince.

Little do you know that your words are merely moments into coming to reality.

Because just as you are finishing up your errand, when you are ready to turn back home with your basket filled to the brim with fresh assortments, a commotion begins to rise on the other side of the woods.

Oblivious to the possible danger that is coming towards you, you continue prancing between the trees, enjoying your time with your animal friends playing by your side. You start singing along to the song that they are singing about your dream prince, the true love’s kiss, and your happily ever after, unknowingly luring the incoming peril that is coming to find you as the sweet tune of your voice echoes through the deep forest.

On the other side of the woods, beyond the steep hills covered in thick clusters of trees, the sound of a deep, feral roar echoes through the vast woodland.

Gone is the peaceful morning, and the entire forest wakes up to a sudden rising turmoil.

The trees are shaking with the echoing roar while the ground is rumbling violently, sending wild animals around to scamper away to find places to hide. Some have barely made their safe escape when the dense trees are suddenly parted, and a giant troll bursts through the thickets.

The creature’s massive foot stumbles as he rushes through. Avoiding the trees and boulders that are getting in his way seems like a struggle, yet his speed has yet to falter even when he can barely stay upright in his hasty run. It isn’t so much of the obstacles that appear on his path that are making it hard for him to run across the woods, but more because of the remnants of the broken restraint still dangling around his ankles.

As the creature continues to scramble to find escape, a white horse appears to be racing not to far behind. The sound of its hoofs hitting the ground in rapid speed adds to the entire commotion. The steed pushes forward, giving its full strength as it runs between the trees to keep up with the troll, while the rider continues to shout his commands, pushing his steed to keep giving a chance.

Following behind is yet another man in a horse, barely keeping up with the first rider and the relentless creature running before them.

“Sir Noah! How did you manage to let that creature escape? He’s running even faster than before!” the first rider shouts with a firm voice.

“Forgive me, Your Highness,” the man following the first rider calls out between his heaving breath. He can barely keep his composure while his darker horse seems to be struggling to maintain its speed and trying its best not to get left behind.

“I was sure that I’ve tied the monster’s hands and feet as strong as I possibly could. I merely step aside to, ugh—” the man gets his breath knocked out of his chest as his steed leaps over a fallen tree, “To rest my old man’s back and all of a sudden, the rope on his hands snaps, and he just rose to his feet and began running.”

The man stops shouting to catch his breath while trying his hardest to control his loyal horse. Both himself and the horse that he is riding are old and withered, not as young or as strong as the Crown Prince who is riding ahead with his massive white horse. They have all been running and working on the hunt since the break of dawn, yet the horse has yet to show any signs of exhaustion. It doesn’t seem to be losing its strength, just as the Prince’s stamina has yet to falter even when he was the one to fight the creature to its submission less than an hour ago.

“It was the voice!” The man, Sir Noah, manages to scream out once he has his breath steadied. “There was a strong breeze coming while the troll was tied down, and I swear I heard a voice coming with the wind, a voice that sounded so beautiful. Like a birdsong. Perhaps the voice enchanted the troll to gain its strength!”

“Then we must find the source of that voice to stop the troll!” the Prince shouts back, still with vigour that has yet to fade.

“But, Prince—” Sir Noah tries to shout to stop him as the Prince rides ahead, speeding faster away from him. “Prince Jungkook, wait!”

To Sir Noah’s surprise and disgruntlement, the Prince seems to find joy in this entire predicament as he laughs and shouts to his horse to pick up speed right as the troll stops struggling in his run. “Go, Onyx! Don’t lose him!”

“No, Prince! Your Highness, you need to stop before you hurt yourself,” Sir Noah continues to shout, although his voice is slowly fading as he is beginning to lose his breath once more.

“No, I won’t. I can do it! I know I can!” Jungkook continues to shout back, almost like he is chanting to himself with pure confidence as he leads his horse to keep its steady pace through the thickets. “I’ve had him before so I can’t give up now.”

Sir Noah has lost track of time and distance, unaware of how far they have gone since the troll started making his escape. All he can see around him are trees, more trees, a couple of small hills to run over before the land opens up to a small meadow that fades into another part of the forest that is just as dense as where they first started this intense chase. He cannot help but blame himself for his recklessness, even more so as he watches in horror the moment the troll jumps off of a small hill to cut more distance to wherever he is heading to, with the Prince’s horse making a huge leap right after.

“No!” Sir Noah screams out, before his voice turns to a loud screech when his horse follows its younger counterpart to jump off the hill in his shadows. “Lord have mercy!”

“This is so much fun!” Prince Jungkook shouts with a boastful laugh, completely disregarding Sir Noah’s fright. The excitement that is palpable through his voice only makes Sir Noah’s stomach drop.

“No, this is not fun, Prince Jungkook!” Sir Noah yells out of frustration before groaning, “Oh dear, the Queen is going to have my head for this.”

Before he can say more, the previous sound that he heard through the wind is starting to reach him again. He can tell that they are getting close to the source. Close enough for him to listen to the alluring tune that has been calling for the troll more clearly and identify it as a female voice, singing to the animals and the forest, and his fear escalates further.

Oh yes, there is no doubt that the Queen will have my head for this, Sir Noah wonders to himself as he straightens up and clutches at the horse’s reign tightly to keep it steady. He knows that he is only going to put the Prince in danger, but Sir Noah has no other choice.

“Your Highness! It’s the voice! The troll is after the one who is singing this melody!” he starts shouting at the Prince, who now has his eyebrows furrowed with deep focus, growing concerned with Sir Noah’s pleading words.

“Prince Jungkook, you must hurry and stop him before he gets to the singing lady!”

“There you are, sweet little Princess. Such pretty voice. Pretty enough to eat!”

For a moment, you cannot comprehend what is actually happening.

One minute, you were walking between the bushes and the flower beds, admiring the wildflowers blooming under the morning sky while humming to the birdsong echoing through the woods. And then, suddenly, the lovely birdsong stopped, the forest fell quiet, and your animal friends became so agitated that their cheerful chirps and giggles faded to whispers.

The next thing you knew, your peaceful moment with your friends was broken when the ground you were standing on began to quake, the trees up the hill began to shake furiously before they parted, and a giant troll burst through the thickets. He spoke with broken dialect and a menacing tone of voice, followed by an eerie roar coming out of his mouth as he started barrelling his way towards you.

At first, there is nothing that you can do except to remain frozen. You are too stunned to move, unable to react as you watch this monster running straight towards you. It is also baffling to see that the creature is doing it while screaming and looking so happy about eating you.

“_______! Snap out of it!!” Poppy suddenly screams, snapping you out of your daze. “We need to run. Now!”

With a gasp, you hike up your skirt and quickly turn away. “Run, everyone!” you shout at your friends who immediately scatter to find their escape, while you struggle to run the opposite way to confuse the creature.

Although it doesn’t seem like your effort is needed, because the troll seems to have set his eyes on you and you alone, as none of your fleeing companions catches his eyes and he is still running to get you. “Why is it chasing me?”

“I don’t know, but keep running!” Poppy continues to scream, still perched on your shoulder with her claws sinking into the fabric of your dress as she holds on tightly.

Normally, you consider yourself quite a runner. There have been times when you would run in the woods, racing against Ada or the wild hares that would often hang out by the lake just for fun. Sometimes you would run with the fairies, even if only to see if you could outrun those who have magic on their side to give them speed.

Yet for some reason, running seems like a struggle as you try to escape the giant troll that seems so engaged in the thought of grabbing you with its filthy hands. You feel as if there is some weight slowing you down, forgetting the fact that you have a basket filled with assortments hanging in one arm while your long skirt is dragging you back.

“The basket! Leave it!” Poppy yells at you once she realises that you are struggling and notices the reason why.

“But it’s for Nana!”

Poppy growls—actually growls—in response. “There’s not even going to be any part of you left to bring them home to Nana if you get freaking eaten by that—that thing!”

As you take a quick glance over your shoulder, seeing how close the giant beast is getting to you, you realise that Poppy is right. At the corner of your eyes, you see the cluster of narrow trees leading up the hill and aim for it to find your escape, hoping that you can shake him off on a rising terrain.

It’s going to be a struggle running up the hill, yet your gut feeling tells you that it’s worth the effort. So you make a run for it, clutching the basket tightly to your chest to keep it safe until you can find a place to hide it.

As you slip between the narrow opening between the trees, you can hear the troll having a hard time following your trail without breaking and getting stumbled by them. You keep running, getting out of breath as you reach the top of the hill, and soon the cluster of trees opens up and grass gives way beneath your feet.

“We’re running out of trees!” Poppy screams, getting a good grasp of what you have been planning to do.

“No, we’re not! We’re almost there!” you yell back at her with gasping breath, and with your eyes set on your destination.

Right there.

Right before your eyes, there stand the twin old elm trees that have grown nearly doubled the height of the hill, with massive branches spreading out to look like two giant canopies of leaves covering the top of the hill. Situated right between them is a massive boulder, firmly standing like the crown of the hill and you have decided — sometime between the hysteria of seeing a troll in this part of the forest and the terror of knowing that he is hunting you — that this place would serve you perfectly in your escape.

Because that boulder marks the end of the hill, and there is nothing else but a massive drop of cliff with rocky walls and the rough stream waiting below.

“Hold on, Poppy!”

Your warning is barely enough to get your friend to tighten her grip on your shoulder when you hop over the boulder, using it to dodge the troll’s hand as he tries to swipe you off the ground. Tossing the basket to the side of the boulder with the hope of keeping it safe until later, you plant your hand on the rock’s surface and swivel around, using it as leverage to switch your direction right before reaching the very edge of the precipice and evade the troll as you roll to the left.

“Aahhh, Blossom!”

“Stop running and let Troll catch you!” the troll roars as he fails to grab you, and his voice grows louder, shifting into a pained roar the moment he loses his balance and trips over the boulder.

Seeing this, a victorious squeal almost escapes your lips. But before you even get the chance to celebrate the success of your escape scheme, you notice too late that your ploy isn’t going as planned.

“Oh, bollocks!” you cry out when you realise that the troll has fallen a bit too soon.

Instead of being thrown off the ledge as you had expected he would after tripping over the boulder, the troll is sprawled on top of the rock, with one hand holding on the edge to stop him from falling over. And the troll—although fallen over and is struggling to push himself up—is still determined to grab you.

Adding salt to your wounded pride, you seem to have also failed to measure the beast’s size. Even sprawled at an odd angle, the troll’s limbs are still long enough to reach you. Sliding back on the slippery rock, you try to put some distance between you, just in time for his massive hand to swipe over the rock, missing the hem of your dress merely inches away.

In desperate need of escape, Poppy jumps off your shoulder just as you are getting off-balance and nearly falling over the ledge instead. You watch breathlessly as Poppy starts climbing up the tree rapidly in her panic while you feel like you cannot move.

“Come on, ________!”

Once again, her voice snaps you out of it, and you begin to follow suit, seeing that there is no escape now with the troll blocking your way back down the hill and the long drop down the cliff walls waiting for you on the other side. Right as you start climbing up the trees, you sense the troll struggling to rise beneath you. Climbing up takes quite an effort when you are in your summer dress, but all the shenanigans you got yourself into growing up may have taught you enough how to climb up quickly.

From the corner of your eyes, you see the troll rising back up to his feet. Wobbling and swaying around as he tries to find balance over the rocky slip beneath him. But you barely pay attention to the beast when something else is grabbing your attention from not so far away.

You can hear the sound of hoofs rapidly racing through the trees. You have been hearing this noise for quite some time already, you realise, coming from a distance while you were focused on trying to escape the troll. Maybe it even started at the same time the troll first appeared from that other hill, chasing the beast the best it could even though failing to catch up on time before the troll reached you.

And now, you can hear it getting closer. And closer.

You can almost see it, the white horse that is running through the cluster of trees to get to you. Yet your curiosity to know where this stranger is coming from and who might be riding the white horse becomes a distraction, causing you to make another mistake.

You start to climb over the nearest long branch that looks strong enough to withstand your weight, hoping that it can keep you away from the troll’s reach. Yet you cannot help but keep throwing quick glances over the line of trees, hoping to see this stranger who is racing towards the foray instead of running away from it.

That is how you miss your footing.

Within a blink of an eye, instead of perching securely on the branch, you find yourself dangling desperately onto it, your hands barely making it in time to find a firm hold to stop you from falling over.

“Aaahhh!!”

“Blossom!” Poppy calls out in panic at the sound of your scream, and she quickly races back down, grabbing onto your wrist as she tries to pull you up. Only that the poor squirrel’s effort seems futile when gravity keeps pulling you down instead of giving in. “Girl, I don’t have enough muscles for this! Pull yourself up!”

“I’m trying!”

While you and Poppy are panicking and struggling to get you back up on the tree, the troll starts balancing himself on the boulder while humming, “Come here, pretty girl. Come to Troll’s hands!”

You open your mouth to shout back at the offensive troll with disgust, only to have another voice shouting before you can get your voice out.

“No! Keep your hands off of her!”

All heads snap to look at the white horse coming out of the woods. The steed races with full force up the rising terrain. But it is the rider that manages to catch your eyes the most. His eyes look fierce with determination but also a hint of thrill as he focuses on the troll.

As if he is having so much fun with this hunt and is eager to finish it.

And he looks captivating as he is doing it. Even more so when he pulls out his sword, wielding it to challenge the beast that barely takes notice, as he is busy trying to grab your ankles.

But you take notice of him. You also notice the way your heart is racing rapidly for a different reason.

Unable to process what—or, in this case, who—you are seeing, Poppy speaks first, ”And who in the Fates’ name is that?”

“That’s—”

There is no way.

Your words fail you in your shock and relief. Pure disbelief runs through you, and you almost feel your grip loosening with how astonished you are at what you are witnessing.

Because there is no possible way for the Prince Charming himself to come and save you. Just like he did in your dream.

“Hang on! Stay where you are!”

The thrill that Jungkook has been feeling while he was racing across the hills to chase the damn troll is slowly shifting into fright once he gets a clear sight of what is happening. He watches with wide eyes as you desperately dangle from the tree branch, your legs swinging to avoid the troll’s grasp and your hands barely strong enough to hold on.

He noticed that you stopped trying to pull yourself up for a brief moment, distracted by his arrival. Yet his shout snaps you back to focus, and he is relieved to see you pulling up, trying your best to climb back onto the branch with the help of a—a squirrel?

Now that he believes that you are going to be safe—even if only for a while—Jungkook focuses on the troll again. This time, he is ready to swing his sword, which reflects the sunlight as Jungkook raises his arm over his head. The strong shine is blinding, and Jungkook uses it to distract the troll and pull his attention away from you.

“Over here, you damn troll!” he shouts with a wicked laugh that will definitely give Sir Noah another headache.

With a feral roar, the troll turns to face Jungkook. “You again. Troll don’t want to go with you. Troll want little girl for snacks.”

A sharp, panicked scream escapes you while Jungkook marches forward with his sword swinging. The troll fights back, bending forward with his arms swinging left and right, back and forth, between trying to grab Jungkook and stopping the sword from reaching his chest—right where he would easily be wounded.

Yet Jungkook easily evades each swipe of hands, his white horse following his command to escape and slip away while bringing him closer.

Except while Jungkook manages to avoid the troll’s attacks, you aren’t having as much luck. Because with each swipe of the troll’s hands and each stomp of his feet, the troll causes the tree where you are dangling on to shake and sway along with the force of his movements. And it is making it harder for you to hold on, much less to climb back on top.

Jungkook waits until the troll is fully facing him before initiating his final attack, making haste about it before you lose your grip and fall over. With a grunt, Jungkook swings his arm back and flings the sword forward, aiming for the troll’s left chest. The sword floats in the air for a brief moment before it strikes its target perfectly.

The troll roars in pain. His hands reach up to grab the sword—which has lodged deeply into his chest—and he staggers back, losing his balance before he falls over the ledge and starts plummeting down the cliff.

Unfortunately, the troll refuses to fall alone. Right before his fall, he reaches out, trying to grab onto the elm tree where you are hanging from as if to stop his fall. Yet his grip never takes hold. Only his sharp nails manage to scratch the tree trunk, shaking the giant tree.

Shaking you, until you finally lose your grip.

A scream erupts through your lips as you start falling from height.

You close your eyes shut during your fall, fearing the long drop and the pain that may come after. Except the pain never comes. Instead, you fall right into something that is soft and hard at the same time.

Warmth engulfs you right away, even before a pair of arms wrap themselves around you. Whatever surface that you have just landed on is beginning to move, rocking back and forth as if it is trying to balance itself under your weight.

You are not too sure yet if you are safe, so you keep your eyes closed shut. It doesn’t matter if you just witnessed the troll falling off the cliff, you can almost feel the shadow of his presence. As if you still have to avoid his relentless attacks.

But then a soft voice reassuringly speaks to you, coaxing you to open your eyes, “It’s okay, Princess. I got you.”

Slowly, your eyes flutter open. And the first thing that you see once your gaze clears out brings those flutters down to your chest.

A pair of dark-coloured eyes that remind you of the night sky are looking back at you, glowing as if there are a million stars in them. He has a pretty face framed with strands of soft hair that have fallen in a flurry mess, perhaps from racing through the woods on his horse to get to you.

And that pretty face seems to grow even brighter when the man, your hero, smiles at you.

It won’t be until later for you to realise that the steady rocking you felt earlier had been the white horse’s movements, as it was struggling to adjust to your weight, while its rider struggled a little to adjust your position on his lap and control his horse until it calmed down. Yet none of it matters now. Not when you are completely entranced with his presence.

All because it feels like you have just witnessed your creation—the dream prince statue that you worked hard on this morning—coming to life right before your eyes.

“It’s you. The boy I saw in my dreams.” The words slip out of your lips before you can stop yourself.

Your voice comes out as nothing more but a whisper, but there is no doubt that he can hear you perfectly. You can see it from the way his smile is growing wider.

As if it pleases him to see you so stunned, while he takes pride in this moment when he says,

“It’s me. Your Prince Charming.”

He winks, and your skin flushes with warmth. “I’m Prince Jungkook. But you can call me Jungkook.”

An incredulous laugh begins to bubble its way up your throat, yet not a sound comes out of your lips as you look at him, stunned, as you are still feeling as if you are caught in a daze which leaves you speechless. It was mere moments ago when you had almost gotten trampled down and then eaten by a giant troll after all, and then he came out of nowhere, rescuing you from said troll right before you ended up getting flattened into the forest’s grounds or deep into his stomach.

And then you suddenly found yourself falling into your hero’s lap — quite literally. And that hero turns out to be Prince Charming himself, who seems to have pride as massive as the entire kingdom of Andalasia as he speaks about himself while smiling broadly at you.

It is quite a lot to take in, and you have no idea what to say or how to react. The only thing that you can do is to sit there, perched sideways above his massive horse with his arms holding you to him and keeping you from falling, while your gaze remains locked on the deep eyes that were similar to the ones you vaguely saw in your dreams.

Unaware of the reason why you are stunned to silence, the Prince, Jungkook, may have misread your loss for words as fear. Because he suddenly begins rubbing your back while speaking gently to you, “It’s okay. You are safe now.”

“Yes, thank you,” you mutedly whisper, before you finally snap out of it and realise — he did just save your life! “Oh, that’s right! You saved my life.”

“I guess I did.” There is a hint of relief in the sound of his soft chuckle, making you wonder if he was deeply concerned with you because of your silence. “Do you live anywhere near these woods? Will you be able to return home?”

Blinking your eyes, you turn and look around to notice how far you have gone. It’s not like you had paid much attention to where you were heading while running away from danger.

Yet you are quite familiar with this place, recognising the twin elm trees on the top of the hill which have always been visible when you look out the windows of your bedchamber. Except the distance has always made them seem smaller than their actual size, now that you are looking at it from a closer angle.

You are surprised to realise that you have deviated quite far from your original route, and most obviously, away from home. So surprised that you have no idea what to say to the Prince.

He asks you again, sounding more concerned this time, even if his smile has yet to fade. “Where do you live? How about I give you a ride home?”

Before you can answer him, a sharp gasp breaks the moment between you. Followed with a rushed, panicked voice, saying, “N-no, Your Highness. Forgive me, but you should really go back to the castle. I’m sure the lady is going to be fine without—”

“Forgive me, Sir Noah. But I won’t be much of a gentleman if I don’t take the lady home right away and let her run home on her own after facing such peril,” the Prince says, cutting the other gentleman off before he can say more, without even looking away from you.

