#she finally stopped after a while of realizing he had to choose to reach out to her and when she stopped trying to contact him he got worse

[green-tea-lemonade]

And there she stood. It seems the stars had been kind enough to at least give her the decency of a normal appearance. She stood there, her tail gently swaying as he walked in her direction. She smiled, the stars in her form glowing a little brighter at the sight of him. He never realized how much he had missed seeing it. Seeing her. If not for the current state of things, it was as though the incident had never happened at all. It had though, and her eyes were the proof.

[princessbellecerise]

Court Shenanigans

Summary ✩ Missing their father, your children decide it’s a good idea to interrupt him in the middle of court

Warnings ✩ Mentions of pregnancy

Authors Notes ✩ Everyday I cry cause this man isn’t real but at least I have fanfic

You tried to stop them, you really did.

But being almost nine moons pregnant and having the most swollen feet known to man, it was almost impossible to chase after and keep up with two rowdy tots.

Usually, their nursemaids would have them by now and would be helping to assist you, but Aliza was sick and Joanna was with her family. Both of them would have scolded you for trying to run when you couldn’t even see your feet, but your kids were a mischievous bunch and you had a sinking feeling on where they were headed.

Aemma, the eldest of the two twins, had been complaining all day about not being able to see her father, as Jace had missed out on breakfast and lunch with her in order to hear a few extra petitions.

It seemed as if the Kingdom was more unruly than usual, and Lords had come from all over the realm to plead their cases.

Wanting to be a good King and make sure that he could adhere to all of his subjects, Jace had opted to spend a little extra time on the throne and a less with his family.

This of course didn’t sit well with Aemma, and as her shadow Jaelin followed right on along with her.

Try as you might have, you weren’t fast enough to catch up to them and your protests for them to stop didn’t do much good, either.

Before you could even blink, your twins were flying past the Kingsguard and bursting into the throne room, with little Aemma’s excited shouting making you want to crawl into a hole right there and then.

“Kepa!”

In no time your baby girl ran across the room, interrupting some poor Lord under a pink banner. You thought that he might’ve been from White Harbor, or maybe he was from Maidenpool.

Whatever it was, you didn’t pay much attention as suddenly, all chatter stopped, and you were the center of attention as you wobbled towards Jacaerys and fixed Aemma with a stern glare.

“Aemma! Come back here!” You shouted after her sternly, and thankfully Jaelin was too afraid of your ‘motherly voice’ to get any closer.

He stopped just short of the Iron Throne, choosing to remain by Ser Darklyn’s side rather than follow his sister up the steps. With horror, you realized that Aemma was headed straight to Jacaerys, exclaiming happily as she threw herself in her father’s open arms.

“Kepa!”

She bounced excitedly as Jace pulled her on his lap, looking amused while you struggled to catch your breath.

Running at your size was no joke, and you ached to sit down somewhere and rest. You couldn’t do that though while your two year old twins were causing mayhem.

It was unbefitting of a Queen, you knew that, but desperation had you hiking up your dress, climbing the the steps, and holding your arms out expectantly while Jace chuckled.

“Aemma. It’s time to say goodbye to Kepa and go back to our chambers. Now,” You told her, but that only resulted in the toddler shaking her head and burying herself even deeper into Jacaerys’ arms.

“No! I want to stay with Kepa!” Her defiant little voice shouted, and you winced as a few murmurs echoed through the court.

You were painfully aware that everybody was staring at the scene, which made it even more embarrassing when you reached out again and failed to grab Aemma.

After about the third attempt to pull her away with no avail, your husband seemed to finally take pity on you and sighed.

“It’s alright my love. She can stay,” Jacaerys said, and upon hearing this Aemma beamed. “It’ll be her seat one day after all. Let her gain some experience; even if it is during the middle of a petition.”

You gave him an apologetic look, and you made a mental note to apologize to Lord…well, whoever you were currently interrupting. You had to admit, the sight of Aemma babbling broken phrases to Jace while she tried to grab his crown was adorable.

You sighed reluctantly.

“Alright,” You said, willing to leave Aemma where she was. At the very least you could persuade Jaelin to follow you and take him away, but as you turned to go back down the stairs you suddenly paused.

Had there always been that many, you wondered?

You hadn’t really paid attention that much, but now that your feet were practically screaming at you to sit down, the idea of going down so many steps didn’t seem so appealing.

Of course, you could’ve just asked one of the Kingsguard to help you down, but you didn’t want to be a bother—as silly as it sounded. You also didn’t want to risk your knees giving out and falling, either.

You were in a dilemma, but before you could even decide, Jace did it for you. Your husband, ever attentive, noticed your hesitation and immediately got up.

“Here, my love. Why don’t you rest and I’ll stand for now,” He suggested.

Even more whispers broke out at this. What Jacaerys was proposing was sweet, but it had never happened before and the idea of the Queen sitting on the throne in the presence of the King was…well it was simply unheard of.

You were sure a few people would call the action scandalous, but at the moment though, you didn’t really care what they thought. Your feet were aching and you needed a place to sit down before your knees decided where for you, so you nodded and accepted his offer.

“Thank you, my love.”

You sighed in relief as you sat on the throne. Albeit, it wasn’t the most comfortable of seats with all the swords and points, and you would’ve much rather been in your cushioned chair in your chambers, but it was better than nothing and the pressure on your feet was gone.

Nodding his head, Jacaerys gave you a small kiss on the side of your head and then he stood with Aemma in his arms, and gestured for Lord whoever to keep speaking.

Had you not been out of breath, you would have laughed at his face and the face of many others as they not only witnessed their King give the most powerful seat in the realm to his pregnant wife, but also witnessed him stand up while bouncing his baby daughter in his arms.

It was an unusual sight, but an adorable one that you cherished.

Motioning to Ser Darklyn to bring Jaelin up so that your family would complete, you smiled in content and Jacaerys once again motioned for the man who had been interrupted to continue his petition.

“Lord Mooton. Please, do continue,” He said with a large smile.

You giggled.

Ah, so that was his name.

[breezyblossoms]

Y/N wasn’t sure when she had started waiting for Xaden Riorson.

Maybe it had been back at Basgiath, when she first let him into her bed, knowing full well she’d never have his heart.

Maybe it had been after a battle, when he pulled her into his arms with shaking hands, holding on too tight-like he wasn’t sure if she’d still be there if he let go.

Maybe it had been always. And maybe that was the problem. Because Xaden never chose her. Not really. Not in the way that mattered.

And yet, Y/N had let herself believe, stupidly, hopelessly believe, that one day, he would. That one day, he’d look at her and see more. But she saw the truth now.

Because he was looking at her. At Violet Sorrengail. And Gods help her, Y/N had never seen his eyes that soft before.

Her breath caught, something sharp and vicious tearing through her chest. Because she knew that look. She had dreamed of that look. But it had never been for her.

Her fingers curled into fists at her sides, nails biting into her palms. Because of course it was Violet. Violet, who had fought her way through Basgiath. Violet, who had tamed Xaden’s dragon’s mate, a dragon that should’ve never chosen her. Violet, who had done in months what Y/N had never been able to do.

She had his heart.

And Y/N…

Y/N had never even been close.

Her throat burned. Because this wasn’t just losing him. She had never had him to begin with. And that was the part that hurt the most.

Xaden turned then, his gaze flicking toward her, and for one awful, unbearable second, their eyes met. His expression shifted. Like he knew. Like he understood exactly what she was thinking. Like he felt guilt. But guilt wasn’t love. Guilt wasn’t choosing her.

And Y/N was done waiting for something that was never hers to begin with. So she forced her lips into something that might’ve been a smile-might’ve looked real if it weren’t for the way her heart was cracking, splintering, breaking apart piece by piece.

And then…

She turned and walked away. Because almost didn’t count. Not anymore.

⸻

Xaden noticed immediately.

The first time Y/N wasn’t there, wasn’t where she always was, he ignored it.

The second time, something cold curled in his stomach.

The third time, he knew. She was avoiding him.

And Xaden Riorson did not handle losing well. Especially not when he hadn’t even realized he was playing a game.

He caught glimpses of her, passing shadows, fleeting moments before she turned the corner, before she slipped away.

And he let her. For a while. Because Gods help him, he didn’t know what to say. Didn’t know why it felt like his chest was hollowing out every time he realized she wasn’t coming back. Didn’t know why her absence felt sharper than any blade, more suffocating than any battle wound.

Until the fourth time.

Until he saw her with someone else. She wasn’t laughing. Wasn’t even smiling. But she was trying.

And Xaden-stupid, oblivious, undeserving Xaden finally understood. It wasn’t just that she was avoiding him.

She was moving on.

And that, he realized, was unforgivable. Not because she didn’t deserve to. But because he should’ve never let her think she had to. Because Y/N had always been there. In the quiet moments, in the war-torn ones. In his bed, in his arms.

He had never needed to wonder where she would be. Until now. Until he fucked it all up.

And Xaden Riorson didn’t lose things he wasn’t willing to fight for.

So he found her.

Cornered her.

Late at night, when she was least expecting it. When she had finally stopped looking over her shoulder for him. Because she thought he wouldn’t come. Because he had given her every reason to believe that.

But she was wrong.

Xaden pressed a hand against the doorframe, blocking her escape as she turned to find him standing there, his expression raw, desperate, furious.

She froze. Her breath hitched.

And Xaden had to clench his fists to keep himself from reaching for her. Because Gods help him, he had never wanted anything more.

But Y/N…

Y/N only tilted her head, her voice flat when she said, “Move.”

Xaden let out a slow, measured breath. “No.”

Her eyes narrowed. “Xaden-”

“You walked away,” he cut her off, his voice quiet, sharp. “And I let you.”

Her jaw clenched. “So what, now you’re here to fix your conscience?”

No. It had never been about guilt. It had always been about her. But she didn’t see that. Because he had never let her see it. Because he had let her believe she was temporary.

Xaden stepped closer, the air shifting between them.

“You think I didn’t notice?” His voice was low, rough, almost dangerous.

Because it wasn’t just noticing. It was feeling. Feeling her absence in every empty space she had left behind. Feeling the ache in his chest every time he looked for her and found nothing. Feeling like a fucking idiot for never realizing that she had been his before he even knew he had something to lose.

Y/N exhaled sharply, shaking her head. “Don’t do this, Xaden.”

“Do what?” he murmured.

Her throat bobbed. “Make this harder than it has to be.”

He let out a quiet, humorless laugh.

“Hard?” He stepped even closer. “You think this is hard for you?”

Her breath caught, but she didn’t move back. Didn’t run. And that was the only thing that kept him fucking standing. Because she was still here. Still listening. Still his, even if she didn’t want to be.

Xaden swallowed hard, his voice dropping to something honest, something wrecked.

“I can’t lose you.”

She blinked.

Like she hadn’t expected the words. Like she didn’t believe them.

And that? That nearly killed him. Because fuck, she had spent all this time thinking she was something he could just let go.

Like she hadn’t been his every damn day. Like she wasn’t the thing that had kept him breathing, fighting, alive.

“I can’t lose you,” he said again, softer this time.

And Gods help him, it was the truest thing he had ever said.

Her breath shuddered. Her hands fisted at her sides.

And for a long, unbearable moment, she didn’t say a word. Didn’t tell him to leave. Didn’t tell him it was too late.

And Xaden, for the first time in his life, let himself hope.

Because Y/N had walked away.

But maybe, just maybe, she wasn’t ready to let him go either.

⸻

Y/N didn’t make it easy for him.

She didn’t fall into his arms. Didn’t sigh in relief and tell him she had been waiting for him all along.

Because that would have been a lie.

She had stopped waiting. Stopped hoping for something he had never been willing to give her.

And if he thought a few pretty words were enough to pull her back into his orbit…

He was wrong.

Xaden must have realized it too. Because the moment she narrowed her eyes, the moment she crossed her arms and tilted her chin up, his expression turned grim. Like he knew exactly what she was about to say. Like he knew she was going to make this hard.

And for once, finally, he didn’t run from it.

Y/N exhaled slowly, carefully.

“Prove it.”

Xaden’s jaw ticked. “I am.”

“No,” she said, voice sharp, cold. “You’re saying it. That’s not the same thing.”

A muscle feathered in his jaw. “Then tell me how.”

Y/N let out a humorless laugh.

“You want me to tell you how to love me?” she murmured, tilting her head. “That’s funny, Xaden. I thought love was supposed to be instinctual.”

His fingers curled into tight, shaking fists.

“Y/N- ”

“No,” she cut him off. “You don’t get to show up and say you can’t lose me after choosing her every single time.”

His lips parted-but he didn’t argue.

Because he couldn’t.

Because it was true.

And Gods help her, the silence was worse than any excuse he could have given her.

Because he knew. He had always known.

She let out a slow breath, forcing herself to stay standing when all she wanted to do was crumple.

She had promised herself she wouldn’t break for him again. But gods, he was making it hard.

“I need to know I’m not just an afterthought,” she said, her voice low, steady.

He lifted his head at that, his eyes flashing with something dark, something wrecked.

“You’ve never been an afterthought,” he said, his voice sharp, furious. “Not to me.”

Y/N’s chest ached. But she shook her head.

“Then prove it.”

And this time, he didn’t hesitate.

⸻

Xaden knew it was coming. Because Gods help him, she was right.

She had never been an afterthought. But the problem was, neither was Violet. Not with their dragons bonded for life. Not with their destinies tangled, whether they wanted it or not. Not with the war, with Basgiath, with everything.

But Y/N wasn’t going to be a second choice. Not anymore. And that meant he had to prove it.

Starting with Sgaeyl.

It wasn’t a secret that his dragon favored Y/N. Sgaeyl had always preferred her, had always sought her out over Violet, despite the bond between their dragons.

Xaden had always thought it was amusing.

But now-

Now, it wasn’t a game. Because Sgaeyl had chosen. And Xaden wasn’t sure what that meant for everything else. Y/N stood in the clearing, arms crossed as she watched him. Not angry. Not hopeful. Just waiting.

Sgaeyl’s head turned toward him. “Fix this,” she said in his mind. “Now.”

Xaden exhaled sharply. “You tell me how,” he muttered.

Sgaeyl let out a deep, considering hum. Then, she said, “I cannot break a bond that is not mine.”

Xaden stilled.

Because that, that was new. Y/N raised a brow. “Well?” Xaden let out a slow, careful breath.

“There’s only one way to prove it,” he admitted.

Her brows lifted. “And that is?”

Xaden swallowed. “Choose you over her.”

Y/N’s lips parted. And Xaden waited.

Because Gods help him, he was finally choosing. And this time, he prayed to every god that ever existed that he wasn’t too late.

⸻

Xaden Riorson had spent his entire life fighting for survival.

Fighting for power. For revenge. For a future that wasn’t dictated by the sins of his father. But he had never fought for love. Never had to.

Because until now, he had never been at risk of losing the one person he couldn’t live without.

And Y/N, Gods help him, was making damn sure he earned every second of her time.

The tension between Xaden and Violet was palpable.

It had been since the moment Sgaeyl had chosen Y/N over her. Not that Violet had ever been oblivious to it. She was smart. Too smart. She had noticed the way Sgaeyl sought Y/N out first. The way Xaden’s gaze always lingered on her. The way Y/N had started to disappear.

And now? Now, Violet wasn’t oblivious at all.

Xaden found her waiting for him outside the barracks, arms crossed, her expression cool, calculating.

“I didn’t want to believe it,” she said simply.

Xaden didn’t pretend not to know what she meant. Instead, he exhaled sharply. “But you did.”

She nodded. “I saw the way she looked at you.”

His stomach tightened.

“More importantly,” Violet continued, tilting her head. “I saw the way you looked at her.”

Xaden didn’t answer. Because there was nothing to deny.

She let out a slow breath. “This is going to make things… complicated.”

It already was. With their dragons bonded, their destinies were already tangled. But that wasn’t the same as love. And Violet knew it.

“Then we make it uncomplicated,” Xaden said, steady, certain.

Her lips parted slightly. Because they both knew what that meant. What that had to mean. They couldn’t be more than what they were. Couldn’t blur the lines. Couldn’t pretend their dragons’ bond was the same as their own. Because Xaden had made his choice. And it wasn’t her.

For a long moment, Violet was silent. Then, finally, she nodded. And Gods help him, Xaden felt it shift.

The last thread of uncertainty snapping.

Because for the first time, truly, fully, undeniably, he was free to fight for the person he should have been fighting for all along.

⸻

It wasn’t enough.

Not to prove himself. Not to undo the damage he had caused. Because Y/N wasn’t an idiot. She wasn’t going to fall at his feet just because he had finally woken up. So she made him work for it.

She didn’t let him touch her. Didn’t let him fall into old habits. Didn’t let him have her until she was sure she had all of him. Because if he wanted her, really wanted her, it had to be all or nothing.

Xaden gritted his teeth when she dodged him for the fourth time in a week. He had done everything. Given her space. Let her set the pace. But fuck if he wasn’t losing his mind.

Because every time he caught a glimpse of her, every time her gaze locked with his across the training yard, every time she turned away before he could say something..

It felt like a slow, torturous death. So when he finally cornered her, again, she didn’t look surprised. Didn’t look apologetic.

Just calm. Waiting. Testing him.

Xaden exhaled slowly, measured.

“What else do you want from me?”

Y/N tilted her head. Unmoved. “I don’t want anything from you, Xaden.”

His chest tightened.

“Then why are you still here?” His voice was quiet, dangerous.

She smirked, but there was no warmth in it.

“I’m not. You’re the one chasing me, remember?”

His lips parted. Because fuck. She wasn’t wrong. He was chasing her. The way she used to chase him. And Gods help him, it was terrifying. Because for the first time, she held all the power. And he, the one who had spent his entire life controlling every possible outcome, was at her mercy.

“I know I fucked up,” he admitted, his voice rough, raw.

Her smirk faded.

“But I also know,” he continued, his eyes dark, intense, unrelenting, “that you’re still standing here. Which means a part of you wants to see if I’ll fight for you.”

She inhaled sharply. But she didn’t deny it. And Xaden knew. Knew she still wanted him. Knew this wasn’t about whether she had feelings for him. It was about whether he deserved them.

And Gods help him, he would spend the rest of his life proving that he did.

⸻

Xaden Riorson had always thought he understood pain.

The bite of a blade, the snap of broken ribs, the searing agony of dragon fire. But this, watching Y/N slip through his fingers, watching her smile at someone who wasn’t him, this was a different kind of torment.

Because she wasn’t his to lose. Not yet. And Gods help him, she was making him suffer for it.

He saw her again.

With him.

The first time, Xaden convinced himself it was nothing.

The second time, he clenched his fists but stayed quiet.

The third time? He barely stopped himself from snapping the bastard’s neck.

Y/N stood close to the other rider, too close. Her head tilted back as she laughed at something he said.

Not forced. Not polite.

Real.

Xaden felt something dark and ugly curl in his stomach. Something he had never had to experience before.

Jealousy.

Not the petty kind. The kind that ate away at his fucking soul. Because that used to be him. That used to be his space beside her. His words making her laugh. His gaze catching hers across the training yard, a secret flickering between them.

But now?

Now, he was nothing more than a spectator. And Gods help him, it was driving him insane.

Sgaeyl’s voice rumbled in his mind. “You could simply go to her.”

His jaw tightened. No. Not yet. Not until she was ready. Not until she was the one choosing him again. But Gods help him, if she didn’t stop smiling at that bastard soon, he was going to…

“You’re scowling.”

Xaden whipped around to find Violet watching him, arms crossed.

He exhaled sharply. “I’m aware.”

Violet smirked. “Not a fan of Y/N’s new friend?”

He shot her a glare.

She laughed. “Oh, relax. They’re not like that.”

Xaden stilled. “What?”

Violet arched a brow. “You really think she’s replaced you that easily?”

His throat felt tight. “I don’t know what to think.”

Violet sighed, shaking her head. “It’s platonic. You’d know that if you stopped sulking in the shadows and actually talked to her.”

Xaden gritted his teeth. “She’s the one avoiding me.”

“Is she?”

That fucking smirk. Violet had always been too perceptive for her own good. And the worst part? She wasn’t wrong.

It happened on a stormy night. When the tension was so thick it felt like it could snap.

Y/N had gone to the training grounds, seeking solitude.

But of course, Xaden followed.

She sensed him before he spoke. Always did. But she didn’t turn around. Didn’t acknowledge him.

Until…

“I know it’s platonic,” he said quietly.

She stiffened. Then slowly turned to face him. “Excuse me?”

Xaden took a step closer, his gaze unreadable.

“I know you’re not with him.”

Y/N tilted her head, something dangerous and mocking in her eyes.

“And?”

Xaden exhaled sharply. “And it doesn’t fucking matter.”

Her lips parted slightly. Because this was different. This wasn’t him asking for another chance. This wasn’t him chasing her, hoping she’d let him in. This was him standing his ground. Him refusing to pretend he wasn’t hers.

“I don’t care if you’re not with him,” he said, voice low, steady.

“I don’t care how long you make me wait. How hard you make this.”

He stepped closer.

Crowding her. Consuming her.

“I don’t care if you never admit that you still love me,” he murmured. “Because I’m not going anywhere.”

Y/N’s breath caught.

Because Gods help her, she had spent weeks waiting for him to crack. To slip back into old habits. To fail. But he hadn’t. He had stayed. Even when she made him suffer. Even when she pushed him away.

Because for the first time, he was fighting for her. And Gods help her, she wanted to believe him. But believing him meant admitting she had never stopped loving him. And that? That was terrifying.

Xaden must have seen it in her eyes. Because his gaze softened, just slightly.

And then, he broke her.

“I was a fool,” he admitted, his voice raw.

“For thinking you’d always be there. For thinking I could have you without giving you everything.”

He swallowed hard.

“But I’m here now.”

A pause. Then, the final blow.

“And I’m not leaving. Not ever.”

Y/N shattered. Because fuck, she wanted to believe him.

And maybe, maybe she finally did.

She let out a shaky breath. And then, finally, she stopped running.

Xaden barely had time to react before she grabbed the front of his shirt and crashed her lips against his. It wasn’t soft. It wasn’t slow. It was desperate, aching, furious. It was everything they had been holding back.

Xaden let out a low, guttural sound, his hands sliding into her hair, gripping her like she might disappear. Like he was never going to let her go. Because he wasn’t. Not this time. Not ever.

And as her fingers tightened around him, as she finally, finally let herself believe him…

Xaden Riorson knew one thing.

The suffering had been worth it. Because in the end, he had won the only war that mattered.

Her.

[chickadeethoughts]

reread this post and maybe this is an unpopular mclennon opinion? but i think they both didn't actually understand each other as well as they thought they did. i think both of them believed the other could read their mind and then filtered their subsequent actions as a conscious slight. like. john should know that paul is someone who keeps his feelings very closely guarded, who will always choose to keep the peace and to put on a good face when he's upset. but throughout the breakup, when paul seemingly stays as productive as ever, staying distantly polite to yoko while urging john to keep writing, keep beatling, everything's fine, time to put on a show, john takes it that paul doesn't care one way or another about their partnership dissolving, he's a perfectly capable one-man band hit machine anyway. this is seemingly confirmed by paul announcing the breakup to "sell a record," effectively ending all hope of quietly reconciling and supporting john's theory that paul was done with the beatles (john) anyway and had been on his way out once he learned he could write a #1 song without anyone's (john's) help. all he cares about is hits and money and his new perfect family and farm.

meanwhile. paul should know that john wasn't handling the pressures of the beatles well. he should know that he needed more support. but paul seems to be someone who gets stuck in his ways of thinking about people (see also: george), and doesn't seem to have ever shaken the image of john as the older, cooler teddy boy on the bus who he'd do anything to impress. he thinks the world of john and spends the 60s thinking they're in a friendly competition, not realizing john has started falling into the paranoia that he's losing. you can see it in get back. paul is waiting for john to write his next great song, to set a new bar for paul to push himself to reach. paul got john by impressing him with his music and when he's losing john he doubles down on it because he thinks that's the only valuable thing he has to offer. he might have offered the support john needed instead if he knew what that was, but he didn't. but mid-60s john, who still thinks paul understands him, thinks paul knows he needs him but chooses to spend his time flitting around swinging london instead, which deeply hurts him. john clings to yoko because she's a breath of fresh air from the constant race he's been running for a decade. a creative partner he doesn't have to chase down. someone who needs him as much as he needs her. a woman he can marry, can have a real commitment to. he can be everything to the person who is everything to him. but paul sees this as john finally outgrowing him and finding someone better.

paul also should know that john often speaks first and decides whether he believes what he said later. but it seems he only ever takes john at his word. when john leaves the beatles that's it, no negotiation, because if paul has lost john to someone more interesting, more artistic, then that's that. when john starts to talk publicly about paul's muzak and granny shit that must be true too, it's why john left after all. and granted john just wont stop shit talking him and it's not like he just fell on a keyboard and how do you sleep came out. but this is how you get a paul who starts to see himself as a villain and questions whether john did love him. he doesn't think too many people was that nasty compared to what john was saying about him in interviews because he doesn't realize that one of john's biggest fears is that he's incapable of being a great songwriter without paul. so to john, the lucky break line is paul admitting he agrees with that assessment and twisting the knife. but paul wouldn't see it that way because he's only ever had john on a pedestal.

so by the 70s, on their worst days, john thinks paul is cold marble statue who knows he's better than him and delights in it and paul thinks john is entirely out of love or use for him, if he ever had it in the first place. and of course, they could never talk about any of this openly because neither of them were willing to face the pain of confirming that their love really was one-sided.

