#soft jaemin | Explore Tumblr posts and blogs

winwintea · 3 months ago

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that's okay

PAIRING ↬ academic rival!na jaemin x ace!female reader

TAGS ↬ fluff, romance, slight angst, academic rivals to lovers au, college au, fake dating au, jaemin = campus playboy, drunk decisions, art museum date, plushies because i want a plushie, jaemin is kinda whipped fr

SUMMARY ↬ you're determined to outshine your academic rival na jaemin, the campus heartthrob infamous for his frivolous reputation. but when a few too many drinks suddenly ropes you into a fake dating scheme with jaemin, you realize that there's much more to him than his playboy persona. can two opposites navigate a connection that’s anything but fake?

WORD COUNT ↬ 3.7k+

AUTHOR’S NOTE ↬ HAPPY BIRTHDAY @lotties-readings !! grinding this fic in a day was so fun. the 3 am brain creativity actually carried this time too. hope i did him justice 😭😭 SHOUTOUT TO THE ASEXUAL COMMUNITY I LOVE YALL <33 THIS ONE'S FOR YOU !!!!

PLAYLIST ↬ cooler than me - mike posner, anti-romantic - txt, are you satisfied? - marina, that's okay - d.o.

WHAT DID YOU EXPECT?

Na Jaemin. The Playboy. He’s probably slept with half of the school and the rumors are on and off with him. The college’s infamous frivolous playboy, a firm believer of the ‘hook up as much as you can before you find your soulmate!’ ideology. For some, it was oddly endearing. For you? Maddening. Because Na Jaemin wasn’t just a playboy. He was your rival. Jaemin just had this certain charm to him that attracted the masses. Everyone, including your friends, had had a crush on him at one point in their lives. Everyone except you. Despite his supposedly carefree attitude, he always ranked #1. And you? Stuck perpetually at #2, clawing at his heels, only for him to breeze past like it was nothing. If it were anyone else, maybe you wouldn’t care so much. But no—it had to be him.

You swore to steer clear of him. No parties, no flirtations, and certainly no personal involvement. That resolve lasted until one ill-advised college party, where Jaemin, drunk and absurdly charismatic, roped you into the lead role of his most ridiculous performance yet: his fake significant other. And you were equally as drunk to play along with it, nodding in the face of his ex-girlfriend as she looked at the both of you in disbelief. For a playboy like Jaemin, you thought he was managing to control his dating life better than this. But you guess he just got bored of being surrounded by love. “Just go with it,” he’d said. You hadn’t thought it would last beyond that night.

You were wrong.

You suppose it’s partly your own fault finding yourself in your current situation, considering the recent events. In a world where everyone is busy chasing after time, enjoying the dating scene, you’re an outcast. An outcast with false modesty to trick people’s curiosity. You should be used to them by now, their comments about you not being interested in relationships. And even though you do feel fed up with it, the thought of lying about dating someone just so they can shut up never crossed your mind.

“Remind me again why I have to spend the whole day being your pretend partner.” you say, glaring as Jaemin hands you a pastry. “The party doesn’t start until 10PM tonight!”

“Here you go, love. Be careful, it’s hot!” he says, completely ignoring your question. He resumes walking, hands in his pockets, as if this was the most normal thing in the world, resuming your slow stroll in the garden of a nearby art museum. You hurriedly take it from his hands if that would make him finally pay attention to your question.

“I know it’s hot,” you mutter, taking the pastry anyway. He’s insufferable. Even now, you can tell he’s doing this for show, making a big deal out of playing the doting boyfriend for the strangers milling about the museum garden. “Do you ever actually answer questions, or is that too much to ask?”

“Oh, I answer,” he breezily responds, unfolding a crumpled checklist from his coat pocket. “I’m just selective about when. Do you want to taste mine? I can taste yours too.”

“No thank you.”

Straightening the lapels of his gray coat, Jaemin fetches the brochure handed earlier to him out of his inner pocket and takes a quick look at it to make sure you checked out everything of interest in the area before entering the museum itself. “Now, do you want to check out the sculptures before we head to the main exhibit?”

The guy has a whole checklist of activities for the day. You’ve seen it. He purposely taped another page underneath just to scare you with its sheer length, but you’re seeing right through his tricks, the page is full of gibberish written just to take space. You’ve got your best frown on to keep the illusion of ignorance, hoping that you’d get bonus points for agreeing to go through the full contents of the list, both the real and the fake ones.

But is it really an act? The occasional tidbits of satisfaction coming from beating Jaemin’s brilliant mind (not that you’d ever give him the credit for it) are hardly enough to keep you entertained throughout the day. When the activities you take on today are meant to be just that, entertaining. And romantic too.

Now, were you a normal couple, a true couple, then maybe you’d be having fun now.

“Jaemin, I think partners are supposed to listen to each other. At the very least.”

He grins, entirely unbothered by your irritation. “Relax, Y/N. We’re supposed to look like we’re having fun. Couples don’t bicker this much in public, you know.”

“Maybe because real couples actually like each other.”

“And yet,” he says, slinging an arm around your shoulders, “Here we are. The picture of romance.” Ah. He’s right, damn it.

“I only lowered my guard because these people don’t know us, stupid… Let’s get inside already!”

Hearing his low, annoying chuckle triggers the sensory neurons in your brain until a neat little image of his smirk is produced with near-perfect accuracy. Have you simply seen it too many times? There’s no escape even when you turn your back to him, great.

You grit your teeth but let him guide you down a quieter path, away from the crowds. It’s all part of the act, you remind yourself. Just one day of playing along, and people will stop speculating about your personal life. Totally worth it.

Right?

Inside the museum, the tension eases slightly. The museum is magnificent to explore with the many pieces of art it houses. There’s so much to see that you’d frankly not mind getting lost in here just to have an excuse to spend more time surrounded by art.

You have to admit, Jaemin chose the perfect dating spot. You’re not sure if it was based on your own preferences. Surely not. But you find yourself not minding it suddenly.

“Picture!” he announces, pulling you close before you can protest.

Hearing the signal, you instantly turn in the direction of the raised-up phone, smiling for the camera as Jaemin presses his face closer to yours.

“Oh, this is a good one, I’m definitely posting it. You look so in love.”

“I’m in love with this work, that’s it.” you say flatly, staring at the painting behind him.

“Uh-uh. That works for me too.” Jaemin replies while his fingers dance across the screen, likely typing some cheesy caption for the picture. A second later your own phone vibrates in your pocket, signaling that he posted the picture and tagged you in it, and you don’t even bother looking.

“At least you’re a natural, Jaemin.”

“What, in faking an expression? How are you so sure?”

You blink, meeting his gaze as some child holding a balloon separates the two of you for a mere second. Instinctively, you shorten the distance so you don’t lose Jaemin, looking for his hand to take hold of. You’ve already been through that today, linking hands in the crowds. And while there was no real need to do that right now, you just did that…

To the question in your eyes evoked from his last words, he smirks and adds, “There are pieces of art here that I look at with fondness just like you do.”

Your heart sinks for a moment, only to create palpitations that mess with your head. You have no idea where they came from or what evoked this feeling in your chest, but while looking anywhere but at Jaemin, your gaze falls on other couples passing by. You were instructed to watch them if you’re having trouble recreating the subtle romantic gestures that indicate dating. Advice from him no doubt, one that you wish you could forget because it’s too late telling your brain to forget what it’s been taught. But the question is, why the sudden turning of stomachs at the sight of them?

While failing to watch your step, you lose your balance and stumble on your own feet, meeting the hard ground hands-first. You feel eyes on you for a short moment; just a mere second any stranger might spare to witness the unfortunate event before moving on with their tour.

That’s it, except for Jaemin, who is there to pull you up in a manner of utmost care, dusting off your clothes, taking you to a more secluded area with benches to rest on and asking you at least three times if you’re alright before you can snap out of your surprised state and let out a murmur of affirmation.

In the whirlwind of emotions rushing through your slightly clouded mind, you put the embarrassment of your fall aside. As Jaemin turns your hand around to inspect it, you realize that no amount of hand-holding numbs your reaction to the touch of his warm hands.

And no amount of his exaggerated lovey-dovey gestures of affection could prepare you for the look of genuine worry over something so insignificant on his face.

“You fell on your hands, they must be scrapped… let’s get them under cold water, it would wash away the dirt too.”

“It’s okay I can do it myself.” You back away from Jaemin, running to take care of it.

And that’s when you realize it.

Pretending to be Jaemin’s partner might be the biggest mistake of your life.

Because it’s starting to feel a little too real.

When you exit the bathroom, Jaemin is waiting for you outside, arms crossed with an unreadable expression on his face. The two of you continue your museum date as normal, nothing out of the ordinary happening other than Jaemin just being Jaemin.

When lunchtime rolls around, Jaemin takes you into the museum café, refusing to let you pay for anything even though he bought the museum tickets as well. Struggle as much as you want, Jaemin was pretty stubborn.

You and Jaemin sit across from each other, nursing cups of hot chocolate. The quiet buzz of conversation around you blends with the faint classical music playing overhead, the calmness contrasting your otherwise chaotic day.

You’re still nursing your wounded pride (and scraped hands) from earlier. Jaemin’s fussing had been embarrassing, sure, but also... oddly touching. It’s been messing with your head ever since.

“You’re being quiet,” Jaemin says, breaking the silence. He stirs his drink and watches you with another unreadable expression. “Not complaining. Unusual for you.”

“Just tired,” you mutter, avoiding his gaze. “This whole thing is exhausting.”

“Yeah?” He leans back, “What part? The fake dating, or me?”

“Both.”

His laugh is soft, almost self-deprecating. “Fair.”

A moment passes, and you realize he’s studying you. Not with his usual playful smirk, but something more serious. It’s unsettling and scary, like he’s peeling back layers you didn’t even know you had.

“You know,” he starts, voice quieter now, “you’ve always hated me.”

Your head snaps up. “What? I don’t—”

“Don’t lie. I noticed.” he cuts in, but there’s no malice in his tone. “It’s fine. I get it. I mean, I’m Na Jaemin, right? The playboy. The guy who’s ‘probably slept with half the school.’” He uses his fingers to air quote the phrase, lips forming a bitter smile. “That’s what people say, isn’t it?”

You feel a pang of guilt. It’s exactly what you’ve always thought, always assumed about him.

He continues, eyes fixed on his drink. “Funny thing is, that wasn’t true at first. I wasn’t like this in high school. Sure, I was flirty, but it was harmless, y’know? Then one day, someone started a rumor about me. Said I hooked up with some senior at a party.” He shrugs. “It wasn’t true, but people believed it. And once the rumors started, they didn’t stop. Girls came up to me and I just... didn’t say no.”

You blink, caught off guard by the honesty in his voice. “Why didn’t you?”

“Why not?” His smile not breaking, “They already thought I was that guy. And honestly? It was easier to play the part than fight it. People liked the idea of me being the ‘fun, no-strings-attached’ guy. I became what they wanted.”

You’re quiet, the weight of his words settling heavily in your chest. All this time, you’d judged him without really knowing him. And now, sitting across from him, you realize how wrong you’d been.

“I’m sorry,” you say, the words slipping out before you can stop them.

“For what?”

“For... hating you, I guess. I just—” You hesitate, fidgeting with the edge of your sleeve, searching for the right words. “I’ve never liked the whole ‘playboy’ thing. It feels... shallow. And I don’t understand how people can be so casual about it.”

Jaemin’s gaze softens. “That’s because it’s not your thing. And that’s okay.”

Your eyes lit up with shock. You definitely weren’t expecting Jaemin to be this receptive towards your criticisms of him. “I guess I’ve always judged people like you because I don’t... get it. Sex and dating just seem so complicated and messy. I don’t want anything to do with it.”

Jaemin tilts his head, a thoughtful expression crossing his face. “You’re ace, right?”

You nod, surprised he remembered. He must’ve heard it somewhere, you barely told anyone except for your close friends. Others just assumed, which was fine by you.

“That’s... honestly kind of cool,” he says, leaning forward. “I mean it. You don’t have to deal with all this shit. Expectations, drama, people using you for what they want. You just... are. I envy that.”

“You do?” The idea feels absurd. Jaemin, envying you?

“Yeah.” He smiles, but there’s a hint of sadness in it. “I’ve spent so much time being what other people expect. Sometimes I don’t even know who I really am. But you? You’re just you. That’s... rare.”