You, on the other hand, are shocked that you have failed to notice that there is someone else who has been there with the Prince. Too captivated with your hero’s arrival to realise it. Now, however, as you look over the Prince’s shoulder, you see an older—much older, looking at his partly greying hair and his deep scowl—gentleman on a darker and slightly older horse slowly coming up to the Prince.

“Go back to the castle and collect some men to retrieve the troll,” the Prince continues as he pulls on the rein, ready to command his horse to start moving again. He only looks briefly over his shoulder to greet his companion with a smirk, “I’ll see you back at the castle.”

“But wait, my Prince! Your Highness!” the gentleman shouts, yet the Prince has already ordered his horse to set off to leave this place. But not before he expertly guides the horse to leap across the boulder, giving him a chance to snatch the basket full of goods which you tossed away earlier and allowing Poppy to jump onto your lap.

“Is everyone ready?” he asks, eyeing you as you hold your basket and Poppy securely in your arms. Without waiting for your answer, he nods and shouts an order. The horse takes off, heading downhill at a rapid pace as if it hadn’t been racing across the forest and working hard to help its master defeat the troll.

The other gentleman, Sir Noah, tries and fails to catch up as the horse begins galloping through the thick woods. The gentleman��s voice quickly fades in the distance as he calls out to Prince Charming desperately to make him come back, “Prince Jungkook! You must not do this!”

After reaching halfway across the forest, Prince Jungkook orders his horse to slow down, and the journey continues leisurely. It seems like he is giving his dear horse a chance to take it easy while he takes a moment to enjoy this moment of calmness.

“This is a beautiful forest,” he muses as he looks around. You cannot help but straighten up proudly at his comment. Because you cannot help but agree with him.

Here, away from the scene of chaos, everything feels right again. The breeze feels calming after the entire ordeal. The sound of rustling leaves above you becomes music to your ears, even though it doesn’t do much to drown the rapid sound of your heartbeat. Even the birdsong has returned. The rustling sounds in the bushes let you know that the little critters have gone out of their hiding places.

As if peace has been restored, and the upsetting event which disrupted the entire forest has been erased from existence.

But while the Prince is comfortably taking everything in, you find yourself unable to tear your eyes away from him.

Feeling your gaze, Prince Jungkook suddenly looks at you. His deep, amused gaze feels so overwhelming that your face immediately starts to flush warmly. You look away when it becomes too much.

“The other gentleman from before,” you ask with a small voice, “Is it really all right to leave him behind and send him away? He seemed—concerned.”

Jungkook laughs. There is something wicked and naughty in the way he is smiling when you look at him again. “There is no need to worry about Sir Noah. He gets concerned of almost about everything. Mostly about me, though.”

“Ah, I see.”

Falling into a brief pause, you feel the tension slowly being chipped away. You realise only now that Jungkook has been using the hand that is not holding the horse’s rein to hold your waist, keeping you safe against his chest.

“So, um—Prince Jungkook?” you speak again to break the tension between you, “What were you doing in the forest this early in the day?”

Jungkook’s eyebrows form a deep crease at your question. “The castle received news about a troll that has been going on a rampage—ruining farmers’ properties, stealing crops and livestock from those poor farmers, and threatening to loot nearby villages. Sir Noah and I left the castle before dawn to catch the troll before it could reach another village.”

He stops with a grimace before looking at your face again. “Perhaps I should apologise. If only I had done a better job at capturing the troll and stopping it from escaping us, you wouldn’t have found yourself in such peril.”

You wave your hand at him. “Oh, that’s all right. You saved my life, so all is forgiven.”

The crease between his eyebrows eases when he smiles. “You said you saw me in your dreams?”

Your eyes grow wide when you recall the way you had blurted out about your silly dream when you had just met him. “Yes, yes I did!” you nervously admit to him, before adding with a whisper, “I—think?”

Jungkook’s grin widens as he admits, “I may have seen you in mine too, Princess.”

“Oh, I’m not a princess. I’m just _______,” you say to him with a nervous chuckle, “Although my friends and my grandmother often call me Blossom.”

“Blossom. Interesting nickname,” he muses, “My mother used to call me ‘her silly little rabbit,’ although I’m not quite sure what that means.” His eyebrows crease again as he thinks deeply about it, making you realise that he looks—adorable, when he isn’t focused on defeating beasts and having fun racing with his horse.

Yet your admiration fades when you come to a jolt, realising what he meant. “Your mother? The—the Queen?” you ask him and he nods. You have many questions running through your head right now, yet you simply ask him the one thing that seems to have gotten stuck in your mind, “What did you mean that you may have seen me too?”

With a grin, Jungkook answers you excitedly, “I might have. I don’t always remember my dreams, but I’m sure that I’ve seen you in it.” He seems sure of himself that you don’t feel any need to question it. Any doubt that you may feel disappears anyway when he is looking at you with those eyes of his, and with a smile that makes your heartbeat jump and gallop. Just like his white horse earlier, especially when you hear him say, “That’s why I know that our meeting must have been fated, don’t you agree?”

You can’t stop yourself from smiling. “Is that so?”

“I know so,” he confidently says as he pulls you even closer to his chest. “Our dreams have shown us that we are meant to be. That’s why, I think we should get married.”

You let out a surprised gasp. “M-married?” The sound of your laughter erupts through the woods, drowning the sound of Poppy’s surprised screech.

“Yes, absolutely. We can get married tomorrow.”

The flutters that have been growing in your chest start to go wild. “To-tomorrow?!”

“Yes, isn’t that how the story goes?” he says with a wide smile on his face, reminding you of the smile that you wore all morning when you were talking about your dream prince. It seems as if you are still dreaming now, or that you have been brought back to your dream from last night when he recounts what had just transpired, making you think back about your dream. “I saved you from the evil monster who tried to harm you, swept you off your feet, and then we’ll marry in the castle, and then we’ll share our true love’s kiss—”

Your eyes grow wide. “A true love’s kiss,” you murmur to yourself, to which Poppy turns to look at you with an expression of shock and bewilder. Yet you pay no mind to her, when you are in too much in awe, unable to believe that this is real.

“—and we’ll live happily ever after,” the Prince continues with a beaming smile. “Isn’t that right? So why wait? What do you say?”

You can hear your grandmother’s voice in your head, reminding you not to get lost in your dreams and to always think rationally. You can also feel Poppy’s panicked little grip on your dress and the sound of her stuttering, asking you to pay attention to her.

But every part of your dreams—both from the one you have harboured since you were a young girl and the one you had last night—comes to drown everything to the background. This is it, you wonder to yourself, this is my dream coming true!

With an incredulous laugh slipping out of your lips, you wrap your arms around his neck and say, “Yes, let’s get married. Tomorrow.”

Prince Jungkook joins you in laughter, neither of you noticing the way Poppy is now shaking her head rapidly in disbelief when he says, “Then I shall send the news to the castle and we will have our magical wedding by noon tomorrow.”

“Yes!” you excitedly say with a cheer, “Oh, I can’t wait.”

Your chest is filled with joy and a flutter of nerves that it almost feels like you are about to burst. Things are happening so quickly, so suddenly, so soon. You had woken up this morning with joy and hope that came from the dream you had about your prince, believing that it was a sign from the universe. You never expected to have your dream coming into reality when the day has yet to reach past noon.

But here you are now, looking deep into your prince’s eyes as he is taking you home for the last time, merely a step away from your happily ever after.

Once Prince Jungkook has succeeded in bringing you safely back home to your anxious grandmother, he immediately races back to the home castle. He wastes no time making his way to the Queen’s sitting room, where he knows he will be able to find his mother enjoying her afternoon downtime.

“Queen Mother, I have news!” Prince Jungkook calls out as he marches into the den with a wide smile on his face. There is an air of joy and pleasure following him as he comes to greet his mother.

Queen Rosalyne was in the middle of arranging a flower bouquet when Jungkook rushed in. His excitement bounces against the walls, making her smile as she raises her head to look at her son. “News? What is it now, my Prince?”

Jungkook is nearly breathless when he stands before the Queen, announcing proudly. “I have good news! I know you’ll be happy.”

Holding back her soft laughter, the Queen sits back down and urges Jungkook to continue, “Fine. Tell me.”

“I have found my true love. The one I’ll be sharing my true love’s kiss with,” Jungkook declares proudly with his arms spread wide.

“Is that so?” Queen Rosalyne asks with her eyebrows raised. Soft laughter escapes her, while Jungkook has to hold back his own laughter when he notices that the Queen is saying the same thing as you did when he brought up the idea earlier.

“Who is she? From which kingdom did she come?”

Jungkook is so overwhelmed with bubbling excitement that his entire body is almost shaking. “Her name is ________, and she is from here, Andalasia.”

“Really?” the Queen asks, though she sounds quite doubtful about it. “And where did you meet this girl?”

“It’s actually an interesting story,” Jungkook says before he launches into a story time and shares with his mother everything that has happened since he left the castle this morning.

Starting from the reports about the troll and how he decided to depart at dawn to capture it, how he managed to defeat the troll the first time, only for Sir Noah to accidentally let the creature escape. Then Jungkook starts pacing back and forth as he enthusiastically describes how he raced through the forest to catch up with the troll, while the beast was focused on capturing you, and how he had saved you from the creature.

“It was love at first sight, Queen Mother. Just like the kind that people talk and sing about in their songs. The kind that is celebrated in written stories,” Jungkook concludes his story as he turns to his mother. “It was fate’s work of bringing us together, so it would be right for me to take her hand in marriage, share with her the true love’s kiss, so our love can spread magic all over our mighty kingdom.”

Silence falls between them. Jungkook feels nervous when the Queen barely shows any reaction.

“Mother?” he asks, slowly taking the seat next to the Queen. “Did you hear what I just said?”

“Yes, I hear you. I’m not quite sure that I heard you perfectly.” The Queen looks at Jungkook with a deep gaze, her brows furrowing when she asks him, “Did you say you wanted to—marry this girl?”

“I did. It would only make sense. That way we can celebrate with everyone else as we share our true love’s kiss.”

Queen Rosalyne purses her lips. She dislikes any talk about the ‘true love’s kiss,’ and she finds that she doesn’t enjoy it the most when she has to hear it coming from her own son. Yet seeing how excited the thought seems to be making him, as the Prince’s eyes are shining so brightly as he speaks about his possible marriage, and his smile grows wide, genuine, and free—something that the Queen hasn’t been able to see for a long, long time—she finds no reason to deny his wish.

It seems so wrong to deny him happiness. If any, the Queen feels relieved that she finally gets to send him off into the world and give him a reason to stop chasing beasts and monsters throughout the kingdom.

“Fine,” Queen Rosalyne says with a light scoff, “Have it your way. But you must deal with it all on your own. Have Sir Noah help you prepare for the feast if you wish to do this entire thing tomorrow.”

Prince Jungkook is so elated to gain the Queen’s approval that he is practically bouncing on his feet. The Queen holds back a smile, wondering to herself, my silly little rabbit.

She recalls how frustrated Jungkook made her when he was a child, unable to hold back his energy as he kept hopping and running all over the castle. The Queen had sniffed when she was too exhausted to catch up to him and called him out, “Stop playing like a wild rabbit and calm down,” and the nickname stuck with him—and she has used it to call him with it more endearingly—once he started growing up.

Lost in her thoughts, the Queen is caught by surprise when Jungkook bows before her and takes her hand to kiss the back of it. “Thank you, Mother. Your Majesty. You are truly a great and wise mother. I could never repay you.”

Queen Rosalyne is too stunned to speak. She isn’t one to get affected by emotions too easily, but Jungkook’s words seem to have stirred something inside her heart that has grown cold and frozen after so long. She says nothing as Jungkook turns to leave the chamber, leaving her with her running thoughts and the unsettling feeling that has been growing so intensely in her chest since the moment Jungkook mentioned your name.

At the center of Queen Rosalyne’s sitting chamber, there is a small indoor garden with a small water fountain which is made of black stone. Surrounded by well-trimmed hedges of black blooming roses, patches of green grass and white cobblestones covering the ground, the water fountain becomes the center point of the space which represents serenity and solitude.

Yet this is also the place where the Queen often practices her magic, using the secret spells that she keeps mostly to herself. She does this only when she is all alone, whether to watch over her kingdom and cast spells to protect the land, or for reasons that have nothing to do with the well-being of her people.

By the time evening comes, the Queen often uses her spells to fulfil her secret desires. Something that she is planning to do to ease the uneasiness which has been plaguing her ever since the conversation she shared with Jungkook.

As the day slowly shifts into dusk, and the Queen is quite sure that Jungkook has been gone long enough to be deep in arranging things for tomorrow, Queen Rosalyne summons Sir Noah into her chamber.

“The Prince has found a maiden to marry,” Sir Noah announces upon his arrival, meeting the Queen directly in the secret garden which he has frequently visited before.

“Yes, he had come to me this afternoon to announce his intention to marry a girl,” the Queen says, in a most calm, yet dubious tone of voice. “I’m going to assume that you have met this—girl, since I know that you were the one to join the Prince in his excursion today.”

Swallowing hard to ease his nerves, Sir Noah nods. “I was with the Prince when the maiden, uh—fell into Prince Jungkook’s arms.”

This has the Queen’s attention. Turning away from the black blooming roses that she has been tending to, Queen Rosalyne regards Sir Noah with her eyebrows raised. “How—romantic,” she murmurs, “And where did this chance encounter happen?”

Sir Noah clears his throat before answering, “The Amaranth Forest, Your Majesty. It was where Prince Jungkook and I ended up after hunting the giant troll that has been terrorising the people in Sunny Brook Hills.”

All of a sudden, the Queen’s shoulders grow tense. “Amaranth, you say?”

The cold tone of the Queen’s voice and the expression she wears on her face draws chill running down Sir Noah’s spine. He has been working in the castle with the Queen for a long, long time. Long enough to know that she is not happy to hear the information that he just gave her.

After processing this, Queen Rosalyne rises to her feet and turns, making her way to the magic water fountain. The Queen merely stands before the fountain when the thing reacts to her presence. Immediately, the air grows cold and heavy, and it becomes even more intense as Queen Rosalyne raises both of her arms over the water fountain.

The surface of the water ripples as a dark green light emerges from her hands, shining brightly while the Queen enchants her spell. The green light descends into the water, blending with the ripples as the mana shines in dark green.

The Queen steps aside and gestures at Sir Noah to come closer. “Show me.”

Gulping nervously, Sir Noah comes to the Queen's side and slowly folds the cuff of his sleeve. Offering his hand, the Queen raises her sharp nails and slits the skin of his palm, causing a small wound which is enough to let a few drops of blood taint the water inside the fountain. Once the blood blends into the water, the surface ripples intensely until the green light within starts to stretch out, and images begin to appear on the water, framed by the green mana sparkling under the calm ripples.

The Queen bends over the fountain as she is shown the series of events that happened within the depths of the Amaranth Forest this morning. Everything seems to unravel just the way Jungkook relayed it to the Queen.

The giant troll in his escape. The Prince’s relentless chase. And the maiden who was running from the wicked troll before she finally fell into the Prince’s arms.

The scene in the water changes when the Queen swaps her palm over the surface, turning back time to see your daily life in the small cabin with your grandmother. She can see you singing with your forest friends, and then cooking and laughing with your grandmother.

Seeing your grandmother, the Queen’s jaw clenches with recognition.

Too nervous to remain silent, as he is unable to read the Queen’s hard expression and lack of words, Sir Noah begins to explain the events that happened this morning, “The troll was lured into the forest by the maiden’s voice, who was singing to the forest’s creatures. And right after the Prince was able to apprehend the troll, he captured her as she—”

“How uncanny,” Queen Rosalyne murmurs almost to herself, completely disregarding Sir Noah’s rapid blabbering.

“Y-your Majesty?”

Straightening up to her full height, the Queen moves her hand over the water to enlarge the image that she is now seeing on the surface of the water. With a glance, Sir Noah can see a close-up of your face as you are riding on the horse with Prince Jungkook, before the image switches back to you working in the gardens with your grandmother.

“She looks just like her. Exactly like her,” Queen Rosalyne continues to murmur gently, astonished by the sight of you—a commoner girl from the magic forest that even Sir Noah has never met before.

“The maiden? Who are you referring to that would look like her, Your Majesty?”

The Queen gives him no answer, and instead waves her palm over the water until the image dissolves, leaving nothing more but the calm, clear water.

“When will this wedding take place? Has it been decided yet?”

Sir Noah wrings his hands together with nerves. The tension has risen exponentially within the chamber. The change in the Queen’s attitude makes him wary, and he has no idea what is happening.

“Prince Jungkook insisted on having it soon. As—as soon as tomorrow, Your Majesty. The entire castle is already in the height of the preparation for the ceremony.”

The Queen holds back the urge to curse as she turns away, enraged, and she wipes her gardening tools off her work table. The noise and clutters and the flying objects cause Sir Noah to flinch. He has no idea what is currently going on inside the Queen’s mind and chooses to remain silent rather than risk having her unleash her rage on him.

He has witnessed what happened to those who aren’t careful with their words, especially when the Queen is losing her patience like this.

“Call it off,” the Queen suddenly speaks. Her voice has calmed down, yet there is an eerie chill in her tone which makes Sir Noah shudder in fear.

“My-my Queen? What do you mean?”

Queen Rosalyne turns to face him and snaps. “I’m talking about the wedding, you fool! Call it off!”

“But-but Your Majesty, you have given your approval to the wedding,” Sir Noah struggles to speak, “The preparation is already underway. Everything is almost ready, even the Prince has gathered enough—”

The Queen releases a frustrated snarl. Her energy erupts, and a few potted plants within the garden explode under the power of her rage.

Deep down, the Queen didn’t think that it would be possible for Jungkook to make things happen within less than a day. The boy has always been hasty, and she has secretly hoped that he would stumble upon obstacles and give up on the idea of having a wedding so suddenly and have it postponed either way. But now—

Now it’s too late.

When the Queen first gave Jungkook her approval to marry you, she never thought that you would be someone who would be related to her past. She should have been more careful and made sure to find out more about your identity first before she said anything. She had a feeling that something was amiss, and now she is regretting that she hadn’t been listening to her gut.

How? How could this be?

Holding her head in her hands, the Queen chastises herself for being so reckless. Memories of her past come back to haunt her. Guilt, remorse, and hatred, all mix into one. And in her mind, everything blends together to form the shape of your face.

The face that she wishes so desperately to forget.

“Fine. Then I shall do it myself,” the Queen finally says with an eerie calmness in her voice.

“My Queen? What—what do you mean?”

Queen Rosalyne looks at her loyal aide once more and raises her chin. “I’ll make sure the wedding never happens. My son can marry, as long as it’s not with her,” she says as she slowly walks closer to Sir Noah, who can only stare at her with his eyes widening in fear.

“And you are going to help me make it happen, wouldn’t you?” the Queen whispers to him as she gently places the tip of her finger on Sir Noah’s chin, forcing him to only look at her eyes, unable to move or look away.

Gulping hard, Sir Noah quickly nods his head and faintly whispers, “Yes, my Queen.”

The steady rocking of the carriage taking you to the castle should have been able to soothe your anxiety. Maybe lull you to sleep, even.

Yet you have been too anxious that your eyes remain wide. Your hands continue to fidget on your lap and trace along your wedding dress. Not that you have no faith in yourself about the dress. But focusing on making sure that you haven’t missed a seam feels better than looking out the window and focusing on how close you are getting to your destination.

Soon enough—much sooner than expected—the carriage stops with a jolt. The rough sound of cobblestones cracking under the wheels snaps you back to focus, forcing you to raise your head just as a royal guard opens the door for you.

“Welcome to Castle Andalasia.”

Clutching the skirt of your wedding dress, you slowly step out of the carriage. Yet you fail to take notice of how tense your body has gotten. Your muscles have grown so stiff that your steps become clumsy, causing you to lose your footing.

“Oh, my!”

Barely catching yourself from falling, a nervous giggle escapes you as you straighten yourself up before anyone can step up to help. “I’m fine, so sorry.”

The royal guard steps away, leaving you alone with your little friends who have decided to keep you company, all jumping out of the carriage to surround you.

Standing at the castle's threshold, just a few steps away from entering through the main gate, you feel as if you are walking into a dream. There is a giddy feeling rushing through your body that is hard to shake. The urge to pinch yourself is also strong, yet there is nothing that you can do but clutch your skirt tighter until you feel pain in your palms to know that this is real.

That you are now standing right in front of the castle.

The castle.

The place where Queen Rosalyne resides with Prince Charming and her loyal aides. And you are not here simply to come for a formal visit like other common people would do to seek an audience with the Queen to confide about their problems. You are here today for the wedding.