[jinusajas]

11/26/24; 10:00pm

sylus x fem.reader (non mc)

[ minors don’t interact; by choosing to interact with this content, you have consented to viewing something n-fw despite the warnings. ]

notes: once a sylus girly, always a sylus girly…

admittedly, your first meeting with sylus occurred in a more… unorthodox manner.

that night, you had just gotten off a late shift at work, feeling the cool air cause slight shivers to course through you. you hug your coat tighter to your form all while taking in your surroundings.

as you kept walking, you became aware of a suspicious pair of footsteps that seemed to follow your every move.

when you stopped, the same lingering steps would stop as well.

each time you would turn a corner or dash to the other side of the street-

you swore you could feel the hairs raising at the back of your neck at the strange sensation of being watched and followed.

not wishing to lead this bastard straight to your apartment, your eyes take in the sight of the neon lights that flash above you, reading the name of the bar as you entered crow’s haven for the first time.

the bar was dimly lit with a surprising number of patrons all scattered throughout the area. as your eyes take in the lavish furniture and the expensive alcohol everyone was consuming, you slowly began to realize just how out of place you were while in this high class bar.

the sounds of doors opening makes you stiffen, with you looking back to see an unfamiliar man walk in, dark eyes scanning the bar before landing on your frozen form. letting out a string of curses, you turn away from the entrance and began heading deeper inside of the bar, your gaze finally landing on a tall man with silver locks of hair.

you take in the sight of his pristine, black and red suit and make a beeline toward him. your hands reach out to grab at the ends of the expensive fabric, earning you a momentary look of disdain from the man as he acknowledges you with a narrowed, crimson gaze.

“what’s this? has a kitten gotten lost and found her way into a crow’s lair?”

shivers were felt running down your spine at the sound of his rich voice felt reverberating in your ear. “s-sorry, but, i need your help. can you pretend to be my boyfriend, at least until that fucker backs off?”

the man immediately straightens his posture, towering over you as he stood well past 6 feet in height. he places a hand on your shoulder, already seeing the unknown man making his way toward you.

“didn’t i tell you how dangerous it is to talk to strangers, sweetie?” you allow him to take a protective stance in front of you, gazing at the man who stalked you with a bored expression.

“hey man, i don’t mean no harm, just wanted to talk to that pretty lady over there.” the man gestures at you, yet before he can take another step a sudden click was heard, causing your stalker’s eyes to go wide when he was suddenly faced with a barrel of a gun.

“she’s mine.” those final words rang with such finality that you nearly fell to your knees. have you ever met a man that exuded such confidence before in your life? a man who’s beauty could rival that of gods themselves-

no, absolutely not.

the man backs away while stuttering out excuses, and to add insult to injury, your savior merely snaps his fingers as several men surrounded your potential stalker before physically escorting him out of the club.

relief courses through you, and you watch as your savior returns his gun back into the confines of his suit. the bartender already tends to him, refilling his shot glass of whiskey. as you take a moment to calm down your rapidly beating heart, you carefully step aside, “ah, thank you… for helping me back there. i should… probably head home-“

he stops you from moving forward by gently gripping at your wrist, “i don’t think that’s a good idea, kitten. after all, if you leave my safety, then there’s a chance that he’s standing out there, waiting for you.” crimson eyes now shone with amusement while he downs his shot of whiskey in a single gulp, not even fazed by the burn of the alcohol, “and i’ve already told him that you’re mine, kitten.”

unable to speak, you watch as he leans forward to take your hand in his, pressing a kiss at the back of it before telling you, “the name’s sylus… and i don’t mind keeping you under my protection until things settle down. what do you say?”

truthfully, you would be a fool not to take him up on his offer.

which lead you to where you are now, where sylus has been your “fake boyfriend” for close to two years now.

and that fact made you feel so giddy and stupidly in love with him.

sunlight streams through the window, painting your shared bedroom in brilliant hues. too happy to sleep in, you had woken up first to prepare some breakfast in bed for sylus in celebration of your anniversary. with several breakfast items on the tray, you tiptoe into the room, your smile breaking into a grin upon seeing sylus sleeping on his chest.

setting off your tray of breakfast to the side, you crept closer to the bed, wishing to tease your beloved a bit this morning. doing a countdown in your head, you land against sylus’s back, earning a grunt from him as you littered his skin with a plethora of kisses.

“hehe, morning sysy…”

sylus lets out a series of grumbles, slowly turning around so that he was lying back in bed while taking you within his embrace. “hmph… you’re up early. and you’re hyper, too.”

you gasp, “i am not hyper! i’m just incredibly happy today… and you know what today is, so don’t even pretend.”

a rich chuckle fills your ears, making you shiver once more in response. despite the millions of times you have basked in his voice, you couldn’t seem to get used to it, as it still sent pleasant sensations to course through you.

“truly… thinking back on that night when we first met- i was scared. i didn’t want some creep to know where i lived-“

“and so the lost kitten made her way inside a crow’s lair, seeking shelter.” a devilish grin spreads across sylus’s lips when he presses a quick kiss against your lips, “and the crow took pity on her and made a promise to keep her safe.”

“yeah…” you trail off and smile at the memory. deep down, you knew you were drawn to sylus and could sense that he was more than capable of protecting you.

you didn’t regret meeting him at all.

shaking your head, you break out of your reveries and smile back at sylus, “that’s why, i really wanted to celebrate our two year anniversary together. i decided to start off by making some breakfast in bed for you.”

you gesture towards the desk, earning a pleased hum from sylus. “i must say, that’s very thoughtful of you, kitten. however… i hope you won’t be too upset when i tell you that the type of hunger i have cannot be satiated by something as simple as food.” he frames at your face, smirk seeming to widen when he captures a lock of your hair and twirls it against his fingertips, “in fact, what i crave for is something far more decadent.”

“huh? what do you mean?”

sylus simply shakes his head, “instead of answering with words, why don’t i show you with my actions?”

“oh… okay…?”

you trail off, feeling your lips turn dry when sylus moves down your body, settling himself between your legs as he pushes up the fabric of your oversized shirt. his crimson gaze focuses solely on you while he breathes in your scent, settling his lips against your inner thigh. keeping his eyes shut, he basks in your scent before using one of his hands to grip at the waistband of your panties.

already, you felt the moisture beginning to pool between your legs, your breathing slowly turning labored when sylus pulls your panties down the rest of the way using his teeth alone. amusement and desire paints his gaze as he meets your slicked core, taking in the scent of your honeyed arousal before delving into your walls with his tongue.

the wet muscles was felt pushing inside of you, giving you such a hedonistic friction that had to be sinful with how good it felt. your hands automatically go into his hair, and you found yourself pressing your aching sex even deeper against him. sylus was relentless when it came to tasting you, drinking up all you had to offer as he made sure that not even a single drop of your arousal fell against the sheets.

playing your body with a familiar expertise, your back arches against the mattress as your climax rushes out of you in waves, your gasps quickly morphing into broken moans of his name, earning a pleased grunt from the onychinus leader.

your mind was in a daze after such an intense release, yet you remained in such a muddled state even as sylus pulled you closer to him by your ankles. rapid movements were felt below you, and when you blearily looked to the side, you felt your walls clench in response to sylus rapidly stroking his cock to full hardness before he presses his mushroom tip against your entrance.

“you drive me crazy, kitten. ever since the moment i laid eyes on you, you were truly mine.” he completes his statement by fully thrusting into you, bottoming out while setting a rapid pace. your legs wrap around his waist as you felt a newfound urgency at reaching your completion with him. the squelching sounds of your lovemaking echoes throughout the room while sylus continues to press lingering kisses against your damp skin all while hotly whispering into your ear-

“happy anniversary, sweetie… let’s celebrate by never leaving this bed.”

end notes: an unedited thirst post that needs to be written for all of the sylus girlies out there (⺣◡⺣)♡

all stories are written by rei; please do not repost, plagiarize, or translate my works!!

[whisperofwonder]

Domesticity (Evening Edition)

―Just some small, random evening moments.

Featuring: Bokuto Koutarou, Sakusa Kiyoomi, Akaashi Keiji x reader

Note: you have a daughter in Sakusa's

BOKUTO KOUTAROU

You skim the shelf for a few moments, then reach for a familiar looking package. It seems like every time you shop, there are more new varieties. It makes it difficult to keep track. "These are the ones you liked, right?" You ask, giving the box of protein bars a slight shake. There's no answer.

"Kou?" You look around, but your boyfriend is nowhere in sight. You bite back a sigh and toss the box in the cart anyway. If he can't stick around long enough to choose, he'll get what he gets. Pushing the cart along, you glance down the next few aisles. There's still no sign of him. Where would he have even wandered off to?

Just as you reach for your phone to send him a text, you feel a hand come to rest on the small of your back, and Koutarou is leaning around you to deposit something in the cart.

"Where did you go?" You ask with a frown as he sneaks his arms around you, slipping his hands into the front pocket of your oversized Jackals hoodie. "Koutarou," You add sternly as you can feel the warm press of his hands through the soft material. "We're in public."

Despite your warning, he doesn't make any move to pull away. "Just went to grab some apples," He says, hanging his chin over your shoulder. "You said this morning that we needed more, and I realized we were already past the produce, so I went back to get some."

You should really stand your ground and pull away, but you can't help it. There's no one around you to see the sudden closeness, and he was right about the apples. The warm press of his chest against your back is familiar and reassuring.

"Thanks for remembering," You say softly instead, reaching up to rest your hand on his cheek for a few moments.

"'Course," He nuzzles his other cheek against yours.

"Alright," You finally say, stepping away after savoring the moment for just a little while longer. You can hear the sound of another shopper's cart turning the corner. "Let's finish up so we can get home."

"And cuddle before bed?" He asks hopefully.

You can't help but smile. "I don't see why not."

SAKUSA KIYOOMI

You've just pulled out a onesie and are reaching for a clean diaper when you hear Kiyoomi enter the room behind you. You'd spent the last 15 minutes tidying up your daughter's room while he gave her a bath.

You turn with a smile to greet them, and a snort of laughter sneaks out before you can stop it. Your husband's t-shirt is soaked from the chest up, and there are water droplets slipping from his curls. Your daughter is babbling happily from beneath the hood of her ducky towel, oblivious to the less-than-pleased expression on her father's face.

"Oh, wow. Miyu one, Daddy zero, huh?" You ask, successfully holding back any further laughter.

"I don't think you can win bath time." He hands her over to you and mops a few drops of water from his cheek with the towel he'd slung around his neck. You lay her down and start putting on her diaper.

"Maybe not," You agree with a twitch of your lips, "But from the looks of it, you can certainly lose." He opens his mouth, then closes it with a shake of his head.

"Well, she had fun, anyway." He finally says, the slightest hint of a smile playing on his lips. "Right?" He asks, expression softening as he leans over to give her pudgy cheek a gentle pinch. She grins up at him, showing off her two and a half teeth, and he rests his hand on the top of her still-damp, downy curls.

"You're such a little stinker," He adds in the softest tone, never mind your heart that already feels fit to burst. You snap the last button on the onesie, picking her up and pressing a kiss to her irresistibly soft, freshly-washed cheek. Between the warm bath and the evident fun she'd had playing in it, she's already half asleep.

"Someone's ready for bed," You croon, then turn to him. "Go ahead and get changed. I'll put her down and be right out."

"Okay," He hums, leaning in and pressing a kiss to her forehead, "Goodnight, sweetheart," He murmurs, "I love you so much." He turns his head just enough to give you a tender kiss before he pulls away. "I love you," He adds.

"I love you too," You say softly, taking just a moment to run a hand affectionately through his damp hair before turning to put your daughter to bed.

AKAASHI KEIJI

"My love," you're woken by a soft whisper and the gentle squeeze of a hand on your thigh. "We're home."

Blearily, you turn to see Keiji in the driver's seat, and realize the car is parked in the driveway. That's funny - the last thing you knew, you were just pulling onto the highway. He's looking at you so intently that you almost feel the need to duck your head.

"Sorry, didn't mean to fall asleep," You eke out, rubbing your eyes in an effort to wake yourself up.

"It was a long day," He hums, the hand still resting on your thigh giving it another gentle squeeze. "So let's get inside and get to bed." It doesn't take much more prompting for you to follow him into the house.

You fight the warm sleepiness pulling at you long enough to change into your pajamas and brush your teeth, finally reaching for the covers when Keiji stops you. "Did you wash your face?" He asks, and you groan.

"I'll do it in the morning," You promise, turning down the covers.

"Come on," He says, reaching for your hand and gently guiding you back into the bathroom. "You'll feel better if you do it now. Here," He pats the closed toilet lid, and you obediently sink down onto it as he puts some of your cleanser on a cotton pad. His fingertips tilt your chin upwards, and you let your eyes slide closed as he begins swiping the soft pad across your face.

"Don't fall asleep," You hear him prompt as he works. You manage a hum to assure him that you won't, as relaxing as this is. Finally, you feel the press of lips on your forehead.

"All done," He says, and you open your eyes. The look on his face is so warm and gentle that something bubbles up in your chest.

"Thanks, Keiji," You say, tugging on his t-shirt until his lips meet yours. "Love you," You add against his lips.

"I love you too," He cups your cheek briefly with a soft smile. "Now, weren't you the one who was so eager to get to bed?"

You haven't forgotten. In mere moments, you're snuggled up against his chest under the covers. There's no place else you'd rather be.

[all4yoi]

only you

𝑒nhypen x fem!reader ⚹ cw. part 2 of just a game , hyung line , 2nd pov , ︎ fluff / comfort , lowercase intended , crying , cliche fluff omfg , karina mentioned on heeseung's & wonyoung on sunghoon's , not proofread ! part one here !

after catching them holding hands with another female, you walk away from them and they run after you, assuring you it was all a misunderstanding.

★ LEE HEESEUNG (0.5k words)

the day was coming to an end and heeseung has yet to find you.

after he had politely rejected karina, he ran after you but to no avail. all of his attempts on trying to reach you was a bootless errand. everytime he had seen a glimpse of you - whether in the cafeteria, library, the hallways, and god even in your shared class - you somehow always found a way to avoid him.

he could've simply gave up and moved on, he could've ran back to karina and date her instead. but he didn't want to give up and move on, he didn't want to run back to karina and date her, because what he wanted- needed, was you.

heeseung didn't want to go home yet, he needed to see you and explain everything. he'd be a fool to let you out his reach especially now that he knows you feel the same for him. he wasn't going to lose you because of a stupid mistake he made.

spotting a familiar figure sitting underneath a tree in the university's garden, he silently walked towards them, his fingers crossed hoping that he's finally found you.

and as if the universe was on his side, he saw you gorgeously flipping through a book with your pink earphones on. heeseung silently sat beside you, hoping you won't run away from him again. he saw how you stiffened and how your fingers stopped playing with the book's pages, and he wanted nothing but to hold your hand. it was your hand he wanted to hold- no one else's. you may not be with him yet, but ever since he realized he liked you, he was already yours before you even knew.

"y/n," he started softly, gently removing one earbud from your ear so you could hear him. you let him and look at him with hesitance, scared that he's here to tell you that he's changed his mind and he likes karina now instead.

heeseung smiled softly at you, "please let me talk and explain everything, okay?" you nodded, feeling your throat clogging up. "karina, you know she's one of my good friends, right? when you saw me holding her hand a while ago, she was the one who took my hand. i was so taken aback by her confession that i completely froze-..

because she's like a sister to me and you're the one i want. you're the one i need.. the one i like." he paused, brows furrowed in worry, hoping you'd understand. "i'm sorry for letting her hold my hand, and i'm sorry for hurting you. i really really like you y/n, please let me redeem myself to you." he finished, a small hesitant smile in his face as he studied yours.

feeling overwhelmed, you burst into tears. heeseung panicked, thinking he said something wrong and brought you to his chest, wrapping his arms around you.

"i thought you'd choose her over me." you cried in his chest, your own arms wrapping around his waist. heeseung didn't know why, but even when you were crying in his chest with your arms wrapped around his waist, he was feeling over the moon.

shaking his head, he pulled you closer if it was even possible and mumbled in your hair, "i'll choose you in a room full of other girls baby. only you."

other members utc!

★  PARK JONGSEONG (0.5k words)

3 hours was enough space right? jay liked to think it was, he was too impatient and just wanted to run to you and explain everything, but he knew you probably didn't want to see him after what you've witnessed.

jay had tried to put himself in your shoe, imagining seeing you holding hands with another boy after confessing to you- by the thought of it alone already made him feel ten times more worse, he hated himself with how much pain he had caused you.

so instead of waiting until tomorrow, jay took his bag and walked out of the cafeteria, ignoring his friends that were calling for him. he already knew where to find you, after all, he's always had his eyes on you ever since the first semester started.

jay muttered a quiet 'good afternoon' to the librarian before making a beeline towards the back of the library and there you were in your element. laptop open, headphones on with multiple books on the table you've occupied.

he liked to think that his type were girls that were a bit dumb so that he could lead the relationship, but when it comes to you? smart, pretty, and soft spoken? if his heart could speak, he's certain that the only word it can mutter is your name, and he's not ashamed to admit that.

the moment you looked up and made eye contact with him almost made his knees give up if it weren't for him holding on to a shelf to stabilize himself, and when you softly smiled at him despite what you saw that morning, it made him yearn for you more. he wouldn't ask for no one else.

call him cliché but you were the only one for him.

"what are you doing there? come sit." you motioned on the empty seat across from you to which he occupied immediately. "have you eaten?"

"have you?" he questioned back, eyeing the papers and books splattered on the table. "i had coffee." was your reply.

jay knew that you were still upset, it was showing in your body language. you were tense, stiff, and your fingers were shaking behind your laptop. he wanted to punch himself for making you feel this way.

"i'm sorry y/n, i really am." the hum you let out made him continue, his eyes studying your pretty face silently. "it's really not what it looked like-"

"everyone says that jay." the way you bit your lip told him that you didn't mean to cut his sentence off and be so harsh.

"yes, i know, it's stupid but i'm telling the truth. she bumped into me and fell, i couldn't just leave her on the floor because everyone saw our collision so i offered her a hand. that was it, i was about to walk away but she introduced herself and insisted on shaking hands.. then you saw me.

i know it looked so wrong from your perspective without context, and i'm sorry for upsetting you. i really had no other intentions, i was telling you the truth when i told you that night that i like you too, so much." he reached out for your hand, sighing in relief when you didn't pull away.

you nodded your head in understanding, squeezing his hand to tell him you now understand. "i'm sorry for jumping into conclusions and not hearing you out the first time."

he shook his head, squeezing your hand back. "it's okay, i understand. we're good now?" chuckling at him, you nodded and smiled at him. "we are, thank you."

★ SIM JAEYUN (0.4k words)

the tears in your eyes as you walked away from him made his heart crack. should he run after you? will you find him annoying? do you want him to run after you or do you want nothing to do with him now?

after arguing with himself on his head, he ran after you and engulfed you in a hug before you could turn around the corner and disappear from his sight. "please let me explain." his own voice cracked, and the weird looks you both received from the other students did not faze him at all.

"jake, not here please. they're looking at us.." he hastily took your hand and led you into an empty classroom, wanting nothing more than to assure you that what you thought is wrong and all he wanted was only you.

after he had made sure the door was locked and no one else was hiding somewhere, he immediately took your hands in his rubbing the back of your palm with his thumb.

you didn't know what to feel, was this how he held that girl's hand too? did he hold hers with gentleness too? with that in thought, your tears were back.

"no no, please don't cry. it was all a misunderstanding i promise." he held your face and wiped away the tears, his eyes held worry but so much love as well.

"she mistook me as her boyfriend, it didn't even last for 10 seconds because the moment she held my hand we both pulled away from each other.. it was just wrong timing that you saw it and we made eye contact, please believe me." he was practically crying with you right now, his own tears cascading down the apple of his cheeks.

you frantically nodded your head - now you were the one panicking at the sight of his tears. "i do, thank you for explaining. please don't cry." his tears were wiped with your thumbs as you hugged him tight.

"i don't want you to ever think i'm lying to you, you're really all i need." he explained further through his sobs, his arms tightening around you more.

there you two were, hugging each other in an empty room, tears falling down from both of your eyes as you comforted each other. and at that moment, no one else mattered - it was just the both of you in the world.

★ PARK SUNGHOON (0.6k words)

to say that sunghoon felt like shit the whole day yesterday and this morning was an understatement. he had desperately contacted you in all your social media accounts - fucking christ he even contacted you through your school's email, but to no avail, he was always left ignored.

he didn't blame you though, if he was to experience and see what you did yesterday, he would act the same - maybe even worse. sunghoon wanted nothing more but to make it up to you, to explain that he was only doing wonyoung a favor to make her crush jealous. i guess you could blame him for agreeing, but did he really have a choice when she just randomly grabbed him and told him to smile at every passing student? maybe.

he had texted wonyoung that same afternoon, telling her- demanding her politely? to explain everything to you, she told him she did but was only left on read by you. the girl apologized profusely to you and sunghoon, she didn't have any idea about the two of you and if she did - she wouldn't have done what she did.

but what's done is done, and now sunghoon is still trying to desperately reach you. throughout the day, he would hear your name coming out of other people's mouth, but not once did he catch a single glimpse of you. sunghoon was running out of options, he didn't want to be that type of guy to show up infront of your door step in fear of crossing boundaries, but he was seriously considering doing it today.

sunghoon mentally chanted your name in his head as if that would help and summon you, and you know what? maybe it did work because now he was seeing you standing across from him, your back facing towards him as you looked at the bulletin board.

not wasting any time, he raced towards you and gently grabbed your forearm, successfully turning your attention from the bulletin board to the taller boy behind you. sunghoon wanted the ground to swallow him whole when he saw how your face dropped at the sight of him.

"let's talk, please?" he whispered that only you could hear, glancing around the corridor before looking back at you. the small hesitant nod was everything he needed before he lead you in an empty hall as everyone was in the cafeteria.

sunghoon took his chance and took you in, loving the way you've dressed yourself today and he wanted to just keep you in his arms all day, but he reminded himself that he needed to clear things up and make you his girlfriend obviously before he could even do that.

"wony already explained everything, i'm sorry for assuming the wrong thing.." sunghoon was taken aback by your sudden apology, and the tightness in his chest grew.

he took your face in his hand, gently bringing your chin up so he could look you in the eye. "i should be the one apologizing.. i'm sorry for making you feel that way, i didn't have any other intentions towards her and i only like you.. so much to the point that it hurts. i'll do anything to prove it to you."

he couldn't understand that someone so precious as you could grow such feelings for him, he couldn't process and believe that he's important to someone he finds important too. should he be punished by the gods above because he finds your teary eyes enchanting? he could see his reflection in your eyes and the love it carries, and somehow he finally understands. sunghoon feels warm as he brought you to his chest, tucking your head in the crook of his neck.

"i'll show you, i'll give you my everything and my forever. you're it for me."

[liuhsng]

─────⋆˚࿔ ⋆ strings and satin ( pjs ! ) — part 3

✩ˎˊ˗ enhypen masterlist

⤷ pairing — jay x fem!reader

⤷ part 1 | part 2 | part 3 | part 4 | part 5 ⤷ word count — 20.3k ⤷ based on this request by 🍓 anon ⤷ permanent taglist — open !

⤷ a/n — hello my loves ! i apologize for the wait but part 3 is finally here ! there’s one last part coming (ik ik this accidentally turned into a mini-series LMAO) so pace yourselves, scream in the comments, and most importantly—stay hydrated 💌

⤷ warnings — college au, guitarist!jay, ballerina!reader, college!jay, college!reader, college!enhypen, band!enhypen, fake dating trope, meeting the parents (twice), soft domestic undertones, protective!jay, reader realizing feelings (oops), jay realizing harder (oops x2), mentions of nct’s jaehyun, forehead kisses, unspoken tension turning very spoken, emotional vulnerability, jay cries a little (he’s trying), mutual breakdown, confessions, fluff, angst, hurt/comfort

✩ˎˊ˗ summary — what started as an arrangement is beginning to feel terrifyingly real. after spending the weekend meeting each other’s families—laughter, teasing, and surprisingly warm welcomes—you start to wonder if it’s all just part of the act. but in the quiet of jay’s car, with the city lights flickering around you and his hand warm on your thigh, the walls come down. truths slip out in broken whispers, confessions bloom like bruises, and for the first time, you both admit what’s been clawing at your chests: this isn’t fake anymore.

The studio was quiet except for the soft hum of the air conditioner and the faint sound of Chaewon’s breathing as she pushed herself into a deeper forward fold.

You sat on the mat beside her, gently guiding her arms forward while Kazuha hovered nearby, stretching out her own legs. The three of you were the only ones left—everyone else had long since filed out with tired smiles and heavy bags.

Chae-won glanced up at you, a sheepish smile tugging at her lips. “I know I said I’d stop staying late, but…”

“You didn’t have a choice,” you finished for her with a teasing smile.

She laughed, reaching for her toes again with a determined little huff. “Exactly. Coach has been breathing down my neck about my turns, and honestly…”

She sighed dramatically. “I think she’s starting to dream about my pirouettes.”

Kazuha snorted at that, folding forward to touch her nose to her knee. “I’m surprised you’re even here this late. Usually you’re the first one to disappear.”

“Yeah, well,” Chaewon shot back playfully, “it’s either stay here or hear Coach’s lecture tomorrow. I choose life.”

You laughed softly, shaking your head as you moved into one last seated stretch with them. “One more and we’re done. Then you’re free to escape Coach’s wrath.”

As soon as you all eased out of the final stretch, Kazuha was already on her feet, tossing her water bottle into her bag. Chaewon wasn’t far behind, zipping up her hoodie as she made her way to the door.

“What’s with the rush?” you asked with a curious tilt of your head, watching them pack up so fast it felt like they were running from something.

“Kazuha decided to help me with my literature paper,” Chae-won replied, slinging her bag over her shoulder. “So now she’s stuck with me until it’s finished.”

