#so maybe it's for the best that things ended
Explore tagged Tumblr posts
Text
Ma Meilleure Amour
featuring. ekko x fem!reader
a/n. doing my duty as a writer to fill the ekko tag with fics of him only (itâs translated to my best love)
inspired by. the song Ma Meilleure Ennemie and the scene with ekko and jinx in act iii (listen to it while reading)
Everything felt different. The streets of Zaun had the ever-present haze of smog seem softer, its grim edge dulled by the warm hum of neon lights. The streets bustled with life, as they always did, but the night gave the chaos a certain charm. The glow of green and pink signs reflected off damp cobblestones, while the occasional flicker of a malfunctioning lamp sent ripples of color through shallow puddles.
You walked side by side with Ekko, your steps slow and aimless, as if the two of you had all the time in the world. You didnât, of course. With how Zaun always had a way of reminding you that the clock never stopped ticking. But right now, under the swirl of lights and the faint hiss of steam vents, it felt like time had paused just for the two of you.
Ekkoâs hand brushed against yours every so often, and though he wasnât one to initiate touch easily, you could tell he didnât mind the closeness. He always had this way of being effortlessly cool, his swagger and wit making it seem like nothing fazed him. But you knew him better than most. You saw the weight he carried, the pressure of being a leader, a fighter, and a kid all at once. And tonight, you were determined to remind him what it felt like to justâŚbe.
âEver think Zaunâs kinda pretty at night?â you mused, breaking the comfortable silence.
Ekko glanced at you, one eyebrow raised, before looking around. âPretty? Dunno if Iâd call it that. More likeâŚgritty with a side of a green glow.â
You laughed, nudging him playfully. âYouâre so dramatic.â
âSays the one waxing poetic about this place,â he shot back, his grin tugging at the corners of his lips.
You rolled your eyes but couldnât help smiling. âFine, maybe Iâm seeing it through rose-colored glasses. Or maybe I just like walking around with you.â
That earned a chuckle from him, the sound low and warm. He shoved his hands in his pockets, his shoulders relaxing as he leaned closer to you. âWell, when you put it that wayâŚâ The two of you wandered through winding alleys and across rickety bridges, the air thick with the scent of metal and oil. Every so often, Ekko would point out a shortcut heâd used for one of his time-bending escapades or share a story about an adventure with the Firelights.
But then he led you down a narrow path you hadnât noticed before, his fingers brushing yours briefly to guide you. At the end of the path, you stepped into a beautiful hidden oasis. A rooftop garden tucked away from Zaunâs usual grit and grime. The first thing you noticed was the lights. Strings of mismatched lanterns crisscrossed the space, casting a soft, golden glow over everything. Tiny fairy lights were woven through the vines that climbed up makeshift trellises, their warm flicker like little stars in the night. The plants themselves were a mix of scrappy greenery and surprisingly vibrant flowers, their colors popping against the muted tones of the city below.
âWoahâŚâ you breathed, turning to him with wide eyes.
He shrugged, trying to play it cool, but the faint blush on his cheeks gave him away. âItâs nothing fancy. Just a spot Iâve been working on.â
âAre you kidding? Itâs perfect,â you said, your voice filled with awe.
He rubbed the back of his neck, his gaze darting away from yours. âFigured itâd be nice to have a place to get away, yâknow? Somewhere quiet.â
You stepped forward, taking it all in. A small wooden bench sat in the center of the garden, its surface worn but sturdy. Around it, the plants swayed gently in the cool breeze, their leaves catching the light just enough to shimmer.
âCome on,â Ekko said, his hand lightly brushing the small of your back as he guided you to the bench. âI didnât bring you here just to stand around.â
You sat down, the wood creaking softly under your weight. Ekko settled beside you, close enough that his knee pressed against yours. For a moment, neither of you spoke, the quiet hum of the lights and the distant sounds of Zaun filling the space. It was a working pattern. There was always a comfortable silence between the two of you.
âHow long have you been working on this?â you asked softly.
âCouple months,â he said, leaning back with his arms stretched across the bench. âTakes a while to get plants to grow in a place like this. But I dunnoâŚit feels good to build something, yâknow? Instead of just tearing things down.â
You glanced at him, your chest tightening at the softness in his voice. Ekko didnât let people see this side of him often though. I mean this was the boy who dreamed of a better Zaun, the one who carried the weight of his community on his shoulders.
âItâs beautiful,â you said, resting your head against his shoulder. âJust like you.â
He laughed softly, the sound warm and a little shy. âYouâre laying it on thick tonight, huh?â
âJust telling the truth,â you said, closing your eyes as his warmth seeped into you.
The two of you sat like that for a while, wrapped up in the stillness of the garden. Ekkoâs hand found yours, his fingers intertwining with yours in a way that felt natural, like you were always meant to fit together.
âHey,â he said after a while, his voice quiet.
âYeah?â
âThanks. For, yâknowâŚbeing here.â
You lifted your head to look at him, your heart aching at the sincerity in his eyes. âOf course,â you said softly while winking. âYouâre worth it, Ekko.â
His gaze lingered on yours for a moment, the golden light casting shadows across his face. Then he smiled. It was real, genuine smile that made your chest feel light and full all at once.
âCâmere,â he said, pulling you closer until you were practically in his lap. His arms wrapped around you, his chin resting on your shoulder as you leaned into him.
âThis is nice,â you murmured, your fingers tracing absent patterns on his arm.
âYeah,â he said, his voice a little muffled. âIt is.â
There it was again, the comfortable silence. The garden was quiet, bathed in the golden light of the mismatched lanterns. You rested your head on Ekkoâs shoulder, feeling the steady rhythm of his breath against you. His fingers were still intertwined with yours, his thumb brushing small, absentminded circles against your knuckles.
It was peaceful, almost too perfect for Zaun, where tranquility was a rare luxury. The hum of distant machinery and the faint chatter of the streets below were a backdrop to your own private world. You thought this was it, that the night couldnât get any better. But Ekko had other plans.
Suddenly, he shifted away from you, his weight leaving the bench as he stood. His warmth leaving your body. You blinked up at him, confused as he turned to face you, his signature grin tugging at the corners of his lips. He extended a hand toward you, palm up, the glow of the garden lights reflecting in his dark eyes.
âDance with me,â he said, his voice soft but brimming with an irresistible playfulness.
You tilted your head, a laugh escaping you. âDance? Here?â
âWhy not?â He wiggled his fingers, urging you to take his hand.
You hesitated, glancing around. âEkko, thereâs no music.â
He smirked, a glint of mischief in his eyes. âOh, ye of little faith.â
Reaching into his pocket, Ekko pulled out a small, beaten up speaker, a relic salvaged from some forgotten corner of Zaun. He fiddled with it for a moment before a warm melody crackled to life, filling the air with a gentle rhythm.
You stared at him in disbelief, your lips parting in surprise. âYou planned this?â
He shrugged, trying to play it cool but failing miserably as a proud smile broke through. âMaybe.â
Shaking your head with a soft laugh, you placed your hand in his, the warmth of his palm grounding you. âAlright, Clockstopper,â you teased. âLetâs see what youâve got.â
Ekko pulled you to your feet, guiding you to the center of the garden. The music swelled around you, soft and sweet, a contrast to the chaos of Zaun. His other hand found its place on your waist, and he held you close, his movements easy and unhurried. At first, you tried to match his rhythm, your steps tentative as you followed his lead. But it wasnât long before your foot accidentally landed on his.
âOh, sorry!â you gasped, pulling back slightly.
Ekko winced dramatically, clutching his chest as if youâd mortally wounded him. âYouâre killing me here,â he said, his voice laced with mock pain.
You rolled your eyes, a grin tugging at your lips. âDonât be such a baby.â
âBaby?â He laughed, spinning you unexpectedly. You stumbled slightly but caught yourself, the sound of your shared laughter echoing in the garden.
The two of you continued like that, swaying and spinning under the lanterns. Every so often, youâd step on his foot again, and heâd exaggerate his reaction, making you laugh until your cheeks hurt. But then, as the song shifted to a slower melody, Ekkoâs movements became gentler, more deliberate. He pulled you closer, your bodies impossibly near. You could feel the warmth of his breath against your skin, the faint scent of zauns atmosphere lingering on him. Your eyes met his, and for a moment, the world seemed to fade away. The golden light reflected in his eyes, making them shimmer like they held their own constellation. There was something unspoken in his gaze, something raw and real that made your heart stutter.
âEkkoâŚâ you whispered, your voice barely audible over the music.
He didnât say anything, just leaned in slowly, giving you enough time to pull away if you wanted to. But you didnât. Instead, you closed the distance, your lips meeting his in a kiss that was soft and sweet, filled with everything words couldnât express. Your hands found their way around his neck, pulling him closer as his arms wrapped around your waist. The world seemed to tilt, the glow of the lanterns and the soft hum of the music swirling around you in a haze of light and sound.
Time felt irrelevantâironic, considering who you were with. All that mattered was the way he held you, the way his lips moved against yours with a tenderness that made your chest ache.
When he finally pulled back, his forehead rested against yours, his breath warm against your skin. He chuckled softly, the sound vibrating through you. âI love you,â he murmured, his voice steady and sure.
Your heart swelled at his words, a warmth spreading through you that had nothing to do with the lights around you. Smiling, you leaned in and pressed a kiss to his cheek. âI love you too,â you said, the words as natural as breathing.
Ekko grinned, his hands tightening around your waist as he pressed a series of quick, playful kisses to your faceâyour cheeks, your nose, your forehead. Each kiss was accompanied by a soft giggle from you, his affection spilling over in a way that was so uniquely him.
âEkko, stop,â you laughed, trying to pull away as he kissed the corner of your mouth.
âNever,â he said, his voice full of mock defiance as he caught your lips in another kiss.
The two of you stayed like that, wrapped up in each other, the rest of the world forgotten. The music played on, the lights flickered, and Zaunâs ever-present hum seemed softer, almost distant. As the night stretched on, you found yourselves back on the bench, your head resting on Ekkoâs shoulder as he absentmindedly played with your fingers. The garden felt like a dream, a little slice of peace carved out of the chaos. And in that moment, with Ekko by your side and the glow of the lanterns above you, everything felt right. Almost perfect.
banners. @anitalenia
taglist. @diffusebread @xxblairslairxx @thesevi0lentdelights
#arcane#arcane masterlist#arcane ekko x reader#arcane ekko imagine#ekko x you#ekko x reader#ekko arcane#ekko imagines#ekko fluff#arcane ekko#ekko#ekko fics#arcane fanfic#arcane characters#arcane fic#arcane imagine#arcane x gender neutral reader#arcane x female reader#arcane x y/n#arcane x you#arcane x reader#league of legends#ekko league of legends#reader insert
695 notes
¡
View notes
Text
In Front of Me (1)
cause i was blind to see that you were right in front of me âË
âš pairing: jeon wonwoo x f.reader âš genre: bestfriends to (?), angst, smut (R: 18+ mdni) âš wordcount: 40.6k (part 1) (part 2: here)
âš summary: jeon wonwoo has spent most of his adolesence and early adult hood unable to understand why he can't seem to stay in a relationship for more than a few months. as his best friend, you allowed him to vent about his worries without judgment. so what if you're in love with him? your friendship with wonwoo meant more to you than having your feelings reciprocated. that is until you hit your breaking point, while wonwoo finally realizes what has been in front of him this whole time.
âš tags: non-idol!au, uni!au, unrequited love (for the most part), pining, toxic!wonwoo, toxic!reader, both in wonwoo and readers pov, questionable protagonists, mentions of other svt members, happy ending (?), emotionally constipated characters (wonwoo), flashbacks, slight seokmin x reader, a lot of emotions thrown everywhere. (content warnings under the cut)
⚠note: this story was meant to be posted for wonwoos bday, but if you know anything about me by now, i never really stick to my self made deadlines lol. thank you to my cutieful, big brained beta readers: ⥠@junkissed @chocosvt and @sunniques ⥠everyone in @svthub and @highvern and @gyuswhore who helped me w this fic as well ! if u look closely this is pretty much just a sugar coated version of real life events lol... anyways i hope u enjoy and lmk what u think thru the replies and reblogs :) !
âš masterlist, fic playlist.
âš smut tags: no smut in this part :p âš warnings: alcohol, reader is downbad for wonwoo, stalking, slut-shaming, evasions of privacy, if i missed anything lmk! cuz ik i did i just can't think of what hehe :p
⚠what i would like to note about this story before you read it: you're not meant to like these characters (for most of the story at least lol), they are flawed in many ways, thats the whole point of this story tbh. tmi--but this story is pretty much my free therapy lol. and i love a messy plot! wonwoo and reader are just two normal people in this story and i wanted to write something a little more raw than i'm used to. so just take what i say with a grain of salt before reading ⥠i still want you to enjoy this story because i poured my soul into it. so thank you for your support and kind asks and comments about the teaser!
prologue.Â
Despite your age, youâve never been in a serious relationship. There was always something holding you back, or rather, someone.Â
In all the years youâve known Wonwoo, youâve always thought maybe one day, he would look at you in a different light. Hoping that he could reciprocate the feelings youâve harboured for him since the eleventh grade.Â
He was the one who constantly moved out of relationships. You couldnât even count the amount of late-night calls where he asked you what his ânext stepâ should be. The doting best friend that you are, youâd gladly stay up all night trying to help him fix his girl problems.Â
âI just, I donât have feelings for her anymore. Is that wrong?â he asked you over the phone.Â
Tossing and turning in your bed you let out a deep sigh. One thing is always guaranteed with Wonwoo: in a relationship, he loses feelings quickly. No matter how much he likes the girl, no matter how obsessed or possessive he feels for them at the beginning of it all, it diminishes by the time the six-month mark hits.Â
Although he may be a great friend to you, relationships were never his strong suit.Â
âItâs not wrong to fall out of love, but how many times are you going to break up with someone before you decide to stay?â you ask him, and he pauses to think.Â
âI donât know, but I canât stay, that would make things worse,â he sighs. âItâs better to just stop this whole thing now.âÂ
âI agree, but are you sure?â you continue to ask him the same questions youâve been asking since you were sixteen.Â
âIâm sure,â he replies with a heavy sigh.Â
âOkay, then goodnight. Itâs almost one in the morning,â you try to cut the call, but he continues to speak.Â
âIâm not the bad guy, right?â he asks you for reassurance.Â
âNo, youâre just human Wonwoo. Thereâs nothing wrong with losing feelings for someone,â you affirmed.Â
âAlright, thank you, good night and sweet dreams,â he whispers listlessly.Â
âGood night, Wonwoo.âÂ
Your phone beeps indicating that heâs hung up and you can feel the heartstrings pull inside your chest. How many times will it take for Wonwoo to find someone he actually wants to be with? And why is it never you?Â
act one, favorite crime.
chapter one.Â
âWait, what? You and Wonwoo arenât dating?â Seungcheol asks you, forcing you into the hot seat.Â
The rest of your friend group is boring holes into your face as they all sit around Jeonghanâs living room. The blood rises in your cheeks, but you shake your head anyway.Â
It feels like every time youâre with your friends, they ask you the same set of questions. Constantly wondering why you and Wonwoo havenât thought about dating, or why you two havenât decided to take the chance and just be together.Â
âYou guys need to stop asking that. A guy can befriend someone of the opposite gender,â Wonwoo defends the two of you.Â
âYouâre telling me in all the years youâve known her, you havenât developed feelings for her once?â Cheol continues to instigate, and your eyes go wide.Â
Looking over at Wonwoo, you anxiously wait for his answer, your chest blooming with hope, only for those buds to be washed away in a millisecond.Â
âNo, câmon, weâre just friends. Thatâs it, right?â Wonwoo turns to you, trying to get you to back him up.Â
Your mouth runs dry as he stares at you, his eyebrows rising in anticipation.Â
âU-uh yeah, Wonwooâs right, weâre just friends,â you blurt out, not being able to handle all the expectant eyes on you all at once.Â
âSee? Now can you all just get off our backs?â he chastises.Â
The chatter starts up again, moving past the topic of you and Wonwooâs friendship. But you sit there, with your heart crushed in your hands, lifeless and shrivelled. Like his words and actions had the power to tear the life out of you. The worst part was that he did all this without knowing. Heâs completely oblivious to your feelings, and you only have yourself to blame.
You understand your relationship with Wonwoo is different from most peopleâs, but at the same time, it should be normal for a girl and a guy to just be friends. And at least you respect Wonwooâs feelings, and you also respect that whenever heâs dating someone the dynamic between you two shifts.Â
He becomes more detached when heâs in a relationship, and youâre okay with that. His priorities change and youâre okay with that. Despite your feelings for him, you know that you canât force him to feel the same way. And you should be okay with that.Â
Youâve never tried to get in the way of his love life, or purposefully give him bad advice to ruin what he has with someone else. Not since you were seventeen, and at that time in your life your frontal lobe was a measly speck of dust, but it's different now. Now, your morals donât change just because you love him, but that doesnât mean it doesnât hurt any less to see the person youâre in love with, fall in love with someone else.Â
two.Â
âHey, you okay?â Seokmin approaches you, and you turn your head, acknowledging his presence.Â
âHuh? Yeah, Iâm alright,â you mutter, but you know you donât look that way.Â
Seokmin has known you since high school and has seen you through everything, probably more than Wonwoo. He knows when youâre not feeling well. A sympathetic permanent on his lips as he continues to observe you play with the food on your plate, pushing around the food aimlessly but never taking a bite.Â
The sounds of people conversing throughout the dining hall never die down. But luckily, the commotion keeps your thoughts of Wonwoo at bay, or at least thatâs what you like to think. But your heart canât seem to let go of that moment from the other day. Having Seungcheol confirm that Wonwoo has never felt anything romantically for you was like a stab in the stomach, and him getting you to back up his words was just him twisting the knife.Â
âWhatâs the matter, sweetheart? You can tell me,â he sighs, pushing the hair covering your face and placing it behind your ear.Â
You can feel the tears start to pool, but you try your damndest not to let them spillânot like this, not in front of so many people.Â
âIt was just something Wonwoo said when we were all at Hannieâs house,â you mumble, refusing to make eye contact with your friend.Â
âWhat did he say?âÂ
âThat heâs never liked me before,â you sigh, feeling a tear slip from your eye.Â
Cursing yourself in your head, you hate how much your feelings for him affect you. You hate how he doesnât have to even be in front of you, yet he can still cause your emotions to fluctuate.Â
âItâs alright,â he coos, pulling you into his strong arms.Â
It felt weird, to hug Seokmin so tightly in the middle of your universityâs dining hall. But youâre thankful for how aware he is, how he actually cares about your feelings. You felt melodramatic sitting there crying in the fucking dining hall of all places, but you couldnât help but let your tears flow as Seokmin comforts you with his soft voice.Â
âYou deserve more than this, I hope you know that,â he whispers in your ear.
three.Â
Over the next few days, the words Seokmin had whispered to you kept replaying in your head. You did deserve better and looking at all of Wonwooâs past relationships is the perfect example. Heâs not exactly the ideal boyfriend, so why did you even have feelings for him in the first place?
You could feel a migraine coming on from how hard you were thinking, but Wonwoo still seems to be the only person you canât let go of. No matter how many times youâve tried.Â
A knock on your door brings you out of your thoughts. It was late, and you donât remember anyone messaging you saying that they were going to come over, but you open the door anyway.Â
âHey, sorry I didnât text,â Wonwoo moves past you, takes his shoes off, and plops on your couch.Â
âItâs okay, whatâs up?â you move to sit beside him.Â
âI broke up with her,â He says, shrugging.Â
Taken aback by his nonchalance, your eyes widen. He seems calm for someone who has just broken up with his girlfriend. But you try not to think too hard about it, or you might just have to take another Advil to remedy your already growing headache.Â
âWell, how did it go?â you ask with a bit of apprehension.Â
Knowing Wonwoo, you knew that he probably just dumped her over the phone or something. Heâs never been bothered to really break up with someone.Â
You have all these examples of why he would probably be the worst boyfriend ever, yet your heart still belongs to him. Itâs pitiful, to say the least, people probably would think that youâre a masochist because you subject yourself to staying by his side when he has feelings for another.Â
âShe was crying, but at least itâs over now,â Wonwoo informs you as he eats the snacks you had left on your coffee table.Â
âOh.â You could feel the guilt start to seep into your veins.Â
It never felt good to hear Wonwoo talk about his breakups, but youâre not sure how to react. Thereâs a part of you thatâs happy to know that heâs single again, but the majority of you pities the girl who had just gotten her heart broken.Â
Wonwoo continues to munch on the snacks left on your table while your mind tries to process the information youâve been given. Hearing him talk so casually about his breakup leaves a bitter taste in your mouth, but you decide to switch topics instead of asking any more questions.Â
âAre you still going to Seokminâs thing this weekend, though?â you ask him, trying to fill the air with something to drown out your rapid heartbeats.Â
He shrugs his shoulders, âIf I feel like it. Are you?âÂ
The bottom of your stomach tightens. You were hoping that he would go, even looking forward to it. Is that pathetic? To want to see him everywhere you go? Maybe you were pathetic to the point where you only felt like hanging out with your friends if he was there.Â
âI mean, I donât have a ride soâŚâ you trail off, pretending to pay attention to whatever was playing on the T.V. screen.Â
âIâll go since youâre going, that way you have a ride,â he mumbles, adjusting his posture to lean back on your couch.Â
He sighs as he sinks into the plush cushions, spreading his legs while he puts his arms up. Youâre very aware of his proximity, and you try not to let it show. But the smell of his cologne invades your senses, knocking the breath out of your chest.Â
Wonwooâs arm circles your shoulder, pulling you closer to him and forcing your head to rest delicately on his broad shoulder. Exhaling, you let yourself enjoy his way of showing affection. Although to him it means nothing, and to you, quite literally everything.Â
âThank you for agreeing to go to Seokminâs so I have a ride,â you whisper but still avoid eye contact so he doesnât notice your flustered expression.Â
âThank you for letting me barge in here just so I can talk about my breakup,â he whispers back, kissing the top of your head.Â
âOf course, what are best friends for?âÂ
four.Â
Most people fall in love gradually, slowly growing feelings for the person before they can even call it love. Like the way the seasons steadily turned from winter to spring. Green grass peeking from underneath the melting snow, or flowers gently blooming and unravelling their new set of stems and petals. For you, it was different.
 Falling in love with Wonwoo wasnât gradual at all.Â
If anything, falling in love with Wonwoo felt like a snowstorm in the middle of a sunny day. Your affection for him grew rapidly, and before you knew it, your mind was clouded with him and him only. It became hard to stay rational as if you were driving down a snow-filled road without any control over the steering wheel. Swerving into different lanes, your brakes malfunction, making it hard to bring your car to a full stop. Falling in love with Wonwoo was not gradual or easy.
When you met him on the first day of your junior year of high school, your sixteen-year-old brain couldnât fully comprehend your crush on him. He was the shy, scrawny new kid in your class, and no one paid mind to him except you. But that didnât stop you from liking him. Despite his interest in collecting pokĂŠmon cards and his crooked glasses that were too big for his face, you were in love.Â
You were like two peas in a pod that whole year, and the only time you and Wonwoo spent time apart was when he had to leave during summer break to visit family in Korea.Â
When he returned for your senior year, you could barely recognize him. Suddenly the nerdy Wonwoo you knew was gone. His glasses complimented his face, his hair was styled differently, and most of all, he got hot. A lot of your classmates mustâve seemed to agree because now your best friend and the man youâre in love with gained attention from people who didnât even bat an eyelash at him last year.Â
It annoyed you to see all these people suddenly interested in him. You were angry that just because he grew a few inches and learned to do his hair didnât mean he was that much different from how he was last year.Â
Even though Wonwoo was in a relationship, he still stayed true to your friendship. He still hung out with you, ate lunch with you, you even came over on weekends to have dinner with his family. Day by day, your love for him strengthened, and you ignored that his attention had been divided between you and his girlfriend at the time.Â
When their relationship hit three months, it seemed your friendship had come to an abrupt halt. He didnât invite you for dinner as often, you two didnât talk on the phone every other night. He started to invest more of his time into her until he decided she wasnât worth his energy anymore. Then the calls would come, his contact name flashing across your phone screen to ask you for advice.Â
âI feel like I need to break up with Haein,â his deep voice flowed through your phone speaker. A sigh left his lips as he faced the truth.Â
Haein was Wonwooâs first girlfriend. She was nice, almost too nice. Wonwoo definitely had a type for girls with a bubbly personality. Ones that were effortlessly beautiful, reminiscent of a freshly made porcelain doll. That was Haein to you, unblemished in every way possible. Everything that you werenât.
You couldnât bring yourself to hate her. She was too nice to hate, but your younger self was so angry at how much of Wonwoo's time she took up that you envied her. Seokmin once jokingly mentioned that you looked especially green when she was around, and you remember how quickly you checked your appearance on the nearest reflective surface because of what he had said in passing. You remember vividly how nervous his words made you, was it that obvious?
Wonwooâs first time calling you about his breakup plans was a delightful surprise, and you were too in shock to sputter out a proper response.
âOh. Why?â was all you could say, still stunned that after a week of no contact, this was the first thing he said.Â
ââDunno, I just donât like her anymore,â he admitted effortlessly.Â
You didnât know how to respond. Your heart was screaming at you to encourage him to break up with his girlfriend at the time, while your brain was telling you to think logically.Â
âWell, if thatâs what you think is right,â you mumbled, trying to hide the fact that you felt a sense of relief at Wonwoo potentially being single again.Â
Others may have tried to rationalize with Wonwoo, but you didnât care. You wanted your friendship with him to turn back to normal. Your adolescent brain ignored that it was wrong to encourage him, as long as he was fully yours again.
History repeated itself over and over, and the older you got, you learnt to not be so selfish with his attention. Mostly out of guilt for the person he was going to break up with, but also because you didnât want Wonwoo to realize your true feelings.Â
Although being in love with Wonwoo was brutal, you constantly wished that things were different between you two, but they werenât. Heâs never seen you as more than a friend, and as your friendship with him progressed, you had begun to learn to mask your romantic feelings for platonic ones.Â
five.Â
By the time you entered university, you had mastered the art of pretending. As if your feelings for Wonwoo didnât exist. You are quite meticulous in ensuring that he never realizes that you are profoundly in love with him. The mere thought of him finding out how you truly felt frightened you.Â
Youâve already envisioned countless scenarios on how it could go. The idea of being rejected by the one you love most. It would change everything about your friendship with him. The look of pity in his eyes, the apologies that would spill out of his mouth. You can't bear even the thought of rejection. Not from him.Â
Two voices are constantly at war inside your mind. Your brain, acting as the voice of reason, constantly reminds you that itâs better to preserve your friendship. To keep the dynamic youâve always had with Wonwoo guarded where it could last, thrive. While your heart persuaded you with deluded, fake scenarios.Â
âWhat if he likes you back?âÂ
âYou never know until you try.âÂ
âTake the risk or lose the chance.âÂ
What if.Â
Like a siren to a sailor, your heart sang with deep imagery. Filling your thoughts with illusions of you and Wonwoo finally together. But your mind doesnât let you go without a fight. It knows that beyond the deep waters where your siren-voiced heart lies is nothing but a bottomless pit.Â
The possibilities are endless, and youâd rather stay safely grounded in your boat of rationality.Â
A notification brings you out of your thoughts. Although you already knew that it was Wonwoo, you scramble to pick up your phone. Thereâs excitement laced in your veins as you look down at the screen.Â
7:06 p.m. [wons <3]: be there in 5.Â
There was no reason for you to be so ecstatic but you couldnât help it. He had already texted you prior, notifying you that he was leaving his place to come pick you up, and yet every time your phone buzzes, you still hope that itâs something completely different. But that was your heart talking; you knew that it wouldnât be anything out of the ordinary.Â
Everyone had planned to meet at Seokminâs place today, just to have one last celebration before midterms began again. You had happily agreed, enthusiastic that you could spend more time with Wonwoo, although it wouldnât be a one-on-one thing. You were more than elated to see him while also being able to hang out with the rest of your friends.Â
Throwing your phone back on the bed, you change into an outfit that is both cute and comfortable. There wasnât a reason to dress up when the vibe at Seokminâs was just going to be sitting around his living room, drinking cocktails and eating pizza.Â
Wonwoo texts you once more to let you know heâs outside, causing you to race down to meet him. A lump in your throat arises, as he comes into your field of vision, appreciating how breathtakingly handsome he is.Â
The chilled breeze brushes through the strands of his hair, glasses perched on his tall nose. He looked amazing, just like he always had, but you never get bored of admiring him. Even if itâs just from afar.Â
âHi! Sorry if I kept you waiting,â your voice resounds into the night.Â
âIt's never a problem if itâs you,â he chuckles as you dawdle over to the passenger side of his car.Â
Trying not to read too deep into his words, you snort at his cheesy line instead of giving a response. Watching Wonwoo move to the side as he opens the car door for you. His actions make you blush, and you know youâll think about it for the rest of the night.Â
âAre you ready to go?â he asks, smiling at you.Â
The ride to Seokminâs house is fairly quiet, the sounds of music filling the silence instead. Your thoughts are overflowing with scenarios once again, wondering how different the car ride would be if you and Wonwoo were in a relationship. His fingers would probably be laced with yours, or rubbing soothingly against your thigh while his other hand gripped the steering wheel. Planting kisses on your cheeks at every red light. It seemed like heaven on the other side. But you knew reality would crush your delusions soon enough.Â
âŚ
 The clock on Seokminâs pale white wall is nearing midnight and you donât want to be here anymore. Not when the only thing you could focus on was Wonwoo flirting with a girl whose name you didnât catch. Sheâs Joshuaâs childhood friend and he only brought her along because sheâs visiting from out of town. Whoever she was, it didnât matter. The only thing that mattered to you was the fact that she was able to bring out Wonwooâs deep laugh. The kind of laugh that only befalls upon your ears when he finds something genuinely funny.
The ugly swirl of jealousy sits in the pit of your stomach and you couldn't help but scoff at your wretched situation. It made you sick watching them, and you could throw up any minute now. At this point, you werenât sure who to envy, Wonwoo or the girl he was flirting with. You find it unfair that he doesnât realize how greatly he can impact your feelings.Â
Just a few hours ago, you were in utter bliss. Sitting in the front seat of his car, listening to the music softly playing on the ride to Seokminâs apartment. Making stupid jokes and pointing out the random sights that you had seen while driving down the bustling city streets. You envy how easy it is for Wonwoo to make all those feelings of delight vanish. And he doesnât even know. He doesnât know what heâs doing to you, and thatâs what hurts the most.Â
âYou doing okay?â Seokmin comes up to you, placing a gentle hand on your shoulder, squeezing it affectionately.Â
âHuh? Oh. Yeah Iâm okay,â you chuckle, but thereâs nothing humorous about your laugh at all.Â
His eyes soften, he knows that youâre not okay. Seokmin always knew. After all these years, he can tell when youâre trying to save face. Thereâs a lump in your throat, and if you didnât have a drink to sip on to distract you, you probably wouldâve gone to the bathroom to cry.Â
âYou wanna talk in my room?â he offers, and youâre grateful.Â
Seokmin knew he had to get you somewhere other than the living room. You were practically torturing yourself, sitting on the couch and watching Wonwoo talk to everyone but you.Â
Instead of agreeing vocally, you nod your head before standing up to follow Seokmin to his room. The door shuts softly, muffling the sounds of laughter and allowing your uneasiness to finally subside.Â
As you sit on Seokminâs bed, you feel the tears starting to trickle down your cheeks. It feels pathetic, crying over something so trivial. Why does it have to be you who feels this way? Why canât you just be a normal friend and see Wonwoo in a platonic light? The whole world could turn upside and heâd be the first person you search for.Â
Everything just seemed so unfair, how could you possibly be happy if your feelings for Wonwoo were constantly in the way of it all? Itâs tiring, worrying about him, yearning for him. You could do so many other things with your time, and when you look toward the future, you know that youâll regret how much of your life you wasted loving someone who doesnât love you back.Â
âItâs okay, just let it out,â Seokmin whispers in your ear, embracing you in a tight hug.Â
Crying felt good. You rarely cry over your situation despite how upsetting it is. For the first time in a while, you allowed yourself to finally indulge in your sadness and let go of everything you were too afraid to say or feel. Â
âI know it sucks right now, but honestly, it might be time to get over him,â Seokmin continues to comfort you while trying to help you face the reality of your situation. âYouâre so hurt, and itâs taking a toll on you. Please, I canât bear to see you so sad.âÂ
His words hit you hard because you know it's true. But all you can do is apologize. Saying sorry for feeling this way, even though itâs not your fault, you cannot control your feelings, you still apologize. To Seokmin, to your friends, but also yourself.Â
âI-Iâm sorry,â you hiccup, tears staining Seokminâs white shirt.Â
âWhy are you sorry? You did nothing wrong,â he mutters, his large hand patting your head, trying to soothe your fit of emotions.Â
âBecause, if I was normal, you wouldnât have to worry about me, about why Iâm always upset, you and the others, my feelings are burdening all of you,â you continue to weep softly in his arms, gripping onto his shoulders as his hands encircle your waist.Â
âHey, look at meââ he grabs your face, gentle as a mouse, rubbing away the tears from your cheeks. âYou are not a burden. We care, thatâs why we worry, and I just want to be there for you.âÂ
âThank you, Seokmin. Iâm so happy that I have someone like you in my life,â you pull him into a hug again, knocking the air out of his chest, but heâs still somehow able to hug you even tighter.Â
Seokmin is like your favourite childhood blanket, keeping you warm and away from everything that could possibly hurt you. Heâs always willing to hear you rant about things that you know you could never tell Wonwoo.Â
âIâm so tired, Iâm tired of feeling like this,â you admit to him.Â
Running his hands through your hair, he gives you a reassuring smile.Â
âMaybe itâs time to distance yourself from him a bit, you two have been glued to the hip for so long. Maybe that distance can help organize your feelings better,â he mutters, catching the stray tears that pool at your chin, and wiping them away for you.Â
âI want to feel better,â you agree with him, still trying to recover from how hard you were sobbing into his chest.Â
âI care about you, okay? We all do. Wonwoo cares about you, too, but thereâs a point where youâll have to be okay with whatever outcome happens if you decide to tell him how you feel. Or you just have to find a way to get over him,â he speaks softly, trying not to crush your heart with reality, but you know heâs right. âIn the Future, you will thank yourself for making whatever decision you have to make, but trust me, holding all these feelings in wonât do you any good.â He ends his pep talk there, and you sigh, trying to process everything he said.Â
âThank you, Minnie, Iâm so thankful I have you,â you sniffled.Â
âAnd I you.âÂ
âŚ
Seokmin explained to Soonyoung and Jihoon that you needed to go home after your talk in his bedroom. They were more than happy to take you along with them before heading back to their place, not wanting to force you into a car with Wonwoo at the end of the night.Â
âOf course, itâs really no trouble at all,â Soonyoung reassures you after you had asked about a million times if it was okay to ride home with them.Â
The car ride is drastically different from the one you had taken on the way to Seokminâs, Soonyoung being the number one reason why. Heâs not the best at reading the room, although Jihoon is constantly telling him to shut up. He knows you are upset over something, but Soonyoungâs way of cheering you up is getting you to laugh. While Jihoon believed that you may want a more peaceful environment after everything that happened.Â
As Jihoon drove, Soonyoung sang along with the lyrics of the current song playing. Loud enough for anyone outside the car to hear him. You could tell he was a bit tipsy after the few beers he had earlier, but you didnât mind the noise. Jihoon begged to differ.Â
âSoon, can you tone it down? Please. People are looking at us,â Jihoon grumbles, trying to focus on the road ahead.Â
âBut you love it when I sing,â Soonyoung whines, and you canât help but laugh.Â
âI do, but our friend has had a long night,â Jihoon counters.Â
Soonyoung turns to face you from the passenger seat. âIf you want me to be quiet, I will.âÂ
âNo, itâs okay, Iâm actually enjoying it, thank you very much,â you giggle, and that was all the confirmation he needed, going back to his antics.Â
Jihoon groans as Soonyoung practically breaks out into full song and dance, causing you to sing along with him. This distraction from all the conflicting thoughts gives you a refuge from the war inside your mind. Â
The whole way back to your place was filled with singing and laughter, allowing you to finally feel at ease for once. Albeit Jihoon pretended to act annoyed the whole time, you knew he secretly loved how Soonyoung tried to bring the mood back up to help you.Â
Once you got home, you thanked the two before bidding them farewell. Apprehension flowed throughout you, and you didn't want to be alone with your thoughts after being around someone as cheerful as Soonyoung. But you didnât know where else to go or what else to do.
Laying in your bed, you think about how today went from beginning to end, and youâre scared of what will happen in the future. Sighing to yourself, you allow yourself to at least get some rest instead of staying up all night thinking about the possibilities of tomorrow. Turning your phone on "do not disturb," the stillness in your apartment lulls you to sleep.Â
1:09 a.m. [wons <3]: seokmin said u went home early? u ok?Â
ARE WE STILL FRIENDS?
chapter one.Â
Wonwooâs ride home was sombre, yet desolate. Your absence from his passenger seat irked him. Street lights whisk by his vision in a blur, but heâs too lost in his thoughts as he drives on autopilot, wondering why you went home so early. You didnât even say goodbye. Itâs the first time you went home from Seokminâs place without him.Â
By the time he got home, his curiosity had started to claw at him, but he didnât want to be irrational and assume the worst. So he texted you, hoping that there would be an explanation awaiting him in the morning.Â
Not a single notification from you came that very next morning. No matter how many times his phone went off, no matter how many notifications popped up from his screen. None of them were you. Morning turned to afternoon, and afternoon slowly turned into night. Still nothing.Â
He feels dejected. Everything seemed to be going okay just last night. That was until you abruptly left without telling him you were going home. What changed? Why did it feel like there was a shift between you two?Â
Rejection is foreign to Wonwoo. Most times, itâs him thatâs doing the rejecting. He was the one to always initiate the breakup and lose feelings first; every decision he made was made by him. He has no control over whether youâre going to text him back or not, and to put it simply, he canât stand that feeling.Â
Wonwoo hates not being in control. Whether that be his future, his relationships, and especially his feelings. At least thatâs what he forces himself to believe. That itâs not fair of you to ignore him when heâs worried about you, because heâs your best friend. You should answer him when he texts you. When he calls you, and especially when he shows up at your door, seeking your comfort. In his mind, that is what he believes the foundation of your friendship is. To comfort each other, just like it always has been.Â
Sure, maybe Wonwoo is entitled, perhaps heâs conceited and selfish, but he doesnât care. Because in his mind, youâre his best friend. There was no way in hell that you were ignoring him. His ego doesnât even consider it a possibility. You were busy, thatâs it. That has to be it.Â
âŚÂ
Less than forty-eight hours in, Wonwoo couldnât stop himself from texting you once more. Nimble fingers practically itching to open your contact to update you about the most mundane things. Maybe if he pretended that this moment of silence was perfectly normal, then maybe you would eventually end up answering him.Â
12:36 p.m [wons <3]: class just finished. lunch at our usual place?
Nothing. Not even a thumbâs up reaction. Wonwoo had become antsy, guilt and slight annoyance gnawing at the pit of his stomach. Where the hell are you? What are you doing thatâs so important that you couldnât even open his message let alone read them?Â
1:27 p.m. [wons <3]: this random girl asked for my number after class lol. weird right? i didnât give it to her though đ
Cursing at himself, he regrets pressing the send button on that text. Double texting you is already out of the norm for him, but triple texting? He canât believe how desperate he looks right now. He wishes he could bring himself to unsend it, but he just hopes itâll be the text that finally gets you to respond.Â
2:10 p.m. [wons <3]: saw a bunny running thru the oval today u shouldâve seen it! reminded me of u. [1 photo attachment]Â
Absolute radio silence from your end. Wonwoo is starting to think that you had him blocked, but his messages are still delivering. Unsure of whatâs worse, you ignoring him or blocking his number, Wonwoo still tries his best to remain calm.
4:00 p.m. [wons <3]: im about to head home soon. r u riding w me today?Â
The sight of you getting into Seokminâs car made Wonwoo scoff. Since when did you start getting rides home from Seokmin? And why was he the one opening the door for you? Buckling your seatbelt instead of his own? Wonwoo is completely dumbfounded at what he has witnessed.Â
4:30 p.m. [wons <3]: saw u get into seokminâs car, lmk if u need a ride tmrw.Â
Seeing you laugh and smile while walking to the student parking lot with Seokmin, of all people, solidified the fact that you are actively ignoring his texts. And he just canât stand the thought of it. How dare he be ignored? Especially by his best friend, the one person who had always responded to him, no matter the time or how busy you were, you always texted him back.Â
Wonwoo initially thought that even if the world ended, you would be there within arms reach, enough to hold you close, where he could keep you safe. You were predictable in that sense. But if the world decided to burst into flames, or swallow itself whole tomorrow, heâs unsure if you would be there right next to him by the time he woke up.Â
two, wonwooâs summer before senior year.Â
The school year flew by with the speed of light. And before Wonwoo knew it, he was home back in Korea for the summer. The dreaded fifteen-hour plane ride over was excruciating. There was an ache in his lower back, and his knees felt like they were being struck by a hammer with every step he took. But at least the worst part was over.Â
Sixteen-year-old Wonwoo was quite naive, thinking that heâd be welcomed into his home country with loving arms. That hadnât been the case at all, and for the two months that he spent in Changwon, he couldnât help but count the days till he could come back home. Where you had been patiently waiting for him.Â
He despised being away from you, and he had yearned for you every moment he was gone. With you by his side, Wonwoo had finally understood the true meaning of solace, a peace of mind that couldnât be replicated. Not even the fresh air that breezed through his fingers or the scent of the salty water misting its way onto the shore of his hometown could outweigh the feeling of tranquillity that he got when he was with you.