And it will be your wedding.

It still hasn’t truly sunk in yet that you are to be married to Prince Charming. To marry Prince Jungkook, who is loved by everyone in Andalasia for his heroic actions in defeating all the beasts and monsters posing threats to the kingdom.

Before proceeding further, you take a moment to turn around, taking one final look at yourself through the reflection you see on the glass window of your carriage.

Pride blooms within as you look at your wedding dress. The dress is immaculate, handcrafted by your own talented hands since the moment your wedding date was made official and your loving grandmother gave her blessings. Despite her misgivings on your upcoming wedding day, your grandmother stayed up with you, assisting you as you spent all night creating this dress.

Looking at yourself, you must admit that this dress is your true masterpiece.

The bodice of the dress is made of delicate lacework that hugs your figure perfectly while hiding your flaws. The floral patterns on the bodice represent the beauty of the forest and your lovely garden back home perfectly, intertwining and cascading down your form like fresh vines with wildflowers blooming at every tip.

The lace, meticulously stitched by your own hands, is filled with every drop of hope and love that you harbour for the happily ever after that you have dreamed about for as long as you can remember.

From your shoulders, down to your arms, a similar ensemble of delicate lacework covers your skin in a comforting fit, adding modesty and elegance to your dress which seems presentable for your special day at the castle.

From the waist, the fabric flows down like a river of light, billowing into a skirt that trails down to your ankles, rippling in subtle waves with each step that you take. Layers of soft, finely crafted tulle form the skirt to create an illusion of a cloud, making it seem as if you are floating as you slowly turn and twirl to see yourself in every angle.

Around your shoulders, a veil made of the finest gossamer falls in a delicate cascade down to your back, instead of acting like a cover to shield your face from view. You have the veil fastened to your hair, which is styled in a fancy yet simple twisted bun. Tiny pearls and crystals in different sizes and shapes are woven into the fabric of the veil, and they sparkle like dewdrops under the soft glow of the bright sunlight.

Growing even more tense with nerves, your hands continue to clench and unclench around your dress, feeling lost with nothing else to hold on to. You wish that your grandmother had been fit enough to be here so you could hold her hand for support, yet you force that thought away, knowing that she hasn’t been well enough to travel far from home. Much less to walk you down the aisle to give you away to the Prince.

“Stop that right now before you ruin your dress,” Poppy suddenly scolds you, slapping the back of your hands until you let go from where she is perched on the side of the carriage.

“Here,” she says, shoving a small bouquet of flowers—filled with a collection of wildflowers, carnations, and baby’s-breath—into one of your hands while Brew, the wild badger, and the white bunnies run around the skirt of your dress as they shove a glowing tiara into your other hand.

“Put this on your head, Blossom,” they sing together cheerfully, forcing you to lean down as you accept their little gift and gently place it on the crown of your head.

“Thank you, my sweet little angels. I don’t know what I would do without you,” you whisper with a content sigh, feeling your nerves calming down as you look at your little friends.

Your eyes meet Poppy’s worried gaze as she sighs. “Are you really sure about this, ______?”

Smiling at your friend, you bend down to match her gaze. You know that Poppy has been feeling unsure about all of this. She may have kept her words to herself when the two of you were on your ride home with Prince Jungkook yesterday, yet you could still sense her concern along the way. She has also voiced her concerns about how quickly everything is unfolding, yet she did nothing to stop you from carrying on with this wedding plans when you showed how hopeful and confident you were with your decision.

Even your grandmother had been worried when you first came home with the news. Yet the Prince was there with you when he asked for her permission to marry you, which melted her heart a little that she had no other choice but to let you go.

“I am sure. What are the odds that I was to meet with Prince Charming the morning after I dreamt about him? It was definitely a sign from fate, which I must follow if I want to find my happily ever after. Surely, you’d understand.”

You said the same thing last night, when Poppy was there to help you finish your wedding dress. The same thing you also said to your grandmother once Prince Jungkook left to return to the castle, reassuring her that fate wouldn’t have given you the signs if this wasn’t meant to be.

“I do. I’m happy for you,” Poppy says with a small smile, “But you must promise me that you’ll never leave us behind and forget about us.”

“Never. The forest will always be my home. I’m sure Prince Jungkook is open to helping me make arrangements so I can still spend time with you,” you gently reassure her, “And for me to visit grandmother too from time to time.”

Poppy shakes her head and shrugs. “All right, if you say so,” she says, finally giving in, “What are you waiting for, then? It’s time to go.”

Your other forest friends who have been silent while watching you and Poppy going back and forth about the wedding are now cheering for you to go. “Let’s go, Blossom! Go!”

Their positive energy quickly rubs on you. It helps build up your excitement. A bubble of laughter comes out of you as you feel every bit of your apprehension being chipped away.

“All right, I’m ready!” you shout, inciting more cheers from your friends. “Let’s go watch me get married!”

Hiking up your skirt just enough so you won’t be stepping on the hem, you turn and start to track down the pathway leading to the main gate of the castle, carrying with you a new determination and your little friends shadowing your footsteps.

At the main gate, you are welcomed by a familiar face. Standing right before the gate is Sir Noah, still looking as graceful as how you remember him. Wearing a royal suit in dark plum colours and gold linings, his greying hair neatly combed back instead of falling down his face, he looks just like any royal advisor would.

A smile grows on his face when he sees you coming near, and you greet him with a curtsy. “It’s so nice to see you again, Sir Noah.”

“The pleasure is all mine, Miss. Welcome to Castle Andalasia,” he says in return. As you straighten back up, you see him looking around you while looking confused. “Are you, perhaps—on your own? Do you not have anyone with you today?”

Smiling ruefully, you slowly shake your head. “I no longer have any family other than my grandmother,” you answer with a soft voice. “It’s unfortunate that my grandmother isn’t doing well and she couldn’t travel far in a carriage.”

Something flashes in Sir Noah’s gaze—surprise, pity, sadness, and an odd look of guilt, although you cannot understand why he would feel so guilty about hearing this—before his expression clears to normal.

“But, there is nothing to worry about,” you cheerfully add, “because I have my friends here with me to witness this wonderful moment.”

Sir Noah raises his eyebrows while your friends release a loud cheer. Yet Sir Noah quickly clears his throat and shakes his head. “I see. Unfortunately, I’m afraid your friends will have to enter separately. They are guests, after all, and you might need time to finish preparing.”

While your friends express their displeasure with a series of protesting sounds, you keep a smile on your face to change Sir Noah’s mind. “Oh, but—these friends can help me get ready for the ceremony,” you let out a nervous laugh as you try to convince him, “They were the ones who helped me make this dress too.”

“And they’ve done a marvellous job,” Sir Noah smoothly says, “But I can assure you that our palace maids will be able to help you, and it will be better for your friends to simply enjoy the ceremony as guests, don’t you agree?”

Right beside you, Poppy stares at Sir Noah with a scowl on her face. Yet she also sees you getting nervous again because of the sudden change of circumstances. That is why—reluctant as she is to leave you—Poppy masks her emotions and turns to help calm you down.

“It’s okay, Blossom. I’m sure Prince Jungkook has ordered the palace maids to assist you. We’ll be seeing you later inside, okay?”

Still feeling unsure, you eventually agree. “Okay,” you murmur to Poppy before turning to Sir Noah, “But Poppy will be the one walking me down the aisle in my grandmother’s place.”

Sir Noah barely hides his displeasure this time. With his jaw clenched, he releases a sigh and says, ”Fine. That can be arranged. But you really should go now, or else, you’ll be late for your own wedding.”

“Oh, right! Absolutely.”

Finally, with a deep sigh of relief, Sir Noah steps aside to let the royal guards open the main gate for you to enter. “Follow this path right here to enter the royal garden, and someone will see you to show you where to go,” Sir Noah instructs you while gesturing towards the long-winded stone-covered pathway leading you towards the maze-like garden. With lines of green hedges on either side of the pathway and a wooden arch-shaped pergola covered in vines waiting for you halfway into the garden.

“Okay, here we go,” you whisper to yourself, saying it with a clear mind as a self-pep talk before you start walking again.

With your hands holding your skirt up, your head held high, and a long, deep breath to calm your racing heartbeat, you begin to walk down the pathway towards the center of the garden where the wedding ceremony is about to be held.

While you keep getting further away from your friends, Poppy cannot find it in her to look away. Call it a gut feeling, but the poor squirrel feels uneasy about letting you go off on your own. But she doesn’t really have a choice now, does she?

She is no longer in the forest where she gets to call the shots, and this shady old man next to them is the one controlling the situation.

Poppy throws a side glance at the man who you called as Sir Noah. “So where are we supposed to go?”

The smile that Sir Noah gives her then brings chill through her tiny body. “Come with me.”

The group of little animals look at each other before they follow Sir Noah through a separate pathway. Here, the path is covered with a rougher kind of gravel, and the vines and hedges look more unkempt. The further they walk, the closer they huddle together in fear, while Sir Noah barely cares to soothe their worries.

Even his warm welcome earlier has shifted. He acts more cold with the animals and is even rough when he sends the royal guards away.

They continue to walk until an iron gate appears down the pathway. It looks a bit rusty, and Poppy has an odd feeling about all of this when she sees Sir Noah pulling out a key from his pocket.

The iron gate creeks heavily when he opens it, causing all the animals to grimace. “You can enter through this gate,” Sir Noah gestures toward the other side of the gate, and every inch of her muscles fight back to stop Poppy from walking forward.

“Where are you leading us to?” she snaps, and Sir Noah’s expression darkens.

“Are you insinuating that I’m separating you from the maiden?”

Brew, now shaking in fear, innocently whispers loud enough for everyone to hear, “But this isn’t the way to the royal garden.”

Your forest friends may not have had any experience visiting the castle, but they are wild animals from the forest, capable of telling the difference between the well-kept garden and the wild. Beyond the iron gate, the air flows differently. The grasses are thicker, and they can all smell the scent of the muddy lake from all the way here.

“You are sending us away from the castle,” Poppy growls, absolutely pissed off that the one that you have trusted to take care of your friends is doing this behind your back.

Sending them away from you, from the wedding, and back out there into the wild.

“What is going on? Is _____ even safe?”

“What are you planning to do?”

Poppy’s little friends begin to protest once they also sense that something is wrong, while the scowl on Sir Noah’s face deepens. “Oh, bollocks. You are too loud,” he snaps. All so suddenly, he lifts a massive shovel that seems to come out of nowhere and starts swinging it towards Poppy and her friends, forcing them to run towards the opened gate before they can get hurt.

“Now, shoo! Get out of here!” he shouts between each swing.

Once every single one of your little friends is out the gate, Sir Noah throws the shovel away and closes the iron gate. The sound of the lock being latched back in place pierces through the animals’ chests.

“Nooooo!”

“Blossom!”

Some of them begin snarling and growling, even if they are completely powerless against the tall, elegant, yet evil human before them.

“What about Blossom?” Brew asks while shaking, both in fear and rage, “What’s going to happen to our friend?”

Sir Noah leans down, showing his evil smirk as he peeks through from between the iron bars. “Don’t worry about your friend. We’ll make sure that she’s in good hands.”

With his evil laugh, Sir Noah turns away, leaving your frightened animal friends behind.

“Where is the Prince? I know that Prince Jungkook will never stand for this!” Poppy shouts in her last effort to threaten Sir Noah, only for the latter to ignore her words, and the sound of his laughter continues to echo further away before he disappears into the royal garden.

At the depth of the royal garden, you find yourself getting lost.

It turns out that this place is a maze, confirming your first suspicion when you first laid eyes on the winding pathway disappearing between the tall green hedges. The deeper you walk into the garden, the higher the hedges grow, and the thicker the trees and bushes around you become. The variety of flowers can’t help much to show you where you are, since everything looks the same no matter where you go.

While worrying about not being able to find your way, you also worry about your friends. You wish you had insisted on having Poppy come with you. Perhaps then, you wouldn’t feel so alone and she could help you find the way by using her sharp senses.

Will they be alright, you wonder as you think about your furry friends. But knowing that they are in the hands of Sir Noah gives you some peace of mind. Surely, the kind gentleman will be able to help and keep them safe. Right?

But speaking of Sir Noah—

I thought he said that someone would come to see me and show me the way. But where are they?

You have been walking for a while, yet there is nobody in sight. Not even a shadow of a person. It seems odd to think that the royal garden will be this empty, especially with a wedding happening this afternoon.

Turning at a corner, you find yourself at an opening between the maze. A small gazebo is placed at the center with wooden benches inside. Your exhaustion draws you towards it, and with your eyes focused on the benches that seem comfortable for you to sit on, you don’t notice it when a movement suddenly happens from nearby.

The rustling sound of the bushes is the only warning that you get before someone suddenly emerges from the shadows.

“Aaahh!” you scream in fear, while the figure before you quickly apologises.

“Oh, dear me. I’m so sorry, dearest,” an old woman’s voice speaks to you, “I didn’t mean to scare you.”

Eyes still widened in fear, you look at the person before you. Instead of a royal guard or a palace maid, you are met with an old woman wearing a long dress in an earthly colour under a worn-out cloak that hangs to the ground.

“Oh, that’s okay,” you answer with a nervous chuckle. “It’s a harmless mistake. Are you—are you from around here? I think I’ve gotten lost. I’m supposed to be at the wedding spot by now, but I haven’t seen anyone.”

The old woman smiles. “Oh, you poor thing. His Highness the Prince should’ve done better to prepare a guard for his bride,” she complains, tsk-ing her tongue and shaking her head with disappointment. “Maybe I can help guide you there? This old hag may not look it, but I do know my way around the castle like the back of my hand.”

Perhaps, it would have been best if you were wary of an unknown stranger suddenly offering help during dire times. Yet you are quickly reminded of your grandmother waiting back home and think nothing of the old woman who is offering her assistance so kindly.

“Please, if you may. I don’t want to be late for my own wedding,” you answer her with a relieved sigh.

“Excellent. Come along, then,” the cloaked woman turns and starts moving towards a different pathway with confident strides. You begin to believe that you are making a good decision then.

“You look nervous, dear. Is everything okay? I’m sure you're excited about the wedding, aren’t you?” she asks after you walk with her for a moment longer, surprising you that she notices.

Because you are nervous. Only that it has been suppressed under your worries while you were getting lost in the maze earlier.

“I actually am, if I must admit. Both nervous and excited,” you answer as the flutter in your chest grows wild all of a sudden. “To think that in a matter of minutes, the Prince Charming and I are going to—” your voice falters with nerves, “That we’re going to have our—” Thinking about what is going to happen causes your heartbeat to race, making it hard for you to breathe, to speak, that when you speak next, it almost feels like you are listening to yourself from a far distance away, “We are going to have our true love’s kiss.”

It feels too surreal to think that it is finally happening. Your dreams are coming true. Even saying it out loud doesn’t seem to make it real. Stunned at how your life is changing so rapidly, you come to a halt.

“I am most happy for you, my dear. But surely you can’t go into your wedding without going through the old tradition of the castle,” the old woman speaks again with joy—as if she is truly happy for you.

“The old tradition?” you ask, confused. Because you are quite sure that you know everything that you need to know about any kind of wedding tradition within the kingdom, and you are not sure if you are missing anything.

“Why—to visit the magic fountain, of course,” the woman explains nonchalantly. “All brides would go to the magic fountain and make their final wish, hoping for their happily ever after before they are to wed. The fountain has magic spells, you see, to make sure that your wish is to be granted and for everything to go well until the end.”

“My—wish?”

“Yes. Your wish,” she says. The smile that the old woman shows you as she turns to face you brings a shudder to your skin. It is an indescribable feeling. Yet you brush it off, telling yourself that maybe your nerves are acting up again. “Do you have a wish, sweetheart?”

“I wish,” you find yourself answering, “that we’ll live happily ever after.”

Because that is the only wish that would make sense, after all. Who wouldn’t want to find their happy ever after? While you are so close to having it, deep down, this is what you have been wishing for since you were a little girl and you want nothing to come your way from getting it.

“Then you should pray for your wish to make sure you’ll have it fulfilled, don’t you agree?” the old woman asks you in the most tempting way that you cannot find it in you to say no to. When she sees that you don’t seem convinced enough to follow her, she immediately adds, “It’s not too far from here, and it’ll take only a few seconds, so you won’t be late for your wedding. I promise.”

“You’re right,” you say to her, suddenly feeling hopeful again. “Besides, it would be wrong for me to skip a tradition on my special day.”

“Good girl,” she says. For a brief moment, you believe that her voice oddly changes. Yet you pay no attention to it as she already begins moving—suspiciously quickly, for an old woman wearing a long, heavy cloak—through the maze again, giving you no other choice but to follow her close behind.

It doesn’t take long before you emerge into another opening. This time, it seems like you have reached the far end of the garden, and right before your eyes stands the fountain that the kind old woman mentioned earlier.

“Here it is, the magic wishing fountain,” she says as she steps aside, allowing you to have a good look at the fountain.

And what you see right in front of your eyes leaves you completely lost for words.

“It’s—beautiful,” you muse softly, admiring the beautiful fountain that you have never once seen before.

The magic fountain is placed deliberately at what seems to be the heart of the royal garden, right where the sunlight is filtered through a canopy of emerald leaves, giving it a mellow, yet romantic atmosphere.

Surrounded by cobblestone pathways and vibrant flower beds, the water fountain stands elegantly between the wall of green around you. It is not made in a grand, ostentatious structure, but a modest creation which seems like it was naturally formed between the green hedges and lush trees, almost blending into the solid castle wall that spreads wide through the royal garden.

The base, crafted from gleaming white marble, frames a pool of crystal-clear water which ripples gently from the center. The intricate design of the marble stone makes it seem like a bed of white flowers emerging from the ground, delicate and sturdy at the same time, instead of a stiff rock which made up the small fountain your grandmother built back home.

The marble stone frame at the base goes all the way to the back, blending into the contrasting dark wall made of natural stones. You can vines of wild ivy growing from the top of the wall, extending down to the back of the circular pool filled with fresh water.

The dark wall rises to the very top, where crystal-clear water cascades down from a seemingly mysterious source. To your eyes, it looks like a small replica of the natural waterfall from the heart of the Amaranth Forest, your secret sanctuary that not even your grandmother has ever been to before.

The fountain's waterfall sparkles in a silver glow that looks ethereal to your eyes, casting a soft, shimmering light as it spills down to the pool of water underneath. The pool water also exudes a silvery luminescence that is almost blinding, yet you find yourself unable to look away.

There is something about the fountain that keeps drawing you in. A tightness forms in your chest while you are drawn to the mesmerising sight of the water fountain that looks more like it was crafted by nature instead of manmade. It seems to be reminding you of the forest, helping you forget where you are for a brief moment and taking away all of your worries at the same time.

The soothing sound of the trickling water feels entrancing, calming every nerve-ending, every tension in your body which has grown since you left home.

Standing this close to it, you can almost feel it, the magic that comes from the spilling water, beckoning you to reach out for it.

Too immersed in the water fountain and its spellbinding magic, everything around you seems to fade away. Every other sound becomes nothing but white noise, and the presence of the stranger beside you becomes nothing more but a shadow looming close by. You barely notice when she slowly begins to move away. Her voice starts fading in and out through your senses, alluring you in an oddly enchanting way.

Just like a spell would.

At times like this, Poppy wishes that she has wings instead of these flimsy paws.

She also regrets not having her winged friends—the twin sparrows, the doves, and the little hummingbirds—with them this afternoon so she could ask them for help. But they hadn’t been pleased to make the long trip to the castle, and someone had to stay behind to watch over your sick grandmother and help her around the cabin.

Yet she pushes aside those thoughts for now, focusing on climbing up the wild vines to reach the top of the outer walls of the castle instead. She is hoping that being high enough from the ground will help her find out where you are, to see if you are safe or if Sir Noah is putting you in harm’s way. Maybe she can also find Prince Jungkook and let him know what had happened.

Poppy has no idea what is going on and why things are turning this way. She can only hope that Prince Jungkook has nothing to do with this. However, she does have a suspicion about a certain someone who might have planned this whole thing up to ruin your and Prince Jungkook’s wedding.

The only thing that she can’t understand is — Why? Why would anyone do this?

Poppy is out of breath when she is finally at the top of the wall. Now that she is high enough, she can see the outer area where she and her friends had been discarded to — the small lake that is surrounded by trees in various odd shapes, unkempt bushes and grass, with growing wildflowers that are scattered in all visible corners that she can see from up high.