Kazuha rolled her eyes fondly. “Stuck? Please. You’re the one who’s going to make me rewrite every sentence twice.”

“You love it.”

“Do not.”

You chuckled at their bickering, trailing after them as you walked them to the door. Kazuha turned back at the threshold, fixing you with a mischievous grin. “Oh, and say hi to my stinky cousin for me, will you?”

You blinked, caught off guard before realizing exactly who she meant. “Stinky cousin?” you echoed, laughing as you shook your head. “Will do.”

She winked and tugged Chae-won out into the hall. “Don’t stay too long, okay? You’re always the last one out.”

“Got it, mom,” you teased as you waved them off, closing the door gently behind them.

You let out a small sigh, turning back toward your things to sit back down—knock knock.

The sound made you freeze for a split second before a knowing smile curved on your lips. You didn’t even have to guess. Of course.

Pulling the door open again, you were met with Jay standing there like he owned the place—his black hoodie slightly oversized, matching joggers sitting low on his hips, a guitar slung over his shoulder like an afterthought.

His hair was a little mussed from the chilly air outside, and in his other hand, he held up a paper bag that smelled heavenly.

“Hi, pretty,” he said softly, voice warm and teasing, as if he hadn’t just shown up an hour early.

You hummed, trying to keep your face neutral even as your cheeks warmed at the nickname. “Hi, stranger.”

He scoffed with mock offense, stepping into the studio. “Wow. That’s how you greet the guy bringing you food?”

You laughed under your breath, closing the door behind him. “You’re only forgiven if that smells as good as I think it does.”

“Guess you’ll have to find out.”

You both made your way to the center of the studio where your things were piled up. Jay dropped his guitar case to the side before plopping down cross-legged on the floor, patting the space next to him with an easy grin. You settled in beside him, tucking your legs under you.

“What’s in the bag, Park?” you asked, eyeing it like you were trying to x-ray through the paper.

He smirked, pulling out two steaming bowls with practiced ease. “Curry. From that place near campus you’re obsessed with.”

Your eyes went wide, and you practically beamed at him. “Wait—my favorite curry? The one with the potato croquettes?”

He nodded, already opening one of the bowls and handing it to you along with utensils. “The one and only. Nothing but the best for my favorite girl.”

Your face heated as you took the bowl from him, trying to hide your flustered smile by looking down at the food. “Jay… You didn’t have to. Thank you.”

“It’s nothing,” he said casually, opening his own bowl and digging in like this was the most normal thing in the world. “Besides, I couldn’t just let my pretty girl starve after practice. That’d be bad boyfriend behavior.”

You rolled your eyes but couldn’t stop the way your lips tugged upward. “You’re so ridiculous.”

“And yet here you are, eating curry with me in the middle of an empty studio.” He grinned at you, resting his elbow on his knee and his cheek in his hand as he watched you blow gently on your first spoonful. “So, who’s really ridiculous?”

You shook your head with a soft laugh. “Still you.”

“Uh-huh. Keep telling yourself that, pretty.” His grin was smug as ever, but the warmth in his tone betrayed the softness he always tried—and failed—to mask around you.

You blew on another spoonful, chewing thoughtfully before glancing at him. “So, how’s your Karma guitar solo coming along?”

Jay hummed low in his throat, finishing his own bite before answering. “Pretty good, actually. I just need to change a few notes here and there, smooth out some transitions, and it’ll be good to go for next week’s rehearsal.”

“After we eat,” he said, voice softening at your eager expression. “Don’t wanna get curry all over my strings.”

You nodded, a small smile playing at your lips as you scooped up another bite. “Deal.”

A beat passed before you leaned your chin onto your hand, eyes watching him as he ate with the kind of casual ease that made the air between you feel impossibly light.

“How was your day anyway?” you asked, curious.

He groaned dramatically, shoving another spoonful of curry into his mouth like the memory itself weighed him down. “Heeseung almost fell down the stairs, so… I guess that was funny?”

You froze, blinking before laughter bubbled out of you, the sound echoing lightly in the studio. “What?”

Jay gave you a crooked grin, shaking his head like he still couldn’t believe it. “Yeah. So—during lunch, he’s sitting there all smug and says he’s strong enough to carry Jungwon’s whole drum set down the stairs by himself. Like, the entire kit.”

Your laugh grew louder as you covered your mouth with your hand. “And? What happened?”

Jay chuckled too, his shoulders shaking as he leaned back slightly, enjoying the retelling. “Well, he actually tries it. Gets halfway down and then—boom.”

He clapped his hands together for emphasis. “He slips, lands flat on his ass, and half the drum set crashes down after him.”

You were nearly doubled over now, your bowl forgotten for a moment as tears prickled at the corners of your eyes from laughing so hard. “Oh my god. Is he okay?”

“He’s fine,” Jay assured with a small smirk.

“His pride, though? Absolutely obliterated. Jungwon wouldn’t stop teasing him. And Ni-ki—oh god—Ni-ki got it on video. I’m pretty sure he’s already made it his lock screen.”

You laughed, barely managing to set your bowl down before you spilled curry everywhere. “I swear,” you wheezed, wiping your eyes with the back of your hand, “you guys are a bunch of kids.”

Jay smirked, stabbing his spoon into his curry with mock offense. “You’re telling me. Babysitting them is practically a full-time job at this point.”

The laughter faded into a comfortable quiet as the two of you continued eating, the only sound being the soft clinking of spoons against bowls and the rain still pattering faintly outside.

Then, after a beat, Jay cleared his throat. “Also…”

You looked up at him mid-bite, his voice just a little too careful for comfort.

“I talked to my parents this morning.” His eyes flicked to yours for a second, gauging your reaction, then back down to his bowl.

He swirled his spoon idly in the remaining curry, almost like he was stalling. “And… I might’ve mentioned I have a girlfriend.”

You froze. “You what—” you choked as the last bite of curry went down the wrong pipe.

Jay’s eyes widened as he immediately reached for the iced tea he’d brought, uncapping it and shoving it toward you. “Whoa—hey, here. Don’t die on me now.”

You took the drink and downed it in desperate gulps, coughing a little as Jay patted your back with his free hand. “Breathe, pretty. Deep breaths.”

Once your coughing fit subsided, you turned to glare at him, setting the iced tea down a little too hard. “You what?”

Jay winced, rubbing the back of his neck sheepishly. “Okay—look. My mom’s been asking for months if I finally found someone. She caught me off guard, and I… I panicked.”

“You panicked?!” you whispered harshly, pressing a hand to your face. “Jay—”

“And I said I… kinda did,” he continued quickly, voice dropping low as if it would soften the blow. “Even if it’s… you know. Fake.”

Your hand slid down your face as you groaned. “Oh my god. Park Jongseong.”

“I know,” he muttered, staring at his food like it was about to scold him too.

You took a deep breath, trying to calm the pounding of your heart. “Okay. And? Is that it? Please tell me that’s it.”

“…They, uh…” He paused, finally looking up to meet your incredulous stare. “They want to meet you before college week.”

You blinked. “I’m sorry. What?”

“They just… They’re curious,” he said weakly. “Saturday dinner. At my house.”

“It’s Wednesday, Jay!” you whisper-yelled, running both hands over your face this time. “That’s—what—three days away!”

“I know. I know.” He reached over, carefully prying one of your hands from your face to hold it in his. “I’m sorry I didn’t tell you sooner. I was gonna bring it up earlier but…”

“But?” you echoed, narrowing your eyes at him.

He gave a small, nervous laugh. “You’re scary when you’re mad.”

You swatted at his arm, making him laugh for real this time. “Jay, this isn’t funny! Meeting your parents?!”

He squeezed your hand gently, the playful edge to his smile softening just slightly. “Hey, don’t freak out. You’re the best fake girlfriend I could ask for.”

You stared at him, your stomach flipping in a way that had nothing to do with the curry. “You’re unbelievable.”

“Yeah, but I’m also buying dessert after this to make it up to you.” He shot you a hopeful grin. “Deal?”

You sighed, letting your head thump against his shoulder as you muttered, “I’m gonna regret this, aren’t I?”

“Nah,” he said, grinning down at you. “You’ll be great. They’re gonna love you. I already do.”

You froze, feeling your chest tighten as his words sank in—but before you could process it, he was already moving, scooping up his empty bowl like nothing happened.

“Now hurry up and finish. You still have a Karma guitar solo to listen to.”

You let out a low grumble, shoveling in the last spoonfuls of curry while Jay, ever so annoyingly efficient, gathered the empty bowls and tossed them into the nearby trash bin like it was second nature.

“You could at least sound a little less cocky about it,” you muttered under your breath, earning a quiet chuckle from him.

“Hey, I don’t make the rules. I’m just naturally talented.”

Rolling your eyes, you pulled your knees up to your chest as Jay started moving around the studio.

He grabbed his guitar case with one hand and tugged the amplifier closer with the other, his movements so fluid and familiar it was almost like muscle memory.

Then came the microphone stand he’d left leaning against the wall earlier, his black hoodie shifting slightly as he adjusted it with practiced ease.

You watched him silently, your lips curving into a small smile without realizing it. There was something hypnotic about the way he set everything up—so meticulous yet relaxed, his fingers working effortlessly as if this whole process was a second skin.

When he was done, he tapped the mic lightly, listening for the faint echo bouncing across the studio walls. Satisfied, he turned to you with a playful smirk as you aimed your phone camera at him.

He leaned slightly toward the mic, his voice dropping into a mock-serious tone. “This is Jay from Enhypen, Karma guitar solo take one.”

You giggled, biting your lip as you hit record. “Dramatic much?”

But just as his fingers brushed the strings, ready to start, the studio door creaked open.

The sound made both your heads turn as familiar figures strolled in—Jungwon, Ni-ki, Heeseung, and Sunghoon—all carrying their own instrument cases and backpacks.

They froze for a moment upon seeing the two of you, and you swore the tiniest knowing smirk tugged at Heeseung’s lips.

“Yo,” Jungwon said casually, raising a hand in greeting. “Don’t stop. Pretend we’re not here.”

Jay blinked, clearly caught off guard, but Heeseung stepped forward, setting his microphone case down against the wall. “Go on,” he said, nodding toward the setup. “We’ll just observe.”

Jake was already dropping onto the floor beside you with a grin, tugging out his phone like he was about to film too. “Free live performance? Don’t mind if I do.”

“Seriously?” Jay muttered under his breath, rubbing the back of his neck.

“Seriously,” Sunghoon echoed as he settled into a chair near the corner.

With a sigh that turned into a quiet laugh, Jay turned back to his guitar. His fingers flexed briefly before resting on the strings, the low hum of the amp filling the space as he strummed experimentally.

The first few notes cut through the air—sharp, clean, and rich with depth. A heavy rock beat built underneath as his fingers danced across the fretboard, smooth yet electric, his body swaying slightly with the rhythm.

Each note was flawless, his precision making it look almost too easy as he transitioned from hard-hitting riffs to softer melodic runs.

You found yourself clutching your phone tighter, the camera still aimed at him as if you could capture the magic in its entirety.

But no recording could do this justice—the way Jay’s brows furrowed in concentration, how his lips parted slightly as his pick dragged across the strings in perfect timing, and the raw energy that seemed to radiate off him in waves.

“Holy shit,” Sunoo whispered under his breath, earning a quiet nudge from Ni-ki.

“Damn right,” Ni-ki said, grinning as he watched their lead guitarist command the room without so much as a single word.

By the time the last note faded, silence hung heavy in the studio.

It was Jungwon who broke it first, his jaw slack as he gawked at Jay. “What the hell, you finally perfected it.” His voice came out almost accusatory, like he couldn’t believe what he’d just witnessed.

Heeseung’s laugh echoed across the room as he leaned down to grab his microphone case from where it rested against the wall. “That was insane, man. You’ve been holding out on us, huh?”

Before Jay could respond, Sunoo suddenly appeared beside you, practically bouncing on his toes. “Wait—did you teach him or something?”

You blinked at him, startled, then shook your head quickly. “Me? Sunoo, I know nothing about instruments. I can barely play anything on the recorder.”

Ni-ki pushed himself up from the floor with a lazy grin, his phone already in hand as if he was ready to replay the whole thing.

“Well, whatever you’re doing, keep it up. Jay’s been stressing over that solo for days. This is the first time I’ve seen him play it without swearing halfway through.”

You laughed softly, your eyes drifting back to Jay where he was still cradling his guitar.

Your chest felt oddly warm at Ni-ki’s words, but you pushed it down as you raised your hand, thumb pointed high in the air. “Nice job, rockstar.”

Jay caught your gesture and, despite the faint flush on his cheeks, gave you one of his easy smiles—the kind that made it hard to remember this was supposed to be fake.

“Hey, hey, don’t bask too long in the glory.” Sunghoon’s voice cut in as he shoved his guitar toward Jay’s face, the strap still dangling from his shoulder.

“Fix my E-string, Mr. Perfect Solo. It’s been buzzing like crazy.”

Jay rolled his eyes but took the guitar anyway, resting it on his thigh as his long fingers expertly twisted the tuning pegs. “You could fix this yourself if you didn’t manhandle your strings like a caveman.”

Sunghoon smirked, leaning lazily against the wall. “Why bother when I have you?”

“You guys are hopeless,” Heeseung muttered with a grin, adjusting the strap on his guitar case.

“Agreed.” Ni-ki chimed in with a laugh as he headed toward his bass.

“But hey, at least now our lead guitarist won’t look like he wants to kill someone mid-solo anymore.”

Jay handed Sunghoon’s guitar back after a quick tune-up, his eyes flicking to you for a heartbeat too long. “Done. Anything else? Need me to restring your whole kit too?”

“Tempting,” Sunghoon said with a grin.

Before you could stifle a laugh, Jungwon’s voice cut through the room, catching you completely off guard.

“You know, (Y/n),” he started casually, twirling his drumsticks between nimble fingers, “we might need you here every practice.”

You blinked at him, a little startled, pointing at yourself with a tilt of your head. “Me? Why?”

Jungwon smirked knowingly, leaning back on his stool as his drumsticks tapped against his thighs. “Because Jay does his best when you’re around. It’s like magic or something.”

Your mouth fell open slightly as warmth crept up your neck and settled across your cheeks. “Huh? That’s not—I didn’t—”

“Ahhh, I see it too,” Ni-ki cut in, lounging on one of the amps with his phone in hand.

He absentmindedly tossed his guitar pick in the air before hurling it—playfully, of course—at Jay. It hit his shoulder with a faint plink. “He was so grumpy all week, then you show up and bam, perfect solo.”

Jay’s glare shot toward Ni-ki like a sharp arrow, though it lacked any real bite. “Riki, I will punch you.”

Ni-ki just grinned wider, completely unfazed. “Try me.”

Meanwhile, Sunoo was busy setting up his keyboard on its stand next to Jake, who adjusted the wires without looking up. “It’s true, though,” Sunoo added with a singsong lilt, side-eyeing Jay.

“You’re suspiciously focused whenever your girlfriend visits.” He even made air quotes around the word girlfriend, the teasing tone impossible to miss.

You sank a little lower in your spot, desperately trying to ignore how hot your face felt. “Okay, okay—can we not gang up on me? Or him?” you muttered, flustered, though your lips twitched with the threat of a laugh.

But Jake, ever the quiet observer, finally looked up from helping Sunoo. A small smirk tugged at the corners of his mouth as he said calmly, “They’re not wrong. You do look lighter when (Y/N)’s here.”

“Really, Jake?” Jay groaned, running a hand down his face. He adjusted the strap of his guitar and shot a look at Heeseung for backup, but the eldest only shrugged with a knowing grin.

“Don’t look at me. I think it’s cute.”

“Cute?” you stammered, eyes darting to Jay, whose own ears were tinged red now.

“Cute,” Heeseung confirmed easily.

Jay pinched the bridge of his nose and sighed, muttering something under his breath that sounded suspiciously like ‘I hate all of you’.

Ni-ki, still grinning like a menace, leaned back and propped his feet up on the edge of a chair. “Admit it, hyung. She’s your good luck charm.”

You hid your face in your hands, trying not to combust as Jay’s exasperated sigh turned into a quiet laugh. “You guys are insufferable.”

But even as he said it, his eyes flicked to you—and there was no missing the faint curve of a smile that lingered there, soft and unguarded.

Thursday mornings weren’t supposed to feel this heavy. But there you were—face buried deep into one of Yunjin’s pillows, muffling the urge to scream as the girls lounged around her dorm.

Eunchae, sitting cross-legged on the floor with a half-eaten granola bar in hand, tilted her head at you like you were some strange, wounded animal. “Does anyone know what’s wrong with her?”

Kazuha let out a dramatic sigh from where she was sprawled at the foot of the bed, her long hair spilling over the edge. “Jay’s parents want to meet her.”

Sakura’s head snapped up from her phone so fast, “Your fake boyfriend’s parents?”

You groaned into the pillow again before finally lifting your head with a pitiful expression. “I don’t even know if it’s fake anymore.”

Just then, Yunjin emerged from the bathroom with a towel in hand, raising an eyebrow like she already knew the entire story. “Well, I mean—is he showing signs of actually liking you?”

Chaewon shot her a look from her spot on the vanity stool. “How the hell did you even hear us from in there?”

“Thin walls,” Yunjin replied easily, plopping herself on the bed beside you and Eunchae. “Also, your voices carry like crazy.”

You flopped onto your back, the pillow now squished to your chest, and let out a long, helpless groan. “I don’t know.”

Sakura’s eyes narrowed slightly, her phone forgotten in her lap. “What do you mean you don’t know?”

Pushing the pillow aside, you rubbed at your face like it could scrub away the confusion swirling in your chest. “It’s confusing. He’s confusing.”

“Oh?” Chaewon prompted, clearly intrigued now.

“One moment he’s acting all sweet—buying me food, drying my hair, kissing my head like—like it’s the most natural thing in the world.” You gestured vaguely, words tumbling out like they’d been dammed up for days.

“And the next, he’s getting all shy. Like I’ll catch him staring and he’ll look away so fast it makes me want to scream.”

Kazuha propped her chin on her palm, eyes sparkling with amusement. “Classic, human contradiction.”

Eunchae sat up straighter, tossing her granola wrapper onto Yunjin’s desk. “Okay, but can we go back to the part where you said his parents want to meet you?”

You groaned dramatically, flopping onto your back like the weight of the world had just crushed your chest. “Jay told his parents that he has a girlfriend.”

The word felt foreign—dangerously warm—on your tongue, and you let it hang in the air for a moment, testing how it sounded in your voice. Girlfriend. “And now they want to meet me, I suppose.”

You threw an arm over your eyes, wishing the universe could swallow you whole. “What am I even gonna do?” you mumbled, the words muffled by your sleeve.

Yunjin, ever the instigator, leaned back against your legs with a sly grin. “(Y/N), I need you to be brutally honest with me right now.”

You peeked at her through your arm, your brows furrowed suspiciously. “About…?”

“Do you like him?” she asked, her tone almost teasing but her eyes surprisingly sharp. “Like—actually like him.”

You sat up slightly, propping yourself on your elbows as your lips parted, trying to form a reply.

“I—” You faltered, your brain scrambling for an answer that didn’t make your stomach churn. “…I don’t know.”

Yunjin let out a laugh that was more knowing than mocking, her voice ringing around the dorm. “No. No, you do know. Don’t even try to pull that with me. I know you, and I know when you’re lying to yourself.”

You let your head drop back onto the pillow with a frustrated groan, staring blankly at the ceiling. “Define like.”

Kazuha raised her brows, biting back a laugh as she chimed in. “Like as in… when you’re around him, does it feel a little too easy? Too comfortable? Like maybe you could get used to it?”

Sakura joined in, sitting cross-legged at the foot of the bed. “And do you ever catch yourself wondering what it’d be like if it wasn’t fake? Like, if it was actually real?”

You stayed silent for a moment too long, and Eunchae let out a loud gasp, smacking her hands together. “Oh my god. You do like him.”

“I—” You covered your face again, muffling a groan. “Maybe? I don’t know. He’s just—ugh—he’s confusing!”

There was a pause before Chaewon’s calm voice cut through the room. “Maybe he’s scared.”

Everyone’s heads snapped toward her.

Chaewon, unfazed by the sudden attention, simply shrugged. “I mean, think about it. He’s probably just as confused as you are, (Y/N).”

You peeked through your fingers, brows furrowed as you sat up a little. “What do you mean?”

She met your gaze evenly, her expression steady in that unnerving Chaewon way. “Based on the things you’ve told us—neither of you really knows where the line is anymore, right? Between what’s fake and what’s not?”

Her words settled into the room like a quiet truth you weren’t ready to name.

You exhaled, rubbing your face as if that could clear the fog from your head. “I don’t want to jump to conclusions,” you muttered, voice lower now.

“What if he’s just… good at playing the part? I mean, he is Park Jongseong. He could sell the act without even trying.”

Sakura, who’d been unusually quiet, mumbled just loud enough for you to hear. “But you’re not playing anymore.”

You froze, eyes flicking to her. She was sitting cross-legged, idly twirling a strand of her hair as her sharp gaze locked on yours. “Not you, at least.”

Your lips parted slightly, but no words came out. You could only stare at her from where you sat, your heart suddenly beating a little too fast.

“I don’t know, guys…” you said softly, barely above a whisper. “I really don’t know.”

Yunjin reached over and squeezed your ankle gently, her voice gentle but knowing. “Then maybe it’s time to stop asking what he feels—and figure out what you want.”

You swallowed hard, her words echoing like a drumbeat in your chest.

Sakura’s voice piped up then, deceptively casual as she scrolled through her phone. “Either way…” she began, her thumb swiping across the screen lazily, “it sounds like you two are tired of pretending.”

She glanced up at you briefly, a faint smile tugging at her lips before she returned her attention to her feed. “Just figure it out before one of you drives the other insane.”

The room quieted after that, all three of them watching you as if waiting for the epiphany to hit.

But before you could process anything—the sharp trill of your phone made you jump slightly.

You scrambled to grab it, your heart skipping a beat as your eyes landed on the caller ID.

Speak of the devil.

“Jay.” You muttered his name softly without meaning to.

You slid your thumb across the screen and pressed it to your ear, trying to sound composed. “Hello?”

“Hi, pretty girl,” came Jay’s familiar voice, warm and teasing. “Are you busy?”

All four girls perked up instantly, eyes zeroing in on you like hawks.

Sakura, seated closest to you, leaned in slightly and shook her head furiously, whispering under her breath, “Say no!”

You covered the mic slightly with your hand, glaring at her with wide eyes before clearing your throat. “Uh… no. I’m not busy.”

Jay let out a breath of relief on the other end, the sound making something in your chest twist. “Okay, good. I was wondering if you’d like to go on a date with me today. You don’t have afternoon classes, right?”

Your brain short-circuited at the word date. All the air seemed to vanish from the room as you stammered, “Y-Yes.”

He chuckled softly, the sound like warm honey in your ear. “Is that a yes to the date or a yes to no afternoon classes?”

You bit back a laugh, shaking your head as you replied, “To both, Jay.”

There was a pause, and then his laugh—low and absolutely heart-melting—drifted through the line. “Okay then, take your time. I’m parked outside your dorm.”

Your jaw dropped slightly as you shot upright. “You’re what?”

“I’m outside,” he repeated, his tone impossibly casual. “No pressure though. I’ll wait as long as you need.”

The girls erupted into silent chaos around you.

Eunchae clutched a pillow to her face to hide her squeal, Kazuha smacked your knee lightly with her hand mouthing, “Go get ready!” while Yunjin looked entirely too smug.

You could hear the faint sound of music and a car engine in the background of the call as you forced out, “O-Okay. Give me… give me a few minutes.”

“Take your time,” Jay said, his voice dipping softer now. “I’ll be here, pretty girl.”

You hung up shakily and dropped your phone into your lap as the girls stared you down like a pack of wolves.

“You’re going,” Yunjin declared.

Before you could even open your mouth to protest, Sakura shot up from her spot, eyes wide in disbelief. “You’re still sitting there?” she exclaimed, her tone part-scolding, part-amused.

“Girl, there is a hot guitarist outside waiting to take you on a date, and you’re—what—moping on Yunjin’s bed?”

Kazuha grabbed a pillow and smacked your thigh with it—not hard, but enough to make you yelp. “Up. Now.”

“Get your ass up.” Chaewon pointed at you, her tone sharp as her eyes narrowed. “We’re helping you get ready. No negotiations.”

“I—” You sputtered, still flat on your back, clutching the pillow like a lifeline. “Guys, I’m not ready for this—”

“Yes, you are.” Eunchae swooped in like a hawk, grabbing your wrists and tugging you upright with surprising strength for her size.

“Come on. We’re going to your dorm. We need access to your closet, your makeup—basically your whole life.”

“But—”

“No buts!” Yunjin chimed in, already picking up your phone and handing it to you. “Text him to give you fifteen minutes. Twenty if we’re feeling generous.”

Sakura leaned down and grabbed your bag, tossing it over her shoulder like it was hers. “We’re not letting you go out there looking like you’ve been crying into Yunjin’s pillow. No offense.”

You scowled as Eunchae successfully yanked you to your feet, nearly toppling over in the process. “You guys are insane,” you grumbled.

“Insanely supportive,” Kazuha corrected with a grin as she slipped her arm through yours. “Now move before I carry you down the hall.”

You tugged nervously at the edge of your frilly dress, the soft fabric slipping between your fingers as you walked down the dorm lobby.

Thank God Sakura picked out the short-sleeved one—it was humid enough that the thought of wearing long sleeves made you want to melt.

Still, your palms felt clammy for a completely different reason as you exhaled slowly and pushed open the glass doors.

The sight that greeted you nearly made you stop in your tracks.

Park Jongseong, leaning casually against a sleek black sports car. And not just any car—your eyes caught the gleam of a Ferrari logo on the hood before they drifted helplessly back to him.