His words catch you off guard, leaving a strange ache in your chest. You wonder if he’s just been hiding behind a mask this whole time. Who really was the Na Jaemin sitting right in front of you right now? “Well,” you say softly, “I think you’re more than what people say about you.”

He raises an eyebrow, the corners of his mouth twitching upward. “Careful, Y/N. That almost sounded like a compliment. You’re supposed to hate me.”

“Don’t let it go to your head,” you shoot back, but there’s no hostility in your tone.

For the first time, you see him for who he really is. Not Na Jaemin, the playboy, your rival… but just... Jaemin. And maybe, just maybe, you don’t hate him as much as you thought.

When the two of you finished your museum exploration, you found yourselves in the gift shop. The aisles were packed with trinkets, books, and stuffed animals, the kind of things that were charming but utterly unnecessary and overly expensive. You didn’t plan on buying anything, but Jaemin insisted he wanted to pick up something for a friend.

Shivering slightly, you rubbed your arms, trying to warm up in the chill from the air conditioning blowing down from the vent above.

“Cold?” Jaemin asked, his sharp eyes catching your sudden movement.

“Oh, just the A/C,” you replied quickly, waving him off, but you couldn’t stop the flush creeping over your cheeks.

“Do you want my coat?” He was already starting to remove his gray jacket, but you held up a hand.

“I’m fine, I’m fine,” you said hastily. “It’ll be warmer outside.”

Jaemin paused, then smirked. “Aren’t you glad your friends dragged you to that party?” He asked, standing right beside you now, picking up a penguin from the stuffed animal bin. “Isn’t he cute?”

“Absolutely not,” you said, laughing despite yourself. “Though I’ll admit, this has been... fun. Even if the ‘fake dating’ part threw me for a loop. And yes, he’s super cute. But penguins aren’t my favorite.”

He raised an eyebrow, eyes burning into you, as he turned the penguin over in his hands. “Who said it was fake?”

You blinked at him, unsure if you’d heard right. “What’s that supposed to mean?”

He didn’t answer, just hummed and walked away, leaving you standing there with your arms crossed, frowning after him. What’s he playing at?

Trying to shake off the odd tension, you wandered to another shelf and found yourself staring at a tower of cell phone plushies. Your eyes landed on a bunny plush, adorable, with floppy ears, sparkling blue eyes, and a pink nose. You reached for it, but so did another hand.

“Oops—sorry,” you stammered, looking up to see Jaemin standing beside you again.

“Oh,” he said, his voice light, but his eyes were unreadable.

“I was just—”

“Which one did you want?” he asked, his tone suddenly serious.

“The bunny,” you admitted, pointing. “But it’s the last one, and if you wanted it—”

Before you could finish, he grabbed it.

“Actually, I did,” he said, pulling out his wallet and heading to the cashier.

You stood there, stunned and a little annoyed. Seriously? He’s that kind of guy?

As you stared forlornly at the remaining plushies: a raccoon, a squirrel, and a cat that weren’t nearly as cute. You sighed. It’s fine. It’s just a toy. But somehow, it still stung.

“Here.”

You turned to see Jaemin dangling the bunny plush in front of you, a playful grin on his face. “You—I thought you wanted it?” you said as you reached out to take it. The plush felt even softer than it looked.

“I did,” he said with a wink. “But I wanted to buy it for you.”

“I—thank you.” You stumbled over your words, suddenly feeling silly but also oddly happy. A big, goofy grin spread across your face as you hugged the bunny to your chest.

Jaemin chuckled softly. “You’re cute when you’re flustered, you know that?”

“Shut up,” you fired back, but your cheeks still burned.

You started to turn away, but Jaemin stopped you with a gentle tug on your sleeve. His expression was different now, serious, almost nervous, as he looked at you.

“Y/N,” he began, his voice quieter. “There’s something I need to tell you.”

Your stomach flipped. “What is it?”

“This... whole fake dating thing?” He rubbed the back of his neck, looking almost shy. That was strange in comparison to his usual confidence. “It wasn’t just about my ex, or shutting people up. I—I’ve been watching you for a while. I mean, not in a creepy way,” he added quickly, a faint blush creeping up his neck. “I just... I’ve always been interested in you. You’re smart, funny, and you don’t care about impressing anyone. You’re... different. In a good way.”

Oh you weren’t expecting that. You stared at him, your heart pounding in your chest. “Jaemin, I—”

“I know you have concerns,” he said, cutting you off gently. “About... your sexuality, and what people might think. But I don’t care about any of that. I don’t care what the world expects or what people say. I care about you. And I’m not asking you to change or be anything other than yourself. That’s all I’ve ever wanted.”

His words hung in the air, heavy with sincerity. You didn’t know what to say. You’d spent so long assuming Jaemin was just a shallow playboy, someone who could never understand you. But now, looking into his eyes, you realized how wrong you’d been. Jaemin understood you way too well. Enough to the point where he was hitting all the right points of reassurance in your heart.

“I don’t know if I can be what you’re looking for,” you whispered.

He smiled softly. “You already are.”

For a moment, the world around you faded. The noise of the gift shop, the bustle of other shoppers. It was just you and Jaemin, and the quiet, fragile connection that had grown between you.

Maybe this wasn’t fake after all.

You realized just how much he’d been hiding. Jaemin, the playboy everyone admired, the guy who never seemed to take anything seriously, was opening up to you in a way that was raw, even vulnerable.

“Honestly?” you whispered, clutching the bunny plush to your chest. “I never thought someone like you would understand... someone like me.”

He chuckled softly, the sound warm and reassuring. “I get that. I probably don’t fit the part, huh? But, Y/N, you’re incredible just as you are. I think it’s amazing that you know what you want and what you don’t want. I wish I’d figured that out sooner.”

You looked down, feeling way too emotional, “So, you really don’t... mind?”

Jaemin shook his head, his smile was gentle. “Not even a little. I’m here because I like you for who you are. You don’t need to be anyone else or change anything about yourself. I’m fully willing to love you. Just like this.”

His words settled over you, as warm and comforting as his coat might have been. The insecurities you’d held about relationships, about your identity, all the ways you feared you might not be enough for someone. Maybe never even find someone at all? They began to melt, replaced by a quiet sense of peace.

“So... if this isn’t fake, does that mean this is... this date is… real?” you asked, your voice barely above a whisper.

Jaemin smiled, reaching down to take your hand, his fingers intertwined with yours in a way that felt so natural it sent a shiver down your spine. “It’s as real as you want it to be. No pressure, no expectations. Just us, figuring this out together.”

Looking up at him, you felt something you hadn’t quite felt before. This wasn’t about conforming to anyone’s idea of love or romance. It was about connection. And standing there, surrounded by stuffed animals and museum souvenirs, you felt like you’d found something rare.

You squeezed his hand, a small smile breaking across your face. “Alright, Jaemin. Let’s give this a try. Just... don’t go stealing all the last plushies every time we’re out together, okay?”

He laughed, his grin brightening at your words. “Only if you agree to keep that bunny plush with you as a reminder.”

“Of what?”

“Of this moment. And of the fact that someone finds you absolutely perfect, exactly as you are.”

The two of you walked out of the gift shop hand in hand, leaving behind any doubts and stepping into something perfectly real.

PERM TAGLIST ↬ @lyvhie @aquaphoenixz @galacticnct @ldh0000 @polarisjisung

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vanesycho · 3 months ago

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welcome to nct dream reactions！| m.list | 3.6k word

→ the moment they knew you were more than 'just a friend'

마크 mark | when he realized she was his inspiration

He had been thinking about the rest of the lyrics for a while, lost in thought, his mind seemed to stop for a moment and he couldn't think, he took a deep breath, threw his head back and closed his eyes "What's wrong with me? Think Mark...Think." He leaned over the notebook and looked at the lyrics he had written again, read them from top to bottom and his throat got tight, he swallowed hard. Mark frowned, he read them again to check, as if the lyrics were going to change. But no, they were still the same, he realized that all these lyrics he had written were about you right now, he knew that he had complicated feelings for the last few months but he always tried to push them back and not think about them, but apparently even though he tried to ignore his feelings, they had somehow emerged, and with a song he had written, a song he had written for you...

He realized that he had always used you as an inspiration while trying to make sense of the lyrics. The words in front of him were telling the times he had spent with you and the complicated feelings he had felt for the last few months. The song had unknowingly become about you. The thoughts floating around in his mind got mixed up, because he didn't know what to do with this awareness. Up until now, he had thought he only saw you as a friend, but what he felt told him more.

He put his head in his hands and took a deep breath. The moments he spent with you, your laughter, your deep conversations, those small, meaningful words you said to him... All of them started to spin in his mind at once. He was afraid of losing control of the feelings in his heart, because this new awareness was changing everything. 'No, this must be just a coincidence,' he thought, trying to convince himself. But deep down, he knew that this song was all about you. With a slight flutter in his heart, he closed the notebook and leaned back in his chair, looking up at the ceiling. He had to pull himself together, but he also realized that there was no turning back from his feelings. Accepting that you were his inspiration both restored his passion for writing and made his heart get even more confused when he thought about you.

런쥔 renjun | when he learned to embrace her touch

You knew Renjun avoided contact most of the time and you respected that, well sometimes. There were times when you wouldn't notice it and you would be close, when you wouldn't see him for a long time and you would hug him for a moment and when you realized Renjun wasn't wrapping his arms around you, it would dawn on you and you would quickly pull back, he would laugh at this and shake his head every time. He didn't mean to upset you, he just preferred to stay in his private space. Except for one day of course...

One day, while watching a movie together, you jokingly wanted to lean your head on his shoulder. Renjun pulled your shoulder as usual and said, "Find another pillow." At that moment, as you pulled your head back with a smile, a feeling of unease welled up inside Renjun. Normally, it would come naturally to him to reject you, but this time, he felt like pushing you away was wrong, the little touch had felt strange for the first time, and no, it wasn't a bad feeling. As he turned to you, your head was still on his shoulder, and the scent that came to him seemed to have blocked his momentary thoughts. After that sentence he said while laughing, he couldn’t focus on the movie, he was only thinking about how much he regretted rejecting you and how he wanted to smell your scent again.

This realization made Renjun nervous, because he didn’t know how to confront you about it. As the days passed, he thought more about your contact, the warmth he felt even a little, your smile...He had always pushed you away when he could have had it all. After that day, when his mind was wandering, he could sometimes notice that you were still trying to hug and touch him, and he was waiting for a moment for you to do it, but every time you didn’t, it resulted in another disappointment. Until one day, after a few weeks, when you met again, he tried to suppress his smile when he realized that you had brought him his favorite dessert and looked at you. You were close to him and he could see that your arms were restless, but you were still holding yourself back from hugging him. At that moment, he gathered his courage, put the dessert aside and touched your shoulder lightly with one hand, you looked at your arm and then at him in surprise. With a slight smile on his face, he spoke almost in a whisper "I can be your pillow this time."

At first, you couldn't believe what you were hearing, your eyebrows rose in surprise, he was waiting for a step from you, he wanted to smell your scent that he had started to forget. When you finally wrapped your arms around his waist and buried your head in his neck, he wrapped his arms around you lightly, this was new to him and he didn't know if he should hug you tightly, "Hey if you want to hug, do it right or I'm going to pull away." As soon as your voice reached his ears, he laughed and wrapped his arms around you tightly, buried his head in your hair and breathed in your scent that he missed. Oh, he knew it was too late to turn back from these feelings, but he didn't care anymore, he wouldn't risk losing you, he wouldn't let anyone else feel your touch.

제노 jeno | when he felt jealous of her laughter

Okay, first of all, Jeno knows that he's not someone who gets jealous of his friends and it would never be a problem if his friends spent more time with their other friends than him. It was the same for you, he noticed your boy friends on your Instagram stories, how you sometimes talked less when you were together and it definitely didn't matter to him, or so he thought...

This time, things were different and he couldn't understand why it was a problem for him when you were joking and laughing with another guy. His hand was involuntarily clenched into a fist and he never took his eyes off you, his heart skipped a beat as he looked at the beauty of your smile, you were laughing with another guy and wasn't he the one who made you laugh so much? Oh, this was definitely a problem for him. Still, he stayed silent at first, thinking 'Why has this friendship become so difficult?' in his mind but he knew very well what the answer actually was, just thinking about it made his head and heart ache.