On the other side of the walls, the garden looks like a massive maze, but way more well-maintained and luxurious — except for the small area beyond the locked iron gate that seems to be neglected compared to other parts of the garden.

Yet Poppy doesn’t waste any more time idling by. She isn’t here to watch the scenery and marvel at it, after all. Once she manages to catch her breath and calm down, she takes one last glance and her other friends who are waiting for her on the ground and launches into a sprint, tracing the top of the wall with a steady run to find a better spot that will allow her to have a better sight of the inner garden.

It takes a while, but eventually, Poppy can see a glimpse of your wedding dress flashing between the tall hedges. Relieved, she starts cheering to herself. She has been separated from you for long enough that anything could have happened. She keeps going, finding the right spot with the perfect angle where she can draw your attention.

“_________! Look over here!” she keeps shouting while waving her paws in the air. “Please, Blossom!”

When she fails to get your attention, Poppy jumps onto the nearest tree, hoping to get higher. The new angle allows her to see what she failed to see earlier.

“Who is that?” she wonders out loud once she notices that you are not alone. But it isn’t a maid or a guard who is with you, as promised by Sir Noah when he sent you away.

Instead, all Poppy can see from here is an old woman wearing a cloak that may have seen better days. From this spot, she can also see the hag smiling wickedly while you have your attention on a fountain that looks to be a part of the garden, and you definitely cannot see what the hag is up to when she secretly moves to stand behind you.

“No! ________!”

The wall of falling water on the fountain looks so mesmerising that you cannot look away. It seems alluring, enticing you to come closer.

But you are frozen on the spot. And for a moment, you almost forget why you are here. The thought of your wedding no longer takes the front seat in your mind when you keep feeling like you are being pulled to the fountain.

“Now, go on then. Make your wish,” you hear the woman coaxing you. Once again, her voice seems to change, no longer sounding like the weak and soft voice that you first heard from her. But then again, it could have been your imagination, because her voice softens again when she speaks,

“Didn’t you say that you have a wish, my fair maiden? This is your chance to make your wish come true.”

“Yes,” you hear yourself speak as if you are no longer inside your body. “Yes, I do have a wish.”

Closing your eyes, you look deeper into your heart and mind, knowing what exactly you want to wish for before taking the next step. Clasping your hands together, you begin to make your wish.

“I wish—that we, Prince Jungkook and I, will live happily ever a—oh!”

All of a sudden, you feel a strong push. You barely open your eyes in shock when you see your entire world being tilted over, and you are suddenly plunged deep into the water. The faux waterfall continues to flow, covering your entire body as you continue to submerge into the bottomless body of water and the world around you fades.

Up on the surface, the cloaked hag bends over the fountain and releases a wicked laugh. She waves her arms around her and starts chanting a spell on the fountain, and a thick, dark green mist emerges from the ground, surrounding her like a cloud. The moment the mist fades away, the cloaked hag has disappeared, and in her place stands the mighty Sorceress, Queen Rosalyne.

Her laughter dies down, just as Sir Noah comes out of his hiding. Wringing his hands together, he looks between the fountain that is calming down—the ripples fading as if it hadn’t been disturbed by your entire being—and the smiling Queen who is silently celebrating.

“If I may ask,” Sir Noah speaks gently, afraid of how the Queen will react to his curiosity, “Where have you sent her, Your Majesty?”

A soft chuckle slips out of the Queen’s lips as her smile widens once more. “She is now off to the alter-world. To a place far, far away from here. A place where there are no happily ever afters.”

⟶ Author’s Note | Originally commissioned by @pinkbtsarmy | Thank you for reading!

#jungkook fanfic #jungkook x reader #k-vanity #bangtanwhq #jungkook scenario #jungkook smut #jungkook angst #jungkook fluff #bts fanfic #bts scenario #bts smut #bts angst #bts fluff #bts x reader

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eclipsaria · 3 months ago

Text

Pairing:

Nishimura Riki x reader

Warnings:

Stranger to lover troop, unrequited love, fluff, angst, rom-com(?), bickering here and there

Side characters:

En- Jungwon, Courtney(OC)

W/C:

14 754

Rating: [13+ SFW]

Song:

Main Masterlist

Enhypen Masterlist

“You seriously look like a raccoon right now,” I snorted, trying not to laugh as Jungwon scrunched up his face, his hoodie pulled up like he was hiding from the world.

“And you look like someone who needs to be hit with a snowball,” he shot back, grabbing a slushy clump from the bench beside us.

“Jungwon—don’t you dare—!”

Too late. The snowball splattered against my arm, icy wetness seeping into my sweater. I shrieked, half from the cold, half from disbelief.

“You’re the worst!” I cried, swatting at him as he burst into laughter.

“And yet, you still sit with me every day,” he said with a smug grin.

I rolled my eyes, trying not to smile. “Yeah, well, I make terrible decisions.”

The cold breeze picked up, but the silence that followed felt warm somehow. Comfortable. The kind that only came with someone who really knew you—someone like Jungwon. I was just about to tease him again when he let out a sigh. Not a dramatic one, but the kind that felt… tired. Heavy.

I glanced at him, pretending not to care. “What’s with the sigh? Don’t tell me you’re already tired of bullying me.”

He chuckled, but his smile didn’t quite reach his eyes. “Nah. Just… still trying to figure out how to get Courtney to like me.”

My heart stuttered.

I blinked at him, then looked away quickly, forcing a small smile even as the familiar ache bloomed in my chest. “Still on that, huh?”

He groaned. “I’ve been looking everywhere—YouTube, Reddit, all those random advice pages. Nothing helps. She’s just… hard to read, y’know?”

I nodded, even though I didn’t trust my voice enough to speak right away.

“I thought maybe if I kept it simple and honest, she’d notice me, but…” He trailed off with another sigh.

I knew this story too well. He’d been crushing on Courtney—my tablemate, of all people—for months now. Ever since I told him I didn’t want to help him court her (because I couldn’t, not because I didn’t know how), he’d been trying to figure it out himself. And I? I just watched from the sidelines. Like I always did.

“Hey, don’t give up,” I said, finally. My voice was quieter than I meant it to be, but steady enough. “You’re—charming, in a weird, annoying kind of way. She’ll see it eventually.”

He laughed, nudging my shoulder. “You always know how to hype me up.”

I smiled. Just barely.

Three years. It’s been three years since I met Jungwon. Three years since I watched him smile at me across a crowded classroom and felt something inside me shift. Three years of laughs and late-night calls and shared secrets. And three years of him never noticing. I’ve never told him. Not once. Because he’s happy with the way things are, and he’s never seen me as anything more than his best friend. And really, what could I say? Hey, I know you like my tablemate, but I’ve been in love with you since we met—surprise?

No. That would ruin everything. He picked me—out of everyone—as his best friend. The only girl in his friend group. That had to be enough.

Even if it hurts. And so, I smiled again, ignoring the pain blooming quietly in my chest. Just like always.

“You don’t get it,” Jungwon groaned, flopping back on the bench like the world had personally wronged him. “I said ‘hi’ to her this morning and she just nodded. That’s it. No smile, no ‘hey Jungwon,’ no sparkle in her eyes, nothing. What does that mean? Is that a bad sign?”

I glanced at him, then at the sky, exhaling slowly through my nose. Not that he noticed.

Funny, really. I noticed everything about him. The way he tapped his fingers when he was nervous—usually in threes. The way his nose twitched slightly when he was fighting back a laugh. The way he always looked down and chewed the inside of his cheek when he was upset but trying to hide it. Right now, he was fiddling with the drawstring of his hoodie. Anxious. Second-guessing himself.

I knew all of it. Like the back of my hand. And yet—he only knew the things I told him.

I bit the inside of my lip. This is what it meant, didn’t it? Liking someone who didn’t like you back. You got to know all their little secrets, their moods, their silences—and they didn’t even know they were handing them over.

It felt like having a gift you could never unwrap.

“I mean, maybe she just had a bad morning,” I offered, voice light, like my heart wasn’t currently crumbling under the weight of every word he spoke.

He groaned again, dragging his hands down his face. “That’s what I thought! But then I saw her laughing with her friends like ten minutes later. So maybe I’m the bad morning?”

I let out a breathy chuckle, more out of habit than amusement. “You’re not that bad. Slightly annoying, but tolerable.”

“Gee, thanks,” he muttered with a mock glare.

I shrugged, eyes fixed on the snow-covered path in front of us. “Just telling the truth.”

He leaned his head back, closing his eyes, still ranting. “I just don’t get it. I’ve tried complimenting her, I gave her my notes for physics, I even—God, I even laughed at that weird joke she made about pigeons.”

He was still talking. And I was still listening. Each word is like a sharp crack against glass. It was kind of poetic, in a cruel way. He was busy whining about how hard it was to get someone’s attention, and I was sitting right beside him, breaking quietly, again and again, while never once asking him to look my way.

People always say love is beautiful. But they never mention how quiet it can be. How one-sided. How exhausting. I sighed softly—quiet enough he wouldn’t hear it.

Is it really an advantage, knowing all of him, when it doesn’t change anything? When he only sees me as the friend who listens?

The bench creaked a little as he shifted, still ranting, still lost in his thoughts about her. And I just sat there, holding the shards of my own heart in silence, smiling because that’s what he needed from me.

I tuned out a little.

His voice was still talking beside me, words about Courtney blending into the breeze like background noise. My mind wandered—like it often did when it got too hard to stay present. I thought about the first time we met. That stupid pen I dropped during roll call and how he picked it up, grinning like an idiot and saying, “Looks like fate wants us to be friends.”

He had no idea how seriously I took that.

Three years later and not much had changed, really. He was taller now, a little leaner, hair shorter, smile softer. But that same boy—the one who made me feel seen for the first time in forever—was still here.

“Y/N,” he whined suddenly, voice rising into a fake sob.

I blinked out of my daydream just in time to feel him grab my hand with both of his. Warm, solid, grounding.

“What—Jungwon?” I blinked at him, startled, caught off guard by the sudden affection. I looked down at our hands, his fingers wrapping around mine like it was nothing.

Because to him, it probably was. To me, it felt like everything.

He sniffled dramatically, tugging at my hand like a sulking kid. “Pleaseee help me. Just this once. I’m begging you. Courtney doesn’t even know I exist!”

I gave him an annoyed stare. “No. For the hundredth time. No.”

“Y/NNNN,” he dragged out my name, swinging our joined hands like we were five-year-olds on a playground. “Come on! You’re her tablemate! You could, like, casually drop my name, or I don’t know—sneeze it into her lunch or something!”

I yanked my head away with an exaggerated grimace. “Ugh. Stop. That’s so gross. You’re so gross.”

But he didn’t let go. Instead, he squeezed my hand tighter, his voice dipping into something almost sincere beneath the dramatic act.

“Just one help,” he said softly. “I just need you to get Courtney’s attention on me.”

I looked at him—and suddenly it felt hard to breathe.

There it was again. That face. That earnest look. That boy who, somehow, hadn’t changed at all since the day I fell for him. And I hated that he was asking me—of all people—for this. Like asking me to hand over my own heart, knowing it wasn’t going to be returned.

My brain screamed at me. Don’t. Don’t help him. He’s asking you to carve a piece of yourself out for someone else to enjoy. But when I looked at him—really looked at him, with his ridiculous hopeful eyes and dumb puffy cheeks—I sighed. Again.

“…I’ll consider it.”

His eyes lit up immediately.

“You’ll help me?!”

“I said I’ll con—”

“THANK YOU, Y/N!” he shouted, jumping up off the bench like he just won the lottery, dragging our still-connected hands upward.

I just sat there, speechless.

His joy practically buzzed through the air, already lost in whatever fantasy he was playing in his head. Maybe imagining Courtney swooning over him. Maybe thinking of some over-the-top confession scene.

The next day, you were early. Earlier than usual, which was saying something—because you weren’t exactly known for being the first to arrive. You sat at your seat, fidgeting with your pen, tapping it against your notebook in a rhythm that didn’t really exist.

I looked around, trying to compose myself, while he giggled like a child high on sugar beside me. And all I could do was sit there quietly.

Why were you early?

It wasn’t because you were suddenly passionate about being punctual. No, of course not. You were early… because a small, pathetic part of you hoped Courtney might walk in, glance at you, and ask, “Why are you here so early?”

Maybe that’d spark a conversation. Maybe that would make it easier. Maybe you could start doing what Jungwon wanted you to do—help him. Even if it felt like you were setting your own heart on fire.

The classroom was mostly empty still, sunlight cutting in through the windows in soft golden lines. You adjusted in your seat, glancing at the door every time footsteps echoed down the hall.

You and Courtney had spoken before, sure. A few short conversations—passing notes when the teacher wasn’t looking, asking each other about formulas or homework, or sharing a ruler during pop quizzes. That kind of thing. Civil. Functional. Not exactly friendly.

Honestly? You were more of an acquaintance to her than anything else. She lived in a world of popularity, fashion, and attention—none of which you ever asked to be a part of. Her circle was loud, and bright, and shallow in ways you’d never quite understand.

You didn’t hear those things from Courtney herself, though. No, her friends told you. Not directly, of course. But they spoke freely—loudly—right in front of you as if your seat beside Courtney was invisible. As if your ears weren’t working. As if you weren’t even there. You didn’t look at them when they talked. You didn’t have to. Your ears always perked up the moment they said her name.

They said she had a new boyfriend every month. They said she was already bored of the guy she was dating now. They said she liked guys who knew how to spend on her, and Jungwon—well… Jungwon still split his lunch bills with you.

You never told him these things. Not really. Because he saw her as his goddess, his fairy, his queen. Untouchable. Perfect.

Except once.

Once, you’d dared to mutter it out loud: “She’s a playgirl, you know.”

And he—stupid, stubborn, hopeful as ever—smiled at you. Smiled.

“Don’t worry. I can change her,” he said.

And oh, how you wanted to smack him with the nearest textbook. Shake him out of that dreamland and make him see the real picture. But instead, you just sat there. You’d only rolled your eyes and sighed, not bothering to argue.

Now, whenever he brought her up, you didn’t say anything. Just a little shake of your head, like a tired habit.

You were still fidgeting when Courtney walked into the room. She was alone for once, eyes skimming the classroom before she spotted you already seated. And for a split second—just one—you thought she might say something. Ask why you were early. Ask anything, even just a hey.

But instead, she walked past you with a nod and sat down, pulling out her lip gloss and a compact mirror like you weren’t even there.

No words. Not even a glance. And yet here you were—trying to help the boy you loved win over a girl who didn’t even know you existed, despite sharing a desk with you for almost a year. You leaned back in your chair, exhaled through your nose, and stared up at the ceiling.

You sighed, defeated. Might as well scroll through your phone while waiting for class to start. If nothing else, maybe texting Jungwon would kill some time—or maybe knock some sense into him.

You pulled your phone from your pocket, the sleek, brand-new model catching the light as you adjusted it in your hands. It was a recent birthday gift from a relative—something you didn’t ask for, but accepted anyway. The matte finish shimmered under the classroom lights, and for a moment, the screen reflected the face you were trying hard to keep neutral.

You opened your messages, scrolling to Jungwon’s name.

[You]: I think I’m gonna bail on this whole “get Courtney’s attention” mission.

You hesitated, thumbs hovering over the send button. You weren’t sure if it was selfish to type it out. You weren’t even sure if it mattered—if he’d listen. But your thumb hadn’t even hit send when—

“Wait… is that the new Galaxy Z Nova?”

You blinked. That voice was not in your head. You turned slowly, surprised to see Courtney—actual Courtney—leaning a little toward you, eyes fixed on your phone like it was made of diamonds.

“Uh… yeah?” you said, unsure whether you were dreaming.

Her eyes widened. “No way. That’s the one I’ve been wanting. Look at the color—it’s so pretty.”

You blinked again. Processing. Did she just… talk to you?

For the first time—not about school, not about formulas, not about exam schedules. A real conversation.

You straightened a little in your seat, awkwardly angling your phone so she could see it better. “It’s um… yeah, it’s a gift. I wasn’t expecting it, but it’s nice.”

“Seriously, I love that shade,” she said, eyes lighting up as she leaned in a bit more. “Is it heavy? I’ve been trying to convince my mom to get me that exact model. The flip version, right?”

You nodded, stunned. “Yeah, it’s the flip. Lighter than it looks, actually.”

Courtney smiled—smiled—like you’d just offered her the moon. And somewhere in the back of your mind, a very small, very reluctant voice said: Well… Jungwon’s plan worked. Sort of.

You glanced down at your phone again, the unsent message to him still glowing on the screen. The words “I think I’m gonna bail” staring right back at you.

And now? Now, Courtney was looking at you like you were more than just the girl she shared a desk with. Like you were… interesting. All because of a stupid phone.

“Does the camera quality really live up to the hype?” she asked next, flipping her hair over her shoulder.

You hesitated, then smiled—tight-lipped, forced, but polite. “It’s actually pretty amazing.”

“Ugh, I need it,” she laughed, tapping her manicured nails against her desk. “You’re lucky. I’ll probably have to beg for it till the end of the semester.”

You didn’t know what to say, so you just nodded, letting the conversation drift into a silence again. Your phone buzzed in your hand. Jungwon.

[Jungwon]: Y/N!!! Tell me you made progress today. I’m manifesting this. I even wore my lucky socks.

You stared at the message, then back at Courtney—who was now reapplying her lip gloss and scrolling through her own phone, like the past minute of interaction had never even happened.

And just like that, the strange, fleeting moment of attention ended. You didn’t know what to feel. But one thing was clear—Courtney had finally noticed you. You just weren’t sure if that was a good thing.

Break time came faster than you expected.

You found Jungwon right where he always was—slouched at your usual spot under the stairs, snacking on some chips like he wasn’t anxiously awaiting your report. He looked up the second he saw you, eyes wide with anticipation.

“You talked to her?”

You sighed as you sat down. “Yeah, technically. She started the conversation.”

He straightened up like someone just injected adrenaline into his veins. “No way. What did she say? What did she do? Was she smiling? Did she—”

“She noticed my phone,” you cut in, raising the device slightly, “and talked about how she wanted the same model. That was it.”

For a second, Jungwon paused.

Then his eyes widened even more. “So… so should I get her a new phone for her to notice me? I should, right? Yeah, I should.”

And before you could even blink, he was already halfway to standing up, dusting imaginary dirt off his pants like he was about to march straight into the nearest store and splurge. You groaned and grabbed the back of his collar, yanking him down with enough force to make him plop right back onto the bench with a grunt.

“Firstly, no.” You pointed at him for emphasis. “Not now. Not later. You don’t even have the money to buy this kind of phone.”

You waved yours in front of his face. “This is not some vending machine item, Jungwon.”

He opened his mouth to argue, but you raised your voice just slightly.

“Secondly—and more importantly—girls’ instinct.” You gave him a pointed look. “You do not buy her a phone just to get her attention.”

“But—”

“No,” you cut him off again. “Pay attention to her interest in men first. I don’t want you wasting money just to end up as her sugar daddy with zero romantic feelings in return.”

He blinked at you. Hard.

“…Sugar daddy?”

“Yes,” you said, deadpan. “Congratulations in advance on becoming the emotionally drained, financially bankrupt fool who hands over expensive gifts just to be left on read.”

He narrowed his eyes on you. “You’re being dramatic.”

“I’m being realistic.”

There was a pause. You didn’t break eye contact. He didn’t either. And then, as if on cue, he sighed and slumped back against the bench like all the air had just left his body.

“…You really think she wouldn’t like me back?”

Your stomach twisted. God, if only he could see how you looked at him.

You gave a noncommittal shrug, choosing your words carefully. “I think… She's not the type of girl who falls for someone just because they’re sweet or thoughtful. She likes… flash. She likes attention. That’s what her friends said, remember?”

Jungwon frowned. “I can give her attention.”

“But not the kind she wants,” you said gently.

He didn’t respond this time. Just looked down at his hands, fidgeting with the hem of his hoodie. You didn’t want to say it, but it was already written all over your face: I could give you everything she couldn’t. If you’d just look at me once the way you look at her.

But of course… you said nothing. Because the moment you did, everything you had with him would change. And maybe—just maybe—being his best friend, the one he trusted most, was still better than not being in his life at all.

After break ended, you returned to class and, as expected, Courtney’s circle was already gathered around her seat—chattering, laughing, voices bubbling with the kind of drama they carried around like perfume. You didn’t need to guess twice. You knew the moment you sat down, you were going to hear something. You always did.