He was dressed in a crisp white button-up with the sleeves rolled to his elbows, dark dress pants hugging his frame, and black leather shoes resting neatly against the pavement.

His hair—usually gelled back for band practice—was loose today, soft strands falling over his forehead in a way that made your chest tighten.

You nearly tripped on your own feet trying to snap yourself out of it.

He’s just Jay. Except ‘just Jay’ had apparently leveled up into a full-fledged heartthrob with a sports car.

The sound of your steps drew his attention. He turned slightly, eyes landing on you—and for a moment, he stilled. His gaze softened instantly, lips parting just barely as if the sight of you knocked the air out of his lungs.

There was a split second where it felt like the world narrowed down to just the two of you—his dark eyes drinking in the way your dress fluttered slightly with the breeze, your hair curled perfectly around your face, and your lips tugging nervously into a smile.

“Hi, pretty,” he said finally, his voice lower than usual, almost reverent.

You looked up at him, cheeks heating as you returned the smile. “Hey, handsome.”

That made him pause, a slow grin pulling at his lips as he straightened his posture. “Well, that’s new.”

You let out a breathy laugh, eyes glinting playfully. “What? You really do look handsome, Jay.”

He shook his head softly, a faint flush coloring his ears as he chuckled. “You’re dangerous, you know that?” he muttered, moving closer until he was just in front of you.

His hand slid gently to the small of your back as if it was second nature, guiding you towards the car.

“Dangerous?” you teased, raising a brow.

“For my heart, yeah.” He opened the passenger door for you, meeting your gaze with a boyish smile that nearly undid you. “Now get in before I actually combust standing here.”

You laughed again, ducking your head as you climbed into the car, the faint scent of his cologne lingering in the air. He slid into the driver’s seat with that same boyish grin still tugging at his lips.

You tilted your head, amused, watching as he settled in and glanced your way like you’d just caught him daydreaming.

“What’s wrong?” you asked softly, curious.

Jay shook his head, his grin widening just a little. “Nothing,” he murmured. “I’m just… really happy you’re here.”

You blinked at him, caught off guard for a moment. Before you could say anything, he leaned over slightly, reaching past your shoulder to grab the seatbelt.

The subtle brush of his arm near your face made your breath catch, and your eyes followed his movements as he gently tugged the strap across you and clicked it into place.

His fingers tapped twice against the buckle resting on your stomach, almost absentmindedly, before he pulled back and fastened his own.

Leaning into the seat, you let out a small huff, trying to mask the way your heart was thundering. “So…” you started, turning your head toward him. “Where are we going?”

His lips curved into a teasing smirk as he shifted the car into drive. “That’s a surprise,” he said smoothly. “But just so you know—I’m spoiling you today.”

Your brows furrowed, a playful glare shooting his way. “Jay…”

He only clicked his tongue, his grin never faltering. “I’m immune to that, (Y/N). Try harder.”

You rolled your eyes with a laugh, crossing your arms as he steered the car out of the lot and toward the field’s nearest exit.

The world outside blurred past in a hazy mix of greens and soft sunlight, but inside, it felt like the air was warmer somehow—thicker with a softness you weren’t ready to put a name to.

“You can connect your phone to the Bluetooth, pretty,” he said casually, his eyes still focused on the road.

You perked up, reaching for your tote. “What music do you want?”

“Anything you want,” he replied without hesitation. “I trust your music taste.”

Shaking your head with a fond smile, you unlocked your phone. The first thing you noticed on the car’s screen was the lack of devices saved—just his band’s names and his own. Your eyes flicked to him curiously.

“Don’t worry,” he said suddenly, catching your glance. “I’m loyal to you. Haven’t had any girl in this car besides my mom.”

A laugh bubbled out of you as you shot him a look. “Jay, I didn’t even say anything.”

He stopped at a red light, the car humming quietly beneath you as he turned his head toward you fully now, eyes soft. “Yeah, but I need to reassure you anyway.”

Your chest tightened a little at his sincerity, and you found yourself smiling as you murmured, “Yeah, but I know you, Jay—not all of you, but I know you.”

That seemed to make something flicker in his eyes. His lips twitched into a small, almost shy smile as he reached out, resting his hand on the edge of your seat. He hesitated, fingers curling slightly as he glanced at you.

“Can I?” he asked quietly, nodding slightly toward where his hand hovered near your thigh.

You swallowed, warmth blooming in your chest as you nodded slowly. “Yeah.”

His hand rested gently on your bare thigh, his thumb brushing the soft fabric of your dress as if testing your comfort. He gave it a light squeeze, the gesture careful yet grounding.

“Tell me if you’re uncomfortable, yeah?” he murmured, voice soft.

You laughed, placing your hand over his instinctively, your thumb rubbing lightly over his knuckles. “With you? Never.”

His eyes softened even more at that, and as the light turned green and he began driving again, his thumb stayed tracing light circles on your skin, like he didn’t want to let go.

You laughed, shaking your head as Jay clicked his tongue disapprovingly the second your hand brushed the passenger door handle.

“Unbelievable,” he muttered, unbuckling his seatbelt with one swift motion. Before you could even process it, he was already out of the car, circling around to your side.

“Jay—” you started, still grinning as he pulled the door open smoothly.

“Out,” he said firmly but with a teasing smile, offering his hand. “And don’t even think about opening your own door again. You hear me?”

You placed your hand in his, letting him help you out of the car. “So dramatic,” you teased, your laughter spilling into the warm air.

He shut the door gently behind you, locking the car with a soft beep as his hand found yours again. Intertwining your fingers with his, he tugged you toward the sidewalk with a shake of his head.

“It’s not dramatic,” he said matter-of-factly. “It’s just the bare minimum I should do for you.”

That made your chest tighten unexpectedly, your lips curving into a soft smile. “You say that like you’re trying to set the bar way too high for any other guy.”

“Good,” he replied without missing a beat. “That’s the plan.”

You let out another laugh as he squeezed your hand gently, his thumb brushing over your knuckles. The late afternoon air felt cooler here, tinged with the faint scent of expensive perfumes wafting from the nearby boutiques.

You realized you two were no longer near campus—this was the high-end district of Seoul, filled with designer stores, sleek cafes, and towering luxury hotels.

“Where are we going?” you asked, tilting your head to glance at him as he guided you around a group of tourists.

“Secret,” Jay said, lips curling into that mischievous smirk that made your heart stutter.

You sighed dramatically, though you couldn’t hide your grin. “You love keeping me in suspense, don’t you?”

“Maybe,” he hummed. “But I promise it’s worth it.”

As you walked, your small bag started slipping off your shoulder, but before you could adjust it, Jay had already noticed.

“Here—let me,” he said, reaching for it. You opened your mouth to protest, but he’d already slid the strap over his own shoulder like it was second nature.

You stared for a second before breaking into a laugh. “You look so cute carrying that, you know?”

Jay raised a brow but didn’t hand it back. “Cute? No. Cool. I’m redefining what cool looks like.”

You snorted, your fingers brushing against his as he adjusted the tote strap over his shoulder. “What happened to Decelis’ finest guitarist, huh? The one who makes girls swoon and guys jealous just by existing?”

He let out a soft laugh, his eyes flicking down at you with a kind of warmth that made your stomach flutter. “He fell in love with a ballerina—that’s what happened.”

Your laugh echoed down the sidewalk before you could stop it, earning a sheepish grin from Jay as he tugged you a little closer.

“Cheesy,” you teased lightly, but your voice betrayed the way your heart was pounding in your chest.

“You love it,” he murmured, giving your hand a gentle squeeze as you crossed the last street.

Before you could respond, he stopped in front of a pristine glass storefront. You blinked, staring up at the familiar elegant lettering.

“Tiffany & Co…?” you asked slowly, brows furrowing as you looked from the glittering jewelry displays to him.

Jay didn’t even falter. He gave a polite nod to the doormen, who immediately held the door open for him like he was a regular. You hesitated, letting him pull you inside as the cool air of the luxury boutique wrapped around you.

“For your mom?” you asked again, tilting your head up at him.

“Yes,” Jay said simply. Then, his lips quirked as he added, “And for you.”

You stopped dead in your tracks, tugging lightly on his hand. “No, Jay. Absolutely not. This is too much.”

His grin didn’t waver as he tugged you further inside, his fingers tightening around yours just enough to remind you he wasn’t letting go. “What did I say about spoiling you, hmm?”

“Jay—” you started again, but he only shot you a pointed look over his shoulder, the kind that had your protests dying in your throat.

“This isn’t a debate,” he said, voice calm but playful as he led you toward the necklace section. “You’re getting something. End of story.”

You sighed, shaking your head with a helpless smile as you let him drag you deeper into the store. An assistant approached with a polite bow, but Jay held up a hand.

“We’ll ask for assistance when we need it,” he said smoothly, his tone polite but firm. She nodded, stepping back a few feet to give you space but remaining close enough to help if needed.

You watched him in quiet awe as he leaned slightly over the glass display case, eyes scanning the delicate gold and silver chains laid out like art pieces.

There was something about the way he moved—calm, certain, like he belonged here—that sent a strange warmth through your chest.

“So…” Jay murmured, his voice thoughtful. “Which one do you think she’d appreciate?”

You blinked, realizing he was asking for your opinion. “Well, what does your mom prefer? Gold or silver?”

“Gold,” he said without hesitation, his gaze never leaving the display.

You hummed, your eyes moving slowly over the rows of necklaces.

You spotted a few that stood out and leaned closer, pointing gently. “The lock ones on the right—they’re elegant but simple. Or the double links near them. Both feel classic.”

Jay followed your finger, his lips twitching into a small smile as his eyes softened. “Yeah, I think you’re right. She’d like that.”

Without wasting another second, he raised a hand slightly and caught the attention of the assistant waiting nearby. “Could we see these four up close, please?” he asked smoothly, his tone respectful yet effortlessly confident.

“Of course, sir,” she said with a polite bow, immediately retrieving the keys from her waist and unlocking the glass case.

She delicately set the velvet trays on the counter, each one gleaming under the boutique’s soft lights.

Jay glanced at you and tilted his head toward the display. “Think you can hold these for me?”

You blinked, surprised at his request. “Me?”

“Yeah, you.” His lips quirked, and there was something so boyish in his grin that it made your heart flutter. “I trust your judgment, pretty.”

The assistant smiled faintly but didn’t comment as she carefully lifted the necklaces, handing them to you one by one. You cradled the delicate chains in your hands, careful not to let them tangle as Jay studied each one.

He picked up the first of the four—the double-link gold necklace—letting the chain glint between his fingers. As he did, his other hand came to rest gently against your lower back.

“Do you think this one’s better?” he asked, his voice quieter now, almost as if the question wasn’t entirely about the necklace.

You stepped closer instinctively, the space between you two shrinking as your eyes flicked between the necklace he held and the others resting against your palms.

The scent of his cologne was warm and familiar, wrapping around you like a second skin.

You tilted your head, brows furrowed slightly in thought. “Yeah… it does look better. It’s more delicate. Feels timeless, you know?”

His gaze flickered down at you for a brief second, and you swore there was something softer in his eyes before he turned back to the assistant.

“We’ll take this one,” he said decisively. Then, after a beat, he added, “And the bracelet version too—same style.”

“Yes, sir,” she said, already moving to fetch the matching bracelet.

Jay hummed, satisfied, and gently guided you away from the necklace section, his hand still resting on the small of your back. The warmth of his touch lingered as he led you toward one of the elegant displays near the window.

He stopped in front of one of the displays, eyes scanning the rows of delicate pieces arranged perfectly on velvet.

“Which do you prefer?” he asked casually, his voice low but laced with something more—an edge of curiosity. “Gold or silver?”

You let out a small sigh, knowing where this was going. “Gold,” you admitted quietly, trying not to meet his eyes.

He nodded as if he already expected the answer, his lips twitching into a faint smile. “Good choice.”

Before you could say anything else, movement caught his eye. The assistant was walking toward you again, carrying another velvet tray carefully in both hands. Jay raised a brow and greeted her with a polite nod.

“Hi, yes,” he said smoothly, “can we also see the ribbon jewelry set in gold?”

Your head snapped up, brows furrowed as you turned to him. “Jay—” you started, ready to protest.

But he was quicker. His arm slid fully around your waist this time, pulling you flush to his side in a way that made your words catch in your throat. “Shh. Humor me, yeah?” he murmured, the corner of his mouth twitching as he shot you a teasing look.

You could feel your face heat, but before you could recover, the assistant placed the tray delicately on the glass counter in front of you.

“This set includes the necklace, earrings, and two matching bracelets,” she explained pleasantly. “The design is one of our more popular styles—timeless yet modern.”

Jay’s eyes flicked over the pieces briefly before he spoke again. “Can we also see the bracelets individually? I want to compare them side by side.”

“Of course, sir.” She gave him a professional smile and moved swiftly to arrange them, opening another tray to present the individual bracelets.

You glanced up at him with wide eyes, whispering harshly, “Jay, this is too much—”

But he only tightened his hold on you slightly, leaning down just enough so his words were meant for you alone. “Didn’t I tell you?” His voice was warm, almost coaxing. “You’re next after my mom.”

Your lips parted, but no sound came out. You swore the pounding of your heart could be heard over the soft music playing in the store.

Jay’s hand rubbed soothingly up and down your lower back, his thumb tracing idle circles against the fabric of your dress. “Relax, pretty,” he murmured, voice so soft it made your breath catch. “I got you.”

You turned your face slightly toward him, your protest barely a whisper. “Jay, this is way too much. I can’t—”

But he wasn’t looking at you; his sharp eyes were fixed on the velvet tray, the glint of gold reflecting in them as if he were memorizing every curve and clasp of the pieces. With a quiet hum, he nodded as though making a final decision.

“We’ll take the whole set,” Jay said firmly, his tone leaving no room for argument. “Thank you.”

The assistant’s eyes lit up with professional delight as she gave a small bow. “Of course, sir. I’ll have them prepared for packaging right away. Would you like them gift-wrapped?”

“Two separate wraps,” Jay replied smoothly, his hand still anchored at your waist.

You blinked up at him, still trying to form words, your stomach doing an anxious flip at his casual declaration. “Park Jong—”

“Shh,” he hushed you gently, giving your side a little squeeze. “You’re not talking me out of this.”

“But—”

“No buts,” he said, his tone playful yet resolute. “Didn’t I say I’d spoil you today?”

You could only sigh in defeat, your shoulders dropping as he laced your fingers together again. He led you toward the cashier with an easy stride, handing over his black card like it was second nature.

The assistant, all smiles and bows, handed him the elegantly wrapped Tiffany bags with a quiet, “Thank you, sir.”

Jay took them with one hand, the other still holding yours, and nodded politely. “Thank you.”

As the two of you stepped out of the store, the cool breeze brushing past, Jay glanced at you and chuckled softly. “Stop frowning. We’re just starting our date.”

You gave him a side-eye, your brow raised in disbelief. “Please don’t tell me you’re going to keep wasting your money on me.”

He let out a short huff, his grip on your hand tightening slightly. “It’s not wasting,” he corrected, his voice bordering on mock offense. “I’m spoiling you because I want to.”

“Jay—”

“Uh-uh.” He shook his head, a grin spreading across his face. “No arguments. Now come on.”

Before you could say anything else, he was tugging you gently toward another store just a few doors down. It wasn’t until you looked up at the glass windows that your heart sank further.

“Dior? Seriously?”

“Yes, seriously,” he said casually, pushing the door open and guiding you inside.

You barely had time to admire the pristine interior before Jay was leading you straight to the makeup section, his expression smug. “Here’s the deal,” he said, stopping in front of the counter filled with rows of lipsticks and foundations. “We are not leaving this store unless you walk out with at least three full paper bags of products.”

Your jaw nearly hit the floor as you turned to him with wide eyes. “You can’t be serious.”

“Oh, I’m dead serious.” He leaned slightly, so close you could smell the faint trace of his cologne. “Pretty girls deserve pretty things. And I don’t want to hear a word of protest.”

“I don’t even wear that much makeup!” you argued, heat rising to your cheeks.

Jay chuckled, the sound low and far too amused for your liking. “Don’t act like I haven’t seen your lip gloss collection,” he teased, reaching out to tap the tip of your nose with his finger.

Your jaw dropped slightly. “Excuse me? How do you—”

He shrugged nonchalantly, a boyish grin tugging at his lips. “Plus, Kazuha told me—said you only buy those when you do well on your performances.”

He leaned against the pristine white counter, hands in his pockets, eyes fixed on you like you were the only person in the room. “So consider this a little pregame before college week.”

“Jay—” you groaned, trying to bury your face in your hands, but he was faster. He gently pulled your hands away, his fingers brushing against yours in a way that sent your heart tumbling.

“What?” he said, tilting his head slightly, that soft smile still plastered on his face. “You’re cute when you’re flustered. Now, pick your favorites, or I swear I’ll empty out this entire store if I have to.”

You crossed your arms over your chest, trying your best to look stern. “You wouldn’t dare.”

“Try me.” He raised a brow, already reaching for a display of blush compacts and handing you one. “Here, this one’s perfect for you. See how soft the color is? Matches how your cheeks look right now.”

You groaned again, fighting the smile threatening to break free. “I’m never going shopping with you again.”

The soft glow of golden chandeliers bathed the rooftop restaurant in warmth, the classical music weaving gently through the quiet hum of conversations around you.

The plates in front of you were long forgotten, your laughter spilling into the air as Jay recounted stories about his family.

“…and I swear, my mom has this weird habit of showing off my most embarrassing childhood photos to every single guest whenever I bring the guys over. Like, full-on photo albums—me with missing teeth, crooked bowl cuts, the works.”

You giggled, covering your mouth with your hand as you leaned just slightly closer to him. “You? Bowl cuts? No way.”

Jay’s lips curved into a sheepish grin, his shoulder brushing against yours. “Oh, it was tragic. Jungwon still brings it up whenever he wants to piss me off.”

Your eyes flickered across the booth, landing on the small mountain of shopping bags piled neatly on the seats across from you. Dior, Tiffany, Prada, Chanel—little luxury boxes tied with ribbons—it was enough to make your head spin. Jay noticed, following your gaze.

“There’s a lot more coming, you know,” he said softly, swirling the wine in his glass with practiced ease. “This isn’t going to be our last date. I promise.”

Your lips parted slightly at his words, but before you could speak, he reached out and gently took your hand in his, thumb brushing lightly over your knuckles.

“Yeah?” you murmured, warmth blooming in your chest as you tilted your head to look at him.

“Yeah.” His smile softened, almost boyish, as his dark eyes lingered on yours. “You’re stuck with me now, pretty girl.”

A quiet laugh escaped your lips as you leaned your head against his shoulder, feeling his body relax against yours. You caught the faint scent of his cologne—woodsy and warm—comforting in the cool night air drifting in from the open balcony doors.

Jay pressed a lingering kiss to the crown of your head, his fingers lacing with yours. “This feels right, doesn’t it?” he murmured against your hair.

Your chest tightened at his words, but you found yourself nodding slightly, voice barely above a whisper. “It does.”

For a fleeting moment, Jay’s thumb brushed over your knuckles like he wanted to say more—like there was something heavy sitting in his chest that he couldn’t quite push out.

But before either of you could name whatever this was, you let out a quiet sigh and broke the moment.

“It’s getting late,” you murmured, trying to keep your tone light. “Should we head back?”

Jay blinked at you, lips parting as if to protest, but he caught himself. Instead, he gave you the smallest smile, the kind that didn’t quite reach his eyes. “Yeah. Let’s get you home, pretty girl.”

He slid out of the leather booth first, his movements fluid and effortless, then turned back to you with his hand outstretched. “Come on.”

You placed your hand in his, letting him help you up. His grip was warm—steady.

“Thanks,” you whispered, still avoiding his gaze, and he just hummed softly in response.

With surprising ease, Jay gathered the mountain of luxury paper bags in one arm, the soft crinkle of expensive packaging filling the air.

He somehow still managed to keep your small bag slung on his shoulder, his free hand gently finding its place at your lower back as he guided you toward the exit.

The receptionist bowed politely as you approached. “Have a lovely evening,” they said warmly, already reaching to press the elevator button for you both.

“Thank you,” Jay said with a polite nod, flashing them a brief, charming smile before glancing down at you. “Did you have fun?”

You nodded, lips curling faintly despite the whirlwind in your chest. “Yeah. More than I thought I would.”

“That’s good,” he murmured, almost to himself, his voice low and laced with something unreadable.

You hummed softly as you both stepped inside the elevator, the golden lights reflecting off the polished walls. You leaned ever so slightly into him, and Jay—like it was second nature—wrapped an arm securely around your waist, pulling you closer.

“Still,” you murmured, tilting your head up to glance at him. “You went overboard.”

He smirked down at you, eyes crinkling in that boyish way that made your stomach flip. “I don’t know what you mean.”

You rolled your eyes, trying to suppress the smile tugging at your lips. “Jay—”

The soft ding of the elevator cut you off as the doors slid open to reveal the lobby. He held you against him a second longer before gently guiding you forward, his hand never leaving your lower back.

The warm night air kissed your skin as you both stepped outside. Jay led you down the steps and toward his car parked in front of the restaurant—its sleek black frame glinting under the streetlights like something out of a movie.

He popped the trunk open, and your mouth fell open slightly at the sight. A pile of designer paper bags stared back at you like a monument to today’s extravagance.

You turned to him, eyes narrowing in playful disbelief. “Overboard,” you said flatly, crossing your arms.

Jay only chuckled, completely unbothered as he placed the last few shopping bags carefully into the trunk. “That’s called giving my girlfriend the love she deserves.”

“Girlfriend,” you echoed under your breath, testing the word again like it was foreign.

He shut the trunk with a soft thud and turned back to you, his grin widening at your expression. “Don’t give me that look. I warned you, didn’t I? Spoiling you is non-negotiable.”

You sighed dramatically as he guided you to the passenger seat, his hand warm and steady on your back. “Men. I swear.”

Jay’s laughter followed you as he opened the car door for you. “You say that now, but you didn’t seem to mind when I carried your bag earlier,” he teased.

You shot him a glare as you settled into the seat. “That’s different. That was chivalry, not… whatever this is.”

He leaned in slightly, smirking as he buckled your seatbelt for you. “This is me making sure my ballerina never forgets how much she means to me—even if it’s fake.”

Your breath caught for a second at the way his voice softened at the end. But before you could respond, he closed the door gently and rounded the car, slipping effortlessly into the driver’s seat.

The engine roared to life, low and smooth, as Jay pulled the car out of the parking lot. The night had settled into a quiet calm, the streets of Seoul mostly empty now, save for the occasional taxi or late-night pedestrian.

Jay’s thumb rubbed lazy circles on your thigh, his other hand steady on the wheel as he drove.

You, on the other hand, toyed absentmindedly with the silver bracelets dangling off his wrist, watching the way they caught the dim lights from passing streetlamps.

He hummed along with the tune, the sound so low it almost blended with the music. As the car slowed to a red light, Jay turned his head slightly, his eyes soft and warm in the glow of the traffic signal.

“Do you wanna go on another one next week?” he asked, voice careful but hopeful.

Your lips curved into a small smile as you met his gaze. He looked so devastatingly gentle in that moment, the boyishness in his expression completely disarming. “I’d like that,” you replied softly.

A sound of approval rumbled from his chest, and he gave your thigh a gentle squeeze before turning his attention back to the road as the light flicked green.

You bit back a grin, tracing little patterns over the back of his hand with your fingertips before speaking up again. “I forgot to tell you something.”

“Mmhm?” Jay glanced at you, brows raising slightly in curiosity.

“I was talking to my older brother yesterday on call,” you began, fiddling with the hem of your dress now. “And, well… he may or may not have spilled to my parents that I’m dating someone.”

Jay barked out a laugh, the sound echoing through the car as he shook his head in disbelief. “Oh, really now?” he teased, giving your thigh another squeeze that made you squirm slightly in your seat.

“Don’t laugh!” you said with mock indignation, though your cheeks were already heating. “He didn’t even let me explain it’s fake—he just went on and on about how ‘finally, she has a boyfriend.’”

Jay grinned, eyes flicking to you briefly with a glint of amusement. “Well… maybe it’s not such a bad thing. At least now they’re expecting me too.”

You shot him a look. “Jay—”

“What?” he said innocently, though his smirk betrayed him. “I should thank your brother for making my life easier. Guess we’re both meeting the parents soon, huh?”

You groaned, covering your face with your hands as he laughed again, his fingers tapping affectionately against your thigh like he was enjoying every second of your flustered state.

“Relax, pretty. We’ll survive this,” Jay said warmly. “Besides, fake or not, I’ll make a good impression.”

“You better,” you replied with a teasing side glance, though your stomach flipped at how easily he said it—like meeting your parents wasn’t a terrifying milestone but just another thing on his to-do list.

Jay smirked, the corners of his lips twitching upward as he took a sharp turn into a shortcut you recognized. The streetlights flickered overhead, casting soft, fleeting shadows across his face.

“I’m pretty sure your brother and I would get along just fine,” he said confidently, eyes flicking to you briefly before returning to the road.

You let out a soft laugh, shaking your head. “Good luck with that. He hates every boy that so much as breathes in my direction.”

Jay chuckled at that, the sound low and amused as he neared the university gates. His car slowed to a crawl as he scanned his ID, the gate lifting lazily to let him through.

“First of all,” he began, his voice carrying that trademark confidence, “I’m not a boy. I’m a man. And second…” He glanced at you again, something softer now in his eyes. “You don’t have to overthink this, (Y/N). Trust me—I’ll be on my best behavior.”

You looked at him, studying the little details in his expression. The sharp line of his jaw, the slight curve of his lips, the uncharacteristic gentleness in his gaze. With a small sigh, you admitted, “I trust you. Enough, at least.”