Every year that Wonwoo was dragged back to Korea by his parents was excruciating. Especially because he had a certain distaste for his relatives. Maybe it was disrespectful to loathe them the way he did, but he couldnât care less. Their scathing comments would flow out of their mouths just to pierce daggers of judgement into his back. To insult Wonwoo was second nature to his aunts, and he couldnât do much but sit back and listen. Â
Much to his dismay, his parents hadnât even bothered to book an Airbnb for their stay, informing him and his brother that they would be staying with his aunt. He couldnât stand his aunt Seo-Ah in particular, and he swore the feeling was mutual. Unsure of why he had to withstand her crude remarks in front of his family without much protest, he forced himself not to dish out rude rebuttals to everything she had to say.Â
There was a time when Wonwoo tried to reason with himself on why his aunt was filled with so much bitterness, but he gave up on that long ago. He was about to be seventeen now, and he couldnât bring himself to empathize with the older lady anymore.Â
âWonwoo! Youâre all grown up now, and I canât believe it,â Seo-Ah forced him into a bone-crushing hug as he tried his best not to push her off of him. She pulled back to take a closer look at him and he could already see the scrutinizing gleam in her eyes, âYou know, youâre still so skinny for your age. Do your parents not feed you enough?âÂ
Wonwoo wanted to scoff at her, but he kept a neutral expression.Â
âNo they do, I donât know maybe itâs my fast metabolism or something,â he refuted her claims. He couldnât wait to get out of her sight.Â
âYou know, maybe you should start going to the gym, get some muscle on you or something,â she patted his lanky arm and laughed that dreadful laugh. The ones that have no real humour behind it, just to cover up the obvious dig she took at his appearance.Â
âYeah maybe,â he dismisses her to head into the house. Setting his luggage down to check whether or not youâve texted him yet.Â
It was about five in the evening in Changwon, but he knew you wouldnât be asleep. Faintly recalling how you were planning to stay up late every night to watch BuzzFeed unsolved videos, or until your mom yelled at you to go to bed.Â
[4:15 p.m. kst] [you: i stayed up all night watching buzzfeed unsolved] [you: im going crazy i keep getting paranoid to the point iâve turned all my mirrors backwards] [you: hope ur flight was ok tho!!! đŤś]
He chuckled to himself, remembering your wide eyes and elaborate plan to sneak snacks into your room in the early hours of the morning behind your parentsâ backs. Wonwoo missed you, and your stupid obsession with horror podcasts and YouTube shows. He missed the way your smile would shine so bright as you talked about all the haunted places the hosts would visit.Â
Wonwoo did not care for horror or anything scary, but if you were to ask him to stay up all night on Facetime binge-watching your little Buzzfeed videos, he would do so in a heartbeat.Â
Two days down, about another 89 to go, Wonwoo thought to himself as he looked through your messages with him. You had already spammed the chat mercilessly about your first two days of summer break, and your intricate mission to stay up without accidentally falling asleep in the middle of it all.Â
[6:00 p.m. kst] [1 photo attachment] [you: currently trying to sneak snacks into my room without my mom knowing] [you: u better not snitch đž] [you: its so boring w out u here btw SO COME BACK SOON PLSS] [you: ok thats enuffâŚtxt me when u land!]
Wonwoo really missed you.Â
âŚ
One more week and Wonwoo would finally get to see you again. The ability to talk to you in person, hug you, and spend time with you gave him something to look forward to, and thankfully, summer break went by fast because of it.Â
He had spent most of his time in Korea eating at local food spots, going to the gym, and trying a lot of new things with his brother, Seongho, giving them time to bond before he went off to University again. Wonwoo had missed his brother dearly during the school year, but at least they were able to pass the time together during summer break.Â
It was initially his brotherâs convincing that got him to go to the gym for the very first time. The idea of going to a place with a lot of sweaty, adrenaline-filled people kind of frightened him, but the more he went, the more he started to like what he saw in the mirror. Wonwooâs shoulders had broadened, and his lanky arms finally started to show signs of muscles. He was satisfied in knowing that all of his hard work, and Seonghoâs encouragement had finally paid off.Â
Seongho told him he looked a lot more carefree now that he wasnât so worried about his appearance all the time. And it was then that Wonwoo realized that he wasnât all that bad-looking, after all.Â
Wonwoo had begun to take pride in his vanity. He searched for different ways to style his hair, bought glasses that better suited his face shape, and, most of all, did his best to act more confidently. The sudden change made him wonder how you would react. He had been anticipating your reaction, wanting to see the look on your face once he returned home.Â
âYou got it. Just one more rep, and we can switch,â Seongho encouraged Wonwoo as he tried to push the bar up from his chest.Â
His muscles were aching in the most addictive and satisfying way. He almost wished he had started working out earlier because only good things seemed to have come ever since he stepped foot into the gym.Â
âOkay! Youâre done, that was good,â his older brother high-fived him, a proud smile dancing along his lips.Â
âThanks, but my arms feel like jelly now,â he huffed a chuckle before gulping down the contents of his water bottle.Â
Seongho chuckled along with him before setting himself down on the workout bench. His actions faltered, and he slowly observed the mirror in front of him, raising his eyebrows in amusement.Â
âUh, donât look now, but I think that girl is staring at you,â Seongho tilted his head in the girlâs direction and Wonwoo couldnât be more confused.Â
âHuh? Are you sure it's me theyâre looking at and not you?âÂ
âIâm serious! You should go talk to her,â Seongho grinned, pushing his younger brother in the direction of the girl who was supposedly eyeing Wonwoo.Â
âHyung!â Wonwoo calls out but it falls on deaf ears as his older brother begins his bench presses.Â
Wonwoo turns towards the girl in the most awkward way humanly possible. He was completely dumbfounded and not sure what to do in the situation heâd been put in. The girl who was staring at him waved flirtatiously, and before he could even think about his next move, his feet had begun to move on their own accord.Â
âHi, I saw you working out over there, are you new here?â she asked him, batting her eyelashes.Â
âUhm, I guess? Iâm only here for the summer though,â he spoke with apprehension, because what the hell was he even supposed to say?Â
âOh! Me too. My name is Haein, by the way.â Haeinâs smile reached her eyes as she giggled, and her hand extended to shake Wonwooâs.Â
Wonwooâs actions were practically robotic, rubbing his sweaty palms on his gym shorts before taking her hand in his. He remembers thinking about how soft her hands were, and how pretty she looked with her hair tied up in a messy bun.Â
âIâm Wonwoo.âÂ
âWonwoo, hmm, thatâs a cute name. But I think I would like it more in my contacts,â she flirted shamelessly, her fingers squeezing his sweaty bicep.Â
Wonwooâs mind short-circuited, and he took out his phone from his pocket so fast it almost slipped out of his grasp. Haein found it endearing though, and happily gave him her phone number.Â
They talked for the rest of Wonwoo's time at the gym and promised to hang out more before they both went home at the end of the summer.Â
To put it simply, Wonwoo was on cloud nine for the first time since heâs been here. Suddenly his aunt Seo-Ahâs words werenât so hurtful, his confidence had skyrocketed, plus he had a beautiful girl to talk to for the rest of his vacation.Â
By the end of summer, Wonwoo started to miss you less and less. Even though he still saw you as his best friend, he began to find peace in other things, like the fresh air that breezed through his fingers or the scent of the salty water misting its way onto the shore of his hometown. Finally, for the first time in his life, Wonwoo felt serene, and that made him a little more whole than he was when he first landed in Changwon.Â
âŚ
The after-effects of Wonwooâs surprisingly pleasant summer vacation hadnât worn off just yet. The gift of Haein appearing in his life seemed to just keep on giving. Not only did she live overseas, she had told him that she was actually from the same city as him. It was a little hard to believe at first as if he was the main character in a cheesy rom-com, but he couldnât find it in him to complain. Haein made him feel wanted, excited, and cared for.Â
Wonwoo wasnât entirely devoid of those feelings, especially with you as his best friend, but it was different coming from Haein. Every time he saw her, he felt like he was going to throw up, in a good way of course, but she also boosted his confidence. He liked that she made him feel like he was a man worth depending on.Â
Haein was his first real relationship, and although he was still young, he could see himself being with her for a long time.Â
âŚ
Quite like the seasons, Wonwooâs feelings for Haein changed drastically by the time school was back in session. Although he and Haein lived in the same city, there was a lot more than just distance that separated them.Â
Six months into their relationship, Wonwoo began to doubt himself. He was less eager to meet her or even text her. He could only blame himself for how things turned out with Haein. Despite his adolescence, he believed he loved her; he just got tired and disinterested.Â
On a subconscious level, Wonwoo could not stop comparing Haein to you, and as fucked up as that was, it was completely out of his control. Why didnât Haein ever want to talk about what Wonwoo was interested in? Why did she seem bored out of her mind when he would delve into his theories about his favourite shows? Or anything about himself and what he liked. As though she didnât see him for the Wonwoo he was, the personality he had behind his looks.Â
âIt all makes sense now! Eren had Zeke fooled!â Wonwoo couldnât contain his excitement about the newest episode, but Haein didnât seem interested in hearing her boyfriend geek out.Â
âI'm sorry babe, but I gave up after the first episode,â Haein sighed into the phone, and if Wonwoo could guess, she was probably picking at her cuticles out of boredom. âI just didnât get anything that was happening.âÂ
âWait, really?â He was a little offended, how could she not be obsessing over the beautiful intricacies of his favourite anime? Wonwoo didnât understand.Â
He didnât understand because when he introduced you to the show, you texted him the next day saying you were caught up to where he had left off. It amazed Wonwoo how fast you were at binge-watching shows, especially because he had told you about it on a weekday.Â
You came into school the morning after with dark circles under your eyes, but even with that tired look on your face, you ran up to him with so much eagerness while thanking him for urging you to watch his favourite show. You two were obsessed and never missed out on watching the weekly episodes together. It had become you and Wonwooâs thing, and even though he wanted Haein to join in on the fun, he found himself more entertained by your theories than by talking on the phone with his girlfriend.Â
It dawned on him that he wished that Haein acted a little more like you. And it made him feel guilty. He knew he shouldâve loved Haein no matter her interests, but he wanted someone who could understand his nerdy side. And that was only something that you were able to do.Â
âHonestly, Iâm really tired, Iâm gonna go to bed now okay?â Haeinâs voice brought Wonwoo out of his thoughts.Â
âOh okay. Night.â He said before ending the call so quickly that Haeinâs âI love youâ was cut off mid-sentence.Â
Haein probably had thought he had forgotten, but Wonwoo just didnât want to say those words if he didnât mean it. He had grown annoyed, and a little bored of practically talking to a wall all night. Â
Comparable to the light switching off in his bedroom, he decided to do the same thing with Haein. He pushed his guilt aside and decided it was probably best to leave Haein and Changwon in the past. The memories of his last week of summer with her would become something he would look back on in the future and smile. But he didnât want to pretend any longer, it wouldâve just hurt her more if he stayed, he couldnât help that he fell out of love with her. The least he could do was not lead her on.Â
Wonwooâs relationship with Haein was merely a catalyst and a peek into what the rest of his relationships were going to look like in adulthood. He was never able to comprehend why he couldnât keep feelings for anyone after the six-month mark, and it almost frustrated him. Something was missing in every single relationship he had been in, and he wasnât sure what that was. But he was determined to find an answer.Â
three, present time.
The answer was you. But of course, Wonwoo didnât know that.Â
âAre you gonna keep checking your phone every five minutes or are you gonna do your homework?â Mingyu lectures him.Â
The two were studying in the library before their stats midterm, but Wonwooâs mind couldnât help but wonder. He hasnât been acting like himself since the night of Seokminâs party.Â
âOh, right.â Wonwoo clears his throat, putting his phone face down on the table.Â
Wonwoo drags his palms against his face, trying to not let sleep overtake him. It is not his fault that every time he tries to close his eyes, your face comes into his mind. The memory of you smiling with Seokmin made his insides twist. He hasnât seen you smile that hard in a while, and he almost misses how your eyes crinkle whenever you do so. You were practically haunting him and he had no idea how to make it stop.Â
âNot to be rude, but youâve been looking like shit lately. Whatâs wrong?â Mingyu questions him with furrowed eyebrows.Â
Wonwoo rolls his eyes at his friend, he didnât have to be insulted to know how crappy he looked, but Mingyu seemed to only be telling the truth. Wonwoo did look and feel like shit. With the amount of near run-ins heâs had with you and Seokmin on campus, heâs begun to sense that itâs some sort of karma. Whatever that karma may be for, he fully believes that itâs completely unwarranted.Â
Forcing a hand through his dark locks, Wonwoo contemplates whether or not he should just go up to you in person and demand answers. Itâs uncommon for the two of you to fight, or ignore each other for that matter. But he canât help but presume that if he were to confront you about your silence, there would be no rightful explanation. Or at least not the explanation that he wants from you.Â
Every time he even fathoms the thought of barging into your apartment and asking what the hell is wrong, thereâs a lingering nervousness that he wishes would dissipate, leading him to lay awake with his thoughts for hours on end.Â
âThanks for that, asshole, I just havenât been getting much sleep,â Wonwoo huffs.Â
âOkay, obviously. You practically look like a zombie with the way youâve been moping around. What has been keeping you up?â Mingyu presses.Â
Itâs not every day that Wonwoo indulges in his problems with Mingyu, thatâs what you were for. However, he canât talk about his problems about you, to you, so heâll have to settle for the next best thing. Â
âY/N has been ignoring me since the night we all hung out at Seokminâs,â Wonwoo confesses, and it feels nice.Â
For the past two weeks, heâs been keeping his frustrations to himself, and now that he can freely speak about it lifts the weight off his chest.Â
Mingyu snorts, obviously finding his friendâs situation humorous. Wonwoo sneers at Mingyuâs reaction, clearly not finding anything about you ignoring him funny.Â
âServes you right, youâre a dick to her, man.â Mingyu shrugs without any remorse to spare.Â
âWhat?â Wonwoo sputters, since when was he a dick to you? His best friend?Â
âHow blind are you? You have glasses and everything but you canât see how mean you are to her sometimes? Really?â Mingyu almost sounds offended on your behalf as he stares at Wonwoo with an incredulous expression.Â
âI am not a dick to her. She would definitely tell me if Iâve ever said something to hurt her feelings,â Wonwoo defends himself.Â
Attempting to rack his brain of all your moments together, he canât seem to pick out a memory where he has been especially rude to you. Of course, you two teased each other from time to time, but he wasnât a complete asshole. He knew when to not take a joke too far or purposely try to upset you.Â
âYouâre a dumbass.â Mingyu lets out a frustrated sigh which only aggravates Wonwoo even more.Â
âCould you stop with the insults for one second and just tell me whatâs going on?âÂ
Shutting his laptop, Mingyuâs posture becomes serious, a deviation from his usual carefree and smiley self. He cares about you just as much as the next person, so if he had to reality-check his friend, then so be it.Â
âShe cares about you a lot. And you treat her like shit. Itâs not about what youâve said to her, itâs your actions. Ever since we were in high school all youâve done is use her to solve your problems. I canât even blame her for wanting to cut you off. I donât know what happened at Seokminâs place for her to realize that, but you donât deserve her,â Mingyu confesses.Â
Soaking up each word that left Mingyuâs mouth, Wonwoo sat in a pool of perplexity. There are so many questions flying through his mind, yet he canât seem to utter a single word. Is that really how everyone perceives his friendship with you?Â
Wonwoo is going to throw up. There's a tightness in his chest and a burning sensation behind his eyes. He wants nothing more than to hear all of this coming from you, not Mingyu. The frustration of wanting to talk to you about this is taking a toll on him, he doesnât want to believe that Mingyu is telling the truth.Â
Itâs not fair. Itâs not fair that Mingyu gets to know these things about you while Wonwoo is just left in the dark. Did he make you feel like you couldnât tell him anything?Â
Ever since Wonwoo met you, it was evident that he can be quite merciless when it comes to his relationships, but thatâs romantic, not platonic. Wonwoo was convinced that he treated you equally because thatâs how it's supposed to be.Â
Hearing Mingyu talk about his friendship with you in that way caused Wonwooâs whole world to crash down. And the only thing he can do in moments like these is seek out your comfort, except he canât anymore. Not only has he been a terrible friend without realizing it, but heâs pushed you so far to the brink that youâd rather ignore him than attempt to hash out whatâs been troubling you.
âI-I didnât know that's how you guys saw our friendship,â Wonwoo falters, clearly taken aback, and still attempting to fully comprehend whatâs been said to him.Â
âItâs not that we see your friendship with her that way, it is that way. If I was her, I wouldâve cut you off a long time ago.âÂ
âWell, thanks, Gyu. I feel like this couldâve been said before she started ignoring me,â Wonwoo huffs, trying to come up with the words to explain his side.
âIt was kinda obvious, man,â Mingyu shrugs.Â
âWas it, though? If I had known, I wouldâve at least tried to be better,â Wonwoo attests, tired of feeling like the bad guy.Â
âHow about you just talk to her about it instead of sulking,â Mingyu suggests.Â
Desperation hijacked his rational thinking, making Mingyuâs advice sound plausible. Talking to you seemed out of the equation since you started ignoring him; he feared you wouldnât even answer if he tried to call or show up at your door. But he canât go on like this, especially now that he knows there is more to your friendship than he had initially thought.Â
four.Â
For the first time in Wonwooâs life, heâs unsure about what decision to make. Although he wants nothing more than to knock on your door, his feet stop him from even entering your building. So instead of mucking up the courage to talk to you face to face, he waits inside his car. Without a solid plan, he continues to sit there, biding his time.Â
Never has he acted so pathetic in his life, not even for the sake of his relationships. He knows that nothing will come from sitting there, just watching, but before he can even comprehend what he is doing and where he is going, he is already across the street from your place.Â
Gripping on the leather of his steering wheel, he just couldnât help himself. He canât help but watch your silhouette from your window. The curtains are drawn, but there are glimpses of you walking around. Heâs such a fucking loser. What type of person has Wonwoo become that he resorts to stalking you from the front of your building?Â
After all that Mingyu has enlightened him on, Wonwooâs attitude has become less angry and more apologetic. There was a line he pondered crossing, and it practically mocked him. Stepping over that line would mean getting answers from you, demanding to be brought into the light that you had snuffed out from under him. But his uncertainty of the outcome outweighed his decision to do so.
That same apologetic attitude died a fiery death after watching Seokmin leave your apartment. There you were in all your glory, the tiny sleep set clinging onto your body as the wind forced its way into the door of your building. Then there was Seokmin, grinning like a fucking idiot as he waved goodbye.Â
âShit!â Wonwoo grunts as he ducks down, not wanting to blow his cover. His car was visible from where the two of you stood, hoping that you werenât able to recognize it in the dead of night. Â
Boring holes into the back of Seokminâs head, Wonwoo's guilt diminished, floating away with the cold night breeze. You were fine, and he shouldâve known that the root of all his problems started with the name Lee Seokmin.Â
The shape of your figure had faded into the confines of your building. Yet Wonwoo can still make out your body through the glass window of your door. He canât help but gawk at your skimpy attire, your ass practically on display for the whole world to see. The deathly twist in his gut intensifies the more he ponders on what may have happened during Seokminâs visit. Wonwoo desperately wants to stop thinking about the possibilities, especially because your lack of clothing only fueled that inferno inside his mind.Â
Heâs never been more annoyed at Seokmin in his entire life, not until today.Â
Wonwoo allowed himself to ignore the signs, but only for a moment. But this, this he canât ignore. Not after what he witnessed. He allowed himself to stay ignorant when it came to your silence because he had been so naive to think that it was your decision. Now that he knows Seokmin had somehow weaselled his way closer to you, Wonwoo had to make sure this plan of his didnât go on any longer.Â
âŚ
There is a heat inside Wonwoo that, for some reason, he cannot extinguish. The curve and outlines of your body burn in the back of his retinas. No matter how many times heâs tried to put himself to sleep, the image of you is clear as day in his mind. Sparks crawl their way up his spine, and he desperately wishes that it would just go away.Â
Thereâs a point where Wonwoo gave up on trying to sleep altogether. Thoughts of you, your body, and the oh-so-painful reminder that youâre still ignoring him. How can he sleep with everything going on? What made things worse, was the fact that the one person he wanted to call most likely wouldnât pick up.
Wonwoo wasnât the type of person to let his emotions get the better of him, but this abrupt rift that has been torn between you two has him acting out in ways heâs never acted before.Â
The urge to grab his phone, to text you, to give it one more try, grows perpetually every second he lies awake.Â
One more time. One more attempt. What does he have to lose?Â
Wonwoo stands up, pacing around nonsensically, trying to think of what to say. For all he knows, you may not even answer, but there is the urge to hear your voice one more time and see your name pop up on his screen. Wonwoo yearns for you so much so that it supersedes any part of common sense he has left in him.Â
[12:52 a.m.]Â [wons <3: darling. can we talk? please?]Â [not delivered]Â
The silence within the four walls of Wonwooâs bedroom is harrowing. Out of all the outcomes he had considered before he texted you, the outcome of you blocking him was not even on the list.Â
Before jumping to some sort of conclusion, Wonwooâs finger hovers over the call button with skepticism. If you donât pick up, then thatâs it. That would be the definitive answer to all his qualms.Â
âThe number you have called is not available, please leave a message at the tone,â an automated voice affirmed his suspicions.Â
The notification is gut-wrenching, but he canât just sit here and pretend like itâs okay for you to do this. To decide without any of his input. What kind of friend were you to just drop him like he was nothing but an old toy? How unfair did you have to be to not even try to talk it out before you completely cut him off?Â
five.Â
Pacing outside the door of your apartment, Wonwoo hasnât been this nervous in years. He has always been so sure of himself, but itâs almost two in the morning and heâs still continuing to weigh his options.Â
Itâs either youâll let him in, and talk for the first time in almost two weeks, or youâll kick him out before he can step a foot past the door. Desperately, he desires that it be the first option. Losing you over this would break him, and not in the way you would expect.Â
Heâs already lost his mind. This shouldnât be the way you two break it off. It wonât be the way you two break it off. Not if Wonwoo has a say in the situation.Â
Sweaty palms and white knuckles rasp against the dark oak that barricades himself from you. Thereâs nothing that Wonwoo wants more than to see your face glowing in front of him. And before he can even get a word out to you, the door whips open. The person on the other side is someone Wonwoo is starting to get really sick of seeing.Â
âWhat the hell are you doing here?â Both Wonwoo and Seokmin speak in unison.Â
Scoffing, Wonwoo rolls his eyes at his so-called friend, âI think I should be asking you that. You clearly donât live here.âÂ
âMinnie? Is someone at the door?â your voice is as sweet as a glass of lemonade on a hot summerâs day.Â
Minnie. Wonwoo almost threw up in his mouth.Â
Minnie. The nickname is parallel to nails scraping against a chalkboard.Â
âYeah! Your neighbour just needed to borrow something,â Seokmin goads through a sickly sweet smile, eyes never leaving Wonwooâs. Without as much as a word of mockery, Seokminâs expression had said more than his words ever could have.Â
Despite his soft demeanour, Wonwoo knew there was something vile hiding under Seokminâs thick skin.Â
A rebuttal to his deception is on the tip of Wonwooâs tongue, but your melodic voice echoes throughout your home once more. The refute dies within his throat, and he hopes you will come out and see what your âneighbourâ is looking for.Â
âOkay!â is the only response you give out. The reverberation of the water hitting the shower tiles causes Wonwooâs stomach to practically lurch out his abdomen.Â
âWhatever youâre doing, sheâs not gonna fall for it,â Wonwoo jeered, staring at Seokmin with looks that should kill, if he could.Â
Seokmin chuckles bitterly, âShe already has.âÂ
There was no need for Wonwoo to put two and two together; he already knew what Seokmin was alluding to. It left a dreadful taste in his mouth.Â
Puffing out his chest, Wonwoo takes a step closer towards the man he once considered a close friend. Sizing him up, he knew that Seokmin was the reason for the wedge in your friendship. And Wonwoo had no problem treating him as such.Â
âYouâre fucking sick, you know that?â Wonwoo practically spits in his face.Â
âI could say the same thing for you,â Seokmin mutters, unperturbed, âI didnât have to do anything you know? Just a little push and she fell into my lap, voluntarily.âÂ
âIâm not just going to let you get away with something like this. Sheâs my best friend.âÂ
âI think the correct tense is was. She was your best friend,â Seokmin taunted.Â
He was wrong about Seokmin. Even though he had known about his friend's crush on you for years, Wonwoo didnât expect the lengths Seokmin would go to in order to cut him out of the picture.Â
Before a breath could even escape his lips, Seokmin cuts him off, âI think itâs time for you to leave. She doesnât want to see you.â
The last few words that he heard come out of Seokminâs mouth nearly fell on deaf ears. It was practically a whisper, laced with enough malice to almost kill the fighting spirit inside him. Almost.Â
âBy the way, donât text her anymore. Iâve made sure she wonât get any more notifications from you.âÂ
The realization had struck Wonwoo hard. He knew you well enough that you wouldnât just block him so carelessly, without a word no less. Yet he was no match for Seokmin, not after the fact that you allowed him into your home, your heart, so willingly.Â
âŚ
Lying in wait, Wonwoo observes the door of your building once more. The distinct difference this time was that Wonwoo had no guilt left in him to care. Whether you see him or his car across the street didnât matter to him anymore. The only thing Wonwoo wanted to make sure of was whether or not Seokmin would be leaving your place.Â
After what had felt like hours, he watched the same scene from last night unfold in front of him once more. The abhorrent hug goodbye that is exchanged between you and Seokmin is nothing but a cue for Wonwoo to make his move.
With as much grace as a bull in a china shop, he slams the car door shut, not even bothering to lock it before he stalks his way to your apartment. The anticipation caused the hairs on his neck to stand straight up. As he presses the button to your floor, he can only deliberate whether any of Seokminâs words hold any truth behind them.
 Certainly not, right? Not after all the years you spent together. His friendship with you couldnât end on this vague note. You were always the sentimental type, holding onto trinkets, memories, and even people for far too long. It should be the same with Wonwoo; he believed it would be the same.Â
If there is a chance, you should allow him to talk and voice his opinion. No, Wonwoo will voice his opinion; there has never been a time when you havenât let him speak.Â
As the elevator ascends to your floor, anxiety begins to weigh down his shoulders. The feeling is atypical and Wonwoo hates how his throat constricts. He hates how his clothes feel too tight and stuffy despite his casual attire. Is this how it feels? To actually care about someone and whether their decisions might affect him later on?Â
Footsteps echo within the hallway, and with each step he takes, the illusion steadily becomes more vivid. Your front door almost looks like itâll take a mile before Wonwoo can reach it, rather than a few feet away.Â
After what felt like years, Wonwoo stands before the entrance of your home once more. The foreboding tension wonât vanish and itâs starting to make him itch. Without another thought, Wonwoo forces himself to knock on the door knowing itâll be you who answers this time, not Seokmin.Â
âMinnie? Did you leave something agaiâ,â Abrupt silence engulfs your words, leaving nothing but an echo to resonate within the expanse of your long hallway.
âWonwooâŚâ your voice falters, like you genuinely didnât expect to see him, let alone have him standing outside your door.Â
âDid you fuck him?â Wonwoo cuts to the chase, not leaving any room for you to ask questions.Â
His blunt words caused a frown to grace your soft pink lips, and Wonwoo almost felt bad for being so frank. But he doesnât have time to beg for your forgiveness, the anger surmounting to nothing but harsh words and a push past you and into your home.Â
âDid you fuck him? Yes or no?â Wonwoo continues to press you for answers, agitated that you have the audacity to stand there dumbfounded. As if you donât know who he's talking about. âCâmon, you know who Iâm talking about,â he can almost laugh at the situation in front of him.Â
How is it that all the rage he built up for Seokmin is being taken out on you? Wonwoo had no clue, but the thought of his friend-now-enemy defiling you, tasting you, while Wonwoo desperately waited for your call caused him to direct all his anger to you. Perhaps itâs undeserving to do so, but Wonwooâs frustration spoke for him before his brain could even register what he was saying.Â
âThe past two weeks youâve been ignoring me, spending your time with him, do you know where his true intentions lie?â Wonwoo continues to rant with unpreparedness.Â
He didnât plan what he was going to say because there was a moment of doubt, he had expected you to open the door just to slam it right back in his face. The look you gave him almost brought him to his knees. Your doe-eyed expression couldâve broken down every wall heâs built if only he hadnât let his anger proceed him.Â
Wonwoo shouldâve cried, to plead for you to take him back. To go back to the way things were. He knew he fucked up the moment he uttered a single word. The hurt flashed across your face as though Wonwoo turned your world upside down.Â
âSeokmin doesnât care about you, and Iâll tell you that now because you need to hear it. He just wants to fuck you! And you just gave that to him?â He canât stop talking.Â
âStop. Just stop fucking talking Wonwoo. Do you hear yourself right now?â You cut off his rant. âOut of all people, who gave you the right to tell me who I can and cannot fuck? Especially knowing the type of person that you are. It doesnât matter if Seokmin and I had sex. What matters is the fact that you think you can barge in here at two-thirty in the morning interrogating me over a situation that doesnât involve you.âÂ
âNo. Iâm just trying to help you. Seokmin isnât the person that you think he is,â Wonwoo seethes, annoyed at how youâre twisting his words.Â
The bile in his throat rose further, as you stood before him like he had just kicked your dog. Wonwooâs extremely aware of the hole he had dug for himself, but he couldnât stop. His urge to self-sabotage overrides his common sense.Â
âThat is exactly what weâre not going to do right now. Seokmin has been a better friend to me than you have been in all the years weâve known each other. I have been by your side for years, bending over backwards. I was at your beck and call and Iâm tired. Sometimes I wish I could go back in time and warn myself about you. I fell in love with my best friend, and the worst part was that you didnât care enough to notice.Â
âI gave up so much for you, Wonwoo. I lost myself trying to please you. But I give up. I was drowning in my love for you. It consumed every part of me to the point I couldnât even come up for air. And Iâm just sick of it. I know thereâs a part of you that cares about me too, but itâll never be equal. Iâll always love you more than you love me, and I donât want to feel this way anymore.âÂ
âWhat hurts me the most, is that you thought it would be okay to accuse me of things I didnât even do. I did not sleep with Seokmin, but why is that what you care about? He respects me and just wants to be there for me. And thatâs a lot more than I could ever say about you.âÂ
Your voice was terrifyingly calm, with neither a lilt nor a hiccup during your speech. The heft of your declaration crashed back down onto Wonwoo, leaving him at a loss for words.Â
âIâm sorry,â is the first thing to come out of his mouth after a long pause.Â
âPlease. Itâs late, you should go home,â you sigh, but Wonwoo couldnât move an inch. He refused.Â
âIâm sorry,â he repeats himself, looking into your eyes, searching for the look of endearment you had always given him.Â
âWonwooâŚâ there it is. Your voice had broken for the first time since Wonwoo stepped foot in the place.Â
âPlease. Iâm so fucking sorry. For getting angry, for doubting you, for not realizing how badly you were hurting,â Wonwoo resorted to pleading.Â
A look of desperation mixed with agony was the only thing you could exchange for his apologies.
The stare of grief you had given him caused a shooting pain to swell throughout his limbs. The one that begins at his fingertips, creeping up to tug at the strings that held his heart together. He wanted this nightmare to end, and he was sure you did too.Â
âItâs time for you to go. Iâm tired, Wonwoo.â A single tear slips and trickles down your cheek.Â
He regrets not wiping it away for you at that moment. It was the first time he had been so unsure of his actions. So, instead, he walked out of your apartment, leaving nothing but the lingering scent of his cologne and a piece of his heart.Â
Wonwoo's world was crumbling underneath him, and there was only one person he refused to let go of. He shouldâve known.
He shouldâve known that you were in front of him this whole damn time.
end of act one.
âš a/n: if you liked this story pls dont be afraid to let me know thru a reblog, comment or ask! also a big ty to my beshies forever @vapidlynn and @bunnyjjongie who i've texted multiple times in the wee hours of the morning for reassurance abt this thing hehe.
#jeon wonwoo#seventeen smut#wonwoo smut#svthub#Hiraya-M#thediamondlifenetwork#seventeen fic#wonwoo x reader#seventeen imagines#seventeen fanfic#svt fic#svt smut#svt fanfic#wonwoo#seventeen scenarios#seventeen angst#wonwoo fanfic#wonwoo seventeen#svt imagines
854 notes
¡
View notes
Text
Dom!reader x sub!scarletella
Warning: fictional stuff - stimulation through a separate object (?), inspired by some fanarts (artists are amazing), teasing, degrading pet names
Iâm seeing so many fanarts that have this implanted and I HAVE to do something about my horniness thatâs holding me back from working so, as far as I understand, for mr. Scarlettela his real body is his umbrella or itâs at least connected to him - anyway, canât believe Iâm writing about homicipher bruh, I feel ashamed T^T
!!Spoiler warning!! This is not canon but has some elements from it
He is a good boy, he really is! Well, maybe not at all times, but heâs trying his best for you. And havenât you seen just how much he loves and trusts you? Heâs basically devoted to you! Like a faithful follower~ Handing the red umbrella he always carries over to you so easily, when he normally would never let anyone touch it, let alone give or lend it. Itâs just proof of how much he likes you!
So why were you so mean and destroyed it? You like him, didnât you know that his umbrella is connected to him? Why were you hurting him. He didnât understand, he didnât even know what to do. Because in the end, he still liked you.
Now this over 8 feet tall creature was kneeling in front of you, head lowered in confusion as he stared at the concrete floor. You were still holding the now broken umbrella, scoffing as you stared down at his rather pathetic form. It wasnât entirely broken, just some bend metal and rough ends, or a little tear here and there. Yet for some reason his clothes were torn and disheveled, hands shaking slightly as he kept mumbling the words âI donât understandâ or âI like youâ over and over again. At first he seemed intimidating, but now you didnât have an ounce of fear left.
There must have been a connection between him and this umbrella. Instead of speculating, best just ask him.
Slowly you pointed the long object in your hand at him, the tip pushed below his chin as you made him look up at you. His round, almost completely dark eyes stared right at you, one side was covered by his crimson hair. There were tears steaming down his cheeks, he was crying, how unexpected. The two of you locked eyes for a few seconds, and you wondered what you should do about this crazed man.
While their language was hard to grasp at first, you were getting the hang of it by now. âThis umbrella, is you?â The meaning of the question itself was unbelievable, but since this ghost realm exists, maybe your hypothesis wasnât that out of place. âYes. Me body.â Look at that, you were right. That explains why he suddenly got so sad. You groaned internally and pulled your arm back, using the umbrella as a cane instead.
As you were still thinking over your next step, his hands reached out to you hesitantly, and softly tugged at the ends of your coat. After stretching the fabric out a little, he leaned his forehead against it, mumbling almost inaudibly, âplease donât go, I like you.â You raised an eyebrow, the corners of your mouth subconsciously moving upwards as you snickered, âWhat?â His grip got a little tighter and his hand trembled from tensing his muscles so much, then he said a little louder, âI like you, donât you like me?â
God you wanted to laugh, this was so sad it was laughable. How in the world did he come to that conclusion? In that moment, you had a lot to say it him, but due to the language barrier you couldnât convey it really well. So you just talked to yourself, needing some time to vent.
âOh you poor thing.â You chuckled in your own language, the one he didnât understood. âWhat am I supposed to do with a perv like you?â He looked up at you again, wanting to ask what you said if not for your shoes that were pressing against his chest. â..what?â The person- or monster asked, but he didnât resist your touch and leaned back, following your guidance. From earlier up to this point, he has been kneeling, just this time he was also using his arms behind his back to stabilise himself.
Without changing the almost arrogant look in your eyes, you used the gift he gave you to trace some imaginary lines on his body. The tip glided from his jawline to the tip of his chin, and you asked, âyour name?â The heavy tension was something he also caught on, and he hesitated, not knowing to what this would lead. He shook his head, forcing out a âdonât knowâŚâ
You hummed slowly, showing you understood the message. Nonetheless, you continued to move the tip down his neckline all the way to his toned collarbones, âIâll give you a name.â His eyes widened even more, it made him look objectively creepier, but you thought he looked like a dumb puppy. All big eyes, bearing a deep need and raw desire in his pupils. âHow about,â then, just like drawing with a stick in the mud, you traced the word, âScarlet,â over his chest, simultaneously voicing out the word.
He shuddered as the hard surface scribbles around his torso, squeezing his lips together while he tried to stay still for you. You werenât being exactly gentle there. When you stopped to glance at him, he quickly nodded. That wasnât the end to your little play yet, and you slid the pointy end across his abs and stomach, down to his thighs, making him spread them a little wider, âI gave you a name, so youâll be my servant from now on. Understood?â This has been said in your language, but you hoped heâll get the overall meaning.
Again he nodded. In his head, being your servant meant you liked him, right? Otherwise you wouldnât keep him around! So how could he ever say no.
âUse your mouth.â You ordered, digging the tip into his flesh a little, and he answered shortly after, âI understand, me happy.â Sweat was forming on his forehead, and his previous crying ceased. Instead a faint taint of pink covered his cheeks, and he stared at you almost manically. âGood.â You said, which was basically a praiseâ right? âand he smiled, a shaky, breathless one.
A little behind you was a chair, and you dragged it closer to the still kneeling man below you. Even you were starting to get tired of standing, so you sat down in a comfortable position. âWhat now.â You said to yourself, not really paying him any attention anymore. It would be nice if you had a collar, would red or black look better on him? But your resources were limited, and you didnât exactly have a lot of things with you as well. Thatâs when you absentmindedly thought over what you did own.
Besides that crowbar youâve found down here, you really didnât have a lot. Well, you also had a broken umbrella nowâ hold up, thatâs right, you own him now. A rather sadistic thought came to mind, and you pondered to what limit you could control him with this red, unusual umbrella. Would he feel your presence when you just hold it? You got lost in your thoughts again, fumbling with the torn textile and the handle. This didnât stop until a strange sound caught your attention.
Your eyes left the red batch of fabric in your hands, and instead wandered to the other red thing in the room. He crawled into a ball, arms folded in front of his body while his head pressed against the ground. It looked like he was in pain again, though you werenât sure if these noises were whimpers of pain or pleasure. âYou okay?â You eventually asked, and he whispered in a higher pitch, âme okay..!â
Once again your gaze returned to the umbrella. He must be in this state due to something you did, and so you tightened your grip around the handle while mindlessly drawing a line with your index finger on the panel. As expected, his shoulder jerked upwards even more, and he rolled more together, as if he wanted to take up as little space as possible. His entire body was twitching, also for some reason his coat was only hanging off his arms now.
âYou are into it.â You commented, not even too shocked to learn this rather unnecessary fact. At least you can have your fill of fun with this. âWhat about this?â Suddenly you started moving your hand up and down the handle, rubbing the umbrella panel with the other hand. It was a truly humbling experience to do something implied sexual to a literal object, but your eyes were glued to the ghost before you, so you didnât even notice how weird it must have looked.
And sure enough, there was a change in his behaviour, he got louder. Your smile widened involuntarily, and your pace also got quicker and rougher. Oh fucking hell, if he was really feeling that kind of sensations, you wonât be able to stop yourself. It was like you were hypnotised, concentrated on nothing but his expressions. On the different ways his face twisted into one of ecstasy.
A big, dark, lunatic grin, paired with fanatic eyes that were ripped wide open. Some hints of a scarlet blush covering his face while sweat rolled down his face. Those perverse sounds he made were proof of the probably internal pleasure he felt, and he quivered all over, still bend down on the floor. Now that youâve got a better grasp of what was happening, you realized he was crawled together to hide something.
âNgh, hgGnn- ah..! PleaseâŚâĽď¸ď˝â he whined at your feet, drool dripping from the corners of his mouth and landing on the floor. Youâve been fumbling with the handle for some time, so youâve gotten bored again and was curious about if the textile was a part of his being as well. Without a second thought, you simply stuck two fingers between the folds, and you were met with a heavily muffled moan.