One day when you were able to meet up alone, he felt weird, he knew he had no right to question you but he couldn’t stop himself, his thoughts were running through his head, his leg was shaking with stress while he was listening to you. Jeno examined your smile carefully, that day that guy had also seen your smile from this closeness, he felt a pang in his heart again. At that moment, you stopped talking in the middle and frowned. “Are you okay? You seem so distracted.” His leg stopped shaking, he took a deep breath, “Why have we been so far apart lately? I mean- it’s like you’re closer to the others now.” you didn’t know what to say, you didn’t understand why this was a problem for Jeno. “I- I’m sorry if I made you feel like I was ignoring you, Jeno, but I want you to know that I have more fun when I spend time with you.” he looked into your eyes for a while, you could see the sparkle in his eyes and that sweet sight made you smile, even his slightest movement made you laugh and he couldn’t notice it.

“Really?” Jeno asked, his voice low but slightly challenging. The surprise on your face reminded him of how open he hadn’t really been about it. He realized that being with you meant more than just friendship, but he had kept it hidden deep down because he was afraid to say it. But now, the fact that you were spending time with someone else was causing a flood of emotions inside him that he couldn’t control. With a moment of courage, he placed his hand on top of yours and gently held it, “I… I don’t know, I just want to spend more time with you.” He could barely get the words out, he couldn’t look at you directly, eyes were on where your hands met, “You just had to say that, I want to spend more time with you too. As if you understand me better than others.” The sentence you said caused the same feeling to arise in his heart again, he nodded “So… Next week?” He raised his eyebrows questioningly, you laughed. “Tomorrow?” He returned your smile, you both had gotten rid of the strange atmosphere shortly after. So… Things had gone better than he expected, but he promised himself that he would be more open with you from now on, he wouldn’t back down and he would let you know that he had feelings for you.

해찬 haechan | when he got a taste of his own game

You knew Haechan had a flirtatious personality, every time you talked he would add a flirtatious compliment to the mix and continue with his normal life. It was like a game to him, he would watch you roll your eyes and ignore him with a smile, he enjoyed annoying you and you knew it very well.

One day when you had arranged to meet again, he was waiting for you while playing on his phone, when the door opened he raised his head and smiled when he saw you. He opened his arms to hug you, took a few steps towards you and said "Woah what's this beauty? Did you dress up for me baby?" he chuckled at how you rolled your eyes again, you wrapped your arms around him and before pulling away you spoke into his ear "Maybe I wanted to impress you?" you winked at him when you pulled away, he didn't respond for a while, okay now he had to explain to himself why his heart was racing. The words got stuck in his throat, he couldn't say anything and you laughed at his reaction, you had finally caught him off guard and this sight was worth seeing.

Haechan stumbled slightly, looked away from you, his hand went to the back of his neck and scratched it nervously, you could clearly see a nervous smile on his face "Wow this- you- this is new, okay.." he mumbled, but he couldn't stop the turmoil inside him. You had unexpectedly played with his heart and he didn't like it, how dare you embarrass him when it was his job? Again, no matter how embarrassed he was, he accepted it as a challenge, but this time his aim wasn't to make you mad, he wanted more, from this feeling he couldn't understand and from you. His flirty behaviors increased day by day, he waited to get an answer from you and experience the same feeling, every time he got what he wanted, he continued his day with a big smile on his face and a flutter in his heart.

He would continue this a little longer, your little flirty behaviors amused him and he would continue this before he told you his feelings. He would do this until he caught you off guard and won you over again, whenever he noticed the slightest bit of embarrassment while you were playfully flirting, he would say the phrase 'I like you' like it was a very normal thing and watch you double over in embarrassment before laughing and wrapping you in his arms.

재민 jaemin | when he saw her true self

Jaemin was always someone who showed himself with his self-confidence and extroversion, despite being the exact opposite of him, your friendship was going very well. Actually, your friendship wasn't that long ago, that was because you couldn't act exactly as you wanted around him and Jaemin understood this very well and waited for you until you were comfortable.

But you got used to Jaemin easily, unexpectedly, the quiet and shy side inside you was slowly starting to relax with his crazy and sincere attitude. He didn't miss the fact that you were more talkative and smiling more often around him, and he felt good because he could make you feel more comfortable every time he saw your smile.

You had accepted his invitation when he played basketball with his friends, you didn't join in while they were playing and watched them for a while. A few minutes later, when everyone dispersed, he dragged the ball to your feet, you looked at the ball first and then at him, stopped for a while when he motioned for you to come with his head. Normally you would have preferred to sit down instead of playing but Jaemin’s comforting smile made you stand up and walk towards him with the ball. “I suck at this.” you said while bouncing the ball a few times, he quickly grabbed the ball from your hands and started driving it into the basket without giving you a moment to be surprised, you ran after him, you didn’t want to let him win “Hey this isn’t fair I was talking!” he heard you yell from behind him and turned to you, his smile widened when he realized you were following him and he slowed down his run, when you finally caught up to him, Jaemin deliberately let you take the ball and waited for you to take the shot without losing his smile.

You knew you couldn’t do it but you didn’t care, the moment you had fun with Jaemin surpassed everything. You looked at the ball you missed with a smile “I told you…” you turned to him and realized that Jaemin had already come running to hug you, you tried to escape his hug with a smile but he caught you from behind “I caught you.” you turned your head to him, your faces were close, closer than you expected. Jaemin pulled back slightly, happy to see your heart-warming smile more often now. He was reaching the real you and he knew he was actually digging his own grave. He knew that his feelings for you were only grow bigger. But he didn’t stop, that was his goal from the beginning, he knew that he wasn't friendly towards you and he had to make you feel good by making you trust him first so that he could make a move on you. He just liked that you felt comfortable and safe around him, he thought he could take care of you better than anyone else and knowing that, he was eagerly waiting for the day he could hold you in his arms and tell you that he loved you.

천러 chenle | when he learns to listen

You had understood Chenle had a loud personality when you first met him, well...it wasn't that hard. Especially since you were the listener in your friendship, he liked telling you about his experiences, his other friends listened to him too (even though some said he was a bit too talkative), but he seemed to like you listening to him more. He didn't know why, but listening to him with a smile and reacting to everything he said made him talk more excitedly.

Until one day, he became silent in a way he didn't understand. While you were telling him how your day was, he would watch you with a smile, refusing to talk for the first time, and when you looked into his eyes, he tried to ignore the change in heart beat, he didn't understand. "By the way, are you okay? You're a little too quiet today." he cleared his throat and quickly looked away from you. "No uh- I just don't feel like talking today. Besides, it's more fun to listen to you." you blinked a few times. "I was actually telling you how I've been sitting around doing nothing all day, but thanks for finding it entertaining." he laughed nervously, feeling weird and stupid. He thought it was a temporary feeling, he was sure that everything would be okay tomorrow.

But no, it didn't happen as he expected, he was quieter around you now and all he wanted was to hear your voice "Sooo what did you do today?" he watched you roll your eyes as you took a deep breath "This is the 3rd time you've asked this Chenle, and the answer is still the same." he put his elbow on the table and then his head on his palm and looked at you with a smile "And? When I did this, you listened to me without getting bored. Come on, tell me again, I'll listen to you, like I always do." and he happily started listening to your daily routine that he now knew by heart.

Although this was something he didn't think much about at first, when Haechan told him how quiet he was around you and how it wasn't normal for him, he frowned and thought about it for a moment. He was afraid to think about it deeply and his fears were starting to grow. But he also knew that he couldn't ignore it anymore.

However, Chenle is an open person, if he really knows he has a crush on you, he won't hesitate to admit it. He'll occasionally squeeze in small compliments while talking;

'Your eyes sparkling when you talk are so cute, I'll listen to you more often from now on.'

'Hey, it's okay, I like how excited you are, don't think you're overreacting.'

He'll suddenly grab your hand and when you ask why, he'll tell you to keep talking and ignore your question. It won't take long for you to realize his feelings for you, that's his plan, he doesn't want to lose you and he's waiting for the day when you'll shut him up by covering his lips every time he talks.

지성 jisung | when he felt the sting of emptiness

Jisung always loved making handmade gifts for his friends. It just improved his manual skills and he enjoyed giving gifts to his friends, and he would often do it to you. There were many handmade gifts you got from him, like case charms, bag charms, bracelets, etc. It made him happy to see that you were actually using them and it was okay if you didn't, he knew you still had them at home. But when you met up one day and realized you weren't wearing the bracelet he had just given you, that empty space on your wrist hurt him for the first time.

Normally, if you had a new charm, you would definitely wear it the next time you met, of course you didn't have to, he knew that but he didn't know why his eyes kept going to your empty wrist and making him feel uneasy. You noticed his gaze again while you were sipping your coffee at a cafe and put the coffee back on the table. "Jisung, you've been staring at my hand almost since we met. Is there something I can't see?" he looked away shyly, he was hesitant to tell you this, he thought he had no right to complain but his emotions got the better of him "No- there's nothing..That's the problem."

You frowned for a moment and looked at your hand "What do you mean?" he took your hand and gently touched it, moving it towards your wrist, his touch sent an electric sensation through your body "It's just..Didn't you like my gift? I was expecting you to wear it today. You.. Normally you would do that." you let out a sigh of relief when you realized what the problem was and chuckled "Jisung you scared me, I just went out today and honestly forgot to wear all my jewelry. I don't even have earrings." you tucked your hair behind your ear and showed him a proof. Jisung wanted to crawl into the ground at that moment, he didn't know why he was so obsessed with it, you could use it if you wanted and not if you wanted, he couldn't force you.

After that day was over, he found himself making you new gifts, he knew that there was only one answer to his heart that beat faster every time he thought of you but he was too shy to say it so he would show his feelings with his gifts. He would go from writing 'I love you' on one of the stones he added to your bracelet to making another bracelet for the two of you that would look like a couple. Of course, it wouldn't be hard to find these little notes, you cared about his gifts and these beautiful sentences wouldn't escape your attention as you examined them carefully.

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dollyhyuckii · 3 months ago

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𝘀𝗽𝗼𝗶𝗹𝗲𝗱 𝗺𝗼𝗿𝗻𝗶𝗻𝗴𝘀-𝗷𝗮𝗲𝗺𝗶𝗻⋆୨୧˚

𝘄𝗼𝗿𝗱 𝗰𝗼𝘂𝗻𝘁- 1.2k ♡

𝗰𝗼𝗻𝘁𝗲𝗻𝘁-bf jaemin! x reader! ♡

𝗴𝗲𝗻𝗿𝗲: fluff (a bit suggestive tho)♡

𝘄𝗮𝗿𝗻𝗶𝗻𝗴𝘀-suggestive(kinda?)/kissing/everything is in lowercase on purpose♡

୨୧˚𝗮𝘂𝘁𝗵𝗼𝗿𝘀 𝗻𝗼𝘁𝗲 -thank you for so much support on my mark fic!! so I really hope you guys like this one!(feedback/likes/reblogs and requests really helps!)

you woke up to the soft glow of the early morning sun peeking through the curtains, casting gentle streaks of light across the bed. you stretched under the covers, a contented sigh escaping your lips. just as you were about to turn over, you felt a pair of strong arms wrap around your waist, pulling you close. you didn’t even have to look to know it was jaemin, your boyfriend, who had been quietly watching you as you slept.

“good morning, beautiful,” jaemin whispered, his voice low and warm with that huskiness that only came from early mornings.

you smiled, still half-asleep. “morning…” you murmured, letting yourself relax against his chest, enjoying the comfort of his embrace. you could feel his heartbeat, steady and reassuring, a rhythm you found yourself syncing with.

“you know baby..,” he murmured, pressing a kiss to the top of your head, “i don’t think you should get out of bed today.”

you chuckled, nuzzling into his shoulder. “is that so? and why not?” you teased, looking up at him with a sleepy grin.

jaemin smirked, brushing a strand of hair away from your face. “because i have plans for you, sweetheart. let me show you why you should stay in bed.” his eyes sparkled mischievously, and his fingers traced small, lazy circles along your back.

you laughed, the sound filling the quiet room. “oh? and what plans might those be?” you asked, arching an eyebrow, trying to match his playful tone. But you knew that look in his eyes. he was definitely up to something.

he leaned in, his lips hovering just a breath away from yours. “well,” he murmured, “first, i was thinking i’d keep you here with me for a while longer. we never get enough mornings like this.”

“jaemin, we’ve got a million things to do today,” you replied, but the conviction in your voice was weak. you were already melting, especially as he nuzzled his face into your neck, his stubble tickling your skin in a way that made you giggle.