Jay’s grin widened like you’d just handed him the win in some unspoken game. “Good. Because I won’t let you down.”

As he turned down the road that ran alongside the university’s field, his tone shifted—lighter, more teasing. “So, it’s this Sunday, huh?”

“Mm-hm,” you murmured, fiddling with the hem of your dress again.

Jay laughed, shaking his head as he cruised past the empty bleachers and toward your dorm building. “Cute. My parents this Saturday, then yours the next.”

You gave him an incredulous look, your brows knitting together. “You make it sound like we’re actually—”

“Dating?” he finished for you smoothly, the corner of his mouth tugging upward in a small, knowing smirk.

Your face heated instantly, and you quickly looked away, glaring out the window to hide it. “Shut up.”

But Jay only chuckled, pulling to a stop in front of your dorm and shifting the car into park. “Relax, pretty. One step at a time.”

You smiled at him softly, your heart still doing that ridiculous fluttering thing it always seemed to do around him. Jay unbuckled his seatbelt, pushing his door open and stepping out into the cool night air.

You followed him with your eyes as he rounded the sleek car with unhurried steps, the faint sound of his leather shoes against the pavement oddly comforting.

He opened your door with ease, offering his already outstretched hand. “Let’s go, pretty,” he said with that small grin that made your chest ache in the most confusing way.

“Such a gentleman,” you teased lightly, slipping your hand into his.

“Always,” he replied, helping you out of the car with a gentle tug.

He didn’t let go as he moved to the trunk, popping it open to reveal the small mountain of designer shopping bags. You were about to reach for your share when his hand darted out, his voice firm yet playful. “No.”

You blinked up at him. “Jay—”

“Nope,” he interrupted smoothly, gathering your bags with one arm and slinging them on his arm effortlessly. “What did I say about letting me spoil you? Hands off.”

“Meanie,” you muttered, trying to hide your fond smile as he came back to your side.

“And yet, here you are,” he said, intertwining his fingers with yours as though it was second nature. The warmth of his palm against yours made something in your stomach flip.

The two of you walked toward the dorm entrance, the sound of your shoes clicking softly against the tiled floor as you headed to the nearest elevator. Jay pressed the button, and to your surprise, the doors slid open immediately.

Inside, the ride was quiet—not the awkward kind, but the sort that felt calming. Comfortable.

Jay’s thumb brushed absentmindedly over your knuckles, and you caught yourself sneaking a glance at him, only to find him already looking down at you with the faintest of smiles.

The elevator dinged, and you both stepped out, walking side by side down the familiar hallway until you reached your door. You stopped, turning to him with a small smile and nodding at the number plate.

“Well… this is my stop.”

Jay smiled back, his hand still securely holding yours like he wasn’t quite ready to let go. “Looks like it.”

You unlocked the door and pushed it open, gesturing inside. “Just drop the bags here. I’ll sort them out later.”

He obeyed, setting the bags neatly by the door before straightening to his full height again. Behind him, Doobu was sitting on your bed, tail flicking lazily. Jay’s face brightened at the sight.

“Hey there, little princess,” he greeted softly, earning a slow blink and a small meow from your cat. Jay chuckled. “I think she likes me more than your brother will.”

You laughed as you stepped closer to him. “Don’t push your luck.”

Jay turned back to you, his smile softening into something that made your breath catch for the hundredth time that day. “I really hope you had fun, (Y/N). And not just because you’re trying to spare my ego or something.”

You tilted your head at him, your hand resting lightly on his chest. “Jay,” you started, your voice warm, “I really did. Thank you. For all of this. You didn’t have to, but—you did. So… thank you.”

His hand slipped to your waist, pulling you gently closer. The scent of his cologne hit you all over again—clean, warm, undeniably Jay.

Before you could overthink it, you leaned up onto your toes, pressing a soft kiss to his cheek. He stilled instantly, eyes blinking wide as if his brain short-circuited.

You grinned, barely holding back a giggle as you pressed another kiss to the same spot, lingering just a second longer this time.

Jay let out a sharp laugh, his ears faintly pink. “You little tease,” he murmured, his voice lower now, playful yet slightly dazed.

You laughed, pulling back just enough to meet his eyes. “Get used to it, Decelis’ finest guitarist.”

His grin widened at the nickname, his thumb brushing over your side in a way that sent shivers up your spine. “Oh, I already am.”

And just before he finally, reluctantly stepped back toward the door, he gave you one last look—soft, boyish, and so devastatingly warm. “Goodnight, pretty. Sweet dreams.”

“Goodnight, Jay,” you whispered, leaning against the doorframe as you watched him leave.

You sat stiffly in the passenger seat, a pristine white cake box resting delicately on your lap. Your fingers absently toyed with the soft pink ribbon tied neatly around it, occasionally brushing against the glossy strawberries glistening on top of the cheesecake visible through the clear window.

With your other hand, you fiddled with the necklace resting against your collarbone—the same gold chain Jay had bought you two days ago. It felt heavier than usual today, like it carried the weight of your thoughts.

You sighed. Again.

Jay, who had been stealing glances at you from the driver’s seat, finally let out a quiet sigh of his own. Without saying a word, he reached over and gently pried your fingers from the pendant, intertwining your hand with his instead.

He lifted it to his lips, pressing a soft, lingering kiss to your knuckles before letting your joined hands rest on his thigh.

“Relax, (Y/N),” he said, his tone warm but firm. “They’re going to love you. Yeah?”

You bit your lip and turned to him with a pout. “You say that like it’s a guarantee.”

“It is.” His voice didn’t waver, not even a little.

The car slowed as the light ahead turned red, and Jay smoothly brought it to a stop. You shifted slightly in your seat, twisting to face him fully. “Jay,” you murmured softly, “come closer for a second.”

He raised a brow but leaned in obediently, his warm brown eyes meeting yours in the golden glow of the late afternoon sun.

You reached up, brushing a stubborn strand of his dark hair away from his forehead, tucking it gently back into place. Your fingers brushed the rim of his glasses as you pushed them slightly up the bridge of his nose.

“There,” you said with a satisfied little smile. “Done.”

Jay’s lips quirked, but he didn’t lean back. “That was it? You called me over just to fix my hair and glasses?”

“And to tell you,” you added, pulling away slightly as you eyed him with mock seriousness, “that you really look like a human strawberry right now.”

For a moment, Jay blinked at you. Then, his laughter filled the car, warm and rich. “A strawberry? Really?”

“I’m serious!” you insisted, pointing at his outfit with your free hand. “When you said you wanted to match, I thought you were joking. But no—you actually showed up in a pink button-up.”

Jay glanced down at his shirt with an exaggerated frown. The sleeves were rolled up neatly to his elbows, two buttons undone at the top just enough to reveal the thin silver chain resting against his collarbone.

He shifted slightly in his seat, his black dress pants stretching as he adjusted. “And what’s wrong with that?” he teased. “I happen to pull off pink extremely well, thank you very much.”

You snorted. “I didn’t say it looked bad. Just… sweet. Soft. Strawberry-like.”

“Soft, huh?” He tilted his head at you, his grin morphing into something more boyish. Then, as if to flip the tables, he reached out suddenly, tucking a stray piece of your hair behind your ear with gentle fingers.

“I think it’s cute,” he said softly, his thumb brushing against your cheek in a fleeting touch. “Matching with you like this? Feels right.”

The air between you seemed to still for a moment. Your breath caught as you took in the sight of him—his pink shirt, the faint scent of his cologne, and those warm, steady eyes.

Jay’s gaze softened even more as he caught it. Without saying a word, he brought your joined hands to his lips again, pressing another featherlight kiss to your knuckles before returning his hand to rest on your thigh.

You opened your mouth to speak, but the car turned smoothly into a private driveway, making you pause as your surroundings shifted.

Your eyes widened at the sight ahead—fresh flower beds lining both sides of the pavement in neat rows, bursts of color blooming under the watchful hands of gardeners tending to them carefully.

The faint scent of roses and jasmine carried into the car through the slightly cracked window.

“Jay,” you whispered, in awe.

He only hummed, lips tugging into a knowing smile as he slowed to a stop in front of tall black gates. A security guard stationed in a small booth glanced up, instantly recognizing the sleek car.

As Jay drove further in, you couldn’t stop yourself from staring at the grand fountain in the center of the roundabout, water cascading down in elegant streams.

The driveway curved around it, leading to a cluster of parked luxury cars on one side and the towering white doors of the house ahead.

Your fingers unconsciously tightened around the ribbon on the cake box still resting in your lap.

“Relax, okay?” Jay’s voice cut through your daze, warm and steady as always. “Breathe. They’re going to love you.”

You turned your head to him, biting your lip nervously, but his reassuring smile was enough to make your shoulders ease—just a little.

The car rolled into the nearest empty space, and Jay shifted it into park before cutting the engine. Without giving you a chance to fumble with the door handle, he was already out, rounding the car in confident strides.

He opened your door smoothly, his hand reaching for the cake as his other wrapped snugly around your waist once you stepped out.

His thumb rubbed small circles against your side, calming you in the middle of your racing thoughts.

“You’ve got this,” he murmured, his voice low just for you. “Promise.”

You opened your mouth to reply, but your words got stuck in your throat as your eyes shot up at the sound of the white doors opening.

A tall, graceful woman stepped out, dressed in an elegant but simple dress that somehow made her presence even more commanding.

She smiled warmly the second her eyes landed on the two of you, and your stomach twisted in nervous knots.

Jay’s grip on you tightened ever so slightly as he straightened, calling out, “Hey, Mom.”

Her face lit up even more as she closed the distance, her heels clicking softly against the marble steps. She didn’t hesitate—her arms instantly wrapping around her only son in a tight hug.

“Jay,” she said with a soft laugh. “You never visit without making me wait at the door.”

He chuckled, pressing a quick kiss to her temple as he adjusted the cake in his other hand. “Didn’t expect you to be outside already.”

Her gaze flicked past him to you, and before you could so much as bow or offer a nervous greeting, her warm smile widened.

“And this must be (Y/N),” she said brightly.

You straightened, clutching your hands nervously in front of you. “Hi, Mrs. Park. It’s so nice to—”

But your sentence was cut off by a soft gasp as she closed the distance and pulled you right into a hug.

You stiffened in surprise, eyes going wide, but her embrace was so gentle, so natural, that you found yourself slowly relaxing.

“Oh, sweetheart,” she murmured with a laugh, “no need for formalities. You’re practically family already.”

You blinked at her in stunned silence as she pulled back slightly, holding you at arm’s length to get a better look at you.

Jay, still holding the cake, chuckled under his breath as his mother’s hands gently brushed at your sleeves like she was fixing invisible wrinkles.

You blinked at her in stunned silence as she pulled back slightly, holding you at arm’s length like she was memorizing every little detail of you. Her warm smile never faltered, her eyes crinkling with quiet amusement.

“You’re even prettier in person,” she said sweetly before turning her gaze—now sharper, slightly teasing—to her son. “Good taste, Jay.”

Jay smirked like he’d been waiting for that compliment all day. “I told you so.”

Before you could recover from the heat flooding your cheeks, Mrs. Park looped her arm through yours without hesitation, as though you’d known her for years.

“Come in, sweetheart. Lunch is almost ready,” she said, gently tugging you forward. “Jay’s father is upstairs taking some calls, but he’ll be down in a bit.”

The grand double doors opened fully to reveal the inside of the Park residence.

Your breath caught slightly at the sight—marble floors, high ceilings adorned with crystal chandeliers, and tasteful pieces of art hung neatly along the cream walls.

Jay followed behind with an easy stride, the cheesecake box now in the hands of a waiting maid who bowed politely before heading toward the kitchen.

He slipped past you two to settle onto one of the elegant cream sofas in the living room, his long legs crossing as he leaned back comfortably.

“Oh yeah, Mom,” Jay said, casually resting an arm along the back of the sofa. “Your gifts are still in the car. I’ll grab them later.”

His mother turned to him so fast you thought you might’ve imagined it, clicking her tongue with mock disapproval.

“Your pretty girlfriend is sitting right in front of you, and you’re thinking about gifts for me?”

Your lips parted in a quiet giggle at the sight of them—Jay rolling his eyes while Mrs. Park fixed him with a look that could cut glass if it wanted to.

“Don’t mind him,” she said, squeezing your arm before sitting beside you gracefully. “He can be a little stupid sometimes.”

You stifled another laugh, but it slipped out anyway as you said, “Yeah. He is.”

Jay’s head snapped toward the both of you, his eyes narrowing as his jaw dropped slightly in exaggerated offense. “Wow. I visit for the first time in months, and this is what I get? Betrayal from both of you?”

Mrs. Park waved him off like a fly, completely unfazed by her son’s theatrics. “Hush.”

You bit your lip to keep from laughing as she turned her full attention to you. Her voice softened a little, though her eyes still held that spark of curiosity only a mother could have.

“So tell me, (Y/N),” she started, folding her hands in her lap. “What year are you in? Same year as Jay?”

You nodded politely. “Yes, ma’am. We’re both in third second year.”

“And your major?” she asked, tilting her head slightly.

“Dance,” you replied with a small smile. “I focus mostly on ballet.”

Her eyes lit up at that. “Ballet? How lovely! Do you enjoy it?”

“I do. It’s challenging but rewarding.”

She hummed approvingly, the corner of her lips twitching up. “I’ll have to see a performance someday. Jay never stops bragging about you, you know.”

Jay, who was lazily scrolling through his phone like he wasn’t listening, immediately sat up straighter. “Mom—”

But Mrs. Park wasn’t finished. Her tone was still gentle, but there was something playful—something probing—beneath her next question.

“Do you love my son?”

The room went quiet. Jay stiffened visibly, his head snapping toward you as he muttered in a panicked voice, “Mom—”

But you didn’t let him finish.

“Yes,” you said softly, meeting Mrs. Park’s eyes with surprising steadiness.

Jay froze beside you, lips parting slightly as his brows shot up.

Mrs. Park’s smile softened into something warm—warm and knowing—as she reached over to pat your hand affectionately. “That’s all I needed to hear.”

You were about to respond, but a deep, booming voice echoed from the hallway, startling you slightly.

“Is that who I think it is?”

All three of you turned your heads at once. Jay’s lips tugged into a knowing smile, already bracing himself as a tall, broad-shouldered man came into view.

He moved with the confidence of someone who owned the room without trying. His dark hair was streaked with gray at the temples, his crisp dress shirt neatly tucked into tailored slacks, yet his grin was boyish—almost identical to Jay’s.

“Dad,” Jay greeted casually as he stood, the older man pulling his son into a tight hug and giving him a few firm pats on the back.

“And this must be (Y/N),” Mr. Park said warmly, his gaze falling on you with such familiarity that it made your stomach flutter nervously.

You began to stand out of reflex, but he waved you down with a hearty laugh. “No, no need for that.”

Still flustered, you reached out a hand to shake instead. “It’s very nice to meet you, sir.”

He chuckled, gripping your hand firmly yet gently. “Ah, so polite. I still can’t believe my future daughter-in-law is finally here.”

Your cheeks flamed instantly, heat crawling up your neck as you sputtered out a quiet, “Oh, um—”

“Dad, not you too,” Jay groaned, dragging a hand down his face as his father laughed even harder, the sound booming around the elegant living room.

“I’m just saying what your mother already confirmed,” Mr. Park teased, clapping Jay on the shoulder so hard it nearly made him stumble.

Your lips curved into a smile as you watched the two banter effortlessly. It was almost uncanny—Jay standing there with a scowl that didn’t reach his eyes, his father grinning knowingly at him.

They mirrored each other, from their sharp jawlines to the way their brows furrowed in mock annoyance.

“They’re like copies of each other, aren’t they?” a soft voice murmured beside you.

You turned your head to see Mrs. Park leaning closer, amusement dancing in her eyes as she whispered conspiratorially, “Uncanny, right?”

You nodded with a small laugh, whispering back, “Exactly alike.”

Mrs. Park straightened with a graceful sigh, brushing invisible dust from her skirt. She approached her husband, giving his arm a gentle squeeze. “Well, we’ll leave you two to talk. I should check on lunch.”

She glanced toward Jay with a knowing smile. “Jay, give (Y/N) a tour of the house, will you? Don’t let her get bored.”

“Yes, Mom,” Jay replied dutifully, though there was a faint blush creeping up his neck.

Mr. Park chuckled, his voice booming again as he teased, “And don’t keep her in one place too long. She might realize what she’s getting into.”

You couldn’t help but let out a laugh, covering your mouth, as Jay scoffed and shot his dad a playful glare. “Ha. Ha. Real funny, Dad.”

Jay turned to you then, a faux pout tugging at his lips as he walked over.

He wrapped his arms around your waist and swayed you gently side to side. “And you,” he teased, narrowing his eyes fondly. “Don’t encourage him.”

You giggled, pressing your palms against his chest as he pulled back just enough to intertwine his fingers with yours.

“I didn’t even say anything,” you defended, still laughing.

“Uh-huh. Sure.” Jay shook his head, the faintest grin tugging at his lips as he gave your hand a squeeze and started walking further into the house.

“You and your dad are so alike,” you said teasingly, eyeing their similarities—their confident stride, the way they carried their humor with ease.

Jay let out a playful groan. “Unfortunately.” He rubbed his thumb gently over your knuckles as if to distract himself from the jab, though his smile gave him away.

You giggled softly at his reaction, and the two of you continued down the long, sunlit hallway. Your eyes caught on the oversized childhood portraits lining the walls—each frame grand and polished, the photos inside capturing various milestones of Jay’s younger years.

One in particular made you slow your steps. It was a photo of him, probably no older than seven, sitting cross-legged on the grass with a toothy grin, holding what looked like a baby bird in his tiny palms. His cheeks were round, his hair a little too long and messy.

“You were so cute,” you said with a teasing lilt, pointing at the frame. “What happened?”

Jay stopped with you, his eyes landing on the photo, and a chuckle rumbled from his chest. “Well, he turned emo like you said,” he replied dryly, making you burst out laughing.

You bumped your shoulder against his playfully, and he grinned down at you as you leaned your head against his shoulder.

He tilted his head slightly so it rested gently against yours for a moment, the two of you walking in slow, comfortable strides.

“This house is so… big,” you murmured after a beat, your fingers still intertwined with his.

Jay hummed. “Too big sometimes,” he admitted. “But it doesn’t feel that way when I’m here with you.”

Your heart thudded at his words, and you chose to say nothing—just squeezing his hand gently as the hallway opened up to tall glass doors leading to the garden.

He pushed them open for you, the scent of roses and freshly cut grass greeting your senses. A soft breeze brushed past, carrying faint notes of lavender from one of the far beds.

You stepped inside and turned to take in the view—the rows of rose bushes, the way the sunlight dappled across the lawn, and the sound of birds chirping lazily in the distance.

“It’s so peaceful,” you whispered, resting your hands on the railing.

Jay stepped up behind you, his arms sliding around your waist naturally. You leaned back into him, sighing contentedly as he pressed his chin lightly to your shoulder.

“What’s in that pretty little mind of yours?” he murmured, his voice soft and low.

“Nothing,” you replied, tilting your head slightly so you could glance at him from the corner of your eye. “Your parents… they’re really nice people. It’s not as scary as I thought it’d be.”

You shifted slightly in his arms, turning enough to press a light kiss to the sharp edge of his jaw. He stilled for a moment, then exhaled, his hands tightening around your waist.

“I love the garden,” you said softly, facing forward again. “It’s so peaceful. Like, I could stay here all day.”

Jay rested his chin on the crown of your head, his fingers rubbing gentle circles against your stomach. “I used to run here a lot,” he admitted.

“Whenever I’d get sick of hearing my tutors drone on back in middle school, I’d sneak out here and just breathe.”

You chuckled quietly, craning your neck slightly to look up at him. “Very Jay of you,” you teased.

“Hey,” he said with a small huff of laughter, his lips curving upward as he looked down at you. “What’s that supposed to mean?”

“It means it’s very you to ditch lessons and go find flowers,” you replied with a grin, reaching up to brush a stray strand of hair from his forehead.

Jay leaned down a little, his nose brushing against your temple as he murmured, “Maybe I was waiting for someone to enjoy them with.”

Your breath caught slightly at his words, but before you could reply, a faint voice called out from the house—Mrs. Park letting you know lunch was ready.

The dining room was warm with the faint smell of garlic butter and roasted vegetables wafting through the air.

You and Mrs. Park were laughing, your hands lightly covering your mouth as Jay sat stiffly beside you, his ears tinged red as he stubbornly chewed on a carrot stick, eyes fixed anywhere but on yours.

You were mid-story, recalling with animated gestures how Jay had, for the fifth time in a row, flat-out refused to let you pay for lunch when you’d tried last weekend.

“I swear, I even sneakily handed my card to the waiter before the meal ended, and you know what he did?” you said dramatically, turning to Mrs. Park for effect. “Jay somehow still found out and slipped his in after.”

Mrs. Park gasped in mock offense, her hand flying to her chest. “No!”

“Yes!” you huffed, laughing lightly. “I mean, I understand he wants to be a good boyfriend, but please, let me pay sometimes! Just once.”

You turned to look at Jay beside you, your lips tugging into a teasing smile. “Right, Jay?”

Jay didn’t even lift his gaze, his lips pressed into a thin line as he reached across the table to take another carrot from the plate. His ears betrayed him though, glowing crimson.

Mrs. Park laughed warmly, shaking her head as she took a sip of her wine. “That’s his love language, dear. He’s been like that since he was young—refuses to let us pay for anything once he started earning on his own.”

You laughed too, resting your chin in your hand as you looked at Jay fondly. “He’s really stubborn,” you murmured with a smile, your eyes softening despite your teasing tone.

Jay, still silent, wordlessly reached for the pitcher of iced tea in front of him. Without even looking, he gently poured some into your glass, his fingers brushing against yours as he set it down carefully.

You blinked at the small gesture, a quiet warmth blooming in your chest. “Thank you,” you said softly, almost shyly this time.

Mrs. Park hid her smile behind her napkin, clearly amused by the silent little exchange.

“You know,” she said, leaning slightly toward you conspiratorially, “he may be stubborn, but he’s always been like this with the people he cares about. You should’ve seen him when I tried to pay for his guitar lessons. He wouldn’t speak to me for three days until I let him cover them himself.”

You giggled at the image, turning to Jay with playful disbelief. “Three days? Really?”

He groaned lowly, rubbing the back of his neck. “Mom, you don’t have to tell everything.”

Mr. Park, who had been quietly observing the lively exchange with a soft, almost amused smile, finally set down his glass of water and leaned back slightly in his chair.

“We do have to tell everything,” he said with a knowing chuckle, his sharp eyes twinkling under the warm light.

“Did you know that before you came along, Jay had been telling us for months that he felt lonely? That something was missing?”

You turned your head to look at Jay, who had frozen mid-chew, his ears turning an even darker shade of crimson as he dropped his gaze to his plate.

“Dad…” Jay muttered in quiet protest, rubbing the back of his neck again. His voice was soft, but his lips quirked slightly like he was trying—failing—to hide his flustered smile.

But you didn’t laugh. Instead, your hand found its way to his arm, resting gently atop his sleeve.

Your thumb brushed softly against the fabric as you said with a quiet smile, “Well, I’m glad I could fill that void.”

Jay’s head snapped up at your words, his dark eyes meeting yours with a softness that made your breath catch.

His lips parted slightly, and for a second, he looked like he wanted to say something—anything—but all he could do was smile at you, a real, warm smile that reached his eyes.

Mrs. Park, sitting across from the two of you, pressed her fingers to her lips with a little laugh. “Ah,” she murmured fondly, “young love. It’s been a while since we had this kind of sweetness in the house.”

Jay let out a soft laugh, his free hand moving under the table to gently squeeze yours in silent gratitude. “Mom…” he groaned again, though this time there was no real heat behind it.

Mr. Park only chuckled, shaking his head as he reached for another slice of bread. “Don’t ‘Mom’ her. She’s right. It’s refreshing to see you like this, son.”

You tilted your head slightly, your heart tugging at the sight of Jay’s sheepish expression. “Like what?” you asked curiously.

Mr. Park’s eyes crinkled at the corners as he answered smoothly, “Happy.”

The sun was dipping low on a calm Sunday evening, painting the horizon in soft shades of orange and pink as Jay’s sleek black car purred quietly along the streets.

You sat in the passenger seat, fiddling with the ribbon tied neatly around a box of pastries resting on your lap.

Beside the box was a bouquet of fresh flowers—peonies and white lilies wrapped elegantly in soft brown paper—and a smaller Tiffany bag peeking out under the bouquet, all courtesy of Jay’s insistence.

“You didn’t have to get so much,” you mumbled, casting him a sideways glance as he turned the wheel smoothly, his sunglasses perched low on his nose despite the fading sun.

Jay smirked, his free hand resting lazily on the gearshift as he glanced at you from the corner of his eye.

“Correction: I wanted to. Your mom deserves the flowers and jewelry, your dad’s getting the wine, and your brother—well—” he chuckled lowly, tapping his fingers against the steering wheel, “he’ll have to settle for pastries. I’ll win him over eventually.”

You groaned dramatically, leaning your head back against the seat. “Jay, seriously, my mom’s probably going to cry when she sees all of this. And my dad—he’s going to think you’re bribing him.”

“Good,” Jay replied without missing a beat. “Then the jewelry and wine are already doing their job.”

You shot him a look, narrowing your eyes playfully. “You’re impossible.”

“And yet you still let me spoil you.” His lips curved into that teasing, boyish grin that always seemed to melt your resolve.

You tried to stifle a smile but failed, glancing out the window instead as familiar streets began to appear. “Take a left on the next street,” you murmured, tracing your thumb over the cool glass of the wine bottle. “We’re almost there.”