âArghhh-âŚMmmHFfffFď˝ âĄâĄâĽď¸â Once he felt your touch, he bit into his own palm to quiet himself down. At some point he started crying again, glistening tears decorating his already ruined face. You didnât think his reaction would be this good, this lewd, whatever you did, he must have liked it a lot. Which is why, despite the absurdity of your actions, you moved your fingers in and out of the holes or just randomly caressed whatever part you felt like touching.
Out of nowhere you felt something tugging at your coat again, it gave off a sense of Deja vu. Of course it was him, who was only pinching the corner of it with a shaky hand. His grip had lost any strength compared to before, and you couldnât help but smile in satisfaction. âWhat?â You asked him, though you didnât stop your administrations. He cried out when he opened his mouth to speak, breaking down in front of you, for your entertainment only.
âHaaaa-HnnGh⌠wait, p-please wait-!âĄâ Was he telling you it was too much? Itâs making you want to overstimulated him even more. He was being so pathetic it was cute. Without wasting a single second, you went as fast as you could, blatantly ignoring his pleads. Based on your own observations, he must have been close, if he was similar to a real person. âFeels good?â You asked, to make sure he was alright. He didnât reply again and only nodded all weakly, but youâll let it slide this time.
He felt so hot and strange, it was a nice but unfamiliar feeling. Not only that, he felt something burning building up inside him and it was threatening to spill. Thatâs why he wanted you to slow down. Poor thing was confused, absolutely baffled what this warm feeling was. Is it love? It must be love. He loved you and you loved him after all. All in all it wasnât a bad feeling, and since you seemed happy, he is too!
Another sudden wave of pleasure coursed through him, his eyes were clouded with lust and bliss, and the dirty whimpers that slipped past his lips got more erotic by the second. How desperate and lovesick he sounded, begging, pleading, squirming and trashing around on the spot. Thighs pressed together while his toes curled, back arched as a last moan ripped from his throat, ânnNgGHhh âĄâĽď¸ âĄď˝â Just as you predicted, that must have been his climax. Nowâs the question, did he came in his pants? Did such things still have a reproductive system?
My my, it seems that is the case, whatever it was it seeped through the dark fabric of hi trousers, causing an even darker spot to appear.
You only caught glimpses of it since he was hiding his own body so much, but you were content nevertheless. Since he was so obedient the entire time, you decided to be nice to him with the limited vocabulary you had. âCute.â His kneeling figure was still shuddering and twitching, ragged gasps and pants were also coming from him. But for him, the only thing he could hear was your voice ringing and echoing in his mind, as well as the awfully loud beats of his own heart.
After all this time, you finally praised him! Well you did before but this time he was sure of it! And you found him cute! He was so happy he couldnât stop grinning. Thatâs when you said, âdo you want anything?â It was to kind of make up for making a fool out of him, or maybe for breaking his umbrella. He didnât even think before quickly turning his head up, slurring out, âg-give me you name?â You blinked, that wouldnât have been what you wished for but oh well. Right before you simply told him the answer you stopped yourself, and responded teasingly, âcall me master.â
You werenât sure if he knew the meaning behind it, but it didnât matter. He had a blank look for a few seconds, mumbling to himself, most likely repeating that word a thousand times. While he did that, he let his head hang low again, facing the floor. His hair hid his face really well, and you couldnât read his expression. âYou alright?â You asked once the silence started to make you feel uneasy.
He placed both his hand on the floor and leaned down, until his face was hovering centimetres above your shoe, and he whispered eagerly, excessively so, âIâm happy, master. I love you.â Before kissing the tip of your shoe. You stared down in disbelief, a shiver running down your spine. He was more of a freak than you thought.
The moment he was done, you grabbed a fistful of his hair, proceeding to yank on it, making him face you on eye-level while he gasped in surprise. Your other hand clutched the umbrella more tightly, causing him to groan slightly. âStupid dog.â You chuckled with a sinister smile spread across your face, watching as hearts appeared in the middle of his pupils.
#first sub homicipher ficâŚ???#hopefully itâs good lmao#Iâm nervous and embarrassed for writing up filth like this but letâs goooo#it has about 2.4k words guys homicipher cured my writer block#sub character#sub!character#dom reader#dom!reader#sub homicipher#homicipher#sub mr scarletella#mr scarletella#mr scarletella x reader#mr scarletella x y/n#mr scarletella x you#dom reader x sub character#dom gn reader#sub character x dom reader#sub scarletella#homicipher scarletella#scarletella homicipher#homicipher x reader#homicipher x mc#homicipher x you
497 notes
¡
View notes
Text
PLEASE TAKE ME HOME QUINN HUGHES
pairing: bsf!fem!reader x quinn hughes
summary: after a crushing loss, quinn seeks comfort from you, leading to him finding support and solace in a way he didn't expect.
warnings: quinn being self-critical + kind of being existential, a lil kiss, cuddling
wc: 2.4k
notes: love me some best friends to lovers content!!
Quinn sat in his stall, hunched over with his elbows on his knees, and his head heavy in his hands. The locker room was quiet, almost unbearably so, with only the muted rustling of his teammates shedding their gear, each one lost in their own thoughts. The chill of sweat against his skin, the echoing silence, and the sting of the 7-3 ass whooping theyâd just received at the hands of the Oilers gnawed at him. He ran his hands over his face, wishing the exhaustion could just be scrubbed away like a smudge of dirt, but it clung, deeper than fatigue.
Tocchetâs words still hung heavy in the air. His tone wasnât biting or enraged, just⌠disappointed. Somehow, that made it worse. The sharpness of anger wouldâve been easier to deflect, easier to set aside, but this, this gnawing sense of having let someone down, that was harder to shake. As captain, the weight of each loss bore down on Quinn with a fierce gravity, like an invisible pull he could never fully shrug off. He wore every defeat like an extra layer under his skin, something that followed him home, creeping into the quiet spaces of his life that should have been a refuge.
But tonight, even the thought of his empty apartment was unbearable, the silence there too vast, the dark windows only offering his own tired reflection in return. The last thing he wanted was to be alone with his thoughts, with the image of his own disappointment staring back at him.
He reached for his phone, thumb hovering uncertainly over your name. He knew he should probably wait until heâd collected himself, until he could find something to say that didnât carry the weight of the eveningâs defeat. But in that moment, the thought of a connection, of hearing from someone who could pull him out of his head, outweighed his hesitation. Before he could overthink it, he pressed send.
Quinn's message was simple, just asking if you were home. He wasnât even sure what he wanted â to talk, to sit in silence, to have someone tell him that tonight wasnât the end of the world. He just knew that youâd understand, that youâd get it without him having to explain.
There was a comfort between you and Quinn that had been there almost from the start. As he settled into life with the team, through rookie struggles and the relentless grind of the season, he had a way of just being around that seemed natural, easy. Somehow, even as his responsibilities grew, and the demands of his role pulled him in every direction, he kept finding his way back to you. And you, too, found yourself drawn to his quiet, unassuming strength. He wasnât loud about it, wasnât looking for anyoneâs approval â just steady and dependable, with a rare kind of sincerity you didnât encounter often.
And lately, maybe without realizing it, that connection felt like it had deepened into something neither of you had put a name to. Moments hung between you two, ones that felt heavier than friendship but never quite crossed the line into something more. An extra beat in his gaze, the way youâd linger just a bit longer than necessary after a game, the silence between you comfortable and somehow charged all at once.
When your reply came, just a quick âIâm here, come over,â Quinn didnât waste any time. He left the locker room without the usual goodbyes, without waiting for the sting of his teammatesâ sympathetic glances or their vague attempts at consolation. Tonight, he needed to get out of that space, out of his own head, and into a place where things felt real again.
Rogers Arena was quiet as he made his way out, the late-night staff offering tired nods as he passed. The cold night air outside cut through him, biting against his damp skin, but he welcomed the jolt, the way it woke him up a bit. He barely remembered the drive, just that he kept glancing at the clock, willing time to move faster, each stoplight feeling like a barrier between him and something he desperately needed.
Finally, he was standing outside your door, hands stuffed in his pockets, nervous energy buzzing through him. He barely managed a steady knock, his heart feeling oddly tight as he waited. The lock clicked, and when you opened the door, he felt his breath catch.
You stood there in his oversized hoodie, sleeves brushing your fingers, and a pair of sleep boxers. Your hair was pulled into a messy updo, and even though it was just a lounging outfit, you looked effortlessly good. The sight of you felt like a balm against everything heavy heâd been carrying, a reminder of warmth and familiarity that he hadnât realized he was craving.
âHey,â you said softly, a gentle smile spreading on your lips as you took him in.
âHey.â His voice came out rougher than he intended, but he didnât try to cover it up. There was no point in hiding here. He took a step inside, feeling the warmth of your apartment surround him, smelling faint traces of your perfume mixed with the lingering scent of dinner.
You closed the door behind him, leaning back against it for a moment as you watched him kick off his shoes and shed his jacket. There was a quiet understanding between you, no questions asked, no need for explanations.
Quinn barely made it to the couch before his legs seemed to give out, and he sank down, letting out a long, defeated sigh as he fell back against the cushions. He rubbed his temples, trying to will away the exhaustion, but it clung to him like a second skin. You moved to the kitchen, grabbing the pizza box and setting it on the coffee table in front of him.
âLeftover pizza,â you offered with a smile, lifting the lid to reveal a few slices from earlier that night. âItâs cold, though. I can nuke it for you if you want.â
Quinn raised a hand, a small smile ghosting across his lips as he shook his head. âNah, itâs better cold,â he replied, reaching forward to grab a slice.
You gave him a mock grimace. âCriminal. Criminal behaviour.â
He chuckled softly, the sound a small relief against the weight he carried. âYou are the only person in the world who doesnât like cold pizza,â he commented, taking a bite without another word, the simple act of eating grounding him a little, offering a comfort he hadnât realized he needed.
The sudden voice of P.K. Subban echoed through the apartment, ESPN returning from a commercial break. The panel began dissecting their recent loss with a precision that felt almost cruel. Not wanting Quinn to relive the events of the game, you grabbed the remote and quickly hit the mute button, casting a quick look at Quinn, who was staring at the screen. His face was unreadable, a tight mask that betrayed none of the frustration you knew had to be simmering beneath the surface.
âYou watched the game?â Quinn asked.
You sat down beside him, folding your legs underneath you. âOf course I did. I watch every game,â you replied, giving him a small smile, hoping he could see that you meant itâthat no matter the outcome, youâd be there, watching, supporting.
Quinn looked down at the pizza slice in his hands, the corners of his mouth tugging in what might have been a grateful smile. But it was fleeting, quickly replaced by a frown, as if the memory of the game was sneaking back in, clawing its way into his mind.
Seeing that he was still tense, still haunted by the weight of the night, you knew you had to shift his focus before it consumed him entirely.
âHey,â you said, nudging his shoulder lightly. âHow about we watch something?â
He glanced at you, raising an eyebrow. âLike what?â
You thought for a moment, before thinking of a show that you knew would hopefully take his mind off of hockey entirely. You switch the TV to Disney+, scrolling until you find 9-1-1.
Quinn let out a small, amused huff, shaking his head. â9-1-1? Seriously?â he asked. âIâll never understand how you like these unrealistic shows. You know real emergency response isnât like that, right?â
You laughed, nudging his shoulder lightly. âYeah, I know, Captain Serious. But not everything has to be realistic to be entertaining. Just⌠relax, okay?â
Quinn sighed, finally letting his shoulders loosen a bit as he settled further into the couch. As the show unfolded with its usual chaos â an explosion followed by impossible rescues, and moments of high drama â you saw the tension in Quinn's shoulders slowly ease. Every now and then, heâd shake his head in disbelief or give a low chuckle at some particularly wild scenario, his reactions a mix of amusement and bemusement. You nudged him playfully during one of the more absurd scenes, catching the way the edges of his lips curled up despite himself.
As the episode continued, Quinn seemed to sink further into the couch, the weight of the night slowly lifting as the ridiculous plotlines distracted him. His arm drifted to the back of the couch, his fingers brushing against your shoulder as he got more comfortable. You noticed how his head was starting to lean closer, almost unconsciously finding a spot near your shoulder, like he was drawn to that gentle connection.
Instinctively, you reached up, letting your fingers thread through his hair, running gently along his scalp. You felt Quinn still for a moment, almost as if he were surprised by the gesture before leaning into you, his eyes drifting closed as he melted into your touch. The tension from the evening faded with each soft stroke, each gentle sweep of your fingers through his hair.
As the episode played on in muted background chaos, you felt Quinnâs breathing even out, his head settling against your shoulder. He sighed, the sound soft and vulnerable in a way that made you ache for him. You knew he needed this â a moment to be just Quinn, not the captain, not the defender, not the one who had to carry the weight of every win and loss. Just Quinn, here with you, without expectations or demands.
You paused the show, shifting slightly to look at him, and Quinn opened his eyes. He looked at you with a mixture of gratitude and weariness, his blue eyes soft in the dim light of the room.
âYou know,â you began quietly, âyou played so well tonight. No matter the score, you were incredible.â
His shoulders tensed slightly, and he looked down, his lips pressed into a hard line. âThanks, butâŚâ He hesitated. âI donât know. It just feels like⌠Iâm losing it lately. Like every mistake is a reminder that maybe Iâm just not good enough to lead us right now.â
You reached over for the remote, muting the TV, focusing fully on him. âHey.â You tilted his face up toward yours, catching his tired eyes. âIâm a little sick of you being so hard on yourself. Youâre so good, Quinn,â you whispered, your hand gently tracing along his jaw before you leaned in, pressing a soft kiss to his right cheek.
His eyes closed as if the touch eased him, just for a moment.
âAnd the guysâŚthey respect you more than you know.â You moved to his left cheek, brushing a light kiss there. You could feel the faint stubble, smell the familiar, comforting scent of his cologne.
âAnd the fans? The fans think the world of you, Quinn,â you murmured. Before you knew it, youâd leaned in to press a quick, soft kiss to his lips, pulling back almost immediately, your eyes wide with a bit of shock at what youâd just done. A flush rose to your cheeks as you took in the shock on Quinnâs face, his eyes wide and lips slightly parted. For a heartbeat, the room was silent, the air heavy with a newfound tension.
But then, without warning, he leaned forward, capturing your lips in a passionate, unguarded kiss. His hand slipped around to the nape of your neck, his fingers threading through your hair as he pulled you closer. This kiss was different â fierce and sure, a release of all the feelings that had been building between you for so long. The room felt electric, everything else falling away as you lost yourself in him.
When you finally broke apart, your foreheads resting together, Quinnâs gaze was soft, yet intense.
âIâve⌠Iâve wanted to do that for so long,â he admitted, his voice barely above a whisper as if he were afraid to break the spell.
Your heart was pounding, a mix of exhilaration and disbelief swirling in your chest. For a moment, the heaviness of the night, the loss, the disappointmentâall of it seemed to dissolve in the warmth between you. In the quiet of your apartment, where it was just the two of you, there were no expectations, no pressure.
Quinn pulled back just enough to study your face, his hand still gently holding the back of your neck. His gaze softened as he took you in like he was memorizing every detail. âBeing with you like thisâŚâ he trailed off, his words faltering before he managed to smile. âIt makes everything feel⌠less heavy.â
You smiled, reaching up to brush a stray lock of hair from his forehead. âYou donât always have to be strong, Quinn. I want to be here to help carry the weight, too.â
A faint glimmer of relief crossed his face, and he nodded, as though accepting your words for the first time. He let out a deep, steadying breath, his thumb coming to your cheek, sweeping gently across the rouge that had formed. Slowly, he eased back onto the couch, pulling you down with him, your head resting against his chest as his arm wrapped securely around you. Together, you drifted into a peaceful quiet, the weight of the night finally slipping away.
The game, the expectations, and the pressure melted into the background. All that remained was this â an anchor, a place to land, the soft beat of his heart steady under your ear. And for the first time in a long while, Quinn felt lighter, not pulled down by the weight of his own expectations.
#quinn hughes#quinn hughes x reader#quinn hughes imagine#nhl#nhl imagine#hockey#hockey imagine#vancouver canucks#qh43#best friends to lovers#`âŚË âď¸ đâš my works
512 notes
¡
View notes
Text
This is the banter about his going rates that I referenced in another post, and I see the comments and tags. I cannot tell you how much this isnât him being a nepo baby or the âhow much could it costâ meme.
Shoving the rest under the cut because I get the joke here but I need to yell about this man.
tldr: This isnât dialogue about Lucanis being out of touch, and not knowing what money is worth. He knows, heâs a union man. This dialogue is about Lucanis learning about Hardingâs values and priorities. He was worried he was low balling Harding. The tone in this dialogue throws him because what Harding says could easily be taken as âsix thousand is only this much and I deserve more compensation.â Hence why he offered to negotiate with her and also why he clarified that the comparison was good.
Now for me yelling about this man:
Lucanis is a union man. Lucanis thinks everyone should be paid fairly, equally, and the market rate. He tells Neve to unionize with the other detectives to make sure she is being compensated fairly (to make sure they all are tbh) and that no one is underpricing themselves. If they are, theyâre a scab.
He tells Bellara the Veil Jumpers are providing a service and risking their lives - they should be fairly and properly compensated. They should not only unionize but charge for their services.
Now there is something to say about capitalism and such, but Lucanis is vouching for this stuff because at the end of the day money is important in Thedas. With money you can buy the supplies you need. With money you can make more impactful change, bribe people with lesser morals, provide for people who need it. Cover funerary costs, compensate the families of those who died who maybe the person working for/with you was the only money earner. With money, you can choose to help on jobs that donât pay at all because you have the comfort of knowing you have other work to cover things.
Lucanis isnât asking Harding if thatâs good because he doesnât understand the value of what heâs offering. Heâs asking Harding if itâs good to understand what her value of it is. Money is after all just a social contract of a universally agreed to system to value the more abstract concepts of value (and even then it fails at times). For all he knows she could have been presenting those examples to show he is lowballing her.
This man is offering to negotiate with her, but her words and tone throw him so heâs not sure if she is happy with the offer or offended.
Lucanis isnât a nepo baby who thinks 10 dollars for a banana isnât a lot. Illiaro is the nepo baby. Lucanis was born into wealth but he knows the value of it and works hard to not only earn it but also maintain it. This man has standards, he wants the best because he can afford it so he will not accept anything less than his expensive, luxury Orlesian peaches.
Lucanis doesnât value goats or a barn the same way Harding does. For her there is personal attachment and sentimentality (see where money fails to properly put a value on something). He knows their monetary worth of those things but he would not be pleased or excited to be paid in a herd of goats (unless perhaps if they were Ayesleigh gulabi goat). But Harding does value those things. Those things have more meaning to her than their value in gold, thatâs home. Thatâs stability. Thatâs purpose and security. Giving books to the whole village? Thatâs enriching lives, that teaching people to read. That is uplifting people.
If you asked Lucanis to list off what 6k gold could get him? Youâd see his values are different, it would be coffee, luxury food ingredients, wyvern memorabilia, daggers.
Anyways, this isnât my blorbo but heâs the blorbo of friends I have and man is up there with Cullen, Davrin, and others. Just rotating in my brain space because people I care about like him.
Also this makes me wonder how much the Inquisition was paying Harding and if Lucanis is going to provide her with one of his lawyers like he did for Neve and Bellara.
I've seen Lucanis' family villa so I knew he was rich, but this banter made me realize that he's a rich boy who has no idea what money is worth lmao.
#datv spoilers#da4 spoilers#dragon age the veilguard#dragon age 4#datv#da4#lucanis dellamorte#lucanis#harding#lace harding#listen I just woke up and I get the jokes but I like the nuance in my DAtV companions#itâs there. I waited 10 years for it. theyâre flawed. I want us to look at them with some media literacy and nuance#long post
9K notes
¡
View notes
Text
âIt looks better on you anywayâŚâ
summary: youâve been dating for a while and, to make you officially his, Eddie gives you something very specialâŚ.
*no warnings only fluff (ok maybe thereâs a bit of a suggestive content here but nothing too serious)*
(i had this draft for a while now and i loooove this headcannon! hope you like it as much as i do)
âWhat do you mean by itâs not official?â You desperately asked Robin
âWait a minute, i didnât say that! It is official, just not official official.â She says sipping her drink.
âRobin youâre not making any sense right now.â Nancy replies seeing how nervous you got.
The three of you were having a girls night at a bar, only to gossip, have some drinks and celebrate womanhood. But now, after a few drinks, you shared with the girls your story with Eddie and how it was when you finally got to be together. It was actually so casual and simple because Eddie knew you didnât like to cause a big scene and to have all attention to you. So you had a nice date and on the way back to your house, before you could get in, he asked if you wanted to be his girl and if he could be your boyfriend. You didnât waist a minute and involved him in a hug and a lot of kisses.
âIâm just saying that some couples like to make a gesture to make it official, so everyone else can see theyâre taken. And, in your case, thatâs not what happened.â Robin explains herself and now your head was thinking of all the things Eddie might have given to you
âDidnât you hear her story? That was exactly the opposite Eddie was trying to do, he wanted to be a special moment for just the two of them. I think thatâs very sweet of him.â Nancy and Robin keep arguing when it comes to you
âSo youâre saying that hypothetically he was supposed to give me something, like a ring?â You interrupt them making both girls look at you
âHeâs not supposed to do anything, but yes, thatâs what i meant.â She replied and then started to tell a story about one of her old friends.
By the end of the night, Eddie picks you up and takes you to his place, as you agreed. You were going to spend the weekend with him.
âHey pretty girl! How was girls night?â He kisses the top of you head and help you get in his van.
âIt was very nice, but you know how Robin can get very excited about some stuff and how Nancy doesnât agree with her but still tries to be nice and it goes on and on.â He laughs at your words and he enters the van too. âBut youâll see, iâm still going to make them become best friends!â
You keep talking about your night to him and you two stay in a comfortable silence listening to one of his Black Sabbath tapes until you get to his home. He turns off the car and before he could hop off, you stop him.
âWhat is it sweetheart?â He asked looking at your face, searching for something wrong.
âCan i ask you something?â You look at his hands full of rings holding yours.
âOf course you can, you can ask me anything.â He said and his tone couldnât be sweeter
âEarlier we were taking about dating and the girls asked me how it was when you asked to be my boyfriend, and i told them. But Robin said that even though it was the most teeth-rotting story ever there was something wrong, something was missingâŚâ
Eddie was scared of your next words but still encouraged you to continue.
âShe said that normally, after a while, itâs common for the guy to give to his girlfriend something, like a gesture or a gift i donât know. But thatâs supposed to be like an affirmation of the relationship⌠You know what, forget it, itâs fucking stupid.â You give up on telling him what you wanted and turn to leave the car.
âHey hey, wait a minute. Thereâs nothing stupid about that! You can take your time, but i want to hear it.â Eddie says, giving your hands gentle rubs.
âI feel stupid asking you this, and you know how you are my first boyfriend so iâm not sure how things are supposed to be nowâŚâ You organize the words in your head before you tell him. âAlright, hm, I was going to ask if maybe you plan to do that⌠i donât want you to give me anything, and i know weâre not dating for a impressive long time and maybe weâre supposed to wait a bit more for that, i donât even know if you are expecting me to give something to you. I am a bit lostâŚâ You said everything too fast and got lost on your own words. But Eddie listened to you very carefully and understood what was happening.
âAre you saying that you want something, this âgestureâ, to officialize our relationship?â He asked and looked at your eyes âWell, i wasnât actually thinking of giving you something right now, but now that you said that iâm thinking of something hereâŚâ He let go of your hands and put them behind his neck. â I really like the idea of people seeing that you are taken, that you are only mine⌠turn around, please.â
You were confused but still, you turn around and you can feel him getting closer. So close that your back is hitting his chest. He starts to whisper when you see him put his necklace in front of you.
âWhat do you think babe?â His soft voice rings in your ear and you admire his hands holding his necklace that you always made sure to tell him how much you loved it on him, of how attractive he looked with the pick hanging over his chest. âI know how much you like this, and imagine that⌠you walking around with this very specific necklace around your neck. This screams âi have a fucking man, heâs a rockstar, a hottie, and im all fucking hisâ. Uh, i loved that!â
You were smiling and blushing at his words as he lifted your hair up and put the necklace on you. You didnât know what to say and got all nervous but you were relieved he liked your idea.
âI loved it Eds, thank you!â You dropped your hair and looked at the pick now hanging in the middle of your tits.
âI loved the placement donât you.â He teases you and you can hear his mischievous smile and the way heâs giggling when you shove him. âIâm serious, i can imagine already, you on top of me and the pick hanging there and⌠wait a minute. THATS WHY YOU LIKED IT SO MUCH!
You start to laugh and cover your face embarrassed. âShut up Eddie!â
âNo baby, donât hide your pretty face. Let me see you.â You lean into his body again and look up at him. âYou do look very attractive with it.â And as he speaks, you can feel his hand on your jaw, making you look up at him, and the other, caressing your thigh.
âWhat about you? I donât want to just take your necklace like that.â
âDonât worry sweetheart, i can make another one for me so we can match, if thatâs your concern.â He says teasing you once again. âBut now thatâs your necklace. It looks better on you anyway, soâ
You just close your eyes, feeling him touching your nose with his before he kisses you passionately. Even after lots of shared kisses between the two of you, he still manages to take your breath away.
âCome on, letâs go inside.â He opened his door and yours too, being the gentleman he is, and with an arm thrown around your shoulder, he leads you inside. âMaybe we can test that theory, to see if the pick will look good on you when youâre on top of me.â He makes you giggle and you playfully slap his chest as you walk up and open the door.
âMaybeâŚâ
#eddie munson#eddie munson fic#eddie stranger things#eddie munson x female reader#eddie munson x reader#eddie munson x you#eddie x reader#eddie munson fluff#eddie munson headcanon
321 notes
¡
View notes
Text
gojo satoru x reader | fake marriage au [18+]
in holy matriphony ch5. child's play
á° pairing. fake marriage au - neighbor&realtor!gojo x nurse!reader (ft. choso x reader & suguru x reader)
á° summary. gojo satoru is your extremely annoying next-door-neighbor who you're pretty sure is the most insufferable man you've ever met. given the fact that you exclusively work the night shift at a chaotic emergency dept, just got broken up with your boyfriend of seven years, and have been taking care of your sick mother ever since her multitude of diagnoses, yet somehow your neighbor is the main source of stress in your life should speak volumes. but when your mother's medical bills start to skyrocket to more than you can manage, and you learn that said neighbor of yours has the best private health insurance plan in the country, you ask him to enter a matrimonial agreement with you for the spousal benefits all in the name of saving a few hundred thousand dollars. but you'll have to see if suffering cohabitation w him is worth any amount of money.
á° genre/tags. fluff, smut, angst, enemies to lovers (sort of), annoyances to lovers (that's more like it), small town romance, fake marriage, next door neighbors, lots of bickering, suburban shenanigans, slow burn, mutual pining, gojo likes to play house but you don't, hatred for the american healthcare system, gojo always forgets to mow the lawn, jealousy, an insane amount of profanity, mentions of cigarettes, depression/anxiety; btw gojo in this fic is in his mid 30s n reader is in her late 20s
á° warnings. reader in this fic has a sick mother w alzheimer's & cancer so there is secondary medical angst!!
á° chapter. 5/x
á° words. 4.8k
a/n. helloo my ihm friends! long time no see. hope you're all doing well and thank you so much to everyone who sent me kind messages about the whole ihm gojo ex wife thing haha. i really appreciate it :) i feel more confident about my writing decisions now, and that's all thanks to you guys! anyways, i will be posting shorter chapters for ihm going forward, so sorry if some chapters have slightly abrupt endings or stuff like that. i guess my goal is to post shorter chapters but more frequently! we'll see how it works out. anyways, hope you enjoy this chapter and see you at the bottom!!
nav. ch1 :: ch2 :: ch3 :: ch4 :: ch5 :: ch6 (pending)
Ever since admitting your mother into hospice, things have been calmer inside your mind. After passing the initial wave of agony that came with no longer hearing her voice down the hall or seeing her silhouette in her bedroom as you walked past it, you realized thatâŚa weight has been lifted off your shoulders. No longer setting alarms at the height of every other hour to remind your mother to take her medication, no longer viewing every interaction you had with her as some form of study you needed to jot down in a binder for her neurologistâs records, and no longer driving her to all of her chemotherapy appointments, only to leave them feeling like you purposefully just took your mother to a place where they sucked all the life out of her in exchange for the slim promise of giving it all back to her someday.
Maybe it was evident in the way your shoulders felt less tense as you rolled them back, tilting your neck to the side and no longer feeling the painful strain that tugs a wince onto your face. The other day, you caught yourself humming a song as you drove to work. Your skin, usually feeling cracked and dry from stress and exhaustion, now has a slight plumpness to it like before. A more youthful glow, like the version of yourself you were before your mother became sick. The version of you that so quickly deteriorated, and one you didnât even know still existed somewhere within you.Â
There has also been time for hobbies. Rarest of occasions, you find yourself sauteing some yellow and white peaches in a saucepan over medium heat in Gojoâs kitchen, humming that song once again thatâs been stuck in your head. The sundress youâre wearing matches the pink of the syrup that pools at the bottom of the pan, and you feel like youâre living your cottage core dreams in this brief moment of reprieve youâve allowed yourself to fall into.
The sound of slippers tapping down onto the hardwood floor startles you out of your gleeful trance, and you turn your neck to the right to see a pajama-clad messy-haired Gojo shuffling his feet across the open area into the kitchen with a dark black mug in his hand.
âWhy arenât you dressed??â you ask him in a panic.
âIâll get dressed later,â he tells you dismissively as he grabs the glass pitcher of coffee from where the coffee machine was nestled up against one of the counter corners.
âYouâre stressing me out. Your mom told us to be there in two hours,â you say, putting your hands on your hips in disapproval as you hear the sizzle of the peaches in the saucepan.Â
He entirely ignores you, choosing to instead drag his gaze down the form of your body. âWoooow, twice this month I get to see you in a cute dress,â he comments, pouring coffee into his mug but his eyes are still on you, âlucky me.â
âOh Shut. Up,â you sneer at him with a harsh roll of your eyes, âyour fake flattery might work on the lonely middle-aged women you seduce to make a living, but it wonât work on me.â
His shoulders push back before he slumps them slightly, his brow lifting with confusion. âItâs not fake though? I mean it. You look really nice right now.â
You point an accusatory sugar-syrup coated wooden spatula at him. âYouâve just been conditioned by the patriarchy to get a boner at the sight of a woman in a kitchen.â
âWhatâ...noâ...why do you always have to say stuff like that whenever I compliment you? Canât you just accept it?â
You cross your arms over your chest. âI refuse to be flattered by an insolent man like you.â
He sighs, setting his coffee mug down on the counter, and you watch the way the fringe of his hair hangs over his forehead as he gazes into the contents, swirling it around with a loose grip on the handle. âIs this how itâs going to be everyday? I try to be nice, and youâ...well, you know, are you.â
âWell who else should I be?â
His eyes lift up to meet yours, the slightest of a cheeky grin on his face as his eyes wander down the form of you again. âI donât know. Someone a littleâŚsofter? Like, youâve got this really pretty dress on, and then youâre telling me off about patriarchy-induced boners. Itâs a little, uh, contradictory?â
You gasp. âYouâre trying to control me. I knew it. You are poisoned by the patriarchy.â
âWhat?â
Your eyes narrow at him. âYou have this image of a perfect and cute little wife, whoâs gonna wear pretty dresses all the time, and bake stuff in the kitchen, and get all blushy when you tell her she looks beautiful, and you expect her to have this soft little personality that never argues with you or disagrees with youâŚALL BECAUSE OF THE PATRIARCHY!!!â
â...Iâ...Okay, youâve lost me.â
You let out a hmph! noise. âCanât even discern his own brainwashing. Sad.â
âAll of this just because I tried to tell you that you look nice?â
âI know what your ulterior motives are, you creep.â
His eyes spark a little at that, the corner of his mouth tugging up into a cheeky grin as he sets the coffee mug down onto the marble counter and he straightens his spine. You blink, watching with confusion as he crosses the distance between the two of you, to where youâre taking a small few steps backwards until your lower back presses against the edge of the island countertop. He cages you into the surface with his frame, followed by the palms of his hands sliding over the marble on both sides of you, and you feel his forearms press against the curve of your waist as he traps you in with no way out.
âS-Satoru,â you stutter, looking up at him with wide eyes, âwhat are you doing?â
âWhat do you think Iâm doing?â he says, his voice deeper with a nonchalance that has you shiver, his gaze dropping to your lips when you part them slightly.
âT-The patriarââ you squeak out, but he suddenly dips his head down to kiss you.
Your breath hitches in your throat, eyes immediately closing when he moves his lips against yours, one of his strong arms wrapping around your waist to pull you closer to him and your hesitation is something that only lasts a brief second before you find yourself kissing him back. Some noise leaves his throat, deep and raw and sounding pleasantly surprised as he captures your lips more fervidly now, his hands smoothing down to hold your hips and his teeth slightly nip at your bottom lip.Â
You grab a fistful of his shirt, unsure of whether you want to pull him closer to you or push him away, but the moan that you mumble against his lips only makes his grip on your hips even stronger, fingers digging into the softness through the thin fabric of your dress.Â
The oven suddenly starts beeping, startling you and you pull away from the kiss with a gasp, eyes rounded as you look up at him, but his are lidded and dilated as his gaze remains glued to your lips.Â
With a heaving chest, you try to push him away by a weak fist to his sternum but heâs unrelenting.
âYou taste sweet,â he says, like some comment he noted in his head but accidentally voiced out loud.
âIâ...â you inhale sharply, âI just ate three macerated peaches.â
âUh-huh,â he barely acknowledges before leaning in to get another taste, but you push him away harsher this time.
His hands let go of your hips entirely, finally breaking out of that kiss-induced trance he was in, but he still remains close to you in proximity, so much so to where you can feel the heat from his body. Itâs comforting almost, radiating through the soft cotton of his long sleeve shirt, and you find yourself subconsciously leaning towards him before you snap out of it too, and rock your weight back against the island countertop.
You cross your arms over your chest, hoping the flush to your cheeks isnât showing. âOh okay so we just casually kiss now?â
He shoves his hands into his plaid pajama pant pockets, leaning away from you slightly. âFor as long as I can get away with it, yeah.â
âYou are breaking the rules.â
âYou never said no kissing.â
âI said no touching.â
âEhhh kissing isnât really touching, though, is it?â
âYou sound stupid.â
âI always sound stupid to you.â
The oven starts beeping again, and you realize itâs long been preheated to the setting you had placed earlier. You slip away from him with haste, feeling his gaze on you as you press a button on the oven to turn the alarm off, and you stare at the handle for a moment or two to calm the beating of your heart down.Â
Your eyes catch sight of something on the side of the fridge. A little magnet made of rubber that has the word London on it as well as the design of the Westminster Cathedral with golden accents. You recall that Gojo went on a trip to London recently, and that he didnât bring you back any souvenirs from there like he did for your other neighbors. And you want to pretend, you want to shove it down, that incessantly childish feeling that wonders why he didnât bring you anything back. You want to continue to pretend like it doesnât hurt your feelings. Something so miniscule and small. But youâ...well, you canât.
You spin around to face him. âDo you hate me?â you bluntly ask.
He blinks at you. âHuh?â
âDo you, what, I donât know, think Iâm annoying or something?â
He shrugs with his hands still in his pockets. âI mean, yeah, I do think youâre annoying sometimes. But in a silly way. Like weâre just pals horsinâ around, yâknow?â
You snarl at him, putting your hands on your hips and narrowing your gaze until heâs hardly even visible anymore. âNo. I actually find you annoying. Like, wanna-run-you-over-with-a-bus annoying. You just have horrendous social awareness and think that everyone loves you.â
âYou actually donât like me?â he asks, like he canât even believe that someone wouldnât.
âYes,â you say, ânow get out of my way.â You make an attempt to push past him, purposefully knocking your shoulder into him to assert dominance but he is unfortunately much bigger than you and so all it does is make you stumble ungracefully from the recoil.
He quickly grabs your arm to steady you, and you glare up at him before yanking yourself away and then step backwards until your back hits the fridge.
He studies your demeanor for a second before taking a deep inhale, and then lets it all go in a heaving sigh. âWhat do I have to do to get you to lighten up a bit?â he asks.
âYou really want to know?â you sneer at him.
âYes,â he says with a slight hint of frustration in his tone.
You cross your arms. âPay for the fucking fence.â
He blinks at you, confusion replacing whatever frustration was previously decorating his tone. âWhat?â
âThe fence,â you reiterate with a step forwards towards him, âthe one I built six months ago. The one where you laughed in my face when I told you to help pay for it.â
He leans forward. âYeah. Because I never wanted that fence built. Like I said, it fucked up the roots on my avocado tree. You shouldâve asked me before building it. In fact, itâs illegal to build a fence without joint consent of both neighboring property owneââ
âOh my god, okay, see? This is why I canât stand you,â you snarl at him and make another move to get past him but he easily steps in front of you to keep you from going anywhere.
With a sigh, he relents. âFine, Iâll pay for the fence.â
You try to keep the twitching muscles of your face still as you resolutely stare up at him, pressing your lips into a thin line. Through a strained tone, you say, âNo. I donât want you to pay for it anymore.â
He lifts a brow, utterly bewildered at this point. âHuh?â
âNow it just feels like pity. And I donât want your pity money.â
âTwo seconds ago, you did.â
âYeah, well, whatever. That was two seconds ago.â
âSoâŚlet me get this straight, you donât want me to pitch in?â
âNo. I want you to have wanted to pitch in SIX MONTHS AGO.â
âOkay but what the fuck am I supposed to do about that now?â
âNOTHING!!!â you finally snap at him, the shrill to your voice startling him slightly to where you see his shoulders jump, and his eyes are now rounded blue as he looks at you. âThereâs nothing you can do about it, thereâs nothing you can do to get me to âlighten upâ or âact softerâ or whatever the fuck kind of damage control you aim to achieve with me due to your pestering incessant need to be liked by every fucking person you come across. So just deal with the fact that I hate you and let me do it in peace.â
Heâs silent for what feels like a long time as he blinks at you, his bottom lip pushing up slightly in a way that suggests heâs almost impressed by your little outburst, then he takes a step forward, and in that one large stride, heâs closed any distance between the two of you. Your back is up against the frigid steel of the fridge, your heels tucked under the warm rubber at the foot of it, and youâre looking up at Gojo as he towers over you, his hands still annoyingly and relaxedly shoved into his pockets.
âDo you think itâs gonna be a problem that I think youâre kinda hot when youâre mad?â he asks you.
A small puff of air leaves your lips, like you just canât believe the audacity, but also having him this close to you suddenly made it a little harder to breathe. âCâ...Can you just be fucking serious for one second?â
His head dips down, the fringe of his hair tickling your forehead, tip of his nose slightly brushing against yours, but his gaze never falls to your lips. âYou think Iâm not being stupid fuckinâ serious when I say that youâre hot?â
âSââ your breath hitches in your throat, and his gaze finally falls to the lick you pass over your lips, âSatoruââ
Like God himself answered to your (cognitively dissonant) prayers, the bell rings, and Gojo leans himself away from you, straightening his spine so he can glance over his shoulder towards the door, a slight look of irritation on his face through the furrow of his brow.
You blink up at him. âAâ...Are you expecting someone?â
He rubs the back of his neck. âNo. Donât think so.â He sighs before shuffling around the kitchen island and across the dining hall towards the entryway of the house, and you peer at the sight from across the hall.
When he opens the door, you see Sana standing outside, dressed in mom jeans and a t-shirt with her black Coach purse slung around her shoulder, arms crossed, and you barely register the fact that she looks pissed.
âSana?â Gojo says, âwhatâs up.â
She entirely ignores him when she catches sight of you, pushing right past him and into the family room that you were currently finding solace in.
âYou,â she points at you, storming right up to your personal space, âwhat the hell did you say to Juno when you were babysitting her?!â
âH-Huh??â you squeak out, taking a step backwards. âWhat are you talking about?â
âYou told her to fight kids at school?!â she snarls at you, and your eyes widen.
âWhat?â you say, your face twisting with confusion, âIâ...I never said that. I just said that she should stand up for herself if she needs to.â
Sana inhales deeply with rage, leaning back and jutting her hip out as she crosses her arms again. âYeah, well, I had to pick her up early from school today because the principal called and told me she shoved a little girl on the playground during recess, and now sheâs facing suspension.â
Gojo approaches suddenly from your periphery, standing in front of you as he faces Sana. You stand on your tiptoes to peer at her over his shoulder. âWhat? Why would Juno do something like that?
You hear Sana start to tap her foot impatiently against the hardwood floor, and then she turns her head away from Gojo as a slight hmph! noise leaves her throat. âThe why is irrelevant.â
You poke your head out from behind Gojo and glare at her, but then Gojo turns around suddenly to look at you.