So, like routine, you took your seat quietly, pulled out your phone, and opened your favorite game. Not really to win—just something to keep your hands busy while your ears did all the real work. As per usual, they didn’t acknowledge you. You’d mastered the art of invisibility by now.

Tap. Tap. You let your character die in the game, but your eyes stayed on the screen anyway.

“…Nishimura seems cool.”

You froze. Your thumb hovered over the screen mid-tap. Courtney said that. And though you didn’t react outwardly, something inside you blinked—surprised, confused, and maybe just a little… uneasy.

“You’re interested in that guy?” one of her friends responded with an incredulous scoff. “That guy’s emo. I don’t think you’re into that type?”

Courtney giggled. “Maybe he’s a fun type of emo.”

Your grip on your phone tightened slightly, the game screen fading into the background.

She’s interested in… Nishimura? And now, a different kind of storm brewed inside your chest.

One alarm was going off loud and clear: Tell Jungwon. She’s interested in someone else. Save him now before it’s too late. But another voice—the one you hated admitting existed—whispered just as loudly: Don’t say anything. Let him see it for himself. Let him realize she’s never going to be his.

It was cruel. But you were tired. Tired of watching him try.

Your mind drifted to Nishimura Riki. You’d seen him around—same year, same school. Quiet. Kept to himself. Sometimes wore earbuds even when music wasn’t playing. People labeled him as “emo” just because he wasn’t loud like the rest of them.

But Jungwon once corrected you when you’d asked about him during lunch, purely out of curiosity.

“Riki? He’s not emo, he just acts mysterious for fun. He’s actually really mischievous. Like, you’d be surprised. That guy once replaced all the teacher’s chalk with soap sticks.”

You hadn’t thought much about Riki since then. Your attention had always been reserved for Jungwon, after all. But now? Now Courtney was looking in his direction. Your stomach twisted, unsure what that meant for the next few days—whether Jungwon would get his heart broken, or worse… keep chasing someone who’d already changed direction.

School ended, finally.

You were packing up slowly, expecting the usual: walk home with Jungwon, maybe complain about homework, maybe let him ramble about Courtney again while you tried not to flinch with every word.

But today? Today came with a twist.

“Yo,” Jungwon called out as he jogged up to you, backpack bouncing off one shoulder. “Riki’s joining us today. He wants to hang at my place after we drop you off.”

You blinked. “Riki?”

As if summoned, Nishimura Riki appeared from behind him—quiet, hands in his pockets, hair slightly tousled from the wind, a calm expression on his face. His eyes, sharp and unreadable, were already on you. You hummed a noncommittal reply, nodding lightly as you adjusted your bag strap.

But then you looked at Riki again. He wasn’t saying anything. Just standing there, casual but not sloppy. Detached but somehow still present. He had that kind of energy that drew your eye even when he wasn’t trying. And clearly, he wasn’t trying.

You glanced sideways and immediately regretted it.

Laughter. Loud, sharp, familiar.

Courtney.

She was standing near the front gates with her group, still talking, still drawing attention like a magnet. Her eyes scanned the area casually—too casually—and you saw the exact second she spotted him.

Her eyes landed on Riki. And then on you. Your heart stopped. Not for romantic reasons this time—no, this was survival mode.

Because you saw it happen, clear as day: the assumption in her eyes. You were standing close to him. He was standing close to you. Jungwon was on the other side, talking easily like this was your trio’s daily routine.

It was all the ingredients she needed. You could already hear her sugary voice floating in the air tomorrow:

“Hey… I saw you with Riki yesterday. You guys are friends?”

“Can you maybe, like… pair me up with him?”

You almost shivered. Not from the cold. From that wild thought that might not be so wild at all. And so, without another word, you turned to Jungwon, grabbed the sleeve of his uniform jacket, and pulled.

“Let’s go,” you said quickly.

“Huh? Wh—?”

“Now.”

He stumbled forward, following you as you dragged him away from the school grounds with more urgency than necessary. Riki, ever silent, fell into step behind you both without a word, hands still buried in his pockets, like this was all part of some vague plan he didn’t care enough to question.

Courtney’s laughter faded behind you. So did the tension in your shoulders. You didn’t turn around. You didn’t have to. You knew she was watching. And you knew she’d get ideas. You didn’t want to be the middle person. Not again. Not with Riki. Not when Jungwon’s heart was still clumsily tied to her, and you were barely holding yours together.

As you walked down the sidewalk with Jungwon talking about what snacks they had at his place and Riki quiet beside you, you stared ahead and sighed.

Your sigh slipped out quietly—but apparently not quiet enough.

“Stop sighing. You’re polluting the air,” Riki muttered.

You gasped, looking up at him in surprise. Only to realize—wow, he really was tall. Your gaze landed somewhere around his forearm, and the height difference felt more insulting than endearing.

You stepped away quickly, narrowing your eyes at him. “What kind of line is that?”

He shrugged, not even looking at you, just casually scanning the snack aisle like you hadn’t just had your existence called out. Jungwon was still at the far end of the store, crouched in front of a shelf, debating between two different chip brands with a level of intensity you wished he used for life decisions. You glanced at him briefly, then back at Riki. And that’s when Riki said it—his voice soft, but sharp enough to cut through every wall you had built.

“If you don’t want to do anything to him, then stop whatever you’re feeling and move on.”

You stopped breathing.

Your grip on your phone tightened, your fingers twitching as you stared at him like he’d just read your diary out loud in front of a crowd. You had never told anyone. Not a soul. And yet here he was, saying it like he’d known for years.

You barely managed to whisper, “How…?”

Riki didn’t even look apologetic. If anything, he looked bored. “It’s obvious,” he said simply. “You stare at him with your loving eyes.”

Then he scrunched up his face in mock disgust. “Yet at the same time, I want to puke while seeing that happen.”

Your arm moved on instinct, landing a soft punch to his side. He flinched slightly but didn’t complain.

“How funny,” you muttered bitterly. “You saw that. He doesn’t.”

You pointed across the aisle where Jungwon had finally made up his mind and was now standing at the cashier, chatting with the lady and placing his snacks down like this was just another fun hangout with his two friends.

“Because he’s stupid at relationships,” Riki said bluntly.

“You’re stating the obvious.”

“So are you, when you decided to accept his request to get Courtney.”

You scoffed and rolled your eyes. “Have you heard from him that I declined the offer before?”

“Yeah. And what makes this time different?” he asked, eyes trained on you now.

You paused.

Jungwon turned then, holding up the bags of snacks triumphantly like he just won a game show. “Let’s go?”

You met Riki’s eyes again, and this time your voice dropped, quiet, but firm. “Because I honestly wish I can end it once and for all.”

Your heart ached at the words, but you meant them. Riki didn’t respond, just stared at you with that unreadable look, neither pity nor judgment, only… understanding, maybe.

“What are you guys talking about?” Jungwon asked as he approached, still smiling, completely oblivious to the emotional warfare you were barely holding together.

“Nothing,” you and Riki said in sync.

And then the three of you began walking again, down the familiar path toward your house—with a little more silence between your steps, and maybe, just maybe, a shift in the air that only you and Riki could feel.

You closed the door behind you softly, leaning your forehead against it, feeling the weight of your own body pressing against the wood like it could somehow hold all the emotions crashing down inside you. The conversation with Riki echoed in your mind, sharper now that you had the space to breathe:

“Yeah. And what makes this time different?”

“Because I honestly wish I can end it once and for all.”

Your heart ached for Jungwon, more than it ever had. But you weren’t taking back what you said. It had to be said. You couldn’t keep pretending forever.

Moving on—you thought about what that truly meant. To move on, you had to put distance between yourself and Jungwon. No more lingering in his orbit, no more pretending everything was okay when your heart had been silently shattering piece by piece every time he talked about Courtney.

And the hardest part?

Not prioritizing friendship. Because that was the only thing that had ever kept you grounded, and yet, now it felt like it was the very thing holding you back from healing.

He wasn’t suffering. He never even noticed.

You wiped away the one tear that had escaped your eyes. You weren’t going to break down now. Not after everything you had already held in. You stood up, shaking off the residual ache that still pulsed in your chest. Taking a deep breath, you walked toward your room, determined to wash the day off.

The warm shower did little to soothe the storm inside, but it was the only thing that gave you any semblance of clarity. When you finally emerged, refreshed but still heavy-hearted, you dropped onto your bed, the towel slung over your shoulder. You reached for your phone absentmindedly, your fingers trembling as you unlocked it.

And there, at the top of your notifications, was a message. From Riki.

“I know you didn’t have my phone number.”

“If you want to move on, tell me. I’ll help you.”

You froze. Your breath caught in your throat, and for a moment, you just stared at the screen, blinking as if the words would change if you looked hard enough.

Riki? Nishimura Riki, of all people, was offering to help you?

You almost laughed out of pure disbelief. Riki? An emo actor, an enigma, a guy who couldn’t care less about what people thought of him, offering to help you move on from Jungwon? That was absurd. But… intriguing, wasn’t it?

You couldn’t help but roll your eyes at the thought. This was beyond strange. It felt like some twisted offer from someone who barely knew you—barely knew what you were feeling, but still somehow felt compelled to swoop in with this offer.

You let out a long sigh, biting your lip. Do I actually consider this? you thought, your mind racing.

You didn’t know. You didn’t know if you should feel disgusted or slightly relieved. The idea of Riki—of all people—helping you move on was ridiculous. But maybe it was exactly what you needed, in some bizarre way. He seemed to see right through you, after all. And maybe… just maybe, there was something to the strange offer he was throwing your way.

You stared at the message for a moment longer, then dropped your phone on the bed.

Moving on… It sounded so simple. But deep down, you knew it wasn’t. And part of you felt like Riki might understand that—maybe even more than Jungwon ever could.

With a frustrated sigh, you ran a hand through your damp hair. Maybe you didn’t have all the answers. Maybe you weren’t ready to take that step yet. But whatever you chose to do next, the first move was up to you.

Saturday. You didn’t expect much. Weekends had become routine: Jungwon would disappear to visit his grandmother, leaving you with your own thoughts. You’d stay inside, indulging in your comfort zone, avoiding the reality of your feelings for him and the strange turn your life seemed to be taking.

But this Saturday… was different.

You were still in your room, music playing softly, mindlessly scrolling through your phone, when you heard the knock on your door. You froze. Who could it be? You didn’t recognize the knock. And it was too early for anyone else to drop by. With a sigh, you got up and walked to the door. When you opened it, your eyes widened in shock.

There he was.

Riki.

Standing on your doorstep, hands in his pockets, looking almost too casual for someone who had no business being here.

“Riki?” you blurted out, blinking at him. “What are you doing here?”

He smirked slightly, leaning against the doorframe. “Well, you said you wanted to move on, right? So here I am. Time to drag you out of your comfort zone.”

You stared at him, disbelief still taking root in your chest. “How did you even find where I live?”

He shrugged, completely unbothered. “Street nerd. I remember the route when Jungwon and I walked you home.”

Your mind quickly replayed that one time—the time when Jungwon had casually walked you home, laughing at some stupid joke. It felt like years ago.

“But… it was just one time?!” you protested.

He raised an eyebrow, a glimmer of amusement in his eyes. “And one time is enough.”

A shiver ran down your spine as you processed his words. You stepped back, instinctively trying to put more space between you and him.

“Jeez. You creep me out,” you said, trying to cover up the uncomfortable feeling crawling under your skin.

Riki didn’t seem phased. Without warning, he reached out, using his index finger to lightly press against the center of your forehead, giving you a gentle push.

“Don’t worry,” he said, a smirk playing on his lips. “I have no interest in stalking you.”

You blinked, trying to figure out if you were more disturbed by his sudden appearance or the calm way he was casually pushing his way into your space. The guy was unpredictable—like an enigma wrapped in a hoodie.

“Well, you’re already here,” you muttered, more to yourself than to him. “What exactly do you want from me?”

Riki’s smirk turned into a more genuine grin. “I’m here to help you. No more sitting in your little bubble. Let’s go do something real.”

You hesitated, still thrown off by the fact that he was standing at your door. But despite the unease gnawing at you, you couldn’t deny the tiny spark of curiosity that tugged at you. This was… unusual. A little terrifying. But also strangely freeing.

“Okay, fine. Just don’t… don’t do that weird push thing again,” you said, shaking your head as you opened the door wider for him.

He chuckled, stepping past you and into your house. “I’ll try to be on my best behavior.”

You eyed him suspiciously, half expecting him to pull something else bizarre, but instead, he just made himself comfortable. It wasn’t what you expected, but it was definitely something you didn’t know you needed.

You watched as Riki walked further into your living room, his presence somehow taking up more space than it should. The air between you two felt thick, and you couldn’t shake the sense of discomfort that crept up your spine. His smirk—always so confident, so sure of himself—only made you more uneasy.

You cleared your throat, trying to push the awkwardness down. “So, how exactly are you going to help me move on?” you asked, still skeptical. It was hard to imagine him helping you with something as personal and complicated as your feelings for Jungwon. But you had already let him in your house—part of you wondered if maybe, just maybe, he’d surprise you.

Riki, who had been casually looking around, turned his gaze back to you. His smirk didn’t fade; if anything, it deepened, as if he knew exactly how unsettled you were, and he was enjoying it.

He took a step closer to you, his eyes narrowing slightly, studying you in a way that made your chest tighten. His presence loomed—almost too much.

You felt your heart race, but not in the way you’d expect. Instead of the fluttery nerves you might get when Jungwon was near, this was different. This was a slow burn of anxiety building in your gut, and you couldn’t place why.

He closed the gap between you with an easy, deliberate step.

You swallowed, backing up a step unconsciously, but the more you backed away, the closer he seemed to come. He was so much taller than you, and the way he moved made your pulse quicken—not in excitement, but in dread.

“Riki—what are you—?” You tried to ask, but your voice trailed off.

He was so calm, so composed. There was something in his quiet confidence that unsettled you even more. It was like he knew what you were thinking before you said anything, and it made the space between you feel more dangerous than it should have been.

“Just relax,” Riki said, his voice low, but there was something about the way he said it—almost like a challenge. He stopped right in front of you, his smirk unwavering, and for a moment, you couldn’t help but feel that familiar unease creep into your bones. He wasn’t threatening you, not directly, but the way he carried himself was almost like he was pushing your boundaries just to see how you’d react.

You shifted uncomfortably, still unsure of what he was trying to do. He had been so casual about helping you move on, but now… now it felt like something else. Something deeper. More complicated.

“Are you going to help me, or are you just here to mess with me?” you finally asked, your words sharp, trying to mask the uncertainty you were feeling.

Riki’s smirk faltered for just a second before it returned, even sharper than before. He took another step, his presence practically closing off the space between you. You couldn’t back up anymore, your back pressing into the armrest of the couch.

“I’m here to do both, actually,” he said with a casual shrug. “But mostly, I’m here to make you face things. Things you’re too scared to confront.”

You felt a chill run down your spine. There it was again—his knowing. He always seemed to be one step ahead of you, as if he understood something about you that you weren’t even willing to admit.

“Face things?” you asked, your voice quieter now, unsure what you were even asking for anymore.

“Yeah.” His eyes never left yours as he stepped even closer, lowering his voice just enough to make your heart race in a completely different way. “Like the fact that you’re not really over Jungwon. You’re still caught up in him, and until you admit that, nothing’s going to change.”

Your breath caught in your throat. You had been trying so hard to hide it, to bury it deep down, but somehow, Riki had figured it out. You couldn’t deny it—he was right. Your feelings for Jungwon were still there, maybe more than they ever were, and it hurt to even think about letting go of them.

You opened your mouth to say something, but the words didn’t come out. Riki tilted his head slightly, as if waiting for you to say something—anything—but you were frozen. The reality of his words hit you harder than you expected, and suddenly, the weight of your own emotions felt too much to bear.

Riki didn’t wait for you to speak again. He took a step back, crossing his arms casually. His smirk was still there, but it didn’t feel playful anymore. It felt… like he’d just cracked open something you’d been keeping locked away.

“You’re stuck, aren’t you?” he asked softly. “You want to move on, but you can’t. Because you still think there’s a chance with him. But you and I both know, there’s nothing left for you there.”

You stayed silent, your heart hammering in your chest. His words echoed through your mind, each one hitting harder than the last.

You couldn’t help but feel a mixture of frustration and… something else—something unfamiliar—welling up inside you. Riki’s words hit too close to home, and despite yourself, you wanted to lash out.

You crossed your arms tightly over your chest, narrowing your eyes at him. “You think you know everything, don’t you?” you shot back, voice dripping with sarcasm. “You know nothing about me. Or how I feel.”

Riki raised an eyebrow, that damn smirk still tugging at his lips. He took another step toward you, but this time, it didn’t make you feel trapped. Instead, you were more annoyed by his cocky confidence than ever before.

“Of course, I do.” His voice was a taunting whisper now. “You’re predictable. You think hiding your feelings is gonna make them go away. You think if you avoid facing them, they’ll magically disappear.”

You exhaled sharply, trying to suppress the sting of his words, but his bluntness cut deeper than you wanted to admit. “It’s not about hiding,” you said, your voice rising a little in frustration. “It’s about not wanting to deal with people like you, who think they have the answers to everything.”

Riki clicked his tongue. “Yeah, well, if you weren’t so busy hiding, maybe you’d see things for what they are. You think you’re just gonna walk away from Jungwon like it’s that easy?”

“Shut up,” you spat, glaring at him. “You don’t know anything about me. You think I’m some fragile thing, just because I don’t walk around wearing my heart on my sleeve like you.”

Riki tilted his head, his grin still there. “Oh, believe me, I know enough. It’s so obvious when you’re in love with someone, but you’re too scared to do anything about it. You think you’re fine, but every time his name comes up, you act like someone just took your favorite toy.”

You ground your teeth together, your hands clenching into fists at your sides. “And you think I care what you say about it?”

“Oh, I know you do.” Riki’s eyes gleamed, the challenge in his tone unmistakable. “The way your eyes follow him when he walks into a room, the way you act like his opinions are the only ones that matter. It’s painfully obvious.”

You didn’t want to admit it, but every word he said hit a little too close to home. The worst part was that it was true. He was right, and the reminder made you feel like you were suffocating.

“Why do you even care, Nishimura? You don’t even know me,” you said, frustration dripping from every syllable.

Riki leaned back, rolling his eyes like you were the most predictable person in the world. “Because I can’t stand watching people like you play pretend, like pretending everything’s fine is somehow going to fix things. It’s pathetic.”

Your pulse quickened, your chest tightening. “You don’t know anything about what’s been going on in my life, so stop acting like you’ve got the answers.”

“Oh, I’ve got plenty of answers,” he shot back, his voice thick with mockery. “You’re afraid of moving on. You’re afraid of admitting what you really feel, because it’s easier to stay in the comfort of your denial. You just don’t want to let go of Jungwon, even though he’s too busy chasing after other girls.”

The words stung, but there was truth in them, even if it wasn’t the truth you wanted to hear.

Without thinking, you took a step toward him, furious. “You think I don’t know that? You think I don’t see what’s happening? You think this is easy for me?”

Riki raised his hands in mock surrender. “Oh, I don’t know. Seems pretty easy for you to just sit back and do nothing while the guy you claim to like slips away.”

That was it. The frustration you’d been holding inside for so long finally exploded. “You think this is easy? Do you have any idea how much I’ve been holding back? You think I don’t know what’s happening? You think it doesn’t kill me every day to see him not notice me, to watch him go after someone else while I stay stuck in this mess?”

Riki stared at you, no longer mocking or teasing. He was studying you, like he was finally seeing the layers of frustration and pain you’d been hiding.

“Fine,” you snapped, catching your breath. “I’ll stop hiding. I’ll stop pretending. But you know what? That doesn’t mean I’m going to be fine. It doesn’t mean that I’m suddenly going to get over Jungwon because you say so.”

Riki paused for a moment before his smirk returned, though it was softer this time, almost like a challenge. “I didn’t say you’d get over him. But you sure as hell won’t get anywhere sitting here crying about it.”

You exhaled sharply, frustration boiling beneath your skin. “So, what do you expect me to do, huh? Walk away from everything? Move on like it’s nothing? Easy for you to say, since you don’t have anything to lose.”

Riki’s eyes darkened, but the smirk never left. He took another step back, breaking the tension in the room. “Yeah, because running away from everything is such a great idea. But if you want my advice, you might as well try something new.”

You both stood there for a long moment, the silence stretching between you. Your heart was still racing, your thoughts chaotic and scattered.

Then, with a frustrated sigh, you shook your head and muttered under your breath, “Fine. Let’s go. Get me out of here. Maybe I’ll forget about it for a while.”