“we do,” he admitted, not sounding the least bit concerned about it. “but i’d rather spend my morning with you right here. and I think you might just enjoy it.” he pulled back to look at you, a grin tugging at the corners of his mouth. his eyes held a certain challenge, one you just couldn’t ignore.

you rolled your eyes, a smile breaking through. “you’re impossible, you know that?”

“impossible to resist,” he countered, pressing a kiss to your cheek, then your forehead, then your nose. he was slow, deliberate, savoring every moment.

you tried to keep a straight face, but his affection was breaking through your resolve. “you’re really gonna beg for it, love?” you asked, half-joking, half-teasing, as you looked up at him.

he raised an eyebrow, clearly amused by your choice of words. “i could… if you wanted me to,” he replied, his voice dropping to a low whisper. “but, sweetheart, i think I’d rather spoil you this morning.”

you felt a warmth spread across your cheeks, your heart fluttering at his words. jaemin always had a way of making youfeel like the only person in the world. you could see in his eyes that he meant every word. “spoil me, huh? and how do you plan to do that?”

“oh, i’ve got ideas,” he said, his hand finding yours, his fingers lacing through yours. he brought your hand to his lips, pressing a soft kiss to your knuckles. “first, I’ll make sure you’re comfortable. and then,” he leaned closer, his breath warm against your ear, “i’ii remind you why staying in bed with me is always a good idea.”

your breath hitched at his words. he wasn’t usually this bold, but you couldn’t deny how much you loved this side of him. “well,” you murmured, your voice soft, “maybe we could stay here… just a little longer.”

“that’s my girl,” he replied, his tone triumphant yet tender. he wrapped his arms around yours, pulling you close as he rested his chin atop of head. you both lay there in comfortable silence for a moment, simply enjoying each other’s presence, the quiet of the morning wrapping around the both of you like a warm blanket.

after a while, jaemin spoke again, his voice gentle. “do you remember the first time you stayed over?” he asked, a soft smile playing on his lips as he looked down at you.

you laughed, the memory coming back vividly. “how could i forget? you were so nervous. you didn’t even know where to put your hands when we watched that movie on your couch.”

he chuckled, rubbing the back of his neck in embarrassment. “well, excuse me for wanting to be a gentleman. you made me nervous, baby.. still do, sometimes.”

your heart swelled at his words, and you placed a hand on his cheek, looking into his eyes. “you don’t need to be nervous around me, jaem... you’re the best thing that ever happened to me.”

he looked genuinely touched, his gaze softening as he held your hand to his face. “you’re the best thing that ever happened to me too, sweetheart. i don’t say it enough, but… i’m so lucky to have you.”

they shared a lingering look, the kind that held a thousand unspoken promises. jaemin pulled you closer, brushing his lips against yours in a gentle, heartfelt kiss. it was the kind of kiss that spoke of comfort, of home, of a love that was both deep and true.

when the two of you finally broke apart, jaemin rested his forehead against yours. “you know,” he murmured, “if we keep this up, we really won’t get anything done today.”

“good..,” you whispered, your fingers tracing along his jawline. “i don’t mind if it means i get to spend more time like this with you.”

you chuckled softly, wrapping his arms around you and pulling you into a warm, snug embrace. “alright then, beautiful. let’s stay here a little longer. just you and me.”

you two spent the next hour wrapped up in each other, sharing quiet laughs, soft kisses, and whispered secrets. eventually, the sound of your stomach rumbling made you two both laugh, breaking the peaceful silence.

jaemin sat up, stretching. “alright, breakfast it is. what are you in the mood for, pretty girl?”

you looked up at him with a smile. “pancakes please. with extra syrup.”

he grinned, hopping out of bed. “pancakes with extra syrup, coming right up.” he held out his hand to you, helping you out of bed. “but you’re gonna have to help me in the kitchen.”

“oh, so i have to work for it, huh?” you teased, wrapping your arms around his waist as the both of you made their way to the kitchen.

“of course,” he replied, pressing a kiss to your forehead. “nothing worth having comes easy, remember?”

you both spent the morning together in the kitchen, flipping pancakes, playfully bumping hips, and stealing kisses between batches. when you two finally sat down to eat, jaemin reached across the table, taking your hand in his.

“thank you for staying in bed with me a little longer,” he said, his voice sincere.

you squeezed his hand, your heart full. “anytime, jaem. anytime.”

you both shared a smile, knowing that you both would always cherish these quiet, stolen moments together.

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i-mmaculatus · 8 months ago

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　　　　　꒰ ͟͡ | cause 　one 　day... | ͟͡ ꒱

　 ♥︎̤̾͒ ཻུ۪۪͏͏͏. 　one　 day, 　my 　baby　 just 　went 　away

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staincastle · 9 months ago

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⠀⠀⠀minimalist headers!? . . ✶

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doughyk · 7 months ago

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ＳＴＥＰＯＮＭＥ-haechan smau

- haechan the smartest guy in his calculus class,the one who passes all his exams is in desperate need of quick cash. You on the other hand not so good at calculus,after finding yourself in the library trying to study ,you feel an extra pair of eyes on you.

𝐩𝐚𝐢𝐫𝐢𝐧𝐠𝐬- nonidol!haechan x y/n

𝗴𝗲𝗻𝗿𝗲- smau, strangers to lovers (kinda)

status: FINISHED

𝐰𝐚𝐫𝐧𝐢𝐧𝐠𝐬- profanity, content of alcohol usage ( characters are legal age 21), some “sexual” jokes, jokes about death, jokingly death threats,vaping.

Profiles- Thot daughters+gay son 7DREAM

1. Party or study?

2. HELP…….

3. distracted (partially written)

4. YES YES NOW KISS! (partially written)

5. why are you lying?

6. Clock is ticking

7. hyuck????

8. piece of lifeless bread

9. we are a family!!!!

10.demure this demure that….

11. dove (written)

12. she told me something

13. tell

14. VERSACE💜

15.foreshadowing

16. what I do (end)

ahhhh I am going to try and update this blog 2 days a week, this is my first fic ever!! I’m excited to see where this will go

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markiemelon · 10 months ago

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hiii, can you do something with jaemin? like a college friends to lovers?

breakfast

genre. fluff, crack 🍞

pairings. jaemin x gn!reader

falling asleep at your friend!jaemin’s place wasn’t your intention.. yet, there you were, knocked out on the couch. you eventually woke up, disoriented and sore, while the smell of burnt toast polluted the air. on the other side of the open room, jaemin stood behind the kitchen counter, preoccupied with scraping char off the bread slices. he perked his head up once he heard you rustling around. “oh. you’re up.”

“what time is it?” you yawned, reaching for your phone, only to find it cold and dead.

“it’s like 10 or something—” his tone was casual, and it threw you off.

“jaemin!” you jumped to your feet. “i had a class at 9!” you continued, “i told you to wake me up if i ever fell asleep here again!” you ran to the bathroom, looking for the toothbrush jaemin got you last time.

his expression became one of shame, like a child being scolded by his mother. “i know, but you just looked so peaceful…”

this isn’t the first time this has happened. more often than not, jaemin invites you to hang out after class.. so you usually find yourself leaving with him to walk to his apartment… you just can’t get enough of him.

once you get there, you hope for a productive afternoon, maybe crank out some assignments. but instead, you end up talking to him all night. you’ll eventually glance at the ungodly hour on the clock, and think, "just 5 more minutes. i'll get going in 5 minutes." 5 minutes turns into 5 hours... and next thing you know, the sun is up, you've slept through all your alarms, and you're grabbing your things to rush out.

“i need to go home-” you pat your hands around the couch, looking for your purse, tossing around the blankets and pillows jaemin put on you while you were asleep.

“wait.” he interjected. “when’s your next class?”

“at 1… but i still have to go home and get dressed...” you sighed, slumping onto the stool at the kitchen island.

“you still have plenty of time to eat breakfast...” jaemin said, nudging over a plate of toast that was grilled passed the point of no return.

“jaemin…” you laughed. “im not eating that.” you eyed the dish, and a chill went down your spine. “i’ll just have some cereal.” you helped yourself to his cabinets in a search for a more edible alternative.

sitting across from jaemin at the table, you crunched on your cereal while he picked at his burnt toast… his pride wouldn’t let him throw it out. “so do you wanna come over again later?” he waited for you to chew your food before you replied.

“jaemin, be for real.” you set down your spoon. “i can’t keep coming over on weekdays. i lose track of time and fall asleep.. i can’t keep doing that.”

“why not?” he said, mouth full. “why can’t you fall asleep here?”

“i don’t have my stuff here! no skincare, no clothes…” you counted a finger for each point you listed. “and by the time i wake up, im late, and i still have to go home and get ready...”

“well then.. why not just bring stuff to stay the night.” he cleared his throat. “pack your clothes and skincare and whatever… plus, you already have a toothbrush here.”

“do you want me to stay or something?” you took a sip of juice, eyes peeking over the cup.

“i just like having you around...” he picked at the toast some more, but had yet to actually taste it.

you thought for a moment. “yeah sure.” you shrugged, ignoring the way he just made your heart flutter.

“wait really?” he looked up from his plate.

“i mean… i guess it’s not a problem as long as i bring stuff to stay.” you said, getting up from your seat to go wash your bowl in the sink. jaemin followed right behind you and draped his arms over your shoulders, pulling your back into his chest. “then can you bring stuff to stay longer than 1 night?”

jaemin has always been a pretty affectionate friend, so you didn’t think much of the hug… “maybe i could stay until the weekend..”

“just until the weekend?” he squeezed you a little tighter.

but was he always this clingy?

“na jaemin, when did you get so clingy?”

“well these days, i…” he stopped himself.

“these days, you...?” you hummed, tugging on his arms that were still embracing you, urging for him to finish his sentence. you began swaying side to side ever so slightly. “let’s just stay like this for a minute.” he cooed, catching on to your rhythm, rocking in the silence. he really gave the best hugs. after a moment, he disrupted the stillness of the room. “move in with me.”

hearing him say that so bluntly made your heart drop. flustered, you turned around to face him, his arms now resting on your back. “all of a sudden?” you laughed.

“mm.” he nodded his head to agree, looking at you so endearingly. he gradually inched his face closer to yours, and you didn’t mind.

“jaemin.”

“yeah?” he answered, just inches away.

“are you trying to kiss me right now?” you teased, as your gaze wandered from his eyes to his lips.

“are you gonna let me?” he teased back. you couldn’t hold back your smile, and he basically took that as confirmation.

he didn’t have to lean in much further before his lips were touching yours. your eyes fluttered as his hands gently met your cheeks, even tucking a strand of hair behind your ear.

“what are we doing?” you whispered in between breaths.

“just enjoy it.” he reassured you.

and for some reason, his words really put you at ease. in that moment, you couldn’t help but enjoy it. you reconnected your lips, and let yourself fall more in love with your best friend than you already were.

his smile forced him out of the kiss. “so does this mean we can have breakfast together every morning?”

you scoffed at his remark. “maybe if you learn how to cook first…”

@lovesuhng thanks so much for the request!!!! such a cute idea. hope you like it!!! (reqs always open)

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luvmahae · 21 days ago

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fiction ‣ na jaemin

summary: like this again, i can’t forget you. jaemin spends his quiet days crafting lattes and sketching the girl who only exists in his dreams until you walk into the café, looking exactly like the one he's been drawing all along. are you the answer to his daydreams or something he'll never truly grasp?

pairing: barista!jaemin x fem!reader

genre: non-idol au, fluff, slice of life, very much ROMANCE... i just wanted to write about barista jaemin </3

word count: 2.5k! ˚｡⋆｡˚☽

notes: a short little fic as a gift for reaching 300+ followers! :D was very much inspired by the song fiction by beast/b2st/highlight?? (where my 2nd gen fans at....) (me) a little different from the content i put out, but i absolutely loved this plot sm... just had to. open to feedback and enjoy! ♡

Welcome to Café 꿈, may I take your order?

Jaemin lives a simple life. As a college student, he spends most of his free time helping out at his parents’ café in his hometown. Not out of obligation, but because he loves it. There’s something about coffee that intrigues him. The rich aroma of freshly ground beans, how unique each blend was in those tightly sealed bags, and how a small bean packs a ton of flavor within them.

Life for him felt like a quiet, steady rhythm. Mornings consisted of pulling shots of espresso and creating latte art with every cup he touched, afternoons sketching whenever he had down time, and evenings caught between half-finished daydreams while doing closing tasks.