ây/n,â he says, âwhatâs going on?â
âIââ you start, glancing at Sana again who now has a solemn look on her face with pursed lips. You glance back at Gojo, whoâs looking at you with confusion and anticipation. A heat spreads down your neck from the attention of the both of them on you, and youâre not sure what the smart thing to say is, so you figure youâll just tell the truth as it is. â...I just didnât want her getting bullied and thinking she canât stick up for herself.â
At that, you see Gojoâs shoulders stiffen. âBullied?â he repeats after you, then quickly turns towards Sana, âwhat does she mean, bullied? Junoâs getting bullied at school?â
Sana faces him full-on, raising a stern pointed finger between the two of them âNo. Satoru. Stop. You always do this. This has nothing to do with you, so donât even start. Itâs not a big deal, letâs not make it one.â
âThe fuck do you mean itâs not a big deal? Sheâs getting bullied at school, and you want her to just suck it up?â he asks, venom dripping from his tone.Â
âItâs for her benefit!â Sana exclaims. âJun and I have spent months trying to get her into this school! We donât want her getting kicked out.â
âYâknow, Iâmââ you stutter, âIâm gonnaâ...Iâm just gonna go upstairs,â you say, âthis seems like a family matter. I think you guys should probably just settle this on your owââ
âNo,â Gojo says, pointing to the couch that you were standing in front of, âsit down.â
You sit.
Gojo turns to face Sana again, and although you canât see his face, you imagine heâs pissed off from the way Sanaâs shoulders drop slightly and her sharp expression is cut into a more sheepish one.
âWho cares if Juno is suspended for sticking up for herself? Itâs the teachersâ fault for not making sure sheâs safe,â he says.
âShoving other kids is not the solution.â
âWell if you fuck around, then you find out. Kids are too soft these days.â
âThis is not the 90s, Satoru.â
You watch the back and forth between the two of them for the better part of an entire minute, feeling uneasy in the hostile environment of the room, but thereâs a sense of underlying familiarity between the two, one that is recognizable amongst family. And you feel rather foreign, but then remember that, technically speaking, now that youâre married to Gojo, this is your family too.
Amongst the arguing of the adults, none of you noticed that Juno had gotten out of the car in the driveway and was now standing in the doorframe of the front entrance. She looks scared and guilty, fidgeting with her fingers in front of her, and you notice her scrapes and bruises that you tended to last week were now mostly healed.Â
Gojo catches sight of her, and you see his shoulders relax. âJuno, câmere.â
With the permission, she instantly runs towards him and into his arms from where he was crouched down to the floor in order to welcome her, and then she starts sobbing.
âIâmâhic,â she cries, âIâm soâhicâIâm so sowwyyy Uncle ToruâŚIâmâhicâIâm sorry mommyyyy.âÂ
You see Sana sigh and she makes a move to brush Junoâs tear-dampened hair out of her face when Gojo pulls her away from his shoulder by a delicate hold of her bony little shoulders.
âJuno. Listen. If people are being mean to you, then you do exactly as your auntie y/n said. You stand up for yourself. And if that doesnât work, then you cuss at them and threaten to shove their faces into the dirt until they run away with their tails between their legs. Do you understand me?â Gojo tells her.
Sana gives you a pointed look.
âOh, Iââ you put your hands up in front of you, âI didnât say any of that last part.â
âDo you understand me?â Gojo repeats again, and Juno nods her head slowly before she falls back into him and soaks his shirt with tears. âIâm soowwwwwyyyyyy.â
Gojo pats her back a few times to comfort her, and your heart breaks for the little girl. Itâs bad enough to be bullied at school, but then to be reprimanded by your mother the one time you stand up for yourselfâŚyou can imagine how emotionally exhausting that would be for a five-year-old.Â
Juno sniffles, rubbing her snot all over the cotton of Gojoâs shirt, and then pulls her face away to rub at her eye with a weakly closed fist. âIâhicâI justâŚI just wanted him to feelâhicâthe same hurt.â
âHuh? Who?â Gojo asks.
âThe boy,â Juno says, âthe one that shoved me today.â
âIt was a boy?!?!?!â Gojo yells. âAlright. Thatâs it. Iâm grabbing my bat.â
âSatoru.â Sana deadpans.
Sana and Gojo continue to bicker about the ethics of threatening five-year-old boys with baseball bats, going back and forth about how Gojo wasnât actually going to do anything but just wanted to instill fear (heâs lying), while Sana isnât exactly sold on a single pacifist thing that he says, and you sigh, because you realize youâve become invested in one of, what you feel like will become many, of their family quarrels.
Juno sneaks around Gojoâs legs and comes up to you while the arguing is taking place in the background, and she gently taps your knee as youâre seated on the couch. âAuntie y/n,â she whispers.
You rub an eye crustie from her face and then hold her hand in yours. âYes?â
âThank you.â
âMm? For what?â
She smiles at you, her cheeks pink and flush from crying but rounded now in glee. âMy mommy and daddy spoke a lot today at home for first time in long time because of me. Because I listenâded to you. Thank you.â
Your eyes narrow. âWhat do you mean by that, sweetheart?â
Why wouldnât Sana and Jun be on normal talking terms? What does Juno mean that itâs been a long time? What exactly was going on at home?
âJuno,â Sanaâs voice interrupts your thoughts, her arms crossed across her chest, âcâmon. Letâs go.â She points a stern finger at Gojo. âSeriously. I mean it. No baseball bats or rodent traps involved. Iâll talk to the teachers and sort something out.â She glances at you, that strict look on her face now dissolving into one of pure exhaustion. One you can imagine only a mother can face. âSee you later at dinner, you two.â
Juno runs up to her mom and grabs onto her outreached hand, and you see Gojo ruffle her hair as she walks past him, her giggles ringing in the air, and then he sees them out the door.Â
The air is awkward, at least to you, the second he closes the door, and when he turns around to face you, your body stiffens up.
He leans back onto the front door, crossing his arms over his chest. âThanks,â he says, âfor telling Juno to stick up for herself.â
You blink at him. âWell. I donât feel too great about it at the moment, to be honest.â
He sighs. âI just think that Jun and Sana are raising her to beâŚkinda meek. I wish theyâd teach her to be more confident and take up space.â
âMhm,â you nod. Because you agree. Little girls need to learn how to be that way at a young age, because the world is seldom very kind to them.
âWell, what you said to her is what I wouldâve said to her anyways,â he says.
You roll your eyes, standing up from the couch and heading back into the kitchen to presume your work on your peach cobbler. âI never told her to shove kidsâ faces into the dirt. But, uh, sure, I guess so.â
You see Gojo enter the kitchen too in your periphery, but you donât give him any glance or look or attention. From what you can see as you stir around your macerated peaches in a Pyrex bowl, heâs leaning against the island counter about three feet away from you, his hands shoved in his pockets, and heâs watching you. A slight warmth radiates in your cheeks, but you attempt to ignore the nerves by being hypnotized by the pink syrup that pools at the bottom of the bowl.
My mommy and daddy spoke a lot today at home for first time in long time because of me. Because I listenâded to you. Thank you.
An unsettling feeling takes over your senses. It could be the past few years youâve spent walking on eggshells around your mother, or the way youâve become so keen to her energy as a way of staying on top of any shift in her symptoms, any single sign of disease progression, any clue that she wasnât getting better. Any clue that she wasnât doing okay. And you feel a sense of dread, because that skill, you realize, has now made you aware of similar circumstances in the people around you.
Not to mention, you are a child of divorce. You know what that fear feels like.
You just want to know if Juno feels safe at home.
âHey, umâŚâ you start, turning slightly to finally face Gojo, your eyes hesitantly flickering up to meet his gaze, âwhen was the last time you saw your brother-in-law? And with Sana?â
He raises a brow at you. âI just saw them last weekend for one of Junoâs dance recitals.â
âAhâŚI see,â you say. You purse your lips together.Â
Right. Kids say things all the time. They believe in Santa Claus and think that blueberry pancakes are called blubbery pancakes. And they sometimes read too into things, and they sometimes read too little. Surely, things must be okay. Maybe Sana and Jun had had a little argument with some stubbornly thawing cold shoulders, a demeanor that was noticed by their child, and now things have resumed to normal. That was normal. Part of every family. âThatâs good to knowâŚâÂ
You turn away from Gojo to stare back down into the bowl of macerated peaches again. With a furrowed brow, you close your eyes tightly to try to shake the chilly feeling in your bones, and you feel better when you open them again. The slightly numb sensation in your hand dissipates and you have enough dexterity to mix the peaches around in the bowl.
âI wonder what news they want to share with us over dinner,â you say, to quell the awkward silence.
âHm?â Gojo hums, and you see him turn around face the counter now, hovering over the bowl of raw crumble topping you had mixed together, prodding at it with the wooden spoon. âOh, theyâre moving.â
Your head snaps to look at him. âW-What?â
âYeah,â he nonchalantly affirms, scooping up a spoonful of the crumble. âThey wanted to up-size, and move a little closer to the school that Junoâs at. I found them a nice place about an hour from here on the outskirts of the city. They just signed the papers a couple weeks ago.â And then he shoves the spoon into his mouth.
âOhâŚwow,â you say. âOkayâŚâ
âDamn,��� Gojo says with surprise laced in his tone, "this is really good.â Heâs staring into the bowl in awe and then scoops up some more crumble with a spoon.
You blink at him, irritated that heâs eating all your ingredients without even asking, and before youâve even finished your dessert. Itâs like he was born to piss you off.
You walk up to him and yank the bowl away, âGimme that.â Then you pull it into the divot of your waist possessively and glare at him.Â
He sighs, and then says something out loud that youâre sure he meant to keep in his head:
âIâll get used to it.â
.
.
.
[end of chapter 5]
a/n. it feels so strange to post such a short chapter bahaha hopefully the ending isn't too abrupt. but hope you enjoyed! i'm so sorry ab the slow burn in this series aaa but i can try to assure you that it'll all be worth it hopefully lol i'm really excited for what i have planned for this series!! alsooo sorry if there are errors or anything, i'm trying to spend less time editing since it really stalls me n leads to writer's block lol. hope to see you in the next one :) much love! - ellie
⸠you're all caught up!
đˇď¸: @tremendousbouquetflower @semra4 @noctuaism @gojonegs @reinam00n
@bloopsstuff @bbyxxm @yungbloode @elloredef @spriteshawtyy
@joemama-2 @luniunia @4y3sh4 @ironhottubstranger @lushafterglow
@hermizery @manyno @idiot-juice-enthusiast @fairyflorasworld @teramisuyhin
@mmeerraa @bnha-free-writing @xenop0p @spaghettinewt @pngjpn
@anniegojo @rirk-ke @chiyokoemilia @higurumapet @pickuptruck01
@electrckchild @vi-ola666 @arishaxml @lavender-hvze @starmapz
@sxnkuna @billiondollarworth @fallintothechasm @mavvsmm @satorubluu
@ricaliscious @satxoru @oyaoya-bungeegum @satowooo @samistars
@ifartmangos @andeverden @13-09-01 @lindyloomoo @tvdumarvelhpsimp
note. going foward, i will be tagging only interacts because i want to make sure i'm tagging active readers! so taglist may change every chapter. i'm also getting rid of the extended taglist bc it's too much work for me lol, so only 50 tags per chapter. i'd recommend subscribing to the fic on my ao3 so you can get email notifs :) but as always let me know if/when your taglist preferences change; please do not ask me/pressure me for updates or ask me when i am going to next update (read rules)
taglist is closed
#jujutsu kaisen#jujutsu kaisen fanfiction#gojo satoru#gojo x reader#gojo smut#gojo x reader smut#gojo x reader fluff#gojo x reader angst#jjk gojo#gojo satoru smut#gojo satoru angst#gojo satoru fluff#smut#fluff#angst#gojo satoru fanfiction#gojo x you#long fic#jjk fanfiction#jjk series#romance#fake dating#fake marriage#neighbors au#ongoing series#humor#slow burn#mutual pining#enemies to lovers#gojo x reader series
349 notes
¡
View notes
Text
ROOKIE âââ PAIGE BUECKERS
request: "paige's gf and she insists on teaching her basketballâeven though she's terrible at it. paige spends half the time âcoachingâ her (aka being flirty) and the other half laughing when she completely miss the basket"
Youâre not entirely sure how you ended up hereâstanding under the hoop on a Saturday afternoon, gripping a basketball like itâs some foreign object youâve never encountered before.
In your defense, sports have never been your thing. Youâre more of a cheer-from-the-bleachers, snack-at-halftime, maybe-ask-what-a-three-pointer-is-later kind of person. And yet, here you are, because your girlfriend, Paigeâdecided today was the day youâd âlearn the fundamentals.â
âOkay, baby, itâs easy,â she says, her voice brimming with the sort of confidence only someone whoâs mastered the art of the crossover can pull off. She spins a ball on her finger effortlessly, her grin teasing but somehow still the softest thing youâve ever seen. âAll you gotta do is aim and shoot. No pressure.â
You squint up at the basket. It feels like itâs a mile away. âNo pressure?â you deadpan, bouncing the ball once and grimacing when it doesnât exactly obey. âDo you even know me?â
Paige snickers, sidling closer until sheâs standing next to you, her hand on your hip. Sheâs wearing her usual practice gear: baggy shorts, sneakers laced tight, and a loose shirt that somehow still manages to hint at the muscle underneath. Itâs honestly unfair how good she looks while being this annoying.
âListen,â she says, her tone shifting into something that almost passes for serious. Almost. âI know you. I also know youâre fully capable of putting this ball in that hoop if you just focus and stop looking at me like youâd rather be anywhere else.â
You glance at her, and sheâs smirking now, like she knows sheâs caught you. Which, to be fair, she has. âFirst of all,â you mutter, turning back to the basket, âI do want to be here. Second, youâre distracting.â
âAm I?â Her voice is teasing, but you donât dare look again. You already know sheâs doing that thing where she cocks her head just a little and raises her eyebrows like sheâs so impressed with herself. âWant me to step back so you can concentrate, rookie?â
âNo,â you reply, huffing. âBut if you call me rookie one more time, Iâm gonnaââ
âYouâre gonna what?â Paige interrupts, leaning down just enough so her lips are by your ear. Her voice drops an octave, and you swear you can feel her grin against your skin. âMiss the basket again?â
You groan, shoving her lightly with your elbow, but the weight of her hand on your hip doesnât budge. Sheâs laughing now, full and bright and utterly unapologetic, and despite your best efforts to stay annoyed, you canât help but crack a smile.
This is going to be a disaster. You can feel it.
You take a step back, spinning the ball once between your hands, trying to look like youâve got some semblance of control. You absolutely do not. Itâs slippery and awkward, and youâre already regretting agreeing to this. Paige watches you with the intensity of a coach but the playfulness of a girlfriend who knows exactly what sheâs doing.
âAlright, babe, letâs see what youâve got,â she says, crossing her arms and leaning back on her heels, all casual and amused. She looks entirely too comfortable with the idea of watching you embarrass yourself.
You square your shoulders and look up at the hoop again, trying to remember the quick, nonsensical explanation Paige gave you about form and aim. Something about âelbows in,â âflicking your wrist,â and âimagining youâre putting cookies in the oven.â Honestly, she lost you after âelbows.â
Paige steps closer, her sneakers squeaking faintly against the court. âOkay, pause,â she says, gently placing her hands on your shoulders to adjust your stance. Her touch lingers a little too long to be entirely innocent, and you glance at her, catching the faintest flicker of her teasing grin. âYouâre holding the ball like itâs gonna explode. Relax.â
You loosen your grip, if only slightly, and she takes a step back, nodding approvingly. âMuch better. Now, bend your knees. Remember, this isnât a free throw contest, itâs a rhythm thing. Like dancing.â
âDancing?â You give her a skeptical look. âYouâve seen me dance. Thatâs not helping your case.â
âTrue,â she says, laughing. âBut at least you donât step on anyoneâs toes here.â Her hand brushes your lower back, the contact brief but enough to send a little jolt through you. She always does thisâthrows you off-kilter just enough to make you forget what you were supposed to be doing.
You shake your head, focusing on the hoop again. âAlright, alright. Iâm doing it.â
âYouâre doing it,â Paige echoes, stepping back into your peripheral vision, her hands on her hips like sheâs supervising. âVisualize it going in. Manifest it.â
âManifest it?â you deadpan. âAre you a basketball player or a yoga instructor?â
âBoth, apparently,â she shoots back, laughing again. âCome on, just throw it already.â
You take a deep breath, bend your knees, and, in one fluid (well, semi-fluid) motion, you shoot. The ball arcs through the air in what you think is a promising trajectory⌠only to miss the basket entirely and bounce harmlessly off the backboard. It rolls lazily away, as if to add insult to injury.
Paige absolutely loses it. She doubles over, clutching her stomach as laughter spills out of her. Itâs loud and unrestrained, the kind of laugh thatâs so contagious you almost forget why sheâs laughing in the first place. Almost.
âDonât laugh,â you say, but your own voice wobbles with the threat of a giggle. âIt wasnât that bad.â
Paige straightens up, wiping at the corner of her eye dramatically. âBabe, you hit the backboard so hard I think it just filed for workersâ comp.â
âWow, okay,â you say, rolling your eyes but failing to hide your grin. âThis is why I donât play sports.â
âOh, come on.â Paige retrieves the ball with a few quick strides, tossing it effortlessly between her hands as she makes her way back to you. She stops just in front of you, holding the ball out. âYouâre doing fine. You just need more practice.â
âAnd by practice, you mean you laughing at me until I cry?â you ask, arching an eyebrow.
âExactly,â she says with a grin thatâs entirely too charming to argue with. âNow, letâs try again. But this timeâŚâ She steps behind you, wrapping her arms around you and placing her hands over yours on the ball. âIâm gonna guide you.â
Your breath catches slightly as she leans in, her voice soft and close to your ear. âOkay, elbows in. Knees bent. Donât think too hard about it. Just feel it.â
Itâs a miracle youâre even upright at this point, let alone holding the ball. Her voice is low and encouraging, her arms warm and steady around you, and suddenly, basketball doesnât seem so terrible.
âNow,â she murmurs, her hands shifting just enough to nudge yours into position. âShoot.â
You do, and this time, the ball actually arcs in a somewhat respectable manner. It hits the rim and bounces off, but itâs a lot closer than before.
âProgress!â Paige announces, stepping back with a proud smile. âYouâre getting there, rookie.â
You groan. âStop calling me rookie!â
âNever.â Sheâs already picking up the ball again, twirling it on her finger like itâs the easiest thing in the world. âOne more time. Letâs see if we can actually make one.â
âFine,â you say, holding out your hands. âBut if I make this shot, you owe me something.â
âOh?â Her eyebrows raise, her smile turning playful. âLike what?â
âI donât know yet,â you say, taking the ball and narrowing your eyes at the hoop. âBut Iâm thinking something big.â
Paige laughs, leaning against the pole of the hoop, her gaze fixed on you. âDeal. But if you miss⌠I get to call you rookie forever.â
You shake your head, fighting back a smile. âNo pressure, right?â
âExactly,â she says, her grin widening. âNo pressure at all.â
You focus on the hoop again, blocking out everything except the promise of finally making this shotâand maybe wiping that smug grin off Paigeâs face. With newfound determination, you bend your knees, grip the ball like you actually know what youâre doing, and take the shot.
Time slows down for a second. The ball soars in a near-perfect arc, hits the rim⌠and bounces around it once, twice, before dropping cleanly through the net with a satisfying swish.
For a moment, you just stand there, stunned. Then it clicks: you made it. You actually made it.
âOh my god!â you squeal, throwing your hands up in triumph. âDid you see that? I made it! I actually made it!â
Before Paige can even respond, youâre hopping around the court like you just won a championship game. Your excitement is entirely disproportionate to what just happened, but you donât care. Youâre too busy celebrating your hard-won victory, flailing your arms and spinning in a little circle.
Paige leans against the hoop, watching you with a mixture of amusement and adoration. âYouâd think you just scored the game-winner at Madison Square Garden,â she teases, but the softness in her voice gives her away.
âThis is my moment, Paige!â you shoot back, still grinning like a fool. You stop hopping just long enough to grab her by the shoulders, shaking her slightly. âI made it! Iâm a basketball prodigy now. Bow down!â
She laughs, her hands coming up to rest on your waist. âAlright, Michael Jordan, calm down.â
You narrow your eyes at her, playful and determined. âNo, you donât get to laugh. I deserve a reward for this. A big reward.â
Paige arches a brow, her lips curving into a smirk. âOh, do you now? What kind of reward are we talking about?â Her voice dips into that suggestive tone that always makes your heart skip a beat.
You tap your chin, pretending to think. âHmm⌠how about⌠lunch? Iâm starving. And since Iâm the champion now, you get to go buy it for me.â
Paige blinks, her smirk faltering. âLunch?â
âYup,â you say cheerfully, stepping back and crossing your arms. âFrom that cute little sandwich place I like. You canât say no. I earned this.â
Paige stares at you, her expression torn between disbelief and fake betrayal. âYou just made the shot of your life, and this is what you ask for? A sandwich?â
âWhat did you think I was going to ask for?â you counter, cocking your head.
She shrugs, her tone casual but her grin anything but. âI donât know. Maybe a kiss. Or maybe some leg-shaking, world shattering head.â
âPaige!â You shout at her language, rolling your eyes, though your cheeks heat up at the suggestion. âI just exerted all my physical and emotional energy making that shot. I need food first. Priorities.â
She groans, dragging a hand down her face in mock despair. âYouâre killing me here. Fine. But only because Iâm impressed you actually made it.â
âDamn right youâre impressed,â you say, puffing out your chest dramatically. âNow go. And donât forget the extra pickles!â
Paige shakes her head, laughing as she jogs off toward the parking lot. âI canât believe Iâm doing this. You owe me, rookie!â
âNever!â you call after her, grinning as you watch her go.
You sink onto the court, still buzzing with excitement. Sure, basketball might not be your thing, but moments like this? With her? You could get used to them.
âł make sure to check out my navigation or masterlist if you enjoyed! any interaction is greatly appreciated !
âł thank you for reading all the way through, as always âĄ
#paige bueckers#paige buckets#paige bueckers x reader#uconn wbb#uconn#uconn huskies#paige bueckers x oc#paige bueckers smut#paige bueckers uconn#paige bueckers fic#paige bueckers x female oc#paige bueckers x y/n#uconn womenâs basketball#wcbb#uconn lives#uconn x reader#uconnwbb#wbb x reader#ncaa wbb#wbb imagine#wbb smut
341 notes
¡
View notes
Text
Alright, I'll play your game.
Red. Originally the character was named Red, back when I was classic cringey 8 year old. Red for like blood because the character uses blood magic.
Idk, but I have kinda decided the instrument associated with the character would be a violin, because of the learning curve attached and the character's arc.
Not really. Uses swords, spears, what have you interchangeably because just makes them with gold magic. Did I mention they use gold magic too?
Part of the character arc. Becomes extremely devious with bending their own weapons and spidermanning places and stuff, but starts with like no tricks.
Wears a red scarf symbolic of their past and a blood-gold alloy longcoat open for the sake of always being able to make a weapon in need. Practicality & aesthetics.
It's a bit of a meme in the series (that will one day exist but not now) that their hair is very anime-like so they're kind of mocked for having a triangle over their face. Bedhead just pops into place with a goofy hair flap.
Scarab. Idk, literally just thought of it now.
Theo, short for Theodore. Nothing special.
I have not thought about it. Maybe later. Sorry.
No jewelry. But obviously prefers gold.
Well, originally was a self insert, but not as much anymore. They're more arrogant. I don't know if we would get along.
In the first arc with them, they're 23. Second arc, 35. Bit of a timeskip, I know. I made them like 5-7 years ago, no clue exactly when. Birthday though... No idea. I'll think about it with like zodiacs and symbolism, but that's for another day.
English, fluently. Swedish, not as so.
Not the best, but competent.
Single child, but now lives alone.
No? Might change, idk.
No idea.
Lying, no. Stealing, no. Killing? Initially against, but grows to become quite harsh.
They're collected, and willing to do things mostly done in anger, but don't actually fall to fury often.
They can, but it isn't seen much because most of the series is in an isekai world without, well, cars.
In a state of control.
Yes. Often painfully, but yes.
Um... No?
Entomology.
Quite good hearing, slightly farsighted (wears spectacles)
Starts athletic but clumsyish, becomes quite dextrous by the end of their first arc.
Races, long jumps, they do stuff like that.
They express care by stepping in the way of danger, and express dislike in a much more warring way.
Blood and gold. It's both what they magically use, and symbolic.
Like iron.
Likes getting cool bugs for the collection.
Entomology. lol
Arrogant, selfless, power-hungry, naive.
In. Control.
They do, but that isn't how the story ends.
What do you think?
i wanted to make an oc ask game đ things i like to ask people abt their characters:
are they associated with a certain color? what color do they wear the most?
what sort of music would they like? have you thought about what genres or bands do they lean towards? do they have a favorite song?
weapon of choice? any particular reason they chose their weapon?
how crafty/resourceful are they?
how do they typically dress? does their wardrobe lean more towards practicality or aesthetics?
how do they wear their hair? do they care a lot how their hair looks?
favorite animal? why?
do they have a nickname? who gave it to them? if it's not derived from their real name, what's the story behind it?
favorite food? least favorite? are they a picky eater? do they have any dietary restrictions?
if they wear jewelry, what kind? do they prefer silver or gold? do they have a favorite gem?
what do they have in common with you? how are they different? would you get along with them?
how long have they been around? do you know their birthday? is their birthday the day you made them or another day? what do they think of celebrating birthdays?
what languages do they speak? how fluently?
are they any good with numbers?
how big or small is their family? who did they live with growing up? do they live with anyone now?
do they have any pets? what do they call their pets?
how did they spend their summers/free time as a child?
their opinion on lying, stealing, and killing?
are they quick to anger? what sets them off?
if applicable, can they drive? if they have their own, what color is their vehicle? is the inside neat and tidy, or a mess?
their favorite place to be?
do they sleep well at night?
how would you describe their voice? can they sing?
do they have any creative hobbies? (art, writing, music, etc)
how good/bad is their hearing? what about their eyesight?
how do they move? are they clumsy? light on their feet? do they use mobility aids?
if applicable, do they have a favorite sport? do they play any sports or prefer to watch?
how do they show that they care about someone? how do they express that they don't like someone?
are they associated with any particular element (air, earth, fire, water)?
do they smell like anything notable?
do they like receiving gifts? giving gifts? what is their ideal gift?
do they have any habits that aren't particularly self-destructive, just maybe odd?
if applicable, how would your other characters describe them? i mean specifically the people around them.
how would your character describe themselves? it doesn't have to line up with how they really are.
do they ever return home?
6K notes
¡
View notes
Text
Bradford Has a Princess
I used one of the amazing Tim Bradford ideas posted by @nevereclipse for this!! I hope you like it and it's along the lines of what you were thinking!âşď¸
Pairing: Tim Bradford x younger(24-26y/o)!fem!reader
Summary: Tim Bradford is whipped for you, treats you with nothing but the best princess treatment, and when his fellow officers call him out on it, he realizes how he truly feels about you.
Warnings: fluff! princess treatment and Tim being a SOFTIEâ˘
Word Count: 1.6k+ words
You blow your hair out of your face before you tug it painfully behind your ear.
âEasy,â your boyfriend mutters, reaching over carefully. He gathers your hair much gentler than you had, pulls it loosely behind your ears, and uses the hair tie he wears around his wrist to secure it. âBetter?â
You hum before you say, âThank you, Tim.â
His hand moves down your back, resting comfortably against the base. After you finish your project, you take a paper towel from the nearby roll and wipe your hands.
âNeed anything else?â Tim asks.
You smile over your shoulder as you rest against Timâs chest. Heâs older than you, and though some people might frown upon your relationship, you love him, not only because of the selfless way he treats you. Tim places his arm around your shoulders, then uses his free hand to pull your hand closer to him. He traces his thumb over your knuckles, then looks at your nails as his calloused palm holds you like you are the most precious thing in his life, in the world.
âI can make you an appointment at the nail salon you like,â he offers. âTuesday?â
Tim shifts his hands, running his fingertips up and down your palm as he smiles.
âI can wait,â you answer. âI actually saw a kit online that lets you make your own nail art. Maybe I should try that next time.â
âSend me the link.â
Tim kisses your temple, then twirls the ends of your hair around his fingers. He decides he could spend forever here and wouldnât even care what his friends thought about it.
âTim!â Angela calls. âWeâre all going to Andreâs.â
âActually,â he begins.
âNo, you skipped out the last three times, youâre coming with.â
âNo arguments,â Nyla adds. âWe might even make you pay.â
Tim sighs, his shoulders dropping as he nods. He follows them out of the station and is unsurprised to see Lucy, Nolan, Aaron, and Wesley waiting in the parking lot.
âTim, youâre coming too?â Wesley asks. âI thought youâd finally sworn off fraternization.â
âHa ha,â Tim deadpans.
âCan I ride with you?â Aaron asks. âMy carâs getting a new wrap and Wesleyâs backseat is a little tight with the carseats.â
Tim doesnât answer but doesnât say no, so Lucy nods and encourages Aaron to go. Aaron climbs into Timâs passenger seat and buckles his seatbelt without a word.
âOh,â he exclaims as Tim backs out of the space. âWhoâs the Dior lip gloss belong to?â He lifts the tube out of the floorboard and recognizes it as part of a set his mom has. âThis is expensive, they must be missing it.â
âShe knows itâs here,â Tim grumbles, extending his hand to take it.
âYour sister?â Aaron guesses as Tim places it in the center console. He sees several other items, like a scrunchie, a receipt, and powder.
âNone of your business,â Tim snaps. âWhy are you getting an expensive car wrapped, anyway?â
âBecause I can.â
Tim and Aaron fall silent, Tim thinking about you as Aaron wonders if the others know about the woman taking up space in Tim Bradfordâs truck and in his life.
During your next date night, Tim opens the door for you, then wraps his arm around your waist as you enter the restaurant. He moves to his left to stand slightly behind you as you wait to be seated, and you smile over your shoulder at him.
At your table, Tim pulls your chair out for you, but you stop before you sit when someone says his name. You turn, and Timâs shoulders tense beneath his blazer.
âAngela,â he greets tightly. âWhat are you doing here?â
âIâm on a date,â she answers with a smile. She looks at you before she asks, âAnd you?â
You sense the tension and interrupt to introduce yourself. You provide your name and shake her hand, then look to Tim.
âMy girlfriend,â he tells Angela. âWeâre on a date, soâŚâ
âIâll ask more later then. I mean that Timothy, you have a lot to tell me.â She turns toward you again and says, âNice to meet you.â
âYou, too.â
Alone, you take Timâs hand across the table and apologize for interrupting him and his friend. He promises that he wasnât bothered by that and assures you that he wasnât avoiding introducing you on purpose but was just surprised. You fall into easy conversation, as usual, and the date is over far too soon.
When the waiter leaves the check on the corner of the table, you ask, âGoing Dutch?â
âGoing insane if you think Iâm letting you pay for a date,â Tim mumbles before speaking up to say, âMy treat.â
Tim offers his blazer before you walk out into the windy Los Angeles night, and you wrap your hands around his arm as he leads you to his truck. Youâve never felt as loved and as cherished as you do with Tim Bradford.
As you enter Timâs house, he uses your joined hands to pull you back toward him. He dips his chin, gesturing for you to sit on the couch, then lowers to the table before it. With a gentle touch, Tim runs his hands down your leg, from your knee to your ankle. After he hooks his finger under the strap of your heel, he pulls your foot up, resting your calf on his knee to unhook the small buckle against your ankle and remove your shoe. He repeats the process with the other shoe, then lays his hands on your knees and leans forward.
âHi,â you whisper with a smile.
Tim smiles in the proximity, then runs his hands up your legs to rest on your thighs.
âI love you,â you add.
âI love you,â he replies before he moves beside you on the couch, cups the back of your neck in his hand, and pulls into a kiss that proves it.
Tim stops mid-step as he enters the roll call room the following morning. Angela and Aaron are perched atop the tables to watch him with matching looks.
âWhat?â Tim asks.
âYou have a girlfriend,â Angela says.
âThat Iâm thinking you bought Dior for,â Aaron adds.
âWho are you and what did you do with Timothy Bradford?â
âYes, I have a girlfriend, and I bought her some makeup,â Tim admits. âWhatâs the big deal?â
âThe big deal?â Aaron repeats incredulously. âYou, Tim Bradford, are whipped.â
âHe took her to an expensive restaurant last night,â Angela tells Aaron without looking away from Tim. âI bet he footed the bill, too.â
âThere is no reason to be discussing this at work,â Tim points out. âSo, drop it.â
âDrop what?â Lucy asks from the doorway.
One word, Tim mouths to Aaron. Aaron nods, but Angela smiles. Tim knows he has no power over her, but when she changes the subject, he sighs and nods once. Sheâll bring it up again when he least expects it, but for now, the ânewsâ of his âbeing whippedâ for you is contained. He isnât ashamed of you, of course, but some things need to be private.
Immediately after walking into Timâs house, he kisses you so hard that you can feel the sticky texture of your lip gloss as it smears from the corners of your lips and onto your chin. When he pulls back, holding you up as you blink at him, breathless, he uses his thumb to wipe away the shiny mess he made.
âI missed you too,â you say.
âI was told today that Iâm whipped,â Tim replies.
You furrow your brows, and Tim taps his knuckle against your forehead and smiles as he shakes his head. You relax but hold his side as you wait for more information.
âAaron and Angela know about you, and he told me I was whipped. I realized that heâs right.â
Terrified that Tim is about to break up with you after this realization, you pull your bottom lip between your teeth. He huffs and tugs it free.
âI am more in love with you than I ever dreamed of being capable of. SoâŚâ
Tim is clearly trying to find the right words, and you smile as you offer, âIncandescently happy?â
âCompletely and incandescently happy,â he agrees. âI love you.â
âI love you, too.â
Tim smiles, then notices he disturbed your outfit with his sudden affection. He tugs the ridden-up fabric down over your hips before dragging his fingertips along your upper arm to fix your top.
âRemember when you bought me the makeup wipes?â you ask.
Tim nods and inquires, âDo you need them?â
You try to contain your smile but fail. âNo, you just proved you can take off lip gloss without them.â
Tim tugs you closer, hooks his arms under your hips, and lifts you up. You gasp in surprise before gripping his shoulders. After he carries you to the kitchen and sets you on the counter, he takes your shoes off and stands between your legs.
âShould I make dinner or are you going to keep distracting me?â
You tap your finger against your jaw and pretend to ponder the question. âThat depends⌠will your friends still be okay with this relationship when they find out youâre a cradle robber?â
âMaybe I should give you back then.â
You pout, and Tim kisses your forehead before he turns away. He passes you a bouquet of red roses, then sets a glass of your favorite beverage beside you. Itâs the response you hoped for, and after you gently place the flowers aside, you pull Tim closer by his collar and smile against his lips.
#tim bradford x reader#tim bradford x y/n#tim bradford x you#tim bradford imagine#tim bradford fic#tim bradford the rookie#tim bradford#tim bradford fluff#fem!reader#hanna writesâŻ#the rookie x reader#the rookie abc
240 notes
¡
View notes
Text
ęŠ DATING MR. CRAWLING .á
SFW GN!Reader HCS after the blissful love life ending.
Italics is in the other worldâs language! Sometimes more the implied message rather than a direct translation. I'll probably do Mr. Hood later too :3 !
Your bed is much more comfortable than anything in the other world, and it only makes it better that mr. Crawling gets to be in it with you. He grows accustomed to your nightly routine and is always excited to cuddle up. Big spoon, little spoon, facing each otherâall of it makes him as happy as can be!
(^ As someone who still has a twin size, some of us have to invest in a much bigger one lol)
Generally so so affectionate and loves when youâre physically affectionate !! You can kiss his head and heâll giggle, maybe point at his face and ask âAgain!â You leave kisses all over his face, and his hands pull you in close when you finally kiss his lips.
One of Mr. Crawling's strongest traits is his patienceâespecially when it comes to you. The first day you come home without him trailing behind (much to his dismay, and honestly yours), heâs at the door to greet you, smiling and giggling as you wrap your arms around him. You find out he hadnât done much but wait for you to come home. (With no complaints of boredom on his part, and all the worry on yours.)
He'll sit as you play with his hair, trying out new hairstyles or putting in clips. âMe cute? Pretty?â he asks. And if you let him do the same in return, he'll giggle and compliment you too.
I think heâd look through your closet and enjoy watching you try on clothes too. He compliments you and feels each of the fabrics, liking the ones that feel softest. He might try on some of the accessories if none of the actual clothes (sort ofâŚ) fit, and is really happy when you match!
Mr. Crawling is a fast learner. You worry he'll feel overwhelmed with all the new technology and words and whatever else, so you focus on making sure heâs comfortable. But he points at things and ask what they are, repeating after you. âYou teach me language?â he asks and you laugh softly before nodding. âI teach you language.â
He will accidentally touch a hot stove top or pot if you don't remember to warn him beforehand. Then whenever you cook he gets worried you'll hurt yourself, watching to make sure you're alright (forgive him if he pulls your hand away and says âDanger! Don't touch!â)
Since he doesn't know his birthday, you make the day you returned special instead! He's happy to just stay in with you, eating a good meal and watching or learning something new.
Mr. Crawling also learns when yours is and does his best to make it a good day for you too. He tries singing happy birthday and makes food with what you have at home, mimicking the meals he's seen you prepare.
You teach him how to call your phone while you're away. It's supposed to âbe for emergencies,â but you both know he's going to call just to hear your voice, and who are you to complain?
I think he gets sad sometimes when he sees or hears you talking to friendsâthe way you communicate and laugh so easily compared to conversations with him. The other world's language itself is limited, and he hasn't learned enough of your own. You spend some evenings reassuring him, reminding him learning is a process, and it doesn't change your feelings!!
He does his best to learn on his own. You buy (exercise) books and show him shows for younger kids and he spends a lot of time alone with them, both to surprise you, and also just because he loves talking with you and wants to talk more and more.
The first time he speaks your language is a special day. After many days of calling out that youâre back, he decides to say it himself. âYou home!â You almost drop everything in your hands, and thatâs when he continues, âMiss you.â It feels odd hearing it in his voice, but heâs grinning so wide, and you wonât find out for a while just how excited and nervous he was waiting for you to get home.
One of Mr. Crawlingâs favourite things to say and hear is âI love you.â Every time you say it, he gets all giddy and tries to get closer to you (as if thatâs possible while already cuddling in bed). He says it a lot while youâre doing chores or really nothing, just to remind you and see you smile. Thereâs no way in his mind for those 3 words to lose their meaning, or become any less special.
#first post on here ! i tried not to make it too longhfjhgj i'm a little nervous omg#homicipher x reader#mr crawling x reader#homicipher fluff#mr crawling fluff#mr. crawling x reader#homicipher#thrfted#thrft it
346 notes
¡
View notes
Text
prince charming- l.norris
summary: lando brings his niece to the ballet, who knew he'd find love?
pairing: lando norris x fem! ballerina! reader
ŕ¨ŕ§â
ŕ¨ŕ§â
ŕ¨ŕ§â
ŕ¨ŕ§â
ŕ¨ŕ§
Another show finished, another day done. All you had to do was meet some children and show them around the stage. It was a thing the company had decided to do after every single show, and you were one of the only ballerinas who enjoyed it. Everyone else ran out of there as fast as they could, but you stayed around, in full costume, showing them everything.Â
âY/n! Y/n! Look!â Mila, the little girl that had been assigned to you pulled on your hand and you followed her over. âItâs your Prince Charming!â She pointed at your co-star, Richard, who was playing Prince Charming while you played Cinderella. He was lovely and one of your best friends, but Milaâs face fell when she saw him kiss another girl, aka his actual girlfriend Mia. âHeâs kissing someone else!â she gasped, looking at you hurt.Â
You smiled. âWeâre only together in the show, remember? My name isnât Cinderella, is it?â You chuckled and she nodded, laughing. âSo, thatâs Richard, and heâs Miaâs real-life Prince Charming, not mine.â
She nodded understandingly. âDo you have a Prince Charming?â
You internally cringed, why did kids always want to know about your love-life? âNo,â you smiled.Â
Her face lit up. âOH! Perfect! Uncle Lala!â she called for her uncle to come over as your face fell. âUncle Lala will you be Y/nâs Prince Charming so she can be my Auntie and we can have fun forever?!âÂ
Milaâs excited face and the ridiculousness of her statement, reminding him she truly didnât know how the world worked, made him giggle. And with Lando, when he starts, he doesnât stop. It took a whole minute for him to stop laughing, while you sat there awkwardly. You knew who he was, you knew why he was laughing, but it was still rude. Just say no, dude.Â
âMila, it doesnât work like that,â he explained. âSheâs way too pretty for me,â he whispered, sitting down beside her, and in front of you.Â
Your eyes widened and you looked down, confused at the entire situation.Â
âI know she is,â Mila answered (subtle dig at her uncle, but alright). âBut you could ask her to dance or something. Princesses like dancing.â
Lando shook his head. âIâm an awful dancer.â
âWhy do you just try talking to her!â Mila scoffed, then ran off to go look at some of the set of the show.Â
You looked up and met his eyes and you both started laughing. âIâm so sorry about her, she gets like this sometimes,â he admitted, a slight blush on his cheeks.Â
âItâs alright, it happens sometimes,â you waved him off, an easy smile on your face.Â
âYou get hit on through peopleâs nieces a lot?â he questioned.Â
You chuckled. âItâs more common than you think, people love the ballerina shtick.â
He laughed. âHow old are you?â
âIâm 23,â you answered. âAnd Iâm Y/n.â
âIâm Lando,â he held his hand out to be shaken. âNice to meet you.â
âNIce to meet you too,â you smiled, shaking his hand. âCongratulations on the year youâve had.â
âYou watch F1?â
You nodded. âMy mom has been into it since she was a kid, she gave that to me, so⌠yeah.â
âWhoâs your favourite driver?â he smirked and you chuckled.Â
âNico Hulkenberg,â you smirked.Â
He chuckled. âUnderstandable,â he smiled, nodding. âMila is probably off somewhere trying to destroy your set, I should probably go grab her.â
You both got up and smiled at each other. âIt was nice to meet you.â
âIt was nice to meet you too, Prince Charming,â you joked, he giggled.Â
And that was that.Â
ŕ¨ŕ§â
ŕ¨ŕ§
For the next few days, Lando could not get you out of his head. You were funny, kind, beautiful, good with Mila, everything he wanted in a person, yet heâd let you slip away. You werenât even on social media, but he followed the companyâs instagram and some of your friends to see pictures of you. He decided, once the season ended, heâd go back and find you. Maybe he really could become your Prince Charming.Â
He joined the rest of the crowd in their standing ovation as you bowed, smiling brightly. He waited around and followed a few more people backstage to finally see you again.Â
âLando?â you questioned as you looked at him from behind. âWhat are you doing here?â
âI wanted to see you again,â he shrugged. âHappy holidays.â
You smiled. âSo it is true,â your eyes shone with a hint of mischief. âYou did follow the company account.â
He screwed his face up in a half-smile-half-grimace, heâd been caught. âYou donât have a public account, thought it would be weird to follow you on your private one.â
You chuckled. âI wouldâve let you follow me,â you told him. âYou are my Prince Charming, right?â
He beamed. âRight,â he nodded. âDinner?â
âLet me get out of costume,â you agreed. You started to walk off and he didnât follow, unsure what to do. You turned back and grabbed his hand. âCome on!â
He was very happy he had brought Mila to the ballet.