Without another word, you turned toward the door, walking out of your house with Riki right behind you. You could feel the tension easing slightly as you stepped outside, but there was still a weight in your chest.

The walk was silent for a few moments, the tension between you and Riki still palpable, but as time passed, it started to feel less like an argument and more like an odd truce.

Riki, ever the instigator, broke the silence first, turning to you with that usual mischievous grin. “So, where exactly are we going, Miss ‘I’m Done With It All’?”

You rolled your eyes at his tone, but a small smile tugged at the corner of your lips. “I don’t know. Maybe a café or something. Somewhere I can actually get a good coffee and stop thinking about how you think you know everything about me.”

“Ah, the ‘coffee and forget about it’ method,” he replied, an amused twinkle in his eyes. “Classic. You really know how to run from your problems, huh?”

You playfully shoved his shoulder. “Shut up. It’s better than sitting around sulking all day.”

“True, true,” he agreed, chuckling. “And hey, you might learn something new about yourself while you’re at it.”

You looked over at him, raising an eyebrow. “And what would that be?”

Riki shrugged, his hands in his pockets. “Who knows? Maybe you’ll learn that there’s more to life than just moping over one person. Maybe there’s more to people than you think.”

“Yeah, yeah,” you said, though you were starting to feel more at ease around him. “Like you, right? Mr. Emo, ‘I hate the world, but I’m secretly a softie’ type.”

He laughed, loud and carefree. “I’m not emo. I just don’t care what people think. You’re the one who’s too busy worrying about how other people see you.”

“Not true,” you countered, though you were laughing too. “I just don’t need to advertise how I feel all the time. Unlike some people.”

“Hey, I don’t advertise it. It’s just who I am,” Riki said with a shrug, looking at you sideways. “But you? You’re the one who thinks pretending it’s all fine is gonna make everything okay. Guess what? It won’t.”

The words stung less this time, and you found yourself thinking about them longer than you expected. “Yeah, I get it now,” you muttered, more to yourself than to him. “Maybe I’ve been a little… too okay with everything. Maybe it’s time for a change.”

Riki’s eyes softened just slightly, and for a brief moment, you caught a glimpse of something other than his usual teasing demeanor. “Good. Change is good. Besides, you deserve better than being stuck in some silly cycle with someone who doesn’t even know you feel like this.”

You nodded, thinking about his words. He didn’t know the full story, but somehow, he’d already started to chip away at the walls you’d built up around yourself. You were so used to keeping things in, but for some reason, when Riki was around, it felt like you could let it out a little without fear of being judged.

“So, if you don’t want me to get all ‘emo’ on you,” you said with a smirk, “then what do you suggest I do? Just let go of Jungwon and forget everything?”

Riki grinned, nudging you with his shoulder again. “Not forget, but definitely move on. Life’s too short to hold onto things that keep you stuck.”

You didn’t say anything right away, but you let the words sink in. As you both walked further down the street, it became clear that this strange, dissonant interaction was actually something you kind of enjoyed. The little moments of teasing, the way he kept pushing you to think outside your comfort zone—it wasn’t as annoying as you’d initially thought.

The awkwardness that had once surrounded Riki faded little by little, and what remained was a comfortable silence between the two of you, broken only by the occasional snarky comment or laughter.

Eventually, you found yourself genuinely enjoying his company. It was like he wasn’t trying to get anything from you, but at the same time, he was also never too serious. He was there, just there, and it felt good to just be around someone who wasn’t trying to change you or make you fit into a box.

And honestly, you were starting to like that feeling.

You arrived at a small café, the warm aroma of fresh coffee greeting you both as you stepped inside. You ordered your drinks, and as you sat down at a table, Riki continued to joke around, but there was something different about the way he spoke to you now. He wasn’t just the guy who liked to mess with you for fun—there was a subtle understanding in his words, as if he actually cared about what you were going through, even if he didn’t always show it.

“So, this is a nice change of pace,” you said, finally letting yourself relax as you sipped your coffee. “I don’t think I’ve ever had a normal conversation with you, without the back-and-forth.”

Riki leaned back in his chair, grinning. “Well, I’m a complicated guy.”

“Yeah, well, you don’t seem that complicated to me anymore,” you said, feeling a warmth spread through you. “You’re just… you. And it’s actually kind of nice.”

His grin softened, but only for a moment. “Don’t get used to it. I’m still a pain in the ass.”

You laughed, feeling lighter than you had in a long time. “I don’t mind. A little chaos never hurt anyone.”

As the two of you continued to talk and tease, the walls inside you started to crumble, and for the first time in a long while, you felt like you were actually enjoying the moment. Riki might have been a little mischievous, a little cocky, but in his own weird way, he was helping you see things differently.

And maybe, just maybe, you were starting to see him in a new light, too.

As the days passed, the hangouts with Riki slowly increased, and you found yourself starting to look forward to spending time with him, even if it was just a casual walk or a trip to the café. At first, the idea of spending so much time with him felt odd—after all, he was the guy who had once teased you endlessly, the guy who was always on the edge of sarcasm and mischief. But slowly, as you got to know him more, his presence didn’t feel as irritating. Instead, it became somewhat comforting.

You began to notice the little things—how he was surprisingly good at listening when you needed it, how he didn’t judge you when you just needed to vent about your frustrations. He was a mischievous guy, yes, but there was a certain depth to him that you hadn’t expected.

One afternoon, while you were hanging out in a park with Riki, you casually mentioned how you were still dealing with Jungwon. The familiar ache crept into your chest as you thought about him. “He’s still hung up on Courtney, you know,” you said, trying to keep your tone light, but Riki’s eyes immediately softened as he heard your voice falter.

“You’re still helping him with this?” Riki asked, his tone unusually serious for someone who always joked around.

You sighed, looking down at your hands. “Yeah. I’m still trying to help him. He’s my best friend, and… well, I don’t want him to get hurt.”

Riki scoffed, his expression hardening. “It’s a cycle. He’s never going to notice you if you keep doing this. If you keep helping him chase after someone else, you’re just letting yourself stay stuck in the past.”

You shifted uncomfortably, the words hitting too close to home. “I know. But it’s hard. I can’t just stop helping him. He’s… he’s always been there for me. I can’t just—”

“I get it,” Riki interrupted, his voice softer now, but firm. “But you can’t keep putting yourself through that. You deserve better. You deserve to not be the one always left behind while he chases after someone else.”

You swallowed, biting your lip to stop the tears that threatened to surface. “I know,” you whispered, “but it’s just… hard to let go.”

Riki, who had been leaning against a nearby tree, pushed himself off and walked closer to you. His usual teasing grin was gone, replaced by an understanding expression. “I don’t know why you’re so obsessed with him, Y/N. You’re better than that. And you deserve someone who sees you for who you are, not as someone to run to for help all the time.”

The truth stung more than you expected, but you didn’t push it away. You didn’t argue with him. Maybe he was right. Maybe you did need to stop letting yourself be caught in this endless cycle with Jungwon. But it wasn’t easy, and you didn’t know how to let go.

Days passed, and you continued to hang out with Riki. Sometimes it was just the two of you grabbing a coffee or going for a walk, while other times, you’d invite him to join you and Jungwon for lunch. It became more of a routine, and with each day, Riki’s presence became more natural. He’d show up with his usual grin, but now there was something more relaxed about it.

One day, Jungwon looked up from his phone and raised an eyebrow as you casually invited Riki to join the group. “Wait, you want Riki to join us?” he asked, his voice laced with surprise.

You shrugged, pretending to be casual about it. “Yeah, why not? He’s been hanging out with me more lately. Plus, you know… it’s good to have a variety of people around.”

Jungwon just nodded, his mind clearly somewhere else, likely still thinking about Courtney. He didn’t ask too many questions, but you could tell he was confused about the growing presence of Riki in your life. It wasn’t until a few weeks later that he seemed to catch on.

It was late in the evening, and you, Jungwon, and Riki were sitting at a small table in a diner, eating fries and talking about random stuff. Jungwon was quiet as he scrolled through his phone, but you couldn’t help but notice how his attention kept drifting between you and Riki.

Finally, he set his phone down with a sigh. “So, you two really hang out a lot now, huh?”

You shrugged nonchalantly. “Yeah, I guess we do.”

“Just…” Jungwon hesitated, looking uncomfortable. “What’s going on between you two? You’re always with him now.”

You opened your mouth to say something, but Riki beat you to it. “You know, Y/N doesn’t need a permission slip from you to hang out with me,” Riki said, his voice playful but sharp enough to make Jungwon pause.

Jungwon looked at him, surprised by his response. “I didn’t—”

“I know you didn’t mean anything by it,” Riki cut him off, leaning back in his chair. “But Y/N’s not your project. She’s not here just to help you get your crush, you know?”

The air between them grew heavier, and you quickly changed the subject before things could escalate. “So, Riki, what do you think about the movie we were talking about last time?”

Jungwon, still clearly lost in his thoughts, barely participated in the conversation after that. But you didn’t mind. You were too focused on Riki and the way he seemed to always know exactly what to say when you were struggling with your feelings for Jungwon.

It wasn’t immediate, the healing process, but you started to notice small changes in yourself. Riki’s words stuck with you. Every time you saw Jungwon get lost in his world of Courtney, you realized it hurt less. You didn’t feel as left behind. You started to see yourself as someone more than just the person helping out the guy she liked. Riki didn’t make you forget about Jungwon, but he did make you feel seen in ways that Jungwon couldn’t, even if he tried.

And as the days went by, the ache you felt slowly lessened. It wasn’t gone, not yet. But now, you were no longer just a spectator in your own life. You were part of it, with Riki right beside you.

A month had passed since you started hanging out with Riki, and surprisingly, things had begun to shift in a way you hadn’t expected. You had successfully helped Courtney get to know Jungwon more, and in the process, you had started to distance yourself from the suffocating feelings you had for him. The pain, while still there, was now just a dull ache in the background, no longer consuming your every thought.

You could see Jungwon now, telling you about his latest interactions with Courtney, and even though he was practically glowing with excitement as he told you how she had asked for his phone number, something inside you didn’t hurt anymore. You didn’t feel that familiar ache. You didn’t feel that sting. You just… smiled. A genuine smile, the kind that had been absent for so long, the kind that felt lighter than anything you had experienced in months.

It wasn’t that you were thrilled for Jungwon, though. You were happy for him, yes, but there was something else there—a sense of relief. The sense that you had finally let go. And for the first time in a while, it wasn’t just a temporary distraction; it felt like a real change.

That night, after Jungwon had walked you back home, you sat down in your room and grabbed your phone. Your fingers hovered for a moment, and then you quickly typed out a message to Riki.

Hey, Riki. I just wanted to say thanks… for everything. I really think I’ve moved on, and I owe a lot of that to you.

You stared at the message for a moment before you hit send, feeling a flutter in your chest. The message felt right, and even though you weren’t sure what kind of response you’d get from him, you still waited for his reply. You kept your phone close, just in case he texted back quickly.

Minutes turned into an hour. Then two. You could feel your anticipation rising, but there was no reply.

You couldn’t help but smile anyway.

You had spent so much time agonizing over moving on, about healing, but now, it felt effortless. Riki’s odd mixture of teasing and care had gotten you through this in ways you hadn’t expected, and in some strange way, you were thankful for his antics. They had distracted you, kept you occupied with something other than your unrequited feelings.

Eventually, your phone buzzed. The screen lit up, and there it was—the familiar, snarky response.

“You’re welcome, princess. Just don’t expect me to go soft on you now that you’ve moved on. And don’t get too comfortable, I’m still the one who has the best advice.”

You chuckled at the message, clicking your tongue. You should have expected that. It was Riki, after all. But for the first time, it didn’t annoy you. Instead, it made you laugh—a real, honest laugh.

You quickly typed back: “I’ll treat you to food as a thank you. I know, I know, you don’t need my pity food, but still… you’ve earned it.”

You hit send, already picturing the look on his face when he read it. It wasn’t exactly a “thank you” in the way he’d expect, but somehow, it felt fitting. You had come to appreciate Riki’s weird, mischief-filled ways.

To your surprise, Riki didn’t keep you waiting this time. His response was quick, as usual.

“Pity food? You think I’d accept anything less than gourmet from you? Alright, I’ll come. But don’t think I won’t judge your choice of restaurant.”

You grinned, knowing Riki was probably half-joking but still serious about his food standards. You were more than happy to oblige, though. You were glad to treat him, not just because of his advice but because his presence had made everything easier.

The days of agonizing over Jungwon were over. You weren’t just moving on from him anymore; you were looking forward to what was next. And maybe, just maybe, what was next wasn’t just about moving on—it was about what you had right in front of you now.

You set your phone down and got ready for the evening. You still couldn’t believe how much your life had changed in just a month.

The atmosphere between you and Riki was oddly comfortable, something you hadn’t expected when you first started hanging out with him. Sure, you had your usual back-and-forth teasing, but something about today felt different. It was light-hearted, easy. It had been a while since you could just breathe without the weight of your unspoken feelings for Jungwon hanging over you.

You both sat across from each other at the restaurant, and you found yourself staring at the menu, your mind wandering. For the first time in ages, your thoughts weren’t consumed by Jungwon and his situation with Courtney. You could actually focus on yourself.

You muttered more to yourself than anyone, half-lost in thought as your finger traced the lines on the menu. “If only… who I liked was you, Riki. You’re actually really good at helping me move on.”

You didn’t think much of it, simply lost in your own world. But, the moment you said it, you instantly regretted it. You kept your eyes glued to the menu, waiting for your moment to order so you could move past the awkwardness. The words had slipped out of your mouth without thinking. And now, your heart was racing in a way that made you regret it even more.

Riki, however, didn’t respond immediately. There was an eerie quiet that followed, and you couldn’t bear to look up to see his reaction. You focused hard on reading the specials, pretending like you hadn’t just made the biggest blunder. When you finally decided you were ready to order, you looked up only to find Riki blinking at you, his face partially hidden behind the menu.

He blinked once. Then twice. Then he lowered the menu, his expression unreadable for a moment before he spoke again.

“You know what you want?” he asked, his voice strangely soft, almost guarded.

You nodded quickly, trying to regain composure. “Yeah, I know. Uh, I’ll go with the pasta… thanks.”

He ordered in his usual confident way and then, out of nowhere, shifted the conversation to something more serious. His voice became less playful, more solemn.

“Now that you’ve moved on… the next thing,” he began, his gaze steady as he looked at you, “is to love yourself before you take another step in loving your future partner.”

It was so unlike Riki to be so serious, but the way he said it caught you off guard. You blinked, unsure how to respond to the sudden weight of his words. But then, almost without thinking, you spoke—half-joking, half-serious.

“And what if you’re what I want as my future partner?” you asked, your voice teasing, but the words coming out before you could stop them.

As soon as you said it, a small gasp of realization escaped your lips. You didn’t mean to sound so bold. You had no idea what had gotten into you. Before you could even process your own words, you erupted into a fit of laughter, cringing at how ridiculous it had sounded.

But Riki… Riki didn’t laugh with you. Instead, he went completely silent, his mouth hanging slightly open as he stared at you, unblinking. You quickly tried to apologize.

“Sorry, sorry, just too cringe. I didn’t mean to say that, really,” you stammered between laughs, unable to stop yourself.

Riki, still speechless, ran a hand through his hair, looking flustered for the first time since you’d known him. “You… you can’t say that out of nowhere!” His voice was flustered, but there was no denying that he was caught off guard by your sudden honesty.

You couldn’t help it. You laughed even harder, wiping tears from your eyes. “I swear, I didn’t plan that! It just came out! I’m so embarrassed,” you said between breaths, trying to catch your breath from laughing so much.

Riki finally broke into a grin, shaking his head with a chuckle. “You’re lucky I’m not some random guy. Otherwise, I’d be questioning what’s wrong with you.”

“You’re not wrong,” you replied, still giggling, “but I promise I’m just a little crazy. You get used to it.”

Riki rolled his eyes but couldn’t hide the slight smile tugging at his lips. “You’re lucky I don’t hold grudges,” he said, still looking at you with that half-amused expression. “But honestly, you’ve gotta stop putting me on the spot like that.”

As the conversation continued, you both moved past the awkwardness, the laughter still lingering between you two. But as the night went on, you couldn’t help but realize that Riki’s words had meant more than you first let on. He was right, in some ways. Maybe this was the next step: not rushing into anything with someone else, but focusing on yourself, on the people who actually cared for you, and not just the ones you wished would.

And maybe—just maybe—you had started to appreciate Riki in ways that were hard to admit.

Two months had passed since that ridiculous yet surprisingly meaningful conversation with Riki. Life had taken on a new rhythm. The days had been a blur of learning to let go, finding pieces of yourself you’d forgotten existed, and, surprisingly, sharing it all with Riki. You’d gone from two people who would barely tolerate each other’s teasing to two people who were constantly looking out for each other, joking, and sharing moments of vulnerability.

Jungwon, after months of chasing after Courtney, finally got what he wanted. She agreed to be with him, and you couldn’t help but feel genuinely happy for him. Despite the sting of watching him with her, a sense of peace settled within you. You had helped him, like you promised, and seeing them together was bittersweet but ultimately freeing. Jungwon deserved happiness, and Courtney—whether you liked it or not—was the one who made him happy.

But now, you were focusing on yourself. Really focusing. Riki had made it clear that before anything else, you needed to find your own worth. And he was determined to help you see it, even though at times you didn’t feel like you could. His quiet encouragement, his sharp and sometimes teasing words, his off-hand gestures of care—they were all chipping away at the walls you’d built around yourself.

There was a part of you, a piece of your heart that you couldn’t ignore, that began to see Riki differently.

You never imagined that you would grow so close to him. He was supposed to be this quiet, mysterious guy—an “emo actor” as some people called him—but the more time you spent with him, the more you realized there was so much more to him. He was thoughtful, patient, and surprisingly manly in a way that made you look at him in a new light.

His confidence was subtle but unmistakable. There was something about the way he carried himself, the way he didn’t need to boast or try hard to get attention. He just… existed in the moment. And every time he laughed, every time he teased you, every time he gave you advice or simply stayed by your side, you realized that the feelings that had once been wrapped up in confusion and heartbreak were slowly transforming into something else.

It wasn’t just admiration anymore.

It was something deeper. Something you couldn’t quite put into words yet, but the more you spent time with him, the more it became undeniable.

One evening, after another quiet dinner together, you found yourself walking side by side with Riki. The streetlights cast long shadows on the pavement, and there was a soft cool breeze in the air. You were walking toward your house, the end of the evening coming too soon. But as you talked about nothing and everything at the same time, you realized something.

You had always thought the path to moving on from Jungwon would be a straight line. But in this winding, unpredictable road, you’d found something unexpected—someone unexpected.

Riki, with his sharp words, his unpredictable smiles, his occasional teasing, and the quiet way he listened to you. He had become something more than just a friend.

You felt it in the way your chest tightened whenever he was close, the way your heart raced when he made you laugh, or when his words cut through your thoughts, forcing you to think deeper than you ever had before. You felt it in the moments when he didn’t have to say anything at all—just when he was there, sharing the silence with you.

You weren’t sure when it happened, but you were beginning to like him. Truly like him.

The realization hit you one evening when you were sitting together in his room, the two of you on his bed after a long day. Riki had been talking about some random movie plot, and you had been half-listening, your mind too caught up in how your stomach fluttered every time he glanced your way. But then, when you caught yourself staring at him, you knew.

This wasn’t just friendship.

You like Riki.

Your heart stumbled in your chest, but it was a strange kind of feeling. You weren’t overwhelmed with fear, but with a sense of warmth, a sense of understanding. The hurt from before had dulled, but Riki had become something else—someone you were starting to care for in a way that was so much more than just a friend.

But the question now was: did he feel the same way?

You weren’t sure yet, but one thing was for certain. As much as you had learned to love yourself, the journey wasn’t over. There was still more to discover, not just about yourself, but about Riki, and where you both might go from here.

From the moment you realized your feelings for Riki, you decided you weren’t going to make the same mistake twice. You’d silently watched from the sidelines for far too long, letting your feelings simmer in secret, quietly aching from a distance. But not anymore. You weren’t going to hide your feelings, not when everything about him was making your heart race in ways you hadn’t expected. You wanted to show him—show him that you liked him, not just with words but with actions.

So, you started small, doing things that made you both laugh, but also things that made your intentions clear.

It happened one afternoon after school, as you were walking side by side with Riki. You were both casually chatting, laughing at something he said, when you suddenly felt the urge to do something bold.