Jay nodded, his jaw tightening slightly as he signaled left. He didn’t say anything at first, his hand slipping from the gearshift to rest on your thigh, giving it a gentle squeeze.

“Are you nervous?” he asked softly, his thumb brushing faint circles against your skin.

You smiled faintly, placing your hand atop his and fiddling absentmindedly with the leather strap of his watch. “A little. But I know they’ll love you,” you murmured, eyes flicking up to meet his.

Then, with a sigh, you added, “I’m not sure about Jaehyun though.”

Jay chuckled lowly at that, glancing at you from the corner of his eye. “Your brother? I got it. I got this.” He smirked, his confidence oozing as he returned his attention to the road.

“Just… slow down,” you murmured as you caught sight of the familiar street. “The house is near the end—white gates, can’t miss it.”

Jay eased his foot off the gas slightly, his fingers flexing gently around the wheel as his eyes scanned ahead.

The pristine white and warm brown wood clashed beautifully together, surrounded by a modest but lush garden. The open white gates beckoned him forward, and he pulled into the driveway smoothly.

He parked beside a sleek black Volvo, eyes catching on the polished rims as he let out a low whistle. “Nice car. Who’s this?”

“Oh, that’s Jaehyun’s,” you replied nonchalantly, your hand gripping the pastry box tighter as nerves bubbled faintly in your chest.

Jay tilted his head with a teasing grin. “Not rich, huh?”

You shot him a playful glare, rolling your eyes. “Compared to you? No.”

He barked out a laugh as he shifted the car into park, shutting off the engine. “Touché, pretty girl. Touché.”

Before you could even reach for the door handle, Jay was already out of the car, moving around with purposeful strides. He pulled the door open smoothly, offering you his hand with that boyish smile that never failed to make your chest flutter.

You placed your hand in Jay’s, letting him help you out of the car with practiced ease. His grip was warm, steady, calming you as he reached for the flowers and bottle of wine with his free hand.

You gave him a small nod, exhaling softly as the two of you walked up the familiar pathway to the porch. The jasmine from your mother’s garden mingled with the faint sound of laughter and splashing water drifting from the backyard.

Your heart thumped wildly when you rang the doorbell. It wasn’t even two seconds before the door swung open, revealing your older brother standing there with an unreadable expression.

His dark eyes flicked from you to Jay, tilting his head slightly in that way he always did when he was sizing someone up.

Jay didn’t flinch. He stayed perfectly still beside you, his face neutral, his posture calm yet confident as he held the bouquet and wine in one hand.

You groaned under your breath. “Jaehyun, stop that. You’re being ridiculous.”

But Jaehyun didn’t budge. He crossed his arms slowly, his stance wide like he was about to interrogate Jay right there on the porch. “So. You’re Jay.”

“Yes,” Jay answered coolly, his voice level but polite.

Jaehyun hummed, his eyes narrowing slightly as he tilted his head. “What’s your favorite basketball team?”

Jay’s lips twitched faintly at the corner before he replied without hesitation, “Lakers.”

There was a beat of silence. Then Jaehyun let out a dramatic sigh, his arms falling back to his sides as he muttered, “Okay. I like you.”

You blinked at them, jaw dropping slightly. “That’s it? That’s the test? Are you serious right now?”

“Basketball says a lot about a man,” Jaehyun said matter-of-factly, reaching for the box of pastries you were holding out for him. “What’s this?”

“Jay bought these for everyone,” you said with a huff, still staring at the two of them like they’d just spoken in code.

Jaehyun peeked into the box, his eyes lighting up slightly. “Is that… a small cream cake?”

Jay nodded, a quiet laugh escaping him. “It is.”

Jaehyun finally—finally—smiled, a genuine one this time. “Yeah. I like you.”

Jay chuckled softly in return, the tension in his shoulders easing just slightly as he stepped inside with you.

“Mom! Dad!” Jaehyun called over his shoulder as he started toward the kitchen. “(Y/N) and Jay are here!”

You stared between them, completely dumbfounded, before muttering under your breath, “Unbelievable. That’s all it took?”

Jay leaned slightly closer, his lips tugging up into that smug grin you knew all too well. “Told you I got this.”

Your mom and dad emerged from the hallway just as Jay’s smug grin softened into something warmer. Your mom’s face lit up at the sight of you both, her arms already outstretched as she hurried forward.

“There’s my baby girl!” she said, pulling you into a tight hug that smelled faintly of jasmine and home-cooked meals. You laughed, hugging her back as she swayed you slightly from side to side.

“Hi, Mom,” you murmured with a soft smile.

Then, to your surprise, she didn’t hesitate to wrap Jay into a warm embrace too. “And you must be Jay! I’ve heard so much about you.”

Jay’s eyes widened slightly, but he returned her hug politely, his lips tugging into a small, respectful smile. “It’s a pleasure to finally meet you, Mrs. Jeong.”

Your dad was right behind her, his face breaking into a grin as he hugged you briefly before extending his hand to Jay. “So this is the famous Jay, huh?”

Jay straightened, setting his shoulders as he shook your dad’s hand firmly. “Yes, sir. Thank you for having me.”

“You’re taller than I expected,” your dad chuckled, clapping Jay on the shoulder with a hearty pat. “Good grip too. I like that.”

“Dad,” you hissed, embarrassed, but Jay only let out a small laugh, his confidence never faltering.

You fumbled to hand your mom the Tiffany paper bag as you said, “Here, Mom. This is for you. And don’t let Jay fool you—I told him not to go overboard.”

Your mom blinked in surprise as Jay handed her the bouquet of peonies and lilies, his boyish grin returning.

“Don’t worry, I didn’t go overboard,” he said innocently, though you could see the glint of mischief in his eyes.

“And for you, sir,” Jay added, turning to your dad as he handed him the bottle of aged wine.

Your dad took it with a low whistle, turning the bottle in his hands and admiring the label. “A Cabernet Sauvignon? Aged this well?” He looked at Jay with an approving nod and a grin. “You have excellent taste. I approve.”

You laughed under your breath as Jay dipped his head slightly. “It’s an honor, sir.”

“Jay…” your mom started gently, holding the Tiffany bag like it was far too delicate to touch. “You didn’t have to get us anything.”

But Jay shook his head, his hand resting lightly on your lower back as he stood just close enough to make you feel secure. “Nonsense, Mrs. Jeong. I’m here for your approval. It’s only right I make a good impression.”

Your mom’s eyes softened as she gave you a knowing look, her lips curving upward into a tender smile. “Oh, sweetheart,” she said, reaching out to squeeze your hand. “He’s a keeper.”

Jay’s lips curved into a soft smile at your mom’s words, the kind that reached his eyes and made your chest feel impossibly warm.

Your mom clapped her hands together with a cheerful brightness. “I hope you two are hungry! Come on, let’s eat dinner.”

You moved to help her instinctively, brushing your hand along Jay’s arm as you passed. He gave you a small nod and an encouraging smile as if to say ‘go ahead’, and you smiled back before slipping into the kitchen with your mom.

Behind you, you could hear Jaehyun sling an arm around Jay’s shoulder with a casual familiarity that surprised even you.

“Come on, superstar,” he teased, steering Jay toward the dining table as your dad fell in step on Jay’s other side.

“So, Jay,” your dad said, his tone friendly but curious, “what’s your major?”

Jay’s voice was polite yet confident as he replied, “Business, sir. But I’m also in a band—we’ve been playing together for a while now. We compose our own songs too.”

Jaehyun perked up at that, his head tilting with interest. “Really? That’s actually pretty cool.”

Jay chuckled, rubbing the back of his neck modestly. “Thanks. It’s been a passion of mine since I was a kid.”

You, carrying a serving plate of grilled fish from the counter to the table, glanced over your shoulder with a little sigh. “Jaehyun’s somewhat in a band too,” you said teasingly. “It’s called NCT—when he actually has the time for it.”

Jaehyun grinned at your jab, his arm still lazily draped around Jay’s shoulder. “Hey, we’re pretty good. But yeah, it’s true, we don’t really get much time these days.”

Jay glanced at him, his curiosity piqued. “If you don’t mind me asking, what’s your day job then?”

“I’m an architect,” Jaehyun said proudly but without arrogance. “Got my license two years ago. Been designing residential spaces and some commercial buildings since.”

Jay nodded with genuine respect, his expression warm. “That’s impressive. Balancing music and architecture? I don’t know how you manage.”

Jaehyun chuckled, giving Jay’s shoulder a friendly squeeze before letting go as they reached the dining area. “It’s not easy, but you do what you love, right?”

Your dad, who had been quietly listening with a small smile, patted Jay’s back approvingly as they all began to settle at the table. “You’re alright, Jay. You’ve got good values. I like that.”

Jay ducked his head slightly in appreciation, a rare flicker of shyness crossing his features. “Thank you, sir. That means a lot.”

You returned just in time to catch the exchange, setting down a bowl of steaming vegetables and shooting Jay a fond, knowing smile. “Already charming the men of the house, huh?” you teased.

Jay only met your gaze, his lips tugging into that boyish grin you loved, and replied smoothly, “Gotta earn my spot, don’t I?”

You laughed lightly at Jay’s comment, shaking your head as you turned toward the oven. “You’re ridiculous,” you said fondly, tugging the mitts over your hands before opening the door.

The warm, savory aroma of roasted chicken filled the kitchen as you carefully reached in to pull out the tray. But in your rush to place it on the counter, the edge of your hand brushed against the hot metal.

You hissed, instinctively jerking back as pain bloomed across your skin. “Ow—!”

The sound of chairs scraping back echoed in the dining room almost instantly. Before you could even process it, Jay was already at your side, his movements fluid but his expression tight with concern.

“Let me see,” he murmured, gently catching your hand in his. His thumb brushed carefully over the reddening mark at the side of your palm, and his brows furrowed.

You frowned at the sight, trying to shake it off. “It’s fine, Jay. Just a little—”

“Fine?” Jay clicked his tongue in soft disapproval, his voice low but tinged with worry. “You’ve got a performance on Wednesday, pretty, and you manage to injure yourself.”

You grumbled, feeling a bit embarrassed under his tender scrutiny, and leaned your forehead lightly against his shoulder. “It’s not that bad…”

“Mmhm,” Jay hummed skeptically as he guided you toward the sink. He turned on the faucet, adjusting the temperature before gently placing your hand under the cool stream. “Humor me.”

Behind you, you could feel the eyes of your family watching—soft, curious, and maybe a little amused.

Jaehyun’s voice broke the silence, a teasing lilt to it as he murmured, “Well, she’s Jay’s problem now.”

Your mom smacked his arm lightly, but she was smiling. “Jaehyun.”

Jay didn’t even flinch at the comment, his focus entirely on you as he adjusted the angle of your hand beneath the water.

“Does that sting less?” he asked softly, eyes flicking up to meet yours.

You sighed, a small smile tugging at your lips despite yourself. “A little.”

Jay’s shoulders relaxed slightly, but his thumb rubbed soothing circles against your wrist as he said, “Next time, let me handle the oven. Or at least don’t rush. You’re already perfect—I don’t need you adding battle scars to prove it.”

That earned a small laugh from your dad as he observed the two of you from the table. “Protective, isn’t he?” he said warmly, sharing a glance with your mom.

Your mom’s lips curved into a knowing smile. “I like him even more now.”

You looked up at Jay, seeing the way his jaw relaxed ever so slightly at your parents’ approval. “You’re making quite the impression,” you whispered teasingly.

Jay smirked faintly but didn’t let go of your hand. “Good. I plan on staying in their good graces and—yours.”

You rolled your eyes softly, though your lips betrayed you with a small smile.

He hummed as he patted your hand dry, turning off the faucet before interlacing your fingers with his. “We’ll put ointment on that when it fully dries, yeah?”

“Yeah,” you murmured, letting him guide you back toward the dining room.

Jay pulled out a chair for you like it was second nature, waiting until you were seated before taking the spot next to you. He rested his hand briefly on your knee under the table, as if to silently reassure you once more.

Your mom, already settled across from the two of you, clapped her hands together with a bright smile. “Let’s eat, shall we?”

By now, the sun had fully dipped below the horizon, leaving the room bathed in the warm glow of the overhead lights and flickering candles on the table. The comforting scent of home-cooked food mingled with soft laughter that echoed off the walls.

Halfway through dinner, Jay leaned back slightly in his chair, his grin widening as he teased, “I still can’t believe you almost strangled your first cat to death because of… what was it? Cute aggression?”

You groaned, running a hand through your hair as your brother barked out a laugh. “Jaehyun!” you hissed, glaring across the table.

He only shrugged innocently, a mischievous twinkle in his eyes. “Come on, he needed to know if he wants to be Doobu’s dad. You scare me when it comes to cats sometimes.”

Jay tried—failed—not to laugh, his hand coming up to hide his smile as he muttered, “Noted. So, no kittens for a surprise gift then?”

“Jay!” you exclaimed, hiding your face in your hands as your family laughed.

Your dad, who had been quietly observing the playful banter, reached for the wine bottle, gesturing toward Jay’s glass. “Want a refill, son?”

Jay shook his head politely, his expression softening. “As much as I’d love to, sir, I’ll be driving us back later.”

Your dad gave a slow, approving nod, twirling the bottle in his hand with a thoughtful hum. Then, with a teasing grin, he glanced between you and Jay. “(Y/N), you better end up marrying him.”

Your entire body stiffened, heat rushing to your cheeks as you stammered, “Dad, please…”

Jaehyun cackled as your mom sighed dramatically, though you caught the gentle curve of her lips as she muttered, “I wouldn’t be opposed.”

Jay, on the other hand, didn’t miss a beat. He reached for your hand under the table, squeezing it gently as he said with an almost shy smile, “Well, one day, I’d like that too.”

You whipped your head toward him, wide-eyed, but he only chuckled softly at your stunned expression, his thumb brushing soothing circles on your knuckles as if he hadn’t just said something that made your heart feel like it would burst.

“See?” your dad said proudly, leaning back in his chair. “I like this guy.”

Jaehyun raised his glass with a smirk. “Yeah, me too. He survived the Lakers question and the cat confession. He’s solid.”

Your mom only chuckled fondly, catching your flustered expression. “Sweetheart, you picked a good one.”

And there you were, sitting with the three most important people in your life, with Jay beside you fitting so effortlessly into the picture it was almost scary—in the best possible way.

The soft hum of music filled the car as the city lights streaked past outside your window. Your fingers tapped lightly against your leg in time with the melody before you let out a laugh, shaking your head slightly.

“I still can’t believe Jaehyun sounds like that,” you said, a teasing lilt to your voice.

Jay’s lips curved into a smile as his hand tightened slightly on the wheel. “What? He sounds good.”

“Exactly,” you huffed, turning your head toward him. “And all I got from the sibling lottery was dancing skills. Totally unfair.”

Jay chuckled, reaching over to squeeze your thigh gently, his rings cool against your skin. “You’re incredible at what you do. Don’t downplay yourself like that.”

You sighed softly, your hand finding his on your thigh, fingers absentmindedly tracing over the silver bands adorning his long fingers.

Your thumb brushed over one particularly sleek ring as you murmured, almost too quietly, “You two get along well… almost as if this were—” You cut yourself off with another sigh, shaking your head. “Never mind.”

Jay’s jaw tensed slightly, his gaze flickering from the slow-moving traffic ahead to your profile. His thumb rubbed gentle circles against your skin as he let out a quiet, bitter chuckle.

“Almost as if it were real,” he echoed, his voice low, carrying a weight that made your chest ache.

You still didn’t meet his gaze, your eyes locked on the window as the night blurred outside.

Jay’s grip on your thigh lingered for a moment longer before he let out another quiet sigh, a humorless smile tugging faintly at his lips as he nodded to himself, as if silently acknowledging something only he could hear.

“Yeah,” he said softly, his voice almost drowned out by the music. “Almost.”

You nodded faintly, your eyes fixed on the blur of headlights and taillights streaking past the window. You refused to look at him, afraid that even the slightest glance would undo the careful grip you had on yourself.

The sting behind your eyes grew sharper as you sucked in a shaky breath, pressing your lips together.

Jay’s thumb brushed against your thigh again as his voice cut gently through the silence. “You okay?”

You managed a small nod, though your body betrayed you—your shoulders tensed, and your hand had stilled over his, no longer tracing the cool metal of his rings.

You leaned back against the leather seat, head tilting slightly to rest against it.

“I always am,” you murmured, so quietly it was almost lost beneath the music.

Jay’s hand tightened over yours, his voice suddenly firmer, low but resolute. “Don’t lie to me, (Y/N).”

Your chest rose and fell with a shaky exhale. You stayed silent for a moment, gripping the fabric of your dress with your free hand as if it could ground you. Slowly—hesitantly—you turned your head toward him.

Your glossy eyes met his, the dim dashboard lights catching the faint shimmer of unshed tears. You forced a smile, one that wavered and cracked at the edges as you whispered, “I’m not.”

His brows furrowed deeply, the smirk and light teasing that so often played on his lips completely gone now, replaced by an expression so raw—so tender—it almost hurt to look at.

Jay’s hands reached up, cradling your face with a gentleness that made your chest tighten. His thumbs brushed the streaks of tears falling down your cheeks, and he swore softly under his breath.

“God…” he murmured, almost to himself. “Thank whoever’s listening for this traffic.”

You let out a weak, watery laugh through your tears, leaning into his touch as your hands reached up to press over his. “Jay?” you whispered, voice trembling.

“Yeah, pretty?” His reply was equally soft, but there was an edge there—a nervousness he couldn’t quite hide.

Your lips quivered as you looked up at him, eyes glassy and vulnerable. “Is this still fake?”

His fingers paused for a fraction of a second against your skin.

You felt his breath hitch, the faintest falter in his steady exterior as his eyes searched yours for any trace of doubt or hesitation.

“Are you still doing this just so people at Decelis would shut up… or are you playing with me?” The last part cracked—your voice breaking as the tears came faster now, falling freely onto his hands.

But Jay didn’t pull away. Not when you looked this fragile, this heartbreakingly honest. He only cupped your face tighter, his thumbs moving to catch every tear he could as his own chest rose and fell unevenly.

“Hey, (Y/N),” he said gently. “Look at me.”

You did, though it felt like your heart might burst.

His gaze burned into yours—not with anger, not even with frustration, but with an intensity that made the air in the car feel thick.

“I proposed this whole idea because I wanted everyone to leave you and me alone. I thought—hell, I convinced myself—it was just a game. Just something to keep the rumors quiet, to protect you and… maybe me too.”

He let out a shaky breath, his forehead pressing to yours. “But then you… you went and ruined everything, didn’t you? You went and made me care.”

Your lips parted, but no sound came out as his hands trembled slightly against your skin.

“I don’t know if this is fake anymore, pretty girl,” he whispered, voice raw.

“Because every time you smile at me like I’m worth the trouble… every time you hold my hand like it’s second nature… every time I hear you laugh—God, I can’t tell where the pretending stops and where you begin.”

A choked sound escaped you as he tilted your chin gently, forcing you to meet the depths of his eyes.

“You’ve managed to show me what it feels like to be seen, (Y/N). To be wanted. To be loved in a way I didn’t even think I deserved.” His voice cracked slightly at the end, but his hands remained steady on your face.

“This isn’t fake to me anymore. It hasn’t been for a long time.”

He smiled then—not his cocky grin, not his teasing smirk, but something small and heartbreakingly sincere. “And if you’ll let me, I don’t ever want it to be.”

Your breath hitched. His words—soft, trembling, so devastatingly honest—landed heavy on your chest, cracking something wide open inside you.

For weeks you’d been holding it all in, biting your tongue, burying the way your heart had begun to ache every time he looked at you like this, and now the dam finally broke.

“Jay…” Your voice wavered, your fingers clutching his wrists where they cradled your face like he was terrified to let you go.

You shook your head slightly, blinking through the tears that blurred his face.

“I agreed to this because I wanted peace. I wanted to feel normal again. To stop being the girl everyone whispered about in the hallways—to stop being the one they pitied or picked apart.”

Your shoulders trembled as a sob pushed past your lips, raw and unrestrained. “But then you—you just had to come in and ruin that too.”

Jay flinched, but his hands didn’t falter, his thumbs still brushing away the tears even as more fell. “Ruin it?” he asked softly.

“You ruined it because you made me feel safe again,” you whispered brokenly.

“You made me feel like I wasn’t some spectacle, like I could just… exist. And then you went and made me laugh again, made me—God, you made me start hoping for more.”

Jay’s brow furrowed as you pressed your hands over his, your tears falling hot and fast against his skin.

“I told myself over and over this was fake. That when it ended, I’d go back to how things were. But Jay—” your voice cracked on his name, “I don’t want to go back. I don’t want this to end. I want you. I want this. All of it.”

For a heartbeat, neither of you moved. The only sound was the faint hum of the car engine, the low croon of the song playing through the speakers, and the frantic rush of both your breaths.

Then Jay let out a shaky laugh—one full of relief and disbelief—as his forehead pressed to yours. “(Y/N)…” he whispered, and it was both a prayer and a confession.

And then he kissed you.

It wasn’t soft—not at first. It was desperate, aching, like weeks of pent-up longing and unsaid words bursting all at once.

His lips pressed to yours with a fervor that made your tears spill over again, his hands slipping from your face to your jaw, tilting you closer as if he was terrified this moment wasn’t real.

You gasped softly against his mouth, and he took it as permission, one of his hands tangling in your hair as the other pulled you closer across the console, your seatbelt the only thing keeping you from melting fully into him.

You kissed him back like you were trying to memorize him—the warmth of his mouth, the taste of his lips, the way his thumb brushed your cheek so tenderly even as the kiss deepened.

When you finally pulled away, your foreheads pressed together, both of you breathless, your tears still wet on your cheeks.

“This isn’t fake,” Jay murmured again, his voice low and wrecked. “Not to me. Not anymore.”

You let out a tearful laugh, your thumb brushing the corner of his lips. “Not to me either.”

For a moment longer, Jay just looked at you—like he couldn’t believe you were real, like he wasn’t ready to let go. His hands lingered on your face, thumbs stroking tenderly as his gaze traced every curve of your expression.

Then the sound of a car horn behind you broke the fragile stillness, and Jay exhaled shakily, giving you the smallest, sweetest smile before leaning in to press one last kiss to your forehead.

“Seatbelt, pretty. I don’t wanna be the reason you get hurt again.” His voice was low, still carrying the remnants of everything unspoken between you.

You nodded, a faint warmth curling in your chest as you slowly buckled yourself back in. Jay pulled his hands away with a reluctance you felt too, his fingers brushing against yours like he didn’t want to lose the contact completely.

The car started moving again, the hum of the engine blending with the soft music still playing.

But this time, it wasn’t awkward or suffocating—there was a lightness, a fragile sense of peace that settled over you like a blanket.

Jay’s hand found its way back to your thigh, his thumb rubbing lazy circles against your skin. He didn’t say anything, but the small squeeze he gave spoke volumes.

You glanced out the window at the city lights streaking past, a small smile tugging at your lips for the first time in what felt like forever.

For once, your heart didn’t feel heavy.

“You’re quiet,” Jay murmured after a while, his eyes still focused on the road but softening as they flicked briefly to you.

“What’s going on in that pretty head of yours?”

You shook your head, your fingers sliding over the rings on his hand again, tracing the cool metal absently. “Nothing bad,” you said honestly, a faint laugh in your voice. “For the first time in a long time, nothing feels bad.”

Jay smiled at that, and though he didn’t say it, his fingers tightened slightly over your thigh like he understood. Like he felt it too.

⤷ part 1 | part 2 | part 3 | part 4 | part 5

⤷ permanent taglist — @m1kkso @ilovhoonie @jiyeons-closet @manobillie @yjmylove @in-somnias-world @cripplinghooman @yeossified ⤷ piece taglist — @strawjayrries @dearestdreamies @chuuyaobsessed

© 2025 liuhsng — reblogs are highly appreciated and please don’t hesitate to request some fics here if you want me to write anything !

[gh0st-in-green-c0nverse]

golden

percy jackson x reader — you take his place on the throne

cw: EPISODE 5 SPOILERS (ish), swearing

The boat bobs along the water slowly. You feel sick. For a while, the two of you just sit there, still reeling.

“You okay?” Percy asks after he catches his breath.

You’d reached out and grabbed his hand without realizing it in your panic. You’re suddenly very aware of his skin on yours, warm and kind of clammy. You disentangle your fingers without comment.

“Yeah.”

He’s about to say something to fill the awkward silence when your eyes widen.

“There’s the shield!” You exclaim, standing.

He follows your gaze to a golden statue, the shield wedged between its hands. The boat doesn’t stop, though. He looks at you, and then back at the statue.

“We’re gonna have to jump,” he says, and you grimace. The artificial waves are getting choppier.

You eye the water.

“On three?” You finally say.

Percy smiles in a way that he hopes is reassuring. “On three.”

“One…two-!” Before you can say three, the boat lurches and you both topple over the edge.

As soon as the water closes over your head, you’re struggling and kicking. You can’t tell up from down. Your lungs squeeze, your eyes sting. Somewhere in the haze, you see Percy, and you reach out, but he’s so far. He disappears in a whirl of water, and you think, wow, after all of this, I’m about to die in an amusement park.

Suddenly, something solid rushes to meet you and there’s air on your face and you can’t stop coughing.

Percy places an unsure hand on your back as you suck in rattling breaths. He says something, but it still sounds like everything’s underwater.

You shake your head sharply, hand pressing your ear flat until the water drips out and you can hear again. “I’m alright,” you say, before he asks. He helps you stagger into a standing position. For a few moments, the only sound is your wheezing.

Percy squints at the chair. “This is Hephestasus’ park, right?”

You nod.

“I think this is Hera’s throne,” he says slowly, glancing at you for confirmation.