ŕ¨ŕ§â
ŕ¨ŕ§â
ŕ¨ŕ§â
ŕ¨ŕ§â
ŕ¨ŕ§
navigation for my blog :) (masterlist)
#f1 imagine#f1 x reader#formula 1 x you#formula one imagine#oscar piastri x reader#oscar piastri#oscar piastri x you#formula one x reader#formula 1#formula one#mclaren#oscar piastri x fem!reader#f1 fluff#x reader#female reader#x reader insert#reader insert#x reader fic#x reader fluff#x reader fanfiction#fem reader#gn reader#lando norris x you
239 notes
¡
View notes
Note
Can I request a laia codina or Kiera walsh fic please đŤśđť maybe one where her and reader are friends but they get drunk and sleep together and things are weird for a bit till they decide to keep things casual, no feelings. And at the end can they realise that they have feelings for eachother and get together. Maybe their team helps push them to realise
a night to remember - l.codina x reader
warnings : none, little suggestive
masterlist
you and laia codina have been best friends ever since you both joined arsenal. training together, traveling for matches, and late-night conversations over cups of teaâa bond neither of you had expected to form so quickly. over time, you became inseparable, the kind of friends who knew each otherâs thoughts without speaking a word. and tonight, the teamâs big victory against a rival club meant the whole squad was out celebrating at a local bar.
the atmosphere is electric; the team is laughing, drinking, and dancing. youâre already a few drinks in when laia challenges you to a tequila shot contest, and thereâs no way you can back down.
âalright, y/n, letâs see what youâve got,â she teases, eyes glinting mischievously as she lines up the glasses.
you smirk, feeling the warmth of the alcohol making you bold. âoh, youâre on, codina. donât cry when you lose.â
the contest quickly escalates, and before long, both of you are laughing so hard you can barely stay on the barstools. shots blur together, and the world gets hazy around the edges. eventually, the two of you stumble outside, leaning on each other, sharing breathless laughs and struggling to stay upright.
âyou know,â laia slurs, âyouâre... youâre not half bad, y/n.â
you roll your eyes, the night spinning slightly as you look at her. âand youâre... youâre trouble.â
she raises an eyebrow, grinning in that way that always makes your heart beat a little faster. âoh yeah? prove it.â
before you realize what youâre doing, youâre pulling her in by the collar of her jacket, your lips crashing together. she responds instantly, her arms wrapping around your waist, pulling you closer. the kiss is messy, all heat and urgency, and it feels like a line youâve just crossed, one that you canât come back from.
you both break apart, breathing hard, foreheads touching. the world is spinning, and her eyes are darker than youâve ever seen them, pupils wide with alcohol and something else you donât dare name.
âmy place,â she whispers, voice rough, and you donât hesitate to nod.
you wake up with a throbbing headache and the weight of an arm draped over your waist. for a moment, you donât move, confusion and disbelief mingling in your mind. then realization hits: laia. last night. the kiss. the heat of her body against yours. you turn your head slowly and see her, still asleep, hair a mess across the pillow. she looks peaceful, content, and for a second, you think about just staying like this.
but panic sets in. carefully, you slip out from under her arm, grab your clothes, and make your way to the bathroom. you stare at yourself in the mirror, cheeks flushed, lips swollen, and you canât believe what happened. what you let happen. it was a mistake, right? just a drunken slip-up. you canât afford to make things weird with laia, not when sheâs your best friend and your teammate.
when you step back into the room, sheâs stirring, rubbing her eyes with a lazy smile. âhey,â she says softly, voice still rough with sleep.
âhey,â you reply, forcing a casual tone. âi, um, should probably get going. early training tomorrow and all.â
her smile falters just a little, but she nods. âyeah... yeah, of course. see you there.â
you grab your things and leave, heart racing as you practically run out of her apartment, trying to push away the memory of her lips on yours, the feel of her skin under your fingertips.
things are weird after that. not awful, just... different. at training, you catch her glancing at you when she thinks youâre not looking. when you joke around with her like you always do, it feels forced. sheâs still laia, and youâre still you, but thereâs a tension now, something unspoken hanging in the air. you keep telling yourself itâs fine, that itâll blow over, but every time youâre near her, all you can think about is that night.
the team notices too. theyâre not stupidâespecially not the older players, who exchange knowing looks every time you and laia fumble a pass or seem a little too stiff during drills. it doesnât help that youâre both quieter in the locker room, that the easy banter you used to have has been replaced by careful, measured words.
finally, one evening after training, you find laia waiting for you outside the locker room. she looks nervous, chewing her lip in that way she does when sheâs thinking hard about something.
âwe need to talk,â she says, and your stomach twists with both relief and dread.
âyeah,â you agree. âwe do.â
you walk together to a quiet corner of the training grounds, the evening air cool against your skin. she crosses her arms, looking everywhere but at you. âlook, y/n, about that night... i donât want things to be weird between us.â
you nod, trying to ignore the ache in your chest. âme neither. it was... i mean, we were both drunk. it didnât mean anything.â
she nods quickly, almost too quickly, and something flashes in her eyes that you canât quite read. âyeah. exactly. it didnât mean anything. so... weâre good?â
âweâre good,â you say, forcing a smile that feels like it might crack your face.
things go back to normal, sort of. the tension fades, but itâs still there, simmering just beneath the surface. a few weeks pass, and one night, after another win, you and laia find yourselves back at her place, a few drinks in, the unspoken promise of that first night hanging heavy in the air.
sheâs the one who brings it up this time, voice hesitant. âmaybe... maybe we could keep it casual. no feelings, no strings. just... fun.â
your heart skips a beat, but you nod. âyeah. no strings.â
and so it begins. late nights at her apartment after matches, stolen kisses in the backseat of the team bus when no oneâs watching, and quiet mornings tangled in sheets. you tell yourselves itâs just physical, that thereâs nothing deeper there. but each time you leave, you feel a little more hollow, like youâre leaving a part of yourself behind.
it takes a few months for the team to finally step in. you donât know who starts it, but one by one, your teammates begin to push. viv gives you a knowing smile every time you sit next to laia on the bus. beth corners you in the locker room after training and says, âyou know she likes you, right?â
âweâre just friends,â you insist, but even you donât believe it anymore.
then, during a particularly tense training session, kim pulls both you and laia aside. âwhateverâs going on with you two, sort it out,â she says firmly. âitâs affecting your game. and we need you both at your best.â
you and laia exchange a look, and thereâs a silent agreement in her eyes. something has to change.
itâs after a hard-fought match, and the adrenaline is still pumping when you find laia alone in the locker room, staring at her phone like it holds the answers to all her problems. without thinking, you cross the room and pull her into a kiss. itâs slow this time, gentle, and when you pull back, sheâs staring at you with wide, shocked eyes.
âthis isnât just casual for me,â you admit, voice barely above a whisper. âi think iâve been lying to myself about that for a while.â
her breath catches, and for a moment, youâre sure sheâs going to walk away, but then sheâs pulling you back in, her arms tight around your neck, and you can feel the answer in the way she kisses you back. this time, itâs not rushed or desperate. itâs a promise. the way she pulls you hair back whilst whispering sweet nothings and praises has your mind spiralling.
things are different after that. youâre not hiding anymore, and your teammates donât bother to hide their satisfaction either, cheering and teasing when you and laia walk into training hand-in-hand. the tension is gone, replaced with something steadier, something real.
150 notes
¡
View notes
Note
Hey! I saw your post about requests being open (and that you enjoy writing angst)! I humbly submit for consideration toward any of the following: Wanda Maximoff, Natasha Romanoff, Lexi Grey, or Kara Danvers.
Reader being discovered in the wee hours of the morning, unconscious or barely conscious, outside characters place of work or place they frequent (home, thinking spot, running path, etc etc) with a pretty serious wound. It's getting to the colder months of the year so them being out unsheltered seemingly all night makes the situation that much worse.
Tone of the ending and reason for them being in that situation I shall leave up to your preference. I hope this tickles your creative juices :)
hihi!! i really loved this request and i decided to make it a natasha fic!! i incorportated most of what you said and added some things and changed some but i love how this turned out. hope you enjoy !!
# here, kitty kitty â iron man!natasha romanoff x fem!blackcat!reader
synopsis â after a rather long day, natasha's met with a bloody surprise on her fire escape.
warnings â reader being a flirtatious mess, physical injury, mentions of blood, nat trying not to curse, angst, i don't think anything else
please please please reblog and like đ¤
Š elixirina â all rights reserved. my work is never to be reposted, translated, modified, etc, even if i am credited.
the sky was a blanket of soft gray, heavy with clouds that spilled a steady drizzle onto the world below. raindrops danced against the windows, their rhythmic tapping filling the quiet air. the new york streets glistened with a mirror-like sheen, reflecting the blurred colors of the passing cars and neon street signs. luckily, most new york residents were used to this kind of weather this time of year, yourself included.
after a rather nasty fight with another vigilante, you found yourself roaming the dark, empty streets, bloodied and battered.
you contemplated going back to your apartment, but you knew these streets like the back of your hand; you knew you were at least 20 minutes away.
so, you looked for the next best thing: natashaâs apartment.
now, youâd only known the woman for a short amount of time, but to be completely honest, you felt safer going to her than anyone else. maybe you were just going soft. whatever.
a cool, damp breeze carried the fresh scent of rain-soaked earth and pavement, the rain blowing in your face as it did so. everything seemed to move slower, as though the rain had draped a calming hush over the bustling city.
as you walked, you could feel the blood gushing out of each and every one of your wounds. you knew it was a stupid idea, walking the one mile to her apartment but you would just have to pull through. though, there was no denying the unbearable agony you were in.
limping your way through the streets, the apartment complex natasha lived in, came into view. it was a tall, building with weathered bricks and fire escapes zigzagging down the sides.
knowing you couldn't enter the building because that would cause suspicion, you slowly made your way to the side of the building, where the fire escapes were lined on the walls. you did a quick check for cameras, which fortunately, there were none.
you look up, examining all six rows of windows. natasha was on the fourth floor. fourth row, fifth window. now, how the hell were you going to climb up that latter and all those stairs? shit.
you'd done this before, obviously, but with a burning sensation in your abdomen? definitely not.
with a resigned sigh, you gritted your teeth and reached for the cold metal of the fire escape ladder. the rain made everything slick, and your bloodied, gloved fingers slipped slightly, but you held on, determined. each movement sent a fresh wave of pain shooting through your body, but you pulled through on. you couldnât risk being seen like this.
the first rung was the hardest, your muscles screaming in protest. it felt like every cell in your body wanted to quit, but the thought of natashaâof her calm, steady presenceâpropelled you upward. one rung. then another. the ladder creaked softly under your weight, blending with the hum of the rain.
by the time you reached the first platform, your breathing was ragged, your vision blurring slightly.
you paused, leaning against the railing as you gathered your strength. the rain continued to fall, drenching you completely now, but it dulled the sharp sting of your wounds, if only for a moment.
"come on," you muttered to yourself, wiping the rain from your eyes with the back of your hand. "just three more floors." you cracked your neck.
the climb was agonizing. every pull of your arms and push of your legs sent pain radiating through your body, but you couldnât stop. Not now. not when you were so close. when you finally reached the fourth floor, you nearly collapsed against the railing. your hands trembled as you forced yourself to move toward natashaâs window.
fifth window, you reminded yourself, counting them out one by one. there it was. the faint glow of a lamp illuminated the room inside, but no on inside. let it be her who leaves her lights on all the time.
you cursed under your breath, the rain pouring down even harder than before. you sat down on the platform, though even that movement felt like fire in your body.
you were certainly hoping she was just in her bedroom. however, when you knocked on the glass of the window, there was no response.
"wow, the universe is really on my side today." you uttered sarcastically, rolling your eyes to the best of your ability.
minutes dragged on, and your patience wore thin. just as you contemplated dragging yourself back down the fire escapeâa terrible idea, given your conditionâyou heard the faint click of heels on pavement below. you perked up, glancing over the edge, and there she was. natasha. walking toward the building with an umbrella in one hand and a paper bag in the other, completely unaware of the disaster waiting for her on the fire escape.
ânat,â you breathed in relief, your voice barely audible even to yourself.
she stopped by the front door, scanning her surroundings with the precision of someone who never let her guard down. her gaze darted upward, freezing the moment it landed on you. for a split second, her face was unreadable. then, her brows furrowed in a way that made your chest ache more than your wounds.
âare you freaking kidding me?â she called up, her voice sharp, though it cracked slightly at the end.
her umbrella clattered to the ground as she darted into the alley and grabbed the fire escape ladder. the metal groaned softly under her weight, but natasha moved fast, climbing with a precision that reminded you just how good she was at what she did.
âhey, red,â you rasped when she reached you, managing the ghost of a grin. âmiss me?â
she crouched in front of you, her sharp green eyes scanning your face, then trailing down to the rest of you. the exasperation you expected was nowhere to be found. instead, her expression darkened as she took in the full extent of your injuries. blood soaked through the leather of your suit, and a nasty gash on your bicep had left a trail of crimson dripping onto the platform below.
her jaw tightened. âwhat the hell happened to you?â
âran into someone who didnât appreciate my charm,â you quipped, trying to lighten the mood. âjealous, maybe.â
natasha didnât laugh. her eyes lingered on the wound on your abdomen, and when she reached out to inspect it, her fingers brushed against your side. you flinched, unable to hold back a sharp hiss of pain.
âgod,â she muttered, her voice barely above a whisper. she knelt closer, her hands hovering over the worst of the damage as though she wasnât sure where to start. âwhy didnât you go to your place and then a hospital?â
âcâmon, red,â you said, forcing a smirk despite the searing pain. âhospitals donât let you flirt with their nurses like this. figured i'd wait here until i heard, 'here, kitty kitty'.â you chuckled, the sensation making your stomach ache.
âstop it,â she snapped, her voice suddenly harsh. her gaze shot up to meet yours, and for the first time, you saw something crack in her carefully composed exterior. âthis isnât funny.â
you blinked, your smirk faltering. ânatââ
âdo you have any idea how bad this is?â she interrupted, her tone sharp but trembling. her hand pressed lightly against the wound on your abdomen, trying to stem the bleeding. âdamn it, y/n, if i hadnât come back just nowâŚâ she trailed off, her jaw clenching as she swallowed hard.
âhey,â you said softly, your voice weaker now. you lifted your hand to the best of your ability, placing it on her cheek. âiâm fine. i made it here, didnât i?â
she shook her head, her lips pressing into a tight line as she helped you to your feet. âyouâre an idiot,â she muttered, but the words lacked venom.
âyeah, but iâm your idiot,â you teased weakly, leaning on her as she guided you through the open window.
once inside, she eased you down onto the couch and crouched in front of you again. as she grabbed the first aid kit, you noticed her hands were shaking ever so slightly. she opened the kit with the kind of precision that spoke to how many times sheâd done this before, but her silence hung heavy between you.
god, this pained you. the last thing you wanted to do was worry her, and you had done just that. ânat,â you started, but she cut you off.
âdonât,â she said sharply, not looking at you as she began to open your suit, cleaning the blood from your side. âjust⌠donât.â
the sting of antiseptic made you flinch, but you bit your tongue. her movements were firm but careful, her focus locked entirely on patching you up.
after a few moments, âyou scared me,â she said finally, her voice quieter than youâd ever heard it. the words hung heavy in the air, and the sharp edge of anger was gone now, replaced by something raw and unguarded.
you blinked, caught off guard. ânatâŚâ
âno,â she cut you off, setting the cloth down and sitting back on her heels. her eyes, now shimmering with an emotion you couldnât quite place, met yours. âdo you even get it? i come home, and I see youâhalf-dead, bleeding out on my fire escape like itâs just another...freaking tuesday.â
her voice cracked slightly, and she quickly looked away, as if embarrassed by the slip. she ran a hand through her damp hair, taking a steadying breath. âdo you have any idea what went through my head when i saw you up there?â
ânatasha,â you tried again, softer this time.
âi thought you were dead,â she continued, ignoring you. H=her fists clenched at her sides. âfor a split second, I thought I was too late. and the worst part? the worst part is that you probably donât even care. youâll laugh it off, throw some stupid flirt my way, and act like itâs fine. like you didnât just scare the hell out of me.â
her words hit you harder than you expected, the guilt settling deep in your chest. you just wanted to say sorry, even though you knew that wasn't enough. you wanted to tell her how much you felt for her and how you were never going anywhere. you opened your mouth to say somethingâanythingâbut she wasnât done.
âdo you know how many people iâve lost because of this kind of stupidity? people who thought they were invincible, who thought they could take the hit and keep going?â she was looking at you again now, her green eyes blazing with a mix of anger and something that looked a lot like fear. âi canât⌠i canât do that again.â
your breath hitched. youâd seen natasha angry before, youâd seen her annoyed, amused, even borderline fond. but this? this was different. this made your stomach churn.
ânatasha,â you said, your voice breaking slightly. âi didnât mean toââ
âi donât care what you meant,â she interrupted, shaking her head. âyou think it doesnât matter, that you can just push through anything, but it matters to me, okay? you matter to me.â
the confession hit you like a punch to the gut. for a moment, the pain in your body was secondary to the ache in your chest. youâd always known natasha cared in her own way but hearing her say itâhearing the crack in her voice as she didâmade it feel real in a way you hadnât expected.
you swallowed hard, your usual bravado slipping away. you propped yourself up with your shoulders, despite the ache. âi didnât mean to scare you,â you said softly, the teasing edge completely gone from your voice. âi swear, i didnât.â
her shoulders slumped slightly, some of the fire in her expression dimming. she let out a shaky breath, her hands falling to her lap. âthen stop doing this to me,â she whispered. âstop making me wonder if the next time you show up, itâll be the last.â
the silence that followed was heavy, broken only by the soft patter of rain against the window. you reached out, your hand brushing against hers. âiâm sorry. i'm so fucking sorry. i know that's not enough, but i mean it.â you said, the apologies meaning more than they ever had before.
for a moment, she didnât respond. then, finally, she squeezed your hand, her grip firm but trembling. âjust donât make me regret caring about you,â she said quietly.
you nodded, swallowing the lump in your throat. âi wonât.â
neither of you spoke after that, but her hand stayed in yours, and in the quiet of the rain-soaked room, you promised yourself you wouldnât let her down again.
#natasha romanov#natasha romanoff#natasha romanoff x reader#natasha romanoff x female#natasha romanoff x you#natasha romanoff imagine#marvel x reader#marvel cinematic universe#mcu#mcu x reader#the avengers#black widow x reader#marvel comics#x reader#gxg#elixirina#avengerina#angst#natasha romanoff angst#natasha romanoff x fem!reader
152 notes
¡
View notes
Text
Listen to the full interview here.
Now, just as the championship was starting to get to a really tense point around Austin, there was this big controversy about driving ethics between you and Lando. The drivers had a big conversation with the FIA after that race about the guidelines and it felt in some ways that it was a consequence of what had happened in Austin. How did you feel about that? Did you ever feel like they were singling you out?
You know, honestly, I don't, even if they would have done or did, I, first of all, I don't care because I drive to what I think is possible and what is allowed in the rules. And if the rules are written like that, I will use the rules. I'm just not the type of person that I think, if that would have happened to me the other way around, you know. There is then other people commenting on, other drivers commenting on that were not involved in that whatever incident or whatever you call it. I don't think I would have been the person then to complain so hard because I would just think to myself that, okay, if that's the rules, that's how we do it instead of screaming that we need to change the rules. Because the problem is, if you make less rules and then something happens, then they will start screaming for more rules. Now we have the rules, maybe not perfect, but it will never be perfect. Because if we get to a certain rule set, there will be another incident where someone is not happy about and then they start screaming that the rules are not correct again. It's the same in football. If there's a foul and there are some clear rules about certain things, it's not always that the right decision is made on it, or is it a penalty given or not? Or was it offside or not? That's why you can never, at the end of the day, do it right. Do I think that consistency in the penalties can be better? Yes, for sure. But that only comes with, I think, stewards that are paid, you know, professional stewards. Not that I think that the stewards that we have right now, you know, they're doing their very best to what they have, you know, but I do think that, you know, in a sport like this, like you see in other sports as well, that when you have a paid board of stewards, I think it just works way better.
You said something very interesting there about the rules that you were always driving to the rules. And that's the fundamental point. I think no one said in Austin or thought that you'd done anything against the rules. But there was this particular kind of defense, you know, the kind of race to the apex, trying to be ahead and all the rest of it that people are talking about now. Do you think that just taking a step back from that particular incident, do you feel that that's the right way to go racing? Would you choose to do it that way if those weren't the rules? How would you like to do it?
Like I grew up with go-karting, where it's not about who is ahead of the apex or not. I think every driver is anyway a little bit different. I remember from go-karting as well with some, you just knew that if you went around the outside, you could hang it around the outside. And with some others, you couldn't because they would push you off. And I think you need a little bit more freedom on that. Because when... When it's that clear rule that you need to be ahead or alongside fully to the apex, you will create other issues with that, right?
So would you naturally want to give someone room on the outside on the exit if you were racing?
Well, me personally, I don't race like that.
You don't... What, sorry, what do you mean?
Well, it's like when I... So when I race with someone, I would... Well, he will not be able to overtake me around the outside.
Okay. Why?
Because that's how I grew up racing.
Okay. So you always think it's okay to go to the edge of the track and force someone off?
Yes, but I've raced against other people in go-karting that would give me space. You know, it's like, it's just a driver-related thing, that some drivers are just a bit more passive, you know, in racing. And that's just how they are. And some I know that even in F1 I can't hang it around the outside because they will push me off. It's just, it's like a bit more of like a racing, I would say, instinct.
So I think if you were to play the devil's advocate, how would someone ever overtake you? Because you will always go to the inside to defend.
It depends on the track layout. I think the main problem is that when you have so much tarmac on the outside, you, even if you lock up a little bit, you just run a little bit wide. But on old-school tracks, you normally never really have these kind of issues because it just doesn't happen because people are a little bit more tentative on the brakes. Also, the guy that is trying to overtake knows that if he makes a mistake and locks up, he's in the gravel and his race is done. You know, so that's what I think is the problem is the track layout is letting us do these kind of, like, you then have questions with some moves. Where if you go to, like, Suzuka or even Red Bull Ring in turn four, the downhill right-hander, where sometimes, you know, it's very rare that there is any, like, question mark move that has been done there because if you make a mistake and you brake too late, you go off in the gravel and you're penalized anyway. And I think we have to try and go back to these kind of things that when a driver goes off the track, there's a harsher penalty with just natural, like, track limits.
So you would never give someone in the outside room on the exit of the corner if you were racing?
Well, that's just normally the case, yeah.
Yeah, okay, cool.
And, of course, when the track is naturally the limit with the gravel being there, then no one even want to go around the outside because they know that. So you then try to go for a cutback or, you know, set yourself up in a different way.
176 notes
¡
View notes
Text
no spoiler review!
to err is human. relationships are messy because people are messy. we make mistakes that are unforgivable. we make choices that are questionable. it's a different kind of cruelty, the fact that we tend to hurt those we care about the most.
in front of me features some of the most human characters you will read. in part one, anna warns 'you're not meant to like these characters', and it's so true. wonwoo and y/n will have you frustrated, screaming/squealing, etc. all that is borne out of the fact that they are painfully authentic. maybe you're reading the story like a well-meaning friend who's watching their friend do something stupid. or maybe you're wonwoo or y/n, doing things that may be part of a larger narrative someday.
either way, it takes skill to write characters who are raw and real. it takes even more skill to let them fail and then to redeem them in a manner that doesn't feel forced or rushed. anna does that and so much more.
to err is humanâ but to love is human, too. @wonustars knows that best, and it shows in all 40k words of in front of me.
spoilers/annotations! ´âĄ`
^ quick text formatting of some of the notable texts from part two! ´シá´ď˝Ľ` unfortunately, i passed out at the ending (!) being wonwoo changing the contact name on his end to 'darling <3',, i have not recovered.
these parallels??? i've already told anna before that 'rejection is foreign to wonwoo' had me LOCKED TF in when it came to the teaser. but having this play out drove me mildly insane
seemingly innocuous but goes to show how a little formatting can really drive u insane!!! the strikethrough at 'best friend' driving home the conflict in wonwoo's emotions!!! i'm going to throw up
[SHAKES WONWOO BY THE SHOULDERS] PLEASEEEEEE!!!!!!!! more /srs though: this is where i truly felt like i was witnessing something absolutely real happening. how often do we neglect to see what is right in front of us (title mention *leonardo di caprio meme*),, how many 'answers' have we missed despite our sincere pursuit of them,, genius
as mistaken as the seokmin sentiment was (again!!! great great great study of hidden intentions + the human tendencies to sometimes be toxic, no matter how well-intending), there's just something achingly real about knowing there is a 'safe' choice... and still wanting something else, something more. bullet to the chest, but i feel like it's also interesting that it doesn't call seokmin the 'right' choice (because he was NAWTTTT.... GET OUT OF HERE SEOKMIN....)
sorry . just thought of wonwoo smiling bright and wide and my head blanked
reader's definition of love for wonwoo being something akin to a car crash because of how chaotic it all initially is + wonwoo's being the certainty of the sea, but both referencing the weather (snowstorms and autumn) ? SHE FELL FIRST, HE FELL HARDER ? my god. i will never recover from this
this + "my wonwoo"...................................................................................
there's a filipino word that, while there is sort of an english translation, it doesn't quite encapsulate it. the term 'rupok' is, in lightest terms, something that can be likened to soft spot. marupok ako para sa kanya i.e. 'i have a soft spot for him', or 'i'm weak to/for him'. and this is exactly, exactly it. also idk how i survived reading this passage
SORR YSOR Y SORY THIS IS MY FAVORITE PROMPT/KINK (??)/TROPE (????) OF ALL TIME . SO LIKE. I WOULD READ A THOUSAND EXTRA WORDS OF SOMETHING LIKE THIS PLAYING OUT I FEAR
here lies user xinganhao. 2024
In Front of Me (2)
cause i was blind to see that you were right in front of me âË
âš pairing: jeon wonwoo x f.reader âš genre: bestfriends to (?), angst, smut (R: 18+ mdni) âš wordcount: 40.6k (part 1: here) (part 2)
âš summary: jeon wonwoo has spent most of his adolesence and early adult hood unable to understand why he can't seem to stay in a relationship for more than a few months. as his best friend, you allowed him to vent about his worries without judgment. so what if you're in love with him? your friendship with wonwoo meant more to you than having your feelings reciprocated. that is until you hit your breaking point, while wonwoo finally realizes what has been in front of him this whole time.
âš tags: non-idol!au, uni!au, unrequited love (for the most part), pining, toxic!wonwoo, toxic!reader, both in wonwoo and readers pov, questionable protagonists, mentions of other svt members, happy ending (?), emotionally constipated characters (wonwoo), flashbacks, slight seokmin x reader, a lot of emotions thrown everywhere. (smut and content warnings under the cut)
⚠note: here is pt.2 i hope you like how this ended :) thank you for reading ⥠please leave a reblog, comment, or ask with your thoughts, i appreciate u !
âš masterlist, fic playlist.
âš smut tags: dry humping, kissing, fingering, penetrative sex, corruption kink, degradation, dom!wonwoo, brat!reader, virgin!reader,oral (f. receiving), creampie, exhibitionsm (?), slightly perv!wonwoo undertones, petnames (reader: darling, baby) (wonwoo: baby), big dick wonwoo, riding, headlock (this is a warning actly). âš warnings: alcohol, reader is downbad for wonwoo, stalking, slut-shaming, evasions of privacy, if i missed anything lmk! cuz ik i did i just can't think of what hehe :p
act two, self control.
chapter one, before the fight.Â
The booth you sat in was far too cramped for your liking, yet there was a sense of relief that washed over you. Raval had been a go-to hang-out spot after all the tireless hours spent studying during the weekdays. The atmosphere was lively, your friendsâ laughter drowning out most of your thoughts.Â
Tonight also marked the first time in your life that you could fully enjoy a night out with your friends. Without Wonwooâs presence clouding your worries.Â
Despite his obvious plea for attention, you felt like you could finally breathe. The adjustment and decision to flat-out ignore him was difficult, but thanks to Seokmin it had become a little easier to bear over time. This past week was filled with more joy than youâve had in a long time. And Seokmin had been extremely doting towards you throughout it all.Â
âBabe, can you pass the pistachios please?â Jun pouts, his cheeks red from his third glass of beer.Â
âDid you need me to peel them for you, baby?â June coos, lips curling into a cutesy tone.Â
With a quizzical expression, Mingyu turns to Kalia, trying not to laugh at the other couple's foolishness. The two share a look before Kalia fake gags, causing Mingyu to burst out laughing. It had almost gone unnoticed until Mingyu broke out into a fit of giggles, June glaring at him with an unamused expression.Â
Watching the whole scene unfold had you smiling to yourself, wondering if there would ever be a time when you got to have these cheesy moments with someone the way your friends did.Â
âOh please, Kalia. You act like I didnât see you and Mingyu practically eating each other's faces off in the library yesterday, â June huffs, shooting daggers at the both of them while peeling away the pistachio shells for her drunken boyfriend.Â
âHey! You said that no one would catch us.â Kalia slaps the back of Mingyuâs head, causing him to wince.Â
âFirst of all ouch, second of all, I didnât know that anyone would go that far back into the library!â Mingyu defends himself.
âActually, the two of us were trying to do the same thing, but we saw you and dipped,â Jun confesses in his drunken state, while he munches on the pistachios June had been feeding him.
âHa! Take that June, you're just as bad as us, if not worse,â Kalia gibes, sticking her tongue out at June.Â
âActually, all of you are equally as corny, end of discussion,â Leigh chirps, his eyes rolling as Lynne, his twin sister, cackles beside him. Both evidently fed up with the âwhoâs the cheesier coupleâ argument.Â
Amidst all the bickering, you take a sip of your drink, eyes glimmering with admiration. It seemed so simple for your friends to find someone who truly loved them, and wasnât afraid to show it.Â
Wonwoo had been at the forefront of your mind for so long that you had denied yourself anyone else. You had been so set on making Wonwoo your end goal when you couldâve found someone who wouldâve treated you better. Reminders of all your missed opportunities left a bitter taste in your mouth, the alcohol on your tongue sweet in comparison.
âSomething on your mind?â Lynne breaks you out of your thoughts.Â
With your glass pushed down onto the sticky bar table, you give her a crooked smile that feels less disingenuous than the previous smiles you have been producing these past few months.Â
âKinda wondering when Iâll have something like those goofballs over there,â you chuckle bitterly, head motioning to the two girls fake arguing while their boyfriends sat there cluelessly.Â
âI thought you were dating Wownoo?â Lynne asks, and you couldnât help but laugh at your pitiful situation.Â
His face flashes briefly within your mind, and youâd almost forgotten that you had chosen not to speak to him, for how long? You werenât sure. It could be days or months, or until youâve finally healed from your one-sided heartbreak.Â
âNo⌠no. He and I were just close friends,â your tone is melancholic. Lynneâs worry is transparent as she squeezes your shoulder.Â
Desolation filled your senses regardless of the bar patrons' exuberant chatter. Your group of friends were all in their own worlds while you were troubled and inattentive. There was guilt gnawing at your insides. You didnât want this to be one of those talks where you delve into the intricacies of your peculiar friendship with Wonwoo.Â
âAnd that's okay, too. I'm not sure what happened, but heâs an idiot if he canât see what's right in front of him,â she affirmed as you sat there, relieved that she didnât press the situation further.Â
âTell me about it, it feels like everyone's been saying the same thing,â you mutter.Â
Overhearing your conversation, Lynneâs twin brother couldnât help but jump in, âWonwooâs a dumbass.âÂ
Lynne gives him a pointed look, but canât help but laugh at her brother's antics. Feathery giggles leave your throat too, finding Leighâs unexpected declaration amusing.Â
âSorry, I had to put my two cents in, he kinda sucks! As a friend heâs okay I guess, but as a boyfriend, girl, youâre better off without him,â Leigh puts his hands up in defence, but there was truth behind his statement.Â
âTrue, Iâve seen what heâs done to some of the girls on campus, totalâ,â Lynne begins, only for her sentence to be cut off.Â
âRed flag,â Leigh finishes Lynneâs proclamation.Â
Twin telepathy, you assumed.
âHey, Iâll cheers to that,â you shook your head with a chuckle, taking three shot glasses before topping them up with a bottle of tequila Mingyu had bought for the table.Â
âWhat! You guys are taking shots without us?â Jun whined before filling his glass with liquor.Â
The whole table's attention is on the three of you now, joining in on the rounds of shots going around. The clangour of glassware chimes throughout the carved-out space of the bar you and your friends had claimed for the night.Â
âWonwooâs an asshole!â Leigh blurted out loud before throwing back the alcohol in his cup.Â
There's a moment of silence amongst the rest of your friends at the table, before they all burst out laughing before repeating Leighâs words.Â
âWonwooâs an asshole!â They all say wholeheartedly in unison.Â
The gleam in everyoneâs eyes caused warmth to swell all over your body. Nothing could compare to moments like these, and you desperately hoped that the night wouldnât end. The reassurance that your friends had given you shouldâve been worth the pain of cutting Wonwoo off. Praying that their effort to cheer you up wouldnât be wasted on foolish decisions you desperately wanted to make; the yearning for Wonwoo has only skyrocketed and it frightens you to the core.
 No matter how distracted you attempt to make yourself, he still floods your every waking thought.Â
two.Â
 Since your decision to ignore Wonwoo, Seokmin has been coming over to your place a lot more often. You canât recollect when it started to happen, but you're not opposed to his company. Itâs quite the opposite actually; if anything heâs made your days a lot brighter, keeping you distracted from your urge to text Wonwoo.Â
The time you spent with Seokmin mostly consisted of him trying to get you to finish the whole Harry Potter series with him. When you told him youâve never seen the movies before, he had a comical look of shock painted over his face. Hands slapped against his cheeks, eyes wide they almost popped out of the sockets, type of comical.Â
âNot even the first movie?! Not even on Halloween during elementary school?â Seokmin gasps, hands on your shoulders, trying to gauge what you did and didnât know about the infamous films.Â
âYes! Not even when I was a kid, is it bad that I havenât watched it?âÂ
âIt's not just bad, this is almost criminal,â Seokmin sighs, feigning distraught.Â
You chortle at his remark, baffled by how seriously passionate he is about Harry Potter, which ended almost ten years ago, you might add.Â
âWell, thereâs only one thing we can do,â he shakes his head, reaching for the remote on the coffee table. Weâre going to binge-watch this thing until you're caught up.âÂ
âWhat? Isnât that a bit much? There are like a bajillion movies,â you exasperate.Â
Not wanting to hear another complaint from you, Seokmin shushes you dramatically. His pointer finger was in front of your lips before you could get another word in.Â
âI'll get the snacks. You sit here and get comfy because youâre in for a ride,â Seokmin asserts before standing to grab food and drinks from your kitchen.Â
An audible sigh leaves your lips, arms crossed as you pull the blanket over yourself to âget comfyâ just as Seokmin wanted.Â
A few minutes passed before Seokmin returned to the living room, a bowl of microwave popcorn perched on his side and two cans of soda cradled in his other arm.Â
âYou left your phone on the counter, by the way,â He mentions before placing it on the coffee table.Â
âOh! Thanks, I didnât even realize,â you smile, shifting to make room for him on the couch.Â
âYou ready for the greatest movie experience ever?â Seokmin beamed, plopping back into his seat beside you.Â
âSure, but we can only watch the first two,â you bargained with him, knowing that if he had it his way, you two would be up till sunrise.Â
Seokmin rolled his eyes jokingly, pretending to be annoyed with your lack of enthusiasm. Despite his antics, he agrees with your compromise. The movie begins to play and you let yourself relax in his presence. A bowl of popcorn is shared between you two while he wraps his hand over your shoulder. Not used to the proximity between you and him, you're thankful the increased volume drowned out the pitter-patter of your heartbeat.Â
âŚ
âWell that was a lot better than I expected,â you admit.Â
Although you were uncertain about watching the movies at first, you had acknowledged the hype around the Harry Potter franchise. Seokmin had caught all your facial expressions while watching, peering over to catch your reactions during all the major plot points. You had been so obviously absorbed in it that you didnât realize he had been staring.
âI told you! It just gets better from here. The Goblet of Fire is my favourite, youâll love it,â Seokmin marvels, wanting to indulge in his interests with you.Â
âTom Riddle is kinda cute, I wonât lie.âÂ
âBut heâs evilâŚand you know he gets ugly anyways. Heâs literally Voldemort!â Seokmin disputed with a stare of mild disgust.Â
âYeah, I know, but thereâs a bunch of attractive villains, like Killmonger from Black Panther,â you shrug, but Seokmin looks at you like you had just insulted his entire bloodline with your statement.Â
Giggling, you didnât expect him to take your opinions so seriously.Â
âFine. I won't say anything else. You go take your shower, and Iâll clean up,â he ushers you toward your room while holding the empty bowl in his hands.Â
âHow did you know that I was gonna take a shower?â you ask with curiosity.Â
âIâve known you for so long, you always take a shower before bed,â Seokmin explained nonchalantly. Â
Heat radiated off your face, and your timid expression wouldâve been visible if Seokminâs back wasnât facing you. You hadnât realized how well Seokmin knew you.
âThanks for cleaning up, I wonât be long,â you give him a smile of gratitude before heading over to your bathroom.Â
The more time you spend with Seokmin, the more you regret falling for Wonwoo. Seokmin is kind and doting, and he never causes you to feel any worry. He is the prime example of home, reminiscent of a warm fire while snuggled up on the couch with a pile of blankets.