His world revolves around two things: coffee and drawing. There wasn’t a day when he didn’t have his sketchpad sprawled out on the table and a hot cup of coffee nearby. It was just the perfect combination just for him.

The late afternoon carried a sense of stillness, the kind that felt comforting and lonely. Outside the café, life moved at its usual pace. The noise from cars passing by, pedestrians walking around with places to be, but inside this cozy little space, time went by slower. It was a familiar kind of peace, one he’s grown used to, though it often left him alone with his thoughts and the faint hum of the espresso machine.

The café that was buzzing with customers was now empty. The stillness of the space was broken only by the occasional scratch of his pencil on paper. The shelves that once held bags of various coffee blends now stood still, untouched.

He sets his sketchpad down on the counter, flipping to the page where he last left off. A drawing of a girl is displayed in front of his very eyes, and it wasn't just any girl. It was you. The girl he’s never met, yet whose face has been so vividly etched into his mind from the countless dreams he had. You only existed through the steady glide of his pencil, every detail slowly coming to life in every stroke.

Today, he’s focused on your smile. It’s soft and gentle, the kind that would make his heart race. His pencil hovers over the page as he debates whether to add the faintest dimple to your cheek. Would she have a dimple? It would be cute. Hmm. Decisions.

The bell above the café door jingles, pulling him out of his thoughts. He glances up out of habit, ready to offer the usual polite greeting, but his voice falters.

You’re standing there.

For a moment, he thought he might be imagining it. The endless hours spent sketching had finally blurred the line between reality and fantasy. But you were real. Your long hair fell past your shoulders, and your eyes held a quiet warmth as they scanned the menu board. You tucked a strand of hair behind your ear and stepped forward, making eye contact with the man standing in front of you.

Jaemin forgot how to breathe.

“Hi.” Your voice is soft, your smile bright as you approach the counter. “Are you still open?”

He blinks, his brain scrambling to catch up. “Y-yeah. Yes, we’re open.”

You tilt your head slightly, an amused glint in your eyes. “Every time I pass by this place, it’s always busy. I never saw it this empty in a while,” you say with a small laugh.

Heat rushes to Jaemin’s face as he fumbles for the words. “It’s usually still a little busy around this time too… Maybe people had other plans? Or maybe because it’s the holiday season? Maybe they’re out of town— I mean… what can I get you today?”

You smiled again, and his heart stuttered in his chest. “Just a hot vanilla latte for me. Oh, and a blueberry scone warmed up, if you have any left. For here.”

“Coming right up.” He turns to the espresso machine, his hands moving on autopilot while his mind races. It’s you. The girl he’s been drawing for months. You even ordered the exact kind of drink he always imagined you’d like. It’s uncanny.

When he places the ceramic cup and scone on the counter, you look at him with a smile that feels like sunshine. “Thanks… Jaemin,” you say, reading his name tag. “I’m Y/N, by the way.”

“Nice to meet you, Y/N,” he manages to say, his voice barely above a whisper. You take your items and settle at a table near the window, opening your laptop and disappearing into your work.

He stands frozen for a moment, the stillness of the café filling the space around him. His gaze lingers on you as you settle into your seat, the quiet click of your laptop's keyboard breaking the stillness. He blinks, almost expecting you to vanish the moment he looks away like a dream fading upon waking. But you don’t. You’re still there, your figure outlined by the soft glow of the setting sun peeking through the windows.

You're real.

After that first encounter, those days turned into weeks, and you became a regular. Every late afternoon, it was the same routine. You walk through the door, he takes your order, and you sit at your usual spot by the window. Jaemin’s heart leaps every time he hears the bell ring above the front, his head whipping towards the door hoping it’s you. He lives for your small exchanges at the counter. The way your lips curl when you say his name, the way you laugh at his awkward attempts at jokes, the way you stare up at the menu looking at all the options even though you go with the same items every time: A vanilla latte and a blueberry scone.

You’re kind, effortlessly so. You often ask about his day, and he stumbles through his replies, mostly because he is nervous, the other half being afraid of saying too much. Times when you compliment the latte art he carefully crafted on your drink and the rush of pride he feels that stays with him long after you’ve left.

On his breaks, he sits with his sketchpad, pretending to work on something new while stealing glances at you. You often catch him, your eyes crinkling with a knowing smile, but you never say anything about it. Instead, you wave or offer a small wink that leaves him flustered for the rest of his shift.

Today, the café is quieter than usual this evening, only a few people, including yourself, occupying the space inside. You were tucked into your usual spot by the window, per usual, fingers clicking away at the keyboard of your laptop. You pick up the dark blue cup from its matching saucer, taking a quick sip of your vanilla latte before setting it back down.

The faint sound of the music playing through the speakers became a soothing backdrop, but Jaemin can barely hear it over the sound of his heart beating out of his chest.

He watches you from behind the counter, his gaze darting away whenever you glance up. His fingers nervously toy with the edge of a napkin, his thoughts racing. Tonight. He’s decided it has to be tonight.

Jaemin, you got this.

Taking a deep breath, he wipes his palms on his apron and picks up a fresh hot vanilla latte he made for you, the foam meticulously swirled into a delicate heart. He steps out from behind the counter, each step feeling heavier than the last. He walks on over towards where you were sitting, hands firmly gripping the drink in hand.

“Hey Y/N,” he says, his voice a little shakier than he intended.

You look up from your screen, staring at him and down at the cup he was holding. “Oh, another latte? I didn’t order—”

“It’s on the house!” he says quickly, setting the cup down in front of you. Your fingers brush his as you reach for it, and he feels a jolt of electricity shoot through him.

Your lips curl into a smile, your head tilting slightly. “Thanks, Jaemin. That’s really sweet.”

He hesitates, his hand lingering near the cup for a moment longer than necessary. “Hey, um…Y/N?”

“Yeah?”

He swallows hard, his throat suddenly dry. “Would you… um… like to grab dinner with me sometime?”

The words hang in the air between you, his question as fragile as the foam heart he crafted moments ago. His palms are clammy, his heart a wild drumbeat in his chest. For a second, he thinks he might faint.

You blink, surprise flickering across your face, followed by something softer—something warmer. Your cheeks flush the faintest shade of pink as a smile spreads across your lips. “I’d love to.”

Relief floods through him, so intense it nearly knocks him off balance. He lets out a breath he didn’t realize he was holding, his lips tugging into a grin he can’t suppress. “Great. That’s…great. I mean, um, I’ll text you? Or—” He falters, realizing he doesn’t even have your number.

You laugh, the sound light and melodic. “Here.” You grab a napkin and jot down your number, sliding it across the table to him.

Jaemin takes it like it’s the most precious thing in the world, his fingers gripping onto the napkin tightly. “Thank you. I’ll…text you soon.”

You nod, your smile never fading. “I’ll be looking forward to it.”

As he walks back to the counter, his heart feels lighter than it has in months. The world around him seems brighter, more alive, and for the first time in a long time, he feels like he’s finally stepped into one of his dreams.

One date turned into many. Each one felt like a chapter from a story Jaemin never thought he was allowed to live. All it took for him was that confidence boost and a bit of his sanity to make this happen. From quiet dinners at cozy restaurants in the area to long walks by the beach at sunset. Every moment with you left him wanting more. He didn’t want this story to end at all.

The sky filled with different shades of orange and pink as the sun set, and the water reflected the colors like a painting. Both of you walked side by side, the sound of waves crashing onto the shore in a gentle rhythm, accompanied by your conversation. Between the shared words were bursts of laughter and bright smiles. It almost felt like the only people that existed in this world were just you two.

When your hand brushed his just ever so slightly, he hesitated for only a moment before intertwining his fingers with yours. The way your fingers fit together made his chest tighten. It was like you were meant to be there all along. He gave your hand a little squeeze before leading the way down the sandy path.

There were quieter moments, ones that he held just as close. After the café closed one night, you stayed behind, claiming you didn’t want to leave just yet. He made you a latte, and the two of you sat next to each other in one of the booths, your knees brushing as you sipped your drinks. The smell of coffee filled the air, mingling with the sound of your laughter as he told you stories about his childhood. You listened intently, your eyes never leaving his, and for the first time, he felt truly seen.

He loved how you noticed the little things about him. The way you pointed out how his sketches had grown more detailed lately, or how you teased him for always making latte art hearts when it was just the two of you. He loved the way you looked at him, like he was more than just a barista or a boy with a sketchpad full of dreams. Like he was enough.

Your first kiss came on an evening that felt almost surreal. It was raining lightly, the kind of rain that made the world feel hushed and intimate. You stood under the awning outside the café, waiting for the downpour to let up. He stood beside you, his hands shoved into his pockets to keep them from shaking.

You turned to him, your smile soft and inviting. “Thanks for tonight.” you said, your voice barely louder than the patter of rain.

Jaemin swallowed hard, his heart pounding in his chest. “Of course. I…I always like spending time with you.”

You tilt your head up towards him, your gaze locking with his. “Me too.”

There was a pause, charged and electric, and he felt his breath hitch. Slowly, tentatively, he leaned in, giving you every chance to pull away. But you didn’t. Your eyes fluttered shut, and when your lips met his, it was like the world stopped spinning.

Your lips were warm and soft, tasting faintly of vanilla from the lattes you’d shared. The kiss was gentle, almost shy, but it carried a depth of feeling that left both of you breathless. When you pulled back, your cheeks were flushed, and your eyes held a warmth that made his heart feel impossibly full.

“Perfect.” he whispered, more to himself than to you.

You smiled, brushing a raindrop from his cheek. “Yeah. It was.”

In those moments, he felt like the world had aligned in his favor. The nights you spent together, the quiet conversations, the kisses that followed. They all made him feel something he’d never dared to dream of before.

For the first time in his life, Jaemin felt like he was enough.

It’s a slow afternoon when the truth hits him. He sits at his usual spot, his sketchpad open to a fresh page. The bell above the door jingles, and he looks up, expecting to see you. But the café is empty, save for a lone customer near the back.

Frowning, he glances down at the page. His hand moves on its own, sketching your face with practiced ease. Your smile, your eyes, the way your hair frames your cheeks—every detail is etched into his memory.

But as the drawing comes to life, a hollow ache settles in his chest. He stares at the drawing, and the realization washes over him like a cold wave.

You aren’t real.

The dates, the laughter, the kisses. All of it has been in his head. A daydream he created to fill the gaps between the grind of his reality. He’d wanted it so badly, wanted you so badly, that he’d convinced himself you were real.

Jaemin closes the sketchpad slowly, his fingers trembling. The bell jingles again, and he looks up, half-hoping, half-dreading. But it’s not you. It never will be.

He inhales deeply, the rich aroma of coffee anchoring him as he rises and makes his way back to the counter. The café remains quiet, bathed in the same golden sunlight, and he finds himself still clinging to the remnants of his dream—just a little.

I will hold onto you, I won’t let you go.

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soulari · 9 months ago

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　　　◍　　 . 　 istj　∿ @p-oisn 　

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haenxn · 2 months ago

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͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏( *´・ω)/(；д； )🐿 ͏ ͏͏ whisker kisses⠀and

͏✧✧ ͏ ⠀⠀͏ ͏͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏✧✧ ͏͏ ͏͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏͏✧✧ ͏͏

sweet spring days (´ 💍∠)_

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winwintea · 2 months ago

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wicked love

PAIRING ↬ non-idol!na jaemin x fem!reader

TAGS ↬ short lived-fluff, romance, TOXICITY, horror, thriller, supernatural, kinda unsettling, SOOO CREEPY, if bad why hot? au, oomfs pointed out this is kinda like wandavision and now i'm realizing it does so maybe wandavision au

WARNINGS ↬ horror, yandere!!! (read at your own risk!)

SUMMARY ↬ his love is perfect. but perfection comes with a price.

WORD COUNT ↬ 5.4k words

AUTHOR’S NOTE ↬ guys i think the voices are getting louder (ty to queens @yizhrt @peterm4rker @viasdreams and @polarisjisung for beta reading 🙏)

PLAYLIST ↬ rhinestone eyes - gorillaz; nightmares - the boyz; wicked love - yena; doll - gidle; the perfect girl - mareux

YOU NEEDED A FRESH START.

The train slows to a halt, the perfect little town laid out in front of your eyes. You step onto the platform, the scent of flowers filling the air.

The town looks like a postcard-perfect town, almost like you’re staring at a travel brochure rather than the real thing. The cobblestone streets appear to be smoothed down over time. A few locals pass by, nodding at you with warm smiles.