Without thinking twice, you grabbed the opportunity. You walked a little ahead, turned around, and then, in one swift motion, you pushed him against the nearest wall. His eyes went wide in surprise, and you leaned in, making sure to trap him with your hands resting against the wall above his head.

The height difference between the two of you was obvious—Riki was a lot taller than you, and you couldn’t help but notice how funny it must have looked to anyone else. Still, it didn’t matter. You weren’t doing this for anyone else. You were doing this for you.

Riki blinked, completely caught off guard. He was speechless for a moment, clearly not expecting this. You looked at his shocked face and couldn’t help but smirk. His lips parted, and for a brief second, you thought he was going to say something, but instead, he just stared at you, flustered.

“Y/N…?” he started, clearly unsure of what to make of your actions.

You just grinned and shrugged, not moving an inch. His face was flushed, his usual calm demeanor completely shattered by your playful boldness. You didn’t break the silence, just keeping him locked in place, your eyes never leaving him.

Finally, after a few seconds of awkward stillness, Riki laughed nervously. “You really know how to get me, huh?”

You gave him a teasing grin. “You’ve got that right.”

Riki smirked, leaning slightly into the wall as he adjusted his posture. “You’re insane, but I don’t mind it.”

You pulled back with a light chuckle, satisfied with the reaction you got, and just like that, everything was back to normal, but with something else lingering in the air.

One day, as you two were walking home, you found the perfect moment to make your move. He was walking ahead, distracted by his phone, his head down, absorbed in the screen. You grinned to yourself and suddenly stepped in front of him, blocking his way. The way he looked up, surprised by your sudden interruption, made your heart flutter. But you weren’t backing down.

You pulled him by the wrist, guiding him across the street like he was the one who needed the help. He blinked at you, a mix of confusion and amusement in his eyes, but you just smiled back, pretending like you didn’t notice how his gaze softened at the touch. It felt right, the way his hand fit so easily into yours, the way he didn’t pull away.

Another time, you were in his room, and Riki had just woken up. His hair was all over the place, and he was rushing to get ready. You couldn’t help but smile at the sight of him looking so… human. So real. You couldn’t hold back. Without a word, you walked up to him, grabbed the collar of his shirt, and gently tugged him down so you could fix his messy bed hair.

His face turned red in an instant, his eyes wide as he looked at you with surprise. “What are you doing?” he stammered, but you just shrugged nonchalantly, pushing his hair out of his face with a grin.

“I couldn’t let you leave looking like this,” you teased, pulling your hands away and admiring the now slightly tamed hair.

He huffed, flustered, but you could see the little smile tugging at his lips, even if he was trying to hide it. That was the reaction you lived for—the way he got all bashful around you, even if he tried to act cool. It was clear he wasn’t used to being treated like this, but you enjoyed watching him slowly soften around you.

And then there was the time in the cafeteria. You couldn’t help yourself when you saw a little dab of whipped cream stuck at the edge of his lips. It was the perfect opportunity, so without thinking much about it, you leaned in, wiped it off with your finger, and then casually wiped it on your napkin. His eyes widened, his face turning red in an instant, and you could see the confusion battling with the surprise.

“Y/N!” he exclaimed, though there was a small smile playing on his lips.

“What? I had to save you from walking around with that on your face,” you said, grinning mischievously, trying to act nonchalant even though your heart was doing somersaults inside your chest.

You noticed the way he looked at you a little differently after that. Not in a bad way, but more like he was finally seeing you through a new lens. He couldn’t help but laugh it off, but there was always something a little extra in his gaze now—something warmer, something more open.

You kept pushing yourself to show him how much you cared, and with every little gesture—whether it was you pulling him aside to help him with his books, or you playfully calling him out when he was being too stubborn, you noticed the difference in the way he responded to you. He wasn’t as distant anymore. He didn’t pull away when you made physical contact. His smiles were more genuine, more frequent. And when you spoke, he listened. Really listened.

You couldn’t deny it anymore. You saw it. You saw the little glances he gave you when he thought you weren’t looking. You saw the way his hand would brush yours when you passed him something, and the brief moments where his gaze would linger on you a little longer than necessary. He was still as mischievous as ever, but now, there was something else in his eyes—a flicker of something more, something you hadn’t seen before.

You could tell that Riki liked you too. Slowly, you began to realize that your actions, your little touches, and your playful teasing were breaking down the walls between you. You had no idea where this would go, but you knew one thing for sure: you weren’t afraid anymore. And for the first time, you were able to look at him and see the possibility of something more.

It wasn’t about moving on anymore. It was about taking a step forward. And maybe, just maybe, that step forward was towards something you’d been blind to before. Something that felt so much more real than the quiet ache you had for Jungwon. Something that could possibly lead you to love again.

And this time, you weren’t going to let fear hold you back.

Three months had passed since you and Riki had started hanging out more, and the bond between you two had grown stronger. The playful teasing, the quiet moments, and the support Riki had given you as you learned to move on from Jungwon had all shaped something deeper. He was no longer just a friend helping you get over someone—it was starting to feel like he was someone you genuinely cared for in a way that went beyond the friendship you both shared.

But now, here you were, standing at the crossroads of uncertainty. You weren’t sure if Riki felt the same way, but the more time you spent with him, the more you couldn’t ignore the feelings growing inside of you.

You had learned to love yourself, but somewhere along the way, you had also learned to like Riki. Maybe it was the way he made you laugh, the way his eyes softened when you needed him, or maybe it was just the fact that he had been there for you through everything.

But, no matter how much you felt, the uncertainty still lingered. Did he feel the same way about you? Was he even capable of feeling that way about you? You couldn’t say for sure, but you knew that if you didn’t at least try, you’d regret it.

So, you made up your mind. You were going to confess.

The moment came on a quiet evening, when you two were hanging out in a nearby park, the sun dipping low on the horizon. It had become a routine—walking around, joking with each other, and just being together in a comfortable silence. You had never felt more at peace than in these moments with him.

But tonight was different. You could feel the weight of your thoughts pressing down on you, and you knew that if you didn’t say something now, you might never get the chance. You took a deep breath and stopped walking, turning to face him.

Riki, ever the teasing one, raised an eyebrow at you. “What’s up with you? You look like you’re about to say something dramatic.”

You smiled a little nervously, trying to steady your heart. “I guess… I guess I’ve been thinking about something for a while now.”

“Yeah?” he replied, his tone softening just a little. “What’s on your mind?”

You hesitated for a moment, unsure of how to word it. But then, you just decided to say it. You had come this far. “Riki, I… I like you. I really do. More than just a friend. And I know I’ve never said this before, but I wanted you to know.”

Riki blinked at you, his usual teasing expression replaced with something unreadable. For a split second, there was silence. You felt your heart race in your chest, wondering if you’d made a huge mistake. Maybe this was too much, maybe you were asking for too much.

But then, Riki let out a soft laugh, one that was more genuine than anything else. He stepped closer to you, looking down at you with a faint smile. “I was wondering when you’d figure it out.”

Your heart skipped a beat, but you stayed silent, unsure of how to react.

He chuckled, rubbing the back of his neck awkwardly. “Honestly, I’ve been waiting for you to say something. I’m… not great with feelings, but yeah, I like you too. Maybe more than I’ve let on.”

You blinked, surprised. The confession was out there now, and to your relief, it wasn’t a rejection. You couldn’t help but smile, a weight lifting off your chest. It wasn’t a dramatic confession, but it was real, and that was enough for you.

“Seriously?” you asked, almost disbelieving.

He nodded, his smile growing a little. “Yeah, seriously. You’re a bit of a pain sometimes, but you’re also… well, you. And that’s kind of what I like about you.”

You laughed softly, feeling the warmth spread through you. The answer you had been hoping for was finally there, and it felt like everything had fallen into place.

“Well,” you said, “I guess this means we’re officially more than just friends now, huh?”

Riki smirked. “Yeah, I guess it does. Took you long enough.”

You playfully shoved him, both of you laughing. But beneath the teasing, you couldn’t ignore the feeling of contentment that settled in your chest. No matter where things went from here, you were happy.

You were happy because Riki had been by your side, helping you through the tough times, supporting you even when you didn’t know what you needed. And now, you had him in a way that was more than just friendship.

And for that, you were grateful.

Three months after Riki had come into your life, things were different—better, even. From that moment on, things changed. You were no longer just friends with Riki or “the girl who helped him move on from Courtney.” You were something more. You and Riki still teased each other, still had your playful banter, but there was an undeniable understanding between you two. You weren’t just friends anymore; you were partners, navigating this thing called a relationship together.

Jungwon had already gotten what he wanted with Courtney, and you were happy for him. He was in a good place, and you had finally found your own happiness with Riki. It was a strange but satisfying sense of closure—your heart was no longer stuck in the past.

Despite all the playful teasing from your friends, including Jungwon and the others, they all secretly saw how well you and Riki suited each other. Your relationship wasn’t perfect, but it was yours, and that was enough.

And even though you both still bickered, and your friends still teased you about being a “childish couple,” one thing was clear to everyone—you and Riki were exactly what each other needed.

You smiled to yourself as you walked side by side with him, the world ahead of you and no more regrets to hold onto. Everything had fallen into place, and you were finally ready to embrace it all.

The two of you were walking down the street, the familiar banter filling the air between you. Riki was teasing you about something silly—probably your choice of snacks, or maybe how you’d taken an extra long time choosing a place to eat. Whatever it was, you were both back to your usual bickering, a playful tension between you two that had become so normal, it felt like second nature.

“You know,” Riki said, his voice smug, “you take forever deciding where we eat. You’re lucky I’m patient.”

You shot him an exaggerated glare. “Oh, really? I take forever? You spent ten minutes last week debating between two brands of chips, Riki. Don’t lecture me.”

He let out a mock gasp, holding a hand to his chest. “That’s different. I was making a very important decision about snacks. There’s a huge difference between chips!”

“Uh-huh,” you rolled your eyes. “Sure, whatever you say.”

The usual teasing flowed easily between you both, but the difference this time was that your hands never parted. You had been walking side by side, fingers loosely intertwined, the warmth of his hand a comforting reminder of everything that had changed. Even as you bickered, neither of you let go, even when you could feel the playful tension turning into something deeper—something that you couldn’t quite put into words.

“Don’t roll your eyes at me. You know I’m right,” he said, nudging you with his elbow.

“I’m just saying,” you replied, trying to pull your hand free, “I’m not the one who can’t decide on food.”

He smirked and tugged you closer, not letting your hand slip away. “You really think you can get away with that, huh?”

“Nope,” you grinned, shaking your head but not resisting. “Guess not.”

Even in the midst of the bickering, you both knew the truth. Neither of you wanted to let go. Not of each other, not of this feeling you shared. The world around you seemed to fade as you walked together, hands firmly clasped, as if no matter what silly argument you’d get into, you’d always find your way back to each other.

And in that moment, as the bickering continued but the laughter lingered, you realized how perfect it all was. You and Riki—still teasing, still pushing each other’s buttons—but always together.

In the end, you got what you wanted: you were no longer stuck in the past, you had moved on, and more importantly, you had someone by your side who truly cared about you. And that someone was Riki.

@stvrrylove @sol3chu @firstclassjaylee

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ghulehunknown · 1 year ago

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Papa Headcanons - Valentine’s Day 💕

Rated PG-13 for implied adult themes!

Oh my goodness, it’s Valentine’s Day! How will your beloved celebrate with you?

~💘💝💘~

Primo

Gives you a beautiful bouquet of roses grown in his garden

Surprises you with herbal tea in bed while he makes you breakfast

He arranges for everyone in the Ministry to send a secret valentine to an assigned person, so you all get a cute card or treat

He’s surprisingly very into theming so he wears a red robe and mitre that day, and eats lots of pink foods

He gives everyone a single flower, even his least favorite ghoul

Says he has a nice surprise for you later; lit candles everywhere, your favorite snacks, a bubble bath, and some lingerie for…certain activities after you relax 🛁

Secondo

Also surprises you with breakfast in bed, complete with one of those silver covers that he flourishes as if you just got fancy room service

Packs your lunch for you that day with a cute little note which you proceed to keep in your wallet for a long time

He relieves you of your Sibling job duties a few hours early and arranges for you to have a massage done by the Ministry’s massage therapist

He arranges Valentines karaoke for the ghouls and siblings, the setlist being rock’s greatest love ballads and also some Celine Dion mixed in

Bakes you a cake (or whatever your fave dessert is) and decorates it with pink heart sprinkles

His final gift of the day is flowers with some very nice jewelry…and also a new lingerie set. He wants to see you in the set wearing the new jewelry he got you, saying it’s a gift for him too and he wants to admire it

Terzo

His penis. He gives you…his penis, wrapped in a bow. “Breakfast in bed, mm?” he’d say (don’t worry, he offers to go down on you too)

Okay, okay, he actually comes back with coffee, cigarettes, and Pop-Tarts

Has flowers sent to you while you’re both at work so you’ll think of him all day (so all your coworkers/the other Siblings see what an amazing boyfriend you have)

Encourages everyone to leave work early that day so “you can all go fuck each other!”

Orders sushi takeout (or whatever you want if you don’t like sushi but author happens to love it) and has made a whole setup of pillows and blankets on the floor for you to watch cute movies while you eat dinner and snacks

Gives you naughty conversation hearts and says you have to do whatever it tells you to…they’re instructions for bedding you later

Scatters rose petals all over the bedroom, lights candles so the room looks very romantic and promises to make love to you like never before

Copia

You wake up to utter chaos - a burning smell from the kitchen and rats running all over the place. “Eh, it was supposed to be a surprise…we’ll get takeout.”

But you’ve already DoorDashed pancakes for the pair of you, because somehow you knew he’d be too stressed to handle everything

He’s genuinely very excited to celebrate Valentine’s Day so he can go all out to show you just how much he cares about you

He decorates his office and room the day before - all pinks, reds, and purples with hearts everywhere

He gifts everyone in the Ministry a cute little paper valentine, like the kind you used to pass out in elementary school

Says cheesy but sweet things all day, like asking you to be his valentine, making puns like “bee mine buzzzzzz,” etc.

Smothers you in hugs and kisses

Wants to watch rom coms with you before going to bed that night, complete with themed snacks

He bought you matching V-Day underwear

Nihil

Gets you one of those generic heart shaped chocolate boxes from the drug store

He also leaves a very mushy, sentimental hallmark card on your nightstand

“Why do we need a special day? I love you everyday!”

He doesn’t arrange anything for the Ministry as a whole but he does make sure to do the bare minimum for his partner

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kojandra · 6 months ago

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✨dramas i watched in 2024 and my ratings for them✨

May contain spoilers <3

1. A Shop for Killers, ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️ Oh this has set the bar for 2024 already....where is next season!!! Had me hooked I didn't even realize it was a series and not a movie. Only complaint is that it needs to be longer!

2. Doctor Slump ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️ Watched it for the mains but fell in love with the characters. Burnout talk is necessary and I loved seeing Ha Neul's mom/family grow...as a family. The acceptance of Jeong Woo and his story was so so heartwarming and heartbreaking. I would have ate this up three years ago, but I feel like I've seen this before.

3. Flex x Cop ⭐️⭐️⭐️ Nice story that kept me engaged though a bit cheesy! A fun watch but I feel like it will not my best "fun" watch this year.

4. Queen of Tears ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️ all the rom com tropes and soo hyun x ji won .....need I say more?

5. Military Prosecutor Doberman ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️ Decided to try another one of Ahn Bo Hyun's drama after Flex x Cop was not a hit. This was MUCH better. I learned a lot about military corruption....but something isn't hitting.

5. The Whirlwind ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️.5 Okay, political dramas are Kim Hee Ae's THING bc this was so good. Only thing I hated was that her character was a bit weak in such crucial times....opposite of what she preached and not very girl boss of her smh.

6. Connection ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️ Watched it for Mi Do but oh my godddd????? A story about friendship in sick and twisted way that I can't help but love. Beginning to end...pacing was amazing, casting amazing, binged it so hard....wish I could watch it for the first time again.

7. The Frog ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️ (ngl i watched this for chanyeol). Did I just watch a masterclass in acting or what!? Must watch. But I am also in a thriller/murder mystery vibe this year I guess.

8. Collectors (Movie, 2020) ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️.5 no 'cause why did I like that??? A story about a corporate chairman that likes dynasty relics and a group of grave diggers that are hired to find a very specific relic. That's all I'll say. But c'mon....

9. Good Partner ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️ The last divorce law drama I watched was Divorce Attorney Shin, I believe (highly rec that one if you like law dramas!). Attorney Shin focused a lot on the main character's personal vengeance and this one focuses on the job itself. Justice for

10. Sweet & Sour (Movie, 2021) ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️ Girl, just watch it. Quick synopsis: how a couple navigates a long term relationship. I thought this was gonna be fun and not that deep but oh myyyyy I was seated. Watch until the end!!!

11. Love Next Door ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️ Oh they're so cute. They're so cute! The last time I saw Hae-In was in D.P. and this was so refreshing. Neighbourhood friends....fall in love? Sign me up!!! Took off a star because the characters got on my nerves after a while. Seung-ho loser era was not cool!!

12. Miss Night and Day ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️.5 Watched for Lee Jung Eun and Choi Jin Hyuk but got hooked! Fantasy drama about a 28 year old that cannot seem to pass the civil exam and find a job. She got possessed by her dead Aunt though. That's when the fun starts ;) Annoying last two episodes though....

13. Work Later, Drink Now ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️ If you liked Hello, My Twenties! you will LOVE this. Loved this trio. Watch it! (Slice of life-esque).

14. Work Later, Drink Now 2 ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️ Something different but the same magic as the first series. Love the introduction of new characters and their significance in the girls' lives. Important character development too. Fight and then make up! That's life.

15. Mr. Plankton ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️ Took off a star not because it was bad, but because it was so SAD. Must watch for this pairing and this chemistry. It's currently January 9th...as I'm looking through this list.....I got reminded again how sad this drama was. NEVER again.

16. Virtuous Business ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️ This was a fun! one! I loved seeing the friend group develop. The need for a thriller sub plot in all dramas is killing me though ahhaha

17. Marry My Husband ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️ binged this and honestly wTF just happened? That was so good LOL. All the characters the viewer is supposed to hate is just soooo hateable. Good on MC! For living her life!

18. The Judge from Hell - y'all I dropped it. It got repetitive :( But it was so good at the start. Not my cup of tea, I guess.

18. When the Phone Rings ⭐️⭐️⭐️ Honestly this was about to be a five star in December. I waited until the last episode aired to finish this list. Chemistry was off the charts, story was so wattpad but I ate it up, pacing was soooo good.....but..........all of a sudden there were two episodes that had their own crazy story line at the end. Using an ongoing genocide for plot rubs me the wrong way, I cannot get over that.

Dramas from this list I'll rewatch in the future: A shop for killers, queen of tears, miss night and day, work later drink now

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fayes-fics · 2 years ago

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It Had To Be You: Chapter 7 - A Thousand Flowers Could Bloom

Masterpost PREV | NEXT

Pairing: Benedict Bridgerton x fem!reader, Modern AU

Summary: It was inevitably going to happen...

artwork credit @colettebronte

Warnings: 18+ smut, minors DNI, mild dom/sub undertones, frottage, dirty talk, light hair pulling and biting, vaginal sex.

Word Count: 4.3k (longest chapter to date, haha, is anyone surprised..)

Authors Note: A multi-chapter modern rom-com retelling of When Harry Met Sally. In this chapter, passions between Benedict and reader finally boil over. Yup, yup, the movie fades to black on the sex scene... I am not lolol. Please skip this chapter if you want to keep your reading PG-13/12A rated. There is no real plot here. Sorry it has taken me so long to write this; I got so nervous. Still not sure I like this very much. Thanks to ColetteBronte for the read through. Anyway, I hope you enjoy <3

It's a blur as the kiss deepens; Benedict’s tongue glances yours, a tentative swipe before entwining. Something sweeps through your being, throwing you overboard, tossing you into a tsunami wave, your mind reeling as your hands stay limp by your side, still taken by surprise this is happening.

“Ben,” you stutter breathlessly when he withdraws fractionally.

“Don’t,” he growls, “don't you dare use that big brain of yours; just shut up.” His thumb is heavy on your cheek as he cups your jaw. “Just shut the fuck up for once in your bloody life.”

So, for once, you do just that. Letting your hands do the talking, looping around his neck to pull him back to you. That is the permission he needs, and suddenly, you are being spun around and pressed into your own hallway wall, him bearing the whole length of his being into you. You feel like you are drowning in him. He is all you can see, smell, and breathe.