 Seokmin feels safe. The safe choice, the smart choice.Â
Unfortunately, you were too foolish to have known sooner. Your irrevocable love for Wonwoo overshadowed all the possibilities of being with Seokmin.Â
A knock on your front door brings you out of your spiralling thoughts. But before you head over to open the door, Seokmin beats you to it.Â
âMinnie? Is someone at the door?â you call out from your bathroom, not bothering to leave.Â
âYeah! Your neighbour just needed to borrow something,â Seokmin half yelled from where he stood.Â
There was a moment of doubt in your mind, why would your neighbour want to borrow something so late into the night? Instead of investigating further, you leave it to Seokmin to help them, too tired to talk to anyone else for the rest of the evening.Â
âOkay!â is all you say.Â
You turn on the shower, allowing the steam to congregate and relax your senses. As you step in, you grant the warm water the ability to wash away your conflicting thoughts about both Seokmin and Wonwoo.Â
after the fight.Â
âItâs time for you to go. Iâm tired, Wonwoo.â
The bile in your throat stings, the corner of your eyes wet with tears. You didnât expect Wonwoo to burst in here accusing you of things you wouldnât dare do. Thereâs a familiar hollow feeling in your chest as you recollect how much of your heart you laid bare for him to witness.Â
Had you known that ignoring him would lead to an outburst of unrelenting anger, you wouldnât have done so in the first place. Even when this cologne hangs in the still air of your apartment, you yearn for his presence. Even when you unleashed your fury at him, kicking him out with no remorse, you still yearn for his touch.Â
There hadnât been many fights between the two of you, only enough to count on one hand. It would be petty arguments over stupid things. Arguments that would lead to one of you apologizing before the day was over. This fight seems different. It canât be resolved with a quick âIâm sorryâ.Â
Defeated and tired, you move to your bed. Your phone sits atop the dresser. Curious and wishing for Wonwoo to just return and apologize, you click his contact. You almost feel like you are in some fever dream, the words âyouâve blocked this numberâ staring back at you in flashing red.Â
Horrified by the sight of your phone screen, you donât remember blocking him in the first place. Wracking your brain, youâre trying to think of all the instances where you had been drunk or high enough to even do so, but nothing comes to mind. If you didnât block him, then who did?Â
You unblock his contact as quickly as possible, not wanting to create even more distance between you, although it might be too late to rectify the situation. A few messages were sent shortly after the fight had gone down.Â
[2:55 a.m.]Â [wons <3: idk if youâll receive this but iâm sorry darling. i mean it.] [wons <3: i didnât mean what i said earlier. i was just so angry. when ure ready to talk, lmk.]
Wonwooâs text brings a swell of comfort within you. As much as you hate what he did, you could never bring yourself to hate him.Â
three.
âYou know, Iâm kinda glad youâre here,â you professed.Â
The harrowed walls of your home became a lot more bearable now that you had someone other than yourself inside them. The entire place felt far too big for you, especially because you tend to sit alone with your thoughts too often.Â
Seokmin coming over to hang out was not part of your initial plan. But his unannounced visit wasnât unwelcomed either. He was extremely talented in distracting you with his sporadic outbursts of energy and laughter. Seokmin made you feel quaint, almost as if he could be the âsomeoneâ after everything you had been through with Wonwoo.Â
With crescent-shaped eyes that appeared when his smile broadened, Seokmin wrapped his arm tautly against your shoulder.Â
âI honestly just came over to check on how you were doing, after everything that happened, but I donât mind staying for a while, Iâd do anything if you asked.âÂ
âAre you flirting with me, Lee Seokmin?âÂ
Seokmin threw his head back with a hearty contagious laugh. Before you knew it, you were laughing along with him.Â
The voice in the back of your head hissed symphonies of how easier your life wouldâve been if you had just fallen in love with Seokmin instead. No matter how many times you tried to unearth a flaw of his, nothing comes to mind. There were so many signs leading you toward him, and how perfect he would be for you. But your heart still belongs elsewhere, even after what has been said and done.Â
Seokminâs eyes dimmed, âWould it be so bad if I was?âÂ
Taken aback by his words, your mouth opens and closes, trying to figure out whether heâs joking or genuine about his statement.Â
âI-I guess not,â you mumble, watching the way his gaze shifts from your eyes down to your lips.Â
Holding your breath, you canât deny the tension that the two of you had created. Bodies practically meshed together on the couch, you werenât sure how you ended up in this position but if Seokmin was the answer to distracting you from the fight with Wonwoo, who were you to deny him?Â
âI really want to kiss you,â Seokmin confesses.Â
âI wouldnât stop you if you did.âÂ
Seokmin didnât need much convincing after what you had professed. Swinging your legs over his lap, he grapples you into a position that has you straddling his thighs. The swiftness of his movements almost caused a yelp to leap out of your throat, but he steadied you before you could let out another noise.
With the faintest of touch, Seokmin places his lips over yours. Ever so cautious, ever so careful, he clearly wants to savour the moment. Despite his heedfulness, you were the exact opposite. You want it to be fast, you want him to be rough.Â
Thereâs deliberate fervour behind your actions, causing Seokmin to groan in surprise. Rough palms gripping your waist, he matches your energy. The world sinks into a deep void along with the cruel songstress who refused to let you neglect your feelings for Wonwoo.Â
Even though you have the desire to prolong your make-out with Seokmin, your phone buzzes against the plush cushions of your couch. Practically jumping out of his lap, you unlock your phone as if you werenât just making out with Seokmin, to discover yet another text from Wonwoo.Â
Every time his contact appears on your screen, your heart canât help but skip a beat. It angers you how easily enraptured you are by something so minuscule. Even after you had kicked him out of your house that night, you canât deny his diligence and how desperate he is for forgiveness.Â
You almost wanted to curse him out for his audacity, but the other half wanted to give in and let him explain. Eyes glued to his messages, you find yourself reading them over and over again, your heart swollen with an aching desire to talk to him again.Â
[11:09 p.m.]Â [wons <3: hi. ik ur still mad but let me make it up to you. please?]Â [wons <3: i donât know what i have to do to make u forgive me but just know i donât want us to end on this note.]Â [wons <3: please darling, u mean so much to me, i donât wanna lose u.]Â [wons <3: i canât stand this. please, just give me a chance to make things right]Â
Only a fool would be swooning over his visible cry out for attention, and a fool you were. Wonwooâs claws have sunk so deep into you, that you canât even kiss someone without him interrupting. It's like he knew what you were doing without even seeing you.Â
âI thought you blocked him?â the inflection of disappointment apparent in Seokminâs voice.Â
Plopping your phone back down on the sofa, your brain finally registers the words that Seokmin had just uttered. You know for a fact that it wasnât you who blocked his contact, but how the hell did Seokmin know?
 Unless he was the one to do soâŚÂ
A moment of realization struck you like a bolt of lightning, and the confusion finally cleared by the slip of Seokminâs tongue. Why would he block Wonwooâs contact on your phone?Â
Attempting to recall when and where this couldâve happened, you remember the day you left your phone on the kitchen counter during the Harry Potter movie marathon. The burn at the back of your throat intensified as awareness sunk into your whole being. Seokmin was under the guise of a doting friend while you were in your feelings for Wonwoo. Pretending to be your knight in shining armour while you were in a vulnerable state. How could you be so naive?Â
Wonwoo had been trying to tell you the truth, but you foolishly snubbed all his warnings out of anger.Â
Nauseous and betrayed, you didnât know that Seokmin would turn out to be the one to manipulate you, to sway your opinions to gain your time and affection. Youâre so shaken up from your revelation that you almost forget who exactly is sitting right in front of you.Â
âIâm really sorry Seokmin, but that kiss. I wasnât thinking straight,â you attempt to act calm, not wanting to escalate the situation.Â
âItâs okay, I understand. It's only been a week,â he shrugs with a rueful demeanour, âYouâre still in love with him and there's not a lot I can do to change your mind.âÂ
âYouâre right, there isnât,â you reply with certainty. âI've been in love with him for years, and thatâs not going to change for a while.âÂ
âI just want you to know Iâll be here when youâre ready.â
âI canât do that to you knowing I still love him,â you disclose and hurt flashes across Seokminâs eyes.Â
âI understand.âÂ
âI hope so, considering you had gone on my phone behind my back and blocked his contact.âÂ
Shock is the best way to describe Seokminâs reaction. He probably hadnât realized that you figured out where his true intentions lie. But now that itâs out in the open, you canât help but stand your ground.Â
Seokmin doesnât deserve to be in your presence right now, especially after he took advantage of your vulnerability.Â
âI donât know what youâre talking about,â Seokmin tries to respond nonchalantly, but his eyes frantically avoid your gaze.Â
âYou know damn well what Iâm talking about,â you grit, your knuckles were straining from how hard you gripped onto your phone. Displacing your anger before it was shot full throttle and onto Seokminâs face.
âFine. You caught me. But there wasnât any other way for you to forget him if you kept in contact with him. Even if you werenât explicitly answering his texts.âÂ
Standing up and stalking over to your door, you open it to usher Seokmin out of the home.Â
âThatâs for me to decide. Not you. Now please leave.âÂ
Without much defiance, Seokmin leaves, evidently hurt by your anger towards him. The frown on his face deepened while he grabbed all his things, and walked out your door.
 As he leaves, he utters his last words, clearly miffed by your decision to kick him out.Â
âI may be in love with you just as much as you are with Wonwoo, but at least Iâm not dumb enough to go back to someone who obviously doesnât give a shit about me. Your life will get easier when you stop being an idiot and start seeing how bad he is for you.âÂ
âŚÂ
The unsavoury memories of earlier had you deep in thought, especially after the statement Seokmin had made. He was supposed to be your safe space, but he ruined it with his need to cut Wonwoo out of your life for you. Yet there was clear wisdom to what he had said. Wonwoo only complicated your life and feelings further. Â
Everything would be so simple if it were Seokmin instead, and you acknowledge that. But your heart didnât seek out his touch the way it did with Wonwoo.Â
 Seokmin let his feelings get in the way of what couldâve been the start of something good. If only he hadnât done what he did, maybe if he had just given you more time to heal, things between the two of you would be different. Although the friendship with Seokmin had turned sour, he still deserves someone who would love him unconditionally, it just wasnât you.Â
 Wonwoo was the person you truly wanted, and although the break and argument between you two were enlightening, you cannot deny how right he is about Seokmin.Â
You also cannot deny how much you still miss him.Â
Canât Get You.
chapter one.Â
âI gave up so much for you, Wonwoo. I lost so much of myself trying to please you. But I give up. I was drowning in my love for you.âÂ
You are an enigma inside Wonwooâs mind, and it was the first time in a while that he had experienced deep regret and grief. Forcing himself into your home to accuse you all because of his resentment towards Seokmin, he couldnât have been less irrational. And now he had to face the consequences of his actions. Â
Sleepless night after sleepless night, he had no way to make up for what he had done to you. Years of cluelessly assuming that you only ever saw him as a friend, of using you as a crutch for his anguish. He had been so unfair, and there's a sense of exasperation he cannot disenthrall.Â
Wonwoo is supposed to be your friend as much as you were his, but he dared to treat you as his therapist, his support system. If he hadnât been so blind to your feelings, none of this wouldâve happened. Maybe he wouldâve been able to reciprocate your feelings earlier if he had known that you were in love with him this whole time.Â
The buzz of a notification illuminates his dim bedroom, the light of his screen creating shadows that harboured his contrition. He had half the mind to answer, but after what he had said to you that day, he knew it wasnât going to be you.Â
Wonwoo decided to take a look anyway.Â
[12:09 a.m.]Â
[darling <3: you were right about seokmin]
[darling <3: that doesnât mean i forgive u. i just thot id let u know]
With his heartbeat hammering inside his chest, Wonwoo couldnât contain his elation. Itâs been so long since heâd seen your name on his phone screen, and despite the context not being ideal, he decided to look at the brighter side.Â
Although heâs not sure what had gone down between you and Seokmin, Wonwoo couldnât find it in himself to care. All he knows is that he was right to warn you, and he has a chance to have you all for himself once again. Without the worry of Seokmin interrupting his plans.
[12:10 a.m.]Â
[wons <3: iâve missed you, darling]Â
[wons <3: i know iâve been a bad friend in the past, but i want to show u that i can change. please]
[wons <3: i promise, i'm going to be better]
Desperation was never Wonwooâs thing, but if it meant having you in his arms once again, then nothing else matters. If heâs perceived as pathetic for trying to gain your trust again, then so be it.Â
Eyes glued to his phone screen, he observes how your grey chat bubble appears and disappears again. The anticipation of what youâre going to say next has Wonwoo on the edge of his bed, wishing he could just peer into your mind, to catch a mere glimpse into what youâre thinking.Â
[12:14 a.m.] [darling <3: đ]Â
Thereâs an immediate drop in Wonwooâs smile, heâs never experienced you acting indifferent towards him. The feeling is so foreign he has no choice but to find some way to get rid of it. You had given a sliver of hope just by texting him, and that was all he needed. Wonwoo is your best friend, he knows you better than anyone, he knows you better than Seokmin.Â
Apathetic towards the lengths he may have to go to to bring you back into his life, Wonwoo is determined to make you forgive him. Even if it meant abandoning his pride or his ego, he didnât care anymore. Everything else is meaningless if youâre not his.Â
two.Â
The next time Wonwoo is forced to be in a room with Seokmin is the day Jeonghan decides to have an impromptu study session in the library. Unbeknownst to him, the person he has grown to hate would be there too. The tension was increasingly palpable to the point that both Jeonghan and Leigh found it difficult to focus on their work.Â
âWhy are you here?â Wonwoo queried with a scrutinizing gaze.Â
The sound of uncomfortable shuffling is pronounced within the long pause of Seokmin and Wonwooâs staredown. And Jeonghan gives Leigh a look of curiosity with a hint of confusion. They were obviously under the impression that the two of them were good friends, especially because no one had a clue about what happened between them.Â
âJeonghan invited me to study, why? Is it illegal for me to be here?â Seokmin quipped, evidently unamused by Wonwooâs presence.Â
Wonwoo scoffs, chair legs scraping against the hardwood as he takes his seat.Â
âIt should be.âÂ
Seokmin huffs before crossing his arms over his chest, taking a guarded stance. Various textbooks cluttered around the table, long forgotten in favour of watching Seokmin and Wonwoo bicker.Â
âWhatâs up with those two?â Jeonghan whispers in Leighâs ear, which the latter only shrugs in response.Â
Wonwoo and Seokmin were lost in their world of conflict, and neither paid attention to their two observers. They were both ready to pull out bowls of popcorn amid their studying, which seemed more entertaining than whatever they were reading earlier.Â
âNot sure. I bet you ten dollars it has something to do with you know whoâŚ,â Leigh whispers back, obviously amused by his friends' clear disdain for each other.Â
âIâll bet you ten dollars and a kiss Wonwoo did something to piss off Seokmin,â Jeonghan challenges his deal.Â
Leigh giggles at how Jeonghan takes every opportunity to flirt with him but agrees to his wager anyway.Â
âWhat does a kiss have to do with any of this?âÂ
âNothing, I just wanted to give you one,â Jeonghan shrugs.Â
Their conversation is cut off by Seokminâs need to curse out Wonwoo, standing up from the table only to poke his finger into the elder's chest.Â
âI hope you know that if you pursue her, youâll only end up hurting her,â Seokmin accused, causing Wonwoo to flare with outrage.
Wonwoo isnât pleased by Seokminâs intrepid need to provoke him. From what you texted him the other day, itâs unmistakably clear that he has the upper hand. This means that Seokminâs vexation is only a projection of the fact that his plan has gone awry.Â
âMaybe if you hadnât been such a manipulative bitch, she wouldnât have come back running to me,â Wonwoo smirks, the realization in Seokminâs eyes is nothing but confirmation that he struck a nerve.Â
Seokmin is left baffled by Wonwooâs statement, âYou seriously cannot be talking right now.â
âOh, but I am. I may have done wrong before, but at least I know how to get her back,â Wonwoo retorted. Â
Thankfully, the library wasnât traditional in the sense that students had to be quiet while using the space. Most passersby' barely batted an eyelash as the two men were raised from their seats while in a heated argument.Â
The bitter taste in Wonwooâs mouth only intensified the more time he wasted quarrelling with Seokmin. There are better things he can do with his time, like finding a way for you to forgive him. But he canât help that every time he lays eyes on Seokmin, the only thing he can think of doing is socking his so-called friend in the face.Â
âWeâll see who she ends up with in the end, and Iâll make sure it isnât you,â Wonwoo finalizes.Â
Deciding that he is done exchanging words with Seokmin, he leaves before he wastes any more of his time. The bag hooked on his shoulder was still unopened since their fight started before he could even retrieve his things. Harsh footsteps echo throughout the bustling library, and Wonwoo makes it his mission to find you. To have you in his hold before Seokmin could even think of getting near you.Â
âŚ
Three oâclock. On Wednesdays, your anthropology lecture always ends at three oâclock. Wonwoo knew you wouldnât be pleased to see him inside the arts building, waiting right outside the lecture hall. But he had to take his chance, or else Seokmin might find a way to weasel into your life once again. Just the thought of it made Wonwooâs ears flare red. No one deserves to have you as much as he did.Â
The rush of students begins to trickle into the hallway, and he spots the top of your head before you stray too far away. With a shout of your name, he watches as you try to find the voice that has been calling out for you.Â
Suddenly, the world around Wonwoo lacks colour as his gaze sets upon you. Standing there, you shine brightly, and Wonwoo couldnât care less how stupid he looked while trying to gain your attention. The people around him are nothing but blockages that stop him from being able to grab onto you. Your expression is filled with curiosity as he waves his hand, beckoning you closer to him. Despite the obvious conflicting thoughts that are running through your head, Wonwoo knows you wonât be able to resist him.Â
As you near, Wonwoo almost sighs with content, hearing your voice for the first time since that night.Â
âWhat are you doing here?âÂ
The two of you wedged into one of the corners, waiting for the crowd to thin out. Grabbing your wrist, Wonwoo pulls you against him. Your back is flush with the wall; the rest of the students push past the both of you to get to their next class or to go home.Â
âWanted to be the one to give you a ride home,â Wonwoo mutters truthfully, but he knows thatâs not why youâre asking.Â
He watches the way you gulp, trying not to get caught up in the heat of his body. Youâre so close to him that if he makes one slight movement he could end up kissing you. The feathery breath you let out almost causes Wonwoo to forget what heâs meant to be doing. Enamoured by your soft pink lips and how the heat on your cheeks intensifies with each passing moment. He simply canât take his eyes off you.Â
It seems as though you're making Wonwoo fall for you without even realizing it.Â
The delightful scrunch in your brow only leaves him tingling, satisfied with the fact that you two are in such proximity after everything that happened. Although Wonwoo knows he has a long way to go to gain your forgiveness, he allows himself to enjoy the smaller moments with you while he can.Â
âI can walk,â you retort, recoiling out of his grasp before walking over to the exit.Â
âWalking is fine too,â Wonwoo attested, catching up with your fast pace.Â
âAlone,â you reiterate.Â
Wonwoo is amused by your direct attempt to get him to leave you alone. He almost laughs, you should know him well enough by now. What Wonwoo wants, he gets, it doesnât matter if youâre mad at him. Heâs confident enough in himself to know that heâs capable of making you fall for him all over again.Â
If thereâs one thing Wonwoo is unmistakably good at, itâs the chase.Â
With his experience, it doesnât take much for you to be perched right back into his palm. Youâre a woman after all. The only difference between you and everyone else is that Wonwoo can envision a future with you in it, which has always been hard for him to do. But with you, Wonwoo can only wish that he could live till heâs a thousand if it meant that he could spend the rest of that time with you.Â
âPlease darling, let me take you home,â Wonwoo begs, his slender fingers grasped against your wrist. âYouâre probably tired from walking around campus all day.âÂ
He could practically see the way the gears were turning in your head like you couldnât decipher his underlying motives, and he couldnât help but grin at your obvious overthinking.
âFine, but youâre giving me a ride. Thatâs it.âÂ
The smile on Wonwooâs face widens as you try to act uninterested, but he knows deep down your resolve is beginning to weaken. Â
three.Â
Wonwoo can only surmise that his plan has been taking effect. Not only have you been less reluctant to agree to him giving you a ride to and from school, but youâve also been replying to his texts more frequently. Albeit they havenât been the same long and sporadic messages you used to send, Wonwoo canât seem to complain.
[5:05 p.m.]Â [wons <3: u got home alright darling?] [darling <3: u drove me home.] [wons <3: ik. but i still wanna ask] [darling <3: i should be asking u that] [darling <3: not that i care tho] [wons <3: sure u dont]Â [darling <3: i don't! now bye i have to study for my quiz tmrw]Â [wons <3: okayy wtv helps u sleep at night đ]Â [wons <3: dont study too hard. ill pick u up tmrw at the same time ok?]Â [darling <3: đ]Â
Smiling like a kid on Christmas, Wonwoo canât help but feel the rush of butterflies flutter in his stomach. He can tell youâre trying to put on a detached facade, but your caring nature seems to be slipping through the cracks.Â
His plan to slowly reinstate himself into your life seems to be working. Even though he understands it wonât happen overnight, Wonwoo doesnât mind waiting for you to forgive him. At least he knows that heâs one step closer than Seokmin ever will be.Â
âŚ
âGood morning,â Wonwoo greets you, moving to the side to open the door.Â
As you slip into the passenger seat, he realizes how much he misses you sitting beside him. You were always in your world while he drove, staring at the window reading all the signs along the way, or humming softly to the lyrics of the current song playing.Â
âMorning,â you mumble back, settling into your spot.Â
Itâs that time of the year when all the leaves start to fall off the branches. The pavement was littered with hues of brown, red, and yellow. Wonwoo loved autumn the most out of all the seasons. It reminded him of the smell of cinnamon and warm cups of tea. Most importantly, it was autumn when he first met you.Â
âYou ready for your quiz?â Wonwoo decides to fill the silence.Â
As you turn your body, you give him a soft smile, and he knows with that expression, that you probably didnât get much studying done the night before. He chuckles at your meek countenance, youâve always been the type to procrastinate.Â
âI know that look. Donât worry, youâre the smartest person I know,â Wonwoo reassures you.Â
The right hand he had gripping the steering wheel strays from its place, seeking your hold. Allowing himself to take a glance at you before interlocking his fingers with yours, rubbing soothing circles along your delicate skin. Sensing you freeze upon his touch, Wonwooâs hands almost break out in a sweat, hoping you wonât pull away. And surprisingly, you don't.Â
Both of you returned to a relaxed state, and heâs overjoyed that youâve decided to allow him to touch you again. Even if itâs something as innocent as hand-holding on the way to school. Wonwoo squeezes your hand tighter, reminding himself that youâre still beside him. That you chose to be with him.Â
It wasnât long before the campus university was in Wonwooâs view. Pulling into his parking spot, he does so without letting go of your hand once. Even when turning the gear shift into park, his hold on you has yet to be relinquished.Â
Thereâs a pause of silence that Wonwoo decides to break.Â
âI know itâs not going to be easy to forgive me, Iâve done so many things that, if I was in your position, wouldnât have let slide. But Iâm asking for a chance, just one chance to show you that I can be better,â Wonwoo confesses.Â
He observes that way you take time to think, his thumb continuing to rub mindless circles into your skin. Wonwoo didnât think heâd be so nervous to hear what you had to say, or if you would say anything at all.Â
âJust be patient with me, okay?â is the only thing you end up saying.Â
To Wonwoo, thatâs a win. You didnât deny his request for forgiveness, and that can only mean one thing. His plan is working just as heâd hoped.Â
âTake all the time you need, darling. I just want to be close to you again,â Wonwoo reassures you, his voice stable and comforting. He searches your eyes for even an ounce of unease.Â
Nodding your head, you finally loosen your hand from Wonwooâs. As you step out of the car you leave with one final remark.Â
âI'll see you after class okay?âÂ
That was all the assurance that Wonwoo needed. Heâs convinced that heâs a step in the right direction. Youâve fallen for him once again, perhaps not fully, but soon enough youâll be back to where the two of you had left off.Â
âŚÂ
When Wonwoo gets to see you again, itâs to drop off your cognitive psych textbook. By the time he realized it was on the floor bed of his car, it was already too late to give it back to you.
As he returns to the same long hallway, he nears your apartment with a sense of unease. Flashbacks of what happened the last time he even stepped foot into the building flood his memories. Wonwoo had no reason to be nervous, especially because youâve become more lenient about him seeing you again. But this is different, he canât help but wonder if youâre over that night, or youâre just allowing him to enter your life again because it was easier.Â
The sound of him knocking on the door reverberates through the empty hallway, and a chill shoots down his spine. Why is he so nervous? Heâs been here more times than he could count, and above all that heâs only here to return your textbook.Â
From the other side of the door, he can faintly hear your footsteps as you make your way over. A hand clasped around the thick spine of your book, he grips it harder as he awaits your arrival.Â
âHi?â you greet him with a puzzled expression.Â
The breath in Wonwoo's throat evaporates into thin air, his eyes glued to the curve of your body. Itâs the same sleep set you wore the night he saw Seokmin leave your apartment. Trapped in his mind, he canât help but let his thoughts wander. Plush thighs hugged tightly by your shorts, no bra in sight, allowing your nipples to outline the satin. With a tense gulp, he knows he canât stay for long.Â
âH-hey, uh, you forgot your textbook in my car,â Wonwoo stutters, eyes raking over your figure.Â
What the hell? Wonwooâs seen you in everything under the sun, including a bathing suit. But why does this damn sleep set have him tripping over his words?Â
Before he can say anything more, you move forward to grab the book from his hands. Your hair flows over your shoulder while the strap of your tank top slips down.Â
Shoulders stiffening at the sight, Wonwoo really canât stay. He might even combust into a million pieces before he can get to his car.Â
âThanks.âÂ
âItâs really no problem, sorry Iâm here so late. Youâreââ his words are cut off by your unexpected proposition. Â
âYou wanna come in? Iâm making some tea.âÂ
Wonwoo is completely fucked, though he doesnât stop himself from entering your home.Â
As you turn around, Wonwoo almost lets out a strained groan. He had been lucky enough to cover it up with a cough. You shoot him a confused look over your shoulder, and he mumbles a curt âItâs nothingâ before you can question him further.Â
The scent of peppermint tea engulfs his senses, your favourite. It was your routine to drink a cup of tea before bed, but peppermint has always been your go-to. He only knew this because his mom always made sure to send you boxes of a loose-leaf version from your hometown. You didnât drink any other kind.Â
Thereâs a sway in your hips as you move over to the kitchen counter and Wonwooâs lost in a hypnotic state. Taking a seat at the island, he watches as you grab two of the coffee mugs from your cupboard. As you move to reach for the glassware, he observes the way your shorts ride up, giving him a direct view of the curve of your ass. He felt like a pervert for staring but no matter how hard he tried, he couldnât take his eyes off you.Â
âHere, let me get them for you,â Wonwoo offers, moving behind you to retrieve the two mugs. His body is perfectly aligned with yours, he can feel you stiffen against him.Â
A rough palm is placed delicately against the exposed skin of your waist. Youâre so warm. Wonwooâs brain short circuits and he almost forgets what heâs actually meant to do. He holds you tighter against him while the handles of the cups are hooked against his fingers. With as much delicateness as possible, he situates the mugs against the granite.Â
The soft âthank youâ that left your lips was almost too faint for either of you to hear, but due to the stillness in the atmosphere, Wonwoo heard you loud and clear.Â
With reluctance, Wonwoo leaves his spot behind you to return to his seat. He continues to watch you as you prepare the tea, and heâs never been more mesmerized in his life. It was almost criminal how closely he examined your actions, but you had become so captivating. It would be rude to deny the pleasure of being able to see you again.Â
âThis oneâs for you,â you mutter, setting the mug in front of his person.Â
âThanks.âÂ
A comfortable silence blankets the two of you. Your hand around your cup, savouring the tea while you scroll aimlessly on your phone. Wonwoo allows his thoughts to wander. It almost felt sinful to be inside your apartment once again, compelling him to apologize once more.Â
âI know I've already said it before but, I hope you know Iâm not going to let this second chance be taken for granted. What I did was wrong, and I was so angry and confused that I didnât even think about what I was saying.âÂ
Looking up from your phone, a frown is apparent on your angelic face. But you donât say anything, allowing him to continue with his admission of guilt.Â
âThere are so many things I couldâve done differently, but I let my anger get the best of me. Youâre the most important person in my life and I donât want to let you go. I know Iâm terrible at showing how much I care but I want you to know that deep down inside of me my love for you is there. Youâre my greatest friend and I was a dumbass for not treating you that way earlier on.âÂ
Thereâs a pregnant pause in the air before you respond. Wonwooâs nerves are spiking, but he waits diligently for your reply.Â
âI understand that youâre sorry. And I wish that things had gone differently. Iâm sure that night was a lot for both of us. Seokmin wasnât the person I thought he was, and it sucks that you were right but I wanna move forward. It just felt so wrong for you to assume that I was with him in that way. It hurt and it was insulting for you to talk to me that way.âÂ
The words that had been brewing in his mind were lost as he continued to listen to you.Â
âWhatâs even funnier is that me and Seokmin kissed a couple of days after our fight. Iâm not even sure why I did that, but I regret it. I probably just wanted to get my mind off you and all the other stuff. Honestly, I was so naive, I didnât think Seokmin would go to such cruel lengths to manipulate me.âÂ
âI want to forgive you. Youâre my best friend, and I donât want to lose you either. Seokmin had put it in my head to just cut you off, and it almost felt wrong but I listened anyway. I shouldâve known why he had convinced me to do all those things. I was so stupid to believe him. But I do want to fix us, I just need time.âÂ
To hear you talk about what Seokmin did to you, and to also find out that you two had kissed made Wonwooâs insides churn. He felt sick at the thought of the two of you, but why? Youâre his friend, he shouldnât care about the fact that you and Seokmin shared an intimate moment. Wonwoo should only care about the fact that both he and Seokmin hurt you.
âDarling, Iâm so sorry. I wish there were more ways I could show you how apologetic I am. I promise I'm going to do better.âÂ
Thereâs a glazed look over your eyes, and Wonwooâs chest almost collapses into itself. The subtle pout on your lips causes a sigh to leave his lips.Â
Standing up, he walks over to you, cooing as he deluges you into his hold. Strong arms pull you into his chest, the faint weeping coming from you almost kills him. He hates to see you sad, and what he hates even more is that heâs the one behind most of your pain.Â
âIâm not going anywhere from now on. So please darling, donât push me away anymore. Iâm gonna do everything I can to show you how important you are to me,â He whispers in your ear as he runs a hand down your hair.Â
Wonwoo knows how much you love it when he does that. It always calmed you down on the days you couldnât regulate your emotions.Â
Sensitive to the sad things in life yet ardent towards the things you are passionate about. You have always been a softer soul, a soul that feels everything without a care in the world. At the same time, you are a whirlwind of emotions, and different colours of sensibilities, itâs your greatest strength but also your weakness. Wonwoo admires that about you. Never afraid to feel, never afraid to wear your heart on your sleeve. Everything he isn't.Â
That night, Wonwoo vowed to be a better person for you. He also promised heâd never let someone like Seokmin take advantage of your kindness again.Â
four.Â
Despite Wonwooâs desire to submerge his feelings into a deep void, he canât seem to dismiss the fact that heâs slowly falling for you. It didnât start when you had begun to ignore him, nor did it start when you decided to search for comfort in another.Â
Seeking a piece of you in everyone heâs been with. It's always been in a subconscious manner, but the more he looks back on all his relationships, heâs started to realize that the one thing that was missing was you.
Falling in love with you was gradual.Â
In the same way, the tides along the shore would slowly pull the sand back into the ocean. In the same way, the seasons changed from summer to winter. Wonwooâs love for you is like autumn leaves. Shades of green morph into the familiar, comforting, yellow, red, and brown. Their descent from their branches slowed, dwindling with the breeze before they ultimately hit the ground. Before he knew it, autumn had begun.Â
Before he knew it, he was in love.Â
Everything over the past month had just been a wake-up call. Slowly rising from an insomnious state, he began to find clarity in his past actions, in his reasons for wondering why none of the relationships worked out in his favour. No one understood him the way you did, and no one understood you the way he did. And he had been foolish enough to not act upon those realizations sooner. Â
âŚÂ
Wonwoo ached to see you again. To be close to you, with your scent filling his nostrils, your warmth engulfing him, he couldnât stop thinking about you. Yet he sat in the library trying to make sense of his pending assignment. Mingyu sits across from him, looking close to slamming his forehead with his textbook.Â
Wonwoo couldnât care less about regression to the mean or whatever it is his statistics professor is trying to teach him. Every second that passed his mind would end up wandering to thoughts of you. That night in your apartment, the whiff of peppermint tea, your arms around him as he held you close. Desperation is a dangerous emotion, for it only made him want to close his laptop and rush to your side.Â
Why didnât he just fess up about his feelings for you right then and there? He couldâve done it, but his intuition stopped him. From the start of you finally letting him back into your life, neither of you brought up your confession of being in love with him. The prospect of him even acknowledging the subject has Wonwoo believing it wouldnât end the way he hopes.Â
Attempting to suppress his curious thoughts, heâs afraid of you denying everything you disclosed to him that night. He didnât want you to renounce your declaration of love under the guise of anger or the heat of the moment. The only thing he wanted from you now was the truth.Â
âWell, you look a lot better than you did last time we were here,â Mingyu speaks up.Â
Taken out of his trance, Wonwoo lifts his head from the screen of his laptop. An involuntary chuckle erupts from his chest. Despite his muddled thoughts, Mingyu is right. He looks and feels a lot better than he did before.Â
âA lot of shit happened, but yeah, I guess you can say that.âÂ
âHmm, let me guess. You two made up?â Mingyu doesnât beat around the bush.Â
Wonwoo is aware that Mingyuâs probably only asking to remedy his curiosity, or so he could update Kalia about the situation, but he doesnât care. If anything, he wants everyone to know that he won you over instead of Seokmin.Â
âYeah, kinda? I donât know. Iâm trying my best to be better for her though,â Wonwoo lets out a half-hearted sigh.Â
Mingyu looked at him with curiosity, and Wonwoo knew that expression a little too well. It was the âsince when were you the type of person to change for a girlâ look. His friend didnât have to say much for him to understand what Mingyu was attempting to convey.Â
âYouâre serious?â Mingyu presses, a lilt of doubt in his tone of voice.Â
âYeah, I'm serious. Never been more serious in my life,â Wonwoo scoffs, he already knows where this conversation is heading.Â
Mingyu didnât seem to buy it though, eyes rolling as he leaned back in his chair. Wonwoo crosses his arms defensively, it is typical for Mingyu to wonder where his true intentions lie. His track record wasnât the best when it came to girls, unlike Mr. Perfect across from him.Â
Mingyu knew how to deal with relationships, heâs practically married to Kalia at this point.Â
Wonwoo, on the other hand, tended to obsess for a few months before inevitably breaking things off. Itâs practically second nature for him to do so, but this is different. It's you. And Wonwoo knew that meant more to him despite his old habits.Â
âBe for real man, I know you. Are you sure this isnât the same as the last hundred times youâve liked someone?âÂ
âLike? I donât just like her. Iâm in love with her.âÂ
Mingyuâs eyes go wide, Wonwoo has never dropped the Lâword on his friend before. Not about Haein, or any of the other girls heâs dated.Â
âWoah. That's different,â Mingyu lets out a low-whistle.Â
âThat's what I mean. Weâre not talking about just some other girl who I find interesting. This is my best friend,â Wonwoo continues to defend himself.Â
It felt weird to say those words out loud for someone else to hear, but Mingyu was the only person Wonwoo didnât feel insecure talking to despite the fact he practically criticized him during the last study session. Wonwoo needs to let his feelings out into the world, and Mingyu is willing to listen.Â
âOkay, youâve convinced me, but you better not fuck it up. I wonât punch you but I know Kalia would,â Mingyu shrugs, and heâs right. Kalia would beat him up.Â
Wonwoo snorts at Mingyuâs remark, âYour girlfriend is scary.âÂ
âShe is. Just donât be a dumbass and she wonât kill you. You know how much Kalia cares about her.âÂ
âSeems like everyone does. Seokmin cares a little too much,â Wonwoo huffs, thinking back to what you had told him the last time he saw you.Â
âAh. I heard about that,â Mingyu smirks.Â
Wonwoo could feel the hairs on the back of his neck starting to stick up. He didnât particularly like the idea of you and Seokmin together. In all honesty, he doesnât even want to see him within a hundred feet of your person. Wonwoo had half the mind to beat him to a pulp for how he hurt you, and heâs sure that Seokmin feels the same way about him. The only difference was that you had a clear choice, and Wonwoo came out on top.Â
âI canât believe him actually. Heâs dead to me,â Wonwoo scowls, hating the bitter taste Seokminâs name leaves on his tongue.Â
âDude⌠Seokmin is still our friend,â Mingyu attempts to mediate, like the soft-hearted man he is, but Wonwoo doesnât care.Â
âNo. Heâs your friend. What he did is fucked up, even for me. His dumbass is not stepping a foot near her, not if I have any say in the matter.âÂ
Hot on his heels, Wonwoo packs his belongings and exits the library with flames blazing his trail. Mingyu still sits there dumbfounded, recovering from the shock of his friend's crass declaration.Â
five.Â
[12:11 p.m.] [wons <3: meet me at our spot? i have a surprise :)]
Pacing back and forth, Wonwoo waits for you at the aforementioned spot. Itâs a hidden corner on campus you two found in your first year. There were multiple wooden picnic tables scattered around the lawn of green grass, but no one seemed to come to this side of the university. It had been an alcove of secludedness for the two of you since that day. Wonwoo had spent most of his lunch breaks eating here with you when the crowds of students got too overwhelming.Â
Deciding it wasnât doing him any good walking back and forth like a madman, he takes a seat at the table you both claimed for yourselves. Even with the abundance of available picnic tables, neither of you ever sat anywhere else. The tableâs location had always been perfect. Right under a large oak tree that had just the right amount of shade yet a prime amount of sunlight. The leaves had already shed, and there was no protection from the rays, but Wonwoo settled in his unassigned seat anyway.Â
Inspecting the food he bought you, he made sure that it was still warm enough for you to eat. Two grilled pork banh miâs with extra pickled vegetables wrapped securely within the plastic bag, your favourite.Â
Wonwoo had no reason to buy it for you, other than the fact that as he was leaving the library in a sour mood, he was able to snag the last two from the dining hall. Thinking about the look you would have on your face once you got here made him smile to himself. So without a second thought, he paid for the sandwiches before sending you a text.Â
âSo what's the surprise?âÂ
Ears perking, Wonwoo whips his head over in the direction of your sweet voice. Skin glowing in the sunlight, he admires you with a lopsided smile. You look so good today, almost too good. The black skirt you wore flounced with each step you took, while your cardigan hung low on your shoulders.Â
He wishes he could have you only for himself, finding it unfair that everyone else in the whole damn world got to admire how gorgeous you are, including himself. Wonwoo doesnât get tired of looking at you, itâs like a breath of fresh air each time.Â
âHi, darling. There were only two left,â he nudged his head, motioning to the plastic bag that you are very familiar with.Â
With glowing eyes, you let out a squeal of delight. Wonwoo knew he did something right for once.Â
âOh my god. How did you know I was craving these today? I was thinking about it all morning,â you gush, rushing over to open the bag that held your most prized possession.