You vaguely recall that story. “She sat in it and couldn’t get up,” you think aloud.

“It was a trade,” Percy continues. “Aphrodite’s hand in marriage for Hera. The shield for…”

One of us.

Oh.

“I’ll do it.”

He catches your arm as you start forward. “Wait a minute!”

“Whoever goes in there isn’t coming back,” you explain, brows set in a hard line.

“I know, that’s why I said wait!”

You yank your arm back. Percy’s face flickers with something you can’t read.

“You need to stay alive,” you say, stressing every word.

“So do you!”

You shake your head. “You have your mom. You have Grover. You have people who need you.”

The I don’t hangs in the air, unsaid.

He opens his mouth, then shuts it again.

I need you, he wants to say.

But he doesn’t.

“The gods chose you, Percy. This is your quest.”

This is wrong. This is so wrong. It’s cruel, and so unfair that they have to choose. Fuck this. Fuck all of this.

“This isn’t about that,” he protests, though he knows he can’t beat you. You’d always had a sharper tongue than him.

You unhook your dagger. He remembers the arch, only yesterday. Is this how you felt? This burning in his chest?

“It is. It all goes back to that prophecy. To fate. To the Fates.”

Your eyes burn with tears as you hold out your dagger for him to take.

He blinks hard. “This is wrong,” he says, voice wavering, and you’ve never seen him like this before. Always tough, always witty. Unserious, sure, but never afraid.

You push it towards him, and he takes it.

“I know.”

Your fingers twitch. You’d hug him, one last time, but you remember how he froze back in St. Louis.

So you don't.

You walk over to the chair, heart pounding. This is a death sentence. This is it. This is it.

“Hey, Percy?”

His head snaps up, lip tugged between his teeth as he holds back tears too.

“Go save your mom,” You say. “Save her, save the bolt, and tell Grover I’m sorry.”

You picture Grover’s face when he finds out what happened to you. You turn away, stand right in front of the throne. It glints in the swimming light.

“And if you have a chance, I don’t know, maybe swing back around here and try to get me out?”

He laughs sadly. “You think you had to ask?”

“Just making sure.”

You sit.

For a moment, nothing happens, and you're worried that you’d said all that for nothing. You’d feel pretty stupid.

And then—

“This is weird,” you say. “It’s warm.”

There’s fear in his eyes and your dagger in his hand.

Something snakes its way up your leg, smooth and fast. It feels like wax, almost, hardening over your skin.

“This is a bad idea,” Percy says, eyes tracking something at your feet. “Stand up.”

You don’t look at what he’s looking at. You don’t want to.

“I can’t.” Panic rises in your chest, fast and unwelcome, and you’d be shaking if you could move.

“y/n—”

“It’s okay,” you whisper, voice hoarse. The words don’t sound right in your mouth. Your legs are completely immobile. Your breath comes in short gasps. “I’m okay. I’m… okay.”

You look at him, trembling and still pretty damp, mouth open like he wants to say something.

Whatever’s seeping onto your face is warm and brittle. You stare hard at his eyes. They’re a shining blue. They’re afraid.

It’s the last thing you see.

a/n: sorry guys cliffhangers make me giggle ‼️ I’ll write another part If u guys would want me to !

[lovelyyandereaddictionpoint]

Enemies Within (2) Platonic Yandere Demon Queen Headcannons

Introduction | Part 1 | Kofi

“Don’t think about doing anything to my Queen’s baby! I’ll kill you long before you’ve begun to act on it!”

“Hmph you think you could stop me. The Queen is clearly disillusioned and neglecting us and her empire for that…thing.”

“DON’T YOU–”

“Silence Milune. Enjoy your time with the toad, while you can it won’t get old enough to speak.”

The threat is from the 2nd concubine, the likely father of the Queen’s first child-Silk of the Silver Snow Mountains

Hailing from the wintery mountains, his beauty is garnered in his pale uniqueness

Eyes as blue as the sky and hair white as snow

With a soft and attractive face

As the prettiest it was a given that the Demon Queen would claim him eventually 

But he didn’t go without a fight

Legend has it that the scuffle to decide who would be a concubine to who ended in a change of geography so great new maps had to be issued

Almost matching in strength with the Queen his pull within court and among the concubines is clear

Not to mention his unofficial King status given the short life of his daughter

Milune understands this all so painful for him

Her emotional intelligence her greatest strength among the Queen’s court

Practically begs the Queen to be wary of him even though she’s being needed more as the efforts to exterminate humanity continue forward

While the Queen takes her warnings seriously, she hardly spares the time to even look him in the face anymore

“Don’t go anywhere near my baby, Silk.”

“Why? Worried the curse of our union will happen again?”

“Stop it.”

“Scared that you might see me? That I might remind you of our daughter?!”

“STOP IT!”

It’s from places of such deep pain that they don’t communicate much anymore

And it’s killing him

So much so that while she is out overseeing the latest weapon against the Hero, he sets out to the dungeon

Easily killing the guards and walking through the traps like they're minor annoyances

“With such weak things it almost seems that she wants this child to die.”

“Silk?! Don’t you dare—”

“Move.”

He incapacitates Milune with a sharp spell of ice, rendering her immobile as she flops to the ground

Able to turn she tries reaching out for you is just waking up from a nap, cooing for her to grab you

“--y–/n—!”

Silk easily produces an icicle in one hand as he holds the quieting babe in his other

And with medical precision he slices at your knee

The blood that pours out is immediate

And so is your crying

“WAAAAA! WAAAA! WAAAA!”

Silk finally pauses 

Not that he wasn’t expecting you to cry

But he wasn’t expecting to be brought back to the moment of the Queen’s delivery

Standing there filled with joy that morphed to horror…all because his baby wasn’t crying 

Recalling over the hour of the healers and medics trying multiple things there was no crying

None but the Queens 

And he’d realized how deeply he desired to hear a cry…because hearing that would have meant everything was okay

When the Queen returns she immediately goes for the dungeons, excited to hold her baby after a day of grueling failure

Only to be filled with dread at the state of the hallways leading to the nest

Dead guards of her choosing and traps sprung with no sign of damage to the one who triggered them

Her heart prepares for the worst, thinking back to her first baby

“NOT AGAIN! NEVER AGAIN!”

She dashes with complete abandon uncaring of the way she makes holes in the walls and craters with her steps

Coming across her opened nest to find an odd scene…

There is Silk in his cold and detached visage holding her baby who’s being put to sleep again

Milune looking hurt, sighs in relief as she stands a little ways away from the other concubine

A waft of her infamous healing magic being sent in her baby’s direction

“Silk?! What is this?”

“If you plan to replace our daughter with this child I’ll never condone it.”

“Silk.”

“But if you raise (Y/n) as themself than I will do everything in my power to raise them well….and certainly upgrade the measly mousetraps you had set up before.”

Milune cringes

Waiting for the Queen to explode, to stab him, to envelope the both of them in incinerating heat

But she doesn’t she smiles

Entering her nest and leaning over to kiss your head

“I never would dare replace her. This child will never be a replacement for her. They are my own little human baby who’s been found at the perfect time.”

Silk smiles at this and changes the way he’s cradling you, allowing her to pick you up

“By the way Millune why are you using your magic?”

“Well…it’s for–”

Before she can sheepishly explain The Queen finds it

The scratch on your chubby knee slowly being closed up

The temperature drops

Causing you to wail in discomfort

“Millune if you’ll feed them and put them down for a nap, please.”

“Yes my Queen!”

“Silk. Come we have much to speak about.”

The fight that she has with him is more of a one-sided beatdown

Silk doing the bare minimum as a valid punishment for even coming at you with the intention to harm

But the surface level scratch was an absolute crime

She actually leveled multiple mountain ranges this time

And was satisfied when Silk was left with three fingers missing

After being talked down from taking the whole hand

Sincet then the Queen is quite pleased with her concubines

Both of them attending to you when they’re not by her side

Dutifully beginning to shape you into the Demon Royalty you’ve come to be 

“Wah!”

“Put your hands down, little one it ruins you’re official wear.”

“Wah, wah, wah!”

“Do no take that tone with her! Apologize little one.”

“Mmmm. Reh?”

“That will have to do.”

The last of her loyal concubines to fall for you is her third and dearest friend

One of her generals…her most high general responsible for leading her to you in the first place

Because he’s more of a fighter less of a lover

He prefers to be aiding her on the battlefield 

And he doesn’t mind much since he hasn’t seen you since she first adopted you

The next time he sees you it’s somewhere he never expected

“Buuuu!”

“....Where did you come from?”

He was in the training room practicing his sword swings on the battered dummies when he felt a tiny hand grab onto him

Leaning on his calf for support is itty bitty you

He stands there for a little while just trying to comprehend 

The why

The how

The what ifs

Before he feels your little hand leave him and your on the move again

So busy being a general he’s never thought about children or the fact he’s never held one

And thus he’s afraid that he’d smash you to bits if he held you wrong

But as he watches you struggle to walk before reverting to quickly crawling 

He realizes he should follow after 

So that’s what he does for the rest of his mandatory day off

Following after baby you who’s just discovering every which way of the kingdom's sub level

Its only when you seem to step forward with upmost confidence towards some steps that he actually goes to carry you 

“So…light!”

He discovers he has no issues with holding a baby without squashing them

But he does seem to have trouble keeping a squirmy baby in place

“I thought you were supposed to stay in my arms…oh please be careful…and don’t hang off my horn you’ll stick yourself.”

It’s when he finally ventures to the Queen’s nest; a place he’d almost forgotten where it was

That he notices the temperature drop

Seeing the new guards quiver 

He makes sure to cuddle you tight, seeing you curl into his hair

But when he gets there all he sees is the other two concubines absolutely frightened

“THEY COULDN’T HAVE GOTTEN FAR!! YOU CHECKED THE ARMORY DIDN’T YOU!?”

“AND THE THRONE ROOM AND THE TORTURE CELLS! I CAN’T FIND THEM ANYWHERE!? SHOULD i KILL MYSELF OR WAIT FOR THE QUEEN TO!”

“Don’t lose hope! I’ll dash around in high speed to find them!”

“But if you miss they’ll get hurt from the aftershock!” 

“Curse humanity! WHY CAN’T THEY BE LESS PRONE TO DIE!?”

“...Uhm you guys looking for them?”

“(Y/n)! Oh thank the Queen!”

“YOU NAUGHTY INFANT! YOU COULD’VE DIED!”

“Maybe stop cooling the place down and they won’t.”

When the Queen returns her concubines are honest and she’s looking to her highest general 

“Thank you, Mordecai.”

“Of course, my Queen.”

“Not just for caring for them this time…for them entirely.”

“Anytime my Queen. Finding the heir to your kingdom is among my duties.”

“I hope you’ll continue that for centuries to come.”

From the Demon Queen and her concubines to the entire demon kingdom you’re destined to grow up pampered and protected

Though it would be a shame to know that the one who’d raised you for the role, could no longer be there...

TBC

[meadowfics]

happy birthday

cho sang-woo x f!reader

due to the squid games, you forgot that it is your birthday

warnings: established relationship, age gap (reader is in her mid-twenties), death, s*icide, angst, I do not suggest that minors should read this. I am not responsible for the content you choose to read after clicking, "keep reading"

the games have stretched on for days

you’ve long lost the ability to track time in the games since you did not have a single device with you.

every moment is just filled with a whirlwind of blood, screams, and desperate breaths you are grateful to take.

you haven’t thought about anything beyond surviving, eating only enough to function, sleeping with one eye open.

you haven’t even thought about what day it is, let alone the fact that it’s your birthday.

the person you were before the games feels like a distant, unreachable memory.

sang woo has always been the thinker, and the planner in the relationship.

you relied on his mind to guide you through the chaos that this game brought you.

while you carried out plans, while you ran and fought, he was the one ensuring you both had a chance.

he told you what you needed to do in order to survive each game, and you admired him for it.

now, with just the two of you left, that strength has become a devastating burden.

the man who kept you alive is now the one you must kill

...or be killed by.

the final game takes place in a desolate, open field.

the rain pours relentlessly, soaking you to the bone, making the sand beneath your feet slippery.

it’s too quiet, save for the patter of rain and your own shaky breaths.

you’re standing twenty feet apart, both in the same dark suits, drenched, eyes meeting through the haze of water.

the masked overseers watch silently in the background, unmoving, as if savoring the grim show about to unfold.

everyone there, the guards, the frontman watching.. the knew about the love between the two of you.

that is what made this sight more amusing to them..

“sang woo, i can’t…”

your voice cracks as you stare at him, your hands trembling at your sides.

you’ve already thrown the knife they gave you to the ground. you couldn’t do it.

“please, just do it. i—I can’t hurt you. i won’t.”

sang woo's expression is unreadable at first, his dark eyes narrowing slightly, the rain dripping down his face like tears.

he’s been your anchor through this nightmare, but now, as the end looms, his silence feels like a dagger in your chest.

“please don’t make me do this.”

his voice is low, trembling.

this is the most vulnerable you’ve ever heard him.

“don’t ask me to kill you. i can’t live with that. i can’t…”

he steps closer, his hand tightening around something at his side. you think it’s the knife.

is he going to kill you?

you drop to your knees, the rain pooling around you.

you scream, sobbing openly now.

“it’s okay! i’ll be okay, sang woo! just do it. take the money. take care of your mom. she needs you!”

your chest heaves, your heart feels like it’s ripping apart.

“i can’t live with myself if i kill you, but you...you’ll be okay! you’re a strong man, love. please…”

“no? you think i can live with myself without you?”

he finally chokes out, his voice raw.

the older man's eyes are glassy, filled with an emotion you’ve never seen from him before.

love. regret. anguish.

when he moves, it’s not towards you.

he pulls the knife and presses it to his throat in one fluid motion.

your stomach drops as realization sets in, but it’s too late.

he’s faster.

“no! sang woo, stop!”

you scream, bolting towards him as he sinks the blade in.

you reach him just as his knees buckle.

his blood gushes out, staining your hands as you cradle him.

“why? why would you do this?”

your voice is shrill, hysterical, as you press your hands against the wound, trying to stop the inevitable.

there is no help here, he is a lost cause.

sang woo reaches up weakly, his bloodied hand brushing against your cheek.

the man's voice is barely a whisper,

“because… i know you’ll take care of her… my mom. you’ll… make sure she’s okay.”

his breath hitches, his eyes fluttering closed, but then they open one last time, locking onto yours with a bittersweet smile.

“happy birthday, by the way. I love you.”

the words shatter you.

of course sang woo would never forget his favorite day of the year

even in this hellhole..

you scream his name, shaking him as if you can bring him back.

your lover's blood seeps into the sand below, mingling with the rain, as the weight of his sacrifice crashes down on you.

you can’t stop crying, holding his lifeless body, feeling the warmth of him slip away.

the games end. you are declared the winner.

the frontman teases that you are the first woman to have ever won, and the first person to win on their birthday..

45.6 billion won is yours, but it feels hollow, meaningless.

you didn't want any of this money no more.

every time you close your eyes, you see sang woo’s face, hear his voice, feel his blood on your hands.

an hour after the guards threw you back out in the streets of seoul.. you look at your phone.

you see the date: your birthday.

the day you should have been celebrating is now the day you’ll mourn for the rest of your life.

you won, but at what cost?

the weight of your soulmates sacrifice will haunt you forever.

masterlist

[miharuki]

𝕿𝖍𝖊 𝕳𝖎𝖇𝖎𝖓𝖔 𝕭𝖗𝖔𝖙𝖍𝖊𝖗𝖘

Soshiro has always found you intriguing since the moment you took the test to join the Defense Force. Your combat skills were surprisingly low—lower than anyone else’s in the exam. Even so, you passed, just like he did. He tried to approach you, start a conversation, but you didn’t seem as talkative as the others. However, he noticed that with Captain Mina, you laughed, joked, and even made jokes. He wondered if you were in the Defense Force just because of your friendship with Mina. After all, you weren’t good at long-range combat, and your strength seemed weaker than most. Still, something about you was intriguing.

This mystery deepened during your first mission together. He saw, alone, you destroy a huge kaiju—a feat that normally required a platoon leader. The skill you demonstrated at that moment confused him. When he tried to talk about it, you remained closed off, keeping all your secrets to yourself. With each failed attempt at communication, Soshiro’s curiosity only grew, until he realized he had become attached to you.

When he was promoted to vice-captain, he thought this would bring him closer to you. He thought perhaps it was his position that made you not open up to him, but nothing changed. Your coldness and distance remained, until the arrival of the new soldiers, including Kafka Hibino. Suddenly, you started opening up, talking to Kafka in a way you never did with Soshiro. A strange feeling overwhelmed him. He didn’t like seeing you together. The more you grew closer to Kafka, the more he gave the new soldier tasks, trying to keep him busy. He didn’t like it at all.

Then came the revelation: Kafka was Kaiju No. 8. When he was taken, you seemed to lose your spark. Soshiro saw it, felt the sadness radiating from you, and it irritated him. Why care so much about Kafka? He was a kaiju. Even though he was human, he was a monster.

Over time, he noticed that despite the pain, you continued to train, to evolve. It was as if your combat skills, once weaker, were now on par with the soldiers. Maybe even reaching the level of a platoon leader, but the sadness from Kafka’s absence seemed to be something unchangeable. Soshiro tried to get closer, to be there for you, but you kept your distance.

When he found out the final result of Kafka’s fate, his death, Soshiro noticed the change in you. The distance and emptiness grew even more, while you stopped eating, taking care of yourself. The situation became so dire that Soshiro decided to seek answers from Captain Mina.

When Soshiro arrived at Mina’s office, she looked at him seriously and thoughtfully, as if weighing what she was about to reveal. He felt a shiver of nervousness. She began:

“Soshiro, there’s something I think you need to know.”

He furrowed his brow, a bit confused. Was she going to talk about something related to the previous mission, when he had saved you both from being swallowed by a kaiju? He hoped so.

“Lately, I’ve noticed you trying to get close to someone in particular… (Your Name),” she continued, carefully choosing her words. “And I thought I should tell you. The reason (Your Name) is so shaken is because their brother… has just been executed. That brother was Kafka Hibino. (Your Name) Hibino.”

Soshiro felt his heart race, his eyes widening in shock. “Kafka was… their brother?”

Mina nodded. “That’s right. That’s why I thought you should know. (Your Name) told me that, from the beginning, you’ve tried to get close, tried to be friendly, but maybe this is the reason for their distance.”

Soshiro took a moment to process everything, the revelation about Kafka being their sibling shedding new light on every interaction he had with you. The truth caught him by surprise, but at the same time, it intensified his desire to be there for you, now more than ever.

“Captain… if you don’t mind, where are they now?”

Mina replied firmly, but with a gentle look. “If you want to see them, they’re on the roof of the headquarters right now.”

Soshiro simply thanked her with a nod, leaving the room and heading straight to meet you. When he saw you, you were facing away, with a bowl of food beside you. He called your name:

“(Your Name)?”

You slowly turned around, your face weary, marked by tears. He took a deep breath, trying to stay calm. Approaching slowly, Soshiro placed a hand on your head and murmured:

“I heard what happened… I’m so sorry about your brother. I can’t even imagine the pain you’re feeling.”

You looked away, and Soshiro stepped closer. “But know that I’m here,” he said, his voice soft and full of sincerity.

Without thinking much, you hugged him, and he returned the embrace, listening to your sobs. Soshiro, with his heart aching, whispered:

“You don’t have to go through this alone. Let me be here for you.”

But what he didn’t know was that you had already devised a plan for revenge, a way to repay every drop of suffering that had been caused to your brother. What you also didn’t know was that from that moment on, Soshiro wouldn’t let you escape. He would stay by your side, no matter what it took.

[emmie-tt]

Can you write a harry potter x reader where the reader is harry gf and she got kidnapped into the malfoy Manor (in dh) and when Harry, Ron and hermione got captured there too, he finds her and he take her back to fleur and Bill cottage and he takes care of her because she got injured really bad while being there? <3 (also her having a lot of scars/marks and being insecure about them but harry will kiss them all and tell her they are perfect) and one night when she finally Trys to leave the bed (because her legs are really shaky) they go out and stay in front of the sea and they talk about their future? Sorry this is long hope you can make it <3

My Protector

Harry Potter x Reader

CW: Angst (Kinda) , Mental Problems, Mentions of blood and wounds, Mentions of Scars, Female Reader

How did you get here...As you lay on the cold hard ground of the Malfoy Manor your whole life flashes in front of your eyes. You had always been the quiet kid. Never causing drama. Never getting involved in drama. Never acting out. Hardly ever going to parties unless Harry had went with you.

Speaking of. Harry had been frantically searching for you, the moment he realized you were missing it felt like hi whole world stopped.

You didn't know that though. Not yet at least.

The lightheaded feeling began a few minutes ago. Whether it was from blood loss or dehydration was also unknown. You did know that it had been three days since you've had water and you also knew that gash in your forehead had been left unattended for quite a few hours so whichever was causing the lightheaded feeling was anyone's guess.

You heard a gasp from Luna Lovegood who was also being held captive but instead of reacting you ignored it choosing to focus on not passing out and praying to Godricks that someone helped and got you out of here...

The feeling of someones hands on your face brought you out of your haze and suddenly a fuzzy yet familiar voice was cutting through the silence

"Y/n...Y/n can you hear me?"

As your vision comes into focus your eyes widen as you realize who was knelt next to you.

"Harry..." you mumble as you weakly reach up and cup his face

He smiles weakly back, seeing you in so much pain and honestly so close to death...

"Hi sweetheart...I'm gonna get you out of here okay? Get you some help, alright?"

you nod slight and he slides one arm under your knees and the other under your upper torso. Picking you up bridal style he quickly makes his way out the things he noticed about the woman he loved more than anything was how much weight you had loss, the blood dripping down his arm from your forehead and that dazed almost lifeless look in your eyes.

He picks up the pace in his steps and as soon as the coast was clear he held you closer and floo you both off to the cottage.

------ At The Cottage ------

Harry quickly sat you down on the couch, the dizziness had took over and you had loss consciousness a few minutes prior. Molly gasps as she rushes over and helps Harry lay you on the couch.

She asses the wound on your head before quickly jumping into action and cleaning then stitching the rather deep wound

Harry stood at the end of the couch the whole time. His eyes never once leaving you as he watched Molly clean the wound and stitch you up.

He felt completely guilty for this whole thing, he had promised from the day he met you to protect you. You were nothing more than a ray of sunshine in his extremely dark life, the reason he lived was you and seeing you lay on the couch unconscious and injured absolutely broke him. He could not loose anyone else.

After Molly was finished she stepped back and walked over to Harry wrapping her arms around him in a tight motherly hug.

"She will be alright..." she mumbles softly into his hair as he begins to sob.

------ A Little While Later ------

Harry had fallen asleep sat on the floor next to the couch where you had been laid. His head rested uncomfortably on the edge as his hand gripped onto yours tightly. His whole body reacts when he feels you hand twitch slightly. His hands snap open and he quickly looks up at you right when your eyes slowly flutter open.

"Y-Y/n? Sweetheart, are you awake?" You groan softly as you reach up and feel at the now bandaged wound. Harry gently grabs your hand and pulls it back down, planting a soft kiss on your palm as he moves to sit on the edge of the bed.

"Hey...You're alright love...I'm right here..." He whisper softly as tears flood your eyes

"Harry..."

He stares at you sympathetically for a moment before, gently as possible, lifting you into his arms and holding you close to his chest. His hands rubbing up and down your back slowly as you sob into his shoulder where your head is resting.

He feels his own tears rise but he chokes them down to comfort you, something he knew you needed.

After a long few minutes you calm down and slowly sit up, ignoring the pounding that happens in your head at the movement. You hands wrap tightly around him and you stare down at him silently as he stares back before gently kissing your forehead leading you to let out a sigh and lay your head back down on his shoulder.

Harry noticed the shift in your personality. The silence that used to be replaced with constant chatter about things only Hermione could truly understand. The fear in your eyes that used to be full of light and shine. He noticed it all and it killed him...

"My love...Lets get you some food alright? And maybe some orange juice?"

He waits for your reply and when you nod he immediately stands with you in his arms and makes his way into the kitchen where he goes to place you in a chair only to be stopped when you tighten your grip and mutter out a soft "No..."

He stops in his tracks and stands back up with you in his arms, glancing down at your face

"No what love? You don't want me to put you down?" When you nod, confirming his question he sighs softly but obeys your wish and walks over to the fridge and pulls out a pitcher of orange juice that he pours into a cup and hands to you. As you sip at the juice he quickly makes a sandwich before taking a seat at the dining table and slowly feeds you the sandwich.

When you finish it a few minutes later he lets you finish the orange juice before standing and placing the dishes in the sink, letting the magic do its thing and clean the dishes, Harry makes his way down a hall and into the room Bill had given him to stay in.

He gently lays you down in the bed causing you to let out a soft whimper, he gently kisses your forehead

"Shh sweetheart, i'm right here...Let me get you some clean clothes okay?"

You hesitantly nod and he rushes off into the closet where he grabs an old shirt of his and a random pair of boxers before quickly making his way back to you where he finds you crying.

The guilt in his gut only grows and he walks over gently rubbing your back, you climb into his lap and he instantly lets you, wrapping his arms around your waist and rocking you gently as you sob.

Once you calm down he coaxes you off of him for just long enough to get you bathed and changed into the outfit before helping you into bed where he climbs in after you, letting you lay on top of him- rather uncomfortably, before holding you close as you fall asleep a few moments later.

And that is how most days go...

A few weeks passed and your physical condition had improved, the gash had almost completely healed, leaving a scar. All the bruises had faded and the small cuts had healed leaving their own small scars across your body.

Your mental health was another thing...While it hadn't worsened it really hadn't improved either...Harry could finally leave you alone but not for to long, you refused to leave the bed and talking still came very rarely for you.