There’s something about this place. It feels timeless, almost, like it came straight out of your dreams. Maybe this will be home. Maybe it’s exactly the fresh start you need from your damaging past.

Your new apartment, right next to the main square, is perfect. Lace curtains sway gently in the breeze, creating a comfy atmosphere. You unpack your bags, starting to convince yourself this was the right move. A quieter life, far from the chaos you left behind.

The next morning, you walk into your new job at the café, a cute little shop with pastel walls and pastries that look too good to eat. Mrs. Kim, the owner, greets you with a smile that feels practiced but kind.

“Welcome, dear,” she says, her tone both warm and firm. “I can tell you’re nervous, but I have confidence you’ll fit in just fine. Everyone does.”

Encouraged by her kind words, you dive into the work, immersing yourself in the comforting rhythm of brewing coffee and arranging pastries. Simplicity is desperately needed.

Then the bell over the door chimes, and you glance up ready to greet your next customer. But what you see makes you freeze in place.

A man walks in with confidence, his dark eyes surveying the room before landing on you. His presence is drawing, his sharp cheekbones and warm smile seem to stand out in this quiet little town. For a moment, it feels like the entire café is holding its breath, waiting for him to order.

“Americano, please,” he says, his voice smooth but casual. His gaze doesn’t cease, even as you fumble slightly while writing his name on his drink. ‘Jaemin’. When you hand it to him, his fingers brush yours, sending an unexpected jolt through you.

“You’re new,” he states, not a question but an observation, his head tilted slightly as if he’s trying to read you.

You nod, flustered. “Just moved in yesterday.”

He continues to smile. “I’m happy to run into you then. Welcome.”

Instead of leaving, Jaemin takes a seat by the window, sipping his coffee while his attention drifts back and forth between you and the window. His gaze lingers just long enough to make your cheeks turn red.

When your shift ends, you’re surprised to see him outside, leaning casually against the lamppost. The setting sun just adds to the beautiful sight right in front of you.

“I thought I’d walk you home,” his eyes steady, with some concern. “It’s getting late.”

The streets are quiet, and there doesn’t seem to be much danger present. Yet, you can’t bring yourself to decline. You nod, and he falls into step beside you.

As the two of you start to walk, he asks questions about you. How was your move, your life before this, what made you pick this town? He listens intently, hanging on to every word as though you’re the most fascinating person in the world. You tell him more than you planned to, and it isn’t until you see the intrigued look on his face that you realize how much you shared.

“What about you?” you ask, shifting the focus on him instead. “Have you been here long?”

“Long enough to know I was waiting for you.”

The line is so smooth it catches you off guard, and your face flushes as he laughs. His laugh is soft and such a pleasing sound that you realize you want to hear it again and again.

The next few weeks with Jaemin feel even more like a fairytale. He seems to appear everywhere. Waiting for you outside the café after your shifts, showing up with your favorite snacks and drinks, surprising you with gifts he claims “just made me think of you.”

One evening, he shows up at your door holding a bouquet of wildflowers. “I couldn’t wait until tomorrow to see you,” he says, handing them to you with a grin. “Thought you might need these.”

The flowers seem flawless and smell wonderful. You let him in your apartment, your heart fluttering at his thoughtfulness.

Over time, you notice how precise his attention is. He seems to know exactly what you need. When you mention being cold, he drapes his jacket over your shoulders without a word. When you casually mention a book you’ve been wanting to read ever since you saw it in the library, it shows up on your doorstep the next day with a small note attached to it.

One evening, he takes you to a small park outside of town. A picnic is already waiting. Jaemin is sitting there on a blanket waiting for you to arrive.

“How did you pull this off?” you ask, laughing as you sit down. “It’s like you read my mind.” Just a few days ago, you read a chapter in your book in which the two main characters had also gone on a similar date.

Jaemin grins as he pours you a glass of sparkling cider. “I just know you. That’s what love is, isn’t it? Knowing someone better than they know themselves.”

His words send a shiver down your spine, though you force a smile. You’re not sure why they unsettle you. It’s sweet, isn’t it? That he knows you so well?

As you sit together, Jaemin leans back on his elbows, watching you. “You’re perfect,” he says quietly. “I’ve never met anyone like you. It’s like... you’re exactly what I’ve been waiting for.”

The intensity of his gaze makes you look away, your cheeks heating. But something in his tone feels too polished, almost like he’s practiced it. You brush it off, telling yourself you’re overthinking.

It’s when you go out in town together that you start to notice how people act around him.

At the bakery, Mrs. Kim’s hands tremble as she rings up his order. Her smile is forced, and she avoids looking him in the eye.

After you leave, you curiously ask Jaemin about that interaction, “Was that... normal? She seemed kind of scared of you.”

Jaemin shrugs, brushing it off. “She’s just shy. Some people are like that.”

You’re not convinced, Mrs. Kim never seemed shy when the two of you worked together. But his casual tone makes it hard to push, so you let it slide for now.

—

Later, at the market, a man accidentally bumps into Jaemin, knocking over a fruit display. The man’s face seems to pale as he stammers out apologies, frantically trying to fix the mess. Jaemin couldn’t control the scowl that emerged on his face, as the man scurried away.

You lean toward Jaemin, whispering, “It was just an accident. You don’t need to glare at him like that.”

Jaemin turns to you, smiling again. “I wasn’t glaring,” he says calmly. “People here are just... respectful. They know better than to be careless.”

The edge in his voice makes your stomach twist, but you’re unsure how to respond.

—

That evening, when he takes you back to your apartment, you decide to bring it up again. “Jaemin, do you notice how nervous people are around you? It’s like they’re scared of you or something.”

Jaemin pauses, and for a split second, you swear that his image cracked before snapping back into place. “It’s not fear,” he says, his tone even. “It’s respect. People here understand boundaries. They treat each other the right way. Don’t you feel it? Safer, calmer, happier?”

His eyes lock onto yours, and for a moment, you feel like he’s waiting for you to agree. You nod slowly, though a part of you doesn’t want to. “Yeah, I guess. It’s just... different from what I’m used to.”

Jaemin steps closer, brushing a strand of hair behind your ear. “That’s why you belong here,” he says, his voice low and soothing. “Somewhere where no one will ever hurt you again.”

The way he says it makes your breath hitch. They’re comforting, but there’s a weight to his words that leaves you uneasy.

—

Later that night, lying in bed, you replay the day’s events in your head—Mrs. Kim’s trembling hands, the man at the market, and the way Jaemin’s smiles sometimes feel too sharp, too practiced, too unsettling. You try to tell yourself it’s nothing, that you’re just adjusting to this new place, this new life, and a new relationship. But deep down, you can’t shake the uneasy feeling you have. Something about Jaemin and this town feels off. The cracks are starting to form.

It’s the little things at first.

The mirror above your dresser shatters without warning while you’re brushing your hair, splintering your reflection. You freeze, staring at your fragmented reflection. It almost looks like your face is splintering apart. You reach out, your hand hovering just inches from the broken surface.

The door suddenly swings open, and Jaemin who was staying the night appears, his expression calm. “What happened?” He reaches out to stop your fingers from touching the broken glass.

“I don’t know.” you stammer. “It just… cracked. I didn’t even touch it” You shook your head, trying to process what you just saw.

He steps forward, his hand resting lightly on your shoulder as he examines the mirror. “It’s probably old. I’ll get you a new one. Don’t worry about it.” But something about his tone that makes you feel like he’s brushing it off on purpose.

Later, you catch him staring at the shattered mirror, his reflection fragmented into dozens of pieces.

—

The next time you’re at Jaemin’s house while walking through the hallway, you notice the wallpaper seemingly peeling at the edges. Stepping closer seems to reveal a dark surface beneath. Your fingers trace along the seam absentmindedly, curiosity getting the best of you. When you gently tug the loose edge, a chunk tears free, exposing the wood underneath. It was blackened and warped, as though it’s been rotting for years.

You stare at it, suddenly feeling sick to your stomach. How could a house so immaculate have something like this hidden beneath its surface?

“What are you doing?”

You whirl around, the scrap of wallpaper still in your hand as you turn to face Jaemin in the hallway. He’s standing behind you, quiet and still. “It was already peeling,” you say quickly. “I just wanted to see what was underneath.”

His eyes flicker to the exposed wood, then back to you. For a split second, his face seems to literally crack almost like his face was supposedly ceramic, before mending itself together. “I’ll fix it. You don’t need to worry about things like this.”

He steps closer, gently taking the torn wallpaper from your hands. His touch is light and tender, but the air feels different now.

“You shouldn’t bother with things that aren’t important,” Jaemin says softly, his tone almost pleading. “Just focus on us. That’s what matters, isn’t it?”

You nod, but as he turns away, you notice his grip on the torn wallpaper tighten, his knuckles whitening as he walks down the hall.

—

The cracks aren’t just in the walls or the mirrors. They’re in him, too, and maybe you weren’t hallucinating when you saw his skin actually crack.

One night, you’re sitting together in his living room, the fireplace filling the room with warmth. Jaemin’s hand is wrapped around yours, his thumb tracing slow, steady circles against your skin.

“Sometimes I think I don’t deserve this. You. You’re too perfect for someone like me.”

You laugh softly, brushing off his words. “You’re being dramatic again.”

He looks at you then, his gaze locking onto yours, and for a moment, it feels like the world spins. His eyes are dark, almost bottomless, and there’s something lurking there—something raw and desperate, as though he’s holding on to you with every ounce of his being. Jaemin’s voice trembles slightly. “I mean it. You don’t understand how much you matter to me. I can’t lose you.”

There’s an intensity in his words that makes your heart race, but not in the way it usually does. You try to look away, but his grip on your hand tightens, not painfully, but enough to make you pause.

Then his expression changes. His smile fades, and his face hardens. The cracks start to appear again, this time more obvious than before.

You pull your hand away slightly. “I’m not going anywhere, Jaemin. You don’t have to worry about that.”

His smile returns instantly, the cracks once again vanishing as though they had never been there. “I know. I just get... carried away sometimes.”

He leans in, pressing a kiss to your forehead, but even as his lips brush your skin, the unease still lingers.

—

It gets worse after that. The cracks spread everywhere. Not just to the mirrors and walls, but to everything in the town. One night, the streetlight outside your building starts flickering which casts shadows across the pavement. The ground seems to ripple as if the cobblestones were water rather than stone.

When you tell Jaemin about it, he dismisses it with that too-smooth tone you’ve come to dread.

“You’ve been working too much. You need to rest. You’re probably just really tired.”

But you know what you saw.

—

The tipping point comes when you’re alone at his house again. You’re standing in front of the mirror in his bedroom, the edges of the glass framed by intricate gold. As you stare at your reflection, the surface begins to distort. Slowly, your features start stretching unnaturally, twisting your perception. You blink, and the image snaps back to normal.

But when you look closer, you realize your reflection isn’t blinking anymore. It’s staring at you, unblinking and unmoving, a faint smile curling at the corners of its lips.

“Stop looking so hard.”

You spin around to find Jaemin standing in the doorway, his eyes darker than usual.

He smiles at you faintly, “Some things aren’t meant to be questioned.”

His words echo in your mind long after he leaves the room. You stare at the mirror again, but this time, you don’t dare move closer.

The first argument starts late at night, the room dimly lit, with untouched plates of food between the two of you. Your frustration finally boils over after weeks of feeling watched, cornered, and controlled.

You stand up suddenly. “I need space, Jaemin. I can’t keep doing this.”

His smile vanishes, replaced by something unreadable. He leans back in his chair, folding his arms over his chest, his gaze pierces through you. “Space? From me?”

You nod, your voice shaking. “Yes. From you, from... this. I feel like I can’t breathe anymore. Everything’s too... perfect. It doesn’t feel real.”

For a moment, Jaemin says nothing. His jaw tightens, and his fingers drum against the table. When he finally speaks, his tone is calm, but there’s an edge to it that sends a chill through you. “After everything I’ve done for you, you want to leave?”

“I’m not saying I’m leaving,” you start, trying to explain, “I’m just saying I need–”

He stands abruptly, his chair scraping loudly against the floor. His voice rises, cutting you off. “You don’t need anything! I’ve given you everything! This town, this life, me... Isn’t that enough for you?”