âI didnât, but I know youâd never say no to your favourite,â he chuckles.Â
You didnât even get to take a proper seat before diving into the banh mi.Â
âI forgot to pack a lunch today,â you bubbled, mouth still half full with food.Â
Wonwoo continues to grin, pleased with himself that something small like this brings you so much happiness. Tutting, he jokingly scolds you, wiping the cilantro that stuck to your cheek.Â
âYou shouldnât talk when your mouth is full darling, youâll choke.âÂ
Rolling your eyes at him, you swallow your food and take a sip of water before continuing with the conversation.Â
âI woke up late today and forgot to make something for lunch, so thank you for this, I was starving,â you beam up at him, sitting cross-legged on the bench.Â
âItâs a good thing Iâm here then, right?â He chuckles, tucking a strand of hair behind your ear, not wanting it to get in the way of your eating.Â
âYeah I guess youâre right,â you mumble before taking another bite. âFuck this is so good right now, you donât even know.âÂ
Wonwoo hums, amused with your reaction before unwrapping his sandwich. Admiring his view of you, he continues to listen to you talk about how youâre absolutely in the trenches for your next cognitive psychology midterm.Â
âIâm so screwed. I canât seem to properly memorize the theories, especially the one about Piagetâs stages. It keeps getting mixed up in my head,â you mutter in between bites.Â
âI wish I could help, but you're the psych major,â Wonwoo shrugs, bemused at how your cheeks resemble those of a hamster.Â
âTrue. Enough about school, my head hurts just thinking about it,â you sigh.Â
âAlright. No school. Do you have plans for the weekend, at least?â Wonwoo asks.Â
Your eyes lit up at his question, and you were ready to divulge what you had going on for the end of the week. Midterms were only a few days away, and everyone was so high-strung about them. Wonwoo knew you just wanted it to be over. Youâve always been the type to hate preparing for exams.Â
âWell, June, Lynne, Leigh, and I are hitting up Raval on Friday. We wanted to celebrate the start of the mid-term break,â you explain. âYou can join us if you want.âÂ
Before either you or Wonwoo could get another word in, his phone rings obnoxiously on the table. His momâs caller ID flashes across his screen before he accepts the call, propping it up so the both of you are within the camera lens.Â
âHi mama!â you wave excitedly, Wonwooâs mom smiling back at you.Â
There wasnât much he was grateful for in life, but the fact that you and his mom were so close was one of those things.Â
âHey ma, whatâs up?â Wonwoo greets her, the grin on his face widening.Â
âHi, my babies. I just wanted to say hi!â His mom waves her hand at the camera, trying to stay in the frame.Â
âDear, did you get your box of peppermint tea?â she asks you, Wonwooâs gaze returning to your beautiful smile. No words could explain the happiness he felt seeing you talk to his mom.Â
âYes mama, I did, thank you so much! Iâve been drinking it every night,â you assure her, sending her flying kisses through the phone.Â
âWonwoo, treat her well while you guys are away, got it? I just wanted to check on you both real quick,â his mom chattered through the speaker.Â
âYes, ma, I know. Weâre eating lunch, but Iâll call you when I get home. Love you,â Wonwoo feigns annoyance but still tells her he loves her.Â
âBye, mama! Love you,â you bid her farewell, the call beeping indicating that Wonwoo had hung up.Â
For the rest of Wonwooâs lunch break, the two of you ate your banh mi in comfortable silence. There was a silent agreement of eating and just enjoying the view of the secret spot that Wonwoo shares with you. With everyone else gone, it was perfect.Â
If Wonwoo could have any superpower in the world, it would be able to stop time. He yearns for this moment to last forever. Enjoying your company in a secluded part of campus, where thereâs no one to bother you, no one to question your friendship.  Â
He longs for more days with you like this, away from the noise, away from distractions that cause his attention to stray away from who he cares about. He only needs one thing in his life to truly feel fulfilled, and it's you. Â
act three, Hold Me by the Heart.Â
chapter one.Â
Despite the reconciliation between you and Wonwoo, you still find yourself doubting his actions. Did he want to change for the sake of your friendship? Or was he only putting effort knowing you had almost slipped through his fingertips?Â
Warmth enveloped you every time he was around, every time he gave you small words of affirmation. Even with all these signs of growth from him, you still had that vexing churn in your gut.Â
That swirl of intuition felt like you were just waiting for the other shoe to drop. As much as you hate not being able to trust your best friend completely, apprehension continues to gnaw at your insides.Â
âHey? You still in there?â June interrupts your train of thought, waving her hand in front of your gaze.Â
âI thought you and Wonwoo made up?â She continued to press for answers, which was typical of her.Â
âWe did,â you sigh, taking a sip of your Long Island iced tea.Â
âThen why the long face?âÂ
âI donât know. Maybe Iâm just thinking too hard,â you chuckle, although thereâs no humour behind it.Â
June mirrors your expression, frowning alongside you as she pats your back, trying to get you out of your forlorn state.Â
âThat calls for another drink!â She attempts to lighten the mood, her pointer fingers poking at your smile lines, forcing a grin to grace your lips.Â
Rolling your eyes at her, you agree to her proposition. Not wanting to waste your weekend on immutable thoughts of Wonwoo. Heâs the only person who could make you sit around a room full of people and still feel like something, or rather, someone, was missing.Â
In the back of your mind, you wonder if he remembers the confession you accidentally spilled during your fight. In the midst of all the anger, the pent-up frustration, you deliberate whether he still remembers the fleeting âI love youâ that left your trembling lips that night.Â
Before you could blink, June was already back in her seat. A tray of shot glasses filled with brown liquor. There was enough for everyone to take at least two. Although you know itâs not a good idea to get drunk with the negative thoughts floating within your mind, you choose to ignore your rationality for one night.Â
âWonwoo still may be an asshole, but if he makes you happy, who am I to judge?â Leigh speaks up from his seat, knocking back the shot glass till itâs empty.Â
A small giggle leaves your lips, duplicating his actions and swallowing the alcohol in one go.Â
âSo what is the deal with you and Wonwoo now? I feel like every time I see you, heâs right behind you like some kind of brooding bodyguard,â Lynne queries, ready for you to fess up.Â
The breath you take in is sharp, not knowing where to even start. The past month has gone by in a blur, too many events happening in such a short amount of time. You couldnât even process it properly yourself, let alone recite all that has gone down to your friends.Â
âWell, I may have texted him after that incident with Seokmin. And after that, it just snowballed. He started driving me to school again, eating lunch with me, apologizing every chance he got. I-I donât even know anymore,â you inhale, not realizing that you have barely taken a chance to breathe.Â
âInterestingâŚâ Lynne mumbles, tapping on her chin as if she is deep in thought.Â
âHeâs just become more considerate. I donât know why heâs decided to change, but I canât complain because I can see the change,â you continue, defending him. After all, you knew your friends didnât see him in a particularly positive light.Â
There was a pause in the air, everyone sitting at the table still processing your defence. Even if they still hate him, you donât really care. Yes, you care for their opinions, and you cherish their affection for you, but Wonwoo deserves a second chance in your eyes.Â
âI mean⌠Isnât the reason heâs even acting like this because he hated seeing you with Seokmin?â Leigh disputes, and you frown.Â
Thereâs truth behind his statement. Wonwoo only noticed your absence because you had started hanging out with Seokmin more. But it worked in your favour, so can you even be mad?Â
âMaybe. Honestly, I donât think I care about his reasons. He's trying and thatâs all that should matter, right?â you mutter, taking another shot from the tray.Â
The looks on your friendsâ faces say more about what they want to say to you than their words ever could. Youâre disregarding Wonwooâs toxic behaviour in hopes that this new chapter with him is more than just some facade.Â
âOh, thatâs notâŚâ Leigh whispers under his breath but doesnât say more.Â
They know they canât change your mind.Â
[11:17 p.m.]Â [wons <3: still out with your friends?]Â
Your screen's brightness illuminates the bar's dim lighting, bringing everyone's attention to the bubble with Wonwooâs name clearly on display.Â
âSpeaking of the devil,â Lynne shakes her head as she nurses the drink in her hand.Â
[11:18 p.m.] [darling <3: yeahh, weâll probably head home after a few rounds, why?]Â [wons <3: jw. have fun darling]Â [darling <3: thx! ]
âI donât know about you guys, but Iâd rather we drink till I forget everything from midterms instead of talking about Wonwoo,â June pipes up, disrupting the silence that had enveloped your group.Â
As she calls for someone to bring more shots to your table, you quietly smile to yourself. Wonwoo usually was not one to text first, but itâs different now. Even if everyone else canât stand him, you canât help but feel the exact opposite.Â
Thereâs a hum of agreement, and everything becomes a blur after that. The constant flow of alcohol forces you to focus on whatâs in front of you. Wandering thoughts of Wonwoo are brought to a halt as you feel yourself slipping into a drunken state.Â
âŚÂ
âJun! My boyfriend is here!â June exclaims, practically walking sideways outside of Raval. Itâs deep into the night at this point and your friend decided that the best person to call was her boyfriend.Â
As she sways on the sidewalk, your two other friends hold you up in an attempt to keep you from falling face-first into the cement. Despite how late it was, there were still cars bustling past on the street. Junâs car idling as he tries his best to help his girlfriend into the passenger side.Â
The university town is still alive with students entering and exiting outside of the bars and restaurants as everyone celebrates the end of the week. You can only wish for Wonwoo to be here with you, but you knew he wasnât the type to go to bars this late, opting to stay up playing League on his computer instead.Â
âHey babe, if you want, you can call Wonwoo to come pick you up,â Lynne speaks to you soothingly, obviously not as intoxicated as you are. âYouâve been mumbling his name for like ten minutes now.âÂ
âWonwoo? Is he here?âÂ
âNo. But Iâm going to call him so he can get you,â she gives you a tight smile.
Pulling out your phone from her purse, and bringing the screen to your face. You widen your eyes, moving your head closer to the camera. A lopsided smile sneaks its way onto your lips as it unlocks.Â
âAre you sure this is a good idea? Sheâs fucking gone,â Leigh chastises his sister.Â
Lynne gives him an exasperated look, shrugging her shoulders. Her brother rolls his eyes in return, both defeated. They know they canât stop you from wanting Wonwoo, plus heâs the only one who knows the code to your apartment. Youâre too drunk to even unlock your phone, let alone press buttons on the keypad of your door lock.Â
Hell, you canât even stand without falling aimlessly to the ground.Â
âWonwoo? Itâs Lynne. Can you come to Raval?â you barely register your friend's voice, looking off into the distance. Hoping that Wonwoo would magically appear any second from now.Â
The call is dropped and they manoeuvre you onto the bench outside the entrance of the bar. Head flopping onto Leighâs shoulder, you close your eyes. Maybe the next time you open them, Wonwoo will be standing right in front of you.Â
What felt like seconds were actually ten minutes to your slightly more sober friends. Jun and June waiting diligently beside their car waiting for Wonwoo to finally arrive as the other two are constantly trying to keep you upright.Â
When they agreed to have a few more shots, they didnât expect you to take another five along with two more long islands. Regretful for their lack of heed, they had forgotten how much of a lightweight you are.Â
âOh! Fucking finally, I swear he drives like a Grandpa,â Leigh scoffs, seeing Wonwooâs car pull up behind Junâs.Â
âWhere is she?â Wonwoo's voice bellows, and itâs as if heâs near.Â
With your eyes still sealed shut, you mumble incoherently to Leigh, âItâs like heâs right here. Am I that drunk that Iâm imagining things?âÂ
âOh my god⌠take her home please,â Leigh doesnât answer your question and youâre slightly offended.Â
âHey!â you pout, finally opening your eyes as you feel someone tug you away from your source of heat.Â
Strong arms wrap themselves around your waist, a broad chest is the only thing within your line of sight.Â
âExcuse me! Iâm waiting for my Wonwoo to come and pick me up,â you squeak, slapping the chest of whoever is trying to take you away from your friends.Â
Thereâs a collective groan behind you.Â
âSheâs wasted.â Lynne sighs to her brother while he nods in agreement.
âYour Wonwoo?â A familiar voice has you stopping in your tracks.Â
Looking up at the once faceless person who was dragging you away, you find yourself face to face with the man you had been yearning for all night.Â
âWoah. You look just like him,â bemused with the stranger in front of you.Â
Squinting your eyes, your palm traces along his structured jaw. The tips of your finger poking at his cheek affirm your suspicions. He felt very real under your touch. Every line and freckle is scarily alike to your Wonwoo.Â
âLike who?âÂ
âMy Wonwoo.âÂ
The manâs chuckle vibrates deeply against your side. The same side where he has you pinned to his chest. A smug expression is plastered on his face as he watches you with intrigue.Â
âI believe thereâs only one Wonwoo,â he argues.Â
âI disagree,â you huff as he pats your head, ushering you to his car.
 Unsure of why youâre even following some random is beyond you at that moment. All you could think about is texting Wonwoo once youâre safely tucked into bed.Â
âThanks for giving me a call, she hasnât been answering her phone,â Wonwoo bids farewell to your friends as they start to pile into Junâs car.Â
âAt least you can see why she hasnât been texting you back. We mightâve given her too much to drink,â Lynne shakes her head as she chuckles at your drunken state.Â
âIf my opinion matters, I think I had the perfect amount,â you butt in, wanting your friends to know that you can still kind of register what theyâre saying.Â
âRightâŚâ Leigh speaks up. âAnyway, weâre going to leave now that youâre here. Make sure she gets home safe!âÂ
âWill do,â Wonwoo promises, waving them off as Jun drives away.Â
Glowering, you take a second look at him. How weird is it that a Wonwoo look-alike exists? Â
The street lights that line the sidewalk cause your vision to go in and out periodically. If you didnât know any better, you wouldâve thought that the man in front of you was the real deal. But you did know better, and you wouldâve recognized your Wonwoo from a mile away.Â
âI think itâs time that we get you home,â Wonwoo smirks down at you, reaffirming the grip he has on your waist.Â
âHow do you know where I live?â You interrogate him, finding it weird that this man would have your address in the first place.Â
âThatâs a secret that will be revealed later, darling,â He teases, opening the door to his car so you can take a seat.Â
Once heâs on the driver's side, Wonwoo adjusts your seatbelt so itâs not uncomfortable during the ride. The warmth of his arm brings you to snuggle against it, looking up at him with a coy smile.Â
âYou know, for a fake Wonwoo, youâre pretty cute.âÂ
âFake Wonwoo?âÂ
âYeah, real Wonwoo wouldnât come all this way just to pick me up,â you sigh, pulling away from his warmth to stare out the window dramatically.Â
âI think he would.âÂ
Laughing at his statement you roll your eyes. The person in front of you didnât know your best friend like you did.Â
âHow would you know?â You bite back. If anyone could win the âI know Wonwoo more than youâ contest, it's you.Â
âThatâs also a secret.âÂ
Slouching back into your seat you huff out a breath of air once again, âWhy do you have to have so many secrets?âÂ
âBecause.âÂ
âItâs a secret?â you counter. You had a feeling that would be his answer anyway.Â
âSee? Youâre finally getting it,â he gives you a cheesy smile, pinching your cheek.Â
Slapping his hand away, youâre offended at how endeared he is with you. The only thing on your mind was the softness of your comforter and the warm mint tea that you knew you were going to have later.Â
âJust take me home,â you sneer, shifting your whole body away from the driverâs side. Thighs pressed against the door, your brattiness starting to peek through your insobriety.Â
âHey, hey, donât be like that,â Wonwoo pouts, lip jutting out as his eyes sparkle under the city lights.Â
You donât budge, body firmly pressed against the plastic of the car door. Arms crossed as you feign annoyance at him.Â
âYou know, I get really scared driving at night. I think I need you to hold my hand.âÂ
With a sense of reluctance, you offer your hand to him. Unsure of what has you agreeing to his request, you canât say no to someone so handsome. Wonwoo interlaces his fingers with yours, and it surprises you how well your palm fits into his, allowing him to rest your intertwined hands on your lap. Â
The ride back to your apartment is peaceful for the most part. The wistful city lights calm the drumming beat of your heart. Everything moves past in a blur; you canât help but admire the cars driving past, time slowing down with the music lulling through the radio speakers.Â
Serenity is the best way to describe the time you spend sitting next to Wonwoo on the drive towards your place.Â
âI wonder if the real Wonwoo is thinking about me right now,â you mumble, still staring out the window.Â
Wonwooâs hand still entwined with yours, he hums along with the music, the other one on the steering wheel. Initially, you thought he didnât hear what you had said, but he ended up replying to you.Â
âI know he is.âÂ
Turning in your seat, you look at him, analyzing his side profile as he stares ahead. Thereâs yet another frown that settles into the fine line of your face, how could he possibly know whether or not Wonwoo is thinking about you?Â
âYou donât know that,â you speak with a sour tone.Â
âI do though,â he counters with a glance towards you.Â
âHow?âÂ
Disgruntled at his amusement, you know heâs just going to say itâs another one of his secrets, which youâre starting to get sick and tired of. Why canât he just tell you? Itâs not like youâll see him after today.Â
âNevermind. Youâre just going to say itâs a secret,â you grumble but still hold onto his hand.Â
For whatever reason, you become engrossed in the view of your hands linked together. His slender fingers and clean nails had you intrigued. You had a feeling that you looked silly just staring at his hand in yours, but there was no helping it.Â
Fake Wonwoo has nice hands.Â
âYou have pretty hands,â you tell him, no filter left within you due to your lack of sobriety.Â
âThank you,â he grins, tightening his grasp on you.Â
The drive felt longer than youâre used to, but you decided to blame everything on the alcohol.Â
âAre we almost there yet?âÂ
âYes darling, just a few more minutes,â he answers you, rubbing small circles on the side of your thumb.
Another five minutes felt more like a year, but you couldnât complain. Your seat was comfortable, the heater was at the right temperature and Wonwooâs hold brought you solace.Â
âWeâre here. Iâm gonna help you out okay? So just sit pretty and Iâll get you,â Wonwoo explains, and your cheeks burn from his indirect compliment.Â
âOkay.âÂ
A few seconds pass and the door opens, his tall figure slouching down to grab you by your waist. He circles behind your back before leaning over to undo the seatbelt. It was almost too affectionate for a stranger, but something inside you had you leaning your head against his shoulder.Â
âDonât worry about walking. Iâll carry you.âÂ
You donât respond to him, instead, you wrap your arms around his broad shoulders and hold onto him even tighter. Breathing in his cologne, you smell the familiar scent of Wonwooâs cologne. Your olfactory senses take in the aroma of rose and pear.Â
Lazy Sunday Morning. It was your favourite out of all the perfumes he owns.Â
Closing your eyes, you allow Wonwoo to carry you inside your apartment. The sound of buttons beeping at the front of the entrance, and the warmth of his body, almost entranced you into a slumber. But you didnât want the fantasy to end, you didnât want this version of Wonwoo to slip out of your grasp.Â
Nose nuzzling into the dip between his neck and shoulder, you make yourself comfortable as he stands inside the elevator, you in his arms, waiting to ascend to your floor.
The beeping sound returns as Wonwoo opens the front door that leads to your home. Thereâs a sense of wonder: Would this be what it would be like if Wonwoo were finally yours?Â
Would he carry you to bed when you were too tired to stand? Hold your hand in his during every car ride? The thought of those things happening seemed like it would only be possible in some made-up faraway land.Â
âDarling, weâre home,â Wonwooâs baritone voice brings you out of your half-awake dream.Â
Weâre home. How bittersweet it sounds coming from the lips of someone who isnât yours.Â
âThank you.âÂ
âAnything for you.âÂ
The mattress sinks a tad as you feel yourself being placed into the warmth of your comforter. Your arms donât let go of your hold on Wonwooâs shoulders. As you stare into his eyes, the dim lighting of your bedside lamp aids in resurfacing a sense of clarity within you.Â
âWill you finally tell me your secrets?â You whisper, even though there is no reason to.Â
âOnly if you tell me yours.âÂ
There's a pause. No one dares to speak as you two continue to look at each other in silence. All that is left unspoken can be seen through his eyes, you wanted to ask. Every particle inside you just wanted to know whether there was a chance he felt the same way you did.Â
âCome and lay beside me?â You request, tone laced with reticence.Â
âAnything for you,â he repeats once again.Â
Lowering his body onto yours, arms still circling his shoulders, he shifts a little so that your hands are still on him. The two of you face each other while the atmosphere is left unwavering.Â
What you thought would be better left unsaid takes permanent residence at the forefront of your mind. Why do you want to tell this version of Wonwoo your deepest most kept secrets all of a sudden?Â
Perhaps you thought that if you admitted anything now, itâll be forgotten in the morning. It was safe with this fantasy Wonwoo who had no real attachment to the one who lives in your reality. But the effects of all those shots have started to wear off, and youâre left with a very real version of the person youâre irrevocably in love with.Â
âYou have to go first,â you speak in a hushed tone.Â
Wonwooâs arms grip your waist tighter, pulling you into his chest. The arms that are linked behind his neck do the same, holding him taut against you. You donât want him to leave. You donât want this form of Wonwoo to disappear before your eyes.Â
âWell, I didnât think it would take you this long to realize but, I am the real Wonwoo,â his chuckle is deep, the glint of amusement sparkling in his eyes.Â
âI think I did. I just didnât want this dream to end,â you smile bitterly.Â
âBut itâs not a dream? Iâm here with you, and Iâm very real.âÂ
Burying your face into his sweater, you sigh harshly. This is where it ends.Â
âIâm sorry. It was probably such a nuisance having to pick me up just for me to spew out nonsense in return,â Youâre embarrassed, hiding your face even further into his chest.Â
âWill you please look at me?â Wonwoo asks, his voice low, âYouâll never be a nuisance to me.âÂ
 His hand comes up to your head, fingers carding down your hair. Staring deeply into your eyes, you can feel his sincerity. The breath in your throat is caught and youâre unable to conjure up a reply.Â
âI know that old version of me is stuck in your mind, but I donât want to be like that anymore. Iâm willing to pick you up, no matter the distance. I wish you knew that sooner,â he vows, eyebrows scrunching as he tries to convey his feelings to you.Â
âIâll tell you my secret since you told me yours. I donât think I would be able to say this while Iâm sober,â you begin to lay your heart out bare for him.Â
Taking a moment to think about how you want to word your confession, you grasp the hand thatâs cradling your head. Intertwining your fingers with his once again, you stare at Wonwoo like heâs the answer to all your problems.Â
The siren-like voice that sings within your heart is finally able to release itself from the prison your brain had placed it in. All youâve wanted from Wonwoo was for him to love you, and on the off chance he feels the same way, then youâre willing to take the plunge into the deep waters of the unknown.Â
âI donât know if you remember me telling you, that time during our fight. I wasâI am in love with you. I know you donât feel the same way, I understand, but I donât think I can be friends with you after this.âÂ
âReal or fake, whatever you are or whatever this moment is. Iâm still in love with you. I hate that I canât tell you this without feeling scared or ashamed. Iâve loved you since the moment you came into class with your big nerdy glasses. Iâve loved you since you came back for a senior year when you had everyoneâs attention on you. And Iâve loved you even when you were in love with someone else.âÂ
Taking a breath, you stop your tangent for a moment before beginning again.Â
âIâve loved you during everything weâve been through together. Even when I chose to ignore you, I woke up every morning with you still on my mind. It was hard, and I donât know why I couldnât let go of my feelings for you but a part of me was always hoping that one day you would feel the same way.â Â
Itâs done. There was nothing you could do to backtrack on your words. No time machine to take away your confession and erase it from his memory. Your heart felt free for the first time in years, and the weight on your shoulders lightened exponentially.Â
Wonwoo doesnât dare speak, and your pulse quickens from his prolonged silence. The mere seconds that passed felt like an eternity, and that was enough to bring you out of your drunken state.Â
âWill you still love me tomorrow? When it's morning, and youâre sober. Will I still be the one you love?â Wonwoo's voice is timbre, barely loud enough to hear over your beating heart.Â
âYes. Even when you werenât around. Even when you werenât available, I still loved you,â you admit to him.Â
The fingers that were laced with yours move to your jaw, Wonwooâs palm tracing every outline of your face. The rough skin from his thumb contrasts the softness of your cheek. Memorizing every line and wrinkle, he continues to caress you, as if he was communicating with his touch.Â
âIf you didnât want me tomorrow, youâd still be the person I wake up thinking about. I hated not knowing whether you meant what you said,â he pauses, clarifying his jumble of words, âthe night we fought, I mean. Because I heard you, even when I was blinded with jealousy and anger. I had hoped you meant what you confessed to me that night.âÂ
The sinking feeling in your stomach doesnât subside. There hadnât been a day in all the years youâve known your best friend where you thought you would hear him reciprocate the feelings you were holding deep down inside you.
âWhat Iâm trying to say is that Iâm in love with you. Iâm sorry it took so long for me to realize that it was you all along. I donât know why I never admitted it to myself, but youâve been in front of me this whole time.âÂ
The pad of Wonwooâs thumb shadows over your bottom lip, your breath hitching under his touch. With soft eyes and an even softer touch, Wonwoo couldnât take his hands off you. There was no lewd denotation behind his actions, just wanting to feel his skin against yours.Â
âI feel so much regret because you were always the one person I truly wanted and I never acted on those instincts,â Wonwoo confided, the weight of his words seeping into you with a profound sense of awareness.Â
âIâm yours, Wonwoo. That will never change,â you speak frankly.Â
âJust promise me youâll love me tomorrow too,â he chokes out.Â
âIâll love you even if there is no tomorrow.âÂ
chapter two, the first day of junior year.Â
Before the age of sixteen, everything was a blur. Your routine was mundane, with average grades, average parents, and an even more average love life. Before the age of sixteen, there were no particular moments in all your years worth noting. It wasnât until you met Wonwoo on the first day of eleventh grade.Â
Once you laid your eyes on him, you saw the potential of a new friendship. However, your teenage self didnât realize how deep-rooted Wonwoo would become in your life from that day forward.Â
âHi! Itâs nice to meet you. Wonwoo right?â You greeted, your figure looming over Wonwoo who was sitting at the picnic table in the school's courtyard.Â
The September sun shone bright, blinding Wonwoo as he placed a hand over his eyes to get a better look at the stranger in front of him.Â
You explicitly remembered him eating lunch alone while playing Super Smash Bros on his Nintendo Switch. His black hair was long and covered his forehead, glasses were thick and large-framed. Wonwoo was a breath of fresh air from the other boys at your school. Unlike the rest of them, he was more reserved and didnât talk much. His silence intrigued you.Â
âHi?â he replied as a confused frown graced his lips before he returned to his game.
Deciding to ignore his introverted personality, you introduce yourself. You take out your lunch box, unveiling the spam musubi you prepared the night before.Â
âDo you mind if I join you?â you ask him even though youâve already begun unpacking the food from your bag.Â
âWell, I guess itâs okay,â he shrugged, interested in everything but the person sitting beside him.Â
Peering closer at his screen, you watched with intent. The two characters fighting on a floating stage, Wonwoo spamming buttons with expertise. Youâve played Super Smash Bros before, but you werenât as good as him.Â
âAre you playing Smash Bros? Youâre really good,â you mumbled, taking a bite of your food.Â
âThanks.âÂ
Miffed by his lack of speech, you continued to watch him play, his triangle kimbap left ignored as he focused on winning.Â
âYou can do multiplayer with this right? Can I play too?â you asked him, observing his gameplay over his shoulder.Â
He shoots you a quirked eyebrow before returning his attention to his screen. Three to zero. You found Wonwoo to be an expert compared to your novice skills.Â
âYou know how to play?â Wonwoo stared at you in disbelief.Â
âDuh! Sometimes Seokmin brings his switch for spare period. I only play Cloud or Bayonetta though,â you explained.Â
Wonwoo looked impressed with your knowledge of the characters. He shrugged his shoulders before setting up his switch into a two-player mode. Handing you the red switch controller, you shook your head in refusal.Â
âNope. I can only play with the blue controller.âÂ
âHuh? How does that even make sense?â He scoffed but gave you the blue one anyway.Â
Taking the controller from his hands, you gave him a grateful smile.Â
âBlue is my favourite colour,â you told him, bumping your shoulder with his.Â
Wonwoo is confused by your outward personality, unsure of how to react to you being so comfortable with someone you had just met, but he didnât complain. It was his first day at a new school and it wouldnât be so bad making a new friend as soon as possible.Â
The player screen lit up and you quickly decided on Cloud, while Wonwoo opted to play Kirby. Smart, you thought. If played correctly, Kirby can easily absorb the abilities of his opponents.Â
With a randomly chosen stage, the game commenced. It didnât take long for Wonwoo to win. He was more experienced than you were, but you had fun nonetheless.Â
âYouâre terrible at this,â He chuckles, looking at you with a cat-like smile.Â
The smitten grin on your face was difficult to hide as you stared back into his eyes. Something shifted in you that day, and it marked the first time you saw Wonwoo in a romantic light. Call it cliche for falling for him so quickly, but you couldnât help it, you were only human after all.Â
âI never said I was good,â you shrugged, feigning innocence.Â
âI guess youâre right.âÂ
âCan we play again tomorrow?âÂ
âSure,â Wonwoo nodded his head, placing down his switch to get back to his food.Â
Enraptured by him from that moment on, you found yourself hopelessly wishing to become closer to Wonwoo. If there was one sure thing about you, it was persistence. From that day forward, you didnât leave Wonwooâs side, spending your lunch under the autumn sun and playing games on his switch.Â
âŚÂ
october of junior year.Â
[10:00 p.m] [you: did you finish ur hw? :D] [wonwoo: yes. did u?] [you: nope :( it was hurting my brain so im watching nana] [wonwoo: nana?] [wonwoo: never heard of it] [you: omgâŚ] [you: itâs the best anime ever!!] [wonwoo: i didnât know u liked anime] [you: uve got a lot to learn abt me wons] [wonwoo: wons?] [you: my nickname for u obvs hehe] [*you changed wonwooâs nickname to wons*] [wons: ok] [you: u should watch it. It WILL change your life] [wons: ok, maybe later. gotta go to bed. see u tmrw] [you: ok grandpa :p see u tmrw!!] [you: bring ur switch!] [wons: sure. bye.]Â
âŚ
âWonwoo! Wait up for me,â you hollered, waving your hand in the air even though his back was facing towards you.Â
Turning around, Wonwoo stared blankly as you ran up to him. Halting his steps, he waited for you to catch up. The backpack you were wearing flops up and down as you picked up your speed.Â
The weather was colder now, and the leaves morphed into deeper shades of yellow and red. Wind whistling as you finally reached where he stood, you gave him a bright smile, so bright that it offset the gloomy sky.Â
âMorning,â he greeted you.Â
Air knocked out of your chest, and you folded over with your hands on your knees, trying to calm your racing heartbeat. Wonwoo grasped your elbow to help, but this didnât help your already out-of-breath state. His touch caused sparks to erupt under your skin. Luckily, the commotion caused by your run concealed your nerves.Â
âWhy didnât you tell me we lived on the same street?â you heaved while Wonwoo used his grip to help you stand straight.
âHow was I supposed to know?â he rebutted.Â
Rolling your eyes at him, you knew he was right. But if you had known sooner, you couldâve spent your previous mornings walking with him to school.Â
âCan we walk to school together from now on then?â you batted your eyelashes at him, shooting him a sweet smile.Â
âI donât mind,â he shrugged his shoulders again.Â
Youâve found Wonwoo to be quite nonchalant, his reactions never more than a distant stare, a chuckle, or a shoulder shrug, no in between. Wonwooâs lack of care for anything and everything is what endeared you the most. Despite his standoffish personality, you knew there was more to him deep down. He didnât talk much, but his actions spoke louder than his words did.Â
âŚÂ
november of junior year.
Thanks to your English teacher, Mr. Park, you and Wonwoo have been paired up for your biology project. Not only did that mean you would get to spend more time with Wonwoo but it also meant you secured a good grade for the assignment.Â
Science in general has never been your strong suit, but whenever you asked Wonwoo to explain the concepts to you, everything somehow made sense.Â
The walk to his house was nerve-wracking. It was the first time going over to a boyâs place, and the fact that it was Wonwoo made you even more anxious. He didnât talk much about his family unless you asked. The only thing you knew was that he had an older brother named Seongho.Â
âMa! Iâm home,â Wonwoo greeted his mother, and you're taken aback by how loud his voice got.Â
Due to his introverted personality, Wonwoo didnât talk at school unless spoken to, and it was exciting to finally see him in a setting where he was comfortable.Â
His mom poked her head out from the kitchen and gave you both a warm smile. Patting her hands off the apron, she immediately pulled you into a hug. She smelt like lavender and vanilla, giving off a homey aroma.Â
âWonwoo! You didnât tell me you got a girlfriend,â she exclaimed, pinching her sonâs cheek.Â
Wonwoos's face flared red, and he retracted from his mother's touch. âSheâs not my girlfriend. We have a project to work on.âÂ
âOops! Sorry. You two had better get to work then. Iâll call you when the food is ready. Youâll stay for dinner, right dear?â She beamed down at you.Â
âIf you and Wonwoo donât mind, then I can,â you grinned at her while Wonwoo was urging you upstairs.Â
âOf course, I donât mind. Itâs nice to see my little Wonwoo making friends at his new school,â she cooed at her son, which had him rolling his eyes.Â
âMom, Iâm sixteen,â Wonwoo groaned, discreetly stepping towards the direction of his room.Â
âThanks, Mrs. Jeon!â you responded as Wonwoo dragged you by the wrist, hauling you along with him.Â
His fingers are wrapped around your forearm, trying to get you away from his Mom as fast as he could.Â
The moment you stepped into his room, you found it cleaner than an average teenage boyâs would be. Your eyes panned over his space, spotting the gaming pc in the corner. Marvelling at the RGB lighting, you gasped at the clicky-ness of the keyboard.Â
âWoah⌠this is so cool!â you gushed, tapping random keys to feel the switches underneath.Â
âI guess,â Wonwoo muttered, shutting the door behind him.Â
The closed door muffled any sound from outside his room, and you were left alone with Wonwoo and the silence he brought along with him.Â
âYour mom is really nice,â you chirped.Â
Wonwoo responded with a shrug of his shoulders. Classic. Instead of saying anything more, he took the poster board out of his bag and placed it on his bed.Â
âWe should get started,â Wonwoo said firmly.Â
You could only sigh at how serious he was about school. Of course, you knew the importance of diligence when it comes to projects and assignments, but you felt that this was the perfect time to learn more about your new friend.Â
Sitting beside him on his bed, you crossed your legs and took the large biology textbook out of the bag alongside your laptop.Â
âInherited genes and Sickle-cell anemia, sounds boring,â you huffed.Â
Wonwoo ignored your statement and grabbed the textbook from you to look up information that would help with your project.Â
âDonât you think weâre working on this too early? We have likeâŚtwo weeks,â you whined.Â
âThe sooner we get this over with the better,â he nipped, flipping the pages without a single glance over at you.Â
The brightness of your laptop illuminated Wonwooâs dim room. Aside from the computer and his bedside lamp, the rest of his lights were off. Opening up the doc, you couldnât help but sneak glances over at him.Â
Wonwoo fixed his glasses, pushing the frames up his tall nose. You couldnât stop yourself from staring. There was something about him that made him undeniably handsome, your teenage brain couldnât comprehend it.Â
âYâknow Mr. Park is pretty chill. We donât have to do this all in one night.âÂ
âI know,â Wonwoo muttered, still reading the textbook, looking for information to cite for your project.Â
Wonwoo could feel your eyes focused on him, but he ignored them, pretending to read the words on the page instead. Wonwoo didnât mind that you had a habit of staring at him, but he didnât know how to spark conversation. You were quite talkative, so he decided that it was better for you to take the lead.Â
Putting up with his adamance, the two of you worked on your project for a good hour before you decided that the words "sickle cell" and "genes" were hurting your eyes.Â
âCan we take a break, it feels like my brain is going to pop out of my skull,â you sighed, flopping against his mattress.Â
Wonwoo shot you a scolding expression but gave in to your wishes. And like a lightbulb had gone off in your head, you quickly got back up. Furiously typing on your laptop, you go onto the illegal site where you had NANA bookmarked.Â
âHow about we watch an episode? You havenât started it yet right?â you enquired, looking at him with the biggest grin on your face.Â
âI havenât, no,â he answered you.Â
With a squeal, you clicked on the first episode while making yourself comfortable. Wonwoo moved next to you, and excitement coursed through your veins. His warmth radiated off him, and the feeling of him sitting so close made butterflies erupt within you.Â
Despite Wonwooâs reluctance to take a break from schoolwork, you found him genuinely interested in the show. Nothing could compare to the feeling of sitting in silence with him, just enjoying his presence as NANA played on your laptop.Â
For the rest of your self-declared break, you and Wonwoo got through the first two episodes.Â
There was a part of you that wondered if he could hear how fast your heart was racing, being that close to him. But you felt daring in that moment, allowing yourself to rest your head against his shoulder. Wonwoo stiffened slightly at your proximity but didnât budge. If anything, he relaxed further. So you stayed in that position, if he could hear your thumping pulse, you didnât care.Â
âWell, what do you think?â you looked up at him, curious about his first impression.Â
âItâs good. Nana seems very naive though,â he disclosed, pushing his glasses up once again.Â
âHmm, interesting. The plot gets better the more you watch, so I hope youâll give it a chance,â you gave him a shy smile which he returned.Â
Any other person probably wouldâve refused to watch this show with you. Knowing Wonwoo, he was more into shounen than shoujo or slice of life. Yet, he spent an hour watching an anime that was out of his usual genre. It made you feel safe. Safe enough to talk about your interests without worrying whether or not heâd find you bothersome.Â
âSure. I think I liked it enough to watch on my own,â he admitted.Â
âWait. Really?â you gasped, shocked that he enjoyed it.Â
âYeah. At least then we have more to talk about,â he specified.
The smile on your face broadened, and you leaned into him even more as you both stared ahead, starting the third episode. Once again, he didnât stop you. Instead, Wonwoo wrapped his arm around your shoulder pulling you closer to him.Â
âYouâre a good friend Wons,â you confirmed.Â
âAnd youâre my only friend,â he confessed, patting your shoulder.Â
âDon't worry. Iâll always be your friend,â you mumbled before staring deeply into his eyes.Â
Wonwoo chuckled at your words, nodding his head in agreement.Â
âI feel like I should be the one saying that,â he mused, his thumb rubbing circles into your skin.Â
âItâs okay. Iâm glad I decided to sit next to you on the first day of school,â you laughed, reminiscing about that warm September day.Â
âIâm glad too.âÂ
After that day, Wonwoo had become more comfortable with talking to you about the things he didnât share with others. He made you feel special. Although you had close friends like Seokmin and Mingyu during your first two years in high school, there were parts about yourself that you knew you couldnât unveil to them.Â
It wasnât that they were judgmental or bad friends; Wonwoo just brought out something different in you. Although it took a while to break him out of his shell, he continued to reveal more about himself the more time you spent with him.Â
The closeness that you two shared that night in his bedroom, watching NANA on your laptop sparked a flame inside you. Wonwoo took over every crevice of your mind, his scent, his touch, even if it was a mere hand on your shoulders, you didnât want to go a day without him. Life was meaningless before you met Wonwoo, a blur of memories you couldnât pinpoint. Now that he was with you, you didnât want to ever go back to a time when he was not by your side.Â
chapter three, present time.Â
Sunlight pours through your curtains, hitting your eyes with a blinding sheen. The ache of last night's decisions trickles down your head and into the tense muscles of your shoulders. You can only curse your past self for drinking way more than your limit allows.Â
Whatever had happened last night felt straight out of a movie, especially because it had caused you to dream about Wonwoo finally being yours. As you recollect the memories of yesterday, the pang in your heart intensifies.Â
The oddly vivid visions of you and Wonwoo cuddling under blankets leave a bitter taste in your mouth. It felt so real you could almost smell the faint lingering scent of his cologne on your sheets. But alas, it was just another drunken fantasy you wish you could live in.Â
âIâll love you even if there is no tomorrow.â
You almost scoff at how cheesy you sounded in your dream. What kind of fool speaks this articulate after countless shots of tequila?Â
The sounds of pots clanging brings you out of your thoughts, and you practically jump off your mattress and run to the entrance of your room. Placing an ear against the thick wood, you listen carefully for signs of an intruder. Thereâs a grunt that resounds through your apartment and has sirens blaring in your mind. You mustâve been very drunk last night, and stupid enough to leave your door unlocked.Â
There was nothing in your bedroom that could be of use to you in a situation like this. Except for the dildo that June gifted you for your birthday last year. With a defeated sigh, you decided that it was needed during this life-or-death situation. Opening up your drawer you carefully take out the pink sparkly dildo that was still left in its packaging, gripping it tightly as you burst through the door.Â
Screaming, you lunge towards the intruderâs large frame with your eyes shut tight, smacking him repeatedly with the phallic piece of plastic.Â
âGet out! You freak! Get out!â You shriek, hitting his back with a large thump.Â
The intruder groans in pain, the sound of his discomfort all too familiar. Halting your assault on his naked back, you open your eyes. Only for your sight to befall an extremely muscular and shirtless Wonwoo.Â
âOw! What the fuck?â Wonwoo grunts, turning around to see your smaller frame gripping a bright pink dildo.Â
His eyes widen with recognition, adjusting his glasses, he chuckles at you and your dishevelled state. The sex toy in your hand falls to the ground as you stare at him with an expression filled with not only pure shock but horror.Â
Never in your life did you think that Wonwoo would be the one standing shirtless in your kitchen. The idea of someone breaking into your house seems more plausible than whatever is happening before your eyes right now.Â
âIâm tryna make you breakfast, and this is how you repay me?â Wonwoo laughs, grabbing the toy from your kitchen floor and placing it down on the counter.Â
âI-Uhm. Itâs a gift! Yeah,â you stutter, âJune gave me it last year as a gift. Itâs unused, I promise.âÂ
Wonwoo quirks an eyebrow at you, stepping forward, crowding you with his large chest. The counter hits your back and you find yourself caged between the granite and Wonwooâs naked upper half.Â
âSo you used it to hit me instead?â Wonwoo deducts, his palms gripping the counter so you have nowhere left to run.Â
Despite the awkward situation you put yourself in, your mind is elsewhere now that Wonwoo has you in his hold. The words that you want to come out of your mouth are clogged with Wonwooâs bare chest, the only thing youâre able to focus on.Â
âW-well, I thought you were breaking in so,â you start but Wonwoo cuts you off.Â
âDo you not remember what happened last night, darling?â He asks you, and the breath in your throat is caught.Â
âLast night? I-I thought that was a dream,â you mutter, still staring deeply into his eyes.Â
Sighing, Wonwoo pushes the loose strand of hair behind your ear before cupping your cheek. His thumb moves languidly against your skin while you lean into his touch even more.Â
âNo. It wasnât a dream. I told you I loved you last night and I meant it,â he clarifies, earnest with his confession.Â
âI love you too,â the words spill out of your mouth effortlessly, like you were meant to tell him all along.Â
Grinning down at you, Wonwoo places a gentle kiss on your lips. His large hands cupping your face as he does so.Â
Pulling back he smiles at you once again, satisfied with the one little peck that he had given you. But you canât help but pout. You wanted more from him, but there was a lot to address than just the feelings you two shared last night.Â
Like the dildo suctioned to your counter, for example.Â
âWhy are you shirtless?â you ask, starting with the first thing in front of you.Â
âBecause darling, youâre wearing my shirt,â answering nonchalantly as he turns back to hand you a plate of eggs and bacon.Â
Oh, right. You look down at the white shirt thatâs draped over your frame. Dumbfounded, you mumble a quick thanks before nibbling on the food he gave you.Â
Wonwoo grips your hand, pulling you to sit down on the couch with him. You werenât sure what else to say, opting to focus on the food in front of you instead. If there was something Wonwoo wanted to mention, you gave him the time to do so.Â
âYou probably donât remember me helping you get ready for bed. You were kinda out of it once we got home,â he explains.Â
With your legs crossed on the sofa, you nod, processing the information before waiting for him to continue.Â
Wiping the corner of your mouth, Wonwooâs lips are upturned into a fond smile. Your cheeks grow hot as he continues to stare.Â
âWhatever happened last night wasnât a dream. I do love you, I mean it. I want to be yours if youâll give me a chance,â he professes.Â
All while youâre sitting there eating strips of bacon and a couple of eggs. You had been mistaken to think that last night was some fever dream because this moment is more fitting.Â
For anyone else, eating while Wonwoo is admitting his love for you would be odd, and out of the ordinary. But this felt natural somehow like a different version of you in some other universe has already experienced it.Â
âI just want to be yours, Wonwoo.â you sigh, placing your plate on the coffee table.Â
Inching closer to him, you place yourself on his lap, your hands circling his broad shoulders. Your head makes itself at home in the dip between his shoulder and neck as you breathe in his cologne.Â
Lazy Sunday Morning. Your favourite.Â
âIâve always just wanted to be yours,â your voice is meek, muffled from hiding your face against his skin.Â
Wonwooâs hand rubs up and down the expanse of your back, and you relax under his touch. Completely disarmed under the daze of your subsiding headache and the steady inhale and exhale of his breath.Â
Nothing else in the world matters to you when youâre in his hold. Outside disruptions are muted, the only thing that can be heard is your heart pounding within the confines of your chest.Â
Pulling back from where your head was resting, you drink in Wonwooâs every feature. The ones that youâve memorized and the ones youâve missed from never being this close to him. You want to know all of him, want to feel and see all of him.Â
With the most delicate of motions, you place your lips over his. Thereâs a ruggedness to his skin, yet he feels so gentle against you all at the same time. The softness of love that youâve never experienced before. There havenât been many instances where youâve got to kiss someone so deeply, yet itâs the least of your worries. All that matters to you now is Wonwoo.Â
He tightens his grip on your waist, pulling you closer to him, which almost seemed impossible. But he makes it happen anyway, clutching onto you like his life depended on it.Â
âWonwoo.â Pulling away, you whimper breathlessly, wanting more and more of him.Â
The sweet sounds that erupt from you cause a groan to leave his throat, crashing his lips against yours once again. The tenderness that was evident before is overtaken by the heat of lust. Like tides to an ocean, Wonwoo kisses you with full force, and you donât care if you can barely breathe or if your heart is suddenly going into overdrive. Youâd rather suffocate in his grasp than go another minute without him all over you.Â
âYouâre fucking perfect, darling,â Wonwoo whispers in your ear, his lips trailing down your cheek and down to your neck.Â
Your head lolls with pleasure, feeling him press hot kisses against your scorching skin. Tiny licks here and there that force your eyes to roll back, you find purchase in his black locks, tugging at them in an attempt to ground yourself.Â
âBe my girlfriend. Be mine, please,â Wonwoo speaks in hushed tones, his lips searing against the shell of your ear.Â
You moan out, nodding your head as his hand moves down to squeeze the meat of your ass. He pulls you right onto his hardening length, your sleep shorts leaving nothing up to the imagination. The hands he has placed on your bottom forces you to drag your hips back and forth against his clothed dick.Â
âYes, I want it so bad. I wanna be yours, forever,â you sigh, mustering up enough brainpower to answer him.