Harry had left the room a few moment ago, to do something...He had said but truly you hadn't been listening.

Looking around the room your eyes land on the mirror hung on the wall, more specifically the reflection in the mirror. As you stared down your own reflection, seeing the large scar across your forehead caused disgust to rush over you in waves.

You slowly sit up in the bed letting the blanket fall to your waist, being in only your bra, all of the small scars that now littered your body were on full display. Your hands slowly ran over each of them, picking and pulling at them almost as if you were trying to get them off of you.

You were so lost in your own world that you didn't notice harry stepping into the room until you saw him in the mirror causing you to jump.

"What are you doing sweetheart?" He asks softly as he climbs onto the bed and wraps his arms around your waist after gently grabbing your hands and pulling them away from your skin

"N-Nothing..."

He clearly didn't believe you but instead of saying anything he gently pushed you back onto the bed and yanked the blanket off of you completely causing you to gasp and wrap your arms around his shoulders. "H-Harry! What are you doing?!"

He shrugs slightly as he leans down and kisses your forehead, right on the scar. "So pretty..."

Your whole body heats up as he leans down to your stomach area and presses soft kisses to each scar he could see as he mumbles praises.

"Beautiful..."

"Gorgeous..."

"Pretty..."

Any praise he could think of was flying out of his lips as he worshiped you, your face was the so ho from being so flustered that you couldn't stand it. This was exactly what you needed...That disgusted feeling melted away with every kiss and praise he gave you.

After a moment he looks back up at you, his glasses sat on the tip of his nose almost falling off. You giggle softly pushing his glasses back up his face, a smile appearing on your face for the first time in weeks.

Harry grins and moves up peppering kisses all over your face causing the small giggles to grow even more as you gently push him away

"My sweet girl" He says softly "Wanna take a walk with me? You seem in a good mood..."

You think for a long moment about the offer before ultimately nodding and slowly pulling yourself from the bed and into a standing position.

Harry smiles quickly following you out of the bed and helping you put your shoes on before putting his own on and leading you out of the cottage, the sun hitting your skin for the first time in weeks was an amazing feeling. You soaked it in for a moment before walking down the beach towards the water where you stop at the shore line letting the water wash over your sandal covered feet.

Harry slowly approaches you, wrapping his arms around your waist from behind and resting his chin on your shoulder as he gazes down on your face as you gaze out at the water

"What are you thinking about honey?"

You stay silent for a moment before leaning back against him "Our future..."

"Oh yeah? What about it?"

"I don't know...Just how- how everything is gonna end...With the war, the death eaters...he who should not be names..."

He sighs softly and kisses your cheek, before being taken you had no problem calling him Voldemort but now you were terrified..

"Nothing will happen to you again...Me, Ron and Hermione have a plane okay? Please don't worry about it..."

With a small nod you turn around in his arms and snuggle your face against his chest "How many kids do you want..?"

He looks down slightly shocked at your question before thinking for a moment "Honestly, it wouldn't matter to me...As long as I have you that's all that matters...What about you baby? How many?"

"Three...Two boys and a girl..."

He chuckles, your answer was instant with absolutely not hesitation behind it. "I'll do my best to help fulfill that dream my love..."

You giggle and slowly close your eyes as you rest against him. It finally felt like you could see a light at the end of a very dark tunnel. He had been everything you needed to get through such a rough time. Your love. Your support but most importantly your protector.

THE END

Oh. My. Goodness. I think this is my best work yet, I hope this is up to your expectations love!! And I am so so sorry it took so long to get this out there!!

[cloudedmoonofficial]

Grey was ready.

He stood by while Rainfall finished her other announcements… he saw right through her and he couldn't wait to get big and become a Ranger. She would never choose him as an Envoy, he knew that. No, Grey would have to take a different path to remove the cruel Captain, be it Herbalism or just all out rebellion! But he had to learn first, he needed to complete field training. His conviction set fire to his heart, but he kept it well hidden from anyone who looked too close. He wasn't sure who he could trust yet.

It was a miracle any of them had finished base training! His friend, Tiger, had paid the ultimate price at less than three months of age, swept away by the river, at Rainfall's order. It wasn't fair! Grey could see the sorrow on Lily's face as she sat next to him, waiting to be assigned to a teacher, same as Grey. Tiger was Lily's sibling and all the young cats in the colony still missed him… They missed a lot of cats, so many had disappeared lately…

Many cats in River Colony whispered behind Grey's back that he was the son of a renegade, but he knew better. It was so long ago, but his mother would never have left him on purpose, that had to be Rainfall's doing, and Iceclaw… he held back a snarl, realizing that Rainfall had already assigned Lily and Ivy was next.

“--teach her loyalty and obedience!” Rainfall sneered before her gaze landed on Ivy, “Silverblaze, you will train Ivy. Make sure to train her to follow orders well, those long legs will make her a good scout.” 

“Yes, Captain!” Silverblaze nodded before turning around to greet Piketail, Ivy's aunt, as she ruffled Ivy's fur and congratulated her on reaching the next step of training. Piketail was one that Grey might be able to talk to… maybe…

“Grey.” Rainfall's ice cold gaze fell on him finally, “I can only think of one cat to match your weak will.” she seemed to goad him, but he didn't falter, not even as he heard some snickers behind him. ‘Don't let ‘em get to ya’ Rockyshore had told him, ‘Let it all roll off you like water.’ “Wolfthorn, how would you like to actually pull your weight in this Colony, hm? I'm sick of you freeloading, so you will train Grey. That is all. Dismissed!” she finished, her eyes still trained on Wolfthorn.

“Sure, Rainfall,” Wolfthorn's smooth voice answered, “I'm sure that decision won't come back to bite you.” He shrugged with a smirk. Several cats gasped, no one dared talk back to their Captain, but Grey had witnessed Wolfthorn do it on more than one occasion since he had entered the colony. Apparently he was born here too, but he left on a long journey before returning. Rainfall had just… let him come back. 

“It had better not.” Iceclaw growled a threat. It made Grey's neck fur stand on end, but Wolfthorn didn't seem put off by Iceclaw at all. Why? Grey knew there was more to that story, there had to be, and he was going to uncover it! He could barely hide how excited he was to be assigned to Wolfthorn, of all cats! The Spirits might have been on his side after all!

Grey looked back at the silver striped tomcat with an eager smile, ignoring the flashes of pity in many cats’ eyes. They certainly didn't think his assignment was a good thing, and he would pretend to be unaware of why; he would continue his act of naivety until he had Wolfthorn alone. He had to be careful about it if he was to succeed. 

There would be no harder working new-claw than Grey, Wolfthorn wouldn't even need to try very hard to train him. He would practice his stances, his tactics and his strikes until they were flawless. And one day he would be good enough to beat Iceclaw. Hopefully he could get Lily on his side too, and Talon, Ivy and Falcon! 

Wolfthorn blinked at him and then turned away, walking toward the west shore of their island base. Grey hurried after him, following across the stepping stones and through the mangrove tendrils. They didn't stop until they had reached the Rainbow Trees, the huge eucalyptus trunks towered above them, reaching for the sky. Grey bounced into a trot as he realized they were the only cats here. What should he ask first?

Wolfthorn stopped abruptly, turned and sat down, his striped tail flicking from side to side and his eyes narrowing, “What’s your story?” Wolfthorn asked before Grey could speak, “You're not as naive as you let them believe.”

“...No.” Grey's heart jumped into his throat, should he really trust Wolfthorn? His idealistic plan started to sound stupid suddenly, he didn't know what to say, “I--well, I just…” he cleared his throat and trailed off, shuffling his paws nervously. 

“Relax.” Wolfthorn smirked and rolled his eyes, “I'm not going to bite you. Obviously, you are aware that Rainfall isn't my biggest fan, so I'm sorry she made me your teacher, I don't know why, and I'm not exactly a good one.” 

“That’s okay!” Grey blurted out, “I can already do a lot! I've been practicing!” he launched into his best leap and roll technique before bouncing over Wolfthorn’s back, swatting him gently and then leaping back in front of him, a huge smile on Grey's face as he finished.

Wolfthorn chuckled, “Look, kid, you don't have to impress me. Mine is an opinion no one cares about.”

“I do! I think you might be what I need to save the colony!” Grey almost looked like a kitten again, huge yellow moon-eyes gleaming.

“You're really into this, aren't you?” Wolfthorn raised an eyebrow. He seemed caught off guard, but also a bit amused. “Save them from what? ‘River Colony is the best colony in the Alliance’ after all.” he echoed Rainfall, fishing for an answer that suited him. 

The last thing Wolfthorn expected was to hear Grey out himself for treason, but that is what happened: Grey's face turned serious as he prepared to speak. This was it, if he couldn't trust Wolfthorn, all hope was lost anyway, “Save them from Rainfall! She got Tiger killed. My mother is missing… several cats are. Piketail tells us about them, she says not to talk about it though… you never know who's watching…” 

“So, you're a little traitor huh?” Wolfthorn laughed in Grey's face, after a moment, Wolfthorn tilted his head to the side, “I suppose I underestimated you. Kittens don't normally have such resolute opinions.”

“I'm not a kitten anymore, I'm six months.” Grey stood tall and Wolfthorn realized how large he was, almost as large as any adult really, “And yeah, I am a traitor! Are you going to report me?” Grey's demeanor was more challenging than anything, “Someone has to do something or more cats are going to get hurt.”

It almost gave Wolfthorn hope… hope for the colony he knew as a kitten: safety and pride in their work. He sighed, “I suppose kittens are forced to grow fast in River Colony now… No, I'm not going to report you, but keep all that to yourself.” Both toms relaxed a bit, “I suppose you've noticed that my relationship with our Captain is a bit different, hm? Well, don't test it for yourself, alright? Your job is to become a Ranger right now, you'll be playing the long game.”

“So, you do have a plan? I knew it!” Grey's ears stood on end as he prepared to listen

“Not really…” Wolfthorn answered and Grey's excitement melted, “I don't really do… hard things anymore.” He yawned.

Grey's brow furrowed, “But, all we need is a few more cats on our side! You could lead–”

“I'm no leader.” Wolfthorn interrupted his new ward, who drooped a bit in disappointment. It hurt Wolfthorn's heart to see Grey's conviction shatter… Who was he to tell this new-claw that his idea of justice wasn't tenable? Not wanting to completely break this young cat's confidence, Wolfthorn caught Grey's gaze and said, “But I know who could be.” He supposed he was about to do a ‘hard thing’ after all.

The new-claw smiled with determination, but kept his mouth shut, waiting to be let down again perhaps? Or maybe just waiting for instruction.

“You are just a naive little kitten, yeah?” Wolfthorn raised an eyebrow. Grey smiled eagerly and nodded enthusiastically, “You would never dream of betraying Rainfall and I'm quite annoyed that she has you following me around.” Wolfthorn smirked as he got their story straight, “You're too dumb to see me do anything treasonous though.” Grey nodded again, laughing at the continued charade.

“I'm ready.” Grey said.

“I guess I am too.” Wolfthorn shrugged. He wasn't sure why he came back to River Colony, but he never expected to meet a cat like Grey. He supposed his shadow must have guided him home for this. Was he really the only cat for the job? He hoped not. Time to find out.

-Art by Snap

[rinniereads123]

One-Shots

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Last updated 03/09/2025

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Black - @jamesbuchananxsteviegrant

Reader Has To Safeword

For As Long As You Need Me - @whatthetumblfck

A recent mission turns out some unexpected results, and you end up a little (a lot) worse for wear.

Daydreamer - @imtryingbuck

Bucky marries Y/n to create an alliance between their families and kingdoms, their marriage isn’t one of love but Bucky soon finds himself falling for her.

To Mend a Soldier - @vunblr

Pressed by a worried Sam, Bucky reluctantly agrees to try an alternative -and, if you ask him, weird- therapy program: rent-a-mom. What starts as an obligation soon turns into something far more meaningful than he ever expected.

scary? my god, you're divine - @sinner-as-saint

Your marriage to Bucky Barnes was crucial in stopping the rivalry that had been getting rather violent recently between the two families. You agreed to it. But there was one little problem. Although people knew of Bucky as being a ruthless, fiercely loyal, and feared hitman, no one had ever seen his face. In the rare occasions when he’d been seen out during assignments, it was rumoured that he always wore some sort of mask which covered most of his face. So you ended up marrying a man, and had no idea what he looked like. But surely that wouldn’t be an issue. It’s not like his one touch would get you addicted. Who cared what he looked like? It’s not like you could grow to love someone like him anyway… right?

yours to hurt, yours to love - @purple-babygirl

They had a deal. She would surrender her control; he would take it. Love had no place in such a relationship, did it?

Come Find Me - @bucky-bucky-bucky-bucky

You get left behind on a mission, and Bucky goes to save you.

★blurred lines - @ellemj

When choosing a female agent to send back in time to gain young Sergeant Barnes's trust, everyone's in agreement that it should be Sharon. Until Bucky, the man that you barely get along with, speaks up and lets everyone know that it could only be you.

Shared desires - @veltana

You and Bucky decide to explore something new with Steve.

The Push and the Pull - @delaber

There’s nothing Bucky wants more than to be with you - and for that reason alone, he has to break both your hearts.

Little Bookworm - @heytheredelulu

Your boyfriend can’t think of anything more adorable than watching you read. One night while you’re in the shower he picks up the book you left on the nightstand: “Haunting Adeline by H.D. Carlton” and thumbs through it, very quickly realizing just what kind of books his sweet little bookworm is really into.

Anywhere Away With You - @thevillainswhore

Old ghosts from your past threaten to disturb the peace you’ve made with your new life. Will temptation steer you away?

★The Ties That Bind Us - @thevillainswhore

Even though Bucky is your ex-husband, you still have to see him often because of your shared son. But the heated tension, the spark that is still very much alive after your divorce, finally reaches its peak when you come home from your date.

Warrior/Worrier - @delaber

After a mission gone awry, Bucky finds himself on your doorstep in the middle of the night.

Pink in the Night - @d0wnb4df0rf1cm3n

Some interesting rumours have been circling around about Bucky. Little do you know, it's kinda your fault.

Love Hurts - @urdepressedslut

You and Bucky get into a heated argument, things are said and done and now he won’t speak to you. You don’t think you can handle him ignoring your existence.

in losing grip, on sinking ships (you showed up just in time) - @mellowsaturns

When the Avengers pick up unusual activity, they realize that not all of Hydra was destroyed. One unidentifiable face sends the team into a frenzy but Bucky knows it. He could recognize those eyes anywhere.

I Hate You - @ellemj

After ending up on SHIELD's radar, you're moved into the tower against your will. Of course, you can't stand the one man that you have the most in common with.

One More Night - @marvelouslizzie

You and Bucky Barnes are fuck buddies for a while. The problem is you have feelings for him but you don't think he reciprocates and it just makes it impossible to continue your relationship. Little did you know how much he wants you and how hard he's trying to keep it casual.

The Things We Carry With Us - @pellucid-constellations

You were injured on a mission and didn’t tell anyone, leaving your already rocky relationship with Bucky crumbling. Was it really hate he harbored for you, or was it something else? 

Control - @bucky-bucket-barnes

John Walker makes the dire mistake of messing with Bucky’s girl. This misstep causes a major fight to break out between the two, ending in nothing but blood and rage.

I Can Save You This Time - @pellucid-constellations

It’s the 4th of July and you’ve never been more sick. Turns out you aren’t the only one in the compound that stayed home from the celebration.

Shaken Up - @jamesbuchananxsteviegrant

Steve and Bucky find their girl passed out.

Under Pressure - @banditthewriter

Y/N hides a nasty injury from the team until they know everybody is safe, and then they collapse. Bucky worries about Y/N.

Injuries - @flowinglocksofbuck

you get injured on a mission and Bucky freaks out

Wicked - @str-spangled-banner

You were injured during a mission two weeks ago and put to much pressure on your healing wounds, doing more damage than you thought possible. Bucky fears he will lose you.

Necessary Evil - @bucky-bucky-bucky-bucky

Y/N gets seriously injured and Bucky takes care of her.

fingers fantasy fulfilled - @purple-babygirl

If Bucky's doll wanted his metal fingers then that was exactly what she was going to get.

Lavender - @wkemeup

Not every nightmare is the same and Bucky doesn’t always wake up as the man you know. 

Give Me A Sign - @lostgirlmuseum

Bucky asks the universe for a reason to live. The universe delivers you.

Fulfilled Fantasy - @sergeantbarnessdoll

Y/N admits to Bucky that she wants to have a threesome so he has Natasha help fulfill her fantasy.

Hottest Night of Your Life - @bossbtch1

Bucky and Steve joined you for a night out at the club, but things took a dark turn when a stranger spiked your drink. Bucky and Steve were more than willing to "take care" of you.

Sharing is Caring - @sad-not-glad

Soft Dom! Steve x Sub! Bucky x Dom! reader

My Queen - @adrinktostopyourthirst

The post-battle energy rush needs a release. Suddenly, there's a willing soldier at your disposal.

Overreact, Overstimulate - @jamesbuchananxsteviegrant

Reader Falls Into Subspace During Sex With Bucky And Steve

all the apple cider and no more haunted houses - @witchywithwhiskey

you and bucky barnes have a love-hate relationship—you love him and you believe he hates you—but when your friends insist on going to the scariest haunted house attraction in the area, the experience ends up forcing your real feelings for each other out into light

my everything - @mrsbarnesblog

The last thing that Bucky ever expected to see was the love of his life from the past trapped in one of the Hydra bunkers in the cryofreeze chamber. Yet here he was almost two days later, staring at your still unconscious body through the window at the medical wing, imagining the horror and disgust on your face when you found out that he was no longer the innocent and happy boy you knew before.

you were mine just yesterday - @notafunkiller

It's been a while since your break up with Bucky happened, but you're still not over him. You try to move on, go out, and have fun with your friend, Steve, but you end up in the same bar you two went to often. It also just happens that Bucky is there too, with Natasha by his side. It doesn't take long for you two to end up getting into old habits.

[callixpene]

L&DS LIs When You Pick Another LI Over Them

Part 2

It got me thinking, all the L&DS LIs are devoted to MC right? So if MC were to pick another LI over them then they are actually screwed....

I tried to imagine what would it be like if the love of their life, across MULTIPLE lifetimes, chooses someone else over them:

-------------------------------------------------------------

Xavier: You chose Sylus

Xavier was getting very worried because you hadn't been home in a week. He'd been informed by the Association that the mission assigned to your team had been completed days ago, but not only have you not come home, you've also not replied to any of his messages.

He was about to set off and look for you himself when suddenly, YOU entered the complex with the arm of a very tall man with stricking red eyes around your waist.

"She won't be needing her apartment here anymore. She's moving in with me. Have all her stuff packed up and delivered to this address." the man said, whilst he handed a sheet of paper with the address to the landlord, along with, Xavier saw, a check with a VERY handsome amount written on it.

Sylus wanted your stuff out of there as soon as possible, so you could finally live with him, at his home that was now your home as well.

As the landlord practically skipped away with his new fortune, the red-eyed man's gaze shifted back towards you, and Xavier's heart clenched as you returned the loving gaze the man gave you with just as much passion and devotion.

He could only stand there in shock as you left the building in Sylus' embrace.

Rafayel: You chose Xavier

'This number is unattended, please try your call later'

5 missed calls and 10 unreplied messages today.

YOU have got some explaining to do.

Rafayel was getting upset. He knew you were busy with your job as a Hunter but would it kill you to send him ONE TEXT?

He planned to treat you to dinner tonight, to somewhere nice. Guess you had other plans today as you weren't responding. He decided to stop reaching out to you for now and that he'd ask you out on another day when you weren't busy anymore.

With his plans ruined for the night, he decided to go out for an evening stroll at the park.

*****

There were a lot of people, particularly couples, hanging around the park lately, as the cherry-blossom trees started blooming.

As he was about to take a turn, he stopped on his tracks and did a double-take as he caught sight of a particular couple.

YOU were sitting on a picnic blanket with your back against a tree.

And there was a blond man with delicate features gently napping with his head on your lap.

Rafayel was in shock. He watched as you caressed Xavier's face with such gentle hands. Even at a distance he could see the tenderness in your expression.

Xavier opened his eyes. He took your hand in his and kissed the back of it. You giggled.

*****

Rafayel walked away.

800 years of waiting for his princess, his beloved bride. Whose heart now belonged to someone else.

He'd lock himself up in his room and weep.

He would try to win you back from that man.

The two of you had a bond. He would not give up until you yourself, were to send him away.

Zayne: You chose Rayafel

For the first time ever in a while, Doctor Zayne was very anxious.

Not because of another operation, speech or interview.

He was anxious because of a particular girl coming over for a routine check up. Because this time, he finally decided that he should start pursuing her, to make his love known.

After the two of you met again after being separated for so long since when you were children, fate made it so for him to become your primary care physician. He could take care of you, and keep you healthy. Not long after being your doctor, he realized he wanted to do just that, for the rest of his life.

Well, he did become a cardiac surgeon for you after all.

He had it all planned out. After your routine check-up, he'd ask you to come back to the hospital after his shift was over. Then, he'd take you to your favorite arcade and watch you get more plushies. Then, he would take you back to his house and cook a nice dinner for the two of you. That would be good start, right?

"Dr. Zayne?" You said, as you knocked on the door.

Zayne sat upright as he pulled out of his thoughts.

"Come in" he replied.

You walked in with a smile.

Zayne's heart skipped a beat, as it always did whenever he looked at you.

"Please sit over there. We need to measure your heartbeat first" Zayne said as he grabbed his stethoscope.

Right now he needs to be professional. But his fingers, even as a trained surgeon, shook ever so slightly as he lowered your blouse to measure your heart rate.

Then suddenly, he froze.

You were confused.

"Dr. Zayne, is there something wrong?"

Love marks were scattered all over the upper part of your chest.

You blushed when you realized Rafayel had left marks on you when you were with him the night before.

Zayne looked at your blushing face, then back at the marks.

You already had a lover.

*****

The routine check-up proceeded as usual, and you left quickly. Although Zayne was your doctor, you still thought it was embarrassing for him to see those marks on you.

Zayne sat back on his desk, his knees weak and his hands shaking.

He looked at his window, and sure enough he saw YOU jump into the arms of a young man with lilac hair. He could only stare as the man took your face in his hands and kissed you passionately.

*****

He'd overwork himself for the next couple of weeks.

His colleagues would be worried as they realized he hadn't been taking days off. But Zayne kept himself busy.

Because if he didn't, he didn't know how to deal with the pain he felt now knowing that you loved someone else.

That he was too late.

He would forever regret not declaring his love for you sooner.

Sylus: You chose Zayne

Sylus was at his wit's end.

He didn't know if you were just messing with him or if you were just that clueless.

He'd sent you countless gifts: from flowers, to plushies, to new clothes, to chocolates and other treats. He calls and messages you everyday. He drives you to work, and to all your other appointments when he can(even if you decline every time, he INSISTS).

Then earlier today, when he treated you to lunch and the waitress commented that the two of were a good-looking couple, you had insisted that you and him were only friends.

He had no idea how else to make your pretty little head realize that he intends to be your lover.

So, he decided to pick you up at your place.

He was going to take you with him on vacation, and he was not taking no for an answer.

He already booked the flight, the accomodation, and bought all the clothes and other necessities you'll need for the trip, so there would be no reason for you to refuse.

He planned to make all of his intentions with you finally clear(well, clearer) during this little vacation with him.

*****

He rang the doorbell as soon as he got to the doorstep of your apartment.

A couple of minutes passed by and no response.He rang it again and knocked on the door this time.

To his surprise, the door opened slightly as he knocked. It was not locked.

Sylus sighed. He was definitely gonna tell you to be more wary next time and make sure your doors were locked.

He let himself in.

"Sweetie, it's Sylus" he called out.

No response.

"I know you're home, Kitten. Come on out"

He began searching for you.

You weren't in the living room, and you weren't in the kitchen.

You must be asleep in your room.

Sylus looked around for your bedroom. Then, he accidentally stepped on what looks to be, a pair of shoes.

But these didn't seem to be yours. They were too big.

They were men's shoes.

Sylus froze.

He looked to the side and realized he was standing in front of your bedroom. Again, the door wasn't locked, it was slightly opened.

Slowly, he took silent steps towards the door, and peaked inside.

What he saw made his heart drop to his stomach.

There you were on your bed, lying on top of a well-built man, with black hair. Sylus immediately recognized him to be your primary care physician, he saw him a couple of times through Mephisto's eyes when he wanted to make sure you were alright during your check ups.

The doctor's arms were around you, embracing you tightly against, Sylus shook, his bare chest.

Only then did he realize that clothes were scattered all across the floor, and the two of you were likely naked under those blankets.

It was fairly obvious what the two of you had been doing before he got here.

Recovering from his shock, Sylus slowly went back to the living room and waited. And waited.

*****

When you and Zayne woke up it was already nighttime.

He kissed your temple and gently whispered in your ear that he would cook dinner for you both tonight. The two of you get dressed and head to the kitchen.

As you passed by the living room you shrieked in surprise upon seeing Sylus sitting there.

Zayne immediately rushes to your side.

"Sylus?! What the heck are you doing here?! And how did you get in?'"

"Kitten..." You paused, Sylus sounded and looked like he was in pain. "Mind telling me why you're sleeping with your doctor?" he uttered, his red eyes like daggers as he glared at Zayne.

Sylus looked downright menacing.

Zayne immediately put his arms around you.

"Who are you? Why are you here?" his hazel eyes glared back at Sylus. If this man was a threat, he would not let him hurt even a strand of hair on your head.

Sylus was not leaving your apartment without you.

Zayne was not letting you go anywhere with this man.

It was going to be a hell of a night.