You take a step back, started by his outburst. You can literally hear your heart pounding now. His sudden anger feels like a slap in the face, shattering the careful illusion of calm he’s always maintained. “You’re not listening to me, Jaemin. I never asked for this perfect little world you’ve created. I just wanted you.”

That seems to break something in him. “You don’t know what you’re saying. You need this. You need me. Without me, you’d be miserable. Lost.” He moves closer, his face contorting with a mixture of frustration and desperation.

You shake your head, tears blurring your vision. “No, Jaemin. That’s what you want me to believe.”

His expression darkens further, and for the first time, you see the cracks in his carefully constructed mask—the raw emotion, the fury barely contained beneath his flawless exterior. “Don’t do this. Don’t ruin everything. This is our paradise. Our dream.” His words come out frantic as if he’s trying to convince both you and himself.

“Paradise?” You step further back, your voice still firm. “This isn’t paradise, Jaemin. This is a prison.”

And that’s when Jaemin snaps.

“You don’t get it!” His voice is sharp as it rings through the house. “Paradise is only perfect if you don’t leave!”

The words crash over you, the weight of their meaning sinking into your chest. His voice echoes in your mind, melodic and haunting, like a line from a song you can’t escape.

“I am your paradise. Your dream. Everything you’ve ever wanted. Why can’t you just see that? Why can’t you just stay?” His voice breaks on the last word, and for a moment, you see something raw and vulnerable in his eyes.

But then his expression hardens again, the desperation twisting into something darker and terrifying.

“I won’t let you ruin this,” he growls, his fists clenched at his sides. “If you won’t stay willingly, I’ll make sure you don’t leave. You’re mine, and nothing will ever change that.”

Your breath catches in your throat. The room feels smaller, the walls closing in. “Jaemin... this isn’t love.”

The words seem to shatter him. His face contorts with rage, his hands slowly balling into fists at his sides. “Don’t you dare say that. Don’t you dare.”

You take another step back, your eyes darting toward the door, your instincts screaming at you to run. You’ve never felt this kind of fear before.

“You don’t understand. I am love. Everything else is broken, but I’m perfect. For you. For us.” The air between you is heavy, suffocating. Jaemin’s breathing is ragged, his eyes wild.

The words hang in the air, a chilling reminder that the man you thought you knew isn’t the man standing in front of you anymore.

—

The morning after your argument, you decide to leave. You don’t even know where you’ll go—just that you need to get out of this suffocating place, away from Jaemin and his unnerving obsession.

You pack a small bag with trembling hands, glancing nervously out the window. The streets outside are eerily quiet, the friendliness of the town somehow feels more oppressive than ever.

As you step out of your apartment, your heart sinks. Jaemin is leaning casually against the streetlamp in front of your building, his hands in his pockets and his ever-perfect smile in place.

“Going somewhere, love?”

Your heart pounds in your chest. You force yourself to stay calm, clutching the strap of your bag tighter. “I need some time to myself.”

He tilts his head, studying you intently. “Time to yourself? That doesn’t sound like you. Where would you even go?”

The question catches you off guard. He’s right… you’ve never seen anything beyond this town. …Have you? You don’t even know if there is anything beyond this town. You’ve never ventured out of this town. You’ve lived here all your life. With Jaemin. Just Jaemin.

The thought sends a jolt through you. What is happening?

You shake it off, your voice firmer now. “Anywhere but here, Jaemin. I need to think.”

For a moment, his smile falters. But then it’s back, brighter than ever and more unsettling. “You don’t need to leave to think. Stay here. Let me help you.”

You shake your head, stepping past him, but his hand shoots out, gently grabbing your wrist–not harshly, but enough to stop you in place.

“Don’t do this, Y/N. You’ll regret it.”

You wrench your arm free and start walking, as your heart continues to pound in your chest. His voice follows you, soft and calm yet terrifyingly firm.

“You’ll be back. You always come back. You can never escape.”

—

The next few days are a nightmare. No matter where you go, Jaemin is there. You spot him in the café, sitting in the same seat he first approached you in, watching you with that same perfect smile. He’s waiting outside your apartment when you get home from work, leaning against the doorframe like he belongs there.

You even see him in places he shouldn’t be—on the other side of the street when you’re at the grocery store, standing in the shadows of an alley when you’re walking to clear your mind.

You confront him once, your patience snaps. “Are you following me? What the hell, Jaemin?”

He just smiles, tilting his head like you’ve said something funny. “I’m just making sure you’re safe. That’s all I’ve ever wanted, you know. To keep you safe.”

It’s infuriating, how calm he is, how he manages to twist every accusation into a declaration of his “love.”

It’s not just Jaemin. The entire town seems to conspire against you. The people smile too widely, their eyes never quite meeting yours. Conversations feel hollow like they’re reciting lines from a script rather than speaking from the heart.

At the market, the woman at the counter refuses to sell you a bus ticket.

“What do you mean, there’s no way out?”

“There’s nowhere to go, sweetheart,” she says, her tone unnervingly kind. “Everything you need is here.”

Her words echo Jaemin’s, and a sickening realization begins to settle in. You leave the market, your chest tight with frustration and fear.

Even your apartment feels wrong. The walls seem to close in on you, the air growing heavier. You swear you hear whispers late at night, but when you check, no one is there.

—

The final straw comes one night when you confront Jaemin in his house. You storm into his pristine living room, the air thick with tension.

“What is going on, Jaemin? Why is everyone acting like this? Why can’t I leave this town?”

He’s seated calmly on the couch, his hands resting on his knees. When he looks up, his perfect smile is in place, but this time, it carries an edge of something darker. “Why would you want to leave? Everything here is perfect. You’re perfect. We’re perfect.”

“Stop saying that!” you shout, your voice trembling. “Nothing about this is perfect. It’s all fake!”

His expression hardens slightly, though the smile remains. “Fake? Is that what you think? You think the life I built for us is fake?”

You freeze, the weight of his words sinking in. “What do you mean... ‘built’?”

He stands slowly, his movements deliberate, as if he’s giving you time to process. “This town, the people, everything you see—it’s all for you. For us. I created it because I knew you needed something better. Something perfect.”

Your stomach drops, your legs threatening to give out beneath you. “No,” you whisper, shaking your head. “That’s... that’s not possible.”

He steps closer, his gaze locking onto yours. “I’ve given you everything, Y/N. A world where you don’t have to worry, where nothing can hurt you. I’ve even given you pieces of myself—my love, my time, my devotion. All I’ve ever wanted is for you to be happy.”

Your voice shakes as you respond. “This isn’t happiness, Jaemin. This is control.”

His jaw tightens, the cracks in his composure finally showing. “No. No, you’re wrong. This is love. I’ve made it perfect for you. Don’t you see? You don’t have to fight anymore. Just... let go.”

You back away, your mind racing. Everything starts to make sense now—the way people seem hollow, the strange cracks in the world, the way Jaemin always seems to know your every thought.

The truth suddenly dawns on you. “Even me... You’ve been controlling me, haven’t you?”

He hesitates. The silence stretches for a moment too long before he replies, his voice softer, almost pleading. “I didn’t want to control you. I just wanted to protect you. To keep you here, where it’s safe. You’re... you’re slipping away from me, Y/N. And if you go, this world will crumble. I can’t let that happen.”

His words are a plea and a threat all at once, and for the first time, you see him for what he truly is: not just a possessive lover, but the creator of this fragile, crumbling reality.

You spend the next few days searching for an escape, though you’re not entirely sure what “escape” even means in this twisted, fabricated reality. The cracks in the world are growing more pronounced—literal fissures splitting the pavement, flickers of darkness creeping at the edges of your vision, and moments where the townspeople freeze mid-motion, like broken puppets.

And Jaemin? He’s watching you closer than ever, though he never confronts you outright. You can feel his eyes on you wherever you go, a shadow that clings to your every step.

One night, while Jaemin is out, you find it—a journal hidden beneath a loose floorboard in your apartment. The pages are filled with strange symbols, diagrams, and what looks like fragmented memories of Jaemin’s thoughts.

One entry catches your eye:

"The anchor must never break. She is the key to keeping the world whole. Without her, there’s nothing."

Your heart races as you piece it together. You’re not just a prisoner in Jaemin’s world—you’re the foundation of it. If you can sever your connection to this place, the entire illusion might collapse. But how?

—

You decide you have to confront him. But not to beg or plead for your freedom—that won’t work. Jaemin is too possessive, too desperate to let you go willingly. No, you’ll have to trick him into believing that you’ve finally given in.

The next evening, you find him at his house. He’s in the living room, staring into the flickering flames of the fireplace. His expression is distant, almost melancholic.

“Jaemin?”

He turns, and his face lights up when he sees you, the sadness replaced by his usual serene smile. “Y/N. I was wondering when you’d come back to me.”

You force yourself to smile, stepping closer. “You were right. About everything. I’ve been fighting against you, against this... and I don’t know why. It’s perfect here. You’re perfect.”

His eyes widen slightly, a flicker of hope sparking in them. “You mean that?”

You nod, your heart pounding in your chest. “I’ve been scared. But I see it now—you love me more than anyone ever could. You’ve built this world for me, and I want to stay.” You reach out to his hand.

His grip tightens on your hand, his smile growing as he pulls you into his arms. “I knew you’d understand. I knew you’d see how much I love you.”

You let him hold you, burying your face against his chest to hide the fear and repulsion you know must be showing on your face.

—

Over the next few days, you pretend to settle into the life Jaemin has crafted for you. You let him dote on you, let the townspeople’s eerie smiles wash over you without flinching. All the while, you gather the pieces you need.

You find an old map in the library, one that shows a strange, unfinished road on the outskirts of town. You overhear snippets of conversation from the townspeople—hushed whispers about “the edge” and “the boundary.”

And then, one night, you’re ready.

You and Jaemin are sitting together in his living room, the fire casting warm light across the walls. You rest your head on his shoulder, your voice is soft and trembling. “There’s just one thing I need to feel... whole.”

“Anything, my love. Just tell me.” He looks down at you, brushing a strand of hair from your face.

“Take me to the edge of the town. I want to see where it all ends. I want to understand this world you’ve made for me.”

His expression falters. “The edge isn’t important. Everything you need is right here.”

You sit up, cupping his face in your hands, your eyes pleading. “Please, Jaemin. I want to see it with you. I want to understand your love fully. Don’t you want me to?”

He hesitates, his gaze searching yours. Finally, he nods reluctantly. “If that’s what you want.”

—

He drives you to the edge of town in silence, his grip on the steering wheel tight. The road grows darker the further you go, the world outside the car fading into an inky void.

When he stops, the road ahead simply... ends. Beyond it is nothingness, a swirling expanse of black that seems to pulse and writhe.

“This is as far as it goes. There’s nothing out there. Nothing but chaos.”

You step out of the car, your heart racing. “It’s beautiful.”

Jaemin watches you carefully as you approach the edge.

You turn back to him. “Thank you for showing me this. I... I trust you.”

For a moment, his face softens, and you see his vulnerability once again beneath the perfection. “You mean everything to me. You always have.”

As his attention wavers, you make your move. You sprint toward the edge, your bag clutched tightly in your hands.

Jaemin notices and panics. “Y/N! Stop!”

He now stands in front of you, his usually perfect expression unhinged, desperation seeping through every word. “You can’t leave. You don’t understand what’s out there. It’s chaos. Pain. No one will love you like I do. No one will protect you like I have.”

“This isn’t love, Jaemin. This is a prison. You don’t love me—you love the idea of me, the version you can control. But I’m not yours to keep.”

He steps closer, his once-gentle eyes are now sharp, glinting with anger and fear. “If you leave, you’ll regret it. Out there, you’ll be nothing. A speck. Here, you’re everything. My everything.”

You swallow hard, your chest tightening as the house begins to shudder. The cracks spread faster now, the walls peeling to reveal nothingness beyond. This world is breaking apart, and so is he. “I’d rather be nothing than lose myself to you.”

Jaemin’s expression softens for a brief moment—hurt flashing across his face. He reaches for you, his hand trembling as if he’s trying to hold on to what’s slipping away.

“Please… don’t go. You’ll die out there. This place… it’s all I have.”

But you’ve already made your choice. You step back, closer to the edge of the crumbling reality. The air feels thin, the edges of the world curling in on themselves like burning paper. Behind Jaemin, you see the town collapsing—the people disintegrating into ash, their empty smiles vanishing with them.

With one last look at him, you whisper, “Goodbye, Jaemin.”

And then you leap into the void.

Life had been okay after you escaped. Moving again would’ve been the best option in this case.