Before you two could get any further the shrill of a ringtone brings you out of your lustful state. Wonwoo refuses to let you go, instead, he keeps you firmly on his lap while he answers the phone.Â
You canât help but giggle at how frustrated he looks. Eyebrows furrowed with a disappointed frown on his swollen lips. Heâs still hard against you, and the thought of teasing him while heâs speaking to someone over the phone seems like a brilliant idea.Â
âWhat do you want, Jeonghan?â Wonwoo grumbles, his hand moving under your shorts to squeeze you properly.Â
While his hand massages into the fat, you kiss up his neck while rubbing yourself against his clothed cock. His voice becomes strained, attempting to cover up the sounds of pleasure heâs emitting with a cough.Â
âWhat? You had to call me just for that?â Wonwoo seethes, yet he continues to play with your ass as he takes his call. As if youâre some type of stress ball to relieve his vexation.Â
âNo. Sheâs right beside me,â he mumbles and you perk up now that his attention is back on you.Â
Grabbing the phone that heâs holding, you greet Jeonghan through the speaker.Â
âHi Hannie!âÂ
âHi, beautiful. Are you down to go to my place tonight? Everyoneâs coming over,â Jeonghan explains, his voice like honey.Â
Wonwoo rolls his eyes at the pet names, clearly unamused by his friend's flirty personality. Without a second to waste, he dives into the skin at the base of your neck, trickling down to your exposed shoulder where the collar of his shirt fails to cover.Â
âO-of course! Weâll see you later, okay?â you stutter, unable to focus with Wonwoo all over you.Â
âGot it! Donât be late, love you!â He says his goodbyes before hanging up.Â
âLove you too!â
Wonwoo stops in his tracks, his eyes piercing into yours, deadly and swirling with desire. The phone in your hand is discarded somewhere on the floor before he grabs your face, pinching you with his thumb and index finger.Â
âYouâve got a lot of nerve baby, teasing me like that. Telling Jeonghan you love him,â Wonwoo spits, but there's amusement behind his serious tone.Â
âMâsorry, Iâll make it up to you later, okay? I want to get ready for Jeonghanâs thing,â you smile at him cheekily as you release yourself from his hold.Â
âOh Iâm sure you will,â he huffs, but lets you go anyway.
Acting unaffected, you get up from his lap, running to the bathroom to start a shower while you leave Wonwoo hot and bothered on the couch. You canât help but giggle to yourself, excited for whatever awaits you later on.Â
The pain and undeniable suffering you had gone through seemed like a memory of the past. The years of yearning for your best friend are nothing but another fever dream. At least you wish it was all a dream, but now that you have Wonwoo in this reality, you donât want to let him go.Â
It's almost laughable how quickly things can change overnight, it felt like yesterday you were crying yourself to sleep over Wonwoo not reciprocating your feelings, and now you have him shirtless on the couch after a very hot make-out session.Â
This must be what your heart was telling you all along. This must be what was beyond the dark water of the unknown. Youâre thankful you took the plunge because the risk of unveiling your true feelings has given you something undeniably saccharine in return.Â
Kiss it Better.Â
chapter one.
When Wonwoo met you for the first time, he couldnât help but find you annoying. You had a habit of sticking to his side when he chose to spend time alone, but in hindsight, it brought him more joy than annoyance.Â
He had always been a shy kid and preferred to sit alone at lunch playing games or reading. But when you came into his life, he realized that some company isnât so bad after all.Â
Now that heâs older, and the two of you have grown together, he wouldnât replace your presence for anyone else. There was something about your personality that made him feel comfortable. It wasnât long before Wonwoo found a home within you, from your bright smile to your incessant need to play Super Smash Bros each lunch period. Heâs thankful he had decided to let the walls he built up come down for the sake of your friendship.
âŚÂ
It wasnât long before the two of you arrived at Jeonghanâs apartment. The door was left unlocked for others to come and go as they pleased. Music was blasting from his surround-sound speakers. Wonwoo wasnât sure how his friend was able to get away from noise complaints, but he decided that it wasnât any of his business.Â
The only thing he was looking forward to was the look on Seokminâs face once he saw that you were finally his.Â
Wonwoo didnât care that it was selfish of him to arrive with you draped on his arm; he wanted everyone to know that you were off limits. He simply couldnât wait to see the reactions that would erupt from his friends once he disclosed that heâd claimed his mark on you.Â
âWonwoo!â Jeonghan calls out for him, standing by the island pouring drinks for him and Seungcheol.Â
His attention diverges, stalking over to his friends with your hand clasped in his. The small action doesnât go unnoticed as he watches Jeonghan briefly glance over to your intertwined hands.Â
The pride brewing in his chest swells, you look irresistible and he knows what awaits him later on when you two get home. But he can indulge in his fantasy later, for now, heâll settle for admiring your beauty in a more discreet way. Which wasnât all that methodical in retrospect, because he canât take his eyes off you.Â
Your skirt is short and the frilly lace top youâre wearing shows off your cleavage tastefully. If Wonwoo had it his way, he wouldnât have let you out of your apartment till the sun was up the next morning.Â
âHello, beautiful. You look amazing,â Jeonghan greets you, forcing you to take your hand out of his grasp to hug your extremely flirtatious friend.
The absence of your touch irked him, but he let you go, not wanting to startle the rest of the group with his growing possessiveness.Â
âThank you, Hannie,â your voice muffles from being engulfed in Jeonghanâs arms.Â
âAlright, thatâs enough,â Wonwoo gripes, clearly bothered with the way his friend is holding you.Â
âYouâre no fun,â Jeonghan rolls his eyes, before whispering something incoherent in your ear, causing a giggle to erupt from your sweet lips.Â
Jeonghan lets go of you anyway, giving into Wonwooâs sour attitude.Â
âYou guys just got here! Donât tell me youâre going to be grumpy the whole time,â Jeonghan teases.Â
 âIâm not grumpy, you just have grabby hands and I donât need you all over my girlfriend for the rest of the night,â Wonwoo grumbles bitterly, taking ahold of your wrist to pull you closer to him.Â
He sees the way you roll your eyes, but deep down he knows you enjoy how commanding he can become, especially with you.Â
âGirlfriend huh? Thatâs a big word for you,â Jeonghan laughs while raising his eyebrows.Â
âJeonghan!â you gasp, amusement sparkling in your eyes.Â
Wonwoo gives the two of you an irritated look before pulling you away to greet the rest of your friends. You donât protest the way he handles you and he takes note of that. Who knew you could be so pliant, even in social situations?Â
âYou donât have to worry about Jeonghan baby, you know how he is,â you murmur to him, shooting him a reassuring smile.Â
âIâm not worried about him, darling,â he huffs. Jeonghan is the least of his worries.Â
After what happened between you two this morning, Wonwoo canât help but want you all for himself. God forbid you let Seokmin touch you the way he did. The mere thought of it made him feel sick.Â
He understands that he shouldnât have thoughts about you with other people, especially because he knows you havenât dated anyone officially before. But now that youâre his, he has to make sure it stays that way.
âOkay, but still. Just relax, I'm not going anywhere,â you reassure him.Â
Your gentle words and the soft squeeze you give him allow him to chill out a little more. He couldnât help but be on high alert after what Seokmin put you through, after what he put you through.Â
Wonwoo has the constant reminder that youâre both here for a good time, and even though he might not be able to hold himself back once his eyes are set on Seokmin, he continues to obey your wishes.Â
Disappointment proceeds him as he feels you leave his side. Wonwoo lets go of you, allowing you to grab drinks from Jeonghanâs bar. Instead of wandering around like a loner, he sits on the couch, patiently waiting for your return.Â
âHey, Wonwoo? Do you remember me?â a girlâs voice brings him out of his thoughts.Â
Turning to the person who forces themselves into the seat next to him, he frowns at her. She didnât illuminate the room the way you did, and her voice was unpleasant to his ears.Â
âNo. Sorry,â he kept his response curt, not wanting to entertain the faceless stranger who was attempting to flirt with him.Â
âItâs me? Joshâs friend. We met at Seokminâs place last time,â she continued to press, and Wonwoo could feel his ears growing hot with annoyance.Â
âOh, right.â Â
A hand is placed on his shoulder and he flinches away, he doesnât want anyone but you touching him. It almost makes him want to throw up.Â
âI have a girlfriend,â he quips, not wanting to prolong the interaction any longer.Â
The girl beside him cackles, and Wonwoo really canât stand the sound of her voice.Â
âThatâs never stopped me,â her voice lowers an octave in an attempt to sound seductive but Wonwoo feels nothing but repulsed by her very being.Â
He moves further away from her, evidently angry with the way sheâs coming onto him. Cursing at himself inside his mind, he shouldâve never flirted with her to begin with. The puzzle pieces start to slowly align as he remembers that night at Seokminâs place. It was that night that you went home without him, and the realization hit him like a truck.Â
A part of him always wondered what moment had been your breaking point, and there she was, sitting right beside him.Â
âI really donât care,â Wonwoo doesnât spare another glance, escaping her suffocating presence to search for you.Â
Stopping in his tracks, he watches as Seokmin comes up to you, clearly apprehensive as you search Jeonghanâs fridge for a spare Diet Coke. The music is blaring, and the sheer volume of the speakers drowns out Seokminâs voice.Â
He watches as you start to notice that someone is talking to you, trying to get your attention. Wonwoo can see the pained expression in your eyes, and he canât even blame you. Seokmin was your friend before he even met you, and he canât even fathom the pain youâre feeling from losing someone so close to you.Â
Sure, he understands the depth of your relationship with Seokmin, but that doesnât stop the fury that is forcing its way through his veins. Smoke practically comes out of his nose and ears as he watches everything unfold before his very eyes.Â
Seokmin is visibly trying to reason with you, his lips moving at lightning speed as you stand there holding your drink close to your chest. Every bone in Wonwooâs body wants to go up to you and snatch you away as fast as possible. But he canât help but relish in the sight of Seokmin so desperate for your attention. Itâs satisfying to see your reactions morph from sorrow to anger the longer youâre frozen in your place.Â
The second he sees tears beginning to well up in your eyes is the moment Wonwoo finally decides to take action.Â
Marching up to you, he pulls you by the waist until you are glued to him. With a firm hand, he squeezes you tightly, staking his claim in front of Seokmin.Â
âIâm sorrâ,â the words Seokmin so desperately wants to say are cut off by Wonwooâs presence.Â
Wonwooâs lips press into a thin line, gazing down at him with nothing but a look of disgust, and also triumph. Seokmin seems to realize heâs lost because he steps back slowly, shaking his head as his shoulders slouch with defeat.Â
Wonwoo has won, and Seokmin canât do anything to get in his way anymore.Â
âI donât know why you think youâre allowed to talk to her, but you should leave her alone from now on,â Wonwoo seethes, gaze unwavering.Â
âWhatever man,â is all Seokmin can say before retreating into the crowd.Â
Wonwoo turns you slightly, hand placed delicately on your cheek, scanning your features to make sure that youâre alright.Â
âYou okay darling?â he asks, before pecking your lips.Â
âIâm okay. I donât wanna be here anymore, can we go home?â you squeak, your voice faltering.Â
Wonwoo hates to see you affected by someone so unimportant like Seokmin.Â
He doesnât think for another second before agreeing with your request. Bidding Jeonghan farewell while holding tightly onto your hand. Before either of you knew it, you were out the door and on the way back home.Â
The unsavoury moments that happened while at Jeonghanâs place are gone with the wind as Wonwoo speeds down the road and back to your apartment.Â
âThank you for earlier, I was so in shock I couldnât even move or speak,â you mutter, grabbing his palm and placing it on your cheek.Â
Wonwoo feels your warmth and glances at you pouting as you stare out at the empty road.Â
âItâs alright darling, youâre here now, that asshole is not going anywhere near you anymore,â Wonwoo reassures you as he takes your hand in his, giving you a comforting squeeze in an attempt to soothe the thoughts he knows are running through your head.Â
The moment Wonwoo reaches your building, he quickly parks the car before running to the passenger side to open your door. His hand is out in front of him for you to hold while you take a step, doing everything he can to distract you from what happened.
Once the front door of your apartment closes behind him, you turn around with a cheeky smile. It almost gives him whiplash at how quickly your mood changes.Â
âI didnât peg you as the possessive type,â you remark, eyes glinting against the dim lighting of your living room lamp.Â
âI'm not. But itâs different with you, darling,â he admits.Â
Wonwoo rarely felt jealousy in his previous relationships, he knew he was in control either way. Although he knows how much you love him, he still finds himself peeved when someone other than him is close to you. There's a fire within him that he couldnât extinguish, one that only you could put out.Â
âYou gonna give me what you promised earlier,â Wonwooâs voice lowers an octave, crowding your smaller frame.Â
He towers over you while watching the way your eyes shine over with intrigue. The image of you moaning for him is a vision he canât erase from his mind, a vision he wishes he could replay over and over.Â
âDepends. Were you jealous about Seokmin coming up to me?â you press, slender fingers tracing circles into his chest.Â
Your touch felt like a crackling fire under his skin, Wonwooâs thoughts were depleted of anything that could distract his awakening need to ravish you.Â
âI think you know the answer to that already.â
Stepping closer to you, he places both his hands on your waist, pulling you in until youâre flush against him. His breath trails against your skin as he breathes you in, wanting to memorize the sweet notes of your perfume. The smell of lemon blossom and amber engulfs his senses.Â
Amyris Femme. His favourite.Â
You have always known how much he loves the smell of it on you. Itâs simply addictive and intoxicating. Everything about you is always so sweet, from your honeyed eyes to your heavenly voice, the moans you exude dripping in sugar. From head to toe, you are everything Wonwooâs ever wanted to indulge in, wanting to experience the high of you with all seven senses.Â
Heâs convinced that some higher power has sculpted you into everything heâs ever asked for. The universe had known all his preferences, and all his interests and bottled them up into one person. You.Â
You. You. You.Â
His.
 His darling. Â
Cradling your cheek, he presses his lips against yours, truly savouring every brush of skin against yours. Drinking in your sweet scent through his taste and sense of smell. The longer the two of you stand there and make out, the more passionate it becomes.Â
Wonwoo pushes himself against you even further, until heâs sure you can feel his already hardening length grow between you.Â
You own him in so many ways, in ways you probably wouldnât be able to comprehend. From his heart to his very soul, heâs yours. And he wants to show you how much of an effect you have on him. Wonwoo wants to show you how crazy you make him.Â
Taking the lead, Wonwoo doesnât relinquish his hold on you as you two slowly move to your bedroom. Opening the door while he leaves wet kisses up and down your neck with the goal of leaving marks against your delicate skin.Â
âWonwoo,â you sigh, your smaller hands gripping his biceps as he lays you down on the bed.Â
Wonwoo doesnât rush, taking his time to strip you of your clothes. His hands breeze against the bare skin of your stomach, pulling up your top along the way. Eyes zeroing in on the black lace thatâs clad against your breasts, he can feel the drool starting to pool in his mouth.Â
Your skirt is next, and with a hawk eye, he watches the way you lift your hips as he brings down the one thing that's obstructing him from completely devouring you.Â
âPlease, I wanna go faster,â you whine, squirming under his touch.Â
Wonwoo refuses, he needs this moment to seep into his brain until itâs all he can see when his eyes are closed. The desperation emitting from you is almost tangible, but he canât bring himself to waste a precious second.Â
One leg after the other, and finally youâre bare, partially exposed under his body.Â
Ready. Waiting.Â
âI wanna savour you, darling,â Wonwooâs baritone voice reverberates against the four walls that enclose the both of you.Â
You sigh with annoyance and it only intrigues Wonwoo further. He never thought your brattiness would translate to the bedroom. How naive of him to think otherwise. Excitement courses through his veins, imagining all the fun heâs about to have with you.Â
âJust fuck me please, I wanna feel you inside me,â you whisper in his ear, bringing him closer to you.Â
âHoly shit, you canât talk like that or Iâll have to give you what you want.â He groans, hooked on how sexy you sound.Â
The cheeky smile you give him returns, and heâs bewitched by your beautiful features. Fully naked before him except for your bra and panties.Â
Pinning you against the bed, Wonwoo regains control over his thoughts, the same thoughts that are screaming at him to take you in one go. He rebukes those sentiments, he knows what he wants.Â
He knows what you need.Â
âBut I wanna know what itâs like. I know you wanna fuck me, so just do it.âÂ
Wonwoo almost loses his vision with the mere utterance of your words. How much of a nymph do you become once youâre horny? Something about the way you speak is so saccharine, putting him in a trance. You could force him into murdering someone with that tone, and he would do it with a smile on his face.
âYouâre gonna have to try harder than that, baby,â his voice strains, the control he once had starting to lose itself within your lustful gaze.Â
Thinking of ways to stop you from saying anything more, he rips your panties off in one go. Nimble fingers graze against your plush thighs, squeezing and pinching where he can.Â
The whimper you let out is nothing but music to his ears. Seeing you desperate for his touch causes him to focus on his end goal. He wants you to unravel before him, deflowering you till youâre fucked out and panting his name.Â
As he spreads your legs, he canât help but allow his nose to trail against your inner thighs, inhaling the scent of your body emitted under the heat of his touch. He doesnât stop until heâs at the apex of your sex, glasses fogged while the bridge of his nose is rubbing against your skin.Â
Wonwoo finally allows himself to dive in. Ripping the frames off his face, teasing your folds with wet, hot kisses. He repeats his actions till you're moaning deliriously under him.Â
âW-Wonwoo, please, fuck,â you cry out while he watches your hole clenching around nothing.Â
One of the hands that was holding your thighs down moves to your entrance, teasing you before he slowly inserts a finger inside you. Your head hits the pillows while your eyes are screwed shut, and Wonwoo relishes in your pleasure.Â
âGod youâre so fucking tight, so wet,â Wonwoo mutters before licking at your clit.Â
Nothing is more euphoric than hearing you struggle to contain yourself. His boner getting harder to ignore as the juices from your pussy squelch with every thrust of his finger.Â
âIs that what you do when you touch yourself? Using your fingers to fuck this tiny hole?â He asks even though he knows you wonât be able to answer.Â
Youâre too busy twitching from his hands on you, gripping onto the sheets to the point the threads look like theyâre about to tear.Â
Wonwoo takes your silence as an answer before fully engulfing your cunt in his mouth. Practically making out with your pussy lips, he licks and rubs your sensitive heat till you writhe against him.Â
âYou taste so good darling,â he mutters before taking a deep inhale of your musk, âno oneâs ever touched you like this huh?âÂ
âN-no. Just you,â you squeak.Â
âGood girl.âÂ
Hooking your legs over his shoulders, his free hand moves up your body till heâs able to grope at your breasts. The feeling of the lace covering your pert nipples motivates him to make you cum faster.Â
Your body vibrates within his hold while he resumes eating you out. Dipping his tongue into your entrance as his thumb goes to rub your clit in sharp circles. He can feel your abdomen retract from his actions. You're close.Â
Itâs only a matter of time before your juices begin to pour out of your pussy, flooding his mouth with sweet nectar. Wonwoo fully believes he could get drunk from the taste of your cum, the liquid gold dripping down his chin as he slurps and nips at your puffy bundle of nerves.Â
âThis pussy is mine,â he concludes, slapping your dripping core.Â
Eyes drunk with lust, he smiles up at you. A smirk filled with pride as youâre left twitching against the mattress. Hair displaced against the pillowcases, skin glistening under the nebulous light of your lamp.Â
Your room is filled with the aroma of sex and sweat, your chest heaving up and down as you come down from your high. Wonwooâs length straining against his pants, he canât neglect his need to fuck you for any second longer.Â
Laying there, winded from your orgasm, he lets you watch him as he removes the clothes covering his body until thereâs nothing left. Wonwooâs abs and muscular arms flex as he releases himself from his tight pants. He clasps his palm around his cock, rubbing himself while staring down at your fucked out state. Grunts erupt from his throat while he rubs the bead of pre cum dripping down his tip.Â
You stare at him, eyes lidded, before sitting up to take off your last piece of clothing. Your breasts bounce as you release them from the confines of your bra. The tip of your fingers graze your nipples, playing with them while Wonwoo stands over you, stroking himself.Â
Heâs so in deep, itâs the first time in a long time that heâs felt like heâs about to combust in seconds. He hasnât even been inside of you yet, but he knows he could cum untouched at just the sight of you playing with yourself in front of him.Â
âWill you fuck me now? Wanna feel you cum inside me,â you plead with doe eyes, your other hand coming down to your heat.Â
He watches you insert a finger in yourself, pumping in and out, matching the rhythm of his movements.Â
Before you can let out another sound of delight, Wonwoo halts whatever heâs doing to flip you around. With you on your stomach, he focuses all his attention on your plump ass. Groping you with rough palms, and your hips fly off the bed to give him better access.Â
Retracting his hand, he comes down to you even harder. The slap on your skin echoes throughout your room. You squeak but he can see the juices starting to gush out of your pussy.Â
Fuck, Wownoo is obsessed. Obsessed with your neediness, obsessed with the way your ass jiggles with every strike he lands on you. He simply canât wait to be inside you, engulfed in the heat of your tight walls.Â
âHngh, Wonwoo!â you almost scream, your voice becoming nasally every time he hits you.Â
The hand marks on your soft skin drive him crazy, and he knows that if he doesnât fuck you soon, heâll cum prematurely.Â
âWhat a needy little thing. You want it that bad huh?â he taunts, spreading your ass cheeks, watching the wetness drip down to your thighs.Â
âPlease, take me please,â you continue to beg, your voice level as you stare at him over your shoulder.Â
Your hips cant back and forth, waving your tight pussy in front of him. Enticing him to fuck you.Â
âYouâre a fucking brat, you know that?â Wonwoo grunts, slapping your sopping hole.Â
Jerking forward, you let out a salacious moan, eyebrows furrowing as you slump back down onto the bed.Â
âIâm being so patient, baby. Just stick your cock in me please,â you fuss, lifting your hips again.Â
Wonwoo sighs, turning you over once again so youâre on your back.Â
âYouâre lucky I love you,â he grunts, grabbing your legs and pulling you towards him.Â
Sitting on his haunches, he spreads you out, getting the perfect view of your glistening entrance. Taking his dick in his hand, he rubs the tip against your folds. You match his thrusts, moving up as he envelopes the underside of his length between your soaking lips. The sounds emitting from your bodies connecting is sinful and Wonwooâs jaw goes slack, finally feeling your heat against his manhood.Â
âGod, this pussy.âÂ
âWonwoo, fuck me,â you whimper, grabbing his biceps to pull him against you.Â
Engulfing you into a heated kiss, he continues to slide his cock along your slit. The sheer wetness of your pussy lubricates him enough to move with a rushed pace. Heâs not even inside you yet and heâs already starting to feel that knot form in his lower stomach.Â
âYou gonna be a good girl? Show me how bad you want this cock inside you?â he whispers, lips brushing along your own.Â
âYes. fuck yes,â you pant breathlessly.Â
Slotting his arm between the two of you, he finally aligns his length with your entrance. He can feel you trying to get him inside you, thrusting up slightly to try and catch the tip so it pushes into your awaiting heat.Â
But before you can get away with your tricks, he slaps your thighs. Wonwooâs large hand presses you down firmly before you can get any further.Â
âLiar. You said you were gonna be a good girl,â he spits, âdonât get impatient or I'm gonna leave you lying here without cumming again.âÂ
You pout at his words. Your cheeks are hot, and your eyes are teary. The things you make him feel, itâs unmatched.Â
âGonna breed this little cunt till you're stuffed full,â he groans, finally inserting his dick inside your heat.Â
The gasp you let out is high-pitched. And Wonwooâs head falls against the space within the dip of your shoulder. His hands are firm against your waist, thrusting into you until heâs fully sheathed in your pussy. Being inside you was like dipping into molten lava, the heat of your cunt enveloping him with such a tight grip he almost faints upon entering you. Â
âHow are you so tight?â Wonwoo curses. âYou feel so good, baby.âÂ
He didnât expect you to be gripping his cock like this. Itâs like nothing heâs ever felt before. Your pussy is made for him with how snugly he fits inside you.Â
âItâs so big, fuck!â you moan, breathing heavily.Â
Wonwoo doesnât give you enough time to adjust to his length, even though he should. Blinded by searing hot pleasure, he begins to pound in and out of you. Skin slapping as his thrusts become erratic. With eyes rolling to the back of your head, you pull at his strands of hair and he groans at the pain that mixes with the high your cunt gives him.Â
At that moment, Wonwoo concludes that he doesnât want anyone but you. For as long as he can, he wants to be the only one to fuck you, to give you orgasm after orgasm. Until you're spent and in and out of consciousness, he wants to be the only one who can make you feel this way.Â
As if a curse is placed on him, your phone buzzes against your nightstand. Seokminâs contact is on clear display for both of you to see. Wonwoo ceases his movements, sitting up and grabbing your phone from the nightstand.Â
âAnswer it,â he speaks firmly.Â
âWhat?âÂ
âYou heard me. Answer it and show him Iâm the only one who can make you feel this good.âÂ
Thereâs a flash of panic in your eyes, but Wonwoo knows youâll obey his wishes anyway. He knows how deeply youâve fallen for him. You canât refuse him despite the compromising circumstances, and heâll continue to use it to his advantage.Â
Length still buried to the hilt inside you, you swipe at your phone to answer. Wonwoo presses the speaker button before resuming his rushed pace. Bullying your hole while you attempt to at least seem coherent enough to answer Seokmin.Â
âSeokmin?â You whisper, trying your best to conceal the moans that are threatening to slip past your lips.Â
âHey. I just wanted to call and say sorry about earlier. That was stupid of meâ,â Seokmin attempts to get his apology in but heâs cut off by your moans.Â
Wonwoo slaps your clit while thrusting inside you, his length enveloped in your velvety walls.Â
âYou okay?â Seokmin asks you, and Wonwooâs satisfied by the scene in front of him.Â
Youâre flustered and trying your best not to reveal that youâre being fucked hard by your boyfriend, while your ex-friend is trying to reconnect with you. Key word, trying.Â
âTell him you donât want to ever see him again,â Wonwoo grunts out as he continues to fill you up deliciously, thrusting inside you hard enough that Seokmin could probably hear it over the phone.Â
âFuck! Wonwoo! âM sorry Seokmin, but I donât want you to talk to me anymore. Please, donât contact me again.â Whimpers escape your lips and Seokmin stutters over the speaker.Â
Wonwoo knows that Seokmin is aware of whatâs happening on your side of the phone call. The line goes dead the moment you utter your last words to him.Â
âBet you liked that huh? You like it when I show everyone that youâre mine?â Wonwoo emphasizes while he continues to push past your entrance.Â
âYes. Shit,â you mewl out, clenching your walls against his thick cock.Â
The ridges of your pussy massage Wonwoo in the most perfect way. Throwing his head back the slightest bit, he watches how his dick moves in and out of you. The creamy ring of your mixed juices pooling at the end of his hardness only arouses him further.Â
âYou gonna let me cum inside you?â Wonwoo questions, not to ask, but to make sure youâre prepared to feel his seed seeping into you.Â
âMhm. I wanna feel you fill me up,â you let out a breathy moan.Â
Tossing you onto your stomach, Wonwoo pulls out and grapples you into the position he wants you in. Clutching onto your hips, he sits on his heels while forcing you onto his thighs. Your back against his chest, head lazing back onto his shoulder while Wonwooâs muscular bicep wraps around your neck, placing you into a headlock.Â
Entering your abused cunt once again, he assaults your pussy with enough force and strength to send you into another dimension. Wonwoo bounces you on his cock and youâre screaming his name at this point. His balls slap against your ass cheeks, while the juices from your hole drip down and onto his thighs.Â
âI-Iâm gonna cum,â you wail, your walls spasming.Â
Wonwoo's balls retract while your pussy pulsates, your cum coating his dick. He pumps into you one more time until his sticky release fills your walls. The flood of semen overflowing while his red tip kisses your cervix, holding you firmly in place as he continues to cum inside you.Â
âHmph, itâs so good. Your cock feels so good,â your words are slurred as Wonwoo releases you from the headlock.Â
Body slumping over, you push your ass in the air, giving Wonwoo the most delectable view of his cum overflowing past the lips of your bruised cunt. The thick white substance comes out in globs as you lay down with your legs spread.Â
Wonwoo can feel the twitch in his cock, almost coming back to life as he watches your little pussy push out his cum.Â
âYou were so good darling, so good for me,â he mutters, kissing your temple as you lay there spent and exhausted.Â
âFucking love you and your big cock,â you mutter, turning around to kiss him passionately.Â
Pride blooms within his chest, knowing he was your first. The elation Wonwoo feels is comparable to when you confessed your love for him.Â
Heâs finally won. Youâre his, and he canât wait to show you how much he loves you every chance he gets. Not only by fucking your brains out but also with dates and random acts of affection. He canât wait to show you off, to let the world know that youâre his best friend and girlfriend.Â
âGonna clean you up okay? Then we can take a shower,â he imparts, wrapping you up in your blankets so you donât get cold.Â
âWonwoo?âÂ
âYes, baby?âÂ
âI love you,â you call out, smiling at him lazily, your eyes tired but full of fondness.Â
âI love you, too.âÂ
âŚ
Wonwoo woke up that morning feeling refreshed. The sunlight beaming down on him through your curtains. Your nude body is pressing into him. He loves how he can observe you so closely, taking note of every line and freckle on your skin. The rays of the sun hit you, causing your skin to glow beautifully. Your breath steady as you sleep peacefully, curled against his side.Â
Wonwoo doesnât know how long he was lying there admiring you and how gorgeous you are, but his excitement spiked when you began to stir.Â
âGood morning darling,â he whispers wistfully in your ear.Â
The smile that tugs along your lips makes his heart flutter, and he swears heâs never felt this whole in so long. He canât remember the last time he felt happiness in its true form. The closest thing that made him experience this type of joy was that night in his bedroom watching NANA with you when you two were still in high school.Â
âMorning,â your voice is sickly sweet, enough to have him grinning at such early hours in the day.Â
Shifting from your spot, you prop yourself up using your forearms, hair moves swiftly with your movements.
âSleep well?âÂ
Thereâs a shy smile on your face, eyes twinkling with the sunlight, and Wonwoo can only presume that it was you recollecting the memories of last night.Â
âThe best,â you mumble, leaning in to peck his lips.Â
What was meant to be an innocent peck turns into something more heated. Wonwoo grabs you so youâre sitting on his lap, a squeak erupting from your throat as he manhandles you.Â
âWonwoo!â you yelp, slapping his bare chest.Â
He doesnât respond to your dumbstruck reaction, instead, he continues to kiss you, harder than before. That morning he woke up a victim to morning wood, and the only way he could even fathom relieving himself was to fuck you senseless.Â
The angle he has you in is sinful, your bare cunt rubbing against his length, his hands firm on your hips, rubbing your folds against the underside of his cock.Â
Your head is thrown back, submitting to the pleasure that Wonwoo continues to give you. Removing his hands, he lets you move on your own accord while he focuses on your breasts. His large hands squeeze the flesh, pinching your nipples till your eyebrows are strewn tight.Â
âOh fuckâŚ,â your voice trails, your head coming down, entranced by how Wonwooâs hardness slides between your pussy lips.Â
Wonwoo groans, trying his best not to cum from how wet youâve become from a little bit of foreplay. It almost feels like heâs still dreaming, watching your hips sway against him. The fuzzy feeling in his brain doesnât cease, the same fuzziness he felt last night while you were under him, screaming his name.Â
âYou like that, huh?â He mutters against your skin, trailing kisses all over your chest.Â
The same hands that were fondling your round breasts come down to your ass, lifting you. There is a whine that leaves you, and Wonwoo can feel your disappointment from the loss of contact.Â
The whine you let out dies quickly as Wonwoo forces you down on his erect cock, pushing your hips till youâve fit the whole thing inside you. The breath is knocked out of his throat as your warm walls welcome him back into your heat. Being inside you is life-changing, his hand dull in comparison to the feeling your tight hole gives him.Â
âSo big,â is all you can say.Â
âWanna see you ride me, baby,â he breathes out, trying to centre himself so he doesnât spurt his cum inside you before you even get to move.Â
Your fingers dig into the skin on his shoulders, and slowly, you lift yourself off him before slamming back down. Wonwoo grunts at your speed, not expecting you to use so much force.Â
âShit. Slow down darling,â he sputters, trying to control the way you're bouncing furiously on him.Â
âI donât wanna, it feels too good,â you pout, staring down at him with the most lewd expression.Â
Your jaw goes slack, panting for him like a dog in heat. He can feel your walls clench with each stride you take and the words he had on the tip of his tongue evaporate into thin air. He knows if he allows you to continue he wonât be able to savour you on top of him.Â
Instead of flipping you on your back, Wonwooâs arms wrap around you, bringing you close to his chest. His feet are planted firmly against the mattress, he holds you tightly before fucking up into your delicious cunt.Â
âThis pussy is fucking mine,â he growls, emphasizing his words with each thrust.Â
âBaby, I-I canât, I wanna cum,â you sob, tears of pleasure running down your cheeks.Â
âCum for me darling, give it to me,â and as if on command, you do exactly that.Â
Wonwooâs palms drift to your ass, spreading your cheeks, squeezing them tight as he forces you to match his pace. Almost blinded by the sheer pleasure, he pumps into you a few more times before his semen floods your insides, thick and warm, it mixes with the nectar dripping from your heat. As he releases, he keeps his hands firmly on your waist, plugging you to ensure none of his cum spills out.Â
The two of you lay like that for a while, catching your breath after Wonwoo had fucked your brains out. Again. In all honesty, heâs convinced that heâll never get tired of fucking you.Â
âI donât think Iâll be able to walk tomorrow,â you sigh, voice muffled as you rest along the slope of his shoulder.Â
âSo we canât go again?â Wonwoo asks, feigning innocence, âHey! Ow!âÂ
The playful slap you give him on his bicep stings as he chuckles at your wordless response.Â
âNo more,â you refuse his request.Â
âOh, Wonwoo! Youâre so big!â he imitates your voice from earlier, teasing you until you beg him to stop.Â
Propping yourself up, his flaccid cock slips out of you, the cum spilling onto his abdomen.Â
âYou fucker!â you hit his chest again and Wonwoo erupts into a fit of laughter.Â
âOh baby, this pussy is mine.â Your voice lowered in multiple octaves, copying the words he spoke out of lust, âNot so funny now, is it?âÂ
Wonwoo continues to crack up at your embarrassed state, eyes turning to slits as he tries to calm himself down.Â
âActually, itâs pretty funny,â he attests, grabbing your chin to kiss your cheek.Â
âFine. I wonât say anything while weâre doing it anymore.â You complain, but he knows you secretly love it.Â
Wonwoo quirks an eyebrow up at you, in love with your playful side. Still sitting on his lap naked while youâre bickering with him is just as hot as you riding him with your boobs in his face.Â
âThat wouldnât stop me,â he shrugs, pretending to act nonchalant.Â
The best part of fucking you is how vocal you are, and it drives him insane.Â
âWhatever you horny loser,â you roll your eyes.Â
Grabbing your arms he pulls you down against him again, kissing your neck, and he can feel you relax under his touch.Â
âSays the one who has a massive dildo in their drawer,â he whispers in your ear before falling back onto the mattress, chuckling at your dumbfounded state.Â
âIâve already told you! It was a gift from June and it's unused,â you huff, emphasizing the word unused.Â
âSure it is,â he drawls, not convinced.Â
âI'm serious! I literally took it out of the box before beating you with it.âÂ
âWhatever you say, darling,â he snickers before enveloping you in his arms, âletâs use it next time, yeah?âÂ
For the rest of the day, you both lay there, talking about the most random things after a long but steamy shower. With fresh sheets on the bed, the atmosphere is filled with nothing but warmth and utter joy.Â
This past month or two has been a whirlwind of realizations. Realizations that have shifted the world around him into something beautiful. If someone had told him at the beginning of the school year that he would find a new meaning of love in you, he wouldâve laughed with disbelief. But now that youâre here, sitting beside him with the most angelic smile on your face, he recognizes just how much comfort a single person can bring. Not even the fresh air that breezed through his fingers or the scent of the salty water misting its way onto the shore while he visited his hometown could outweigh the feeling of tranquillity that he got when he was with you.
Even though he regrets not confronting his feelings for you sooner, he canât find a reason to complain. Everything had fallen into place, and for the first time since he was seventeen, he realized that the one person he was searching for was in front of him this whole time.Â
epilogue.Â
freshman year of university.Â
[8:56 p.m.]Â [you: raval tonite w junepi and the others?]Â [wons <3: yeah but can we leave early? i wanna play league after :)]Â [you: is this u tryna get out of drinking by being my dd?]Â [wons <3: maybe] [you: fineee but we leave at 12] [wons <3: anything for u darling]Â [you: darling?]Â [wons <3: u like it?]Â [you: yes!! its cute hehe]Â [wonwoo has changed your nickname to âdarling <3â]Â
the end.
âš a/n: thank you for reading this story! this thing is my baby and i would love to hear your thoughts :) i appreciate everyone who took their time reading it because i poured my whole heart into it :") thank you again and see you in the next fic ⥠please rmbr to reblog and share your thoughts :3 it motivates me to continue writing stories like these for u âĄ
#ŕ¨ŕ§ annotations .á#wonustars#( sorry . im like... Not Normal About This ? )#( everyone read In Front of Me NOW. )#( ive already yelled about this on my reading account but thats not enough i need darling<3wonwoo imprinted on my brain :> )#( congrachu anna....... i am a wonustars stan! )
446 notes
¡
View notes