Then, he obliterates every thought you have. Hunching down mid-kiss, he insinuates a warm thigh between your knees. Then he stands up straight, the meat of his substantial quad muscle snagging the seam of your sleep shorts, your clit mashed into your public bone, throbbing.

You mumble a curse into his mouth as his fingers locate the tab on your hoodie. The only sound is the slow release of the zip as he tugs it down and your own shallow panting over his lips as he does so. He smiles dangerously as the material parts, dropping it off your shoulders to the floor so you stand in tiny shorts and a white vest.

There is a noise in the back of his throat as his eyes sweep down briefly, lingering on your peaked nipples, then slender fingers wrap around the crest of your hipbones and flex, indicating he wants you to move. To ride the thigh that he has you dangling upon, up on your tiptoes.

“Use me,” he mutters like velvet. “Go ahead.”

“I….” You seem almost incapable of speech, too strung out on the tidal wave of chemicals racing around your body. “…need sex, please,” aware it sounds reedy.

He unwinds your hands from around his neck and pins them to the wall at shoulder height.

“Ride my leg, and then we will have sex,” he orders slowly, a knowing smirk on your cheekbone. “Come on; you don't think I can tell how much you need it?” He places a hot kiss on your skin. “You've been aching to come since you straddled me hours ago; don’t deny it.”

Fuckkkk….

This is what his ex, Gen, meant all those years ago. ‘Knees weak, pussy strong’ is how she paraphrased what he could do to her. You thought it was her exaggerating; now you realise it wasn’t. It’s like he’s a different person to the Ben that you know, but fuck if it isn't blisteringly hot.

So when he relinquishes your wrists, you wrap around him again, undulating on his leg, pressing your cheek into his, the friction of the layers of fabric adding to your arousal. It feels so good you speed up, grasping his neck.

“Yes, that’s it,” he pants approvingly in your ear, gripping your hips again in encouragement. With every stroke, you bump against a solid mass in his jeans, which makes you feel frantic and impatient for more. To come, to fuck, to do everything he will let you.

“Ben…” his name like honey, tumbling from your lips in your heightened state. You are too cowardly to lean back and look at him, see yourself reflected in his eyes; it feels too much like admitting this is real. Or perhaps you’re simply worried it will break this fevered spell, that he will put a stop to it, leaving you throbbing and bereft.

“Stop thinking,” he drawls, his breath hot on your temple, intuiting you are disappearing too much into your thoughts again, your pace slowing as you slide on him. He squeezes your hips roughly to the point you squeak. “Do you want me to order you to do it?” the voice lethally low. “Is that what you want?”

“I… I…” words fail. You have no idea.

He pulls back to cradle your jaw again, tilting your face to look at him. His hazy blue eyes are dilated to inky black, and his lips are flushed dark pink. “Y/n,” slow, sensual, rumbling from his ribcage, his fingertips warm on your cheeks. “When I tell you to do something, I mean it. Do it.” His thumb swipes your bottom lip. “Right now.”

“Help me,” it’s a desperate uncensored whisper.

“What do you need?” He smiles predatorily, his eyes sparkling in the low light.

“Hold me down; be firm,” confessing your desires. “Control me a bit.” You’ve never divulged that proclivity to any past lover, the craving for something with a hint of roughness, a light tussle. And yet, with your best friend, you can’t help but let it tumble out of you.

And perfect, perfect Ben, god, he obliges.

The hand on your hip digs in as the other slides around the globe of your bottom cheek, and you squeal as he spanks there with a harsh flick.

“I told you to ride my leg,” his directive clipped but somehow still laced with a laid-back bemusement, “so do it.”

It's so perfect you feel an urge to shake him and yell ‘yes’ and ‘this’. But instead, you bite your lip and do as bidden, riding the rough creases in his jeans, letting the texture catch your swollen clit in your thin cotton shorts. It feels so good you shudder, but still, you crave more.

“I want to ride your jeans naked.” Again, you cannot suppress your runaway tongue.

He makes a noise that is almost feral; a sizeable, warm hand slides up your spine underneath your vest, ruching the fabric until it snags on your breasts at the front. Without prompting, you release briefly to strip off the top, then immediately wind around him again like a vine. The soft cotton of his shirt snags delightfully on your nipples, and you can feel his body heat seeping through the thin material. Moaning your approval as his fingers splay wide, touching the sensitive skin of your lower back, right above your shorts.

“Take these off,” he runs a feathery touch above the waistband, the tone gruff and challenging.

He dips slightly and backs away a half pace, just enough to give you room to strip off the last of your clothing. He has not so much as undone a button, but the bulge in his jeans makes you swallow hard as you shimmy off your shorts. He probably wasn't expecting you to be without underwear, based on the noise he makes. You are grateful you have recently trimmed (for a failed date, as it turns out).

As your shorts hit the floor, he dives in for another mindblowing kiss. And before you know it, you are hauled back onto his thigh, completely naked, the denim feeling so perfect against your aching clit.

“You are so close, aren’t you?” he groans as your heat and wetness seep through his jeans, engulfing his quad.

All you can do in response is nod, mildly embarrassed, bury your face in his neck and move again in earnest, making faint noises into his skin. The drag of fabric on your engorged clit is so intoxicating you couldn't stop if you wanted to. He murmurs encouragements, touch searing your skin, just this side of painful; you will likely carry his fingermarks tomorrow.

“Come on, that's it,” he encourages, shifting his leg to increase your range of motion, pressing his erection into your hipbone as you crash into him.

Over and over, you ride, getting faster and faster, chasing the high that feels so tantalisingly close, your skin turning dewy with exertion, his body heat enveloping you. You need something to make you break, and he intuits it. One hand slides up your back to grasp the hair at the base of your skull.

“Give it to me,” he orders duskily, an untamed look in his eye, twisting his grip until your hair is taut against your scalp.

Then, the other hand leaves your hip and insinuates between your bodies, grabbing your breast and pinching your nipple between his thumb and forefinger. The rush of sensation, a little rough, just as you requested, hurls you past the edge you were skating. Convulsing on his leg, he keeps his hold on your hair and nipple as you snap. Eyes rolling closed as you cry his name and curse, coming so hard the world goes fuzzy. Shuddering and shaking, him moving to brace your body upright with him as you writhe.

“That's it, yesssss,” his victorious hiss in your ear is breathy and impressed.

There are a few moments of silence as you return to the room, so marvellously sated but somewhat mortified about what has just transpired.

“I…. I can't believe I did that,” you mutter into his skin, almost ashamed, even as your body still quivers from the best orgasm you can remember in many months.

“You were amazing,” he reassures into your ear.

“Don't ask me to look you in the eye,” you jest lightly, lips skimming his throat, unwilling indeed to meet his eye.

He chuckles, loosening his hold as he drops a kiss on your forehead.

“Are you honestly asking me to fuck you without looking at you?” he checks light-heartedly.

“I have an eye mask you can borrow,” you offer, giggling.

His responding laugh jiggles your whole body as he shifts to allow you back to your flat feet. Your leg muscles still twitching, still leaning into him for support.

“If you want to play with blindfolds, I am more than game,” he murmurs, cradling your face so you daren’t look away. This closeup and aroused he is a devastating sight, all cheekbones and blown pupils. And partnered with those words, in that hedonic tone, your insides are molten all over again.

“Me too,” you whisper back.

Before you know it, he picks you up effortlessly and strides across the hallway toward your bedroom door. This is a seismic shift in your friendship, but as he lowers you gently onto your bed, all you feel is elation. Butterflies in your gut as he climbs on top of you, still fully clothed.

“Ben, what do I have to pay to get you naked?” you grumble good-naturedly, tugging at the shirt around his shoulders, your usual banter flaring despite this surprising development.

He laughs as his lips land on your neck, warm and plush, kissing a line down to your collarbone that is all at once too much and not enough.

“I will get naked if you wear that blindfold you promised,” he jokes, your breath catching as you feel his chin stubble catch on the swell of your breast.

“Nuh-uh,” you shake your head, smiling as he pouts up at you, eyes sparkling.

The fact that the playfulness is still there makes you feel light as air, floating on feathers, him holding your gaze and slipping lower so the tip of his nose brushes your nipple.

“I was right all those years ago,” he inhales almost lewdly. “You really do have a fantastic pair of tits.” He looks up at you from your chest through heavy lashes with that same deadly lopsided smile from years ago, the one he gave you on the train, and once again, it makes you flush from head to toe.

“Naked Bridgerton, now,” you riposte with faux scolding, raising an eyebrow.

This would have been a very effective response had he not chosen that precise moment to envelope your nipple into his mouth and suck hard, instead making you call out, eyes fluttering closed as your spine curls up off the bed, the heat and suction perfect. Swirling his tongue around and using an edge of teeth, swapping to the other side to do the same before you open your eyes. Then he kisses his way back up, claiming another fiery kiss. As you go to weakly protest again about him being too clothed, he sits up and whips the shirt off over his head instead of undoing it, throwing it aside as your eyes fall open.

“What the fuck?!” It's an unbidden but honest response to the sight before you.

In the low light cast by your bedside lamp, he is all defined, sculpted lines—a shape you didn't think real humans came in. He laughs slightly abashed as you keep staring, raising up onto your elbows to drink in the view. You know he is in shape from the feel of his body when you hug him, but just how buff momentarily stuns you.

“You look like a bloody Michelangelo sculpture,” you declare, compounding his coyness.

“If you keep this up, I'm not taking off my jeans,” he warns demurely, in a voice that is both amused and humble.

You mime zipping your mouth shut and throwing away a key as he leans in laughing and busses a brief kiss on your lips. Your hands map his tapered torso, revelling in the supple, warm skin and contoured, lithe muscles and the catch in his throat as you do so. You pull him down on top of you; the weight and warmth of his naked chest meeting yours makes you hungry in a way you haven't felt for years. Eventually, you reach the waistband of his jeans, circling to the front and rapidly flicking open the button of his fly. He squeaks quietly into your passionate kiss, taken aback by your boldness.

“No going back now,” you warn as you carefully lower the zip of his fly over his straining cock.

“I think that ship sailed when I felt your orgasm on my thigh,” he replies drolly, as your eyes briefly fall to the damp patch you left there, cheeks flushing.

His bravado falters when you push his jeans down his slim hips, delving inside the back of his underwear to grab the peachy solid mass of his bottom. He groans into your cheek, and his mouth finds yours again. There is a wave of body heat as you shimmy his underwear and jeans down his leg, unseen as you kiss almost artlessly. He takes over, squirming his way out of them until they are also flung off the bed. You don't see his cock, but he presses down onto you as soon as he is naked, and you feel it brand your thigh, sizeable and hot.

“Let me see,” you almost whine, petulant.

He huffs a laugh, grabs your wrist, and guides your hand between your bodies. There, nestled within a patch of lightly trimmed hair, you feel the steely warmth of his cock.

“Ben,” you stumble out as you encircle the heated mass, feeling a trickle escape your body as you begin to pump him lightly, a thumb swiping the sticky precum at his head, loving the way it makes him stutter and moan into your mouth.

“Fuck,” he sounds winded, pulsing under your fingers.

“Are you okay?”

“Sorry, it's been… uhh… ages since someone else touched my cock,” he rushes out, sheepish.

The honesty makes something melt behind your ribs; this wonderful, handsome man, still recovering from heartbreak, has not had sex in so long that you want to give him - your best friend - everything, a need to please him burning bright. Not wishing to dwell on consequences, what any of this might mean after tonight.

“What do you want, Ben?” you query softly as you pump his cock in your fist.

“You,” he answers sweetly, plainly, breathily, “just you.” He tilts his head and sighs into your neck. “It's been so long since I had sex that I'm not certain I can satisfy you. It’s why I made you to come before; I couldn't bear to leave you in need.”

The vulnerable admission, a true friend confiding in another, makes you crave him, this, even more. The glibness of your recent casual hookups thrown into stark relief in this singular moment of intimate honesty. It's what has been missing from sex since your breakup with Tom. The shorthand that comes from knowing someone so well artifice crumbles; them able to see through all the layers you can hide behind with strangers.

“I bet you are better than you think,” the need to reassure seizing you. “The way you took control earlier was exactly what I needed. Then there is this…,” you squeeze his cock a little, “...now I understand why Gen said she would miss you so much,” you add unabashed, enjoying the feel of his unseen demure smile against your jaw.

“So you liked when I took control?” he queries, shifting the subject.

“Oh god, yes,” you avow, a little frisson racing down your spine at the memory from moments earlier, your grip flexing around his cock as you do so.

“Do you want me to do it again?” his cadence lowers to something more decadent as he removes your hand and traps it on the pillow next to your head.

“Yes, please,” it’s almost too keen.

Again, the noise he makes is an elixir, elation coursing in your veins. His long fingers lacing with yours, holding you down firmly, his mass weightier as he bears you down onto the mattress.

“Do you want me to fuck you?” he rumbles, teeth grazing the sensitive spot below your ear. Your reply in the affirmative is a shaky exhale, a skitter of excitement across your skin at the very idea. “What was that?” his tone suddenly brusque, pushing up to look down upon you, his eyes boring into yours as he surges his cock, branding your inner thigh.

“Yes,” you enunciate crisply, struggling against his control, even though it’s precisely where you want to be, a smile tugging at the corner of your lips as his fingers sink further between yours, stretching your knuckles wide apart. He claims you in a vehement kiss, leaving you whimpering around his invading tongue, the tip of his cock rocking against your clit.

“Tell me you want me,” he orders, breath hot on your face, his hands still pinning you under him.

“I want you,” you answer reflexively, as simple and true as breathing.

He nuzzles your face, his cock sliding temptingly through your slick folds as you shudder, your pebbled nipples catching on the slab of his pectoral muscles, sighing shakily as he gently bites the shell of your ear. He surges his cock again, this time slipping lower, teasing your entrance, parting you with his tip. You inhale sharply at the warm mass, pressing insistently, not quite at the right angle to slip fully inside yet.

“Do you still have your IUD?” he asks quietly, the domineering mask slipping momentarily, releasing your wrists.

“Yes, just get inside me, please,” you respond, soft but fervent, raking fingertips down his back, loving the heated contours that flex as he moves to angle better.

Then, eleven years after you first idly thought of it on that drive down to London from Scotland, Benedict Bridgerton finally slides inside your body.

A blunt warmth spearing you open in a way that feels so good it makes your throat catch, and your eyes roll back in your head. A curse falls from you as he keeps going, finding your hilt as he bottoms out. The perfect fit, just the right side of an ache as you stretch around him. He exhales raggedly into your cheek and stills.

“Move please,” you implore, greedy for more, grabbing his bottom impatiently.

“Give me a moment,” he appeals, breaking persona again, the heat of his body cloaking yours.

“Please,” you coax gently, “Benedict.” You add, almost as an afterthought, using his formal name as if to underline the seriousness of your request.

He makes a noise and lifts to look down at you. “Call me that again,” he commands gravelly, overwrought.

“Benedict,” you repeat as if a tasty morsel you can’t resist.

He makes a hungry noise and withdraws slightly, surging back into you in a way that has your whole body rolling under him with the force of it. You groan, hands flexing on his body, your tongue pressing into the back of your front teeth, quelling the urge to call out how good it already feels.

Your walls cling to him as he sets a languid but perfect rhythm. Breathing each other's air, exploring damp skin, lips meeting repeatedly in loose, open-mouthed kisses. Once again, he grabs your hands and manoeuvres them above your head, holding you down, stretching your arms so your body cants up, your nipples grazing his chest.

“You have no idea how many times I've fantasised of this moment for so many years,” he rasps, making your breath hitch with his words and a change of angle that catches a new spot inside. “And yet, this is better,” he continues, dropping a kiss in your hair.

“Same,” you confess succinctly.

A triumphant crooked smile claims his face, and then he thrusts forcefully, wringing a loud moan from your lungs, your head smashing into the pillow as your hips tilt up in a silent request for more. Yearning for him to fuck you so hard that you feel a physical reminder; for your body to carry a tangible memory of it.

“You want more, don't you?” he intuits, pride colouring his tone.

“Yes,” you hiss, conscious he can read you effortlessly.

He snaps his hips in response, and you feel a tug deep inside where he nudges your hilt. It feels so good you gasp and fight to release your hands from above your head, desperate to grab his bum cheeks again and haul him deeper into you.

“Nuh-uh,” he chides bemused, shooting you a pointed look, “you do as I say, remember?”

You struggle underneath him, eyes blazing as you stare into his glassy pupils, telegraphing silently this is precisely what you want, making a show until you finally settle and curl your bottom lip under your teeth, nodding meekly as he restarts at a leisurely pace.

“Good girl.” He even winks.

Oh fucking hell.

Your pussy pulses around him, betraying how much you like that line.

“Oh, you like that, don’t you?” he smirks, the smug, cocky persona he can slip into so easily fitting him like a glove. The ghost of Benedict-past rearing - that troublesome young playboy you recall from years ago.

He chuckles richly when you don’t give him the satisfaction of a verbal response, somehow the spectre of your younger, indignant self joining the party, too.

“Don’t forget: I can tell when you’re lying,” he murmurs into your jaw, still fucking you slow and thoroughly, sliding his lips down your neck, your collarbone, down to your nipple that he bites, making you cry out. “I know you of old…” he adds, pausing for you to catch the reference.

“Shakespeare…,” you stumble incredulously.

“Mmm hmm,” he confirms, tracing a teasing circle around your areola with the tip of his tongue.

“You quote Shakespeare while you fuck?!” your tone incredulous. “You don’t fight fair,”

He laughs again before silencing any retort you may have with another heated kiss, entwining your limbs, wrapping like a protective vine around you as he begins thrusting keenly. You move with him, uncaring how vocal you are, the need for more inexorable. You stare into each other's eyes as you move in perfect synchronism, faster and harder, grabbing flesh, whispered words and endless kisses. It’s never been quite like this before.

“Come for me again,” he pleads hotly, and you can see he is teetering close to the edge now, a little vein pulsing in his temple, his neck corded, a sheen over his body where his pace never wavers.

“So close,” you vow, needing just a little more friction to fall into that abyss again.

You groan as he grabs your hand and sucks your fingers into his hot mouth, swirling his tongue around them, then releases them with an obscene pop, guiding your wettened fingers between your bodies to the apex of your thighs, silently instructing you to touch yourself. Gasping and canting up into his body, your own slippery touch like a lightning rod on your clit. He growls as your pussy tightens around him responsively, feeling so huge as he ploughs into you.

Only a few flicks of your fingers and you are hurtling towards mindless bliss, eyes closing and body going taut, then snapping like a string as you peak, every fibre of your body fracturing as you call his name and constrict tight around his cock, fingernails leaving crescent shapes on his back as you float somewhere outside your body, mind blanking out in sheer pleasure.

Distantly, you hear him following you over, his grip almost punishing as he takes a few last frantic pumps, then stills, emptying deep inside, chanting your name into your neck as his whole body shudders and collapses on top of you.

As you flop back onto the mattress, your body sated, your thoughts race. Probably the best sex of your damn life. Even as he slides next to you, pulling you into his arms, your mind whirls until your scattered thoughts coalesce into one singular truth that makes you chew on your lip and frettingly stare at the ceiling - it was too good, too tender, too raw and honest for a first time. But all you want to do is repeat it. Over and over and over. Just never let him out of your bedroom. Except this is your best friend, and you have no bloody idea where you stand now.

Well… fuckity fuck.

Benedict taglist: @makaylan @foreverlonginguniverse @iboopedyournose @colettebronte @aintnuthinbutahounddog @severewobblerlightdragon @margofiore @writergirl-2001 @heeyyyou @enichole445 @enchantedbytomandhenry @ambitionspassionscoffee @chaoticcalzoneranchsports @nikaprincessofkattegat @baebee35 @crowleysqueenofhelll @bridgertontess @fiction-is-life @lilacbeesworld @angels17324 @broooookiecrisp @queen-of-the-misfit-toys @eleanor-bradstreet @divaanya @musicismyoxygen84 @benedictspaintbrush @miindfucked @sorryallonsy @lilithseve @cayt0123 @hottytoddyhistory @truly-dionysus @fictionalmenloversblog @zinzysstuff @malpalgalz @panhoeofmanyfandoms @kinokomoonshine @causeimissu @delehosies @Mlovesbridgerton @m-rae23 @last-sheepp @kmc1989 @desert-fern @starkeylover @corpseoftrees-queen @jeanfreau @magical-spit @bunnyweasley23 @how-many-stars-in-the-sky @amygdtjhddzvb