The train slows to a halt, the perfect little town laid out in front of your eyes.

You step onto the platform, the scent of flowers filling the air. The town looks clean, almost like it was plucked straight from a storybook or a carefully curated dream. You let out a breath you didn’t realize you’d been holding, reassuring yourself that this was exactly what you wanted. A fresh start. A clean break from everything you left behind.

You set your bag down and begin unpacking, each item you pull out grounding you a little more in this place. A simpler life. A quieter life. That’s what you need, far from the chaos of before.

The next morning, you step into your new job at the café. It’s a quaint little shop with pastel walls and rows of pastries so perfect they could be in a magazine. The scent of coffee and freshly baked bread wraps around you like a warm hug.

The owner greets you with a wide smile. Her eyes crinkle at the corners, and her voice is both kind and commanding. “Welcome, dear,” she says. “I can tell you’re nervous, but you’ll fit in just fine. Everyone does.”

As you settle into the rhythm of the café, you notice how everything is perfectly simple. You glance out the window, and for a split second, you think you see a figure standing at the edge of the square.

Your breath catches, but when you blink, the figure is gone. You shake your head and return to wiping down the counter.

It’s nothing, you tell yourself. Just nerves. After all, this is the fresh start you wanted.

TAGLIST ↬ @lyvhie @aquaphoenixz @galacticnct @yizhrt @polarisjisung @multifandomania @spacejip

apologies for the trauma. you are all entitled to no financial compensation. hope you enjoyed your stay!

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v1si0n · 23 days ago

Text

ch. 12: and the crowd is…concerned

Jeno stares at himself in the practice room mirror and curses under his breath. He tries to practice the entire song, then the chorus, and even one singular verse but he can’t focus for the life of him. He even tries to just stretch with music on, but his brain is in overdrive and he has no one to blame but you.

It’s been a week, no, five days to be exact, since he hung out with his friends or spoke to you. Outside of dance practice, he’s completely absorbed himself in his schoolwork and even went as far as to pick up extra shifts at the movie theater to keep his mind occupied and far away from you. However, despite his many attempts, it was almost like you carved yourself deep into the folds of his brain and he started to see you everywhere. It also didn’t help that he quite literally saw you everywhere; on campus, during practice, at the movie theater laughing and chatting it up with his friends.

Fuck this. He’s definitely going on a bender tonight.

He hastily packs his gym bag and trudges out in below freezing temperature to make his way to the nearest convenience store. When the automatic doors slide open, he beelines straight to the back and picks up three bottles of flavorless soju, setting them down on the counter with an unnecessary amount of force that makes the cashier jump.

“Sorry,” He mumbles, looking up at the younger boy behind the register.

The cashier scans the bottles quickly and bags them with a nervous smile. “Rough night?”

“I guess,” Jeno sighs quietly, taking the bag and putting two fingers up in a mock salute before leaving the store. He cracks open the first soju bottle, putting the other two in his gym bag as he walks down the street.

The first sip burns his throat and nearly makes him retch on the spot, but he pulls through and takes another immediately after. Four sips in and his mind is still riddled with thoughts of you, your laugh, and how happily you smile at his friends. He takes another, then another, and without even realizing he’s already downed half the bottle and yet he still can’t get his mind off of you.

An entire bottle and a half later, he decides that you’re a disease. No, the plague. You were a plague on his mind and heart and he’s a victim to your charms and the fatal distraction that is your effortless beauty. You bring out the worst in him, and while his mind is telling him you are pure evil in human form, his heart can’t help but yearn to be close to you.

He finds a playground in his slightly drunken stupor and collapses onto a swing, emptying his second bottle and tossing it into his gym bag. He fiddles with the bottle caps in his hands, twisting the metal pieces together and making hearts before placing them on the swing next to him. He pulls out his third and final bottle of soju, a slight pout forming on his lips when he realizes he would be out of alcohol soon and he’s still thinking about you.

As he twists the cap off, he swears he hears your voice and he scoffs. You’ve driven him far past insanity, to the point where he’s starting to have auditory hallucinations. He shakes his head and takes a swig from the bottle, and as his head tilts back to swallow the alcohol, he sees you standing in front of him and he laughs.

“God, I’m going crazy,” He laughs again.

He can’t believe that his thoughts have manifested into full hallucinations now, and he takes a long swig from the bottle.

“What the hell are you doing?” Your voice calls out and he puts a finger to his lips.

“You’re not supposed to talk. Just stand there and be pretty and annoying like you always are,” He slurs, pointing an accusing finger at the you-shaped blob in front of him. He tips his head back to pour another shot down his throat, but the aforementioned blob grabs the bottle out of his hand and he’s left pouting and utterly confused.

“So you’re not a hallucination…but a dream? No, nightmare. This is a nightmare…a really nice one,” He smiles lazily at you, reaching out for the bottle.

“I hate to break it to you but I’m neither a hallucination nor nightmare. How much did you drink?” You speak, crouching down in front of him.

He blinks a few times, the cold air blowing against his poorly dressed frame sobering him up just the slightest bit.

“You’re real?” He blinks slowly at you, reaching his numb hands out to poke at your slightly pink nose. When you grimace and swat his hand away, his face sours, and he hugs his arms close to his chest. “Ew. Go away.”

You roll your eyes, gently placing the bag of books you had just bought on the ground next to his gym bag. You take off the thick scarf you had around your neck and wrap it around his, pulling it up to cover his lips and nose.

“You are so stupid. Why are you in the cold in just a hoodie and getting drunk at 9pm? You’re lucky no cops have passed by or you would have been arrested for being disorderly in public,” You grumble, taking the hot packs you had in your jacket and placing them into his hands.

“Who told you to be annoying and stupid?” He blabs, giggling to himself as if he just delivered the best comeback of all time. “That was a good one.”

You unwillingly let out a laugh at his drunken antics, a small sigh leaving your lips. You pull your phone out and send a quick text to Jaemin, letting him know that you needed his help getting Jeno home.

“Why’d you drink so much, Jeno? Weren’t you supposed to be practicing today?” You ask gently, lips twitching into a smile when you see the way he whines and tucks his chin further into your scarf.

“I told you…cause you’re stupid and annoying,” His voice is muffled by the thick fabric covering his lips, but you’re able to make out every word clearly.

“Yes, I’m stupid and annoying. But what does that have to do with you drinking…” You glance down at his gym bag, then at the bottle you took away from him, “…two and half bottles of soju by yourself?”

He scoffs, burrowing himself impossibly deeper into your scarf and you suck your teeth when he mumbles incoherently into the thick fabric.

“Jeno, if you keep doing that, I won’t be able to hear you,” You scold, your cold fingers gently reaching up to lower the scarf and tilt his chin up. His eyes are laser focused on you as you do so, and you beckon for him to repeat himself.

“This is why you’re stupid and annoying,” He mumbles, his eyes half-glaring but half-full of something close to longing.

You tilt your head in confusion. “I’m stupid and annoying because…”

“Why are you taking care of me? It’s the middle of the night and you’re out here in the cold giving me your scarf even…even though I’m not nice to you.”

His words are clumsy and jumbled together due to the alcohol, but you understand every word and you sigh, a thick silence enveloping the two of you.

You clear your throat, “Well, one, it’s only like, 9pm, so it’s not really the middle of the night.”

He checks his phone and squints at the numbers 9:12PM, a laugh leaving his lips.

“And two…” You trail off, adjusting the scarf so it covers his nose again, “I guess I can understand where you’re coming from, so I can’t really hate you.”

“Understand? What do you understand about me?” He jabs a finger to his own chest, before turning it and pointing it at you, “You…you’re just a pretty princess in a pretty princess castle…and you live a pretty princess life! You don’t understand…you shouldn’t understand,” He babbles, his hands moving around to make grand gestures as he speaks.

“Well, this pretty princess definitely does not live a pretty princess life,” You laugh quietly, a hint of amusement etched in your smile as you regard him carefully.

He frowns. Even in his alcohol-induced haze, he still feels a pang in his heart at your confession, and he’s stuck between wanting to ask you a million questions or push you away again. Instead, he does neither, opting to lean forward slightly in the swing and beckon you over with his hand.

You move closer, kneeling on one knee in front of him. He motions for you to come closer, and you roll your eyes as you do so, “What do you-oh.”

He slumps forward and wraps his arms around your shoulders in a hug, resting his chin on your shoulder. Your eyes slightly widen in surprise, a strained oof leaving your lips as he rests most of his weight on you. Your hands come up automatically, mostly to keep him from falling, but also because you might have wanted to indulge yourself a bit as well.

“What’s this for?” You laugh quietly, patting him on the back as he hums and buries his face into the crook of your neck, and you’re not sure if the warmth you feel is from him or because of him.

“Just wanted to,” He slurs, his eyes fluttering shut as he allows himself to enjoy the closeness for once, the alcohol momentarily silencing the part of him thats afraid he’ll never be enough for you.

A call of your name makes you crane your neck to the side, and you see Jaemin jogging up to you with a disgruntled look on his face that quickly morphs into a knowing smirk when he sees the way Jeno has himself wrapped around you.

“And what do we have here?” He wiggles his brows at you two, and you roll your eyes, turning your attention back to Jeno.

“Jeno? Jaemin’s here to take you home,” You call gently, patting his back to get his attention. He whines and clings onto you a little tighter, and you let out a sigh, turning to Jaemin with a pointed glare, “A little help would be nice, Jaem.”

Jaemin rolls his eyes, bending over to grab Jeno’s shoulders, “Hey buddy. Time to go home, yeah?”

Jeno shrugs him off, mumbling incoherently into your neck.

“What was that?” Jaemin’s head tilts to the side in confusion, leaning closer to try to understand what his drunk friend is saying, before a sly smile completely takes over his face. “Oh. You want to stay with Y/N?”

You balk when you feel him nod against your shoulder, an awkward laugh leaving your lips as you look at Jaemin.

“Okay, time to go home, Jeno. Up we go,” You let out a strangled noise as you stand up, lifting him up with you as you struggle to hold his weight against you, “Jaemin! Stop standing there and help me!”

Jaemin puts his hands up in apology before reaching over to practically pry Jeno off of you. Despite his protests, Jeno finally settles in Jaemin’s arms, swaying side to side as he supports himself with an arm around Jaemin’s shoulders.

“Here, this is his,” You pick up the gym bag and adjust it on Jaemin’s free shoulder, before letting out a sigh. You adjust the scarf around his neck again, and you have to physically restrain yourself from melting on the spot when he nuzzles his face into your touch.

“Text me when you guys are home,” You mumble, reluctantly moving your hand away from Jeno.

“Will do. Get home safe, yeah?” Jaemin breathes out, adjusting Jeno’s arm around his shoulder before turning to walk back in the direction he came in. “Come on buddy, time to put you to bed.”

You hear Jeno mumble unintelligibly again and Jaemin scolds him, a small laugh leaving your lips as you watch both of them walk down the street before disappearing around the corner. You turn back to the swing where Jeno was just sitting, and your eyes flicker over to the two bottle caps sitting on the swing next to it. They’re twisted into hearts, much like the ones you found in your pockets after friendsgiving.

You crouch down and pick them up, inspecting them with a smile on your lips.

“Lee Jeno,” You mumble, fingers gently tracing the heart, “Quite the romantic.”

You laugh to yourself, pocketing the caps before picking up your bag of books and beginning the trek back to your dorm, your cheeks warm despite the below freezing temperature that nips at your skin.

wc: 2.1k (im literally so sorry)

ch. 13: winter and y/n’s dorm📍

masterlistΣ(-᷅_-᷄๑)

TAGLIST: @sunghoonsgfreal @jenohyun @n0hyuck @tywritesstuff @dinonuguaegi @slayhaechan @botchedbrat @spicyryujin @jenoleeaesthetic @yizhrt @nctrawberries @meowtella @insaneanddrained @blamingontheboogie @jich3nle @flamingi @mmjhh1998 @byeonwooseokabs @qiankunslove @conwunder @sunflowerhae @lotties-readings @keeryverse @jae-n0 @hyuksworld @kukkurookkoo @4yunogf @cigsaftersuh @gomdoleemyson @bitchzitschimi @iseos1 @flaminghotyourmom @beomgyusonlywife @nahyuckers @jisungsleftcheek

NOTES: i love this chapter sm…i kept looking over and adding more and now its the length of a literal one shot help me. anyways we’re so up loverboy!jeno is COMING.

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